Tag: Secondary

Ravens agree to contract with S Geno Stone

The Ravens agreed to a contract with safety Geno Stone

The Baltimore Ravens haven’t made many moves over the course of the 2023 offseason. They haven’t added any outside free agents, and have seen multiple of their own players walk for new opportunities. However, Baltimore agreed to re-sign one of their key contributors on Thursday.

The Ravens signed fourth-year safety Geno Stone to a contract after deciding not to tender him as a restricted free agent earlier in the week. The move came just a day after their trade with the New York Jets to send veteran safety Chuck Clark to the Big Apple was finalized, and should help shore up the depth in their secondary in 2023.

Stone was a seventh-round pick by the Ravens in the 2020 NFL draft, and has made a name for himself as a rock-solid contributor in Baltimore’s defensive backfield. He should be expected to take on an expanded role in the team’s defense next season after putting together an impressive 2022 campaign.

While this deal is effectively a re-signing by the Ravens, it is an indication that the team is actively looking to add talent in free agency, even if only by not losing players who took the field for them last season. Baltimore has been eerily quiet on the free agent market while they seek to sign quarterback Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal, but their decision to keep Stone around should bode well for their chances of signing other difference makers in the coming days.

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Chiefs free agent S Juan Thornhill signs with Browns

Two-time Super Bowl champion Juan Thornhill will play for the #Browns next season after spending four years with the #Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs lost a key starter in their secondary when safety Juan Thornhill signed with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday afternoon. Thornhill had been a fixture on the back end of the Chiefs’ defense since joining the team in 2019 as a second-round pick after playing collegiately at the University of Virginia.

In his absence, second-year safety Bryan Cook is set to take on an expanded role in Kansas City’s secondary after his impressive rookie campaign proved that he has what it takes to make plays in key situations.

Thornhill’s massive three-year $21 million payday in Cleveland was likely more than the Chiefs were willing to match and is an indication that Kansas City is comfortable with the talent they have at the safety position. The $14 million guarantee included in his new contract is sure to have played a part in any negotiations Thornhill may have had between the Chiefs and other suitors who sought his talent for the 2023 season.

The loss of Thornhill is sure to sting for many Chiefs fans who grew accustomed to the veteran’s presence during his tenure with the team, but with just a month remaining before the NFL draft, more secondary help could be on the way for Kansas City in relatively short order.

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Zulgad: There’s nothing secondary about Vikings’ addition of Byron Murphy Jr.

The #Vikings’ signing of Byron Murphy Jr. on Tuesday could prove to be a boon for Minnesota’s struggling defense in 2023

Exactly where Byron Murphy Jr. will line up for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 isn’t yet known, but what was agreed to on Tuesday evening was the free agent cornerback will be wearing purple next season and that’s great news for coordinator Brian Flores and a defense that was among the worst in the NFL last year.

Murphy, who turned 25 in January, was a second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. He agreed to a two-year contract worth roughly $22 million, according to NFL Network. Murphy has the ability to play the outside or the inside in the nickel. That versatility is key in today’s pass-happy NFL.

The news that Murphy had agreed to join the Vikings — it can’t be made official until the NFL league year begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday — capped a busy day in which quarterback Kirk Cousins had his contract restructured to create $16 million in salary cap space for 2023 and center Garrett Bradbury reportedly agreed to a three-year, $15.7 million deal.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Minnesota’s brain trust made other moves, including retaining kicker Greg Joseph and long snapper Andrew DePaola. But the Vikings saved their biggest move yet for last night by landing Murphy to replace either Patrick Peterson on the outside or Chandon Sullivan in the nickel.

Peterson, who also was replaced by Murphy in Arizona, agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday as the two-day negotiating window that leads into free agency opened. Sullivan, who struggled in his one season with the Vikings, also is a free agent and isn’t expected to return.

Adofo-Mensah spent the two-day, free agent negotiating period targeting young players for a team that is coming off a 13-win season and is retooling a defense that was ranked second-to-last in the NFL in total and pass defense and was tied for 28th in points given up per game.

On Monday, the Vikings reportedly came to terms on a one-year, $13 million contract with defensive end Marcus Davenport. The 26-year-old, who was the 14th pick in the 2018 draft by the New Orleans Saints, has battled injury issues during his career, but would have landed a significant payday a year ago after having nine sacks in 11 games. Last season, Davenport only had half-a-sack in 15 games and suddenly the Vikings saw an opportunity.

