HEADLINES

David Carr

Draft Updates: Texans, Browns, Carr, Watkins

May 1st, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

After declaring yesterday that he knew who the Texans would pick first overall, GM Rick Smith added a caveat today when he spoke to reporters, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle: “I don’t know exactly who we will take. What I do know is, I know the order of our board. If we take the first pick, we know who we want.”

In other words, Houston has a good idea which player it will grab if it doesn’t trade down, but the team remains very much open for business. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), at least four teams have inquired on that No. 1 pick, but as McClain notes, checking in on the Texans and being ready to consummate a deal with them are two very different things.

Here are a few more Thursday draft updates:

  • It seems as if one way to forecast which teams might draft Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr is figuring out which clubs are expressing interest in his older brother. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link), David Carr said the Browns are one of about six teams that have talked to him about signing him if they draft the younger Carr.
  • Many of the teams interested in Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins view him as a potential impact kick returner as well, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Buffalo cornerback Najja Johnson visited the Falcons and has worked out for the Chargers and Colts, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • The Rams and Patriots worked out SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert this week, tweets agent Leigh Steinberg.

Ravens Links: Carr, QBs, RBs, Draft Visits

April 15th, 2014 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Joe Flacco is locked in as the Ravens’ long-term starter at quarterback, but the team seems to be making an effort to upgrade its backups, as Aaron Wilson details for the Baltimore Sun. Although Tyrod Taylor is currently the No. 2 option behind Flacco, the Ravens are keeping an eye on the free agent market, and Wilson believes that veteran signal-caller David Carr could be a good fit for the club. As Wilson writes, Carr knows Gary Kubiak‘s system, has been healthy and durable, and shouldn’t be expensive.

Let’s round up a few more Ravens items….

  • Within that same piece, Wilson notes that the Ravens have hosted Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas on pre-draft visits. However, as the Sun scribe adds via Twitter, the team hasn’t scheduled any meetings or visits with Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage, one of the draft’s rising QB prospects.
  • The urgency to draft a running back has never been lower for NFL teams, which is good news for the Ravens, writes Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. In Brown’s view, the team should be able to wait until the middle or late rounds to address the position, and could still end up with a solid player.
  • Wake Forest wide receiver Michael Campanaro, who worked out for the Ravens on Monday, told Wilson that “it went awesome” and that he came away encouraged by the workout.
  • Another player who participated in the Ravens’ local workout yesterday, Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle, is visiting the Raiders next, writes Wilson.

Extra Points: Carr, Johnson, Bailey, Bills

April 9th, 2014 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Although multiple reports have suggested that free agent signal-caller David Carr would like to end up on the team that drafts his brother Derek Carr, perhaps serving as Derek’s backup, that’s not necessarily the case, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Schefter tweets that the two brothers’ destinations aren’t related, and that David intends to sign with a club prior to draft day.

As the elder Carr continues to search for a new home, let’s round up a handful of updates from around the NFL….

  • Free agent running back Chris Johnson could theoretically try out for teams in private, without those workouts needing to be reported, but he doesn’t intend to do so, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio notes, it’s possible that Johnson could reach an agreement with a new team without even visiting that club, since the veteran is a known commodity at this point.
  • All NFL 32 teams were in attendance at LSU’s Pro Day today, including several general managers and head coaches, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • The details of Champ Bailey‘s two-year contract with the Saints have surfaced, and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com provides the breakdown (Twitter links): The base value is $3.75MM, though it can be worth up to $6.75MM with incentives and escalators. It’s guaranteed for $500K and includes a $250K roster bonus if Bailey is on the team for six games in 2014.
  • The Bills announced today that Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews and Louisville linebacker Preston Brown were in town to meet with the team.
  • Top cornerback prospect Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State will visit the Titans on Friday, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter).
  • Boise State wide receiver Geraldo Boldewijn, who was in New England today for a private workout, will visit the Cardinals on April 15, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The Cards are also hosting Memphis safety Lonnie Ballentine today, tweets James Walker of ESPN.com.
  • The Packers will host Washington State offensive lineman John Fullington for an official pre-draft visit next week, tweets agent Collin Roberts.

David Carr Aims To Sign With Team For ’14

March 6th, 2014 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Former first overall pick David Carr was cut by the Giants before last year’s regular season got underway and didn’t play in 2013, but the free agent quarterback intends to return to the NFL in 2014, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. Smith reports (via Twitter) that Carr is “fully committed” to landing with a team this season, and hopes to sign somewhere after the draft.

The 2014 draft, coincidentally, is where David’s brother Derek Carr will begin his NFL career, and it was Derek’s ongoing training sessions that inspired David’s comeback, tweets Smith. In fact, according to Smith (via Twitter), David’s ideal situation would be landing on the same team as his brother, acting as Derek’s backup.

At this point in his career, the former Texans starter is certainly no more than a No. 2, and may even have to settle for a No. 3 role. Still, Carr received multiple offers from NFL teams last season after being released by the Giants, which he turned down when his daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (Twitter link via Smith). The Fresno State product will turn 35 in July, so no NFL club will want its season to hinge on his right arm, but I expect he’ll find work somewhere, or at least a chance to compete for a roster spot.