Bobby McCain

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/23

Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday elevations for the Sunday slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Wilkinson returned to practice this week, and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Sunday given today’s activation. The addition of a starter up front will be welcomed by the Cardinals by giving them stability at the left guard spot in particular and by providing an upgrade in protection ahead of a matchup against the stout 49ers defensive front in general. The Cardinals now have four IR activations remaining.

Street was acquired from the Eagles at the trade deadline after he failed to find playing time this season. The 27-year-old has started all five of his appearances in Atlanta, however, racking up 14 tackles (including four for a loss) and one sack. Those numbers will help his free agent market this offseason, but a pectoral injury will sideline him for at least four weeks. If the Falcons fall short of the postseason, therefore, Street will not return in 2023.

McCain was a full-time starter with the Commanders over the past two seasons, but his release led to a one-year Giants agreement. The former fifth-rounder has 87 starts to his name, but he has been unable to carve out a role in New York’s secondary, playing only 19 defensive snaps. McCain has logged a 50% snap share on special teams, however, so his absence in the third phase will be notable if he is claimed off waivers or signed as a free agent by an interested team.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Pinnock, Cowboys

The Eagles both signed five-year starter Terrell Edmunds and used a third-round pick on Sydney Brown. Both safeties factor into the team’s plans, but they are not outflanking Reed Blankenship thus far through training camp. Blankenship has been a first-team mainstay, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, who adds Edmunds and Brown have rotated at the other safety spot. Indeed, The Athletic’s Zach Berman notes Blankenship — a 2022 UDFA out of Middle Tennessee State — has been the Eagles’ top safety in camp (subscription required).

This reminds of Marcus Epps‘ rise last year. Despite the Eagles re-signing Anthony Harris and adding Jaquiski Tartt in 2022, Epps earned a starting job — one that eventually led to a two-year, $12MM Raiders payday. The Eagles brought in C.J. Gardner-Johnson via trade just before last season. That transaction could signal none of Philly’s safeties should be too comfortable, but Blankenship — Gardner-Johnson’s injury sub last year who played 291 defensive snaps — looks like the best bet to start among the in-house group.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • Staying on the subject of safeties in this division, the Giants may be moving toward giving Jason Pinnock the starting job alongside Xavier McKinney. A Jets fifth-round pick in 2021, Pinnock started five games for the Giants last year, operating as McKinney’s injury fill-in. He has received consistent first-team work in camp, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes. Pinnock has distanced himself from Dane Belton and veteran Bobby McCain, having been Big Blue’s first-teamer since the fourth training camp practice. The Giants, who lost Julian Love in free agency, claimed Pinnock shortly after the Jets waived the converted cornerback on cutdown day last year. Two seasons remain on Pinnock’s rookie contract.
  • Malik Hooker‘s 2023 Cowboys cap hit climbed from $4.32MM to $4.57MM as a result of his recent extension, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. The incentives in the three-year, $21MM contract include $500K bumps involving playing time and INT production. Five picks and the Cowboys making the playoffs would result in a $500K increase, Archer adds, noting the other incentive requires Hooker to play 85% of Dallas’ defensive snaps and the team to make the postseason (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys, who turned Micah Parsons from an off-ball linebacker to a fearsome edge rusher, are giving Leighton Vander Esch some reps on the edge, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News notes. While the sixth-year linebacker received sparse edge work in games last season, Gehlken adds this is the first time he has received extensive instruction in a defensive end role. Rostering Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Sam Williams, the Cowboys are much deeper on the edge than at linebacker. It would stand to reason LVE’s role will likely remain mostly as an off-ball defender.
  • The Giants recently added longtime safety Mike Adams to their coaching staff, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets. A 16-year veteran, Adams will replace Anthony Blevins as the Giants’ assistant defensive backs coach, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard adds (on Twitter). Adams, 42, hung up his cleats after the 2019 season. Blevins left the Giants during the summer to accept an XFL HC position.
  • While Devon Allen did not see any game action for the Eagles last season, Berman writes the two-time Olympian hurdler is in play to make the team as a backup this year. Allen, 28, has not played in a game since working as an Oregon slot receiver in 2016. Shifting to track full-time proved beneficial for Allen, who is one of the best 110-meter hurdlers in U.S. history. But he opted to give football another try last year. He suffered an injury at the U.S. Championships last month, exiting the 110 hurdles competition before the finals in order to preserve his body for his second Eagles camp. The Eagles activated Allen from the PUP list Tuesday.
  • Given a reserve/futures deal along with Allen in February, Matt Leo landed on the Eagles’ reserve/retired list last month. The team hired the former practice squad defensive end a defensive and football operations assistant.

