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.
Chargers Conduct GM Interview With Ravens’ Joe Hortiz
The Chargers continue to cast a wide net in their ongoing general manager search. The team announced on Saturday that an interview with Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz was completed.
Hortiz has worked his way through the ranks in Baltimore’s front office since joining the franchise in 1998. Beginning in the scouting department, he became the team’s director of college scouting and enjoyed considerable success in the role. Hortiz held that position for 10 years before being promoted once again in 2019. He has overseen both pro and college scouting ever since.
Today’s meeting with the Chargers represents the first known interest shown in Hortiz this year, but he is not a new candidate with respect to GM connections from outside teams. He interviewed with the Cardinals for their general manager vacancy last offseason, and previews of the 2024 hiring cycle listed him as a name to watch. Given the strength of the Ravens’ homegrown core of players, along with the team’s success in finding short-term additions in free agency this year in particular, it would come as little surprise if Hortiz were to take a GM position elsewhere in the near future.
Colleague Nick Matteo has landed on the GM radar this year, having received an interview request from the Panthers. Losing one or both of he and Hortiz would deal a blow to the front office of the Ravens, a team which also has numerous coaches in line for potential moves elsewhere during the 2024 cycle. Hortiz in particular has established himself as a critical member of the franchise over the course of his lengthy tenure, but that experience would of course lead to significant expectations upon arrival with a team prepared to hire him.
The Chargers have been without Tom Telesco at the helm since he was dismissed alongside Brandon Staley midway through the season. The team thus has a vacancy at the former position for the first time since 2013. As is the case for the team’s coaching search, the presence of quarterback Justin Herbert on a long-term deal will likely make the Los Angeles posting an attractive one, but the roster does include a number of veterans on pricey contracts. Plenty of work will need to be done over the short and long term for the new GM to sustainably set the team up for postseason contention during Herbert’s prime.
Here is an updated look at the Chargers’ GM search:
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed 1/11
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): To interview 1/14
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): To interview 1/17
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Interview requested
- Joe Hortiz, director of player personnel (Ravens): Interviewed 1/13
- Jeff Ireland, assistant general manager (Saints): To interview
- Jeff King, co-director of player personnel (Bears): To interview
- Will McClay, vice president of player personnel (Cowboys): Interview requested; withdrew from consideration
- Adam Peters, assistant general manager (49ers): Interview requested
- JoJo Wooden, interim general manager (Chargers): Interviewed 1/11
Patriots Promote Jerod Mayo To HC
The Patriots have immediately filled Bill Belichick‘s coaching position. New England has promoted linebackers coach Jerod Mayo as the team’s new head coach, ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes. The team has since announced the move.
As previously noted, the Patriots included succession language in Mayo’s latest contract. As a result, the team was not obligated to satisfy the Rooney Rule and interview outside candidates for the position. Instead, Mayo has immediately been tapped to lead the Patriots on the sidelines beginning in the 2024 season, one which will be the first in nearly a quarter century without Belichick at the helm. 
Given Mayo’s stock within the organization, the move (which Reiss adds will be made confirmed in a press conference next week) comes as little surprise. The former first-round pick spent his entire playing career in New England, earning a number of accolades along the way including Defensive Rookie of the Year, two Pro Bowl invitations and an All-Pro nod after leading the league in tackles in 2010. He has been a Patriots coach since 2019.
Mayo was seen as a HC candidate in New England but around the NFL as well. The Panthers extended an invitation to interview him for their vacancy last offseason, but he turned it down. With his status as Belichick’s heir apparent seemingly confirmed with his new contract, Mayo was frequently labeled the top candidate to watch in the event the Patriots parted ways with their 24-year coach. Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports New England made no inquiries into the top outside candidates in this year’s cycle, opting to immediately turn to Mayo once Belichick was officially gone.
At the age of 37, Mayo will now surpass Sean McVay as the league’s youngest head coach. The Rams Super Bowl winner has proven to be a sound hire given his track record, but Mayo’s resume is considerably thinner than that of many other options currently on the market. Nevertheless, he will now be tasked with helping to oversee a signficant organizational reset, a process which will include the hiring of a general manager after decades of Belichick wearing both hats.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms New England will now look to bring in a GM to partner with Mayo. Given the relative inexperience of the team’s new coach, a lengthy track record in the front office would presumably be a key target for New England’s next hire. Struggles in the draft during the past several years has left the Patriots short on cost-effective talent at a number of positions, something the new decision-makers will look to rectify as soon as possible.
Set to be among the league leaders in cap space ahead of free agency and owners of the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, the Patriots will be a team to watch closely this offseason. Acquiring a franchise quarterback will be a top priority given the struggles shown by Mac Jones over the past two seasons and the lack of starting-level promise shown by Bailey Zappe. It remains to be seen who will lead the organization in the front office moving forward, but Mayo can now begin the transition to head coaching responsibilities for the first time in his career.
Given today’s news, the first of eight HC vacancies around the league has been filled. Plenty of other dominoes have yet to fall, but New England now has its 2024 plan in place along the sidelines before any of the other teams still in need of a new hire.
Eagles Considering Coaching Staff Changes?
The Eagles are set to play the Buccaneers on Monday night in their bid to return to the Super Bowl. Given last year’s success, head coach Nick Sirianni entered the campaign on firm footing, but his stock appears to have taken a hit in 2023. 
Philadelphia enjoyed a successful run to begin the season, posting a 10-1 record. Things have not gone according to plan since then, however, and last year’s NFC champions lost five of their final six games to close out the regular season. A major change to the team’s defensive staff has already been made – with Matt Patricia taking over play-calling duties from Sean Desai – but more could be on the horizon.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports the outcome of the upcoming wild-card round could be critical to the members of Philadelphia’s staff. The Eagles are already contemplating changes mainly the defensive side of the ball, Anderson notes, something which comes as little surprise given the continued struggles since Patricia took on a larger workload. Few staffers would likely be considered locks to return in 2024 if Philadelphia lost to a Tamp Bay team which went 9-8 to win the lowly NFC South.
Indeed, the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora notes that “plenty” of people around the NFL believe Sirianni’s job could be on the line if the Eagles were to go one-and-done in the postseason after a disappointing run in December. The Eagles’ defensive shortcomings were masked in part by top-10 showings in a number of offensive categories, but quarterback Jalen Hurts regressed statistically compared to last season. Pressure on the players and coaching staff could thus be elevated to a higher point than their collective success in 2022 suggested would otherwise be the case.
Both offensive coordinator Shane Steichen (Colts) and DC Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals) departed the Eagles for head coaching gigs last offseason. Current OC Brian Johnson has also received interest for this year’s hiring cycle, so his post could need filling in the near future. Especially in the wake of postseason failure, though, the possibility of more drastic moves could be a storyline to follow.
As both Anderson and La Canfora note, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy could find themselves in a similar situation should they fall short of playoff expectations. The latter is believed to be safe for 2024 as things currently stand, but the door could be open to a quick change in job security. In the case of the Eagles, that appears to also hold true to a large extent.
Seahawks’ Pete Carroll Addresses Potential Coaching Future
At the start of the week, Pete Carroll indicated he would remain in place to spend a 15th season as the Seahawks’ head coach. However, a meeting with owner Jody Allen has now resulted in Carroll shifting to an advisory role with the franchise. 
The timing of the move and the characteristics of Carroll’s public remarks on his future have led to questions about his desire to continue coaching. Considering that would require the 72-year-old taking a position outside of Seattle after such a long tenure in the Emerald City, a new coaching gig would come as a surprise to many. However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said in an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show that Carroll could be a candidate to watch in the event a vacancy for a team with a win-now roster were to appeal to him (video link).
Carroll spoke further about his situation on Friday with Brock Huard and Mike Salk of Seattle Sports. His comments in that interview point to him remaining in Seattle for at least the time being. They also make it clear, however, that his interest in spending time on an NFL sideline again has not been entirely extinguished. As things stand right now, he does not appear to be a genuine candidate for one of the league’s HC vacancies.
“I don’t know that,” Carroll said when asked about his potential desire to continue coaching (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “I’ve got plenty of energy for it and thought and willingness, but I can’t imagine there’s a place, the right one. I don’t know. I’m open to everything, but I’m not holding my breath on that. There’s a lot of world out here that I’m excited about challenging and going after. So if that happens, it happens. We’ll see.”
