AFC Staff Updates: Jaguars, Patriots, Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, Titans, Colts
With rookie general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen taking over in Jacksonville, we’ve seen a mass migration of coaches and front office staff from Los Angeles to Duval this offseason. Gladstone and Coen created several connections during their time with the Rams, and Sean McVay has never been known to keep his coaches from pursuing positions with upwards mobility elsewhere.
The latest staff members we see making the move are former national scout Brian Hill and former director of draft management JW Jordan. Per Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com, Hill is set to become the new director of college scouting in Jacksonville. Hill had been with the Rams since 2013, spending two years as a scouting assistant and ten years as an area scout responsible for the Midwest region. He had just been promoted to national scout in March, but he will pass up the opportunity for an even bigger elevation with the Jaguars.
Jordan has been with the Rams for 13 years, spending the last six in his role as director of draft management and serving as a scouting consultant before that. His new role has not yet been announced, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that it will be an executive role.
Here are some other staff updates from around the AFC:
- Stratton also gave us two recent updates for the Patriots scouting staff. Just over a week after Tennessee moved on from scouting director A.J. Highsmith, he has found a role in New England as the new director of pro scouting. The move puts Highsmith on the same team as his father, Alonzo Highsmith, who is entering his second season as a senior personnel executive with the Patriots. Stratton also informed us that southeast area scout Josh Hinch will not be returning to the team in 2025.
- After four years with the Steelers, it appears Mike Sullivan will not be back next season. It’s unclear if something occurred, but ESPN’s Brooke Pryor pointed out that he no longer appears on the team’s website. The 58-year-old spent three years as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach before moving to a senior offensive assistant role last year. Additionally, the Steelers have hired Luke Smith to serve as a quality control coach for the team in 2025. The nephew of Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith, Luke has spent the past eight years as the wide receivers coach at nearby Duquesne, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. This will be Smith’s first position in the NFL.
- Stratton gave us another front office update recently, pointing out a change to the LinkedIn profile of Jets assistant director of pro personnel Kevin Murphy. Murphy seems to have indicated on the account that his time with New York has come to an end. The profile currently does not indicate any next steps for the pro personnel specialist who spent time with the Texans, Bills, and Jets over the last 19 years.
- Jordan Happle has been hired as a new player personnel scout for the Dolphins. According to Stratton, the former collegiate safety who played at both Boise State and Oregon was recently added to Miami’s website in the new position.
- Stratton also tells us that the Titans are hiring former Pitt director of college scouting Alex Kline to their scouting department this season. Kline began his football career as a wide receiver at John Caroll University before becoming a grad assistant and, eventually, a coach and coordinator at Saint Vincent College. He worked for a year at Pitt as an offensive quality control coach before leaving for a recruiting role at Akron. He returned to Pitt as the wide receivers coach before leaving once again for the director of player personnel job at Memphis. He returned once more to Pitt in 2022 in his most recent role before making the trip back to Tennessee. It stands to be seen whether or not he’ll attempt to continue his back-and-forth career movement between coaching and personnel.
- Lastly, Seth Walder of ESPN informs us that Ashleigh Prugh is joining the Colts as a football analytics fellow. This will be Prugh’s first position in the NFL following an internship with SumerSports.
Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd Is “Full Go”
After an extremely disappointing rookie season that saw him miss all but 10 offensive snaps, Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is ready to make a comeback for his sophomore campaign. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, running backs coach Ben Sirmans told the media that “everything’s full go for (Lloyd)” at this point. 
With last year’s offseason addition of veteran free agent running back Josh Jacobs, not much was going to be expected of Lloyd in the Packers offense, anyway. Jacobs rebounded from a down 2023 season with 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season in Green Bay. That didn’t mean there weren’t touches for other backs, though, as Emanuel Wilson was able to contribute 502 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, as well.
As a third-round pick out of USC, it was expected that Lloyd could have been that impactful RB2 for the Packers before injury and illness stole his season. He had experienced a similar disappointment as a five-star freshman at South Carolina, missing his first year due to a torn ACL. He was slowly worked back into the offense as a redshirt freshman and didn’t become a starter until 2022. Though he scored 11 touchdowns that year, he only racked up 573 rushing yards. He then transferred to joins the Trojans and, with only five more carries, was able to increase his rushing total to 820 yards with another nine touchdowns.
In the running backs room in Green Bay, neither Lloyd nor Wilson offer much physically different from Jacobs. All three rushers are around 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds. There isn’t really a specialized scatback or short-yardage option or receiving back in the three. If all backs are fully healthy, though, Lloyd should hold the advantage to land a change-of-pace role over Wilson.
If Lloyd can establish himself as an impact performer in limited time, the Packers may feel comfortable moving on from Jacobs as they get into the later, more expensive, and cap-eating years of the veteran’s current contract. At this point, though, Jacobs has proven to be plenty worth his deal, and Lloyd has plenty to prove in his first healthy year in the NFL.
Broncos Rehire Jordan Dizon For Front Office Role, Make Other Staff Changes
Front office turnover continues post-draft, as teams regularly use this stretch to rearrange staffs after prioritizing continuity for the draft. These changes generally hit scouting departments, as contracts often run through the draft.
The Broncos have made a few changes since the draft, most notably promoting Reed Burckhardt to fill Darren Mougey‘s assistant general manager post. They also hired Camren Williams from the Patriots as co-director of player personnel. With Burkhardt moved up, Williams and A.J. Durso will share that role.
The Broncos also made a notable scouting-side hire by bringing back Jordan Dizon. The former John Elway-era exec is returning as Denver’s director of pro personnel. This will be a move up for Dizon, who had previously served as a national scout for the Eagles. Although the Broncos have lost some front office cogs this offseason, 9News’ Mike Klis notes the team now has six assistants at the pro personnel director level or higher. That doubles the number of such staffers when Elway stepped down in 2021. In addition to GM George Paton and the aforementioned staffers, GM interviewee Kelly Kleine Van Callighan remains with the team as executive director of football ops.
Dizon, 39, left for Philadelphia shortly after the 2022 draft; the move certainly looks to have proved beneficial. The Eagles ventured to two Super Bowls in this span, winning Super Bowl LIX. Rookies acquired during the two drafts in which Dizon served as a national scout (from Jalen Carter to Quinyon Mitchell to Cooper DeJean) provided considerable aid, and George Paton will bring Dizon back to Denver. Elway hired Dizon, a former Colorado and Lions linebacker, in 2015. Dizon stayed on through Paton’s first GM year and will come back under Elway’s successor. Prior to leaving for Philly, Dizon had served as the Broncos’ assistant director of pro personnel.
Denver had lost Mougey, Mark Thewes, Brian Stark and David Shaw from its front office this offseason. Mougey and Stark’s exits — the latter is now the Raiders’ assistant GM — headlined this brain drain of sorts, but the Broncos also announced a promotion for their longest-tenured staffer. Paton elevated Scott DiStefano, who has been with the team since 1982, to senior college scout. One of the NFL’s longest-tenured employees, DiStefano has served on the scouting level throughout his tenure with the team.
It is interesting that the Broncos’ scouting department has not changed significantly since Sean Payton‘s arrival, and the team made some moves to retain hires from previous regimes. The Broncos bumped Bryan Chesin — in his 12th year with the team — to college scouting director. The Elway hire had been the team’s Midwest national scout. Second to DiStefano in scouting seniority with the Broncos, Dave Bratten will move from west area scout to assistant college scouting director. Bratten has been with the Broncos since 1997. Previously in that role, Nick Schiralli is now in place as a senior personnel executive entering his 18th year with the club. He joins former NFL linebacker Roman Phifer in holding that title in Denver.
DB Notes: 49ers, Gordon, Lions, Colts, Titans
The 49ers‘ decision to let Charvarius Ward walk in free agency points to Renardo Green receiving an extended opportunity to become a full-time starter opposite Deommodore Lenoir. Extended months before Ward’s departure, Lenoir has worked as both a boundary and slot corner. His $17.96MM-per-year contract, which checks in far north of the slot-only market, reflects this versatility. But the 49ers have been unable to find a pure slot option since K’Waun Williams departed in 2022. The team will give third-round pick Upton Stout a shot to buck that trend, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
Standing 5-foot-8, Stout profiles as a slot performer. He excelled in the role in a college career spent at North Texas and Western Kentucky. Stout also led all DBs in the gauntlet drill and bench press (21 reps) at the Combine, creating an interesting profile. The 49ers’ issues in the slot have prompted them to use Day 2 picks on two corners (Green, Stout) since 2024; Stout proving up to the task would stand to limit Lenoir’s inside work. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers will keep their top cover man on the perimeter.
Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:
- Kyler Gordon‘s $13.3MM-per-year deal set the market for slot patrolmen recently. That deal checks in more than $11MM south of Jaycee Horn‘s extension and a whopping $16MM-plus lower than where Derek Stingley Jr. has taken the boundary CB market. While a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post highlighted the value teams receive when they identify a quality slot defender, the Bears are not committed to keeping Gordon inside. New Bears DC Dennis Allen said (via ChicagoBears.com’s Larry Mayer) Gordon will train at safety and at outside corner in his scheme, as the team looks to increase its recently extended defender’s usage rate. Gordon played 97% of Chicago’s defensive snaps as a rookie, but upon shifting to more of a slot role in 2023, the former second-round pick has not cleared 80% in a season since.
- The Lions will have 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw train on the outside in Kelvin Sheppard‘s first DC offseason, per Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers. Playing only 46 defensive snaps as a rookie, the 5-11 CB received what amounted to a redshirt year. The Lions used a premium pick on Rakestraw, though he does not look to have a path to a starting job in a secondary that will feature Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed and Amik Robertson as regulars.
- Detroit also added some depth in Avonte Maddox, a longtime Eagles slot corner who drifted to a backup role after a slew of injuries. Maddox will be expected to serve as a backup in the slot and at safety, according to Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil (via Rogers). Maddox, who did make a pivotal pass breakup in Super Bowl LIX, saw his snap share drop to 33% last season — after he missed most of 2023. The eighth-year veteran is on a one-year, $1.42MM deal ($1.2MM guaranteed).
- Titans third-round pick Kevin Winston, per HC Brian Callahan, is expected to be cleared for training camp after sustaining a partial ACL tear last year. Winston, who suffered the injury in early September, underwent knee surgery but had recovered in time to run at the Penn State pro day. The Titans chose Winston with the No. 82 overall pick.
- The Colts roster one of the NFL’s best slot corners, and Kenny Moore is going into his ninth season with the team. Indianapolis, however, may be grooming an heir apparent. They team is likely to have third-round pick Justin Walley begin his offseason in the slot, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Moore’s three-year, $30MM contract features a fully guaranteed 2025 salary but no guarantees beyond this year. The Pro Bowl defender, who has protected the Colts at one CB spot while they have dealt with enduring issues on the perimeter, is going into his age-30 season.
Bills To Hold QB2 Competition Between Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White
The Bills have turned to Mitchell Trubisky as Josh Allen‘s backup in two nonconsecutive seasons, reacquiring the former No. 2 overall pick after he spent two years in Pittsburgh. Trubisky’s second Buffalo stint is set for a second season, but his grip on the team’s backup gig may not be as firm as what it was in 2024.
Mike White‘s move up from the practice squad in January came with a year added to his contract, carrying into 2025. The former Jets Zach Wilson replacement will be set to vie for the Allen backup role against Trubisky, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia (subscription required).
A potential role reversal here would come in White’s second year with the organization, as the ex-Jets and Dolphins backup gained seasoning in Joe Brady‘s system by spending a full season in Buffalo. This is White’s first offseason in western New York, however.
The Bills added White to their practice squad shortly after the Dolphins jettisoned him last August. Although Miami had signed White to a two-year, $8MM deal, Skylar Thompson beat him out for the team’s QB2 post during training camp last year. The Dolphins grew to regret that Thompson decision and have since changed up again — by adding Wilson — this offseason.
Now 30, White raised his profile by posing an unexpected threat to Wilson in New York. As the Jets erred by not adding a bridge-level backup for the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, White showed himself to be more effective running Mike LaFleur‘s offense that year. The QB’s 405-yard passing performance in an upset win over the eventual AFC champion Bengals made him a popular presence in New York, and even though the ex-Cowboys draftee crashed back to earth in the weeks that followed, he eventually replaced Wilson as the BYU product fizzled by 2022. The Jets did not deem it a priority to have a veteran presence behind Aaron Rodgers in 2023, however, and White moved on.
Trubisky, 30, has been Allen’s backup in 2021 and ’24. He served as Kenny Pickett‘s bridge for the Steelers in 2023 and did not impress as an injury replacement in 2024. The Steelers, who had seen Mason Rudolph prove a better option late in the ’23 season, released Trubisky after having previously extended him. Trubisky entered the 2022 and ’23 seasons ahead of Rudolph on Pittsburgh’s depth chart, and after signing a two-year deal worth $5.25MM to return to Buffalo, the ex-Bears bust still likely will enter Bills training camp in front of White.
Though, it appears White is a bigger threat to Trubisky’s job now compared to 2024, per Buscaglia. A potential change would mostly need to emerge from practice work, as Trubisky only saw relevant game action in Week 18 last season. He went 15 of 21 for 101 yards and one touchdown in a loss to a Patriots team sitting Drake Maye last season.
Allen has not missed a start since his 2018 rookie season. While elbow and hand maladies have come up since, Allen has proven one of the NFL’s safest bets. Though, the superstar’s bruising style and high run-game usage rate does leave him vulnerable annually.
With Allen’s durability pointing to the Bills only carrying one active-roster backup, only one non-practice squad salary appears available for the two QB2 hopefuls. Both Trubisky or White could reach the practice squad without clearing waivers. This would be new territory for Trubisky, however, and the Bills would take a $1.75MM hit were they to cut the more seasoned QB. (No dead money would come from a White release.) That said, seeing if White can usurp the former top prospect will be a storyline to monitor in Buffalo this offseason.
Derek Carr Gauged Market Before Retiring
Derek Carr and the Saints found clarity with the recent decision for the veteran quarterback to hang up his cleats. That move came after potential opportunities outside New Orleans were sought out. 
Carr’s representatives reached out to at least two teams in the market for a signal-caller this offseason, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Katherine Terrell report. The 34-year-old had not received formal permission to seek a trade, per the report, but the possibility loomed during the spring that a parting of ways could be in store. New Orleans had Carr on the books for 2025 and beyond, and the team did not see informal contact with suitors as an issue.
Conversations with potentially interested teams did not reach a serious point, something which seemed to set the stage for a third Carr campaign as the Saints’ starter. The four-time Pro Bowler declined to accept a pay cut, making his contract a cumbersome one for suitors to take on in a trade. As new head coach Kellen Moore prepared for his first season at the helm, it remained unclear whether or not Carr would be in place. The report notes minimal communication took place between team and player this offseason, one in which Carr did not take part in voluntary workouts despite a new offense being installed.
A left hand injury was noted during the 2024 campaign as Carr missed the end of the year. Nothing was mentioned during or after the season, however, about the issue affecting his throwing shoulder which ultimately ended his playing days. Barring something unforeseen, Carr is not expected to return to the NFL after 11 years in the league. The report notes the shoulder injury was not a topic of conversation during talks with outside teams while adding retirement was still under consideration even before knowledge of the ailment became widespread.
Once the commitment was made on the former Raider’s part to end his career, talks on a financial agreement took place shortly before the draft. Carr wound up retaining his $10MM roster bonus from this year, but he will not receive the $30MM in guaranteed salary he was owed for the campaign. A source close to him noted “integrity” prevented Carr from choosing to collect that money during a season in which he will not play.
In the end, the Saints are now in position to transition at quarterback after planning on one more year with Carr under center. Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and second-round rookie Tyler Shough will take part in an open training camp competition as the team looks to find a new young core to build around. That effort may well have started next offseason, but the unexpected Carr departure has accelerated it at the QB spot in particular.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/25
Friday’s only mid- to late-round draft pick signing from the 2025 NFL Draft:
Cleveland Browns
- TE Harold Fannin Jr. (third round, Bowling Green)
Fannin holds outstanding potential as a third-round pick for Cleveland. After a quiet freshman year for the Falcons, Fannin earned first-team All-MAC honors despite missing two games in his sophomore campaign with 44 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, Fannin took his impressive play even further as he outpaced all of the NCAA’s best receivers with a nation-leading 119.6 yards per game, a nation-leading 117 receptions, a nation-leading 1,555 yards, and 10 touchdowns. For comparison, first-round tight ends Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren averaged 58.2 and 77.1 yards per game, respectively.
Regardless, Fannin was the sixth tight end taken off the board. A reason for that is likely because he lacks the size to be an effective in-line blocker in the NFL. Fannin’s best use would likely be as a type of H-back, thanks to his explosiveness as a pass catcher.
The Browns already have David Njoku, who made a Pro Bowl just two years ago, but they also got some disturbing déjà vu when he missed six games last year. Njoku hasn’t played in every game of a season since his first two years in the league. Since then, Njoku has missed 26 out of 100 possible games. He’d been better from 2021-23, missing only four games over that three-year span, but last year was a reminder of what’s ailed the Browns offense in the past, and Fannin may be an attempt to prevent too much lost production should Njoku struggle with his health again.
Fannin is the first of Cleveland’s seven drafted rookies to sign their initial four-year contracts.
49ers Add K Greg Joseph
The 49ers grabbed quite a few headlines when they used a third-round pick on Michigan kicker Jake Moody two years ago. Through two seasons, Moody has not exactly inspired confidence in his long-term prospects at the position. According to NFL agent Brett Tessler, San Francisco has signed his client, Greg Joseph, as some offseason competition for Moody on a one-year deal. 
Joseph has been in the NFL since 2018, playing for six teams in that time, including three in just the last year. Counting teams he rostered with but failed to play for, the 49ers will be his 12th team overall and his sixth since August 2024. His longest stay in one place came during a three-year stretch with the Vikings. from 2021-23.
Perhaps the reason why he’s struggled to stick anywhere, Joseph has often struggle with accuracy and consistency. While he made all 11 of his extra point attempts last season, he’s missed 16 in his career. He’s also only missed one field goal attempt inside of 40 yards, but outside of that, Joseph is a disappointing 44 of 68 (64.7%) — 27 of 38 (71.1%) from 40-49 yards and 17 of 30 (56.7%) from 50+.
The thing is, Moody hasn’t been too much better. The third-year kicker is much more reliable on extra points (90 of 92 in his career), but the 2024 season saw him struggle mightily from distance. Like Joseph, Moody only has one miss (out of 30 attempts) from inside the 30-yard line. As a rookie, Moody only had three misses from longer than that — two from 40-49 and one from 50+. In his sophomore campaign, though, Moody missed half of his 20 attempts from 40 yards or over — five from 40-49 and five from 50+. A high ankle sprain suffered in Week 5 of the season is thought to have made an impact on his sophomore slump.
Regardless, 49ers new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer has been encouraged by his small bit of offseason time spent with Moody. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Boyer validated that he, too, had Moody as the No. 1 kicker in the 2023 draft class, saying, “He’s as talented of a kid as it gets.” He also feels the addition of long snapper Jon Weeks, who is set to replace Taybor Pepper at the position, will potentially help Moody, as well.
Moody was the highest kicker drafted since Roberto Aguayo went in the second round in 2016 and was only the fifth kicker since 2000 to be drafted in the third round or sooner. Investing that kind of draft capital in a specialist comes with an expectation of elite play, and Moody has failed to deliver on those expectations so far. San Francisco hasn’t given up on him yet, but it appears they’ll bring in some competition, at the very least, to motivate their struggling 25-year-old.
They already brought in undrafted kicker Kenneth Almendares, who capped off a seven-year collegiate career at Louisiana by winning the 2024 Lou Groza Award, given to the best kicker in the NCAA, for a rookie minicamp tryout, but apparently, no deal was reached. Now Joseph will have his turn to push Moody to retain his job.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/25
Friday’s minor NFL moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: C Michael Gonzalez
- Waived: G Joey Fisher
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum
- Reverted to IR: RB Keaontay Ingram
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Michael Fletcher
Every team has, at this point, officially announced their initial list of undrafted free agent rookie signings. Still, undrafted rookies continue to find opportunities here and there in the wake of the draft.
Since the departure of Alex Mack, the Falcons have been unable to find stability at the center position. Since then, Matt Hennessy, Drew Dalman, and Ryan Neuzil have been tasked with filling the role. Dalman was a dependable option for a bit, but injury caused him to miss 11 games in the past two years. Neuzil filled in for eight starts last year, and the former undrafted free agent stands to take the starting job in 2025.
Atlanta will provide him no shortage of competition, though, with depth at the position coming in the form of Gonzalez, former seventh-round pick Jovaughn Gwyn, and former undrafted free agent Matthew Cindric. Gonzalez also brings some versatility to the line after starting games at both guard and tackle at Louisville.
Fletcher transferred to Appalachian State after four years at Michigan State. He never really got on the field much with the Spartans, only earning three starts, but he immediately made an impact for the Mountaineers. In his two years with the team, Fletcher tallied 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
S Jamal Adams Interested In Jets Reunion
Jamal Adams is five years removed from the trade which ended his Jets tenure. The veteran safety is now eyeing a return to the team which drafted him, however. 
“I would love to be back with the Jets and, obviously, finish it the right way,” Adams said during an exchange with Jets fans on X (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “Man, that would be a dream come true, just to patch up that relationship and kind of make it right.”
Adams spent his first three years with the Jets, establishing himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs over that span. The former No. 6 pick earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 and ’19, along with one spot on each of the first- and second- All-Pro teams along the way. A trade request sparked in part by Adams’ desire to become the league’s highest-paid safety led to a trade sending him to the Seahawks. He noted, via Cimini, he has reached out to former Jets GM Joe Douglas to apologize for the way the saga unfolded.
That swap saw New York receive a pair of first-round picks and saw Adams land a $70MM deal with the Seahawks. The LSU product recorded 9.5 sacks in 2020 en route to a third straight Pro Bowl nod. After that, however, Adams struggled with a decline in play in coverage and, later, injuries. He (along with Quandre Diggs) was released in a cost-shedding move last spring.
The Titans wound up adding Adams, but in late October the team granted his request to be released and become an in-season free agent. That led to a practice squad arrangement with the Lions, allowing Adams to spend time with then-Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn is now the Jets’ head coach, so a return to New York would double as a reunion between those two.
As the Lions dealt with a number of injuries on defense, Adams only made a pair of appearances and played just 20 defensive snaps. A regular role would not be expected if a Jets pact were to worked out to add him to a safety room including returnee Tony Adams, free agent addition Andre Cisco and fourth-round rookie Malachi Moore. A move to linebacker has been floated in the past in Adams’ case, and such a transition would involve a spot behind Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams on the depth chart.
With over $23MM in cap space, the Jets could certainly afford a low-cost flier on Adams. It will be interesting to see if the team’s new regime led by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey reciprocates his interest in a contract.