While multiple reports have indicated the Jets‘ goal for their No. 3 pick was Sam Darnold, their new heir apparent, Baker Mayfield‘s agent said the team was effusive in its praise for his client when he visited Gang Green headquarters in April.
“When he visited the Jets, they pretty much said ‘You’re our guy if you’re there,'” Mayfield’s agent Jack Mills said on “The Business of Sport with Andrew Brandt” podcast (via Newsday). “(The Browns) didn’t say you’re our guy. I don’t know what they said. They liked him and (John) Dorsey never contacted us.”
It’s since come out the Browns had several executives independently declare Mayfield was the draft’s top quarterback, but for weeks, the Jets/Mayfield noise increased. However, this may well have been contingent on Darnold not getting past Cleveland.
Here’s the latest from the East divisions, continuing with a Dolphins draft what-if.
- Here’s a nice chain reaction from the fourth round: the Ravens appear to have sought Miami running back Mark Walton with their fourth-round pick, but the Bengals took him at No. 112. This led to Baltimore selecting Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett at No. 118. This, in turn, depressed some in the Dolphins‘ war room. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears the Dolphins sought Averett with their fourth-rounder (No. 122), but they ended up drafting Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe. This came after Miami already took Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki in Round 2.
- The Dolphins have T.J. McDonald signed through 2020, but they may be considering moving him to linebacker, per Jackson. Miami extended McDonald last September and deployed him as a starting safety in eight games after his eight-game suspension ended. He graded as a middle-of-the-pack safety in the view of Pro Football Focus, but the analytics site rated McDonald as an upper-echelon run defender. Set to have Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan start at two of their three linebacker spots, the Dolphins may have an interest in stationing McDonald at one of their outside positions. Although, they did draft former McMillan Ohio State teammate Jerome Baker in the third round.
- Darren Sproles will make $1.015MM in base salary this season with the Eagles, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. It’s uncertain what bonuses and incentives are in the 34-year-old running back’s contract, but Sproles is already on the books for this salary.
- The Eagles are highly unlikely to pick up Nick Foles‘ mutual option in 2019, Parks notes. That figure is worth $20.6MM as a result of the renegotiated deal the Eagles and Foles agreed upon earlier this year. Foles faced a somewhat similar circumstance in 2016, when the Chiefs did not pick up an eight-figure option and sent him back into free agency. Shorr-Parks writes the Eagles understandably would be more willing to work out a long-term deal with their backup quarterback than have him stick around on that price.
Why does Baker Mayfield agent find it so necessary to comment on this stuff. Patriots would have moved up. Jets wanted him. It goes on……
It feels like a ploy to keep the NFL relevant for sportscenter and NFL Live fodder.
I consider everything that happened top-notch smokescreens.
It’s the dead period between the draft and the preseason. Soon you’ll be hearing stories like;
MAYFIELD PREFERRED JETS TO PATS?
While at a restaurant in Cleveland, Browns’ rookie QB Baker Mayfield ordered a bowl of clam chowder. When asked which type, the waiter received a surprising answer, “He said, ‘Manhattan.’ I couldn’t believe it.” said part-time server Kevin Cruz. “Most football players I know prefer New England to Manhattan. As a life long Browns fan, it makes me question his judgement.”
Mayfield’s agent commented on his client’s soup choice and if it reflected his view on the Jets and Patriots organizations, “My client what? Oh, well I think he probably went with Manhattan because it was less calories. But, whatever brings him attention is fine with me. In fact, both Campbell’s and Progresso have contacted me about an endorsement deal.”
Embattled former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick had a different take on the soup order, “To me it had deeper meaning, I think he chose the darker colored soup over the white soup out of a sense of culinary social justice. He did the right thing.”
This just win you the internet for eternity!
So when does the agent reveal that the Pats wanted to trade up to draft QB Clam Chowder?
Exactly. They are desperate for news, there aren’t really any real stories right now. The NFL and news regarding it is dead until preseason starts.
Itslonelyatthe is tight I love his comments.!!