HEADLINES

Charvarius Ward

Contract Details: Winston, Ward, Fournette, Conklin, Jones, Jewell, Vander Esch

March 22nd, 2022 at 8:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from recently agreed-upon contracts around the NFL:

  • Charvarius Ward, CB (49ers): Three years, $40.5MM. Of Ward’s $26.7MM in guarantees, $12MM comes via a signing bonus, Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus tweets. The 49ers will keep Ward’s initial cap hit low, with his 2022 figure checking in at $3.8MM. That spikes to $16.3MM in 2023. Two void years are included in Ward’s deal, giving the 49ers a cap charge of $4.81MM in 2025.
  • Jameis Winston, QB (Saints): Two years, $28MM. Winston received a $14MM signing bonus and has a $1.2MM fully guaranteed 2022 base salary, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. $5.8MM of Winston’s $12.8MM 2023 base salary is presently guaranteed for injury; it will become fully guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. Winston can earn up to $16MM in incentives, $8MM in each year, through team accomplishments — as long as Winston is the Saints’ primary starter — and participation rate.
  • Leonard Fournette, RB (Buccaneers): Three years, $21MM. Along with a $4.5MM signing bonus, the Bucs fully guaranteed Fournette’s 2022 base salary ($2MM) and $2MM of his $6.5MM 2023 base, Florio notes. Another $2MM of that amount turns from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee next year. Fournette’s $6.5MM 2024 base is nonguaranteed. Among the deal’s $1.5MM in incentives, which only cover 2023 and 2024, Fournette can collect $250K for finishing a season in the top 15 in rushing yards and $500K for a top-10 rushing finish.
  • Tyler Conklin, TE (Jets): Three years, $20.25MM. The Jets are guaranteeing Conklin $10MM, including $3.9MM of his 2023 base salary. Conklin’s cap hits go $3.4MM, $8.4MM, $8.4MM from 2022-24, Spielberger tweets.
  • Ben Jones, C (Titans): Two years, $14MM. Jones will see $8MM guaranteed, which comes via $6.88MM signing bonus and a guaranteed $1.12MM 2022 base salary, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Jones’ deal includes a $1MM roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2023 league year. His 2023 base salary comes in at $5MM.
  • Josey Jewell, LB (Broncos): Two years, $11MM. The Broncos guaranteed Jewell $6MM, which is present through a $4MM signing bonus and a $1.5MM 2022 base salary, Wilson tweets. His nonguaranteed 2023 base comes in at $4.49MM. An additional $1MM in incentives are also available for the four-year veteran.
  • Leighton Vander Esch, LB (Cowboys): One year, $2MM. The Cowboys are guaranteeing $1.75MM and included an additional $1MM in playing-time incentives, Ari Meirov of PFF tweets.

49ers To Sign CB Charvarius Ward

March 14th, 2022 at 11:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Charvarius Ward is signing with the 49ers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The cornerback confirmed the news on Twitter.

It’s a three-year deal worth $42MM, including $26.7MM in guaranteed money.

Ward joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee in 2018. After seeing time in 13 games as a rookie, Ward ended up starting 16 games in 2019 for the eventual Super Bowl champs. Ward finished that season with 74 tackles, ten passes defended, and two interceptions. He also added another nine tackles in three postseason games.

The 25-year-old started 13 of his 14 games in 2020, finishing the year with 51 tackles, one sack, and six passes defended. Then, he started in each of Kansas City’s three playoff games, collecting 18 tackles. He ended up inking his second-round tender with the organization last offseason, and he proceeded to start 12 of his 13 games in 2021, collecting 67 tackles, 10 passes defended, and two interceptions. He also got into all three playoff games.

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/23/21

December 23rd, 2021 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/20/21

December 20th, 2021 at 10:23pm CST by Ben Levine

A long list of players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. We listed the players who landed on the list today, as well as those who were activated off the list:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE John Franklin-Myers, DB Sharrod Neasman

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Chiefs Place TE Travis Kelce On Reserve/COVID-19 List

December 20th, 2021 at 5:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs could be without a major offensive weapon this weekend against the Steelers. Kansas City has placed star tight end Travis Kelce on the reserve/COVID-19 list, according to veteran reporter Herbie Teope (on Twitter). Kelce will be joined by kicker Harrison Butker and cornerback Charvarius Ward, who also landed on the list.

While Kelce’s placement on the list puts his status in doubt, it doesn’t definitively mean he’ll be sidelined on Sunday. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), Kelce is vaccinated, so he could be good to know this weekend considering the league’s new COVID protocols.

Butker, however, is unvaccinated and will miss Kansas City’s Week 16 game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Chiefs prepared for a potential Butker absence when they added Elliott Fry to the practice squad last week. Fry, who has bounced around in recent years without seeing much game action (one career appearance, in 2020), will kick against the Steelers.

Kelce is having another incredible season for Kansas City, hauling in 83 receptions for 1,066 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Despite missing almost all of his rookie season due to a knee injury, Kelce has been remarkably durable throughout his career. He has missed only a pair of regular-season games since 2014. If the veteran is sidelined against Pittsburgh, the team will likely turn to Blake Bell and Noah Gray at tight end.

The Chiefs might not be as prepared for Ward’s potential absence; the 25-year-old has started nine of his 10 games this season.

Chiefs’ Charvarius Ward Signs Second-Round Tender

June 10th, 2021 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

Charvarius Ward has officially signed his second-round tender (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Now, the Chiefs have the cornerback locked in for 2021 at a salary of ~$3.4MM. 

[RELATED: Chiefs Promote Mike Borgonzi To Asst. GM]

Ward joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee in 2018. After seeing time in 13 games as a rookie, Ward ended up starting 16 games in 2019 for the eventual Super Bowl champs. Ward finished that season with 74 tackles, ten passes defended, and two interceptions. He also added another nine tackles in three postseason games.

The 25-year-old started 13 of his 14 games in 2020, finishing the year with 51 tackles, one sack, and six passes defended. Then, he started in each of Kansas City’s three playoff games, collecting 18 tackles. Needless to say, the Chiefs didn’t want to let him get away. The second-round tender was enough to scare away would-be suitors, so he’ll return to KC and the starting lineup again this year.

Chiefs Place Second-Round Tender On CB Charvarius Ward

March 17th, 2021 at 5:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Charvarius Ward will hit restricted free agency. Earlier today, the Chiefs slapped a second-round tender on the young cornerback. The second-round tender is worth around $3.4MM in 2021.

Ward joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee in 2018. After seeing time in 13 games as a rookie, Ward ended up starting 16 games in 2019 for the eventual Super Bowl champs. Ward finished that season with 74 tackles, 10 passes defended, and two interceptions, and he added another nine tackles in three postseason games.

The 24-year-old started 13 of his 14 games in 2020, finishing the year with 51 tackles, one sack, and six passes defended. He also started each of Kansas City’s three playoff games, collecting 18 tackles.

Ward would certainly be an intriguing target for other front offices, although he may have some competition in restricted free agency. Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, who finished 2020 with nine interceptions, was also slapped with a second-round tender.

Chiefs Trade OL Parker Ehinger To Cowboys

August 30th, 2018 at 8:51pm CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier tonight that the Cowboys were trading cornerback Charvarius Ward to the Chiefs, and now we’re getting details on what they’ll be getting in return. ESPN’s Adam Teicher reports that Kansas City will be sending offensive lineman Parker Ehinger to Dallas.

The 2016 fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati had difficulties staying on the field during his tenure with the Chiefs. He did start four of his five games as a rookie, but a knee injury ended his season prematurely. In 2017, Ehinger was limited to only one game (one start), but the Chiefs apparently had optimism that he’d be able to start at left guard this year.

However, the lineman was benched for Cam Erving during training camp, and Kansas City apparently decided that they were fine rolling with their current backups. That grouping includes Andrew Wylie, Bryan Witzmann, Jordan Devey and rookies Ryan Hunter and Kahlil McKenzie.

The 25-year-old will now try to crack the Cowboys roster, which is currently dealing with injuries to Marcus Martin and Travis Frederick. The six-foot-six, 310-pound Ehinger will presumably compete with Cameron Fleming, Chaz Green, Joe Looney, and Kadeem Edwards for backup reps.

Cowboys Trade CB Charvarius Ward To Chiefs

August 30th, 2018 at 6:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Charvarius Ward is heading to Kansas City. ESPN’s Todd Archer reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys are trading the rookie cornerback to the Chiefs. The deal is expected to be finalized on Friday.

Ward had a standout collegiate career at Middle Tennessee State, compiling 74 tackles, two interceptions and 13 passes defended over the past two seasons. After going undrafted during this past year’s draft, he ended up catching on with the Cowboys.

The organization gave the rookie a chance to show his talent, as Ward ended up playing in 58 snaps through three games this preseason. The six-foot-one, 201-pound cornerback compiled seven tackles and a pair of passes defended during those outings.

As ESPN’s Adam Teicher tweets, the move is unlikely to shake up the Chiefs’ depth chart. Ward will likely slide into the team’s sixth and final cornerback spot behind Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson, Orlando Scandrick, David Amerson, and Tremon Smith. This means Keith Reaser, Will Redmond and Makinton Dorleant are either competing for a final roster spot or at risk of being cut.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys cornerback depth chart seems to be solidified with Byron Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown, Duke Thomas, and Marquez White.

Cowboys Sign 18 UDFAs

May 1st, 2018 at 1:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have added 18 undrafted players to their offsaeason roster. Here’s the full breakdown:

The Cowboys have found gems in the UDFA ranks before, including quarterback Tony Romo and offensive lineman La’el Collins. In total, the Cowboys now project to head into camp with 27 rookies.

Sturm threw for 2,185 yards and 15 touchdowns against five interceptions while completing 62.3% of his passes last year. He came to UTSA as a walk-on and did not earn a scholarship until 2016, so he has a history of achieving when up against long odds. In the ’16 season, he set a UTSA record with 20 passing touchdowns.

Chunn isn’t the speediest running back in the world, but he does offer the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. In his final two years on campus, he caught 58 passes. The Cowboys have three established running backs in Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith, and Trey Williams plus seventh-round pic Bo Scarbrough. Fullback Jamize Olawale is also under contract.