HEADLINES

2016 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Joey Bosa, Chargers In Contract Dispute

June 14th, 2016 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

The June minicamp is underway, but it is not mandatory for rookie Joey Bosa since he is still not under contract. Bosa’s reps have advised him to hold out amid a stalemate in contract negotiations, a source tells Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. Joey Bosa

The majority of this year’s rookies have already signed their deals, but Bosa’s camp wants no offset language in his contract. With no offset language, the Chargers would pay Bosa the balance of his four-year guaranteed contract even if they release him sometime during it. Then, theoretically, Bosa could collect two salaries upon signing elsewhere. With offset language in place, the Chargers would be off the hook for Bosa’s salary with his new team, paying him only the difference. The two sides also are in disagreement about the deal’s cash flow.

The most recent collective bargaining agreement has largely made rookie contract disputes a thing of the past, but there are still instances where teams and players will clash over offset language. Last year, the Titans did not sign No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota until July after extended haggling.

The Ohio State product was widely projected to be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft, but few pundits saw the Chargers pouncing on him at No. 3. While teams traded into the top 2 picks to select quarterbacks, the Bolts were more than happy to stay put and grab Bosa.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Bengals Sign William Jackson III

June 10th, 2016 at 3:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals announced that they have formally signed first-round pick William Jackson III. With the cornerback officially under contract, the Bengals have now signed every player in their 2016 draft class. William Jackson III (vertical)

Jackson, a University of Houston product, turned heads with a 4.37 second 40-yard-dash time at the NFL combine. Over the last two years at UH, Jackson allowed just 40% of passes thrown his way to be completed. The cornerback was reportedly at the center of what could have been a rare trade between the Jets and Giants on draft day. The Jets are said to have offered their No. 20 overall pick and second-rounders to the Giants to get the No. 10. The Jets had their sights set on Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil while the Giants would have targeted Jackson at No. 20. However, the Giants were zeroed in on Ohio State star Eli Apple and didn’t want to pass up the chance to draft him.

Here is a full recap of the Bengals’ 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Sign DT Javon Hargrave

June 10th, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers announced that they have signed third-round defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Now that Hargrave is inked, the Steelers have successfully signed every player in their 2016 draft class. Javon Hargrave (vertical)

Hargrave, a product of FCS program South Carolina State, offers major strength with his 6’1″, 309 pound frame. While Hargrave did not face the best of the best in college, his dominating performances and strong showing at the combine ensured that he would be a third or fourth-round draft pick. In 2014, Hargrave tallied 16 sacks and followed it up with 13.5 sacks last year.

The Steelers’ draft class was headlined by first-round cornerback Artie Burns who signed earlier this week. When his name was called in April, the former University of Miami standout became the first corner selected by Pittsburgh in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997.

Here’s the complete rundown of the Steelers’ 2016 class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rams Sign Entire Draft Class

June 9th, 2016 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams announced that they have signed their entire 2016 draft class. It was long expected that the Rams would all sign their rookies on the same day in June, as the team has done in recent years. Rams Helmet (Featured)

This morning, word leaked out that the Rams and No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff had agreed to terms on his contract. Of course, thanks to the rookie slotting in the latest CBA, contract negotiations are, by and large, pretty painless. The only exception to that is in the third round where there is a little more wiggle room between players and teams, but the Rams did not have any third-round picks in this year’s draft thanks to the massive haul of picks they sent to the Titans in order to select Goff.

After Goff, the Rams’ next highest draft pick was Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Higbee made headlines for all the wrong reasons when he was charged with second-degree assault. One scout expressed concern about Higbee shortly after he was selected by L.A.:

“He is a major partier,” said the anonymous scout. “That was his big problem, despite the arrests. He has a lot of maturing to do, and I’m not sure he can mature fast enough.”

The 23-year-old was considered a potential third-round talent, but the charges predictably impacted his stock. Higbee caught 48 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns last season but missed five games due to a knee injury. When asked about the injury at his pro day, the WKU product told reporters he was 75-80% recovered.

Here is the complete rundown of the Rams’ entire 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rams To Sign No. 1 Pick Jared Goff Today

June 9th, 2016 at 9:08am CST by Zachary Links

No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff is expected to sign his four-year contract with the Rams today, according to sources who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be worth about $28MM, as his slot dictates. The Rams, as expected, have waited until June to sign players in their rookie class. Jared Goff

[RELATED: Stedman Bailey Clears Waivers]

Goff, considered the most polished quarterback prospect in this year’s class by many analysts and observers, threw for nearly 8,700 combined yards and 78 touchdowns during his final two years in college. In 2015, he established new personal bests by completing 64.5% of his passes and throwing for 4,714 yards and 43 TDs.

While some experts the upside of No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz over Goff’s, our Rob DiRe ranked the Cal product as his No. 1 prospect at quarterback, writing that Goff’s “ability to work in a crowded pocket and deliver the football from unorthodox angles” is part of what makes him special.

After drafting a potential franchise running back last year in Todd Gurley, the Rams added another possible franchise player to their backfield in an attempt to fortify an offense that has frequently let down a talented defense in recent years. In their trade up to No. 1, the Rams received a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113), and a 2016 sixth-rounder (No. 177) in their deal with the Titans. However, the cost to acquire those three picks was steep — Tennessee got the Rams’ first-rounder this year (No. 15), two 2016 second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), and first- and third-round picks for 2017.

With Goff now in the mix, the Rams will have some decisions to make at the quarterback position. The team currently has Case Keenum, 2015 third-rounder Sean Mannion, and veteran QB Nick Foles on the depth chart. Foles is reportedly unhappy about the Rams taking Goff and coach Jeff Fisher says that Foles probably won’t be in L.A. for long.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Bucs Sign Kicker Roberto Aguayo

June 7th, 2016 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers announced that they have signed second-round pick Roberto Aguayo. With the kicker under contract, the Bucs have now signed every member of their 2016 draft class. Roberto Aguayo (vertical)

Some were surprised when the Bucs traded into the second-round of this year’s draft to grab the FSU kicker, but it turns out that the team thinks even more highly of his leg than that. Recently, GM Jason Licht claimed that he had first-round grades on three of his rookies this year, including Aguayo. Along with Aguayo, the GM feels that he snared first-round talents in cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and defensive end Noah Spence.

Hargreaves, meanwhile, inked his rookie contract roughly one month ago. The No. 11 overall pick was the second cornerback to come off the board in the 2016 draft, having been selected one spot behind Eli Apple, after the Buccaneers traded down from No. 9 to No. 11. The University of Florida product will compete for a starting job in Tampa Bay’s secondary this summer, joining free agent signee Brent Grimes at or near the top of the club’s new-look cornerback depth chart.

To recap, here is the full list of the Bucs’ 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills Sign Rookie Cardale Jones

June 7th, 2016 at 2:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have now signed every rookie in their 2016 class after inking fourth-round pick Cardale Jones. The Ohio State quarterback, who was taken with the No. 139 overall selection, knows that he may have to wait awhile before he can see real playing time. Cardale Jones (vertical)

“I am going in here knowing that that Tyrod [Taylor] is our starter,” Jones told Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. “I am going in here knowing that EJ [Manuel] is our backup. I am going in here learning, working as hard as I can working with Coach [David] Lee in the film room, on and off the field. Whatever happens after that I guess is just a product of great circumstances.”

Jones is undefeated as a college starter with a perfect 11-0 record, but he only threw a total of 270 passes while with the Buckeyes. Prior to the draft, one NFL offensive coordinator told NFL.com that Jones has more physical tools than Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr, but he “can’t touch their poise and leadership as young quarterbacks.”

Here’s the complete rundown of the Bills’ 2016 draft class:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills Sign First-Round Pick Shaq Lawson

June 6th, 2016 at 3:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that they have officially inked first-round pick Shaq Lawson. The Bills selected the Clemson product with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2016 Draft. Shaq Lawson (vertical)

Lawson’s shoulder issues were known coming into the draft, but that didn’t stop the Bills from taking him high in the draft or allowing him to partake in their three-day rookie minicamp, when Lawson aggravated his shoulder. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Lawson had to go under the knife and he’ll now miss the start of the 2016 season. The Bills have not announced a timetable for the Clemson product’s recovery, though the expectation is that he’ll start the preseason on the PUP list and miss 4-5 games.

Lawson’s surgery was a big blow for Buffalo as they anticipated giving him a major role on defense right from the get go. Earlier this offseason, Bills GM Doug Whaley said that he was anticipating three rookies in the team’s starting lineup to start the season.

“At least three,” Whaley said when asked how many of his rookies will be on the field in Week 1. “[First-round defensive end] Shaq Lawson is going to walk in off the bus starting. [Second-round linebacker] Reggie Ragland, and then [third-round defensive tackle] Adolphus Washington— all three of those guys will start right off the bus. And we’re excited for some guys from the fourth through sixth rounds that will contribute for us.”

With Lawson under contract, fourth-round pick Cardale Jones stands as the only unsigned player left in Buffalo’s 2016 class.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bears Sign Entire Draft Class

June 6th, 2016 at 3:33pm CST by Zachary Links

This afternoon, the Bears formally announced the signing of third-round defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard. With Bullard under contract, the Bears have now signed their entire 2016 draft class. Jonathan Bullard (vertical)

[RELATED: Bears Sign Offensive Lineman Nate Chandler]

Bullard, who came out of the University of Florida, racked up 12 sacks and 33.5 tackles for a loss during his time in college. Bullard moved all around the defensive line for the Gators, but the Bears have indicated that they’ll use him as a bookend. Heading into the draft, Bullard had widespread interest from teams and, according to one report, he was in consideration for at least one first-round team.

The Bears did not have to draft Bullard in the first round to snag him, however. Instead, they moved up from No. 11 overall to No. 9 to select Georgia edge rusher Leonard Floyd. The 6-foot-4, 231-pounder was a dominant performer during his three-year tenure at Georgia, where he played both outside linebacker and defensive end, racking up 17 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss.

Here’s a full rundown of all the players in the Bears’ 2016 draft class, all of whom are under contract:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chiefs Sign Entire Draft Class

June 3rd, 2016 at 5:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chiefs have now signed their entire 2016 draft class, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (Twitter link) that the club has inked the lone holdout, third-round defensive back KeiVarae Russell. Russell was chosen with the 74th overall pick, which Kansas City picked up in a draft day trade with the Buccaneers.KeiVarae Russell (Vertical)

Kansas City didn’t make a selection in the first round of the draft, trading down with the 49ers in order to a acquire a second-, fourth-, and sixth-round pick. The Chiefs were reportedly interested in quarterback Paxton Lynch, but after the Broncos traded up to select him at pick No. 26, KC decided to move back and pick up more draft capital. The club also didn’t originally have a third-round pick, as that selection was forfeited as a result of a tampering incident (though, as noted, the Chiefs did eventually pick up a third-rounder).

The class in its entirety:

Kansas City Chiefs

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Load More Posts