Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions to close out the month:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Rayshad Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Terrell Burgess
- Waived: P Jack Browning
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Dillon Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Daewood Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Lewis Kidd
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Jaylen Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: LB Darien Butler
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
- Waived: DT Mario Kendricks
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): CB Mario Goodrich
- Released (with non-football injury designation): CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Tarik Black
- Waived: DL Jonathan Marshall
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Rodney Mathews, RB Kairee Robinson
- Waived: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Ricky Person
Snead is the latest veteran wideout to join the Dolphins receiving corps. He hasn’t really contributed much to the NFL since his 2020 campaign with the Ravens, but he’ll get another chance this summer in South Beach.
Carolina brings in Johnson just a day after watching veteran Rashaad Penny hang up his cleats. In order to make room for Johnson, the Panthers let good of Davis, the team’s recent signee from the UFL.
Butler was waived after a failed physical two days ago. After going unclaimed, he’ll get to stay in Vegas by taking a place on the reserve/PUP list.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: WR Isaiah Wooden
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OT Tyler Vrabel
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Quincy Roche
- Placed on IR: DE Malik Hamm
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: LB Shayne Simon
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Tayvion Robinson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden, CB Don Callis, CB LJ Davis
- Waived: CB Zyon Gilbert, FB Henry Pearson, K James Turner
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Levi Bell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Raymond Johnson, LB Tanner Muse
- Waived: DE Andre Carter, LB Trey Kiser
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Kyler McMichael, TE Matt Sokol
- Released: WR Marquez Callaway, DB Josiah Scott
Marquez Callaway will once again hit free agency after having bounced around the NFL last season. The wideout spent time with the Broncos, Raiders, Saints (second stint) during the 2023 campaign. He caught on with the Steelers via a reserve/futures contract in January but ultimately lasted only a few days into training camp.
The former UDFA had a breakout campaign as a sophomore in New Orleans, finishing the 2021 season with 46 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns. He saw a reduced role in 2022 before hitting the free agency carousel in 2023.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Jesse Matthews
Houston Texans
- Activated from PUP: FB Andrew Beck
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: K Riley Patterson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Terrell Bynum
- Waived (failed physical): LB Darien Butler
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: K John Parker Romo
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: FB Nick Bawden
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: DB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from NFI: WR Ricky Pearsall
Riley Patterson‘s second stint in Jacksonville has come to an end. After getting a seven-game look with the Lions in 2021, Patterson won the Jaguars full-time kicking gig in 2022. He proceeded to convert 30 of his 35 field goal attempts that season, plus another three-for-three showing in the postseason (including a 41-yard game-winner against the Chargers).
He was replaced in Jacksonville by Brandon McManus last offseason, leading to him spending the majority of the 2023 campaign back in Detroit. In addition to his two-game stint with the Browns to end last season, Patterson ended 2023 having connected on 16 of his 18 FG tries and 41 of his 44 XP tries. The Jaguars brought him back in February via a reserve/future contract, but the team is already committing to rookie sixth-round pick Cam Little as their full-time kicker.
Steelers GM Omar Khan On Trade For WR: “Nothing Ongoing Right Now”
While the Steelers have a talented young pass catcher at the top of their WR depth chart in the form of George Pickens, the team would surely like to add an established wideout to play opposite Pickens outside the numbers. Offseason acquisition Van Jefferson is presently the favorite to fill that role, though the fact that he was signed via the veteran salary benefit supports the notion that he was originally viewed as a depth piece (as our Sam Robinson wrote at the time of the signing).
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic said last month that it would demonstrate “a lack of awareness and urgency if [the Steelers] don’t add a legit No. 2 [wide receiver] before the season starts.” Since Kaboly penned that opinion, however, Pittsburgh has not made any additions to its cadre of receivers, and it does not sound as if a trade is in the offing.
Just a couple of days ago, GM Omar Khan said that there’s “nothing ongoing right now,” with respect to a wide receiver trade, as ESPN’s Brooke Pryor relays. The Steelers were reportedly interested in the 49ers’ Deebo Samuel this offseason, and with Samuel’s teammate Brandon Aiyuk having formally requested a trade and staging a hold-in, plenty of speculation has swirled around a potential Aiyuk fit in Pittsburgh as well (indeed, Aiyuk himself suggested that the Steelers are one of three teams he could envision himself playing for in 2024).
At this point in the calendar, a trade is the only sure way to land a legitimate starting talent at most positions. The free agent market for receivers is topped by Hunter Renfrow (who is more of a slot option) and Michael Thomas (who has not turned in a healthy, productive season since 2019). Obviously, a trade can come together at any time, so the fact that Khan is not in active discussions with other clubs right now does not mean that Pittsburgh will enter the season without a more intriguing option to line up across from Pickens.
Until that happens, Jefferson will continue trying to fend off the likes of Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller, and Marquez Callaway. Third-round rookie Roman Wilson and 2022 fourth-rounder Calvin Austin III are the top competitors for reps in the slot.
Omar Khan Expects Cameron Heyward To Remain With Steelers ‘For Years To Come’
One year remains on Cameron Heyward‘s contract, something which has led to speculation about his Steelers future. The three-time All-Pro wants a two-year extension to finish his career in Pittsburgh, but no agreement on that front is imminent. 
When speaking to the media, general manager Oman Khan noted that no deals are close with respect to retaining any in-house players. The list of candidates for a new contract obviously includes Heyward, whose scheduled $16MM base salary is not guaranteed. The 35-year-old is set to carry a cap hit of over $22MM, and an extension could lower that amount. Team and player have not made progress in negotiations, but Khan remains confident a departure will not take place.
“Last year you know, we had a rough stretch there but I’m confident the way he works and you know Cam the the person the player obviously and I have no doubt that Cam has a lot of football,” Khan said (via the team’s website). “I think Cam has a lot of football left in him, and I expect him to be here for years to come.”
Heyward has made it clear at multiple points this offseason his preference would be to remain the Steelers, the only organization he has played for during his 13-year career. He has also publicly acknowledged his willingness to sign with a new team in 2025, however, and that possibility will remain if no deal can be worked out prior to the start of the campaign. The six-time Pro Bowler’s latest comments confirm the stance he has taken in recent months.
“Am I confident?” Heyward said (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). “I don’t like to go either way with that because you get your hopes up and something doesn’t happen. I’m just going to focus on being the best player I can be. This team needs my leadership and production and I look forward to doing it.”
Heyward was limited to 11 games and only a pair of sacks last year as he dealt with a groin injury. Offseason surgery has led to renewed expectations for the 2024 campaign, but much of his value will depend on his ability to return to his previous form. Pittsburgh has made draft investments along the defensive interior in recent years, though Heyward should still handle a heavy workload this season. Questions linger regarding his future, but he is currently focused on at least one more training camp in Pittsburgh.
“I’m not going to get my hopes up either way,” Heyward added. “I’m not going to put stock in that. I’ll focus on the things I can control. I can be productive. I can be healthy. If they believe in me, if I can play more, so be it. If they don’t, I’ll go somewhere else.”
Steelers Eyeing Pat Freiermuth Extension
In trading Diontae Johnson, the Steelers moved their only remotely expensive offensive player off the payroll. A defense-heavy roster that features big-ticket deals for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen also houses an offense without any eight-figure-per-year players.
While George Pickens resides as a potential extension candidate, his rookie deal runs through 2025. The Steelers are not planning any preseason adjustments to Russell Wilson or Justin Fields‘ contracts, and James Daniels said the team is not planning to give him an extension before its long-held Week 1 deadline. This leaves an interesting imbalance ahead of the 2024 season, but one of Pittsburgh’s skill-position players does appear on the radar for a new deal.
Pat Freiermuth is coming off a down season, but The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have the fourth-year tight end firmly in their long-term plans (subscription required). A deal should be done before Week 1, per Kaboly. Otherwise, the Steelers — who have not negotiated contracts in-season in more than three decades — would need to wait until Freiermuth is on the cusp of free agency to complete a deal.
Arthur Smith‘s Falcons offense enjoyed production from its Kyle Pitts–Jonnu Smith tandem last season; the duo combined for 1,249 yards. Johnson’s departure leaves the Steelers thin at receiver, with the likes of Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson in the mix for the WR2 role — barring an addition before the season — as third-rounder Roman Wilson develops. Pittsburgh’s track record for developing wideouts notwithstanding, it is certainly possible Freiermuth is needed to be the 2024 team’s top Pickens sidekick.
A 2021 second-round pick, Freiermuth caught seven touchdowns in Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season and then totaled a career-high 732 yards (with two TDs) in 2022. A hamstring injury cost Freiermuth five games last season, and he finished with just 308 yards. Freiermuth has also sustained three concussions as a pro. Pro Football Focus viewed the Penn State alum as a top-10 tight end in each of his first two years, however, and the Steelers will again depend on him as a run blocker in another offense set to rely on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
While David Njoku and Evan Engram topped $13MM per year as franchise players, Freiermuth’s inconsistent production would seemingly move him to a slightly lower tier. The Steelers could potentially shoot for a deal between Cole Kmet‘s $12.5MM-AAV accord and Hunter Henry‘s three-year, $27MM pact authorized in March.
The Steelers added Freiermuth in hopes he could become a long-sought-after long-term option post-Heath Miller. The Steelers had cycled through tight ends — from Eric Ebron to Vance McDonald to Jesse James — since Miller’s 2016 retirement. It would appear the team is convinced Freiermuth can be that player. A commitment over the next six weeks would reflect that belief.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Faalele, Steelers
The Browns wrapping their Amari Cooper negotiations without an extension places Jerry Jeudy as the team’s long-term centerpiece at wide receiver. The recent trade acquisition, who received $41MM guaranteed at signing, is locked in through 2027. Cooper, 30, received $5MM in incentives but is positioned to play for a new contract this season.
In guaranteeing Cooper $20MM in 2024 — money he was almost definitely going to see once his salary became guaranteed in early September — the Browns moved $18.79MM of his salary into a signing bonus, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, with two void years added. If Cooper is not extended by the start of the 2025 league year, the Browns would incur a $22.6MM dead money hit. For 2024, however, Cleveland created $15MM in cap space, per Spotrac. Despite skipping minicamp, Cooper said he was not considering a training camp holdout.
“Honestly, it wasn’t really about money,” Cooper said, via the Akron Beacon Journal’s Chris Easterling. “It was more so in the language of my contract when I signed a five-year deal with the Cowboys. Only two years is guaranteed. This is the last year of that deal, but it isn’t guaranteed until the week of the first game.”
This agreement seems a small victory for a player of Cooper’s caliber, especially after the former first-rounder established a new career-high in receiving yards (1,250) to help a depleted offense last season. The Browns have an added motivation to extend Cooper before next March now, with the looming void year-driven cap penalty working in his favor.
Here is the latest from Cleveland and the rest of the AFC North:
- Greg Newsome began Browns camp on the active/NFI list, and Kevin Stefanski shed some light on why. The fourth-year cornerback underwent hamstring surgery Thursday, and cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the team hopes to have him back by Week 1. Newsome landing on the NFI list as opposed to the PUP list indicates he sustained the injury away from the team’s facility. Stefanski did not specify when the injury occurred. Dalvin Tomlinson, who is on the Browns’ active/PUP list, is set for arthroscopic knee surgery Friday. The team hopes, per Easterling, the veteran DT is back by Week 1. Tomlinson and the Browns decided this week surgery would be necessary. Both players were key starters for Jim Schwartz‘s No. 1-ranked defense last season.
- Third-year Ravens O-lineman Daniel Faalele‘s best shot to start this season may come at right guard. Despite being a tackle fill-in during his first two seasons, the 6-foot-8, 380-pound blocker is being given extensive work at RG, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (subscription required). Faalele is primarily competing with Ben Cleveland and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu at RG, per Zrebiec. John Harbaugh said the Ravens will move O-linemen around during camp, as Cleveland saw tackle reps this offseason, but the 17th-year HC confirmed the team is giving Faalele a shot to be a rather tall guard early in camp. It would also not surprise to see Faalele be given a shot at right tackle, where he played 157 snaps last season. Baltimore needs three new O-line starters after guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson leaving in free agency and the team trading Morgan Moses to the Jets.
- Eddie Jackson‘s Ravens deal is a one-year pact worth $1.5MM, Wilson notes. The longtime Bears starter received $1MM guaranteed. While this is a steep reduction from Jackson’s previous Chicago extension (four years, $58.4MM), he is far from the only experienced safety to accept a significant pay cut this offseason.
- Tyler Matakevich‘s Steelers contract will be worth the veteran minimum, Wilson adds. The ninth-year linebacker will be due $1.21MM in base salary, but the team has not guaranteed its former seventh-rounder anything.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Reverted to IR: OL Carter O’Donnell
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Zack Bailey
- Waived: G Ryan Coll, P Ryan Sanborn
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Martin, T Chim Okorafor
- Waived: LB Caleb Johnson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Carlton Davis, T Giovanni Manu, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, CB Amik Robertson, WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Activated from active/PUP list: S Brian Branch, DE Marcus Davenport
- Waived (with failed physical designation): G Matt Farniok
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Jayden Reed
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Placed on active/NFI list: DT Raekwon Davis
- Placed on active/PUP list: CB Chris Lammons
- Waived: WR Xavier White
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Keelan Doss, OL Corey Luciano
- Waived (with injury designation): G Jake Johanning
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR DeWayne McBride
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Chris Olave
- Activated from active/PUP list: DE Chase Young
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on active/NFI list: T Gottlieb Ayedze, WR Shaquan Davis
- Placed on active/PUP list: S Sydney Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on active/NFI list: RB Cordarrelle Patterson
- Placed on active/PUP list: LB Cole Holcomb, DE Dean Lowry
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on active/PUP list: DE Drake Jackson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: G Ilm Manning
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB DJ James, CB Nehemiah Pritchett
- Released: G Tremayne Anchrum
Washington Commanders
- Activated from active/NFI list: DT Johnny Newton
- Placed on active/PUP list: DE Efe Obada
In New Orleans, Young has officially made the comeback from offseason neck surgery, passing his physical today alongside Olave, who is no stranger to offseason injuries.
Treadwell will join his eighth team in nine years after only making one catch in five games with the Ravens last season.
Brown is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in the final game of his rookie season last year, so it’s no surprise that he will start the offseason on PUP.
QB Notes: Tua, Rodgers, Daniels, Steelers
Tua Tagovailoa is not holding in, separating the Dolphins‘ top negotiation from multiple others around the NFL. This includes Jordan Love‘s Packers arrangement, which has become a hold-in situation. Despite Tagovailoa having a longer track record than Love, the fifth-year passer went through Dolphins workouts Wednesday. This did come with a notable exception. Tagovailoa took only two reps (both handoffs) in Dolphins team drills to open camp, per ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s camp workload — absent an extension — would compare to OTAs; the lefty did not go through team drills then or during minicamp. We heard Monday this would likely be the route Tagovailoa takes.
