Seahawks To Meet With Jordy Nelson
Jordy Nelson‘s free agent tour is underway. The former Raiders and Packers receiver is set to visit the Seahawks on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
Aside from the Seahawks, Nelson has also drawn interest from the Patriots, Titans, and Chiefs, according to Schefter. The Raiders, who released Nelson last week, may also have interest in bringing him back on a lesser deal.
Nelson, 34 in May, wasn’t in top form last season, but he did show that he can still play. Last year, he averaged 12.2 yards per reception while catching balls from Derek Carr. That was a step up from 2017, when he averaged a career-low 9.1 yards per reception when he was mostly catching passes from quarterbacks that were not named Aaron Rodgers. All in all, Nelson had 63 grabs for 739 yards and three touchdowns last season.
The former second-round pick and Super Bowl hero caught 97 passes for 1,257 yards and 14 TDs during his last full season with Rodgers.
Latest On Tyreek Hill
Yesterday we heard that Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill was being investigated for an alleged battery of a minor. Details were and are still light on the situation, but we do have a few more notes on the case.
The incident occurred at Hill’s home, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic (Twitter link). The initial report from Brooke Pryor and Steve Vockrodt of the Kansas City Star has been updated to report that the victim in the case is Hill’s son, and that his injuries included a broken arm. This apparently wasn’t the first instance of trouble at Hill’s home.
On March 5th, officers were called to Hill’s home to investigate a difference incident of “child abuse or neglect,” according to , , and
The fact that the cops had to be called to Hill’s home just ten days prior to this news breaking about the second incident does not bode well for the young wideout. Hill, of course, fell to the fifth round of the draft back in 2016 because of his arrest for domestic violence while he was at Oklahoma State. That arrest in college could come back into play here, and make a potential suspension from the league even lengthier, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
Florio writes that the previous arrest, which Hill was not punished by the league for since it took place before he was drafted, could be an “aggravating factor” that would allow the league to impose a tougher than usual suspension. Florio floats the possibility that the league could ban him altogether.
Less than two weeks ago we heard that the Chiefs were negotiating an extension with Hill, but this incident has surely killed those talks. Hill is heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2019, and it seems to be very much an open question now as to whether or not he’ll ever play another game for the Chiefs. We should know a lot more soon.
Earl Thomas Was Close To Signing With Chiefs
Before he inked a lucrative contract with the Ravens, Earl Thomas thought he was heading to Kansas City. The veteran safety told the team website that he was set to sign a one- or two-year deal with the Chiefs before Baltimore came calling.
“I thought I was going to go Kansas City on like a two-year deal, one-year deal, and I was just going to bet on myself and hit the market again [next year or in 2021], and then my agents called me,” Thomas said (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “They said that Baltimore has made a deal for you. I said, ‘Hell, yeah. That’s where I’m going.’”
Thomas ended up signing a four-year, $55MM deal ($32MM guaranteed) with Baltimore. The 29-year-old was hoping to become the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and he came relatively close to achieving that. While his $13.75MM average annual value is higher than Thomas’s $13MM asking price, it still trails the new contracts signed by Landon Collins (Redskins) and Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs).
Speaking of Mathieu, it’s uncertain if the Chiefs were pursuing Thomas before or after they added their free agent acquisition. The team presumably could have slid both Mathieu and Thomas into the starting lineup, especially after Kansas City let go of veteran Eric Berry. As of right now, Eric Murray is projected to start opposite Mathieu. The Chiefs have also added safeties Dontae Johnson and Harold Jones-Quartey this offseason.
Thomas, 29, spent nine years in Seattle as arguably the premier safety in the NFL, but his final years with the Seahawks were tinged with his displeasure at not receiving a new contract. After angling for a trade or new deal prior to the 2018 campaign, Thomas suffered a broken leg in Week 4, ending his season prematurely.
Chiefs To Host CB Darqueze Dennard
The Chiefs are planning to meet with free agent cornerback Darqueze Dennard this weekend, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Dennard, a first-round pick of the Bengals in 2014, has experienced an extremely quiet market despite other slot corners receiving deals around the NFL. In fact, his trek to Kansas City will mark the first known interest Dennard has drawn this offseason. Cincinnati, for its part, had been willing to re-sign Dennard at around $8.5MM annually, but the club’s stance may have changed after it signed fellow slot defender B.W. Webb on Thursday.
The Bengals are often reticent to field young players during the early portions of their respective careers, and that was never more evident that in Dennard’s case, as the former Michigan State Spartan played fewer than 600 defensive snaps in his first three pro seasons.
Dennard became Cincinnati’s full-time slot corner in 2017, and saw action on roughly three-quarters of the Bengals’ snaps in each of the past two years. Football Outsiders ranked Dennard 29th among 85 qualifiers in yards allowed per pass attempt in 2018 but just 49th in success rate, while Pro Football Focus graded Dennard as the league’s No. 52 CB.
Kansas City is searching for defensive back help after losing starter Steven Nelson to the Steelers earlier this week. The Chiefs met with Ronald Darby during the opening hours of the free agent period, but he’s since returned to Philadelphia on a one-year deal.
Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill Under Investigation
Chiefs star Tyreek Hill is under investigation for allegations of battery, as Steve Vockrodt and Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star write. The police report indicates that a juvenile was a victim of an assault perpetrated by Hill. Hill’s fiancee, Crystal Espinal, is listed under “others involved.” 
“The club is aware of the investigation involving Tyreek Hill,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “We’re in the process of gathering information and have been in contact with the league and local authorities. We’ll have no further comment at this time.”
The allegations are especially troubling in light of Hill’s history. Hill reportedly punched and choked Espinal, who was then eight weeks pregnant with their son, in 2014. He pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation in 2015 and, in 2016, the Chiefs made the controversial decision to draft him in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.
From a football perspective, it was a brilliant selection. Hill immediately made a huge impact with his absurd speed and led the league as a rookie with 15.2 yards per punt return. As an NFL sophomore, he nearly tallied 1,200 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. Then, last year, he set new career highs with 87 catches for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Recently, the Chiefs began discussing an extension with Hill that could make him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Presumably, those talks will be put on hold while Hill’s situation plays out.
Contract Details: Funchess, LaCosse, Golden
Some assorted contract notes from around the NFL:
- Devin Funchess, WR (Colts): One year, $10MM. $7MM guaranteed via roster bonus. $3MM base salary. $3MM in incentives for receptions, receiving yards, TDs, Pro Bowl, All-Pro. Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star.
- Tyrann Mathieu, S (Chiefs): Three years, $42MM. $26.8MM guaranteed, $14.8MM signing bonus. Base salaries: $850K (2019), $1.15MM (2020), $14.5MM (2021, nonguaranteed). Details via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- K.J. Wright, LB (Seahawks): Two years, up to $15MM (original story). $8MM in 2019, including $5MM signing bonus, $1.5MM base salary, $1.5MM roster bonus. Second year isn’t guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
- Matt LaCosse, TE (Patriots): Two years, $2MM, $500K guaranteed for 2019 (original story). Base salaries: $700K (2019), $1MM (2020). $300K signing bonus, $25K per-game bonus. $500K in playing time/receptions incentives. Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate.
- Markus Golden, LB (Giants): One year. Worth up to $4.75MM, $2.225MM guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
- Cameron Fleming, OT (Cowboys): Two years, $8.5MM. 2019: $1MM base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus, $2.25MM cap number. $300K for 60-percent playing time, $600K for 70-percent. Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
- Bruce Ellington, WR (Patriots): One year, $25K guaranteed. Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Chiefs To Sign DE Alex Okafor
After two major subtractions to their pass rush, the Chiefs are trying to add some reinforcements. The club is expected to sign former Saints defensive end Alex Okafor to a three-year deal, $18MM deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Through incentives, the pact can reach up to $24MM. 
Okafor was having a strong year in 2017 before tearing his Achilles and then re-upped on a cheap deal with the Saints before the 2018 season started. Now fully healthy, Okafor is moving on to KC.
Just days ago, the Chiefs shipped Dee Ford to the Niners in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick. In need of ammo to bolster the pass rush, they’ve added Okafor, a younger and cheaper substitute. Ford’s franchise tag would have called for a $15MM+ salary in 2019. Okafor, meanwhile, stands to earn a $6MM average annual value on his new deal, sans incentives.
Okafor, 27, broke out with eight sacks in his second NFL season. Since then, he’s been productive, but has yet to revisit that mark. Last year, he put up four sacks for the Saints across 16 games (all starts), giving him 22 for his career.
Multiple Teams Showing Interest In Markus Golden
The Raiders are among several teams who have shown interest in former Cardinals edge rusher Markus Golden, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Golden has already fielded multiple offers and he’s currently weighing his options. The Buccaneers are also interested in Golden’s services (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com), and Vic Tafur tweets that the Chiefs are in on him as well, as they seek to strengthen a suddenly depleted pass rush.
The Raiders have been extremely active in March, but they could still use some additional firepower in the pass rush department. Golden would help on that front, though the Raiders are still expected to address that area in the draft next month. The Bucs are in better shape as far as pass rushers are concerned, but they still ranked in the bottom half of the league in total sacks last year and were one of the worst teams against the pass.
In 2016, Golden notched 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign early and cost him time in 2018. He managed to return for eleven games last year, but he wasn’t the same player – Golden had just 2.5 sacks and 30 tackles and graded out as one of the lowest-ranked edge defenders in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
The Giants and defensive coordinator James Bettcher also reportedly have Golden on the radar, which Tafur confirmed.
Chiefs To Host Ronald Darby
The Chiefs will meet with free agent cornerback Ronald Darby tonight, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Darby could sign this evening if the visit goes well.
Darby was arguably top free agent corner available when the legal tampering opened on Monday, and he’s now without question the best CB remaining on the market. Cornerback contracts haven’t gotten out of hand this offseason, but that’s largely due to an uninspiring crop of available options.
Still only 25 years old, it’s possible Darby is searching for a long-term pact. But it’s also just as likely that he’s looking for one-year, pillow deal after he missed half of last season with a torn ACL. Health has actually been a question in each of the past two years, as Darby has only appeared in 17 games since 2017.
When has been on the field, however, Darby has been effective. In his limited work last season, for example, Darby finished 11th in Football Outsiders’ success rate, meaning he was excellent at stopping opposing receivers short of the sticks. Pro Football Focus graded Darby as the league’s 39th-best corner, squarely within the top 25% of the league.
Kansas City’s pass defense improved as the 2018 season progressed and ultimately finished 12th in DVOA, but there’s no question the club needs cornerback help. The Chiefs already lost Steven Nelson to the Steelers earlier this week, while Orlando Scandrick is also a free agent. KC’s cornerback depth chart is currently topped by Kendall Fuller and Charvarius Ward.
49ers Hosting Jason Verrett; Texans, Chiefs On Deck
Free agent cornerback Jason Verrett is visiting the 49ers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the Texans are presently scheduled to host Verrett after his trip to the 49ers, and the Chiefs are on the docket after that.
The former first-round pick of the Chargers has played in just five games in the last three years due to injury, and he missed the entire 2018 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles during a conditioning test last July.
Because of his health concerns, San Francisco is making a physical part of Verrett’s visit, and Houston and Kansas City may do the same. Rapoport indicated that Verrett was garnering significant interest, and that certainly seems to be the case.
Verrett was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and looked primed to establish himself as one of the best young corners in the league, but his career has been sidetracked in a big way. However, he reportedly looked like his old self in minicamp last year before the Achilles injury, and if he can make good on a one-year prove-it deal, he may be able to really cash in next offseason.
The 49ers have made major upgrades to their defense this week, signing Kwon Alexander and trading for (and extending) Dee Ford. They are also looking to bolster their secondary and made an offer to cornerback Bradley Roby, who ultimately chose to sign with the Texans.
But even with the addition of Roby, Houston could stand to add to its stable of CBs, and Kansas City is also in the market for corner help. The Chiefs are meeting with Ronald Darby tonight.
If healthy, Verrett could be in store for plenty of playing time if he lands with any of these clubs.