Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: DT Daniel Ross
New England Patriots
- Waived: G Ross Reynolds
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DL T.J. Carter
With the Jets having traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers, their quarterback path has become fairly clear. Zach Wilson is expected to head to the Big Apple at No. 2 overall. However, the Jets are not believed to have received strong interest in their rather valuable draft choice even prior to the Darnold deal.
In addition to the Jets having received little interest in the draft’s second selection, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Podcast they have not received an offer for the pick (video link). This proves interesting, given the haul the 49ers parted with for the Dolphins’ No. 3 overall choice.
[RELATED: 49ers expressed interest in Sam Darnold]
Ahead of free agency, the 49ers inquired about what it would take to acquire Darnold. The Jets, however, were still in the process of determining their QB route. Other teams, including the 49ers, moved on, resulting in the Jets collecting a 2021 sixth-round pick and 2022 second- and fourth-round selections for Darnold. While the Jets and 49ers having discussed Darnold, they are not believed to have held talks about the No. 2 pick. With the 49ers sending the Dolphins No. 12 and two future first-rounders for No. 3, the Jets likely did wonder why the Niners did not ask about their pick, Rapoport adds.
Part of the reason behind the Jets receiving little interest for their pick stems from the league believing they will use it on Wilson and move forward with a rookie-contract passer for the next three-plus years. They join the Jaguars in being essentially locked in on a certain quarterback with their pick.
Douglas said this week the Jets would likely have been preparing for another Darnold QB1 season had they not obtained the No. 2 overall pick, so it would have taken a monster haul for the 49ers to move up. The 49ers, who did contact the Falcons and Bengals about the Nos. 4 and 5 picks, opted to climb nine spots instead of 10. Trades involving the No. 2 pick commenced in 2012, 2016 and ’17 — for Robert Griffin III, Carson Wentz and Mitchell Trubisky, respectively, though the Bears only traded up one spot for their preferred passer — but it does not look like a major deal will transpire this year.
No deal has been reached between the NFL and NFLPA regarding how offseason work will be structured, but the union has pushed for a second virtual offseason. Its president would like to drive a hard line here.
Second-year NFLPA president J.C. Tretter said on a call with players Friday he would urge players to boycott OTAs, if no deal is reached by April 19 and teams move to hold onsite work, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. While this would risk workout bonuses, Pelissero notes only around 300 players have such incentives in their contracts for 2021 (Twitter link).
While it is uncertain how much onsite work will take place this offseason, OTAs are expected to resume in some capacity. These are voluntary activities, but teams generally expect most players to attend. They do prove beneficial, particularly to young players aiming to solidify jobs, so a call for an en masse boycott would certainly qualify as a major decision. June minicamps, which have yet to be scheduled for this year, serve as the only mandatory offseason activity. Teams cannot fine players for skipping OTAs. Of course, that would not stop franchises from making different plans at certain positions based on offseason attendance.
Roger Goodell said in February he expected certain virtual elements to remain in place this year. In the weeks since, however, momentum has emerged for onsite work to take place again. With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the country and the sports world, the NFLPA has attempted to push back on a return to in-person workouts this spring. Tretter’s boycott call would ratchet this up considerably.
Karl Joseph will return to the Raiders. The former Oakland first-round pick, who landed in Cleveland last year, agreed to terms with his former team Friday after trekking to Las Vegas for a visit.
The Raiders drafted Joseph in the 2016 first round and used him as a starting safety for most of his tenure. Joseph, who also visited the Steelers this offseason, will return to help fill the Silver and Black fill a major need.
This move comes nearly two years after the Raiders passed on Joseph’s 2020 option season. The West Virginia product’s initial Raiders run ended earlier, with a foot injury halting his 2019 season midway through. Joseph will now rejoin Johnathan Abrams on the Raiders’ defensive back line. These two started in Week 1 of the 2019 season, but Abrams’ season-ending injury that night made he and Joseph’s on-field time together brief.
Last season, Joseph started eight Browns games — out of the 14 he played — and finished with his worst Pro Football Focus assessment. PFF viewed Joseph as better during his Raiders seasons but slotted him outside the top 70 safeties last season. The 27-year-old defender made 67 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles with Cleveland. He added a playoff interception in Kansas City, doing so after spending time on the Browns’ reserve/COVID-19 list late last season.
Las Vegas may still be in play for a safety in the draft, but Joseph minimizes that need. The Raiders have experienced rampant trouble in pass defense over the past decade and change; their issues last season led Jon Gruden to fire DC Paul Guenther. Gus Bradley will call the shots next season, giving Joseph a third defensive system in three seasons and a fourth over the past five. PFF graded Joseph as a top-25 safety in 2018, his most recent full season with the Raiders, and he has started 41 games with team. It should be expected he will add to that total in 2021.
