Following Part I of our 2020 NFL Expansion series, it’s time for the expansion draft. The last NFL expansion draft happened back in 2002 when the Houston Texans became a franchise, so many of you may be unfamiliar with the process—it’s much more complicated than a fantasy football draft or the normal NFL draft each year. Let’s start with the rules before making the selections to start the Toronto Wolves led by head coach Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
Rules
We are using the same rules used back in the 2002 expansion draft. Each NFL team must list five players from their current roster that can be selected among the player pool. However, they cannot be a kicker/punter, cannot be entering free agency after the season, and cannot be coming off injured reserve from the previous year. Also, only one player with more than ten years of NFL experience can be on each team’s list.
Once a player is selected from an existing team, one player may be removed from the list. And if two players from one team are selected, all remaining players may be pulled.
As the Toronto Wolves, we must either select a) at least 30 players, or b) any number of players that have a combined contract value of at least $71.5 million for the 2020 season.
Available Players
This is obviously a guessing game as to which players NFL franchises might make available, but I tried to keep this as realistic as possible. Players that were released in real life and players with massive contracts teams would like to get out of headline the player pool.
Arizona Cardinals
LB Haason Reddick
TE Dan Arnold
DL Miles Brown
LB Keishawn Bierria
CB Chris Jones
Atlanta Falcons
CB Desmond Trufant
RB Devonta Freeman
OL Lukayus McNeil
OL Ty Sambrailo
TE Luke Stocker
Baltimore Ravens
QB Robert Griffin III
S Tony Jefferson
OL James Hurst
DL Chris Wormley
LS Morgan Cox
Buffalo Bills
RB T.J. Yeldon
LB Corey Thompson
DL Darryl Johnson
DL Vincent Taylor
LS Reid Ferguson
Carolina Panthers
S Eric Reid
S Colin Jones
RB Mike Davis
S T.J. Green
OL Chris Reed
Chicago Bears
CB Prince Amukamara
WR Taylor Gabriel
TE J.P. Holtz
TE Eric Saubert
RB Ryan Hall
Cincinnati Bengals
OL Cordy Glenn
OL John Miller
CB B.W. Webb
WR Trenton Irwin
TE Jordan Franks
Cleveland Browns
CB T.J. Carrie
TE Demetrius Harris
OL Eric Kush
OL Darius Taylor
OL Kendall Lamm
Dallas Cowboys
CB Donovan Olumba
WR Ventell Bryant
OL Mitch Hyatt
OL Wyatt Miller
CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
LS West Farnsworth
DL Jonathan Harris
CB Shakial Taylor
CB Elijah Holder
DL Deyon Sizer
Detroit Lions
OT Rick Wagner
QB Kyle Sloter
LB Devon Kennard
DL Frank Herron
WR Chris Lacy
Green Bay Packers
TE Jimmy Graham
OL John Leglue
OL Alex Light
LS Hunter Bradley
CB Ka’dar Hollman
Houston Texans
CB Vernon Heargreaves III
RB Buddy Howell
CB Cornell Armstrong
WR Keke Coutee
OL Greg Mancz
Indianapolis Colts
DL Margus Hunt
OL Jake Eldrenkamp
WR Ashton Dulin
WR Chad Williams
LB Skai Moore
Jacksonville Jaguars
WR C.J. Board
RB Jeremy McNichols
TE Charles Jones
LB Joe Giles-Harris
CB Brandon Watson
Kansas City Chiefs
OL Ryan Hunter
OL Jackson Barton
LB Demone Harris
LS James Winchester
S Armani Watts
Las Vegas Raiders
LB Tahir Whitehead
TE Derek Carrier
LB Ukeme Eligwe
WR Rico Gafford
WR Marcell Ateman
Los Angeles Rams
LB Clay Matthews III
LB Tanzel Smart
S Jake Gervase
RB John Kelly
OL Jamil Demby
Los Angeles Chargers
LB Thomas Davis Sr.
DL Brandon Mebane
LS Cole Mazza
WR Jaylen Guyton
WR Andre Patton
Miami Dolphins
OL Evan Brown
CB Linden Stephens
DL Jamal Davis
DL Avery Moss
WR Mack Hollins
Minnesota Vikings
CB Xavier Rhodes
DL Linval Joseph
OL Aviante Collins
LS Austin Cutting
LB Hercules Mata’afa
New England Patriots
OT Korey Cunningham
TE Ryan Izzo
TE Matt Lacosse
S D’Angelo Ross
LS Joe Cardona
New York Giants
OL Nate Solder
QB Alex Tanney
LB Josiah Tauaefa
LB Devante Downs
WR Da’Mari Scott
New York Jets
CB Trumaine Johnson
CB Blake Countess
CB Darryl Roberts
RB Kenneth Dixon
TE Ross Travis
Philadelphia Eagles
LB Nigel Bradham
DE Bruce Hector
WR Robert Davis
WR Deontay Burnett
RB Elijah Holyfield
Pittsburgh Steelers
LB Mark Barron
LB Anthony Chickillo
WR Johnny Holton
LB Robert Spillane
QB Paxton Lynch
San Francisco 49ers
OL Mike Person
TE Daniel Helm
DL Kevin Givens
LS Kyle Nelson
QB C.J. Beathard
Seattle Seahawks
OL Kyle Fuller
WR John Ursua
OL Chad Wheeler
FB Nick Bellore
LS Tyler Ott
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Spencer Schnell
CB Mazzi Wilkins
WR Cyril Grayson
LB Noah Dawkins
OL Aaron Stinnie
Tennessee Titans
WR Rashard Davis
RB Khari Blasingame
DL Joey Ivie
WR Kalif Raymond
WR Cody Hollister
Washington Redskins
RB Josh Ferguson
WR Jester Weah
WR Darvin Kidsy Jr.
CB Maurice Smith
TE Hale Hentges
The Selections
Pick 1: LB Haason Reddick ($4,288,444)
The Cardinals were limited in the options they could make available in the expansion draft, and their final spot came down to Haason Reddick or David Johnson. With DJ used in the DeAndre Hopkins trade, it was hard to say they would put him up as one of their five players instead. The Wolves will gladly take Reddick, who has the potential to be a foundational piece on defense as a versatile linebacker.
Pick 2: CB Xavier Rhodes ($14,000,000)
Xavier Rhodes’ play has taken a step back over the past couple of years, but he’ll turn just 30 years old this summer and was just an All-Pro cornerback in 2017. Rhodes seemingly lost confidence, which is tough to overcome for a corner, but he showed the upside is still there after his performance against Saints receiver Michael Thomas last postseason. Even at a $14 million salary, we’ll take a chance on Rhodes regaining his elite form.
Pick 3: DL Linval Joseph ($8,500,000)
Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense could use a big nose tackle to clog the interior, and Linval Joseph has been a very productive player for the Vikings and Giants throughout his career. Joseph will help ensure that the Wolves don’t get bullied up front by opposing rushing attacks.
Pick 4: LB Clay Matthews III ($5,750,000)
Longtime Packer Clay Matthews had eight sacks in his lone season with the Rams last year, and he has 91.5 sacks in his 11-year career. While Matthews is probably past his prime, we cannot pass on a highly productive player with the versatility to play inside or outside linebacker on defense. Matthews will rejoin his defensive coordinator with LA last season.
Pick 5: LB Mark Barron ($8,125,000)
We’ll also reunite linebacker Mark Barron with his former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who knows how to use the former Alabama standout safety as an undersized inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In real life, the Steelers almost certainly would have kept Barron if not for his salary, but we can afford him as an expansion team with clean books.
Pick 6: TE Jimmy Graham ($11,600,000)
Most would agree that nearly $12 million is too much for Jimmy Graham at this point in his career, but he would be worth a selection with just one year left on his contract signed with the Packers last offseason. With a shallow group of receivers available, Graham can still be a big weapon in the passing game, and he’ll be a top target in the red zone.
Pick 7: LB Devon Kennard ($6,250,000)
The Lions wanted to go in another direction on defense, but Devon Kennard has recorded seven sacks in each of the two seasons, so he’d be an excellent starter for an expansion squad. With Reddick and Barron on the inside and Matthews and Kennard coming off the edge, the Wolves have a versatile and potent second level on defense.
Pick 8: CB Prince Amukamara ($9,000,000)
Again, this selection isn’t cheap with a $9 million salary, but Prince Amukamara has been a starter for one of the NFL’s best defenses in Chicago. With Rhodes and Amukamara at the boundary corner positions, we should have solid, reliable play in 2020.
Pick 9: DL Margus Hunt ($4,000,000)
Margus Hunt can be a very good two-gap defensive end in our 3-4 defense, with the ability to get after the passer in third-down situations. Eight of the first nine selection for the Wolves have come on defense.
Pick 10: OL Cordy Glenn ($9,500,000)
The Wolves want to play stout defense, but we want to be tough up front offensively to complement it. Cordy Glenn has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he has valuable experience as a starting left tackle (and the ability to move inside as a big guard).
Pick 11: OL John Miller ($2,610,000)
It might not seem like a great idea to go with a couple of offensive linemen from the NFL’s worst team in 2019, but John Miller is a starting guard that’s still just 26 years old.
Pick 12: WR Keke Coutee ($1,102,258)
Keke Coutee appeared to fall out of favor in Houston, but he showed upside as a volume receiver as a rookie in 2018. He’d have upside in the slot in Chip Kelly’s offense.
Pick 13: QB Robert Griffin III ($2,500,000)
Free agency and the draft have a number of intriguing quarterback options, but veteran Robert Griffin III would be a great mentor and/or backup at the very least for the Wolves.
Pick 14: WR Marcell Ateman ($750,000)
We’re going for more size with Marcell Ateman, who has been unable to get consistent playing time for the Raiders but has big-play ability in a six-foot-four frame.
Pick 15: LB Thomas Davis Sr. ($5,250,000)
The Wolves are in good shape at linebacker, but Thomas Davis Sr. can be the type of locker-room presence that helps establish a positive culture for a team being built from the ground up. Davis can rotate into the lineup with the versatile Matthews and Barron.
Pick 16: S Armani Watts ($917,558)
I like Armani Watts coming out of Texas A&M in 2018, and we have the opportunity to get him here in the expansion draft. Watts can make a considerable impact as a starting safety.
Pick 17: OL James Hurst ($2,500,000)
We’re starting an offensive line run here, and it begins with former Raven James Hurst, who can slide in at the right tackle spot for now.
Pick 18: OL Mike Person ($2,500,000)
Mike Person has the versatility to play guard or center, and we’ll likely use the veteran as our starting center as things stand ahead of free agency and the NFL draft.
Pick 19: OL Eric Kush ($1,875,000)
Eric Kush can play either guard spot, and we’ll slot him in between Glenn and Person to complete the early start on the left side of the offensive line.
Pick 20: OL Aaron Stinnie ($750,000)
Aaron Stinnie is another offensive lineman with starting experience, and he’ll likely be a primary backup providing plus depth up front.
Pick 21: TE Demetrius Harris ($2,750,000)
Ideally, Chip Kelly’s offense will be able to spread people out, but Kelly has shown that he’ll adapt to his personnel, using multiple-tight-end sets at UCLA. Demetrius Harris gives us two six-foot-seven targets in scoring territory.
Pick 22: OL Alex Light ($750,000)
Alex Light can compete for a starting tackle spot, but he’ll likely be a swing tackle for the Wolves.
Pick 23: LS Joe Cardona ($1,080,000)
The two tight ends New England made available were in consideration, but we’ll go with long snapper Joe Cardona after the Patriots were forced to make the special-teams player available.
Pick 24: TE Ross Travis ($825,000)
The Wolves add another tall tight end to the mix in Ross Travis, who has the ability to move out into the slot as an athletic target.
Pick 25: WR Deontay Burnett ($675,000)
Deontay Burnett was a reliable weapon for Sam Darnold at USC, and he has the potential to be a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in the Wolves offense.
Pick 26: DB Blake Countess ($875,000)
The safety selection is thin, but Blake Countess can play at either safety or nickel at a cost under $1 million as free agency approaches.
Pick 27: DL Jonathan Harris ($675,000)
The Broncos claimed Jonathan Harris off waivers last season, but we scoop him up in the expansion draft as likely depth on the defensive line.
Pick 28: OL Evan Brown ($615,000)
Evan Brown can compete with Mike Person for the starting center spot, but he’ll be a movable backup if not.
Pick 29: RB Elijah Holyfield ($610,000)
With an eye toward free agency and the NFL draft, we haven’t selected a running back yet. But Elijah Holyfield is a no-nonsense runner that could do damage in our offense.
Pick 30: WR Mack Hollins ($825,000)
We’ll add a fourth receiver for our final selection in the expansion draft, but Mack Hollins’ main contributions for the Wolves will likely come on special teams.
