Dolphins, CB Byron Jones Rework Contract
The Dolphins are working to keep one the league’s most respected cornerback tandems together in Miami while retaining a bit of spending ability under the salary cap. According to Field Yates of ESPN, cornerback Byron Jones agreed to a reworked contract today to help create some cap space. 
The Dolphins converted $13.26MM of the base salary due to Jones in 2022 into a signing bonus. Along with clearing $750,000 of cap space by reworking the contract of safety Clayton Fejedelem, Miami was able to create $11.35MM of cap space. With the release of offensive lineman Jesse Davis and wide receiver Allen Hurns yesterday, the Dolphins have cleared $17.55MM of cap space in the course of two days.
The new available spending money makes the recent additions of tackle Terron Armstead and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (who was extended after his trade from Kansas City) a bit easier to stomach. Jones was able to joke about helping the team acquire such talent, tweeting out clown-faced emojis meant, in his words, to depict “(him) restructuring (his) contract just to have Tyreek Hill burn (him) everyday in practice.”
The Dolphins’ focus will now likely shift to the other side of the secondary with cornerback Xavien Howard. Howard is reportedly seeking an increase in salary and a reworked deal could kill two birds with one stone: getting Howard a new and improved deal while creating a bit more cap space for Miami.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/25/22
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Keisean Nixon
Latest On Baker Mayfield’s Status With Browns
We updated recently how Cleveland was intent on giving quarterback Baker Mayfield a fresh start immediately. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Browns are not likely to release Mayfield should they fail to find a trade partner for the 26-year-old. 
According to Rapoport, Cleveland has had talks with squads who have interest in trading for Mayfield, but the 2022 salary due to Mayfield of $18.86MM is currently preventing a deal from being made. Rapoport posits that perhaps a deal could get worked out by Mayfield’s agent and a potential new team wherein a portion of his salary is covered by the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported days ago that Cleveland is not interested in paying part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary to facilitate a trade.
The Seahawks still appear on the radar after inquiring about the disgruntled quarterback, but they are looking for a certain price point and the assumption is that the Browns have not yet come close to it. When the Browns informed Mayfield that they would attempt to accommodate him with a trade deal, Baker mentioned the Colts as a team of interest, while also stating he had no interest in going to Detroit, Carolina, or Houston. The Colts, though, took the route of acquiring Matt Ryan in a trade with the Falcons.
Another team that’s communicated interest in Mayfield is the Steelers, who Cabot mentioned would “pounce” on Mayfield if the Browns were to release him. Newly acquired quarterback Mitchell Trubisky‘s relatively low-cost deal averaging $7.14MM per year makes it extremely feasible for Pittsburgh to go after a big name quarterback in the free agent market.
Two more factors possibly obstructing a deal from being reached are the availability of another proven starter Jimmy Garoppolo and the surgery Mayfield underwent on his non-throwing shoulder just after the 2021 NFL season. Also, Cleveland doesn’t expect a first-round pick in exchange for Mayfield. They know they’ll have to look elsewhere to recoup any of the first-rounders lost acquiring Deshaun Watson from Houston.
The Brown’s will likely continue working towards finding a new home for Mayfield, but Rapoport warns us not to expect them to cut him in an attempt to help. If an ideal trade partner fails to emerge, the Browns could be well-served in holding on to their starter of the last four years should their new quarterback, Watson, face a suspension to start the 2022 season.
Bucs Re-Sign T Josh Wells
Swing-tackle Josh Wells will sign his fourth-consecutive one-year deal with the Buccaneers, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic. Auman adds that the deal is worth $1.12MM, with $895,000 guaranteed.
Wells has served as a key backup lineman in his three seasons in Tampa Bay. He participated in the team’s 2020 Super Bowl run, starting one game and playing in 15, not including his appearances in all four playoff games. Wells, 31, has operated in this capacity for most of his career. The former UDFA has topped out at five starts two times, doing so with the Jaguars in 2018 and for the Buccaneers last year. Wells has earned eight total starts and appeared in 45 games over his first three seasons in Tampa.
With Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs returning to bookend the Bucs’ offensive line, Wells is a depth signing that secures Tampa’s first man off the bench should anything happen with Smith and Wirfs. He also provides a familiar face as the team seeks to replace both guard spots. Alex Cappa departed in free agency to sign with the Bengals and Ali Marpet retired at the ripe old age of 28. Tampa brought in former Bengal Fred Johnson and acquired Shaq Mason in a trade with the Patriots in an attempt to fill those spots, but retaining Wells gives them some room for error as they attempt to replace the production from last year.
