HEADLINES

DeForest Buckner

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Neal, Joseph, Titans

April 27th, 2016 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

Cal quarterback Jared Goff and North Dakota State signal-caller Carson Wentz are widely expected to come off the board in that order with the top two picks on Thursday night, but there’s some uncertainty about how the next several picks will play out.

After speaking to several people around the league, Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com takes a shot at forecasting how picks three through eight will go. In Pauline’s view, the most probable scenario would see DeForest Buckner land with the Chargers, Jalen Ramsey to the Cowboys, Myles Jack to the Jaguars, Laremy Tunsil to the Ravens, Ronnie Stanley to the 49ers, and Joey Bosa to the Browns.

Ezekiel Elliott is a wild card – if he’s still on the board at No. 8, the Browns could potentially trade down with a team like the Dolphins – but otherwise Pauline’s predictions for the top eight seem entirely plausible. According to the draft scribe, the Chargers feel like they “desperately” need to add a standout defensive lineman, while the 49ers also covet Buckner, so that’s a situation worth watching too.

Here’s more from Pauline:

  • While Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee has frequently been linked to the Falcons at No. 17, Pauline hears that Clemson linemen Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson are also in play. According to Pauline, head coach Dan Quinn has been pushing for the team to select safety Keanu Neal, though that’s probably only a possibility if Atlanta trades down.
  • Washington wouldn’t mind trading down and nabbing West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, says Pauline.
  • According to Pauline, there’s a decent chance that the Titans will use one of their second-round picks to grab Ohio State wideout Braxton Miller, assuming the team doesn’t use any of those selections in a trade. Tennessee will also likely consider Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry on day two.
  • The Broncos plan on drafting a running back on day three, and Pauline hears that they like Auburn’s Peyton Barber in the neighborhood of the sixth round.
  • Teams are already talking to prospects and their agents in an effort to sign those players as undrafted free agents after the draft, and some clubs are creating “bad blood” with their approach to this process. According to Pauline, a couple teams have called potential UDFA targets and told them that they’re unlikely to be drafted. Those players are still optimistic about being mid-round selections, so being told that they’re likely to go undrafted has soured those players (and their agents) on those teams, per Pauline.

Draft Rumors: Jackson, Buckner, Chargers

April 21st, 2016 at 3:02pm CST by Zachary Links

NFL GMs have yet to get the results of combine drug tests, but there are already rumors swirling about failed tests for prospects, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. Among the rumors is that a likely first-round pick has flunked his test.

While we wait to see if a top prospect has hurt his stock, let’s take a look at the latest NFL Draft rumors:

  • Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) is becoming more and more convinced that William Jackson III will be the second cornerback to come off the board in the draft, following Jalen Ramsey. Reading between the lines, that could indicate a drop on draft boards for Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III.
  • Deforest Buckner told Justin Hopkins of 247 Sports (Twitter link) that he is hearing from the Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Titans “pretty regularly.” The Chargers, Cowboys, and Jaguars all had previously reported workouts with Buckner, but the addition of the Titans is new.
  • Clemson inside linebacker B.J. Goodson is visiting the Colts and Giants this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Goodson, who has also visited with the Jets, has had 15 total visits and private workouts. Goodson had 108 tackles last season with 14 tackles for losses and 5.5 sacks.
  • Louisiana Tech Kenneth Dixon spent Wednesday with the Texans, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He has also had pre-draft visits with the Ravens and Patriots, Rapoport adds. As previously reported, Dixon also met with San Francisco.
  • Northwestern fullback Dan Vitale is drawing the most interest from the Buccaneers, Patriots, and Bears, freelance reporter Jenna Laine tweets. Vitale has drawn interest because of his ability to play fullback, H-back, and tight end.

Draft Rumors: Elliott, Titans, Cook, Butler

April 7th, 2016 at 10:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott is expected to be the first player off the board at his position, and is receiving attention from several teams picking in the first half of the first round. As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, Elliott said during an appearance on NFL Total Access that he has visits lined up with the Eagles (No. 8), Bears (No. 11), and Dolphins (No. 13). He has also previously met with Dallas.

With NFL teams focused on working out and meeting with players who may end up on their rosters about three weeks from now, let’s round up a few more draft updates….

  • Deadlines typically spur action in the NFL, which means the best trade offer for the No. 1 pick may not be on the table for the Titans until draft night. Still, as Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com details, GM Jon Robinson isn’t opposed to the idea of making a deal in advance, suggesting it would give his team the opportunity to make plans accordingly. In the meantime, Tennessee continues to take a close look at top prospects, and will bring in Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner on Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
  • ESPN’s Jon Gruden believes that Michigan State’s Connor Cook “is gonna be perhaps the best quarterback in this draft” (Twitter link from Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).
  • Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds the Lions and Patriots to the list of clubs that have worked out Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Vernon Butler. The Lions have also met with Jordan Jenkins, as the Georgia linebacker confirmed on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports).
  • Marvez also passes along an update from a SiriusXM NFL Radio appearance by Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen, who said he has had workouts or meetings with the Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons, and Cowboys (Twitter link).
  • In addition to attending local workouts for the Jets and Giants, Rutgers wideout Leonte Carroo is paying visits to the Dolphins and Patriots, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Carroo had an explosive college career, averaging 19.5 yards per reception and racking up 29 touchdowns over the last three seasons.

AFC Draft Updates: Bills, Lynch, Jags, Broncos

April 6th, 2016 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

Most NFL teams have at least one representative in attendance at the pro day for Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch on Wednesday, but the Bills got a closer look at the young signal-caller on Tuesday night, according to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, who reports that Buffalo took Lynch out for dinner (Twitter link via Mike Rodak).

The Bills have a quarterback they like in Tyrod Taylor, but Taylor has just one year remaining on his contract with the team, and an extension is not believed to be close, so it will be interesting to see if Buffalo nabs a QB early in this year’s draft. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is in Memphis to check out Lynch.

Let’s round up a few more draft updates from across the AFC…

Cowboys Draft Rumors: Buckner, Boykin, Coleman

March 31st, 2016 at 4:50pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are slated to be on the clock at No. 4 overall and they appear to be especially intrigued by one top prospect. The latest out of Dallas:

  • Oregon defensive end Deforest Buckner worked out for the Cowboys last week, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Dallas appears to be pretty intrigued by him as they will be his next visit.
  • TCU quarterback/wide receiver Trevone Boykin will work out for the Cowboys on April 8th, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
  • Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman will spend tomorrow working out for the Cowboys, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Coleman is widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in this year’s class along with Laquon Treadwell, Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, Tyler Boyd, and Michael Thomas.
  • The Cowboys had a private workout with Tennessee receiver Marquez North, according to Williams (Twitter link).

Chargers Rumors: Stadium, Draft, Buckner

March 30th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers’ plan for a new stadium in San Diego calls for the team (and the NFL) to pay $650MM while a 4% hike in the local hotel tax would provide an additional $350MM, Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego writes. In total, that would add up to the $1 billion needed to construct a new stadium. All in all, the plan is asking less of the city than most stadium proposals do, but it remains to be seen whether San Diego will greenlight the pitch.

Here’s more on the Chargers’ stadium situation as well as draft news:

  • It’s not immediately clear what percentage of the electorate would be required for passage, Dan McSwain and Lori Weisberg of U-T San Diego write. Recently, a California appellate court ruled that a motion to tax marijuana dispensaries needed only a simple majority (50% plus one vote) to pass, but the old rules require two-thirds of a vote. “We’re operating as if it’s two-thirds,” Fred Maas, a development consultant to the Chargers, said Tuesday.
  • The Chargers released a comprehensive FAQ regarding the Citizens’ Initiative. Within the FAQ, the Chargers acknowledge that there will still be logistical hurdles to deal with if the initiative passes.
  • Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner visited the Chargers on Wednesday, per Rand Getlin of NFL Network (on Twitter). Buckner is regarded as one of the top prospects in the draft and could be in the mix for San Diego at No. 3.
  • The Chargers worked out former Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Fajardo spent training camp with Oakland in 2015 as a UDFA.
  • UCLA product Myles Jack expects to play safety if he’s drafted by the Chargers, as Gehlken writes. “They feel like I can fill that spot Eric Weddle was at,” Jack said.

Draft Notes: Buckner, Armstead, Perriman

January 14th, 2015 at 5:33pm CST by Zachary Links

As expected, Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner will return to school for his final season of eligibility, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). However, one of his underclassman teammates will be making the jump to the NFL. Here’s the latest NFL draft news..

  • Oregon junior defensive lineman Arik Armstead filed paperwork Tuesday making himself eligible for the 2015 NFL draft, according to the Ducks’ official website. “After three years preparing with my teammates and coaches, I feel I’m ready to test myself at the next level,” Armstead said. “All the support I’ve received from Coach Pellum and Coach Aiken, the rest of the Oregon coaches and staff and in my academics has prepared me to make this jump.” Armstead, who led the team with six quarterback hurries in 2014, is considered a potential first-round choice.”
  • UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman will enter the NFL draft, as Shannon Owens-Green of the Orlando Sentinel writes. The junior ends his UCF career with 2,243 yards, an average of 19.5 yards per reception and 16 touchdowns in 39 games played.
  • USC wide receiver George Farmer will forgo his senior season to enter the draft, according to a press release on the Trojans’ website. The redshirt junior had 25 receptions for 314 yards (12.6 avg) with 4 TDs this past season, including a pair of touchdown catches against Notre Dame.

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.