Tyvon Branch

Cardinals Sign Tyvon Branch

THURSDAY, 2:27pm: The Cardinals have officially signed Branch, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link).

WENDESDAY, 3:26pm: The two sides have reached agreement, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year deal with a base of $7MM, per Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). Branch can earn up to $10MM through incentives.

3:08pm: The Cardinals are expected to sign safety Tyvon Branch, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) first reported that the two sides were closing in on an agreement. It’ll be a two-year deal worth potentially as much as $10MM, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets. The deal includes $5MM in fully guaranteed cash (link). Tyvon Branch (vertical)

Branch, whom the Chiefs signed to a one-year deal last winter, appeared in all 16 of their games last season and started one. The 29-year-old added 43 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed. The advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) placed Branch as the 30th best safety in the NFL last year, slotting him ahead of free agents Chris Conte, Eric Weddle, and David Bruton. While he did not start in 2015, many teams believed that Branch was capable of handling a starting role once again. The Cardinals, ostensibly, are one of those teams.

Branch was PFR’s No. 11 ranked safety this offseason, placing him behind George Iloka, Eric Weddle, Rodney McLeod, Tashaun Gipson, Reggie Nelson, Walter Thurmond, Rashad Johnson, Dwight Lowery, Isa Abdul-Quddus, and Husain Abdullah.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Contract Details: Vernon, Jenkins, Mack

Here are some of the latest details on many recent agreed-upon and signed contracts from out of the NFC (all links via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post unless otherwise indicated)…

NFC East:

  • Olivier Vernon, DE (Giants): Five years, $85MM. $52.5MM guaranteed. $20MM signing bonus. $7MM roster bonus due on fifth day of 2016 league year (Twitter links).
  • Janoris Jenkins, CB (Giants): Five years, $62.5MM. $28.8MM guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus. $1.4MM base salary in 2016 (Twitter link).
  • Brandon Brooks, G (Eagles): Five years, $40MM. $21MM guaranteed. $11MM signing bonus. $1MM base salary in 2016 and $5MM base salary in 2017 fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
  • Chase Daniel, QB (Eagles): Three years, $21MM base value. $36MM max value. $3MM signing bonus. $3MM roster bonus due on March 14. $3MM base escalators in 2017 and 2018 (Twitter link).
  • Colt McCoy, QB (Washington): Three years, $9MM base value. Third year can be voided based on playing time. $1.8MM signing bonus. $1MM annually in playing-time incentives (Twitter link).
  • Ron Brooks, CB (Eagles): Three years, $5.5MM. $1.55MM guaranteed. $750K signing bonus (Twitter link).

NFC South:

NFC North:

  • Marvin Jones, WR (Lions): Five years, $40MM. $20MM guaranteed. $8MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
  • Alex Boone, G (Vikings): Four years, $26.8MM. $10MM guaranteed. Annual $100K workout bonus (Twitter link).
  • Danny Trevathan, LB (Bears): Four years, $24.5MM. $12MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. $3.5MM roster bonus due on March 14 (Twitter link).
  • Michael Griffin, S (Vikings): One year, $2.5MM. $250K signing bonus. $500K of $1.65MM base salary guaranteed. Up to $500K in playing-time incentives (Twitter links).
  • Tavon Wilson, S (Lions): Two years, $2.2MM. $500K signing bonus. Up to $500K in annual playing-time incentives (Twitter link).

NFC West:

  • Mark Barron, OLB (Rams): Five years, $45MM. $20MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
  • William Hayes, DE (Rams): Three years, $17.5MM. $10MM guaranteed. $4MM roster bonus due on March 13 (Twitter link).
  • Tyvon Branch, S (Cardinals): Two years, $8MM. $1MM signing bonus. $1.75MM roster bonus in 2016, $1MM roster bonus in 2017 (Twitter link).
  • Tim Barnes, C (Rams): Two years, $5.6MM. $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.25MM roster bonus due in four days. $750K roster bonus due on third day of 2017 league year guaranteed for injury, skill; becomes fully guaranteed if on roster June 17. Up to $1MM in annual playing-time incentives. $250K annual Pro Bowl incentive (all Twitter links).
  • Brian Quick, WR (Rams): One year, $1.75MM. $1.5MM guaranteed ($1.25MM bas salary, $250K roster bonus due on March 15). $2MM stats incentive (Twitter link).

Chiefs Rumors: Charles, Berry, Johnson, Daniel, Branch

The torn ACL that ended star running back Jamaal Charles‘ season last October won’t bring about the conclusion of his Chiefs career, general manager John Dorsey said at the combine Thursday. The Chiefs will not release the five-time thousand-yard rusher, according to Dorsey, who added that Charles is progressing well in his recovery (link via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com).

In addition to Charles’ situation, Dorsey addressed the statuses of a few of the Chiefs’ pending free agents. Here’s the latest:

  • Dorsey says he’ll meet with safety Eric Berry‘s agent this weekend (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star). As of earlier this week, not much progress had been made in the Chiefs’ quest to lock up Berry. If the two sides fail to reach a deal this month, the Chiefs are expected to place the franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowler by the March 1 deadline.
  • Dorsey confirmed that he recently talked to the agent for linebacker Derrick Johnson, per BJ Kissel of the Chiefs’ website (Twitter link). Johnson, who has been with the Chiefs since they drafted him 15th overall in 2005, is coming off his sixth career 16-start season. He totaled 116 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and ranked eighth out of 97 qualifying linebackers at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). If the Chiefs strike a deal with Berry before the franchise tag deadline, Johnson could become a candidate for it, Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes.
  • Backup quarterback Chase Daniel has sat behind starter Alex Smith for the last three years, and now Daniel could be in line for a No. 1 job elsewhere. If another team is willing to pay Daniel like a starter, the Chiefs won’t be able to keep him, according to Dorsey – who says he has spoken with Daniel’s agent. Dorsey added that he thinks the Chiefs’ No. 2 QB is already on their roster (Twitter links via Paylor). They currently have Aaron Murray and Tyler Bray under contract.
  • The Chiefs are interested in retaining safety Tyvon Branch, a source tells Paylor (Twitter link). Branch, whom the Chiefs signed to a one-year deal last winter, appeared in all 16 of their games last season and started one. The 29-year-old added 43 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed.

Contract Details: Suh, Cobb, Jackson, Graham

Here’s a round-up of a few notable details on new contracts from around the NFL:

  • Ndamukong Suh, DT (Dolphins); $60MM guarantee is fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk).
  • Randall Cobb, WR (Packers): Four years, $40MM base value. $13MM signing bonus. $3.5MM roster bonus in March 2016, $5.35MM cap hit for 2015 (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
  • Kareem Jackson, CB (Texans): Four years, $34MM base value. $9MM signing bonus. $4MM roster bonus due this weekend (Twitter link via Corry).
  • Brandon Graham, OLB (Eagles): Four years, $26MM base value. $4MM signing bonus. $14MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • Cary Williams, CB (Seahawks): Three years, $18MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $7MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Mark Sanchez, QB (Eagles): Two years, $9MM. $2MM signing bonus. $5.5MM guaranteed. Escalators for playing time, playoffs (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Ryan Mallett, QB (Texans): Two years, $7MM base value. $1.75MM of $2.5MM 2015 salary guaranteed (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Brian Hartline, WR (Browns): Two years, $6MM base value. $1.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Tyvon Branch, S (Chiefs): One year, $2.1MM base value. $200K signing bonus. $2MM in playing-time, INT, Super Bowl incentives (Twitter links via Wilson).

Chiefs Sign Tyvon Branch

9:50am: The Chiefs have officially signed Branch, the team announced in a press release.

9:39am: Branch’s one-year deal could be worth up to $4MM, with a base value of about half that, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

9:34am: Former Raiders safety Tyvon Branch will be sticking in the AFC West, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that Branch has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Oakland parted ways with the veteran safety last week.

