Tag: waiver

Ex-Eagles DE Derek Barnett would be a worthwhile waiver claim for the Saints

The Saints have nothing to lose by submitting a waiver claim on Derek Barnett. The former Eagle is affordable and their pass rush needs all the help it can get:

A veteran pass rusher is suddenly available with the Philadelphia Eagles choosing to waive defensive end Derek Barnett after a few years of lukewarm trade rumors. And the New Orleans Saints would be wise to try and pick him up off the waiver wire.

Barnett was Philadelphia’s first round pick back in 2017, selected three slots after the Saints took cornerback Marshon Lattimore; the former Tennessee Volunteer had a solid start to his career as a pressure player off the edge, but he lost his 2022 season to a torn ACL and returned to a diminished role in 2023.

So why would he fit the Saints? New Orleans is tied for the second-fewest sacks in the NFL this season (18). They rank eighth-lowest in pressure rate (18.2%) at Pro Football Reference. Anyone watching their games can tell that their defensive line is a slow unit that struggles to finish plays. Even if Barnett isn’t the same player he once was, he could be an upgrade over other players in their depth chart.

It helps his case that Barnett is affordable — ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the Eagles restructured his contract prior to waiving him, which means an acquiring team like the Saints would only be on the hook for $420,000 in base salary for the rest of this season. That’s a very easy fit even for New Orleans’ complicated salary cap spreadsheet.

Plus, the Saints are slotted pretty high in waiver claim priority after suffering back-to-back losses in recent weeks. They should fall at No. 12 out of the 32 teams. If they want Barnett, there’s a decent chance they could get him. With Cameron Jordan dealing with an ankle injury from Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons and Jason Pierre-Paul not making much impact behind Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon (Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner aren’t ready to return to action just yet, either), the Saints have nothing to lose by at least kicking the tires on Barnett and seeing if he can play.

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Packers watching the tight end waiver wire market following roster cuts

The Packers may need to make a waiver wire addition at tight end following final cuts on Tuesday.

With roster cutdown day here around the NFL, the Green Bay Packers will be keeping a close eye on the tight end waiver wire market.

Currently, the Packers have just two tight ends on their roster in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, with Josiah Deguara technically being a fullback, and the team releasing Austin Davis on Tuesday morning—although it does sound like Green Bay would like to have him back on the practice squad.

The Packers have a void at the position after losing Tyler Davis for the season, not only from a pure numbers standpoint, but also in regards to blocking and special teams. As a result, when meeting with the media recently, GM Brian Gutekunst did say that the team would be keeping a close eye on the waiver wire as roster cuts are made at this position group.

“I like our group as it is right now,” said Gutekunst prior to the preseason game with New England. “But that’s certainly something we will look at as we get to the cutdown day and beyond. Losing Tyler that’s a big loss for us because of all the things he did on offense and special teams, and he was a bit of a core leader for us.”

Musgrave will be tasked with handling pass catching responsibilities at the position — along with blocking — and bring playmaking to the position, but what the Packers are in need of, and what Davis was able to add to this offense, is the more traditional Y-tight end, who can line up in-line and handle blocking duties. The hope is that this can be a part of Kraft’s role at some point, but blocking, in particular, comes with a very steep learning curve for rookies, as we’ve seen this summer from both Musgrave and Kraft.

Unless the Packers plan to have Deguara abandon his fullback duties, which, I’m going to guess they ideally don’t want to do, this is a need within the offense that has to be shored up, especially with how important of a role the blocking tight end plays in Matt LaFleur’s system.

There is also the special teams component that Davis brought to this Packers team as well, leading the unit in total snaps in 2022, playing a wide variety of roles across several different phases. Rich Bisaccia recently said that losing Davis, to some degree, is like “losing our right hand.” LaFleur mentioned that it could take two players to make up for Davis’ lost impact on special teams.

