HEADLINES

2018 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Vikings, Jets Make Another Round 5 Deal

April 28th, 2018 at 2:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Maccagnan and Rick Spielman look to have had another phone conversation, because the Jets and Vikings have made a second deal for Round 5 picks.

The Jets dealt their No. 167 choice to the Vikings, the pick Minnesota previously owned before moving into the Jets’ No. 157 slot. After taking a tight end following the teams’ previous trade, the Vikes selected Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson.

New York dealt the No. 167 and No. 225 selections to Minnesota in exchange for the Nos. 180 and 204 overall choices, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).

A three-time Lou Groza award finalist, Carlson is the first kicker to be selected this year. Kai Forbath served as the Vikings’ kicker last season after joining the team in 2016. Minnesota re-signed Forbath in March for one year and $790K, but he’ll now be pushed by a highly regarded specialty prospect. Although the 30-year-old incumbent made 32 of his 38 field goal tries last season, he missed five extra points.

Rams Move Into Broncos’ No. 160 Slot

April 28th, 2018 at 1:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having just acquired a seventh sixth-round selection in this year’s draft in the Tavon Austin trade, the Rams used that capital to move up into Round 5.

The Rams sent two of those sixth-rounders (Nos. 183 and 217) to the Broncos to move into the No. 160 spot. Los Angeles used the pick to take Oklahoma edge defender Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

Despite making big trades to help their defense, the Rams are thinner on the edge. Okoronkwo provided consistent pressure for the Sooners, totaling 29 tackles for loss and 17 sacks over the past two seasons. He’s the third sack artist to head to the Rams this draft, following Stephen F. Austin’s John Franklin-Myers and Virginia’s Micah Kiser.

This marks the second time in the past several minutes the Broncos have traded down in the fifth round. Previously, Denver did not have a pick past Round 5. This was because of multiple trades they made in a busy offseason. They now own three because of these Saturday deals.

Vikings Land Jets’ No. 157 Pick

April 28th, 2018 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets and Vikings exchanged late-round draft choices, clearing the way for Minnesota to land Central Michigan tight end Tyler Conklin.

Minnesota acquired the No. 157 overall pick in return for the Nos. 167 and 225 selections, per NJ.com’s Darryl Slater (via Twitter). Prior to this deal, the Vikes held four sixth-round draft choices. They still have three after moving up in Round 5.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound pass-catcher surpassed 500 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, totaling 11 touchdown grabs in that span. The Vikings didn’t have much invested at the tight end spot behind Kyle Rudolph previously, so Conklin could have a chance at playing time fairly early.

Ravens Send No. 152 Pick To Titans

April 28th, 2018 at 1:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans chose to move up a bit in the fifth round, climbing from No. 162 to No. 152. They’ll send the Ravens that No. 162 choice as well as the No. 215 selection (Round 6), per Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Now under the direction of new coach Mike Vrabel, the Titans have made three moves up in this draft — most notably to land high-end defenders Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry with their first- and second-round picks.

This time, Tennessee selected Arizona cornerback Dane Cruikshank. The 6-foot-1 corner intercepted five passes over the past two seasons for the Wildcats. He’s only the third draft choice the Titans have made this year. Because of this deal, Tennessee only owns one more draft choice (No. 199).

Broncos Deal No. 149 To Seahawks

April 28th, 2018 at 1:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering this third draft day without a pick in the sixth or seventh rounds, the Broncos acquired one after trading their No. 149 choice to the Seahawks.

Denver dealt its fifth-rounder to Seattle in exchange for the No. 156 pick and a seventh-round selection (No. 226), Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter). The Seahawks used their new choice to take Texas punter Michael Dickson, who won the Ray Guy award last year as Division I-FBS’ best punter.

Dickson is the first punter to go off the board in this year’s draft and will certainly push incumbent Jon Ryan, who has been Seattle’s punter since the 2008 season. Ryan’s under contract through the 2019 season and will make $3.2MM this year; it’s certainly possible the Seahawks will opt to save money at that spot this season and send Ryan, who will turn 37 later this year, elsewhere.

The Seahawks met with Dickson at the Combine and apparently made him do a staring contest. The Australia native was named MVP of the Texas Bowl and won the Ray Guy award via unanimous vote.

Raiders Trade Up To 140, Take Maurice Hurst

April 28th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

A day after taking a first-round talent whose stock plummeted, the Raiders have repeated the practice. And it took another trade to do so.

