Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Rams
The Colts announced that they’ve re-signed linebacker Cameron McGrone to a one-year extension. The former fifth-round pick has spent the past two-plus years in Indy, including a 2024 campaign where he collected six special teams tackles in nine appearances.
If Ryan Kelly has his way, he’ll continue his career in Indianapolis. However, the impending free agent center understands that there’s no guarantee that he’ll return to the only team he’s ever played for. Following the Colts‘ season finale, the former first-round pick discussed his future in the NFL…and he seemed to hint that his long stint with the organization may have come to an end.
“I just can’t be more thankful to be drafted here nine years ago,” Kelly said (via Mike Chappell of FOX59 in Indianapolis). “Two hours from home [in West Chester, Ohio]. Through the ups and downs. There’s not another place I’d rather be. Indy will always be home. … I love the horseshoe, man. It’s been an honor to represent it the right way.”
Despite 2024 representing his age-31 season, Kelly has continued to produce. He was named an alternate on this year’s Pro Bowl squad despite missing a chunk of games due to a knee injury. He also helped anchor a strong running attack, and considering his track record, he should attract plenty of interest as a free agent. While GM Chris Ballard has recently focused on retaining his own free agents, there’s a chance the organization is priced out of the Kelly sweepstakes. If that ends up being the case, the lineman is proud of his nine years in Indy.
“If I’m part of the team going forward, great,” Kelly said. “If not, it was an honor to wear the horseshoe.”
More notes out of the AFC South…
The Bears’ head coaching candidate list is moving toward 20 names. One of those — Mike Vrabel — is out of the mix, but another (Mike McCarthy) could be back in after the latter’s separation with the Cowboys. A new name is also in the mix.
An intra-divisional request went out Monday, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reporting the Bears want to speak with Packers OC Adam Stenavich about their HC job. Because this is a request for a head coaching position, the Packers cannot block it. Stenavich joins a crowded field for the Chicago job.
Stenavich, 41, has been the Packers’ OC since 2022. That offseason featured the team promote its offensive line coach rather than lose him to the Broncos, as then-Denver HC Nathaniel Hackett wanted to bring him along with a promotion. That turned out to be a pivotal interview block, given what happened with Hackett in Denver. While Matt LaFleur has called plays throughout his Green Bay tenure, Stenavich has been a key part of the team’s transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love.
This is Stenavich’s first HC interview request; it would stand to reason he will honor it and meet with Bears brass soon. The Packers have not seen Love morph into a superstar at the pace Rodgers did, but the talented passer is 2-for-2 in playoff berths as a starter. While Love still has work to do, the Packers have done well to groom a promising cast of wide receivers. They regularly used four rookie-contract cogs — Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks — this season, and Tucker Kraft also blossomed into a quality tight end during his second year.
The Packers became the rare team with four 600-plus-yard receivers this season, and the team climbed to eighth in points and fifth in yardage during their 11-6 campaign — one that ended with Love having none of his top three wideouts still standing. Stenavich having never called plays could make him a dark-horse candidate, as bigger names are on Chicago’s interview list. But the team is conducting a wide-ranging search. It is GM Ryan Poles‘ first true search, as Matt Eberflus was hired shortly after the GM was in 2022.
Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how Chicago’s search looks as of Monday:
TODAY, 5:10pm: While initial reports painted Ryan Cowden as the No. 2 behind front office leader Eliot Wolf, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hinted that the arrangement may not be so cut and dry. During his introductory press conference, Vrabel said the team’s front office approach would feature a “shared organizational vision” (per Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal).
Vrabel said he’s already had many conversations with Wolf, although it sounds like a conversation about the front office dynamic is still to come. When discussing Cowden’s involvement in the operations, Vrabel said “nothing has been determined” while hinting that he’ll have conversations with Wolf about the definitive structure (via Giardi). At the very least, it sounds like New England’s new head coach will also have a heavy influence on how the front office operates.
TODAY, 2:40pm: Giants executive Ryan Cowden is joining the Patriots’ front office to reunite with new head coacch Mike Vrabel, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Cowden was the executive advisor to Giants general manager Joe Schoen for the last two years, but the team let him out of his contract so he can pursue this new opportunity.
Cowden is expected to be the “de facto No. 2” to Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, with a title “along the lines of VP of player personnel.” He began his front office career as a scouting assistant for the Panthers in 2000 and worked his way up to assistant director of college scouting by his departure in 2015. Cowden was then hired by the Titans to be the director of player personnel and was promoted to vice president when Vrabel came on as Tennessee’s head coach in 2018.
After the Titans fired GM Jon Robinson during the 2022 season, Cowden finished out the year on an interim basis. He was Vrabel’s preferred choice to take over the front office, but the Titans went with Ron Carthon instead. Not only did that lead to Cowden’s departure from Tennessee, it also raised tensions between Vrabel and the rest of the Titans’ leadership.
Two years later, Cowden and Vrabel are reunited in New England where they hope to turn around years of post-Tom Brady stagnation. The Patriots have a few promising players on each side of the ball, including recent first-rounders Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez, but most of the roster needs a facelift as does a culture that lacked accountability and vision from Jerod Mayo.
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack is set to hit free agency for the first time in his 11-year career, but he’ll be weighing retirement along with any contract offers he receivers.
The 33-year-old said that he was uncertain about his future plans after the Chargers’ 32-12 loss to the Texans in the wild card round on Saturday.
“Man, it’s a lot of different thoughts in my head right now,” said Mack (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “I can’t really speak on a definitive decision in terms of what I’m going to do because I don’t know if I’m going to play football moving forward.”
Mack added that he wanted to spend time with his family and “try not to make a rash decision after a loss.” The former Raider and Bear is all too familiar with first-round playoff exits: Saturday’s loss dropped him to 0-5 in his postseason career.
That lack of team success will factor into Mack’s decision. He was hoping the Chargers’ offseason overhaul would put him in a position to contend for a Super Bowl for the first time in his career. Instead, Los Angeles flamed out in the first round, leaving Mack to decide between running it back or chasing a ring elsewhere.
Like many veteran players at his age, Mack will likely have to choose between the best financial offer and the opportunity to play on a championship contender. He played through a groin injury to record six sacks and a Pro Bowl appearance despite the lowest snap share of his career, so he could still command a sizable salary in the edge defender market.
However, Mack’s career earnings are just under $170MM, the second-most of any edge defender in NFL history behind Von Miller, giving him the financial flexibility to accept a lower offer from a contending team.
That could still be the Chargers, who are currently projected to have more than $70MM in cap space next season (fourth-most in the NFL), per OverTheCap, though that number will drop once Mack’s release is processed. (His contract includes a void year in 2025, so he will count for a $8.9MM dead cap hit on the Chargers’ books.) Head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz will likely prioritize pass-catchers for Justin Herbert this offseason, but it will be tough to ignore a return from Mack on a discounted deal.
Mack has plenty of time to decide on his football future. If he retires, he’ll finish his playing career with 107.5 sacks (32nd-most all-time) and 34 forced fumbles (tied for 24th-most all-time). He also earned nine Pro Bowl appearances and three first-team All-Pro selections, along with the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot on the 2010s’ All-Decade team.
Sam Darnold enters tonight’s wild-card game as the Vikings’ unquestioned starter. Nick Mullens has been the free agency addition’s backup all season, as he is closing out his third season with the team. But Daniel Jones‘ recent promotion from the practice squad could shake things up as the Vikings enter the playoffs.
Kevin O’Connell said (via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert) Jones has improved since joining the team in late November and described his team’s backup situation as “fluid” going into the Rams matchup in Arizona. O’Connell also declined to state who would step in for Darnold in the event of an injury, pointing to Jones having a legitimate shot to do so. Jones said (via the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Emily Leiker) he is preparing as if he will be the No. 2 option tonight.
