Rams Trade No. 31 To Falcons
The Rams have traded the No. 31 pick to the Falcons. Los Angeles will get picks No. 45 and No. 79, while Atlanta will receive No. 31 and No. 203.
Atlanta will select Washington offensive tackle Kaleb McGary. For the second time in the first round, the Falcons will use a first-round pick on a position that they’d already fortified in free agency. Atlanta signed guards Jamon Brown and James Carpenter but used their initial first-round pick on fellow interior lineman Chris Lindstrom. After extending right tackle Ty Sambrailo, the Falcons will now add competition in McGary.
Seahawks Trade No. 30 To Giants
The Seahawks have made their second trade of the night. The team is sending the No. 30 pick to the Giants, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). In exchange, Seattle will receive No. 37, No. 132, and No. 142 (via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
So, if you’re counting at home, that means the Seahawks turned the 21st pick into five separate selections. Seattle previously dealt No. 21 to the Packers for No. 30, No. 114, and No. 118.
The Giants have used the pick on Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker. The 2018 Jim Thorpe Award winner was generally regarded as the top cornerback in the class. The 5-foot-11 defensive back had a standout 2018 season with the Bulldogs, compiling 40 tackles, two sacks, nine passes defended, and two picks.
The Giants have added already added a pair of defensive backs this offseason. They acquired safety Jabrill Peppers in the Odell Beckham trade, and they also signed veteran safety Antoine Bethea. Baker will likely slide into one of the starting cornerback spots across from Janoris Jenkins.
This pick marks the Giants’ third selection of the night. The team selected quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth pick, and they later added defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence with the 17th pick.
Colts Trade No. 26 To Redskins
The Redskins now have another selection in the first round. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Washington has acquired pick No. 26 from the Colts. The Redskins will send No. 46 and a 2020 second-rounder to Indy, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
The Redskins have used their new selection on Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat. There were conflicting reports about the lineman’s draft stock following news about an apparent heart condition. There were rumblings that some teams removed Sweat entirely from their draft board, with some teams’ doctors noting that there isn’t an example of a player dealing with this issue in the current NFL. However, we learned yesterday that teams now believe that Sweat’s heart condition was misdiagnosed at the combine, further complicating his draft stock.
Either way, Sweat is clearly one of the most talented edge defenders in the draft. His unique combination of size and speed make him a menace on the outside, and he should continue to develop as a running-game disruptor. Despite the heart condition, Sweat managed to appear in 26 games over his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, compiling 22.5 sacks over that span. His known visits were with the Texans, Bengals, 49ers, Bills, Raiders, Packers and Buccaneers.
The Redskins have invested plenty of draft capital into their defensive line in recent years, as they selected defensive end Jonathan Allen in 2017 and defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne in 2018. Sweat should join the two players to form a formidable front-three.
The Redskins made headlines earlier tonight when they selected Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 pick.
Eagles Acquire No. 22 Pick From Ravens
The Eagles have acquired the No. 22 pick from the Ravens, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Baltimore will pick up No. 25, No. 127, and No. 197, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.
Philadelphia will use the selection to draft Washington State Andre Dillard. Given that the offensive-line needy Texans were sitting at No. 23, the Eagles made the move up the board to find a left tackle of the future.
Dillard, whom many observers ranked as the best pass-blocking tackle in the draft, will now become the long-term replacement for blinside protector Jason Peters. Until Peters hangs up his cleats, Dillard will slide in either as a swing tackle or guard.
Seahawks Trade No. 21 To Packers
The Packers are moving up. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that Green Bay has acquired pick No. 21 from the Seahawks. In exchange, Seattle will receive No. 30, No. 114, and No. 118.
The Packers will use their new pick to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage. The defensive back was a three-year starter with the Terrapins, including a 2018 campaign where he compiled 38 tackles and four interceptions. Savage also has limited experience returning punts.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Savage is a bit undersized for safety. However, the prospect makes up for his lack of size with blistering speed and an ability to read receivers. In passing situations, Savage should use his ball-hawking ability to break up passes. In running situations, the safety has shown the ability to smother the ball carrier.
Savage will join a young defensive backs corps that includes a pair of 2018 picks in cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. The rookie should start immediately alongside free agent addition Adrian Amos.
Steelers Acquire No. 10 From Broncos
We have a trade! The Broncos have traded the No. 10 pick to the Steelers, reports Ross Tucker of The Athletic (via Twitter). Pittsburgh has used the pick to select Michigan linebacker Devin Bush.
In exchange for the 10th-overall pick, the Broncos acquired three draft selections. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the Steelers will send Denver No. 20, No. 52, and a 2020 third-rounder.
Bush will provide the Steelers with a talented three-down linebacker who they can immediately insert into their starting lineup. Bush has shown an ability to thrive in both man-to-man and zone coverage, and he also flashed some pass-rushing prowess during his tenure at Michigan. The 20-year-old followed up a breakout 2017 campaign with another impressive season in 2018. Bush ultimately finished the year having compiled 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
The Steelers currently have two former first-rounders, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, slotted in as starting linebackers. Bush will likely occupy one of the two inside spots alongside either Vince Williams or free agent addition Mark Barron.
Despite the offseason addition of veteran Joe Flacco, there were whispers that the Broncos could end up selecting a quarterback with the 10th pick. The team could still end up taking a signal-caller at No. 20, where a number of prospects should still be available. Either way, the trade allows the team to add some much needed depth.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/25/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Ishmael Hyman
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed original round restricted free agent tender: OL Evan Boehm
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: TE Bucky Hodges
Eagles To Re-Sign Tim Jernigan
Timmy Jernigan is back with the Eagles. After the Eagles declined Jernigan’s option in March, the defensive tackle agreed to return on a new one-year deal, according to James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Jernigan signed a four-year, $48MM extension with the Eagles late in the 2017 season. Ultimately, that deal only lasted for one year. This time around, both sides will have their options open after just one campaign.
By declining Jernigan’s option, the Eagles saved $7MM with $6MM left over in dead money. Jernigan’s latest deal will give him a smaller base salary, but he’ll have the opportunity to cash in next March if he can reestablish himself.
The Ravens traded Jernigan to the Eagles in 2017, and he performed well enough for the eventual Super Bowl champions to ink him to a high-end extension. Unfortunately, he played just 100 snaps last season, suiting up for just three regular-season games.
Redskins Re-Sign OL Tony Bergstrom
Tony Bergstrom is returning to Washington. The organization announced that they’ve re-signed the offensive lineman. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Following a standout career at Utah, Bergstrom was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft. The lineman proceeded to spend the first four seasons of his career with the Raiders since bouncing around the NFL. Since 2016, the 32-year-old has had stints with the Texans, Cardinals, Ravens, and Redskins.
Fortunately for Bergstrom, he’s apparently found a home in Washington. Since joining the Redskins midway through the 2017 season, the lineman has appeared in 22 games. He played in 13 games (eight starts) last season, seeing action at both center and guard.
Considering his versatility, Bergstrom should at least be a key backup on the Redskins offensive line next season. The Redskins have added one free agent offensive lineman in Ereck Flowers, but the team’s line should pretty much look the same as 2018.
Bucs Pick Up Vernon Hargreaves’ Option
Vernon Hargreaves will be sticking around Tampa Bay for at least two more seasons. Rick Stroud TampaBay.com reports (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers have picked up the cornerback’s fifth-year option. Hargreaves will now be tied to a $9MM deal for the 2020 campaign.
The 23-year-old was selected with the 11th-overall pick by the Buccaneers during the 2016 draft. The defensive back proved he was worth his draft spot during his rookie season, as he compiled 76 tackles, nine passes defended, and one pick in 16 games. This performance earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.
Since that time, Hargreaves has battled numerous injuries. A hamstring issue limited him to only nine games (eight starts) in 2017, while a shoulder injury forced him to miss all but one game in 2018. Despite the injuries, the Bucs will be relying on Hargreaves once again heading into next season; he’s currently projected to start at cornerback alongside Carlton Davis.
Click here for a full rundown of every fifth-year option decision on 2016 first-round picks.