Latest On Buccaneers, Todd Bowles
Losing at home to the Saints in Week 17, the Buccaneers still have the inside track to win a third straight NFC South crown. They can clinch the NFC’s No. 4 seed by beating the 2-14 Panthers. Should that not occur, Todd Bowles may be out of a job.
Bucs ownership has been looking into options at head coach for weeks, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, who points Bowles not being a lock to return even if the team does hold off its rivals and advances to the postseason. A one-sided wild-card loss would put Bowles in jeopardy of being fired a week after Black Monday.
No coach has been let go following back-to-back playoff berths since the Broncos replaced John Fox with Gary Kubiak following the 2014 season, which ended with a divisional-round upset against the Colts. The Bucs made a similar change weeks after a divisional-round exit 2022, but while some classified Bruce Arians‘ mid-offseason retirement as a Tom Brady power play, the veteran HC repeatedly insisted that was not the case. But firing a coach after a playoff berth is not common ground in recent NFL history. No coach has been canned firing a playoff appearance since the Titans axed Mike Mularkey following the 2017 team’s divisional-round voyage.
Of course, should Bowles hold serve and guide his team to win over Carolina, this would not be akin to the Fox ouster. The Broncos had won at least 12 games from 2012-14; the Bucs will close out back-to-back seasons with fewer than 10 victories. They are the odds-on favorite to win a bad division for the second straight year. Bowles received four years with the Jets, going 34-34 from 2015-18. A win Sunday would put him at .500 through two years in Tampa (17-17) as well.
Bowles, 60, oversaw one of the most dominant defensive efforts in Super Bowl history, as the Bucs held the high-octane Chiefs offense without a touchdown, and was a sought-after DC candidate back in 2019. He oversaw a disappointing 2022 season in Brady’s finale, firing several assistants — including OC Byron Leftwich — at season’s end.
This year’s team started 3-1 but slunk to 4-7. After four straight wins, the Bucs fell behind 17-0 in a loss to the Saints that left their playoff hopes in doubt. The Panthers matchup doubles as a must-win for the Bucs, and it may well become a must for Bowles as well. This is certainly an unstable time for the NFC South; rumblings about the job security of Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen have come up weeks after the Panthers canned Frank Reich.
Should Tampa Bay move on, it could also complicate Baker Mayfield‘s status with the team. A shift to a new HC could mean a new offensive play-caller, with Dave Canales in limbo without Bowles; that might mean a pivot at quarterback as well. The Bucs firing GM Jason Licht, rumored last month, would further complicate a Mayfield return, La Canfora posits. As of now, Mayfield and the Bucs have mutual interest in a second contract. The former No. 1 overall pick would be an interesting free agent, being set to carry more value than he did last year, if the Bucs let him reach the market.
Staff Rumors: Commanders, Smith, Falcons, Bears, Pierce, Raiders, Giants
Among head coaches, Ron Rivera resides as the only true lock to be fired following Week 18. The Commanders‘ new ownership injects mystery into the upcoming search. Josh Harris has been rumored to be intrigued by a setup in which a football operations president-type figure oversees a GM and head coach, and SI.com’s Albert Breer further points to the owner being unlikely to hand the keys to a high-powered HC. Like Bill Belichick, Breer considers Jim Harbaugh an unlikely candidate in Washington. It is not known if Belichick would require personnel control if he ends up elsewhere, but Harbaugh having the leverage of more Michigan extension offers, it is expected the hard-edged HC would need significant input on the personnel front if he were to return to the NFL. So far, the Chargers have been the team most closely linked to luring him back.
Additionally, Breer notes Harris is intrigued by how the Eagles and Ravens’ power structures are set up. The Commanders hired ex-Ravens analytics staffer Eugene Shen as senior VP of football strategy in the fall. While the Eagles lost four staffers to assistant GM roles in 2022, the Ravens have a GM candidate in player personnel director Joe Hortiz. Baltimore’s OC-DC tandem — Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald — is expected to generate HC interest as well.
Going into Week 18, here is the latest from staffs around the NFL:
- With the Falcons on the doorstep of a third straight 7-10 season, Arthur Smith‘s job status has come up frequently. Vacillating back and forth between being fired or becoming the rare HC to be given a fourth year despite three straight losing seasons, Smith was not exactly given a vote of confidence by Arthur Blank. But the longtime Falcons owner is not believed to be actively seeking changes, per Breer, making it sound like the hope is for Smith and GM Terry Fontenot to show enough to stay on. A one-sided loss to the Saints may well change Blank’s mind. The Falcons can win the NFC South by beating the Saints and the Buccaneers — who also have a coach on the hot seat — losing to the Panthers.
- Ryan Poles is believed to have a good relationship with new Bears president Kevin Warren, being expected to stay on for a third year as GM. Prior to the Bears‘ rout of the Falcons, Matt Eberflus was linked to being in good standing for a third HC season. While expecting both to stay, Breer notes neither Bears power broker has been assured of a return. Warren has been a wild card in this scenario since he was hired, and the former Big Ten commissioner did not confirm publicly when asked Friday (via the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley) if Eberflus would be retained. Eberflus is 10-23 as Bears HC, but the team — which has a rather important quarterback decision to make soon — is 7-5 over its past 12.
- Raiders leaders Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby and Josh Jacobs would back the retention of interim HC Antonio Pierce, but Mark Davis is believed to be aiming higher. After all, Pierce — who resigned his two-year post as Arizona State DC in 2022 — has far less experience than Raiders DC Patrick Graham. But Pierce’s knowledge of the Raiders’ culture and history does appeal to Davis, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com writes, noting these factors matter considerably to the second-generation owner. No team has bumped an interim leader to the full-time post since the Jaguars elevated Doug Marrone in 2017.
- Giants running backs coach Jeff Nixon is set for a responsibility jump; it will come at the college level. Syracuse hired Nixon as its offensive coordinator Friday. Nixon was in his first season as Giants RBs coach; he had served under Matt Rhule at Baylor and with the Panthers. The Giants hired Nixon last year to replace DeAndre Smith, who left to take the same position with the Colts.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/24
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Placed on IR: CB Daryl Worley
- Elevated: DB Andrew Adams, TE Ben Mason
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: RB Xazavian Valladay
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Myles Jack, S Eric Rowe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Waived: DL Deadrin Senat
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, CB Kendall Fuller, CB Christian Holmes
- Signed from practice squad: DT Abdullah Anderson, DT Benning Potoa’e, CB Nick Whiteside
A knee injury will send Fuller to IR, potentially wrapping the veteran cornerback’s second stint in Washington. The 2016 third-round pick, sent to Kansas City in the Alex Smith trade, returned in 2020 on a four-year, $40MM deal. With the Commanders having already fired Jack Del Rio and being set to clean house following their season finale, the 28-year-old corner could be headed elsewhere in free agency.
Worley has played 124 defensive snaps for the Ravens this season, starting two games. This will be the eighth-year corner’s second IR placement this season. If the Ravens qualify for Super Bowl LVIII, they would be eligible to activate Worley a second time. (Baltimore has four IR activations remaining, though one may need to be saved in case Mark Andrews can come back.) Worley is dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries.
Browns Place LB Anthony Walker On IR
After going week to week with Anthony Walker, the Browns will give his roster spot to someone else. Out for the past three games following arthroscopic knee surgery, Walker is now on IR.
Barring the Browns making their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, the veteran linebacker is done for the season. Although Walker has missed time already, his IR clock — mandating a four-game absence — begins in Week 18. The Browns signed defensive end Sam Kamara from their practice squad to fill Walker’s roster spot.
Knee scopes have offered players the chance to return after short- or medium-term hiatuses for a while, but the team evidently deemed Walker’s return timetable as lengthy enough a playoff comeback was not guaranteed. Walker started all 12 games he played for the Browns this season, his third with the team.
Walker joins Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod and Maurice Hurst Jr. as Browns defensive regulars on IR. Offensively, Cleveland has dealt with far more obstacles. Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones are on the Browns’ injured list. Delpit has a chance to return in the playoffs, but the rest of this lot will not come suit up again before September.
This is familiar territory for Walker, who ended last season on IR as well. The former Colts draftee suffered a torn quad tendon in September 2022. As part of a decent linebacker-retention effort, the Browns re-signed Walker on a one-year, $1.23MM deal. Cleveland also brought back Sione Takitaki, who has seen more playing time alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah since Walker’s latest injury. Walker posted 113 tackles for the Browns in 2021; he heads to IR with 44 stops, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries this season. Pro Football Focus rates Walker 31st among linebacker regulars.
On a more positive note, Kevin Stefanski said Ogbo Okoronkwo could return to action despite suffering what was initially believed to be a season-ending pectoral injury. The rotational edge rusher has missed the past three games, but after additional testing, the Browns did not place the free agency pickup on IR. Okoronkwo has tallied 4.5 sacks and a career-high 12 tackles for loss during his first season in Cleveland.
NFC North Notes: Bears, CJGJ, Vikings
The last time an NFL team used a franchise tag on a cornerback, the Bears were planning a Jay Cutler-to-Mike Glennon QB transition. Occurring back in 2017, Rams’ second Trumaine Johnson tag remains the most recent instance of a team tagging a corner. Mentioned as a possibility here when the Bears let Jaylon Johnson seek a trade, the contract-year defender being tagged adds up now that Montez Sweat is locked down via an extension. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs views it as likely the Bears tag Johnson to give them more time to work out an extension.
Receiving his first Pro Bowl invite this week, Johnson has put together a quality contract season — one he acknowledges has made him more money on his second contract. Johnson said in June he wanted that second accord to be with the Bears and reiterated that stance last month. Although the prospect of reaching free agency would understandably appeal to the former second-round pick, the Bears — the most recent team to use any tag on a cornerback, transition-tagging Kyle Fuller in 2018 — can keep Johnson in the fold via a one-year rental or attempt to hammer out an extension by the July deadline. The cornerback tag is expected to cost just more than $18MM.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- The Bears’ plan to move Cody Whitehair back to center did not take off. Snapping issues plagued the veteran, while Pro Football Focus rates 2022 free agency pickup Lucas Patrick 31st among centers this season. Chicago is expected to pursue a center upgrade this year, Biggs notes, with The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain also predicting the team will aim to stabilize this spot (subscription required). Whitehair, 30, profiles as a cut candidate; he is due a nonguaranteed $10.15MM base salary in his 2024 contract year. Patrick has one game left on a two-year, $8MM deal. The Bears have some wiggle room here, with three starting O-linemen — Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Darnell Wright — on rookie contracts. A handful of teams re-signed centers in 2023, but four-year starters Tyler Biadasz (Cowboys) and Lloyd Cushenberry (Broncos) are two months from free agency. Three-year Raiders center Andre James is as well.
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson‘s return from a torn pec will give the Lions an unexpected boost for their playoff journey. It also could disrupt the team’s secondary. Ifeatu Melifonwu has been effective since usurping Tracy Walker as a starter alongside Kerby Joseph. The Lions initially stationed Gardner-Johnson in the slot, where he previously played under ex-Saints DBs coach Aaron Glenn, but the Lions DC moved him back to safety to accommodate rookie Brian Branch. Glenn said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) the team is still determining its DB plan but confirmed Branch will remain the team’s slot corner. A safety rotation, then, seems likely to commence. Designated for return from IR last week, Gardner-Johnson is expected to return in Week 18.
- Danielle Hunter maxed out his incentive package this season, with the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling noting the contract-year Vikings defender collected $3MM by reaching the 14-sack plateau. Positioning himself to do well as a first-time free agent, Hunter has registered a career-high 15.5 sacks. On what could be his final Vikings restructure, the 29-year-old edge rusher received $17MM guaranteed and added $3MM in incentives this season. This latest reworking prevents Hunter from being tagged this year, and the Vikings would be hit with a $14.9MM dead-money charge if they cannot re-sign their top sack artist the 2024 league year.
- In the strange position of seeing both its top free agents-to-be — Hunter and Kirk Cousins — not profile as tag candidates (due to Cousins having already been tagged twice by Washington), Minnesota has big decisions to make soon. Cousins is at least ahead of schedule on his Achilles rehab odyssey, Goessling adds. Cousins, 35, should be expected back for training camp at the latest and has expressed continued interest in another Vikings contract. If the Vikings cannot re-sign Cousins by March 13 — the last day of the 2023 league year — they will face a $28.5MM dead-money total due to the void years in the leverage maven’s contract.
Joe Flacco Aiming To Play Two More Seasons
Joe Flacco will have a chance to start in a playoff game for the first time since a Ravens-Patriots divisional-round matchup nine years ago. This improbable development already had the 38-year-old quarterback planning to suit up in 2024; this stunning re-emergence also looks to be pointing the QB toward an age-40 season.
Considering Flacco was out of football from the time his most recent Jets contract expired in March until a Browns search — in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury — led to a free agency addition, it is borderline shocking the former Ravens mainstay will be suiting up at all in a playoff game. But he now has designs on playing through the 2025 season, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes.
It should be considered a bit early to guarantee Flacco — a backup from 2020-22 after suffering injuries in 2018 and ’19 — can be a viable option through an age-40 season. Several passers have reached that point throughout NFL history. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Vinny Testaverde operated as regular starters past 40 this century, while Josh McCown, Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell, Brad Johnson, Doug Flutie and Warren Moon played into their 40s since 2000. Aaron Rodgers turned 40 last month but saw his comeback from Achilles surgery fall short; the Jets QB is signed through 2024 and joins Flacco in aiming to play through 2025.
Going on a 4-1 march with Flacco as their starter, the Browns are interested in having Flacco back for his age-39 season. With Watson coming back, that would be an interesting dynamic. While Flacco has impressed as a fill-in starter, teams have viewed him as a backup since a neck injury ended his Broncos season in 2019. Flacco signed to back up Sam Darnold in 2020 and agreed to be the Eagles’ QB2 behind Jalen Hurts in 2021, being traded back to the Jets to play behind Zach Wilson.
No one was especially interested in Flacco this year, but he has probably changed that conversation for 2024. Injuries to starters across the league could result in clubs placing a higher priority on backups come March, and Flacco will join the likes of Darnold, Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota among possible bridge or QB2 options who could fare decently in free agency. Breer estimates Flacco could command around $10MM per year, particularly if a team authorizes a two-year contract. He played for $1.5MM in 2020 and $3.5MM in each of the past two years.
If Flacco’s price creeps toward the eight-figure-AAV range, it is conceivable the Browns would pass due to the Watson commitment. Flacco did decline offers to join other teams’ 53-man rosters while on Cleveland’s practice squad, prioritizing fit at this stage of his career. It will be interesting to see how the 16th-year veteran’s market looks come March; his postseason start will help determine what kind of offers come in for a player essentially discarded last year.
Iowa CB Cooper DeJean Declares For Draft
Teams that have taken cornerbacks early in the first round have benefited tremendously in recent years. Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain have become early All-Pros, while Derek Stingley has been central to the Texans’ resurgence. Devon Witherspoon has made an impact in Seattle, making the Pro Bowl in Year 1.
This draft strategy obviously is not bulletproof, but teams eyeing an early-draft CB investment will have an option in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. The junior Hawkeyes corner announced he will enter the 2024 draft. DeJean sits 14th on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board, slotted as the top draft-eligible cornerback.
Teaming with 2023 Broncos third-round pick Riley Moss in 2022, DeJean intercepted five passes that season and returned three of those picks for touchdowns. This season, the 6-foot-1 cover man sustained what the team called a lower-leg injury in practice. This occurred back in mid-November, and it sidelined DeJean for the rest of his final college season. Assuming DeJean can bounce back from that during pre-draft preparation, the former four-star recruit will be a good bet to become a first-round pick.
