HEADLINES

Shane Ray

Draft Notes: Mariota, Ray, Parker, Agholor

March 16th, 2015 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ve already looked at a few upcoming draft visits in some earlier posts today, so let’s go ahead and round up the rest of today’s draft-related news…

  • The Buccaneers hosted Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Per Rapoport, Mariota’s visit to Tampa will be similar to Jameis Winston‘s meeting several weeks ago, and Mariota will meet with all of TB’s decision-makers.
  • Edge rusher Shane Ray will be a busy man, as the Missouri product has pre-draft visits lined up with the Ravens, Falcons, Titans, and Jaguars, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Like Ray, Louisville receiver DeVante Parker will have a full schedule, as he has 12 visits on his calendar during the next month, per Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds that Parker will first meet with the Dolphins.
  • Another receiver — USC’s Nelson Agholor — visited with the Eagles today, according to Getlin (via Twitter). Eagles head coach Chip Kelly recruited Agholor while the former was at Oregon, Getlin adds.
  • The Eagles are hosting multiple prospects, as Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney will visit Philadelphia today and tomorrow, per Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link).

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Jets, Packers, Chiefs

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:32pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2015 scouting combine winding down in Indianapolis, draft guru Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net has several tidbits to pass along, having spoken to a number of league insiders over the past week. While most of Pauline’s updates relate to the draft, he also has some info on the upcoming free agent period. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights from his latest report….

  • It’s no secret that the Falcons will be targeting a pass rusher in the first round of this year’s draft, and while there are a few players who could fit that bill in the top 10, Pauline writes that Shane Ray‘s name was “constantly associated” with the team as the leading choice.
  • The Jets spent a significant amount of time in Indianapolis with speedy Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who also drew interest from the Packers. According to Pauline, Green Bay is also “very high on” Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony, who is a favorite of Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
  • The Jets are expected to be very active in free agency, as GM Mike Maccagnan has suggested, and Pauline hears that the team will target outside linebackers and defensive line depth in addition to cornerbacks. New York would also like to add a mid-value guard, though the belief is that they won’t spend big on a player like Mike Iupati.
  • Per Pauline, the Chiefs are eyeing Benardrick McKinney as a potential replacement for Justin Houston, if they lose Houston in free agency. While Kansas City may like McKinney, I’m skeptical that the club would let Houston get away, as he seems like a logical franchise tag candidate.
  • Echoing what we’ve already heard this offseason, Pauline writes that it doesn’t sound as if the Browns‘ front office is working in harmony these days. Sources familiar with the situation compared Cleveland’s situation to the one that has played out in San Francisco in recent years, and Pauline hears there’s a good deal of dissension within the organization.

NFC South Notes: Colston, Bucs, Falcons

January 20th, 2015 at 7:30pm CST by Zachary Links

A source close to Saints wide receiver Marques Colston tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that the veteran expects the team to ask him to take a pay cut. Colston is set to make $6.9MM in base salary, but he would be open to a modest cut in order to stay in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that Colston hasn’t been approached by anyone from the Saints with a request to take a pay cut, nor has he expressed a willingness to do that. Last year, Colston hauled in 59 catches for 902 yards and five scores. More out of the NFC South..

  • The Buccaneers will face a $7MM decision on defensive end Michael Johnson this winter, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains. Per Florio, the Bucs are already on the hook for $7MM in guaranteed money for Johnson whether or not they cut him, but another $7MM will become guaranteed if he’s on the roster past the third day of the 2015 league year.
  • The Falcons like Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. However, Pauline cautions that if the team does in fact hire Dan Quinn, Ray’s hand and arm measurements could become crucial, since Quinn is “a stickler for arm length.”
  • Longtime Saints college scouting director Rick Reiprish says he has been let go, as Triplett tweets. Reiprish says he was surprised by the news, which was delivered to him by GM Mickey Loomis.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Shane Ray To Enter 2015 Draft

January 5th, 2015 at 3:23pm CST by Luke Adams

Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray has become the latest potential top-10 pick to decide to enter the draft, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), who cites multiple sources in reporting Ray’s intentions. Per Getlin, the redshirt junior pass rusher will forgo his remaining year of college eligibility.

Ray, who had a breakout junior year after seeing Kony Ealy and Michael Sam drafted in May, had at least a half-sack in all but three games this year for Missouri, racking up multiple sacks in five of those contests. For the season, he finished with 61 tackles to go along with 14 sacks, a new school record.

A unanimous All-American and the SEC defensive player of the year, Ray is viewed as a strong candidate to be selected in the top 10, or perhaps top five, of this spring’s draft. In his first mock draft at ESPN.com, Todd McShay had Ray coming off the board fifth overall, to Washington. Per McShay, Ray is “an absolutely relentless pass-rusher who is tough, aggressive, can bend the end and has an explosive first step.”

Getlin reported last month that Ray was strongly considering entering the draft, adding that the defensive end’s mother was vetting potential agents.

Draft Rumors: Peters, Williams, Ray, Peat

December 16th, 2014 at 4:03pm CST by Luke Adams

For the first time ever, the number of NCAA underclassmen entering the NFL draft in 2014 cracked the triple digits, establishing a new record, but that record may not last long. According to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), one source thinks it’s possible that last year’s number (102) will be “dwarfed” this year. As Getlin adds in a second tweet, the most commonly cited reason for underclassmen making the leap to the NFL early is that players are “sick of playing without market-based compensation.”

With that in mind, Getlin has updates on several potential early entrants for the 2015 draft. Let’s dive in….

  • Washington defensive back Marcus Peters will enter the 2015 draft, multiple sources tell Getlin (Twitter link). Peters currently projects as an early-to-mid-round pick.
  • Despite his public hedging, USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams is viewed as a virtual lock to enter the draft, sources tell Getlin (Twitter links). According to Getlin, Williams, who is considered one of NCAA’s top prospects, is believed to have already selected an agent, based – in part – on “a long-standing family relationship.”
  • Missouri defensive end – and SEC sack leader – Shane Ray is seriously considering entering the draft, writes Getlin, who notes that Ray’s mother has been vetting potential agents for her son. The redshirt junior is viewed as a likely top-10 pick.
  • Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, a probable first-rounder, is currently on the fence about whether or not to leave school early, according to Getlin (Twitter link).
  • Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead is “strongly” leaning toward leaving school early and entering the draft, says Gatlin. Armstead hasn’t decided anything officially yet, but his father has been meeting with agents in order to be prepared if and when his son declares his intent.
  • Tevin Coleman has been meeting with agents, and while the Indiana running back hasn’t signed with anyone, the signs are pointing to him entering the draft, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.

AFC Mailbags: Colts, Jags, Bengals, Jets

November 22nd, 2014 at 10:11am CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now check out some notes from the AFC…

  • If Mike Wells were a member of the Colts front office, he wouldn’t sign Ray Rice to a contract. The writer notes that the running back must be out of shape, and he also notes the difficulties in learning a new scheme.
  • Michael DiRocco believes the Jaguars biggest offseason needs will be a pass-rusher and a linebacker. As a result, the writer targets Nebraska’s Randy Gregory and Missouri’s Shane Ray.
  • Switching to the offense, DiRocco could see the Jaguars drafting a running back late in the draft. Regardless, he doesn’t think the team should part ways with Toby Gerhart, especially since Denard Robinson hasn’t proven he can be a featured back.
  • A.J. McCarron is clearly the Bengals backup plan at quarterback, so he won’t be traded or released any time soon, writes Coley Harvey.
  • If the Jets move on from Rex Ryan, the Jets owe it to their fans to pursue 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, opines Rich Cimini.
  • Meanwhile, Cimini doesn’t believe the Jets will pursue Darrelle Revis this offseason (if the cornerback becomes a free agent). The writer believes a Revis-Rex Ryan reunion is inevitable, but not in New York.