The Ravens submitted JuJu Smith-Schuster a better offer than the Steelers did, but the former Pro Bowl wide receiver opted to stay in Pittsburgh. Baltimore was not his second choice, either.
Had Smith-Schuster not ultimately decided to stay with the Steelers, he would have joined the Chiefs. Andy Reid continued to text images of the Vince Lombardi trophy to the 24-year-old wideout, and Smith-Schuster confirmed Kansas City was his second choice.
“I think, just seeing K.C. and bro, Andy Reid was just calling me and he was sending me Lombardi Trophy pictures like constantly. We had a good talk, so it would’ve been K.C. after the Steelers,” Smith-Schuster said during an appearance on the Michael Irvin Podcast (via NFL.com).
Smith-Schuster would have replaced Sammy Watkins alongside Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in the Chiefs’ historically loaded pass offense. Watkins ended up signing with the Ravens, who had issues convincing acclaimed receivers to sign this offseason. The Ravens also offered T.Y. Hilton more money than the Colts did, but the veteran wideout stayed in Indianapolis. Smith-Schuster indicated Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson-centered run scheme became an issue as he considered a possible intra-AFC North jump.
“[Playing for a rival], too, and I’m curious to see how they’re going to be this year having Sammy Watkins and how they’re going to use him and throwing the ball and stuff like that,” Smith-Schuster said of the Ravens. “Lamar’s a really, a heavy run offense with the backs that he has. I just point being facts. His No. 1 target was [Mark] Andrews, who’s a tight end.”
New Ravens receivers coach Tee Martin, who coached Smith-Schuster at USC, began Baltimore’s recruitment. Jackson and John Harbaugh contacted Smith-Schuster as well. The Ravens are believed to have offered Smith-Schuster a $9MM salary with $4MM in incentives. He re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year, $8MM deal.
“Tee Martin was a coach at USC who coached me, he ended up going to the Ravens and he reached out and that’s how that process started. Lamar reached out, the head coach called, Marlon Humphrey‘s hitting me up,” Smith-Schuster said. “It starts getting serious when the players start texting you and hit you up like, ‘Yo, what’s up, bro? What we doing? Come win.’ All respect to them, and it was cool. But I think with me it’s more so staying home, staying loyal. In my situation, we have a new OC, Ben’s coming back, my relationship with my receiver coach, Ike Hilliard, is amazing. You can’t beat that.”
Reprising his role in an increasingly pass-heavy Steelers offense, Smith-Schuster will have a chance to re-enter free agency in 2022. The Chiefs, who also finished second in the Trent Williams sweepstakes, are likely still on the hunt for a receiver to replace Watkins.
Washington’s Thaddeus Moss UDFA signing generated interest due to the team’s need at the tight end position at the time and the name-brand appeal the LSU alum carried. But Moss did not play last season, spending it on IR. He is now on the waiver wire.
Washington waived the second-generation pro Friday. In addition to the Moss cut, Washington cut defensive lineman Caleb Brantley. The former late-round pick opted out of the 2020 season.
The son of Hall of Famer Randy Moss, Thaddeus was part of LSU’s historically explosive offense in 2019. He joined Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Terrace Marshall Jr. as a key Tigers pass catcher that season, hauling in 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those came in the national championship game.
After doctors discovered a fracture in Moss’ foot at the Combine, he missed extensive training camp time. Washington waived him with an injury designation ahead of last season. He spent the season on Washington’s IR list. Although Washington was light at the tight end position going into last season, ex-quarterback Logan Thomas broke through and filled that need.
The Browns drafted Brantley in the 2017 sixth round, but the former Florida Gator has not seen much action as a pro. After recording two sacks in 12 games as a rookie, Brantley has played in just eight over the past three years. Washington also waived wide receiver Emanuel Hall and running backs Javon Leake and Michael Warren on Friday.
Justin Houston stands as one of the best free agents left unsigned. A door still appears open for Houston to return to the Colts, but they now have competition. The Ravens are set to meet with the veteran edge rusher next week, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets.
It sounds like the Ravens will take an in-depth look at this need area. They plan to bring in more pass rushers on visits soon, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (on Twitter). The market also features the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Ryan Kerrigan, Melvin Ingram, Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen. Some of these unsigned talents may be on track for Ravens visits.
The Ravens taking a long look here certainly adds up. They lost their top two edge players last month, with Matt Judon signing with the Patriots and Yannick Ngakoue joining the Raiders. Baltimore did re-sign Pernell McPhee yet again, and the team also kept Tyus Bowser. While former mid-major sack standout Jaylon Ferguson also remains on the Ravens’ roster, it is possible the team is looking for multiple starters.
Houston, 32, spent the past two seasons in Indianapolis. The former Chiefs Pro Bowler managed to both stay healthy and serve as the Colts’ top outside rusher, compiling 19 sacks in two Indy seasons. A recent report indicated the Colts have remained in contact with Houston. They have company now. While Houston dealt with injuries for much of his second Chiefs contract, he did not miss a game as a Colt. The 10-year veteran has four double-digit sack seasons on his resume, which is topped by the virtuoso 22-sack effort from 2014.
The market remains fairly deep at this position, at least among older vets seeking third contracts. Kerrigan played out his second Washington deal, doing so after seeing the team draft edges with its two most recent first-round picks. Ingram’s push for a third Chargers deal did not come to fruition. Ingram visited the Chiefs recently, while the Bengals brought in Kerrigan. After seeing Montez Sweat and Chase Young relegate him to a bench role for much of last season, Washington’s all-time sack leader wants to be a starter again in 2021.
Clowney emerged on the Ravens’ radar last year, but with free agents unable to visit teams throughout the 2020 offseason, he ended up taking a one-year Titans deal late last summer. After struggling in Tennessee and dealing with more injury trouble, Clowney’s price tag has dropped. The former No. 1 overall pick has visited the Browns and is expecting to be cleared for full football work this month.
Trey Lance’s second pro day has been officially scheduled. The North Dakota State product will show his stuff on April 19th, as ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen tweets. 
[RELATED: Fields Set For Pro Day No. 2]
Lance will re-take the field ten days before the draft and five days after Ohio State’s Justin Fields holds his second session on Wednesday, April 14. 49ers GM John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan did not attend Lance’s first session, so the hope is that they’ll show up for pro day part two. The Niners haven’t necessarily ruled out Lance. That showcase came before SF traded for the No. 3 overall pick, so Lynch and Shanahan kept their distance in order to keep their plans under wraps.
Depending on who you ask, Lance may be trailing Alabama’s Mac Jones in the bid to be drafted third overall. Still, Lance offers tons of potential, as demonstrated in his 2019 season. That year, Lance went off for 28 passing touchdowns, zero interceptions, and 1,100 yards on the ground.
The Bears have re-signed defensive back Michael Joseph to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Joseph went undrafted in 2018 out of Division III Dubuque but found a home with the Bears. After spending most of his early career on the practice squad, he was promoted to the 53-man roster towards the end of 2019. Last year, things were put on pause — Joseph was placed on IR in late August, then parked on the reserve/COVID-19 list in October.
It’s been an unusual journey for Joseph, who has been under the radar since his high school days. In fact, he didn’t even start for his high school football team.
“Junior year, I didn’t play at all and senior year, if the team was up big I’d get in, but the last seven games I don’t think I played,” said Joseph, who was 5’2″ as a frosh (via the Chicago Tribune). “It was definitely frustrating. I kept it to myself, but football was my No. 1 thing. I wanted to play big-time football.”
This year, he’ll fight for a steady role in the CB group — one that will likely see the arrival of an early-draft talent.
Damarious Randall is staying put. Meanwhile, he’ll also be changing positions. On Friday, the Seahawks announced that they have re-signed the veteran for the 2021 season. They also disclosed that he’ll be utilized as a cornerback, rather than safety. 
[RELATED: Richard Sherman Open To Seahawks Return]
Randall has moved around the secondary throughout his career. A safety at Arizona State, the Packers played Randall at cornerback. Then, after three years, he was traded to the Browns, where he was moved over to safety. That’s where the Seahawks kept him last year — Randall saw time in ten games off the bench last year. He was mostly used on special teams but, when he was on D, he was deployed as a free safety.
Randall, a 2015 first-round pick started 30 of his 39 games for the Packers. All in all, he notched ten interceptions, 32 passes defensed, and 144 tackles for his original club. Then, he started 26 games across two years for the Browns. Those combined Cleveland years saw four interceptions, 2.5 sacks, 15 passes defensed, and 146 tackles.
It’s a logical move by the Seahawks, who have lost Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar to free agency. Now, Randall will be penciled in as a CB along with D.J. Reed, Tre Flowers, and one-time rival Ahkello Witherspoon. The Seahawks could still shop for corners in the draft and free agency, but Randall’s shift may rule out a reunion with old pal Richard Sherman.