The San Diego Chargers have rebounded from the probable loss of one of their top cornerbacks from last season by signing another away from the Green Bay Packers. With Patrick Robinson likely to leave in free agency, the Chargers reponded by signing Casey Hayward to a three-year deal worth $15.3 million, per a report from NFL Network.
Former #Packers CB Casey Hayward is signing with the #Chargers, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2016
For the #Chargers and CB Casey Hayward, it's a 3-year deal worth $15.3M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2016
CB Casey Hayward's deal with #Chargers is for three years and averages just more than $5 million per year. Guaranteed money: $6.8 million.
— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) March 13, 2016
The $15.3 million in total money owed to Hayward ranks 31st among cornerbacks, per Spotrac, as does the $5.1 million average annual value on his contract. The $6.8 million guarantee figure reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ranks 41st.
Hayward was a second-round pick of the Packers back in 2012. Since then, he's played in 51 games, during which he's totaled 166 combined tackles, picked off nine passes and recorded 35 pass breakups. He's spent most of his time playing in the slot, having lined up there on 65.4 percent of the passing down snaps when he's been on the field. Quarterbacks have compiled a passer rating of only 72.1 when targeting Hayward on those plays, an excellent figure.
Hayward, Brandon Flowers, and Jason Verrett will form one of the shorter cornerback trios in the NFL. Hayward stands only 5-11 while Flowers is 5-9 and Verrett is 5-10. The Packers, meanwhile, prepared for the possibility that Hayward would leave by taking two cornerbacks in last year's draft. Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins both played big roles for last year's team and will presumably continue doing so in 2016 and beyond.