The Iowa native has shown the ability to play outside and in the slot in college, which would certainly be of interest to a team in an era that has seen the role of the slot corner role exponentially. He spent two seasons as an Iowa starter and operated regularly on punt returns in that span as well. DeJean returned a punt for a touchdown against Michigan State this season, after averaging 16.5 yards per punt return as a sophomore (on just 10 returns).
The Hawkeyes have made a noticeable imprint on the NFL in recent years. Lukas Van Ness, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta went off last year’s draft board in the top 34. Van Ness and Campbell followed Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum as Iowa alums chosen in Round 1 this decade. Putting together one of the best seasons by a rookie tight end in NFL history, LaPorta joined Linderbaum and George Kittle as ex-Hawkeyes selected for the Pro Bowl this week.
Dalvin Cook, Ravens Agree To Terms
Rumored as a Dalvin Cook suitor, the Ravens will indeed bring the former Pro Bowler into the fold. Cook is committing to Baltimore, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
Cook commanded considerable interest this offseason, but he struggled with the Jets. The Ravens, however, have lost two key backs for the season. J.K. Dobbins went down in Week 1, while explosive rookie Keaton Mitchell suffered an ACL tear last month. Unclaimed on the waiver wire, Cook will move into position alongside Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. This will be a practice squad agreement to start, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley tweets.
Baltimore has managed to build a strong offense despite key losses. Dobbins has not been available for nearly four months, while Mitchell only played in eight games. The Ravens have also been without Mark Andrews since mid-November. But the 13-3 team has done its best work without this trio, beating the 49ers and Dolphins convincingly over the past two games. Cook will, however, provide intriguing depth. This season’s issues notwithstanding, the former Vikings star does have a long track record of success.
Cook, 28, spent more than two months in free agency following his Vikings release. Countless rumors emerged connecting him to teams, mostly in the AFC East. The Jets beat out the Dolphins for the talented ball carrier, but he did not make much of an impact. Breece Hall was ready to go in Week 1, and the 2022 second-round pick put any timeshare thoughts to bed early. Cook has amassed just 214 yards on 67 carries this season, becoming an afterthought during another disappointing Jets season.
The 67 carries did not exactly add much to Cook’s odometer, and he only took double-digit handoffs in one game (Week 1) this season. That said, his career carry total is over 1,300 now. Cook’s 1,349 career totes rank sixth among active backs. Baltimore now employs two players in that top six, with Melvin Gordon at 1,586. Gordon has not played much of a role with the team this season, totaling 63 yards on 19 carries in three games. Cook may soon leapfrog the ninth-year veteran as well. He will have more than two weeks until Baltimore’s divisional-round game to cram in Todd Monken‘s offense.
Gordon has spent time on Baltimore’s practice squad this season but currently resides on the team’s active roster. Jake Funk and Owen Wright represent the running back contingent on the Ravens’ P-squad. It would seem one of the three non-Edwards-Hill runners would need to go to make room for Cook.
The Jets have seen offensive line injuries impact their offense, and the Aaron Rodgers setback obviously defined Gang Green’s season. Cook has still flashed underwhelming form, especially considering how productive he was in Minnesota. Coming into the season, Cook was the NFL’s only back to total at least 1,100 rushing yards each year from 2019-22. He posted 1,173 yards (4.4 per tote) and eight touchdowns with the Vikings last season, doing so despite a nagging shoulder injury. Cook underwent offseason surgery, though his Twin Cities form has yet to resurface. Last season, Cook also rated in the bottom third in Next Gen Stats’ rushing yards over expected metric.
Unloading Mecole Hardman at the deadline, New York also attempted to trade Cook. The four-time Pro Bowler pursued an exit as well, though he stood down after the deadline. The latter’s $7MM base salary made that difficult, and he continued to languish on the bench as the Jets trudged through another season defined by Zach Wilson‘s failure to develop. The Cowboys explored a potential Cook addition, and the Ravens took a chance on no team claiming Cook’s salary (which amounted to a final game check) on waivers. No one did, and the team that clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed landed him.
Cook played a key role in helping the 2019 Vikings to the divisional round and elevating the ’22 squad to an unexpected NFC North title. The Ravens are highly unlikely to be eyeing Cook as a starter, but the team will explore him as a complementary piece as it attempts to book its first Super Bowl berth in 11 years.
Chargers Continue Jim Harbaugh Prep; Michigan HC Aiming To Land L.A. Job?
Michigan is set to play for a national championship for the first time in the CFP era, defeating Alabama in overtime Monday night. The Wolverines had encountered a rough patch before Jim Harbaugh‘s arrival, but the former Super Bowl HC has them positioned as one of college football’s premier programs. Michigan again looks to be competing with the NFL for its coach’s services.
Specifically, the Chargers loom as an opportunity Harbaugh may covet. While Harbaugh-to-NFL buzz has surfaced over the past two offseasons, the Bolts continue to be connected to their former quarterback. The Chargers-Harbaugh pairing has gained steam recently, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the Bolts have done preliminary homework on the former 49ers HC.
The subject of Harbaugh’s salary ask — potentially around $15MM — could complicate matters for an organization not known for spending big on head coaches, but the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora indicates Harbaugh “badly” wants the Bolts job. Harbaugh interviewed with the Vikings in 2022 and Broncos last year but ended up back at Michigan. The Bolts bring the allure of a prized young quarterback, Justin Herbert, changing the equation. Then again, Harbaugh is not the only coaching candidate who is believed to be drawn to this job.
Lions OC Ben Johnson is believed to have interest, while other coaching agents have pitched their clients to Chargers ownership. The past three Chargers HCs reported to GM Tom Telesco, whom the franchise fired along with Brandon Staley last month. Harbaugh reporting to a GM he does not have a good relationship with might be a non-starter, considering the leverage he holds with Michigan. And a team should probably tread lightly with regards to Harbaugh and a GM — given how the deterioration between the Harbaugh-Trent Baalke relationship derailed that 49ers power structure.
Harbaugh’s success in the pros and in with his alma mater aside, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe notes he is not especially popular among NFL front offices and scouting staffs (subscription required). Questions understandably persist about Harbaugh meshing with a front office. Considering the Chargers’ long-held ownership-GM-HC workflow, this would naturally be an issue. Then again, team president John Spanos has said the organization is not committed to that setup with this next hire. Owner Dean Spanos is aiming at a “reimagining” effort when it comes to the franchise’s decision-making hierarchy. As of now John Spanos operates as a key voice above the GM.
With the Chargers already putting out Harbaugh feelers, it would appear ownership is at least ready to explore this partnership. Michigan has offered Harbaugh multiple extensions recently. One of those, a 10-year proposal, would prevent Harbaugh from exploring NFL opportunities in 2024. But that deal would not restrict the oft-tempted HC from doing so beyond this year. That Wolverines offer is believed to be worth $125MM. A shorter-term Michigan proposal worth around $11MM has also been extended. If the Chargers become serious bidders, Harbaugh may have an interesting decision to make.
The Chargers have opted for first-time HCs with their past three hires (Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, Staley), keeping costs low. They will need to commit much more to their HC job to lure Harbaugh out of Ann Arbor. But the Vikings and Broncos were close to doing so. If Michigan defeats Washington for the title, the embattled HC — who has been twice suspended this season — would have accomplished everything at that level. The NFL would both provide an escape from NCAA punishment relating to the sign-stealing scandal that engulfed Michigan this season and give Harbaugh a second chance at a Super Bowl title.
Herbert’s presence, along with other veteran pieces, also separates the Chargers from the other current openings and those that could potentially emerge within days. The past two offseasons have ended with Harbaugh recommitting to Michigan. His recent issues notwithstanding, the powerhouse program will certainly be interested in keeping him win or lose in the CFP title game.
