I’ve got the league’s daily transactions report in front of me, and there are a number of notable names on the list, with Kareem Hunt leading the way. He’ll almost certainly be claimed by a new NFL team.
The claiming deadline is 4 p.m. on Monday, and I’m sure there will be multiple interested teams. Joe Mixon, Tyreek Hill and Frank Clark came out of college with far more serious allegations of violence in their pasts, and teams were willing to select them in the draft. Jameis Winston, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick and scores of others have been afforded second chances.
In the waiver system, the worst teams get highest priority. Three teams currently have 2-9 records: Cardinals, 49ers and Raiders. San Francisco just released a player because of domestic violence allegations, so it doesn’t look like a good fit. Arizona has David Johnson, which might lessen its interest (though I don’t think it should). The Raiders look like an awfully good fit, and I would be surprised if they don’t submit a claim for Hunt – giving him a chance to run angry twice per year against his former team.
Whichever team claims Hunt inherits the final two years of his rookie contract – not only getting one of the top 5 or 10 running backs in the league, but getting him at a bargain basement price. LeVeon Bell is hoping to land a big contract in the offseason. I don’t know which team would pay Bell (who has an NFL suspension on his resume) $16 million per year when it could claim Hunt for about $700,000 per year for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
There are a few other moves made today that caught my eye.
Baltimore activated Kenneth Dixon, while placing Alex Collins on injured reserve. I don’t expect much from Dixon. I think Gus Edwards is their starting tailback now, and that Ty Montgomery will be their main change-of-pace guy. But anybody who’s still got Collins on their roster can use that spot on somebody else.
Green Bay activated Jake Kumerow. I expect they’ll rotate him in a little bit as a situational deep threat. Maybe he catches a couple of balls for over 20 yards. To make room for Kumerow, the Packers placed Trevor Davis on injured reserve. The Packers also place defensive end Mike Daniels on injured reserve.
Seattle activated J.D. McKissic earlier in the week. He’ll get a few change-of-pace touches, I figure, and he might become their kickoff returner. They placed C.J. Prosise on injured reserve.
—Ian Allan