Cowboys, RB Ronald Jones Agree To Deal
Ronald Jones‘ second Super Bowl ring did not involve many miles added to his odometer. The Chiefs largely used other backs ahead of the former Buccaneers second-round pick, but he will land another opportunity.
The Cowboys are signing Jones on Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Jones met with the team Monday and agreed to a one-year deal. This signing comes days after Dallas separated from Ezekiel Elliott. While the door is not believed to be slammed shut on the seven-year vet re-signing at a (significantly) reduced rate, another veteran coming in does not improve the prospects of a quick reunion.
In what amounted to a mid-career redshirt season, Jones logged just 17 carries for 70 yards with the Chiefs. Kansas City did end up replacing Clyde Edwards-Helaire as its primary starter, but seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco stepped in. Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon operated as the Super Bowl champions’ top backs. Although Jones dressed for Super Bowl LVII, he did not see any action.
Jones, 25, contributed far more to the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning season in 2020, leading the team with 978 rushing yards at 5.1 per carry. He ripped off a 98-yard run against the Panthers that season and enjoyed a three-game stretch in which he cleared the 100-yard barrier in each. Even as Jones’ career-best season came after a 724-yard year in 2019, the Bucs leaned on Leonard Fournette in those playoffs and veered further in that direction in 2021. Jones did rush for 61 yards in Super Bowl LV, but aside from Fournette’s late-season injury in 2022, he never regained his job in Tampa.
The USC product will join Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle as Tony Pollard‘s backups. The Cowboys’ Elliott release ensured the 2022 Pro Bowler will be the team’s centerpiece back next season. The Cowboys kept Pollard’s mileage low (631 career touches) during his rookie contract, so it will be interesting to see if they give Jones a legitimate opportunity to be a between-the-tackles complement or lean more on Pollard going forward. Jones’ 2022, however, certainly does not ensure he will be the team’s first choice to become Pollard’s top backup.
Vikings Re-Sign DL Jonathan Bullard
For the first time in four years, Jonathan Bullard will be remaining in the same NFL home for more than one season. The veteran defensive lineman agreed to a new deal with the Vikings on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
The 29-year-old played in Chicago for the first three seasons of his career, his longest stint with any one team. He primarily worked in a rotational role with the Bears, but saw an uptick in playing time in 2019 with the Cardinals, starting six of nine game played. His career-high 1.5 sacks that season earned him an intra-divisional move to the Seahawks.
In Seattle, and Atlanta the following year, Bullard was limited to just 15 games played. He saw his usage rate drop over that span, which limited the value of his first Vikings deal. That pact represented the fifth consecutive one-year contract Bullard played on, but it allowed him to take on a larger role than years past. The former third-rounder saw a snap share of 40% in 2022, the third-highest of his career.
Bullard started seven of the 12 games he appeared in during the regular season. A December biceps injury led to a stint on IR, but the Florida product still managed 23 tackles (including five for loss) in his debut Vikings campaign. He was able to return in time for the playoffs, and recorded a sack in the team’s wild card loss to the Giants.
Now, Bullard will continue his stay in the Twin Cities after years of bouncing around the NFC. The Vikings have, to little surprise, seen a number of changes to their defense this offseason, after the unit struggled in 2022 in spite of the team’s overall success. That has included fellow interior d-lineman Dalvin Tomlinson signing with the Browns, and former Packer Dean Lowry being added. Bullard will look to occupy a similar role to the one he had last season as Minnesota aims for a set forward on defense in 2023.
Colts To Sign WR Isaiah McKenzie
Isaiah McKenzie‘s time with the Bills came to an end last week, but he has quickly found a new home. The receiver has agreed to a deal with the Colts, per his agency (Twitter link). 
The 27-year-old had a four-plus-year spell in Buffalo, following his time with the Broncos. His production became consistent over that span, and he earned a two-year deal to remain with the Bills last offseason. However, he became a cap casualty in the opening days of free agency amidst other moves the team has made in its receiver room.
McKenzie had a career-year in 2022, posting 423 yards and four touchdowns on 42 catches. Those totals, along with his 1,112 career yards on kick returns, made the slot man one of the more intriguing options available in the second wave of free agents in this year’s class. His roster spot with the Bills became much less secure after they signed Deonte Harty to add to their return game, but McKenzie will now turn his attention to a third AFC employer.
The Colts have a number of taller receivers on their roster, including recent draftees Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Their most expensive wideout in terms of AAV, Ashton Dulin, also comfortably dwarfs McKenzie in size. The latter stands at 5-foot-8, so he will be a unique member of the unit in that regard. He will look to build off of his recent success with Buffalo in particular, though the Colts’ quarterback situation is far different than the one he is departing.
Indianapolis saw Parris Campbell sign with the Giants last week, so McKenzie will look to fill his spot in the lineup. The Colts’ struggles in the passing game over the past few years has no doubt been linked to their never-ending search for a long-term quarterback, but it is also a reflection of their struggles in finding multiple productive wideouts. McKenzie could give them a complimentary option in the slot to match with Pittman and Co. on the outside as the team looks to take a step forward on offense in 2023.
Texans To Sign OL Michael Deiter
MARCH 21: To little surprise, Wilson reports that Deiter has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texans (Twitter link). Offensive additions continue to be made in Houston this offseason, including both along the offensive line and amongst the team’s skill-position group.
MARCH 20: Continuing a busy Texans afternoon, former Dolphins offensive lineman Michael Deiter intends to join the AFC South team. Deiter visited the team Monday and is expected to be part of Houston’s O-line mix, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
Moving between starter and depth piece in Miami, Deiter spent last season as a backup. The Texans drafted Kenyon Green in last year’s first round and traded for fellow guard Shaq Mason. Houston also re-signed Scott Quessenberry recently, making the Deiter addition appear a depth signing.
A former third-round pick out of Wisconsin, Deiter has 23 starts on his resume. Sixteen of those came for an undermanned 2019 Dolphins squad. Deiter worked as an interior backup in all 18 Dolphins games last season, but Miami added ex-Chargers and Jet starter/swingman Dan Feeney last week.
The Texans have rookie-contract cogs Charlie Heck (2020 fourth round) and Austin Deculus (2022 sixth) as backup options, with 2021 UDFA Jimmy Morrissey rostered as well. Deiter would stand to provide some experience as an interior option. The team lost center starter Justin Britt in September of last year; the 2021 Houston starter left the team for personal reasons. The Texans released Britt earlier this month; he is expected to retire.
It would not surprise if another interior backup option joined the Texans, but Deiter will be in the running for a role with DeMeco Ryans‘ team.
Eagles Sign LB Nicholas Morrow
The Eagles have seen a number of defensive losses so far in free agency, but they continue to make additions to the unit as well. Philadelphia has agreed to terms on a deal with linebacker Nicholas Morrow, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). The team has announced that it is a one-year contract. 
Morrow spent the first four years of his career with the Raiders, growing into a key role as a notable part of the team’s linebacking corps. His play over his first three seasons earned him a one-year deal to remain with the organization, and he responded with a career-year.
That was followed by another, more lucrative one-year pact in 2021, but Morrow’s campaign was derailed by a foot injury. He wound missing the entire season that year, which no doubt hurt his market in free agency. He inked a prove-it deal with the Bears last offseason, giving him the opportunity to boost his value and serve in a full-time starting role.
The 27-year-old was on the field for every defensive play this past season, logging over 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career. He racked up 116 total stops and 11 tackles for loss, both new career highs. While those figures didn’t translate to an uptick in PFF grades (which have remained relatively underwhelming throughout his career), they showed his ability to handle starting duties and a sizeable workload. The Bears’ considerable investment in the second level of their defense this offseason, however, made Morrow expendable.
The Eagles’ defensive exodus has hit their LB corps, with T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White landing new deals in Chicago and Arizona, respectively. Their absences has left a notable vacancy, one which Morrow will now contribute to filling. The former UDFA will likely be tasked with a lesser workload than the one he had with the Bears, but he should still see significant playing time on the inside along with the likes of Davion Taylor, Nakobe Dean and other members of the team’s recent draft investments at the position.
Texans, TE Dalton Schultz Agree To Deal
The top available tight end in this year’s free agent class has found his new home. Dalton Schultz is signing a one-year, $9MM deal with the Texans, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
Schultz had a modest start to his career in Dallas, but in 2020 he emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s top targets. He racked up 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns between 2020-21, making himself one of the Cowboys’ most productive offensive players.
Negotiations for a long-term deal fell through last offseason, so Schultz played on the franchise tag in 2022. His production took a step back this past season, one in which Prescott missed considerable time early in the year. Schultz still made 57 catches for 577 yards and five touchdowns, making him the top option in this year’s free agent class. His numbers also made it likely that he would depart the Cowboys this offseason, in spite of a reported multi-year contract offer from the team.
On that point, Pelissero’s colleague Jane Slater recently noted that Dallas had not, in fact, submitted an offer to the 26-year-old (Twitter link). Now, he will make an intra-state move to the Texans, a team which has been amongst the busiest this offseason. Schultz will aim to rebound from a production standpoint working with what will all-but assuredly be a rookie quarterback in 2023.
Houston has added a number of players on offense via free agency and trades, including receivers Robert Woods and Noah Brown. Schultz will join the latter in making a Cowboys-to-Texans move in the hopes of giving the rebuilding AFC South outfit a notable boost in the passing game. Houston’s skill-position corps is bound to look considerably different next season, as they aim to take a sizeable step forward as a unit.
The Cowboys – who yesterday acquired receiver Brandin Cooks in a trade with the Texans further connecting the two franchises – now have a vacancy to fill at the tight end spot. While this year’s draft class boasts a number of celebrated prospects, finding a seam-stretcher with the personal connection to Prescott in line with the one Schultz possessed will likely be a tall order.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: G Max Scharping
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Mike Ford
Denver Broncos
- Released: LB Wyatt Ray
- Waived: CB Lamar Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Jaquan Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Lonnie Johnson
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Leonard Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley
The Giants are giving Leonard Johnson a three-year deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The former Duke prospect suffered a torn ACL while training for the 2022 draft; the Giants worked him out Monday and saw enough to take a flier. While Ford made two starts for the Falcons last season, the ex-UDFA is best known for his special teams work. He saw action on 83% of Atlanta’s ST plays last season, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) the Bengals are giving him a one-year deal worth up to $2.25MM.
Both Scharping and Lonnie Johnson are former Texans second-round picks. The Texans waived Scharping on roster-cutdown day in August, but the Bengals claimed him. Although Scharping only played 30 snaps for Cincinnati last season, the team will keep him around for another run at a backup gig. Months before bailing on Scharping, the Texans traded Johnson to the Chiefs. But Kansas City did not see much from the acquisition in camp and waived him. The Titans picked up Johnson via waivers, using him as a backup. Johnson has experience at both cornerback and safety, and The Score’s Jordan Schultz adds he agreed to a one-year Saints deal (Twitter link).
Vikings Sign DE Marcus Davenport
MARCH 20: This $13MM deal includes $10MM guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. A $4.5MM signing bonus represents part of that guarantee, and Wilson adds the Vikings used void years (2024-27) to further help them against the 2023 cap. Similar to the language in Dalvin Tomlinson‘s deal — one Minnesota restructured to move the void date back — Davenport’s contract will void 23 days before the 2024 league year. If the Vikings do not agree to terms with Davenport on an extension by that February date, they will be tagged with $6.8MM in dead money.
MARCH 13: Soon, the Vikings will have three starter-caliber edge rushers on their roster. They are adding Marcus Davenport on a one-year deal, according to NFL.com.
The former Saints first-round pick signed for $13MM, making this a well-compensated “prove it” deal for the off-and-on pass rusher. Davenport joins Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith on Minnesota’s roster. Smith, however, has requested to be released. Thus far, the Vikings are not indicating they will oblige.
Former Saints co-DC-turned-Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen wanted to bring Davenport to Atlanta, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. But a Davenport-David Onyemata package deal will not be in the cards for the Falcons.
On the subject of Smith, Garafolo adds the Vikings are planning to move on. The 2022 Minnesota pickup made an unusual move to say his goodbyes to the Vikings, who previously were not believed to be readying to release him. It is uncertain if Smith will be released or traded, but Davenport pairing with Hunter looks like the direction the team is heading.
If they are planning to make Smith a Minneapolis one-and-done, the Vikings will be entrusting their edge-rushing responsibilities to two injury-prone players. Although Hunter rebounded from a stretch of significant injury trouble from 2020-21, Davenport missed 12 games during that span. He also underwent five surgeries during the 2022 offseason. He missed two games in 2022 and recorded only a half-sack, leading to this “prove it” arrangement.
However, the pass rusher has shown an ability to get after the QB. He had a career-high nine sacks and 16 QB hits during the 2021 season, and he added another 10.5 sacks through his first two seasons in the NFL. While the former first-round pick has dealt with his fair share of injuries, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him return to form during his age-27 season.
Raiders To Re-Sign WR Keelan Cole, Add WR Cam Sims
It took Keelan Cole a while before he landed a free agency deal in 2022, with the Raiders signing him more than a week after last year’s draft. The team is locking the veteran wide receiver down days into the new league year.
Cole will return to the Raiders on a one-year pact, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Raiders lost auxiliary wideout Mack Hollins to the Falcons on Sunday but will retain Cole, who played a regular role in Josh McDaniels‘ first season at the helm. The team will further add to the back end of its receiver room by signing Cam Sims as well, Ben Standig of The Athletic tweets.
[RELATED: Raiders To Sign WR Phillip Dorsett]
The Raiders have eight-figure-per-year commitments to four skill-position players — Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Jakobi Meyers, Josh Jacobs — so it should be fairly clear where Cole will reside in Jimmy Garoppolo‘s aerial pecking order. The former Jaguars pass catcher is coming off a 10-reception, 141-yard season in the desert. He did add a touchdown — a disputed score against the Patriots that preceded Meyers’ infamous lateral attempt — last season, and Hollins’ departure figures to open up more opportunities.
But the Adams-Renfrow-Meyers setup will effectively cap — barring injury issues — what Cole, Sims and Dorsett will be able to produce in 2023. These additions will, however, create competition for the team’s backup receiver roles.
This will be Cole’s age-30 season. The Division III success story led the AFC championship game-bound Jaguars in receiving yards (748) in 2017, and he posted 642 yards and a career-high five touchdown catches with Jacksonville in 2020.
Cole did not see action on much of Las Vegas’ special teams plays last season, but Sims has been more active in that area recently. The 6-foot-5 ex-Washington contributor played 53% of the Commanders’ ST snaps in 2022. Sims has spent the entirety of his five-year career in Washington. Still struggling to find a higher-end complement to Terry McLaurin in 2020, Washington turned to Sims. The Alabama alum-turned-UDFA caught 32 passes for 477 yards that year and added a seven-catch, 104-yard outing against the Buccaneers in a closer-than-expected wild-card game.
Sims, 27, was not a big part of Washington’s passing game over the past two seasons; he caught eight passes for 89 yards in 2022. But he will follow ex-Commanders OC Scott Turner, who joined the Raiders as the team’s pass-game coordinator this offseason.
Cowboys Acquire WR Brandin Cooks From Texans
MARCH 20: Upon acquiring the oft-traded wideout, the Cowboys restructured his deal. They moved $8MM of Cooks’ $12MM 2023 base salary into a signing bonus, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Cooks’ cap number will drop to $6MM in 2023, per Archer. It had resided at $12.4MM. Two void years are now attached to the 10th-year receiver’s deal, Archer adds (on Twitter). Cooks’ 2024 base salary is now $8MM — down from $13MM.
MARCH 19: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been traded once again. The Texans have agreed to send the 29-year-old to the Cowboys, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). Schefter’s ESPN colleague, Jeremy Fowler, first reported that the two sides were working on a deal, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds that Dallas is giving up a 2023 fifth-round choice (No. 161) and a 2024 sixth-rounder in the swap (Twitter links).
Cooks is under contract through 2024, and he is due a fully-guaranteed $18MM base salary in 2023. That number — along with the Texans’ ask of a second-round pick — became an obstacle in trade talks involving Cooks at last year’s trade deadline, as interested clubs wanted Houston to pay down a significant portion of Cooks’ salary. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the Texans will pay $6MM of Cooks’ $18MM salary to facilitate the deal (Twitter link).
Cooks, a first-round pick of the Saints in 2014, was traded to the Patriots in March 2017, to the Rams in April 2018, and to the Texans in April 2020. In six of his nine professional seasons, the Oregon State product has topped 1,000 receiving yards, and his career 13.7 yards-per-reception rate is indicative of his status as a vertical threat. Over his first two seasons with the Texans, Cooks averaged roughly 85 catches and 1,100 yards per year.
However, things began to go south in 2022. Clearly frustrated by the Texans’ lack of competitiveness during his tenure in Houston, Cooks publicly expressed his frustration that he was not dealt to a winning club at the deadline, and he stepped away from the Texans for a week, missing the team’s Week 9 contest against the Eagles. At the time, he also made reference to organizational changes that upset him — which may have included the dismissal of former EVP Jack Easterby — and he said, “I don’t know everything that goes through [GM Nick Caserio’s] head.”
Even though Cooks remained on the Texans through the end of the 2022 campaign, it was reported in January that Houston was expected to accommodate his standing trade request this offseason. And the Cowboys, who made a push for Cooks at the deadline in an effort to supplement a WR corps that was clearly missing Amari Cooper — who was traded himself in March 2022 — finally got their man. ESPN’s Ed Werder says multiple teams were in pursuit of Cooks and appeared close to acquiring him, but Dallas was Cooks’ preferred destination (Twitter link).
Cooks, who has 58 receptions of 25+ yards downfield since he entered the league in 2014 — second only to Tyreek Hill during that span, as Werder tweets — should serve as a quality complement to CeeDee Lamb in a potentially explosive offense in Dallas. Although it appears that the team is parting ways with tight end Dalton Schultz, the Cowboys have 2022 fourth-rounder Jake Ferguson on the roster and could further supplement the position in a TE-rich draft. Lamb, Cooks, and Michael Gallup form a quality WR trio, and franchise-tagged Tony Pollard is a terrific weapon in the backfield.
The Texans, meanwhile, gain additional draft capital to aid in their rebuilding efforts in exchange for a player who wanted out. Houston — which coincidentally signed former Cowboy Noah Brown a few days ago — presently houses Robert Woods, Nico Collins, and 2022 second-rounder John Metchie III atop its WR depth chart.