HEADLINES

Benardrick McKinney

Draft Notes: Gordon, Hundley, McKinney, Lions

March 17th, 2015 at 5:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Two clubs who could be in need of a running back will meet with Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, a consensus top-two back in next month’s draft, as both the Cowboys and the Jaguars have lined up visits with the former Badger, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News and Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), respectively. The Cowboys, who hold the 27th overall pick, are aiming to replace DeMarco Murray, while Jacksonville, who would probably target Gordon at the top of the second round, could use another back to team with Denard Robinson.

Let’s take a look at some more pre-draft news…

  • After Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, there aren’t many draft options at the quarterback position. One player in the mix to be third QB, however, is UCLA’s Brett Hundley, who says he’s already met with both the Eagles and the Jets, and plans to set up more visits, tweets SiriusXM NFL Radio.
  • The 49ers lost linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland to retirement in the past week, and they’ll look to the college ranks to fill that positional void. The club will meet with Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney, who will also visit the Broncos, Texans, and Cowboys, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link).
  • The Lions hosted a pair of defensive prospects today, as both Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson and Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips visited the Motor City, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com in a pair of articles.

Draft Notes: Mariota, Ray, Parker, Agholor

March 16th, 2015 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ve already looked at a few upcoming draft visits in some earlier posts today, so let’s go ahead and round up the rest of today’s draft-related news…

  • The Buccaneers hosted Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Per Rapoport, Mariota’s visit to Tampa will be similar to Jameis Winston‘s meeting several weeks ago, and Mariota will meet with all of TB’s decision-makers.
  • Edge rusher Shane Ray will be a busy man, as the Missouri product has pre-draft visits lined up with the Ravens, Falcons, Titans, and Jaguars, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Like Ray, Louisville receiver DeVante Parker will have a full schedule, as he has 12 visits on his calendar during the next month, per Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds that Parker will first meet with the Dolphins.
  • Another receiver — USC’s Nelson Agholor — visited with the Eagles today, according to Getlin (via Twitter). Eagles head coach Chip Kelly recruited Agholor while the former was at Oregon, Getlin adds.
  • The Eagles are hosting multiple prospects, as Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney will visit Philadelphia today and tomorrow, per Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link).

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Jets, Packers, Chiefs

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:32pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2015 scouting combine winding down in Indianapolis, draft guru Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net has several tidbits to pass along, having spoken to a number of league insiders over the past week. While most of Pauline’s updates relate to the draft, he also has some info on the upcoming free agent period. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from his latest report….

  • It’s no secret that the Falcons will be targeting a pass rusher in the first round of this year’s draft, and while there are a few players who could fit that bill in the top 10, Pauline writes that Shane Ray‘s name was “constantly associated” with the team as the leading choice.
  • The Jets spent a significant amount of time in Indianapolis with speedy Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who also drew interest from the Packers. According to Pauline, Green Bay is also “very high on” Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, who is a favorite of Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
  • The Jets are expected to be very active in free agency, as GM Mike Maccagnan has suggested, and Pauline hears that the team will target outside linebackers and defensive line depth in addition to cornerbacks. New York would also like to add a mid-value guard, though the belief is that they won’t spend big on a player like Mike Iupati.
  • Per Pauline, the Chiefs are eyeing Benardrick McKinney as a potential replacement for Justin Houston, if they lose Houston in free agency. While Kansas City may like McKinney, I’m skeptical that the club would let Houston get away, as he seems like a logical franchise tag candidate.
  • Echoing what we’ve already heard this offseason, Pauline writes that it doesn’t sound as if the Browns‘ front office is working in harmony these days. Sources familiar with the situation compared Cleveland’s situation to the one that has played out in San Francisco in recent years, and Pauline hears there’s a good deal of dissension within the organization.

Benardrick McKinney To Enter Draft

January 8th, 2015 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney has decided to enter the 2015 draft, forgoing his final year of NCAA eligibility, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).

McKinney, a redshirt junior, nearly entered the draft a year ago, tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. The 22-year-old linebacker accumulated 66 tackles in 11 games during his final year at Mississippi State, including 10 in the team’s Orange Bowl loss to Georgia Tech.

Per CBSSports.com, McKinney ranks as the best inside linebacker in the 2015 class by a fairly wide margin, and comes in as the 24th-best prospect overall, making him a probable first-round pick. Todd McShay of ESPN.com has McKinney coming off the board 28th to the Packers in his first mock draft, and offers the following assessment of the young defender:

“He has very good speed and closing burst for his size, and while he isn’t a huge hitter in general, he has the strength to occasionally deliver a big blow. He also flashes upside as a pass-rusher.”

Draft Notes: Wednesday

December 17th, 2014 at 10:10pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s about that time of year when NCAA underclassmen decide whether they’re in or out with regards to the draft. We’ll keep track of the latest news here. All news comes from Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports, unless otherwise noted:

  • Boise State running back Jay Ajayi is heavily leaning toward entering the 2015 NFL Draft, a source close to the situation tells Getlin (on Twitter).
  • Nebraska defensive lineman Randy Gregory is preparing to enter draft, sources tell Getlin (link). The 6’6″ prospect is widely considered to be a top five candidate.
  • Though it’s unclear who Georgia running back Todd Gurley will ultimately sign with, multiple sources have indicated to Getlin (link) that Jay Z’s Roc Nation is in the mix.
  • Washington’s Shaq Thompson is leaning toward declaring for the 2015 NFL Draft, multiple sources tell the Yahoo scribe (link). “I’d say it’s 60/40“, said one source of the all-purpose star’s chances of going pro.
  • Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner is leaning toward staying in school, multiple sources tell Getlin. Buckner is a highly rated prospect who figured to hear his name called early in the spring. Getlin hears from one source (via Twitter) that it’s 80/20 towards staying at Oregon.
  • South Carolina tailback Mike Davis is considered to be a lock to enter the 2015 NFL Draft, multiple sources tell Getlin (link). Davis declaring himself eligible for the draft has been widely expected for some time.
  • Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney is considered a lock to enter the draft, Getlin writes. The camp of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound inside linebacker has started vetting potential representatives.
  • Florida State junior Eddie Goldman is leaning heavily toward entering the 2015 NFL draft, multiple sources familiar with his thinking tell Getlin.
  • Michigan State defensive back Trae Waynes is considered to be a lock to enter the 2015 NFL draft, multiple sources tell Getlin. Waynes had three interceptions this season as Michigan State’s top cornerback. Last season, teamed opposite first-round pick Darqueze Dennard, Waynes also notched three interceptions. Waynes has started meeting with potential reps (Twitter link).
  • USC tailback Javorius “Buck” Allen is considering entering the NFL Draft, Getlin hears (link). He has had lengthy discussions with potential representatives.