For players who are released with fewer than four accrued NFL seasons, they go on waivers. Based on last year’s standings, the Packers are currently 15th in waiver wire priority, meaning that if any of the 14 teams ahead of them put in a claim on the same player, the Packers will miss out. If a player with four or more accrued NFL seasons is released, they immediately become a free agent and can sign wherever they please.

How the Packers go about handling the tight end position is going to be very fluid early on this season, and they aren’t going to make an addition just for the sake of doing so—it has to be for the right player. LaFleur said recently that the team would be comfortable going into the season with just three tight ends (including Deguara), in part because of their depth at receiver and willingness to put a sixth offensive lineman on the field, something we’ve seen the Packers do in the past when without Marcedes Lewis. This could be one way to get Rasheed Walker or Yosh Nijman some snaps.

But with that said, you can bet that the Packers are going to have a close eye on what happens around the league on Tuesday, to potentially build up their tight end depth, specially with someone who can make an immediate impact as a blocker.

“Somebody is going to have fill that role,” added Gutekunst about not having Davis. “I think everybody is going to have to pick it up a little bit to get beyond that, but I think we will always be looking at that spot.”

New Texans defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth could bolster team’s pass rush

Stallworth tallied three sacks in 2021 in a low-usage role for the Indianapolis #Colts

It isn’t often that a team acquires a premium talent off waivers, but the Houston Texans managed to do just that with their claim of defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth on Wednesday. The fifth-year lineman has bounced around the league since signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018 but put up impressive numbers in limited action last season for the Indianapolis Colts.

He played in all 16 games for Indianapolis in 2021, but started just once. in these appearances, he managed to get to the quarterback three times and tallied a total of 16 tackles as well as one pass defense. Though these stats are relatively modest compared to those of other players who are in starting roles around the league, they moved the needle enough for the Kansas City Chiefs to sign him in free agency back in April and kept him around on Steve Spagnuolo’s defense until the team waived him on Tuesday.

Stallworth will have a chance to compete for a rotational role in Houston as a situational pass rusher who can fill in for the Texans’ starters on grueling drives that necessitate fresh legs up front. He should have no problem making an impact on the team in the near future, assuming that they decide to activate him in the final games on their 2022 schedule.

That opportunity may not come, though, as the Texans have been slow to give players previously claimed on waivers a chance to show what they can do for Houston’s offense. Eno Benjamin and Amari Rodgers, who were claimed by the team weeks ago, are still waiting for their shot to see the field despite the team’s struggle with offensive production in recent matchups.

Time will tell if Stallworth pans out as a viable option for the Texans’ defense, but for now, he should be considered a low-risk high-reward addition to the roster that may have upside as a piece in the team’s 2023 rebuild.

Report: 3 different teams filed waiver claims for former Saints RB Tony Jones Jr.

Report: 3 different teams filed waiver claims for former Saints running back Tony Jones Jr.

It’s annoying to see the New Orleans Saints lose a player and get nothing back in compensation, but it’s important to acknowledge this was a risk they were willing to take. And it was reasonable to think a running back with just two carries this season wouldn’t have had a problem clearing the waiver wire.

But that wasn’t the case — ESPN’s Field Yates reports that three different teams filed waiver claims for former Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. when the team let him go earlier this week. New Orleans may have had designs for Jones to return to their practice squad after going unclaimed, but several other teams were waiting for him to become available, and now he’ll be running for another squad.

To be totally honest, it isn’t that big of a loss. Jones was a healthy inactive twice this season before the Saints chose to waive him. He’s logged 59 rushing attempts for 163 yards (2.8 yards per carry) in his three-year NFL career, catching 7 of 10 targets to gain another 41 yards. He wasn’t going to get many snaps behind Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II, and Dwayne Washington. But it is another hit to a weak area on the depth chart that’s struggled through the first five weeks of the season.

Anyway — here are the teams that submitted waiver claims for Jones:

PGA Tour denies players permission to play Saudi-funded event next month

It had been expected that the PGA Tour would grant waivers for the LIV Golf Invitational event near London.

