Seahawks make trades on defense
The Seattle Seahawks have made a big splash for their topnotch defense just before the start of the regular season.
The Seahawks acquired defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson from the New York Jets on Friday in exchange for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a second-round draft pick.
Richardson, a Pro Bowl selection in 2014, is scheduled to make more than $8 million this season.
In another trade, Seattle reportedly dealt former 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock to the Minnesota Vikings for a seventh-round pick.
Brock started 31 of 32 games over the past two seasons for San Francisco, but was released during the offseason after he was arrested and accused of hitting a woman he was dating. He was charged with felony domestic violence in June, but those charges were dismissed in August by the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office after the office said there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case because the accuser declined to cooperate.
Brock signed with Seattle on Aug. 16 and was immediately thrown into the competition at cornerback. Notable roster cuts: Quarterback Brock Osweiler reportedly is being released by Cleveland, which will have to pay his $16 million guaranteed contract not to have him on their roster.
Osweiler was acquired by the Browns on March 9 from Houston for a 2018 second-round draft pick. He was beaten out by rookie DeShone Kizer, the 27th starting quarterback for Cleveland since 1999 when the team opens against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.
The Cardinals reportedly released running back Chris Johnson, who is 463 yards shy of 10,000 yards rushing for his nine-year pro career.
Chandler Catanzaro has won the Jets’ competition at kicker after Ross Martin was among 10 players cut by the team.
Former San Jose State cornerback Akeem King was one of Atlanta’s 14 cuts. King, a seventh-round draft choice in 2015, played in five games as a reserve as a rookie and spent all of 2016 on injured reserve.
Former Navy star quarterback Keenan Reynolds and veteran center Jeremy Zuttah were cut by the Ravens. Reynolds was trying to make the team as a punt returner and kick returner.
The Lions cut running back Matt Asiata, who ran for 1,259 yards in five seasons with the Vikings. Briefly: The Ravens obtained former Raiders offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom from the Cardinals. Baltimore gave Arizona a conditional 2018 seventh-round draft pick for Bergstrom, who has played five NFL seasons. He entered the NFL as a 2012 third-round selection of the Raiders and spent four seasons with Oakland before playing 15 games last season for Houston . ... The Titans acquired former Seahawks defensive end David King from the Chiefs for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.