Cowboys Release FB Jamize Olawale
Jamize Olawale opted out of last season due to COVID-19 concerns. He will now need to find a new team. The Cowboys released the veteran fullback Wednesday.
The move will free up a bit of cap space ($1.1MM) but leave Dallas with more in dead money ($1.2MM). The Cowboys previously extended Olawale in 2019, signing him through the 2021 season.
An eight-year veteran whom the Cowboys acquired from the Raiders in 2018, Olawale plans to play next season, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken (on Twitter).
While it will not be a lock Olawale catches on elsewhere, considering he plays a fringe position and will turn 32 next month, he has managed to sign a few NFL contracts. The Raiders landed Olawale as a UDFA in 2012 and extended him in 2015. He did not make it to Year 1 of the team’s Jon Gruden regime, being traded to Dallas during an offseason that sent Cowboys fullback Keith Smith to the Raiders. The Cowboys re-signed Olawale to a three-year, $5.4MM deal in March 2019.
This move comes after the Cowboys restructured the contracts of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins, creating around $17MM in cap space.
2020 NFL Opt Out Tracker
Per an agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, players with COVID-19 health concerns can opt out of the 2020 season. Initially, the deadline was believed to be Tuesday, August 4. Talks between the league and the union have pushed it to August 6.
Chiefs guard and medical school graduate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to officially opt out. Scores of players followed.
Here’s the rundown, so far:
Baltimore Ravens
- OT Andre Smith (story)
- WR De’Anthony Thomas (story)
Buffalo Bills
- CB E.J. Gaines (story)
- DT Star Lotulelei (story)
Carolina Panthers
- LB Jordan Mack
- LB Christian Miller
Chicago Bears
- DT Eddie Goldman (story)
- S Jordan Lucas
Cincinnati Bengals
- T Isaiah Prince (story)
- DT Josh Tupou (story)
Cleveland Browns
- DT Andrew Billings
- T Drake Dorbeck
- G Colby Gossett
- G Drew Forbes
- G Malcolm Pridgedon
Dallas Cowboys
- CB Maurice Canady (story)
- WR Stephen Guidry
- FB Jamize Olawale
Denver Broncos
- DT Joel Heath
- DT Kyle Peko
Detroit Lions
- WR Geronimo Allison (story)
- DT John Atkins
- C Russell Bodine (story)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Devin Funchess (story)
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
- DB Rolan Milligan
- LB Skai Moore
- DB Marvell Tell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DE Lerentee McCray
- CB Rashaan Melvin (story)
- DT Al Woods (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (story)
- T Lucas Niang (story)
- RB Damien Williams (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- LB Ukeme Eligwe
- CB D.J. Killings
- DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
- WR Allen Hurns (story)
- WR Albert Wilson (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- NT Michael Pierce (story)
New England Patriots
- RB Brandon Bolden (story)
- T Marcus Cannon (story)
- S Patrick Chung (story)
- LB Dont’a Hightower (story)
- WR Marqise Lee (story)
- OL Najee Toran
- FB Danny Vitale (story)
New Orleans Saints
- TE Jason Vander Laan
- TE Cole Wick
New York Giants
- CB Sam Beal
- WR Da’Mari Scott
- T Nate Solder (story)
- CB Shakial Taylor
New York Jets
- WR Josh Doctson
- OL Leo Koloamatangi
- LB C.J. Mosley (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
- WR Travis Benjamin (story)
- OL Jake Brendel
- T Shon Coleman
Seattle Seahawks
- G Chance Warmack (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- T Brad Seaton
Tennessee Titans
- OL Anthony McKinney
Washington Football Team
Free agents
- G Larry Warford (story)
Cowboys Exercise Jamize Olawale’s Option
The Cowboys have picked up the 2020 option for fullback Jamize Olawale, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Olawale joined the Cowboys two years ago via trade with the Raiders and has been a key special teams piece ever since.
[RELATED: Cowboys Increase Offer To Prescott]
In Oakland, Olawale was used to clear the way as a lead blocker. The Cowboys brought him in to take over for Keith Smith who, strangely enough, signed on with the Raiders in the same offseason.
Soon after the trade, the Cowboys gave Olawale a new three-year, $5.4MM deal with $2.8MM guaranteed, though the 2020 and 2021 seasons were left as option years. The Cowboys had to decide on those seasons before the end of the ’19 league year, and that’s what they did today.
Olawale, 31 in April, has 109 career appearances to his credit with 20 starts for the Raiders and Cowboys. He has not registered a carry since 2017 and did not catch a pass in 2019, though he was targeted twice on throws.
