HEADLINES

2014 NFL Draft News & Rumors

North Notes: Vikings, Browns, Bears, Lions

April 15th, 2014 at 1:48pm CST by Luke Adams

After working out for the Vikings on the weekend, Teddy Bridgewater visited with the team yesterday and is still there today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who notes that the Vikes are taking an extended look at the Louisville signal-caller. Bridgewater could very well still be on the board when Minnesota picks at No. 8.

Here’s more from out of the NFC and AFC North divisions:

  • The Vikings and tight end Kyle Rudolph are said to have mutual interest in working out a long-term agreement to keep Rudolph in Minnesota, but the team has yet to approach the 24-year-old about an extension yet, as he tells Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
  • Johnny Manziel‘s previously reported workout for the Browns is scheduled for this weekend, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
  • After meeting with the Texans today, Blake Bortles will have finished with his pre-draft visits and workouts, with the exception of a visit with the Browns next week, according to Caplan (Twitter links).
  • Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will meet with the Bears this week, tweets Rapoport, adding that Clinton-Dix has also met with the Panthers and Falcons, among other teams. The Bears, meanwhile, have their eye on safeties, having already hosted Calvin Pryor.
  • Rapoport passes along word of a couple more pre-draft visits, tweeting that Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard visited the Bengals today and yesterday, while Minnesota safety Brock Vereen visited the Steelers last week. The brother of Patriots running back Shane Vereen will also meet with the Vikings this week, says Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • The Lions announced pre-draft visits for Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and Boston College kicker Nate Freese, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com details.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix, who recently visited the Bears.
  • Matthew Mulligan‘s one-year deal with the Bears is a minimum salary benefit contract, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Chris Pressley‘s one-year pact with the Browns falls into the same category, Wilson adds (via Twitter).

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.

South Notes: Falcons, Bucs, Saints, Titans

April 15th, 2014 at 11:02am CST by Luke Adams

ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure reported last Friday that Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews has a visit scheduled with the Falcons for the week of April 21, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets today that Matthews has already worked out for Atlanta. Considering the Falcons are very much in the market for help on the line on both sides of the ball, Matthews is certainly a player worth keeping an eye on for that No. 6 overall pick next month, and he seems to be drawing plenty of interest from the club.

Here’s more on the Falcons and a couple other South teams:

  • The Falcons are hosting East Carolina tight end Justin Jones for a pre-draft visit today and Auburn edge defender Dee Ford later in the week. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have the respective details.
  • Wilson also tweets that Utah State cornerback Nevin Lawson is visiting the Falcons today and tomorrow.
  • Former Gators receiver and kick returner Solomon Patton is working out for the Buccaneers today, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers and Saints are among the teams hosting sleeper Purdue tackle Kevin Pamphile for visits, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. According to Pauline, Pamphile is also visiting the Patriots, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Giants.
  • The Titans had Eastern Illinois signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo in for a pre-draft visit yesterday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Poll: What Should Texans Do With No. 1 Pick?

April 15th, 2014 at 9:40am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL draft is a little over three weeks away, but there’s still no consensus about what the Texans will – or should – do with the first overall pick. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, one of the most plugged-in Texans writers out there, has long insisted the team will draft a quarterback with that No. 1 pick, but in his most recent mock draft, McClain shifted gears and had Houston selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney will indeed be one of the players the Texans bring in this week, but quarterback is certainly an area of need for the club, and Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, and Johnny Manziel will all be in town this week as well. In addition to those options, the Texans are said to be giving real consideration to Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, who isn’t necessarily viewed as the top talent in the draft, but may be the best fit for the team, given its current holes.

Among the other probable top picks, tackles like Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews and wide receiver Sammy Watkins may not be favorites for that No. 1 spot, but we shouldn’t rule them out entirely. It’s also possible that Houston could trade the first overall pick. The team is reportedly open to the idea, and if there’s a club that covets a player like Clowney, it might be worthwhile for the Texans to move down a few spots and grab an extra pick or two.

This week’s visits may give us a stronger indication of the Texans’ plans for May 8, but for now, let’s hear what you think. Should the Texans draft a quarterback, a defender like Clowney or Mack, or trade the pick? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section below.

Texans Considering Khalil Mack With First Pick

April 14th, 2014 at 9:03pm CST by Rory Parks

We learned earlier today that the Texans would be hosting Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack sometime next week. However, that visit appears to be more than due diligence on Houston’s part. According to Brent Sobleski of USA Today, Mack is a “legitimate candidate” for the Texans’ No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.

Given that the quarterbacks who might make sense with the No. 1 pick each come with some red flags, and given the concerns surrounding Jadeveon Clowney‘s work ethic and lack of production in 2013, the fates might be aligning for Mack to hear his name called first when the draft opens on May 8.

Mack performed at an elite level at the combine, finishing among the top five linebackers in four of the six drills in which he participated, and he would also fit seamlessly into Houston’s 3-4 scheme. And although he played at a relatively small football program, there was nothing small about his production. Mack recorded 75 tackles for loss during his career in Buffalo, along with 28.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles.

Although the Texans would be taking something of a PR risk should they opt for Mack with the first pick–much as they did when they chose Mario Williams over Reggie Bush in 2006–his track record, the position he plays, and the level at which he plays it have forced him into the conversation along with the likes of Clowney, Johnny Manziel, and Blake Bortles.

Pre-Draft Visits: Ravens, Barr, Ellington

April 14th, 2014 at 8:00pm CST by Rob DiRe

Towson running back Terrance West met with the Ravens today, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. West will visit the Vikings tomorrow and the Seahawks on Wednesday.

Here are some other notes on pre-draft visits from around the NFL:

  • Morgan State guard Karim Barton also visited the Ravens as a local prospect, reported Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Linebacker Anthony Barr of UCLA will be getting busy, with multiple visits scheduled over the next two weeks, reports Ross Jones of FoxSports.com (via Twitter). Among his scheduled visits are the Cowboys, Vikings, Steelers, Falcons and Eagles.
  • Receiver Bruce Ellington of South Carolina is visiting a few teams this week, including the Rams, Cardinals, and Patriots, and has already worked out for the Falcons, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 and and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The cousin of Cardinals’ running back Andre Ellington is the fourth receiver to visit the Rams, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch (via Twitter).

AFC Notes: Ebron, Lee, Matthews

April 14th, 2014 at 6:12pm CST by Rob DiRe

North Carolina’s Eric Ebron is the top rated tight end in the 2014 NFL Draft, and could be in play for the Titans at pick number 11, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. While the team is happy with Delanie Walker, the background of head coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff may add to their desire to bring in a play making tight end.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC:

  • USC standout receiver Marqise Lee will visit the Dolphins on Tuesday, reports James Walker of ESPN.com. The Dolphins will pick 19th in the draft, and at one point Lee was thought to have been off the board much earlier than that. Lee’s disappointing speed at the combine has put him in play for the latter half of the first round.
  • Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews is visiting the Raiders today, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Matthews is thought to be a day two draft pick.
  • The Raiders aren’t the only team interested in Matthews, as Meredith Perri of WEEI.com has highlighted the 6’3″ pass catcher for the Patriots. Perri writes that Matthews is a good route runner and possesses a good set of hands, both important when playing with Tom Brady. Matthews is a cousin of Jerry Rice, and holds SEC career records for receptions and receiving yards.

