Arrowheadlines: Chiefs are one of few teams who have long-term solution at quarterback

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There aren’t many teams with long-term quarterback situations | PFT

This year’s unprecedented quarterback carousel could become the new normal. For evidence of the regular upheaval to come, look no farther than the abnormal reality that not many teams have a starting quarterback who almost certainly will still be with the team in four years.

Earlier this week on PFT Live, Simms and I tried to identify the franchises that definitely have a franchise quarterback who will still be on the roster in four years.

The list (my recollection may be off a little since it’s been a few days since we did the segment) includes Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. (Lamar Jackson is likely to still be with the Ravens in four years, but it’s hard to call it an absolute certainty.)

In the NFC, there simply isn’t one — not one that we definitely can say will be with the team in four years. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has the best chance of doing so. Beyond him, not one of the 15 NFC teams has a clear four-year answer at the position.

Chiefs DB Antonio Hamilton donates $30K to SC first grader needing heart transplant | KIRO 7

Hamilton, who grew up in Johnston, donated $30,000 to a first grader who needs a heart transplant, WDAF reported.

Lamere Johnson, 7, was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome before birth, the television station reported.

“I hate posting stuff like this, because I don’t do (it) for people to get attention or notoriety from, I don’t even know how the different news stations picked this up,” Hamilton said in a tweet. “I have been blessed and it was on my heart to give and with the help of all you guys we were able to do so and Lamere is going to get a new heart.”

Johnson has had three open-heart surgeries, including one when he was five days old, the North Augusta Star reported. His second procedure occurred when he was 6 months old, and his last one came when he was 3 years old, his mother, Contessa Culbreath, told the newspaper.

“They told me before they did all of the surgeries that in the future, he may need a heart transplant and this is where we are at now, seven years later he’s needing a heart transplant,” Culbreath told the Star.

Chiefs: The perfect free agent replacement for Sammy Watkins | FanSided

With Watkins likely having to come on a discount, that means the Chiefs won’t be shopping at the top of the wide receiver market. Veach himself has said he does not envision the Chiefs shopping for a pass-catcher in the first week of the league year. But all is not lost, because the Chiefs can replace Watkins with San Francisco 49ers wideout Kendrick Bourne.

Much like Watkins, Bourne is versatile on the offensive side of the ball. He can lineup wide or in the slot.

Bourne is coming off a career year with the 49ers. After losing Emmanuel Sanders to the New Orleans Saints last offseason, the 49ers went with the youth movement of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Bourne. But with Samuel being limited to seven games to injury, Bourne stepped up.

This season, Bourne had career-highs in receptions (49), targets (74) and receiving yards (667) through 15 games. Additionally, Bourne posted a yards-per-reception average of 13.6.

Top Five Off-The-Wall Fan Favorites in Kansas City Chiefs History | Arrowhead Report

3. Tyler Thigpen (Quarterback, 2007-2009)

From third-string quarterback to starting quarterback and fan-favorite, Tyler Thigpen had a memorable run. Chiefs fans knew Brodie Croyle wasn’t going to be the answer after a rocky start to his young career. Damon Huard was washed up. It was Thigpen’s time to shine in 2008. After Huard was knocked out with a concussion, Thigpen tried to make the most of his opportunities. Despite a rough outing in his first NFL start against the Atlanta Falcons, Thigpen was not phased. The coaching staff adjusted their offense from a run-heavy scheme to a spread system to help facilitate Thigpen’s strengths and limit his weaknesses. It led to Thigpen having moderate success throughout the rest of the season, but the wins never materialized and he finished the season 1-10 as a starter. One feather added to his cap was the fact he led all quarterbacks in rushing yards that season. Unfortunately for Thigpen, the team hit the reset button in 2009 by bringing in a new head coach (Todd Haley) and a new quarterback (Matt Cassel) and he was never given the chance to start again. We’ll never forget that beautifully disastrous season with Thigpen as the signal-caller.

Bears: Matt Nagy thinks this player could be the next Tyreek Hill | FanSided

“I’ve been around Tyreek Hill,” Nagy said. “I’ve been around a young DeSean Jackson. I’m telling you right now, this guy has the complete package and has the ability to be compared to them.”

Nagy is speaking of Darnell Mooney, who the Bears drafted in the fifth round out of Tulane in the 2020 draft. He played all 16 games as a rookie, totaling 61 receptions (on 98 targets) for 631 yards and four touchdowns.

“This kid is the real deal. I’m serious,” Nagy said of Mooney. “You want to talk about an exciting player? I’m just so blown away at the things this kid does. Coming in here with no offseason, coming into training camp, playing that first game against Detroit and showing us that the lights weren’t too bright for him.”

Around the NFL

The Bears Are Stuck in the Middle of the NFL’s Offseason of Quarterback Movement | The Ringer

The sexiest option is trading for one of the league’s premier quarterbacks. Watson wants out of Houston. Russell Wilson made the most passive-aggressive trade demand you’ll ever see, and listed Chicago as one of four places he would want to go. The idea of Watson or Wilson in a Bears uniform is enough to give Chicagoans fever dreams. And the team has made a blockbuster move like this before: In 2009, it sent two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and Kyle Orton to Denver in exchange for Jay Cutler. Wilson and Watson are both a lot better than Cutler ever was.

But the Bears would have to give up a whole mess of first-round picks to acquire either player. Chicago hasn’t made a first-round pick since 2018 as a result of the Khalil Mack trade, and a deal for Watson or Wilson would likely cost the Bears their next three first-round picks. Even that might not be enough to form the best trade package. The Jets and Dolphins each have multiple first-rounders this year. The Dolphins have picks no. 3 and 18; the Jets have picks no. 2 and 23. Meanwhile, the Bears have pick no. 20. Not only can Miami and New York offer better picks, but they can also offer more of them. And since NFL teams currently aren’t allowed to trade away draft picks beyond 2023, the Bears can’t offer Houston or Seattle more than three future firsts.

Saints create $13.4M in cap room with restructured deals for stars Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan | NFL.com

New Orleans restructured the contracts of linebacker Demario Davis and defensive end Cameron Jordan to create $13,443,750 million of cap room, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. They’re the latest in a series of moves since the Super Bowl aimed at approaching the league’s soft minimum.

The first was renegotiating Drew Brees’ deal, which shaved off more than $24 million of his 2021 cap hit. In the past week, the Saints restructured contracts for defensive tackle David Onyemata and kicker Wil Lutz and released tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill and punter Thomas Morstead.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman plans to test free agency | NFL.com

Linebacker Denzel Perryman plans to test the free agent market, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per Perryman’s agent Ron Butler.

Perryman, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has not ruled out a return to L.A., Rapoport added. The 28-year-old played in 13 games (six starts) in 2020, compiling 48 tackles — his fewest since 2017 — and one sack.

After playing 26 games his first two seasons, Perryman was bit by the injury bug in Years 3 and 4, limiting him to 16 combined appearances. Despite dealing with several setbacks, Perryman earned a two-year, $12 million extension in 2019.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

2021 NFL Draft: the linebacker awards

Linebacker awards

Best “block evasion”

This is sometimes called “slipping a block.” We’re looking for the linebacker who is best at avoiding blocks by steering clear of contact — whether that’s by using speed to get over the top of a block, flexibility to bend underneath it or using their hands to keep their chest clean. It’s all about keeping the blocker from impeding their path to the ball carrier.

Micah Parsons | Penn State

One of the top linebackers in the draft, Parsons could win a number of these awards — but he is best at evading blocks. His body control (and flexibility to dip under or around blocks) consistently jumps off the screen. He has a near-superhuman ability to bend and twist underneath the hands of an incoming blocker — and then explode back into his gap to bring down the ball carrier.

This is particularly impressive because of his size. Listed at 245 pounds, he has the ability to withstand glancing contact, too; a small amount of contact won’t knock him off balance or alter his ability to break through the contact and close on the ball.

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