Per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter), Oakland surrendered its Nos. 159 and 185 overall selections to trade into Indianapolis’ No. 140 slot, where Maurice Hurst Jr. became the pick.

The Michigan interior pass rusher was viewed as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the draft, but heart issues caused him to fall to this juncture of the draft. Hurst will join Arden Key as defensive linemen heading to Oakland. Jon Gruden‘s team is ready to gamble on some boom-or-bust talent in hopes of creating a better supporting cast for Khalil Mack, whose team has lacked such a contingent for a while now.

Hurst was given clearance from his heart condition, one that emerged at the Combine, recently. But teams still stayed away until Day 3. Nevertheless, the Michigan defensive tackle combined to register 24.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, and the Raiders have struggled to generate interior pressure for years now. Top inside rusher Mario Edwards is entering a contract year as well.

Panthers Acquire No. 136 From Rams

April 28th, 2018 at 12:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have acquired pick No. 136 from the Rams in exchange for Nos. 147 and 197, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).

The Panthers used their newly-acquired pick on New Mexico State wideout Jaleel Scott. The six-foot-six receiver had a breakout campaign in 2017, hauling in 76 receptions for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns. He’ll provide quarterback Joe Flacco with another talented target, and Scott will instantly become the tallest wideout on the team.

The Ravens have added a number of offensive pieces during the draft, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, lineman Orlando Brown, and tight ends Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews.

Buccaneers Trade Into Vikings’ No. 94 Slot

April 27th, 2018 at 9:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers will trade a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round selection to move into the Vikings’ No. 94 spot at the end of this third round.

Tampa Bay gave up the No. 180 selection to swing this deal with Minnesota. The Bucs used this deal to select Alex Cappa, an offensive lineman out of Humboldt State.

This continues a busy night for the Bucs, who have now made four selections on Day 2 in this draft. They took running back Ronald Jones, cornerback M.J. Stewart, cornerback Carlton Davis and now Cappa, who was a stellar performer throughout his career at the Division II program.

The Bucs have a recent history of looking far and wide for offensive line help, with Division III product Ali Marpet being a multiyear starter in Tampa. Cappa was a four-time first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference choice and finished his career as a first-team Division II All-American in 2017.

Raiders Trade With Rams, Select Arden Key

April 27th, 2018 at 9:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Arden Key‘s slide looks to have stopped. The Raiders have moved into the No. 87 draft position and are selecting the LSU edge defender.

The Rams traded out of the No. 87 slot and will drop back two positions in this third round, with Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reporting (via Twitter) Los Angeles will also collect a a sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 217) in this exchange.

Key was projected by some to be a first-round pick earlier in the pre-draft process, and he joins former LSU teammate Derrius Guice as Tigers to endure lengthy slips during draft weekend.

A dominant player in 2016 with an LSU-record 12.5 sacks, the 6-foot-6 Key spent time in rehab for marijuana usage and was overweight for his final season in Baton Rouge, La. But Key is viewed as a first-round-level talent, and he’ll join an edge-rushing contingent and is set to play behind Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.

Steelers Trade Up To Seahawks’ No. 76 Spot

April 27th, 2018 at 8:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

It’s possible the Steelers have located their quarterback of the future. At least, they’re making a reasonable investment in one.

The Steelers have traded up to the No. 76 draft slot and selected Mason Rudolph. The Seahawks are trading down to allow for this to occur. Seattle will acquire Pittsburgh’s No. 79 choice and a seventh-rounder, No. 220, per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Viewed by many as the sixth-best quarterback prospect in this year’s prospect pool, Rudolph is the sixth QB selected. He’s also the first passer the Steelers have chosen in the first three rounds since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Pittsburgh used a 2017 fifth-rounder on Joshua Dobbs and still has Landry Jones on the roster.

The 6-foot-5 Rudolph put up monster numbers last season with Oklahoma State — 4,904 air yards, 37 touchdown passes and a 65 percent completion rate — and represents a move by the AFC North champions to install a possible Roethlisberger successor. Rudolph started for three seasons in Stillwater, Okla., operating in a passer-friendly system. He figures to have plenty of time to learn the pro game.

Unlike last offseason, Pittsburgh’s 15th-year starter did not publicly consider retirement. He’s now indicated he wants to play multiple additional seasons. Rudolph figures to be a longer-lens investment and could usurp Jones and Dobbs in Pittsburgh’s passing pecking order in the months to come.

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