David Amerson

AFC Notes: Browns, Jackson, Broncos WR’s

The Browns are in serious danger of joining the 2008 Lions as the only teams to go 0-16 in a single season. Cleveland will take on the Bears and Steelers before the dust is settled, but will be moving forward with a new head football man in John Dorsey.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com answers a variety of questions in a video addressing many different questions swirling around the franchise. One question she touches on is how quickly of an impact Dorsey will have on the field? While Cabot did say that it will take some time to turn around the franchise, one thing Dorsey will emphasize is finding that franchise quarterback that the team has been craving for a long time. Cabot states that just like with the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo, if the Browns can find their guy this offseason, there could be a dramatic shift in the long-term outlook of the organization.

The Browns will likely hold the first overall pick so they could be faced with a choice regarding Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen should both draft eligible QB’s turn pro this offseason.

Here are more stories coming from the AFC:

  • While the Browns do have a new decision maker in Dorsey, head coach Hue Jackson remains a bit in-flux. While the team’s owner has expressed his desire to keep the veteran coach, there could be an added twist in this story because of the division rival Bengals, states Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. Pluto opines that should Jackson replace the embattled Marvin Lewis, that would allow Dorsey to put his own coach in place, leaving his relationship with owner Jimmy Haslam in-tact. Bengals owner Mike Brown seems to like guys he’s worked with in the past, so Jackson seems like a reasonable possibility, even given his 1-29 record in Cleveland.
  • The Broncos are very much playing out the string of this season with a number of different QB’s given injuries and poor play. However, the wide receiver position has taken a hit over the past week, according to Mike Klis of 9news.com. Klis notes that Denver could only have four wideouts active against the Redskins in Week 16. Demaryius Thomas, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor and Isaiah McKenzie are the only healthy receivers available and could lead the team to serious depth problems should one of them go down this weekend. Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer are both listed as questionable and really have no reason to be pushed given that the Broncos are not in the playoff race. Expect the team to rely on the running game in order to keep their receiving corps healthy on Sunday.
  • Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper has not been 100% since he suffered a concussion and an ankle injury vs. the Broncos a few weeks ago. The third-year wideout has been inconsistent while on the field this season, but said after practice on Friday that he “felt all right” and is “still working through” the injuries, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link). He remains questionable to play for Monday night’s game against the Eagles. Gehlken also passed along that four Raiders missed practice today, including: CB David Amerson (foot), C Rodney Hudson (ankle/illness), DL Treyvon Hester (ankle) and TE Clive Walford (concussion/neck) (Twitter link).

Raiders, David Amerson Agree To Extension

TUESDAY, 3:26pm: Amerson’s deal is not quite as strong as early reports had indicated. Despite being described as a deal worth as much as $38MM with nearly $18MM in guarantees, it would be more accurate to say that Amerson’s true guarantee is really $5.5MM, according to PFT’s Mike Florio. Here are the full details:

  • 2016: base salary of $1MM, fully guaranteed at signing. $3MM roster bonus, fully guaranteed.
  • 2017: base salary of $6.5MM, guaranteed for injury at signing and the fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2017 league year. $1.5MM roster bonus for 2017, fully guaranteed.
  • 2018: base salary of $5.5MM, guaranteed for injury at signing and the fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2018 league year.
  • 2019: base salary of $7MM, not guaranteed.
  • 2020: base salary of $7.38MM, not guaranteed.
  • $500K per year in workout bonuses, from 2017 through 2020, totaling $2MM.
  • $500K per year in original-roster Pro Bowl escalators, 2017 through 2020, totaling $2MM.
  • $500K per year in original-roster Pro Bowl incentives, 2016 through 2020, totaling $2.5MM.

Amerson is guaranteed $5.5MM at signing plus rolling injury-only guarantees of $12MM. Technically, the deal has a maximum value of $38.38MM, but Amerson would have to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the next five years to actually realize $4.5MM of that number.

FRIDAY, 4:28pm: Raiders cornerback David Amerson became the latest NFLer to cash in Friday afternoon, agreeing to a four-year extension worth as much as $38MM, including nearly $18MM in guarantees, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

David Amerson

On a day highlighted by big-money deals awarded throughout the league, Amerson’s pact is somewhat modest. However, it’s a tremendous payday for a player whom the Raiders claimed off waivers in late September and one who was set to make a little over $880K in 2016, a contract year.

Amerson, whom the Redskins cut between the second and third weeks of last season, quickly found a home in Oakland and became its best cornerback. The 24-year-old started in 12 of his 14 appearances with the Raiders in 2015 and piled up 58 tackles and a career-best four interceptions. Amerson’s performance earned him high praise from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which ranked him 14th among 111 qualifying corners.

Given his draft pedigree – Amerson was a second-rounder in 2013 – it’s not a complete surprise that the ex-North Carolina State standout has turned into a quality pro. And Amerson wasn’t exactly inexperienced prior to donning the Silver and Black, having totaled 23 starts in 31 appearances in his two full seasons with the Redskins.

Amerson had a rather difficult time in Washington, though, particularly when PFF rated him as the worst corner in the league in 2014. Nevertheless, the former 51st overall pick developed into a force last year in Oakland, which has rewarded the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder handsomely as a result and will keep him in the fold as part of an impressive core of 20-something defenders. Along with Amerson, the Raiders’ defense is built around the likes of superstar end Khalil Mack, linebacker Bruce Irvin, fellow corner Sean Smith and first-round safety Karl Joseph.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Raiders Claim David Amerson Off Waivers

The Raiders have made a change in their secondary, claiming cornerback David Amerson off waivers and adding him to their 53-man roster, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Amerson was cut yesterday by Washington.

Amerson, a second-round pick in 2013, started 23 of the 31 regular season contests he played for Washington during his first two NFL seasons, taking over as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks last season. However, he didn’t play well in 2014, ranking dead last among 108 qualified cornerbacks in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). Per PFF, quarterbacks had a 140.2 rating and 10 touchdowns on 91 throws into Amerson’s coverage.

With Scot McCloughan now running the show in Washington, and some offseason tweaks to the roster, Amerson slid down the depth chart and wasn’t playing a crucial role for the club in the first two games of this season. Chris Culliver is also returning this week from a two-game suspension, making the 23-year-old Amerson even more expendable.

Amerson will get a shot to earn playing time in Oakland, where no cornerback has logged a positive grade so far this season, according to PFF.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/21/15

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Buccaneers have cut Orie Lemon, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • Washington has released cornerback David Amerson, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. Amerson was taken No. 51 overall in 2013 and was the next cornerback taken off the board after Jonathan Banks. Needless to say, Washington would probably like a redo on that pick. To take his place, Washington re-signed defensive end Frank Kearse, Wilson tweets.
  • Texans tackle/guard Jeff Adams is done for the year with a knee injury, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. After Adams went down on Sunday, it was widely reported that Adams was IR-bound.
  • Vikings cornerback Jabari Price was reinstated to the 53-man roster after his violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.