Another day and more roster moves have taken place around the NFL as the league slowly gets into full swing. Today saw the Minnesota Vikings hand out a contract extension and the Philadelphia Eagles make several moves. It also saw the Baltimore Ravens address their running back situation and the New York Jets bring in a wide receiver.
Griffen gets contract extension
The Minnesota Vikings and defensive end Everson Griffen have agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract extension. NFL Network, who first reported terms of the deal, also revealed that Griffen will get $34 million in guaranteed money.
The 29-year-old still had two years left on his contract, so he is now signed with the team through 2023.
Griffen spent his first four seasons with the Vikings in a backup role but has since emerged as a force. Over the past three seasons, he has started all 47 games he has played in, only missing one game. In that time, he has 109 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 defensive touchdown. He has also been selected to consecutive Pro Bowls and won NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice.
Eagles make several roster moves
The Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly traded veteran guard Allen Barbre to the Denver Broncos for a conditional seventh round pick in 2019. Barbre has been the Eagles starting left guard the past two seasons.
The team also cut disappointing first round pick, linebacker Marcus Smith, days before he was due a roster bonus. In three seasons, Smith never started a game, and only recorded 23 tackles and 4 sacks. In a corresponding move, the team signed linebacker Steven Daniels to a three-year deal. He was a seventh round pick by the Redskins last season, but did not play due to a torn labrum.
Ravens made moves at running back
The Baltimore Ravens announced that they have signed 29-year-old journeyman running back Bobby Rainey after Kenneth Dixon had season-ending surgery to repair a medial meniscus. Rainey originally signed with the team as an undrafted rookie out of Western Kentucky in 2012, but never recorded a carry for them.
He has since spent the last four seasons with the Browns, Buccaneers, and Giants.
For his career, he has 266 carries for 1,053 yards and 6 touchdowns. In Dixon's rookie season, he had 88 carries for 382 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy.
Jets claim Whitehead off waivers
The New York Jets have claimed wide receiver Lucky Whitehead off of waivers following his controversial release from the Dallas Cowboys. New York has been looking to improve their return game, and in his two seasons with the Cowboys, Whitehead averaged 25.6 yards per kick return and 6.9 yards per punt return.
