Week In Review News & Rumors

AFC standouts receive record paydays: Two players that angled for extensions for a while signed them this week, and the contracts are now the standard at their respective positions. Antonio Brown finally signed the Steelers pact the team delayed until he had one year remaining on his previous deal, and Eric Berry reached an agreement with the Chiefs on the day before the franchise tag deadline. Berry was adamant about not wanting to be tagged again. This is the eighth-year player’s second Chiefs long-term deal. Also an eighth-year performer, Brown signed his third Steelers pact. Brown raises the per-year wide receiver bar to $17MM AAV, while Berry’s deal surpasses Tyrann Mathieu‘s in total and per-year money; the league’s new highest-paid safety will earn $13MM annually.

Pro Bowlers, potential Hall of Famers axed: The long-rumored Adrian Peterson/Vikings divorce occurred this week when Minnesota passed on the Canton-bound running back’s 2017 option. The Chiefs parted with ninth-year running back Jamaal Charles. Amid a major house-cleaning effort, the Jets will separate from Darrelle Revis for a second time. They also became the fourth team to part with Brandon Marshall. The former Broncos, Dolphins and Bears wide receiver will leave a team via release for the first time after being traded in 2010, 2012 and 2015. The 33-year-old wideout declined a Jets extension offer and requested a release. Peterson’s been linked to the Giants and Raiders in free agency, although the latest coming out of New York/New Jersey is Big Blue will pass on him. Charles could have interest from former Kansas City OC Doug Pederson in Philadelphia, and Marshall has been linked to a few teams, including the Patriots.

Cooks trade market ignites: The Saints may be dangling Brandin Cooks in trades. The league certainly seems to be operating on the assumption the two-time 1,100-yard wideout is available. After interest emerged from the Eagles and Titans, the Patriots are believed to have offered a package including their 2017 No. 32 overall pick for a receiver they’ve admired for years. New Orleans, though, wants a “real significant” return for the 23-year-old target who could be under team control for two more seasons. Saints management is said to be targeting a mid-first-round pick. Several teams have offered second-rounders. The Eagles attempted to trade for Cooks at the 2016 deadline.

Tags change pass-rusher market: While players at other positions received franchise tag designations — Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Le’Veon Bell (Steelers) and Trumaine Johnson (Rams) — the tag fail-safe measure mostly affected the pass-rushing market. As expected, the Cardinals and Panthers respectively tagged Chandler Jones and Kawann Short. But the Giants and Chargers both opted to prevent sack artists Jason Pierre-Paul and Melvin Ingram from reaching free agency. The edge defender market looks drastically different as a result. Pittsburgh and Washington, though, protected their offensive assets the most, being the only two franchises to deploy the exclusive tag this year.

Salary cap makes record leap: After months of rumors pegging the 2017 cap between $163-$170MM, the number teams will use this year was revealed this week. As free agency approaches, teams will be working off a $167MM salary ceiling. Moving from $155MM to $167MM makes this the largest single-year leap since the cap was implemented in 1994. That continues the substantial elevation pattern that’s formed over the past several years. In 2013, the cap settled in at $123MM, and that came after it stagnated following the uncapped year of 2010. The Browns now have more than $102MM in cap space to lead the league going into free agency.

Dolphins, Jaguars swap assets. After a deal that would have sent left tackle Branden Albert to Jacksonville and tight end Julius Thomas to Miami fell through, the two clubs simply agreed to trade the players in separate transactions, with the Fins getting a 2018 seventh-round pick for Albert and the Jags receiving a 2017 seventh-rounder for Thomas. In Albert, Jacksonville gets a replacement for Kelvin Beachum, on whom the Jaguars declined their option last week, while Thomas — who has since passed his physical — is now reunited with Adam Gase, who coached Thomas in Denver.

Bears trying to trade Jay Cutler. Chicago is attempting to acquire any sort of compensation for Cutler, although a deal seems extremely unlikely after the 33-year-old quarterback struggled with injuries and ineffective play in 2016. Further complicating mattes is that Cutler is reportedly considering retirement, and could threaten to end his career if he somehow gets dealt to a destination he doesn’t prefer. Cutler is expected to be able to pass a physical by next month, which could be one bit of good news for any interested parties.

Jets begin roster purge. Gang Green is entering a rebuilding stage, and started that process by cutting ties with several veterans last week. After previously declining left tackle Ryan Clady‘s option, the Jets released right tackle Breno Giacomini (link), center Nick Mangold (link), kicker Nick Folk (link), and declined their 2017 option on linebacker Erin Henderson (link). New York is likely to retain linebacker David Harris, but cornerback Darrelle Revis is probably on the outs, especially after his hearing on assault charges was postponed.

Left tackle market continues to evolve. Both Clady and Beachum will now hit free agency after seeing their options declined by the Jets and Jaguars, respectively, and another blindside protector will be joining them on the open market. The Broncos opted not to exercise the remainder of Russell Okung‘s contract, which he notably negotiated without an agent last spring. Okung’s option bonus was worth only $1MM, but the mechanism would have locked in an additional four years, $48MM, and $20.5MM in guaranteed money. Okung will now join a free agent tackle class that includes Andrew Whitworth, Ricky Wagner, and Riley Reiff.

Latavius Murray will reach the market. The Raiders aren’t going to agree to an extension with Murray before free agency begins next Thursday, meaning the 27-year-old running back will hit the open market and potentially land with a new club. Oakland isn’t completely moving on from Murray, who’s only averaged four yards per carry over the past two seasons, but it will let him establish his value in free agency before trying to work out a new deal. Murray will compete for a contract along with other free agent backs including Le’Veon Bell (who is likely to be franchised), Eddie Lacy, and LeGarrette Blount.

Dolphins get an offseason head start. Miami began clearing cap space with a fervor last week, releasing defensive linemen Mario Williams and Earl Mitchell, and — after deciding not to cut him — are now working on a trade that would send left tackle Branden Albert to the Jaguars. Additionally, the Dolphins handed veteran defensive end Cameron Wake another extension, and have begun pondering their plans for the next few months. A trade for a high-profile cornerback could be on the itinerary, while Miami is also expected to target edge help.

Roster purge for Big Blue. The Giants made several personnel moves last week, parting ways with veterans Victor Cruz (link) and Rashad Jennings (link), while another report indicated the club won’t make a push to re-sign free agent tight end Larry Donnell. Running back Adrian Peterson also doesn’t appear to be on New York’s radar, even though the veteran back posted a cryptic tweet indicating possible interest in the Giants. Meanwhile, the Giants want to retain defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul before free agency begins.

Left tackle market evolves. Before last week, the free agent list of left tackles consisted of Andrew Whitworth, Riley Reiff, and a bunch of uninspiring options. Recently, however, the market has grown, as both the Jets and Jaguars declined their respective options on offensive linemen Ryan Clady and Kelvin Beachum, respectively. Along with Albert (who, as noted above, could be traded), left tackles are becoming a bit more available, and should face a healthy market.

Patriots mulling Tom Brady extension. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory, New England wants to work out a new deal with Brady, who is already signed thorough the 2019 campaign. The two sides have begun negotiations, but no contract is imminent at the moment. By hammering out a new pact, the Patriots could theoretically reduce Brady’s upcoming cap charges, which come in at $14MM, $22MM, and $22MM over the next three seasons.

Tony Romo expects to be released. While the Cowboys could aim to trade Romo over the next weeks, the quarterback himself expects to be cut rather than dealt away. Such a move could be preferable to Dallas, as well, because a post-June 1 release of Romo would save the club more money than a trade. Plus, cutting Romo would allow him to choose his next destination, which would represent a professional gesture by the Cowboys given Romo’s contributions to the team.

Patriots win the Super Bowl. In one of the greatest title games ever played, quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots back from a 25-point deficit to defeat the Falcons in the first Super Bowl overtime by final score of 34-28. Brady was named MVP after passing for a Super Bowl-record 466 yards, while running back James White added 14 receptions and three total touchdowns. Brady and New England head coach Bill Belichick now boast five Super Bowl rings, and the Patriots have now won two of the past three NFL championships.

Changes in Atlanta. Having been dealt a crushing loss in the Super Bowl, the Falcons quickly began making changes to their coaching staff. Former Alabama assistant Steve Sarkisian was hired to replace Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator, while ex-Atlanta secondary coach Marquand Manuel was promoted to take the place of the fired Richard Smith. The Falcons will also tackle personnel moves this offseason, possibly by making Matt Ryan the league’s highest-paid player and inking cornerback Desmond Trufant to an extension.

Shanahan goes west. The 49ers made official the NFL’s worst-kept secret, hiring former Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan as their new head coach, signing him to a six-year deal. Along with first-time general manager John Lynch, Shanahan will control San Francisco’s fate for the next half-dozen years (Lynch handles the 90-man roster while Shanahan has final say over the 53). In addition to personnel control, Shanahan is handling other duties, as the 49ers won’t hire an offensive coordinator and are bringing in several inexperienced offensive coaches.

Getting the band back together. Quarterback Carson Palmer became the second Cardinals veteran to fend off retirement, announcing this week that he’d follow wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald‘s lead and return for the 2017 season. 2016 was certainly a down year for Palmer, as his Total Quarterback Rating dropped by nearly 25 points, but Arizona is still in win-now mode and doesn’t have a ready-made successor on the roster. Palmer, 37, is signed through 2018 with cap charges north of $20MM in each year.

A reward in Oakland. After leading the Raiders back to the postseason for the first time in 12 years, head coach Jack Del Rio was handed a new contract on Friday night. Oakland essentially ripped up Del Rio’s old deal, which had him locked up through 2018, and signed him to a new pact that runs through the 2020 campaign. Del Rio, 53, won 12 games for the second time in his career in 2016, and has posted an overall record of 87-84 as an NFL head coach.

San Francisco’s dual searches continue. Technically, the 49ers have still not named a new head coach, but that’s only because their overwhelmingly likely choice — Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan — is still coaching in the playoffs. Shanahan will likely meet with Niners ownership on Tuesday to discuss candidates for San Francisco’s vacant general manager position. A number of contenders have recently dropped out of the running, leaving the Vikings’ George Paton and the Cardinals’ Terry McDonough as the remaining choices.

Colts make a change. Indianapolis has finally made an alteration to its decision-making structure, announcing Saturday that it had fired general manager Ryan Grigson. Reports of discord between Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano had existed for some time, forcing the Colts to part ways with Grigson despite that fact that he recently signed an extension through the 2019 campaign. Incumbent Indy executive Jimmy Raye III is considered the favorite to take over as GM, but given that the position is viewed as highly attractive, multiple candidates figure to emerge.

Viva Las Vegas. The Raiders made it official last week, filing relocation papers for their intended move to Las Vegas. The city of Oakland made “no progress” in retaining the club, and most observers don’t buy the city’s plan for a new stadium. Instead, the Raiders and owner Mark Davis hope to move into a $1.9 billion proposed facility in Vegas in time for the 2020 season. The plan still needs to be approved by the NFL’s owners, but the proposal is reportedly “gaining momentum.”

Chip Kelly getting nibbles. Although Chip Kelly’s single season with the 49ers certainly wasn’t a success, he’s still respected around the league as an offensive mind, and has garnered a bit of interest over the past week. The Jaguars interviewed Kelly both for their head coaching job and their offensive coordinator position, but decided to go with internal hires. The Patriots — and Kelly friend Bill Belichick — reportedly met with Kelly last week, while the Falcons could also express interest if Kyle Shanahan heads to San Francisco.

Coordinator change galore. Now that all but one head coaching slot has been filled, clubs have begun to assemble their coaching staffs by first installing new coordinators. Gus Bradley (Chargers), Mike Vrabel (Texans), and Greg Manusky (Redskins) are a few of the new coaches on the defensive side of the ball, while Rick Dennison (Bills), Nathaniel Hackett (Jaguars), and — likely — Matt Cavanaugh (Redskins) join them on offense. Follow all the latest staff news by bookmarking PFR’s 2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker.

Ch-ch-ch-changes. Two more clubs parted ways with their head coaches, as the Chargers decided to fire Mike McCoy while the 49ers dismissed Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke. San Diego and San Francisco join Buffalo, Denver, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles in the head coaching hunt, and interviews are already taking place, with Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan, Anthony Lynn, and Dave Toub among the most popular candidates. Follow all the latest on the hiring cycle with PFR’s 2017 Head Coaching Search Tracker.

Indy stays the course. While the six clubs above are overhauling their respective coaching staffs, the Colts opted not to do so, announcing that general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano will both return in 2017. Both men signed extensions to remain in Indianapolis last season, but rumors had surfaced indicating that the Colts could redesign their leadership structure. Instead, the club will opt for continuity and hope to contend next year in the AFC South.

Killer Bees likely staying in Pittsburgh. With Ben Roethlisberger under contract for the foreseeable future, the Steelers are turning their attention to the other two key members of their prolific offense. Pittsburgh is likely to use the franchise tag to retain running back Le’Veon Bell, while the club is also interested in working out an extension with running back Antonio Brown, who is under contract for one more season. A long-term deal with Bell is possible even after the franchise tag is used, of course, but if no contract is agreed to, Bell would earn north of $12MM in 2017.

Seahawks add a legendary returner. With primary returner Tyler Lockett sidelined for the rest of the season, Seattle signed one of the all-time greats to fill in for the time being, agreeing to a deal with free agent Devin Hester. Now 34 years old, Hester was released by the Ravens earlier this year and is probably not the top-notch athlete he once was. But he should still be able to add another dimension to the Seahawks’ return game as they continue their run through the postseason.

QB trade on the horizon? Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron received a few starts at the end of the 2015 campaign after Andy Dalton suffered an injury, and now McCarron sounds open to a trade. Outside of Kirk Cousins, the free agent quarterback market is barren, and McCarron could represent an intriguing option for a QB-needy club. Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, meanwhile, tweeted last week that moving McCarron was part of the Bengals’s offseason “itinerary,” calling it a question of “when” rather than “if” Cincinnati will deal its No. 2 signal-caller.

Quarterbacks — and postseason chances — go down. A week after the Dolphins lost QB Ryan Tannehill for an indefinite amount of time, both the Raiders and Titans saw their starting signal-callers fall victim to injury. Derek Carr suffered a broken fibula and is unlikely to return for a playoff run, meaning Oakland will head into the tournament with Matt McGloin under center. Marcus Mariota went down with the same injury, and Tennessee subsequently fell to Jacksonville — eliminating the Titans from the postseason — with Matt Cassel leading the way. The quarterbacks Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots are likely to face in what now looks like an easy run through the AFC playoffs? Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith, Matt Moore, McGloin, and Tom Savage.

Jaguars fire Gus Bradley. After a three-plus year run with Jacksonville, head coach Gus Bradley was handed his walking papers after posting a 14-48 record (which translates to a .226 winning percentage, the second-lowest mark in league history). the Jaguars promoted offensive line coach Doug Marrone to interim head coach, and have seemingly already begun their search for a permanent solution. Both Tom Coughlin (link) and Kyle Shanahan (link) are thought to be candidates, while the club could also be interested in placing Coughlin in a front office role. Meanwhile, the next Jaguars head coach won’t be tied to quarterback Blake Bortles.

The search gets underway in LA. The Jaguars aren’t the only team on the hunt for a new coach, as the Rams are also looking for a new leader after firing Jeff Fisher. Los Angeles is reportedly focusing its efforts on ESPN commentator Jon Gruden, although Gruden said he has “no intention of coaching.” Kyle Shanahan is also possibly on the Rams’ list, while Saints coach Sean Payton reportedly has “sincere” interest in the position.

Legion of Boom to stay intact. All Pro safety Earl Thomas will return in 2017, dispelling any notion that he might instead opt for retirement after suffering a major injury a few weeks ago. Considered by many observers to be the key to Seattle’s defense, Thomas is among the best defensive players in the league, and his loss would have represented a significant blow to the Seahawks.

No Jamaal Charles for playoffs. The Chiefs opted to bring linebacker Justin March-Lillard off injured reserve last week, meaning that running back Jamaal Charles won’t be rejoining the club for a postseason run. Charles landed on IR in early November, but he likely would have been cleared for the playoffs had Kansas City decided to wait. But given the club’s lack of depth at linebacker, the Chiefs decided to go with March-Lillard instead.

Rams fire Jeff Fisher. One day after he tied the NFL record for most losses by a head coach, Jeff Fisher was handed his walking papers by the Rams, who fired him and installed special teams coordinator John Fassel as interim head coach. Los Angeles is said to be searching for a new coach with experience on the offensive side of the ball, and PFR’s Zach Links looked at 10 of the most likely candidates for the job. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden is thought to be willing to listen to the club’s pitch, while Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has already ruled himself out.

Brock to the bench. The Texans have finally seen enough of quarterback Brock Osweiler, and benched him today in favor of Tom Savage. Houston signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72MM contract that contained $37MM in guarantees over the offseason, but he’s responded by completing less than 60% of his passes and tossing 14 touchdowns. With Savage leading the way, the Texans pulled out a victory over the Jaguars and remain in the thick of the AFC South race.

Rex done in BUF? The Bills are “preparing to move on” from head coach Rex Ryan after the season, as Adam Scheter of ESPN.com reported this morning on the heels of last week’s report that Ryan was unlikely to return in 2017. Ryan’s relationship with general manager Doug Whaley is reportedly strained, and given that Whaley has built a relationship with the club’s ownership, Ryan looks to be on the outs. Whaley, for what it’s worth, is not thought to be on the hot seat.

Back comes AP. Adrian Peterson made a surprise announcement on Friday, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio that he would come off IR and play in the Vikings’ Week 15 contest against the Colts. Peterson had returned to practice earlier in the week, but it was unclear whether he’d be ready to go on Sunday. Despite Peterson’s appearance, Minnesota took a beating today, losing to Indianapolis 34-6 as Peterson managed only 22 yards on six carries. The Vikings’ playoff hopes are just about over, as FiveThirtyEight gives the club less than a one percent chance of making the postseason.

Michael Floyd changes teams. After being arrested for DUI, Michael Floyd was waived by the Cardinals, but landed in a better situation just one day later as he was claimed by the Patriots. New England will pay Floyd less than $1MM for his services over the rest of the regular season and the postseason, giving him something of an audition before he hits free agency next spring. Floyd is expected to be handed a suspension in 2017, however, which could limit his market.