2014 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

NFC East Notes: RGIII, Orton, Eagles

April 29th, 2014 at 5:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest out of the NFC East..

During an interview with SportsTalk 570’s Andy Pollin, new head coach Jay Gruden said the Redskins can expect to see the read option, but that he didn’t intend to have Robert Griffin III using it all that frequently. “We’ll have sprinkles here and there,” Gruden said (link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post). “It’s not going to be a major part. I want to make sure that we have other things that we can do besides the read option, because it takes a toll. You have to practice it a lot to be very good at it. It kind of takes away from the defense’s ability a little bit, it takes away from other plays that you need to work on, your protection schemes, your running game, all that stuff. It just takes away from that. So we want to make sure that we work on the core running game that we have, the core drop-back passes we have. And then once we get going, we get those implemented, maybe sprinkle in some read option.”
Although Kyle Orton didn’t attend the Cowboys’ voluntary workouts, costing himself $75K in the process, executive vice president Stephen Jones fully expects the veteran quarterback to rejoin the team eventually. “We expect Kyle, when mandatory practice starts and mandatory things begin, we fully expect Kyle to be there,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (link via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer).
Former Howard cornerback Ademola Olatunji had a good workout for the Eagles yesterday and picked up interest from another unnamed team, according to agent Howard Shatsky (via Twitter).

Draft Updates: Bucs, Bills, McCarron, Savage

April 29th, 2014 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

A handful of teams picking at the top of next week’s draft have expressed an openness to move down in the first round, and we can add the Buccaneers to this list. Speaking to reporters today, including Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht didn’t rule out the possibility of trading down.

“That’s definitely something we’d look into,” Licht said. “We’ve already reached out to teams. If our player isn’t there, we’d be open to conversations about moving back.”

Here are several more draft-related items for Tuesday afternoon:

Within his latest mock draft at ESPN.com, Todd McShay cites three league sources who have told him in the past week that the Bills are trying to trade up from No. 9. According to McShay, if Buffalo does make a move, it will likely be to land Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, or Greg Robinson.
Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, Alabama signal-caller A.J. McCarron suggested he’s been told he could be drafted as high as 16th in the draft, which is the spot the Cowboys currently hold (link via Andrew Gribble of AL.com).
Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage quietly made a pre-draft visit to the Jets last week, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
After previously identifying a few teams who hosted Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com names a few more, tweeting that Ward also visited the Colts, Saints, Texans, and Vikings.
LSU guard Trai Turner has worked out privately for the Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons, and Saints, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson adds that Turner also visited the Cowboys, Cardinals, Colts, and Dolphins.
Kansas wide receiver and special teams ace Josh Ford has drawn interest from the Packers, Panthers, Texans, Jets, and Chiefs, tweets Wilson.
The Giants, Jets, and Lions were among the teams to host Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle for a pre-draft visit, writes Wilson.
Finally, Wilson reports that Wisconsin defensive tackle Beau Allen had a total of eight visits and three private workouts, and tweets that Albany tackle Kadeem Williams has been informed he’s on an AFC South team’s draft board.

AFC Notes: Bills, Browns, Draft, Jaguars

April 29th, 2014 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

A new report from John Kryk of the Toronto Sun suggests that an overlooked clause in the Bills’ non-relocation agreement with Erie County and the state of New York expressly prohibits the sale of the franchise to anyone who intends to relocate the team prior to 2023. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz (via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak) report that the newly-discovered clause probably doesn’t change much for the team, since a new ownership group could say it won’t sell the franchise, then change course by 2020.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

The Browns are hoping to avoid another Alex Mack situation by reaching an agreement on a long-term extension with tight end Jordan Cameron before he hits free agency, but so far those talks haven’t progressed a whole lot, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
Free agent linebacker Zac Diles, who was with the Titans last season, is participating in the Browns‘ minicamp on a tryout basis, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. Meanwhile, as we heard yesterday, Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen are also in attendance, and the Browns figure to sign one of the two QBs after the minicamp, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that Cincinnati tight end Blake Annen visited the Texans, while Kryk tweets that McGill offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif didn’t make it to previously-planned visits with the Browns and Colts due to scheduling issues. Both Annen and Duvernay-Tardif worked out for the Eagles.
The Jaguars are eyeing mid-to-late-round linebackers, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, who says (via Twitter) that Louisville’s Preston Brown worked out for the club.

