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Jamaal Charles

Broncos Sign Jamaal Charles

May 2nd, 2017 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

This year, Jamaal Charles will be facing off against the Chiefs. The rival Broncos will sign the veteran running back, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $1MM: $900K of that total will come in base salary, while another $100K is a workout bonus, reports Mike Klis of 9News. Incentives can bring the maximum of the pact to $3.75MM. The Broncos have confirmed the signing via press release.Jamaal Charles (Featured)

[RELATED: Broncos Exercise Bradley Roby’s Option]

The Broncos huddled up with Charles at team headquarters on Tuesday and it didn’t take long for a deal to materialize. Charles now joins a running back group which already features C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Juwan Thompson, and sixth-round pick DeAngelo Henderson, but he figures to see a good percentage of the team’s carries. At this stage, Charles can’t be counted on as a bell cow, but he could certainly be a difference maker in a split backfield.

Charles, 30, has appeared in a total of eight games in the last two seasons. When he was healthy in 2014, however, he managed to average 5.0 yards per carry behind a porous Chiefs offensive line. In the year before that, he recorded a career-high 1,980 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns. The Broncos will hope to see a reprise of that electrifying performance, though that’s not necessarily what they are expecting.

With Charles off the board, LeGarrette Blount stands as the undisputed top veteran running back on the market. Other notables include Rashad Jennings, DeAngelo Williams, and Chris Johnson.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Broncos To Host Jamaal Charles On Visit

May 1st, 2017 at 1:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is scheduled to visit the Broncos on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The Broncos are “enthused” about the forthcoming meeting, Schefter adds. Jamaal Charles (vertical)

The Chiefs cut Charles after nine seasons with the team in a money-saving move, but he could make his next home with a division rival. The Broncos are currently set to go into the season with C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, and Juwan Thompson as their running backs and they could use some additional help after losing Kapri Bibbs to free agency. Charles can’t be counted on for 20+ carries, but he could be a quality complementary piece for a team like Denver.

The two-time first-team All-Pro is entering his age-30 season and it’s not clear what he has left at this stage of his career after two injury-marred campaigns. Charles’ last healthy season came in 2014 and he was less than stellar, though his struggles could be chalked up to a poor offensive line in Kansas City. In 2013, Charles amassed a career-high 1,980 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns.

Top 2017 Free Agents By Position 3.0: Offense

March 17th, 2017 at 12:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The initial wave of NFL free agency is now complete, and while many of the league’s top available players are now off the board, there are still plenty of quality options still on the open market.

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each offensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as players who received the franchise tag, aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by offensive position for 2017:

Quarterback:

  1. Jay Cutler
  2. Chase Daniel
  3. Ryan Fitzpatrick
  4. Colin Kaepernick
  5. Josh McCown
  6. Robert Griffin III
  7. Case Keenum
  8. Matt McGloin
  9. Mark Sanchez
  10. Christian Ponder
  11. Blaine Gabbert
  12. Ryan Nassib
  13. Shaun Hill
  14. Kellen Moore
  15. Austin Davis

Tony Romo is not a free agent…at least not yet. If the Cowboys do not find a suitable trade and release him, you’ll find him at the top of this list.

Laugh if you must, but Cutler is far and away the best quarterback available on the open market. While most of this year’s QB-needy teams are done with their free agent shopping, the Jets are still searching for their 2017 starter and no one would make more sense for them than Cutler. He’s not all that far removed from playing solid football and he’s a logical transitional option for the Jets until they can isolate a better, younger option for 2018. Jay Cutler (Vertical)

Kaepernick’s reps wisely told the press that he will be standing for the National Anthem this year. Still, Kaepernick is an outspoken guy who wants to use his platform to discuss hot button issues, so there’s no guarantee that the media circus around him will cease. Jets owner Woody Johnson loves seeing his team on the back pages of the New York tabloids, but even he has to have more sense than to entertain Kaepernick. McCown, who has been contact with the team, would be an okay choice if they can’t get something done with Cutler. Chase Daniel could be an option too, but there isn’t much game film on him.

Needless to say, the No. 3 ranked player on this list isn’t an option in New York.

