16) Josh McDaniels and Raiders GM Dave Ziegler continue to clean house of the personnel decisions made by Jon Gruden and former GM Mike Mayock. Last year’s first-round pick, Alex Leatherwood, was cut only 16 months after he was taken No. 17 overall. Sometimes the draftniks are right!
17) When the Bills signed former Bucs first-round pick OJ Howard in March, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for him to re-ignite his career after injuries sapped his explosiveness. Howard did not make the Bills’ roster, with GM Brandon Beane eating $3.195 million in guaranteed money. That’s extremely high for a player that didn’t make the team, possibly the most of anyone signed this offseason and released Tuesday.
18) Sony Michel didn’t make it to a deep Miami backfield. New Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel seemingly only accepts skill position talent if they can run a sub-4.4 40.
19) The Steelers and Titans both traded for offensive linemen. (The Titans got Dennis Daley from the Titans; the Steelers picked up Jesse Davis from the Vikings.) The names and details are less interesting than what the moves say about how the Steelers and Titans see themselves. They both know they need help up front.
20) The Steelers also traded for Broncos edge rusher Malik Reed, who flashed plenty in the past. Pittsburgh is no longer deep at outside linebacker, and Alex Highsmith has had some injuries.
21) The Cowboys dumped quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Will Grier, so they don’t currently have a backup on their roster. It’s safe to say that won’t still be true a week from now. (My guess is Rush makes a brief trip to the practice squad.)
22) The Dolphins retained seventh-round rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson. He flashed serious comfort in coach Mike McDaniels’ offense in the preseason, and I can already imagine some Nick Mullens-like graphic on a Monday Night Football game where Thompson’s yards-per-attempt mark in his first five career starts rivals Patrick Mahomes.