DeShone Kizer

Poll: Highest-Impact Rookie Quarterback?

May 29th, 2017 at 11:23am CST by Connor J. Byrne

Of the 15 quarterbacks selected in last year’s draft, seven ended up starting at least one regular-season game in 2016. The Rams’ Jared Goff and the Eagles’ Carson Wentz comprised the top two picks of the draft, but it was Cowboys fourth-round signal-caller Dak Prescott, the 135th overall choice, who ultimately emerged as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and the face of a 13-3 team.

When the Cowboys drafted Prescott, there was little expectation he’d garner significant playing time right away, let alone thrive from the get-go, with Tony Romo on the roster. But debilitating summer injuries to Romo and backup Kellen Moore opened the door for Prescott, who’s now firmly entrenched under center in Dallas. Romo, realizing he wasn’t going to start again for the Cowboys, is now working for CBS.

While it’s hard to imagine any rookie quarterback from this year’s 10-man class bursting on the scene in Prescott-like fashion, it stands to reason at least some will get opportunities to do so. Like last year, three passers went in the first round of the 2017 draft, though immediate playing time isn’t a guarantee for any. For now, Mitch Trubisky (No. 2 overall, Bears), Patrick Mahomes (No. 10, Chiefs) and Deshaun Watson (No. 12, Texans) are in understudy roles.

Trubisky, a one-year starter at North Carolina for whom Chicago somewhat controversially traded up a spot to select, reportedly won’t see the field as a rookie unless free agent investment Mike Glennon flops. Considering Glennon previously held a starting job in Tampa Bay but didn’t do enough to keep it, he very well could struggle enough for Trubisky to grab the reins in 2017.

Watson might also take the helm sooner than later, as the ex-Clemson national championship winner whom the Texans traded up 13 spots to draft is behind a veteran, Tom Savage, who’s almost completely untested. Given that the Texans have sullied quality rosters with subpar quarterbacks in recent seasons, it could behoove them to plug in Watson if Savage, he of two career starts and zero touchdown passes, looks like another Brock Osweiler this year.

An early path to playing time appears less clear for Mahomes, even though Kansas City paid a high price to go up 17 places to secure him. At the moment, the ex-Texas Tech gunslinger looks like a good bet to red shirt 2017 behind Alex Smith as the Chiefs take at least one more kick at the Super Bowl can with the steady (albeit non-elite) veteran at the helm.

Perhaps more than any other QB in this year’s class, Browns second-rounder DeShone Kizer stands out as someone who looks destined to amass playing time as a rookie. The 52nd pick and former Notre Dame dual threat has impressed in the very early going in Cleveland. Moreover, his main competitors for the Browns’ open starting job, Osweiler and Cody Kessler, aren’t exactly Otto Graham and Bernie Kosar.

As Prescott and 2012 third-rounder Russell Wilson have shown in the past half-decade, a quarterback doesn’t necessarily have to come off the board at the top of the draft to star right away. That’s surely heartening to the Giants’ Davis Webb (third round, No. 87), the 49ers’ C.J. Beathard (third round, No. 104), the Steelers’ Joshua Dobbs (fourth round, No. 135), the Bills’ Nathan Peterman (fifth round, No. 171), the Lions’ Brad Kaaya (sixth round, No. 215) and the Broncos’ Chad Kelly (seventh round, No. 253). Barring injuries, though, Webb, Dobbs and Kaaya have virtually no chance to earn starting roles at any point in 2017, as each is behind an established veteran. On the other hand, there’s no Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger or Matthew Stafford on any of the rosters of the 49ers, Bills and Broncos, which could give Beathard, Peterman and Kelly a glimmer of hope. Still, for various reasons, all three look like major long shots to break out as rookies. Then again, the same could’ve been said about Prescott 12 months ago.

Photos via USA Today Sports Images and Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Extra Points: Kizer, Moore, Patriots, Jackson

May 28th, 2017 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

We recently heard that the Browns‘ staring QB job is Cody Kessler‘s to lose, and while that still might be true, the team selected DeShone Kizer in the second round of this year’s draft for a reason, and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Notre Dame product demonstrated superior physical skills during the first week of OTAs, especially with respect to arm strength and mobility. Cabot also says Kizer is picking up the offense quickly, and even if he does not start Week 1, he will get his chance early on in the season. Hue Jackson has spent more time with Kizer and will continue to do so, while quarterbacks coach David Lee will have a bigger role with Kessler, Brock Osweiler and Kevin Hogan, per Cabot.

“I want to make sure I have my hand on him as much as I can,” Jackson said, via Cabot, of coaching Kizer. “I will continue to do so. I have to find out probably more about [Kizer] than I do any of the guys. He’s not going to get too far away from me, I know that. He’s done a good job. He just has to keep getting better. He’s improved from day to day.”

Here’s more from around the league.

With only four draft picks, the Patriots allocated a considerable amount of funds to their UDFAs. The Pats guaranteed $415K to their 19-man UDFA class, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Reiss pointed this out after Mike Zimmer revealed the Vikings spent $192,500 on their 13-man class, which the coach said was the most in his four years. The Packers, meanwhile, guaranteed their 20-man pool just $63K. The Pats were aggressive with possible late-round picks that slipped out of the draft in BYU linebacker Harvey Langi — who took up a sizable portion of New England’s total with a $100K base salary guarantee and $15K signing bonus — and Wyoming tight end Jacob Hollister, Reiss reports.
Cowboys 11th-year quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson would be on board with the team bringing in competition for Kellen Moore, who is entering his sixth season but has just three career games (all with the 2015 Cowboys) to his name. “I do think that we need to create competition for him, and that’s at every position, but especially at the quarterback position,” Wilson said, via Matt Galatzan of Scout.com. “So because he hasn’t played, if there’s a veteran out there that we want to bring in and compete against him, I’d be all for that, but if not, I feel very comfortable about him going out there and playing.” The Cowboys were in on Josh McCown but didn’t come close to matching the Jets’ offer. They signed Moore, who is coming off a season-ending injury, to a one-year, $775K deal in March.
Lamar Jackson dazzled the college football world last year, but Louisville’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback doesn’t strike NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks as a polished passer ready to make an NFL impact in that area yet. While Brooks described Jackson (1,570 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns) as a more explosive runner than recent dual-threat prodigies Marcus Mariota or Robert Griffin III, he needs to improve upon his footwork, passing mechanics and defensive diagnoses to elevate into a franchise-type passing prospect. Both CBS and the Sporting News had Jackson as a first-round pick in their way-too-early 2018 mocks.
Brooks also heard from an NFC scout that Penn State running back Saquon Barkley‘s early hype is justified going into what most expect will be his final college season. The anonymous evaluator viewed the junior Nittany Lion as a player who is as “complete as they come” at this position. This follows an NFL exec saying Barkley could be the best running back prospect in a decade.

Rory Parks contributed to this report.

AFC Notes: Watson, Kizer, Jets, Broncos

May 5th, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After the Texans traded up in the first round of the draft to select ex-Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson 12th overall, head coach Bill O’Brien declared that veteran signal-caller Tom Savage would start Week 1. Like O’Brien, general manager Rick Smith regards Savage as the favorite to land the job, but the executive isn’t as ready to hand him the role. In an interview with ESPN Radio’s Stephen A. Smith on Thursday, Rick Smith indicated that Watson will have a chance to compete with Savage in the coming months, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. “We want to provide a competitive environment across the board. So [Watson will] compete,” Smith said. “[But] like I said, we feel good about Tom and his abilities to manage the offense. But yeah, [Watson] will come in, and just like every other guy on the roster, he’ll have time to play.”

Draft Fallout: Kizer, Abdullah, Butt, Jags

April 30th, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Rory Parks

The Browns were the club most frequently connected to new Bears’ QB Mitch Trubisky prior to the draft, but Chicago made the surprising decision to trade up to the No. 2 overall pick and nab the former UNC signal-caller, and then Patrick Mahomes came off the board before Cleveland could nab him with the No. 12 overall selection. So the Browns dealt that pick and waited until the the second round to get a quarterback, selecting Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, whose stock slipped over the last few months but who certainly has first-round ability.

As Tony Grossi of ESPN.com writes, the Browns are open to having Kizer start right away. Head coach Hue Jackson said, “If he can handle [starting], great. We are not going to say, ‘No, you can’t play,’ if he is ready to play.”

Now for more fallout from the 2017 draft:

The Lions did not select a running back in this year’s draft, and as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes, GM Bob Quinn stated afterwards that Ameer Abdullah, who missed almost all of 2016 with a foot injury, will be the team’s starting back going into 2017.
The Packers drafted three running backs over the past several days, but head coach Mike McCarthy said that converted wideout Ty Montgomery will “absolutely” be the team’s starting back (via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal).
The Cardinals landed guard Dorian Johnson in the fourth round of this year’s draft, even though his talent level should have made him a Day 2 selection. Johnson has a liver condition that made a number of clubs wary of making him a second- or third-round choice, and Johnson’s agent, Joe Panos, took exception to his client’s slide, saying, “I had GMs tell me they couldn’t risk a 2nd or 3rd on Dorian due to the recent discovery of a liver condition he’s had since birth, even though his heptalogist said his condition will in no way affect his ability to play. Teams couldn’t risk a high pick on him. Yet every year I see teams risk high picks on guys with serious character issues. Bad guys. They’ll take risks on those guys because his coaches ‘vouched’ for him. [A coach’s] word is gold. But Dorian’s heptalogist, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about?” (all links go to Twitter via ESPN’s Adam Caplan).
New Broncos tight end Jake Butt slipped to the top of the fifth round of this year’s draft due to an ACL injury he suffered in his final collegiate game (prior to the injury, he was projected to be picked at the top of the second round). But before the 2016 college season, Butt purchased a loss-of-value policy that partially compensated him for the money he lost due to his draft slide, as Darren Rovell of ESPN.com writes. Had Butt been selected at the top of the second round, he would have earned $4MM guaranteed, but as an early fifth-rounder, he is guaranteed only $380K. The insurance policy paid out roughly $900K (pre-tax), so the injury ended up costing Butt a little shy of $2.8MM. These loss-of-value policies have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Jaylon Smith are two of the more notable recent beneficiaries of such policies.
The Jaguars acquired Branden Albert earlier this offseason, but GM Dave Caldwell said second-round draft pick Cam Robinson will compete with Albert for the starting left tackle job (via Hays Carlyon of 1010XL). Albert has been absent from voluntary workouts as he seeks a new contract, though if he proves to be the best man for the job, Caldwell did indicate that Robinson could move, at least temporarily, to guard.
The Jaguars selected Oklahoma wideout Dede Westbrook in the fourth round yesterday despite his two domestic violence arrests that caused some teams to remove him from their boards completely. As Albert Breer of TheMMQB tweets, one AFC area scout said of Westbrook, “No thoughts. It is what it is. He’s a degenerate.”

Browns Draft DeShone Kizer

April 28th, 2017 at 7:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns have selected Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer with the 52nd overall pick, giving them a young signal-caller to develop after they didn’t choose one in the opening round.

Kizer was excellent in 2015, posting 21 touchdowns and completing nearly 63% of his passes while averaging 8.5 adjusted yards per target. Last season, however, his completion percentage by more than four points, and while many of Kizer’s raw statistics remained stagnant, draft analysts pegged him as a Day 2 pick.

Kizer is the second passer the Browns have chosen in the past two drafts, joining 2016 third-round pick Cody Kessler. While Kessler fared respectably in limited action last season, he didn’t do enough to establish himself as a long-term option, and he also dealt with concussion issues. He and Kizer will presumably take up two spots on the Browns’ QB depth chart next season, while the futures of Brock Osweiler, recently acquired via trade, and Kevin Hogan are unclear.

Packers, Chargers Eyeing DeShone Kizer?

April 28th, 2017 at 11:52am CST by Zachary Links

DeShone Kizer is still on the board as we head into Day 2, but he might not be available for long. Kizer is in play for the Packers at No. 33, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Meanwhile, there’s a “lot of smoke” about the Chargers taking Kizer at No. 38, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link).

There were three quarterbacks drafted inside of the top 12, but Kizer did not hear his name called in the following 20 picks. The Notre Dame product was once viewed as a top five candidate, but concerns about his field vision and decision making hurt his stock in the months leading up the draft. Teams like the Browns and Saints both passed up opportunities to take Kizer even though they were in search of a quarterback and that’s not a glowing endorsement for him.

Still, Kizer’s big arm should entice someone to draft him in the top half of the second round. If the word around the Packers is to be believed, then they are at least considering the idea of tapping him as Aaron Rodgers‘ understudy.

PFR’s 2017 Live NFL Mock Draft

April 25th, 2017 at 9:47am CST by Dallas Robinson

The 2017 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night, and Pro Football Rumors is back with its second mock draft of the year. While our initial mock attempted to project what will happen in Round 1, we’ve taken a different approach for mock draft 2.0.

PFR editor Zach Links and I conducted this live mock draft on Tuesday morning, rotating picks and breaking down what we would do were we in charge of these selections. We posted each pick on Twitter, followed by a short explanation of our thought process on this page.

Here’s the complete mock:

1. Cleveland Browns (Zach) – Myles Garrett, LB, Texas A&M

I suspect this is the easiest pick either one of us will make all day. Garrett is the best pure talent in this year’s draft and the Browns would be foolish to go in any other direction at the top of the draft.

2. San Francisco 49ers (Dallas) – Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Reports that the 49ers are considering a quarterback with the second overall selection stand out as a potential smokescreen, and instead San Francisco uses the No. 2 pick to bolster its defense. Hooker, who recently earned a full medical clearance following combine rechecks, has been commonly linked to the Chargers as a perfect fit for Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gus Bradley‘s scheme. But the 49ers are running the same defensive look as the Chargers under new DC Robert Saleh, and Hooker would give the team a centerfielder with the upside of an Earl Thomas. San Francisco’s plan to convert nickel cornerback Jimmie Ward to safety won’t stop it from adding Hooker, who is possibly the draft’s No. 2 overall prospect.

3. Chicago Bears (Zach) – Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

Dallas’ bold pick left my Bears with a golden opportunity. The Bears could go safety or cornerback in this scenario, but the talent of Thomas is too good to pass up. Thomas can be used on both the inside and outside of the Bears’ defensive line and I see him as one of the safest talents on the board.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (Dallas) – Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

No, we didn’t forget the Jaguars used a top-five pick on Jalen Ramsey in 2016 and then handed a $67.5MM contract to A.J. Bouye in free agency last month. But one of Ramsey’s key selling points last year was his versatility: while he’s a shutdown corner at his best, Ramsey can man the slot, cover tight ends, and dabble at safety. As such, adding Conley doesn’t mean Jacksonville is facing cornerback overload, especially given that NFL clubs are in the nickel more than two-thirds of the time. Conley is viewed as a safer prospect than his Ohio State teammate Marshon Lattimore, and he’d give the Jaguars a Broncos-like secondary.

5. Tennessee Titans (Zach) – Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

The Titans, arguably, get the best cornerback available in the draft even though they are the second team to address the position. No, we don’t have a ton of film to go on for Lattimore, but his combine numbers indicate that he could be a megastar. Few teams in the NFL would have a young cornerback duo like the Titans if they can pair Logan Ryan with Lattimore.

6. Cleveland Browns (projected trade with Jets) (Dallas) – Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

In need of a franchise quarterback, the Browns send the No. 12 and No. 52 pick to the Jets in exchange for No. 6 with the intention of drafting Trubisky. It’s a slight overpay for Cleveland (at least, based on Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, which is likely what the Browns front offices uses), but it does the deal anyway to land a long-term option under center. Given that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is reportedly pressing the club to select a quarterback early — and the fact the Cleveland may still be considering Trubisky with the first overall selection — landing the UNC signal-caller at No. 5 for the cost of a mid-second-round pick is a move the Browns can’t pass up.

7. Los Angeles Chargers (Zach) – Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

In this scenario, it seems like Allen’s subpar workouts have led to a bit of a drop. His size (6’3″) is a bit of a concern, but he has the ability to be an effective defensive end while spending some time on the inside as well. Allen would look great lining up on the opposite end of Joey Bosa.

8. Carolina Panthers (Dallas) – Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Sitting at pick No. 8, the Panthers certainly have options. General manager Dave Gettleman & Co. could go after a running back like Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey, bring in a young edge rusher to play alongside veterans like Charles Johnson and Julius Peppers, or even reach for an offensive tackle given Michael Oher‘s health questions. With Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey Brown having defected via free agency, the Panthers need another wideout to pair with Kelvin Benjamin. Enter Davis, who topped 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (Zach) – Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Foster’s stock, by all accounts, is slipping after he turned in a diluted urine sample and got into an argument with a hospital worker at the combine. However, with other teams in the market for an inside linebacker (like the Jets at No. 12, for example), it would be somewhat risky to trade down into the teens and expect Foster to still be there. The Bengals have been willing to overlook character concerns in the past, so I see no reason why they can’t do the same here and land the Alabama star.

10. Buffalo Bills (Dallas) – Jamal Adams, S, LSU

While the Bills gave Jordan Poyer a four-year deal with $6MM in guarantees earlier this offseason, I’m still not convinced Buffalo views him as a definite starter. Those questions come to the forefront with Adams still on the board, and the Bills don’t hesitate to take the LSU defensive back. With ex-Packer Micah Hyde also in the fold, Buffalo can field one of the more diverse and flexible safety tandems in the league. Adams is viewed as a leader in the locker room, and has been favorably compared to former Cowboys All Pro Darren Woodson by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

11. New Orleans Saints (Zach) – Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Leonard Fournette would have been a logical choice here, but the Saints have now landed Adrian Peterson. Instead, the Saints get one of the draft’s best pass rushers. With 33 sacks over the last three years, Barnett will provide an immediate boost to the Saints’ lackluster D.

12. New York Jets (projected trade with Cleveland) (Dallas) – O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Former Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey got next to nothing of his tight end group in 2016, as Charone Peake led Gang Green with 19 receptions for 186 yards. New play-caller John Morton comes from the Saints, the club that unearthed production from Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson, so it stands that the New York front office will give Morton a fresh face in Howard. Universally regarded as the draft’s No. 1 tight end, Howard is a threat in the passing game as well as a willing blocker in the run game.

13. Arizona Cardinals (Zach) – Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

Popular thought has the Cardinals taking a quarterback here, but I instead have them targeting a cornerback to pair with Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals have the rest of the draft to explore a potential Carson Palmer successor/stand-in, and I’m higher on Humphrey than most.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (Dallas) – Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Having already added two starting wide receivers in free agency, the Eagles continue to make Carson Wentz‘s life a bit easier by giving him an all-purpose weapon in McCaffrey. While Leonard Fournette gets more run as a generational talent, I think McCaffrey is actually the best back in the 2017 class. His pass-catching skills are on par with a full-time wideout, and his ability as a runner is underrated. McCaffrey would team with Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles in a dynamic Philadelphia backfield.

15. Indianapolis Colts (Zach) – Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

The Colts’ revamped linebacker group looks even brighter with the addition of Reddick. This board climber can be used at both ILB and OLB.

16. Baltimore Ravens (Dallas) – Cam Robinson, T, Alabama

Robinson is now expected to be the first offensive lineman off the board on Thursday night, and the Ravens can use front five help after losing right tackle Ricky Wagner to the Lions last month. By slotting in Robinson, Baltimore will be able to keep Alex Lewis at guard, where he’s better suited. While Robinson has the qualities to play left tackle, that won’t be a consideration with the Ravens, who just drafted Ronnie Stanley sixth overall in 2016. Robinson, who is only 21 years old, gives Baltimore options, as he could certainly be a fallback player at guard if he can’t cut it at tackle.

17. Washington Redskins (Zach) – Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Fournette fell right into the laps of the Redskins! The Eagles went with McCaffrey because he is the best scheme fit, but I feel that the rival Redskins are getting the superior talent three spots later.

18. Tennessee Titans (Dallas) – Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

After landing Marshon Lattimore with the No. 5 pick, the Titans address their other glaring need by selecting Williams. At present, Tennessee’s wide receiver group is lead by Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, and Harry Douglas, so the club definitely needs to give quarterback Marcus Mariota more talent at pass-catcher. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com compares Williams — who managed 1,361 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016 — to former Cardinal/Patriot Michael Floyd, but Titans fans clearly hope Williams will provide more value than did Floyd. Washington’s John Ross was also a possibility here, but he may fall to the second round due to ongoing injury concerns.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Zach) – Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

The Buccaneers just couldn’t resist going with the homegrown talent. Cook can contribute right off the bat and provide the kind of production that was expected of Doug Martin. Let’s just hope the Bucs’ running back jinx of 2016 doesn’t extend into 2017.

20. Denver Broncos (Dallas) – Garett Bolles, T, Utah

The Bolles-to-Denver connection is perhaps the strongest link in the first round of this year’s draft. Bolles will be 25 years old when the 2017 campaign gets underway, which is a concern, but the Broncos can afford to possibly eschew long-term value in favor of immediate need. If the season began today, either Menelik Watson or Donald Stephenson would be Denver’s starting left tackle. Unless Broncos management has a death wish for Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch, they can’t allow that to happen. Bolles would instantly upgrade the left side of Denver’s line, solidifying a massive need area for the Broncos.

21. Detroit Lions (Zach) – Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA

The buzz around McKinley seems to have quieted a bit in recent week, but I feel great about this pick for Detroit. He needs some polishing, but the potential is there for McKinley to be a Pro Bowl talent. The Lions needed defensive help and the get it in a major way with McKinley.

22. Miami Dolphins (Dallas) – Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

While the Dolphins have also been tied to defensive ends during the predraft process, Miami could still use help at guard, where projected starters Ted Larsen and Jermon Bushrod will each be over 30 years old when the season starts. Recent reports have indicated the Dolphins “love” Lamp (I know, I know) and are “locked in” on the Western Kentucky guard. Lamp played tackle at the collegiate level, and Mike Renner and Sam Monson have been making the case on the Pro Football Focus podcast that Lamp should stay at tackle in the NFL. If Lamp lands in South Beach, however, that probably won’t be a consideration, as the Dolphins already employ Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James.

23. Kansas City Chiefs (projected trade with Giants) (Zach) – Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Here’s the inside scoop: my Giants are eyeing three players in particular and at least one of them will be available at No. 27. So, why not use this opportunity to gain some draft capital? The Chiefs, meanwhile, seized an opportunity to leapfrog the Texans and secure their desired QB. The Chiefs sent the No. 27 and No. 91 overall picks to the Giants to get back the No. 23 and No. 167 selections.

24. Oakland Raiders (Dallas) – Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

Having released Dan Williams, the Raiders’ interior defensive line is now headlined by Justin Ellis, Jihad Ward, Darius Latham, and Denico Autry, all of whom graded as bottom-half defensive tackles in 2016, per Pro Football Focus (Ward ranked dead last). If former second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. can return from injury, he makes a fine sub package interior rusher, but Oakland still needs a big body in the middle. Enter McDowell, who stands 6’6″, 295 pounds. He’s faced effort questions throghout his collegiate career, but he’s clearly a first-round talent if his head is on straight. The Raiders can take the risk with the hope their coaching staff gets the best out of McDowell.

25. Houston Texans (Zach) – Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Watson, in my opinion, has the greatest upside of any quarterback in this year’s draft. This is a solid pick for Houston at No. 25.

26. Seattle Seahawks (Dallas) – Ryan Ramczyk, T, Wisconsin

Seattle invested $7MM guaranteed in former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel with the intention of playing him at left tackle, but I have a hard time believing Joeckel will stick in the starting lineup all season given his history of poor play. Ramczyk is too good a value to pass up at No. 26, and he can play guard or right tackle (depending on how the Seahawks deploy 2016 first-rounder Germain Ifedi) until Joeckel proves he shouldn’t be starting any more. Cornerback is also a consideration here, but Pete Carroll can find developmental defensive backs later in the draft.

27. New York Giants (projected trade with Chiefs) (Zach) – Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

As the Giants GM, I will neither confirm nor deny that we traded down with an eye on getting Ryan Ramczyk here (OK, you got me – we wanted him). Fortunately, Davis was also on our short list and still available. Linebacker is an area of need for the Giants and Davis could have a bright future. Let’s just hope that the Giants can unearth an offensive line gem or two in the later rounds.

