Ravens, Dolphins Talked Jarvis Landry Trade
The Ravens and Dolphins discussed a Jarvis Landry trade last offseason, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. However, Miami’s asking price was “prohibitive” and the deal did not go down. 
Landry is on the verge of free agency this year and it stands to reason that the Ravens could make a play for him. The Dolphins have interest in re-signing the wide receiver, but the two sides appear to be far apart on numbers. Recently, Landry characterized the talks as “disrespectful.” His agent, Damarius Bilbo, then made it clear that his client will not be taking a hometown discount to remain in Miami.
“How long has this franchise been around?,” Bilbo said. “It’s always going to be here. Take a discount? Absolutely not. This may be Jarvis’ first and last time to set himself up and his family up. He needs to strike and strike while the iron is hot. Plenty of guys that were drafted ahead of Jarvis have not performed to his level. Look at Jarvis’ performance level. If you want to compare him to the T.Y. Hiltons and the Doug Baldwins, those deals were done two or three years ago. It’s his time now. He’s next man up.”
It’s fair to wonder if Landry is actually in line for money that will top Baldwin ($11.5MM/year) and Hilton ($13MM/year). The 25-year-old is not much of a deep threat and there are other quality WRs about to hit the open market, including Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson. However, Landry has averaged 100 catches for 1,010 yards over the past four seasons with 23 touchdowns over that span. There’s no denying that Landry moves the chains and the Ravens do like him as a player, so Zrebiec will not rule out the possibility of Baltimore making with that kind of cash.
It’s important to keep in mind that the early projections and demands for free agent wide receivers might not match up with what we actually see in March. Last year, there was talk of Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Stills, and Terrelle Pryor getting $12MM/season on multi-year deals. Here’s what actually happened: Jeffery wound up signing a one-year, $9.5MM contract (though he signed a lucrative extension in December), Stills got $8MM/year on a four-year pact, and Pryor signed a one year, $6MM deal. Landry could end up in the $13MM/year range, but don’t be surprised if he settles for seven figures instead.
Giants Hire James Bettcher As DC
The Giants have hired James Bettcher as their new defensive coordinator, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Cardinals DC also had an offer on the table from the Titans, but he turned them down. 
Bettcher was with the Cardinals since 2013 and spent the last three as DC. He was up for the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy this offseason and even had the endorsement of Bruce Arians, but the gig ultimately went to Steve Wilks. Predictably, he had interest from multiple teams as a DC and he garnered two offers on the same day.
The Giants’ high-priced defense underperformed in 2017, finishing second to last in yards allowed and in the bottom third of DVOA. The Cardinals, meanwhile, allowed the sixth fewest yards in the league to opposing teams and had the fourth-best in DVOA in the NFL.
Bettcher’s arrival means that Steve Spagnuolo, the previous defensive coordinator and the Giants’ interim head coach for the final four games of the season, is out. At one point in time, it was thought that new head coach Pat Shurmur might keep Spags on board, but he’s opting to start fresh.
It’s not clear where the Titans and Mike Vrabel will go from here, but Packers cornerbacks coach Darren Perry has been mentioned as candidate for the DC vacancy.
Vikings To Interview Darrell Bevell
Former Seahawks play-caller Darrell Bevell is in high demand. After completing his interview with the Cardinals, Bevell will meet with the Vikings this week, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). 
The Vikings are in need of a new offensive coordinator following the departure of Pat Shurmur. Although Shurmur’s offensive attack came up short in the NFC Championship Game, his system was largely a success in Minnesota. The job, presumably, would hold great appeal for Bevell and other candidates, though it’s not quite clear who the next OC will be working with at quarterback.
The Vikings face one of the most unique QB conundrums in recent memory with Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater all scheduled for free agency. Some expect the Vikings to either franchise tag or extend Keenum while allowing injury-prone Bradford and Bridgewater to walk. The reality, however, is that Keenum could follow Shurmur to New York, forcing the Vikings to retain either Bridgewater or Bradford as their starter. Or, they could conceivably try and keep two of the three. There could even be a scenario in which the Vikings pursue a big-name QB in free agency (such as Drew Brees) and move on from the whole trio. Anything is possible, so Bevell must be ready to explain how his system will fit quarterbacks of all different styles.
Former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo and former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy have also been mentioned as candidates for the job.
Dolphins Remain Committed To Ryan Tannehill
The Dolphins will not among the team’s in the market for a quarterback this season. At least, not a starting quarterback. Ryan Tannehill’s health is a concern after he suffered ACL injuries in back-to-back seasons, but the team is “fully on the Tannehill bandwagon,” Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes.
That may seem like a no-brainer decision, but the Dolphins would only be on the hook for $4.6MM in dead money if they were to release Tannehill this offseason. Also, this year’s free agent quarterback market is the best its been in a while with players like Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, and Case Keenum potentially reaching the open market. Rather than overpay for another vet in free agency, the Fins will move forward with Tannehill as their top QB.
Given Tannehill’s knee troubles, the Dolphins know that they have to have a solid QB2 at the ready if Tannehill suffers another injury. Trouble is, backup Matt Moore is headed for unrestricted free agency and Salguero hears that he may be headed for another team.
Moore, 34 in August, felt slighted by the signing of Jay Cutler and wants to explore his options to see if he might be a better fit with another team. Meanwhile, Cutler is also on an expiring contract and it’s hard to see the Dolphins shelling out enough money to keep him as a reserve, particularly given his up-and-down season. If Moore doesn’t return, Miami may want to explore some borderline QB1/QB2 types, like Tyrod Taylor. Alternatively, they could find their Tannehill contingency in the draft.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Forte, Dolphins, Ajayi
The Jets have some major decisions to make on players this offseason, including troubled wide receiver Robby Anderson. Anderson’s embarrassing arrest last week has put his spot in jeopardy, but Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record expects him to get another chance given his enormous potential. Vasquez estimates that the same can’t be said for players who have underperformed, like quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.
Beyond those players, the Jets will have some opportunities to save cash by cutting some pricey veterans. Vasquez anticipates that receiver Jermaine Kearse ($5.55MM non-guaranteed), cornerback Buster Skrine ($8.5MM cap hit, $2.5MM dead money), and guard James Carpenter ($6.8MM hit, $2.1MM dead money) will stay on board. Meanwhile, tackle Ben Ijalana ($6MM hit, $1.25MM dead money) and running back Matt Forte ($4MM hit, $1MM dead money) are likely goners. Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who has disappointed in back to back seasons, will almost certainly be cut, even though the Jets will carry $9MM in dead money against $11MM in savings.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Jay Ajayi has found success with the Eagles, but that doesn’t mean the Dolphins were wrong to trade him, Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders opines. It’s easy to forget, but Ajayi was shipped out of Miami for his perceived lack of work ethic and desire to improve his pass blocking. Meanwhile, the Dolphins still have Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams, who are better blockers and better pass catchers than Ajayi. Drake ran for more than 600+ yards and had two 100-yard games over the last nine games of the season after the trade, illustrating that coach Adam Gase & Co. may have made the right call by dealing Ajayi for a fourth-round pick.
- The NFL continues to review accusations by Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue that Bills guard Richie Incognito used racial slurs in a Jan. 7 playoff game (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). A report this week indicated that the league had wrapped up its investigation and that the offensive lineman was “not expected” to be disciplined. Incognito is under contract with Buffalo for 2018, but given his history, the lineman’s roster spot could be in jeopardy if the NFL finds credence in Ngakoue’s claims.
Vikings’ Brian Robison Could Retire
The Vikings came just short of reaching the Super Bowl this year and it’s not clear whether Brian Robison will be a part of the redemption effort next season. In a radio interview on Monday, the defensive end said that he is pondering retirement. 
“I think that’s a decision I’m going to have to make here over the next few weeks,” said Robison (via La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune). “I think I need to sit down with my wife and talk about it and maybe sit down with [General Manager Rick Spielman] and just think it out. You don’t want to make any spur-of-the-moment decisions just because your emotions are all over the place. You want your mind to calm down and think things through. It is a very important decision.”
Last spring, Robison inked an extension with the team to take him through the 2018 season. At the time, he said that he would retire after the ’18 campaign. Now, those plans might be accelerated.
Robison will turn 35 in April and the longtime starter is showing signs of decline. After starting nearly every game for Minnesota from 2011-2016, the veteran made just one start in 2017. His four sacks and 20 tackles were his lowest posting since 2010 and his 53.4 overall score from Pro Football Focus portrayed him as a below-average edge defender.
Robison is due a base salary of $3.2MM in 2018 with $1.25MM guaranteed, plus $200K in per-game roster bonuses and $100K through a workout bonus. Even if Robison decides to continue playing, the team may choose to move on from him and save ~$2MM.
Cardinals Notes: Fitzgerald, Wilks, Bidwill
On Tuesday morning, the Cardinals introduced new head coach Steve Wilks to the public. Here’s a look at the highlights from the presser, with all links going to Twitter unless noted otherwise:
- Wilks said he had an “in-depth conversation” with wide reciever Larry Fitzgerald, but Fitzgerald didn’t say whether or not he’s playing in 2018 (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). However, Wilks said he’d “love” to have Fitzgerald back. Recently, Fitzgerald indicated that the team’s choice of a replacement for Bruce Arians would factor heavily in his decision. It’s not immediately clear how Fitzgerald feels about the hiring of Wilks, a defensive-minded coach.
- Team president Michael Bidwill said he knew on Saturday that Wilks was his guy, so therefore he did not feel the need to interview any candidates who were coaching in the Super Bowl (via Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic). John DeFilippo, Jim Schwartz, and Brian Flores were all in the running for the job, but Arizona did not want to risk losing Wilks by waiting. Matt Patricia was also up for the position, but he agreed to join the Lions earlier this month.
- When asked about the defensive scheme he’ll employ, Wilks said, “I’ve coached both 3-4 and 4-3. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” (via Darren Urban of the team website). The Cardinals were a 3-4 team last year while the Panthers employed a 4-3 scheme. It sounds like Wilks intends on keeping Arizona in the 3-4 set.
- Wilks wants to have coordinators in place by the Super Bowl (link via Somers). The Cardinals are considering former Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for the OC job and may look at Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and former Chargers head coach Mike McCoy. On the other side of the ball, Panthers linebackers coach Al Holcomb is the expected hire.
Saints Sign LB Jayrone Elliott
The Saints signed linebacker Jayrone Elliott to a futures deal, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. The former Packer and Cowboy is now slated to be a part of the team’s 90-man roster and will push to make the final 53-man cut in September. 
Elliott joined the Packers as a UDFA in 2014 and appeared in 38 games for the team over the course of three years. Before the final cuts in 2017, Elliott was shipped to the Cowboys in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick. The Packers never collected on that pick, however, as Elliott was cut after two games.
After getting dumped by Dallas, Elliott hit the workout circuit with auditions for the Seahawks, Colts, Jets, 49ers, Texans, Redskins, Patriots, Giants, Saints, Chiefs, Broncos, and Browns. Although more than 1/3 of the league kicked the tires on him, Elliott did not sign with any other club in 2017.
Elliott amassed four sacks and 47 tackles in his three years with Green Bay. He’s not a superstar, but the Saints know the value of having depth at the linebacker position after losing Hau’oli Kikaha, A.J. Klein, Nathan Stupar, and Alex Anzalone to IR at various points in 2017.
PFR Glossary: Rooney Rule
Pro Football Rumors is in the process of creating a glossary of terms related to free agency, the salary cap, and other areas of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you’re confused by our references to concepts like franchise players or reserve/futures contracts, or just want further clarification on the specifics, the glossary should help clear things up.
We’ll continue to add entries to this glossary, which can be found anytime on the right sidebar under “PFR Features.”
This offseason, the Raiders found themselves in a bit of a controversy over their head coaching search. On Christmas Eve, owner Mark Davis reached a verbal agreement with Jon Gruden to become the team’s next head coach. It wasn’t until after New Year’s Day that two minority candidates – Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin – were interviewed for the position. On January 6, the Raiders rolled out the black-and-silver carpet to announce Gruden’s return in an over-the-top press conference. It was clear that neither Martin nor Johnson had a real chance at getting the job.
Established in 2003, the Rooney Rule stipulates that teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions. Named after former Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the rule is in place to make sure that candidates of color have a fair shake at climbing the ranks. Some felt that the Raiders broke the spirit of the rule by not giving real consideration to a minority candidate, but the NFL recently declared that the Raiders did in fact comply with the protocol. The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works with the NFL to monitor minority hiring practices, has vowed to push for changes to the rule that will prevent a similar situation from playing out.
When the Rooney Rule was introduced, there were historically very few non-white head coaches in the NFL. Fritz Pollard became the first black head coach in NFL history in the 1920s and the league did not see another minority head coach until 1979 when the Raiders hired Tom Flores.
Since the advent of the Rooney Rule 15 years ago, dozens of qualified minority candidates have been given opportunities to showcase themselves for head coaching positions. However, it’s hard to say concretely whether this has directly led to a greater number of minority hires as the number has vacillated over time. For example, there were four head coaches of color in 2003, eight in 2011, four in 2013, and eight again in 2017. The number stands at eight today, matching the all-time high, with Mike Tomlin, Todd Bowles, Anthony Lynn, Vance Joseph, Hue Jackson, Marvin Lewis, Ron Rivera, and Steve Wilks all holding HC positions.
In recent years, the rule has been extended to general manager vacancies. In December 2016, the NFL agreed to informally apply the rule to offensive and defensive coordinator positions, though there are no penalties for noncompliance. If a team is found to have broken the Rooney Rule in a head coaching search, the club may be faced with a substantial fine and/or a forfeiture of draft picks.
In the wake of the Raiders controversy, we could see further reform to the Rooney Rule between now and the 2018/19 offseason.
Titans, Giants To Meet With James Bettcher
Former Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher is scheduled to meet with the Titans and Giants on Tuesday for their vacant DC jobs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Bettcher is a top candidate for both positions, Rapoport adds. 
Bettcher was up for the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy this year, but that job wound up going to ex-Panthers DC Steve Wilks. Wilks is bringing in old friend Al Holcomb to lead the defense, meaning that Bettcher is available. Although he did not get to run the show in Arizona, Bettcher is a hot DC candidate.
The Giants and Titans both have new head coaches this offseason in Pat Shurmur and Mike Vrabel at the helm, respectively. The Giants’ next DC figures to have a great deal of authority given Shurmur’s focus on offense. However, the job might not be quite the same in Tennessee. Vrabel previously served as the Texans’ DC and he intimated in his introductory press conference that he will be calling the plays. It’s not clear if that will suit someone like Bettcher who has spent the last three years as Arizona’s defensive play caller and was close to becoming their HC.
Former Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio is viewed as frontrunner for the Giants’ DC gig, though it’s possible that incumbent Steve Spagnuolo could keep his job. Bettcher now becomes the third known candidate for the Giants’ opening and the first for the Titans job.