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NFC Front Office Updates: Panthers, Falcons, Cardinals

June 29th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers are one of several NFC teams who continue to make updates to their front office staff in recent days. Carolina made two moves and two new hires in this month.

The first move sees area scout Caden McCloughan move from the west coast to the southwest, per Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. He’s in his third year with the team since joining as a scouting intern in 2022. Joining McCloughan as an area scout is Kaleb Leach, who is getting promoted to northeast area scout for Carolina after also joining the team in 2022. Leach started as a scouting assistant after both playing and scouting in international football.

The two new hires are pro scout Adam Maxie and scouting assistant Gabby Weinrich. Maxie has NFL experience dating back t0 2017. He’s worked as a quality control coach with the Buccaneers, a scouting intern with the Vikings, and a pro scout with the Raiders. Weinrich takes Leach’s old position as scouting assistant. She attended scout school with the Jets in 2022 and worked as a training camp intern with the Bears the following year, all while working as a player personnel and recruiting assistant for the University of Nebraska. This will be her first full-time position in the NFL.

Here are a few other front office updates from around the NFC, starting with another NFC South squad:

  • The Falcons have promoted Nathan Ellis from scouting assistant to scouting coordinator, per Stratton. Previously a pro scouting intern for the Chargers for two summers, Ellis joined Atlanta as a scouting intern last summer, turning that time into a full-time gig at the start of the season. His previous full-time job was as a recruiting assistant/coordinator with the University of South Carolina.
  • The Cardinals made a number of moves to their scouting staff, as well, per Stratton. Chad Jenkins has been moved from NFS scout to area scout. Jenkins has been with the team since 2018 after some time at Tulane and Tennessee State. Stephen Wise will take Jenkins’ NFS scout role, moving from his role as a scouting assistant. Wise joined the team in 2021 after three years as a football recruiting assistant at South Carolina where he overlapped with Ellis for a few months. Andrew Ford will also get promoted from scouting assistant. Formerly a quarterback at UMass, he’ll now work as a pro scout for Arizona. Landon Grier has been hired to fill one of the two newly vacated scouting assistant roles. This will be Grier’s first job out of college after graduating from South Carolina.

NFC North Front Office Updates: Vikings, Lions, Packers

June 28th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings announced a number of hires to their scouting staff in recent weeks. As general manager continues to find the path to draft success in the NFL, he is enlisting the help of these new additions to achieve the best possible results.

Before getting to the new hires, Minnesota promoted Sam DeLuca to director of pro personnel, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. DeLuca joined the Vikings about a year ago as a senior assistant director of pro personnel before getting the full director title. His NFL start came as a scouting intern with the Eagles in 2012 before he spent ten years in the Browns scouting department.

The biggest new hire comes in DeLuca’s department as Shane Normandeau joins the team as a pro scout. Normandeau worked alongside DeLuca in Cleveland, joining the Browns two years ago as football operations coordinator after interning for three months with the Colts.

The team also hired on Brian Schnorr as a scouting associate. Schnorr is making his NFL staff debut after three and a half years working in college recruiting with UCF, Florida State, and Nebraska. Schorr also has three years of experience as a data analyst with Pro Football Focus. Lastly, Minnesota added Dabness Atkins as a scouting assistant. After playing college ball at Holy Cross, Dabness spent the 2023 season as a recruiting assistant at UMass.

Here are a few other front office updates out of the NFC North:

  • The Lions made a big move, adding Charlie Adkins to the staff as senior director of football administration, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Adkins comes from Arizona, where he spent the last seven years in the Cardinals’ football analytics and research department, eventually working his way up to manager of football analytics and research. He reunites with chief operating officer Mike Disner, who joined the Lions in 2019 after six years with the Cardinals as director of football administration.
  • Stratton informs us of one more NFC North scouting hire, noting the addition of Sam Fleming as a scouting assistant for the Packers. Fleming first worked in the NFL as an intern with the Saints before serving two years at Samford, where he played wide receiver in college, in personnel and operations. He has spent the last three years working with National Football Scouting.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/28/24

June 28th, 2024 at 6:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor move comes out of Charm City:

Baltimore Ravens

Since going undrafted out of Temple in 2018, Kirkwood has been a frequent flyer on our minor moves, often signing with practice squads and getting promoted for gamedays. His rookie season saw him start one of eight game appearances and catch 13 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. While he has yet to reach that success in his career again, he has started five games in the past two years during his second stint in New Orleans, including four last year. In 13 game appearances in 2023, Kirkwood caught his first touchdown since his rookie campaign. He’ll look to win a depth role in a crowded Ravens receiving room.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/26/24

June 26th, 2024 at 6:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor transaction:

Baltimore Ravens

Aside from re-signing veteran Nelson Agholor and drafting North Carolina’s Devontez Walker in the fourth round this year, the Ravens have opted not to make any big additions to their wide receiving corps after watching Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay walk in free agency. Instead, they opted to sign a number of undrafted free agent receivers with the potential to strike gold and find a role player.

