Extra Points: Evans, Broncos, Texans, Raiders

Mike Evans‘ hoops background helped him round out his football skills, writes Pat Yasinkas of ESPN.com. “It helps a lot,’’ the Buccaneers‘ first round choice said. “You see me go up for catches and treat it like a rebound. Boxing guys out and using my God-given talent, my big body. Boxing guys out for tough catches. The transition was easy because I had a lot of great coaches and a lot of great people around me to help me get here.’’ Evans could have been bound for the pages of Hoops Rumors, but instead, he’s here with us on PFR. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL as we get set for Day 2..

  • The Broncos will try again to trade up from No. 63 in round two, tweets Mike Klis of the Denver Post. They tried earlier but couldn’t find a partner to trade up from No. 31 in round one.
  • Texans coach Bill O’Brien told Steve Wyche of NFL Network (on Twitter) that the Texans will stay at No. 33 unless they’re “blown away” by a trade.
  • The Raiders will likely take Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr if he’s available at No. 36, writes Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link). That could be easier said than done: the Texans could use a QB and they have the No. 33 pick.
  • Trading back would have been a gamble for the Packers, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Thompson wouldn’t say whether the Browns called to offer up their No. 26 and No. 83 – the package the Browns gave the Eagles to move up and tap Johnny Manziel – but such a move would have put them in jeopardy of missing out on Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
  • Many have panned the Jaguars‘ pick of quarterback Blake Bortles as a safe selection, but GM David Caldwell isn’t worried about that type of criticism, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. “We’re not about big splashes at all. We just want to go about our business.” For what it’s worth, Bortles may not be a sexy pick, but he was a pretty big surprise. Few analysts had Jacksonville taking the UCF product at No. 3 and the pick helped shake things up for the rest of the first round.
  • The Browns‘ top pick from last night, cornerback Justin Gilbert, has been overshadowed by fellow first rounder Johnny Manziel. One might think the Oklahoma State star is upset by the lack of attention, but that’s not the case at all. Gilbert told reporters at today’s introductory presser, including Pat McManamon of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter), that he’s happy to have Manziel alongside him “’cause it takes the pressure” off of him.
  • Maiocco (on Twitter) wonders if Brandon Lloyd is rethinking his decision to attempt a comeback with the 49ers in lieu of their Stevie Johnson deal.
  • The Bills just paid Johnson $1.75MM in a roster bonus, so the 49ers will only owe the WR $3.6MM in 2014, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
View Comments (2)