Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Cowboys
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.8MM in 2017. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2017 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Aaron Lynch, LB; Marcus Martin, OL
Bears: Charles Leno, T; Will Sutton, DT
Bengals: Russell Bodine, C
Bills: Preston Brown, LB; Seantrel Henderson, T
Broncos: Michael Schofield, OL
Browns: Christian Kirksey, LB
Buccaneers: Kevin Pamphile, G
Cardinals: John Brown, WR
Chiefs: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G; Zach Fulton, G; Phillip Gaines, CB
Colts: Donte Moncrief, WR
Cowboys: Anthony Hitchens, LB
Falcons: Devonta Freeman, RB
Giants: Devon Kennard, LB
Jaguars: Aaron Colvin, CB; Brandon Linder, G; Telvin Smith, LB
Lions: Nevin Lawson, CB; Travis Swanson, C
Packers: Corey Linsley, C; Richard Rodgers, TE
Panthers: Tre Boston, S; Trai Turner, G
Raiders: T.J. Carrie, CB; Justin Ellis, DT; Gabe Jackson, G
Rams: Maurice Alexander, S; E.J. Gaines, CB
Redskins: Bashaud Breeland, CB; Spencer Long, G; Morgan Moses, T
Texans: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE; Andre Hal, S
Titans: DaQuan Jones, DL; Avery Williamson, LB
Vikings: Shamar Stephen, DT
Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable has withdrawn his name from the 49ers’ head coaching search, his agent Doug Hendrickson tweets. Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is now the overwhelming favorite to land the top job in San Francisco.
[RELATED: 2017 Head Coaching Search Tracker]
The 49ers appeared to have narrowed their hunt to three men — Shanahan, Cable, and Patriots OC Josh McDaniels — over the weekend, but the list of interested parties has quickly narrowed in recent days, as Cable’s withdraw was preceded by a similar move from McDaniels. With Shanahan now clearly San Francisco management’s choice, Shanahan will meet with the club following Atlanta’s appearance in the NFC Championship Game to discuss general manager candidates. Of course, if the Falcons lose that contest, the 49ers could immediately offer Shanahan their head coaching job.
Cable will return to his job as assistant head coach/OL in Seattle, the position he’s held since 2011. The former Raiders head coach has drawn a bit of interest during past hiring cycles, as he interviewed (and was at one point viewed as a leading contender) for the Jets vacancy in 2015.
After Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels bowed out of the race to become the 49ers’ next head coach Monday, Falcons O-coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable became the finalists for the position. But it appears Cable’s chances are fading, as it’s now Shanahan’s “job to take,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). San Francisco plans to offer the role to Shanahan when Atlanta’s season ends, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
The news that Cable has essentially lost all momentum comes on the heels of Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner withdrawing his candidacy for the Niners’ GM vacancy. While he and Seattle front office cohort Scott Fitterer have each been in the running for the role, it’s likely to go to Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst. It seems that he and Shanahan could end up working together with the Niners, though it’s not a lock Shanahan will accept the club’s offer, reports Mike Silver of NFL.com (Twitter link).
For now, the 37-year-old Shanahan is preparing his top-ranked Atlanta offense for an NFC title game showdown with the Packers on Sunday. If the Falcons knock off Green Bay to advance to Super Bowl LI, their season won’t end until Feb. 5. Given that they’re the only team left without a head coach, the 49ers are content to wait a few more weeks for an answer from Shanahan. An Atlanta win this weekend would lead to the Niners meeting with Shanahan to vet GM candidates next week, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Should the Falcons lose, the 49ers would perhaps be in line to fill both positions immediately.
The Bills have hired ex-Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras to serve as their tight ends coach, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com was among those to report.
Boras, 46, was atop the Rams’ offense the past two seasons. The unit was woeful in each of those years, ranking 29th in DVOA in 2015 and dead last in 2016. The Rams also finished this season 32nd in both yardage (262.7 per game – nearly 50 fewer than the 31st-place offense) and scoring (14.0 PPG). As a result, Boras’ career as a coordinator is over for at least the time being. He previously worked as a tight ends coach with the Bears, Jaguars and Rams, and will now return to that role.
It’s not yet known whose offensive staff Boras will be a member of in Buffalo. New head coach Sean McDermott hasn’t named a coordinator, but signs are pointing to Greg Olson landing the job. He’s also a previous Rams and Jags assistant, though his stints with those teams did not coincide with Boras’.
A day after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took himself out of the running for the 49ers’ head coaching vacancy, Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner has withdrawn from their general manager search, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Kirchner interviewed with the Niners on Monday, but he’s content to remain with NFC West rival Seattle and continue working under GM John Schneider.
Kirchner is one of nine candidates the 49ers have spoken with regarding their GM position. Scott Fitterer, Kirchner’s fellow director of player personnel with the Seahawks, has also met with San Francisco brass. Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst is reportedly the front-runner for the position, however, so it appears Seattle will keep its front office intact. That could bode poorly for Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable‘s chances of landing the Niners’ head coaching job, for which he and Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan are the finalists.
Niners CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe have admitted during head coaching interviews that their roster is “in shambles,” but both that gig and the franchise’s GM role carry appeal. York and Marathe have promised to exercise patience and spend money to improve the roster, and the 49ers are set to enter the offseason with an NFC-high $77MM-plus in cap space. They’re also armed with the second overall pick in the draft. We now know that Kirchner won’t be the one making that selection.
Before the Chargers hired Anthony Lynn as their head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that he would retain offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt if he got the job. That will indeed be the case, Lynn confirmed Tuesday at his introductory press conference. Whisenhunt, who’s in his second stint with the Chargers, will enter his third season atop the club’s offense. He has a “strong relationship” with quarterback Philip Rivers, notes CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).
As for the Bolts’ defensive coordinator position, Lynn revealed that he’ll conduct a second interview with Gus Bradley on Tuesday, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Lynn and Bradley have been connected to one another over the past few weeks, and the ex-Jacksonville head coach is reportedly the front-runner to take over the Chargers’ defense. At the same time, though, Bradley’s waiting to see if San Francisco will vie for his services.
More from the AFC:
Center Jason Kelce‘s sixth season in Philadelphia might have been his last. Three years after the Eagles signed Kelce to a six-year, $37.5MM extension, they’re considering trading or releasing him, a source told Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. Kelce has been with the Eagles since they selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Parting with Kelce this offseason wouldn’t open up a windfall of cap space in 2017 for Philadelphia, which would save $3.8MM against $2.4MM in dead money. The Eagles would also lose a one-time Pro Bowler who’s coming off his fourth 16-start season and second in a row. Durability aside, Kelce’s performance wasn’t great in 2016, as he finished 27th among Pro Football Focus’ 38 qualified centers and led the position in penalties (eight).
If Kelce were to hit free agency, he’d join a center market that’s also slated to include teammate Stefen Wisniewski, Joe Hawley, A.Q. Shipley and John Sullivan, among others. It seems doubtful the Eagles would turn to any of those names to replace Kelce, as they may have a successor on their roster in 2016 third-round pick Isaac Seumalo. With Kelce in the equation, Seumalo’s action as a rookie came at guard and right tackle. Seumalo previously garnered extensive center experience at Oregon State, however, and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson indicated during the season that he’s confident in the 23-year-old’s ability to handle the position.
“He’s been such a versatile offensive lineman for us, that I would have no issues if he had to play center,” Pederson said, per Kempski.
During their head coaching search, which is now down to Kyle Shanahan and Tom Cable, the 49ers have admitted to candidates that their “roster is in shambles,” writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. As such, CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe have promised during interviews that they’ll exhibit patience and a willingness to expend resources. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels bowed out of the race for San Francisco’s head coaching job Monday, but he did praise both York and Marathe. “I was really impressed with Jed York and Paraag and Brian (Hampton), and people that came for the 49ers organization,” McDaniels told reporters (via Maiocco). “They did a great job with their presentation.”
More coaching updates:
The Jets have re-signed one of their key impending free agents. Brian Costello of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the team has inked offensive guard Brian Winters to a four-year extension. The deal is worth $29MM and includes $15MM in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano (Twitter link via Rich Cimini). Winters now ranks 10th among guards in guaranteed money.
Winters had spent the past four years with the Jets after being selected as a third-rounder in the 2013 draft. The Kent State product immediately made an impact on the New York offense, as Winters started 12 games that season. An ACL injury limited the lineman to only six games (six starts) in 2014, but he rebounded by appearing in all 16 games (10 starts) during the 2015 campaign.
Winters started the first 13 games in 2016, but his season ended early when he was placed on the injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. The offensive guard established himself as the Jets’ top offensive lineman during his three months on the field. In fact, by most metrics, Winters ranked as one of the top run blockers in the league, playing a significant role in the hot starts for running backs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Winters predictably fell in those rankings, but many still thought that re-signing the lineman would be a top offseason priority for the Jets.
The Jets are surely eyeing some changes to their offensive line this offseason. Tight tackle Breno Giacomini and left tackle Ryan Clady appear to be on their way out of the organization, and the team could also cut veteran center Nick Mangold. Releasing the veteran center would free up more than $9MM in salary cap space.
Winters was just one of many Jets ready to hit free agency. Other impending free agents include quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith, offensive tackle Ben Ijalana, safety Antonio Allen, linebacker Bruce Carter, and long snapper Tanner Purdum.