2018 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Falcons Working Out DT Prospect B.J. Hill

April 7th, 2018 at 11:25am CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons are seemingly eyeing defensive line help with one of their first two picks. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets that a “big Falcons contingent” is working out N.C. State defensive tackle B.J. Hill. The group includes coach Dan Quinn, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant general manager Scott Pioli.

Hill, who played four seasons at North Carolina State, has bounced around NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s top-50 prospect rankings. After not appearing on the initial list, the lineman was listed 42nd in an early-March update. Earlier this week, Hill dropped to No. 50 on the list. Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay recently had the defensive tackle being selected among the top-60 picks.

Hill had a productive campaign in 2017, compiling 55 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2017. His best season came back in 2015, when he finished with 50 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

The Falcons could use some reinforcement at defensive tackle, although the team is currently rostering four players at the position. Grady Jarrett and Jack Crawford are currently slated as the starters with Taniela Tupou and Joey Ivie on the bench.

NFL Draft Rumors: Broncos, Darnold, Vea

April 6th, 2018 at 3:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos sent GM John Elway, coach Vance Joseph, and other top executives to watch Sam Darnold work out in Los Angeles on Friday morning, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Darnold, the youngest of this year’s top quarterback prospects, appears to be a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall. It could be a longshot for the Broncos to land him at No. 5, but stranger things have happened and there’s also the possibility of Denver moving up in the order. As a redshirt sophomore, the USC product completed 63.1% of his passes for 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns.

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The Redskins will meet with USC running back Ronald Jones on Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. Team president Bruce Allen attended Jones’ pro day earlier this week and apparently came away impressed. Most believe that the Redskins will target a defensive player at No. 13 overall, so Jones might not be in the cards for Washington unless they trade down or acquire an additional pick in the back half of the first round. Jones, who has garnered comparisons to Jamaal Charles for his running style, is among this year’s top players at the position.
LSU cornerback Donte Jackson has upcoming visits with the Broncos, Bills, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Packers (Twitter link via Jared Tokarz). Jackson ranks 28th on the top 50 list of NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and impressed with a 4.32 second 40-yard-dash at the draft combine.
Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea will visit with the Bengals on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Redskins Notes: Draft, Payne, Vea

April 6th, 2018 at 1:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are expected to target secondary help in the NFL draft, but they’ll have to balance that with other needs. The good news for Washington is that there are late-round safeties such as West Virginia’s Kyzir White, Penn State’s Marcus Allen and Northwestern’s Godwin Igwebuike that the Redskins can target, as Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post writes.

“Depending upon whether you view them as cornerbacks or safeties,” ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper said recently. “Kyzir White, West Virginia, he could go third or fourth round. Marcus Allen, Penn State, could go fourth or fifth round. Godwin Igwebuike from Northwestern could go four to six, in that area. “There’s going to be some guys that drop down a little bit at that spot that have a lot of ability. Igwebuike tested off the charts at the combine.”

The Redskins’ pass defense ranked No. 9 in the NFL last year, but they’ve since traded Kendall Fuller while fellow cornerback Bashaud Breeland continues to float in free agency. Meanwhile, Washington still needs safety depth behind starters D.J. Swearinger and Deshazor Everett.

The Redskins have a history of targeting secondary help on Day 3 of the draft. Last year, they took UCLA corner Fabian Moreau in the third round, Michigan State safety Montae Nicholson in the fourth round, and Auburn cornerback Joshua Holsey in the seventh round.

Here’s more out of D.C.:

With the No. 13 pick, Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington sees Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne as the odds-on favorite to be the Redskins’ first draft pick. Others likely to be in the mix, in Tandler’s estimation, include University of Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea and Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. He also doesn’t discount the possibility of FSU safety Derwin James landing in D.C. if he has an unexpected slip down the board. Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick and LSU running back Derrius Guice also garner mentions here.
An offensive player may not be in the mix for the ‘Skins at No. 13 since they have bigger fish to fry, but Tandler wonders aloud if Georgia running back Nick Chubb could be an option for the team in Round 2 or 3. Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in 2015, but he bounced back to run for nearly 2,500 yards in the next two seasons. Chubb shows good power to gut out extra yards, but the Redskins are after a running back who can also catch out of the backfield and he did very little of that in Georgia’s offense.

Latest On Michigan DT Maurice Hurst

April 6th, 2018 at 9:50am CST by Zachary Links

NFL Combine medical rechecks take place late next week and Michigan’s Maurice Hurst was not requested back for them, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That is a positive sign for the defensive lineman after he was found to have a heart condition during the February combine, cutting his stay in Indianapolis short.

Hurst was allowed to participate in the Wolverines’ pro day and could still come off of the board early if he passes physicals with enough teams (or, perhaps, the right teams). The Browns recently met with Hurst and they could be among the clubs to consider him with second round picks at No. 33 and No. 35.

Although Hurst is a bit undersized for the defensive tackle position, he has been lauded for his explosiveness and hand moves to get around linemen. From a talent perspective, he’s one of the best interior pass rushers in this year’s class, but his medical situation will ultimately dictate his draft stock.

NFL Draft Rumors: Jackson, Patriots, Rudolph

April 6th, 2018 at 9:28am CST by Zachary Links

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson may have erred by opting to go through the NFL draft process without an agent, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com writes. Jackson will avoid paying a portion of his rookie deal to a representative, but in an effort to save some cash, he could be hurting his draft position, which would negate the savings on the standard 1.5% fee.

Reportedly, Jackson struggled in breaking down X’s and O’s on the white board in meetings with teams and his Wonderlic score was poor. Some say the Wonderlic is meaningless, but some execs still use it as part of their evaluation process and an agent would have had him prepped for the test and other aspects of team interviews. An agent would also help to push the narrative that Jackson should be considered above some of this year’s top quarterbacks, including USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, and Wyoming’s Josh Allen.

Ultimately, Jackson’s decision will look like a smart one if he winds up going in the top half of the first round, Corry argues. But, based on what we’ve heard so far, that doesn’t seem likely. It’s notable that the Texans, who are already armed with a star QB in Deshaun Watson and don’t pick until the third round, recently had a private workout with Jackson.

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South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst will visit the Panthers on Friday Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Carolina owns the No. 24 overall pick and they could use that selection to give themselves a potent tight end with receiving ability. Greg Olsen will start for the Panthers this season, but he is 33 and entering a contract year. In the past, Olsen has fought for a revamped deal, so it’s conceivable that he will look to push the market next March. Even if Olsen is retained beyond 2018, the Panthers need to consider the future of the tight end position.
The Patriots, who now own two first-round picks, recently had a private workout with Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, Rapoport tweets. Rudolph hasn’t garnered as much attention as this year’s top four QBs, but he is a potential first-rounder. Rapoport hears that he has been extremely busy with meetings and workouts, a possible sign that his stock is climbing.
Rudolph will also have a top 30 visit with the Bills this weekend, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). The Bills own picks at 12 and 22, so he could be in the mix for one of those spots. Rudolph has also met with or had workouts for the Chargers, Saints, Giants, Steelers, and Bengals.

Wisconsin CB Nick Nelson Suffers Injury

April 6th, 2018 at 9:07am CST by Zachary Links

Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson suffered a torn meniscus during a private workout with a team, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He’ll undergo surgery to repair his knee next week.

Although Nelson was not considered to be a prospect on the same tier as Denzel Ward (Ohio State), Jaire Alexander (Louisville), Josh Jackson (Iowa), Mike Hughes (UCF), and Isaiah Oliver (Colorado), he was regarded as a potential Day 2 pick. The injury could push him down to Day 3 territory as he’ll be unable to conduct further workouts between now and the draft later this month.

The good news is that a meniscus tear is not as severe as an ACL tear or other knee ligament injuries. Nelson should be back on the field after 3-4 months, which would put him in line to still play in his rookie season.

Nelson, a Maryland native, began his collegiate career at Hawaii before transferring to Wisconsin. With the Badgers, he made a name for himself as a tireless worker who can stick to a receiver in coverage. However, his lack of ideal size at 5’11” and zero interceptions in three seasons are among the negative marks against him.

NFL Draft Rumors: Bucs, Packers, James

April 5th, 2018 at 12:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Florida State safety Derwin James spent Wednesday meeting with the Buccaneers and will sit down with the Packers on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). James, the No. 9 ranked safety in the draft per NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, offers versatility with experience at both safety spots, nickel cornerback, and even outside linebacker. He arguably performs better when playing closer to the line, so the team that drafts him will likely look to continue using him in multiple roles.

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NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb met with the Buccaneers on Wednesday and is visiting the Giants on Thursday, Rapoport tweets. Chubb has another top 5 team visit next week, Rapoport notes, but he did not specify the club.
Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy was with the Vikings on Wednesday, Rapoport tweets. Cichy suffered an ACL tear in the summer that prevented him from seeing the field in 2017. Before the injury, he was considered a first-round prospect and he could still come off the board in Day 2 if he demonstrates that he is healthy.
Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward is visiting the 49ers on Thursday, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). The Niners pick No. 9 overall and he could be a possibility for San Francisco there. SF will also meet with Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter.
The Bears met with a pair of top defensive backs in Ward and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Rapoport tweets. Fitzpatrick previously visited the Buccaneers. The Bears own the No. 8 pick in the draft, so they could be in range for both players.
The Vikings met with University of Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams and Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey, Rapoport tweets. Jeremiah has Williams ranked as the No. 21 prospect in this year’s draft while McGlinchey is at No. 35.
Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans visited the Dolphins (No. 11) this week, Rapoport tweets. Evans, who played all over in Bama’s front seven, offers strong coverage against both tight ends and running backs.
Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne is meeting with the Falcons, according to Rapoport.
The Buccaneers, who own the No. 7 pick in the first round, had former Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson in for a visit on Wednesday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.

NC State DE Kentavius Street Tears ACL

April 5th, 2018 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

One noteworthy draft prospect appears to be out of the running for the first two days of the draft. North Carolina State defensive end Kentavius Street suffered a torn ACL during a private workout with the Giants, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).

ACL tears typically take at least nine months to recover from, meaning that Street is unlikely to see the field in his rookie season. Heading into workouts, Street appeared to have a shot at coming off of the board in the third round. It’s now possible that Street will go undrafted altogether.

Street had 19.5 sacks in four seasons at NC State, including nine sacks in his junior season. He was largely overshadowed by star teammate Bradley Chubb – who is widely projected to be a top 10 pick – but had some buzz of his own this year.

In time, Street figures to pick up interest from clubs in search of a 4-3 defensive end. With the ability to squat 700 pounds and a rumored 475 one-rep bench press, he possesses the raw strength to succeed at the next level.

NFL Draft Rumors: Vander Esch, Steelers, Bills

April 4th, 2018 at 5:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest NFL Draft news:

Linked to Leighton Vander Esch for several weeks this offseason, the Steelers met with the Boise State outside linebacker on Monday night, Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst reports. Pittsburgh has used first-round picks on either inside or outside ‘backers in four of its past five drafts. Three of those players remain on the team, but only two will be able to play this season. Ryan Shazier has been declared out as he attempts to recover from his frightening spine injury. Pauline wrote in March that Vander Esch won’t get past Pittsburgh at No. 28.
Next up for Vander Esch met the Cowboys on Wednesday morning, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. After that, he has the Cardinals and every team picking between No. 12 to No. 24, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Aside from the aforementioned clubs, the teams picking from No. 12-24 are the Bills (twice), Redskins, Packers, Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks, Lions, Bengals, Bills, Patriots, and Panthers.
LSU pass-rusher Arden Key met with the Saints and Lions before his pro day on Wednesday and will visit with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Due to injuries, key only started in eight games last year, but he still finished out with 33 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. He is widely projected to be a first round pick later this month.

Giants Schedule Pre-Draft Visits With QBs, RB Saquon Barkley

April 4th, 2018 at 11:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants plan to meet with the draft’s top four quarterbacks — USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, and Wyoming’s Josh Allen — next week, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Meanwhile, New York will also used one of its 30 allotted pre-draft visits on Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, tweets Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Provided the Browns select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, the Giants will have their choice of three signal-callers, Barkley, offensive lineman Quenton Nelson, or edge rusher Bradley Chubb with the second pick. While New York intends to deploy veteran Eli Manning as its starting quarterback once again in 2018, the club could use this opportunity to find its passer of the future.

But Barkley would likely give the Giants a better chance to win in the near-term, as Big Blue’s running back depth chart is currently uninspiring. At present, New York has veteran Jonathan Stewart, plus recent draft picks Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins, at running back, but Barkley would immediately take over as the club’s starter if drafted.

2018 NFL Draft News & Rumors