2014 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

NFC South Rumors: Bailey, Falcons, Panthers, Boyd

April 22nd, 2014 at 9:02pm CST by Zachary Links

New Saints cornerback Champ Bailey says he’s not motivated by doubters, but by the desire to win, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “Well, that comes with the business,” Bailey said of the skeptics. “People are always gonna doubt you. You have one hiccup, and you know, you’re just not the same. My thing is just to go out there and play the best I can.” Bailey struggled last season with the Broncos, largely due to a foot injury that sidelined him for eleven games. More out of the NFC South..

There’s been a lot of talk about how the Falcons will fill the void left by the retirement of Tony Gonzalez, but Matt Ryan says he has lots of confidence in second-year tight end Levine Toilolo, writes ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Toilolo, a former fourth-round pick from Stanford, had just 11 catches for 55 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie in spot duty behind Gonzalez. But Gonzalez’s limited practice time during the 2013 campaign allowed Toilolo to get plenty of first-team reps in practice.
The Panthers have worked out Fresno State cornerback L.J. Jones, a source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). The 5’10”, 201-pound senior saw his final season cut short by a knee injury. Jones figures to be a late-round prospect.
Former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has had private workouts with the Panthers, a source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Boyd has also auditioned for the Buccaneers, Rams, Patriots, and Jets.

West Rumors: Baldwin, Tuck, Jones, Chargers

April 22nd, 2014 at 8:32pm CST by Zachary Links

Doug Baldwin told 710 ESPN in Seattle that he has not yet signed his second-round tender, but he is working out with the Seahawks at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (on Twitter). Seattle extended the one-year, $2.187MM tender to Baldwin back in early March. Baldwin is coming off of a solid season in which he hauled in 50 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Baldwin added that he still hopes to work out a long-term pact with the team, tweets Terry Blount of ESPN.com. More from the AFC and NFC West..

Justin Tuck knows the Raiders‘ history and reputation, but he says he’s ready to help turn it all around, writes ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez. “A lot of people always say you go to Oakland for your career to die. I’m not looking at it like that. I’m looking at it like this is an opportunity to revive a storied franchise in a city with a great fan base behind this football team. The energy and excitement around this football team should be good. I’m excited about it,” said the veteran.
New Raiders receiver James Jones spoke glowingly of his relationship with GM Reggie McKenzie when they were together in Green Bay, writes Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link).
Former Ohio State cornerback Brandon Roby is en route to San Diego to visit the Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter).
The 49ers hosted three draft prospects today, according to Adam Caplan of NFL.com (on Twitter). Arizona State outside linebacker Carl Bradford, University of South Florida defensive end Aaron Lynch, and defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt of Notre Dame all flew out to San Francisco.

Record 30 Prospects Invited To Draft

April 22nd, 2014 at 7:03pm CST by Zachary Links

As Brady Quinn can attest to, being invited to attend the NFL Draft in New York doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be a top pick. However, it can be a pretty decent indicator of which players are trending upwards and which ones could be in for a tumble on draft day. Today, the NFL announced that a record 30 players will be in attendance for the 2014 draft:

Odell Beckham, Jr. WR Louisiana State
Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama
Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Kony Ealy DE Missouri
Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
Ra’Shede Hageman DT Minnesota
Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State
Cyrus Kouandjio T Alabama
Cody Latimer WR Indiana
Marqise Lee WR Southern California
Taylor Lewan T Michigan
Khalil Mack LB Buffalo
Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
Jake Matthews T Texas A&M
Jordan Matthews WR Vanderbilt
Morgan Moses T Virginia
C.J. Mosley LB Alabama
Calvin Pryor S Louisville
Greg Robinson T Auburn
Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State
Jason Verrett CB Texas Christian
Sammy Watkins WR Clemson

It should also be noted that not all of these players are being pegged by the league office as top picks – some are likely Day 2 selections. The list of 30 includes four quarterbacks in Bortles, Bridgewater, Garoppolo, and Manziel and zero running backs. Notables not making the trip to New York include Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr, and Auburn defensive end Dee Ford, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Extra Points: Coleman, Ingram, Costa, Spiller

April 22nd, 2014 at 4:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Kurt Coleman, who signed with the Vikings on a one-year, $900K contract that doesn’t include any guaranteed money, says he turned down offers featuring guaranteed money from two other teams, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. According to the 25-year-old safety, both the Colts and Jets offered some guaranteed money, though he didn’t specify how much. One of those two clubs also offered a higher salary than the $900K he got from Minnesota, Coleman tells Tomasson.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NFL:

