NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/27/22
Today’s reserve/futures deals around the NFL:
Green Bay Packers
- DL Jack Heflin
Miami Dolphins
- WR DeVonte Dedmon
New England Patriots
- G Drew Desjarlais
New York Giants
Raiders Request Josh McDaniels Interview
The only team connected to Josh McDaniels during this year’s HC hiring period, the Raiders are interested in speaking with the longtime Patriots offensive coordinator.
They sent McDaniels an interview request Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Raiders already interviewed Patriots exec Dave Ziegler, who also worked with McDaniels in Denver, and appear to still be considering a Patriots West ticket. McDaniels, who has been on Mark Davis‘ radar for weeks, is expected to interview Saturday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links).
While a Wednesday report indicated the Raiders were moving away from a Ziegler-McDaniels pairing, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets league buzz still points to McDaniels being a preferred option in Las Vegas. This would certainly be an interesting direction to go, given McDaniels’ past and Raider players’ endorsements for interim HC Rich Bisaccia to keep the job. That said, one source informed Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio a Ziegler-McDaniels power structure in Vegas is “just about a sure thing.” McDaniels has been down a similar road before, only to turn back at the last minute.
But McDaniels does have an extensive OC resume, collecting three Super Bowl rings during his time working with Tom Brady in New England. Of course, his rough tenure as Broncos HC and decision to spurn the Colts affected his standing within the league. In terms of high-level experience, however, almost no one in this cycle can match McDaniels.
In his 10th year back in charge of the Patriots’ offense, McDaniels helped the fifth quarterback picked in last year’s draft — Mac Jones — have the best season among the 2021 rookie QBs. Despite his controversial Colts decision four years ago, the 45-year-old assistant comes up in coaching rumors annually. The two-time Patriots OC has been picky on the interview front, and given his Denver tenure and Indianapolis decision, his next HC job might be his last.
Here is how the Raiders’ HC search is shaping up thus far:
- Rich Bisaccia, interim head coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/19
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview 1/28
- Jim Harbaugh, former head coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate; early frontrunner?
- Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed 1/25
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interview requested
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview expected
Latest On Raiders’ HC, GM Searches
The Raiders’ general manager search has expanded to include eight names. While the team’s pursuit of its next full-time head coach has not gotten as far off the ground, a few external candidates have emerged.
One possible solution — a Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler partnership — has surfaced on the radar, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). Ziegler, who moved up in the Patriots’ front office hierarchy following Nick Caserio‘s 2021 New England exit, interviewed for the Las Vegas GM job Friday and has been connected to bringing the Pats’ longtime OC with him.
McDaniels has not taken a formal interview with any team during this year’s hiring cycle, though the veteran OC was calling around to coaches around the league for staff-assembly purposes recently, Tafur adds. Patriots West might not be where this Raiders process ends up, however.
Momentum has cooled on a McDaniels-Ziegler pairing this week, per Tafur, who adds Colts VP of player personnel Ed Dodds — a former Al Davis staffer — is still in the mix. Dodds’ GM interview is set for Wednesday. Dodds previously withdrew his name from consideration for the Bears’ GM post. Dodds being with the Colts when McDaniels backtracked on a 2018 Indianapolis agreement would all but squash any chance of those two pairing up.
The Raiders have interviewed only Rich Bisaccia and Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for their HC position. The team remains interested in speaking with 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans and has a meeting with Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles set for Friday. While Jim Harbaugh looms, not much has emerged connecting the Michigan coach to the Silver and Black in several days. Harbaugh was on the Raiders’ staff as QBs coach for part of Dodds’ Oakland tenure, but this was nearly 20 years ago.
Las Vegas’ GM search is now at eight names, with a request to interview Bucs exec John Spytek and interviews with Falcons staffer Ruston Webster and Steelers exec Brandon Hunt representing the latest news coming out of the search to fill Mike Mayock’s job.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/25/22
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Arizona Cardinals
- P Nolan Cooney
Green Bay Packers
- QB Kurt Benkert, WR Chris Blair, CB Kabion Ento, QB Danny Etling, S Innis Gaines, LB La’Darius Hamilton, C Michal Menet, K J.J. Molson, OL Cole Van Lanen, LB Ray Wilborn
Miami Dolphins
- DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans
- DB Shyheim Carter, DB Rodney Clemons, LB Nate Hall
Latest On Bears’ GM Search
At least three finalists have emerged for the Bears GM gig. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the organization has requested second interviews with Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort and Patriots senior consultant Eliot Wolf. We previously learned that Chiefs director of player personnel Ryan Poles would also be getting a second interview. Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown could also be a candidate for a second interview, per Rapoport.
[RELATED: Bears Request Second GM Interview With Ryan Poles]
Ossenfort has been the director of player personnel in Tennessee for the past two years. Prior to the Titans, he spent 17 seasons in the Patriots’ organization, acting as the director of college scouting in his last six years in New England.
Wolf started off as a pro personnel assistant in 2004 with the Packers, where his father, Ron Wolf, served as general manager. In eight years with the team, Eliot worked his way into the director of pro personnel role, which he held for three years. In his last two seasons in Green Bay, he spent time in the roles of director of player personnel and director of football operations. He left Wisconsin for the assistant general manager position in Cleveland before taking his current position as a senior consultant in New England.
Brown had a seven-year stint as the Bears assistant director of pro personnel. He’s served as a top executive in Indy for the past five years, with Brown earning credit for his draft evaluation. He interviewed for the Falcons GM gig last offseason.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
The Divisional Round has come to end, and after each game was decided on the final play, the season has come to a bitter end for another four teams. That brings the total number of squads locked into their first round draft position to 28. Interestingly, the Rams and 49ers are still standing after they each parted ways with top draft picks this past offseason. San Francisco’s first choice is currently slated to be 61st overall, while the Rams aren’t projected to be on the board until the 101st pick. For Los Angeles in particular, the decision is certainly paying off so far.
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.
Here is the updated order after this weekend’s results:
- 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
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7*
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5*
* = Remaining playoff teams
AFC Rumors: Jackson, Ravens, Jaguars, Chargers
The Patriots’ defense struggled in their Wild Card loss to the division rival Bills. That struggle could perhaps have a noticeable effect on cornerback J.C. Jackson‘s future. An undrafted free agent in 2018, Jackson was on a one-year extension this season, meaning last week’s loss is the last game he will have played before potentially hitting the free agent market.
The game was possibly Jackson’s worst in his four-year career, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN, who called out Jackson’s technique playing the ball, coverage breakdowns, and overall effort. Reiss went on to deliberate on the odds of New England tagging the second-team All-Pro, which currently projects as a $17.28MM tag. Reiss believes that Jackson’s playoff performance could prevent New England from using their franchise tag on him at all. The Patriots could always agree on an extension with Jackson, but after an impressive, healthy season, the 26-year old will likely want to test the free agency waters.
Here are a few more notes from the AFC, starting with an item out of the North:
- We got a bit of peek behind the scenes from Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager who tweeted out that, after some debate on who to take with their first of two third-round picks, the Rams got intel that Baltimore planned to draft Cooper Kupp at 74th overall. The Rams selected the now first-team All-Pro and Baltimore used their pick on current Steeler Chris Wormley.
- Jalen Ramsey spoke recently with Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic about the events that lead to his exit from Jacksonville. Rodrigue did a deep-dive on Ramsey’s journey and the three-time All-Pro expanded on how undervalued he felt by the Jaguars’ staff and detailed an explosive meeting with the team’s top brass that lead to his eventual trade request.
- In a tweet earlier this week, LA Daily News reporter Gilbert Manzano gave an account from Chargers’ general manager Tom Telesco on the pending free agency of wide receiver Mike Williams. Telesco praised Williams, who topped 1,000 yards receiving for the second time in his career this season, calling him a big part of the team but didn’t discuss how he planned to move forward on contract talks with the fifth-year Charger.
- Also, in Chargers’ news, Giants’ assistant linebackers and special teams coach Anthony Blevins was interviewed to become Los Angeles’s new special teams coordinator, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Giants’ special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey also met with Los Angeles and is being considered for the position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/21/22
Keeping tabs on the latest minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: DL Jack Heflin, CB Isaac Yiadom
Houston Texans
- Claimed: DL Kingsley Keke (from Packers)
New England Patriots
- Extended: LB Harvey Langi
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: CB Darqueze Dennard, LB Mark Nzeocha
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DB Chris Jones
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/22
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Baltimore Ravens
- RB Nate McCrary
Detroit Lions
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Joe Reed
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
- G/T Kayode Awosika, WR Deon Cain, LB Christian Elliss, CB Craig James, DE Matt Leo, DE Cameron Malveaux, S Jared Mayden, CB Mac McCain, LB JaCoby Stevens, TE Noah Togiai, DT Marvin Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DE Daniel Archibong, WR Rico Bussey, DT Khalil Davis, G Nathan Gilliam, G Malcolm Pridgeon, LB Deiontae Scott, K Sam Sloman, DB Linden Stephens, TE Jace Sternberger, S Donovan Stiner, LS Rex Sunahara, WR Tyler Vaughns
Patriots’ Bill Belichick Plans To Continue As Head Coach
In the aftermath of an historic playoff defeat, and not long before a milestone birthday, Patriots HC Bill Belichick has no plans of leaving his current role. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, he fully intends to continue coaching in New England. 
Belichick held a press conference on Sunday after the Patriots’ 47-17 loss to the Bills. When asked if wanted to return for the 2022 season, he answered “I’d say that would be accurate”. His league-leading 22 year tenure with New England most recently saw one of the worst losses in his career. The Bills became the first team in postseason history to score a touchdown on their first seven possessions, making it clear that defensive improvements need to be an offseason priority. However, he stated an intent to take “a longer view” of the team’s overall performance during the season.
The news comes as Belichick approaches his 70th birthday in April. Reiss notes that he had once planned against coaching into his seventies, as a select few coaches have done – and, in the case of Pete Carroll of the Seahawks and Bruce Arians of the Buccaneers – seem poised to do now. With positive results stemming from an unusually busy free agency last offseason, along with an encouraging rookie season from first-round quarterback Mac Jones, there is cause for optimism the team can continue building momentum off of 2021’s 10-7 campaign.
If the league’s only six-time Super Bowl champion does return in 2022, he would likely hit a major milestone in terms of not only age, but success. If the Patriots were to win at least four games next year, that would move Belichick ahead of George Halas (324) into second on the all-time head coaching wins list. An overall record of 321-156 between the regular season and playoffs combined also gives Belichick a good chance at eclipsing Don Shula (347) for top spot on the list as early as 2023.