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Odell Beckham Jr.

Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb, Isaiah Wynn To Begin Season On PUP List

August 26th, 2024 at 8:43am CST by Adam La Rose

As roster cuts take place, teams around the league also need to make decisions on players beginning the season on the reserve/PUP list. That designation confirms an absence of at least four weeks, and it will be used on several Dolphins in 2024.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) that edge rusher Bradley Chubb, offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn and linebacker Cameron Goode will begin the year on the reserve/PUP list. A final decision in the case of wideout Odell Beckham Jr. has yet to be made, McDaniel added. The other three players’ absences will be felt nonetheless.

Chubb suffered an ACL tear on New Year’s Eve, ending his first full season with the Dolphins. The two-time Pro Bowler has yet to return to practice, so today’s update comes as little surprise. Jaelan Phillips – who went down with an Achilles tear in 2023 – was able to get back on the field earlier this month, meaning he is in contention to be available for Week 1. Having Phillips in place at the start of the year would help compensate for Chubb’s absence, but the latter will be counted on to produce when healthy. Chubb has four years left on his contract.

Wynn inked a one-year deal with the Dolphins last season, one in which he was limited to seven games by a quadriceps injury. His level of play when on the field earned him a new Miami deal, and the former Patriots first-rounder is expected to serve as the team’s starting left guard when available. After an offseason featuring a slower recovery process than expected, Miami will need to turn to other linemen along the interior while also being without a depth option at tackle.

Goode joined the Dolphins as a seventh-rounder in 2022. The 26-year-old did not see any game action during his rookie campaign, spending the year on Miami’s practice squad. Last season, he suited up for all 17 regular season contests, logging a heavy workload on special teams. His absence will not have a major defensive impact, but the Dolphins’ third phase units will be shorthanded.

Beckham will not practice this week as he continues to recover from an unknown injury. Naming him to the 53-man roster after little to no time in team drills would carry notable risk given his status as the team’s No. 3 receiver, but a reserve/PUP designation would leave Miami’s receiver room shorthanded. That will already be the case at numerous positions given today’s news.

Dolphins Sign RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Release RB Salvon Ahmed

August 19th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Dolphins continued to add at running back under Mike McDaniel, Salvon Ahmed kept waging successful battles to keep his roster spot. But the Brian Flores-era acquisition received word Monday he would be released.

During a busy day for Dolphins transactions, the team cut the fifth-year running back. Ahmed re-signed in March, staying in Miami on a one-year deal worth $1.29MM. The Dolphins did not guarantee Ahmed anything upon bringing him back, and the team made another key move at running back weeks after keeping the enduring former UDFA.

Mentioned as a release candidate before the trade addition of Jeff Wilson back in 2022, Ahmed managed to stick around despite the subsequent De’Von Achane draft choice. This year, however, the Dolphins traded up for Tennessee speedster Jaylen Wright. With ex-McDaniel 49ers charges Wilson and Raheem Mostert still around, Ahmed did not seem to have a realistic path to the team’s active roster. The team also rosters Chris Brooks, who arrived as a UDFA under McDaniel.

It would seemingly not be out of the question Ahmed — a Dolphin since 2020 — resurfaced on the team’s practice squad, but this early release would give him a shot at landing somewhere else. Most teams are not as deep as Miami in the backfield, pointing to Ahmed having another chance. Though, he does not exactly play a position on the right end of the supply-and-demand spectrum. A Washington alum, Ahmed rushed for 319 yards as a rookie but has not surpassed 150 in a season since.

The Dolphins are also adding at running back, signing former Steeler Anthony McFarland Jr. The 2020 fourth-rounder spent the past four seasons with the Steelers, working in a reserve role. McFarland, 26, has only topped 30 rushing yards in one season (2020, when he amassed 113). The Steelers used one of their eight allotted IR activations on the third-string RB last season but waived him later in the year.

Miami also signed fullback Zander Horvath along with linebacker Dequan Jackson and wide receiver Jadon Janke. The team placed Willie Snead and offensive lineman Sean Harlow on IR and waived linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh with an injury designation. Snead caught on with the Dolphins in late July, joining a team that placed Odell Beckham Jr. on the active/PUP list.

It does not sound like OBJ will come off the list especially soon, McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). Beckham will not practice this week, per McDaniel. Teams to not have to disclose the nature of injuries before injury reports return ahead of Week 1, so Beckham’s issue remains a bit of a mystery.

While it does not sound like the Dolphins are overly concerned, Beckham certainly has dealt with a number of injuries. Health issues led to his tumble off the superstar tier, but the veteran wideout has remained a viable contributor. The Dolphins gave OBJ a one-year, $3MM deal ($3MM guaranteed) to be their No. 3 wideout.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/24

July 23rd, 2024 at 8:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OT Julién Davenport

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reverted to IR: WR Jared Wayne
  • Released from IR: WR Jaxon Janke

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Odell Beckham Jr. On WR3 Role In Dolphins’ Offense

May 19th, 2024 at 8:27am CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins were first connected to Odell Beckham Jr. shortly after the first wave of free agency had passed in March, and they struck a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the 31-year-old wideout just a few days after the 2024 draft wrapped. Although the Jets were rumored as a possible suitor for the three-time Pro Bowler this offseason, it was ultimately a one-team race for Beckham’s services.

That fact is reflected in the $3MM base value of Beckham’s contract, a full $12MM less than the $15MM in guaranteed money he received from the Ravens in the 2023 offseason (a payout that was driven by the status of the Ravens’ negotiations with QB Lamar Jackson at the time). Beckham’s Miami deal also confirms that, despite his ability to stay mostly healthy thoughout his first and only Baltimore campaign, he is now viewed throughout the league as an ancillary piece rather than an offensive focal point.

For his part, Beckham is perfectly content with that. “[A]t this place in my life and my career, I haven’t been the No. 1 (WR) in a minute,” Beckham said during his introductory press conference (via Larry Holder of The Athletic (subscription required)). “You could go look at targets, you could go look at anything, that’s not really where I’ve been at.”

While virtually any player would take a backseat to Miami’s WR tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, it is still notable that Beckham — who looked every bit a future Hall of Famer during the early stages of his pro career, and who had at least two clubs willing to pony up eight figures for him in 2023 — has made peace with his new role.

Beckham caught 35 balls for 565 yards last season, a far cry from his halcyon days with the Giants and even his first season with the Browns in 2019, which was generally considered to be a disappointment. On the other hand, his Baltimore production yielded a 16.1 yards-per-reception rate, a career-best mark that supports the execs who believe that he still possesses high-end ability.

And in South Beach, even a repeat of Beckham’s Ravens output should be more than enough to help the Dolphins’ offense continue to function at a high level. Despite the fact that Miami’s nominal No. 3 wideout, Cedrick Wilson Jr., recorded just 296 yards in 2023, the club finished first in the league in total offense and second in points scored. Wilson is no longer on the team, but Beckham and a pair of Day 3 draftees (Malik Washington and Tahj Washington) have been added to the unit.

Among the 35 receivers who garnered between 40 and 74 targets in 2023, OBJ finished 10th in terms of Expected Points Added per target and third in terms of EPA per reception, which suggests that he can indeed serve as a productive complement to Hill and Waddle.

In discussing his contentment with his current status, Beckham said, “[i]t’s amazing. It gives you a huge sense of peace. I feel like I used to carry a lot of anger or resentment or whatever it was. Now I just feel at peace. You’re able to train, you’re able to play the game that you love again. You kind of get past all the business side or whatever could be holding you back. A part of me feels like this is an opportunity for it to just be football.”

WR Rumors: Chiefs, OBJ, Giants, Packers

May 15th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges in connection with a hit-and-run incident earlier this year; the second-year Chiefs wideout has since been accused of punching a photographer in the face at a nightclub. On top of that, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes teams were aware a previous incident — while Rice was at SMU — ahead of last year’s draft. Believing former SMU basketball player Kendric Davis was seeing his girlfriend, Rice and others attended a Mustangs basketball game. Rice or a member of his party, per intel gathered during the pre-draft process, fired multiple bullets into Davis’ car, which was empty at the time. The Chiefs, who have displayed a rather high tolerance for off-field issues, chose Rice 55th overall in 2023 and saw him fare well during the team’s Super Bowl LVIII-winning season.

The incident at SMU did not produce a police report, Florio adds, but it would factor into any potential punishment Rice receives under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Chiefs are bracing for a suspension. While Rice is facing the eight felony charges, he is still viewed as a key part of Kansas City’s offense. The promising wideout attended the first phase of Kansas City’s offseason program virtually.

Here is the latest from the wideout landscape:

  • The Chiefs joined the Cardinals, Titans and Cowboys in meeting with Zay Jones last week. While the recent Jaguars cut ended up signing with the Cardinals, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds he was also interested in joining the Chiefs. Jones landed a one-year deal worth up to 4.25MM. Rice’s issues are likely spurring the Chiefs on the receiver front, as they have already signed Marquise Brown and traded up in Round 1 for Xavier Worthy. A Rice suspension is not a lock to commence during the 2024 season, but it certainly could. It appears the Chiefs are preparing a contingency plan, though the free agent market is obviously thin at this point.
  • One of the other receivers recently taken off the market, Odell Beckham Jr. joined Jones in signing a one-year deal. The Dolphins closed a lengthy back-and-forth with the veteran target, giving him a $3MM deal. But OBJ could see that figure more than double through incentives. The Dolphins must finish as a top-20 offense to trigger any Beckham escalator, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, but the yardage totals are achievable. Beckham would earn $400K for reaching 566 yards (his 2023 Ravens total), another $800K for 650 and an additional $1MM for 800 yards. Just 36 receptions would produce a $400K payment, with 45 and 55 catches respectively representing the $800K and $1MM triggers on the catch front. Payments of $400K and $450K are respectively in place for four and six touchdowns.
  • Brian Daboll said (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) the team’s Allen Robinson addition does not have any bearing on the situation with Darius Slayton. The team’s leading receiver in four of the past five seasons, Slayton is staying away from Giants voluntary offseason work in pursuit of an adjusted contract. Slayton’s two-year, $12MM deal does include a fully guaranteed salary ($2.6MM) this year, but the sixth-year pass catcher is aiming for more. Robinson, who is coming off three consecutive down seasons, received the veteran minimum (with just $25K guaranteed) to sign.
  • Alex McGough spent all of last season on the Packers‘ practice squad, re-emerging in the NFL after winning USFL MVP honors in 2023. The Packers are giving the veteran reserve QB an unusual assignment this year. They have moved McGough to receiver, Matt LaFleur said recently (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). McGough worked as a receiver during practice at points last season. The Packers are team No. 5 for the 2018 Seahawks draftee. Green Bay used McGough as its third QB last season. It appears Tulane’s Michael Pratt, a seventh-round pick, has a decent shot to be the passer behind Jordan Love and Sean Clifford this season.

AFC East Notes: Allen, Bills, Coleman, Staff, Washington, Jets, Patriots, Slater, Dolphins

May 12th, 2024 at 10:46am CST by Sam Robinson

Having traded Stefon Diggs weeks after letting Gabe Davis walk in free agency, the Bills are facing questions about their receiving corps. The team’s top offseason investment at the position — No. 33 overall pick Keon Coleman — encouraged Josh Allen. Bills GM Brandon Beane said during a Sirius XM Radio appearance he had Allen join coaches in watching some film of receiver prospects. Coleman was among the candidates the superstar passer preferred, expressing his approval after being informed on Day 2 of the draft the Bills would go with the Florida State wideout. Although Coleman did not produce an 800-yard receiving season with the Seminoles, the Bills look set to count on the 6-foot-4 pass catcher as they remake their receiving corps.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • The Jets have moved on from one of the better-known members of their coaching staff. Leon Washington, who had been in place as assistant special teams coach in each of Robert Saleh‘s three seasons, did not see his contract renewed for the 2024 season, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello. This marked the former Jets kick returner/running back’s first full-time coaching gig, after a run of fellowships since his playing career ended after the 2014 season. A Jets contributor from 2006-09, Washington earned All-Pro honors in 2008. Earlier this offseason, the Jets lost special teams assistant Michael Ghobrial to the Giants. Dan Shamash, who helps advise Saleh in terms of game management, is now listed as an ST assistant for the team. Brant Boyer remains in place as the team’s ST coordinator.
  • Rome Odunze may well have been the Jets’ preference at No. 10, but after the Bears went with the Washington wideout at 9, the team was set on Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu. The Jets were also high on Washington tackle Troy Fautanu, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the team carried some long-term durability concerns about the Pac-12 blocker. Two other tackles — Taliese Fuaga (Saints) and Amarius Mims (Bengals) — went off the board before Fautanu, who slid to the Steelers at No. 20. Some teams flagged Fautanu’s knee as a medical concern, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. It appears the Jets were one of them.
  • Odell Beckham Jr.‘s Dolphins contract includes a void year, which will drop his cap number by a bit. The new Miami WR3 will count $2.1MM on the team’s 2024 cap, per OverTheCap. Beckham signed a one-year, $3MM deal with the Dolphins; the team will take on a $900K dead money charge in 2025 if OBJ is not re-signed by the 2025 league year.
  • The Bills have either decided on their defensive play-caller, only to not reveal the choice publicly, or they are still in the process of determining who will call the signals come September. Sean McDermott said (via the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski) he is delaying this decision until at least training camp. McDermott called plays last season, with the Bills having moved on from longtime defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, but the Bills now have a DC again in Bobby Babich. The Bills have been a top-five defense in each of the past three seasons, though their units — as key injuries hit in each season — have struggled in the playoffs.
  • Matthew Slater‘s immediate transition to coaching will come in a full-time role, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. The perennial Pro Bowl special-teamer is working as a “right-hand man” to Jerod Mayo, with Reiss noting the new Patriots HC is receiving input from his former teammate regarding team-building and character development. Slater, 38, spent 16 seasons with the Patriots, coming into the league in the same 2008 draft class Mayo did.
  • Staying with that 2008 draft class, one of its members recently landed a scouting gig. The Dolphins hired Beau Bell as a pro scout, according to InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton. A 2008 fourth-round Browns draftee, Bell only played five NFL games. He will make the move to a full-time role after receiving an apprentice opportunity with the Rams and serving as GM of the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul.

