AFC East

The New York Jets may opt for flashy hires for the team's next general manager and head coach.

The franchise announced on X that it had completed an interview with former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for the team's vacant general manager position. The team also announced that it had interviewed former Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera for the head coaching position.

We have completed an interview with Louis Riddick for our General Manager vacancy.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 2, 2025

We have also completed an interview with Ron Rivera for our Head Coach position.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 3, 2025

These interviews come after New York has been linked to former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Riddick played six seasons in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and the then-Oakland Raiders. He joined ESPN in 2020 and works as a broadcaster for Monday Night Football.

During his NFL career, Riddick played in 94 games and made eight starts. He then would work as a scout and rose to the Director of Pro Personnel for both the then-Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles

He notably interviewed for the general manager vacancies for the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions in 2020.

Rivera was the head coach of the Panthers from 2011-19 and the Commanders from 2020-23. He has compiled a 102-103-2 overall record and helped lead the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.

The Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh midway through the 2024 season. The team has slumped to a 4-12 record despite notable talent on the roster. The next general manager will have to tackle the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well as assembling a roster to break a playoff drought that extends to 2010.

The Cleveland Browns are reportedly benching Dorian Thompson-Robinson in favor of finishing out the season behind Bailey Zappe.

Zappe will start Saturday's Week 18 game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Thompson-Robinson could still play in relief, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The Ravens could clinch the AFC North title with a win on Saturday. The Browns are meanwhile in contention with the three-win Patriots, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.

The game will mark Zappe's first NFL action since the 2023 season with the New England Patriots. He will be the fourth quarterback to start for the Browns this season.

Thompson-Robinson served as QB1 for the last two games, most recently going 24-of-47 for 170 yards with an interception and a lost fumble in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Thompson-Robinson was limited in practice this week with a calf injury. Jameis Winston, who started seven straight games for the Browns earlier this season, was also limited with a right shoulder injury.

Zappe made six starts in 2023 after taking over for Mac Jones halfway through the Patriots' season.

He marked a 2-4 record and threw six touchdowns with nine interceptions before being released by the Patriots in August.

The Browns signed him off the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad after Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending Achilles injury.

Watson was initially replaced by Winston, whose finger injury in Week 15 led to Thompson-Robinson getting his own shot at QB1.

Stefanski said when naming Thompson-Robinson the starter for Week 16 that the decision would be "week-to-week," while the second-year signal caller indicated to reporters he saw his call-up as an opportunity to audition for the starting role in 2025 (h/t ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.)

The Browns recently restructured Watson's contract in an apparent move to keep him in the Cleveland quarterback room in 2025, per Oyefusi. Thompson-Robinson is the only other Browns quarterback currently signed for next season.

Stefanski's Week 18 decision marks the continuation of decades of frequent signal-calling turnover for the Browns. Zappe will now be the 40th quarterback to start for the franchise since 1999, according to Tom Withers of the Associated Press.

The New England Patriots will start rookie Drake Maye on Sunday in the team's season finale against the Buffalo Bills. With a loss, the Patriots would clinch the 2025 No. 1 draft pick.

"Drake is our starting quarterback. If he's healthy and ready to go, as we go through this week of practice, then he'll play," Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. "He's a competitor, he wants to play and he's still developing. He'll be ready to go."

The Patriots (3-13) sit fourth in the AFC East, with Maye playing in 12 games and starting 11 this season. He has posted 2,276 passing yards with a 66.8 percent completion rate, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The other option would be Jacoby Brissett, a 32-year-old veteran, who has started five games this season and played in 11, posting a 59 percent completion rate with two touchdowns.

On Monday, Mayo had been weighing all possibilities for the QB1 position but provided a definitive answer on Wednesday of ultimately sticking with his rookie.

Despite the opportunity to secure the No. 1 pick with a loss, Mayo emphasized that it is never his or the Patriots' goal to enter a game with the intent to lose.

"As far as how much they play, how much they don't, I've never been a part of a team as a player or as a coach going into a game not wanting to win," Mayo said, per Reiss. "That's not going to change today. ... My message to the guys was we want to finish off the season strong. Try to build some momentum going into the offseason."

