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Month: September 2024

Latest On Falcons’ Draft Plans

April 29th, 2021 at 12:51pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Falcons are set to pick at number four, and may set the table for the rest of the draft. They could either draft Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, draft a successor to Matt Ryan, or trade down with a team looking to move up for a quarterback.

They’ve emphasized they’re open to all options, and owner Arthur Blank is reportedly “fascinated” by the top quarterbacks in this draft. Right now though, it seems like things may be leaning toward them staying put and drafting Pitts. The Falcons “have taken calls from just about everyone” but “there hasn’t been an offer good enough to trade back,” Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.

She does add that they are willing to keep listening, so it’s possible this is just a ploy to drive offers up in the final hours. “As of right now,” however, Pitts “would be a selection the Falcons would be THRILLED to have,” she writes.

It’s possible the offers are underwhelming because other teams know the Falcons will draft Pitts and aren’t going to take a quarterback themselves. It still won’t be at all surprising if the Falcons do end up moving down.

Saints Have One QB They Want In Top 10

April 29th, 2021 at 12:41pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We heard earlier this morning that the Saints were working the phones to try to move into the top 10 of the draft. New Orleans has been widely rumored to be targeting a cornerback, but they could make a big splash under center if something falls into their lap. 

While the move up would be for another position, “there is 1 QB” who “would change their minds if he was still available,” Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets. That’s not going to be welcome news to Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, both of whom are hoping to be the Saints’ new quarterback of the future.

Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are guaranteed to be off the board before the Saints can pick, so it’d have to be one of Mac Jones, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance that they’re interested in. Assuming the 49ers take Jones, it’d have to be either Fields or Lance.

As for potential trade partners, the Lions would make a lot of sense at seven. As a rebuilding team, they fit the profile of a club that would be willing to stockpile future valuable picks. No matter what, it sounds like the Saints aren’t dead-set on taking a corner after all.

Seahawks Sign DT Robert Nkemdiche

April 29th, 2021 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks added some defensive tackle depth in advance of tonight’s draft. Robert Nkemdiche, a first-rounder five years ago, has agreed to join Seattle, per a club announcement. Exact terms of the deal are not yet known.

Nkemdiche, 26, had lots of hype coming out of Mississippi in 2016. The Cardinals snagged him with the No. 29 overall pick, but he was hardly seen in his first two pro seasons. Then, in 2018, things started to look up for the imposing lineman as he registered 4.5 sacks, 36 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits in ten games (six starts). Unfortunately, that progress was halted by a knee injury, which led to his release in 2019.

The Dolphins picked Nkemdiche up and deployed him twice in ’19 before putting him back on the curb. After sitting out for the 2020 season, Nkemdiche will now look to revitalize his career with Pete Carroll & Co.

Saints Pushing For Top 10 Pick

April 29th, 2021 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are working the phone lines to try and trade up to the top 10, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter) hears. Currently, the Saints are heading into tonight with the No. 28 overall pick. 

[RELATED: Saints’ Sean Payton Says Team Has To Add CB]

Earlier this week, we heard that the Saints are looking at Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley. Agent Drew Rosenhaus says his client is on track to be gone by the No. 20 pick, but it’s hard to imagine teams in the top 10 reaching for him. The Virginia Tech product is talented, but he’s undergone multiple surgeries and hasn’t played since 2019.

Instead, if the Saints are thinking cornerback in the early order, they may be eyeing the likes of Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn. Saints GM Mickey Loomis could also consider top-tier quarterbacks in the wake of Drew Brees’ retirement. Other (and perhaps less pressing needs) include linebacker, wide receiver, defensive line and tight end.

2021 NFL Draft: Team By Team

April 29th, 2021 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

The 2021 NFL Draft has arrived! Soon, picks will soon be swapped and shuffled at lightning speed. But, before the trading frenzy starts, here’s a look at the draft picks owned by each team:

[RELATED: 2021 NFL Draft Order By Round]

Arizona Cardinals – Picks: 6

Round 1: No. 16 overall
Round 2: No. 49
Round 5: No. 160
Round 6: No. 223 (from Vikings)
Round 7: Nos. 243, 247 (from Bears through Raiders)

Atlanta Falcons — Picks: 9

Round 1: No. 4 overall
Round 2: No. 35
Round 3: No. 68
Round 4: No. 108
Round 5: Nos. 148, 182, 183
Round 6: Nos. 187, 219

Baltimore Ravens – Picks: 10

Round 1: Nos. 27, 31 (from Chiefs) overall
Round 2: No. 58
Round 3: Nos. 94 (from Chiefs), 104
Round 4: Nos. 131, 136 (from Chiefs)
Round 5: Nos. 171, 184
Round 6: No. 210

Buffalo Bills — Picks: 7

Round 1: No. 30 overall
Round 2: No. 61
Round 3: No. 93
Round 5: Nos. 161 (from Raiders), 174
Round 6: No. 213
Round 7: No. 236 (from Panthers)

Carolina Panthers — Picks: 8

Round 1: No. 8 overall
Round 2: No. 39
Round 3: No. 73
Round 4: No. 113
Round 5: No. 151
Round 6: Nos. 191 (from Broncos), 193, 222

Chicago Bears — Picks: 8

Round 1: No. 20 overall
Round 2: No. 52
Round 3: No. 83
Round 5: No. 164
Round 6: Nos. 204, 208 (from Seahawks through Dolphins), 221, 228

Cincinnati Bengals — Picks: 8

Round 1: No. 5 overall
Round 2: No. 38
Round 3: No. 69
Round 4: No. 111
Round 5: No. 149
Round 6: No. 190
Round 7: Nos. 202 (from Dolphins through Texans), 235 (from Lions through Seahawks)

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49ers Unlikely To Trade Jimmy Garoppolo

April 29th, 2021 at 8:47am CST by Zachary Links

Multiple teams are expected to contact the 49ers before and during the draft to inquire about the availability of Jimmy Garoppolo. However, as of this writing, the chances of him being traded are “remote,” one source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 

The 49ers have insisted that Garoppolo will be their quarterback in 2021. Beyond that, of course, they’ll likely shift the responsibilities to whoever they select with the No. 3 overall pick. Things are further complicated by Jimmy G’s no-trade clause. Any team acquiring him would want a restructured contract, but Garoppolo can spike a deal if the terms aren’t to his liking.

“The biggest thing with Jimmy is his injuries,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said recently. “It’s been very tough for us when he’s been hurt. This happened two of these three years. That’s where it starts. Jimmy knows that. I’ve been very up front with him with everything…When you take a rookie quarterback and you take a veteran like Jimmy who we know we can win with, just to move on from that is something that’s not easy to do. That is a good situation for us and I think that is something that’ll be important to us this year.”

Last year, the Niners went 3-3 in the six games Garoppolo started. In total, he completed 67.1% of his passes for 1,096 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions. That’s a far cry from his best work two years ago, when he he racked up 3,978 passing yards and 27 TDs against 13 INTs.

Panthers Pick Up D.J. Moore’s Option

April 29th, 2021 at 8:37am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have picked up D.J. Moore‘s option (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The wide receiver is now under contract for the 2022 season at a guaranteed salary of $11.116MM.

This was the expected move, given Moore’s steady improvement across the last three years. In total, Moore has 208 catches, 3,156 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns across 46 career games. Last year, Moore managed 66 receptions for 1,193 yards (18.1 yards per catch) and four touchdowns in an otherwise turbulent year for Carolina.

Moore, the former No. 26 overall pick, now has fiscal security beyond the ’22 season. The same can’t be said for quarterback Sam Darnold — the No. 3 pick in the 2018 class. At least, not yet. The Panthers have until May 3rd to decide on the ex-Jet’s future, so they’ll likely hold off until after this weekend’s draft. Tonight, a first-round QB is very much in play for them at No. 8 overall.

Ohio State’s Justin Fields could be one option, but they could also target Alabama’s DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle to potentially supplant Robby Anderson in 2022.

Latest On Bears’ First-Round Draft Plans

April 28th, 2021 at 10:39pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears may be looking to jump up the draft board in pursuit of a quarterback. Jason La Canfora reports (via Twitter) that the Bears “have canvassed the teams currently selecting between 7-10,” with the front office focused on drafting a signal caller. Chicago is currently slated to pick at No. 20, which would probably be too late in the round to select any of Mac Jones, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance.

[RELATED: Updated 2021 First-Round Draft Order]

There have been rumblings throughout the offseason that the Bears could be looking to trade up for a quarterback, although we heard recently that the organization hadn’t been particularly active in trade discussions. With general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy potentially on the hot seat, it would be a surprise if they don’t take a bona fide starter with their first-round selection. The team seems to be set in 2021 with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles under center; if Pace and Nagy opt for a young quarterback, there’s a chance they won’t be around to see their plan come to fruition. Chicago has plenty of immediate needs, so there’s some merit to retaining their draft selections and adding players at other positions.

On the flip side, neither Dalton nor Foles are very inspiring choices, and the front office may believe the Bears have a higher upside in 2021 with any of the rookie quarterbacks. Head coach Matt Nagy even seemed to acknowledge that the organization has been eyeing a handful of rookies QBs during a recent meeting with reporters.

La Canfora notes that the Patriots have joined the Bears in shopping around for a top-1o pick, and the reporter believes that one of New England or Chicago will ultimately be successful in their pursuit of a rookie quarterback. We heard a similar sentiment earlier today, with one report indicating that New England could look to trade up from No. 15 all the way to the Falcons at No. 4.

Saints Looking To Move Up In First Round?

April 28th, 2021 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are motivated to add a cornerback in the draft, and the team would consider moving up in the first round to get it done. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that New Orleans is “weighing a potential move up” in the first round. Yahoo’s Charles Robinson previously reported that the organization was looking to move up for Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley (via The Athletic’s Joe Rexrode on Twitter).

[RELATED: Saints HC Sean Payton Says Team Has To Add Cornerback]

The Saints probably won’t be willing to give up the ammo it’d take to trade up for cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn, so it’d make sense to switch focus to Farley. Robinson notes that the Saints, who are picking at No. 28, believe they may need to jump the Titans at No. 22 if they want to select the Virginia Tech product. For what it’s worth, agent Drew Rosenhaus previously insisted that his client will be taken somewhere in the top 20, so the Saints may need to jump close to 10 spots if they want the cornerback.

Farley hasn’t seen the field since 2019 thanks to a pair of surgeries, but his surgeon told clubs that the player should be cleared prior to training camp in late July. Even though Rosenhaus’ estimation should be taken with a grain of salt, that’s excellent news for Farley in advance of Thursday night. While Farley’s stock already took a small hit after sitting out the 2020 campaign, he saw another slide after irritating a joint at the base of his spine. There was some speculation that he could fall all the way to the second round, but recent reports point to him going in the first.

Originally a quarterback in high school, Farley committed to the Hokies in 2017 as a wide receiver. After an ACL tear wiped out his true freshman season, he was asked to change positions again — this time, he moved to cornerback. By 2019, he was a star for Virginia Tech, racking up four interceptions and 12 passes defensed en route to First-Team All-ACC honors. He also allowed a completion rate of less than 50% on passes thrown in his direction.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/28/21

April 28th, 2021 at 7:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor, er, move:

Detroit Lions

Bryant played three seasons at Washington, including a 2019 campaign where he earned First team All-Pac-12 honors. He went undrafted during last year’s draft, but he eventually overcome an ankle injury to make the Lions active roster. He ultimately appeared in five games for Detroit, hauling in a single 44-yard pass while appearing on 25 offensive snaps. Bryant also had a stint on the injured reserve with a concussion.

As Kyle Meinke of MLive.com points out, Bryant was a favorite of the former front office, with the tight end earning the most money among last year’s grouping of undrafted free agents. New general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t have that same connection to the Lions’ young players, leading to today’s move.

The Lions added a blocking tight end in Josh Hill earlier this offseason, pairing the veteran with starter T.J. Hockenson.

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