East Rumors: Wentz, Eagles, Giants
The Bills were the team North Dakota State quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg recalled being the most enamored with Carson Wentz, staging several visits to the Fargo, N.D.-based Division I-FCS school to gauge the first-round prospect, Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports.
Bills representatives attended several Bison practices and were a constant in North Dakota State’s football facility, Hedberg told Dunne, to look at the rare non-FBS first-round quarterback prospect. Dunne notes, however, that at this rate the fast-rising Wentz won’t be available when the Bills select at No. 19, as the 6’5″ signal-caller has impressed this week in Senior Bowl workouts.
Buffalo still has Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel under contract for 2016.
Here is the latest on the most unlikely top-tier quarterback prospect in a while and other news from around the Eastern divisions.
- Even though the Jets are set to negotiate an extension with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes they are pondering first-round quarterbacks, with Wentz being the most intriguing. “Every NFL team probably goes into the draft — with maybe a few exceptions of people who have really well-established quarterbacks — looking at that position as a position of interest,” Jets GM Mike Maccagnan said. “We’ll be no different than them.” The Jets pick at No. 20.
- The Eagles will meet with Steelers executive Brandon Hunt for a second interview Friday for their director of player personnel position, Philly.com’s Jeff McLane tweets. Steelers owner Art Rooney II gave the 35-year-old Hunt permission to interview with the eastern-Pennsylvania franchise. He’s already met with Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman.
- Although Hunt is their only confirmed candidate, McLane reports former Browns VP of player personnel Morocco Brown is on the Eagles’ radar for this job. Eagles director of pro scouting Dwayne Joseph looms as an internal candidate, per McLane.
- The Giants are planning to add Patriots linebackers coach Patrick Graham as their defensive line coach, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The 37-year-old Graham’s been with the Patriots since 2009 and prior to taking over the Pats’ linebackers in 2014, he supervised their defensive linemen in 2012-13.
Draft Notes: Cowboys, Nkemdiche, Jets
This week, your Twitter timeline is probably chock full of news about teams meeting with top draft prospects. Of course, a team meeting with a prospect actually means very little, as Mike McCartney explained in a succinct tweet on Tuesday: “Senior Bowl Pet Peeve: EVERY player here meets with EVERY team.”
Here at Pro Football Rumors, we have opted against sharing every single meeting between NFL teams and draft prospects, opting instead to bring you only the most important and relevant draft news. With that in mind, here’s today’s look at the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft:
- Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche had a weird incident in 2015 but teams are still evaluating him like he’s a top five pick, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (video link). Specifically, the Cowboys are taking a hard look at him and so are the Chargers. Nkemdiche boasts tremendous size and moves like a tight end, so it’s not hard for teams to overlook some off-the-field red flags. For his part, Miller sees him as a strong fit for Dallas but also feels that the Titans are a logical destination. However, that doesn’t mean that Tennessee will reach and take him No. 1 overall.
- The Jets spent a lot of time with Boise State safety Darian Thompson on Wednesday morning, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (on Twitter). Thompson grades out as a second or third round prospect, per Pauline.
- Thompson, Temple defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis and OSU wide receiver Braxton Miller are drawing rave reviews from scouts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
- The Cowboys spent a great deal of time with Southern Utah defensive back Miles Killebrew, according to Pauline (link).
- A top NFL personnel exec at the Senior Bowl opined to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter) that the Browns should take quarterback Carson Wentz at No. 2. “They’d be set for 15 years,” the anonymous exec said.
Browns To Hire Andrew Berry
The Browns are set to hire Colts pro scouting coordinator Andrew Berry as VP of Player Personnel, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The position is believed to be the Browns’ top personnel job, though Sashi Brown will continue to have final say over the roster. 
[RELATED: Browns’ Joe Thomas Unlikely To Request Trade]
The Browns previously interviewed Lions senior personnel executive Brian Xanders and former Falcons director of player personnel Lionel Vital for their top available personnel position. Up until now, Berry was not mentioned as a candidate for the job. The hiring of Berry seems to have come out of left field, but it’s not the team’s most surprising hire of the offseason. Just weeks ago, the Browns hired longtime baseball exec Paul DePodesta for a front office role.
Berry, who has spent the last seven seasons with the Colts, served as the team’s pro scouting coordinator from 2012 though 2015. With Berry hired as VP of Player Personnel, the team’s heavy lifting in the front office and on the sidelines is likely done. In recent weeks, the team promoted Brown to executive vice president of football operations and hired ex-Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as head coach.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
North Notes: Bakhtiari, Browns, Lions
It’s not too early for Ted Thompson and the Packers to start thinking about extending David Bakhtiari‘s contract, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today-Wisconsin. Green Bay’s starting left tackle is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and is interested in remaining with the team beyond 2016, as he tells Wood.
“I think it’s mutual,” Bakhtiari said of his interest in sticking with the Packers. “I like it here, and they like me. I have another year. So I think if they want to do it early, awesome. If not, then we have one more year to work together. So we can talk about it then. I do think it’s too early though.”
The Packers don’t foray into free agency much, but do typically lock up their own players, so it could be a matter of when, not if, the team gets something done with Bakhtiari. We saw Green Bay lock up Mike Daniels months before he was eligible for free agency, but the club sometimes lets talks go down to the wire — Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga signed extensions a year ago just before hitting the open market.
As we wait to see if Bakhtiari and the Packers can get anything done this offseason, let’s round up some more items from out of the NFL’s North divisions….
- Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown would be shocked if the team traded up to No. 1 in the draft, telling Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that the club is more likely to trade down, if it moves off the No. 2 pick. The Titans have the first overall pick, so if the Browns intend to select a quarterback second overall, the only way they won’t get their man is if another team trades for Tennessee’s pick.
- New Lions general manager Bob Quinn said today that he hasn’t talked to Calvin Johnson yet about whether or not the wide receiver wants to continue playing, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Although Quinn doesn’t want to rush Johnson into a decision, the GM admits he “absolutely” hopes to have resolution on the issue before free agency begins in March.
- Although there’s no question that Lions players wanted Jim Caldwell back as the team’s head coach, Quinn didn’t consult with any players before making a decision on Caldwell, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com details.
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle passes (Twitter links) along a couple workout updates, reporting that the Browns recently tried out kicker Kyle Brindza, while the Vikings auditioned running back Isaiah Pead.
Browns Interview Xanders, Vital For Top Personnel Job
WEDNESDAY, 8:09am: In addition to speaking to Xanders, the Browns also interviewed former Falcons director of player personnel Lionel Vital for their top personnel job, sources tell Cabot. Vital was let go by Atlanta earlier this month after spending three years with the team.
TUESDAY, 7:44pm: The Browns have interviewed Lions senior personnel executive Brian Xanders for their top available personnel position, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Xanders was one of two men to interview for the job on Tuesday, though the identity of the other candidate to interview today is not yet known. 
Besides the former Broncos GM, the Browns have also talked with former Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey and former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and they have also been linked to ex-Eagles executive Rick Mueller. Whoever the Browns’ next big hire is will not carry the title of GM. Their next “Executive Vice President of Player Personnel” will have input when it comes to the roster, but Browns executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown will have final say.
Xanders, 44, comes with tons of experience having just completed his third season with the Lions and 22nd in the NFL. There’s no exact timetable for a hire, but the team is optimistic about making a decision shortly.
“We’re still on track to hopefully wrap things up in the next week or two,” said Brown. “We feel good about it. We’ve talked to some really talented people around the league despite not being able to interview everyone we were originally slated to. I feel like we’ll find a really talented personnel executive to come in and lead that function for us.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
North Notes: Megatron, Packers, Haslam
There’s no decision yet, and no exact timetable, for Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson as he considers whether or not to continue his playing career, agent Bus Cook tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Shortly after the regular season ended, Megatron issued a statement indicating he was considering retirement, but Lions fans will have to wait at least a little longer before finding out what the wideout’s future plans are.
“Nothing to report,” said Cook, who is currently in Mobile, Alabam for the Senior Bowl. “Have to wait and see. He has to think about what he’s going to do and then go from there.”
As we wait to find out what Johnson decides, let’s check out a few more items from out of the NFL’s North divisions….
- After a weekend report suggested that Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was frustrated by the team’s lack of free agent spending, general manager Ted Thompson said on Monday that there’s no problem between him and McCarthy, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). However, Cole suggests there may be “growing tension” in Green Bay after McCarthy’s latest postseason loss.
- Cole also has an update on the Browns (video link), reporting that team owner Jimmy Haslam is in Mobile for Senior Bowl practices, in an effort to take on a more “hands-on approach” as the head of the franchise. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link) confirms Haslam’s attendance, but says the Browns owner plans to leave today after having dinner with scouts on Monday night.
- The Browns have added Ken Delgado to their coaching staff as an assistant defensive line coach and former Titans assistant Cannon Matthews as an assistant defensive backs coach, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- The Bears announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve named Richard Hightower their new assistant special teams coach. Hightower replaces Derius Swinton, who joined the 49ers last week.
- Justin Tucker‘s impressive track record when it comes to clutch kicks should give him some leverage when he and the Ravens discuss a new contract this winter, writes Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com.
Coaching Notes: Pats, Browns, Giants, Lions
The latest NFL coaching updates:
- One day after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady absorbed 20-plus hits in a 20-18 AFC title game loss to Denver, the Pats are parting ways with offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). DeGuglielmo, who had been New England’s O-line coach since 2014, was aware he was on the hot seat, adds Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link).
- Former NFL running back Rock Cartwright is the newest addition to the Browns’ Hue Jackson-led coaching staff. Cartwright will work as an offensive quality control coach, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
- The Giants have interviewed Paul Pasqualoni about their defensive line coach vacancy, per Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link). Pasqualoni held the same position with the Texans last season.
- Marvez reported Saturday that David Walker was set to become the Lions’ running backs coach. That hiring is now official, writes Tim Twentyman of the team’s website. Walker coached Indy’s RBs from 2011-14, including one season under Jim Caldwell.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Benjamin, Ravens
When the Browns hired Paul DePodesta away from the New York Mets, there was an assumption from observers and fans that Cleveland would be relying more heavily on an analytics-based approach going forward. However, that’s not exactly the case, as executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown explains (link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).
“We have a talented analytics group already in place,” Brown said. “Paul’s strength, to us, was the ability to think about, build, execute on putting together championship-caliber organizations. He understands people. He understands processes. He understands standards and accountability. His talents aren’t limited to analytics That’s really what Paul’s role is here — to help us set a vision, set strategies, execute on those, keep us on strategy and aligned.”
Here’s more on the Browns and one of their AFC North rivals:
- The Browns are adding former Jets assistant Ryan Slowik to their coaching staff, according to Doug Samuels of FootballScoop (Twitter link). Alex Marvez of FOX Sports adds (via Twitter) that Slowik will become Cleveland’s outside linebackers coach.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com wonders if the Browns’ new decision-makers will be more inclined to sign the team’s own free agents than previous regimes have been. Grossi also identifies a handful of potential free agents who Cleveland should try to bring back, including wide receiver Travis Benjamin.
- Although Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has said he’d like to add two receivers this offseason, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun believes the club would be satisfied with one, assuming that player is a high draft pick or an established veteran. Zrebiec also notes that, given the Ravens’ fondness for compensatory picks, the team is more likely to sign a receiver who is cut by another team, rather than a true unrestricted free agent.
North Notes: Packers, Steelers, Allen, Browns
Let’s take a quick spin around the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is “fed up” with general manager Ted Thompson‘s refusal to use free agency to bring in veteran reinforcements, sources tell Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thompson and the rest of the Green Bay front office are famously loath to enter the free agent period, instead opting to rely on draft picks only to bolster the roster. But that approach seems to be taking its toll on McCarthy, on whom McGinn also places plenty of blame for the Packers’ disappointing 2015 campaign.
- Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn’t believe cornerback Cortez Allen will remain on the Steelers‘ roster in 2016, calling Allen’s 2014 extension “one of the worst big-money contracts” in club history. Head coach Mike Tomlin admitted on Friday that he’s not convinced Allen can be an impact player, and given that Pittsburgh could save $1.7MM against the cap by releasing Allen, it’s fair to speculate that he won’t return.
- In her latest mailbag for Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot answers questions about the Browns‘ chances of landing Cal quarterback Jared Goff, whether Josh McCown will be retained, and the latest on receiver Josh Gordon.
Browns’ Joe Thomas Unlikely To Request Trade
Earlier this month, Browns left tackle Joe Thomas — frustrated after his club fired head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer — said he would wait to see who the team brought in as the pair’s replacements before making a decision on whether to seek a trade out of Cleveland. Speaking on WKYC on Saturday, Thomas appeared pleased with the Browns’ new direction.
[RELATED: Browns receiver Josh Gordon files for reinstatement]
“Certainly I love the people in Cleveland. It’s my home. I love the city. I love everything about it. So I definitely want to be part of the turnaround,” said Thomas, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Browns, of course, have made several staff and front office changes since the end of the regular season, hiring former Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as head coach (Thomas reportedly called the selection of Jackson “pretty awesome”), promoting Sashi Brown to executive vice president of football operations, and bringing in former Mets executive Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer.
[Browns hire Ray Horton, Pep Hamiton, and Al Saunders]
At a press conference on Thursday, Brown told the media that he had met with Thomas, and insisted that the nine-year veteran “will be a big piece of what [the team] does moving forward,” an indication that the new regime wasn’t too keen on trading its franchise left tackle. Still, given that a potential deal that would have sent Thomas to the Broncos for a bevy of draft picks reportedly fell through at last year’s trade deadline, it was fair to wonder if the club might attempt to deal Thomas again.