2024 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Ravens Updates: Urban, Departures, Hewitt

February 11th, 2024 at 7:18pm CST by Ely Allen

After leading the league in scoring defense and finishing sixth in yards allowed this season, the Ravens saw their defensive staff get dismantled as several other teams around the league decided to provide opportunities for upward mobility to several assistants. Now begins the process of hiring replacements on new defensive coordinator Zach Orr‘s staff.

The first two new additions we see in Baltimore come from the college football ranks. First, University of Michigan defensive analyst Doug Mallory makes the move from one Harbaugh to another, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. After working with Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor, Mallory heads to Charm City to work with his former coach’s older brother, John Harbaugh. Mallory will be taking the defensive backs coaching job, a role he previously held at the NFL level with the Falcons. He replaces Dennard Wilson, who now holds the defensive coordinator position in Tennessee.

Orr’s former position of inside linebackers coach will be filled by another former college staffer. Former University of Kansas defensive analyst Mark DeLeone is expected to fill his new boss’s former job coaching inside linebackers, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. DeLeone has coached the same position group with the Chiefs, Bears, and Lions over the years.

With those two positions filled, and Chuck Smith perhaps staying as outside linebackers coach, the sole vacant position remaining to fill would be the defensive line coaching gig vacated by new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Here are a few other coaching updates for the AFC runner ups:

We already knew of the departures of Wilson, Weaver, and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec provided an update on a few other staffers who aren’t expected to return in 2024. On the offensive side of the ball assistant quarterbacks coach Kerry Dickson and assistant offensive line coach Mike Devlin will not be back next season. Devlin is set to serve as the Chargers‘ new offensive line coach. On special teams, assistant T.J. Weist is also not expected to return. Additionally, senior analysts James Urban and Craig Ver Steeg and director of football research Scott Cohen will not retain their roles in 2024.
With all the loss and new additions, longtime staffer Chris Hewitt has been rewarded once again for his longevity. A Ravens coaching assistant since 2012, Hewitt has moved through the ranks from assistant special teams coach to assistant secondary coach to defensive backs coach to pass defense coordinator to pass game coordinator and secondary coach. While Hewitt will remain the team’s pass game coordinator on defense in 2024, he will do so with the additional moniker of assistant head coach, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The title was previously held by Weaver.

Bill Belichick Expected To Return To NFL In 2025

February 11th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve written plenty about former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick over the last few months following his departure from his long-time post in New England, and after the extensive recent coverage, it seems that we shouldn’t expect to hear from him for quite a few months. After missing out on the Falcons’ open head coaching position, Belichick is expected to take the 2024 NFL season off in anticipation of jobs that could open up in 2025, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport reports that, once the Falcons made their decision to hire Raheem Morris, several team owners reached out to Belichick in order to gauge his interest in returning for the 2025 NFL season. This seems questionable, as every team in the NFL currently has a head coach in place, but with a few coaches’ contracts set to expire after next year, those owners are set to make sure they have their bases covered. That’s not to mention owners who may be anticipating a hot seat for their current team leaders.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tells us that, while Belichick was certainly interested in the Atlanta job, a number of factors kept him from being too crestfallen about missing out. The future of general manager Terry Fontenot and the power structure with chief executive officer Rich McKay were both concerns of Belichick’s. Moving forward, next year, those types of factors will be a part of his decision-making process.

Fowler also tells us that Belichick’s reputation as a history buff could factor into his decision-making, offering that the 71-year-old could prioritize historic franchises when picking out his next destination. This lines up with rumors we’ve heard about the Cowboys and Eagles, whose head coaches could be on hot seats after disappointing ends to their 2023 campaigns. This also throws in a franchise like the Bears, who have had four different head coaches since 2012.

We’ll have plenty of time to speculate over the next several months. For now, suffice it to say that Belichick is widely expected to return. He is 15 wins shy of breaking Don Shula‘s all-time wins record (including playoffs) and is reportedly motivated to pass that mark. He’ll just have to wait another year to do so.

Ryan Tannehill On Steelers’ Radar?

February 11th, 2024 at 4:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

After Will Levis took over for an injured Ryan Tannehill midway through the 2023 season, the latter’s Titans tenure appeared to come to a close. Tannehill is a pending free agent, but he should draw interest from a number of potential suitors.

One of those is likely to be the Steelers, Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network write. Pittsburgh hired ex-Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, meaning a Tannehill deal would mark a reunion. He and Smith worked together in Tennessee, during which time Tannehill had the most productive seasons of his career.

Smith served as the Titans’ OC in 2019 and ’20, Tannehill’s first two campaigns in Nashville. He earned his lone Pro Bowl nod, along with Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2019 while averaging a league-leading 9.2 yards per attempt. The former Dolphins first-rounder followed that up with 3,819 yards and a 33:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, proving to be a solid fit in Smith’s run-heavy scheme. With Levis now in the fold, though, Tannehill (along with fellow stalwart Derrick Henry) is on track to depart in free agency.

In three seasons since Smith parlayed his coordinator success into Atlanta’s head coaching gig, Tannehill has regressed statistically while dealing with multiple injuries. In November, he was demoted to backup behind Levis, who showed flashes in his rookie campaign. Tannehill – who insisted he did not seek out his release in the aftermath of that decision – started the final three games of the campaign with Levis sidelined, giving him one last audition period before reaching the open market.

Tannehill, 35, is one of several veteran signal-callers in this year’s projected free agent class. Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield and Gardner Minshew could command more lucrative deals if they do not remain with their respective teams, but Tannehill could at least compete for a starting role in the right environment. Pittsburgh has Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky in place for now, but changes at the position are expected.

Trubisky is likely to be released after finding himself demoted to third-stringer, while Rudolph is a pending free agent. He could be retained, but a new deal would likely depend on the potential of winning the starting position in training camp. Pickett is under team control for at least two more years, but he was passed over in favor of Rudolph during the team’s late-season playoff push and wild-card loss. The 2022 first-rounder will enter the offseason as QB1, but a competition will take place.

Tannehill will be in line for a far smaller deal than the four-year, $118MM pact he signed in 2020 on his next contract. The Steelers, meanwhile, are among the teams currently set to be over the salary cap for the 2024 league year, although they like all others will make a number of cost-cutting moves in the coming weeks. Any interest between the two parties will be worth watching as the QB market begins to take shape.

Bears Likely To Release S Eddie Jackson?

February 11th, 2024 at 2:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

During the 2023 season, the future of Bears safety Eddie Jackson was unclear. A potential trade chip, he was not dealt at the trade deadline. It would come as a surprise if he were in Chicago for the 2024 campaign, however.

Jackson recently appeared to bid farewell to the city in an Instagram post, The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Bears, but injuries and finances have become a complicating factor in his situation. Jackson last played a full campaign in 2020, and he has recorded more than one interception in a season only once during that span.

The two-time Pro Bowler is due $14.15MM in 2024, the final season of his current contract. No guaranteed salary exists on his pact, however, so the Bears could move on with little financial implications. A release before June 1 would yield $12.56MM in savings with a dead cap charge of $5.58MM. Designating him a post-June 1 cut would alter those figures to $14.15MM and $3.99MM, respectively. Jackson’s brief message implies he will be let go in the near future, a move which would come as little surprise given the financial benefits of doing so.

Jackson’s resurgent 2022 performance – in which he recorded four interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles – drew a PFF grade of 76.2, the second-highest mark of his career. His rating this year (58.6) was in line with his others in recent seasons, though, due in part to poor coverage grades. The Alabama product allowed three touchdowns and a passer rating of 120.6 in coverage in 2023, something which would hurt his value in the event he reached free agency.

Jackson was mentioned as a name to watch on the trade front in advance of the trade deadline. Taking on the 2024 portion of his contract would have been burdensome for an acquiring team, though, and he finished out the year with Chicago. The former fourth-rounder logged a 100% snap share in each game he was healthy for, proving his ability to log a starter’s workload with the Bears or a new team moving forward.

Chicago has 2022 second-rounder Jaquan Brisker in place as a safety starter, and he will be counted on as a key defender for the foreseeable future. The Bears have a number of other inexpensive options at the position, including Elijah Hicks, Jaylon Jones, Quindell Johnson, Douglas Coleman and Adrian Colbert. Jackson, a veteran of 100 starts, could offer at least experienced depth on the backend of an interested team, although a free agent agreement would likely come at a much lower cost than what he is currently due.

Final Transactions Before Super Bowl LVIII

February 11th, 2024 at 1:30pm CST by Ely Allen

FEBRUARY 11: McKinnon is a game time decision, but NFL Network’s James Palmer reports he is expected to play. Sunday’s contest would represent his first action since Week 14, but it would also mark an impressive recovery in relatively short order from his core muscle surgery. McKinnon is a pending free agent, and a strong performance would help his market on another Chiefs deal or one with a new team.

FEBRUARY 10: With the NFL’s season finale taking place tomorrow night, both participants have made their roster moves in anticipation of the biggest game of the year. The 49ers‘ moves are simple as they choose to promote defensive tackles Alex Barrett and T.Y. McGill as standard gameday elevations, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The Chiefs will make an elevation, as well, while also choosing to swap out an active roster player for a player off of injured reserve.

[Poll: Who Will Win Super Bowl LVIII?]

The Chiefs standard gameday practice squad elevation will once again be nose tackle Mike Pennel, who has been activated for each of Kansas City’s three playoff victories thus far. In the past, Pennel has been joined by practice squad cornerback Keith Taylor or defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, but it appears Pennel will be the lone practice squad defender activated for tomorrow.

As for the active roster addition, the Chiefs have made the move to officially activate running back Jerick McKinnon off of IR. The veteran rusher has mostly been a non-factor in the Chiefs offense this year but has served a role as the team’s backup pass-catching back. Despite the activation, McKinnon is still listed as questionable going into Sunday night’s game. In order to make room for McKinnon on the active roster, the Chiefs placed All-Pro guard Joe Thuney on IR. Thuney’s status was already known, so clearing him from the active roster should have little consequence at this point.

For San Francisco, Barrett and McGill are expected to be among the seven players listed as inactive for the big game. While this may make the elevations seem trivial, it’s the 49ers way of rewarding the reserve defenders. Elevating Barrett and McGill will provide the two with an additional playoff paycheck before the season ends.

Eagles Grant Haason Reddick Permission To Seek Trade

February 11th, 2024 at 11:49am CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles have given edge rusher Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Reddick is owed a $14.25MM salary in 2024, the last year of his current deal.

Reddick, 29, was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2017 draft, and he had an inauspicious start to his career, struggling through several underwhelming years as an off-ball linebacker. When Chandler Jones went down with a season-ending bicep injury in 2020, Reddick convinced Arizona’s coaching staff to let him take Jones’ place as a pass rusher. After all, Reddick had thrived in that role in college, but he was considered too small for it at the professional level. The move paid major dividends, as Reddick racked up 12.5 sacks that season and parlayed his success into a one-year, $6MM deal with the Panthers in 2021.

Reddick compiled 11 sacks in his first and only season in Charlotte, at which point it became clear that his Cardinals breakout was no fluke. That convinced the Eagles to hand him a three-year, $45MM contract in 2022, and he followed up a 16-sack performance that year with another 11-sack effort in 2023. He has made the Pro Bowl in both of his first two seasons in Philadelphia.

As Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com observes, Reddick’s contract has been an “issue” for over a year. After his tremendous 2022 campaign, in which he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, both player and team knew that Reddick was underpaid relative to his market value. Reddick, however, did not hold out for a new contract, and the Eagles did not explore one either (which is understandable, as he was just one year into a three-year accord). Now, it is clear that Reddick wants to be paid like the elite player he is, and with 11 edge defenders enjoying AAVs of at least $20MM, that would seem like the floor in negotiations with Philadelphia or any other club.

Of course, as both Shorr-Parks and Zach Berman of PHLY observe, allowing Reddick to shop himself does not necessarily mean that his time with the Eagles is up. Ultimately, Philadelphia simply may not like any trade offers enough to deal a top player at a premium position, but if the Eagles do decide to retain Reddick, Berman believes GM Howie Roseman will authorize a new contract rather than let a disgruntled player finish out his below-market deal. Berman adds that Roseman’s decision will be influenced, at least to some degree, by the presence of Josh Sweat, who is also entering a platform year.

In addition to his production over the past four seasons, Reddick has also proven to be highly durable, having missed one game in seven professional seasons (h/t Berman). Although he will be 30 in September, it would not be surprising to see other teams pony up significant trade compensation along with a contract that would position Reddick among his highest-paid peers.

Kadarius Toney Accuses Chiefs Of Lying About Injury Status; Toney A Healthy Scratch For Super Bowl

February 11th, 2024 at 9:16am CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 11: Toney was not on the Chiefs’ final injury report for Super Bowl LVIII, but he is not expected to play in the title game, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The healthy scratch may well represent the end of Toney’s time in Kansas City.

JANUARY 28: Finishing out a disappointing season with the Chiefs, Kadarius Toney has not played since Week 16. Injuries have been a constant during the 2021 first-round pick’s career, and he is listed as out for today’s AFC championship game due to a hip injury. It appears Toney is disputing this designation.

In an expletive-laden Instagram Live tirade, Toney accused the Chiefs of lying about his injury. Kansas City’s injury report listed Toney as being out due to ankle and hip injuries ahead of the wild-card and divisional-round games; only a hip issue is listed this week.

This rant occurred hours before today’s game kicked off, and given Toney’s performance to date, it could change his status with the Chiefs. Toney, who turned 25 on Saturday, was a full practice participant Wednesday but was listed as limited Thursday and Friday. The team downgraded Toney to out Saturday. The Chiefs had hoped Toney could grow into a No. 1-caliber wide receiver this season; he has fallen well short of expectations.

Acquired for third- and sixth-round picks before the 2022 trade deadline, Toney has proven unreliable in New York and Kansas City. Injuries significantly limited him with the Giants, and they cropped up immediately following his move to the Chiefs. Hamstring trouble largely derailed his final weeks as a Giant, but during his three-year career, the shifty wide receiver has dealt with ankle, quad, oblique and knee trouble since coming off the 2021 draft board 20th overall. The Giants dealt Toney due to reliability concerns; those have not dissipated in Kansas City.

Toney suffered a meniscus tear minutes into Chiefs training camp this summer, but he was back in time for the team’s opener. This has been by far Toney’s healthiest season, but it has also brought him more attention for consistency issues not involving health. Toney drops represented part of the Chiefs’ long-running receiver issues, and his offside infraction negated his own go-ahead touchdown in a narrow loss to the Bills in December. During Toney’s most recent game active, he dropped a pass that led to a Patrick Mahomes INT (and a dismayed reaction from the superstar quarterback).

The birth of Toney’s daughter also factors into his absence, with the Chiefs listing him as out due to “hip/personal” reasons. Moving beyond the issue of Toney’s accusation, this rant certainly stands to spell trouble for his future with the defending champions. Toney has just 27 receptions for 169 yards this season, and while his Super Bowl-record punt return provided a boost in the Chiefs’ narrow Super Bowl LVII win, his absence appears to have helped streamline the 2023 squad’s passing attack. The Chiefs have performed better without inconsistent wideouts Toney and Skyy Moore available; Moore remains in the IR-return window.

It would cost the Chiefs $2.53MM to cut or trade Toney after this season. One year remains on his contract. Toney’s stock already plummeted during his time in New York, and while he has displayed an intriguing skillset, the Florida alum’s trade value is obviously low at the close of his third season.

Tom Brady’s Ownership Interest In Raiders Cleared For Approval

February 11th, 2024 at 8:15am CST by Rory Parks

It was first reported back in May that Tom Brady had agreed to buy a stake in the Raiders. The approval of that transaction was delayed for multiple reasons, but according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, all systems are go.

Other league owners reportedly took issue with the bargain price at which Raiders owner Mark Davis was trying to sell a share of his club to Brady. Although minority pieces of a sports franchise are frequently sold for discounted rates — due to limited partners’ minimal contributions to franchise operations — it was rumored that Davis may have been offering Brady, one of his most-respected confidants, a 70% discount.

It sounds as if the purchase price was increased to placate Davis’ fellow owners. Per Rapoport and Pelissero, Brady’s investment was “recently altered,” and it now reflects “the proper valuation of the team.” The duo add that all other hurdles have been cleared. The league’s finance committee will meet in early March to discuss the purchase, and final approval should come during the annual league meetings in Orlando from March 24-27.

Another concern that arose during this process stemmed from Brady’s broadcasting contract with FOX, a 10-year, $375MM deal that will begin in 2024 and that will position Brady as the network’s No. 1 color commentator alongside top play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt. Of course, teams do not want anyone with an ownership stake in a rival outfit having the access and obtaining the inside information that broadcasters often enjoy, but Rapoport and Pelissero note that Brady’s FOX plans remain unchanged without suggesting that his access wil be any different than any of his media peers.

The Raiders are valued at $5.8 billion, and Brady’s ownership group is purchasing a 10% interest (Brady himself is putting up roughly seven percent). While the legendary QB has said he intends to play a “passive role,” Rapoport and Pelissero confirm that he has operated as an unofficial advisor to Davis — he assisted in the team’s recent head coaching search and in the hiring of OC Luke Getsy — so his definition of “passive” may be a broad one.

Bears Seeking “Historic Haul” For No. 1 Pick

February 10th, 2024 at 10:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Considering the presence of Justin Fields, there’s been some speculation that the Bears could look to move the first-overall pick to a quarterback-needy squad. While the organization isn’t completely shutting the door on a trade, it sounds like it would take a massive haul to pry the pick from Chicago.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears would require a “historic haul” if they were to consider moving the No. 1 pick. One source told Rapoport that the offer would need to be “crazy,” and the compensation would presumably need to be too good to refuse.

While it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Bears would select USC’s Caleb Williams first-overall and trade their former first-round QB, there was some merit to the opposite route. As Rapoport notes, many within the organization support Fields, and the Bears have been especially pleased with the QB’s development over the past year (one source described Fields’ makeup as “rare”).

Further, the Bears certainly aren’t strangers to trading the top-overall pick. They did so last year in a trade with the Panthers that netted them this year’s first-overall selection. The Bears could theoretically keep adding to their collection of future draft picks, and those rookie salaries would be especially useful as the team navigates a potential Fields extension.

Of course, it’s that contract that will likely play a role in Chicago favoring a rookie QB. Assuming the organization picks up Fields’ fifth-year option, they’d still have their young QB on an affordable salary through the 2025 season. Then, Fields could command one of the most lucrative contracts in the NFL, a deal that might not be palatable for a squad that doesn’t seem all that close to contention.

Further, the Bears aren’t in desperate need of high draft picks following last year’s trade. They’re already armed with both the No. 1 pick and the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, and they would surely add some draft compensation if they decide to move on from Fields (although the QB isn’t expected to fetch a first-round pick).

General manager Ryan Poles was asked about his tough decision last month. The executive was naturally noncommittal regarding any specific direction, although he did go out of his way to praise Fields.

“We are going to turn every stone to make sure that we are going to make a sound decision for our organization,” Poles said (via Rapoport). “I did think Justin got better. I think he can lead this team. But at the same time, there is a unique situation.”

So what would a historic haul look like? The first-overall pick has been dealt 13 times since 1967, and the last two trades (Bears/Panthers in 2023 that saw Bryce Young go to Carolina and Titans/Rams in 2016 that saw Jared Goff go to Los Angeles) involved at least two first-round picks and two second-round picks in compensation. If a potential suitor doesn’t have any additional first-round selections besides their own, they’d be allowed to trade up to four first-round picks during the actual draft (their current selection plus three future picks).

Seahawks To Hire Ryan Grubb As OC

February 10th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Mike Macdonald has landed on his new offensive coordinator. According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, the Seahawks are hiring Ryan Grubb as their new OC.

After spending the past two years as the offensive coordinator at Washington, Grubb recently accepted the same position on Alabama’s coaching staff. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Macdonald recently made a “major recruiting pull” to convince Grubb to join his staff in Seattle. Per Condotta, Grubb met with Macdonald and Seahawks general manager John Schneider last night to “iron out the details” of their agreement. The move is expected to be officially announced next week.

Sources told Condotta that Grubb was always atop the Seahawks’ list of OC candidates, even as the team eyed other options like Chip Kelly and Tanner Engstrand. While some pundits believed Grubb was the leader in the clubhouse, the coach seemed to double down on his recent job offer. Per Condotta, Grubb appeared at an Alabama booster event earlier this week and introduced himself as the school’s new offensive coordinator.

Instead, the 47-year-old will be sticking in the state of Washington. He was name the Huskies’ offensive coordinator/assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach in 2022, and he immediately helped turn around the school’s offense. The team finished the 2022 campaign first in the nation in passing yards per game, and he helped guide the offense to a second-place finish in total offense.

He also worked closely with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who emerged as one of the top signal-callers in the nation. While Penix couldn’t crack the projected top-three QB draft grouping of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, the prospect is still expected to hear his name called during one of the first two days of the draft.

While Grubb was recently credited with Washington’s passing offense, he also has extensive experience coaching the running game. During stops at Fresno State, Eastern Michigan, Sioux Falls, and South Dakota State, Grubb was tasked with coaching running backs and offensive linemen.

After Nick Saban retired, Alabama was quick to hire Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer. Washington opted not to promote Grubb to their open HC job, so the coordinator decided to follow his head coach to Alabama. Grubb is also expected to bring current Alabama offensive line coach (and former Washington OL coach) Scott Huff with him to the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Macdonald has done quick work filling his staff, adding Aden Durde as defensive coordinator and Jay Harbaugh as special teams coordinator. Grubb will be replacing Shane Waldron, who took the Bears’ OC job after the Seahawks moved on from Pete Carroll.

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