AFC Notes: Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders

Chargers

Like a number of teams, the Chargers were aggressive this offseason, with a blockbuster trade for DE Khalil Mack and some big deals in free agency for CB J.C. Jackson, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day and DT Austin Johnson. However, other executives around the league see some potential for those moves to blow up in the team’s face. 

“They saw what the Rams did, they see the Rams control their market,” one exec said to the Athletic’s Mike Sando, “so they say, ‘Let’s be aggressive. We are still a cash-poor team even though we are in L.A., where we are going to have to pay the quarterback at some point, so let’s put all our chips in right now.’ The problem is, they are doing it with boom-or-bust guys like Mack, like the defensive tackle (Johnson), and that reeks of the coach saying, ‘We have to have them.’”

Los Angeles paid $16.5 million a year for Jackson which was a little less than many thought he was going to get given his production over the past couple of years. But that apparently reflected some skepticism on Jackson around the league. 

“I’m sure J.C. Jackson is a good player, but Bill (Belichick) maximizes his guys in the secondary, and always has,” another exec said. “New England has corners play great for them, then guys sign someplace else and get cut in two years.”

Chiefs

• East Carolina CB Ja’Quan McMillian has eight total visits, including with the Chiefs. (Jeremy Fowler)
• Washington State CB Jaylen Watson has a top 30 visit scheduled with the Chiefs. (Justin Melo)

Raiders

• Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Raiders QB Derek Carr‘s three-year, $121.5 million extension is scheduled to pay out $25 million in 2022, $33 million in 2023 and $42 million in 2024. There’s a $7.5 million signing bonus. 
• Breer adds Carr’s $33 million due in 2023 and $7.5 million of his 2024 compensation become fully guaranteed three days after the Super Bowl. 
• Raiders HC Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler had been selling Carr on the idea of doing a team-friendly deal like Tom Brady to help them build around him. When they traded for WR Davante Adams, that was the tipping point in talks between the two sides that got Carr to buy in. 
• Carr didn’t have any intention of playing elsewhere in the NFL: “I told my agent that either I was going to be a Raider or I would be playing golf.” (Vic Tafur)
• Carr said he structured his extension to give the team flexibility to re-sign other guys like WR Hunter Renfrow and TE Foster Moreau. Carr noted that he went through “heartbreak” last time he signed an extension because his “best friend” left, noting EDGE Khalil Mack. (Paul Gutierrez)
• Pitt CB Damarri Mathis has had a top 30 visit with the Raiders. (Jordan Schultz)
• The Raiders had a virtual meeting with Washington State CB Jaylen Watson. (Justin Melo)
• Las Vegas also hosted Virginia Tech TE James Mitchell for a top 30 visit this week. (Jeremy Fowler)