2014 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Chargers Acquire Dolphins’ No. 50 Pick

May 9th, 2014 at 7:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers have acquired the No. 50 overall pick from the Dolphins, tweets Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Miami gets picks Nos. 57 and 125 (a mid fourth-rounder) from San Diego, as further noted by Hubbuch (on Twitter).

The Chargers used the 50th pick to select Jeremiah Attaochu, a 6’3″, 243 pound pass-rusher from Georgia Tech, tweets Michael Gelken of U-T San Diego. Edge rushing help was a need coming into the draft for San Diego, as OLB starters Jarrett Johnson and Dwight Freeney are aging veterans, and former first-round-pick Larry English has been a disappointment.

Eagles Trade With Titans, Move To No. 42

May 9th, 2014 at 6:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles have acquired the No. 42 overall pick in the second round from the Titans, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Eagles gave up their fourth round pick (No. 122) to go from No. 54 to No. 42, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. The Eagles will use the pick to take wide receiver Jordan Matthews out of Vanderbilt, according to La Canfora (on Twitter).

The 6’3″, 205 pound wide receiver didn’t come into the draft with as much hype as Marqise Lee, who was snagged by the Jaguars at No. 39, but he comes with tremendous hands and solid route running skills. Matthews worked out for a number of teams individually, including the Falcons, Raiders, and even the Titans, but he’ll go to Philadelphia to join Nick Foles & Co.

Rams Acquire Bills’ No. 41

May 9th, 2014 at 6:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have acquired the Bills No. 41 pick, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Rams used the pick to select cornerback Lamarcus Joyner out of Florida State. To get the No. 41 pick, the Rams sent Buffalo their No. 44 plus their fifth round choice at No. 153 (link).

The 5’8″, 184 pound FSU standout played corner in college but can also play some safety at the next level. Safety was the Rams’ biggest need heading into the second day of the draft.

Lions Acquire Seahawks’ No. 40

May 9th, 2014 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have traded down again, this time sending their No. 40 pick to the Lions, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). With the pick, the Lions grabbed linebacker Kyle Van Noy out of BYU (link).

Josh Katzowitz of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) has the goods: Seattle sent the No. 40 and their fifth round pick (No. 146) for Detroit’s No. 45, No. 111 (fourth round), and No. 227 (seventh round).

Van Noy was highly coveted by several teams, including the Broncos. By vaulting up the draft boards, Detroit was able to leapfrog all of the other potential suitors.

Cowboys Acquire Redskins’ No. 34 Pick

May 9th, 2014 at 6:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have traded up from the No. 47 pick in the second round, tweets Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) has the details: Dallas sent their No. 47 and No. 78 picks to the Redskins for the No. 34 pick in the second round.

We heard earlier tonight that the Cowboys were working hard to jump ahead of the Falcons (No. 37) to land Boise State edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence. As long as the Texans go in a different direction – and it’s expected that they will – the Cowboys will have Lawrence all to themselves. Meanwhile, the Redskins have tacked on a third round choice in exchange for falling back 13 spots in the second round. It’s potentially good value for Washington, but they might be kicking themselves if Lawrence (or whoever the Cowboys select) turns out to be a star within their division.

Cowboys Trying To Move Up From No. 47

May 9th, 2014 at 6:07pm CST by Luke Adams

6:07pm: In addition to the Cowboys, the Jets and Titans are also looking to move up in the second round, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

5:37pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier this afternoon (via Twitter), that the Cowboys are trying to make a “big move up” in the second round to secure help for their front seven. Now, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter) provides more details on that report, tweeting that he’s hearing the Cowboys are trying to jump ahead of the Falcons (No. 37) to land Boise State edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence.

The Cowboys had been expected to select a defender in the first round last night, but when a number of their targets came off the board before No. 16, they switched gears and nabbed offensive tackle Zack Martin. A move up into the top four picks of the second round would be tricky for the Cowboys, who are currently at No. 47. As our list of draft picks by team shows, only a handful of clubs have more picks to work with than Dallas, but six of the club’s remaining 10 picks for 2014 are seventh-rounders.

Extra Points: Evans, Broncos, Texans, Raiders

May 9th, 2014 at 5:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Mike Evans‘ hoops background helped him round out his football skills, writes Pat Yasinkas of ESPN.com. “It helps a lot,’’ the Buccaneers‘ first round choice said. “You see me go up for catches and treat it like a rebound. Boxing guys out and using my God-given talent, my big body. Boxing guys out for tough catches. The transition was easy because I had a lot of great coaches and a lot of great people around me to help me get here.’’ Evans could have been bound for the pages of Hoops Rumors, but instead, he’s here with us on PFR. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL as we get set for Day 2..

The Broncos will try again to trade up from No. 63 in round two, tweets Mike Klis of the Denver Post. They tried earlier but couldn’t find a partner to trade up from No. 31 in round one.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien told Steve Wyche of NFL Network (on Twitter) that the Texans will stay at No. 33 unless they’re “blown away” by a trade.
The Raiders will likely take Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr if he’s available at No. 36, writes Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link). That could be easier said than done: the Texans could use a QB and they have the No. 33 pick.
Trading back would have been a gamble for the Packers, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Thompson wouldn’t say whether the Browns called to offer up their No. 26 and No. 83 – the package the Browns gave the Eagles to move up and tap Johnny Manziel – but such a move would have put them in jeopardy of missing out on Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Many have panned the Jaguars‘ pick of quarterback Blake Bortles as a safe selection, but GM David Caldwell isn’t worried about that type of criticism, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. “We’re not about big splashes at all. We just want to go about our business.” For what it’s worth, Bortles may not be a sexy pick, but he was a pretty big surprise. Few analysts had Jacksonville taking the UCF product at No. 3 and the pick helped shake things up for the rest of the first round.
The Browns‘ top pick from last night, cornerback Justin Gilbert, has been overshadowed by fellow first rounder Johnny Manziel. One might think the Oklahoma State star is upset by the lack of attention, but that’s not the case at all. Gilbert told reporters at today’s introductory presser, including Pat McManamon of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter), that he’s happy to have Manziel alongside him “’cause it takes the pressure” off of him.
Maiocco (on Twitter) wonders if Brandon Lloyd is rethinking his decision to attempt a comeback with the 49ers in lieu of their Stevie Johnson deal.
The Bills just paid Johnson $1.75MM in a roster bonus, so the 49ers will only owe the WR $3.6MM in 2014, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

AFC East Rumors: Pryor, Bills, Johnson

May 9th, 2014 at 5:03pm CST by Zachary Links

New Jets safety Calvin Pryor says that his big hits will provide an “intimidation factor” for the Jets’ defense, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. “Believe me, there is a huge thing with his hitting ability; big hits still win games,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “They’ll flip the momentum of a game faster than anything in my opinion, and I’ve always said that, and this young man will provide that for us.” More on that and some of the fallout from the Bills‘ big trade today..

The Bills had been shopping Stevie Johnson for a while before agreeing to send him to San Francisco today, tweets Albert Breer of NFL Network (on Twitter). Breer’s understanding is that Buffalo tried to deal him to Tampa as part of the Mike Williams trade last month.
Johnson would have counted $8.5MM against the Bills‘ cap in 2014, but with the dead money accelerating onto this year, his cap number is now $10.225MM, tweets Tim Graham of The Buffalo News.
This may not come as a huge surprise, but Jets coach Rex Ryan says that the team wasn’t interested in drafting Johnny Manziel at No. 18, writes Kimberley Martin of Newsday.
After serving as Tom Brady‘s backup for three years, undrafted quarterback Brian Hoyer was cut loose by the Patriots in 2012. After getting his break in Cleveland and subsequently blowing out his knee, he now finds himself in a battle with Manziel for the No. 1 job with the Browns. Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com laments the QB’s bad luck.

NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, Redskins, Kouandjio

May 9th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are looking to make a big move up the second draft board to secure help for their front seven, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (on Twitter) hears. The latest out of the NFC East..

The Redskins were not a part of last night’s festivities but they could be open to moving their No. 34 pick tonight, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. General Manager Bruce Allen is listening to calls from teams interested in moving up for a quarterback or a receiver with the second pick in round two but he’s being patient, realizing that the deals will get better, not worse, as Friday unfolds. The GM could even wait until Washington is on the clock to start weighing offers.
The Redskins are a team to watch for Alabama offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Washington would have taken him in the first round if they had a pick there so they’d gladly grab him in the second tonight. The bruising offensive lineman has local ties too as a product of Maryland’s DeMatha Catholic High School.
The Eagles passing on Johnny Manziel at No. 22 is a ringing endorsement of quarterback Nick Foles, writes CSNPhilly.com’s Reuben Frank. Foles looked like a superstar in the second half of 2013 and it seems like coach Chip Kelly & Co. are confident that it was more than good luck.

NFC West Rumors: 49ers, Rams, Ward

May 9th, 2014 at 3:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Rookie Jimmie Ward is listed as a safety but the 49ers envision him beating out veterans Perrish Cox and Eric Wright to win the job as the team’s nickel back, writes CSNBayArea’s Matt Maiocco. Technically, barring injury, Ward will not be a starter in his rookie season. However, the 49ers had three cornerbacks on the field for 55% of their defensive snaps last season. More out of the NFC West..

Rams GM Les Snead tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that the plan, as of now, is to stand pat with the No. 44 selection in the second round. The picks that come later in the draft, however, could be moved around.
The 49ers resisted the temptation to move up in the draft last night, Maiocco writes. San Francisco might have viewed LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as a target, but the price proved to be steep. “We certainly liked him as a football player, no doubt about it,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said of Beckham, who was chosen at No. 12 overall by the Giants.
49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told KNBR 680-AM that Ward will face a learning curve to learn the nickel position, writes Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
Last night, the Rams reaped the final rewards of the Robert Griffin III trade with the Redskins, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. At this point, the Redskins got a starting QB while the Rams got a starter at defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker, running back, and the offensive line with a receiver who could elevate to that role this year.
Many were surprised when the 49ers didn’t grab a wide receiver in the first round, but GM Baalke says that he likes the WR depth available in round two, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. It also seems very possible that Baalke knew that the Stevie Johnson deal was on the horizon during last night’s proceedings.

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors