UCLA pass rusher Takkarist McKinley visited the Lions this week, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). As a result of the shoulder surgery he underwent in March, McKinley could be on the shelf until at least July. Nevertheless, he still has a realistic chance to end up a first-round pick after breaking out last season with 10 sacks. The Lions finished with a paltry 26 – the fewest in the NFC and the second-worst mark in the NFL.
- After several years of superb drafting, Packers general manager Ted Thompson has slumped recently, writes Ryan Wood of USA Today. For instance, of the 21 players Thompson selected from 2011-13, only five are still Green Bay’s roster. Moreover, Thompson has found just three Pro Bowlers over the past seven years – a far cry from the seven he discovered during his first half-decade on the job.
- UConn safety Obi Melifonwu, Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis, Iowa quarterback CJ Beathard and Ashland tight end Adam Sheehan are four draft prospects who could hear their names called quicker than expected, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Melifonwu and Davis are already potential first-rounders, so it’ll be particularly interesting to see how high they go.
- Buccaneers receiver Josh Huff‘s arrest last November on an unlawful possession of a weapon charge won’t lead to jail time, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Huff, who accepted a conditional plea, will instead get six months’ probation. The Eagles released Huff after his arrest, which occurred in New Jersey, and he quickly signed with the Bucs. Huff ended up appearing in three of their games and catching three passes for 41 yards.
Grading a general manager based on how many Pro Bowlers he has drafted is dumb. The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest. Does that mean Jerry Jones is a better GM than Thompson?
Yep
It is to some extent with aging veterans, but the majority of the players there are on merit.. with all the alternates that get to be considered “pro bowlers” it’s not that difficult. Teams that win get more pro bowlers so it’s surprising they don’t have more. Rodgers carries that roster bc Thompson hasn’t been drafting well
Case in Point is DT Mike Daniels one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the game. As good as he’s been he’s never been to a problem yet
It’s about time people started criticizing Ted Thompson. His drafts have been nothing short of abysmal the past 5 or so years. They have struck out on more first and second round picks than hit on.
TT has kept his job because he was lucky enough to have drafted Rodgers. Without him this is a 4 or 5 win team. We’ve needed an inside linebacker for years and haven’t found one. Now we also need cornerbacks and another edge rusher.
Don’t mistake me for a Ted Thompson fan as I’m really not. But players left on the roster isn’t a great measurement of a GMs success, as the Packers are hardly a team to try and resign players…other teams have wanted plenty of Packers players and have paid for then in Free Agency.
I do agree he’s doing a shotty job lately and needs a run of success or needs to go, though.
In the last 6 years the first round picks have been Sherrod (fail), Perry (fail), Jones (fail), Dix (adequate), Randall (fail), and Clark (TBD).
Yes I am still giving Clark and Randall time, but as first round picks they should be playing a lot more and a lot better. You could argue Jones wasn’t a fail now that he resigned, but he was an epic fail during his rookie contract years.
I meant Perry, not Jones. It’s hard to differentiate garbage.
Nick Perry is not a fail. And calling HaHa “adequate” just shows you should stick with being a bandwagon Cubs fan
Perry started a combined 16 games during his 4 year rookie contract. You’re saying a first round pick who only started 1/4th of the games is more than a fail? If he was a 3rd rounder it’s different, but any first rounder outside of a QB is expected to contribute and be a starter by year 2. Usually year 1.
He’s a pass rush specialist, so wether he is on the field to start the game is irrelevant.. Perry played a lot of snaps and had decent production.. I wouldn’t point to him as a fail, but he wasn’t really a great pick either
Before last year he was relatively non existent. Had he been a 3rd round pick I wouldn’t have listed him as a fail. But he was a first and with a first comes a certain level of expectation on the amount one contributes and he certainly didn’t live up to those expectations.