Raiders To Meet With Junior Galette
The Raiders are set to meet with linebacker Junior Galette, as John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. He adds that Galette has drawn interest from a “couple of teams” in free agency. 
Back in March, we heard that the Rams and Browns had interest in the Redskins free agent edge rusher. Still, he remains on the market here in April.
Galette was once a double-digit sack force with the Saints from 2013-14, but he profiles more as a rotation player due to off-field issues and injuries in recent years. After suffering torn Achilles tendons in both 2015 and 2016, Galette finally got in a full season with the Redskins in 2017, and looked strong as he played on on 37% of the team’s defensive snaps.
While he only posted three sacks, Galette managed 25 pressures and graded out the league’s No. 30 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Washington, at one point, working to retain Galette, but a return is no longer in the cards.
Most NFL teams are focused on younger players these days, but Jon Gruden has bucked the trend by adding several players around the age of 30 and beyond. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, running back Doug Martin, safety Marcus Gilchrist, and cornerbacks Shareece Wright and Leon Hall have been among those to join up with Oakland this offseason.
NFL Draft Rumors: Vander Esch, Steelers, Bills
The latest NFL Draft news:
- Linked to Leighton Vander Esch for several weeks this offseason, the Steelers met with the Boise State outside linebacker on Monday night, Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst reports. Pittsburgh has used first-round picks on either inside or outside ‘backers in four of its past five drafts. Three of those players remain on the team, but only two will be able to play this season. Ryan Shazier has been declared out as he attempts to recover from his frightening spine injury. Pauline wrote in March that Vander Esch won’t get past Pittsburgh at No. 28.
- Next up for Vander Esch met the Cowboys on Wednesday morning, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. After that, he has the Cardinals and every team picking between No. 12 to No. 24, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Aside from the aforementioned clubs, the teams picking from No. 12-24 are the Bills (twice), Redskins, Packers, Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks, Lions, Bengals, Bills, Patriots, and Panthers.
- LSU pass-rusher Arden Key met with the Saints and Lions before his pro day on Wednesday and will visit with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Due to injuries, key only started in eight games last year, but he still finished out with 33 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. He is widely projected to be a first round pick later this month.
Redskins To Re-Sign DT Phil Taylor
A former first-round pick, Phil Taylor has not played in a regular-season game since the 2014 season. But the Redskins remain curious to see if he can help their team.
Washington intends to re-sign the defensive tackle to a one-year deal, Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reports. Taylor will turn 30 this week and hasn’t seen game action since he was with the Browns four years ago, but Washington liked his work enough he was in position to be the 2017 Redskins’ starting nose tackle, per Clarke, prior to going down with a season-ending injury in August.
Taylor tore his left quadriceps muscle in a preseason game last year. The Redskins had signed him to a reserve/futures deal at the conclusion of their 2016 season. He went to training camp with the 2016 Broncos but didn’t make the team.
The No. 21 pick in the 2011 draft, Taylor started 42 games for the Browns from 2011-14. Injury trouble has plagued him throughout his career, though, and it would seem like he’s close to the end of the line if he cannot stay healthy after this latest opportunity.
Ziggy Hood operated as the Redskins’ primary nose tackle last season; Taylor would seem to be competing for a depth role at this juncture.
Jonathan Allen Unsure If He'll Be Ready For OTAs
The Redskins took defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in the first round of last year’s draft but he was limited to just the first five games of his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury. The Alabama alum is hopeful to be ready for the team’s voluntary OTAs in late April but is not making any guarantees.
“I’m going to be honest, the OTAs they start like end of April, and this will be my first time, so I would like to think so, but I mean, honestly, there’s no way of telling at this point,” Allen said to Stephen Czarda of Redskins.com. “I feel like I’m going to be in a good spot come OTAs, so I’m excited for that, and right now, I’m just taking it day by day just trying to grind.”
- In an interview with Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, newly-acquired Broncos defensive back Su’a Cravens continued to explain why he was optimistic about his new home compared to his time with the Redskins. “I was going through some personal issues with my family and I didn’t feel like myself,” Cravens said. “I did tell my teammates I was going to retire but I never officially retired. … The Redskins brought me in, they told me they wanted me to get checked out, make sure I was all right. I go to a doctor and he tells me I’m going through something I didn’t even know I was going through. He said this is the reason why you feel this way and you’re in no condition to be making these decisions because of this and I guarantee if you rehab and get yourself better, you won’t be feeling this way.Once I got cleared in December, it was like I was a completely different person. Looking back at myself I’m thinking, that’s crazy. I thought I was just messed up but come to find out, I was going through something I wasn’t even aware of.’’
Jordan Reed Will Miss Redskins’ OTAs
Having played in just 52 of a possible 80 regular-season games since being a Redskins 2013 draft choice, Jordan Reed remains mired in an injury battle. And it will be a bit before Washington sees him in action again.
When asked if his top tight end will be able to participate in OTAs this year, Jay Gruden replied, “Heck no.”
Gruden said (via Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington) Reed underwent a procedure on a toe that’s bothered him for many months. He finished last season on IR and experienced toe, foot and hamstring trouble last season, one featuring a career-low six games.
“We’ve taken the necessary steps to get him right. He’s had some procedure done on his toes and now it’s just a matter of the rehab,” Gruden said this week. “He’s been working hard at it. He’s been working on his upper body while his toes are recovering.
“Hopefully we’ll see a healthy, 100 percent Jordan by training camp.”
The soon-to-be 28-year-old pass-catcher missed the final two months of last season. He suffered a toe injury early in training camp last year, one revealed to be a fracture, but returned in time for Week 1. However, the malady ended up sidetracking Reed’s season. Reed not returning until this year’s camp will mean the toe injury and subsequent rehab will have taken up roughly a year of his career.
Reed caught 27 passes for 211 yards last season. He played in 12 games in 2016 and posted a 686-yard, six-touchdown campaign. He’s set to count $10.14MM toward Washington’s cap this year.
Contract Details: Mathieu, Pamphile, Watson, Weeden
Some details on recent free agent deals (all links via Twitter):
- Tyrann Mathieu, S (Texans): $2MM base salary in 2018. $4.5MM signing bonus, $500K worth of per-game bonus (via Mike Jurecki of ArizonaSports.com).
- Kevin Pamphile, OG (Titans): $1MM base salary, $400K guaranteed. $850K worth of incentives (via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe).
- Ben Watson, TE (Saints): One year, $2MM. $645K signing bonus/guaranteed (via Nick Underhill of The Advocate).
- Marcus Sherels, CB/PR (Vikings): Worth $1.4MM, base salary $1.05MM. $250K signing bonus, $500K guaranteed, $100K workout bonus (via ESPN’s Ben Goessling).
NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero also has signing bonus/guarantee details on players who signed one-year deals: TE Levine Toilolo $400K (Lions), LB Pernell McPhee $350K (Redskins), QB Brandon Weeden $90K (Texans), CB Leon Hall $45K (Raiders).
Minor NFL Transcations: 3/29/18
Today’s minor moves:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Washington Redskins
- Waived: RB LeShun Daniels
Did Redskins Have Any Leverage In Su'a Cravens Deal?
- Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post opines that the Redskins‘ haul from the Broncos for safety Su’a Cravens had much to do with the team’s lack of leverage in the situation. The Redskins and Broncos swapped fourth- and fifth-round picks for Cravens, with the Redskins picking up an additional fifth-round pick. Many had worried whether Cravens would be welcomed back into the Washington locker room. He sat out last season after suddenly announcing his retirement prior to the regular season. The Redskins took Cravens in the second round of the 2016 draft out of USC.
Broncos Acquire Su’a Cravens From Redskins
The Broncos have acquired strong safety Su’a Cravens from the Redskins. The deal will see a fifth-round pick (No. 163 overall) go to Washington in return (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News). 
Also, as part of the deal, the Broncos and Redskins will swap fourth- and fifth-round picks. The Broncos will move down from No. 109 to No. 113 in the fourth round and from No. 142 to No. 149 in the fifth round. The Redskins will also receive a sixth-round pick in 2020 if Cravens appears in a playoff game for Denver. There are a lot of components in this deal, but the Broncos are essentially acquiring a talented former second-round pick for a fifth-round choice and change.
Cravens decided late in the 2016 offseason to retire from football. The news caught the Redskins completely off guard as they were banking on Cravens to start at one of their safety spots. The youngster reversed his decision hours later, but the Redskins were still skeptical about his desire to continue playing. After a short stay on the NFI list, the Redskins parked him on the reserve/left squad list, barring him from playing in 2017.
The versatile defender was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome, according to a statement released by his agent late last year, but he is now “asymptomatic and cleared to return back to all things football.” The Redskins insisted that they would not trade Cravens this offseason, but they either had a change of heart or were not being entirely truthful.
“We’re not trading him,” coach Jay Gruden said just weeks ago. “I just saw that on the ticker. He’s still a member of this football team and we have every intention of seeing where he’s at. I’ll have to talk to him and see where he’s at mentally. Physically, I know he’s going to be in great shape. The big thing is, is this something that he wants to do? He has to commit to it full time. He’s a good football player, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a great kid. I’m sure it will work out for him.”
The Broncos’ faith in safeties Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons, and Will Parks led them to part ways with former Pro Bowler T.J. Ward last September. If Cravens is healthy and ready to rededicate himself to football, Simmons or Stewart could be displaced from the starting lineup with Parks pushed a bit further down the depth chart. Simmons was arguably Denver’s best safety in 2017 and he plays at strong safety, so it will be an interesting situation to watch. Cravens may also see time at linebacker, as he did in his rookie season with the Redskins.
As a rookie, Cravens tallied 34 tackles, one sack, five passes defended, and one interception. In his ten games, Cravens graded out as the league’s No. 27 linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.
Redskins Notes: Hankins, Logan
- Free agent defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is in a holding pattern with the Redskins after meeting with the club last week, as John Keim of ESPN.com writes. Asking price could be an issue, as Keim indicated Washington views Hankins as a potential complementary piece of its run defense rather than a key cog. As such, Hankins may not be in the Redskins’ plans unless his cost comes down. Fellow interior lineman Bennie Logan remains under consideration, but given that Washington has yet to schedule a visit, its interest clearly isn’t serious. If neither Hankins nor Logan end up in the nation’s capital, the Redskins should be expected to target defensive tackle help through the draft.