Tag: Akeem King

Bills rookie CB Ike Brown retires

Rookie cornerback who was a UDFA of the Buffalo Bills after the 2020 NFL Draft retires.

Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Ike Brown has retired, the team has announced. Brown was reportedly not at the club’s Monday training camp session,

Brown was an undrafted rookie signee of the Bills out of FIU following the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bills completed their seventh full practice at this year’s constrained offseason due to the coronavirus the same day. Brown was  the first player from the Bills to be added to the team’s reserve/ COVID-19 list earlier this offseason as he tested positive for the virus. However, Brown later returned to the team. He also chose to not opt out of playing due to the virus earlier this offseason.

Brown was brought back on the team’s roster and Buffalo did release players in order to do so. Brown and Siran Neal were activated from the reserve/ COVID-19 list and in a corresponding set of moves, running back Antonio Williams and defensive end Jonathan Woodard were released by the team to make room.

Earlier this month, wide receiver Duke Williams was also brought back from the reserve/ COVID-19 list. When Buffalo added him back to their roster, cornerback Akeem King was signed by the team. King’s name might be one to watch in regard to replacing Brown on the roster.

While a shot to the team’s depth at the cornerback position as far as training camp is concerned, Brown was having an up-and-down training camp. He was considered a longshot for the team’s final 53-man roster.

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Bills sign CB Akeem King, DT Niles Scott

Buffalo Bills sign two players to replace COVID-19 opt outs.

The Bills announced on Sunday that the club has signed free agent cornerback Akeem King and defensive tackle Niles Scott.

This pair of moves comes in two positions that are not very surprising at this time. Buffalo lost the services of both cornerback EJ Gaines and Star Lotulelei within the past few days. Both opted out of playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both of the new signings are expected to battle for depth spots.

King spent the last two seasons with the Seahawks, playing a chunk of special teams time there. Buffalo special teams coordinator Heath Farwell previously played with the Seahawks before joining the Bills and prior to his coaching career.

King was a seventh-round pick of the Falcons in 2015.

Scott was an undrafted rookie in 2017, and was active in six games with the Bengals in 2018. He has only played in one special teams snap is his career, but has seen 46 on defense, recording four tackles on them.

 

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Why Kemah Siverand could make Seahawks roster

The Seattle Seahawks love core special teamers and guys who have undergone position changes, making UDFA Kemah Siverand a potential fit.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

One way the Seahawks have found diamonds in the rough is by changing a player’s position, or signing guys who recently went through a change of position who may still have room to grow at their new spot.

That’s the case with former Oklahoma State defensive back Kemah Siverand. Siverand was a receiver at Texas A&M for one season before transitioning to defense and eventually transferring to join the Cowboys. He had just 11 tackles and one fumble recovery in 26 games, being used almost exclusively as a core special teamer.

In fact, Oklahoma State’s punt coverage was ranked fourth nationally, thanks in part to Siverand’s contributions.

The Seahawks love guys with versatility, they love taking chances on guys who are undergoing a position change, and of course coach Pete Carroll loves his core special teamers – all which makes Siverand an ideal pick for one of the team’s final roster spots.

Akeem King played that reserve corner and core special teams role last year, and without him in the picture anymore someone will need to step up – and Siverand could easily be that guy if he gets a chance to prove himself in camp.

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Why Texas A&M’s Debione Renfro could make Seahawks roster

Debione Renfro has the size, speed, and tackling necessary to be a contributor on special teams, which could help him land a roster spot.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

A huge part of making this squad as an undrafted free agent, or any backup position really, is the ability to contribute on the special teams.

Coach Pete Carroll has long harped the importance of getting young players who are willing to do the dirty work on teams, and guys who are physical, speedy and good open field tacklers will almost always have a leg up on earning one of the final roster spots on the squad.

That’s where former Texas A&M defensive back Debione Renfro could have his advantage. He stands six-foot-two and just over 200 pounds, and was clocked with a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.

His production at A&M was never elite, in part because injuries and discipline cost him multiple games, but he proved himself a capable open field tackler and a good blitzer, which could be a role the Seahawks explore using him in during training camp.

Ultimately, Renfro’s chances of making the team depend on the legal resolution of Quinton Dunbar’s recent arrest for armed robbery, which is still ongoing. If he is unable to suit up for the Seahawks at any point in 2020, the team will need another defensive back – opening up a spot for Renfro to compete for.

Akeem King held down a job all of last year primarily because of his ability to contribute on the special teams, and it is not hard to imagine Renfro stepping in and doing the same in 2020.

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A look at Seattle’s options if they move on from Quinton Dunbar

If the Seattle Seahawks opt to release Quinton Dunbar in light of his recent legal issues, they have a few options to pursue in free agency.

