Cowboys To Sign James Washington
After losing two key members of their receiving corps, the Cowboys are adding a new wideout. The team is signing James Washington to a one-year deal (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
Washington, who will be 26 next season, is a native of Texas. He had spent four seasons with the Steelers, who drafted him in the second round in 2018. Many felt he would be the next in a long line of productive wideouts developed in the Steel City, especially when he posted 44 catches for 735 yards and three touchdowns in his second season.
However, he has seen his role reduced since then. As the team has continued drafting at the position, bringing in Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, Washington has been on the field for less than half of the team’s plays in each of the past two seasons. During that stretch, he totalled 54 receptions for 677 yards and seven touchdowns.
The news comes after the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Browns and saw Cedrick Wilson leave for Miami in free agency. While the team still has CeeDee Lamb, along with franchise-tagged tight end Dalton Schultz, the vacancy left by the former two should leave plenty of opportunities for the once (Oklahoma State) Cowboy.
Meanwhile for the Steelers, this marks the second departure in the WR corps in a matter of hours. JuJu Smith-Schuster reportedly agreed to a one-year deal in Kansas City earlier today. There is now an opening on their roster to add at least a complimentary pass catcher.
Cowboys To Re-Sign Leighton Vander Esch
The Cowboys are keeping Leighton Vander Esch. On Friday, the linebacker agreed to a brand new one-year deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). It’s a one-year, $2MM pact, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
[RELATED: Cowboys Re-Sign Armstrong]
LVE was a first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2018, but they declined to pick up his fifth-year option. That put him on course for free agency this week, though the Cowboys were still interested in bringing him back — just at a lower rate.
Vander Esch made the Pro Bowl and the second-team All-Pro team as a rookie in 2018. That year, the No. 19 overall pick notched 140 tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions. But, in 2020, he finished with just 60 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and zero passes defended in ten contests. This past season, he notched 77 stops, one sack, and one interception, showing that he still has something to offer as a coverage linebacker.
This year, LVE will try to reassert himself in the Cowboys’ pecking order. After playing on more than 75% of the snaps in his first two years, Vander Esch dropped to 67% in 2020 and just 58% of snaps in 2021.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-Signed: LB Ezekiel Turner
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Marquel Lee
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-Signed: LB Luke Gifford
Denver Broncos
- Re-Signed: DL DeShawn Williams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: RB Ameer Abdullah
Miami Dolphins
- Re-Signed: TE Durham Smythe
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Jamil Douglas
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: KR/PR Gunner Olszewski
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-Signed: OL Kyle Fuller
Cowboys Re-Sign DE Dorance Armstrong
Dorance Armstrong has parlayed a breakout season into a new contract. The Cowboys are re-signing the defensive end, reports ESPN’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). Armstrong is signing a two-year pact worth $13MM.
The 2018 fourth-round pick has spent his entire four-year career in Dallas, but he really emerged in 2021. After collecting 2.5 sacks through his first 46 career games, Armstrong finished this past season with five sacks in 13 games (five starts). The defensive lineman also added another 37 tackles and 12 QB hits.
In total, Armstrong has appeared in 59 games (eight starts), collecting 98 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles.
While Armstrong is back with the Cowboys, the same can’t be said of safety Jayron Kearse. According to Calvin Watkins of Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), the Cowboys aren’t close to a new contract with the free agent defensive back.
Cowboys Looking To Re-Sign Dorance Armstrong
The Cowboys recently lost Randy Gregory to the Broncos in controversial fashion. The could be keeping another of their pending free agent edge rushers, however. ESPN’s Todd Archer reports (via Twitter) that the team is “closing in on a deal to retain” Dorance Armstrong.
[RELATED: Randy Gregory Pivots To Broncos]
Armstrong, 24, has been with Dallas for the past four seasons. He only registered one start in his first two campaigns, which included 30 appearances. However, he has started seven contests in the past two seasons, including five in 2021.
The former fourth rounder set new career highs across the board this campaign. Playing more than half of the team’s defensive snaps for the first time, he registered 37 tackles, five sacks and a fumble recovery. That breakout season has certainly impressed the Cowboys enough to want to keep him in the fold.
With that said, Archer notes that this is unlikely to be the only move Dallas makes in the pass-rush department. Having lost out on not only Gregory, but also the likes of Von Miller and Chandler Jones, the team is still on the lookout for an impact signing at the position. That has led some to think they will be active in trying to sign Za’Darius Smith, who backed out of his reported deal with the Ravens earlier today.
Regardless of what further moves the team makes, they appear to be keeping a solid rotational piece of their front seven.
Cowboys To Release La’el Collins
As expected, the Cowboys will be moving on from right tackle La’el Collins. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, he will be released later today (Twitter link). 
It had been reported earlier this week that the team was trying to find a trade partner for Collins. There was apparently a market developing for teams to trade for him, but he will hit the open market instead. Archer adds that the 28-year-old will be designated a post-June 1st cut. Doing so will save the Cowboys $10MM in cap space, as opposed to $1.3MM had they traded him.
Collins joined the Cowboys as a UDFA in 2015. He quickly established himself as the team’s starting right tackle, playing a significant role on one of the league’s best offensive lines. Durability wasn’t a concern during a three-year stretch from 2017 to 2019, where he only missed one game. In 2021, however, he was limited to 12 contests.
While he only played 671 snaps this past season, the LSU product showed he’s still capable of playing at a high level. He earned a PFF grade of 82, confirming that his release is related to finances, not performance. Between his age and caliber of play, he is likely to have a number of suitors interested in his services.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are set to move forward with 2020 UDFA Terence Steele as their new starting right tackle.
Rams In Driver’s Seat For Von Miller?
Von Miller has not committed to a team during his first free agency bid, but the Rams look to have moved into pole position for the future Hall of Fame pass rusher.
The expectation is Miller will stay with the Rams, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noting teams are under the impression this is how the Miller process will conclude (Twitter link). Other teams are still pursuing the 11-year veteran, but the Rams appear to have the inside track.
Dallas and Cleveland have also attempted to land Miller this week. Both teams’ 2021 sidekick rushers — Randy Gregory and Jadeveon Clowney, respectively — are either unsigned (Clowney) or with another team now (Gregory). Gregory was on the verge of returning to the Cowboys, but an 11th-hour snafu sent him to the Broncos. The Cowboys are not especially confident they will beat out the Rams for Miller, Jane Slater of NFL.com adds (on Twitter). The Cowboys have not made Miller an offer, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
Miller, 33 next week, was connected to going back to Denver as well. The team’s successful pursuit of Gregory nixed that path. Prior to any Broncos-reunion talk or a hope of returning to his native Dallas, Miller had said he wanted to stay in Los Angeles. The All-Decade edge rusher notched nine sacks in the Rams’ final eight games last season.
The Rams have Leonard Floyd signed to a long-term deal and may well need to give Aaron Donald a raise soon. Miller is expected to command close to $20MM annually. While that is a sizable chunk of cash to commit to pass rushers, the Rams have not shied away from making splashy moves work since relocating to L.A.
NFL Announces Compensatory Picks For 2022 Draft
The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2022 draft. These picks are awarded to the teams that suffered the most significant free agent losses during the 2021 offseason.
This year, the NFL awarded 39 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
This year’s formula also includes the changes made last year, when teams began receiving third-round comp picks due to the hiring of minority head coaches and general managers. Seven such picks were awarded this year. The 49ers landed two additional third-rounders this year, obtaining the extra selections for the Jets’ 2021 Robert Saleh hire and the Dolphins hiring Mike McDaniel this year. Miami’s McDaniel hire will give San Francisco another third-rounder in 2023.
The Chiefs obtained a third-rounder for the Bears’ Ryan Poles GM hire, while the Browns landed a third because of the Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah GM hire. The Ravens collected their second third-round for the Texans’ 2021 David Culley hire; Culley has since been fired. The Saints and Rams obtained one apiece after seeing the Falcons and Lions hire minority execs Terry Fontenot and Brad Holmes as GMs in 2021. New Orleans and Detroit also landed thirds because of players given high-value contacts last year (Trey Hendrickson and Kenny Golladay, respectively).
Here is the full list of 2022 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Lions (No. 97 overall), Saints (98), Browns (99)*, Ravens (100)*, Saints (101)*, 49ers (102)*, Chiefs (103)*, Rams (104)*, 49ers (105)*
Round 4: Steelers (No. 138), Ravens (139), Packers (140), Ravens (141), Rams (142), Titans (143)
Round 5: Cowboys (No. 176), Lions (177), Cowboys (178), Colts (179)
Round 6: Rams (No. 211), Rams (212), Falcons (213), Chargers (214), Cardinals (215), Colts (216), Lions (217), Rams (218), Titans (219), 49ers (220), 49ers (221)
Round 7: Chargers (No. 254), Chargers (255), Cardinals (256), Cardinals (257), Packers (258), Chiefs (259), Chargers (260), Buccaneers (261), 49ers (262)
By team:
San Francisco 49ers (5)
Los Angeles Rams (5)
Los Angeles Chargers (4)
Arizona Cardinals (3)
Baltimore Ravens (3)
Detroit Lions (3)
Dallas Cowboys (2)
Green Bay Packers (2)
Indianapolis Colts (2)
Kansas City Chiefs (2)
New Orleans Saints (2)
Tennessee Titans (2)
Atlanta Falcons (1)
Cleveland Browns (1)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
* = special compensatory selection
Browns Join Cowboys, Rams In Mix For Von Miller
Count the Browns as a third team in the hunt for Von Miller, joining the Cowboys and Rams. Cleveland, which has seen Jadeveon Clowney reach free agency, is interested in signing the future Hall of Fame edge rusher, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
This market has heated to the point a $16MM-per-year deal will be considered the low end, with Wilson adding it could reach the point of a $20MM-AAV contract. Miller played out his six-year, $114.1MM Broncos-constructed deal in Los Angeles but indicated he would explore free agency for the first time.