28. Dallas Cowboys (Dallas) – Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

Harris is shooting up draft boards, and Josh Norris of Rotoworld now has the Missouri product ranked 15th overall on his latest big board. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have “made no secret” of their interest in Harris, as Charean Williams of the of Star-Telegram recently reported. With former second-round pick Randy Gregory on a yearlong suspension (and never having produced at the NFL level anyway), Dallas needs another edge presence to pair with Demarcus Lawrence. Harris posted 16 sacks over the past two seasons for the Tigers.

29. Green Bay Packers (Zach) – T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

Reach? Maybe. Fan pleaser? Definitely. But Watt would be a great fit for a team in need of reinforcements at outside linebacker.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers (Dallas) – David Njoku, TE, Miami

The Steelers inked Ladarius Green to a four-year contract prior to the 2016 season, but he played in six games during his inaugural Pittsburgh campaign due to lingering concussion issues. General manager Kevin Colbert says Green will be ready for the upcoming season, but there’s no guarantee Green will fully recover from his head injuries. Pittsburgh needs insurance at the tight end position, and Njoku — an athletic freak with competent blocking skills — gives them that. An offense armed with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Njoku, and (hopefully) Martavis Bryant would be among the best in the league.

31. Atlanta Falcons (Zach) – Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

The versatile Jabrill Peppers was a consideration here, but his diluted drug test could allow Atlanta to get him later in the draft. Instead, I tuned to defensive end. Takkarist McKinley, T.J. Watt, and Derek Barnett are all off the board, but Charlton isn’t a bad consolation prize late in the first round.

32. New Orleans Saints (Dallas) – DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

While I seriously considered giving the Saints LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White, I’ll stick with the pick I made in PFR’s first mock draft: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer. Drew Brees is now 38 years old and entering the final year of his contract, and the Saints haven’t shown any urgency in signing him to an extension. Head coach Sean Payton said in February that his club is always in the “quarterback business,” and it’s now time to find Brees’ successor. Kizer, who tossed 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 2016, can be the next man up. Personally, he’s my favorite quarterback in the 2017 class.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Schrager’s Latest: 49ers, Kizer, Humphrey

April 24th, 2017 at 7:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers‘ interest in UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky has been “real” during the entire predraft process, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicated this morning that San Francisco is considering drafting a signal-caller with the No. 2 overall selection. LSU safety Jamal Adams and Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas are also possibilities for the Niners, per Schrager, who adds San Francisco is willing to trade down if another club is eyeing Trubisky.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft, all courtesy of Schrager:

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer could have a similar draft outlook to Paxton Lynch in 2016 and Teddy Bridgewater in 2014, wherein a club with a need under center trades back into the end of the first round in order to select him, reports Schrager (Twitter link). Any team that does move into the first round for Kizer would have the added benefit of a fifth-year option, enabling them to retain Kizer for a fifth season at a cheap price.
One NFL general manager says he’d be “shocked” if Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey isn’t off the board by pick No. 20, tweets Schrager. Last week, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated the Saints, Titans, and Ravens — all of whom pick in the top-20 — could be possible landing spots for Humphrey. Other clubs with picks early in the draft who have a need at corner include the Bills, Cardinals, Eagles, and Redskins.
As previous reports have indicated, the Titans are willing to trade out of the No. 5 pick, per Schrager (Twitter link). If Tennessee doesn’t trade away that selection, however, Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore will be among the players in consideration at fifth overall. Howard would give the Titans another option at tight end to pair with veteran Delanie Walker, while Lattimore would help fill out one of the league’s worse cornerback units.

Draft Notes: Bills, Kizer, Howard, Davis

April 23rd, 2017 at 6:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills may not like their current position in this draft. A day after we heard the franchise is looking to move down from its No. 10 overall perch, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes (via Twitter) the team is also gauging what it would take to move up further into the top 10.

Buffalo looms as one of the more intriguing spots because of its tenuous relationship with Tyrod Taylor, whom the team retained but on a similar prove-it basis. The Bills are thought to be high on Deshaun Watson, while another report pegged the team as being higher on Mitch Trubisky. The latter has gained steam on going No. 1 overall, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted he was unlikely to get past the Jets at No. 6 in the event the Browns didn’t use their top pick on him. The Jaguars are now also a threat to take a first-round quarterback, further complicating the Bills’ possible ambitions regarding this position.

