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Chargers Claim S Marcus Maye

November 27th, 2024 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcus Maye will join a fourth NFL team, not reaching free agency after the Dolphins waived him. The veteran safety is on his way to Los Angeles.

The former Jets, Saints and Dolphins defender did not make it past the Chargers on the waiver wire, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Maye is due just more than $400K over the season’s remainder. To make room for Maye on the roster, Pelissero notes the Bolts placed Eli Apple on IR.

Miami became the second franchise to cut Maye this year, following New Orleans, who used Maye’s deal as help toward cap compliance during an annual journey for the NFC South club. Maye played 11 games for the Dolphins. This has marked the first year the former second-round pick has not been a regular starter, but Miami used him on 293 defensive plays. Pro Football Focus graded Maye as having bounced back from a down 2023, slotting him 21st among safeties this season.

Maye’s stock soared in 2021, as the Jets — after trading Jamal Adams months earlier — franchise-tagged him. It has not reached that level since. An Achilles tear and DUI arrest plagued Maye during his final months as a Jet. New York let Maye walk in 2022, and New Orleans signed off on a three-year, $22.5MM deal. Maye, 31, did not live up to that pact; most notably, he missed 10 games in 2023 due to injury and a suspension. The Dolphins used Maye as a third safety alongside Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer this season.

Wednesday’s claim does mark an interesting bounce-back effort for Maye, as other veteran safeties recently cut — Adams, Eddie Jackson — have not found new homes yet. Maye will join a Chargers team that employs the NFL’s second-highest-paid safety (Derwin James) along with recently re-signed sidekick Alohi Gilman. The latter missed practice Wednesday. Trade pickup Elijah Molden also plays a regular role in the Bolts’ secondary, potentially making Maye an overqualified insurance option.

Maye has started 80 of the 88 career games he has played. He will now step into a high-end defense, with Jesse Minter elevating the unit from 24th in points allowed in 2023 to first through 11 games this season. This represents an interesting opportunity for Maye, who figures to play an auxiliary role for a playoff contender. Apple played in four Chargers games, seeing action on 47 defensive plays.

2024 NFL Dead Money, By Team

November 27th, 2024 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants making the decision to waive Daniel Jones, rather than keep him around ahead of a potential 2025 post-June 1 cut designation, changed their dead money outlook for this year and next. Here is how their new total fits in with the rest of the teams’ numbers for dead money — cap space allocated to players no longer on the roster — entering the final third of the regular season. Numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.

  1. Denver Broncos: $85.21MM
  2. New York Giants: $79.57MM
  3. Minnesota Vikings: $69.83MM
  4. Buffalo Bills: $68.47MM
  5. Carolina Panthers: $68.28MM
  6. Green Bay Packers: $65.53MM
  7. Tennessee Titans: $62.89MM
  8. Philadelphia Eagles: $61.95MM
  9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $60.64MM
  10. New Orleans Saints: $59.44MM
  11. New York Jets: $59.24MM
  12. Los Angeles Chargers: $58.62MM
  13. New England Patriots: $53.37MM
  14. Miami Dolphins: $52.28MM
  15. Seattle Seahawks: $52MM
  16. Jacksonville Jaguars: $51.2MM
  17. Las Vegas Raiders: $49.37MM
  18. Washington Commanders: $42.81MM
  19. Houston Texans: $39.28MM
  20. Cleveland Browns: $38.79MM
  21. Los Angeles Rams: $34.63MM
  22. Detroit Lions: $33.71MM
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: $30.18MM
  24. Chicago Bears: $29.65MM
  25. Arizona Cardinals: $29.35MM
  26. San Francisco 49ers: $26.91MM
  27. Dallas Cowboys: $26.79MM
  28. Baltimore Ravens: $21.35MM
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: $12.65MM
  30. Indianapolis Colts: $11.8MM
  31. Atlanta Falcons: $11.55MM
  32. Cincinnati Bengals: $9.11MM

The Jones release moved more than $13MM of dead cap onto the Giants’ 2024 payroll. More significantly, the Giants granting Jones an early exit — after a contract-driven benching — will prevent the team from designating him a post-June 1 cut next year. The Giants will take on $22.2MM in dead money in 2025, rather than being able to split that bill over two offseasons. The team also took on more than $10MM in dead money this year due to the 2023 Leonard Williams trade.

This year’s most egregious dead money offender has been known for months. The Broncos’ contract-driven Russell Wilson benching last year preceded a historic release, which saddled the team with more than $83MM in total dead money. A small cap credit is set to come in 2025 (via Wilson’s veteran-minimum Pittsburgh pact), but for this year, $53MM in dead cap hit Denver’s payroll as a result of the the quarterback’s release.

The Broncos more than doubled the previous single-player dead money record, which the Falcons held ($40.5MM) for trading Matt Ryan), and they will be on the hook for the final $30MM-plus in 2025. Beyond Wilson, no other ex-Bronco counts more than $7.5MM in dead money. In terms of total dead cap, however, the Broncos barely check in north of the Buccaneers and Rams’ 2023 totals. Denver is trying to follow those teams’ lead in rallying back to make the playoffs despite nearly a third of its 2024 payroll tied up in dead cap.

Twenty-two players represent dead money for the Saints, who have seen their total updated since the Marshon Lattimore trade. Rather than restructure-crazed GM Mickey Loomis using the Lattimore contract once again to create cap space next year, the Saints will take on the highest non-QB dead money hit in NFL history. Lattimore counts $14MM in that category this year before the contract shifts to a whopping $31.66MM in dead cap on New Orleans’ 2025 payroll. Considering the Saints are again in their own sector for cap trouble next year ($62MM-plus over), the Lattimore trade will create some issues as the team attempts to rebound post-Dennis Allen.

Two 2023 restructures ballooned the Vikings’ figure toward $70MM. Void years on Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter‘s deals combined for more than $43MM in dead money. Minnesota also ate nearly $7MM from the void years on Marcus Davenport‘s one-year contract, while the release of 2022 first-rounder Lewis Cine (currently on the Bills’ practice squad) accounted for more than $5MM.

Free from the Tom Brady dead money that comprised a chunk of their 2023 cap, the Bucs still have eight-figure hits from the Carlton Davis trade and Mike Evans‘ previous contract voiding not long before the sides agreed on a new deal. Elsewhere in the NFC South, three of the players given multiyear deals in 2023 — Vonn Bell, Hayden Hurst, Bradley Bozeman — being moved off the roster in GM Dan Morgan‘s first offseason represent nearly half of Carolina’s dead cap.

 

Dolphins OLB Shaquil Barrett Applies For Reinstatement

November 26th, 2024 at 8:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 8:20pm: The Dolphins are considering Barrett’s reinstatement, but the team won’t have much time to make a decision. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. the Dolphins will have to make a choice by this Thursday at 4:00pm ET. Week 13 is the deadline for retired players to return and play during the 2024 campaign.

If the Dolphins accept the player’s return, no additional transaction is needed (per Wolfe). If the Dolphins deny the player’s return, then Barrett will remain on the retired/reserve list for the rest of the season and won’t be eligible to play.

TODAY, 10:10am: Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement in July, a decision which seemed to bring his career to an end. The veteran pass rusher is now interested in a comeback, however.

Barrett has applied for reinstatement, per his agents (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). He remains under contract to the Dolphins, who placed him on the reserve/retired list during the summer. The decision to step away from football came as a surprise to the team, although at the time the door remained open to a return.

Barrett’s five-year run with the Buccaneers came to an end this offseason, but he was in place to continue playing in 2024 when he inked a one-year Dolphins pact. That set him up to play a notable role in the team’s edge contingent, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports the 32-year-old is willing to suit up for the Dolphins provided he is reinstated.

Miami has been without Jaelan Phillips for most of the year after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The team also has Bradley Chubb in the fold, but he has yet to make his 2024 debut as he continues rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered late last season. Those absences could allow Barrett to take on at least a rotational role down the stretch. First-round rookie Chop Robinson has shown promise in recent weeks, but added depth along the edge would certainly be welcomed by a Dolphins team looking to make a postseason push.

Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in 2019, and he racked up 18 across the following two seasons. His workload and production declined after that, though, and he posted three sacks in 2022 before following it up with 4.5 last year. Incentives are present in his Dolphins pact, including $250K in per-game roster bonuses. Returning to action would boost the two-time Super Bowl winner’s earnings while also helping his case for playing in 2025 if he so desires.

If Barrett were to be placed on waivers, he would be available to interested teams if any were willing to put in a claim. Failing that, the two-time Pro Bowler would become a free agent. If the Dolphins match his willingness to play in Miami over the remainder of the campaign, though, he could see time for them in the near future.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/24

November 26th, 2024 at 8:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

  • Claimed off waivers (from Chargers): S A.J. Finley
  • Waived: DT Myles Adams

The Patriots moved on from one of their OL starters today. Michael Jordan started all 11 games for New England this season, although that was mostly due to necessity. The veteran lineman ranks 73rd among 77 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. A former fourth-round pick, Jordan also has starting experience with the Bengals and Panthers.

New England will be replacing Jordan with Lester Cotton, who has spent the past few seasons in Miami. The lineman started a career-high eight games for the Dolphins in 2023, but he basically split his 100ish snaps between offense and special teams in 2024. The former UDFA could have a chance at more OL opportunities with his new squad.

Dolphins Expect Bradley Chubb To Play This Season, Unsure On Shaq Barrett’s Status

November 26th, 2024 at 5:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Spending most of the season shorthanded at their edge-rushing positions, the Dolphins are moving closer to having a significantly deeper group. They have Shaquil Barrett reentering the picture, and the hope of Bradley Chubb coming back before season’s end is not lost.

Chubb has not practiced this season. The former top-five pick has been rehabbing an ACL tear sustained late in a blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 17 of last season. ACL recoveries are different, of course, but nine- to 12-month timetables regularly form for players in recovery. As of October, no timetable was in place for Chubb’s debut. Chubb is nearing 11 months since his New Year’s Eve injury, and time is obviously running out for the 2022 trade pickup to rejoin the Dolphins.

Mike McDaniel nevertheless said he is optimistic Chubb will suit up for the team this season. The Dolphins have lost Jaelan Phillips to another season-ending injury, a knee malady that occurred not long after the team picked up his fifth-year option. Phillips’ Achilles tear in 2023 preceded Chubb’s injury, and the younger Miami EDGE came back in time for Week 1. Chubb’s road back has been much longer.

Via an extension finalized shortly after the trade with the Broncos at the 2022 deadline, the Dolphins have Chubb signed through 2027. No fully guaranteed money remains on his deal beyond this season, but a $10MM injury guarantee is in place. That would only be relevant if Chubb cannot pass a physical by the start of the new league year March 12. As of now, that does not appear to be a Dolphins concern. They presumably also want to continue with Chubb beyond this season, as they traded a first-round pick to acquire him and would owe $27MM-plus in dead money in the event of a release.

The recoveries of Phillips and Chubb prompted the Dolphins to draft Chop Robinson in Round 1 and sign both Barrett and Emmanuel Ogbah. The latter, whom the Dolphins cut early this offseason, has returned to start 10 games. Barrett, 32, coming back could change the Dolphins’ plans. It caught McDaniel by surprise, and the third-year HC said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) he will need to discuss the matter with GM Chris Grier. Barrett and Chubb were teammates on the 2018 Broncos; they soon could reunite, but it does not appear the 2019 NFL sack leader is a lock to rejoin the Dolphins just yet.

Dolphins To Waive S Marcus Maye

November 26th, 2024 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Among the handful of safety cap casualties this offseason, Marcus Maye will join Jamal Adams and Eddie Jackson in being cut twice in 2024. The Dolphins are moving on from the longtime starter, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

This exit follows Maye’s Saints departure earlier this year, though it is not yet certain the Dolphins are ending this partnership for good. If Maye clears waivers, Pelissero adds Miami would like to keep him around via a practice squad deal.

Similar to the Broncos’ Greg Dulcich cut Monday, the Dolphins have roster space to clear in order to go through with an activation. Safety Patrick McMorris is set to fill Maye’s spot on the 53-man roster, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson adds. Miami designated Morris for return November 7, meaning he must be activated or moved to season-ending IR by Thursday.

