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NFC North Coaching Updates: Lions, Packers, Vikings

March 29th, 2023 at 9:28pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions announced earlier this month that they have finalized their coaching staff for the 2023 season. Much of the staff remains identical to last year’s coaches who helped the Lions to some surprising success. Many of the minor changes that did occur, such as promotions and the additions of assistants, have already been covered on this site. There were a couple that still need to be announced.

On the offensive side, the Lions hired Jim Hostler as a senior offensive assistant. Hostler has served in Washington for the last three years and has an extensive history as a position coach in the NFL for several franchises, including a stint as offensive coordinator for the 49ers back in 2007. Hostler’s most recent experience was assisting with wide receivers for the Commanders, but there didn’t appear to be a place for him on Eric Bieniemy‘s new staff in Washington.

On the defensive side of the ball, Detroit has hired John Scott Jr. to take over as defensive line coach. With Todd Wash departing to rejoin Frank Reich in Carolina, the Lions went to the college ranks for their next defensive line coach. Scott will return to the NFL for the first time since serving as the assistant defensive line coach for the Jets in 2016. Since then, Scott has coached the defensive lines at Arkansas, South Carolina, and Penn State, adding the title of run game coordinator for the Nittany Lions in 2022.

Here are a few more coaching updates from around the NFC North:

  • The Packers made a couple additions to their coaching staff near the start of the month. Similar to Detroit, Green Bay also pulled from the college ranks, hiring recently dismissed Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester to a senior analyst position, according to Matthew Ehler of MLive.com. Lester has worked plenty with college quarterbacks but will be making his NFL debut in 2023. The team also hired two new quality control coaches, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Rob Grosso joins as offensive quality control and Kyle Wilber will be special teams quality control. Grosso, a former defensive assistant who followed Vance Joseph from Denver to Arizona, was expected to once again follow Joesph back to Denver but will part ways with Joseph while switching from defense to offense. Wilber, a former NFL linebacker, recently finished a 10-year career in which he played for Packers assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia at both Dallas and Las Vegas.
  • The Vikings joined the Lions and Packers in dipping into the college ranks of coaching, hiring Michael Hutchings as assistant linebackers coach, according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports. Hutchings most recently served as outside linebackers coach at Western Kentucky and previously worked at USC and Oregon.

Contract Details: Tunsil, Ogunjobi, Thompson, Tomlinson, Bradbury

March 25th, 2023 at 2:07pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on contracts signed since the start of free agency:

  • Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): Three years, $75MM. The extension, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, includes a guaranteed amount of $60MM, $50MM of which is guaranteed at signing. The $50MM amount in composed of a $30MM signing bonus, Tunsil’s 2023 base salary of $2MM, and his 2024 base salary of $18MM. The remaining $10MM, which comes out of his 2025 base salary (worth a total of $20.95MM), is guaranteed for injury at signing and becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2024 league year. His 2026 base salary is worth $20.95MM. The contract also includes annual workout bonuses of $150,000 and annual per game active roster bonuses that can potentially total $250,000 each season.
  • Dalvin Tomlinson, DT (Browns): Four years, $57MM. The contract, according to Florio, includes a guaranteed amount of $26.29MM consisting of a $15.09MM signing bonus, Tomlinson’s first year base salary of $1.08MM, and his 2024 option bonus of $10.13MM. Of the 2024 option bonus, $8.84MM is guaranteed at signing with the rest fully guaranteeing on the third day of the 2024 league year. His 2024 base salary of $1.21MM is guaranteed for injury at signing and will fully guarantee along with the second part of the 2024 option bonus. His 2025 and 2026 base salaries are both worth $13MM, and both have roster bonuses of $750,000 due on the third day of their respective league years. In the first two years of the contract, Tomlinson will receive a per game active roster of bonus of $14,705 worth a potential season total of $250,000. The following two years see the per game active roster bonus rise to $44,117 for a potential season total of $750,000. The deal includes a potential out, allowing the Browns to cut Tomlinson after 2025 with $12.11MM in dead money but $14.5MM of cap savings over the next three years, including two voidable years.
  • Larry Ogunjobi, DT (Steelers): Three years, $28.75MM. The new deal, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, includes a guaranteed amount of $12MM at signing consisting of a $10.6MM signing bonus and Ogunjobi’s first year base salary of $1.4MM. His second year base salary of $5MM is guaranteed for injury and his 2025 base salary is worth $4MM. The contract includes roster bonuses of $4.75MM (guaranteed on the third league day of 2024) and $3MM (guaranteed on the third league day of 2025). Pittsburgh also put a potential out in the contract that would allow them to cut Ogunjobi after 2023 with $7.07MM of dead money but with $16.75MM in cap savings over the next two years.
  • Garrett Bradbury, C (Vikings): Three years, $15.75MM. The new contract, according to Wilson, includes a guaranteed amount of $9.8MM, $4.9MM of which is guaranteed at signing. The initial $4.9MM is composed of a $3.82MM signing bonus and Bradbury’s first year base salary of $1.08MM. The remaining $4.9MM consists of his second year base salary which fully guarantees on the third day of the 2024 league year. The deal includes an annual workout bonus of $100,000 and a per game active roster bonus of $14,705 for a potential season total of $250,000. The deal also includes a potential out that allows the Vikings to release Bradbury after 2023 with zero dead cap, resulting in $13.05MM in cap savings over the next two years.
  • Shaq Thompson, LB (Panthers): Two years, $12.6MM. The reworked deal, according to Joe Person of The Athletic, includes a guaranteed amount of $8.5MM consisting of a $5.3MM signing bonus, Thompson’s first year base salary of $1.2MM, and $2MM of his 2024 base salary (worth a total of $3.8MM). He’ll receive a $1MM roster bonus guaranteed in March of 2024 and a per game active roster bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000. There are also possible incentives concerning a Pro Bowl selection and playoff wins. The deal includes three void years to reduce his current cap hit. His cap number in 2023 was reduced from $24.5MM to $14.06MM.

Vikings S Harrison Smith Accepts Pay Cut

March 24th, 2023 at 9:01am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 24: Although Smith accepted a pay cut to stay, Goessling notes he received $6.25MM of his 2023 base salary guaranteed. That is up $1.25MM from his previous arrangement (Twitter link). Overall, Smith’s 2023 base checks in at $7.5MM; $500K in incentives are available as well.

MARCH 16: Harrison Smith will be back for a 12th season with the Vikings. The sides agreed to a reworked contract Thursday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (on Twitter).

The Pro Bowl safety was set to count $19.1MM against Minnesota’s cap in 2023. Smith signed a four-year, $64MM extension before the 2021 season; that deal runs through 2025. Thursday’s new agreement looks to be a pay cut. Smith was set to earn $14.7MM in base salary, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes he will now make $8MM and have the opportunity to collect an additional $2MM via incentives (Twitter link). The restructure will save the Vikings $6.7MM, Goessling tweets.

Rather than testing the market in his mid-30s, Smith agreed to a salary trim will keep him in Minneapolis for his age-34 season. Strong interest did come from elsewhere, per Rapoport, but Smith prefers to stay in Minnesota (Twitter link). A 2012 first-round pick, Smith has only played for the Vikings.

Drafted during Leslie Frazier‘s HC stay, Smith is among the last of the team’s Mike Zimmer-era defensive cornerstones. The Vikings have moved on from almost everyone else from their late-2010s defensive units, including a recent release of Eric Kendricks. Only Smith and Danielle Hunter remain in place from those defenses that helped the Vikes to three playoff berths — with three different starting QBs — from 2015-19.

The Vikings are transitioning to Brian Flores‘ defensive scheme, moving on after Ed Donatell struggled in his lone season in the position, and they want Smith a part of it. It can be assumed Smith will be on a year-to-year relationship with the Vikings going forward, given his extension’s terms for 2024 and ’25. He is set to make $14.5MM in 2024 and $17MM in 2025. It is unlikely the six-time Pro Bowler will be attached to either base salary, but after letting Patrick Peterson defect to the Steelers, the Vikings are hanging onto their other veteran piece in the secondary.

Helping a struggling Vikes defense hang on for the NFC’s No. 3 seed, Smith intercepted five passes last season to move his career total to 34. Pro Football Focus slotted Smith just inside the top 40 at safety last season. Given the way the market has developed for non-Jessie Bates safeties this offseason, the Vikings asking Smith for a pay reduction makes sense.

Barring injury, Smith will still move into rare territory among Vikings defenders this season. Smith (158 career starts) will have a chance to pass Kevin Williams (170) for the third-most starts by a Minnesota defender. Catching Purple People Eaters Jim Marshall (270) or Carl Eller (201) appears unrealistic (definitely in Marshall’s case), but Smith has a chance to be the longest-tenured Vikings defensive piece in nearly 45 years.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/23

March 22nd, 2023 at 6:20pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Vikings To Sign WR Brandon Powell

March 22nd, 2023 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Rams bid farewell to a few players from their Super Bowl LVI-winning team, Brandon Powell will rejoin some of the coaches who were part of that squad.

The Vikings are signing the veteran receiver/return specialist, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Powell’s Minnesota move will feature reunions with Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell and OC Wes Phillips, each of whom being ex-Sean McVay lieutenants. It is a one-year agreement.

Although Powell bounced around early in his career, he spent the past two seasons as the Rams’ primary return man. The ex-Florida Gator handled kick- and punt-return responsibilities for the Rams, taking a punt back for a score during the 2021 season. The 5-foot-8 receiver has not contributed much in the passing game, though he does present some gadget options for O’Connell. The Rams gave Powell 17 carries, which he turned into 80 yards, last season. Powell added 24 receptions for 156 yards in 2022.

Minnesota used Jalen Reagor as its full-time punt returner last season. Reagor remains under contract; the ex-Eagle first-rounder also fumbled four times during his Vikings debut. Kene Nwangwu, the team’s primary kick returner in 2022, is also signed to his rookie deal. Nwangwu posted a 97-yard kick-return score last season.

The Rams have moved on from a few contributors this offseason. They released Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd, and cornerback David Long signed with the Raiders on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Greg Gaines signed with the Buccaneers. A’Shawn Robinson remains unattached, but he has visited the Giants. Ditto Taylor Rapp, who has met with the Patriots and Bengals.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/23

March 21st, 2023 at 8:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Minnesota Vikings

Adams, a former seventh-round pick, collected 55 tackles across 58 games (nine starts) with the Colts to begin his career. He spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago, compiling 26 tackles in 10 games (three starts).

The Cowboys previously tried to trade for Edoga, so it’s not a surprise that he’s finally landed in Dallas. Per Nick Eatman of the team’s website, the lineman could be a candidate to start at left guard to replace Connor McGovern. The former third-round pick has only appeared in seven games over the past two seasons in stints with the Jets and Falcons.

Anderson hasn’t started a game since the 2020 season, but he can still be a reliable special teamer and situational defender for a rebooted Panthers squad. The veteran got into 11 games for the Colts last season, collecting 18 tackles.

Vikings Re-Sign DL Jonathan Bullard

March 21st, 2023 at 12:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the first time in four years, Jonathan Bullard will be remaining in the same NFL home for more than one season. The veteran defensive lineman agreed to a new deal with the Vikings on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
The 29-year-old played in Chicago for the first three seasons of his career, his longest stint with any one team. He primarily worked in a rotational role with the Bears, but saw an uptick in playing time in 2019 with the Cardinals, starting six of nine game played. His career-high 1.5 sacks that season earned him an intra-divisional move to the Seahawks.

In Seattle, and Atlanta the following year, Bullard was limited to just 15 games played. He saw his usage rate drop over that span, which limited the value of his first Vikings deal. That pact represented the fifth consecutive one-year contract Bullard played on, but it allowed him to take on a larger role than years past. The former third-rounder saw a snap share of 40% in 2022, the third-highest of his career.

Bullard started seven of the 12 games he appeared in during the regular season. A December biceps injury led to a stint on IR, but the Florida product still managed 23 tackles (including five for loss) in his debut Vikings campaign. He was able to return in time for the playoffs, and recorded a sack in the team’s wild card loss to the Giants.

Now, Bullard will continue his stay in the Twin Cities after years of bouncing around the NFC. The Vikings have, to little surprise, seen a number of changes to their defense this offseason, after the unit struggled in 2022 in spite of the team’s overall success. That has included fellow interior d-lineman Dalvin Tomlinson signing with the Browns, and former Packer Dean Lowry being added. Bullard will look to occupy a similar role to the one he had last season as Minnesota aims for a set forward on defense in 2023.

Vikings Sign DE Marcus Davenport

March 20th, 2023 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 20: This $13MM deal includes $10MM guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. A $4.5MM signing bonus represents part of that guarantee, and Wilson adds the Vikings used void years (2024-27) to further help them against the 2023 cap. Similar to the language in Dalvin Tomlinson‘s deal — one Minnesota restructured to move the void date back — Davenport’s contract will void 23 days before the 2024 league year. If the Vikings do not agree to terms with Davenport on an extension by that February date, they will be tagged with $6.8MM in dead money.

MARCH 13: Soon, the Vikings will have three starter-caliber edge rushers on their roster. They are adding Marcus Davenport on a one-year deal, according to NFL.com.

The former Saints first-round pick signed for $13MM, making this a well-compensated “prove it” deal for the off-and-on pass rusher. Davenport joins Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith on Minnesota’s roster. Smith, however, has requested to be released. Thus far, the Vikings are not indicating they will oblige.

Former Saints co-DC-turned-Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen wanted to bring Davenport to Atlanta, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. But a Davenport-David Onyemata package deal will not be in the cards for the Falcons.

On the subject of Smith, Garafolo adds the Vikings are planning to move on. The 2022 Minnesota pickup made an unusual move to say his goodbyes to the Vikings, who previously were not believed to be readying to release him. It is uncertain if Smith will be released or traded, but Davenport pairing with Hunter looks like the direction the team is heading.

If they are planning to make Smith a Minneapolis one-and-done, the Vikings will be entrusting their edge-rushing responsibilities to two injury-prone players. Although Hunter rebounded from a stretch of significant injury trouble from 2020-21, Davenport missed 12 games during that span. He also underwent five surgeries during the 2022 offseason. He missed two games in 2022 and recorded only a half-sack, leading to this “prove it” arrangement.

However, the pass rusher has shown an ability to get after the QB. He had a career-high nine sacks and 16 QB hits during the 2021 season, and he added another 10.5 sacks through his first two seasons in the NFL. While the former first-round pick has dealt with his fair share of injuries, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him return to form during his age-27 season.

Vikings To Re-Sign OL Oli Udoh

March 18th, 2023 at 10:45am CST by Sam Robinson

Set to return their entire starting offensive line, the Vikings are also retaining multiple key backups. Oli Udoh will be one of them, with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reporting (via Twitter) the veteran swingman agreed to terms Saturday to stay with the team.

Udoh has started at multiple positions for the Vikings. He spent the 2021 season as the team’s full-time right guard starter, and after Brian O’Neill went down in January, the former Minnesota sixth-round pick finished the season as the team’s first-string right tackle. Udoh joins interior O-line backup Austin Schlottmann as having agreed to stay in Minnesota this week.

Despite most of Minnesota’s O-linemen being in place before the arrivals of Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team will be running it back up front in 2023. Center Garrett Bradbury re-signed with the team on a three-year, $15.75MM deal, and Ed Ingram joins Christian Darrisaw and Ezra Cleveland on rookie contracts. O’Neill is signed to a long-term extension.

While Schlottmann arrived in Minneapolis during the new Vikings regime’s first year in charge, Udoh joined the team under Rick Spielman back in 2019. Udoh, who emerged on the draft radar out of Division I-FCS Elon, spent two seasons as a backup before winning the starting right guard job in 2021. He started 16 games in 2021, ranking outside the top 60 at guard in the view of Pro Football Focus that year. The Vikings opted to replace Udoh with Ingram last year, after an offseason during which they added Chris Reed and Jesse Davis. But Udoh, 26, now remains in the picture beyond his rookie contract.

The Vikings played without Bradbury for a stretch late last season, and they lost O’Neill in Week 17. The team called upon Udoh to start the season finale and the team’s wild-card playoff game. PFF viewed Udoh’s two-game tackle sample as much better, though obviously in a much smaller sample size. He, Schlottmann and Reed will be back in position to be the team’s second-stringers up front.

O’Neill’s partially torn Achilles brought Udoh into the lineup, but despite the injury occurring in January, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes (via Twitter) Minnesota’s longtime right tackle starter is expected back by training camp.

Vikings To Add DL Dean Lowry

March 17th, 2023 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Flores‘ first Vikings defense will feature one of the Packers’ longtime contributors. Veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry is leaving for a two-year Vikings deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

An 80-game Green Bay starter from 2016-22, Lowry will head to Minneapolis on a two-year deal worth $8.5MM, Pelissero adds (on Twitter). Lowry will join a Vikings defensive line that just lost two-year standout Dalvin Tomlinson.

Prior to suffering a Christmas Day calf injury that ended his season two games early, Lowry had played 101 straight games. The Packers had previously extended the Kenny Clark sidekick — on a three-year, $20.25MM deal — back in 2019, but the team used one of its two first-round picks on defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt last year. With Lowry going into a contract year, that draft investment pointed him out of Wisconsin.

While Lowry only contributed a half-sack to the Packers’ cause last season, he totaled five — to go with a career-high nine QB hits and four pass batdowns — in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked Lowry outside the top 70 last season. Although Lowry is not on Tomlinson’s level, the former fourth-round pick is still just 28 and makes sense as a starter or a rotational piece alongside Harrison Phillips up front for the Vikings.

Minnesota is attempting to bounce back from a woeful defensive season in its first post-Mike Zimmer campaign. Flores will be tasked with leading the charge, but the Vikes passed on going to the place the Browns went — four years, $57MM — for Tomlinson. While the Vikings wanted to re-sign Tomlinson and will be hit with a few million in void-years charges after not extending him, they will instead regroup with Lowry. The Packers still have Clark and Wyatt signed, with the veteran’s deal running through 2024. Still, Lowry’s 111 games played are tied for 10th by a defensive lineman in Packers history.

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