Keenan

McCardell

McCardell was also in the running for the same position with the Patriots before they hired Bill O’Brien. For the past two seasons, McCardell coached a wide receiver group that included Justin Jefferson who has gotten off to the best start of any receiver in NFL history. Prior to that he coached receivers for four seasons as a member of the Jaguars. McCardell has previous ties to the Bucs, playing there from 2002-2003. The Bucs are interviewing several coaches for the OC position after parting ways with Byron Leftwich.

McCardell escaped the Urban Meyer-led Jaguars in 2021 and landed with the Vikings, where he’s worked closely with Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and Adam Thielen over the past two seasons. McCardell, a former Jacksonville wideout, was also the wide receivers coach for Washington. Former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is in the running for the New England OC job too.

Head coach Urban Meyer apparently had little interest in retaining McCardell, a Jaguars great and a popular coach with the Jacksonville community who has coached the team’s wideouts for the past four years. Before joining the Jaguars staff, McCardell helped develop Stefon Diggs when Diggs played at the University of Maryland. Now he’ll work closely with Justin Jefferson, who has as much upside as any receiver in the league. Jefferson caught 88 passes for 1,400 yards and seven scores in his breakout rookie campaign.

It makes some sense, but only if Tampa believes Johnson can be a primary running back. He’s hardly showed that ability as a pro.

Sure it would his pride, but McCardell is crazy to be missing game checks for a holdout that has no chance of getting him a raise. There are rumors Chicago is interested in dealing for him, but Tampa appears uninterested.

McCardell’s situation is frustrating, but the Bucs are smart not to trade him for another problem, with less certain talent.

“If they can’t sign him how could we?” Vermeil asked. “The dollars are almost gone already and the season hasn’t even started. I don’t think that’s in the works.”

McCardell has to show up by week ten to earn a year towards his NFL pension and have a year shaved off his contract. If you’ve got room and can wait, it’s probably time to grab McCardell for your bench in fantasy leagues.

McCardell has to return to the team by week ten to make the year count on his contract. Nothing was resolved by the meeting, but McCardell should only be a few weeks away from returning. Grab him now if you have room.

We’d wait a week before inserting him into most fantasy lineups. But this will be an immediate test for how productive McCardell can be in San Diego.