Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/22
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: WRs DeSean Jackson (story), WR Binjimen Victor
- Placed on IR: WR Rashod Bateman (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Domenique Davis
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Stanley Berryhill
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: LB Divine Deablo
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DB P.J. Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Chase Hansen
- Signed to active roster: WR Kevin White
- Elevated: RB Jordan Howard
New York Giants
- Designated for return: G Shane Lemieux
- Placed on IR: DT Nicholas Williams
Lemieux has been out since September 2021. A severe knee injury paused Lemieux’s career, sidelining him after he had commandeered a starting job. The Giants drafted Lemieux in the 2020 fifth round and turned to him as a starter for much of his rookie season. But the team’s new regime addressed the interior line extensively this offseason, signing Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano before drafting Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan.
The Giants, however, lost McKethan for the season and are without starting left guard Ben Bredeson. The team having Lemieux and former center starter Nick Gates, who also battled back from a severe injury, back will provide some options for Brian Daboll up front. Bredeson, whom the team placed on IR last week, will be a candidate to be one of Big Blue’s injury activations later this season.
Raiders To Sign CB Sidney Jones
The Seahawks were unable to find a trade partner regarding Sidney Jones in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. As a result, they made the unsurprising move of waiving the veteran corner. 
Jones has since gone through waivers unclaimed, leaving him free to sign with any club. One team has already been named as a potential suitor; Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets that the 26-year-old can be expected to be “a person of interest” for the Raiders. Confirming this notion, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the AFC West team is expected to sign him (Twitter link).
Jones was expected to remain a starter for Seattle this season, but the CB position has reaped plenty of rewards from the team’s youth movement. Rookies Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have locked down first-team roles, while Jones has only made three appearances so far. That played a role in Seattle making him available in advance of the trade deadline, but no buyers were willing to take on even the small financial cost by claiming him off waivers.
Cornerback has been a position in flux this year for Vegas. The Raiders added Anthony Averett in free agency, and traded for Rock Ya-Sin before shipping out Trayvon Mullen. They then made a pair of in-season additions by signing veteran Nickell Robey-Coleman and claiming former UDFA Javelin Guidry off waivers. Those moves came with Averett on IR; he has since returned for the past three games.
Even with that positive development, Jones would be likelier to carve out a consistent role with the Raiders than he had with the Seahawks. Entering today’s slate of games, Vegas ranked 25th in the league against the pass, allowing an average of over 258 yards per game through the air. Another veteran addition therefore comes as little surprise as the team looks to rebound from another loss endured via a blown lead.
Packers Attempted To Acquire Raiders TE Darren Waller At Deadline
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, as well as Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, the Packers attempted to acquire Raiders tight end Darren Waller prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline. We already knew that Green Bay had offered a second-round choice for Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool — whom Pittsburgh ultimately sent to the Bears, as it believed the second-rounder it received from Chicago would be more valuable than the Packers’ selection — and we also learned previously that the team was interested in potential TE upgrades. We now know that Waller was one such TE target.
Waller, 30, signed a three-year, $51MM extension with the Raiders in September, but he is dealing with serious injury issues for the second straight season. The 2020 Pro Bowler was limited to 11 games in 2021, and he is expected to miss his third consecutive game on Sunday as a result of a hamstring ailment. Plus, after catching 10 balls for 129 yards and a score in the first two games of the 2022 campaign, he was limited to six catches for 46 yards in the next two contests. He played just eight snaps in Week 5 before injuring his hamstring.
Still, a healthy Waller is one of the game’s better receiving tight ends, and assuming he gets back to full strength soon, he would have been a nice weapon for a Packers offense that is just outside the bottom-10 in passing yards per game. Part of that disappointing ranking is due to a rash of injury problems that have impacted the club’s pass-catching contingent; Allen Lazard missed Green Bay’s Week 8 loss to the Bills due to a shoulder injury, Randall Cobb is on IR with an ankle injury, Sammy Watkins has missed time with hamstring troubles of his own, and Christian Watson exited the Buffalo game with a concussion. Injecting another player with health concerns into that mix might have been something of a risk, but GM Brian Gutekunst was clearly hoping a bold move might save Green Bay’s season.
Indeed, while Claypool was, according to Schefter, Gutekunst’s “primary focus,” the team also called the Panthers to discuss D.J. Moore, per Rapoport and Pelissero (though Schefter says the Packers were not interested in Texans receiver Brandin Cooks). Carolina, which rebuffed a massive offer for DE Brian Burns, also turned away the Moore inquiries, even though Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports the Packers were willing to deal a first-round pick (via Marcus Mosher of Pro Football Focus on Twitter). Schefter adds that, in an effort to close a Claypool trade, the Packers added a late-round pick to the second-rounder it was prepared to send to the Steelers, but apparently Pittsburgh valued Chicago’s Round 2 choice over Green Bay’s two-pick proposal.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who could be in the midst of his final season, publicly expressed his appreciation for the front office’s efforts. “The compensation for whatever players we were going after just didn’t make sense,” Rodgers said. “So I trust [Gutekunst]. We had some good conversations. We were in on some things. It just didn’t pan out.”
Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the ESPN and NFL.com reports, which were both published early Sunday morning, were based on leaks from the team designed specifically to appease Rodgers, and that the Green Bay front office did not actually want to make a deal. Regardless of the veracity of that claim, the end result is the same: if the 3-5 Packers are to salvage what could be Rodgers’ last stand, their existing talent will need to get healthy and turn things around in a hurry, as the only receiving help they can add at this point is free agent Odell Beckham Jr.
As an interesting aside, this is the second time this year the Packers and Raiders have discussed Waller, who was part of the talks that culminated in the blockbuster Davante Adams trade in March.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Isaiah Coulter
- Released: S Jared Mayden
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Patrick Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S Ugo Amadi
- Released: WR Dazz Newsome
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
- Placed on injured list: DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Cameron Dicker
- Placed on injured list: K Taylor Bertolet
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Bryce Thompson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Nathan Gerry
Raiders Active In Trade Talks
The 2-4 Raiders believe that they are postseason contenders despite their current record. Per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review- Journal, the club has been active in trade conversations, and it does not sound as if it is interested in trading for draft picks. Instead, Bonsignore says Las Vegas is seeking players to immediately upgrade its roster.
To be clear, the Raiders are reportedly uninterested in rentals; they want any player they acquire to be under contract through at least 2023, and if they swing a deal for an impending free agent, they would want to feel confident that they can extend that player. Specifically, the team is on the lookout for defensive upgrades, and a quality interior DL is atop the wish list.
That makes sense given that the Silver-and-Black boasts an offense that ranks in the top-10 in yards per game and points per game and a defense that presently resides in the bottom-10 in both categories. The club already parted with one interior defensive lineman when it traded Johnathan Hankins to the Cowboys earlier this week, but Hankins’ role was diminished under the new Josh McDaniels regime, and he clearly was not seen as a player who could help reverse the defense’s fortunes. Likewise, while former first-round pick Clelin Ferrell has lined up inside on occasion, he is a trade candidate himself.
It is possible that the Raiders are interested in Commanders DT Daron Payne, but the latest reporting indicates that Washington does not want to move Payne. The Panthers have also told interested teams that they are not trading DT Derrick Brown, but a player like Lions DL John Cominsky — who was claimed off waivers in May — could be available for a reasonable price.
The D-line, though, is not the only area that could use an upgrade. The Raiders, like many teams, would likely be in the mix for Bears LB Roquan Smith if Chicago should make him available, and a boost to the secondary in the form of a player like Washington’s William Jackson III — who is very much up for grabs — could be a consideration as well.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/22
Here are the minor moves leading into Sunday’s slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Antwaun Woods, T Badara Traore
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: CB Cornell Armstrong
- Promoted from practice squad: S Jovante Moffatt, DL Jalen Dalton
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Spencer Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: T Joe Haeg
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: RB Malik Davis, TE Sean McKeon
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Qadree Ollison, G Dakoda Shepley
- Placed on IR: LB Devin Harper
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: RB Devine Ozigbo
- Promoted from practice squad: T Quinn Bailey, DE Jonathan Kongbo
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: K Michael Badgley
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Maurice Alexander, WR Stanley Berryhill
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Innis Gaines, DE Kobe Jones
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jalen Camp, T KC McDermott
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: WR Van Jefferson, CB Troy Hill (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Ronnie Rivers, T Chandler Brewer
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: S Verone McKinley, WR Braylon Sanders
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jacob Hollister
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: T Yodny Cajuste
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Kody Russey
- Placed on IR: G Chasen Hines
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Chris Harris
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kevin White
- Released: WR Keith Kirkwood
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Chris Streveler, OL Conor McDermott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Tarron Jackson
- Waived: K Cameron Dicker
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: WR Willie Snead
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tay Martin, DT T.Y. McGill
- Waived: T Blake Hance
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Bruce Irvin, WR Cade Johnson
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: FB Alex Armah, WR Kyric McGowan
2022 NFL Cap Space, By Team
Days away from this year’s trade deadline (3pm CT, Nov. 1), a few teams have made some in-season moves to bolster their rosters. Several squads have also restructured contracts this season to create additional space. That extra room will matter as most teams will consider adding or subtracting costs before Tuesday’s deadline.
