HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Buccaneers Want To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David; No Baker Mayfield Talks Yet

January 30th, 2024 at 7:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers’ interest in retaining Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. has been fairly well documented at this point, but the organization wants to retain one of its other Super Bowl starters. Lavonte David remains in the team’s plans.

Wrapping his 12th year with the Bucs, David is still playing at a high level. The veteran defender led the team with 134 tackles — his most since 2015 — and produced 4.5 sacks (his most since 2016). While Devin White‘s propensity for freelancing has undercut his athleticism, David has offered the team much more consistency. And the Bucs are placing a priority on David finishing his career in Tampa, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com notes.

While White could well be on the move after a disappointing contract year in which he saw his role decrease, David still looks to have a great chance of playing another season in Tampa. David, 33, played out a one-year, $4.5MM contract. If the Bucs do not re-sign David before the start of the 2024 league year on March 13, they will be hit with a $2.67MM dead-money charge. That is unlikely to faze a team that spent a season with a $35.1MM in Tom Brady dead money on its books.

One of this era’s best off-ball linebackers, David’s Pro Bowl count is lacking (one) due to the NFL still grouping rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together. David, however, is a three-time All-Pro who is the team’s second-leading tackler. Only Derrick Brooks (1,713) has more than David (1,480) among Buccaneers. David played 15 games this season, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall linebacker.

After carrying more than $70MM in dead money this year, the Bucs are projected to hold more than $37MM in cap space. The statuses of Evans, Winfield and Baker Mayfield will likely cut into that figure and require more work. The franchise tag figures to come out, with Winfield the cheapest of Tampa Bay’s options (the safety tenure is projected to be $17.2MM). The Bucs, however, have done quite well in retaining their top free agents in recent years. They let Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean test free agency before re-signing each over the past three years.

Barrett acknowledged recently he is probably on the cap-casualty radar. If the Bucs designate the veteran sack artist as a post-June 1 cut, they would save $4.9MM. Void years and a restructure have Barrett’s through-2024 deal (four years, $68MM) sitting as a rather onerous figure on Tampa Bay’s payroll. Barrett is due a $15MM roster bonus if he is on the team as of the fifth day of the 2024 league year, Laine adds. The 31-year-old veteran’s situation will be one to monitor; coming back from an Achilles tear, Barrett tallied just 4.5 sacks in 16 games.

Both Mayfield and the Bucs want to extend this partnership, but the quarterback confirmed (via The Athletic’s Mike Jones) no talks have taken place yet. Mayfield put together a strong playoff outing to lead the Bucs to a Round 1 win over the Eagles. That brought the 2023 UFA signing an additional $250K, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

March 2023, which saw three midlevel veterans sign for between $25MM and $40MM per year, can be labeled a broad price range for Mayfield. Even eclipsing the Geno Smith AAV — on a three-year, $75MM deal — would be an achievement for Mayfield, who could only command a one-year deal worth $4MM. Then again, Smith’s contract represents the floor for established QBs. Mayfield could conceivably move toward the Daniel Jones price point, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano mentioning $40MM as a logical place for talks to end. That would put the Bucs to the test, seeing as Brady never topped $25MM per year (though, his money was fully guaranteed).

Building a roster with Mayfield at $40MM per annum would be much more difficult, but the market the former No. 1 pick would command if he reached free agency — as a few teams will be looking for veteran options — will work against the Bucs this time around. Given his value fluctuation in recent years, Mayfield will be one of this year’s most interesting free agents.

Latest On Pete Carroll’s Seahawks Exit, Team’s HC Search

January 30th, 2024 at 6:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hours after the Seahawks closed the regular season with a win over the Cardinals, Pete Carroll said he was ready to return for a 15th season in charge. Two days later, the Seahawks officially announced other plans, moving on from the Super Bowl-winning HC.

Carroll may not have been resolute on returning, however. During the season, the longtime Seattle HC informed some team decision-makers he was moving toward retirement and was interested in staying with the team in a different capacity, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes. That path came to fruition, though it is not known what role Carroll will play going forward. He is not part of the committee searching for his own replacement.

The apparent Carroll backtracking did not sway Seahawks management, per Pauline, as team higher-ups were ready to move in a different direction. Carroll, 72, said he lobbied to keep his job and expressed frustration he was forced to convince non-football staffers. That said, GM John Schneider — effectively Carroll’s right-hand man for 14 years — has since assumed full control of the Seahawks. The veteran GM is leading the HC search.

This proved to be a disappointing season for the Seahawks, who faced higher expectations after a 9-8 2022 slate and a busy offseason. Seattle used two first-round picks, gave Dre’Mont Jones a $17MM-per-year deal and brought back Bobby Wagner. The team also traded for Leonard Williams, sending the Giants second- and fifth-round picks at the deadline. The Carroll- and Clint Hurtt-run defense struggled, finishing 30th in points allowed and 28th in DVOA. The team rallied back from its 6-7 place, but the mini-surge was not enough to qualify for the playoffs — even in a weak NFC wild-card chase. Hurtt is now with the Eagles, having agreed to become their D-line coach.

With Ben Johnson off the board, the likelihood of Ravens DC Mike Macdonald landing one of the two remaining jobs increases. Macdonald remains in the thick of the Seattle derby, ESPN’s Dan Graziano relayed on NFL Live (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta), but Giants OC Mike Kafka has also emerged as a name to watch here. Bobby Slowik has joined Johnson in bowing out and agreeing to keep his current job.

It would surprise if Kafka landed this job, if only because the Giants are coming off a rough follow-up to their surprising 2022 divisional-round run. The Giants tumbled to 30th in points scored and in offensive DVOA. Granted, Daniel Jones‘ injury changed the equation for the Giants, who have employed Kafka as their play-caller over the past two seasons. Jones, however, was not playing well before his ACL tear. And tension between Kafka and Brian Daboll ran high at points, leading to the head coach yanking play-calling duties during games. Rumblings about Kafka being out of the picture in New York surfaced, but he remains on staff. Kafka is not in contention for the Washington job.

Here is how the Seahawks’ HC search looks:

Texans To Extend QBs Coach Jerrod Johnson

January 30th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Make that two Texans assistants who are staying put. Minutes after reaching an agreement to retain Bobby Slowik, the Texans have a deal to keep Jerrod Johnson. The team’s quarterbacks coach is staying, CBS Sports Jonathan Jones reports.

Entering Tuesday in contention for the Saints and Buccaneers’ jobs, Johnson will pass and commit to working with C.J. Stroud again. This has turned into an important day for the Texans, who have ensured their top two offensive assistants will stay. Johnson agreed to an extension that includes a raise, according to Jones and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Keeping the Slowik-Johnson-Stroud trio together for a second season, the Texans will attempt to build on their 13th-place offensive finish this season. DVOA slotted Houston’s offense 14th — a massive improvement from the past two seasons. The Texans finished the 2021 and ’22 slates 30th offensively, seeing their Stroud investment effectively transform a downtrodden team.

After bringing Slowik with him from San Francisco, DeMeco Ryans hired Johnson from Kevin O’Connell‘s Minnesota staff. Johnson was on the quality control level during the 2021 season, moving up the ladder twice in the past two years. The Vikings employed Johnson, 36, as their assistant QBs coach during a 13-4 season. That garnered the former quarterback interest on the 2023 OC carousel. Stroud’s performance naturally led to more Johnson OC meetings. In addition to speaking with the Bucs and Saints (twice), Johnson met with the Steelers, Eagles, Patriots and Browns.

Although Stroud ranked 15th in QBR, he led the NFL in INT rate. The Ohio State product threw 499 passes and just five INTs, sprinkling in 23 TD tosses for a Texans team that nearly matched its win total from 2020-22. The 10-7 team then won a playoff game, routing the Browns. Averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, Stroud’s 273.9 yards per game led the NFL.

New Orleans took the rare step of interviewing Johnson twice; the young assistant joins ex-Bears OC Luke Getsy in being summoned for a second meeting. Tampa Bay is conducting an expansive search to replace Dave Canales, who became a one-and-done after landing the Panthers’ HC job. Johnson interviewed for the Bucs job today. The Bucs have now seen four of their candidates exit the race. It is logical Johnson will regroup and look into OC interviews again in 2025.

Considering Stroud’s standing as one of the NFL’s best young talents, it makes sense for Johnson to join Slowik in staying put. Stroud playing well again in 2024 will undoubtedly generate more HC interest for Slowik and OC interest for Johnson. The latter would also seemingly be a coordinator candidate in Houston if Slowik booked a head coaching job elsewhere next year.

OC Bobby Slowik To Stay With Texans

January 30th, 2024 at 5:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bobby Slowik entered Tuesday still in the mix for both remaining HC openings. The Texans’ offensive coordinator will pass on Seattle and Washington. Slowik will stay in Houston, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.

A new deal, one that Breer mentions includes a significant raise, will keep Houston’s play-caller in town. This will ensure pivotal continuity for the ascending Texans, who saw C.J. Stroud become an impact rookie with Slowik calling the shots. This marked Slowik’s first season calling plays, but the former 49ers assistant was a fixture on this year’s HC carousel. He figures to be a big name during next year’s hiring period as well. This agreement also comes with an extension, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.

The Seahawks interviewed Slowik, and the Commanders had met twice with the up-and-coming play-caller. Slowik, 36, also met with the Falcons, Panthers and Titans this month. The Falcons interviewed Slowik twice but went with Raheem Morris. Ben Johnson was rumored to be the favorite for the Washington job, but even with the two-year play-caller staying in Detroit, Slowik will no longer pursue the position. It is far from certain Slowik would have landed the job; he was not mentioned as a favorite like Johnson was. Still, this narrows the field for the Commanders.

Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Lions DC Aaron Glenn are the coaches remaining in the mix who have interviewed twice with the Commanders. Slowik met with Commanders brass in-person Jan. 23. Glenn is meeting with team reps today. Macdonald and Quinn are also in contention for the Seahawks’ job. Neither Seattle nor Washington has contacted Bill Belichick.

This represents big news for the Texans, who have seen quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson interview for multiple OC positions. The Saints have interviewed Johnson twice, while he spent today in Tampa meeting with Buccaneers brass. Slowik staying would provide some protection in the event Johnson leaves, giving Stroud continuity going into his second season. The Slowik-Johnson partnership worked wonders for Stroud in 2023; the No. 2 overall pick is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year acclaim.

Effectively in a two-year holding pattern as they pondered how to replace Deshaun Watson, the Texans ranked 30th in each of the previous two seasons. DeMeco Ryans‘ Slowik hire helped vault the team (with a notable Stroud assist) to 13th in scoring this season. The Texans voyaged to the divisional round, doing so after winning just 11 games from 2020-22. Set to build around Stroud’s rookie contract, the team now has assurances Slowik will keep working with the prized prospect.

Slowik resides in a strong spot regarding future HC employment. He comes from a Kyle Shanahan tree that has already produced three HC hires since 2021 and is tied to one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. It is arguable this situation outflanks Johnson’s in Detroit, given Stroud’s trajectory. Higher-profile jobs could become available in 2025, with the Cowboys and Eagles deliberating on their HCs after disappointing playoff exits. The Bills have also hit a divisional-round wall under Sean McDermott, while the Jaguars are weeks removed from a collapse. Slowik will join Johnson in reassessing the landscape in 2025.

Dolphins To Conduct DC Interviews With Anthony Weaver, Chris Kiffin

January 30th, 2024 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Anthony Weaver is still in the running for a head coaching opportunity, but he has also drawn interest for a coordinator vacancy. The Ravens’ defensive line coach will interview with the Dolphins for their DC position, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

As Weaver toggles his status on the HC and DC carousels, the Dolphins are also preparing to interview Texans linebackers coach Chris Kiffin. That meeting will take place Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Despite the Dolphins giving Vic Fangio a contract worth more than $4.5MM annually — a deal believed to have the veteran coach positioned as NFL’s highest-paid DC — the team is searching for a defensive play-caller for a second straight offseason. The Eagles have since brought Fangio back to Philly.

Weaver, 43, is the rare position coach to receive a second interview for a head coaching position. The former NFL D-lineman has coordinator experience, but just one year of it; and that came for a 4-12 Texans team. Weaver has been the Ravens’ D-line coach since leaving Houston, and interested teams now have Justin Madubuike‘s monster contract year to factor into their decisions.

Although Weaver interviewed for the Falcons’ HC job and remains in the running in a Commanders search that has since changed after Ben Johnson‘s surprising decision Tuesday morning, he has not interviewed for a defensive coordinator job during this cycle. The Dolphins are the only team to request an audience with the veteran assistant regarding a DC post. Weaver’s second Commanders HC interview occurred Monday.

This is new territory for Kiffin, who joined DeMeco Ryans‘ team during the 2023 offseason. The son of famed DC Monte Kiffin, Chris moved up from the college ranks in 2018 to join Kyle Shanahan‘s staff. He overlapped with Mike McDaniel in San Francisco from 2018-19, when the current Dolphins HC was the 49ers’ run-game coordinator. Kiffin, who assisted as a 49ers pass rush specialist, coached the Browns’ D-line for three seasons (2020-22).

As of Tuesday afternoon, here is how the Dolphins’ DC search looks:

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Interview requested
  • Anthony Campanile, inside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed
  • Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview blocked
  • Leslie Frazier, former defensive coordinator (Bills): To interview 1/30
  • Chris Kiffin, linebackers coach (Texans): To interview 2/2
  • Ryan Slowik, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview expected
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed
  • Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach (Ravens): To interview

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Latest On Commanders’ HC Search

January 30th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ben Johnson loomed as the favorite for the Commanders’ HC job for over two weeks, but a curveball looks to have disrupted the NFC East franchise’s search process.

Despite being interested in the North Carolina native since last year and being prepared to pursue him for a second straight offseason, the Panthers did not wait for the Lions’ season to end, instead hiring Dave Canales last week. That seemed to be a prelude to Johnson’s Washington arrival, but the prominent HC candidate has once again pledged to stick with Detroit. This creates uncertainty for Josh Harris‘ club.

Although ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicates Johnson did not appear a slam dunk for the Washington job, he mentions Commanders brass was en route to Detroit to interview Johnson and Aaron Glenn when word emerged the Lions’ OC was bowing out of another search. Johnson’s decision surprised many, per Schefter, even though the young play-caller made the same move last year.

The Commanders indeed had Johnson installed as the frontrunner here, per Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. As for who is most likely to land the job now, Vacchiano indicates Dan Quinn and Mike Macdonald have been viewed as sleepers during this process. These two have been sought-after candidates, but the “sleeper” label appears to have been applied because Johnson was viewed as a borderline prohibitive favorite to become the next Commanders HC.

Quinn has interviewed twice with the Commanders, Macdonald once. Both are in consideration for the other HC vacancy. A Seahawks-Quinn reunion became rumored immediately after Pete Carroll‘s ouster, while Macdonald is interviewing with the team today.

Johnson, 37, received a raise to stay in Detroit last year. Another pay bump is not believed to be forthcoming, Schefter adds, noting Johnson’s current Lions deal runs through the 2025 season. The Lions should again be expected to field a quality offense. Jared Goff is signed through 2024, though he is on track to become a higher-paid QB before next season. Pass-catching pillars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta remain on rookie deals, though the former is a clear extension candidate in 2024. Three of Detroit’s five O-line starters — Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell — are under contract for 2024 as well.

More attractive jobs could also open up in 2025. The Cowboys and Eagles spent time deliberating about their head coaches, and although Mike McCarthy and Nick Sirianni are returning, they are going to do so on hot seats (McCarthy especially, as he is a lame duck). The Jaguars’ patience with Doug Pederson could wear thin as well, given the disappointing season the team just completed. Although no head coach has been fired following a playoff berth since Mike Mularkey (Tennessee) six years ago, the Bills just became the third team in the home-field advantage era (1975-present) to lose back-to-back home divisional-round games. Sean McDermott‘s seat has likely warmed as well, though it might not rival the two coaches overseeing NFC East powers presently.

As the Commanders continue their search, they do still have Texans OC Bobby Slowik in the mix. While Slowik has only been a play-caller for one season, he joins Adam Peters in having spent extensive time in San Francisco. Here is how the Washington search looks following Johnson’s surprise exit:

Ravens Prepared To Tag DL Justin Madubuike

January 30th, 2024 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Known for prioritizing compensatory picks, the Ravens have let a number of front-seven pieces walk in free agency over the past several years. Justin Madubuike may have become too valuable to join this brigade of defender defectors.

Long rumored as a player the Ravens wanted to extend, Madubuike played out his rookie contract. The monster walk year the young defensive lineman put together appears to have moved him beyond the caliber of player the Ravens feel like they can afford to lose. Baltimore is expected to use its franchise tag on Madubuike if no contract agreement emerges over the next five weeks, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley notes.

The Ravens extended Broderick Washington before the season. The fourth-year D-lineman inked a three-year, $15.75MM accord; Madubuike has since soared well beyond this price range. The defensive tackle tag is projected to come in around $19.7MM. Projected to hold more than $13MM in cap space, the Ravens will have some work to do in order to carve out enough space for a tag and sufficient funds in free agency.

Baltimore made the Lamar Jackson tag work, carrying that lofty number on its books until the superstar quarterback’s late-April extension. That path will make Madubuike’s price easier to stomach. The Ravens also tagged Matt Judon in 2020, providing a clearer roadmap.

While the Ravens tagged Judon, they let him walk in 2021. Judon joined the likes of Za’Darius Smith, C.J. Mosley, Yannick Ngakoue and Pernell McPhee in departing Baltimore for big-ticket contracts elsewhere over the past decade. The Judon defection stung the Ravens, who have relied on veteran stopgaps on the edge for the past three years. The team’s Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy additions proved wildly effective this year, but both are free agents once again. One season remains on Odafe Oweh‘s rookie contract.

A third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2020, Madubuike has been a starter for the past three seasons. He smashed his career-high totals in sacks and QB hits this season, finishing with 13 and 33 in those categories to anchor Baltimore’s pass rush and become the first Raven with double-digit sacks since Terrell Suggs in 2017. Madubuike tied an NFL record by recording at least a half-sack in 11 straight games this season, becoming an integral part of Mike Macdonald‘s defense — one that ranked first in points allowed.

It is certainly possible Baltimore opts to make Madubuike (5.5 sacks, nine QB hits in 2022) prove it on the tag in 2024. That would, of course, require the team to carry the tag cost on its payroll throughout the season. Jackson’s extension dropped his 2023 cap number from $32.4MM to $22.15MM. The Ravens also have Patrick Queen weeks away from free agency. The team has Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey tied to top-market contracts at their positions, with Jackson now in the $50MM-AAV club. Marcus Williams is also tied to an upper-echelon safety accord, though Kyle Hamilton‘s rookie deal could run through 2026 via the fifth-year option. This year’s window to apply franchise tags runs from Feb. 20-March 5.

Saints To Conduct Second OC Interview With Luke Getsy

January 30th, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Conducting their first OC search in 16 years, the Saints are not cutting corners. They have multiple candidates in place to conduct second interviews. Luke Getsy will be one of those.

The Saints are set to bring the former Bears OC in for another meeting, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. The second Getsy-Saints meeting will take place Wednesday in New Orleans. Pete Carmichael has already landed on his feet, becoming the latest ex-Saints staffer to sign on with the Broncos under Sean Payton.

The Bears fired Getsy, 39, last month. He will join Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson as candidates to receive a second interview for this job. The Saints, however, have also met with a few more still-available staffers. New Orleans has seen some of its candidates land elsewhere. Dan Pitcher, Zac Robinson and Shane Waldron — Getsy’s eventual Chicago replacement — have taken OC jobs with other teams.

Getsy remains in consideration for the Patriots’ OC job, with Breer confirming his previously reported Pats interview is transpiring today. The Pats also had Robinson, Pitcher and Waldron on their interview docket. The Bengals promoted Pitcher, and Robinson quickly became a candidate to follow Raheem Morris to Atlanta. That hire came to pass, taking another option off the table for OC-needy clubs.

The Bears employed Getsy as a play-calling OC for two seasons. The former Packers assistant made a smart pivot to an offense that capitalized on Justin Fields‘ run-game strengths midway through the 2022 season, and the Bears led the NFL in rushing that year. Chicago finished second on the ground this past season. Fields showed signs of development as a passer in 2023, but his standing in that area is driving the Bears’ seminal Fields-or-Caleb Williams call. Fields finished 23rd in QBR this season.

The longtime NFC North staffer is also in contention for the Raiders’ OC post. Here is how the Saints’ pursuit stands as of Tuesday afternoon:

Brandon Staley Meets With Packers, Dolphins; Rams To Conduct DC Interview

January 30th, 2024 at 2:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 30: The Rams indeed have interest in bringing Staley back. The former Chargers HC will interview for Raheem Morris‘ old job Wednesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Staley cemented his place as a top HC candidate in 2021 by overseeing a No. 1-ranked Rams defense. While Staley’s Chargers defenses could not justify the franchise’s investment, the 2020 Rams ranked first in scoring defense and yardage allowed. With multiple teams pursuing the three-year HC, an immediate move back to a coordinator job may be in the cards.

JANUARY 26: A short list of names worth watching quickly emerged for the Packers’ defensive coordinator position once Joe Barry was fired earlier this week. Green Bay had yet to line up an interview, but that has now changed.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

The Packers are speaking with Brandon Staley for their DC position, Matt Schneidman and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report. Staley’s first head coaching gig, which came with the Chargers, certainly did not go according to plan. He was let go midway through the 2023 season, his third in Los Angeles. A coordinator role likely awaits him in his next NFL opportunity.

Staley was not originally thought to be under consideration for Green Bay, but he is indeed meeting with the team today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. This Packers summit represents the first firm interest shown in the 41-year-old, but it does not appear to be the last. Schefter adds that Staley will interview with the Dolphins for their DC posting this weekend, and that a Rams reunion could be on the table.

Miami moved on from Vic Fangio after just one season at the helm, and he has already taken the Eagles’ DC role. The Dolphins thus have a notable vacancy to fill, and their upcoming Staley interview is the team’s first known one to fill the position. Miami underperformed relative to expectations at times during the season, although by the playoffs the team’s defense was ravaged by injuries. A number of key roster pieces are in place on that side of the ball.

Like the Dolphins, the Rams made it to the wild-card round of the postseason this year. Morris played a key role in that success, and he landed the Falcons’ head coaching position in a return to Atlanta. Staley could embark on a reunion of his own by taking the Rams’ DC position, one which he held in 2020. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue names Staley as a potential candidate for the gig (subscription required).

Despite his background, Staley’s Chargers never ranked better than 20th in total defense. That, coupled with a regression on offense in 2023, helped inform the team’s decision to dismiss him and general manager Tom Telesco. The latter has already landed the Raiders’ GM job, but it will be interesting to see where (and in what capacity) Staley winds up. Today’s update certainly point to competition for his services in a coordinator role being a distinct possibility.

Buccaneers To Interview Lions’ Tanner Engstrand For OC

January 30th, 2024 at 2:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Panthers conducted a narrow OC search that will end with Buccaneers wide receivers coach Brad Idzik following Dave Canales to Charlotte, Tampa Bay is going through with a thorough process. This will now include a look at the Lions’ staff.

Detroit pass-game coordinator Tanner Engstrand is on Tampa Bay’s radar, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who notes the Bucs will interview the Dan Campbell staffer soon. Engstrand is also on the Patriots’ radar; he interviewed for the New England OC job last week.

This has marked Engstrand’s first offseason on the OC carousel. The Lions are surprisingly retaining Ben Johnson for a third year as their play-caller, but one of his top lieutenants could be headed elsewhere. That said, the Bucs have six names on their OC radar. Three of Tampa Bay’s other candidates — Ken Dorsey, Kellen Moore, Zac Robinson — landed coordinator jobs with other teams.

Campbell retained Engstrand, 41, from the Matt Patricia staff, though this was his first season as the team’s pass-game coordinator. The 2020 Detroit hire coached the team’s tight ends from 2020-22. Although the Commanders were favored to hire Johnson, the latter’s decision to again stay in Detroit has affected the HC carousel. Johnson’s call also closes off a potential OC path for Engstrand, who could have been a candidate to become Lions OC had Johnson left as expected.

Here is how the Bucs’ expansive OC search looks as of Tuesday afternoon:

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