Cardinals Acquire Marcus Cooper From Chiefs
The Chiefs announced that they’ve dealt cornerback Marcus Cooper to the Cardinals for a pick. In exchange for Cooper, the Cardinals are sending a 2018 seventh-round pick to KC. 
Cooper had fallen down the depth chart in Kansas City and this offseason the Chiefs were planning to move him to safety. Cooper had three interceptions as a rookie but saw his playing time dwindle in each of the last two seasons.
The Cardinals recently lost Mike Jenkins for the season with a torn ACL and Justin Bethel is dealing with a foot issue. On top of that, Brandon Williams and Cariel Brooks both had rough outings in the team’s last preseason game against Denver. The Cardinals have now added a new name to the cornerback mix to help support star Patrick Peterson.
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Extra Points: Broncos, Hillman, Solomon, Jets
When asked about Ronnie Hillman‘s trade value, two NFL GMs told Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that he doesn’t have much because he doesn’t play special teams. The Broncos running back is said to be on the bubble as the 53-man deadline approaches.
Denver has already handed Hillman $600K through a signing bonus and workout bonuses, but his $1.4MM base salary is non-guaranteed. By most accounts, Devontae Booker and Kapri Bibbs have leapfrogged the one-time Broncos starter.
Here’s more from around the NFL on this busy day:
- Former Cleveland outside linebacker Scott Solomon recently worked out for the Chiefs, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Solomon appeared in just two games last season before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was a restricted free agent this offseason and Cleveland initially picked up his $1.671MM tender. Less than one month later, however, he was cut.
- Jonathan Freeny‘s two-year extension with the Patriots is worth $4.1MM, including a $1.3MM signing bonus, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. He’ll bring cap hits of $1.74MM in ’16, $1.87MM in ’17, and $2.03MM in ’18.
- The Jets worked out former Harvard center Anthony Fabiano on Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
- Long snapper John DePalma is working out for the Seahawks today, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). DePalma was previously in Philly.
Chiefs To Cut QB Aaron Murray
The Bills are carrying six safeties, but the Chiefs aren’t crazy enough to carry five quarterbacks. The Chiefs will release quarterback Aaron Murray in advance of Saturday’s 53-man deadline, Mike Florio of PFT tweets. 
The Chiefs have been trying to trade Murray in recent days but they were unable to find a taker for him. After Nick Foles earlier this offseason to serve as Alex Smith‘s primary backup, many expected either Murray or Tyler Bray to get cut. Instead, the Chiefs held on to five quarterbacks through August. With Murray gone, the Chiefs QB depth chart now includes Smith, Foles, fifth-round rookie Kevin Hogan, and Bray.
Murray, 25, has yet to appear in a regular season game. He played his college football at Georgia and was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.
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Justin Houston Placed On PUP
The Chiefs are down to the 75-man maximum after a handful of moves today (Twitter links via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). The most noteworthy item is that linebacker Justin Houston has been placed on the PUP list, meaning that he will be out for at least the first six weeks of the season. 
Houston underwent postseason arthroscopic surgery on his knee, at which point his ACL was found to be “intact but not functioning.” His recovery timetable was up in the air, but it was expected that he would miss at least a few games to start the season.
One of the league’s top outside linebackers, Houston inked a six-year, $101MM extension with the Chiefs roughly one year ago, but was hampered by injuries in the first season of his new deal. Houston still played very well in 2015, but totaled just 7.5 sacks in 11 games, a fraction of what he turned out in the year prior.
Meanwhile, running back Trey Millard has been waived/injured and will likely return to the team and go through the rehab process. The team also freed up a spot when they released wide receiver Mitch Mathews, as agent Brett Tessler tweets. Between those three moves and the roster exemption given to the team for Eric Berry, KC is at 75.
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Chiefs LB Josh Mauga Done For Year
The Chiefs have lost linebacker Josh Mauga for the season due to a labral tear, according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Chiefs Shopping QB Aaron Murray]
Mauga, 29, started 14 games for the Chiefs at inside linebacker, racking up 45 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. Over the past two seasons, Mauga has become an unheralded force in the middle of Kansas City’s defense, as he’s started 30 games during that period. He was especially valuable in 2014, when he filled for the injured leader Derrick Johnson. In 2015, Mauga graded as the No. 34 LB in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
Mauga is signed through the 2017 campaign, with cap hits of $2.7MM and $3.75MM in the next two years.
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Chiefs Shopping QB Aaron Murray
The Chiefs have let rival teams know that quarterback Aaron Murray is available via trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The Chiefs, of course, signed Nick Foles earlier this offseason to serve as Alex Smith‘s primary backup. To the surprise of many, they did not release a QB to make room, opting instead to carry five signal callers. Smith, Foles, and fifth-round rookie Kevin Hogan were considered safe, leaving Murray and Tyler Bray on the chopping block. Now, it sounds like the Chiefs will try to get something in return for Murray and possibly stash Bray on the practice squad, if he can pass waivers.
Murray, 25, has yet to appear in a regular season game. He played his college football at Georgia and was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.
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Chiefs Waive Garrick Mayweather
- Chiefs guard/center Garrick Mayweather has been waived, the team announced.
Chiefs RB Knile Davis On Trade Block
The Chiefs have made running back Knile Davis available, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Davis’ only chance at making the Kansas City roster was as a return man, but as Garafolo notes, that role has been taking by Tyreek Hill.
Davis finds himself buried on Kansas City’s depth chart with Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West, and Spencer Ware ahead of him on the depth chart. Earlier this year, West and Ware both inked brand new deals with KC that will keep them in the fold for the next two seasons.
Davis, meanwhile, reportedly requested a trade prior to the new deals for Charles’ primary backups. The Dolphins called the Chiefs about acquiring a running back in March and asked about all four tailbacks on KC’s depth chart, including Davis.
Davis was once listed as Charles’ primary backup, but he has since been leapfrogged by Ware and West. Last season, Davis’ main contribution came in the Wild Card playoffs when he opened up the contest against the Texans with a 106-yard kick return touchdown. In the regular season, Davis had just 28 total carries for 72 yards and one score. Over three seasons for the Chiefs, the former third-round pick has carried the ball 232 times for 777 yards, good for a 3.3 yards-per-carry average.
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Chiefs Waive Eight Players, Roster At 81
The Chiefs’ roster is now at 81 players after they waived eight today, the club announced. Therefore, Kansas City will need to make six more cuts before Tuesday’s 3pm CT deadline.
The following players were waived by the Chiefs:
- Bryce Cheek, DB
- Niko Davis, DL
- Curtis Feigt, OL
- Malcolm Jackson, CB
- Seantavius Jones, WR
- Jonathan Massaquoi, LB
- Kashif Moore, WR
- Drew Nowak, C
Massaquoi, 29 had spent 2012-2014 with the Falcons but did not appear in a game last season. Massaquoi, who signed with the Chiefs in March, has appeared in 39 career games, starting four, posting 45 tackles and six sacks during his career.
Eric Berry Signs Franchise Tender
The NFL’s final franchise tag player is now under officially under contract, as the Chiefs announced that safety Eric Berry has signed his franchise tender. Berry has now reported to the Kansas City facility.
Berry, 27, will now earn a fully guaranteed $10.806MM base salary for the 2016 campaign, although he can’t negotiate a new deal with the Chiefs until next spring. Berry, who earned Pro Bowl nods in three of his first four NFL seasons, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014, raising some doubts about his future in the league. However, the veteran safety was declared cancer-free in 2015 and enjoyed one of his best seasons this past year for the Chiefs.
Appearing in all 16 games for Kansas City in 2015, Berry logged 61 tackles to go along with a pair of interceptions and 10 passes defended. Pro Football Focus ranked the Tennessee product sixth among 88 qualified safeties, and the standout season earned Berry his fourth Pro Bowl berth, along with a spot on the NFL’s All-Pro first team.
Heading into the offseason, many viewed a long-term accord between Berry and the Chiefs as a foregone conclusion. However, the two sides did not see eye-to-eye on terms and the July 15th deadline did not spur action as expected. Now, Berry is slated to play out his one-year tender and he’s reportedly not thrilled about it.
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