NFL Notes: Chiefs, Ravens & Lions

Ravens

Ravens HC John Harbaugh told reporters earlier in the week that they will continue to look for upgrades in the free agent in the coming weeks.

“I think we’re aware of the guys that are still out there, free agents that would be more favorable to sign after June 1 and all that,” Harbaugh said, via the Carroll County Times. “We’re going to be watching the waiver wire real close. We’re going to try and get better.

“We had a conversation, Ozzie and I [Thursday], and I like to think on principle that we really believe this: We want to build as strong of a 53-man roster as we possibly can, and as we do that [to] try to get stronger every chance we get. We’ll be looking.”

Matt Zentiz is under the impression that Baltimore could look for some help at the cornerback position given that they have only four cornerbacks on the roster that are not undrafted free agents.

The most notable free agent cornerbacks include: Drayton Florence, Asante Samuel, Jabari Greer and Terrell Thomas.

Chiefs

Adam Teicher of ESPN.com doesn’t see the Chiefs offering QB Alex Smith the $18 million per year the Bears are paying Jay Cutler.

Instead, Teicher suggests Kansas City are unlikely to offer any more than $14 million or $15 million annually in his next contract.

Smith’s agent is almost certainly making the case that the going rate for a starting caliber quarterback is more in line with $18 million than $15 given that a second-tier market has yet to develop.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported earlier in the week that the two sides remain “far apart,” and have made “no progress” towards an agreement.

Rapoport added that the Chiefs are willing to franchise him in 2015 if talks continue to stall.

Franchising Smith would be pretty expensive as the 2014 tag was set at $16.912 million. However, it’s only for a single year, so Kansas City could always move on in 2016 depending on how things go.

Smith, 30, is entering the final year of his current deal and will make $7.5 million for the 2014 season. He counts just as much against the Chiefs salary cap, so a long-term deal would offer them some cap relief.

In his first season with the Chiefs, Smith led them to playoffs and played great in their first-round matchup against the Colts before an incredible turnaround from Indy. Smith also set career highs in passing yards with 3,313, rushing yards (431) and touchdowns (23) while only throwing seven interceptions.

Lions

Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com mentioned in his Saturday mailbag that WR Kris Durham and WR Kevin Ogletree are likely competing for the final roster spot at the receiver position.

The Lions have really focused on adding more talent to their offense in the past few months. Detroit’s receiving corps currently consists of: Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Ryan Broyles, Jeremy Ross, Micheal Spurlock, T.J. Jones, Ogletree and Durham.

Durham was an exclusive rights free agent who the Lions tender a contract to back early March. He stands to make $570,000 for the 2014 season.

Durham, 26, appeared in all 16 games for the Lions and totaled 38 receptions for 490 yards receiving and two touchdowns. However, he dropped a staggering 10 passes.

As for Ogletree , the Lions re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $795,000 before the start of free agency.

He too appeared in all 16 games last year and caught 21 passes for 269 yards receiving and two touchdowns.