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Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/23

November 1st, 2023 at 7:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

  • Signed to active roster: OL Chris Glaser

With the Chiefs adding Mecole Hardman and eyeing a WR crunch, the team reportedly shopped James last week. A trade didn’t end up happening, and with the wideout sitting on IR, the team has decided to designate him for return. After resurfacing last year with the Giants, James signed a one-year deal worth $1.23MM with the Chiefs back in April. He got into Kansas City’s first two games, hauling in one six-yard catch.

2023 NFL Trades

October 31st, 2023 at 10:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2023 NFL trading period is now over. Dozens of trades — some in the roster-reshaping mold, others executed for depth purposes — ended up coming to pass. Since the NFL moved its trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8 in 2012, trades have gradually become a more important part of the league’s roster builds.

An argument can be made the NFL should move its deadline deeper into the season, as the MLB, NBA and NHL deadlines come after the midpoint. The NFL moving to a 17-game/18-week slate in 2021, after 43 years at 16 games, also factors into this line of thinking. For now, the league will still force its buyers and sellers to assess their teams fully by Week 8.

To gauge the value of the moves teams have made, here are the trades completed across the league in 2023. (Note: only trades involving veteran players, as opposed to draft-weekend deals only involving picks, are listed here.)

January 31

The Saints chose defensive tackle Bryan Bresee at No. 29 overall

March 9

March 10

  • Bears send Panthers No. 1 overall pick in exchange for No. 9, No. 61, a 2024 first-rounder and 2025 second

The Panthers chose Bryce Young first overall; the Bears traded down from No. 9 to No. 19, drafting tackle Darnell Wright. Trading up from No. 61 to No. 56, Chicago chose cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

March 12

The Rams selected outside linebacker Byron Young at No. 77 overall

March 13

New England selected defensive back Isaiah Bolden at No. 245

March 14

Houston used the No. 230 pick in a package to trade up for center Juice Scruggs in Round 2; Tampa Bay packaged No. 179 to move up for guard Cody Mauch in Round 2

At No. 100, the Raiders drafted wide receiver Tre Tucker

The Colts selected running back Evan Hull at No. 176

March 20

The Texans used No. 161 to trade up for wide receiver Tank Dell

March 22

The Jets included No. 42 in the picks package sent to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers; the Browns chose wide receiver Cedric Tillman at No. 74

March 25

April 11

The Lions packaged No. 159 to move up for defensive back Brian Branch in Round 2

April 18

The Rams agreed to pay $5MM of Robinson’s 2023 salary. At No. 234, the Rams chose cornerback Jason Taylor II; at 251, the Steelers selected offensive lineman Spencer Anderson.

April 24

  • Packers send QB Aaron Rodgers, Nos. 15, 170 to Jets for Nos. 13, 42, 207, conditional 2024 second-round pick

Rodgers needed to play 65% of the Jets’ 2023 offensive snaps for the 2024 pick to become a first-rounder; his Week 1 Achilles tear will prevent that from happening. At No. 13, the Packers chose pass rusher Lukas Van Ness; at 15, the Jets took defensive end Will McDonald. At Nos. 42 and 207, Green Bay respectively chose tight end Luke Musgrave and kicker Anders Carlson. The Jets moved down from No. 170, picking up an additional seventh-round pick. 

April 29

At No. 219, the Lions chose wide receiver Antoine Green; at 249, the Eagles selected defensive tackle Moro Ojomo

The Saints chose wide receiver A.T. Perry at No. 195; the Broncos selected center Alex Forsyth at 257

May 12

May 25

July 19

  • Jets move WR Denzel Mims, 2025 seventh-round pick to Lions for conditional 2025 sixth-rounder

Mims needed to make the Lions’ 53-man roster for the pick to convey. With the Lions cutting Mims with an injury settlement in August, the Jets will not end up receiving a pick in this trade.

August 24

August 25

August 27

August 28

August 29

September 20

Akers must tally more than 500 yards from scrimmage to meet the conditional requirement

October 4

October 6

The Broncos agreed to pay all but the prorated veteran minimum of Gregory’s 2023 base salary

October 10

October 18

October 23

October 30

Giants agreed to pay all but the prorated veteran minimum on Williams’ remaining $10MM in base salary

Street must play in at least six games as a Falcon to meet the conditional requirement

October 31

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:15pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad transactions in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL’s minor moves for today:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed off Bears’ practice squad: DT Travis Bell
  • Placed on IR: DT Grady Jarrett (story)

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kareem, who was just activated off of injured reserve, is being waived to make room for defensive end Montez Sweat, acquired by trade this morning. The Bears also announced a practice squad release, indicating a possible return for Kareem on that unit. The Colts are expected to do the same with Boettger.

