DeForest Buckner is going into the fourth year of his rookie
contract. The defensive tackle seemingly has done enough to warrant a contract
extension after 12 sacks and 20 quarterback hits last season.¡°We had
conversations here and
there
Tytus
Howard Jersey ,¡± Buckner said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of
NBCSportsBayArea.com. ¡°You know honestly, it¡¯s very early. Just because I¡¯m
eligible for a new contract going into my fourth year, it¡¯s still very early in
the process.¡± Buckner, though, isn¡¯t sweating it. He is leaving the details to
his agent to work something out with CEO Jed York, chief negotiator Paraag
Marathe and General Manager John Lynch. The former seventh overall pick expects
to remain in San Francisco for the foreseeable future.¡°I¡¯m really just looking
forward to being here with the team long term,¡± Buckner said. ¡°Jed and John and
Paraag and all them, Kyle [Shanahan], they all know that. They all know what I
can bring to the table, and what I bring to the team and there¡¯s no rush to it.¡±
In his three
seasons
Rock
Ya-Sin Jersey , Buckner has 201 tackles, 21 sacks and a forced fumble. The
Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Dee Ford on
Monday, making official a decision the team had been leaning toward throughout
the offseason.Ford is coming off the best season of his career, piling up 13
sacks and forcing an NFL-leading seven fumbles. The Chiefs have expressed an
interest in a long-term deal, though they are also open to trading him as they
switch from a 3-4 to 4-3 base defense under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.In
other words, it¡¯s no sure thing Ford plays next season under the roughly $15.4
million tag.The franchise tag gives the Chiefs until July 15 to agree on a
long-term contract, but they may need to free up some additional salary cap
space to do so. That¡¯s because they have other pressing needs in free agency,
not to mention a bevy of stars due to hit free agency soon.They would like to
extend defensive tackle Chris Jones and wide receiver Tyreek Hill before next
offseason, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is eligible for an extension next
year.¡°Obviously, Dee is a player that has done so much for us, in particular
last
year
http://www.coltsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ben-banogu-jer sey ,¡±
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said recently. ¡°We have a special thing
brewing here, and I think everyone wants to keep this thing rolling.¡±For his
part, Ford called it a ¡°no-brainer¡± to sign the franchise tender.The Chiefs have
certainly invested plenty in Ford after selecting him in the first round of the
2014 draft out of Auburn. He went through some growing pains as he adapted to
life in the NFL, and he has an injury history that is cause for concern �? and
that makes the franchise tag a good option.Ford remains a high-risk, high-reward
kind of talent.¡°The one thing he can do, and we all know this, he is an
explosive football player that makes a lot of plays,¡± said Spagnuolo, who was
hired after the Chiefs lost to the Patriots in the AFC title game to turn around
one of the league¡¯s worst defenses. ¡°He¡¯s had some production, and if he is here
with us, I¡¯ll be excited to have him and be excited to work with him.¡±The Chiefs
are also considering what to do with fellow outside linebacker Justin
Houston
Khari
Willis Jersey , who had nine sacks in 12 games last season. The veteran
leader carries a salary cap hit of $21.1 million next season, and the Chiefs
could free up a significant amount of money by trading or releasing him.¡°I would
say that he¡¯s under contract for this year and next year,¡± Veach said at the
NFL¡¯s scouting combine this week. ¡°Again, our plan is to play with him and we
look forward to having him on our roster. There¡¯s a lot of dialogue, and I think
everything is fluid for the next few weeks.¡±The problem is the Chiefs have
little depth beyond Ford and Houston. Defensive end Breeland Speaks is a more
natural fit in a 4-3 system, but he was only a bit player after the Chiefs
selected him in the second round out of Ole Miss last year.That¡¯s another reason
the franchise tag on Ford made sense.¡°I certainly think that we have a bunch of
versatility along the line there. Justin and Dee, both of those guys can play in
this scheme and do well,¡± Veach said. ¡°We like the pieces that are in place and
we¡¯re anxious to get this offseason started.¡±100<button
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