NFL insider’s diary: Jets’ free agency targets and buzz around Tom Brady’s Raiders
Day 3 of Shrine Bowl practices saw a diminished group of scouts on hand, as many made their way east to prepare for Senior Bowl practices, which begin tomorrow. Still, there was plenty of buzz and rumors flying inside the North Texas football facility.
NFL insider's diary
NEW YORK JETS
As Aaron Glenn has been officially introduced as head coach of the New York Jets, many here in Frisco are predicting he will bring several of his former defensive players from the Detroit Lions to join him in New York once free agency begins; or at the very least he will pound the table to get them in a Jets uniform.
One player I’m told Glenn will target in free agency is linebacker Derrick Barnes, the Lions’ fourth-round pick out of Purdue in 2021 who will be on the free-agent market after completing his rookie contract. Barnes started 13 games in 2023, but he played in just three last season after tearing an ACL and PCL when he was cut block.
Veteran linebacker C.J. Mosley will be 33 years old next season and carries a large cap number.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
On Saturday, I reported that Mike Greenberg would be a target as the team’s next general manager. On Monday, I was told newly hired coach Liam Coen is pushing hard to bring Greenberg over from Tampa, and it’s just a matter of whether Greenberg wants the job in Jacksonville.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The Raiders have received a lot of ridicule from all corners here at Shrine practice after hiring Pete Carroll as their head coach. The team, and Tom Brady, wanted Liam Coen to take the job, but he chose Jacksonville; and other than trying to stabilize the franchise, choosing Carroll doesn’t make much sense to anyone.
The reaction to their new general manager hire couldn’t be any different. People have praised the hire of John Spytek, who was assistant general manager with the Tampa Bay Bucs before taking the Raiders job. People are confident Spytek knows personnel and will do a good job filling in the missing pieces on the Raiders roster. They also expect Spytek and the Raiders will be one of the teams working hard to move up into one of the top two spots at the top of the draft so they can select a quarterback.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
What the Saints will do for a head coach is anyone’s guess. Time and time, people say they have no clue what the organization will do, as they are the only team left with an open vacancy. Rumors at Shrine practice had McCarthy getting the Saints job but people on Wednesday told me initial conversations with the team have not gone well and people in the New Orleans organization are not enamored with the former Cowboys coach.
As mentioned several weeks ago, general manager Mickey Loomis prefers to keep some of the assistant coaches presently under contract, and many believe that could be the hold-up.
A lot of people were surprised Glenn did not get the job, given his history with the organization. Bad weather (Glenn had his second interview with the Saints pushed back due to a freak snowstorm in New Orleans) coupled with the Jets being hellbent on not allowing Glenn to leave their facility at Florham Park without a contract ended those hopes.