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2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Saints Notes: Graham, Ingram, Draft

May 7th, 2014 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

When Saints general manager Mickey Loomis addressed the media today at his pre-draft press conference, he told reporters, including Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link), that there were no new updates on Jimmy Graham‘s contract situation. However, that quickly changed, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports the NFLPA has filed a grievance on behalf of Graham, related to his positional designation.

This step had been long anticipated by both sides, and it should help expedite the process. Graham’s tight end franchise tag is worth just $7.035MM, so if an arbitrator determines he should actually be in line for the wide receiver tag of $12.312MM, it will significantly affect leverage in long-term contract talks. It also may prompt the two sides to work out a compromise, particularly if it seems as though the decision could go either way.

Loomis also weighed in today on a few other Saints-related topics, so let’s turn to Holder, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett, and the Times-Picayune’s Katherine Terrell for the highlights (all links go to Twitter)….

  • Of the 30 allowable pre-draft visits for NFL teams, the Saints used 29 to host prospects. Loomis also confirmed that the club had the opportunity to talk to every draftable player on its board.
  • While other GMs have identified a few positions they’ll be targeting in the draft, Loomis balked at giving away any details on that, presumably attempting not to tip his hand regarding the Saints’ first-round pick.
  • Asked about the decision to turn down Mark Ingram‘s fifth-year option, Loomis said it was purely a financial move and not a reflection of the team’s opinion of Ingram. Given the price tags we saw on running backs this offseason, it makes sense that New Orleans wouldn’t want to commit to Ingram on a $5MM+ salary for 2015.
  • The Saints are always keeping an eye out for the potential successor to Drew Brees, but that doesn’t figure to be an area of focus this year.
  • Although they have some candidates on the roster to return kicks, the Saints will be on the lookout for guys with return ability in the draft.
  • There hasn’t been any increase in trade chatter between the Saints and other teams so far this week, according to Loomis. However, if the club decides to try to acquire extra picks in the draft, salary cap constraints shouldn’t be a concern.
  • Asked about the team’s plans at center, Loomis was fairly noncommittal, suggesting that it’s difficult but not impossible for a rookie to come in and take over the starting job.

Browns Eyeing Bridgewater, Carlos Hyde?

May 7th, 2014 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

10:34am: The Browns have also looked into the possibility of trading up from No. 26 to ensure they have a shot at Bridgewater, according to Cabot (via Twitter).

10:00am: The Browns have three picks within the top 35 in this week’s draft, and while the focus has primarily been on their top pick (fourth overall), Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has some details on the team’s targets at Nos. 26 and 35. According to Cabot, Browns GM Ray Farmer is “enamored with” Louisville signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater and will strongly consider him at 26th overall. Cabot also hears (Twitter link) that Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde is on the club’s radar at No. 35.

Despite many reports of Bridgewater’s falling stock, there’s no guarantee he’d be on the board when the Browns pick at No. 26, and the team’s pick at No. 4 should significantly affect the direction of that second first-round pick. According to Cabot (via Twitter), an ideal situation would have the Browns landing offensive tackle Greg Robinson fourth overall, Bridgewater 26th, and a receiver or Hyde 35th.

The Browns’ decisions could have a significant ripple effect on the rest of the first round, since the team has a few potential holes. The need for a quarterback and receiver could mean that players like Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, and Sammy Watkins are also in play for the team at fourth overall. Meanwhile, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com suggested earlier today that a trade down from No. 4 is possible as well.

In my view, snagging Robinson and Bridgewater in the first round would be a nice haul for Cleveland, though I’d question whether 35th overall is a good spot to draft a running back, particularly when after the club added Ben Tate in free agency. I’m also not sure Robinson makes it past the Rams at No. 2, assuming St. Louis keeps its selection.

AFC South Rumors: Texans, Jags, Bortles

May 7th, 2014 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

Jadeveon Clowney is generally considered the top prospect in this year’s draft class, and Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report writes that many people around the league believe the Texans have settled on keeping their first overall pick and selecting the South Carolina end, since it’s the safest move. However, that pick certainly isn’t set in stone yet. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that he gets the sense Houston will remain flexible when it comes to potential options, and any trade may not occur until the club is on the clock tomorrow night.

As we try to search for clues regarding the Texans’ plans, let’s check in on a few more items out of the AFC South….

  • According to veteran beat writer John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), word is spreading among the media in the New York that the Jaguars will select Johnny Manziel at No. 3. Of course, as is the case with any report the day before the draft, this could be a smokescreen — perhaps the Rams are trying to spur trade action for their No. 2 pick.
  • A league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Blake Bortles is one of three players the Jaguars have identified as a potential pick at No. 3. Within Florio’s exploration of where Bortles could land, he identifies the Texans as a possible destination too, particularly if Houston trades out of the No. 1 spot.
  • The Colts are among the teams that have worked out Arkansas kicker Zach Hocker, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Hockey, who has drawn interest from more than 20 NFL teams, also worked out for the Cardinals, Saints, and Eagles, per Wilson.

East Rumors: Manziel, Pats, Jets, Eagles

May 7th, 2014 at 9:21am CST by Luke Adams

Within his latest article for Bleacher Report, Mike Freeman drops a few nuggets relating to NFC and AFC East clubs, writing that the Cowboys and Eagles both definitely have interest in Johnny Manziel, but are very unlikely to land him. Meanwhile, one scout tells Freeman he thinks there’s a “90% chance” the Patriots draft a quarterback this week, since New England knows the Tom Brady era will end within the next few years.

Let’s round up several more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions….

  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported previously that the Jets are trying to move up in the first round, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is hearing similar rumblings. A source tells Mehta that the Jets have been telling other teams they’re interested in trading up.
  • The Patriots hosted free agent guard Davin Joseph for a visit, according to Field Yates and Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. New England’s current projected starting guards, Logan Mankins and Dan Connolly, are both entering their age-32 seasons, so having a veteran like Joseph around for insurance purposes could be beneficial for the club.
  • Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) keeps hearing that the Eagles really love Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who probably won’t still be on the board at No. 22. If Philadelphia decides to move up in the first round, Fuller could be the team’s target, though Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the Steelers, who pick several spots ahead of the Eagles, are also high on the young corner.
  • Cornerback Prince Amukamara said he was “definitely relieved” that the Giants decided to pick up their fifth-year option on his rookie contract last week, as Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News details.

AFC North Rumors: Big Ben, Ravens, Browns

May 7th, 2014 at 8:43am CST by Luke Adams

Although Ben Roethlisberger heads into the 2014 season with two years left on his contract, he expects his career to extend well beyond his current deal, as he told 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday (link via ESPN.com’s Scott Brown).

“I feel like I’m in great shape,” Roethlisberger said. “I think I can get five, six, seven more years out of this arm and these legs.”

Roethlisberger turned 32 in March, so another seven seasons would have him pushing 40, but the Steelers at least appear interested in locking him up beyond the 2015 campaign. We heard last month that extension talks between the two sides have been ongoing for a while, and that discussions could pick up later this summer when Pittsburgh picks up some post-June 1 cap space.

Here’s more from around the AFC North:

  • The Ravens, who may be targeting a quarterback at some point in this week’s draft, have done their due diligence on LSU signal-caller Zach Mettenberger, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. That means the team is likely aware of a back condition called Spondylolsis, which several teams have medically flagged Mettenberger for, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. While LSU trainer Jack Marucci said it was a non-issue for the QB during his senior season, it would represent a long-term concern for Mettenberger’s NFL suitors.
  • Virginia offensive tackle Morgan Moses had 13 private workouts or official visits leading up to the draft, including a visit to Baltimore to meet with the Ravens, writes Wilson at the Sun. According to Wilson, the Saints were among the other teams to host Moses for a pre-draft visit.
  • The best approach for the Browns with their No. 4 pick on Thursday may be to trade down, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com, making the case for why a move back would make sense for the club.

Browns Rumors: Draft, Manziel, Cameron

May 6th, 2014 at 8:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote that the Browns‘ ideal situation may involve taking a player like Sammy Watkins or Greg Robinson at No. 4, then nabbing a QB like Derek Carr or Teddy Bridgewater at No. 26. Some have connected Cleveland to a prominent QB with that No. 4 pick, but that may not be the direction the team goes in. The latest out of Cleveland..

  • When asked if owner Jimmy Haslam could intercede in the Browns‘ selection process on Thursday, coach Mike Pettine said, “That would never happen,” tweets Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com. Haslam has been said to be infatuated with polarizing Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. Haslam told Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer (Twitter link) that there’s “zero chance” that he’d step in and demand that a certain player gets drafted.
  • Jay Glazer told FOX Sports Radio’s JT The Brick (on Twitter) that the Browns will not draft Manziel. Maybe Johnny Football isn’t coming to Cleveland after all.
  • Browns tight end Jordan Cameron, set to become a free agent in 2015, has fired agent Michael Hoffman at Premier Sports, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The tight end hasn’t hired a new agent yet, but the folks at CAA are the frontrunners (link). Cameron, who was the Browns’ fourth-round selection in the 2011 NFL draft, had 80 receptions for 917 yards during the 2013 season. We heard recently that contract talks between Cameron and the Browns haven’t progressed a whole lot.

AFC East Rumors: Jets, Beckham, Savage

May 6th, 2014 at 7:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Jerod Mayo will miss Brandon Spikes now that he’s with the Bills, but he says that he and the other Patriots linebackers can step up and fill the void, writes Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. “I guess [I’ll miss] all the jokes in the meetings,” Mayo said. “Brandon is a great player. Obviously he’s not with us anymore. He brought a physicality to the game that’s kind of unprecedented as far as in the run game. He’s a good player. But at the end of the day, he’s not a Patriot right now. We’re gonna work with the guys we have in our room.” More out of the AFC East..

  • The Jets are looking to trade up with an eye on the top then and they’re hot on LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That could be a move to get ahead of the Giants, tweets Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger, who are also high on Beckham.
  • Greg Schiano is an unabashed fan of Tom Savage which gives weight to the talk that the Patriots could draft him, tweets Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. The former Buccaneers and Rutgers head coach has been working with the Pats in a consulting capacity. Savage was a prized recruit at RU before he jumped ship for Arizona and then Pittsburgh.
  • A four member voting trust created by the late Ralph Wilson will ultimately decide who has submitted the winning bid to purchase the Bills, according to Bob Koshinski of AllSportsWNY. The four voting trustees are Mary Wilson, Ralph Wilson’s widow, Jeff Littman, Bills CFO and Treasurer of the Ralph Wilson Equity Fund, Mary Owen, Bills Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning, and Attorney Eugene Driker. When the final bids are evaluated the new owner must receive at least three of the four votes from the trustees appointed to approve the purchase. That provision could bode well for the Bills staying in Western New York.

Titans GM Talks Draft, RBs, Kickers

May 6th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we recapped comments made by Redskins GM Bruce Allen and Vikings GM Rick Spielman in their respective pre-draft press conferences. Now we’ll turn our attention to the AFC South, where Titans GM Ruston Webster spoke to local reporters today at Tennessee’s pre-draft presser. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean and Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweeted several highlights, so let’s dive in….

  • The Titans only have six picks in this year’s draft and would like to acquire more if possible. In Webster’s opinion, the best chance to do so will happen when Tennessee is on the clock later this week.
  • Webster stressed that it’s important for the Titans to draft players who will fit into the team’s new offensive and defensive systems, noting that the change to a 3-4 defense opens things up to land a pass rusher in the draft.
  • About 26 or 27 prospects received first-round prospects from the Titans, according to Webster.
  • While Tennessee filled several holes in free agency, there are still a couple areas of need, including running back, said Webster. However, don’t expect the Titans to target backfield help too early — the club feels there will be value at the position in the fourth or fifth rounds.
  • The Titans will be having multiple kickers compete to replace Rob Bironas, who was released this offseason, and Webster didn’t rule out the possibility of adding one on the third day of the draft.

Draft Updates: Cowboys, Watkins, Ealy, Pryor

May 6th, 2014 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out last month, since Jerry Jones have overseen Cowboys drafts, the team has traded up or down in the first round in 20 of 25 instances, or 80% of the time. That would suggest there’s a good chance Dallas won’t stand pat on Thursday, but it doesn’t sound like the club is too engaged in trade talks yet.

“We haven’t heard a lot from other clubs,” Jones said today, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “We haven’t found that to be particularly productive. That’s day-of-draft type dynamics. I’d be surprised if there are not trade opportunities by the time you get to where we’re going to be picking or certainly afterwards.”

Here’s more on the 2014 NFL draft, which is now just a little over 50 hours away:

  • The Lions have frequently been linked to wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and Watkins confirmed today to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter links) that Detroit was the only team to meet with him more than once. “That sounds like they really want me, but you never know,” said the Clemson wideout.
  • If two meetings are a signal of legit interest, count the Cowboys, Falcons, and Bears among the potential landing spots for defensive lineman Kony Ealy. As Hubbuch tweets, all three clubs met with Ealy multiple times.
  • The Jets‘ interview of Calvin Pryor was extensive, the Louisville safety told Hubbuch (Twitter link). “They really seemed interested,” according to Pryor.
  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along updates on Florida State running back Devonta Freeman and Utah cornerback Keith McGill. According to Wilson, Freeman met with the Steelers and worked out for the Falcons, Patriots, and Dolphins, while McGill either visited or worked out for the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Redskins, and Raiders, among other teams.

La Canfora On Raiders, Browns, Cards, 49ers

May 6th, 2014 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Albert Breer of the NFL Network suggested earlier today that Johnny Manziel could end up on a team whose owner likes the idea of injecting some life into his franchise, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com makes a similar case in his latest column, pointing out that you should never underestimate the role an owner can play in the selection of a quarterback.

According to La Canfora, in the case of the Raiders, owner Mark Davis “is smitten” with Derek Carr. Fifth overall is too high to draft Carr, but if Oakland trades down, or perhaps decides to acquire a second pick later in the first round, it could be a sign that the team is targeting the Fresno State signal-caller.

Here are more highlights from La Canfora:

  • The Browns‘ ideal situation may involve taking a player such as Sammy Watkins or Greg Robinson at No. 4, then nabbing a QB like Carr or Teddy Bridgewater at No. 26. As La Canfora notes, Carr may not be available that late in the first round, and if ownership gets involved, that may tip the scales toward Manziel early in the first round. For what it’s worth, head coach Mike Pettine told Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com today that there are five or six guys he’d be happy to land with that fourth overall pick (Twitter link).
  • La Canfora continues to hear that teams who aren’t being frequently linked to quarterbacks will be the ones to draft them, and perhaps higher than expected. He goes on to cite affordable fifth-year options as one reason why clubs will pounce on QBs in the first round, though I feel as if seeing Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert, and Jake Locker have their options turned down last week will remind teams that the fifth-year option isn’t really a factor if you don’t select the right player.
  • La Canfora “would be surprised” if the Cardinals didn’t select Carr or Blake Bortles with the 20th overall pick. Peter King of TheMMQB.com tweeted this afternoon that, after sending Bortles to the Browns at No. 26 in his early-morning mock draft today, he now thinks that’s too low, and that the Browns or Cardinals will target him earlier in the first round.
  • Four tackles could come off the board within the first 12 picks on Thursday, and two or three more could be selected in the first round, says La Canfora.
  • The 49ers are likely to trade up if possible, with wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandin Cooks among their potential targets.
  • Several evaluators strongly believe A.J. McCarron will be the fourth or fifth quarterback drafted, and rave about his film.
  • La Canfora thinks Aaron Donald will be the third defensive player off the board, likely no lower than eighth overall.
  • The Patriots may end up drafting multiple tight ends, including a late-round project, in La Canfora’s view.
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