Tag: roster cuts

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggests Larry Warford as Saints’ most-likely offseason cut

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested that New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford could be cut or traded after the 2020 NFL Draft.

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What’s next for the New Orleans Saints, now that the big waves of free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft are behind them? The months between now and their late-July training camp look to be quiet, but the Saints could still shake things up with a few crafty roster moves.

One transaction we should prepare for might be the release or trade of veteran guard Larry Warford. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell singled Warford out in a survey of every NFL team’s most-likely cut candidates, writing:

The Saints keep flooding the interior of their offensive line with assets. Last year, they signed Nick Easton in free agency and then traded up to draft Erik McCoy, who excelled at center as a rookie. This offseason, they re-signed Andrus Peat to a five-year, $57.5 million deal and then used their first-round pick on center Cesar Ruiz, who will shift over to guard.

This raises questions about Warford’s future, given that the former Lions guard — who has started 44 regular-season games over the past three seasons in New Orleans — is owed $8.5 million in the final year of his deal.

It isn’t the first time Warford’s name has come up in these sort of conversations. The Athletic also put him out there as an option for the Saints to move during or after the 2020 draft, maybe recouping some picks in 2021 after their always-aggressive trade strategy in this year’s event. The Saints already used their third- and sixth-round picks in 2021, but they’re projected to earn each selection back as compensatory picks — unless the NFL doesn’t allow it.

However, we might not see any movement on Warford until the Saints meet for training camp. The team doesn’t really need any more salary cap space right now, even if they should consider starting on long-term deals with Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, and a handful of other 2021 free agents.

There’s something to be said for making Ruiz and McCoy each earn their starting jobs this summer, and Warford’s presence would push them to compete even harder for a spot on the starting lineup. While the Saints plan to try out both Ruiz and McCoy at guard and center, there could be a scenario where Warford puts in the work during the offseason and ends up looking like the best option to start at right guard again in 2020. If that’s the case, the Saints would know they at least have a quality backup in either Ruiz or McCoy.

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Broncos waive 4 players to make room for UDFA signings

The Broncos waived four players on Monday.

After agreeing to terms with seven undrafted free agents, the Denver Broncos had to open up four spots on the 90-man offseason roster.

Denver waived safety Tyvis Powell, tight end Bug Howard and defensive linemen Deyon Sizer and Jay-Tee Tiuli, the team announced Monday.

Howard played in the AAF last spring and spent part of the 2019 season on the Broncos’ practice squad. Powell also spent time on the practice squad last season, as did Sizer and Tiuli.

Sizer played in one game last season, recording one tackle in a 23-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in December.

After the draft, Denver signed quarterback Riley Neal, running back Levante Bellamy, offensive tackle Hunter Watts, cornerback Essang Bassey, safety Douglas Coleman III and wide receivers Zimari Manning and Kendall Hinton. Bassey was one of the top UDFAs available.

The Broncos also selected 10 players in this year’s NFL Draft.

Denver’s staff will now turn its attention toward the team’s virtual offseason program, which began Monday. Players will participate in virtual meetings and workouts with the team’s coaching staff.

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Broncos waive QB Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation

The Broncos have waived quarterback Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation.

The Denver Broncos have waived veteran quarterback Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Flacco had two years remaining on his contract so Denver will have to eat $13.6 million in “dead money” to move on from him, according to Spotrac.com. Flacco was scheduled to have a base salary of $20.25 million so the Broncos will have a net salary cap savings of $10.05 million in 2020 after cutting him.

Flacco entered the league as a first-round pick out of Delaware with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. He spent the first 11 years of his career in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl before being traded to the Broncos last year.

Flacco was underwhelming in Denver, completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns against five interceptions. He was sacked 26 times and lost three fumbles in eight games.

In his career, Flacco has thrown for 40,067 yards with 218 touchdown passes against 141 interceptions. He has also rushed for 831 yards and 16 scores. The Broncos plan to start Drew Lock this season. Jeff Driskel, who agreed to terms with Denver earlier this week, will serve as Lock’s backup.

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Falcons have released RB Devonta Freeman

After reports came out on Monday that the Atlanta Falcons would be moving on from running back Devonta Freeman, the team officially released him on Tuesday.

After reports came out on Monday that the Atlanta Falcons would be moving on from running back Devonta Freeman, the team officially released him on Tuesday.

As a fourth-round pick selected back in 2014, Freeman ran for 3,977 yards on 950 carries (4.2 yards per attempt), with 32 rushing touchdowns over six seasons. He also added 257 receptions for 2,015 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches.

Cutting Freeman saves the Falcons roughly $3.5 million. According to Over The Cap, Atlanta currently has $3.66 million, but that number will go up when the team officially releases cornerback Desmond Trufant.

Freeman’s departure leaves a need for a starting running back. While Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison are nice complementary backs, neither has proven they can be that bell cow that Freeman was for so many years.

Atlanta tendered restricted free agent running back Brian Hill, allowing the team to match any offer or receive a fifth-round pick if he signs elsewhere.

The upcoming NFL draft is most likely where the Falcons will look to replace Freeman. Atlanta could target Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift or Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins as possible first or second-round options.

As for Freeman, he’s still a productive runner and racked up over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2019. He just wasn’t quite the difference-maker he was earlier in his career. However, for a team looking for No. 2 option than can carry the load if necessary, Freeman makes a lot of sense.

Check out this tribute video released by the Falcons’ Twitter account below:

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Broncos release DL Billy Winn

The Broncos have released veteran defensive lineman Billy Winn.

So far this offseason, the Broncos have added 16 players via reserve/future contracts and have agreed to trade a fourth-round draft pick for cornerback A.J. Bouye. On Thursday, the team made one of their first cuts of 2020.

Denver has released defensive lineman Billy Winn, ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday. Winn (6-4, 300 pounds) is a 30-year-old veteran with five years of experience in the NFL.

Winn entered the league as a sixth-round pick out of Boise State with the Browns in 2012. After spending the first three years of his career in Cleveland, Winn spent one season with the Colts in 2015.

In 2016, Winn signed with the Broncos and he dressed for all 16 games, totaling 19 tackles as a rotational defensive lineman. Winn missed all of the 2017 season with a torn ACL and then sat out the 2018 season.

Last April, Denver brought Winn back to provide more depth on the defensive line. He suffered a triceps injury in August and missed all of the 2019 season as well.

Winn, who hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2016, might have a hard time continuing his career after those injuries.

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Star Tribune lists three players as could-be cuts on Vikings

Who will get cut by the Vikings this offseason?

If you’ve been reading about the Vikings’ offseason outlook, then the three players the Star Tribune mentioned as possible cuts to save money, won’t surprise you much.

The Star Tribune reported that defensive tackle Linval Joseph, offensive lineman Riley Reiff and corner Xavier Rhodes could all be possible cuts by the Vikings this offseason.

The Star Tribune also reported that Joseph is due $11.15 million, Reiff is due $10.9 million and Rhodes is due $9.9 million.

This list is definitely not surprising in theory, but it will be interesting to see what the Vikings actually put into practice. Will they only cut one or two of those players and restructure some other players? Or will they part ways with all? It’s hard to say, but it seems likely that at least one of those guys will either take a pretty big pay cut or be forced to find a different place to play.