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2016 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Mort & Schefter: Manziel, Hasselbeck, Martin

December 10th, 2015 at 5:27pm CST by Zachary Links

When Johnny Manziel takes the field for the Browns on Sunday, he won’t just be auditioning for Cleveland – he’ll be showing his stuff to every team who could want a QB in 2016, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com write. One prominent team executive tells the ESPN duo that he’s not optimistic about the impression Manziel can make on the Browns’ front office given the cast around him.

“He would almost have to be spectacular and the Browns win games we don’t expect them to win. And even then, to what extent has [Manziel] burned bridges there where no matter what he does, either the present regime or the next regime will still be looking for another guy?” the executive said.

Here’s more from their column:

  • Two GMs say that if 40-year-old Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has the desire to play another season, he will have an opportunity to be one of the more valued free agents on the open market. Hasselbeck obviously isn’t going to get a $100MM deal, but a deal paying him as much as $5MM to serve as a backup for a contender makes sense. One GM even suggested it was short-sighted to look at Hasselbeck as simply a mentor for a team with a young quarterback. He said Hasselbeck also would be ideal for an established quarterback who is going through a coordinator change.
  • Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, and Alabama running back Derrick Henry are this year’s frontrunners for the Heisman trophy and the ESPN duo spoke with NFL personnel people to get their evaluations of their NFL futures. Henry, who will be eligible for the 2016 draft, has drawn comparisons to Eddie George (though perhaps without the same upside) and one exec sees him as a top 20 pick. Watson and McCaffrey both have upside as well, but they will not be eligible until 2017.
  • It would not be surprising to see Mark Ingram‘s deal serve as a model for Doug Martin‘s before free agency this winter, Mort and Schef write. After seeing his fifth-year option declined, Ingram inked a four-year, $16MM deal with the Saints last offseason that included $7.6MM guaranteed. Now in a similar spot, the Bucs have made it known that they want to retain Martin.

Ronnie Stanley, Shaq Lawson To Enter Draft

December 9th, 2015 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is entering the 2016 NFL draft, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). Stanley will forgo his senior season with the Fighting Irish to begin his NFL career next year.

The left tackle for Notre Dame, Stanley projects as one of the top offensive linemen available in this year’s draft. Miller has Stanley ranked fifth overall, and first among offensive linemen, on his most recent big board, while CBSSports.com places him 11th overall, and second among linemen.

Here are a few more Wednesday draft rumors and notes:

  • Another projected first-round pick, Clemson edge defender Shaq Lawson, told Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston that he’ll forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL draft. “It was a tough decision,” Lawson said. “I sat down with my family, sat down with the support staff at Clemson. I enjoyed being at Clemson, but it’s time. I’m ready for the next level.” Lawson ranks among the top 25 prospects for 2016, according the previously-linked big boards by Miller and CBSSports.com.
  • While there’s no official word yet, the expectation from some in the scouting community is that Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch will declare for the 2016 draft, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. In Matt Miller’s latest mock draft, Lynch is projected to come off the board first overall, to the Browns.
  • Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith and Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander are leaning toward entering the 2016 draft, reports Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter links).

Draft Updates: Ramsey, Goff, Underclassmen

December 5th, 2015 at 6:35pm CST by Luke Adams

With five weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, not many teams are looking ahead to the draft yet, but the NCAA year is winding down and many underclassmen are determining whether or not to declare their intent to enter this year’s draft class. Here’s the latest on a few prospects:

  • Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and his family have spent “meaningful time” vetting potential agents as he considers entering the draft, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. That’s no surprise, considering Ramsey is a potential top-10 pick.
  • A pair of receivers, Florida’s Demarcus Robinson and Pitt’s Tyler Boyd, are strongly considering entering the draft, according to Getlin (Twitter links). Getlin adds that one of Boyd’s family members has been looking into possible representation.
  • Sources close to Cal quarterback Jared Goff indicate that there’s a 99% chance he’ll enter the draft, and wide receiver Kenny Lawler is expected to declare as well, writes Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. Bengals receiver Marvin Jones has been a common point of comparison for Lawler, per Pauline.
  • Boise State edge defender Kamalei Correa, who has received second-day grades, has been interviewing agents and is very likely to enter the draft, says Pauline. Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson and San Diego State cornerback Damontae Kazee are also likely to enter the draft, according to Pauline.
  • Indiana guard Dan Feeney, Mississippi State defensive tackle Chris Jones, and Mississippi defensive back Tony Conner are waiting to hear back from the advisory committee before making a decision on the draft, per Pauline.
  • Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, and receiver Laquon Treadwell are all expected to enter the draft, says Pauline.
  • Other underclassmen considering making the jump to the NFL, according to Pauline:
    • Texas A&M defensive end Daeshon Hall
    • Alabama cornerback Eddie Jackson
    • Louisville safety Josh Harvey-Clemons
    • Mississippi tight end Evan Engram

Extra Points: Packers, Meyer, Draft

December 5th, 2015 at 12:42pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL (and several from the NCAA)…

  • Besides the previously-reported trio of players, the Packers also worked out three receivers yesterday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter): Jamel Johnson, Deon Long and Kevin Vereen.
  • Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said through a school spokesman that he doesn’t have interest in any job besides his current position (via Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch on Twitter). The NFL Network’s Albert Breer believes this to be sincere, tweeting that he’s heard Meyer isn’t “considering the NFL right now.”
  • A lot has been made of Jared Goff out of Cal declaring for the 2016 NFL Draft as the potential top quarterback available, but one of his favorite targets Kenny Lawler could also declare, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
  • Pauline also notes that Toledo running back Kareem Hunt has been meeting with agents, signifying a likeliness to declare for the NFL Draft (via Twitter).
  • South Carolina’s standout receiver Pharoah Cooper will unsurprisingly enter the NFL Draft, as Neil Stratton of Inside The League writes that multiple sources have indicated his intentions (via Twitter). Cooper will be represented by CAA.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

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).

NFL To Allow Comp Pick Trades Starting In 2017

December 2nd, 2015 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

DECEMBER 2, 12:42pm: The NFL has voted to allow trades of compensatory draft picks, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. However, the new rules will apply for picks in 2017 and beyond, rather than 2016. That avoids giving a competitive advantage to the teams that deliberately attempted to land comp picks for ’16 during last year’s free agent period.

NOVEMBER 19, 11:35am: Beginning in 2016, the NFL is expected to start allowing teams to trade compensatory draft picks for the first time, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). These selections, which begin at the end of the third round, have traditionally not been movable.

[Related: Click here for the full list of the 2016 draft picks that have already been traded.]

Compensatory draft picks are rewarded to teams that had the most significant losses in free agency the previous year, with a formula determining how the 32 available selections are divvied up. Typically, teams like the Ravens have taken advantage of the system by allowing players to walk in free agency and collecting multiple compensatory picks, often using those picks to draft inexpensive potential replacements.

Now, it appears teams like Baltimore will be able to use those picks in trades going forward. Because there are no compensatory picks until the draft begins approaching the 100th overall pick, these selections may not be centerpieces of major deals, but being able to move them will give teams extra flexibility when making moves. As I noted when I took a closer look at all the trades made in the NFL in 2015, 64 of the 69 deals completed this year included at least one draft pick.

According to projections by Over the Cap, the Browns, 49ers, Cowboys, and Patriots are all in line to potentially land four compensatory picks for 2016, the maximum allowed for a single team. The Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks, Packers, and Lions are also projected to land multiple picks, though that’s not set in stone yet.

As Brian McIntyre notes (via Twitter), there’s a case to be made that any changes to the compensatory picks should be postponed until the 2017 draft, since changes for 2016 favor teams that attempted to stockpile those selections for the coming year. However, for now, it seems the league is ready to institute those changes sooner rather than later.

Extra Points: 49ers, Gase, Rice

December 1st, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

As the 49ers get set to take on the Bears, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com can’t help but reflect on how either Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could have wound up as head coach in San Francisco. As the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Fangio gave the 49ers a top five defense, but, of course, he was ultimately passed over for Jim Tomsula.

Maiocco hears that if Gase got the 49ers’ head coaching job, he would have kept Fangio on staff and given him full autonomy over the defense. GM Trent Baalke floated the idea of Tomsula taking over as defensive coordinator to Gase, according to one source, but Gase was wary about giving that job to someone with no experience regarding the secondary.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Even though Chris Johnson has been placed on IR-DTR and Andre Ellington is dealing with a toe injury, the Cardinals still have no interest in signing Ray Rice, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter). Despite not playing in an NFL regular season game since 2013, and not receiving a workout this year, Rice continues to train in the hopes of getting another shot at the NFL.
  • NFL executives have been informed by the league office that the 2016 salary cap will likely come in between $147MM-$155MM, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). If the cap comes in at the higher end of that range, it will represent a significant increase over this year’s cap of $143MM.
  • The NFL is likely to do away with the Veteran Combine it ran early this year, Cole tweets. Apparently, the league felt that they did not get enough of a return on the combine given the cost of holding it.
  • Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman has indicated to multiple sources that he’s strongly considering entering the NFL Draft, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.

Extra Points: K. White, Panthers, Elliott

November 24th, 2015 at 1:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bears‘ decision on rookie receiver Kevin White was due today, and the team is opening up his 21-day practice window, a league source tells Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears have since officially confirmed that move, which ensures that White remains on the PUP list rather than going on season-ending IR.

Chicago will now have 21 days to decide whether to activate the young wideout. If the team isn’t ready to move him to the 53-man roster at that point, White will be shut down for the year, moving to IR after Week 14.

As we look forward to seeing whether this year’s seventh overall pick will make his NFL debut in 2015, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the league…

  • The Panthers may go with 52 players for Thursday’s game, leaving a spot open on their active roster, head coach Ron Rivera said today (link via David Newton of ESPN.com). As Rivera explains, there’s no need for Carolina to promote a practice squad player to replace suspended defensive end Wes Horton if that player isn’t going to see any action.
  • After Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott expressed frustration with the Buckeyes’ coaching staff and play-calling following a weekend loss to Michigan State, Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com surveyed a trio of NFL scouts to see how Elliott’s draft stock might be affected. The consensus? It won’t be. One scout said he’s more worried about Elliott’s leg infection from last week, while another said his team would “gladly” draft the junior, adding that “he’s better than the Wisconsin kid [Melvin Gordon] last year.”
  • People around the NFL believe that the gap between the lure of an NFL head coaching job and a college head coaching job has closed, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). According to Breer, many coaches dislike recruiting, which tips the scales toward those NFL positions, but the money is “closer than ever,” and college coaches have more control and stronger job security. It’ll be something to keep an eye on as those positions become available this winter.
  • In a secret NFLPA meeting earlier this month, at least 15 NFL agents argued against cutting the maximum agent fee from 3% to 2%, writes Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal.
  • As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details, passing along a pair of reports from SportsBusiness Daily and the Hollywood Reporter, the NFL could sell a portion of the NFL Network to another TV network as part of its next Thursday Night Football deal.

Extra Points: Goodell, Los Angeles, Draft

November 20th, 2015 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL and NFL Players Associations are engaged in negotiations regarding commissioner Roger Goodell‘s role in player discipline, and according to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, the two sides are having “the right conversations,” writes Mark Maske of the Washington Post. While there’s been some speculation that resolving Goodell’s involvement in the player-discipline process might have to wait until the next CBA extension, both sides have noted that modifications could be made before that.

“There’s no need for other issues,” Smith said. “We’ve resolved drug policy as a stand-alone issue. We cut side letters to the collective bargaining agreement every year that are issues. At the end of the day, I think that this is an important issue for both sides. And I don’t think either the players or the owners really want to be talking about commissioner discipline during the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl. I don’t think that’s good for our business. I’m sure they don’t think it’s good for our business.”

Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL…

  • Having long been on top of the Los Angeles relocation rumors swirling around a trio of NFL teams, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times takes a step back to evaluate where the situation stands now, using a Q&A format to address the most frequently-asked questions about the possibility of the Rams, Chargers, or Raiders moving to L.A.
  • Field Yates of ESPN.com examines a few teams that might like to have do-overs on big offseason transactions, noting that neither the Eagles nor the Rams have made out particularly well in their Sam Bradford/Nick Foles swap. Yates also identifies the Seahawks‘ acquisition of Jimmy Graham and the Cowboys‘ plan to replace DeMarco Murray as moves that haven’t worked out as planned.
  • There are at least 10 NFL teams – and probably more – that will consider drafting a quarterback in the spring of 2016, according to Mike Sando and Mel Kiper of ESPN.com, who take a look at the clubs in need of QBs, along with a few of the top college options available to them.
  • Alabama already had two defensive linemen – A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed – projected as potential first-round picks, and there are some in NFL circles that believe Jonathan Allen could make it three first-round defensive linemen for the Crimston Tide, writes Matt Zenitz of AL.com.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2016

November 16th, 2015 at 11:56am CST by Luke Adams

While many 2016 NFL draft picks that get traded won’t be moved until the offseason, or during next year’s draft itself, plenty of selections have already changed hands. Unlike in 2015’s draft, no teams have surrendered a first-round pick for 2016 in a trade, but at least one pick in each of the other six rounds has been dealt.