The PGA Tour has denied its members permission to play in the Saudi-funded golf tournament in London next month. The denials were sent to players who had sought permission late Tuesday afternoon.

It had been expected that the PGA Tour would grant waivers for the LIV Golf Invitational event near London because of a precedent allowing players limited releases for overseas events. (All members are required to seek a conflicting event release to compete in non-Tour events.)

However, it is thought the decision is based on a belief that the event in the U.K. is effectively part of a rival series. LIV Golf, which is funded by the Saudi Arabian regime, has announced a schedule of eight tournaments — the second of which is due to be played July 1-3 in Portland, Oregon — with plans for more to come.

A PGA Tour spokesperson declined to confirm any details regarding what was communicated to members on the releases.

Among those who have acknowledged applying for permission to play the tournament—which has a $25 million purse—are Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. Players who defy the Tour and play without a green light would be subject to disciplinary action. It is unclear if any player will choose to do that, or if anyone will try to litigate the Tour’s right to influence his schedule.

One player, who spoke with Golfweek under the condition of anonymity, said he has since been monitoring the reaction of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.

“I’m for sure weighing up the pros and cons of making a jump like this. What Jay decides is a hugely important part of that. Asking permission to play an international ‘tour’ event is something I’ve done with the PGA Tour since I first took my card many years ago,” the player said. “I understand the initial construct of this LIV tour was destructive in nature if the PGA Tour didn’t want part of it. Here in the short term, the events are being scheduled to be as non-conflicting as possible which is difficult to do. As a player who plays multiple tours, conflicting events is something we always deal with and I don’t see how the LIV tour is any different until it’s 48 guys locked in for 14 events a season.”

Next Tuesday, May 17, is the deadline by which players must request waivers to compete in the second Saudi event, which will be held July 1-3 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon. PGA Tour policy does not permit releases to be granted for events played against its own schedule in North America, so no applications for that tournament were expected to be granted.

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A los Bengals les tomó menos de 1 hora recontratar y luego dispensar al ofensivo Fred Johnson

Pareciera que, tras pasar tres temporadas con la franquicia que hoy necesita toda la ayuda que pueda conseguir de la línea ofensiva, el jugador ofensivo Fred Johnson iba a volver a firmar con los Cincinnati Bengals. Pero algo pasó la mañana del …

Pareciera que, tras pasar tres temporadas con la franquicia que hoy necesita toda la ayuda que pueda conseguir de la línea ofensiva, el jugador ofensivo Fred Johnson iba a volver a firmar con los Cincinnati Bengals.

Pero algo pasó la mañana del martes que lo hizo pasar de haber vuelto a firmar con los campeones de la AFC a aplicar la exención en su contato… todo en menos de una hora.

Les explicamos: esta postemporada, Johnson era un agente libre restringido, y a las 9:30 a.m. ET. los Bengals anunciaron que habían vuelto a firmar con él.

Casi 30 minutos después, Adam Schefter de ESPN reportó que a Johnson… le estaban aplicando la exención y dispensa de su contrato. Eso fue después de que el equipo firmara a La’el Collins, el tackle que antes jugaba con los Cowboys, situación que podría explicar lo que pasó aquí.

Traducción: Actualización en la alineación: hemos vuelto a firmar con el agente libre restringido OT Fred Johnson por un contrato de un año para la temporada 2022.

 

Traducción: Algo único: Según fuentes, los Bengals están ejecutando la exención del contrato al OL Fred Johnson. Recientemente, Johnson había firmado su propuesta como agente libre restringido, pero tras firmar al OT La’el Collins, los Bengals decidieron ejecutar la exención de Johnson, que puede ser solicitado con exenciones. Así que los equipos y los jugadores pueden, y lo han hecho, cambiar de opinión.

 

El tl;dr (demasiado largo, no leí):

Traducción: Fred Johnson hoy:

 

¡Esto no es algo que se ve todos los días!

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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Lions waive running back Kerryon Johnson

The Detroit Lions have waived running back Kerryon Johnson.

The Detroit Lions are shaking up their running back stable.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Lions are waiving running back Kerryon Johnson. The former 2018 second-round pick from Auburn tallied 1,225 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on his 283 career carries in Detroit. The 23-year-old started in 16 of his 34 games played over the past three seasons with a 4.3 yards per carry.

Johnson had a down season in 2020 with just 181 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries, a downtick from his 2019 season that saw the 5-11, 211-pound back produce 403 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries.

The former Alabama Madison Academy product could never build upon his rookie season, where he rushed 118 times fro 641 yards and three touchdowns. In his last year with the Lions, Johnson saw his role diminish as Adrian Peterson and D’Andre Swift took the bulk of the carries.

Detroit selected a running back in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft in former Oregon State back Jermar Jefferson.

Dwayne Haskins goes unclaimed on waivers; becomes a free agent

Dwayne Haskins was not claimed by any teams in the NFL, and will now be a free agent, able to sign with whichever team gives him a chance.

To no major surprise, former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins has gone unclaimed on the waiver wire after being released by the team on Monday afternoon.

Teams had until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to put a claim in for Haskins, where they would have been able to add him to the team and pick up the remaining money left on his rookie contract, where he is still owed approximately $4.26 million. Now that no claim was put in, Haskins will become a free agent, and Washington will be responsible for over $8 million in a dead cap hit for the former first-round pick.

Haskins was released on Monday with the explanation from Ron Rivera being that it likely benefited both parties to start fresh separately from eachother. After a tough sophomore season that ended with a tumultuous week, Haskins is now searching for his next opportunity in the NFL.

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SEC approves intraconference transfer waivers due to COVID-19

The ruling allows a handful of players who transferred following the 2019 season to gain eligibility this fall.

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The SEC made a bit of a surprising decision on Wednesday when it announced that it would be breaking from its usual protocol regarding intraconference transfer requests, citing “unique circumstances.”

The ruling allows a handful of players who transferred following the 2019 season to gain eligibility this fall.

Generally, SEC policy toward intraconference transfers has required them to sit out a year at their new institution before being eligible to play. With the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19, the conference is relaxing this policy.

This allows several high-profile transfers, namely Kentucky quarterback Joey Gatewood and Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays, who transferred from Auburn and Georgia, respectively, to compete.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey elaborated on the league’s decision, making it clear that the decision was a product of the circumstances of this season.

“It must be stated unequivocally that these approvals are solely a reflection of the unique circumstances present and should not be interpreted as endorsement of the rationale set forth by individuals seeking these waivers,” Sankey said in a statement. “These are unprecedented times in which decisions about eligibility and competitive opportunities demand consideration of the current challenges facing our student-athletes and schools as a result of COVID-19.

“In a non-COVID environment there may have been a different outcome for some of the waiver requests determined today.”

Sankey said this rule change is just for this season, although he conceded that a changing national landscape with regard to allowing players to be immediately eligible after transferring necessitates a revision of the rule this coming offseason.

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Lions make zero waiver claims, lose RB Jason Huntley to the Eagles

The Detroit Lions make zero waiver claims after they established their initial 53-man roster, and lose fifth-round running back Jason Huntley to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Detroit Lions made zero waiver claims after they established their initial 53-man roster, and lost fifth-round running back Jason Huntley to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a typical year, the NFL averages 41 waiver claims after the initial roster cuts. This year, with the COVID-19 pandemic eliminating the preseason and impacting scouts from getting solid reads on bubble players, only 17 players were claimed.

The Lions’, despite having the third overall waiver claim option — which they will carry through Week 3 of the regular season — did not feel the need to add any players to their established roster.

With the Lions planning on adding running back Adrian Peterson to their active roster, they had a crowded running backs room and something had to give. The team elected to waive Huntley and try to pass him through waivers but were unable to make that happen as the Eagles swooped in and snagged him.

Huntley will now be placed on the Eagles active roster and will likely take over their fourth running back role, competing with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Corey Clement for snaps.