Latest On Odell Beckham Jr., Dolphins

May 8th, 2024 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Making the No. 3 wide receiver post a priority, the Dolphins made an offer to Odell Beckham Jr. weeks ago and finalized an agreement last week. The former superstar’s terms with Miami reflect a value drop, as the deal brings a $12MM reduction from his base Ravens payment.

After Beckham drove Baltimore to guarantee him $15MM, he will land on Miami’s books at $3MM. The wideout is believed to have turned down more money elsewhere, via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, though no connection between the nine-year vet and another team emerged this offseason.

Beckham’s Dolphins contract can max out at $8MM; this comes a year after his Ravens deal featured an $18MM max value. Beckham used the leverage of Lamar Jackson‘s holdout in 2023, with SI.com’s Albert Breer noting the now-two-time MVP — then near the end of a long-running negotiation that involved an 11th-hour trade request — wanted the well-traveled wide receiver on the roster. (When Beckham signed, the Ravens officially gave him no assurances Jackson was coming back.) The Ravens obliged, but the outcome fell short of the team’s hopes.

The Ravens used Beckham as a part-timer last season, giving him a 60% snap rate on offense during just one of the 16 games he played. The 31-year-old target totaled 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. Clubs understandably view Beckham as in decline, with one exec whose team looked into signing the WR it was clear the gear he had once displayed is not there anymore. Another exec did not go that far, viewing Beckham’s form as improving as last season progressed.

OBJ’s 16.1 yards per catch represented a career-high mark, coming in 12th in the NFL; his yards per route run (1.92) and yards per target (8.8.) each ranked in the top 35 last season. The former Giants Pro Bowler has likely submitted his final 1,000-yard season — he has five — but the Dolphins appear fine with the version of Beckham the Ravens received.

A No. 1 wideout essentially from the start of his Giants career through the point he was traded, Beckham added two more 1,000-yard years in Cleveland. OBJ played a 1-A role alongside Jarvis Landry with the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler lined up as the Rams’ WR2 during his short but memorable stint in Los Angeles, and the Ravens ended up placing him as their No. 2 pass catcher — behind Zay Flowers — following Mark Andrews‘ injury. The Dolphins, however, will slot Beckham as their clear WR3 behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. This will be new territory for the former top-10 pick.

A wide gap formed between Miami’s second- and third-leading pass catchers last season. Waddle’s 1,014 yards (in 14 games). Tight end Durham Smythe checked in as Miami’s third-leading target last year; he totaled 366 yards. The Dolphins’ nominal No. 3 wideout — Cedrick Wilson Jr. — tallied 296 yards. The team will hope Beckham can bridge the gap between the two speed merchants and the rest of their receiving cadre.

The team released Wilson, who later caught on with the Saints, and used a sixth-round pick on a wideout (5-foot-8 Virginia prospect Malik Washington). Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft remain on the team, as does ex-Browns third-rounder Anthony Schwartz. But the Dolphins will expect Beckham to deliver better WR3 work than the team received last season.

Dolphins, Odell Beckham Jr. Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins’ long-anticipated receiver addition is set to take place. Miami has agreed to terms with Odell Beckham Jr., Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

Team and player have long been linked in this case, and the post-draft wave of free agency has now produced an agreement. While an April report suggested Beckham could turn down Dolphins interest due to his asking price, he has in fact taken a deal worth far less than his 2023 Ravens pact.

Rapoport reports this one-year deal is worth up to $8.25MM. The base value, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, is $3MM. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald adds the team was not prepared to raise its offer in terms of guaranteed compensation, but incentives led to this agreement.

The three-time Pro Bowler joined Baltimore on a pact featuring $15MM guaranteed, a surprising figure considering the missed time which preceded it. Beckham had his most productive campaign since 2019 last year (35 receptions, 565 yards), and his 16.1 yards per catch average was the highest mark of his career. An increase in volume will no doubt lower the latter figure, but Beckham is in position to fill Miami’s stated desire for a capable third receiving option.

Not long after the 31-year-old visited the Dolphins in March, a mutual interest was reported to exist. That was confirmed in short order when Miami submitted an offer to Beckham, though Rapoport notes he had more lucrative options on the table. In the end, however, the former Rams Super Bowl winner has accepted the chance to work in a complementary role to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Those two will command a large share of Miami’s targets, but the team lost Cedrick Wilson Jr. in free agency, leaving slot receiver/returner Braxton Berrios as the lone in-house depth WR option featuring much experience. A veteran of 110 games, Beckham will certainly help in that department. A strong season would also boost his market value on a new Dolphins pact or interest from outside teams in 2025.

Miami entered Friday with just over $2.9MM in cap space, so this deal (along with signing the team’s rookie class) will eat up much of the remaining funds available for the time being. Cap space brought about by Xavien Howard‘s release will become available after June 1, but the Dolphins have already accomplished a key secondary roster-building goal with this agreement.

Latest On Dolphins’ WR Pursuit

April 6th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins continue to search for a third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the team isn’t willing to break the bank for the position. A league source that has talked with the Dolphins believes the organization is only willing to spend “a few million” on another wideout, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

[RELATED: Dolphins Submit Offer To OBJ]

The team reportedly made an offer to Odell Beckham Jr., and Jackson says the veteran “remains Miami’s top choice” for the role. Jackson also passes along that the two sides have continued to speak about a potential deal, but the writer believes OBJ isn’t looking for a significant discount on the $15MM he earned from the Ravens in 2023. In that case, the Dolphins’ offer of a “few million” might not be enough.

The organization has also been mentioned as a suitor for free agent Tyler Boyd. However, the long-time Bengals wideout isn’t looking to take a major pay cut on the $10.3MM he earned last season, per Jackson. Hill has pushed for the Dolphins to pursue Michael Thomas, but Jackson says the front office has been “more mindful” of pursuing players with significant injury histories.

The Dolphins will likely continue to be patient until after the draft, and Jackson believes the organization would be comfortable filling that WR3 hole with a rookie. In that scenario, the Dolphins would probably take themselves out of the running for the top remaining free agent WRs.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. served as the team’s third wideout in 2022 and 2023, but he left for the Saints this offseason. Besides Hill, Waddle, and slot receiver Braxton Berrios, the rest of the current WR depth chart lacks experience. That grouping includes River Cracraft, Braylon Sanders, Erik Ezukanma, and Anthony Schwartz.

Dolphins Submit Offer To Odell Beckham Jr.

March 25th, 2024 at 12:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

A report from last week indicated Odell Beckham Jr.‘s Dolphins visit went well, and that both player and team were interested in working out a deal. Head coach Mike McDaniel spoke on the matter at the annual league meetings, and he confirmed an offer has been made.

“Things went great with him,” McDaniel said, via the Miami Herald’s Daniel Oyefusi. “We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players such as Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career, still has really good football in front of him and has options. So, I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go.”

Beckham will not return to the Ravens, with whom he spent the 2023 campaign after a full season out of the league. Upon return from an ACL tear, the 31-year-old posted 565 yards and three touchdowns, production which could line him up as a third receiver option in the Dolphins’ offense. Miami already has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle atop the depth chart, one which also includes Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft. The team has been connected to the pursuit of a more experienced WR3, though, and Beckham would certainly fit the bill.

The latter drew interest from the Jets last offseason before his Ravens agreement (one year, $15MM guaranteed). New York has added Mike Williams this year, however, likely removing a potential Dolphins competitor from the equation. Miami led the league in passing last season, and the return of Hill, Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will give the team’s offense the chance to replicate its success in 2024.

Beckham could serve in a complementary role with the Dolphins, something which would be expected if any eventual Miami agreement was worth less than his previous Ravens one. With $10.3MM in cap space, the Dolphins have less spending power than most other teams at the moment, and the upcoming draft will provide the team with opportunities to add a younger receiving option. Beckham could very well already be in the fold by the time the draft begins, however.

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