Browns Promote Ben Bloom To RGC
- DeFilippo isn’t the only coach who got a promotion on Monday, as the Browns announced they were promoting Ben Bloom to be their new defensive run game coordinator. Bloom spent the 2020 season as a general defensive assistant with the team, and clearly impressed. He was previously the linebackers coach of the Cowboys from 2018-19.
Jim Leonhard, Others In Contention For Packers’ DC Job
The Packers are conducting an expansive search to replace Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator. Several more names joined the early wave of candidates.
Former Chiefs DC Bob Sutton interviewed for the position recently, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, who adds five other new candidates emerged on Green Bay’s radar as well. This comes after news of the Packers interviewing former Seahawks DC Kris Richard, Chargers passing-game coordinator Joe Barry, Washington secondary coach Chris Harris and Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero. Richard and Sutton have since lined up positions with the Saints and Jaguars, respectively. Perhaps a sign about the direction the Packers’ search has taken.
Ten-year NFL safety-turned-Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard, former Dolphins DC Matt Burke, Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin, Saints D-line coach Ryan Nielsen and Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray either have interviewed for the position or will do so by Wednesday, per Demovsky.
Leonhard, whose NFL playing career wrapped up after the 2014 season, has not coached at the NFL level. But he has been the Badgers’ DC since 2017. Three times in the past four seasons, Wisconsin has deployed a top-10 scoring defense in Division I-FBS. Although Leonhard’s nomadic career did not include a Packers stop, the 38-year-old is a Wisconsin native.
Gray served as the Titans’ DC from 2011-13, spent the next six seasons as Vikings secondary coach and signed on as Packers secondary coach last season. The former NFL cornerback has been an assistant in the league since the late 1990s. Kiffin spent 2020 with the Browns but worked with Matt LaFleur‘s brother Mike with the 49ers previously. Burke oversaw the Dolphins’ defense from 2017-18 and was with the Eagles during the past two seasons, while Nielsen has spent the past four seasons as New Orleans’ D-line coach.
Browns Likely To Let Ogunjobi Walk
- The Browns are coming off an incredibly successful season that saw them make it back to the playoffs for the first time in nearly 20 years, but there will still be changes coming in Cleveland. One of the biggest could be the departure of defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. Ogunjobi will likely be allowed to hit free agency and the Browns “probably won’t want to pay him what he can get on the open market,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. Ogunjobi has been a very solid player for Cleveland, starting at least 15 games each of the past three seasons, but with Sheldon Richardson still also manning the middle and fellow defensive tackle Andrew Billings set to return from COVID opt-out in 2021, Kay Cabot thinks he’s expendable.
Browns Sign WR Ryan Switzer To Reserve/Futures Contract
Ryan Switzer should have a chance to compete for a role on the Browns in 2021. The team announced today that they’ve signed the receiver/special teamer to a reserve/futures contract.
The former fourth-round pick earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2017, but he’s had trouble finding a steady home since then, spending time with the Cowboys, Raiders, Steelers, and Browns. His best offensive season came in 2018 with Pittsburgh, when he hauled in 36 receptions for 253 yards and one score. He was limited to only nine games in 2019, and he was eventually waived by the Steelers at the beginning of the 2020 season. He later caught on with the Browns practice squad, and besides a stint on the practice squad IR, that’s where he spent the majority of the 2020 campaign.
While Switzer has shown some ability on offense, he’s made a name for himself as a returner. The 26-year-old has returned 63 kickoffs for 1,373 yards (21.8 yards per return) in his career, and he’s returned 67 punts for 537 yards (eight yards per return) and one touchdown. Switzer was also a prolific returnman during his time at North Carolina, as he led the NCAA in punt return yards in 2013 and earned All-American honors in both 2013 and 2015.
Switzer won’t be the only Browns wideout heading into the offseason with a reserve/futures contract; the team previously inked WR Ja’Marcus Bradley and WR Derrick Willies to deals. Switzer (along with Bradley, Willies, and all other reserve/futures contracts) will sit on the Browns’ 90-man offseason roster with a non-guaranteed deal, and the pact guarantees that he won’t be scooped up by another squad. Teams are only allowed to use reserve/futures deals on players who weren’t on an active roster at the end of the 2020 regular season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/19/21
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to reserve/futures deal: RB John Kelly
New York Giants
- Suspended six games: WR Corey Coleman; Coleman violated NFL’s PED policy, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: LB Deone Bucannon
- Placed on IR: LB Jack Cichy
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/21
With the Ravens, Browns, and Rams getting eliminated from the playoffs over the weekend, both teams announced their slew of reserve/futures deals on Monday. As a reminder, these are all non-guaranteed deals, usually for practice squad type players, to help teams flesh out their 90-man offseason rosters.
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Aaron Adeoye, DT Aaron Crawford, DT Braxton Hoyett, QB Tyler Huntley, WR Jaylon Moore, LS Nick Moore, DE Chauncey Rivers, DB Nigel Warrior, DB Chris Westry, RB Ty’Son Williams, TE Eli Wolf
Cleveland Browns
- S Elijah Benton, WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, TE Jordan Franks, CB A.J. Green, G Cordel Iwuagwu, QB Kyle Lauletta, DE Cameron Malveaux, TE Kyle Markway, K Matt McCrane, LB Montrel Meander, C Javon Patterson, FB Johnny Stanton, T Alex Taylor, WR Derrick Willies
Los Angeles Rams
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QB Bryce Perkins; WR JJ Koski; TE Kendall Blanton; OG Jamil Demby; DTs Eric Banks, Marquise Copeland, Michael Hoecht; DE Jonah Williams; LB Christian Rozeboom; DB Donte Deayon, Tyrique McGhee; LS Colbin Holba; K Austin MacGinnis; P Brandon Wright
Updated 2021 NFL Draft Order
With the Divisional Round in the books, the 2021 NFL Draft order is mostly complete. The Rams, Browns, Ravens, and Saints now have their draft spots locked in, though the Rams’ first-round pick belongs to Urban Meyer and the Jaguars. The Rams traded those rights to Jacksonville as a part of the Jalen Ramsey blockbuster.
Here’s the updated draft order, through the top 28:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Texans)
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Detroit Lions
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Giants
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Las Vegas Raiders
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Washington Football Team
20. Chicago Bears
21. Indianapolis Colts
22. Tennessee Titans
23. New York Jets (via Seahawks)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams)
26. Cleveland Browns
27. Baltimore Ravens
28. New Orleans Saints
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/16/21
Here are the minor moves from divisional-round Saturday:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: TE Kyle Markway, TE Alex Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: WR Gehrig Dieter, DB Chris Lammons, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
- Activated from IR: LB Dorian O’Daniel
- Placed on IR: TE Deon Yelder
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Will Clapp; Clapp contracted the coronavirus, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
- Promoted: LS John Denney, LB Chase Hansen, OL Cameron Tom, K Blair Walsh
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: LB Deone Bucannon, S Javon Hagan, G Ted Larsen
Browns Activate Joel Bitonio
The Browns have activated left guard Joel Bitonio off of the COVID-19 list, per a club announcement. To make room, the Browns waived safety Tedric Thompson. The Browns will also have head coach Kevin Stefanski back on the sidelines against Kansas City, now that he’s been cleared.
Bitonio tested positive for the coronavirus just prior to the Browns’ first-round playoff game against the Steelers. It was a huge loss, but the Browns still managed to throttle the Steelers in the first quarter and hold on for the victory. Now, they’ll have the three-time Pro Bowler back in action as they face the Chiefs in the divisional round.
Bitonio has been a rock for the Browns throughout his seven-year career, despite constant instability in Cleveland. Up until the diagnosis, Bitonio hadn’t missed a snap since 2016. Still, the Browns aren’t 100% healthy on the offensive line. Tackle Jack Conklin was forced out of the Steelers game with a hamstring and his status might not be determined until we get closer to kickoff.
In addition to activating Bitonio, the Browns moved wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge off their reserve/COVID list. They will also have all their coaches back after coronavirus issues forced them to miss last week’s game. Secondary coach Jeff Howard, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters will all coach Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes (Twitter links).
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/21
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Christian Kirk
- Released from IR: DE Josh Mauro
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: C Alex Mack
Cleveland Browns
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Kevin Johnson, DB Denzel Ward
Houston Texans
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Hjalte Froholdt, LB Whitney Mercilus, DB Eric Murray