HEADLINES

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Jets Notes: Cumberland, Ebron, Evans

February 19th, 2014 at 7:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets and Austin Howard are working on a new deal and the two sides hope to have something ironed out before the start of free agency on March 11th. Howard could be in line for a deal similar to the one signed by Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer a year ago which would mean something in the range of a four-year contract worth about $17MM that could balloon to $27MM due to various incentives. The Jets could also dip into the coffers to take care of another member of Gang Green. More out of the Meadowlands..

  • The Jets are in discussions to bring back unrestricted free agent tight end Jeff Cumberland, team sources tell Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Cumberland’s playing time was curtailed early last season by Kellen Winslow‘s presence but the organization is bullish on Cumberland’s ability to take the next step in 2014, his fifth season.
  • Within the article, Mehta also runs down possible draft day targets for the Jets as the combine approaches. North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, and Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin are among the players highlighted.
  • Big changes loom for the Jets as the combine approaches, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. The Jets currently have about $20MM in cap space and can free up another $25.5MM by saying goodbye to former franchise stars Mark Sanchez, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie.

AFC Notes: Monroe, Texans, Jaguars, Talib

February 19th, 2014 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard earlier this week, re-signing offensive tackle Eugene Monroe will be a priority for the Ravens this offseason. However, the team shouldn’t expect to bring back Monroe at a discount. As Chris Wesseling of NFL.com details, Monroe recently told WNST-AM in Baltimore that he intends to maximize his value — either on the open market in March, or before that, if he and the Ravens can reach an agreement.

“Everyone in the business should understand – even coaches when they’re going through their deals negotiating contracts – you have to get the absolute best because you put forth your best effort all the time, every single day in this league,” Monroe said. “So there are definitely no discounts, and you have to have you and your family’s best interests at heart in terms of negotiating these deals.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • League sources “increasingly believe” that the Texans are leaning toward Johnny Manziel with the first overall pick, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, who hears that the team has been “quietly falling in lust” with the Texas A&M signal-caller. With over two and a half months still to go until the draft though, nothing is close to being set in stone yet.
  • Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com spoke extensively to Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell about his team’s future, and the piece produced several noteworthy quotes from the Jacksonville GM. Among them: Caldwell suggested he’d rather deal with the backlash for not drafting a quarterback third overall in May than pick the wrong guy.
  • While it’s still possible that the Redskins will make a play for free-agent-to-be Aqib Talib, their new contract agreement with DeAngelo Hall reduces their need for a cornerback, which could be good news for the Patriots, as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes.
  • Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explores whether Eric Decker might be for a fit for the Chargers, but concludes that the free agent receiver figures to be too expensive for San Diego.
  • In an open letter to Joe Philbin, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald questions why the Dolphins’ head coach has been silent throughout the offseason, even since the publication of the Ted Wells report.

Cowboys Win Coin Flip For No. 16 Pick

February 19th, 2014 at 7:39am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL flipped a coin today to determine whether the Cowboys or Ravens would pick 16th overall in the 2014 draft, and Dallas won the flip, according to director of NFC communications Randall Liu (via Twitter). As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun notes (via Twitter), the coin flip had been necessary because both teams finished the season with the same record (8-8) and opponents’ winning percentage (.484).

With the Cowboys locked in at No. 16 and the Ravens at No. 17, the first round order has now been set. Here’s the complete list:

  1. Houston Texans
  2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Cleveland Browns
  5. Oakland Raiders
  6. Atlanta Falcons
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  8. Minnesota Vikings
  9. Buffalo Bills
  10. Detroit Lions
  11. Tennessee Titans
  12. New York Giants
  13. St. Louis Rams
  14. Chicago Bears
  15. Pittsburgh Steelers
  16. Dallas Cowboys
  17. Baltimore Ravens
  18. New York Jets
  19. Miami Dolphins
  20. Arizona Cardinals
  21. Green Bay Packers
  22. Philadelphia Eagles
  23. Kansas City Chiefs
  24. Cincinnati Bengals
  25. San Diego Chargers
  26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis)
  27. New Orleans Saints
  28. Carolina Panthers
  29. New England Patriots
  30. San Francisco 49ers
  31. Denver Broncos
  32. Seattle Seahawks

