Former No. 1 picks looking for employment
Jameis Winston, Cam Newton and Jadeveon Clowney didn’t have to wait long to find homes in the NFL when they came out of college.
They were No. 1 overall draft picks.
Now they are finding things moving much more slowly as they search for new homes or contracts this offseason.
Winston, the top pick in the 2015 draft, has been supplanted as starting quarterback in Tampa Bay by Tom Brady and is in danger of being on the wrong end of the NFL’S version of quarterback musical chairs.
Clowney, who was the No. 1 pick the year before Winston, hasn’t been able to find the megacontract he hoped for in the opening days of free agency and might eventually have to settle for a more reasonable contract either to remain in Seattle or sign someplace else.
Newton, who went first in 2011, isn’t quite on the open market yet but is having an acrimonious breakup in Carolina. The Panthers are signing a replacement in Teddy Bridgewater and giving Newton permission to pursue a trade even though he said he never wanted to leave.
With no trade partners willing to jump for a quarterback coming off a season-ending foot injury, Newton might ultimately just get released and join a list of many players still seeking a new home.
There are talented receivers like Robby Anderson and Breshad Perriman; offensive tackles like Jason Peters and Germain Ifedi; and several defensive players like cornerback Logan Ryan; linebacker Markus Golden; defensive end Everson Griffen; defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh; and safeties Vonn Bell, Eric Reid and Damarious Randall all still on the open market after an early spending spree in free agency.
It’s a development that happens each year with players like 2019 sacks leader Shaq Barrett, defensive Robert Quinn and tight end Jared Cook among the players last season who made a big impact despite remaining unsigned in the opening week of free agency.
RIVERS, COLTS MAKE IT OFFICIAL >> All Philip Rivers really wanted was a chance to play one more NFL season.
So when the Indianapolis Colts gave him a shot, the eight-time Pro Bowler took it.
Rivers officially ended his 16-year tenure with the Chargers on Saturday by signing the $25 million deal he agreed to earlier this week.
“I still love to play, I know I can play at a high level,” Rivers said on a conference call, acknowledging he was ready to walk away from football if he received no offers. “It was one of those things where we said if there’s nothing out there, then that’s our answer. But if there’s an opportunity with a team ... it ended up being with this organization and that made it that much more exciting.”
The 38-year-old Rivers feels like he has plenty to offer even after one of his worst seasons.
He threw 23 touchdown passes, his lowest total since 2007, and 20 interceptions, matching the second-highest total of his career. While some blamed the troubles on a poor offensive line or Rivers trying to do too much to rally the Chargers late in games, others contended his skills were rapidly deteriorating.
Now, with a fresh start, a strong running game and one of the league’s top offensive lines, Rivers insists he will prove the critics wrong this season.
“I feel great and if I feel like I do next year then I’ll be excited to keep on going, depending on how the team feels about it,” Rivers said. “I do want to coach my oldest son (in high school). I have two sons, they’re 12 and eight, so we’ve got a little time. I don’t think you’ll see me in the Tom Brady range, but I feel good and I feel like I can help a team win a championship.”
Short yardage
• The New York Jets are bringing back linebacker Neville Hewitt and cornerback Arthur Maulet, both of whom filled in as solid starters last season after injuries to other players.
• The Carolina Panthers signed free agent wide receiver Pharoh Cooper to a one-year contract Friday and safety Juston Burris to a two-year deal.
• Saints vice president Mickey Loomis says free agent fullback Michael Burton has agreed to a one-year contract with New Orleans.
• The New York Jets released cornerback Darryl Roberts, the team announced Saturday.
The Jets will save $6 million by cutting Roberts, who was one season removed from signing a three-year, $18 million contract extension.
• Free-agent linebacker Jatavis Brown agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, multiple media outlets reported on Saturday.
• Free-agent cornerback Artie Burns, a former firstround pick, agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, ESPN reported Saturday.
• Cornerback Kendall Fuller is returning to Washington after earning a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
• The Indianapolis Colts announced the release of cornerback Pierre Desir on Saturday.
The Colts are set to save $6.85 million in salary cap space with the move, according to multiple reports.
• Running back Kenyan Drake officially accepted his tender offer from the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
Arizona had applied the transition tag on Monday to the 26-year-old Drake, who is set to earn approximately $8.5 million in 2020.