HEADLINES

Taylor Lewan

Browns Looking To Trade Up For Manziel?

May 8th, 2014 at 8:32pm CST by Zachary Links

8:32pm: A league source believes Cleveland was trying to trade up for Johnny Manziel, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.

8:22pm: The Browns made a strong effort to trade up again to No. 11, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). However, the Browns bailed before the Titans submitted their pick. The Titans will keep the pick and select tackle Taylor Lewan, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

The Browns have been incredibly active so far tonight, having already traded from No. 4 to No. 9 to No. 8. The Browns picked up the Bills’ 2015 first round pick and more along the way, so they certainly have the assets to move up from No. 26 or acquire another first-round pick in tonight’s draft.

Cleveland bailing on talks with the Titans could indicate that they have a deal struck elsewhere, but we’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case.

Draft Notes: Manziel, Bridgewater, Giants

May 1st, 2014 at 9:38am CST by Luke Adams

As a companion piece to his cover story in Sports Illustrated, Peter King of TheMMQB.com conducts a virtual roundtable with former quarterbacks and coaches on the value of Johnny Manziel. Meanwhile, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports says no QB in this year’s class has improved his stock more over the last few weeks than Manziel, who has quelled many concerns about potential off-field distractions (Twitter links). According to Glazer (via Twitter), one team that didn’t rank Manziel among its top four signal-callers a month ago now has him at No. 1.

Here are a few more Thursday draft updates:

  • Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk questions whether Teddy Bridgewater‘s stock is really falling as much as has been suggested, or if teams always had questions and concerns about the Louisville quarterback, with the media playing catch-up on that perception.
  • In a piece for CBSSports.com, former agent Joel Corry takes a look at how the 2011 CBA has affected teams’ approaches to the draft. As one front office exec tells Corry, the fifth-year option for first-rounders may result in teams near the back of the top 10 wanting to trade down, in order to get that fifth-year option at a more reasonable price.
  • “Word on the street” suggests that the Giants prefer Zack Martin to fellow offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, who identifies 10 potential candidates for New York’s first-round pick.
  • Dixie State tight end Joe Don Duncan, who was unable to work out at the combine due to a broken foot, has been medically cleared and had a Pro Day in California for NFL teams, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Vanderbilt wide receiver Chris Boyd paid a pre-draft visit to the Falcons, according to Wilson. Boyd is projected to be a mid-to-late-round pick.

AFC West Notes: Miller, Verrett, Lewan

April 23rd, 2014 at 10:22pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Broncos intend to pick up the fifth-year option for star pass rusher Von Miller, but will wait until closer to the May 3rd deadline, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. By exercising that option, the Broncos would be guaranteeing that salary in case of injury, and by holding back on picking up that fifth year early, the team is protecting themselves against the (unlikely) possibility that Miller suffers a two-season injury in the next week.

Florio also notes that due to Miller’s issues with substance abuse, this also gives the team more time to evaluate his off the field decisions. His next suspension would sideline him for an entire season, and while the team would obviously not have to pay a suspended player, it could change the team’s feelings on whether to commit to Miller long term.

More from around the AFC West:

  • The Broncos could look to select a defensive back with their first-round pick, and according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., TCU corner Jason Verrett could be the pick, writes Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. The team would prefer Justin Gilbert out of Oklahoma State, or Kyle Fuller from Virginia Tech, but Gilbert will be long gone and Fuller might be already selected as well.
  • The Raiders prefer Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan to the more highly touted prospects of Auburn’s Greg Robinson and Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, reports Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter). Lewan was widely considered the third best offensive tackle in this draft, but has been considered a lock for the first half of round one since the end of his junior season. Lewan was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year following his junior and senior seasons, and could be drafted anywhere in the first half of day one, potentially as high as second overall to the Rams.
  • Troy wide receiver Eric Thomas, who previously visited the Colts, worked out for the Chargers yesterday, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Ravens Links: Clinton-Dix, Rankin, RBs

April 10th, 2014 at 10:54am CST by Luke Adams

As the Ravens continue to weigh their options for the No. 17 pick, the team recently hosted Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a pre-draft visit, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson adds that Clinton-Dix has also visited the Lions and met with the Titans. As Wilson writes, the young safety would be an excellent addition to Baltimore’s secondary, allowing the club to shift Matt Elam over to strong safety. However, considering Clinton-Dix is viewed as arguably the top defensive back in the draft, there are no guarantees he’ll be available when the Ravens pick 17th overall.