Moving up, as the Bills did three years ago to acquire Sammy Watkins, would strengthen their ability to land Trubisky or Watson. But if both of them go early, moving down would obviously allow the team to collect assets and regroup.

Here’s more from the draft, continuing with some quarterback buzz.

DeShone Kizer has not been shy about expressing belief in his abilities, but league execs are increasingly skeptical of the former Notre Dame quarterback’s NFL potential. “He’s not as good as he should be because he’s not committed to the game,” an AFC executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s committed to building a brand. He wants all the things that come with being a starting quarterback but doesn’t want to put in the work.” An AFC exec referred to the 6-foot-4 passer as a “prima donna,” while another NFC exec was concerned about the Fighting Irish benching him at one point and that his second year as a starter generated a 4-8 record. Nine of the 16 NFL staffers the Journal Sentinel surveyed rated Kizer as the most likely bust in this class of QBs.
While at least three wide receivers are likely set to go in the first round, an NFC executive told McGinn this is the “It’s the worst wide receiver draft at the top I’ve seen in a long time.” Of the throng of personnel people polled, more of them preferred Corey Davis as the No. 1 wideout prospect. Behind the top three — Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross — personnel staffers and scouts placed East Carolina’s Zay Jones at No. 4. The Seahawks are reportedly doing work on Jones as a possible second-round pick.
However, this group is bullish on the tight end class. One AFC personnel man called O.J. Howard and David Njoku future NFL difference-makers because of their ability to block and do the expected work in the passing game. That exec added that as many as 10 tight ends could go in the first four rounds. Only five went in Rounds 1-4 last year, with 11 being selected in total. Howard earned praise as the runaway winner of the Journal Sentinel poll on tight ends, with an AFC exec saying the Alabama product is “as good as Greg Olsen.”

Draft Notes: Kizer, Giants, Lions, Jets

April 22nd, 2017 at 11:43am CST by Ben Levine

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer does not lack confidence. The Fighting Irish finished last season with a 4-8 record, and there are a number of quarterback prospects (including North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Cal’s Davis Webb) who could be taken before Kizer in the upcoming draft. Despite that, the signal caller believes he should be a candidate for the top-overall pick.

“Name a college quarterback who goes into the game-plan meetings on Monday and throws his notes at the coaches,” Kizer said (via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). “No one else game plans the way I do. No one else prepares the way I do. No one else knows football the way I do. No one else is as big as I am. No one else is as powerful a runner as I am. Pat Mahomes might throw the ball 80 yards and I can only throw the ball 72, but I guarantee he can’t throw an out route the way I can.

“No one else can do what I can do. And I’ve truly figured out in this (draft) process, if I can maximize all my potential in every aspect of the game – this is bold – I do have the ability to be the greatest quarterback to ever play. Imagine taking (Tom) Brady’s intellect and Brady’s preparation and putting it on a guy with Cam Newton’s body. Why can’t I be the greatest? The only thing stopping me from it is me. That’s what’s driving me now.”

Our own Dallas Robinson had Kizer being selected by the Saints with the 32nd pick in PFR’s recent mock draft.

Let’s check out some more draft notes from around the NFL…

The Giants are not fans of this year’s offensive line class, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv. The team sorely needs some reinforcement on the unit, and Vacchiano notes that the team could consider Utah’s Garett Bolles and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk. However, it’s more likely that the organization moves forward with their current crop of lineman.
Don’t expect the Lions to be drafting offensive lineman, either. As Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes, Bob Quinn spent much of last season revamping the unit, so it’s unlikely that he commits more picks to the offensive line. Instead, the general manager expects to select the best players available, especially in the first round. “I’m big into the best player available,” Quinn said. “I mentioned it last year, best player available, meshing with kind of what your needs are on your team, so I think you kind of have to look at both avenues when you’re making decisions in the draft.”
LSU safety Jamal Adams met with the Jets earlier this week, tweets ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. However, the prospect said that the organization was skeptical that he’d still be available with the sixth-overall pick. Adams was projected to be selected by the Chargers with the seventh pick in our recent mock draft.

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