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Doug Nussmeier Favorite For Saints’ OC Position; Joel Thomas Returning To Staff

February 18th, 2025 at 11:19am CST by Adam La Rose

Three of the staffers connected to the Saints’ offensive coordinator vacancy are currently with the Eagles. To no surprise, one of them is in pole position to join Kellen Moore in New Orleans.

Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier is seen as the favorite at this point, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. While nothing is imminent, he adds the situation is likely heading toward Nussmeier taking on the position. This would represent his first OC opportunity at the NFL level.

Nussmeier’s coaching career began in the CFL, and he has experience at a number of levels as a QBs coach. The 54-year-old also handled coordinator duties at five different college programs from 2008-17 before beginning his time in the NFL. During his time with the Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles, Nussmeier has overlapped with Moore with the latter operating as offensive coordinator.

Moore now has his first head coaching gig, and once it became clear he would depart the Eagles to join the Saints Nussmeier’s name came up as a logical candidate to join him. As expected, Moore will call plays in 2025, but his coordinator hires will of course be key as he puts together his initial staff. That process will include a return to New Orleans for a familiar staffer.

Running backs coach Joel Thomas is set to join the Saints once again, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Thomas spent the 2024 campaign coaching the Giants’ running backs, but he will now make the lateral move back to New Orleans after working there from 2015-23. Brian Daboll will once again need to find a replacement at the RBs coach spot, something which has become an annual endeavor during the hiring cycle.

With Thomas in the fold and Nussmeier the top name to watch on the OC front, here is how the Saints’ coordinator search is shaping up:

Saints Conduct OC Interview With Eagles’ Jemal Singleton

February 17th, 2025 at 12:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The list of Saints targets for their offensive coordinator vacancy continues to grow. To no surprise, the latest name to emerge is another Eagles staffer.

New Orleans has conducted an interview with Jemal Singleton, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. That makes him the third member of the Eagles’ staff connected to the possibility of joining Kellen Moore on his new team. Of course, Singleton could be a among the candidates to take over from Moore as the Super Bowl LIX winners’ next offensive coordinator if he were to remain with the Eagles.

The 49-year-old began his coaching tenure in the college ranks, spending time at three programs from 2000 to 2015. Singleton spent a pair of seasons coaching the Colts’ running backs before doing the same for one year with the Raiders. He then moved on to the Bengals, staying there for the 2019 and ’20 campaigns. Since 2021, he has held the role of RBs coach with the Eagles.

In addition to those responsibilities, though, Singleton has served as Philadelphia’s assistant head coach during his time with the team. Losing him would deal a blow to Nick Sirianni‘s staff, but joining Moore in New Orleans would give Singleton the opportunity to operate as a coordinator for the first time in his career. Given the strong play of Saquon Barkley in 2024, expectations would be high in the run game for the Saints if they were to move forward with a hire on this front.

With the Combine and free agency approaching, Moore and the Saints have a number of key decisions to make, including how to proceed with quarterback Derek Carr. Before a final call is made in that department, though, Moore will look to fill out his staff, including the hiring of a non-play-caller at the OC spot.

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

Saints Interviewing Two DC Candidates, Doug Nussmeier Today

February 16th, 2025 at 4:18pm CST by Ely Allen

4:18pm: Nussmeier’s interview will also take place today, Rapoport notes. As the Saints continue to move through their coordinator search process, a hire on both fronts could be made sometime in the coming days depending on how wide of a net the team casts.

12:20pm: The Saints and new head coach Kellen Moore continue to search for his first coordinators in New Orleans. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated tells us that the team will interview 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley and Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Christian Parker for the defensive coordinator position today. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier will interview for the offensive coordinator role this week.

Staley and Nussmeier have both already been mentioned as potential candidates for the two respective jobs. Staley was Moore’s boss in 2023 when the former served as the Chargers’ head coach. Staley was fired by the Chargers following two-plus seasons with the organization. He finished his head coaching stint with a 24-24 record, including a single one-and-done playoff appearance. Prior to his stint with the Chargers, Staley served as the defensive coordinator with the Rams in 2020. He also previously served as linebackers coach for the Broncos and Bears. Though Staley didn’t interview for any other defensive coordinator jobs this offseason, he was mentioned as a candidate for the role with his current team.

Nussmeier and Moore coached together in Dallas from 2018-22, with the former moving from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach during that span. Moore brought Nussmeier with him to Los Angeles when he took over as Chargers offensive coordinator under Staley in 2023. That stint did not go especially well, but the Eagles allowed Moore to bring Nussmeier alongside him to Philadelphia, where Jalen Hurts led the team to a Super Bowl title. Before their time together in Dallas, Nussmeier served as an offensive coordinator for five college programs — including Alabama, Michigan, and Florida — from 2008-17.

Aside from his connections to Moore, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler points out that Nussmeier also has a familial connection to Louisiana. Nussmeier’s son, Garrett Nussmeier, is set to enter his second year as the starting quarterback at LSU in relatively nearby Baton Rouge. After finishing fifth in the nation in passing yards per game for the Tigers in 2024, Garrett is considered a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. There is one more connection, as well, as the elder Nussmeier’s only two years as an NFL quarterback saw him play in New Orleans.

Parker, 33, interviewed for the Patriots and Packers’ DC jobs last offseason, but likely due to the Eagles’ deep playoff run, he didn’t attend any interviews in this cycle. Before heading to Philadelphia last year, he was a valued staffer in Denver, working in the same defensive backs coaching role under Vic Fangio, Nathaniel Hackett, and Sean Payton. In Denver, Parker oversaw the likes of Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain. In Philadelphia, Parker mentored a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL last year due in part to rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Here is how the offensive coordinator search is shaping up so far:

And here’s a look at the defensive coordinator search:

  • George Edwards, outside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 1/15
  • Christian Parker, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16
  • Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Lead candidate?; Interviewed 2/16

2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team

February 15th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Free agency is roughly one month away, and teams are preparing for the first major roster-building checkpoint on the offseason calendar. In several cases, of course, the lead-in to the start of the new league year will require cost-cutting measures.

Teams expect the 2025 cap ceiling to check in somewhere between $265MM and $275MM, providing a general target to aim for before the final figure is unveiled by the NFL. Using a projected cap of $272.5MM, here is a look at where all 32 teams currently stand (courtesy of Over the Cap):

  1. New England Patriots: $119.8MM
  2. Las Vegas Raiders: $92.53MM
  3. Washington Commanders: $75.21MM
  4. Arizona Cardinals: $71.33MM
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: $63.41MM
  6. Chicago Bears: $62.97MM
  7. Minnesota Vikings: $58.01MM
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers: $53.26MM
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: $46.26MM
  10. Detroit Lions: $45.69MM
  11. San Francisco 49ers: $44.26MM
  12. Tennessee Titans: $44.08MM
  13. New York Giants: $43.38MM
  14. Green Bay Packers: $42.14MM
  15. Los Angeles Rams: $38.33MM
  16. Denver Broncos: $34.78MM
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars: $32.27MM
  18. Indianapolis Colts: $28.25MM
  19. Carolina Panthers: $20.33MM
  20. Philadelphia Eagles: $18.08MM
  21. New York Jets: $16.86MM
  22. Baltimore Ravens: $5.96MM
  23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $2.24MM
  24. Houston Texans: $99K over the cap
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: $916K over
  26. Dallas Cowboys: $2.85MM over
  27. Miami Dolphins: $5.44MM over
  28. Atlanta Falcons: $11.15MM over
  29. Seattle Seahawks: $13.46MM over
  30. Buffalo Bills: $14.18MM over
  31. Cleveland Browns: $30.17MM over
  32. New Orleans Saints: $54.11MM over

These figures will of course change based on where the final cap ceiling winds up for the year, but they take into account each team’s carryover amount for 2025. Even with those savings in play, more than one quarter of the league finds itself in need of cost-shedding moves to simply achieve cap compliance by mid-March.

With the Patriots leading the way in terms of spending power, they will be a team to watch closely once free agency begins. The team’s willingness (or lack thereof) to make major free agent additions last year was a talking point, and it will be interesting to see if the regime featuring de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and new head coach Mike Vrabel takes a different approach in 2025. A serious push for Tee Higgins – by far the most sought-after wideout set to hit the market – can be expected.

Aside from Higgins, the Bengals have a number of financial priorities. Working out a monster extension for fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a new deal (and accompanying raise) for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are key goals for the franchise. Quarterback Joe Burrow is prepared to restructure his own pact to create cap space for this offseason, but the team will no doubt need to break with tradition in terms of contract structure and guarantees to keep its core intact.

The Colts’ offseason has been defined in large part by a focus on retaining in-house players during recent years. That approach has not paid off as hoped, and general manager Chris Ballard said last month he plans to oversee a shift in roster-building philosophy this year. With the finances to make at least a modest addition or two on the open market, Indianapolis could be a suitor for some of the middle-class free agent options.

Over the coming weeks, many teams will proceed with extensions and restructures to free up cap space; the Seahawks recently took the latter route with defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Teams like the Steelers (in the case of edge rusher Preston Smith) and Dolphins (with running back Raheem Mostert as well as corner Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe) have already begin cutting veterans to free up cap space. That will increasingly continue in the near future with respect to the teams currently slated to be over the cap in particular.

Saints Conduct OC Interview With Dolphins’ Robert Prince

February 15th, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Robert Prince took a new position with the Dolphins as part of this year’s hiring cycle. He could be on the move once again, though.

Prince has received an interview request from the Saints for their vacant offensive coordinator position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The parties will speak tonight, he adds. Prince took the role of wide receivers coach with Miami in January, but joining the Saints would allow him to work as a coordinator for the first time in his career.

Prince started his NFL coaching tenure with the 49ers and Chargers as part of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship. His first full-time position came with the Falcons, and in three years there he held a number of roles. Prince spent a pair of seasons as the Jaguars’ assistant WRs coach before leading that position group with the Seahawks 2009.

The Lions brought in Prince to coach their receivers the following year, and he remained with the team through 2020. The 59-year-old occupied that same role for a single campaign with the Texans before making an intra-state move to the Cowboys. In 2024, Prince had pass-game coordinator added to his title.

With Dallas moving in a different direction (to an extent) on the sidelines this offseason, though, Prince was among the staffers who changed teams. His decision to join the Dolphins set him up to work with a group headlined by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but that would of course change if he took New Orleans’ OC position. New Saints head coach Kellen Moore confirmed in his introductory press conference that he will call plays on offense, which comes as little surprise given his OC background. Still, his search for Klint Kubiak‘s replacement is a key part of the process of building his first staff as a head coach.

Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Saints’ offensive coordinator search:

Saints Request DC Interview With Vikings’ Daronte Jones

February 15th, 2025 at 12:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 12:20pm: Daronte Jones will be interviewing for the Saints DC job today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

THURSDAY, 10:55am: The list of candidates for the Saints’ defensive coordinator position continues to grow. Daronte Jones has received an interview request, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Jones has worked with the Vikings for the past three years and four overall. His first Minnesota title was that of defensive backs coach, but since 2023 he has worked as the team’s defensive pass-game coordinator. Jones was previously linked to the Bears’ and Jaguars’ defensive coordinator gigs during this year’s hiring cycle.

New Orleans had Joe Woods at the defensive coordinator spot for the past two years. His unit finished eighth in points allowed in 2023, but a regression took place this past campaign. With head coach Dennis Allen being fired midway through the season, it came as little surprise several Saints staffers departed in search of new opportunities. That includes Woods, who is in place on Pete Carroll‘s Raiders staff.

Jones, 46, began his coaching career at Lenoir-Rhyne; for three years after that, however, he worked in Louisiana at the collegiate and high school levels. His coaching tenure also includes a one-year stint as LSU’s defensive coordinator, although he has not held a DC position at the NFL level. That possibility could exist based on how his interview with new head coach Kellen Moore goes.

With that said, it was learned before the Moore hire was made that Brandon Staley was a leading contender for the Saints’ DC position. The two worked together with the Chargers in 2023, and a reunion would see Staley – whose resume includes one year as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, three at the helm of the Bolts and, most recently, an assistant head coach title with the 49ers – tasked with guiding a Saints rebound on defense. In addition to Staley and now Jones, Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards is a name to watch.

Falcons’ Kevin Koger Denies OC Interview Request From Saints

February 15th, 2025 at 11:56am CST by Ben Levine

Kellen Moore is starting to fill out his Saints staff, but the process may not be as smooth as the new head coach was hoping for. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger has denied a request from the Saints to interview for their offensive coordinator job.

[RELATED: Saints Name Kellen Moore As HC]

After working his way up through the college coaching ranks, Koger got his first NFL gig when he was named as the Packers offensive quality control coach in 2019. He joined the Chargers as their tight ends coach in 2021, with Gerald Everett having his best career seasons under Koger’s tutelage.

After the Chargers cleaned house last offseason, Koger joined the Falcons coaching staff, where he was tasked with getting the most from Kyle Pitts. The tight end still failed to live up to his first-round billing, finishing with 47 catches for 602 yards. Still, his 63.5 catch percentage represented a career-high.

While Koger’s list of accomplishments may not feature big names nor performance, he’s still earned a reputation as a bright offensive mind. Just this offseason, the coach interviewed for the Browns and Cowboys OC jobs.

Considering Moore wasn’t officially hired until after the Super Bowl, the Saints missed out on most of the top coordinator candidates. While Koger’s denial may not be indicative of other candidates’ sentiments about the New Orleans gig, Moore and the Saints may have to overcome a few hurdles as they look to piece together the coaching staff.

Koger is the first definitive candidate for the job in New Orleans. A pair of Eagles coaches have naturally been connected to their former boss, with QBs coach Doug Nussmeier and pass-game coordinator Kevin Patullo mentioned as candidates for the job.

Saints HC Kellen Moore To Call Plays; Team’s QB Direction Remains Undecided

February 14th, 2025 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kellen Moore was quickly brought into the fold by the Saints after he helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. The league’s youngest head coach faces a number of challenges, including having a say in determining how his new team will proceed at the quarterback spot.

Derek Carr has two years remaining on his pact, and his cumbersome cap hits ($51.46MM, $61.46MM) over that span have led to speculation the Saints could move on. A trade could be of interest to teams looking for a bridge starter, but a contract restructure would no doubt be required to make the 33-year-old a feasible option for potential suitors. He is due a $10MM roster bonus for 2025, along with a $30MM base salary which is set to vest shortly after the league year begins in mid-March.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said earlier this offseason the team’s head coaching hire would play a role in deciding if Carr would remain in place for 2025 (as opposed to starting over at the position). During Moore’s introductory press conference, he was understandably asked about his view on the Carr situation. To little surprise, though, he did not make a firm commitment one way or the other.

“Derek’s a tremendous quarterback in this league. I’ve had so much respect for him, the journey that he’s been on, he’s a starter in this league,” Moore said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “He’s a premier player in this league… Really excited to team up with him and go through this process and so just like any player on this roster, I just got here a few days ago and I’m excited to go through this journey with all of them.”

Moore’s evaluation of the roster – one which currently has the Saints on track to be more than $50MM over the projected 2025 salary cap – is in its early stages. Cost-shedding moves will be required at several positions, although a Carr trade would create a $40MM dead money charge and only $11.33MM in savings this offseason. A release using a post-June 1 designation would generate a net gain in savings on the cap, on the other hand.

New Orleans used a fourth-round pick in 2023 on Jake Haener and followed up that selection by drafting Spencer Rattler in the fifth round last April. The latter made six starts while filling in for an injured Carr this past season, and Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes the Saints have informed other teams they are prepared to put Rattler atop the depth chart for 2025 and move on from Carr. Coupled with Moore’s non-committal remarks, questions will no doubt continue to be raised about New Orleans’ quarterback approach.

Moore noted, to no surprise, he will call plays for the Saints. A rebound from last year’s showing (24th in scoring) will be welcomed, but expectations for the team will of course be driven in large part by either the continued presence of Carr for a third New Orleans campaign or that of a new full-time starter.

Sources Expect Titans To Trade No. 1 Overall Pick; Latest On Browns’, Giants’ QB Plans

February 14th, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Rory Parks

FEBRUARY 14: The Titans are still trending towards trading the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft.

Of a panel of eight executives, coaches, and scouts, five believe that Tennessee will trade down to add more draft capital, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, while three believe that they will stay at No. 1 and, most likely, pick a quarterback.

Their decision represents competing beliefs about how to utilize the top pick in the draft while rebuilding a franchise. Multiple members of the panel pointed out that the Titans’ roster needs go far beyond a quarterback. Trading back would allow them to build a better long-term situation for a future franchise signal-caller.

However, the first overall pick is a rare opportunity, and six of the last seven have been used on a quarterback.

“You have to make it count and get your quarterback,” said one assistant coach. “I think that’s what the Titans will do. Keep the top pick and draft Cam Ward.”

FEBRUARY 9: New Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi already indicated during his introductory press conference several weeks ago that his club is open to the possibility of trading the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. Multiple sources tell ESPN’s Dan Graziano they believe Tennessee will do just that (subscription required).

The logic to a trade-down maneuver is clear. The Titans have plenty of holes to fill on their roster, and unless they become convinced one of the top signal-caller prospects in this year’s draft class (Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward) is their surefire QB of the future, moving down to collect additional draft capital makes plenty of sense. 

Of course, Borgonzi & Co. are doing their due diligence on Sanders and Ward, and president of football operations Chad Brinker – who has final say over personnel matters, although Borgonzi will run the draft – indicated the team will not pass on a generational talent with the No. 1 pick. In other words, even if the Titans do not think highly enough of Sanders or Ward to make one of them the top overall pick in April, a non-QB blue-chipper like Travis Hunter could still convince Tennessee to retain its coveted position atop the draft board.

If the Titans do not select a QB with their first choice, regardless of where that selection might fall, Graziano notes that a free agent passer like Sam Darnold or Justin Fields could be in play. Or, Tennessee could simply elect to give 2023 second-rounder Will Levis one more shot to prove that he can be the solution under center.

The Browns (No. 2 overall), Giants (No. 3), Raiders (No. 6), and Jets (No. 7) all profile as potential trading partners for the Titans. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who confirms that Tennessee brass is keeping an open mind here, adds the Saints (No. 9) to the list of teams that could engage in trade talks.

Cleveland would not have to move too far up the board to assure itself of its top choice of quarterback prospects, and as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (video link) reiterates, the Browns are expected to draft a passer and would have done so even if Deshaun Watson had not suffered a second Achilles tear that puts his 2025 season in jeopardy. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (subscription required), Browns GM Andrew Berry believes a long-term starter can be found in this year’s much-maligned crop of collegiate QBs, even beyond the Sanders/Ward tier (although Berry naturally would not suggest otherwise at this point). 

Pelissero adds that, no matter when Berry plans to pull the trigger on a college quarterback, Cleveland is also expected to add a veteran at the position. He names Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones as players to watch in that scenario.

In the same video link cited above, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says the Giants – whose only QB under contract at the moment is Tommy DeVito – will likewise be active in the veteran signal-caller market in advance of the draft. Garafolo confirms Darnold will be an option for Big Blue, and the team could again be on Russell Wilson’s radar (a sentiment echoed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (see Graziano link above)). 

Giants owner John Mara said last month he is open to resolving his club’s QB concerns with a veteran and/or a draft pick, though he appeared to suggest a prospect was the preferred route. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post believes Mara’s team will try to move up to either the No. 1 or No. 2 slot to select a quarterback, and Dan Duggan of The Athletic thinks there is a good chance the Titans and Giants will strike a No. 1-for-No. 3 swap.

Saints Re-Sign RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

February 13th, 2025 at 9:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s stock has dropped since he entered the NFL as a first-round pick, a new Saints coaching staff will soon start working with the LSU alum.

Edwards-Helaire is sticking with the Saints, agreeing on a one-year deal Thursday. This will allow new HC Kellen Moore and his to-be-assembled staff to assess the 5-foot-7 running back’s fit this offseason.

The Saints picked up Edwards-Helaire in free agency shortly after the Chiefs waived him. Edwards-Helaire, who had seen Isiah Pacheco and others usurp him on Kansas City’s depth chart, did not play in a Chiefs game last season. Upon joining New Orleans, however, he saw action as one of Alvin Kamara‘s injury replacements. Last season, Edwards-Helaire gained 46 yards on 13 carries over the Saints’ final two games.

A Baton Rouge native, Edwards-Helaire joins Foster Moreau and ex-Chiefs teammate Tyrann Mathieu as Louisiana natives and LSU alums to find their way to New Orleans’ pro team. The Saints have Kamara signed through 2026, via the extension he signed during the season, and third-round pick Kendre Miller remains under contract as well. Jamaal Williams has not been able to carve out a steady role in New Orleans, but the NFL’s 2022 rushing touchdowns leader is under contract for one more season.

Set to turn 26 in April, Edwards-Helaire is attempting to hang on after his career has not panned out as hoped. The Chiefs used him as an immediate starter in 2020, following 2019 playoff hero Damien Williams‘ decision to opt out due to COVID-19 concerns, but could not rely on the No. 32 overall pick. CEH sustained injuries in 2020 and ’21, missing 10 games in that span, and saw Pacheco’s 2022 arrival change the backfield equation for the AFC superpower. Pacheco’s fractured fibula last September did not prompt the Chiefs to reinstall CEH as a part of their offense, as a Kareem Hunt reunion led to the veteran taking over as the team’s starter.

Edwards-Helaire has been unable to match his LSU pass-game production in the pros, topping out at 297 receiving yards as a rookie. He totaled 453 on 55 catches for LSU’s unbeaten national championship team in 2019, attracting the Chiefs’ attention. Edwards-Helaire also gained 803 rushing yards as a rookie, but he has not topped 350 in a season since 2021.

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