[RELATED: Jets Give QB Zach Wilson Permission To Seek Trade]

As Albert Breer of SI.com writes, the Rams are a “logical landing spot” for Wilson. Breer also notes that Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur would be “very open to a reunion.” LaFleur previously served as the Jets OC during Wilson’s first two years in the NFL.

Wilson’s 2023 showing wasn’t any worse than his two years under LaFleur. The coach previously admitted that the organization may have made a mistake immediately starting the quarterback as a rookie. While the former Jets OC placed plenty of blame on the young signal-caller during their time together in New York, LaFleur later conceded that Wilson’s lack of development was also the fault of the coaching staff.

“For two years, we haven’t done our job with him,’’ LaFleur said following the 2022 campaign (via Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post). “Any player at any position that isn’t producing to the level they’re capable of, as a coach you’ve failed them. There’s a two-way street with it — the player’s got to meet you in the middle with it.”

Ultimately, LaFleur was the one held responsible for the offensive’s shortcomings, with the Jets and the OC agreeing to part ways last offseason. It took less than a month before the coach landed the same job with the Rams.

Breer provides more logic for why Wilson could be a fit in Los Angeles. The writer opines that the quarterback needs a year to “reset,” an opportunity he’d surely have with the Rams. With Jimmy Garoppolo now with the Rams as a QB2 behind Matthew Stafford, Wilson probably wouldn’t see the field in 2024 (barring a funky turn of events during Garoppolo’s two-game suspension).

Wilson was unexpectedly thrust back into the starting lineup following Aaron Rodgers‘ season-ending injury. The QB’s third season as a starter proved to the Jets that it was time to move on. With a divorce all but inevitable, the organization recently granted Wilson permission to find his next home. A possible sixth- or seventh-round pick could be the return, but even with the Jets basically giving him away, teams may be wary of taking on Wilson’s $11MM cap hit.

One of the longest-tenured coordinators in NFL history, Pete Carmichael is no longer with the Saints. The team moved on after 15 seasons, a stay that featured part-time play-calling duties. The Browns canned their four-year non-play-calling OC, Alex Van Pelt, while three-year play-callers Arthur Smith and Shane Waldron are relocating this winter. Brian Callahan‘s five-year gig as the Bengals’ non-play-calling OC booked him a top job.

The recent lean toward offense-oriented HCs took a bit of a hit of a hit this offseason, with five of the eight jobs going to defense-oriented leaders. Callahan, Dave Canales and Jim Harbaugh were the only offense-geared candidates hired during this cycle. But half the NFL will go into this season with a new OC. Following the Seahawks’ decision to hire ex-Washington (and, briefly, Alabama) staffer Ryan Grubb, here is how the NFL’s OC landscape looks:

2022 OC hires

• Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions*
• Mike Kafka, New York Giants*
• Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
• Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
• Adam Stenavich, Green Bay Packers
• Press Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Although this sextet now comprises the senior wing of offensive coordinators, this still marks each’s first gig as an NFL OC. Three of the six received HC interest this offseason.

Johnson’s status back in Detroit has been one of the offseason’s top storylines and a development the Commanders have not taken especially well. The two-year Lions OC was viewed as the frontrunner for the Washington job for weeks this offseason, and when team brass did not receive word about Johnson’s intent to stay in Detroit (thus, waiting until at least 2025 to make his long-expected HC move) until a Commanders contingent was en route to Detroit for a second interview, a back-and-forth about what exactly broke down took place. Johnson should be expected to remain a high-end HC candidate next year, but Dan Campbell will still have his services for 2024.

Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ HC job, and the Giants then blocked him from meeting with the NFC West team about its OC position. Rumblings about Kafka and Brian Daboll no longer being on great terms surfaced this year, with the latter yanking away play-calling duties — given to Kafka ahead of the 2022 season — at points in 2023. Taylor may also be on the hot seat with his team. Doug Pederson gave Taylor the call sheet last season, and Trevor Lawrence did not make the leap many expected. After a collapse left the Jaguars out of the playoffs, the team had begun to look into its offensive situation.

2023 OC hires

• Jim Bob Cooter, Indianapolis Colts
• Nathaniel Hackett, New York Jets*
• Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams
• Joe Lombardi, Denver Broncos
• Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens*
• Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs
• Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals*
• Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
• Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans*

Only nine of the 15 OCs hired in 2023 are still with their teams. One (Canales) moved up the ladder, while others were shown the door following that organization canning its head coach. The Eagles were the only team who hired an offensive coordinator last year to fire that staffer (Brian Johnson) after one season. Nick Sirianni fired both his coordinators following a wildly disappointing conclusion.

Hackett may also be drifting into deep water, given what transpired last year in New York. Rumblings of Robert Saleh — who is on the hottest seat among HCs — stripping some of his offensive play-caller’s responsibilities surfaced recently. This marks Hackett’s fourth chance to call plays in the NFL; the second-generation staffer did so for the Bills, Jaguars and Broncos prior to coming to New York. After the 2022 Broncos ranked last in scoring, the ’23 Jets ranked 31st in total offense. Hackett’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers has largely kept him in place, but 2024 may represent a last chance for the embattled coach.

Of this crop, Monken and Slowik were the only ones to receive HC interest. Neither emerged as a frontrunner for a position, though Slowik met with the Commanders twice. The Texans then gave their first-time play-caller a raise to stick around for C.J. Stroud‘s second season. Stroud’s remarkable progress figures to keep Slowik on the HC radar. Monken, who is in his third try as an NFL OC (after gigs in Tampa and Cleveland), just helped Lamar Jackson to his second MVP award. The former national championship-winning OC did not stick the landing — as Jackson struggled against the Chiefs — but he fared well on the whole last season.

Schottenheimer is on his fourth go-round as an OC, while Lombardi is on team No. 3. The latter’s job figures to be more secure, being tied to Sean Payton, compared to what is transpiring in Dallas. With the Cowboys having Mike McCarthy as the rare lame-duck HC, his coordinators probably should not get too comfortable.

2024 OC hires

• Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills*
• Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
• Ken Dorsey, Cleveland Browns
• Luke Getsy, Las Vegas Raiders*
• Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks*
• Nick Holz, Tennessee Titans
• Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders*
• Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints*
• Brad Idzik, Carolina Panthers
• Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles*
• Dan Pitcher, Cincinnati Bengals
• Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons*
• Greg Roman, Los Angeles Chargers*
• Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers*
• Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots*
• Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears*

The 49ers do not employ a traditional OC; 16 of the 31 teams that do recently made a change. Most of the teams to add OCs this year, however, did so without employing play-calling coaches. This naturally raises the stakes for this year’s batch of hires.

Retreads became rather popular. Dorsey, Getsy, Moore, Van Pelt and Waldron were all OCs elsewhere (Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle) last season. Smith will shift from calling the Falcons’ plays to running the show for the Steelers. Dorsey, Getsy and Van Pelt were fired; Moore and Waldron moved on after the Chargers and Seahawks respectively changed HCs. Moore and Smith will be calling plays for a third team; for Moore, this is three OC jobs in three years.

Coen, Kingsbury and Roman are back after a year away. Kingsbury became a popular name on the OC carousel, having coached Caleb Williams last season. This will be his second crack at an NFL play-calling gig, having been the Cardinals’ conductor throughout his HC tenure. This will be Coen’s first shot at calling plays in the pros; he was Sean McVay‘s non-play-calling assistant in 2022. Likely to become the Chargers’ play-caller, Roman will have a rare fourth chance to call plays in the NFL. He held that responsibility under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco; following Harbaugh’s explosive 2015 49ers split, Roman moved to Buffalo and Baltimore to work under non-offense-oriented leaders.

Grubb, Holz, Idzik, Pitcher and Robinson represent this year’s first-timer contingent. Grubb has, however, called plays at the college level. Robinson is the latest McVay staffer to move into a play-calling post; he was a Rams assistant for five years. A host of teams had Robinson on their OC radar, but Raheem Morris brought his former L.A. coworker to Atlanta. Pitcher appeared in a few searches as well, but the Bengals made the expected move — after extending him last year — to give him Callahan’s old job.

* = denotes play-calling coordinator

“Really, we always look at the cap for three years out,” Lynch said, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “Obviously, we have all that room this year. But really it’s to create room for future years because we roll everything over. It helps us in future years because it creates some room we’re going to need. … We’ve pretty much done what we’re going to do this year, but you never know with the trade deadline and all that.”

The 49ers created some space by extending Nick Bosa, though the team authorized a record-smashing accord that will show up on future caps, but Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract runs through 2025. During the Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers have not been shy about adding at the deadline, as the Christian McCaffrey and Emmanuel Sanders trades illustrate. In place as a Super Bowl contender once again, the 49ers will have some ammo to accommodate a bigger salary if they choose. For now, however, they are viewing the restructures to help down the road. Even with the projected carryover, the 49ers currently are projected to hold barely $17MM in 2024 cap space.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

• The Seahawks will not delay Jamal Adams‘ return for another week. Pete Carroll pronounced his highest-paid safety as “ready to go” for the team’s Week 4 Monday-night matchup against the Giants. Adams suffered a torn quadriceps tendon during the Seahawks’ season-opening Monday-nighter against the Broncos last year. The seventh-year veteran spent most of training camp on the Seahawks’ active/PUP list, and while he avoided the reserve/PUP designation, he still was expected to miss regular-season time. Additionally, Carroll said Riq Woolen and Charles Cross have a good chance to return in Week 4. Cross has missed the past two games, while Woolen was down for Week 3.
• In 2020, the Cardinals had both CeeDee Lamb and Tristan Wirfs on their radar when they held the No. 8 overall pick. Many in the Cards’ war room believed it would be a Wirfs-or-Lamb decision, GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer notes. Isaiah Simmons instead became the selection. While Simmons did not pan out in Arizona, being traded to the Giants for a seventh-round pick last month, he was viewed as an elite-level prospect. The Lions and Giants were linked to Simmons at Nos. 3 and 4, while Wirfs and Lamb did not go off the board until Nos. 13 and 17. Simmons represents another Steve Keim misstep at linebacker. The Cardinals missed on Deone Bucannon (2014) and had slotted Haason Reddick (2017) as an off-ball player for most of his Arizona run. Zaven Collins (2021) has since been moved to the outside. Simmons moved around the Cardinals’ formation, finishing his desert run as a safety.
• Sean McVay remains the Rams‘ play-caller, but he allowed new OC Mike LaFleur to implement new concepts upon coming over from the Jets. LaFleur added elements from the Jets and 49ers’ offenses that were not previously in the Rams’ scheme, Dan Pompei of The Athletic writes (subscription required). McVay indicated LaFleur — a Shanahan assistant from 2014-20, with the Browns, Falcons and 49ers — has earned the autonomy he received this offseason, when he came to Los Angeles shortly after a Jets separation.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

• Drew Petzing, quarterbacks coach (Browns): Hired
• Drew Terrell, wide receivers coach (Commanders): Interview requested
• Joel Thomas, running backs coach (Saints): Interview requested
• Troy Walters, wide receivers coach (Bengals): Interview requested

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

• Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview
• Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview being arranged
• Dave Canales, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Conducted second interview 2/6
• Bobby Engram, offensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed twice
• George Godsey, tight ends coach (Ravens): Interviewed
• Chad Hall, wide receivers coach (Bills): Interviewed 2/1
• Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Expected to interview?
• Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
• Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Georgia): Hired
• Doug Nussmeier, former quarterbacks coach (Cowboys): Interviewed
• Chad O’Shea, wide receivers coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/23
• Justin Outten, offensive coordinator (Broncos): Conducted second interview 2/7
• Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Received interest, extended by Bengals
• Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
• Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
• James Urban, quarterbacks coach (Ravens): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
• Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

• Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
• Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
• Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

• Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Saints): Interviewed; to stay with Saints
• Joe Lombardi, former offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

• Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interviewed
• Jerrod Johnson, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed; named quarterbacks coach
• Kliff Kingsbury, former head coach (Cardinals): Interviewed 2/10
• Bobby Slowik, passing-game coordinator (49ers): Hired
• Troy Walters, wide receivers coach (Bengals): Interview requested

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

• Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
• Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

• Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

• Joe Brady, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interview requested
• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/25
• Jerrod Johnson, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25
• Kellen Moore, former offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Hired
• Greg Olson, senior offensive assistant (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
• Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
• Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interview requested
• Luke Steckel, tight ends coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/26

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

• Marcus Brady, offensive consultant (Eagles): Interviewed
• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate
• Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed
• Mike LaFleur, former offensive coordinator (Jets): Hired
• Wes Phillips, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Declined interview request
• Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
• Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

• Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
• Marcus Brady, offensive consultant (Eagles): Interviewed
• Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interviewed 1/17
• Bill Callahan, offensive line coach (Browns): Declined interview request
• Nathaniel Hackett, former head coach (Broncos): Hired
• Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed
• Klint Kubiak, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/22
• Chad O’Shea, wide receivers coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/20
• Kevin Patullo, passing-game coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed
• Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

• Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Promoted
• Kevin Patullo, passing-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
• Nate Scheelhaase, offensive coordinator (Iowa State): Interviewed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): To conduct second interview 2/15
• Dave Canales, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
• Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed 1/26
• Ronald Curry, passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/31
• Pep Hamilton, offensive coordinator (Texans): Declined interview request
• Klint Kubiak, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/26
• Keenan McCardell, wide receivers coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/26
• Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Georgia): Interviewed 1/31
• Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed 2/13
• Kellen Moore, former offensive coordinator (Cowboys): mentioned as candidate
• Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Interviewed 1/27; conducted second interview with Bucs but will remain with Bengals
• Shea Tierney, quarterbacks coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/31

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

• Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
• Tim Kelly, passing-game coordinator (Titans): Hired
• Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): To interview
• Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

• Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
• Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
• Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Declined interview request
• Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interview requested
• Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach/running backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/1
• Greg Roman, former offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 2/14
• Pat Shurmur, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed; fallback option?
• Eric Studesville, running backs coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
• Ken Zampese, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/18

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

• Dave Borgonzi, linebackers coach (Bears): Interviewed 2/17
• DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interview requested
• Nick Rallis, linebackers coach (Eagles): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

• Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interview blocked
• Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
• Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Interview requested; mutual interest?
• Jerry Gray, defensive backs coach (Packers): Interview requested
• Al Holcomb, interim defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
• Ryan Nielsen, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Hired

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

• John Butler, defensive backs coach (Bills): Mentioned as candidate

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

• Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
• Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
• Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
• Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

• Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 2/7
• Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Released from contract
• Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Interview cancelled
• Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Hired
• Matt Patricia, senior football advisor (Patriots): Interviewed 2/22
• Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed
• Kris Richard, former co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed
• Rex Ryan, former head coach (Bills): Conducted second interview 2/18; considered favorite?
• Mike Zimmer, former head coach (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate; interviewed for separate Broncos job

Houston Texans 

• Matt Burke, defensive line coach (Cardinals): Hired
• Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interview requested
• Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate; expected to remain with 49ers
• Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed 2/7
• Cory Undlin, passing-game specialist/secondary coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

• Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
• Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
• DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

• Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/27
• Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/25
• Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Hired
• Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed 1/26

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

• Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/24; to withdraw from search
• Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Expected to interview
• Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Steelers): Hired
• Ryan Nielsen, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interview requested
• Mike Pettine, defensive assistant (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

• Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

• Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Hired
• Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 2/21-2/22
• Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed
• Glenn Schumann, co-defensive coordinator (Georgia): Interviewed
• Chris Shula, defensive backs coach (Rams): Interviewed
• Jim Leonhard, defensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed
• Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

• Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
• Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
• Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
• Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

With 2023 almost definitely set to be a contract year for the once-entrenched Jets tackle, Cimini adds Becton changed representation. He signed with the New York-based Sportstars agency. Becton, who had been represented by Klutch Sports, returning to form would represent quite the contract-year success story. He has played in one game since his rookie season ended. An avulsion fracture of the right kneecap felled Becton in 2022; a dislocated kneecap and MCL damage sidelined Becton for 16 games in 2021. The Louisville product showed considerable promise as a rookie, and he will attempt to revive his career in 2023. Becton is expected to be ready for OTAs in April.

The talented blocker’s weight has been a recurring issue during his Jets career. It plagued him during each of his first three years; most recently, the Jets were concerned with Becton’s weight during minicamp last year. Weighing 363 pounds at the 2020 Combine, Becton has weighed as much as 400 during his Jets tenure. After Becton said recently he had lost “a lot” of weight, Cimini confirms he is down to around 370 and plans to lose more this offseason.

An opportunity could await Becton, with George Fant five weeks from free agency and Duane Brown going into an age-38 season. But the Jets cannot count on the 2020 first-rounder at this point. Here is the latest from the AFC East:

• Elijah Moore returned to the Jets after a brief hiatus and trade request. Some among the Jets believed Zach Wilson‘s struggles contributed to Moore’s departure request, Cimini adds, with Mike LaFleur‘s play-calling contributing as well. Moore and LaFleur engaged in a heated argument in October, and teams called the Jets on the second-year receiver. But Gang Green brought the second-round pick back into the fold. Moore’s production declined from his rookie year, dropping from 48.9 yards per game to 27.9 per contest. The Jets have made no secret of their pursuit of a quarterback upgrade this offseason.
• LaFleur and assistant GM Rex Hogan pushed hardest for Wilson in 2021, per Cimini, who offers that some in the organization viewed the BYU arm as a developmental prospect unworthy of the No. 2 overall pick. Both Wilson and Trey Lance leapfrogged Justin Fields that offseason; each’s career is at a crossroads entering 2023. Wilson is not a lock to return to the Jets, though team brass has consistently stumped for the struggling passer. The Jets and LaFleur parted ways last month; he is now the Rams’ OC.
• Tua Tagovailoa‘s fifth-year option would cost the Dolphins $23.17MM. That number is down more than $6MM from what Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert‘s 2024 options will cost, but the Dolphins have not indicated they are certain to pick it up. As Tagovailoa prepares for his fourth season, he has joined Becton in changing agents. Tua signed with Ryan Williams and Austin Lyman of Athletes First, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal writes. Tagovailoa recently cleared concussion protocol and showed remarkable improvement in 2022, but the former No. 5 overall pick will have health- and performance-related questions to answer in 2023.
• The conditional pick the Bills sent the Colts for Nyheim Hines at the deadline will be a fifth-round choice, Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 tweets. Thanks to the Cody Ford trade, the Bills held two fifth-round picks prior to the Hines deal. It will be the Bills’ own fifth-rounder that will go to the Colts.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports that New York is “evaluating” Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr. While he adds that the process is in its early stages, meaning more names will no doubt be added to that list, it comes as little surprise that those three are included in it. Rodgers was mentioned as a trade candidate for the Jets even before Nathaniel Hackett became the team’s new offensive coordinator, but increasingly so due to their connection with one another dating back to the latter’s time with the Packers.

Garoppolo was widely thought to be on his way out of San Francisco last offseason with the team turning its offense over to Trey Lance, but he ultimately remained on a re-worked contract. Now a pending free agent, he would not require trade compensation (as would be the case with Rodgers). His play after taking over for Lance appeared to help his value on the open market, but the 31-year-old then suffered what was initially believed to be a season-ending ankle injury. He may have been able to return in time for the Super Bowl, though the result of today’s NFC title game now makes that a moot point.

As for Carr, his days in Vegas are thought to be numbered, as the three-time Pro Bowler personally alluded to recently. He has begun doing “homework” on potential landing spots in a trade (since he has a no-trade clause), though the possibility remains that he get released and chooses his next team as a free agent.

That trio of passers is also one which Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network lists as targets for the Jets. New York showed signs of being a playoff contender in 2022 with a strong defense in particular, and a number of encouraging performances with a healthy Mike White at the helm of their offense. Interestingly, Pauline notes that “several” Jets players implored general manager Joe Douglas during their exit interviews to move on from Zach Wilson as their starting QB, in addition to firing offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

The latter move has already taken place, with Hackett now set to play a role in identifying the team’s top options to provide stability at the position relative to Wilson’s inconsistencies (although Pauline also notes that owner Woody Johnson still sees the 2021 No. 2 pick as salvageable). As the QB market takes shape, the Jets are sure to be key players in the case of several veteran passers.

The 36-year-old was let go by the Jets in the wake of their disappointing end to the campaign, one in which the team struggled in the passing game in particular. Almost immediately after that decision, it was reported that he was the favorite to join Sean McVay‘s staff. Today’s new thus comes as little surprise as the 2021 Super Bowl winners look to rebound from a disastrous season.

LaFleur, the younger brother of Packers HC Matt LaFleur, had stints with the Browns, Falcons and 49ers prior to his first career OC job with the Jets in 2021. The team ranked 26th in yards and 28th in scoring during his first season at the helm, and those figures remained essentially the same in 2022. Injuries ravaged the team on offense, however, and the Jets showed signs of notable improvement early on in the year. Inconsistency at the quarterback position, however, led to a considerable drop-off in production.

New York scored no more than 22 points during the six-game losing streak which ended their season and kept them outside the playoff picture after an encouraging start to the year. By that point, quarterback Zach Wilson had been benched in favor of Mike White (when healthy), rookie running back Breece Hall had been lost for the season and the team’s offensive line was a shadow of its projected arrangement after the offseason. As the Jets look towards a veteran QB addition under new OC Nathaniel Hackett, LaFleur will aim for a fresh start on the West Coast.

The Rams entered the 2022 season with considerable expectations after their Super Bowl success. A collection of injuries up front, coupled with inconsistent performances on offense aside from wideout Cooper Kupp left the unit ranking dead last in total offense and 26th in scoring. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen returned to Kentucky after the season, leaving a non-play calling vacancy to be filled. With McVay remaining on staff for at least the 2023 season, he will attempt to marshal a return to health and resultant turnaround on that side of the ball alongside LaFleur.

With the Rams’ OC search now complete, here is a final look at their process:

• Marcus Brady, offensive consultant (Eagles): Interviewed
• Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate
• Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed
• Mike LaFleur, former offensive coordinator (Jets): Hired
• Wes Phillips, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Declined interview request
• Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
• Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Mentioned as candidate

LaFleur’s first stint as an offensive play caller ended days after the season concluded, when he and the team “mutually” parted ways. With the Jets defense making strides of improvement that had the team competing for a playoff spot through most of the season, lots of pressure was placed on LaFleur’s unit to bring the team the rest of the way. Despite the Jets keeping seven of their last nine opponents to 20 points or fewer, the Jets only managed to pull out two wins and end the season on a six-game losing streak as the offense could only provide 13.33 points per game down that stretch.

Much of the season’s struggles were placed on the failed development of young quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson’s inability to improve and lead the team to the postseason was blamed (by the front office) on LaFleur. The coaching staff, though, retains that LaFleur was not the issue that held Wilson back and would’ve welcomed LaFleur in 2023.

LaFleur was linked to the Rams’ position almost two weeks ago, soon after when he and New York first agreed to part ways. LaFleur’s older brother, Matt LaFleur, had worked in the same position beneath McVay six years ago. The move would make a lot of sense for the younger LaFleur, as it would technically be something of a demotion for the 35-year-old. Since McVay would most likely retain play calling duties, LaFleur’s title of offensive coordinator in Los Angeles would hold far less responsibility. This would give LaFleur time to step back and a learn a little bit more under McVay, now that he has an idea of what the job entails.

Nearly two weeks after the rumor linking him to the Rams, though, and we’re still talking about it. Anderson reports that he is apparently the favorite, but LaFleur has options and a pivot in communications could change things. Anderson points out that “until papers are signed,” it’s all still up in the air.

McVay himself recently indicated that he would return to the Rams after earlier reports suggested he was more likely to walk away. The Rams will therefore retain one of the game’s brightest offensive minds as they seek to regroup following the worst Super Bowl title defense in league history. In light of McVay’s overall success — the 2022 season notwithstanding — other clubs have poached head coaches from the McVay coaching tree, so LaFleur could certainly do worse as he seeks to rebuild his own stock following a disappointing campaign with the Jets.

LaFleur joined Gang Green as the OC on Robert Saleh‘s first staff in 2021, and his offense finished near the bottom of the league in terms of both total yardage and points that year. Of course, the club was also in the midst of a rebuild, was starting a rookie quarterback in Zach Wilson, and did not boast a great deal of offensive talent, so there were no rumblings about LaFleur’s job security.

But while the Jets’ defense took a major step forward in 2022, the offense did not, and it was the underwhelming performance of LaFleur’s unit that prevented the team from securing a playoff berth. There were reports that owner Woody Johnson would want to fire LaFleur at season’s end, and Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com writes that the front office blamed LaFleur for Wilson’s lack of improvement. The coaching staff, on the other hand, reportedly feels that Wilson is simply not a good quarterback and would have welcomed LaFleur back in 2023.

Regardless of any conflict between the team’s execs and coaches in that regard, LaFleur is now a free agent and could get a chance to oversee an offense with an established quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Nonetheless, McVay will likely retain play-calling duties, so even an OC job would represent something of a demotion for LaFleur.

Of course, LaFleur’s brother, Matt LaFleur, worked under McVay as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2017 before taking the same position with the Titans in 2018 and parlaying his OC experience into the Packers’ head coaching job in 2019.

Woody Johnson said the Jets will be prepared to spend for a veteran quarterback. The team has not gone in this direction in a while, but its past two top-five draft choices — Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson — have not panned out. Wilson’s struggles ended up holding back a vastly improved defense, something Johnson obviously does not want to recur.

“Absolutely,” Johnson said (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) when asked he was willing to spend for a veteran. “We’ve got a cap, so there’s an amount you can spend. But, yeah, yeah. That’s kind of the missing piece.”

Robert Saleh added the Jets will be “aggressive as heck” regarding the quarterback position. A veteran pursuit will mark a change of pace for the organization.

Not only have the Jets devoted their QB investments to rookies over the past five years, they had low- or midlevel QB contracts — Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick — on the payroll in the years before Darnold’s arrival. The organization which tried Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith throughout the first half of the 2010s last made a major veteran investment back in 2008, when it traded for Brett Favre. As such, the Jets appearing serious about trying to pair their reloaded defense with a readier QB would qualify as a significant development.

Wilson’s disastrous start to his career led to a second-season benching — almost unheard of for a modern top-five QB pick — and Johnson said the team likely erred by not bringing in a veteran last year to ease the BYU prospect’s transition. Since-departed OC Mike LaFleur said the same recently.

“Zach had a tough year. There’s no denying that,” Johnson said. “I still have confidence that I’ve seen some kernels of real talent there. …[His] confidence level, whatever it was, went down, so that was certainly frustrating for him. And then we had that rotation, which is very hard to do in the NFL — changing quarterbacks.”

The Jets attempting to fix their Wilson mistake with a veteran move has seemed likely for weeks, since the team demoted the former No. 2 overall selection to the third-string level. LaFleur’s exit clouds a potential Jimmy Garoppolo signing. Previously, a LaFleur-Garoppolo reunion made some sense; the ex-49ers duo reuniting would have allowed for a smooth transition. But other QBs will be available.

New York has the option of trading for Derek Carr in February; Las Vegas is prepared to shop him. Otherwise, Smith has been connected to staying with the Seahawks. The Giants now want to re-sign Daniel Jones. Gang Green’s weaponry and defense could conceivably attract Tom Brady, though it is not yet certain if he will play an age-46 season, and Aaron Rodgers‘ Green Bay future is once again murky. The Raiders, who are also connected to Garoppolo, are seemingly set to be a Brady suitor — if the all-time great wishes to play in 2023. The Ravens will not let Lamar Jackson hit the market. The former MVP hitting the trade block after two offseasons of failed negotiations would certainly test Johnson’s pledge to pay up for a QB.

Johnson was serving as ambassador to the United Kingdom when the Jets hired Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. Despite inheriting the two, Johnson said Thursday he would not require a 2023 playoff berth for Saleh and Douglas to stay. However, he also did not confirm the duo would be safe with another postseason absence. The Jets’ 12-season playoff drought is by far the NFL’s longest active streak.

“No, I don’t do mandates,” Johnson said. “We’ve had a long wait. Fifty-four years from the last Super Bowl is too long, way too long. I’d like to change that fast, but mandates don’t work.”

Saleh said LaFleur had other options, but it is interesting the Jets will allow their two-year OC to explore them rather than ensure he came back. This certainly points to a firing. Johnson said (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello, on Twitter) he was not part of the decision that led LaFleur out, though he also noted he had private conversations with Douglas, Saleh and LaFleur and offered input. The team is now shopping for a new OC.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter), teams have inquired on LaFleur‘s availability in recent days. Hughes adds that the Jets spoke with their offensive coordinator over the past few days, with the two sides ultimately deciding that it was best to move on.

This officially ends the will-they, won’t-they saga in New York. As the Jets’ playoff hopes dwindled and with the offensive averaging 15 points per game over the final three weeks, there was rampant speculation that the Jets could look to make a coaching change on the offensive side of the ball. Head coach Robert Saleh, who is a longtime friend of LaFleur, backed his OC in recent weeks, noting the organization’s committed “to go young everywhere – coaches, players, staff, everybody.”

The rumors seemed to hit a peak earlier today when Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork tweeted that LaFleur and the organization had parted way. Jets beat reporters were quick to refute that report, with Hughes tweeting tonight that the Jets’ initially planned to keep LaFleur as their offensive coordinator. Indeed, a source told Josina Anderson that the discussions were finalized “over the last couple of hours” (Twitter link).

The Jets will begin their OC search tomorrow, according to Costello (on Twitter). Saleh previously said that he wants to hire a veteran offensive coach that can fill the role previously held by Greg Knapp, per Cimini (on Twitter). It’s uncertain if he’ll be seeking similar qualities in a new offensive coordinator. Any new addition will have immense pressure to improve an offense that has major question marks at quarterback.

LaFleur‘s two years in New York proved to be a disappointment, with the Jets ranking mostly in the back-half of the league in most offensive categories. Still, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently wrote, LaFleur is respected around the NFL for “his play designs and understanding of the Shanahan system,” with the coach having spent four years as the 49ers passing game coordinator before joining Saleh in New York. There are three other squads with offensive coordinator openings, and if LaFleur is already generating interest, there’s a chance he lands on his feet relatively quickly.

The Jets will have a handful of additional coaching vacancies to fill. Fowler tweets that the organization will also be looking to hire a replacement for wide receivers coach Miles Austin, who is facing a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, and an assistant defensive line coach.

When speaking to the media, head coach Robert Saleh expressed his support of offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The latter has been at the helm of New York’s offense since 2021, joining the staff at the same time as Saleh. That tenure began with an underwhelming performance across the board on offense, but expectations were raised considerably in light of the organization’s offseason moves.

Those included, among others, the additions of wideout Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall in the draft to go along with a second season of quarterback Zach Wilson under center. The latter has struggled immensely this year, though, missing time at the start of the season and being benched in favor of Mike White on multiple occasions. The 2021 second overall pick’s future in the Big Apple has been called into question, though Saleh recently backed the possibility of a continued relationship with him.

In addition to Wilson, LaFleur has reportedly been on thin ice given the Jets’ inability to consistently produce on offense in recent weeks in particular. During the team’s current five-game losing streak, they have averaged only 12 points per game and have not found the endzone since Week 15. Wilson’s marked lack of improvement, along with injuries to Hall and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker offer at least a partial explanation for the unit’s struggles, but LaFleur has drawn sharp criticism in light of New York’s elite rankings in several defensive categories.

Saleh said, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini, that the Jets are partway through “a commitment to go young everywhere – coaches, players, staff, everybody. It’s so important to take a deep breath… and make sure we’re telling ourselves the truth rather than allowing narrative and panic to set in.”

He cited his own history as the former 49ers DC, along with the success a number of players have had after departing New York, as reason to remain patient even after the disappointment of recent weeks and months. Saleh, LaFleur and the Jets will be the subject of plenty of scrutiny this offseason as they look to take another step forward in 2023.

Wilson’s uninspiring play has compelled the Jets to turn back to Mike White for their critical Week 17 matchup against the Seahawks. Of course, the club had benched Wilson in favor of White in Week 12, and Wilson got his job back for a brief time only because White was dealing with multiple fractured ribs. Indeed, Wilson’s performance in the Jacksonville contest was so poor that he was replaced in the third quarter by Chris Streveler, a 2018 UDFA who had thrown a grand total of 17 regular season passes.

In his 22 games under center since being drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, Wilson sports an 8-14 record and has completed 55.2% of his passes for 15 touchdowns against 18 picks, which amounts to a dismal QB rating of 70.9. While growing pains and a general lack of talent around him in his rookie campaign can certainly excuse some of his first-year difficulties, his lack of progress is alarming.

However, as Wilson’s rookie contract is fully-guaranteed, releasing him this offseason is not realistic, and even a trade would result in a negative cap charge if it were consummated prior to June 1. So from a financial perspective alone, it makes sense for the Jets to continue their efforts to develop the BYU product and generate something of a positive return from their investment of premium draft capital.

White, meanwhile, has had several impressive games over the past two years, but his rate stats are not much better than Wilson’s. Still, one agent who represents prominent quarterbacks tells Rich Cimini of ESPN.com that White, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, has enough quality tape to appeal to teams looking for a bridge passer. If he plays well over the remainder of the season, the former fifth-round pick of the Cowboys could land a short-term deal worth at least $10MM-$12MM per year. While the Jets may consider re-signing White, it seems likely that they will at least explore more established options like Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo before going that route, especially since they appear to be putting their rebuilding phase behind them.

