HEADLINES

Month: April 2024

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs

June 30th, 2022 at 10:48am CST by Sam Robinson

Wednesday, we took a look at how the 2022 offseason changed the HC landscape. While 10 new sideline leaders are in place for 2022, not quite as much turnover transpired on the general manager front. Five new decision-makers, however, have moved to the top of teams’ front office hierarchies over the past six months.

The Bears, Giants, Raiders and Vikings rebooted their entire operations, hiring new HC-GM combos. The Minnesota move bumped out one of the previous top-10 longest-tenured GMs, with 16-year Vikings exec Rick Spielman no longer in power in the Twin Cities. The Steelers’ shakeup took the NFL’s longest-tenured pure GM out of the mix. Kevin Colbert was with the Steelers since 2000, and although he is still expected to remain with the team in a reduced capacity, the 22-year decision-maker stepped down shortly after Ben Roethlisberger wrapped his career.

Twelve teams have now hired a new GM in the past two offseasons, though a bit more staying power exists here compared to the HC ranks. Two GMs (the Cardinals’ Steve Keim and Chargers’ Tom Telesco) have begun their 10th years at the helms of their respective front offices. They have hired three HCs apiece. The Buccaneers’ Jason Licht is closing in on a decade in power in Tampa Bay; Licht will now work with his fourth HC in Todd Bowles. Beyond that, a bit of a gap exists. But a handful of other executives have been in power for at least five seasons.

Here is how long every GM or de facto GM has been in place with his respective franchise:

  1. Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1]
  2. Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2]
  3. Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000[3]
  4. Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
  5. John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010; signed extension in 2021
  6. Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010; signed extension in 2022
  7. Les Snead (Los Angeles Rams): February 10, 2012; signed extension in 2019
  8. Steve Keim (Arizona Cardinals): January 8, 2013; signed extension in 2022
  9. Tom Telesco (Los Angeles Chargers): January 9, 2013; signed extension in 2018
  10. Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014; signed extension in 2021
  11. Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins): January 4, 2016[4]
  12. Jon Robinson (Tennessee Titans): January 14, 2016; signed extension in 2022
  13. John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017; signed extension in 2020
  14. Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017; signed extension in 2021
  15. Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017; signed extension in 2020
  16. Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017; signed extension in 2020
  17. Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018
  18. Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019
  19. Joe Douglas (New York Jets): June 7, 2019
  20. Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020
  21. Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 5, 2021
  22. George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 13, 2021
  23. Scott Fitterer (Carolina Panthers): January 14, 2021
  24. Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021
  25. Terry Fontenot (Atlanta Falcons): January 19, 2021
  26. Trent Baalke (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 21, 2021
  27. Martin Mayhew (Washington Commanders): January 22, 2021
  28. Joe Schoen (New York Giants): January 21, 2022
  29. Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears): January 25, 2022
  30. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings): January 26, 2022
  31. Dave Ziegler (Las Vegas Raiders): January 30, 2022
  32. Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers): May 24, 2022

Footnotes:

  1. Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
  2. Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
  3. Belichick has been the Patriots’ de facto GM since shortly after being hired as the team’s head coach in January 2000.
  4. Although Grier was hired in 2016, he became the Dolphins’ top football exec on Dec. 31, 2018

K.J. Wright To Retire If No Seahawks Return Commences

June 30th, 2022 at 9:40am CST by Sam Robinson

After 10 years with the Seahawks, K.J. Wright moved on in 2021. With the Seahawks giving Jordyn Brooks his role alongside Bobby Wagner, Wright waited until September before signing with the Raiders. He is not planning to chart a similar course this year.

Wright spent time with the Seahawks at their minicamp earlier this month and has been loosely connected to a return. But the Seahawks may be more interested in bringing him back in a non-playing, mentor-type role. If Wright’s first NFL employer does not reconsider its approach regarding a linebacking opportunity, he will not pursue a contract with another team.

“I mean, I love ball, but I’m not willing to pick up and leave my family like I did last year,” Wright said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s I Am Athlete Tonight show (via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News-Tribune). “And so I think it’s pretty well known where I stand at, how I want to end my career, going into my 12th season. If it’s not in Seattle, then I’ll be all good.”

Wright, 32, made $3.76MM with the Raiders last season but played a greatly reduced role — at least, compared to his Seahawks years — in seeing time on just 37% of Las Vegas’ defensive plays. Although Wright did not miss a game last season, his snap count dropped from 991 in 2020 to 425. The Raiders have made a few changes on defense this offseason, hiring Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator and cutting Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski. No Wright-Raiders connections have emerged, and the 11-year vet shut any possible reunion down this week.

Parting ways with Wright and Wagner in consecutive offseasons, the Seahawks have fully rebooted their linebacking corps and are set to use an altered defensive system under DC Clint Hurtt. Former third-round pick Cody Barton is on track to join Brooks as an off-ball starter this year. If it comes down to a playing offer with another team or a coaching chance with the Seahawks, it will be interesting to see if Wright sticks to his guns as the season nears. The 2011 third-round pick has made 140 career Seahawks starts — eighth-most by a defender in franchise history.

“It’ll hurt. I know that walking away from the game will be, you know, that that’s hard to do,” Wright said. “But [the Seahawks] know where I stand. But I love my family more than I love football. So I’m not willing to just up and go to a team midseason for five months. I got three kids and I love them way more than just up and leaving them to play some ball.

“So we’ll see. Seattle knows my heart. It only makes sense for me to go back. And so we’ll see what they end up doing.”

Browns RB Kareem Hunt Fully Healthy

June 29th, 2022 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Kareem Hunt missed about half of the 2021 campaign thanks to various injuries. Fortunately for the running back, he used the offseason to get fully healthy. Hunt told Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal that he’s good to go heading into training camp.

[RELATED: RB Kareem Hunt Wants To Re-Sign With Browns]

“I’m good, I’m 100%,” Hunt said. “I have some time to heal this offseason and get back to it. So body is feeling good, nothing’s bothering me.”

2021 was a tough season from a health perspective for Hunt. He suffered a calf injury in October that sidelined him to miss five games. He ended up returning for a pair of games, but an ankle injury (and a stint on the COVID list) ultimately ended his season early. While the Browns chose to shut down Hunt prematurely, the running back admitted that he would have pushed through the injury and played had Cleveland had a better shot at making the postseason.

“You know, it’s tough because I’m not used to sitting at home and watching some games on the couch and stuff like that,” Hunt said. “So it was kind of a weird thing. I don’t like that feeling not being able to go out there and help the team so it was very tough.”

When Hunt was on the field in 2021, he was plenty productive. He averaged 5.6 yards on his 100 touches, finishing with 560 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. He’ll rejoin a depth chart that still includes the likes of Nick Chubb and D’Ernest Johnson. The Browns are also rostering Demetric Felton and rookie Jerome Ford.

While Hunt is focused on getting back on the field, he also has a slight distraction in his impending free agency. We previously heard that the running back was open to signing a new deal with the Browns, and he reiterated that desire to Easterling.

“I hope I get paid,” Hunt said. “So you know, whatever they decide, they know I’m going to come out there and give it my all and I’ll do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Free Agent DE Carlos Dunlap Considering Options

June 29th, 2022 at 8:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Carlos Dunlap is generating interest on the open market. The veteran free agent edge rusher has received interest from teams and is “deciding on the best fit,” reports Doug Kyed of ProFootballFocus.com.

It’s been relatively quiet for Dunlap since getting released by the Seahawks back in March. A second reunion with Seattle was mentioned as a possibility, but we haven’t heard much on that front in months. The veteran also met with the Panthers earlier this month, but despite the two-day visit, Dunlap ended up leaving without a contract.

While the two-time Pro Bowler is getting up there in age, he could still be a useful depth piece. He got into all 17 games for the Seahawks last season, and while he only appeared in 38 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, he still managed to finish with 35 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 30th among 108 qualifying edge rushers. PFF also ranked the veteran 16th at the position for his run defense, and his pass-rush grade was above average, so while Dunlap may not have the stamina to be an every-down player, he still has the skills to play in most situations.

Who could be an option for Dunlap? Besides the Seahawks and Panthers, Kyed suggests that the Chiefs could be a fit. After losing Melvin Ingram III in free agency, Kansas City is currently eyeing Frank Clark and rookie George Karlaftis as their starting edge rushers. Dunlap might not necessarily supplant either of those two in the starting lineup, but he’d provide some experienced depth behind the duo.

Latest On Free Agent DE Corey Peters

June 29th, 2022 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Corey Peters remains unsigned, and it sounds like a return to Arizona is still in the cards. Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus writes that while Peters is “biding his time in free agency before he decides on his next destination,” the Cardinals remain an option.

After spending the first five seasons of his career in Atlanta, Peters joined the Cardinals in 2015. Besides missing his first season in Arizona thanks to a torn Achilles, the defensive tackle has otherwise been a mainstay on the team’s defensive line. He’s seen time in 81 games (77 starts) for Arizona, collecting 170 tackles, eight sacks, 29 tackles for loss, and 19 QB hits.

A knee injury ended his 2020 season prematurely, but after re-signing with the Cardinals last offseaosn, the veteran managed to get into 14 games (11 starts). He finished the campaign with 24 tackles and zero sacks, with Pro Football Focus ranking him as a middle-of-the-road interior defensive lineman (59th among 109 eligible candidates).

The 2022 campaign will be Peters’ age-34 season, but he still proved that he can be a serviceable defensive lineman last year. Pro Football Focus ranked him as one of the league’s better pass-rushing defensive lineman, so he could make sense as a third-down piece for most squads. Peters is likely waiting out any training camp or preseason injuries before settling on his next gig.

Saints DE Payton Turner Cleared For Training Camp

June 29th, 2022 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like the Saints’ 2021 first-round pick will be completely healthy heading into training camp. Saint defensive end Payton Turner announced on Twitter that he’s been medically cleared to return to the field.

“It’s been a long road to recovery,” Turner wrote. “I had a pretty major shoulder surgery last November and didn’t have quite the rookie year I wanted, but shoutout to everybody that’s stayed down with me and helped me get to this point, blessed to say I’ve been cleared.”

Following a 2020 campaign at Houston that saw him finish with five sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, and second-team All-ACC honors, the Saints selected Turner with the 28th-overall pick in the 2021 draft. The rookie saw an inconsistent role through the first half of the season, thanks in part to an undisclosed injury that halted his progress during training camp and a separate elbow injury that kept him off the field. He was inactive for three of New Orleans’ first eight games, with the defensive lineman collecting 12 tackles and one sack.

He suffered a shoulder injury in early November that ultimately landed him on injured reserve. The rook later underwent surgery, officially ending any hope that he’d return again in 2021.

The 23-year-old defensive end now has a chance at a fresh start in 2022, although it remains to be seen if new head coach (and former defensive coordinator) Dennis Allen will keep him on a tight leash. Considering his lack of experience, it could be difficult for Turner to jump Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport in the starting lineup. However, Davenport is rehabbing from his own shoulder surgery, which could open the door for the second-year pro.

Packers Could Shake Up RB Depth Chart Next Offseason

June 29th, 2022 at 5:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers had one of the best RB tandems in the NFL last season, and they’ll roll with the same duo in 2022. However, that might be the last season we’ll see the two-headed monster in Green Bay. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic writes that the Packers could move on from one of Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon next offseason.

This isn’t a huge surprise if you look at Green Bay’s cap sheet. Dillon will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023, and if he can match his breakout sophomore numbers (1,116 yards from scrimmage, seven touchdowns), then he’ll surely be pushing for an extension. Considering the Packers invested a second-round pick in Dillon, they’d presumably be willing to oblige.

However, it was only a year ago that the Packers inked Jones to a four-year, $48MM extension. That $12MM AAV ranks seventh at the position, and Green Bay could save themselves $10MM by cutting the veteran running back. It’d make sense for Green Bay to pivot that cap hit to the younger Dillon.

Following 2019 and 2020 campaigns where Jones combined for more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage while finding the end zone 30 times, the Packers pretty much split the RB carries evenly between Jones and Dillon in 2021. The move worked out for Green Bay, as they got 2,306 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns from the duo.

“I think they feed off each other pretty well,” running backs coach Ben Sirmans said (via Schneidman). “It’s kind of a luxury because you can keep them both fresh throughout the game and then toward the end, you can either throw AJ in there to pound and wear the defense down or put Aaron in and all of a sudden the defense is worn down and it’s an explosive play. Having a blend of both those guys, that will continue throughout this upcoming season.”

If the Packers do move on from one of the two RBs next offseason, the other running backs on the Packers roster could parlay a solid 2022 campaign into a bigger role in 2023. Patrick Taylor and Kylin Hill are still around, although the latter could start the season on PUP. Green Bay also brought in a pair of undrafted free agent RBs in Tyler Goodson and BJ Baylor.

Latest On Bills’ WR Competition

June 29th, 2022 at 4:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills are in line to once again have one of the league’s most prolific passing attacks in the NFL in 2022. They have undergone some changes at the receiver position, though, setting up a competition for the starting role in the slot to replace Cole Beasley. 

Isaiah McKenzie “appears to have an early lead” to land that role, based on his usage during the spring, according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. The 27-year-old has been a starter for only 18 of the 53 games he has played in with the Bills, so seeing first-team reps on a full-time basis would be somewhat new. McKenzie has played just one-quarter of Buffalo’s offensive snaps the past two seasons, totalling 50 receptions, 460 yards and six touchdowns.

The former fifth-rounder has, of course, showcased his speed on special teams as well. He turned 24 kick returns into 584 yards last year, adding 147 yards on punt returns as well. As a result of his overall production, McKenzie earned a two-year, $8MM extension this offseason. His speed gives him a complimentary skillset to No. 1 wideout Stefon Diggs, and a very different profile to his primary competition for the slot role.

The Bills added veteran Jamison Crowder in free agency, after a three-year stint with the Jets. He had a down year in 2021, but was a consistent presence in New York’s offense the two prior years (137 catches, 1,532 yards, 12 touchdowns), giving him the opportunity to replace Beasley as a dependable chain-mover. In addition, Getzenberg notes that the 29-year-old has stood out during his first spring practices with the team.

Between Diggs and Gabriel Davis, the Bills are set on the perimeter at the WR position. As Getzenberg predicts, though, the competition between McKenzie and Crowder to determine the pecking order in the slot will be one of the most intriguing ones in training camp next month.

Cardinals To Remain Cautious With DeAndre Hopkins’ Recovery

June 29th, 2022 at 3:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals have known for quite some time that they will be without their top wideout for, in all likelihood, the first six weeks of the regular season in 2022. To ensure he is fully prepared to return from his PED suspension upon his eligibility to do so, the team must also keep in mind the MCL injury DeAndre Hopkins is recovering from. 

As a result, ESPN’s Josh Weinfus notes that the Cardinals are taking a “targeted approach” to Hopkins’ recovery. In essence, that will consist of the team putting him on a “pitch count” with respect to which days he practices on, and how much time he spends on the field at any one time.

“We’re trying to come up with a great plan that rolls right up to Week 7 of the season and make sure we’re smart about it,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “But, the main thing I don’t want him to do is ramp up, make a bunch of plays in training camp… and then six weeks he’s not doing anything.”

Hopkins will be allowed to practice with the team while suspended, giving both player and club the opportunity to institute a methodical recovery plan through the summer. A healthy return would be a welcomed sight for all parties, of course; the three-time All-Pro will have missed 14 of the last 16 games for Arizona by the time he will be cleared to play again. The impact of his loss on the team’s offense was significant late last year, precipitating in part one of Arizona’s most significant offseason moves.

The Cardinals traded a first round pick to the Ravens for wideout Marquise Brown during the draft, giving them a 1,000-yard wideout to deploy in Hopkins’ early absence. When both are available, Brown’s speed also projects as an effective compliment to the latter’s size and style of play. To ensure the tandem will be on the field together as soon as possible, the team will use a significant amount of caution in bringing back their No. 1 pass catcher.

Seahawks S Jamal Adams Underwent Offseason Finger Surgeries

June 29th, 2022 at 1:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jamal Adams underwent left shoulder surgery for the second straight year, after suffering another labrum tear. But the Seahawks safety’s offseason operation schedule was a bit more complex.

Similar to Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport, Adams underwent multiple finger surgeries during the offseason, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com notes. Adams said he expects to be ready for training camp, but he has dealt with extensive discomfort in recent seasons.

The two procedures addressed issues with his middle and ring fingers, which the former top-10 pick said he began dislocating in 2020. The surgeries left Adams’ fingers fused to the point he can no longer make a fist with his left hand, Henderson adds. Citing the shoulder and finger issues, Adams said he has played “with one arm for damn near two years.”

“Been going through that for two years now,” Adams said of his finger injuries. “My first year when I got here, I dislocated by ring finger probably about 10 times and the other one probably about … 12. Been dealing with that. Ain’t really said much. Let everybody talk about it, whatever. But it’s good now, and they’re in trouble.”

Adams did not participate much in the Seahawks’ training camp last year, staging a “hold-in” effort while in contract talks. The Seahawks rewarded the former Jets standout with a then-safety-record four-year, $70MM deal — a contract that affected the Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick negotiations. But Adams did not deliver much in the way of production last season. After setting another safety record (for sacks, with 9.5) in 2020, Adams went sackless in 12 2021 games. While that normally would not be worth mentioning from a safety, sacks and backfield disruption represent a big part of Adams’ game.

Some within the Seahawks saw Adams’ 2021 blitzes as too predictable, leading teams to catch on and the Seahawks to dial back his pressure opportunities. Adams’ quarterback-hit totals dropped from 14 in 2020 — also a 12-game season for him — to two last year. Pro Football Focus rated Adams outside the top 60 safeties last season. Pete Carroll and new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt are planning more pre-snap disguising for Adams and Quandre Diggs this year, per Henderson.

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