The Dolphins have been negotiating with Tua for months, and while some optimism has emerged, Miami’s QB1 has turned down at least one offer and may have seen the team dig in on a price south of Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. Lawrence receiving $142MM may also be much higher than the Dolphins want to go. McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) both sides are “relentlessly” working on this agreement. The parties still have time to hammer out a deal before the season, but the longer this goes, the closer Tua comes to carrying a lofty franchise tag number (upwards of $40MM) on Miami’s 2025 cap sheet.
Here is the latest QB news coming out of training camp:
- Aaron Rodgers confirmed a trip to Egypt indeed led to his missing minicamp and confirmed the Jets fined him for the unexcused absences. Rodgers has been criticized for a lack of leadership by skipping the offseason’s only mandatory workout, but he said his relationship with Robert Saleh has been unaffected. “I’m an adult; I knew what I was getting into,” Rodgers said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “I knew the fine that was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt. I wish there hadn’t been a conflict scheduling-wise, but it was what it was.” Rodgers, who said be based the trip on the Jets’ 2023 offseason schedule, had shown up for OTAs prior to the abrupt — to the public, at least — departure.
- Jayden Daniels does not have Commanders first-string reps to himself just yet; the No. 2 overall pick is splitting them with free agency addition Marcus Mariota, the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier notes. While Dan Quinn is labeling this a QB competition, Fortier cautions that Daniels is all but assured of the starting job. This follows a report that pointed to the Commanders indeed feeling no real reason to hold back the 2023 Heisman winner by giving Mariota bridge work.
- Although the Daniels-Mariota split may deprive the highly touted rookie from early reps, Washington is holding an actual battle for the No. 3 spot. The team is pitting rookie UDFA Sam Hartman against veteran Jeff Driskel, Fortier adds. The former Notre Dame starter, who has a safety net via the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions’ recent draft choice, played behind Driskel to start camp. It is not yet clear if the Commanders plan to keep three QBs, but the winner of this battle would stand to at least be the team’s emergency option in the event only two are rostered.
- Prior to the USFL and XFL merging, Ben DiNucci played in the former league’s second season and spent last year as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The recent Russell Wilson teammate worked out for the 13-year vet’s new team this week, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Steelers brought in the veteran. Pittsburgh has Kyle Allen in place behind Wilson and Justin Fields presently.
Steelers Bring Back LB Tyler Matakevich
After four seasons in Buffalo, Tyler Matakevich is coming back to where his NFL journey began. The Steelers announced a reunion with the veteran linebacker Wednesday. It is a one-year deal.
Role players regularly land deals with teams around the time training camps start, and Matakevich having played four seasons in Pittsburgh stands to help his cause when it comes to landing on the team’s 53-man roster (or 16-man practice squad). The Steelers drafted Matakevich in the 2016 seventh round. This marks the second straight year he has signed a one-year contract.
Matakevich, 31, returns to a team that has made major changes at linebacker since he was last in town. The team’s GM (Omar Khan) and DC (Teryl Austin) have changed as well, though Mike Tomlin is going into his 18th season as the team’s head coach. Pittsburgh signed Patrick Queen this offseason and returns 2023 free agency pickup Elandon Roberts. Cole Holcomb, however, is still recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered last November. The Steelers have not re-signed 2023 starter Kwon Alexander, either, though they did draft NC State’s Payton Wilson in Round 3.
A starting role should not be considered likely for Matakevich, who has made his NFL living on special teams. The Temple alum has started one game in eight seasons, but he has missed just two career contests and lined up as an ST regular throughout. Matakevich has hit the 80% snap rate on special teams three times, including in 2021 and 2023 with the Bills.
In 17 games last season, Matakevich played just 16 defensive snaps. But he has not dipped below the 75% ST snap rate since 2018. The ninth-year vet seems a good bet to avoid the practice squad, having been an active-roster player throughout his career. The Steelers would have that option, however, though they could also have a roster spot due to a Holcomb placement on the reserve/PUP list. With the 2023 UFA’s availability for the season in doubt, a spot does appear open. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Steelers waived safety Jalen Elliott.