2019 April - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Acquire No. 96 Pick From Redskins

April 26th, 2019 at 10:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills made a move in the third round, agreeing to a deal with the Redskins to acquire the No. 96 overall pick. For moving down 16 spots, the Redskins will receive a fourth-round pick (No. 131).

With the higher pick, the Bills selected Ole Miss tight end Dawson Knox. He will join Tyler Kroft as part of Buffalo’s new-look tight end corps.

Charles Clay headed the Bills’ tight end group for four years, but the team released their longtime starter earlier this year. They now have Kroft, Knox and converted tackle Jake Fisher in the fold.

Vikings Send No. 93 Pick To Ravens

April 26th, 2019 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

More Vikings trade action. The Ravens enticed Rick Spielman to trade down, for the fourth time in Round 3.

While the Vikings just acquired a seventh-round pick for a one-spot Jets move, the Ravens will send them two choices — sixth-rounders, at 191 and 193 — for the right to climb nine spots in the third round. The Ravens used the pick to take Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin.

Minnesota began its Round 3 odyssey at No. 81, then moved to 88, 92, 93 and now 102. At this rate, the Vikings will be busy on Day 3.

Boykin will follow Marquise Brown to Baltimore, with the Ravens using the draft to augment their aerial weaponry corps this year. With a developmental quarterback in Lamar Jackson, this strategy makes sense. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Boykin does offer a complementary skill set to the former Oklahoma deep threat.

Vikings Trade No. 92 Pick To Jets

April 26th, 2019 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings apparently are not into this section of the third round. This marks the third time Minnesota has traded down in Round 3.

The Jets moved up one spot, to No. 92, and will send the Vikings a seventh-round pick (No. 217) to do so. Minnesota is now set to pick at No. 93, though that cannot be guaranteed at this point, based on the events of the past hour.

With the one-spot climb, the Jets chose USC tackle Chuma Edoga.

Seahawks Land No. 88 Pick From Vikings

April 26th, 2019 at 9:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time in an hour, the Vikings have traded down. This time, they will send the No. 88 overall pick to the Seahawks.

Minnesota previously dealt its No. 81 choice to Detroit. Seattle selected Utah linebacker Cody Barton. This was a four-pick swap, with the Vikings also dealing a sixth-round pick (No. 209) and the Seahawks sending back a fifth-rounder (No. 159).

The Vikings have now acquired fourth- and sixth-round picks Friday night. Their next selection window will open at pick No. 92.

Barton joins what is now by far the Seahawks’ most experienced defensive position group, with Bobby Wagner and the recently re-signed K.J. Wright anchoring the linebacking corps. Barton registered four sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Utes.

Lions Acquire No. 81 Pick From Vikings

April 26th, 2019 at 9:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two NFC North teams worked together on a third-round deal. The Lions moved up seven spots to No. 81, sending the Vikings a sixth-round selection (No. 204) to do so.

Detroit took Boston College safety Will Harris with the pick. A second-generation NFLer, Harris ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He finished with six fumble recoveries and 158 tackles the past two years.

The Lions cut Glover Quin this offseason and signed Andrew Adams in free agency. Harris joins a safety group headed by Quandre Diggs and Tavon Wilson.

Patriots Send No. 73 Pick To Bears

April 26th, 2019 at 9:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears will send three picks to the Patriots for their No. 73 overall choice.

New England will move down again and acquire third- and fifth-round Chicago picks (Nos. 87 and 162). The Patriots will also collect a 2020 fourth-round selection from the Bears. Meanwhile, New England will also send the No. 205 choice to the Bears.

Chicago is selecting Iowa State running back David Montgomery. He’ll join a revamped Bears backfield that includes free agent signee Mike Davis as well as holdover Tarik Cohen.

Injuries May Force Doug Baldwin To Retire?

April 26th, 2019 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks’ anchor at wide receiver this decade, Doug Baldwin may be unable to continue his career. The Pro Bowl wideout’s injuries could force an early retirement.

The overall effect of the injuries Baldwin has sustained may well force him to end his career after eight seasons, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Baldwin dealt with a knee injury throughout last season. It frequently limited the usually dominant slot target. In the offseason alone, Baldwin has undergone knee, groin and shoulder operations. These may have taken their toll to the point Baldwin will have to shut it down, though Schefter adds the popular Seahawk wants to keep playing.

Baldwin’s injury concerns did not blindside the Seahawks, per Schefter. Their trade-up decision to select D.K. Metcalf certainly points to the team possibly knowing it needs immediate help at receiver. While nothing has come out from Baldwin just yet, it’s obviously in play the 30-year-old NFL success story will not return for the 2019 season.

Russell Wilson‘s ascent into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks involved plenty of Baldwin help. The former undrafted receiver made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and ’17; those seasons came after Baldwin’s 14-touchdown 2015. He played all 16 games in each of those seasons. Saddled with maladies last year, Baldwin still managed to suit up for 13 games and help Seattle back to the playoffs.

This would mark another substantial exit of a Super Bowls-era Seahawk. There are not many left, with Baldwin being the last skill-position link to those rosters. Tyler Lockett joined the team as a 2015 draft choice. More will certainly be expected of him, whether Baldwin returns or not, this coming season.

