Patriots Sign Vinnie Sunseri
The Patriots have added a bit of depth to their secondary, as they’ve agreed to sign former Saints defensive back Vinnie Sunseri, the club announced today. New England also confirmed the previously-reported signing of rookie free agent offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson.
[RELATED: New England Patriots depth chart]
Sunseri, 24, was a fifth-round pick out of Alabama in the 2014 draft, but he’s ended each of his first two NFL campaigns on the injured reserve list. As such, he doesn’t have much in the way of experience, as he has just nine career games under his belt (and all of that action came during his rookie season). Sunseri hasn’t been a defensive contributor — he’s seen only 11 defensive snaps in the NFL — but he did prove his worth on special teams, as he played on 37% of New Orleans’ ST snaps in 2014.
Special teams is the likely area of focus for Sunseri in New England, as well, as the club is well-stocked at the safety position, where Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards, and Nate Ebner make up the top of the depth chart. The Patriots are typically excellent on special teams, having ranked among the top-five in ST DVOA in every season since 2011. Sunseri worked out for the Pats back in May, so the club did get an up-close look at what he can do.
New England’s signing of Kerbyson had been reported on Friday. The former Tennessee Volunteer went undrafted earlier this year, but started all 13 games at left tackle during his senior season, during which he was named second-team All SEC.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR Originals: 7/17/16 – 7/24/16
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- PFR has continued to go over each team’s rookie class with the assistance of scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades. Dave covered five clubs last week:
- In our latest Offseason in Review post, I covered the Chargers‘ moves of the past several months. San Diego didn’t make many splashes on the free agent market, but did score a coup by signing former Packers corner Casey Hayward to a below-market deal. In the draft, the Bolts shocked everyone by selecting Ohio State edge rusher Joey Bosa, who is still embroiled in a contract dispute with the club.
- Zach Links rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
6 Key Stories: 7/17/16 – 7/24/16
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
The Dolphins land a running back. After striking out on C.J. Anderson, Chris Johnson, and others over the offseason, the Dolphins agreed to terms with former Texans running back Arian Foster, hammering out a one-year deal that contains $400K guaranteed and has a maximum value of $3.5MM. Foster, 29, had been linked to Miami for the past several months, but
was also scheduled to visit the Lions last week had he not inked a contract with the Fins. In South Beach, Foster will compete for playing time with second-year pro Jay Ajayi, while Foster’s presence will likely mean less action for rookie Kenyan Drake and fellow backs Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas.
Suspensions affect contenders. After being suspended for the first two games of the 2015 campaign, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is now facing a four-game ban after missing several drug tests. The appeal process is ongoing, but Pittsburgh, which already lost wide receiver Martavis Bryant to a season-long suspension, is now set to be without another key offensive weapon. Bell, of course, is also recovering from a knee injury suffered last season. Another AFC contender will deal with a suspension, as Colts defensive lineman Arthur Jones will be banned four games for violating the league’s PED policy.
The league’s best defender is hurting. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt recently underwent back surgery and is now facing an uncertain timeline for recovery. While initial reports suggested that Watt would certainly be ready for Houston’s opener, new information has indicated that Watt could miss as many as 10 weeks, which would not only but his availability for Week 1 in doubt, but could force him to miss as much as a month of regular season action.
Off-field issues in the news. Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon met with commissioner Roger Goodell last week regarding his reinstatement, and Goodell could make his decision any time after August 1. Reports have indicated that the summit was a good first step for Gordon, though it’s not a certainty that Cleveland will keep him on the roster even if he is 
allowed to return to the NFL. Meanwhile, former Ravens running back Ray Rice has vowed to donate his entire salary to combat domestic violence if a club gives him a chance in 2016. Elsewhere, Cardinals safety Chris Clemons is facing possible legal trouble after an alleged assault, while Shawn Oakman, once thought to be a top NFL prospect, was indicted on sexual assault.
