Hopefully it means Keo is gone. Need three safeties in this league. Doesn't say much about Swearinger though if the team is hoping for someone to replace him rather than be the 3rd guy in the group.
More likely Eddie Pleasant. Keo's not a starter, but at least he was good enough to see the field. Can't really say the same for Pleasant who has played sparringly. And Keo only makes about $150K more than Eddie. I'm fine with Keo being a 4th guy/special teamer. Or maybe bringing him in means they can afford to cut Manning loose if he isn't willing to restructure to their liking. In his first time as a FA, Clemons re-signed with Miami for one year at $2.75M.
I don't know about that, O'Brien has been all about versatility on defense. Having 3 good options, and Swearinger bringing something unique to the table, helps accomplish that. Plus, Manning is injury prone.
We'll see how Crennel's staff evaluates the current group and what they want. Crennel traditionally runs a 3-4 that's the far end of the spectrum from Phillips' hyperaggressive front. Wade said he wanted twin cover/free safeties, but kept bring in guys that looked much more like strong safeties than ballhawks. Keo and Swearinger are definitely both come forward hit-first types, though Swearinger showed glimpses of cover instincts and range. Manning's always been a hybrid type. Pleasant had his moments in coverage. Clemons is solid, but certainly not a ballhawk. Lewis should be a good starter at FS. Swearinger should definitely be the third guy, and could possibly give you interesting looks depending on where you put him in the field. I would certainly think Manning is out if Clemons is signed. The front office rightly seems to be willing to take some cap hits this offseason and a so-so season if it sets them up well for next summer.
Lewis was terrible for the Chiefs. My hope is that he was a depth signing and that they sign Clemons to make the top 3 Manning, Clemons and Swearinger with Lewis as the fourth guy off the bench.
I wonder if they'd be willing to try the Charlie Strong 3-3-5 defense (link to Grantland article)? D.J. could possibly be one of those hybrid strong/safeties that plays closer to the line. Also, the Strong 3-3-5 is a one-gap defense so it would be more suited for Watt than the traditional Crennel 3-4. Either way, will be very curious to see how the defense comes together from a personnel and strategy point of view.
Lewis is being paid less than $1M. Definitely makes it look like a depth signing because that sure as hell isn't starter money.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> are signing S Chris Clemons to a 2-year deal.</p>— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) <a href="https://twitter.com/taniaganguli/statuses/449653661333876736">March 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So we currently have 6 safeties on roster? Manning, Swearinger, Keo, Pleasant, Lewis, and Clemons? A couple are definitely getting cut, it's just a matter if it's Manning for monetary reasons or Keo/Pleasant for talent reasons. Lewis is only guaranteed $100K so he might still end up having to fight for a roster spot.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Houston Texans reached agreement on two-year deal with former Dolphins S Chris Clemons, per source. <a class="hashtag" action="hash" title="#Markman50">#Markman50</a></p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/449654349107429376" data-datetime="2014-03-28T16:08:45+00:00">March 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>From what I understand, Clemons got a similar salary to what Manning was offered in the pay cut the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> asked him to take.</p>— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) <a href="https://twitter.com/taniaganguli/statuses/449659330884009984">March 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I count 4 MAYBE 5. Pleasant doesn't count and Lewis barely counts, those 2 almost certainly won't make it out of camp.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris Clemons two years for 2.7 mil and 450,000 guaranteed.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/statuses/449662917927903233">March 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris Clemons counts $1.15 million against the cap this year.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/statuses/449663826607099905">March 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well we can scratch any safety prospects off of our draft board, we're full at the position unless something drastic changes.
