Free Agent Rumors: RG3, Rams, Chiefs
The latest free agent rumors:
- Robert Griffin III would “very much” like to play for the Rams in Los Angeles, a source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Daily News (on Twitter). The 49ers and the Broncos have also been connected to Griffin this week.
- Despite outside interest, Tamba Hali says that he gave no thought at all to leaving the Chiefs, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. The Falcons were reportedly a finalist for his services.
- Stevan Ridley‘s market continues to unfold but the Patriots haven’t shown interest in a reunion, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Still, Howe (link) points out that the Patriots reached out to Ridley late last offseason before he joined the Jets, so nothing can be completely ruled out, even though that union is still unlikely. Ridley racked up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground back in 2012 for the Pats.
- The Ravens reviewed eight free agent tight ends but after watching a handful of plays from Ben Watson on tape, they determined that he was their guy, GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- The Eagles‘ interest in defensive tackle Cedric Thornton is “tepid,” Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The Eagles haven’t ruled out a return, however.
- The Seahawks are interested in guard Ted Larsen, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As we learned yesterday, Larsen will also take a visit with the 49ers.
Chiefs Re-Sign Tamba Hali
THURSDAY, 9:57am: The Chiefs have officially re-signed Hali, the team announced today in a press release.
TUESDAY, 6:53pm: Hali and the Chiefs have agreed to a three-year, $22MM deal that contains nearly $12MM in guarantees, tweets Rand Getlin of NFL.com.
12:16pm: The Chiefs have reached an agreement on a three-year contract for outside linebacker Tamba Hali, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter notes that the new deal will allow the veteran pass rusher to finish his career in Kansas City.
Hali, 32, has seen his sack totals decline a little over the last two seasons after he piled up a total of 46.5 from 2010 to 2013. However, despite picking up just 12.5 total sacks in 2014 and 2015, Hali has continued to be an effective edge defender for the Chiefs. Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran 11th out of 110 qualified players at the position in 2015, assigning him solid grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender.
As I noted in PFR’s top 50 free agents list, in which I placed Hali 22nd, the longtime Chief had been one of the few edge defenders who fit better in a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, rather than a 4-3 defensive end, so Kansas City did well to keep him from rival suitors looking for pass-rushing help.
With Hali back in the fold, the Chiefs have now secured two of their key free agent defenders, having used their franchise tag on safety Eric Berry. Still, there are plenty of Chiefs on track to reach the open market tomorrow. Defensive lineman Jaye Howard, cornerback Sean Smith, and linebacker Derrick Johnson are among the team’s free-agents-to-be on defense, while backup quarterback Chase Daniel and starting guard Jeff Allen are also eligible to hit the market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs Sign Jaye Howard To Two-Year Deal
THURSDAY, 9:53am: The Chiefs have officially confirmed their deal with Howard, via a press release. The breakdown of the two-year contract can be found right here.
WEDNESDAY, 7:23pm: The Chiefs will re-sign nose tackle Jaye Howard to a two-year deal worth up to $12MM, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link). The contract will include $8.3MM in guarantees, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Howard was reportedly seeking $8MM to $9MM per year on his next accord, but it appears he’ll fall 
well short of either mark. Howard is the third integral defensive piece the Chiefs have agreed to retain over the last two days, joining linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson.
The 27-year-old Howard set career highs in starts (14), tackles (57), quarterback hurries (18) and sacks (5.5) during the 2015-16 season. He also played the second-most snaps among Chiefs defensive linemen (752). For his work during those 752 snaps, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Howard a solid 24th out of 123 qualifying interior D-linemen.
Howard, whom the Seahawks selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, joined the Chiefs in 2013 and began garnering significant playing time the next season. The 301-pounder has since accumulated 32 straight regular-season appearances and logged 24 starts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Free Agent Rumors: Hogan, Pats, Steelers
The latest free agent rumors out of the AFC:
- Bills restricted free agent Chris Hogan is visiting the Patriots today, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Pats could sign the wide receiver/special-teamer to an offer sheet that the Bills would have five days to match. Pats head coach Bill Belichick has done serious research on Hogan and he likes the fact that he could serve as a backup punter, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets.
- Steelers H-back Will Johnson has talked with the Jets, Bears, Chargers, and Titans since the opening of free agency, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Johnson is a versatile blocker and special teamer, but Fowler adds that he could be looking for more carries, too.
- The Chiefs weren’t close to matching the Raiders‘ offer for cornerback Sean Smith, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
- The Bengals are trying to close on re-signing linebacker Vincent Rey today, as Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com tweets.
Chiefs Cut Ben Grubbs
The Chiefs’ offensive line is undergoing a bit of an overhaul this offseason, and that continued with the team’s release of veteran guard Ben Grubbs, per Howard Balzer of the SportsXchange (Twitter link). Grubbs was cut with a failed physical designation.
Acquired almost exactly a year ago from the Saints, Grubbs – who turns 32 today – entered the 2015 season as one of Kansas City’s starting guards, and played seven games for the club. However, a neck injury derailed his season — after sitting out five games, he was ultimately placed on the injured reserve list by the Chiefs, ending his year. Based on the failed physical designation, it appears he hasn’t yet been cleared from that injury.
Grubbs’ contract, which he reworked upon his arrival in Kansas City ran through the 2018 season, and included $6.6MM in guaranteed money, so the Chiefs are left with a sizable portion of dead money on their 2016 cap. Assuming the veteran lineman didn’t receive the post-June 1 designation, the Chiefs will be on the hook for $5.2MM in dead money on their cap this year, creating only $1.1MM in cap savings with the move.
It’s been an eventful week so far for the Chiefs, who have reached contract agreements with several players, including Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Mitchell Schwartz, and Jaye Howard. However, the team has also lost cornerback Sean Smith to the division-rival Raiders, and was docked two draft picks, including a 2016 third-rounder, for a tampering violation during 2015’s free agent period.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Contract Details: Osweiler, Ivory, Iloka
Here are the latest updates on many recently agreed-upon or signed contracts from around the AFC:
AFC West:
- Brandon Mebane, DT (Chargers): Three years, $13.5MM. $5.5MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Jaye Howard, DT (Chiefs): Two years, $10MM. $8.26MM guaranteed. $5MM bonus. $3.27MM guaranteed at signing for injury. Pro Bowl escalator worth up to $2MM $12,500 per-game active roster bonuses worth up to $200K in 2016. $15,625 per-game active roster bonuses worth up to $250K in 2017 (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Dwight Lowery, S (Chargers): Three years, $7.2MM. $1.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Frank Zombo, LB (Chiefs): Three years, $3.6MM. $500K signing bonus. Roster bonus of $100K in 2016 and $150K the next two seasons (Twitter link via Wilson).
AFC South:
- Brock Osweiler, QB (Texans): Four years, $72MM. $37MM fully guaranteed in first two years – $21MM in 2016 ($12MM signing bonus, $5MM roster bonus, $4MM salary), $16MM in 2017. The remaining $35MM is non-guaranteed, including $18MM salary in 2018 and $13MM in 2019. Deal includes a $4MM roster bonus due March 2019 (all Twitter links courtesy of USA Today’s Tom Pelissero).
- Chris Ivory, RB (Jaguars): Five years, $32MM. $10MM guaranteed. $5MM bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Jeff Allen, G (Texans): Four years, $28MM. $12MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. $3MM roster bonus due this month. Annual per-game roster bonus worth $31,250 (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Brad Nortman, P (Jaguars): Four years, $8.8MM. $1.65MM guaranteed. $650K roster bonus in 2016 (Twitter link via Wilson).
AFC North:
- George Iloka, S (Bengals): Five years, $30MM. $5MM guaranteed. $3MM bonus. Due a $2.5MM bonus March 14 (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR (Steelers): Three years, $3.8MM. $400K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
AFC East:
- Richie Incognito, G (Bills): Three years, $15.75MM. $3.45MM signing bonus. $2MM base salary in 2016 is fully guaranteed. $100K workout bonuses in each season (link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- Isa Abdul-Quddus, S (Dolphins): Three years, $12.75MM. $2.5MM signing bonus. $6MM in guarantees (Twitter link via Wilson).
- James Develin, FB (Patriots): One year, $750K. $150K playing time incentives. $50K signing bonus. $25K workout bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
Chiefs Working To Re-Sign Sean Smith
Even after agreeing to new deals with Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Jaye Howard over the last two days, the Chiefs still aren’t finished trying to keep one of the NFL’s premier defenses in place. The club is now making a push to bring back standout free agent cornerback Sean Smith, Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter).
Paylor notes (via Twitter) that the Smith sweepstakes is down to three teams. As of earlier today, the Chiefs were competing 
with the Raiders and 49ers for his services.
Although relatively young (28), Smith has already amassed 100 NFL starts in 108 appearances since the Dolphins took him in the second round of the 2009 draft. Smith signed with the Chiefs on a three-year, $16.5MM deal in 2013 and has since added five interceptions, giving him 10 for his career, while making 44 starts in 45 appearances. Thirteen of those starts came last season, when the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder finished an outstanding 12th at Pro Football Focus among 111 qualifying cornerbacks (subscription required).
Thanks to his efforts since signing in Kansas City three years ago, Smith is guaranteed to land a significant raise sometime soon, perhaps as much as $12MM annually (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle). Entering free agency, PFR’s Luke Adams ranked Smith as the ninth-best player available. Among corners, only Janoris Jenkins had a higher ranking (fourth). Jenkins has since agreed to a five-year, $62.5MM contract with the Giants.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs, Frank Zombo Agree To Three-Year Deal
Shortly after agreeing to a three-year deal with linebacker Derrick Johnson, the Chiefs have reached a three-year pact with fellow LB Frank Zombo, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Zombo’s deal is worth $3.6MM and includes another possible $750K in incentives, per Pelissero.
Zombo, 29, began his career with the Packers as an undrafted free agent from Central Michigan in 2010. After a three-year stint in Green Bay, he joined the Chiefs in 2013 and has since appeared in 48 straight regular-season games. Zombo logged two starts last season and amassed three sacks, the second-highest total of his career. He also played an impressive 80.9 percent of special teams plays for Kansas City and racked up nine ST tackles.
Chiefs Docked Two Draft Picks, Fined $250K
The Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin during free agency last year, and now the NFL is imposing discipline on the club for the path it took to land the receiver. The Chiefs will forfeit a third-round pick this year and a sixth-rounder in 2017 because of a violation of the league’s anti-tampering policy (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). Additionally, the league has fined the team $250K, head coach Andy Reid $75K, and general manager John Dorsey $25K.
The Chiefs allegedly had contact with Maclin during the league’s legal tampering window prior to free agency, but that’s not allowed. Teams are only permitted to talk with player representatives in that time frame.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has issued a statement in response to the league’s decision (via the team’s website):
“Today we were informed by the National Football League that our club will be disciplined for an infraction during the 2015 free agency negotiating period.
“While we respect Commissioner Goodell and the process, we believe that the penalties proposed in this case are inconsistent with discipline enforced in similar matters – particularly given the league’s inconsistent communication of its policies on contact with potential free agents.
“As an organization, we take great care to conduct ourselves with integrity and operate within the guidelines of the NFL. We have been fully cooperative and transparent with the league in this matter, and we are disappointed with the league’s decision. I want to make it clear that I fully support the leadership of both Coach Reid and John Dorsey. We will continue to explore our options under the appeal process.”
An appeal is indeed on the way, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Chiefs To Sign DE Jonathan Massaquoi
The Chiefs have agreed to sign defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link). Massaquoi had spent 2012-2014 with the Falcons but did not appear in a game last season.
The 29-year-old Massaquoi has appeared in 39 career games, starting four, posting 45 tackles and six sacks during his career. He was claimed off waivers by the Titans at this time last season, but didn’t make the final roster and spent the year trying out for other clubs. Massaquoi never signed, but he now has a chance to make the club in Kansas City.