Panthers Notes: Bell, Draft, Receivers

April 29th, 2014 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers will be an intriguing team to watch in next week’s draft, considering the club lost a handful of notable contributors this offseason to retirement or free agency. A good or bad draft could be the difference between Carolina continuing to build on last year’s success or falling back to the middle of the pack in the NFC. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer has a number of notes on the team, including several tidbits from general manager Dave Gettleman. Let’s check out the highlights (all links go to Person’s Twitter)….

May 2 is the deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets, so resolution on tackle Byron Bell‘s contract situation should be coming soon. The Panthers tendered Bell at the second-round level ($2.187MM), but could lock him up to a longer-term deal.
While the Panthers brought in 26 players for pre-draft visits, the team’s draft board is “not even remotely closed to being finished,” according to Gettleman.
Gettleman identified left tackle and wide receiver as two of the Panthers’ top needs heading into the draft, and raved about the depth of those positions in this year’s draft class. The GM has given nine or 10 wideouts and offensive tackles first-round grades.
Gettleman also indicated that cornerback is a position of need for the team.
Despite the fact that it’s not one of the team’s top areas of focus, if there’s an impact defensive tackle or end available, the Panthers won’t shy away from drafting that player, says Gettleman.
Noting that one of the main takeaways of Gettleman’s comments was how much he loves the receivers in this draft, Person points out that the Panthers’ offseason has been shaped by that fact. If the club thinks it can land a solid wideout or two in the draft, its decision to let its top four 2013 receivers walk makes more sense.

Florida Rumors: Jags, Matthews, Pouncey, Fins

April 29th, 2014 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

Two Florida teams figure to have a significant impact on how next week’s top 10 draft picks play out, as the Jaguars hold the third overall pick and the Buccaneers pick seventh. This morning’s round of updates on the NFL’s Florida teams provides some insight into what direction the Jags might be leaning with that No. 3 pick, and checks in on the one Florida club not picking in the top 10 — the Dolphins. Let’s dive in….

After bringing in Jake Matthews for a visit last week, the Jaguars are believed to be targeting the Texas A&M offensive tackle with their third overall pick, a league source tells Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. While some teams may have Zack Martin or Taylor Lewan higher on their draft boards, Matthews and Greg Robinson are generally viewed as the top two tackles in this year’s class. Jacksonville’s pick is one of the most interesting to watch at the top of the draft, since a number of players, including Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, and the top quarterbacks and tackles, could be fits for the club.
The Dolphins are expected to exercise their fifth-year option on center Mike Pouncey in advance of this weekend’s deadline, reports Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Based on Pouncey’s on-field production, the $7.438MM option is a lock to be picked up, but the center’s involvement in last year’s bullying scandal complicates the decision a little.
Teams are no longer allowed to host players for pre-draft visits, but the Dolphins will be working out Wyoming receiver Robert Herron today and tomorrow, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Prospect Bradley Roby Resolves Case

April 29th, 2014 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

TUESDAY, 10:57am: Roby has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, resolving his case, as Austin Ward of ESPN.com details.

FRIDAY, 10:53am: Roby took to Twitter to defend himself against this week’s report: “I was not driving. I did not get arrested. [I was] not in a cell. No finger prints. No mugshot.” Roby also posted a picture of his breathalyzer test, showing that he was not drunk at the time of the incident.

THURSDAY, 8:52pm: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby has been arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired, tweets Rob Kunz of WBNS-10TV. The cornerback, who is widely projected as a late first-round pick, is due in court tomorrow.

