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Cole Beasley

Giants Grant Cole Beasley Release Request

October 20th, 2023 at 9:59am CST by Sam Robinson

Part of the Giants’ buy-in-bulk effort at slot receiver this year, Cole Beasley did not make New York’s 53-man roster out of training camp and has not played in a game this season. It does not look like the veteran will suit up for the Giants, despite his ties to Brian Daboll.

Beasley requested his release from the Giants’ practice squad, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo indicates the team will grant it. The lack of an opportunity forming led to Beasley’s request, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, who adds the 34-year-old pass catcher wants to continue his career elsewhere.

Beasley announced his retirement early last season, leaving the Buccaneers in October, but re-emerged with the Bills later in the campaign. Seeing Jamison Crowder go down with a fractured ankle and Isaiah McKenzie struggle in the slot role prompted Buffalo to reach out to Beasley about coming back. Beasley, who played for the Bills from 2019-21 after signing a free agent deal, caught two passes for 18 yards in two regular-season games. But the enduring slot weapon added five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.

The Giants’ all-action approach on the slot front included deals with Crowder and Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard re-signing. Crowder did not make the Giants’ roster and did not return on a post-camp P-squad pact, with the Giants preferring Beasley, who signed just before training camp. A late-summer injury led Beasley to Big Blue’s practice squad injured list, but he has since recovered and had been working out with the team again.

As of late, Campbell has seen his role diminish. Shepard, who suffered a torn Achilles last year but returned in time for Week 1, has been a nonfactor thus far in his eighth season. The Giants have reinstalled 2022 second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson, who suffered an ACL tear last year, as their top inside receiver. Second-year UDFA Dennis Houston now resides as the only wideout on the Giants’ taxi squad.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/23

October 10th, 2023 at 7:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Released: WR Xavier Malone

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: FB Jack Colletto

Anthony Firkser will provide the Lions with some veteran tight end depth. Darrell Daniels has mostly transitioned to a fullback role and James Mitchell is sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright as the two healthy TEs on the roster. Firkser has seen time in 69 regular season games, hauling in 115 catches for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns. The 28-year-old tight end got into 11 games for the Falcons in 2022, finishing with nine catches for 100 yards.

Yodny Cajuste is back in New York after getting cut by the Jets back in August. The former third-round pick got into 17 games (five starts) for the Patriots between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was waived by New England back in May before catching on with the Jets for the preseason.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/4/23

September 4th, 2023 at 8:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: CB Quavian White

Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

The Giants are not certain to have Wan’Dale Robinson available in Week 1. The 2022 second-round pick just came off the team’s active/PUP list, a sign the team believes he can return at some point during the season’s first four weeks. Beasley did not make the Giants’ 53-man roster but resided as a possible P-squad elevation option as Robinson protection. This moves nixes that path, as Beasley cannot play until Week 5.

Morrow has gone from potential Eagles starting linebacker to a player who did not make the defending NFC champions’ active roster. But the team still has the former Raiders and Bears starter in its plans. Morrow, who had signed a one-year deal worth the league minimum this offseason, is now positioned as a depth piece who could be elevated ahead of Week 1. Teams can use two P-squad elevations each week, in addition to standard promotions — which require corresponding roster moves — ahead of the Saturday-afternoon deadline.

Better known as the player chosen with the second-round pick obtained for DeAndre Hopkins, Blacklock moved from Houston to Minnesota via trade in August 2022. But he did not make the Vikings’ 53-man roster this year. The fourth-year D-lineman will be a depth option for the Jaguars.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East

August 30th, 2023 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.

Dallas Cowboys

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

New York Giants

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Philadelphia Eagles

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Washington Commanders

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

WR Cole Beasley, CB Amani Oruwariye Land On Giants’ Practice Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 2:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 30: Beasley will be staying with the Giants. The expected practice squad addition came to fruition Wednesday, and the team also will retain Oruwariye on a P-squad deal. With Wan’Dale Robinson uncertain to play in Week 1, Beasley profiles as a depth piece familiar with Daboll’s system.

AUGUST 29: Cole Beasley‘s unretirement continued into this year, and the former Bills starter caught on with Brian Daboll‘s team. But the Giants will not keep Beasley on their initial 53-man roster.

Both Beasley and cornerback Amani Oruwariye will be cut Tuesday, per the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. Both players signed one-year deals this offseason. Beasley, however, remains in the Giants’ plans. He is expected to remain with the team — likely on the practice squad — to start the season, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

Additionally, the Giants will move Aaron Robinson from the active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP list, Leonard adds. This will shelve the third-year corner for at least four games. One of the Giants’ Week 1 starters last year, Robinson suffered an early-season knee injury in 2022 and has not practiced since. The Giants have made other plans at corner, being prepared to start rookies Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins alongside veteran Adoree’ Jackson.