Robinson was the definition of a strong role player in college. In three years at Virginia Tech and two at Kentucky, Robinson was productive in every year of play. While he consistently found himself on teams without any stars in the receivers room, he was always a main part of the contributions. The career lows of his freshman year were still an impressive 31 receptions for 404 yards and a touchdown. That said, he never rose significantly past that. He had career highs of 44 receptions (2021), 592 receiving yards (2020), and five touchdowns (2021).

Over his five years in college, all his stats stayed consistently between those numbers. Still, he was able to lead the Hokies in receptions and yards in 2020 and receptions and receiving touchdowns in 2021. He’s a proven contributor who may still be offered a chance to play elsewhere in the NFL.

Seahawks Sign RB Ricky Person Jr.

June 24th, 2024 at 6:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks added to their backfield today. The team announced that they’ve signed running back Ricky Person Jr. to a contract.

After collecting more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four seasons at North Carolina State, Person Jr. caught on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2022. After spending most of his rookie season on the practice squad, the running back joined the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.

Person played sparingly as a backup in 2023, but he saw a larger role this past season. The running back finished the campaign with six touchdowns, and he notably collected 102 rushing yards in his team’s championship win.

In Seattle, Person will be competing for a bottom-of-the-depth-chart spot behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. The newest addition will be going against the likes of 2023 seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh and undrafted rookies George Holani and Kobe Lewis.

The team also announced that they’ve waived a trio of undrafted rookies. The grouping includes cornerback Ro Torrence, defensive end Rason Williams, and running back TaMerik Williams.

Jets Release CB Tae Hayes

June 24th, 2024 at 1:40pm CST by Ely Allen

JUNE 24: Hayes’ Jets tenure has come to an end. The team announced on Monday he has been released.

JUNE 23: Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019, cornerback Tae Hayes has been a journeyman as a depth piece in the NFL. The challenge of staying on NFL rosters will get a bit more difficult for Hayes after he was reportedly arrested this morning for marijuana possession, per Charean Williams of NBC Sports.

Coming undrafted out of Appalachian State, Hayes signed first with the Jaguars. He has since spent time with the Dolphins, Vikings, Cardinals, Panthers, Birmingham Stallions (USFL), Panthers again, Patriots, Lions, Ravens, and Jets. After his first two stops, Hayes has failed to stay in a single place for more than five months. In fact, his stints in Detroit and Baltimore each lasted less than a month, with both stints spanning from August 4 to September 12 last year.

Anywhere Hayes has gone, he’s functioned as a depth piece for the defense, either appearing in minimal snaps and special teams or playing as an emergency option. In his career, he’s appeared in games for six of the above teams, tallying 14 game appearances, 18 total tackles, two passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.

The arrest occurred in Hayes’ home state of Alabama just before four o’clock in the morning. He was released a little over an hour later after posting a $300 bond. The Jets released a statement saying that they are aware of the incident, but they are refraining from comment since it’s a pending legal matter.

Chiefs To Release DT Isaiah Buggs

June 24th, 2024 at 10:31am CST by Adam La Rose

Amidst a number of legal issues, Isaiah Buggs‘ time with the Chiefs is set to come to an end. The veteran defensive lineman has been informed by Kansas City he will be released, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Buggs was the subject of two arrest warrants on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, and he turned himself in earlier this month. The 27-year-old was later arrested for alleged domestic violence and burglary, adding to his off-field troubles. A $5K bond was initially posted in the latter case, but Pelissero notes it has since been revoked. As a result, Buggs is currently in prison as his legal situations play out.

Kansas City signed the former sixth-rounder rounder to a futures contract in February, giving him an opportunity to carve out a roster spot during training camp. That pact – worth the veteran’s minimum – contained only $250K in guaranteed salary along with a $100K signing bonus, though, making it feasible from the team’s perspective to move on. The decision to release Buggs will result in $350K in dead money and $803K in cap savings.