Giants Starting S Job “Wide Open”

The Giants ran through most of last year with a strong safety duo of Julian Love and Xavier McKinney. With Love departing in free agency to Seattle, the starting job next to McKinney is reportedly “wide open,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. There are plenty of names in contention for the job, leaving New York with several options.

The favorite for the job is Jason Pinnock, whom the Giants claimed off of waivers from the Jets just prior to the regular season last year. Despite playing his rookie year as a cornerback for the Jets, Pinnock filled in for McKinney when he sustained a few broken fingers last year, starting five games in the free safety’s place. He put together a strong sample to put his name in the race early, but he was sidelined in the spring, keeping him from fielding any snaps with the first team until he can return in training camp.

Dane Belton is another name to look at for the position. The fourth-round rookie started five games, as well, last year. He showed a nose for the football in limited time with two interceptions, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. Like Pinnock, Belton missed the spring but should return for training camp in time to compete for the starting job next to McKinney.

With Pinnock and Belton out, veteran free agent signing Bobby McCain and converted cornerback Nick McCloud split reps for the starting spot this spring. McCain is used to the starting role, performing as a full-time starter for Miami and Washington since 2018. His presence provides New York with a reliable starter if none of the other contenders emerge as runaway favorites. He graded out with the worst run defense of any safety in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), so he may not be the perfect player to pair with McKinney, but he can stand in if needed.

McCloud is an interesting name in the competition. Another young name on the roster, McCloud started eight games at cornerback for the Giants in his sophomore season last year. He displayed a strong all-around game. While not lacking in run defense, McCloud was decent in coverage, as well, recording seven passes defensed. The Giants lined Love up all over the field last year, and they worked McCloud in a similar manner this spring. If he shows that he’s a good fit in that versatile role, he may have a strong case for a starting gig.

That about sums it up. Pinnock is an early favorite after a strong fill-in performance last season. Belton should also have an opportunity to expand his role from last year but should factor into the defensive back rotation, regardless. McCloud could fit best into a versatile role. While McCain remains a strong option if no one succeeds in separating themselves from the pack.

Giants To Sign DB Bobby McCain

Bobby McCain‘s Washington stay ended after two seasons, but he will land with one of the franchise’s rivals. The Giants are signing the veteran defensive back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

A full-time starter for the past two Washington editions, McCain is headed to New York on a one-year deal. The Giants just lost Julian Love to the Seahawks, and although they still roster Xavier McKinney, McCain has extensive experience as a back-line defender.

The former Dolphins starter has also spent time as a slot defender, logging reps in that role as recently as last season. Going into his age-30 season, McCain will offer versatility to a Giants team that exited last season somewhat thin at cornerback. Love’s exit created a Big Blue need at safety as well.

Picked up after the Dolphins made him a cap casualty in 2021, McCain intercepted four passes with Washington that season. The team then gave him a two-year deal worth $11MM. Former fifth-round pick Darrick Forrest‘s emergence at safety moved McCain into the slot during the 2022 season, and the Commanders opted to move on from the eight-year veteran to create some cap space.

The Giants used Love across the formation as well, but they’ll return slot options Darnay Holmes and Cor’Dale Flott. They have a greater need at safety, considering Love logged 1,000-plus snaps last season. McKinney has missed chunks of both the 2020 and 2022 seasons as well. McCain has proven durable, starting 32 Washington games since 2021 and having not missed a game since 2019. Other than that 2019 campaign, McCain has only missed two career games.

It should not be expected McCain did as well on this Giants pact compared to his second Washington contract, but the Giants’ decision-makers are certainly familiar with him given Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll‘s AFC East ties and McCain being a Commander when the current New York power structure arrived. McCain could become a cheap solution to the Love defection.

Commanders Release DB Bobby McCain

The Commanders’ secondary depth has led to a cost-cutting move. Washington is releasing veteran defensive back Bobby McCain, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Commanders Cut Wentz]

McCain had one season remaining on his current contract, an $11MM pact he signed last offseason. That deal, in turn, came after a one-year stint in the nation’s capital following his release from the Dolphins. The former fifth-rounder had a six-year stay in Miami, and followed it up with a strong first season with the Commanders

His production in 2021 (including four interceptions and nine pass deflections) earned him the two-year accord the following offseason. McCain continued to see time in a hybrid slot corner/safety role this past year, once again logging a snap share of 93%. He racked up 76 tackles, but was held without an interception for only the second time in his career and first since his rookie season.

This move will see Washington open up $2.3MM in cap space if it is processed as a pre-June 1 cut. If the team designates it as a post-June 1 release, that figure will rise to $4.4MM. Moving on from McCain will clear a path to increased playing time for the team’s other options on the backend, including Darrick Forrest and Percy Butler. The latter two flashed potential this season as compliments to Kamren Curl in a three-safety look. As recent draftees, they carry a far lower financial cost than McCain.

The 29-year-old is now on the market for the second time in the past three years, and will look to catch on with a team which will allow him to maintain a starting role. For the Commanders, this move will add incrementally to their financial flexibility, which has increased dramatically now that the team has moved on from quarterback Carson Wentz.

Commanders To Re-Sign Bobby McCain

Washington has retained a veteran piece of their secondary. The team is re-signing defensive back Bobby McCain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The deal is for two years, and $11MM total. 

[RELATED: Commanders To Cut Landon Collins]

The 28-year-old was cut by the Dolphins last May. That brought an end to his six-year tenure there, where he started 55 of 87 games he played in. The former fifth round pick totalled seven interceptions and 30 pass breakups during his time in Miami.

He came to Washington on a one-year deal last offseason. In 17 games (including 16 starts), he racked up 63 tackles, four picks and nine pass deflections. That performance showed he could still perform at a high level, and earned him a raise over the roughly $1.4MM he played for in 2021. The $6.5MM average on this new pact is close to what he was earning on a per-year basis during his most lucrative time with the Dolphins.

With the new contract, the Commanders will use up a portion of the salary cap savings generated by the release of Landon Collins. However, they should still have the flexibility to make at least smaller moves for the rest of free agency. With McCain in place, they can focus on trying to improve the team’s underwhelming pass defense from last year.

Commanders Seeking Landon Collins Pay Cut

Landon Collins was the first safety to secure a contract worth at least $14MM per year. Three years after authorizing that deal, Washington plans to give the hybrid defender an ultimatum.

The Commanders are asking Collins to take a pay cut, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. If the veteran refuses, the team will cut him. A Collins release would save the Commanders $6.6MM while saddling the team with nearly $10MM in dead money.

This is not the same front office that gave Collins a six-year, $84MM deal in 2019, and although Keim adds the Ron Rivera regime would like Collins to stay, they do not plan to retain him on a team-high $16.1MM cap number (Twitter link). Collins, 28, bounced back from an October 2020 injury to play in 13 games last season. Washington deployed the former second-round pick as a linebacker-safety hybrid, and the team would use him in that capacity again in 2022 — if he agrees to the pay reduction.

“Yeah, for what he does and playing that position, he can be a dynamic guy for us,” Rivera said of Collins’ hybrid role, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. “He’s a guy that made an impact when he played that position.”

Known more for his box work than coverage skills, Collins would not come especially close to matching his current average salary on the market. The ex-Giants Pro Bowler would certainly draw interest and would help the Commanders this season if retained. Although he did not factor in prominently to Washington’s top-five defense in 2020, Collins finished with 81 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and three sacks last season.

Washington has Kamren Curl tethered to his rookie deal, but 2021 pickup Bobby McCain is a free agent and Deshazor Everett is embroiled in serious legal trouble. The team wants to retain McCain, Jhabvala adds. McCain, 28, has also played multiple positions as a pro, moving between safety and cornerback. He started 16 games last season. Washington signed McCain, whom the Dolphins cut, to a one-year accord worth close to the league minimum last year.

Washington To Sign DB Bobby McCain

After meeting with the Washington Football Team earlier this week, Bobby McCain will join the defending NFC East champions. The parties agreed to a one-year deal Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The Dolphins released the veteran defensive back last week. Now, McCain will follow Ryan Fitzpatrick to the nation’s capital. McCain has worked as both a starting safety and cornerback in his six seasons as a pro.

A former fifth-round pick, McCain joined the Dolphins two regimes ago. But he endured and signed an extension with the Chris Grier-era front office. The Dolphins moved McCain from cornerback to safety in 2019. After an injury-shortened season, the veteran bounced back to play in 16 games for the 2020 Dolphins edition. He will join Washington’s Landon Collins-led safety corps.

Washington may be lining up McCain, 27, to play alongside Collins. The team has Kamren Curl, a seventh-round pick last year, in place at safety and used a fifth-round pick recently on Darrick Forrest. Although McCain ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 55 overall safety last season, he brings considerable experience (55 pro starts) and possesses the versatility that would allow Washington to use him in multiple capacities.

Bobby McCain To Visit WFT

Bobby McCain is already lining up his suitors. After getting released by the Dolphins earlier today, the veteran safety is set to meet with Washington on Monday, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Dolphins To Cut Bobby McCain]

The 2015 fifth-round pick had become a staple of the Dolphins’ defense over the past six years, but he saw a drop off in play during the 2020 campaign. While his counting stats were fine (46 tackles, five passes defended, one interception in 16 games (15 starts)), he ranked just 55th out of 94 qualified safeties, per Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins ultimately decided to pivot to younger (and, of course, cheaper) options at the position, spelling the end of his tenure in Miami.

Following news of McCain’s impending release, there were some whispers that Miami could simply be leaking the news with the hope of making a trade. However, the team officially announced the transaction this afternoon.

Washington has an opening for a free safety, and McCain’s versatility means he could certainly fill that slot. Per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, head coach Ron Rivera has indicated that the organization would audition free agents for the gig after the draft. Other than a free agent addition, the team could end up turning to fifth-round rookie Darrick Forrest.

Dolphins To Cut Bobby McCain

The Dolphins have informed safety Bobby McCain that he’ll be released today (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). By cutting the team captain, the Dolphins will nix the final two years of his four-year, $27MM deal.

McCain was set to count for $7.14MM against the 2021 cap. The Dolphins will be left with just $1.48MM in dead money while saving $5.66MM on the books. At least, that’ll be the breakdown if he’s formally released. NFL teams will occasionally leak word of an impending release in order to stir up trade talks. That could the case here, with the Dolphins aiming to get something in return for McCain before the end of the business day.

McCain, a 2015 fifth-rounder, has been a staple of the Dolphins’ defense over the last six years. All in all, he’s started in 55 of his 87 games, collecting seven interceptions and four sacks along the way.

Last year, McCain was first-string for 15 of his 16 games, notching one INT, 46 stops, and five passes defensed. However, his performance left something to be desired — he ranked just 55th out of 94 qualified safeties, per Pro Football Focus. Ultimately, the Dolphins chose to go younger and cheaper. One way or another, they’ll shed McCain’s contract while working third-rounder Jevon Holland into the rotation.

Without McCain, the Dolphins project to use Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones, and Holland as their top safeties.