2017 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Pauline’s Latest: Cowboys, Pats, Redskins

April 24th, 2017 at 5:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Alabama’s Cam Robinson now appears likely to become the first offensive lineman off the 2017 draft board, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Initially viewed as one of several potential Round 1 tackle options along with Utah’s Garett Bolles and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, Robinson’s combine workout reportedly intrigued NFL clubs and proved that he could man left tackle in the pro game. Indeed, there’s been an “uptick” in the amount of teams traveling to Tuscaloosa to meet with Robinson over the past few weeks, per Pauline. Also working in Pauline’s favor is that he’s still only 21 years old, while Bolles — for example — will be 25 when the 2017 campaign gets underway.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft, all courtesy of Pauline:

The Cowboys have a first-round grade on USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, and also like Clemson cornerback Cordrea Tankersley an “awful lot,” reports Pauline. Jackson may be available for Dallas at pick No. 28, and he’d likely be immediately inserted into the club’s starting lineup after the Cowboys lost both Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne during the free agent period. The former Trojan would also add value as a dynamic special teams maven. In 2016, Jackson averaged 29.5 yards on kick returns and scored two touchdowns, and posted 15.8 yards per punt return (and scored twice more).
Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis has drawn the interest of both the Colts and Redskins, per Pauline. Meanwhile, multiple teams have Davis slotted as a Day 1 pick, while some clubs even have him rated as a top-20 selection (it’s unclear if Indianapolis and Washington are indeed those teams). Davis is expected to be the second off-ball linebacker selected this week (following Alabama’s Reuben Foster) after posting a 4.56 40-yard dash and 38.5 inch vertical jump at his Pro Day.
The Cowboys hosted Florida safety Marcus Maye last week, and Maye is also receiving “a ton of interest” from the Saints, Cardinals, and Patriots, according to Pauline. Originally viewed as a mid-round pick, Maye is now moving off draft boards and could be selected by the middle of Round 2. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compares the Florida senior to Detroit defensive back Glover Quin, noting Maye’s “rangy” tackling ability and “ready-made safety frame.”
While the Patriots currently aren’t slated to make a selection until pick No. 72 (early third round), New England is expected to make a move into the second round via some “maneuver,” says Pauline. Originally, the Patriots could have traded up through a Malcolm Butler deal, but the veteran cornerback is now expected to stay put in New England.

Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers Fails Drug Test

April 24th, 2017 at 1:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL notified teams that Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers tested positive for a diluted sample at the combine, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Of course, this is awful timing for Peppers with the draft just days away. For what it’s worth, his reps at CAA say that he was not trying to mask a positive test (Facebook link):

“Peppers went to the combine. He was sick after flying there from San Diego. He has a history of cramping. Peppers was being pumped with fluids, drinking 8-10 bottles of water before he went to bed, because he was the first guy to work out two days for the LBs and DBs. He had to go through that first day, come back on second day, and that was the fear. So Peppers was pounding water and under the weather. He never failed a drug test in his life, nor tested positive before for any substance.”

Even before today’s news, no one really knew what to make of the Michigan standout. His versatility, to some, is a great asset, but others see him as a tweener without a real position. Some say he’s a linebacker, some view him as an NFL safety, and others believe he can play on offense. His draft stock seemed to be teetering more on second round than first round to begin with, so logic dictates that we probably won’t hear his name called on Thursday night.

Peppers saw some time on offense last season and rushed 27 times for 167 yards, caught two passes, and scored three touchdowns. He also did well as a punt returner, posting a conference-leading 14.8-yard average on runbacks.

Peter King On Butler, Saints, Mixon, Giants

April 24th, 2017 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

Someone familiar with the Saints‘ thinking believes they are leaning towards keeping their first three picks rather than using them to acquire Malcolm Butler from the Patriots, Peter King of The MMQB writes. The team remains interested in the cornerback, but they believe that there are a number of players ranked between No. 25 and 75 on their board that can contribute immediately. The thought of trading one or more picks for Butler in addition to giving him a high-priced deal is not as attractive as it once was for New Orleans. The Saints presently own five picks in the first three rounds: Nos. 11, 32, 42, 76, and 103.

Here’s more from King:

Joe Mixon has garnered the most interest from the Bengals, Vikings, Packers, and Jaguars, King hears. King personally wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bengals take the controversial running back with the No. 41 overall pick given the team’s past willingness to gamble on a checkered history.
King wouldn’t be surprised if the Giants move up from No. 23 or if the Texans move up from No. 25 to get a pick in the teens. The Giants are looking for a tackle and the Texans are in need of a quarterback. The Ravens (No. 16) and Titans (No. 18) “would be happy to move down,” King writes.
Many of the top players in this year’s draft come with serious medical concerns. One GM told King that he has never ‘been part of a draft with so many medical red flags.”

NFL Draft Rumors: Mixon, Raiders, Eagles

April 24th, 2017 at 8:39am CST by Zachary Links

Is Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon the most talented player in this year’s draft? One nameless personnel executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he believes that to be the case. The other execs surveyed, naturally, went in different directions. Texas A&M star Myles Garrett got 11 votes, LSU safety Jamal Adams got two, and there was one vote cast for Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster and Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Unlike the others, Mixon doesn’t necessarily seem likely to go in the first round.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:

If the Raiders do not have Marshawn Lynch locked up this week, they’ll likely explore a running back in the draft. CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair looked at the team’s Day 2 options, including Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara, but noted that the team would probably wait until even later to address the position. Wyoming’s Brian Hill, Pittsburgh’s James Conner, Brigham Young’s Jamaal Williams, and Clemson’s Wayne Gallman could all garner consideration deeper in the draft.
Mixon remains on the Eagles‘ draft board with less than one week to go before the draft, two sources tell Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Furthermore, the Eagles are “very interested” in drafting him, and that comes after extensive research into his off-the-field history. Mixon recently settled the civil suit brought against him by Amelia Molitor and apparently apologized to her in person, which might help his case with teams.
Is Cal’s Davis Webb a better quarterback prospect that Jared Goff? At least one NFL talent evaluator thinks so. “Goff has maybe quicker feet and better release. Davis has a stronger arm. Goff would be more accurate. Davis would be a much better worker, much smarter, better leader, enjoy the process,” an AFC scout told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “I think Davis puts the ball on the ground a little bit too much and he forces probably a little bit too much.” Overall, here’s how the surveyed scouts ranked the top QBs in this year’s class: 1. Mitch Trubisky, 2. Patrick Mahomes, 3. Deshaun Watson, t-4. DeShone Kizer t-4. Webb, 6. Nathan Peterman, 7. Joshua Dobbs, 8. Brad Kaaya, 9. C.J. Beathard, 10. Trevor Knight.

49ers Considering QB At No. 2

April 24th, 2017 at 7:33am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers are giving strong consideration to taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Niners already have free agent pickups Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley on the roster, so this news comes as something of a surprise.

Of course, every piece of news must be taken with a grain of salt on draft week. The Niners could be giving real thought to Mitch Trubisky and other top QBs, but they might also be trying to send a message to teams that are interested in taking a top signal caller. The Browns, for example, have an affinity for Trubisky (or, at least, some Browns execs do), and the Niners could be scaring them into trading up to the No. 2 pick. Rapoport hears that the Browns are one of several teams considering a move up to No. 2, so this could be a clever smokescreen on the part of SF brass.

Assuming Myles Garrett goes No. 1 overall, taking a QB at No. 2 would mean bypassing several intriguing talents like Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. The pick might also rule out a pursuit of Kirk Cousins after the 2017 season, but it’s too early to know that for certain. What we do know is that San Francisco standing pat and taking a QB at No. 2 would cause a surprising domino effect that would radically alter the rest of the first round.

Florida DT Caleb Brantley Charged With Assault

April 23rd, 2017 at 2:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Florida defensive lineman and 2017 draft prospect Caleb Brantley has been charged with misdemeanor assault after knocking a woman unconscious earlier this month, according to Patrick Pinak of The Alligator (Twitter link).

Two witnesses saw Brantley engaging in a verbal dispute with a female on April 13. After the woman shoved Brantley due to “crude comments” he made, Brantley struck the woman in the face, rendering her unconscious and displacing a tooth (the victim will now be forced to undergo a root canal). Per the witnesses, Brantley’s actions were borne out of retaliation and not self-defense, and his level of “force far exceeded what was reasonable or necessary.

Brantley had been viewed as a Day 2 prospect heading into the week, per Rob Rang of CBSSports.com. Following this assault charge, however, Brantley stands a chance of going undrafted, tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). With only four days left until the draft begins, NFL clubs will be “scrambling for info” on the Brantley situation, per Miller.

Falcons Notes: Mixon, Freeney, Coleman

April 23rd, 2017 at 2:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons are not interested in drafting running back Joe Mixon, and have removed him from their draft board given his prior assault charge, according to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta becomes the third known to team to have ruled out Mixon, joining Miami and New England. Like the Dolphins and Patriots, though, the Falcons don’t necessarily need a player of Mixon’s caliber given the level of talent on their roster. In Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Atlanta already boasts one of the better backfield tandems in the league, and can easily make the decision to avoid the headache of adding Mixon.

Here’s more from Atlanta:

Although veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney is likely to continue his career in 2017, the Falcons won’t decide whether to offer him a new contract until after the draft, per Schultz. Freeney, 37, probably wouldn’t have been participated in Atlanta’s spring workout sessions, so the club doesn’t feel the need to hurry into an offer. Last season, Freeney played on roughly a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in 2016, and posted three sacks and 18 hurries. He’s PFR’s No. 1 free agent edge defender. At present, Atlanta’s defensive end depth chart includes Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn, Derrick Shelby, Courtney Upshaw, Brooks Reed, and Jack Crawford, while the club could also select another pass rusher in the draft.
A long-term extension with Freeman is also on the back burner, reports Schultz, and the Falcons don’t expect to begin contract discussions until the start of training camp. Negotiations could also bleed into the regular season. Freeman, 25, is scheduled to earn $1.797MM in 2017, and was at one point reportedly looking for “elite” running back money. While Freeman and his agent have since walked back those comments, Freeman is surely still hunting for a hefty deal after combining for 2,100-plus rushing yards, 27 touchdowns (22 on the ground, five receiving) and 127 catches from 2015-16.
The Falcons could have interest in trading up from the No. 31 pick, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “To move up in the 20s, there will be opportunities there,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “There are some interesting candidates that will be around there in the early parts of the 20s.” Atlanta could target a number of positions of Day 1 of the draft, but edge rusher or guard seem to be the club’s clearest need areas. In PFR’s first 2017 mock draft, I sent UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley to the Falcons at the end of the first round.
In case you missed it, the Falcons plan to exercise left tackle Jake Matthews‘ 2018 fifth-year option. The former No. 6 overall pick had a decent showing last year, earning a 74.3 overall score on Pro Football Focus. That mark left Mathews ranked No. 37 among all tackles, putting him in the middle of the pack out of 78 qualified players. He’ll earn roughly $12.81MM in 2018, but that figure is guaranteed for injury only until the first day of the 2018 league year.

Titans, Bills Hoping To Trade Down In Draft

April 22nd, 2017 at 8:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans and Bills are among the teams currently holding picks in the top 10 of next week’s draft who are inquiring on possible trades down the board, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), who also confirms Peter King of TheMMQB.com‘s recent report indicating the Jets and 49ers are eager to trade back, as well.

Tennessee, of course, traded the first overall selection to the Rams in 2016, acquiring a bevy of draft picks in the process. Depending on how far back the Titans are aiming to drop this year, the resulting compensation package may not be as lucrative, as Cole reported earlier today that top draft picks aren’t worth as much in 2017 due to the lack of “overwhelming” prospects available at the outset of Round 1. The Titans own the fifth overall selection at present, and also holds the No. 18 pick.

Buffalo, meanwhile, is thought to be considering a quarterback at No. 10, and could theoretically look to trade down if the signal-caller it wants is not available when its turn come around, as Josh Norris of Rotoworld speculates (Twitter link). Bills general manager Doug Whaley is reportedly “in love” with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, but the club’s highest-graded QB may be UNC’s Mitch Trubisky.

The Browns stand out as one obvious team who may be willing to trade up, specifically with the Titans, and in fact have already been linked to such a trade. If Cleveland doesn’t select Trubisky with the No. 1 pick, it could move up with the intention of jumping — among other teams — the Bills, especially if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam continues to press for a quarterback.

Draft Rumors: Kelly, Peterman, Jones, Chiefs

April 22nd, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In addition to the Bills, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly has also met with the Seahawks and Chiefs, as Kelly told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). In addition, Kelly said he’s had phone calls with several other clubs. Kelly, the nephew of Bills legend Jim Kelly, is considered a Day 3 prospect thanks a multitude of injury concerns and off-field issues. After recovering quickly from a ACL tear, Kelly underwent wrist surgery in early April and won’t be able to throw for three months. Both Seattle and Kansas City are potentially looking for developmental quarterbacks to play behind Russell Wilson and Alex Smith, respectively.

Here’s more on the 2017 NFL draft:

Both the Chargers and Cardinals have hosted Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman on visits, as Peterman himself explained on Pro Football Talk Live. Peterman, who is likely to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, is viewed as a high-floor signal-caller in the vein of an Andy Dalton. Los Angeles and Arizona each employ veteran quarterbacks in Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer and could be looking to find long-term successors under center. The Chargers, notably, have been more open about their desire to land a youthful passer in 2017, and are reportedly putting in “ample work” on the 2017 class.
North Carolina State safety Josh Jones embarked on a “last minute” visit with the Raiders earlier this week, tweets Josh Norris of Rotoworld. Oakland already used a first-round pick on defensive back Karl Joseph in 2016, but Jones could be an eventual replacement for 33-year-old Reggie Nelson. Jones is considered a Round 2 prospect, but he’s been hosted by a significant number of NFL clubs during the predraft process, and there’s a chance he could sneak into Day 1. In 2016, Jones put up 109 tackles, three interceptions, and one sack.
A Redskins contingent traveled to Alabama on Friday to meet with Crimson Tide edge defender Ryan Anderson, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Anderson, who managed 8.5 sacks in 2016, has also met with Houston, Carolina, and Arizona. Likely a Day 2 prospect, Anderson was compared to San Francisco’s Ahmad Brooks by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith are penciled as Washington’s starting outside linebackers (Trent Murphy is suspended for the first four games of 2017).
Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham took late predraft visits with the Jaguars and Broncos, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cunningham, a projected Day 2 pick, has also been linked to the Giants and Saints. Earlier this year, a scout told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Cunningham “needs to gain strength” and “make more tackles.”

Jaguars Considering Quarterback At No. 4?

April 22nd, 2017 at 6:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jaguars have largely coalesced around quarterback Blake Bortles this offseason, as general manager Dave Caldwell said Bortles can win a Super Bowl, while new executive VP Tom Coughlin indicated Bortles will be Jacksonville’s signal-caller in 2017. But there’s a chance — however small — that those proclamations are part of a smoke screen, as one rumor circulating in league circles has the Jaguars selecting a quarterback with the fourth overall pick, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com (Twitter link).

The possibility of taking a quarterback makes some sense for Jacksonville on a number of levels. For one, Bortles regressed mightily in 2016, taking a step back from his relatively successful sophomore campaign. Bortles, 25, finished 26th in quarterback rating, 27th in adjusted yards per attempt, and 26th in DVOA while tossing at least 16 interceptions for the third consecutive season. As such, Caldwell told reporters Friday the Jaguars have yet to make a decision on Bortles’ 2018 fifth-year option. Jacksonville has until May 3 to exercise or decline the option.

Additionally, there aren’t a ton of great prospect fits for the Jaguars at No. 4. Having already spent a good deal of money on free agents along the defensive line and in the secondary, Jacksonville doesn’t necessarily need an impact player on the defensive side of the ball. No offensive lineman is thought to be worth a top-five selection, leaving running back or tight end as possible options for the Jaguars’ first-round pick. Neither would fit a strategy of position-based drafting, whereas a quarterback clearly would.

The Jaguars have only had a few quarterbacks in for visits, as they’ve met with Clemson‘s Deshaun Watson and Pittsburgh‘s Nathan Peterman. However, Caldwell and the rest of the Jacksonville staff proved in 2014 they could keep a secret, as the team’s intention to select Bortles was never divulged prior to the draft.

2017 NFL Draft News & Rumors