HEADLINES

Tre’Davious White

Extra Points: Bills, Cowboys, Cards, Panthers

June 18th, 2017 at 8:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bills first-round cornerback Tre’Davious White is performing so well during Buffalo practice sessions that new head coach Sean McDermott has scarcely noticed the rookie on the field, as Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes. “Really, I’ve had to sit back in my office up there and ask myself why haven’t I noticed Tre’Davious, in terms of why am I not concerned about him?” McDermott said. “As a defensive coordinator I was a lot closer to the defense at times, so I’ve been asking myself is it because of that or is it because he’s just integrated himself so smoothly into the NFL and what we do? He’s mature beyond his years.” The Bills traded down from No. 10 to No. 27 before selecting White, who projects as a Week 1 starter opposite Ronald Darby.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • While finding a backup quarterback appeared to be an important item on the Cowboys‘ offseason itinerary, the club may be content with incumbent No. 2 Kellen Moore, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. The Cowboys, who lost Tony Romo to retirement and Mark Sanchez to free agency, have expressed interest in veterans such as Josh McCown, but have yet to add another passer behind starter Dak Prescott. If Moore does stick as Dallas’ backup, it could be because he has a backer in offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who refers to Moore as a “machine.”
  • The most interesting Cardinals position battle will take place at backup quarterback, where Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton will square off for Arizona’s No. 2 QB job, opines Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Gabbert offers a first-round pedigree and has a supporter in head coach Bruce Arians, but Stanton is more familiar with the club’s offense after three seasons in the desert. The Cardinals would absorb $2.5MM in dead money if they release Stanton.
  • The Panthers announced that they’re hired former Illinois head coach Ron Turner as a consultant to the coaching staff. Turner’s most notable experience comes at the collegiate level (he spent the past three seasons leading FIU), but he also has an NFL resume. Notably, Turner served as the Bears’ offensive coordinator from 2005-09, a tenure that overlapped with that of Carolina head coach Ron Rivera, who acted as Chicago’s DC from 2004-06.

Bills Sign Rookie CB Tre’Davious White

May 18th, 2017 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have signed first-round pick Tre’Davious White, according to a team announcement. Per the terms of his slot, his four-year deal will be worth $10.1MM, including a $5.48MM signing bonus. As a first-round pick, the Bills will also reserve the right to tack a fifth year on to his contract down the line.

The Bills entered the draft with the No. 10 pick but moved down to the No. 27 pick after the Chiefs offered up their No. 27 overall pick, a third-round pick, and their 2018 first-round selection. With that No. 27 pick, the Bills selected White, a player that they hope can immediately step into a primetime role.

Buffalo allowed Stephon Gilmore to leave in free agency this year and the release of slot specialist Nickell Robey-Coleman thinned things out further. Now, White and 2015 draft pick Ronald Darby project as the starting corners with something of a ragtag bunch behind them.

In his final year at LSU, White had 35 total tackles (including four tackles for a loss) and two interceptions. The rap on White is that he’s not an overly aggressive tackler, though his coverage skills should allow him to succeed at the next level.

Draft Rumors: Cook, Eagles, Conley, Panthers, Fins, Bengals, Texans

April 14th, 2017 at 12:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook‘s stock is reportedly slipping as the draft approaches, but the Eagles seem undeterred. The club has “heavy interest” in Cook, the runner revealed Wednesday in an interview with Philadelphia-based radio station 94WIP (via Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com). The feeling is mutual, with Cook adding that he “loved the city” when he visited. “It’s a great organization, great people,” he continued. “I think the program is on the rise, just need a couple more guys to fill in and help the program. I like the organization overall and the people that’s in the building.” Should the Eagles pass on Cook at 14th overall, their next opportunity to take him would be at No. 43, though he could certainly be gone by then.

More of the latest on the draft:

  • The Panthers, Browns, Eagles, Bengals, Lions, Titans, Saints and Jets are among the teams with the most interest in Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Conley should go somewhere between ninth and 18th overall, per La Canfora, whom one NFL decision-maker told: “Conley has always been a first-round corner, and I understand why he is the top guy on some boards. He may not be as flashy as some of the other corners, and maybe the upside isn’t quite as high, but neither is the risk. This is a clean player who started for two years and who made big plays in big games. There is a lot to like.”
  • Though they’re interested in Conley, the Panthers hosted another cornerback – Florida’s Teez Tabor – on Thursday, and both Tennessee edge defender Derek Barnett and LSU corner Tre’Davious White are visiting Charlotte on Friday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Barnett (13th) and White (18th) are each top 20 prospects, according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who places Tabor 48th.
  • Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles is currently visiting the Bengals, relays Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Cincinnati lost starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth to free agency, potentially creating a major need, but it’s only two years removed from using first- and second-round picks on OTs Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. Bolles would require yet another sizable investment via the draft in the position. The Bengals are set to pick ninth overall, in the neighborhood of where Bolles could slide off the board.
  • The Dolphins are hosting Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu on Friday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. This isn’t the first connection between Miami and Melifonwu – the two sides spent “significant” time together last week. Given their interest in Melifonwu, the defender might be a target for the Dolphins at No. 22 overall.
  • Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin has met with Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, a source told Wilson. PFR’s Dallas Robinson currently has Houston selecting Ramczyk with the 25th pick in the draft, noting he’d give the team a much-needed upgrade at right tackle.

Cowboys Meet With 21 NFL Draft Prospects

April 4th, 2017 at 6:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys have now used more than two-thirds of their 30 allotted predraft visits, and Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link), Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), and Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News have provided the list of prospects with whom Dallas has met:

The Cowboys’ visits with Michigan DE Taco Charlton, UCLA DE Takkarist McKinley, UConn S Obi Melifonwu, UCLA CB Fabian Moreau, and Wisconsin LB T.J. Watt had all been previously reported.

Extra Points: Falcons, White, Draft

December 2nd, 2015 at 9:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons held a players-only meeting Monday in hopes of getting back on track for the stretch run, according to team sources who spoke with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons have dropped four consecutive games and they find themselves on the outside-looking-in for the final playoff spots in the NFC. Players-only meetings can sometimes indicate that a coach’s hold on the locker room is in jeopardy, but that does not seem to be the case at all for Quinn.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White is “entertaining the idea of staying in school,” Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. That doesn’t mean White is staying in school, but he’s at least giving it some thought. White could be rated as one of the best defensive backs in this year’s class if he goes pro.
  • UCLA defensive lineman Kenny Clark has indicated to multiple sources that he’s strongly considering entering the NFL Draft, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Getlin adds that NFL talent evaluators are high on the 6’3″, 310-pound junior.
  • South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore is leaning towards entering the 2016 draft, team sources and family members tell Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). Moore led the Gamecocks in tackles all three of his collegiate seasons and finished this year with 111 tackles.
  • Oklahoma State defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah has indicated to multiple sources that he’s currently leaning towards entering the draft, Getlin tweets. In fact, Ogbah and his family have already had preliminary meetings with agents (link).