Chiefs Cut RB Akeem Hunt, DT Stefan Charles
The Chiefs have waived running back Akeem Hunt with a failed physical designation and released defensive tackle Stefan Charles, the club announced today.
Hunt, who spent the first two seasons of his career with the Texans, barely played on offense for Kansas City last season, but saw ample time (171 snaps) on special teams. On a mere eight rush attempts, Hunt managed only 2.9 yards per carry, and added four receptions in the passing game. Hunt’s role would have been extremely limited going forward, as the Chiefs added both Kerwynn Williams and Damien Williams to a running back depth chart that already includes starter Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West, and Spencer Ware.
Charles, meanwhile, is the second Kansas City interior lineman to collect his walking papers today, as the Chiefs also cut ties with Rakeem Nunez-Roches earlier on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Charles has a decent track record as a reserve for the Bills and Lions, but he hasn’t seen the field since 2016. Charles spent the 2017 campaign on the workout circuit before signing with the Chiefs just before their January Wild Card game; he was subsequently re-signed in March.
In addition to parting ways with Hunt and Charles, the Chiefs also made the following moves:
- Claimed off waivers: TE Alex Ellis
- Signed: CB Step Durham, DE Robert McCray, CB Malik Reaves, WR Jordan Smallwood
- Waived: CB Prince Charles Iworah, OL DeVondre Seymour, WR Brandon Shippen, WR Nelson Spruce
Top 10 Remaining NFL Free Agents: Offense
The most high-profile free agent signings occurred more than two months ago, but as we near June there are still talented NFL free agents available on the open market. Most of these players (with a few exceptions) won’t command much guaranteed money, and none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula given that we’ve passed the May 8 deadline for comp selections. Let’s take a look at the offensive players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:
1. Dez Bryant, WR
Bryant has been available for nearly a month, but so far has yet to generate any serious interest. While teams such as the Cardinals and Packers were mentioned as possible early suitors, the list of clubs who don’t intend to sign Bryant is ever-growing. The Browns, Jaguars, Giants, Ravens, and Bills are among the teams who are reportedly out on Bryant, leaving the 29-year-old with a limited pool of potential new clubs. Bryant rejected a three-year deal from the Ravens last month, as he apparently prefers a lucrative one-year pact that will allow him to hit the market again in 2019. Whether he can attain that goal is an open question, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com recently reported there are “far more” teams unwilling to pay Bryant that league minimum salary than there are clubs open to even considering the veteran wideout.
Possible fits: Cardinals, Packers, Patriots, Redskins, Seahawks
2. DeMarco Murray, RB
Like Bryant, Murray is a former Cowboys star who still has something to offer despite offering declining production in recent seasons. After being released by the Titans, Murray was briefly a hot commodity, as he took meetings with the Lions, Dolphins, and Seahawks inside of a week. All three of those clubs have since added running backs (Kerryon Johnson, Frank Gore/Kalen Ballage, and Rashaad Penny, respectively), so Murray may have to look elsewhere. As Scott Sprat of Pro Football Focus noted in April, Murray is probably best-suited to a third-down back role at this point in his career, especially given that he’s still an excellent receiver and graded as PFF’s No. 1 pass-blocking back in 2017.
Possible fits: Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Broncos, Chargers
3. Austin Howard, T
Howard has never been a world-beater, but he’s been a competent offensive lineman for awhile. The 31-year-old has made at least 10 starts in six consecutive seasons, and started all 16 games for the Ravens in 2017. Baltimore declined his option in order to save $3MM, and he’s visited both the Colts and Saints. Also capable of playing guard, Howard would be a solid addition to a number of struggling offensive lines, either as an immediate starter or as a top reserve.
Possible fits: Bills, Bengals, Texans, Colts, Giants
4. Dontrelle Inman, WR
The Bears acquired Inman from the Chargers last October in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick, and he went on to produce adequate results for Chicago. In eight games, Inman put up 23 receptions for 334 yards and one touchdown. Inman ranked 38th among 94 qualifying wideouts in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, meaning he was pretty effective on a per-play basis. He’s been hosted by both the Cowboys and Colts this offseason, and while Dallas no longer looks like a suitor after adding Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and Michael Gallup, Indianapolis is still in dire need of wide receivers. New Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni was Inman’s position coach in Los Angeles.
Possible fits: Colts, Bills, Texans, Titans, Chiefs, Cowboys
5. Orleans Darkwa, RB
Darkwa posted the best year of his NFL tenure in 2017 by setting career-highs in starts (11), rushes (171), yards (751), and touchdowns (five). Still, there’s almost no chance he’s heading back to the Giants after Big Blue not only drafted Penn State’s Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick, but inked veteran runner Jonathan Stewart to a one-year deal. Other clubs that have expressed interest — including the Patriots and Jets — have also added multiple new backs over the past two months. A pounding runner who is also known as an excellent locker room presence, Darkwa should be able to find early-down work even at this late juncture.
Possible fits: 49ers, Eagles, Colts, Texans, Saints
6. Jahri Evans, G
2017 marked the first of Evans’ 13 NFL campaigns not to be spent in New Orleans, as the veteran guard signed a one-year, $2.25MM contract to play for the Packers last season. As noted by Chase Stuart of Football Perspective, Evans was arguably the best player selected in the 2006 draft despite not having been picked until the fourth round. He currently boasts 111 points of weighted career approximate value, Pro Football Reference’s attempt at a wins above replacement metric. While Evans’ legacy likely won’t affect negotiations for his next deal, the 34-year-old is still a durable and high-quality lineman. He’s played fewer than 14 games just once in his career, and last year ranked as the league’s No. 30 guard among 77 qualifiers, per PFF.
Possible fits: Packers, Redskins, Vikings, Seahawks, Bills, Broncos
7. Marcedes Lewis, TE
Lewis had spent his entire 12-year career with the Jaguars, and looked to be ready for a 13th seasons with the club after Jacksonville exercised his 2018 option on February 20. Exactly one month later, the Jags made the decision to release Lewis following their signing of fellow tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Lewis wasn’t happy with the decision, but he stopped being a prolific receiving threat roughly a half-dozen years ago. He can still help out a new team, however, especially one that profiles as a run-heavy club: PFF graded Lewis as the league’s best run-blocking tight end in 2017, assigning him an 87.1 mark that ranked him just ahead of Rob Gronkowski.
Possible fits: Broncos, Cowboys, Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Texans, Chiefs, Falcons
8. Eric Decker, WR
Quietly productive on 72% playtime, Decker posted 54 receptions for 563 yards during his lone season with the Titans. Tennessee doesn’t have any interest in re-signing Decker, and the only clubs to meet with the veteran wideout — the Ravens and Raiders — have since made enough pass-catching additions that they’re likely out of the picture. Decker has expressed interest in a reunion with the Broncos, with whom he spent the first four years of his career, but Denver drafted both Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton in the top four rounds. The 6’3″ Decker ran nearly half his routes from the slot in 2017, so he could give his next team another dimension from the inside.
Possible fits: Bills, Texans, Colts, Chiefs, Cowboys
9. Antonio Gates, TE
Of the 10 free agents listed here, Gates is perhaps the most likely to retire in the coming months. Gates should almost certainly be able to find some sort of free agent deal, but he’s been accustomed to a certain pay level, and it’s unclear if he’s willing to accept something close to the veteran minimum (or even a $2.25MM deal like Evans took last season). Don’t ask the nearly 38-year-old Gates to block, but he can still be an effective complement to an offense. The Chargers aren’t planning to re-sign Gates to play alongside Hunter Henry, meaning Gates will finish his career elsewhere.
Possible fits: Cowboys, Broncos, Falcons, Vikings, Texans
10. Jeremy Maclin, WR
Maclin has garnered a bit of interest since being released by the Ravens earlier this year, but the clubs that took a look at him — the Eagles and Cowboys — have made other additions to their respective wide receiver depth charts. There’s still room, theoretically, on both the Philadelphia and Dallas rosters for a player like Maclin, but he may have to look elsewhere. Maclin posted career-lows in receptions and yards in 2017, but he put up the 22nd-fastest maximum speed among wideouts last year, per researcher Anthony Staggs. Those speed-based numbers come from the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and indicate Maclin still has some quickness remaining.
Possible fits: Bills, Seahawks, Redskins, Cowboys, Colts
Deadline Passes For Free Agents To Count Against Compensatory Pick Formula
Any club that signs an unrestricted free agent during the remainder of the offseason will no longer have to consider the loss of a 2019 compensatory pick. The second Tuesday after the draft marks the deadline for UFAs to factor into the compensatory pick formula, as Nick Korte of Over the Cap points out in an analysis of where the 2019 comp selection process stands.
Compensatory picks are given to teams that lose a greater number of compensatory free agents (or, a greater quality of free agents) than they acquire. The complicated formula that dictates how the picks are dispersed is not disclosed to the public, but teams are wary of signing even lower impact UFAs while it is in effect.
Any player that inks a new contract won’t be entered into the 2019 formula, but that doesn’t mean the compensatory picks have already been distributed. Contract terms and annual value play the most important role in determining which clubs earn which selections, but playtime and postseason honors are also considered. Additionally, any previously qualifying UFA that is cut before Week 10 will not factor into the 2019 formula.
That being said, Korte has an excellent track record of predicting future compensatory selections, as he’s reverse-engineered the private formula used by the league. At present, Korte projects both the Rams and Patriots to collect two 2019 third-round comp picks (the highest possible selection), while the Redskins, Panthers, and Vikings should each earn one third-rounder. The full 2019 projected comp pick slate is available at the link above.
Colts Sign DE Chris McCain
The Colts have signed former Chargers edge rusher Chris McCain and and waived tight end Randall Telfer with a failed physical designation, the club announced today.
McCain, 26, spent the past four years with the Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014, but has never started a game. Indeed, the ex-Cal Bear’s playing time on the defensive side of the ball has been extremely limited: McCain’s 25% snap percentage in 2017 was by far the highest of his career, as he’d never before topped 8% playtime on defense. McCain managed five sacks in a backup role, and also saw action on roughly a quarter of Los Angeles’ special teams snaps.
McCain, notably, seemed to thrive in the Chargers’ 4-3 scheme, and he’ll now be moving to an Indianapolis roster that is moving to a 4-3 look for the 2017 campaign. Although he’ll have his work cut out for him as he attempts to get snaps behind Jabaal Sheard, Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis, and Tarell Basham, McCain could find his way into a regular role if injuries or ineffectiveness strike.
Telfer, meanwhile, had just been claimed off waivers on Monday. He’d originally been part of a trade that would have sent him from the Browns to the Chiefs, but that deal was called off, likely for the same health issue that is now causing him to lose his Colts roster spot.
Russell Wilson Expects To Be Franchised In 2020
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson‘s current contract runs through the 2019 campaign, but he expects to be in Seattle beyond next season. Wilson and his camp expect the Seahawks to deploy the franchise tag in 2020, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
As expected, the quarterback contract landscape has seen increased salaries this year, as Matt Ryan last week topped Kirk Cousins as the NFL’s highest-paid player. Ryan received nearly $100M in full guarantees and collect $30MM annually on his new deal, setting new marks at the position. Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers is expected to receive an extension in the near future, and he’ll surely move past Ryan in both guaranteed money and per-year average.
Wilson, 29, is currently earning $21.9MM per season under the terms of the deal he signed in 2015, a figure which ranks 11th among quarterbacks. If he receives the franchise tag in 2020, Wilson would be entitled to a 20% raise over his 2019 cap charge, meaning the tender would be worth $30.34MM. If Seattle used the tag again in 2021, it would cost roughly $36.41MM.
Previous reports have indicated negotiations between Wilson and the Seahawks could be contentious. Seattle reportedly explored the 2018 crop of quarterback prospects, and although the club ultimately selected only seventh-round Alex McGough, Wilson’s team contacted the Seahawks as to why they were interested in this year’s passers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Julian Allen, DL Lenny Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Frankie Luvu, LB Anthony Wint
- Waived: CB Reggie Hall, DT Lord Hyeamang
5 Key NFL Stories: 4/29/18 – 5/6/18
Matt Ryan becomes the NFL’s highest-paid player. Fewer than two months after Kirk Cousins inked a fully guaranteed $84MM deal with the Vikings, Ryan has taken over the moniker of the league’s highest-paid player of all time. Ryan signed a five-year, $150MM extension, and both his new $30MM annual average and $94.5MM guarantee are NFL records. The 32-year-old former MVP had always been expected to land a massive deal, and Cousins’ pact surely set the basis for talks with the Falcons. With Ryan now under contract, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers figures to leap the $30MM annual threshold on his next extension, which Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst says will come “soon.”
Jason Witten retires to join MNF. The Cowboys are now extremely thin at tight end, as Witten last week announced his retirement in order to become an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. While owner Jerry Jones apparently wasn’t ready for Witten to hang up his cleats, the 36-year-old is expected to earn roughly $4-4.5MM on his new TV contract. Witten, who will follow other ex-Cowboys such as Troy Aikman and Tony Romo into the booth, is leaving the NFL with the fourth-most catches (1,152) in league history. Dallas’ tight end depth chart is now led by Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, and rookie Dalton Schultz.
Dez Bryant‘s market shrinking. Speaking of former Cowboys, Bryant has yet to find a new team since being released by Dallas last month. Indeed, there are reportedly “far more” teams unwilling to even pay Bryant the minimum salary than there are clubs open to considering a Bryant addition. Bryant recently turned down a pact from the Ravens, a contract that was reportedly worth something close to $21MM over three years. Instead, Bryant is hoping to secure a hefty salary on a one-year deal that will allow him to hit the open market again in 2019.
Derrick Johnson joins a division rival. After 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Johnson will now be suiting up in silver and black. The 35-year-old is the latest addition to Jon Gruden‘s veteran Raiders roster after agreeing to a one-year deal. While Johnson may not be the All-Pro he once was, he will bring leadership and experience to a weak Oakland linebacker depth chart. It’s unclear if the signing of Johnson will prevent the Raiders from bringing back NaVorro Bowman, but the club did cancel its impending meeting with fellow free agent Brian Cushing.
Timmy Jernigan goes under the knife. The Eagles’ vaunted defensive line has taken a hit, as Jernigan is expected to be sidelined four-to-six months after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc. Even in a best-case scenario, Jernigan’s availability for the start of the regular season will be in doubt. Haloti Ngata will replace Jernigan on the interior, while Michael Bennett also has the ability to play on the inside.
Former Titans DB Michael Griffin To Retire
Longtime Titans safety Michael Griffin will sign a one-day contract to retire with Tennessee, the club announced today.
Griffin, 33, spent nine seasons with the Titans from 2007-15. During that time, the former first-round pick was a mainstay in the club’s secondary, making 141 appearances and 133 starts. While never a star, Griffin did earn two Pro Bowl nods with Tennessee, and was also named second-team All-Pro in 2010. In his run with the Titans, Griffin ranked as a top-10 safety in interceptions, forced fumble, and approximate value, Pro Football Reference’s value over replacement metric.
Griffin bounced around at the end of his career, as he agreed to a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2016 but failed to make the team’s roster out of training camp. He subsequently landed with the Panthers and played in 13 games, but didn’t find a deal for the 2017 campaign.
PFR extends it best wishes to Griffin as he enters retirement.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Jets WR Robby Anderson
An arrest warrant has been issued for Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, as first reported by Andy Slater of SlaterScoops.com. Anderson was scheduled to appear in a Broward County, Florida court on Wednesday, but failed to show up for an arraignment, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Anderson’s lawyer said he was unaware a hearing was scheduled, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link).
Anderson, 24, was originally hit with nine charges after being arrested and threatening to sexually assault the wife of the arresting officer in January, but the three felonies — second-degree felony harm to a public servant or family, third-degree felony fleeing/eluding police while lights/siren active and third-degree felony speeding — have since been dropped.
Unfortunately, Anderson is also facing felony charges from a separate episode, as he was arrested last May after getting into a fight at a Miami music festival. Anderson is looking at charges of felony resisting arrest with violence and obstruction of police for that incident. Of course, the NFL could (and likely will) choose to impose a suspension on Anderson, regardless of the legal outcome of any of his cases.
Anderson enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Jets in 2017, registering 63 receptions for 941 yards and seven touchdowns in his second seasons in the league. A big-play threat, Anderson recorded six of his seven scoring grabs from more than 20 yards away from the goal line. New York has seemingly hedged against a possible Anderson ban by inking fellow pass-catchers Terrelle Pryor and Andre Roberts this offseason.
Rams Sign Seven Undrafted Free Agents
The Rams have agreed to terms with seven undrafted free agents, the club announced today:
- LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR (Southeastern)
- Ricky Jeune, WR (Georgia Tech)
- Jeremiah Kolone, G (San Jose State)
- Curtis Mickell, DB (Southern Mississippi)
- Steven Mitchell, WR (USC)
- McKay Murphy, DT (Weber State)
- Tegray Scales, LB (Indiana)
Scales began his collegiate career at Indiana by earning freshman All-American honors before being named second-team All-Big Ten during his senior year. Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Scales is a “vocal leader” who offers “elite instincts,” but could struggle to add weight to what is already a small size. Scales put up a whopping 36.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, and also put up 13 sacks over that same period.