A sixth-round rookie, McMorris will soon jump ahead of Maye in the Dolphins’ safety hierarchy. McMorris has indeed been activated from IR, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. This transaction leaves Miami with four injury activations remaining this season.

That said, the Dolphins still could elevate Maye from the practice squad — should the former Jets second-round pick clear waivers and stay with the team — to continue using him a supporting role in their secondary. Maye, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.38MM in June, played in all 11 Dolphins games and made three starts this season.

Perennially needing to carve out extensive cap space each offseason, the Saints released Maye after two seasons. He missed 10 games due to injury and a personal conduct suspension last season. This season with the Dolphins, the former franchise tag recipient made 30 tackles and forced a fumble. Pro Football Focus had viewed the 31-year-old defender as having a bounce-back year, slotting him 21st among safety regulars (over 293 defensive snaps). The Dolphins, however, have Jevon Holland and fellow cap casualty-turned-starter Jordan Poyer as their primary back-line duo.

Although a few of this year’s safety cuts are still with teams (Poyer, Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Kevin Byard), Adams has not resurfaced since his Titans release while the Ravens cut Jackson this weekend. Adams’ former teammate in New York, Maye has made 80 career starts. A team to submit a claim would owe him just more than $400K for the season’s remainder.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

November 25th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Week 12 slate of games is in the books. For many teams, attention is increasingly turning toward the offseason with a playoff berth no longer in reach.

Plenty of time remains for the draft order to change over the coming months, and it will be interesting to see which teams wind up in position to add at the quarterback spot in particular. The crop of prospects for 2025 is not held in high regard after Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, meaning the demand for potential franchise passers is set to outweigh demand at the top of the board. Of course, players like Sanders’ Colorado teammate Travis Hunter will be among the ones worth watching closely as well.

The Jets have moved on from head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, inviting questions about a reset under center as well. Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but it remains to be seen how his relationship with the organization will take shape down the stretch and if a new regime will prefer to move on at the position. The Giants, meanwhile, confirmed they will be in the market for a new signal-caller with Daniel Jones no longer in the fold.

Teams such as the Raiders have long been mentioned as a team to watch regarding a rookie QB pursuit. Jayden Daniels was a target for head coach Antonio Pierce last spring, and it would come as no surprise if Vegas were to make a push for a long-term starting option this time around. Other franchises not on track to qualify for the playoffs figure to give the Raiders plenty of competition in that department, though.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9
  2. New York Giants: 2-9
  3. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9
  4. New England Patriots: 3-9
  5. Carolina Panthers: 3-8
  6. Tennessee Titans: 3-8
  7. New York Jets: 3-8
  8. Cleveland Browns: 3-8
  9. New Orleans Saints: 4-7
  10. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7
  11. Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
  12. Chicago Bears: 4-7
  13. Indianapolis Colts: 5-7
  14. Miami Dolphins: 5-6
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6
  16. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
  17. San Francisco 49ers: 5-6
  18. Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 6-5
  20. Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
  21. Washington Commanders: 7-5
  22. Houston Texans: 7-5
  23. Denver Broncos: 7-5
  24. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4
  25. Baltimore Ravens: 8-4
  26. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3
  27. Green Bay Packers: 8-3
  28. Minnesota Vikings: 9-2
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
  30. Buffalo Bills: 9-2
  31. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1
  32. Detroit Lions: 10-1

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/25/24

November 25th, 2024 at 7:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

With Blake Ferguson still injured and the Dolphins having used Tucker Addington‘s three promotions, the Dolphins are turning to a new long snapper. In comes Zach Triner, who is coming off a long stint in Tampa Bay. Triner ultimately spent five-plus seasons with the Buccaneers, getting into 81 games. He was cut by the team earlier this month after his replacement, Evan Deckers, returned from injury.

The Eagles are set to add K.J. Henry to their practice squad, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The 2023 fifth-round pick has already bounced around the league in his short career, spending time with the Commanders, Bengals, and Cowboys. He cleared waivers today after getting cut by the Cowboys this past weekend. The defensive end got into a pair of games for Dallas this season, and he’s collected three sacks in 17 career games.