Draft Notes: Browns, Rams, Manziel, Ravens

February 18th, 2014 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

On a conference call with reporters today, draft expert Mike Mayock of NFL Network said 2014’s draft class is the deepest in the last 10 years, adding that having a top-20 pick this year is the equivalent of having a top-10 pick in 2013 (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune). Teams searching for receiving help are in especially good position, since this looks like the best WR class in years, according to Mayock (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald). Here are a few more draft-related links, as the 2014 combine nears:

  • While Mayock has discussed several specific players and their stocks during his conference call, one of his more interesting comments was about the depth in the draft at offensive tackle and cornerback. As Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets, Mayock believes there will be quality tackles and cornerbacks available in the third or fourth rounds, perhaps even players who could start for NFL teams.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has published his initial estimates for the rookie pool amounts available to all 32 NFL teams this May. The Browns and Rams, each armed with an extra first-round pick, lead the way with over $9MM+ in projected first-year bonus money.
  • Having met extensively with top prospect Johnny Manziel, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle came away extremely impressed with the Texas A&M quarterback, and believes Manziel would be the Texans’ best choice for the first overall pick.
  • The Ravens will be eyeing running backs in the draft, and Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com suggests a few names that should be on the club’s radar.
  • The NFL has released the schedule detailing when many of the league’s head coaches and general managers will be speaking to the media this weekend at the combine. You can find the specifics right here.

Draft Notes: Underclassmen, Mayock, QBs

February 17th, 2014 at 4:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL scouting combine begins this weekend, and young players will make their presence felt, writes John Clayton of ESPN.com. An unprecedented 98 underclassmen declared for this year’s draft. Clayton chalks up this trend to the language in the new collective bargaining agreement which sets precise slotting values for each selection. While the youth movement will deepen the talent pool, negative effects will inevitably be felt in future drafts, where gifted players may be hard to find.

More draft notes:

  • Within the same piece, Clayton notes that the Texans, Jaguars, and Browns will all consider trading to lower slots within the top ten selections. He also pegs Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who excelled at the Senior Bowl, as someone to watch.
  • Clayton continues, writing that impressive workout numbers are especially critical for pass-rushers like Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack, both of whom could solidify their top ten draft statuses with good combines.
  • Draft guru Mike Mayock of the NFL Network released his positional rankings, and there weren’t too many surprises. Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater got the nod as the top quarterback over Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles, while Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde comes in as Mayock’s top running back.
  • The Seahawks and 49ers displayed the advantages of having a young, inexpensive quarterback, as both teams were able to fill in their rosters with money that otherwise would have been spent on a QB, writes Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Seifert highlights several quarterbacks who could fill the same role, with Garoppolo, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas among them.

Draft Notes: Farmer, Cowboys, Packers

February 16th, 2014 at 11:11pm CST by David Kipke

As we continue to approach the 2014 NFL Draft, various teams have begun to discuss information regarding their draft preferences. According to FanNation, new Browns GM Ray Farmer has stated that he knows which quarterback he wants to draft in May — but he’s not willing to share. Farmer has final say over the 53-man roster, and it remains to be seen whether or not he would be open to changing his mind should coach Mike Pettine or offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan prefer a different quarterback.

Here are a few more tidbits surrounding teams and their draft preferences…

  • Assistant director of player personnel for the Cowboys, Will McClay, spoke with KRLD-FM 105.3 sports radio and disclosed his thoughts that having “good football character” is an important quality in a draft prospect.
  • The Dallas Morning News’ SportsDayDFW took a look at players that the team might be interested in drafting in the first round. The outlet also covers what 10 offensive lineman, wide receivers, quarterbacks, and linebackers that it thinks that the Cowboys will be most interested in drafting this May.
  • Weston Hodkiewicz of Press-Gazette Media writes that after a series of whiffs by the front office on high draft picks in recent years, the Packers‘ 2014 first round pick will be the team’s most important draft pick in recent history. Hodkiewicz highlighted Alabama junior safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama linebacker C. J. Mosley, and North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron as potential Packer first-round targets.

Manziel Says Texans Would Regret Passing On Him

February 14th, 2014 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has maintained for several weeks that the Texans will use the first overall pick in the 2014 draft to select a quarterback, and for his latest Chronicle piece, he got a chance to speak extensively with one of the top candidates for that No. 1 pick: Johnny Manziel. The former Heisman winner expressed in strong terms that he hoped and expected to be picked No. 1 by the Texans in May. Here are a few notable quotes from Manziel, as detailed by McClain:

On how he wants the Texans to feel about drafting him:
“I want them to say absolutely, without a doubt, with 100% certainty, that I’m who they want. I want everybody from the janitor at Reliant Stadium to the front office executive assistant all the way up to (owner) Bob McNair to say, ‘This kid is 100%, can’t miss. This is who we want being the face of our program. We want the Texas kid staying in Texas and leading the Texans.'”

On how the Texans should feel if they pass on him and he’s drafted by the Jaguars (No. 3):
“It would be the worst decision they’ve ever made. I’d be in the same division playing against them twice a year. Sorry, but you just turned that chip on my shoulder from a Frito into a Dorito.”

On his expectations for his NFL career:
“People can call me crazy, and it’s not cockiness — I’m going to put myself in (position) to win the Super Bowl every single year. A 5’10” guy (Russell Wilson) just won the Super Bowl in his second year in the NFL. That’s unreal. I want to be the first rookie to win the Super Bowl.”

On the possibility of being drafted by the Browns:
“If something happens, and it’s the Cleveland Browns, I’m going to pour my heart out for the Dawg Pound and try to win a Super Bowl for Cleveland. I don’t care if they’ve had 20 starting quarterbacks since 1999. I’m going to be the 21st and the guy that brought them the Super Bowl.”

On leaving the ‘Johnny Football’ moniker behind and simply becoming Johnny Manziel:
“Johnny Football is the stuff you see on TMZ. There’s part of that folktale that goes along with it and tries to twist me into somebody I’m not all the time. I feel like now there’s kind of like this frozen food package — a prewrapped, precooked package of who I am. Johnny Manziel is the guy that – whether it’s Houston, Jacksonville, Cleveland or Oakland – you’ll have to drag off that field before I stop playing for those guys. Those are my teammates. Those are my brothers from now on. I’m going to fight until there’s no time left on the clock. That’s Johnny Manziel.”

Extra Points: Verner, Flynn, Clowney, Farmer

February 13th, 2014 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Coming off his rookie contract, Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner is set to hit the open market next month, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean believes it may be difficult for the Titans to lock him up before March 11 (Twitter link). According to Wyatt (via Twitter), there has been “little to no movement” in talks between the two sides so far, though they’ll likely meet at next week’s scouting combine. After snatching five interceptions and defending 23 passes in 2013, Verner will be in line for a nice raise on 2013’s $1.32MM base salary, meaning he could be looking forward to gauging his value on the open market.

Let’s round up a few more Thursday items from around the NFL….

  • New Packers QB coach Alex Van Pelt praised Matt Flynn’s track record and indicated that he’s “excited to hopefully get him back in here,” according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Flynn is eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason.
  • Texans safety D.J. Swearinger tells Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle that he keeps in contact with former South Carolina teammate Jadeveon Clowney, who is pushing hard to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. “He’s talking about, ‘Man, what’s the word [on the Texans’ pick]?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I’m going to try my best to do what I can to get you here,'” Swearinger said.
  • In the second half of a two-part Q&A with Ray Farmer, Tony Grossi asked the new Browns GM about the importance of landing an elite quarterback, as well as discussing Farmer’s philosophy in approaching free agency and the draft.
  • Cornerback Jabari Greer is taking yesterday’s release from the Saints in stride, as he tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. While Greer didn’t expect to be cut, he noted that “you can’t ever be surprised” by it, particularly when you’re on the wrong side of 30.
  • Rick Spielman‘s long-term future as the Vikings‘ general manager may depend on his ability to find the team a solution at quarterback, an issue he’ll address this offseason, writes Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.

AFC Notes: Texans, Butler, Chargers, Ravens

February 13th, 2014 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Texans receiver Andre Johnson likely won’t have any input on how his team uses its first overall pick, but he says if it were up to him, he’s “probably trade it,” according to David Nuno of ABC13 in Houston (hat tip to Pro Football Talk). Johnson’s comments are a little interesting, since many experts believe the Texans will draft a quarterback with that pick. Of course, the veteran receiver also had high praise for Johnny Manziel, one of the candidates for that No. 1 pick, calling him a “great player” and pointing out that there’s a reason he earned the nickname Johnny Football (link via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle).

Here’s more from across the AFC:

  • Chargers GM Tom Telesco spoke to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com about the team’s approach to free agency, which he says will definitely be a “piece of the puzzle” for the club this offseason. According to Williams, the Chargers and linebacker Donald Butler have resumed discussions on a new deal in the hopes of working out an agreement prior to free agency.
  • Although they’ve filled their holes at wide receiver primarily with late draft picks or small free agent expenditures in recent seasons, the Ravens may make the position a priority this year, and they should have plenty of options, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald expresses plenty of skepticism about the idea that Jonathan Martin could return to the Dolphins for the 2014 season, which was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport last night. In Salguero’s view, the Dolphins may be selling that idea to try to improve Martin’s trade value.
  • With new San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer expected to be sworn in on March 3, the Chargers are eager to resume their push for a new stadium, says Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press.

Browns Rumors: Parcells, Banner, Draft

February 12th, 2014 at 9:36am CST by Luke Adams

Before announcing their new front office structure, the Browns targeted Bill Parcells to run the franchise, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. While Freeman’s report comes via an unnamed source, Parcells himself tells the BR scribe that he only spoke to the Browns about why organizations succeed and fail.

Parcells has previously served as the Jets’ general manager and, more recently, as the executive VP of football operations in Miami with the Dolphins. However, he hasn’t worked with an NFL team in an official capacity for the last several years. While Freeman’s report remains unconfirmed, it’s not a stretch to think that the Browns would have approached him about a position in the organization, nor is it hard to believe that Parcells passed, given his age (72) and the way in which the club’s coaching search played out.

Here’s more on the team’s front office shakeup and fallout:

  • TheMMQB.com’s Peter King took an extended look at the situation in Cleveland, passing along an anecdote about the team’s interview of coaching canidate Ken Whisenhunt which illustrated why owner Jimmy Haslam made the decision to part ways with CEO Joe Banner — according to King, Haslam had become increasingly “dubious about Banner’s football acumen,” which was openly questioned by Whisenhunt during his interview.
  • King hears from a source that, after strong recommendations by Bill Belichick and Urban Meyer, Haslam was interested in interviewing former Bucs coach Greg Schiano for Cleveland’s opening. However, Banner wanted nothing to do with Schiano, whose stint in Tampa had been rocky, and was cold to him during his interview, according to the source. The incident further illustrated the “major rift” among the Browns’ decision-makers, King writes.
  • King backs up a Tuesday report which suggested that Banner and Michael Lombardi were shocked by the abrupt announcement by Haslam.
  • The Browns “seem prepared to move heaven and earth” to draft a franchise quarterback in the first round of May’s draft, according to King.
  • Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer spoke to a number of people around the league about new Browns GM Ray Farmer, and the consensus was that Farmer is ready to take on the role.
  • Earlier today, we heard that the Browns are negotiating a long-term contract with cornerback Joe Haden.
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