Dalvin Cook Receiving Interest From “About Five” Teams
JULY 29: Cook went on ESPN today to discuss his visit plans prior to tomorrow’s date with the Jets. According to Rich Cimini of the network, Cook confirmed tomorrow’s plans but claimed that, as of right now, no other visits are in the books. He did say that “thing are definitely heating up,” and a Patriots visit has been rumored for a couple days now, so there’s a chance he could be shipping up to Boston in the coming days, as well.
As for the Jets, Cook pointed to their roster as a factor that piqued his interest. The team, the coaching staff, and the prospect of playing in an offense with Rodgers all certainly contributed to his desire to take tomorrow’s visit. It will be interesting to see if he comes away from New York tomorrow with a new deal or not.
JULY 28: Since being released by the Vikings back in early-June, veteran running back Dalvin Cook has been a bit hush-hush about his free agency. Rumors and speculations have come from all over without any hint of how much was true, but today, during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Cook informed Patrick that “probably about five” teams have shown legitimate interest in acquiring his talents.
As soon as Cook was released, early speculation was pointed at his hometown Dolphins and the Broncos. It was established fairly soon after that Denver was unlikely to bring Cook aboard. The team apparently felt confident in a 1-2 punch of the recovering Javonte Williams and career-RB2 Samaje Perine. There seemed to be quite a bit of back and forth between Cook and Miami, but in the end, the Dolphins never gave Cook an offer worth taking.
As the weeks rolled on with no deal, two other AFC East teams entered the fold as the Jets and Patriots began to show interest. Both teams have been active in adding new talent this offseason. The Patriots added JuJu Smith-Schuster to their wide receiving corps and seemingly finished second in the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes. Adding Cook to a backfield led by Rhamondre Stevenson could be extremely attractive for new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
New York added wide receivers Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb to a corps that already rostered Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis. All these weapons were brought in to provide new quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a strong offensive cast. They do have a solid, if not unproven, group of running backs in Breece Hall, Michael Carter, and rookie Israel Abanikanda. Adding a veteran like Cook could be beneficial for the room, but it certainly isn’t a necessity. Cook is set to visit the Jets this Sunday.
So, who are the five teams? Assuming the Broncos, who ruled themselves out early, aren’t on the list, the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots should make up three of those teams. The fourth AFC East team, the Bills, was mentioned as a possibility as Cook entertained the idea of playing with his little brother, James, according to Zach Dimmitt of Sports Illustrated.
It’s unclear who the fifth team would be. Our early speculations listed the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Commanders as early possibilities, but no serious interest has been reported from any of these teams. Regardless of who the fifth suitor happens to be, it still seems like there is at least an 80 percent chance that Cook ends up in the AFC East.
Jalen Ramsey Undergoes Surgery, Expected To Miss Extensive Time
1:48pm: The surgery Ramsey underwent will force the Dolphins to drastically alter their cornerback plan this season. Ramsey underwent a full meniscus repair Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter), adding that the operation is expected to sideline the recent trade acquisition until December. Ramsey’s post-trade contract reworking fully guaranteed his 2024 salary, giving the ex-Jaguars and Rams standout some security as he prepares for rehab.
11:57am: The Dolphins’ new-look defense suffered a blow yesterday when All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury which will require surgery. Further updates on his status and how the team is reacting to the news have emerged. 
Ramsey suffered a non-contact injury, head coach Mike McDaniel indicated on Friday. The required surgery will take place later today, and the success of that procedure will determine his recovery timeline. In any event, though, Ramsey will indeed miss the beginning of the regular season as originally feared (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network).
The Dolphins acquired the six-time Pro Bowler as part of their efforts to upgrade their secondary this offseason. A role which would see him play both on the boundary and in the slot under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was thought to be in play, but those plans will be on hold for now. McDaniel expressed confidence in the team’s remaining crop of corners, but he added (via Beasley, on Twitter) that Miami will work out depth options in the near future.
A number of experienced options remain on the open market, including William Jackson, Ronald Darby, Casey Hayward and Troy Hill. Byron Jones is also unsigned, but his Dolphins release is believed to have marked an official end to his playing days. Miami currently has just under $13.5MM in cap space, giving them plenty of flexibility to add a low-cost veteran to help offset the loss of Ramsey for what could be an extended period.
The Dolphins must approach any CB signings with the knowledge that they are still in the running for Dalvin Cook, however. A homecoming for the four-time Pro Bowl running back remains a possibility, though his upcoming Jets visit could very well lead him elsewhere in the AFC East. Attention will be paid to the success of Ramsey’s operation, but it will be worth watching how the Dolphins react after it is completed as they look to withstand the absence of their prized offseason acquisition.
Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey To Undergo Knee Surgery, Likely To Miss Start Of Season
Jalen Ramsey‘s debut with the Dolphins likely won’t come in Week 1 after the cornerback suffered a knee injury during practice today. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Ramsey will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss the start of the regular season.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reveals on Twitter that the All-Pro cornerback suffered a meniscus injury that could force him to miss six to eight weeks. Pelissero clarifies (on Twitter) that the best-case scenario would see Ramsey back on the field “right around the season opener.” The worst-case scenario would see the veteran sidelined for much longer, and the player’s timeline will be determined following surgery. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network tweets that a meniscus trim would result in a speedier recovery, while a “full repair” would sideline Ramsey for much longer.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that doctors will determine during surgery what the best course of action is for the player. While a source cautioned that no decision has been made, RapSheet notes that the “likely outcome” would be a full meniscus repair. While this route would be the “best and healthiest option,” it would also keep Ramsey off the field until around December. For what it’s worth, Ramsey tweeted that the “end of the season push” will be “legendary,” perhaps an indication that he’ll miss more than the season opener.
Fortunately, we should have some clarity soon, as Wolfe tweets that Ramsey will have surgery on the meniscus in his left knee tomorrow. The cornerback suffered the injury during practice today after colliding with receiver Tyreek Hill. Ramsey was seen grabbing the back of his knee before he left the field. As Wolfe notes on Twitter, Ramsey previously suffered a meniscus injury in 2016 when he was a rookie with the Jaguars.
The Dolphins sent the Rams a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long for Ramsey back in March. The 28-year-old earned his sixth-straight Pro Bowl nod in 2022, finishing with a career-high 88 tackles to go along with four interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Pro Football Focus graded Ramsey as the third-best cornerback among 118 qualifiers in 2022, with the site giving him top-10 positional marks during each of his three-plus seasons in Los Angeles (including a 2021 campaign where he finished first).
Besides his top-end production, Miami added the high-priced cornerback because of his playoff success and his versatility. The acquisition was expected to play opposite Xavien Howard on the outside with Kader Kohou manning the slot, but there were recent reports that Ramsey could see plenty of time in the slot for Miami in 2023. With Ramsey sidelined, the Dolphins could lean even more on Kohou during his second season in the NFL, and second-round rookie Cam Smith should also have an opportunity to step into a role right away. Miami will also eventually welcome back Nik Needham, who continues to recover from an Achilles injury that ended his 2022 season early.
Tyreek Hill Marina Incident Reaches Resolution
JULY 26: Hill will not face misdemeanor charges, as the Miami-Date State Attorney’s Office confirmed on Wednesday (via Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald). The NFL’s investigation remains ongoing, though, and Hill indicated that he (like the Dolphins themselves) remains in communication with the league while awaiting to see if discipline is handed down.
JULY 24: Most of the news around the NFL is tied to training camps at the moment, but a different development has taken place on Monday with respect to Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins wideout has seen last month’s incident at a Miami-area marina come to a legal end. 
A joint statement from the attorneys representing Hill and the unnamed marina employee he allegedly assaulted reads: “The parties to the incident which occurred on June 18th, 2023 at the Haulover Marina involving Tyreek Hill have resolved their differences” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Hill is alleged to have slapped the employee during a dispute that came about after he and others attempted to board a boat without permission. Hill offered to pay the victim (who was unaware of Hill’s identity at the time) $200, but he declined. A police investigation ensued, with surveillance footage being reviewed and witnesses from the incident interviewed.
The NFL opened its own investigation shortly thereafter, and requested to speak with all members of law enforcement involved in the case. To no surprise, the league has not handed down any supplemental discipline as of yet, with the legal process ongoing until today. It will be interesting to monitor how much of an effect (if any) Monday’s news has on the NFL’s view of the Hill situation.
The 29-year-old’s past could play a role in punishment being handed down. Any missed time would mark a signficant blow for Miami’s offense, since last year’s blockbuster trade acquisition set new career highs in receptions (119) and yards (1,710) in 2022, earning him a seventh Pro Bowl and fourth All-Pro nod. In any event, Hill’s latest legal situation appears to be behind him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/23
With a number of teams preparing for the start of training camp, a long list of players were placed on inactive lists today. We’ve compiled all of those and today’s other minor moves below:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on NFI: DE Calais Campbell
- Waived (failed physical designation): RB Caleb Huntley
- Waived from IR: RB B.J. Baylor
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Makai Polk
- Placed on NFI: LS Nick Moore
- Released: WR Andy Isabella, WR Mike Thomas
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on PUP: LB Tyler Matakevich, LB Von Miller, DT Jordan Phillips
- Placed on NFI: RB Nyheim Hines
- Released TE Nick Guggemos
Chicago Bears
- Placed on NFI: WR Dante Pettis
- Waived: P Ryan Anderson, LB Sterling Weatherford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from PUP: CB Chidobe Awuzie
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Josh Butler
- Placed on PUP: CB Jourdan Lewis
- Placed on NFI: TE Luke Schoonmaker
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
- Waived: QB Jarrett Guarantano
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Cody Chrest
- Placed on NFI: LB Tariq Carpenter, S Tarvarius Moore
Houston Texans
- Placed on PUP: OL Dylan Deatherage, OT Charlie Heck, TE Teagan Quitoriano, CB Kendall Sheffield, DE Chase Winovich
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on PUP: DE Tyquan Lewis, TE Will Mallory, RB Jonathan Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
- Waived: CB Isiah Brown, QB Chase Garbers
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from NFI: CB Ethan Bonner
- Placed on PUP: OT Terron Armstead, TE Tanner Conner, OT Isaiah Wynn
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OT Bobby Evans
- Placed on NFI: WR Malik Knowles
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jalen Hurd
- Activated from PUP: DT Justus Tavai
- Placed on NFI: OT Calvin Anderson, DL DaMarcus Mitchell
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Max Garcia
- Waived: TE Miller Forristall, G Koda Martin
New York Giants
- Signed: DE Tashawn Bower
- Placed on PUP: DT D.J. Davidson, G Marcus McKethan , CB Aaron Robinson, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, WR Sterling Shepard
- Waived: DB Trenton Thompson
- Waived/injured: LB Elerson Smith
- Released from IR (injury settlement): CB Leonard Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Deon Cain, OL Dennis Kelly
- Placed on reserve/retired: DE Matt Leo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Terrance Mitchell
- Placed on NFI: P Mitch Wishnowsky
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Levi Bell, DT Roderick Perry, CB Andrew Whitaker
- Released: CB James Campbell, CB Isaiah Dunn, LB Alton Robinson
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: TE Armani Rogers
- Released: QB Tim DeMorat
Free Agents
- Suspended: OT Isaiah Wilson
Isaiah Wilson hasn’t had an NFL gig since he was released by the Giants in January of 2022. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the free agent lineman was slapped with a three-game suspension, but it’s uncertain what led to the temporary ban. Wilson was a first-round pick by the Titans in 2020 but got into only one game with Tennessee before getting shipped off to Miami. He was waived by Miami after showing up late to his team physical, and his practice squad stint with New York only lasted one season.
Max Garcia is an experienced addition to the Saints OL room, with the veteran having most recently started seven of his 12 appearances with the Cardinals in 2022. The 31-year-old has 59 games of starting experience, although Pro Football Focus was iffy on his production last year (63rd among 77 qualifying offensive guards).
Following a three-year stint in Cleveland, Terrance Mitchell has spent the past two seasons bouncing around the NFL. He got into 14 games (13 starts) for the Texans in 2021, finishing with 60 tackles and 10 passes defended. He spent the 2022 season with the Titans, finishing with 39 tackles in 11 games (five starts). 49ers fifth-round pick Darrell Luter Jr. is set to miss some time with a knee injury, providing Mitchell with an opportunity during training camp.
Dolphins Inquired On Saquon Barkley Trade
More news concerning the process by which Saquon Barkley arrived at his current position has come out. Conflicting reports have emerged, but one key takeaway is the interest shown by a team long thought to be in the market for a different veteran running back. 
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that, upon the Giants’ decision to use the franchise tag on Barkley, his agents requested the team shop him in an effort to find a suitable trade partner. The Giants themselves (along with several outlets, as well as Barkley himself) have denied that New York ever intended to move on from the two-time Pro Bowler, who has repeatedly stated his intention of spending his full career in the Big Apple.
Providing clarity on the matter, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy notes that teams called the Giants to explore the possibility of a trade. Specifically, two clubs inquired about Barkley’s availability, and New York turned down the offers which were made. One of those, per Dunleavy, was the Dolphins.
Miami has long been connected to Dalvin Cook, by far the most high-profile name left on the open market amongst running backs. A deal sending the four-time Pro Bowler to his hometown team is something for which mutual interest is believed to exist, though the current offer on the table is not sufficient in Cook’s view. Miami has a number of backs on the roster already, but winning the Cook sweepstakes would provide a considerable boost to their ground game.
Intra-divisional competition in the form of the Patriots and Jets has emerged, so the Dolphins’ attention will likely remain on Cook for the time being. In any event, it is certainly notable they went as far as to make an offer for Barkley when his long-term Giants future was in doubt. The latter team’s approach kept Barkley’s market quiet, though, paving the way for today’s resolution to his short-term situation.
The 26-year-old agreed to an adjusted franchise tag which includes $900K in incentives above the $10.1MM he was set to earn by playing on the tender. That move has not addressed Barkley’s long-term future in New York (seeing as the team could simply tag him again next season), but it marked an end to an offseason in which the Giants fielded calls on what would have been a franchise-altering trade.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/20/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on PUP: RB Caleb Huntley
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on PUP: CB Nik Needham
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: CB Leonard Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson
Caleb Huntley‘s 2022 campaign ended in mid-December when the RB suffered a torn Achilles. Naturally, it’s not a surprise that he won’t be ready to go for the start of training camp, and it remains to be seen if the third-year pro will be forced to miss any regular season time. The 2021 UDFA didn’t play as a rookie but took on a larger role in 2022, finishing with 369 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. When he returns to the field, he’ll be joining a deep RBs room that added Bijan Robinson to the likes of Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Needham, a 2019 UDFA out of UTEP, has spent his entire career in Miami, getting into 51 games (27 starts). He started five of his six appearances last season before landing on injured reserve in October with a torn Achilles tendon. Until Needham is back on the field, Kader Kohou and Cam Smith will have a chance to battle it out for the open cornerback spot.
Saints Sign Round 2 DE Isaiah Foskey, Wrap Draft Class Deals
Add the Saints to the list of teams to complete their draft class signings. Second-round defensive end Isaiah Foskey signed his rookie contract Wednesday morning.
The Saints added Foskey with the No. 40 overall pick in April. The terms of this contract will be of interest to the lot of players drafted immediately after Foskey, as this sector of the second round represents the largest unsigned contingent remaining.
[RELATED: Saints, Cameron Jordan Discussing Extension]
Carolina authorizing three fully guaranteed years and a partial guarantee of Year 4 in No. 39 overall pick Jonathan Mingo‘s contract last month slowed negotiations for second-rounders. Foskey receiving similar terms will further move the needle for second-round picks, who have made steady gains on the guarantee front in the years since the 2011 CBA reorganized rookie contracts.
Foskey represents the second major D-end draft investment the Saints have made since 2021, when they drafted Payton Turner in Round 1. Turner has not developed like the team hoped he would, and the Houston alum’s roster spot may not be a lock. It would still surprise if Turner were not on the team come September, but after being a healthy scratch at points last season, the third-year pass rusher’s stock has dropped. The Saints also let Marcus Davenport walk in free agency and have their top sack artist — Jordan — going into his age-34 season.
A Notre Dame product, Foskey delivered strong production during his final two years with the storied program. He notched two 10-sack seasons in that span, totaling 20.5. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. still viewed Foskey as more of a third-round talent, slotting him 77th in this class. But the Saints disagreed and will hope the 6-foot-5 edge player can become a fixture as Jordan moves into his mid-30s.
The Saints centered their draft plan around the defensive line, taking Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee in Round 1. Here is New Orleans’ 2023 draft class:
Round 1, No. 29 (from 49ers through Dolphins and Broncos): Bryan Bresee, DT (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 3, No. 71: Kendre Miller, RB (TCU) (signed)
Round 4, No. 103 (from Bears): Nick Saldiveri, G (Old Dominion) (signed)
Round 4, No. 127 (from Jaguars): Jake Haener, QB (Fresno State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 146: Jordan Howden, S (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 6, No. 195 (from Steelers through Broncos): A.T. Perry, WR (Wake Forest) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/18/23
As teams welcomed in rookies for camp this week, they began to reorganize their rosters. Today’s minor moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on NFI: CB Ethan Bonner
- Placed on IR: LB Zeke Vandenburgh
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on NFI: WR Shaquan Davis, RB Kendre Miller, WR A.T. Perry
- Placed on PUP: CB Anthony Johnson, G Nick Saldiveri
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Darren Evans
- Waived/injured: CB Leonard Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on PUP: CB Darrell Luter Jr.
Vandenburgh, an undrafted rookie out of Illinois State, suffered an injury while training this offseason, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). His placement on IR means he won’t be able to play for the Dolphins in 2023, but he could work his way onto the field with another squad. Bonner, meanwhile, is dealing with a minor illness and should be good to go later this week.
Miller, a third-round pick by the Saints, is still recovering from a meniscus injury that kept him off the field for TCU’s National Championship game. The Saints were always planning to ease in the running back during training camp, and it sounds like he’s still expected to be a full-go by the time the regular season comes around.
2023 NFL Dead Money, By Team
Accounting for players who appear on teams’ cap sheets but not on their rosters, dead money is a factor for all 32 teams. This year, dead money comprises more than 20% of five teams’ payrolls. Two teams who followed through (successfully) with all-in missions in recent years — the Buccaneers and Rams — each have more than 30% of their payrolls devoted to dead-cap hits.
Going into training camp, here is how dead money factors into each team’s cap sheet:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $75.32MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $74.23MM
- Green Bay Packers: $57.14MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $54.73MM
- Carolina Panthers: $51.54MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $36.96MM
- Tennessee Titans: $36.56MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $35.54MM
- Houston Texans: $31.72MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $29.95MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $24.89MM
- New Orleans Saints: $24.58MM
- Chicago Bears: $23.52MM
- Washington Commanders: $23.01MM
- New York Giants: $22.74MM
- New England Patriots: $21.82MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $18.78MM
- Detroit Lions: $18.69MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $17.91MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $17.16MM
- Cleveland Browns: $16MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $14.64MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $13.26MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $10.78MM
- Denver Broncos: $9.72MM
- Miami Dolphins: $8.43MM
- New York Jets: $7.95MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $7.65MM
- Buffalo Bills: $5.23MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $4.7MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $2.19MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $593K
No team broke the Falcons’ record for dead money devoted to a single player. The Falcons’ Matt Ryan trade left them with $40.52MM last year. But the Bucs and Rams incurred some dead money collectively this offseason.
Tom Brady‘s Tampa Bay exit created much of the Bucs’ issue here. Brady not signing another Bucs deal, instead retiring for a second time, accelerated $35.1MM in dead money onto the Bucs’ 2023 cap sheet. The team had used void years increasingly during Brady’s tenure, and his second restructure created the $35.1MM figure. The Bucs will swallow the post-Brady pill this year, with no dead money related to that contract on their books in 2024.
Three ex-Rams combine to take up $55MM of their dead-money haul. The Rams traded Allen Robinson to the Steelers earlier this year, but that three-year, $46.5MM deal Los Angeles authorized in 2022 will result in Robinson’s former team carrying a $21.5MM dead-money hit in 2023. The Rams are eating $19.6MM of Jalen Ramsey‘s contract, and bailing on Leonard Floyd‘s four-year, $64MM extension after two seasons moved $19MM in dead money to L.A.’s 2023 payroll. The Rams did not use the post-June 1 designation to release Floyd, keeping the dead money on that deal tied to 2023 only.
The Packers did come close to breaking the Falcons’ record for dead money on a single contract. Green Bay following through on the Aaron Rodgers trade left $40.31MM in dead money on this year’s Packers cap. Because the Packers traded Rodgers before June 1, that hit will be entirely absorbed this year. It also took a Rodgers restructure on his way out to move the cap damage down to $40MM. The Panthers trading Christian McCaffrey after June 1 last year left the second chunk of dead money ($18.35MM) to be carried on this year’s cap. It also cost Carolina $14.63MM in dead cap to trade D.J. Moore to the Bears.
The Bears used both their post-June 1 cut designations last year (Tarik Cohen, Danny Trevathan) and also have a $13.23MM Robert Quinn cap hold. The Cardinals had already used their two allotted post-June 1 cut designations this offseason. As result, DeAndre Hopkins is on Arizona’s books at $21.1MM this year. Because they cut the All-Pro wide receiver before June 1, the Cards will be free of Hopkins obligations after this year.
While the Raiders built in the escape hatch in Derek Carr‘s 2022 extension, keeping the dead money on their nine-year QB’s contract low, Cory Littleton — a 2022 post-June 1 cut — still counts nearly $10MM on their cap sheet. Fellow 2022 post-June 1 release Julio Jones still counts more than $8MM on the Titans’ payroll. The Cowboys went to the post-June 1 well with Ezekiel Elliott this year, but their 2022 designation (La’el Collins) leads the way with $8.2MM on this year’s Dallas payroll.