Running back:

  1. Adrian Peterson
  2. LeGarrette Blount
  3. Jamaal Charles
  4. Rashad Jennings
  5. Tim Hightower
  6. DeAngelo Williams
  7. Chris Johnson
  8. Christine Michael
  9. Benny Cunningham
  10. Bobby Rainey
  11. Brandon Bolden
  12. Denard Robinson
  13. James Starks
  14. Matt Asiata
  15. Kenjon Barner

Honorable mention: DuJuan Harris, Antonio Andrews, Khiry Robinson

Adrian Peterson (vertical)The Vikings have moved on and Peterson will not be back in Minnesota. Where he goes from here is anyone’s guess. When Peterson’s option was declined by the Vikings earlier this month, there were tons of stories (likely sourced by Peterson’s camp) about interest from a litany of contenders. Since then, each team – through anonymous sources – has denied being in the mix for the veteran. It would be easy to doubt Peterson at this juncture, but he has come back from serious injuries multiple times in his career and he is only one year removed from his stellar 2015 campaign. He gets the top spot over the bruising Blount as well as Charles, who hasn’t been healthy in a long while.

Jennings was brought to New York with the idea that he would be the team’s workhorse. Unfortunately, two of his three seasons with the G-Men were marred by injury. Jennings is currently putting his agility to good use on Dancing With The Stars and it remains to be seen how committed he is to football. After that, we have a trio of vets (Hightower, Williams, CJ2K) who could still advance the ball in limited spurts.

In case you’re wondering – Mike Gillislee is not listed here because he is a restricted free agent.

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Seahawks Visits: Charles, RJF, A. Brown

March 16th, 2017 at 7:27pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent running back Jamaal Charles had a “good visit” with the Seahawks, but he doesn’t plan to sign there – at least not yet – a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Charles may meet with another team next week, per Florio, who notes that the club’s identity isn’t yet known.

Jamaal Charles (Vertical)

Given that Seattle already added a No. 1-caliber rusher, Eddie Lacy, this week, it’s interesting that Charles isn’t ruling out signing there. In addition to Lacy, the Seahawks have Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise as prominent members of their running back corps, so there doesn’t seem to be a fit for Charles on paper.

As Charles leaves Seattle without a deal, two defenders – tackle Ricky Jean-Francois and linebacker Arthur Brown – are on their way to visit the team, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Jean-Francois came available when the Redskins released him Wednesday, after he had played in all of their games and totaled eight starts over the previous two seasons. The Seahawks are lacking established depth behind starting defensive tackles Jarran Reed and Ahtyba Rubin, which Jean-Francois would provide. The 30-year-old is excited about the possibility of joining the Seahawks.

“It would be great to get a chance to get out of a 3-4 and play in a 4-3, because I would get to use more of my skill-set and not be limited,” he told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “In the 3-4, I feel like you can only do so much; but in a 4-3, I feel like you can get uphill more and disrupt the back field.”

Brown, meanwhile, is looking for a fourth team after spending the first four years of his career with the Ravens, Jaguars and Jets. The 2013 second-round pick hasn’t lived up to his draft selection, as he has just a half-sack and no starts on his resume. Brown, 26, has primarily served as a special teamer in the pros.

Latest On Latavius Murray, Jamaal Charles

March 14th, 2017 at 12:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Now that Eddie Lacy has landed in Seattle, Latavius Murray is changing course. Instead of meeting with the Seahawks today, Murray is visiting with the Vikings, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Interestingly, Jamaal Charles‘ scheduled visit to Seattle on Wednesday is still on, according to Schefter. Latavius Murray

Lacy’s deal with the Seahawks could start a run on free agent running backs. Teams have been wallflowers when it comes to engaging the top available RBs so far. Now, teams could finally start to get serious with Murray, Charles, Adrian Peterson, LeGarrette Blount, Darren McFadden, and others.

At the same time, Lacy was my No. 1 rated RB on the board and he had to settle for a one-year prove-it deal. The age and injury concerns will probably lead Charles, Peterson, Blount, and McFadden to similar pacts, perhaps with less money. Murray, I feel, could still have a shot at a multi-year deal, but if the market is soft for the position, he may also opt for a one-year contract to allow him to try the open market again next year.

Right now, the Seahawks have a strong RB group with Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and C.J. Prosise in the fold. Charles would be a great addition, but it’s hard to see there being enough carries to keep all four backs satisfied.

Latest On Seahawks’ RB Search

March 13th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks continue to organize a thorough search for a veteran running back. More clarity’s arrived on this expansive pursuit’s itinerary. Jamaal Charles will visit Seattle on Wednesday and Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

He will follow both Adrian Peterson and Latavius Murray. Peterson’s Seahawks summit encompassed Sunday and Monday, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter), but it looks to have concluded with the future Hall of Famer unsigned.

Murray’s visit will precede Charles’, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). Eddie Lacy is scheduled to visit, but the timing of that meeting isn’t known yet. Lacy visited the Vikings already, and Murray is visiting the Jaguars before being slated to fly to the Pacific Northwest. Peterson and Charles have not scheduled any known summits with other teams during their initial time as UFAs.

Currently, Seattle’s backfield houses Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. Neither of which eclipsed 400 yards rushing last season, and both struggled with injuries in 2016. Rawls, though, fared much better in 2015, averaging 5.6 yards per carry after succeeding Marshawn Lynch. Rawls rushed for 830 yards despite making only seven starts. However, his per-carry figure plummeted to 3.2 last season.

Updates On Top Remaining Free Agents

March 10th, 2017 at 12:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Some big names came off the board on Wednesday and Thursday, but tons of notable free agents remain. Here’s a look at some of the notables who are still out there and where they stand:

  • Adrian Peterson, RB (Vikings): Poor, poor AD. As we summed up on Friday morning, there are no clear suitors for No. 28 at this time. Despite previous reports to the contrary, the Texans, Patriots, Raiders, Giants, and Seahawks are showing little to no interest in signing the veteran running back. The incumbent Vikings haven’t put an offer on the table since declining his bloated $18MM option. Peterson is one of the best running backs in NFL history, but teams are skeptical of what he can do as he looks to rebound from another serious right knee injury on the verge of his 32nd birthday. We know that there will be teams with interest in Peterson – perhaps even some of those aforementioned clubs – but Peterson is far from their Plan A and it doesn’t sound like any team wants to pay him like a top running back. Ultimately, Peterson seems likely to settle for a low-base, one-year deal with a good amount of performance incentives. His best payday, I think, would come from the Vikings. Peterson is a fan favorite and the organization would probably like to have him finish his career in purple. With all that said, Adrian’s dad publicly trashing the team probably isn’t helping matters. Adrian Peterson (vertical)
  • Eddie Lacy, RB (Packers): The Vikings, Seahawks, and incumbent Packers seem to be the frontrunners for Lacy at this time. The Seahawks will meet with Lacy, but they also have meetings scheduled with Latavius Murray and Jamaal Charles. The Vikings, of course, are looking into Peterson replacements. Even though Lacy has had problems with consistency and conditioning over the years, he’s my top-ranked running back in this year’s FA crop.
  • Dont’a Hightower, LB (Patriots): Hightower, surely, has interest from a number of clubs. But, for whatever reason, leaks have been kept to a minimum. For all the speculation about the Dolphins and other clubs swarming the non-rush linebacker, we’ve only heard talk of “positive” dialogue between Hightower and the Pats. The Patriots are more unpredictable than ever, but I think the most likely outcome is that he re-signs. Bill Belichick was cocky enough to trade Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones in the same year – and it obviously worked out – but I don’t think he’s crazy enough to also let Hightower leave.
  • Dontari Poe, DT (Chiefs): The defensive tackle market is starting to take shape. Brandon Williams has re-upped with the Ravens on a lucrative five-year, $54MM deal that includes $27MM in guarantees. Chris Baker, considered a run below Williams and Poe, has a three-year, $15.75MM with $9MM guaranteed. We had Williams and Poe fairly close to each other on the Top 50 list and the early thinking was that they could fetch similar contracts. However, the latest word is that he may have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal. The Falcons, 49ers, and Redskins have been linked to Poe this week, but the Redskins might not be in the market for him anymore after adding Stacy McGee.
  • Johnathan Hankins, DT (Giants): Hankins’ camp has been keeping things on the QT. There have been estimates that he could fetch around $7MM to $8MM per year (or more) on a multi-year deal. The Giants would love to keep the soon-to-be 25-year-old and we’re sure that other teams want him too, but there have been zero leaks from his negotiations. Hankins may not be as good as Williams right now, but the age factor could allow him to approach or top his contract. Teams also might feel better about committing years and dollars to Hankins over Poe. Of course, it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison since Hankins is a 4-3 DT and Williams and Poe are 3-4 nose tackles. They are different players and they have different groups of suitors due to their scheme fits.
  • T.J. Lang, G (Packers): Lang is a talented guard, but teams are concerned about his surgically-repaired hip. Right now, the Packers, Lions, and Seahawks are known to be in the mix for him, but he might not sign right away as teams go over his medical info. Teams might want to see him work out in full before committing to him. He’s ranked No. 14 overall on my Top 50 list and was second only to Kevin Zeitler on our list of free agent interior linemen.
  • Martellus Bennett, TE (Patriots): There’s heavy mutual interest between the Raiders and Bennett and the Giants and Bills have also been linked to him. However, after the Giants spent a good chunk of coin to add Rhett Ellison, it’s not clear if Bennett is still a consideration. Bennett is far and away the best available tight end out there and he should fetch a nice payday for himself. It’s just not clear where that might be. A Patriots return can be ruled out after the Dwayne Allen trade. The Lions are also looking into tight ends, but we haven’t specifically heard about them reaching out to Bennett.
  • Jared Cook, TE (Packers): The second-best tight end on the board is drawing interest from the Lions and Bills. Contract talks with the Packers have reportedly broken off, so he could very well wind up leaving.
  • Jabaal Sheard, DE (Patriots): The Dolphins were linked to Sheard, but I’m guessing they’re no longer interested after acquiring William Hayes in a brilliant trade with the Rams on Thursday. He’s on his way to meet with the Colts and we haven’t heard a peep about any possible Pats reunion. Towards the end of the season, the feeling was that Sheard would not be back in New England.

