2017 April - Pro Football Rumors

Gareon Conley To Fall To Round 3?

April 26th, 2017 at 7:44pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley insists that sexual assault allegations against him are “completely false,” but they’re still going to have a negative effect on his draft stock. Conley, perhaps a top 10 pick-to-be before the allegations came to light Tuesday, now looks unlikely to come off the board before the third round, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Drafting Conley in the third would be a major coup for a team if his name is cleared, which he is “completely confident” will happen. But there will be risk associated with him until that occurs (if it even does), as Florio notes. In the event Conley is ultimately convicted of a first-degree felony, the club that selects him will have wasted a valuable pick on a player who shouldn’t have been drafted at all.

Judging solely on talent, Conley should be a first-round lock. The two-year starter with the Buckeyes is a safe bet on the field, leading PFR to regard him as a top five pick in its latest mock draft (though that was before this off-field incident came to the fore). Now, on the eve of the draft, he’s perhaps the riskiest player in this year’s class.

NFC Notes: Eagles, Vikes, Cards, Falcons

April 26th, 2017 at 7:06pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater‘s catastrophic knee injury last summer continues to have a sizable effect on the Eagles, observes Paul Domowitch of Philly.com. In response to Bridgewater’s injury, the Vikings sent a first-rounder (which turned into the 14th pick) to the Eagles, who otherwise wouldn’t have selected until the second this year after they traded up for Carson Wentz last spring. And with Bradford off the roster, Wentz was able to start all 16 games as a rookie. Further, had Bridgewater not gotten hurt and Bradford stayed put, the Eagles might not have had the cap space this offseason to sign wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, writes Domowitch. With an $18MM cap hit, Bradford wouldn’t have had as much much trade value this offseason, and releasing him would have cost Philadelphia $4MM in dead money. “I think it’s safe to say that the Bridgewater injury, while a horrible thing for Teddy, couldn’t have worked out any better for the Eagles,” one general manager told Domowitch.

As for the Vikings, even though they’re not going to pick up Bridgewater’s fifth-year option for 2018, it’s possible he’ll remain under their control that season. If he starts 2017 on the physically unable to perform list and doesn’t come off, his contract will toll for 2018, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/26/17

April 26th, 2017 at 5:47pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The latest minor moves from around the NFL:

The Jets have waived running back Brandon Burks, wide receiver Darius Jennings, long snapper Josh Latham, linebacker Jeff Luc and defensive lineman Julien Obioha, per a team announcement. Jennings is the most experienced member of the group, but even he has just four NFL games under his belt (with Cleveland in 2015). During that stretch, he caught 14 passes on 21 attempts and totaled 171 yards.
The Falcons have waived defensive tackle Jimmy Staten, a Georgia native who has spent time with six organizations since the Seahawks used a fifth-round pick on him in 2014. Staten, who hasn’t seen any regular-season action to this point, joined the Falcons’ practice squad in January.
The Cowboys have signed Australian punter Sam Irwin-Hill, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (Twitter link). Irwin-Hill went undrafted out of Arkansas in 2014.
Three of the Ravens’ exclusive rights free agents – receiver Keenan Reynolds, offensive lineman De’Ondre Wesley and linebacker Brennen Beyer – have signed their tenders, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.

Changes Coming To Bills’ Front Office?

April 26th, 2017 at 4:54pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

It sounds as though this week’s NFL draft could be the last hurrah for several members of the Bills’ front office. It’s possible, in fact, that the Bills will clean out their entire scouting staff after the draft, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“We are all getting fired next week,” said one of the Bills’ scouts.

In responding to Florio’s report, the Bills didn’t deny that changes could be on the horizon.

“Right now, our focus is on the preparation for this week’s draft. Like every year, evaluations of our player personnel staff take place following the draft. And this year will be no different,” stated the team.

Firings in Buffalo may go above the scouting staff, as general manager Doug Whaley is seemingly losing clout while rookie head coach Sean McDermott‘s voice gains prominence. McDermott has essentially taken over for Whaley as the Bills’ spokesman on important football matters, notes the Associated Press, which reports that the former Panthers defensive coordinator is going to “have a significant say” in the team’s draft process.

The Bills haven’t allowed Whaley to speak to reporters since the Senior Bowl in January, per Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, which is reminiscent of the gag order the Redskins placed on GM Scot McCloughan before firing him earlier this year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bills were to give Whaley the ax sometime between after the draft and the end of next season, tweets the Buffalo News’ Tim Graham, who adds that McDermott would choose the Bills’ next GM (Twitter link).