With Harbaugh not on an NFL staff, the Chargers could interview him earlier than the rest of the crowd. Coaches on NFL staffs must wait until after the divisional round to interview this year. He would also only cost money, whereas the Patriots still look to be hoping to collect an asset for Bill Belichick‘s rights. Harbaugh, 60, also may be viewed internally as a better option than the 71-year-old Patriots HC. The Bolts’ level of interest in the accomplished college candidate will be one of the central storylines to follow as this year’s HC carousel spins.
CeeDee Lamb Seeking To Become NFL’s Highest-Paid WR
Given an expected invite to the Pro Bowl event, CeeDee Lamb is also on course for his initial first-team All-Pro honor. The Cowboys wide receiver has timed his career-best season well, seeing as he will be an extension candidate this coming offseason.
Rumors about the Cowboys extending Lamb early surfaced in 2023, but after neither they nor the Vikings extended their top wideouts, the streak of first-round receivers never being extended with two years of rookie-deal control remaining has reached 10 offseasons in the fifth-year option era. Lamb and Justin Jefferson may soon be linked, however, as their teams reopen negotiations.
Jefferson should be expected to enter the 2024 season as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, but Lamb said Thursday (via the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken) he would ideally secure the NFL’s top WR salary on his second contract. Stating that would be a goal of his “for sure,” Lamb is prepared to discuss an extension with the Cowboys after the season ends. Dallas picked up the 2020 draftee’s fifth-year option, slotting him in at $17.99MM guaranteed for the ’24 season.
While Jefferson stands on his own tier in terms of receiving yards through three seasons, shattering Randy Moss‘ record in that timeframe, Lamb has put together his best season in Year 4. The Oklahoma product, chosen after Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy (but ahead of Jefferson) four years ago, leads the NFL with 122 receptions and has posted a career-high 1,651 yards. Both numbers smash Lamb’s previous career-best figures. Lamb has totaled 12 touchdowns this season, adding two on the ground while amassing 106 rushing yards. He has done just about everything possible to secure a lucrative second contract from the Cowboys.
Of course, Dallas’ payroll looms as a question. For the time being, Dak Prescott is on a $40MM-per-year deal and Micah Parsons his rookie contract. But Prescott is armed with leverage that gives him an excellent opportunity to become the NFL’s highest-paid player. A $60MM-AAV deal, which would top Joe Burrow‘s current league-high salary by a notable margin, is believed to be in play. That will make matters more difficult on the Lamb front, with Parsons also on track for an extension that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. At 24, Lamb is six years younger than Prescott. But the former likely resides as the Cowboys’ No. 3 priority — in the grand scheme — regarding a new contract.
Dallas caved on player-friendly terms for Prescott, eschewing its usual approach for five- or six-year extensions to sign its quarterback just before the 2021 deadline to apply franchise tags. Preventing a $37MM cap hold from going on their 2021 payroll, the Cowboys procedurally tagged Prescott — for the purpose of the QB avoiding a 2025 tag. While Prescott joins Lamb in being signed through 2024, he is effectively finishing out a contract year. Prescott’s 2024 cap number spikes to $59MM. No team has ever gone into a season with a player attached to even a $45MM cap number, giving Prescott tremendous leverage as he closes out a quality bounce-back season.
The Cowboys’ decision to bail on Amari Cooper‘s five-year, $100MM contract has been costly at points, but the team made that move with an eye on Lamb’s future. It would surprise if the Cowboys were suddenly uninterested in extending Lamb, though he did not enter the 2023 season with a realistic chance of becoming the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. His success this season raises the stakes a bit. Although Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase will both be extension-eligible in 2024, Lamb has put together a monster season that could conceivably vault him past Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year number before Week 1 of next season.
The Prescott and Parsons matters provide complications. Parsons can be kept on his rookie contract through 2025, via the fifth-year option. Big picture-wise, having a Prescott-Parsons-Lamb trio each signed to position-record contracts would make it challenging to build a roster around them. This doubles as a good problem for the Cowboys, given the talent at these positions, but it will present an interesting dilemma.