Derek Carrier - Pro Football Rumors

Redskins Shopping TE Derek Carrier

August 30th, 2017 at 11:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins have discussed tight end Derek Carrier with multiple teams interested in trading for him, sources tell John Keim of ESPN.com.

Washington currently has a surplus of tight ends, as Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Niles Paul, rookie Jeremy Sprinkle, and Carrier are all vying for roster spots. While Carrier has been a productive camp and is viewed in a positive light by Redskins management, the club simply has too many bodies at the position, and only plans to keep four tight ends on the roster, per Keim.

The Redskins originally acquired Carrier from the 49ers prior to the 2015 season in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick. His stint in Washington has mostly been marred by injury, as a torn ACL prematurely ended his 2015 campaign and delayed the start of his 2016 season. All told, the 27-year-old Carrier has managed 19 receptions in 20 games in the nation’s capital.

Carrier has one year left on his contract, and will become an unrestricted free agent next spring. An acquiring club would take Carrier’s 2017 cap charge of roughly $1MM.

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Redskins, Rush

August 27th, 2017 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

During Friday’s preseason game, Austin Davis outplayed Trevone Boykin as the pair of Seahawks quarterbacks battled for the backup gig behind Russell Wilson. While Davis finished with a perfect quarterback rating, Boykin went 0-for-6 while tossing an interception. Despite the clear disparity in their performance, coach Pete Carroll was adamant that the organization won’t be basing their final decision on one game.

“I really think that we were just out of sync so much for the first 10, 12 plays there that Boykin just couldn’t get rolling,” Carroll said (via Stefanie Loh of the Seattle Times). “It just felt like we were out of whack for a bit. Austin came right in we kind of fit together very nicely.

“Trevone has had a really good preseason so far. I don’t think five to six passes he threw in this game should be in the final decision. I think he’s done very well.”

Of course, the team could decide to hang on to three quarterbacks, and Carroll seemingly left that possibility open.

“It’s a good idea if you can do it,” Carroll said. “They’re so important. It just depends on the rest of the roster.”

The Redskins could potentially trade a tight end before the regular season gets underway, opines John Keim of ESPN.com. Rookie fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle looks poised to serve as Washington’s third tight end behind Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, meaning the club’s final slot at the position will be filled by either Derek Carrier or Niles Paul. The one who doesn’t earn a roster spot could be dealt for either a reserve offensive lineman or a draft choice, per Keim, who adds that both Carrier and Paul would “hold value” to other NFL teams.
Cooper Rush will earn a place on the Cowboys‘ roster as a backup quarterback, as owner Jerry Jones says Dallas will not try to sneak Rush through waivers in order to stash him on the practice squad (link via Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com). Rush, an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan, is still in contention for the Cowboys’ No. 2 quarterback job behind Dak Prescott, although he’s competing with veteran Kellen Moore for that role. While Rush has completed 75% of his preseason passes for six touchdowns and no interceptions, Moore has posted a 54% completion rate, one touchdown, and one pick.
Just months after being selected in the fifth round of the draft, running back Jeremy McNichols is not a roster lock for the Buccaneers, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “He’s gonna get one final chance to show what he can do,” said head coach Dirk Koetter, referring to Tampa Bay’s final preseason game on Thursday. McNichols, who’s been shown having a hard time grasping the Buccaneers’ offense on Hard Knocks, only saw two plays on Saturday (including a failed blitz pickup) before being yanked, per Laine. While Doug Martin will miss the first three games of the season while on suspension, Tampa Bay has other backs to replace him, including Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, and Peyton Barber.
49ers defensive end Tank Carradine has played sparingly since being selected in the second-round of the 2013 draft. With only 36 games and 57 tackles over four seasons, some wondered whether Carradine could be looking for a new gig following the preseason. However, based on an evaluation from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, it sounds like the 28-year-old is a lock to make the roster. “With Tank, when I say ‘elite,’ I’m talking as a run-down, six-technique, someone who just can really dominate his edge and own the line of scrimmage,” Saleh said on NBC Sports Bay Area (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com).

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Redskins To Activate Derek Carrier

November 12th, 2016 at 1:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sidelined for nearly a year since seeing his most promising NFL season end early with a torn ACL and MCL, Derek Carrier is set to rejoin the Redskins’ 53-man roster. The fifth-year tight end and 2015 trade acquisition will be activated from the PUP list in advance of Sunday’s Redskins-Vikings game, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Carrier will fill Niles Paul‘s place as Washington’s third tight end behind Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. He’s been on the PUP since the team pared its roster to 75 players in August.

This continues the fluidity of the Redskins’ tight end corps behind Reed over the past two seasons, with recently re-signed Paul and Logan Paulsen no longer part of the equation. Reed has already missed time this season with the latest in a string of concussions, so Washington’s tight end depth has been tested this fall.

Traded from the 49ers after Paul and Paulsen went down last summer, Carrier started 11 games and played in 12 for the Redskins in 2015. The former UDFA caught 17 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown before tearing up his knee in early December. The 26-year-old Carrier has been running sprints with the team recently but hasn’t incorporated contact into his recovery routine yet.

Carrier has one season left on his rookie contract, being set to see his salary climb to just over $1MM next season. The former Division III performer played in just five games during his first two years in the league, delaying his service-time clock.

Redskins Down To 75

August 30th, 2016 at 4:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are now down to a 75-man roster. Minutes ago, the Redskins announced that they have placed tight end Derek Carrier on the PUP list and running back Keith Marshall on the reserve/injured list. The team also waived/injured wide receiver Reggie Diggs.

Those three moves were the final ones necessary for the team to comply with the Tuesday afternoon deadline. Earlier in the day, the Redskins released two notable defensive veterans in defensive end Stephen Paea and linebacker Perry Riley Jr. The Redskins’ current inside linebacker situation has Will Compton and Mason Foster as the starters with Martrell Spaight and Su’a Cravens among the backups. On the D-Line, the team’s recent signing of Cullen Jenkins made Paea expendable.

NFC Links: Saints, Washington, 49ers, Eagles, Lions

August 22nd, 2015 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are some notes from the NFC just before Week 2 of the preseason continues.

Before Washington agreed to a trade for 49ers tight end Derek Carrier, the Saints and Bears were interested in doing the same, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The Saints, in particular, now have a need at tight end, with 34-year-old Ben Watson possibly serving as their starter while the player previously thought to be ready to replace Jimmy Graham, Josh Hill, having an uneventful camp, per Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com.
Despite Nick Toon‘s struggles in training camp, the fourth-year receiver with just 21 career catches should make the 53-man roster, Terrell opines. She views R.J. Harris as a developmental player New Orleans hopes to have on its practice squad.
The Saints scribe, however, doesn’t view Anthony Spencer as a lock to make the roster with his health again serving as a deterrent. The veteran edge presence carries a $230K dead-money charge.
Carrier’s arrival represents one of the reasons Chris Cooley‘s last-ditch attempt to return to Washington is over, writes JP Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com. Aside from the fact Washington GM Scot McCloughan said Cooley would not be re-signed, the veteran’s inability to play special teams would get in the way of a potential return.
In what’s become a rebuilding look in San Francisco, the 49ers are building toward the future with their two summer trades, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. A source told Maiocco they insisted on acquiring 2017 draft choices in trades of Andy Lee to Cleveland and Carrier to Washington and now have nine picks in that draft. Maiocco also posits the team could trade a defensive lineman for a pick before roster cutdown day. With three compensatory picks projected, the 49ers have 12 selections in next year’s draft, along with two fifth- and seventh-round selections in 2017.
Safety Earl Wolff‘s waived/injured distinction will likely play out with the third-year performer receiving an injury settlement rather than going through to the Eagles‘ injured reserve, offers Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
Zach Zenner is pushing George Winn for the Lions‘ fourth tailback job behind Joique Bell, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Winn’s special teams value could still win out after Pro Football Focus ranked him as Detroit’s third-best special-teamer last year, but Zenner has shown more upside as a runner, per Meinke.

Washington Acquires Derek Carrier From 49ers

August 21st, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Luke Adams

5:33pm: According to Barrows (via Twitter), the pick the 49ers acquired from Washington in the Carrier swap is for 2017, not 2016. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Bears and Saints were also in the mix for Carrier before the Niners shipped him to D.C.

5:05pm: The 49ers have traded a tight end for the second time this week, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who reports (via Twitter) that Washington has acquired Derek Carrier from San Francisco. The Niners will get a fifth-round pick in exchange for Carrier, per Barrows.

On Tuesday, armed with a ton of tight end depth, the 49ers sent Asante Cleveland to the Patriots in exchange for offensive lineman Jordan Devey. At the time, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reported that both Cleveland and Carrier had been receiving trade interest, and since neither player was viewed as a lock to make San Francisco’s roster, it makes sense that they’d be traded.

Carrier, 25, saw his first real regular-season action on offense last year for the Niners, appearing in 11 games and grabbing nine balls for 105 yards. In Washington, he’ll have a clearer path to playing time, as the team will be without Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen this season — both players have sustained season-ending injuries during the preseason.

