Zach Kerr - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Rumors: Browns, Lynch, Broncos, Jets

October 21st, 2017 at 8:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kenny Britt is now on thinner ice with the Browns despite his lucrative free agent deal, but there’s now a report that the Browns made an exception to their curfew policy. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports the Browns previously did not enforce their 11 p.m. curfew on injured players. Both Britt and Corey Coleman were declared out for the Texans game, and Schefter reports Britt did not get back to the team hotel until around 1:15 a.m. It’s unclear why the Browns apparently changed their policy, which resulted in Britt and Coleman being sent home. Although, Schefter reports the wideouts returned to Cleveland at the same time as their team. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk doesn’t believe the team that employs Josh Gordon and the one that drafted Johnny Manziel would have a double standard like this, where injured players could stay out much longer than their teammates who are preparing to play.

Here’s the latest from around the AFC.

The NFL revealed Friday it planned to explore fines and a suspension for Marshawn Lynch, and it came forth with a one-game ban for the Raiders running back. However, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the league will not impose any additional fines on Lynch — other than the docked game check he’ll miss if this suspension is upheld. Lynch stands to lose $110K, from a portion of his base salary and $500K roster bonus. The maximum fine he was facing, if the NFL didn’t go through with the suspension, was $60K.
The Broncos cut both Ahtyba Rubin and Kyle Peko from their 53-man roster this week, and some of the reasoning behind these moves centered on Zach Kerr improving to the point he can contribute after a lengthy injury absence, Mike Klis of 9News notes (on Twitter). Signed in March after the Colts non-tendered him, Kerr was expected to be a key rotation presence at defensive end and nose tackle prior to suffering a preseason knee malady. He’s played in one game for the Broncos this season.
A Muhammad Wilkerson release has emerged as a key Jets topic this week, and ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini indeed expects Gang Green to follow through with this after the season (Twitter link). Wilkerson has not been the same player since signing his landmark extension at the 2016 franchise tag deadline, with injuries playing a role in that. While the Jets would incur a $9MM dead-money charge — which could be spread out over multiple years if Wilkerson is a post-June 1 cut — they would also save $11MM by parting with the seventh-year veteran.
Jay Ajayi‘s chemistry with Jay Cutler may be suffering because of a chronic knee condition that keeps the Dolphins running back out of at least one practice per week, Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com notes. Miami OC Clyde Christensen said Ayaji’s condensed practice time is limiting his development as a pass-catcher. Ajayi has just seven receptions (on 12 targets) for 23 yards through five games. He wasn’t used much in the passing game last season, but the third-year running back remains productive on the ground with his 391 rushing yards ranking seventh in the league.

Broncos To Sign Domata Peko, Zach Kerr

March 11th, 2017 at 3:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have agreed to free agent deals with defensive linemen Domata Peko and Zach Kerr, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Peko will receive a two-year, $7.5MM contract that includes $3.8MM guaranteed, per Klis (Twitter link). Kerr will also garner a two-year pact, reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link).

Peko, 32, will now leave the Bengals after spending the past 11 seasons in Cincinnati. The former fourth-round pick appeared in 171 games with the Bengals during his time in the Queen City, starting 156 of those contests. Although he’s started every game for the past seven seasons, Peko’s playing time had started to dwindle, as he’d only managed roughly half of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps over the past two years. Peko registered 37 tackles in 2016 while grading as the league’s No. 106 interior defender, Pro Football Focus, which has given Peko disastrous marks for the past four years.

Addressing the defensive line was thought to be a primary focus for Denver this offseason, but Peko and Kerr are the the only defensive linemen the club has added thus far. That’s not for lack of trying, however, as the Broncos were reportedly among the final suitors for Calais Campbell before he signed with the Jaguars. Denver had to ward off other teams in order to land Peko, as the Vikings apparently had interest in the 6’3″, 307 pound defender, tweets Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Kerr, 26, was not tendered a restricted free agent contract by the Colts after appearing in 12 games (four starts) for the club last year. Appearing on nearly a third of Indy’s defensive snaps, Kerr posted 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in his third NFL campaign. Kerr drew interest from the 49ers and Lions before signing with the Broncos, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Colts, Okung, Panthers, Ngata

March 6th, 2017 at 3:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Restricted free agent defensive tackle Zach Kerr has yet to be tendered an offer by the Colts and an NFL source tells Stephen Holder of the Indy Star that indications are he won’t be tendered at all. Kerr’s playing time vacillated last year but he still finished out with 2.5 sacks. Since joining the Colts as a UDFA in 2014, he has played nose tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end. In related news, the Colts have decided against tendering an offer to linebacker Josh McNary.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Panthers players are “actively recruiting” free agent tackle Russell Okung, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Teams themselves cannot officially reach out to free agents until Tuesday.
Haloti Ngata informed the Lions that he plans to play this year, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Ngata stated back in January that he would return in 2017, but Breer says the coaching staff was unsure about his intentions until recently.
If Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk reaches free agency on Thursday, he’ll likely sign with a team that provides him a “hybrid” role, meaning that he’d see time at running back, fullback, and tight end, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Juszczyk is our No. 1 rated fullback ticketed for free agency.
The Giants will not tender an offer to restricted free agent Orleans Darkwa, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. A return is still possible, but the running back will first test the market. Darkwa was recently cleared for action after recovering from a leg injury.
The 49ers don’t plan to tender either of their RFAs, running back DuJuan Harris or cornerback Marcus Cromartie, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports.
The Vikings have interest in re-signing punter Jeff Locke, but it looks like he’ll test the market, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.

Colts To Sign 20 Undrafted FAs

May 12th, 2014 at 11:10am CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 11:10am: The Colts have added another name to their UDFA haul, announcing in a press release that they’ve also agreed to terms with Florida cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy.

SUNDAY, 1:44pm: The Colts have agreed to terms with 19 undrafted free agents, the team announced today in a press release. Here’s a complete list of the players heading to Indianapolis:

Qua Cox, CB, Jackson State
Marcus Hall, G, Ohio State
Jonotthan Harrison, C, Florida
Tyler Hoover, DE, Michigan State ($8K bonus, per Dave Birkett)
Kameron Jackson, CB, California
Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware
Seth Lobato, QB, Northern Colorado
Keon Lyn, CB, Syracuse
Dewey McDonald, S, California University of Pennsylvania
Gregory Moore, WR, Lane College
Nnamdi Obukwelu, DE, Harvard
Cody Parkey, K, Auburn
Eric Pike, T, Towson
Darius Polk, CB, Kent State
Erik Swoope, TE, Miami
Eric Thomas, WR, Troy
Zurlon Tipton, RB, Central Michigan
Josh Walker, G, Middle Tennessee State ($10K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
Tony Washington, WR, Appalachian State