Oruwariye is not in those plans, it appears. The former Lions starter has gone from potential Detroit extension recipient to a player that needed to accept a low-level deal this offseason. The Giants did not see enough from the former fifth-round pick. Oruwariye intercepted six passes in 2021 but took a big step back last season, leading to the Lions moving on from the Bob Quinn-era draftee.

The Giants have now axed two members of their slot receiver brigade, though it does not appear Jamison Crowder is in the team’s plans going forward. The team brought in Beasley this summer, completing a reunion with Daboll, Buffalo’s offensive coordinator for most of Beasley’s tenure with the AFC East club. Beasley, 34, sticking around as an emergency option/gameday elevation candidate would ensure some system familiarity — for a team that made a few changes to its group.

The Beasley and Crowder moves leave Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell, Isaiah Hodgins, Wan’Dale Robinson and third-round pick Jalin Hyatt on the roster. The Giants are activating Robinson from the active/PUP list. Beasley’s presence also offers insurance, as both Shepard and Robinson are coming off ACL tears.

Giants Sign WR Cole Beasley

July 21st, 2023 at 1:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Extending his career further past his brief retirement, Cole Beasley has once again found a new home. The veteran wideout is signing with the Giants, as first reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link) and confirmed by a team announcement. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets that it is a one-year deal.

The move will allow Beasley to reunite with Brian Daboll, the Giants head coach who served as offensive coordinator with the Bills during the former’s first stint in Buffalo. During that time, Beasley enjoyed a productive spell and recorded a career-best 967 yards in 2020. He will now have the opportunity to replicate the success he and Daboll enjoyed together after nearing heading to the Big Apple last year.

Beasley began the 2022 season with the Buccaneers, but he was used sparingly in two games, leading to his retirement decision. The 34-year-old quickly changed his mind, though, and came back to Buffalo to close out the season. He only made a pair of catches with the Bills, putting his playing future in serious doubt.

The former UDFA expressed a willingness to continue with the Bills this offseason, knowing that would entail a reduction in role compared to his 2019-2021 stretch with the team. Over that span, he received over 100 targets each year as a dependable member of Buffalo’s high-volume passing attack. Beasley made it clear, however, that he would retire for a second time in the absence of a deal before training camp.

Now that one is in place, he can compete for a roster spot on a Giants receiver room which faces plenty of questions entering the season. New York set about improving their pass-catching corps this offseason, one in which the franchise committed to Daniel Jones as its quarterback of the future. That effort included the trade acquisition of tight end Darren Waller, the free agent signings of Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder, along with the selection of Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the draft.

A number of those new faces, along with returnees like Wan’Dale Robinson, are candidates to see considerable usage in the slot, the area Beasley has occupied throughout his 11-year career. Robinson may not be healthy in time for the start of the season, which could give the latter an added opportunity to carve out a role during training camp as he looks to continue his career.

WR Cole Beasley Contemplating Second Retirement

May 6th, 2023 at 6:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

A few veterans have already found new homes during the post-draft wave of free agency, but several others remain on the open market. One of those is wideout Cole Beasley, who may soon end his career for the second time.

The 34-year-old began the 2022 season with the Buccaneers, but announced his retirement after only a pair of games. He reversed course on that decision in December, signing a deal allowing him to resume his tenure with the Bills. Beasley’s future now once again remains in doubt, and he is anxious to spend more time with a new team during the offseason compared to last year.

“If I’m not in a training camp I’m retiring,” he said (on Twitter). “Coming in when the season has already started doesn’t give me a chance to be implemented and make an impact. I need camp to develop chemistry with everyone and build confidence. If they won’t give me that then they don’t want me there.”

Beasley totaled just seven catches in Buffalo last season, but he is open to once again playing a role in the team’s offense. The Bills have been connected to pass-catching additions this offseason in the hopes of lessening their dependence on Stefon Diggs. That led them to trade up in the first round to select Dalton Kincaid, the first tight end to come off the board and generally considered the best pass-catcher in a loaded class at the position.

Given the role Kincaid will no doubt have in the middle of the field, Beasley would likely be relegated to a rotational assignment if he were to re-sign. As a result, he downplayed the chances of a fifth year in Buffalo coming to fruition, saying online that “it was fun while it lasted though” (h/t the Buffalo News).

The SMU product received over 100 targets in each of his three full seasons with the Bills, a span which included his best year in terms of yardage (967 in 2020). The recent nature of his success in a full-time starting role could be enticing to a team looking for a veteran presence in the slot. Absent any firm offers in the near future, though, Beasley appears set to hang up his cleats for good.

Giants Rumors: Lawrence, Edwards, WRs, Love

March 12th, 2023 at 6:03pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants have been eyeing an extension for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence for a while now and, following a breakout season, the team has made it a priority. New York started preliminary conversations with Lawrence about two weeks ago, but Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS claims he wouldn’t be surprised to see a new deal done “sooner than later.”