Maye echoed his coach's sentiments, expressing his desire to win the Patriots' final game of the season.

"I'm preparing like I'm the starter. I'm looking forward to being out there. I'm ready to go out there and win and compete," Maye said, per Reiss. "In a close game, I want to be out there. Getting experiences in these close games, you can't replicate that in practice. I'm looking forward to getting more chances with these guys and end off on a good note."

Following Mayo's statement, New England listed Maye as limited on the injury report with a right-hand injury.

While Aaron Rodgers hasn't made any decisions about his playing status for 2025, the New York Jets quarterback knows Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins might be his last in the NFL.

Rodgers told reporters he's "trying to stay in the moment" with a lot of things on his mind in Week 18:

Aaron Rodgers says he's thought about the season finale being his final game:

"I'll just be enjoying this, I'm trying to stay in the moment. It's been a long career. I'm really proud of what I've been able to be a part of and what I've been able to accomplish" pic.twitter.com/f24AK4mHxD

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 1, 2025

Aaron Rodgers on his future with the #Jets, or otherwise: "I need a break mentally. I don't want to make a decision until I've been able to rest mentally and physically ... I just need a break to refresh, put my feet in the sand and see where I'm at after that."

"March is free…

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 1, 2025

The future Hall of Famer strained credulity a bit when he called his Jets tenure "the best two years of my life." Injuries and off-field drama have been prominent themes during his stint in the Big Apple, and it's doubtful he'll look back on his time there all fondly, especially in contrast to what he achieved with the Green Bay Packers.

"Gratitude. It's been the best two years of my life"

Aaron Rodgers reflects on his tenure with the Jets pic.twitter.com/8Yvc0e4w6q

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 1, 2025

Rodgers is under contract with the Jets for 2025, but he's well aware the team could decide to move on. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last week, he joked about the idea of getting cut by one of the teenage sons of team owner Woody Johnson:

Is that a Brick Johnson decision 😂😂#PMSLive https://t.co/NAYixvQYwR pic.twitter.com/HpUumfgI8f

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 23, 2024

Plenty of uncertainties hover around the 41-year-old, including how long this saga will drag on. It wasn't until March 2022 that he decided to suit up with the Packers for another season, and then his trade to the Jets came together in April 2023, days before the NFL draft.

Fans might be happy to learn, however, they may not have to hear about any darkness retreats. Rodgers ruled that out.

Aaron Rodgers was asked how he would make the decision if he wants to return next season:

"Probably darkness again. Nah, I think I'm done with that. I won't be doing any darkness retreats this offseason" pic.twitter.com/6kAovBvhKk

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 1, 2025

Assuming his time with the Jets is approaching its terminus, it could plausibly go either way in terms of whether he wants to keep going with another team.

The aging curve is hitting Rodgers in a big way. He has thrown 3,623 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and his 48.3 QBR is his second-lowest over a full season, per Pro Football Reference. There isn't a lot of reason for optimism when it comes to 2025.

This may not be the way Rodgers imagined his career ending, though. Even if his performance doesn't significantly improve, signing with another team would present the chance for him to go out on a winning team.

Tua Tagovailoa's injury-plagued 2024 season could be over.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Wednesday that Tagovailoa will be limited in Wednesday's practice and they are operating with the assumption that Tyler Huntley will start in Week 18 against the New York Jets, but Tagovailoa could start if his hip gets better.

Tua Tagovailoa will be limited today in practice. Mike McDaniel said they’ll approach today as Snoop Huntley starting at NYJ, but they have time to pivot back to Tua as the week goes on:

“It’s an easy adjustment that we’re definitely open minded to.”

(🎥 @MiamiDolphins) pic.twitter.com/aUv4TGmA26

— Will Manso (@WillManso) January 1, 2025

Tagovailoa, 26, missed four games earlier in the 2024 season due to a concussion, his third diagnosed concussion in the past two years. The Dolphins placed him on injured reserve and went just 1-3 without him during that stretch.

And in Week 17, facing a crucial matchup against the Cleveland Browns with Miami's slim playoff hopes hanging in the balance, he was made inactive with a hip injury.