Dolphins Activate G Isaiah Wynn

November 25th, 2024 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Isaiah Wynn will make a return to an NFL active roster for the first time in 13 months. Down for over a year due to a quad injury, the Dolphins guard is back on the team’s 53-man squad.

Miami is activating Wynn from the reserve/PUP list and waiving offensive lineman Lester Cotton. Wynn had worked as the Dolphins’ left guard starter when healthy last season, but it has been a long road back for the former first-round pick. Because this is a PUP list activation, the Dolphins will not lose one of their injury activations. Only IR and NFI moves count against that total.

The Dolphins have now given Wynn two one-year contracts, the second of which at a slightly lower rate due to the significant injury sustained. Wynn re-signed with Miami for $1.89MM, factoring in an expected in-season absence. Like Bradley Chubb‘s, that absence has proven lengthy. Wynn has not played since Oct. 22, 2023.

Wynn, 29 next month, had not come to Florida with much momentum due to struggling during his New England contract year. Wynn nevertheless won the Dolphins’ left guard job out of training camp last year, playing opposite Robert Hunt. The latter departed for a monster Panthers contract this offseason, leading Miami to make adjustments up front.

Absent Wynn, the Dolphins have used the re-signed Robert Jones at LG and Liam Eichenberg at RG. It will be interesting to see if Miami deems Wynn a starter again or uses him as a swingman behind its current first-stringers. Wynn has worked as a starter for most of his career, though he has primarily played left tackle as a pro. Pro Football Focus grades neither Jones nor Eichenberg as a top-40 option at guard, slotting the latter in the bottom 15 among regulars at the position.

Cotton had been a swingman this season, playing in all 11 games as a backup. The Dolphins had rostered the ex-Raiders draftee since 2022 and likely would be interested in keeping him around on the practice squad, assuming the sixth-year blocker clears waivers. Cotton made eight starts last season, primarily filling in for Wynn after the midseason setback.

Mike McDaniel Vetoed Dolphins-Ravens Calais Campbell Trade

November 24th, 2024 at 12:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens made a pair of moves leading up to the trade deadline. Wideout Diontae Johnson was added in a deal with the Panthers, one which was followed up by the acquisition of cornerback Tre’Davious White from the Rams. Baltimore’s efforts also included the pursuit of a familiar face along the D-line.

The Ravens and Dolphins discussed a Calais Campbell trade, but it ultimately did not go through. The reason why has now become clear: Miami head coach Mike McDaniel stepped in to keep the veteran in place. It was McDaniel’s actions (which included a face-to-face conversation with Campbell himself) that prevented the trade from taking place, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Remaining was Campbell’s preference, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald adds.

At one point, many – including the former Walter Payton Man of the Year winner – believed a deal would be consummated. If that had been the case, Campbell would have returned to Baltimore after he spent three seasons there from 2020-22. During that time, the 38-year-old was a mainstay along the D-line in addition to providing leadership qualities; replicating that in 2024 would have provided a boost along the defensive front to the Ravens down the stretch. Rapoport notes the trade would have seen a 2026 fifth-round pick head the other way.

Instead, Campbell remained in Miami (where he played in college) past the deadline. He has helped lead the Dolphins to two straight wins entering Sunday’s action, giving the team a 4-6 record. Continuing that momentum will be key if a postseason push is to be possible over the coming weeks. Miami ranks 10th against the run, a sign of Campbell’s continued effectiveness during the waning stages of his career.

As a pending free agent, he would have represented a valuable rental addition on the part of the Ravens as part of their own aim to make a deep postseason run. Campbell would have factored into a defensive line rotation including Nnamdi Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington and Brent Urban. Especially considering the injuries that unit has dealt with in 2024, having Campbell available as at least a depth option would have been welcomed. Baltimore’s secondary has been a sore spot this year, but the team has exceled against the run even without him.

Campbell has started all 10 of his appearances in 2024, his first season as a Dolphin. With a 58% defensive snap share, he has handled a notable workload in Miami, and that should be expected to continue down the stretch (although Kelly notes the team has given thought to waiving him later in the campaign if the playoffs become out of reach). Retirement could again receive consideration after the season, but if he elects to continue playing Campbell could elect to re-sign with Miami in part due to McDaniel’s commitment to keeping him in place beyond the deadline.

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