2022 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Saints Acquire First-Round Pick From Eagles

April 4th, 2022 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Three weeks away from the draft, the Eagles and Saints made a deal that will shake up the middle of this year’s first round while arming Philadelphia with an additional Round 1 choice in 2023.

The Eagles dealt into their first-round surplus Monday, sending the Saints their Nos. 16 and 19 overall picks in a deal that will provide them with New Orleans’ 2023 first-rounder. Philly, which entered the draft with three first-rounders from No. 15 to No. 19, now holds two first-rounders. The Saints do as well. This gives the Eagles two first-round picks in the next two drafts.

With the dust settled, here is how the full trade looks:

Eagles receive:

No. 18 in 2022
No. 101
No. 237
The Saints’ 2023 first-round pick
The Saints’ 2024 second-round pick

Saints receive:

No. 16 in 2022 (from Colts via Eagles)
No. 19
No. 194

New Orleans now has additional ammo in this year’s draft, while Philly can potentially plan for a move in a 2023 draft that is expected to feature a better crop of quarterbacks. This year’s group has not generated much buzz, at least compared to most years, and it points to the Eagles giving Jalen Hurts another audition year. The Eagles pursued Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson but did not get far in either derby. Howie Roseman‘s team, which acquired 2022 first-rounders from the Colts and Dolphins last year, can take a more methodical approach over the next two drafts rather than being the rare team to make three first-round picks in one draft.

Next year’s draft could feature Heisman winner Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Hurts fared decently in his first full-season audition, driving the Eagles’ No. 1-ranked rushing attack and accounting for 26 touchdowns (16 passing) and nearly 4,000 yards. This move will allow the Eagles to keep their options open, while it equips the Saints with a second first-rounder this year. Eight teams have multiple first-rounders in this month’s draft.

With the Eagles now picking at Nos. 15 and 18 in Round 1, the Saints slid up two spots from their No. 18 position. The Saints re-signed Jameis Winston on a two-year deal, but they do not exactly have their quarterback position checked off long-term. That makes this swap more interesting on New Orleans’ end. Obtaining a second first-rounder could provide a bridge to the Saints trading up again for one of this year’s top two passers, a la the Bills’ Josh Allen climb in 2018, but no member of this year’s QB class has generated considerable interest just yet.

Monday’s move does allow the opportunity for the Saints to acquire a cost-controlled starter. Their previous draft with two first-rounders — 2017, when Marshon Lattimore and Ryan Ramczyk went to New Orleans — had a significant effect on the team’s trajectory.

Commanders, Saints Had Large Presence At Sam Howell’s Pro Day

April 3rd, 2022 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

While Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett have garnered most of the attention in terms of top quarterback prospects, North Carolina’s Sam Howell remains a highly-touted option as well. Two of the teams who sent large delegations to see him at his recent pro day were the Commanders and Saints, per Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network (Twitter link).

Pauline notes that the “big turnout” from Washington included executive VP Marty Hurney and several other staffers. The Commanders already have their starting signal-caller in Carson Wentz, whom they traded for days before the start of free agency. The price they paid – both in terms of the draft capital sent to Indianapolis and the fact that they picked up his full salary – signalled a strong commitment to the former No. 2 pick, who is under contract for three more years.

The Saints, meanwhile, had college scouting director Jeff Ireland on hand to see the former Tar Heel in person. After being in the competition for Deshaun Watson, New Orleans re-signed Jameis Winston on a two-year deal. Not long after, they also added a veteran backup in Andy Dalton.

Howell, a true junior, burst onto the scene with 38 touchdown passes in his freshman year. He improved in terms of completion percentage (68.1%) and yards per attempt (11.1) in the following campaign, but took a step back in production in 2021. Following the departure of receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome, along with the team’s dynamic RB duo of Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, Howell had a down year statistically.

As a result, many have dropped the six-foot-one, 220-pounder down a tier or so in this year’s QB rankings. Howell is generally rated closer to the likes of Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder than the aforementioned Willis and Pickett. Still, it wouldn’t come as a surprise for him to be selected at some point in the first round. That could leave the Commanders and Saints (who hold the 11th and 18th picks, respectively) in play for Howell, depending on what they saw of him last week.

Steelers Heavily Scouting QB Prospects

April 2nd, 2022 at 8:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of a new franchise quarterback for the first time in almost two decades, the Steelers have already been active in the free agent market at the position. Despite the addition of Mitch Trubisky, however, they remain – not surprisingly – very much involved in the scouting process of this year’s QB prospects.

[RELATED: Steelers Sign Trubisky]

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid noted the presence of Steelers personnel (from head coach Mike Tomlin to outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert to pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt) at the pro days of each top signal-caller. The fact that Pittsburgh has been “doing an extensive amount of work on the entire QB class” was one of the top storylines throughout the post-combine evaluation process.

Colbert recently addressed the time being invested in draft options despite having signed Trubisky to a two-year deal. “We’ve been at top quarterback pro days for the first time in a long time because we may be in a position where we have [a need]“, he said (Twitter link via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Does that mean we’re taking one? Possibly.”

The Steelers currently have not only the former Bears first-rounder, but also Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins on the roster. They hold the 20th overall pick in April’s draft, meaning Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett would likely only be available if they trade up in the first round. Other options include Sam Howell, Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder. The team made it clear they were aiming to have four quarterbacks on their 2022 roster, with a relatively open competition ensuing amongst them. Selecting one later this month would bring them to that total, while beginning the long-term process of replacing Ben Roethlisberger.

Extra Points: Rooney Rule, Booth, CFL, USFL

April 2nd, 2022 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL made more adjustments to the Rooney Rule this week. Teams must go into the season with a minority coach or a woman on their offensive staff, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes. This can include a woman of any race, and the NFL also will include women among Rooney Rule requirements going forward. Teams must interview at least two external minority candidates for head coach, coordinator and GM roles; women are now included in this pool. Clubs, however, will not be required to interview female staffers for these positions. The female or minority staffer hired as part of this offense-based initiative must work closely with their respective team’s head coach, Seifert adds, and their respective salaries will be paid via a leaguewide fund. The NFL has a league-record 17 minority defensive coordinators currently, with two teams employing co-DC setups, but 27 of the league’s 31 offensive coordinators (the Patriots do not currently have a staffer in this role) are white.

Here is the latest from around pro football:

Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth looms as a first-round prospect, but he will not be ready for his team’s offseason activities. The incoming rookie defender underwent sports hernia surgery, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. While Booth (Scouts Inc.’s No. 30 overall prospect) is expected to be ready for training camp, it will be a bit before he is healthy.
De’Anthony Thomas joined Oregon draft hopefuls in working out at the school’s pro day Friday, with Schefter adding the former Chiefs wide receiver/return man is aiming to make a comeback (Twitter link). A six-year NFL veteran, Thomas has not played since 2019. He was among the first to opt out due to COVID-19 concerns ahead of the 2020 season. The Oregon alum is currently on the British Columbia Lions’ roster in the Canadian Football League, signing with the team in February.
Staying in the CFL, Martavis Bryant will receive another chance north of the border. The former Steelers and Raiders wide receiver who battled suspensions in the NFL signed with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks, who are taking a flier on the talented pass catcher despite his refusal to report to the Toronto Argonauts’ training camp in 2021. The Argos held Bryant’s rights last year, but he is now in Edmonton. Bryant last played in the NFL in 2018, catching 19 passes for 266 yards with the Raiders. Bryant posted two 600-plus-yard receiving seasons in Pittsburgh but was suspended three times during his NFL career for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Another spring league will launch this month, with the rebooted USFL beginning play April 16. The latest spring effort’s contracts are structured in a way that will make it a bit more difficult for the XFL to acquire players when its latest relaunch occurs in 2023. The USFL gave its players one-year contracts with team options for 2023, per Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal (via Mike Florio of PFT). None of the recent spring leagues — from the Alliance of American Football (2019) to XFL 2.0 (2020) — finished their respective seasons, so the matter of USFLers’ 2023 contracts is not exactly a front-burner item just yet. Some notable players — like Paxton Lynch, De’Vante Bausby, Kyle Lauletta and other ex-NFLers — are part of this centralized (in Birmingham, Ala.) USFL.

Jets, Ravens Meet With Kayvon Thibodeaux; DE’s Stock Still Dropping?

April 2nd, 2022 at 3:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kayvon Thibodeaux has gone from potential No. 1 overall pick to a player who has generated considerable scrutiny during the pre-draft process. The Oregon edge rusher may now fall out of the top 10.

The three-year Ducks defensive end is expected to be drafted outside the top five, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, who adds a drop out of the top 10 would not shock (ESPN+ link). A half-dozen scouts informed Miller Thibodeaux did not impress in Combine interviews with their respective teams, which echoes a report last month indicating a draft tumble might ensue for the talented sack artist.

Effort level has come up regarding Thibodeaux’s status as a prospect among front office personnel and scouts, Miller adds. Thibodeaux recorded three sacks in seven Oregon games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, one that saw other NFL-bound Ducks opt out. Last season, Thibodeaux suffered a sprained ankle in September and finished with seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Certainly not poor numbers, but Thibodeaux’s junior-year production has not offset the concerns about his motor and attitude.

The Jets, who hold two top-10 picks, met with Thibodeaux this week, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline tweets. So did the Ravens, who hold the No. 14 overall choice. All 32 teams had staffers in Eugene, Ore., for Thibodeaux’s pro day this week, Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy tweets. Lions GM Brad Holmes joined six other Detroit staffers there, with Nagy adding the Lions and Seahawks each sent seven representatives to the pro day. Thibodeaux, whom Scouts Inc. grades as this year’s seventh-best prospect, is the only Ducks player expected to go in Round 1.

The Lions have a need on the edge, but Georgia’s Travon Walker has generated some buzz to be drafted ahead of Thibodeaux. Rising after a strong Combine showing, Walker has been linked to the Jaguars at No. 1 overall. That would make Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson a natural fit in Detroit. Thibodeaux looms and stands to have plenty of motivation going into his rookie season, but he may have to wait a bit to hear his name called.

Kyle Hamilton In Danger Of Falling In The Draft?

April 1st, 2022 at 9:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Less than one month from the 2022 Draft, there are a number of questions surrounding some of this year’s top prospects. While much has been said about the possibility of edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux falling down the board, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton may have joined him in that regard.

As noted by ESPN’s Jordan Reid and Matt Miller, the defensive back faces a number of factors currently hurting his stock. The first – and the one which was always going to be a concern, regardless of his pre-draft testing – is his position. The very fact that he is a safety (albeit one who is lauded for his versatility) has led many to believe his overall position in the draft order would undersell his skillset.

Secondly, Miller notes that Hamilton had “an uneven showing at his pro day”. That has amplified concerns related to his athletic profile, something which isn’t helped by the knee injury which ended his third and final season with the Fighting Irish. As a result of those factors, Miller writes that “it’s possible he falls all the way into the second half of Round 1”. While that would represent a considerable slide from his once-presumed top-five status, the insider further states that “the consensus around the league is that a drop is expected”.

In three seasons at Notre Dame, the six-foot-four, 219-pounder totalled 138 tackles and eight interceptions. That production, coupled with his positional flexibility and leadership has led to a connection with the Jets on multiple occasions. New York currently holds the fourth and tenth overall picks, but if their view of Hamilton becomes more congruent with that of the rest (or at least a sizeable portion) of the league, he may find himself waiting until after their selections to hear his name called.

Lions Bullish On Jared Goff, Open To Drafting Quarterback

April 1st, 2022 at 5:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions do not appear to have a long-term quarterback solution on their roster, but they were not connected to any of the passers who switched teams via trade last month. This positions Jared Goff to go into a second season as Detroit’s starter.

This scenario seems fine for Lions GM Brad Holmes, who was with the Rams when Goff was drafted and pulled the trigger on a trade to acquire Goff’s contract — something that netted Detroit more draft capital in the Matthew Stafford swap. Goff’s deal does not make him a realistic cut or trade candidate this year, but the former No. 1 overall pick can be jettisoned much easier in 2023.

As veterans like Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo have shrinking markets, Goff is set to move into another season unchallenged for a starting job. Although the team can save $20MM by moving on from Goff next year, Holmes said this week the seventh-year veteran can still be Detroit’s long-term QB answer.

“Jared played good football for us late in the year, so we have a lot of optimism about Jared going forward. We have a quarterback,” Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “If you’re asking, like, why did not we not kind of hop into that world [of offseason QB movement], we’re happy with where Jared’s at right now. We’re looking forward to him having a productive year for us.

“… Jared’s our quarterback and we’re going to make sure that he’s put in the best position to succeed and that’s — we’ll let the chips fall from there.”

The Lions started 0-10-1 under Goff, who was transported from Sean McVay‘s offense that came equipped with quality wide receivers to a newly assembled coaching staff with one of the worst wideout depth charts in the league. Goff ranked 24th in QBR last season, when he averaged 6.6 yards per attempt but did finish with a 19-to-8 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. The Lions, who moved on from OC Anthony Lynn earlier this year, re-signed Tim Boyle as a backup in March.

Another Goff-Boyle season could well transpire in Detroit, but select NFL personnel view Goff, understandably, as a placeholder for the Lions, Birkett notes. They are set to carry two first-round picks this year and next. This year’s moderately appealing crop of quarterbacks does not seem to align with the Lions’ No. 2 overall draft slot, though Holmes discussed the topic of a rookie learning behind Goff. If the Lions opt not to reach for one of this year’s top QB prospects at 2, they could conceivably be in play for Matt Corral or Desmond Ridder at 32 or 34.

“Sure, I could see some advantage of there is a young quarterback that can learn under Jared,” Holmes said. “I don’t think Jared would have any issues taking on that role. He’s had younger guys with less experience behind him, so he’d be very comfortable with that.”

It would be interesting if the Lions made their quarterback move now instead of 2023. The team is not expected to contend this season, and the 2023 QB class is — a year out — viewed as superior to this one. Holmes has also discussed Detroit’s No. 2 pick with teams and is open to dealing it before the draft. The Lions floating a scenario where they could be in play for a QB may factor into that approach as well.

Panthers Down To QB-Or-Left Tackle Decision In Round 1?

March 30th, 2022 at 8:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Missing out on Deshaun Watson, the Panthers feature a glaring quarterback need. They have been connected to using the No. 6 overall pick on a passer, but it may well come down to a grade-vs.-need situation.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. has no quarterback graded inside the top 20 this year, slotting Malik Willis 21st and Kenny Pickett 22nd. The Panthers have been connected to both players, and teams regularly reach for QBs due to positional value. Scott Fitterer confirmed the Panthers will likely have higher-rated players on their board by No. 6, among them could well be a candidate to fill the team’s perennial left tackle need.

“This will be interesting because the tackles will be the best players on the board. But we do need a quarterback, and at some point you have to take a shot, especially in the top 10,” Fitterer said, via Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt. “You hate to force it, because when you force it, you could make a mistake.

“It’s a unique quarterback class, because there’s not a clear number one, number two, number three. Like, who’s the proven starter who can come in and play for you? That’ll be the conversation we have for the next month — quarterback or left tackle.”

Carolina features dire needs at both spots, and this draft’s third-highest-graded tackle (Mississippi State’s Charles Cross) checks in at No. 15 overall, per Scouts Inc. If tackles Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu are off the board by the Panthers’ No. 6 pick, as both top-five candidates could be, that would seemingly make for an easier decision. Fitterer and Matt Rhule attended both Willis and Pickett’s pro days last week. Pickett originally committed to join Rhule at Temple but backed out after the current Panthers HC took the Baylor job.

The Panthers also traded their second- and third-round picks; following Carolina’s No. 6 overall choice, the team does not pick again until No. 137. Fitterer, who worked under trade-down aficionado John Schneider in Seattle, said the Panthers “would love” to trade back. But the team’s needs may take precedence. The Panthers added two starting O-linemen in free agency — inside blockers Austin Corbett and Bradley Bozeman — but have not enjoyed left tackle continuity in many years. Going into his fifth-year option season, Sam Darnold remains Carolina’s top QB.

“I think with the economics of the [quarterback] position, though, going with the rookie is the good way to go,” Fitterer said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “Drafting and developing. And if you miss on this one, take another one next year. Take another one the year after till you get one. Just keep swinging till you get one.”

Only one team in the past 40 years has taken QBs in back-to-back first rounds; the Cardinals chose Josh Rosen and Kyler Murray in 2018 and ’19. They traded Rosen a day after drafting Murray. Rhule, who will enter the season on the hot seat, likely will not have the luxury of missing on a first-round quarterback. Veterans remain available, but the Panthers are not believed to be interested in Baker Mayfield and have not been closely connected to Jimmy Garoppolo.

Cowboys Preparing To Draft O-Lineman Early

March 29th, 2022 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two Cowboys starting offensive linemen are now on AFC teams, with Connor Williams defecting to the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent and La’el Collins moving to the Bengals after becoming a cap casualty. Dallas hopes to bolster this position group early in the draft.

While a proclamation to draft an offensive lineman early does not ensure this will take place, the Cowboys have not addressed the position in free agency and have their top two blockers — Zack Martin and Tyron Smith — set to turn 32 this year.

“Famous last words: We’ll get one unless [CeeDee] Lamb or [Micah] Parsons is there,” Jerry Jones said of drafting an O-lineman early, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “And then add one more to it. … I’ll accept criticism when the time comes for not knowing what we’re doing.”

This refers to the Cowboys passing on bigger needs to draft Lamb and Parsons, respectively, the past two years. While both picks worked out, the Cowboys are fairly thin up front. But the team does have elite talent in Smith and Martin. And Pro Football Focus ranked Dallas’ 2021 O-line first overall, creating an interesting decision for a Cowboys team that could conceivably field a quality first-string line without a rookie factoring in. Smith has missed at least three games in each of the past six seasons, however; he missed six in 2021.

The Cowboys have Terence Steele penciled in to replace Collins; Steele can be kept off the unrestricted free agent market until 2024. Connor McGovern‘s rookie deal runs through season’s end, giving Dallas a possible Williams replacement on a line with solidified starters in Smith, Martin and center Tyler Biadasz. The Cowboys are unlikely to add a veteran O-lineman for more than the league minimum this offseason, Gehlken adds.

Dallas hit big on first-round interior O-linemen when they last addressed the position that early, landing perennial Pro Bowlers in Martin and Travis Frederick. The Cowboys hold the No. 24 overall pick. The top three tackles — Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross — are expected to be long gone by the time the NFC East champs go on the clock, though Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning could be in range. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slots Penning 26th and has Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green as this class’ top guard, ranking the latter as the No. 28 prospect. The Cowboys hold each of their own picks in the second and third rounds but do not possess any additional Day 2 choices.

Lions Willing To Trade No. 2 Pick Before Draft

March 29th, 2022 at 3:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Still early in what could be a lengthy rebuild, the Lions have two first-round picks this year. Their own choice landed at No. 2 overall. While Detroit could acquire a top-end prospect at that slot, the team is open to dealing it away.

Brad Holmes said he has discussed the pick with multiple teams and will not need to see how the Jaguars proceed at No. 1 to make a decision on moving down. The second-year Lions GM would greenlight a pre-draft trade, given the right offer.

“I think definitely we could pull that trade off, if the other team is willing, before the draft,” Holmes said, via the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers. “I would say right now it’s still relatively early for those discussions, but I would expect for it to heat up, especially with the pick that we have this year. Because it definitely heated up, even with us at seven last year. So I expect to have more dialogue.”

The No. 2 overall pick has changed hands twice in the previous six drafts, though it has not moved since 2017. The 49ers moved down from 2 to 3 in 2017, doing so on draft night when the Bears made an offer to secure Mitchell Trubisky draft real estate, while the Browns dealt 2016’s second choice to the Eagles days before that draft. Philadelphia sent Cleveland five picks to climb from No. 8 to No. 2, a haul that included 2017 first- and second-round picks in addition to third- and fourth-rounders in the ’16 draft. The Lions might not be blown away by an offer, considering there is no prospect on the Trubisky or Carson Wentz level in this year’s draft.

Depending on how far the Lions are willing to move down the draft board, a trade would arm the franchise with additional capital to address its myriad needs. The team still holds the Rams’ first-round pick (No. 32 overall), the No. 34 overall choice and two third-round selections this year.

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