Chiefs To Sign QB Shea Patterson
Once on track to be drafted, Shea Patterson exited the virtual event without a team. The Chiefs will end the former Michigan quarterback’s week-long stay in free agency, agreeing to terms with him, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Patterson, who began his career at Ole Miss, will join fellow Michigan alum Chad Henne and recent XFL starter Jordan Ta’amu as players vying to be part of Patrick Mahomes‘ backup crew.
Although Patterson threw more touchdown passes and for more yards as a senior, his completion percentage dropped by over eight points from his junior to senior years. The 6-foot passer completed just 56% of his throws in 2019. Patterson graded as Scouts Inc.’s No. 299 overall prospect and No. 16-rated quarterback.
During his two seasons as the Wolverines’ starter, Patterson sported a 45-15 TD-INT ratio. Patterson was a candidate to enter the 2019 draft but opted to return to school. That decision may have cost him, but landing with an Andy Reid-coached team profiles as a promising situation for a UDFA quarterback.
Both Patterson and Ta’amu would be candidates to land on Kansas City’s practice squad, should the Chiefs just keep Mahomes and Henne on their active roster. Between their taxi squad and 55-man roster, the Chiefs may only have room for three passers. The Chiefs have not re-signed Matt Moore, who put off retirement plans after a Henne preseason injury and ended up leading the eventual Super Bowl champions to a crucial win over the Vikings after Mahomes went down.
Chiefs Sign DE Taco Charlton
Taco Charlton has found a new home. The defensive lineman is signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs, reports Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo (via Twitter).
Charlton’s brief stint with Miami came to an end earlier this week, as the Dolphins waived the 25-year-old. Of course, that’s not to say that the lineman’s lone season in Miami wasn’t a success; despite appearing in only 10 games (five starts), Charlton still managed to compile a career-high five sacks and two forced fumbles.
The 2017 first-round pick out of Michigan spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Cowboys. He wasn’t particularly productive when he saw the field, as he combined for only 46 tackles and four sacks between the 2017 and 2018 seasons (27 games). He missed five games during the 2018 campaign thanks to a shoulder injury, and he later underwent ankle surgery. Those ailments lingered into the early parts of the 2019 season, and the Cowboys cut the lineman in mid-September.
In Kansas City, Charlton will have another shot to rehabilitate his image. Of course, that might be easier said than done, as he’ll be inserted into a depth chart that already includes the likes of Alex Okafor, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Breeland Speaks.
Chiefs To Pick Up Patrick Mahomes’ Fifth-Year Option
In the least surprising development in the short history of the fifth-year option, the Chiefs will pick up Patrick Mahomes‘ 2021 option. Not that this was ever in doubt, but NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero confirms the team plans to do so as a placeholder while extension talks loom (video link).
Since the Chiefs traded from No. 27 to No. 10 in 2017, Mahomes changed the franchise’s fortunes. The 2018 MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP led the Chiefs to their first title in 50 years and has them positioned as betting favorites to win Super Bowl LV.
As for a Mahomes extension, the expectation remains talks will ramp up at some point between now and the season. The latest coming out of Kansas City is a Chiefs hope to have Mahomes’ deal done before training camp, Pelissero adds (via Twitter).
Going into his age-25 season, the superstar passer can be expected to approach or surpass the $40MM-per-year barrier. This comes as Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson are discussing extensions, which could further raise Mahomes’ price. Mahomes’ rookie contract calls for an $825K 2020 base salary, a setup that would seemingly drive negotiations.
Despite cost-cutting moves like the Sammy Watkins pay cut and the release of Dustin Colquitt, the Chiefs have barely $5MM in cap space and Chris Jones attached to a $16.1MM franchise tag. Some of the $5MM will be needed for Kansas City to sign its draft picks. The Chiefs continue to work on a Jones deal, which would help create 2020 cap space, even though they already have Frank Clark tied to a $20MM-plus-AAV contract.
Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland Arrested On Multiple Charges
Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland was arrested on Tuesday in South Carolina, as Joshua Needelman of the Post and Courier reports. Breeland’s charges include: resisting arrest, possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, marijuana possession, and driving without a license. Meanwhile, Breeland maintains his innocence and his attorneys say the police used excessive force during the arrest (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Chiefs Release Dustin Colquitt]
Breeland recently re-upped with the Chiefs on a one-year, $4.5MM deal, returning him to the defending champs. He’s still only 28, so it’s an excellent platform opportunity for the cornerback if he can build off of last year’s momentum. In 2019, Breeland notched 48 stops, eight passes defended, and a pair of interceptions in the 2019 regular season. He also came away with an interception in KC’s Super Bowl victory to cap his year in style.
Even before the arrest, Breeland was facing a four-game suspension for a separate substance abuse violation, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Breeland is currently in the process of appealing that ban.
Before joining Kansas City in 2019, Breeland had an unusual 2018 in the football world. After signing a three-year, $24MM deal ($11MM guaranteed) with the Panthers, his contract was nixed due to an infected foot. Then, he waited until late September until he finally found a home with the Packers. That didn’t go according to plan either – Breeland was limited by a hamstring injury and played in only seven games.
In other Chiefs news, the team recently restructured Laurent Duvernay-Tardif‘s deal to carve out additional cap room. The guard’s cooperation was sorely needed – the Chiefs had precious little cap room heading into the draft, even after revising Sammy Watkins‘ contract for the 2020 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/28/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT John Jenkins
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OT Ka’John Armstrong
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: DE Anthony Lanier, RB Marcus Marshall
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (Dolphins): S Montre Hartage
- Waived: DB Derrick Baity, TE C.J. Conrad, LS Colin Holba, LS Drew Scott, P Sean Smith, C Tanner Volson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers (Lions): G Casey Tucker
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers (Jaguars): DB Jayson Stanley
Jenkins, 30, spent the 2017 season with the Bears before spending time with the Giants and Dolphins. In Miami last year, he started five times and appeared in all 16 games. He finished out the year with 34 total tackles and his first sack since 2015. The deal also reunites him with old colleague Ryan Pace, the Bears GM who worked in the Saints’ front office when Jenkins was drafted back in 2013.
Chiefs Release P Dustin Colquitt
The longest-tenured Chiefs player is moving on. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Kansas City is releasing punter Dustin Colquitt. The move saves the Chiefs around $2MM against the cap.
“I have enjoyed my time in Chiefs Kingdom, all things come to an end, sometimes sooner than you hoped, prayed & pleaded for them to,” Colquitt wrote on Instagram. “I’ll miss walking into the building & smelling the coffee, talking to everyone…it took me forever to weave through some of the most loving people you’d ever hope to work with. I was a young kid when I first walked into Arrowhead…hell, the indoor facility used to be 70 yards. Holding this post for 15 years has been an honor that I never took for granted. Thank you KC.”
The 37-year-old had spent the entirety of his 16-year career in Kansas City, earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl championship. Back in 2017, he passed Jerrel Wilson for the most punts and punting yards in franchise history, and he signed a three-year contract extension in 2018.
While Colquitt’s 44.3 yards per punt in 2019 was his lowest average since his sophomore season, his net average of 40.3 yards was on-par with his career marks. The veteran also placed 21 punts inside the 20.
The Chiefs must be content moving forward with their pair of punter additions: Tyler Newsome and Tommy Townsend. Newsome was a 2019 undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, while Townsend is a 2020 undrafted free agent out of Florida. As Pelissero notes (on Twitter), the Chiefs gave Townsend a lofty $82.5K guaranteed.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/27/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Released: TE Dax Raymond
Denver Broncos
- Released: S Tyvis Powell, TE Bug Howard, DL Deyon Sizer, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli
Detroit Lions
- Released: RB Tra Carson, LS James Fisher, G Casey Tucker, P Matt Wile
Green Bay Packers
- Released: QB Manny Wilkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: TE Billy Brown, WR Steve Ishmael
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: QB Kyle Shurmur
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: RB Mark Thompson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Coleman Shelton (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
- Released: LB Jeff Holland
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Jacob Thieneman
Chiefs Sign 18 UDFAs
The Chiefs became the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class:
- Andre Baccellia, WR (Washington)
- Maurice Ffrench, WR (Pittsburgh)
- Aleva Hifo, WR (BYU)
- Kalija Lipscomb, WR (Vanderbilt)
- Justice Shelton‐Mosley, WR (Vanderbilt)
- Cody White, WR (Michigan State)
- Yasir Durant, T (Missouri)
- Jovahn Fair, G (Temple)
- Darryl Williams, C (Miss St.)
- Tershawn Wharton, DT (Missouri S&T)
- Omari Cobb, LB (Marshall)
- Bryan Wright, LB (Cincinnati)
- Rodney Clemons, S (SMU)
- Jalen Julius, S (Ole Miss)
- Hakeem Bailey, CB (West Virginia)
- Javaris Davis, CB (Auburn)
- Lavert Hill, CB (Michigan)
- Tommy Townsend, P (Florida)
The Chiefs had to spend relatively big to get a couple of these guys. Lipscomb got $110K guaranteed and a $10K signing bonus, while Williams got $107K guaranteed and a $7K signing bonus (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). This was regarded as an epic receiver class with plenty of draftable players going un-selected due to the surplus, so it’s not surprising guys like Lipscomb are landing big bonuses.
As a junior at Vandy he had 916 yards and nine touchdowns, although he took a step back last season. Williams was a three-year starter at MSU who can play guard and center.
All told, the Chiefs inked a whopping six undrafted receivers. White declared early after racking up 922 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Michigan State. Davis was widely expected to get drafted, with NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projecting him as a fifth-rounder and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller having him go at the top of the sixth, so he’s a nice get as well.
Chiefs Restructure G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s Deal
The Chiefs have restructured the contract of guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, per Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). There are not yet any details on the restructure, but it will create some much-needed cap room for cap-strapped KC.
LDT was scheduled to count for nearly $9MM against the Chiefs’ cap in 2020, $6.45MM of which was comprised of base salary. It’s possible that Kansas City converted some of that money into a signing bonus in order to spread out the hit over the remaining three years of Duvernay-Tardif’s deal.
The Quebec native was selected by Kansas City in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. By 2015, he had become the team’s full-time starter at right guard, and he inked a five-year, $42.36MM extension after the 2016 season. Though he missed a significant chunk of the 2018 campaign due to injury, he started all 14 regular season contests in which he appeared in 2019, and he also enjoyed perfect attendance in the team’s postseason run through Super Bowl LIV.
Though Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics didn’t love his 2019 performance, ranking him as just the 47th-best guard out of 81 qualified players, LDT is a key component of the Chiefs’ high-octane offense.
49ers Shopping Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander
The 49ers are shopping several notable names in advance of the draft, according to Mike Lombardi of The Ringer (on Twitter). Execs around the league tell the former GM that edge rusher Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jaquiski Tartt have all been made available for the right price. Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who was dangled earlier this year, also remains on the block. 
The level of interest in those four players isn’t immediately clear, but the Niners are exploring every avenue in advance of the draft. Ford is set to enter his second season with San Francisco, just one year after coming over via trade with Kansas City. He’s in the midst of a five-year, $85MM contract and coming off of an injury-riddled season.
Thanks to knee, quadriceps, and hamstring issues, Ford was limited to just eleven regular season contests. And, when he was on the field, the 49ers had to ease the 29-year-old into action. All in all, he played on just 22% of the defensive snaps.
Alexander, 26 in August, has three seasons left on his four-year, $54MM deal. The off-ball ‘backer is remarkably tough – he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in November and somehow managed to return for the Niners’ playoff run. Alexander also battled a biceps injury that required surgery in February. These maladies emerged after he missed much of the 2018 season with an ACL tear. They will also drop his potential trade value.
The 49ers used rookie Dre Greenlaw for much of the season in Alexander’s place but reinstalled the highly paid outside linebacker in the starting lineup in the playoffs. Greenlaw has three years left on his rookie deal.
San Francisco had initially constructed Alexander’s contract to make it easier for the franchise to move on from him after 2019. But after a November restructure, that becomes more difficult. The 49ers added void years to Alexander’s contract to create cap space. Because of this, Alexander does not become a realistic cut candidate until 2022. But it appears the 49ers are trying to offload the former Buccaneer’s contract on another team and move forward with a younger player at the position.