The Rams have made their interest known for weeks, but the Cowboys have dived into this market after losing Randy Gregory to the Broncos at the final hour. Miller previously said he wanted to return to L.A., and a report earlier Tuesday indicated the Dallas-area native is interested in playing for his hometown team. The Browns represent a wild card here.
Cleveland already rosters one of the highest-paid defensive players, having given Myles Garrett a $25MM-per-year pact in 2020. Miller would mark a considerable pass-rushing upgrade on Clowney, who is more of an all-around defender than an elite sack artist. Miller, 33 next week, is perhaps this generation’s best pass rusher. He again showed those chops to close out his contract year, registering nine sacks in the Rams’ final eight games to help the franchise to its second Super Bowl title.
Cap space-wise, the Cowboys have created enough in recent days to lead the way with $28MM-plus. The Browns hold nearly $20MM, while the Rams possess … less money. A day away from the 2022 league year, Los Angeles still sits more than $20MM over the cap.
Latest On Randy Gregory’s FA Decision, Cowboys’ Von Miller Interest
Linked to Chandler Jones or a Von Miller reunion, the Broncos instead went with a younger pass rusher. They gave Randy Gregory a five-year, $70MM deal that includes $28MM guaranteed. Those terms were also present in the Cowboys’ offer, one it appeared Gregory was prepared to accept earlier Tuesday.
Gregory, 29, had initially agreed to join the Broncos, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes the veteran edge rusher told the Cowboys he would stay if the team matched Denver’s offer (video link). That explains the identical terms. One part in the Cowboys’ proposal looks to have caused Gregory’s second course change.
The Cowboys included language in their contract indicating guaranteed money could be voided or withheld based on fines or a suspension, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. This provision irked Gregory’s camp, with Jane Slater of NFL.com adding the defensive end felt it was inserted “at the 11th hour” (Twitter link). Such a clause is not present in Gregory’s Denver deal, per Slater.
This language was present in Gregory’s rookie contract, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets, but Gregory was incensed at the inclusion this time around. Upon hearing the Cowboys planned to include a forfeiture clause, Gregory apparently responded, “F*** them,” Werder tweets.
However, some Cowboys pushback emerged. The Cowboys, understandably, are not happy with how this all went down, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). The Cowboys are believed to have included this forfeiture language in every player’s deal save for Dak Prescott, Hill adds, with Werder noting this is not a Cowboys-specific clause (Twitter links).
Suspensions frequently cause players’ guarantees to void, and Slater adds the Cowboys were open to adjusting the language (Twitter link). The difference here is a Cowboys clause that would void Gregory’s guarantees in the event of a fine, something Gregory’s agent (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk) said he had not seen “in 30 years” in the business. Once the hiccup emerged, Gregory’s agent gave the Cowboys a chance to remove the language. They did not, Florio adds, noting that Jerry Jones involved himself after it became clear the Cowboys were on the verge of losing Gregory.
Contracts cannot be made official for free agents who change teams until the new league year begins Wednesday afternoon, but it appears Gregory is headed out of town after seven rocky years in Dallas. Gregory has been suspended four times, with marijuana-based issues leading to much of the trouble, Mike Klis of 9News notes (on Twitter). The NFL has relaxed its stance on weed over the past several years, and Gregory has not run into trouble since the 2010s.
The Cowboys have now set their sights on Miller, with Werder adding the team has a strong interest in bringing the Dallas-area native back home. However, this depends on Miller’s asking price. After the Super Bowl 50 MVP played a key role in the Rams’ run to Super Bowl LVI — a game in which Miller sacked Joe Burrow twice — the soon-to-be 33-year-old moved near the top of this year’s free agency crop. Although the Cowboys are believed to hold considerable appeal for Miller, they will need to pay up to secure his services. The Rams are interested in bringing back both Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.