HEADLINES

2015 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Draft Notes: Packers, Pats, Dolphins

April 2nd, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s the latest draft news..

  • Maryland nose tackle Darius Kilgo told Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter) that he has visited the Packers, Patriots, and Dolphins. He’ll also visit the Bengals and attend the Panthers‘ local prospect day.
  • Maryland wide receiver Deon Long told Wilson (Twitter links) he’ll attend the Ravens‘ local prospect day on April 21st. He added that he has drawn interest from the Bears and Panthers. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wrote about the intriguing prospect earlier today and noted that he has drawn the interest of the Patriots.
  • The Patriots met with Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
  • Rutgers fullback Michael Burton worked out for the Buccaneers this morning at RU, according to Dan Duggan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter). Next up is a visit with the Browns on Friday.

49ers Looking To Trade Up For Amari Cooper

April 2nd, 2015 at 6:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers are looking to trade up from pick No. 15 to land Alabama star Amari Cooper, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (video link).

GM Trent Baalke has fallen in love with Cooper, particularly because he is polished, well-rounded, and seems ready to contribute almost immediately. Cooper can play any of the three receiver positions for the 49ers, which would give them a number of options in 2015. San Francisco has Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith in the fold, but Cooper could be the team’s offseason replacement for Michael Crabtree.

The 49ers, Miller says, have already started asking around about where Cooper is expected to land and they are trying to figure out what it would take to get in that range. In Miller’s view, the Niners would have to get up to No. 6 if he makes it past the Raiders at No. 4 because the Bears (No. 7) would love to pair Cooper with Alshon Jeffery in the wake of dealing Brandon Marshall.

Realistically, that would leave Washington (No. 5) and the Jets (No. 6) as possible trading partners for Baalke & Co. Even though it would cost them quite a bit, Miller notes that Baalke has historically shown that he knows how to manipulate a draft board and he has been willing to deal from a surplus of picks in the past to get the guy he wants.

East Notes: Jets, Washington, Thomas, Fins

April 2nd, 2015 at 2:23pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking on a conference call today with season ticket holders, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles offered up a few interesting tidbits, as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com noted on Twitter. The GM indicated that he likes the No. 6 spot in the draft because it gives the team plenty of flexibility to trade up or down. Addressing the draft, Maccagnan also hinted that the Jets wouldn’t mind picking an offensive lineman at some point, while Bowles praised the depth of the rookie running back class — although the team likes Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, adding one more back could be a priority.

Here’s more on the Jets, via Cimini, along with a few other items from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • Maccagnan also suggested he expects to address Muhammad Wilkerson‘s contract this offseason, with the expectation that the star defensive lineman will remain a Jet for the long term. Meanwhile, Bowles said he’d like to have another quarterback competing with Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Matt Simms.
  • It would be surprising if Washington doesn’t add at least one more running back to its roster through free agency or the draft, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. According to Keim, the team has expressed interest in veteran free agent Pierre Thomas, but will likely wait to see how the draft plays out before moving any further with the former Saint.
  • As the Dolphins consider adding receiving depth, they aren’t just eyeing draft prospects — they’re also taking a look at a pair of players who went undrafted in recent years. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Post, the club is working out former Boise State wideout Geraldo Boldewijn and trying out former Raiders receiver Thomas Mayo. Boldewijn spent camp with the Falcons last year, while Mayo was a participant in last month’s veterans combine.
  • Wilson also tweets that Florida State wideout Christian Green is working out privately for the Eagles today in Tallahassee.

Draft Visits: Jets, M. Davis, Orchard, Raiders

April 2nd, 2015 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

It would be a little surprising to see the Jets take a receiver with the sixth overall pick after signing Eric Decker and trading for Brandon Marshall during the last two offseasons, but the team is bringing in wideout Amari Cooper today for a pre-draft visit, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). With Cooper viewed as a near lock to be selected in the top 10, it’s more likely the Jets are doing due diligence and keeping their options open rather than making the Alabama product a priority.

Here are some details on several more pre-draft visits around the NFL:

  • We heard yesterday that South Carolina running back Mike Davis has a visit lined up with the Patriots, but New England is far from the only team eyeing him. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Davis also has workouts or visits scheduled with the Buccaneers, Seahawks, Browns, and Falcons.
  • Utah defensive end Nate Orchard, a projected second-round pick, confirmed that he met with the Browns, dining with defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil and outside linebackers coach Brian Fleury, per Kevin Jones of ClevelandBrowns.com.
  • According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (all Twitter links), the Raiders are taking a look at a handful of prospects today, working out South Dakota offensive lineman Matt Huffer, and hosting New Hampshire center Mike Coccia and Texas Southern defensive back Tray Walker.
  • Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell, a potential second-day pick, has worked out for the Buccaneers, Browns, and Texans, and has workouts on deck with the Bears and Eagles, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Delaware State defensive end Rodney Gunter, who had 57 tackles and seven sacks in his senior season, visited the Chiefs, a league source tells Wilson.
  • The Broncos are hosting New Hampshire tight end Harold Spears for a pre-draft visit, according to Wilson.

NFC Notes: Eagles, Peterson, Willis, Draft

April 2nd, 2015 at 10:49am CST by Luke Adams

Wide receiver figures to be a primary area of focus for the Eagles in the draft, and according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, UCF’s Breshad Perriman is paying a visit to the team today. It’s one of 18 pre-draft visits or private workouts Perriman has on his schedule in advance of the draft — the young wideout has had private workouts for the Giants and Texans, and recently visited the Ravens.

In addition to bringing in Perriman, the Eagles are also taking a look at USC’s Nelson Agholor, with Chip Kelly in Tampa today to work out a player he recruited back in his Oregon days (Twitter link via Kevin O’Donnell of WTVT Fox13).. Philadelphia has previously been linked to Agholor, so it looks like that interest is very genuine.

Here’s more out of the NFC:

  • Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an extended, in-depth look at Adrian Peterson‘s situation in Minnesota, suggesting that if the Vikings were to trade the veteran running back, they probably shouldn’t expect more than a second-round pick in return. Corry also identifies seven potential trade partners for the Vikes, with clubs like the Falcons and Chargers joining oft-mentioned suitors such as the Cowboys and Cardinals.
  • Speaking to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, Corry says he’d be surprised if the 49ers don’t attempt to recoup a portion of Patrick Willis‘ signing bonus, following the linebacker’s retirement. In Corry’s view, the team could probably recover a minimum of $3.54MM from Willis. Chris Borland, who also retired this offseason, previously indicated he’d be returning three-quarters of his signing bonus to the Niners.
  • Linebacker Darin Drakeford, who participated in last month’s veterans combine, is working out today for the Buccaneers, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • The Lions continue to examine speedy receiving prospects, bringing in UAB’s J.J. Nelson today for a pre-draft visit, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.

West Notes: Wilson, Raiders, 49ers

April 1st, 2015 at 10:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter) has the details of C.J. Wilson‘s two-year deal with the Raiders. The defensive end will get $2.05MM guaranteed in total, but the second-year salary of $1.8MM is not guaranteed. Wilson, who will turn 28 later this month, accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts) with the Raiders last season. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wilson 27th out of 57 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends for his work. More from the West divisions..

  • The Raiders have no reason to move from the No. 4 pick if Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota go No. 1 and No. 2, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game tweets. If the two quarterbacks go at the top, Oakland will have Amari Cooper and Leonard Williams to choose from, so Middlekauff doesn’t see why they’d move down at that point.
  • By the same token, Middlekauff (link) wouldn’t be surprised to see 49ers GM Trent Baalke trade back at No. 15 into the 20s to acquire another pick and try to fill one of his many holes left by retirement and free agency.
  • Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon explained that he is not against a public vote with regards to St. Louis county publicly financing a new stadium for the Rams, but there is simply not enough time for such a vote to take place, as David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. On Tuesday, in a game of chess between the state and County Executive Steve Stenger, Nixon’s office informed the county that they would not be asked to help finance a new stadium.

East Notes: Romo, Dolphins, Jets

April 1st, 2015 at 9:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys threw caution to the wind by converting 94% of Tony Romo‘s $17MM base salary into bonus money and they had good reasons to do so, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. The accounting maneuver opened up $12.8MM in cap space in 2015, allowing the team to sign its draft picks, make other transactions in the future, and absorb the incentive-laden contract attached to Greg Hardy. Unfortunately, the Cowboys will have to deal with the consequences of that in future seasons. Here’s more out of the East divisions..

  • The Dolphins will consider UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman and Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker at No. 14, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Amari Cooper (Alabama) and Kevin White (West Virginia) obviously would warrant consideration if either slips to 14, but that isn’t expected to happen.
  • Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News doesn’t see the Cowboys trading for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. He reasons that if Dallas was unwilling to give $8MM a year to DeMarco Murray, a 27-year-old running back who just put up 1,845 yards, they wouldn’t give a deal like that to someone three years older.
  • With Nick Bellore still floating in free-agent limbo, the Jets had no experienced backups behind David Harris and Demario Davis, which made the signing of linebacker Jamari Lattimore a logical move for them, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes. Lattimore also figures to be a factor on special teams. In 49 career games, all with the Packers, he has two sacks and one interception.
  • The Cowboys‘ secondary hasn’t been adequately addressed this offseason, Sherrington opines.

Ravens Owner On Ngata, Yanda, Flacco

April 1st, 2015 at 6:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier tonight, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti hosted a conference call with season ticket holders and touched on a wide range of issues. Here’s a look at some of the highlights with all links going to Twitter..

  • Bisciotti didn’t rule out potential scenario of new Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata returning to the Ravens as a free agent in 2016, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets. Ngata is in the final year of his current pact. I can’t help but think that Bisciotti’s comments could lead to tampering accusations. Bisciotti added that Ngata rejected an extension offer that would have reduced his annual salary (link).
  • The owner identified cornerback and pass rusher as the two positions he’s looking at with the No. 26 overall pick, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The owner indicated that the Ravens can carve out more cap space by extending the contracts of Marshal Yanda, Jimmy Smith, and Justin Tucker, Hensley tweets. Yanda, who has started 78 of his 80 games with Baltimore over the past five years, is entering the final year of his deal and is set to earn $5.5MM in base salary in 2015.
  • Bisciotti is confident that the Ravens can make it a “win-win” for the team and Joe Flacco when it comes to getting a new deal done after this season, Hensley tweets. Even with the pending contract restructuring next season, he’s not concerned about Flacco’s future in Baltimore, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
  • Bisciotti says he is still “praying” that tight end Dennis Pitta comes back from hip surgery, Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com tweets. That language doesn’t sound too encouraging when it comes to the veteran’s chances of getting back on the field.
  • The owner said that you can’t do it with two pass rushers anymore and knows that the team has a need there too, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets. “I would be just as pleased with a pass rusher. Quietest need we have,” Bisciotti said. He’d like to see Baltimore take a pass rusher in the first round, but things are wide open at this stage (via Wilson on Twitter).
  • Bisciotti said domestic violence issues have changed the Ravens’ approach to who sign in free agency and who they draft, according to Hensley (on Twitter). He added that if the team had seen the Ray Rice video sooner, the running back likely would have been released earlier, according to Zrebiec (link).
  • Bisciotti said Lardarius Webb is a much better player than he showed in first half of last year and pointed to his lower back issues as a reason for his 2014 struggles, Wilson tweets. Webb reworked his deal with the Ravens this offseason in order to stay on board.
  • Bisciotti says he wants to see the Ravens acquire another Pernell McPhee type, Wilson tweets. McPhee, of course, joined up with the Bears on a five-year deal worth just under $40MM.
  • Bisciotti knows the Ravens need a corner but he’s not desperate for a wideout, Wilson tweets. The Ravens, he says, absolutely need a tight end but they’re not exceptionally desperate for a wideout (link). He identified in-house names like Michael Campanaro, Kamar Aiken, and Marlon Brown as players who could help fill that WR need from within.
  • Bisciotti also identified safety as an area of need, Zrebiec tweets.
  • The Ravens are more likely to take a tight end in the third or fourth round rather than the first or second round, Zrebiec tweets.
  • Biscotti added that the Ravens might target wide receivers in the third round, Zrebiec tweets.
  • Bisciotti said there’s not one issue in seven years that GM Ozzie Newsome and coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t come to a resolution on, even after disagreeing vehemently, Hensley tweets.

Draft Notes: Raiders, Williams, Winston

April 1st, 2015 at 6:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Peter King of The MMQB doesn’t believe in mock drafts, but today he gave us his “best guess” draft. Going by “the look in coach Ken Whisenhunt’s eyes when he talked about the pick last week at the league meetings,” King projects that the Titans will take Marcus Mariota at No. 2 after Jameis Winston is taken with the top pick. After that, he rounds out the top five with the Jaguars taking Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler at No. 3, the Raiders selecting USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams at No. 4, and Washington taking West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 5, before trading him to the Rams for the No. 10 and 72 picks. Here’s a look at today’s draft news..

  • The Raiders are high on Williams and could trade up to land him, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Oakland is in the pivot spot at No. 4 and although people have pegged them to land a wide receiver, they want the USC superstar and fear that he’ll be gone by No. 3. If they can’t get up land him, Cole says that they could move back to still take White or Amari Cooper while adding another asset.
  • The NFL is still concerned about Winston’s maturity, according to Cole (video link). King (on Twitter) adds that the Bucs have done major homework on the FSU star. Their private eyes have interviewed more than 75 people in Winston’s past.
  • Winston isn’t the only FSU product tied to the Buccaneers. Guard Josue Matias said he is scheduled to visit the Bucs next week as well, as Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com writes. Matias is viewed by draft experts as a second- or third-round pick. The Bucs, meanwhile, have a glaring need at right guard and their offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL in 2014.
  • Former South Carolina guard A.J. Cann is drawing a ton of pre-draft interest, Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Right now, Cann has visits and/or workouts scheduled with 14 different teams. Getlin adds that the Ravens, Saints, Vikings, and Buccaneers are among the teams the young lineman will meet with (link).
  • South Carolina running back Mike Davis would be a great fit for the Patriots and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that he indeed has a visit lined up with them.
  • Albany tight end Brian Parker will work out for the Eagles and visit the Bengals, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Parker has also drawn interest from the Vikings, Bills, and Seahawks. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder caught 39 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns last season.
  • The Buccaneers worked out Idaho defensive lineman Quayshawne Buckley on Wednesday, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Pauline describes him as a sleeper and a strong fit for Tampa Bay’s system.
  • University of Miami tight end Clive Wafford has visits or workouts lined up with the Saints, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter).

Draft Notes: Washington, Crowder, Shelton

March 31st, 2015 at 9:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Washington might not want to trade down in this year’s draft, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com writes. Even if Washington trades back from No. 5 into a pick somewhere in the early teens they could be looking at a major drop off in the quality of the player they will get in the first round. Meanwhile, they can still add to their arsenal of picks by trading down from the later round choices they have this year. The latest draft news..

  • Duke receiver Jamison Crowder discussed his workout for the Patriots and chronicled his latest happenings in a chat with Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports. Crowder also disclosed that he’ll be working out for the Buccaneers on Wednesday, the Texans on Friday, and the Panthers on April 10th.
  • Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton is scheduled to visit the Browns, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Shelton, who had 89 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season, has drawn comparisons to Lions defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.
  • Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby will be visiting the Cowboys, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter).
  • The Saints have scheduled a dinner meeting with wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and linebacker Denzel Perryman ahead of tomorrow’s Miami pro day, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets.
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