Trystan Colon-Castillo

Lions To Sign OL Trystan Colon

Dealt a blow via Frank Ragnow‘s retirement before age 30, the Lions have now lost two of their starters from a top-shelf 2024 offensive line. Kevin Zeitler‘s free agency defection (to the Titans) brought the first development here.

The Lions have options at center, considering their draft moves and Graham Glasgow‘s versatility, but they are adding another piece in the wake of the Ragnow news. Detroit is bringing in Trystan Colon, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. The parties agreed on a one-year deal.

Spending the past two seasons with the Cardinals, Colon started 11 games in that span. The veteran interior lineman spent the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens, stopping over with the Jets during the 2023 offseason. He will now be expected to at least land a job as a swing backup with the Lions.

The Cardinals used Colon primarily at right guard in 2024, re-signing him (on a one-year, $1.75MM) after initially bringing in the former UDFA in just before the 2023 season started. The Jets had cut Colon, after dangling him in trades, that year. Colon made four starts for the 2023 Cardinals, who used him on 315 snaps at left guard. Although Colon has center experience (from his time in Baltimore), his first-string NFL duty has primarily come at guard.

Colon, who follows defensive tackle Roy Lopez with this Arizona-to-Detroit move, graded impressively during his part-time run as an Arizona starter last season. Pro Football Focus slotted the Mizzou alum 18th overall among guard regulars. Granted, Colon barely saw enough snaps to qualify as such. But the Lions will take a flier on a 27-year-old blocker in light of the Ragnow news.

Ragnow had been the Lions’ top center for six seasons, shifting from guard one year into his career. Replacing a four-time Pro Bowler will not be easy for the Lions, but they did add interior O-linemen in the second and fifth rounds, selecting Tate Ratledge (Georgia) and Miles Frazier (LSU). Ratledge earned All-American acclaim in 2023 and ’24 and started during the Bulldogs’ 2022 national championship season. Glasgow has extensive experience at both guard and center, logging starts at each position in Detroit and Denver, while the Lions have also begun cross-training Ratledge at both spots this offseason.

Cardinals To Re-Sign OL Trystan Colon

Trystan Colon joined the Cardinals on the eve of the 2023 season, but his future has received clarity much earlier this offseason. The utility lineman is being re-signed on a one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Cards are keeping Colon off the market via a $1.75MM deal that can max out at $2MM. Given Colon’s past as a backup, this deal points to a similar role with the NFC West team for the 2024 season.

Colon could not make the Jets’ 53-man roster last year but drew some trade interest ahead of the August roster deadline. No team ended up forking over assets for Colon, who wound up in Arizona via waiver claim. The Cardinals gave the interior offensive lineman four starts, matching his total number logged with the Ravens from 2020-22.

Arizona still has 2023 center starter Hjalte Froholdt under contract, with guard Will Hernandez signed as well. The team may well be set to add a piece at its other guard post, however, with 2023 starter Elijah Wilkinson out of contract for the 2024 slate.

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:

Waived:

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 OL Trystan Colon Drawing Trade Interest

While the Jets’ tackle situation has generated scrutiny for months, teams have recognized the increasingly relevant team’s stronger interior offensive line setup. On that note, one of Gang Green’s options inside has drawn trade interest.

Teams have called the Jets on backup offensive lineman Trystan Colon, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets, noting several clubs have reached out to the team on the veteran reserve. The Jets have Connor McGovern, Wes Schweitzer and Joe Tippmann as center options, with Schweitzer having worked at guard during training camp as well.

The Jets may be able to pick up a late-round pick for Colon, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Ravens. Baltimore nontendered Colon as a restricted free agent in March. Shortly after that move, the Jets added the fourth-year vet on a one-year, $1.41MM deal that came with $250K guaranteed.

A Mizzou alum like McGovern, Colon-Castillo started four games for the Ravens during his first three seasons. The 25-year-old blocker has mostly worked as a reserve during his short NFL career. Teams are often scanning for O-lineman, especially at this point in the year. A team with a low waiver position would stand to be more willing to send over a late-round pick or complete a pick-swap deal with the Jets.

McGovern, whose second Jets contract (one year, $1.92MM) barely eclipses Colon’s, is expected to retain his role as the Jets’ starting center. Schweitzer has extensive guard experience and profiles as a solid swingman. Tippmann remains the heir apparent here, with McGovern signed for just one season. But the veteran is expected to begin the Aaron Rodgers era as the all-time great’s snapper.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/23

Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

 

Board is a strong special teamer, signing a two-year, $5MM deal with New England, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The contract reportedly includes incentives that can push the deal to a maximum value of $6.7MM.

Colon-Castillo reportedly visited the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Despite the visit, he decided to sign with the Jets.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/15/23

Today’s tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 4/18/22

Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Signed:

ERFAs

Signed:

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/22

The deadline for teams to extend tender offers to their restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents looms next week. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:

RFAs

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/19/21

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Placed on reserve-retired list: LB Jordan Mack; Mack opted out of the 2020 season

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

  • Re-signed: RB Sandro Platzgummer

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/10/21

The restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decision deadline is a little more than a week away. Some teams are already making their calls in advance of March 17. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered: 

ERFAs

Tendered: