Steelers, CB Brandin Echols Agree To Deal
After four years with the Jets, Brandin Echols is set to be on the move this offseason. The veteran corner has a deal in place with the Steelers, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. 
Echols joined the Jets as a sixth-rounder in 2021. Over the course of his rookie contract, he racked up 19 starts (including 14 during his rookie campaign). Since that point, he has operated as a rotational defender while handling a notable special teams workload. That will likely remain the case with his newest team.
The Steelers will be working with a new-look cornerbacks group in 2025. They saw Donte Jackson leave for a deal with the Chargers, and Cameron Sutton, C.J. Henderson, and James Pierre all saw their contracts expire, as well. Joey Porter Jr. and Beanie Bishop return as impact players from last year, while Cory Trice returns in support.
The team also signed veteran Darius Slay today, and Slay will likely take over the starting job across from Porter, while Bishop should continue to take the majority of the reps in the slot. Echols spent most of his defensive snaps on the outside, so he’ll likely continue to contribute there behind Porter and Slay.
The Jets have seen Echols joined by D.J. Reed as free agent departures, but they were able to re-sign slot specialist Isaiah Oliver. They have signed former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens, who should step into a starting role for New York.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Jets’ Tyron Smith Suffers Neck Injury
Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is doubtful to return to the Jets’ Week 10 matchup with the Cardinals due to a neck injury, according to a team announcement.
Smith played left tackle for every Jets offensive snap this season until his injury on Sunday. He was replaced by rookie Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who was drafted by New York with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fashanu started two games at right tackle this year and played 37 snaps at right guard in Week 9.
Smith signed with the Jets in March to give Aaron Rodgers a proven blindside protector for his second year in New York. Though the team still drafted Fashanu to be a potential franchise left tackle, Smith’s presence ensured that the Jets did not have to risk Rodgers’ health behind a rookie lineman.
Additionally, cornerback Brandin Echols is out for the remainder of Week 10 with a concussion.
The 2021 sixth-rounder played in the Jets’ first nine games with starts in Week 2 and Week 7 and a key role on special teams. As a pending free agent, he garnered some trade interest ahead of last week’s deadline.
Jets’ Brandin Echols Drawing Trade Interest
Cornerback has not been a position commonly mentioned in terms of trade candidates, but Brandin Echols appears to be on the radar of potential buyers. The fourth-year defender has drawn interest in the build-up to the deadline, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Echols entered the league in 2021, and he served as a starter during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder managed a pair of interceptions, nine pass deflections and 63 tackles during that campaign, but he has found himself lower on the CB depth chart since then. Echols is a pending free agent as he plays out the remainder of his rookie contract, and joining a new team could allow him to see a larger defensive role before hitting the market.
Realistically, though, buyers would see the 27-year-old as a depth defender with the potential to serve as a key contributor on special teams. Echols’ defensive snap shares have ranged from 8-39% over the past three years; throughout that time he has remained a regular member of New York’s third phase units. Overall, he has five interceptions and 15 pass breakups on his resume, along with a consistent showing in terms of coverage during his limited action in that regard.
Echols’ 2024 base salary is just $1.01MM, and an acquiring team would only be responsible for a prorated portion of that figure. That could boost his market as the November 5 trade deadline approaches, although it would be a surprise if substantial trade compensation was offered. Still, the Jets’ loss on Sunday has worsened their chances of a postseason berth even further.
New York now sits at 2-6, and the team is on a five-game losing streak (including each of the three contests since head coach Robert Saleh was fired). A seller’s stance would nevertheless come as a surprise given the Davante Adams acquisition and the resolution reached with Haason Reddick. The Jets have Sauce Gardner (eligible for an extension this offseason) and D.J. Reed (a pending free agent who will test the market) atop the cornerback depth chart, along with the recently-extended Michael Carter II. It will be interesting to see if Echols remains a member of that group beyond the deadline.
Jets’ Justin Hardee Expected To Land On IR
4:53pm: New York has officially placed the special teamer and cornerback Hardee on IR with today’s transactions. Taking his spot on the team’s active roster will be rookie fourth-round pick Carter Warren. The Jets drafted Warren this year out of Pittsburgh with the hope that he could provide some depth and eventually contribute to the offensive line. With starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker going on IR, Warren’s activation is timely.
Additionally, the Jets have promoted cornerbacks Craig James and Tae Hayes from the practice squad as standard gameday elevations for tomorrow’s game. James will be facing his former team after playing for the Eagles in 2019 and 2020. With Hardee on IR and Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Echols all ruled out for tomorrow, James and Hayes should expect to see some action.
9:19am: The Jets will be without their special teams captain for at least the next month. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, special teams ace Justin Hardee suffered a hamstring injury during last Sunday’s win over the Broncos.
Hardee underwent surgery on his hamstring yesterday. The veteran is expected to miss four to six weeks while recovering from the operation, and he’s expected to land on injured reserve later today.
The former UDFA spent most of his first four years in the league with the Saints, and his special teams prowess earned him a three-year, $5.25MM contract with the Jets in 2021. Hardee didn’t miss a game through his first two seasons in New York, appearing in more than 80 percent of the Jets’ special teams snaps over that span (vs. a single defensive snap in 2021). Between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, Hardee collected 26 tackles and one forced fumble, and his performance last season led to his first career Pro Bowl nod.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the Jets. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes, the team’s other gunner, Brandin Echols, won’t play Sunday against the Eagles while he nurses his own hamstring injury.
While the Jets keep getting hit with injuries, there is some good news on that front. Offensive tackle Duane Brown told Brian Costello of the New York Post that he hopes to play following the Jets’ Week 7 bye. The veteran offensive lineman has been limited to only a pair of games this season thanks to a hip injury that ultimately required a trip to injured reserve. It sounds like Brown is hoping to return to the lineup when first eligible in Week 8.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: DL Joe Gaziano
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived from IR: DL Tautala Pesefea Jr.
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: OT Jack Conklin (story)
- Signed to active roster: G Michael Dunn
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: P Ty Zentner
- Signed: DL Michael Dogbe
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reinstated from reserve/did not report: DT Chris Jones (story)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: K Brett Maher
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
New York Jets
- Reinstated from reserve/suspended: CB Brandin Echols (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR: WR Charleston Rambo
Michael Dogbe has found his next gig after getting waived by the Jaguars during final cuts. The former seventh-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cardinals, appearing in 40 games. He took on a bigger role over the past two years, compiling 55 tackles in 29 appearances. He joined Jacksonville this offseason before earning his walking papers.
Myles Gaskin is back on an active roster following an unceremonious end to his Miami tenure. The running back had 1,818 yards from scrimmage across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but he saw a limited role with the Dolphins in 2022. He joined the Vikings practice squad at the end of the preseason and was elevated to the active roster for their season opener.
Jets Set 53-Man Roster
The Jets have been in the limelight all offseason, and some of their lesser-known players have earned attention following the team’s participation in HBO’s Hard Knocks. The team had to move on from many of those unheralded players today, as the organization reduced their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- FB Nick Bawden
- QB Tim Boyle
- LB Samuel Eguavoen
- WR Alex Erickson
- DL Bruce Hector
- DL Jalyn Holmes
- S Craig James
- P Thomas Morstead
- OL Adam Pankey
- OL Greg Senat
- DL Tanzel Smart
- DL Pita Taumeopenu
- WR Malik Taylor
- LB Nick Vigil
Waived:
- DL Deslin Alexandre
- LB Claudin Cherelus
- C Trystan Colon
- S Trey Dean
- RB Travis Dye
- OL Chris Glaser
- OL Grant Hermanns
- TE E.J. Jenkins
- LB Caleb Johnson
- WR Jerome Kapp
- RB Zonovan Knight
- TE Zack Kuntz
- OL Brent Laing
- CB Derrick Langford
- WR TJ Luther
- CB Nehemiah Shelton
- DL Marquiss Spencer
- S Marquis Waters
Placed on reserve/PUP:
Placed on IR:
Placed on reserve/suspended:
Zonovan Knight made a name for himself as an UDFA in 2022. The running back was thrust into the Jets starting lineup, and he ultimately started four of his seven appearances. The RB finished the season with 400 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 98 touches. With Dalvin Cook added to a deep RBs depth chart, Knight seemed like a long shot to make the final roster.
Tim Boyle has bounced around the NFL a bit, but his only starting experience came with the Lions in 2021. The quarterback spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago, completing two of his eight pass attempts. It was uncertain if the Jets would keep three QBs on the roster, but the team appears content with just Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson at the position.
Jets DB Brandin Echols Suspended One Game
The Jets will be without a defensive back for the start of the 2023 campaign. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), Brandin Echols has been hit with a one-game suspension.
In a follow-up tweet, Pelissero reports that Echols was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. This stems from the player’s involvement in a high-speed car crash that partially paralyzed a man in 2022. Echols was later accepted into a diversionary program and avoided assault by automobile charges.
The 2021 sixth-round pick was thrust into a significant role as a rookie, compiling 63 tackles and two interceptions while starting all 14 of his appearances. After appearing in 760 defensive snaps as a rookie, he only got into 69 defensive reps in 2022. He still had a significant special teams role in his 13 appearances.
The Jets don’t have a whole lot of experienced outside CB depth behind Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. Even with the suspension, Echols should be in contention (with the likes of Bryce Hall) for the backup outside cornerback role.
