NFL Hot Press: 2023 Senior Bowl Rumors Wednesday

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2023 Senior Bowl Rumors Wednesday

Updated Feb. 1, 2023
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

With all the general managers, coaches and scouts in attendance for the Senior Bowl, there is a lot of chatter going around. Here are some of the highlights from around the league from the third day of the 2023 Senior Bowl week.

In past years, teams were generally much faster at hiring a new head coach, but in 2023, there were multiple head coaching jobs open as the Senior Bowl got started. As of arrival day on Monday, four franchises were still looking to hire their next head coach, although that dropped to two by mid-week. Years ago, teams wanted to move fast in the hiring process so they could have their choice among the top assistant coaches available. The coach-hiring process, however, has been much slower in 2023.

A year ago in Mobile, WalterFootball.com was first to report that the Jaguars were hiring Doug Pederson, and Jacksonville was considered late to hire at the time. Pederson and the Jaguars, however, put up a late-season surge in 2022, winning their division and even a playoff game, so perhaps that slow pace influenced others. But a number of NFL sources told WalterFootball.comthat was not the case. A team president of an NFC team said the league office has been trying to get franchises to slow down the hiring process for years. The league thinks a slowed-down approach will help minority candidates and the head office is very sensitive to the bad press of minority candidates not finding head coaching jobs.

Another thing slowing down the overall hiring process is that the league office is requiring teams to do more background research and vetting of candidates. The NFL was embarrassed by scandals involving Urban Meyer and Matt Patricia after they were hired in previous cycles and do not want that happening again. Hence, we enter February with multiple head coaching jobs still open.

One head coaching job that was filled on the final day of January was the Denver Broncos landing Sean Payton in a trade with the Saints. In speaking to Broncos sources, there has been a lot of upheaval in Denver and more could be coming. Sources say new Broncos owner Greg Penner was furious and frustrated with the performance of the team to the point that he came close to firing general manager George Paton and came close to having quarterback Russell Wilson released late in the 2022 season. Cooler heads prevailed, persuading Penner against such moves, but sources believe that Penner could easily fire Paton after the 2023 NFL Draft. They think Paton’s days are likely numbered and Sean Payton could get his choice of general manager after the 2023 NFL Draft.

This also is a career year for Wilson. If he does not turn things around in 2023, the Broncos could move on from after the season. While there will be some dead money, Denver has options to move on from Wilson come 2024. Wilson’s diva behavior and demands alienated huge segments of the Broncos locker room. Many believe Payton won’t tolerate Wilson’s demands so Wilson will have to be more of a team player in 2023. Payton will be tasked with fixing a lot of problems stemming from Wilson on and off the field. Thus, the Broncos will be looking at backup quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft with upside to groom as options in case they decide to move on from the disappointing Wilson after the 2023 season.

Similar to Denver, another team that has a new head coach and questions at quarterback is the Carolina Panthers. New head coach Frank Reich wants stability at the position, but Carolina has not had that since the injuries added up to cut short Cam Newton’s career. Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have proven not to be the answer for the Panthers. From speaking with sources, it sounds like the Panthers really like Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

The Panthers have the ninth-overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and are very likely to miss out on the top two quarterback prospects, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. With the Raiders – at No. 7 – and the Falcons – at No. 8 – in front of Carolina, the Panthers may have to move up to land Levis or Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Carolina can’t be certain that Atlanta, in particular, will pass on a quarterback. Thanks to having extra picks on the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft, Carolina has some additional ammo to move up. Perhaps Reich will take the Panthers in a different direction or target a veteran, but after speaking with some sources, it sounds like Levis is well-liked around the Carolina organization.

The Jaguars were one of the surprise teams of the 2022 season, going from drafting No. 1 overall in each of the past two years to winning the AFC South and even picking up a victory in the opening round of the playoffs. While Jacksonville is headed in the right direction, sources say the organization still has areas it wants to address. Namely, the Jaguars would like to add more talent at wide receiver and cornerback. Jacksonville would like to have a big outside wideout to team with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. The Jaguars also like the progress of Tyson Campbell, but want another young corner with upside to go with him and Shaq Griffin. With the 24th pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Jacksonville could have quality options available at both positions.

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