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Nathan Peterman

Draft Rumors: Watson, 49ers, Texans

April 10th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a rundown of the latest NFL Draft news:

  • Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is visiting the 49ers on Monday and Tuesday before meeting with the Cardinals on Wednesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Niners, of course, own the No. 2 overall pick and the Cards are at No. 13.
  • The Bills worked out UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky on Sunday, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Owner Terry Pegula was there, along with head coach Sean McDermott. In our mock draft from last week, Dallas Robinson has the Bills passing on Trubisky in order to take a wide receiver.
  • The Texans worked out Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson on Friday before flying to the 49ers over the weekend. Next up is a Panthers workout on Tuesday (Twitter link via Rapoport). Carolina has already met with Robinson, so this could be a sign of serious interest. The Panthers own the No. 8 overall pick.
  • Safety Jamal Adams, who had a strong showing at LSU’s Pro Day, is visiting the Panthers today (Monday), Rapoport tweets. Rapoport wonders aloud whether he’ll be available at No. 8.
  • Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman has workouts for Steelers, Bills, Chiefs, and Patriots, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).

Chargers Open To Drafting Quarterback

March 28th, 2017 at 6:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Given that starting quarterback Philip Rivers is 35 years old, and his backup, Kellen Clemens, is 33, the Chargers may start thinking about a successor as soon as the upcoming draft. Speaking at the league meetings earlier today, new Los Angeles head coach Anthony Lynn sounded very amenable to selecting a signal-caller next month, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com details.Anthony Lynn (Vertical)

“I think we do have to get a young quarterback on campus and start to develop someone, because we have two veteran quarterbacks and both of them are long in the tooth,” Lynn said. “I think they have some good years left in them, don’t get me wrong, but you have to start thinking about down the line, too.

“I would love for a young quarterback to get in here and learn from Philip. Philip is the ultimate pro in my opinion, so it would be a good situation for a young quarteFrback that doesn’t have to come in and play right now, but can sit, watch and learn.”

Although the Chargers have only drafted three quarterbacks — Charlie Whitehurst, Jonathan Crompton, and Brad Sorensen — since Rivers entered the league, the club is scouting prospects for 2017. Los Angeles has worked out both Texas Tech‘s Patrick Mahomes and Notre Dame‘s DeShone Kizer, and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt attended the Pro Day for Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman. Additionally, Los Angeles is thought to have interest in Davis Webb (Cal).

Draft Rumors: Mahomes, Kizer, Thomas

March 23rd, 2017 at 7:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who could go anywhere from the top of the first round to the second round in this year’s draft, is drawing interest from three teams with aging franchise signal-callers. A Chargers contingent consisting of head coach Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen put Mahomes through a private workout in Lubbock, Texas, last week, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. The Bolts have a starting passer in Philip Rivers, but he’ll be 36 in December, so they’ll at least consider taking a QB early. The club is set to pick seventh and 38th in the first two rounds.

New Orleans, meanwhile, has a 38-year-old under center in Drew Brees, meaning there’s more urgency for the club to find its next passer than there is for the Chargers. With that in mind, Saints head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and members of the team’s front office traveled to Lubbock to work out Mahomes on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. “They said every time they see me under center, I look better and better,” Mahomes said of the Saints, who currently own three of the draft’s first 45 selections (Nos. 11, 32 and 42).

The Cardinals, who are led by 37-year-old quarterback Carson Palmer, attended a Mahomes workout on Thursday, relays Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Owner Michael Bidwill and head coach Bruce Arians were on hand for the Cards, who hold the 13th and 45th selections in the opening two rounds.

More of the latest on the upcoming draft:

  • Even though the Bears handed quarterback Mike Glennon a significant contract in free agency, they aren’t necessarily content under center. Evidence: The club is likely to conduct a private workout with Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer next week, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Kizer as the 33rd-best player in this year’s class, which could make him a possibility for the Bears in Round 2 (No. 36).
  • The Panthers had a meeting with Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas on Thursday, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Thomas figures to come off the board quickly and might be gone by the time Carolina’s on the clock at No. 8.
  • The Bills have scheduled a private April workout with Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman, the player told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Earlier this year, one scout informed Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that Peterman has a chance to pull a Dak Prescott and go from a mid-round pick to a viable starter as a rookie.
  • A Saints representative had dinner with Utah free safety Marcus Williams on Wednesday, writes Herbie Teope of NOLA.com. Williams is a ballhawk “who will make plays in the passing game, but he needs to improve in run support,” observes Jeremiah, who ranks him as this year’s 47th-best draft-eligible player.

Draft Rumors: Peterman, Melifonwu, Bolles

March 22nd, 2017 at 8:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Quarterback Nathan Peterman will conduct a private workout for the Eagles next week, and will also meet with the Steelers in April, tweets Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Earlier this year, one scout told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report Peterman has a chance to be the 2017 version of Dak Prescott, a mid-round talent who emerges into a viable starter. Peterman, who transferred from Tennessee to Pitt before the 2015 season, has averaged 2,571 yards and 23 touchdowns over the past two years.

Here’s more on the 2017 draft:

  • UConn safety Obi Melifonwu has meetings lined up with the Steelers, Seahawks, and Saints, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Meanwhile, Melifonwu met “extensively” with the Lions yesterday, and will also visit with the Panthers, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who reports roughly 40% of NFL clubs view Melifonwu as a cornerback. Melifonwu, a four-year starter for the Huskies, posted four interceptions during the 2016 campaign.
  • The Giants will meet with Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles in April, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com (Twitter link). New York isn’t sold on keeping 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers at left tackle, and Bolles could give the club another option along its front five. Bolles is expected to be selected on Day 1 of the draft, and has a chance to be the first offensive lineman off the board.
  • Prior to possibly injuring his pectoral while bench pressing on Tuesday, UCLA cornerback Fabian Moreau spent time with the Lions, Dolphins, Saints, and Bengals, reports Pauline. Additionally, Moreau met with Cowboys defensive backs Joe Baker, per Pauline. Rob Rang of CBSSports.com projected Moreau as a back-end first round pick (and the third-best cornerback on the board) before news of his injury broke.
  • Moreau’s UCLA teammate, edge rusher Takkarist McKinley, will visit with the Browns in early April, per Courtney Fallon of NFL.com (Twitter link). After that, McKinley plans to meet with the Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys, and Lions, per Fallon. McKinley put up 10 sacks in 11 games for the Bruins in 2016.

Draft Rumors: Peterman, Foster, CBs

February 25th, 2017 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Russell Wilson before him, Dak Prescott‘s standout rookie season at the controls of a run-based offense has teams hoping to duplicate the middle-round gold the Cowboys struck. As for the identity of said quarterback, Nathan Peterman has emerged in this discussion realm. The Pittsburgh product profiles as “this draft’s best chance at a Dak Prescott,” a scout told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. A two-year starter at Pitt, Peterman threw 47 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions during the 2015 and ’16 seasons and rates as the No. 5 quarterback in the class, according to ESPN.com’s Todd McShay (Insider link). The 6-foot-2 passer who began his career at Tennessee didn’t receive much buzz last season, but Miller notes his accuracy and poise give the prospective Day 2 pick a chance to be a rookie starter for a team.

Here’s more from the upcoming draft, courtesy of Miller.

  • A team wanting to employ the top traditional linebacker in this year’s draft may have to use a top-three pick. Although Reuben Foster underwent rotator cuff surgery and won’t work out at the Combine, one team has the former Alabama ‘backer ranked as the No. 3 player in this class, per Miller. While noting his stock could be affected by medical background checks at the Combine, Miller now has Foster going No. 2 overall to the 49ers in his latest mock draft. That’s seven spots ahead of where ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. (Insider link) projects Foster to land.
  • Ryan Ramczyk won’t work out at the Combine, joining the likes of Foster, Jarrad Davis, Corey Davis, Malik Hooker and Kendell Beckwith in that regard. A hip labrum issue will halt teams from getting an early look at how the Wisconsin tackle tests.
  • Ramczyk is jockeying for position with Cam Robinson and Garrett Bolles as the class’ top tackle. Similar uncertainty exists at cornerback, with scouts placing different cover men atop their draft boards at this position. While Miller rates Florida’s Quincy Wilson as his No. 1 corner, an AFC personnel man ranks Ohio State’s Gareon Conley as his. An NFC scout places Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey atop his 2017 corner hierarchy. Speaking of Conley, his being overshadowed in Columbus by the likes of Eli Apple and Marshon Lattimore the past two years may not affect his draft status. A source informed Miller he has the ex-Buckeyes corner rated higher than both Lattimore or the Giants’ Apple by comparison. Further complicating the corner class, Kiper and McShay rank Lattimore as their preferred player here.
  • An area scout for a team told Miller Dalvin Cook‘s history in terms of character issues and fumbling scares his particular franchise. Suspended indefinitely from Florida State for a time before being reinstated and enjoying a standout career, Cook was charged with misdemeanor battery in 2015 and cited for mistreatment of pitbull puppies in 2014. Cook, though, scored 20 touchdowns in both 2015 and ’16 and is viewed as the second-best running back prospect in the draft.

Draft Rumors: Cowboys, Giants, Cards, Njoku

February 8th, 2017 at 3:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Texas A&M safety Justin Evans could sneak into the back end of Round 1 in the 2017 draft, according to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who reports the Cowboys are among the clubs currently interested in Evans. Dallas has two safeties headed for free agency — Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox — meaning the club could use depth and potentially a new starter in the defensive backfield. The Cowboys currently hold the 28th pick in the first round.

Here’s more on the NFL draft:

  • The Giants are “very high” on Miami tight end David Njoku, per Pauline. Njoku, who posted eight touchdowns and nearly 700 yards receiving in 2016, placed as the No. 12 overall player on Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com‘s most recent Top 50 rankings, just above of fellow tight end O.J. Howard. New York’s tight end group is currently comprised of Will Tye, Larry Donnell, Matt LaCosse, and Jerell Adams, but the club is clearly looking for an upgrade, as they’ve also been linked to South Alabama’s Gerald Everett.
  • The Packers are expected to target cornerbacks in the draft and free agency, one source told Pauline in a separate post, adding Green Bay will look to acquire “lots” of defensive backs. After fielding an abysmal pass defense in 2016, and releasing veteran Sam Shields earlier today, the Packers could look for a new defender in the first round of the draft, or target help on the open market.
  • Not only are NFL clubs not in unison on who the No. 1 quarterback in the draft is, but teams have varying views on the top-five signal-callers available, writes Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. One scout told Miller that his organization has Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman ranked ahead of Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, but graded both as Round 2 players.
  • The Cardinals could still target an early-round wide receiver even after Larry Fitzgerald announced his intention to return for the 2017 season, as Miller reports. Although Fitzgerald will be back, Arizona will be without Michael Floyd, who was released at the end of the season and had been set to hit free agency. I identified wideout as an area of focus for the Cardinals when assessing their top offseason needs.
  • Although CBSSports.com projects Clemson wide receiver Artavis Scott to come off the board in Rounds 3 or 4, one scout isn’t enthused about the Tigers pass-catcher, telling Miller that Scott “lacks the speed to separate in the NFL.”