The cornerback was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday. This is especially poor timing for Roby and it’s not his first run-in with the law. The Buckeyes standout was also arrested for a bar related incident last summer in Bloomington, Indiana. While the charges related to the incident were later reduced, Roby was still suspended for the first game of the 2013 season.

For Roby, the incident is yet another red flag for a prospect who is coming off of a so-so 2013 campaign. Given the gravity of the situation, it seems likely that the error in judgement will send Roby out of the first round.

Draft Notes: Bortles, Askew, Mauro, Ward

April 29th, 2014 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

As we saw last month, a handful of the more successful and shrewder NFL franchises approach free agency with the draft in mind, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. As La Canfora writes, many clubs are more inclined to pursue free agents like Darrelle Revis, DeMarcus Ware, Steve Smith, and Julius Peppers, who were released by their previous teams, since those players aren’t linked to compensatory draft picks.

This approach also explains why the Ravens, who signed Smith after he was cut by the Panthers, were willing to give up a fifth-round pick to acquire Jeremy Zuttah — given how many compensatory picks Baltimore typically lands (a league-high 41 since 1996), the team should easily replace that fifth-rounder after letting notable free agents like Arthur Jones and Michael Oher depart.

Here’s a little more from La Canfora’s piece, as well as a few other draft notes from around the league:

La Canfora makes a couple draft-related predictions, forecasting a cornerback run in the first round (sometime in the 20s), and suggesting that drafted players may sign contracts more quickly this year than usual, since teams will be eager to address that business after waiting an extra two weeks for the draft.
Peter King of TheMMQB.com doesn’t expect Blake Bortles to still be available when the Vikings pick at No. 8 next week, but he sees Bortles as an ideal fit for Minnesota and offensive coordinator Norv Turner. King identifies the Texans and Browns as a couple teams that could snatch up the UCF signal-caller before the Vikings are on the clock.
Speedy Texas A&M linebacker Nate Askew, a converted receiver, has drawn “steady interest from NFL teams,” according to Aaron Wilson of the National Post, who reports that Askew visited the Panthers and Buccaneers. Wilson adds that the linebacker, who recorded a 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash, also worked out privately for the Falcons, Eagles, and the Texans.
Wilson also provides an update on Stanford defensive lineman Josh Mauro, who visited the Giants and worked out privately for the Cowboys, Raiders, and Falcons.
We heard earlier in the month that Northern Illinois’ Jimmie Ward paid a pre-draft visit to the Ravens, but according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link), Baltimore was just one of 12 teams to host the safety. The Falcons, Panthers, and Cowboys were among the other teams Ward visited.
Arizona State defensive back Alden Darby has worked out for the Patriots, Falcons, and Chargers, and still has a workout with the Raiders on the docket, tweets Doug Haller of AZCentral.com.

Draft Notes: Bridgewater, Seamster, Pierre-Louis

April 28th, 2014 at 5:46pm CST by Ben Levine

If Teddy Bridgewater slides into the second round or later (and if he can subsequently prove an injury or illness), he should collect $5MM in tax-free money, reports Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Following this past college season, the Louisville quarterback added $5MM to his $10MM total disability injury policy while supplementing that with loss-of-value insurance worth $5MM.

Bridgewater purchased the policy for $20K when he was projected to be the number-three pick, and a source told Rovell that Bridgewater would start to collect if he falls out of the top 11. Rovell also adds that the difference between being picked third overall and 33rd overall (first pick of the second round) is about $15MM.

Here are some more draft notes, all from Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and The Baltimore Sun…

Middle Tennessee State cornerback Sammy Seamster met with the Jaguars and the Giants last week, reports Wilson. Seamster previously met with the Chiefs and Dolphins.
Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis visited the Giants, reports Wilson. The former Boston College Eagle finished last season with 108 tackles and six sacks.
Kansas State offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas auditioned for about half the NFL teams today, writes Wilson. Lucas was medically cleared two weeks ago after having sustained a foot injury. The Raiders were among the teams at his showcase today, and the Dolphins and Saints have already expressed interest.

AFC Notes: Knighton, Browns, Nicks, Pats

April 28th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

After seeing a number of defensive tackles cash in on the free agent market this year, Terrance Knighton knows he could’ve made out well if he didn’t have one year remaining on his contract with the Broncos. However, despite a modest $2.5MM 2014 salary, the man known as “Pot Roast” won’t be holding out, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.

“I’m definitely going to honor the contract,” Knighton said. “I want to get something done and I’d like to get something done here. I don’t want to bounce around. But I’m at the point now where once the season starts, I’m just strictly football.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Speaking to Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com, CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz strongly suggested that it was former Browns GM Michael Lombardi who was trying to land Jim Harbaugh for the Cleveland coaching job.
Meanwhile, Lombardi’s replacement, Ray Farmer spoke to reporters today and made a handful of interest comments about the draft’s top prospects as well as the possibility of trading up or down. The Browns general manager expects to speak to all 31 NFL GMs in the week leading up to the draft, and about eight or 10 GMs in the 24 hours before draft night. Marla Ridenour of Ohio.com has the quotes from Farmer.
As he tells Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, Ahmad Bradshaw did his part in recruiting former Giants teammate Hakeem Nicks to the Colts last month. “I went to his house a week before (his signing) and was just telling him how great it is over here,” Bradshaw said. “I think it kind of helped his decision. I was really encouraging him to come over.”
Recent Patriots signees Darrelle Revis, Julian Edelman, and Brandon LaFell all had deferred payments on their signing bonuses that won’t be paid out until March 31, 2015, writes Field Yates of ESPN.com. In total, more than $5MM of the trio’s $18MM in signing bonus money will be paid out next year. Yates also notes that Josh Hull‘s contract with the Pats is a minimum-salary deal with no bonuses.

King’s Latest: Falcons, Manziel, Rams, Mack

April 28th, 2014 at 1:14pm CST by Luke Adams

With teams reluctant to reveal any of their plans, the weeks leading up to the draft are often filled with a mix of real and false information on teams’ preferences and players’ stocks. Peter King of TheMMQB.com points to a Johnny Manziel rumor as one example of potential misinformation, noting that he heard from one reliable source that the Eagles are considering moving up to draft the young quarterback. However, King goes on to say that a second source, who would know even better, insists it “absolutely won’t happen.”

While it seems there’s nothing to that Manziel rumor, King cites it as an instance where a team may be trying to make a “misdirection play” and passes along several more draft-related updates that he considers to be more reliable. Here are the highlights from the latest MMQB column:

“Momentum is gaining” for the Falcons to trade up to No. 1 to draft Jadeveon Clowney, according to King, who estimates the odds of a deal are about 40% at this point. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also reported today that the Falcons are exploring trade options, though he notes that the club hasn’t engaged in negotiations with the Texans for that first overall pick yet. In King’s view, it would take at least Atlanta’s 2015 first-rounder in addition to this year’s No. 6 overall pick to get Houston’s attention.
It’s a safe bet that Rams GM Les Snead will trade at least one of his two first-round picks, if not both, says King. The team currently holds the second and 13th overall selections.
An offensive coordinator whose team likely won’t be drafting a quarterback early, to King: “If I had the first pick in the draft, I’d take Manziel.”
King spoke to Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, who is pushing to be the first player off the board and would love to play with J.J. Watt in Houston. Although Mack hasn’t yet gotten a sense of where he’ll be selected, King would be surprised if the linebacker lasted more than six picks.
King passes along the top 10 players on one team’s draft board, though he’s not sure of the order: Clowney, Mack, Manziel, Blake Bortles, Aaron Donald, Sammy Watkins, and four offensive tackles (Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, Zack Martin, Taylor Lewan).
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio could be a top target for the Panthers in the second round if he’s still on the board at No. 60, says King.

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors