Coaching Notes: Vrabel, Seahawks, Quinn, Morris, Falcons, Staley, Browns, Giants, Izzo, Steelers, Rams
The Seahawks have not met with Mike Vrabel yet, but interest is believed to exist on the NFC West team’s part. More smoke has emerged connecting Vrabel to Seattle. Several sources indicated this is a match worth monitoring, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, while the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora has heard Vrabel and Dan Quinn are the two names to watch with regards to the Seattle HC job.
Vrabel and Seahawks GM John Schneider are believed to be close, La Canfora adds. With Pete Carroll out of the picture, Schneider — who operated in a right-hand man role as Carroll held final say — is running the show in Seattle. Vrabel sought full personnel control in Tennessee when the team was between GMs, but the organization did not grant it. A structure in which Schneider holds final say but Vrabel possesses more input than he held with the Titans could make sense, but Quinn’s four seasons — spread across two stints, the latter two as a Super Bowl-bound DC — obviously provide a strong connection. The Dallas DC was also the first candidate mentioned for this opening. Quinn has a busy week on tap; the Cowboys’ DC is interviewing virtually with the Panthers, Chargers, Seahawks, Titans and Commanders.
Here is the latest from the coaching carousel:
- Deviating from their Arthur Blank-era trend, the Falcons are believed to be eyeing a coach with experience. Raheem Morris represents an interesting choice, considering he was Atlanta’s interim HC in 2020, but La Canfora adds some around the league view this as a potential match. Sean McVay is advocating for his three-year DC, and a coaching agent informed La Canfora that Morris is believed to have left Atlanta the first time on good terms. Morris, who served as Buccaneers HC from 2009-11, was a Falcons staffer from 2015-20. Bill Belichick having a second interview booked does point to the ex-Patriots coach being the favorite here, however.
- Duce Staley paid a visit to the Browns this week, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. The Browns just fired running backs coach Stump Mitchell and are in need at that post. Staley did not make it into December during his first season as Panthers RBs coach, joining QBs coach Josh McCown in being fired. But Staley has been an NFL backfield coach — with the Eagles, Lions and Panthers — since 2013.
- The Browns are also interviewing Titans outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow, per veteran NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky. While incumbent D-line coach Ben Bloom is not believed to have been fired, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms the Crow report, indicating Bloom could be reassigned. Crow was with Tennessee throughout Vrabel’s six-year tenure; Bloom has enjoyed two stints in Cleveland — 2009-10 and over the past four seasons under Kevin Stefanski.
- Seeking a replacement for six-year special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, the Giants are eyeing one of their Tom Coughlin-era assistants. Larry Izzo, the former Patriots linebacker who coached on Coughlin’s staff from 2011-15, is in the mix for the ST coordinator job, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets. Izzo spent the past three seasons as the Seahawks‘ ST boss, but with Carroll gone, the organization has given its assistants permission to explore other opportunities. Izzo broke into coaching in New York, serving as assistant ST coach before moving up the ladder elsewhere.
- The Rams are losing their defensive line coach to the college ranks. USC announced the hiring of Eric Henderson, who spent the past five seasons as the Rams’ D-line coach. Henderson’s Los Angeles run will continue; he started his NFL coaching stay with two seasons as the Chargers’ assistant D-line coach. Henderson, 40, will become the Trojans’ co-defensive coordinator.
- Steelers assistant Glenn Thomas will rejoin Matt Rhule, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Sherman, who notes the former Baylor and Temple assistant will become co-OC at Nebraska. Thomas spent one season with the Steelers, coming to Pittsburgh after being Arizona State’s OC in 2022.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/24
Here are Thursday’s reserve/futures deals:
Los Angeles Rams
- K Tanner Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
- DT Thomas Booker, OL Le’Raven Clark, WR Shaq Davis, DT Noah Elliss, S Mekhi Garner, CB Mario Goodrich, WR Jacob Harris, WR Griffin Hebert, DE Tarron Jackson, TE E.J. Jenkins, DE Terrell Lewis, S Tristin McCollum, CB Tiawan Mullen, WR Joseph Ngata, RB Lew Nichols, G Jason Poe, LB Brandon Smith, OL Lecitus Smith, OL Brett Toth, WR Austin Watkins
Washington Commanders
- WR Brycen Tremayne
Falcons Interview Eagles’ Brian Johnson For HC Job
Brian Johnson has now received three interview requests about head coaching jobs, moving from quarterbacks coach to this position in a year’s time. The Falcons announced Thursday they interviewed the first-year Eagles OC for their HC position.
