Next Step For Cyril Grayson
August 27th, 2022
Unemployed.
Yes, the Bucs waived wide receiver Cyril Grayson and, no surprise, it seems no team claimed him before yesterday afternoon’s deadline.
So what’s next? Joe’s been asked a few times and here’s the answer:
Grayson officially was waived with an injury designation. So that means he comes back to the Bucs and they are required to place him on injured reserve for the entire season unless they reach an injury settlement for the minor injury. That’s very likely because it’s usually a win-win for all parties.
Under the settlement, the Bucs wouldn’t be stuck paying Grayson a full salary and Grayson would be able to play this season — somewhere — and hopefully advance his career.
If the Bucs reach an injury settlement with Grayson for, say, four games, then he’d be eligible to re-sign with the Bucs in three weeks following the end of the settlement. But Grayson could sign with another team once the ink is dry on the injury settlement.
So will Grayson find a new club? Maybe. But there’s little market for nearly 29-year-old receivers with 11 career catches and little-to-no special teams value.
Joe suspects Grayson will stay in shape and find a spot on the Bucs practice squad if Tampa Bay is hit by multiple injuries at receiver.
August 27th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Hundreds of these stories in the coming days
August 27th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
I’m sure the Bucs already negotiated Cyril to the Practice squad before they waived him. This way, Cyril gets some extra cash to go work out for a few weeks, and still gets his practice squad check when he returns also. This is the Bucs technically paying him more than they “could” to come back without it counting against the cap.
August 27th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
would that be unusual to have a vet on the practice squad?
August 27th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
I sure hope that this means that Darden is vastly improved. He was not an NFL caliber player last year in any way, shape or form. Darden also had, ” little-to-no special teams value” & he fielded punts. Cyril was integral in the Jets win. I can’t see Darden doing what Cyril did. I hope Darden is not given chances due to draft position. Gardner is an NFL kick returner and he is on the roster.
August 27th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Hopefully he settles and finds another team in the AFC. Dude could make a in a normal NFL team not in one where Julio Jones is the 4th option. You gotta be kiddin’ me…
August 27th, 2022 at 3:39 pm
Jeffrey Becker – They changed the rules of the practice squad for the plague, to allow additional slots for veteran players, and apparently that is still in effect, although I haven’t really seen any recent updates on that.
In the past you’d be right, you had to be a 1st or 2nd year player. I think the current setup is just the new normal and I doubt they go back to the old way, unless they expand the rosters. Which the NFL should offer as part of going to an 18 week season, just add an extra 4 or 5 slots on the full roster, then reset the practice squad back to what it was.
August 27th, 2022 at 3:44 pm
BringBucsBack – I doubt this move is related to Darden at all, I think he’s still just as likely to get cut. It’s just a numbers game.
Evans/Godwin/Julio/Gage/Perriman.
There’s your top 5, with Perriman, I think, pretty much certain of a roster spot because of his guaranteed contract (only $1m, but with the Bucs so tight on cap space, that might ensure his spot).
Then you still have TJ/Miller/Darden and, I think, Thompkins in play.
You normally keep 6 WRs, but perhaps the Bucs keep 7 (unlikely but possible). If you’re only keeping 6, realistically, it’s TJ or Miller. If you keep 7, again, I just can’t see Darden beating out either one of them.