It was somewhat of a surprise, given that he suffered the injury two weeks prior against the Houston Texans and not only finished that game, but also played in a Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

"I mean, it's good. It's just like anyone else on the team and anyone else around the league," Tagovailoa told reporters regarding his hip in the week leading up to the Browns game. "You get banged up little bit towards the ending of the year, so just got to take care of that."

It apparently wasn't good enough to give it a go against Cleveland, however, ultimately a 20-3 win that kept Miami's playoff hopes alive. The Dolphins need a win over the Jets and a loss by the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs to make the playoffs.

Tagovailoa's struggles staying on the field aren't just a short-term concern—the Dolphins made a huge commitment to him ahead of the 2024 season, signing him to a four-year, $212.4 million deal. For better or worse, the Dolphins and Tagovailoa are joined at the hip for at least the next several years.

When healthy, that's looked like a good thing. Just how frequently those good times will be interrupted due to injury, however, has become the biggest question of Tagovailoa's career.

With one week remaining in the New York Jets' 2024 season, cornerback D.J. Reed is already looking forward to his impending free agency.

"I'm ready to go to free agency, bro," Reed said, via Tyler Dunne of Go Long. "I'm ready to see what's next for me."

The 28-year-old has spent three seasons in New York since signing a $33 million contract with the team in March 2022.

The Jets currently sit at No. 3 in the AFC East standings with a 4-12 record.

New York entered its 2024 campaign with high expectations, as Aaron Rodgers prepared to return under center after suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Sept. 2023. The four-time MVP was set to headline an offense that also featured rising stars such as Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.

"I was going to have 10 picks," Reed said, per Dunne. "We were going to be elite. I thought that we'd be up in the score late in games and teams would have to throw the ball and I'm going to make plays on the ball."

Instead, New York's offense struggled to consistently sustain drives and an Oct. 15 trade for star wideout Davante Adams wasn't enough to turn the season around. The Jets have averaged a mere 19.1 points per game in 2024.

New York's defense also took a step back. After allowing 20.9 points and 292.3 total yards per game in 2023, the Jets have given up 24.0 points and 312.5 yards each week this season.

Josh Allen throws across the field for the TD to Coleman!

📺: #NYJvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/XEMD52SiS6

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

Reed shouldn't have too much trouble finding interested suitors as a free agent, as he's remained a consistent starter throughout his tenure in New York. In 13 appearances this year, he racked up 59 tackles and 10 passes defensed to go along with a sack.

He received a commendable 69.4 grade from Pro Football Focus for his efforts, allowing a passer rating of 95.8 when targeted.

As the Jets wrap up a disappointing season, Reed is already preparing for a change of scenery.

The New York Jets claimed former Washington Commanders defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis off waivers, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

The Jets claimed him over several other playoff-bound teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, all of whom could have benefited from his depth heading into the postseason.

Phidarian Mathis was a popular player on waivers, as four teams total tried to claim him: #Jets, #Texans, #Bengals and #Lions. He landed with NYJ. https://t.co/88mKgjEU5G

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2024

New York also claimed former Vikings linebacker Jamin Davis while waiving kicker Anders Carlson and placing safety Chuck Clark on injured reserve.

The Jets also claimed former Vikings LB Jamin Davis, a 2021 first-round pick by Washington. To make room, they waived K Anders Carlson and placed S Chuck Clark on IR. https://t.co/zjl8A55hiw

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 30, 2024

The Jets ultimately landed Mathis due to having the highest waiver priority.

The former second-round pick was released by the Commanders earlier in the week. He recorded 17 tackles and one pass defended over 12 games for Washington this season.

The Jets are 4-12 ahead of their final game of the season against the Miami Dolphins. With no postseason to look forward to, the addition of Mathis will certainly help them in the future.

Mathis is under contract through 2025, making him a key part of the Jets' future plans. These plans are expected to change in the coming weeks as the team searches for a new head coach and general manager, per Pro Football Talks' Josh Alper.

In addition to front office and coaching changes, the future of veteran 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains uncertain, especially after it was reported on Sunday by Rapoport that Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are not getting along.

"There have been questions regarding whether Rodgers and Wilson can find common ground since they had a blowup during training camp," Rapoport wrote. "While Wilson will not publicly say it, those who know him well believe he's been frustrated at the lack of looks from Rodgers while wondering what else he can do to fix the relationship."

Despite the potential turmoil heading into the offseason, a clear benefit for the Jets will be the addition of 26-year-old Mathis.

The Buffalo Bills are locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC standings and will treat their Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots somewhat like a preseason game with quarterback Josh Allen taking the field for only a short amount of time.

Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday the plan is for Allen to be "out there for a short" amount of time, which is notable because it will preserve the quarterback's ongoing 114-game start streak.

McDermott also said the team will play "some starters" and rotate in other players they want to see get some game action.

The most notable development with such an approach is Allen given the streak, which underscores the quarterback's overall durability as he developed into one of the best signal-callers in the league.

"One of the things that we know is very, very important to [Allen] is his consecutive starts streak, if you will, and it's important to him for a great reason," McDermott said. "He wants to be out there with his teammates and so he will be out there for a very, very short-lived amount of time and then he'll be off rather quickly there."

That he will be taken out of the game shortly after it starts is also notable, though, as Allen is in the middle of an MVP race alongside other candidates such as Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Saquon Barkley.

Jackson and Burrow are still battling for playoff positioning and will presumably play their entire games in Week 18, so the Bills' leader will sacrifice the opportunity to put up some individual numbers in the middle of that MVP race.

Still, he has made quite the case for himself while leading Buffalo to a 13-3 record and completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

He will likely see his streak of seasons with more than 4,000 passing yards end at four, but he and the Bills have their sights set on a far loftier goal with the opportunity to win the Lombardi Trophy.

Buffalo hasn't made it past the AFC Championship Game during Allen's tenure in large part because of the presence of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Bills won the head-to-head showdown this season, are playing excellent football and wouldn't have to worry about another battle with Kansas City until the AFC Championship Game.

Keeping Allen healthy for a potential long playoff run is key, so the team won't take many chances in a meaningless contest against the Patriots.

After spending the 2024 season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel reportedly will have a slew of job options available to him this offseason.

According to the Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini, "The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are expected to target Vrabel, according to league sources, and he's expected to draw interest from other franchises."

Vrabel's agent told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that his contract with the Browns expired on Monday. A source told Cabot that the 49-year-old "will now get a head start on his second-straight head coaching cycle and will begin interviewing soon."

Rosenblatt and Russini noted that Vrabel "is expected to prioritize openings with a positive ownership situation and teams with either a quality quarterback in place or a path to getting one in the near future." In addition to the Jets and Saints, the Chicago Bears also will be searching for a new head coach, and the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants are among the teams to potentially have openings by the end of the season.

Rosenblatt and Russini also named the New England Patriots as a potential landing spot if they choose to move on from Jerod Mayo after his disappointing first year as head coach. Vrabel spent eight years of his playing career with the Patriots and won three Super Bowls. He was also inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2023.

Vrabel went 54-45 in his six seasons as head coach of the Titans and earned the NFL Coach of the Year award in 2021. He led Tennessee to an appearance in the AFC Championship Game, and he's known for being a culture builder who can foster a rapid turnaround.

Whichever team lands Vrabel this offseason will undoubtedly be in good hands when he returns to the sidelines.

It's no secret that New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has few offensive weapons around him this season.

One coach went as far as to say the Patriots have no skill players aside from running back Rhamondre Stevenson, praising Maye's ability to make the offensive work with little talent.

"His ability to create on his own is real," the coach said, per The Athletic's Mike Sando. "They just have zero personnel on offense besides Rhamondre (Stevenson). Maye has a shot, but nobody has a shot without pieces."

The Patriots have no major threats at receiver this year—similar to their roster when Mac Jones took over as starting quarterback his rookie year. New England's leading receiver this year is tight end Hunter Henry, who has 674 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Still, Maye has performed well since taking over under center in October. He's thrown for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 12 games, also picking up 421 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.

His solid play hasn't translated to wins, however, as the Patriots dropped to 3-13 on the year following Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

If New England is committed to making Maye its franchise quarterback, the next step will be to get him receivers. Whether the Patriots will make that happen this offseason is to be determined.