Jones is obviously far more experienced as a starter compared to Mullens, though the latter has made 20 starts as a pro. Most of those came in San Francisco, but the three-year Viking did see four starts after Kirk Cousins went down last year. Jones being ready for a QB2 role in time for the playoffs would also make sense, as he was linked to a few teams as a free agent. While developing under O’Connell represents a plus, it would be a bit odd if he chose a team that did not end up moving him past the third-string level.
By moving Jones up to the active roster when they did, the Vikings are positioned — depending on their free agency activity — to land a compensatory pick if/when Jones departs in free agency. Darnold is also coming off a rough outing in Detroit, a showdown that devolved into a blowout loss. It would obviously be shocking if O’Connell benched Darnold at any point tonight or during the playoffs, but Jones’ presence does add a bit of intrigue if the starter cannot rebound from a tough outing.
Darnold reaching free agency would make him the clear-cut top QB on the market, but late-season rumblings have also introduced the franchise tag as a legitimate consideration here. Some executives around the league believe Minnesota will retain Darnold, potentially via the tag, rather than lose him and throw an untested J.J. McCarthy into the deep end to open next season, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Darnold staying via $40MM-plus tag also should be considered likely, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson writes.
This would open up a scenario in which the Vikings continue to assess McCarthy’s development without trading the 2024 top-10 pick. A trade market could form, but the meniscus injury — one that has led to two surgeries — would also give teams pause about the former national champion even on a weaker QB market. Darnold also may not be thrilled to stay in Minnesota with a McCarthy threat looming — as it did this past offseason — but the tag would allow the Vikings to effectively move their 2024 QB plan to 2025. Darnold would be in position to remain the starter, allowing the Vikings more time to assess both their prominent passers.
Of course, Darnold would run the risk on losing value if he cannot sustain his 2024 play next season. The backup-turned-Pro Bowler would be a candidate to top $40MM per year if allowed to test free agency, and guarantees would top that by a significant margin. That would probably be the best-case scenario for Darnold financially, and it surfaced as a viable option as recently as early December. But he may have played too well for the Vikings to merely move on for only a third-round compensatory pick. While tag money would boost Darnold, he would enter a “prove it” year — after arguably already proving he is an upper-echelon starter — with a potential nine-figure contract at stake for 2026 in that reality.
Even in the days before Darnold’s Detroit outing, Fowler indicated he did not speak with an NFL staffer who believed a team would pay Darnold top-10 QB money. This would be due to the former Jets draftee’s inconsistent history. As of now, Kyler Murray‘s $46.1MM-per-year deal sits 10th among quarterbacks. This maligned draft class and a lack of other potential long-term starters could still conceivably pump up Darnold’s market to that neighborhood, if the Vikings let him walk, but how he fares in the playoffs would also play a significant role in crystalizing the seventh-year vet’s value.
The Vikes will probably give strong consideration to preventing that reality from transpiring, as they are projected to carry more than $69MM in cap space. That would be enough for a tag to be unholstered, even if it ate into Minnesota’s free agency plans at other roster spots. How Minnesota proceeds here will be one of this coming offseason’s top storylines.
With the Steelers’ latest wild-card loss in the books, several key decisions need to be made in the near future. In terms of core players, one of Pittsburgh’s top priorities could be working out an extension with edge rusher T.J. Watt. 
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has one year remaining on his current deal, and he is due just over $21MM in 2025. His scheduled cap hit is more than $30MM, though, so working out a new contract could lower that figure while ensuring he remains in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. To no surprise, Watt himself expressed a desire to hammer out another extension this offseason.
“I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” the 30-year-old said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I don’t want to leave this place… I want to be part of the solution, not leave here and go somewhere else. That’s not my intention at all.”
Watt’s play during his rookie contract earned him a four-year, $112MM extension. When at full health, he has proven that commitment to be a sensible one on the Steelers’ part. The former first-rounder tied the all-time single-season sacks record with 22.5 in 2021, and upon return from an injury-shortened campaign last year, he added another 19 to his career total. An ankle sprain did not produce any missed time in 2024, and Watt racked up 11.5 sacks along with a league-leading six forced fumbles.
With an AAV of just over $28MM, Watt’s deal now ranks fourth in the league amongst edge rushers. The position could see considerable change this offseason from a financial perspective, with Micah Parsons once again eligible for a second contract and Myles Garrett in line to secure another lucrative commitment from the Browns. Trey Hendrickson will also no doubt attempt another round of negotiations with Bengals for a big-ticket deal after he led the league in sacks in 2024.
Watt could very well find himself at or near the top of the EDGE pecking order with a third contract, although his age could give the Steelers pause. In general, it would not come as a surprise if general manager Omar Khan attempted to allocate more resources to the offensive side of the ball in 2025, something which may very well include a new deal for quarterback Russell Wilson. Even with fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith attached to a notable second contract, though, Watt is likely to remain in the Steelers’ plans.
This past June, the four-time All-Pro noted he is uncertain of how long he plans on playing in the NFL. His otherwise stellar career has been marred by a lack of postseason success, but today’s comments confirm he does not wish to seek out a trade sending him elsewhere or attempt to set up a potential free agent departure. As Pittsburgh prepares to move forward with head coach Mike Tomlin, it will be interesting to see how amenable the team is to another Watt extension.
JANUARY 13: Wilson repeated his desire to land a new Steelers contract on Monday, although he noted (via Pryor) no talks have taken place with the team yet. Needless to say, how interested Pittsburgh is in entertaining another year (or more) of Wilson in the fold will make for one of the team’s most significant offseason storylines.
JANUARY 12: Back in March, mere days after the Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year contract covering the 2024 campaign, there were already reports indicating that player and team were planning to discuss a multiyear accord in the 2025 offseason. After Wilson took over the QB1 role from Justin Fields in Week 7, the on-field results engendered more such reports, with multiple outlets reiterating that Pittsburgh intended to re-sign Wilson and keep him as the starter.
Wilson, 36, was likewise interested in extending the relationship, and Baker Mayfield’s three-year, $100MM contract with the Buccaneers was seen as a logical comparable for Wilson’s camp to shoot for in negotiations. However, the Steelers’ season ended in a tailspin, as the club lost the final four games of the regular season to cede control of the AFC North to the Ravens, and then they lost their wildcard-round matchup with Baltimore last night to bring their year to a close.
After posting quarterback ratings of at least 101.1 in five of his first seven games under center for the Steelers – a stretch in which the team went 6-1 – Wilson failed to record a rating above 94.5 during the next four games. And while his surface-level statistics in the playoff loss look strong – he connected on 20 of 29 pass attempts for 270 yards and two TDs – Pittsburgh mustered less than 60 yards of offense in the first half and were trailing 21-0 at halftime.
To be fair, the Steelers’ schedule over what became a five-game losing streak to end the season – Philadelphia, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Baltimore – was a challenging one. It is nonetheless reasonable to wonder if the team’s thoughts about Wilson’s future in Pittsburgh have changed over the last month.
For his part, Wilson remains steadfast in his desire to hammer out a new contract with the Steelers. In his postgame presser following the wildcard-round defeat, the veteran signal-caller confirmed that he intends to continue his playing career – “I’ve got so much more ball left in me,” he said – and made it plain that he hopes to stay put (X links via ESPN’s Brooke Pryror).
“It’s been one of the best years for me personally to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” he said. “And obviously I hope I’m here and everything else.”
Wilson added, “it’s a special, special place. And I know God brought me here for a reason” (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
As Florio observes, head coach Mike Tomlin declined to address the future of his team’s quarterback position after the game, merely indicating that Wilson’s performance “wasn’t good enough” while lauding the QB’s efforts in rallying the offense after the dismal first half.
Fields, who led the team to a 4-2 mark before being demoted in favor of Wilson, is also an impending free agent, but he is nearly 11 years younger than his senior colleague, and he has earned plenty of fans in the building. Indeed, Tomlin previously indicated that the decision to insert Wilson into the starting lineup over Fields was entirely his own, and that he went against the grain in making the call.
For a time, it appeared to be the right move. Now, though, the organization will have a number of difficult decisions to make regarding the most important position in sports.
The Colts are planning to interview Dennis Allen for their defensive coordinator position after firing Gus Bradley last week, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Allen was fired as the Saints’ head coach in November after seven straight losses, but his tenure in New Orleans featured significant improvements on defense. The Colts were a bottom-10 defense in points and yards allowed in 2024, so they could look for a similar turnaround under Allen.
The Saints had one of the worst defenses in the NFL when Allen arrived as a senior defensive assistant under Sean Payton in 2015. He was promoted to defensive coordinator during the season and brought the unit out of the cellar. The Saints boasted a top-five defense in 2020 and 2021, earning Allen a promotion to head coach. He maintained that standard with top-10 finishes in points allowed in 2022 and 2023, though the Saints allowed the third-most yards in 2024.
Allen would bring a more aggressive style of defense to Indianapolis compared to Bradley and his predecessor, Matt Eberflus. The Colts have already signaled their openness to such an approach.
“I definitely think there is value,” said general manager Chris Ballard when asked by ESPN’s Stephen Holder about such a change. “You’ve got to be able to affect the quarterback.”
The Colts’ other defensive coordinator candidates also suggest a change in their defensive philosophy. They have already interviewed Ephraim Banda, who coached safeties in Jim Schwartz‘s aggressive Browns defense, and they plan to interview former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and former Cardinals HC Steve Wilks, who both have histories as blitz-heavy defensive play-callers.
Uncertainty looms over the Saints’ direction at the quarterback position for 2025. The same is true on the sidelines since a new head coach has yet to be hired. Both situations, to no surprise, are linked. 
During a Monday press conference, general manager Mickey Loomis made it clear no final decision has been made at this point with the respect to how the team will proceed under center. He added (via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football) New Orleans’ next head coach will have a large say in whether or not Derek Carr will remain uncontested atop the depth chart or other options will be brought in. For his part, though, Loomis praised the veteran signal-caller.
“I have a high level of confidence in Derek,” Loomis said (via Underhill). ” He’s done some really good things here.”
Carr is currently on track to collect $30MM in base salary for 2025. $10MM of that figure is already locked in, and the remainder will become guaranteed in full in mid-March unless any adjustments are made. The four-time Pro Bowler recently made it clear he will not accept a pay cut, so a decision on a restructure (something the Saints, as usual, will need to rely on to achieve cap compliance this spring) or a trade or release will need to be made fairly soon.
In the meantime, New Orleans’ head coaching search continues. The team has already conducted several interviews, and few other candidates (with the potential exception of Mike McCarthy, who will not return with the Cowboys) are likely to receive attention. For now, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks to be the leading contender for the gig. He served as the Saints’ defensive backs coach for five seasons, and a return to his former team remains a distinct possibility.
After New Orleans elected to move on from Dennis Allen midseason, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was promoted to interim HC. Shifting to a coach with an offensive background could take place with an eye on maximizing Carr’s remaining play as he approaches his age-34 season. In any case, changes elsewhere on the staff could take place once a new head coaching hire is made, as evidenced by the fact offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is taking interviews with other teams for the same role.
Neither Spencer Rattler nor Jake Haener showed enough late in the season to suggest they could be take over QB1 duties in the event the Saints were to move on from Carr, but it remains to be seen how the team’s next head coach will perceive the situation under center.