This isn’t the first time Whaley has come up as a potential chopping block victim recently, but last month, owner Terry Pegula refuted the notion that he’s on the outs. McDermott, meanwhile, expects him and Whaley to continue working together going forward, telling the AP that the GM is still running the 53-man roster and will have plenty of say during the draft.

“Doug has great familiarity with the players because he’s been looking at these players for a long time, so I’m trusting Doug on that,” McDermott said. “At the end of the day, it’s a decision that Doug and I will make together.”

The Bills are set to pick 10th overall in the first round, the result of a 7-9 campaign in 2016. In Whaley’s four seasons as the GM, Buffalo has gone 30-34 and extended its league-worst playoff drought to 17 years.

Patriots Hosting LB Dan Skuta On Visit

April 26th, 2017 at 4:15pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent linebacker Dan Skuta is visiting the Patriots today, reports Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). Skuta has been on the open market since the Jaguars released him April 11.

Skuta, who turned 31 last week, parlayed a five-sack 2014 season as a reserve with the 49ers into a five-year, $20.5MM deal with the Jags in 2015. That move clearly didn’t pan out for Jacksonville, though, particularly during a 2016 campaign that saw Skuta play just 24.8 percent of defensive snaps and total two starts in 13 appearances. Skuta made a minimal impact defensively, racking up a mere 18 tackles, though he did see time on nearly half of the Jaguars’ special teams snaps.

In New England, Skuta would likely function as depth behind fellow outside linebackers Shea McClellin and Rob Ninkovich. The Patriots also have 2016 sixth-round pick Elandon Roberts, who partook in 26 percent of their defensive snaps as a rookie, and Jonathan Freeny on hand.

Packers To Sign G Jahri Evans

April 26th, 2017 at 2:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Guard Jahri Evans is signing with the Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Evans will help to fill the void for Green Bay after T.J. Lang got away in free agency.

In 2016, Evans was Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 ranked guard in the NFL. His 78.6 overall score was roughly in line with the work he has done over the past four NFL seasons. It took him a long time to find an NFL home, but Evans has himself a deal for 2017 and a chance to win a Super Bowl ring.

To date, Evans has never played a regular season (or playoff) game for another franchise since being drafted by the Saints in 2006. He did sign a free agent deal with the Seahawks, but his stint there ended before the start of the 2016 season. Over the course of his eleven seasons in New Orleans, Evans racked up six Pro Bowl nods and four First-Team All-Pro selections.

Heading into the draft, the Packers offensive line features David Bakhtiari, Evans, Corey Linsley, Jason Spriggs, and Bryan Bulaga in the starting lineup. Guard Lane Taylor, guard/tackle Don Barclay, and Kyle Murphy are in reserve. Evans is the fifth free agent of note to join the Packers this offseason and the first free agent addition to the O-Line.

Gareon Conley Refutes Allegations

April 26th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Gareon Conley has issued a statement to reporters calling the allegations against him “completely false.” The statement, republished in its entirety below, is a strong denial of any criminal activity on the part of the Ohio State cornerback:

“The allegations against me concerning the night of April 8/9 that have recently been reported in multiple media outlets are completely false. I did not commit a crime and have not been charged with a crime.

I pride myself on doing things the right way on and off the field. The things being said about me and what happened that night are not true and don’t fit my character at all. I realize that I put myself in the situation and I could have used better judgment. However, I have worked tirelessly to put myself in position to have the honor of being an NFL draft pick and these untrue allegations are putting a huge cloud over my name and the NFL Draft.

These allegations appear to be an attempt to ruin this once in a lifetime experience for me and my family. There were several witnesses, including another female, who were present the entire time and have given statements that give an accurate description of what took place. We also have video evidence that further discredit and disprove other versions of these events. I am upset but realize that I am powerless when false accusations are made and people try to convict you in the court of public opinion. It’s sad that your name can get dragged through the mud based upon untrue and malicious allegations alone.

I am completely confident that as the facts actually come out, my name will be cleared.

I was excited about participating in Thursday’s draft, but I have decided that it would be selfish for me to stay and be a distraction to the NFL, the other players, and their families who have worked just as hard as me to enjoy the experience so I will not be in attendance.

I hope and look forward to the honor of being an NFL player and working to be the best representative, player, person, and teammate that I can be for the team and the community I will be in.”

Before the allegations, Conley was widely viewed as a first round lock. Now, it’s anyone’s guess as to where he might get drafted.

Raiders Acquire Marshawn Lynch

April 26th, 2017 at 12:59pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s officially official: Marshawn Lynch is a member of the Raiders. Lynch’s representatives and the team have agreed to terms on a two-year deal.

Early Wednesday morning, the Raiders and Seahawks hammered out the framework of a trade that sending the the Raiders’ 2018 fifth-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for Lynch and the Seahawks’ 2018 sixth-round pick. The only box to check was a passed physical, and Lynch has satisfied that requirement on Wednesday afternoon.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said the draft was his deadline for a potential Lynch deal. Now, he has his starting running back in place and can satisfy other areas of need in the draft. Without Lynch, a running back would have been in consideration as early as the No. 24 overall pick.

Lynch’s deal with the Raiders will pay him a $3MM base for the 2017 season with a chance to earn $2MM more if he gains 1,000 yards. The base value of the contract is $9MM and the max is $16.5MM, giving him similar upside to Adrian Peterson‘s deal with the Saints.

In Lynch, the Raiders acquire one of the NFL’s best running backs in recent memory, though he does not come without question marks. Lynch is a 30-year-old with over 2,100 carries on his odometer and he wasn’t particularly effective in his most recent action. The last time we saw Lynch, he averaged 3.8 yards per attempt on 111 carries during an injury-shortened, seven-game 2015 campaign. They’re hoping to see Lynch in his 2014 form, a season in which he averaged 4.7 yards per carry and had a career-high 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram. Details provided by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter), and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com hears (Twitter link).

Extra Points: Cowboys, Brantley, Steelers

April 26th, 2017 at 11:23am CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems content to sit at No. 28 rather than trade up, as Drew Davison of the Star Telegram writes. “This is a real good year for staying put,” Jones said. “I don’t know if it’s because we need so many good football players or because there are some good football players there, especially in those early rounds. But in my experience, it’s wasting your time to talk about what you might do trading in the later rounds.”

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley has been approached about a potential settlement in his assault case, but he has no plans to accept the offer, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter links). Additionally, Brantley’s lawyer says a security guard present during the incident witnessed the victim punch Brantley in the mouth, while Brantley never hit the female as the police report stated (Twitter links). Clearly, it’s a very murky situation, and one that doesn’t figure to be resolved before the draft begins on Thursday night. As such, there’s no clear indication as to how NFL clubs will value Brantley and his potential baggage, but it’s difficult to see how this episode doesn’t affect his draft stock.
As part of Martavis Bryant‘s conditional reinstatement, he’s not allowed to participate in Steelers‘ practices or preseason games until he’s located a treating clinician, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. When he’s right, Bryant is one of the more dynamic wide receivers in the NFL, but the league wants to ensure that he’s heading down the correct path. Having been handed a one-year ban in 2016, Bryant will now undergo regular drug tests as he works his way back into the NFL’s — and Pittsburgh’s — good graces.
Contrary to previous reports, the Dolphins are not “locked in” on Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp, and are not expected to target guard help with the 22nd pick, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Seemingly practitioners of positional-based drafting, the Dolphins are more likely to use their first-round selection on “defensive playmakers” such as corners and, presumably, defensive ends, a position group to which Miami has been heavily linked. Additionally, the Fins seem content with their current veteran guards, Ted Larsen and Jermon Bushrod, per Salguero.
Former Vikings center/guard Brandon Fusco is visiting the Patriots today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Fusco appeared/started in 14 games for Minnesota in 2016.
The Chiefs‘ release of Jaye Howard came with a failed physical designation, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Cardinals Pick Up Deone Bucannon’s Option

April 26th, 2017 at 11:09am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals picked up the fifth-year option for linebacker Deone Bucannon, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. It wasn’t quite a slam dunk that Bucannon’s option would be triggered by Arizona, but it was viewed as likely. The new 2018 season on his deal will be guaranteed for injury only, so the Cardinals will have an escape hatch if he stays healthy but underperforms.

Bucannon, 25 in August, was used used primarily at linebacker in 2016 after trying to make it work as a strong safety in the previous two seasons. All in all, he has 89 total tackles, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in 13 games before an ankle injury shut him down in December. The former first-round pick was ranked as the No. 34 linebacker in the NFL by Pro Football Focus at the time of his injury, a score that was powered by his strong 86.1 coverage grade.

Assuming he stays at linebacker, Bucannon currently projects to start at one of the inside linebacker spots in Arizona’s 3-4 scheme.

For a full rundown of every option decision on 2014 first-round draft picks, check out PFR’s tracker.