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Dolphins Could Pursue Jimmy Garoppolo

By | at February 18, 2026 10:25 pm

After six up-and-down years with the Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will likely exit Miami in the near future. Releasing or trading Tagovailoa would put the Dolphins in position to add another veteran passer this offseason.

Packers backup Malik Willis is a rumored target, but the Dolphins are at a disadvantage in cap space (a projected $3.18MM, per OverTheCap) compared to other teams that may chase him. Rams reserve Jimmy Garoppolo, who should come at a much lower price than Willis, is also a name to watch for the Dolphins, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

The 34-year-old Garoppolo spent the past two seasons behind 2025 MVP winner Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. After starting one game in 2024, Garoppolo didn’t attempt a pass in three appearances last season. A crack at playing time in Miami, where Garoppolo would presumably compete with 2025 seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers, may entice the 12-year veteran.

Since beginning his career as a Patriots second-rounder in 2014, Garoppolo – once considered the heir apparent to Tom Brady – has played for four teams and accumulated 64 starts. His most recent attempt as a full-time starter came with the 2023 Raiders, who erred in handing him a three-year, $67.5MM deal in free agency that March. Eight months later, after Garoppolo performed poorly over six starts, the Raiders benched him for Aidan O’Connell in November. They released Garoppolo during the ensuing offseason.

Garoppolo’s Las Vegas stint did not go according to plan, but he was in position to land his expensive contract after enjoying success with the 49ers from 2017-22. In 2019, a career year, Garoppolo completed 69.1% of passes and threw for 3,978 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 49ers went 13-3 in the regular season and advanced to Super Bowl LIV, but they lost 31-20 to the Chiefs.

As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted in his Dolphins Offseason Outlook, new head coach Jeff Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik overlapped with Garoppolo in San Francisco. As the defensive backs coach from 2016-18, Hafley was on the other side of the ball. But Slowik worked closely with Garoppolo as an offensive assistant/pass-game specialist/pass-game coordinator from 2019-22. If the Dolphins are merely looking for an inexpensive stopgap to replace Tagovailoa, we could see Garoppolo reunite with Hafley and Slowik in 2026.

19 comments Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/26

By | at February 18, 2026 5:58 pm

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves from around the NFL…

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers

The 35-year-old Quessenberry, by far the most experienced player in this quartet, has 97 games and 30 starts on his resume. Quessenberry was a sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2013, but a foot injury and then a three-year battle with Lymphoma kept him off the field in his first four seasons. He beat cancer to make his long-awaited NFL debut in 2017. Quessenberry has since gotten into games with the Titans, Bills, Vikings and Rams. In 2025, his first season as a Ram, he made 13 appearances and totaled 91 snaps (73 on special teams, 18 on offense).

Zakelj, 26, has been a career-long 49er since they chose him in the sixth round in 2022. The former Fordham Ram has come off the bench in 27 of 29 appearances, including three last season. Zakelj picked up his only two starts in 2024, his lone 17-game season.

0 comments Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Transactions

Robert Woods Announces Retirement

By | at February 17, 2026 4:41 pm

Veteran wide receiver Robert Woods announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday (via Adam Schefter of ESPN). The 33-year-old signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Rams.

A former USC Trojan, Woods entered the NFL as Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2013. He ended up spending four years as a member of the Bills, with whom he caught 203 passes for 2,451 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The California native parlayed his solid production as a Bill into a five-year, $39MM deal with the Rams in 2017. The move worked out beautifully for both parties.

Joining the Rams in Sean McVay‘s first season as their head coach, Woods racked up 56 catches for 781 yards (then a career high) and five touchdowns. Woods went on to post his three best seasons after that. He finished with between 86 to 90 receptions in each year and surpassed the 1,100-yard mark twice, including a personal-high 1,219 in 2018.

Woods’ career began going downhill when he suffered an ACL tear in practice in November 2021. The injury limited Woods to nine games and held him out for the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run.

In March 2022, several weeks after the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, they traded Woods to the Titans for a sixth-round pick. Woods played his lone 17-game season that year, but after he put up 53 catches, 527 yards and two TDs, the Titans released him.

In the wake of his Titans breakup, Woods landed a two-year deal with the AFC South rival Texans. He saw the pact through and played in 29 games, though Woods only combined for 60 catches, 629 yards and one score.

