2019 NFL Draft - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Acquire No. 22 Pick From Ravens

April 25th, 2019 at 9:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles have acquired the No. 22 pick from the Ravens, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Baltimore will pick up No. 25, No. 127, and No. 197, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.

Philadelphia will use the selection to draft Washington State Andre Dillard. Given that the offensive-line needy Texans were sitting at No. 23, the Eagles made the move up the board to find a left tackle of the future.

Dillard, whom many observers ranked as the best pass-blocking tackle in the draft, will now become the long-term replacement for blinside protector Jason Peters. Until Peters hangs up his cleats, Dillard will slide in either as a swing tackle or guard.

Seahawks Trade No. 21 To Packers

April 25th, 2019 at 9:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers are moving up. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that Green Bay has acquired pick No. 21 from the Seahawks. In exchange, Seattle will receive No. 30, No. 114, and No. 118.

The Packers will use their new pick to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage. The defensive back was a three-year starter with the Terrapins, including a 2018 campaign where he compiled 38 tackles and four interceptions. Savage also has limited experience returning punts.

Standing at 5-foot-11, Savage is a bit undersized for safety. However, the prospect makes up for his lack of size with blistering speed and an ability to read receivers. In passing situations, Savage should use his ball-hawking ability to break up passes. In running situations, the safety has shown the ability to smother the ball carrier.

Savage will join a young defensive backs corps that includes a pair of 2018 picks in cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. The rookie should start immediately alongside free agent addition Adrian Amos.

Redskins Select QB Dwayne Haskins

April 25th, 2019 at 8:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The third quarterback is off the board. The Redskins have selected Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 pick.

We heard yesterday that the organization was split on not only which quarterback to select, but whether they should be taking a signal-caller at all. Team president Bruce Allen and owner Dan Snyder were reportedly fixated on Haskins, while others were focused on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. After the Giants ended up selecting Jones, Washington’s decision was seemingly made for them.

There was some hype that Haskins could end up being selected in the top-six, as both the Raiders and Giants had been connected to the quarterback. Considering the uncertainty, there were also some whispers that the Redskins would look to leapfrog both Oakland and New York, with the Jets’ third-overall pick seeming like a natural match.

The hype for Haskins is justified after a breakout campaign in 2018. The quarterback completed 70-percent of his passes for 4,831 yards, an eye-popping 50 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. His lack of experience was seen as a con among some pundits, although scouts universally touted his size and arm strength.

With Alex Smith shelved indefinitely, the Redskins will have an intriguing quarterback battle this offseason. The organization acquired Case Keenum earlier this offseason, while backup Colt McCoy re-signed with the team.

Steelers Acquire No. 10 From Broncos

April 25th, 2019 at 8:27pm CST by Ben Levine

We have a trade! The Broncos have traded the No. 10 pick to the Steelers, reports Ross Tucker of The Athletic (via Twitter). Pittsburgh has used the pick to select Michigan linebacker Devin Bush.

In exchange for the 10th-overall pick, the Broncos acquired three draft selections. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the Steelers will send Denver No. 20, No. 52, and a 2020 third-rounder.

Bush will provide the Steelers with a talented three-down linebacker who they can immediately insert into their starting lineup. Bush has shown an ability to thrive in both man-to-man and zone coverage, and he also flashed some pass-rushing prowess during his tenure at Michigan. The 20-year-old followed up a breakout 2017 campaign with another impressive season in 2018. Bush ultimately finished the year having compiled 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

The Steelers currently have two former first-rounders, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, slotted in as starting linebackers. Bush will likely occupy one of the two inside spots alongside either Vince Williams or free agent addition Mark Barron.

Despite the offseason addition of veteran Joe Flacco, there were whispers that the Broncos could end up selecting a quarterback with the 10th pick. The team could still end up taking a signal-caller at No. 20, where a number of prospects should still be available. Either way, the trade allows the team to add some much needed depth.

Giants Select QB Daniel Jones

April 25th, 2019 at 8:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants have apparently found Eli Manning‘s successor. The team has selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth-overall pick. Connor Hughes of The Athletic was first with the news (via Twitter).

The Giants had been connected to seemingly every quarterback prospect leading up to the draft. There were reports last week that the front office was focused on Ohio State signal-caller Dwayne Haskins, although there were persisting whispers that the interest was merely a smokescreen. The team was also reportedly eyeing Missouri’s Drew Lock. There was even talk that the Giants could bypass quarterbacks at No. 6 and No. 17, acquire a late first-rounder, and opt for West Virginia’s Will Grier or North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley. The Giants were also connected to Cardinals quarterback Josh Allen. Ultimately, Jones proved to be their guy.

Jones was a three-year starter at Duke, and he saw his draft stock improve after a solid 2018 campaign. The quarterback finished the season having completed 60.5% of his passes for 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2018. There was apparently conflicting opinions on Jones heading into the draft, with one scout referring to him as a “pedestrian talent” while another lauded his “fairly high ceiling.”

Either way, Jones might not be required to take over the Giants offense come the start of next season. After all, the team is still rostering Manning, with the veteran recently stating that he plans on playing through at least the 2020 season. In 2018, the 38-year-old raised his completion rate to a career-high 66% and his 7.5 yards-per-attempt average was considerably higher than it was in the previous two seasons. He also dropped his interceptions total (11) to the lowest its been during his 14 seasons a full-time starter.

Considering the draft capital the team just invested into the position, it isn’t unrealistic to alternatively envision Manning playing elsewhere next season. If the Giants decide they immediately want to pair Jones with reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley and former second-rounder Sterling Shepard, it may be in their best interest to shop Manning.

For what it’s worth, Jones has a connection to Manning via Duke coach David Cutcliff, who led both Eli and Peyton Manning in college. Jones also attended the Manning Passing Academy multiple times.

Cardinals Select Kyler Murray No. 1 Overall

April 25th, 2019 at 7:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals have selected Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall selection of the 2019 NFL draft.

Murray, who won the 2018 Heisman Trophy as the NCAA’s best football player, had long been the favorite to go to Arizona at No. 1, but reports in recent weeks — and even recent hours — had suggested other players such as Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams or Ohio State edge defender Nick Bosa could be in contention for the pick. But the Cardinals opted to go with Murray in a franchise-altering move.

Arizona, of course, used a top-10 selection on a quarterback just one year ago, moving up in the first round in order to acquire UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Rosen went on to post one of the worst rookie quarterback seasons of all time, but a porous offensive line, questionable coaching, and a lack of offensive weapons were at least partly to blame. He now appears to be trade bait, although the Cardinals may be in no rush to move him if they don’t find the right deal.

Murray becoming the NFL’s first overall pick would have been unthinkable as recently as the winter, as he’d already been drafted ninth overall by MLB’s Oakland Athletics. After hemming and hawing about his future, Murray in February fully committed to football, and returned the majority of his baseball signing bonus with the hope he’d recoup those lost funds via the NFL. Murray’s first NFL contract should have a total value north of $35MM and will be fully guaranteed.

At 5’10”, Murray becomes the shortest signal-caller drafted in the first round in more than 60 years, but his height was no obstacle during his lone season as the Sooners’ starter. Last year, Murray completed 69% of his passes for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, and added another 1,001 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

After adding Murray, the Cardinals now face the tall task of building up their roster around their rookie passer. Offensive line, pass-catcher, and defensive line are just a few areas general manager Steve Keim and new head coach Kliff Kingsbury could target over the remainder of the draft.

Giants Targeting Late First-Round QB?

April 25th, 2019 at 2:55pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants could theoretically pass on quarterbacks at No. 6 and No. 17 overall and still come away with a QB tonight. Talk is spreading about the Giants potentially trading back into the first round to land either West Virginia’s Will Grier or North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports (on Twitter).

Neither Finley nor Grier has garnered as much ink as top QBs Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock, and Daniel Jones. Still, the Giants have holes to fill and a big desire to bolster their pass rush, so rumor has it they may pass on all four with their first two choices. It’s worth noting that Vacchiano doesn’t believe the Giants “love” Finley, so Grier could be their preferred target.

The Seahawks (picks Nos. 21, 29) and the Colts (No. 26) have shown an interest in trading back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), so either club could be a match for the Giants in this scenario.

Meanwhile, GM Dave Gettleman seems to be hinting that the Giants will not take a QB at all in the first round.

“We want to come out of [the first round] with two legitimate starters [who] can step in and help us win now,” Gettleman told NFL Network (via PFT).

Meanwhile, Gettleman confirmed that a rookie quarterback would not start ahead of Eli Manning.

“No, he wouldn’t [start right away], but it’s the position,” Gettleman said. “The worse place you can be is quarterback hell.”

Draft Notes: Steelers, Jets, Giants, Dolphins

April 25th, 2019 at 2:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the more traditional NFL franchises, in terms of offseason aggression, the Steelers appear to recognize the urgency their recent defensive struggles have created. They are making calls about a possible trade-up from their No. 20 spot, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Steelers boast big needs at cornerback and linebacker. It is believed the Steelers will be able to land a corner, perhaps the first corner to go in this draft, at 20. But if Pittsburgh wants to make a big move for a linebacker, it will likely need to acquire a top-10 pick. Devin White is viewed at this point as a top-10 lock, and the Broncos have been the team most connected to Devin Bush at No. 10.

Here is the latest from the draft world, hours away from the 2019 event:

The Jets have been a highly motivated seller at No. 3, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes (on Twitter) the team almost certainly will have a market to move back. Three GMs informed Mehta the Jets will be able to trade back, if they so choose, despite a sense existing as recently as Wednesday Gang Green would not be successful in moving its pick. This is, however, contingent on Nick Bosa being gone at No. 2, with Mehta adding the Jets would likely select the Ohio State-developed edge rusher if he were available.
There may be another seller in the AFC East. Earlier on Thursday, the Dolphins were viewed as a trade-down candidate. Teams are now hearing, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link), Miami is quite motivated to move back from No. 13. The Dolphins are receiving calls about their pick, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). This would make sense, given where the Dolphins are in their rebuilding process. However, they have done extensive work on both Dwayne Haskins and Daniel Jones, per Pelissero. But with Miami being mentioned as a candidate to wait until the higher-profile 2020 quarterback class to land its passer, Pelissero adds the Dolphins could pass on both Haskins and Jones even if they were available at 13.
John Elway also mentioned the probable 2020 QB class this offseason, and it appears likely his team will not select a signal-caller at No. 10. The Broncos have been connected to quarterback at 10, but it doesn’t seem like that will be the move, James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Instead, it seems more likely that the Broncos will target inside linebacker, defensive line, and tight end help in the draft.
More consistently linked to QBs than either the Dolphins or Broncos, the Giants have a major decision between their top short- or long-term need at No. 6. Viewed as possibly having executed a Haskins smokescreen operation, the Giants may prefer Jones or Drew Lock over him. While Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv notes they “love” both Jones and Lock, neither may be in play at No. 6. Instead, Big Blue may be gambling it can land one of them at No. 17. This would point to the Giants selecting a pass rusher with their initial first-round pick tonight.

Latest On Cardinals No. 1 NFL Draft Pick

April 25th, 2019 at 1:34pm CST by Zachary Links

With hours to go before the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cardinals’ plans for the No. 1 overall pick remain shrouded in secrecy. Just recently, Cardinals GM Steve Keim reached out to Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to let him know he’s still a possibility to go first overall, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.

At this point, only GM Steve Keim and a few others know the identity of the top pick, Steve Wyche of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). It still sounds like Kyler Murray will be the pick, but no one knows for sure, especially since there have been no trade talks surrounding Josh Rosen at this time.

Further complicating matters is a split of opinions in the Arizona front office about whether Rosen and Murray could co-exist on the roster together. One team source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the situation would not work after Rosen was selected to be Arizona’s QB of the future just one year ago. Another team source, however, feels that it could work.

Stay tuned.

Redskins Split On NFL Draft QBs

April 25th, 2019 at 12:56pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are not only in disagreement about whether to select a quarterback with their top pick – they’re also not sure about which quarterback to select, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Team president Bruce Allen and owner Dan Snyder are fixated on Dwayne Haskins, but there is a case being made in the building for Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, according to Russini’s sources.

It would be troubling, to say the least, if the Redskins are indeed deeply fractured on which quarterback to take with just hours to go before the start of the NFL Draft. Picking at No. 15 overall, the Redskins need to quickly decide whether it’s Haskins or Jones that they want. Right now, it seems doubtful that Haskins will be available with the No. 15 choice, so Washington will probably have to move up into the top 10 if they want a shot at the Ohio State standout.

Jones, meanwhile, could potentially be had at No. 15, but nothing is guaranteed in the draft, particularly when it comes to QBs.

For now, the Redskins are set to go into 2019 with Case Keenum as their QB. Alex Smith, of course, is sidelined after his gruesome leg injury from last year and Colt McCoy is also working his way back from a broken leg of his own.

2019 NFL Draft News & Rumors