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2015 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Draft Rumors: Collins, Gregory, DGB, Spain

April 30th, 2015 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

There’s “some suspicion” that LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins may go undrafted all three days this weekend, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Even though Collins is not considered a suspect in a Louisiana police investigation, the case involves a shooting death and NFL investigators haven’t been able to uncover much info on it, so teams figure to play it safe until they know more. In an effort to buy time to clear his name, Collins asked for permission to withdraw from his draft and be eligible for the supplemental draft instead, but the league denied that request.

Here’s more on the draft:

  • A personnel man whose team has a top-10 pick tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that his team is preparing to draft Nebraska edge rusher Randy Gregory tonight. “We’re not going to let him get past us,” Getlin’s source said. That sounds like it could be a smoke screen, given all the negative reports swirling around Gregory this week. Still, according to Getlin, this personnel man believes Gregory may be the most talented player in the draft, likening him to Derrick Brooks and Jason Taylor (Twitter links).
  • A source close to Dorial Green-Beckham‘s camp tells Danny Parkins of 610 AM in Kansas City (Twitter link) that the Chiefs, Cowboys, Bengals, Texans, and 49ers have shown “a lot” of interest in the young wideout within the last 36 hours.
  • West Virginia offensive lineman Quinton Spain, who received a fourth-round grade from some teams, worked out for the Jets, Steelers, Bengals, Titans, Falcons, and Buccaneers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network identifies six teams he believes can control this year’s draft.

La’el Collins Not Allowed To Enter Supplemental Draft

April 30th, 2015 at 3:44pm CST by Zachary Links

3:44pm: The NFL has rejected Collins’ request to withdraw from tonight’s draft and be eligible for the supplemental draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

3:10pm: Both Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) are hearing that the league is unlikely to allow Collins to withdraw and enter the supplemental draft.

2:20pm: Collins has major obstacles to overcome in his bid to get out of tonight’s draft and into the supplemental draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. For starters, he’s a senior and automatically draft eligible. Beyond that, he’s seeking the help of the NFLPA and since he’s not in the league yet, the NFLPA doesn’t represent him yet.

1:43pm: La’el Collins is seeking to have his name pulled from the draft, allowing him time to clear his name and then enter the supplemental draft, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

The police want to talk to Collins to ascertain information relating to the murder of a pregnant woman. Collins is not a suspect in the killing, but it’s not 100% clear what his level of involvement is (if any), and that has scared off many NFL teams. The authorities have said that they will not talk to Collins until after the conclusion of the draft, leaving his situation far too murky and uncomfortable for interested clubs.

The NFL supplemental draft takes place in the summer and is designed to give players a second chance to get drafted when they miss the boat for the main draft in the spring. Typically, players enter the supplemental draft because of academic or disciplinary matters that affected their eligibility. A quick scan of the supplemental draft’s history shows that there is no precedent for a case like Collins’.

In the final version of his mock draft, PFR’s Rob DiRe projected Collins to go No. 14 to the Dolphins. Talent-wise, Collins has been universally regarded as a first round caliber player. His increasingly murky legal situation, however, makes the top half of the first round seem less and less likely.

Marcus Mariota Rumors: Thursday

April 30th, 2015 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the consensus top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and while Winston is considered by many to be the more NFL-ready QB, it’s Mariota who is dominating headlines as the first round nears. With Winston viewed as a near-lock to come off the board first overall to the Buccaneers, the big question heading into tonight is which team will end up with Mariota, either at No. 2 or a little later.

Here’s the latest on Mariota and that No. 2 overall pick:

  • Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) identifies the Eagles and Browns as the top two contenders for Mariota and the No. 2 pick, suggesting that Philadelphia is willing to put Sam Bradford, Mychal Kendricks, and Fletcher Cox on the table in trade talks. According to Cole, the Titans want a 2016 first-round pick in any deal, and are looking to somehow come away with a potential franchise quarterback, since that would raise the value of an organization that may be sold within the next couple years.
  • If the Eagles want to get from No. 20 to No. 2, they may need to go through the Browns at No. 12, sending Bradford to Cleveland, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. I don’t think the Browns would give up the No. 12 pick for Bradford straight up, and it would still take quite a bit to move from No. 12 to No. 2.
  • Despite the obstacles, the Eagles continue to make a serious bid for the second overall pick, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
  • While there are no offers currently on the table that would make the Titans bite, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) fully expects those offers to improve over the next few hours.
  • Earlier today, the Rams, Jets, and Bears were also mentioned as teams that have spoken to Tennessee about the No. 2 overall pick.

Extra Points: Brees, Saints, Bucs, Collins

April 30th, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints GM Mickey Loomis says he may take a quarterback in this year’s draft, but he doesn’t see the end of the line for Drew Brees anytime soon either, ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett writes. “That’s a good question,” Loomis said. “I think you’re always looking to get a young quarterback in the program. We’ve got one in Ryan Griffin that we like. And if an opportunity presents itself, hey, we may take another one here. But I don’t see the end for Drew Brees on the short-term horizon. At least I certainly hope not. But it does take time for these quarterbacks to develop. And we’re conscious of that. We evaluate the quarterbacks. And obviously if an opportunity presents itself to take one at the right time, we’re not afraid to do that.” More on that and other news from the NFL..

  • If the Saints draft Bryce Petty, it’ll be a clear indication that Jeff Ireland is already calling the shots there, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets.
  • Ed Werder of ESPN (via Rob Demovsky on Twitter) says the Buccaneers may be looking to move up into the bottom of the first round. The Bucs currently pick at No. 34 and Demovsky wonders if the Packers at No. 30 could be a match.
  • Multiple teams have removed LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins from their draft boards, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Bills GM Doug Whaley called Kentucky defensive end Za’Darius Smith a “perfect fit” for the type of scheme they run, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets.
  • Army running back Raymond Maples has been granted administrative leave to attend team activities if he’s drafted or signed, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • With so few quality safeties available, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that James Sample (Louisville) and Damarious Randall (ASU) will go higher than most people think.

Browns Could Move Up Or Down

April 30th, 2015 at 2:05pm CST by Zachary Links

While the Browns have had talks with the Titans about moving up to land Marcus Mariota, they’ve also talked with teams about moving back from No. 19, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Cleveland is keeping their options wide open heading into tonight’s draft, Rapoport adds.

Earlier today, Browns head coach Mike Pettine told NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer that “opinions on Marcus Mariota in this building are varied.” Of course, opinions were split on Johnny Manziel too, but that didn’t stop the Browns from drafting him last year. Cabot also reported that the Browns do not want to surrender their first-rounder in 2016 in order to land the Oregon quarterback. That could be fueling their openness to moving back in the draft rather than forward.

Dolphins Looking To Move Up

April 30th, 2015 at 1:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Dolphins are laying the groundwork for a trade that would vault them up the draft board in round one, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Years ago, Mike Tannenbaum authored a trade to move up and select cornerback Darrelle Revis when he was the GM of the Jets. Now the head decision maker in Miami, Rapoport hears that he could once again be making a play for a defensive back.

In a class where the defensive backs at the top are thought to be underwhelming, it’s not immediately clear who Tannenbaum could have his eyes on. Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes is regarded by most as the best cornerback in this class and likely the only one with a shot at going in the top ten. The Dolphins are just a bit outside of that at No. 14, so he could be their target. Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest) and Marcus Peters (Washington) also figure to go in the top half of the draft, so it’s conceivable that Miami could be looking to pounce on one of them.

First-Round Rumors: Titans, Mariota, Rams

April 30th, 2015 at 12:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans‘ No. 2 overall pick appears to be the hottest trade chip on the market today, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link) hears that the club has spoken to the Rams and the Jets, in addition to the Browns and Eagles. According to ESPN’s Bob Holtzman, the Titans are “open for business” when it comes to trading the second overall pick, but the team is using the Robert Griffin III trade as a point of reference, which would mean getting three first-rounders for the No. 2 pick.

Multiple reporters, including Jay Glazer of Fox Sports and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), are suggesting that the Titans’ asking price is massive. Rapoport points out that Tennessee is seeking such a huge return that it’s making rival teams think the Titans just want to draft Marcus Mariota and be done with it.

As we wait to see what the Titans will do with their pick, let’s check in on a few more first-round rumors…

  • Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (on Twitter) hears from multiple sources that UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks is in the mix for the Cardinals in round one.
  • The Rams‘ discussions with the Titans haven’t amounted to anything “meaningful” at this point, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Meanwhile, Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) hears that the Rams may be looking at bailing out of the top 10 and picking up more picks. The Jets and Washington have also been cited as potential trade-down candidates in the top 10.
  • Browns coach Mike Pettine told NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer that “opinions on Marcus Mariota in this building are varied,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (via Twitter). Cabot notes (link) that opinions on Johnny Manziel inside the building were varied too, but that didn’t stop the Browns from drafting him in 2014. She also hears that the Browns do not want to surrender their first-rounder in 2016 to land the Oregon quarterback (link).
  • A big problem for the Browns in any potential trade involving Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford is that he may not negotiate a long-term deal anytime soon with the Browns, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. Bradford may prefer to be dealt to the Titans and, presumably, would be more open to a long-term deal there.
  • In the event that the Browns acquire Sam Bradford or another quarterback, the Cowboys will not be interested in trading for Johnny Manziel to replace Brandon Weeden, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
  • NFL.com’s Michael Silver says that the Jaguars are a team to keep an eye on as they could move their high second round choice to get back into the back third of the first round.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Teams Concerned About Randy Gregory

April 30th, 2015 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Teams have been concerned about Randy Gregory‘s marijuana use for some time and there have been inferences to other off-the-field issues. Earlier today, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) shed some light on the other concerns that NFL teams have about the Nebraska star.

Gregory was viewed as a potential top ten pick, but Cole now hears that he might not make it into the first round. For starters, teams are concerned with Gregory’s potential mental health issues. In an interview with Kimberly Jones of NFL.com, Gregory explained that he has suffered from anxiety and indicated that he self-medicated with marijuana to cope with that, so that’s probably a portion of what teams are worried about.

Beyond that, teams are concerned that he might use other drugs recreationally, but it’s not clear from Cole’s report if teams have seen evidence of that or if that concern is strictly speculative. Teams are also worried about Gregory’s “association” with Cash Money Records and they aren’t sure if he’s getting the best guidance in his personal life.

Earlier today, PFR’s Rob DiRe predicted that the Jets would draft Gregory with the No. 6 overall pick. By all indications, that would appear to be the ceiling for Gregory, especially with all of his red flags.

2015 NFL Draft Primer

April 30th, 2015 at 11:28am CST by Luke Adams

The 2015 NFL draft gets underway in a matter of hours, and we’ll be covering all the picks, trades, and notable rumors here at Pro Football Rumors.

As usual, ESPN and the NFL Network won’t be reporting teams’ selections before they’re announced by Roger Goodell, and this year the NFL has asked its broadcast partners – NBC, FOX, and CBS – to refrain from tipping the picks early as well, meaning reporters like Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com may not be quite as far ahead of the TV broadcast as usual.

However, we’re still anticipating some of the picks to leak early, and assuming those leaks come from trusted reporters, we’ll have them up immediately on our site, adding them to our 2015 draft results page. So if you want to know all the picks as quickly as possible, be sure to stick to our site tonight, refreshing that draft results post early and often.

We recognize that there’s also a portion of NFL fans – and our readers – who would prefer not to know those picks before Goodell announces them on the podium, so we won’t be posting any picks to our Twitter account tonight before they’re official. If you’d rather be surprised by the TV-broadcast announcements of tonight’s picks, feel free to follow our Twitter account — we won’t be spoiling anything there, but it will still feature all the latest rumors and trade news.

In the hours before the Buccaneers are officially on the clock, we’ve got plenty of content to prepare you for tonight’s first round. Here are a few highlights:

Latest On La’el Collins

April 30th, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

The police will not interview LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins until after the draft for information relating to the murder of a pregnant woman, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. There has been no date or time set for the interview yet.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (link) hears that the police are not done with their investigation and they are not yet ready to talk to Collins. The lack of closure on Collins’ situation is hurting his stock now and several teams have told Breer (link) that they won’t touch him as a result.

In the final version of his mock draft, PFR’s Rob DiRe projected Collins to go No. 14 to the Dolphins. Talent-wise, Collins has been universally regarded as a first round caliber player. His somewhat murky legal situation, however, has thrown everything into flux. Peter King of TheMMQB.com reported yesterday that one team interested in drafting a tackle in the first round was debating whether or not to keep Collins on its board.

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