Buggs spent his first three NFL seasons with the Steelers, making 29 appearances and seven starts. He spent the past two years in Detroit, logging a heavier workload than he had during his time in Pittsburgh. The Alabama product racked up 58 tackles and a pair of sacks in 27 games as a Lion. Detroit waived him in January once Alim McNeill returned to full health.

The Chiefs have Chris Jones in place as the focal point of their defensive front. That group is filled out by low-cost contributors, including the likes of Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel and Tershawn Wharton. Kansas City entered Monday with roughly $15.6MM in cap space, a figure which will jump slightly once the Buggs release become official. The team will therefore have the financial wiggle room to make a summer addition along the D-line if one is deemed necessary. Buggs’ NFL future, meanwhile, is in doubt.

Steelers Sign WR Jacob Copeland, Claim DT

June 21st, 2024 at 7:00pm CST by Ely Allen

It may not be the veteran contributor that Steelers fans would prefer to see, but the team added some depth today at the wide receiver position, signing Jacob Copeland, according to Steelers.com writer Teresa Varley. Aaron Williams of KPRC 2 adds that the team was also awarded defensive tackle Willington Previlon off of waivers after he was waived from Atlanta.

Copeland went undrafted a year ago after a five-year playing career at Florida and Maryland. Copeland originally signed with the Gators as a consensus top-100 recruit in the nation. He spent his first three years in Gainesville buried on the depth chart under names like Kadarius Toney and Kyle Pitts but proved to be an effective deep threat, averaging 18.9 yards per reception in his redshirt sophomore season with 435 yards and three touchdowns on only 23 receptions.

With Toney and Pitts (and quarterback Kyle Trask) gone in 2021, Copeland finally got to lead the room, tying for the team-lead in receptions (41) and receiving touchdowns (4) while leading the school with 642 receiving yards. Copeland made the decision to transfer for his redshirt senior season, opting to join the Terrapins in College Park. At Maryland, Copeland failed to make the same impact on the offense, finishing fourth on the team with 376 receiving yards to go along with 26 catches and two touchdowns, though he did lead the team with 14.5 yards per reception.

After signing initially with the Titans as an undrafted free agent, Copeland has spent short stints of time with the Vikings, Steelers, and Chiefs. He’ll now return for a second try with Pittsburgh.

Previlon has been floating around the NFL a little longer than Copeland after going undrafted in 2020. The former Rutgers big man was disruptive for the Scarlet Knights, totaling three sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in his final two collegiate seasons. He’s bounced around since then, spending time with the Packers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Falcons before getting claimed by Pittsburgh.

Dolphins To Sign DL Calais Campbell

June 21st, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 21: Campbell’s Miami return will see him receive the veteran’s minimum ($1.21MM) for a base salary, per Over the Cap. The pact includes a $790K signing bonus, resulting in a cap charge of $2MM. If Campbell can remain healthy in 2024, he should be able to provide cost-effective play against the run and pass for the Dolphins.

JUNE 13: The Dolphins are not stopping at Shaquil Barrett as a front-seven addition. They are adding one of this era’s most accomplished defensive linemen. Calais Campbell is coming back to South Florida.

After a season in Atlanta, Campbell intends to sign with the Dolphins, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Campbell is a Denver native but played collegiately at Miami back in the 2000s. This will be the consistent D-lineman’s 17th NFL season. The agreement will also reunite Campbell and new Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, who coached the stalwart interior defender with the Ravens.

Plenty of time has passed since Campbell’s previous Miami stay; he was college teammates with Frank Gore, Devin Hester and Antrel Rolle. Campbell joined the Hurricanes 20 years ago, redshirting during the 2004 season. The 37-year-old defender did return to Florida for his memorable Jaguars stay; this will complete a journey back to where he starred in college. Campbell will join a Dolphins team that lost top interior pass rusher Christian Wilkins this offseason.

Although Campbell will turn 38 in September, he is still performing at a high level. The former Cardinals draftee totaled 6.5 sacks last season, pacing the Falcons, and produced his most quarterback hits (17) since the 2019 season. His 10 tackles for loss also doubled as the most he had notched since 2019. Campbell also notched a third career safety during a productive Atlanta stay, but after the Falcons changed coaching staffs, the productive veteran will rejoin his former position coach in Miami.

New Falcons HC Raheem Morris said in April he looked forward to a Campbell meeting, keeping the door open to a return. Atlanta, which has Grady Jarrett on the road back from an ACL tear, used three draft choices to bolster its D-line this year. While the Falcons took heat for drafting Michael Penix Jr. in Round 1 and punting on its glaring need for a pass rusher, the team did circle back to help its front on Days 2 and 3 of the draft.

Standing 6-foot-8, Campbell has been one of this era’s premier inside rushers. He will enter the 2024 season with 105.5 career sacks. Among players currently on NFL rosters, only Von Miller (123.5) and Cameron Jordan (117.5) have that beat. Campbell, who is also one of the great kick blockers in NFL history, entered the NFL three years before those edge-rushing standouts. He will continue to serve as the longest-tenured defender in football.

Campbell made all six of his Pro Bowls from 2014-20, serving as a key part of the Cardinals’ successful mid-2010s defenses before anchoring the Jaguars’ “Sacksonville” efforts later in the decade. Campbell’s free agency accord with Jacksonville in 2017 played a central role in the team making a stunning run to the AFC championship game. He totaled a career-high 14.5 sacks that season and followed that up with 10.5 in 2018. As the Jags’ nucleus splintered, Campbell wound up in Baltimore via trade. He spent three seasons with the Ravens, making a Pro Bowl in 2020 and totaling 5.5 sacks in 2022.

The Dolphins lost both Wilkins and Raekwon Davis off their defensive line in free agency. While the team extended Zach Sieler last year, Wilkins broke through as a pass rusher in his contract year and signed a monster Raiders deal in free agency. The Dolphins had not ruled out retaining Wilkins, but their cap situation made that virtually impossible.

Campbell has a better record as a pass rusher, though his age obviously brings down his price tag. The historically experienced pass rusher joins Jonathan Harris, Da’Shawn Hand and Teair Tart as Miami offseason D-line additions. Campbell played for $7MM last season; it should be expected his Dolphins contract will not check in too much higher than the deals given to the other UFA D-linemen Miami added this year.

Patriots, RB Rhamondre Stevenson Agree To Extension

June 20th, 2024 at 10:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Patriots and Rhamondre Stevenson have worked out a deal. The fourth-year running back has agreed to a four-year, $36MM extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The pact includes $17MM fully guaranteed, Schefter notes. With Stevenson having been set to play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, this agreement will keep him in place through 2028. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the 26-year-old will collect an $8MM signing bonus.

Stevenson’s deal also includes $12MM in incentives, per Rapoport. Reaching 1,400 yards and earning Pro Bowl or All-Pro acclaim will add to the former fourth-rounder’s earnings on his New England extension, which can max out at $48MM. Stevenson has operated as the team’s lead back for the past two seasons, and he will now face increased expectations moving forward with a $9MM AAV. That figure ranks seventh in the league amongst running backs.

Last week, Stevenson publicly stated he felt an agreement on a long-term deal was close. That was followed in short order by a report that progress was being made, so today’s news comes as little surprise. The Patriots regime which drafted him – one which did not make a habit of investing in running backs – is no longer in place. New head coach Jerod Mayo spoke highly of a potential deal, though, and his tenure at the helm will no doubt feature plenty of usage for Stevenson in the backfield.

The Oklahoma product has a career yards per carry average of 4.5, although that figure checked in at 4.0 during his injury-shortened 2023 campaign. Ezekiel Elliott handled RB1 duties to close out the season in Stevenson’s absence, but he has since re-joined the Cowboys. To fill the veteran vacancy at the position, New England signed Antonio Gibson in free agency. The latter has shown an ability as a pass-catcher in particular, but early down responsibilities will no doubt lie with Stevenson for years to come.

While the 2024 offseason has seen a changing of the guard along the sidelines and in the front office for the Patriots, new general manager Eliot Wolf has made a number of moves aimed at keeping in-house players on the books. Deals for the likes of safety Kyle Dugger, right tackle Michael Onwenu and tight end Hunter Henry prevented what would have been notable free agent departures. Instead of testing the market in 2025, Stevenson will likewise be tied to New England for the foreseeable future.

The Patriots’ offense will feature a number of new faces in 2024, headlined by first-round rookie Drake Maye presumably taking on starting quarterback duties at some point. The team’s array of pass-catchers features veteran signing K.J. Osborn and a pair of rookies (second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk, fifth-rounder Javon Baker), but the ground game will no doubt remain a key element of the team’s attack. That will leave Stevenson as a focal point for the Patriots’ offense in 2024 and beyond as he seeks to justify this lucrative investment.

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