| Before off-field issues put the career of Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill in limbo Anthony Hitchens Jersey , talks on a long-term deal had begun. Forgotten in the events of the past four months is the fact that those talks may have hit a snag, unrelated to the off-field issues.Here’s what Jay Glazer wrote in a mailbag for TheAthletic.com, several weeks after he called the shot of the offseason by predicting that Odell Beckham could be traded: “[T]here were questions in Kansas City about whether they could re-sign Tyreek Hill. I heard some rumblings at the start of free agency that his name was being thrown about in trade talks, but at the time thought it had to do with his contract more than anything else.”It’s possible that the Chiefs had caught wind of what may be in the pipeline from a legal standpoint and explored cutting and running, but it’s hard to imagine coach Andy Reid deliberately sandbagging another team about a situation that, at the time, could have jeopardized Hill’s 2019 season and possibly beyond. So it’s possible that Hill simply wants more than the Chiefs are able or willing to pay, given that they soon will be both breaking the bank and blowing open the vault for Patrick Mahomes.Contract talks are expected to resume soon regarding Hill. If there’s an impasse, a trade becomes one of the options, either in before the 2019 deadline (less likely) or in early 2020 (more likely http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-chad-henne-jersey , if the Chiefs decide to take that path).The wildcard in all of this is rookie receiver Mecole Hardman. It was assumed when the Chiefs traded up to get Hardman in round two that he had become the Tyreek Hill short-term contingency plan. What if Hardman was actually the long-term contingency plan?If Hills seeks (and he arguably deserves) $20 million per year, the Chiefs have Hardman under contract for four years at a total payout of less than $5 million. And coach Andy Reid already has made it clear that he believes Hardman could have the same impact as Hill has had.“He’s got that same explosive power,” Reid said of Hardman in May, regarding comparisons to Hill and DeSean Jackson, whom Reid coached in Philadelphia (and also drafted in round two). “Now, DeSean was probably a little bit further along then Tyreek was at the position — [Hardman] is probably closer to where Tyreek was coming out as a wide receiver. DeSean was a phenomenal route runner coming out. You’ve seen the growth with Tyreek, and I think you’ll see it with this kid. But he catches well, he’s got great, secure, hands Womens Sammy Watkins Jersey , and he can run like a son of a gun.”If Hardman can deliver on that potential, it gives the Chiefs leverage in their talks with Hill, and choices in the event the Chiefs decide that it makes sense to do with Hill in 2020 the same thing they did with Ford in 2019: Apply the franchise tag, and then trade the player.That approach would give the Chiefs a chance to evaluate Hardman for a full year in practices and games, with Hill possibly becoming the Alex Smith in this scenario — and Hardman becoming (if he can check all the boxes) the Mahomes. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs announced their trade with the Seattle Seahawks for pass rusher Frank Clark shortly before the start of the NFL draft on Thursday night, then confirmed the club had signed him to a lucrative and controversial long-term contract.The trade was agreed upon Tuesday, as was the $105.5 million, five-year deal, both of which became official once Clark passed his physical. The terms of the deal were told to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team does not discuss financial details.Clark will be introduced during a news conference Friday.“We believe Frank is a premier player in this league and an elite pass rusher Jordan Lucas Jersey ,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. “In his four seasons in Seattle, he established himself as a leader in the locker room, and we’re looking forward to bringing him here to help our defense.”Kansas City sent its first-round pick, the No. 29 overall selection, along with a second-rounder next year to the Seahawks. The teams also swapped third-round picks this year.That means the Chiefs do not select in the first round unless they trade back into it.It wasn’t just the draft capital that the Chiefs gave up, nor the value of the contract, that has generated headlines in Kansas City. It’s also the fact that Clark arrives with plenty of baggage — he was kicked off his team at Michigan following a domestic violence case, had another legal incident while in school and was involved in a series of less serious troubles with the Seahawks.The Chiefs have declined to discuss the background work they did on Clark, other than issuing a statement on Thursday. But the timing of the deal is particularly awkward in that it came the same week star wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s own domestic violence case returned to the spotlight.On Wednesday, a suburban Kansas City prosecutor declined to press charges after he was unable to determine whether it was Hill or his fiancee Jordan Lucas Jersey , Crystal Espinal, who injured their 3-year-old son. Hill has maintained his innocence and an investigation by the Department of Children and Families is ongoing.Then on Thursday night, a local TV station aired graphic audio of Hill and Espinal in which the two of them discuss hurting their child. Espinal accused Hill of “punching” the boy in the chest and using a belt on him for discipline, and Hill warned Espinal to be afraid of him.The Chiefs and prosecutors did not respond to requests for comment on the case.The Chiefs also released star running back Kareem Hunt late last season when a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman in an Ohio hotel hallway. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and then signed by the Browns, though he remains suspended for the first eight games next season.Given that history, it’s likely the Chiefs weighed the optics of signing Clark to a massive deal that includes $63.5 million guaranteed against the on-field production they can expect from him.The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end has started 33 of 62 games over four seasons in the league, blossoming into one of the NFL’s bright young pass rushers. He’s made 131 tackles and 35 sacks with eight forced fumbles and an interception, and had a career-best 13 sacks this past season.Most importantly, Clark should fit in nicely into the Chiefs’ new 4-3 defensive system.The Chiefs have been busy rebuilding their defense after a historically bad performance last season Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Jersey , firing longtime coordinator Bob Sutton and hiring Steve Spagnuolo as his replacement. Spagnuolo intends to move away from a 3-4 scheme, a big reason why the Chiefs have retooled their roster.Gone are longtime pass rushers Justin Houston and Dee Ford and popular safety Eric Berry. In their place, the Chiefs acquired through trades or free agency defensive ends Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker Damien Wilson, playmaking safety Tyrann Mathieu and cornerback Bashaud Breeland.Now, they have added a 25-year-old pass rusher to the mix that could be just hitting his prime, and they are poised to make their first selection in the NFL draft on Friday night.“We’re happy to add Frank to our team,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “Competing against him and watching his film, you can see how physical and impressive he is in both the run and the pass game. He’s young and has consistently played at a high level since he entered the league.” |