Latest On Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles

March 9th, 2017 at 4:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Even though he’s among the best running backs in NFL history, free agency isn’t unfolding in ideal fashion for seven-time Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson. The careerlong Viking is drawing far less interest on the open market than Jamaal Charles, another highly accomplished, over-30 rusher, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com).

Adrian Peterson (vertical)

Since Wednesday, four teams that could potentially sign Peterson – the Texans, Patriots, Raiders and Seahawks – have shown little to no interest in adding the 31-year-old. He could conceivably return to the running back-needy Vikings, who drafted him in 2007, but they’re now in on a longtime rival, free agent Eddie Lacy, who spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay.

As is the case with Peterson, Charles has been an elite back throughout his career. But the nine-year Chief dealt with serious knee injuries over the past two seasons and combined for just eight appearances as a result. In three games in 2016, Charles only totaled 12 carries. Nevertheless, his market is more robust than Peterson’s. And while the Seahawks don’t want AP, they are primed to visit with Charles next week.

FA Rumors: Charles, Hightower, Cutler, Bills

March 9th, 2017 at 2:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agency rumors from around the league:

  • Jamaal Charles will visit the Seahawks next week, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. The Seahawks’ interest in Charles was first reported on Thursday morning. If he signs with Seattle, he’ll join Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise on the RB depth chart.
  • A Dont’a Hightower/Patriots re-up remains on the table, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (on Twitter) the parties remain in good communication about keeping Hightower in New England.
  • The Jets‘ interest in Jay Cutler is being reciprocated by the veteran quarterback, Rapoport notes (on Twitter). The Bears released Cutler today after eight seasons.
  • Malcolm Smith will receive a raise from the 49ers after his two years with the Raiders. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets it’s a five-year, $26.5MM deal for the outside ‘backer, with $13MM guaranteed. This $5.3MM-AAV pact represents quite the bump from his $3.5MM deal in Oakland, one that didn’t come with rave reviews from the advanced metrics community.
  • The Bills remain interested in retaining Lorenzo Alexander, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets. The sides are continuing to work at completing a deal for the edge defender. Although the Bills are moving to a 4-3 scheme, Alexander — who thrived as a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the form of 12.5 sacks in 2016 — looks to still be part of their plans.
  • It sounds like the Bills and Lions are in the lead for wide receiver Russell Shepard (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). He could still wind up returning to the Buccaneers.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Seahawks, Jamaal Charles Have Mutual Interest

March 9th, 2017 at 9:48am CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks are expected to pass on the highest-profile running back in free agency, but the other high-end cap casualty appeals to them. Jamaal Charles and Seattle have mutual interest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, adding that a Charles visit to the Pacific Northwest is expected soon.

The Chiefs cut Charles after nine seasons. He’s a two-time first-team All-Pro and would be entering his age-30 season. Although Charles is coming off two injury-marred seasons and isn’t the same back he was at his electric peak, his carry load is incredibly light when compared to the other marquee UFA running back. Adrian Peterson has 2,418 career carries to Charles 1,332.

Charles’ last healthy season came in 2014, and behind a then-shaky Kansas City offensive line, he did not match his usual production. In 2013, Charles amassed a career-high 1,980 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns. The NFL’s yards-per-carry all-time leader would be a high-profile addition to a Seahawks backfield that has only rookie deals populating it. Although, both Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise struggled with injuries last season, making Seattle’s Charles interest somewhat interesting.

 

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