2023 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: August 2023

Bears Claim DT Bravvion Roy

August 1st, 2023 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bravvion Roy did not advance to the second spot on the waiver priority list. The Bears submitted a claim for the recently cut Panthers defensive tackle, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

Formerly a sixth-round Panthers pick in 2020, Roy will remain tied to his rookie contract. One year remains on that deal. The Bears will take a look at the fourth-year defender, adding him to a D-tackle group that features some new pieces.

Chicago used second- and third-round picks to bolster its interior D-line this year, selecting Gervon Dexter in Round 2 and Zacch Pickens in Round 3. The team also rosters Justin Jones and Andrew Billings. The Bears also signed hybrid defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker this offseason, creating a bit of a crowded position group. While the team still appears in need at defensive end, they have made some moves to bolster their DT posts in 2023.

Roy, 26, has made 15 career starts. Pro Football Focus ranked Roy 86th among 127 qualified interior D-linemen last season; that marks his top ranking. Roy had spent the past six years playing for Matt Rhule. A Baylor commit before Rhule’s move south from Temple, Roy played three seasons under Rhule in Waco and then arrived in Carolina during the well-paid HC’s first year there. The Panthers still used Roy frequently after Rhule’s October 2022 firing, giving him four starts during Steve Wilks‘ time at the helm.

The Bears traded out of the No. 1 draft position, with the Panthers, but their 3-14 record in 2022 will provide them a key perch as non-vested veterans are cut this summer. Chicago will have first dibs on players waived during training camp and on cutdown day later this month.

Teams View Jets As Dalvin Cook Favorite; Dolphins See RB As Luxury?

August 1st, 2023 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

When the Vikings commenced with their Alexander Mattison backfield promotion, the Dolphins were believed to be the frontrunners for his predecessor. But since Dalvin Cook‘s release, the Jets have been the landing spot other teams have expected.

Cook has said roughly five teams are in the mix, but other clubs have heard the Jets have been the team the veteran running back has wanted to land with all along, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Considering the Jets also are the only team to have met with Cook, it is safe to call them the frontrunners.

The accomplished back is also not seeking a one-year deal to merely re-establish his value in an effort to hit free agency on time next year. Considering where the RB market is and the crowded free agent class that could form in 2024, Cook is seeking a deal that will give him some 2024 money now. The current UFA wants some guarantees for next year, per Breer, though it is not known how much locked-in 2024 cash it would take for Cook to sign.

The Titans gave DeAndre Hopkins a two-year deal last month, but the contract — one with $10.98MM guaranteed at signing — will allow them to cut bait fairly easily after this season. Cook, who is entering his age-28 season, may need another team to show serious interest to secure favorable terms from the Jets. As of now, the Dolphins are viewing Cook as a luxury pickup, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.

A Miami native, Cook has spoken with the Dolphins. The team has made an offer as well, but the Jets have stepped up in the weeks since that proposal became known. The team is eyeing Cook as high-end Breece Hall insurance, per Breer, and the pay cut Aaron Rodgers took is probably a significant driver here as well. The Jets missed out on Odell Beckham Jr. due to a strong Ravens offer, but they have added a few veteran free agents on offense. Hall is believed to be on track to return from his October 2022 ACL tear in Week 1, though Cook would allow the former second-round pick a smoother onramp back to action. Considering the Jets’ narrow window with Rodgers, it makes sense they want to cover all bases at the skill positions.

Cook would seemingly have a better chance to be a true lead back in Miami, with no Hall-like presence there. But the Dolphins have made several RB commitments this offseason. They re-signed regulars Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, along with Myles Gaskin, and used a third-round pick on Texas A&M speedster Devon Achane.

“Dalvin is a tremendous athlete and football player and has been a productive player in this league. That’s why everyone is looking at him. People would love to have him,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said during a Sirius XM interview (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). “Whether it works out with us or anyone, we’re just very happy with the group we have and we’re moving forward with that group.”

Grier also went on to praise the above-referenced Dolphins RB quartet, along with holdover Salvon Ahmed. While Cook has said he would be a perfect fit with the Dolphins and Fowler adds the team would “love” to have him, Miami does not seem as eager to complete this signing compared to the interest coming from New York.

Broncos To Waive WR KJ Hamler

August 1st, 2023 at 1:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 1: Hamler is expected to miss around a month, per Sean Payton. While that could open the door to a reunion before the season, the new Broncos HC indicated it will likely take a few weeks for the young wide receiver to ramp up after the time away. Hamler also spent the offseason rehabbing a torn pectoral muscle he sustained early this year.

JULY 31: On a day when one Broncos wideout appeared to suffer a second straight season-ending injury, more unfortunate news surfaced concerning another member of the unit. KJ Hamler provided an update on his latest ailment, one which will lead to at least a temporary departure from the team.

Denver will waive Hamler with a non-football illness designation, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). The move will not mark a permanent separation with the former second-rounder, but rather a procedural transaction which will open up a roster spot and keep the door open to a return at some point during the season. Placing Hamler on the reserve/NFI list would have ended his season.

The Penn State product revealed (via Garafolo, on Twitter) on Monday that he is dealing with pericarditis, a heart condition which will be treated with medication rather than surgery. The recovery timeline is not expected to sideline him for the season, with Garafolo noting Hamler should miss “weeks, not months.” That should allow him to return at some point in the 2023 campaign, one of vital importance for him.

Hamler has faced numerous injury troubles during his three-year Broncos tenure. The 24-year-old played 13 games as a rookie, but has managed to suit up for only 10 after that. His 14.8 yards per catch average point to his abilities as a deep threat, though his receiving totals (42 catches, 620 yards, three touchdowns) are a product of a very small sample size. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, a healthy and productive season would do wonders for Hamler’s future in Denver or elsewhere.

The Broncos have Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton at the top of their WR depth chart, one which will be thin in the absence of Hamler and veteran Tim Patrick. Second-round rookie Marvin Mims could find himself in a starting role right away, something the team likely accounted for knowing the history of availability issues for Patrick and Hamler.

“I will be back on the field — better and stronger than ever — as soon as possible this season,” the latter’s Instagram post on his situation reads in part. “I feel great physically and this is frustrating for me to deal with… This is not farewell. This is not a goodbye. This is a see you soon as I take a break for my health.”

Raiders To Release TE O.J. Howard

August 1st, 2023 at 12:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the second straight summer, O.J. Howard has seen his spell with a new team come to an abrupt end. The veteran tight end is being released by the Raiders, as noted by Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link).

Howard joined the Raiders in March, not long after the trade which sent Darren Waller to the Giants. The latter’s departure left a pass-catching role available for Howard, but his grip on a final roster spot was always a tenuous one. The former first-rounder underwhelmed in his five years with the Buccaneers, and his career has seen him bounce around the AFC since then.

Howard joined the Bills in 2022, but his struggles during training camp and the preseason left his roster spot in serious jeopardy. Buffalo made him one of their final cuts, marking a disappointing end to his Bills tenure after landing a $5MM deal in free agency. He spent this past season with the Texans, making 10 receptions in 13 games, setting up his Raiders deal.

Vegas lost not only Waller but also Foster Moreau this offseason, despite the team’s efforts to retain the latter in free agency. Plenty of TE snaps are thus up for grabs this year, but instead of Howard the Raiders will look to their other options at the position. That includes second-round rookie Michael Mayer, who was one of the headliners of a celebrated tight class in this year’s draft. The Notre Dame product was already in line for a notable role with Howard in the fold, but his release will make that even more likely.

The Raiders also have free agent signing Austin Hooper and former UDFA Jesper Horsted available as depth options with Howard no longer in the picture. The latter will again look to latch onto a roster late in the offseason as he tries to find a long-term home, while Vegas’ new-look offense will move forward with their efforts to sort out the TE pecking order.

Bonsignore also tweets that quarterback Chase Garbers has been re-signed. The 24-year-old found himself on and off the Raiders’ practice squad last season, and he was released one week ago as part of the team’s ongoing summer moves. He will again look to earn himself either a practice squad spot in Vegas or a look from another team following roster cuts.

Vikings Explored Edge Rush Market Before Danielle Hunter Deal

August 1st, 2023 at 11:31am CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings’ defensive front will look significantly different in 2023 compared to last season, with Dalvin Tomlinson having departed in free agency and Za’Darius Smith being traded. Danielle Hunter will remain a key member of the unit for at least one more year, though, having agreed to a new revised contract over the weekend.

That re-worked pact will see the three-time Pro Bowler earn $17MM guaranteed, representing a signficant raise from the $5.5MM he was originally due on the final year of his pact. The agreement should be an effective compromise for team and player, but the situation could have turned out much differently.

Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network reports that Minnesota was exploring the edge rush market prior to the Hunter deal being finalized. Conversations with other teams took place, he adds, meaning the Vikings were eyeing a trade rather than a free agent deal with one of several experienced pass-rushers who still find themselves on the market. The position is one without a clear future beyond 2023 for Minnesota, a team which has moved on from a number of accomplished (but pricey) veterans this offseason.

