Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/23
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DL Henry Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Matthew Adams
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OL Chuma Edoga
- Re-signed: RB Rico Dowdle
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: WR Thomas Hennigan
Adams, a former seventh-round pick, collected 55 tackles across 58 games (nine starts) with the Colts to begin his career. He spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago, compiling 26 tackles in 10 games (three starts).
The Cowboys previously tried to trade for Edoga, so it’s not a surprise that he’s finally landed in Dallas. Per Nick Eatman of the team’s website, the lineman could be a candidate to start at left guard to replace Connor McGovern. The former third-round pick has only appeared in seven games over the past two seasons in stints with the Jets and Falcons.
Anderson hasn’t started a game since the 2020 season, but he can still be a reliable special teamer and situational defender for a rebooted Panthers squad. The veteran got into 11 games for the Colts last season, collecting 18 tackles.
Dolphins Re-Sign LB Andrew Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel is returning to Miami. The Dolphins have agreed to a new one-year deal with the linebacker, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Per Jackson, the linebacker tested free agency a bit. In addition to taking a visit with the Patriots, Van Ginkel also talked with the Raiders, Vikings, and Steelers. Naturally, the Dolphins also made a push, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recently calling the player and expressing interest in bringing the linebacker back to Miami for the 2023 campaign.
The former fifth-round pick has spent his entire career with the Dolphins, collecting 181 tackles in 56 games (31 starts). He started five of his 17 appearances in 2022, finishing with 47 stops. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked him 34th among 119 qualifying edge defenders.
Van Ginkel will be a part of a linebackers corps that features Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and recent acquisition Malik Reed. Van Ginkel will likely continue to see a situational role on defense and a full-time role on special teams.
Steelers Re-Sign CB James Pierre
James Pierre is back in Pittsburgh. The cornerback/special teamer re-signed with the Steelers today (per the team). Pierre signed a new one-year deal with the organization.
The Florida Atlantic product joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and he hasn’t missed a game across three seasons with the organization. He’d had a consistent special teams role each year, but he’s seen a larger defensive role over the past two seasons.
Pierre has started six games for Pittsburgh over the past two years, appearing in 674 defensive snaps. He had a productive season in 2021, finishing with 47 tackles, three forced fumbles, and one interception. He followed that up with a 2022 campaign where he compiled 29 tackles, four passes defended, and one interception.
Pierre was non-tendered by the Steelers at the start of free agency, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Steelers surely got him on a discount compared to the tender values, and he’ll provide both the defense and special teams with some inexpensive continuity heading into 2023.
Chiefs Re-Sign DT Derrick Nnadi
The Chiefs are bringing back a starter on their defensive line. Derrick Nnadi is returning to Kansas City, agency SportsTrust Advisors announced on Twitter.
The former third-round pick has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, starting 69 of his 81 regular season appearances and 11 of his 14 postseason appearances.
After starting only 10 of his 17 appearances in 2021, Nnadi started all 17 games for Kansas City in 2022. His lone sack came during the Chiefs’ postseason run to a Super Bowl, and he finished the years ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 119th interior defender among 124 qualifiers. He last graded as a top-end interior defender in 2020.
Even if Nnadi profiles as more of a situational player, the Chiefs will continue to lean on him in 2023. Khalen Saunders left in free agency, leaving Nnadi as the veteran member of the defensive tackles room.
Bills Re-Sign OL David Quessenberry
The Bills are bringing back a depth piece on their offensive line. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the Bills are re-signing offensive lineman David Quessenberry.
The former sixth-round pick turned into a useful OL piece during his time with the Titans, culminating in him starting all 17 games at right tackle for Tennessee in 2021. The advanced stats point to a productive showing that year, with Quessenberry finishing as Pro Football Focus’ 18th-best offensive tackle.
He joined the Bills last offseason and ended up seeing time in all 17 games. He started three total games at both tackle spots while filling in for Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. He graded last season as PFF’s 66th offensive tackle (among 81 qualifiers).
The Bills added guard Connor McGovern last week, but they’ll otherwise return the same depth from last season. That means Quessenberry will likely enter the season as a backup OL.
Broncos Sign P Riley Dixon
Riley Dixon is back in Denver. The Broncos announced that they’ve signed the free agent punter. Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets that Dixon will be getting a two-year deal.
Dixon was a seventh-round pick by the Broncos back in 2016 and would go on to earn PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. He spent two years in Denver before getting traded to the Giants, where he’d spend four seasons. Dixon landed more than 42 percent of his punts inside the 20 between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but after averaging a career-low 44.4 yards per punt in 2021, he was let go.
He caught on with the Rams for 2022 and saw a significant improvement on his average, boosting his yards per punt to a career-high 48.4 yards. If Dixon can continue performing to his standard career levels, he’ll be able to outperform incumbent Corliss Waitman.
The former UDFA averaged 46.6 yards per punt and landed 31.3 percent of his punts inside the 20 last year in Denver. Waitman was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent after the season, but Renck notes that the offer has since been withdrawn.
Giants To Sign DB Bobby McCain
Bobby McCain‘s Washington stay ended after two seasons, but he will land with one of the franchise’s rivals. The Giants are signing the veteran defensive back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
A full-time starter for the past two Washington editions, McCain is headed to New York on a one-year deal. The Giants just lost Julian Love to the Seahawks, and although they still roster Xavier McKinney, McCain has extensive experience as a back-line defender.
The former Dolphins starter has also spent time as a slot defender, logging reps in that role as recently as last season. Going into his age-30 season, McCain will offer versatility to a Giants team that exited last season somewhat thin at cornerback. Love’s exit created a Big Blue need at safety as well.
Picked up after the Dolphins made him a cap casualty in 2021, McCain intercepted four passes with Washington that season. The team then gave him a two-year deal worth $11MM. Former fifth-round pick Darrick Forrest‘s emergence at safety moved McCain into the slot during the 2022 season, and the Commanders opted to move on from the eight-year veteran to create some cap space.
The Giants used Love across the formation as well, but they’ll return slot options Darnay Holmes and Cor’Dale Flott. They have a greater need at safety, considering Love logged 1,000-plus snaps last season. McKinney has missed chunks of both the 2020 and 2022 seasons as well. McCain has proven durable, starting 32 Washington games since 2021 and having not missed a game since 2019. Other than that 2019 campaign, McCain has only missed two career games.
It should not be expected McCain did as well on this Giants pact compared to his second Washington contract, but the Giants’ decision-makers are certainly familiar with him given Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll‘s AFC East ties and McCain being a Commander when the current New York power structure arrived. McCain could become a cheap solution to the Love defection.
Cardinals Sign DE L.J. Collier, Re-Sign CB Antonio Hamilton
Former Seahawks first-round defensive end L.J. Collier will have another chance in the NFC West. The Cardinals are bringing in the edge rusher, according to the team.
They also announced Tuesday cornerback Antonio Hamilton is staying. Both defenders signed one-year contracts with the retooling team. Hamilton joins a few Steve Keim–Kliff Kingsbury-era additions in coming back. Kelvin Beachum and Matt Prater also agreed to stay in Arizona to start the Monti Ossenfort–Jonathan Gannon regime.
One of a few off-board first-round picks the Seahawks have made in recent years, Collier represented the John Schneider–Pete Carroll regime’s biggest swing and miss in the round. Collier was barely seeing playing time by the time his rookie contract ended, with healthy scratches coming at points during his rookie deal. The TCU product ended his Seattle career with just three sacks; each of those came in 2020.
This will be an uphill battle for a reclamation project, considering Collier’s scant production. The Seahawks tried him as a starter in only 2020, when he started 16 games. They moved on to other first-string options over the past two seasons. Collier, 27, maxed out at six sacks in a season in college as well. The former Horned Frogs edge player’s modest college production left him off the first-round radar, but as the Seahawks have shown with Rashaad Penny and Jordyn Brooks, they care little for consensus options in the draft. The Cards will attempt to use Collier at multiple positions up front, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
Hamilton rebounded from a late-summer kitchen accident, which resulted in serious burns on his feet and landed him on the Cardinals’ reserve/NFI list to start the season. The well-traveled cornerback re-emerged to play in 10 games and start a career-high five. The 6-foot defender notched his first interception and allowed a career-low 82.0 passer rating as the closest defender in coverage. Pro Football Focus also assessed Hamilton’s work positively, ranking him 36th at the position after his 418-snap 2022.
The Cardinals looked into ex-Gannon charge James Bradberry and were interested in re-signing Byron Murphy, but after Murphy — now a Viking — worked as Arizona’s No. 1 corner over the past two seasons, the team remains in dire need at the position. Hamilton, 30, should represent an early piece of this puzzle. The veteran will come on an affordable contract, earning $1.5MM guaranteed and a max value of $2MM, per Fowler (on Twitter). The Cards, who did not move aggressively at corner last year, will need to add multiple additional corners before the offseason ends.
Cowboys To Re-Sign DE Dante Fowler, Want To Re-Sign DT Johnathan Hankins
Following a bounce-back season, Dante Fowler plans to stay in Dallas. The Cowboys are bringing back the first-rounder-turned-rotational pass rusher, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports (on Twitter).
Fowler will be back on another one-year deal, per Watkins. The deal is worth $3MM in base value, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Fowler will collect a $1MM signing bonus and earn $1.5MM in base salary in 2023. The contract includes another $1.25MM available via incentives, Wilson adds.
The ex-Jaguars No. 3 overall draftee totaled six sacks last season, working behind the likes of DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. DC Dan Quinn, who was the Falcons’ HC when they signed Fowler back in 2020, will have him back in this role soon.
The Cowboys aimed to re-sign Randy Gregory last year, but negotiations fell apart late in the process. After Gregory trekked to Denver, Dallas brought in Fowler, re-signed Dorance Armstrong and drafted Sam Williams in the second round. This quantity-based approach ended up paying off for the team, and Fowler — after flaming out on a $16MM-per-year Falcons agreement — fared well as a second-stringer in Dallas.
Fowler is going into his ninth NFL season, but he is headed for only his age-29 campaign. In addition to the six sacks — his most since 2019 — the former Florida prospect added two forced fumbles and nine quarterback hits. He got there in just 343 defensive snaps. The Cowboys still have Armstrong under contract as well; the Fowler addition looks to ensure the team will run it back at defensive end in 2023.
Consistency has eluded Fowler as a pro. He missed his entire rookie season, due to an injury at the Jags’ rookie minicamp, but played a key off-the-bench role for Jacksonville’s AFC championship game-bound team two years later. After Fowler’s eight-sack 2017, he tallied just four with the Jags and Rams in 2018. In a 2019 contract year, however, the then-Aaron Donald teammate racked up career-high numbers in sacks (11.5) and QB hits (16). That preceded a rough Falcons stay, one that ended a year early. Quinn looks to have unlocked Fowler’s higher gear; can the veteran edge defender sustain it?
Clearly sensing an opportunity in what looks to be the weaker of the two conferences, the Cowboys have been aggressive since the legal tampering period began. They have added Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks and re-signed both Fowler, Donovan Wilson and Leighton Vander Esch.
This retention effort may also soon include Johnathan Hankins. The Cowboys want to bring back the veteran defensive tackle, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. The Cowboys acquired Hankins from the Raiders before the deadline and used the 10-year vet as a starter and rotational D-tackle. Hankins, 31 next week, played in seven games for the Cowboys and recorded a sack in the playoffs. The journeyman run-stopper will not cost much to retain, and he looks to have another opportunity in Dallas.
Falcons Reinstate DT Eddie Goldman From Reserve/Retired List
Eddie Goldman looks to be attempting a comeback. The longtime Bears nose tackle landed on the Falcons’ reserve/retired list shortly after signing with Atlanta last year, but he is now back on the team’s active roster.
The Falcons reinstated Goldman from the retired list Tuesday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. Goldman signed a one-year deal worth $1.3MM with the Falcons last summer. But he had played three seasons on a lucrative Bears extension and exercised his right to opt out due to COVID-19 concerns in 2020.
It cannot be assumed Goldman, 29, will be part of the Falcons’ 53-man roster next season. But he is back on Atlanta’s 90-man offseason roster. The former second-round pick operated as the Bears’ starting nose tackle throughout Vic Fangio‘s time with the team and continued to do so following the acclaimed DC’s exit. Former Bears GM Ryan Pace, who made Goldman his second draft choice upon taking that job back in 2015, also remains in the Falcons’ front office.
Goldman started for a No. 1-ranked Bears defense in 2018. That unit, which featured accomplished veterans at most spots, helped snap an eight-season Bears playoff drought. More pivotal to Goldman’s path, the Bears took care of him shortly before that season commenced. Goldman signed a four-year, $42MM extension during the 2018 offseason. That deal came with $25MM guaranteed. Will he end up playing on the bottom-end deal the Falcons authorized last year?
Atlanta is transitioning to Ryan Nielsen‘s defense. The six-year Saints staffer has added ex-charge David Onyemata to his defensive tackle group. With Onyemata joining Grady Jarrett, there would not appear a path — barring injury — to Goldman starting inside. Nielsen has not committed fully to installing a 4-3 defense in Atlanta; Goldman played exclusively in 3-4 schemes in Chicago. But the team is inexperienced up front beyond these two veterans. Goldman has made 73 career starts.