Current Roster
With a focus on the defense and offensive line, the Toronto Wolves have a foundation set with an inside-out approach to constructing the team.
Salary cap: $198,200,000
Total payroll: $111,448,260
Cap space: $86,751,740
QB: Robert Griffin III
RB: Elijah Holyfield
WR: Marcell Ateman // Mack Hollins
WR: Keke Coutee
WR: Deontay Burnett
TE: Jimmy Graham // Ross Travis // Demetrius Harris
OT: Cordy Glenn // Alex Light
OG: Eric Kush
C: Mike Person // Evan Brown
OG: John Miller // Aaron Stinnie
OT: James Hurst
DE: Margus Hunt
NT: Linval Joseph
DE: Jonathan Harris
OLB: Clay Matthews III
ILB: Haason Reddick // Thomas Davis Sr.
ILB: Mark Barron
OLB: Devon Kennard
CB: Prince Amukamara
S: Armani Watts
S: Blake Countess
CB: Xavier Rhodes
NB:
K:
P:
LS: Jake Cardona
!!! I might have to play around with possibilities myself
I was thinking that.
2002 was the last expansion team? Wow there should be another this is sick
Good start.
Offense will need some work but the line isn’t bad.
Loving this series
Interesting.
Offense is bad but that defense is nice
What about Todd Hurley? He definitely would be on this list.
Yup you are right, he easily could have been. I didn’t go with him just because in real life the Rams waited and tried to trade him before releasing him, so I had that play out as the scenario here, too. Thanks for reading!
Nice
Love this series but I’m confused. If i understand the rules then Kush, harris and Lamm from cleve or Reddick of AZ, Ateman of LV Or RG3 do not fit contract requirements.
Jefferson of balti finished on IR And Person retired.
Thank you! And thanks for reading! I worded the rules slightly wrong for most of those guys you mentioned. I should have said they cannot have been free agents for 2020. Based on the 2002 expansion draft rules, players with one year remaining on their contract (i.e. they will become free agents in the 2021 offseason) were able to be in the pool. Yes, Jefferson was a total miss on our part, sorry about that; went too quick with him and stuck him on the list because Baltimore cut him (the Ravens didn’t have a bunch of options under the criteria) and simply forgot about his injury. Person retired after this was published! Thanks again for reading!
Thank you very much for your reply. I have been a huge fan of this series of yours and look forward to each year as I have been doing the same thing for a long time and was under the belief that the player had to have two years remaining on his contract until reading your response and going back and checking. Really changes things up.
Thanks again..
No problem! Sorry for the confusion! Thanks so much – we are looking forward to next year already.
Hello David.
Hoping you could help me further. Yes. I AM a super geek with this stuff. You’ve shed a light on a few thing prior and I was curious if I was figuring correctly as I’m finding different salary numbers for the players. For instance, I’m finding a cap # of 12.88 for Linval Joseph But he’s listed here as a 8.5. Does the expansion team assume the entirety of the contract or does only certain aspects of the contract count towards the “cap number”..
Thank you again.
Hi, Ryan. You’re welcome! Thanks for checking in again. Great to hear you are really into this.
Both the Rhodes and Joseph contracts were complex. They added up to around $18 million in cap savings for the Vikings in real life, but the cap hits for the expansion team would be different. The expansion team does assume the entirety of the contract, with the cap hit for the year of the existing contract. I simply used past contract data, which is where I got the $8.5 million which was supposed to be his cap number if he remained in Minnesota, according to various sources (cap sites and also Twitter). It’s interesting, as if you look into it you can find different numbers from different reporters; it’s easier when the player has not been released and his cap number is clear on his current contract.
off the wall question for you.. Considering the Jags exhausted their attempts at trading Fournette with no offer at all according to Coach Marone, would it have made sence that had it been an expansion year this year, Fournette would have been available so they wouldn’t be crushed by a dead cap hit if he were selected??
Thank you,
Sorry, in a quandry and I respect your decision..
Hi, Ryan. Good question! Back then, despite the rumors, it sounded like the Jaguars were just going to keep Fournette and see what happens in the final year of his deal (looking back, they were obviously just doing that in an attempt to get another team to bite on a trade). With hindsight no doubt it would have made sense for him to be put up by Jacksonville, and as you said it would eliminate his cap number for them. You are totally right. If doing this series again, we would certainly put him up as one of the Jags’ five. Thanks for the question!