Here is how teams’ cap-space numbers (courtesy of OverTheCap) look ahead of the deadline:
- Cleveland Browns: $33.72MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $10.35MM
- Carolina Panthers: $9.79MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $9.71MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $9.47MM
- Denver Broncos: $7.79MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $7.69MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $7.23MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $7.16MM
- Chicago Bears: $7.08MM
- Green Bay Packers: $6.6MM
- Miami Dolphins: $6.16MM
- New York Jets: $5.71MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $4.97MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $4.95MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $4.93MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $4.76MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $4.3MM
- Washington Commanders: $4.26MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $3.86MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $3.71MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $3.67MM
- New Orleans Saints: $3.61MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $3.31MM
- New York Giants: $3.26MM
- Detroit Lions: $3.25MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $3.07MM
- New England Patriots: $2.19MM
- Houston Texans: $2.09MM
- Buffalo Bills: $1.93MM
- Tennessee Titans: $1.59MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $852K
The Browns have held the top spot for months, and the gulf between their cap-space figure and the field almost certainly stems from a desire to carry over cap space before Deshaun Watson‘s cap number spikes from $9.4MM to a runaway-record $54.99MM. Cleveland has recently been linked to creating more cap space. Interest has come in for Greedy Williams, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Kareem Hunt. Although the Browns did not grant Hunt’s summer trade request, it may now take only a fourth-round pick for Cleveland to deal its backup running back.
Another potential seller could move up on this list while creating some additional space in 2023. The Broncos are believed to have made Jerry Jeudy available. Unlike fellow trade chip Bradley Chubb, Jeudy is under contract for 2023 (on a $4.83MM cap number). Denver appears more likely to move Chubb. That departure would remove the franchise tag from the team’s equation in 2023 — barring a tag for fellow 2023 UFA-to-be Dre’Mont Jones — thus freeing up more free agency funds. It will be interesting if the Broncos, if they are to move Chubb, agree to eat much of his fifth-year option salary. George Paton‘s club took on most of Von Miller‘s 2021 money to increase draft compensation.
The Eagles are still near the top despite acquiring Robert Quinn. Philadelphia is paying just $684K of Quinn’s contract, which now runs through 2022 instead of 2024. Chicago is on the hook for $7.1MM. The Bears are on track to have a gargantuan lead on the field for 2023 cap space. They are projected to hold more than $125MM next year, according to OverTheCap.
New Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney checks in at just $784K on their 2022 cap sheet. The former Giants first-rounder’s figures bump to $1.9MM (2023) and $2.53MM (’24). Kansas City recently restructured Travis Kelce‘s deal, creating some wiggle room for the Toney addition. The Chiefs, who did not touch Patrick Mahomes‘ deal this year, restructured Kelce’s contract twice in 2022. Thursday’s trade hit the Giants with a $2.33MM dead-money charge. Toney will count $3.67MM in dead money for the Giants in 2023.
The Panthers picked up nearly $19MM in 2022 dead money via the Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey trades. Unlike the Eagles and Bears, last week’s Panthers-49ers McCaffrey swap did not involve Carolina taking on additional salary. McCaffrey’s offseason restructure dropped his 2022 base salary to the league minimum; the 49ers have him on their books at just $690K. McCaffrey’s record-setting extension will still represent $18.35MM in dead money on the Panthers’ 2023 cap, but his nonguaranteed base salaries from 2023-25 ($11.8MM, $11.8MM, $12MM) transferred fully from Carolina to San Francisco.
On the subject of 2022 dead money, the Bears lead the way with $80.32MM. The Falcons added to their total this month, however, by trading Deion Jones to the Browns. That deal saddled the Falcons with $11.38MM in additional dead money — accompanying the franchise’s record-setting Matt Ryan dead-money hit ($40.53MM) — and ballooned Atlanta’s overall total to $78.57MM. Ryan is off the Falcons’ books after this year, but Jones will carry a $12.14MM dead-money figure in 2023.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/26/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Sage Doxtater, G Danny Isidora
- Released: WR Laquon Treadwell
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Daurice Fountain
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Bryce Cosby, DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: G Jeremiah Kolone
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Grant Hermanns
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
- Placed on IR: DL LaBryan Ray
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB DaMarcus Fields
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: K Rodrigo Blankenship
- Placed on IR: DL Rashard Lawrence
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: G Dieter Eiselen
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: LB Jacob Phillips
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from NFI: LB Damone Clark
- Placed on IR: OL Matt Farniok, CB Jourdan Lewis
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: OL Tom Compton
Houston Texans
- Designated for return: DB Tavierre Thomas
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return: S Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: CB Tevaughn Campbell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: OT Jackson Barton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Jeremiah Attaochu
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: OT Yodny Cajuste
New York Giants
- Designated for return: OT Matt Peart, LB Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated for return: TE Tyree Jackson
- Released: DE Tarron Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S Nolan Turner
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Sage Doxtater
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Thakarius Keyes
- Released: LB Jordan Brailford
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Mike Brown
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S J.R. Reed
- Released: DL Bruce Hector
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Josh Babicz
- Released: TE Shaun Beyer
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: P Nolan Cooney, LB Forrest Rhyne
- Released: WR DeMichael Harris, CB Ryan Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
- Released: CB Javelin Guidry
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Calvin Jackson, DB Jamal Perry
- Placed on IR: WR Freddie Swain
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Andre Miller
New York Jets
- Signed: G Myron Cunningham
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: RB Godwin Igwebuike, LB Christian Jones