2016 Home And Away Opponents Named For All 32 NFL Teams
Lions Rumors: GM Search, Polian, Megatron
The latest from Detroit:
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press identifies Texans executive Brian Gaine and Jaguars exec Chris Polian as two names to watch for the Lions’ general manager job, along with interim GM Sheldon White. Gaine has been mentioned as a candidate for a promotion in Houston as well.
- The Lions are scheduling a GM interview with Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Kirchner interviewed with the Jets last year.
- Calvin Johnson faces some uncertainty this offseason with the Lions, ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein writes. Johnson will have a $24MM cap hit with a $15.95MM cash value in 2016 and the team could save $11.1MM on the cap by letting him go.
- The Lions have requested to interview Cowboys assistant director of player personnel Will McClay for their GM job, but he decided to stay put, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). McClay said he recently re-did his contract in Dallas and didn’t want to leave, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
- Vikings exec George Paton will be declining GM interviews, as well, Birkett tweets. The Lions haven’t formally requested an interview, but he is well respected and seemed like a probable candidate for the job.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Top 20 Teams Set For 2016 NFL Draft
With the 2015 NFL regular season now complete, the 2016 draft order has been set for the teams that didn’t earn playoff berths this year.
The order for the top 20 is determined first by record — the teams with the worst records get the highest picks. The tiebreaker for teams that finish with identical records is strength of schedules. The easier the team’s schedule, the higher its pick. The thinking there is that if two teams finished with the same record, the team that played the easier schedule is likely the “worst” of the two teams, earning that club the higher pick.
Via NFL.com, here’s how the top 20 breaks down for the 2016 NFL draft, with each team’s record and opponents’ winning percentage noted in parentheses:
- Tennessee Titans (3-13, .492)
- Cleveland Browns (3-13, .531)
- San Diego Chargers (4-12, .527)
- Dallas Cowboys (4-12, .531)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11, .473)
- Baltimore Ravens (5-11, .508)
- San Francisco 49ers (5-11, .539)
- Miami Dolphins (6-10, .469)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10, .484)
- New York Giants (6-10, .500)
- Chicago Bears (6-10, .547)
- New Orleans Saints (7-9, .504)
- Philadelphia Eagles (7-9, .508)
- Oakland Raiders (7-9, .512)
- St. Louis Rams (7-9, .527)
- Detroit Lions (7-9, .535)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-8, .481)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-8, .500)
- Buffalo Bills (8-8, .508)
- New York Jets (10-6, .441)
While teams that played weaker schedules will get the higher draft picks – via tiebreaker – in the first round, that’s not the case for every round. Teams that finished with identical records will rotate order throughout the draft, so the Browns, for instance, will pick ahead of the Titans in round two.
As for the remaining 12 spots, those will be determined based on which teams are eliminated from the playoffs first. The four teams knocked out in the Wild Card round will pick 21st through 24th, for example — the clubs with the weaker records will get the higher picks. The full order will be determined after the Super Bowl, with this year’s champion getting the last pick of the first round — unless, of course, that’s the Patriots, who won’t have a first-rounder in 2016.
Jaguars Rumors: Caldwell, Henne, Wisniewski
As opposed to this past year when the Jaguars extended numerous free agent offers and signed many early in the offseason, their next shopping period won’t be as frenzied.
The Jags won’t have as much money as they did last year and a slight on-field improvement doesn’t leave as many holes to fill, GM Dave Caldwell told the Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran.
“I think it’s going to be tough,” Caldwell told O’Halloran on the upcoming market. “But for us, we can really start to narrow down our needs. In the past, we were just trying to get guys come in and plug holes. Now, we can focus on what our 4-5 areas of needs are and be aggressive instead of saying, ‘Shoot, we have 16 or 18 needs so let’s see who we can get.”
Caldwell said Jacksonville will have “one to two” targets on Day 1 of free agency, which is March 15.
As of now, the Jags possess $43.14MM of cap space, which is fourth in the league behind the Raiders, Bears and Buccaneers. O’Halloran expects the team to release Chris Clemons and Toby Gerhart, clearing up an additional $7.5MM.
Here are some more notes from the Southern franchises.
- The Jaguars will likely offer Chad Henne a contract paying him around the $3.5MM-per-year deal he’s finishing Sunday, O’Halloran notes. In a piece detailing the team’s roster going into 2016, O’Halloran expects Marcedes Lewis to remain with the Jaguars. This runs counter to the logic that dictated the longtime tight end would be jettisoned after Julius Thomas‘ lucrative accord, but a thin tight end class and the 10th-year player accepting his backup role, in O’Halloran’s view, looks to keep him in Jacksonville. Lewis, though, will be a free agent entering his age-32 season off of a campaign that’s thus far included just 15 receptions for 181 yards and no scores.
- Stefen Wisniewski‘s status in Jacksonville is uncertain after the fifth-year center signed a one-year pact late during last year’s free agency. The former Raiders snapper said he’s “open to anything” in terms of a return to the Jaguars, Vito Stellino of the Times-Union reports. Wisniewski rates as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 center.
- Jacksonville wouldn’t be smart to allocate any resources to adding wideout help, either in free agency or the draft, Hays Carlyon of the Times-Union writes. Both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns under contract for two more seasons on incredibly affordable deals, and backups Rashad Greene and Marqise Lee remain projects.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/16
Let’s take a look at a New Year’s Day edition of the league’s latest minor moves:
- The Rams have promoted receiver Nick Toon to their active roster, according to Woodbery (Twitter link), placing cornerback Eric Patterson on injured reserve to create a roster spot (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). Toon, a former fourth-round pick, has 21 career receptions, all with the Saints.
- The Jaguars also made a practice squad promotion, signing defensive tackle Richard Ash to the active roster while placing defensive end Abry Jones on injured reserve, tweets Wilson. Ash has spent the entire season on Jacksonville’s taxi squad.
- The Chargers made a couple of procedural moves, per Wilson (Twitter link), who reports that San Diego has cut receiver Torrence Allen and guard Ben Beckwith from injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- The Saints have placed running back Kendall Hunter on injured reserve, head coach Sean Payton told reporters, including Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (Twitter link). The 27-year-old former 49er, who has just one carry on the season, was apparently injured during practice this week.
- The Colts have waived receiver Griff Whalen off injured reserve, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN. Whalen appeared in 14 games this season, catching 19 balls for 205 yards and one touchdown.
Coaching Staff Notes: Browns, Lions, Jaguars
Mike Pettine isn’t giving up his position as Browns head coach without a fight, as he has already offered up the suggestion that he would make significant changes to his coaching staff if the ownership decided to retain him, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal.
It is unusual for a head coach to be so willing to give up his staff in exchange for his job, which points towards the likelihood of him getting fired. However, owner Jimmy Haslam vowed not to blow up the franchise back in August, and might consider keeping Pettine for continuity’s sake.
Here are some more notes involving current coordinators and coaching staffs in the NFL:
- Despite offensive struggles this season, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has not lost any confidence in Scott Linehan’s ability to coordinate the offense, writes David Moore of DallasNews.com.
- Jim Caldwell may be on the hot seat in Detroit, but his coaching staff is even more uncertain. Many Lions’ coaches could be in the running for better jobs elsewhere, while others could decide to jump ship if any opportunity should arise, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
- Of all the Lions’ staff, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is least likely to return, as he will be a top head coaching candidate around the league this hiring cycle, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.
- The Jaguars offensive took a big step forward this year, but defensive coordinator Bob Babich might not have done enough to keep his job into 2016, writes Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com.
- The Bears are expecting offensive coordinator Adam Gase to be offered a head coaching job this year, after interviewing with five teams a year ago, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains will be in consideration, as could Ken Whisenhunt and Pat Shurmur.
- Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan looked like a head coaching candidate during the team’s 5-0 start, but the disappointing finish put that status into question. Still, Shanahan is excited to be back with the team in 2016 to build on what the offense started, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.
- Despite completely turning the Seahawks offense around midseason, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell isn’t receiving much head coaching buzz this season, writes Sheil Kapadia of ESPN. He has been in the discussion the past two offseasons but has not been able to come away with a job. His 2015 performance might be the best offense he put on display, but he doesn’t seem to be as hot as other candidates.
- Some changes will be made on the 49ers coaching staff, but defensive coordinator Eric Mangini believes they won’t wait long to find out, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. For one, linebackers coach Clancy Pengergast is expected to leave to join USC’s coaching staff.
Jags Owner: Gus Bradley To Return For 2016
Head coach Gus Bradley will continue coaching the Jaguars in 2016, team owner Shad Khan confirmed today in a statement. The announcement confirms what was already suspected, since a report back in October indicated that Bradley would be safe through 2016.
Here’s a portion of Khan’s statement, via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union:
“I spoke to Gus Bradley today to confirm to him that he will continue as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. It’s evident to see how far we’ve come in many aspects of our game, and Gus deserves a lot of credit for that progress. It’s also evident the considerable work that remains to be done to be where we expect to be at this time next season, which is well above where we stand today. And Gus understands that. [General manager] Dave Caldwell and I also spoke today and we are both confident that Gus will make 2016 the best year of his career.”
There have been encouraging signs for the Jaguars this year, as the team was in contention for a division title in the weak AFC South up until a week or two ago. The development of Blake Bortles, in particular, has been a bright spot in Jacksonville this season, with the second-year QB throwing for 35 touchdowns after tossing just 11 in his rookie campaign.
Still, the Jags are headed for yet another losing season under Bradley, and even if the club prevails in its regular-season finale, it won’t have won more than six games in any of Bradley’s three seasons. Overall, he’s just 12-35 during his stint with Jacksonville. If the team doesn’t continue to show tangible progress in 2016, perhaps contending for a playoff spot or at least finishing with a .500 record, it’s hard to imagine Bradley continuing to coach the Jags in 2017.
Updated Projections For 2016 Draft Order
Last week, we examined what the NFL’s projected draft order for the top 10 picks of 2016 would look like, with the Titans in the lead for the number one overall pick. Tennessee’s blowout loss to the Texans on Sunday kept the Titans firmly in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 pick, and the club could clinch that top selection with a loss next weekend against the Colts.
While the outlook at the top of the projected 2016 draft order remains the same, with the Browns right behind the Titans for that first overall pick, there were a few other changes to the top 10 based on this weekend’s results. The Ravens’ win over Pittsburgh dropped Baltimore from No. 3 to No. 8, while victories by the Saints and Bears removed those teams from the top 10 for now, with the Buccaneers and Giants taking over their spots.
Here’s the current projected order for the top 10 picks of the 2016 NFL draft, with just one week left in the regular season. Teams are sorted by worst record, with strength of schedule serving as the tiebreaker — the weaker a team’s schedule, the higher its draft pick.
- Tennessee Titans: 3-12 (.493)
- Cleveland Browns: 3-12 (.532)
- San Diego Chargers: 4-11 (.511)
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-11 (.529)
- San Francisco 49ers: 4-11 (.558)
- Miami Dolphins: 5-10 (.453)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-10 (.467)
- Baltimore Ravens: 5-10 (.489)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-9 (.453)
- New York Giants: 6-9 (.498)
While a loss by the Titans would lock them into the first overall pick, the door remains open for the Browns, and given all the ties on this list, it’s possible the top 10 could shuffle around significantly by next Monday, so stay tuned.
Extra Points: Murray, Job Openings, Jags
There have been various reports this month centering on running back DeMarco Murray‘s apparent discontent with being a member of the Eagles. One said an “obviously upset” Murray and team owner Jeffrey Lurie had a long conversation about his lack of playing time after an upset win over New England. However, Murray’s own words this week run contrary to the idea that he’s unhappy with his role, per The Associated Press.
“I’m not worried about how many plays I am getting,” said Murray, who received just two touches in a 40-17 loss to Arizona last week. “Whenever I get in, whenever I get an opportunity, I have to make the most of it.”
Murray hasn’t made the most of his opportunities this year, amassing just 606 yards and four touchdowns through 13 games. After signing a deal worth over $40MM last offseason, Murray has averaged a mere 3.4 yards per carry in his first season in Philadelphia.
In other NFL news. . .
- There will be teams looking for new head coaches and/or general managers in the coming weeks, but a dearth of enticing replacement options could preclude some clubs from making changes, according to The Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci. Even if teams are displeased with their current situations, then, they might continue with the status quo in 2016 because the market won’t exactly be packed with slam-dunk candidates next month.
- Earlier this week, an independent hearing officer jointly hired by both the league and NFL Players Association upheld the one-game suspension given to Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a helmet-to-helmet in last Sunday’s loss to Carolina. The league and the union could eventually agree to handle off-field discipline the same way, reports Carucci. If so, it would remove power from commissioner Roger Goodell on violations of the league’s personal-conduct policy and give it to a neutral party.
- Last May at their rookie minicamp, the Jaguars lost first-round defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. for all of 2015 because of a torn ACL. With that in mind, they’re debating whether to even have a traditional rookie camp next spring, according to Ryan O’Halloran of Florida.com. “It’s something I’ve always thought didn’t make a lot of sense, and we’re going to take a real, long, hard look at how we approach it,” said GM Dave Caldwell.
South Rumors: Payton, Coleman, Blackmon, Colts
Sean Payton decided again to squash any potential move to another team next season, per ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.
“It’s come up every, I’m going to say, two to three years. And I guess … listen, it comes with the territory,” the Saints coach told media. “This is where I call home. I just finished building a home here. I’m close enough to my son back in Dallas where I’m pretty much back there once a week or he’s over here; my daughter is off in college now. So, I see myself coaching this team long past this season.”
Payton made similar comments in October after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Dolphins, and possibly other teams, would make a play for his services after this season. The 10th-year coach has two years remaining on his contract, so such a move would require compensation.
Drew Brees‘ coach for each of his Saints campaigns, Payton also anticipates the 15th-year quarterback to stay in New Orleans next season, when he’ll be 37 and occupy an untenable $30MM salary cap number.
“I understand (the question). It’s the business we’re in. And yet he’s playing at a very high level,” Payton told media. “His mechanics, his arm strength has been outstanding. Two weeks ago in Tampa Bay, he made a throw down the sideline and into the wind in Cover 2 that was unbelievable. So, yes, to answer your question, I do (expect him back).”
Here is some more news emerging from the Southern divisions.
- Tevin Coleman slipped in the shower at the Falcons‘ facility and entered the concussion protocol as a result, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports. The rookie runner who began the season as Atlanta’s starter has 392 yards on 87 carries this season.
- The Jaguars recouped an undisclosed amount of Justin Blackmon‘s bonus money despite the embattled receiver going on his second full-season absence from the league, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports. Previous reports indicated the Jaguars were keeping the former top-10 pick on their roster to recoup as much as $4MM of Blackmon’s signing bonus, instead of cutting him and not reacquiring any money. O’Halloran estimates, with Blackmon accruing another DUI this month, the receiver’s suspension has no end in sight and the Jags could conceivably keep him on their roster for years, with it not costing any cap space to do so.
- After T.Y. Hilton criticized the Colts‘ game plan for a lack of deep shots, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski indicated the team’s tenuous situation has limited the number of downfield strikes he’s willing to attempt, according to an Associated Press report. This isn’t the first time in-house criticism of play-calling’s surfaced, with since-deposed OC Pep Hamilton receiving his share previously this season.
- Including Chuck Pagano only being offered a one-year extension and Ryan Grigson‘s failure to upgrade the Colts’ offensive line, the Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer examines the main components that led to the Colts’ tumble this season.