The Washington Redskins kept one of their own while watching several others hit the door as the new league year began at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Wide receiver Brian Quick signed on to remain with the organization, although contract details were not immediately known.
On the other end, linebacker Trent Murphy (Buffalo Bills), center Spencer Long (New York Jets) and tight end Niles Paul (Jacksonville Jaguars) joined cornerback Bashaud Breeland (Carolina Panthers) and wide receiver Ryan Grant (Baltimore Ravens) in leaving town to join other teams.
Quick had six receptions for 76 yards in his first season with the team in 2017. He signed a one-year, $855,000 deal with the Redskins in 2017. Quick had a career-high 41 receptions for 564 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 with the Los Angeles Rams.
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The first day of the league year was fairly quiet for the organization, as several players at positions of need signed elsewhere, including linebacker Nigel Bradham (Philadelphia Eagles), cornerback Patrick Robinson (New Orleans Saints) and linebacker Demario Davis (Saints).
Washington, however, was able to formally announce the trade for quarterback Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick. Smith also received a four-year extension worth $94 million and includes $71 million in guaranteed money. The Redskins also added a wide receiver when they agreed to terms with former Seattle Seahawk Paul Richardson on Tuesday. His deal is for five years and $40 million, with $20 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the contract discussions.
The Redskins also formally said goodbye to Kirk Cousins, as the 2012 fourth-round pick is expected to sign a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The three-year deal is worth an estimated $84 million to $86 million, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations.
Murphy signed with the Bills for a reported three years and $21 million, and Long headed to the Jets. Breeland signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, including $11 million guaranteed and a possible $2 million more from escalators and incentives, according to a person familiar with the contract discussions. Grant joined the Baltimore Ravens on a four-year deal worth $29 million with $13 million guaranteed, a $10 million signing bonus and $3 million in incentives.