Arrowheadlines: Trent Williams would be a welcome addition for Chiefs

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Your 2021 NFL Free Agency Primer | The Ringer

Offensive-Lineman-Thirsty Teams

OK, so it’s pretty much all of them, but notably ...

Kansas City Chiefs: They just cut both of their starting tackles, don’t have solid replacement options on the roster, and presumably will not trot Patrick Mahomes out behind two rookies. It would be nice to see them sign Trent Williams after their embarrassing pass-protection issues in the Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs: 4 bold predictions for 2021 offseason | Clutch Points

Have more receiver depth

It’s hard to believe that the team with the most passing yards in the league would need more receivers, but with Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson hitting free agency it has. If the organization feels speedster Mecole Hardman can fill the hole left by Watkins then well and good. If not, the Chiefs can dip their hands in free agency or the draft.

The good thing about finding Watkins’ replacement is that he will have a lot of open looks playing alongside Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Preferably, Kansas City picks up a low-risk signing with little or no injury history. Anyway, even if the acquisition has a limited ceiling, he still has an opportunity to have the most production in his career, since defenses won’t key in on him.

Le’Veon Bell Landing Spots: Potential suitors for former Chiefs RB | Pro Football Network

Arizona Cardinals

With Kenyan Drake about to hit free agency, the Arizona Cardinals are a juicy landing spot for Le’Veon Bell. Chase Edmonds is currently ready to be the lead back, but there is no certainty he can handle that. Adding Bell alongside Kyler Murray’s running ability would certainly add a dimension to Arizona’s offense. However, with a relatively young offense, could the addition of Bell hurt the Cardinals’ locker room?

Miami Dolphins

There are questions aplenty when it comes to the Miami Dolphins. Myles Gaskin looked good at times leading the backfield. However, there is no certainty he is the man to carry this offense on his back as they let Tua Tagovailoa develop. Le’Veon Bell certainly has the upside to do that, making this a fascinating landing spot.

NFL first-round mock draft: Four QBs in the top 10 | YardBarker

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Joe Tryon, DE, Washington

Frank Clark had a down year for the Chiefs in 2020, and defensive ends Tanoh Kpassagnon and Alex Okafor are free agents. Tryon has the size KC covets at defensive end and recorded eight sacks in 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season.

Around the NFL

Saints QB Drew Brees announces retirement after 20-year career | NFL.com

“When I was hired by the Saints as head coach in 2006, the very first goal was to establish a functional and winning culture,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said in a statement. “In doing so, it was vital to know what we were looking for in a player, talent, work ethic, makeup, intelligence and leadership are all qualities we found in Drew Brees. We also found a player with a burning desire to win. Within a year, he helped lead our team to the club’s first NFC Championship appearance.

“Throughout his career, his consistency and dedication to excellence were unparalleled. In a very short period of time, he would help lead a region to recovery and a team to a Super Bowl Championship. He was a magnificent leader both on and off the field. His attention to detail and competitive spirit were infectious. For all of us that have had the chance to coach him, it has been our privilege, we are better for it.”

Source: San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Juszczyk agree to 5-year, $27 million deal | ESPN

With the goal to re-sign Juszczyk before the early negotiating window opens Monday, the Niners and their versatile fullback agreed to a five-year, $27 million deal that includes $10 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday evening.

Taysom Hill, Saints agree on a four-year, $140 million extension, freeing up $7.5M in cap space, per report | CBS Sports

Taysom Hill and the Saints have agreed to a contract restructure, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The restructure is a four-year, $140 million extension. All years are voidable, as the deal frees up $7.5 million in cap space. Hill’s contract numbers include a $9.686 million signing bonus, a $1.439 million guaranteed roster bonus and $1.034 million guaranteed base salary plus incentives, per Schefter.

In layman’s terms, Hill and the Saints agreed to a one-year, $12.159 million restructured contract with four voidable years to spread out a $9.6 million signing bonus, per Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti. The new deal carries an $8.4 million cap hit, giving the Saints nearly $7.5 million in cap space.

Green Bay Packers keep RB Aaron Jones with 4-year, $48 million contract, agent says | ESPN

He also said, “I’m just glad I could keep playing where I started my career” on Instagram Live.

Jones, a fifth-round pick by the Packers out of UTEP in 2017, ranked fourth in the NFL last season with 1,104 rushing yards despite missing two games with a calf injury. He made his first Pro Bowl — becoming the lowest-drafted Packers running back since Dorsey Levens (also a fifth-round pick) in 1997 to do so.

It was Jones’ second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. He rushed for 1,084 yards and led the NFL with 19 touchdowns in 2019. Including the playoffs that season, he scored 23 times, the most for a season in team history.

Chargers release CB Casey Hayward after five seasons | NFL.com

“When we signed Casey during free agency back in 2016, we felt that we were adding a starting-caliber corner who still had a considerable amount of unrealized potential,” general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. “Not only did Casey realize that potential in the years that followed, he exceeded our high expectations and became a prominent leader for our team both on and off the field.

“He started 75-of-78 games with us, was named to a pair of All-Pro teams, made two trips to the Pro Bowl, earned our 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination and has been a multi-year team captain. These type of well-rounded individuals don’t come around very often, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have had Casey Hayward on this football team the past five years.”

NFL free-agency notes and rumors: Last-minute news, teams to watch and everything we’re hearing for 2021 | ESPN

What the market will Bear

Here’s what we know about the Bears’ tenuous quarterback situation: They are monitoring Russell Wilson developments but have combed the free-agent market for possibilities, too. The plan is to move on from Mitchell Trubisky — we’re told the door is open slightly but a source said the ship has sailed for both parties. The source sounded happy for Trubisky to get out of Chicago after all the heat he took. Now, Trubisky could apply his own heat — perhaps in Denver as competition for Drew Lock.

Gun-for-hire Ryan Fitzpatrick could make some sense in Chicago as a one-year spark if all other options fail. Andy Dalton, too.

Plenty of potential suitors if (when?) Jets opt to trade Sam Darnold | ESPN

Houston Texans: No matter what they say publicly, the Texans will trade Deshaun Watson. Bet on it. If the Jets make a bid, they could try to include Darnold in a package.

San Francisco 49ers: They own picks 12, 43 and 102. There are plenty of ways the Jets could work a trade if the 49ers decide to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo, although that seems unlikely as this point. Cam Newton’s return to the New England Patriots could have an indirect impact; the Patriots were thought to be a potential landing spot for Garoppolo.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

2021 NFL Draft: the wide receiver awards

Best deep-threat receiver

This award is self-explanatory, with one thing to keep in mind: this isn’t just about speed but also the ability to track the football, stack a defender and the capacity to secure the catch in a few different ways.

Dyami Brown | North Carolina

Dyami Brown may be the best receiver who a lot of people may not have heard of until recently, as he’s picked up a lot of buzz. Brown has amassed 2,133 yards over the last two years while averaging over 20 yards per catch during that time. His deep speed is on the high end but where he really creates space on a vertical plane is the ability to attack a cornerback’s leverage and then stack them behind own body.

Brown has the speed to run right by some cornerbacks, but where he stands out is his capability of threatening the inside/outside and jab-step before crossing their body and getting behind them. He constantly works into the blind spot — directly behind the cornerback in which they can’t see him — before making his final break and accelerating out ahead of them.

It’s the combination of speed and the nuance of the vertical route stem that makes Brown so dangerous. Even when cornerbacks may be in contention at the catch point, he has the skill to play above the rim and make the contested catch.

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