- Colts defensive line coach Mike Phair will be joining the Panthers coaching staff, reports Stephen Holder of The Athletic (via Twitter). Holden notes that the move was mostly thanks to defensive coordinator Phil Snow, as the two have a close relationship. Phair has also had NFL coaching stints with the Buccaneers, Bears, and Seahawks.
The stage has been set for the conference championships. The Titans, Chiefs, 49ers, and Packers are moving on to the semifinals, while the Texans, Seahawks, Ravens, and Vikings will begin planning for the offseason ahead. Unfortunately for the Texans, their first round pick belongs to the Dolphins.
Here’s an updated look at the 2020 NFL Draft order from Nos. 1-28:
1. Bengals (2-14)
2. Redskins (3-13)
3. Lions (3-12-1)
4. Giants (4-12)
5 Dolphins (5-11)
6. Chargers (5-11)
7. Panthers (5-11)
8. Cardinals (5-10-1)
9. Jaguars (6-10)
10. Browns (6-10)
11. Jets (7-9)
12. Raiders (7-9)
13. Colts (7-9)
14. Buccaneers (7-9)
15. Broncos (7-9)
16. Falcons (7-9)
17. Cowboys (8-8)
18. Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)
19. Raiders (via Bears 8-8)
20. Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)
21. Eagles (9-7)
22. Bills (10-6)
23. Patriots (12-4)
24. Saints (13-3)
25. Vikings (10-6)
26. Dolphins (via Texans 10-6)
27. Seahawks (11-5)
28. Ravens (14-2)
Over the weekend, the Browns requested an interview with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, making him the first known candidate in their GM search. However, Dodds has declined the invite, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
Dodds, Pelissero hears, feels there is unfinished business in Indy. Speculatively, one has to wonder if he might also have some reservations about the power structure in Cleveland. The Browns fired Freddie Kitchens after one (disappointing) season at the helm and parted ways with GM John Dorsey despite some savvy moves on Dorsey’s part to restock the roster.
The new structure will see new head coach Kevin Stefanski and the GM TBD each report directly to Haslam. Meanwhile, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is expected to carry significant influence in the front office.
Eagles exec and old friend Andrew Berry is also in the mix for the GM job and could be the favorite to land it.
We’ve got our first known candidate for the Browns’ general manager vacancy. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the organization has requested permission to interview Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds. Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets that the Colts have granted the Browns permission to interview the executive.
Perhaps even more notably, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Browns head coaching candidate (and current 49ers defensive coordinator) Robert Saleh showed interest in being paired with Dodds in Cleveland. Saleh and Dodds both worked together during their stint in Seattle. Rapoport adds that
Dodds was considered one of the top scouts in the NFL during his 10 seasons in Seattle. During his time with the Seahawks, he served in a variety of roles, including senior personnel executive. Dodds joined the Colts back in 2017, and he was promoted to assistant GM the following year.
We heard earlier today that the organization was starting to ramp up their efforts to find a replacement for John Dorsey, who the team parted ways with in late December. While the order of operations may sound a bit weird, the Browns had always planned to complete their head coaching search before hiring a GM.
Dodds is the first known contender for the GM opening, and it sounds like the Browns organization has an affinity for former Seahawks executives. We previously heard that Seattle’s co-directors of player personnel, Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer, are two well-respected executives who could emerge as leading candidates for the GM gig. Rapoport tweets that the duo could also be paired with Saleh, as could 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Today’s reserve/futures contracts. For a primer/refresher on what exactly these deals entail, click here.
Indianapolis Colts
Philadelphia Eagles
Both players are former Chargers. Williams started 15 games for the Chargers in 2017 and seven last year, but injuries quickly derailed his career even though he was once highly regarded. Still only 26, he should have a decent chance to crack Philly’s secondary next year. Scott spent most of the past three seasons on Los Angeles’ practice squad.
The Colts aren’t totally committed to Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback for 2020. Regardless of how that shakes out, it doesn’t sound like Andrew Luck will be walking through that door. 
[RELATED: Colts GM: “Jury Still Out” On Brissett]
“He’s doing fine,” said Andrew’s dad and XFL commissioner Oliver Luck in an interview with Dan Patrick. “My wife and I spent some time with him and his growing family. He just got his first child about six weeks ago. We were with him over Christmas. He’s doing great. I have not noticed any desires to come back and play, but he’s doing very well.”
Colts GM Chris Ballard has gotten a similar impression from the former No. 1 overall pick.
“Andrew’s retired,” Ballard said recently. “Do I talk to Andrew? Yes, I do. Haven’t talked to him in a few weeks, I’m sure he’s been busy being a father. But Andrew’s retired, and I think we all need to accept that. That’s where he’s at. He’s retired.”
With that, the Colts probably won’t be able to talk the former No. 1 overall pick into returning in 2020. On the plus side, they have the No. 13 overall pick in the draft and upwards of $90MM in projected cap space to work with.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Two years ago, Josh McDaniels had assistants ready to follow him to the Colts. Multiple staffers did so, even though the Patriots assistant backed out of the agreement. This time around, McDaniels looks to have a staff lined up again. McDaniels is now “very much ready” to leave New England, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding that the longtime Patriots play-caller has Redskins OC Kevin O’Connell and Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon set to be key players on his staff (should McDaniels accept a job if offered). The Redskins are interested in retaining O’Connell, their offensive coordinator this season, but his NFL years began as a quarterback under McDaniels during the latter’s first stint as Patriots OC. Gannon joined the Colts’ staff in 2018. Like McDaniels, Gannon is a Cleveland-area native. He was a scout with the Rams during McDaniels’ one season in St. Louis.
After a weekend full of drama and upsets, four more spots have been determined in this year’s NFL Draft order. Most notably – the Patriots will pick No. 23 overall, their highest original pick since 2006.
Here’s the updated rundown, from Nos. 1-24:
1. Bengals (2-14)
2. Redskins (3-13)
3. Lions (3-12-1)
4. Giants (4-12)
5. Dolphins (5-11)
6. Chargers (5-11)
7. Panthers (5-11)
8. Cardinals (5-10-1)
9. Jaguars (6-10)
10. Browns (6-10)
11. Jets (7-9)
12. Raiders (7-9)
13. Colts (7-9)
14. Buccaneers (7-9)
15. Broncos (7-9)
16. Falcons (7-9)
17. Cowboys (8-8)
18. Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)
19. Raiders (via Bears 8-8)
20. Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)
21. Eagles (9-7)
22. Bills (10-6)
23. Patriots (12-4)
24. Saints (13-3)
The Colts aren’t sold on Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback. Brissett has one more year to go on his contract, but GM Chris Ballard says “the jury’s still out” on the 27-year-old. 
“That’s why we did a short-term deal with Jacoby,” said Ballard. “Jacoby did some good things. I don’t want to just look at the second half of the season and say he didn’t, because Jacoby did some good things. I think as a whole, not just the quarterback position, but our passing game has to improve. Unequivocally. That has to get better. You have to be able to throw the ball to win in this league.”
This all jibes with a December report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport – the Colts, armed with the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, could look for a new signal caller. One can’t help but wonder if their QB search could lead them back to old friend Andrew Luck, but Ballard did his best to downplay that possibility when speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“Andrew’s retired,” Ballard said. “Do I talk to Andrew? Yes, I do. Haven’t talked to him in a few weeks, I’m sure he’s been busy being a father. But Andrew’s retired, and I think we all need to accept that. That’s where he’s at. He’s retired.”
After being thrust into the starting QB role, Brissett completed 60.9% of his throws in 2019 for 2,942 yards. He also threw for 18 touchdowns against just six interceptions and advanced the ball on the ground a bit as well. Brissett averaged 4.1 yards on 56 rushing attempts in 2019, scored four rushing touchdowns, and picked up 20 first downs with his feet.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eric Ebron won’t be back with the Colts in 2020. When asked about the tight end, GM Chris Ballard told reporters that the team will “probably move on” from Ebron. 
Ebron, a former first-round pick, struggled early on in his career with the Lions. But, when he joined the Colts in 2018, things were looking up. The tight end had fewer drops en route to a 14-touchdown season with 66 catches for 750 yards and a whopping 13 TDs.
This year, without quarterback Andrew Luck, Ebron was far less productive. The 26-year-old (27 in April) had just 31 grabs for 375 yards and three scores before landing on IR in late November with an ankle injury.
Then, the two sides clashed. The Colts said they were not aware of Ebron having any sort of serious ankle issue. Ebron fired back and issued a statement saying that the team was aware of his severe pain since the beginning of the season.
The Colts, apparently, aren’t interested in mending fences. Ebron will look for work elsewhere when he hits the open market in March.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.