In signing Chris Harris, the Chargers now employ three first-team All-Pros (Harris, Derwin James, Desmond King) and a second-team All-Pro (Casey Hayward) in their secondary. Harris resided as the NFL’s slot kingpin for many years, but the injury-depleted Broncos used him almost exclusively on the outside last season. The four-time Pro Bowler confirmed Tuesday the Chargers informed him he will be their primary slot defender, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic (on Twitter). For most of his Broncos career, Harris played outside in base sets and inside in sub-packages.
Harris’ Los Angeles arrival puts King in an interesting position. King has become a high-end slot player for the Bolts, earning All-Pro recognition for the role in 2018. Harris said (video link via Pro Football Focus; h/t Chargers Legion) earlier this offseason the Chargers planned to move King to safety, where he played at Iowa. The contract-year defender being a full-time safety would allow the Bolts to start their four All-Pro defensive backs, but Anthony Lynn has yet to indicate how the team’s new secondary will look.
Here is the latest from the West divisions:
- On the subject of defensive alignments, the 49ers are not expected to make Arik Armstead a full-time defensive tackle despite trading DeForest Buckner and seeing fellow Super Bowl D-tackle starter Sheldon Day join him in Indianapolis. Armstead is expected to remain a base-downs defensive end and inside pass rusher, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Armstead has shown the ability to be an outside and inside pass rusher, leading the 49ers with 10 sacks last season.
- Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense did not feature too much from the tight end position last season, though the Cardinals did extend Maxx Williams. Neither he nor Charles Clay reached 250 receiving yards in 2019. The Cardinals, however, are eyeing tight ends in this coming draft class, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. They had planned to bring in some for pre-draft workouts, but the NFL nixed those early in the process. This draft class is not viewed to be especially deep at tight end, however.
- The Cardinals also are interested in Utah running back Zack Moss, according to Weinfuss (on Twitter). Moss already went through a FaceTime conversation with Cardinals running backs coach James Saxon, per Weinfuss. Moss ended the 2019 season as the Pac-12’s offensive player of the year, totaling 1,804 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns as a senior.
- Arizona’s Marcus Gilbert contract is not quite as lucrative as initially advertised. While it is worth up to $3.75MM, the veteran right tackle’s deal will be for the veteran minimum ($1.05MM, in Gilbert’s case), Howard Balzer of SI.com writes. The longtime Steelers starter will see just $150K guaranteed. Gilbert missed all of last season with an injury, one that severely limited him on the open market.
- The Broncos are guaranteeing Jeremiah Attaochu $500K, per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). That includes $250K of his $1MM base salary. Attaochu will be expected to be a backup to Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
Niners should trade Solomon Thomas who they drafted in the first round in 2017 who hasn’t lived up to expectations plus a 6th round pick for Geno Atkins.
Atkins who is getting old and is overpaid can come in to the IDL and tidy things up. An experienced head like his would allow Armstead and Bosa to continue to work outside and apply pressure. Bengals would be getting rid of a big deal and getting back a player who hasn’t lived up to expectations but still has good potential which is nice for a rebuilding team.
Lastly Josh Rosen and Durham Symthe for NKeal Harry.
Pats get themselves a young QB in Rosen and a young TE in Symthe for the price of a WR who only had 12 receptions. If BB can get the best out of Rosen, who is only 23 and was a former top 10 pick then he’s got a bargain. Symthe is also a good pick up and fills a position of need for the Pats. Dolphins get rid of one of its back up QBs and gets back a WR who went in the first round last year. Dolphins will draft Tua and Fitzmagic will be his back up meaning Rosen wasn’t needed anyway but outside of Parker they needed a WR and Harry if they can get the best out of him I’ll be a bargain.
Russ,
Novel after novel on here man oh man can you some anything up in less then a million words !
Russ,
Man you have a man crush on Rosen pretty sad!
Rosen for Harry would be a win win situation.
Harry is the Pats eyes is a bust after 1 year and 12 receptions and Rosen to the Dolphins is a former top 10 pick who is a third QB.
Dolphins get themselves a young WR with great potential and Pats get themselves a young QB with great potential.
Dolphins should in the second round draft WR Brandon Ayiuk who went to Arizona State with Harry which gives you another really good WR but also hopefully means you can get the best out of Harry.
By trading for Rosen It also means Pats don’t have to waste a late first or second picking up a QB like Jordan Love, Jake Fromm, Jalen Hurts who for starters is worse than Rosen and means they can address other needs
I do like the points you made, Simmons>Russ, but I would just like to add that Preston Williams was also doing pretty well before his injury, so the Dolphins do at least have at least one other WR than De’Vante Parker. I mean I know Parker is the main guy but I didn’t want it to seem like it was just Parker and nobody else. I am only responding to Simmons>Russ.
Yeah Dolphins have a few young WRers as you said. But I feel like for the rebuilding Dolphins the more the merrier when it comes to young WRers
Yeah that’s true. I just wanted to make sure that you remembered Williams was there and that it wasn’t just Parker only.
The 49ers might be planning to move Solomon Thomas to the inside instead of on the edge
Why move a players position when you can grab a proven experienced good player for that position.
Thomas is in the last year of his rookie deal and set to get 8mil, Atkins will get 3 mill more at 11 mil but he’s a 8 time pro bowler and 3 time all pro. Pay the little bit more and have a solid solid defence and draft either Ceedee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy with the pick you got for Buckner
Solomon Thomas played more 3-tech DT in college than DE
Rosen is a smartass with an attitude. The last place he goes: NE. He is becoming untouchable.
Chargers with possibly the best secondary in football. Add in Nasir Adderley and Kyzir White and they’ve got some nice backups too