Seahawks defensive back Quinton Dunbar, a few hours after speaking to Seattle media members virtually, was issued an arrest warrant in Florida, where he is facing four charges of armed robbery alongside Giants defensive back Deandre Baker.

The charges are very serious, and while an arrest (and potential conviction) will take time, the Seahawks may end up making the decision to cut Dunbar sooner rather than later if they feel waiting will only make things worse.

Cutting Dunbar would save the Seahawks $3.4 million in cap space, which gets them just under $20 million in total cap space – not including rookie contracts.

What the Seahawks do with that space remains to be seen, but if Dunbar is out of the picture it certainly makes sense for them to pursue an upgrade at right cornerback, where Tre Flowers has been the starter the past two seasons.

The open market has a handful of names left that could appeal to coach Pete Carroll and company, although only one, Logan Ryan, that would be a surefire starter over Flowers.

Ryan, 29, is a seven-year vet who spent four years in New England and the last three in Tennessee. He recorded 4.5 sacks and four interceptions last year with the Titans – totals which would have been the best on the team for the Seahawks.

Ryan is not quite the prototypical size of a Seattle cornerback, but his ball-hawking ability and versatility as a rusher would make him an appealing, albeit spendy, option to replace Dunbar if they decide to go in that direction.

Other options on the free agent market include Dre Kirkpatrick, Trumaine Johnson, Eli Apple and Ross Cockrell, as well as a potential reunion with Akeem King who remains unsigned.

However – any of those options would only be as depth or competition for Flowers, and the Seahawks may just opt to let him challenge for his old job back and run it back with a secondary of Flowers, Shaquill Griffin, Bradley McDougald and Quandre Diggs – a unit that fared extremely well on the field together in 2020.

This legal situation is ongoing, but don’t be surprised to see the Seahawks be aggressive in bringing in more competition in the secondary if they decide to move on from Dunbar.

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Seattle Seahawks re-sign cornerback Neiko Thorpe

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed veteran defensive back Neiko Thorpe, who was the captain of the special teams last season.

The Seattle Seahawks brought back special teams captain Neiko Thorpe on Monday, agreeing to terms with the 30-year-old defensive back. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Thorpe has not started a game in his four years with the Seahawks, but he has been the leader of the special teams unit, fulfilling the gunner role on both the kick and punt coverage teams.

Thorpe missed some time to injury last year, paving way for Akeem King to take over the gunner role, but Thorpe is healthy now and will once again look to reprise his role in 2020.

An undrafted free agent out of Auburn, Thorpe spent some time with the Chiefs before playing in the CFL and the Raiders before, eventually, making his way to Seattle.

Thorpe’s return gives the Seahawks a cornerback room of Shaquill Griffin, Quinton Dunbar, Tre Flowers and nickel Ugo Amadi, along with Brian Allen and Ryan Neal.

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Seattle Seahawks 2020 free agent profile: Defensive back Akeem King

Will the Seattle Seahawks attempt to bring back special teams contributor Akeem King, or will added depth in the secondary push him out?

*The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the 2020 offseason with 19 players set to become unrestricted free agents, which should make for another busy spring and summer for Pete Carroll and John Schneider as they look to shore up the roster and contend for the number one seed in the NFC again next year.*

Our Seahawks Wire series on Seattle’s free agents continues with defensive back Akeem King.

For the second straight year, the Seahawks used defensive back Akeem King as a core special teams contributor. However, thanks to injuries King was pushed into a bigger role, starting at nickelback and on the outside at various points last season.

All told, the 27-year-old racked up 17 combined tackles and two passes defended in 13 games last year, earning a 61.9 grade from Pro Football Focus.

King has not proven himself as a defensive player, and while the Seahawks could look to bring him back as a special teams contributor, it seems almost certain they’ll look to revamp their depth at cornerback – which could spell the end of the San Jose State product’s tenure in the Emerald City.

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Should the Seahawks pursue CFL cornerback Tre Roberson?

The Seattle Seahawks have added players from the CFL before, and CB Tre Roberson is a player worth exploring for Pete Carroll and company.

The Seattle Seahawks will be in the market for some help in their secondary this offseason.

While Shaquill Griffin was a Pro Bowler, the rest of the team’s cornerback group left plenty to be desired. Tre Flowers got exposed in a major way against Davante Adams and the Packers in the NFC Divisional Round, and Seattle’s backups – Akeem King and Neiko Thorpe – are both free agents who have not proven themselves as reliable DB’s when called upon.

While Ugo Amadi stepped into the nickel role nicely near the end of the year, Seattle needs to find some more depth pieces this offseason, and potentially someone to challenge Flowers for his starting role.

While free agency and the draft both promise plenty of options, Seattle could take a familiar route to finding that added depth: via the CFL.

Tre Roberson is a cornerback for the Calgary Stampeders, and after two excellent seasons with them, the former Indiana quarterback is getting all sorts of attention from NFL teams.

Roberson has reportedly already visited with nine NFL teams, with five more on the schedule. While Seattle is not one of them, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pete Carroll and company take a hard look at adding Roberson to the mix.

Seattle brought a defensive back from the CFL to the NFL once, when they signed Brandon Browner and made him one of the original members of the Legion of Boom.

Roberson may not have that kind of impact, but if he can add key depth and versatility to Seattle’s secondary, he should be given a close look by the staff.

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Pete Carroll wishes Seahawks played Ugo Amadi at nickel sooner

Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi has taken to the nickel spot quickly, making Pete Carroll regret not playing him sooner.

All training camp, Seattle Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi battled to be the team’s starting nickelback.

It was a battle he did not win, as the team opted to run their base 4-3 defense at a league-leading rate instead, and when they did go nickel, they opted for veteran Jamar Taylor. However, Taylor struggled mightily all season long, before finally getting released after Week 10.

That should have marked the beginning of the Amadi era, but because of matchup concerns the Seahawks started Akeem King in that role for the next few weeks.

Finally, after not seeing a single defensive snap between Week 3 and Week 14, it was Amadi’s time to shine against the Panthers in Week 15 – and he quickly reminded everyone why he should have started in the first place.

Amadi has already shown tremendous growth in just four short weeks with regular playing time, and his recent performance has coach Pete Carroll wishing he had turned to him sooner.

“He’s doing a good job,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “I’m really glad we made the commitment a few weeks back to get him in there to allow him to grow. I wish we would’ve done it a little bit earlier. We would’ve seen him develop faster because he’s really kind of blossoming. He understands the position well. He understands the disguises of it. There’s a lot of intricacies in the nickel spot. He’s a really bright kid and he’s handling it really well. He’s in a good place to make plays.”

Amadi was drafted in the fourth round out of Oregon thanks to his versatility as a cornerback, safety, special teams contributor and even potentially as a return man.

However, it was always expected he would settle in at the nickel spot, replacing dynamic playmaker Justin Coleman.

While it look a little longer into his rookie year than expected, Amadi is finally finding himself at a crucial time for this Seahawks squad, as they look to advance past the divisional round for the first time since 2014.

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Christian McCaffrey provides major test for Seahawks defense

The Seattle Seahawks will have their hands full with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who is having an MVP season.

The Seattle Seahawks defense has had their ups and downs this season. After struggling at the beginning of the year, Seattle found their stride shortly after acquiring safety Quandre Diggs.

The emergence of Jadeveon Clowney, improved performances from Ziggy Ansah and Shaquem Griffin off the edge, and dominance from the secondary helped Seattle finally break through as a bonafide top-ten, maybe even top-five, defense in the league.

That all fell apart last Sunday against the Rams. With Mychal Kendricks and Ansah both out, and Clowney playing hurt, the team was gashed by Jared Goff and Todd Gurley all night long.

Now, Seattle heads into Week 15 without Kendricks and Clowney, and potentially without Shaquill Griffin and Ansah, who are both listed as questionable.

Not only is that a scary thought, but they have the unenviable task of taking on a Panthers squad that boasts perhaps the most lethal non-quarterback in the league on the offensive side of the ball, Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey is an elite ball-carrier and pass-catcher, making him a difficult player to game plan against even with Kyle Allen, and not Cam Newton, under center.

“To see him perform at such a high level so consistently, he’s good at everything,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said on Wednesday. “He’s the best combo guy there is. 86 catches he’s got right now. That’s third or fourth in the league right or whatever it is, as well as 1,200 yards. It’s crazy numbers. He brings it. He runs tough and he’s good in the open field. He makes the catches and runs the routes. He’s an incredible player. The answer is yes, it’s built around him. It should be. They figured that out. It wasn’t hard to figure that out. He’s been incredible in his first couple years in the league.”

The Seahawks have been hurt by pass-catching running backs this season, namely Alvin Kamara of the Saints (nine receptions, 92 yards and a touchdown) and Devonta Freeman of the Falcons (eight receptions, 63 yards).

However, what makes this even more daunting is the absence of Kendricks. Seattle’s reliance on their 4-3 base defense often leaves their linebackers in charge of covering running backs on routes out of the backfield.

If they stick with that game plan on Sunday, rookie Cody Barton may end up in coverage on McCaffrey – which is a potentially dangerous combination for the Seahawks.

Perhaps they’ll rely more on their nickel coverage, which would allow Akeem King to cover McCaffrey instead, but so far this season this team has primarily stayed with the 4-3 configuration, even with Kendricks on the shelf.

There’s little doubt that McCaffrey will have a strong game on Sunday, but just how well he performs will have a big impact on the final score, and whether or not the Seahawks finally clinch that playoff spot in the NFC.

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