Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/19
oday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: LB Ejuan Price
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed off waivers: TE Temarrick Hemingway
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Brandon Reilly
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: WR Matt Eaton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers: G Zack Golditch
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Jake Gervase, WR Jalen Greene, LB Ketner Kupp, DT Bryant Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: C Connor Hilliard, S Rob Rolle
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: S Cameron Glenn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Joe Parker
Washington Redskins
- Waived: TE Elkanah Dillon
Colt McCoy Eyeing Minicamp Work
Jay Gruden studied this year’s quarterback class extensively, watching every throw each of the high- and mid-tier prospects made. The sixth-year Redskins coach said he did more work on this year’s QB class than he had in any draft since 2011, when the Bengals, Gruden’s employer at the time, selected Andy Dalton. In addition to Dwayne Haskins‘ arm strength, Gruden said the one-year Ohio State starter’s presence reminded him of Cam Newton.
Haskins and Case Keenum will split the Redskins’ first-team reps, with Colt McCoy still out because of his fractured fibula injury. However, McCoy is expected to participate partially in Washington’s minicamp and be ready for training camp, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). While Gruden said Haskins is no lock to play this year, nearly every recent first-round passer chosen becoming a first-season starter points to the newcomer taking the reins early.
Assault Charges Against Redskins’ Montae Nicholson Dropped
The assault and battery charges against Redskins safety Montae Nicholson have been dropped, as Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post tweets. Nicholson was cuffed late last year and the video of the incident appeared to show him brutally assaulting another man and knocking him unconscious. 
That wasn’t Nicholson’s first off-the-field incident, either. In 2017, cops arrested Nicholson under suspicion of driving while impaired. Still, Nicholson made seven starts for Washington last year and showed promise while on the gridiron. He could still face league suspension from the November arrest, but for now, he appears poised to be a part of the Redskins’ plans for 2019. He projects to see playing time in a safety group headlined by new addition Landon Collins.
Last year, Nicholson recorded 41 stops and one pass defensed in his 14 appearances. And, as a rookie, he notched his only interception to date in Week 3 against the Raiders.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/19
Here’s the latest round of minor moves from around the NFL (for this morning’s minor moves, click here):
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: TE Thomas Duarte
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Juwon Young
- Released: LB Tre’ Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DB Mike Tyson (from Texans)
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Xavier Ubosi, OL Calvin Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Freedom Akinmoladun
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: QB Devlin Hodges, DT Greg Gilmore, WR Johnny Holton, DE Henry Mondeaux, OL Damian Prince, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Released: LB Keion Adams, DE Jay Hayes, DT Chris Nelson, OL R.J. Prince, QB Brogan Roback, WR Ka’Raun White
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Michael Burton, DL Geneo Grissom, OL Marcus Henry, OL Ulrick John, LB Colton Jumper, RB A.J. Ouellette, CB David Simmons Jr., WR Micah Wright
- Released: RB Darnell Holland, DT Tomasi Laulile, CB Darius Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Taryn Christion, TE Mik’Quan Deane
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kareem Orr, WR Joe Parker, DB D’Andre Payne, DB LaDarius Riley
- Waived: DB Jonathan Crawford, DB Taj-Amir Torres, WR Isaac Zito
- Waived-injured: DB Hamp Cheevers
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Jonathan Bonner, G Jerald Foster, DB Deion Harris, DL Austin Maloata, RB Craig Reynolds
- Waived: RB Russell Hansbrough, DB Joshua Holsey, OT Roubbens Joseph
Latest On Redskins’ QB Situation
The Redskins’ starting quarterback race is wide open at the moment, but as John Keim of ESPN.com writes, 2019 first-rounder Dwayne Haskins is already making his case for the job.
Haskins has impressed after two days of rookie minicamp, and head coach Jay Gruden said of the Ohio State product, “[i]t’s been a treat. He’s made some throws that turn your head without a doubt.”
Of course, Haskins still has a long way to go, and two days of rookie minicamp will not make or break his future with Washington. But as the No. 15 overall pick, he will certainly be given ample opportunity to start right away, and his performance thus far has been promising.
The Redskins’ OTAs and mandatory minicamp will be critical in clarifying the team’s quarterback situation, because Gruden does not like to have a three-man competition in training camp. He believes, understandably, that it is too difficult to divide meaningful repetitions between three players, so the pressure is on Haskins and veterans Case Keenum and Colt McCoy over the coming weeks.
Given that Haskins has a lot of basics to master — like his footwork and dropping back from under center, which he did not do in college — Keenum and McCoy may have a leg up for the time being, especially since Gruden’s job security is tenuous at best and he needs to win games in 2019 to keep his post. But Haskins obviously has the highest upside of any of the three competitors, and the Redskins expect him to develop quickly.
Gruden said, “The most important thing in the next couple weeks is, let’s see how far we can push [Haskins]. Let’s see if there is a chance he can win the job. If we feel like he’s coming along slower, then we have to maybe push Case or push Colt. But if we feel like [Haskins] is coming along and he’s firing and he’s comfortable, then we’ll play it out and see what happens.”
Gruden sounds like a man who wants his rookie signal-caller to seize the opportunity and run with it, and Haskins is up for the challenge. He said, “I’ll be ready for whatever the coaches want from me, whether that’s starting right away or next year or through the season. I’ll prepare like I’m the starter.”
Dylan Donahue Gets Tryouts From Raiders, Redskins
Former Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue is looking to get back into the league. The West Georgia product had tryouts with the Redskins and Raiders this week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The last we heard of Donahue from an NFL perspective was last September, when the league slapped him with a 14-game suspension. Donahue was a popular sleeper pick among some in the draft community when the Jets took him in the fifth round back in 2017. He got injured a few weeks into his rookie season while blocking a punt, and missed the rest of the year.
Off-field incidents quickly then derailed his career, and the Jets cut him right before the start of last season. Donahue was arrested twice for DWI last offseason, including one incident where he was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit a bus. Given the lengthy suspension, there was no reason for any team to sign him.
He then played for the Atlanta Legends during the ill-fated 2019 AAF season. Now that he’s served his suspension he’s looking to get back on a pro roster, and he’s apparently getting some legit interest. We’ll keep you posted if his comeback picks up anymore steam.
Redskins Sign Dwayne Haskins, 6 Others
Washington’s quarterback of the future signed his rookie deal on Thursday. Dwayne Haskins inked his four-year contract, with the 2023 option, the Redskins announced.
Chosen No. 15 overall, the Ohio State product signed his slot deal — worth $14.416MM with an $8.504MM signing bonus.
Six other Redskins draftees joined Haskins in signing shortly before the team begins its rookie minicamp. Running back Bryce Love, guard Wes Martin, center Ross Pierschbacher, linebacker Cole Holcomb, wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and cornerback Jimmy Moreland signed their four-year rookie pacts.
The second Redskins first-round quarterback pick this decade and fourth this century — following Patrick Ramsey, Jason Campbell, and Robert Griffin III — Haskins comes to Washington on the heels of throwing 50 touchdown passes as a sophomore. He joins a new-look Redskins quarterback room, featuring Case Keenum, and will likely see extensive action as a rookie.
The only members of Washington’s draft class yet to sign are Montez Sweat and Haskins’ college teammate Terry McLaurin.
- 1-15: Dwayne Haskins, QB (Ohio State)
- 1-26: Montez Sweat, DE (Mississippi State)
- 3-76: Terry McLaurin, WR (Ohio State)
- 4-112: Bryce Love, RB (Stanford)
- 4-131: Wes Martin, G (Indiana)
- 5-153: Ross Pierschbacher, C (Alabama)
- 5-173: Cole Holcomb, LB (North Carolina)
- 6-206: Kelvin Harmon, WR (North Carolina State)
- 7-227: Jimmy Moreland, CB (James Madison)
- 7-253: Jordan Brailford, DE (Oklahoma State): Signed
Kyshoen Jarrett Lands On Redskins' Staff
- Speaking of former players landing on staffs, former Redskins safety Kyshoen Jarrett will break into full-time coaching. Jarrett is now a Redskins defensive quality control coach, per NBC Sports Washington. Suffering a career-ending injury as a rookie, Jarrett worked as a Washington coaching intern last season.
Scherff Expects To Be Ready For Camp
- A torn pectoral muscle ended Brandon Scherff‘s fourth season, but there do not appear to be any complications in his return. Scherff expects to be ready for Redskins training camp. The fifth-year guard said (via Redskins.com) he was at around 90 percent when the Redskins started their offseason program late last month. In February, we heard Washington and its top guard began discussing an extension. But nothing has emerged on that front since. Scherff is entering his fifth-year option season.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/1/19
Today’s draft pick signings:
- The Redskins have signed seventh-round defensive end Jordan Brailford, according to his agents at DEC Management (Twitter link). Brailford, the second-to-last pick of the 2019 draft, should ink a four-year deal worth roughly $2.595MM, per Over the Cap. In his final season at Oklahoma State, Brailford appeared in 13 games and posted 38 tackles (17 for loss) and 10 sacks), but Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says he lacks the size and speed needed to play in space. Brailford will likely compete for backup and special teams duties during his rookie campaign.