Patriots Coach Jerod Mayo Discusses New Role With Organization
Jerod Mayo surprised many this offseason when he declined a head coaching interview with the Panthers and instead re-signed with the Patriots. After having served as the official linebackers coach (and the unofficial co-defensive coordinator) over the past few years, many assumed Mayo would move on to a bigger role. Mayo have have received that desired promotion in New England, but in natural Patriots fashion, the coach refused to discuss his new responsibilities.
“I would say I’m confident that I will grow here. Where that leads, I’m not sure. Hopefully I’m here for the foreseeable future, but we’ll just have to see,” Mayo said during his press conference today (h/t Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald). “I am confident in the plan they put together as far as my development is concerned. There’s still a lot that I don’t know and I’m very aware of that.”
Mayo became a popular name on the head coaching circuit after guiding New England’s defense alongside Steve Belichick. After he ultimately decided to stick with the Patriots, many believed that Bill Belichick was now preparing his former player to eventually take over as head coach, and Callahan notes that “other members of the organization expect” Mayo to eventually take the reigns. Owner Robert Kraft didn’t do anything to silence that sentiment, previously noting that Mayo doesn’t have a ceiling on his coaching career and insinuating that the former linebacker would eventually be an NFL head coach.
For the time being, Mayo is focused on the Patriots defense, but we have gotten some hints about his added responsibilities. The coach was reportedly included in interviews with offensive coordinator candidates earlier this offseason, and as Callahan notes, Mayo has worked with “scouts, salary cap managers and team researchers” as he prepares for a future promotion.
“I’m excited. I’m excited to continue to grow,” Mayo said. “I’m excited to continue to learn new things, not only X’s and O’s. That’s only a small part of it. I’m just excited, and honestly, I’m just trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can when I’m in those meetings that I’m not normally in.”
So would Mayo consider leaving New England if an attractive head coaching opportunity opened elsewhere? There’s always the possibility, but it doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to leave the Patriots organization.
“It would take a lot for me to leave,” Mayo said. “This is where I want to be, and I feel the same way from the coaching staff and also from the Kraft family.”
Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr. Meeting With Eagles, Jets
One of the draft’s top offensive tackles will have a busy week meeting with potential suitors. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was in Philadelphia today for a pre-draft visit with the Eagles.
The Ohio State product is also set to meet with the Jets tonight and tomorrow. These meetings follow a trip out west, where Johnson met with the Cardinals last week. As Garafolo points out, there are a “lot of possible fits” for the lineman in the top-15, so these surely won’t be the prospect’s only official visits.
After playing sparingly through his first two collegiate seasons, Johnson took on a larger role in 2022, appearing in 13 games for Ohio State. The 6-6, 315-pound blocker was charged with only a pair of sacks this past season, and Pro Football Focus gave him one of the highest grades (88 overall) at his position. As a result of his performance, Johnson earned a consensus All-American nod after the season.
Johnson has climbed NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s rankings of the top-50 draft prospects, landing at No. 16 in the latest update. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is still the favorite to be the first offensive tackle off the board, but a team could end up selecting Johnson and banking on his size and temperament.
Falcons Taking “Serious Look” At QB Prospects?
The Falcons have been doing their homework on rookie quarterbacks. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, the Falcons have been “taking a serious look” at the 2023 QB draft class.
Despite their efforts, Miller believes it would take a “dream scenario” for the Falcons to end up with a top quarterback prospect, and the reporter believes the organization would only extend itself for Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Barring a trade, there’s no chance those two QBs will be on the board when Atlanta is on the clock at No. 8. By that point of the draft, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis will also likely be gone, and the front office would surely trade back before going with someone like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. In other words, the Falcons probably won’t have the ability to make a choice at the position when it’s their turn to pick, but it sounds like the front office could pounce if an opportunity presents itself.
It makes sense that the Falcons would only make a push for one of their preferred prospects, especially since they used a 2022 third-round selection on Desmond Ridder. The Cincinnati product went 2-2 as a starter last season and will mostly likely lead a depth chart that also consists of Taylor Heinicke and Logan Woodside.
ESPN’s Michael Rothestein explored some options for the Falcons at No. 8, noting that an edge rusher, cornerback, or guard could all be in play. The reporter also wonders if the Falcons would be willing to reach for Texas running back Bijan Robinson, and he also questions if the front office could end Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter‘s potential fall down the draft board. Rothstein doesn’t expect Atlanta to select a WR with their first-round selection, with Miller adding that the position (along with safety) will be a clear emphasis for the front office during the second day of the draft.
Giants Notes: Jackson, Linebackers, Trades
It sounds like Adoree’ Jackson will have to play out the final year of his contract. As Dan Duggan of The Athletic writes, the Giants have given no indication that they want to extend the cornerback. The front office seems “content” to let Jackson play out the final year of his contract and then reassess next offseason.
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Titans, the former first-round pick inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Giants in 2021. The defensive back has been productive when he’s been on the field, collecting 113 tackles and defending 15 passes. Pro Football Focus has also been fond of his performance in New York, ranking him 15th among 116 qualifying cornerbacks in 2021.
However, the defensive back has missed 11 games over the past two years. Most recently, he missed seven contests thanks to a MCL injury. The team will likely want to see how he rebounds from that injury in 2023, but if he performs well, he could be eyeing another sizable contract next offseason.
More notes out of New York…
- In the same piece, Duggan writes that it would be a surprise if the Giants select an inside linebacker early in the draft. The team is especially high on 2022 sixth-round pick Darrian Beavers, who should be fully recovered from his torn ACL by the time training camp comes around. The team did host Deion Jones earlier this month, so the front office could be eyeing some veteran reinforcement to play alongside Bobby Okereke.
- Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post tweets that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Giants trade another one of their picks for a veteran player before the conclusion of the draft. The Giants previously gave up a compensatory third-round pick (acquired from the Chiefs) for tight end Darren Waller. The team is currently armed with selections in every round of the draft, includes two fifth-round selections and three seventh-round picks.
- After parting ways with Jon Feliciano, the Giants are eyeing a new center in 2023. Speaking to reporters recently, GM Joe Schoen indicated that he was content with his current options at the position. “We claimed Jack Anderson; he was with us in Buffalo,” Schoen said (via the team website). “He does good work at center. Ben Bredeson is a guy that we feel very comfortable with playing center. And then Shane Lemieux was playing it as well last year before the injury. So, we’ll have some guys in there that will battle it out as well.” The Giants also recently brought in center J.C. Hassenauer to provide some competition at the position.
- Speaking of Hassenauer, the offensive lineman got a minimum contract from the Giants, per Duggan (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth $1.04MM, including $200K in guaranteed money. The lineman got into 45 games for Pittsburgh between 2020 and 2022.
Dolphins Continue To Talk Extension With DT Christian Wilkins
The Dolphins continue to work on an extension for one of their defensive leaders. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins continue to “exchange numbers” with Christian Wilkins‘ representatives on a new contract.
[RELATED: Dolphins Eyeing Extension For DT Christian Wilkins]
As Jackson notes, there was still a “gap” in negotiations as recently as last week. However, there “remains optimism” that the two sides will eventually agree to a new deal.
We heard last month that the organization was hoping to extend their defensive tackle. Jackson previously hinted that guaranteed money could end up being a topic of contention between the two sides, especially if Wilkins is hoping to be paid similarly to some of the league’s other top DTs.
There are currently seven defensive tackles who top the $20MM average-annual-value mark. Considering his lack of track record, Wilkins won’t come close to matching Aaron Donald‘s staggering $31.6MM average annual value. However, his representatives could point to the contract that the Titans recently gave to Jeffery Simmons (four years, $94MM). If guarantees are truly a sticking point, then it’s worth noting that five of the seven $20MM+ AAV defensive tackles received more than $55MM in guaranteed money.
Wilkins, the 13th-overall pick in the 2019 draft, was a bit inconsistent to start his career. He showed up in a big way in 2021, finishing with 4.5 sacks while finishing as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best interior defender (among 108 qualifiers). The 27-year-old finished ninth among 127 qualifying players in 2022, with the 6-4, 310-pounder compiling 3.5 sacks and 15 pressures.
Latest On Colts’ Plans At No. 4
There’s been some chatter that the Colts could look to move up in the first round as they pursue their franchise quarterback, but it’s sounding increasingly likely that they’ll stay at No. 4. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, there’s “considerable chatter” that the Colts will not trade up for a quarterback.
In this scenario, the Colts would still be selecting a QB, with ESPN’s Stephen Holder adding that the organization feels “immense pressure” to select a quarterback with their highest draft selection in a decade. Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud will presumably be selected with the top-two picks, and if the Cardinals somehow keep their selection at No. 3, Indy would have their choice of Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
Per Miller, sources believe Levis is currently higher on Indy’s draft board than Richardson. This is mostly due to the Kentucky product’s ability to play right away, as the Colts would prefer to insert their rookie QB right into the starting lineup. The organization has some depth at the position in Gardner Minshew, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger, but it sounds like the Colts are ready to give their rookie a long leash as the starter.
Levis played in more of a pro-style offense during his time at Kentucky, while Richardson’s inconsistency has some pundits believing he may be more of a project. Levis also had almost twice as many collegiate passing attempts by virtue of having an extra season as a starter.
Despite Colts GM Chris Ballard generally being conservative when it comes to trades, the organization still discussed the No. 1 pick with the Bears before it was dealt to the Panthers. Those reports didn’t necessarily paint the picture that Ballard was unwilling to pony up the necessary draft assets; rather, the front office was still in the process of evaluating the QB prospects and was not prepared to trade up three spots in the draft. In other words, there’s still a possibility the Colts move up the board, especially if they’re worried about a potential Cardinals trade partner stealing their preferred prospect.
Latest On Michigan DL Mazi Smith’s Draft Stock
Mazi Smith is turning into a popular name leading up to the draft. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Michigan defensive lineman has had more than 20 meetings or visits with teams.
The Bills were one of the most recent teams to meet with Smith, with Rapoport noting that the team had a top-30 visit with the prospect today. The Chiefs and Steelers previously met with the defensive lineman at Michigan, and Rapoport also connects the Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Saints to the player.
Over the past two years, Smith had 85 tackles and five tackles for loss in 28 games for the Wolverines. The 2022 campaign had majors ups and downs for the player. He was arrested in October after being found to be in possession of a gun without a license. The ensuing felony charge was later dismissed in favor of a guilty plea on a misdemeanor. Then, following the season, Smith earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, putting him firmly on the NFL map.
The six-foot-three, 323-pound lineman has been lauded for his size and athleticism. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com previously compared Smith’s “rough-and-tumble style” to that of fellow defensive line prospect Bryan Bresee‘s “finesse.” NFL.com ultimately gave him the third-highest combine grade among defensive tackles, although the site questioned his ability to produce behind the line of scrimmage. That lack of pass-rushing prowess could end up forcing Smith into the second round, but his growing collection of top-3o visits certainly bodes well for his chances of being selected on the first day of the draft.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/12/23
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: P Julian Diaz, WR Isaiah Zuber
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: LB Jamir Jones
Latest On Texans GM Nick Caserio’s Job Security
Nick Caserio has found himself on the hot seat for months now, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be leaving the Texans any time soon. According to John McClain of Sports Radio 610 (via Twitter), the Texans general manager “isn’t going anywhere.”
Caserio made a name for himself during his two-decade stint in New England that eventually culminated in him earning the role of director of player personnel (despite the title, Bill Belichick still retained final personnel decisions). Following multiple attempts at recruiting the executive, the Texans finally landed Caserio as their new GM in 2021.
From a glass-half-full perspective, Caserio has done an admirable job restocking the team’s draft assets as they embarked on a total rebuild. Deshaun Watson‘s sudden trade request (and subsequent sexual misconduct headlines) led to the organization deactivating the QB, but the Texans emerged from the year-long soap opera with three first-round picks from Cleveland. Houston had zero first- or second-round picks during Caserio’s first offseason at the helm, but the team had multiple firsts last year (resulting in Derek Stingley and Kenyon Green) and will be armed with a pair of firsts and a pair of seconds in both 2023 and 2024.
From a glass-half-empty perspective, Caserio saw his organization fall from 4-13 in 2021 to 3-14 in 2022. The team was never expected to compete right away, but Caserio has seemingly acknowledged some of his mistakes along the way. The organization surprisingly fired David Culley after only one season, and they let go of Lovie Smith following his one season as head coach in 2022. DeMeco Ryans will now mark the third head coach in Caserio’s three years with the organization, and just the idea of that coaching carousel had the Texans losing confidence in their GM back in December. Further, the organization fired Jack Easterby, the executive who played a major role in bringing Caserio from Foxborough to Houston.
Following a 2022 campaign that featured few highlights, there were whispers that Caserio could end up getting canned. The organization decided to stick with Caserio through yet another head coaching search, and it sounds like they’re committed to him running another draft. However, if the Texans fail to show any progress in 2023, there’s a good chance the organization could be looking for a new general manager next offseason.
DL Dexter Lawrence Seeking Extension
Dexter Lawrence is pushing for a new contract. The Giants All-Pro defensive tackle won’t report to the start of the Giants offseason program as he pursues an extension, reports Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.
[RELATED: Saquon Barkley Will Not Sign Franchise Tender Before Giants’ Offseason Program]
The former first-round pick is set to hit free agency following the 2023 season. He’s currently slated to earn $12.4MM this upcoming season via the fifth-year option, which the Giants picked up back in 2022. The Giants have been working on an extension with Lawrence, per Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports (on Twitter).
Following a 2021 campaign that saw him start a career-low 10 games, Lawrence came back with a vengeance in 2022. The defensive tackle set career-highs in tackles (68), sacks (7.5), and QB hits (28) en route to earning his first Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honor. Pro Football Focus ranked Lawrence second among 127 qualifying interior defenders, and he earned position-best marks for his run defense and pass rushing.
Considering Lawrence’s production last season, he should be eyeing a deal worth more than $20MM annually. There are currently six defensive tackles who top that mark, and while Lawrence will be hard pressed to match Aaron Donald‘s staggering $31.6MM average annual value, he could rival the contract that the Titans recently gave to Jeffery Simmons (four years, $94MM).
Lawrence won’t be the only Giants star skipping the start of the offseason program. We heard earlier today that Saquon Barkley won’t be signing his franchise tender prior to Monday as he pursues a long-term extension of his own.