Branch, who also visited the Colts and Washington, had been with the Raiders for seven seasons, although the strong safety missed all but five games during the past two years with injuries after starting all 62 of a possible 64 games in his previous four seasons. The 28-year-old carried by far the highest cap number on the Raiders’ roster at $9.7MM this season before his release.

For the Chiefs, Branch will come much cheaper than he did in Oakland, and it appears he could be a less expensive replacement for Ron Parker. Parker spent most of his time at strong safety last year for Kansas City, but he’s capable of moving around to different positions, including free safety, and Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets that the agreement with Branch won’t necessarily affect the Chiefs’ pursuit of Parker. Still, with Parker reportedly drawing plenty of interest around the league, I’d be surprised if Kansas City was able to re-sign him.

Jets Rumors: Iupati, Culliver, Branch

The Jets are aggressively pursuing Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati, sources tell Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The Jets, of cousre, are in need of a boost on the interior of their offensive line and they have to set their sights elsewhere after former target Orlando Franklin shook hands with the Chargers on a deal. Unsurprisingly, there are a handful of other teams with serious interest in Iupati, Mehta hears, so they’ll have some serious competition for the 27-year-old (28 this summer). More on the Jets..

  • The Jets have interest in free agent cornerback Chris Culliver, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was hearing late last month that Culliver might field more offers than expected. The Eagles will not be among the teams pursuing him, however.
  • The Jets also have interest in safety Tyvon Branch, a source tells Costello (link). Branch has visited the Colts and Washington and has a visit coming up with the Chiefs. Branch, 28, was with the Raiders for seven seasons before his release.
  • The Jets have expressed interest in Chargers free agent safety/cornerback Marcus Gilchrist, Mehta tweets. Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter) adds that he has been fielding interest from several teams. Washington is among the teams have have remained in contact with him and the Chargers want to retain him, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Cary Williams is visiting with Titans coaches today and he hopes to make a call between the Jets, Seahawks, and Titans, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Agent Harold Lewis said that Williams was “blown away” by his visit with Seattle. In total, eight teams have interest in Williams, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweets.

AFC FA Rumors: Hawk, Cole, Hartline, Chiefs

After rounding up several free agent rumors from around the NFC earlier this afternoon, it’s time for a look at the AFC. Here’s the latest:

  • Former Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk is set to visit with the Bengals next week, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com (via Twitter). Cincinnati re-signed linebacker Rey Maualuga this week, but with Vontaze Burfict‘s recovery timetable still uncertain following microfracture surgery, the team could use some more depth at the position.
  • Assuming Trent Cole leaves Tampa Bay without a deal from the Buccaneers, he’ll head to Indianapolis next week to meet with the Colts, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link). Like the 49ers, who also have interest in Cole, the Colts are a 3-4 team, so it’ll be interesting to see if the veteran edge defender views the club as a good fit.
  • According to Jason Walker of ESPN.com (via Twitter), agent Drew Rosenhaus said today that the Chiefs are in the mix for wide receiver Brian Hartline, adding them to a group of suitors that includes the Dolphins, Browns, and Texans. Meanwhile, the Browns have about a “50/50” chance of landing Hartline, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, who says Cleveland could balk at the wideout’s asking price.
  • We can also add the Chiefs to the list of teams interested in free agency safety Tyvon Branch, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Kansas City is on Branch’s list of scheduled meetings, following his visit to Washington.
  • The Jaguars are expected to have a look at fullback Jerome Felton once free agency begins, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team decided not to tender a contract offer to restricted free agent fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou, and could be on the lookout for a replacement.

NFC East Notes: Beason, Branch, Eagles

Not long after we included a few NFC East items in our morning look at both East divisions, there are a few more updates to round up. Here’s the latest out of the NFC East:

  • Linebacker Jon Beason confirmed today to SiriusXM NFL Radio that he has been working with the Giants on restructuring his contract, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Beason, whose 2014 season was mostly wiped out due to foot problems, would count for $7.4MM against the cap in 2015 if the two sides don’t reach an agreement. Working as his own agent in the negotiations, Beason recognizes he’ll likely have to accept a pay cut and is optimistic about his return, per Raanan.
  • After meeting with the Colts today, free agent safety Tyvon Branch will visit Washington tomorrow, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.
  • The Eagles have yet to approach linebacker Mychal Kendricks about a potential contract extension, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). As a 2012 draftee, Kendrick is now eligible for a new contract, with his rookie deal set to expire after the 2015 season, but it’s not clear if Philadelphia plans to broach the subject this offseason, particularly after the looming addition of Kiko Alonso.
  • While the cuts of Todd Herremans, Trent Cole, and Cary Williams, as well as the trade of LeSean McCoy, will create a ton of cap space, players around the league are somewhat leery of Chip Kelly and the Eagles after seeing him part ways with several solid veterans, along with DeSean Jackson last year, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole notes that any free agents considering signing with Philadelphia may be unsure about whether Kelly will be willing to hang onto productive players over the long run.
  • Within the same video, Cole also wonders if the Eagles‘ moves to create cap space are motivated in part by a desire to fill a number of holes in free agency, making their draft picks more expendable if they decide to try to move up for Marcus Mariota.
  • Earlier this afternoon, we learned that the Eagles are expected to go after outside linebacker Jason Worilds once the free agent period begins.

FA Rumors: Cobb, Hartline, Branch, C. Williams

With 2015’s free agent period less than a week away, plenty of rumors are swirling around players who are set to become available on Tuesday, as well as players who have reached the open market early. Here’s the latest:

  • According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers have told agent Jimmy Sexton that they’d be interested in signing wide receiver Randall Cobb for a five-year deal worth between $8MM and $9MM per year. Seemingly confident that his client will receive more lucrative offers on the open market, Sexton hasn’t accepted Green Bay’s proposal. “Sexton does a good job for his players,” one NFL team executive tells McGinn. “He measures the market well and knows how to create a market for his clients as well.”
  • After visiting the Browns yesterday, wide receiver Brian Hartline headed to Chicago and is meeting with the Bears today, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hartline’s visit in Cleveland “went really well,” per Florio, who says the ex-Dolphin hopes to decide on his new team within the next 24 hours. While other teams have shown interest in Hartline, it seems likely that the Browns and Bears would be the frontrunners if he anticipates a quick decision.
  • Safety Tyvon Branch, whose release was made official by the Raiders this week, will visit the Colts, a source tells Conor Orr of NFL.com (Twitter link). Orr’s report suggests that Branch’s meeting with Indianapolis will be the first of several visits for the free agent defensive back.
  • There has been heavy interest thus far in ex-Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, with a dozen teams contacting his agent since he was cut by Philadelphia, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Williams, who is believed to have interest in a reunion with the Ravens, has also drawn interest from the Titans, who “kicked the tires” on the free agent corner, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter).
  • Jacoby Jones‘ next visit will be to San Diego to meet with the Chargers, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The veteran receiver and return man previously made trips to talk to the Bengals and the Titans.
  • Lyons Yellin of WWL-TV in New Orleans tweets that he has heard rumblings about the Eagles being interested in Mark Ingram. With the club poised to send starting running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, its reported interest in Ingram certainly makes a little more sense.

Raiders Release Tyvon Branch

MARCH 3: The Raiders have officially announced the release of Branch (Twitter link).

FEBRUARY 26: The Raiders will release safety Tyvon Branch, according to CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).

At 28, Branch has been with the Raiders for seven seasons, although the strong safety missed all but five games in the past two years with injuries after starting all 62 of a possible 64 games in the previous four years. Branch, however, carried by far the highest cap number on the Raiders’ roster at $9.7MM this season, likely leading to his venture onto the free agent market.

The Raiders, who already possessed more than $54MM worth of salary cap space, will only save $2.9MM by making this move as Branch’s deal carried nearly $7MM in dead money, per OverTheCap. The league’s 11th-highest-paid safety had three more seasons left on his second contract with the team. Behind only the Jaguars, the Raiders have the second-most cap space in the league.

Branch will enter a modest safety market that houses Devin McCourty, assuming the Patriots don’t franchise him, along with Rahim Moore and Da’Norris Searcy.