Eagles Interested In James Urban
The Eagles are interested in Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban as a candidate for their offensive coordinator vacancy, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Urban has been credited with developing Lamar Jackson into one of the league’s premier quarterbacks and he could be ripe for a move up the ladder.
Urban also offers familiarity with the organization. Prior to joining the Ravens, he spent years in Philly on Andy Reid‘s staff. Ironically, he went on to become part of the Ravens’ braintrust that pushed for a trade up with the Eagles in the 2018 draft to select Jackson. The Eagles, who then had both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles under contract, had no real place for Jackson.
The Eagles surprised many when they fired offensive coordinator Mike Groh earlier this offseason. Since then, they’ve been researching OC candidates including former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, as well as former Redskins OC Kevin O’Connell.
Falcons, De’Vondre Campbell Talking Extension
De’Vondre Campbell is scheduled for free agency, but he might not make it to the open market. The Falcons have begun contract talks with the linebacker, as ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure tweets. 
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“There will be a lot of interest in Dre,” agent Drew Rosenhaus said. “We have had positive dialogue with the Falcons. Dre will be a highly sought-after player.”
Campbell has expressed interest in staying with the Falcons, but it’s possible that he might not fit into their budget. Ideally, the Falcons would love to keep him – Campbell led the team with 129 tackles last year (he also led the way in 2018) and won’t turn 27 until July. Over the last three years, he has not missed a single game.
In the past, the Falcons have spent the money necessary to lock up key players, including linebacker Deion Jones. But, the former fourth-round pick is due for a monumental pay bump.
Campbell drew trade interest before the deadline in October, but the Falcons opted to hold on to him. That speaks volumes for their own evaluation of him, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll get a deal done before March.
Browns To Interview Monti Ossenfort
The Browns will interview Patriots college scouting director Monti Ossenfort for their GM job on Friday, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). This marks Ossenfort’s first his first GM interview, even though he’s been a popular name for previous vacancies.
Two years ago, Ossenfort was blocked from pursuing the Texans job. Then, after the surprising dismissal of Brian Gaine, he was connected to the club yet again. That didn’t materialize, either, because the Texans zeroed in on fellow Pats employee Nick Caserio, only to be shot down by Bill Belichick & Co.
Ossenfort‘s contract is believed to be up after this year, so he should be free to join up with the Browns if there’s a fit. The Browns also have Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Eagles vice president of football operations Andrew Berry on their radar.
Browns Notes: Stefanski, DePodesta
Recently, there were rumblings that candidates in the Browns coaching search had to agree to turn in game plans to owner Jimmy Haslam and the team’s analytics department. That won’t be the case, new head coach Kevin Stefanski says.
“It’s not true,’’ he said (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “I like that report. That was a good one. It’s silly season for that type of stuff. I understand that. But, to me, analytics — I can’t say it enough — it’s a tool, it’s a tool that helps.’’
Stefanski told the Browns that he is willing to use analytics, which may have helped his cause, but Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta says his willingness to use the stats was not the deciding factor in the hire.
Here’s more from Cleveland:
- Curious about DePodesta’s role in Cleveland and why he performs his job while living in San Diego? This piece from Cleveland.com’s Scott Patsko tackles many of the questions surrounding the former MLB exec. When it comes to the draft, DePodesta says he’ll just be one voice in the figurative room and not the final decision-maker. “I’m not going to pick the players, but I am going to try and make sure that the players we do pick align with our vision of what we believe is a winning franchise,” he said. “My charge is not to watch tape and say, ‘Oh, man, this guy’s got great feet.’ We’ve got scouts who are way better and way more qualified than I am to do that. But when we come down to make a selection, it is my role to say, ‘Okay, are we making a decision here that actually aligns with our way?’”
- In 2019, first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens refused to turn play-calling duties over to Todd Monken, even though Monken was the more experienced coach. Stefanski, who is still searching for his OC, says he’s undecided as to whether he’ll handle the play-calling. “I have had really good conversations with a bunch of head coaches, some that have called the plays, some that have not,’’ Stefanski said (via Cabot). “Again, I am all about what is best for the Cleveland Browns. If that is me calling the plays, great. If it’s not, I am fine with that too.”
Saints FB Zach Line Retires From NFL
Saints fullback Zach Line announced his retirement on Wednesday. Line, 29, leaves the league after seven pro seasons. 
“As I look back on the last seven seasons in the NFL I cannot help but to feel extremely proud,” Line wrote on Instagram. “I have never bragged about my accomplishments, but knowing the odds and ignoring them, and choosing to instead believe in myself, my faith, and the support of my loving wife and family is something I am proud of. The decision to retire is not easy, which is true for most competitors. This decision is something I have prayed about and communicated with those that I love.”
Line first broke into the NFL with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of SMU. In four years with the Vikings and three years with the Saints, Line appeared in 75 games, including 22 starts. Used mostly as a blocking back, Line logged 275 career all-purpose yards and six touchdowns (four receiving, two rushing). This year, a knee injury kept Line out of the regular season finale and the Saints’ Wild Card loss.
We wish Line the best in retirement.
LSU’s Grant Delpit Enters Draft
Soon after Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins announced his draft decision, he was joined by his championship game opponent. LSU safety Grant Delpit will forgo his remaining eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. 
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“We are champs. We hoisted the trophy for you and LSU fans everywhere,” Delpit wrote. “I’ve decided to move on to the NFL. I will carry the joy and excitement of this season with me forever.”
Delpit notched five tackles and one sack in LSU’s championship victory. All in all, he closed out three seasons with a combined 199 tackles, 17.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 24 passes defended, and two fumble recoveries.
Delpit has demonstrated the ability to lock down defenders in both man and zone coverage. He’s also an effective blitzer, as evidenced by those 17.5 sacks. He’ll have to tighten up his tackling form at the next level, but evaluators say his future is bright.
Clemson WR Tee Higgins Enters Draft
Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft. Come April, he’s likely to be a first-round selection. 
At 6’4″, Higgins has tremendous size for the position and a game tape filled with highlights of major gains. Last year, Higgins caught 59 passes for 1,167 yards – good for an eye-popping 19.8 yards per catch –and scored 13 touchdowns for the Tigers.
Higgins is just one of several talented wide receivers in this year’s crop, which runs deep at the position. Other notable WRs in the mix include Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, and Jeudy’s teammate, Henry Ruggs III.
Fresh off of back-to-back double-digit seasons, Higgins could be a target for teams like the Bills, Broncos, and and Raiders.
Steelers “Optimistic” About Kevin Colbert Return
Kevin Colbert doesn’t have a contract for the 2020 season, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be going anywhere. On Wednesday, owner Art Rooney II said he’s “optimistic” about Colbert continuing with the club.
“I’m optimistic about Kevin being back next year,” Rooney said (Twitter link via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). “We have to get something done. The sooner, the better.”
Colbert’s current contract takes him through the draft, so the Steelers’ front office won’t be in flux during the key parts of the offseason. Beyond that, Rooney envisions “at least” one more season for the longtime exec.
Colbert, 63, has been with the Steelers since the start of the new millennium. After a decade as the team’s director of football operations, he he was elevated to the GM post. In 2016, the Steelers added the VP title to his business card. Along the way, Colbert has collected two Super Bowl rings (XL, XLIII).
Last year, the Steelers lost star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to injury as they flopped to an 8-8 finish.
AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Fitzpatrick, Jets
The Dolphins enter the offseason with tons of cap room and a bevy of draft capital. Will GM Chris Grier‘s capitalize on those picks? History suggests that he just might. ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe took a trip down memory lane recently, and highlighted some of Grier’s biggest hits over the past three years.
Successful selections include offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (2016 first-round pick), cornerback Xavien Howard (2016 second-round pick), cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (2018 first-round pick), and linebacker Jerome Baker (2018 third-round pick). Of course, Grier wasn’t as fortunate in 2017 as he whiffed on first-round defensive end Charles Harris and third-round corner Cordrea Tankersley.
The Dolphins are currently set to pick at Nos. 5, 18, and 26 overall in the first round, but they’re also expected to move around as they kick their rebuild into high gear.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- For what it’s worth, Grier says the Dolphins‘ plan “right now” is for Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen to both be on the offseason roster, as Wolfe writes. It remains to be seen whether Fitzpatrick, 37, will return for another season, but the quarterback has confessed that retirement would be difficult for him. As it stands, Fitzpatrick is under contract for $8MM in 2020 with $4MM guaranteed. Pairing Fitzpatrick with a rookie quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa – who will be ready to throw in April – would make a lot of sense. Meanwhile, it’s hard to see Rosen fitting into the picture.
- When asked about the power dynamic between head coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas, Manish Mehta of the Daily News pointed to the lengths of their respective contracts. Gase, who came along first, received a four-year deal from the club. Douglas, who joined late in the 2019 offseason after Mike Maccagnan‘s ill-time ouster, got a six-year deal with Gang Green. Gase helped push the Jets to hire Douglas, and has influence on personnel decisions, but Mehta writes that Douglas indeed has the upper hand on 53-man roster matters. In other words, as Mehta writes, a tie goes to Douglas.
- The Bills could lose assistant GM Joe Schoen to the Browns.
Giants Meet With Jason Garrett
Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett could land with his longtime rival. On Wednesday, Garrett met with Giants brass to interview for the vacant offensive coordinator position, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Garrett could provide the Giants with tons of offensive knowhow, plus years of coaching experience to support first-time head coach Joe Judge. Garrett also helped to groom Day 3 pick Dak Prescott into one of the league’s best quarterbacks, so the Giants are undoubtedly interested to hear about what he could do for youngster Daniel Jones.
On the flipside – Garrett has long been accustomed to running his own show, and it’s unlikely that he would see an OC role as his final stop. The Giants may, or may not, be wary of hiring a coordinator who will surely be in the head coaching mix this time next year.
Although Garrett’s Cowboys disappointed in 2019, he had his fair share of accomplishments in Dallas, including a 6-0 record against the G-Men over the last three seasons. All in all, Garrett coached the Cowboys to an 85-67 record since taking over as HC midway through the 2010 season.
The Giants requested to interview Garrett for their head coaching position earlier this month, but that meeting was 86’d when they hired Judge. Garrett also has history with the franchise, having played for them as a backup quarterback between 2000 and 2003.