Jaguars Hire Tom Coughlin As Executive VP
The Jaguars are hiring their former head coach Tom Coughlin as their Executive Vice President of Football Operations, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Meanwhile, general manager Dave Caldwell will stay in place thanks to a two-year extension (Twitter link via Mark Long of The Associated Press). It’s a two-year deal for Coughlin, as well, tying all major players to the organization through 2019. 
[RELATED: Jaguars To Hire Doug Marrone As Head Coach]
Coughlin, 71 in August, was a candidate for the team’s head coaching gig in this cycle, but that job went to Doug Marrone earlier today. Most people in their 70s move to Florida for sunshine and golf, but Coughlin doesn’t have much interest in either. When he parted ways with the Giants last year, Coughlin stayed involved in football with a job in the league office. This year, Coughlin was hinting strongly that he wanted to coach again. His age and aggressive style probably hindered him from returning to the sidelines, but he has found a prominent role in an organization he knows well.
While Coughlin doesn’t technically have any experience as an NFL executive, he essentially acted as the Jaguars’ general manager during his head coaching run with the team from 1995-2002.
Jaguars To Hire Doug Marrone As Head Coach
The first head coaching vacancy of this offseason has been filled. The Jaguars are taking the interim tag off of Doug Marrone, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Marrone’s contract will take him through 2019, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Hire Tom Coughlin As Executive VP]
In 2015, Marrone joined Gus Bradley‘s staff as an offensive line coach and assistant head coach. This year, when Bradley was sacked, Marrone was given the interim head coaching title. In those final two weeks of the season, Jacksonville saw enough out of Marrone to give him the real gig.
Marrone found some success as the Bills’ head coach in 2014 when he guided them to a 9-7 record. Instead of building on that progress, he opted out of his contract (and still cashed in on his $4MM guaranteed salary for 2015). Expecting to be a hot candidate for multiple openings, Marrone was undoubtedly disappointed when he was passed on by the Falcons, Bears, Jets, and 49ers. He bided his time in Jacksonville and, after two years, he’s back in the head coaching ranks.
As shown in our 2017 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker, Tom Coughlin, Harold Goodwin, Mike Smith, Josh McDaniels, and Kyle Shanahan, were also interviewed for the job. Anthony Lynn was also expected to interview.
The hiring of Marrone leaves five teams in search of a head coach: the Bills, Broncos, Rams, Chargers, and 49ers.
Todd Haley Open To HC Jobs
Last year, when teams came calling for Todd Haley, he said “Thanks, but no thanks.” This time around, the Steelers offensive coordinator would interview for a head-coaching vacancy, if asked, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. 
[RELATED: Steelers To Franchise Le’Veon Bell, Want To Extend Antonio Brown]
Haley was identified as a potential candidate for the Dolphins early in their search process last year, but his name didn’t surface after that for any openings around the league and that’s presumably because he turned them away. For one reason or another, Haley is now open to a second head coaching stint.
Haley’s first run as a head coach came with the Chiefs. That stint lasted two-and-a-half seasons as KC went 19-26 with one playoff berth. In 2012, Haley joined up with the Steelers and he has restored his image as an offensive guru by steering Ben Roethlisberger & Co. to success, though he does have some of the game’s best weapons at his disposal, including Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
The Steelers take on Haley’s former team, the Chiefs, on Sunday afternoon. If the Steelers have a deep playoff run, it might be a while before Haley can interview. Of course, that’s also a non-issue until a team actually requests and interview with him. So far, to our knowledge, that hasn’t happened in this cycle.
JPP: I Won’t Sign Another One-Year Deal
Last year, Jason Pierre-Paul found that teams were “hesitant” to offer him a long-term deal and he wound up re-signing with the Giants on a one-year pact. Now that he has delivered for two consecutive seasons since damaging his hand in the infamous fireworks accident, the defensive end is not willing to accept another prove-it deal. 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2017 NFL Free Agent Power Rankings]
“I’ve done proved it … There’s not a guy like me doing it with seven-and-a-half fingers,” Pierre-Paul said (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com).
