Myles Garrett

NFL Draft Rumors: Mixon, Raiders, Eagles

April 24th, 2017 at 8:39am CST by Zachary Links

Is Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon the most talented player in this year’s draft? One nameless personnel executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he believes that to be the case. The other execs surveyed, naturally, went in different directions. Texas A&M star Myles Garrett got 11 votes, LSU safety Jamal Adams got two, and there was one vote cast for Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster and Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Unlike the others, Mixon doesn’t necessarily seem likely to go in the first round.

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:

If the Raiders do not have Marshawn Lynch locked up this week, they’ll likely explore a running back in the draft. CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair looked at the team’s Day 2 options, including Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara, but noted that the team would probably wait until even later to address the position. Wyoming’s Brian Hill, Pittsburgh’s James Conner, Brigham Young’s Jamaal Williams, and Clemson’s Wayne Gallman could all garner consideration deeper in the draft.
Mixon remains on the Eagles‘ draft board with less than one week to go before the draft, two sources tell Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Furthermore, the Eagles are “very interested” in drafting him, and that comes after extensive research into his off-the-field history. Mixon recently settled the civil suit brought against him by Amelia Molitor and apparently apologized to her in person, which might help his case with teams.
Is Cal’s Davis Webb a better quarterback prospect that Jared Goff? At least one NFL talent evaluator thinks so. “Goff has maybe quicker feet and better release. Davis has a stronger arm. Goff would be more accurate. Davis would be a much better worker, much smarter, better leader, enjoy the process,” an AFC scout told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “I think Davis puts the ball on the ground a little bit too much and he forces probably a little bit too much.” Overall, here’s how the surveyed scouts ranked the top QBs in this year’s class: 1. Mitch Trubisky, 2. Patrick Mahomes, 3. Deshaun Watson, t-4. DeShone Kizer t-4. Webb, 6. Nathan Peterman, 7. Joshua Dobbs, 8. Brad Kaaya, 9. C.J. Beathard, 10. Trevor Knight.

Draft Rumors: Redskins, Trubisky, Browns

April 23rd, 2017 at 12:27pm CST by Rory Parks

The Redskins recently re-signed RB Chris Thompson, but as John Keim of ESPN.com writes, the team wants to add another back to complement Thompson and incumbent starter Rob Kelley. It is unclear whether that will happen in free agency or the draft, but head coach Jay Gruden has said that the team would only select a running back high in the draft if such a running back is a “home run hitter.” Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook certainly fit that description, and Keim believes they could tempt Washington in the first round of this week’s draft. In a separate piece, Keim writes that the Redskins want to draft a difference-making pass rusher “in the worst way,” and given that this year’s draft is rich in pass-rushing talent, they could be picking from a few intriguing options at No. 17 overall. However, they could also consider Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster if he is still available when Washington is on the clock (and he may be, given his recent failed urine test).

Now for more draft-related nuggets:

Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes there is truth to the rumors that the Browns and Jets are discussing a deal that would see the Browns send their No. 12 overall pick and multiple other selections to New York in exchange for the Jets’ No. 6 overall selection. Such a deal would likely be contingent on, among other things, Mitch Trubisky‘s still being available, but the teams are talking and Cimini believes the Jets should pull the trigger if they can.
Speaking of the Browns and Trubisky, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer hears that the Browns’ interest in taking the UNC signal-caller with the No. 1 overall pick is genuine, but she still thinks the team will select Myles Garrett with that choice.
The Browns are hoping that the Moneyball approach will translate to the NFL, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. Former baseball executive Paul DePodesta has the Browns evaluating things differently and stockpiling picks in a way that we haven’t seen before in the NFL. Heading into the draft, Cleveland has five picks within the first 65 selections this year, including the Nos. 1, 12, 33, 52, and 65 overall picks. That’s not including the 2018 second-round draft pick they received for taking on the contract of quarterback Brock Osweiler. The hiring of DePodesta was met with mixed reactions, but it’s hard to find fault with all of the ammo the Browns currently have, which will allow them to trade up if necessary to land the quarterback they want.
Steelers WR Martavis Bryant is expected to be reinstated and to contribute in a big way to the Steelers’ passing attack in 2017, but given that he missed all of the 2016 season and has yet to actually be reinstated, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com believes Pittsburgh will approach this week’s draft as if Bryant is not in the mix. The team’s first-round pick is too late to land one of this year’s top WR prospects, but Fowler names Zay Jones, Chris Godwin, and Josh Reynolds as potential fits.
Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal realizes that the Raiders have not yet acquired Marshawn Lynch, and the team has some questions at right tackle, but the expectation is that GM Reggie McKenzie will devote the majority, if not entirety, of his earliest draft resources to the defensive side of the ball. That trend likely will continue to some degree in the fourth through seventh rounds.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Latest On Browns’ Mitch Trubisky Interest

April 21st, 2017 at 9:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier today, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Browns were still mired in a Myles Garrett-vs.-Mitch Trubisky debate despite the former being the consensus top talent in the draft. More came out of Cleveland on Friday night to support the Browns are legitimately considering the North Carolina product.

The team is both pondering a trade-up for the former Cleveland-area high school quarterback and selecting him at No. 1 overall, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Cabot adds that the pro-Garrett vibes coming out of Sashi Brown‘s Wednesday press conference do not mean the team is going to take the defensive end, noting the Browns are “strongly considering” bypassing the Texas A&M sack artist and selecting Trubisky.

Cleveland’s line of thinking here is believed to be that the pro-Trubisky contingent within the Browns’ decision-making structure is uncertain he will be there at No. 12 and isn’t sure the team will be able to swing a trade back into the top 10 to select him. Sources informed Cabot the team is ready to select its quarterback of the future.

During the second-year GM’s pre-draft presser, Brown said the Browns have “just about finalized” their decision at No. 1. While that was believed to be interpreted as a sign the team was ready to take the best player available, sources told Cabot that Brown may have meant Trubisky is the emerging consensus choice.

Cabot also hears the 49ers are a threat to take Trubisky at No. 2 overall, and that the North Carolina-honed signal-caller won’t last past the Jets at No. 6. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported earlier this month some Jets officials are high on Trubisky, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report noted the team could serve as a trade partner for the Browns if they wanted to get back into the top 10.

If the Jets are entertaining the thought of using another high pick on a passer, the Titans hold the No. 5 pick. Tennessee had to surrender a 2016 third-rounder and 2017 second-round choice to Cleveland in order to move from No. 15 to 8 to select Jack Conklin. The price could be similar for the Browns, who have been more known for stockpiling draft picks than trading up for talent since the Brown- and Paul DePodesta-led front office took over.

The Browns have turned down offers for the No. 1 pick, Cabot reports, but after the team traded out of No. 2 last year and passed on Carson Wentz, it’s now poised to make that quarterback pick this year. Cabot adds that the Browns missing out on Trubisky would result in them moving on to Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes — presumably with their No. 12 pick. Of course, a GM told NFL.com’s Charlie Casserly he believes two quarterbacks would go in the top nine selections. In that scenario, the Browns would have to trade back into the top 10 if they wanted to draft the second-best quarterback on their board.

This would wrap up another complex Browns pre-draft process. Reports about the Browns’ astronomical grade on Garrett and team brass being awed by his Combine showing eventually leading to a Trubisky pick would be quite interesting. As would the possibility that owner Jimmy Haslam, who was possibly connected to having made the decision to trade up for Johnny Manziel in 2014, being involved in the decision-making process, as La Canfora suggests he could be.

Browns Owner Wants QB At No. 1?

April 21st, 2017 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Complicating the divide between the Browns’ coaches and their front office regarding the No. 1 overall pick: Jimmy Haslam is believed to be weighing in on this process.

The team’s owner “badly wants” a quarterback, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). As the draft nears, Haslam has been asking about this draft’s quarterback class and wondering why there hasn’t been much clamoring for a passer at No. 1 overall among the team’s decision-makers (Twitter links, via La Canfora).

While this would seem to open up a bigger issue for the Browns, who have seen Haslam make quick decisions regarding previous head coaches during his tenure, the team still has a chasm between its coaching staff and new-era front office about which player to select first overall.

The coaching staff continues to prefer Myles Garrett, with La Canfora echoing what we’ve heard before about Jackson’s preference for the Texas A&M defensive end. But the front office, per La Canfora, is leaning more toward Mitch Trubisky as the pre-draft process enters its final week.