NFC Notes: Donald, Vikings, Herron

April 14th, 2014 at 5:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald expressed his interest in the Cowboys, writes David Helman of DallasCowboys.com. He had particular affection for defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. “He loves doing what he does, so that’s a coach I’d love to play for and learn from. Knowing he coached guys like Warren Sapp, that just gets you excited just knowing he’s got history and is one of the best to do it,” said Donald. “If I was able to play for Coach Marinelli that would be a blessing.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • The Vikings are expected to bring in a linebacker in the upcoming draft, writes Master Tesfatsion of StarTribune.com. The team has targeted Khalil Mack of Buffalo and Demarcus Lawrence of Boise State during recent visits, already having seen Preston Brown of Louisville and Anthony Barr of UCLA. The Vikings will also host North Dakota State offensive tackle Billy Turner.
  • The Panthers‘ quest to find a receiver in the draft continues, as the team will host Wyoming wideout Robert Herron, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team had previously worked out Herron earlier this month.
  • The Falcons will host Brandon Watts on Tuesday, reports Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The linebacker was not a big name in the draft process before running a 4.4 40 yard dash at his Georgia Tech pro day.

AFC Notes: Mike Williams, Raiders, Texans

April 14th, 2014 at 4:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after acquiring him in a trade with the Buccaneers, the Bills have made some minor adjustments to Mike Williams‘ contract, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. Corry tweets that the deal is still worth $1.8MM for 2014, but that the base salary is now $1.6MM (from $1.2MM), while the workout bonus is now just $200K (from $600K). Since that ’14 base salary is guaranteed, the move looks like a vote of confidence from the Bills to their newest receiver.

Here’s more from around the AFC, with a focus on the draft:

  • UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is in Oakland today meeting with the Raiders, and will move on to Houston after that visit to meet with the Texas tomorrow, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. Oakland is also hosting Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack will also be visiting the Texans next week, as Houston explores all potential avenues for the first overall pick, says Rapoport (via Twitter).
  • TCU cornerback Jason Verrett, who we noted earlier visited the Steelers today, also has visits lined up for next week with the Bengals and Jets, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Another cornerback, Oregon’s Terrance Mitchell, is also drawing interest from AFC teams, having staged a workout for the Colts and Raiders, writes Ross Jones of Fox Sports, who adds that Mitchell ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.
  • Former Indiana State running back Shakir Bell will take part in the Colts‘ local prospect day on Wednesday, tweets Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.
  • The Ravens have expressed interest in Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin and were complimentary about his performance at their local prospect day, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Extra Points: CJ2K, Bradford, Pryor, Vikings

April 14th, 2014 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

After Chris Johnson was released by the Titans, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the veteran running back was likely to find a new team last week. However, Johnson remains on the market. Now Florio writes that if CJ2K is going to a find a new home before the draft, he expects it to happen within the next few days. As Florio writes, most NFL teams will be focusing almost exclusively on the draft in the coming weeks, so if a club is going to engage in negotiations for the former 2,000-yard rusher, that team would probably prefer to get it done sooner rather than later.

As we wait to see if Florio’s latest prediction works out, let’s round up several more items from around the NFL….

  • Although he makes it clear that he’s not reporting that the Rams are shopping or even considering dealing quarterback Sam Bradford, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com makes a case for why the club should do exactly that, speaking to a few executives around the league to attempt to gauge Bradford’s current value.
  • Louisville safety Calvin Pryor, who has previously visited the Titans and Bears, is meeting with the Saints today and has visits lined up later in the week with the Bengals and Jets, reports Gil Brandt of NFL.com (via Twitter). Considered one of the top two safeties in this year’s draft class, Pryor is viewed as a likely first-round pick.
  • The Vikings have a big day of pre-draft visits lined up for Thursday, and linebackers Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr will be among the players in attendance, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Barr will also be visiting the Eagles next week, a source tells Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com.
  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along updates on a couple prospects, reporting that North Dakota State offensive tackle Billy Turner is visiting the Cowboys today and the Rams and Vikings later, and writing that Tennessee State offensive lineman Kadeem Edwards has met with the Dolphins, Titans, Colts, and Panthers.
  • The Falcons hosted Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp for a pre-draft visit today, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
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