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Pauline’s Latest: Mariota, Browns, Rams

April 20th, 2015 at 11:26am CST by Luke Adams

With just 10 days left until the 2015 NFL draft gets underway, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net has plenty of updates for us this morning, including news on visits, workouts, and possible risers and fallers. Here’s Pauline’s latest:

  • According to Pauline, trade rumors involving teams looking to move up for Marcus Mariota should “pick up intensity” in the next week or so. Pauline hears the Browns may be the frontrunners for the Oregon quarterback, but the Titans asked Cleveland for a second-round pick in addition to the 12th and 19th picks, and the Browns balked. Cleveland may be willing to part with its two first-rounders to move up to No. 2, but wouldn’t want to give up its second-rounder too.
  • The Rams love Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney, but No. 10 would be too high for him. Per Pauline, many around the league believe that St. Louis could trade down in the first round or trade up from the second round in order to try to land McKinney.
  • McKinney has also been linked to the Broncos, who are eyeing TCU linebacker Paul Dawson as well.
  • A number of teams have red-flagged Boise State running back Jay Ajayi over a knee injury, according to Pauline.
  • The domestic violence charges against Frank Clark were reduced – the Michigan defensive end accepted a plea deal – and now Pauline says Clark will likely be drafted higher than most expect, likely within the top 125 picks.
  • A pair of Utah offensive linemen, Junior Salt and Jeremiah Poutasi, are working out today for the Panthers, per Pauline (via Twitter).
  • The Patriots worked out UConn defensive lineman B.J. McBryde last week, tweets Pauline.
  • The Jaguars hosted Monmouth wide receiver/tight end Neal Sterling for a pre-draft visit last week, according to Pauline (via Twitter).

Sturm On Cowboys: Peterson, Trades, Draft

April 15th, 2015 at 8:03pm CST by Rob DiRe

Bob Sturm took questions from Cowboys fans in his Wednesday chat for the Dallas Morning News.

Here are some of the highlights from his Q&A session:

On whether it would be a good idea to trade their second-round pick for Adrian Peterson:

“I think so. Again, I don’t like it at all. They had 3 choices this offseason for RB (maybe 4). Choice 1 was pay the NFL rushing champion to stay here (which he wanted to do). They passed. Choice 2 would be take a RB and although he is unproven, he will cost about $4m for 4 years (or $1m per season). So, the price is worth it. Choice 3 is to trade a top pick AND pay Peterson “Murray money”. This makes no sense because of age, work load, and the fact he costs you a 1st or 2nd round pick when Murray would not cost you any of that. Choice 4 is to use McFadden and Randle and see how that works. Peterson, to me, is the worst choice. However, he is Adrian Peterson and that is plenty exciting for all involved, I admit..”

On the difficulties in completing a trade for Peterson:

“There are many reasons why this trade is difficult, and I admit that one of them might be history. But, the bigger one is that the Cowboys have done everything possible to give all leverage away on this deal. They have practically telegraphed their desires publicly for a year, and this doesn’t assist in helping you get a cheap deal. Most of the principles in the Walker deal are long gone, but they know Jerry deep inside needs Peterson. Again, I don’t think the Cowboys should consider this.”

On options at cornerback in the draft:

“Well, there are a lot of really strong corners in that range. I agree that Trae Waynes and Kevin Johnson are gone. Marcus Peters is likely gone too. I would take Johnson and Peters if they are there. [Byron] Jones from UConn is next with [Eric] Rowe from Utah and [Ronald] Darby from Florida State for me. Each have their pluses and minuses. Jones might be a better athlete than a player – with his Combine performance being so much of his buzz. Rowe looks like a much better safety to me and Darby is a track guy who isn’t the best tackler ever. But, all of them are solid players.”

On whether the team should trade down from No. 27:

“One reason I don’t dive into the mock draft business is because I have found that trying to figure out what ONE franchise is planning to do is next to impossible. Trying to figure out what ALL of the franchises are doing is so absurd it is a waste of everyone’s time. That said, I would agree that those are reasonable ideas as are a few others – NYJ come to mind to get back into Round 1. But, when I look at who did deals last year, they often were not telegraphed and that is how it usually works. So, I still believe the trade-down is ideal, but finding the partner requires value issues, need issues, and the Cowboys agreeing with us that they need to trade out of #27.”

On whether he would prefer an interior lineman or edge rusher in the first round:

“I think they will look at both of those spots – as well as CB, RB, and LB – try to place values on each and try to take the BPA – best player available. I think you need both badly as DT is thin for penetrating forces and DE is likely weak unless you are going to do a longterm deal with Hardy. So, Malcom Brown or Eddie Goldman are great there – but so are so many of the edge guys. Look and see what #27 has.”

On where in the draft the Cowboys will find their running back:

“It seems to me that if you want a RB, you better plan on Round 2 being the place. And as we mentioned already, that is still not a great guarantee. Round 3 may get picked over before it gets to 91. I suspect they have their plan – which, unfortunately, may include trading one of those top picks to Minnesota.

“I have 5 RBs on the board in the 1st 2 rounds. Gordon and Gurley in Round 1, [Jay] Ajayi, [Tevin] Coleman, and Duke Johnson in Round 2. But, that view may not get them to pick #60 in Round 2. In fact, I am expecting that Ajayi and Coleman might be gone before #50. This is why I would prefer to trade back from #27 and pick up a 2nd and a 3rd, use the 2nd to get my RB and then have #60 and 2 3rds to work on my defense. But, if I can’t trade back, the other option is to use #27 on defense, then use #60 and #91 to move up and try to get into the late 40s to grab on of those 5 players. It is difficult to predict how this might work out.”

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Harris, Cowboys, Williams

April 11th, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

Whether the decisions made by Chip Kelly over the past month and a half turn out to be good or bad, the Eagles had a strange offseason. One of the stranger developments was Frank Gore agreeing to join the team and then backing out before signing a deal. Gore ended up with the Colts, and the Eagles ended up with a reputation as a place free agents were not excited about playing for.

Some believed that Kelly’s rigorous practice schedule was one reason 31-year-old Gore chose Indianapolis over Philadelphia. However, Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer does not believe that Kelly’s practice methods are a real deterrent for free agents.

Here are a few other notes from around the NFC East:

  • Kelly is in New Hampshire to meet with R.J. Harris for a pre-draft workout, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). The receiver from the University of New Hampshire is a possible late-round pick for the Eagles.
  • The Cowboys have a number of needs along their defense, but have been linked to running back prospects with their top picks. If they pass on Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley in round one (and both might be off the board by the time the Cowboys pick), Boise State tailback Jay Ajayi could be an option somewhere in the second round. Ajayi worked out with the team on Friday, writes Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram. The team also met with T.J. Yeldon and Tevin Coleman.
  • Washington’s Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams has changed agents in preparation for his free agency, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Williams fired Ben Dogra who was himself fired by CAA before joining Relativity Sports, but the tackle retained Vincent Taylor of MS World LLC. The team still plans on attempting to reach an agreement on an extension with Williams.

Breshad Perriman, Four Others On Ravens’ Radar

April 11th, 2015 at 1:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

With less than three weeks left before the NFL Draft, the Ravens are doing their due diligence on some potential mid-to-late round prospects and one possible first-round option, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has been keeping tabs on who they have met with and who is left on their visit list.

Picking 26th overall in the first round, and with a need at receiver following the loss of Torrey Smith, the Ravens will bring in burner Breshad Perriman of the University of Central Florida. Perriman has a chance to be off the board somewhere in the top 15 picks, and in the PFR Mock Draft 1.0 the Chiefs scooped him up before the Ravens get to the podium. In that mock, the team settles for another receiver at No. 26.

