NFC NORTH

DETROIT

There is a market for QB MATTHEW STAFFORD per Michael David Smith ofProFootballTalk.com:

The Lions are shopping quarterback Matthew Stafford, and they have a whole lot of potential customers.

About a third of the league has reached out to the Lions about a potential Stafford trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Among the teams that have been mentioned as potential trade partners for the Lions are the Colts, 49ers, Broncos, Patriots, Football Team, Panthers, Raiders, Rams, Texans and Cowboys.

The Lions are said to be seeking at least a first-round draft pick for Stafford. With so many teams interested, they may be able to get more than that.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

TE JASON WITTEN will sign a Cowboys contract for a day and retire.  Todd Archer of ESPNDallas:

After 17 seasons, Jason Witten is retiring from the NFL. He intends to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in March when his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders expires at the end of the league year.

Witten, 38, played 16 seasons with the Cowboys and spent 2020 with the Raiders. No tight end in NFL history has played more games than Witten’s 271, and only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez has more receptions and yards at the position.

“A coach once told me, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example,'” Witten told ESPN. “As I hang it up, I walk away knowing that for 17 seasons I gave it my absolute all. I am proud of my accomplishments as a football player on the field and the example I tried to set off of it. Football is a great game that has taught me many valuable lessons, and I look forward to passing on that knowledge to the next generation.”

Witten first retired after the 2017 season and spent 2018 as an ESPN Monday Night Football analyst but opted to return to the Cowboys in 2019.

A third-round pick in 2003, Witten developed into one of the best tight ends in NFL history. He was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times, tied with Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bob Lilly for the most in Dallas history, and was considered a complete tight end because of his ability as a blocker in addition to his pass catching. In 2012, he was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year winner for the work he and his wife, Michelle, have done with their foundation.

Witten is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and yards (12,977) and is second in touchdown catches (72). He had four 1,000-yard seasons, and in 2012 he set the record for catches in a season by a tight end (110) — a record that has since been broken (Zach Ertz, 116).

He played in a team-record 255 games, including a franchise-record 245 starts, missing just one game in his career because of a broken jaw as a rookie. He had 13 catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders but was lauded by coach Jon Gruden and fellow tight end Darren Waller for his mentorship.

Coaching has long been mentioned as a possibility for Witten’s next move. He has been linked to opportunities in the NFL and college levels immediately should he want to start down that path. Undoubtedly he will be inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, and he will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Eli Manning is going to take a spot in the Giants organization.  Tyler Sullivan ofCBSSports.com:

Eli Manning’s tenure as quarterback of the New York Giants officially came to a close last season when the two-time Super Bowl champion announced his retirement following a 16-year career in blue. That absence away from the team may only last one season, however. According to longtime Giants scribe Gary Myers, Manning told him that he stopped by the Giants offices last week, almost exactly a full calendar year removed from when he officially announced his retirement. Along with saying hello to trainers, video people, and equipment staff, Manning visited with owner John Mara and expressed an interest to return to the club.

Before you break out your No. 10 jerseys, however, this is not Manning coming out of retirement to step back onto the field for the G-Men. This request to return to the Giants is in the form of a new role that they two are going to carve out. Myers’ best guess is some form of mentor to players. By the looks of things, Manning could be taking an ambassador-type role with the organization that could spread across the business side of the team along with a touch of influence on the football side from a player mentor role.

This isn’t exactly a brand new development as Mara was pretty open around the time of Manning’s retirement that he would welcome the Giants legend into the organization in some capacity. Manning himself also acknowledged that was a possibility at his retirement press conference.

“I think that would be something I would be interested in,” Manning said back on Jan. 24 of 2020. “I’ve just got to, you know, have to discuss that and talk to Mr. Mara and see in what ways, and I’ve got to think about in what way. I think, you know, again, I’ll take some time and just figure out, you know, how I want to spend these next years. But this organization, as I said, so many close friends within the organization, and not just the former teammates, but people in all departments of the organization. The faces, they don’t change. People don’t leave here because of all the wonderful people and the way the organization is run, and they take care of the people here. You do have so many great people that I’d love to be around and be around the people that I call my friends.”

Now that Manning has a year of retirement under his belt, it appears like he’ll soon be ready to tackle the next chapter of his NFL story and, of course, it’ll be under Giants banners. 

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Buccaneers WR SCOTTY MILLER is not lacking in confidence in his speed.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Buccaneers wide receiver Scotty Miller showed in the NFC Championship Game that he has serious speed. He also has serious confidence.

Asked by Dan Patrick to compare himself to Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Miller said he believes he would win a one-on-one footrace.

“I’m taking me, every day of the week,” Miller said. “I’ll take me over anybody. Tyreek is unbelievable, super quick, unbelievable talent. But if we’re talking about a race, I’ve got all the confidence in myself going up against anybody.”

Asked if he considers himself the fastest player in the NFL, Miller said, “Yes, sir.”

Neither Miller nor Hill attended the Scouting Combine, so a valid comparison of their 40-yard dash times for them are hard to find. But Miller reportedly ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, while Hill was reported at 4.29 seconds. That would seem to suggest that Miller isn’t quite on Hill’s level. But if they want to race in the offseason to prove which one is faster, a whole lot of fans would watch.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

The Seahawks cut ties with troubled T CHAD WHEELER who has been charged by authorities in Washington State.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

Former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Chad Wheeler was formally charged Wednesday following his arrest on suspicion of felony assault-domestic violence.

The King County prosecutor’s office filed criminal charges of first-degree domestic violence assault, domestic violence unlawful imprisonment and resisting arrest against Wheeler, a spokesperson with the office told ESPN. He is accused of twice choking his girlfriend until she lost consciousness.

Prosecutors requested that Wheeler be placed on electronic home detention and for his ankle monitoring device to be equipped with GPS monitoring.

Wheeler is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 9, when he is expected to enter a plea.

Earlier Wednesday, the Seahawks said that Wheeler, 27, is no longer with the team.

In a series of tweets Wednesday, Wheeler wrote that, “Events happened over the weekend that transpired from a manic episode. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering that I have caused to [the woman] and her family. I apologize profusely for the turmoil that I have caused to my family, teammates, fans and those closest to me. The most important thing right now is that [the woman] gets the care she needs and I get help. Both are happening.

“It is time for me to walk away from football and get the help I need to never again pose a threat to another. I cannot express my sorrow or remorse enough. I am truly ashamed.”

The Seahawks released a statement Wednesday that read, in part: “The Seahawks are saddened by the details emerging against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence. Our thoughts and support are with the victim. Chad is a free agent and no longer with the team.”

AFC WEST

DENVER

Nick Kosmider of The Athletic on the options of the Broncos at quarterback.

Paton’s history, his stated willingness to explore any potential deal, the Broncos’ current spot at No. 9 in the draft and the number of talented players who could be on the trade or free-agent market this spring will all combine to create a big menu of options as the offseason begins.

Here’s an overview of some of those scenarios and 13 names that come along with them.

The incumbent

Paton would have gained nothing by offering a ringing endorsement of Drew Lock (1) at his press conference last week. Handicapping the 2019 second-round pick as the favorite to be the Week 1 starter in 2021 would have only backed the new general manager into a corner, cutting off the wide array of options the Broncos should be set to explore in the coming weeks and months.

But the fact that Paton’s brief assessment — he talked about liking Lock coming out of Missouri and believing he can still develop — also shouldn’t be viewed as a closed door on the 24-year-old who is entering his third NFL season and, potentially, his first normal-ish offseason as a starter.

Lock has a number of factors working in his favor. He has familiarity with a young offense that began to find its footing over the final month of the season. He showed over the last four games that he could reduce his mistakes — only two interceptions in that span — by more willingly distributing to his safety valves when his first looks were taken away. And he more routinely hit on deep throws when they were available down the final stretch of the season.

“I still think that Drew is a young guy (who) showed flashes this year, but he made mistakes,” Broncos president of football operations John Elway said. “Young quarterbacks always make mistakes. I made a million mistakes my first two or three years, but it’s how you can learn from those. Those are things that George will have to look at.”

Lock at the very least affords the Broncos an ability to start their quarterback search without desperation, a position that should allow for a wide exploration of outside options.

The big-name trade

Players like Deshaun Watson (2) rarely become available in the NFL. Sure, NBA stars like James Harden can use one three-minute press conference to force their way out of an unhappy situation — and onto a championship contender, no less — but NFL players have largely been able to create the same leverage.

If Watson, 25, is set on changing that reality while ushering in a new era of player empowerment in the league, the competition for his services will be intense, and the price to make the chase would certainly be massive.

Let’s start with the spoils the winner of the Watson pursuit if in fact he is traded, would receive. Watson completed 70.2 percent of his passes and, as The Athletic’s Aaron Reiss pointed out in his recent piece that dug into the data behind the quarterback’s special 2020 season, that number was 4.2 percent above expectation, according to Next Gen Stats. He had the league’s third-best grade among quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 8.9 yards per passing attempt led the NFL.

Watson’s talent is not in question. Rules enacted to better protect quarterbacks have helped open the door to long, productive careers at the position. If Tom Brady can start in the Super Bowl at 43 years old, then Watson can easily be viewed as the kind of quarterback who can play at an elite level for the team that employs him for the next 1o to 12 years. Even if the capital required to acquire him is hard to stomach, his projected longevity gives teams time to build back the roster around him.

Still, the odds are almost impossibly long for the Broncos given the number of suitors sure to be involved in a potential trade market, Watson’s ability to use his no-trade clause to point toward destinations he prefers (reports indicated the Jets, who have plenty to offer, are a desirable landing spot) and the possibility — as unlikely as it may seem now — that reconciliation could occur in Houston.

The next name on the trade list would be Matthew Stafford (3), the soon-to-be-33-year-old Lions quarterback who is reportedly seeking a trade from the franchise that has employed him since 2009. Stafford, a Pro Bowl selection in 2014, is coming off a season in which he threw for 4,084 yards, completed 64.2 percent of his passes, threw 26 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and posted a 96.3 passer rating, the third-best mark of his 12-year career.

Stafford is one tier below Watson in the eyes of NFL executives, and a resume that is absent a playoff victory (in three postseason appearances) has plagued him when it comes to discussions about the league’s top quarterbacks. But Stafford would be an obvious upgrade over what the Broncos have at the position now — or at anytime, really, since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. Stafford a considerably more dangerous player than Keenum or Joe Flacco were when Denver signed those veteran stopgaps in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and he’s proven durable throughout his career.

Stafford has cap hits of $33 and $26 million over the final two years of the five-year, $135 million contract he signed with the Lions, numbers the Broncos could digest. Given the haul a Stafford suitor would have to give up (Detroit is reportedly seeking a first-round pick, for starters), the team that acquires him expects him to be a viable option for more time than that left on his current deal.

Given Paton’s long run as an executive in the NFC North, head coach Vic Fangio’s history scheming against Stafford as Chicago’s defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s own experience as a division rival of the quarterback’s in Minnesota, the Broncos have no shortage of intel — or opinions — on Stafford. If those opinions are all highly favorable of the veteran, it would not be a surprise to see the Broncos get involved — though the competition will be steep.

Reporting to this point doesn’t paint a Matt Ryan (4) trade as likely. The Falcons’ quarterback, who led Atlanta to a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2016 season, still has three years left on his contract, with an average annual cap hit of nearly $40 million through 2023. Ryan turns 36 before the start of next season. The combination of his age and his contract probably gives the Falcons little choice but to conduct their rebuild under new coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot with Ryan at quarterback. Still, if the Falcons point toward a complete tear-down and make Ryan available, the Broncos would at the very least have to examine the possibility of acquiring the former league MVP.

The draft

In his latest mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler slotted four quarterbacks among his top eight selections. In other words, if the Broncos fall in love during this evaluation cycle, they are in a position to make a move.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawerence, at this stage in the process, appears to be on his way to Jacksonville with the top pick, but the board is far from a certainty after that. Was Justin Fields’ (5) performance with Ohio State in the College Football Playoff enough to make him the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this year’s class? Or will Zach Wilson (6), the BYU quarterback who threw 33 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 2020, cap his late rise onto the national scene by being the second QB off the board? Then there’s Trey Lance (7), the late-blooming North Dakota State quarterback who has made a quick rise up the board despite making just 17 college starts at the FCS level (all wins). Mac Jones (8), mocked 24th overall to the Steelers in Brugler’s latest projection of the draft, steadily climbed up the board as he conducted a perfect, championship-winning season at Alabama.

The Vikings demonstrated a willingness to move up and down the draft board during Paton’s tenure as assistant GM, and that included maneuverings that targeted the quarterback spot. In 2014, Minnesota traded its second- and fourth-round picks to get back into the first round to take Bridgewater 32nd overall — and he started 13 of the team’s 16 games in 2015.

The Vikings during the Rick Spielman/Payton era also regularly traded back in the draft, part of an effort to acquire more picks — be they for the same draft or future drafts. Paton signaled last week that an accumulation of draft capital will be a part of his strategy as he spearheads the Broncos’ personnel process.

“The more draft picks you have, the more flexibility you have,” he said. “In the offseason you can make a trade for a player. (On) draft day you can kind of work your way up and down the draft. If you want to go get a player, you go get them. So we always thought it was important. The more picks, the more darts and the better chance of you hitting the bullseye. I would like to think that would continue here.”

That could leave open the possibility of a trade back in the draft this April, with an eye on a future shot at a QB bullseye. If the Broncos don’t land one of the league’s big trade targets, perhaps they go the route of signing a veteran free agent who can compete with Lock for the job in 2021. (More on that in a minute.)

If Lock wins that theoretical competition, turns a major corner next season while leading the Broncos to the playoffs, then great. On the other hand, if a veteran bridge QB or Lock don’t work out next season, the Broncos in this scenario would have added ammunition to take another shot in 2022, when Paton has had a full year to evaluate every aspect of where the organization stands.

The upcoming evaluations of these quarterbacks — made complicated by the absence of a combine and the Broncos’ lack of prep time with a new top front-office figure — will go a long way in determining whether Denver takes an aggressive posture when it comes to targeting the position in the first round.

The bridge/backup/competition

The plan wasn’t for Keenum to author a miracle in 2017. The Vikings signed him as a backup to Bradford, who dialed up a brilliant performance in that season’s opening win against the Saints. But then Bradford, who the front office quickly scrambled to acquire in blockbuster deal the year prior after Bridgewater went down, was felled again by a knee injury.

The Vikings were able to go 12-3 and advance to the NFC championship game after Bradford was injured because they had invested in a reliable, productive backup at the position. If nothing comes of a blockbuster trade or a top-1o pick at quarterback for the Broncos this spring, expect them, at the very least, to upgrade the competition at the quarterback spot.

Whether that means signing a free-agent with the expectation that quarterback starts, creating a legitimate training camp competition or simply providing a more experienced mentor for Lock than what he had in Jeff Driskel this season, more depth is sorely needed. This offseason features a number of free agents who could fit that description.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick (9). The Dolphins, who went 10-6 in 2020 and narrowly missed out on the playoffs, were better when the 38-year-old veteran was under center. Miami had always planned to start No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa at some point during his rookie season, but Fitzpatrick’s efficiency in relief appearances once he was relegated to the bench — like the near comeback he led in Denver in Week 11 and the improbable come-from-behind win he did orchestrate against the Raiders in Week 16 — showed he can still very much contribute to winning football. The question is, after 16 NFL seasons with eight different teams, does Fitzpatrick want to keep playing?

• Andy Dalton (10). After nine seasons as a starting quarterback in Cincinnati, which included three Pro Bowl honors and four playoff appearances, Dalton was released by the Bengals last spring and then signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys. Dalton was pressed into action for nine games in the wake of Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury in Week 5. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes (the second-best efficiency of his career) and threw 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s sure to be a coveted backup/bridge starter option for teams this offseason.

• Jacoby Brissett (11). Expect the Colts to be big players in the Stafford sweepstakes. If they are, Brissett, already scheduled to be a free agent as it is, would almost certainly look for employment elsewhere. Brissett went 7-8 as a starter for the Colts in 2019, completing 61 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

• Jameis Winston (12). With Drew Brees likely to retire this offseason, the Saints could also be in the hunt for Stafford, who would help New Orleans continue its march as one of the NFC’s most consistent contenders. But if they aren’t able to pull off that trade — their cap situation could make it difficult — attention would turn toward the Saints’ in-house options: Winston and Taysom Hill, the multi-positional player who started at quarterback for the Saints when Brees was on injured reserve this season. Winston, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick, views himself as a backup. He wants another opportunity to start. If that’s a chance the Saints give him, it’s easy to see Winston re-signing in New Orleans. But the Stafford domino could determine how the rest of the free-agent class falls.

• The idea of Mitch Trubisky (13) is intriguing if only because of the familiarity Fangio and Paton would have with him given their recent NFC North history. Like Lock, Trubisky, the second overall pick in 2017 who had the fifth-year option on his rookie deal declined by the Bears before the start of last season, closed the 2020 season in strong fashion. He completed 74 percent of his passes over the final five games with seven touchdowns, three interceptions and a 101.9 passer rating. There is interest around the league as to whether new surroundings can help fully unlock Trubisky’s talent. Signing Trubisky probably wouldn’t be as much about acquiring a bridge quarterback as it would be about creating a true training camp competition at the spot, much like a theoretical signing of Winston could look like.

Paton and the Vikings were in the business of buying time when it came to the search for the quarterback position over the past 14 years. They were consistent postseason entrants even when they didn’t have a surefire franchise QB under center. The key was to be ready for every scenario, then move when opportunities presented themselves. Given the shifting winds already taking place across the league at quarterback, Paton could have an early chance to make a major decision at the most important position in sports.

AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh is looking at a veteran QBs coach to go with new OC Matt Canada. He has the same name as the coach of hockey’s Penguins. Gerry Dulac in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The Steelers are talking to Mike Sullivan — no, not that Mike Sullivan — about becoming their quarterbacks coach, the Pittsurgh Post-Gazette has learned.

Sullivan, 53, was a long-time offensive coordinator/quarterback coach with the New York Giants and Denver Broncos who was hired in 2020 to be director of recruitment at Army, his alma mater. He was at the Steelers’ South Side facility on Tuesday.

The Steelers want to hire a quarterbacks coach after Matt Canada was promoted to offensive coordinator on Monday to replace Randy Fichtner.

Sullivan spent 11 years during two different stints with the Giants, serving as wide receivers coach for six years (2004-09), quarterbacks coach (2010-11, 2015) and offensive coordinator (2016-2017). He won two Super Bowls with the Giants.

Most recently, he was the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach in 2018.

Curiously, if he is hired, he would be the second Mike Sullivan to be a coach in Pittsburgh, joining the Penguins’ head coach.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

And, the Texans who were the first to fire their coach in 2020 to get ahead of the market are the last to hire one.  And he’s a 65-year-old who wasn’t on anyone else’s radar.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com on David Culley:

Before all of the trade talk, reports about his future and the hiring of coach David Culley, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked what he was looking for in his next head coach.

“I mean, we just need a whole culture shift,” Watson said earlier in the month. “We just need new energy. We need discipline, we need structure, we need a leader so we can follow that leader as players. That’s what we need. We’ve got to have the love of not just the game of football, because that’s what we do, but the love for people and the people in this organization.”

“… We need someone that stands tall and [says] this is who we’re following and this is the way it goes … and we’re going to do it this way to win.”

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who hired Culley in 2019 as assistant head coach, said he was respected “as a teacher, game-planner and motivator.” Culley is the first Black head coach hired by the Texans and the first in the NFL hiring cycle.

Of course, Watson might not be with the Texans to play for Culley, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Sunday the quarterback is expected to want out of Houston regardless of whom the team hires. Watson isn’t the only one who feels there needs to be a culture change.

By hiring Culley, the Texans hope they’ve found that person to build the foundation for which Watson asked.

But, for most Texans fans, Culley’s name isn’t a familiar one. So who is he and why did Texans CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio pick him to be the franchise’s next coach?

Who is David Culley?

Culley, 65, has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore as the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He just finished his 27th season as an NFL coach after 16 seasons in various college coaching roles. He’ll be the oldest coach in NFL history at the time of his head-coaching debut.

Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, but he has been an assistant head coach before his stint in Baltimore, for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens were a run-first offense in 2020, as they led the NFL in rushing yards and ranked last in passing yards.

What does he bring to Houston?

The Texans are serious about fixing the organization’s culture and believe Culley is the person to do it.

After doing a second interview with the Texans — this time in person — the team was impressed by Culley’s energy and believes he has the NFL experience to deliver that cultural shift within the building, even if he hasn’t been a coordinator.

“The thing I would emphasize about Coach Culley, more than anything, is what an amazing teacher and communicator he is,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in 2019. “He’s probably the best — I would say he’s the best straight-up teacher, communicator that I’ve seen coaching football one-on-one, not just because he coaches it so well, but because he’s so relentless and he coaches the important things.”

“You can be relentless, but if you’re coaching things that don’t matter, then that’s just a lot of hot air. He’s coaching the things that matter, and you see the guys getting better every day within his position group.”

McNair knew he wanted his general manager to take the lead on the coaching search. That is Caserio, who said the characteristic he was looking for most in a head coach is an ability to “lead people.”

“Because in the end, football is a sport but it’s about people, right?” Caserio said. “You have to make an investment in people. You have to be able to lead people. … Those are some of the things that will be important relative to whether or not they’re a good playcaller on their respective side of the ball. But whoever it is will have some competency in some area.”

“… I would say in our situation, relative to Deshaun, trying to put something in place that’s sustainable for him that can allow him and the rest of the team and the organization to go out there and perform to their maximum capacity on a week-to-week basis. That’s the goal.”

What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?

This is perhaps the most important question and only Watson can answer it. If Watson still wants out regardless of whom the Texans hired, as Mortensen reported, then hiring Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wouldn’t have made a difference.

Now that the Texans have hired their new coach, the question is whether Watson will be here to see the culture shift he asked for in Houston. The quarterback hasn’t requested a trade, but he could decide to do so once the hire is officially announced.

While the Texans could agree to trade terms with another team before the start of the new league year on March 17, a trade cannot be executed until then. The key time frame to pay attention to is before the NFL draft in April, because if the Texans were to trade Watson, they would want to make sure they’re getting 2021 draft capital, when the pick slots are locked in.

What’s next in Houston?

Watson put up the best numbers of his young career in 2020, and the team won only four games. Houston’s defense struggled, finishing 30th in Football Outsiders’ weighted DVOA. Of course, there are still a lot of holes on a defense that lacked young difference-makers, so whomever Culley hires as defensive coordinator will have a tall task ahead.

Regardless of whether the Texans trade Watson, those holes on the roster will remain. The Texans’ first pick in this draft is No. 67, so they won’t be able to add impact talent at a team-friendly price, and are currently $18 million over the projected 2021 salary cap (although that matters less than the cash they’ve already committed, which gives them some flexibility).

If Houston trades Watson, it will be able to plug in pieces on the defense and upgrade that side of the ball significantly, but then questions will remain at quarterback.

If hiring Culley is about persuading Watson to stay, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.comsays that ship may have sailed already:

The Texans have settled on their next head coach, but David Culley’s imminent hiring doesn’t appear to have swayed quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s feelings about the team.

According to multiple reports, Watson has formally requested a trade away from Houston. PFT has confirmed, via a league source, that Watson made the request early last week.

A report over the weekend indicated that Watson was looking to get out regardless of who the team would hire as Bill O’Brien’s permanent replacement.

Watson has a no-trade clause, so he’ll have to sign off on any destination. Teams like the Dolphins, Jets, and Panthers have been mentioned as potential suitors for the 25-year-old’s services, although others may now wade into the fray and any deal will also have to bring back the right compensation for Houston to sign off on the trade.

With Matthew Stafford also on the block and uncertain quarterback situations for several teams, it’s shaping up to be quite an offseason when it comes to the most important position in football.

We haven’t even considered MATT RYAN or JARED GOFF or JIMMY GAROPPOLO.

Mike Florio with some thoughts on the grand scheme.

As the NFL community processes the surprising decision of the Texans to hire 65-year-old position coach David Culley as head coach, some are tying the development to the surprising decision of the Texans to interview Josh McCown for the head-coaching job.

Multiple league sources believe that the Texans will keep Culley in place for a couple of years, and that he will then “retire” and be replaced by McCown.

McCown is expected to become the quarterbacks coach on Culley’s staff. Eventually, McCown could become the offensive coordinator. The thinking is that, in time, he’ll become the head coach.

It’s believed to be part of the broader structure that executive V.P. of football operations Jack Easterby is installing. Easterby wanted Nick Caserio to be the G.M., and Easterby got him. Easterby wants McCown to be the head coach, and Easterby will get him, eventually.

Regardless of how it all works out, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the Texans over the next few years. It’s also worth watching whether or not they become relegated to last place, perennially, in the AFC South. If that happens, it may be harder to Easterby to continue to implement his plan.

Ultimately, there’s only one member of the audience who matters: Owner Cal McNair. As long as he goes along with Easterby’s plan, Easterby’s plan will go along.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

Patriot insider is hearing the team will be aggressive in free agency, but not necessarily for a QB.

There are a lot of questions with the Patriots this offseason in terms of what they will do, but according to NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran they may be doing a lot.

“Everything I am hearing from down there is that the Patriots are going to be extremely and uncharacteristically aggressive in this offseason,” he said on Wednesday’s Dale & Keefe show.

Obviously, it’s unclear what that will entail, but perhaps a No. 1 receiver will be signed, maybe a top tight end, or even a big-name quarterback. With the third-most cap space in the league, the Patriots have the ability to be aggressive.

When it comes to the quarterback position, Curran does not believe it will be one of the biggest names.

“To me, I think they will be more of a mid-tier team that will try its luck in the draft, so meaning mid-tier free agent — a [Marcus] Mariota, a [Jacoby] Brissett, whoever they deem worth chasing and securing and then to play it in the draft,” he said. “That’s the hardest thing about this — do you force it in the first round with a Mac Jones or a Kyle Trask, who certainly don’t seem to me to be first-round quarterbacks? Or do you say, ‘we’re going to take that good linebacker and see if Trask or Jones if we take them in the second round are players we can develop, or somebody else?’”

Free agency doesn’t begin until mid-March so a lot will change between now and then, but unlike some past years it seems the Patriots will be major players.

THIS AND THAT

THE BEST CONTRACTS OF 2020

Joel Corry of CBSSports.com on which players provided the most bang for the bucks in their contracts in 2020.

The NFL’s financial landscape is being assessed through awards for the eighth straight year onCBSSports.com with the regular season in the books. These awards differ from the traditional NFL honors because they are from an economic perspective, emphasizing 2020 veteran acquisitions.

Players acquired by trades or in free agency can have a tremendous impact on an NFL team’s fortunes. Rookies weren’t given any consideration because their salaries are a function of draft position and the rookie wage scale. The same applies to players who signed restricted free agent tenders since the amounts are set by the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. A runner-up is named when warranted.

Most Valuable Acquisition

Tom Brady

TB • QB • 12

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was intent on upgrading at quarterback after going 7-9 in 2019 with Jameis Winston. Tampa Bay landed Brady with a fully guaranteed two-year, $50 million contract worth a maximum of $59 million with incentives.

Getting Brady has paid immediate dividends. Brady was the catalyst for the Buccaneers transforming from playoff pretender to Super Bowl contender. A 13-year playoff drought ended with Tampa going 11-5 in the regular season to secure an NFC wild-card playoff berth. Three straight road playoff wins have put the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.

Brady continued to defy the odds by keeping Father Time at bay. The 43 year old completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 4,633 yards (third in the NFL), with 40 touchdowns (second in NFL) and 12 interceptions to post a 102.2 passer rating (ninth in NFL). Brady’s 40 touchdown passes were his second best single season mark and his most since 2007 when he had a career high 50.

There are $4.5 million of annual incentives in Brady’s contract. $2.25 million are for individual performance. The remainder are based on Tampa Bay’s playoff success.

Brady earned $562,500 each for ranking in the NFL’s top five in touchdown passes (or throwing at least 25 touchdowns) and passing yards. Because Brady participated in least 75 percent of Tampa Bay’s offensive plays (95.43 percent playtime), he made $500,000 for the Buccaneers qualifying for the playoffs, another $250,000 for the team beating the Washington Football in a wild-card playoff game, an additional $500,000 by eliminating the Saints in the divisional playoffs and an extra $500,000 by winning the NFC Championship Game. A Super Bowl LV victory is also worth $500,000. Brady has earned $2.875 million of the $4.5 million in incentives to date.

Runner Up: Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills

Least Valuable Acquisition

Vic Beasley

LV • DE • 51

The Titans signed Beasley to a one-year, $9.5 million contract, which included a $6 million signing bonus, to improve a weak pass rush. The deal was worth as much as $12 million because of $2.5 million in incentives. Inexplicably, Beasley didn’t show up for the first 10 days of training camp, which resulted in $500,000 of fines and voided the guarantees of his $3.5 million base salary.

The Titans released Beasley in early November seven games into the season. Beasley was a non-factor in the five games he played. He failed to generate any sacks and only had seven quarterback pressures (combined sacks, quarterback hurries and quarterback hits) in limited action. Beasley made $7,852,941 during his short stint with the Titans.