If Davenport rebounds next season, Minnesota will be in a situation to sign him long-term. If he doesn’t, it could be a one-and-done situation that enables the Vikings to look elsewhere with no financial commitment.

Murphy, like Davenport, appears to be betting on himself. He played in only nine games for the 4-13 Cardinals because of a back injury in 2023. He had started all 16 games as a rookie, started seven of the 15 games he played in during his second season, and then started all 16 games again in his third year.

The Vikings will be counting on Flores’ system to bring the most out of Murphy, who has played 50 percent of the snaps in his career on the outside and 43 percent in the slot. Murphy has only five interceptions in 56 career games and four of those came in 2021.

Nonetheless, the Cardinals used Murphy at times to shadow standout wide receiver, Davante Adams. Pro Football Focus’ information showed that Murphy gave up 9.7 yards per reception in primary coverage last season, ranking ninth among cornerbacks facing a minimum of 50 targets.

He also gave up only seven plays of at least 15 yards to tie for fourth among corners. Flores, the Vikings’ new defensive coordinator, is expected to use plenty of man coverage and Murphy will be a key part of that.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network speculated that Murphy could get around $16 million per year on the open market — or far more than the Vikings will pay. The rankings of the Top 101 free agents by NFL.com had Davenport ranked 24th and Murphy 33rd. ESPN.com ranked Davenport the 24th best available free agent and Murphy 38th.

The Vikings’ makeover on defense isn’t close to being complete.

Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson has reportedly agreed to a contract with Cleveland; linebacker Eric Kendricks and cornerback Cameron Dantzler were jettisoned; Peterson is headed to Pittsburgh; and safety Harrison Smith’s future in Minnesota remains undecided. Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith also has requested his release, although the Vikings have been trying to trade him and Davenport is likely to serve as his replacement.

The Vikings starting corners will be Murphy and to be determined. Andrew Booth Jr., and Akayleb Evans, both 2022 draft picks, battled injury issues last season and figure to get a shot to win jobs in training camp. Many expect the Vikings will use their first-round pick (23rd overall) on a cornerback, but the Murphy addition could cause Minnesota to pivot off of that.

That remains uncertain. Far more certain is the fact the Vikings’ secondary will be better with Murphy in it.

What the Byron Murphy signing means for the Vikings

Murphy will make an immediate impact for Minnesota as a starter in Brian Flores’ aggressive #Vikings defense

Even though it’s taken a while, the Minnesota Vikings have another cornerback.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Vikings have agreed to terms with cornerback Bryon Murphy. The deal is worth about $22 million over two seasons.

The announcement of Murphy’s contract comes at a critical time for Minnesota. Heading into free agency, only Akayleb Evans played a significant amount of snaps for the Vikings at cornerback last season.

Minnesota saw two former cornerbacks move to different teams since free agency opened on Monday. Veteran Patrick Peterson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cameron Dantzler Sr. was claimed by the Washington Commanders.

Here is how Byron Murphy can fit into the Vikings’ plans.

 

Chargers 2022 season in review: Assessing the play of Los Angeles’ cornerbacks

After J.C. Jackson went down, Michael Davis stepped up and had an outstanding season in 2022.

In the modern pass-first NFL, solid play from cornerbacks is a must, and the Chargers have found some skillful players at the position in recent years. Asante Samuel Jr. was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. And with the addition of J.C. Jackson via free agency last offseason, pundits expected big things from the Chargers’ secondary in 2022.

Signed on a five-year, $82.5 million deal, Jackson’s season ended after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon back on Oct. 24 against the Seahawks. Before getting hurt, Jackson left much to be desired as he was working his way back from off-season ankle surgery and struggled to get acclimated with the coverage concepts in Brandon Staley’s defense. He finished his shortened season with 15 tackles and two passes defended in five games.

In Jackson’s place, Michael Davis was thrust back into the starting role on the outside and looked like a rejuvenated player after having a down season in 2021, locking wide receivers down and getting his hands on the ball. In 12 games started, Davis had a career-high 15 passes defended. So what went from being pegged as a potential cap casualty this offseason turned into a possible contract extension for Davis.

While their modest ball production left something to be desired, Samuel’s three-interception game against the Jaguars in the playoffs was a legendary display of dominance that won’t soon be forgotten. Despite this excellent showing, he managed just two interceptions in the regular season and made 48 solo tackles, tying for first place in the category among Los Angeles’ cornerbacks.

Bryce Callahan, who was also signed to a one-year deal last offseason, led Los Angeles in interceptions, coming down with three on the year to add to his 47 combined tackles. Callahan proved to be a major contributor to the defense, starting 11 games in 15 appearances to help lift the Chargers’ secondary to dominant performances.

Among others who saw snaps for the team at cornerback in 2022 was Ja’Sir Taylor. The Chargers drafted Taylor as a core special teams player, which he proved to be. However, Taylor ended up seeing some playing time on the defensive side of the ball toward the back end of the season.

Taylor had some lapses in coverage, especially when he had to play as an outside corner. But his standout performance came in the big primetime win over the Dolphins, where he locked down Jaylen Waddle. Additionally, he came on strong as a tackler in open space and a blitzer. With Callahan set to be a free agent in March, that could lead to a more prominent role for Taylor in his second season.

Kemon Hall and Deane Leonard should be considered developmental depth and core special teamers for the next season.

Don’t be surprised if the Chargers invest in the cornerback position throughout the coming offseason, but expect the dollar amount of any moves to be relatively minimal. With their three starting spots locked down by Davis, Samuel and Jackson, anyone they might add would be competing for looks in dime packages and other defensive-back-heavy sets on passing downs.

Ravens officially claim CB Trayvon Mullen off of waivers from Cowboys

The Ravens officially claimed cornerback Trayvon Mullen off of waivers from the Cowboys

When the Baltimore Ravens claimed cornerback Trayvon Mullen off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys, all parties involved knew that the move would only be finalized after the Super Bowl. Now, days after the big game, Mullen is officially a Raven.

Baltimore’s newest defender is a former second-round pick who played his college ball at Clemson before being drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in 2019. At six-foot-two inches tall, he has the length to compete for contested balls on the boundary, and with his 4.46 40-yard dash time, can outrun a fair number of the league’s wide receivers.

Though he is far from a star at this point in his career, Mullen was a two-time champion during his time at Clemson, and even won the defensive MVP in the National Championship Game back in 2019. He has brought down four interceptions over the course of his NFL career and has played for the Arizona Cardinals as well as the Raiders and Cowboys since entering the league.

Mullen will need to show something special to cut it in Baltimore’s stacked secondary, but if he can, he could prove to be a valuable asset in the Ravens’ defensive backfield.

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Ravens 2022 season-in-review: Safeties

We analyze the play of the Ravens’ safeties during the 2022 season

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense came up big for the Charm City in 2022 due in no small part to the exceptional play of their safeties in the back end of their secondary. Paired with Chuck Clark, rookie Kyle Hamilton, and first-year Raven Marcus Williams helped buoy Baltimore’s defensive effort with tenacious tackling and sticky coverage that affected their opponents in every matchup.

Clark, who has been with the Ravens since entering the league in 2017, combined for over 100 tackles in his 2022 campaign and forced one fumble. He was unable to secure an interception but recorded four passes defensed in another solid season

The rookie Hamilton had a hard time picking off passes as well, failing to record an interception in his first year with Baltimore. Hamilton made some gritty tackles, though, bringing down opposing ball carriers for a loss four times in his 62 combined tackles and looked more and more impressive as the season went on.

Williams was the Ravens’ most productive safety despite having the fewest tackles of any player in the position’s starting rotation. With four interceptions, he set the bar for Baltimore’s ball production, leading all defenders in the category in 2022. Despite notching just one less tackle than Hamilton on the season, Williams’ totaled just two tackles for loss.

Geno Stone and Ar’Darius Washington were the only other safeties to see the field for the Ravens in 2022, recording 40 combined tackles between them. Stone accounted for 38 of those and forced one fumble. Neither recorded an interception.

The Ravens should only consider an investment in a new safety if Clark decides to leave Baltimore. After selecting Hamilton with a high draft pick last year the team has already allocated considerable resources to the position, and should be able to focus on other parts of their roster heading into the 2023 season.

Ravens S Kyle Hamilton discusses team’s defensive trajectory entering 2023 offseason

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton discussed the team’s defensive trajectory entering the 2023 offseason

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense had an exceptional 2022 season, and remain hopeful that they can achieve even better results next year. Rookie safety Kyle Hamilton played a major role in their defensive dominance, and told reporters about his outlook for the future during the Ravens’ end-of-season press conference.

Asked how he and the defense might be able to build on their 2022 campaign, Hamilton made it clear that Baltimore’s extension of a key player in their linebacking corps would make a huge difference. He also acknowledged that they might lose some pieces that were important to their success, but said that people are ready to fill in wherever needed.

“…Signing Roquan [Smith] was huge, so he’s going to be here for the foreseeable future, and he’s a big leader on our defense. “Who knows – we might lose some pieces that are integral to our success. But, at the same time, just organizationally and defense-wise, top to bottom, I think everybody is so prepared to just fill in any role that they need too – and myself included – wherever that may be. I think we’ve set a good foundation for next year.”

Every team’s roster will change during the offseason, however sightly, but Baltimore would be wise to retain as much of their defensive talent as possible ahead of their 2023 season. Luckily for them, Hamilton is still on his rookie contract and will remain a key part of their defense for years to come.

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Safeties coach Joe Danna on getting M.J. Stewart more involved defensively

Danna praised Stewart’s efforts on the #Texans’ special teams unit and said that he had earned an expanded role in Houston’s defense

One of the more unlikely contributors to the Houston Texans’ defense in 2022 has been veteran safety M.J. Stewart, who is in his first year playing for the team. He was a free agent acquisition by the Texans back in March and has had to climb the depth chart to see his role in Houston’s defense grow.

Safeties coach Joe Danna talked about what caused Stewart to become a go-to option as a rotational piece in the Texans’ secondary in Houston’s press conference on Thursday. He hinted at an important piece of the puzzle in player evaluation and told reporters that Stewart’s contributions on special teams were a key part of what led the coaching staff to decide that he was fit for an expanded role in the defense.

“M.J. [Stewart] has played a lot of football in the league,” Danna explained. “Anytime you take one of your best special teams players, you’re seeing them make plays in those areas, special teams and defense, lot of correlation there. Just felt like he was deserving to get out there and be able to play some snaps.”

Pushed further on the matter, reporters asked about what made Stewart special, to which Danna had a much more succinct answer.

“[He has] speed, athleticism, physicality. Everything you want in a safety, he possesses that. [He is a] good football player.”

Any additional help that the Texans can get on either side of the ball should be considered a step in the right direction for the team at this point in the season. They’re likely to lose out through the end of their schedule and end the year with a 1-15-1 record that will earn them the first-overall pick in the 2023 draft.

As the horror of the 2022 season draws to a merciful close for Houston, they will set their sights on a rebuild, and with his expert play, Stewart may have earned himself a spot on the team’s roster next season.

Maliek Collins credits Texans defensive backs for second half sack production vs. Dolphins

Collins told reporters that the #Texans’ defensive backs played a key role in Houston’s sack production against the #Dolphins in Week 12

The Houston Texans had one of their worst first halves of the season against the Miami Dolphins in Week 12 in a game where it looked like they might not be able to make the final outcome close to respectable. Down 30 at halftime, the team would rally behind a resurgent pass rush in the third and fourth quarters to cut the deficit to 15 at the final whistle.

Defensive lineman Maliek Collins got in on the action in the backfield with two sacks and was asked after the game about any frustration he might have about having a standout performance in an ugly loss. He told reporters that the Texans’ secondary helped free up the team’s pass rushers with their sticky coverage.

“We didn’t really get to him [Tua Tagovailoa] the first quarter and a half, two quarters,” Collins explained. “In the second half, [we had] coverage adjustments. Credit the DBs, I mean I feel like – they held their own and allowed us to get to the quarterback and have a fighting chance.”

All in all, this matchup could’ve ended in a much worse outcome for Houston, especially given the deficit they faced at halftime when it legitimately looked like they’d lose by 50 or more points. The Dolphins showed mercy, though, and substituted quarterback Skylar Thompson in for Tua Tagovailoa after the Texans proved that their unrelenting pass rush was going to make life difficult for the starter.

It seems that in every loss Houston has taken this year at least one facet of their game has stood out as a positive. Early in the season, the sensational play of Dameon Pierce and the Texans’ rookie defensive backs were weekly reminders of the team’s potential.

Now, with losses piling up and without anything to play for except pride, Houston’s pass rush is out to show that the Texans won’t be pushovers, even if they don’t manage to win another game this year.