Hunter – who was named in trade rumors repeatedly in recent months – is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, as is fellow starter Marcus Davenport. The former Saints first-rounder inked a $13MM deal in an aim to put together another healthy campaign and boost his market. D.J. Wonnum, meanwhile, is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. All three members of that trio could thus be gone by the start of the 2024 campaign.

Given the efforts made by Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to clear up financial flexibility this offseason, it comes as little surprise that a Hunter replacement for the short- and, potentially, long-term was on the team’s radar. The Vikings have parted ways with the likes of Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks in addition to Tomlinson and Smith, while quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ future beyond 2023 is in the air. If Hunter has his way, though, he will remain with the team for the foreseeable future.

The 28-year-old said “I want to be a Viking forever” when asked about his plans following the 2023 season (Twitter link via Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). The revised contract he agreed to includes a tag prohibiting Minnesota from placing the franchise or transition tag on him, so negotiating a new deal will be necessary for that wish to be granted. Given the team’s actions regarding his position, though, it will be worth watching how willing they are to make another long-term commitment.

TE Jimmy Graham Addresses Saints Reunion

August 1st, 2023 at 9:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Jimmy Graham‘s career appeared to be over when he sat out the 2022 campaign, but he began the comeback process last week when he signed a deal with the Saints. That reunion allowed the All-Pro tight end to return to where his career began, something he said was necessary for him to avoid retirement.

Graham signed for $1.3MM (just over the veteran minimum) to compete for a spot on New Orleans’ 53-man roster out of training gamp. That deal marked the culmination of a lengthy courtship process on the team’s part. The Saints discussed a reunion with Graham multiple times, including last year, as noted by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Their most recent efforts will allow the 36-year-old the opportunity to put off retirement for the time being.

“I had a couple of teams that were reaching out, all teams that made the playoffs,” Graham said, via Terrell. “I just couldn’t see myself wearing another jersey again. I just wanted, hopefully, if there was ever another opportunity to come back home, to make it happen. It did, and I’m here now… I talked to [agent] Jimmy Sexton and just made it clear if I don’t retire as a Saint, then I wasn’t going to play again.”

Graham spent his first five years in New Orleans, a stretch which included his two most productive campaigns (2011 and 2013). He earned three Pro Bowl nods and his lone first-team All-Pro acclaim with the Saints, before being traded to the Seahawks in 2015. The former third-rounder spent three years in Seattle before playing two years each with the Packers and Bears.

The end of his stint in Chicago appeared to mark the conclusion of Graham’s playing career, but mutual interest with the Saints obviously remained through his idle 2022 season. The team has a number of other options at the position (including Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill), so Graham will need to demonstrate a continued ability to produce in the red zone in particular to turn his hopes of a Saints reunion into a reality. A strong season could help the team return to the playoffs, while allowing him to finish his career where it started.

Latest On Von Miller

August 1st, 2023 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills’ first padded practice took place on Monday, giving safety Damar Hamlin the opportunity to reach another checkpoint in his encouraging recovery process. It also marked an chance for the team to update the status of their edge rushing anchor.

Von Miller remains on the PUP list while he continues to rehab the ACL tear which ended his debut season in Buffalo. The 34-year-old has provided optimism on the matter of his Week 1 availability on multiple occasions this offseason, indicating that he feels he will be recovered in full by the season opener. General manager Brandon Beane is also encouraged by Miller’s progress.

Beane said there is “definitely a possibility” the future Hall of Famer will be in the lineup for Week 1 when speaking to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (h/t NFL.com). He cautioned, however, that the team is “not quite there” with respect to deciding on how to proceed with Miller, who was limited to 11 games last season. The latter is on the active/PUP list, meaning he can be activated at any time during training camp.

Miller is familiar with ACL recoveries, having gone through the same process during his highly-decorated Broncos tenure. He was able to return to All-Pro form the first time, and doing so again would be crucial to the Bills’ short- and long-term success. The eight-time Pro Bowler is entering the second season of his six-year, $120MM deal signed last offseason, and he will be the key member of Buffalo’s pass-rushing unit upon return.

A cautious approach with Miller (who earlier in the offseason labeled Week 6 as the latest point at which he would make his 2023 debut) would come as little surprise given his importance, as well as the team’s depth on the edge. Buffalo signed Leonard Floyd last month in a deal which was agreed to independent of Miller’s status. The former will join Gregory Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa and Carlos Basham Jr. as pass-rushing options to compliment Miller when he is healthy. If things stay on their current course, Buffalo could have a full array of edge defenders available when the season kicks off.