Trubisky has evidently made a late push for a Browns team that has probably experienced the biggest trouble at the quarterback spot of any team during the 21st century. The Cleveland-area native, though, could be viewed as a reach at No. 1 overall due to his one year of starting experience and the constant scrutiny about this year’s quarterback class having been present throughout the pre-draft months. But the Browns are also believed to be pondering a move up from their No. 12 spot to select the North Carolina-developed passer.

The owner weighing in on the process would certainly appear to throw more weight behind Trubisky. Haslem wanting to leave the draft with a surefire starting signal-caller doesn’t necessarily mean the Browns are going to pass on Garrett, but it might mean the team will trade up from No. 12 or use multiple picks as currency in a trade. La Canfora tweets a trade scenario would be welcomed by Browns brass, as it would “appease” Haslam and allow the franchise to select Garrett. The Browns have been linked to Jimmy Garoppolo throughout the offseason, but the Patriots have shown increased reluctance to unload Tom Brady‘s backup.

Of course, Browns GM Sashi Brown said earlier this week the team doesn’t envision a trade for a veteran quarterback. So, the complicated offseason — one that has the Browns still trying to work a trade to get Brock Osweiler off the roster — continues in Cleveland.

AFC Notes: Browns, Raiders, Colts, Steelers

April 19th, 2017 at 6:31pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Browns head coach Hue Jackson reportedly likes Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett more than some members of the team’s front office do, but executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown made it clear Wednesday that he’s also fond of the possible No. 1 pick. “We’d be proud to have him,” said Brown (via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). Meanwhile, vice president of player personnel Andrew Berry downplayed worries that Garrett took too many plays off with the Aggies. “Sometimes those concerns are a little bit overstated,” Berry offered. “The reality is in college football the number of snaps these defensive linemen have to play on a down-in, down-out basis is usually greater than what they’ll have to play at the professional level.”

Hue Jackson Wants Browns To Draft Myles Garrett

April 14th, 2017 at 10:51am CST by Connor J. Byrne

While some members of the Browns organization want the team to select North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the first pick in the draft, head coach Hue Jackson isn’t among them. Jackson has thrown his support behind Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Considering both Jackson’s offensive background and the Browns’ lack of ideal quarterback options, it perhaps speaks volumes that he’d rather grab a defender No. 1 overall. He’s hardly alone in preferring Garrett over Trubisky, though, with one NFL personnel executive telling Cabot that “it’s not even close between Garrett and Trubisky.” However, Trubisky isn’t without his supporters – another personnel man informed Cabot he has more upside than Eagles signal-caller Carson Wentz, who went second overall last year after the Browns traded out of that spot.

The Browns have a second first-rounder, No. 12 overall, though it’s doubtful Trubisky will still be available when the time comes for them to make that pick. That means their bigwigs are going to have to make a choice between Garrett or Trubisky, which could be a problem. There’s “some discord” among the team’s decision-makers, with a clash potentially occurring between the old- and new-school members of the organization, multiple sources have told Cabot. Led by general manager Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer/former baseball executive Paul DePodesta, the Browns’ front office heavily emphasizes analytics. It doesn’t seem that everyone in Cleveland is on board with that, which bears watching for a club with a franchise-altering call to make in two weeks.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Draft Rumors: 49ers, Jets, Fins, Mixon,

April 12th, 2017 at 8:38pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The 49ers are willing to trade the second pick in the draft, which has been the case since at least February. They’ll “listen to anything,” said general manager John Lynch, who revealed that teams have shown interest in acquiring the selection (via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area). Regardless of whether they trade the choice, the 49ers won’t have top prospects like Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett, Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey in for pre-draft visits. “I think we know those guys pretty well,” stated Lynch (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). They did work out Cal quarterback Davis Webb on Tuesday, per Wagoner. Webb is gaining momentum as a potential first-rounder.

Browns Considering Mitch Trubisky At No. 1

April 11th, 2017 at 8:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Conventional wisdom has the Browns selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, but Cleveland has not yet made a final decision. Some in the Cleveland organization prefer UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds the Browns’ personnel team is split between Trubisky and Garrett.

[POLL: Is Myles Garrett A Lock For No. 1?]

The possibility of a Trubisky selection isn’t completely out of left field, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last month that the Browns were strongly considering taking Trubisky first overall. The Browns — clearly — need help at the quarterback position, and while they own another pick in the first round, there’s no guarantee Trubisky will be available when Cleveland comes on the clock at No. 12.

