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2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

West Notes: Raiders, Bailey, Seahawks

May 12th, 2014 at 4:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked whether he gave any consideration to trading back into the first round to land Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater last week, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link) that he didn’t want to give up additional picks, and that he was happy to select the best player available when Oakland’s turn came up. Here are a few more odds and ends from around the league’s two West divisions:

  • Rams receiver Stedman Bailey will be suspended for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport adds in a second tweet that St. Louis has known the suspension was coming for quite some time and chose not to draft a receiver this weekend.
  • Making an appearance on KJR-AM in Seattle, Seahawks GM John Schneider discussed a number of draft- and roster-related topics, notably admitting that the only disappointment during the draft was when a seventh-round target was taken “three or four picks” before Seattle could nab him. Schneider didn’t name the player, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times speculates that perhaps it was Wisconsin’s Beau Allen or Georgia Tech’s Brandon Watts.
  • ESPN.com’s Eric Williams passes along the names of the undrafted free agents who received invites to the Chargers‘ rookie minicamp in a series of tweets. Unlike the 17 UDFAs the Chargers signed this weekend, these 10 players aren’t under contract with the club.

La Canfora On Draft, Browns, Jags, Easley

May 12th, 2014 at 2:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Based on what Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com was hearing during and after the draft, he believes the Browns traded down from No. 4 to No. 9 in the first round in the hopes that Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans would still be on the board. When Evans was snapped up by the Buccaneers seventh overall, Cleveland went another direction and never did address the receiver position in the draft. Here’s more from La Canfora, with a focus on draft-related what-ifs:

  • The Jaguars “resisted several opportunities” to move out of the No. 3 overall slot and trade down with teams who were hoping to land Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins, says La Canfora. We heard this morning that Jacksonville also considered trading with the Falcons, who were targeting Jake Matthews.
  • Before they traded up to No. 22, the Browns were close to making deals with the Titans at No. 11 and the Cowboys at No. 16.
  • If the Patriots hadn’t selected Florida’s Dominique Easley with their first-round pick, the Seahawks likely would have kept their first-rounder and used it on Easley rather than moving down. Similarly, the Cardinals would have selected Ryan Shazier if he was there at No. 20, but began attempts to trade down once he came off the board, ultimately swinging a deal with the Saints.
  • Offensive tackle Ju’Wuan James likely would’ve been selected by the Panthers at No. 28 if the Dolphins hadn’t drafted him 19th overall.
  • La Canfora continues to hear from sources that at this point rumors of a Ryan Mallett trade between the Patriots and Texans are just that — rumors.
  • Defensive tackle Ego Ferguson, who was selected by the Bears in the second round, has been frequently identified by evaluators as one of the draft’s biggest reaches, says La Canfora.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Bradford, Bortles, Lions

May 12th, 2014 at 11:02am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys didn’t come away from the 2014 draft having selected a new quarterback, which head coach Jason Garrett says is just fine. Garrett explained the thinking to Todd Archer of ESPN.com:

“The thing you’re concerned about is developing them for somebody else,” Garrett said. “You develop them for two, three, four years and he goes and plays for another football team. We don’t think that’s a worthwhile thing. There’s been a theory around the league, teams like Green Bay for years always took a guy late and if that player develops into something that was a good thing for their team or to trade to somebody else. … It’s a philosophy a lot of teams, they agree with that. But when you have other issues on your team I think it becomes a little bit of a luxury to do that.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • While there have been rumblings about possible Sam Bradford trade talks lately, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said on today’s Dan Patrick Show that the club has neither made or received any calls about Bradford’s availability (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
  • If the Jaguars hadn’t selected Blake Bortles with the third overall pick, neither the Vikings or Titans would have drafted him, but the Cowboys would’ve considered it at No. 16 and the Cardinals would’ve pulled the trigger at No. 20, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter).
  • The Lions strongly considered picking a quarterback on the third day of the draft, but the club’s targets came off the board before Detroit had a chance to select them, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com.
  • If the conditional pick traded to the Eagles by the Bills in this weekend’s Bryce Brown trade doesn’t change hands next year, it can become a 2016 third-rounder if Brown rushes for 800+ yards in either of the next two seasons, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
  • Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News provides an interesting look at how safety Jimmie Ward became the 49ers’ man in the first round last Thursday.
  • Longtime Vikings college scouting director Scott Studwell resigned from the position following this weekend’s draft, and will transition into a new role within the organization, writes Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune.

King’s Latest: Manziel, Browns, Jags, Falcons

May 12th, 2014 at 8:42am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King of TheMMQB.com leads off by writing about the Rams‘ drafting of Michael Sam and Johnny Manziel‘s Thursday night wait in the green room. King also provides a few interesting tidbits, so let’s dive in and round them up….

  • Manziel thought there was a decent chance he’d be selected by the Rams at No. 13, and when St. Louis passed, he became concerned about a free fall. Before the Browns eventually jumped up to No. 22 to nab Manziel, the Eagles were close to trading the pick to another club, likely the Vikings.
  • Browns GM Ray Farmer on the decision to trade the No. 4 overall pick to the Bills, who used it to select wide receiver Sammy Watkins: “We were very close to turning in the card. We very easily could have turned in the card with Sammy’s name on it.”
  • The Jaguars and Falcons had “many discussions” about a trade that would have included Jacksonville’s No. 3 overall pick and Atlanta’s No. 6. The Falcons would also have included at least a third-round pick to complete the deal, but the Jags decided to stay put to make sure they got Blake Bortles. Had the Falcons moved up to third overall, they planned to take the same player they ended up landing at No. 6: Jake Matthews.
  • Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell on turning down the trade: “There were so many teams that wanted quarterbacks—at one, four, five, seven and eight, and they were all within striking distance of us. I just kept thinking, ‘One of those teams has to see what we were seeing in Bortles.’ So let’s say we move back and make a deal. What are we going to take in the third? A guard? You can find guards. You can’t find the quarterback you think fits your team best. So in the end it wasn’t a hard decision for us.”

Eagles Notes: Kelly, Allen, Matthews, Reynolds

May 11th, 2014 at 4:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Eagles drafts continue to be influenced by head coach Chip Kelly’s relationship with Oregon, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Nine of the 15 players selected by Philadelphia during Kelly’s tenure have some connection to Oregon, where Kelly coached from 2007-12. While general manager Howie Roseman ultimately controls the draft board, Kelly doesn’t dispute that his opinion on certain players is affected by his past proximity to them. “I do believe I have a knowledge because I’ve seen them in person,” said the Eagles coach. “So I can weigh in on them with not just, ‘Hey, my evaluation of them on tape is this.’ . . . But it’s not a ‘Let’s take him because I saw him live.’ . . .We’re still going to go through the whole process and let everybody weigh in. There’s never been an instance, where ‘Hey, I feel this way about him but everybody else feels this way.'”

More notes from Philadelphia:

  • Kelly spoke with reporters after the draft, and passed along some thoughts on seventh-rounder Beau Allen, a 6’2″, 331 pound defensive tackle from Nebraska, specifically regarding whether the Eagles were surprised Allen fell to them (per the Philly.com staff): “We were kind of holding our breath after we made our last pick, because it was such a long time until the next one,” said Kelly. “But it really depends. He’s a true nose tackle, so now you limit yourself to 3-4 teams taking Beau, but I think he fits. He’s in the same style that we teach. He’s got a good understanding of 3‑4 defense.”
  • Philadelphia had hoped to select an offensive lineman at some point, but simply never got the chance, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “I thought we’d have some opportunities to get some O‑linemen, but there was a run in the third round that was like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Roseman. “It was like player after player after player, and all of a sudden we looked back up and our board was depleted, and we weren’t going to reach. That hurt because we went in thinking that we’d get some guys. I think the [quality] offensive linemen went earlier. I did not think it was a great group overall.”
  • ESPN’s Chris Mortensen believes Eagles receiver Jordan Matthews, a second-rounder from Vanderbilt, will be the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • Mel Kiper of ESPN gives the Eagles draft a “B+”, noting that he “loves” the selection of Matthews, and singles out fifth-round safety Ed Reynolds, whom Kiper believes could develop into a starter.
  • Last night, we provided a list of the 15 undrafted free agents signed by Philadelphia.

Seahawks Notes: Marsh, Chancellor, Norwood

May 11th, 2014 at 2:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We already included some Seahawks tidbits within our latest NFC West roundup, but here are a few more notes out of the Pacific Northwest:

  • Seattle is very excited about about fourth-round pick Cassius Marsh, a versatile defensive lineman out of UCLA, whom head coach Pete Carroll likens to current Seahawks DL Michael Bennett. “Michael has so much flexibility, and Cassius likewise does — we think,” said Carroll. “He would, in essence, follow Michael around for a while and learn about the different spots that we play.” Marsh, who also caught two passes as a tight end in college, could even see some time in a H-back role for the Seahawks, writes Jayson Jenks of the Seattle Times.
  • Within the same Jenks piece, Carroll said he expects safety Kam Chancellor, who had hip surgery this offseason, to be available for the start of training camp.
  • The Seahawks added to their receiving corps by drafting not only Paul Richardson in the second round, but Kevin Norwood in the fourth, whom general manager John Schneider lauded for his consistency, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “There’s nothing overly flashy about him,’’ said Schneider. “Except that he’s incredibly tough and reliable and smart and savvy. I think that’s probably why he lasted as long as he did.’’
  • ESPN.com’s Terry Blount provides a wrap-up of the Seahawks’ effort on draft day, listing Seattle’s best play as trading down several times and acquiring extra picks, and the team’s riskiest move as passing on UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-Filo at the end of the first round.
  • ESPN’s Mel Kiper graded the Seahawks draft as a “C+”, noting that while he would have liked to see the team draft an offensive lineman early, the Seattle brain trust has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to selecting lesser-known players.
  • Late last night, we passed along a list of the nine UDFAs signed by the Seahawks.

NFC South Notes: Panthers, Saints, Bucs

May 11th, 2014 at 12:58pm CST by Peter Sowards

The offseason losses outweighed the gains for the Panthers, and Carolina’s draft picks must grow up fast for the team to repeat as division champs, writes Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler.

After losing Jordan Gross, Steve Smith, Captain Munnerlyn, Ted Ginn and Mike Mitchell, coach Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman hope first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin and a host of others can fill the large void.

“Status quo is not good enough,” Rivera said. “We’re not going to stand around and be just as good.

“We want to be better.” 

More from the Panthers and the rest of the NFC South:

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Jets, Bills

May 11th, 2014 at 11:07am CST by Peter Sowards

Versatility was the theme of day 3 for the Patriots, as each of the seven players taken on Saturday figure to fill multiple spots on the depth chart, writes Zuri Berry of Boston.com.

“I feel like we improved our team today,” coach Bill Belichick said. “We had seven picks and we kind of had them in clumps there, but I felt like we were able to take some players that will be able to compete.

“We’ll see how it all goes.”

The Patriots‘ day 3 picks were Florida State center Bryan Stork, Wisconsin running back James White, Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, Florida guard Jon Halapio, Concordia-St. Paul defensive end Zach Moore, Georgia Tech defensive back Jemea Thomas and Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Gallon.

Read below for more from the AFC East:

  • Boston.com’s Erik Frenz passes along a post-draft depth chart, penciling in second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo as the third-string quarterback behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett.
  • The 12 draft picks by the Jets all share similarities that helped them land in New York. “There’s pretty much a common thread with these fellas,” general manager John Idzik said, via newsday.com’s Kimberley A. Martin. “They fit our profile. They’re aggressive, they have a passion for our game, they’re great teammates. They fit the Jet profile.”
  • Five trades in three days highlighted an exciting extended weekend for the Bills, wrote Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. The most notable moves were trading for running back Bryce Brown, trading away wide receiver Stevie Johnson and trading up for Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins at No. 4 overall.
  • Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald aggregated notes and feedback from media analysts on the Dolphin’s Saturday draft picks, as well as adding his post-draft thoughts, specifically his concerns at cornerback.

NFC North Notes: Vikings, Packers, Lions

May 11th, 2014 at 9:03am CST by Peter Sowards

In dire need of secondary talent after allowing 4,596 yards through the air in 2013, the Minnesota Vikings supplemented the roster with three defensive backs on day 3 of the NFL Draft, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Virginia Tech’s Antone Exum, Maine’s Kendall James and North Carolina’s Jabari Price will don the purple, white and gold after being drafted in the sixth, sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

“It’s definitely going to be competition (in the secondary),” Price said. “Whether we know it or not, whether they know it or not, it’s going to be a competition. 

“And I’m willing to step up to the challenge.”

More news and notes from the NFC North…

  • The Vikings earned the lone A-plus from SI.com’s Chris Burke and Doug Farrar in their 2014 NFL draft grades writeup, calling it an outstanding haul for first-year coach Mike Zimmer. The Packers received an A, the Bears an A-minus and the Lions a B.
  • The Packers addressed needs without sacrificing talent, according to Packers.com’s Vic Ketchman. General manager Ted Thompson makes his hay in the annual player selection meeting, and the nine players selected — highlighted by first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — should solidify a deep roster.
  • One constant in the Packers the last three decades has been a prolific offense highlighted by an elite quarterback. However, defense has been an issue, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Thompson gave defensive coordinator Dom Capers “a nice offering” at the top with the selection of Clinton-Dix No. 21 overall. But with four defenders and five offensive players coming to Green Bay, it was an overall balanced draft for the Pack.
  • Lions Offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterback Matthew Stafford were pegged as winners by mlive.com’s Justin Rogers. Waddle figures to remain the team’s right tackle after the team passed on Taylor Lewan. Lombardi has a new toy in tight end Eric Ebron with which to play, joining an already deep position. Stafford received an upgraded No. 2 receiver earlier in free agency — Golden Tate — and now has an upgrade at tight end. Named as losers by Rogers were linebacker Ashlee Palmer, defensive back coaches Tony Oden and Alan Williams, and tight end Joseph Fauria.
  • Bears general manager Mark Emery is giddy about the potential long-term payout of his eight draftees, finishing his third draft with Chicago and 16th overall. “These come in all varieties with how people work with one another,” Emery said via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “And this was awesome.” 

Complete 2014 NFL Draft Results

May 10th, 2014 at 11:30pm CST by Luke Adams

After an extra two weeks of waiting beyond the usual date, the 2014 NFL draft finally arrived. We kept tabs on all 256 of this week’s selections in this post, and now that the draft has come to an end, you can find the full results below.

Here are the results of the 2014 NFL draft:

Round 1

  1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
  2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
  4. Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
  5. Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
  6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
  8. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota): Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
  9. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo, via Cleveland): Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
  10. Detroit Lions: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
  11. Tennessee Titans: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
  12. New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
  13. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
  14. Chicago Bears: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
  15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
  16. Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
  17. Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
  18. New York Jets: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
  19. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
  20. New Orleans Saints (from Arizona): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
  21. Green Bay Packers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
  22. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
  23. Kansas City Chiefs: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
  24. Cincinnati Bengals: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
  25. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
  26. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis, via Cleveland): Marcus Smith, DE/OLB, Louisville
  27. Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans): Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
  28. Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
  29. New England Patriots: Dominique Easley, DT, Florida
  30. San Francisco 49ers: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
  31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
  32. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

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