Woods stayed in the AFC when he inked a one-year, $2MM contract with the Steelers last offseason, but he didn’t crack their roster. The Steelers released Woods in late August, and he didn’t sign elsewhere all season. He’ll now wrap up an impressive 12-year career that included 683 catches, 8,233 yards and 38 TDs over 171 games.

8 comments Buffalo Bills Houston Texans Los Angeles Rams Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans

NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Rams, Gray

By | at February 16, 2026 7:03 pm

Kyler Murray did well to secure a rolling guarantee structure on his five-year, $230.5MM Cardinals extension. The deal provides advanced salary guarantees, and by the quarterback remaining on Arizona’s roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year, his $22.84MM 2026 base salary locked in. A $13.97MM 2026 option bonus also triggered last year. If Murray remains on Arizona’s roster by Day 5 of the 2026 league year, his $19.5MM 2027 base salary guarantees. That will make trading Murray difficult, as an acquiring team would inherit the 2027 salary guarantee. While Murray is a two-time original-ballot Pro Bowler, he has trended downward in recent years. He coming off a foot injury that limited him to five 2025 games.

Although the Cardinals would like to trade the former No. 1 overall pick, SI.com’s Albert Breer indicated during a recent appearance on Fox Sports’ The Herd a release is the more likely outcome here. GM Monti Ossenfort did not design the Murray contract; predecessor Steve Keim did. The Cardinals could spread the $54.72MM dead money figure over two years by designating the QB as a post-June 1 cut. If the Cardinals cannot find a trade partner, that is the expected scenario. Breer mentions the Jets and Vikings as possible destinations. Minnesota came up as a potential suitor late last year.

A Russell Wilson-like scenario in which Murray plays for the veteran minimum following a release will be in play, and he would be a natural stopgap option as a free agent — while the acquiring team would hold exclusive negotiating rights with the 28-year-old passer until March 2027. Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • With the Raiders and Seahawks hiring offensive coordinators, the Rams are the only team left without one. The Cardinals hiring Mike LaFleur as HC seemingly opens the door to the Rams promoting pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, but Breer mentions QBs coach Dave Ragone as an option not to be dismissed. Ragone, 46, served as a three-year non-play-calling Falcons OC from 2021-23 and has spent the past two seasons on Sean McVay‘s staff, overseeing Matthew Stafford‘s first two original-ballot Pro Bowl seasons. McVay pointed to an internal hire recently, and it appears he joins Scheelhaase as internal candidates.
  • Former DC Jerry Gray is joining the 49ers as defensive backs coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Formerly the Titans’ DC (2011-13), Gray has settled back on the position coaching tier over the past decade. He spent the past three years in Atlanta working under Arthur Smith and Raheem Morris. With the latter becoming the 49ers’ DC, Gray had a natural path to San Francisco. The former NFL cornerback spent the previous three seasons in Green Bay and the six before that on Mike Zimmer‘s Vikings staff as DBs coach. Gray has been an NFL assistant since 1997.
  • The Rams are hiring Robert Wright as a defensive assistant, according to ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel. Wright is a former DC at Syracuse and Buffalo, serving in that role with the Orange over the past two seasons.
  • More notably on the coaching front, the Cardinals have their new wide receivers and cornerbacks coaches lined up. Four-year Vikings assistant wideouts coach Tony Sorrentino will be the new Arizona WRs coach, ESPN’s Peter Schrager tweets. Sorrentino joins Brian Angelichio — the new Steelers OC — in defecting from Kevin O’Connell‘s offensive staff for a promotion elsewhere. The Vikings gig was Sorrentino’s first NFL job. Zac Etheridge is leaving his role as the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive pass-game coordinator to become the Cardinals’ CBs coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz adds. Etheridge spent one season at Miami, coaching DBs at Houston (2024) and Auburn (2021-23) before that.
  • The Cardinals, however, will lose a member of their scouting staff to the college ranks. Stephen Wise is leaving Arizona to join Georgia Tech’s front office, Zenitz notes. Wise had been with the Cardinals since 2021, working as a low-level scouting staffer.
4 comments Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers

2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 15, 2026 10:15 pm

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 2-18-26 (10:39am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Drew Petzing)

  • Nathaniel Hackett, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

  • Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, pass-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed
  • Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Promoted

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Greg Olson)

  • Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
  • Frisman Jackson, wide receivers coach (Seahawks): To interview

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Klint Kubiak)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Cleveland Browns (Out: Jim Schwartz)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Patrick Graham)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Sean Duggan, former linebackers coach (Packers): Hired
  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New England Patriots (Out: Terrell Williams)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

  • Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Interviewed
  • Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Hired
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Rumored candidate
  • Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Raiders): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

4 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Raiders To Interview Aubrey Pleasant For Defensive Coordinator

By | at February 13, 2026 11:48 am

The Raiders have requested and received permission to interview Rams assistant head coach/pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator job, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Pleasant will meet with the Raiders today.

With the Cardinals deciding to retain defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, there are only three DC openings left in the NFL. The Patriots and Browns have the other vacancies. While New England is expected to promote 2025 play-caller Zak Kuhr from inside linebackers coach, Pleasant is a candidate to wind up in Cleveland. He’d face the tall task of replacing Jim Schwartz on first-year head coach Todd Monken‘s staff.

Patrick Graham was the Raiders’ DC for the past four seasons, but the Steelers hired him for the same post on Jan. 30. The Raiders have since picked a new head coach in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who knows Pleasant well from their time as former NFC West adversaries.

Kubiak was the 49ers’ offensive pass-game coordinator in 2023, the same year the division-rival Rams brought in Pleasant. The teams split their two matchups that season. While Kubiak left the division to run the Saints’ offense in 2024, he did face the Rams again in a 21-14 loss.

Kubiak returned to the NFC West last season to take on Pleasant and the Rams in three crucial matchups. The Seahawks picked up two wins, including a 31-27 triumph in the NFC title game. After the Seahawks cruised to a 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX last Sunday, Kubiak officially joined the Raiders. He’s now behind the 8-ball in scrambling to fill his coaching staff in mid-February, but Pleasant could be a strong pickup during the late stage of the coordinator hiring cycle.

Pleasant has no experience running a defense, though he has garnered significant experience as a coach since he began as an intern with the Browns in 2013. He has also served as an assistant with Washington, Detroit and Green Bay. Several teams have interviewed Pleasant for DC gigs since 2022, and this could be the offseason he finally lands one of those jobs.

Whether the Raiders hire Pleasant or someone else, trade rumors centering on their best defensive player, Maxx Crosby, are likely to persist. Thanks in part to a fifth straight Pro Bowl effort from Crosby, the Raiders ranked a respectable 14th in total defense in 2025. Trading the pass-rushing star wouldn’t do their next defensive coordinator any favors, but the Raiders may bite if another team makes a massive offer.

3 comments Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Rams

More Rams-Matthew Stafford Contract Talks On Tap; Raise Likely For MVP

By | at February 10, 2026 9:25 pm

The past two offseasons have brought Matthew Stafford contract talks. The 2023 offseason included the Rams dangling the likely Hall of Famer in trades (after an injury-marred 2022). But the star quarterback has now moved into strong position to score a true raise on a contract he signed back in 2022.

Los Angeles rewarded its longtime starter with a guarantee influx just before the 2025 league year. This ended the strange trade subplot involving the Giants and Raiders. Stafford received a $40MM 2025 guarantee, and the Rams included a $24MM 2026 option bonus (which is split into four $6MM payments, per Spotrac). Stafford’s contract still expires after the 2027 season, but it would appear extension talks are coming.

[RELATED: Stafford Commits To Playing In 2026]

It should not be expected Stafford will play for the $40MM number in 2026, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes, indicating more contract talks will be on tap. A raise will be likely here. The Rams can lower Stafford’s $48.27MM 2026 cap number with an extension, but they will absorb some void years-driven punishment down the road. For now, though, the team will have the 2025 MVP back for a sixth season.

Stafford pushed for 2025 guarantees during renegotiation talks in 2024, but no too much came the QB’s way at that time. The team moved $5MM from future years into 2024 and inserted a $4MM guaranteed roster bonus for 2025. Stafford needed to come back to the table last year to lock in the $40MM 2025 guarantee, which was agreed to after the Rams let him speak with other teams.

The Giants and Raiders had near-$100MM guarantee packages lined up, but such a move would have meant relocating to a rebuilding team. Stafford opted to stay with Sean McVay, and the decision paid off. The Rams gave their QB Davante Adams to target alongside Puka Nacua and watched passer throw a career-high 46 touchdown passes (to go with an NFL-leading 4,707 passing yards at 7.7 per attempt) en route to MVP honors.

Adams is slated to come back, and a Nacua extension is a high priority. Though, the Stafford matter will probably come first. Stafford accepted a team-friendly extension (four years, $160MM) in March 2022 but seemed to regret that, as the 2024 and ’25 negotiations illustrated. The cannon-armed passer roared back after an injury-plagued 2022. The 2024 and ’25 Pro Bowl nods were Stafford’s only original-ballot invites of his career, and the MVP award coming after a Super Bowl title probably pushed his Hall of Fame candidacy past the goal line.

Stafford’s $40MM AAV now ranks 16th among quarterbacks. Considering his importance to the Rams and the team having continued to delay acquiring an heir apparent, Stafford’s camp will bring plenty of leverage into the next round of talks. After Stafford left some money on the table in 2022, will he operate more aggressively ahead of his age-38 season?

The Rams have a few starters now eligible for extensions, with Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Warren McClendon joining Nacua from a talented 2023 draft class. With Rob Havenstein retiring, McClendon is poised to step into the starting right tackle role on a full-time basis.

It will be interesting to see how the Rams proceed here. They were not prepared to meet Stafford’s $50MM-per-year ask during the sides’ 2025 negotiations. It would stand to reason Stafford will come back with an AAV number beyond $50MM, considering his accomplishments compared to some of the players in that salary bracket. Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy and Stafford Rams predecessor Jared Goff secured deals averaging more than $53MM per year. That said, older QBs have settled for non-top-market prices in the not-so-distant past. Drew Brees finished his career on a two-year, $50MM contract, ditto Tom Brady.

While it would be doubtful any more trade talks occur, the arduous nature of the 2024 and ’25 redo discussions do not exactly make it sound like the 2026 negotiations will be a smooth process. The Rams have seen a QB work as their primary starter in seven straight seasons just twice since the merger — Jim Everett (1986-93) and Marc Bulger (2003-09). Will Stafford end up being signed beyond his sixth L.A. season? It will be interesting to see what numbers come up as the Rams negotiate with their QB for a fourth time in five offseasons.

1 comment Los Angeles Rams

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Cross

By | at February 10, 2026 8:43 pm

The 49ers acquired what turned out to be a quality trade chip when they gave Mac Jones a two-year, $7MM contract. That turned out to bring strong value, after the team saw Brock Purdy miss eight games. San Francisco managed a 5-3 record with Jones at the helm, and with Purdy in the $50MM-AAV club, the 49ers are expected to receive trade calls on their backup. While San Francisco wants to retain Jones, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows predicts the team will receive an offer strong enough to move on.

With Jones tied to a $1.4MM base salary and teams undoubtedly interested in turning to him as a starter, the 49ers could certainly ask for a Day 2 pick and a Day 3 choice. A second-round pick may not be out of the question for a player who could be in demand. Jones, 27, completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense last season. He surpassed 2,000 passing yards in limited duty and finished with a 13-6 TD-INT ratio. The 49ers seeing Purdy miss extensive time years after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury-plagued tenure will naturally influence them to stay the course with Jones, but a big offer could certainly change the team’s thinking.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • While Fred Warner was practicing again when the 49ers’ season ended, defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were out of the picture. Bosa suffered an ACL tear in Week 3, while Williams went down with an ACL tear in Week 9. John Lynch said (via Barrows) training camp returns will be expected for both players. Bosa made it back from his September 2020 ACL tear by Week 1 of the 2021 season. While Williams landing on the reserve/PUP list would not surprise, an early expectation points to the 2025 first-rounder being ready to start the 2026 campaign.
  • The Rams are adding a coach to their defensive backs contingent. Michael Hunter will be added to Sean McVay‘s staff, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Hunter is coming over from Tennessee. He did not spend much time with the SEC program, being hired after the 2025 season. Hunter previously coached cornerbacks at Ohio State for two seasons. Hunter, 32, played six NFL games with the Giants from 2016-17. The Rams have seen pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant receive extensive DC interest, but he has not landed a job yet.
  • Staying with Rams DB matters, safety Quentin Lake‘s recent extension covers three years and is worth $38.25MM. Of the previously reported $25.7MM guaranteed figure, just $8.5MM of that total will be guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. If on the roster by Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Lake will see an additional $3.25MM guarantee for 2026 and see his full $12.75MM 2027 compensation shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee. If on the Rams’ roster by Day 5 of the 2028 league year, Lake will be due a $2.55MM roster bonus.
  • Charles Cross‘ four-year, $104.4MM Seahawks extension includes $43.1MM fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The Super Bowl champions have structured this deal similarly to Sam Darnold‘s. Cross will see his $13.63MM 2027 salary become fully guaranteed five days after Super Bowl LXI. Cross will carry a $10.88MM cap hit in 2026; the number spikes to $23MM in 2027.
0 comments Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks

Rams RT Rob Havenstein To Retire

By | at February 10, 2026 3:16 pm

After 11 years as a starting right tackle with the Rams, Rob Havenstein is calling it a career. Havenstein announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN).

“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and fans who have supported me and helped me over these past 11 years,” Havenstein wrote. “I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015. Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”

Now 33 years old, Havenstein was the last St. Louis Ram remaining on his team’s roster. As a second-round selection in 2015, Havenstein spent his rookie year in St. Louis. The Rams relocated to Los Angeles the next season.

As Havenstein noted, “some” weren’t convinced the Rams were wise in using a high pick on him. He proved his doubters wrong, though, as the Rams nabbed a Day 1 starter and someone who topped the depth chart for his entire career.

The former Wisconsin Badger started in all 148 of his appearances with the Rams, though injuries were a consistent issue. He missed at least one game in 10 of his seasons and sat out three or more on five occasions.

A stalwart when healthy, Havenstein earned two extensions during his career. He inked a four-year, $32.5MM contract in 2018 and then landed a three-year, $34.5MM pact in 2022. His second deal came together several months after he won the lone Super Bowl title of his career.

Had Havenstein continued in 2026, he’d have been on track to reach free agency for the first time in March. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder would have had to seek a new contract on the heels of an injury-ruined 2025.

In his final season, Havenstein played in just seven games – none past Week 11 – as a result of ankle and knee issues. He went on injured reserve in mid-November, and though the Rams opened his practice window ahead of the NFC title game, he wasn’t healthy enough to play in their season-ending loss to the Seahawks.

Havenstein will walk away tied for eighth on the Rams’ all-time games played list for offensive linemen. He’s third among their tackles in starts, trailing Pro Football Hall of Famers Jackie Slater and Orlando Pace.

With Havenstein moving on, the Rams are expected to hand the keys at right tackle to Warren McClendon. After McClendon impressed filling in for Havenstein in 2025, the Rams could pursue an extension with the three-year veteran this offseason.

5 comments Los Angeles Rams Newsstand

Browns To Conduct DC Interview With Aubrey Pleasant; Team Requests Jonathan Cooley, Charlie Bullen Meetings

By | at February 9, 2026 1:39 pm

With the Browns‘ head coaching position going to Todd Monken, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will not be with the team any longer. His resignation has created a DC opening in Cleveland for the first time in three years.

The list of candidates to replace Schwartz has grown. Rams defensive pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant will speak with the Browns this afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Meanwhile, Charlie Bullen, currently the outside linebackers coach of the Giants, has received a Browns interview request, per Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo.

Both Pleasant and Bullen are also candidates for the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator opening. That is not the case for Panthers defensive pass-game coordinator Jonathan Cooley, but he too is on Cleveland’s radar. Cooley has received a DC interview request as well, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Pleasant’s first NFL coaching gig came in 2013. That season, he worked as an intern with the Browns. Since then, the former UDFA has held a number of roles on various NFL teams. Much of Pleasant’s coaching career has come with the Rams, though. He has worked with the team during two different stints; back in Los Angeles since 2023, he received the added title of assistant head coach one year later.

Bullen is also a veteran staffer, with experience at the college and pro levels. The 41-year-old joined the Giants’ staff in 2024, and he took over from Shane Bowen midway through this past campaign after Bowen’s dismissal. New York brought in Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator, ensuring Bullen would not receive the gig on a full-time basis. His first full season leading a defense would come about in 2026 in the event of a Browns (or Cardinals) hire.

Cooley had not been connected to any D-coordinator openings prior to today. A former Rams staffer, he worked under Ejiro Evero in Los Angeles. The two were reunited in Carolina in 2023. Cooley worked as the Panthers’ secondary coach during his first season with the team. For the past two years, he has held his current title.

Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with the Browns:

  • Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed
  • Charlie Bullen, defensive pass-game coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
  • Jonathan Cooley, defensive pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): To interview 2/9
  • Jason Tarver, linebackers coach (Browns): Interviewed
  • Cory Undlin, defensive pass-game coordinator (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
  • Dino Vasso, defensive backs coach (Texans): Mentioned as candidate; withdrew from search
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