Contract Details: Nsekhe, Anderson, Dorsett
Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed NFL contracts:
- Ty Nsekhe, T (Bills): Two years, $9MM. $6.7MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. $1.5MM available annually in playtime incentives. $1.5MM playtime escalator in 2020 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Henry Anderson, DL (Jets): Three years, $25.2MM. $17MM guaranteed. $1.75MM available via annual incentives. $850K sacks-based escalator in 2020 and 2021 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Phillip Dorsett, WR (Patriots): One year, $2.6MM. $500K signing bonus. $600K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
- Ereck Flowers, T (Redskins): One year, $3.25MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. $750K in playtime incentive (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
- Mike Iupati, G (Seahawks): One year, $2.75MM. $2.25MM guaranteed. $1.25MM signing bonus. $500K in per-game roster bonuses. $500K available via playtime incentives (Twitter link via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com).
- Terrence Brooks, S (Patriots): Two years, $3.25MM. $1.305MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. Playtime bonuses available in 2019 and 2020 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Jordan Matthews, WR (49ers): One year, $1.8MM. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB (Redskins): One year, minimum salary benefit. No guaranteed money (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Jamize Olawale, FB (Cowboys): Three years, $5.4MM. $2.8MM guaranteed. $1.8MM signing bonus. 2021-2022 are option years that must be exercised prior to end of 2020 league year (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Brent Qvale, OL (Jets): One year, $1.4MM. $550K guaranteed. $1MM in incentives (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
Cowboys To Re-Sign FB Jamize Olawale
Veteran fullback Jamize Olawale will have another opportunity in Dallas. The 2018 trade acquisition agreed to a new Cowboys deal, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
This agreement is worth $5.4MM over three years, per Machota, who adds $2.8MM is guaranteed. Olawale finished his first season with the Cowboys, playing 132 snaps and on special teams. A $1.8MM signing bonus is including in this pact, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets.
The Raiders traded Olawale to the Cowboys nearly a year ago. The soon-to-be 30-year-old blocking back was not used as a ball-carrier, which was the case sparingly in Oakland. But he’ll nonetheless stay a part of Dallas’ backfield in 2019.
The eighth-year UDFA’s contract falls in line with the non-Kyle Juszczyk wing of this position, Olawale’s per-year salary placing him in the top five among fullbacks. He had previously played out a three-year extension, which he signed as a Raider near the end of the 2015 season.
Raiders Trade Jamize Olawale To Cowboys
The Raiders have traded fullback Jamize Olawale to the Cowboys, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Raiders will send a sixth-round pick to the Cowboys in the deal in exchange for a fifth-rounder.
Olawale was originally signed by Oakland off of Dallas’ practice squad. He has been with the Raiders since 2012, but he’s now headed back to Dallas to take over for Keith Smith, who signed with the Raiders earlier this month. In essence, the Raiders and Cowboys have swapped fullbacks, but in a slightly more complicated fashion.
Olawale, 29 in April, has been primarily used as a blocker in Oakland. Over the last three seasons, he has just 55 carries for 200 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn’t been a huge factor as a receiver either with just 27 grabs for 344 yards and one score in that span.
Trading Olawale takes $1.6MM off of Oakland’s cap. Meanwhile, they’ve also turned a sixth-round pick into a fifth-round pick in a deal that echoes this week’s Cordarrelle Patterson trade with the Patriots.
Raiders Sign Jamize Olawale To Three-Year Extension
WEDNESDAY, 10:52am: Having avoided restricted free agency this offseason, Olawale got a signing bonus of $760K on his new deal, with a $1.14MM roster bonus in 2016, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the extension is worth $6MM in total.
TUESDAY, 4:51pm: The Raiders signed fullback/running back Jamize Olawale to a three-year contract extension Tuesday, according to the team’s website. Financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
Olawale, who went undrafted out of North Texas, joined the Raiders as a rookie in 2012 after they plucked him from the Cowboys’ practice squad. Olawale has since emerged as a key special teamer for the Raiders and has figured more into their offense this season, racking up career highs in touches (32) and total yards (180). He has also added a touchdown, giving him three for his career.
Minor Moves: Wednesday
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- We learned yesterday that the Raiders have officially secured all five of their restricted free agents, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets today that the team has locked up its exclusive rights free agents as well. Rival clubs couldn’t make a play for those ERFAs, so there wasn’t much suspense about whether or not they’d be returning to Oakland. Defensive end Denico Autry, tight end Brian Leonhardt, tackle Matt McCants, fullback Jamize Olawale, and cornerback Neiko Thorpe are now under contract.
- Cornerback Antwon Blake, who received the low-end RFA tender from the Steelers last month, has officially signed that tender, according to Wilson (via Twitter). Blake will return to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal for 2015 worth $1.542MM.
- Former Texans and Bears defensive lineman Amobi Okoye has been released by the Cowboys, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Okoye appeared in 87 games between 2007 and 2012 before he was sidelined by a medical issue, and had been attempting to make it back to the NFL — if he intends to continue his comeback attempt, it looks like it’ll have to happen with another team.
- The Packers have cut tackle Aaron Adams with a failed physical designation, per Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Twitter link). The former Kentucky lineman tore his ACL and MCL during training camp last year and missed the entire 2014 season.
AFC Notes: Titans, Browner, Clowney, Chiefs
The Eagles are considered the favorites to land Mark Sanchez, and it’s hard to determine which other teams may be a threat to Philadelphia for the signal-caller. The Seahawks have been ruled out as a destination, and reported interest from the Rams and Giants has been significantly downplayed. Now, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com suggests that another rumored suitor isn’t seriously in the mix, tweeting that the Titans don’t have interest in bringing Sanchez aboard. As we wait to see where the former Jet lands, let’s check out a few more notes from around the AFC….
- Chris Johnson‘s future with the Titans remains in limbo, as Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes.
- In a series of four tweets, Tom Pelissero of USA Today explains how Brandon Browner‘s contract with the Patriots works, complete with financial specifics.
- Field Yates of ESPN Boston (Twitter link) has the details on the playing-time incentives in Michael Vick‘s new deal with the Jets. As Yates outlines, Vick can earn bonuses up to $1MM depending on whether he appears in 50% ($100K), 60% ($300K), 70% ($550K), 80% ($900K), or 90% ($1MM) of the Jets’ snaps.
- Texans head coach Bill O’Brien plans to attend Jadeveon Clowney‘s Pro Day next week, and is looking forward to continuing the “good talk” he had with Clowney at the combine, tweets James Palmer of CSNHouston.com.
- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that he spoke to free agent receiver Jason Avant, but suggested there’s nothing there when it comes to the team’s interest in the former Eagle. Reid instead hinted that he and Avant may work together down the road, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links).
- Chris Owens‘ one-year contract with the Chiefs is worth $800K, which includes a $730K base salary and a $70K workout bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. $80K of Owens’ base salary is guaranteed.
- Fullback Jamize Olawale has signed his exclusive rights tender to remain with the Raiders, the team announced today (Twitter link).
FA Rumors: Monroe, Ward, Dolphins, Hester
We’ve already passed along one round of free agent rumors this afternoon, but with the 2014 FA period just a few days away from officially getting underway, there will be plenty more items to track in the near future. In fact, we’ve already got another handful of updates to run through:
- Left tackle Eugene Monroe and the Ravens remain far apart in talks on a new contract, reports Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. It’s still possible that the two sides could work out an agreement, but it appears unlikely to happen before Monroe becomes eligible to hit the open market and negotiate with other clubs, says Zenitz. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) also hears that the sides are still far apart, though he says there were no new negotiations today, meaning things haven’t gotten any worse.
- The agent of Browns safety T.J. Ward has released a statement about his free agent client to the Akron Beacon Journal, as Nate Ulrich details. It reads, in part: “With the passing of the franchise/transition tag deadline, we remain open to further discussions with the Browns in working towards a long-term deal and look forward to that possibility. However, if things don’t work out in Cleveland, we likewise look forward to the opportunity that can coincide with becoming an unrestricted free agent.”
- To the surprise of the players’ agents, the Dolphins have yet to make contract offers to free-agent-to-be defensive tackles Randy Starks and Paul Soliai, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- It looks like Ernie Sims won’t return to the Cowboys, according to ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins, who says the team wants to get younger at its backup linebacker spots (Twitter link).
- The Raiders have tendered contracts to five of their exclusive rights free agents, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Offensive linemen Matt McCants is eligible for the minimum salary for players with one year of NFL experience ($495K), while linebacker Kaelin Burnett, running backs Jamize Olawale and Jeremy Stewart, and cornerback Brandian Ross are eligible for the two-year minimum ($570K). All five players have to accept the tenders if they want to play in the NFL next season.
- The Buccaneers aren’t expected to tender a contract to restricted free agent tight end Kyle Adams, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. The team would still have the option of trying to re-sign Adams for less than the RFA tender amount.
- The Bears are making no attempts to sign Devin Hester, meaning the return specialist appears likely to leave Chicago this offseason, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- When the Redskins released Adam Carriker today, I wrote that the defensive end would likely have to sign with another team if he hopes to return to the field in 2014, and John Keim of ESPN.com confirms as much (via Twitter). A source tells Keim that Washington won’t re-sign Carriker at a lower price.
- The Giants have tendered contracts to Spencer Paysinger ($1.431M) and Dallas Reynolds ($570K) while the Browns tendered Craig Robertson ($570K), according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter).