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2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

NFC Notes: Rams, Bucs, Eagles, Packers

April 9th, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk, Seahawks tight end Zach Miller suggested he had been willing to accept a pay cut this offseason because he was open to doing whatever it took to remain in Seattle. Miller’s restructure reduced the veteran’s overall compensation for 2014 and 2015.

“I’ve been around long enough that I know the business of the NFL,” Miller said. “It’s something you hear rumors about. You never know until you hear from the horse’s mouth. I’m just happy to be back. Love to be on this team, love playing with these guys. For me, it never was a question of being anywhere else, I wanted to be here.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • After he visits the Jaguars, Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins will meet with the Rams, then has a private workout lined up with St. Louis on April 18, says ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers are hosting Marshall left tackle Garrett Scott for a pre-draft visit today, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, the more noteworthy visit for the Bucs looks like it’ll come tomorrow, as Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune says (via Twitter) Johnny Manziel will be in town to meet with the club.
  • USC receiver Marqise Lee has met with the Eagles multiple times already, and will pay an official visit to the team this week, tweets Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.
  • According to Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com, the Packers maintain interest in a few of their unsigned free agents, including tight end Jermichael Finley and defensive linemen Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett.

Jaguars Notes: Mack, Watkins, Clowney

April 9th, 2014 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Jaguars are still contemplating extending an offer sheet to free agent center Alex Mack, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Because Mack is the Browns’ transition player, the team would have the opportunity to match a Jacksonville offer, and as Kabot details, it sounds like team owner Jimmy Haslam is leaning that way.

“We remain optimistic that Alex Mack will be a Cleveland Brown for a long time,” Haslam said yesterday. “We want him to be. I think we’ve made it very clear that he’s the kind of person, the kind of player we want in our organization.”

As the Jaguars continue to mull an offer for the standout center, we’ll check in on one idea for how they could structure their offer, along with a few more draft-related updates out of Jacksonville…

  • Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com spoke to several agents and executives to try to get an idea of how the Jaguars could structure a contract for Mack that would make the Browns reluctant to match it. The best suggestion he heard involved a two-year deal with a base salary of $10MM for year one, and $1MM for year two, with a $15MM roster bonus early in that second year.
  • The specific dollar figures on that potential Mack offer aren’t as important as the structure — the Jags could conceivably restructure the deal in the second year to convert the big roster bonus into a more cap-friendly signing bonus, and the Browns would be reluctant to match since they’d be paying a premium annual salary for just two years of Mack. Additionally, if Cleveland were to match such an offer and then release Mack before his second-year roster bonus, the team wouldn’t receive future compensation when he signed elsewhere.
  • It’s a big week of pre-draft visits for the Jaguars, and we can add a few more notable names to the list of prospects who will be in town. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins will visit the Jags tomorrow, while Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets that South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will arrive in town tonight.
  • More pre-draft visits in Jacksonville: According to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports (via Twitter), Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans is visiting the Jaguars today, and O’Halloran reports (via Twitter) that Alabama signal-caller A.J. McCarron will meet with the club tomorrow.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles

April 9th, 2014 at 9:42am CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on the NFC East, where we have Wednesday morning updates on three of the division’s four teams….

  • The Rams are said to be considering the possibility of trading the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, but don’t count the Cowboys among the interested teams, says Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com. According to Watkins, while the Cowboys would be open to moving up for the right player, jumping from 16th to second overall is probably too big a leap.
  • Former Ravens fourth-round pick Christian Thompson will work out for the Redskins today, reports Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. The 23-year-old safety, who was suspended for the first four games of 2013 for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, didn’t see any regular-season action last season and was released by Baltimore in October.
  • Given how many snaps DeMeco Ryans played last season for the Eagles, the team may look to reduce his workload a little in 2014 by drafting an inside linebacker who excels in pass coverage, suggests Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com.
  • Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News examines three issues facing the Eagles‘ offense now that DeSean Jackson is no longer in the mix.

NFC Notes: Cardinals, Finley, Garoppolo

April 8th, 2014 at 8:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agency has hit a lull for the Cardinals but it isn’t over yet, writes Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Last year was Steve Keim‘s first as a GM, and he learned the value of patience with free agency. Keim signed four players who became starters after this date a year ago, Somers notes. Here’s more out of the NFC..

  • Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link) spoke with Packers free agent tight end Jermichael Finley who says he’s expecting to get an X-ray on his neck Thursday and an MRI within two weeks. The plan is to exchange the feedback on his latest films with interested teams.
  • The Buccaneers visited with Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo today, tweets Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune.
  • Standout quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is scheduled to travel and make his visit with the Vikings on April 14th and 15th, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com.
  • Texas Christian cornerback Jason Verrett, a potential first-rounder, is slated to visit with the Cardinals tomorrow and Thursday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport adds that the Verrett is doing well post-shoulder surgery.
  • LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger met/will meet with the Raiders and Patriots today and will meet with the Vikings tomorrow, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. Mettenberger will throw tomorrow too.

NFC South Notes: Johnson, Falcons, Saints

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

Don’t expect the Falcons to bid for free agent running back Chris Johnson, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. The secondary was a more pressing concern for Atlanta than tailback, Marvez says. Of course, the Falcons have addressed the cornerback position by signing Josh Wilson earlier today. Here’s tonight’s look at the NFC South..

  • Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) adds that in addition to signing Wilson earlier today, the Falcons also auditioned tailback Greg Jones. Jones would represent a much less costly option at running back than Johnson.
  • USC wide receiver Marqise Lee is visiting the Saints, according to safety Kenny Vaccaro (on Twitter). Lee may not be on the board when New Orleans drafts at No. 27, so landing him might mean trading up.
  • The Cowboys and Saints are set to audition Baylor cornerback Demetri Goodson, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The former Gonzaga point guard will visit Dallas on Friday and New Orleans next week, with at least three other teams showing interest.

Redskins Notes: Mesko, Jackson, Latimer

April 8th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins signed Blake Clingan to a contract earlier today, giving the team a pair of punters on the roster — Clingan joins Robert Malone, who was signed following the end of the regular season. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), former Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko auditioned for Washington as well, but unless the club plans on a three-way competition in camp, it looks like Mesko’s workout with the Redskins won’t result in a contract.

Let’s round up a few more items out of Washington….

  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden suggested that when someone like DeSean Jackson becomes available, the team wants to do “whatever it takes” to land that player.
  • Asked in the same interview whether the club is done signing free agents, Gruden indicated the Redskins are focused primarily on the draft unless someone else piques their interest in free agency.
  • The Redskins are scheduling a pre-draft visit with Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). According to Wilson (via Twitter), Latimer will hold a private workout day later this month, and at least 17 NFL teams have expressed interest in attending.
  • Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that Rob Jackson‘s new one-year contract with Washington is a minimum salary benefit deal that includes a $65K signing bonus.

NFC North Notes: Watkins, Lions, Bears, Vikes

April 8th, 2014 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lions, who already have the NFL’s top receiver in Calvin Johnson, have been frequently linked to the draft’s No. 1 wideout over the last several weeks and months, and today the team finally hosted Clemson’s Sammy Watkins on an official pre-draft visit, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Watkins is expected to be off the board by the time the Lions’ No. 10 pick arrives, so if the club really wants to land him, a trade will probably be required. Today’s visit could go a long way toward the Lions deciding whether or not to pursue such a move.

Here are several more items on the Lions and a couple of their NFC North rivals:

  • Birkett adds (via Twitter) that the Lions are also setting up a visit for Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who has several other meetings on his schedule, as we heard earlier in the afternoon.
  • New Detroit backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky is hoping to alleviate the concerns of Lions fans who aren’t happy to see him back on the roster after his last stint with the team included an 0-16 season. “I get the fears maybe with obviously fans and whatnot,” Orlovsky said, according to Birkett. “But the organization knows what they’re doing, and I know I’m a good player, and I certainly hope to just be part of changing some of that past, whether it’s directly or indirectly.”
  • Veteran defensive back Aaron Ross had a tryout with the Lions today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
  • The Bears‘ workout with Josh Freeman was reported yesterday, as were the auditions for running backs Nate Eachus, Javon Ringer, and Phillip Tanner but those weren’t the only players to work out for the team. As Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post details, the club also auditioned quarterback Adam Weber and tight end Matthew Mulligan.
  • If veteran long snapper Patrick Mannelly doesn’t re-sign with the Bears, he’ll likely retire, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
  • The Vikings will meet privately with quarterback Zach Mettenberger following his Pro Day, a source tells Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune (Twitter link). The club was said last week to have real interest in the LSU signal-caller.
  • Cassius Vaughn‘s one-year pact with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit contract with no signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson.

AFC Notes: Titans, Ravens, Draft Visits

April 8th, 2014 at 3:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Titans edge defender Kamerion Wimbley agreed earlier this week to restructure his contract, and Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has the breakdown of what Wimbley’s new deal looks like. However, as Fitzgerald details, Wimbley wasn’t the only Titan to rework his contract this week. Tight end Craig Stevens also has a new 2014 cap figure, reducing his overall base salary by $1.7MM in exchange for a $500K guarantee. While Stevens’ 2015 salary remains unchanged, his ’14 cap number is now only about $2.69MM.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Ravens haven’t had an above-average, long-term solution at right tackle for a number of years, and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun believes the team would be wise to address the position with its first-round pick this year. That’s one of a handful of topics Preston addresses in his Ravens notebook, which also touches on the club’s recent tight end and running back signings.
  • The Bills are eyeing a pair of offensive line prospects today, hosting Mississippi State’s Charles Siddoway for a pre-draft visit (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com) and having dinner tonight with Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 AM).
  • Having already met with the Steelers, Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard now has visits lined up with the Jets, Bengals, and Rams, as he said today on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
  • Another cornerback, Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller, also has a handful of visits scheduled with AFC teams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Fuller will meet with the Colts, Bengals, Raiders, Jets, Broncos, and Bears, says Wilson.
  • The Chargers will work out Troy quarterback Deon Anthony on April 22, reports Wilson at the National Football Post.
  • More from Wilson (via Twitter): The Patriots are working out Boise State’s Geraldo Boldewijn, Matt Paradis, and Charles Leno on Wednesday, while Virginia-Lynchburg cornerback Keith Lewis visited the Raiders and has a private workout lined up next week with the Chiefs (Twitter link).

South Notes: Bucs, Draft Visits, Jaguars

April 8th, 2014 at 11:05am CST by Luke Adams

We’ve already checked in on a pair of AFC South teams this morning, with posts on the Titans and Jaguars, but there are a few more items related to teams in that division and its NFC counterpart, so let’s dive right in….

  • As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times details, wide receiver Mike Williams is determined to prove that the Buccaneers made a mistake by trading him to the Bills, and claims that not all of the stories about his off-field incidents are actually true.
  • The torn ACL suffered by Clemson offensive lineman Brandon Thomas occurred during a private workout with the Saints, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • According to Wilson (Twitter links), Lavelle Hawkins and Major Wright both received minimum salaries from the Buccaneers, though Hawkins didn’t get a signing bonus, while Wright got one worth $65K.
  • Ball State cornerback Jeff Garrett will work out for the Colts on April 16, tweets Wilson.
  • We rounded up reports this morning of several notable prospects who are visiting the Jaguars, but we didn’t quite get them all. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets that the team is also hosting BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy and Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt while Ed Werder of ESPN.com says (via Twitter) Blake Bortles is due to visit on Thursday.

Titans Notes: Draft Visits, Locker, RBs

April 8th, 2014 at 9:42am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this morning, we heard that UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr has a visit scheduled this week with the Jaguars. However, before he heads to Jacksonville, Barr will visit with the Titans today, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link). The young linebacker is one of several prospects the Titans are hosting, so let’s turn to Wyatt for a few more updates on the club….

  • Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan and Colorado State linebacker Shaquil Barrett recently paid pre-draft visits to the Titans, says Wyatt (Twitter links).
  • Tennessee offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James also has a visit lined up with the Titans this week, according to Wyatt (via Twitter).
  • As he continues to recover from foot surgery, Jake Locker recognizes that he’s entering a make-or-break season in Tennessee (link via Wyatt). The Titans have no plans to exercise Locker’s fifth-year option, so the signal-caller will have to prove with his play on the field in 2014 that the club doesn’t need to pursue potential replacements.
  • Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed that his team is still on the lookout for running back help, as Wyatt details. “We are not at our number that we’d carry into training camp,” Whisenhunt said. “So we are going to look at … having enough players at that position.” Given the lack of notable running backs left on the free agent market, it may be a position the club addresses in the draft.
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