A closer look at the contract signed by cornerback Chimdi Chekwa with the New England Patriots:
Term: One year
Total value: $825,000
Signing bonus: $50,000
Workout bonus: $30,000
Salary cap charge: $665,000
The deal qualifies for the minimum salary benefit, meaning Chekwa's salary-cap charge is less than his base salary. Chekwa was a restricted free agent in Oakland who wasn't tendered a contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Raiders could have tendered him at the lowest level, for $1.542 million, to protect themselves from losing him (another team would have had to surrender a fourth-round pick to sign Chekwa). Add it all up, and this is a low-risk flier for the Patriots, and a chance for Chekwa to try to turn his career around with a winning organization after four years in Oakland playing on teams that went a combined 19-45. Chekwa entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft choice out of Ohio State.