This does come amid rumors Johnson is not certain to keep his own job after Philadelphia’s late-season swoon. The Eagles have not committed to retaining Nick Sirianni as head coach, and even if the NFC championship-winning HC does stay, he could have two new coordinators in place for the 2024 season.
While it was easy to see the Eagles would have another new defensive coordinator next season, Johnson’s unit began to unravel in the 2023 campaign’s final weeks. This culminated in the team’s ugly loss to the Buccaneers on Monday night. Jalen Hurts entered the Philly-Tampa Bay game frustrated about the state of the offense. Hurts’ lengthy pre-Philadelphia history with Johnson, due to the latter being coached by Hurts’ father in high school, only made the Eagles’ offensive swoon stranger. The team undeniably missed Shane Steichen this season, though the drop-off on offense — third to seventh in scoring — was not nearly as visible as what took place post-Jonathan Gannon on defense.
The Falcons join the Panthers and Titans in being interested in Johnson, who just completed his third season as an NFL assistant. Dak Prescott‘s former QBs coach at Mississippi State, Johnson used the Florida OC position as a platform to land with the Eagles in 2021. Even with his position in Philly unstable, Johnson is receiving his first ride on the HC carousel.
Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how Atlanta’s Arthur Smith replacement effort looks:
- Bill Belichick, former head coach (Patriots): To conduct second interview
- Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/13
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed 1/14
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Interviewed 1/16
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Brian Johnson, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/12
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/20
- Antonio Pierce, interim head coach (Raiders): Interview requested
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach (Ravens): Interviewed 1/14
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/13
49ers LT Trent Williams To Play In 2024
Coming after a 2019 standoff led to a messy Washington exit, Trent Williams‘ San Francisco years have swung the door wide open for Hall of Fame enshrinement. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle is not leaving fans in suspense about his 2024 plans, either.
Williams considered retirement after the 2023 season, but the 14th-year blocker has already guaranteed he will be back next season. Williams said he will “100%” play in 2024, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes. The contract Williams agreed to in 2021 runs through 2026.
The 2020 trade to the 49ers has rejuvenated Williams, who posted his third straight first-team All-Pro honor this season. Joe Staley‘s left tackle successor now has 11 Pro Bowls, which ties some legendary NFL figures for the tackle record.
Hall of Famers Anthony Muñoz, Jonathan Ogden and Willie Roaf also received 11 such honors. A 12th such nod represents one of the reasons Williams, 35, is committing to returning, with a record 12th invite being “a big thing” for the ex-Washington draftee. While Williams did not play in 2019, he has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past 11 years in which he suited up.
The 49ers went 13-3 in games Brock Purdy started; two of the three losses came with Williams sidelined due to injury. He earned first-team All-Pro honors once again upon return, helping drive the 49ers to a seven-game win streak that secured them the NFC’s No. 1 seed. With the teams perceived all season long as their top NFC threats — Dallas, Philadelphia — eliminated, Williams has his best shot to play in his first Super Bowl.
San Francisco has geared its O-line around Williams, who represents the only expensive piece on this front. The team let five-year right tackle Mike McGlinchey walk in free agency, with Williams and Jake Brendel surrounded by rookie-contract cogs or low-cost veterans. Williams signed a six-year, $138MM deal as a free agent in 2021, exploring the market before agreeing to re-sign with the 49ers. That agreement has been vital for San Francisco, which has turned the 2022 draft’s Mr. Irrelevant into an All-Pro quarterback.
Williams said in September his newfound goal will be to play until his age-40 season, though a proclamation after a 17-game season obviously carries more weight regarding a player’s future. The 2010 first-round pick is tied to a $20.1MM base salary in 2024, but with a cap hit skyrocketing from $12.6MM in 2023 to $31.6MM in ’24, it should be expected the 49ers go with a restructure ahead of Williams’ 15th season.
Browns To Interview Seahawks’ Andy Dickerson For OC
As the Browns begin their search to replace Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator, they are one of the many teams preparing to interview a former Sean McVay assistant.
Andy Dickerson, who finished his second season as the Seahawks’ offensive line coach, is set to interview for the Browns’ OC post, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets. Dickerson has coached under Shane Waldron in Seattle for the past three seasons, moving up to O-line coach in 2022. He spent the previous nine years with the Rams, however. Dickerson is the first known candidate for Cleveland’s OC job, which had been Alex Van Pelt‘s for four years.
McVay kept Dickerson aboard from the Jeff Fisher years, with the veteran coach in place since the Fisher-Les Snead partnership formed in St. Louis back in 2012. Dickerson provided rare continuity in an assistant O-line coach for the Rams, being with the team during Steven Jackson‘s final seasons as the team’s starting back through Todd Gurley‘s ascent. He was in place when the Rams ventured to Super Bowl LIII but left with Waldron to work under Pete Carroll in 2021.
Dickerson’s first season as Seattle’s O-line coach, 2022, featured a historically rare experiment that featured two rookie tackles. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas helped Geno Smith to Comeback Player of the Year honors and Kenneth Walker make a rookie-year impact for a surprising playoff team. Injuries affected the Seahawks’ O-line this past season, which produced the same 9-8 record. But the season can be labeled a disappointment given the resources the team put into this year’s squad.
Carroll’s ouster led the Seahawks to greenlight its staffers permission to interview elsewhere without the threat of being blocked. That would not apply to any Dickerson OC interview, however, as this is a move up the ladder. That said, the Browns are looking for a non-play-calling OC, as Kevin Stefanski will stay in place to call the shots in 2024. But the team is seeking new ideas on offense ahead of Deshaun Watson‘s third season running the show.
Chargers Interview David Shaw For HC
The Chargers’ HC candidate list has expanded to 15 names. This now includes former Stanford coach David Shaw, who was in Los Angeles interviewing for the Bolts’ position Thursday.
Although Shaw has not coached in the NFL since 2005 and did not coach during the 2023 season, he spent 12 years as the Cardinal’s head coach. The Pac-12 program dismissed the successful HC following the 2022 campaign, but Shaw has still been on NFL radars. He interviewed with the Broncos last year.
NFL teams must interview two external minority candidates to comply with the Rooney Rule, but the Chargers had already done so by meeting with Leslie Frazier, Raiders DC Patrick Graham and 49ers DC Steve Wilks. Rams DC Raheem Morris is set to interview with the Bolts on Friday, while Lions DC Aaron Glenn received an interview request as well. Shaw is the sixth Black candidate to either meet with the Bolts or receive a slip.
Shaw, 51, is a San Diego native who coached in the NFL — with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens — from 1997-2005. Shaw spent four seasons in Baltimore before becoming a Jim Harbaugh assistant at the University of San Diego and then Stanford. After Harbaugh left for the 49ers, Shaw took over in Palo Alto and went 96-54, coaching superstars Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey. Shaw’s pro-style offense has attracted NFL interest in the past.
Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Chargers’ search looks as of Thursday afternoon:
- Bill Belichick, former head coach (Patriots): Rumored candidate
- Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/16
- Leslie Frazier, former defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/14
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/11
- Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15-16
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/20; mutual interest?
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/13
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/12
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To interview 1/19
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/9
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): To interview 1/19
- David Shaw, former head coach (Stanford): Interviewed 1/18
- Giff Smith, interim head coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/9
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): To interview 1/18
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/13
Kliff Kingsbury, Marcus Brady, Zac Robinson On Bears’ OC Radar
Kliff Kingsbury spent this season out of the NFL, returning to the college ranks after his Cardinals ouster. The Bears are interested in gauging his credentials for their newly vacated offensive coordinator gig.
The USC assistant is expected to interview for the Chicago opening, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Kingsbury has never been an NFL coordinator, though he spent four seasons as the Cards’ HC. Additionally, the Bears requested an OC meeting with Eagles assistant Marcus Brady, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Brady spent two seasons as Colts OC under Frank Reich.
With Caleb Williams potentially Chicago-bound, the Kingsbury fit would certainly be interesting. Kingsbury joined Lincoln Riley’s staff ahead of Williams’ final Trojans season, serving as the Pac-12 program’s quarterbacks coach. The familiarity gained would be of interest to a Bears team — perhaps even as an additional Williams scouting mission.
Although Kingsbury is the bigger name here, Brady and Matt Eberflus have more history. Both were assistants under Reich from 2018-21. The 2021 season involved Brady, who replaced Nick Sirianni as Indianapolis’ OC, and Eberflus in place as Reich’s coordinators.
The Reich coaching tree has taken a hit this year, seeing as Reich himself has been fired during the past two seasons and Sirianni’s Eagles completing one of the most shocking freefalls in recent memory. But Eberflus received a third year with the Bears, showing improvement down the stretch. He should be expected to meet with Brady, who spent this season as a senior offensive assistant in Philly. Brady has not yet called plays in the NFL, with Reich holding that responsibility throughout his Colts tenure.
Kingsbury, 43, guided a Cardinals team down J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins to the playoffs in 2021. But cracks in Arizona’s foundation became glaringly apparent a year later. Kingsbury-Kyler Murray discord emerged, and the Cardinals’ offense — already reliant on shorter passes — took a step back in a 4-13 campaign that ended with Murray on the shelf with a torn ACL and Kingsbury fired months after he had inked an extension. The Cards ranked 21st offensively in 2022 but finished 13th and 11th in 2020 and ’21, respectively. Kingsbury was believed to be rejecting OC meetings last year, though he did end up in Houston to discuss the Texans’ play-calling job that went to Bobby Slowik.
Returning to the college level, Kingsbury coached Williams to another strong season. Although Williams was not on the Heisman radar in 2023, he topped his Heisman-year numbers in yards per attempt and completion percentage. The Trojans also finished third in scoring nationally, matching their place from 2022.
Additionally, the Bears scheduled an OC interview with Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Robinson, 37, has been on Sean McVay’s Rams staff for the past five years. Four of those, including the team’s Super Bowl-winning year, have come coaching QBs. Losing OC Kevin O’Connell in 2022, McVay elevated Robinson to QBs coach; he had been L.A.’s assistant QBs coach in 2021. The Rams went outside the organization to replace Liam Coen as OC, hiring Mike LaFleur, but Robinson remained onboard as QBs coach.
The Bears, who essentially have a Williams-or-Justin Fields decision looming, is Kingsbury’s first connection to another NFL job. Here is how their OC chase looks so far:
- Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
- Thomas Brown, offensive coordinator (Panthers): To interview
- Liam Coen, offensive coordinator (Kentucky): To interview
- Kliff Kingsbury, quarterbacks coach (USC): To interview
- Greg Olson, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/12
- Zac Robinson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/18
- Greg Roman, former offensive coordinator (Ravens): To interview
- Shane Waldron, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interview requested
Bears’ Jaylon Johnson Seeking To Become Highest-Paid CB
No updates to the cornerback AAV hierarchy came this past offseason. Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM-per-year Packers contract, agreed to in 2022, remains atop the position. Jaylon Johnson wants to change that.
Although Johnson’s trajectory reminds more of Josh Norman‘s in Carolina, with a monster contract year changing the equation, the Bears corner will reenter extension negotiations with a lofty expectation. The four-year Chicago starter believes he deserves to become the NFL’s highest-paid corner.
“Going into the negotiation, I don’t think it’s too much really to talk about. I feel like there’s no reason I can’t be the highest-paid corner in the league,” Johnson said during an interview with Fox Sports’ Keyshawn Johnson (via NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock). “I feel like that’s what I’m aiming for; that’s what I’m shooting for; that’s what I think can be done and should be done.
The Bears and Johnson were unable to come to terms on an extension before the trade deadline, leading to GM Ryan Poles making the former second-round pick available in trades. Chicago aimed for a first- or second-round pick for the late-blooming defender; that price will probably come up when the sides return to the negotiating table. Still, Johnson’s second-contract aspiration will probably lead to the franchise tag being unholstered.
“I feel like I’ve had a good enough resume from my rookie year until now,” Johnson said. “I feel like really this was just the icing on the cake. I feel like there’s not anything anybody can say. I took the ball away; I got All-Pro; I got Pro Bowl. I mean, what else is there for me to get? I feel like I’m very deserving of the highest paid at the position.
“I’m going to go in and the ball is really in my court. I’m just going to wait for them and come to terms on it and hopefully it’s what I feel I’m deserving of.”
A tag, which would cost Chicago around $18MM, makes more sense than a market-topping extension. While Johnson did earn Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors this season, his resume coming into the seminal contract year does not match up with his 2023 work. Pro Football Focus graded Johnson first overall among corners, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics backed that up. After allowing passer ratings (as the closest defender) north of 94 from 2020-22, Johnson checked in with a 50.9 number this season — a four-INT slate. The sudden performance uptick would point to a “prove it” year, should the 24-year-old cover man stick to his guns.
The Bears becoming the first team to use a franchise tag on a corner since the 2017 Rams (Trumaine Johnson) would give them until mid-July to work out an extension. The Panthers tagged Norman in 2016, eventually rescinding the tag and leading him to a record-setting deal with Washington. Although Jaylon Johnson said at multiple points last year he wants to stay in Chicago, he likely will not have a choice. The Bears having the tag as leverage would stand to ensure, barring a tag-and-trade scenario, Johnson would play the 2024 season in the Windy City.
Teams Interested In Ron Rivera; Two-Time HC Not Intending To Retire
Ron Rivera‘s second coaching stint did not go as well as his first. Washington did not finish over .500 in any of his four seasons, and the well-liked HC once again found himself on the outs after a new owner took over.
The former Panthers HC became one of the easiest firings to predict in many years, with Josh Harris allowing him to fire DC Jack Del Rio and coach out the season. Unlike Frank Reich, who is likely to retire, Rivera wants to coach again. After spending the past 13 seasons as a head coach, Rivera said he has options for 2024.
An HC path does not appear to exist for Rivera, but the 62-year-old coach said (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) he has “several opportunities” but is determining the right one. Rivera confirmed he has spoken with multiple teams, but with seven clubs still searching for head coaches, it is still early in terms of staff openings. No HC or coordinator interview requests have come in for Rivera yet, but plenty of opportunities will soon open up. A senior defensive assistant-type role also could be in the cards.
Before Rivera became a head coach, he spent time as a defensive coordinator. He attracted HC interest after overseeing the Chargers’ defense from 2008-10; the ’10 unit ranked first overall. An ex-Bears linebacker, Rivera worked as Lovie Smith‘s DC from 2004-06, finishing out his second Chicago tenure in Super Bowl XLI. Rivera has been an NFL coach since 1997, beginning his run as a position coach in Andy Reid‘s first Eagles season (1999). Ex-Rivera coordinators Sean McDermott and Steve Wilks reside in prominent positions as well, forming potential landing spots.
Rivera received considerable power in Washington. The team gave him personnel authority to start his tenure, not hiring a GM for a year after its HC hire. Del Rio called defensive signals throughout his tenure, however, leaving Rivera as a CEO coach. Washington has since proceeded to prioritize its president of football operations position, which went to Adam Peters. Rivera prefers the GM-centric model Harris and Co. have launched.
“I would’ve loved a different model just because, in hindsight, now you really see how much more time you spend on personnel and as a coach, that’s not necessarily what you want to do,” Rivera said, via Keim. “What I really enjoyed more than anything else the last five weeks was just being right in the middle of everything. Now your only focus is just that one thing. That’s what you do; you want to teach.”
Regarding the Commanders’ on-field approach, Rivera second-guessed his Sam Howell strategy. The Commanders heaped praise upon the 2022 fifth-round pick during the ’23 offseason, starting it last January. Rivera proceeded this way despite the North Carolina alum effectively redshirting as a rookie before playing in the season finale. While Rivera still views Howell as a starter-caliber QB, he regrets anointing him early. That made it rather easy to predict the winner of the faux competition that formed between Howell and free agent pickup Jacoby Brissett.
“I took a big gamble. I put a lot on Sam, and I probably shouldn’t have put as much pressure on him, and I think that was probably one of the mistakes I made this year,” Rivera said. “He didn’t deserve to have that put on him. He’s a good young quarterback, has some talent and some ability and I think that’s something I should have backed off on.
“I should have kept emphasizing he was going to be the guy that got the first opportunity … just phrasing it that way would’ve taken a lot of pressure off of him, just kind of that he hadn’t been anointed.”
Howell’s starter season produced Washington’s first wire-to-wire QB starter since Kirk Cousins in 2017, but a lengthy losing streak secured the 4-13 Commanders the No. 2 overall pick. It should be expected the team will look closely into this year’s QB class, with mock drafts already sending Howell’s Tar Heels successor — Drake Maye — to the nation’s capital.
Broncos Eyeing Patrick Surtain Extension, Unlikely To Spend Big In Free Agency
Although Patrick Surtain did not repeat his first-team All-Pro performance from 2022, the standout Broncos cornerback earned his second Pro Bowl nod. As expected, the Broncos kept Surtain out of trades at the deadline. The next step — once Surtain’s fifth-year option is exercised — would be an extension.
The Broncos sound interested in that coming to fruition at some point, with GM George Paton indicating (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) the team wants the third-year corner in Denver for a long time. Surtain became extension-eligible last week, though the fifth-year option buys the Broncos another year.
The cornerback salary ceiling still sits at $21MM (Jaire Alexander), but with the cap back on a steady climb and young corners like Surtain and Sauce Gardner immediately establishing themselves as top-tier talents, $25MM per year is probably a better projection for where the top CB salary will be by the time these two land extensions. Gardner does not become eligible for a new deal until 2025, but Surtain has become the Broncos’ defensive centerpiece.
Teams generally wait until Year 5 to extend first-rounders, due to the option, but the Broncos are in an atypical situation. Their expected Russell Wilson post-June 1 cut designation will produce a larger cap hit in 2025 compared to 2024, with the total package coming to $84.6MM in dead cap. That record-shattering figure will complicate matters for the Broncos, who will have Surtain undoubtedly eyeing CB-record money when talks begin.
The Broncos extended Chris Harris and signed Aqib Talib, but their last brush with top-tier CB money came when they extended Champ Bailey after acquiring him 20 years ago. Surtain is closer to Bailey’s trajectory compared to Denver’s recent CB All-Pros, pointing to a monster extension either this year or next. Denver would also have the franchise tag at its disposal in 2026, when the Wilson contractual damage is projected to be finished.
As for this year, the Broncos are not expected to be big spenders. After splurging for Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and Zach Allen on Day 1 of the 2023 legal tampering period, Denver will be restricted by both the Wilson contract — which would call for $35MM in 2024 dead money — and its limited cap space. Paton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the team will not be in on the first wave of free agency come March. The team currently features the NFL’s fifth-worst 2024 cap situation, though it is poised to enter the draft with a first-round pick for the first time since 2021, when Surtain arrived at No. 9 overall. The Broncos hold the No. 12 pick.
Additionally, free agents-to-be Josey Jewell and P.J. Locke would prefer to stay in Denver, Tomasson adds. Jewell played out a two-year, $11MM deal and has now started 58 games since being chosen in the 2018 second round. Locke ended up usurping Kareem Jackson to become a starting safety, making an impact as a blitzer during Denver’s five-game win streak. Jewell and Locke, a former UDFA, could see their statuses complicated by other contracts at their respective positions. Justin Simmons is attached to a $15.25MM-per-year deal, though that through-2024 pact contains no more guaranteed money, while Denver gave top tackler Alex Singleton a three-year accord worth $18MM in 2023.
The Broncos stood pat at the trade deadline, but Jewell’s name may have come up. The Cowboys targeted linebacking help last October, and ESPN.com’s Ed Werder notes they discussed a deal with the Broncos. It is not known if Jewell or Singleton was Dallas’ target, though the former was in a contract year. The Cowboys later pursued Shaquille Leonard, seeing him sign with the Eagles. Jewell and Singleton have been the Broncos’ ILB starters for two seasons.