Antonio Pierce

Latest On Antonio Pierce’s Status; Raiders To Involve Tom Brady Heavily In HC Call

December 18th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders made an unorthodox hire in January, keeping Antonio Pierce as their head coach despite his lacking of a conventional resume for such a post. Players, most notably Maxx Crosby, stumped for Pierce; nearly a year later, however, he is on the hot seat.

Although it should be noted Pierce does not have too much to work with right now, the Raiders have lost 10 straight and have the inside track on the No. 1 overall pick due to a projected strength of schedule advantage on the 2-12 Giants. Pierce being given the chance to coach said draftee, most likely a quarterback, is far from assured. A recent report had NFL insiders split on the Las Vegas HC’s future; a subsequent offering is a bit more pessimistic.

Some around the league believe the Raiders are giving consideration to making Pierce a one-and-done (as a full-time HC, at least), according to Bovada’s Josina Anderson, who points to Tom Brady having a significant say here. Brady will indeed be heavily involved on the coaching front, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.

It is unusual for a minority owner to have the kind of power Brady appears to now possess in Vegas, as Mark Davis will lean on the recently retired quarterback to lead the effort to fix the team’s signal-caller situation as well. With Brady’s role set to change how the Raiders operate, Anderson adds another interesting piece of this equation by indicating some around the league believe GM Tom Telesco is “separating himself.”

The Raiders hired Telesco shortly after they removed Pierce’s interim tag, and Davis said last week the franchise does not view the two as a package deal. That makes matters interesting, as GMs are typically given longer leashes than HCs. Telesco also has far more experience, having been the Chargers’ GM for more than 10 years.

Before hiring Telesco, Davis spoke of wanting a third power broker to join his team’s head coach and GM, which at that point had not been determined. While not holding a football ops title, Brady appears to be that third power player in Vegas. As such, Telesco’s job description will have changed less than a year into his tenure.

As for Pierce, he said (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) his conversations with Davis have been positive and alluded to being under contract in 2025 when asked about his job security. Pierce is a historical outlier in terms of coaching paths, having been neither an NFL coordinator nor a college HC before receiving this Raiders chance. Although players have responded to the former NFL linebacker and Arizona State DC better compared to Josh McDaniels, the honeymoon period is long over. The Raiders are stumbling to their worst season since Art Shell‘s 2006 return, which produced a 2-14 record and the No. 1 overall pick.

Pierce is widely believed to have pushed for what would have been an unrealistic trade to acquire Jayden Daniels (at No. 2 overall) before the draft and has been saddled with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder this season. Being fired during a QB transition period for the franchise would be a tough break for Pierce, though he will have a 1 1/2-season sample size due to the interim appointment last year. The Raiders finishing 2-15 and keeping their HC would invite tremendous scrutiny, and the prospect of Brady wanting to start over at HC and QB could loom.

Residing in a division that houses the two-time defending Super Bowl champions and resurgent Broncos and Chargers teams helmed by successful coaches, the Raiders have an uphill battle to wage. The allure of an unusually prominent ownership role may well have enticed Brady to wait more than a year to be approved, and the Raiders’ 2025 offseason — particularly where the dominoes fall at quarterback, head coach and general manager — is poised to be quite interesting.

Raiders To Evaluate HC Antonio Pierce After 2024 Season

December 12th, 2024 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders went 5-4 to close out the 2023 season, and interim head coach Antonio Pierce received a number of endorsements from players to receive the full-time gig. Owner Mark Davis – having regretted not doing so in the case of Rich Bisaccia previously – decided to keep the former Pro Bowl linebacker in place for 2024.

Things have not gone according to plan, though, with Vegas struggling in a number of categories. The team sits at 2-11 on the year and a high draft pick (perhaps the No. 1 selection) is set to be a central element of the offseason. By the time the draft takes place, a decision will have been made by owner Mark Davis regarding any coaching moves.

On that note, Davis said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal) during the league meetings he will evaluate the Raiders’ staff, including Pierce, after the season ends. Notable changes have of course already been made during the campaign, with Pierce electing to fire offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in November. Scott Turner took over as interim OC, a move which has also seen his father Norv join the staff. Those moves have not yielded a notable uptick in offensive efficiency, although other factors have contributed to that.

Quarterback injuries have been seen throughout the campaign, with Gardner Minshew suffering a broken collarbone and Aidan O’Connell missing time. The latter suffered a bone bruise in Week 14, but he may be available for the Raiders’ next game. Failing that, Desmond Ridder will be in line to start against the Falcons, his former team. Minshew was added in free agency as a bridge starter option, although he only narrowly won out a training camp competition with O’Connell. Their collective struggles have left the Raiders near the bottom of many offensive categories.

League sources are split on Pierce’s job security, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, partially because his contract length was shorter than most other recent hires. Firing him after one injury-riddled season in which the Raiders were not expected to compete seems harsh, but Tom Brady‘s addition to the team’s ownership group could complicate matters.

Davis wants Brady to “have a real role in the decision-making,” per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. If Brady already has his eyes on a different long-term head coach – or simply believes that Pierce isn’t the man for the job – Las Vegas may not waste their time (or Pierce’s) by giving him another year.Davis recently clarified that Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco will be evaluated separately.

“They didn’t come in as a team. They are individuals,” said Davis, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, though the Raiders made the decision to hire Telesco less than a week after elevating Pierce from his interim status.

The early returns on Telesco’s moves this offseason have been positive. First-round pick Brock Bowers is a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and second-rounder Jackson Powers-Johnson has cemented himself as the team’s starting center. The jury remains out on the $110MM given to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who had a solid start to the year but has been on injured reserve since October with a Jones fracture in his foot.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

AFC West Notes: Moss, Raiders, Chargers

December 5th, 2024 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Broncos were able to contain Jerry Jeudy when they opted to use All-Pro Patrick Surtain on their former receiver, the first-year Browns contributor otherwise preyed on the team’s primary Riley Moss replacement during a dominant Monday-night showing. Free agency addition Levi Wallace struggled mightily, leading to a late-game benching and exposing an issue for a Broncos defense that had entered the game as one of the NFL’s best. The Broncos have seen Moss deliver quality play in his first season as a starter, but an MCL sprain sidelined him for Week 13. It is not certain Moss will be ready to return after Denver’s bye week.

The 2023 third-round pick is slated to need “a couple” weeks to return, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler pointing to a re-emergence against the Colts next week being in play but perhaps not a certainty. A two-week absence from an MCL sprain would be on the short end as far as recoveries go. A long-term lens reveals the Broncos nabbing an important contributor in Moss, given the looks the team’s non-Surtain corners see, but a woeful coverage effort Monday exposes a short-term issue for the wild-card contender. Denver used fifth-round rookie Kris Abrams-Draine, making his season debut, late in the game, playing him ahead of third-year cog Damarri Mathis.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

When Antonio Pierce fired OC Luke Getsy, the Raiders installed Scott Turner as the interim play-caller. They also brought veteran Norv Turner out of retirement, with Scott indicating (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) he spearheaded that effort. Norv, a three-time HC and Super Bowl-winning OC, had been out of the NFL since 2020. The 72-year-old coach is currently staying with his son in Las Vegas, as the Raiders attempt to find solutions on offense amid a rough season.
Norv Turner makes three former HCs on Pierce’s Vegas staff, joining Joe Philbin and Marvin Lewis. The Raiders also kept DC Patrick Graham around from Josh McDaniels‘ brief HC run while adding Getsy — the team’s second choice for OC after Kliff Kingsbury backed out during negotiations — as the top voice on offense. Getsy’s quick firing and how Pierce pieced his first staff together has drawn some internal pessimism, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Not having much NFL coaching experience nor possessing any college HC seasoning made Pierce a historic outlier in terms of NFL HCs, and it limited his coaching tree’s reach. Pierce leaned on his former Giants HC, Tom Coughlin, for guidance in assembling his first staff. Thus far, the Raiders are 2-10, having lost eight straight. Regardless of players’ push to have Pierce move to HC, Mark Davis is likely considering making the former interim boss a one-and-done as the full-time leader.
Ladd McConkey is battling two sprains presently. The blossoming Chargers rookie has been playing through an AC joint sprain, with Fowler adding he picked up a knee sprain against the Falcons. Jim Harbaugh was vague about the second-round wideout’s status for Sunday’s Chiefs rematch, but McConkey did log a limited practice Wednesday. McConkey, whom the team traded up for in April, has 401 more receiving yards (815) than the next-closest Charger.
J.K. Dobbins will not be part of the Chargers-Chiefs rematch, being placed on IR due to a sprained knee. Prior to going down, however, the resurgent running back picked up a $150K bonus by clearing 600 rushing yards for the season, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The injury-prone RB signed a one-year, $1.61MM deal this offseason. The team has Gus Edwards, tied to a more lucrative deal, and sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal as its top backs on the 53-man roster.

AFC West Notes: Raiders, Chiefs, Harbaugh

October 16th, 2024 at 1:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Brady‘s playing days are officially over, as his near-two-year odyssey toward becoming a Raiders part-owner is now complete. Brady’s broadcasting restrictions remain firmly in place, and a note coming out of Tuesday’s approval (h/t Bleacher Report) indicates Brady is prohibited from publicly criticizing officials and other clubs. That will make his Sunday FOX gig quite challenging, as the now-Raiders-affiliated broadcaster already cannot attend practices, appear at other teams’ facilities or take part in virtual or in-person pregame production meetings with personnel from the teams he will cover that week. Brady is also subject to the league’s anti-tampering policy, as all coaches and execs are. Nevertheless, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Brady’s Raiders stake purchase was approved 32-0 by owners Tuesday.

The subject of Brady’s participation regarding ownership has gone from “passive” to rumors he will play a big role as a part-owner. Mark Davis offered a hint the latter path will come to fruition, indicating (via NFL.com’s Judy Battista) Brady can help the Raiders select their quarterback of the future. Brady playing a central role in player acquisitions would certainly be of interest, as the Raiders just hired a new GM (Tom Telesco). It will be interesting to see how much input the Raiders want Brady to provide their football-ops department.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

As the Jets and Bills took their wide receiver swings Tuesday, the Chiefs have thus far stood pat. The two-time defending champions have gotten by — thanks largely to a reliable defense — with holdovers. Scheme familiarity remains a priority for the Chiefs, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who writes Kansas City has not been overly active in the receiver market thus far. The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins, whom they pursued in a 2023 trade and later in free agency that summer, and Jaguars slot cog Christian Kirk. Thus far, no traction has (knowingly) occurred. The Chiefs saw reacquisition Mecole Hardman catch the Super Bowl LVIII game-winning pass and just observed JuJu Smith-Schuster — re-signed shortly after his Patriots release — post 130 yards against the Saints. It could then be realistic the Chiefs re-sign the recently cut Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the cheap. Though, the Marquise Brown– and Rashee Rice-less team still has a deep threat — in first-rounder Xavier Worthy. A higher-profile add should still be considered in play before the November 5 deadline.
While the Chargers might be more likely to deviate from their Telesco-era pattern of not acquiring players at the deadline, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes Jim Harbaugh‘s high salary stands to contribute to how the organization proceeds. The Bolts are 27th in cash spent on players this year, as Harbaugh is on a five-year, $80MM deal. Coaching contracts, of course, do not factor into the salary cap, but those expenses are part of a team’s cash outlay. The Bolts, who obtained Taylor Heinicke and Elijah Molden via trade in August, also figure to pay more attention than usual to compensatory selections. After all, GM Joe Hortiz comes from the comp pick-obsessed Ravens. If a buyer’s trade does commence, it should be expected the return will be a low-cost performer.
Harbaugh needed to leave the sideline for a medical evaluation in Week 6, and while the new Bolts HC returned not long after, he confirmed the exit was due to an atrial flutter episode. As a result, the 60-year-old coach will wear a heart monitor for two weeks before a reevaluation commences, Popper tweets.
Similar to Harbaugh’s penalty for his Michigan violations, Raiders HC Antonio Pierce received a show-cause penalty stemming from recruiting infractions while he was at Arizona State. While Harbaugh’s show-cause penalty covers four years, Pierce’s spans eight. Due to recruiting violations during a COVID-19 dead period, a school that hires Pierce over the next eight years would need to suspend him for the first full season. Pierce’s lack of cooperation with the NCAA during its investigation since he resigned from the then-Pac-12 program (just before his Raiders arrival) contributed to the penalty.
In addition to Brady, owners approved Pistons owner Tom Gores‘ Chargers stake. Gores purchased a 27% stake in the Dean Spanos-owned franchise, which has been in the Spanos family since 1984.

Chiefs, Commanders, Ravens Out On Davante Adams; Raiders Open To Retaining WR?

October 9th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The pack is thinning in the Davante Adams pursuit. Although the teams most closely linked to the Raiders wide receiver remain in the hunt, some of the second-tier pursuers are no longer part of this mix.

Never a realistic destination due to their AFC West proximity, the Chiefs are indeed out on Adams. The same goes for the Commanders and Ravens, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur. Both Mid-Atlantic teams were believed to be in on Adams, along with the usual suspects since the WR’s trade request, but Baltimore had been drifting out of the picture.

The Commanders were listed as an Adams dark-horse destination over the weekend, but this is the second time GM Adam Peters has stood down on a big-ticket pass catcher. Brandon Aiyuk, who played a season with Jayden Daniels at Arizona State, would have been amenable to a Washington trade. But the Commanders did not show much interest in the 49ers WR this offseason. Now, the Commanders are passing on Adams, who comes with a salary teams are not keen on paying.

Adams ignited Baltimore speculation by tweeting a picture of Edgar Allan Poe last week, but the Ravens have not discussed the wideout with the Raiders in several days. The Cowboys balked due to the Raiders’ insistence they pay all of Adams’ prorated salary, per The Athletic. Dallas was mentioned as a team who checked in with the Raiders but deemed not interested soon after. Other clubs are joining Jerry Jones‘ team.

The Saints and Jets are still in this, and veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson adds Derek Carr‘s injury — an oblique issue expected to cost the QB multiple games — does not change New Orleans’ interest in this big swing. The Steelers have reached out as well, per The Athletic, while the Bills are monitoring this situation. Buffalo joined Baltimore in deeming the Raiders’ asking price as too high, but the Bills being somewhat concerned about their receiver situation may change the equation. The Steelers have been looking at WRs since establishing Brandon Aiyuk trade framework.

While ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler points to the Saints as being a slight favorite here now, ESPN colleague Adam Schefter indicates (video link) Raiders talks with the Saints and Jets may be slowing down due to the Robert Saleh firing and Carr injury respectively affecting those respective teams. This somewhat contradicts Anderson’s account re: the Saints, but while Adams is still interested in being dealt to New York or New Orleans, this process does appear to have hit a lull.

The main reason for the slowdown: the Raiders’ hope they can unload Adams for strong draft compensation and convince the acquiring team to pay the entirety of his prorated base salary. At least one team negotiating with the Raiders was told the AFC West club does not intend to pay any of the wideout’s remaining 2024 base, Fowler adds. This hardline stance obviously will give teams pause about giving up a plus asset — the Raiders want a second-round pick and more — for a soon-to-be 31-year-old receiver who is due $11.92MM for the season’s remainder.

On the New Orleans front, Anderson adds the prospect of giving up a higher-end draft choice here has not gained much traction. While the Saints are known for their salary cap wizardry, they only hold $2.6MM in space as of Wednesday. Mickey Loomis‘ club would need to make significant adjustments to accommodate all of Adams’ money — to the point it might be a nonstarter for the Saints if the Raiders refuse paying any of Adams’ salary.

As for the Jets, The Athletic notes they are still talking to the Raiders despite having fired Saleh. That decision conceivably moves Joe Douglas closer to the chopping block, but the sixth-year GM is still running point on negotiations that will help the 2024 Jets. Considering the jobs on the line and Aaron Rodgers‘ urging for this reunion, it would surprise if New York was not in this until the end.

Adams had pledged continued support for the Raiders’ cause, denying trade rumors for a while, but Fowler adds the quarterback situation — which has featured a months-long, on-and-off competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell — has factored into the receiver’s decision to ask out. Adams displayed clear frustration during the Raiders’ short-lived Jimmy Garoppolo QB1 period, making it unsurprising a player who built a Hall of Fame case with Rodgers and produced first-team All-Pro numbers with Carr would want much more of the Raiders’ current situation.

That said, the onus for an Adams trade to take place as soon as possible falls on the Raiders, who are paying the disgruntled wideout nearly $1MM per week until he is dealt. The Raiders carry more than $26MM in cap space and need a long-term quarterback, making it a bit odd they are holding the line financially when paying some of Adams’ money would bring better trade compensation. Also complicating Adams’ situation: his hamstring injury will sideline him for Week 6, Fowler adds. A previous report pointed to Adams being ready for Week 6; a three-week injury absence stands to give teams more pause.

Adams requesting a meeting with Antonio Pierce to express his demand to be traded to a better team surprised his coach, according to The Athletic. Adams had stumped for Pierce to be elevated to the full-time HC post, but the parties’ relationship has deteriorated since. The Raiders said they would accommodate him due to not wanting uncommitted players. Adams was then informed of the Pierce Instagram like regarding a trade the next morning during his appearance on Up & Adams.

It should now be noted that Pierce is not slamming the door shut on Adams playing for the team again. Pierce said he and Adams have talked since the trade request surfaced, and it sounds like the Raiders — potentially in a posturing move — are open to keeping Adams.

“He is in good spirits, we talked … so everything’s good. … He is still a Raider. He has never not been a Raider,” Pierce said, via Tafur. “When he’s healthy and can play, we’ll play him. He’s working everyday to get that hamstring right and he’s in the right headspace mentally. Like I said, we talked recently, had a good conversation and he’s ready to play football.”

Unless Pierce’s Wednesday words do prompt a reconciliation, the Raiders are preparing to say goodbye to the first receiver they have seen snare first-team All-Pro honors since Hall of Famer Cliff Branch in 1976. Teams will save more than $940K each week by waiting, as the NFL’s offseason deadline change resulted in a Nov. 5 trade endpoint for this year.

Raiders Gauging Interest In Davante Adams; WR Prefers To Be Traded

October 1st, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams‘ name has frequently been floated in trade rumors, and that remains the case through four weeks of the season. While nothing is imminent, a deal is at least receiving consideration on the part of the Raiders.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the team is “growing open to the idea” of a trade sending Adams elsewhere, adding the Raiders have reached out to teams to gauge his market.. Such a development was speculated in advance of the 2024 campaign, one in which expectations were low for the Raiders. Sitting at 2-2 on the year, Vegas is certainly not out of the playoff picture; still, a deal involving Adams would not come as a surprise.

The lines of communication between team and player appear to be open at this point. Adams has informed the Raiders his preference is to be traded, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. Nothing is imminent as things currently stand, but that could could certainly change in relatively short order.

The three-time All-Pro had made it clear multiple times this summer he remained committed to the Raiders. That sentiment was reciprocated by the team, one now led by general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce. No thought was given to a trade in the build-up to the campaign, and that sentiment reportedly remained the same before Week 4. Adams missed that contest due to a hamstring injury, and the 31-year-old is considered week-to-week.

Despite the desire expressed by both parties in continuing their relationship, Adams was seen around the league as a potential trade target before the season kicked off. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers remarked about his interest in reuniting with the former Green Bay Pro Bowler in the future, and when speaking about a hypothetical trade Adams named the Jets as a desirable destination. It remains to be seen if New York is among the teams which Vegas has been in contact with while exploring a potential deal, but the Jets are of course a logical suitor.

Three years remain on the Fresno State product’s deal, but only 2024 contains guaranteed salary. Adams’ base compensation for this season is $16.89MM; any acquiring team would take on a prorated portion of that figure before no doubt engaging in talks on a reworked contract covering future campaigns. Adams has yet to go public with any trade request, but actions from Pierce has led to a new wave of speculation on the subject.

The first-year head coach (in a full-time capacity) liked an Instagram post from Sports Illustrated suggesting Adams will be dealt. When asked about the matter during an appearance on the Up and Adams show, the 11th-year veteran said he has not yet spoken with Pierce (video link). Adams added that he is not aware of any actions on the team’s part regarding a trade being sought out.

“I don’t really know exactly what that was about,” he said. “It’s one of those situations where I just keep my head down and keep doing my thing and let the chips fall where they may. There’s been no communication with anybody from the team since that became a thing… It’s always some sort of drama… So, people can say what they want, but I’m just chilling and trying to be the model for not stirring the pot and just locking in and doing what I got to do.”

As noted by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders declined to comment on the situation (subscription required). Provided Bonsignore’s report is accurate, though, this situation will become one of the league’s central storylines leading up to the trade deadline. 18 teams currently have eight figures’ worth of cap space to work with, meaning a number of suitors could emerge especially later on in the campaign as Adams’ acquisition cost (in terms of finances) drops.

After a strong campaign reunited with Derek Carr for 2022, Adams’ production dipped last season. Still, his 103-1,144-8 statline demonstrates his potential at this stage of his career, and he would be an attractive trade piece for any number of teams. Whether or not the Raiders proceed with serious talks on a swap in the near future will be worth watching closely.

Latest On Davante Adams’ Trade Potential

October 1st, 2024 at 9:30pm CST by Ely Allen

In a scene that’s been building for quite some time, Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams made it clear today that he prefers to be traded. The timing of today’s events was a bit surprising, but according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the situation “has been brewing for a while.” Reed points out that, since Adams’ arrival in Las Vegas, the Raiders are just 16-22 and Adams has been on the receiving end of passes from six different quarterbacks.

One catalyst for the recent developments could have been the official hiring of head coach Antonio Pierce after his term as interim head coach last season. While Pierce’s official promotion was a popular decision among the players in Las Vegas, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that, lately, Pierce’s relationship with the team’s star receiver has been deteriorating. As a result, teams became aware yesterday that Adams could be available in a trade, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

Howe adds that “the general projection so far is” that Adams will draw a third-round draft pick in a trade, perhaps more if a team makes a harder push based on their level of interest. This doesn’t necessarily align with the Raiders’ desires as ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez informed readers that they would consider trading Adams “for a package that would include a second-round draft pick and additional compensation.”

The “additional compensation” part of that package may be a hard one to come by, though, as there seems to be an assumption that acquiring Adams will require some adjustments and restructuring to his current contract. According to Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS, this would likely require teams to get access to communicate with Adams in order to negotiate a restructure.

Because of the potential commitment of capital that will be required for a restructured deal, it appears that teams are pushing for third-round compensation, as opposed to second-round. NFL Insider Josina Anderson reported that an NFC team has shown interest in acquiring Adams, just not for a second-round pick. Anderson also posited that some teams may push for Las Vegas to absorb some of Adams’ 2024 salary, a sticking point that may make it difficult for Adams to be moved.

It’s an extremely fluid situation and the optics will likely continue to change over the coming days and weeks. For now, though, the Raiders are hoping for a second-round pick with some additional compensation, while other teams are hesitant to commit a second-round pick knowing they’re likely going to have to work out a new contract for the 31-year-old. It’s a situation to watch as things continue to develop.

Poll: Which First-Time Head Coach Will Fare Best In 2024?

September 8th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2024 coaching cycle produced eight hires around the NFL. Raheem Morris (Falcons), Jim Harbaugh (Chargers) and Dan Quinn (Commanders) are each in place as head coaches after previously serving in that role with past teams. The other five are making their coaching debuts this weekend.

Dave Canales ended a lengthy tenure with the Seahawks in 2023 when took over as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator. That was his first opportunity as a play-caller at the college or NFL levels, and Tampa Bay did not rank among the league’s elite in terms of passing production. The team was also last in rushing yardage, but overall the Buccaneers outperformed expectations in 2023. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was among the many in-house players who landed a contract keeping him in Tamp Bay this offseason.

That came in no small part from the former No. 1 pick’s career highs in yards (4,044) and touchdown passes (28) under Canales. Expectations will be high for another NFC South title in 2024 for the Bucs, but the opposite will be the case in Carolina as Canales begins his first head coaching gig. The 43-year-old helped stabilize Mayfield’s career in Tampa Bay after doing the same with Geno Smith in Seattle. Canales will now be tasked with overseeing Bryce Young’s development.

Selected first overall last April after the Panthers’ blockbuster trade to acquire the top pick, Young struggled mightily in 2023. The same was true of many other aspects of the organization, of course, and head coach Frank Reich was fired midway through his first season as head coach. General manager Scott Fitterer was dismissed this offseason, with Dan Morgan being promoted as his replacement. He and Canales are at the helm of a long-term rebuild, but at least slight improvement from last year’s 2-15 campaign will be expected in 2024.

Antonio Pierce has slightly more experience than his fellow first-year coaches. The Raiders gave him the interim HC title after Josh McDaniels was fired midway through his second season in Vegas. Owner Mark Davis was in a similar situation when Rich Bisaccia took on interim duties in 2021. Davis allowed Bisaccia to depart, a move he has since expressed regret over.

Instead of repeating that move this year, Davis tapped Pierce for the full-time gig. Many players publicly endorsed the former Pro Bowl linebacker after he guided the team to a 5-4 record down the stretch. Efforts to land a quarterback in the first round of the draft were unsuccessful, so training camp saw incumbent Aidan O’Connell and free agent pickup Gardner Minshew compete for the starting gig. Neither passer impressed, and the veteran will begin the year atop the depth chart based largely on his experience.

The Raiders added Christian Wilkins to a defensive front already featuring Maxx Crosby, and the team’s defense will be leaned on heavily amidst questions in the passing game. Vegas’ rushing output without Josh Jacobs in the backfield will also be worth watching as Pierce looks to lead the Raiders to a postseason return or at least offer a reason for long-term stability on the sidelines.

Jerod Mayo was known to be the Patriots’ heir apparent to Bill Belichick well before the six-time Super Bowl winner parted ways with the organization. Belichick’s departure came about after the third year with Mac Jones in place at quarterback wound up as a disaster. Sweeping changes on offense were made in the offseason, although a number of players brought in during Belichick’s tenure were retained.

That will leave Mayo – who spent his entire eight-year playing career in New England – with several familiar faces on defense in particular (except, notably, Matt Judon). The 38-year-old spent much of his first training camp overseeing a quarterback competition between veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookie Drake Maye. The latter will begin his career on the bench, but as the No. 3 pick in April’s draft and the more productive passer during the preseason he is expected see the field in relatively short order.

The 2024 campaign will be measured in large part by Maye’s development, but the degree to which the Patriots’ offensive line and receiving corps progress will be worth watching as well. Mayo and first-year de facto GM Eliot Wolf‘s roster is not expected to compete in the AFC East, but a step forward from the end of the Belichick era would provide optimism moving forward.

Pete Carroll attempted to remain in place at the helm of the Seahawks in 2024, but the team moved forward with finding his replacement. Mike Macdonald, 36, is the only head coach younger than Mayo and he represents a candidate to enjoy a lengthy tenure in the Emerald City just as Carroll did. Macdonald spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons serving as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, boosting his stock considerably during that time.

Baltimore led the NFL in points allowed, sacks and takeaways last year. That unprecedented feat put him on the head coaching radar despite his age and the fact many younger head coaches tend to have a background on the offensive side of the ball. New OC Ryan Grubb will take charge of Seattle’s offense while Macdonald focuses on orchestrating a defensive rebound. The Seahawks have ranked no better than 22nd in total defense over the past five years.

Seattle finished 9-8 last season, and quarterback Geno Smith is among the core players still in place from Carroll’s final campaign. If Macdonald can guide the team to a better finish on defense, a postseason berth could very well be within reach. The NFC West figures to remain highly competitive, though, so his first year at the helm will feature several challenges if a return to the playoffs is to take place.

Brian Callahan joined Zac Taylor’s original Bengals staff in 2019 and he worked as offensive coordinator for five years. That gig did not include play-calling responsibilities, but Callahan drew head coaching interest before landing the Titans’ position. Tennessee moved on from Mike Vrabel after a second straight losing season, and Callahan will be tasked with developing quarterback Will Levis in his place.

The 2023 second-rounder made nine starts during his rookie campaign after taking over from Ryan Tannehill. Levis’ ability to progress will be Tennessee’s top storyline as he takes charge of a unit which now features Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Tony Pollard and multiple new starters along the offensive line. Callahan’s ability to fit those new elements into the offense and maximize Levis’ potential will determine much of the team’s short- and long-term outlook.

The Titans went 6-11 last year and the AFC South includes three other teams which have young passers; all of them posted better records than Tennessee in 2023. Ran Carthon enters his second season as general manager, and the team’s new regime will be tasked with moving forward with a new core compared to the Vrabel era. Callahan is a central figure in that effort, and Levis’ first full campaign atop the depth chart will be worth watching closely as Callahan handles play-calling duties.

Which staffer do you think will have the best campaign in 2024? Cast your vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section.

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce In No Hurry To Name QB1

July 28th, 2024 at 9:11am CST by Rory Parks

Once the Raiders exited the 2024 draft without a new quarterback in tow, it became clear that 2023 fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell and free agent acquisition Gardner Minshew would compete for the starting job. Despite Minshew’s more extensive experience and the fact that he signed a notable contract with Las Vegas this offseason – two years, $25MM – head coach Antonio Pierce said back in March that the road to the QB1 post would go through O’Connell.

Following mandatory minicamps in June, O’Connell seemingly still had a slight edge over Minshew, with the understanding that training camp would serve as the definitive test. As Albert Breer of SI.com writes, the competition between the two passers is real, and O’Connell continues to acquit himself nicely. Per Breer, the second-year pro carried himself like a starter throughout spring practices, played well, and won the trust of the club’s veteran core, including wideout Davante Adams (who appears to have had a say in the Raiders’ 2023 decision to bench veteran Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of O’Connell).

That said, Pierce has walked back his March comments just a bit, noting that there is not yet a leader in the Minshew-O’Connell race and that he is not in a hurry to name a starter.

Pierce said he would make his decision, “when it’s right, when it’s obvious…[when] it’s a no-brainer. No need to rush it. But when it’s clear, when it’s evident, then you need to make that decision” (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez).

Obviously, those comments offer nothing by way of a timeframe, and it is fair to expect the competition to carry over into the preseason slate. In the meantime, Minshew and O’Connell will presumably continue splitting first-team reps.

O’Connell, who will turn 26 before the start of the 2024 campaign, struggled with turnovers early in his time at the helm in 2023 before settling down in that regard; over the course of his final six games, he posted a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Raiders relied on a ground-heavy attack during that time, but the Purdue alum offered enough to suggest he could develop into a starting-caliber option. Increasing his 202 passing yards per game average to an extent would be necessary to achieve that, of course.

The 28-year-old Minshew, by contrast, is more of a known commodity. The former Jaguar and Eagle joined the Colts last offseason to reunite with Shane Steichen, who served as Minshew’s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia over the 2021-22 seasons before accepting Indianapolis’ HC post in February 2023. That move proved to be an important one for player and team alike since Anthony Richardson spent much of his rookie campaign on the sidelines due to injury. Minshew logged 13 starts and threw for a career-high 3,305 yards last season, nearly leading Indianapolis to a postseason berth and earning a Pro Bowl invite in the process.

In the poll of PFR readership that we published earlier this month, nearly two-thirds of the voters predicted that Minshew would win the starting gig.

Davante Adams Committed To Raiders, Discusses Aaron Rodgers Pairing

July 9th, 2024 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Things haven’t necessarily gone as planned for Davante Adams in Las Vegas. The wideout pushed his way out of Green Bay and landed with the Raiders and his college QB, Derek Carr. That QB/WR tandem only lasted one season, with the Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime shaking up the quarterback position ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Adams hinted at some frustration before the Raiders ditched that head coach/GM duo, but the receiver admitted that interim-turned-full-time head coach Antonio Pierce is a big reason why he’s content ahead of the 2024 season.

“I wouldn’t be feeling as good as I do now,” Adams said of Pierce’s promotion during an appearance on “Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams” (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “That’s for sure. He’s the type of guy that I really enjoy speaking to, working with, so I basically tried to do everything that I could to make it to where the front office didn’t have any other choice.”

Pierce guided the Raiders to a 5-4 record after McDaniels was canned, a performance that helped earn him a promotion to the full-time gig. While there’s still uncertainty at the quarterback position, Adams is committed to the Raiders…and he’s denying inquiries from some of his former teammates. Specifically, Adams admitted that Aaron Rodgers has been “in that ear” since the quarterback moved to the Jets.

“It’s not as easy as — obviously we can get together and talk about the old times and potential of doing this and that, but like I said I’m a Raider, and he knows that,” Adams said. “Maybe in the next lifetime.”

Adams also said he’s heard from former teammate Josh Jacobs, who joined the wideout’s former squad in Green Bay this offseason.

“I told him you go ahead and hold it down,” Adams said. “I’m gonna hold it down over here. I don’t think I’ll be coming back over there. Never know what’s gonna happen. If they ship me off, there’s not much I can do about it, but I’m a Raider. So nobody got to worry about that.”

Despite the management changes, the Raiders quickly quieted trade chatter this offseason, with both Pierce and new GM Tom Telesco (along with owner Mark Davis) expressing interest in keeping Adams around long-term. The wideout is attached to massive $44MM cap hits in both 2025 and 2026, but the Raiders could get out of the deal next offseason with only a temporary dead cap hit of $15.7MM. While both sides are currently saying all the right things, Adams’ future in Las Vegas will still be worth watching over the next year.

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