2017 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: February 2017

Falcons GM Discusses Trufant, Free Agency, Draft

February 11th, 2017 at 8:50am CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons had a brilliant run during the regular season and playoffs, but the organization now has to switch focus to free agency and the draft. Fortunately, considering their lack of impending free agents, there shouldn’t be too many shakeups on the Falcons roster.

The team does have to work out a contract for Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant, and the team may be seeking some depth on the defensive line depending on what happens with veterans Jonathan Babineaux and Dwight Freeney. Of course, the Falcons are heading into the offseason with nearly $30MM in cap space, so they shouldn’t have any issues signing Trufant and depth pieces.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff recently sat down with D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to discuss the current state of the Falcons roster, his organization’s plans for the offseason, and the status of Trufant and the defensive line. The entire article is worth a read, but we’ve compiled some of the notable quotes below…

On the talent of his current roster:

“We are really encouraged where we are from a roster standpoint. We have a lot of youth here. We have a lot of talented players. We are excited about the trajectory here. Of course, it’s very positive.”

“I really believe that we don’t have any major holes in this roster. We are continuing to build the depth of this roster. We are continuing to get better and better along those lines. I don’t look at any (one) area on the field (as deficit).”

On the front office’s game plan for the offseason:

“Every year, we’ve been pretty aggressive in free agency, and we think this year our focus is going to be on signing a number of players on our team who are up. That’s going to be the main focus.”

On the depth of this year’s draft class:

“It’s a good year for defense. Most of the defensive positions are quite strong. That plays well here with a young defense that’s continuing to be built. That’s a good thing. Offensively, there is always a ton of receivers, but I’m not sure that’s the area that we’re going to be focusing on that much. … The depth in the lower rounds, I think is as good as well.”

On the impending free agency of Desmond Trufant, who has spent his entire four-year career with Atlanta:

“He’s a very valuable asset to this team. We are going to get him signed up, and we’re going to get him healthy and signed up for years to come.”

On the status of his pass rushers, and how he’d plan on filling any potential departures:

“I think we need to continue to get up and affect the passer, whether that’s with the young guys who’ll continue to get better and better. I was really encouraged with how Ra’Shede Hageman came along on in the middle of the season. He’s really responding to Dan Quinn’s sort of tutoring. Dan’s presence like that has been great for that defensive line.”

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Jacksonville Jaguars

February 10th, 2017 at 9:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who failed to live up to their preseason sleeper status and finished with a 3-13 record.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Tyson Alualu, DE
Prince Amukamara, CB
Joe Banyard, RB (RFA)
Arrelious Benn, WR
Jonathan Cyprien, S
Jordan Hill, DT
Luke Joeckel, OL
Abry Jones, DT
Patrick Omameh, G
Denard Robinson, RB
Tyler Shatley, C (RFA)
Peyton Thompson, S (ERFA)
Bryan Walters, WR
Josh Wells, T (RFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Malik Jackson, DL: $15,500,000
Kelvin Beachum, T: $8,500,000
Jared Odrick, DL: $8,500,000
Julius Thomas, TE: $8,300,000
Allen Hurns, WR: $7,000,000
Blake Bortles, QB: $6,571,983
Jermey Parnell, T: $6,500,000
Dante Fowler Jr., DE: $6,406,429
Tashaun Gipson, S: $6,300,000
Davon House, CB: $6,000,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $64,357,959
Fourth pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for QB Blake Bortles

Top Three Needs:

1) Bolster the offensive line: Blake Bortles isn’t going anywhere. That seems readily apparent based on comments from Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell, who believes his club can win a Super Bowl with Bortles under center, and new executive vice president Tom Coughlin, who headed off complaints about the fourth-year pro by saying “Blake Bortles is our quarterback.” Jacksonville could certainly draft another signal-caller or add a low-tier veteran such as Brian Hoyer or Josh McCown this offseason, but it’s fair to assume that Bortles — who reportedly dealt with shoulder and wrist injuries throughout the year — will return as the Jaguars’ starter.

With the club unlikely to change quarterbacks, Jacksonville will have to look to other avenues to improve an offense that ranked just 27th in DVOA. Having already fired head coach Gus Bradley and offensive coordinator Greg Olson, the Jaguars have formally installed Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett in those respective roles with the hope the two offensive minds will be able to overhaul their offensive unit. With Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, T.J. Yeldon, Chris Ivory, and Julius Thomas in tow, Jacksonville’s skill positions don’t need to be immediately addressed. That leaves the offensive line as an obvious area of focus for the Jaguars in the coming weeks.

While the Jags have all offseason to repair their front five, they do face one immediate decision that will affect their plans for the offensive line as a whole. Jacksonville has until February 15 to exercise or decline a $5MM option bonus on left tackle Kelvin Beachum. If the Jaguars pick up the option, Beachum would be guaranteed an additional $13MM in base salary, making it extremely difficult for the club to release him at any point during the next two seasons. The 27-year-old Beachum wasn’t very effective in 2016 as he continued to recover from an ACL injury suffered the year prior, grading as the league’s No. 63 tackle among 78 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus, but he was an elite blindside protector for the Steelers before going down with that knee issue.

The ideal course of action for the Jaguars would entail the club declining the option, and subsequently working out a new, more team-friendly deal that includes less guaranteed money. The problem, however, is that the left tackle market is already barren, meaning a) Beachum could garner significant interest from around the NFL and potentially price himself out of Jacksonville’s range, and b) if a new pact can’t be agreed to, the Jaguars would have limited options to replace Beachum.

Andrew Whitworth and Riley Reiff are the only two reliable left tackles available on the free agent market, and even Reiff has flaws given that he was shifted to right tackle for the 2016 campaign. Otherwise, the Jaguars would be looking at subpar options such as Matt Kalil, Mike Remmers, or Will Beatty, none of whom would represent an upgrade over Beachum. In the draft, the top offensive tackle prospects — Alabama’s Cam Robinson, Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, and Utah’s Garett Bolles — are considered mid-to-late first-round picks, and would be reaches at fourth overall.

After assessing the alternatives, the Jaguars may simply exercise their option on Beachum and lock in their starting left tackle for the next couple of seasons, and instead turn their attention to addressing the interior of the offensive line. Center is well-handled by Brandon Linder, but Jacksonville could use at least one, and potentially two, new starting guards, depending on how the club views A.J. Cann, who played every offensive snap in 2016 and graded as PFF’s No. 48 guard among 72 qualifiers.

Unlike tackle, the free agent guard market is flush with talent, and the Jaguars could spend some of their ample cap space on a top-flight lineman such as Kevin Zeitler or T.J. Lang, each of whom are right guards and would likely force Cann to shift to the left side. Zeitler and Lang could each command north of $10MM per year, but cheaper options such as Larry Warford, J.C. Tretter, and Ronald Leary should also be available. Former second overall pick Luke Joeckel could return, but it’s difficult to imagine the Jaguars handing him a starting job.

2) Add to the defensive front: The Jaguars certainly haven’t been shy about investing in their defensive line during the past few offseasons, as they’ve signed or drafted Malik Jackson, Jared Odrick, Dante Fowler Jr., Yannick Ngakoue, Sheldon Day, Michael Bennett, and Jonathan Woodard since 2015. But the unit, which ranked 19th in sacks and 17th in adjusted sack rate, will likely see a good deal of overhaul before the 2017 campaign gets underway, as Odrick and Roy Miller look like clear release candidates, while contributors Abry Jones and Tyson Alualu are unrestricted free agents.

Jones, 25, didn’t generate any sacks from the interior last year, but he did perform well against the run and graded as the NFL’s No. 21 defensive tackle per PFF. Jacksonville clearly values him, as the club placed a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $2.553MM on Jones prior to last season. He’s worth at least that amount as a free agent, and could see his salary tick up into the $3-4MM range. Odrick and Miller, meanwhile, are scheduled to count for more than $12.5MM on the Jaguars’ 2017 salary cap, an untenable total given the duo played a combined 417 snaps last season. Because Jacksonville rarely employs extravagant signing bonuses, Odrick and Miller’s dead money charges would amount to pocket change.

Even if they cut bait with some of their overpaid defenders, the Jaguars will still have a good group of lineman up front, but another body — preferably, a player with the versatility to move between tackle and end — would be ideal. Luckily for Jacksonville, that prospect exists in the former of Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, whom many mock drafts, including that of Rotoworld’s Josh Norris, have sent to the Jags at pick No. 4. In his ranking of the draft’s top 50 players, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com says Allen — whom ranks fifth overall — has “very strong, violent hands and he generates a lot of push with his bull rush,” but noted that Allen is more of a complete defender than a straight pass-rusher.

Allen isn’t the only defensive lineman who could be available to Jacksonville, and though it’s unlikely, a scenario does exist where the Jaguars could have a shot at Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, who is universally ranked as the draft’s top player. Each of the three teams selecting ahead of the Jaguars — Cleveland, San Francisco, and Chicago — could use a quarterback, so if signal-callers come off the board at pick Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Garrett could be there for Jacksonville.

Again, that situation is pretty implausible, but the Jags could instead be interested in Solomon Thomas (Stanford), Taco Charlton (Michigan), or Derek Barnett (Tennessee), either at fourth overall or later in the round following a trade down. Clemson’s Carlos Watkins could also be on the table given that new Jacksonville defensive line coach Marion Hobby spent the past six seasons with the Tigers.

Coaching connections could factor into the Jaguars’ free agent (or trade) pursuits, as well. Jacksonville recently hired Mark Collins — who spent the past two years coaching the Jets’ outside linebackers — as its new LBs coach, and his familiarity with DL/LB Sheldon Richardson could potentially lead to trade speculation. The Jaguars weren’t among the clubs that expressed interest in Richardson last season, and although New York reportedly asked for a first-round pick in exchange for its mercurial pass rusher, that price tag could have since softened. If the Jets are now willing to accept, say, an early third-rounder for Richardson, a deal could make some sense.

Free agency offers a variety of line options depending on what the Jaguars are looking for. If the club wants a big body to stick in the middle of the defense and play next to Jackson, Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Bennie Logan will be available. Interior rushing free agents include Nick Fairley and Charles Johnson, while the list of edge rushers on the market includes Melvin Ingram, Jabaal Sheard, or, if Jacksonville is willing to break the bank, Jason Pierre-Paul. Veteran defender Chris Baker stands out as a possible target, as well, given that new Jags coach Perry Fewell was with the Redskins for the past two years.

3) Figure out who’s playing opposite Jalen Ramsey: Jacksonville’s pass defense was among its better attributes in 2016, as the club ranked fifth in passing yards allowed and 16th in both opponent quarterback rating and pass defense DVOA. Jalen Ramsey fell into the Jaguars’ lap at pick No. 5, and proceeded to play like a shutdown cornerback for much of the season, while free agent signee Prince Amukamara produced dividends after signing a one-year, $5.5MM contract.

The Jaguars figure to see some changes in the secondary, however, as Amukamara is now a pending free agent. Entering his age-28 season, and coming off a campaign in which he graded out as an above-average corner per PFF, Amukamara is probably looking at his last chance to land a hefty free agent contract. A three- or four-year deal at $7MM per season isn’t out the question, and it’s unclear if Jacksonville would be willing to meet that demand. Elsewhere, 2015 free agent addition Davon House appears to be an obvious release candidate given his $6MM cap charges in 2017-18 and his limited playing time (25% of snaps) in 2016.

If Amukamara doesn’t return, Jacksonville needs to find a defender to play opposite Ramsey, and it doesn’t figure to spend much money on the position given that it’s already investing ample funds along the defensive line, at linebacker, and at safety. If they’re searching for bargains on the free agent market, the Jaguars won’t be in the running for the available elite corners, a list that includes Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, and Stephon Gilmore. Cowboys cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr could both be on the Jags’ radar depending on cost, while the club could also take a shot on veteran Sam Shields, whom the Packers earlier this week. Marcus Cooper, Leodis McKelvin, and Coty Sensabaugh represent options even further down the free agent rankings.

The Jaguars don’t seem likely to use a high first-round pick for the second consecutive season, but Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore could conceivably be a fit at fourth overall. The second round is a more probable area for Jacksonville to expend resources on its secondary, and given that defensive backs are plentiful in this year’s draft, the Jags should be able to find a decent corner. After Lattimore, Teez Tabor (Florida), Tre’Davious White (LSU), Sidney Jones (Washington), Quincy Wilson (Florida), and Marlon Humphrey (Alabama) rank as the next-best options in the seconday, according to Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com, and at least one of those prospects figures to fall to the part of Day 2.

Safety could also be a concern for Jacksonville this offseason, as fourth-year pro Jonathan Cyprien broke out just in time for free agency, grading as the league’s No. 7 safety per PFF. The 26-year-old figures to be one of the more attractive safeties on the open market, joining a free agent class that also includes the likes of Eric Berry, Tony Jefferson, and Barry Church. The Jaguars should make an effort to extend him, but if that fails, Donte Whitner and/or Duke Ihenacho could be options given that new Jacksonville secondary coach Perry Fewell worked with the pair in Washington last year. Adding a safety early in the draft is also a possibility, and Todd McShay of ESPN.com recently mocked LSU’s Jamal Adams to the Jaguars at fourth overall.

Washington’s John Ross To Undergo Surgery

February 10th, 2017 at 9:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Washington wide receiver John Ross is expected to undergo surgery to fix an injured labrum following the combine later this month, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Ross will still participate in the combine (except for the bench press), and should be ready to roll when training camp begins this summer.

Ross is believed to have suffered his shoulder injury during a September contest against Stanford, per Pauline, but Ross’ agent said his client waited to have surgery until March so he could do drills at the combine in Indianapolis. Ross will also use the week after the combine to conduct private workouts for NFL clubs.

Ross, who is widely viewed as the draft’s third-best wideout behind Clemson’s Mike Williams and Western Michigan’s Corey Davis, posted 81 receptions for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns during his final season with the Huskies. He’s expected to be a first-round pick, and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com recently mocked Ross to the Titans at pick No. 18.

Meanwhile, Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols will undergo the same labrum procedure as Ross, and will also take part in the combine, reports Pauline. McNichols isn’t viewed as quite the prospect that is Ross (the Broncos RB grades as a third- or fourth-round pick, per CBSSports.com’s big board), but he did post more than 1,700 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in 2016.

Jets Interested In Retaining LT Ryan Clady

February 10th, 2017 at 9:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets are open to the idea of retaining left tackle Ryan Clady for the 2017 season, but are “not inclined” to pay him his $10MM base salary for the upcoming campaign, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, suggesting that Clady would need to agree to a paycut in order to avoid release.

The Jets restructured Clady’s contract at the end of last month, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk subsequently reported, the alteration didn’t do much to change Clady’s status. New York is still faced with a $1MM decision on Clady later this month thanks to a roster bonus, and Clady’s $10MM non-guaranteed base salary remains intact. As Florio speculated, the Jets could pay the roster bonus and then attempt to talk Clady into a pay reduction, but that could be unnecessary risk and a potential waste of $1MM.

Clady, 30, played in only eight games last season before suffering a season-ending rotator cuff injury, the latest in a long line of health issues that Clady has dealt with throughout his career. In that half-season of play, Clady wasn’t all that effective, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 62 tackle among 78 qualifiers. Clady’s replacement, Ben Ijalana, wasn’t much better (No. 60), and is now scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

If Clady is released and hits the open market, he’d join a barren left tackle group that includes Andrew Whitworth, Riley Reiff, Matt Kalil, and Mike Remmers, among others.

Bills GM Wants QB Cardale Jones To Start?

February 10th, 2017 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills are still working through the idea of retaining quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but general manager Doug Whaley is thought to be in favor of starting 2016 fourth-round pick Cardale Jones next season, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News.

Buffalo’s front office has been smitten with Jones for some time, as reports before last year’s draft indicated the club was “enamored” with the then-Ohio State quarterback, while Whaley & Co. were reportedly pushing for Jones to play at the tail end of last season. Jones eventually did see some action during Week 17, completing six of 11 passes for 96 yards and an interception, but the most notable thing he did during his rookie campaign was knock a phone out of a reporter’s hand during training camp with a pass that was overthrown by 20 yards.

But unless the Bills come to an agreement with Taylor, Jones may be their only option under center. The club could pursue a veteran in free agency, but most of the signal-callers on the open market are less than inspiring. One recent report claimed Buffalo has “significant” interest in Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but Carucci shoots down that notion, observing that Romo likely will target a team with a clearer path to contention.

Meanwhile, while Taylor is not open to accepting a paycut in order to remain with the Bills, a “very real possibility” exists that Taylor would be amenable to some sort of contract restructure that lowers his 2017 cap charge but doesn’t amount to a pay reduction, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Of course, a restructure that doesn’t involve a paycut is essentially a cosmetic change that often allows a player to receive money even earlier, so theoretically any player should be receptive to such a move.

AFC Notes: Fins, Bengals, Ravens, Raiders

February 10th, 2017 at 8:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell has “internal support” within the Dolphins front office, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, which means the 29-year-old may not be a simple cap casualty this offseason. Mitchell is scheduled to count $4.5MM on Miami’s 2017 salary cap, but the Dolphins could clear out all but $500K of that total by releasing him in the coming weeks. After missing half the season with a calf injury, Mitchell only ended playing a quarter of Miami’s defensive snaps, but Jackson reports that his “motor and leadership” are respected.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Kevin Zeitler and the Bengals hadn’t initiated contract negotiations as of a month ago, and Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer continues to believe the veteran guard will leave this spring via the free agent market. If the Bengals are faced with a choice between Zeitler and left tackle Andrew Whitworth, the club will likely side with Whitworth, per Dehner, especially given that Zeitler could “break the bank” as the No. 1 interior lineman available. Finding a solution along the offensive line was among the list of Cincinnati’s key offseason needs that I outlined earlier this month.
The Ravens could be suitor for free agent safety Tony Jefferson, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who notes Baltimore “wouldn’t mind pairing” Jefferson with Eric Weddle in the back end. Jefferson, 25, could make sense for a number of teams and is expected to be one of the top safeties available. However, no club signed him to a restricted free agent offer sheet last year when the cost for doing so would have been minimal.
Speaking on 97.5 The Game, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie sounded interested in re-signing running back Latavius Murray, but admitted Oakland could get priced out of the picture. “He’s one of those kinds that don’t come around too often when you talk about size,” said McKenzie. “I’m always in position to want to re-sign our own players, but the finances of it always will play a part. You never know there’s 31 other teams out there who may be communicating to his representatives.”

Eagles Expected To Pursue Alshon Jeffery

February 10th, 2017 at 7:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles will likely target Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery if he reaches the free agent market, sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Chicago has the option of using the franchise tag on Jeffery for the second consecutive season, but such a move would come with a price tag of roughly $17.5MM.

Jeffery isn’t the only wideout the Eagles have been linked to this offseason, as reports have also indicated the club is interested in the Redskins’ Pierre Garcon and the Dolphins’ Kenny Stills. A reunion with former Eagle/current Redskin DeSean Jackson is also reportedly on the table. However, Jeffery is regarded as the top receiver available in free agency, and is likely to command a hefty contract if Philadelphia wants to add another weapon for second-year quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Eagles are tight on cap space, which could make a Jeffery pursuit tricky, but the club is hoping to clear “significant” financial room in the coming weeks, something they’ve already started doing by releasing veteran players. Cornerback Leodis McKelvin was first on the chopping block earlier this week, while Philadelphia has also approached left tackle Jason Peters about a paycut. Other players such as Connor Barwin, Jason Kelce, Ryan Mathews, and Ron Brooks could also be cut soon, giving the Eagles even more space with which to work.

Jeffery, 26, comes with warts, as he’s battled injuries throughout his career and was suspended four games for PED usage in 2016. But he’s the only player resembling a No. 1 wideout on the open market, as he’s averaged more than 1,000 yards receiving and six touchdowns over the past four seasons while struggling through two subpar years and dealing with questionable quarterback play.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/10/16

February 10th, 2017 at 7:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

The Browns have re-signed exclusive rights free agent wide receiver Rannell Hall, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Cleveland originally signed the 24-year-old Hall off Tampa Bay’s practice squad near the end of the 2015 campaign, but a broken fibula caused him to miss the entirety of the 2016 season. Hall, who’s appeared in just a single NFL contest, will make league minimum salary as he attempts his comeback.
The Bears have signed tight end Justin Perillo, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Perillo, 26, finished the year on the Packers’ practice squad injured reserve after spending eight games on the active roster. All told, Perillo has managed 15 receptions and one touchdown during his three-year career.
Linebacker Trevor Roach has retired from the NFL, the Bengals announced today. Roach, 25 next month, originally signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted in 2015, and subsequently bounced between the practice squad and active roster for the next two years. The Nebraska alum appeared in an NFL game for the first time in 2016, ultimately playing in four contests.
The Lions announced that they’ve signed safety Rolan Milligan, who spent last offseason with the Cowboys. A 2016 undrafted free agent out of Toledo, Milligan worked out for the Bears, Falcons, and Giants during the season but never landed a contract.

Raiders Sign Jack Del Rio To Four-Year Deal

February 10th, 2017 at 7:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have signed head coach Jack Del Rio to a new four-year contract that locks him up through the 2020 campaign, the club announced today.

“The Raiders have torn up Jack Del Rio’s original contract and rewarded him with a new four-year deal,” said Raiders owner Mark Davis in a written statement. “We are excited to continue building on the strong foundation that has been established and this is a significant step in achieving that goal.”

As Davis notes, this is a completely new contract for Del Rio, who was already signed through the 2018 season. Reports last month indicated Oakland intended to start negotiations with Del Rio, who just completed his second season as head coach, soon. Del Rio led the Raiders to a four-win improvement during his first go-round as coach in 2015, then took the Raiders back to the postseason for the first time in 14 years this January.

The 53-year-old Del Rio won 12 games for the second time in his career, and although he has yet to win a division title in 10 years as a head coach, the Raiders came close to accomplishing that this season after failing to sniff such a perch in years.

Latest On Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles

February 10th, 2017 at 6:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although Jamaal Charles is viewed as a potential release candidate this offseason, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey offered an — admittedly lukewarm — endorsement of the veteran running back when addressing the media yesterday, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.

“Jamaal Charles is one of the finest running backs that’s ever put on a Kansas City Chiefs uniform,” Dorsey said. “What I admire most about Jamaal Charles is right now, at this present, he is working like the dickens to try and get himself ready for the 2017 season. We’ll see what happens in March and April, but right now, I see Jamaal as a Kansas City Chief.”

Charles, 30, is scheduled to count for nearly $6.2MM on Kansas City’s 2017 salary cap, a figure that includes a $3.75MM base salary, $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, a $2MM reporting bonus, and a $250K workout bonus. None of that money is guaranteed however, so as long as the Chiefs cut Charles before his reporting bonus is due, the club could clear out his entire cap charge.

If Kansas City doesn’t think Charles will be a contributor in 2017, it could certainly use that cap space, as the club is currently projected to possess only ~$3.5MM in financial room, the third-least space in the league. In addition to Charles, backup quarterback Nick Foles and his $10.75MM cap figure could be released in order to create space, but otherwise, the Chiefs may have to rely on restructures to free up wiggle room. Indeed, Dorsey hinted that Kansas City might look to rework contracts later this offseason, likely in March, tweets Paylor.

Charles missed most of last season thanks to knee injuries, and has only played in eight games over the past two seasons combined. The Chiefs do have other options at running back in the forms of Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West, each of whom are signed through the 2018 campaign.

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