Chiefs Monitoring Packers’ Za’Darius Smith?
The Packers have said they will not bring Za’Darius Smith back at his current cap number. Unless the team plans to add money to future caps via a void years-driven restructure, Green Bay will need to work out a new contract with its Pro Bowl edge rusher.
The prospect of Smith becoming a Packers cap casualty also looms. If that happens, the Chiefs are expected to pursue the veteran outside linebacker, according to Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com. Kansas City has its own cap-casualty candidate in Frank Clark, who is on the suspension radar after two gun-related arrests in 2021, and midseason trade acquisition Melvin Ingram is on track for free agency.
Kansas City has recent experience revamping its pass rush under Andy Reid, having disbanded its Justin Houston–Dee Ford setup to bring in Clark in 2019. Clark has enjoyed successful spurts but has not lived up to the $20.8MM-per-year extension he inked in 2019. Clark totaled just 4.5 sacks in 14 games last season. The Chiefs should not be expected to carry Clark’s $26.3MM cap charge on their books in 2022, especially with a suspension on the radar. Kansas City could save nearly $20MM by designating Clark as a post-June 1 cut.
The Chiefs’ 31 sacks ranked 29th last season, though Smith would be an interesting addition given his age (30 in September) and injury-marred 2021. A back injury sidelined Smith for 16 games last season. The ex-Raven totaled 26 sacks from 2019-20, making the Pro Bowl in each season, and was effective upon return in the Packers’ divisional-round game. Still, his value likely took a hit after back surgery sidelined him for nearly the entire season.
A return to Baltimore could also be in play for Smith, per Pauline, but it may take an underwhelming market to make that happen. The Ravens frequently let edges walk in free agency, rather than dole out big money to retain vets at the position. Pernell McPhee found his way back to Baltimore after injuries slowed him elsewhere, but Smith’s market — if he is, in fact, released — likely will not reach that level. Indeed, Pauline adds Smith should expect to generate extensive interest if cut.
Green Bay continues to move down toward the salary cap, but the team still does not know Aaron Rodgers‘ plans and may need to carve out an extra $20MM for a Davante Adams franchise tag. The team restructured Smith’s contract to create space last year, creating his current untenable cap charge ($27.7MM) and irking Smith in the process.
Bengals Eyeing C Bradley Bozeman In Free Agency?
It’s no secret that the Bengals will be aiming to upgrade their offensive line this offseason. It appears one of their targets could be Ravens center Bradley Bozeman, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). 
[Related: Jessie Bates Looking To Avoid Franchise Tag]
Wilson notes that Cincinnati is one of “multiple NFL teams” that could be in competition for Bozeman if he reaches the open market. The 27-year-old’s rookie deal is set to expire in March, which has him well positioned to cash in this offseason.
A two-time national champion with Alabama, Bozeman was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2018. He established himself as a full-time starter in 2019, the first of two straight campaigns occupying the left guard spot. He shifted to his natural center position this past year, and delivered the best play of his career to date. In 16 games, he committed one penalty and surrendered three sacks according to PFF, which assigned him an overall grade of 73.3.
The Bengals ranked third in the league with 55 sacks allowed; while the Ravens were actually one of the two teams above them on that list, Bozeman could still represent a consistent presence along the interior. Current Bengals starter Trey Hopkins is 30, and has one year remaining on his current contract with a scheduled cap hit of $7.1MM. Releasing him would save Cincinnati just under $6MM, clearing up room to go after Bozeman, or perhaps fellow center Ryan Jensen.
While Bozeman isn’t likely to command the type of contract that Jensen will, he is younger and should have plenty of free agent suitors. The Ravens, for their part, have expressed a desire to re-sign him, as part of their general aim to bolster the offensive front. They are facing a tight salary cap situation, tough, and also have fellow 2018 draftee DeShon Elliott to re-sign, not to mention a long-term deal to be worked out with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Coaching Notes: Ravens, Colts, Bills, Browns
Ken Norton Jr. is heading to the NCAA. The long-time coach is expected to join UCLA as their new linebackers coach, reports Bruce Feldman of The Athletic (via Twitter).
Norton Jr. started his coaching career with USC, but he’s been in the NFL since 2010. After winning three Super Bowl rings as a player, Norton Jr. added another championship to his resume as the Seahawks linebackers coach. After five seasons in Seattle, Norton Jr. was defensive coordinator for three years with the Raiders and four years with the Seahawks (second stint).
Norton Jr. was let go by Seattle following the 2021 campaign. Now, he’ll be joining Chip Kelly’s staff in Los Angeles.
More coaching notes:
- The Ravens announced that they’ve officially promoted Anthony Weaver to be their assistant head coach/defensive line coach. Weaver had a long coaching stint with the Texans, culminating in him serving as their defensive coordinator in 2020. The 41-year-old joined the Ravens last year as their defensive line coach/run game coordinator.
- Former NFL safety Mike Mitchell is joining the Colts staff as an assistant secondary coach, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic (on Twitter). Mitchell had a 10-year playing career, including a one-year stint with Indianapolis. The Colts are also hiring Nate Ollie as their defensive line coach, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). Following two seasons with the Eagles, Ollie spent last season as the Jets assistant defensive line coach.
- Bills secondary coach John Butler got a promotion, adding the role of defensive passing game coordinator to his title, according to Wilson. The veteran has spent the past four seasons as the secondary coach in Buffalo. The Bills also confirmed a number of additional hires, including Kyle Shurmur (defensive quality control coach), Nick Lacy (strength and conditioning assistant coach), Marcus West (assistant defensive line coach), Jaylon Finner (defensive quality control coach), Cory Harkey (assistant special teams coach), and Austin Gund (fellowship coach).
- The Browns are expected to promote offensive assistant T.C. McCartney to tight ends coach, according to Wilson (on Twitter). The 32-year-old has bounced around the NFL a bit during his coaching journey. After spending the 2019 campaign as the Broncos quarterbacks coach, McCartney spent the 2020 season as an offensive assistant on the Browns.
Ravens Re-Sign S Tony Jefferson
After being out of game action for nearly two years, Tony Jefferson resurfaced in 2021. The 49ers and Ravens signed Jefferson last year, and he will end up sticking with the latter organization in the offseason.
The Ravens re-signed Jefferson on Thursday. He is now under contract for the 2022 season, which would be his ninth. Jefferson, 30, returned to play in four games with the Ravens last season.
Jefferson worked as a starter for the Ravens from 2017-19, following his free agent agreement with the team. An ACL tear in October 2019 led to the Ravens releasing him in 2020. Jefferson missed the 2020 season and did not land with a team again until the 49ers signed him last summer. Groin and hamstring injuries led him to San Francisco’s IR, but he returned to play in two games with the team. San Francisco cut Jefferson early in the season, however.
The former Cardinals UDFA caught on with the Ravens via a practice squad signing in October. He made 17 tackles and recorded a sack in his short run back in Baltimore. Jefferson will have a chance to play a fifth season with the Ravens in 2022.
Baltimore has starter Chuck Clark under contract for next season and used a third-round pick on Brandon Stephens last year. DeShon Elliott, whose injury opened the door for 11 Stephens starts, is on track for free agency. So is veteran hybrid Jimmy Smith.
AFC Coaching Notes: Texans, Browns, Bettcher, Ravens, Gould
The Texans have hired former Dolphins’ coaching assistant Kenyon Jackson in the position of assistant defensive line coach, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Son of former Pro Bowl tight end Keith Jackson, Kenyon played defensive tackle at the University of Illinois under new Texans’ head coach Lovie Smith.
In what is starting to seem like a trend, Smith also hired Dele Harding as a defensive assistant. Harding also played for Smith at Illinois, serving for two years as a team captain at linebacker.
Here are a few more notes on coaching changes in the AFC, starting with a note from the location of this weekend’s NBA All-Star game:
- The Browns have hired Jordan Thomas in the role of assistant defensive line coach, according to Wilson. Thomas has coached defensive linemen at San Diego State and spent time at Lamar and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, as well. In addition, the Browns added Jeff Anderson to the staff as a defensive quality control coach.
- Staying in the Buckeye State, recent 2021 NFL runner-ups the Bengals have made a move to replace former linebackers coach Al Golden. Golden is headed back to the college coaching ranks to become Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former NFL defensive coordinator James Bettcher will fill the role. After time as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals and Giants, Bettcher spent last season as a senior defensive assistant in San Francisco.
- Staying in the AFC North, Baltimore brought in former Texans’ offensive line coach Mike Devlin to become the Ravens’ assistant offensive line coach, according to Wilson. Devlin coached big men for the Jets before Houston and at Toledo before that. The Ravens will certainly welcome the help for an offensive line that frequently had quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley scrambling for their lives last year.
- Lastly, the Chargers have hired 49ers’ kicker Robbie Gould‘s kid brother Chris Gould. The 36-year-old was a former kicker in the Arena Football League and will be the Chargers’ assistant special teams coach, a role he’s held for the past five seasons for the Broncos. Additionally, the Chargers have hired Brendan Nugent as their new offensive line coach. Last year was Nugent’s first year coaching offensive linemen in the NFL in his seventh year with the Saints. He’ll 17 years of NFL coaching experience to Los Angeles.
