Dolphins Extend DT Zach Sieler
AUGUST 4: Sieler’s deal is now official, per a team announcement. Full terms have not yet emerged, but agent Drew Rosenhaus said during his weekly appearance on Sports XTRA (video link) this new pact will pay out $34MM across the 2025 and ’26 campaigns. With an upgraded cashflow and long-term security, Seiler will look to remain one of Miami’s top players for years to come.
AUGUST 3: The Dolphins are getting ahead on some future contract situations by giving defensive tackle Zach Sieler the new deal he requested despite him having two years remaining on his original deal. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two sides have agreed on a three-year, $67.75MM extension with $44MM guaranteed. With the new deal, he becomes the highest-paid player on Miami’s defense. 
Sieler’s come a long way since his humble beginnings. Unranked as a high school recruit, Sieler travelled about two hours north to attend college at Ferris State University, where he made the decision to walk on to the football team. After a redshirt year, Sieler helped the Bulldogs win their conference two years in a row in 2014 and 2015. In the latter year, he won the conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year honors. He repeated those honors in 2016 but opted to sit out the 2017 season, after having earned his degree, to prepare for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Though obviously talented, Sieler was considered a bit of a wildcard after having spent a year away from football. Regardless, he was chosen by the Ravens with the 238th pick of the draft in the seventh round — Ozzie Newsome‘s final pick as the team’s general manager. In an emotional draft day phone call, Newsome informed him of that fact and Sieler told the legendary GM, “I’ll make you proud.”
That pride may not have come right away for Newsome. After appearing in only two games as a rookie, Sieler failed to make Baltimore’s initial 53-man roster in 2019 and ended up on the practice squad. He got signed back to the active roster in October, but the team waived him again two months later.
This time, when he hit the waiver wire, the Dolphins kept him from returning to the Ravens’ practice squad, claiming Sieler the next day. In just three games (including his first career start) to close out the season with Miami, Sieler played more snaps than his entire first year and a half in Baltimore. The Dolphins signed him on for another year and Sieler appeared in every game, starting eight, while tallying 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
The disruptive lineman was doing so well that season that he earned himself a two-year, $7.63MM extension partway through the season. In those next two years, Sieler would start 24 of 34 game appearances, notching 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 132 tackles as he blossomed into am eventual full-time starter. In that 2021 season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the third-best interior defender in the NFL.
In 2023, the Dolphins quickly extended Sieler for another three years at $30.75MM. With a year still remaining on his prior deal, this new extension would keep him under contract through the 2026 season. After that contract came through, Sieler really turned it on. Starting every game for the first time in his career, Sieler tallied career highs in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (22) while adding 63 tackles, four pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Last year, he kept it going. Despite missing two games with injury, Sieler matched his sack total from the prior year while totaling 19 tackles for loss, 55 tackles, two pass deflections, and another interception, forced fumble, and fumble recovery. His 2024 performance had him graded as the 11th-best interior defender in the league, per PFF.
Having totaled double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons, Sieler made it known that he was interested in a new deal, despite his remaining years. A day after seeing Zach Allen get a four-year, $102MM extension, the Dolphins have followed suit, perhaps realizing that Sieler may just make himself even more expensive with another double-digit sack performance.
It’s safe to say, at this point, that Newsome is probably proud, even if Sieler isn’t on his team anymore. In fact, Schefter points out that Newsome’s final rookie class — including (in draft order) tight end Hayden Hurst, quarterback Lamar Jackson, offensive tackle Orlando Brown, tight end Mark Andrews, cornerback Anthony Averett, safety DeShon Elliott, center Bradley Bozeman, Sieler, undrafted cornerback Darious Williams, and undrafted running back Gus Edwards — has now generated more money in future contracts than any draft class in NFL history.
While Newsome gets to be proud, Sieler deserves every bit of credit for where he ended up. From walking on to a Division II football team to sneaking into the last 19 picks of the NFL draft to making a name for himself with double-digit-sack seasons in Miami, Sieler continues to surpass expectations at every step of his career.
49ers Sign WR Robbie Chosen Following Workout
After hosting him for a workout yesterday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the 49ers have opted to add veteran free agent receiver Robbie Chosen to their roster for training camp. To make room for Chosen on the roster, another wide receiver, Marquez Callaway, was released. 
Chosen — who originally entered the NFL as Robby Anderson, then Robbie Anderson, and then was briefly known as Chosen Anderson — has had a rollercoaster of a career in football. After changing positions from cornerback to wide receiver at Temple and overcoming academic eligibility issues, Chosen went undrafted in 2016, signing initially with the Jets. Immediately, the undrafted rookie became an impact WR3 on the offense before leading the Jets in receiving for the next two seasons, despite having a different quarterback throwing to him all three years.
After playing the 2019 season on a second-round tender, Chosen signed a two-year, $20MM deal with the Panthers. In the first year of the deal, he put up his first 1,000-yard season, earning a two-year, $29.5MM extension on top of his original deal. But, when reunited with Sam Darnold in the second year, his receiving yards were limited to 519 yards. Chosen opened his third year in Carolina with a strong 102-yard performance but struggled in the games that followed. After getting into an in-game argument with the team’s wide receiver coach, then-interim head coach Steve Wilks kicked Chosen out of the game.
The next day, Chosen was traded to the Cardinals, and his career has been in decline ever since. In 10 games with Arizona, Chosen caught seven balls for 76 yards and was released in the offseason. He spent the 2023 season in Miami, and though he caught a 68-yard touchdown in his first game appearance, Chosen only caught three more passes in eight games for the rest of the year. Around this time last year, he signed a first time with San Francisco but failed to make the 53-man roster and signed back with Miami’s practice squad, appearing in two games and catching one ball for five yards before being released.
Chosen likely doesn’t stand much of a chance at making the 49ers’ 53-man roster this time around, either. In all likelihood, he’s a camp body that brings a bit more experience and upside than Callaway. The 32-year-old should get plenty of opportunities in the preseason, though, as San Francisco is likely to be careful with its group of pass catchers heading into the regular season, given recent injury histories at the position.
Jaguars OL Dennis Daley Retires
Early this morning, the Jaguars announced that they have placed offensive lineman Dennis Daley on the reserve/retired list. Not much information has followed the announcement, but it appears Daley is hanging up his cleats at only 28 years old. 
Daley came into the league as a sixth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2019. After injuries to the interior offensive line forced the team to move starting left tackle Daryl Williams inside to cover and Greg Little, the rookie second-round tackle called in to replace him, went down, as well, Daley stepped into the starting left tackle role for nine games of his rookie year.
After starting Year 2 injured, Daley made three starts (two at right guard, one at left tackle) in five game appearances before getting placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year. His third year in Carolina saw him continue to shuffle around, starting nine of 15 game appearances at right guard, left guard, and left tackle.
In 2022, the Panthers traded Daley and a seventh-round pick in 2024 to Tennessee in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round selection. When Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan went down on the first play of the team’s Week 2 matchup with a season-ending knee injury, Daley was inserted and started the remainder of the season as the Titans’ blindside blocker. Though the line helped running back Derrick Henry to finish second in rushing yards that year, Daley tied for the most sacks allowed in the NFL that season, and the line as a whole was considered one of the league’s worst.
In free agency, Daley signed a two-year, $3.2MM contract in Arizona. He ended up on IR just before the start of the regular season and only ended up playing in four contests with one start. The Cardinals released him in training camp last year, and he landed on the Jaguars’ practice squad. Ending the season with no game appearances, Daley signed a reserve/futures deal to spend the offseason with Jacksonville. In the end, he’ll never appear in a game with the Jaguars, now that he’s calling it a career.
In his short time with the NFL, Daley did more than a lot of sixth-round picks get to do. Starting 37 games in 54 appearances at multiple positions across the line, Daley made himself a reliable backup option despite a few major injuries of his own.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/25
Here are the minor NFL moves to close out the first weekend of August:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: OL Valentin Senn
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: T Ozzie Hutchinson
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): T Kilian Zierer
- Waived: FB Troy Hairston, WR Winston Wright
Dallas Cowboys
- Reverted to IR: T Matt Waletzko
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB David Long Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Kawaan Baker, TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- Waived: TE Pat Conroy, WR Kyle Philips
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: S Jaylin Simpson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Christian Johnstone
- Waived: CB BJ Mayes
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson, G Arlington Hambright
- Waived: WR Ramel Keyton, DE Devonte O’Malley
A couple more players waived with injury designations recently have made their way back to their teams on injured reserve.
In Philadelphia, Johnstone won an audition in which the Eagles worked out four longsnappers. This is Johnstone’s first NFL contract after going undrafted out of Appalachian State this year.
Jerry Jones Comments On Micah Parsons’ Trade Request
Cowboys owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones was not short on company following the team’s training camp sessions today. Surrounded by reporters and with jeers raining down from nearby fans in attendance, Jones delivered his comments on the bombshell trade request issued by star defender Micah Parsons yesterday. Jones’ first comment? 
