Billy Winn - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos Work Out Henry Melton

August 21st, 2016 at 2:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In need of some reinforcements along their defensive line, the Broncos today worked out free agent tackle Henry Melton, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Melton hasn’t drawn any other known interest since his contract with the Buccaneers expired in March.

Denver was already reeling from the offseason loss of Malik Jackson, and the man set to replace him, Vance Walker, suffered a torn ACL last week and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Starting defensive end Derek Wolfe recently rolled his ankle, but apparently not seriously enough to cause any major absence, as he played in last night’s preseason contest against the 49ers. Free agent signee Jared Crick is now set to start opposite Wolfe, but Melton could offer a reserve pass-rushing presence at both end and tackle if signed.

Melton, 29, has settled into more of a rotational role in recent years, and is no longer the dominant interior presence he was during his early career with the Bears. But he still appeared in all 16 games for Tampa Bay last season, playing on roughly half of the Bucs’ defensive snaps. In that time, Melton picked up two sacks, 18 tackles, and recovered two fumbles, but only graded as the league’s No. 101 interior defender among 123 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The former Texas Longhorn earned an honorable mention on PFR’s May list of the best remaining free agent defenders.

While Melton is auditioning for a spot on Denver’s roster, fellow defensive lineman Billy Winn already has one, and he could end up making the team due to the club’s injuries up front, as Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post tweets. Winn was signed last month after the Broncos released Phil Taylor from IR, and he played early in Friday’s preseason contest.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Broncos Sign Billy Winn

July 31st, 2016 at 6:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have swapped out one former Brown for another, announcing today that they’ve signed defensive lineman Billy Winn and placed defensive tackle Phil Taylor on injured reserve.

Winn, 27, spent the first three years of his career in Cleveland before being traded to the Colts right before the 2015 campaign got underway. He didn’t play much of a role, appearing in 12 games but playing less than 400 snaps as a rotational defensive lineman. Winn piced up six tackles and two fumble recoveries, and graded out as the league’s No. 112 interior defender among 123 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus.

As Roster Resource shows, Denver didn’t acquire a veteran this offseason that can adequately make up for the loss of Malik Jackson, as Vance Walker and Jared Crick are thought to be the primary contenders for playing time at end. Neither option is particularly inspiring, meaning Winn could have the opportunity for playing time if he makes the roster and can beat out raw second-round pick Adam Gotsis.

Taylor, meanwhile, was signed by the Broncos in February after spending last season out of the NFL while dealing with knee injuries. Taylor suffered another knee ailment on Friday, tweets James Palmer of NFL.com, but the former first-round pick has been dealing with chronic knee pain for years. In four seasons with the Browns, Taylor started 42 contests, losing nearly two years to various injuries, including a torn pectoral.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Colts Announce Several Roster Moves

December 21st, 2015 at 2:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Following a disappointing loss to the Texans on Sunday, the Colts have shaken up the back of their 53-man roster, announcing six moves today in a press release. Here are today’s transactions out of Indianapolis:

Signed:

RB Trey Williams (from Dolphins’ practice squad)

Promoted to active roster from practice squad:

DE Earl Okine
DT Kelcy Quarles

Placed on injured reserve:

WR Griff Whalen (fractured rib)
DT Billy Winn (torn rotator cuff)

Waived:

RB Zurlon Tipton

While Whalen, Winn, and Tipton weren’t among the Colts’ most noteworthy contributors this season, all three players saw some action throughout the year.

Whalen, who lost a key fumble on Sunday, had 19 receptions for 205 yards and a touchdown this season. Winn recorded 14 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries in 12 games (three starts). Tipton had 20 rushing yards on five attempts, adding another 57 yards through the air on five receptions.

Colts Acquire Billy Winn, Cut Boom Herron

September 11th, 2015 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

3:30pm: It’s a seventh-round pick headed from the Colts to the Browns in the deal, tweets Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.

3:15pm: The Colts have made multiple changes to their roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve acquired defensive lineman Billy Winn from the Browns in exchange for a conditional late-round 2017 pick. In order to clear room on the roster for Winn, Indianapolis has waived guard Robert Myers.

Additionally, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Colts have reached an injury settlement with running back Boom Herron, who was waived/injured during the club’s cutdown to 53 players. The move means that Herron will pass through waivers again, and if he goes unclaimed, he’ll become a free agent, able to sign with any team.

Herron, who suffered a sprained AC joint in the Colts’ final preseason game, isn’t expected to be shelved for a significant amount of time due to the injury, so he could be claimed on waivers, like Robert Turbin was yesterday. However, I’d be a little surprised if a club wanted to carry Herron on its 53-man roster quite yet.

As for Winn, he has played 40 games for the Browns since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2012, earning 18 starts during that span. He’ll provide depth on the Colts’ defensive line, but likely won’t take on a significant role unless Indianapolis has injury problems up front.

For the Browns, trading Winn opens up a roster spot for the team to promote Shaun Draughn from the practice squad. Cleveland hasn’t made that move official yet, but with Turbin out and Duke Johnson recovering from a concussion, Draughn figures to join the team’s backfield for at least Week 1 to complement Isaiah Crowell.

2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises

January 16th, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR

Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB

Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;

Browns: Billy Winn, DL

Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T

Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G

Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR

Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE

Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB

Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T

Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB