HEADLINES

Vadal Alexander

Raiders Waive OL Vadal Alexander

July 31st, 2018 at 4:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Yesterday, Raiders coach Jon Gruden indicated that the organization was set to move on from Vadal Alexander. Today, the team made the move official, as the Raiders announced that they have waived the offensive lineman with a non-football injury designation.

Even prior to Gruden’s announcement, things weren’t looking good for the 24-year-old. The lineman was already suspended for four game after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, and he was a no-show when Raiders’ camp opened. Alexander was removed from the team’s 90-man roster when he failed to show up, so this move won’t open a roster spot for the Raiders.

The 2016 seventh-round pick out of LSU appeared in nine games (five starts) as a rookie, including an appearance at tight end. He appeared in 15 games (four starts) last season, mostly contributing as an offensive guard. Alexander also has some experience playing offensive tackle.

The six-foot-five, 326-pound lineman was already going to struggle for playing time, especially after the Raiders added rookies Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker this offseason. With Alexander now out of the picture, perhaps one of Oday Aboushi, Jylan Ware, Denver Kirkland, and James Stone will have a better shot at making the opening day roster.

Raiders Set To Jettison OL Vadal Alexander

July 30th, 2018 at 7:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being a seventh-round pick, Vadal Alexander served as a key depth piece for the Raiders during his first two NFL seasons. He started five games as a rookie and four last season.

But he appears to be on his way out of Oakland. Jon Gruden said Monday (via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Twitter) the Raiders are likely to move on from the third-year blocker in the next few days.

In addition to being suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, Alexander did not report to Raiders camp. The Raiders also made significant additions to their offensive line this offseason, using a first-round pick on Kolton Miller and a second-round selection on Brandon Parker.

With two years remaining on his contract, the 24-year-old Alexander would be placed on waivers if the Raiders indeed cut ties with him.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/18

May 1st, 2018 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Todays minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens

  • Claimed off waivers: DB Kai Nacua (from Browns)

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: OT Korren Kirven
  • Waived: TE Kent Taylor

Houston Texans

  • Waived : OL Jake Rodgers

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

Tennessee Titans

Draft Signings: Packers, Seahawks, Chargers

May 9th, 2016 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have signed second-round pick Jason Spriggs, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. The tackle from Indiana will earn just over $5MM on his four-year deal with nearly $3MM guaranteed. Spriggs is now the the fifth Packers draft pick to sign and only two rookies remain unsigned for Green Bay in first-round pick Kenny Clark and third-rounder Kyler Fackrell.

Here are the rest of today’s draft signings from round two and lower:

  • The Panthers announced the signing of second-round cornerback James Bradberry and seventh-round tight end Beau Sandland. Bradberry started his collegiate career at Arkansas State but finished up at Samford.
  • Derek Watt, former Wisconsin fullback-tight end and J.J. Watt‘s brother, signed his sixth-round rookie deal with the Chargers today, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Raiders announced the signing of seventh-round guard Vadal Alexander. Alexander is the first member of Oakland’s draft class to officially put pen to paper.
  • The Raiders also announced the signing of quarterback Connor Cook. The Michigan State product fell to Oakland in the fourth-round of last month’s draft.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Seahawks signed seventh-round pick Zac Brooks, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets. All ten of Seattle’s draft picks have now signed.
  • The Chargers signed fourth-round linebacker Joshua Perry, as Jenna Laine tweets.
  • The Ravens have signed fourth-round cornerback Tavon Young, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • The Bengals announced (Twitter link) the signing of seventh-round safety Clayton Fejedelem.
  • The Cardinals signed three of their rookies in cornerback Brandon Williams, center Evan Boehm, and cornerback Harlan Miller (Twitter link).