Here’s more out of Baltimore:

  • Add Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin to the list of prospects participating in the Ravens’ local Pro Day, tweets Wilson. Among the other players expected to be in attendance: Wake Forest wideout Michael Campanaro, Towson running back Terrance West, Towson cornerback Jordan Love, and Arkansas fullback Kiero Small.
  • The Ravens’ No. 3 running backs last season totaled just 16 rushing yards on eight carries, and the team is looking to improve on those totals this season, writes Bo Smolka of CSNBaltimore.com. With Ray Rice dealing with legal troubles and Bernard Pierce coming off shoulder surgery, that position will be of extra importance. For now, Justin Forsett is penciled into that No. 3 spot, though there’s still time for the team to add more competition to the roster, either in free agency or the draft.
  • Picking just two spots apart in the draft, the Ravens and Steelers may be targeting similar players, says Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. Brown singles out safety Calvin Pryor and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan as prospects who seem to be generating interest from the pair of AFC North rivals.

NFC Notes: Lions, Hawkins, Cooks

April 5th, 2014 at 4:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Lions hosted Clemson wide receiver Martavis Bryant, Washington State safety Deone Bucannon, and Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan this week.

Lewan could be in the mix for the team in the first round.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • The Lions first-round pick could change drastically depending on how many quarterbacks are selected in the nine picks ahead of them, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. Rogers notes that the ideal scenario would find four quarterbacks selected in before the Lions are called to the podium, but two or three would be more realistic.
  • The Buccaneers are finalizing their deal with wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, reports Mark Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The deal has already been agreed to in principle, but some specifics are being hammered out.
  • Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks has been busy, meeting with the Jets earlier this week. Cooks will also meet with the Seahawks, Panthers, and Patriots, according to Bryan Fischer of NFL.com.

NFC Notes: Soliai, Seahawks, Vikings, Lions

April 1st, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Luke Adams

New Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai signed one of the more unexpectedly lucrative long-term deals of the offseason last month, agreeing to a five-year, $33MM contract with Atlanta. Agent David Canter was responsible for negotiating that deal, and he walked ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure through the process that led to he, Soliai, and the team agreeing to that figure.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Although the Seahawks haven’t retained notable players like Golden Tate, Red Bryant, and Chris Clemons this offseason, GM John Schneider tells ESPN 710 Seattle that he’s pleased with the team’s free agent period, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times outlines.
  • Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link) hears from multiple sources that the Vikings are “heavily leaning” toward LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger in the second round of May’s draft, with a preference for a linebacker like Khalil Mack in the first round.
  • The Lions continue to pursue defensive upgrades, with the team focused on improving at cornerback and finding a “flamethrower” at outside linebacker. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News has the details on the team’s secondary search, while Kyle Meineke of MLive.com passes along head coach Jim Caldwell‘s quotes on the need for an outside pass-rusher.
  • Former Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan made a pre-draft visit with the Lions today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). Twentyman adds in a second tweet that Lewan will meet with the Rams next, while Gil Brandt of NFL.com says (via Twitter) the Michigan tackle worked out for the Falcons yesterday.
  • According to Brandt (via Twitter), former Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy worked out for the Panthers today and will do the same for the Falcons tomorrow.
  • The 49ers are eyeing safeties in next month’s draft, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Extra Points: Wheeler, Grimes, Chargers, Gore

February 21st, 2014 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

There have been some rumblings at the combine that the Dolphins could cut linebacker Philip Wheeler, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, who adds (via Twitter) that the Raiders would be “very interested” in bringing Wheeler back to Oakland if he were available. Still, I’d be pretty surprised if Miami decided to part ways with Wheeler. With several years of prorated bonus money still left on his deal, the Dolphins wouldn’t create any cap savings by releasing the 29-year-old this offseason.

As the Dolphins weigh that decision, let’s check out a handful of other updates from across the NFL….

  • Cornerback Brent Grimes had been viewed as a candidate to be designated as the Dolphins’ franchise player this offseason. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com now hears that tagging Grimes may not be a realistic solution for Miami at a cost of about $11.3MM (Twitter link).
  • Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com provides a few of the notable quotes from Chargers GM Tom Telesco during his Thurday sesssion with reporters. Telesco acknowledged that the team isn’t exactly “flush with cap space,” suggesting there will be some tough decisions to make in the next several weeks.
  • In his comments to the media today, there were no indications that GM Trent Baalke and the 49ers will ask Frank Gore to take a pay cut for 2014, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
  • After spending big in free agency a year ago, the Colts plan to be more judicious with their spending this offseason, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
  • According to ESPN.com’s David Newton, the time may be right for the Panthers to draft a QB to back up Cam Newton.
  • The Ravens met with a pair of top-five OT draft prospects – Zack Martin and Taylor Lewan – at the combine, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • In an interview with Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press, former All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens suggested he still thinks he’s capable of playing in the NFL at age 40. In spite of T.O.’s confidence, I wouldn’t expect to see him sign with an NFL team anytime soon.