Broncos center Matt Paradis said the team has not begun negotiations on a contract extension yet, but he would welcome those talks as he wants to stick around beyond 2018 (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). Paradis signed a restricted free agent tender with the team earlier this offseason, keeping him under contract for one more year at a rate of $2.9MM. Paradis, 29 in October, has had operations on both hips, but has not missed a snap since taking over at center in 2015. The Broncos would ostensibly like to hold on to Paradis, though other impending free agents such as cornerback Bradley Roby will be a higher priority.
Here’s a look at the AFC West:
- Bad news for Raiders safety Obi Melifonwu as he looks to carve out a role on Jon Gruden‘s team this year. The UConn product and former second-round pick is apparently a long way from 100% health as he looks to return from hip surgery. “It doesn’t look close at all,” Gruden said (via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area). “I’ll leave it at that. He doesn’t look close, to me, at all...I haven’t seen much of Obi except in the training room.” The Raiders have plenty of other options at safety with Karl Joseph, Reggie Nelson, and Marcus Gilchrist at the front of the line, so Melifonwu will push to get on the practice field as soon as possible.
- As the Chargers deal with Hunter Henry‘s injury, they remain open to a potential reunion with Antonio Gates.
- A former agent says the Chiefs could come to regret their expensive signing of wide receiver Sammy Watkins.