HEADLINES

2017 NFL Draft

Browns Sign Rookie QB DeShone Kizer

June 14th, 2017 at 12:35pm CST by Zachary Links

DeShone Kizer is officially in the fold. The Browns announced that they have signed the rookie quarterback. DeShone Kizer

The Notre Dame product has reportedly impressed in practice, leading some to wonder whether he could see significant time on the field in his rookie season. Brock Osweiler – who has also been looking good in camp – and Cody Kessler are also pushing for the starting job. In a recent poll asking PFR readers which rookie quarterback will make the highest impact, Kizer came in second place with 17.36% of the vote. Texans signal caller Deshaun Watson took first place with 44% of the vote.

Kizer was viewed as one of the better quarterbacks in this year’s class and the Browns were excited to land him at No. 52 overall. However, not everyone is sold on him. The dual-threat QB was excellent in 2015, posting 21 touchdowns and completing nearly 63% of his passes while averaging 8.5 adjusted yards per target. Unfortunately, in 2016, his completion percentage dropped by more than four points. Soon enough, we’ll know whether Kizer has what it takes to succeed at the next level.

With Kizer signed, the Browns now have eight of their ten draft picks officially under contract. First round safety Jabrill Peppers and first round tight end David Njoku are now the only stragglers in the class.

Rams Sign Top Three Picks

June 9th, 2017 at 10:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Rams have finally begun to lock up their draft class. The club signed its top three picks – tight end Gerald Everett, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive back Josh Johnson – on Friday, tweets Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com.

Gerald Everett

Trading up to No. 1 overall in 2016 for quarterback Jared Goff left the Rams without a first-rounder this year, meaning they didn’t pick until No. 44. That’s where they landed Everett, who transferred from UAB to South Alabama after the 2014 season and ended his college career with back-to-back 40-catch seasons. With the Rams having released their previous No. 1 tight end, Lance Kendricks, earlier this offseason, the 6-foot-3, 239-pound Everett is in line to open his NFL career as a starter. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com likens Everett to the Titans’ Delanie Walker, a pass-catching machine who has racked up 282 receptions and 23 touchdowns since 2013.

Kupp, the 69th pick and the first of two third-rounders for the Rams, thrived at Eastern Washington, where he combined for FCS-record-setting numbers (428 catches, 6,464 yards and 73 TDs) over four seasons. Along with free agent pickup Robert Woods, the 6-2, 204-pound Kupp is one of two prominent newcomers in LA’s receiving corps, which was among the league’s worst last year.

Johnson was the Rams’ second choice in Round 3 (No. 91), and is coming off back-to-back three-interception seasons at Boston College. The 6-0, 208-pounder has the coverage skills necessary to start right away, per Zierlein, and is capable of playing both safety and cornerback.

“I think I fit best as a safety, although I think I have a corner body type,” Johnson said in April (via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times). “I came into Boston College as a corner, and I like covering man to man. I like covering the intermediate zone … but I think I would fit best as a safety.”

The Rams still have five more picks to sign, including two fourth-rounders.

Draft Pick Signings: 6/9/17

June 9th, 2017 at 5:58pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest draft signings:

  • The Seahawks have announced the signing of second-round offensive lineman Ethan Pocic, the 58th overall pick. With Pocic under contract, the Seahawks have signed nine members of their 11-player draft class. After mostly serving as a center at LSU, where he was a first-team All-American in 2016, Pocic has lined up at both guard and right tackle with Seattle this spring. As of now, Oday Aboushi (LG), Mark Glowinski (RG) and Germain Ifedi (RT) are the Seahawks’ penciled-in starters at those positions.

49ers Sign Rookie Reuben Foster

June 9th, 2017 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Reuben Foster is officially a member of the 49ers. The team announced on Friday that the linebacker has inked his rookie contract. Reuben Foster (vertical)

The Niners kicked off their draft night by trading down from No. 2 to No. 3 and selecting Solomon Thomas. Later on, they traded back into the first round to select Foster. Foster appeared in 51 games (24 starts) during his four-year career at Alabama and registered 222 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. In 2016, he was named First-Team All-America by the Associated Press and won the Butkus Award, the trophy given to the nation’s best linebacker.

Foster was believed to be a top ten candidate heading into draft week, but concerns about his character and injured shoulder hurt his stock. As he slid down the board, the Niners worked the phones hard to try and take the standout inside linebacker. At one point, the Niners were ready to trade into the middle of the first round for Foster, but they were able to get him several picks later and give up a lot less for the privilege. SF traded its No. 34 and No. 111 overall picks to Seattle to move up to No. 31 and nab Foster, who was reportedly the third-ranked player on its board.

With the signing, the 49ers now have eight of ten draft picks under contract. Thomas and C.J. Beathard are the only two unsigned rookies.

Cardinals Sign Rookie Haason Reddick

June 8th, 2017 at 2:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed first round pick Haason Reddick. The linebacker was selected with the No. 13 overall pick. Haason Reddick (Vertical)

Reddick, a Temple product, was one of the most incredible stories of this year’s draft class. Reddick first came to school as a preferred walk-on and eventually blossomed into a starter by the time his junior season came around. As a senior, he turned in his best season ever, tallying 65 tackles and 9.5 sacks for the Owls. Reddick even added one interception, three passes defensed, and a fumble recovery. In the months leading up to the draft, Reddick shot up draft boards everywhere to the point where he had some top ten buzz.

As Deone Bucannon recovers from ankle surgery, it seems possible that Reddick could crack the Week 1 starting lineup. The Cardinals project to start Chandler Jones and Markus Golden at the OLB spots with free agent pickup Karlos Dansby and Bucannon in the middle. Free agent outside linebacker Jarvis Jones also figures to see a decent number of snaps.

The Cardinals have now signed all seven members of their draft class. Here’s the complete list of Arizona’s 2017 draft picks:

Bengals Wrap Up Draft Class

June 8th, 2017 at 2:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals have signed third round pick Jordan Willis, according to a team announcement. With the defensive end signed, the Bengals now have all eleven members of their draft class under contract. Jordan Willis (vertical)

Willis, a former standout at Kansas State, had 11.5 sacks in his final season on campus. Now with the Bengals, the 2016 Big 12 defensive player of the year figures to contribute as a reserve behind starting bookends Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap. Will Clarke, Wallace Gilberry, and trade acquisition Chris Smith are also on the DE depth chart. Willis, who has been widely praised for his versatility, may also see time at outside linebacker.

Here’s the full rundown of the Bengals’ draft class:

Chiefs Sign Tanoh Kpassagnon

June 6th, 2017 at 7:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Chiefs have signed one of their top draft picks, second-round defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). As the 59th overall selection, Kpassagnon’s four-year deal is worth $4.32MM and includes a $1.28MM signing bonus.

Tanoh Kpassagnon

Kpassagnon played the previous four years at Villanova, where he broke out in 2015 with 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He logged even better production last year – 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks – en route to first-team All-America honors. While his sack numbers with the Wildcats were gaudy, the 6-foot-7, 289-pound Kpassagnon is “raw” and “lacks natural pass rush talent,” according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

With Kpassagnon under contract, the Chiefs have signed five of their six picks. Kansas City’s lone straggler is the most important member of its 2017 class, first-round quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for whom it traded up 17 spots to land at No. 10. That bold move came at a high price for the Chiefs, who sent their 2018 first-rounder and a third-round pick this year to Buffalo.

Chargers Sign Third-Round OL Dan Feeney

June 2nd, 2017 at 6:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers have agreed to terms with third-round guard Dan Feeney, meaning the club has now locked up every member of its 2017 draft class.Dan Feeney (Vertical)

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Feeney, an Indiana product, was the second guard chosen by Los Angeles in last month’s draft, following second-round Western Kentucky alum Forrest Lamp. Clearly, the Chargers are attempting to revamp an offensive line that ranked in the bottom-third of NFL clubs in both adjusted sack rate and adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders. Veteran guard Orlando Franklin was released two weeks ago, meaning both Feeney and Lamp are likely to have starting jobs come Week 1.

Here’s an overview of the Chargers’ 2017 rookie class:

Saints Sign Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore

June 2nd, 2017 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have officially signed first round pick Marshon Lattimore, according to a team announcement. Second round safety Marcus Williams and third round running back Alvin Kamara have also put pen to paper. Marshon Lattimore (Vertical)

There was tons of trade speculation surrounding the Saints on draft night, but they stood pat at No. 11 and drafted a player who many see as the best cornerback in this year’s class. Lattimore, an Ohio State product, finished his collegiate career with 46 tackles (34 solo), one stop for a loss, four interceptions and 16 passes defensed. In his final year on campus, Lattimore was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and proved to scouts everywhere that he can succeed at the next level.

“I’ve studied the top cornerbacks coming out and he’s the best I’ve seen,” one pro personnel director for an AFC team told NFL.com before the draft. “He’s so athletic that he can just post up under the receiver’s chin and shadow him all over the field. And he’s tough, too. He’ll be one of the top cornerbacks pretty quickly.”

The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Kamara was a dual threat as a member of the Volunteers, with whom he averaged 6.2 yards per rush, caught 74 passes, and combined for 23 touchdowns over two seasons. Now, he’ll be learning from the best as he backs up both Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson. Kamara split carries with Jalen Hurd at Tennessee, so he’s no stranger to a timeshare.

Bengals Sign Rookie RB Joe Mixon

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

Joe Mixon is officially a member of the Bengals. The team announced that the running back has inked his four-year rookie deal. Joe Mixon (vertical)

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From a talent perspective, Mixon was one of the best running backs available in this year’s class. However, his baggage dragged him further down the boards of several teams and completely off the board for some. Mixon, of course, was caught on video striking a woman while on campus at Oklahoma. Mixon and the woman reached a civil settlement one week before the draft, but that was not enough to quell the concerns of teams around the league. Ultimately, the Bengals took a chance on Mixon at No. 48 overall.

“In making our decision, we took a risk. In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said. “We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati. We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen. Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps – if given a chance – Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of.”

Without the off-field concerns, Mixon would have been a mortal lock for the first round. In 2016, Mixon rushed for 1,274 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground for the Sooners, adding another 538 yards and five scores in the passing game.

Mixon is the ninth of the Bengals’ eleven draft picks to sign. Third round defensive end Jordan Willis and fifth round offensive lineman J.J. Dielman are the remaining stragglers.

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