The Super Bowl winner went on to note the apparent difference between his vision of the team’s direction and that of ownership, noting that the latter group is comprised of personnel which are “not football people.” It will certainly be interesting to see how his new position in Seattle takes shape (presuming he does not depart for an outside coaching gig).
The Patriots became the first team to make a HC hire on Friday, promoting Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick. That move leaves seven vacancies around the league, so a market could develop if Carroll elected to change course and pursue a new opportunity. Given his comments on the matter, Carroll’s immediate future is in the air to at least an extent despite his new role in Seattle.
Cowboys Exec Will McClay Withdraws From GM Consideration
One general manager position in the NFL has already been filled, but four other vacancies remain. Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay has been a top candidate in outside searches, but he will not be on the move in 2024.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reports McClay has elected to withdraw from GM consideration for this year’s hiring cycle. He had been a sought-after executive in the early days of the search process of some teams, but he is content in his present situation. McClay is in his seventh season under his current title.
The 57-year-old joined the Cowboys in 2003 as a member of the team’s scouting department, and he has remained in Dallas ever since. McClay has worked on the scouting side of the organization, but also research and player personnel. His experience has made him a highly valuable member of the Cowboys’ front office, something which generated GM interest late in the 2010s.
After choosing to stay the course with Dallas, McClay witnessed a somewhat surprising drought of interview requests in recent years. That changed in 2024, however, with the Chargers and Commanders asking to meet with him. The Panthers were also floated as a potential suitor, but no formal interview request emerged. The market he would have had has now once again become a moot point given his decision to stand pat.
Adam Peters has been tapped as Washington’s new GM, but Carolina, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New England remain on the lookout for a hire to lead their teams’ respective front offices. Several strong candidates are under consideration, but – as has been the case before – McClay will not be one of them.
Giants Conduct DC Interview With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson; Interview Request For Marquice Williams Blocked By Falcons
The Giants added ex-defensive coordinator Don Martindale after his Ravens stint came to an end, and the team is again looking Baltimore’s way in their efforts to find his replacement. New York conducted a DC interview with Ravens secondary coach Dennard Wilson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Martindale’s future on Brian Daboll‘s staff was thought to be in flux after a November report pointed to tension between the two. The latter initially said he expected the former to remain in place for the 2024 campaign, after both sides attempted to downplay the issue. However, Daboll fired two position coaches who followed Martindale from the Ravens to the Giants, and Martindale is now out of the picture as a result.
Wilson is the first known candidate to interview for New York’s DC position. The 41-year-old joined the Ravens’ staff this past offseason after a stint with the Eagles. He was at one point considered the favorite to be promoted to defensive coordinator in Philadelphia following Jonathan Gannon‘s departure, but the Eagles ultimately hired Sean Desai instead. Wilson therefore moved on, taking the Baltimore gig after also being connected to the Browns’ DC opening.
Wilson impressed during his previous time with the Jets, and he is seen as a strong coordinator candidate. It thus comes as little surprise that the Giants have shown interest as they look for a rebound on defense from the team’s performance in 2023. The Ravens ranked sixth against the pass this season (allowing 192 yards per game through the air) and racked up 18 interceptions, the third-highest mark in the league.
The Giants have also, however, hit another roadblock in their search for a special teams coordinator. New York attempted to speak with Chargers ST coordinator Ryan Ficken, but Los Angeles blocked the request. The same has now happened with respect to the Falcons. Atlanta has denied New York’s bid to interview Marquice Williams, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Having yet to fill the vacancy filled by Arthur Smith‘s firing, the Falcons are not allowing their assistants to interview with outside teams.
While the Giants will therefore need to continue searching for candidates to replace Thomas McGaughey, they have at least had a meeting with Wilson. The latter could be a name to watch on the coordinator circuit once again in 2024 given his rising stock and the Ravens’ backend performance on his watch this season.
WR Tee Higgins Wants To Remain With Bengals; Tag-And-Trade Scenario Not In Play?
The offseason has officially begun for the Bengals, a team which fell short of expectations in 2023. Cincinnati faces a number of key decisions with respect to pending free agents, chief among them being wideout Tee Higgins. 
The former second-rounder is set to reach the open market for the first time in his career, although the franchise tag looms as an option for the team to retain him for at least one more year. Higgins is an obvious tag candidate given his importance to Cincinnati’s offense and the lack of progress made on extension negotiations last offseason. He has received the backing of fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase as well as quarterback Joe Burrow for a deal of some kind, and he is indeed aiming to remain with the Bengals in 2024 and beyond.
“Them telling me that they want me to come back, man, it’s family,” Higgins said, via Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek. “We’ve been playing together for three or four years now, and I personally would love to be back playing with those guys. It’s not in my hands now, but when the time comes and Cincinnati is there, that’s the number one option right now.”
The Bengals will no doubt reciprocate Higgins’ desire to continue their relationship for at least the short-term future. Cincinnati turned down trade interest both in the offseason and in advance of the trade deadline, leaving the door open to a potential departure. The sides have engaged in contract talks, but little traction has been gained on that front. Negotiations were tabled until the end of the campaign, and it will be interesting to see how much progress can be made in the coming weeks.
Given Higgins’ age (25 by the start of next season) and production (3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons) a strong trade market would exist if the Bengals tagged him and looked to move on without the prospect of a multi-year agreement. However, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes Higgins is essentially a lock to be in place for 2024 (subscription required). As a result, a tag-and-trade scenario would come as a surprise, even if talks on a long-term agreement did not produce an deal.
The Bengals will have other decisions to make at the receiver position beyond Higgins. Chase is eligible for a monster extension, although the team could buy more time for negotiations on that front by exercising his fifth-year option for 2025. That move will no doubt be made in any case, but the former No. 5 pick profiles as a higher extension priority than Higgins. Veteran Tyler Boyd, meanwhile, is a pending free agent and thus in danger of departing Cincinnati for the first time in his career.
The franchise tag for receivers is projected to come in at a cost of $21.66MM. Applying it would lock in Higgins for at least one season, and it would give both parties until mid-July to work out a longer agreement. If a trade is indeed off the table, though, it can at least be safely assumed he will get his wish of staying in Cincinnati for 2024 at a minimum.
Colts To Retain DC Gus Bradley
The Colts’ loss in Week 18 left them just shy of a playoff position, and struggles on defense were a constant throughout the season. Despite that, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will be retained, general manager Chris Ballard confirmed in his end-of-year press conference. 
“I know that’s been a hot topic for everybody, and it’s an area we need to improve,” Ballard said, via the Indy Star’s Joel A. Erickson. “But in a little bit of defense, the year before, [Bradley] comes in, and we kind of had, I don’t want to say a veteran team, but we had some veteran players, and I just said, ‘Look, we’re going to go young in some spots [in 2023], and we went young in the secondary.”
Indeed, Indianapolis turned to a number of inexperienced options at the corner and safety spots, enjoying mixed results along the way. The team ranked 16th in the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game, but breakdowns on the backend hindered the unit. Injuries to cornerbacks Julius Brents and Dallis Flowers also left the team shorthanded for long stretches of the season.
The Colts’ front seven had a strong campaign in terms of pass rush production, posting 51 sacks. That figure ranked fifth in the league, but the team struggled against the run in addition to its errors in the secondary. As a result, the Colts surrendered 350 yards per game (24th in the NFL) and 24.4 points per contest (28th). Improvements in both respects will be a top priority this offseason.
“The points do need to come down,” Ballard added. “We’ll continue to have long discussions about where we’re going and how we’ll get that done, but saying that, we had new starters on defense. We did do some good things, too.”
Bradley took over the Colts’ DC job in 2022 after Matt Eberflus was hired as the Bears’ head coach. Indianapolis posted middling numbers in several categories last year, but he received a vote of confidence following the campaign After a 2023 season which included the decision to move on from former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard as part of the overall goal of getting younger (and healthier) at a number of positions, both Bradley and head coach Shane Steichen will remain in place.
The latter showed promise in his first year as a head coach, and prior to his season-ending injury, quarterback Anthony Richardson flashed potential as well. Those factors will lead to optimism on offense, but the team’s defense will be a unit to watch closely moving forward. Roster changes will no doubt be coming, but there will at least be stability on the sidelines.
Patriots, Bill Belichick To Part Ways
As expected, Bill Belichick‘s run in New England is set to come to an end in 2024. He and Patriots owner Robert Kraft have mutually agreed to part ways, ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter report.
As the report notes, the move – which will be officially announced later today – came after discussions between Belichick and Kraft over the past few days. Those talks occurred without “conflict” or “disagreement,” and now both sides have elected to go their separate ways. One of the key figures in the NFL’s preeminent 21st century dynasty now faces an uncertain future. 
Belichick was under contract through 2024 as a result of an offseason extension. That pact was set to lengthen his stay in New England and give him a strong chance of breaking Don Shula‘s all-time wins record. However, the 2023 campaign saw the Patriots’ regression continue with a 4-13 record. That mark was the team’s worst during Belichick’s 24-year tenure with the team, and the season was punctuated with increasing speculation he would be gone by the start of next year.
A recent report indicated the six-time Super Bowl winner was willing to cede personnel duties as part of an agreement to remain with the Patriots. Belichick had served as New England’s head coach and de facto general manager since arriving in 2000. His missteps in a front office capacity (particularly in the draft) have limited the strength of New England’s roster over the past several years, though, which has in turn hurt his coaching performances. In four years after the free agent departure of Tom Brady – with whom Belichick partnered to go on an unprecedented run of success – New England has made the postseason only once and has not secured a playoff victory.
A key sticking point in speculation about the future of the Kraft-Belichick relationship was the manner in which it would come to an end. Still retaining the latter’s rights, the Patriots could have insisted on trading him to one of the numerous teams reported as having interest. That move would have ensured new England receive compensation, something which did not take place when Brady left. Belichick’s preference was obviously a path which made him a free agent, however, and that will now be the case. His market will be a major factor in the 2024 hiring cycle.
Schefter confirms Belichick will want to continue coaching in 2024 as his pursuit of Shula’s record continues. He needs 15 wins to move into first on the all-time list, so at least a two-year stint with his next team will likely be required. At the age of 71, questions about how long he will be willing to carry on his career have been raised, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes a robust market is expected to emerge for his services.
Many teams with HC vacancies – a list which now covers eight of the NFL’s 32 franchises – have been linked to one extent or another to the future Hall of Famer. The ESPN report names the Falcons in particular as one to watch as Atlanta seeks out an Arthur Smith replacement. After the rookie coach delivered three underwhelming campaigns, Belichick would represent a much more experienced option to take charge of a roster featuring a number of intriguing pieces (albeit a substantial hole at the QB position).
While Atlanta will no doubt have competition to pursue Belichick, at least one team on the lookout for a new coach is out of the running. The Commanders are not expected to have interest in a Belichick acquisition, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. As expected, Washington moved on from Ron Rivera on Black Monday. The team is undergoing a major restructuring under new owner Josh Harris, who had been reported as a potential Belichick suitor. Instead, Harris will turn his attention elsewhere.
Of course, the way in which Kraft and the Patriots proceed in the coming weeks will be a major storyline. Linebackers coach Jerod Mayo (who turned down HC interest from outside teams last offseason and received a new Patriots deal to keep him in place) has frequently been named as Belichick’s heir apparent. The 37-year-old is indeed a top candidate amongst in-house options, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson confirms. She adds, however, that no coach from within the organization or amongst the outside options is firmly in the lead for the New England vacancy at this point.
Mike Vrabel has been named as a candidate to watch since his somewhat surprising Titans dismissal earlier in the week. Vrabel had a successful run as a player in New England and, by virtue of not being traded, he is free to pursue the New England gig if he wishes to hold the title of Belichick’s successor. Given the latter’s track record, whichever coach ultimately replaces him will face a daunting task given his illustrious career and lengthy list of accolades.
In all, Belichick will depart New England with a record of 296-133, 17 AFC East titles, nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships. His struggles without Brady – not to mention the numerous scandals the franchise was involved in during his tenure – will of course be a part of his legacy. However, his impact on New England and the NFL as a whole is undeniable, and his career is set to continue in a new setting for the first time in nearly a quarter century. Likewise, the coming changes on the sidelines and in the front office will make the 2024 offseason a seminal moment in Patriots history.