Latest On Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Negotiations
Having interviewed with the Chargers yesterday, Jim Harbaugh is once again firmly in the running for an NFL return. His candidacy for a coaching gig at the pro level has helped give him substantial leverage in negotiating a new Michigan contract as well, however. 
The national champions have long been in talks with Harbaugh on a new contract, and a number of terms on that hypothetical pact appear to have been worked out. A major sticking point, however, pertains to the matter of potential discipline handed down by the NCAA over Harbaugh’s involvement in Michigan’s various scandals. Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wetzel reports Harbaugh is seeking a number of provisions in his new Wolverines contract if he elects to remain with the school
Specifically, Harbaugh is aiming to have a clause included in his pact which will prevent Michigan from being able to fire him as a result of any NCAA sanctions brought about by its ongoing investigations. In addition, the 60-year-old wants any potential ‘for-cause’ termination decision to be made by a three-member arbitration panel. Traditionally, such matters would be handled by athletic director Warde Manuel, who under Harbaugh’s proposed terms would still be able to fire him for on-field reasons.
After Michigan went undefeated en route to the national championship (a feat accomplished in spite of Harbaugh being suspended for the three games to begin and end the regular season), interest from the NFL has once again picked up. The Chargers have been connected to him early and often this offseason, but plenty of buzz linking him to the Raiders has existed as well. No matter how the 2024 hiring cycle plays out, Harbaugh will be able to secure a lucrative contract for 2024.
On that note, Wetzel adds Harbaugh is seeking to have the start date of his latest Michigan extension delayed. As things currently stand, an NFL team would be required to pay a buyout of $1.5MM to hire Harbaugh away. The school is aiming to raise that figure to roughly $4MM. Harbaugh wants to push back the point at which that happens to February 15 – in other words, after this year’s NFL coaching hires have been made – per Wetzel. That request, coupled with Harbaugh’s decision to hire an agent, continue to point toward an NFL return.
Harbaugh enjoyed a successful run with the 49ers from 2011-14, and he discussed NFL openings in each of the past two offseasons. If 2024 proves to represent the year in which he made the jump, it will have come after a lengthy negotiating period with his alma mater. If not, he will have protection against NCAA discipline. something which would likely help his market with respect to future NFL opportunities.
Packers Fear Kingsley Enagbare Suffered ACL Tear
The Packers pulled off an upset win over the Cowboys on Sunday, allowing their season to continue. Green Bay will likely be shorthanded on the edge the rest of the way, however. Kingsley Enagbare is believed to have suffered a torn ACL, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. 
The 2022 fifth-rounder logged a notable workload as a rookie, particularly after Rashan Gary suffered an ACL tear of his own. Enagbare wound up starting seven games and shouldering a 45% defensive snap share last year. He flashed potential with three sacks and eight quarterback hits. Even with Gary back to full health, Enagbare remained a key member of the Packers’ edge contingent this campaign.
The latter appeared in all 17 regular season contests for the second straight year, starting four. His playing time remained roughly on par with that of his rookie campaign, and posted similar numbers as a result. Enagbare registered two sacks, 37 total tackles, 11 QB pressures and a forced fumble. He added a pair of quarterback hits in Green Bay’s wild-card victory, and his loss will be felt on a Packers defense which faces a stiff challenge this weakened against the 49ers.
The Packers will move forward with Gary, Preston Smith and first-round rookie Lukas Van Ness in the pass rush room. Van Ness has found himself behind Enagbare on the depth chart with respect to playing time, but four of his five total sacks (regular and postseason combined) have come in the past seven games. He could be in line for an increased workload against San Francisco if further testing confirms Enagbare will indeed miss the remainder of the campaign.
Should that be the case, the 23-year-old will turn his attention to a lengthy recovery process in an attempt to heal in time for Week 1 of the 2024 season. Enagbare’s absence will leave Green Bay without a key rotational presence on the defensive front for the divisional round, an unwanted development for the team as it tries to continue an unexpected postseason run.
Bears Interview Greg Roman For OC Position
The Bears’ search for an offensive coordinator has led to another interview. Chicago spoke with Greg Roman about the position on Monday, per Peter Schrager of NFL Network. 
The Bears elected to retain head coach Matt Eberflus, but to little surprise OC Luke Getsy was dismissed at the end of the season. Improvement on the offensive side of the ball will be a clear priority for the team after it showed a significant defensive turnaround in the second half of the campaign. Chicago’s next offensive coordinator – the third in the past four seasons – will be tasked with either developing Justin Fields further or starting fresh with a new quarterback brought in to replace him. The latter route could very well include selecting Caleb Williams first overall after he declared for the draft yesterday.
Roman has experience as a play-caller at the NFL level, and in particular working with mobile quarterbacks. He has held OC positions with the 49ers, Bills and, most recently, Ravens. His Baltimore tenure included back-to-back seasons in 2019 and ’20 in which the team led the league in scoring. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson-led attack developed a strong reputation for its success on the ground, which falls in line with Roman’s track record. Offenses he has guided have never ranked worse than eighth in the NFL in yardage on the ground.
However, Roman-led units have not matched that success through the air. The Ravens’ 13th-place finish in passing yards in 2021 represents the most productive campaign in terms of passing yards he has overseen in his career. Much of Fields’ success to date has come on the ground, although he did see an uptick in many passing categories in 2023. If the Bears decide to keep the 2021 first-rounder in the fold, an OC with a stronger track record in the passing game would likely represent a more suitable choice. Chicago has yet to make a determination with respect to moving on from Fields (clearing the way for Williams to be drafted) or giving him at least one more season to establish himself as a franchise passer.
Roman, 51, joins Seahawks OC Shane Waldron, 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak, as well as Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen and Seahawks QBs coach Greg Olson in receiving interest for the Bears’ OC gig. After Roman’s four-year Ravens tenure ended last offseason, he took this past year off from coaching.
Commanders To Hire Adam Peters As GM
JANUARY 15: The Commanders are giving Peters a five-year contract, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The seven-year 49ers exec will now play a lead role in the team finding a head coach to succeed Ron Rivera.
JANUARY 12: Not long after narrowing their search for a new general manager to two finalists, the Commanders have found the new leader of their front office. Washington is hiring Adam Peters as general manager, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes Peters will likely take on the title of president of football operations. Further reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic and the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala name Peters the GM as well. 
Regardless of the title he assumes, Peters will be a major member of the Commanders’ new organizational structure. After a strong tenure with the 49ers, he will take on an increased workload in the nation’s capital. Commanders owner Josh Harris assembled a search committee to find the team’s front office hires (both in terms of a head of football ops and, in all likelihood, a replacement for GM Martin Mayhew). The first step in that process has now taken place.
Peters was quickly named the favorite for a high-ranking Commanders position. He was among the first batch of candidates to receive an interview, and Washington moved quickly in narrowing down a list of finalists. Peters was joined by Bears AGM Ian Cunningham in receiving a second interview earlier this week, and the decision between the two has now been made rather rapidly. As Rapoport notes, one of Peters’ first tasks will be determining the future of Mayhew, who has been named as a hot seat occupant.
Head coach Ron Rivera was, as expected, dismissed on Black Monday. Mayhew likewise faces an uncertain future after three years serving as Washington’s GM. Harris made it clear the head of football operations posting would be filled before a new head coach would be brought in, and Peters will now be in place to assist in that effort.
The latter was a top GM candidate last year, but he rebuffed interest from the Cardinals and Titans. That allowed him to remain in San Francisco for one more year after joining the franchise in 2017. Peters was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021 as a confirmation of his status as a critical John Lynch lieutenant. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio confirms the 49ers attempted to retain Peters. Instead, he will move on.
Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes Lions OC Ben Johnson is now a key name to watch with respect to the Commanders’ upcoming coaching hire. Further reports have also tabbed Johnson as a top candidate for Washington to join with Peters in a new power structure. The 37-year-old is on the radar of numerous teams in need of a head coach, though, so the Commanders will have competition if they make an aggressive pursuit of him.
Peters – who also received GM interview requests from the Chargers and Raiders – will have a number of key decisions to make in the near future, but the Commanders are positioned with plenty of flexibility from a roster-building perspective. Washington is currently slated to lead the league in cap space, and the team owns the second overall pick in April’s draft. Peters will be a key voice in the Commanders’ re-worked front office when the new league year kicks off.
Deshaun Watson To Start For Browns In 2024; Latest On QB’s Recovery
The Browns relied on Joe Flacco to close out the season and into the wild-card round in the wake of numerous injuries under center. The former Super Bowl MVP does not intend to retire any time soon, but a continued Browns tenure would not involve him maintaining his starting position. 
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed (via ESPN’s Jake Trotter) that Deshaun Watson sits atop the team’s offseason QB depth chart. The latter was shut down for the season due to shoulder surgery, and his absence led to the pursuit of Flacco in the first place. The 38-year-old was used as a gameday elevation for two weeks while staving off interest from teams looking to sign him off Cleveland’s practice squad. His strong play carried over through the end of the regular season, though the loss to the Texans saw a continuation of Flacco’s turnover issues.
It comes as no surprise Watson will be the No. 1 when healthy given his contract situation and the lack of proven options behind him on the depth chart (at least before Flacco was signed). A report from last month indicated Cleveland was open to the idea of keeping Flacco in place despite the presence of Watson and 2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson. In any case, Flacco’s impressive audition has no doubt boosted his market amongst interested teams ahead of free agency, something which will help his goal of playing through the age of 40.
Stefanski added that Watson should be recovered from surgery sometime this spring, meaning he should be able to participate in Cleveland’s offseason program. A healthy and productive campaign in 2024 will be critical given the extent to which things have not gone according to plan for team and player in this situation. The former Texans Pro Bowler was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season, and the lingering shoulder issues limited him to six contests this year. Watson performed at a higher level when on the field in 2023 than he did in his debut Browns season, but to date he has not met expectations on his fully guaranteed $230MM pact.
Over each of the next three seasons, Watson is scheduled to carry a record-shattering cap hit of just under $64MM. Another restructure to his contract will therefore likely take place in the near future, and the particulars of that move will inform much of the team’s remaining budget at the QB spot. A deal with Flacco or another veteran backup option could be in play, but Watson will enter the build-up to the 2024 campaign assured of his spot atop the depth chart.
Packers, Jordan Love To Pursue Offseason Extension
Owing in large part to the improved play of their offense down the stretch, the Packers advanced to the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Green Bay’s run to the postseason despite being the youngest team in the NFL was sparked by the performance of quarterback Jordan Love, who has shown significant signs of improvement during his first year as a starter. 
Both general manager Brian Gutekunst and president Mark Murphy have publicly offered encouragement for the former first-rounder while maintaining that a full campaign would be needed for the team to truly evaluate his status as a passer worth building around. Love – and the Packers’ offense as a whole – endured growing pains early in the year, and turnovers became an issue for him. However, he compiled a highly impressive 18:1 touchdown-to interception ratio over the final eight games of the season.
That success has already earned the 25-year-old considerable bonuses given the incentives in his contract. That pact – a one-year, $22.5MM extension signed in May which took the place of his fifth-year option – included $13.5MM guaranteed. The latter figure represents a bargain given the current market for high-end starting QBs, but Love has cashed in on numerous escalators. As detailed by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Utah State alum earned a number of bonuses for performance as well as leading the Packers to the postseason. He could see another $500K with a win over the Cowboys today.
Given his impressive showing late in the year, Love (who has boosted his 2023 earnings by $4.5MM so far) has likely done enough to land a more permanent stay in Green Bay. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports he and the Packers will speak about an extension this spring (video link). Love is due $6MM next year, but a multi-year pact ensuring he remains with the franchise for the foreseeable future would of course check in at a much larger price tag. Contracts cannot be extended twice within a 12-month span, however, so no new agreement can be finalized until at least May 4.
The Demovsky piece details the unique nature of this situation, with Love having essentially redshirted his first three seasons in the NFL. The Aaron Rodgers successor is thus a challenging case with respect to working out an appropriate long-term contract. Three sources Demovsky cites project a range in AAV from $30MM on the low end to upwards of $50MM on the high end. It would come as little surprise if a contract fell somewhere in between those extremes, but questions will obviously linger about a lack of sample size.
Young passers like the quartet who each eclipsed the $50MM-per-year mark on their respective deals this offseason (Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow) each had more time as a starter than Love has so far. The latter has nevertheless likely done enough to price himself above other, less heralded starters, and he has proven to have chemistry with the Packers’ group of highly inexperienced pass catchers; keeping that nucleus intact for years to come would represent a logical priority for the front office.
Regardless of how the postseason shapes out for Green Bay, the status of Love’s long-term financial future will be a major storyline during the offseason. With a lengthy period in place between the end of the season and the point at which a new contract can be signed, both team and player will have a long runway to negotiate terms on what could be a sizeable raise.
Ben Johnson Top HC Target For Commanders, Panthers?
To no surprise, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been connected to several head coaching vacancies this year. He has had an interview requested from five teams in need of a new coach, but two in particular could be worth watching closely as the hiring cycle takes shape. 
Johnson is the “top choice” for both the Commanders and Panthers, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Likewise, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport names Washington and Carolina as “potential favorites” to land the up-and-coming offensive mind (video link). Johnson was a relatively hot candidate last season despite having only one year of coordinator experience; the Panthers were among the teams interested in him in 2023, but Johnson withdrew from consideration.
Year 2 at the helm of Detroit’s offense resulted in another strong campaign from Johnson, and widespread interest from the league has followed. The 37-year-old has particularly been connected to the Panthers’ gig early and often. Carolina is expected to be aggressive in pursuing Johnson as part of the wider goal of acquiring a coach who can maximize quarterback Bryce Young‘s potential. Johnson’s work with Jared Goff in Detroit has drawn considerable praise, and he would be a welcomed addition to Carolina’s staff.
Notably, the Panthers are prepared to focus on their HC hire before that of a new general manager. ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler report owner David Tepper‘s top priority is landing Johnson (or another coaching candidate) before finding a Scott Fitterer replacement. The latter was fired on Black Monday after three years at the helm in Carolina. Given the team’s lack of a first-round pick (the top selection in this year’s draft) and roster holes at a number of positions, the new faces brought in for both posts will be tasked with a rebuilding effort.
The Commanders, by contrast, moved very quickly in filling their GM vacancy. The team tapped Adam Peters to lead the front office, and with him now in place, attention can turn to a head coaching hire. Immediately after it was learned Peters was being hired by Washington, reports surfaced naming Johnson as a candidate to watch closely. The latter would mark a notable departure from Ron Rivera in terms of age and experience, but also background since he come through the ranks on the offensive side of the ball.
Owning the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, Washington could very well add a rookie passer to take over as the team’s starting QB. At a minimum, competition for Sam Howell is expected to be brought in. The Commanders’ cap situation leaves them with plenty of flexibility heading into free agency, and the team’s new organizational structure under owner Josh Harris will no doubt be on full display during the offseason. Johnson would be a central part of that setup if he were indeed to take the position in the nation’s capital.
For now, of course, Johnson’s focus will be on the Lions’ wild-card matchup tonight. Coaches currently under contract and whose team’s seasons have come to an end cannot be interviewed in person until after the end of the divisional round. The NFL’s new rules on the hiring process will delay the point at which some coaches can begin with their new teams, and that will be true of Johnson if Detroit enjoys a lengthy playoff run. In an event, though, he will have a very strong market for his services.
Latest On Giants, S Xavier McKinney
The Giants have a number of key free agency decisions to make this offseason. While running back Saquon Barkley has understandably generated considerable attention, safety Xavier McKinney is also in need of a new contract. 
The latter has helped his free agent stock considerably over the course of the 2023 season in particular. McKinney set a new career high in tackles this season with 116, also reaching a personal best in pass deflections (11) and recording his second-best completion percentage allowed when in coverage (63.1%). Overall, he has racked up 279 stops, 27 pass breakups and nine interceptions across his four-year career while serving as an every-down player in the Giants’ defense.
“I don’t think nobody’s on my level from the standpoint of being able to do every single thing on the back end,” McKinney said when asked about his financial future. “I think a lot of safeties have certain things that they’re good at and a lot of stuff they’re not good at. But with me, if you just look at my whole game and how I am, I’m able to do everything at a high level and be very productive doing it.
“I’m the most complete safety out there, and it’s about time for some respect to that, too. So, I definitely think I am the best safety in this league and I’ll continue to prove that” (h/t Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post).
Derwin James sits atop the position’s market with an average annual value of $19MM on his Chargers deal. The most lucrative contract in terms of AAV signed last offseason was that of Jessie Bates with the Falcons ($16MM). McKinney will be eying something in that range if he holds firm on his conviction that he deserves to move to the top of the safety pecking order. With the offseason having begun for New York, he and the Giants will be able to pick up contract talks after the parties agreed to put them on hold during the campaign.
When speaking publicly about McKinney’s situation, general manager Joe Schoen confirmed talks will take place on a deal. It will be interesting to see, however, how far the team will be willing to go if the Alabama alum sets an asking price which they are unable or unwilling to match. New York was in a similar situation last year when Julian Love turned a career year into a Seahawks pact in free agency. Love earned a Pro Bowl nod in his debut Seattle season, and McKinney would enter a new team with considerable expectations.
Changes after a 6-11 season will be coming to the Giants’ roster in the coming weeks and month, and it is already known the team’s defense will have a new coordinator in place for 2024. Deciding on McKinney’s future will be significant for New York’s financial outlook, and of course for the second phase of his career. Talks on a new contract will be worth watching closely.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: ‘I Have No Reason To Stop Playing’
Tonight’s wild-card game marks another opportunity for the Chiefs to continue building their track record of success established during the Patrick Mahomes era. Tight end Travis Kelce has of course been a major part of the team’s Super Bowl runs, but questions have been raised about how much longer his decorated career will last. 
The 34-year-old sat out Kansas City’s regular season finale, leaving him just shy of another 1,000-yard campaign. Kelce eclipsed that benchmark every year from 2016-22, picking up at least a Pro Bowl nod in each campaign along the way. He has also been named first-team All-Pro four times in his career, one which includes a pair of championships. When speaking in advance of the team’s latest postseason beginning, though, he made it clear he intends to continue for the foreseeable future.
“I have no reason to stop playing football, man,” Kelce said, via Nick Wagner of the Kansas City Star (video link). “I love it. We still have success. Come in with the right mindset, and I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try and be at my best. Like I said, I have no desire to stop anytime soon.”
Kelce has two years remaining on his contract, and he is due $30.25MM over that span. As he acknowledged this summer, he is aware his compensation is lacking relative to many other high-profile pass catchers. However, he is in line to remain a focal point of the team’s offense for the time being with cap hits of roughly $15.5MM and $19.8MM over the next two years. Barring a significant injury, he will no doubt remain a welcomed member of the Chiefs given his sustained high level of productivity.
The former third-rounder currently ranks 38th on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list, and fourth amongst active players. Kelce sits at 11,328 yards, putting him just shy of Antonio Gates for the third-most by a tight end. If he holds true to his intention of carrying on his career, he will continue to climb the leaderboards while providing Mahomes a consistent option in the passing game as Kanas City looks to add further silverware in the years to come.
Latest On Colts, WR Michael Pittman Jr.
The 2024 free agent class has the potential to boast a number of young wideouts, including Michael Pittman Jr. A new deal for the Colts’ top pass catcher is a priority for the team, but his comments on his situation suggest he would be interested in at least examining his outside market, something complicated by the likelihood of him remaining in Indianapolis for at least one more season. 
Pittman has been a model of consistency during his time on a Colts offense which has struggled to find a long-term answer at the QB spot. The former second-rounder has posted at least 925 yards in each of the past three seasons, and he had a career-year in 2023. Pittman ranked fifth in the NFL with 109 catches, totaling 1,052 yards and four touchdowns. Remaining the focal point of the team’s passing game, he drew double-digit targets in a game nine times this season.
Those figures have helped the 26-year-old’s market value ahead of his first career trip to free agency. Pittman could be in line to join a number of other high-profile receivers who have benefitted from the position’s sharp increase in value over the past two years. A lucrative payday will come his way either via a multi-year deal with the Colts or another interested team or the $21.66MM franchise tag. The USC alum is well aware there could be a market for his services outside of Indianapolis.
“I’ve loved my four years here, but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t explore every option and find the best fit,” Pittman said, via Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. “I think we want to get a sense of what’s out there. We had an agreement that we were going to wait until the season ends before we feel it out.”
Now that the Colts’ season has ended, it will indeed be interesting to see how much progress is made as it pertains to talks on a new deal. Pittman’s comment about exploring other options is notable given the NFL’s offseason calendar. The deadline for teams to apply the one-year franchise tag is March 5, which comes before the new league year (and thus free agency) begins. Any team would therefore only be able to acquire Pittman – or any other tag recipient – by working out a trade contingent on having an extension in place upon arrival. Players are usually averse to playing on the tag, but Pittman added he “wouldn’t say necessarily no” with respect to the idea of playing out the 2024 season with free agency looming once again.
When speaking about Pittman, general manager Chris Ballard said the Colts are prepared to use the tag if talks do not produce a long-term deal. Such a move will not become official (if necessary) until next month at the earliest, but in any case Pittman is an obvious candidate for a contract pairing him with running back Jonathan Taylor (who landed a new pact after his public trade request this summer) and first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson for the long term. Ballard confirmed his desire to work out an agreement which will keep that trio intact.
“I care deeply about him,” the latter said of Pittman, via a separate Atkins piece. “We have a really good relationship. It’s an honest one… The guy is competitive. He’s tough. He cares. He wants to win. We’re going to work to get him back… Pitt is a good football player for us and hopefully he still remains a Colt.”
Players who receive a franchise tag are eligible to continue negotiating a deal until mid-July. The status of talks with Pittman will be worth watching closely, especially if the tag becomes necessary and/or a tag-and-trade market emerges.