This Date In Transactions History: Ravens Tag Terrell Suggs
The Ravens have not made paying edge rushers much of a priority, letting a slew of talented outside linebackers — from Matt Judon to Yannick Ngakoue to Za’Darius Smith, among others over the past several years — leave in free agency. The team has made one notable exception here, and that chain of events began 14 years ago today.
Baltimore made a point to ensure Terrell Suggs did not leave during his prime. To prevent such a development, the Ravens used their franchise tag on the impact edge performer on Feb. 19, 2008. This began a rather lengthy process, and a Suggs extension did not commence in the near future.
Tagged at the then-$8.1MM linebacker rate, Suggs filed a grievance to be tagged as a defensive end. The Ravens and Suggs agreed on a compromise price for the 2008 season — $8.5MM, halfway between the D-end and linebacker tags — that May, and the 2003 first-round pick played his age-26 campaign on the tag. Judon agreed to a similar compromise 12 years later. Unlike Judon, the Ravens made a plan to retain Suggs following his tag season.
Baltimore began its John Harbaugh–Joe Flacco era in 2008, keying a resurgence that produced five straight playoff berths, and Suggs remained one of the team’s defensive linchpins. While Ed Reed and Ray Lewis being in their primes overshadowed Suggs at this point, to some degree, the Arizona State product was the team’s lead sack artist. Suggs was mired in what became a five-season run of single-digit sack slates; he finished with eight in 2008. He added four more during a three-game Ravens playoff run. Baltimore still used the exclusive tag on Suggs in 2009 and ran the risk of losing Lewis.
On Feb. 18, 2009, the Ravens re-tagged Suggs, ensuring him a $10.2MM salary for that season if no extension was reached. Although Lewis was still playing at a high level in the late 2000s, the Ravens prioritized the younger Suggs. Lewis hit the market, and the Cowboys and Jets were among those to express interest. However, the all-time great re-signed with the Ravens not long after his first and only free agency foray. Suggs still waited for his payday, and the Ravens ended that ’09 offseason by taking care of their other linebacker standout as well. The Ravens re-upped T-Sizzle on a six-year, $62.5MM extension July 15, just before that year’s tag deadline.
Although Suggs recorded only 4.5 sacks in 2009, he displayed his value over the course of his first Ravens extension. He combined for 25 sacks between the 2010 and ’11 seasons, winning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim in the latter year. Suggs then returned from an offseason Achilles tear to help the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII. The Ravens extended Suggs again in 2014, and he finished a 16-year tenure with the franchise in 2018, working alongside Smith and Judon during the latter duo’s rookie-deal seasons. Suggs’ 132.5 sacks with the Ravens are 62.5 more than anyone else in franchise history.
Calais Campbell Returning In 2022
There had been a strong possibility that the 2021 season was the final chapter of Calais Campbell‘s career. Instead, he announced Sunday night that he will return next year, writes ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. 
The 35-year-old is a pending free agent, and he left the door open to retirement during the 2021 campaign. However, he wants to take at least one more shot at a Super Bowl title, the only accolade that has eluded him during his 14 seasons in the NFL.
“The feeling I have right now after seeing [the Rams] celebrate a world championship, I have a desire to go out there and play football and to compete”, he said. “So, I’m definitely not retiring. I’m coming back”.
A six-time Pro Bowler, former All-Pro, Walter Payton Man of the Year winner, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, Campbell is also in search of his 100th career sack. He currently sits at 93.5, but has transitioned more and more into a run-stopper than a pass rusher in recent years.
Campbell’s first season in Baltimore was in 2020, where he earned a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. While his total tackles increased in 2021 to 49, his sack numbers dropped from four to 1.5. Still, his ability to defend the run that has been prevalent throughout his previous time with the Cardinals and Jaguars should garner him plenty of interest if he reaches the open market.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has already been in discussion with Campbell regarding a new contract to stay in Baltimore. However, the defensive line – which has recently consisted of Campbell, along with fellow veterans Brandon Williams and Derek Wolfe – has been named as an area where the team will work to get younger at during the offseason. Perhaps, then, Campbell’s next, and quite possibly final, campaign in the NFL will be with a fourth team.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
With Super Bowl LVI finished, the final two places in the 2022 Draft have been finalized. The Bengals’ top pick is locked into 31st, while the Rams will not have a selection until the third round. For the rest of the league, the focus has already shifted to free agency and the draft, of course, so now all eyes will be on the offseason maneuvering teams do to reshape their rosters.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.
Pending trades, here is the final first round order of the 2022 Draft:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-14
- Detroit Lions: 3-13-1
- Houston Texans: 4-13
- New York Jets: 4-13
- New York Giants: 4-13
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12
- New York Giants(via Bears)
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
- Denver Broncos: 7-10
- New York Jets (via Seahawks)
- Washington Football Team: 7-10
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
- Cleveland Browns: 8-9
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- New Orleans Saints: 9-8
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7-1
- New England Patriots: 10-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 10-7
- Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Buffalo Bills: 11-6
- Tennessee Titans: 12-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13-4
- Green Bay Packers: 13-4
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
AFC Coaching Notes: Colts, Bills, Jaguars, Ravens
Since Frank Reich was able to land defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to replace Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus, Bradley has begun the process of putting his staff together. Today Bradley added longtime defensive backs coach Ron Milus to coach his secondary, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Milus first started coaching defensive backs at his alma mater, the University of Washington, about eight years after playing cornerback there. He held the college position for seven years before getting an NFL coaching opportunity in 2000. Since then, Milus hasn’t spent a season out of work with stints in Denver, Arizona, New York (Giants), St. Louis, Carolina, San Diego, and Las Vegas. His longest stint was with the Chargers, spending eight years in southern California and transitioning with the team to Los Angeles. It was in Los Angeles that Milus was retained when Bradley joined the Chargers’ staff. He followed Bradley to Las Vegas and will join him once more in Indianapolis.
Here are a few other coaching notes from around the AFC starting with another bit from the Hoosier State:
- In addition to Milus, Mike Chappell of Fox59 reports that Indianapolis is also in the process of hiring linebackers coach Richard Smith, who worked with Bradley and Milus in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Smith has coached in the NFL since he debuted for the Houston Oilers in 1988 coaching special teams and tight ends. He found his niche as a linebackers coach in 1997 for the 49ers and has had three short stints as a defensive coordinator in Miami, Houston, and Atlanta.
- ESPN’s Yates also tweeted out a report that the Bills have added former QB Kyle Shurmur on staff in a defensive quality control position. After four years at Vanderbilt, Shurmur signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs, spending time on their practice squad as well as on the Bengals’ and Washington’s practice squads. He was released by Washington a little over a month ago and that appears to mark the end of his playing career. He seems to be following in the footsteps of his father, Pat Shurmur, and joining the coaching track.
- A castaway from the Matt Nagy Bears’ staff, outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey will not be without work for long as Curtis Crabtree of NBC Sports reports that Shuey is joining Doug Pederson‘s staff in Jacksonville in the same role. Shuey and Pederson had two separate tenures together in Philadelphia.
- Pederson also made a crucial move of retaining running backs coach Bernie Parmalee. Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network tells us that keeping Parmalee was a priority for Pederson, especially due to his strong relationship with star running back James Robinson.
- Baltimore has hired Rob Leonard as outside linebackers coach, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley (Twitter). Leonard will replace Drew Wilkins who left to join Brian Daboll‘s staff in New York. Leonard spent the past three seasons in the same position with the Dolphins. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic adds that former Michigan analyst Ryan Osborn will follow Mike Macdonald to the Ravens for a quality control position. Osborn is credited with having a role in the development of Wolverines’ EDGE players like Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo.
AFC Coaching Notes: Texans, Browns, Ravens, Jaguars
We heard previously that new head coach Lovie Smith was going to retain defensive play-calling duties with the Texans, and it sounds like the defensive-minded coach won’t even add a DC to his staff. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Texans won’t be hiring a defensive coordinator.
As Rapoport details, Smith is operating as if this is “his defense,” so he’ll continue to control that side of the ball for the time being. However, the reporter cautions that the Texans could fill the role eventually, and the team still has a number of “key spots” to fill on their staff.
The former Bears and Buccaneers HC had been in the college ranks for five seasons prior to resurfacing as the Texans’ defensive coordinator last year. Now, Smith will wear two rather important hats for the rebuilding team.
More coaching notes out of the AFC…
- The Texans are making other changes to their staff. Assistant receivers coach Ben McDaniels has been promoted to passing game coordinator and receivers coach, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (on Twitter). The brother of Josh McDaniels, Ben McDaniels has bounced between the NFL and NCAA throughout his coaching career, including stints with the Bears, Buccaneers, and Broncos.
- After leaving for the University of Mississippi earlier this offseason, Chris Kiffin has changed his mind and will return to the Browns, reports Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal (on Twitter). The defensive line coach decided he wanted to continue working in the NFL, and the Browns were more than happy to welcome him back. The son of Monte Kiffin and brother of Lane Kiffin, Chris Kiffin has been the Browns D-line coach since 2020.
- The Ravens are hiring George Godsey as their tight ends coach, reports Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (via Twitter). Godsey was the Texans offensive coordinator between 2015 and 2016, and he most recently served as the Dolphins co-OC/tight ends coach with Miami. The veteran coach will be replacing Bobby Engram, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin.
- The Jaguars are hiring former Chicago Bears outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey for the same role, reports Wilson (on Twitter). Shuey had been with the Bear since the 2018 season, but he wasn’t retained following the firing of Matt Nagy.