Patriots To Re-Sign OL Conor McDermott
The Patriots will maintain a key midseason addition along the offensive line in 2023. New England has agreed to terms on a new deal with Conor McDermott, reports the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Matthew Slater To Return To Patriots In 2023]
The 30-year-old was drafted by the Patriots in 2017, but it was in Buffalo that he made his NFL debut that season. That was followed by one more Bills campaign, then three-plus with the Jets. McDermott established himself as useful depth up front in New York, logging six starts across his 35 total appearances in the Big Apple.
That figure does not include any starts in 2022, a season in which the Jets suffered numerous injuries up front. Tackles Mekhi Becton, George Fant and Duane Brown all missed time during the campaign, but McDermott bounced on and off the team’s practice squad. In total, he saw a snap share of 18% on offense, his lowest total during his Jets tenure.
That precipitated a November deal allowing him to re-join the Patriots, with whom he remained on the 53-man roster. More to the point, the former sixth-rounder started all six games he played in with New England, never leaving the field on offense. That allowed him to fill in for the injured Isaiah Wynn at right tackle to close out the season. His performance down the stretch has obviously sat well with the Patriots.
Given Wynn’s struggles when healthy (earning a PFF grade of 54.6, the lowest of his career after allowing four sacks and 17 pressures) McDermott will now be able to compete for the full-time starting role this offseason, at the RT spot or elsewhere.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/17/23
A pair of reserve/futures contracts were signed on Friday:
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Andre Chachere, C Cameron Tom
Bears To Release DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
The Bears enter the 2023 offseason with by far the most spending power in the league, but they have made a move which frees up even more cap space. Chicago is releasing edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
The 27-year-old was a draft pick of the Saints in 2017, but only spent one season there. His most productive campaigns came in Indianapolis, where he took on a larger role in the team’s defense over the course of four straight years. His improvement was reflected by five combined sacks in 2019 and 2020. That made him a logical candidate for a new deal at the expiration of his rookie contract.
Muhammad did ink a one-year pact to stay with the Colts in March 2021. That deal had a $3.4MM value, and allowed him to take on a full-time starting role for the first time in his career. He responded by setting new personal marks in sacks (six) and tackles (48), positioning him for another notable contract on the open market. With ex-Colts DC Matt Eberflus taking the head coaching position in Chicago, it came as little surprise that Muhammad followed him to the Windy City.
The former sixth-rounder signed a two-year, $8MM deal with the Bears last offseason. That came with significant expectations, but he fell short of them. Muhammad registered just one sack this year, totaling 19 QB pressures (compared to 37 the season before). That opened the door to the Bears cutting ties with him despite being on the books for 2023 at a cap hit of only $4.4MM.
This release will save Chicago just under $4MM in cap space. The Bears already had over $90MM in available funds heading into free agency, in no small part due to the cost-shedding moves made by general manager Ryan Poles. Those include the trade sending Khalil Mack to the Chargers last March, and the one which saw Robert Quinn dealt to the Eagles midseason. Now, another veteran on the edge will need replacing in the coming months as the Bears look to re-tool their pass rush.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/17/23
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Noah Togiai
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Zayne Anderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: OL Blake Brandel, DL Khyiris Tonga
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
Anderson has signed a two-year deal, per the Bills’ announcement of the move. The 26-year-old joined the Chiefs in 2021, and made a total of seven appearances across the past two seasons, only seeing action on special teams.
The fact that the Vikings re-signed pending ERFAs Brandel and Tonga this early speaks to how highly they are valued by the organization. Brandel filled in for Christian Darrisaw at left tackle when the latter was concussed, while Tonga logged two starts and a 36% snap share in 2022. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that each signed a one-year deal at $940K, which would have been their tender amounts.
Kirkwood, 28, was set to hit the open market in March but the Saints will have him place for the 2023 season. Originally signed by New Orleans as a UDFA in 2018, he returned to the Saints this past season after a pair of campaigns with the Panthers. He recorded only two catches, but saw an offensive snap share of 46%.
Commanders Hire Eric Bieniemy As OC
6:10pm: Schefter tweets that the deal is now official. He adds, unsurprisingly, that Bieniemy’s new job title will be accompanied by a raise in terms of annual compensation compared to what he had been earning during his time in Kansas City.
4:12pm: A deal between the Commanders and Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy appears to be in place. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the parties have agreed on a multi-year pact which will see him become the new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in Washington.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the Commanders are aiming to have a deal formally in place by tomorrow (Twitter link). Assuming that happens, it will officially mark the end of a courtship which increasingly pointed to a move from Kansas City to the nation’s capital in recent days. Pelissero notes that the Super Bowl champions preferred to keep Bieniemy in place, but they will now look elsewhere to fill a major vacancy. 
Bieniemy, 53, has been connected to several head coaching positions in recent years, as his role in shaping the Chiefs’ elite offense has been noted. His lack of opportunities has led to widespread criticism, but now he will take on an OC role featuring complete control of an offense for the first time. Much will therefore be learned about his abilities in what is an increased capacity, though the Commanders represent a far different situation to the one in Kansas City.
Washington led the NFL in time of possession last season, but put up below-average numbers in several other offensive categories. That was caused in no small part by their poor QB play, a mark of their continued inability to find a long-term solution under center. Their latest attempt was the trade acquisition of Carson Wentz, but he was relegated to backup duty by the end of the season, one in which the team went 8-8-1. Rookie Sam Howell has since been named the starter heading into 2023.
The fifth-rounder attempted just 19 regular season passes, so to call him a stark contrast from two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes in terms of pedigree would be a massive understatement. Bieniemy will still have a veteran head coach alongside him on the sidelines in Ron Rivera, though whispers have picked up that he could be on the hot seat next year.
With a Bieniemy move seemingly likely, it came out earlier today that QBs coach Matt Nagy is the name to watch for a promotion to the OC role. Nagy flamed out as head coach of the Bears, but a second OC posting in Kansas City for 2023 could help him rebuild his stock. Head coach Andy Reid has been a play-caller with the Chiefs during Bieniemy’s tenure, clouding the latter’s importance to the unit. It will be worth watching how much that dynamic changes if Nagy is tapped as Bieniemy’s replacement.
With Bieniemy set to head to the nation’s capital, here is the final breakdown of the Commanders’ OC search:
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Declined interview request
- Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Declined interview request
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interview requested
- Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach/running backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/1
- Greg Roman, former offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 2/14
- Pat Shurmur, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed; fallback option?
- Eric Studesville, running backs coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/23
- Ken Zampese, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/18
Panthers Hire Thomas Brown As OC
Frank Reich‘s Panthers staff continues to see notable additions being made. Carolina is set to hire Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown as their new offensive coordinator, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). A team announcement has confirmed the news.
The two parties are currently working out the final details of an agreement for the position, Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport tweets. This comes not long after Brown conducted a second interview with the Panthers, and will put him in place for a jump in role but also a move to a different NFL team for the first time in his coaching career at the pro level.
Brown, 36, first joined Sean McVay‘s staff in 2020. He served as the team’s running backs coach that year, but had assistant head coach added to his title the following season. This past campaign saw him work with Los Angeles’ tight ends as the Rams have endured a number of departures on their staff in recent years. Brown had established himself as a key McVay staffer, though, and his loss will certainly be felt.
The Rams lost Liam Coen to Kentucky at the end of the 2022 season, and quickly pivoted to Mike LaFleur as his replacement for the role of offensive coordinator. Brown was mentioned as a potential in-house candidate for the position, but did not take part in a known interview. He also received interest from Arizona State for their head coaching vacancy, but will now take on a coordinator position for the first time since he worked at the college level.
The only other candidate connected to Carolina’s OC gig was Jim Bob Cooter, so it comes as little surprise that Reich has landed Brown just after their second sit-down. The latter’s hire marks another highly-acclaimed staffer who is headed to Charlotte. Reich has made a slew of moves not long after coming aboard as the team’s head coach, including new additions for both the offensive and defensive coordinator spots.
Ejiro Evero is in place as the Panthers’ DC, a move which came after he enjoyed a successful first season in Denver at the helm of the Broncos’ defense. That will make he and Brown a relatively inexperienced coordinator tandem, but Reich has added plenty of veteran staffers as well recently. That includes Dom Capers coming aboard as a senior assistant, something which represents a full-circle transaction of sorts given his and Reich’s shared history during the early days of the franchise.
Brown will inherit an offense which will also have former Colts OC Parks Frazier on hand. The Panthers struggled outside of the running game last season, and their QB situation very much remains up in the air. It has also not been confirmed whether or not Reich will call plays, though Brown’s status as a rookie coordinator certainly points to that setup being likely. In any event, Brown will have a key role in helping a celebrated staff craft a step forward in Carolina in 2023.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/16/23
Today’s lone minor move:
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Patriots): WR Kristian Wilkerson
49ers To Add Klint Kubiak To Staff
The 49ers have lost several assistant coaches in recent days with DeMeco Ryans becoming the new head coach of the Texans. Among the brain drain the team has endured is the departure of Bobby Slowik, who recently became Houston’s offensive coordinator. 
San Francisco has found his replacement in the form of Klint Kubiak. The 49ers are adding him to their offensive staff in an unnamed role, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Slowik held the titles of passing game specialist and passing game coordinator over the past two seasons, so something similar can be expected for Kubiak, who has found his next NFL employer after a one-year stint in Denver.
The 35-year-old served as the Broncos’ QBs coach and passing game coordinator for much of the year. In the wake of the team’s unexpected offensive struggles under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, however, Kubiak was given play-calling duties in November. That setup changed for the final two weeks of the season, when OC Justin Outten guided the offense following Hackett’s firing.
The latter two staffers have already landed new gigs, with Hackett and Outten being hired by the Jets and Titans, respectively. This 49ers posting comes after Kubiak also drew interest from a number of outside teams. He interviewed with the Jets and Buccaneers for their OC vacancies, but will take on a coveted role in the Bay Area. The 49ers have enjoyed plenty of success on offense under Kyle Shanahan, and Kubiak will now have a hand in the team’s performance on that side of the ball in 2023.
Kubiak was also in discussion with the Texans prior to joining the 49ers, reports Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (on Twitter). By heading to San Francisco, the one-time Vikings OC will be able to work alongside his brother Klay; the latter son of Gary Kubiak currently works as the Niners’ assistant QBs coach. Klint will have a steep challenge in terms of replicating the team’s success on offense in 2022 despite needing to go four-deep on their quarterback depth chart at one point, but doing so could further boost his rising stock around the league.
Giants Re-Sign WR Isaiah Hodgins
The Giants have been busy re-signing some of their exclusive rights free agents this week. The biggest of those names re-signed with the team Thursday.
Isaiah Hodgins, who went from waiver claim to the team’s most reliable stretch-run wide receiver, re-signed for the 2023 season. The Giants still have two more years of control with Hodgins, who is not eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2025. This is likely a one-year agreement, tabling this matter to restricted free agency in 2024.
Evolving from the “Minor NFL Transactions” space, Hodgins made a quick assimilation from Bills reserve to Daniel Jones‘ go-to guy. A former Brian Daboll charge in Buffalo, Hodgins caught four passes in the Bills’ Week 5 blowout of the Steelers and played for the team against the Chiefs the following week. Those cameos did not provide much indication of where his season would go.
Hodgins, 24, finished with 37 receptions for 392 yards and four touchdowns — almost all of those numbers coming as a Giant — and filled a void for a team that had seen its once-intriguing receiver situation turn into a borderline emergency. Season-ending injuries to Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson, a trade of Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay becoming one of the worst free agent signings in recent NFL history left Darius Slayton as the last man standing. Hodgins, whom the Bills waived on November 1, did well to fill in the gaps and should be a notable cog for the 2023 Giants as well.
A second-generation NFLer, Hodgins caught eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ last-second loss to the Vikings in Week 17. Two weeks later, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher totaled eight receptions for 105 yards and a score to help the Giants upset the Vikes in the franchise’s first playoff win in 11 years.
Shepard’s restructured contract voided this week, and Slayton is on track for unrestricted free agency. Golladay will soon be released. The Giants are expected to pursue free agent wide receivers next month, but Hodgins will almost definitely factor into the team’s equation next season.
Bucs To Hire Seahawks’ Dave Canales As OC
The Buccaneers have landed on their new offensive coordinator, hiring Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales to call plays in Tampa Bay next season, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The longtime Seattle staffer made a true name for himself with the help of a resurgent season by veteran quarterback Geno Smith and will now get the opportunity to lead an entire offense. 
The Seahawks gave Canales his first opportunity in the NFL back in 2010 as their wide receivers coach. Before that his only coaching experience was as the offensive coordinator at his former high school, the special teams & tight ends coach at El Camino College, and the assistant strength and conditioning coach at USC. Over seven years in his initial role in Seattle, Canales developed Seahawks receivers like Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Jermaine Kearse, Percy Harvin, Paul Richardson, and Tyler Lockett. Despite the many big names, only Baldwin ever eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a season under Canales, who typically developed a versatile room of targets.
In 2018, Canales was granted the quarterbacks coaching position, tasked with mentoring seventh-year veteran Russell Wilson and backup quarterback Brett Hundley. Although he wouldn’t play, Smith would join the roster the following season. For the next four years, two of which he spent under the title of passing game coordinator, Canales worked primarily with Wilson as the starter, tutoring Smith through the few appearances he would make during the time.
In 2022, with the trade that would send Wilson to the Broncos, Canales’s years of tutelage over Smith would be put to the test. Today, it’s fair to say that both Smith and Canales passed with flying colors as Smith would go on to lead the NFL in completion percentage, lead the Seahawks to the playoffs in their first season without Wilson, earn a Pro Bowl bid, and win the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Canales is now getting his due credit, as well, being rewarded with the opportunity to lead an NFL offense for the first time in his career. Canales will be tasked with a similar challenge as he faced this past season. After three seasons with Tom Brady at quarterback, Tampa Bay, barring a move in free agency, trade, or the draft, will be turning to either a veteran backup who started early in his career in Blaine Gabbert or a young developing quarterback in Kyle Trask.
Canales received recognition for his coaching of Smith early, receiving coordinator interest from both Tampa Bay and Baltimore. He actually was a strong candidate for the Ravens’ position, receiving a second interview for the job that would eventually go to Todd Monken. Regardless, Canales is the man for the Buccaneers. Under head coach Todd Bowles, Canales and the Buccaneers will look to return to playoffs in the post-Brady era.