NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/19
Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contract moves:
Cleveland Browns
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- DL Devaroe Lawrence
- OL Kyle Friend
- DB Robert Jackson
- RB Devante Mays
- DB Lenzy Pipkins
- DB Tigie Sankoh*
- OL Brad Seaton
- WR Daniel Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- DT Andrew Brown
Denver Broncos
- WR Fred Brown
- QB Garrett Grayson
- WR Chad Hansen
- LB Alexander Johnson
- OL Andreas Knappe
- DE Cashaud Lyons
- RB Khalfani Muhammad
- G Austin Schlottmann
- CB Linden Stephens
- S Shamarko Thomas
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Jeff Badet
- T Adam Bisnowaty
- LB Reshard Cliett
- DT Curtis Cothran
- C Cornelius Edison
- TE Cole Hikutini
- CB Jalen Myrick
- T Storm Norton
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- RB Roc Thomas
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Joe Callahan
- P Hayden Hunt
- LS Zach Triner
Tennessee Titans
- DL Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- WR Tre McBride
* = part of the NFL’s International Player Development Program
Breer: Bucs Will Win Le'Veon Bell Derby
- Although the Jets are believed to be ready to make a run at Le’Veon Bell, Albert Breer of SI.com does not see that pursuit winning out. Instead, Breer said during an interview with Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd (via the Tampa Bay Times) the Buccaneers are his best guess as to who will be signing the running back’s checks in 2019. This would be interesting because of the Jets’ cap-space advantage ($106MM-plus to $17MM-plus, though the Bucs can clear a substantial amount of room without incurring dead money) and the fact Tampa Bay used a 2018 second-round pick on Ronald Jones.
- Dirk Koetter‘s interview for his old job as Falcons offensive coordinator will occur Saturday, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports. The Falcons’ OC from 2012-14, Koetter is a free agent again after being fired by the Buccaneers. He may well be the leading candidate to succeed Steve Sarkisian running Atlanta’s offense. Matt Ryan has praised Koetter in the recent past. Mike Mularkey, Atlanta’s OC from 2008-11, and Darrell Bevell are the other known candidates.
- Although the Jets are believed to be ready to make a run at Le’Veon Bell, Albert Breer of SI.com does not see that pursuit winning out. Instead, Breer said during an interview with Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd (via the Tampa Bay Times) the Buccaneers are his best guess as to who will be signing the running back’s checks in 2019. This would be interesting because of the Jets’ cap-space advantage ($106MM-plus to $17MM-plus, though the Bucs can clear a substantial amount of room without incurring dead money) and the fact Tampa Bay used a 2018 second-round pick on Ronald Jones.
Buccaneers To Meet With Kris Richard
At least one team has scheduled a meeting with Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard. The Buccaneers have planned an interview with Richard, according to the NFL network (via the Tampa Bay Times).
Teams are not allowed to meet with assistants whose teams are preparing for first-round games, but the Bucs have scheduled a summit with Richard for after the Cowboys’ wild-card game.
Both the Dolphins and Jets submitted interview requests to Richard, but it’s not known if any meetings are scheduled yet. The Bucs interviewed Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy in Kansas City on Wednesday.
Richard, 39, was viewed as a possible HC candidate last year. He oversaw the 2015 Seahawks’ No. 1 scoring defense and was the Legion of Boom’s position coach the previous three seasons, which also featured Seattle housing No. 1 scoring defenses. The Seahawks fired Richard after the 2017 campaign, leading him to Dallas.
Richard took over play-calling duties from Dallas DC Rod Marinelli this season. The Cowboys’ defense improved slightly, ranking sixth in points allowed. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled again, allowing the second-most points in the league.
Eric Bieniemy Declines Cardinals Interview
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy declined an opportunity to interview with the Cardinals, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’s set to interview with the Jets and Buccaneers on Wednesday, the Dolphins on Thursday, and the Bengals on Friday, so he has a full plate as he also gets set for the Chiefs’ Divisional Round game on Jan. 12. 
Bieniemy has been a popular candidate early in this cycle and it seems awful likely that he’ll land a job behind the strength of the Chiefs’ offense and Andy Reid‘s strong recommendation.
In 2017, the Chiefs ranked fifth in total offense under Matt Nagy’s command. Bieniemy had big shoes to fill as he took over for him but Patrick Mahomes & Co. exceeded all expectations. The Chiefs finished first in total offense in 2018 by averaging an eye-popping 425.6 yards per game.
Bieniemy, who enjoyed a nine-year playing career before entering the coaching ranks, has been with Kansas City since 2013. Prior to that, the 45-year-old served as the offensive coordinator at Colorado, so he has call-playing experience despite the fact that Reid is hands-on with his team.
Buccaneers To Interview George Edwards
- The Buccaneers will have a chance to interview Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards. The parties will meet Thursday for a head coach meeting, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Thus far on the coaching carousel, Edwards — the Vikings’ DC for the past five seasons and formerly the Bills’ and Redskins’ DC — has only been connected to Tampa Bay’s vacancy.
Brian Flores To Meet With Browns, Broncos, Dolphins, Packers
The latest Patriots playoff bye week will bring quite the workload for linebackers coach Brian Flores.
While he is still arranging his schedule, he has agreed to meet with the Browns, Broncos, Dolphins and Packers about their head coaching vacancies, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter). These interviews will occur this weekend.
After previously omitting the Broncos, who requested a meeting with Flores, La Canfora reports they will meet with the aspiring head coach. The Bucs, though, are not set to meet with the Patriot assistant this week, JLC tweets.
These four teams requested summits with Flores, and he will oblige. Flores has become a far more attractive candidate than he was a year ago, when the Cardinals met with him about their HC opening. Arizona again has an opening, but the team has not as of yet requested another audience with New England’s 37-year-old de facto defensive coordinator.
The Patriots turned to Flores as their top defensive assistant following Matt Patricia‘s defection to Detroit.
New England’s first post-Patricia defense has been the team’s typical bend-but-don’t-break unit, ranking 21st in yards allowed but seventh in scoring. The Pats have only had one non-top-10 scoring defense in the past 13 seasons; Flores has been a part of their past eight defensive coaching staffs.
Bucs Rumors: Winston, McCoy, Monken
Here’s the latest out of Tampa:
- The Buccaneers say they’re looking for a new head coach, but not looking for a new starting quarterback. “Jameis Winston will be here. We have him under contract for a year,” GM Jason Licht said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “He has done some amazing things for a young 24, turns 25 in a week, quarterback. He’s accomplished more than most of the elite quarterbacks have at his age throughout that time span. There’s a lot to like about Jameis. Jameis will be here next year.” The Bucs picked up the fifth year option on Winston’s contract, which should keep him in place for another season at a rate of $20.92MM. Of course, the option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Buccaneers could theoretically get out of the deal.
- Licht cannot guarantee that defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will be back with the team in 2019 (Twitter link via Stroud). “We have a lot of tough decisions to make,” Licht said. Thanks to the seven-year, $95.2MM contract extension he signed with the Bucs in 2014, McCoy is slated to be back with the team in 2019 at a $13MM cap number. However, it is a non-guaranteed deal. Despite Tampa Bay’s problems on defense and McCoy’s injury trouble, he still turned in a decent year for the Bucs. McCoy graded out as the No. 27 ranked defensive tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
- Licht says the Buccaneers will not consider in-house candidates for the head coaching job, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. That automatically rules out offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who may be up for the Jets job.
Bucs, Dolphins Request Interviews With Eric Bieniemy
The Buccaneers and Dolphins have requested interviews with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Bieniemy, 49, was among those recommended by the Fritz Pollard Alliance for head coaching consideration this year and should be a hot candidate given the success of the Chiefs’ explosive offense in 2018.
The Jets also requested an interview with Bieniemy on Monday, a job that could hold more appeal than the Bucs or Dolphins. Aside from the Jets playing in the country’s biggest market, they have a young and promising quarterback in Sam Darnold. The draft could bring new QBs to Tampa Bay and Miami, but Darnold could be closer to NFL success than any prospect in the 2019 class.
Bieniemy’s first NFL coaching gig came between 2016-2010 with the Vikings as a running backs coach. He dipped back into the college ranks as Colorado’s offensive coordinator, but returned to the pro level in 2013 as the Chiefs’ running backs coach. When Matt Nagy left for Chicago, Andy Reid promoted him to the OC post.
Bucs Request Interview With George Edwards
The Buccaneers have requested an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards for their head coaching job, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Serving under Mike Zimmer, Edwards has had a significant role in game planning and has been in the mix for head coaching jobs in the past. 
[RELATED: Bucs Interested In Mike McCarthy?]
Last year, Edwards reportedly did well in his interview with the Bears, though that job ultimately went to offensive specialist Matt Nagy. Given his experience with six different NFL clubs since 1998, Edwards may be due for a step up the ladder. Before joining Zimmer and the Vikings, Zimmer held two DC jobs with the Redskins and Bills and was a linebackers coach for the Cowboys, Browns, and Dolphins.
The Bucs moved on from Dirk Koetter before the end of 2018, ending a run that started with lots of promise and ended with very little in the way of results. Koetter went 9-7 his first year but the Bucs finished 5-11 in each of the last two seasons.
The Buccaneers have also been connected to former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, though he figures to have multiple suitors this offseason.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 12/31/18
New Year’s Eve marks the first day eliminated teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts. Here is the first wave of those decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- OL Justin Evans
- OL Will House
- QB Chad Kanoff
- CB Jonathan Moxey
- CB Deatrick Nichols
- LB Pete Robertson
- OL Coleman Shelton
- RB Brandon Wilds
Atlanta Falcons
- QB Kurt Benkert
- WR Christian Blake
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- LB Jermaine Grace
- TE Jaeden Graham
- TE Alex Gray
- WR Devin Gray
- OL Sean Harlow
- DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Carolina Panthers
- T Isaiah Battle
- DB Quin Blanding
- RB Reggie Bonnafon
- LB Brandon Chubb
- DT Woodrow Hamilton
- WR Andre Levrone
- DB Cole Luke
- DB Kai Nacua
- DT Elijah Qualls
- G Ian Silberman
- G Landon Turner
- WR DeAndrew White
- LB Antwione Williams
Detroit Lions
- WR Deontez Alexander
- LB Garret Dooley
- S David Jones
- OL Jarron Jones
- DE Jonathan Wynn
Green Bay Packers
- TE Evan Baylis
- DL Eric Cotton
- T Gerhard de Beer
- G Anthony Coyle
- FB Malcolm Johnson
- S Tray Matthews
- WR Teo Redding
- LB Brady Sheldon
- DL Deon Simon
- S Jason Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Jeff Badet
- LB Reshard Cliett
- DL Curtis Cothran
- DB Jalen Myrick
- RB Roc Thomas
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Trey Griffey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- T Cole Boozer
- WR K.J. Brent
- DE Demone Harris
- G Ruben Holcomb
- DE Farrington Huguenin
- DE Patrick O’Connor
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Emmanuel Smith
Tennessee Titans
- RB Dalyn Dawkins
- OL Jamil Douglas
- CB Mike Jordan
- WR Roger Lewis
- OLB Gimel President
- OL David Quessenberry
- WR Kalif Raymond
- WR Devin Ross
- S Damon Webb
Washington Redskins
- C Casey Dunn
- WR Carlos Henderson
- T Roubbens Joseph
- WR ArDarius Stewart
- RB Elijah Wellman
- DT JoJo Wicker