Nate Hairston is hitting free agency…temporarily. The Broncos released the defensive back today, per the NFL’s transaction report (and passed along by Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). However, the cornerback is expected to land back with the Broncos tomorrow, with Mike Klis of 9News in Denver tweeting that this was merely a “procedural move.”
Hairston, a 2017 fifth-round pick out of Temple, appeared in 27 games with the Colts through his first two seasons in the NFL, compiling 65 tackles, two sacks, and an interception. He was traded to the Jets for a conditional sixth-rounder in 2019, and he ended up starting six of his 11 appearances for New York that season.
The 26-year-old caught on with the Jets again to start the 2020 campaign, and he appeared in two games before getting cut in October. Hairston spent the next two months of the Ravens practice squad before he was scooped up by Denver in mid-December. He appeared in each of the Broncos final three games, mostly on special teams.
Hairston will still probably have to battle for a job in camp, especially after the Broncos added cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller last month.
Benjamin Allbright reports on Twitter that this is strictly a procedural move and Hairston is expected to be re-signing with the Broncos tomorrow.
So, what is the procedure that they need to do this for? Are they actually saying that his contract expired today and they are resigning him?
Most teams say that they are going to resign “player X”. They don’t announce it as “we are going to let player X hit free agency but will sign him tomorrow because it is a procedural thing”. Or am I missing the point completely?