2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Buccaneers’ Defensive Staff

March 31st, 2022 at 3:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

During his first media availability since becoming the new head coach of the Buccaneers, Todd Bowles made a pair of notable, if unsurprising, announcements. Firstly, he will retain play-calling duties on the defensive side of the ball; secondly, defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote will share the role of defensive coordinator (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network).

Bowles had called Tampa Bay’s defense since his arrival as DC in 2019. The fact that he will carry on in that capacity as the head coach shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, though it is rarer for defensive coaches to do so, compared to offensive ones. Seen through both traditional and advanced statistical lenses, the 58-year-old’s units have ranked amongst the best in the league during his tenure in Tampa.

For Rodgers, the promotion to co-DC will leave him in a familiar position with respect to Bowles. During the latter’s time as head coach of the Jets, Rodgers served as defensive coordinator. While their collective tenure there wasn’t nearly as successful as their time with the Buccaneers has been, that familiarity will go a long way to smoothing this transition. Rodgers followed Bowles to Tampa in 2019, having also coached the defensive line in Miami and Dallas.

Foote’s time working with the Buccaneers likewise dates back three years. With the 41-year-old on staff, the likes of Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul have enjoyed plenty of success. The former Steeler, Lion and Cardinal began his coaching career in Arizona in 2015; the co-DC title will be the highest he has held during his time on the sidelines.

While the teams’ defensive staff will take on a new look in 2022, Tampa Bay’s coaching unit is in line to feature a good deal of stability. If all goes according to plan, they should be well suited to continue their level of play on that side of the ball, and in doing so remain a Super Bowl contender.

Rams To Sign LB Bobby Wagner

March 31st, 2022 at 2:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bobby Wagner has made his decision, and the Rams will add another future Hall of Famer to their defense. The longtime Seahawks star is headed to Los Angeles on a five-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

After visiting the Rams last week, Wagner will sign a deal worth $50MM. The contract can pay the 10-year veteran up to $65MM. Wagner visited both the Rams and Ravens but will stay in the NFC West to join the Super Bowl champions’ Aaron Donald– and Jalen Ramsey-led defense. Ex-Wagner teammate Richard Sherman was the first to report the news (on Twitter).

Since signing Donald to an extension in 2018, the Rams have not spent much on the off-ball linebacker position. But they were connected to Wagner immediately after his mid-March Seahawks release. While the Ravens made what they believed to be a competitive offer, the Rams ended up handing out an eight-figure-per-year deal to a non-pass-rushing ‘backer. As a result, they now have two six-time All-Pros on defense, with Wagner and Donald combining for 13 such honors. No active NFLers match either’s All-Pro count.

This amounts to a homecoming for Wagner, who is an L.A. native. The Seahawks drafted Wagner in the second round out of Utah State, on the same day they acquired Russell Wilson, and plugged him in at middle linebacker. Although the Legion of Boom received the most attention on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl defenses, Wagner began his Canton-caliber ascent for those teams. His 2014 return from injury catalyzed Seattle’s run back to the Super Bowl and earned him his initial All-Pro honor. Wagner’s six first-team All-Pro selections, among pure off-ball linebackers, rank behind only Mike Singletary and Ray Lewis (seven apiece) since the AFL-NFL merger.

Wagner, 31, will join 2021 third-round pick Ernest Jones as the Rams’ top second-level defenders. The Rams were prepared to pay Von Miller around $15MM annually. Miller signing with the Bills freed up some money, and Matthew Stafford not venturing into the Aaron Rodgers/Deshaun Watson contract realm did as well. And, as the Rams have done in recent offseasons, they subtracted role players (Darious Williams, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Corbett) in exchange for bigger names (Wagner, Allen Robinson) in free agency.

While the Seahawks felt comfortable parting ways with their defensive anchor, Wagner made a career-high 170 tackles last season, doing so despite missing a game. Wagner has compiled 23.5 sacks and 68 tackles for loss over the course of his career, adding 11 interceptions as well. The Seahawks gave Wagner two extensions — in 2015 and ’19. Wagner’s Rams deal runs closer to the 2015 extension, a four-year, $43MM pact that topped the linebacker market at the time.

Seahawks Open To Re-Signing Carlos Dunlap

March 31st, 2022 at 2:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Carlos Dunlap found himself in familiar territory earlier this month. The team released him in a cost-cutting move, as they had one year earlier. Another reunion between the two parties is possible, though, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson (Twitter link).

Dunlap, 33, has played 25 total games during his time in Seattle. After more than a decade with the Bengals, he was traded there in October 2020. The Seahawks cut him at the end of the season, but brought him back not long after. The move didn’t come as a surprise, and Dunlap signed a two-year deal. Halfway through that pact, however, he finds himself a free agent once again.

In eight games after the trade, Dunlap totalled five sacks, demonstrating his continued ability to help a teams’ pass rush into the latter stages of his career. Even though he only started two of 17 contests in 2021, he improved on his previous numbers. The former Gator posted 35 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14 QB hits despite playing only 38% of defensive snaps.

While Henderson reports that another new contract between Dunlap and Seattle “isn’t out of the question”, he is quick to note the schematic changes the team has undergone this offseason. At six-foot-six and 285 pounds, Dunlap profiles better as a 4-3 defensive end than the 3-4 outside linebacker he would need to be in Seattle going forward.

Henderson further states that there is “nothing imminent” regarding a contract for Dunlap, either with the Seahawks or any other team. Despite being let go in two straight seasons, that next deal could still come from Seattle, if both sides are willing and able to agree on yet another new pact.

Saints Pursuing WR Additions

March 31st, 2022 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The performance of the Saints’ pass-catching corps was a large reason why the team missed the playoffs in 2021. It’s not surprising, then, that general manager Mickey Loomis confirmed New Orleans is looking for additions at the position (Twitter link via Katherine Terrell of the Athletic).

“I think we have some work to do yet, so we’re looking”, Loomis said when asked about the WR group. The team recently agreed to terms with Tre’Quan Smith on a two-year deal. His retention means most of the complementary pieces of the WR room – along with the likes of Deonte Harty and Marquez Callaway – will remain in place from the previous season, which saw the team post a league-worst 202 passing yards per game.

The most important news at the position for New Orleans, of course, is the expected return of Michael Thomas. The team made it clear they were not looking to trade the 29-year-old after he missed all of the 2021 campaign. The two-time All-Pro led the league in receptions during each of his two most recent full seasons (2018 and 2019) and is under contract for three more years.

New head coach Dennis Allen echoed Loomis’ views. “We feel good about the position, but yet it’s still a position we want to add to”, he said, as noted by Luke Johnson of NOLA.com. The uncertainty surrounding Thomas’ health, coupled with the lack of production throughout the remainder of the depth chart, has many pointing to the draft as a likely means of bringing in new talent to supplement the current pieces.

New Orleans could turn to the free agent or trade market as well, but few options remain on those fronts. In any event, the team is likely to have at least one significant addition at the position by the time the 2022 season begins.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/31/22

March 31st, 2022 at 11:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves around the NFL:

New Orleans Saints

Signed: DT Shy Tuttle (RFA tender)

Latest On Antonio Brown

March 31st, 2022 at 10:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Antonio Brown still wishes to continue his NFL career, but an ankle injury stands in the way of his ability to do so. He is waiting on having the requisite surgery on said ankle, however, until receiving a commitment from a team willing to sign him, according to a TMZ report.

“I need to get my ankle fixed, but I just want to make sure I got an obligation or a commitment from a team”, Brown said. “It’s a lot for a guy to go do surgery without an idea of where you gonna work, or who you going to work for.”

The 33-year-old was cut by the Buccaneers in January after a heated exchange with then-head coach Bruce Arians. Among the causes for the falling-out was the status of Brown’s injured ankle, which he maintains wasn’t healthy enough for him to play in the game in which he quite literally walked away from the team. The four-time All-Pro wideout totalled 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games with Tampa Bay.

That level of production – while overshadowed by the latest of Brown’s off-field issues – could still earn him a noteworthy contract. One factor in the negotiating process between Brown and any interested teams could be the recent shifts in the WR market. Deals given to Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams in particular have raised the compensation levels in general at the position – something Brown believes he should benefit from.

“I still feel like I can put up big numbers, and I see what these guys are getting paid. I just wonder why my value isn’t being upheld as the same.” He added, “my situation is never about anyone else. It’s just all about getting what I deserve because I know what I am and what I stand for, and you can’t play with me, the numbers are the numbers.”

While it remains to be seen how much interest teams may have in Brown, he is clearly hopeful to find a new home in the league. With most of the top names at the position off the market, he may soon be able to follow through on his statement made in the aftermath of his release: “Once my surgery is complete, I’ll be back to 100%… looking forward to next season.”

Ndamukong Suh Eyeing Buccaneers Return?

March 31st, 2022 at 9:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Before the news of Bruce Arians stepping away from the sidelines, much of the Buccaneers’ core had already committed to remaining in Tampa Bay. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is one of a few big-name players who has yet to re-sign, but a tweet he sent out this morning indicates that he is still willing to do so.

“Congrats to Todd Bowles on becoming head coach of a great team that still feels one man light on talent”, Suh said. The 35-year-old has spent the past three seasons in Tampa Bay, playing on one-year contracts each time. In that stretch, he has demonstrated his continued effectiveness, totalling 112 tackles and 14.5 sacks; he also won his only Super Bowl with the team in the 2020 season.

Suh has been amenable to another deal with the Buccaneers, so his tweet doesn’t come as a surprise. The team already has Vita Vea under contract after his sizeable extension was signed, and brought back William Gholston as well. Nevertheless, the 2010s All-Decade member could be retained on, presumably, another one-year pact.

Suh averaged just over $9MM per season over the course of his tenure with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers likely wouldn’t be able to afford him at that level of compensation on a fourth deal, but they should have room to re-sign him at a lower rate if there is sufficient desire from both sides. With the coordinator of a unit which raked fifth in scoring defense last season now the head coach, Suh could be in line for a return to Tampa sooner rather than later.

Raiders Beginning Extension Talks With Derek Carr

March 31st, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Amidst a slew of major moves in the AFC West this offseason – including two notable additions by the Raiders – one priority has remained the same. An extension for quarterback Derek Carr is something the team’s new front office has begun working towards, per Vic Tafur of the Athletic (subscription required).

As Tafur reports, talks have begun between the Raiders and Carr’s camp regarding a new deal. The just-turned 31-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $19.8MM. Earlier this month, it was reported that an extension was expected to be coming “sooner than later“.

Besides the level of Carr’s play in its own regard this season (including a career-high 4,804 passing yards and his first ever playoff appearance), the main reason that was the case was Las Vegas’ acquisition of Davante Adams. The two played together at Fresno State, and the teams’ willingness to trade for Adams signalled they were prepared to make a commitment to Carr as well. New head coach Josh McDaniels said, “Derek’s fit on the team, as a player, is obviously what we’re looking for and what we’re trying to build around”.

As for a new contract, McDaniels added, “Ultimately you try and do what’s best for the team… when we get into those conversations with Derek, Derek’s going to have to make decisions about what’s best for him… There will be a sweet spot in there hopefully for everybody, and we’ll be excited to go forward like that.”

While that comment was quickly met with a response from Tim Younger, Carr’s agent (on Twitter), Tafur notes that “talks have not grown adversarial” between the two camps. That will be a welcomed sign for the Raiders, as they try to secure the three-time Pro Bowler for the foreseeable future.

Bears Sign DB Dane Cruikshank

March 30th, 2022 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Titans, Dane Cruikshank is moving to Chicago. The Bears have signed the defensive back, according to the player’s agent (h/t Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com).

Cruikshank was a fifth-round pick out of Arizona in 2018. The defensive back played mostly a special teams role through his first two seasons in the NFL, appearing in 28 total games. His 2020 campaign was mostly wiped out thanks to a pair of injured reserve stints, limiting him to only a pair of appearances.

The 26-year-old took a clear step forward in 2021, setting career-highs across the board while appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. In 14 games (four starts), Cruikshank collected 43 tackles and one forced fumble.

Assuming Cruikshank slots in as a safety, he’ll be joining a depth chart that currently features Eddie Jackson, DeAndre Houston-Carson, and Michael Joseph.

Buccaneers Giving HC Todd Bowles New Five-Year Contract

March 30th, 2022 at 8:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the sudden news that Todd Bowles will be taking over as the Buccaneers head coach, we’re learning that the former defensive coordinator got a new contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Buccaners are ripping up the final two years of Bowles’ contract and replacing it with a new five-year pact.

Bowles joined the Buccaneers as defensive coordinator in 2019, and following two strong seasons with the organization, he earned a new three-year deal last August. The new extension was finalized earlier today (per Schefter).

We learned earlier this evening that Bruce Arians was stepping down as Tampa Bay’s head coach and would be transitioning to a front office role. Following the news, Bowles released a statement thanking the Glazer family for the opportunity.

“I am appreciative of the Glazer family and Jason Licht for having faith in me to take on this role, and to Coach Arians for his support and guidance over the past four decades,” said Bowles (via the team’s website). “Tampa has become home for my family, and we are excited to remain part of this community for years to come. As an organization, we have all the pieces in place to continue the winning standard that has been established here in recent years. I am eager to get started with our players, coaching staff, and front office in preparation for the 2022 season.”

Bowles’ previous stint as a head coach didn’t go so well. He spent four seasons as the Jets head coach, including a first season where the Jets finished 10-6. However, New York collected only 14 total wins over the next three seasons, leading to his ousting. After taking over as the Buccaneers defensive coordinator, the team has ranked among the best defenses in all of football.