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Shane Ray

NFC West Notes: Rams, Fisher, DGB

April 28th, 2015 at 8:09pm CST by Zachary Links

A look at the NFC West..

  • At a pre-draft press conference, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead said their board is basically set other than a little fine tuning, Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch tweets.
  • The Rams are still interested in retaining offensive lineman Joe Barksdale and the team is in “constant contact” with him, Thomas tweets. Barksdale recently visited the Titans but left without a deal. The 27-year-old has been with the Rams for three seasons and started all 16 games in 2014.
  • Fisher said “it’s very possible” team could take an edge rusher at No. 10, Thomas tweets. Thomas rightly notes that both Shane Ray and Randy Gregory could be available there.
  • John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter) would be shocked if the 49ers roll the dice on Dorial Green-Beckham at No. 15.

Pauline On Gurley, Bengals, McKinney, RBs

April 28th, 2015 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

After his citation for marijuana possession, the expectation is that Missouri linebacker Shane Ray could fall out of the first round and that’s an opinion shared by many in his camp, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes. Earlier today, we learned that teams that wouldn’t have had a chance to land Ray before are now inquiring on him, with both GMs and owners doing their homework. Here’s Pauline’s latest:

  • The Dolphins are hoping that Todd Gurley doesn’t get selected in the top 10. If the running back is still on the board, Miami will happily snag him at No. 14, per Pauline.
  • As of now, there’s a very good chance the Bengals take an offensive tackle in round one and they’re said to be looking at Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi, among others.
  • Linebacker Benardrick McKinney spent an extensive amount of time the past few days talking with the Broncos and Cowboys. If Kevin Johnson is unavailable when the Cowboys are on the clock in round one, they will strongly consider either McKinney or Eric Kendricks, Pauline hears.
  • There’s a good possibility that Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is still available when the third round begins. While teams like his film and cover skills, his knee injury from last December has some clubs concerned. Recently, PFR’s Rob DiRe wrote that he expected Ekpre-Olomu to experience a dropoff in draft stock from last year to this year, but not this severe. Had he gone pro last season, the Oregon notable may have had a chance to be a first-round pick.
  • There are a number of running back-needy teams who might wait until the fourth round before drafting at the position, due to the quality and depth available this year. David Cobb and Buck Allen have been brought to Pauline’s attention as fourth round types that can contribute off the bat and Miami junior Duke Johnson is also getting buzz.
  • Alonzo Highsmith, senior personnel director for the Packers, is pushing hard for Denzel Perryman at the bottom of round one. If Green Bay takes the Miami notable, the team would then push Clay Matthews to the outside. The belief is Green Bay still values a cornerback with that first pick and Eric Rowe continues to be in the mix, but Perryman is also a possibility.
  • Don’t be surprised if tight end Wes Saxton is drafted much earlier than presently predicted, as teams are high on his speed and athleticism. Saxton, a South Alabama product, could go as high as the fourth round. Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack is also getting additional attention.

Latest On Shane Ray

April 28th, 2015 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after he was cited for marijuana possession, Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray is the subject of much speculation. Previously viewed as a probable top-10 pick, Ray is no longer a lock to even be a first-rounder. For his part, the young defender released a statement apologizing to his mother, his fans, and prospective NFL teams for the “poor judgment” he showed on Monday, and vowed to make better decisions in the future (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

Here’s the latest on one of the most talented pass rushers in the 2015 draft class:

  • Due to his citation for marijuana possession, Ray will now be automatically enrolled in the behavioral portion of Phase 1 of the NFL’s substance abuse program, sources tell former Bucs general manager Mark Dominik of ESPN. Placement in Phase 1 of the program means that Ray won’t face any NFL discipline, but will be subject to random drug testing once he enters the league.
  • Within that ESPN.com story, it’s suggested that Ray could drop as low as the third round in this week’s draft, and Dominik said earlier today that he expects the Missouri defender to slide to the “third or fourth round,” according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
  • While Dominik doesn’t see “any way” Ray gets picked in the first round, Rapoport tweets that there’s still a “strong possibility” of that happening. Ray continues to plan on being in Chicago for the draft, adds Rapoport.
  • John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (Twitter link) also explored the idea of Ray falling out of the first round, speaking to three executives about it — two said Ray might slip out of the first, while one said he won’t.
  • Teams that wouldn’t have had a chance to land Ray before are now inquiring on him, with both GMs and owners doing their homework, says Rapoport (Twitter links). According to the NFL.com scribe, clubs with mid to late first-round picks are going back to Ray’s film.

Shane Ray Cited For Pot Possession

April 27th, 2015 at 8:17pm CST by Zachary Links

8:17pm: According to info from five NFL teams, Ray failed a drug test early on in his career at Missouri, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.

7:03pm: Top draft prospect Shane Ray was cited for possession of marijuana this morning in Cooper County, Missouri, according to Brandon Kiley of KTGR (via Twitter). Ray’s arrest report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates that he was cited for possession of 35 grams or less of pot along with a traffic infraction.

The timing could not be worse for Ray, as we are just three days from the NFL draft. The outside linebacker has been universally projected as a first-round pick with some seeing him as a candidate for the top 10. Now, Ray has thrown that all into flux with his Monday morning misstep.

Just last week, Ray’s stock was helped by news that he would only need to rest his injured foot rather than undergo surgery. Earlier today, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com culled the opinions of several executives and declared Ray to be one of the five “can’t-miss” prospects in this year’s crop. Despite increasingly lax attitudes towards marijuana use nationally and Ray’s high talent level, one has to imagine that the linebacker could take a tumble down draft boards after this incident.

Draft Notes: Williams, Fowler, DGB

April 27th, 2015 at 6:41pm CST by Zachary Links

There are only five can’t-miss players in the 2015 NFL Draft, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. La Canfora writes that he initially set out to identify the top ten players in this crop, but one scout that he respect immensely insists that there’s an upper crust of five prospects, followed by a major drop off in talent between them and the next tier. Those five can’t miss prospects, execs tell La Canfora, are Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., Shane Ray, Kevin White, and Amari Cooper. Here’s more draft news..

  • Multiple coaches in the NFL are pushing to draft receiver Dorial Green-Beckham in the first round, but owners are not sold on him, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (video link). There are teams that could stretch for him in round one, but it’ll only happen in a case where the owner has a supreme level of trust in their coach. Miller speculates that the Ravens at No. 26 are the most likely to take DGB since GM Ozzie Newsome has so much trust from ownership. On the other hand, the Ray Rice situation might scare the Ravens away from taking someone with clear off-the-field issues.
  • NBC’s Cris Collinsworth told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the wide receiver class this year features “up to eleven or 12, quality wise, who in any other year you would say, ‘That’s a first-round talent’.” That’s not to say that a dozen receivers will go in the first round, but there are a number of talented players at the position.
  • Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter) that he had visits with the Colts, Buccaneers, Texans, Bears, and Patriots.

Draft Notes: Ray, Scherff, Peters, Williams

April 23rd, 2015 at 5:08pm CST by Luke Adams

There was some concern that Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray, who is expected to come off the board early in the draft next Thursday night, would require surgery on a troublesome foot injury. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), Ray’s injury – which is similar to turf toe – was discovered during a team visit and prompted a visit to a foot specialist, who recommended rest rather than a surgical procedure, good news for the young edge defender.

Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link) hears that the Cowboys flagged Ray as needing surgery, but not all teams – and not all doctors, apparently – were convinced it was required.

Let’s check in on a few more Thursday draft updates….

  • Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff is drawing “heavy interest” from teams drafting between the fifth and ninth spots in the first round, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link). The clubs currently in those spots? Washington, the Jets, the Bears, the Falcons, and the Giants.
  • In addition to making 17 pre-draft visits to teams, Washington cornerback Marcus Peters had individual workouts for the Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Dolphins, tweets Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
  • Speaking to Maggie Gray on SI Now, Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams said that most teams are telling him his DUI incident shouldn’t have a huge impact on his draft stock.
  • Montana edge defender Zack Wagenmann, who is projected as a mid- to late-round pick, broke his foot recently during a private workout with an NFL team, writes Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Wagenmann won’t be able to participate in football-related activities for eight weeks, but is aiming to be ready for training camp.
  • Caplan also passes along an update on Hobart offensive lineman Ali Marpet, reporting (via Twitter) that Marpet visited the Chargers earlier this week, and has worked out for the Cardinals, Bengals, and Texans.
  • Besides confirming some of his previously-reported visits, T.J. Clemmings‘ draft diary for USA Today (via Tom Pelissero) added some new teams to his list of possible suitors. According to the Pittsburgh tackle himself, he visited the Bears and had a private workout with the Panthers. Clemmings will also privately work out for the Dolphins tomorrow.
  • Florida linebacker Neiron Ball has made pre-draft visits with the Patriots, Broncos, Buccaneers, and Texans, writes Wilson. Ball has also worked out privately for the Falcons, Rams, Steelers, Cardinals, and Texans.

AFC Notes: Chargers, Bills, Dolphins, Jets

April 14th, 2015 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers appear to be contemplating the post-Philip Rivers era in San Diego, as they take a closer look at Oregon signal-caller Marcus Mariota today. After working out Mariota, the team’s brass will head to Los Angeles to put UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley through a workout of his own, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

GM Tom Telesco and head coach Mike McCoy have repeatedly stated they want Rivers to retire as a Charger, so there may be no need to identify his successor quite yet. But Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes this offseason is the prime time for San Diego to trade Rivers in a deal to snag Mariota, arguing that all the factors in play point to it being a win-win move for the franchise and for the veteran quarterback, who is entering the final year of his contract.

We still have a little more than two weeks until the draft gets underway, so it will be interesting to see if the Rivers trade rumors pick up steam or die down as April 30 approaches. In the meantime, here are a few more notes from across the AFC:

  • Free agent wide receiver Brad Smith is paying a visit to Buffalo to meet with the Bills, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details. Smith played for Rex Ryan on the Jets, but it’s not clear if there’s a spot for him on Ryan’s new club, with players like Percy Harvin, Marcus Easley, and Marcus Thigpen already in the mix as potentially versatile offensive weapons, returners, or special-teamers.
  • Given where we’ve seen running backs drafted in the last couple years, it would be surprise to see one go as high as No. 14 overall this year. Nonetheless, the Dolphins, who hold that pick, are hosting Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon for a visit next week, per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter).
  • Outside pass rushers Bud Dupree and Shane Ray will be visiting the Jets, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter links). Although there has been plenty of chatter linking Mariota to New York, the team is in a good spot at No. 6 to add a top pass rushing prospect.
  • The Steelers hosted Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper, Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman, and UAB tight end Kennard Backman on pre-draft visits today, tweets ESPN.com’s Scott Brown. Cooper met with the Saints in New Orleans yesterday, but we haven’t heard much to date about the tight ends.
  • Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby is visiting the Colts today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • On the heels of the Raiders‘ agreement with free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com shares a few initial thoughts on the deal, outlining why the former Niner is worth the risk on a one-year investment.

More Mailbags: Draft, G. Johnson, Pagano

April 12th, 2015 at 10:04am CST by Rory Parks

There are an increasing number of mailbags as we get closer to the draft, so let’s round up a few more:

  • ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson looks at two top defensive line prospects the Bears could target in the first round of the draft, Shane Ray and Danny Shelton. Dickerson believes that Shelton, who is more of a two-down player, would be a good choice for the Bears if they were to trade back in the draft, but Chicago would be reaching if it took him with the No. 7 overall pick. Although Ray would need to adjust to playing outside linebacker after lining up primarily as a 4-3 defensive end in college, Dickerson believes the Bears would do well to add the elite pass rusher with their first selection.
  • A number of publications have mocked Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving to the Browns, and Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com–who did the same thing in his own mock draft–says there’s a good reason for that. Erving is the best center in the draft, and he also projects favorably at guard. Grossi writes that Erving is the only offensive lineman the Browns should consider in the first two rounds.
  • The Lions also have big needs on the offensive and defensive lines, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes that it would not be a surprise to see the team address those areas in the early rounds of the draft. In a separate mailbag, Rothestein believes the team should let George Johnson leave for the Buccaneers, who recently signed the defensive lineman to an offer sheet.
  • David Newton of ESPN.com believes that Washington’s Shaq Thompson, one of the best athletes in this year’s draft class, would be the ideal player for the Panthers to groom as an outside linebacker behind Thomas Davis. Speaking of Davis, Newton reiterates his belief that Carolina will get an extension done with the 32-year-old before the season begins, which, along with the planned long-term deal for Cam Newton, would require the team to somehow lower Charles Johnson‘s $20MM+ cap number.
  • Mike Wells of ESPN.com examines whether or not the Colts will–or should–offer a long-term extension to head coach Chuck Pagano.

AFC South Draft Visits: Jags, Titans, Texans

April 6th, 2015 at 8:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The AFC South has been dominated by the Colts in recent seasons, and the other clubs in the division — two of whom own top-three selections — will hope the upcoming draft affords them the opportunity to acquire several top-notch prospects. Here’s the latest from Jacksonville, Tennessee, Houston…

  • Owners of the third overall pick, the Jaguars will visit some of the draft’s top prospects on Tuesday, meeting with USC’s Leonard Williams, Missouri’s Shane Ray, and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • The Jaguars will also meet with another of the league’s top edge rushers tomorrow, as Albert Breer of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that Dante Fowler Jr. will head to Jacksonville following Florida’s Pro Day.
  • Williams and Fowler Jr. aren’t the only defenders meeting with the Jaguars tomorrow — Clemson’s Vic Beasley and Ohio State’s Michael Bennett will both take a visit with Jacksonville on Tuesday as well, tweets Rapoport.
  • Meanwhile, another club with a top-three selection — the Titans — will meet with Ray, Florida State Ronald Darby tomorrow, while Fowler Jr. has a visit scheduled for next week, according to Rapoport (Twitter link).
  • The Texans already signed two veteran quarterbacks this offseason, but UCLA QB Brett Hundley could draw the interest of the club, as Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Hundley will take a visit with Houston tomorrow.

Draft Notes: Winston, Borland, Visits

March 18th, 2015 at 9:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted draft notes from around the league…

  • Jameis Winston‘s decision to skip out on the NFL draft may have been based on pressure from the league. According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, the NFL may have been fearing “protests” regarding Winston’s selection in the draft, with the league advising the prospect to keep a “low profile.”
  • Following the surprise retirement of Chris Borland, Cole says teams are becoming cautious of players who are “too smart for football.” Specifically, players who have future careers outside of football may be less desirable than players who are “desperate” to become professional athletes.
  • Georgia running back Todd Gurley told reporters that he’s set to meet with the Panthers after having already met with the Lions, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Gurley revealed that he’s also meeting with five other teams.
  • Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon is scheduled to meet with the Ravens, according to Yahoo’s Rand Getlin (via Twitter).
  • Meanwhile, Getlin reports (on Twitter) that Duke wideout Jamison Crowder is gaining some interest, as the player has workouts planned with the Patriots, Buccaneers, Panthers and Texans.
  • Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes told ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein that he’s set to meet with the Vikings and Jaguars in April (Twitter link). Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that the defensive back also has private workouts scheduled with the Titans and Panthers.
  • According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.com (via Twitter), Boise State running back Jay Ajayi had dinner with the Chargers brass on Tuesday night.
  • The Jets have scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, according to Pauline (on Twitter).
  • Purdue tight end Gabe Holmes had a private workout today with the Cardinals, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The session went well, as Wilson says Holmes “caught everything.”
  • Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty has visits set up with the Cowboys, Chargers and Rams, according to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (via Twitter).
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