ATS Consultants posted on February 21, 2012 10:02
The Kansas City Chiefs may have gotten a jump on improving their team on Monday.
The Chiefs signed former Oakland Raiders corner Stanford Routt, who was released after the season. He was in the middle of a three-year, $31.5 million deal that paid him $10 million in 2011.
The Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings were among the other teams considering Routt, whose specialty is press, man-to-man defense.
Routt was scheduled to make $5 million had he stayed with the Raiders.
With Routt and Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs have two of the better man-to-man press corners in the AFC. Flowers signed a five-year, $52.5 million contract extension last year. With more than $71 million tied up in contracts for two cornerbacks, the Chiefs may not be able to keep Brandon Carr, who is an unrestricted free agent.
The Chiefs are spending million on their secondary. Safety Eric Berry is also signed to a $60 million, five-year deal that includes $34 million guaranteed.
Carr, 25, had a career-high four interceptions in 2011. He has started all 64 games in four seasons with the Chiefs, making 237 tackles and eight picks.
The 6-1, 195-pound Routt started 30 games for the Raiders over the past two seasons. The 28-year-old cornerback is entering his eighth NFL season.
Routt's seven-year tenure in Oakland ended as the team heads in a new direction under general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen.
Routt was credited with allowing eight touchdown passes last season -- tied for the second most in the NFL -- and led the league with 17 penalties committed. He did set career highs with four interceptions and 15 passes defensed, however.
NFL free agency begins March 13 but because Routt was released he was able to sign with a team before the open period for transactions begins.