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| Routt tackles his new teammate Bowe. (Getty Images) |
Less than two weeks ago, Oakland made the decision to cut cornerback Stanford Routt. Less than two weeks later, he's a member of the Chiefs, one of the Raiders AFC West division rivals, Kansas City announced on Monday.
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According to multiple reports, Routt's deal is for three years and worth $19.6 million.
"Stanford has a proven record of success in the NFL," Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said in a statement released by the team. "He’s a talented player that has spent seven seasons in the AFC West, so he is familiar with us and our division opponents. We are excited to have Stanford join the team, and we are looking forward to getting started."
Routt was cut by the Raiders because his contract was simply untenable to new general manager Reggie McKenzie (or perhaps we should say "out of whack"?).
As our own Josh Katzowitz noted last week, Routt drew plenty of interest on the open market, as a talented cornerback available well in advance of most free agents being able to sign with teams on March 13.
Oakland's not off the hook, though. Multiple reports indicate that Routt's new deal will not offset the $5 million Routt was scheduled to receive from the Raiders in 2012, so the cornerback will be getting two paychecks.
"We are excited that we were able to come to terms with Stanford,” General Manager Scott Pioli said. “He is a talented player, and as we have said in the past, we are always looking to add competition at every position year-round. Stanford’s experience and level of play will make him a solid addition to our defense."
Perhaps the most interesting part of the addition of Routt to the Chiefs is what it means for would-be free-agent cornerback Brandon Carr. Carr was a strong possibility to get the franchise tag, but the Chiefs signing Routt means that wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is a much more likely target now.
Carr will then hit free agency at the ripe old age of 25 and likely draw a ton of interest from teams in need of a cornerback.
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