It’s hard to argue. On the year, JPP ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 edge defender, placing him just ahead of the Seahawks’ Michael Bennett, high-priced teammate Olivier Vernon, and a host of other big name players. JPP’s overall score of 86.2 is his best showing since 2012 and it’s clear that he is just as menacing now as he was back when he had all ten digits. This year, JPP had 53 total tackles and seven sacks in just 12 games.
JPP, unfortunately, suffered a groin injury late in the season and was forced to go under the knife in December. The Giants got smoked by the Packers on Sunday, but the veteran says that he would have been able to play had the Giants advanced to the next round (Twitter link).
Pierre-Paul was listed in the honorable mention section of our latest Free Agent Power Rankings. If, as expected, a few players in the top ten re-sign with their respective teams before the start of free agency, JPP is a good bet to make the top ten.
Hue Jackson Pushing Browns To Hire New GM
The Browns have a new defensive coordinator and there could be more major changes coming down the pike. Coach Hue Jackson has “told numerous associates in and out of the Browns organization” that he would campaign for the team to add a new general manager this offseason, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora adds that Jackson has already compiled a list of candidates that he would like to be considered for the position. 
[RELATED: Browns Sign Eight To Reserve/Futures Contracts]
The Browns do not currently have a GM but Sashi Brown – the team’s “Executive Vice President of Football Operations” – acts as the team’s top decision maker for the roster. Reading between the lines, it sounds like Jackson isn’t thrilled with Brown’s work in the first year of their partnership.
No one expected Cleveland to do much in 2016, but everything has to be evaluated after a dismal 1-15 season. Under Brown, Cleveland amassed an impressive pile of draft picks, but Carson Wentz‘s strong rookie year has led many fans to question the decision to trade away the No. 2 overall pick.
If the Browns do pursue a GM, they might have some overlap with the Niners’ search.
Rams Get OK To Interview Texans’ Mike Vrabel
Could Mike Vrabel make the leap from linebackers coach to head coach? The Rams asked for – and received – permission to interview the Texans assistant, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter). The Rams plan to interview Vrabel after the Texans’ game against the Patriots this weekend. 
Last year, the 49ers tried to bring Vrabel aboard as their defensive coordinator, but he turned the gig down. One year later, the hype around Vrabel is still strong, but it is surprising to hear him as (ostensibly) a head coaching consideration. With six years of coaching experience, but none as coordinator, it would be a remarkably bold move for Los Angeles to hire him for the lead role right now.
Vrabel appears to be a longshot for the Rams’ HC job, but with a strong interview it is possible that team brass could keep him in mind for the defensive coordinator role once a head coach is hired. Of course, he turned down a DC job in California one year ago and there’s no guarantee that he’s ready to leave the Texans now.
For a full rundown of every team’s coaching search, check out PFR’s 2017 Head Coaching Search Tracker.
UNC QB Mitch Trubisky To Enter NFL Draft
North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky announced that he is declaring for the NFL Draft. In a piece on The Players Tribune, Trubisky bid farewell to Chapel Hill: 
[RELATED: 2017 NFL Draft Order]
“After a lot of prayer and thought, I have decided to forgo my senior year and enter the NFL draft. This has been the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. But no matter what happens next, I know I’ll never experience something as special as being a Tar Heel,” Trubisky wrote.
This year’s class of quarterbacks is underwhelming, but Trubisky seems to be universally considered as the top signal caller in the crop. Reportedly, he is the only QB that is a first-round lock whereas others like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer are marked for Day 2.
The Browns, who pick No. 1 overall, reportedly “love” the 22-year-old. The Jets, at No. 6, also like the UNC standout, but the 49ers and Bears hold picks in the top five and could target a quarterback.
PFR’s 2017 Free Agent Power Rankings
The regular season is over and, for most teams, the offseason is underway. Here is the latest installment of our 2017 NFL Free Agent Power Rankings, which is comprised only of upcoming unrestricted free agents, and is ranked by projected guaranteed money. In parentheses next to each player, you’ll find their position in the November edition of the rankings. For more, check out our master list of all 2017 free agents.
1. Kirk Cousins, QB (1): In 2015, Cousins established himself as a solid NFL quarterback. That summer, the Redskins told Cousins they wanted him to prove it all over again before giving him a monster contract. Cousins was happy to oblige and he has now increased his value even further. After a so-so start to 2016 season, Cousins closed out strong to finish as Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 ranked QB, putting him ahead of notables such as Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill, Andy Dalton, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, and Philip Rivers. All of those players have gotten their big pay day and now it’s time for Cousins to join the club. 
2. Chandler Jones, LB/DE (2): Before you start salivating over the idea of Jones joining your favorite team’s front seven, we have some bad news: Bruce Arians says the Cardinals will place the franchise tag on him if they cannot agree on a long-term deal. Whether it’s on a one-year, $16.955MM deal or a multi-year contract that tops Olivier Vernon‘s Giants deal, it sounds like Jones is staying put. Jones, 27 in May, played in all 16 games this year and racked up 11 sacks.
3. Kawann Short, DT (4): Contract talks between the Panthers and Short stalled last summer and Fletcher Cox‘s market-boosting deal with the Eagles didn’t help matters. Short wound up playing 2016 for peanuts ($1.473MM) and he turned in yet another stellar season. Short was the fourth-best interior defender in the league this season, per Pro Football Focus, and his 87.7 overall score was roughly the same as his 2015 mark, even though he had five less sacks. In June, it was said that the Panthers did not want to go too far beyond an average annual salary of $15MM. If he’s not franchised tagged or signed to a long-term deal by Carolina, there are a few teams that will happily go beyond that point.
Browns To Fire DC Ray Horton
Ray Horton is out as defensive coordinator in Cleveland, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter). Already, the search is on for his replacement. Gregg Williams has been offered the job and Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been contacted about the vacancy. 
The Browns were a dumpster fire on both sides of the ball this year, but head coach Hue Jackson apparently feels that the team will need a philosophical change on defense. This year, the Browns finished next-to-last in defensive DVOA and they would have been dead last if it weren’t for the Lions’ awful ratings.
Williams is currently in the midst of his second stint as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. After coach Jeff Fisher was canned, the Rams informed all assistants that they were free to seek other jobs. Williams, naturally, isn’t just waiting around to see if the next head coach in L.A. wants to keep him on board. However, the Cleveland job might not be the gig he has his eye on. There are better situations out there from a personnel standpoint, including the Redskins gig.
Phillips has enjoyed great success in Denver, but he is on an expiring contract and unlikely to return. Phillips would be a splashy hire for a Browns team desperately seeking advancement in 2017.
Redskins To Re-Sign Junior Galette?
Junior Galette signed his first deal with the Redskins in July of 2015. Unfortunately, he has yet to take the field for Washington thanks to two separate Achilles tears in each of his legs. Now set to hit the open market once again, Galette says that he has a handshake deal in place with the Redskins for another one-year pact. 
[RELATED: Bengals Deny Redskins Permission To Interview Paul Guenther]
“Technically I’m a free agent, but in my mind, like I said last year, I’m set to come back,” Galette told ESPN 980 (via Scott Allen of The Washington Post). “I already spoke to [GM] Scot [McCloughan], and we already have plans to just sign me back on a one-year deal. I told him I don’t care about no money right now. I could care less. I made tons of money in the NFL, and I set myself up to be good for life. I’m not worried about the money. It’s about my pride right now and to show myself that I can come back from back-to-back Achilles’ injuries. I feel like it would be one for the history books the way I come back if I could come back and take the league by storm and proceed and play for another five years in my prime.”
Between his 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Saints, Galette tallied up 22 sacks and established himself as a high-end linebacker. However, things soured in New Orleans thanks to his off-field troubles and the Saints cut him loose in the summer of 2015. Galette has yet to play a down in D.C. but he says he’s ready to show the world what he can do. The 28-year-old (29 in March) says both of his Achilles’ tendons are “as strong as they’ve ever been.”