“I would say to our fans, don’t lose any sleep over this.”
The quote (courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter) set the tone for a series of nonchalant answers that seemed to paint Parsons’ request less as something to be taken seriously and more as a standard part of negotiations. It was followed by similar unconcerned statements disregarding Parsons’ seriousness such as “we’re in good shape” and “this is a negotiation,” per Jon Machota of The Athletic. When asked about the deal that was supposedly on the table in March, Jones claimed simply that “Micah took it off the table,” according to Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt.
Jones shrugged off the accusations from Parsons of being cornered without his agent present to negotiate. Parsons had told media that he had gone to speak with Jones under the guise that conversations would be concerning leadership before Jones shifted the conversation to negotiations once he was behind closed doors. When asked about Parsons’ view of that confrontation (in a video provided by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram), Jones dismissed it, emphasizing his own viewpoint by directing a defensive “are you asking me?” to the reporter.
Jones has received plenty of criticism in recent years for his strategies in negotiations with big players, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Most notably, last year, he waited to extend quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb until long after several other players at both positions had fully reset the markets. Those who criticize argue that, had he pushed negotiations earlier, the Cowboys could’ve saved millions on each deal by setting the new market rather than reacting to it.
Those who see a method to Jones’ madness believe that the businessman is perfectly willing to pay a bit more for each contract in exchange for the free marketing that comes as a result of dominating the news cycle this time of year. While this could certainly serve as a secondhand benefit to the owner’s pockets, from a football perspective, the inflating contracts with each negotiation still make it difficult to continue building a roster around these big deals.
Todd Archer of ESPN points out that, of all those negotiations of the past called into question — those of Prescott (twice), Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, and even way back with Emmitt Smith — none have gotten to the point of a trade request. Most have gotten the deals they were looking for, even if at the last second; Smith’s deal came after missing all of training camp and sitting out the first two games of the 1993 regular season, both of which resulted in losses. Ultimately, as Archer points out, “Jones has never lost a star player he wanted to keep.”
Archer also notes, though, that Parsons has “pushed further than anybody” else with yesterday’s trade request. Perhaps Jones is right, and they are “in good shape.” Perhaps he fully plans on paying Parsons every bit of what is being asked for financially, just after denying other asks of earlier negotiations and a trade request. With that request, Parsons has already entered new territory for Cowboys stars. Now, we’re left to wonder if he’ll be the first of those stars to slip away from Jones.
Ravens Signing RB D’Ernest Johnson, Waiving K John Hoyland
It’s been a busy day of transactions in Baltimore, and while the names aren’t huge, the implications could be. The most impactful transactions of the day see the team bringing in veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter) and waiving undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland (per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports). 
According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Johnson is joining the Ravens as a depth piece in Baltimore’s camp. In a room that contains Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali, and undrafted rookie Marcus Major, the Ravens have plenty of bodies, but Henry and Hill are not expected to play in the preseason and Major is currently dealing with a concussion. With preseason games starting this week, Johnson stands to get plenty of opportunities alongside Mitchell and Ali.
It’s been a while since Johnson held a significant role on an offense. After going undrafted out of USF in 2018, Johnson opted to play in the Alliance of American Football league in 2019. When the league came to an end, Johnson signed with the Browns and made the 53-man roster as RB3 behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. An injury to Hunt in 2021, allowed for Johnson to step into the RB2 role, in which he rushed for 534 yards and three touchdowns. In the three years since, Johnson has held minor roles in Cleveland and Jacksonville.
Hoyland’s waiving is significant due to the fact that he’s been in a two-man kicking competition with fellow rookie Tyler Loop for the honor of succeeding Justin Tucker as the team’s primary kicker. Loop was struggling early as he made changes to his technique and kicking motions at the request 0f Baltimore special teams coach Randy Brown. For a while, Hoyland was being tabbed as a likely candidate to be one of the undrafted rookies to make a 53-man roster that the Ravens are so notorious for.
Hoyland’s departure seems to indicate that Loop will open the season as the Ravens’ new kicker. Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, head coach John Harbaugh claimed that cutting the undrafted rookie “was more about having roster needs elsewhere.” According to Harbaugh, “Loop is kicking well enough to win the job, but it’s going to be about the games.”
Elsewhere on the roster, the Ravens are adding tight ends Baylor Cupp (per Zenitz) and Scotty Washington (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2) in the wake of the injury to Isaiah Likely. Joining Hoyland on the waiver wire will be fellow undrafted rookie Sam Pitz, a tight end out of Minnesota-Duluth.
