Chiefs Release Eric Berry
The Chiefs have released Eric Berry, the club announced today.
“I’d like to thank Eric for his contributions to our team and the Kansas City community over the last nine years,” head coach Andy Reid said. “Seeing his passion and watching his love for the game has been truly remarkable. He’s a special person, and we wish him the best as his career moves forward.”
Berry, 30, was widely expected to be cut after Kansas City inked fellow safety Tyrann Mathieu to a three-year, $42MM. The two defensive backs could have complemented each other in the Chiefs’ secondary, but most teams are simply reluctant to spent an exorbitant amount of cap and cash on a single positional group.
Berry signed a six-year, $78MM extension with the Chiefs in 2017, and that deal had kept him as the NFL’s highest-paid safety until Landon Collins topped him earlier this week. Kansas City will designate Berry as a post-June 1 release (Twitter link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk), meaning it will take on $6.95MM in dead money this year and $8MM in 2020. The Chiefs will see $9.55MM in cap relief, but they won’t receive that until this summer.
A terrific safety when on the field, Berry has been limited by health issues throughout his career. In five of his nine pro seasons, Berry has failed to play more than five games. He’s been available for only three total regular season contests over the past two years after rupturing his Achilles in September 2017. In spite of that, Berry doesn’t plan to undergo offseason surgery to correct his nagging heel concerns.
Berry’s market will be one to watch in the coming weeks, as the safety position has mostly been picked over in free agency. That should leave Berry as one of the more attractive options still available, but it also means many clubs have already filled their safety void. Given his injury history, it won’t be a surprise if the three-time All-Pro is forced to settle for a one-year deal.
Panthers Re-Sign Daryl Williams
The Panthers have re-signed offensive tackle Daryl Williams to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Williams was considered one of the best right tackles available on the open market, but it appears other clubs have at least some level of concern about the status of his right knee. The 26-year-old Williams dislocated his kneecap and tore his MCL last summer, but was still able to suit up for Carolina’s season opener. However, Williams wasn’t able to complete the game and went on injured reserve not long after going down.
As such, Williams was hitting the free agent period coming off a lackluster platform season, but he was still expected to cash in. Fellow right tackle Ja’Wuan James received $13MM annually from the Broncos, and it wouldn’t have been out of the question for Williams to target a similar contract. Instead, he’ll take a prove-it deal with the Panthers with the hope he can rebound and before hitting free agency again in 2019.
A fourth-round pick in 2015, Williams was a full-time starter in both 2016 and 2017, appearing in 29 games and making 26 starts during that time. Even without Williams available, the Panthers’ line was respectable in 2018, ranking among the top-ten front fives in Football Outsiders‘ pass- and run-blocking metrics. Williams will return to a line that now includes new center Matt Paradis in addition to Matt Kalil, Trai Turner, and whomever Carolina finds to play left guard.
The Giants and Bills — both of whom employ former Carolina staffers as general manager — each reportedly had their eyes on Williams. Buffalo signed Ty Nsekhe to handle right tackle, while New York could turn to a free agent group that includes Jared Veldheer, Jermey Parnell, and Ryan Schraeder.
49ers Made Push For Le’Veon Bell?
The 49ers made a “serious push” for running back Le’Veon Bell before he signed with the Jets, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). However, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area says he doesn’t believe San Francisco had real interest in Bell.
Bell’s market may not have been as strong as he once hoped, so it’s possible reports of 49ers interest were being used as leverage. Other clubs, such as the Ravens and Colts, were expected or reported to be suitors for Bell, but those clubs never actually discussed a deal. Ultimately, Bell landed $52.5MM and $35MM over a four-year term from New York.
San Francisco would have been a curious fit for Bell, at least on paper. The 49ers signed Jerick McKinnon to a four-year, $30MM deal just last offesason, a pact that still makes McKinnon the NFL’s seventh-highest paid back. He tore his ACL last summer and missed his debut campaign with San Francisco, but it would cost the Niners cap space to cut McKinnon now. SF could have conceivably used a post-June 1 designation on McKinnon (and thus lessened the 2019 cap hit for releasing him), but the team hasn’t indicated it’s ready to move on from its 2018 free agent addition.
With McKinnon out, Matt Breida took over as the 49ers’ running back and thrived, posting 5.3 yards per attempt 153 carries. He’ll be back next year, as will restricted free agent Raheem Mostert, leaving even less room for a potential Bell acquisition.
Redskins To Re-Sign Adrian Peterson
The Redskins will re-sign running back Adrian Peterson to a two-year deal worth $8MM, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Peterson had indicated he’d like to stay in Washington, while the Redskins also expressed interest in retaining the veteran back. Despite some chatter that other clubs could target Peterson, he’ll return to the nation’s capital following a successful 2018 campaign.
After collecting only a minimum salary deal last year, Peterson will now see a nice pay increase. He joined the Redskins after the club lost rookie second-round pick Derrius Guice to a torn ACL, and went on to rush 251 times for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns. Advanced metrics weren’t nearly as bullish on Peterson, as he finished just 28th in success rate, but he was running behind a Washington offensive line that ranked just 24th in adjusted line yards.
Guice will be back in 2019, as will pass-catching back Chris Thompson, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if Peterson’s attempt see a drastic decrease next year. However, with Case Keenum under center, the Redskins may need to utilize a run-heavy offense, meaning Peterson will still be involved in the offense.
Peterson will 34 years old when next season gets underway, and only one running back age-34 or older has ever topped 1,000 rushing yards: John Riggins, who did it twice for the Redskins (1983 and 1984).
Falcons To Release Ryan Schraeder
The Falcons will release right tackle Ryan Schraeder, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
Schraeder was fully expected to be cut after Atlanta gave Ty Sambrailo — who took over as the club’s starting right tackle near the end of the 2018 season — a three-year extension. The Falcons will field an offensive line that features three new starters next year: Sambrailo, plus free agent guards Jamon Brown and James Carpenter, the latter two of whom agreed to multi-year deals earlier this week.
A former undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State, Schraeder latched on with the Falcons in 2013 and proceeded to start 73 games over the next six years. He signed a five-year, $31.5MM extension in 2016, but he’ll only complete a portion of that contract. Atlanta will now take on $3.8MM in dead money by releasing Schraeder, but the team will also open $3.95MM in cap space.
Schraeder will now join a free agent tackle class that’s mostly been picked over. Daryl Williams is still the best option on the market, while other 30-something tackles like Jared Veldheer, Jermey Parnell, and Joe Barksdale also remain available.
Raiders To Sign Tyrell Williams
Having already added superstar Antonio Brown to their receiving corps, the Raiders are making another pass-catching upgrade. Oakland has agreed to sign wide receiver Tyrell Williams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets that it is a four-year, $44MM deal for Williams, with $22MM guaranteed. The contract maxes out at $47MM with incentives.
As recently as last night, there was a belief the Raiders were not a serious contender for Williams. That may have been due to their acquisition of Brown, or perhaps Williams had been generating enough serious interest from other clubs that Oakland assumed it was no longer a suitor. But Williams will head to the Bay Area after being connected to the Raiders throughout the free agent process.
Viewed as arguably the most intriguing wideout of the 2019 free agent class, Williams had reportedly drawn interest from a number of clubs, including the Colts, Steelers, and Browns.
Williams, 27, first emerged as a legitimate NFL wideout in 2015. With Keenan Allen injured, Williams stepped in as Philip Rivers‘ No. 1 target, hauling in 69 receptions for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns. Over the past two years, Williams’ volume declined as Allen re-entered the lineup and 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams began taking snaps, but he’s still remained effective. In 2018, Williams ranked 24th among 84 qualifying receivers in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, meaning he was productive on a per-play basis.
As expected, the Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden have been active this offseason, acquiring not only Brown and Williams, but left tackle Trent Brown and safety Lamarcus Joyner.
Jets Unlikely To Re-Sign Andre Roberts
The Jets reportedly wanted to re-sign ace return man Andre Roberts, but a reunion is not expected to occur, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
New York field the best special teams unit in the NFL a season ago, but the club is now expected to let Roberts walk after allowing kicker Jason Myers to leave for a four-year deal in Seattle. Both Roberts and Myers earned first-team All-Pro nods in 2018, while Gang Green ranked first in Football Outsiders‘ special teams DVOA.
The Jets still have plenty of cap space available, leaving their decision to not retain Roberts all the more surprising. It’s unclear exactly what sort of contract Roberts is targeting, but he’s almost certainly aiming to surpass the two-year, $10MM deal fellow returner Cordarrelle Patterson landed with the Bears earlier this week.
Roberts, 30, hasn’t been a significant offensive contributor to any team since 2014, but his return skills are unquestioned. Last season, he led the NFL in yards per return on punts and total yardage on kickoffs, scoring a touchdown in each capacity.
Colts To Re-Sign CB Pierre Desir
The Colts have reached an agreement to re-sign cornerback Pierre Desir, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a multi-year deal, tweets Garafolo, with the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson noting Desir will be tied to the Colts for three seasons.
This contract will be worth up to $25MM, with Erickson adding (via Twitter) Desir will see $12MM guaranteed.
A former fourth-round pick of the Browns, Desir bounced around the NFL without much success until Indianapolis claimed him off waivers in 2017. He earned a starting role midway through that season, and subsequently started 12 games for the Colts in 2018. Desir, 28, posted 79 tackles, one interception, and eight passes defensed on an Indianapolis pass defense that ranked just 20th in DVOA.
Pro Football Focus graded Desir as the NFL’s 18th-best corner a year ago, but Football Outsiders’ charting data didn’t paint as rosy a picture. Among 85 qualifying corners, Desir ranked as roughly a league-average player: 52nd in success rate and 63rd in yards allowed per pass.
Desir will return to a Colts secondary that also includes Kenny Moore, Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston, and Jalen Collins, but his new deal shouldn’t prevent Indianapolis from targeting another defensive backfield upgrade, either through free agency or the draft.
Jaguars To Re-Sign A.J. Cann
The Jaguars will re-sign guard A.J. Cann to a three-year contract worth just more than $15MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Jacksonville has attempted to fix its offensive line in each of the past two offseasons, first drafting left tackle Cam Robinson in 2017 before signing left guard Andrew Norwell last year. Despite those changes, the Jaguars still ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in Football Outsiders‘ run- and pass-blocking metrics.
Cann, at the least, will give the Jaguars some level of continuity on the right side of its front five. Jacksonville released right tackle Jermey Parnell earlier this month, so Cann will lining up next to a new starter in 2019. That could potentially be 2018 fourth-round pick Will Richardson, or the Jags could add another option.
High-quality interior offensive line options were not plentiful in this year’s free agent class, and Cann — at age-27 — represents one of the younger choices at the position. He’s been a full-time starter in Jacksonville ever since entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2015 draft, starting 60 games over the past four years. In 2018, Pro Football Focus graded Cann as roughly league-average, ranking him No. 44 among 77 qualified guards.
Patriots To Re-Sign CB Jason McCourty
The Patriots will re-sign cornerback Jason McCourty to a two-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
McCourty made some waves by admitting that he’d contemplate retirement this offseason, but he’d since indicated he not only wanted to continue his career, but preferred to re-sign with the Patriots. That didn’t come as much of a surprise, as McCourty’s twin brother Devin is also expected back in New England next season.
New England acquired Jason McCourty from the Browns in exchange for a 14-slot drop in the sixth/seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he proved to be a valuable pickup. The former sixth-round pick played on 80% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps, grading as the No. 6 cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. McCourty also ranked 21st among corners in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks.
McCourty should line up opposite Stephon Gilmore as one of New England’s starting cornerbacks next season. Following his excellent 2018 season, McCourty should also be slated for a pay bump after collecting an average salary of just $2.375MM on his last deal.