HEADLINES

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Browns Notes: Manziel, Draft, Gordon, Brooks

May 10th, 2014 at 9:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Following the first night of the draft, Browns GM Ray Farmer dismissed the notion that owner Jimmy Haslam tried to influence any of the team’s selections, including the trade up for Johnny Manziel. Farmer reiterated that point today, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

“I can tell you with 100% certainty that Jimmy Haslam at no point demanded, requested, tried to influence the process in any way,” Farmer said.

Here’s more on the Browns:

  • Farmer confirmed that, before trading up to No. 22 for Manziel, the Browns attempted to move up to the Titans’ pick at No. 11, tweets Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter), the Browns GM said the club had “a bundle” of potential targets in mind as it tried to trade up.
  • Farmer on the Cowboys not taking Manziel at No. 16: “I don’t think I was surprised as much as I was happy” (Twitter link via Ridenour).
  • Although there are published reports suggesting Josh Gordon is facing a season-long suspension, Farmer said he still can’t comment on the situation, adding that he understands fans’ frustration and disappointment (Twitter link via Cabot).
  • Agent Scott Bergman tells PFR (via Twitter) that his client, running back Jourdan Brooks, has been invited to try out at Cleveland’s minicamp. Brooks, who played his college ball at Morgan State, previously spent time in camp with the Bengals.

Martin Mayhew On Lions’ Draft

May 10th, 2014 at 8:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew spoke to the media after the NFL Draft to talk about the team’s draft strategy. He explained that his reason for not drafting a safety, thought to be a position of need, was a combination of being comfortable with the players they have already and the way the board fell, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN (via Twitter). Mayhew noted that the pick would have had to be an “impactful guy.”

Here are some other notes from the Lions’ draft class:

  • Mayhew said fourth-round pick Nevin Lawson’s “play speed” is better than he timed at the combine, according to Rothstein (via Twitter).
  • The team’s other fourth-round pick Larry Webster will line up at defensive end, writes Rothstein (via Twitter). Mayhew called him a raw player.
  • The Lions’ fifth-round pick, T.J. Jones, will most likely project as a slot receiver, meaning he will be competing with Ryan Broyles for playing time, reports Rothstein (via Twitter). Mayhew called the Notre Dame pass catcher a “clutch” guy.
  • Mayhew noted that the team considered drafting the kicker, Nate Freese, in the sixth round, and was happy to be able to get him in the seventh, according to Rothstein (via Twitter). In Mayhew’s view, after spending his college career kicking outside in the elements at Boston College, Freese will be great in the NFC North, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).

Ravens Acquire No. 218 From Browns

May 10th, 2014 at 4:39pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Ravens have traded back into the draft, acquiring the No. 218 pick from the Browns, reports Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com (via Twitter). The Ravens will send the Browns a 2015 sixth-rounder (via Twitter). The Ravens used this pick to select Wake Forest receiver Michael Campanaro, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Cardinals Notes: Thomas, Arians, UDFAs

May 10th, 2014 at 4:19pm CST by Rob DiRe

Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians stated that Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas will be playing quarterback for the team, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). Thomas has experience as a tight end, but Arians noted that his struggles with accuracy can be easily fixed.

Here are some other notes from Urban about the Cardinals draft day three:

  • Yesterday Arians said that he liked the three quarterbacks on the team’s roster, writes Urban (via Twitter). This turned out to be a smokescreen, with Arians saying today “I lie pretty good.”
  • Arians held his intentions to draft a quarterback close to his chest, because he was afraid a team would try to jump in front of the Cardinals to target Thomas in the fourth round, writes Urban (via Twitter).
  • Cardinals’ general manager Steve Keim noted that he wants to add two running backs and between three and five offensive linemen as undrafted rookie free agents, reports Urban (via Twitter).

Titans Acquire No. 178 From Redskins

May 10th, 2014 at 2:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The Titans have moved up in the sixth round of the draft, acquiring the 178th overall pick from the Redskins, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter). Tennessee, who had previously been set to pick 186th, sent that pick and No. 228 to Washington in the swap, per Jones (via Twitter).

The Titans used the pick to take Zach Mettenberger of LSU. Mettenberger is a big, strong armed quarterback, in the mold of what Ken Whisenhunt has failed to develop since working with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. The LSU signal caller is coming off a torn ACL, but had been impressive in pre-draft workouts as he began to move up draft boards.

Of course, as much as his stock was improving, it was leaked that he was one of ten players who had a flagged drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. Mettenberger’s camp held that his test was flag due to a diluted urine sample, not a banned substance.

AFC Notes: Quarterbacks, Jaguars

May 10th, 2014 at 2:45pm CST by Rob DiRe

Titans’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team was considering quarterbacks in the fourth round, reports Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com (via Twitter). They are one of the many teams that seem interest in the secon and third tier signal callers in this draft.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC:

  • Although they have Alex Smith, the Chiefs considered taking a quarterback in round one, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team has been unable to get Smith signed to an extension, but ultimately went in another direction early. They instead took Aaron Murray out of Georgia in the fifth round.
  • The Bengals are in a similar situation to the Chiefs, and also considered a quarterback in the first round, according to Rapoport. They selected A.J. McCarron of Alabama, one pick after Murray in round five. McCarron will likely be Andy Dalton‘s backup in 2014, before they make a decision about Dalton’s future with the team next offseason.
  • Jaguars’ general manager Dave Caldwell said there was not much talk of trading down today on day three, according to Ryan Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). The Jaguars only had discussion that included 2015 selections.

Falcons Acquire No. 168 Pick From Vikings

May 10th, 2014 at 2:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Falcons have moved back into the fifth round, trading for the No. 168 pick previously held by the Vikings, reports Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Vikings had originally received that pick from the Panthers in a separate trade.

Goessling writes that the Vikings will receive two picks, No. 182 and No. 220, in the trade (via Twitter). The Falcons selected inside linebacker Marquis Spruill out of Syracuse with the pick, according to Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com (via Twitter).

Buccaneers Acquire No. 149 Pick From Bills

May 10th, 2014 at 1:31pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Buccaneers have traded back into round five, moving up to the Bills spot at No. 149, reports John Kryk of the Toronto Sun (via Twitter). The Buccaneers used that selection to take offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile of Purdue (via Twitter). The Bills received pick No. 221 and a 2015 fifth-rounder in exchange for No. 149, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN (via Twitter).

Panthers Acquire Pick No. 148 From Vikings

May 10th, 2014 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers have moved up in the fifth round, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Carolina has acquired the 148th overall pick from the Vikings. Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports (via Twitter) that the Panthers used the pick to select San Jose State cornerback Bene’ Benwikere.

According to Goessling (via Twitter), Minnesota will moved back to 168th in the sixth round, and also picked up the 225th selection in the deal.

Cowboys Acquire No. 146 Pick From Lions

May 10th, 2014 at 1:24pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cowboys have traded up to the 146th pick, finding a trade partner with the Lions, reports Detroit Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman (via Twitter). The Cowboys used the pick to select Pittsburgh wide receiver Devin Street (via Twitter). The Lions have moved down 12 spots to No. 158, and pick up pick No. 229 from the Cowboys in the trade, reports the SideLionReport (via Twitter).

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