2021 January - Pro Football Rumors

GM Interviews: Lions, Falcons, Panthers

January 4th, 2021 at 12:29pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It’s been a very busy Monday after Week 17 so far, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. There are a number of GM openings around the league, and interview requests for execs are flying in. Let’s get you caught up on all the latest:

Saints VP/assistant GM for pro personnel Terry Fontenot is scheduled to interview for the Lions GM job on Tuesday and the Falcons GM job on Wednesday, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. The Falcons have also requested a GM interview with Rams college scouting director Brad Holmes (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Along with Rick Smith, these were the top names expected to be in the mix in Atlanta. Fontenot isn’t the only Saints exec in the mix, as New Orleans assistant GM Jeff Ireland has been requested by the Panthers and Lions, Pelissero tweets.
Finally (for now), the Lions are also going to interview Vikings assistant GM George Paton, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Rapsheet says both Paton and Fontenot are “very strong candidates” for the Detroit job. Paton has drawn interest before, and has been in Minnesota’s front office since the 2007 season.
The Panthers are casting a wide net, and they’re also requesting to interview Chiefs assistant director of player personnel Ryan Poles for the vacancy created by Marty Hurney’s firing, Rapoport tweets. One more, as Carolina has officially requested to interview 49ers VP of Player Personnel Adam Peters, Rapoport tweets. We had heard they might have some interest in Peters, and Rapoport notes that he spent time with head coach Matt Rhule at UCLA and is “one to watch” here.
The Falcons have requested Colts college scouting director Morocco Brown, Pelissero tweets. Indy’s GM Chris Ballard is very highly regarded, so it’s not surprising that teams are digging into some of his deputies. Brown previously had personnel roles with Cleveland (2014-15) and Washington (2008-13).

Jets’ Woody Johnson Won’t Interview Coaches

January 4th, 2021 at 11:52am CST by Zachary Links

After firing Adam Gase this week, the Jets’ head coaching search is underway. However, owner Woody Johnson won’t be among those interviewing candidates, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Woody Johnson is currently rounding out his term as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. While he ties up those loose ends, his brother and CEO Christopher Johnson will lead the search. Woody will be kept in the loop, but he won’t chat directly with the candidates.

For all of their warts, the Jets still hold appeal for candidates. Playing in the country’s largest media market, the Jets are armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Trevor Lawrence probably won’t be available, but they could still choose from prospects like Ohio State’s Justin Fields, BYU’s Zach Wilson, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Many believe that they will take a QB and deal Sam Darnold, but moving the No. 2 pick and keeping the USC product is also an option.

In addition to the Jets, the Lions, Falcons, Texans, Jaguars, and Chargers are also seeking a new head coach. Before the week is through, we could see more NFL teams join the list.

Eagles Aren’t “Talking About” Carson Wentz Trade

January 4th, 2021 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

Carson Wentz wants out, but the Eagles aren’t in any rush. Trading the quarterback is “not anything we’re talking about right now,” GM Howie Roseman says (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com).

Even after getting the hook for rookie Jalen Hurts, the Eagles are said to still have faith in Wentz. Wentz, meanwhile, is frustrated. That’s been brewing for a while — he was annoyed with the surprise second-round selection of Hurts back in the spring.

It’s quite possible that Roseman is simply looking to maintain leverage. Major changes are coming to the Eagles no matter what, and the shakeup could include the departure of Zach Ertz. Meanwhile, head coach Doug Pederson will stay on board, according to a recent report. The two have butted heads, so Philly might not be big enough for both of them.

Trading Wentz before the third day of the league year would result in a dead cap charge of ~$34MM. Cutting Wentz would dead cap hit of nearly $60MM. Even if it’s spread out over two years, that’s a cap killer. Frank Reich — the former Eagles OC who could lose Philip Rivers to retirement — may look to reunite with his one-time protege.

Zach Ertz Wants To Stay With Eagles

January 4th, 2021 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

Zach Ertz has been with the Eagles since 2013, and he doesn’t want things to end. In an emotional press conference with reporters, the tight end expressed his desire to stay in Philly for 2021 and beyond.

“I want to be here, even if for some reason something were to happen, maybe I come back at the end,” Ertz said (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer). “I don’t know what’s going to happen next year. I think this city is the best city to play for…and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. This city means a lot to me and a lot to my family. And I’m thankful.”

Ertz has notched 561 catches for 6.078 yards and 36 touchdowns, all with the Eagles. The Birds would ideally like to bring him back, but their salary cap situation will make it tough to navigate. Ertz is tremendously talented, but he’s also pricey with one year to go on his five-year, $42.5MM deal. Instead of bringing him back, the Eagles could deal Ertz to restock their draft capital and clear dollars off of the books.

Injuries hampered Ertz throughout 2020, capping his 11-game season at just 36 grabs for 335 yards and one score. Still, he’d draw plenty of interest from other teams if he’s put on the block. Before the injury, Ertz was in line for a top-of-the-market extension to join the likes of George Kittle and Travis Kelce ($15MM and $14.3MM AAV, respectively). Now, he’s an intriguing one-year rental.

Browns Place Olivier Vernon On IR

January 4th, 2021 at 11:16am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns’ season will continue. Unfortunately, for Olivier Vernon, the season is over. The defensive end has torn his Achilles, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced.

The veteran went down late in the season finale and had to be helped off the field. After a sideline check, he was carted to the locker room, signaling something serious. Vernon is now set for surgery and an uncertain future. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in March, thanks to the reworking of his deal that bars the Browns from tagging him.

Vernon posted just 3.5 sacks in 2019, but the advanced metrics were fairly fond of his work. And, before Vernon came to Cleveland, he managed 22 sacks over the course of three years with the Giants, despite a good deal of missed games. This year, he stepped up things up with nine sacks, his highest posting since 2013. He’s been red hot too — all of his sacks came after Week 8.

With the Steelers on the horizon, the Browns will be banking even more on star Myles Garrett for pressure on the edge.

2021 NFL Draft Order

January 4th, 2021 at 11:05am CST by Zachary Links

The 2020 regular season is in the books. For more than half of the NFL, that means the offseason is officially underway.

The league’s 18 non-playoff teams now know where they stand in the 2021 NFL Draft order. For the remaining clubs, the playoffs will help determine their position. Here’s the rundown of the 2021 NFL Draft order, thus far:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Texans)
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinatti Bengals
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Detroit Lions
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Giants
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Las Vegas Raiders
18. Miami Dolphins

Bengals To Keep Zac Taylor

January 4th, 2021 at 10:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals will bring back Zac Taylor. On Monday, team president Mike Brown announced that the head coach will get a third season at the helm.

“Our fans wanted a fresh new direction two years ago, and that is what we aimed to do in hiring a bright, energetic head coach in Zac Taylor,” Brown said in a statement. “We remain bullish on the foundation Zac is building, and we look forward to next year giving our fans the winning results we all want. In Zac’s two years, we have added many new starters and contributors through the draft, we have invested heavily in free agency, and we have acquired a talented young quarterback with a bright future.”

“This season we faced challenges with injuries at key positions and missed opportunities. I am proud of our football team for fighting hard through adversity. That adversity and hard work will help us next season. We’ll enter the offseason looking to shore up our weaknesses and amplify the strengths of our talented young core. We are not discouraged, but instead feel motivated and confident that next year will reap the benefits of the work that has been done to date. We must capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. Next year we will earn our stripes.”

Taylor hasn’t had an easy two years in Cincinnati, but there was some encouraging progress in 2020. Despite closing out the year 4-11-1 with a lopsided loss to the Ravens, rookie Joe Burrow looked sharp before his season-ending injury. It’s also worth noting that they’ve been plagued by injuries across the board. On offense, they lost running back Joe Mixon and left tackle Jonah Williams. And, on the other side of the ball, defensive tackle D.J. Reader and cornerback Trae Waynes finished the year on IR.

The Bengals won’t be seeking a new head coach, but plenty of clubs will be. As of this writing, the vacancy list includes the Lions, Falcons, Texans, Jets, Jaguars, and Chargers.

Chargers Fire Anthony Lynn

January 4th, 2021 at 10:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers and Anthony Lynn are parting ways. On Monday morning, the Chargers formally announced that their head coach has been relieved of his duties.

The Chargers had a great deal of respect for Lynn and they were reportedly 50/50 on whether to keep him. But, after huddling up on Monday, Bolts brass decided to move on.

Lynn went 9-7 his first year as the Chargers’ head coach, followed by a 12-4 showing and a playoff win in Year Two. Things took a turn after that, however. The Chargers went just 5-11 last season and 7-9 in 2020, losing a mind-boggling amount of close games both times. The slide continued this year, thanks in part to some in-game blunders by Lynn. The Chargers rallied a bit after getting bumped from playoff contention, but it wasn’t enough to save Lynn’s job.

The Chargers job should hold lots of appeal, and not just because they’re in sunny Los Angeles. Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert has been a revelation. Herbert, 22, set the rookie record for passing touchdowns while posting the second-highest total in passing yards. There’s also ample cap room, plus skill position and defensive talent. That includes All-Pro safety Derwin James, who is set to return after losing the 2020 season to injury.

Jets, Falcons, Lions To Interview Eric Bieniemy

January 4th, 2021 at 10:38am CST by Zachary Links

It’s shaping up to be a busy week for Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. He’ll conduct virtual interviews with the Lions and Falcons on Monday afternoon, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, the Jets have officially requested an interview of their own.

Head coaching candidates whose teams are in the playoffs aren’t allowed to interview until after wild-card weekend. But, for Bieniemy, there’s a loophole, thanks to the Chiefs’ first-round bye. The same goes for 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is also slated to meet with the Lions. The Lions’ latest round of interview requests also includes Saints AHC/TE coach Dan Campbell and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Saleh, a Dearborn, Michigan native, may be poised for a homecoming. Still, the Lions have a candidates list in the double digits, so he’ll have lots of competition. Bieniemy, of course, is one of the hottest coaches on the block, and he has the offensive acumen the Lions need to get the most out of their talent.

Panthers To Meet With Ex-Giants GM Jerry Reese

January 4th, 2021 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers are interviewing former Giants GM Jerry Reese for their vacancy, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, they’ve also requested an interview with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter) hears.

Reese was fired by the Giants towards the end of the 2017 season, leaving the Meadowlands with a pair of Super Bowl rings. On the flipside, the Giants went just 91-85 in Reese’s decade-long tenure as GM.

His recent meeting with the Jaguars marked his first interview since then, but he’s been on the GM radar over the last few years. Reese declined to interview for the Raiders’ GM job in 2018, and last year there was “heavy support” for him to return to the NFL. The Lions may also give him consideration in their current search.

Reese and Dodds join a growing list of GM candidates in Carolina. The Panthers are also seeking interviews with Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio (if they can keep him away from the Texans), Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland, 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, and Browns VP of football ops Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.