There has been a flurry of NFL roster moves today. But the most notable might have come out of the nation’s capital, where the Washington Commanders announced the release of a former first-round pick.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Commanders have waived cornerback D.J. Hayden. The move comes less than three months after Hayden signed a reserve/future contract with the team.
Hayden played in just one game for Washington this past season and didn’t do a whole lot. He had 11 snaps split between defense and special teams.
Washington was Hayden’s fourth NFL team in the last six seasons. He’s played in just six games over the past two years.
The #Jets have officially waived OL Alex Lewis with a reserve/left squad designation, per the wire. Meanwhile, the #Commanders waived CB DJ Hayden.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 8, 2022
D.J. Hayden was a star cornerback at Houston, earning all-conference honors twice. The Raiders made him the second cornerback taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, taking him No. 12 overall that year.
But injuries mounted quickly for Hayden, causing him to miss 14 games in his first two NFL seasons. He started 13 of 16 games he played in 2015 and had a career-high 70 tackles that year.
The Raiders let Hayden walk after the 2016 season and he spent the 2017 campaign with the Detroit Lions. After one year in Detroit, he signed a three-year, $19 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now D.J. Hayden is a free agent again, but turning 32 this summer. He won’t have many more chances in the NFL with his age and injury history.
Will Hayden sign with an NFL team for the 2022 season?
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