The San Diego Chargers bolstered their secondary on Sunday, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with cornerback Casey Hayward.
A former second round pick (62nd overall) of the Packers in 2012, Hayward appeared in 51 games with 20 starts over four seasons in Green Bay. He has totaled 168 tackles, 35 passes defended, nine interceptions and one pick-six over his career. The 5-11, 192-pound veteran has led the team in interceptions in two of his four seasons as the Packers used him in the slot and out wide.
Hayward burst onto the scene with a standout first season, leading all NFL rookies with six interceptions and 21 passes defended. He was limited to just three games during his sophomore campaign due to a hamstring injury, but bounced back to appear in all 16 games the past two seasons. The 26-year old tied for seventh in the NFL with five total takeaways in 2014 (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries), and started a career-high 11 games last season with 65 tackles and seven passes defended.
Hayward is the 11th player the Chargers have added during the free agency period. The team also signed wide receiver Travis Benjamin (Cleveland Browns), nose tackle Brandon Mebane (Seattle Seahawks) and free safety Dwight Lowery (Indianapolis Colts), and retained right tackle Joe Barksdale, tight end Antonio Gates, quarterback Kellen Clemens, defensive tackle Damion Square, wide receiver Dontrelle Inman and offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins.
Take a look at new Charger CB Casey Hayward in action and defending the ball.
Oakland Raiders quarterback (4) Derek Carr is tackled from behind by Green Bay Packers corner back (29) Casey Hayward during a game played at O.co Coliseum in Oakland on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/John Cordes)
Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward (29) celebrates a touchdown in the end zone after intercepting a pass thrown by Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) makes a catch past Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward (29) in the third quarter of the NFL pre-season football game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward (29) lines up in the secondary during an NFC Divisional Playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 12, 2013. The 49ers defeated the Packers 45-31 at Candlestick Park. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward (29) during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Crucial Catch Initiative: DEN vs. LAC - Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
