Braxton Berrios

Texans To Re-Sign DE Derek Barnett, LB Jake Hansen; Team To Sign WR Braxton Berrios, DB Tremon Smith

March 10th, 2025 at 9:34pm CST by Rory Parks

Derek Barnett is staying in Houston, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. After being claimed off waivers by the Texans in 2023, Barnett remained with the club via a one-year, $2MM pact last offseason and will sign a one-year, $5MM deal this year.

Barnett is now entering his age-29 season, and after serving as a primary starter on the Eagles’ defensive line earlier in his career, it appears those days are behind him. He nonetheless has earned the trust of head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke, and he saw a 38% snap share last year. That was enough to get him five sacks — his highest total since the 2020 campaign — and two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns. He never quite justified Philadelphia’s draft investment (he was the No. 14 overall pick of the 2017 draft), but he is a valuable edge presence behind Houston’s starting tandem of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson.

The Texans have also agreed to sign WR Braxton Berrios to a one-year, $2MM contract, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Often lauded more for his return work than his receiving acumen, Berrios did not record a single catch during the six games in which he appeared in 2024 (he suffered an ACL tear in Week 7). However, he did return three kickoffs for 76 yards and seven punts for 103 yards, and he earned First Team All-Pro acclaim in 2021 for his efforts as a return specialist (he led the league with a whopping 30.4 yards-per-return average that season).

It is certainly fair to expect Berrios to get some looks as a returner for Houston. Given that Tank Dell is uncertain to suit up at all in 2025, Berrios could see action as a slot receiver as well. He has been a useful ancillary target in the past, catching 128 passes for 1,208 yards over the 2020-23 seasons, which he split between the Jets and Dolphins.

Tremon Smith, who spent the 2021-22 seasons with the Texans and the following two years with the Broncos, is returning to Houston on a two-year, $7.5MM accord, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Like Berrios, Smith could see more burn in the third phase, as he has never logged a defensive snap share above 17%. Still, he is valued for his ST work, racking up well over 300 special teams snaps in each of the last four seasons. He has clearly impressed during that time, as Pelissero notes that Smith is now the highest-paid core special teamer in the NFL.

Jake Hansen, 26, signed with Houston as a UDFA in 2022 and will return on a one-year pact for 2025, according to Wilson. Hansen will presumably reprise his role as a special teams contributor and depth linebacker.

Dolphins Place WR Braxton Berrios On IR, Activate CB Cam Smith

October 21st, 2024 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Braxton Berrios exited the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss with a signficant knee injury, and it will lead to a notable absence. The veteran receiver/returner has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Confirming a return will not take place this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Barrios suffered an ACL tear.

Berrios has not made a catch this season, although his absence will thin a receiving corps which has been dealt a number of blows on the injury front already this season. Most notably, Miami’s return game will suffer with him out of the fold. Berrios has averaged 14.7 yards per punt return in 2024, the highest figure of his career.

As a pending free agent, the nature of the 29-year-old’s injury will no doubt affect his market value during the spring. Berrios will sidelined for the rest of the season, leaving Miami in need of a new primary returner option. Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane could handle those duties, but their importance to the team’s offense could lead to another candidate receiving a look.

In a corresponding move, the Dolphins activated cornerback Cam Smith from IR. The second-year cover man was among the many NFL players who were moved to IR during roster cutdowns while being designated for return. As a result, he already accounts for one of Miami’s eight in-season activations. Smith returned to practice when first eligible, and this moves ensures he will not revert to season-ending IR before his 21-day activation window expires.

Smith faced high expectations as a rookie, but the second-rounder did not manage to carve out a role under then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He handled a notable special teams workload, something which may remain the case upon return, but it will be interesting to see if Smith can work his way up the depth chart under new DC Anthony Weaver. On the other hand, Miami’s pass defense is the best in the league at 155 yards allowed per game, so any major lineup changes in the secondary would come as a surprise.

Dolphins Fear “Significant Injury” For WR Braxton Berrios

October 20th, 2024 at 9:57pm CST by Ely Allen

You would think that the Dolphins had suffered enough losses in their receiving corps, but the hits keep coming as, today, wide receiver and return man Braxton Berrios suffered a potentially “significant injury,” according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus (via Josh Moser of WSVN-TV). If the injury is as significant as Rosenhaus fears, Berrios could become the fifth wide receiver that the team places on injured reserve this year.

Berrios has found success throughout his career as a WR3 or WR4 at times, but for the most part, his impact has come as a return man. In fact, Berrios was named a first-team All-Pro returner back in 2021. This season, a Miami offense limited by injuries has seen Berrios’ offensive impact almost completely nullified. Still, despite having zero receptions, Berrios is tied with Robbie Chosen for third-most targets in the wide receivers room with four apiece.

Still, Berrios leads the team with five punt returns and two kickoff returns. The only other player to return a punt for the Dolphins is Tyreek Hill, and De’Von Achane and D’Wayne Eskridge have each returned a kickoff. With all the injuries across the offense, Miami is likely to search for return options not named Hill or Achane.

Berrios, 29, is on a one-year contract with the Dolphins after playing under a contract year for them last year, as well. While a serious injury could hurt his chances of finding a big contract in the offseason, he doesn’t have a big history of injuries. While he did miss the entirety of his rookie season with the Patriots in 2018, Berrios has only missed two games in the five plus years since leaving New England.

Rosenhaus told the media that Berrios will get an MRI performed on his left knee tomorrow. If the test confirms a serious knee injury for Berrios, it could mark the end of his 2024 campaign and, potentially, his time in Miami.

Return Specialist Braxton Berrios Re-Signs With Dolphins

March 16th, 2024 at 4:13pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins have re-signed wide receiver and return man Braxton Berrios to another one-year contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Berrios is back on a deal that could pay him up to $3MM in 2024.

Berrios returns to a wide receivers room that was utterly dominated by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in 2023. While both receivers surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark and combined for 17 touchdowns, with Hill absolutely dominating his share of the statistics with 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, the next closest receivers on the field didn’t nearly sniff the success of those two.

Despite only catching 27 passes for 238 yards, those numbers were good for third in the receivers room for receptions and fourth in receiving yards, just falling short of Cedrick Wilson‘s 296 yards. Berrios’ bigger impact came in the return game, where he served as the team’s primary option for both punt and kickoff returns. While not quite posting the averages of his first-team All-Pro season with the Jets, Berrios put up the second-best kickoff return average in his career (24.5 yards per return) while still delivering a reliable 10+ yards per return average on punts.

He’ll slide right back into his returner role in 2024 and may even get a chance at more receiving opportunities. Wilson is currently sitting on the free agent market, and Miami signed a pass-catching tight end in Jonnu Smith to supplement the receiving game. Affordable free agents or late-round draft options may join the fray, but Berrios should stand to see more looks from Tua Tagovailoa in 2024. It also helps Berrios that he already has a year of experience working under wide receivers coach Wes Welker, the former Patriots legend whom Berrios changed his number from 83 to 8 in college to avoid being compared to.

Under his new deal, Berrios stays close to his alma mater, playing in his college homefield for another season. He gives the Dolphins security in the return game and a solid WR3 option.

Dolphins Notes: QB, Gaskin, Berrios, LG

August 19th, 2023 at 4:24pm CST by Ely Allen

In most cases, the Dolphins aren’t utilizing camp position battles to determine starting roles. But as the deadline to cut the roster down to 53 players draws nearer and nearer, decisions have to be made throughout the roster. Here’s a look at who’s battling for a roster spot as the preseason continues, thanks to some helpful analysis from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:

At quarterback, the starter is set, but the backup job may be closer than you’d think. Miami signed quarterback Mike White in the first hour of free agency, making it seem like they were dead set on him taking over at QB2. Last year’s backup, Skylar Thompson, doesn’t seem willing to go down without a fight, though, making the battle more competitive than some would assume. White is the presumed winner of this position battle, but if Thompson has a stellar preseason, he has a chance to surprise.
After failing to sign free agent running back Dalvin Cook, the room is shaping up to hold Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and third-round rookie De’Von Achane, at the very least. If the team is going to open up a fourth roster spot for the position, it’s likely that one of Myles Gaskin or Salvon Ahmed will fill the role while the other will be on the chopping block, if not both. The Dolphins will have to determine if a fourth running back will help the team, and if not, Gaskin or Ahmed’s time in South Beach may be over.
Behind the team’s top two wideouts, there are a number of options to plug in. According to Jackson, AFC East mainstay Braxton Berrios seems to be taking direction from wide receivers coach Wes Welker well, giving him an edge on the depth chart. He’s competing with Cedrick Wilson, Erik Ezukanma, and Chosen Anderson for the WR3 role, and seems to have a handle on it. Anderson has been making up for a slow start to camp lately but may need to compete with River Cracraft if the team only decides to keep six wide receivers.
At tight end, the battle for the third tight spot poses the most intrigue, assuming the team only takes three tight ends. The starter, Durham Smythe, and the rookie, Elijah Higgins, are likely to make the roster, leaving backups Eric Saubert and Tyler Kroft fighting for what is likely going to be the final roster spot at the position. Neither is much of a factor in the passing game, so whoever shows the best blocking ability throughout the rest of camp may be rewarded the short-term job security.
The biggest battle on the line is the battle for the starting left guard spot. Liam Eichenberg and Isaiah Wynn appear to be in a dead heat for the job, according to Jackson. Wynn has more NFL starting experience, but Eichenberg is more familiar with the franchise. Aside from that, the other big battle is for the swing tackle role. Veteran and former starter Kendall Lamm reportedly has established a lead over Cedric Ogbuehi for the job. Seventh-round rookie Ryan Hayes could also contribute to the team depth at the position if he makes the roster.

Dolphins Taking Calls On Cedrick Wilson; Chosen Anderson Reached Out To Team

April 19th, 2023 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cedrick Wilson signed a three-year, $24MM Dolphins deal 13 months ago, but the former Cowboys wide receiver is believed to be available. GM Chris Grier addressed Wilson’s status Wednesday.

The Dolphins have indeed taken calls on their No. 3 wideout, who is due $7MM base salaries in 2023 and ’24. While Grier said the expectation is Wilson will be back for a second Miami season, the possibility of a trade appears to remain.

“Teams have called; we’re not shopping him,” Grier said, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “We’ve had a couple teams reach out. He’s a real good guy. We’re trying to do right by him.”

Grier’s comments come a few weeks after the Herald report indicated Wilson was available. Since that report, the Dolphins have signed Chosen Anderson. The team already added Braxton Berrios, whom Grier said will play some slot receiver — while pointing to the ex-Jets target being locked in as the Dolphins’ new return man — and has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle entrenched atop the depth chart.

A 2018 sixth-round pick, Wilson, 27, disappointed during his first Dolphins season. In 15 games, Wilson caught just 12 passes for 136 yards and no touchdowns. Those numbers are obviously out of step with the contract Wilson signed and stand to drive down Wilson’s trade value. Grier’s comments on the team’s auxiliary receivers point to (via Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero) neither Wilson nor Anderson having a guaranteed place on the 53-man roster.

Anderson, 29, reached out to the Dolphins about a potential deal, Grier said, and spent multiple days in talks with wide receivers coach Wes Welker — in addition to talking with Mike McDaniel — before the Dolphins brought him aboard. Anderson is three years removed from his best season — a 1,096-yard year with the 2020 Panthers — but has not come close to replicating that performance since. Carolina interim HC Steve Wilks dismissed Anderson from the sideline during a loss to the Rams; the team traded him to Arizona a day later. A South Florida native, Anderson caught just seven passes in 10 Cardinals games.

“I told him don’t rush through this decision just because it’s home,” Grier said. “Talk to other teams. We have two dynamic players that are starters. We told him what the role would be and he’s excited and all in. We’re excited to add him. We didn’t promise him anything. We have good young players. He understood that.”

Beyond Waddle, the Dolphins do not have other notable rookie-contract wideouts on their roster. Trent Sherfield, who totaled 417 yards last season, signed with the Bills. That leaves the door open for Wilson, Anderson or Berrios to pick up the slack as a tertiary Tua Tagovailoa target.

WR Notes: Hopkins, Cardinals, Chiefs, Ridley, Browns, Slayton, Texans, Dolphins

March 21st, 2023 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Brandin Cooks trade domino dropped Sunday morning, leaving DeAndre Hopkins as the only clear-cut impact receiver trade chip available. The Cardinals continue to shop the 11th-year veteran, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes talks are ramping up (Twitter link). Hopkins is amenable to adjusting his contract to facilitate a deal, and Rapoport adds an adjusted contract is likely. As is, Hopkins’ through-2024 contract calls for a $19.45MM base salary this season. That will likely be untenable to interested teams.

As far as interested parties go, the Chiefs are viewed as a team angling to acquire a veteran. Whether it is Hopkins or Odell Beckham Jr., veteran NFL reporter Mike Jurecki adds (on Twitter) Kansas City is on the market for an addition. With JuJu Smith-Schuster signing with the Patriots, it is unsurprising the defending champions are interested in upgrading. Mecole Hardman remains a free agent, and while the Chiefs were expected to move on from the speedster, his price range may have dropped considering his extended stay in free agency. Patrick Mahomes‘ restructure created $9.6MM in cap space for the Chiefs, though they sit at just more than $9MM as of Tuesday.

Staying on the Hopkins front, here is the latest from the receiver scene:

The Browns are not believed to be interested in reuniting Hopkins with Deshaun Watson, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets. Cleveland has a big contract at receiver (Amari Cooper‘s) already, though the team could benefit from a veteran presence alongside its No. 1 target. The Browns did host Marquise Goodwin on a visit that has spanned from Monday to today, Anderson adds (on Twitter). Goodwin spent last season with the Seahawks, catching 27 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. The former Olympic long jumper is going into his age-33 season.
Darius Slayton is back with the Giants, re-signing on a two-year deal worth $12MM. That contract includes $4.9MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. This can be treated more like a one-year deal; the Giants can save $6MM by cutting Slayton in 2024. That said, Slayton said (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) he received other offers in free agency. The Giants, despite burying him on their initial 2022 depth chart and cutting his pay, reached out early and will have the former fifth-round pick back in the fold. The team’s improvement last season helped convince Slayton to stay.
A year after he signed for the exact terms Slayton reached (with the Jets), Braxton Berrios is now in Miami. The ex-Hurricanes receiver agreed to terms with the Dolphins on what KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes is a one-year, $3.5MM pact (Twitter link). Berrios will receive $3MM guaranteed, giving him a good chance of being part of the Dolphins’ 53-man roster. The Dolphins still have Cedrick Wilson and brought back River Cracraft and Freddie Swain last week.
Noah Brown‘s one-year Texans deal is worth $2.6MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The longtime Cowboys wideout received $2.25MM guaranteed and can add an additional $500K through incentives.
Addressing his season-long gambling suspension recently, Calvin Ridley said he deposited $1,500 into an unspecified betting app and, after making approximately $200 worth of NBA bets, he included the Falcons in a parlay. Denying he had inside information, Ridley said (via a piece on The Players’ Tribune) he had been away from the Falcons for a month, was not talking to anyone on the team and made the bet to root for his teammates. Regarding Ridley’s midseason Falcons exit in 2021, the former first-round pick said he was dealing with depression and anxiety. Ridley said he played most of the 2020 season (a career-high 1,374-yard slate) on a broken foot, but he was not informed of the break until June 2021. He underwent surgery, which was described as a minor procedure, but said he was not close to 100% by Week 1. This and Ridley’s house being robbed on that Week 1 Sunday intensified his anxiety. The NFL reinstated Ridley, now with the Jaguars, earlier this month.

Dolphins To Add WR Braxton Berrios

March 16th, 2023 at 11:27am CST by Sam Robinson

Hours after offensive lineman Dan Feeney left the Jets to join the Dolphins, Miami will add another recent Jet to its equation. Braxton Berrios is signing with the Fins, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

A slot receiver and All-Pro return man in New York, Berrios played his college ball in Miami. The Hurricanes alum will join a Dolphins team rostering Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson at receiver. Berrios’ latest AFC East contract is a one-year agreement.

The Dolphins have now added Berrios and claimed Freddie Swain off waivers from the Broncos this week. Complementary target Trent Sherfield is a free agent. Berrios will now step in as a tertiary option in this star-studded receiving corps. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher/returner has now joined his third AFC East team. The Patriots drafted Berrios in the 2018 sixth round, but he never played in a game with the team.

Released ahead of the Jets’ Allen Lazard signing, Berrios had re-signed with the team on a two-year deal worth $12MM. He commanded that kind of cash after earning first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner in 2021 while also aiding Gang Green in the slot. Berrios established new career-high marks in receptions (46) and receiving yards (431) for the 2021 Jets, adding a 102-yard kick-return TD that helped the team to a win over the Jaguars.

Berrios, 27, did not fare as well last season. Although he played all 17 Jets games, he only totaled 18 catches for 145 yards. The Jets featured a dismal passing attack for much of last season, leading to this all-fronts Aaron Rodgers pursuit, but Berrios did not make the kind of impact the team sought when it re-signed him. He will attempt to do so in Miami.

Wilson served as the Dolphins’ primary punt returner last season, while the team sent out Raheem Mostert as its primary kick returner — despite his extensive running back duties. Berrios has returned kicks and punts extensively as a pro, and his two seasons in Mike LaFleur‘s Jets offense would make for a natural fit into Mike McDaniel‘s scheme. The two were each Kyle Shanahan lieutenants for years.

Jets To Release WR Braxton Berrios

March 9th, 2023 at 10:12am CST by Sam Robinson

A year after giving Braxton Berrios a $12MM deal, the Jets will part ways with the young wide receiver. They are releasing Berrios, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

This separation comes after the sides attempted to rework the slot receiver/returner’s deal, per Schefter. The Jets will save $5MM by cutting Berrios, who had agreed to a two-year, $12MM contract ($7MM fully guaranteed) to stay in New York last year. This release will move the Jets past $6MM in cap space. The team will undoubtedly be creating more space in the days to come.

A first-team All-Pro return man in 2021, Berrios did not make the same type of impact in the passing game he had prior to re-signing with the Jets. Following a 431-yard receiving season in 2021, Berrios totaled just 145 yards and no touchdowns through the air in 2022. The Jets reduced Berrios’ workload, playing him on just 297 offensive snaps — nearly 100 less than his 2021 total.

Berrios, 27, will try his hand in free agency again. Although this year’s wide receiver market has not generated much buzz, Berrios may find it difficult to land a $6MM-per-year accord after the season he just completed. But the former Patriots draftee should have a chance to catch on elsewhere soon. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher spent the past four seasons with the Jets, working as their primary return man during that span. Berrios’ 102-yard kick-return score helped the team to a win over the Jaguars in 2021, propelling him to All-Pro status.

The Jets still have Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Elijah Moore among their receiving corps. Despite being connected to trades for a while, Denzel Mims also remains on the roster.

Jets Rumors: QBs, Offseason, Injuries

January 11th, 2023 at 6:49pm CST by Ely Allen

After a season that saw the Jets start four different quarterbacks throughout the year, general manager Joe Douglas knows that New York has “a lot of work to do” at the position, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. Of the four passers who started games for the Jets this season, only second-year starter Zach Wilson and practice squad quarterback Chris Streveler are set to return to New York in 2023, after Streveler was announced to have signed a futures contract earlier this week. Veterans Joe Flacco and Mike White, on the other hand, are set to hit free agency.

Wilson was benched midway through the season and saw White take over starting duties. When White was injured, Wilson took over as the primary backup but was soon relegated back to the bench as White got healthy and Flacco started the season finale. Despite rumors that the Jets could move on from Wilson in the offseason, Douglas iterated that New York has “never been a team that has given up on talent early.” Hughes claims that the team expects to continue to work with Wilson moving forward. As for Wilson’s chances of starting, Douglas washed his hands of the decision, deferring the call to head coach Robert Saleh, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

Cimini also noted last week a comment from then-offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who speculated that it “would’ve benefited” Wilson to allow him to sit and learn from a veteran. Unfortunately, when the team drafted Wilson, they had no such veteran. White had no NFL experience at the time, despite having been in the league for three years, and the only other quarterback on the roster was James Morgan. The team eventually brought in that experience, signing Josh Johnson late in that year’s training camp and trading midseason to bring in Flacco. LaFleur claimed he hasn’t done a good enough job of developing Wilson, saying that if any position player isn’t producing to the expected level, it’s a failure of the coach.

Wilson could potentially see his competition from this season return. White, who took the reins from Wilson this year, told Cimini that there is mutual interest in his return to the Jets from free agency. He also noted that situations change quickly in the league, hinting that he will keep his eyes open for other opportunities.

Here are a few other rumors from the Jets’ building as the franchise readies for the offseason:

Cimini took to ESPN as the Jets’ regular season came to an end and laid out the offseason plan for New York. Setting aside the search for a starting quarterback, mentioned in part above, and the search for a new course on offense after the firing of LaFleur, the Jets’ biggest focus will be free agency and salary cap space. To create cap space for free agent shopping, some guys with big cap hits may find themselves on the chopping block. Cutting players like wide receiver Corey Davis and offensive tackle Duane Brown could result in cap savings of $10.5MM and $5.3MM, respectively. Even players who have made significant contributions may find themselves in danger because of their salaries. Defensive end Carl Lawson could provide $15MM of cap savings, safety Jordan Whitehead $7.5MM, and return specialist Braxton Berrios $5MM. Not to mention star linebacker C.J. Mosley who is set to have a 2023 cap charge totaling $21.5MM.
In terms of what to look for in free agency, offensive line struggles severely hampered the team’s success this year. Starting guards Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker should return next season. After undergoing triceps surgery, Vera-Tucker is expected to be back in time for training camp, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Tackle Mekhi Becton is a question mark after missing the team’s last 33 games due to injuries and weight issues. Becton told Hughes he feels “real good” after losing a “lot” of weight and will be ready for Organized Team Activities. If Becton can’t deliver, the Jets are in trouble as they will watch tackle George Fant hit free agency and Brown could be a cap casualty or could just retire. Starting center Connor McGovern is also set to hit free agency.
While offensive line will be an important position to build, their most important signing may come on the defensive line. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will be with the team through next year due to the fifth-round option of his rookie contract, but that may not be enough to satisfy Douglas and company. Williams has established himself as one of the best at his position and will likely expect to be paid like it. Douglas will want to find an extended contract for Williams long before the idea of free agency enters his mind.
Lawson had a strong first year in New York despite coming back from an Achilles injury. Lawson’s recovery hit a snag when he needed a second surgery. He even tweaked something in rehab and was expected to miss a chunk of the season, according to Hughes. Despite not even running until about a month before camp, Lawson started all 17 games and recorded his highest sack total since his rookie season.
Running back Breece Hall‘s rookie season was cut short after the second-round pick suffered a torn ACL in October. According to Costello, Hall claims that he will be ready for the start of next year.

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