Thursday’s taxi squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Michael Barrett
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Andre Chachere
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Jack Stoll, TE Kevin Foelsch
- Released: S Caden Sterns
Today’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Angelo Blackson
- Released: DT Tyler Manoa
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Azizi Hearn, DE DeShawn Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Geoff Swaim
- Released: WR Lideatrick Griffin, CB Justin Hardee
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Johnny Lumpkin, WR T.J. Luther
- Released: RB La’Mical Perine, WR Jalen Wayne
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Desmond King, CB Troy Pride Jr.
- Released: S Mark Perry
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Kelvin Joseph
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Zech McPhearson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Jeshaun Jones
- Released: CB Jaylin Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Jaquelin Roy
- Released: G Jerome Carvin
New York Giants
- Signed: G Cade Mays
- Released: T Marcellus Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Danny Gray, CB AJ Woods
- Released: WR Griffin Hebert, LB Brandon Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Shaquan Davis
- Released: LB Marcus Haynes
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DE Jonathan Garvin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Ty Scott
- Released: LB Michael Barrett
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Tay Martin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: T Anim Dankwah
Here is how the now-Mike Macdonald-led Seahawks reduced their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- S Marquise Blair
- CB Artie Burns
- LB Blake Lynch
- QB P.J. Walker
Waived:
- LB Sundiata Anderson
- LB Michael Barrett
- DT Kyon Barrs
- CB Lance Boykin
- LB Nelson Ceaser
- T/G McClendon Curtis
- WR Dee Eskridge
- TE Michael Ezeike
- TE Devon Garrison
- LB Easton Gibbs
- T Garret Greenfield
- WR Hayden Hatten
- RB George Holani
- CB D.J. James
- CB Carlton Johnson
- DT Mario Kendricks
- DT DeVere Levelston
- RB Kobe Lewis
- TE Tyler Mabry
- G Ilm Manning
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- S Ty Okada
- T Raiqwon O’Neal
- T Max Pircher
- LB Jon Rhattigan
- RB Kairee Robinson
- WR Ty Scott
- LB Jamie Sheriff
- WR Cody White
- WR Easop Winston
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Injury trouble lingers for Lucas, who missed a chunk of last season because of an injury Pete Carroll labeled “chronic.” While the Seahawks’ new staff pushed back on that, the team’s right tackle starter is once again out of commission. Lucas, who started alongside Charles Cross as rookies in 2022, has started all 22 games he has played. But that only included six contests last year. Lucas must miss at least four games due to Tuesday’s designation. Lucas, who underwent knee surgery this offseason, also dealt with a shoulder issue heading into his second season.
The Seahawks brought back George Fant, who filled in as a Texans spot starter at RT last season. Fant’s presence becomes more important in light of this latest Lucas injury news. The player Fant was primarily competing with, Curtis, received cut notice today as well.
Macdonald and OC Ryan Grubb are not keeping Eskridge around, representing a miss for GM John Schneider. The Seahawks made Eskridge their top pick in the 2021 draft, which began in the second round due to the Jamal Adams trade. The Western Michigan alum has been unable to catch on. He has 17 career catches for 122 yards, with injuries intervening along the way. The Seahawks further addressed the issue by taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba in last year’s first round, but they have needed to devote considerable resources to stocking their WR positions.
Burns figures to be a candidate to come back soon, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, who notes the former first-rounder enjoyed a good training camp and worked as the team’s starting slot corner at points. The Seahawks also cut one of the players they just acquired in a trade. Barrett, obtained from the Panthers, could be kept on the practice squad if he clears waivers Wednesday.
Thursday has seen its third NFL trade take place. The Seahawks have dealt cornerback Michael Jackson to the Panthers in return for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. The move has been announced by both teams. 
Jackson is a veteran of five seasons, having spent time with three different teams. The former fifth-rounder was selected by the Cowboys, but his regular season debut came during his rookie season with the Lions. After making a single appearance with Detroit, he played in only one game the following season with the Patriots. Jackson had found a regular role in Seattle over the past three years, though.
The 27-year-old played sparingly during his debut season in the Emerald City, but in 2022 he served as a full-time starter. Logging over 1,000 defensive snaps, Jackson collected 75 tackles, 12 pass deflections and the lone interception of his career. After the Seahawks drafted Devon Witherspoon with their top pick in last year’s draft, though, Jackson lost his first-team gig. Witherspoon and Riq Woolen will remain in place as starters this season, and Seattle’s latest rookie additions at the CB spot (Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James) will join Artie Burns, who re-signed this offseason.
