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AFC Draft Notes: Jets, Texans, Ravens

April 1st, 2014 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

April is typically draft month for the NFL, but that’s not the case in 2014 — we’ve still got another five-plus weeks until this year’s three-day event gets underway on May 8. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t several rumors and reports floating around about teams’ potential draft plans. Here are a few of the latest items on AFC clubs:

  • The Jets are intrigued by Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, a team source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Amaro is scheduled to visit the Jets in the coming weeks, and Mehta suggests the tight end could be on the board when the club picks in the second round.
  • It’s no surprise that the Texans‘ signing of Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn’t affect the possibility of the team drafting a quarterback next month. However, it’s a little surprising that, even with Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, and T.J. Yates on board, head coach Bill O’Brien suggested the Texans could add multiple QBs in the draft (Twitter link via official Texans account).
  • Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin, Utah cornerback Keith McGill, and Cal linebacker Khairi Fortt are making official pre-draft visits with the Ravens today, league sources tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Despite the fact that the Dolphins signed Knowshon Moreno and like Lamar Miller, the club has interest in adding another running back in the draft, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who says it could happen in the fourth or fifth round.
  • A pair of teams announced pre-draft visits, as the Bills host Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer and Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas, while Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief and Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk visit the Steelers (Twitter link).

49ers Notes: Harbaugh, Gerhart, WR, Gore

March 26th, 2014 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

Jim Harbaugh was one of 16 NFC head coaches to meet with reporters in Orlando this morning, and few have had more eventful offseasons so far than the 49ers coach, who was linked to the Browns’ coaching job in February. Today, Harbaugh made it clear “that opportunity existed in someone else’s mind, not mine,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). The Niners head coach added that he wants to be in San Francisco for a “very long time,” and that the Browns had “zero opportunity” to acquire him, in his view (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).

After discussing his own future, Harbaugh also touched on a handful of Niners-related topics, so let’s round up a few of his comments….

  • Harbaugh confirmed that the Niners spoke to free agent running back Toby Gerhart before he signed with the Jaguars, tweets Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.
  • The Niners like Quinton Patton, but still would like to add a potential No. 3 receiver, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who says Harbaugh made it clear the team is looking to augment the position. San Francisco has been linked to Julian Edelman and Emmanuel Sanders this offseason, among others.
  • Frank Gore is entering the final year of his contract, and the running back’s future with the Niners beyond that is uncertain. Said Harbaugh: “I really think Frank has three more good years. I truly believe that. But we’re in a game of taking it one year at a time, so…”
  • Harbaugh is checking out a few quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, says Barrows. The Niners coach has already looked at Eastern Illinois’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, and also wants to get a chance to see San Jose State’s David Fales and Fresno State’s Derek Carr.

Extra Points: Suh, Johnson, McClain, Smith

March 4th, 2014 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Ndamukong Suh has long been linked to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, but it sounds like the Lions star might actually opt to represent himself in his contract negotiations, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. While he’d consult with others, including Roc Nation, it sounds like the defensive tackle is giving real thought to sitting across the table from the Lions without a formal agent at his side. An extension would be very complex for Suh if he wants to maximize his value and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) hears that even the Lions don’t want him to enter negotiations on his own. More from around the league..

  • The Seahawks gave safety Jeron Johnson a second-round tender as a restricted free agent, Garafolo tweets. Johnson, 26 in June, could garner interest elsewhere, so it’ll be interesting to see how things to this offseason.
  • Former Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain is scheduled to take a free agent visit with the Bills tomorrow, Rapoport tweets. The LB has a few more visits with other clubs on his docket as well.
  • Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith met with general manager Dave Gettleman earlier today to try and clear the air, a league source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Gettleman was non-committal about Smith’s future with the team when asked about him at the scouting combine last month which didn’t sit well with the veteran.
  • 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh personally scouted Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at his pro day, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Texans also came to watch the signal caller throw.
  • The Giants will be on the hunt for running backs once free agency officially opens, explains Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News.
  • Andrew Brandt of Sports Illustrated examined the nuances of the franchise tag, the transition tag, and the ripple effects they’ll have on free agency.

Browns Keeping Options Open At No. 4

February 20th, 2014 at 9:47pm CST by Peter Sowards

To say that the Cleveland Browns have struggled to find a franchise quarterback since their reinstatement in 1999 would be the grossest of understatements. 20 different men have started under center for the much-maligned franchise in the past 15 seasons, most in the league during that time. One would assume that the team would be locked in on one of the clear top three QB prospects in the upcoming player selection meeting: Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, UCF’s Blake Bortles or Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater.

Such may not be the case. Speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, Browns GM Ray Farmer said he may go against conventional wisdom and ignore his team’s direst need.

“It could be safe [to say we’ll draft a quarterback], but we might not go that direction,” Farmer said, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It may not be what everybody thinks it’s going to be. There is an opportunity for some curveballs.”

Of course, it wouldn’t do any good for Farmer to come right out and declare his draft strategy with more than two months to go. And there are still evaluations to be done, with combine workouts, pro days and individual workouts still yet to have taken place. Farmer identified winning as the No. 1 quality he’s looking for in a potential quarterback.

“First and foremost, I’m looking for a winner. He can help translate what we’re trying to do offensively to the field. People will talk about arm strength. They’ll talk about different athletic aspects, can he move in the pocket, etcetera. But I truly believe that a guy being able to accurately throw the football, make quick decisions and process [information] and throw from a crowded pocket, those are critical factors in my mind of what the quarterback needs to be able to demonstrate he can do.”

With regard to Brian Hoyer, who went 3-0 in limited play last season before being lost with a torn ACL in his right knee, Farmer said he believes in Hoyer’s traits but is looking to push him with some competition.

Ulrich names Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney as draftable candidates at No. 4 if the team does not go in the quarterback direction. Or, Ulrich suggests the Browns trade down and select a second-tier quarterback such as Fresno State’s Derek Carr, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo or Alabama’s AJ McCarron.

Like Jaguars GM David Caldwell, Farmer said he’s willing to trade down and give his team more opportunities “to go to bat” in the draft.