For their part, the 49ers will be hoping Carrier gets plenty of playing time in Washington. According to Barrows (via Twitter), the fifth-round pick San Francisco gets in the deal is a conditional selection. So if Carrier doesn’t reach certain thresholds for playing time and production, the Niners figure to get a lesser pick.

Pats Acquire Asante Cleveland From 49ers

August 18th, 2015 at 11:21am CST by Luke Adams

11:21am: The 49ers got a player from the Patriots in the deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that offensive lineman Jordan Devey is headed to San Francisco in the swap.

11:07am: The Patriots, always on the lookout for tight ends, have added a new one from the 49ers, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who reports that San Francisco has traded Asante Cleveland to New England. The return for the Niners isn’t known, but it’s hard to imagine the team getting more than a late-round pick, perhaps one that’s contingent on Cleveland making the Pats’ roster.

Maiocco reported earlier today (via Twitter) that the 49ers had been getting calls from teams interesting in trading for a tight end, with those clubs targeting Cleveland and Derek Carrier in particular. Even after moving Cleveland, the Niners may decide to trade another tight end, since the team is still carrying seven players at the position.

With Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler heading a depth chart that already featured six tight ends prior to the acquisition of Cleveland, the Patriots have no shortage of players at the position either. However, we’ve seen the New England offense put a strong emphasis on tight end play in recent years, so it makes sense that the club would want to stockpile as much talent and upside there as possible. In Cleveland, the Pats are getting a player who spent time on the 49ers’ roster and practice squad last year, and has yet to record his first NFL catch.

Meanwhile, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) hears from a source that the Patriots are cutting linebacker L.J. Fort today. We’ll have to wait for the official announcement on both transactions, but it looks as if Fort’s release could be the corresponding move for the acquisition of Cleveland.

Contract Details: McCourty, Jones, Moats, Ginn

March 9th, 2015 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few noteworthy contract details on deals recently agreed upon:

Devin McCourty, S (Patriots): Five years, $47.5MM base value. $15MM signing bonus. $28.5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
Jacoby Jones, WR (Chargers): Two years, $5.5MM base value. $1.6K signing bonus (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk).
Arthur Moats, OLB (Steelers): Three years, $7.5MM base value. $1.9MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
Ted Ginn Jr., WR (Panthers): Two years, $4.2MM base value. $1.7MM signing bonus. Up to $1.5MM in incentives (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
Derek Carrier, TE (49ers): Three years, $2.985MM base value. $400K signing bonus. About $1MM in escalators (Twitter link via Pelissero).

49ers, Derek Carrier Agree To Extension

March 9th, 2015 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers signed tight end Derek Carrier to a two-year contract extension through the 2017 season, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. The deal can be worth up to $3.3MM.

Carrier was set to become a restricted free agent next offseason but the 49ers decided to lock him up through the 2016 season, after which point he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Carrier, 25 in July, appeared in 11 games for San Francisco last season, recording nine catches for 105 yards.

Now, Carrier is expected to compete for the backup role behind starter Vernon Davis along with Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek, who was re-signed to a one-year deal on Friday.

Back in August, then-49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman spoke highly of Carrier who was seeing more reps in the wake of an injury to Celek.

“He’s got a chance to be a productive player in this league. There’s no doubt,” Roman said of the Division III product. “Derek’s got a nice feel for the passing game, he’s got good hands, and he can cover some ground now – he can really run. I don’t like to put timetables on people, but this a big year for him. He’s got a hell of an opportunity this year to really take a big step.”

49ers Announce Series Of Roster Moves

November 27th, 2014 at 3:11pm CST by Luke Adams

With tonight’s crucial divisional showdown against the Seahawks looming, the 49ers have made multiple changes to their 53-man roster, the team announced today in a press release. Tight end Garrett Celek has been activated from the physically unable to perform list, while tight end Asante Cleveland has been promoted to the active roster. To accommodate the additions, the club has waived linebacker Chase Thomas and placed tight end Derek Carrier on the injured reserve list.

Multiple injuries at the tight end position necessitated the Niners’ latest additions — besides Carrier, who had been sidelined with a foot injury and will now miss the rest of the season, tight end Vance McDonald is also banged up, dealing with a back ailment. Having been on the PUP list since August, it’s the first time Celek has been on the active roster this season, and the second game for Cleveland, who was briefly promoted in September before returning to the taxi squad.

As for Thomas, the 25-year-old was signed off the practice squad earlier this month and saw action in the Niners’ last three games. He looks like a candidate to return to the practice squad, assuming he clears waivers.