Saints running back Mark Ingram hasn’t heard from the club one way or the other on whether his 2015 option will be picked up, as Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune outlines. “I’m not sure if they will pick up the fifth-year option,” Ingram said. “I’m just working one day at a time and I’m just glad I’m on a team that’s a championship contender.”
Phil Costa, who unexpectedly retired this week after signing with the Colts last month, issued a statement this morning through his agent, explaining his decision (link via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News). According to Costa, the “day-to-day physical rigor” of the NFL has taken a toll on his body, and contributed to his decision. Although Costa’s deal included $450K in guaranteed money, the Colts won’t be on the hook for that money, according to Mike Chapell of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link), who says the agreement included default language.
In an informative piece at OverTheCap.com, Jason Fitzgerald explains how workout bonuses function, and provides a breakdown of the team-by-team amounts for those bonuses this year.
C.J. Spiller, who is eligible for free agency in 2015, spoke to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com about his upcoming contract year, suggesting he’ll talk to former teammates Jairus Byrd about the process. Spiller, who will have to hire an agent before any negotiations begin with the Bills, indicated he’d be open to a long-term deal to remain in Buffalo.
Baylor cornerback Demitri Goodson should come off the board a little higher than expected in next month’s draft, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, tweeting that the third or fourth round sounds about right for Goodson.
Kyle Williams‘ minimum salary benefit contract from the Chiefs includes a $10K workout bonus and will count for $580K against the team’s camp, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Poll: Which QB Should Be Drafted First?

April 22nd, 2014 at 3:43pm CST by Luke Adams

With so many teams near the top of the draft lacking a long-term answer at the quarterback position, it seemed as if we might see a run on signal-callers early in the evening on May 8, with Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, and Teddy Bridgewater all coming off the board within the first few picks.

In recent weeks though, the perception of this year’s quarterback class has shifted, with the general consensus now suggesting there are significant question marks about every QB in the class. Some players, like Pitt’s Tom Savage, have seen their stocks rise, but the players at or near the top of the board, like Manziel and Bridgewater, are no longer viewed as locks to be selected in the top 10, or – in Bridgewater’s case – even the top 25.

A piece from Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com this week suggested that Bortles is considered the quarterback most likely to come off the board first. The UCF product may not have the upside of others in the draft, but he’s considered a safer pick than most of his fellow signal-callers. In a league where the job security of coaches and general managers is often directly tied to the performance of first-round quarterbacks, opting for the choice with the least risk could look awfully appealing on draft night.

Still, with the draft a little over two weeks away, we still have no idea where those big three will land, and guys like Savage, Derek Carr, A.J. McCarron, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Zach Mettenberger are wild cards as well. What do you think? Which of these guys would you draft if all of them were still on the board and you needed a quarterback? Which QB should be drafted first?

AFC North Notes: Burfict, McCarron, Steelers

April 22nd, 2014 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

When longtime Bengals defensive leader Domata Peko spoke yesterday about the teammates he hopes the team locks up to long-term deals, he identified Vontaze Burfict in addition Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. As important as Dalton and Green are to Cincinnati’s offense, you could make a strong case that Burfict is just as integral on the other side of the ball. Last season, the 23-year-old earned his first Pro Bowl nod, racking up an impressive 177 tackles to go along with three sacks, two fumbles, and an interception.

Now, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Bengals are indeed engaged in extension talks with Burfict, who is in line for a $570K salary in 2014. The Arizona State product is eligible for restricted free agency after the ’14 season, which means the Bengals would still be in the driver’s seat for re-signing him, but presumably the club would prefer not to let it get to that point.

Let’s check out a few other items from out of the AFC North….

Following A.J. McCarron’s visit with the Browns today, the Alabama quarterback will continue a mini-AFC North tour by heading to Baltimore to see the Ravens on Wednesday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). We heard earlier today that McCarron would privately work out for the Rams next week.
The Steelers are hosting Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell for a pre-draft visit today, according to ESPN.com’s Scott Brown (via Twitter). Cockrell projects as a likely mid- to late-round pick.
Minnesota safety Brock Vereen, the brother of Shane Vereen, has met with a number of teams in advance of the draft, including the Steelers and Bengals, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The Falcons, Vikings, Colts, Panthers and Jaguars have also met with the younger Vereen.

Draft Visits: Matthews, Colts, Aikens, Bills

April 22nd, 2014 at 12:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Texans continue to do their due diligence on every player near the top of the draft board, as they’re set to host Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews for a visit this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that the Texans’ myriad pre-draft visits with top prospects could be designed to keep teams guessing about which player Houston actually wants, laying the groundwork to potentially trade down from No. 1. Meanwhile, Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that Matthews will visit the Falcons before heading to Houston later in the week for his Texans visit.

Here are a few more miscellaneous draft notes, as we inch a little closer to May 8:

After meeting with the Dolphins on Monday, Clemson wideout Martavis Bryant is visiting the Colts today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson also adds the Panthers and Steelers to the list of clubs that have hosted Bryant for visits so far.
In a separate NFP report, Wilson provides an update on Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens, who is visiting the Colts, Packers, and Bengals this week. According to Wilson, in addition to previously reported visits and workouts, Aikens has also visited the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, and worked out for Cowboys and Jaguars.
According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago (via Twitter), the Bears traveled to Los Angeles late last month to conduct a private workout with UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.
The Bills hosted Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans, USC offensive lineman Marcus Martin and Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon today, says Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton has visited with a long list of teams, including the Patriots, Cardinals, Rams, and Lions, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan.
Auburn cornerback Chris Davis worked out for the Falcons, Colts, and Patriots, among other clubs, according to Caplan (via Twitter).

NFC Notes: Will Hill, Julio Jones, Vikings

April 22nd, 2014 at 10:50am CST by Luke Adams

We rounded up several NFC West notes earlier this morning, but there are plenty more items to pass along from around the rest of the conference. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….

Giants safety Will Hill is facing another drug-related suspension and plans to appeal the results in hopes of avoiding a lengthy absence. However, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News writes, Hill is likely “done” with the Giants regardless of the appeal’s outcome, since the club is “livid” at the 24-year-old’s continued drug issues.
Speaking to reporters today, including ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter link), Falcons head coach Mike Smith indicated Julio Jones “is going to be an Atlanta Falcon for a long, long, long time.” Smith didn’t specifically address Jones’ fifth-year option, but I imagine the only way that won’t be exercised is if Atlanta reaches a longer-term agreement with Jones before the May 3 deadline.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds offensive tackle Greg Robinson to the list of prospects visiting the Falcons this week.
A source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) that Blake Bortles won’t be visiting or working out for the Vikings. It’s hard to know how to interpret the report — if it’s Bortles’ decision, he may be confident he’ll be drafted before the Vikings pick at No. 8. If it’s Minnesota’s decision, perhaps the team simply knows all it needs to after watching Bortles and meeting with him at his Pro Day.
Speaking of Vikings quarterbacks, Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune, with the help of cap expert Joel Corry, explains why the club’s decision on Christian Ponder‘s fifth-year option isn’t as simple as it may seem on the surface.
We heard yesterday that Kareem Martin has visited the Vikings, and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) says the Cowboys and Panthers will also be hosting the UNC defensive end.
The Lions invited five tryout players to minicamp, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter): Kevin Matthews (C), Sherman Carter (G), Josh Jenkins (G), Cordaro Howard (T), and Jordan Thompson (TE).

NFC West Links: McCarron, Rams, Jacobs

April 22nd, 2014 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Tuesday morning items on NFC West clubs….

Although teams and draft prospects must complete pre-draft visits by Sunday, that doesn’t preclude clubs from working players out after that date. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), the Rams will privately work out Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron in Tuscaloosa on May 1, one week before the draft.
In his latest piece at TheMMQB.com, Peter King examines the Rams‘ No. 2 pick, suggesting that the team would be better off passing on Jadeveon Clowney (if he’s available) and selecting an offensive player like Sammy Watkins, Greg Robinson, or Jake Matthews instead. In King’s view, the Rams need to fortify their offense more than they need to turn their formidable pass-rushing duo (Chris Long and Robert Quinn) into a formidable pass-rushing trio.
McNesse State tight end Nic Jacobs has visits lined up with two NFC West clubs, the 49ers and Cardinals, writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com. As Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee notes, Jacobs is the latest tight end to visit the Niners, who have hosted 13 prospects by Barrows’ count.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com gives the Seahawks a grade of C+ for their moves in free agency, questioning the team’s decision not to retain offensive lineman Breno Giacomini.

AFC East Notes: Bills, Ebron, Dolphins, Jets

April 22nd, 2014 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

Over the weekend, we heard that former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly has interest in being part of the team’s next ownership group, but Kelly isn’t the only Bills legend who wants to play a role in keeping the franchise in Buffalo. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details, a group called the Buffalo Fan Alliance announced on Monday that former Bills wide receiver Andre Reed and kicker Steve Christie are members of its advisory board. The group’s goal is to raise between $100-170MM, which would serve as interest-free loan to the Bills’ new ownership group as a way to entice the new owners to keep the club in Buffalo.

Florio expresses some skepticism about how practical the idea really is and makes some good points, but at the very least, having big names like Kelly, Reed, and Christie involved in the process can’t be a bad thing for Buffalo football fans.

Here’s more from around the AFC East:

We heard yesterday that UNC tight end Eric Ebron believes the Lions are a potential landing spot for him, and in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, he suggested that the Bills fall into that category as well. “Those are the two teams that I believe are the highest upon me,” Ebron said, according to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. “Now are they telling the same things they are telling me to everybody else? I don’t know. But from my perspective and my point of view, those are the two teams that I believe if they could have signed me that day would have.”
Alex Marvez of Fox Sports suggests (via Twitter) that free agent offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, who drew some interest from the Dolphins early in free agency, is a name to continue monitoring as a possible Miami target.
Jamar Taylor, who was selected by the Dolphins out of Boise State in the second round of the 2013 draft, told Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman last week that there were times during his injury-plagued rookie season when he was seriously considering retiring from the NFL. However, he worked through that adversity and is looking forward to turning “a lot of heads” in his second season.
The Jets are hosting Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas for a pre-draft visit today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors