2018 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Browns Consider Trading No. 4 Overall Pick

April 25th, 2018 at 1:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns plan to keep the No. 1 pick, but they could trade their other first-round selection. The Browns have had a lot of conversations about the No. 4 selection, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Those talks could be a part of due diligence, but the Browns may also be also considering a scenario in which they get a large haul for the No. 4 choice from a team desperate to take their desired quarterback.

One decision-maker told Rapoport (Twitter link) that the No. 4 pick is the “pivotal point in the draft.” If the Browns were to keep both the No. 1 and No. 4 picks, the assumption is that a QB would be taken with the first pick and a non-QB would go at No. 4. If another team steps up and takes a QB at No. 4, it increases the likelihood that four QBs will be taken within the top 5. That would spell good news for teams that are already set under center and put other clubs in need of a passer in a precarious spot.

If the Giants select running back Saquon Barkley – as many believe they will – and pick Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5 are all used on QBs, many of this year’s top overall talents will be available outside of the top five. The Colts, in particular, would be in a position to benefit. After already landing three second-round picks to trade down from No. 3 to No. 6, the Colts could command a serious haul if defensive end Bradley Chubb, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, Florida State safety Derwin James, and Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick are all on the board. The Colts could also stand pat and select one of this year’s best players available for themselves.

Pats Met Twice With Lamar Jackson

April 25th, 2018 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s fair to wonder whether the Patriots’ reported interest in Lamar Jackson is a smokescreen, but the latest word indicates that they are legitimately considering the Louisville quarterback. In addition to their meeting at team headquarters, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also conducted a private workout with Jackson in South Florida, Jenny Vrentas of The MMQB tweets.

A few weeks ago, it seemed likely that Jackson would still be on the board for the Patriots’ initial first-round pick at No. 23. Now, with talk that four QBs could be taken inside of the first five picks, it’s far from a certainty that Jackson will be available. Assuming that Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield are taken inside of the top 10, the Patriots would have to hope that the Dolphins (No. 11), Bills (Nos. 12 and 22), Cardinals (No. 15), Ravens (No. 16), and Chargers (No. 17) pass on the speedy signal caller.

Some evaluators still believe that Jackson would fare better as a wide receiver in the NFL, but he says that he is solely focused on playing quarterback. He didn’t help his case at the combine as he performed poorly in interviews and whiteboard exercises, but that apparently has not dissuaded Patriots brass.

The Patriots own two first-round picks and two second-round picks in this year’s draft thanks to the Brandin Cooks and Jimmy Garoppolo trades.

Browns To Take Allen Or Mayfield?

April 25th, 2018 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

For weeks, we have been hearing that the Browns will select either USC quarterback Sam Darnold or Wyoming QB Josh Allen with the top pick. Then, this week, it was reported that Oklahoma signal caller Baker Mayfield is also in the mix. Now, sources say the Browns appear to be down to either Allen or Mayfield as team executives have cooled on Darnold, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes.

Much has been made about Mayfield’s lack of height, but GM John Dorsey has made it clear that he is not concerned. Dorsey has also indicated that he would not rule out Mayfield over his red flags, which include a public intoxication arrest, grabbing his crotch against Kansas, and planting a flag on the Block O at Ohio State.

“Every young man will make a mistake in his life, I bet you,” he said. “And I think he’s very remorseful of that mistake and I think he’s moved forward from that, and he’s trying to make himself a better person, going through the process.”

Allen, meanwhile, has been praised for his arm strength, but his low completion rate in college underscores his lack of accuracy. If the Browns believe that they can harness his raw skills, then he could be a real consideration for the top choice. However, some would argue that he has the most bust potential of this year’s top four quarterback prospects.

Have the Browns truly drifted away from Darnold? At this point, it is impossible to tell whether the Browns are actually deciding between Mayfield and Allen or if they are simply working to try and drum up a better trade offer. Still, it’s a situation worth monitoring as whispers about Darnold’s lack of polish continue to circulate.

Browns GM: No Real Offers For Top Pick

April 25th, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Zachary Links

Right now, it sounds like the Browns will be keeping the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Browns GM John Dorsey says he has not received any legitimate trade offers for the top choice (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Steve Wyche). Meanwhile, he claims that he is keeping the identity of the No. 1 pick under wraps

“I haven’t even told my wife,” Dorsey said.

Since 1990, the No. 1 overall pick has been traded just six times before draft day. The most recent occurrence took place in 2016 when the Rams acquired the top choice in the draft in order to select quarterback Jared Goff. The Rams are happy with how things turned out, though the Titans did come away with four starters as a result of that deal in running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Corey Davis, tight end Jonnu Smith, and offensive lineman Jack Conklin.

Teams have almost certainly engaged in trade talks with the Browns regarding the top pick, but it’s a tricky calculation for any club. The Browns are ostensibly asking for a lot and, so far, no one is willing to meet that sticker price.

Florida WR Antonio Callaway Reportedly Tests Positive For Marijuana

April 24th, 2018 at 7:13pm CST by Ryan Posner

Former Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Callaway’s new agent, Malki Kawa, has said the positive test was due to a diluted sample.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) added that Callaway said he was over-hydrated at the combine and that he will address the positive test with teams.

In terms of talent, Callaway is one of the top receivers slated to be available in this week’s draft. But this is far from his first off-the-field incident that might keep teams from picking him until Day 3 of the draft, if at all. While at Florida, he was cleared of a sexual assault allegation but didn’t do himself any favors at his Title IX hearing, saying he was too “stoned” to have intercourse.

Callaway was also charged with two third-degree felonies for his involvement in a credit card scam while at Florida. He was suspended from Florida’s team for all of last season. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reported on Friday that Callaway had already been completely taken off the draft board of three teams.

Pelissero also reported that Florida had privately told teams in the Southeast to steer clear of Callaway, as he needed to get as far away from South Florida as possible. Some NFL teams still believe he can turn things around and have a positive impact on the field, though.

“He’s not a bad kid, either. He’s just been around a lot of trouble,” an AFC scout told Pelissero. “And he admits to the fact that trouble finds him. He just hangs with the wrong people. It’s a shame, because he’s ridiculously talented.”

NFL Draft Rumors: Jets, Darnold, Rosen

April 24th, 2018 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest NFL draft news:

The Jets have cancelled Top 30 meetings with top prospects who aren’t quarterbacks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, which only underscores their desire to take a QB at No. 3 overall. After the Jets sacrificed three second-round picks to jump from No. 6 to No. 3, it would be an absolute shock to see the Jets take a non-QB.
One GM estimates there is a “50 percent chance” that four QBs will go in the first five picks on Thursday night, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. That’s bad news for teams outside of the top 5 who are hoping to land a QB, but excellent news for the clubs who are not in the market for a top-flight passer. If that scenario plays out, it may mean that Louisville’s Lamar Jackson will be selected earlier than anticipated.
NC State defensive end Kentavius Street had successful ACL surgery last week, Rapoport hears (on Twitter). A full recovery is expected and Street is likely to still be drafted. Street had 19.5 sacks in four seasons at NC State, including nine sacks in his junior season. Before the injury, he appeared to have a shot at being taken during Day 2. Now, he seems more likely to go between rounds 4-7.

Cardinals Looking To Move Up In Draft

April 24th, 2018 at 3:07pm CST by Zachary Links

As of this writing, the Cardinals are set to pick at No. 15 overall. That might not be the case when the draft rolls around on Thursday. The Cardinals are “making a lot of noise about moving up,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Cardinals signed Sam Bradford to be their starting quarterback in 2018 and Mike Glennon is on hand as a backstop. In the long term, however, Arizona needs to consider the future of the QB position. At No. 15, the Cardinals are unlikely to land any of this year’s top four QBs, but they could be in range for one of them if they move up into the top 10. To solidify the possibility of landing Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, or Josh Rosen, they may need to go as high as No. 5 or No. 6.

Of course, the Cardinals have other major needs to address in the draft, including finding a cornerback and wide receiver to pair with star Patrick Peterson. Cornerbacks such as Minkah Fitzpatrick and Denzel Ward could be available if the Cards can find their way into the back half of the top 10. They could also be pressured into moving up for a wide receiver like Alabama’s Calvin Ridley or Maryland’s D.J. Moore, though one or both of those players could be on the board at their original pick.

NFL Draft Rumors: Sweat, Giants, Patriots

April 24th, 2018 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

FSU pass rusher Josh Sweat is a player to keep an eye on as the NFL Draft approaches. Sweat, a five-star, top-10 overall recruit nationally coming out of high school, impressed at the draft combine and drew the attention of evaluators across the league. However, his history of knee issues including ACL, MCL, PCL injuries have teams concerned, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Interestingly, his 2016 knee surgery was performed by Giants team doctor Russ Warren, and that leads Rapoport to wonder aloud if that could make New York a potential landing spot for him. Sweat has been widely projected as a third round possibility, but it sounds like he could find his way into the second round based on his potential.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:

We could see three centers come off of the board in the first round, Rapoport tweets. Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow, Iowa’s James Daniels, and Ohio State’s Billy Price – whose health is no longer a major issue – are all candidates to hear their name called on Day 1. We’ve also heard that Georgia guard Isaiah Wynn could come off the board sooner than expected as teams zero in on interior linemen.
Former Oregon left tackle Tyrell Crosby spent last week taking visits to the Patriots and Lions, Rapoport tweets. He adds that the Pats are a team to watch, as they could target Nate Solder’s replacement in the draft. Crosby, a 6’5″, 309-pound lineman, missed the bulk of his junior year due to a broken left foot. He rebounded well as a senior, appearing in all 15 games for the Ducks with nine starts. Six of those starts came on the outside at the tackle position.

Giants Looking To Trade Ereck Flowers

April 24th, 2018 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

As the 2018 draft approaches, the Giants are looking to unload a former top 10 pick. The Giants have had trade discussions centered around former first round tackle Ereck Flowers, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (on Twitter) hears the Giants aren’t expecting a big return for him. The Giants believe a deal is possible, but they understand that they won’t get much in terms of compensation.

Flowers, who doesn’t turn 24 until April, has not panned out for the Giants. The University of Miami product has earned poor grades in each of his three years as the Giants’ starting left tackle and new addition Nate Solder is expected to man the left side for the Giants in 2018. Flowers, in theory, could handle duties at right tackle, but the new administration led by Dave Gettleman would apparently prefer a fresh start.

Given the need for tackles around the league, the Giants can’t necessarily bank on finding a replacement for Flowers at No. 34 overall. It is expected that Connor Williams (Texas) and Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame) will be long gone by the time the Giants come up in the second round, so they may have to settle for lesser prospects like Tyrell Crosby (Oregon), Brian O’Neill (Pitt), and Kolton Miller (UCLA) if they want a tackle with that selection.

Browns Considering Baker Mayfield?

April 24th, 2018 at 8:55am CST by Zachary Links

For weeks, we’ve heard that the Browns will select either USC’s Sam Darnold or Wyoming’s Josh Allen with the No. 1 overall pick. Reportedly, it’s more than a two-horse race. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is “definitely” in Cleveland’s conversation to become the top choice, an NFL executive tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

It’s a little hard to parse out what news is real this time of year. But, taken at face value, it sounds like there could be a split of opinions within the Cleveland front office. None of this year’s quarterback prospects are considered to be slam dunks, so it’s possible that the Browns are wavering on which signal caller to take.

It’s also possible that the Browns are working to give the impression that they could take Mayfield or even one of this year’s non-QBs at No. 1 overall. If the Browns can give at least one team the impression they are going to select Mayfield, it could open the door to a trade-down scenario for Cleveland. The Jets, for example, are said to be high on Mayfield, and it is conceivable that they could make another move up in this year’s draft order to land him. The Bills, armed with the Nos. 12 and 22 picks in the first round, are also in the market for a QB but are likely out of range for this year’s top four signal callers.

Publicly, GM John Dorsey has indicated that he is not concerned about Mayfield’s lack of size, which has been the main knock on him from evaluators.

“The only thing I care about is, do guys win?” Dorsey said. “Does he have accuracy? Does he have a strong arm? Can he throw the ball in the red zone in tight windows? Can he drive the ball? At the end of the game, does he win? That’s what I look for.”

2018 NFL Draft News & Rumors