The Cardinals named Jonathan Gannon their new HC. The 39-year-old has been in the NFL since 2007, working his way from Falcons defensive quality control coach to Eagles defensive coordinator for the past 2 seasons. Philadelphia finished 2nd in yards allowed and 8th in points allowed last year. We'll see how Gannon fills out the offensive side of his staff.
The Raiders officially released QB Derek Carr. Keeping him on the roster beyond 4 pm ET on Tuesday would have guaranteed Carr $40 million in 2023. Vegas was reportedly close to agreeing to a trade that would have sent Carr to New Orleans, but the QB opted to exercise his no-trade clause. He's now free to sign wherever he wants, with the Saints, Jets, Panthers and Titans considered his most likely suitors. Carr's efficiency and production sunk under HC Josh McDaniels last year -- and he ranked just 23rd among 31 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. He turns 32 in March. We'll keep you updated on the Carr Sweepstakes. Vegas, meanwhile, is left with "Chase Garbers" as the only QB on the active roster. They'll obviously be active in the QB market over the next few months.
The Ravens are hiring Todd Monken as their OC. Monken spent the past 3 seasons as Georgia's OC, helping the Bulldogs to National Championships in both 2021 and 2022. The offense improved each season, climbing from 41st to 26th and then to 5th in yards per game. Monken spent the 4 years before that Georgia stint as an NFL OC. The first 3 came with the Bucs, who climbed from 18th in total yards to 9th and then 3rd with QB Jameis Winston. Monken then headed to Cleveland, where his 2019 Browns struggled to a 22nd-place finish in total yards in QB Baker Mayfield's 2nd season. Each of Monken's final 3 NFL offenses ranked higher in pass attempts than rush attempts. All 4 were at least league-average in terms of Pass Rate Over Expected, with the 2017 Bucs finishing at +2% and the 2018 Bucs finishing at +5%. That makes this a fascinating hire considering the Ravens were a run-leaning offense under former OC Greg Roman. We'll keep an eye on Monken's exact plans for the 2023 Ravens.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook underwent surgery today to address a broken shoulder that he suffered back in 2019, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Cook has dealt with a plethora of shoulder issues throughout his football career: a labrum tear in 2014 at Florida State, a re-injury in college in 2016, the aforementioned 2019 injury, a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum in 2021 and another injury this past September. Cook's agency suggested in a statement that he'll be ready for the start of the 2023 season, but we'll look for more details on the procedure and Cook's exact timeline for return. He turns 28 in August.
The Texans are expected to hire Bobby Slowik as their new OC, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Slowik will become the latest Kyle Shanahan disciple to take over an offense. The 35-year-old has spent the past 6 seasons under Shanahan in San Francisco, actually starting out as a defensive quality control coach before moving to the offensive side of the ball in 2019. He served as an offensive assistant for 2 seasons before being promoted to passing game specialist in 2021 and then passing game coordinator last year. Slowik also worked under HC Mike Shanahan in Washington from 2011 to 2013 and spent a few years in between NFL jobs as an analyst at Pro Football Focus. It appears to be a forward-thinking hire by the Texans, although Slowik doesn't have experience calling plays at any level. The Texans are fully expected to take a QB with the 2nd overall pick of this spring's draft.
Raiders QB Derek Carr will exercise the no-trade clause in his contract and is expected to be released, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders and Saints were seemingly close to agreeing to a trade that would send Carr to New Orleans, but he'll now have the chance to pick his new team. The Saints are still a strong candidate to sign Carr, but the Panthers, Jets and Titans are also possible landing spots. Stay tuned.
Shane Steichen is set to be named the Colts' HC, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rumors of the move gained steam in the days leading up to the Eagles' Super Bowl loss, and Steichen is flying to Indianapolis on Monday afternoon to finalize the deal. The 37-year-old spent the past 2 seasons as Philadelphia's OC under HC Nick Sirianni, helping the Eagles to 14th- and then 3rd-place finishes in total yards. Prior to that, he spent the 2020 campaign as Chargers OC, leading that team to a 9th-place finish in yards with rookie QB Justin Herbert. With the 4th overall pick of this spring's draft, there's a good chance that Steichen is again working with a rookie signal-caller in 2023. Shoddy QB play left the Colts among the bottom 6th in both points and total yards last year. But they have an elite RB in Jonathan Taylor and a young, developing WR corps led by Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire is inactive for the Super Bowl. He wasn't listed on this week's injury report after being activated from IR, so this is a healthy scratch. Kansas City will again roll with RBs Isiah Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and Ronald Jones vs. the Eagles.
The Falcons and LB Rahsaan Evans are in the early stages of working out a new contract, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Evans signed for just $1.75 million on a one-year deal with Atlanta last offseason, after the Titans declined the fifth-year option on Evans' rookie contract. Evans proceeded to have easily his best pro season by production and playing time. It seems likely that he'll re-sign, which would point to Evans remaining a full-time player. Keep that in mind for dynasty IDP considerations. We're still not ready to bet on long-term success for the former first-round pick, who didn't work out across four seasons in Tennessee.
Chiefs WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Kadarius Toney (ankle) are not listed on the final injury report for the Super Bowl. Smith-Schuster was a full participant in practice all week. Toney was a full-go on Thursday and Friday after being limited on Wednesday. It doesn't look like either guy will be limited vs. the Eagles. With WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) out, Smith-Schuster and Toney will join Marquez Valdes-Scantling as Kansas City's top 3 WRs in that one.
The Falcons might already have their starting QB for 2023, if owner Arthur Blank's assessment is meaningful. "We're very excited about Desmond Ridder," Blank said this week, according to NFL.com. "I think from the time he came into training camp, he showed great capabilities as a leader amongst the rookies and then amongst the vets." We're not talking these words to signal that Ridder will definitely lead Atlanta for the coming season. But he's the current favorite to open Week 1, just by virtue of already being on the team. If you're taking the 2022 rookie in early fantasy football drafts, though, you shouldn't do so until late. The Falcons carry the 8th overall pick in the NFL Draft and could be in range for one of the top incoming QBs.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Raiders and Saints have "the framework of a Derek Carr trade in place," which was apparently a condition in Vegas allowing the QB to visit the team. Carr possesses a no-trade clause, which likely means the deal depends on his preference after a "lengthy" visit. New Orleans would be a solid landing spot for the veteran QB, with a clear need at QB. We'd bet that such a trade would mean the end of Jameis Winston's time with the Saints. If you're drafting best-ball teams right now, then you can cheaply stack Carr with WR Chris Olave or RB Alvin Kamara -- who can be had as late as Round 5 or 6 in early fantasy football drafts.
QB Sam Howell will open the offseason as the Commanders' starter, HC Ron Rivera said on Wednesday. “The biggest thing we decided is he will start out as QB1,” Rivera said of Howell. “He will most certainly get the first opportunity. We go into OTAs and minicamp, he’ll be QB1. He’ll fight for that position. We’ll give him every opportunity to earn it, and we’ll see what happens when we get into training camp and through it.” Howell didn't hit the field as a 5th-round rookie last year until Week 18, finishing that one with a 169-1-1 passing line and 35 yards and a score rushing. QB Carson Wentz is an obvious cut candidate, with no dead money on his contract. And QB Taylor Heinicke is set to hit free agency next month. But Washington will obviously be adding competition in the QB room, via free agency, the draft or both. We'll see how the situation shakes out, but we'd only consider Howell as a QB3 in early best-ball drafts.
The Titans have promoted passing-game coordinator Tim Kelly to OC. 2022 was Kelly's first season in Tennessee. He spent the previous 3 years as Houston's OC. Those first 2 Texans teams had middling finishes in points and total yards under QB Deshaun Watson before sinking to bottom-3 levels in 2021 with QBs Davis Mills and Tyrod Taylor. It's not an overly inspiring hire by Tennessee. Expect the offense to again revolve around RB Derrick Henry in 2023.
Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline hears that the Cowboys are looking to keep both RB Ezekiel Elliott and RB Tony Pollard on the team for 2023. The plan is to get Elliott to agree to a pay cut from the $16.7 million he's currently scheduled to make this upcoming season and then use the franchise tag on Pollard, which would pay him a little over $10 million in 2023. Elliott and Pollard split backfield work basically down the middle this past year, with Zeke averaging 15.4 carries and 1.5 targets per game to Pollard's 12.1 carries and 3.4 targets. Both guys' fantasy ceilings would be capped if they remain together in Dallas.
49ers QB Brock Purdy is expected to undergo surgery to repair his torn UCL on February 22, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Purdy is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp, per Rapoport. Still, this is a serious procedure that will cost Purdy the entire offseason program. It's a considerable speed bump after an impressive 8-game run as a rookie. Purdy and QB Trey Lance are expected to duke it out for the starting job this summer, barring a significant addition to the QB room.
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He injured that knee in practice leading up to the AFC Championship and played just 45% of the offensive snaps in that game. But it looks like he'll be ready for his usual role in Sunday's Super Bowl vs. the Eagles.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He avoided a setback in the AFC Championship win over the Bengals and should be closer to 100% for Sunday's Super Bowl vs. the Eagles.
Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (ankle, hamstring) put in a limited practice on Wednesday. He said that he expects to play in Sunday's Super Bowl vs. the Eagles -- and the limited practice early in the week puts him on track. We'll get another update on Toney's status on Thursday.
The Vikings have reached a deal to make Brian Flores their new DC. Flores spent last year as a defensive assistant in Pittsburgh after a messy breakup with the Dolphins. His Miami defenses improved from 32nd in Football Outsiders’ DVOA his first season to 11th and 10th in his final two. Before that, Flores spent 15 years under HC Bill Belichick in New England, including stints coaching safeties and LBs. He inherits a talented Vikings D that fell from 16th in 2021 DVOA to 27th this past season
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