HEADLINES

Michael Campanaro

Draft Signings: Chargers, Colts, Packers, Jets

May 14th, 2014 at 1:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Here’s a recap of the latest 2014 draft picks reaching contract agreements with their respective teams:

  • The Chargers have agreed to terms with third-round guard Chris Watt on a deal that includes a $419K bonus and a $2.691MM overall value, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Both of those contract figures are lower than what Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap projected for Watt’s draft slot.
  • The Colts have signed their fifth-round pick, Ball State’s Jonathan Newsome, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter).
  • Fifth-round receiver Jared Abbrederis has signed a contract with the Packers that includes a signing bonus of about $145K, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Jets have signed a pair of draftees, according to the team, who announced today that fourth-round pick Dakota Dozier and seventh-rounder Trevor Reilly have both been locked up.
  • Seventh-rounder Michael Campanaro has signed his contract with the Ravens, which includes a $67.5K signing bonus tweets Wilson.
  • Running back Lache Seastrunk, a sixth-round pick, has agreed to sign with the Redskins on a deal that features a $110.5K signing bonus, says Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Field Yates of ESPN.com has a couple more draft pick signings, reporting that the Texans have locked up sixth-round running back Alfred Blue and seventh-round safety Lonnie Ballentine (Twitter links).

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.

Ravens Links: Clinton-Dix, Rankin, RBs

April 10th, 2014 at 10:54am CST by Luke Adams

As the Ravens continue to weigh their options for the No. 17 pick, the team recently hosted Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a pre-draft visit, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson adds that Clinton-Dix has also visited the Lions and met with the Titans. As Wilson writes, the young safety would be an excellent addition to Baltimore’s secondary, allowing the club to shift Matt Elam over to strong safety. However, considering Clinton-Dix is viewed as arguably the top defensive back in the draft, there are no guarantees he’ll be available when the Ravens pick 17th overall.

Here’s more out of Baltimore:

  • Add Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin to the list of prospects participating in the Ravens’ local Pro Day, tweets Wilson. Among the other players expected to be in attendance: Wake Forest wideout Michael Campanaro, Towson running back Terrance West, Towson cornerback Jordan Love, and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small.
  • The Ravens’ No. 3 running backs last season totaled just 16 rushing yards on eight carries, and the team is looking to improve on those totals this season, writes Bo Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com. With Ray Rice dealing with legal troubles and Bernard Pierce coming off shoulder surgery, that position will be of extra importance. For now, Justin Forsett is penciled into that No. 3 spot, though there’s still time for the team to add more competition to the roster, either in free agency or the draft.
  • Picking just two spots apart in the draft, the Ravens and Steelers may be targeting similar players, says Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Brown singles out safety Calvin Pryor and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan as prospects who seem to be generating interest from the pair of AFC North rivals.