The organization also cleared a roster spot today by placing defensive end Bradlee Anae on injured reserve (per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com on Twitter). The former fifth-round pick has seen time in 11 career games, all with the Cowboys. He spent the majority of the 2022 campaign on the Jets’ practice squad. Anae will now require an injury settlement if he hopes to take the field for a team during the 2023 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/23
Today’s minor transactions heading into the final Sunday of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: DL Eric Banks, RB Ty’Son Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Hunter Bradley, S Josh Thomas
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Ali
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Tylan Wallace, CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Brett Hundley, DT Rayshad Nichols
- Released: TE Nick Boyle, WR DeSean Jackson
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR John Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: C Sam Tecklenburg, WR Preston Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Phil Hoskins, CB Josh Norman
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: S Adrian Colbert, CB Greg Stroman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Jake Browning
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Storey Jackson, LB Sam Kamara
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Wyatt Ray, LB Ray Wilborn
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jermar Jefferson, CB Jarren Williams
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Johnny Johnson III
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, S Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Coy Cronk
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT David Moa, RB Larry Rountree
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Mike Glennon, LB Brennan Scarlett
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: DL Jonathan Bullard, TE Irv Smith (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ryan Connelly, G Kyle Hinton
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Calvin Munson, TE Matt Sokol
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Jack Heflin, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: DE Bradlee Anae, WR Irvin Charles, OL Adam Pankey, S Will Parks, OL Eric Smith
- Placed on IR: OL Duane Brown, CB Brandin Echols, OL George Fant, OL Nate Herbig, S Lamarcus Joyner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Renell Wren
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: RB Elijah Mitchell (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Michael Dwumfour, CB Janoris Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Josh Onujiogu
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Alexander Johnson, WR Cade Johnson
- Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo, T Justin Skule
Jets Rumors: Draft, Hamilton, Thibodeaux
The Jets are high on safety Kyle Hamilton, according to sources who spoke with Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Armed with picks Nos. 4 and 10, the Notre Dame standout should be there for Gang Green, if that’s who they want to take. Still, with several weeks to go between now and the draft, the Jets have ample time to consider all of their options, including players at more premium positions.
Here’s more out of East Rutherford, via Cimini:
- The Jets are “always looking at” big defensive linemen, as head coach Robert Saleh noted recently, and that could lead them to Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. Cimini hears that the Jets would be hard-pressed to pass on him if he slips to No. 4. He’s long been thought to be a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick, but it’s definitely possible that Thibodeaux could fall to the Jets at No. 4.
- Some insiders believe that GM Joe Douglas will zero in on the offensive line with a tackle at one of their two Top 10 picks. That’ll largely be dictated by the George Fant / Mekhi Becton situation, Cimini hears. The Jets may opt to leave Fant on the left side and move Becton to the right. If they follow through on that, that’s a sign that the Jets are losing confidence in Becton’s ability to shed weight and, by extension, his long-term potential.
- While some see the cornerback position as a major draft target, Saleh continues to pump up his current trio of Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II. “The challenge for those three is to find the ball. Once they do that, they’ll be right there with the upper echelon of the league.” Combined, the three CBs tallied just two interceptions last year.
- Braxton Berrios could be too rich for the Jets’ blood this offseason. One agent predicted that the speedy wideout will look for top slot money, which would put him at ~$9MM/year.
- Jets tight ends coach Ron Middleton is fond of Colorado State’s Trey McBride and Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert, but it’s not clear if the scouting department likes either player enough in Round 2. The Jets could pass on that group of pass-catching TEs, Cimini hears, which would prompt them to spend in free agency instead.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/21
Here is how teams finalized their Week 14 rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: TE Hayden Hurst
- Promoted: RB Qadree Ollison, S Shawn Williams
- Waived: RB Wayne Gallman
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Robert Jackson, T David Sharpe
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: G Jon Feliciano
- Promoted: DE Eli Ankou, DT Brandin Bryant, LB Joe Giles-Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: T Cameron Erving
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, LB Frankie Luvu, OL Patrick Omameh
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: LB Charles Snowden
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: LB Austin Calitro, LB Keandre Jones
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: LB Jacob Phillips
- Promoted: DB Herb Miller, DB Jovante Moffatt, WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: TE Ian Bunting, RB JaQuan Hardy, S Darian Thompson
- Waived: DT Justin Hamilton
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: LB Micah Kiser, CB Michael Ojemudia
Detroit Lions
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Mark Gilbert, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Promoted: CB Corey Ballentine, LB Curtis Bolton, DE Bruce Hector, CB Parnell Motley, RB Craig Reynolds, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, RB Rodney Smith, TE Shane Zylstra
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Phillip Dorsett, DL Chris Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle, DB Josh Jackson
- Placed on IR: DB Chris Lammons
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: LB Kyler Fackrell
- Promoted: DB Ben DeLuca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Jason Moore
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Salvon Ahmed
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- Promoted: G James Carpenter, LB Chase Hansen, WR Kevin White, WR Easop Winston, TE Ethan Wolf
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, DB Jarren Williams
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: CB Brandin Echols
- Promoted: DE Ronald Blair, TE Dan Brown, WR D.J. Montgomery, WR Vyncint Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: RB Trenton Cannon, CB Emmanuel Moseley
- Promoted: WR River Cracraft, RB Brian Hill, CB Saivion Smith, S Jarrod Wilson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Edmond Robinson
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: S Dane Cruikshank, WR Racey McMath
- Placed on IR: TE Tommy Hudson; this is Hudson’s second IR trip, ending his season
- Promoted: WR Cody Hollister, DL Kevin Strong
- Waived: S Brady Breeze
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Darryl Roberts, DE James Smith-Williams
- Placed on IR: G Wes Schweitzer
- Promoted: DE William Bradley-King, LB De’Jon Harris, S Jeremy Reaves, C Jon Toth