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Minor NFL Transactions: 8/22/25

August 22nd, 2025 at 7:43pm CST by Ely Allen

As teams begin to whittle their rosters down to the eventual 53 players, here are a few transactions aside from mass cuts:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

An important note for cuts moving forward: different from the usual 24-hour waiver period, any players waived between now and the roster cut deadline will remain on the waiver wire, available to be claimed, until Wednesday.

Broncos Trade WR Devaughn Vele To Saints

August 21st, 2025 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 21: Payton said on Thursday (via Luca Evans of the Denver Post) that the Broncos “weren’t actively shopping” Vele, but were approached by three different teams over the course of three days. Though they valued the second-year wideout, they made the difficult decision to send him to the Saints, who were looking for a “bigger receiver.”

Payton later mentioned “Jacksonville” when discussing the trade, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, indicating that the Jaguars were one of the other teams who called about Vele. The Jags would then be a team to naturally monitor ahead of cutdown day and the ensuing waiver period regarding a wideout addition.

AUGUST 20: We now have a three-trade Wednesday, as Sean Payton will do business with Mickey Loomis. The Broncos are sending wide receiver Devaughn Vele to the Saints, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill reports.

Although Vele was only a seventh-round pick, he showed promise as a rookie. As a result, the Broncos will gain a strong return on investment. The Saints are sending the Broncos a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The Broncos have since announced the trade.

[RELATED: Full Rundown Of Traded 2026 Draft Picks]

Three years remain on Vele’s rookie contract. The Broncos have seen promising preseason work from both Troy Franklin and rookie third-rounder Pat Bryant. With Bryant profiling as a big-bodied outside receiver, Vele’s place in Denver’s passing attack may well have been foggier as a result of the Illinois product’s arrival. Now, he will join a Saints team that experienced significant injury trouble at receiver last year — but one that has now added multiple pieces in 2025.

New Orleans spent much of last season without its top two receiving options — Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Olave suffered two concussions and did not return during the team’s late swoon following Derek Carr‘s season-ending injury. Shaheed played in only six games last year, suffering meniscus injury that required a full repair. Both starters are back for the Saints, who also reunited with Brandin Cooks in free agency. Although New Orleans’ starting quarterback has yet to be decided, either Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough will have two new auxiliary WRs to target.

In Vele, the Saints will land a 6-foot-5 wideout on a seventh-round contract. Vele is one of the older rookies in recent NFL history, however, in already being 27. He will turn 28 before season’s end, complicating his prospects for a second contract down the line. For now, the Saints have him under control through the 2027 season.

Last season, Vele worked as the Broncos’ second-most utilized receiver — behind only Courtland Sutton. As Franklin and Marvin Mims struggled with inconsistency, Vele logged a 53% snap share. The Utah product caught 41 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.

Payton’s Saints years frequently involved a host of sidekick options alongside a clear No. 1 — be it Marques Colston or Michael Thomas. His second Broncos setup looks similar, with Mims, Franklin and Bryant set to complement the recently extended Sutton. With the Broncos also signing backup/special-teamer Trent Sherfield, they suddenly had a bit of a logjam on their hands. The team has also used rookie UDFA Courtney Jackson as a return man in the preseason; Jackson could have a path to a sixth WR spot with Vele gone.

It is not known which Bronco will succeed Vele as the team’s second-most utilized wideout, but Franklin — a 2024 fourth-round pick who played with Bo Nix at Oregon — looks like an interesting bet for that de facto WR2 role. Then again, Mims came on strong to close last season and drew WR2 buzz this summer. After the Broncos passed on adding a veteran beyond Sherfield, they will count on the Mims-Franklin-Bryant contingent to the point Vele suddenly became expendable. This may still represent some risk for a Broncos team connected to supporting-cast wideouts for most of the offseason, but the return — and the early work from Franklin and Bryant — may have swayed team brass.

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/20/25

August 20th, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Reverted to IR: T Gareth Warren
  • Waived (with injury settlement): LB Devin Harper

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Waller will now be able to officially return to the field today as he attempts to shake off a year’s worth of retirement. Head coach Mike McDaniel expects him back at practice “very soon,” potentially even this week, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The Bears have landed the services of the veteran Freeman as they deal with absences from D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, and Travis Homer. Hankins had gotten the starting nod in the team’s last preseason game for that same reason, and he’ll now hand off that role to Freeman.

Ferguson, the Dolphins’ former long snapper of the past five years, finally gets a job after his release from Miami. The Texans were really liking what they were seeing out of undrafted rookie Austin Brinkman, but a minor, short-team injury will keep him from the team’s final preseason game, requiring at least a short stay from Ferguson.

Nik Bonitto Optimistic On Broncos Extension

August 19th, 2025 at 2:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Returning from a short absence due to a bone spur in his foot, Nik Bonitto is now atop the Broncos’ extension queue. Denver extended Courtland Sutton and Zach Allen earlier during training camp, moving its other extension candidate’s negotiation to center stage.

Bonitto, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, is optimistic a deal will be completed but said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) it is not essential the extension comes before Week 1. The Broncos both completed a big-ticket late-summer extension last year and re-upped two starters in-season.

Denver came to terms with Patrick Surtain on a then-market setting payday days before last season, and the team reached an agreement to extend Jonathon Cooper shortly before the trade deadline — preceding a Baron Browning trade. The Broncos finished their 2024 extension business by giving Garett Bolles another deal, which came to pass in December. It would surprise if the Bonitto deal took that long to complete, but it does not appear a lock he will be paid before the season starts.

The Broncos and Bonitto have been in talks since early May, with steady rumors trickling out about the deal being a priority. Considering Bonitto’s breakout 2024, it is natural the Broncos would want to extend him. The team drafted him before Sean Payton‘s arrival, but current GM George Paton pulled the trigger on the second-round pick in 2022. The Payton-Paton tandem signed off on three deals for 2021 draftees (Paton’s first year with the team), extending Quinn Meinerz along with Surtain and Cooper. It stands to reason Bonitto will have a new deal before year’s end.

It represents a bit of a risk for Bonitto to play out a contract year, but his breakthrough 2024 points to an injury not derailing his place in the organization. The edge rusher market could soon have a new ceiling, however, should the Cowboys pay Micah Parsons before the season starts. Bonitto will not be a candidate for a deal in the Parsons-T.J. Watt–Myles Garrett range, but Parsons raising the bar would stand to help the Denver edge rusher.

Aidan Hutchinson may not have a deal done by Week 1, but if the Lions do come to terms with their ascending 2022 draftee, Bonitto would also benefit by waiting that negotiation out. The Oklahoma alum referenced the rising EDGE market Tuesday, pointing to a potential interest in waiting out the Parsons situation. If the sides do not hammer out an extension by early March, the franchise tag would assuredly come out here.

The Broncos are at just $5.6MM in cap space, but they also have the Russell Wilson dead money coming off the books come 2026. With Bo Nix not extension-eligible until 2027, the team’s recent extensions have capitalized on the rookie-QB contract window. Even though Denver’s window with Nix rookie money is narrower than most such situations (due to the historic dead money from the Wilson mistake), the team has paid several core players since last summer.

In less promising news, the Broncos placed backup interior offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo on IR over the weekend. Payton said Tuesday (via 9News’ Mike Klis) the 2024 seventh-rounder suffered an ACL tear. Denver has the likes of Alex Forsyth and Calvin Throckmorton as interior swingmen, and the team gave UDFA Clay Webb a $225K guarantee this offseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/25

August 17th, 2025 at 8:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Tennessee Titans

  • Waived: DL Philip Blidi

Perkins, the reigning UFL MVP, will add some depth to the Panthers’ quarterback room with Andy Dalton sidelined by an elbow injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perkins appeared in five games for the Rams between 2020 and 2022, but has not played in the last two NFL seasons.

The Broncos were looking to add another fullback after a hamstring injury to starter Michael Burton, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. They auditioned Prentice, Khari Blasingame, and Troy Hairston on Saturday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with Prentice earning a roster spot. This will be his second stint in Denver after starting his career there as an undrafted rookie in 2021.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/25

August 15th, 2025 at 7:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Reverted to IR: CB Jordan Oladokun, WR Dez Fitzpatrick
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Jordan Petaia

San Francisco 49ers

Dwelley’s second stint in the Bay Area has ended before roster cuts, let alone the start of the regular season. The 30-year-old spent his first six NFL seasons with the 49ers, serving as a special teams presence while chipping in offensively. After a single Atlanta campaign in 2024, Dwelley will now hit the open market in mid-August and seek out his next opportunity.

Court Rules Brian Flores Discrimination Case Against NFL, Three Teams Can Go To Trial

August 14th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Flores is an active NFL defensive coordinator, helping the Vikings into a top-five defensive ranking last season. His discrimination lawsuit, stemming from his Dolphins dismissal and time on the HC interview circuit, remains ongoing. And the veteran staffer scored a big victory Thursday.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a prior ruling indicating Flores will be permitted to put the NFL on trial. Flores can take the league and the three teams he sued — the Broncos, Giants and Texans — to court, according to an ESPN.com report. A federal appeals court found “insurmountable flaws” with an NFL arbitration process that would have permitted Roger Goodell to be the arbitrator in this case. Rather than the deck being stacked against Flores, the third-year Minnesota DC is on track to proceed with his claims in a true courtroom.

Circuit Judge Jose A. Cabranes wrote Thursday NFL rules forcing Flores to take his claims to arbitration before Goodell represented “arbitration in name only.”

“The significance of the Second Circuit’s decision cannot be overstated,” Douglas H. Wigdor, David E. Gottlieb and John Elefterakis (Flores’ attorneys) said in a statement. “For too long, the NFL has relied on a fundamentally biased and unfair arbitration process — even in cases involving serious claims of discrimination. This ruling sends a clear message: that practice must end. This is a victory not only for NFL employees, but for workers across the country — and for anyone who believes in transparency, accountability and justice.”

Although NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy countered by saying the league disagrees with the panel’s ruling and that it will “seek further review,” an active assistant being set to take the league to court is a landmark ruling. Flores filed his suit in 2022, upon being fired from the Dolphins, and various legal developments have unfolded since.

The topic of Goodell potentially serving as arbitrator in this case dates back to mid-2022. Flores had initially included the Dolphins in his suit, but Judge Valerie Caproni ruled in 2023 he must pursue that discrimination claim through arbitration. Flores initially filed his suit Feb. 1, 2022. After a lengthy delay, he will operate in a rather unusual dual role: active defensive coordinator and plaintiff in a high-profile case. Flores, 44, also figures to land back on the HC carousel in January. An actual trial taking place could reinsert a hurdle in his path to such a job. It was thought Flores would see his coaching aspirations blocked while he pursued this case, but the Steelers hired him as linebackers coach in 2022. That propelled him to the Vikes’ DC gig a year later.

When Flores accused the quartet of teams and the NFL of discrimination, he was coming off a firing after back-to-back winning seasons with the Dolphins. The firing represented a shock at the time, as the Dolphins went from an overmatched 2019 roster — one that generated a Flores tanking accusation against owner Stephen Ross, one that did not lead to NFL punishment — to a 10-6 season in 2020. Flores accused the Giants of conducting a “sham” interview with him in the wake of his Dolphins firing; his Texans accusation also comes from 2022. His Broncos accusation stems from a 2019 interview.

The Cardinals have interviewed Flores for a head coaching job since, though he backed out of a second meeting about the position in 2023. He became a much more attractive candidate after the Vikings’ defensive improvement last season. After Minnesota’s defense climbed to fifth in scoring, Flores met about the Bears, Jaguars and Jets’ jobs. None of those teams are included in the suit, and Flores is still positioned as the architect of Kevin O’Connell‘s Vikes defense.

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Adams, Perryman

August 14th, 2025 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nik Bonitto played in the Broncos‘ preseason opener but will miss some time leading up to the season. The 2024 All-Pro selection is down because of a procedure to have a bone spur removed in the top of his foot, per 9News’ Mike Klis. Sean Payton expects Bonitto to be ready to return by next week, though it can be safely assumed the edge rusher’s preseason is over. The Broncos also have an extension to sort out with Bonitto, who is entering a contract year. Denver has reached agreements with Courtland Sutton and Zach Allen during training camp, and a few Bonitto contract rumors have circulated this offseason.

This injury rehab stretch could give Bonitto’s camp time to hammer out a deal before the team’s top sack artist returns to practice, though the prospect of a Micah Parsons Cowboys extension raising the market’s ceiling — and thus the kind of deal Bonitto could command south of Parsons’ price point — could factor into the proceedings here.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • Another injury development coming out of Denver is not as kind. Fullback/tight end Nate Adkins will miss regular-season time due to a tightrope procedure to address a high ankle sprain, Payton said. Adkins could be a candidate for one of the Broncos’ two allotted August IR-return slots. Teams must announce the players for those spots by roster-cutdown day August 26. Those moves count toward teams’ eight injury activations — whether the player is eventually activated or not — in-season. Adkins played a healthy amount of snaps last season, logging 420 during a 10-start season. He caught 14 passes for 115 yards and three TDs last season, his second with the Broncos.
  • The Broncos might need to consider a fourth active-roster RB due to J.K. Dobbins‘ injury history; their early hierarchy may exclude a 2024 draft pick. Audric Estime did not enter the team’s preseason opener until the third quarter, as his entrance came after Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie saw action. The Broncos also have Blake Watson as a candidate, and the 2024 UDFA entered the game in the second half as well. Estime is firmly on the roster bubble, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. It would not surprise if the team aimed to trade one of its options before cutdown day later this month, but ensuring two of these players are rostered behind Dobbins and R.J. Harvey would make sense as well.
  • Jamal Adams is vying for a Raiders roster spot and doing so, technically, at a new position. Adams is giving linebacker another try, confirming (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) Pete Carroll told him immediately he would be working there. The Seahawks had asked Adams to play linebacker before, but he declined at the time. The 2024 Seattle cap casualty played sparingly as a backup with the Titans and Lions, representing a steep fall from formerly signing a safety-record extension. Adams’ best work has always come in the box or as a safety blitzer, making a linebacker transition more natural. On a one-year, $1.26MM contract with no guarantees, the ninth-year vet is also not exactly in a position to refuse such a request.
  • The gun charges against linebacker Denzel Perryman has been dropped, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes. Perryman was arrested on felony weapons charges during a traffic stop earlier this month. Five firearms, including two assault-style rifles, were found in the Chargers defender’s vehicle. He was initially held without bail, but ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim notes Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman declined to file charges. Perryman is on a one-year, $2.66MM deal to continue a second Chargers stint.

Former All-AFL WR Lionel Taylor Dies At 89

August 13th, 2025 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Lionel Taylor, one of the American Football League’s best players, died last week, according to his family. The Broncos, Taylor’s primary AFL team, announced his passing. He was 89. Taylor died at his home in Rio Rancho, N.M., according to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

The Broncos acquired Taylor, a 1959 Bears UDFA, in their inaugural season — when the team was one of the eight original AFL franchises — and saw him lead the upstart league in receptions in that 1960 campaign. This was no small feat considering the presences of Hall of Famer Don Maynard and the Oilers’ high-octane duo of Bill Groman and Charley Hennigan. Taylor, however, enjoyed a decorated career despite the Broncos struggling during their AFL days.

Converted from Bears linebacker to Broncos wideout, Taylor led the AFL with 92 receptions in his Denver debut. He then ripped off one of the most consistent stretches in receiving history. Standing an imposing 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Taylor drew four first-team All-AFL nods from 1960-65 and led the league in receptions five times in that span.

Although the AFL was a pass-friendlier operation compared to the NFL in that period, Taylor totaling four 1,100-yard seasons was a feat certainly ahead of its time. By 1965, only one other receiver (AFLer Art Powell) had ever accumulated four 1,100-yard seasons. Taylor also produced the sport’s first 100-catch year (100 in 1961) and his 1,235-yard 1960 campaign — in 12 games — in Denver represented his highwater mark. Although Hennigan eclipsed Taylor’s AFL reception record (with 101) in 1964, no NFL receiver reached 100 until Art Monk‘s 106-catch 1984 season. Taylor’s 102.9 receiving yards per game in 1960 remains a Broncos single-season record.

A Kansas City, Mo., native, Taylor played collegiately at New Mexico Highlands. Despite the NFL draft consisting of 30 rounds in 1959, Taylor did not hear his name called. Playing 10 seasons, Taylor ended up in Oakland via a 1967 trade and wrapped his career with a two-season Houston stint (1967-68). He still sits fourth in Broncos history in receptions (543) and receiving yards (6,872) despite modern receivers enjoying much friendlier rulebooks for aerial success. Taylor never missed a game in seven Broncos seasons.

Taylor later earned Super Bowl rings as a coach, being the Steelers’ wide receivers coach under Chuck Noll. This period (1970-76) featured Taylor mentoring future Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, as he coached the Pittsburgh icons during their first three seasons. He then spent five seasons as a Rams assistant, coaching the Los Angeles receivers from 1977-79 (the last of those seasons ending in Super Bowl XIV) and rising to the L.A. OC post for a two-season stint (1980-81). Taylor was part of the Broncos’ first Ring of Fame class.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/25

August 12th, 2025 at 8:22pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Kelly Akharaiyi
  • Placed on IR: WR Trishton Jackson
  • Awarded via waivers: OL Roy Mbaeteka

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived: K Ryan Coe
  • Waived/injured: QB Michael Pratt

Tennessee Titans

Mbaeteka was waived by the Browns on Monday and quickly found a new home in Arizona. The Nigeria native has an international player exemption, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, allowing the Cardinals to carry 91 players on their preseason roster. The exemption also makes Mbaeteka eligible to be an extra 17th player on the team’s practice squad.

Herndon, 29, will add some defensive back depth to Buffalo’s secondary. Interestingly, the Bills listed Herndon as a safety when they announced his signing, though the seven-year veteran has primarily played both outside and slot cornerback throughout his career.

Price, a 49ers third-round pick in 2022, has only played 105 total snaps in his first three NFL seasons. In Green Bay, he’ll fight for a roster spot in the Packers’ backfield behind Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and MarShawn Lloyd.

Asamoah’s release by the Vikings was a bit of a surprise given that the 2022 third-rounder has appeared in 46 games over the last three seasons, primarily as a core special teams contributor. However, he had yet to develop into a reliable defender in Brian Flores‘ scheme and will look to compete for a role elsewhere.

Johnstone’s release signals that offseason signing Charley Hughlett will be the Eagles’ long snapper for the 2025 season.

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