Dolphins, DL Zach Sieler Agree To Extension
The Dolphins and defensive lineman Zach Sieler have agreed to a three-year contract extension, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Per Schefter, the deal is worth up to $38.65MM and includes $20MM in guarantees. The NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe says that the contract has a base value of $30.75MM and can top out at $35.7MM via incentives, so we will need to wait for a little more clarity with respect to Sieler’s maximum earnings. The reporters are in agreement on the $20MM guaranteed money figure.
Sieler, a seventh-round pick of the Ravens in 2018, is the last player that longtime Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome drafted while at the top of the club’s personnel department. But like many Day 3 draftees, Sieler had a difficult time carving out a role for himself, and after appearing in just six games for the Ravens, he was waived in December 2019.
The Dolphins, who were in the midst of a rebuild at the time, claimed Sieler and gave him his first NFL start several weeks later. In that game, a victory over the Bengals, Sieler recorded his first career sack, along with seven total tackles and two passes defensed.
The Ferris State find built on that momentum the following year, and in November 2020, he landed a three-year, $8.58MM extension that ran through the 2023 season. That deal gave Sieler a little financial security, but it was also a buy-low transaction for the club, which was rewarded for its savvy waiver claim with over three years of a quality defensive lineman at a fairly modest cost.
In 2022, Sieler appeared in all 17 regular season games (15 starts). He set career-highs with a 77% snap share, 70 total tackles, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles, and his 3.5 sacks matched his career-best total from 2020 (he also added two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown in Miami’s postseason loss to the Bills). Pro Football Focus’ metrics considered him the 21st-best interior defender out of 127 qualifiers, and while PFF did not think highly of his pass rush work last season, it assigned him elite grades across the board in 2021, when it ranked him as the third-best interior DL in the league.
It stands to reason, then, that Sieler wanted a raise on the $2.5MM he was due to earn in the final year of his first Miami extension. Indeed, we heard in June that the soon-to-be 28-year-old was actively seeking a new contract, and player and team were able to come to terms before the start of a season in which the Dolphins are again expected to contend for a playoff berth.
Sieler’s fellow defensive lineman, Christian Wilkins, is pushing for his own lucrative extension, and he has staged a hold-in as part of his efforts to secure it. One wonders what type of impact, if any, the Sieler agreement will have on negotiations with Wilkins. While the Dolphins’ short-term salary cap outlook is less than ideal, the team did not supplement its D-line with any free agent signings or draft picks this year, and Miami generally takes care of the talent that Drew Rosenhaus represents (both Sieler and Wilkins are Rosenhaus clients).
Rams Trade For Steelers G Kevin Dotson
The Rams are set to add some offensive line depth in former Steelers guard Kevin Dotson, first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, the acquisition comes via trade as Los Angeles will send a 2024 fourth- and a 2025 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Dotson, a 2024 fifth-, and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Dotson is heading into his fourth year of NFL play after being drafted in the fourth round by the Steelers back in 2020. Since then, he has started 30 games, mostly at left guard, establishing himself as a full-time starter by his sophomore NFL season.
After only starting four games while appearing in 13 as a rookie, Dotson entered the 2021 season as a full-time starter. After nine starts to open the season, though, Dotson suffered an ankle injury that would keep him off the field for the rest of the season. He returned with a vengeance in 2022, starting all 17 games for Pittsburgh at left guard.
It will be interesting to see if Dotson can compete for a starting job in Los Angeles right away. TCU second-round pick Steve Avila is slotted in as the starting left guard, while Tremayne Anchrum is penciled in at right guard. Avila should be given every opportunity to start as a rookie, but Anchrum, on the other hand, has only started one game over his three years with the Rams.
Los Angeles recently introduced projected starting left tackle Joseph Noteboom to the right guard spot as part their attempt to determine the best possible configuration of their top linemen. Noteboom has also never spent a full season as a starter, though, and bringing Noteboom over obviously opens the left tackle slot for competition.
If Dotson can come in and solidify the right guard spot, it could solve the problem of experience at the guard position and also keep Noteboom kicked outside where he’s been working. In the Rams search to play their best five linemen, Dotson’s addition should help immensely.
In Pittsburgh, the move comes with a bit of relief. Despite losing their starting left guard from last year, the team will save $2.75MM in cap money by trading Dotson away. Last year’s starting right guard, James Daniels, should remain in his starting role, while free agent addition Isaac Seumalo is the one who made Dotson superfluous in the first place.
Lions Cut 11 Players Prior To Deadline
The Lions made a big move on the road that eventually leads to a 53-man roster today, tweeting out that they have parted ways with 11 players.
Released:
- T Bobby Hart
- OL Germain Ifedi
- WR Jason Moore
- RB Devine Ozigbo
Waived:
- WR Trinity Benson
- WR Avery Davis
- OL Obinna Eze
- OL Alex Mollette
- S Scott Nelson
- OL Darrin Paulo
- CB Colby Richardson
The losses of Hart and Ifedi seem like fairly large blows to the offensive line, but the Lions are set to return four of last year’s five starting offensive linemen in Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, and Jonah Jackson. The fifth spot will be re-filled by Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed last season due to injury but started at right guard the previous two years. Detroit is absolutely set on their starting five offensive linemen. Hart and Ifedi could’ve likely provided strong depth, but with both at 29 years old, they should land on their feet and perhaps find starting opportunities like they’ve had in the past.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/23
With the preseason over for 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams, many have begun the process of working their rosters down to the eventual 53-man rosters they will open the season with:
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Tyler Adams, WR Kody Case, G Emil Ekiyor, TE Nick Eubanks, K Lucas Havrisik, TE Michael Jacobson, T Matthew Vanderslice
- Released: CB Teez Tabor
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: RB Brittain Brown, TE Jacob Hollister, WR Isaiah Zuber
- Waived/injured: WR Chris Lacy
- Waived: CB Isiah Brown, CB Bryce Cosby, DT Doug Costin, LB Isaac Darkangelo, QB Chase Garbers, G Vitaliy Gurman, RB Darwin Thompson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OLB Carlo Kemp, CB Cam Brown
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Wilson Huber, T Jarrid Williams
- Released: LB Tanner Vallejo
New England Patriots
- Released: DT Carl Davis, CB Rodney Randle
- Waived: LB Diego Fagot, S Brad Hawkins, TE Johnny Lumpkin, RB C.J. Marable, CB Quandre Mosely, DT Justus Tavai, OL Micah Vanterpool, TE Scotty Washington, LB Carson Wells
New York Jets
- Released: LB Nick Vigil
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Aron Cruickshank
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: CB Nate Brooks, OLB LaDarius Hamilton, DE Breeland Speaks, LB Kyahva Tezino, DL Spencer Waege
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Sal Cannella, DE Jordan Ferguson, WR Malik Flowers, CB Benjie Franklin, WR Justin Marshall, CB Chris Steele, RB Wayne Taulapapa
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: CB Don Gardner
- Waived: OLB Hamilcar Rashed
- Released: LB Ulysees Gilbert
Although never quite reaching the heights of his tenure with the Bengals, Vigil has a history as a strong contributor and potential starter at linebacker. Coming off a season that saw him only play in four games for the Cardinals before getting put on injured reserve, Vigil failed to stick in New York and will need to find his next opportunity elsewhere.
Vallejo’s tenure in Minnesota lasted a short two weeks. The special teams specialist will have to keep searching for his 2023 home.
Patriots Trade For Vikings OL Vederian Lowe
The Vikings have successfully found a trade partner to take second-year offensive tackle Vederian Lowe after a few days of searching, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The team will send him to New England in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Minnesota selected Lowe in the sixth round of last year’s draft after Lowe ended his college career with consecutive seasons of All-Big Ten honorable mention. Lowe, the 31st best tackle in college football his senior year, according to Pro Football Focus, was brought in presumably to add depth behind starting offensive tackles Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. With Lowe now out, Oli Udoh and Blake Brandel are the team’s top backups at tackle.
It’s not completely clear whether Lowe failed to meet Minnesota’s expectations as a backup or if he was too valuable to keep stashed without playing opportunities or if maybe Lowe himself was the one who wanted out. Regardless, the Vikings will likely be satisfied with the return of some draft capital in this exchange.
Lowe will now have a new opportunity with the Patriots to compete for playing time. The recent preseason injury to presumptive starting right tackle Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson‘s status on the non-football injury list made tackle depth a necessity. Whether or not Lowe gets serious run at the right tackle job in the absence of Reiff and Anderson, his presence should have the Patriots feeling a bit better about their depth. Lowe joins Conor McDermott, newly acquired Tyrone Wheatley, and Andrew Stueber as the team’s healthy tackle options across from Trent Brown.
Eagles Cut TE Dan Arnold, QB Ian Book, T Dennis Kelly
Sun, 8:44pm: The cuts continued in Philadelphia today, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Among those already listed below, the Eagles waived DE Quinton Bell, RB Kennedy Brooks, DT Robert Cooper, WR Jadon Haselwood, LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams, DT Olive Sagapolu, DT Caleb Sanders, WR Freddie Swain, and DT Marvin Wilson.
Most notable of these is likely Swain, who is only two years separated from catching four touchdowns for the Seahawks in 2021. After failing to catch on with the Broncos and Dolphins in 2022 and the Eagles this offseason, Swain will have to keep looking for his next NFL home.
Sat, 9:45pm: Further names on the cut list are in, courtesy of KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Veteran offensive tackle Dennis Kelly is among the players being let go, putting an end to his Eagles reunion. The 33-year-old began his career in Philadelphia and returned there in July after spending last season with the Colts, but the team will move forward with its in-house options up front. A veteran of 54 starts and 130 games, Kelly will look to find a depth role elsewhere as teams search for quality fill-in options along their O-lines.
In addition to Kelly, the Eagles have released fellow linemen Josh Andrews, Cameron Tom and Brett Toth, as well as wide receiver Deon Cain.
Sat, 12:48pm: The Eagles are starting to reduce their roster to 53 players. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Eagles are releasing tight end Dan Arnold. The team has also waived tight end Tyree Jackson (per Pelissero), quarterback Ian Book (per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer), offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson (per McLane), and wideout Johnny King (per Andrew DiCecco of InsideTheBirds.com).
According to Pelissero, the Eagles released Arnold now so the veteran would have more time to catch on with a new team. The former undrafted free agent out of UW–Platteville joined Philly earlier this offseason but was facing an uphill battle to make the final roster.
The tight end’s best season came with the Cardinals in 2020, when he hauled in 31 receptions for 438 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (five starts). He spent most of the past two seasons in Jacksonville, hauling in 37 catches for 459 yards. Pro Football Focus generally hasn’t been a fan of Arnold’s blocking ability throughout his career, although the site has given him solid grades for his receiving skills. There’s a chance he catches on with a new team, even if he has to ultimately settled for a practice squad gig.
Jackson was facing a similar battle to make the roster considering the team’s depth at tight end. The former UDFA got into 12 games for the Eagles over the past two years, compiling three catches and one touchdown. With Arnold and Jackson out of the picture, the team’s depth chart at TE now includes Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, and Brady Russell.
Book seemed destined to be the Eagles fourth QB in 2023, so there’s a good chance he lands back on the practice squad after serving in a similar role in 2022. The former fourth-round pick got one start as a rookie with the Saints in 2021, completing 12 of his 20 pass attempts while tossing a pair of interceptions.
OL Alex Leatherwood, QB P.J. Walker Among Bears’ Cuts
The Bears have yet to begin making mass cuts in an effort to move towards the eventual 53-man roster, instead opting to look at a few bigger names that should affect how the rest of the roster plays out. According to Bears senior writer Larry Mayer, the Bears released quarterback P.J. Walker and waived offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood while waiving guard Gabriel Houy with an injury designation. 
The most notable departure here is Leatherwood, who has consistently slotted in as the team’s backup to Teven Jenkins, whose struggles to stay on the field have only continued this offseason. Without Jenkins or Leatherwood, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports that Cody Whitehair would be the one filling Jenkins’ spot. If that’s the case, the Bears would then need to turn to Lucas Patrick to cover Whitehair’s starting center role.
Walker, a former backup quarterback who started seven games for the Panthers over the past three years, apparently failed to do enough to stay in the running for the backup job behind Justin Fields. That leaves the Bears with Nathan Peterman and undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent as the team’s reserve options behind Fields
Another notable part of this transaction is the money that gets left on the table by Chicago here. Leatherwood reportedly had $4.59MM of guarantees remaining on his deal, while the money lost by releasing Walker brings that total up to around $7MM in dead money. Second-year general manager Ryan Poles is making it clear that money owed on a contract isn’t going to determine roster spots for this year’s squad.
Broncos Waive WR Kendall Hinton
The Broncos are saying goodbye for now to fourth-year wide receiver Kendall Hinton, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. In a wide receivers room led by Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and rookie second-round pick Marvin Mims, Hinton failed to provide enough value as a backup to remain on the active roster. 
Hinton is perhaps most famous for a game during his rookie season in which he performed as the team’s emergency starting quarterback due to several COVID-19 absences. He didn’t quite stick at that position, but he found a role in the receiving corps, even expanding on that role in his second year in the position.
In 2022, Hinton performed as the WR3 behind Jeudy and Sutton, putting up the third-most catches and receiving yards in the receivers room. Despite where that ranks on the team’s stat sheet, Hinton failed to satisfy expectations with the opportunities he was given. Given his history with the team, though, there’s a chance Hinton could land back on the practice squad, should he clear waivers.
Also getting waived alongside Hinton are wide receivers JJ Koski and Nick Williams and cornerback Delonte Hood. Denver also released veteran offensive tackle Isaiah Prince. Prince has started six games in the NFL since being drafted, but that experience wasn’t enough to grant him a roster spot with the Broncos to start the year.
Browns Cut Roster Down To 75 Ahead Of Deadline
The Browns join the rest in their efforts to start moving their roster down to the eventual 53 players they’ll start the season with. In the process, Cleveland waived nine players, released two, and placed wide receiver/return specialist Jakeem Grant on injured reserve, following his season ending injury.
The players waived by the Browns today include:
- CB Caleb Biggers
- LB Cam Bright
- TE Miller Forristall
- TE Thomas Greaney
- CB Gavin Heslop
- T Derrick Kelly
- S Nate Meadors
- WR Anthony Schwartz (injury designation)
- WR Jalen Wayne
The players whose contracts were terminated were:
Schwartz is maybe the most notable of the players to be cut loose today. A third-round pick from two years ago, Schwartz has failed to live up to his draft stock through his first two seasons after only amassing 186 total receiving yards. A track star through high school, Schwartz’s speed granted him some kickoff return opportunities in his rookie season, but even that job fell out of his reach last year. The team may attempt to place him on injured reserve if he clears waivers in order to keep him on the team. Otherwise, this marks the end of a disappointing tenure in Cleveland.
Yesterday’s trade for Pierre Strong may have sealed the deal for Wilkins. A formerly dependable backup rusher for the Colts, Wilkins was battling with the likes of Strong, Jerome Ford, and Demetric Felton for a backup running back role in Cleveland.
Finally, the team did add a player back to the active roster, activating wide receiver Marquise Goodwin off of the non-football injury list, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Coming back from a scary situation involving blood clots, Goodwin will be able to return to practice.
Bills Begin Roster Cuts, Release 7
Teams have until Tuesday afternoon to get their 90-man rosters down to 53, but a number of them are deep into that process already with the preseason now in the books. The Bills trimmed their roster on Sunday by releasing the following seven players:
- DT Cortez Broughton
- WR Isaiah Coulter
- S Jared Mayden
- T Garrett McGhin
- WR Dezmon Patmon
- TE Jace Sternberger
- LB DaShaun White
Each player, with the exception of White, has regular season NFL experience, although none have much in the way of game action. Sternberger is the most notable name on the list, given his time with the Packers to start his career. The former third-rounder had plenty of expectations after his career at Texas A&M, but things did not go according to plan in Green Bay.
Sternberger logged only 18 games across two seasons with the team, and his last NFL action came in 2020. He bounced around to the Commanders and Steelers after his time in Green Bay came to an end, and he played in the USFL this past spring. The 27-year-old led the league in receiving touchdowns with the Birmingham Stallions, which landed him an opportunity with the Bills. He will instead wind up on their practice squad or find himself in search of another new NFL home.
Depth along the offensive line, especially at the tackle position, has been a talking point for Buffalo this summer. McGhin, who has bounced around several teams’ practice squads in his career, has made two career appearances – though they both came in 2019. Especially if Buffalo elects not to add more experienced fill-in options up front in the coming days, he could find himself on the team’s taxi squad.