HEADLINES

Jets Hire Steve Wilks As DC

January 29th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The first major Jets hire of the Aaron Glenn era is set to be made. The team’s next defensive coordinator will be the staffer long seen as the top candidate for the position.

Steve Wilks is finalizing a deal to take over New York’s defense, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He had an interview lined up for today, so that meeting has obviously gone well. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds a contract will be signed tomorrow. This will mark a return to coaching after Wilks was out of the league in 2024.

Once the Glenn hire was made, Wilks was named as a strong contender to become his defensive coordinator. The latter has worked as a DC three separate times in the NFL, also holding that role on three occasions in the college ranks. An interview also took place with Chris Harris, but Glenn and Co. have elected to go with their top choice for 2025. Multiple reports from yesterday noted this was the team’s expected route.

Wilks first coached in the NFL in 2005, and his stock steadily rose with respect to his head coaching candidacy. His first – and to date, only – full-time opportunity in that department came in 2018 with the Cardinals. After his one-and-done campaign in Arizona, Wilks worked as the Browns’ D-coordinator before a one-year DC stint at Missouri. He returned to the pro ranks on Carolina’s staff.

The Panthers fired Frank Reich midway through his first season as head coach in 2022, and Wilks took over on an interim basis. He received support from the players to receive the gig full time, but Carolina ultimately hired Dave Canales. That left Wilks on the move, and he took charge of the 49ers’ defense for their latest Super Bowl run. After losing the title game (and reportedly clashing with head coach Kyle Shanahan along the way), though, Wilks was fired.

Now, the Jets will bring him onboard in an effort to replicate the success seen for much of Jeff Ulbrich‘s time at the helm of their defense. After Robert Saleh‘s midseason firing, Ulbrich took over as interim HC but posted a 3-9 record. While he interviewed for the full-time gig, Glenn was long seen as a preferred candidate for this year’s hiring cycle. The latter called plays during his time with the Lions, but that will not be the case in New York.

As a result, the Jets’ defensive coordinator hire loomed as a key one for Glenn to make regarding his first year as a head coach. Wilks represents a highly experienced addition to his staff, and expectations will be high for his debut campaign in New York. The Jets finished third or fourth in total defense for each of the past three seasons, and remaining strong on that side of the ball will be an obvious goal moving forward. If Wilks can help the team attain it, his stock will likely receive a boost.

Matthew Stafford Plans To Play In 2025

January 29th, 2025 at 10:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

It has not taken long for Matthew Stafford‘s immediate future to become settled. The Rams are set to have their starting quarterback in place once again for 2025.

Stafford has informed the team of his intention of playing next season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). His age-37 season will be his fifth in Los Angeles, and expectations will remain high given his level of play when healthy for the Rams. Stafford declined to confirm in the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss whether or not he would continue his career, although his comments hinted that would be the case.

Shortly thereafter, head coach Sean McVay said the team was hoping to learn of the two-time Pro Bowler’s intentions sooner rather than later. That question has seemingly been put to rest, although Rapoport notes another round of contract adjustments may be in order this offseason. The sides worked out a restructure agreement just ahead of training camp last summer, and Stafford’s 2024 pay was increased as a result.

The terms of that arrangement currently has him on track for only a $4MM roster bonus in terms of locked in compensation (before the start of the regular season, that is) for 2025. Stafford is also set to carry a cap hit of nearly $50MM next season, and an extension or new re-working of his pact could help lower that figure. It will be interesting to see if negotiations can progress on a quicker timeline compared to last year.

While McVay is on the record with allowing Stafford to remain with the Rams as long he wishes to continue his career, the possibility of a trade was floated over the weekend. Moving on from the veteran after June 1 would generate $27MM in cap savings (along with almost $23MM in dead money) for Los Angeles, but it would of course create a major vacancy at the QB spot. No successor is currently in place with Jimmy Garoppolo set to hit free agency and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett yet to play a regular season snap.

The Rams are comfortable with proceeding on a year-to-year basis with Stafford, so his future will remain a talking point as long as his career lasts. For now, though, he is on track to suit up for 2025 as the team aims to make another playoff run next season.

Raiders Retain Patrick Graham As DC

January 29th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

After looking into a few outside candidates, the Raiders are in position to maintain the status quo at the defensive coordinator spot. Pete Carroll is set to have continuity on that side of the ball for 2025.

Patrick Graham is working out a deal with the team which will see him remain in his role as DC, Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports. The door has remained open to such a possibility in the wake of Carroll’s hire, and as long as an agreement can be reached, that will prove to be the case. Vic Tafur of the The Athletic confirms this situation is trending in the direction of continuity. A deal has now been worked out, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Graham’s previous contract expired, but he has a new one in hand.

Graham has been with Vegas for the past three seasons, having served as a coordinator in the NFL each year dating back to 2019. The 46-year-old was naturally seen as a replacement candidate once Carroll was brought in, given the fact teams often undergo mass changes on the sidelines in the wake of a head coaching hire. A report from yesterday noted, however, that Graham and Carroll would meet to discuss working together in 2025.

It appears that effort will produce an arrangement allowing Graham to carry on with the Raiders. The former Dolphins and Giants DC interviewed twice with the Jaguars for their head coaching vacancy. Jacksonville ultimately hired Liam Coen, and in the wake of that move Graham emerged as a prime candidate for the team’s D-coordinator position. Instead, the Jags will need to look elsewhere.

The Raiders ranked 26th in the NFL in scoring defense during Graham’s first year at the helm, but the unit made a jump to ninth in that department in 2023. Expectations were high for this past campaign as a result, but injuries along the edge in particular helped lead to a regression. Despite overseeing a unit which fell back to 25th in points allowed, Graham is set to receive an extended look.

Vegas requested one external interview (Karl Scott) with respect to potential outside replacement candidates, while also speaking with defensive line coach Rob Leonard. It will be interesting to see what happens in the latter’s case with what was a perceived vacancy now set to remain filled. In any case, the Raiders will have defensive consistency on the sidelines in 2025 provided Graham and the team can come to terms on a new arrangement.

Steelers Want To Improve At WR, Have Not Begun George Pickens Extension Talks

January 29th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers owner Art Rooney II admitted that the team will be looking to improve their receiver room this offseason after struggling to find consistency at the position in 2024 outside of George Pickens.

“I think we have positions in the wide receiver room we’re going to have to address,” said Rooney (via Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show).

Bringing in a high-profile wideout to take targets away from Pickens could cause tension with the mercurial 23-year-old, something Rooney addressed in his press conference.

“I think every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that you have to manage them correctly,” said Rooney. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has.” 

Indeed, despite repeated incidents at Georgia and in Pittsburgh, Pickens has been the Steelers’ best receiver since he was drafted. Head coach Mike Tomlin is no stranger to getting the most out of intense personalities (Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell), which Rooney referenced as well.

“But when you have guys that are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful,” he said, adding that the team has yet to work on an extension for Pickens.

Pickens is under contract for 2025, as is Calvin Austin, the team’s second-leading receiver, but Van Jefferson and Mike Williams are both set to hit free agency. Rooney’s comments indicate that he is planning to go in another direction, though he’s more focused on the Steelers’ future at quarterback.

“That’s priority No. 1,” said Rooney. “The quarterback position is a key piece of the puzzle that needs to be addressed.” 

But the Steelers’ offseason resources – the 21st overall pick and more than $40MM in cap space, per OverTheCap – are better attuned to bolster their receiving corps. It’s unlikely one of the draft’s top quarterbacks falls to Pittsburgh, and none of the available veterans profile as high-upside options. The 2025 receiver class is far deeper in both the draft and free agency, forcing the Steelers into a tough offseason dilemma. They can improve their weapons on offense, but that may not be enough to break their playoff win drought without a better long-term quarterback.

Jaguars Conduct OC Interview With Commanders’ Tavita Pritchard

January 29th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars’ list of offensive coordinator candidates is beginning to take shape. Jacksonville’s second interview for the position has now taken place.

[RELATED: Jaguars Interested In Chip Kelly?]

Tavita Pritchard met with new head coach Liam Coen and Co. on Wednesday, per a team announcement. This marks the first coordinator gig the Commanders’ quarterbacks coach has been linked to this offseason. It comes as little surprise his work from 2024 has generated attention, however.

Pritchard was a quarterback at Stanford from 2006-09, and immediately after his playing career ended he transitioned to coaching at his alma mater. The 37-year-old remained with the program though 2022, holding a number of roles along the way. That included a five-year run as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The first NFL opportunity of Pritchard’s career came with the Commanders in 2023. He has been the team’s QBs coach since then, something which of course resulted in him having a key role on the staff which oversaw Jayden Daniels‘ debut season. The Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024, something which put offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury back on the head coaching radar.

The former Cardinals HC will remain in the nation’s capital for 2025, but departures elsewhere on the Commanders’ staff could still take place given the team’s surprise run to the NFC title game this season. That could include Pritchard getting an OC opportunity in spite of his thin NFL resume. He and Coen have not worked together before.

Early today, it was learned the first Jaguars interviewee for the coordinator spot was Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase. Coen will call plays in 2025, but his first OC hire will nevertheless be an important one as he fills out his staff in the near future. It will be interesting to see how many other candidates emerge for the posting over the coming days.

Bears To Hire Press Taylor

January 29th, 2025 at 9:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Press Taylor‘s time as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator is over with Liam Coen in the process of building his first Jacksonville staff. Taylor has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity, however.

The ex-Jags OC is being hired by the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Taylor will take on the role of pass-game coordinator while working under Ben Johnson. The Bears recently added Declan Doyle as their offensive coordinator, a role he has not previously held in the NFL.

Taylor, by contrast, worked in that capacity during his time in Jacksonville. Hired as an initial member of Doug Pederson‘s staff, the 37-year-old called plays for the team in 2023 and continued in that capacity for this past campaign. Things did not go according to plan either time, something which caught the attention of former general manager Trent Baalke.

A November report noted Baalke’s preference for this past offseason would have been for Pederson to fire Taylor and bring in a new OC. That did not happen, and a dismal campaign ended with Pederson and (eventually) Baalke being dismissed. Now, as Coen weighs his options, Taylor will once again find himself on the move.

The latter has been in the NFL since 2013, having spent his first eight years on the sidelines with the Eagles. The final three years of that stretch included the role of quarterbacks coach, and in 2020 Taylor also served as Philadelphia’s pass-game coordinator. He has experience in such a position, one which he will handle in 2025 for the Bears.

Providing quarterback Caleb Williams with stability in Year 2 and beyond will be critical for Chicago. Johnson, to no surprise, will call plays during his first campaign as a head coach, but the success he, Doyle and Taylor have in overseeing the development of last April’s No. 1 pick will go a long way in determining the Bears’ success. A strong run in the Windy City could also help rebuild Taylor’s stock around the league with respect to future OC opportunities.

Texans To Interview Bill Lazor For OC

January 29th, 2025 at 8:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of their decision to fire Bobby Slowik, the Texans have been linked to several offensive coordinator candidates. Three of them are within the organization, with one internal option already conducting an interview.

That list is set to grow to two. Senior offensive assistant Bill Lazor has a meeting lined up with the Texans for the offensive coordinator spot, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. This interview will take place tomorrow, he adds.

Lazor’s coaching experience dates back to 1994, and it includes OC stints at both the college and NFL levels. His most recent opportunity on that front came with the Bears (2020-21), something which was followed by a one-year absence from the sidelines in any capacity. Lazor joined DeMeco Ryans‘ first Texans staff and he has held his current role for the past two years as a result.

The 52-year-old has worked as a coordinator three times in the NFL, but his Dolphins, Bengals and Bears stints each lasted only two seasons. Houston will no doubt be looking for a greater degree of stability at the OC spot, especially after moving on from Slowik following his own two-year run. The Texans regressed on offense (something which was caused at least to an extent by injuries along the offensive line and at the receiver position) in 2024, but a bounce-back would be welcomed as part of the team’s efforts to make a deeper run in the AFC playoffs next season.

Lazor was quickly named as a potential Slowik replacement in the wake of the OC change being made, so it comes as no surprise an interview will take place. He and QBs coach Jerrod Johnson are joined by Ben McDaniels as internal options to take over from Slowik. After Ryans tapped a familiar face (dating back to their shared time with the 49ers) for his first OC hire, it will be interesting to see if he does the same this time around.

Via PFR’s coordinator tracker, here is an updated look at the Texans’ search:

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/29/25

January 29th, 2025 at 8:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wednesday’s lone minor move in the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Buechele was on track to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but instead he has landed a new one-year Bills commitment. The former undrafted free agent began his career with the Chiefs, but he landed on Buffalo’s practice squad shortly before the 2023 campaign began. He signed a futures contract with the Bills after the season, although he missed all of this past year due to injury. Buechele, 27, has yet to make a regular season appearance in his career.

Bengals Willing To Extend Trey Hendrickson

January 29th, 2025 at 5:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the conversation around the 2025 offseason for the Bengals has been centered on the receiver position. Tee Higgins is a pending free agent while Ja’Marr Chase is (still) eligible for a monster extension.

Finding clarity in both of those cases will be critical as the team looks to return to the postseason in 2025. Improving on defense will be key in reaching that goal, and a number of roster moves could be on tap as a result. One defender Cincinnati would be well-served in retaining is Trey Hendrickson, though, and doing so would be dependent on reaching an extension agreement. The team is prepared to authorize a raise to work out a new deal.

“Has he earned a pay raise and a bump in an extension… he has,” Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin said of Hendrickson in an interview with Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’re cognizant of that, and we will give that to him. But whether we agree on what that looks like is, is what is to be determined.”

Indeed, the latest round of negotiations could prove to be difficult given the history between team and player in this case. Hendrickson’s efforts to land a new deal (and accompanying raise) were unsuccessful last spring, and his trade request did not result in such a move being contemplated by Cincinnati. The 30-year-old did not engage in a holdout, though, electing to rely on his 2024 production to increase his leverage.

That plan certainly paid off. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 this campaign, matching his career high in the process and earning first-team All-Pro honors. The four-time Pro Bowler is among the finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award, and winning it could add further to his case for a pay bump. As things stand, 2025 is set to be the final year of his contract.

Hendrickson is currently due $16MM in compensation with a cap hit of $18.67MM. None of his base salary is guaranteed, and landing new locked-in money will of course be a central goal in negotiations. 10 edge rushers are attached to a deal with a larger annual average value than Hendrickson’s, and the top of the market could soon change with Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt likely to receive new contracts. Micah Parsons could move to the top of the pecking order provided he and the Cowboys work out an extension.

The Bengals sit 10th in projected 2025 cap space as things stand, although things will no doubt change on that front as the new league year approaches. Finding the room to accommodate a lucrative new Hendrickson pact will be challenging but – considering his output since arriving as a free agent in 2021 – it would likely prove to be a worthwhile investment.

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