The Seahawks gave Baldwin a second extension in 2016, a four-year deal worth $46MM. Two years remain on Baldwin’s deal. He’s slated to make $9.25MM in 2019.

Fortunately for Seattle, the club should have some resolution on this issue soon. Per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com, the Seahawks expect to know whether Baldwin will be playing or retiring in a matter of weeks, not months.

Rams Move Into Buccaneers’ No. 70 Slot

April 26th, 2019 at 8:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

After multiple trade-down decisions, the Rams will move up early in the third round. They acquired the Buccaneers’ No. 70 overall pick in exchange for picks 94 and 99.

Entering this swap, the Rams held three third-rounders between 94 and 99. They still hold the No. 98 pick. Following Los Angeles’ Taylor Rapp second-round choice, the defending NFC champion selected Memphis running back Darrell Henderson.

At the American Athletic Conference school, Henderson shredded competition in averaging a Division I-FBS-record 8.2 yards per carry during his three college seasons. Last season, Henderson finished 10th in the Heisman voting after rushing for 1,909 yards and 22 touchdowns. This also represents an interesting running back investment, considering how much the Rams are paying Todd Gurley.

Despite having Gurley entering the first year of his second Rams contract, the Rams did some work on this year’s running back prospects, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic tweets. The Rams matched the Lions’ RFA offer sheet for Malcolm Brown but let C.J. Anderson join the Lions. Gurley’s knee issue, reported to be arthritis, will certainly be worth monitoring this offseason. And the Rams added some insurance in the mid-major prospect.

Seahawks Trade Up For D.K. Metcalf

April 26th, 2019 at 8:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

After trading down multiple times in this draft, the Seahawks made a move up. They acquired the No. 64 overall pick from the Patriots.

Seattle moved down in both the first and second rounds. They have been the most fluid team in this draft, which featured them having an extra first-round pick because of the Frank Clark trade.

The move will result in the Seahawks ending D.K. Metcalf‘s slide. The workout phenom will be a second-round pick. Metcalf will attempt to prove what turned out to be a litany of doubters wrong in Seattle. He joins a Doug Baldwin– and Tyler Lockett-fronted receiving corps. Although, Baldwin’s status is now up in the air.

Metcalf’s skill set became a hotly debated topic, with his college production and agility numbers paling in comparison to his physique and speed-strength combination. Many mocked Metcalf as a first-rounder, but the late reports of teams doubting him turned out to be accurate. He became this year’s ninth receiver taken.

The 6-foot-3 wideout declared after his sophomore season. As a freshman, Metcalf caught 39 passes for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. All turned out to be career-best marks, with A.J. Brown having led the Rebels in receiving last season. Metcalf finished as Ole Miss’ third-leading receiver in 2018.

Cardinals To Trade Josh Rosen To Dolphins

April 26th, 2019 at 8:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Rosen is headed out of Arizona after one season. The Dolphins will be the team that pulls the trigger on the former top-10 pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

It turns out, the Dolphins’ recent trade-down maneuver proved key. The Dolphins will trade their recently acquired No. 62 overall pick to the Cardinals, Schefter added. The teams had discussed the former UCLA quarterback most of the day, with the Cardinals having initially asked for the Dolphins’ first-round pick. Miami then balked at its No. 48 overall choice, but now the teams have agreed. And Rosen and Kyler Murray will not be teammates.

With the pick, the Cardinals selected wideout Andy Isabella out of UMass. The Cardinals will also receive a 2020 fifth-round pick, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

While Rosen’s stock has taken a massive hit after a rough rookie season — when he rated across the board as Football Outsiders’ worst full-time quarterback, albeit in a bad situation — the Dolphins landing a 2018 No. 10 overall pick for the 2019 62nd selection could be immense value. As far as traditional stats go, the 6-foot-4 passer finished with 2,278 yards in 13 games, throwing 11 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions as a 21-year-old rookie.

Kliff Kingsbury said multiple times this offseason Rosen was his quarterback, and the 2018 Cards’ starter reported for the team’s offseason workouts. But the long-rumored Murray pick happened, making the Cardinals the first team since the 1982-83 Baltimore Colts to select first-round quarterbacks in back-to-back years. A day later, Rosen is bound for south Florida.

Rosen, though, is going to a roster that may be worse off than his most recent one. The Dolphins have made no secret of the fact they are rebuilding, and many veterans that were part of the 2018 Miami outfit are no longer there. Contract-wise, this also represents value. Rosen is owed less than $7MM through 2021.

The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, and it is possible the veteran remains their Week 1 starter. Rosen could be allowed to further develop behind Fitzpatrick, but it is fairly safe to assume the formerly coveted prospect will see extensive time this season.

The Redskins and Giants represented the other main players for Rosen, but both NFC East teams took quarterbacks on Thursday night. Miami did not, drafting defensive lineman Christian Wilkins instead. The Broncos traded up in front of the Dolphins on Thursday, grabbing Drew Lock. That may have been the final impetus for the Fins to offer a second-round pick for their possible long-term quarterback solution.