HEADLINES

Derrick Kindred

Colts Claim Derrick Kindred Off Waivers From Browns

April 2nd, 2019 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have claimed Derrick Kindred off waivers, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The safety was let go by the Browns on Monday, and the Colts pounced on the opportunity to add him and his inexpensive contract.

Kindred, 25, is set to make a little more than $2MM in 2019. At that price, he’s a relative bargain for a club that has been largely reluctant to part with its ample cap space this offseason.

Since entering the league as a 2016 fourth-round pick, Kindred has appeared in 42 games for Cleveland. Last year, he had a perfect attendance record and registered 45 tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble. The Browns’ decision to release him leaves the club with a hole at strong safety that it could look to fill via the draft.

The Colts, meanwhile, add a youthful and reasonably talented DB who will provide useful depth for the recently re-signed Clayton Geathers, who has a troublesome injury history. Kindred can also contribute on special teams.

Browns To Waive S Derrick Kindred

April 1st, 2019 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are expected to waive safety Derrick Kindred, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The move comes as something of a surprise since Kindred was, at one point, slated to start in Cleveland. 

Kindred, 25, was set to make a little more than $2MM in 2019. By releasing him, the Browns will get all of that cap space back.

Since entering the league as a 2016 fourth-round pick, Kindred has appeared in 42 games for Cleveland. Last year, he had a perfect attendance record and registered 45 tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble.

The Browns’ new look secondary will no longer feature Jabrill Peppers, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, or Kindred. Damarious Randall remains, but the club has a gap to fill at strong safety.

The Browns’ spring cleaning seems to be targeted at holdovers from the Sashi Brown era. Wide receiver Ricardo Louis was sent packing on Monday morning and the club appears close to trading defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

2019 Proven Performance Escalators

January 13th, 2019 at 1:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $2MM in 2019. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2019 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:

Bears: RB Jordan Howard, LB Nick Kwiatkoski

Bengals: LB Nick Vigil

Broncos: G Connor McGovern, S Will Parks, S Justin Simmons

Browns: S Derrick Kindred, LB Joe Schobert

Buccaneers: G Caleb Benenoch, DE Carl Nassib, CB Ryan Smith

Chargers: LB Jatavis Brown

Chiefs: CB Kendall Fuller, WR Tyreek Hill, S Eric Murray, WR Demarcus Robinson

Colts: QB Jacoby Brissett, T Joe Haeg

Cowboys: CB Anthony Brown, DT Maliek Collins, QB Dak Prescott

Dolphins: RB Kenyan Drake

Eagles: CB Jalen Mills, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai

Falcons: LB De’Vondre Campbell, TE Austin Hooper, G Wes Schweitzer

Jaguars: DE Yannick Ngakoue

Jets: LB Jordan Jenkins, CB Rashard Robinson, T Brandon Shell

Lions: C Graham Glasgow

Packers: LB Kyler Fackrell, DE Dean Lowry, LB Blake Martinez, LB Antonio Morrison

Patriots: G Joe Thuney, LB Elandon Roberts

Rams: G Austin Blythe, TE Tyler Higbee

Ravens: DE Matt Judon, OL Alex Lewis, CB Tavon Young

Saints: DT David Onyemata

Steelers: DT Javon Hargrave

Texans: DT D.J. Reader

Titans: S Kevin Byard, WR Tajae Sharpe

OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. 

North Notes: Vikings, Bakhtiari, Dupree

August 5th, 2018 at 6:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Prior to Teddy Bridgewater‘s career-defining injury at Vikings practice two Augusts ago, Mike Zimmer assumed the 2014 first-round pick would be his quarterback for the remainder of his head-coaching tenure. But the gruesome leg injuries Bridgewater suffered eventually led him out of the Twin Cities and to the Big Apple. Now, the 62-year-old head coach envisions Kirk Cousins, attached to a three-year contract, as the quarterback for the rest of his run as Vikings HC.

“I always thought Teddy was going to be my quarterback for my career and these are the way things go,” Zimmer said during a Sirius XM Radio interview. “Now, I hope that Kirk is the quarterback for my career … and it’s long, too. Not one year.”

Zimmer expanded a bit on what drew him to Cousins, though Minnesota certainly wasn’t alone in the rare pursuit of a franchise-level quarterback on the market. But the Vikings weren’t viewed as the obvious choice from the outset, given Case Keenum‘s success in 2017.

“Part of it was his accuracy,” Zimmer said of the Cousins pursuit during the interview. “He threw the ball into a lot of tight windows, and we’re seeing that here in camp. Very consistent in the things he was able to do. So I think that was part of it. You know, not too many times is a quarterback that’s really entering his prime at 28 (Cousins turns 30 later this month) get out on the free agency market that’s thrown for 4,000 (yards) for three straight years. I think he’s my fifth quarterback in five years, so I’m hoping we’ve stabilized the quarterback position.”

Here’s the latest from a Vikings rival and the AFC North.

  • The Packers received a scare when a cart transported cornerstone left tackle David Bakhtiari from the practice field Saturday night, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) Bakhtiari suffered a sprained left ankle. He won’t return to action immediately, but at this point, it doesn’t look like the sixth-year lineman will miss regular-season time.
  • Bud Dupree suffered a setback this weekend and is in concussion protocol, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Steelers will be without their starting right outside linebacker for a bit, per Fowler, after seeing the fourth-year player start camp strong. Anthony Chickillo and Keion Adams reside as the top backups, per Pittsburgh’s first 2018 depth chart, and will see more time while Dupree is sidelined. Adams was a 2017 seventh-round pick who did not play last season.
  • Jabrill Peppers kept his starting spot after the Browns released their first depth chart, but Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets the battle between the 2017 first-rounder and Derrick Kindred is not over. Both continue to receive first-team reps opposite Damarious Randall, and Ulrich adds each will play plenty in three-safety looks this season (Twitter link). It would, however, be notable if Peppers couldn’t keep his starting job considering what the Browns invested in him. A 2016 fourth-rounder, Kindred’s started 15 NFL games.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/17

December 19th, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed off Broncos‘ practice squad: OL Dillon Day
  • Waived: FB Joe Kerridge

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

  • Promoted to active roster: S Fish Smithson
  • Placed on injured reserve: S Montae Nicholson

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/2016

December 7th, 2016 at 7:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Browns announced that they have signed safety Trae Elston and placed rookie safety Derrick Kindred (foot) on the reserve/non-football injury list. Kindred has had an up-and-down season for Cleveland, compiling 49 tackles and five passes defended. Elston, an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi, previously spent time with the Buccaneers and Saints.
  • The Colts announced that they have elevated rookie inside linebacker Luke Rhodes to the active roster. The William & Mary product had been on the team’s practice squad since early October.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/16

May 27th, 2016 at 5:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Ravens have signed sixth-round wide receiver/return man Keenan Reynolds, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Earlier today, United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter gave Reynolds permission to defer his obligations with the Navy to play in the NFL in 2016. Reynolds had a stellar four-year playing career at Navy, where he served as a dual-threat quarterback and accounted for 119 touchdowns (88 rushing, 31 passing).
  • The Browns announced the signing of fourth-round defensive back Derrick Kindred. Kindred played in 50 games during his time at TCU, including 30 starts. In that span, Kindred recorded 235 tackles, 15 passes defensed, eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. With Kindred in the fold, the Browns have now signed eight of their 14 draft picks.