An NFL pariah garners interest. Defensive Greg Hardy hadn’t met with any club until this week, when the Jaguars worked him out but did not offer him a contract. Hardy’s history of domestic violence has made him a black sheep in league circles, with no team willing to deal with the public relations backlash that would come with signing him. Still, Hardy’s price figures to drop low enough that a club will eventually take the risk, and I identified eight clubs that could show interest earlier this summer.
Retirements galore. Two of the best defenders of the 2000s announced their retirements this week, as cornerback Charles Tillman and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett decided to hang up their cleats. “Peanut” Tillman made his name as an excellent cover corner who had a knack for forcing fumbles, while Dockett terrorized quarterbacks as an undersized defensive lineman. Both players appeared in one Super Bowl, Tillman with the Bears in 2007 and Dockett with the Cardinals in 2009. Meanwhile, offensive linemen Eugene Monroe and Nate Chandler continued the trend of under-30 players retiring, with Monroe specifically citing CTE concerns in his announcement.
Photos courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram and USA Today Sports Images.
Darnell Dockett To Retire As A Cardinal
1:55pm: Dockett will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Cardinal, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link).
1:30pm: Former Cardinals and 49ers defensive lineman Darnell Dockett plans to announce his retirement on Monday, sources tell Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Dockett, 35, has not played in the NFL since the 2013 campaign.
[RELATED: Cardinals want to extend Calais Campbell]
Dockett spent ten seasons in the desert, starting 156 games for Arizona as an undersized defensive tackle while posting 40.5 sacks, good for seventh on the Cardinals’ all-time list. The former third-round pick registered a career-high nine takedowns during the 2007 season, one of three years he was selected to the Pro Bowl — Dockett was also named a second-team All Pro in 2009.
Among defensive lineman who played from 2004-2013, Docket ranks ninth in Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric. He helped lead Arizona to two playoff berths, including the 2009 postseason when the club made a postseason run to the Super Bowl only to lose to the Steelers.
In the summer of 2014, Dockett tore his ACL during training camp and was forced to miss the entire regular season. The Cardinals released him in the spring of 2015, and Dockett signed with the division rival 49ers. He didn’t make the 53-man roster, however, and was cut that September.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Broncos, Lynch, Sanchez, 49ers
The Broncos appear to want rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch to play at some point during the upcoming season, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. While it would still be an “upset” if veteran Mark Sanchez doesn’t win the starting job, Denver management would like to see Lynch see live action when the regular season begins. As Klis suggests, Lynch is thought to be relatively raw developmentally and his learning curve might be steep, so it would behoove the club to let Lynch take some snaps during the year. However, the Broncos aren’t likely to turn to Sanchez if the team is playing well, so the only chance for Lynch to see the field might be if Denver starts the season slow.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:
- The best contract on the Broncos‘ roster belongs to cornerback Chris Harris, opines Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, who adds the Harris will earn $6.5MM over a five-year period than will teammate Aqib Talib (and Harris is probably the better defensive back). Denver pulled a “con job” on Harris and his camp, writes Fitzgerald, tagging on option years at the end of the deal, while employing a bonus structure that would allow the club to earn a salary cap credit if the options aren’t exercised. On the flip side, the worst contract in the Mile High City is that of offensive tackle Donald Stephenson, who agreed to a three-year, $14MM deal over the offseason. Clearly (given those terms), this pact isn’t very onerous, and Fitzgerald notes that general manager John Elway has become so adept at financial negotiations that the Broncos simply aren’t carrying many poor contracts.
- After struggling against opposing quarterbacks in 2015 (and ranking 30th in defensive passing DVOA), the 49ers didn’t use any of their ample cap space to pursue outside additions to their secondary. But as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, San Francisco has used seven draft picks on defensive backs over the past three years, so the club has made a significant investment in improving its back end. Tramaine Brock looks like he’ll grab hold of one starting corner job in 2016, while former first-round safety Jimmie Ward is nearly a lock to serve as the Niners’ nickel corner, and could compete for time on the outside as well. Meanwhile, third-rounder Will Redmond, who tore his ACL last October, is a candidate to open training camp on the non-football injury list, and is unlikely to see much playing time during his rookie season.
