HEADLINES

2018 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Jets Called Browns About No. 1 Pick

March 26th, 2018 at 4:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets moved up to the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, but not before aiming for the top selection on the board. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan says that he called the Browns about potentially acquiring the No. 1 pick as a part of due diligence (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). 

[RELATED: Jets Offered Ndamukong Suh One-Year Deal]

Meanwhile, Maccagnan did not call the Giants about potentially landing the second overall pick. Reading between the lines, it seems that the Jets were unwilling to surrender next year’s first round pick to the Browns and had extra reservations about making such a deal with the rival Giants.

It is widely believed that the Jets are targeting a quarterback with the third pick, but it’s not clear which one(s) they are eyeing. In theory, they could open up their options by trading up again with the Giants at No. 2, but it seems unlikely that they’ll go down that road since they did not engage with them before pulling off the Colts deal.

AFC Notes: Anthem, Jets, Raiders, Broncos

March 25th, 2018 at 7:30pm CST by Micah Powell

Among the most divisive issues facing the NFL today are national anthem protests. That division is also felt among the owners themselves, who are currently in Orlando for the annual owner’s meetings.

Outspoken on the subject for more than a year, Texans owner Bob McNair issued another statement on the issue on Sunday, saying, according to The Washington Post’s Mark Maske (Twitter link):

“We’re going to deal with it in such a way, I think, that people will understand that we want everybody to respect our country, respect our flag. And our playing fields, that’s not the place for political statements.”

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson, however, falls on the other side of the argument, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert (Twitter link).

“I can’t speak to how other people run their teams, but I just think that trying to forcibly get the players to shut up is a fantastically bad idea.”

Despite McNair’s seeming assuredness, the owners do not appear to be near to a solution. The issue is sure to permeate throughout the meetings.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • Sticking with the Jets, wide receiver Robby Anderson had his court date moved from Monday to Aug. 6, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The new date will now take place while the Jets are at training camp. The charges, stemming from a January incident, include three felonies: second-degree felony harm to a public servant or family, third-degree felony fleeing/eluding police while lights/siren active and third-degree felony speeding. After being arrested, Anderson threatened to sexually assault the wife of the arresting officer, according to reports. Anderson was allegedly clocked at 105 mph in 45-mph zone speeding away from police while running multiple red lights.
  • Broncos general manager and executive vice president of football operations John Elway said the team doesn’t know who it plans to take with the No. 5 pick in 2018 NFL Draft, 9 News’ Mike Klis writes. “You know we’re wide open, to be dead honest with you,’’ Elway said. “Who knows how it’s all going to fall. The Jets have already moved (from the No. 6 pick up to No. 3) and there’s going to be other teams that may be moving around, too, so we’re going to go through and have those discussions. I will tell ya, it’s funny how people think they know who you’re drafting because I don’t know who we’re drafting, yet. We’re going to do our homework and eventually get there.’’ 
  • Raiders owner Mark Davis said with the hiring of new head coach Jon Gruden, he plans to be done with the football side of the organization, NBC Sports’ Scott Bair tweets. “It was a six-year process to get Jon to be the head coach,” Davis said. “This year, he finally came on board. That allows me to see a long-term process working out on the football side. … I play devil’s advocate on certain things, but those guys make the decisions.”

 

 

2018 NFL Draft Pick Capital By Team

March 23rd, 2018 at 3:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While each NFL team is organically handed seven draft picks per season, trades involving draft choices and the compensatory pick process ensures that many clubs end up with more (or fewer) than their original seven selections. As always, you can view the complete 2018 draft order, but here we’ll look at how much draft capital each club has amassed.

Let’s take a look at how many draft picks each NFL club currently possesses:

Updated 4-8-18 (1:47pm CT)

12 picks

  • Green Bay Packers

11 picks

  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Oakland Raiders

10 picks

  • Dallas Cowboys

9 picks

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • San Francisco 49ers

8 picks

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Denver Broncos
  • Houston Texans
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New England Patriots
  • New Orleans Saints
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Washington Redskins

7 picks

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Chicago Bears
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6 picks

  • Detroit Lions
  • New York Giants
  • New York Jets
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Tennessee Titans

Of course, not all draft picks are created equally, as holding more early-round selections is eminently more valuable than collecting mid-to-late round picks. Using Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, we can calculate how many draft capital points each team owns heading into the 2018 NFL draft:

  1. Cleveland Browns: 102.8
  2. Indianapolis Colts: 74.1
  3. Buffalo Bills: 72.9
  4. New York Giants: 65.8
  5. Denver Broncos: 62.6
  6. New England Patriots: 53.5
  7. Green Bay Packers: 52.5
  8. San Francisco 49ers: 52.2
  9. Oakland Raiders: 49.4
  10. Cincinnati Bengals: 49.2
  11. Chicago Bears: 46.6
  12. Miami Dolphins: 45.6
  13. Dallas Cowboys: 44.4
  14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 44.0
  15. New York Jets: 43.8
  16. Arizona Cardinals: 41.8
  17. Baltimore Ravens: 41.1
  18. Los Angeles Chargers: 40.8
  19. Washington Redskins: 39.5
  20. Detroit Lions: 38.5
  21. Tennessee Titans: 36.0
  22. Atlanta Falcons: 33.2
  23. Carolina Panthers: 33.0
  24. Pittsburgh Steelers: 32.9
  25. Jacksonville Jaguars: 31.8
  26. Kansas City Chiefs: 31.2
  27. Seattle Seahawks: 30.7
  28. Minnesota Vikings: 30.4
  29. New Orleans Saints: 30.2
  30. Houston Texans: 27.6
  31. Los Angeles Rams: 22.7
  32. Philadelphia Eagles: 22.2

NFL Draft Rumors: Darnold, Giants, Chubb

March 22nd, 2018 at 2:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Wednesday’s rainy weather in Southern California isn’t ideal for local residents, but it may have done a favor for quarterback Sam Darnold at USC’s pro day, as Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets. The early word from Darnold’s audition indicates that he looked “very, very good” despite the conditions. That could be a major plus for Darnold as he looks to separate himself from other top quarterbacks like Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, and UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Rosen also threw in inclement weather at UCLA’s pro day earlier this month and threw well, despite heavy gusts of wind.

Here’s more NFL Draft news:

  • The Giants already had a private workout with North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb and he’ll visit the facility in a few weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Giants need a defensive end after trading Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers, opening up the possibility of taking Chubb at No. 2 overall.
  • The Texans hosted a private workout yesterday for Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Rapoport tweets. Jackson, is expected to come off the board in the first two rounds, would not be an obvious fit for Houston, but they want to be “prepared for any and all scenarios on draft week,” Rapoport says. However, if Jackson falls, he could be an interesting insurance policy for them in the unlikely event that Deshaun Watson is not ready for the start of the season.
  • During the University of San Diego’s pro day, former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel auditioned for the NFL scouts in attendance and reportedly put on a good show.

Michigan’s Maurice Hurst Cleared To Play

March 22nd, 2018 at 1:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Good news for Michigan standout Maurice Hurst. The potential first round defensive tackle has been cleared by cardiologists at both the University of Michigan and Harvard to resume playing football, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. He’ll do a full workout for teams at Michigan’s pro day on Friday. 

Hurst was found to have a heart condition during the draft combine, cutting his week in Indianapolis short. Reportedly, Hurst’s condition is similar to that of former Lions and Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who missed all of 2017 as a result of his medical issues.

Hurst could have been drafted early on in 2017, but he opted to stay in school for another year. That extra year with the Wolverines helped his draft stock from a football perspective, but interested teams will be taking an extra close look at his medical records.

In 2017, Hurst tallied 59 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. In his final three seasons with the Wolverines, he racked up a total of 13.5 sacks.

AFC East Rumors: Bills, Boldin, Jets, Pats

March 20th, 2018 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have not contacted the Browns about trading for the No. 1 overall pick, a source tells Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The Bills moved up to the No. 12 selection in the Cordy Glenn trade with Cincinnati and they also hold the No. 22 overall pick in the draft, fueling speculation that they could vault into the top five to select their quarterback of the future. However, it’s hard to imagine the Browns trading down from No. 1 and passing up a chance to get their favorite QB, despite GM John Dorsey‘s proclamation that he is open to a deal. The Bills are effectively blocked from moving up to No. 3 after the Jets acquired that pick from the Colts, so one has to wonder if the Bills will look to engage the Giants for the No. 2 pick. Then again, the Giants also seem unlikely to move down given their need for a successor to Eli Manning or a playmaker like Saquon Barkley.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Anquan Boldin says he hasn’t thought about whether he could play again, but he’s confident that he could pick up where he left off. “Definitely,” Boldin said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun). “If I wanted to, I know I could.” Boldin was released from the Bills‘ reserve/retired list last week, fueling speculation that he could return to the field. Boldin will turn 38 in October, which is well past the expiration date for a wide receiver. He also averaged just 8.7 yards per reception in 2016, his last NFL season.
  • Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue is facing even more legal trouble. In addition to his recent DWI arrest after crashing into a bus while going the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel, Donahue is facing a drunken driving charge in Montana, according to ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. Donahue is one of several Jets players with legal issues and one has to imagine that his roster spot is in jeopardy.
  • The Patriots are among the teams interested in former Bills wide receiver/special teams ace Marcus Easley now that he’s back to full health, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Giants also have interest, per Wilson.

NFL Draft Rumors: Chubb, Bucs, Steelers

March 20th, 2018 at 12:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Long considered to be a top-three pick, Bradley Chubb might be sliding down mock drafts after the Jets traded with the Colts to get to No. 3 in the upcoming NFL Draft. The move, which could signal a run on quarterbacks early in the draft, isn’t slowing down the N.C. State pass rusher, however.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who spoke with Chubb’s agent, the top defensive end in the rookie class already has meetings scheduled with five teams between Sunday night and Monday before his pro day. All of those teams currently are slated to pick in the top seven spots in the draft.

Florio also spoke with longtime assistant coach Jim Washburn, who praised the defensive end as a potential perennial double-digit sack producer if he ends up in the right system. “If I was the team in need I would be very, very careful on passing on him,” Washburn said.

The flurry of moves could push down one of the top talents in the draft past the top five and to a team like the Buccaneers at pick No. 7. The move would be a steal for Tampa Bay, who is already locked in to Jameis Winston as the team’s franchise quarterback and ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks a year ago.

Regardless where he goes, Chubb is slated to be an impact performer from the moment he steps on the field.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Earlier in the week, the Steelers signed linebacker Jon Bostic to a two-year deal to potentially replace Ryan Shazier, who is recovering from a devastating injury in 2017. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, however, tweets the former Colts linebacker is merely just a seat warmer for whoever the team drafts in the first two rounds. One of those players who could be available is Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch, who Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller projected to Pittsburgh in his latest mock draft. On Vander Esch, Miller writes: “Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch is a 6’4″, 256-pound linebacker with good speed (4.65 in the 40) who possesses the ability to take on tailbacks in run support, the speed to pursue on the edge and the instincts to cover pass-catchers over the middle.”
  • The Browns signed one of this year’s top free agent running backs in Carlos Hyde, but they have not ruled out selecting Penn State star Saquon Barkley.

Browns Haven’t Ruled Out Saquon Barkley

March 14th, 2018 at 10:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns added one of this year’s best available running backs in Carlos Hyde, but they haven’t ruled out selecting Saquon Barkley in next month’s draft, according to ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon. “Nobody is ruled out,” one source said of the Browns’ mindset. 

Of course, popular thought would dictate that the Browns will select a quarterback at No. 1 overall while addressing a different need at No. 4. By the time No. 4 rolls around, it’s likely that Barkley will be off the board.

Hyde inked a three-year, $15MM deal with Cleveland that includes $6MM in 2018. That’s a decent-sized deal, but the cash-flush Browns can afford to roster Hyde as the bottom half of a timeshare. That would be Hyde’s likely role, should the team go for the Penn State star.

The Browns still need to address their QB situation in the long term and one of their two top picks will almost certainly be used on a signal caller. But, if GM John Dorsey is ready to buck popular opinion and target, say, Baker Mayfield rather than Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, he could get his man at No. 4.

The addition of Hyde was one of several to the Browns’ offense this offseason, joining quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. With a short-term quarterback in place, the Browns could also elect to trade the No. 1 overall pick to stash selections while also taking a quarterback at No. 4.

The Browns may also target North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb with the No. 1 pick. Cleveland already has four picks within the first 35 selections of this year’s draft.

Extra Points: Draft, Nelson, Price, Cap

March 7th, 2018 at 10:19am CST by Zachary Links

A quick look around the NFL:

  • Some teams consider guard Quenton Nelson to be top overall player in this year’s draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He’s not int he mix to go No. 1 overall, but his tape has impressed scouts around the league. Nelson is widely expected to be a top ten pick, particularly after a strong showing in Indianapolis.
  • Ohio State center Billy Price is expected to be sidelined for four months after undergoing successful surgery on his “incomplete pec tear,” a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Price should be ready for the start of training camp, so it’s possible that he could still be a first-round pick.
  • The NFL set the 2018 salary cap at $177.2MM, and while that number fell short of the high end of recent projections, the league and the NFL players association have agreed to place more money in the NFL’s player performance pool, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The player performance pool, which does not affect the salary cap, is designed to divert extra money to low-paid players who contribute on a regular basis. Last year, the pool amounted to $3.995MM per team, but that figure will increase to $4.415MM per club in 2017, as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets.

Extra Points: Kaepernick, Ravens, Swanson

March 5th, 2018 at 9:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens were reportedly interested in signing quarterback Colin Kaepernick before the 2017 campaign, but a high-ranking U.S. military official may have been part of squashing the club’s plans to meet with the signal-caller, according to TMZ Sports. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh consulted with several friends while his team was discussing Kaepernick, and one such friend — the unnamed official — “cautioned” Harbaugh about the former 49ers signal-caller. While the official did not tell Harbaugh not to sign Kaepernick, he did indicate the Ravens should give Kaepernick a “set of specific guidelines to follow” in order to remain employed. Kaepernick, of course, was the progenitor of kneeling for the national anthem as a form of silent protest. After passing on Kaepernick, Baltimore went on to sign journeyman Thad Lewis to serve as depth behind starter Joe Flacco.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Lions center Travis Swanson is headed towards free agency, and it’s conceivable his reported late-season concussion could be a red flag for interested teams. However, Swanson’s representatives claim that he didn’t actually suffer a concussion in 2017, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. Instead, Swanson says a bad reaction to the medicine he was given to treat his (non) concussion was the source of his symptoms. The 27-year-old pivot has a medical note to back up his version of the story, but the Lions are sticking by the original injury report that landed Swanson on injured reserve prior to Week 17. Thus far, both the Jets and Dolphins have expressed preliminary interest in Swanson, who offers 42 games worth of starting experience.
  • At least one unidentified NFL team has Louisville’s Lamar Jackson rated as the draft’s No. 2 quarterback prospect, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2016, is generally listed behind Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen is consensus rankings, but it sounds as though at least one team prefers Jackson to many of those signal-callers. Some teams reportedly had interest in working out Jackson as a receiver at the combine, but he declined to take part in non-quarterback drills.
  • The upcoming season is likely to be a “make-or-break” campaign for Redskins president Bruce Allen, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington has had its fair share of turnover — in the front office, on the coaching staff, and on the roster — during Allen’s tenure, but he’s managed to stick around since 2009. During that time, the Redskins have posted a disappointing 52-75-1 record. Additionally, the club has lost respected general manager Scot McCloughan (reportedly because of a rift with Allen), and will not re-sign franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins.
  • The NFL’s scouting combine will remain in Indianapolis through at least 2020, but the function’s long-term location is unclear, writes Mike Chappell of FOX59. While speculation has arisen that Los Angeles or Las Vegas could be the combine’s next home, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk indicates Indianapolis is considered ideal given that every part of the event — meetings, workouts, medical testing — to be located within a small radius.
Load More Posts