Tight ends cash in
Tight end Travis Kelce agreed to a four-year, $57.25-million contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday.
Schefter reported that the deal, which ties Kelce to Kansas City for the next six seasons, includes $28 million in guarantees. Kelce had two years remaining on the fiveyear, $46-million contract that he signed in January 2016.
Kelce, 30, recorded 97 receptions for 1,229 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games last season. He has
507 catches for 6,465 yards and 37 touchdowns in 96 career games since being selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Earlier Thursday, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle reportedly agreed to a five-year, $75-million extension.
The deal reportedly includes a $30 million signing bonus and a $40 million injury guarantee.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2017, Kittle has 216 receptions for 2,945 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with the 49ers.
BUCKS FOR BILL
The Buffalo Bills on Thursday signed left tackle Dion Dawkins to a four-year contract extension through the 2024 season.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the deal was worth $60 million, with $34 million guaranteed.
A second-round pick out of Temple in the 2017 NFL
Draft, the 26-year-old Dawkins was entering the final year of his rookie deal.
He has started all 32 games the past two seasons and 43 of his 48 games since entering the league.
ROOKIE RETIRES
New England Patriots rookie offensive lineman Dustin Woodard has retired before ever playing a game, according to multiple reports.
Woodard, who was selected in the seventh round in the 2020 NFL Draft in April, decided he no longer wants to play football, according to the reports. His decision was not related to COVID-19.
The 6-foot-2 interior lineman out of Memphis made all-American Athletic Conference first team in 2018.
COWBOYS ADD GRIFFEN
The Dallas Cowboys signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen to a one-year contract.
The deal is worth up to $6 million, with the 10-year veteran making a base of $3 million this season and $3 million in roster bonuses, according to reports.
Griffen recorded 74.5 sacks in 147 games (88 starts) for the Vikings, earning Pro Bowl honours four times. The Vikings picked him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft,
The Cowboys are able to bookend Griffen with DeMarcus Lawrence, filling the void left by Robert Quinn, who left in free agency to sign with the Chicago Bears.
SNEAKY SEAHAWK
The Seattle Seahawks reportedly cut undrafted rookie cornerback Kemah Siverand for trying to sneak a female visitor into the team hotel.
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero posted on Twitter that the woman was “wearing Seahawks gear in an attempt to disguise her as a player.”
“Clear message on the responsibility everyone has in the NFL’s COVID-19 world: Put the team at risk, suffer the consequences,” Pelissero tweeted.
The Seahawks waived Siverand on Tuesday.
He appeared in 26 games at Oklahoma State during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, mostly on special teams.