Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Tim White
Chicago Bears
- Signed: G Bryan Witzmann
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed: CB Darious Williams
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Anthony Firkser
- Waived: RB Dalyn Dawkins
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: QB Luke Falk
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Nick O’Leary
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: G Bryan Witzmann
New York Jets
- Waived: DE Bronson Kaufusi
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Keith Tandy
- Waived: LS Jeff Overbaugh, CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: CB Quinten Rollins, RB Devante Mays
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Jace Amaro
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OL Jamil Demby
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: TE Gavin Escobar
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Bryan Witzmann
- Placed on IR: OT Aviante Collins
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Riley McCarron, WR Chad Hansen
- Placed on IR: RB Jeremy Hill (full story)
Extra Points: Practice Squad Salaries, Anthem, Vikings, Browns
The standard practice squad salary is $7,600 a week, but players in high demand around the league often get much more than that, sometimes approaching what their salary would’ve been if they had made the 53-man roster.
Seahawks seventh round quarterback Alex McGough didn’t make the team after Seattle traded for Brett Hundley, but he’ll be making $28K a week according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Although the Broncos wanted De’Angelo Henderson back on their practice squad after cutting him, the Jets offered him $30K a week to steal him away according to Mike Klis of 9News. Lastly, the Vikings paid offered $20K per week to poach tight end Cole Hikutini from the 49ers according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
Here’s more from around the league:
- “Moderate NFL owners are interested in a potential agreement” to waive discipline for players who protest the anthem if the players union will officially endorse standing for the anthem according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. It’s unclear how close any such agreement might be, but it’s an interesting development.
- Speaking of the Vikings, the team worked out a slew of players today, with wide receivers Breshad Perriman, Aldrick Robinson and Teo Redding, and offensive linemen Hroniss Grasu, Wesley Johnson, and Bryan Witzmann all coming in for workouts according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN (Twitter link). Minnesota has dealt with a ton of offensive line injuries, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add one of these guys.
- The Browns finally ended the mystery of who would replace Joe Thomas at left tackle today when they announced it would be undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison protecting Tyrod Taylor’s blindside per Nate Ulrich of the Akron-Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Harrison was always a talented player, but went undrafted because of off-the-field concerns.
Minor AFC Transactions: 9/3/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves from the AFC:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Ryan Hewitt
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): C Austin Reiter
- Released: OL Bryan Witzmann
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: RB Justin Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Sam Young
- Waived: DB Maurice Smith
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: RB Elijah McGuire
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Cowboys): DT Brian Price
- Waived: WR Johnny Holton, DT Treyvon Hester
Chiefs Sign OL Bryan Witzmann To Extension
The Chiefs announced that they have signed lineman Bryan Witzmann to an extension. The new deal adds one year to his contract and will keep him in place through the 2018 season, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star hears. 
Witzmann missed the Cowboys’ 53-man cut last September but he was quickly scooped up by the Chiefs on waivers. He didn’t do much on the field for KC last year, appearing in just four offensive snaps and 49 special teams snaps. Apparently, the Chiefs like what they’ve seen in practice.
The 6’7″ guard/tackle split some first-team reps at left guard with Zach Fulton during organized team activities this spring, Paylor notes, so he could be a bigger part of the team’s plans going forward. Parker Ehinger is still slated to start at left guard, but he is still recovering from a serious knee injury. Witzmann could be called upon to help fill the void on the interior in addition to snaps at tackle.
