2015 April - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Bengals, Rivers, Mercilus, Browns

April 28th, 2015 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Multiple reports and mock drafts in recent weeks have suggested the Bengals could use their first-round pick to add a young tackle, perhaps envisioning that player as an eventual replacement for Andrew Whitworth. As he tells Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer though, the idea of the team adding his potential replacement doesn’t worry Whitworth.

“I’ve always had the opposite mentality,” Whitworth said. “Mess up and draft somebody at my position because you are going to sit around and watch him sit the bench. That’s always been my mentality. I see it as a challenge.”

While we wait to see which direction the Bengals decide to go on Thursday, let’s check out a few more notes from around the AFC….

The Chargers met with Philip Rivers‘ agent in person last week and are still focused on extending the quarterback’s contract, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. If Rivers is still a Charger on Sunday, it should signal that the team is relatively confident it can get something done.
Speaking today to reporters, including John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links), Texans general manager Rick Smith said he and the club are still deciding whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Whitney Mercilus. “Whether we pick it up or not, we want him around long time,” Smith said of the outside linebacker. For his part, McClain doesn’t expect the team to exercise its 2016 option.
On the heels of ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reporting that Sam Bradford wants to play for the Eagles, and Philadelphia is unlikely to trade him, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the Browns would still like to acquire the former first overall pick — however, it’s not likely to happen.
Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com ranks the Raiders‘ top five draft needs, and according to Bair, the No. 1 priority is finding a pass rusher that can take some of the heat off of Khalil Mack. Oakland could use a defensive end and they could very well use the No. 4 pick to shore up that spot. Bud Dupree, Leonard Williams, and Dante Fowler Jr. are candidates to end up in Oakland next season, Bair writes.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan has signed a long-term contract extension to remain in Kansas City, the team announced today in a press release.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Pauline On Gurley, Bengals, McKinney, RBs

April 28th, 2015 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

After his citation for marijuana possession, the expectation is that Missouri linebacker Shane Ray could fall out of the first round and that’s an opinion shared by many in his camp, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes. Earlier today, we learned that teams that wouldn’t have had a chance to land Ray before are now inquiring on him, with both GMs and owners doing their homework. Here’s Pauline’s latest:

The Dolphins are hoping that Todd Gurley doesn’t get selected in the top 10. If the running back is still on the board, Miami will happily snag him at No. 14, per Pauline.
As of now, there’s a very good chance the Bengals take an offensive tackle in round one and they’re said to be looking at Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi, among others.
Linebacker Benardrick McKinney spent an extensive amount of time the past few days talking with the Broncos and Cowboys. If Kevin Johnson is unavailable when the Cowboys are on the clock in round one, they will strongly consider either McKinney or Eric Kendricks, Pauline hears.
There’s a good possibility that Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is still available when the third round begins. While teams like his film and cover skills, his knee injury from last December has some clubs concerned. Recently, PFR’s Rob DiRe wrote that he expected Ekpre-Olomu to experience a dropoff in draft stock from last year to this year, but not this severe. Had he gone pro last season, the Oregon notable may have had a chance to be a first-round pick.
There are a number of running back-needy teams who might wait until the fourth round before drafting at the position, due to the quality and depth available this year. David Cobb and Buck Allen have been brought to Pauline’s attention as fourth round types that can contribute off the bat and Miami junior Duke Johnson is also getting buzz.
Alonzo Highsmith, senior personnel director for the Packers, is pushing hard for Denzel Perryman at the bottom of round one. If Green Bay takes the Miami notable, the team would then push Clay Matthews to the outside. The belief is Green Bay still values a cornerback with that first pick and Eric Rowe continues to be in the mix, but Perryman is also a possibility.
Don’t be surprised if tight end Wes Saxton is drafted much earlier than presently predicted, as teams are high on his speed and athleticism. Saxton, a South Alabama product, could go as high as the fourth round. Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack is also getting additional attention.

East Notes: Eagles, Jordan, Mathis, Cowboys

April 28th, 2015 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

When Adam Schefter of ESPN.com first reported today that Dion Jordan had been suspended for the 2015 NFL season – news that has since been confirmed by the Dolphins – he also added another interesting tidbit, noting that the Eagles were nearing a trade for Jordan prior to his latest ban.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer has some additional details on those trade talks between the Dolphins and Eagles, tweeting that Jordan would’ve gone to Philadelphia for a conditional late-round pick. Per McLane, veteran guard Evan Mathis was also discussed, but it doesn’t appear Mathis would’ve been involved in the deal, if it had been finalized.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

Speaking today to reporters, including David Helman of DallasCowboys.com (Twitter link), Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said having the No. 27 pick increases the team’s chances of moving around in the draft, either up or down. Per Helman (Twitter links), Jones also classified Dallas’ need at running back as “not urgent,” suggesting that defense is a much greater priority. In Jones’ view, running back is merely a position of interest, while the D must be improved “by hook or crook.”
General manager Doug Whaley made a visit to meet with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty today, a source tells Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com. Peter Schrager of Fox Sports adds (via Twitter) that Whaley isn’t the only member of the Bills‘ front office in Dallas to have dinner with the young signal-caller. Petty is viewed as a probable day two pick in this week’s draft.
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links) provides the specific details on Chris Jones‘ new three-year contract with the Cowboys. Based on Wilson’s figures, the deal features a $1MM cap number for 2015.
The Dolphins met with Miami running back Duke Johnson today, since a conflict with a Colts workout had prevented him from attending the team’s local pro day, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Former TCU quarterback Casey Pachall and ex-Patriots defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick are among the players attending the Jets‘ minicamp as tryout players, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter links). Deaderick has also played for the Saints and Jaguars since spending three seasons in New England.

Miller’s Latest: Cooper, Browns, Gurley

April 28th, 2015 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report reported yesterday that while there are NFL teams interested in drafting Dorial Green-Beckham in the first round on Thursday, ownership has squashed those plans. In fact, a source from one team drafting in the top 15 tells Miller that ownership responded with a flat-out “no” when the topic of DGB in the first round was broached.

Miller has many more items in his latest piece at Bleacher Report, so let’s dive in and check out the highlights….

Raiders sources tell Miller that coaches in Oakland have “fallen in love” with Amari Cooper. The Alabama wideout, who has also been linked to the Jaguars at No. 3, could be the surprise pick over Leonard Williams if he’s available at No. 4.
The Browns like Marcus Mariota a lot, and Miller continues to hear that the team has interest in trading up to land him. Miller also hears that Cleveland has spoken to the Giants – drafting ninth overall – about a possible deal.
Browns sources don’t expect safety Tashaun Gipson to be on the roster in 2016. According to Miller, the belief is that he’ll price himself out of Cleveland’s range. Gipson is currently forgoing the Browns’ voluntary workouts, having not yet signed his RFA tender.
Todd Gurley‘s knee is looking better than anticipated, with one team source telling Miller the running back could play in Week 1 of the NFL season.
The Eagles are being connected to UCF wideout Breshad Perriman, according to several GMs who spoke to Miller.
Miller asked four different teams about Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory, and while none of those four clubs expect him to be selected within the top 10, they all believe he’s still a first-round player.
Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead has been the popular pick for the 49ers in mock drafts, and Miller hears that Armstead is indeed a Niners target at No. 15 if the club doesn’t trade up or down.
Chronic knee problems have resulted in a pair of guards – Florida State’s Tre‘ Jackson and Alabama’s Arie Kouandjio – failing physicals during the pre-draft process, sources tell Miller. Both players’ stocks figure to take a significant hit as a result of injury concerns.

Texans Trying To Trade D.J. Swearinger

April 28th, 2015 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Two years after selecting him in the second round of the draft, the Texans are exploring the possibility of trading safety D.J. Swearinger, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Per Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, Texans GM Rick Smith said today that there’s “a lot of information and misinformation out there” at this time of year, and called Swearinger a “really good football player for us,” but never explicitly denied shopping the safety.

As the Chronicle piece notes, Swearinger has surrendered some big plays on the field for the Texans, and has struggled to fit in with the team’s off-field culture. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Swearinger allowed opposing quarterbacks to compile a 99.2 passer rating to go along with five touchdowns on 59 passes into his coverage last season. Overall, he ranked as the league’s 78th-best safety out of 87 qualified players.

The Texans appear to be overhauling the safety position this offseason, with Kendrick Lewis and Danieal Manning both hitting the free agent market. Lewis signed with Baltimore, while Manning remains available. Houston signed former Bronco Rahim Moore in free agency, and could look to add another safety to the mix through the draft, particularly if the team finds a taker for Swearinger.

Swearinger, 23, has about $460K in dead money left on his deal, and would have cap numbers below $1MM for the next two seasons for a new team if he’s traded.

Vikings GM: No Interest In Trading Peterson

April 28th, 2015 at 2:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Vikings GM Rick Spielman reiterated today that his team has “no interest” in trading Adrian Peterson before, during, or after the upcoming draft, tweets Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Repeating that his position – and the team’s position – on the running back has not changed, the GM said that “we can just end the Adrian Peterson stuff” (Twitter link).

“If our ownership had interest in trading Adrian Peterson he probably wouldn’t be here today,” Spielman said, according to Tomasson (via Twitter).

Of course, while Spielman attempted to put the Peterson rumors to bed by repeatedly insisting that the Vikings have no interest in moving the 30-year-old, that’s a little different than definitively stating no deal will be made. So I imagine the speculation will continue at least through this week’s draft, even if the Vikes don’t intend to make a move.

Spielman offered up a few more noteworthy quotes during today’s conversation with the media, so let’s round up the highlights….

Spielman doesn’t see a ton of difference between the seventh overall pick and the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft, so it’s not surprise that he’s looking to moving down from No. 11 if possible (Twitter links via Tomasson and the team).
According to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (Twitter link), Spielman said the Vikings’ options are “wide open” at No. 11, and mentioned wide receiver, offensive line, defensive end, and defensive back as potential positions of interest. A trade up is unlikely, per the GM.
The Vikings have made decisions on the fifth-year options for safety Harrison Smith and offensive lineman Matt Kalil, but won’t announce those moves until after the draft, tweets Tomasson. Smith’s 2016 option is a lock to be exercised, but Kalil’s, which would cost $11.096MM, is far less certain.
Asked about not having made a big splash in free agency, Spielman said he’d prefer to fill needs by signing a bunch of players on one-year, prove-it contracts rather than adding a big-dollar player (Twitter link via Tomasson).

Titans Pick Up Kendall Wright’s Option

April 28th, 2015 at 2:07pm CST by Luke Adams

APRIL 28: The Titans have officially exercised Wright’s option, GM Ruston Webster confirmed today (Twitter link via Wyatt).

APRIL 23: While they don’t have to formally make the call for another week and a half, the Titans are expected to pick up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Kendall Wright, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The team will have until May 3 to make the decision official.

Wright, 25, grabbed a career-low 57 balls last season, though a career-high six of those receptions went for touchdowns. During the 2013 season, Wright developed a strong rapport with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, en route to a 94-catch, 1,079-yard campaign. However, the Titans shuttled through quarterbacks last season, with Jake Locker, Charlie Whitehurst, and Zach Mettenberger all receiving at least five starts, and Wright’s production suffered.

While Wright could be catching passes from Mettenberger again in 2015, there’s also a chance the Titans use their second overall pick on a quarterback like Marcus Mariota, so it remains to be seen if the club will have some continuity at the position. Either way, Wright, Justin Hunter, and free agent signee Harry Douglas are expected to anchor the receiving corps.

As the 20th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Wright will be in line for a 2016 salary worth $7.32MM if the Titans elect to exercise his fifth-year option. That salary will be guaranteed for injury only until the start of the ’16 league year — at that point, if Wright remains under contract, his salary would become fully guaranteed.

Panthers GM Talks Draft, Tackles, WRs

April 28th, 2015 at 1:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman spoke to reporters today, including Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, about the team’s plans for the draft, and while he wasn’t overly revealing, he dropped a few interesting tidbits. Here are the highlights, with all links going to Person’s Twitter account:

The Panthers’ signing of Michael Oher last month has changed the way Gettleman views the left tackle position in the draft. According to the GM, “you don’t want a revolving door” at that spot, which suggests the club may want to let Oher try to establish himself at the position.
Of course, tackle is still an area the Panthers will likely focus on, and Gettleman said he thinks there are four or five prospects in this class that could play the position at the NFL level. The GM added that there are a couple left tackle prospects whom he considers probable right tackles instead, but said that there’s a player who could be a long-term solution at LT at the No. 25 pick.
According to Gettleman, having two extra picks in the draft (nine in total) “gives you pause” about moving up in certain spots. However, don’t expect the team to trade up in the first round — Gettleman doesn’t “subscribe to the theory” that Carolina is just one player away.
The Panthers aren’t walking into this draft with the same hole at wide receiver that they had a year ago, says Gettleman, implying that the club doesn’t necessarily have to pick a wideout early. The GM pointed out that – while last year’s crop of receivers was special – there’s more depth at the position this year, which also points to the team addressing it in the middle or late rounds.
Gettleman said today that he feels like the club “checked boxes” in free agency by adding help at tackle, in addition to more speed and special teams players. That should give Carolina more flexibility to take the best players available in the draft.
Gettleman indicated that it’s clear where the Panthers stand on domestic violence, alluding to the team’s non-interest in re-signing Greg Hardy and hinting that players with a history of domestic incidents probably won’t be considered this week. As for positive marijuana tests or possession citations, the GM said those don’t necessarily eliminate a player from the Panthers’ board, but more discussion is required in those instances.

Latest On Shane Ray

April 28th, 2015 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after he was cited for marijuana possession, Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray is the subject of much speculation. Previously viewed as a probable top-10 pick, Ray is no longer a lock to even be a first-rounder. For his part, the young defender released a statement apologizing to his mother, his fans, and prospective NFL teams for the “poor judgment” he showed on Monday, and vowed to make better decisions in the future (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

Here’s the latest on one of the most talented pass rushers in the 2015 draft class:

Due to his citation for marijuana possession, Ray will now be automatically enrolled in the behavioral portion of Phase 1 of the NFL’s substance abuse program, sources tell former Bucs general manager Mark Dominik of ESPN. Placement in Phase 1 of the program means that Ray won’t face any NFL discipline, but will be subject to random drug testing once he enters the league.
Within that ESPN.com story, it’s suggested that Ray could drop as low as the third round in this week’s draft, and Dominik said earlier today that he expects the Missouri defender to slide to the “third or fourth round,” according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
While Dominik doesn’t see “any way” Ray gets picked in the first round, Rapoport tweets that there’s still a “strong possibility” of that happening. Ray continues to plan on being in Chicago for the draft, adds Rapoport.
John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (Twitter link) also explored the idea of Ray falling out of the first round, speaking to three executives about it — two said Ray might slip out of the first, while one said he won’t.
Teams that wouldn’t have had a chance to land Ray before are now inquiring on him, with both GMs and owners doing their homework, says Rapoport (Twitter links). According to the NFL.com scribe, clubs with mid to late first-round picks are going back to Ray’s film.

NFL Surrenders Tax-Exempt Status

April 28th, 2015 at 12:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Much has been made over the years about the NFL’s status as a tax-exempt non-profit, but the league’s headquarters are making the change from tax-exempt to taxable, according to Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter). Per Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg News (TwitLonger link), commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo to owners today announcing the change.

“As you know, the effects of the tax exempt status of the league office have been mischaracterized repeatedly in recent years,” the statement reads, in part. “The fact is that the business of the NFL has never been tax exempt. Every dollar of income generated through television rights fees, licensing agreements, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other means is earned by the 32 clubs and is taxable there. This will remain the case even when the league office and Management Council file returns as taxable entities, and the change in filing status will make no material difference to our business. As a result, the Committees decided to eliminate this distraction.”

Another “distraction” that will be eliminated as a result of the NFL surrendering its tax-exempt status is the need to publicly reveal Goodell’s salary. Because the league will no longer be a non-profit, it won’t have to disclose that figure, tweets Soshnick. According to Kaplan (Twitter link), Goodell’s salary figure will be public one more time when the league’s final public tax return is released next February, so we’ll know how much the commissioner earned for 2014.

While the NFL had held its tax-exempt status for decades, the change doesn’t come as a total shock. Major League Baseball dropped its tax-exempt status in 2007, after reportedly finding that the financial savings that came with that status were only marginal. It makes sense that the NFL would make such a decision for PR purposes, particularly given the outcry regarding Goodell’s salaries in recent years.