2022 February - Pro Football Rumors

Browns Make Changes To Coaching Staff

February 26th, 2022 at 11:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns coaching staff will look at bit different next season. Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Browns have promoted Drew Petzing to quarterbacks coach.

Petzing has made a name for himself as Cleveland’s tight ends coach, leading to him getting an interview for the Raiders offensive coordinator gig. While he didn’t end up getting that major promotion, he will be taking on a larger role on the Browns’ offense.

“We feel like he has a unique perspective that he can contribute with those quarterbacks and help in their development,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said (via Ulrich). “He’s an important piece of our offensive staff, and we’re excited to get him and [offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt] working together.”

Stefanski didn’t have a QB coach on his staff through the first two years of his tenure in Cleveland, with Van Pelt basically holding those duties. The Browns filled their new TEs coach opening by promoting T.C. McCartney.

With McCartney getting a bump, the Browns have also promoted Jonathan Decoster to offensive assistant to offensive quality control coach. Decoster has had coaching stints at Old Dominion, West Virginia State, Nevada, and LSU. Per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com, the Browns have also moved Ashton Grant to offensive quality control coach, moved Stephen Bravo-Brown from defensive quality control coach to assistant special teams coach, and added the title of “assistant wide receivers coach” to chief of staff Callie Brownson. The Browns also hired Jordan Thomas as assistant defensive line coach and Jeff Anderson as defensive quality control coach.

Saints Create $26MM+ In Cap Space Via Restructures

February 26th, 2022 at 9:42am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints entered the offseason significantly over the cap, but they’re already starting to create some breathing room. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the Saints created $26.217MM in cap space by reworking the contracts of wideout Michael Thomas and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

Specifically, they converted $14.56MM of Thomas’ 2022 compensation and $18.20MM of Ramczyk‘s upcoming compensation into signing bonuses. The Saints entered the offseason a projected $74MM over the cap, but they have the ability to open a significant chunk of money (with some estimates saying they could save $100M via restructures). In other words, this is surely just the beginning for New Orleans’ front office.

Thomas led the league in receptions in 2018 and ’19, but following a disappointing 2020 campaign, the veteran receiver missed the entire 2021 season. Despite Thomas upsetting Saints brass by delaying an offseason ankle surgery last year, he remains in the team’s 2022 plans. While this does not necessarily guarantee the veteran pass catcher will be with the Saints next season, the team could certainly use him following an underwhelming season from the team’s other non-Alvin Kamara pass catchers.

Ramczyk was a first-round pick by the Saints in 2017, and he’s started all 73 of his games through his first five years in the NFL. The Saints inked the lineman to a five-year, $96MM deal (including $60MM in guaranteed money) last offseason.

Packers Rework OL David Bakhtiari’s Contract

February 26th, 2022 at 9:30am CST by Ben Levine

The Packers continue to open up some cap space. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the team has reworked left tackle David Bakhtiari‘s contract.

Specifically, the organization converted $11.58MM of Bakhtiari‘s 2022 compensation into a signing bonus. This move created “significant cap space” for the summer. In 2020, the Packers inked Bakhtiari to a four-year, $105.5MM extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.

It didn’t take long for the 2013 fourth-round pick to emerge into a starter, as the rookie lineman started 16 games at left tackle that season. The lineman has continually improved, culminating in him earning five-straight All-Pro nods (including a pair of first-team honors) between 2016 and 2020.

The veteran tore his ACL toward the end of the 2020 campaign, and he only managed to see the field for one contest during the 2021 season. Still, today’s transaction is consistent with GM Brian Gutekunst‘s recent remarks regarding his expectations for a clean bill of health for Bakhtiari in 2022 (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).

In a January interview with CheeseheadTV.com, which is well-worth a read for Packers fans, Bakhtiari himself detailed his struggles to return to the field in 2021, including the second surgery he underwent in November and the troubling fluid buildups in his knee. Like Gutekunst, though, Bakhtiari does not anticipate any health issues going forward, and he says his knee is structurally sound.

The Packers front office has been busy this week. The team also reworked the contracts of running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Packers Won’t Rule Out Mason Crosby

February 25th, 2022 at 10:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Mason Crosby could still be in the Packers’ plans. This week, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst told reporters that the veteran kicker could stick in 2022, despite a rocky ’21.

“For where our football team is, having a championship kind of kicker, a guy who can compete at that level, is important,” Gutekunst said.

Crosby missed nine field goals and a pair of extra points last year — a far cry from his best work in previous years. In 2019, Crosby connected on 91% of his FG tries, setting a new personal watermark en route to a three-year, $12.9MM deal. Then, in 2020, he was flawless on all 16 of his FG attempts.

Even though Crosby will turn 38 in September, there’s reason to believe that he could rebound. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that Crosby is friendly with Aaron Rodgers. Gutekunst even alluded to that in his scrum, which was mostly dedicated to the MVP’s future in Green Bay.

In other Packers news, the club is aiming to retain both outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and cornerback Rasul Douglas. Campbell notched 146 stops, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions last year en route to First-Team All-Pro honors. Douglas, meanwhile, managed two pick-sixes while leading the Packers with five interceptions.

This Date In Transactions History: Jets Release Nick Mangold

February 25th, 2022 at 10:00pm CST by Zachary Links

After eleven seasons, Nick Mangold‘s time with the Jets came to an end. On this date in 2017, Gang Green released the veteran center to save roughly $9MM against the cap.

Mangold played in a career-low eight games the previous year and had no guaranteed dollars to go on his deal. It was supposed to be the final year of Mangold’s seven-year Jets contract. He was a standout, a fan favorite, and he was synonymous with the organization for over a decade. However, the Jets were one of the league’s most cap-strapped teams at the time.

A two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, Mangold started all 164 games in which he played for the Jets. Mangold said he’d continue playing after rehabbing from the ankle injury that hampered his 2016 season. Unfortunately, the issue lingered. Contenders like the Ravens could have used Mangold, but he wasn’t able to answer the call.

The Jets turned the job over to backup Wesley Johnson, who would find himself with the rival Dolphins one year later. Mangold, meanwhile, inked a one-day contract to retire with the Jets in 2018. Ultimately, the beloved center was unable to bounce back at the age of 34.

“Everything that happened from pee-wee football to high school football to having the good fortune to play at The Ohio State University molded me for my opportunity to play for the New York Jets,” said Mangold. “In my 11 years as a Jet, there were plenty of ups and downs but, through it all, I wanted to be the Steady Eddie. I wanted to be the guy that other guys looked at to see how it was done. I learned this attribute from the vets that I played with.”

“My biggest regret is not bringing the Lombardi Trophy to New York but, as I retire, I will continue my efforts to bring the Trophy home in a different capacity. I have no idea what that capacity is but I’m sure I will figure something out in the future.”

Latest On Texans, Deshaun Watson

February 25th, 2022 at 6:44pm CST by Zachary Links

A Deshaun Watson deal might not be too far off. Multiple teams are willing to trade for the embattled quarterback before his civil suits are settled, according to a source who spoke with PFT.

Still, these clubs have indicated that they won’t trade for Watson until his “criminal situation” is resolved. The Houston Police Department has not charged Watson with any crimes, though they haven’t ruled out the possibility either.

The Dolphins likely would have traded for Watson last year if his civil suits were put to rest. For what it’s worth, the Panthers were reportedly willing to deal for Watson, though the QB declined to drop his no-trade clause for them. This week, we learned that the Panthers are still interested, but it’s not clear if Watson’s stance has softened.

The Eagles could also get involved in the coming weeks. Philly GM Howie Roseman — who is never bashful about swinging a big trade — has done extensive homework on Watson. He’s also armed with plenty of trade chips, including three first-round picks in this year’s draft.

Meanwhile, Watson is also open to joining the Buccaneers and Vikings. In Tampa, Watson would be a compelling replacement for Tom Brady — at least, from a talent perspective. In Minnesota, the fit isn’t quite as clear given the presence and contract of Kirk Cousins. As it stands, Cousins has one year to go on his deal with $35MM in base pay with an even larger $45MM cap hit.

Justin Reid Open To Re-Signing With Texans

February 25th, 2022 at 6:24pm CST by Zachary Links

According to a recent report, the Texans expect Justin Reid to sign elsewhere this offseason. But, for his part, the safety says he’s open to staying in Houston (Twitter link via SiriusXM).

The 25-year-old is “not opposed to the idea of staying” with the Texans, though he stopped short of any guarantees. Last season, David Culley benched Reid for a game, citing a violation of team rules. Reid didn’t take kindly to that, but Culley has since been replaced by new head coach Lovie Smith.

“Honestly, it made a bigger impact than I would have thought it would have,” said Reid. “I didn’t know he was in the running [but] I think he’s more than qualified. He’s done it before, he’s been to a Super Bowl and he gets guys to play hard for him…I actually have a deep love and respect for [Smith], his coaching philosophy, [and] the way he’s able to get the best out of his players.”

As far as Reid is concerned, the Smith hire was a “tremendous move” for GM Nick Caserio & Co. So, if the Texans are willing to make him a competitive offer, he’s willing to listen.

Given his age and past performance, Reid should garner a fair amount of attention. Teams may be more focused on the rest of the safety class which features Tyrann Mathieu, Jessie Bates, and Quandre Diggs, but the Stanford product would come at a much lower rate. On the flipside, teams may be concerned about his injury history, which includes a wrist ailment in 2021 and labrum surgery in 2020.

For his career, Reid has 315 tackles to his credit with seven total interceptions. He also upped his pass coverage this year with an improved completion rate of 53%.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/25/21

February 25th, 2022 at 6:09pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: DT Renell Wren

Sean McVay Will Not Pursue TV Jobs In 2022

February 25th, 2022 at 6:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sean McVay continues to reaffirm his commitment to the Rams. After the sixth-year Rams coach’s fiancée confirmed he did not plan to retire, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com adds the recent rumored NFL television shakeups will not affect McVay’s status.

The Super Bowl-winning head coach is not actively pursuing a TV job, Schefter tweets. McVay confirmed this to ESPN. While the rumblings of McVay leaving the coaching ranks at a young age may not be going away, this appears a back-burner issue for now.

McVay, 36, was linked to retirement rumors ahead of Super Bowl LVI. At the Rams’ victory parade, however, he incited a “Run it back” chant alongside Aaron Donald, who was also linked to a surprise retirement. A Donald exit would still surprise, though he has not definitively announced he is returning like McVay now has.

McVay was then mentioned as a possible option for Fox, which is set to lose top analyst Troy Aikman to ESPN, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. Amazon also was planning a McVay pursuit, per Marchand. Aikman leaving Fox for Monday Night Football could set off major changes, with Al Michaels’ NBC play-by-play job also in flux. Michaels, linked to Amazon as well, has a good relationship with McVay, Marchand adds, bringing more smoke into this situation.

The Rams are believed to be planning another McVay extension. He is currently attached to an $8.5MM-per-year agreement, one he signed in 2019. With Tony Romo earning nearly $20MM in salary at CBS, McVay could have conceivably commanded a far more lucrative salary as a TV analyst than he does as a coach. However, the Rams should be expected to raise McVay’s coaching salary considerably this offseason. It perhaps should be the expectation this saga ends with McVay becoming the NFL’s new highest-paid HC.

Cardinals Want To Re-Sign Chandler Jones

February 25th, 2022 at 5:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Since Chandler Jones requested a trade ahead of last season, not much has emerged about his prospects of staying in Arizona on another new contract. He played out his previous deal and is now a month from testing the market for the first time.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Friday he “would love” to have Jones back. Of course, there are some complications. Jones’ age, the fact that he has been previously franchise-tagged and other teams’ potential willingness to outbid Arizona stand to affect Jones’ status with the team.

“I can tell you we love Chandler and we would love to have him back,” Bidwill said during an appearance on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta (via ArizonaSports .com). “The devil’s in the details. I’ll leave that up to [GM] Steve [Keim] and Chandler’s representatives to work on. But we love Chandler and what he’s done for us in the past and hopefully in the future as well.”

Jones did not appear to take Bidwill’s comments at face value, firing off some laughing emojis on Twitter shortly after. Some bad blood has been in the mix here for a bit. The Cardinals refused to adjust Jones’ deal last year, and the talented outside linebacker skipped minicamp and requested a trade in response. Jones was back with the team for the regular season and forced six fumbles, the second-most he has has tallied in a season, en route to his fourth Pro Bowl.

The Cards tagged Jones in 2017, and the NFL’s tag formula would make re-tagging Jones a tough proposition for the team. Because Jones’ cap number came in at $20.2MM last season, his tag figure would be 120% of that — as opposed to the standard linebacker tag, which is set to come in around $18MM — and cost the Cards nearly $25MM. This puts the Cardinals to a difficult decision, given Jones’ impact.

Acquired from the Patriots via trade in 2016, Jones has thrived in the desert. Jones has three double-digit sack seasons, including a 10.5-sack slate in 2021, and two All-Pro nods as a Cardinal. The Cards’ hopes of a Jones-J.J. Watt tandem fizzled, after another major injury sidelined Watt for much of the season, but Watt remains under contract for next season. Jones will turn 31 this weekend and missed much of the 2020 season due to a biceps injury, further complicating matters for the Cards, who also have Zach Ertz, Christian Kirk, James Conner and Chase Edmonds set for free agency.

Arizona losing Jones would represent a major blow. The Cards let Haason Reddick walk after his breakthrough contract year and, talent notwithstanding, cannot count on Watt. The team’s other outside linebacker starter, Markus Golden, is under contract for one more season.