Terms of the deal are not yet known, but we do know that Witzmann was originally slated to carry a cap number of $540K in 2017.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West 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 Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers 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 AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Denver Broncos
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Juwan Thompson (Link via Cameron Wolfe)
- CB Taurean Nixon
- DL Vontarrius Dora
- OL Justin Murray
- WR Mose Frazier
- S Ryan Murphy
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- C Dillon Day
- DL Kyle Kragen (Link via Mike Klis)
- WR Kalif Raymond (Link via Klis)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed:
- LB Sam Barrington (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- T Bryan Witzmann
- Waived:
- LB Ramik Wilson (Link via Adam Schefter)
- G Jordan Devey (Link via Terez A. Paylor)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Frankie Hammond (link via Aaron Wilson)
- ILB Terrance Smith (link via Terez A. Paylor)
- OL Jarrod Pughsley (link via Paylor)
- DL David King (Link via Paylor)
- S Shak Randolph (Link via Paylor)
- C Daniel Munyer (Link via Paylor)
- LB Tyrell Adams (Link via Paylor)
- WR Seantavius Jones (Link via Paylor)
- RB Darrin Reaves (Link via Paylor)
- S Brock Vereen (Link via Paylor)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Ryan O’Malley (Link via Aaron Wilson)
- WR Jaydon Mickens (Link via Lars Hanson)
- OL Oni Omoile (Link via Zack Spears)
- WR K.J. Brent (Official announcement)
- CB Kenneth Durden (Official announcement)
- DL Branden Jackson (Official announcement)
- OG Denver Kirkland (Official announcement)
- LB Korey Toomer (Official announcement)
San Diego Chargers
- Claimed:
- DB Pierre Desir (Link via NFL Draft Diamonds)
- DT Caraun Reid (Link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- RB Andre Williams (story)
- Waived:
- CB Steve Williams (Link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
- LB Chris Landrum
- TE Asante Cleveland
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Ben Gardner (link via Michael Gehlken)
- CB Trevor Williams (link via Michael Gehlken)
- WR Dom Williams (link via Michael Gehlken)
- S Adrian McDonald (link via Michael Gehlken)
- OT Austin Shepherd (link via Michael Gehlken)
- DT Kaleb Eulls
- TE Jake McGee (link via Gehlkin)
- WR Jonathan Krause (link via Gehlkin)
- LB Chris Landrum (link via Gehlkin)
- TE Asante Cleveland (link via Gehlkin)
Cowboys Trim Roster To 53
The Cowboys have made the following moves in order to cut their roster down to 53:
Cut:
- LB Derek Akunne
- C Jake Brendel
- DT Rodney Coe
- CB Isaiah Frey
- LB Brandon Hepburn
- QB Jerrod Johnson
- WR Andy Jones
- LB Deon King
- T Ryan Mack
- WR Vince Mayle
- CB Deji Olatoye
- DL Lawrence Okoye
- G Boston Stiverson
- TE Austin Traylor
- K Matt Wile
- T Bryan Witzmann
- WR Devin Street
- TE Rico Gathers
- DE Ryan Russell
Waived/Injured:
- DE Mike McAdoo
Reserve/Suspended:
NFI:
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/8/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Redskins parted ways with tight end Michael Cooper, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter). Cooper made 19 career catches with the Hoosiers from 2012-15.
- Following the Panthers‘ signing of Mike Scifres on Tuesday, the team cut punter Michael Palardy, Wilson tweets. A UDFA in 2014, Palardy spent time with the Raiders and Panthers in his career.
- The Buccaneers waived rookie UDFA wideout Dez Stewart off their injury reserve with a likely injury settlement, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports (on Twitter).
- The Cowboys announced that they have signed former Olympian (and hopeful defensive lineman) Lawrence Okoye. In addition to the former discus athlete, Dallas signed linebacker Brandon Hepburn and tackle Bryan Witzmann, Wilson tweets. To make room, defensive end Caleb Azubike, linebacker Jerrell Harris and tackle Justin Renfrow were waived, Wilson tweets. A former Lions seventh-round pick in 2013, Hepburn has not seen action in a game but spent time with the Lions and Eagles in the past three years. He resided on Philadelphia’s IR in 2015. Okoye represented Great Britain in the 2012 London Summer Games, advancing to the event’s final round and finishing 12th.
- The Steelers cut pass-rusher Kevin Anderson and signed linebacker Mike Reilly, Wilson tweets. Originally a UDFA with the Browns in 2015, Reilly didn’t make the roster out of training camp and signed a subsequent reserve/futures deal with the Cardinals at this year’s outset. However, the Cards released him in May after signing its new crop of UDFAs.
Cowboys To Meet With Brandon Boykin
6:56pm: In addition to Boykin, the Cowboys also worked out defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye, defensive backs Dax Swanson and Isaiah Frey, offensive tackles Cameron Bradfield and Bryan Witzmann, linebacker Brandon Hepburn, and tight end Nate Askew, according to Archer.
3:29pm: The Cowboys will meet with free agent cornerback Brandon Boykin, according to sources who spoke with Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Boykin was signed by the Panthers in March but he has been a free agent since being released last month.
[RELATED: Cowboys Not Interested In Dwight Freeney]
Despite not seeing significant playing time in Pittsburgh, Boykin ranked as a top-40 cornerback in 2015 (out of 111 qualified players), per Pro Football Focus. The diminutive corner has always shown flashes of upside, particularly in his six-interception 2013 campaign, but has never really gotten the opportunity to be a full-time player with just seven career starts. Now, he’ll look to join the Cowboys as a low-cost slot cornerback with upside.
While Boykin didn’t earn a spot on PFR’s top 50 free agent list, we placed him sixth among free agent cornerbacks when we broke down 2016’s top defensive free agents, placing him ahead of veterans like Leon Hall and Patrick Robinson due to his relative youth and upside. Recently, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked Boykin as the fifth-best free agent still left on the board, ahead of names like Mike Neal, Chris Culliver, and Antrel Rolle.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