In addition to a new quarterback, the club may be looking for a new offensive coordinator. Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post — who, incidentally, is among those who believe Wilson will be jettisoned in the coming months — cites one high-ranking executive who says owner Woody Johnson will want to fire current OC Mike LaFleur. La Canfora believes Johnson could consider even more dramatic coaching or front office shakeups, and while Cimini concedes that Johnson’s patience will be put to the test if the Jets finish the season on a six-game losing streak, the ESPN scribe thinks the owner will realize his organization is in generally good shape under Saleh and GM Joe Douglas (the QB situation notwithstanding).

If the Jets do look to trade Wilson, La Canfora reports that they will not receive more than a fifth-round pick in return.

Joe Flacco, who started the first three games of the 2022 campaign while Wilson was battling knee trouble, will serve as White’s backup for Sunday’s Week 12 matchup with the Bears, so he will get the nod if White should get injured during the Chicago contest. If White sustains a lingering injury while New York remains in the playoff hunt, Saleh could be faced with a difficult Flacco vs. Wilson decision, one that he would obviously prefer to avoid.

Like Jones, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says that White will remain the QB1 if the Jets are winning with him under center. A successful run from White would be a boon to Gang Green’s playoff chances this year, though Cimini believes it would also complicate the team’s offseason plans. Wilson has yet to start more than seven games in a row in his young career, and at this point, it’s probably premature to write off his chances to become a legitimate NFL starter. Still, the 6-4 Jets are looking to solidify their status as contenders for the foreseeable future, and they need to know if Wilson will be part of that future or if they need to begin looking elsewhere.

New York may also need to make a decision on offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur this offseason. As Cimini writes, Wilson’s struggles are LaFleur’s struggles, and Saleh’s express acknowledgement of Wilson’s deteriorating mechanics is not a good look for LaFleur or quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese.

“I truly believe it starts with me and ends with me, so I’ve got to figure out a way to reset [Wilson], get him back to playing fundamentally sound football and, more importantly, just consistent football, because he’s done some really good things,” LaFleur said. “But I haven’t done a good enough job to get the consistency out of him. So that starts and ends with me.”

According to Jones, the team believes Wilson has turned an emotional corner, as evidenced by the apologies he recently issued to his teammates. Whether or not he has the chance to reestablish himself on the field this year will depend in large part on White’s performance in the coming weeks.

OCTOBER 20: A year after drafting Elijah Moore in the second round, the Jets have run into an issue with the talented young wideout. Moore is not happy with his role in Mike LaFleur‘s offense and wants out.

Moore has asked the Jets to trade him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This comes after Moore made some cryptic comments on social media recently. The Jets excused Moore from practice Thursday, calling it a personal day. There appears more to the nature of Moore’s absence now. Moore’s behavior Thursday displeased Jets brass, according to ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter).

The Jets do not plan to honor Moore’s request, Rapoport adds, but the resurgent team suddenly has an aerial-attack problem. Moore’s targets have dipped since Zach Wilson retook the quarterbacking reins. Joe Flacco targeted Moore 21 times during the Jets’ first three games; Wilson has thrown his way eight. The former Ole Miss wideout has caught just one pass over the past two weeks, though the Jets have not attempted as many passes in the games Wilson has started.

Addressing Moore’s lack of targets Thursday, Wilson called Moore “a great player” and noted (via Cimini, on Twitter) there were not a lot of opportunities last week — a Jets runaway upset win but one in which Moore caught zero passes. After the Jets’ 27-10 win over the Packers, Moore tweeted, “Just know I don’t understand either.” Wilson completed just 10 passes. Moore deleted the tweet, and Robert Saleh spoke with the disgruntled receiver about it.

“We’re all entitled to mistakes,” Saleh said during an appearance on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York (via Cimini). “I know where his heart is. I know how he is when he walks in the building. I know how hard he works. I know how good a teammate he’s been. You know, sometimes mistakes happen, but I know where his heart is. That’s the important thing.”

Moore’s request comes nearly two months after Denzel Mims requested to be moved. The Jets discussed Mims with other teams but ultimately held onto the 2020 second-round pick. Mims does not have much of a role in New York’s offense. Moore does. He has played 83% of the Jets’ offensive snaps this season.

Last year, Moore looked like a long-term receiver in Gang Green’s attack. As the Jets cycled through quarterbacks, Moore caught 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns. He compiled those numbers despite missing six games, seeing his season halted by a quadriceps injury.

The Jets reconvened for their offseason program with more firepower at this position, having drafted Garrett Wilson 10th overall. This came after they were connected to just about every contract-seeking wideout — from Tyreek Hill to Amari Cooper to Deebo Samuel to D.K. Metcalf to A.J. Brown — this offseason. Wilson joined Moore, Corey Davis and the re-signed Braxton Berrios as Gang Green’s top targets. Thus far this season, Moore’s 203 receiving yards are just fifth on the team. Davis leads the way with 351, while Wilson has accumulated 290. The team also has a better rushing attack than it did last season, with second-round pick Breece Hall becoming a central figure for the Jets’ offense.

For now, it appears Moore will need to hope his targets increase in the coming weeks. He is short on options. The Jets have the 5-foot-10 pass catcher under contract through 2024.