Cowboys Re-Sign DT Johnathan Hankins
Dallas has checked another item off their offseason to-do list, signing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to a new contract, according to Cowboys staff writer Patrik Walker. The team had previously let it be known that they had every intention of bringing Hankins back for another year. 
The veteran lineman joined the Cowboys as a part of a midseason trade last year that sent Hankins and a 2024 seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. Hankins played in five games for the Cowboys, starting three, before being placed on injured reserve for the rest of the regular season. He made it back to the active roster in time for the playoffs, though, and played a strong snap percentage in the team’s two postseason contests.
Hankins doesn’t light up a stat sheet, but he does the dirty work in the trenches that allows his teammates to steal the spotlight. He showed up last season for a Cowboys defense that was struggling mightily against the run. The impact he was able to make in his short time with the team was enough to convince Cowboys decision makers to bring him back.
The 30-year-old will be coming back on a one-year deal worth approximately $1.5MM. He’s set to receive a $1.17MM base salary with a bonus of $152,500. The deal is a veteran salary benefit contract, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, meaning Hankins should have a cap hit of just under $1MM.
Hankins’s re-signing continues a strong offseason for Dallas, which has made strong moves to bring in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks while securing in-house free agents on defense like safety Donovan Wilson, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and defensive end Dante Fowler. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys also have interest in bringing back another defensive line depth piece in Carlos Watkins. Watkins and Hankins would team up once again with Neville Gallimore to provide some serious depth on the interior defensive line behind starters Quinton Bohanna and Osa Odighizuwa.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/29/23
Today’s only minor move:
Detroit Lions
- Waived from reserve/retired list: DL John Penisini
Penisini was a surprising contributor for the Lions two years ago when he started 12 games as a rookie sixth-round pick. The Utah-product didn’t give a reason for his retirement at the time, but many thought it was related to a fairly serious injury he experienced before the 2021 season that resulted in calcium deposits building up in his shoulders the size of softballs.
Sean McDermott To Call Bills’ Defensive Plays
After the announced departure of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the Bills were in need of a plan for who would be calling plays on defense. General manager Brandon Beane confirmed that the team wouldn’t search externally for a replacement, leaving the responsibility of determining the role to head coach Sean McDermott. Well, according to Mike Giardi of NFL Network, McDermott will be shouldering the role himself.
Two other coaches on staff were considered to be top candidates for the play-calling responsibilities. Senior defensive assistant Al Holcomb recently joined the Bills’ staff after serving as interim defensive coordinator for the Panthers last season. Defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator John Butler was also thought to be worthy of consideration. Butler is extremely well-regarded as a defensive coach and had served as defensive coordinator during his time at Penn State.
Ultimately, Buffalo will turn to its skipper to take on the added responsibility. McDermott is obviously one of the more respected minds in football after helping to turn the Bills into a genuine contender. He also earned his position as head coach after stints as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator (2009-10) and the Panthers’ defensive coordinator (2011-16). McDermott had two strong seasons with the Panthers, fielding the second-best defense in yards and points allowed in 2013 and the sixth-best defense in yards and points allowed in 2015, when Carolina went the Super Bowl.
The Bills will certainly miss Frazier, who led a Bills defense that has allowed the fewest yards in each of the past two seasons while allowing the fewest points in 2021 and the second-fewest points in 2022. But Buffalo has a capable leader who will step up and attempt to keep the Bills defense at the top of the league.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst Addresses Aaron Rodgers Situation
The Packers have been entrenched in their drama with Aaron Rodgers for years now. With the end seemingly drawing nearer and nearer, general manager Brian Gutekunst gave some comments to the media today. 
Primarily, Gutekunst confirmed what we all presumed, that he expects Jordan Love to take over as starting quarterback for the Packers in 2023. While he admitted that there were unknowns to be dealt with, mainly the pending trade deal shipping Rodgers to New York, everything is trending toward an offense centered around Love, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Additionally, Gutekunst added that he is not necessitating a first-round pick in exchange for Rodgers. He stated that he wants a fair value for Rodgers, whom he called a “premier” player, but claimed that he isn’t drawing a line at the first round.
Gutekunst was also asked some hard-hitting questions from The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman about the team’s inability to communicate with Rodgers and Rodgers’ displeasure concerning the perception that the Packers were shopping him out, and Gutekunst didn’t shy away from the answers. Gutekunst basically asserted that they attempted to reach out after the season and, after they failed to reach him or get a response, Gutekunst “had to do (his) job.”
“Certainly, whenever a player may have issues, you prefer that they talk to you directly and not do it in the media,” Gutekunst said Monday, via Schneidman. “But that’s not necessarily the way he goes about it and that’s okay.”
Gutekunst’s efforts to reach Rodgers were an attempt to discuss the future of the franchise and Rodgers’s part in it. After the season, though, he was only able to reach Rodgers’s representatives. After Gutekunst talked with the veteran’s representation, Rodgers asked for the trade, leading to the limbo that Green Bay is currently in. Most parties involved are going about their business as if Rodgers is a member of the Jets already. It’s only a matter of compensation at this point.
Saints Sign WR Bryan Edwards
The Saints have reunited new quarterback Derek Carr with a former Raiders teammate, signing wide receiver Bryan Edwards to a new contract, according to executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis. Edwards will be joining his fourth team in as many years in the league. 
The former third-round pick out of South Carolina easily had his best year during his sophomore season with Carr. That year he caught 34 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns. Following that season, though, Edwards was traded to the Falcons along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. His tenure in Atlanta was quite short as he was released after only seven appearances. He signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad but was released again at the end of the regular season, failing to appear in a contest for Kansas City.
Edwards immediately adds depth to the Saints’ receiving corps and is a candidate to return to the level of production that he originally had with Carr. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Edwards also provides the size that New Orleans has sorely missed anytime Michael Thomas is out of the lineup. Besides Thomas, Edwards will also be competing with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Tre’Quan Smith for targets.
The Saints were searching for further depth at wide receiver, specifically eyeing Edwards, and they got him. They’ll hope that reuniting Edwards with the quarterback who has done the most for him in the past will elevate Edwards from his recent struggles.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/27/23
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Joe Gaziano
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: DE Khalid Kareem
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: DT Marquise Copeland
Broncos HC Sean Payton Insists Team Will Not Trade WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton
Throughout the early offseason, rumors have run rampant concerning two of the Broncos’ most promising assets. Denver fielded calls before last year’s trade deadline from several teams seeking to acquire wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Despite the existing interest, new head coach Sean Payton assured the media today that they have no intentions of dealing Jeudy or Sutton. 
Trade interest in the two young wideouts began last season as needy teams were looking to add some weapons for a playoff run. Although it became clear that the Broncos weren’t shopping the two players two weeks ago, teams have still been calling to inquire about their availability.
At the annual league meetings, Payton chose to address the situation quite plainly. “I see and read like everyone else does,” Payton told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “Then occasionally, when someone really crowds the plate, I throw a fastball right at their chin, and they back up, and they’re like, ‘Alright.’ And so I haven’t thrown any fastballs lately, but we’re not trading those two players.”
For those confused by Payton’s baseball analogy, the new Denver head coach is saying that if anyone was pushing too hard for Jeudy or Sutton, he would make sure they received the message of their unavailability. Apparently, that hasn’t been necessary, so far.
“When people call and the phone rings like it does this time of year, [general manager] George Paton‘s job is to pick it up and say, ‘Hey. Tell you what, we’re not,'” Payton continued. “And so, we’ve received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players. But we’re in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do people call? Because they know we’re void of draft picks and that we might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group we’re working with.”
So, it looks like Denver will be moving forward with those top-two weapons for quarterback Russell Wilson. Under new leadership and with the return of a strong third option in Tim Patrick, the Broncos’ offense is hoping to look different than they did in 2022 with a similar roster. Payton intends to keep Sutton and Jeudy around.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/26/23
Today’s only minor move:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G Wes Martin
Martin is set to become a depth piece on the Browns’ offensive line next season. He has starting experience from his time in Washington, starting ten games during the three seasons he’s spent in DC. Martin also earned a start in seven appearances with the Giants in 2021, his only season not in Washington. The 26-year-old Ohio native will return to his home state for the fifth season of his career.
Contract Details: Hardman, Foreman, Edmunds, Crowder, Seumalo, Dillard
Here are some details on recent new contracts around the NFL:
- Andre Dillard, T (Titans): Three years, $29MM. The contract, according to McLane, has a guaranteed amount of $13MM, $10MM of which is guaranteed at signing. The $10MM consists of a $5.99MM signing bonus, Dillard’s first year salary of $1.01MM, and $3MM of his second year base salary (worth a total of $9MM). The remaining $3MM of guaranteed money is also part of Dillard’s 2024 salary and fully guarantees on the fifth league day of the 2024 season. His 2025 base salary is worth a total of $11.5MM. The deal includes a per game active roster bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000. Dillard can also receive an additional $2MM in playing time incentives. The Titans built a potential out into the contract that allows the team to cut Dillard after 2024 with $3.59MM in dead cap but $16.79MM in cap savings over the following three years, two of which are void years.
- Isaac Seumalo, G (Steelers): Three years, $24MM. The deal, according to McLane, has a guaranteed amount of $6.95MM composed of Seumalo’s signing bonus. He’ll receive a base salary of $1.3MM in 2023, $7.88MM in 2024, and $6.88MM in 2025. Seumalo can also receive a 2025 roster bonus of $1MM that guarantees on the third league day of the 2025 season.
- Mecole Hardman, WR (Jets): One year, $4.5MM. The deal, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, has a guaranteed amount of $4.08MM, $3MM of which is the signing bonus guaranteed at signing. Hardman’s 2023 cap hit will be $1.88MM due to four void years used to spread out his cap numbers. He’ll have an opportunity to make an additional $2MM from incentives this year.
- D’Onta Foreman, RB (Bears): One year, $2MM. The contract according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, has a guaranteed amount of $1MM consisting of a $375,000 signing bonus and $625,000 of his base salary (worth a total of $1.53MM). Foreman can earn an additional $1MM from incentives based on rushing yards, touchdowns, and the playoffs to push the maximum value of his contract to $3MM.
- Terrell Edmunds, S (Eagles): One year, $2MM. The deal, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, has a guaranteed amount of $600,000 consisting of a $250,000 signing bonus and $350,000 of his 2023 base salary (worth a total of $1.08MM). The contract includes a per game active roster bonus of $39,411 for a potential season total of $670,000. Edmunds can also receive an additional $850,000 in incentives based on team improvements and individual performance.
- Jamison Crowder, WR (Giants): One year, $1.32MM. The contract, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, has a guaranteed amount of $27,500 composed of Crowder’s signing bonus. The deal includes a per game active roster bonus of $5,882 for a potential season total of $100,000.
NFC West Coaching Updates: Rams, Kubiak, Cardinals
The Rams announced that they’ve finalized their coaching staff for the 2023 season earlier this month, according to Rams staff writer Stu Jackson. We covered a number of the changes from 2022 already, but below are the ones we have yet to cover.
With the departure of Thomas Brown, who will be calling plays for the Panthers in 2023, head coach Sean McVay had an opening for a new assistant head coach. We heard last month that the team added Jimmy Lake to the staff, but we didn’t have details on his role. It turns out that he will be replacing Brown as the Rams assistant head coach.
On offense, the biggest change we have yet to cover is the addition of Ron Gould as the team’s new running backs coach. After allowing Ra’Shaad Samples to depart for a college position, the Rams went and poached Gould away from San Diego State a month after Gould was named the associate head coach and running backs coach for the Aztecs. He spent the last six years coaching running backs at Stanford. Additionally, two assistants received promotions this offseason. Jake Peetz, who was an offensive assistant last year has been given the new title of pass game specialist. Kenneth Black, last year’s coaching fellow in Los Angeles, will fill Peetz’s previous role of offensive assistant.
Los Angeles made two new additions to the defensive staff. They hired Joe Coniglio to coach outside linebackers in 2023. Coniglio played a similar role for Navy last season. The other addition is Andrew Carter, who will be the new assistant defensive line coach after the departure of Skyler Jones. Carter was a defensive quality control coach for the Broncos last year.
Additionally, the Rams’ defensive staff saw a rare swap occur. Chris Shula, who served last year as the team’s pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach, will spend 2023 as the inside linebackers coach/pass rush coordinator. Last year’s inside linebackers coach, Chris Beake, will now coach defensive backs.
Here are some other staff changes in the NFC West:
- We heard last month that the 49ers added Klint Kubiak to their staff in an unnamed role. The team recently announced that Kubiak will serve as San Francisco’s offensive passing game specialist in 2023. The 49ers also announced the hires of Jacob Webster as defensive quality control coach and Max Molz as coaching operations assistant. Both are making their NFL-debuts with Webster coming from Wisconsin as a graduate assistant and Molz serving as the associate director of football operations at Missouri last year.
- The Cardinals hired some personnel help for new general manager Monti Ossenfort earlier this week, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Arizona is bringing in Rob Kisiel to a pro personnel department executive position. Kisiel has been a pro scout for the Falcons for the last two seasons and previously served as director of pro personnel for the Texans.