NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Quarterbacks
Cardinals‘ general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians met with the media last Thursday, and Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com took some notes to get into the team’s draft process. Weinfuss writes that the team could look to draft a quarterback in the second-round, hopefully to succeed Carson Palmer in 2015.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC West:
- Keim has the Cardinals looking at other positions besides quarterback, noting there is considerable depth at both wide receiver and offensive tackle, writes Weinfuss. With Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, the team has a good set of receivers but could look to add a dynamic speed threat as a third option. However, the team could really benefit from finding a tackle who can come in and become a starter right away.
- While the Rams may not be looking to move on from Sam Bradford, the team is still looking to select a quarterback sometime on draft weekend, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The team is not be linked to the top three quarterbacks, but they could target one of the second-tier quarterbacks as a day two selection.
- The Rams have also signed wide receiver T.J. Moe, reports Howard Balzer of LockerDome.com (via Twitter). Moe finished last season on the Patriots injured reserve list.
- The 49ers have their top two quarterbacks set with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert, but Jim Harbaugh is always looking for his next signal caller, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, and San Jose State’s David Fales could all be possible day three draft picks.
Ten Players Failed Combine Drug Test
Ten players were flagged for their drug test at the scouting combine, reports Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Among the biggest names that were reported by Glazer were Timmy Jernigan of Florida State University, Zach Mettenberger, and Anthony Johnson, both of Louisiana State University.
It was announced earlier today that Seantrel Henderson of Miami also was flagged on his drug test.
Jernigan was considered a possible first-round pick at times during the draft process, and still was thought of as a possible late-first, early-second round pick. This news could push him further down day two and possibly into a day three pick.
Mettenberger was one of the fastest rising quarterback prospects in the draft. He was coming off an ACL injury, but his workouts were reportedly impressive and he was beginning to challenge other quarterbacks in the second tier that could have possibly found themselves being selected at the beginning of the second round. If a team was sold on him, there was a chance someone would trade into the back end of the first round to select him.
Johnson was a projected mid-round pick. The defensive tackle was a huge load at LSU, taking on blocks in the middle of the defense.
Mettenberger’s physical therapist chalks up the failed test to a diluted urine sample due to efforts to combat dehydration, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Jernigan and his representatives have declined to comment, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter).
No Increase In Rookie Bonuses
Signing bonuses for those selected in the upcoming NFL Draft will stay the same as last year, reports Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter).
Due to the current slotting system for salaries, the contracts given out to draft picks are set, with only some guaranteed money up for negotiating. With no increase in the potential signing bonus, the first-overall pick would be in line for a bonus of just over $14.518MM (via Twitter). Yates notes that the bonus is the same that Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and Eric Fisher received the past three drafts.
Yates also reports that teams will have the same amount of bonus money to spend on undrafted-free agents as last year, with $80,362 to split among how many free-agent rookies each team decides to bring into camp (via Twitter).
Byron Bell Signs Tender
Offensive tackle Byron Bell has signed his restricted-free agent tender with the Panthers, reports Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer. It is a second-round tender, and will be worth $2.187MM.
The Panthers are in need of a starting left tackle since stalwart Jordan Gross retired earlier this offseason, and Person writes that some in the Panthers’ organization believe Bell could fill in to protect Cam Newton‘s blind side.
Bell played on the right side for his first three NFL seasons. Now that Bell is officially under contract, the Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin is the final restricted-free agent yet to sign.
NFC North Rumors: Bradford, Suh, Packers
The Vikings and Rams may have discussed a Sam Bradford trade, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports told CBS Sports Radio 920 (per TurfShowTimes.com).
“There are people in the league who believe there have been discussions with the Vikings. Rams people have denied any conversations whatsoever. The bottom line is if they don’t take a quarterback, they’re not trading Sam Bradford. There’s so much uncertainty in this draft that it’d be difficult to put the horse before the cart…all these things are tied together….The Rams are going to talk to a lot of teams between now and whenever their first pick is…[and] continue to gauge the market.”
Such a trade would presumably allow the Rams, who have been linked to Johnny Manziel, to consider selecting a quarterback with either the second or 13th pick (or the eighth pick if the Vikings send a first-rounder for Bradford, which is unlikely).
Continuing with more news from the NFC North:
- Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says the team is not aiming to trade Ndamukong Suh, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter).
- Mayhew said one interested team did call in January to inquire on Suh, but the Lions declined the offer, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Twentyman also tweets Mayhew’s more colorful description of the discussion: “(They) offered me a box of old tube socks and I said no thank you.”
- Speaking of the Lions’ defensive line, Birkett analyzes the team’s needs at the position, noting that Detroit could add another pass rusher.
- The Packers will add a rookie quarterback to the mix behind Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Scott Tolzien, reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Green Bay could look to either the late rounds of the draft or to rookie free agency to add a young signal-caller.
- The Packers, at pick No. 21, might need to be wary of the Chiefs, at pick No. 23, attempting to jump ahead of them, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Both teams employ similar “best player available strategies,” and Chiefs general manager John Dorsey used to work in Green Bay.
- In his latest Q&A, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reasons it would take a third-round pick for the Bears to swap first-round positions with the Titans, moving ahead of the Giants in order to draft Aaron Donald.
Minor Moves: Villanueva, Tanard Jackson
This time of year, NFL teams are engaged in a flurry of transactions, signing and releasing players with little or no game experience. We’ll keep track of said minor moves in this post, and any updates will be added to the top of the list:
- The NFL has reinstated Redskins safety Tanard Jackson, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Jackson was suspended indefinitely in 2012 for violations of the league’s substance abuse program, and hasn’t seen game action since 2011.
- The Eagles announced they have signed defensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva to a rookie free agent contract. Villanueva is a veteran of the the U.S. Army who has risen to the rank of captain, and has served three tours in Afghanistan. He last played football as a receiver for Army in 2009. The Eagles watched the 6’9″, 277 pound Villanueva work out at the Super Regional Combine in April.
AFC East Draft Notes: Jets, Cooks, Patriots
The 2014 draft offers Jets general manager John Idzik the opportunity to shine, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. After a 2013 draft which yielded one star (Sheldon Richardson) and at least two question marks (Dee Milliner and Geno Smith) with the Jets’ first three selections, Idzik, outside of Eric Decker, went bargain-shopping during free agency, trying to supplement New York’s roster with low-cost additions. As Costello notes, a solid draft could mean building a strong foundation on which to continue to solidify the team, while a weak return could mean the demise of head coach Rex Ryan and much more pressure on Idzik himself.
More from the AFC East:
- Many mock drafts have the Jets selecting Brandin Cooks with the 18th pick, and ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini thinks this is a good idea, comparing Cooks to DeSean Jackson, with whom Marty Mornhinwheg, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, had success.
- LSU receiver Jarvis Landry said he felt most comfortable during meetings with the Jets, in addition the Falcons and and Colts, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
- ESPN.com’s James Walker believes the Dolphins should take local product Seantrel Henderson off its draft board following Henderson’s failed drug test, which makes some sense considering the offensive line drama in Miami last season.
- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor will likely be gone by the time the Patriots pick at No. 29, so if New England doesn’t trade up, Deone Bucannon could be an option for the Pats, writes Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.
- Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said the team won’t shy away from drafting another receiver, even though the Pats brought in three rookies at the position last season, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Beckham Jr., Giants
Yesterday, we noted Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman’s comments lamenting the lack of depth in this year’s crop of safeties, and today, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock echoes that sentiment, per Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Allowing that Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will likely be off the board, and that Calvin Pryor doesn’t the Eagles scheme, Mayock doesn’t see Philadelphia walking away from the draft having improved their safety position. “From my perspective, they’re looking for a guy that can play strong or free safety, has to have both those skill sets,” said Mayock, noting that perhaps Terrance Brooks of Florida State could be a third-round option.
More from around the NFC East:
- Regarding Peter King’s report that the Eagles might be interested in trading up for Odell Beckham Jr., Mosher concurs (in a separate post), noting that Roseman has mentioned he would trade up for “the right guy.” Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com disagrees, however, citing Philadelphia’s lack of draft picks, the deep receiver class, and Chip Kelly’s ability to mold mediocre talent into production as reasons why an Eagles trade up would not make sense.
- Kapadia and Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com each listed the top three most likely Eagles first-round selections, but due to their congruent opinions, only listed four players in total: Marqise Lee, Kyle Fuller, C.J. Mosley, and Brandin Cooks.
- The 2014 draft is important for Giants general manager Jerry Reese as he tries to rebuild his reputation as an excellent talent evaluator, writes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Recent Giants draft picks have been affected by injuries, and Reese observes that there is no such thing as a “safe” player. “You try to limit what risk you take, but any time you pick a player, there’s a risk,’’ said the GM. “There have been can’t-miss players and people have missed drastically with players. We try to get more right than we get wrong.”
- Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com doesn’t think the Cowboys should draft a late-round quarterback, citing the recent study undertaken by Bears GM Phil Emery.
- Head coach Jason Garrett’s contract situation could affect the Cowboys’ draft approach, writes Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
AFC North Roundup: Browns, Savage, Bengals
The Browns are interested in trading up in the latter half of Thursday’s draft, from the 26th pick to the 18-22 range, and the Dolphins, who hold the 18th pick, could be a match, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Cleveland, which also holds the fourth overall selection, could be looking to move up and add a franchise quarterback, while Miami could try to move down, acquire more picks, and then supplement their offensive line.
More news from the AFC North awaits:
- While Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage didn’t privately meet with or workout for the Ravens, he did speak with the team a few times, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Savage was the only quarterback to visit with the Bengals in Cincinnati, but the team also privately worked out Logan Thomas, and met with A.J. McCarron and Zach Mettenberger, according to the NFL Network’s Albert Breer (via Twitter).
- Paul Dehner, Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer believes that the Bengals purported interest in Teddy Bridgewater is merely a smoke screen, and that Cincinnati hopes a team with a quarterback need will offer to trade for the 24th pick.
- The Ravens could look to draft a defensive lineman to replace the departed Arthur Jones, writes Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Zenitz posits Ra’Shede Hageman and Stephon Tuitt as two possible fits for Baltimore.
- Much of the Ravens’ draft history is based on talented players falling to them, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, pointing to Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata as prospects whom Baltimore was lucky to acquire. But that likely won’t happen this year, as potential Ravens targets Taylor Lewan, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Eric Ebron probably won’t fall to the 17th pick.
- The Steelers could use a nose tackle, but due to the limited playing time available to the position in the modern NFL, probably shouldn’t take one at pick No. 15, says Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sulia link).
- Steelers GM Kevin Colbert says the team won’t trade up in the first round, tweets Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter) has more from Colbert, who says the Steelers would take an outside linebacker in the first round if a “great player” was available, despite the presence of 2013 first-rounder Jarvis Jones.
Broncos Sign Marvin Austin
The Broncos have signed defensive tackle Marvin Austin, the team announced in a press release. The terms of the deal aren’t public, but it’s likely a one-year pact for the minimum salary that will give Austin a chance to make the Denver roster this summer.
Austin, 25, was 2011 second-round draft pick by the Giants. After tearing his pectoral and missing his entire rookie season, he went to play in only eight games for New York. He spent time with both the Dolphins and the Cowboys in 2013. Austin has had some off-the-field issues in the past, but he’s young enough that he could still possibly contribute to the Broncos.