Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/22
Today’s minor moves:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: G Jordan Meredith
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall, FB John Lovett
Latest On Jim Harbaugh
After failing to receive an offer from the Vikings, Jim Harbaugh will remain at the University of Michigan. For now. Harbaugh agreed to a new $36.7MM deal to coach the Wolverines for the next five years, in theory. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though, this extension does little to ensure a long marriage between the two parties involved. 
For the most part, the contract is fairly standard. Harbaugh is set to make around $7.05MM in his first year, a raise of more than $3MM per year, with his salary gradually increasing until he reaches $7.63MM in 2026.
The deal is laced with incentives. Winning the Big Ten East earns Harbaugh $500,000. Winning the conference altogether nets Harbaugh $1MM. An appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game or the College Football Playoff would gain Harbaugh bonuses of $200,000 and $500,000, respectively. A national title would pay out another $1MM to Harbaugh. He also has award incentives that would pay him $50,000 if he is named Big Ten Coach of the Year and $75,000 if he is named the winner of one of the national coach of the year awards.
Where Harbaugh’s contract differs from what is expected is in the buyout. In the first year, Harbaugh’s contract only lists a $3MM buyout, meaning if a team wanted to hire Harbaugh after next season, Michigan would only be due $3MM despite Harbaugh having four years and $29.65MM remaining on his contract. The buyout gradually decreases each year until, in the fourth and penultimate year of his contract, it totals less than $1MM.
This low buyout will do little to deter any teams eager to hire Harbaugh. It will do even less to keep Harbaugh from looking. It’s an ideal contract for the eighth-year Wolverines head coach. He nets a hefty raise for his accomplishments in the 2021 season, while ensuring an easy exit for the next NFL team that comes calling.
Extension For Goodell Probable
Despite previous reports that Roger Goodell would retire at the end of his current contract, a new deal may be in the works for the NFL commissioner, according to Ben Fischer and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal. 
Goodell recently wrapped up his 16th season as commissioner. Initially elected by NFL owners in 2006, Goodell’s seen extensions to his contract in 2009, 2012, and 2017. In terms of public standing, Goodell is in the best position of his career. As a longtime punching bag, usually with attention focused on his disciplinary procedures, Goodell is starting to earn some recognition from both owners and fans.
Under Goodell, the NFL has negotiated a bargaining agreement with the players union through the 2030 season and signed TV/media deals worth $113 billion through the 2033 season. Not only did the NFL navigate the minefield of the COVID-19 pandemic without losing a single game, but viewership increased by 10%. These accomplishments have endeared Goodell to NFL owners.
In the eyes of the public, Goodell is benefitting from a heightened awareness of NFL fans. Public outcry on issues, like the lack of minority coaching hires, has shifted aim from Goodell to owners, as fans start to learn who is really responsible for making those kinds of decisions. Scandals and allegations centered on owners like Stephen Ross, of the Dolphins, and Dan Snyder, of the Commanders, have worked to shift negative attention even further from Goodell and the NFL, specifically.
Even if owners were ready to move on from Goodell, a lack of a clear successor has them stalling for time. Since vacating the position of Chief Operating Officer to become commissioner, the two people who have filled the role have left. Tod Leiweke, who succeeded Goodell and held the COO position until 2018, would’ve been the obvious choice, but he resigned to become the president and CEO of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL, as well as a minority owner. Leiweke’s successor, Mary Ann Turcke, stepped down from the position in August of 2020, leaving the position vacant since then.
Three possible successors have been identified: Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, and chief strategy officer Chris Halpin. Rolapp has long been viewed, internally, as the most logical candidate, but has done little to sell himself to owners. He did have a hand in the NFL’s mega-media deals. Halpin is an interesting candidate as he is credited for much of the NFL’s efforts on international expansion. Vincent played a huge part in the NFL’s navigation of the COVID-19 season. Discussions about possibly splitting the commissioner position into two separate leadership positions for football and business could be the eventual answer if owners don’t like their options past Goodell.
For now, though, it sounds like Goodell continues to be the man for the job. One owner was quoted saying, “He’s at the top of his game right now. Why would we want him walking out the door?” For what it’s worth, the NFL’s vice president of communications denied that there was any truth to the reports of contract negotiations.
Goodell has seen his salary increase with each new deal, though his current contract, estimated to have earned him $63.9MM over each of the past two seasons, is heavily incentive-laden. The 63-year-old would be 65 at the end of his current contract. An extension would likely make him the oldest person to have held the position with Paul Tagliabue retiring at 66 and Pete Rozelle walking away at 63. He is already set to pass Tagliabue for the title of second-longest-tenured NFL commissioner. If Goodell walked away in 2024 we would’ve served for 18 seasons, one more than Tagliabue. It’s unlikely that Goodell will reach Rozelle’s tenure of 29 years.
It does seem, though, that Goodell has a few more years left in him, if the reports are true. If a new extension is reached in the coming months, Goodell and the NFL will have a few more years to set up a replacement plan.
S Eric Weddle Re-Retiring
The Beard is hanging up the cleats…again. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rams’ safety Eric Weddle told reporters after their Super Bowl LVI victory, that “yes, (he’s) re-retiring.” Weddle is making good on a promise he made shortly after the Rams’ NFC Championship victory over the 49ers. 
“It’s amazing to be able to understand that and know that I don’t have to save myself for next season, I don’t have to save myself for the offseason, I didn’t have to save myself for the Super Bowl last week knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, so I was throwing it in there, giving it everything I got,” Weddle had said. “After this Super Bowl, I move on and go back to my old life and there will be no comebacks.”
Weddle originally announced his retirement shortly following the conclusion of his 2019 NFL season with the Rams. In that lone year in Los Angeles, Weddle was a team captain and defensive-signal caller, a role he reprised tonight, wearing the green sticker for the Rams’ defense.
Weddle was coaxed out of retirement as a bandage for a Rams’ secondary that was without Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp at safety to start the playoffs. His impact over the four-game playoff run wasn’t flashy, but he provided impactful leadership and sure tackling en route to his first Super Bowl ring. A member of the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, the only thing missing in Weddle’s illustrious career was that elusive ring. He’ll get fitted for it now and be invited to the White House with the rest of the team.
In tonight’s Super Bowl LVI victory, Weddle appeared to injure himself early in the game while making a tackle. He left the game momentarily before coming back to finish out the victory continuing to make tackles along the way. He told reporters after the game that he suffered a torn pec and will require surgery soon. He’ll have a lifetime to recover with no rush.
Weddle had a well-known tradition after winning football games. Upon returning home, Weddle and his family would enjoy a victory-bowl of ice cream. While in Baltimore, Weddle once agreed he would host an ice cream party at M&T Bank Stadium if they won the big game. While he may not have the same plans for SoFi Stadium, I hope Weddle and his family get to enjoy a “super bowl” of ice cream that fits the entire carton.
Vikings Plan To Hire Mike Pettine, Not As DC
Now that Super Bowl LVI is over, the Vikings should be able to start moving forward with their coaching staff hires. One coach expected to join the staff in Minnesota is former Browns’ head coach Mike Pettine, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Contrary to prior rumors that Pettine was the favorite to land the defensive coordinator job, Pelissero tweeted out that, with Ed Donatell reportedly hired to be the defensive coordinator, Pettine will join the staff in a different capacity. 
So far, no Minnesota coaching hires have officially been announced but, with the Rams’ season finally over, the Vikings will be happy to welcome Super Bowl Champion Kevin O’Connell to the facility. With his focus no longer on a postseason run, O’Connell and the Vikings can start making moves to build their new staff.
One of those first moves is Pettine. Although he will not serve as the defensive coordinator of the Vikings, Pettine brings a plethora of experience having served in that role in the past for the Jets, Bills, and Packers. He will also be able to provide some valuable head coaching insights to the rookie O’Connell. Pettine spent last season as a senior defensive assistant for the Bears after not being retained as the Packers’ defensive coordinator following an NFC Championship loss to the eventual Super Bowl LV champion Buccaneers.
Along with O’Connell, Donatell, and Pettine, rumored hirings in Minnesota include Chris Kuper as the expected offensive line coach, Chris Rumph as the expected defensive line coach, and Curtis Modkins as the expected run-game coordinator and backfield coach. Expect for official hires to start being announced and for the rest of the coaching staff to start coming into focus.
Rams Expect To Re-Sign WR Beckham
Earlier today before Super LVI began, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that the Rams are extremely optimistic about bringing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back on a new deal next season. If the Rams pull out a Super Bowl victory tonight, Beckham will max out the $3MM incentives attached to his current contract, but Los Angeles is adamant that it won’t be his last check from them.
Beckham was brought in on a one-year free agent deal after a bit of a forced release from the Browns. The Rams were happy to have Odell come in to fill the gap left on the depth chart by a season-ending injury to Robert Woods. Since joining the Rams, Beckham has seen a resurgence to his career as his five regular season touchdowns in eight games with Los Angeles are the most in a season for him since he played for the Giants.
Sean McVay and team brass see him as an ideal fit. Alongside 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and big-play receiver Van Jefferson, Beckham offers impact, explosiveness, and plenty of touchdowns. Once Woods rejoins the corps, opposing defensive backs will have their work cut out for them.
As of the writing of this post, Beckham is currently sitting on the sideline with an injury, watching the Rams try to make a comeback and win the Lombardi Trophy. The three-time Pro Bowler exited the game after a non-contact injury left him clutching his left knee, the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2020.
The hope is that this injury will have no effect on today’s report. Hopefully, whatever has befallen Beckham tonight allows him to return to the field next season, and his marriage to the Rams can remain on schedule.
Latest On QB Cousins And Vikings
The expected addition of Rams’ offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as head coach of the Vikings will reportedly keep quarterback Kirk Cousins in Minnesota for another year, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. 
The idea of new leadership is viewed as a positive for Cousins, who is interested in letting his contract year play out under the new head coach. However, it won’t be enough of a positive for Cousins to give his club a deal and rework his contract this offseason. Cousins is set for a fully-guaranteed salary of $35MM for the 2022 season and will hold a cap number of $45MM.
Rostering Cousins is becoming more and more expensive for the Vikings. In addition to having to shell out for the last year of his backloaded current contract, a franchise tag in 2023 for Cousins would end up costing the Vikings $64.8MM since he was tagged twice before in Washington.
Minnesota is starting to see the cost of the NFL’s first ever fully guaranteed contract and, if he performs at a high level in his contract year, Cousins will continue to hold all the cards in what could end up being quite an expensive extension to hold on to the tenth-year veteran.
QB Wentz’s Future With Colts In Question
Reports have been circulating concerning the future of quarterback Carson Wentz in Indianapolis. It started earlier today when ESPN’s Chris Mortensen went on “NFL Countdown” and stated that, “By March 18, (Wentz) will probably be traded or released.” 
The Colts traded for Wentz last offseason. Wentz played well for most of the year, throwing for 3,563 yards while tossing 27 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. However, Wentz’s struggles down the stretch cost the Colts a playoff spot as they lost their final two games.
$15MM of Wentz’s salary for 2022 was guaranteed last March and the remaining $7MM of his 2022 salary will be guaranteed on March 18. March 18 is also the date that triggers a fully guaranteed roster bonus of $6.3MM for Wentz. So if the team were to cut Wentz before then, they would only be on the hook for the $15MM guaranteed last year and would save the $13.3MM due to him next month.
Joel Corry, who writes for CBS Sports on NFL contracts and salary caps, tweeted out some skepticism about releasing Wentz. He points out that the price the Colts paid to obtain Wentz last year (a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick) doesn’t point to a one-year rental.
The best case scenario is likely finding a trade candidate willing to take on Wentz’s full contract. They wouldn’t have much leverage in the negotiations, though, considering they’d be asking a team to take on a contract they don’t want to take on themselves. A more likely scenario would see the Colts include Wentz in conversations with a trade candidate wherein they can agree to a re-worked contract that works for both Wentz and the new team. That way, they can attempt to redeem some of the value they gave up to get Wentz last year while allowing them to move on from the sixth-year quarterback.
Whatever route they plan on taking, the Colts have a little over a month to navigate it. There are certainly some quarterback needy teams that would consider Wentz an upgrade and may have the cap space to take on a contract that would keep Wentz happy.
QB Carr’s Future In Vegas Secure
Quarterback Derek Carr‘s future with the Raiders has been hot and cold for quite a while now, but, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the new leadership in Las Vegas is prepared to show their commitment to the eighth-year veteran with a contract extension. 
Just before the start of February, the Raiders announced the hirings of two former New England employees. They were taking the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, to fill the role of head coach and the Patriots’ director of player personnel, Dave Ziegler, to fill the role of general manager. Both McDaniels and Ziegler had shown interest in trading for Carr during their time in New England.
Since the departures of former head coach Jon Gruden and former general manager Mike Mayock, Carr has been unsure of his future, claiming that his status could be impacted by the team’s hires. Carr’s top choice to replace Gruden was, in fact, McDaniels. The mutual support and respect is something that Carr has not had the luxury of enjoying throughout his eight years with the organization.
Joel Corry, who writes for CBS Sports on NFL contracts and salary caps, tweeted out some ideas of what an extension may look like for Carr. Back in 2017, Carr became the first player in the NFL to average $25MM per annum. Even while breaking that barrier, Carr claimed at the time that he was leaving money in the cap for deals with guard Gabe Jackson and outside linebacker Khalil Mack. Corry and Rapoport both posit that Carr has earned near-top-tier money that could make him the fourth quarterback to join the $40MM per year club, joining the likes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Dak Prescott.
The Raiders have some time to figure out a deal with Carr, as he’s under contract through next season. They may attempt to make a show of good faith and offer an extension before the start of his contract year, or, with relations between leadership and the quarterback being much healthier, they may be able to take some time to figure out the best deal for both sides. Regardless, it is certainly an improved situation for everyone involved, and the Raiders will hope to reap the benefits.
Former Broncos’ HC Fangio Won’t Coach In 2022
Despite lots of interest and multiple offers for defensive coordinator jobs, former head coach of the Broncos Vic Fangio has decided against taking any of the opportunities offered to him for next season, according to league sources of ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
In three years as the Broncos’ head coach, Fangio failed to accomplish a winning season, coming closest in 2019 with a 7-9 record that was good for 2nd place in the AFC West. The next two seasons saw the Broncos finish 4th in the AFC West. This past season, Fangio’s Broncos started strong with a 3-0 start. Finishing the season 4-10 the rest of the way led to the end of Fangio’s tenure in Denver.
Denver was Fangio’s first head coaching job at any level of football. Before that, Fangio had several successful stints as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. Since 1995, Fangio has served as the defensive coordinator for the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers, and Bears. In his last year in Chicago, Fangio was awarded the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award.
It’s no surprise, then, that Fangio was so sought after following his departure from the Broncos. Schefter asserts that it’s likely Fangio will take the 2022 season off from coaching and return next year as a highly coveted candidate for open defensive coordinator positions.