Wells joins returning starting center Ryan Jensen as the Buccaneers are trying to put together another Super Bowl squad for Tom Brady. He is sure to continue playing a key role as the offensive line’s sixth man with a chance to earn a starting spot protecting the NFL’s oldest active player.
Raiders Re-Sign OL Jermaine Eluemunor
After appearing in 14 games for the Raiders last season, offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor has agreed to return to Las Vegas, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. In a series of transactions heading into the weekend, the Raiders have made sure to bring back a proven backup lineman who could earn a starting spot. 
A fifth-round pick for the Ravens in 2017, Eluemunor had already traveled more than most draft prospects. Eluemunor was born in England, moving to New Jersey in his teenage years and finding football. After applying to around 120 schools, he earned a scholarship to Texas A&M before getting drafted to Baltimore.
Eluemunor had three starts in two seasons with the Ravens as a reserve lineman before being traded alongside a sixth-round pick to New England in exchange for a fourth-round pick. His first year as a Patriot was plagued with injury, but he was named the starting right tackle to start the 2020 NFL season. A Week 6 ankle injury landed Eluemunor on injured reserve, but he returned four weeks later to start four of the eight remaining games of the season.
A free agent after his stint in New England, Eluemunor signed with the Dolphins, getting cut before the season started. Four days later, he joined the Jaguars for a four-day period before getting cut yet again. Eluemunor wasn’t unemployed for long, though. Two days later, Eluemunor landed in Vegas.
An injury to Week 1 starter Denzelle Good elevated Eluemunor to first-string in a matchup versus his former team, the Ravens. Eluemunor, who had been with the team for only two weeks, made three more starts for Las Vegas before returning to his role as a backup and special teamer.
The Raiders return key contributors from last year Kolton Miller, John Simpson, Alex Leatherwood, and Andre James. Vegas has also re-signed back ups Jackson Barton and Brandon Parker, as well as recently signing Alex Bars, who started 11 games in three seasons with the Bears. Despite the addition of Bars, the Raiders have a ton of familiarity heading into 2022.
In contrast to the recent additions, Las Vegas has cut cornerback Jordan Brown, defensive end P.J. Johnson, offensive lineman William Sweet, safety Natrell Jamerson, and wide receiver Javon Wims.
Contract Details: Jackson, Muhammad, Nwosu
Rounding up a few contract details from recent deals:
- Donte Jackson, CB (Panthers): Three-year, $35.18MM. The contract, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, has a guaranteed amount of $16.76MM consisting of an $11MM signing bonus and the first two years’ base salary of $1.04MM in 2022 and $4.72MM in 2023. On the third league day of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Jackson would be due $4MM roster bonuses. The deal also includes a per game active bonus of $100,000 that can earn him up to $1.7MM per season.
- Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE (Bears): Two-year, $8MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $3.3MM consisting of a $1MM signing bonus, the first year’s base salary of $1.5MM, and the first year’s roster bonus of $800,000. Muhammad would be due an identical roster bonus on the third league day of 2023. He also has a per game active bonus of $35,294 for a potential season total of $600,000.
- Uchenna Nwosu, DE (Seahawks): Two-year, $19.06MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $10.54MM consisting of a signing bonus of $9.5MM and the first year’s base salary of $1.04 MM. The second year’s base salary jumps to $7.5MM. The deal includes a per game active bonus of $30,000 for a potential season total of $510,000.
Keanu Neal Switching Back To Safety
Last offseason, when former-Falcons’ safety Keanu Neal followed his head coach to Dallas, the Cowboys announced they would move the former-Pro Bowler to linebacker. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, one year later, the now free agent is making the switch back to the secondary. 
Neal spent five seasons in Atlanta as a safety, with three of those years being healthy. In all three of those healthy seasons, Neal topped 100 tackles, collecting 15.0 tackles for loss combined in those seasons, as well. So the position move initiated by Dallas made sense based on his tackling prowess.
In his lone year as a linebacker, Neal was third on the team in playing time and tackles among the linebackers behind Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and former-Pro Bowler Leighton Vander Esch. Parsons and Vander Esch functioned as the teams two starters with Neal playing a significant role as the first linebacker off the bench.
Now hitting the free agent market, and likely seeing the lack of movement for linebackers in free agency, Neal is prepared to make the move back to safety. Neal never quite got to his goal linebacker weight of 222 lb., so he should have no issue getting into safety-shape. Whatever position he signs as, his role on any new team will likely remain similar as a tackling machine with coverage ability.
Inside Linebacker Market
There are many inside linebackers waiting patiently on the open market. A wild first week of free agency has come and gone with other positions seeing record deals and big names moving. The market for inside linebackers, however, has been quiet and less than lucrative.
