NFL Player News

The Bears hired defensive coordinator Eric Washington earlier this offseason, but Washington won’t be handling play-calling duties to start the season. Eberflus has a defensive background and served as the Colts’ defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021. He and Washington will look to help build on a defense that ranked 20th in points allowed and 12th in yards allowed per game.

Taking over from Liam Coen after spending the year designing Tampa’s third-down looks, Grizzard said “continuity will remain essentially the same” and the team will use the same verbiage, formations, and motions as it did last year. Mike Evans told reporters “it’s going to be similar to what we’ve run.” An unchanged offense in Tampa Bay would be good news for Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Evans and company. There will undoubtedly be new challenges for Grizzard, but we should be expecting a similar shape of production from a fantasy perspective.

Singleton first joined the NFL ranks in 2016 as the Colts running backs coach. He’s since held the same title for the Raiders (2018), Bengals (2019 to 2020), and Eagles (2021 to present), and he has also been the Eagles’ assistant head coach since 2021. According to Schefter, an Eagles official said Singleton was “a big part of what we do on offense and a rising star going forward.” It goes without saying that his relationship to head coach Kellen Moore, who he worked with in 2024, could give him an inside edge to secure the Saints’ OC role.

Cleveland, 26, was arrested on February 12th in Milledgeville, Georgia, according to reports from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The fourth-year lineman reportedly had a BAC of .178, which is more than twice the legal limit. Cleveland was reportedly driving erratically and narrowly missed driving his truck into a ditch. He also admitted to drinking “approximately 3-4 beers.” Cleveland has started in seven of the 54 games he’s appeared in for the Ravens over four seasons and will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He was already unlikely to re-sign with the Ravens after he and head coach John Harbaugh seemingly didn’t see eye-to-eye on his play on the decision to relegate him to a backup this season.

Godwin was franchise tagged by the Buccaneers during the 2021 and 2022 offseasons in hopes of eventually securing him to a long-term contract. While that ultimately paid off in 2022, when they signed him to a three-year, $60 million deal, they are not expected to do the same thing this offseason, leaving the soon-to-be 29-year-old receiver free to test free agency. Godwin was on pace to have one of his most productive seasons to date, but a broken ankle ended his 2024 campaign after just seven games. Godwin caught 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns in seven 2024 starts. How Godwin responds to recovery from his torn ACL will weigh into how teams view him this free agent cycle, but he should still have a decent market given his age and productivity over the years. It’s possible his days with the Buccaneers could be nearing an end once free agency kicks off next month.

According to Walters, those candidates include Josh Williams and James Gladstone, who are directors of scouting for the 49ers and Rams, respectively. Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham is also a finalist, as is Packers’ VP of player personnel, Jon-Eric Sullivan. Perhaps the most interesting finalist on this list is Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh, who has familiarity with those in the building but also worked closely with former GM Trent Baalke, whose firing appeared to have a direct impact on head coach Liam Coen’s willingness to join the team. Walters reports the Jaguars are expected to make a decision on GM by the end of the week.

Gaughan examines how the Bills need to create cap space and releasing Miller is the easiest way to do it. If Miller is a post-June 1 cut, the Bills can lower his cap figure down to $6.37 million and save $14.77 million. If they release him without the June 1 designation in March, it’s an $8.4 million savings. Miller, who turns 36 in March, recorded six sacks in a reserve role last season. The three-time All-Pro selection and Super Bowl 50 MVP signed a six-year, $120 million contract with Buffalo in 2022, after spending 10 seasons with the Broncos and Rams, winning a pair of Super Bowl titles.

Demovsky writes that “multiple team sources have privately expressed their frustration with Alexander’s inability to stay healthy and/or play through injuries.” That about sums up what appeared to be an awkward season for Alexander and the Packers, as the veteran corner appeared in just seven games due to a knee injury that kept him out of games but not always out of practice. Alexander declined to speak with the media at the end of the season, outside of saying he had “nothing good to say.” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said after the season that there was no disconnect between Alexander and the team, but the optics seem to suggest anything but that. Alexander is due to make $17.5 million next season, and his release would free up $6.8 million in cap space if he’s designated as a pre-June 1 release. It’s hard to imagine any team trading for the oft-injured, 28-year-old corner, so there’s a good chance an outright release will be in his future.

The soon-to-be free agent cornerback posted a video selfie that showed the 25-year-old dunking a basketball on Sunday, The Saints’ cornerback corps was in dire straits at the end of last season, with Adebo sidelined and former No. 1 cornerback Marshon Lattimore having been traded to the Commanders. Adebo’s recovery may force him to take a “prove it” deal this offseason, but there’s enough talent for him to earn a long-term deal if he can stay healthy.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported last week that Staley was considered the “leading candidate” to land the Saints defensive coordinator role. The former Chargers head coach hired Kellen Moore as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2023, and now he may have a chance to work under Moore as the first-time head coach rounds out his staff. Staley flamed out in his three seasons as the Chargers head coach but led a top defensive unit in 2020 during his lone season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. Whoever lands this job will have their work cut out for them, as the Saints finished last season ranked 19th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed, while also ranking outside the top 25 as a pass defense and a rush defense.

Prince was hired less than a month ago as the Dolphins WR coach but could once again be on the move. Prince spent one season with Moore and the Cowboys (2022) and first joined the NFL ranks in 2004 as an offensive assistant for the Falcons. His last offensive coordinator came at Boise State (2012 to 2013), but most of his work has been as a receivers coach. Prince, along with Eagles’ QB coach Doug Nussmeier, are two early candidates to land the Saints’ OC vacancy, with Nussmeier expected to speak to the team early this week.