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2024 Offseason In Review Series

July 11th, 2024 at 9:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

As training camps near, the NFL offseason is winding down. Many unresolved matters remain — much of them pertaining to quarterbacks and wide receivers — but teams’ rosters are mostly set. Leading up to Week 1, PFR will continue to add to its annual Offseason In Review series. Here is where our latest offseason examinations stand so far:

AFC East

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Miami Dolphins
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Jets

AFC North

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South

  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Tennessee Titans

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Carolina Panthers
  • New Orleans Saints
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West

WR Josh Reynolds On Lions Departure, Broncos Deal

July 11th, 2024 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Reynolds enjoyed a strong campaign in 2023 with the Lions, but he found himself on the move in free agency this offseason. The veteran receiver joined the Broncos on a two-year deal, something he recently addressed.

Reynolds posted 4o catches and 608 yards with Detroit last season; both of those figures represented the second-highest totals of his career. He also matched a personal best with five touchdowns. That production kept him on the Lions’ radar, but the team did not submit a market-level contract offer. As a result, Reynolds ultimately signed in Denver on a pact with a base value of $9MM.

“[It’s] business,” the 29-year-old said of the Lions not making a stronger push to re-sign him this offseason (via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire). “It’s a business, but you know, I think I’m at where I’m supposed to be at, and I’m excited.”

The Broncos traded away Jerry Jeudy as part of their re-tooling at the receiver spot. Tim Patrick remains in the fold, as does Courtland Sutton (although in the latter case a contract standoff is currently taking place). Denver also has 2023 second-rounder Marin Mims along with fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin in place as targets for the team’s revamped QB room. Reynolds will aim to carve out a role as part of that group, and he noted the appeal of playing under head coach Sean Payton as a key factor in signing with Denver.

“It was kind of a lot,” the Texas A&M product added when speaking about the reasons why he joined the Broncos. “I think the main decision was that I’ve always admired Sean Payton from afar. I was excited to see what that offense looked like.”

Denver struggled under Nathaniel Hackett for less than a full season in 2022, and Payton’s arrival brought about a slight improvement. The team finished 19th in scoring last year, but a step forward in passing efficiency in particular will be needed in Payton’s second year at the helm. With Russell Wilson no longer in the fold, all eyes will be on which signal-caller earns the Week 1 nod once training camp and the preseason commences. For Reynolds, though, 2024 will mark the opportunity to establish himself as a key receiving option and a strong fit in Payton’s scheme.

Lions S Kerby Joseph Addresses Hip Rehab

July 11th, 2024 at 11:34am CST by Adam La Rose

Kerby Joseph suffered a hip injury in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign. The ailment led to a pair of missed games before the third-year Lions safety returned to action for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

Joseph underwent offseason surgery, and he expressed an expectation of being healthy in time for training camp. The 23-year-old missed spring practices while rehabbing, but his latest comments on the matter confirm he has returned to full health. He should be able on the field once camp opens later this month as a result.

“Oh, for sure. That hip ain’t nothing,” Joseph said during an appearance on NFL Network’s The Insiders. “Last year, I played through the injury. It was there, but I feel 10 times better now, so I just can’t wait to get out there with the guys.”

The former third-rounder has established himself as a key member of Detroit’s secondary, starting 32 of 35 combined regular and postseason games. Joseph totaled 82 tackles and four interceptions during his rookie campaign and matched those numbers exactly last season. He has added 19 pass breakups during that span, and his coverage statistics improved considerably from 2022 to ’23.

The Lions will welcome Joseph back into the fold as the team looks to integrate a number of new faces in the secondary. Additions at the cornerback spot were made via trade, free agency and the draft in an attempt to take needed steps forward against the pass in 2024. Brian Branch – who has spent plenty of time at slot corner early in his career – is expected to receive extended looks at safety this summer. Joseph may have a new running mate on the backend in 2024 as a result, but in any event he will be at full strength by the start of the campaign.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs

July 10th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s general manager ranks featured some key shakeups this offseason. One of the longest-tenured pure GMs in the game, Tom Telesco, lost his Chargers seat 11 years in. The Raiders, however, gave Telesco a second chance. He now controls the Las Vegas roster. Only Telesco and the Jaguars’ Trent Baalke reside as second-chance GMs currently.

