Deadline Notes: Dolphins, Saints, Rams
The Dolphins are one of the most explosive teams in the NFL and sit tied atop the AFC with a 6-2 record. While Miami has clearly established themselves as a contender, the team remained quiet through the deadline. In fact, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that the Dolphins really didn’t have any trades in the works leading up to the deadline.
This is mostly because of the team’s IR situation, and the Dolphins will soon see a number of talented players return from injury. As McDaniel explained to reporters, those additions should give the Dolphins the boost that they would have been seeking via trade.
“Yeah, we actually have several of the best trades that exist in the works. Ok? You’re talking about getting players with no compensation, or no assets given, from injury. So, I mean, we’re in a great spot,” McDaniels said (via Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com).
“I think [GM] Chris [Grier] is always, and will always enter into, you know, whatever conversations that are sought out to him and, you know, that’s that’s a part of his job. He doesn’t labor my mind with, ‘Hey, you know, like NFL gossip, like, hey, I talked to this guy and this guy,’ you know, he, he, he brings it to my attention when we need to discuss it when it, when it’s to a serious platform.
“And he didn’t discuss anything. And that speaks to where we’re at with our football team. We’ve been playing some good football, and then we have some players that are very good players that are returning.”
Safety Jevon Holland (concussion), cornerback Xavien Howard (groin), and center Connor Williams (groin) are among the injured players who could return to the field as soon as this week.
More notes following the trade deadline:
- Following a quiet deadline day, Saints GM Mickey Loomis admitted that he discussed acquiring players for draft assets but never actively shopped any of the players on his roster. “We talked to a couple of teams about a couple of things, more in the acquisition area as opposed to trading somebody,” Loomis said (h/t John Hendrix). “We didn’t really talk about trading anyone from our team. We did talk to a couple teams about an acquisition, but I wouldn’t say it ever got really serious.” The Saints currently sit with a 4-4 record and are tied with the Falcons atop the NFC South.
- The Rams have a 3-5 record and are facing some uncertainty at QB, leading some pundits to wonder if they’d be sellers at the deadline. While the team received calls on some veterans, the Rams never shopped any of their star players. According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the Rams didn’t consider moving Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, or Aaron Donald despite the front office potentially having eyes on the 2024 campaign.
- Similarly, the Cowboys didn’t initiate any trade talks with teams, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. The reporter notes that the front office did receive some calls on their defensive depth, but the Cowboys were content sticking with their current squad.
- Some details on trades that were actually made: the conditional seventh-round pick that the Cardinals sent to the Vikings alongside QB Joshua Dobbs was a selection that originated with the Falcons, per Howard Balzer. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes that the Giants are paying most of the remaining $10MM on Leonard Williams‘ contract, with the Seahawks owing their new player only $647K.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from practice squad IR: WR Jeff Smith
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Mark Milton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Cory Littleton
Cory Littleton could provide a spark to the Saints defense. The linebacker started 37 of his 64 appearances for the Rams between 2016 and 2019, including a 2018 campaign where he earned second-team All-Pro honors after finishing with 125 tackles and four sacks. Following a three-year stint with the Raiders, Littleton spent the 2022 campaign with the Panthers, where he collected 47 tackles in 15 games (seven starts). He’s spent the 2023 season in Houston, where he primarily played on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Tony Jones Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DB Kevon Seymour
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: OT Leroy Watson
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Trevor Nowaske
- Waived: RB Devine Ozigbo
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: DB David Long
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Alex Austin
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward
With the trade deadline behind us, all veterans are now subject to waivers, meaning some of the players cut today could land on new teams without even hitting free agency. David Long is probably the most intriguing of the bunch, with the cornerback having started 11 of his 60 appearances through five seasons in the NFL. The 25-year-old started one of his eight appearances for the Raiders this season, compiling 12 tackles.
Kevon Seymour is another potential target for those who need some help in the secondary or on special teams. After bouncing around the NFL to begin his career, Seymour found a home in Baltimore in recent years, seeing time in 30 games (two starts) across two-plus seasons with the organization. The former sixth-round pick has mostly played special teams over the past year-plus, collecting six total tackles.
Raiders Fallout: Davis, Garoppolo, Brady
The Raiders made headlines early this morning when they fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. While the midseason shakeup may have come as a surprise to some, it probably didn’t shock many of the team’s veterans.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, owner Mark Davis had meetings with veteran players over the past week to better understand the team’s culture (or lack thereof). Albert Breer of SI.com echoes that report, noting that Davis was well aware of the players’ grievances. Even before the recent meetings, the firing started to feel “inevitable” within the organization, according to Breer. Davis was becoming increasingly “volatile and angry” with the team’s inconsistencies, and that ultimately led to his decision.
McDaniels was also aware of the problems in his locker room. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the coach allowed players to raise their issues during a team meeting last week. Josh Jacobs, Maxx Crosby, and Davante Adams were among the veteran players who spoke up, with the latter also expressing his discontent following Monday’s loss to the Lions.
Breer has more details on what led to the eventual firings. There was a “particularly aggressive” postgame meeting between Davis and his staff after the Raiders beat the Packers in Week 5. Despite the win, the owner caught the attention of many because he was “so angry,” and his “reaction created an uneasy feeling” with coaches and scouts.
More notes out of Las Vegas…
- The “disconnect” between Davis and McDaniels/Ziegler surrounding the Raiders quarterback situation played a major role in the dismissals, according to Dianna Russini, Vic Tafur, Tashan Reed, and Larry Holder of The Athletic. The decision that played the most significant role in the firings was when veteran Brian Hoyer started over rookie Aidan O’Connell in Week 7. Breer provided more context on that decision, noting that the Raiders believed Hoyer’s veteran game management would be advantageous against the Bears, who were rolling with a rookie of their own. Some coaches believed that O’Connell should get the call, and Hoyer proceeded to throw a pair of interceptions in an eventual loss.
- According to Tafur, Davis had issues with Ziegler’s handling of the position before this season. The owner wasn’t a proponent of the extension that the GM gave to Derek Carr, and the accompanying no-trade clause meant the organization ultimately let the franchise quarterback walk without receiving any compensation. Ziegler didn’t do himself any favors by handing Jimmy Garoppolo $33MM in guaranteed money. The oft-injured QB later failed his physical and ultimately required surgery, and he’s proceeded to toss nine interceptions in his six games. The GM also might regret his decision to not target a rookie and spend the money elsewhere; per Tafur, the Raiders only liked Bryce Young heading into the draft.
- Davis will now have a difficult choice to make on Garoppolo, and it goes beyond the decision to start O’Connell in Week 9. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes, it makes most sense for the organization to cut the veteran QB as soon as possible. Garoppolo has $11.25MM in injury guarantees that are due in March of 2024. The team could cut him after the Super Bowl and before the guarantee vests, but they’d be risking the QB suffering an injury during an upcoming game or practice.
- Tom Brady isn’t yet an official part-owner of the Raiders, but the future Hall of Famer will be involved in the HC and GM hiring process, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Of course, Brady has a relationship with both McDaniels and Ziegler, with the trio having won many Super Bowls together during their time in New England.
Saquon Barkley, Giants Still Interested In Extension
Despite receiving calls on impending free agent Saquon Barkley, the Giants decided to hang on to their star running back through the trade deadline. That’s because both the organization and the player are interested in a multiyear extension when they can resume talks in January, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
Barkley and the Giants first started extension talks last November but couldn’t come to an agreement. After briefly shopping the RB, the front office decided to slap Barkley with the franchise tag, locking him in to a $10.1MM salary for the 2023 campaign. The two sides continued to negotiate up to the extension deadline for franchise-tagged players, but despite only being about $1MM to $2MM apart in both average annual salary and guarantees, a new deal wasn’t signed.
Those failed negotiations kept open the possibility that the 2023 campaign could be Barkley’s final season in New York. As Dunleavy notes, the developments through the first half of the season may only increase the RB’s chances of leaving. Barkley’s injury issues continued when he was forced to miss three games with a high ankle sprain. In the meantime, fellow star RB Jonathan Taylor inked a manageable three-year, $42MM deal (including $26.5MM guaranteed) with the Colts. This means the Giants’ front office probably hasn’t increased their valuation, requiring Barkley’s side to blink.
Even if the Giants can’t re-sign Barkley, the organization didn’t want to send the wrong message to the team and the fans. As Dunleavy notes, trading the star player would have been a clear message that the organization was quitting on the season, and it also would have indicated that the front office didn’t value “loyalty to the locker room.” Further, the team would have struggled to attract fans for the final handful of home games without their marquee player.
Barkley has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Giants, and the front office’s willingness to negotiate an extension indicates that they’re not looking to restart at the position. The organization could tag Barkley again this upcoming offseason, which would provide more time for extension talks (while also opening the door to similar trade discussions at next year’s trade deadline).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Jeff Driskel
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Clay Johnston
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LS Jake McQuaide
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Austin Ajiake, LB Isaac Darkangelo
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB Dresser Winn
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Michael Dogbe, CB JoeJuan Williams
- Released: CB C.J. Coldon
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
- Released: DL Elerson Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE E.J. Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Pat O’Connor
With Matthew Stafford questionable for Week 9, the Rams are adding some additional QB depth. Winn had a standout career at UT Martin before going undrafted in this year’s draft. The QB spent training camp with the Rams before eventually joining the Edmonton Elks in the CFL. As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes, the signing is especially notable considering Winn also punted in college; Rams punter Ethan Evans is currently dealing with a sprained ankle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/23
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: CB Daryl Worley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: TE Tanner Hudson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: WR Richie James
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Nick Vannett
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: RB Darrell Henderson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: OL Chris Glaser
With the Chiefs adding Mecole Hardman and eyeing a WR crunch, the team reportedly shopped James last week. A trade didn’t end up happening, and with the wideout sitting on IR, the team has decided to designate him for return. After resurfacing last year with the Giants, James signed a one-year deal worth $1.23MM with the Chiefs back in April. He got into Kansas City’s first two games, hauling in one six-yard catch.