Listed below are the 2016 draft picks that have been included in trades so far. In addition to the selections which will change hands no matter what happens between now and the 2016 draft, we’ve also included several picks which were conditionally traded. If we have information on what conditions must be met for those picks to be moved, those details have been included as well.

In some cases, those conditions have been included even if they won’t be met. For instance, the Eagles would have received a fourth-round pick from the Rams if Sam Bradford had played less than 50% of the team’s snaps this season. However, with Bradford having played every single one of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps for the first nine weeks, that pick won’t change hands.

Finally, a handful of picks were traded by teams holding multiple selections in a given round, meaning it’s not entirely clear which pick will change hands. For example, when the Broncos moved up in the 2015 draft to nab Shane Ray, they sent a 2016 fifth-round pick to the Lions. However, Denver held both its own fifth-round pick and Baltimore’s fifth-rounder at the time of that trade, so it’s not known which of those two picks was sent to Detroit.

This list will continue to be updated throughout the offseason, and can be found anytime on our right-hand sidebar under the PFR Features menu. Be sure to check back after trades have been consummated for an updated look at which picks are on the move for 2016. If you have any corrections, please contact us.

Here are 2016’s traded draft picks:

Updated 4-20-16

Round 1

  • Browns acquired pick from Eagles in deal for No. 2 overall pick.
  • Dolphins acquired pick from Eagles in deal for CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso.
  • Eagles acquired pick from Browns in deal for No. 2 overall pick.
  • Eagles acquired pick from Dolphins in deal for CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso.
  • Rams acquired pick from Titans in deal for No. 1 overall pick.
  • Titans acquired pick from Rams in deal for No. 1 overall pick.

Round 2

  • Patriots acquired pick from Cardinals in deal for DE/OLB Chandler Jones.
  • Rams acquired pick from Eagles in deal for QB Sam Bradford.
  • Titans acquired two picks from Rams in deal for No. 1 overall pick.

Round 3

  • Browns acquired pick from Eagles in deal for No. 2 overall pick.
  • Eagles acquired pick from Lions in deal for DT Gabe Wright.
  • Titans acquired pick from Rams in deal for No. 1 overall pick.

Round 4

  • Bears acquired pick from Patriots in deal for TE Martellus Bennett.
  • Browns acquired pick from Eagles in deal for No. 2 overall pick.
  • Eagles acquired pick from Titans in deal for RB DeMarco Murray.
  • Rams acquired pick from Titans in deal for No. 1 overall pick.
  • Ravens acquired pick from Broncos in deal for C Gino Gradkowski.
  • Titans acquired pick from Eagles in deal for RB DeMarco Murray.

Round 5

Round 6

(Note: Bears acquired sixth-round pick from Patriots in deal for LB Jon Bostic. However, Patriots later acquired pick back in deal for TE Martellus Bennett.)

Round 7

  • Broncos acquired pick from 49ers in deal for TE Vernon Davis.
  • Broncos acquired pick from Texans in deal for T Chris Clark.
  • Dolphins acquired pick from Ravens in deal for CB Will Davis.
  • Eagles acquired pick from Cardinals in deal for QB Matt Barkley.
  • Jets acquired pick from Broncos in deal for T Ryan Clady.
  • Patriots acquired pick from Texans in deal for QB Ryan Mallett.
  • Seahawks acquired pick from Cowboys in deal for RB Christine Michael.
  • Steelers acquired pick from Giants in deal for P Brad Wing.
  • Texans acquired pick from Rams in deal for QB Case Keenum.
  • Vikings acquired pick from Bills in deal for QB Matt Cassel.
  • Washington acquired pick from Buccaneers in deal for S Dashon Goldson.

Lost draft picks

  • Patriots lost first-round pick due to NFL discipline (Deflategate).
  • Chiefs lost third-round pick due to NFL discipline (tampering).
  • Falcons lost fifth-round pick due to NFL discipline (fake crowd noise).
  • Rams lost fifth-round pick after using it in 2015 supplemental draft on T Isaiah Battle.

ProSportsTransactions.com was used in the creation of this post.

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