Saints Conduct OC Interview With Dolphins’ Robert Prince
Robert Prince took a new position with the Dolphins as part of this year’s hiring cycle. He could be on the move once again, though. 
Prince has received an interview request from the Saints for their vacant offensive coordinator position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The parties will speak tonight, he adds. Prince took the role of wide receivers coach with Miami in January, but joining the Saints would allow him to work as a coordinator for the first time in his career.
Prince started his NFL coaching tenure with the 49ers and Chargers as part of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship. His first full-time position came with the Falcons, and in three years there he held a number of roles. Prince spent a pair of seasons as the Jaguars’ assistant WRs coach before leading that position group with the Seahawks 2009.
The Lions brought in Prince to coach their receivers the following year, and he remained with the team through 2020. The 59-year-old occupied that same role for a single campaign with the Texans before making an intra-state move to the Cowboys. In 2024, Prince had pass-game coordinator added to his title.
With Dallas moving in a different direction (to an extent) on the sidelines this offseason, though, Prince was among the staffers who changed teams. His decision to join the Dolphins set him up to work with a group headlined by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but that would of course change if he took New Orleans’ OC position. New Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed in his introductory press conference that he will call plays on offense, which comes as little surprise given his OC background. Still, his search for Klint Kubiak‘s replacement is a key part of the process of building his first staff as a head coach.
Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Saints’ offensive coordinator search:
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Robert Prince, receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 2/15
James Gladstone, Josh Williams Among Finalists For Jaguars’ GM Position
Saturday has seen the Jaguars narrow down their general manager search to a list of finalists. Second interviews are already known to be on tap for external candidates Ian Cunningham and Jon-Eric Sullivan along with interim GM Ethan Waugh. Two other staffers are still in the running, however.
The team announced Saturday that Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone and 49ers scouting and football operations director Josh Williams will also take part in a second meeting. After the Jags’ first set of interviews took place virtually, the five finalists will speak in person for their follow-ups. The final round will begin on February 19.
Jacksonville is known to want a GM hire in place before the start of the Combine, but the team’s timeline for this process will leave only a small window for the incoming executive to prepare for the event or work on building a staff. The Combine will kick off on the 24th, with drills beginning on the 27th. The Jags will need to move quickly in the second round of interviews to finalize a hire.
Gladstone was not connected to any of the other three general manager openings in the 2025 hiring cycle, but his performance during his initial meeting obviously went well. Gladstone has been with the Rams for eight seasons, making him a familiar face to new head coach Liam Coen due to his time spent in Los Angeles. Despite the fact he is a first-time head coach, the latter is playing a central role in the GM search process.
Williams was the first candidate to interview with the Jaguars, the only team which spoke with him about a 2025 vacancy. He is worked in San Francisco for the past 14 seasons, working his way up the ranks in the organization’s scouting department. Williams overlapped with former GM Trent Baalke, whose 49ers tenure was followed by a four-year run in the same position with Jacksonville. Baalke appeared to be safe after the 2024 campaign, but in the process of hiring Coen away from the Buccaneers owner Shad Khan reversed course and dismissed Baalke.
Khan and Co. could elect to once again bring in a 49ers staffer to lead the front office, but four other options (including promoting from within) remain on the table at this point. Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown was reported earlier this week to have a strong connection with Coen regarding his roster-building philosophy, but he is not among the finalists. It will be interesting to see how the second round of interviews shakes out once it begins.
Saints Request DC Interview With Vikings’ Daronte Jones
TODAY, 12:20pm: Daronte Jones will be interviewing for the Saints DC job today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
THURSDAY, 10:55am: The list of candidates for the Saints’ defensive coordinator position continues to grow. Daronte Jones has received an interview request, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Jones has worked with the Vikings for the past three years and four overall. His first Minnesota title was that of defensive backs coach, but since 2023 he has worked as the team’s defensive pass-game coordinator. Jones was previously linked to the Bears’ and Jaguars’ defensive coordinator gigs during this year’s hiring cycle.
New Orleans had Joe Woods at the defensive coordinator spot for the past two years. His unit finished eighth in points allowed in 2023, but a regression took place this past campaign. With head coach Dennis Allen being fired midway through the season, it came as little surprise several Saints staffers departed in search of new opportunities. That includes Woods, who is in place on Pete Carroll‘s Raiders staff.
Jones, 46, began his coaching career at Lenoir-Rhyne; for three years after that, however, he worked in Louisiana at the collegiate and high school levels. His coaching tenure also includes a one-year stint as LSU’s defensive coordinator, although he has not held a DC position at the NFL level. That possibility could exist based on how his interview with new head coach Kellen Moore goes.
With that said, it was learned before the Moore hire was made that Brandon Staley was a leading contender for the Saints’ DC position. The two worked together with the Chargers in 2023, and a reunion would see Staley – whose resume includes one year as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, three at the helm of the Bolts and, most recently, an assistant head coach title with the 49ers – tasked with guiding a Saints rebound on defense. In addition to Staley and now Jones, Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards is a name to watch.
Dolphins To Release RB Raheem Mostert
Raheem Mostert faced an uncertain future after the end of the 2024 campaign, but that has now been resolved. The veteran running back will not be back with the Dolphins next season. 
Mostert has been informed by the Dolphins that he will not be retained for 2025 (as noted by agent Brett Tessler). One year remained on his pact, but instead Miami will move forward with a release. This marks a notable turn of events compared to where things stood between team and player one year ago.
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Returning to Miami on a one-year free agent deal in 2022, Mostert gave head coach Mike McDaniel a familiar option in the backfield after they worked together with the 49ers. Mostert was a key figure on offense with 891 rushing yards; his 4.9 yards per carry average indicated he could remain a leading contributor in the backfield for years to come. As such, it came as no surprise when the Dolphins re-signed him on a two-year, $5.6MM pact.
That investment proved to be highly effective in 2023, a campaign in which Mostert topped 1,000 yards on the ground for the first time in his career. The former UDFA led the NFL in rushing (18) and total (21) touchdowns, playing a central role in Miami’s ground attack. That year also saw rookie De’Von Achane emerge as an important member of the team’s backfield, however, so questions loomed about Mostert’s position in the organization in spite of another new deal being agreed to last year.
In 2024, Achane took over lead back duties with 203 carries. Mostert, by contrast, saw his usage plummet to just 85 attempts; as a result, today’s news does not come as a surprise. By releasing the 32-year-old, Miami will free up $2.95MM in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $1MM. The Dolphins were among the teams which entered Friday over the projected 2025 salary cap, so more cost-shedding moves will be required.
Mostert’s attention will now turn to free agency, and once his release becomes official he will be able to sign with a new team before the league year begins in March. Veteran running backs have generally struggled to land long-term deals on the open market in recent years, although several teams made notable backfield commitments last spring. That could help the Purdue product find a new team, but on the other hand the 2025 draft class is seen as having a number of high-profile running backs. Another short-term opportunity will likely await Mostert as a result.
The Dolphins have Achane on the books through 2026, and he will be expected to continue handling RB1 duties over at least the near future. 2024 fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright is another young backfield option the team can plan around, but veteran Jeff Wilson is a pending free agent. A departure by the latter, coupled with Mostert’s release, would leave Miami in need of a depth addition this offseason.
Saints HC Kellen Moore To Call Plays; Team’s QB Direction Remains Undecided
Kellen Moore was quickly brought into the fold by the Saints after he helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. The league’s youngest head coach faces a number of challenges, including having a say in determining how his new team will proceed at the quarterback spot. 
Derek Carr has two years remaining on his pact, and his cumbersome cap hits ($51.46MM, $61.46MM) over that span have led to speculation the Saints could move on. A trade could be of interest to teams looking for a bridge starter, but a contract restructure would no doubt be required to make the 33-year-old a feasible option for potential suitors. He is due a $10MM roster bonus for 2025, along with a $30MM base salary which is set to vest shortly after the league year begins in mid-March.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said earlier this offseason the team’s head coaching hire would play a role in deciding if Carr would remain in place for 2025 (as opposed to starting over at the position). During Moore’s introductory press conference, he was understandably asked about his view on the Carr situation. To little surprise, though, he did not make a firm commitment one way or the other.
“Derek’s a tremendous quarterback in this league. I’ve had so much respect for him, the journey that he’s been on, he’s a starter in this league,” Moore said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “He’s a premier player in this league… Really excited to team up with him and go through this process and so just like any player on this roster, I just got here a few days ago and I’m excited to go through this journey with all of them.”
Moore’s evaluation of the roster – one which currently has the Saints on track to be more than $50MM over the projected 2025 salary cap – is in its early stages. Cost-shedding moves will be required at several positions, although a Carr trade would create a $40MM dead money charge and only $11.33MM in savings this offseason. A release using a post-June 1 designation would generate a net gain in savings on the cap, on the other hand.
New Orleans used a fourth-round pick in 2023 on Jake Haener and followed up that selection by drafting Spencer Rattler in the fifth round last April. The latter made six starts while filling in for an injured Carr this past season, and Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes the Saints have informed other teams they are prepared to put Rattler atop the depth chart for 2025 and move on from Carr. Coupled with Moore’s non-committal remarks, questions will no doubt continue to be raised about New Orleans’ quarterback approach.
Moore noted, to no surprise, he will call plays for the Saints. A rebound from last year’s showing (24th in scoring) will be welcomed, but expectations for the team will of course be driven in large part by either the continued presence of Carr for a third New Orleans campaign or that of a new full-time starter.
Giants To Explore Selling Minority Ownership Stake
Since the NFL allowed private equity firms to purchase limited shares of franchises, a number of teams have reached agreements on that front. The Giants are interested in joining that list. 
The team is looking to sell as much as a 10% stake, as first reported by Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal. The Giants are currently owned and operated by John Mara and Steve Tisch, who each own a 50% share as things stand. No changes to the ownership structure of the franchise would be made if a sale goes through, per the report.
“The Mara and Tisch families have retained Moelis & Company to explore the potential sale of a minority, non-controlling stake in the New York Giants,” a team statement reads in part. “There will be no further comment in regard to the process.”
The Eagles, Dolphins and Bills have all worked out agreements in recent months to divest to new owners. Buyers connected to private equity firms are allowed by rule to purchase shares, but they are not permitted to take on a controlling stake. Still, a deal involving the Giants would be notable given the franchise’s market value.
As Fischer notes, the sales related to the Eagles included valuations of the franchise at $8.1 billion and $8.3 billion when they were agreed to. An arrangement involving the Giants is expected to surpass those figures, meaning Mara and Tisch will be in line for a major cash infusion if a deal can be worked out. Provided that takes place, approval from at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners will be required for ratification.
Having just celebrated their 100th season, the Giants’ heritage and market size will help attract potential buyers. The team’s lack of success in recent years could serve as a deterrent in some instances, but it would come as little surprise if a sale were to be arranged in the near future.
Panthers Re-Sign LS J.J. Jansen
J.J. Jansen‘s career will continue for at least one more season. The longtime Panthers long snapper agreed to another new deal on Friday, per an announcement from his agency. 
Jansen has played 260 games in his career, comfortably topping the list in that department in franchise history. That also places him in a tie (with Don Mulbach) for first amongst pure long snappers in the NFL record books. The 39-year has been in Carolina since arriving via trade in 2009, never missing a contest during that span.
The Panthers inked Jansen to a five-year, $5.48MM deal in 2016; that pact proved to be a worthwhile investment from the team’s perspective. Since that contract expired, the Notre Dame product has played on a series of one-year pacts, and this latest one will be his sixth in a row on that front. Joe Person of The Athletic recently predicted a new Jansen commitment was likely (subscription required), so this news comes as little surprise.
Trey Junkin spent most of his career (which spanned 281 games) as a long snapper, but his early years also included time spent as a linebacker and tight end. Jansen could nevertheless continue to approach his games played mark in 2025; another new pact next offseason would put him in line to break the LS record for games played in 2026. For now, though, he will prepare for a 17th campaign in Carolina.
The Panthers also have free agent decisions to make on punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Eddy Pineiro since they are both pending free agents. Person predicts Pineiro will depart on the open market, a move foreshadowed to an extent earlier this week when Matthew Wright signed a futures contract. As for Hekker, the Panthers could opt for a younger replacement but Person writes the 35-year-old is still in contention for a new deal. Regardless of how the rest of the team’s special teams battery shakes out, Jansen will yet again handle snapping duties.
Vikings’ Harrison Smith, Stephon Gilmore To Contemplate Retirement
Free agency could lead to a few notable departures in the Vikings’ secondary. Retirement is another means by which the team could be shorthanded heading into 2025, though. 
Safety Harrison Smith said (via Andrew Kramer of the Minnesota Star Tribune) he will give thought to hanging up his cleats this offseason. That was the case last year, but he and the team agreed to a restructured pact which paved the way for him to play a 13th campaign in Minnesota. Smith remained a full-time starter in 2024, and after being held without an interception the previous year he recorded three this past season.
As a result, his absence would be acutely felt in the event a retirement decision were to be made. Smith, 36, said he was not leaning that way in the wake of the Vikings’ wild-card loss, and if he were to play in 2025 he would carry a modest cap hit of $6.57MM. The six-time Pro Bowler would be expected to remain in a first-team role if he were to continue his career, one which has seen him cement his status as one of the top defenders in franchise history.
Smith has played 192 regular season games, the most by a defensive back amongst all Vikings players. That figure ranks eighth in franchise history, and his 37 career interceptions are the most with respect to active players. The Notre Dame product’s leadership in addition to his production would be difficult to replace, although working out a new deal with pending free agent Camryn Bynum could allow for continuity on the backend. Josh Metellus has logged a heavy defensive workload over the past two years and he could step into a full-time starting role in the event Smith were to end his career.
Just like Smith, cornerback Stephon Gilmore will give thought to retirement. The former Defensive Player of the Year has bounced around the league since the end of his Patriots tenure, spending time with the Panthers, Colts and Cowboys before inking a one-year Vikings pact in August. That deal provided the team with a full-time starter opposite Byron Murphy, and Gilmore helped Minnesota finish the year with the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring defense.
“It’s more this year,” the 34-year-old said (via Kramer) of considering retirement. “Older, body feeling it a little bit more. Just wasn’t thinking about it during the season, but now looking back at how I feel, I’ll definitely be thinking about it.”
Murphy is in line to command a notable free agent market, while Shaquill Griffin is also in need of a new deal. Losing either of those two in addition to Gilmore hanging up his cleats would leave cornerback as even more of an offseason priority. Much of Minnesota’s outlook over the spring will of course depend on what happens with quarterback Sam Darnold, but the decisions Smith and Gilmore make in the near future will also be key team storylines to follow.
QB Jameis Winston Wants To Re-Sign With Browns
Jameis Winston is among the veteran quarterbacks set to hit free agency in March. Given the way his Browns tenure ended in 2024, a strong market of outside teams may not be in place provided he finds himself on the move this spring. If Winston has his way, though, he will remain in Cleveland for 2025. 
“I would love to go back there,” he said during an appearance on Up & Adams (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot). “Cleveland was better than what I expected. Cleveland has the best 90 days of anywhere in the world.”
The former No. 1 pick spent the first nine years of his career in the NFC South (five with the Buccaneers, four with the Saints) before taking a one-year Browns deal last offseason. That $4MM pact gave the team veteran insurance behind Deshaun Watson on the depth chart, something which became significant when he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear.
Watson’s absence opened the door for Winston to take over QB1 duties over a seven-game stretch. The 31-year-old topped 300 passing yards three times over that span – including a 497-yard outing against the Broncos – but his 12 interceptions helped inform the team’s decision to take a different direction to close out the campaign. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe took over the rest of the way, a sign Cleveland would prefer to move on from Winston this offseason.
Since then, Watson has suffered a second Achilles tear, leaving his 2025 availability in doubt. Thompson-Robinson is on the books for next season, but the team is expected to be in the market for at least one new passer via trade or free agency in the near future. Failing that, the draft will become an area of focus at that position. The Browns own the No. 2 pick, and their evaluation of the top prospects will include a visit with Shedeur Sanders.
Winston made it clear earlier this month that he would be on board with a Giants pact, one which could allow him to operate as a bridge starter depending on how the team operates during the draft. New York also has a Sanders visit lined up, and by means of owning the No. 3 selection the team could be in play for adding him or Cam Ward during the first round. The Giants will no doubt be connected to other passers this spring, though, and it remains to be seen if a reciprocal interest will exist as it pertains to Winston.
The Florida State product has said in the past he still views himself as being capable of operating as a full-time starter in the NFL. Considering his Cleveland performances in 2024, it is difficult to envision an unchallenged opportunity atop a depth chart coming Winston’s way. If the Browns offer him a new deal, though, a second season with the team will become likely.
Jets Likely To Proceed With Post-June 1 Aaron Rodgers Release
On Thursday, the Jets confirmed their discussions with Aaron Rodgers resulted in the decision being made that the team will move in a different direction this offseason. If the future Hall of Fame quarterback is to continue his career in 2025, it will be with another franchise. 
“It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures,” a joint statement from head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey reads in part. “We want to thank [Rodgers] for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
Rodgers was reportedly prepared to once again restructure his pact to remain in New York, but the franchise’s new regime will make the expected move of starting over at the QB spot. The decision now facing Mougey and Glenn is whether to cut bait immediately or designate the 41-year-old as a post-June 1 release. Taking the latter route (something Mougey is certainly familiar with since his time with the Broncos included Russell Wilson‘s departure) would spread out the dead money charges on Rodgers’ pact across two years.
On that note, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports a post-June 1 cut is likely. Provided that proves to be the case, the Jets will take on a $14MM dead cap charge for 2025 with the remaining $35MM in dead money landing on the team’s 2026 cap sheet. New York would see $9.5MM is savings this year, but only after June 1. Rodgers would remain on the roster until the start of new league year in mid-March if the Jets opted against an immediate release.
In Wilson’s situation last offseason, the Broncos allowed him and his representation to speak to interested teams before he officially became a free agent. That will again be the case this time around with Rodgers. As Rapoport notes, the fact the Jets have announced their intentions means potential suitors can make contact before the two-day legal tampering window opens next month. If the four-time MVP decides to continue playing, he will therefore be able to get a head start on free agency.
The list of suitors for Rodgers could be limited based on his age, middling 2024 production and the tension which emerged with ownership during his Jets tenure. Still, a short-term arrangement could allow him to serve as a bridge starter for a team which drafts a successor as early as this spring. The Jets have Tyrod Taylor under contract, but another starting-caliber option could be on the team’s radar via trade, free agency or the draft. By the time the new league year begins, more clarity on Rodgers’ future and that of the Jets will no doubt emerge.