Dolphins OL Terron Armstead Returns To Practice
The Dolphins should soon be getting a significant boost to their offensive line. Coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that offensive tackle Terron Armstead has returned to practice (via Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley).
Armstead has missed the last four games while recovering from a knee injury that required an IR stint. He’s eligible to be activated from injured reserve at any time, and the Dolphins will now have 21 days to make the move.
“We’ll see how he responds to the effort and we’ll assess that the next day and do the same the following day,” McDaniel said (via Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald).
Following a nine-year stint in New Orleans to begin his career, Armstead earned a five-year, $75MM deal (up to $87.5MM) from the Dolphins in 2022. He missed a chunk of games last year while dealing with a pectoral strain but still earned a Pro Bowl nod, the fourth of his career. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best offensive tackle among 81 qualifying players.
As Oyefusi notes, the Dolphins were down four offensive line starters at one point during last weekend’s game against the Patriots. The Dolphins continue to bring center Connor Williams along slowly, while right guard Robert Hunt is day to day after suffering a hamstring injury vs. New England. While it might not happen this weekend in Germany, Miami should soon have most of their starting OL back in the lineup.
Steelers Activate DL Cameron Heyward From IR
The Steelers are welcoming back one of their defensive captains. The team announced that they’ve activated Cameron Heyward from injured reserve. The defensive lineman doesn’t have an injury designation heading into tomorrow night’s game against the Titans.
Heyward suffered a groin injury in Week 1 that ultimately required surgery. After being given an initial recovery timeline of eight weeks, the defensive lineman was able to return to the field about seven weeks after his operation. Heyward returned to Steelers practice last week.
“I trust what they’re doing, and I know my body, and I know I’m up there in age, but I feel like I progressed pretty well,” Heyward told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor last week.
The 2011 first-round pick has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, earning six Pro Bowl appearances and three first-team All-Pro nods in his 12-plus seasons with the organization. Prior to his injury this season, Heyward had only missed a single regular season game since the 2018 campaign.
Despite 2022 marking his age-32 season, Heyward was still plenty productive. He added another Pro Bowl to his resume after finishing with 74 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. The veteran is still attached to a four-year, $65.6MM extension he signed with the Steelers back in 2020.
Titans Listening To Offers On Contract-Year Players; Ravens Still In On Derrick Henry?
The Titans’ chances of trading Derrick Henry took a major hit today. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets, the deadline passed for the running back to restructure his contract ahead of tomorrow’s trade deadline. As a result, any suitor would have to take on the remaining $5.5MM on Henry’s deal, leading one source to tell Schefter that they don’t “think a trade’s going to happen.”
[RELATED: Latest On Titans, Derrick Henry]
While Tennessee’s inability to reduce Henry’s cap hit will surely impact their ability to trade the star running back, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com writes that teams remain in the hunt, including a pair of previously-reported suitors. Per Pauline, the Ravens are still the “leaders in the clubhouse,” while the Cowboys linger as a “dark horse.”
While both Baltimore and Dallas would be happy to add Henry to their running back corps, compensation remains a main sticking point, according to Pauline. The reporter believes the Titans couldn’t do better than a fourth-round pick, and Pauline opines that Tennessee’s ownership would never approve such a deal. So, if there’s any hope that Henry gets traded before tomorrow’s deadline, it’s going to require one of the Titans or a potential suitor to blink.
While much of the attention in Tennessee has been focused on Henry, there are a handful of additional trade candidates on the Titans roster. Albert Breer of SI.com says defensive linemen Teair Tart and Denico Autry are “the more likely candidates to be moved” before tomorrow’s deadline, with the reporter also noting the smoke surrounding DeAndre Hopkins.
Tart has spent his entire four-year career in Tennessee, going from UDFA to full-time starter. After starting all 16 of his appearances in 2022 , he’s started four of his five games this year, collecting 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three QB hits. Autry signed a three-year, $21.5MM deal with the Titans in 2021 and has started 25 of his 36 appearances for the organization, including six starts this season.