The Colts clearly made a quarterback upgrade a top priority this offseason. In addition to the research done on Philip Rivers and Tom Brady, and a Nick Foles trade inquiry with a division rival, the Colts looked into Andy Dalton. The Colts discussed Dalton with the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets (video link). It is not clear how far the discussions progressed, but Rapoport suggests Dalton would have needed to agree to reduce his 2020 salary. The veteran quarterback is set to make $17.5MM in base salary. The Colts viewed Rivers as a better option than Foles, Rapoport adds, and may well have felt the same about the prospect of giving up assets for Dalton as opposed to paying Rivers $25MM.
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: S DeAndre Houston-Carson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: CB Greg Mabin
The Bengals will release cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, according to ESPN.com’s Ben Baby (Twitter link). The move will save Cincy $8.3MM against the salary cap, giving them even more cash to work with in the second half of the offseason. 
Kirkpatrick is just the latest vet to be jettisoned by the Bengals. All in all, they’ve freed up more than $23MM by cutting veterans in the last couple of months.
The Kirkpatrick release doesn’t come as a surprise after the Bengals inked Trae Waynes to a three-year, $42MM deal that will pay him approximately $20MM in 2020. Kirkpatrick, a former first-round pick, should find plenty of interest from cornerback-needy teams, though his market will be somewhat limited since many teams have already addressed that gap.
Since 2012, Kirkpatrick has appeared in 99 games over the course of eight seasons. Last year, his season was cut short by a hyperextended knee injury. He finished out with 33 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery in six contests. In 2018, he allowed just 44.4% of the targets thrown his way to be caught, good for the second-best rate in the NFL.
The Bengals will also be moving forward without Darqueze Dennard, who left in free agency to sign with the Jaguars. Waynes will be among their new headliners and he’ll be joined by fellow ex-Viking Mackensie Alexander. Former Titans corner LeShaun Sims will also be in the CB mix.
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A few more recent contract figures to pass along:
- Devin Funchess, WR (Packers): One year, $2.5MM. The $2.5MM is a far cry from the one-year, $10MM deal he got from the Colts last offseason. He got a $1MM signing bonus, $1.2MM base salary, and an extra couple hundred thousand in workout and roster bonuses. He has another $3.75MM in incentives available (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network).
- Vonn Bell, S (Bengals): Three years, $18MM. Bell got a $3MM signing bonus, with a $3MM base salary in 2020 and $1MM reporting bonus. He has base salaries of $4.1MM and $6.1MM in 2021 and 2022 respectively, with $400K in roster and workout bonuses in each of those years (via Albert Breer of SI.com).
- Nick Vigil, LB (Chargers): One year, $2.4MM. Vigil had to settle for a prove-it deal despite starting 16 games for the Bengals last year. He got a $500K signing bonus, $1.9MM base salary, and can earn an additional $600K in playing-time incentives.
Following a standout showing in the XFL, Cam Phillips is drawing some interest from the NFL. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that both the Dolphins and Bengals have expressed interest in the wideout.
The 24-year-old led the XFL in receiving yards with 455, and he also hauled in 31 receptions and nine touchdowns in only five games. Thanks to his consistent performance with the Houston Roughnecks, the six-foot, 202-pound wideout won a handful of Player of the Week awards.
The former undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech had a previous NFL gig, as he caught on with the Bills back in 2018. He spent much of that season on the practice squad, but he did haul in a nine-yard reception in two games. He was waived by Buffalo at the end of the 2019 preseason.
As we noted earlier today, a number of Phillips’ Roughnecks teammates have already signed NFL contracts. That grouping includes quarterback P.J. Walker, cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Saints), linebacker DeMarquis Gates (Vikings), and linebacker Edmond Robinson (Falcons).
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A handful of contract details to pass along:
- Robby Anderson, WR (Panthers): Two years, $20MM. $8MM signing bonus plus $2MM (of $4MM) base salary are guaranteed at signing. $12MM in cash in 2020 (via Manish Mehta of New York Daily Post).
- Mike Pennel, DL (Chiefs): One year. $1.047MM deal, including $887.5K guaranteed. $137.5K signing bonus plus $750K (of $910K) base salary are guaranteed (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Mackensie Alexander, CB (Bengals): One year, $4MM. $1.5MM signing bonus, up to $250K per-game roster bonus (via Wilson).
- Greg Van Roten, OL (Jets): Three years. $10.5MM, including $3.25MM guaranteed. Can be worth up to $14.25MM with incentives (via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
- Nick Vigil, LB (Chargers): One year. $2.4MM fully guaranteed. Can be worth up to $3MM with incentives (via Pelissero).
- Kyle Wilber, LB (Raiders): Re-signed. One-year, $1.187MM deal. Includes $137,500 signing bonus, $1.05MM salary (via Wilson).
Here are today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Trevon Coley
- Re-signed: RB D.J. Foster
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: QB Tyler Bray
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB LeShaun Sims
Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-signed: LB Kyle Wilber
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Anthony Zettel
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Jarron Jones (XFL), S Tyree Kinnel (XFL), DT Cavon Walker (XFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Jeremy Vujnovich
The Bengals’ defensive overhaul continues. On Wednesday, the Bengals agreed to terms with safety Vonn Bell, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year deal.
Garafolo adds in a separate tweet that the contract is worth $18MM, $7MM of which will be paid out in 2020.
Bell, 25 (26 in December), entered the league as a second-round pick of the Saints back in 2016. He spent four years there, up until now. There was some chatter of the Saints re-signing him, but Sean Payton & Co. elected to instead bring back old friend Malcolm Jenkins.
In 2019, Bell started in all 13 of his games and finished out with 89 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and one interception. Now, he’ll move on to the Bengals where he joins fellow newcomers D.J. Reader, Trae Waynes, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Mackensie Alexander, and Josh Bynes. At safety, he’ll be accompanied by Jessie Bates, Shaun Williams, and likely a couple more names between now and the start of the season.
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Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: WR Chris Moore
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB DeMarquis Gates (XFL)
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Dravon Askew-Henry (XFL)
New York Jets
- Re-signed: DB Bennett Jackson
The Bengals acted quickly to replace starting linebacker Nick Vigil, who agreed to terms with the Chargers earlier today. Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Cincinnati is signing free agent Josh Bynes to a one-year deal (Twitter link).
Bynes was one of a handful of veterans the Ravens added to their defense in the middle of the 2019 season, and his presence helped stabilize the unit. Though he is by no means an elite player, he is a solid ‘backer whose experience and on-field savvy will be a boost to the Bengals’ front seven.
He has started 47 games in his nine-year career, which includes an earlier stint with the Ravens from 2011-13, a three-year run with the Lions, and a two-year stay with the Cardinals. In 2019, he recorded 46 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions, and Pro Football Focus gave him high marks for his coverage and run-stopping abilities.
The Ravens had expressed interest in retaining the Auburn product, and it’s not as though Baltimore is loaded with ILBs at the moment, but Bynes saw a better opportunity with the division-rival Bengals. As it stands now, he would start alongside second-year pro Germaine Pratt.
During his first stint in Baltimore, Bynes made the final tackle of Super Bowl XLVII, which earned him a championship ring.
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