- Earlier today, Troy Renck of Denver7 suggested that safety Omar Bolden — recently released by the Bears — could wind up back with the Broncos, noting that his release was not injury related. At the very least, Bolden could help out on special teams in Denver, as he was one of the club’s primary kick returners over the past four years.
Cardinals Notes: Humphries, Bethel, Bryant
Let’s take a look at the latest out of Arizona…
- Although 2015 first-round pick D.J. Humphries is the Cardinals’ presumptive starter at right tackle, there’s no guarantee that the club simply hands him the role, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Humphries didn’t play a single snap during his rookie season, and frustrated Arizona management to the point that head coach Bruce Arians began referring to him as “knee deep” (re: Arians’ knee vs. Humphries’ posterior). Per Urban, the Cardinals could add a veteran free agent during camp to compete with Humphries, and while Eugene Monroe is no longer an option after announcing his retirement, I did point to former Giants tackle Will Beatty as a potential option earlier this summer when analyzing the best available offensive free agents.
- Cornerback is also a position with question marks in the desert, as career special-team Justin Bethel is slated to start opposite All Pro Patrick Peterson. But general manager Steve Keim says that Bethel will have to earn playing time, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes. “Obviously, Justin is the current starter, but it’s always going to be an open competition,” Keim said. “Knowing Bruce Arians and his staff, we’ll play the best 11 out there, so whoever gives us a chance to succeed. But we have expectations for Justin. He’s got great athleticism and movement skills.” The Cardinals signed veteran corner Mike Jenkins earlier this week, and are also scheduled to meet with former Redskins defensive back Chris Culliver next week.
- Red Bryant signed a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract earlier this offseason to remain with Arizona, but Weinfuss writes that the veteran defensive tackle could be on the roster bubble because of the club’s depth up front. As Roster Resource shows, the Cards have many options on the defensive line after acquiring Chandler Jones and drafting Robert Nkemdiche to play alongside Calais Campbell, Rodney Gunter, Frostee Rucker, and others. As such, Bryant, whose main specialty is stopping the run, might not be a lock of the 53-man roster.
- Earlier this month, we reviewed the Cardinals’ offseason, looking back at every notable signing, loss, draft pick, and trade by Arizona over the past several months.
Buccaneers Claim Jonathan Krause
The Buccaneers have claimed wide receiver Jonathan Krause off waivers from the Eagles, the club announced. To clear a roster spot, Tampa Bay waived guard Dominique Robertson.
[RELATED: Updated Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart]
Robertson was waived with a non-football injury designation, a specification that results from Robertson’s involvement in a shooting earlier this month. The 22-year-old was shot twice in the leg during an incident in which he was a “bystander,” according to Robertson’s agent, and although the police did question the undrafted rookie free agent, he was never charged with any crime and there’s been no indication that an investigation is ongoing.
Krause, meanwhile, has a little more NFL experience than does Robertson, as the pass-catcher appeared in two games with the Eagles last season, catching two passes for 11 yards. Krause, 24, went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2014, and has also spent time with the Browns and Patriots organizations. He was waived yesterday when Philadelphia signed rookie linebacker Don Cherry.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Charles Tillman Will Retire With Bears
THURSDAY, 5:05pm: ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson writes that Tillman is expected to sign a ceremonial one-day contract with Chicago, allowing him to retire as a member of the Bears.
Dickerson notes that the team wants to give Tillman a “proper send-off,” although the organization still hasn’t determined how they’ll honor the cornerback.
MONDAY, 5:55pm: Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman has announced his retirement from the NFL, posting a colorful video via his Twitter account that depicts him literally hanging up his cleats. Tillman, 35, will leave the league after a 13-year career that included 12 seasons with the Bears and one campaign with the Panthers.