Two long-serving personnel bosses also exited this offseason. The Patriots’ decision to move on from 24-year HC Bill Belichick gave Jerod Mayo a head coaching opportunity but also resulted in Eliot Wolf belatedly rising to the top of the team’s front office hierarchy. A former Packers and Browns exec, Wolf held decision-making power through the draft and kept it on an official basis soon after. While John Schneider arrived in Seattle with Pete Carroll in 2010, the latter held final say. Following Carroll’s ouster after 14 seasons, Schneider has full control.

[RELATED: The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches]

The Commanders changed GMs this offseason, hiring ex-San Francisco staffer Adam Peters, but Martin Mayhew received merely a demotion. The three-year Washington GM, who worked alongside Peters with the 49ers, is now in place as a senior personnel exec advising Peters. Rather than look outside the organization, Panthers owner David Tepper replaced Scott Fitterer with Dan Morgan, who had previously worked as the team’s assistant GM.

Going into his 23rd season running the Saints, Mickey Loomis remains the NFL’s longest-serving pure GM. This will mark the veteran exec’s third season without Sean Payton. An eight-year gap now exists between Loomis and the NFL’s second-longest-tenured pure GM.

As the offseason winds down, here is how the league’s 32 GM jobs look:

  1. Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1]
  2. Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2]
  3. Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
  4. John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010; signed extension in 2021
  5. Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010[3]; signed extension in 2022
  6. Les Snead (Los Angeles Rams): February 10, 2012; signed extension in 2022
  7. Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014; signed extension in 2021
  8. Chris Grier (Miami Dolphins): January 4, 2016[4]
  9. John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017; signed extension in 2023
  10. Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017; signed extension in 2021
  11. Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017; signed extension in 2023
  12. Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017; signed extension in 2024
  13. Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018; agreed to extension in 2022
  14. Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019
  15. Joe Douglas (New York Jets): June 7, 2019
  16. Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020: signed extension in 2024
  17. Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 5, 2021
  18. George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 13, 2021
  19. Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021: agreed to extension in 2024
  20. Terry Fontenot (Atlanta Falcons): January 19, 2021
  21. Trent Baalke (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 21, 2021
  22. Joe Schoen (New York Giants): January 21, 2022
  23. Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears): January 25, 2022
  24. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings): January 26, 2022
  25. Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers): May 24, 2022
  26. Monti Ossenfort (Arizona Cardinals): January 16, 2023
  27. Ran Carthon (Tennessee Titans): January 17, 2023
  28. Adam Peters (Washington Commanders): January 12, 2024
  29. Dan Morgan (Carolina Panthers): January 22, 2024
  30. Tom Telesco (Las Vegas Raiders): January 23, 2024
  31. Joe Hortiz (Los Angeles Chargers): January 29, 2024
  32. Eliot Wolf (New England Patriots): May 11, 2024

Footnotes:

  1. Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
  2. Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
  3. The Eagles bumped Roseman from the top decision-making post in 2015, giving Chip Kelly personnel power. Roseman was reinstated upon Kelly’s December 2015 firing.
  4. Although Grier was hired in 2016, he became the Dolphins’ top football exec on Dec. 31, 2018

Lions CB Terrion Arnold On Track For Starting Role

July 8th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Improving in the secondary was a priority for the Lions this offseason, and as a result the team has several new faces in place at the cornerback position. Trade acquisition Carlton Davis is, to no surprise, expected to handle a first-team defensive role in 2024. The other perimeter starting spot is yet to be determined.

The second cornerback spot will be a key position to watch during training camp, and Detroit has a number of contenders for the spot. As could be expected, though, the early favorite appears to be first-round rookie Terrion Arnold. During OTAs and minicamp, it was Davis and Arnold who handled the majority of reps with the starting defense, as noted by team reporter Tim Twentyman.

