Eagles Acquire WR Jahan Dotson From Commanders
An intra-divisional trade is set to provide Jahan Dotson with a change of scenery. The former first-round receiver is being dealt from the Commanders to the Eagles, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal has now been confirmed by the teams. 
Here are the full trade terms, with details from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Eagles receive:
- Dotson
- 2025 fifth-round pick
Commanders receive:
- The higher of Philadelphia’s two 2025 third-round selections
- The lowest two of Philadelphia’s four 2025 seventh-round picks
Dotson entered the league with high expectations as a deep threat. The Penn State alum averaged 15 yards per catch in college and racked up 20 receiving touchdowns across his final two campaigns with the school. During his first two seasons with Washington, he served as a full-time starter and received 144 total targets. Dotson has struggled with consistency, recording a catch percentage of just 58.3%.
The 24-year-old posted 523 and 518 yards in his Commanders campaigns, although he totaled 11 touchdowns in that span. Despite having two years left on his rookie contract (with the potential for another via the fifth-year option), the Commanders are electing to move on. Of course, the organization’s power brokers (owner Josh Harris, general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn) are not the ones who were in place when Dotson was drafted.
Washington has Terry McLaurin comfortably atop the receiver depth, and the Pro Bowler is on the books for the next two years. Questions have been raised about who will take on the other starting spots in 2024, however, and Dotson’s heavy usage in the first week of the preseason suggested the Commanders would be open to dealing him. Trade interest picked up in recent days, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post confirms. The team will now move forward with an ongoing WR2 competition while newly-signed veteran Martavis Bryant aims to earn a 53-man roster spot.
For Dotson, a spot in the top two of the wideout pecking order is not attainable. The Eagles have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith attached to new deals worked out this offseason; Brown sits second in receiver AAV while Smith is currently ninth. The No. 3 role has been up for grabs during the offseason, though, and Dotson will have the chance to earn it during the final weeks before Week 1.
Philadelphia’s search for depth included the addition of Parris Campbell and John Ross. Both players’ skillsets profile them as a potential deep threat, so Dotson (who has averaged 12.3 yards per catch in the NFL) will have competition from those two, along with the likes of rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith. The winner of the WR3 competition will also have to deal with tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley while looking for targets, of course.
A decision on Dotson’s fifth-year option will need to be made after this coming season. How he performs with his new team will dictate his financial future, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in with Philadelphia. The Commanders, meanwhile, will turn their attention further to receiver options added by the new regime.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/22/24
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Jakeem Grant
Buffalo Bills
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Yosh Nijman
- Signed: LB Aaron Beasley
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Peter LeBlanc, RB Jacob Saylors
- Waived/injured: TE Giovanni Ricci
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
Dallas Cowboys
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Shaka Toney
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Keonte Schad
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR: WR Jaaron Hayek
Las Vegas Raiders
- Reverted to IR: WR Jeff Foreman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Isaac Rex
- Waived: DL Micheal Mason
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB SaRodorick Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Mohamed Ibrahim, OL Chuck Filiaga
- Reverted to IR: OL Jeremy Flax, S Najee Thompson
New Orleans Saints
- Reverted to IR: C Sincere Haynesworth
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Sheldrick Redwine.
Nijman underwent surgery to address a leg injury, and despite Dave Canales indicating the free agency pickup was a ways away from returning, he is back at practice barely a week later. It remains to be seen if Nijman will be able to suit up in Week 1, but he has some time here. The Panthers signed the ex-Packer blocker to be their swing tackle.
Grant will be able to suit up later this season, depending on the terms of the injury settlement. This transaction moves Grant off the Falcons’ roster. The former All-Pro return man has not played since the 2021 season, stacking the odds against him. He is going into what would be an age-32 season.
Commanders To Trade For Browns K Cade York, Waive K Riley Patterson
Known to be on the lookout for a change at the kicker position, the Commanders have a pair of moves in place. Washington is trading for Cade York, sending the Browns a conditional seventh-round pick, SI’s Albert Breer reports. 
In a corresponding move, the Commanders have released Riley Patterson. That leaves York as the only kicker on Washington’s roster with the start of the regular season looming. The 2022 Browns draftee connected on 75% of his field goal attempts during his rookie season, suggesting he could remain in place over the long term. Struggles last offseason led Cleveland to bring in Dustin Hopkins as competition, however, and the veteran handled kicking duties in 2023.
Hopkins exceled during his debut Browns campaign, and he landed a three-year, $15.3MM extension last month. Cleveland wanted to keep York in the fold last year, and the team’s decision to bring him back this offseason proved that was still the case. Instead of risking the former fourth-rounder on waivers again, though, the Browns have elected to take back minimal draft compensation while moving forward with only Hopkins in place for the time being.
The Commanders had Brandon McManus in the fold earlier this offseason, but allegations of sexual assault made in a civil suit dating back to his time with the Jaguars led to Washington releasing him. That move was followed by the signing of Ramiz Ahmed, who entered training camp as the lone kicker on the roster. Patterson was claimed off waivers at the end of July, though, which led to Ahmed’s release.
Patterson, 24, has seen game action with three teams in his brief NFL career despite going 53-for-59 on field goals to date. He struggled in the Commanders’ first two preseason contests, however, leading head coach Dan Quinn to state another move was being targeted. With one more exhibition contest on the slate, York will have a small window of opportunity to earn the Week 1 gig.
The LSU alum spent time on the Titans’ and Giants’ practice squads last year, but he was not used in the regular season. York’s return to Cleveland has proven to be short-lived, but this Commanders deal will allow him to find a full-time position for the 2024 campaign provided he does not disappoint in the build-up to the season. If he does, Washington’s willingness to move on from kickers quickly would make another change at the position a distinct possibility.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/24
Today’s mid-week minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Sage Surratt
- Waived: WR Daniel Arias
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): G Nash Jensen
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: WR Freddie Swain
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Marvin Moody
- Waived (with injury designation): Brandon Bouyer-Randle
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Rachad Wildgoose
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on exempt/international list: K Alex Hale
- Reverted to IR: RB Jarveon Howard
- Waived: DE Kenneth Odumegwu
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: TE Dalton Keene
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Jaaron Hayek
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: WR Jeff Foreman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: G Matt Cindric
- Claimed off waivers (from Jets): TE Neal Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): T Jeremy Flax, CB NaJee Thompson
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: WR Dennis Houston
- Waived (with injury settlement): TE Tyree Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released (with injury settlement): CB Tyler Hall
Washington Commanders
- Reverted to IR: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikkel
Interesting move up in Green Bay, where the Packers are essentially swapping out which player will qualify as the 17th member of their practice squad through the International Player Pathway program. They’ll waive the Nigerian, Odumegwu, who joined through the league’s IPP program last year, and assign the international exemption to the Australian kicker, Hale.
It’s unfortunate news for Keene, who doubled in his offensive duties as fullback at times for the Texans. Keene reportedly tore his ACL in Houston’s second preseason game last weekend, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. His placement on injured reserve today will end his 2024 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/24
Here are today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT T.J. Carter, LB Chris Garrett
- Waived: LS Joe Shimko
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived (with injury settlement): TE Scotty Washington
Buffalo Bills
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Lawrence Keys
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: CB Lamar Jackson, WR Tayvion Robinson
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Sheldrick Redwine
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Malik Jefferson, WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Waived (with injury settlement): LB DaRon Gilbert, S Morice Norris Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Henry Pearson
- Waived (with injury designation): RB Jarveon Howard
Houston Texans
- Signed: FB Nick Bawden
Indianapolis Colts
- Reverted to IR: G Josh Sills
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Ethan Fernea
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB E.J. Perry
- Waived: WR Brevin Easton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR: G McKade Mettauer
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB DaShaun White
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB Jerry Jacobs
Miami Dolphins
- Reverted to IR: LB Zeke Vandenburgh
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Kobe Jones, LB Christian McCarroll
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): WR Matt Landers
- Placed on IR: WR JaQuae Jackson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Joejuan Williams
- Activated from active/PUP: TE Juwan Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): C Sincere Haynesworth
New York Giants
- Signed: S Clayton Isbell
- Reverted to IR: DT Ryder Anderson
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Dennis Houston
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Frank Darby
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Mikel Jones
- Placed on IR: LB Garret Wallow (story)
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Kendell Brooks, LB Chapelle Russell
- Waived (with injury designation): S Ben Nikkel
- Released (with injury designation): LB Keandre Jones
Free Agent
- Suspended: DT Kevin Strong
Strong was a surprising release by the Cardinals during the regular season last year. At the time, Strong was coming off of his strongest NFL campaign, but head coach Jonathan Gannon claimed that the release was what was “best for the team.” While we still don’t know the nature of the suspension, or whether or not it’s even related to his January release, we are aware that he will miss three games.
Jayden Daniels Named Commanders’ Starting QB
To little surprise, Jayden Daniels will begin his career atop the quarterback depth chart. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday the second overall pick will serve as the team’s starter for Week 1. 
Washington added veteran Marcus Mariota in free agency as an experienced option capable of serving as a bridge starter if needed. Once Daniels’ name was called on Day 1 of the draft, though, it was clear he would take on first-team duties sooner rather than later. A June report noted Daniels was the favorite to get the nod ahead of training camp and the preseason.
This summer, the Arizona State and LSU product has impressed Quinn and the coaching staff (while splitting starting practice reps with Mariota). After a strong outing against the Dolphins this weekend, a commitment has been made with plenty of time remaining before Daniels’ rookie season kicks off. His ability to translate last season’s success to the NFL level will be a central storyline for the Commanders in 2024 and beyond as they aim to rebuild around his dual-threat skillset.
Daniels transferred to the Tigers ahead of the 2022 campaign, one in which he saw notable development in his completion percentage while adding a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio. He took another step forward this past season, posting 3,812 yards at a 72.2% accuracy rate, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Those figures won him the Heisman Trophy and confirmed his status as one of the top signal-callers in the 2024 class. Caleb Williams only took one visit – with the Bears – during the pre-draft process, confirming well in advance he would be headed to Chicago. That left the Commanders with a decision to make between Daniels and Drake Maye as a quarterback of the future. Their decision to select the 23-year-old will be tested right away in 2024.
With Quinn and a new staff (including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury) in place, along with Adam Peters now serving as general manager to lead a revamped front office, improvement in Year 2 of Josh Harris‘ ownership tenure will be expected for Washington. A bevy of free agent signings will play roles in determining the team’s success on that front, but so too will many members of the 2024 draft class. Daniels heads that group, and he will be entrusted with handling first-team responsibilities right away.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Anthony Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Willie Drew, CB Quandre Mosely, WR Sam Pinckney, RB Jaden Shirden, CB Chris Wilcox
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Brown, QB Jake Luton
- Waived: RB Dillon Johnson
- Waived/injured: CB Lamar Jackson, WR Tayvion Robinson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: RB Chris Evans, T D’Ante Smith
- Waived: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, T Chim Okorafor
- Placed on IR: T Hakeem Adeniji
- Waived: WR Matt Landers
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: T Earl Bostick
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Mike Panasiuk, LB Mike Smith Jr.
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Coll
- Waived/injured: G Josh Sills
- Released via injury settlement: RB Trent Pennix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LS Randen Plattner
- Waived: OL McKade Mettauer
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Justin Hall
- Waived: WR Ty James, P Seth Vernon
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Kyler Baugh, LB Trey Kiser
- Waived/injured: DL Ryder Anderson
- Placed on IR: OL Yodny Cajuste
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Waived: TE Neal Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Michael Ezeike, TE Devon Garrison
- Waived: LB Devin Richardson, CB Willie Roberts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Brandon Matterson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE Justin Hollins
- Cut via injury settlement: LB Bo Bauer
Smith sustained a torn patellar tendon during a Bengals joint practice with the Bears, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He joins Evans in sustaining a season-ending injury during that workout. A 2021 fourth-round pick, Smith was believed to have earned the Bengals’ swing tackle role early last year. But he did not see any game action in Year 3. Having played in just three career games, Smith has seen his career hit a crossroads after this injury. His rookie contract expires after the season. This further depletes a Bengals O-line that will be without first-rounder Amarius Mims for a bit due to a strained pec.
A former Bengals starter, Adeniji joined the Browns in March. A knee injury sidelined Adeniji recently, and while Kevin Stefanski said the veteran O-lineman will miss “a little bit of time,” this transaction will likely lead to an injury settlement that sends him back to free agency for a stretch. The Bengals used Adeniji as a starter in each of their four 2021 playoff games, before spending to upgrade their O-line the following year. Adeniji, a 2020 sixth-rounder, played in one Vikings game last season.
Brown and Lamar Jackson sustained injuries during the Panthers’ most recent preseason game, adding to Carolina’s issues — headlined by Dane Jackson‘s significant hamstring setback — at corner. Formerly a Cowboys regular, Brown has struggled to stick with a team as of late. He spent 2023 with three teams — the Steelers, 49ers and Jets — and played in just two games. This came after Brown was with Dallas for six seasons, starting 69 games.
A five-game starter for the 2021 Super Bowl champion Rams, Hollins played for three teams last season. The former Broncos draftee was with the Packers, Giants and Chargers. He has 10.5 career sacks, one coming last season.
Commanders Eyeing Kicker Addition
Three players have taken turns as the lone kicker on Washington’s roster this offseason. Riley Patterson sits in that role presently, but it does not sound like the Commanders are committed to the former Jaguars and Lions specialist just yet.
Brandon McManus held that spot for nearly three months, while Ramiz Ahmed entered camp as the only kicker on the roster. The Commanders signed Ahmed shortly after releasing McManus once a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault emerged. Not long after claiming Patterson off waivers from the Jags, the Commanders cut Ahmed, who has one game of NFL experience.
Patterson has stood as the only kicker on Washington’s 90-man roster for nearly a week, but he went 2-for-4 on field goals against the Dolphins on Saturday. Patterson also missed his only field goal try in the Commanders’ preseason opener. Dan Quinn has since said the Commanders are looking for another kicker, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala, who notes there is a real possibility the team’s Week 1 kicker is not yet on the roster.
Late August has become a point on the calendar to monitor for kicker changes; Patterson has changed teams at this point in the past. The Lions waived Patterson in 2022, leading him to the Jags, who employed him as their kicker throughout that season. Patterson, whom the Jags traded back to the Lions upon signing McManus in May 2023, spent last season in Detroit and Cleveland before signing a reserve/futures deal with Jacksonville in January. His time in Washington may be short, however.
The Commanders figure to be interested in either making a trade or claiming a kicker another team cuts. Non-vested veterans whom teams cut before the August 27 deadline to finalize initial 53-man rosters will head to waivers, and by virtue of their 4-13 record, the Commanders hold the No. 2 priority. That will come in handy as they evaluate their kicker need compared to other veterans of interest who come across the wire.
A vested vet who is cut passes straight to free agency. Nine teams are currently carrying at least two kickers, with the Packers still rostering three. Randy Bullock and Brett Maher are notable veterans who remain unsigned. If the Packers move on from Greg Joseph (to keep either incumbent Anders Carlson or rookie UDFA Alex Hale), he would pass to free agency. The Browns are also carrying Cade York behind recently extended ex-Washington leg Dustin Hopkins, while the Jets have Austin Seibert behind the recently re-signed Greg Zuerlein. Washington did not re-sign Joey Slye, who is currently competing with Chad Ryland for the Patriots’ job.
QB Colt McCoy Retires
Colt McCoy is set to transition from playing to broadcasting. The veteran quarterback informed NFL Network’s Peter Schrager on Monday that he is retiring and has since announced the move. McCoy has a “high profile” position in his new line of work lined up, Schrager adds. NBC has since announced the longtime QB2 will be part of their Big Ten coverage in 2024. 
McCoy entered the league as a Browns third-rounder in 2010. He started each of his first 21 games with the team before making three appearances off the bench in 2012. The end of McCoy’s Cleveland tenure was followed by a single season in San Francisco and then a five-year run in the nation’s capital. The latter stretch consisted of seven starts and 12 total appearances.
The Texas alum spent the 2020 campaign with the Giants and made a pair of starts that year. His most recent action came with the Cardinals. Signing in Arizona in 2021, he made three starts and eight appearances. The following year, McCoy made three starts in the wake of Kyler Murray‘s ACL tear; he was positioned to handle starting duties while Murray continued to recover during the summer. Poor showings in training camp led to McCoy’s release, however, and the trade acquisition of Josh Dobbs.
Left on the open market following roster cutdowns last summer, McCoy found himself on the radar of the Patriots as they sorted out their QB depth chart. The Jets also made an inquiry after Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear, but no deal came about. Before Kirk Cousins was sidelined by the same ailment, the Vikings hosted McCoy on a workout. He ultimately sat out what would have been a 14th season in the league before officially making the decision to hang up his cleats.
Now 37, McCoy exits the game a veteran of 56 games and 36 starts. Even after seeing many of his multi-year deals be reworked or terminated over the course of his career, he accumulated nearly $28MM in career earnings. McCoy’s attention will now turn to broadcasting as he begins the next phase of his career.
NFC East Notes: Belichick, Giants, CBs, Phillips, Cowboys, Commanders
Bill Belichick‘s media blitz will cover the 2024 season; the legendary coach has deals in place with the Manningcast, Inside the NFL and Underdog Fantasy Sports. Come 2025, however, the goal remains to land a third HC gig. The Cowboys and Eagles continue to be mentioned as possible landing spots, due to their strong rosters being closer to Super Bowl-level status, but the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard believes the Giants — should they fire Brian Daboll — will make Belichick their first call. Leonard, during an appearance on The Carton Show, said GM Joe Schoen joins Daboll on the hot seat but added the GM having a past with Bill Parcells — Belichick’s boss with the Giants, Jets and Patriots (1996 only) — could leave the door open to working with Belichick. Schoen and Parcells debuted with the Dolphins, the former as a national scout, in 2008 and overlapped as coworkers for three years.
The Giants, who employed Belichick from 1979-90 and won their first two Super Bowls during his time as DC, came up as a team that would interest Belichick back in April. New York’s quarterback uncertainty may be an issue for a coach who will be 73 by the time he would land another opportunity, but it is not like the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC was in demand during this year’s cycle. A return to the Giants could be of interest if Belichick’s market is again limited.
Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- The Giants recently traded free agent pickup Jordan Phillips to the Cowboys, marking a rare deal between the teams. The trade involved a pick swap of 2026 sixth- and seventh-rounders changing sides, but NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds the selections will not change hands if Phillips fails to land on Dallas’ gameday roster for two 2024 games. This would not mean the veteran DT would need to make the Cowboys’ initial 53-man roster, but the longtime Bills lineman would need to be part of the active squad twice.
- Having a past with Schoen and Daboll in Buffalo, Nick McCloud is pushing Cor’Dale Flott for the Giants‘ boundary cornerback job opposite Deonte Banks. McCloud is also in the mix for the Giants’ slot position, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. Fellow versatile defender Isaiah Simmons and rookie third-rounder Dru Phillips are also vying for the Big Blue slot post. Additionally, Tre Hawkins — a 2023 sixth-rounder who had won the Giants’ CB2 job last year only to be benched early in the season — is also battling Flott and McCloud for the perimeter gig, the Post’s Paul Schwartz adds.
- Jason Wright‘s eventual Commanders presidential successor will not oversee Adam Peters, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim. Washington’s next team president will be in charge of the business side only, with Peters only reporting to Josh Harris, who hired the ex-49ers exec to oversee his football operations in January. Wright, who interviewed for the Packers’ president job, is leaving after the season.
- The Commanders released Brandon McManus not long after the free agent signing was accused of sexual assault in a civil suit. With Washington cutting the kicker days before the second half of his $1.5MM signing bonus was due, a question loomed as to whether the team would pay it out. The team has since sent the kicker the other $750K, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
- The Cowboys are bringing in NBA analytics staffer Kathy Evans in as a consultant, per ESPN.com’s Seth Walder and Kevin Pelton. Evans has worked with the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors and is set for an interesting work schedule; Walton and Pelton note she is currently consulting for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Dodgers.