Haason Reddick Likely To Hit Free Agency
One of the most effective moves made last offseason was the Panthers signing Haason Reddick. After a highly productive year in Charlotte, however, it appears he will be on the open market for the second straight year. 
As noted by NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (on Twitter), Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer “anticipates” the pass rusher testing free agency. He signed a one-year, $8MM deal with Carolina last March, ending a difficult four-year stint in Arizona and reuniting with Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.
For much of his time with the Cardinals, the former first rounder was used as an off-ball linebacker. Only partway through the 2020 season did he step in for Chandler Jones as a pass rusher; he seized the opportunity, totalling 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. That earned him a contract with the Panthers to prove he could replicate his production.
That certainly ended up being the case. Reddick posted 68 tackles, including 12 for a loss, 11 sacks (which ranked tied for 11th in the NFL) and 18 quarterback hits in 16 games this season. The $8MM pact turned into a steal in terms of value, though the Panthers know they could be in need of a similar deal with another edge rusher soon.
In the event Reddick, 27, lands a lucrative new contract elsewhere, Fitterer said “they’ll be happy for him“. While another deal in Carolina isn’t off the table, the team has other priorities, including in the secondary where Donte Jackson and Stephon Gilmore are both pending free agents. Despite Sam Darnold being under contract, the Panthers are also likely to be involved in the quarterback market.
Panthers TE Ian Thomas Facing Five Misdemeanor Charges
After earning a new contract from the Panthers last week, tight end Ian Thomas is now dealing with some legal issues. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, Thomas is facing five misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident last summer.
[RELATED: Panthers Re-Sign TE Ian Thomas]
According to the report, police approached Thomas after they noticed he was driving a motorized dirt bike that didn’t have a license plate (Thomas was also traveling with a driver of an ATV that also didn’t have plates). After initially slowing down for the officer, Thomas and the other driver accelerated and left the scene. Thomas later stopped and was arrested. He was booked on five counts, including reckless driving and felony fleeing to elude. Thomas’ attorney told Person that prosecutors have reduced the one felony charge to a misdemeanor.
A team spokesperson told Person that the organization was aware of the matter and notified the NFL following the arrest. In other words, this isn’t surprise news to the Panthers, and they were aware of the legal matter when they inked the tight end to a new deal.
Thomas’ rookie contract was set to expire, leading to the new deal. A former fourth-round pick, his rookie campaign was the most productive, as he totaled 36 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. In the the past three years, the 25-year-old hasn’t topped 20 receptions or 188 yards. His work as a blocker has made up for that, earning him a snap rate of over 60% for each of the past two seasons. Durability hasn’t been an issue, either, as he has yet to miss a game in his career
NFC Notes: Bucs, Cooper, Panthers, Croom
A couple weeks ago, we wrote about the NFL finalizing plans for a regular season game to take place in Germany. Well, according to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the home team of that game will be none other than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
No word has been announced yet on who their opponent will be, but the Super Bowl LV champions will be present at FC Bayern Munich Stadium next season. The NFL will have one more game in Munich and two in Frankfurt over the following three seasons.
The 2022 NFL season will see four other games on foreign soil. In addition to the game in Germany, England will host three games and the league will return to Mexico City for the first time since 2019.
Here are a few other notes from around the NFC, starting with a note out of the Lone Star State:
- Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper carried a $22MM cap hit in the 2021 NFL season, the highest of any receiver last year. His contract is set up to continue carrying that weight for the remaining three years of his deal. What changes is that, were Dallas to cut the free agent addition before the 2021 season, they would be left with $28MM of dead cap, whereas cutting him before March 20, 2022, would leave them with $6MM of dead cap. Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News wrote about the Cowboys’ designed “escape hatch” in an article this past week.
- The Panthers mutually parted ways with director of pro personnel Matt Allen this weekend, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Allen started as a scouting assistant in 2009 and worked his way up until he was promoted into his most recent role in 2017. Allen was one of the last few holdovers from the Jerry Richardson-era, as Allen was actually a grandson of Richardson.
- After spending the 2021 season on injured reserve, tight end Jason Croom is progressing steadily in his recovery from a torn ACL, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. This was Croom’s second full season spent on IR as the former undrafted free agent also sat out his sophomore season in Buffalo. He is set to hit the free agent market as he works toward a full recovery.
Panthers Re-Sign TE Ian Thomas
The Panthers have re-upped another one of their pending free agents. Per a team announcement, they have re-signed TE Ian Thomas to a three-year deal. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that the contract is worth a total of $16.95MM, with $8MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
Thomas’ rookie contract was set to expire, but he will now stay put in Carolina. A former fourth round pick, his rookie campaign was the most productive, as he totalled 36 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Since then, though, it has become clear that blocking is his forte.
In the the past three years, the 25-year-old hasn’t topped 20 receptions or 188 yards. His work as a blocker has made up for that, earning him a snap rate of over 60% for each of the past two seasons. Durability hasn’t been an issue, either, as he has yet to miss a game in his career. With new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, Thomas and 2021 rookie Tommy Tremble could be in line for an increased workload.
The new deal puts Thomas in the neighborhood of other highly-regarded blocking tight ends. Last season, for instance, the Ravens gave Nick Boyle a two-year, $13MM contract. The $5.65MM annual average makes Thomas’s deal the largest of the three taken care of by the Panthers so far, the other two being linebacker Frankie Luvu and long snapper J.J. Jansen.
Panthers Still Interested In Deshaun Watson; Eagles Did Extensive Work On QB
A still-muddled legal situation has left Deshaun Watson‘s NFL career in limbo, but the quarterback continues to generate interest. While the Dolphins have moved out of the picture, the other team closely connected to the three-time Pro Bowler remains interested.
The Panthers still have Watson on their radar, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. The Panthers were prepared to make a major push for Watson last year, and after initially backing off after the off-field trouble surfaced, they were believed to have made the Texans an offer. Carolina re-emerging as a serious suitor could be a significant offseason development, though any trade talk obviously takes a backseat to the lawsuits ensnaring Watson.
[RELATED: Watson Eyeing Buccaneers, Vikings?]
Carolina’s quarterback situation moved Matt Rhule to the edge of a hot seat last year, and the team has not had stability at the position since Cam Newton‘s injuries began to pile up. The Panthers still have Sam Darnold‘s fully guaranteed $18.8MM salary on their payroll, but for a player like Watson, the QB-desperate team likely would not view that as a hindrance.
Watson holds a no-trade clause, and he is not believed to have waived it for anyone but the Dolphins last year. Still, his past at Clemson and the now-Mike McDaniel-led Dolphins exiting the pursuit — despite Stephen Ross‘ extensive interest prior to the 2021 trade deadline — certainly makes the Panthers a team to watch here.
Watson refusing to waive his no-trade clause for the Eagles did not stop them from doing plenty of work on the embattled QB. GM Howie Roseman “intensely” researched Watson’s situation, and the Eagles sent an investigator to Houston last year to gather more intel on this complex off-field matter, Wilson adds. With both Roseman and Jeffery Lurie being on this at various points, the door should not be viewed as closed on the Eagles’ end. They have three first-round picks in the 2022 draft — all in the teens — and could present the Texans with a compelling offer. Houston has sought a five- to seven-asset package for Watson, and want three first-rounders included in a proposal.
As for Watson’s criminal and civil cases, the holding pattern remains. Some of Watson’s accusers in the civil suit have yet to be deposed, and Wilson notes a judge ruled this week such depositions can be pushed back until at least April 1. Six of the 22 women accusing Watson of sexual assault or sexual misconduct have yet to be deposed. Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, still expects a resolution on Watson’s criminal case, which has seen 10 women come forward with complaints. The Houston Police Department has not yet charged Watson with a crime.
These investigations moving into April would put the teams still interested to decisions at quarterback, with the new league year opening March 16. With quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins‘ true availabilities unknown as of late February, Watson being dropped into the trade mix late would add another complexity to this equation. A potential NFL suspension clouds this process as well.
Steelers Interview Dan Morgan For GM Job
In place as the Panthers’ assistant general manager for less than a year, Dan Morgan is already attracting interest for GM jobs. The Steelers interviewed him for their soon-to-be vacant role recently.
The former Panthers linebacker has worked his way up the chain to the point GM interest is logical. He was the Seahawks’ director of pro personnel and spent three years (2018-20) as the Bills’ player personnel director.
Morgan, 43, is now working as Scott Fitterer‘s right-hand man in Carolina. Although Morgan played high school and college football in Florida, starring as a Miami Hurricane, he is a Pennsylvania native, having grown up in a Philadelphia suburb. The former first-round pick played seven seasons with Carolina. He spent time with the Saints in 2009 and was working as a scout the following year, transitioning quickly to the executive side.
The Steelers are looking to replace Kevin Colbert, who intends to step down from his post after the draft. The team also announced it has finished interviews with Buccaneers VP of player personnel John Spytek, Packers co-player personnel director John Wojciechowski and Colts college scouting director Morocco Brown.
Here is how the Steelers’ search looks thus far, courtesy of PFR’s GM search tracker:
- Morocco Brown, college scouting director (Colts): Interviewed
- Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel (Titans): Interviewed 2/4
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interviewed 2/4
- Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration (Steelers): Mentioned as candidate
- Dan Morgan, assistant general manager (Panthers): Interviewed
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interview scheduled
- John Spytek, director of player personnel (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- John Wojciechowski, co-director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed
- JoJo Wooden, director of player personnel (Chargers): Interviewed by 2/4
49ers Seeking Day 2 Pick In Jimmy Garoppolo Trade?
Of the starter-caliber quarterbacks linked to trades, Jimmy Garoppolo has the clearest path to being moved. Garoppolo and John Lynch have discussed a trade, and the passer would prefer to be dealt to a team with a shot at near-future contention.
The 49ers acquired Garoppolo for a second-round pick, and Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com offers the team is aiming for a Day 2 choice and an additional asset in a deal for its four-plus-year starter. The team would not necessarily need the Day 2 choice to be in this year’s draft, per Wagoner. The Jets’ haul for Sam Darnold comes to mind, with the Panthers sending over their 2022 second-rounder in last year’s swap that also included fourth- and sixth-round choices.
[RELATED: Who Will Acquire Garoppolo From 49ers?]
The quarterback market not producing fireworks would stand to help the 49ers, who could drive a harder bargain if Garoppolo turns out to be the top QB available or one of the top two — in the event Deshaun Watson is finally moved. This might not end up being the case, with several passers mentioned as trade candidates, but the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson staying put would increase Garoppolo’s value.
While Garoppolo’s contract contained a no-trade clause, it expired after the 2021 trade deadline. The 49ers are free to send Garoppolo anywhere they choose, though it sounds like the team is willing to work with him. Teams like the Steelers, Commanders, Buccaneers, Broncos and Panthers could be in play as well. Carolina and Washington make the most sense as suitors, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Neither figures to be in play for Rodgers or Wilson. If those two are not available, and the Vikings hold firm on keeping Kirk Cousins, the Broncos would probably be more likely to entertain a Garoppolo swap.
Quarterbacks who have fetched a second-day draft choice in recent years include Darnold, Josh Rosen, Teddy Bridgewater (his Jets-to-Saints 2018 deal) and, of course, Garoppolo, whom the 49ers acquired for a second-rounder at the 2017 deadline. The 49ers may use the Chiefs’ 2018 Alex Smith trade as a comp, given the similar situations. The Chiefs were ready to hand the keys to Patrick Mahomes, and Smith signed an extension with Washington after being dealt for a third-rounder and Kendall Fuller.
Garoppolo’s injuries will limit San Francisco’s trade return to a degree, but he did take the 49ers to two NFC championship games after seasons in which he ranked in the top 15 in QBR (13th in both 2019 and 2021). While the ex-Patriots draftee has seen his play frequently maligned, he will have value as a trade chip. Garoppolo’s contract includes a $24.2MM salary in 2022, presumably prompting the team that acquires him to authorize another extension. The extension the 30-year-old QB signed in 2018 runs through 2022.
Panthers Re-Sign LB Frankie Luvu
The Panthers are bringing back one of their pending free agents. Linebacker Frankie Luvu has agreed to a two-year deal with Carolina, per ESPN’s David Newton (Twitter link). Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network adds that the contract is worth $9MM.
Luvu, 25, signed with the Panthers last offseason. That came after three years to start his career with the Jets, where he flashed potential as at least an effective rotational player. While he had the second-lowest sack total of his career in 2021 with 1.5, he set a new mark with 43 total tackles (including eight for a loss) in 16 games. He also collected one pass breakup, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
While Luvu, who went undrafted in 2018, saw almost exactly as many snaps on defense as he did in his final campaign with the Jets, he continued an upward trend of playing time on special teams, reaching a new career high of 71% of snaps. PFF’s Doug Kyed tweets that he “was expected to draw significant interest as a free agent”.
Luvu will now remain on a Panthers defense that ranked second in the league in yards allowed in 2021. With a front seven including the likes of Derrick Brown, Brian Burns and fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson, he seems to have carved out a useful role on the team which has earned him some short-term stability.
NFC Coaching Notes: Giants, Seahawks, Bears
Brian Daboll is naturally making some changes to the Giants coaching staff. Per Aaron Wilson on Twitter (detailed in four tweets), the Giants have hired Drew Wilkins as linebackers coach, Christian Jones as an offensive assistant, Laura Young as director of coaching operations, Bobby Johnson as offensive line coach, Shea Tierney as quarterbacks coach, DeAndre Smith as running backs coach, Mike Groh as wide receivers coach, Andy Bischoff as tight ends coach, Tony Sparano Jr. as assistant offensive line coach, and Andre Patterson as defensive line coach.
Daboll also retained a handful of holdovers from Joe Judge’s staff. That grouping includes Jerome Henderson (defensive backs coach), Mike Treier (assistant defensive backs coach), Anthony Blevins (special teams assistant), and Nick Williams (special teams quality control coach).
Finally, the Giants shifted Ryan Hollern to college scouting coordinator and named Mark Loecher as assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Some more coaching notes out of the NFC…
- The Seahawks will promote Andy Dickerson to their offensive line coach, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter). Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron recruited Dickerson from the Rams last offseason, with Dickerson earning the role of run-game coordinator. Now, he’ll earn the (apparent) promotion to OL coach. The Seahawks fired former offensive line coach Mike Solari last week, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). This was the 67-year-old’s second stint with the organization, and he had served as the team’s OL coach since 2018.
- The Bears announced last week that they hired Carlos Polk as their assistant special teams coach. The 44-year-old coach has served in the same role with a handful of teams, including the Chargers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Jaguars. He spent the 2021 campaign in Jacksonville.
- The Cardinals have hired Matt Burke as their defensive line coach, reports Pelissero (on Twitter). The 45-year-old was the Dolphins defensive coordinator between 2017 and 2018, and he most recently worked for the Jets as a “game management coach.” Burke has also had coaching stints with the Eagles, Bengals, Lions, and Titans.
- The Vikings have hired Brian Angelichio as their pass game coordinator/tight ends coach, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). Angelichio spent the past two years as the Panthers tight ends coach, so he’s getting a slight promotion in Minnesota. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Vikings are hiring Jerrod Johnson as an offensive assistant. Johnson is expected to work with the QBs. The coach was a two-time participant in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, and he spent last season as the Colts quality control coach.
- Matt Rhule has made some changes to his staff. The Panthers announced that they’ve hired Joe Dailey as wide receivers coach. Dailey has spent the past two seasons as Boston College’s offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Robert Kugler was hired as assistant offensive line coach while defensive analyst Kevin Gilbride Jr. was promoted to TE coach (replacing Angelichio).
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)