Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Eli Ankou, WR Marcell Ateman, CB Kyron Brown, DE Kameron Cline, DL Richard Gouraige, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR Andy Isabella, OL Kevin Jarvis, RB Ty Johnson, OL Greg Mancz, WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Bryan Thompson, DT Kendall Vickers, TE Joel Wilson
Placed on IR:
- LB Baylon Spector, WR Justin Shorter
Miami Dolphins
Signed:
- TE Tyler Kroft, CB Parry Nickerson
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Ethan Bonner, DE Randy Charlton, TE Tanner Conner, LB Cameron Goode, DT Da’Shawn Hand, LB Alexander Johnson, WR Braylon Sanders, OL Alama Uluave
New England Patriots
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- S Joshuah Bledsoe, TE Pharaoh Brown, QB Malik Cunningham (story), OL James Ferentz, LB Joe Giles-Harris, RB Kevin Harris, RB Ty Montgomery, LB Calvin Munson, OLB Ronnie Perkins, WR Thyrick Pitts, OL Kody Russey, TE Matt Sokol, OL Andrew Stueber, P Corliss Waitman, QB Bailey Zappe (story)
New York Jets
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Tim Boyle, TE Zack Kuntz, OL Adam Pankey, DL Tanzel Smart, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Samuel Eguavoen, LB Caleb Johnson, S Trey Dean, CB Craig James, CB Nehemiah Shelton
Placed on IR:
- T Carter Warren, TE Kenny Yeboah
Dolphins Trade CB Noah Igbinoghene To Cowboys For CB Kelvin Joseph
An all-cornerback swap has taken place amidst today’s roster fluctuations. The Dolphins are sending Noah Igbinoghene to the Cowboys in exchange for Kelvin Joseph, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Igbinoghene came to Miami facing high expectations as a first-round pick in 2020. A converted receiver, he was always considered a long-term project, but his size and athleticism suggested considerable potential at the NFL level. The 23-year-old has not been able to establish himself with the Dolphins, however, and he found himself on the roster bubble this offseason.
The Auburn product played a full season as a rookie, but he made just 16 appearances in the two years since then. Igbinoghene totaled 29 tackles and one interception during his underwhelming time in South Beach, and now he will receive a fresh start with one year remaining on his rookie contract. The Dolphins have Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Eli Apple, Kader Kohou and second-round rookie Cam Smith remaining at the CB spot.
The Cowboys are similarly set at the top of their depth chart with the recently-extended Trevon Diggs and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore headlining their corners. Igbinoghene will attempt to carve out a depth role in Dallas, and in doing so secure a future beyond 2023 with the team. Joseph was not able to do so during his two-year stint with the Cowboys. The former second-rounder made 26 appearances, and three starts, during his time in Dallas.
Joseph, 22, was connected to a shooting incident last spring, but by July he had been cleared of criminal wrongdoing. That off-the-field news opened the door to an improved season as part of Dallas’ strong secondary, but the Kentucky product was used almost exclusively on special teams. Similar usage will likely await him in Miami, especially once Ramsey has recovered from the knee surgery which will cost him time in the regular season.
Dolphins, Christian Wilkins Fail To Reach Extension Agreement; DT Drew Trade Interest
The Dolphins, like all other teams around the league, have primarily been focused on roster cuts ahead of today’s deadline for 53-man rosters to be set. That would have represented a logical point to work out a new deal for defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, but such a development has not taken place. 
[RELATED: No Jonathan Taylor Trade Expected]
Wilkins and the Dolphins failed to hammer out an extension on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Guarantees represent a sticking point in talks, he adds, with multiple offers being turned down. A clear market has been established for DTs on their second contract this offseason, with a number of high-profile players at the position signing similar deals.
The likes of Quinnen Williams (Jets), Jeffery Simmons (Titans), Dexter Lawrence (Giants) and Daron Payne (Commanders) have each inked extensions averaging between $22.5 and $24MM per season. Their deals contain nearly identical figures (ranging from $46MM to $47.8MM) fully guaranteed at signing. The top of the market has thus been clearly defined, and those pacts have no doubt been used as a baseline during negotiations on the Wilkins front.
The latter – who has posted 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 33 tackles for loss over the course of his four-year Dolphins tenure – is due to earn $10.75MM in 2023 on the fifth-year option. A signficant raise will be needed to keep him in Miami beyond this year, even if the team views Wilkins as being closer in value to fellow 2019 draftee Ed Oliver, who inked a $17MM-per-year extension with the Bills this offseason.
Optimism had been expressed that Wilkins would have a deal in place for the start of the season, but with that not being the case the Clemson alum is in the process of a hold-in. In spite of that, his short-term future in Miami is not in question. Schefter adds that teams called about Wilkins’ availability, but they were informed he is not on the market. Neither the Dolphins nor the 27-year-old himself is interested in exploring a move elsewhere at this point.
That bodes well for future negotiations, but today’s development lessens the chances of a deal being worked out before the start of the season. Miami has plenty of other decisions to make with respect to roster tinkering, but a foundational member of their defense is still not officially in the picture beyond 2023 as things currently stand.
Dolphins Reduce Roster To 53 Players
The Dolphins began trimming their roster yesterday, cutting 14 players. That made today’s daunting task a bit more bearable, but the team still had to cut a number of players to get to the 53-player roster limit:
Released:
- CB Justin Bethel
- DT Da’Shawn Hand
- TE Tyler Kroft
- CB Parry Nickerson
- OT Cedric Ogbuehi
- DB Jamal Perry
- LB Malik Reed
Waived:
- CB Ethan Bonner
- TE Tanner Conner
- LB Cameron Goode
- OT Ryan Hayes
- TE Elijah Higgins
- WR Braylon Sanders
- CB Bryce Thompson
- OL Alama Uluave
- CB Trill Williams
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- CB Nik Needham
Placed on IR:
- DB Keion Crossen
- TE Eric Saubert
Nik Needham, a 2019 UDFA out of UTEP, has spent his entire career with the Dolphins, appearing in 51 games (27 starts). He started five of his six appearances in 2022 before landing on IT in October with a torn Achilles tendon. His placement on PUP means he can’t make his season debut until at least Week 5.
Tight end Tyler Kroft signed with the Dolphins back in May, but the veteran was unable to beat our younger options for a roster spot. Kroft has seen time in 92 career games (52 starts), hauling in 105 catches for 1,081 yards and 13 touchdowns. He spent the 2022 campaign with the 49ers, collecting four receptions in 11 games (four starts).
Dolphins To Release RB Myles Gaskin
The Dolphins have been connected to a number of running back additions this offseason, but they are beginning the deadline for roster cutdowns with a subtraction at the position. Myles Gaskin is being released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Miami has been pegged as a landing spot for a number of high-profile backs in recent months, but the team retained its backfield options during free agency. That process included re-signing Gaskin on a veteran minimum deal in March. The pact included no guaranteed money, so his roster security was a talking point through training camp and the preseason. The Dolphins will save just over $975K in cap space with this move.
Gaskin joined the Dolphins as a seventh-round pick in 2019. He saw limited action as a rookie, but took on a much larger role the following year with 183 total touches. His production in the passing game (388 receiving yards) led to increased expectations for future seasons, but that has not materialized as hoped. The 26-year-old averaged just 3.5 yards per carry while working as the starter for much of 2021, and that figure fell to 2.6 in limited action last year.
If Gaskin has made the Dolphins’ 53-man roster, he thus would have done so in a depth capacity behind the likes of Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert and third-round rookie Devon Achane. Salvon Ahmed, like Gaskin, has frequently been mentioned as a trade or cut candidate during the offseason. Today’s news could help his chances of remaining with the team, although it would be somewhat surprising if the Dolphins elected to keep four running backs on the active roster to start the season.
The Dolphins did not work out a trade or free agent deal for Dalvin Cook, but they are the suitor most frequently mentioned as a destination for Jonathan Taylor if the Colts elect to trade the former rushing champion. Nothing is imminent on that front as talks continue, but for now Miami’s backfield situation is a bit clearer.
Dolphins To Trade OL Dan Feeney To Bears
Dan Feeney is on the move again. The former third-round pick, who signed with the Dolphins this offseason, will not be part of their 53-man roster. Instead, the Bears will acquire him via trade.
The Dolphins and Bears agreed on the deal Monday night, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Dolphins Wire’s Jason Sarney initially reported Biggs was Windy City-bound. This will be Feeney’s fourth NFL team. He played out his rookie deal with the Chargers and spent the past two seasons with the Jets.
Despite the Dolphins guaranteeing Feeney $3.13MM this offseason, they will use him to acquire an asset. Miami will pick up a sixth-rounder from Chicago in this swap, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Miami has Robert Hunt, Liam Eichenberg and Isaiah Wynn stationed at guard and Connor Williams at center. Although the team lost Michael Deiter in free agency and dealt with rampant injury trouble along its O-line last season, Feeney will still be shipped out. Feeney had not made a serious push for a starting job, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets.
In Chicago, Feeney will have a better opportunity for playing time. Left guard Teven Jenkins is set to miss early-season time due to a leg injury. At full strength, the Bears have Jenkins set to team with Cody Whitehair and Nate Davis. Whitehair is moving back to center this season, with the Bears having signed Davis. While Lucas Patrick looms as a possible Jenkins replacement, Lieser notes the Bears have slid Whitehair back to guard to fill in for Jenkins. Feeney, 29, brings considerable experience at guard as well, and Patrick and Davis have each missed some time recently due to injury.
The Chargers used Feeney as a guard starter for most of his Los Angeles run. The Indiana alum displayed durability with the Bolts, starting 16 games in each season from 2018-20. The Chargers moved on in 2021, signing Matt Feiler. The Jets did not use Feeney as a regular starter. While Feeney continued his run of good health in New York, missing only one game, he only started seven. Still, Feeney will bring plenty of experience to a Bears team that has seen its revamped O-line take an early hit.
This will be a homecoming for Feeney, who is a Chicago-area native. The Bears came into Monday night with just more than $12MM in cap space. After showing potential as a guard last season, Jenkins will not be able to mount an immediate follow-up. The injury he sustained could sideline him for around six weeks. Chicago cut Alex Leatherwood, after claiming him just after cutdown day last year, but still rosters 2022 seventh-round pick Ja’Tyre Carter as a backup option inside.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/23
We are less than 24 hours from the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players. Here are the latest moves teams have made as they pare their squads down toward the in-season limit:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DB DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Waived: DT Trey Botts, DB Kaieem Caesar, WR Dontay Demus, OL Jake Guidone, DB Corey Mayfield, LB Kelle Sanders
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB Kuony Deng, OL Gabe Houy, LB Buddy Johnson, TE Jared Pinkney, WR Joe Reed, TE Jake Tonges
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: G Drew Forbes
- Released: G Wes Martin
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DE Ben Banogu
Denver Broncos
- Waived: ILB Austin Ajiake
Detroit Lions
- Waived: OL Connor Galvin, CB Chase Lucas
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: LB Donavan Mutin, DT Caleb Sampson, OL Dakoda Shepley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: WR Kevin Austin, FB Derek Parish, QB Nathan Rourke
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Tae Crowder, QB Max Duggan
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Kelechi Anyalebechi, WR Braxton Burmeister, DB Timarcus Davis, DB Tyon Davis, DB Vincent Gray, WR Tyler Hudson, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Jordan Jones, G Sean Maginn, WR Lance McCutcheon, TE Camren McDonald, TE Christian Sims, DT Taron Vincent
- Waived/injured: LB Ryan Smenda
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Tino Ellis
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: LB Jake Gervase
- Waived: DL Calvin Avery, CB Kalon Barnes, CB C.J. Coldon, T Christian DiLauro, CB Jameson Houston, WR Garett Maag, RB Abram Smith, OL Josh Sokol, QB Jordan Ta’amu, TE Colin Thompson
- Waived/injured: CB Tay Gowan
New England Patriots
- Waived: P Corliss Waitman
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Nick Anderson, WR Kawaan Baker, FB Jake Bargas, DT Prince Emili
New York Giants
- Waived/injured: G Jack Anderson, G Wyatt Davis, DB Zyon Gilbert
- Placed on IR: TE Chris Myarick
New York Jets
- Released: CB Craig James, OL Greg Senat, LB Pita Taumoepenu
- Placed on IR: CB Jimmy Moreland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: OL Le’Raven Clark
- Waived: OL William Dunkle, S Jalen Elliott, RB Darius Hagans, CB Lavert Hill, DL Manny Jones, QB Tanner Morgan, LB Tanner Muse, LB Toby Ndukwe, S Kenny Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Arquon Bush, TE Griffin Hebert, WR Tyjon Lindsey, T Jalen McKenzie, T Liam Ryan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: WR Taye Barber, LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, RB Ronnie Brown, DB Anthony Chesley, TE Dominique Dafney, WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Cephus Johnson, WR Ryan Miller, OL John Molchon, OL Michael Niese, T Raiqwon O’Neal, DL Willington Previlon, DL Deadrin Senat, S Nolan Turner, WR Kade Warner, CB Rodarius Williams, S Aaron Young
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: TE Alize Mack, DB Josh Thompson, RB Jonathan Ward
- Placed on IR: RB Hassan Haskins
Colts, Dolphins Continue Jonathan Taylor Trade Talks
7:09pm: Although this reported deadline looms in less than 24 hours, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes this should be considered a loose deadline. The actual trade deadline is Oct. 31. It would certainly be interesting to see how the Colts play this if they do not unload Taylor by Tuesday afternoon, but Jackson and ESPN’s Adam Schefter note the AFC South team is operating methodically here. The Colts are not believed to be close to a trade.
12:10pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said on the Pat McAfee Show that he expects a Taylor trade to be consummated (video link). He echoes Holder’s report that there is at least one other team in the mix, though he cannot say for sure what team it is. Meanwhile, Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports (via Jackson) that no team has of yet been willing to offer a first-round pick for Taylor.
10:06am: Plenty of attention is aimed at roster cuts during this time of year, but the Jonathan Taylor situation remains a key talking point as well. The former rushing champion’s status as a member of the Colts is still in doubt ahead of the team-imposed deadline for a trade to be worked out. 
Indianapolis granted Taylor permission to seek out a trade partner one week ago, marking the latest point in his fractured relationship with the team which drafted him in 2020. Taylor has long been seeking a fresh start, but the Colts will understandably demand a high price to seriously consider a deal. They are believed to be seeking either a first-round pick or a package similar to what the 49ers paid for Christian McCaffrey last year.
The team most closely connected to a Taylor deal so far has been the Dolphins. Miami and Indianapolis have already engaged in trade talks, and ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes that they continue to do so at this point. This situation could, as he adds, come right down to tomorrow afternoon’s deadline for 53-man rosters to be finalized. The Dolphins are not alone in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, however.
Holder notes that a second team is in trade talks on Taylor, which could certainly boost the Colts’ chances of seeing their asking price met. Multiple teams have long been thought to be willing to at least entertain trade negotiations, including the Bears and Broncos. It remains to be seen if those clubs have submitted an offer, but it comes as little surprise that the Dolphins appear to be a serious suitor.
Miami has been connected to numerous high-profile backs this offseason, including, most notably, Dalvin Cook. The Dolphins were close to working out a trade which would have sent the ex-Viking to his hometown team, but he instead wound up signing with the Jets. Like Cook, Taylor would comfortably move to the top of the team’s RB depth chart if acquired; they currently roster returnees Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert, Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, along with third-round rookie Devon Achane.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins have already proposed multiple trade packages with the Colts on a potential Taylor deal. None of them have produced an agreement as of yet, perhaps due to the upside on Indianapolis’ part of stoking a bidding war between multiple interested parties. In any event, this storyline will remain one to watch closely over at least the next several hours.
Dolphins Begin Roster Trimming, Cut 14
Monday saw the Dolphins take a signficant step toward reaching 53 players on the active roster in time for tomorrow’s deadline. Here are the team’s latest round of cuts, including three players who were released and 11 who were waived:
- T Geron Christian
- WR Keke Coutee
- LB Alexander Johnson
- LB Mitchell Agude
- QB James Blackman
- DT Josiah Bronson
- DE Randy Charlton
- WR Chris Coleman
- LB Aubrey Miller
- LB Garrett Nelson
- S Keidron Smith
- T James Tunstall
- DT Jaylen Twyman
- DT Jamal Woods
Coutee attempted to land a depth spot with the Saints this offseason, but his release put an end to that endeavor. He was quickly signed by the Dolphins, but he will remain with the team only via the practice squad ahead of Week 1. Johnson, like Woods, was signed very recently in depth moves which gave each player an opportunity to earn a roster spot at the conclusion of the preseason. In both of their cases, that has not happened.
Dolphins Release LB Malik Reed
The Dolphins have released linebacker Malik Reed, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Reed signed with the club in March.
Reed started his career in Denver, joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2019. In the defense installed by then-head coach Vic Fangio, Reed quickly made an impact, tallying his first sack by Week 4 of his rookie season and going on to start the next eight games. His strongest season came the following year, when he and Bradley Chubb formed a dynamic pass rushing duo that generated 15.5 sacks (Reed led the team with eight sacks, and Chubb was right behind him with 7.5).
Unfortunately, he fell off a bit in 2021, as he posted just five sacks and was regarded by Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics as the 89th-best edge defender out of 110 qualifiers. Fangio was dismissed after that season, and Reed was dealt to the Steelers almost one year ago today.
Although PFF was kinder to Reed in 2022 than it was the year prior, he produced just one sack in 14 games, and he was forced to settle for a one-year, veteran minimum contract this offseason. He was always unlikely to become a starter for Miami, but there was a chance that Reed could rekindle some of his Mile High magic working under Fangio, who was hired as the ‘Fins defensive coordinator in February. Clearly, that will not happen, and Reed will instead search for a new employer.
Another team will surely take a flier on Reed given his past production and the general need for pass rushing talent, though he could be running out of opportunities.