Here are a few other prospects set to meet with or work out for the Ravens:

  • Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney is on the team’s visit list. McKinney has drawn interest from a number of teams and has been projected to come off the board towards the end of the first round or the beginning of the second.
  • The team expects Towson cornerback Tye Smith to attend the local prospect day. Smith has good size and speed that translates to the NFL despite coming from a small-conference school, and projects as a late-round pick.
  • Oklahoma State linebacker Josh Furman will also attend the local prospect day, working out for the Ravens as a safety. Furman graduated from local Old Mill High School, as a standout two-way player on a state championship team. He played in 32 games at Michigan before transferring to Oklahoma State.
  • The Ravens have already met with Boise State running back Jay Ajayi, who is considered to be one of the better runners in the draft. Ajayi has been projected as a potential second-round pick, and could be in play for the Ravens after meeting with the team last week.

AFC West Notes: Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders

April 9th, 2015 at 7:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs could have training camp battles at several positions, writes Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. At center, third-year player Eric Kush is the favorite to replace Rodney Hudson, but as Teicher notes, it’s unlikely that Kansas City will hand Kush, who has appeared in only three games during his career, the starting job without competition. As such, it’s possible that the club could bring in other options, either through the draft, where Florida State’s Cameron Irving is the top available center, or through free agency, where former Raiders Stefen Wisniewski remains unsigned.

Let’s take at look at some draft news from the rest of the AFC West:

  • Central Michigan wide receiver Titus Davis is visiting the Chargers today, according to U-T San Diego’s Michael Gehlken (on Twitter). The wideout ran a 4.51 second 40-yard-dash at the combine and is projected as a third-to-fifth round choice given this year’s deep wide receiver class. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) is hearing a lot of mid-round buzz on Davis.
  • The Raiders will be bringing in cornerback Travis Lee for a visit, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Pauline views the Miles College product as a sleeper in this year’s class.
  • UConn defensive lineman B.J. McBryde is visiting the Chiefs today, according to Pauline (on Twitter).
  • Chargers running backs coach Ollie Wilson spent 1-on-1 time with a handful of prospects before their pro days, including Jay Ajayi of BSU and Matt Jones of Florida, according to Gehlken (on Twitter).

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Staley, Draft, Cowboys, Lions

April 6th, 2015 at 9:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers converted Joe Staley‘s option bonus to a signing bonus, affecting his cap number for 2015, as CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry (Twitter links) explains. Staley’s cap number has gone from $6.4MM to $7.6MM after his $6MM option bonus was converted. San Francisco, meanwhile, will get a salary cap credit of $1.2MM in 2016. The accounting move won’t result in a salary increase for the offensive tackle. Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explicates the transaction.

Here’s more the NFC…

  • The Buccaneers‘ private workout with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota is set for tomorrow in Eugene, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.
  • The Cowboys have filled most their 30 allowed spots for draft visits, writes Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who reports the following players have headed or will head to Valley Ranch in the coming days: running backs T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi, and Ameer Adbullah; defensive lineman Bud Dupree and Danielle Hunter; linebacker Benardrick McKinney; and defensive backs Josh Shaw and Damarious Randall.
  • The Cowboys will also take a look at a defensive lineman tomorrow, as they’ll meet with UCLA DE Owa Odighizuma, per Rapoport (Twitter link), who adds that the former Bruin will also visit with the Saints. Odighizuma has already visited the Eagles.
  • Dallas will be flush with prospects on Tuesday, as the Cowboys will also visit with both versatile Washington product Shaq Thompson and UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks, according to Rapoport (Twitter link).
  • Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com takes an overview of the Lions’ roster, noting that while linebacker is a deep position group, Detroit could afford to spend draft resources on the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Draft Notes: Winston, Borland, Visits

March 18th, 2015 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted draft notes from around the league…

  • Jameis Winston‘s decision to skip out on the NFL draft may have been based on pressure from the league. According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, the NFL may have been fearing “protests” regarding Winston’s selection in the draft, with the league advising the prospect to keep a “low profile.”
  • Following the surprise retirement of Chris Borland, Cole says teams are becoming cautious of players who are “too smart for football.” Specifically, players who have future careers outside of football may be less desirable than players who are “desperate” to become professional athletes.
  • Georgia running back Todd Gurley told reporters that he’s set to meet with the Panthers after having already met with the Lions, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Gurley revealed that he’s also meeting with five other teams.
  • Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon is scheduled to meet with the Ravens, according to Yahoo’s Rand Getlin (via Twitter).
  • Meanwhile, Getlin reports (on Twitter) that Duke wideout Jamison Crowder is gaining some interest, as the player has workouts planned with the Patriots, Buccaneers, Panthers and Texans.
  • Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes told ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein that he’s set to meet with the Vikings and Jaguars in April (Twitter link). Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that the defensive back also has private workouts scheduled with the Titans and Panthers.
  • According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.com (via Twitter), Boise State running back Jay Ajayi had dinner with the Chargers brass on Tuesday night.
  • The Jets have scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, according to Pauline (on Twitter).
  • Purdue tight end Gabe Holmes had a private workout today with the Cardinals, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The session went well, as Wilson says Holmes “caught everything.”
  • Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty has visits set up with the Cowboys, Chargers and Rams, according to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (via Twitter).

NFL Draft Updates: Sunday

January 4th, 2015 at 9:09pm CST by Rob DiRe

We have collected a number of stories regarding NFL Draft prospects entering the 2015 NFL Draft and hiring agents. They will be updated here, with newest stories added to the top.

For a list of all underclassmen who have already declared for early entry into the 2015 NFL Draft, click here.

  • Boise State junior running back Jay Ajayi has already declared for the NFL Draft, and has now signed with Select Sports, reports Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (via Twitter). He will be represented by Erik Burkhardt and Sean Kiernan.
  • Iowa senior defensive tackle Carl Davis has signed with Sports Stars NYC, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). He will be represented by Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler.
  • LSU senior offensive tackle La’el Collins has hired Deryk Gilmore to represent him in his professional career, according to Getlin (via Twitter).
  • Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes declared for the 2015 NFL Draft earlier, and has now signed with Athletes First, reports Getlin (via Twitter).
  • Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory has also declared early, and will be represented by Deryk Gilmore, according to Getlin (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Marrone, Grossman, Draft

December 23rd, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Luke Adams

If the Bills‘ new owners, Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula, have decided to retain head coach Doug Marrone beyond this season, they haven’t told Marrone yet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, as Marrone told reporters today, he’s not worried about receiving assurances about his job.

“Now is really not the time for that in our profession,” Marrone said. “Maybe some other people would do that. I’m probably not the best person to talk to because I’m wired a little bit differently. Like I said, my focus is just on this game and winning. I don’t want to focus on the other stuff. The things that you can’t control, you don’t worry about. Those things will happen, I’m sure, when the season is over.”

Let’s check in on a few more Tuesday items from around the NFL….

  • Browns head coach Mike Pettine confirmed today to reporters, including Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald (via Twitter), that Cleveland tried to sign quarterback Rex Grossman before reaching out to Tyler Thigpen. Grossman reportedly declined because he wanted to spent the holidays with his family instead.
  • Boise State running back Jay Ajayi announced this week that he’ll forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL draft, says Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman, who notes that Ajayi made the decision earlier this month. Ajayi, who racked up 1,689 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns in his junior year, currently ranks as the 10th-best back in this year’s class, per Mel Kiper of ESPN.com.
  • Utah offensive tackle Jeremiah Poutasi is expected to enter the 2015 draft early, sources tell Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link). Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com tweeted earlier this year that Poutasi is “pretty raw,” but is an intriguing prospect with a good deal of upside.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune explains why it wasn’t a practical solution for the Bears to use the franchise tag on Jay Cutler a year ago.
  • While Tony Sparano deserves praise for the job he’s done as the Raiders‘ interim coach, the club needs to “aim higher” when selecting its next coach, in the view of Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

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.