Today’s practice squad transactions:
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Tennessee Titans
The Saints have created $2.71MM in cap space by restructuring quarterback Teddy Bridgewater‘s contract, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Bridgewater, whom New Orleans acquired (along with a sixth-round pick) from the Jets last month in exchange for a third-rounder, had been due a base salary of $5MM. The Saints converted just over $4MM of his salary into a signing bonus, but because Bridgewater is on a one-year deal, the club also had to add two voidable years to the end of the contract. That allows New Orleans to spread out some of Bridgwater’s cap hit (for now).
The Saints’ front office is known for kicking the can down the road financially, and while moving a bit of Bridgewater’s money to future years isn’t as odious as some of the club’s previous contract errors, his salary will hit New Orleans’ cap at some point. Specifically, the Saints will be docked cap space in 2019 when Bridgewater’s one-year deal voids after the season.
Bridgewater will serve as Drew Brees‘ backup in 2018, but it’s unclear if the Saints view Bridgewater as Brees’ heir and therefore want to sign him to an extension. If Bridgewater is forced to play this season, he could earn up to $9MM via performance and playtime incentives.
Today’s practice squad transactions:
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Washington Redskins
There have been plenty of transactions across the league today. While the big names all garnered headlines of their own, there were tons of more under-the-radar signings and cuts as well. Here are all the additional moves from the NFC so far today:
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Redskins
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Practice squad:
Placed on injured reserve:
Signed:
Practice squad:
Signed to practice squad:
The Saints are adding a running back, signing veteran Mike Gillislee according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Rapsheet reports that it’s a one-year deal for Gillislee. The Saints were looking for running back help with Mark Ingram suspended for the first four games of the season. Saints coach Sean Payton has emphasized over and over that the team wants to avoid putting too much wear on Alvin Kamara, so Gillislee could play a significant role on early downs.
Gillislee was cut by the Patriots as they trimmed their roster to 53 yesterday. New England was very high on Gillislee when they signed him away from the Bills as a restricted free agent before the 2017 season. He scored three touchdowns in week one of last year, but his role gradually decreased as the season went on and he was a healthy scratch down the stretch.
The writing was on the wall for Gillislee when the Patriots signed Jeremy Hill in free agency and drafted Sony Michel in the first round of this year’s draft. He now finds a new home in New Orleans after the Saints surprisingly cut preseason star Jonathan Williams yesterday. They wasted no time bringing in Gillislee, and he should stick with the team the entire season.
Running back Mike Gillislee, whom the Patriots released yesterday, is visiting with the Saints this morning, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As Herbie Teope of NFL.com tweets, New Orleans would be a logical fit for Gillislee, as the club currently has just two running backs on the active roster after yesterday’s cuts (Alvin Kamara and rookie Boston Scott).
Last offseason, Gillislee signed with New England as a restricted free agent after an excellent 2016 campaign in Buffalo. But despite a three-touchdown debut for the Pats in the 2017 season opener, he could not carve out much of a role in Foxborough, and his release yesterday was anything but surprising. He finished his New England tenure with 383 rushing yards (3.7 per carry) and five touchdowns.
But the 27-year-old has plenty of ability, and he and Kamara could form a nice 1-2 punch in the Big Easy. When Mark Ingram returns from suspension, that trio would represent one of the best RB corps in the league, especially as they have complementary skill-sets.
Gillislee, a Florida product, was selected by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2013 draft. He has spent his entire career in the AFC East, having played two seasons in Miami, two in Buffalo, and one in New England.
The Saints have made the following transactions as they move their roster to 53 players:
Waived:
Waived/injured:
Released:
Placed on injured reserve:
Placed on suspended list: