Minor Moves: Chiefs, Raiders, Bears
Tonight’s minor moves..
- The Chiefs have signed former Troy quarterback and wide receiver Deon Anthony and former Richmond cornerback Justin Rogers, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). To make room, Kansas City waived defensive tackle Risean Broussard.
- The Raiders announced the signing of third-round offensive lineman Gabe Jackson, tweets Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. With Jackson in the fold, the Raiders have now signed all of their 2014 draft picks, as shown in PFR’s running list of draft pick signings.
- To make room for the newly-signed Jimmy Clausen, the Bears waived linebacker Lawrence Wilson, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. The former UConn standout has spent time with the Bears and Panthers practice squads but has yet to see the field in the regular season.
AFC Links: Williams, Chiefs, Bengals, Jags
Veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams is visiting with the Patriots today, reports CSNNE.com’s Tom Curran (via Twitter). The six-time Pro Bowler previously met with the Giants and Seahawks, but warned that he may retire if he didn’t receive an offer he liked. Yesterday, Williams jokingly asked for USA Today’s Tom Pelissero’s assistance in connecting him with New England.
Let’s take a look at some more notes and minor moves from the AFC…
- The Chiefs are working out former Troy University quarterback Deon Anthony, reports Aaron Wilson of NationalFootballPost.com. Last season, the versatile senior rushed for 432 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw five scores and caught ten passes. The Chargers worked out Anthony in April.
- The Bengals have claimed former Steelers wideout Jasper Collins, tweets Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. Collins was let go by Pittsburgh yesterday.
- The Jaguars claimed wide receiver Kevin Smith and subsequently waived long snapper Trevor Gillette, tweets John Oehser of Jaguars.com. Smith was waived by the Cardinals yesterday while Gillette was signed as an undrafted free agent about a month ago.
AFC Notes: Kirksey, Ridley, Pats, Gilreath
With few, if any, impact free agents left on the board and the draft behind us, most rosters around the league are starting to resemble what we’ll see during the 2014 regular season, at least once teams have made their cuts. But that doesn’t mean that those rosters aren’t without their holes. In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Tom Gower of Football Outsiders breaks down the AFC West, looking at the remaining needs for the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders. Those most notable holes are on the offensive side of the ball for the Chiefs (pass-catcher) and Raiders (offensive lineman), and on defense for the Broncos (middle linebacker) and Chargers (cornerback).
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The Browns have agreed to terms with third-round linebacker Christian Kirksey, the team confirmed today (via Twitter). The agreement, which includes a signing bonus worth about $663K was first reported by Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- Patriots running back Stevan Ridley is entering the final year of his rookie deal, but he told reporters today, including Albert Breer of the NFL Network, that he’s focused on playing “mistake-free” football rather than on his contract situation (Twitter link).
- Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com has the details on James Anderson‘s minimum salary benefit contract with the Patriots, which includes a $15K signing bonus and a $50K roster bonus if he makes the team.
- The Raiders have signed former Wisconsin wideout David Gilreath, agent Sean Stellato tells Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Gilreath recorded his first and only career NFL reception during the 2012 season for the Steelers.
Reactions To Colin Kaepernick’s Deal
Earlier today, the 49ers took care of Colin Kaepernick‘s contract weeks earlier than anyone thought they would. The price tag was also a shock to some. The mobile quarterback can earn up to $21MM per season in the deal thanks to incentives that are said to be rather obtainable. The deal includes $61MM in guaranteed money, making it the largest guarantee in NFL history. Here’s a look at some of the reaction to No. 7’s new deal..
- John Clayton of ESPN.com (Twitter link) is unsure if Kaepernick’s lucrative new deal with the 49ers will help or hurt talks for lesser quarterbacks like Alex Smith and Andy Dalton. He adds that the six-year, $126MM deal probably means a $22MM per year deal for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (link).
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap was surprised to hear that Kaepernick got a deal worth a maximum of $21MM per year. Based on the contract history of limited sample size players, like Kaepernick, Fitzgerald believed that the 49ers quarterback was in line for an $18MM per year deal. With the lucrative new deal, the 49ers now find themselves with a tight cap situation, even though the deal reportedly gives the team flexibility to work on a new deal for wide receiver Michael Crabtree and others.
- “I’m going to work to try to make sure I’m worth every penny of this, try to win as many games as possible. That’s something I feel I can do,” said Kaepernick of his new deal, writes Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
- Kaepernick also told reporters that he won’t let the big bucks affect his motivation, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- It’d be easy for Dalton to pay attention to Kaepernick’s deal, but he’d be better off ignoring it, writes ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey. He’s undoubtedly dreaming of dollar signs, but the Bengals dont’ have any compelling reasons to award him in similar fashion. Dalton wants to get paid like an elite quarterback, meaning $19MM or more per season, but there are legitimate questions as to whether he’d even be worth ~$15MM annually.
Minor Moves: Broncos, Colts, Bengals, Chiefs
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including signings and cuts of players who haven’t seen much NFL action recently (or at all), and the retirement of a former 49ers draft pick:
- The Broncos announced a pair of draft pick signings today, meaning they’ve locked up five of their six draftees within the last two days. Third-round offensive lineman Michael Schofield and fifth-round linebacker Lamin Barrow are the latest players to ink their rookie deals with Denver, as the club confirmed in a pair of press releases. Mike Klis of the Denver Post tweets that the Broncos also waived offensive tackle Ramon Harewood.
- According to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter), the Colts have cut quarterback Seth Lobato and cornerback Keon Lyn, both of whom signed with the club last month as undrafted free agents.
- The Bengals have just one open spot left on their 90-man roster after signing offensive tackle Chandler Burden today, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. A Cincinnati-area native who played his college ball at Kentucky, Burden has previously spent time with the Dolphins and Chiefs.
- Offensive lineman Jason Slowey, who was drafted in the sixth round in 2012 by the Niners, has announced his retirement, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Slowey had been playing for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League.
- The Chiefs waived offensive lineman Colin Kelly today, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
Trade Candidate: Brandon Flowers
Days before last month’s draft, reports surfaced indicating that Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers was a trade possibility as Kansas City looked to acquire more picks. Such a deal never occurred, but rumors persist that Flowers is a poor fit for Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme. Flowers wasn’t present for last week’s OTAs, leading many to wonder if he was angling for clarification regarding his role and future with the team.
A trade of Flowers would have to clear several hurdles, first of which would be his play in 2013. Though Flowers, who accrued one interception and 65 tackles in 13 games last season, was selected as a Pro Bowler, advanced metrics show he was anything but — his -5.9 Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required) ranked him as just the 87th-best CB in the league last year. However, PFF rated Flowers as a top-10 corner in both 2011 and 2012, so perhaps the scheme concerns are valid (2013 was Sutton’s first year in Kansas City).
The Chiefs, having gone 11-5 in 2013, are a team in win-now mode, so ridding themselves of a talented player like Flowers might not be the most ideal route. Sans Flowers, Kansas City would be left with Sean Smith and Marcus Cooper as starters, with rookie Phillip Gaines manning the slot — not exactly the most exciting trifecta. Another season learning Sutton’s defense could only help, and with more experience in the system, Flowers might flourish and begin to exhibit his prowess once again.
The final, and most pressing, issue regarding a trade of Flowers is his contract, which is set to pay him base salaries totaling $18MM over the next three seasons. He is also due $4MM in roster bonuses and $500K in workout bonuses during that span. It could be tough to find a team willing to assume that responsibility, especially given Flowers’ lackluster play last year. Additionally, Flowers hasn’t been the most durable player over his career (having played the entire 16-game slate only once, in 2011), so a team probably wouldn’t feel comfortable paying for a player who can’t stay on the field.
For the Chiefs, a trade of Flowers could help alleviate their salary cap situation. Currently sitting at about $3.5MM under the cap, Kansas City could use the money saved by trading Flowers on extensions for quarterback Alex Smith or linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. While Flowers has a pretty good track record, and is still young at 28, the value of freeing up cap room cannot be overstated. While cornerback is certainly a premier position in today’s passing league, the ability to retain Smith is probably more enticing in Kansas City.
Most teams could use another talented corner on their roster, but Flowers’ salary limits his potential destinations. The Jets have the cap room to bring in Flowers, but he probably wouldn’t fit in Rex Ryan’s scheme. Two teams that pop out as fits are the Buccaneers and the Titans, each of whom lost an excellent corner during the offseason (Darrelle Revis and Alterraun Verner, respectively). Both franchises have the financial wherewithal to make such a move, and Flowers would be a welcome addition to either team’s defensive backfield.
Having said that, I still think a trade is unlikely. The salary obligations and Flowers’ subpar 2013 season make him a risky investment. If a trade were to occur, I wouldn’t expect Kansas City to receive more than a fifth-round pick, at the very best.
Data from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs Notes: Dressler, Smith, Johnson
Cousins David and DeMarcus Van Dyke have waited their entire lives to be on the same team. The time has finally come, as the two cornerbacks are now teammates on the Chiefs. There’s one problem, though: the players are competing for a roster spot.
The duo are two of ten cornerback candidates currently in Chiefs camp, and it’s no guarantee that either player makes the team. Even with all of the competition, the family members are still rooting for each other.
Via Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star:
“May the best man win,” said DeMarcus. “I’ll be proud of him if he does make it, because I want him to win an opportunity in the NFL. He’s worked hard since little league to get here, so anything I can do to help him win a job, I’m down for it.”
“You have to compete for a job,” said David, “no matter what team you go to.”
DeMarcus was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2011 draft. He’s appeared in 25 career games. David was undrafted out of Tennessee State.
There’s a lot more going on in Kansas City. ESPN.com’s Chiefs writer Adam Teicher answered questions from readers this past weekend. Let’s see what he had to say…
- Teicher believes it will be difficult for CFL veteran wide receiver Weston Dressler to make the roster. The writer says the drafting of De’Anthony Thomas “doomed” Dressler’s chances.
- Teicher thinks the Chiefs will keep six wideouts: Thomas, Donnie Avery, Dwayne Bowe, Junior Hemingway, Frankie Hammond Jr. and A.J. Jenkins.
- The writer doesn’t think Alex Smith will receive a contract approaching Jay Cutler‘s $126MM deal. He suggests a contract worth $14-$15MM annually, less than the $18MM that Cutler averages.
- It wouldn’t surprise Teicher if the Chiefs hold on to four quarterbacks, especially if they don’t sign Alex Smith to an extension. Besides Smith, the team also has Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray.
- The addition of linebacker Joe Mays is “an ominous sign” for Nico Johnson, the writer says.
AFC Notes: Raiders, Mosley, Gordon
The Raiders are looking to turnaround their fortunes as part of their rebuilding process, and Vic Tafur of SFGate.com has picked out five positions that could be up for grabs this offseason. The team will have competition at tight end, left guard, running back, second receiver, and defensive tackle, according to Tafur. They have a mix of veterans and young players who will be in the mix for those spots, more than one of which will most likely be platooned during the season anyway.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- Ravens‘ first-round pick C.J. Mosley has been trying to assimilate to the NFL life, writes Preston Brown of the Baltimore Sun. “The biggest adjustment is adjusting to football all day,” Mosley said. “You’re here at 6 in the morning. Back in college, I was just getting ready for class at 8 or doing a workout or something. But now, it’s all football from 6 to 6.”
- Browns‘ star receiver Josh Gordon has added to his infamy this offseason, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Gordon reportedly was pulled over by the police for speeding with four people in the car, one of which was cited for a marijuana-related offense.
- Former basketball player Demetrius Harris is looking to land a spot on the Chiefs‘ roster, writes Terez Paylor of KansasCity.com. Harris was a 6’7″ power forward for the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and is trying to catch on at tight end in the NFL.
Extra Points: Titans, Chiefs, Graham, Ravens
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said earlier in May that his team suspected another club was targeting defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in the second round, which is why St. Louis traded up for him. However, while Fisher’s comments pointed to his old team – the Titans – as the team eyeing Joyner, Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report hears that Tennessee was always targeting a running back in the second round. There were a handful of backs the Titans liked, so they worked out a deal to move down even before the Rams moved up, says Pompei. The club ultimately grabbed Bishop Sankey 54th overall.
Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL….
- The Chiefs worked out defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The former seventh-round pick spent three seasons with the Pats before joining the Jaguars last season, and has started 15 of his 47 career contests.
- Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an extended look at the Jimmy Graham grievance hearing situation, identifying a few clubs that still could conceivably take a run at the free agent tight end, including the Browns and Packers. In Corry’s view, no matter the outcome of next month’s hearing on Graham’s position, he and the Saints are likely to work out a long-term contract.
- The Ravens will be on the lookout for potential post-June 1 additions to their roster, coach John Harbaugh confirmed today (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Brandon Graham‘s name surfaced in a couple trade rumors this offseason, but the edge defender remains on the Eagles‘ roster, and takes solace in the fact that he’s still in Philadelphia, as Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer outlines. “They want me here, I’m still here, all the rumors and whatever it is, it’s just rumors,” Graham said. “I feel like if it was something they wanted to do, I’d be gone.”
Extension Candidate: Alex Smith
Raise your hand if two years ago you thought Alex Smith would be in position to ask for a contract with an average annual value of about $18MM. Okay, now stop lying and put your hand down.
After a revitalizing season with the Chiefs last year that brought about his first Pro Bowl invitation, Smith is entering the final year of his contract and the Chiefs would like to keep him off the open market. That could be easier said that done. Earlier today, Ed Werder of ESPN.com reported that there has been “very little dialogue” between the two sides on a fresh contract. Head coach Andy Reid seems to think that they could get something done, but Kansas City is understandably reluctant to give Smith a deal similar to the one Jay Cutler got from the Bears. Cutler’s new seven-year deal gave him an AAV of $18.1MM, and that could be too rich for KC’s blood when it comes to the former No. 1 overall pick.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap looked at Smith’s case and weighed him against Cutler and Tony Romo. There are few areas – outside of win percentage – that favor Smith in a matchup with Romo when considering the Dallas QB’s completion percentage, touchdown/interception ratio, and other vitals. However, Smith and Cutler do appear to be a much stronger match. Neither guy is a slam-dunk franchise QB but both men have found success (even when it’s not pretty) and in a league with few quality options, they have to be considered premium talents. Ultimately, Fitzgerald concludes that an $18MM per year asking price is not outlandish based on what he done the last few seasons and I’m inclined to agree.
Do you think Smith is deserving of that type of deal? Cast your vote below and let us know in the comments section.