Jackson agreed to a restructured contract in May, providing him with a six-figure signing bonus. None of his $1.06MM base salary is guaranteed, though, which led to questions about his grip on a roster spot. The pending free agent will have a strong chance of finding a role in Carolina given the team’s need in the secondary. The Panthers have long been mentioned as a candidate to add a corner, and the team made an offer to Stephon Gilmore before he signed with the Vikings.
Carolina traded away Donte Jackson this offseason, leaving free agent pickup Dane Jackson as a key member of the CB room. The latter is dealing with a hamstring injury, and he could begin the season on injured reserve. That ailment drove the Panthers to pursue an addition, and today’s move will meet that goal while marking the rare move of trading a rookie before they have made their debut.
Barrett was selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft, and he will now turn his attention to landing a roster spot in Seattle. Jerome Baker – signed in free agency – is currently on the mend from a hamstring injury of his own, leaving the Seahawks on the lookout for depth. As a Michigan alum, Barrett is a familiar face to head coach Mike Macdonald, who served as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator in 2021.
Thursday’s frenzy of draft-slot deals continues, and the Panthers are knocking this task off in one session. Carolina agreed to terms with its entire 2024 draft class tonight, locking in seven rookie contracts.
Xavier Legette headlines the list. Although the Panthers did not hold a first-round pick coming into the draft (thanks to the Bryce Young trade), they will have a fifth-year option on Legette’s contract by virtue of trading up one spot to No. 32 for the South Carolina prospect. The wide receiver’s rookie deal will be fully guaranteed.
The Panthers and Patriots both sent the Bills offers for No. 32, after Buffalo had traded down from 28, and Legette is believed to have been New England’s target as well. Buffalo chose Carolina’s offer, which included the Panthers sending over a fifth-round pick to climb from No. 33 to No. 32. Legette will join 2023 second-round wideout Jonathan Mingo, with the Panthers using two picks in the 30s — Mingo went 39th last year — to supplement veterans Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. With Thielen’s guarantees done after 2024 and Johnson’s Steelers-constructed extension expiring after this season, Legette and Mingo profile as the Panthers’ long-term Young targets.
Catching teams’ eye partially because he clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 227 pounds, Legette was not on the first-round radar for much of his Gamecocks career. While lauded for his blocking, Legette did not eclipse 200 receiving yards in any of his first four South Carolina seasons. Teaming with Spencer Rattler once again in 2023, Legette broke through for 1,255 yards and seven TD receptions. He and Mingo will give Young two big-bodied targets, with the latter checking in at 220 pounds.
Carolina traded second-round picks in the 2023 and ’25 drafts to obtain Young, but the team came into this draft with two picks in Round 2 thanks to the Brian Burns trade. That gave the Panthers the No. 39 pick in this draft. GM Dan Morgan accepted a Rams offer to move down to No. 52, picking up a fifth-round pick and a 2025 second-rounder in the process. Carolina then packaged that fifth-rounder (along with another 2024 fifth) to Indianapolis to climb to No. 46, making Jonathon Brooks this year’s first running back selected.
Joining a backfield housing Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard, Brooks comes to Charlotte after a November 2023 ACL tear. The Bijan Robinson Longhorns RB1 successor is expected to be cleared by training camp, but his 2023 injury undoubtedly affected his draft stock. This draft did not offer the type of RB prospects last year’s did, but another new Panthers regime dived in by making Brooks the only back chosen in the first or second round. Robinson’s former backup totaled 1,139 rushing yards (6.1 per tote) and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.
The Panthers did not see their Sanders investment pay off last year, and they benched the ex-Super Bowl starter for Hubbard. Sanders’ guarantees wrap after 2024, and Hubbard’s rookie deal expires after this season. This points to Brooks having a route to being Carolina’s unquestioned RB1 by 2025, should he prove healthy following this rehab process. This year, however, may feature a committee approach in Carolina.
It will be interesting to learn how well Brooks’ side did regarding guarantees, as second-round slot deals are producing the most wiggle room as of late. With the rookie contracts done, here are the drafted rookies set to develop under the Panthers’ coaching staff this offseason:
- Round 1, No. 32 (from Chiefs through Bills): Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 46 (from Colts): Jonathon Brooks (RB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 72 (from Jets): Trevin Wallace (LB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 101: Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 157 (from Browns through Vikings): Chau Smith-Wade (CB, Washington State) (signed)
- Round 6: No. 200 (from Cowboys through Texans and Bills): Jaden Crumedy (DT, Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 240 (from Steelers): Michael Barrett (LB, Michigan) (signed)