Tillman’s most notable time, of course, came in Chicago, where he started 152 games after being selected in the second round of the 2003 draft. “Peanut” posted 36 interceptions with the Bears, returning eight of them for touchdowns, and will finish among the top 100 defenders in the history of the NFL in terms of picks. But he was perhaps even more known for his ability to force fumbles, as he caused opponents to cough up the ball 44 times during his career, including 10 times in single season (2012).
However, injuries sapped Tillman’s effectiveness in the past few years, as he missed most of the 2013 and 2014 seasons with triceps injuries. After becoming a free agent in 2015, Tillman followed his former defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to Carolina, inking a one-year deal with the Panthers. After rebounding from past health concerns to start 12 games, Tillman suffered another devastating injury late in the year, tearing his ACL.
Even as recently as June, Tillman had expressed an interest to play in 2016, but only if he could reunite with Carolina. It’s unclear if the Panthers weren’t sold on re-signing him, or if Tillman simply decided to retire on his own, but either way, he’ll end his career after 13 spectacular seasons as a top-notch cover corner. We at PFR wish him the best in his retirement.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Offseason In Review: San Diego Chargers
The Chargers bottomed out in 2015, posting their worst record since 2003 and securing their first top-five draft pick since the club selected Philip Rivers. But with that top draft choice, and a lot of money coming off the books, San Diego had a chance to remake its roster this offseason while also attempting to deal with relocation concerns.
Notable signings:
- Travis Benjamin, WR: Four years, $24MM. $13MM guaranteed.
- Joe Barksdale, T: Four years, $22.2MM. $10.5MM guaranteed.
- Casey Hayward, CB: Three years, $15.3MM. $6.8MM guaranteed.
- Antonio Gates, TE: Two years, $11MM. $6MM guaranteed.
- Brandon Mebane, DT: Three years, $13.5MM. $5.5MM guaranteed.
- Dwight Lowery, S: Three years, $7.2MM. $1.5MM guaranteed.
- Matt Slauson, OL: One year, $3MM. $600K guaranteed.
- Chris Hairston, OL: Two years, $2.9MM. $550K guaranteed.
- Kellen Clemens, QB: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Jeff Cumberland, TE: One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K guaranteed.
- Jahleel Addae, S: One year, $2.553MM. Signed second-round RFA tender.
- Damion Square, DL: One year, $725K.
The Chargers’ offensive line in 2015 was, in a word, messy. Injuries sapped any potential the unit might have exhibited prior to the season, leaving tackle Joe Barksdale as the only starter who appeared in all 16 games. King Dunlap, Orlando Franklin, Chris Watt, and D.J. Fluker — a group that earned more than $21MM in cash in 2015 — missed a combined 30 games, leaving subpar options such Trevor Robinson, Kenny Wiggins, and Chris Hairston to fill in. In fact, nine San Diego offensive linemen played more than 100 snaps, and the club fielded 24 different line combinations, fourth-most in the NFL (latter stat courtesy of Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com).
And while the Chargers’ front office is banking on improved health to ameliorate an offensive line that ranked 31st in adjusted line yards, the club didn’t simply rest of its laurels. San Diego’s first move was to re-sign Barksdale, locking up its right tackle 
through the 2019 season. Barksdale, 28, is a fine player — he ranked as the No. 21 tackle in the league last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and graded among the top-50 at his position in 2014.
But Barksdale sat on the 2015 open market until the end of May before agreeing to a one-year, minimum salary pact with the Chargers. His new contract, on the other hand, makes Barksdale the eighth-highest paid right tackle in terms of annual value, and his $10.5MM in guarantees is fourth-largest among non-rookie contracts at his position. Perhaps San Diego feels some sort of debt towards Barksdale after he was the only part of its offensive line that didn’t end up in tatters last season. But the Chargers re-signed Barksdale before he reached free agency this spring, meaning the club didn’t let him test his market. Handing a right tackle who struggled to find a job a year prior a contract of this magnitude seems like a misstep and an overpay.
