2019 Proven Performance Escalators
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $2MM in 2019. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2019 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
Bears: RB Jordan Howard, LB Nick Kwiatkoski
Bengals: LB Nick Vigil
Broncos: G Connor McGovern, S Will Parks, S Justin Simmons
Browns: S Derrick Kindred, LB Joe Schobert
Buccaneers: G Caleb Benenoch, DE Carl Nassib, CB Ryan Smith
Chargers: LB Jatavis Brown
Chiefs: CB Kendall Fuller, WR Tyreek Hill, S Eric Murray, WR Demarcus Robinson
Colts: QB Jacoby Brissett, T Joe Haeg
Cowboys: CB Anthony Brown, DT Maliek Collins, QB Dak Prescott
Dolphins: RB Kenyan Drake
Eagles: CB Jalen Mills, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Falcons: LB De’Vondre Campbell, TE Austin Hooper, G Wes Schweitzer
Jaguars: DE Yannick Ngakoue
Jets: LB Jordan Jenkins, CB Rashard Robinson, T Brandon Shell
Lions: C Graham Glasgow
Packers: LB Kyler Fackrell, DE Dean Lowry, LB Blake Martinez, LB Antonio Morrison
Patriots: G Joe Thuney, LB Elandon Roberts
Rams: G Austin Blythe, TE Tyler Higbee
Ravens: DE Matt Judon, OL Alex Lewis, CB Tavon Young
Saints: DT David Onyemata
Steelers: DT Javon Hargrave
Texans: DT D.J. Reader
Titans: S Kevin Byard, WR Tajae Sharpe
OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tom Brady Was Battling MCL Sprain; Potential Replacements For Brian Flores
- Albert Breer of SI.com names Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly as a potential replacement for Flores on New England’s staff, while Mike Reiss of ESPN.com sees former Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano — who was rumored to be a candidate for the Pats’ DC job last year following Matt Patricia‘s departure — as a logical choice. Rapoport (video link) agrees with Reiss.
The knee injury that Patriots QB Tom Brady has been battling this season is an MCL sprain, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports that Brady sustained the injury when going out for a pass against Tennessee on November 11. However, Brady has no structural damage, and Rapoport says the 41-year-old will head into today’s playoff game as healthy as he has been since the start of the season. He will likely not require any offseason procedures.
- The Dolphins are simply waiting for the Patriots‘ season to end so that they can finalize a deal with New England de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores to become their next head coach, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. No one anticipates this turning into another Josh McDaniels situation, and Flores is fully expected to join Miami. Schefter also says that Miami is already planning its rebuild and is looking to the 2020 crop of rookie QBs, which is expected to include Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
- Albert Breer of SI.com names Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly as a potential replacement for Flores on New England’s staff, while Mike Reiss of ESPN.com sees former Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano — who was rumored to be a candidate for the Pats’ DC job last year following Matt Patricia‘s departure — as a logical choice. Rapoport (video link) agrees with Reiss.
Rob Gronkowski Leaning Towards Retirement?
Last year, Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski contemplated retirement. This year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Gronk will once again consider hanging up the cleats, but this time, there is a better chance he will actually walk away from the game.
Before the 2018 draft, New England reportedly had a trade in place that would have sent Gronkowski to the Lions, but when Gronk learned of that news, he threatened to retire rather than play for another club. Of course, there has been some drama between Gronkowski and the Patriots for several years now, some of which may be attributed to the fact that Gronkowski believes he is severely underpaid.
Regardless of the source of tension, we heard at the end of last month that Gronkowski had grown tired of the “Patriot Way,” and underpaid or not, he is financially set. Plus, thanks to his effusive personality, he will have some sort of career outside of football if he so chooses.
The 29-year-old has once again battled injuries throughout the course of the 2018 campaign, and Rapoport says sources close to Gronk have said the season has taken an emotional toll on him. He certainly has not played up to his usual standards, with just three scores and a yards-per-game mark of 52.5 that is higher only than his rookie season figure of 34.1. Teams have largely stopped double-teaming him, and he just does not look like his usual explosive self.
So it would not be surprising to anyone if Gronkowski calls it a career and starts the next chapter of his life whenever the Patriots’ season ends.
Dolphins Likely To Hire Brian Flores
The Dolphins have narrowed the focus of their head coaching search to Patriots defensive assistant Brian Flores, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. There’s no deal yet and nothing official, but Flores is “their target,” according to Rapoport. 
Because the Patriots are still in the playoffs, they cannot formally hire Flores until the Pats are finished. In theory, that could be dicey for the Dolphins, especially after the Colts got gypped by another Patriots assistant in last year’s cycle. However, given McDaniels’ inability to gain real traction for head coaching jobs this year, it seems unlikely that Flores would risk his reputation with a flip-flop.
Flores has become a far more attractive candidate than he was a year ago, when the Cardinals met with him about their HC opening. The 37-year-old de facto defensive coordinator has been considered a leading candidate in Miami ever since the New Year began, and he’s now primed to take over Adam Gase‘s old post.
The Patriots turned to Flores as their top defensive assistant following Matt Patricia‘s defection to Detroit, but he was not awarded the DC title right away. Presumably, he’d get that title by staying put for 2019, but the allure of a head coaching job will probably pull him away from the nest.
In 2018, the Patriots ranked 21st in yards allowed but seventh in scoring. The Pats have only had one non-top-10 scoring defense in the past 13 seasons and Flores has been a part of their past eight defensive coaching staffs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/9/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Anthony Winbush
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB A.J. Howard, OL Dan Skipper
Washington Redskins
- Signed: S Chris Cooper
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Kansas City Chiefs
New England Patriots
- DT David Parry
New York Jets
- WR Tim White
Philadelphia Eagles
- T Tyreek Burwell, DB Mercy Maston
Pittsburgh Steelers
- TE Kevin Rader, DL Conor Sheehy
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/8/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- G Kofi Amichia
- T Randin Crecelius
- CB Robertson Daniel
- RB Tyler Ervin
- FB Christopher Ezeala
- S Bennett Jackson
- LB Alvin Jones
- TE Nick Keizer
Buffalo Bills
- WR Duke Williams
Chicago Bears
- OL Dejon Allen
- DL Abdullah Anderson
- DB John Franklin III
- WR Tanner Gentry
- WR Cyril Grayson
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Ryan Nall
- LB James Vaughters
- LB Josh Woods
Cleveland Browns
- OL David Bright
- DB Ashton Lampkin
Miami Dolphins
- LB Sam Eguavoen
New England Patriots
- C Jake Eldrenkamp
New York Jets
- WR Stacy Coley
- DE Harvey Langi
Philadelphia Eagles
Houston Texans
- TE Jerell Adams
- LB Davin Bellamy
- RB Josh Ferguson
- LB Chris Landrum
- OT Rick Leonard
- G Maurquice Shakir
- T David Steinmetz
- WR Jester Weah
- WR Issac Whitney
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Alex Singleton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- K Matt McCrane
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Jeremy Boykins
- WR Caleb Scott
- WR Keenan Reynolds
- CB Simeon Thomas
- SS Marwin Evans
- TE Tyrone Swoopes
- LB Justin Currie
- C Marcus Henry
- G Jordan Roos
Patriots Place TE Jacob Hollister On IR
In advance of their playoff opener, the Patriots placed one of their backup tight ends on injured reserve. Jacob Hollister‘s season will end early, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (on Twitter).
The Patriots are promoting tight end Stephen Anderson from their practice squad to take Hollister’s place. Anderson played two seasons with the Texans, starting five games for last season’s Houston edition.
A hamstring injury has bothered Hollister for much of this season. The lingering problem cost him five games, including Weeks 1 and 17, while a chest injury also hindered Hollister this year. Anderson has not played in 2018.
New England has Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen and now Anderson comprising its tight end group. Their non-Gronk tight end contingent has combined for seven receptions this year, with Hollister hauling in four of those.
Josh McDaniels To Stay With Patriots
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says he will no longer pursue head coaching jobs this offseason and will remain with the Patriots “moving forward” (Twitter links via Doug Kyed of NESN). Frankly, McDaniels has little choice in the matter – the Packers were the only team to interview him in this cycle and he rejected overtures from the Bengals. None of the other clubs with vacancies requested an interview with the Pats OC. 
McDaniels also added that he had “no contact” with the Browns. At one point in time, McDaniels was linked to Cleveland because of his offensive acumen and potential to guide young star quarterback Baker Mayfield, but the Browns never went down that road for one reason or another.
Ultimately, McDaniels appears to have been undone by last offseason’s flip-flop with the Colts. The OC did not feel that the saga “burned” him from future head coaching jobs, but one can’t help but wonder if teams are wary of getting involved with him at this juncture. Next year could be a different story, but this year, teams did not appear willing to trust the 42-year-old.
On the plus side, McDaniels can now focus on the biggest task at hand. The Patriots square off against the Chargers on Sunday in the Divisional Round.
Coaching Rumors: Packers, LaFleur, Rhule
Matt LaFleur has the Packers job and he has Rams coach Sean McVay to thank. The two are close friends and it’s likely that McVay lobbied for him, Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel tweets.
McVay employed LaFleur as his offensive coordinator in 2017, but McVay called the plays himself. Then, last offseason, he allowed LaFleur to fly the coop and call plays for the Titans. Without that stepping stone, LaFleur probably wouldn’t have gotten the big gig in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, the Packers are over the moon about LaFleur because his offensive focus will allow the club to keep defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and the rest of the staff, provided that LaFleur is not keen on making major changes.
Here’s the latest round of coaching rumors from around the NFL:
- The Packers interview was the only known meeting for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, so the LaFleur hire likely means that McDaniels will return to the Pats for another year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. McDaniels did have one other request from the Bengals, but he turned them down.
- Two other teams looking for head coaches believe that Baylor’s Matt Rhule is the Jets‘ top target, Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets. An interview is likely coming soon, though no date has been set just yet.
- Dolphins GM Chris Grier has long thought highly of Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald hears. Furthermore, another source believes Flores is near the top, or perhaps at the top, of the Dolphins’ wishlist. Flores talked with the Fins on Saturday.