Offensive Signing of the Year

Derrick Henry

TEN • RB • 22

The Titans designated Henry as a franchise player for $10.278 million last March after a 2019 season where he led the NFL in rushing (1,540 yards) and tied for the league’s most rushing touchdowns with 16. Henry really made his mark in the playoffs during the Titans’ run to the AFC Championship Game. He became the first player to ever have two games of at least 180 rushing yards in the same postseason. Henry also set an NFL record for the most rushing yards during a playoff run (not including the Super Bowl) with 446. His 148.7 rushing yards per game this postseason is the fourth best mark ever in any single playoffs.

The Titans signed Henry to a four-year, $50 million contract (with an additional $1 million in incentives) right before the July 15 long-term deal deadline for franchise players. The first two years worth $25.5 million are fully guaranteed.

Henry picked up where he left off during the playoffs last season. He became the eighth player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in season en route to winning his second straight rushing title. Henry’s 2,027 yards are fifth on the all-time list. He also led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns. Henry is the first player with back-to-back 1,500 rushing yard seasons since Larry Johnson accomplished the feat in 2006.

Runner Up: Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers

Defensive Signing of the Year

DeForest Buckner

IND • DT • 99

The Colts gave the 49ers the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to get Buckner, who was scheduled to play under a $12.378 million fifth-year option. Buckner was given a four year, $84 million contract extension averaging $21 million per year with $56.378 million of guarantees in connection with the trade. The deal made Bucker the NFL’s second highest paid interior defensive lineman. 

Buckner’s 9.5 sacks were third in the NFL among interior defensive linemen behind Aaron Donald and Leonard Williams, who had 13.5 and 11.5 sacks respectively with the Rams and Giants. After being snubbed for the Pro Bowl, Buckner earned first team All-Pro/All-NFL honors from the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers of America.

Biggest Steal

Nelson Agholor

LV • WR • 15

Agholor signed a one-year deal worth $1,047,500 after a disastrous 2019 season with the Eagles playing out his rookie contract. He benefitted tremendously from the change of scenery. Agholor helped fill the void created by Tyrell Williams missing the season because of a shoulder injury. After primarily being used in the slot the last couple of years in Philadelphia, Agholor showed his deep threat capabilities. He was second in the NFL with 18.7 yards per catch. He had 48 receptions for 896 yards with eight touchdowns. The 896 yards are a career high. Agholor’s production was comparable to or better than some wide receivers making between $9.5 million and $10.75 million per year (Tyler Boyd, Jamison Crowder, Sterling Shepard).

Runner Up: Jason Verrett, CB, 49ers

Best Use of a Contract Year

Garett Bolles

DEN • OT • 72

Bolles was a disappointment in his first three NFL seasons. The 2017 first round pick’s claim to fame was leading the NFL in holding penalties in each of those seasons.

Bolles’ struggles led to the Broncos declining a fifth year option for him in 2021 worth $11.064 million resulting in 2020 becoming his contract year. Denver’s plan was for Elijah Wilkinson to compete with Bolles at left tackle until right tackle Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season because of concerns about COVID-19. This meant Bolles would remain as Denver’s starting left tackle.

Bolles elevated his play to a Pro Bowl level. In turn, the Broncos signed him to a four-year, $68 million contract extension with $40 million of guarantees in late November, making him the NFL’s fifth highest paid offensive lineman at $17 million per year.

Runners Up: Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Saints

Worst Use of a Contract Year

Cam Newton

NE • QB • 1

A lack of interest after Newton’s release by the Panthers in March led him to sign a one-year deal with a base value of $1.75 million worth up to $7.5 million through incentives. Newton appeared to be on his way to resurrecting his career after being plagued by foot and shoulder injuries over the previous two seasons when he tested positive for COVID-19.

Newton performed so poorly initially upon returning to action from the coronavirus he admitted he could be benched with continued subpar performances. His play improved somewhat but nobody was confusing the 2020 Newton with the 2015 NFL MVP version. In fairness, Newton’s offensive weapons left a lot to be desired. Tom Brady started showing his age in 2019, his last for the Patriots, with a similar group. Newton completed 65.8% percent of his passes (242 of 368 attempts) for 2,657 yards, with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions to post an 82.9 passer rating in 15 games. He remained one of the NFL’s biggest running threats at quarterback by rushing for 592 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.

Newton failed to re-establish himself as a legitimate starting quarterback. The Patriots are expected to go in another direction next season. Newton’s consolation prize is earning $2 million of his incentives for taking 86.65 percent of New England’s offensive snaps.

With there potentially being unprecedented passer movement in the upcoming offseason, Newton will probably be left standing once the quarterback musical chairs stops. His best chance of getting a starting spot may be a reunion with his former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera on the Washington Football Team. The most likely scenario is Newton settling for the best backup situation that could eventually provide him a chance to play should the starting quarterback falter.

Runners Up: Vic Beasley, Edge, Titans; Jadeveon Clowney, Edge, Titans; A.J. Green, WR, Bengals

Best Contract Extension (for a team)

Travis Kelce

KC • TE • 87

George Kittle spearheaded a long overdue re-set of a stagnant tight end market in August with the five-year, $75 million extension averaging $15 million per year he received from the 49ers. His $40 million in overall guarantees and $30 million fully guaranteed at signing are both the most ever in an NFL contract for a tight end.

Within a few hours of Kittle’s deal being announced, Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension averaging $14,312,500 per year. The two deals couldn’t be more different although Kelce has $23 million in guarantees where $21 million was fully guaranteed at signing.

Kelce had two years remaining on his contract for $18.25 million, which was signed in 2016. His deal set to expire after the 2021 season.

The Chiefs got an extremely team friendly structure. A “pay as you go” contract structure was used where a player’s cash and salary cap numbers are the same in each contract year because there isn’t a signing bonus that would be prorated over the life of the contract (for a maximum of five years).

Kelce’s 2020 compensation stayed the same at $9.25 million, which is unusual for a deal of this magnitude. He is only receiving $4.25 million more over his remaining two years than if he played out the 2016 extension.

Surprisingly, Kelce has minimal guaranteed money after 2021. Only $2 million of his $6.5 million 2022 base salary, which was guaranteed for injury upon signing, becomes fully guaranteed that March on the third day of the league year. This entire $6.5 million really should become fully guaranteed this March on the third day of the 2021 league year.

The Chiefs have maximum salary cap flexibility because of how Kelce’s contract is structured. Should Kelce’s skills rapidly start to diminish, Kansas City can exit the deal as early as 2022 without any salary cap consequences.

The deal is incredibly back loaded. Kelce has $11.75 million of new money through his first new contract year of 2022. It would have been $11.65 million for Kansas City to designate Kelce as a franchise player in 2022 if he played out his contract, which was going to be 120 percent of his 2021 cap number in the 2016 extension.

Kelce has $25 million in new money over the first two new contract years (through 2023). The $25 million is $630,000 less than Kelce would have made playing under two straight franchise tags in 2022 and 2023.

Quite frankly, Kelce didn’t get enough money in his remaining contract years or security to give up four years. The Chiefs essentially have four team options with Kelce starting in 2022, his first new contract year.

To add insult to injury, Kelce had the finest season ever for a tight end. He set the single season receiving yards record for a tight end with 1,416 yards. Kelce’s 105 receptions are the fourth most a tight end has had in a season. His 11 touchdown catches tied for the league lead among tight ends.

By being patient, Kelce would have had the leverage to surpass Kittle as the highest paid tight end in league history this upcoming offseason after his incomparable production. Kelce also became the first tight end to ever have two seasons in which 100 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions were reached. The only other time this feat has been accomplished was by Dallas Clark with the Colts in 2009. Instead, Kelce’s $14,312,500 average yearly salary is likely to serve as a ceiling with tight ends for the foreseeable future.

Runner Up: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Worst Contract Extension (for a team)

Taysom Hill

NO • QB • 7

Technically, Hill didn’t sign a contract extension. The Saints placed a $4.641 million restricted free agent (RFA) tender on Hill entitling them to a first round pick as compensation if an offer sheet signed with another team wasn’t matched. After Hill didn’t generate any interest during the RFA signing period and his exclusive negotiating rights reverted back to the Saints, he was given a two-year, $21 million contract (worth up to $22 million through incentives) with $16 million fully guaranteed in late April.

Having Hill under contract for more than just his $4.641 million RFA tender was a luxury not a necessity. In essence, the Saints valued the one unrestricted free agent year Hill gave up at $16.359 million, which is an exorbitant amount for someone who had been a jack of all trades contributor. In addition to being a standout on special teams, Hill lined up at running back, wide receiver and tight end as well as taking snaps under center in wildcat formations.

Hill started four games at quarterback during the 2020 regular season because of Drew Brees’ broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Although Hill completed 72.7 percent of passes and the Saints went 3-1, the jury is still out on him being a full-time starting quarterback because of his decision making on passing plays and issues with ball security.

The Saints have the NFL’s most challenging salary cap situation currently projecting to a $112.2 million overage according to NFLPA data if the 2021 salary cap is set at the $175 million floor agreed to by the NFL and NFLPA. Hill’s 2021 cap number is $16.159 million with his $12.159 million salary fully guaranteed.

Had Hill played on the RFA tender, the Saints would have more flexibility at quarterback for next season. It’s highly unlikely he would have generated a lot interest as unrestricted free agent given the potential quarterback supply and the 2021 salary cap likely decreasing from the current $198.2 million level.

Assuming Brees retires as expected, Hill likely could have been re-signed to one-year deal for less than $8 million to compete for the starting quarterback job. Nick Foles took a pay cut to $8 million with incentives after his offseason trade to the Bears, who weren’t sold on Mitchell Trubisky. The most the Saints would have needed to pay Hill over the two year period would have been $12.5 million rather the $21 million. Hill’s 2021 cap number could have been in the $2.5 million neighborhood with a willingness to add four voiding or dummy years to the one year contract so his signing bonus could be prorated over five years. It also would been easier to sign another quarterback to challenge Hill or make a run at an established quarterback via trade.