Browns Work Out CB Leodis McKelvin
The Browns worked out veteran cornerback Leodis McKelvin on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Because McKelvin wasn’t on a roster at the conclusion of the 2017 season, he’s eligible to sign with a club immediately. McKelvin, 32, spent last year out of the NFL after being cut by the Eagles in February, but he did attract interest throughout the campaign, as he met with the Saints, Rams, and Falcons at various points during the season.
McKelvin wasn’t exactly a superstar the last time he was on the field, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 71 cornerback among 112 qualifiers. In his first (and only) season with the Eagles, McKelvin appeared in 13 games (12 starts), managing 16 passes defensed and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Although McKelvin may no longer be the difference-maker he once was, the Browns have had success with seemingly aging defensive backs in the very recent past, as 30-year-old Jason McCourty posted one of the best seasons of his career with Cleveland in 2017.
Rams Won’t Hire OC To Replace Matt LaFleur
After losing offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur to the Titans earlier today, the Rams don’t intend to hire another OC, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Instead, Los Angeles announced that it has named offensive line coach Aaron Kromer the club’s new run game coordinator, while tight ends coach Shane Waldron will become the Rams’ pass game coordinator.
[RELATED: 2018 NFL Coordinator Tracker]
While the Rams’ offensive staff has undergone an overhaul this offseason, head coach Sean McVay is still in place to call plays for a unit that ranked sixth in offensive DVOA a year ago. But there have been changes: former quarterbacks coach Greg Olson became the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, so Los Angeles promoted assistant wide receivers coach Zac Taylor to fill the void. The Rams also added former UCLA play-caller Jedd Fisch as a senior offensive assistant.
Although Kromer and Waldron won’t be calling plays for the Rams, they will presumably help assemble the club’s weekly gameplan. Kromer has coordinated an offense before — the Bears from 2013-14 — but has spent the majority of his career as an offensive line coach, while Waldron previously served as an offensive assistant with the Redskins, where he worked under McVay.
5 Key NFL Stories: 1/21/18 -1/28/18
Titans, Cardinals fill head coaching vacancies. Tennessee and Arizona were the last two NFL clubs searching for new head coaches (discounting Detroit and Indianapolis, which will hire Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, respectively, when the Super Bowl concludes), and both teams hired former defensive coordinators with only one year of experience last week. The Titans settled on ex-Texans DC Mike Vrabel, who is still filling out his staff after missing out on defensive play-caller James Bettcher. The Cardinals, meanwhile, landed former Panthers DC Steve Wilks, who has already hired Mike McCoy to lead Arizona’s offense and Al Holcomb to run the club’s defense.
Panthers begin general manager search. While the Panthers fired Dave Gettleman last July, they’re just now starting the process of filling their general manager vacancy. Interim GM Marty Hurney led the club’s front office during the 2017 campaign, and he’s still considered the frontrunner for the job. However, Carolina also plans to interview the Texans’ Jimmy Raye III and the Browns’ Lake Dawson. Titans executive Ryan Cowden is also viewed as a candidate, but no meeting has yet been arranged.
Jarvis Landry approaches free agency. While Landy figures to be one of the top wide receivers available when the free agent market opens in March, the Dolphins reportedly haven’t made much of an effort to retain him. Landry, who has previously called Miami’s negotiating tactics “disrespectful,” has told his inner circle that he doesn’t expect to re-sign with the Dolphins this offseason. The two sides exchanged offers in December, but the club has to counter Landry’s most recent proposal. The Ravens, meanwhile, discussed a Landry trade with Miami last season, meaning Baltimore could be a potential landing spot for the slot receiver.
Vince McMahon reboots XFL. 17 years after it disbanded, the XFL is back, as McMahon last week announced plans to re-open the league beginning in 2020. Initially, the venture will be comprised of eight teams with 40-man rosters, although no host cities have yet been announced. In order to compete with the NFL, the XFL feature fewer commercial breaks and move at a fast pace than the signature football league. The real question, then, is when He Hate Me will make his debut.
Bills center Eric Wood is forced to retire. In a devastating bit of news from last week, Wood will be forced to retire due to a severe neck injury. Wood, 31, has been a solid pivot during his nine-year career, and had appeared in all 16 games in four of the past five seasons. His absence will add yet another entry to Buffalo’s list of offseason needs, and could also complicate the Bills’ salary cap.
NFC East Rumors: Redskins, Brown, Giants
The Redskins‘ decision to re-sign Mason Foster to a two-year deal last week won’t preclude the club from pursuing a new contract with fellow linebacker Zach Brown, sources tell John Keim of ESPN.com, who recently reported Washington has opened negotiations with Brown. Indeed, despite reports that the Redskins had opened talks with a “lowball offer,” they’re still conversing with the 28-year-old Brown, tweets J.P. Finlay of NBC Washington. Per Keim, Brown could potentially looking for a top-of-the-market linebacker pact, which could require $10MM annually and nearly $20MM in guarantees. However, Brown was only able to garner a one-year, $2.5MM deal last season when he was younger and coming off an arguably more productive campaign.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- While the Redskins are engaged in talks to bring back Brown, the team may not be interested in a reunion with offensive lineman Spencer Long and Shawn Lauvao, according to Rich Tandler of NBC Washington. Long and Lauvao split time at guard in 2017, but neither earned positive grades from Pro Football Focus. If Washington does opt to re-sign one of its two free agent lineman, Long could speculatively have the advantage given that he’s three years younger than Lauvao. However, Tandler expects the Redskins to instead bring in a free agent or a draft pick to compete with former fourth-round pick Arie Kouandjio, who started six games a season ago.
- The Giants are searching for a new offensive coordinator under new head coach Pat Shurmur, and while former Cardinals OC Harold Goodwin has been mentioned as a candidate for the position, there’s a possibility he could hired as a combination offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Goodwin held the same dual role in Arizona, and given that New York hasn’t yet hired an OL coach to replace Mike Solari, Goodwin could potentially join the G-Men in a similar capacity. Other contenders for the Giants’ offensive coordinator include Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski and Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley.
- Although the Giants still need an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, the club’s coaching staff is mostly set, as Vacchanio writes. Shurmur has filled most of the team’s vacancies and retained a number of incumbent coaches, including coaching assistant Chris Pridy, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.
PFR Originals: 1/21/18 -1/28/18
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- As the offseason progresses, PFR will assess each team by examining the top three needs on each respective roster. We covered three organizations last week:
- The NFL’s Rooney Rule — which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate when filling a general manager or head coach vacancy — has been the subject of much discussion in recent weeks, as the Raiders may or may not have met the rule’s requirements before hiring Jon Gruden. While the NFL has determined Oakland did follow the Rooney Rule stipulations, Zach Links examined the effects of the regulation on the league’s hiring processes, noting that further changes involving minority candidates could be on the table.
- The Vikings are in a precarious position: not only are they naming a new offensive coordinator to replace Pat Shurmur, but their top three quarterbacks — including breakout starter Case Keenum — are all free agents. With that in mind, Rory Parks asked PFR readers where Keenum will be playing in 2018, and while Minnesota is currently leading the vote, other teams, such as the Cardinals and Jets, have also garnered consideration.
Vikings Expected To Name OC Next Week
The Vikings are expected to name a new offensive coordinator next week, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Where Will Case Keenum Play In 2018?]
As PFR’s 2018 Coordinator Tracker indicates, the Vikings have already interviewed two candidates and plan to meet with two additional contenders. Former Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and current Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski — the latter of whom is also on the Giants’ radar — met with head coach Mike Zimmer last week, while Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan and Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell will interview in the coming days.
Minnesota also reportedly considered at least two other coaches at some point in their search, but neither appears to be currently involved in the club’s process. Former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was mentioned as potential candidate for the Vikings, but he was recently hired as the Cardinals’ new play-caller. Ex-Giants head coach Ben McAdoo was also part of an initial group of prospective interviewees, but no meeting was ever scheduled.
Whomever the Vikings choose to replace former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will face a tall task, as a new coach will attempt to replicate Minnesota’s No. 5 DVOA ranking with an uncertain situation at quarterback. The Vikings’ top three signal-callers — Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater — are all headed for unrestricted free agency in March.
Coaching Rumors: Giants, Texans, Chiefs
New Giants head coach Pat Shurmur will call his own offensive plays in New York but still plans to hire an offensive coordinator, and Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski is a “strong candidate” for the position, sources tell Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Stefanski, of course, worked under Shurmur in Minnesota, and is now a candidate to take over Shurmur’s old role with the Vikings (where he’d presumably get the opportunity to call games). Minnesota, however, is also considering former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell and Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan for its coordinator job, so if Stefanski isn’t promoted, he could conceivably bolt for New York. Meanwhile, Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley is a “name to watch” for the Giants’ OC position, while ex-Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin could also “be in the mix,” per Vacchiano.
Here’s more on the 2018 coaching carousel:
- Former Raiders and Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano will join the Texans as a linebackers coach, reports Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Specifically, Pagano is now a senior defensive assistant who will coach outside linebackers, while Bobby King — already on Houston’s staff — will coach inside ‘backers, per Mark Berman of FOX 26 (Twitter link). Pagano, the brother of former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, spent five years as the Chargers’ DC before landing with the Raiders in 2017. When Oakland fired Ken Norton Jr. midway through last season, Pagano stepped in as the club’s defensive coordinator.
- The Chiefs will promote offensive quality coach Mike Kafka to quarterbacks coach, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Kafka, 30, originally entered the league as a 2010 fourth-round of Andy Reid‘s Eagles and went to play for six other clubs before hanging up his cleats. He coached at Northwestern (his alma mater) before joining Kansas City’s staff in 2017. Reid’s coaching tree is obviously impressive, and the past two men to serve as quarterbacks coach under his employ — Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy — are now head coaches with the Eagles and Bears, respectively.
- The Titans also have a new quarterbacks coach: former Texans offensive assistant Pat O’Hara, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who adds ex-Texans defensive assistant Shane Bowen is now Tennessee’s outside linebackers coach. O’Hara interviewed for the Bears’ quarterbacks coach job earlier this year, but Chicago ended up retaining Dave Ragone for the role. Meanwhile, new Titans assistant coach Kerry Coombs will indeed lead defensive backs in Tennessee, meaning he’ll coach the same position group that he did at Ohio State, tweets Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel offered incumbent secondary coach Deshea Townsend a job as Coombs’ assistant (read: a demotion), but Townsend will instead leave the club.
- The Panthers have hired Air Force defensive coordinator Steve Russ as their new linebackers coach, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Russ will replace Al Holcomb, who followed Steve Wilks to Arizona earlier this week to become the Cardinals’ new defensive coordinator. Although he enjoyed a four-year pro career, the 45-year-old Russ has never coached at the NFL level. He’s been at Air Force since 2012, and previously spent time at Syracuse, Wake Forest, and Ohio. Carolina has also added former Seahawks assistant special teams coach Heath Farwell for the same role, reports Omar Ruiz of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Pauline’s Latest: Giants, Jets, Colts, Cowboys
The Giants are expected to make a run at pending free agent guard Andrew Norwell, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. New Giants general manager Dave Gettleman originally signed Norwell as an undrafted free agent when he was still Panthers GM, so there is an obvious connection and familiarity level between the two. Additionally, the G-Men have a clear need to improve an offensive line which could theoretically lose guard/tackle Justin Pugh to free agency. Norwell is not only young (26 years old), but extremely talented, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s third-best guard in 2017. Fellow guards such as Kelechi Osemele and Kevin Zeitler have recently inked contracts with $11.5MM+ annual values, and Norwell should meet or exceed that threshold.
Here’s more from Pauline:
- If the Giants push hard to sign Norwell, they likely won’t have the funds available to sign free agent center Weston Richburg. That doesn’t mean Richburg will necessarily leave New York, however, as the Jets reportedly have interest in pursuing the 26-year-old pivot, per Pauline. Gang Green is in need of a new center given that Wesley Johnson — who started 15 games a season ago — is set to hit the open market in March. Football Outsiders ranked the Jets 29th in adjusted line yards when running towards the guard/center gaps in 2017, so Richburg would offer clear improvement. Richburg appeared in only four games last season (after missing only two contests during his first three years in the league), but he’s been cleared of any ongoing concussion concerns.
- Colts general manager Chris Ballard could be active during his second offseason at the helm, as Pauline hears Indianapolis is hoping to acquire as many as three new linebackers plus several cornerbacks during the free agent period. Former Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus is expected to become the Colts’ next defensive coordinator under presumptive head coach Josh McDaniels, so any additions will likely be made with Eberflus’ scheme in mind. At cornerback, specifically, Indianapolis could seek to re-sign 2017 breakout star Rashaan Melvin, who will hit free agency coming off the best campaign of his career.
- The Cowboys, too, have potential need areas in mind that could be addressed over the coming months, and linebacker and edge rusher are among them, reports Pauline. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is the top free agent defender on the market, and Dallas will almost certainly retain him via the franchise tag if a long-term deal can’t be arranged. Meanwhile, the Cowboys could express interest in Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, per Pauline, who is expected to “blow up” the scouting combine with an athletic performance.
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers
Safety Earl Thomas had made waves with his perceived discontent with the Seahawks over the past month or so, and he now sounds serious about initiating a contract holdout, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. “I want to finish my career there,” Thomas said. “I definitely don’t see myself going out there not signed. But I’m going to continue to work my butt off and enjoy this process at the Pro Bowl. As far as my future in Seattle, I think if they want me, you know, money talks. We’ll get something accomplished. Other than that, I’m just taking it one day at a time.” Thomas, 28, is entering the final year of his current contract, and says Seattle has yet to initiate negotiation discussions. He’s currently earning $10MM annually, which ranks sixth among NFL safeties.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- New Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks has opted to retain incumbent quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Former Arizona head coach Bruce Arians has been especially vocal about Leftwich’s future prospects, noting last June that the former first-round pick would become “a head coach early and fast.” Elsewhere on staff, wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and tight ends coach Steve Heiden could stay on with the Cardinals, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link), while inside linebackers coach Larry Foote will return, tweets Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have also announced Jeff Rodgers — who’s coached with the Bears, Broncos, and Panthers — as their new special teams coordinator.
- While the 49ers are confident that they’ll be able to extend quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, there is a chance San Francisco will be forced to use a franchise or transition tag, leading Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk to examine the benefits and drawbacks of each tender. The transition tag is roughly $2MM cheaper than the non-exclusive franchise tag, but it also comes with the threat of another team snagging Garoppolo without the 49ers collecting draft pick compensation. However, general manager John Lynch & Co. lead the league in cap space, meaning they’d be able to match nearly any offer sheet Garoppolo receives from another club.
- The 49ers are searching for an assistant defensive line coach to work under Jeff Zgonina, reports Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). USC defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze was in the 49ers’ facility on Thursday, so there’s a possibility he was interviewing for the position, per Maiocco. Vince Oghobaase held the title of assistant OL coach in 2017, but he’s since joined the UCLA staff.
Top 3 Offseason Needs: Carolina Panthers
In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Carolina Panthers, who rebounded from a down 2016 to finish 11-5, good for second in the NFC South.
Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)
Pending Free Agents:
- Derek Anderson, QB
- Brenton Bersin, WR
- Damiere Byrd, WR (ERFA)
- Jairus Byrd, S
- Kaelin Clay, WR (RFA)
- Ed Dickson, TE
- Dan France, T (ERFA)
- Andrew Gachkar, LB
- Graham Gano, K
- Ladarius Gunter, CB (RFA)
- Drew Iddings, DT (ERFA)
- Charles Johnson, WR
- Tyler Larsen, C (ERFA)
- Star Lotulelei, DT
- Chris Manhertz, TE (ERFA)
- Andrew Norwell, G
- Michael Palardy, P (ERFA)
- Julius Peppers, DE
- Amini Silatolu, G
- Scott Simonson, TE (RFA)
- Greg Van Roten, G (RFA)
- Teddy Williams, CB
- David Yankey, G (RFA)
Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:
- Cam Newton, QB: $21,500,000
- Kawann Short, DT: $17,000,000
- Luke Kuechly, LB: $13,100,059
- Ryan Kalil, C: $10,279,000
- Greg Olsen, TE: $9,750,000
- Mario Addison, DE: $8,916,666
- Trai Turner, G: $7,703,000
- Matt Kalil, T: $6,900,000
- Jonathan Stewart, RB: $5,250,000
- Kurt Coleman, S: $5,250,000
Other:
- Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $24,465,591
- 24th pick in draft
- Must exercise or decline 2019 fifth-year option for LB Shaq Thompson
Three Needs:
1) Add a new weapon for Cam Newton: When the Panthers lost to the Saints in the Wild Card round earlier this month, their wide receiver depth chart was as follows: Devin Funchess, Brenton Bersin, Kaelin Clay, Russell Shepard, Mose Frazier. Sure, Carolina will see the return of Damiere Byrd and Curtis Samuel — each of whom ended the year on injured reserve — in 2018, but it’s readily apparent that the Panthers lack a true No. 1 threat at wideout.
Jarvis Landry and Allen Robinson are probably the top two pending free agent receivers, but Landry will be pricey and — as a slot receiver — isn’t the type of addition the Panthers currently need. Robinson will be expensive, too, even though he’s coming off a torn ACL. Carolina doesn’t have a ton of money to throw around this offseason, thanks in part to free agent deals handed out by former general manager Dave Gettleman and extensions worked out by “interim” GM Marty Hurney. Therefore, the Panthers probably need to go bargain-hunting as they search for a specific pass-catcher to complement Funchess.
Signing a speed receiver who can handle deep passes should be a clear focal point for Carolina over the coming months, especially after the club allowed long-ball threat Ted Ginn Jr. to land with the division-rival Saints a year ago. Veteran Mike Wallace stands out as a player in that mold, as he caught all nine of his deep targets (20+ yards) in 2017 while ranking 12th in deep receiving yardage, according to the 2018 Pro Football Focus Free Agency Guide. Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer recently speculated that Wallace could fit with the Panthers, and he shouldn’t be all that expensive given that he’s now 31 years old. Other candidates to fill a speed niche for Carolina could include Paul Richardson, Taylor Gabriel, Deonte Thompson, or — if the Panthers want to spend — Sammy Watkins, who finished 14th in Football Outsiders‘ DYAR last season.
If Carolina isn’t able to land a deep threat, the club should double down and ink another big-bodied pass-catcher who can fight for contested catches and offer a large target radius for the often erratic Newton. If the Panthers go down this route, they could save a good bit of money because most of these types of wideouts are coming off disappointing seasons. Possible options may include Donte Moncrief, Michael Floyd, Jaron Brown, Kamar Aiken, plus restricted free agents Tyrell Williams and Brandon Coleman, but the best fit might be former quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
There’s no question Pryor was a free agent bust with the Redskins in 2017, as he managed only 20 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdowns. But he’s an excellent athlete at 6″4, 235 pounds, and was extremely productive with the Browns in 2016, topping 1,000 yards receiving in his first season as a wideout. Pryor ranked ninth in contested catch rate during his lone full campaign with Cleveland (via PlayerProfiler.com), while Matt Harmon of Reception Perception noted Pryor’s repeated success against man, zone, and press coverages. For a full perspective on Pryor’s capabilities, check out this October 2016 piece from Cian Fahey of Football Outsiders.
A number of other veteran receivers that could be on interest to the Panthers could be candidates for release this offseason, meaning Carolina may have several more pass-catching candidates available when free agency on March 14. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson, and Michael Crabtree are all on their respective teams’ roster bubbles, and Hurney & Co. should examine each player if and when he is cut. Among those wideouts, Thomas and Bryant would be the best fits for the Panthers under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
2) Find a new left guard: Andrew Norwell was quite a find by former general manager Dave Gettleman. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati in 2014, the 26-year-old Norwell has been a full-time starter in each of his four seasons with the Panthers. The 2017 campaign was Norwell’s pièce de résistance, as he earned first-team All-Pro honors while grading as the No. 3 guard in the league, per Pro Football Focus. He’s unquestionably the best lineman on the Panthers’ roster, and one of the best blockers in the NFL.Read more