O’Connor will lose his active roster spot to make room for quarterback John Wolford, whom Tampa Bay officially promoted today in order to ward off interest parties such as the Rams and Vikings, both of whom are experiencing injury issues at quarterback.

Chiefs Looking Into Richie James Trade

October 30th, 2023 at 1:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Chiefs have experienced considerable struggles generating wide receiver consistency, they do not lack for notable names at the position. Mecole Hardman‘s return crowds the group, leaving Richie James potentially without a role when/if he returns from IR.

Hardman has taken over as the Chiefs’ punt returner, and despite his crucial slip-up in the Week 8 loss to the Broncos, he clearly remains in the Chiefs’ plans. On that note, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the Chiefs are exploring trade possibilities involving James. The free agency addition is on IR but would be ready to return if traded.

The Chiefs have not used any of their IR activations this season, but it does not seem like the defending champions want to allocate one of their eight such moves to James. Resurfacing last year with the Giants, James signed a one-year deal worth $1.23MM in April. The Chiefs used James as their primary punt returner in Weeks 1 and 2, but an MCL injury led him to IR.

A former 49ers slot player, James did not play in 2021 but came back to become a key piece for a receiver-thin Giants team last season. James totaled 569 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 57 receptions, hitting career-high marks across the board. This did not generate James much of a market, however. While James settled in an interesting situation — with a two-time MVP quarterback, in Patrick Mahomes, and on team with uncertainty at wide receiver — he does not appear in Kansas City’s plans any longer.

James made Kansas City’s 53-man roster, joining a seven-wideout contingent in a muddled group following the free agency defections of Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs largely sought to replace the exiting players internally, with James and second-round pick Rashee Rice being outside additions. But holdovers Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have not contributed regularly. Hardman has considerable experience as a Chiefs receiving option, but after being recently reacquired from the Jets, the fifth-year speedster has three receptions for 19 yards in two games. It should be expected Hardman’s role will expand as the weeks pass, and as K.C. keeps seeing receiver unreliability, but the former second-round pick has primarily seen action as a returner in his second stint.

Prior to the Chiefs’ 15-point loss in Denver, a report indicated they were not planning a post-Hardman receiver addition. But Kansas City’s receiver plan has not panned out thus far, pointing to the team exploring a move to find more help for its Travis Kelce-dependent aerial corps. Second-year UDFA Justyn Ross has not contributed much, but the Clemson product is out of the mix right now. The NFL placed Ross on the commissioner exempt list last week, following an arrest that brought a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.

2023 NFL Cap Space, By Team

October 28th, 2023 at 8:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The countdown to this year’s October 31 trade deadline continues, and a number of deals have already been made. More will follow in the coming days, though, as contending teams look to bolster their rosters for the stretch run and sellers seek to offload expiring contracts and gain future draft assets. Much will be driven, of course, by each squad’s financial situation.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here’s a breakdown of every team’s cap space in advance of the deadline:

  1. San Francisco 49ers: $39.89MM
  2. Cleveland Browns: $33.99MM
  3. Arizona Cardinals: $11.1MM
  4. Cincinnati Bengals: $10.78MM
  5. Tennessee Titans: $10.55MM
  6. Las Vegas Raiders: $9.16MM
  7. Chicago Bears: $9.06MM
  8. Los Angeles Chargers: $9.05MM
  9. Indianapolis Colts: $8.78MM
  10. Minnesota Vikings: $7.96MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $7.55MM
  12. New York Jets: $7.17MM
  13. Seattle Seahawks: $7.16MM
  14. Carolina Panthers: $7.07MM
  15. Dallas Cowboys: $7.03MM
  16. Baltimore Ravens: $6.83MM
  17. Atlanta Falcons: $6.76MM
  18. Detroit Lions: $6.62MM
  19. Jacksonville Jaguars: $6.42MM
  20. New Orleans Saints: $4.67MM
  21. Buffalo Bills: $4.58MM
  22. Los Angeles Rams: $4.37MM
  23. Houston Texans: $4.26MM
  24. Washington Commanders: $3.78MM
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: $3.7MM
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $3.63MM
  27. Miami Dolphins: $3.49MM
  28. New England Patriots: $2.87MM
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: $2.81MM
  30. Pittsburgh Steelers: $2.55MM
  31. Denver Broncos: $1.22MM
  32. New York Giants: $991K

The 49ers have carried considerable space throughout the season, but general manager John Lynch made it clear last month the team’s intention was to roll over most of their funds into next season. Still, with San Francisco sitting at 5-2 on the year, it would come as little surprise if at least one more depth addition (separate from the Randy Gregory move) were to be made in the near future.

Deals involving pick swaps for role players dominated the trade landscape for some time, but more noteworthy contributors have been connected to a potential swap recently. One of them – Titans safety Kevin Byard – has already been dealt. That has led to speculation Tennessee is open to dealing other big names as they look to 2024. Derrick Henry’s name has come up multiple times with respect to a deal sending him out of Nashville, but that now seems unlikely.

Several edge rushers are on the market, including Danielle Hunter (Vikings) and one or both of Montez Sweat and Chase Young (Commanders). Hunter nearly found himself with the Jaguars this offseason, and last year’s AFC South winners could be on the lookout for a pass rush boost. A mid-level addition in that regard would come as little surprise. In Minnesota and Washington’s case, however, it remains to be seen if they will be true sellers given their 3-4 records heading into tomorrow’s action.

A number of receivers could also be on the move soon. Both the Broncos’ pair of Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and the Panthers’ Terrace Marshall have been involved heavily in trade talk. Jeudy and Sutton are on the books at an eight figure price tag next season, and the Broncos are unlikely to receive the draft capital they could have at prior points in their Denver tenures. Marshall, by contrast, is in the third season of his four-year rookie contract and could fit more comfortably into an acquiring team’s cap situation. The Panthers have allowed him to seek out a trade partner.

The Cowboys sit in the top half of the league in terms of spending power, but mixed signals initially came out with respect to their interest in making a splash. Owner Jerry Jones has insisted Dallas will not initiate negotiations on a trade, citing his confidence in a 4-2 roster which has been hit by a few notable injuries on defense in particular. Despite having more cap space than most other teams, the Bengals are likewise expected to be quiet on the trade front.  

The past few years have seen a notable uptick in trade activity around the league, and it would come as a surprise if that trend did not continue over the next few days. Last-minute restructures and cost-shedding moves would help the teams in need of flexibility pull off moves, though sellers will no doubt also be asked to retain salary if some of the higher-paid veterans on the trade block end up being dealt. Given the spending power of teams at the top of the list, there is plenty of potential for the league’s landscape to change ahead of the stretch run to the playoffs.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/23

October 28th, 2023 at 7:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are the gameday elevations and other minor moves made around the league in advance of Week 8:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Wilkinson’s loss will be notable for the Cardinals, given his status as an entrenched starter at the left guard spot. The 28-year-old joined Arizona on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum in free agency after stints in Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. Trystan Colon replaced him in the starting lineup in Week 7, and that will likely continue for the time being. Wilkinson will be out for at least four weeks as a result of the IR move.

Ridgeway has been out since Week 1, his Texans debut. The former 49er joined the Texans in a move which allowed him to continue working under head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ridgeway ended last season on IR, so he will be looking for an extended run of availability in his new home. A veteran of 78 games (and 19 starts), he will aim to carve out a rotational role up front.

Peters was brought in by the Seahawks while they were dealing with injury problems at both tackle spots. Blindside blocker Charles Cross has since returned, so Peters’ most familiar spot will not be available if he is to make his Seattle debut on Sunday. The fact the latter is healthy and in game shape does mean, however, that he will be eligible to play in a 19th NFL season.

Chiefs WR Justyn Ross Lands On Commissioner Exempt List

October 27th, 2023 at 12:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Justyn Ross will not be available for the Chiefs going forward. After an arrest on misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor property damage charges this week, Ross landed on the Commissioner Exempt list Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.

Placement on the list will prevent the second-year wide receiver from practicing or playing in games for the Chiefs. Kansas City signed Ross as a UDFA in 2022, marking an opportunity for a player who was once on track to be a highly drafted receiver. A neck injury at Clemson scuttled those hopes, and a foot injury nixed Ross’ rookie season. His career is now at an early crossroads.

Used when unusual circumstances cloud a player’s status, the exempt list is essentially paid leave. While players frequently play after arrests — as recent Chiefs defensive end pickup Charles Omenihu did after a domestic violence charge before the 2022 NFC championship game — and face suspensions at later dates, the seldom-utilized exempt list will prevent Ross from suiting up. Ross had been active for the Chiefs’ first seven games.

Ross was arrested Monday following an incident involving his ex-girlfriend. The alleged victim said in a 911 call Ross was “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house.” TMZ also reported Ross broke his ex-girlfriend’s phone, as she called police from a neighbor’s house. Ross, 23, pleaded not guilty to both charges. Ross, who could also face a suspension once this matter is adjudicated, must appear in court Dec. 4.

The above-referenced neck injury halted Ross’ promising run at Clemson. Joining Tee Higgins as a key Trevor Lawrence target for a 2018 Tigers team that won a national championship, Ross totaled 1,000 yards and nine touchdown receptions as a freshman. He remained in a prominent role as a sophomore, but the injury kept him off the field as a junior and altered his draft trajectory. Ross returned in 2021 but only tallied 514 yards (11.2 per catch) and went undrafted. Thus far with the Chiefs, Ross has three catches for 34 yards.

While Ross flashed during Kansas City’s preseason slate, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher has not carved out a steady role in an inconsistent receiving corps. Issues separating in practice have plagued the young receiver. Although Ross remains a developmental player, this arrest could certainly affect his chances of remaining with the Chiefs going forward.

AFC West Rumors: Ross, Broncos, Williams

October 26th, 2023 at 9:59pm CST by Ely Allen

While Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross is dealing with some pretty serious issues off the field, his inability to get onto the field before then never made much sense to people. Yet, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, it was his problems on the field that kept him from making more of an impact.

After an incredibly productive freshman and sophomore year at Clemson, injuries and a bit of a downgrade at quarterback would keep Ross from reaching those heights again for the remainder of his college career. Even after those late struggles kept him from being drafted, many believed that a transition to the NFL, coupled with the opportunity to work in an offense with Patrick Mahomes, would result in a return to greatness for the former top-100 recruit.

Ross would spend his rookie year on injured reserve following offseason foot surgery but would finally enter the 2023 season ready to make his NFL debut. Instead, what we’ve seen is a role receiver who plays mostly on special teams while occasionally rotating in on offense.

Breer’s report claims that there are legitimate football issues keeping him off the field. While Ross is a big body at receiver, he’s not very versatile, struggling to create separation with speed or route-running. In an offense that requires its weapons to contribute in several different ways, it becomes less surprising that Ross is only able to find the field in certain situations.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of the AFC West, starting with an update on one of the Chargers‘ top missing weapons:

  • Los Angeles has been tasked with running an effective offense without wide receiver Mike Williams following the veteran receiver’s season-ending ACL tear. While his status for this year is obviously not going to change, Williams underwent a successful surgery yesterday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This may not provide much solace to fans in 2023, but undergoing surgery at this point sets the expectation that Williams will be fully ready by training camp next year.
  • The Broncos made an alteration to their ownership shares earlier this month, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. With the team’s chief executive officer Greg Penner has been handling day-to-day operations since the Walton-Penner group purchased the organization, the Broncos’ controlling owner Rob Walton transferred a block of his shares to Penner, allowing Penner to take the mantle of controlling owner in addition to CEO. Penner’s four children will also receive an allotment of Walton’s shares in the exchange.
  • Denver cornerback K’Waun Williams suffered a setback from a preseason foot surgery that was reported this week to likely be season-ending. The setback required further surgery, which Williams underwent this past Monday, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. The procedure on Williams’ left ankle reportedly went “very well” and will require a recovery period of approximately 12 weeks, allowing him to return in time for spring football practice.

Chiefs WR Justyn Ross Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge

October 24th, 2023 at 8:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 24: It turns out Ross is facing two misdemeanor charges. The young wide receiver is accused of domestic battery and property damage of less than $1K, KMBC’s Andy Alcock reports. This incident involved Ross’ ex-girlfriend, and a judge granted her request not to have any contact with the accused wideout, per KSHB’s David Medina.

Dispatch audio reveals the alleged victim told a 911 operator Ross was “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house,” according to TMZ, which adds Ross allegedly broke the woman’s phone. Ross pleaded not guilty today and has another court date set for Dec. 4.

OCTOBER 23: Second-year Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross is facing a felony charge after a Monday arrest, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. Ross was arrested today in Shawnee, Kansas.

Booked into the Johnson County Jail, Ross was hit with a charge of criminal damage more than $25K. The Clemson alum has a Tuesday court date on tap. Ross, 23, is in his second season with the Chiefs, who added him as a UDFA following the 2022 draft.

Once viewed as a high-end prospect, Ross saw a neck injury while at Clemson sidetrack his career. After a breakthrough freshman season, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher missed the 2020 campaign but returned in 2021. Though, his performance that year did not move the needle toward a draft investment. Ross also missed all of his rookie season due to a foot injury.

The Chiefs have encountered persistent struggles establishing consistency among its receiving corps, but Ross has not been looked to as an answer often. Ross has played just 81 offensive snaps this season, catching three passes for 34 yards during his first run as an NFL wideout. Given his status as a backup who primarily contributes on special teams, Ross could certainly see this latest hurdle become an issue.

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