HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jaguars Prepared To Use Franchise Tag On Josh Allen, Want To Retain Calvin Ridley

January 25th, 2024 at 1:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Josh Allen and Calvin Ridley‘s rookie deals began in different years, those five-year contracts will expire at the same time. Ridley’s 2022 gambling suspension changed his timetable, which puts his second NFL employer on the clock now. Both players are set for free agency, though the team would prefer neither reaches the market.

It appears fairly clear how the Jaguars will approach this decision, with a hierarchy forming early. Allen will be prioritized. GM Trent Baalke confirmed (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) the five-year edge rusher will be a Jaguar next season. This would point to the Jags being prepared to use the franchise tag once again.

Jacksonville has used the tag in each of the past three years, keeping both Cam Robinson and Evan Engram off the market. They tagged Robinson twice. For Allen, a tag would cost nearly $22MM. Though, the recurring linebacker-or-defensive end debate would figure to come up here. Allen is nominally an outside linebacker but for all intents and purposes plays defensive end. This issue has come up for several teams in the past, as the linebacker tag — which groups on- and off-ball ‘backers together — is set to check in around $1.5MM below the DE number.

The Ravens reached a compromise with Matt Judon back in 2020; that could be relevant for the Jags and Allen, who played defensive end when the team used a 4-3 scheme. New DC Ryan Nielsen has used both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes during his time as a coordinator. Judon’s Ravens agreement notwithstanding, teams generally win these debates — should a grievance come from Allen’s side.

The Jags retaining Allen will be pivotal; the Kentucky alum broke through in a contract year. After hitting double digits in sacks once — as a rookie in 2019, with 10.5 — over his first four seasons, Allen registered 17.5 in 2023. This could not prevent a Jacksonville late-season collapse, but it undoubtedly made the former top-10 pick some money. Of course, this performance coming after three seasons in which Allen failed to surpass eight sacks also could lead to a “prove it” request from the team that leads to the tag once again coming out. That said, the Jags kept Allen out of trades at the 2022 deadline. The 26-year-old pass rusher will bring some leverage to extension talks, which Baalke confirms have not yet begun.

Ridley’s situation is more complicated. The Jags re-signing the 2018 first-round pick would determine what draft choice goes back to the Falcons. The Jags already sent the Falcons a 2023 fifth-round pick for Ridley, but the second choice is conditional depending on the Alabama alum’s future in north Florida. If the Jaguars re-sign Ridley, they would owe the Falcons a second-round pick.

“The sky’s the limit; he’s only going to get better because of the way he works,” Baalke said of Ridley. “When you love something as much as he loves football, you can’t help but get better. We would love to have Calvin back. We are going to work toward that. What that means is, I don’t know right now.”

Ridley’s age also could complicate matters for the Jags. He is already 29, being set to turn 30 during the 2024 season. Jacksonville also has Christian Kirk tied to an $18MM-per-year accord and Zay Jones on an $8MM-AAV pact. Engram’s 2023 tag led to a three-year, $41.25MM extension. While Trevor Lawrence remains on a rookie deal, he should be expected — despite an inconsistent season — to receive a mega-extension either in 2024 or 2025. A Ridley re-up would represent a significant commitment to the skill positions. Travis Etienne is also now extension-eligible.

The 2022 trade pickup did produce his second 1,000-yard season, accumulating 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games. This came after Ridley missed the 2022 season and most of the 2021 campaign, the latter absence coming after the talented wideout cited mental health reasons for leaving the Falcons. Ridley re-established some momentum in 2023 and, after generating extensive trade interest in 2022, would be one of the top wideouts on the market, should the Jaguars not re-sign him before the legal tampering period.

Titans Hire Brian Callahan As Head Coach

January 25th, 2024 at 1:11pm CST by Ben Levine

JANUARY 25: The Titans are giving the five-year Bengals offensive coordinator a five-year deal to lead their staff, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Callahan’s contract length matches what the team handed Vrabel back in 2018.

JANUARY 22: Brian Callahan had a second interview with the Titans today, and the organization isn’t letting him leave Tennessee without a deal. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Titans plan to hire Callahan as their new head coach. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the two sides are working to finalize a deal.

In recent days, there’s been growing momentum towards Callahan earning his first head coaching gig. Besides his second interview with the Titans today, the coach was also expected to meet a second time with the Panthers and Falcons. Per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, the Titans viewed Callahan as a top target, and they were clearly determined to make sure he didn’t land elsewhere.

Callahan has been on the head coaching radar for a while after guiding a talented offense in Cincinnati. While his first two years at the helm didn’t necessarily go as planned, the Bengals finished top-seven in points scored in both 2021 and 2022. The offense took a step back in 2023, although that was partly attributed to Joe Burrow‘s injury, and suitors clearly recognized that context as they pursued him for HC jobs.

Callahan had a long stint on the Broncos offensive coaching staff before serving as the Lions QBs coach (2016-2017) and Raiders QBs coach (2018). During his time in the NFL, he’s worked with the likes of Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, and Burrow. This has led many to assume that Callahan would be an ideal candidate to guide an offense that’s expected to be led by 2023 second-round pick Will Levis.

The Titans had one of the more surprising head coaching vacancies of this hiring cycle, as Mike Vrabel‘s departure wasn’t necessarily expected. The organization cast a wide net in their search for a replacement, with Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn among those to earn second interviews.

Ultimately, Callahan was the choice. With the head coach soon to be under contract, the Titans will look to fill out the rest of their coaching staff. One name that will surely be connected to Tennessee is Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan. The veteran coach has spent the past four years as the Browns OL coach, and the senior Callahan was previously the head coach for the Raiders.

On the other side, Bengals coach Zac Taylor will now have to hire a coordinator for the first time since he took the Cincy gig in 2019. Dehner notes that Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher has been groomed for the job and will likely be a leading candidate to replace Callahan.

Browns, Eagles Request OC Interviews With Chargers’ Kellen Moore

January 25th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Jim Harbaugh now in place as head coach of the Chargers, the team’s coordinator positions could soon be subject to changes. OC Kellen Moore faces an uncertain future, but he is drawing outside interest.

Both the Browns and Eagles have requested an interview with Moore for their respective OC openings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. It will be interesting to see how willing the Chargers are to let Moore depart in a lateral move given Harbaugh’s arrival. Greg Roman – who has a long-standing relationship with the latter – has already been floated as a name to watch for Los Angeles’ new staff.

Cleveland moved on from Alex Van Pelt, one of the league’s OCs who did not hold play-calling responsibilities. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has called plays since his arrival with the Browns, but he would likely need to hand the reins over to Moore if an agreement were to be struck. It is already known, on the other hand, that the Eagles’ next OC will call plays and hold a degree of independence from head coach Nick Sirianni. Moore will meet with Philadelphia today, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Moore began his NFL coaching career in 2018 as QBs coach of the Cowboys. After just one season in that capacity, he was promoted to OC and had a four-year run in charge of Dallas’ offense. Over that span, the Cowboys led the league in scoring twice and ranked top-10 in both rushing and passing production three separate times. Head coach Mike McCarthy elected to move on last offseason, however, taking over play-calling duties himself.

As a result, Moore took on the OC position with the Chargers, something which came with substantial expectations given his stock and the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert. The latter missed the end of the season due to injury, but even when healthy he and the offense put up middling numbers. Moore interviewed once for L.A.’s head coaching vacancy, but it came as little surprise that he did not receive serious consideration for the position.

The 34-year-old’s time in Dallas generated a reputation for him as one of the league’s top offensive minds, and this year’s underwhelming performance will likely not do much to dissuade interested teams from at least speaking to him. Moore’s name will be worth watching closely on the coordinator market if Harbaugh follows through with bringing in his own staffers.

Giants Hire Michael Ghobrial As ST Coordinator

January 25th, 2024 at 10:29am CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have landed on a new special teams coordinator. The team announced on Thursday that Jets assistant Michael Ghobrial has been hired to take on the position.

New York moved on from Thomas McGaughey at the end of the season. That move had been expected, and it brought an end to his tenure in charge of the Giants’ special teams, which began in 2018. The team attempted to cast a wide net in searching for his replacement, but a number of teams blocked their attempts to speak with potential candidates.

In the end, though, the Giants managed to meet with a shortlist of staffers before arriving at a decision. The team spoke with Larry Izzo (Seahawks), Matt Harper (49ers) and Carlos Polk (Bears) in addition to Ghobrial. The latter is now set for an intra-city move and his first time working alongside Giants head coach Brian Daboll.

Ghobrial had a lengthy coaching career in the college ranks beginning in 2009. He worked as special teams coordinator with four different schools before taking on his first NFL gig with the Jets. A member of Robert Saleh‘s original group in 2021, Ghobrial was a key staffer working alongside Jets ST coordinator Brant Boyer during his time there.

The Jets ranked fifth in special teams DVOA this season, continuing the team’s strong run in that department during Boyer’s tenure. He remains in place, but his staff will be without a key contributor moving forward. The Giants, meanwhile, will aim to improve under Ghobrial after finishing 21st in third phase DVOA in 2023.

Mutual Interest Between Texans, DE Jonathan Greenard For New Deal

January 25th, 2024 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

After a successful first season with head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans profile as an attractive destination for outside free agents. The team has a number of important decisions with respect to its own expiring deals, however.

Chief among those is edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. The former third-rounder enjoyed a career year in 2023, posting 12.5 sacks, 52 pressures and 52 tackles (including 15 for loss). Those figures came about in part due to his ability to remain healthy through much of the campaign – his 15 regular season games played also marked a personal high – and his fit within Ryans’ scheme.

Having enjoyed a breakout campaign ahead of his first trip to free agency, Greenard would no doubt generate a considerable market if he were to depart Houston. The 26-year-old has made it clear, however, that his preference would be to remain with the Texans on a second contract. Likewise, the team wishes to retain him.

“I know I definitely want to come back, but as we know, that’s not up to me,” Greenard said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. “At this point, I can’t do much more. I feel like I put my portfolio out there and closed that chapter and the rest will take care of itself. If they have me back, I’ll be 10 toes down, but if not, it’s just a game. I’ll definitely appreciate if this was the last time.”

Greenard’s remarks certainly suggest he is willing to explore other offers, but Wilson notes the Texans are “expected to try to retain” him. Doing so could be a pricey undertaking given the nature of the edge market; 18 pass rushers average at least $15MM per year on their current deals. Houston is set to be among the league leaders in cap space this offseason, however, so finding the funds to keep Greenard in the fold should be manageable.

The Florida product could partner with 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson as a foundational member of Houston’s defensive front for years to come if a long-term agreement can be worked out. If that does not turn out to be the case, however, the Texans could experience signficant upheaval along the edge since veterans Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes are also pending free agents.

Chargers Hire Jim Harbaugh As HC

January 24th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jim Harbaugh rearranged his interview schedule this week, and it turns out no more meetings will be in the cards. The Chargers will complete this long-rumored hire. The Bolts are set to name Harbaugh as their next head coach, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.

The 60-year-old coach will return to the NFL after nine seasons at his alma mater. Harbaugh’s stock veered to a strange place, thanks to Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal last season, but his NFL value never appeared to take a substantial hit. On the heels of the Wolverines’ national championship, the former 49ers HC will pick the Chargers as his NFL return vehicle.

This comes nearly 24 years after the former quarterback took his final NFL snaps, which came as a member of the Chargers. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract Wednesday, Schefter reports. This nearly overlaps with the extension Justin Herbert signed last year; Herbert is signed through 2029.

After interviewing for the Vikings and Broncos’ jobs over the past two offseasons, respectively, Harbaugh reached an agreement to return to the NFL — a previously stated goal. His arrival will give the AFC West three coaches who have led teams to Super Bowls. Harbaugh will arrive as an Andy Reid challenger a year after Sean Payton did. While Payton was interested in this job as the 2022 season progressed, the Bolts held onto Brandon Staley for a third season. With the team moving on from Staley, it set out to land a higher-profile leader. Harbaugh checks that box, having been a winning coach everywhere he has been.

Upon firing Staley in mid-December, the Bolts sent out Harbaugh feelers. This process accelerated from there. Harbaugh also interviewed with the Falcons, but the sides’ second meeting — scheduled for today — did not come to pass. Atlanta will look elsewhere, while Harbaugh assembles a staff in Los Angeles. Long accused of skimping on their head coaches, the Chargers are believed to have upper-crust salary parameters in place with Harbaugh. Negotiations this week are believed to have produced a figure north of the $12.5MM-per-year offer Michigan made.

Harbaugh returns to the NFL as a historically successful coach, in terms of win percentage. While a Super Bowl title eluded Jim Harbaugh against his brother 11 years ago, the younger sibling’s .695 win percentage — compiled from 2011-14 in San Francisco — ranks fifth in NFL history. That number, however, leads all coaches who began their career after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

The Chargers regularly assembled well-regarded rosters in recent years, but they have routinely fallen short of expectations. During Tom Telesco‘s GM run, the team went 3-for-11 in playoff appearances — these seasons all coming with Herbert or Philip Rivers at quarterback. Harbaugh guided the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games with Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick at the controls. Coaching Herbert naturally appealed to this year’s lot of coaching candidates, and Harbaugh’s work with Smith and Kaepernick effectively illustrates his coaching acumen. Ditto Michigan’s recent run, which includes three straight CFP appearances and a convincing win over Washington in this year’s title game.

Herbert’s presence and a return to California — where Harbaugh has coached in four cities in the college and pro ranks — provided a natural appeal. The Chargers making a much bigger financial commitment will as well. Harbaugh will follow first-timers Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley, residing in a different stratosphere in terms of prestige. The Chargers joined the Raiders in expressing significant Harbaugh interest at the end of the regular season, but the Silver and Black did not opt to interview any of this year’s top candidates, instead elevating Antonio Pierce to the full-time post. This left the Chargers as the Harbaugh favorites, and the sides used this week’s second interview to discuss staffing.

Ex-49ers and Ravens OC Greg Roman has been mentioned as a candidate to rejoin Harbaugh, but no coordinators are in place yet. Neither is a GM. One finalist, Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, has emerged. It was long assumed Harbaugh would want to handpick his GM, but that does not appear the case any longer. Although Harbaugh and ex-49ers GM Trent Baalke‘s feud is largely responsible for his 2015 San Francisco exit, the fiery HC is not believed to be strongarming the Chargers on this front. That said, the Bolts will assuredly hire a front office boss that Harbaugh approves.

Prior to Harbaugh’s 2011 San Francisco arrival, the 49ers had missed eight straight playoff brackets. Their stampede to three consecutive NFC title games included a comeback win over the Falcons in the 2012 conference decider, leading to a Super Bowl XLVII appearance that ended with the Harbaugh-Kaepernick operation on the doorstep of completing a historic rally. Herbert is more talented than either of the QBs Harbaugh worked with to reach that stage, setting the stage for one of the most interesting stretches in franchise history.

Harbaugh, whose two-year run as a Bolts quarterback transpired just before the team drafted Drew Brees, will have some other roster issues to address. Injuries have been a notorious issue for this franchise, with each of the team’s skill-position regulars sustaining notable setbacks over the past two seasons. Austin Ekeler is a free agent, while Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are each attached to $20MM-per-year deals. Allen will be 32 this year, while Williams (29) is coming off an ACL tear. The Bolts possess some pieces up front, headlined by Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, and have both edge rushers (Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack) under contract for 2024. Bosa, however, is attached to a $27MM-AAV accord and has continually encountered injuries.

After restructuring Allen, Williams, Bosa and Mack’s contracts last year, the Chargers are projected to be more than $45MM over the 2024 cap. Only three teams are in worse situations presently. While the Bolts are hiring Harbaugh for the long haul, he is 60 and lasted only four years during his previous NFL run. The roster issues coming up will be pivotal, given Herbert’s presence and the $52.5MM-per-year contract to which he is tied.

Upon firing Staley, owner Dean Spanos said the team would make an effort to reimagine its operation. Team president John Spanos confirmed he has a regular role in football ops, having come up through the scouting ranks with the family-owned franchise. Harbaugh’s presence will likely come with more control than the Chargers have given to their previous coaches.

Considering Michigan’s effort to retain Harbaugh and the Falcons entering the pursuit, the veteran coach carried substantial leverage. As Big Ten fans will surely note, this NFL jump will also be a way for Harbaugh to evade an NCAA suspension for the above-referenced scandal. He served two three-game bans in 2023, for different infractions, but potentially faced more punishment. That topic came up during his recent Wolverines re-up talks.

Excluding Sid Gillman‘s AFL tenure, the Chargers have underachieved for most of their history. Air Coryell could not book them a Super Bowl berth. Neither could the Brees draft choice or the Rivers acquisition. Only a 1994 one-off did the trick. The franchise will entrust Herbert’s prime to Harbaugh, making for one of the most fascinating partnerships in recent NFL history.

Packers To Fire DC Joe Barry

January 24th, 2024 at 10:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Packers stunned the Cowboys in the wild-card round and nearly left San Francisco victorious six days later, they are still following through with a change that was rumored near the end of the regular season. They will have a new defensive coordinator next season.

Joe Barry is out, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Barry lasted three seasons as Green Bay’s DC, but his unit struggled down the stretch. Barry’s contract ran past this season, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, making this a true firing.

[RELATED: 2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

This marked Barry’s third opportunity running a defense. Like predecessor Mike Pettine, the bevy of former first-round picks present on this unit did not result in the return on investment the Packers have sought. The team’s defensive issues late in the regular season nearly prevented this playoff run from coming to pass. While Matt LaFleur said Tuesday he was not ready to make a call on Barry, the five-year Green Bay HC has done so early Wednesday morning.

After allowing Tommy DeVito extensive success on the ground, the Packers allowed the Giants’ rookie third-stringer to mount a game-winning drive in Week 14. Six days later, Baker Mayfield carved up the Green Bay defense to post the first perfect passer rating by a Lambeau Field visiting quarterback. Week 16 brought a shootout with a Panthers team that went 2-15; Carolina put up 30 points in that game. After that outing, Barry’s ouster was assumed. It appears the Packers’ strong finish could not offset these concerning late-season showings.

Overall, the Pack ranked 10th in scoring defense and 17th in yards allowed. The No. 10 mark represents a seven-spot improvement from 2022. DVOA was much less kind to Barry’s unit, placing it 27th this season. The metric graded Barry’s first-rounder-laden group 25th in 2022 as well. We heard last summer Barry entered a make-or-break year, and while the defense hounded Dak Prescott (garbage-time yards notwithstanding) and flustered Brock Purdy in a game the No. 1-seeded 49ers nearly blew, the former Detroit and Washington DC will need to look elsewhere to continue his career in 2024.

The Packers continue to use first-round picks on defense. With the exception of Jordan Love in 2020, Derek Sherrod (2011) stands as the most recent Green Bay first-rounder on offense. For much of Aaron Rodgers‘ starter run and Love’s first year as a first-stringer, the defense has not looked like a unit flooded with first-rounders. But seven homegrown Round 1 picks (Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker, Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Darnell Savage) were in place this season. All but Savage are under contract for 2024.

Barry, 53, managed to garner a second chance despite being Rod Marinelli‘s DC on the 0-16 2008 Lions team, serving as Washington’s DC from 2015-16. Both Barry Washington units finished 28th in total defense, but as many coaches have, the veteran assistant elevated his stock on Sean McVay‘s staff. Barry’s four-year run as Rams linebackers coach (2017-20) boosted his value, leading to the Green Bay opportunity.

As for who could be next, SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates Titans pass-game coordinator Chris Harris impressed during his interview for the DC post in 2021. Harris is back on the DC radar, with the Titans firing Mike Vrabel. Ejiro Evero also worked with LaFleur in Los Angeles. Evero was believed to be a finalist for the Green Bay gig in 2021.

The Panthers, however, have long held interest in pairing Evero with their next HC. The first-year Carolina DC also has a second HC interview scheduled with the team. Jim Leonhard was believed to be LaFleur’s first choice for the job in 2021, per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, but the former NFL safety stayed at the University of Wisconsin. Leonhard finished last season at Illinois as a senior football analyst.

Barry’s replacement will naturally enter a high-pressure situation, with Love ascending during this season’s second half to create expectations for the 2024 team.

Chargers To Bring In Ravens’ Joe Hortiz For Second GM Interview

January 24th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Ely Allen

After landing their desired option at head coach earlier today, the Chargers appear to be moving forward with their hiring process for a new general manager. After hosting Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown today for a second interview, the Chargers are now set to host Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz for a second, in-person interview tomorrow, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Hortiz has worked his way through the ranks in Baltimore’s front office since joining the franchise in 1998. Beginning in the scouting department, he became the team’s director of college scouting and enjoyed considerable success in the role. Hortiz held that position for 10 years before being promoted once again in 2019. He has overseen both pro and college scouting ever since.

The Chargers have been without Tom Telesco at the helm since he was dismissed alongside Brandon Staley midway through the season. The team thus has a vacancy at general manager for the first time since 2013. As is the case for the team’s coaching search, the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert on a long-term deal will likely make the Los Angeles posting an attractive one, but the roster does include a number of veterans on pricey contracts. Plenty of work will need to be done over the short and long term for the new general manager to sustainably set the team up for postseason contention during Herbert’s prime.

Here is an updated look at the Chargers’ GM search:

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/24/24

January 24th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s reserve/futures deals from around the league:

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

In his second year out of college, Havrisik made his NFL debut for the Rams, playing nine games for Los Angeles this season. He struggled from distance, only converting four of nine field goal attempts over 40 yards, and disappointed with three missed PATs this year. Cleveland will take a chance on an experiment at kicker after seeing regular kicker Dustin Hopkins miss the last few games of the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/24/24

January 24th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s Wednesday’s minor moves throughout the NFL:

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Wanogho and Davis’ 21-day practice windows will open now. Wanogho’s addition to the active roster could add some well-timed depth on the offensive line as the team deals with an injury to starting guard Joe Thuney that could force him to miss time. Davis isn’t expected to make much of an impact on a deep 49ers defensive line rotation, but allowing Davis to return to practice following a high ankle sprain in December could give San Francisco a good look at one of the few defensive tackles they’ll still have under contract in 2024. It should also give Davis a head start on any offseason training plan.

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