Many of the top cornerbacks on the free agent market aren't going to make it to free agency.
Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers has agreed to a four-year, $36 million deal to stay in San Diego, NFL Media's Albert Breer reported Sunday, per a source involved.
Flowers expressed optimism Friday during an appearance on the "Around the NFL Podcast" that he could work out a deal to stay with the Chargers, indicating that was his top option. The two sides got a deal done with 48 hours left before free agency starts.
The move is an echo of Kareem Jackson's contract with the Houston Texans, which was agreed to on Saturday. Flowers was the No. 2 cornerback on our top 101 free agents list, while Jackson was No. 3. The top cornerback on the list -- Byron Maxwell -- could have a deal in place with Philadelphia before free agency starts.
While Flowers doesn't have the prototypical size of some new school cornerbacks, he's been incredibly consistent throughout his career. He was a better-than-average starting cornerback for most of his time in Kansas City, signing a big contract with $22 million guaranteed in 2011. The Chiefs cut bait with Flowers after a down 2013 campaign and the timing of the move hurt Flowers' ability to get paid last offseason.
Flowers bet on himself with a one-year deal in San Diego last June, and put together another outstanding season. Alongside second-year pro Jason Verrett and Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle, Flowers is part of a talented secondary in San Diego. The Chargers' defense still needs to find a pass rush, and we'd expect them to be active in free agency.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down the Brandon Marshall trade and plays another game of "Go Get My Lunch." Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
