Commanders Looking Into RB Kareem Hunt
Despite coming up in steady trade rumors ahead of last year’s deadline, Kareem Hunt has not been closely tied to teams during a three-month free agency stay. That has since changed.
The Commanders are looking into the former rushing champion, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. Washington has made preliminary inquiries into Hunt, who recently played out his second Browns contract (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Browns Not Looking To Bring Back Hunt]
A clear Commanders-Hunt connection exists, with new OC Eric Bieniemy having been the former third-rounder’s position coach when the Chiefs drafted him in 2017. Prior to spending five seasons as Kansas City’s OC, Bieniemy oversaw Hunt’s rookie-year surge as RBs coach, helping him to the ’17 rushing title. Hunt, who won that crown with 1,327 yards, soared to a stronger start in 2018; his career path changed after a video showed him assaulting a woman at a Cleveland hotel.
While Hunt did not match his Chiefs showing with the Browns, he formed one of the league’s top backfield duos of this era by playing alongside Nick Chubb. Following Hunt’s eight-game suspension to start the 2019 season, Hunt worked as a 1-B option behind Cleveland’s perennial Pro Bowl starter. The Browns used Hunt more in the passing game, though he only topped 500 rushing yards in one of his Cleveland seasons (2020, with 841).
Prior to that 2020 season, the Browns gave Hunt a two-year, $13MM deal. That deal checked in much lower than Chubb’s (three years, $36.6MM) and Hunt’s top peers from the 2017 draft class. With the likes of James Conner, Leonard Fournette and Chase Edmonds passing Hunt in running back AAV, the then-Browns back requested a trade last year. As they looked to retain talent around Deshaun Watson, the Browns held off on dealing Hunt. The Eagles and Jets checked on the veteran at the deadline, but the Browns again held onto their talented backup.
Washington returns its Brian Robinson–Antonio Gibson backfield tandem, with the latter going into a contract year. Ron Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew are believed to be prioritizing a power run game, with rumblings of disagreements on this front with since-ousted OC Scott Turner coming out in January. The Commanders already ranked fourth in carries last season (538), but with the team now preparing to give the untested Sam Howell a legitimate starter opportunity, providing backfield support would make sense. The team did, however, use a sixth-round pick on a back (Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez).
At this juncture, Hunt will have a hard time even matching that $6.5MM-AAV accord he landed in Cleveland. The RB market did not produce a single $6.5MM-per-year deal this offseason, and teams’ free agency budgets are obviously depleted by June. Hunt also averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season — by far a career-worst mark. Neither Robinson nor Gibson topped 4.0 per tote, either, but Hunt’s disappointing contract year undoubtedly led to teams looking elsewhere earlier this offseason.
Kirk Cousins Not Expecting Vikings Extension Talks Before 2024 Offseason
The Vikings did not acquire an obvious heir apparent at quarterback this offseason, drafting Jaren Hall in the fifth round. But they did not work out a third extension with Kirk Cousins, either, creating uncertainty at one of the league’s most consistent quarterback positions.
Cousins has not missed a game due to injury as a Viking and has been Minnesota’s starting QB for five seasons. The Vikings have not seen such stability here since before Daunte Culpepper‘s 2005 ACL tear, when the former first-round pick operated as Minnesota’s starter from 2000-04. But Cousins is going into a contract year and, thanks to how his Washington tenure ended, the Vikes have limited options ahead of the 2024 league year.
Because Washington franchise-tagged Cousins twice, he would be eligible for a 144% raise from his 2023 terms. No player as been franchise-tagged for a third time since the Jaguars cuffed safety Donovin Darius from 2003-05, with the league since making it disadvantageous to tag a player on three occasions. While Cousins’ cap number is just $20.25MM, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the third-tag rule is believed to apply to his pre-restructuring cap number ($36.25MM). That would create a $52.2MM 2024 tag. Absent another extension before the ’24 legal tampering period, Cousins would be free to speak to other teams, putting the onus on the Vikings to hammer out a solution.
Cousins has said he wants to stay in Minnesota, and he has signed two extensions — the first in 2020, the second last year — since the market-accelerating $84MM fully guaranteed contract that brought him to the Twin Cities in 2018. The Vikings are not ruling out another Cousins contract, but the 12th-year passer is not expecting the Vikings to go through extension talks.
“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March,” Cousins said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. “Until then, [we’ll] just focus on this season and the job to do right now.”
Although Cousins is going into his age-35 season, he still could wield some leverage — a tool he has used effectively throughout his career. Washington tagged Cousins in 2016 and 2017, and his path has been mentioned when other QBs — like Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson — take unorthodox routes toward extensions. Void years are present on Cousins’ deal, helping reduce his 2023 cap hit to that $20.25MM number, meaning the Vikings would be on the hook for a $28.5MM in dead money if they do not extend their QB1 before the start of the ’24 league year. This will increase Cousins’ leverage and, in the event the Vikings want to go in another direction, apply pressure on the team to find a successor in 2024.
The Vikings attempted to trade up for Justin Fields in 2021 but have not been proactive at quarterback during Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s GM tenure. Cousins remains in place as the team’s unquestioned starter, and the team gave him a second first-round wide receiver — Jordan Addison — to pair with superstar Justin Jefferson.
While the Buccaneers have Baker Mayfield tied to a one-year deal, Kyle Trask is also an option to start for Tampa Bay. Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his contract, but the Titans traded up for Will Levis in Round 2. Cousins is the only other starting quarterback entering a walk year, placing the Vikings in their own boat here.
Broncos, Frank Clark Agree To Deal
JUNE 15: Clark’s guarantee checks in at $5MM, GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer tweets. The Broncos will spread out the veteran edge defender’s $4.24MM signing bonus using void years, a common Payton-era Saints practice. As a result of the through-2026 void years, Clark’s 2023 cap number checks in at just $2.27MM.
JUNE 8: Another domino on the edge-rushing front fell Thursday afternoon. Not long after Leonard Floyd agreed to terms with the Bills, Frank Clark is set to join the Broncos. The former Seahawks and Chiefs edge defender intends to sign with Denver, The Score’s Jordan Schultz tweets.
Clark spent the past four years in Kansas City, but after being the team’s top edge player throughout that term, the Super Bowl champions released him ahead of free agency. The Broncos entered Thursday with a less certain edge group, one dependent on Randy Gregory staying healthy. Clark stands to add a veteran piece to the mix.
[RELATED: Broncos Interested In Dalvin Cook?]
The Broncos will give Clark a one-year deal worth up to $7.5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Close in numbers to Buffalo’s Floyd deal, Clark’s Denver accord will include a $5.5MM base salary guarantee. The other $2MM will be divided into incentives, with Schefter adding that $1MM comes via potentially achievable incentives while the other million will be classified as unlikely to be earned escalators. Floyd signed for $7MM guaranteed Monday, likely laying the groundwork for the Broncos and Clark.
Clark, who will turn 30 next week, did not live up to the monster extension he signed with the Chiefs upon being acquired via trade in 2019. Despite not producing a 10-sack season in Kansas City, the eight-year veteran has three Pro Bowls on his resume. A former second-round pick, Clark has tallied two double-digit sack slates. Both came with Seattle.
Upon designating Brandon McManus as a post-June 1 cut late last month, the Broncos freed up $3.75MM in 2023 cap space. That will end up going toward Clark’s guarantee, with Sean Payton noting post-release the team was looking into other areas on its roster. Clark and Payton spoke this week and “hit it off,” Schefter tweets. While the Broncos still have George Paton in place as GM, Payton almost definitely has considerable personnel power given what it took to acquire his rights this winter.
“The situation with Sean Payton is good for me,” Clark said, via CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (on Twitter). “I get to play alongside Randy Gregory and stay in my in division that I am very familiar with. I also want to help the Broncos get back to the mountaintop.”
Clark will join a pass-rushing stable featuring Gregory, converted inside linebacker Baron Browning and 2022 second-round pick Nik Bonitto. The Broncos struggled to consistently generate pressure after trading Bradley Chubb last year, with Gregory on the shelf for much of the campaign. Browning also missed time due to injury, while Bonitto totaled just 1.5 sacks in 15 games. Denver carried considerable edge depth coming into its 2022 training camp, but after trading Malik Reed to the Steelers and seeing Gregory go down with a knee injury early in the season, the Broncos created a need by dealing Chubb to the Dolphins. Denver did not draft a defensive lineman or outside linebacker this year, though third-round pick Drew Sanders totaled 9.5 sacks from his inside linebacker post at Arkansas last season.
While Clark’s regular-season numbers in Kansas City left much to be desired — based on the five-year, $104MM deal he signed in 2019 — the former Michigan talent did produce in the playoffs. Clark totaled five postseason sacks for the 2019 Super Bowl champion Chiefs squad, three in 2020 and added 2.5 during Kansas City’s latest Super Bowl run. His 13 postseason sacks trail only Willie McGinest (16) and Bruce Smith (14.5) in NFL history. Clark, however, has not topped six sacks in a regular season since 2019.
Off-field trouble followed Clark to Kansas City. After a domestic violence arrest led to Michigan booting him from the team in 2014, Clark was arrested on two gun-related charges in 2021. He resolved both matters but served a two-game suspension last season. The Chiefs reworked his lucrative contract earlier in 2022, avoiding a cap-casualty transaction, but ended up parting ways with Clark a year after doing so. He will attempt to aid the Broncos as they aim to rebound from a disappointing 2022 season.
Saints Sign WRs Keke Coutee, Lynn Bowden
Keke Coutee and Lynn Bowden worked out for the Saints at their minicamp this week, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill notes (Twitter links). Each will earn an invitation to the next Saints round of practices.
The Saints are signing both wide receivers, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Additionally, New Orleans waived wideout Malik Flowers, running back SaRodorick Thompson and offensive lineman Yasir Durant.
Coutee, 26, spent last season with the Colts; Bowden, 25, logged time on the Patriots’ practice squad. The former mid-round picks will vie for backup spots in New Orleans, which lost Jarvis Landry this offseason. The Saints still re-signed Michael Thomas, hoping the NFL single-season reception record holder can shake the injuries that have defined his 2020s, and return second-year speedster Rashid Shaheed. Longtime tertiary option Tre’Quan Smith also remains rostered, while the Saints signed Bryan Edwards and drafted A.T. Perry in the sixth round.
Best known for his time as a Texans slot receiver, Coutee failed to make Houston’s 2021 active roster and trekked to Indianapolis. The Texas Tech alum served as a regular punt returner with the Colts last season. That represented his most notable work since 2020, when the former fourth-round pick established a career highs with 33 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Since Deshaun Watson‘s on-field Houston finale, however, Coutee has only caught two passes. He auditioned for the Packers earlier this offseason.
A former third-round Raiders pick, Bowden is probably best known for being traded to the Dolphins before he could suit up for a game in Las Vegas. The 2020 draftee saw some action as a Dolphins slot/gadget performer as a rookie, hauling in 28 passes for 211 yards. He has not caught a pass since. The Dolphins dangled Bowden in trades last year before ultimately cutting him. The Patriots picked up the Kentucky alum and stashed him on their practice squad. The Pats waived Bowden in May. Like Coutee, Bowden has a return background — just not in the NFL. He saw punt-return action at Kentucky in each of his three seasons.
A three-year veteran, Durant played in one game for the Saints last season. The 6-foot-7 tackle out of Missouri has two career starts on his resume. A rookie out of Texas Tech, Thompson was part of New Orleans’ UDFA contingent last month. Flowers set the Division I-FCS record for kick-return touchdowns, with seven, and sits behind only Shaheed in Big Sky Conference history in return average.
Latest On RB Dalvin Cook
A free agent for nearly a week now, Dalvin Cook will likely spend more time surveying the market. The six-year Vikings running back will probably need to sort out priorities, as he said his destination target will be a winning situation and another role as a starter.
Not many places check both boxes, and it should not be out of the question Cook waits for a potential training camp/preseason injury to shake up a team’s situation.
“I want the value. I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook,” Cook said during an interview with Rich Eisen Show fill-in Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com). “I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win.
“Like you said, the money is going to come. If you play good, they are going to pay you. I just want to go somewhere where it feels like it’s home and help somebody win and just go be me. Just go turn it loose and look for a home. That’s it.”
It should not be expected Cook will approach his previous Vikings terms. Minnesota gave the former second-round pick a five-year, $63MM contract just before the 2020 season. Seeing the running back market shift yet again, the Vikings are pivoting to Alexander Mattison. The longtime Cook backup signed a two-year, $7MM deal that is almost fully guaranteed. Ahead of a historic Justin Jefferson contract, Minnesota will make a substantial pay cut at running back. Cook played three seasons on his extension and balked at the prospect of a pay cut, though a specific reduction is not believed to have been offered.
This year’s running back market featured the top three options — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard — out of play due to the franchise tag. The fallout from this and a number of other capable starters hitting the market produced a barrage of modest agreements. Miles Sanders‘ four-year, $25.4MM deal led the way, but even after the the Vikings bailed on Cook’s contract, Sanders’ AAV ranks 11th at the position. This has not been a good offseason for running backs, leading to a some state of the union-type comments from the game’s top ball carriers.
The Sanders contract should be considered a fairly safe ceiling for Cook, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com estimates (video link). While teams are interested, Cook’s position and age will limit his market. Still, Cook is the NFL’s only back to eclipse 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. He also said the shoulder procedure he underwent in February has corrected a longstanding issue.
“I’m feeling great, being [in] the right shape and stuff like that just to play for a football team, that’s going to be the best thing,” Cook said, via Pelissero. “I’m not in a rush to go sign with nobody. I’m trying to find the right fit for me and my family.”
Kirk Cousins said he expressed faint hopes Cook could stay in Minnesota, offering (via SI.com) that “an outside chance” might exist for a reunion. While Cook expressed”a lot of love” for the Twin Cities, it would still surprise if he returns on a reduced contract. With the Broncos not expected to make a serious push, the Dolphins’ previous pole-position status does not appear threatened presently. But the Pro Bowler will aim to hold out for his hometown team — or another mystery suitor — to hit a certain financial benchmark.
Lions Sign Round 2 TE Sam LaPorta
After trading T.J. Hockenson on deadline day last year, the Lions looked to the same place to address the newly created tight end need. The latest Iowa-developed tight end to become an early-round prospect, Sam LaPorta is now signed to his rookie contract.
Detroit will give LaPorta the new terms for early second-rounders, fully guaranteeing his first three seasons, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The No. 34 overall pick will also receive a partial guarantee for his Year 4 payout; $408K of LaPorta’s 2026 salary is locked in at signing, per Wilson.
The Lions drafted Hockenson eighth overall in 2019. While LaPorta does not join Hockenson, Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew as first-round Lions draftees over the past 15 years, he does follow a host of Iowa-produced tight ends into the league. Hockenson, George Kittle, Noah Fant and Parker Hesse have emerged from the Big Ten program in recent years. This batch came after the Dallas Clark–Tony Moeaki–Scott Chandler–Brandon Myers–C.J. Fiedorowicz crop entered the league from 2003-14. The Lions will again bet on the tight end factory.
LaPorta became this year’s second tight end taken, following Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. Despite Michael Mayer receiving first-round buzz, the Lions passed on the Notre Dame alum, leading him to the Raiders at No. 35. The Lions picked up the No. 34 pick from the Cardinals, who traded into Detroit’s No. 6 spot for Paris Johnson a night earlier. LaPorta topped 650 receiving yards in each of his final two Hawkeyes seasons, totaling 657 on 58 receptions in 2022. He earned first-team all-conference acclaim as a senior.
ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded LaPorta as this year’s No. 43 overall prospect, which is in line with how NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah slotted him (42nd). The Lions paid little mind to pre-draft rankings in Round 1, taking Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 and LaPorta Iowa teammate Jack Campbell at No. 18. LaPorta was a bit more in step with consensus. The trio will be expected to make immediate contributions.
