2017 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Jets Notes: QBs, McCown, Catanzaro, Ijalana

March 28th, 2017 at 5:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets will stage a competition at quarterback in 2017, and Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, and Christian Hackenberg will all be given a chance to win the job, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters, including Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). McCown signed a one-year deal that comes with $6MM guaranteed and $7MM available via incentives, so the 37-year-old has to be considered the favorite in any sort of battle. But Hackenberg, specifically, could be handed a shot to play in 2017 after being selected in the second round of last year’s draft.

Here’s more out of New York:

Bowles would not rule out the possibility of the Jets drafting a quarterback with the sixth overall pick, and as such, is open to keeping four signal-callers on the roster for the second consecutive season, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY and Connor Hughes of NJ.com (Twitter links). Gang Green has been lined to the majority of the quarterbacks at the top of the draft — including Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer, and could conceivably land one at No. 6. The Jets have no interest in adding another veteran QB, however.
New York will add competition “from somewhere” for new kicker Chandler Catanzaro, Bowles said, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Without specifics, that means the Jets could add another kicker in free agency, the draft, or in undrafted free agency. Catanzaro, who signed a one-year deal with $250K guaranteed after being cut loose by Arizona, converted only 75% of his field goal attempts in 2016.
After not employing a fullback in 2016 under former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, the Jets may sign an FB this offseason, per Bowles (Twitter link via Cimini). New play-caller John Morton may want a fullback, as the Saints (Morton’s former employer) used one on roughly a quarter of their plays. New York recently met with free agent fullback Will Johnson.
Offensive lineman Ben Ijalana‘s two-year deal is worth $10.25MM and contains $3MM guaranteed, tweets Cimini. Ijalana, who will play right tackle opposite Kelvin Beachum, will count for $4.25MM on the Jets’ 2017 salary cap before the club decides on a 2018 option worth $6MM.

Draft Rumors: Tabor, Lamp, Charlton, Conley

March 28th, 2017 at 4:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although Florida cornerback Teez Tabor has generally been viewed as a first-round pick, his times in the 40-yard dash may push his draft stock down. After posting a disappointing 4.62 time at the scouting combine, Tabor put up an even worse time at Florida’s Pro Day, finishing the sprint in 4.75 seconds, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who notes that any time greater than 4.6 seconds is a red-flag for cornerbacks.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft:

Most NFL teams believe Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp will be selected in the 20s, per Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Lamp will likely play guard in the NFL after playing tackle in college, but he offers versatility that intrigues clubs, as he could slide to the blindside or even to center if needed. Following his Pro Day, Lamp had dinner with the Chargers‘ staff, writes Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who reported last week that a number of clubs are interested in Lamp.
The Saints have “shown a lot of interest” in Michigan edge defender Taco Charlton, tweets Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune. Last week, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reported Charlton has visits lined up with Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Miami in addition to New Orleans. Charlton ranks as Todd McShay of ESPN.com’s No. 17 overall player, and the ESPN scribes calls Charlton “one of the more underrated players” in the draft.
Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley will take a predraft visit with the Browns on Friday, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Although Conley attended college in-state, he won’t work out at Cleveland’s local prospect day, meaning he will count against the Browns’ 30-prospect limit. Conley is a projected first-round pick, and could be in the mix for the Browns at pick No. 12.
The Cowboys are meeting with UConn safety Obi Melifonwu today, a source tells Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Dallas is in dire need of secondary help after losing both Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox in free agency. Currently, special-teamer Jeff Heath is the starter next to Byron Jones at safety. A number of teams — including the Buccaneers, Steelers, Seahawks, and Saints — have expressed interest is Melifonwu.

AFC North Notes: Browns, Steelers, Ravens

March 27th, 2017 at 7:43pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Browns will host North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a private workout Friday, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Trubisky’s workout won’t count as one of the Browns’ 30 allotted pre-draft visits because it’s a pro day for prospects who are either from the area (Trubisky’s an Ohio native) or attended college there. While the Browns have two first-round picks (Nos. 1 and 12), they’re only considering using the second selection on Trubisky, relays Cabot. They’re primed to spend the top choice on Texas A&M edge defender Myles Garrett.

More from Cleveland two other AFC North cities:

At least one of the Browns’ current QBs, Brock Osweiler, isn’t a lock to stay on their roster. “Brock could be on our team or we could trade him,” owner Jimmy Haslam told Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. “There’s lots of options out there.” Haslam’s noncommittal attitude toward Osweiler isn’t remotely surprising, as the expectation is the Browns will cut or trade him. It’s fair to say Cleveland only acquired Osweiler (and his $16MM base salary) from Houston this month as a way to pick up a second-round pick. Haslam noted that the Browns are “excited” about that selection.
More information on the Browns, who “made a very aggressive” and “long-term” offer to re-sign wide receiver Terrelle Pryor before he inked a one-year, $6MM deal with Washington, Haslam confirmed (via Ulrich). The Browns were reportedly willing to give Pryor $8.5MM per year.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has mulled retirement this offseason, but it seems the 35-year-old will play in 2017. Roethlisberger said earlier this month he’s “leaning towards” continuing his career, and head coach Mike Tomlin revealed Monday the two have had “pretty fluid conversation” about the Steelers’ offseason moves (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com).
Tomlin also laid out Monday what the Steelers’ main needs are entering the draft, telling Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that they must add pass rushers and defensive backs who can play man coverage. “Our inability to play man-to-man effectively and our inability to apply pressure on the quarterback without blitzing were issues in that game,” Tomlin said of the Steelers’ 36-17 loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game, in which Tom Brady completed 32 of 42 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns.
With less than $8MM in cap room remaining, the Ravens are unlikely to pursue any more free agents until at least after the draft, team president Dick Cass informed Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. “We’d like to preserve the opportunity to win a compensatory draft pick,” said Cass. “We really have to wait until [May 9] before we will sign a player, most likely. But you never say never. If an opportunity comes along, we might take it.” Cass added that the Ravens “have to be careful” with their remaining spending space, though he does think they’ll use all of it.

Latest On Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly

March 27th, 2017 at 11:22am CST by Zachary Links

Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly has received some good news on the medical front. Dr. James Andrews has given him the green light to follow a “35-45 play script” at his upcoming Pro Day, agent Duray Oubre tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). The agent estimates that Kelly will be 85% recovered from his ACL and lateral meniscus tears by the April 3 showcase.

Kelly was not among the 300+ players to be invited to this year’s draft combine due to his off-the-field issues. Even if he had gotten an invitation, however, he probably wouldn’t have been able to do much in Indianapolis. The Ole Miss Pro Day will effectively serve as Kelly’s make-up session and it’s Kelly’s first such tryout for NFL scouts.

Earlier this year, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller wrote that Kelly is “still an intriguing quarterback prospect in a bad overall class.” Meanwhile, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report heard back in November that the Ole Miss product was being viewed by evaluators as a Day 3 prospect. Before the injury, Kelly was leading the SEC in total offense and was viewed as one of this year’s QBs. With a strong showing next month, Kelly can rebuild his stock and reassert himself as a leading signal caller, despite concerns about his health and off-the-field red flags.

Dolphins Not Interested In Joe Mixon

March 27th, 2017 at 9:03am CST by Zachary Links

In recent weeks, teams have been meeting with Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon and weighing his potential against the public relations nightmare that would come with drafting him. At least one team, it seems, won’t even put it on the scale. There is a “zero percent chance” that the Dolphins will draft Mixon, a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking told Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald.

Mixon was not invited to the draft combine in late February after video surfaced of him striking a woman in a late-night altercation. There’s also an alleged incident from 2016 in which the running back got in the face of a female meter maid. Teams are uneasy about Mixon’s history, but at the same time, he is one of the top running backs in this year’s class in terms of pure ability. Absent the red flags, Mixon would have safely been projected as a first-round choice. There’s serious downside with Mixon, but Tyreek Hill’s breakout season in Kansas City is a reminder how a risky pick can pay off.

Mixon amassed 1,812 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. It’s looking more and more likely that one team will roll the dice on him, but it will not be the Dolphins.

Pauline’s Latest: Packers, Vikings, Seahawks

March 25th, 2017 at 10:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Offensive lineman Forrest Lamp is starting to look like a Round 1 lock, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com. Lamp, a Western Kentucky product, will likely play guard in the NFL after playing tackle in college, but he offers versatility that intrigues clubs, as he could slide to the blindside or even to center if needed. The Packers and Vikings both have interest in Lamp, per Pauline, as do the Seahawks. The Falcons, Panthers, and Titans have all put Lamp through a workout, reports Pauline.

Let’s take a look at the latest on the 2017 draft, all courtesy of Pauline:

Like Lamp, Washington cornerback Kevin King will probably sneak into the back end of Day 1, says Pauline. Not only does King offer size (6’3″, 200 pounds), but he impressed scouts with a 4.43 40-yard dash. Plus, injuries to fellow defensive backs Sidney Jones and Fabian Moreau means other corners, such as King, will see their stock rise as the draft approaches, as supply no longer meets demand. The Buccaneers have worked out King, while the Jets plan to do the same, per Pauline.
Scouts view North Carolina State safety Josh Jones as a top-50 pick, according to Pauline, and a number of clubs have already expressed interest. Jones has worked out for the Jaguars and will meet with the Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins, and Jets. While Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com ranks Jones as just the seventh-best safety on the board, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com places Jones within his top-50 players (No. 48).
The Jaguars have visited with Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis, reports Pauline, and the Eagles, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Cowboys all plan to meet with the edge rusher, as well. Even with that level of interest, Willis will still likely end up being selected at the beginning of the second round rather than at the end of the first, writes Pauline. The Saints have already put Willis through a workout.

Draft Rumors: Webb, Njoku, Peppers, Allen

March 25th, 2017 at 7:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Multiple clubs have informed Cal quarterback Davis Webb they view him as a “first-round talent,” tweets Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report indicated earlier this week that Webb could be selected in the first round, and noted as many as five clubs had expressed interest in the 6’5″ signal-caller. That number has now grown to 12, per Branch, and Webb has met with the Cardinals and Steelers, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft:

Miami tight end David Njoku visited with the Panthers, as Njoku told the Rich Eisen Show (video link) earlier this week. Njoku, who registered 43 receptions and eight touchdowns last season, is expected to be one of two first-round picks at tight end, joining Alabama’s O.J. Howard. The Buccaneers and Giants are also reportedly eyeing Njoku, who is just 20 years old.
The Buccaneers, Saints, and Cardinals have all conducted meetings with Michigan defender Jabrill Peppers, reports Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Debate has emerged regarding what position Peppers will play in the NFL, as though Peppers views himself as a safety, some clubs may see him as a linebacker. Per Peppers, 30 teams wants him to play safety, one wants him to play linebacker, and one outlier views Peppers as an offensive player, tweets Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com.
Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen says he’s only met with with the Bears thus far in the draft process, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Allen, viewed as one this year’s best defensive prospects, could see his stock fall thanks to a shoulder injury. Some scouts believe Allen could drop into the No. 12-17 range after initially being projected as a top-five pick.

Michigan’s Jake Butt Ahead Of Schedule

March 24th, 2017 at 10:32am CST by Zachary Links

Michigan tight end Jake Butt says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab efforts and could be ready to play again by mid-July (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Andrew Groover). Butt suffered a torn ACL during the Orange Bowl in December, so a July return to football activities would mark a much quicker turnaround than expected.

Early mock drafts had Butt going late in the first round or early in the second round. After the injury, however, it became difficult to gauge his stock. If he can truly take the field in the summer and be ready to play in Week 1, it’s conceivable that he could be in play at the backend of the first round. Of course, teams will want to take a close look at his scans to determine whether this timetable is legit or just wishful thinking on the part of Butt.

O.J. Howard of Alabama is pretty much universally considered to be the best tight end in this year’s draft. After him, Miami’s David Njoku, Ole Miss’ Evan Engram, and South Alabama’s Gerald Everett are considered to be among the best tight ends in this year’s class.

NFC Notes: Rams, Eagles, Cards, Saints

March 23rd, 2017 at 10:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Connor Barwin‘s decision to sign with the Rams last week came thanks in part to the presence of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the edge rusher told the Associated Press. “Wade did a lot for me in the two years I was with Houston,” said Barwin, who played under Phillips as a Texan from 2011-12. “He taught me so much about being a pro, enjoying being around the game every single day, and he really elevated my game as a pass rusher.” Barwin only hit free agency in the first place because the Eagles released him, which came after he rejected a pay cut. While the 30-year-old said in December he’d be open to reducing his $7.5MM salary for 2017 to remain with the Eagles, their offer was “far below” what he thought he’d get on the market, per the AP. Ultimately, the Rams gave Barwin a one-year deal worth a max of $6.5MM.

Draft Rumors: Mahomes, Kizer, Thomas

March 23rd, 2017 at 7:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who could go anywhere from the top of the first round to the second round in this year’s draft, is drawing interest from three teams with aging franchise signal-callers. A Chargers contingent consisting of head coach Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen put Mahomes through a private workout in Lubbock, Texas, last week, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The Bolts have a starting passer in Philip Rivers, but he’ll be 36 in December, so they’ll at least consider taking a QB early. The club is set to pick seventh and 38th in the first two rounds.

New Orleans, meanwhile, has a 38-year-old under center in Drew Brees, meaning there’s more urgency for the club to find its next passer than there is for the Chargers. With that in mind, Saints head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and members of the team’s front office traveled to Lubbock to work out Mahomes on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. “They said every time they see me under center, I look better and better,” Mahomes said of the Saints, who currently own three of the draft’s first 45 selections (Nos. 11, 32 and 42).

The Cardinals, who are led by 37-year-old quarterback Carson Palmer, attended a Mahomes workout on Thursday, relays Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Owner Michael Bidwill and head coach Bruce Arians were on hand for the Cards, who hold the 13th and 45th selections in the opening two rounds.

More of the latest on the upcoming draft:

Even though the Bears handed quarterback Mike Glennon a significant contract in free agency, they aren’t necessarily content under center. Evidence: The club is likely to conduct a private workout with Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer next week, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Kizer as the 33rd-best player in this year’s class, which could make him a possibility for the Bears in Round 2 (No. 36).
The Panthers had a meeting with Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas on Thursday, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Thomas figures to come off the board quickly and might be gone by the time Carolina’s on the clock at No. 8.
The Bills have scheduled a private April workout with Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman, the player told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Earlier this year, one scout informed Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Peterman has a chance to pull a Dak Prescott and go from a mid-round pick to a viable starter as a rookie.
A Saints representative had dinner with Utah free safety Marcus Williams on Wednesday, writes Herbie Teope of NOLA.com. Williams is a ballhawk “who will make plays in the passing game, but he needs to improve in run support,” observes Jeremiah, who ranks him as this year’s 47th-best draft-eligible player.

2017 NFL Draft News & Rumors