Chargers Request Jason Garrett Interview
The Chargers have requested an interview with Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The former Cowboys head coach would be one of several candidates to interview after the firing of Anthony Lynn. 
[RELATED: Chargers To Meet With Arthur Smith]
Garrett posted a regular season record of 85-67 for the Cowboys across nine seasons. Although they came up short in the playoffs, Garrett remains a highly-respected offensive mind. He also played quarterback in the league for nearly 15 years, making him a solid choice to develop youngster Justin Herbert. Of course, this past year wasn’t a banner season for the Giants, but there’s plenty of blame to go around in Northern New Jersey.
The Chargers will also look to interview Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Daboll is also being targeted by the Jets, who got an up-close look at Josh Allen‘s transformation in 2020.
So far, the Chargers have put at least three candidates on their HC list in Garrett, Daboll, and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. It’s worth noting that the competition for Smith will be fierce — all six teams with openings have asked to meet with the 38-year-old.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/21
It’s been a busy day of firings, interviews, retirements, and even arrests, but that doesn’t mean we won’t make time for some minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Cut: CB Nate Brooks
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: TE Colin Thompson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Bengals’ practice squad: CB Brian Allen
New York Giants
- Re-signed: DB Madre Harper, OT Jackson Barton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: DT T.Y. McGill
2021 NFL Draft Order
The 2020 regular season is in the books. For more than half of the NFL, that means the offseason is officially underway.
The league’s 18 non-playoff teams now know where they stand in the 2021 NFL Draft order. For the remaining clubs, the playoffs will help determine their position. Here’s the rundown of the 2021 NFL Draft order, thus far:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Texans)
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinatti Bengals
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Detroit Lions
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Giants
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Las Vegas Raiders
18. Miami Dolphins
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/2/21
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Christian Kirk
- Promoted: DL Stacy McGee, LB Terrance Smith, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: WR Chris Rowland, WR Devin Gray, TE Jared Pinkney
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Nate Brooks, QB Tyler Huntley
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Tyler Kroft; Kroft contracted the coronavirus
- Promoted: TE Nate Becker, CB Dane Jackson, DE Mike Love, RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: LB Clay Johnston, T Aaron Monteiro, QB Tommy Stevens
- Placed on IR: CB Troy Pride
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: DB Xavier Crawford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Mike Daniels
- Promoted: LB Keandre Jones, DT Kahlil McKenzie, CB Winston Rose
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: G Blake Hance
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Karl Joseph
- Promoted: G Cordell Iwuagwu, LB Montrel Meander, T Alex Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: DB Steven Parker
- Promoted: DT Walter Palmore, T William Sweet
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: WR K.J. Hamler
- Promoted: LB Josh Watson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: DT Danny Shelton
- Promoted: C Evan Brown, DT Albert Huggins, S Bobby Price
- Waived: DL Frank Herron
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: David Bakhtiari (story)
- Promoted: G Ben Braden, DL Brian Price
Houston Texans
- Promoted: OL Greg Mancz, WR Steven Mitchell
- Placed on IR: OL Brent Qvale
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: S Ibraheim Campbell, T Jared Veldheer
- Activated from IR: TE Noah Togiai
- Waived: WR Marcus Johnson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: WR Collin Johnson
- Promoted: WR Terry Godwin, OL Tre’vour Wallace-Simms
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Jeff Heath
- Promoted: LB James Onwualu, OL Erik Magnuson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: DB John Brannon
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: QB Bryce Perkins
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: S Nate Holley, WR Marcus Kemp, QB Reid Sinnett
- Waived: FB Chandler Cox
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: CB Tae Hayes, Cordrea Tankersley, DE Eddie Yarbrough
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: RB Damien Harris
- Promoted: TE/DL Rashod Berry, CB Michael Jackson, LB Cassh Maluia, OL Ross Reynolds, CB D’Angelo Ross
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: FB Michael Burton, RB Latavius Murray, S D.J. Swearinger, RB Dwayne Washington; Murray and Washington are close contacts of COVID-positive Alvin Kamara (story)
- Promoted: LB Andrew Dowell, TE Garrett Griffin, CB Grant Haley, LB Chase Hansen, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, RB Tony Jones Jr., WR Tommylee Lewis
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: LB Kyler Fackrell, CB Madre Harper
- Promoted: P Ryan Santoso
- Placed on IR: FB Elijhaa Penny
- Waived: QB/WR Joe Webb
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: G Greg Van Roten
- Waived: K Sam Ficken
- Promoted: LB Noah Dawkins, LB Sharif Finch, LB Brady Sheldon, DL Tanzel Smart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Blake Countess, DE Joe Ostman, T Prince Tega Wanogho
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Eric Ebron, LB Cassius Marsh
- Promoted: WR Deon Cain, T Anthony Coyle, TE Kevin Rader, K Matthew Wright
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: G Tom Compton
- Promoted: DT Josiah Coatney, WR Jordan Matthews, K Tristan Vizcaino, OL Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: CB Tre Flowers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Damarious Randall, T Brandon Shell
- Promoted: G Alex Boone, RB Alex Collins, WR Penny Hart
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Herb Miller, DL Benning Potoa’e
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Brett Kern
- Promoted: LB Brooks Reed, K Sam Sloman
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: WR Dontrelle Inman
Giants QB Daniel Jones Starting On Sunday
Daniel Jones will be back under center for the Giants tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the quarterback will start against the Ravens on Sunday.
Jones has missed a pair of games this season due to ankle and hamstring injuries, including last week’s loss to the Browns. While the 2019 sixth-overall pick was a limited participant this week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the quarterback looked better in practice and is showing renewed energy. With Jones returning to the lineup, Colt McCoy, who has led the Giants to a 1-1 record in two starts, will return to his backup role.
Jones has struggled a bit during his sophomore campaign. While his completion percentage is up (62.6 percent), he’s only thrown for 2,462 yards and eight touchdowns (vs. only nine interceptions) in 12 games. For comparison’s sake, the 23-year-old compiled 3,027 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during his rookie season.
Despite his inconsistent production, head coach Joe Judge made it clear that Jones is the Giants quarterback of the present and future.
“To me it’s a string of moments watching Daniel work,” Judge said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “Watching the respect he has in the locker room. Watching him lead throughout this season. I think he’s demonstrated a level of toughness and leadership and knowledge on the field that gives us confidence to put him out there and build with Daniel.”
Giants Sign Logan Ryan To Extension
It’s an especially Merry Christmas for Logan Ryan. On Friday morning, the Giants agreed to a three-year, $31MM extension with the veteran safety, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
The deal includes $20MM in guarantees, assuring that Ryan will be a part of the team’s plans beyond 2021. It’s not immediately clear how much of that $20MM figure is guaranteed at signing, but a good portion of that sum should be locked in for Year One.
Ryan, 30 in February, hooked on with the Giants just before the start of the season. His history with head coach Joe Judge and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham helped to bring him to New York, but his talent and versatility were the real drivers.
The one-year, $7.5MM deal paid off for the G-Men, and they’re now rewarding him with the $10MM/year figure that he had been seeking throughout the offseason. In 2019, Ryan led all NFL corners last season with 113 tackles. He graded as one of the league’s top slot defenders, per Pro Football Focus, but ultimately had to make the switch to safety.
It hasn’t been a banner year for the Giants on the whole, but Ryan has been solid throughout. Through 14 games, the Rutgers product has 83 stops, one interception, one sack, three forced fumbles, and nine passes defensed to his credit. Now, he has security with a contract that could take him all the way to the end of his career.
Judge: Daniel Jones Is Giants’ 2021 QB1
Daniel Jones is iffy to return for the Giants’ Week 16 game against the Ravens, and he his numbers have taken a steep dive in Jason Garrett‘s offense this season. But Joe Judge backed the current Big Blue starter as his 2021 quarterback.
When asked Wednesday about Jones’ status as the Giants’ starter beyond this season, Judge responded, “Daniel Jones is our quarterback.”
Kyle Shanahan took a similar route when asked about Jimmy Garoppolo‘s job, and Jones has two years remaining on his rookie deal and a 2023 option season. But the Giants received criticism since the start of Jones’ tenure — which began with a No. 6 overall pick — and have seen him struggle often in his second season. The Duke product threw 24 touchdown passes — fourth-most ever for a rookie — in 2019 despite making just 12 starts. Through 12 starts this year, Jones has thrown eight TD passes and has added 10 more fumbles to his eye-popping career total (28).
The Giants do not have to decide on Jones’ fifth-year option until May 2022, though those are higher-stakes decisions due to the options being fully guaranteed beginning with the 2018 first-round class. But the team is set to pick in the top half of the draft — barring major changes in the NFC East picture over the final two games — and would be in position to potentially add another quarterback.
“To me it’s a string of moments watching Daniel work. Watching the respect he has in the locker room. Watching him lead throughout this season. I think he’s demonstrated a level of toughness and leadership and knowledge on the field that gives us confidence to put him out there and build with Daniel, Judge said, via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/20
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on practice squad injured list: WR A.J. Richardson
- Released: DL P.J. Johnson
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Anthony Edwards
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: WR Gary Jennings
Carolina Panthers
- Activated off practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ishmael Hyman
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Spencer Ware
- Activated off practice squad injured list: WR Thomas Ives
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Elijah Benton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: C Jon Toth
- Released: OL Marcus Martin
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Anthony Pittman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: K J.J. Molson
- Released: OL Anthony Fabiano
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Willie Henry, CB Brandon Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Elijah McGuire
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE David Irving
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Dee Virgin
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Marquise Copeland, LB Derrick Moncrief
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Marcus Kemp
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Garrett Griffin, QB Trevor Siemian
New York Giants
- Signed: S Montre Hartage
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Tyler Gaffney
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Josh Johnson, WR Kevin White
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: OL Andrew Jones
Washington Football Team
- Signed: WR Jeff Badet
Gettleman's Status Up In The Air
- While a lot of these decisions already appear to be more or less set in stone, Pauline says that Giants GM Dave Gettleman’s status is genuinely undecided and up in the air. He writes that it’ll depend on what happens the rest of the year (presumably whether the G-Men win the NFC East), and that there’s been no “definitive decision.” However, Pauline does say that as of right now he hears the Giants are “more comfortable” getting rid of Gettleman and bringing in someone new to work alongside first-year coach Joe Judge, who people inside the building are apparently “ecstatic” about. As one that could seemingly go either way, the situation in New York will be one of the most interesting to monitor the last couple weeks. What happens with Gettleman could also very well determine whether the team runs it back with Daniel Jones or looks for a new quarterback this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Chris Moore
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Geno Stone
- Placed on IR: CB Davontae Harris
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Kevin Hogan
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Brian Allen
Houston Texans
- Activated from commissioner’s exempt list: CB Mark Fields II, RB Dontrell Hilliard
- Waived: DT Corey Liuget
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: P Logan Cooke
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Erik Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Trey Pipkins
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: WR Antonio Callaway
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB James Bradberry
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Danny Isidora
- Waived: TE Kevin Rader
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Penny Hart
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton