Myles Jack - Pro Football Rumors

Myles Jack Does Not Need Microfracture Surgery

April 29th, 2016 at 2:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Myles Jack went undrafted in the first round due to concerns over his injured knee. As we approach the second round, teams might now have enough peace of mind to pull the trigger on the highly-talented UCLA product. Dr. James Andrews told Jack today that he does not need micro-fracture surgery, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Dr. Andrews, one of the nation’s foremost surgeons for athletes, also examined Jack back in December.

Jack missed most of the 2015 campaign thanks to a torn meniscus in his knee. In recent weeks, there were whispers that Jack required further surgery that could keep him off the field for part of the 2016 season. Now, it appears that will not be the case.

“[The degenerative problems are] there, but it’s nothing extreme. Down the line, possibly I could have microfracture surgery – potentially,” Jack told a reporter on Wednesday, possibly causing some alarm amongst NFL decision-makers. “Who knows what will happen? Nobody knows how long anybody is going to play in this league. To play three years in this league would be above average.”

The Cowboys are one team near the top of the draft that will apparently not consider Jack, but other teams will surely look to land the linebacker who was considered to be a top-15 player just one month ago. A Jaguars source told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that the team will not trade up to get Jack, but they might be willing to draft him at some point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cowboys Looking To Trade Up To Browns At No. 32?

April 29th, 2016 at 2:05pm CST by Zachary Links

2:05pm: The Cowboys are now unlikely to move up from pick No. 34, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. Owner Jerry Jones feels that there are still multiple players on the board with first-round grades.

11:19am: The Cowboys are looking to trade up to grab the Browns’ No. 32 pick, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The likely target is a pass-rusher, he adds.

It is not immediately clear as to who Dallas is looking to select. One player we know that Dallas will not select is UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. Jack has not been removed from the Cowboys’ board, sources tell David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, but they have determined that the risk of taking Jack with the third pick of the second round is too high to warrant his selection at No. 34 if he’s still available.

“Since we’re third, we want to be a little cautious about where we show our interest here,” owner Jerry Jones said late Thursday evening when asked specifically about Jack.

If a pass rusher is what the Cowboys are after, then they could select from a group that includes Clemson’s Kevin Dodd and Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah. Kamalei Correa (Boise State) and Jihad Ward (Illinois) are also still on the board heading into Day 2.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Rumors: Ravens, Tunsil, Jack, Panthers

April 29th, 2016 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome claims that the team preferred Ronnie Stanley over Laremy Tunsil, even before the leak of Tunsil’s now infamous video.

“The thing that I’m so proud of, . . . our scouts get a lot of information,” Newsome said, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. “When things happen, a lot of the times we’re not surprised. We took the best player, the player that was rated the highest on the board at that point. I cannot neglect the importance of the work that our scouts do in the fall and in the spring getting information for us.”

More draft rumors from around the NFL:

The Panthers had UCLA linebacker Myles Jack on their draft board when they selected at No. 30, but the knee injury kept them from taking him, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes. “Very frankly, the kid came out and said he is going to need microfracture (surgery),” GM Dave Gettleman said. Earlier today we learned that the Cowboys are not considering Jack with their early second round selection.
At least one team strongly considered drafting Jack late in the first round, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports tweets. However, that team couldn’t get over the knee issue and the risk factor involved with taking the UCLA linebacker so early.
The Browns didn’t attempt to trade up late in first round last night for Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, a source familiar with the situation told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (on Twitter).

Draft Rumors: Jets, Falcons, Giants, Jack

April 28th, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets are trying to move up from the No. 20 pick, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). RapSheet doesn’t provide any more details, but it’s easy to speculate that New York might be targeting a quarterback like Paxton Lynch.

Draft Rumors: Bosa, Tunsil, Jack, Chargers

April 28th, 2016 at 8:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers had been intending to draft Joey Bosa “for months”, a source tells Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com (Twitter links), who adds that San Diego was extremely happy when the Eagles traded up to No.2, since that deal meant that Bosa would likely slip to pick No. 3. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco spoke with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer for over an hour on Monday night, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), which may have helped the Chargers solidify their pick.

Here’s more draft news as the first round action continues…

The Ravens drafted Ronnie Stanley at No. 6, but they originally had another offensive tackle in mind. According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), Baltimore was prepared to select Laremy Tunsil, but a video posted earlier tonight of Tunsil smoking out of a bong “scared them off.”
Before selecting running back Elliott, the Cowboys considered trading out of the No. 4 pick, tweets Schefter. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link), Dallas was discussing a pick swap with the Ravens before drafting Ezekiel Elliott. Baltimore, per Moore, wanted Jalen Ramsey, who ultimately went fifth overall.
The Dolphins are a potential suitor for linebacker Myles Jack, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who says he’s heard “over and over” that Jack could be a target for Miami. Jack’s health, specifically a 2015 knee injury, could force him to tumble down the draft board, but the Dolphins could be ready to catch him at No. 13.

Peter King’s Latest: Chargers, Stanley, Jaguars

April 28th, 2016 at 9:20am CST by Zachary Links

In his column this morning, Peter King of The MMQB writes that he is skeptical of the idea that the Chargers will trade down. The Bolts were fielding tons of calls from teams prior to the Browns-Eagles trade for the No. 2, but the interest has “dried up since then,” according to King. Football people continue to link the Chargers to Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley, which echoes a report from Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller on Wednesday night.

Here’s more from King:

Stanley is also the No. 1 tackle on the Jaguars‘ board, King hears, but GM Dave Caldwell is more likely to go with a front-seven player or trade down.
Two anonymous teams say that Jalen Ramsey’s lack of productivity and his lack of plays made at Florida State are scaring them off. Ramsey notably had just two interceptions in his final 40 college games. A third team that is actually high on Ramsey is worried that he was moved from cornerback to safety in college.
King hears that there weren’t many trade calls made on Wednesday, but that could change today. King anticipates the Ravens to call around and gauge interest in their No. 6 pick. He anticipates that the Titans (No. 15) will continue to look into trading up for a tackle. The Dolphins (No. 13) could try and move up for Ezekiel Elliott if the Cowboys don’t beat them to the punch. The Jaguars (No. 5) and Browns (No. 8), he expects, will “aggressively” try to move down.
King doesn’t believe that the Jets or Browns will take Paxton Lynch.
Despite talk of a slide, King guesses that Myles Jack will not fall out of the top 15. The Giants have reportedly taken the UCLA product off of their board and other teams with interest are thinking about having him sign an injury waiver before selecting him.

Giants Not Considering Myles Jack At No. 10

April 27th, 2016 at 8:49pm CST by Zachary Links

8:49pm: Some teams that are interested in Jack are thinking about having him sign an injury waiver, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets. In an entry on WalterFootball.com, Pauline details how such a waiver would work:

“Teams can start their due diligence now and see if Jack would accept such a request before deciding on whether or not they would draft him. The injury waiver would be a clause that waives any compensation for Jack if he injures or re-injures the knee in question. The teams in question would require this for their short or long term protection, but it should be noted that verbal agreements of this sort are non-binding,” Pauline writes.

The Saints at No. 12 are a team to watch if Jack slips, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets.

7:37pm: The Giants are not considering linebacker Myles Jack with the No. 10 pick, sources tell Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The linebacker is considered to be one of the best talents in this year’s class, but the Giants have serious reservations about his medical situation.

“If the injury is so significant… It’s like school. F is bad and A is good. Anything in between… If it’s a C, there’s some risk,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said last week when asked about draft prospects with medical concerns. “If there’s a D, there is a lot of risk, and if it’s an F, we’re not going to take them. It’s hard for us to take a D. We rarely take a D.”

The Giants reportedly like Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd and Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin, two players who are regarded as safer picks than Jack, at No. 10. According to Raanan, Floyd is the Giants’ preference at No. 10 and Conklin is viewed as the fallback option, provided that he is also available.

Jack missed most of the 2015 campaign thanks to a torn meniscus in his knee. Now, there is growing concern that Jack could require further surgery that could keep him off the field for part of the 2016 season.

News of the Giants shying away from Jack comes on the heels of the linebacker personally doing a poor job of selling himself in a conversation with Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter link):

“[The degenerative problems are] there, but it’s nothing extreme. Down the line, possibly I could have microfracture surgery – potentially. Who knows what will happen? Nobody knows how long anybody is going to play in this league. To play three years in this league would be above average,” Jack said.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Neal, Joseph, Titans

April 27th, 2016 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

Cal quarterback Jared Goff and North Dakota State signal-caller Carson Wentz are widely expected to come off the board in that order with the top two picks on Thursday night, but there’s some uncertainty about how the next several picks will play out.

After speaking to several people around the league, Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com takes a shot at forecasting how picks three through eight will go. In Pauline’s view, the most probable scenario would see DeForest Buckner land with the Chargers, Jalen Ramsey to the Cowboys, Myles Jack to the Jaguars, Laremy Tunsil to the Ravens, Ronnie Stanley to the 49ers, and Joey Bosa to the Browns.

Ezekiel Elliott is a wild card – if he’s still on the board at No. 8, the Browns could potentially trade down with a team like the Dolphins – but otherwise Pauline’s predictions for the top eight seem entirely plausible. According to the draft scribe, the Chargers feel like they “desperately” need to add a standout defensive lineman, while the 49ers also covet Buckner, so that’s a situation worth watching too.

Here’s more from Pauline:

While Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee has frequently been linked to the Falcons at No. 17, Pauline hears that Clemson linemen Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson are also in play. According to Pauline, head coach Dan Quinn has been pushing for the team to select safety Keanu Neal, though that’s probably only a possibility if Atlanta trades down.
Washington wouldn’t mind trading down and nabbing West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, says Pauline.
According to Pauline, there’s a decent chance that the Titans will use one of their second-round picks to grab Ohio State wideout Braxton Miller, assuming the team doesn’t use any of those selections in a trade. Tennessee will also likely consider Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry on day two.
The Broncos plan on drafting a running back on day three, and Pauline hears that they like Auburn’s Peyton Barber in the neighborhood of the sixth round.
Teams are already talking to prospects and their agents in an effort to sign those players as undrafted free agents after the draft, and some clubs are creating “bad blood” with their approach to this process. According to Pauline, a couple teams have called potential UDFA targets and told them that they’re unlikely to be drafted. Those players are still optimistic about being mid-round selections, so being told that they’re likely to go undrafted has soured those players (and their agents) on those teams, per Pauline.

AFC Draft Rumors: Dolphins, Steelers, Ravens

April 25th, 2016 at 4:21pm CST by Luke Adams

After trading down a few weeks ago, could the Dolphins trade back up? Miami will consider moving up from No. 13 in order to grab either Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott or UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, multiple sources tell Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald. Moving up from No. 13 to the top ten can be pricey, but top exec Mike Tannenbaum has said that he would be open to such a move for the right player.

Here’s are the latest NFL Draft rumors out of the AFC:

The Steelers, currently slated to pick 25th overall in this year’s draft, are unlikely to trade up, but moving down remains on the table, general manager Kevin Colbert said today (Twitter link via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
In the wake of the two major trades at the top of the draft, there’s a chance that Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil will still be on the board at No. 6 for the Ravens. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun explores that scenario, examining whether it would make sense for the club to pass up a top defensive prospect to fortify the left tackle spot.
The Chargers are expected to select a tight end at some point during this week’s draft — it’s just a matter of when. We heard last week that the team is considering Ohio State’s Nick Vannett, and Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune takes a closer look at the young tight end as a potential target for the Bolts.
Clemson linebacker B.J. Goodson met with 15 teams in total, via either a pre-draft visit or private workout, and the Texans were one of those teams, writes Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
The Dolphins and Jets are among the teams that have shown interest in University of Minnesota cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link), who suggests that Boddy-Calhoun will likely either be a day three pick or an undrafted free agent.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Draft Rumors: Lawson, Lynch, Jack, Bosa

April 25th, 2016 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

In his latest mock draft, Peter King of TheMMQB.com has Clemson edge defender Shaq Lawson coming of the board at No. 11 to the Bears. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report likes that prediction, tweeting that the idea of Lawson to the Bears is “heating up,” with Chicago having done a ton of homework on the young pass rusher.

According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via PhiladelphiaEagles.com), not all NFL teams are comfortable with Lawson’s shoulder — a few clubs believe he has a degenerative condition that will create problems down the road. However, Lawson believes his shoulder is good to go, and his camp sent a video to all 32 teams over the weekend to prove it, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Here are a few more draft-related odds and ends from around the league:

The NFL has notified all 32 teams that no player tested positive for banned substances during the February combine, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Some clubs are concerned about Paxton Lynch‘s “alarmingly low score” on the Wonderlic test, and while there are still plenty of teams that like him, some people around the NFL believe the Memphis quarterback may be picked after Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, according to Tony Pauline. Pauline cautions that he doesn’t buy that idea, but he does expect Hackenberg to be selected during the early part of the second round.
Despite concern about the long-term health of Myles Jack‘s knee, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) says that the UCLA linebacker is still a virtual lock to come off the board within the top 15 picks in the first round, while Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link) doesn’t expect Jack to get out of the top 10.
The trades for quarterbacks at the top of the draft could push some defensive players down the board, but it’s “highly unlikely” that Ohio State pass rusher Joey Bosa slips beyond No. 7, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
Baylor basketball player and tight end Rico Gathers has his pro day at the Saints‘ facility today, with 24 teams sending reps, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Given how weak this year’s tight end class is, teams are more intrigued by Gathers than initially expected, says Rapoport.