Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: OL Vinston Painter
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DL Angelo Blackson
- Re-signed: LB Brian Peters
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: OLB Garrett Sickels
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: LS John Denney
New York Giants
- Re-signed: DT Robert Thomas (ERFA)
- Signed: CB Curtis Riley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
Chiefs Interested In Chad Henne, Matt Moore
The Chiefs will meet with Chad Henne on Thursday night, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington (on Twitter). The Chiefs also have interest in Dolphins free agent signal caller Matt Moore, Darlington adds. 
The Titans and Dolphins are also showing interest in Henne, who has spent the last six seasons with the Jaguars. Henne has appeared in only six games since 2014, but NFL teams believe that he profiles as a solid backup option. In KC, he’d be the No. 2 QB behind Patrick Mahomes, giving them an experienced Plan B. The last time Henne, 33 in July, saw consistent playing time was 2013, when he completed 60.6% of his passes for 3,241 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Moore, another free agent QB from a Florida team, will turn 34 in August. Last year, it was reported that he felt slighted by Miami’s signing of Jay Cutler, so he could be looking to move on this offseason.
Patriots, Falcons Pursuing RB Danny Woodhead
The Patriots and Falcons have reached out to free agent running back Danny Woodhead, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Woodhead is available following his release from the Ravens earlier this week. 
Woodhead joined the Ravens on a free agent deal last offseason, but his contract was terminated before he could earn the full value of the $8.8MM deal. Thanks to a hamstring injury, Woodhead saw time in only eight games. He caught 33 passes for 200 yards in what was effectively half of a season.
Woodhead, a practice field favorite of the Jets, made his way to the Patriots in 2015 and became a major contributor in their offense. Across three seasons with New England, Woodhead averaged 4.8 yards per carry and averaged 32 catches for 342 yards per 16-game set. The Patriots are on the lookout for backfield help after losing Dion Lewis to the Titans. They did, however, re-sign one of their own in Rex Burkhead.
In Atlanta, Woodhead would serve as a complementary piece to go along with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Woodhead hasn’t been utilized as a traditional ball carrier in recent seasons and he’d be doing even less in that regard with the Falcons.
NFL Contract Restructures: 3/15/18
With the 2018 league year officially underway, a number of teams have reworked player contracts in order to create additional cap space. Here’s what moves clubs have made today:
- Broncos: Created $12.375MM in 2018 cap space by converting $16MM of LB Von Miller‘s $18.5MM base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).
- Cardinals: G Mike Iupati accepted $3MM pay cut. 2018 base salary reduced from $7.75MM to $5MM. $250K roster bonus eliminated. 2019 contract season is now voidable (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
- Cowboys: Created ~$7.5MM in 2018 cap space by restructuring C Travis Frederick‘s contract (Twitter link via Jane Slater of NFL.com).
- Eagles: Created $5.407MM in 2018 cap space by converting $7.21MM of TE Zach Ertz‘s $8MM base salary into a fully guaranteed roster bonus (Twitter link via Yates).
- Ravens: Created $5.625MM in 2018 cap space by converting $7.5MM of DT Brandon Williams‘ $8.5MM base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Yates).
Dolphins To Release C Mike Pouncey
Dolphins center Mike Pouncey has been released, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). While Schefter reports Pouncey requested his release, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) says Miami asked Pouncey to accept a 50% pay reduction, which he declined.
Pouncey now joins Ryan Jensen as one of the top available centers in free agency. Jensen is coming off of a tremendous year in which he was ranked as the No. 6 center in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Pouncey, for all of his name value and past accolades, comes with question marks.
Pouncey did not look like his usual self last year. Although he appeared in all 16 of the Dolphins’ games his hip injury slowed him down. In the past, we’ve heard that he may eventually require replacement surgery at some point. One doctor went so far as to tell Pouncey that he would have to retire as a result of the malady, but Pouncey, for now, is bucking medical advice.
By releasing Pouncey, the Dolphins will get out from under his $9MM cap hit with just $2MM in dead money.
Last year, PFF ranked Pouncey as the league’s No. 25 center, a sharp contract with his No. 11 ranking in 2015.
Chiefs Re-Sign P Dustin Colquitt
The Chiefs have agreed to a new three-year deal with punter Dustin Colquitt, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The new pact will be worth up to $9MM. 
Colquitt is the Chiefs’ longest-tenured player as he has been with the team since 2005. Save for two missed games in 2008, Colquitt has been on the field for every regular season contest in that span. Last year, Colquitt booted 65 punts for 2936 yards, good for an average of 45.2. He also kicked the longest punt in the NFL last season when he drilled a 77-yarder in December. It was the second-longest attempt of his career, next to his 81 yard boot in 2007.
Last year, Colquitt carried a $4.9MM cap number. His new deal will lessen that blow going forward.
Raiders Likely To Sign WR Jordy Nelson
The Raiders trying to finalize deal today for former Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Nelson visited the Raiders on Wednesday and he remains in Oakland today. 
“This is going to get done,” one source familiar with the talks tells Schefter.
If the Raiders land Nelson, they’re likely to cut fellow wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) adds. Crabtree is set to carry a $7.7MM cap hit, a number that, truthfully, does not seem all that high given the boom of the free agent wide receiver market in recent days. Money aside, it seems like new head coach Jon Gruden simply prefers Nelson to Crabtree.
Nelson also had visits with the Seahawks and Saints on the docket, but, at this rate, he won’t be making those trips. If things go as planned, Nelson will be signed to serve as the No. 2 wide receiver in Oakland, behind Amari Cooper. The Raiders also plan to return Seth Roberts and Cordarrelle Patterson, as shown on Roster Resource.
This marked the first ever trip through free agency for Nelson, who turns 33 in May.
Seahawks Host WR Jaron Brown On Visit
Cardinals free agent wide receiver Jaron Brown is traveling to Seattle today for a visit with the Seahawks, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brown was PFR’s No. 9 ranked wide receiver heading into free agency. 
Already, the Cardinals lost one Brown when John Brown inked a free agent deal with the Ravens. Jaron Brown could be the next to go he can agree to terms with Seattle. The Cardinals are a bit cash-strapped, particularly after signing quarterback Sam Bradford to a sizable free agent deal, but it would behoove them to retain Jaron Brown. At the moment, their wide receiver group has a bit of a drop off after Larry Fitzgerald with J.J. Nelson, Chad Williams, Carlton Agudosi, and Rashad Ross under contract, as shown on Roster Resource.
Other clubs reportedly view Brown a potential No. 2 wide receiver, though he’d slot in no better than No. 3 with Seattle, behind Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. The speedy Marcus Johnson, brought over via trade with the Eagles, also figures to get involved.
Brown, 28, posted the best season of his career in 2017 by registering 31 receptions for 477 yards and four touchdowns. He also has considerable special teams experience, though he played on only a third of Arizona’s special teams snaps in 2017.
Browns Release WR Sammie Coates
The Browns have released wide receiver Sammie Coates, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Coates has personally confirmed the news with a thank you to the Browns organization on Twitter. 
Coates arrived in Cleveland last September via a trade with the rival Steelers. That deal saw the Browns send a 2018 sixth-round selection to Pittsburgh with a 2019 seventh-round pick going back to the Browns.
Coates, a former third-round pick himself, didn’t do a whole lot for the Browns. He had six catches for 70 yards with no touchdowns, a step back from his 21 catches for 435 yards and two scores in the previous season.
Many had expected Coates to be a bigger part of the offense with the Browns. He was buried, to some degree, by the Steelers’ other talented receivers. In Cleveland, he had a chance to be third on the depth chart behind offseason addition Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. Britt disappointed and Coleman was limited due to injury, but Coates was still not a major factor for them.
Saints Sign OL Jermon Bushrod
The Saints are signing Jermon Bushrod, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Bushrod, a fourth-round pick of New Orleans in 2007, returns back to where it all began. 
Bushrod spent the first six seasons of his career with the Saints. Four of those campaigns were spent as the team’s starting left tackle and he earned Pro Bowl nods for his 2011 and 2012 seasons with New Orleans.
Bushrod left in free agency in 2013 to sign a five-year, $35MM free agent deal with the Bears which, at the time, was considerable cash for a tackle. Three years later, the contract was cut short and the Dolphins picked him up to serve as their starting guard.
Bushrod will likely fill the void created by Senio Kelemete‘s departure. Kelemete, who signed a three-year, $12MM deal with the Texans, moved between tackle and guard for the Saints and appeared in 47 games over the past three seasons with 22 starts, including 17 in the past two seasons.