By selecting Trubisky at No. 1, the Browns would secure a long-term option under center and still have the chance to draft a pass-rusher later in the first round. Solomon Thomas, Derek Barnett, Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley, and others may be on the board at pick No. 12, giving Cleveland a wide selection of prospects. Plus, the Browns own five of the top 65 picks, ensuring the club plenty of chances to fill in its roster after it lands a quarterback.

Passing on Garrett isn’t a cut-and-dry decision, however. He’s viewed as a the best overall player in the 2017 class, and the Browns reportedly have an “astronomical grade” on him. Additionally, Cleveland was “blown away” by Garrett’s combine performance, which included a 4.64 40-yard dash and 33 bench press reps.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Will Someone Other Than Garrett Go No. 1?

April 11th, 2017 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The No. 1 overall pick is an open and shut case – unless it isn’t. Popular thinking in recent weeks has Myles Garrett going to the Browns, but they’re not ruling out Leonard Fournette with the top selection. The LSU running back is a possibility, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, although JLC concedes that it’s still unlikely to happen.

Garrett is widely considered to be the best talent in this year’s class at any position and would be a strong choice for the rebuilding Browns. By the same token, there are other quality defensive ends to be had early in the draft and the Browns have a stockpile of picks to use. Solomon Thomas, Derek Barnett, Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley, Taco Charlton, and T.J. Watt all hold varying levels of promise and some of those names can be had as late as the second round. The Browns presently own four picks in the top 52 and five picks in the top 65. Passing on Garrett could come back to haunt them – the Texas A&M actually says that he’ll “punish” the Browns in the NFL if he doesn’t hear his name called at the top of the draft – but there are still alternatives to consider later on.

Fournette isn’t the only non-Garrett player to be mentioned in connection with the top pick. Though Mitch Trubisky‘s momentum has cooled significantly, it wasn’t long ago that he was thought to have a chance at going No. 1. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who considers Trubisky to be the BPA (best player available), but Cleveland has an obvious need under center. If the Browns really like Trubisky or Deshaun Watson, they could theoretically play it safe and shock the world by taking a quarterback at No. 1 instead of waiting for pick No. 12 or later.

With a few weeks to go until the draft, what does your gut tell you about the Browns’ intentions with the top pick? Will they select Garrett, a player who they have bestowed with an “astronomical grade”? Or will they go in a different direction and take someone else? Alternatively, if they trade the pick, do you envision the deal being for someone other than the Texas A&M star? Cast your vote below to choose between Garrett and the rest of the field.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Draft Notes: Browns, Bills, King, Fins

April 10th, 2017 at 7:31pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

There’s reportedly a chance LSU running back Leonard Fournette will go No. 1 overall to the Browns in this month’s draft, but Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com doesn’t expect that to happen. The odds of coming off the board with the top pick continue to favor Texas A&M edge defender Myles Garrett, though Cleveland could give some consideration to North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, notes Cabot. The Browns do have another first-rounder, No. 12 overall, and they’d have interest in taking Fournette there, Cabot writes. However, it doesn’t seem as if Fournette will still be available then.

Garrett, meanwhile, informed Sam Alipour of ESPN The Magazine that he wants the Browns to draft him, vowing to get revenge if they don’t. On why he should be the first choice this year, Garrett offered: “Because I’ll be a difference maker from day one. And I’m not gonna be in any trouble. I’m just gonna make plays and bring a good atmosphere to your organization. And I’m gonna start winning and winning now. And because if you don’t draft me No. 1, I will punish your team for the next 10 to 12 years. I’ll knock your QB out of the game every time we play you, and I’ll have to kick the hell out of No. 1, whoever it is.”

More of the latest draft-related news:

Buffalo continues to show interest in potential first-round quarterbacks. The Doug Whaley-led Bills, who are reportedly “in love” with Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, met with Trubisky on Sunday. Before doing that, the Bills worked out Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer on Saturday, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Team brass, including owner Terry Pegula, also had dinner with Kizer.
University of Washington cornerback Kevin King will visit the Eagles, Raiders, Browns and Ravens this week, reports FOX Sports’ Charles Davis (on Twitter). King, a prospective first-rounder, received an invitation to the draft, adds Davis.
University of Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya met with Dolphins head coach Adam Gase last week, relays Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins are unlikely to end up with the projected mid-rounder, though, as they probably won’t consider selecting a signal-caller until late in the draft, per Jackson.

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