Tag: Chris Jones

First glance at the top 2020 free agents

Dak Prescott and Jadeveon Clowney highlight the list of potential free agents for 2020.

At the moment, the 2020 free-agent class looks stellar. It’s loaded with current, former and potential franchise quarterbacks and one big-time wide receiver

It also has some strong pass rushers. There are a few solid offensive linemen and a smattering of talented players at other positions. There could even be some big additions that could be added to the list if their current teams decide to let them go.

Hypothetically, this could rank as the best free-agent class ever. But let’s keep in mind that much can change between now and the official opening of free agency in March.

When it comes to the very top players on the list, their current teams are going to fight like heck to keep them with new contracts. That’s especially true with the quarterbacks.

Think about this for a second – who’s the last true franchise quarterback to switch teams in free agency? I say Drew Brees, who went from the Chargers to the Saints in 2006. Even then, the circumstances were unique. Brees had a severe shoulder injury and there was uncertainty if he would be able to play again. Plus the Chargers had Philip Rivers waiting in the wings. The Saints took a gamble on Brees and it paid off hugely.

But, again, that kind of thing is rare. The list of free agents will look much different in March than it does now.

Still, it’s fun to look at who is scheduled to be available in free agency. Here’s a list of the top 25 players, who, at the moment, are supposed to be available in March and it includes a couple of guys who are likely to be added to the list (Cam Newton, for example) who are likely to be released by their current teams and join the free-agent pool.

25. Brandon Scherff, G, Washington Redskins

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Interior linemen seldom get big money in free agency. But Scherff could be the exception. He’s a dominant run blocker and those are hard to come by.

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Kevin Peterson, Chris Jones get opportunity to prove themselves in final 4 games

Kliff Kingsbury says a combination of the two players will take over for the playing time Tramaine Brock used to get.

The Arizona Cardinals made a somewhat surprising move early in the week when they waived veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock. Brock wasn’t necessarily the reason why the Cardinals have struggled with their pass defense but the team felt it needed to go a different direction over the final month of the season.

“Tramaine gave us some good games and was injured,” Kliff Kingsbury told reporters in Monday. “We’re going to play some younger players. We’re always looking to turn over the roster and improve, so that’s how it came about.”

Those younger players are Chris Jones and Kevin Peterson. Jones began the season on the roster and got playing time early on. He was released and spent time on the practice squad until recently.

Peterson was acquired via a waiver claim before the season began. He took over Jones’ spot during Patrick Peterson’s suspension and has played little other than on special teams since Peterson’s return.

Kingsbury said that the playing time created by Brock’s departure would be “a combination of both” guys.

While Pro Football Focus numbers state that Brock was the team’s highest-graded cornerback in coverage, clearly there were other problems. Kingsbury said his release “wasn’t a one-game type of situation.”

Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy typically play every snap during games. Kevin Peterson and Jones are expected now to split the snaps at third cornerback. Both will play outside cornerback. Murphy now slides inside to the slot when the Cardinals are in nickel.

From what we have seen from both this season, Jones is a more physical cornerback and a willing tackler. Peterson has made more plays on the football and seems to be superior in coverage but is not physical and doesn’t give the Cardinals much in run support.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Swing State: 3 plays epitomized Cowboys rough loss to Patriots

Analyzing the 3 biggest plays in the Cowboys’ 13-9 defeat to the Patriots using EPA and Win Probability metrics from nflscrapR.

It was yet another close defeat for the Dallas Cowboys, losing 13-9 to the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Cowboys are now 0-4 in games decided by four or fewer points in 2019. The difference between winning and losing came down to a few plays deciding the final outcome, the case in most close contests. The Cowboys needed to play their best brand of football in all three facets against the vaunted Patriots, and they fell short of the mark.

Here are the biggest plays of the game as measured by Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability (WP) with data from nflscrapR. EPA measures the value of a play based on down, distance to first downs and field position.

No. 1 Chris Jones punt is blocked by Matthew Slater

EPA: -2.8. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 37%

Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage through the first quarter. It was at the end of the Cowboys’ third drive when momentum would shift to the Patriots.

New England’s special teams unit proved to play a big part in the game and it started with All-Pro special teamer Matthew Slater. The blocked punt gave the Patriots perfect starting field position at the Cowboys’ 12-yard line.

The short drive was completed with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry to take an early 7-0 lead.

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No. 2 Dak Prescott pass short right intended for Amari Cooper INTERCEPTED

EPA: -4.6. DAL WP Shift: 26% -> 18%

It was still early in the game but after a touchdown by the Patriots the Cowboys might have felt pressed to score some points of their own. On this play Cooper ran a simple crossing route, but Stephon Gilmore is one of the best man-cover corners in the NFL.

It showed on this play as he basically ran Cooper’s route for him. Gilmore’s interception gifted the Patriots’ offense with ideal field position on their second consecutive drive.

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In spite of the turnover the Cowboys’ defense managed to hold the Patriots’ offense to a field goal try. After a successful kick the score was 10-0 early in the second quarter in favor of the Patriots. Miraculously, the Cowboys were very much in the game, but the early deficit was self-inflicted.

No. 3 Prescott pass deep left to Randall Cobb for 47 yards

EPA: 4.2. DAL WP Shift: 20% -> 36%

The Cowboys’ offenses has featured one of the most explosive passing attacks in the league. Cooper has been the team’s biggest contributing factor to this, but against Gilmore, his role was neutralized. It meant the team’s other receivers needed to have a big game in order for their offense to function as intended.

Those plays were few and far between.

The Cowboys’ biggest gain came on a 47-yard play from Prescott to Cobb in the fourth quarter. Cobb gained 42 yards after the catch but he would lose the ball on the play. He was able to recover the ball for some additional yardage, so altogether the play netted 59 yards.

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This was quite the swing for the Cowboys, but they would settle for a field goal on the drive. A successful attempt brought the score to 13-9; unfortunately for them it would become the final score of the game.

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Clark Hunt provides update on Chris Jones extension talks

Where are the Chiefs at with Chris Jones in terms of contract negotiations?

The Kansas City Chiefs brass remains hopeful that the team will be able to extend the contract of defensive lineman Chris Jones.

Jones is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2019 season. He joined the Chiefs as a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft out of Mississippi State University. Jones spent a portion of the 2019 offseason holding out in hopes of coming to an agreement with the team on a contract extension, but he ended his holdout before training camp and has played out this final season.

On Wednesday, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt confirmed that the team is engaged in continuous discussions regarding an extension for Jones with his agents the Katz Brothers.

“There have been ongoing discussions with Chris’ representatives,” Hunt said. “As I mentioned in the preseason, we are very hopeful that we can extend Chris’ contract and bring him back to Kansas City for many years to come. He is obviously a fantastic player, a great guy in the locker room and we’re glad to have him a part of the Chiefs.”

The question remains whether both sides will be able to come to an agreement on an extension. The two sides didn’t appear to be close to an agreement ahead of the 2019 season. This was the statement released by his agents at the onset of training camp:

“He knows his value and if he has to play out his deal in order to reach free agency, then that’s what he will do. For now, he’s focused on winning a Super Bowl for Kansas City.”

Jones is only gaining leverage in contract negotiations as his role expands beyond simply playing the defensive tackle position. With an injury to defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, Jones will be tasked with playing more defensive end. Interior players tend to be valued less than those that can provide pressure off the edge.

“Yeah, it will be a little back and forth,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said of Jones’ role on Friday. “He’ll probably end up playing both for us now.”

Jones has missed some time with a groin injury and his numbers are down from the 2018 season, where he set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss, pressures and sacks. The Chiefs haven’t seen a decline in his play in 2019. Hunt, in particular, has come away impressed with Jones.

“Absolutely, I think that he has played extremely well,” Hunt said. “He has transitioned to the new defensive scheme, I think, very well, and has been a part of the success that we have had in improving the defense.”

How Jones and the defense finish out the season in Kansas City is perhaps the most important factor in the Chiefs’ decision to retain Jones.

3 key matchups to watch in Chargers vs. Chiefs

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists three key position matchups to watch when the Chargers take on the Chiefs in Week 11.

The Chargers and Chiefs are set to be featured in primetime on Monday Night Football.

Here are three key matchups to watch that could ultimately determine the outcome of the game:

CB Casey Hayward vs. WR Tyreek Hill

Hayward continues to shutdown the league’s most prolific wideouts on a weekly basis, but now, he will be tasked with limiting not only one of the best, but the fastest that he’s faced this season.

Since missing the first four games of the season due to suspension, Hill has come back and has been a headache for opposing secondaries. He has scored five touchdowns in the last four games. Over his last two performances, Hill is averaging 148.5 receiving per game.

Hayward will have to keep Hill in front of him and eliminate the dink and dunk plays turning into big plays. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins will have a bigger role as he needs to come up and make plays from the single high role, whether that be as an open-field tackler or breaking up deep passes.

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These 4 Chiefs players deserve their first Pro Bowl appearance in 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs could have several first time Pro Bowl selections in 2020.

Fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl is already underway and concludes on Thursday, Dec. 12. You can vote for the best-of-the-best in the NFL as many times as you please over at NFL.com/ProBowlVote. Rosters will be revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 17 live on a special NFL Network show. The 2020 Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday, January 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida a week ahead of Super Bowl LIV.

There are plenty of Chiefs players deserving of being selected for the first Pro Bowl of their career. Some of these players have been vying for a Pro Bowl selection for several years now, while others look to be rising stars in the NFL game. Below you’ll find four Chiefs players that should be selected for the first time in 2020:

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

RT Mitchell Schwartz

There’s perhaps no member of the Chiefs more deserving of a trip to the Pro Bowl than veteran right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. He was deserving last season but only received the nod as an alternate. The injuries along the offensive line for Kansas City this season have only magnified how great Schwartz is.

Schwartz has yet to allow a sack on the season and has only had two penalties called on him. His dominance in pass protection isn’t his only asset, though, Schwartz is also a force in the ground game. Some of the best runs of the season in Kansas City have been sprung by Schwartz. Just look to the blocking he did on the 91-yard touchdown run from RB Damien Williams in Week 9.

Before suffering an injury in Week 10, Schwartz had a snap streak of 7,894, spanning the course of seven-and-a-half NFL seasons. He’d never missed a snap in his entire career. Schwartz returned to the game three plays later, proving once again that he’s indestructible and one of the most impressive offensive linemen in football today.

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