Here are today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trysten Hill did not make it to free agency. The former Cowboys second-round pick will head to Arizona, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating (via Twitter) the Cardinals claimed his contract.
The Cards will take a flier on the fourth-year defensive tackle, whose rookie contract expires at season’s end. After acquiring Johnathan Hankins, the Cowboys did not view Hill as a keeper any longer. The Cowboys dangled Hill in trades for a stretch, but after no takers emerged, he hit the waiver wire.
Although he was a healthy scratch in Dallas’ Week 8 romp over Chicago, Hill worked as a part-time contributor on a deep defensive line this season. Hill, 24, was active for the Cowboys’ first seven games and logged a 29% snap rate during those contests. He has not started a game since being a Cowboys first-stringer five times in 2020. Those represent the Central Florida product’s only NFL starts. The Cowboys drafted Hill two defensive coordinators ago (Rod Marinelli); its current D-tackle cogs came in during Mike Nolan or Dan Quinn‘s DC tenures.
Arizona has a future Hall of Famer (J.J. Watt) and an ascending contract-year talent (Zach Allen) leading its defensive front. Only three other D-linemen — Leki Fotu, Jonathan Ledbetter and Michael Dogbe — reside on Arizona’s active roster, making some room for Hill to carve out a role. Hill did not do enough to stand out with the Cowboys; his Cardinals stay will help establish his free agency stock.
Kamu Grugier-Hill has found a new home. The linebacker is signing with the Cardinals, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Grugier-Hill asked for and was granted his release by the Texans last week.
During his lone full season in Houston in 2021, Grugier-Hill collected a career-high 108 tackles, three sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles in 14 games. He also set the Texans’ single-game record for tackles with 19. He collected 40 tackles through Houston’s first six games this year, but he graded out as PFF’s second-worst LB at the time of his release. The Texans were planning to increase rookie third-round pick Christian Harris‘s playing time, and Grugier-Hill decided to seek more playing time elsewhere.
However, it’s remains to be seen if he’ll see a significant role in Arizona. Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons soak up many of the linebacker snaps, and the Texans have also Ben Niemann, Tanner Vallejo, Nick Vigil, and Zeke Turner getting looks at the position.
The Cardinals also brought in offensive lineman Rashaad Coward for a workout today, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). Coward saw time in 30 games for the Bears through his first three seasons in the NFL, but he was limited to only four appearances with the Steelers in 2021. The 27-year-old spent the preseason with the Cardinals.
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cardinals have already been involved in the player movement taking place around the league in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline. As head coach Kliff Kingsbury indicated earlier this week, though, the team may not be done making moves. 
When asked about the potential of another trade being on the table, Kingsbury said, “It wouldn’t surprise me. There’s a lot of really good players out there and I’ll bet there’s a ton of movement over the next few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got in on something” (Twitter link via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic).
Arizona traded for wideout Robbie Anderson, marking the end of his Carolina tenure following his midgame dismissal from the sidelines. That added a vertical element to the team’s passing game, something made particularly relevant given the foot injury suffered by Marquise Brown which has landed him on IR.
The latter was, of course, a trade acquisition as well during the draft. Spending a first-round pick to add the former Raven shows general manager Steve Keim‘s willingness to execute notable moves. Another one came last October, when Arizona landed tight end Zach Ertz from the Eagles. That move gave the three-time Pro Bowler the chance to remain a starter, which he has done in 2022 after choosing to stay in the desert this offseason.
The team’s offense has received plenty of attention during an underwhelming 2022, to the point where Kingsbury recently admitted he could cede play-calling duties. The defense, on the other hand, entered Sunday’s action ranking toward the bottom of the league in almost every major category. That would lend itself to an addition being a possibility, but the team’s loss to the Vikings this afternoon dropped Arizona to 3-5 on the campaign, placing them last in the NFC West.
The Cardinals also sit in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, with less than $5MM to work with. Given Kingsbury’s remarks, though, Arizona could be a team to watch over the next two days as the trade market continues to heat up.
Here are the minor moves leading into Sunday’s slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
Days away from this year’s trade deadline (3pm CT, Nov. 1), a few teams have made some in-season moves to bolster their rosters. Several squads have also restructured contracts this season to create additional space. That extra room will matter as most teams will consider adding or subtracting costs before Tuesday’s deadline.
Here is how teams’ cap-space numbers (courtesy of OverTheCap) look ahead of the deadline:
The Browns have held the top spot for months, and the gulf between their cap-space figure and the field almost certainly stems from a desire to carry over cap space before Deshaun Watson‘s cap number spikes from $9.4MM to a runaway-record $54.99MM. Cleveland has recently been linked to creating more cap space. Interest has come in for Greedy Williams, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Kareem Hunt. Although the Browns did not grant Hunt’s summer trade request, it may now take only a fourth-round pick for Cleveland to deal its backup running back.
Another potential seller could move up on this list while creating some additional space in 2023. The Broncos are believed to have made Jerry Jeudy available. Unlike fellow trade chip Bradley Chubb, Jeudy is under contract for 2023 (on a $4.83MM cap number). Denver appears more likely to move Chubb. That departure would remove the franchise tag from the team’s equation in 2023 — barring a tag for fellow 2023 UFA-to-be Dre’Mont Jones — thus freeing up more free agency funds. It will be interesting if the Broncos, if they are to move Chubb, agree to eat much of his fifth-year option salary. George Paton‘s club took on most of Von Miller‘s 2021 money to increase draft compensation.
The Eagles are still near the top despite acquiring Robert Quinn. Philadelphia is paying just $684K of Quinn’s contract, which now runs through 2022 instead of 2024. Chicago is on the hook for $7.1MM. The Bears are on track to have a gargantuan lead on the field for 2023 cap space. They are projected to hold more than $125MM next year, according to OverTheCap.
New Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney checks in at just $784K on their 2022 cap sheet. The former Giants first-rounder’s figures bump to $1.9MM (2023) and $2.53MM (’24). Kansas City recently restructured Travis Kelce‘s deal, creating some wiggle room for the Toney addition. The Chiefs, who did not touch Patrick Mahomes‘ deal this year, restructured Kelce’s contract twice in 2022. Thursday’s trade hit the Giants with a $2.33MM dead-money charge. Toney will count $3.67MM in dead money for the Giants in 2023.
The Panthers picked up nearly $19MM in 2022 dead money via the Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey trades. Unlike the Eagles and Bears, last week’s Panthers-49ers McCaffrey swap did not involve Carolina taking on additional salary. McCaffrey’s offseason restructure dropped his 2022 base salary to the league minimum; the 49ers have him on their books at just $690K. McCaffrey’s record-setting extension will still represent $18.35MM in dead money on the Panthers’ 2023 cap, but his nonguaranteed base salaries from 2023-25 ($11.8MM, $11.8MM, $12MM) transferred fully from Carolina to San Francisco.
On the subject of 2022 dead money, the Bears lead the way with $80.32MM. The Falcons added to their total this month, however, by trading Deion Jones to the Browns. That deal saddled the Falcons with $11.38MM in additional dead money — accompanying the franchise’s record-setting Matt Ryan dead-money hit ($40.53MM) — and ballooned Atlanta’s overall total to $78.57MM. Ryan is off the Falcons’ books after this year, but Jones will carry a $12.14MM dead-money figure in 2023.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Chicago Bears
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
Washington Commanders
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
New England Patriots
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As another trade deadline approaches, this era’s trade kingpin is naturally being mentioned in potential deals. Teams are looking into Brandin Cooks ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline, amid another season in which the Texans are not expected to challenge for a playoff spot.
The Chiefs, Packers and Rams have discussed Cooks with the Texans, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. While a trade would put Cooks alongside the likes of Eric Dickerson, Earl Morrall, Norm Snead and Co., the thrice-dealt wide receiver has said previously he did not want to be moved again. Cooks nevertheless remains a viable trade chip in his ninth season and is now winding down his 20s with a rebuilding team. No deal appears close, Wilson adds, but Cooks appears back on the market.
Cooks, 29, signed an extension to stay with the Texans in April, cutting off his previous batch of trade rumors. Signed to a two-year, $39MM deal, Cooks is nevertheless tied to a $1.17MM base salary. The veteran’s salaries spike after this season — to $18MM (guaranteed) and $13MM in 2023 and ’24, respectively — but thanks partially to a September restructure, Cooks’ 2022 money would not be particularly imposing for a team to add.
Each of these teams has been connected to wide receiver pursuits. The Packers have been mentioned as a team looking for wideout help. That report emerged before a rough outing from Green Bay’s passing attack, one that preceded Aaron Rodgers suggesting players who are making too many mistakes should see their playing time reduced. Randall Cobb is on IR, and second-round pick Christian Watson has missed the past two weeks due to a hamstring injury. Allen Lazard is also battling a shoulder ailment he sustained in Washington; Green Bay’s top wideout was outfitted with an arm sling Monday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes.
While calls for the Packers to augment their post-Davante Adams receiver situation came in this offseason, the team resisted. It is now 3-4, increasing the urgency ahead of Rodgers’ 39th birthday. Cooks fetched first-round picks in his initial two trades (from the Saints to the Patriots in 2017 and from the Pats to the Rams in 2018) and a second-rounder (from Los Angeles to Houston in 2020), prices that will test the Packers’ resolve.
It probably will not cost a second-rounder this time around, though the Texans were seeking such a return this spring. Cooks’ 2023 guarantee will affect his trade market this time around. The Packers are also being connected to the Cardinals’ A.J. Green via trade, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes. With Green now 34 and seeing minimal Arizona playing time, the Packers would not need to pay much. Cooks would also provide a bigger boost for Green Bay’s passing attack. The Packers’ pass-catcher search also includes tight ends, per Graziano.
Kansas City has been linked as an Odell Beckham Jr. suitor, joining Los Angeles on this front as well, but the team has seen its free agency additions — JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling — make leaps in recent weeks. Both topped 100 receiving yards against the 49ers, a game in which the Chiefs surpassed 500 yards. Cooks would become the most experienced player in the Chiefs’ receiving corps, and with second-rounder Skyy Moore not making much of an impact yet, the six-time 1,000-yard receiver could buy the rookie some time.
The Rams rostered Cooks for two seasons, having traded their 2018 first-round pick for him, and gave him a lucrative second contract. The team used Cooks as a starter alongside Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and while the former Saints first-round pick posted a career-high 1,204 yards in the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII-qualifying season, concussions limited him in 2019. This year’s Rams edition is struggling on offense — partially due to UFA addition Allen Robinson‘s minimal impact — and the team has not shied away from splashy moves.
A Cooks trade would seemingly cut off an OBJ path. The Rams have been the clubhouse leaders for Beckham for months, but with their offense ranking 29th in scoring and OBJ not expected to be ready until December, the team may be facing a timeline question. Van Jefferson is on track to return from IR soon, but the team initially added Beckham despite rostering Kupp, Woods and Jefferson last year. The Chiefs appear better positioned to wait for Beckham compared to the 3-4 Rams.
This season, Cooks (28 receptions, 281 yards, one touchdown) is not on 1,000-yard pace. While the Texans could retain the 5-foot-10 target for the purposes of Davis Mills development, stockpiling future draft capital should certainly be considered given where the franchise resides on its rebuild timeline. Cooks may end up serving as a consolation prize for one of the three teams involved in the latest Beckham sweepstakes.