Dolphins T Austin Jackson Experiences Injury Setback
After suffering the second major injury of his professional career and missing the final eight games of the 2024 season, Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson has been working his way back to the field in training camp in hopes of being ready for a Week 1 trip to Indianapolis. Jackson’s comeback hit a snag today, though, as Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that the 25-year-old suffered a “lower extremity injury” that will cause him to miss “weeks” in camp. 
Jackson may have been ahead of schedule in his journey back to the field, then. His targeted Week 1 return date was set back in June, and though today’s injury will seemingly set him back, head coach Mike McDaniel believes he will be on the field for the season opener (via Wolfe).
Jackson, the No. 8 overall pick out of USC In 2020, started immediately upon arriving in Miami as a left tackle. After being kicked inside to left guard in Year 2 and missing all but two games in Year 3, several question marks surrounded Jackson’s future. Returning in 2023 to start as a rare blindside blocking right tackle (for a left-handed quarterback), Jackson did enough to earn a three-year, $36MM extension.
Last year, the Dolphins had Kendall Lamm and Patrick Paul backing up Jackson and Terron Armstead. Armstead wasn’t re-signed to a new deal, and Lamm is now in Philly, so the depth that secured the team last year is not quite the same. Larry Borom stands as the most-experienced backup of a group that includes Ryan Hayes, Kion Smith, Braeden Daniels, Daniel Brunskill, and Bayron Matos, an International Player Pathway Program addition who was airlifted from practice to a hospital a week and a half ago but has since returned to the building.
If Jackson can reach his target return date, the Dolphins should be fine when the season opens, but they’ll now be requiring much more of some backups throughout training camp and the preseason. It will be an opportunity to get a relatively inexperienced group a good portion of quality snaps in Jackson’s absence.
Chargers LB Denzel Perryman Arrested On Felony Weapons Charges
Veteran Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman was arrested last night after a traffic stop for vehicle code violations resulted in the discovery of five firearms, including two assault-style rifles. According to a statement by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim), Perryman was cooperative with the deputies, booked on felony weapons violation charges, and is being held without bail. TMZ was first to report. 
An early statement from the Chargers (via Daniel Popper of The Athletic) told the media they “are aware of a matter involving Denzel and are gathering information.” While a statement from Perryman’s agent (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) divulged that they “are still gathering facts…will fully cooperate with the process…do not take this situation lightly… (and) remain confident that the matter will be resolved fairly and in accordance with the law.”
Described by his agent as “a respected veteran” on the Chargers defense, Perryman’s career in the NFL has been one of ups and downs. Getting drafted to San Diego in the second round out of Miami (FL), Perryman showed talent early, earning a starting role six games into his 2015 rookie year, but injuries quickly became a point of issue. After only missing two games in Year 1, Perryman wouldn’t play in 14 games in a single season again until 2019, missing 20 games in the three seasons between.
Despite his frequent absences, Los Angeles extended him for two years after his rookie contract, but after first-round rookie Kenneth Murray and a third-year Kyzir White began to blossom, they allowed him to walk in free agency after six years with the franchise. In free agency, Perryman signed with a Panthers team a year removed from Luke Kuechly‘s sudden retirement. Ultimately, though, Carolina traded Perryman just before the start of the regular season to the Raiders.
In Las Vegas, Perryman had a career year at 29 years old. He started 15 games, finished sixth in the league with 154 total tackles (fifth in the NFL with 102 solo tackles), and earned his first and only Pro Bowl bid. A second strong season in Vegas saw his tackles decrease as he missed five games, but he still showed a renewed level of competition with two interceptions and 14 tackles for loss. He joined the Texans in free agency the next year, missing two games due to suspension and three to injury, and landed back with the team that drafted him last year, starting 11 games for his old squad.
Once a promising young, injury-prone, linebacker who lost his starting role in Los Angeles, Perryman went on to be a full-time starter for two other franchises, playing the best ball of his career, before coming back and securing a similar role with his old team last year. At 32 years old, Perryman is playing year-to-year on contracts at this point, but he was still expected to be a starter and a leader for a young group of up-and-coming backers in Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye, and Junior Colson.
With so many youthful options in the room, though, Perryman’s hold on a roster spot may be weakened by the events of last night. It’s unclear if last night’s arrest will lead to any discipline from the league or team, but details are sure to follow in the coming days.
Cowboys Add T Geron Christian After Today’s Workout
Though, earlier today, it seemed as if La’el Collins was the victor of a two-man audition with Geron Christian today in Dallas, it appears both players will get a chance with the team in training camp. Following today’s announcement that Collins would be reuniting with the team that signed him out of college, Christian was announced as a signee, as well, in an announcement from his representation. 
The Cowboys offensive line is dealing with a bit of a hiccup as starting left tackle Tyler Guyton is now expected to miss several weeks due to a bone fracture and sprained knee. They also are currently without free agent guard addition Robert Jones. The team has Terence Steele entrenched at right tackle, but Jones is a key swing option following the first-round selection of pure guard Tyler Booker. All-Pro Tyler Smith is locked in at left guard, with the Cowboys resisting a move back to tackle for the ascending performer at the moment.
Christian joins Collins now as camp bodies, depth options who will need to use this opportunity to secure a bigger role. Collins has a leg up in both starting experience and experience with this team, but Christian has had more success with recent opportunities. Collins hasn’t appeared in a regular season game in either of the past two seasons.
Originally a third-round pick out of Louisville in 2018, Christian’s tenure in Washington was marred by injury. After tearing his MCL as a rookie with only two games under his belt, Christian was set up for redemption as he was named to be the successor to departing left tackle Trent Williams. Christian started six games before suffering a knee injury and missing the rest of the season.
After getting waived in the following offseason, Christian was claimed by the Texans. When both starting tackles went down with injuries in the first five weeks of the season, Christian was called upon to start at left tackle in eight games in 2021. After signing as a free agent with Kansas City and seeing little success, Christian returned to the Texans in 2023 but was cut shortly into the year.
He would land on the Browns’ practice squad and once again get forced into action when both starting tackles went down with injuries. He started the final nine games of the season for Cleveland at left tackle. Christian would once again branch out, signing with the Titans in 2024, then landing on the Rams’ practice squad when he failed to make the roster in Tennessee, and ultimately, getting signed off Los Angeles’ p-squad to rejoin the Browns in a special teams role.
He’ll compete now for another opportunity to stick around, ready to take over in case of injury. He joins Collins as the two new linemen in camp, and they’ll have work to do in order to make the roster for 2025.
D.C. Council Advances Commanders’ Stadium Deal To Next Step
The regular season has not yet commenced, yet the Commanders are coming into the year with one victory under their belt. Though it’s faced severe challenges ever since it’s conception, the team’s RFK Stadium Bill passed 9-3 in a vote by the D.C. Council, as first reported by ESPN’s John Keim. In a statement released by the team, owner Josh Harris called it a “historic moment,” saying the Commanders are now “closer than ever” to returning to their “spiritual home.” 
While the vote is surely a victory in progressing towards the ultimate goal of building a new stadium on the site of the old RFK Stadium, located in D.C., there are still a few steps to go. As outlined by Mike Florio of NBC Sports, today’s vote advanced the bill to a second reading. A second vote will take place on September 17, whereupon, if it passes, it will move on to Mayor Mureil Bowser, a strong proponent for the bill who regarded today’s vote as a victory.
Per a diligent retelling by Keim, this project dates back to the day Dan Snyder announced his intention to sell the franchise, considering some believe this deal could never have gotten this far under Snyder. Within a week of the sale, the new owner, Harris, was meeting with Bowser and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to start building relationships.
Following a successful congressional vote allowing Congress to lease the federal land where the stadium would be built to the city for 99 years, a vote that needed unanimous consent from all 100 senators, the secret was out as Bowser, Harris, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hosted a news conference announcing the deal between the city and the Commanders. This deal consisted of a $2.7BB investment from the team towards the stadium and a $1BB investment “through various means” from the city for the development of housing, a sports complex, and retail shops on the 174-acre property.
Despite a momentary threat from the commander-in-chief, the D.C. Council remained focused on pushing the deal forwards. With some financial alterations to the terms of the deal and some further discussion on the matter, Harris and the team were able to convince enough of the Council that they weren’t playing games and shopping around — it was D.C. or bust when finding a new home for the franchise.
A few more amendments in the days leading up to today’s vote did enough to secure the votes that were needed. As mentioned above, a second vote still stands as a future challenge, but Keim discloses that a source close to the situation has never “seen a second vote go a different way from the first.” Seeing the steps to come as a mere formality, the Council has told the team it can proceed with its planning for the stadium. A bumpy road home to be certain, with a few remaining bumps to endure, but a return to RFK Stadium is looking more and more likely for the franchise.