Hakeem Nicks Wants Long-Term Deal
Free agent receiver Hakeem Nicks has shot down a report that he would consider a short-term deal, perhaps in the one- to two-year range, in an attempt to rehabilitate his value. Rather, he tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he wants a long-term contract:
“I want to go to a team where I’m the missing link. There are a number of teams that I have my eye on once I hit the market. I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck. I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers. Players have already started to reach out to me from other teams saying they would love for me to come join them. I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal and I want to be happy. I’m excited about talking to teams and making it work.”
While Nicks may desire a long-term pact, he may not get it. After Nicks sent a letter to all 32 teams claiming he is injury-free, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that organizations are more concerned with the receiver’s mental state than his physical struggles. Florio writes that teams wonder if Nicks still has the passion to play football, and these worries might cause reluctancy towards a long-term deal.
Nicks has been ineffective the past two seasons while dealing with injuries. However, between 2010-2011, he averaged 78 receptions for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. PFR’s Luke Adams ranked Nicks among the first-tier of free agent receivers, and Rob DiRe also profiled the pass-catcher.
Darrell Stuckey, Chargers Agree To Deal
The Chargers and safety Darrell Stuckey have agreed to a multi-year contract, reports Ricky Henne of Chargers.com (via Twitter). The 26-year old has mostly played on special teams in his short career in San Diego. Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports that according to Stuckey the contract is a four-year deal (via Twitter).
Details of the contract have yet to be released, but it can be assumed that although Stuckey has been a top special teams player when healthy, his contract will be at or close to the minimum salary for a fifth year player.
Chargers Re-Sign Donald Butler
WEDNESDAY, 8:23pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the full breakdown of Butler’s deal. Per a league source, Butler’s deal covers seven years with a total potential value of $51.8MM with only $11.15MM guaranteed at signing. After three seasons, the Chargers hold a $12MM option bonus.
If the Chargers don’t trigger that bonus, they can cut bait after paying $15.15MM over two years between the $750K base salary for 2014 and a non-guaranteed base salary of $3.25MM for 2015. Alternatively, they can pay another $4.65MM in 2016 and extend it to a three-year, $19.8MM contract. If the option bonus is paid, the final four years kick in, at base salaries of $4MM in 2017, $4.65MM in 2018, $5.35MM in 2019, and $6MM in 2020.
Florio writes that the cap numbers are as follows: $2.98MM in 2014, $5.48MM in 2015, $9.28MM in 2016, $8.63MM in 2017, $9.28MM in 2018, and $7.75MM in 2020.
MONDAY, 9:55am: Butler’s contract with the Chargers is a multi-tiered deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapoport, the first three years of the pact are worth just under $20MM, and then the team will have an option to keep the linebacker for four additional years at between $8MM and $9.5MM per year. The first segment of the deal is currently guaranteed for about $12MM, while the second segment would be guaranteed for about $15MM if the team exercises its option, Rapoport adds in a second tweet.
FRIDAY, 1:51pm: Prospective free agent Donald Butler will stay with the Chargers rather than hitting the open market, and it was Butler himself who broke the story. The San Diego linebacker has announced the new agreement on Twitter: “Feeling blessed! Y’all heard it here first! Deal is done!! SD I aint going no where!! Too excited!!” The Chargers have since confirmed that the two sides have agreed to terms (Twitter link).
Butler, who is coming off the final year of his rookie contract, ranked as one of the top inside linebackers expected to hit free agency this offseason, though that was based more on his age (25) and previous performance than his 2013 showing. Plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, Butler ranked 45th among 55 qualified inside linebackers in ’13, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required), recording negative grades as a pass-rusher, as a run-stopper, and in coverage.
Still, given his age and potential, Butler was a top priority for the Chargers heading into free agency, with the franchise tag considered an outside possibility. Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but Butler figures to be in line for a nice raise on the $1.323MM base salary he earned in 2013, and I’d expect the contract to be for at least three or four years.
With Butler off the board, teams in search of an inside linebacker this offseason could turn to alternatives like Karlos Dansby, Brandon Spikes, and Daryl Smith, if they hit the open market. Another intriguing option, D’Qwell Jackson, has already become an unrestricted free agent, and is drawing interest from several teams, including the Titans, Broncos, Vikings, Redskins, and Cardinals.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jets Claim Johnny Patrick Off Waivers
The Jets have been awarded cornerback Johnny Patrick off waivers, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Patrick was cut by the Chargers yesterday.
Patrick, 25, started four games for San Diego last season and appeared in 13 total contests, recording 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a negative overall grade (-7.6), according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. While his results on the field in 2013 were middling, Patrick is a former third-round pick and his contract is very low risk — he’s slated to earn the minimum for 2014, with a modest $55K workout bonus.
NFC Notes: Graham, Jones, Tate, Guion
The franchise tag is viewed as a way to essentially take an unrestricted free agent off the market, but that’s not technically what the tag does. It simply makes it more costly for another team to sign that free agent away from his current club, since the signing team would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation.
For some players though, that price tag may be worth paying, and there’s a sense around the league that a team may be willing to do so for Jimmy Graham, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. It’s not clear yet which club might make a run at Graham, but teams with late first-round picks like the Seahawks and Patriots have been mentioned as possible candidates, and Freeman says not to rule out the Ravens either. For what it’s worth, a Packers source tells Freeman that Green Bay making a run at Graham “won’t happen.” Still, it sounds as if the Saints may need to fight to keep their star pass-catcher.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- James Jones isn’t expected to be back in Green Bay next season, but the free agent receiver still thinks there’s a chance he could re-sign with the Packers, as he told Around the League on the NFL Network yesterday (link via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). If he doesn’t continue with the Packers, Jones thinks the Colts and Chargers might be good fits for him.
- With just a few days until he can hit the open market, Golden Tate tells SiriusXM NFL Radio that he hasn’t heard much from the Seahawks, as Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk details. “I’ve kind of just trusted in my agent and him being good at his work,” Tate said. “Todd [France] has had some great deals in the past and so I’m letting him handle it. Just trying to stay stress free and really enjoying being a Super Bowl champ.”
- Veteran defensive tackle Letroy Guion, who only played in about a third of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps in 2013, may be asked to take a pay cut, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Guion has a 2014 base salary worth $3.95MM and a total cap number of $4.3MM.
- If the Buccaneers are going to trade Darrelle Revis this offseason, it will likely happen sooner rather than later. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why.
Chargers Cut Johnny Patrick
In addition to releasing fullback Le’Ron McClain and cornerback Derek Cox, the Chargers have also cut cornerback Johnny Patrick, the club announced today (Twitter link via Ricky Henne of Chargers.com).
Patrick, 25, was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2011 draft and spent two seasons with the club before being cut and claimed off waivers by the Chargers. The 25-year-old started four games for San Diego last season and appeared in 13 overall contests, recording 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a negative overall grade (-7.6), according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics.
The cap savings for the Chargers will be minimal, as Patrick had been slated to earn the minimum salary, plus a $55K workout bonus.
Chargers Release Derek Cox
3:08pm: Cox has officially been released, the Chargers announced today (Twitter link via Ricky Henne of Chargers.com).
1:46pm: The Chargers have informed cornerback Derek Cox they plan to release him, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). It’s the second cap-clearing move of the day for the Chargers, who are also parting ways with fullback Le’Ron McClain.
Cox, who signed a lucrative multiyear contract a year ago with the Chargers, will hit the market again just one year into the four-year deal. Cox’s $4.25MM base salary for 2014 was set to become guaranteed later this month, so San Diego avoids having to pay that figure. However, with three years’ worth of prorated bonus money accelerating onto this year’s cap, the move will leave $3.9MM in dead money on the Chargers’ books for 2014, creating just $1.65MM in cap savings.
After a solid contract year with the Jaguars in 2012, Cox didn’t play well in San Diego this past season, ranking 104th among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades. The 27-year-old lost his starting job during the season’s second half, and will be looking to be bounce back on a new team in 2014. As an NFL veteran, Cox won’t have to clear waivers, so he’ll immediately be eligible to sign elsewhere.
Chargers Cut Le’Ron McClain
The Chargers have released fullback Le’Ron McClain, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). McClain, who was entering the last year of his contract, was on the books for a $3.33MM cap number, which will be reduced to $833K in dead money, saving the Chargers $2.5MM in cap room.
A two-time Pro Bowler, McClain saw his role in the offense reduced during the course of his two-year stint in San Diego. The veteran fullback played just 154 snaps for the Chargers in 2013, a significant step down from the playing time he saw earlier in his career with the Ravens and Chiefs. Still, in his limited ’13 action, the 29-year-old graded positively as a pass blocker and run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
McClain won’t have to pass through waivers, so he’ll immediately become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any NFL team.
AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs
D’Qwell Jackson was very impressed after meeting with the Broncos, but isn’t ready to make a decision, tweets Mike Klis of the Denver Post. In another tweet, Klis mentions that Jackson is heading to Miami to meet with the Dolphins before also meeting with an unknown team. Jackson should make a decision by the end of the week, Klis says in a final tweet.
A couple of notes from around the AFC West…
- Eric Decker is not an elite player and the Broncos likely won’t pay him like one, says Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com. According to Chadiha, Decker’s disappearance in the Super Bowl confirmed that Decker is a number two receiver, not a number one. The writer refers to a number of receivers who cashed in and then struggled with new teams, like Mike Wallace last season.
- Chad Rinehart and Richard Marshall should receive attention from the Chargers, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Neither player would break the bank and they’d also fill holes in the team’s lineup, Williams says.
- The Chiefs signed receiver Weston Dressler about a month ago, and Adam Teicher of ESPN.com warns to not overlook the acquisition. Teicher says that Dressler is insurance in case the team cannot retain free agent Dexter McCluster, but he also quotes coach Andy Reid saying “If you told me I could have two Dexter McClusters, that would be a good thing. I wouldn’t mind that at all.’’
Chargers Restructure Eddie Royal’s Contract
The Chargers have restructured the contract of wide receiver Eddie Royal, reports Michael Gehlkin of the U-T San Diego. The receiver was set to make $4.5MM in base salary next salary, with $6MM counting against the cap. Given the high number, Royal’s return to San Diego was questionable. It appears that question has been answered, although the specifics of the new deal are not yet known.
Royal was entering the final season of his contract and it’s unknown whether the restructuring will extend Royal’s deal. Cutting Royal would have saved the team $4.5MM in cap room, but would have cost the team $1.5MM in dead money.
Gehlkin believes that Royal’s restructuring may have helped in the Chargers keeping linebacker Donald Butler, who announced his re-signing with the team last week. Gehlkin refers to a Butler tweet to Royal from earlier today: “preciate u restructuring urs for me bruh!” Royal responded by tweeting “worked out for both of us.”
Royal had 47 catches for 631 yards last season while also grabbing a career-high eight touchdowns.