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Bills To Re-Sign RB Ty Johnson

March 14th, 2024 at 8:19am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills are keeping one of James Cook‘s backups in the fold. Ty Johnson is expected to stay in Buffalo on a deal that will put him on track play a second season with the perennial AFC East champions, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.

A former Lions and Jets running back, the five-year veteran will have another opportunity with the Bills. Initially signing with Buffalo in 2023, Johnson worked in a reserve role in 10 games last season. He is re-signing on a one-year deal, per the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski.

Damien Harris‘ midseason injury prompted the Bills to promote Johnson, who landed on the practice squad after not making Buffalo’s roster out of training camp. The Maryland alum then joined Latavius Murray as a Cook backup last season. Johnson logged 37 touches for 194 yards last season, catching a touchdown pass during his run of spot duty. He fared well in this role during the Bills’ narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, totaling 40 yards on seven carries.

Harris and Murray, the latter managing to play an age-33 season in 2023, are not under contract. While the Bills should be expected to add an RB2 candidate in the draft or later in free agency, they have Johnson in place as a capable reserve. Darrynton Evans also resides on Buffalo’s offseason roster, rounding out the team’s backfield at present.

Johnson, 26, averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a Jet in 2022. The Jets had re-signed Johnson in March 2023 only to circle back and release him a month later. Over his career, the former sixth-round pick has totaled just 238 carries while contributing on special teams.

Bills To Sign WR Mack Hollins

March 13th, 2024 at 9:31am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills lost Gabe Davis early during the legal tampering period, and they should be considered a mortal lock to add a high-profile replacement either in free agency or the draft. But the AFC East champions will add an auxiliary piece in the meantime.

After a season in Atlanta, Mack Hollins is committing to Buffalo, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Hollins put together a career-best season alongside Davante Adams in Las Vegas two years ago, but he did not fare as well with the Falcons. The Bills will give Hollins a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, Fowler tweets.

Despite Hunter Renfrow’s presence, Josh McDaniels turned to Hollins as the Raiders’ WR2 in 2022. He totaled 690 receiving yards that year, a number well outside the ex-Eagles fourth-rounder’s usual range. Hollins pieced together back-to-back seasons with four touchdowns — 2021 (with Miami) and 2022 — but did not score as a Falcon. Hollins caught just 18 passes for 251 yards with Atlanta, which has since agreed to bring in Darnell Mooney at a much higher price.

Buffalo is at a crossroads, having released a few veteran starters and seeing Davis join the Jaguars. The team has Stefon Diggs still in place as its ace wideout, but the Pro Bowler struggled to close out the 2023 season. Khalil Shakir stepped up for Josh Allen late, but Davis’ exit leaves a long-range void. As the team considers its options, Hollins does provide experience as a tertiary target and brings extensive run as a special-teamer as well.

Bills To Sign LB Nicholas Morrow

March 12th, 2024 at 3:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Nicholas Morrow‘s Eagles stock bounced up and down last year, but the veteran linebacker ended up playing a bigger-than-expected role. The Bills took interest and will bring in the longtime starter.

Buffalo will sign the former Raiders, Bears and Eagles ILB, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the sides agreed on a one-year pact Tuesday. Morrow started 12 games for the Eagles last season. He did so while operating as Philadelphia’s defensive signal-caller, so his absence will be missed in 2024.

Taking on a major role with the Eagles’ defense, Morrow made 95 tackles; that represents the second-highest total of his career. The former UDFA had topped 100 stops in 2022 with the Bears, but that production only landed him a one-year accord last offseason. After having a hand in a defense which struggled mightily down the stretch in the Eagles’ NFC title defense, Morrow will again find himself on the move via a short-term agreement.

Buffalo lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year, creating a major vacancy at the linebacker spot. 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard took on a starting role as a result, racking up 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Tyrel Dodson also logged a notable defensive workload, although he was also used heavily on special teams (as has been the case in previous years for him). The latter is a pending free agent, and his departure could be foreshadowed by Morrow’s addition.

In any case, the 28-year-old will offer considerable experience alongside Bernard and veteran Matt Milano. Morrow has 94 games (58 starts) to his name, and he recorded three sacks, five pass deflections and a forced fumble with the Eagles last season. He will look to replicate (or better) those figures in Buffalo while aiming to avoid the late-season letdown experienced in Philadelphia.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post. 

Broncos To Add DT Malcolm Roach

March 12th, 2024 at 12:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints-Broncos pipeline remains active, as Sean Payton prepares for his second season in Denver. The longtime New Orleans HC will bring in one of his former defensive linemen.

Malcolm Roach is heading to Denver on a two-year deal worth up to $8MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Broncos have two eight-figure-per-year contracts on their defensive line, but the team has some depth questions behind the Zach Allen–D.J. Jones duo. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette notes Roach drew interest from the Rams, Cardinals, Bills and Bengals. Instead, he will continue playing under Payton.

Roach’s Saints role did not change much during his four-season Louisiana run. Starting five games in that time, Roach worked primarily as a rotational defensive lineman. Payton was in place when the Saints signed Roach as a UDFA; the Texas alum has only played for the Saints. Roach will join ex-college teammates Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones on Denver’s defense, with Payton also obviously being a familiar face.

Pro Football Focus viewed Roach as a lower-end D-tackle from 2020-22 but viewed him as an improved product last year, slotting the four-year veteran just outside the top 25 among interior D-linemen. Roach, 25, totaled a career-high 38 tackles (three for loss) last season while batting down three passes. Roach stands to help the Broncos in run defense, having logged those numbers last season despite missing five games. While skewed by a brutal start, the Broncos’ defense ranked 30th against the run last year.

Roach will join a Broncos team that saw 2022 starter Jonathan Harris hit free agency. Denver has Matt Henningsen still under contract, though 2022 fourth-rounder Eyioma Uwazurike‘s NFL future is in doubt after the gambling suspension he received last summer.

DaQuan Jones To Re-Sign With Bills

March 12th, 2024 at 12:07am CST by Sam Robinson

Up late determining his 2024 employment plan, DaQuan Jones does not intend to leave Buffalo. The veteran defensive tackle will recommit to the Bills on a two-year deal, according to his agency (Instagram link).

The Bills will give the 11th-year D-lineman a $10.5MM guaranteed on a contract that includes $16MM in total. Jones returned from a torn pectoral muscle late in the season and was off to a strong start before the October injury threw his second Buffalo slate off track.

A quality run-stuffing DT, Jones will receive almost the same amount of guarantees the Bills provided back in 2022. They gave the former Titans starter $10.6MM guaranteed two years ago. Despite Jones now set for his age-32 season, Buffalo saw enough over his two-year stay to reinvest.

Prior to going down in Week 5 — a rather disastrous outing for the Bills, who lost Matt Milano for the season in London as well — Jones rated third among DTs, per Pro Football Focus. He landed 20th among DTs in 2022. Despite suffering a torn pec, the 320-pound defender made it back in time for the team’s Week 17 game and then the playoffs. That may have gone a ways within the organization, though the Bills came into free agency with next to nothing in place at D-tackle.

Jones, who started 16 games for the Bills in 2022, has lined up as a first-stringer — in Tennessee, Carolina and Buffalo — 133 times. The Bills have at least one non-Ed Oliver answer at DT now; they need more. Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips and Poona Ford are unsigned for the 2024 season. Despite the Bills saying goodbye to longtime starters Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White and Mitch Morse, they will be keeping a 30-something regular in the fold.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/24

March 11th, 2024 at 10:51pm CST by Ely Allen

On the busiest transaction day of the NFL year, here are a few moves that maybe didn’t make the headlines:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Woerner is probably one of the bigger names on this list. After serving as a reliable run-blocking tight end with the 49ers for the duration of his rookie contract, Woerner earns a new three-year deal worth up to $12MM to head to Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Brandel may be the next biggest deal on this list. After making five starts in 39 game appearances with the Vikings during his rookie deal, Brandel earned a new three-year, $9.5MM contract to remain in Minnesota. Quessenberry joins him as a depth lineman sticking around.

Lewis also gets to stick around on a multi-year deal, signing a two-year, $4MM deal to remain in Buffalo. A valuable special teamer, Lewis has done a good job of getting himself worked into the rotation on defense a good amount over the course of his rookie deal.

Olszewski earns another year in New York after solving a big issue on punt returns for the Giants last year. Baun heads to Philadelphia as a strong backup after starting 14 games for the Saints during his first four years in the league.

Bills To Re-Sign DE A.J. Epenesa

March 11th, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Buffalo has lost Leonard Floyd in the early going of the negotiating window, but the team will still have A.J. Epenesa moving forward. The latter has agreed to a two-year deal with Buffalo, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Epenesa will see $7MM in 2024 and could earn up to $20MM over the life of the pact, per Garafolo.

The 2020 second-round pick hit free agency after completing his rookie contract. The defensive end has spent his entire four-year career in Buffalo.

Epenesa hasn’t emerged into a starter in Buffalo, but he’s still served as an important member of the defensive line. The pass rusher has finished each of the past two seasons with 6.5 sacks while getting into about 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

The 25-year-old finished this past season ranked 31st among 112th qualifying edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus. The site also gave him one of the highest positional grades for his coverage ability, although he also earned one of the lowest grades for his run defense.

With Floyd now out of the picture, the Bills can temporarily pencil Epenesa in opposite Greg Rousseau on the defensive line. Still, the team will surely look for another body to soak up some of those departed snaps, especially with Shaq Lawson also hitting free agency.

Bills Extend LT Dion Dawkins

March 11th, 2024 at 11:31am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills made a number of cost-cutting moves recently, releasing several veterans. One mainstay who will not be leaving is left tackle Dion Dawkins, however. The veteran announced on Monday that he will remain in the fold in 2024 and beyond, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a new deal is in place. The team has since announced the move.

The new accord is worth $60.5MM over three years, per Schefter. It will move Dawkins into fifth in terms of annual average value amongst left tackles (although David Bakhtiari‘s Packers tenure is expected to soon come to an end). Dawkins could thus find himself fourth in the LT pecking order shortly.

The 29-year-old was on the books for 2024 at a cap hit of $16.6MM. The coming campaign could have been a walk year as a result, but instead Dawkins will ensure he stays in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. He has played his entire career with the Bills, earning a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past three campaigns. Keeping him in the fold thus represented a logical priority for the team.

Buffalo enjoyed strong play up front last season, one in which the midseason OC change produced a notable commitment to the ground game. Joe Brady will remain in his coordinator post for 2024, so a repeat of the usage of running back James Cook should be expected. Of course, the Bills will be in the market for a new center after moving on from Mitch Morse, and depth will be needed with Ryan Bates having been traded. Dawkins will provide stability on the blindside, though.

The latter secured a $58.3MM extension in 2020, and he has managed to land an even larger accord four years later. Dawkins will remain a foundational member of the Bills’ offense in 2024 and beyond as the team transitions away from a number of pricey veterans in the immediate future. This re-up will no doubt affect Dawkins’ cap hit for this season, given Buffalo’s financial situation. In any event, he will be counted on for years to come as one of the league’s best-compensated O-linemen.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/24

March 8th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

Pittsburgh Steelers

Collier returns for a second chance in Arizona. After signing a one-year deal with the Cardinals almost a year ago, a biceps injury ended the 28-year-old’s season after only one start. He had impressed in camp and the preseason and will get another chance to do so in 2024.

Johnson was an exclusive rights free agent set to hit the open market next week. The Bears avoid tendering him by signing him to a new deal to remain in Chicago.

Bailey was set to be a restricted free agent but will no longer seek outside offer sheets after signing a new deal with Denver. He reportedly didn’t sign at the tender amount, agreeing to make $1.06MM next year.

Mundt came to Minnesota in 2022 with high hopes of expanding his game as a more complete tight end. With the Vikings, he’s upped his game as a receiver with 36 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns. His head coach, Kevin O’Connell, calls him the NFL’s best TE3, and the team will pay him $2.5MM as a reward.

NFL Announces 2024 Compensatory Picks

March 8th, 2024 at 3:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2024 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2023 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.

This year, the NFL awarded 34 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks. The CBA limits the total compensatory number to 32, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, who notes the Cowboys, Jaguars and Packers qualified for an additional comp pick based on the net loss formula.

The updated NFL format also rewards third-round comp picks to teams that saw a minority assistant coach land a head coaching job or a minority front office exec become a GM. Teams receive two third-round picks for losing an assistant or FO staffer to a top job, but the picks do not come in the same draft. The 49ers’ pipeline here is still flowing and will continue to do so into the 2025 draft, with Ran Carthon landing the Titans’ GM job last year and DeMeco Ryans becoming the Texans’ HC. The Rams collected the first of their two third-rounders for the Falcons’ Raheem Morris hire. The Buccaneers do not receive a comp pick for Dave Canales‘ Panthers move due to the Latino staffer being Tampa Bay’s OC for just one season.

Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2024 compensatory selections.

By round:

Round 3: Jaguars (No. 96 overall), Eagles (No. 97), Rams (No. 98)*, 49ers (No. 99)*

Round 4: 49ers (No. 132), Bills (No. 133), Ravens (No. 134)

Round 5: Saints (No. 167), Packers (No. 168), Saints (No. 169), Eagles (No. 170), Eagles (No. 171), Chiefs (No. 172), Cowboys (No. 173), Saints (No. 174), 49ers (No. 175)

Round 6: Bengals (No. 208), Rams (No. 209), Eagles (No. 210), 49ers (No. 211), Jaguars (No. 212), Rams (No. 213), Bengals (No. 214), 49ers (No. 215), Cowboys (No. 216), Rams (No. 217), Jets (No. 218), Packers (No. 219), Buccaneers (No. 220)

Round 7: Chargers (No. 253), Rams (No. 254), Packers (No. 255), Jets (No. 256), Jets (No. 257)

* = special compensatory selection

By team:

  • Los Angeles Rams: 5
  • San Francisco 49ers: 5
  • Philadelphia Eagles: 4
  • Green Bay Packers: 3
  • New Orleans Saints: 3
  • New York Jets: 3
  • Cincinnati Bengals: 2
  • Dallas Cowboys: 2
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: 2
  • Baltimore Ravens: 1
  • Buffalo Bills: 1
  • Kansas City Chiefs: 1
  • Los Angeles Chargers: 1
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1
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