Derek Carr to New Orleans, Rams Shopping Robinson and Floyd, Vikings Creating Cap Space, and Other NFL Bullets
Buckle up; the NFL offseason is here. We had four transactional posts — including Derek Carr to the Saints — before I could even get bullets started this morning (which we’ll get to shortly), and the franchise tag deadline is just over 24 hours away. But first, the Eagles and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson have parted ways.
- When Jonathan Gannon took the head coaching job in Arizona, many believed that Wilson was the favorite in-house candidate to succeed Gannon. Philadelphia went the in-house route on the offensive side of the ball but opted not to do the same on the defensive side. Philadelphia hired Sean Desai to replace Gannon. Now, the Eagles and Wilson are no more.
- Wilson felt that he was due for a move up the assistant coaching ladder, and Philadelphia did not. Wilson also interviewed for the Browns’ defensive coordinator position this offseason. Wilson joined the Eagles in 2021. He’s also worked for the Jets and Rams throughout his coaching career.
- Wilson helped James Bradberry and Darius Slay have Pro Bowl-caliber seasons this year. He also helped C.J. Gardner-Johnson seamlessly transition from slot cornerback to safety.
- In more news from Philadelphia, veteran Patriots assistant Matt Patricia may be in line for a role with the Eagles. Patriots beat reporter Karen Guregian believes Patricia has a shot at landing the Eagles linebackers coach job under Sean Desai.
- This would be interesting, considering Patricia and Eagles’ cornerback Darius Slay’s history. When Slay played for Patricia in Detroit, Patricia had an assesment for Slay that he didn’t appreciate:
“He basically just said, ‘You are not in that category yet,’” Slay said during Super Bowl week. “At that time, I only had one Pro Bowl but now I’m at five, so I want to know how he feels about that now. I don’t wish bad on him, but as a man, me and him just don’t get along. He’s a smart coach, he knows his Xs and Os, but the disrespect is not what I’m with.”
- Slay has one year left on his contract with the Eagles, so regardless, I’m sure that the two can play nicely together for one season.
- Bills linebacker Von Miller revealed last week that the departure of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier caught him by surprise:
“I didn’t see it coming,” edge rusher Von Miller said last week, via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. “He had a great year with us last year, and he had several great years the whole time he’s been there. So, I didn’t see it coming, especially the timing of it. “Usually, you know, coaches take, they [usually] come to a decision like right after the season when there’s jobs available. But coach Frazier, he’s vested in this league. He’s a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach.”
- The Bills haven’t announced who will call plays on the defensive side of the ball yet, but head coach Sean McDermott could take on the duties in 2023.
- Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has heard the chatter that Bijan Robinson could be on Tampa Bay’s radar. However,White told Pewter Report that he’s going to win the Buccaneers’ starting running back job no matter who they bring in:
“I don’t have no problem with Bijan,” White said. “The thing is, at the end of the day, what I have learned even though I’m young — [from] my agent and what people in my circle taught me — it’s a business, we all know that. Tampa Bay has to do what’s best for Tampa Bay. My coaches have to do what’s best for my coaches. Everybody has a little selfishness in them – you have to. Me, I’m selfless. You can draft Bijan, you can draft whoever, at the end of the day, I’m going to win that job, that’s just what I’ve always done.
“That’s what I always did with my track record, no matter what. No problem with Bijan or whoever Tampa drafts. Obviously you have to draft a guy, it’s the league. I don’t have any problem with that, the only problem I have is people saying, ‘We don’t know if he can be Kenneth Walker – if he could be a budding star.’ Kenneth and I are like close friends in real life, we talk a lot. I’m just saying if you give me 200 carries in a season – if you give me the opportunity and I don’t make anything out of it, then you can say we don’t know if he can be a budding star.”
- I haven’t even had a cup of coffee yet, and we’ve got four transaction posts up this morning. However, the biggest news is Derek Carr signing with the New Orleans Saints.
- Carr met with the Saints before he was released by the Raiders last month and ultimately landed in New Orleans. There was plenty of flirtation between the Jets and Carr, but the Saints have their starting quarterback.
- That now leaves the Jets and Panthers — two other teams rumored to be interested in Derek Carr — still searching for a QB. Maybe the Jets now turn their full attention to Aaron Rodgers. As for the Panthers, they’re now in a position where they may have to move up in the draft to take a quarterback. That’s good news for Bears fans.
- The Rams are now shopping Allen Robinson and Leonard Floyd:
- Los Angeles continues to search for cap space. Robinson and Floyd join Jalen Ramsey on the trade block. The Rams are also set to release Bobby Wagner.
- Also, the Vikings have freed up nearly $10 million in cap space by releasing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks:
- Plus, the Bears are in a prime position to sell the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Luis has more on the buzz around the trade for the top pick:
