Latest On Aaron Donald, Sean McVay
Rumblings of early retirements for Sean McVay and Aaron Donald have, to some degree, clouded the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI celebration. At the team’s championship parade Wednesday, however, the duo did not make it sound like immediate exits are in play.
McVay started a “run it back” chant, while Donald also addressed the situation in a way that would make it difficult to imagine him retiring this year.
“We built a super team. We can bring a super team back. We can run it back,” Donald said, via USA Today’s Josh Peter.
Chiming in on the matter shortly after McVay’s appearance on stage at the parade, Rams COO Kevin Demoff said the 36-year-old head coach is “ready to defend our title,” via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. This would obviously be great news for the Rams, who would be one of the frontrunners to win Super Bowl LVII with McVay and Donald back. Some adjustments might need to be made in order to ensure both return.
The Rams may need to adjust Donald’s contract to ensure his 2022 return, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Donald has shared with teammates he would be ready to walk away earlier than expected, though Fowler adds these teammates have not exactly believed him. Still, this will be a situation to monitor this offseason.
Money being a driver for this retirement buzz this should not be a big surprise. Joey Bosa, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt have surpassed Donald’s salary since he and the Rams agreed on a six-year, $135MM extension in 2018. Khalil Mack topped Donald’s $22.5MM-AAV mark later that week, but the Bears defender only did so by $500K per year. Watt’s Steelers re-up tops Donald by $5.5MM per year. With Donald going into his age-31 season, it would make sense for him to capitalize with a final top-market accord. Three seasons remain on Donald’s deal, so the Rams making an adjustment might not involve a new contract altogether.
McVay is expected to receive another extension. His current $8.5MM-per-year deal runs through 2023. Given the Rams’ arc since he took over in 2017 (four playoff appearances, two Super Bowls), he can demand to be the game’s highest-paid HC. McVay signed his last deal in 2019. During Super Bowl week, McVay addressed the topic of an earlier-than-expected exit, and when discussing his 2022 status Monday, the five-year HC did not commit to being back on the sidelines next season. Factoring in McVay’s Wednesday comments and the team he will have in place, it would be a major surprise if the Rams needed a new coach soon.
Rams Expected To Lose Wes Phillips, Chris O’Hara
- USA Today’s Mike Jones tweets that it is “sounding like” Wes Phillips and Chris O’Hara will be following newly-hired head coach Kevin O’Connell to Minnesota. The former, who is also the son of Wade Phillips, has been a TEs coach with three different teams, the most recent being the Rams. It was reported earlier this week that O’Connell was expected to give him the role of either OC or passing game coordinator. The latter only spent the 2021 season in L.A., but worked as an offensive assistant in Jacksonville and Washington before that.
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Vikings To Interview Thomas Brown For OC Job
Following a Super Bowl win on Sunday, Rams running backs coach Thomas Brown is now eyeing a potential promotion. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Brown will interview with the Vikings for their offensive coordinator job.
[RELATED: Vikings Plan To Hire Rams’ Kevin O’Connell]
Former Rams OC (and new Vikings head coach) Kevin O’Connell will surely recruit some of his fellow Rams coaches to Minnesota, and it appears that Brown is on his list. Only 35, Brown has made a rapid rise through the coaching ranks. Following a nine-year stint in the NCAA, Brown has spent the past two years with the Rams. After starting as RBs coach in 2021, Brown also earned the title of assistant head coach in 2021.
Thanks to his success in Los Angeles, Brown was considered for the Dolphins HC gig this offseason. According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network (on Twitter), Brown impressed the Dolphins brass, and the coach is considered a “respected offensive mind” around the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are finalizing their deal with O’Connell to be their new head coach, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). An announcement is coming, and the press conference is expected to take place on Thursday.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/15/22
Today’s Reserve/Futures deals signed in the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB John Brannon, QB Jake Browning, C Lamont Gaillard, S Trayvon Henderson, RB Elijah Holyfield, TE Thaddeus Moss, DE Noah Spence, TE Scotty Washington, WR Pooka Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Landen Akers, T Chandler Brewer, DB Antoine Brooks Jr., DE Earnest Brown IV, DB Tyler Hall, RB Javian Hawkins, G Jeremiah Kolone, WR J.J. Koski, TE Kyle Markway, DB Kareem Orr, T Max Pircher, DE Jonah Williams
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Latest On Sean McVay’s Future
After the Rams’ Super Bowl victory, questions around head coach Sean McVay‘s future continue. When asked about his intention of remaining with the team for the 2022 season – something he already addressed in the lead-up to the game – his response was “we’ll see”.
[Related: Sean McVay Plans To Coach In 2022]
McVay gave that answer when speaking to Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. It represents a stark contrast to the report before the Super Bowl from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that he is “committed to this team and coaching”.
As Chase Goodbread of NFL.com adds, McVay went on to say, “I’m just enjoying this moment right now. I’m really happy to be a part of this. Happy for that”. He also pointed out that winning a Super Bowl title might accelerate the process of his moving on from coaching. When asked if the championship would make it easier for McVay to leave the sidelines, he answered, “I think you could definitely say that”, according to Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree.
McVay, 36, became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl with the victory on Sunday. Considering it was already the team’s second appearance in the title game in his five seasons at the helm, the thought of retirement seems far less likely than an extension to rank him amongst the highest-paid coaches in the NFL.
Nevertheless, Rams COO Kevin Demoff said, “I would agree I don’t think Sean’s current pace is sustainable, in terms of how much work he puts in, if you want to have a family”, something that McVay has repeatedly referenced when asked about his plans. Demoff added, “A month away, two months away, from everybody and I think things will feel a lot better”. Time away from the game for McVay in the offseason will likely help shape his intentions, which will in turn play a large role in the Rams’ future decisions.
AFC Coaching Notes: Bengals, Broncos, Texans, Jaguars
While Super Bowl LVI didn’t go the way the Bengals wanted, their 2021 postseason run demonstrated that they are set to be a force in the AFC for years to come. One of the results of their success is not only an expected contract extension for head coach Zac Taylor, but a number of assistants on his staff as well.
As Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network writes, the list of coaches receiving new deals includes at least five names. On the offensive side of the ball, wide receivers coach Troy Walters is listed; he jumped into coaching almost immediately after an eight-year playing career, and has worked with the Bengals’ wideouts since joining the team in 2020. The other offensive assistant is tight ends coach James Casey, who has coached that position (after playing it himself in the NFL) since 2017. He has been in Cincinnati for the past three seasons.
Defensively, new deals are forthcoming for linebackers coach Al Golden and defensive line coach Marion Hobby. The former has been coaching since 1993, between the college and NFL ranks, including the last two years with the Bengals. The latter is equally experienced, and coached the position in Cincinnati this year, after four seasons doing the same in Jacksonville and Miami. Wilson adds that strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese is the final name on the list.
Here are some other coaching notes from around the AFC:
- Nathaniel Hackett‘s new staff continues to take shape in Denver. Wilson tweets that Tyrone Wheatley is the new running backs coach. He has previously coached the position at four colleges, including Michigan, as well as the Bills and Jaguars. He was most recently the head coach at Morgan State.
- The other offensive addition in Denver is Jake Moreland, who is taking over as tight ends coach, according to 9News’ Mike Klis (Twitter link). The 45-year-old’s first NFL coaching gig came with the Jets this past season, serving as an assistant offensive line coach. Klis notes that his background is the same as fellow newcomer Ben Steele.
- Defensively, the Broncos are adding Bert Watts to their staff. He was most recently the associate head coach at Auburn, but he also held the titles of special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach. The latter will be his purview in Denver, where he was an assistant in 2012 (Twitter link via ESPN’s Dan Graziano).
- The Texans have made an interesting hire on their offensive staff. Wilson tweets that Ted White, who was a quarterback during the days of NFL Europe, and also in the CFL, has been hired as an offensive assistant. His coaching career includes stints at five college programs, and most recently in the XFL, with a background in working with QBs.
- Graziano tweets that Jacques Cesaire is coming to Houston as their defensive line coach. The former Charger defensive end began coaching in San Diego in 2015, also spending two years with the Bills as an assistant at that same position.
- Finally, Deshea Townsend is being hired by the Jaguars, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). This comes as a surprise, since he was expected to join the Vikings’ staff, but changed course due to a perceived sense he’ll get a “bigger role within the defense” in Jacksonville (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press). He has previously worked with cornerbacks with five different teams, including four in the NFL, Chicago being the most recent.
Odell Beckham Jr. Suffered Torn ACL In Super Bowl
When Odell Beckham Jr. exited the Super Bowl with an apparent knee injury, it may have been the last time in a while he gets seen on an NFL field. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he suffered a torn ACL in the game (Twitter link). 
[Related: Rams Expect To Re-sign Beckham]
The ACL tear is in his left knee, the one that suffered the same fate in the middle of the 2020 season. It is devastating news, given the success he was having not only in the Super Bowl, but his time with the Rams as a whole. After a messy divorce from the Browns, Beckham seemed to have found a home in L.A. as a complimentary piece to the Rams’ passing attack.
After signing with the Rams in November, the 29-year-old posted five touchdowns in eight regular season games with his new franchise. Then, he settled in during the postseason, and seemed to be on his way to a big night on Sunday with two catches for 52 yards and one touchdown before halftime. Those numbers brought his yards per catch average up to 13.7 for the playoffs, which is nearly on par with his average during his heyday with the Giants.
In the days leading up to the big game, Beckham expressed a desire to stay with the Rams. For that to be possible, he would need to take a discount, as the team is already scheduled to be $14MM over the cap before signing new deals with the likes of Beckham or fellow mid-season acquisition and close friend Von Miller.
Much of what both sides do now may depend on the health of Robert Woods, who himself suffered a torn ACL this season. If both he and Beckham are able to fully recover, and the latter does indeed stay in L.A., they would form quite the receiving trio alongside Cooper Kupp. Today’s news, though, may cast doubt on the chances of that happening.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
With Super Bowl LVI finished, the final two places in the 2022 Draft have been finalized. The Bengals’ top pick is locked into 31st, while the Rams will not have a selection until the third round. For the rest of the league, the focus has already shifted to free agency and the draft, of course, so now all eyes will be on the offseason maneuvering teams do to reshape their rosters.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.
Pending trades, here is the final first round order of the 2022 Draft:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-14
- Detroit Lions: 3-13-1
- Houston Texans: 4-13
- New York Jets: 4-13
- New York Giants: 4-13
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12
- New York Giants(via Bears)
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
- Denver Broncos: 7-10
- New York Jets (via Seahawks)
- Washington Football Team: 7-10
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
- Cleveland Browns: 8-9
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-8
- New Orleans Saints: 9-8
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7-1
- New England Patriots: 10-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 10-7
- Arizona Cardinals: 11-6
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
- Buffalo Bills: 11-6
- Tennessee Titans: 12-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 13-4
- Green Bay Packers: 13-4
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
S Eric Weddle Re-Retiring
The Beard is hanging up the cleats…again. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rams’ safety Eric Weddle told reporters after their Super Bowl LVI victory, that “yes, (he’s) re-retiring.” Weddle is making good on a promise he made shortly after the Rams’ NFC Championship victory over the 49ers. 
“It’s amazing to be able to understand that and know that I don’t have to save myself for next season, I don’t have to save myself for the offseason, I didn’t have to save myself for the Super Bowl last week knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, so I was throwing it in there, giving it everything I got,” Weddle had said. “After this Super Bowl, I move on and go back to my old life and there will be no comebacks.”
Weddle originally announced his retirement shortly following the conclusion of his 2019 NFL season with the Rams. In that lone year in Los Angeles, Weddle was a team captain and defensive-signal caller, a role he reprised tonight, wearing the green sticker for the Rams’ defense.
Weddle was coaxed out of retirement as a bandage for a Rams’ secondary that was without Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp at safety to start the playoffs. His impact over the four-game playoff run wasn’t flashy, but he provided impactful leadership and sure tackling en route to his first Super Bowl ring. A member of the All-Decade Team for the 2010s, the only thing missing in Weddle’s illustrious career was that elusive ring. He’ll get fitted for it now and be invited to the White House with the rest of the team.
In tonight’s Super Bowl LVI victory, Weddle appeared to injure himself early in the game while making a tackle. He left the game momentarily before coming back to finish out the victory continuing to make tackles along the way. He told reporters after the game that he suffered a torn pec and will require surgery soon. He’ll have a lifetime to recover with no rush.
Weddle had a well-known tradition after winning football games. Upon returning home, Weddle and his family would enjoy a victory-bowl of ice cream. While in Baltimore, Weddle once agreed he would host an ice cream party at M&T Bank Stadium if they won the big game. While he may not have the same plans for SoFi Stadium, I hope Weddle and his family get to enjoy a “super bowl” of ice cream that fits the entire carton.
Rams Expect To Re-Sign WR Beckham
Earlier today before Super LVI began, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that the Rams are extremely optimistic about bringing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back on a new deal next season. If the Rams pull out a Super Bowl victory tonight, Beckham will max out the $3MM incentives attached to his current contract, but Los Angeles is adamant that it won’t be his last check from them.
Beckham was brought in on a one-year free agent deal after a bit of a forced release from the Browns. The Rams were happy to have Odell come in to fill the gap left on the depth chart by a season-ending injury to Robert Woods. Since joining the Rams, Beckham has seen a resurgence to his career as his five regular season touchdowns in eight games with Los Angeles are the most in a season for him since he played for the Giants.
Sean McVay and team brass see him as an ideal fit. Alongside 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and big-play receiver Van Jefferson, Beckham offers impact, explosiveness, and plenty of touchdowns. Once Woods rejoins the corps, opposing defensive backs will have their work cut out for them.
As of the writing of this post, Beckham is currently sitting on the sideline with an injury, watching the Rams try to make a comeback and win the Lombardi Trophy. The three-time Pro Bowler exited the game after a non-contact injury left him clutching his left knee, the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2020.
The hope is that this injury will have no effect on today’s report. Hopefully, whatever has befallen Beckham tonight allows him to return to the field next season, and his marriage to the Rams can remain on schedule.