In years past, we’ve seen monster deals to players like C.J. Mosley, whose contract has an average annual value of $17MM and guaranteed him $43MM at signing, and Darius Leonard, whose contract has an average annual value of $19.7MM and guaranteed him $33MM at signing. The largest payout we’ve seen this offseason to an inside linebacker was when the Packers kept De’Vondre Campbell from entering free agency with a five-year, $50MM deal, with a guaranteed $15MM. It’s certainly an impressive deal, and one the esteemed linebacker deserves, but no other deals have come close.
After being cut by the Jaguars, Myles Jack signed a two-year, $16MM deal to become a Steeler. Josey Jewell remained with the Broncos after signing a two-year, $11MM deal. Minnesota’s new inside linebacker, Jordan Hicks, joined the Vikings on a two-year, $10MM contract. Christian Kirksey signed a similar deal to remain with the Texans. We’ve seen a few other small deals like Zaire Franklin signing a three-year, $10MM deal to remain in Indianapolis and Alex Anzalone signing a one-year, $2.25MM contract to play another year with the Lions.
While that may sound pretty active, there are many big names who have yet to find deals. The biggest of these names is Bobby Wagner. Cut after ten outstanding years in Seattle, Wagner was expected to be a highly sought after free agent. While there have been many teams who’ve voiced interest in the eight-time All-Pro, there has been no word of negotiations. Any deal Wagner signs will likely top the numbers posed by Campbell and the Packers, but the fact that he has yet to find a home may hint at the fact that the money he’s looking for isn’t being offered.
There are many other impact names on the open market: Kwon Alexander, Jayon Brown, Jarrad Davis, Dont’a Hightower, Anthony Hitchens, Nick Kwiatkoski, Reggie Ragland, Joe Schobert, and Danny Trevathan.
Due to the low spending we’ve seen thus far and the plethora of names available, these players will likely have to search for the right fit and accept a decent deal if offered. They may end up having to wait until injuries provide an opportunity for them to fill in on a roster. The exception, of course, is Wagner, who can afford to be patient. Wagner will have the luxury of being able to wait and see how rosters form throughout the league, biding his time until he’s sure he’s joining a contender. Look for the others to give up on looking for a lucrative payday and settle for decent deals from teams with schemes they like.
Rams Re-Sign WR/KR Brandon Powell
The Rams are bringing back a key special teamer from their Super Bowl run. According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the team is re-signing wide receiver and return man Brandon Powell to a one-year deal.
Powell entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida signing with the Lions. Powell earned a start that season in place of Kenny Golladay and recorded 6 receptions for 103 yards in his lone start. After being waived, Powell was picked up by the Falcons for the 2019 NFL season. He was promoted to the active roster that year, but didn’t see any game action in Atlanta until the 2020 NFL season. He functioned as their main return man that year while also reeling in 2 receiving touchdowns. After the season ended, he signed a contract to join the Bills, but was released before the season began. The Dolphins picked him up, stashing him on their practice squad for about a month before releasing him, as well.
It was at this time that Powell found his way to Los Angeles, signing to the Rams’ practice squad in early November. Powell became the team’s return man, even housing a punt for a 61-yard touchdown in the Rams’ postseason-clinching win over the Vikings. His receiving talents likely won’t be needed as the team returns Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson, brings in Allen Robinson II, and hopes to bring back Odell Beckham Jr., but as a part of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning squad, Los Angeles is willing to extend another year to the young special teamer.
Packers Re-Sign TE Robert Tonyan
The Packers are keeping their tight end room secure for Aaron Rodgers. With Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara set to return, Green Bay secured the return of their top three tight ends today by re-signing Robert Tonyan for another year, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. 
Tonyan became the tenth football player out of Indiana State University to reach the NFL when he signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He was released before the season began, but was soon picked up by the Packers as a member of the practice squad. Tonyan was mostly a reserve tight end, appearing in most games, but not providing much of an impact in the passing game.
Tonyan had a break out year, though, in the 2020 NFL season when he reeled in 52 passes for 586 yards and an impressive 11 touchdowns. In 2021, Tonyan was showing a bit of the same success minus the massive red-zone impact. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a torn ACL in a Week 8 game against the Cardinals.
Despite only appearing in eight games, Tonyan only trailed the Packers’ leading receiving tight end, Deguara, by 41 yards and trailed Lewis by only 10 yards. So the Packers are bringing back their top receiving tight end on a one-year deal, likely to make sure he can provide the same impact upon his recovery.