The Lions made Arnold the second corner off the board on Day 1 of the draft, moving up the order to acquire him. The Alabama product enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign, leading the SEC in interceptions with five and adding 12 pass deflections. Arnold earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors while surpassing teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry as a more highly regarded draft prospect.

The Lions used the second selection on a cornerback as well, adding Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at No. 61 overall. The Missouri product will look to carve out a role during his rookie campaign, and he could compete with free agent signing Amik Robertson for playing time in the slot. On that note, Brian Branch is likely to split his time between the slot and safety this season, something which will have a notable effect on how the likes of Rakestraw and Robertson are used.

Twentyman names Emmanuel Moseley as another contender for a first-team perimeter role. The 28-year-old’s debut Lions campaign was cut short by an ACL tear, but he re-signed on a one-year deal in March. Moseley has 33 starts to his name dating back to his time with the 49ers, and he therefore represents an experienced alternative to Arnold as a first-team option. Questions remain about his health and his ability to return to his previous form, though, which could leave Arnold as the preferred option at the start of the campaign.

The Lions ranked 27th against the pass in 2023, and improving in that area would go a long way in helping the team repeat its 2023 success. How the cornerback pecking order is determined this summer will be a key factor in those efforts, making it an interesting storyline to follow.

DT Alim McNeill On Lions’ Extension Radar; No Deal Imminent

July 7th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2024 Lions offseason has been defined in large part by big-ticket extensions handed out on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell all signed deals which will keep them in Detroit for the foreseeable future.

Several other candidates for extensions remain, though. Among those is Alim McNeill, who has developed into a mainstay along the Lions’ defensive line (a unit which added D.J. Reader in free agency). The 24-year-old is set to enter the final season of his rookie contract, making him eligible for a new deal. The degree to which he has progressed so far likely has him on the team’s extension radar, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic writes (subscription required).

McNeill’s play in 2024 will go a long way in determining his value on a new Lions pact, and Pouncy adds Detroit’s plans with other pending free agents (such as left tackle Taylor Decker and cornerback Carlton Davis) will likely depend on how things play out with McNeill. The latter served in a rotational capacity during his rookie campaign, but in the two years since then he has developed into a notable pass-rushing presence from the interior.

The NC State alum recorded five sacks and 13 pressures last season despite being limited to 13 contests by an MCL injury. McNeill returned in time for the playoffs, adding a sack and three QB hits as the Lions progressed to the NFC title game. Another productive campaign in 2024 – a year in which the Lions expect to take a step forward in the front seven – would put him line to join the growing list of young defensive tackles who have secured notable paydays on their second contracts. A quartet of players in that regard (Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence, Daron Payne) inked deals averaging between $22.5MM and $24MM per year last offseason.

Christian Wilkins, Justin Madubuike and Derrick Brown landed similar extensions of their own this spring, providing McNeill and the Lions with plenty of comparable pacts should they negotiate one. However, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes that no deal is considered imminent at this time. Team and player may elect to wait until next offseason to evaluate the situation and engage in talks on what could be a very lucrative second deal.

“I’m just working,” McNeill said (via Birkett) when asked about a potential extension. “I’m head down, whatever happens, happens. I’m just – I still have to play good to set myself up to even get any of that, so I’m [not] worried about that right now.”

Despite the investments made on offense via the Goff, St. Brown and Sewell extensions, the Lions are currently on track to have considerable cap flexibility next offseason. A large portion of it could be needed to keep McNeill in the fold if he delivers a productive season in 2024 and positions himself to become one of the league’s top earners at the defensive tackle spot.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 5th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following 2023’s five-team coaching carousel, this offseason featured a quarter of the jobs becoming available. One HC-needy team (New England) did not put its position on the market, promoting Jerod Mayo, but the rest did. The Patriots’ decision also produced the first shakeup among the league’s longest-tenured head coach list since 2013.

Since the Eagles fired Andy Reid, Bill Belichick‘s Patriots HC stint had run the longest. After a 4-13 season, the six-time Super Bowl-winning leader was moved out of the picture. No team hired Belichick, generating a wave of rumors, and only one (Atlanta) brought him in for an official interview. While Belichick should be expected to take at least one more run at a third-chance HC gig, Mike Tomlin rises into the top spot on this list.

