5 Key NFL Stories: 2/24/19 – 3/3/19
Jason Witten returns to Cowboys. After only one — admittedly much-maligned — season as an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Witten ended his retirement in order to re-sign with Dallas on a one-year, $3.5MM contract. Witten, who can earn up to $5MM via incentives, drew lackluster reviews for his commentary alongside Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland, but could end up moving into a coaching career down the line. In the near term, he’ll give the Cowboys another option at tight end, a position that didn’t offer much production for the club in 2018. In Witten’s most recent NFL campaign (2017), he posted 62 receptions for 560 yards and five touchdowns.
Eagles won’t franchise Nick Foles. The Foles saga has finally reached its conclusion, at least from the Philadelphia perspective. The Eagles exercised their option 2019 option on Foles earlier this year, but he bought back his free agency by returning $2MM to the club. After that maneuver, Philadelphia was thought to be ready to franchise Foles, but it has since decided not to do so, either because the economics didn’t work or because the team couldn’t find a trade partner. Early chatter has linked Foles to Jacksonville, where ex-Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo is now the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator, while the Giants could also be in play.
Latest on Antonio Brown. Now that the Steelers have agreed that a Brown trade is best for all parties, rival clubs have begun to express to interest. Thus far, the Raiders, Redskins, and Titans have shown the most interest in Brown, while the Jets have also placed a call to Pittsburgh. The Steelers will incur a hefty amount of dead money no mater when they deal Brown, but they could avoid having to pay him a $2.5MM roster bonus by trading him before March 17.
Edge rusher market taking shape. Plenty of outstanding pass rushers are scheduled to hit the open market later this month, but how many will actually become available? The Eagles took Brandon Graham off the board by re-signing him to a three-year, $40MM contract last week. The Seahawks are progressing on a deal with Frank Clark, but DeMarcus Lawrence and Dee Ford figured to be franchise tagged by the Cowboys and Chiefs, respectively. Kansas City, notably, could take trade offers for Ford once he signs his tender.
NFL bans David Irving, Randy Gregory. While Lawrence figures to return to Dallas in 2019, two of his fellow defensive ends are facing uncertain futures. The league handed both Irving and Gregory indefinite suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Irving was banned for the first four games of the 2018 campaign, and only suited up for two games all year. Gregory played in 14 games a season ago, but this latest ban marks his fourth NFL suspension.
Bengals Hire Ex-Bucs DC Mark Duffner
The Bengals have hired former Buccaneers interim defensive coordinator Mark Duffner as a senior defensive assistant, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. 
Duffner, 65, has worked in Cincinnati before, serving as the club’s linebackers coach from 1997-2000 before taking over as defensive coordinator from 2001-02. After coaching LBs in Green Bay, Jacksonville, and Miami in the following years, Duffner joined Tampa Bay as linebackers coach in 2016. He was promoted to interim DC in October after the Bucs fired incumbent Mike Smith. For what it’s worth, Tampa Bay’s defense finished dead last in Football Outsiders’ DVOA but 29th in weighted DVOA, meaning the unit improved as the season progressed.
Duffner will fill two voids on the Bengals’ defensive staff. The first is familiarity, as Duffner worked with both new head coach Zac Taylor and new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on the 2014-15 Dolphins staff. Second, Duffner is now the most experienced coach on Cincinnati’s staff, on either side of the ball. Aside from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, Duffner is the only coach on the team that has been a full-time (non-interim) coordinator.
In addition to hiring Duffner, the Bengals also finalized their roster by hiring four other coaches: Nick Eason (defensive line), Tem Lukabu (linebackers), Brad Kragthorpe (offensive assistant), Jordan Kovacs (defensive quality control).
OSU CB Kendall Sheffield Tears Pectoral
Ohio State cornerback Kendall Sheffield suffered a torn left pectoral while performing the bench press at the NFL scouting combine on Sunday, according to Eric Edholm (Twitter link).
As Edholm notes, another Ohio State product — center Billy Price — also tore his pectoral during the 2018 combine, but he was still selected in the first round by the Bengals. Sheffield, though, isn’t quite the prospect that was Price, and is expected to be drafted at some point between Round 3 and Round 5.
Sheffield, who stands 6’0″, 193 pounds, appeared in 27 games for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons, posting 75 total tackles and two interceptions during that time. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com describes Sheffield as an “explosive athlete” who lacks refinement and ball skills, while Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network says Sheffield can succeed as a zone-based cornerback but must add strength.
Raiders Likely To Pursue Tyrell Williams
The Raiders are expected to target Chargers free agent wide receiver Tyrell Williams this offseason, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Oakland, of course, traded pass-catcher Amari Cooper to the Cowboys at midseason, collecting a 2019 first-round pick in the process but depriving quarterback Derek Carr of an offensive weapon. Jordy Nelson led the Raiders with 41 receptions after Cooper was dealt, and he’ll return next season alongside Seth Roberts, Marcell Ateman, Keon Hatcher. But Brandon LaFell, Dwayne Harris, and the suspended Martavis Bryant are all set to reach unrestricted free agency next month.
Williams, 27, first emerged as a legitimate NFL wideout in 2015. With Keenan Allen injured, Williams stepped in as Philip Rivers‘ No. 1 target, hauling in 69 receptions for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns. Over the past two years, Williams’ volume declined as Allen re-entered the lineup and 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams began taking snaps, but he’s still remained effective. In 2018, Williams ranked 24th among 84 qualifying receivers in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, meaning he was productive on a per-play basis.
While Williams may not have the numbers of a traditional No. 1 wide receiver, he’s arguably in line to become the highest-paid wideout among 2019 free agents. This year’s crop of available pass-catchers isn’t special, with options such as Golden Tate, Adam Humphries, John Brown, and Jamison Crowder expected to be among the most-coveted at the position
Panthers Re-Sign RB Elijah Hood
The Panthers have re-signed running back Elijah Hood to a one-year deal, the club announced today. Wood had been scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, so he wouldn’t have had the option to leave Carolina unless the team opted to non-tender him.
Hood, 22, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2017. While he didn’t make Oakland’s 53-man roster at the outset of his rookie campaign, Hood signed with the Raiders’ practice squad and was eventually promoted in for one week that October. After being waived the following May, Hood was claimed off waivers by the Panthers. However, he spent the entire 2018 season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL on a preseason kickoff return.
Carolina’s backfield was dominated by Christian McCaffrey — who played more than 90% of the club’s offensive snaps — last season, but Hood could compete for backup duty. Travaris Cadet, Kenjon Barner, Cameron Artis-Payne, and Fozzy Whittaker are all unrestricted free agents, leaving 2018 undrafted free agent Reggie Bonnafon as the only other Panthers back under contract alongside McCaffrey and Hood.
Eagles Hire Andrew Berry
The Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman have made an addition to the club’s front office, hiring former Browns executive Andrew Berry as vice president of football operations, according to Ian Rapoport and Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Berry joined Cleveland’s front office in 2016 after ex-GM Sashi Brown hired him as vice president of player personnel. He’s now being hired away by the Eagles for what is considered a promotion, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Berry had reportedly drawn interest from several other teams in the past, per Rapoport and Kinkhabwala, but the Eagles make sense as a fit given Cleveland and Philadelphia’s shared interest in analytics.
A Harvard graduate, Berry first entered the NFL in 2009 as a scouting assistant in the Colts’ front office. He was eventually promoted through a number of roles, and ultimately served as Indianapolis’ pro scouting coordinator from 2012-16 before leaving for Cleveland.
Although Berry is departing the Browns’ front office, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is expected to remain in his current role, per Cabot (Twitter link).
5 Key NFL Stories: 2/17/19 – 2/24/19
Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution. The Patriots owner was caught as part of a sting operation at a massage parlor in Jupiter, Florida last week. While he’s only expected to be charged with a misdemeanor, Kraft could face more severe consequences from the NFL — a six-game suspension and a heavy fine could both be on the table. Meanwhile, Kraft’s legacy will almost certainly be tarnished, and his eventual Hall of Fame enshrinement is likely to be delayed.
Steelers won’t tag Le’Veon Bell. Although speculation had arisen that Pittsburgh could deploy the transition tag on Bell with the intention of trading him, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced that no tender — not the franchise nor transition tag — would be used on Bell. The veteran back would have had to sign the transition tender before the Steelers could have dealt him, and given that Bell sat out the entire 2018 campaign rather than ink his franchise tag, such a scenario never seemed all that likely.
Antonio Brown trade talks begin. Brown with met Steelers owner Art Rooney II last week, and the two sides have agreed that a trade would be the best outcome for all parties. While Colbert said Pittsburgh won’t simply give Brown away, rival executives reportedly believe the Steelers may only be able to get a third-round pick in exchange for the star pass-catcher. So far, three unknown clubs have contacted Pittsburgh regarding Brown’s availability.
Bengals find a DC. Nearly three weeks after Cincinnati hired Zac Taylor as its new head coach, the team finally has a defensive coordinator in place. Taylor selected Giants defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo — who coached alongside Taylor with the Dolphins from 2013-15. Before hiring Anarumo, the Bengals were linked to 11 other candidates, including Jack Del Rio, Dom Capers, and Dennis Allen.
Raiders likely to spend 2019 in Oakland. The Raiders appear set to announce an agreement with the city of Oakland that would keep the club in the Oakland Coliseum for at least one more season. The deal will reportedly come with an option for the 2020 campaign, insurance in case the Raiders’ Vegas stadium isn’t ready on time.
Austin Davis Joins Seahawks Staff
The Seahawks recently announced several changes to their coaching staff, and perhaps the most notable was the addition of former NFL quarterback Austin Davis as an offensive assistant. Davis hadn’t formally announced his retirement after being cut by the Titans earlier this month, but it’s now to safe assume he’s ended his playing career.
A 2012 undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, Davis bounced around during his seven-year career, spending time with the Rams (two stints), Dolphins, Browns, Broncos, Seahawks, and Titans. All told, Davis appeared in 16 total games, with his most significant action coming with St. Louis in 2014. That year, he started eight contests, completing 63.4% of his passes for 2,001 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Last season, Davis was on call at various points for the Titans, signing with the club when fellow quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert suffered injuries. Davis spent the 2017 campaign as Russell Wilson‘s backup in Seattle, and the Seahawks’ coaches were apparently impressed enough by his football acumen to add him to the staff.
In addition to hiring Davis, the Seahawks also promoted Steve Shimko from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach and hired assistant wide receivers coach Brad Idzik.
PFR Originals: 2/17/19 – 2/24/19
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- Having a hard time keeping track of every NFL coaching change? Be sure to bookmark PFR’s list of 2019’s major coaching moves, where we’ve kept track of every head coach and coordinator change this offseason.
- The 2019 NFL draft is roughly two months away, and with compensatory picks now awarded, PFR has posted its complete 2019 draft order.
- Where will free agent running back Le’Veon Bell sign this offseason? That’s the question Andrew Ortenberg posed to PFR readers Saturday night, and ~30% of respondents believe Bell will end up with the Jets.
- Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is entering the final year of his contract, leading Rory Parks to examine what the star pass-catcher might be targeting on an extension with New Orleans.
Jason McCourty Wants To Re-Sign With Patriots
Jason McCourty is scheduled to hit the free agent market next month, and the veteran cornerback says his preference is to re-sign with the Patriots, according to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston.
“First and foremost, if I could be back in New England and all of that works out, that would be awesome,” McCourty said. “That way it wouldn’t be the third consecutive year I had to move my family. That would be an advantage. But at the same time you realize how much of this is a business and how much of this isn’t dictated by (the feeling), ‘Hey, I just want to play here with my brother and the guys I built a relationship with.’ There’s so much more that goes into it.
“For me, (the approach will be) letting it play out. When March rolls around we’ll see where everything’s at and then at the end of the day we’ll see where the opportunities are and then make a decision.”
McCourty, 31, announced earlier this week that he’ll continue his career in 2019, although he told Curran that he never actually considered retirement in the first place. Instead, McCourty was only answering questions about the future of his career because his twin brother — New England safety Devin McCourty — said earlier this year that he was contemplating hanging up his cleats. Devin has since announced he’ll play next season, and is under contract with the Patriots for one more year.
New England acquired Jason McCourty from the Browns in exchange for a 14-slot drop in the sixth/seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he proved to be a valuable pickup. The former sixth-round pick played on 80% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps, grading as the No. 6 cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. McCourty also ranked 21st among corners in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks.