HEADLINES

Logan Thomas

Ravens Links: Carr, QBs, RBs, Draft Visits

April 15th, 2014 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Joe Flacco is locked in as the Ravens’ long-term starter at quarterback, but the team seems to be making an effort to upgrade its backups, as Aaron Wilson details for the Baltimore Sun. Although Tyrod Taylor is currently the No. 2 option behind Flacco, the Ravens are keeping an eye on the free agent market, and Wilson believes that veteran signal-caller David Carr could be a good fit for the club. As Wilson writes, Carr knows Gary Kubiak‘s system, has been healthy and durable, and shouldn’t be expensive.

Let’s round up a few more Ravens items….

  • Within that same piece, Wilson notes that the Ravens have hosted Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas on pre-draft visits. However, as the Sun scribe adds via Twitter, the team hasn’t scheduled any meetings or visits with Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage, one of the draft’s rising QB prospects.
  • The urgency to draft a running back has never been lower for NFL teams, which is good news for the Ravens, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. In Brown’s view, the team should be able to wait until the middle or late rounds to address the position, and could still end up with a solid player.
  • Wake Forest wide receiver Michael Campanaro, who worked out for the Ravens on Monday, told Wilson that “it went awesome” and that he came away encouraged by the workout.
  • Another player who participated in the Ravens’ local workout yesterday, Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle, is visiting the Raiders next, writes Wilson.

Pauline’s Latest: Pryor, Evans, Gaines, Pats

April 11th, 2014 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s the latest draft buzz from Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net:

  • Sources close to the club say that Louisville safety Calvin Pryor will be a priority for the Lions if he drops to the second day of the draft. I imagine that’d be the case for most teams, considering Pryor is widely considered one of the top two or three defensive backs in the draft.
  • There’s a consensus that Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans will be a top-10 pick, and the team that lands him may ultimately trade up or down to do it. Pauline identifies the Rams, Eagles, and Ravens as possible landing spots for Evans. Philadelphia could also be in the mix for receivers like Brandin Cooks or Marqise Lee.
  • Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines had dinner with the Jaguars last month and has worked out for the Bengals and Buccaneers. Gaines also has trips lined up with the Giants, Cardinals, and Dolphins.
  • The Patriots recently worked out Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas and D.J. Coles, and Pauline suggests that there’s a belief New England will draft a quarterback this year, since the team expects to lose Ryan Mallett a year from now. As for Coles, the Pats had the receiver do plenty of tight end work during position drills.
  • Prior to tearing his ACL during a workout with the Saints, offensive lineman Brandon Thomas had official visits set up with the Raiders, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Panthers. He was also scheduled to work out for the Buccaneers and Giants. The workouts are obviously off the table now, but it’s not clear which of the visits will still happen, if any, says Pauline.
  • Towson running back Terrance West was impressive during his Pro Day and appeared to solidify himself as a fourth-round pick, according to Pauline.

North Notes: Coleman, Vikings, Lions, Steelers

April 11th, 2014 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

After hosting Kurt Coleman for a visit this week, the Vikings offered the free agent safety a contract, but it wasn’t enough to get him to pull the trigger, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Although the two sides may revisit talks at a later time, Coleman appears to still be exploring all his options.

Here are a few more notes from the NFL’s two North divisions, with a focus on pre-draft visits:

  • The Vikings are conducting a private workout today with Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.
  • We know the Lions have real interest in receiver Sammy Watkins, but apparently he’s not the only member of the family drawing attention from the club. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that the Lions also had a private workout for Florida defensive back Jaylen Watkins, Sammy’s brother.
  • Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Arizona State linebacker Carl Bradford are visiting the Steelers today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Ravens recently met with Virginia Tech signal-caller Logan Thomas, who has also met with the Bengals, according to Wilson. As Wilson details, in addition to those AFC North teams, Thomas has also worked out for or met with the Patriots, Cardinals, and Texans.

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.