Despite the ever-growing markets for every position, the league’s market for defensive tackles has never been near the contract of generational talent Aaron Donald. It appears that this will continue to be the case as we see the defensive tackle market reestablished this offseason. Washington has already made Daron Payne the new second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind Donald with a four-year, $90MM contract. Payne’s average annual value of $22.5MM is still well short of Donald’s $31.67MM per year.

It will be interesting to see where the Giants go from Payne’s deal. Payne established himself as a premier pass-rushing defensive tackle in the league this season but struggled in run defense. Lawrence didn’t have the pass rush production that Payne did but still excelled in the area while also being strong against the run.

Lawrence graded out as the second-best defensive tackle in the league this year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). It would make perfect sense for the Giants to reward Lawrence with a contract that surpasses that of Payne’s new deal, but will Lawrence be able to come anywhere close to the heights reached by Donald?

Here are a few more rumors surrounding the Giants’ priorities at the start of the new league year:

  • Starting the offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents, New York had a laundry list of names and positions to take care of. One of those positions that has been getting some chatter is inside linebacker. Specifically, the Giants have continuously been connected to Eagles pending free agent linebacker T.J. Edwards, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The four-year Philadelphia defender has had two increasingly impressive breakout seasons, recording career-highs last year in total tackles (159), tackles for loss (10), sacks (2.0), quarterback hits (5), and passes defensed (7). Aside from Edwards, the top name expected to be available at the position is Tremaine Edmunds from Buffalo. Other names of interest for the G-Men include the Commanders’ Cole Holcomb, the Bengals’ Germaine Pratt, the Cowboys’ Leighton Vander Esch, the Lions’ Alex Anzalone, and the Chargers’ Drue Tranquill.
  • The wide receivers position has been an obvious need on the Giants’ roster for some time now, but it doesn’t appear that the Giants intend to address that through free agency, according to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News. With their focuses in free agency and the draft reportedly on inside linebackers, defensive linemen, cornerbacks, and interior offensive linemen, thoughts are that the trade market may make more sense for New York. If the Bills aren’t able to reach an extension agreement with Gabriel Davis, the Giants could be strong contenders to acquire his talents. The Rams have granted receiver Allen Robinson permission to seek a trade. Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins appears to be available for a price, as well. There are other names that could be interesting additions to the trade market such as Cincinnati wideout Tyler Boyd or Denver’s Jerry Jeudy. The team might still make free agency moves for veterans like Cole Beasley or Odell Beckham Jr., but the trade market could be a more attractive way to bring in established talent to New York.
  • There is reportedly optimism that the Giants will be able to come to an agreement to re-sign pending free agent safety Julian Love. After two seasons of relatively down play, Love had a bounce-back, breakout season in a contract year. He led the team in tackles by a mile with 124 total and tacked on two interceptions for good measure. Love may not be expected to make top money at the position, but after playing out his rookie contract, it appears Love is on the right track to remaining in New York long-term.

WR Cole Beasley Wants To Play In 2023, Open To Bills Return

February 5th, 2023 at 12:59pm CST by Rory Parks

Wide receiver Cole Beasley announced his retirement in October, only to unretire several months later. Per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, Beasley wants to suit up in 2023, and he is open to a return to the Bills.

Buffalo released Beasley in a cost-cutting move last March after he enjoyed a productive three-year run as the club’s primary slot receiver. He found a healthy market for his services and ultimately elected to join Tom Brady & Co. in Tampa Bay. However, he appeared in just two games for the Bucs, posting four catches for 17 yards, before abruptly retiring.

As Skurski observes, the retirement was a boon to Beasley from a health standpoint. He had played through a herniated disc in his neck in the prior couple of seasons, but his time away from the game allowed his injury to heal. This offseason, he is again able to enjoy his normal workout routine.

In an effort to replace Beasley’s production, the Bills signed fellow slot-man Jamison Crowder, but Crowder sustained a fractured ankle in October and played in just four games. Isaiah McKenzie and quarterback Josh Allen never developed the rapport that Beasley and Allen enjoyed, which led Buffalo to circle back to Beasley in December. While Beasley needed time to get back into game shape and learn the playbook of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, it did not take him too long to find a rhythm.

After playing in just 17 snaps over the final two games of the regular season, Beasley was on the field for 61 snaps over the Bills’ two playoff contests, catching five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. With Crowder out of contract and Beasley — who will turn 34 in April — unlikely to command a particularly lucrative deal, Buffalo could certainly consider a re-up if it believes he can serve as Allen’s slot option over the course of a full season.

“At this point in my career, I’m still hungry and my body feels good,” Beasley said. “I still feel like I can do it and I can compete and play at a level that I’ve been playing at before this season. Obviously, I want to be somewhere that I can win, and I know that’s here, also. If that option is there, I would definitely do that. We’ll just have to see.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/23

January 12th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Only one minor move to pass along today:

Buffalo Bills

Beasley came out of retirement to rejoin the Bills in mid-December. He got into two regular season games with Buffalo, hauling in two catches for 18 yards. Murray appeared in five games for the Bills this season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.

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