[ad_1]
If you followed the NFL free agency in the last few months, you may have noticed that there was not much to follow.
Although free agencies started hot in March, things slowly faded as teams began to focus on the NFL project. Now that the project is behind us, do not be surprised if the next wave of free agencies starts in the next few days.
There are still several great named players, including Eric Berry, former chief of security services. (Note: the next wave of free agents is likely to move up a gear on May 7, as no free agent signed after that date will be considered in the league's compensatory choice formula. do not apply to Berry).
Since cut by Kansas City in MarchBerry made several visits, but he still has not found a team to play for. For NFL teams, Berry's biggest problem is his health. When Berry was on the field, he was one of the best defenders of the NFL, but the problem is that he has not been on the field often in the last two years. After signing a $ 78 million six-year contract in 2017, Berry has only played three of the 32 regular-season games for the Chiefs.
In 2018 alone, Berry battled heel and Achilles injuries, which caused him to miss 14 regular season games, although he returned for the CAF championship game against the Patriots in January.
If Berry can stay healthy, the team signing it may have a chance to fly. So which teams might be willing to take that risk?
Let's take a look at five potential landing points.
1. Washington Redskins
Yes, the biggest Redskins signing offseason was a security (Landon Collins), but that does not mean that they should not look closely at the addition of Berry. On the one hand, the Redskins went into the offseason with a near zero depth to the position after releasing D.J. Jury in December and leaving Ha Ha Clinton-Ten to walk in free agency. Swearinger started 15 games at the security before being cut and Clinton-Dix started nine games after a mid-season the trade sent him from Green Bay to Washington.
Basically, these are two holes and Collins can only fill one of them. The Redskins could have added safety through the repechage, but that was not the case. Because of his injury history, Berry will not be able to demand the type of contract that Collins has received. Therefore, if the Redskins can get it at a reasonable rate, it's a decision to make.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers had a need for safety in the 2019 NFL draft, but they did absolutely nothing to fill it. With their eight choices, the 49ers chose a punter, a tight end and two wide receivers, among others, but with zero security. The thing about Berry is that it would probably be an instant upgrade to the San Francisco security station, which is why the 49ers should reach out.
The reason a Berry signature could actually occur is that John Lynch seems to be looking for a way to strengthen his high school. In a post-draft interview on April 27, Lynch said he had not drafted a security project because he simply could not find a better player than the 49ers already had.
"It's not the easiest thing to go to find a security that can defeat [DB] Jimmie Ward or [S Jaquiski] Tartt or the two guys we've written over the past two years with [S] Marcell [Harris], [DB Adrian] Colbert and [DB Antone] Exum [Jr.], who stepped in and did a good job for us, who also played with other NFL teams, said Lynch. It's not an easy thing to do. If there are guys out there who you think are better than the ones you have and that makes more sense than another job, it's an easy decision to make . "
If Berry meets the 49ers and Lynch thinks he's better than the 49ers, it would not be surprising to see San Francisco do that.
In addition, the 49ers may well be the only team not to be scared by Berry's recent injuries because they took a big risk in high school last year on a player who has just been seriously injured and who seemed to be walking for them. During the 2018 off season, the 49ers signed Richard Sherman – who was to come off a ripped achilles in 2017 – and Sherman started 14 games for them.
3. Colts of Indianapolis
Although the Colts have re-signed Clayton Geathers for safety, this contract seems to indicate that the team does not have much confidence in him. After spending the first four years of his career with the Colts and starting 12 games in 2018, Geathers was awarded a one-year contract with only $ 1.25 million in guaranteed cash. Another move that seems to indicate that the Colts may not have much confidence in Geathers is the fact that they have come up with two safety measures this year (Khari Willis (fourth) and Marvell Tell III (fifth)) .
Basically, the Colts made it clear that they were not committed to Geathers, so it would be logical to invite Berry. The Colts could easily afford Berry and that's because they currently have the largest salary cap space in the NFL (about $ 60 million). The Colts would have no problem if they gave Berry a one-year contract. If he is healthy and he plays well, the Colts have a flight. If he struggles with injuries, he can then help frame the two young securities that have just been drafted. In addition, the Colts have signed Justin Houston this offseason, which means that Berry would have a chance to play with one of his former teammates from Kansas City.
4. Cleveland Browns
The depth of the Browns safely was a major problem this season when they shipped Jabrill Peppers to New York as part of the trade that brought Odell Beckham to Cleveland. Even though the Browns had an easy job to do, it left them a slight hole in high school and that's because Peppers started all 16 games for Cleveland last season.
If the Browns want to fix that hole quickly, then it makes sense to call Berry for the second time this season. Indeed, Berry and the Browns have already spoken and this conversation took place at the end of March. In fact, Browns general manager John Dorsey admitted at the annual NFL meeting that he had spoken to two potential security groups in Berry and Tre Boston.
"I think they're both very good football players and we've had discussions with their representatives and that's where we are right now," Dorsey said.
Although the Browns have added several securities – they signed a (Morgan Burnett), they exchanged for a (Eric Murray) and they wrote one in the fourth round this year (Sheldrick Redwine) – Cleveland really should not feel comfortable entering the season with any of these types as a leaving potential. The Browns should not break their piggy bank for Berry, but if they can convince him to sign a modest contract, then they should think about doing it.
5. Dallas Cowboys
After flirt with Berry in March, the Cowboys have finished take a pass on him and signing a one-year contract with George Iloka of $ 1.02 million, comprising only $ 300,000 guaranteed. This kind of money does not scream exactly: "This guy will definitely start for us," which is why Berry should always be considered an option for Cowboys. On the one hand, there is no guarantee that Iloka will be good in Dallas. Over the last two seasons, safety has been abandoned by two teams that are very familiar to him (the Bengals and the Vikings). Ilinc was released by Cincinnati just before the 2018 season, despite the fact that he started the 16 games in 2017. Security then took control of Minnesota to play with Mike Zimmer, Bengals' defensive coordinator at the time. selection of Iloka in 2012. Zimmer and the Vikings let him walk after only one season. If he can not last with two coaches knowledgeable of his skills, there is no guarantee that it will last in Dallas.
Although the Cowboys added safety in the draft (Donovan Wilson), that choice did not come until the sixth round. Basically, you can always consider the security position as a job in Dallas, which means that adding Berry would not be completely crazy.
[ad_2]
Source link