Tomlin is going into his 18th season with the Steelers, and while he has surpassed Bill Cowher for longevity, the steady leader still has a ways to go to reach Chuck Noll‘s 23-season Pittsburgh benchmark. Tomlin, 52, enters the 2024 season 17-for-17 in non-losing seasons, separating himself from his predecessors in that regard.

Belichick’s ouster brought far more attention, but his Patriots predecessor also slid out of the HC ranks after a 14-year Seattle stay. Pete Carroll‘s third HC shot elevated the Seahawks to their franchise peak. No Hawks HC comes close to Carroll’s duration, and while the Super Bowl winner was interested in remaining a head coach, no team interviewed the 72-year-old sideline staple.

Belichick and Carroll’s exits leave only Tomlin, John Harbaugh and Reid as coaches who have been in place at least 10 years. With Mike Vrabel also booted this offseason, only eight HCs have held their current jobs since the 2010s. A few 2017 hires, however, stand out; Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay and Sean McDermott have now each signed multiple extensions. Now riding back-to-back Super Bowl wins, Reid joined Tomlin in signing an offseason extension.

Here is how the 32 HC jobs look for the 2024 season:

  1. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2027
  2. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2025
  3. Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2029
  4. Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
  5. Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2027
  6. Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2027
  7. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: signed extension in July 2022
  8. Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
  9. Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys): January 7, 2020
  10. Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020; signed offseason extension
  11. Robert Saleh (New York Jets): January 15, 2021
  12. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021; extended through 2027
  13. Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021
  14. Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears): January 27, 2022
  15. Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
  16. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022
  17. Doug Pederson (Jacksonville Jaguars): February 3, 2022
  18. Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022
  19. Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints): February 7, 2022
  20. Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022
  21. Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
  22. DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
  23. Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
  24. Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023
  25. Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots): January 12, 2024
  26. Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders): January 19, 2024
  27. Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans): January 22, 2024
  28. Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers): January 24, 2024
  29. Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers): January 25, 2024
  30. Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons): January 25, 2024
  31. Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks): January 31, 2024
  32. Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders): February 1, 2024

Lions DT D.J. Reader Likely To Miss Time During Training Camp

July 2nd, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions made a considerable addition to their defensive interior during free agency with the signing of D.J. Reader. The veteran defensive tackle is continuing to recover from his second career quad tear, though, and it could very well lead to missed time once training camp opens.

Reader is expected to be sidelined when camp begins later this month, as noted by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required). He adds, however, that the 30-year-old remains on track to recover in full by the start of the regular season. Having Reader available for Week 1 would be a key development for the Lions’ front seven.

The quad tear ended Reader’s fourth Bengals campaign, and it threatened his free agent stock ahead of this spring. The former fifth-rounder inked a two-year deal with Detroit worth up to $27.25MM. The pact only includes $7.4MM locked in at signing, though, and with a $4MM roster bonus due early in the 2025 league year Reader’s health and performance come the fall will be key deciding factors in his future.

During his time in Cincinnati, the Clemson product served as a full-time starter and exceled as a run defender. Reader also posted 20 quarterback hits and seven pass knockdowns, and he faces high expectations in Detroit. The Lions underwhelmed in a number of defensive categories last season, although they were second in the league against the run. The team’s defensive front will likely remain strong in that regard with Reader in the fold.

If he is not fully healthy once training camp opens, Reader will be a candidate for the active/PUP list. Player can be activated from that list at any time, and the progress he makes with respect to rehab will be worth watching closely during the summer.

NFC North Front Office Updates: Vikings, Lions, Packers

June 28th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings announced a number of hires to their scouting staff in recent weeks. As general manager continues to find the path to draft success in the NFL, he is enlisting the help of these new additions to achieve the best possible results.

Before getting to the new hires, Minnesota promoted Sam DeLuca to director of pro personnel, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. DeLuca joined the Vikings about a year ago as a senior assistant director of pro personnel before getting the full director title. His NFL start came as a scouting intern with the Eagles in 2012 before he spent ten years in the Browns scouting department.

The biggest new hire comes in DeLuca’s department as Shane Normandeau joins the team as a pro scout. Normandeau worked alongside DeLuca in Cleveland, joining the Browns two years ago as football operations coordinator after interning for three months with the Colts.

The team also hired on Brian Schnorr as a scouting associate. Schnorr is making his NFL staff debut after three and a half years working in college recruiting with UCF, Florida State, and Nebraska. Schorr also has three years of experience as a data analyst with Pro Football Focus. Lastly, Minnesota added Dabness Atkins as a scouting assistant. After playing college ball at Holy Cross, Dabness spent the 2023 season as a recruiting assistant at UMass.

Here are a few other front office updates out of the NFC North:

  • The Lions made a big move, adding Charlie Adkins to the staff as senior director of football administration, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Adkins comes from Arizona, where he spent the last seven years in the Cardinals’ football analytics and research department, eventually working his way up to manager of football analytics and research. He reunites with chief operating officer Mike Disner, who joined the Lions in 2019 after six years with the Cardinals as director of football administration.
  • Stratton informs us of one more NFC North scouting hire, noting the addition of Sam Fleming as a scouting assistant for the Packers. Fleming first worked in the NFL as an intern with the Saints before serving two years at Samford, where he played wide receiver in college, in personnel and operations. He has spent the last three years working with National Football Scouting.

Lions One Of Few To View Sione Vaki As RB

June 22nd, 2024 at 5:19pm CST by Ely Allen

During the 2024 NFL Draft process, the Lions quite literally saw something in Sione Vaki that no other team did. In terms of both value and use, the Lions were one of the only teams to view Vaki the way they did, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As a result, the rookie out of Utah will start his NFL career as a running back, as opposed to the safety role he played throughout his collegiate career.

Vaki was able to declare for the NFL draft after only two years of college football due to the fact that, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Vaki participated in a three-year mission after high school. After graduating from Liberty HS (CA) in 2019, he signed with the Utes, officially becoming a member of the team’s 2021 signing class following his mission.

As a true freshman in 2022, Vaki started five of 14 game appearances as a safety on Utah’s defense, tallying 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and three passes defensed. In 2023, injuries in the Ute’s running backs room led the team to utilize Vaki on both sides of the ball.

While starting all 12 games at safety, Vaki also saw significant time at running back and running the wildcat formation on offense. In addition to improving on his defensive marks with 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three passes defensed, and an interception, Vaki averaged 7.5 yards per rush on 42 attempts for 317 yards and two touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he displayed impressive receiving abilities, catching 11 passes for 203 yards and three more scores. With all of his offensive production, Vaki still led the team in defensive snaps played. He earned two first-team All-PAC-12 distinctions: one as a safety and one in the all-purpose position.

Because most of his experience came on the defensive side of the ball, Vaki was mainly viewed as a safety prospect in the draft process. He projected as a strong safety due to his aggressiveness and toughness, but a lack of fluidity and instincts in coverage posed a threat to his value on defense, marking him as a likely sixth-round pick or later.

Detroit disagreed with this assessment and appears to have been the only team to do so. Not only did the Lions draft Vaki with the intention that he would play running back in Detroit, but they even traded up for the versatile Ute, taking him near the end of the fourth round. With a safety and a running back taken in the two picks following Vaki, it’s hard to say whether the trade up was intending to prevent another team from drafting him, but Vaki was taken shortly after a fourth-round run that saw five running backs taken in the span of ten picks.

Regardless of his intended drafted position, Vaki was the tenth player taken at either position, getting selected after nine other running backs and nine other safeties. Vaki won’t likely be a candidate to push David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs for offensive snaps at running back as a rookie, but because of his defensive experience, he vastly increases his odds of making the roster as a crucial special teamer. With the safety position thinned out following the departures of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Tracy Walker, Vaki may be available on that side of the ball in a pinch, as well. For now, though, Vaki resides on the Lions’ roster as a running back.

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