San Diego also re-signed swing tackle Hairston to a two-year deal (and are surely hoping he isn’t required to play as much as he did last year), and then inked veteran Matt Slauson after he was released by the Bears. The 30-year-old Slauson spent his entire career at guard until injuries in Chicago forced him to move to the pivot in 2015. He was effective at both spots, and his release came as a surprise, but the Chargers now have a solid veteran in the middle of their offensive line at an affordable price. San Diego drafted center Max Tuerk in third round of this year’s draft, but Slauson is fully expected to start in the middle.
Aside from the offensive line, the other area targeted by the Chargers during the free agent period was the secondary, which makes sense given that the club ranked 19th in opposing passer rating, 18th in passing yards allowed, and 21st in passing defense DVOA. While Jason Verrett remains one of the best corners in the NFL, veteran Brandon Flowers struggled with conditioning and admittedly grew complacent after landing a large deal last spring. Flowers was moved inside last season, but he’ll move back out after San Diego agreed to terms with slot cornerback Casey Hayward.
Hayward is proof that either NFL teams are especially wary of injury history, or that clubs still aren’t paying for slot corners despite the propagation of three wide receiver sets. While secondary options such as Josh Norman, Janoris Jenkins, and Sean Smith all signed for at least $9.5MM annually, Hayward will average only $5.1MM per season with the Chargers despite
grading out as the 16th-best corner in the league per PFF.
Admittedly, Hayward’s health concerns may have lowered his price tag, as a hamstring injury wiped out most of his 2013 campaign. But he’s been on the field for every game during the past two seasons, and even began to play on the outside in 2015. It’s conceivable that Hayward will start opposite Verrett in San Diego’s base package before moving inside in the nickel, but either way, the Chargers scored a free agent steal with the 26-year-old.
Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, San Diego brought in veteran safety Dwight Lowery, inking the 30-year-old to a three-year pact. Lowery has bounced around the league since joining the Jets as a fourth-round pick in 2008, spending time with the Jaguars, Falcons, and most recently, the Colts. He’s been up-and-down throughout his career, and is probably a replacement-level safety at this point, but Lowery will help solidify a secondary that is now without franchise mainstay Eric Weddle.
Speaking of organizational icons, the Chargers agreed to a two-year deal to retain tight end Antonio Gates, who is entering his 14th season with the team. Gates, who turned 36 years old last month, is a surefire future Hall of Famer, as only Tony Gonzalez posted more approximate value among tight ends. And while Gates has no speed left which to speak of, he can still play, as evidenced by his 56 receptions and five touchdowns in only 11 games last season.
But San Diego re-signed Gates at the expense of fellow tight Ladarius Green, who is not only a full decade younger than Gates, but proved he could post similar results during the first four games of the year when Gates was suspended. Additionally, Green actually signed for cheaper than Gates in terms of annual value and guarantees. Yes, Green’s total contract is worth more, but he’ll earn less over the next two seasons than Gates, and will likely produce more, as well.
Jeff Cumberland, meanwhile, is likely wishing he would’ve waited until after the draft before signing with a new club, as his role as the Chargers’ second tight end role has been usurped by second-round draft pick Hunter Henry. Bolts tight end coach John McNulty said last month that Cumberland is “still carving out” his role, which figures to entail a lot of special teams work, given that Henry is an excellent blocker and doesn’t figure to come off the field much, especially since San Diego uses a lot of two tight end sets.
Aside from the two tight ends, the Chargers’ only other notable skill position signing was that of former Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who also drew interest from the Texans and Chiefs before agreeing to a
four-year deal. Benjamin, 26, ranks 15th in yards per reception among receivers with at least 100 catches since 2012 (the year Benjamin was drafted), so he’ll be an eerily similar replacement for Malcom Floyd, who regularly averaged more than 17 yards per reception.
Still, it’s fair to wonder how productive Benajmin will be in San Diego given that offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt has returned to town, bringing his quick-passing offense with him. During Whisenhunt’s previous stint as OC (2013), Floyd missed almost the entire season with injury, so it’s difficult to visualize how a deep threat will be used in Whisenhunt’s scheme. In a system that relies on getting the ball out swiftly in order to alleviate any offensive line concerns, and focuses more on receptions from running backs, tight ends, and possession receivers like Keenan Allen, Benjamin might struggle to live up to his contract.
Finally, the Chargers added a stout presence to the interior of a defensive line that struggled against the run last season (31st in rushing defense DVOA, 27th in rushing yards allowed), luring defensive tackle Brandon Mebane away from the Seahawks with a three-year contract. Like Barksdale on the offensive side of the ball, Mebane is a fine defender, but this deal strikes as an overpay.
Mebane, 31, won’t be doing much more than acting as a run-stuffer in San Diego, and younger players with better skillsets got paid less on the open market this spring. Jaye Howard scored a very similar contract with the Chiefs, but he’s four years younger than Mebane and a superior defender. Ian Williams is only 26, and while injury concerns killed his market, the Chargers could’ve taken a risk on someone like the 49ers defensive tackle. Former Lions/Titans defender Sammie Lee Hill offers similar production to Mebane, and he’s still sitting on the free agent market, meaning he’ll likely have to settle for a minimum salary deal. San Diego had other ways to spend this money — and address their defensive line — making the Mebane contract ill-advised.
Continue reading about the Chargers’ offseason…
North Notes: Lions, Browns, Packers, Bears
The Lions finished 27th in rushing DVOA last season and still have uncertainty along their offensive line, meaning their running game is a question mark as the club heads into the 2016 campaign, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Free agent Arian Foster was scheduled to work out for Detroit this week, but the team never got a chance to take a look at the veteran running back before he signed with the Dolphins. Ameer Abdullah and Stevan Ridley both are dealing with injury issues, while Zach Zenner doesn’t have much of a track record. Theo Riddick is probably the surest bet on the roster, but he’s been deployed primarily as a receiving back. Still, Rothstein doesn’t expect the Lions to add an outside option to the position group.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant was ruled out for the season after tearing a pectoral muscle last week, but the 30-year-old isn’t yet ruling himself done for the year. “Absolutely, I’m hopeful that I can (come back this season),” Bryant told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “The timetable for rehab is four-to-six months, so it’s possible. I’ll do everything I can to get back as soon as I can.” Clearly, Bryant is using the most optimistic timeline in his projection, and it’s ultimately up to the Cleveland front office whether or not it puts Bryant injured reserve. But given the new IR rules, the Browns could conceivably place Bryant on IR and decide to bring him back later in the season if he progresses well enough.
- After posting his worst statistical season in some time, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hoping for a bounceback year, and he’s taken steps to move in that direction, as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes. Rodgers has lost weight, slimming down to 215 pounds, and also underwent surgery after Green Bay’s postseason run in order to clean up a knee injury. The former MVP produced a career-worst passer rating of 92.7 in 2016, but quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt is certain Rodgers will rebound. “Not up to his standards,” Van Pelt said of Rodgers’ campaign. “Obviously, we’ve targeted improvement areas, and he’s on board.”
- Although he was absent from mandatory minicamp, Bears offensive lineman Ted Larsen is simply experiencing leg soreness and will be fine, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). There was some thought that Larsen may have been seriously injured given that Chicago signed fellow guard Amini Silatolu earlier today, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case. Larsen and Silatolu figure to compete for the top reserve role along the interior, backing up starters Kyle Long, Hroniss Grasu, and Cody Whitehair.
- The Packers worked out former Texas A&M punter Taylor Symmank today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Symmank was apparently close to an agreement with the division rival Vikings earlier this year, but no word of an official signing was ever reported. Green Bay appears to be updating its specialist emergency list, as the club auditioned kicker Brent Wahle yesterday.