The Lions’ Hockenson trade — for a 2023 second-rounder and a 2024 third — cleared a path at tight end. Former UDFA Brock Wright remains on Detroit’s roster; the Notre Dame alum started 10 games last season. Gibbs and second-rounder Brian Branch are the only unsigned members of this Detroit draft class.
Colts, Jonathan Taylor Begin Extension Talks
At what seems like a crucial point for the running back position’s value, Jonathan Taylor is now extension-eligible. The 2021 rushing champion wants to stay with the Colts, who have extended his three top blockers — Ryan Kelly, Braden Smith, Quenton Nelson — in each of the past three years.
Taylor, however, is coming off an injury-limited season. Ankle trouble kept Taylor out of six games last season, and the former second-round pick underwent surgery this offseason. No fifth-year option exists in Taylor’s rookie contract, putting both he and fellow 2020 second-rounder Michael Pittman Jr. in walk years.
[RELATED: Taylor Makes Agency Change]
While receivers’ positional value has soared in recent years, backs have seen their gradually fading statuses absorb more hits this offseason. No trade market materialized for Austin Ekeler; Saquon Barkley has voiced frustration about his talks with the Giants; the Vikings released Dalvin Cook. This comes during a year in which the Packers gave Aaron Jones a slight pay cut and the Bengals are prepared to move in this direction with Joe Mixon. Miles Sanders‘ $6.35MM-per-year Panthers deal led the way at the position this offseason.
Taylor, 24, will be aiming much higher. The position’s latest crisis and the ankle injury notwithstanding, Taylor and the Colts have held some extension talks, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder writes. The fourth-year starter has approached the Colts about a deal, according to the Indianapolis Star, while also making some pointed comments about the state of the running back.
“You definitely have to pay attention, just so you know, ‘OK, what type of space are you entering into?’” Taylor said of the running back market. “And you just hope from the track record here [in Indianapolis] that things are being evaluated the right way. … You see why guys request trades. They just want to feel valued by not only their coaches, their teammates, but the organization as well.”
The Colts have an extensive track record of re-upping their own under GM Chris Ballard. In addition to the top-five positional deals for Nelson, Kelly and Smith, the Colts have paid Shaquille Leonard, Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart. Indianapolis re-signed Marlon Mack, but the Taylor predecessor’s Achilles injury crushed his value. Indy extended Nyheim Hines but traded the Taylor backup/return specialist a year later.
The New Jersey native won the ’21 rushing crown by 552 yards, powering an offense that featured inconsistent quarterback play. Taylor added 360 receiving yards that season. Unreliable QB play has been a Colts constant for much of the Ballard era, and with Anthony Richardson seemingly needing seasoning time, that might not cease this season. But Richardson’s contract does open the door to new possibilities, with the Colts having carried Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan‘s salaries on their books over the past three seasons. A lower-cost approach at quarterback opens the door for payments to Taylor and Pittman, but even though Taylor is a better player, the latter will be positioned to out-earn him due to the receiver position’s value. As such, Pittman probably profiles as Indy’s top free agent priority. Indianapolis also has Moore and safety Julian Blackmon on expiring deals.
“You look at the past, and guys who have shown their value on and off the field tend to stay here,” Taylor said. “My goal, the first season after I got drafted, I’m like ‘I want to retire a Colt.’ Hopefully the organization sees that the same, because I do. … We’ll see where things go. It’s kind of on them right now.”
Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara remain tied to $16MM and $15MM averages, respectively, having hovered atop the market since 2020. The Cowboys ditched Ezekiel Elliott‘s $15MM-AAV deal this offseason, and the Vikings moved on from the No. 4 earner at the position (Cook) last week. Mixon and Jones signed $12MM-per-year deals in 2020 and ’21, respectively, while Derrick Henry is entering the final season of his $12.5MM-AAV deal. The steadiest of the backs on big-ticket contracts, Nick Chubb remains on a $12.2MM-per-year pact.
It will be interesting to see where the Taylor talks go, and this year’s franchise-tagged trio — Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard — should have a major say in how the market looks when the Colts determine their starter’s Indy future.
Chiefs Sign Round 2 WR Rashee Rice, Wrap Draft Class Deals
The Chiefs are done with the rookie signing portion of their offseason, announcing an agreement with second-round pick Rashee Rice.
Choosing a receiver in Round 2 for the second straight year, the Chiefs will hope Rice can make an early impact. The team exited its minicamp Thursday with some questions at wide receiver, having lost J.J. Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency. Rice represents the defending Super Bowl champions’ top addition here.
Eyeing a more cost-conscious approach at receiver now that Patrick Mahomes‘ contract comes with high cap numbers annually, the Chiefs were not believed to have come too close on terms with Smith-Schuster before he bolted for New England on a three-year, $25.5MM deal ($16MM guaranteed). The team eyed a new Smith-Schuster deal this offseason, but the team’s second-leading pass catcher from 2022 is gone. Younger players are now supplementing Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Kansas City is expecting a jump from Kadarius Toney, now that the ex-Giants first-rounder is going through the offseason program with the Chiefs, and used a second-round choice on Skyy Moore last year. Moore did not make much of an impact as a rookie, though he emerged for two key playoff contributions — a pivotal fourth-quarter punt return in the AFC title game and a short Super Bowl touchdown grab — and should be expected to play more with Smith-Schuster and Hardman gone.
The Chiefs have been connected to DeAndre Hopkins, discussing the 10-year veteran with the Cardinals in a trade. But with the former All-Pro not wanting to take too much of a discount from his Cardinals deal — an issue during trade talks — Hopkins-Chiefs rumors have been scarce over the past several days.
Chosen 55th overall, Rice played a regular role for the past four SMU squads. Last season, however, the 204-pound wideout broke through for the American Athletic Conference school. Rice caught 96 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 TDs in 2022, ranking in the top five in Division I-FBS in receptions and yards. Still, ESPN’s Scouts Inc. viewed this pick as a considerable reach, having ranked Rice 124th as a prospect. The Chiefs did work on this draft’s first-round-caliber wideouts and were on the radar for a potential Zay Flowers or Jordan Addison trade-up, but Rice ended up being the player tabbed.
Here is the Chiefs’ seven-man draft class:
Round 1, No. 31: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 55 (from Vikings through Lions): Rashee Rice, WR (SMU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 92 (from Bengals): Wanya Morris, T (Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 4, No. 119 (from Lions through Vikings): Chamarri Conner, CB (Virginia Tech) (signed)
Round 5, No. 166: BJ Thompson, LB (Stephen F. Austin) (signed)
Round 6, No. 194 (from Lions): Keondre Coburn, DT (Texas) (signed)
Round 7, No. 250: Nic Jones, CB (Ball State) (signed)
DB Notes: Baker, Gordon, Lions, Chinn
Budda Baker issued a trade request in February, though it did not become public until mid-April. The Pro Bowl safety remains with the Cardinals and attended the team’s minicamp this week. But the disgruntled defender did not participate in on-field work, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. This hold-in effort did involve some degree of participation, with Jonathan Gannon indicating Baker has texted with him regarding film and has been in contact with coaches.
“It was good to have him in the building today,” Gannon said (via Weinfuss), calling Baker’s situation “the business side of it.” “Smile on his face. He was asking a bunch of questions. I told the coaches, you better be on your toes cause he’s going to ask good questions. The dialogue has been great, and I’m ready to get [No.] 3 back out there.”
With the Cardinals rebuilding and unlikely to have Kyler Murray available to start the season, it would be interesting to see if they listened to offers for Baker. It also is understandable for Gannon to want the decorated safety back in the mix, given the talent the Cardinals lost on defense this offseason (J.J. Watt, Zach Allen, Byron Murphy, Markus Golden). Two years remain on Baker’s $14.75MM-per-year contract, which has paid out its guarantees.
Here is the latest DB news from around the NFL:
- The Bears now have three second-round cornerbacks on their roster, adding Tyrique Stevenson to a mix that includes Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. A 2022 Round 2 choice, Gordon is now ticketed for a full-time slot role, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Washington product played both inside and outside last season, logging a 97% snap rate in the 14 games he played. Gordon intercepted three passes and forced a fumble as a rookie, though Pro Football Focus did not view his coverage work especially fondly, ranking the 6-foot defender 108th among qualified corners.
- Will Harris moved from safety to slot corner with the Lions last year, but the team’s secondary overhaul included the additions of two hybrid players — C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch. Both safeties have extensive slot experience, and Gardner-Johnson — despite leading the NFL with six interceptions last season as an Eagles safety — is expected to play plenty in the slot with the Lions. Harris should be expected to be a backup in 2023, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, who notes the fifth-year defender should work as the top reserve on the outside and in the slot. A former third-round pick who re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason, Harris started 10 games last year.
- Used as a linebacker and a safety over his first three seasons, Jeremy Chinn is set to stay on a versatile track in Carolina. The former Panthers second-rounder has worked as a nickel presence throughout the offseason, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. New Panthers secondary coach Jonathan Cooley said the staff has not fully pinned down Chinn’s role, which will make this run-up to a contract year interesting. The Panthers held off on trading Chinn last year, keeping him as part of a young defensive core.
- Texans cornerback Steven Nelson hired a new agent recently, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes David Mulugheta is now representing the ninth-year defender. Nelson signed a two-year, $9MM deal with the Texans in 2022, but started all 15 games he played. Going into his age-30 season, the former Chiefs, Steelers and Eagles corner is running out of time to make another financial splash.
- The Cardinals made tiny splashes in the secondary recently, adding corners Dylan Mabin and Bobby Price. Both will be on league-minimum deals, with GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer tweeting Price will earn $1.01MM (the minimum for a fourth-year player) while Mabin is at $870K (the basement for a player with one year of experience). With neither assured of a roster spot, no money here is guaranteed.
Buccaneers To Sign K Rodrigo Blankenship
Going into training camp, the Buccaneers’ 2023 kicker room will have a Colts-y vibe. After bringing in Rodrigo Blankenship for a minicamp tryout, Tampa Bay is signing the young specialist, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Blankenship spent part of three seasons with the Colts, being the team’s first non-Adam Vinatieri Week 1 leg since 2005, but was waived last year. The player who both replaced Vinatieri late in the 2019 season and took over for Blankenship in September 2022, Chase McLaughlin, is already on the Bucs’ 90-man roster.
McLaughlin kicked in 16 games for the Colts last season, replacing Blankenship after the latter’s rough day during a Week 1 tie with the Texans. Tampa Bay gave the fifth-year kicker a one-year, $1.13MM deal this offseason. That pact came with just $100K guaranteed, giving the Bucs flexibility. With Blankenship representing competition, the two recent Indianapolis kickers will vie to replace Ryan Succop in Tampa.
This will mark a rematch between McLaughlin and Blankenship, who squared off in a kicking battle in 2020. The Colts had signed McLaughlin, who kicked in four games for the team in 2019, to a reserve/futures deal in 2020. But they went with Blankenship, a 2020 UDFA out of Georgia, to be Vinatieri’s full-time successor. That move, however, only produced one full season of work. A 2021 injury and the struggles in Houston last September led Blankenship out of Indiana. The Colts paid up for ex-Rams standout Matt Gay in March.
The former Lou Groza award winner, Blankenship made 32 of 37 field goals as a rookie but suffered a hip injury during a pivotal 2021 Monday night in Baltimore. Blankenship’s efforts to kick through the injury resulted in a missed extra point and two missed field goals, opening the door to a 19-point Ravens comeback that dealt the Colts what would be a crushing blow — since the team finished one win shy of the playoffs that season. Blankenship booted two kickoffs out of bounds and missed a 42-yard field goal in overtime during his comeback game against the Texans in Week 1 of last season. He later caught on with the Cardinals, making both his field goal tries in two games.
Tampa Bay had gone through numerous kickers during the 2010s, shuffling through a new option annually, but Succop gave the team some sought-after stability. Encountering cap issues this offseason, the Bucs released Succop in March. The 13-year veteran remains a free agent.