- Jeffery Simmons‘ pre-draft tour continues to take shape. The Mississippi State-developed defensive lineman traveled to Indianapolis for his Combine recheck, due to the ACL tear he suffered while preparing for the draft, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets positive reviews emerged regarding Simmons’ recovery. Following the Indianapolis trip, Simmons has visits with the Cardinals and Dolphins lined up, Rapoport adds. Simmons’ Browns meeting has already occurred, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Simmons, who finished with 18 tackles for loss last season, is expected to miss the 2019 season but was viewed as a surefire first-round pick prior to his knee injury.
Amidst trade rumors, Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen seems to have the support of his teammates, as ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss writes.
“He handled himself like a quarterback, like any other quarterback would,” outside linebacker Chandler Jones said of Rosen after the start of the team’s offseason program. “He was a leader. I was impressed with how he spoke to the huddle. I wasn’t in the huddle all the time. Being in practice, you heard what he’s saying and he was good at grabbing everyone’s attention. He was a leader, for sure.”
For now, Chosen Rosen appears to be in a holding pattern. Rumors continue to swirl about the Cardinals’ interest in QB Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall, but Arizona seems content with holding on to the UCLA product for the time being.
Meanwhile, his trade market remains murky. The Redskins – once thought to be a leading suitor for Rosen – appear to have cooled on him.
- Agents typically don’t accompany their clients on pre-draft visits, but Kyler Murray was joined by Erik Burkhardt on his trip to meet with the Cardinals, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Murray did not take Burkhardt into the building with him on Wednesday, but Burkhardt was on hand to discuss other business with team brass while in town. Burkhardt, as you probably know by now, represents both Murray and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
- Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry will conduct his only private workout of the pre-draft period with the Cardinals.
This week’s combine re-checks produced very positive news for Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brown, who has been out of a boot for weeks, was given the thumbs up on his surgically-repaired foot.
Despite the injury, the 5’9″ receiver is widely projected as a first round pick. Last year, Brown put himself on the NFL radar with 75 catches for 1,318 yards and ten touchdowns.
Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry will work out for the Cardinals on April 20 at ASU, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, GM Steve Keim, and president Michael Bidwill will be among those on hand for Harry’s only private NFL workout. Harry isn’t a contender for the No. 1 overall pick, but he could be a candidate for the Cardinals’ first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall)
- The Rams are meeting with Clemson defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Clelin Ferrell on campus, Rapoport tweets. Both players are expected to go in the first round, but the Rams may be out of range at No. 31 overall.
- Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will visit the Jaguars on Thursday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).
- Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson will work out for the Falcons on Thursday, Rapoport tweets. The converted wide receiver came away with two interceptions in each of the last two seasons and could go as high as the second round.
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: TE Darrell Daniels (exclusive rights free agent), OL Jeremy Vujnovich (ERFA)
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: DE Eddie Yarbrough (ERFA)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT T.J. Barnes, DT Destiny Vaeao
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: CB Tony McRae (ERFA), G Alex Redmond (ERFA)
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: G Parker Ehinger, DT Aziz Shittu
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: TE Robert Tonyan (ERFA)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Cody Brown (AAF)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB John Wolford (AAF)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Greer Martini (AAF)
New York Jets
- Signed: QB Brandon Silvers (AAF)
- Re-signed: DL Bronson Kaufusi (ERFA), LB Anthony Wint (ERFA)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Orion Stewart (AAF)
Many have speculated that the Redskins are the leading suitor for Josh Rosen, but that might not be the case anymore. The Redskins are “not actively chasing” the Cardinals quarterback, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). He adds that their interest is not serious at this stage and, furthermore, does not believe that Rosen will be moved at all between now and the draft. 
For the time being, the Redskins are focused on QBs in this year’s rookie class, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. This jibes with what we’ve heard before, and furthermore, the Redskins will not offer its No. 15 overall pick for Rosen. Based on the latest news, it doesn’t sound like the Redskins would fork over their second-round pick (No. 46) either.
The Redskins were the first team connected to the UCLA product this offseason, but their recent acquisition of Case Keenum complicates matters. They’re not sold on Chosen Rosen, but they could revisit talks if they don’t get their desired prospect later this month. With just $6.24MM left on Rosen’s contract through 2021, he would be a good cap fit for a club that still has Alex Smith‘s deal on the books through 2022.
The Dolphins, Chargers, and Giants have also checked in on Rosen’s availability, but their level of interest is unclear.
Rodney Gunter will be in line to remain a part of the Cardinals’ defensive line rotation, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweeting Gunter agreed to a deal to stay in Arizona.
The Packers hosted Gunter on a visit last week, but he will stick around with the Cardinals instead. Kliff Kingsbury will be the third Cardinals coach Gunter has played for since being drafted in the 2015 fourth round.
Arizona has been active in free agency, but beyond the Larry Fitzgerald pact, the Cards mostly have signed outside free agents, defensive line addition Darius Philon among them. Gunter will return as a cog in a 3-4 defense, a role he played for three years under Bruce Arians.
After spending his first three seasons in a reserve role, he appeared in all 16 games last year, making 10 starts and turning in career highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles (44). Gunter finished out with a respectable 70.1 overall score from Pro Football Focus, placing him 59th out of 112 qualified interior defenders.
The Cardinals also signed two recent AAF offensive lineman in Andrew Lauderdale and Jeremiah Poutasi, a 2015 third-round pick. Lauderdale played for the Arizona Hotshots, while Poutasi — a former Titan and Jaguar — suited up for the Salt Lake City Stallions. Poutasi has not played in a regular-season NFL game since 2016. Lauderdale has yet to play in a regular-season contest.
Josh Rosen remains an Arizona Cardinal and plans to report to the start of the team’s offseason program. But with the Cardinals widely expected to draft Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall, trade rumors persist.
The Redskins remain at the front of the line, with NBC Sports’ Peter King predicting that is the most likely destination for the former UCLA standout. Both Jay Gruden and new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell liking the pocket passer coming out of college, King notes, adding that Washington’s offense would be a good fit for Rosen.
Washington has checked in but will not offer its No. 15 overall pick for Rosen. Even the Redskins’ second-round pick (No. 46) may be too rich of an asking price for the Cardinals, with King adding it’s possible Washington’s top third-round choice (No. 76) may be enough to pry away the 22-year-old passer. The Redskins were the first team connected to Rosen, but they then traded for Case Keenum, complicating their interest. However, the $6.24MM left through 2021 on Rosen’s contract would make sense for the Redskins, who have Alex Smith‘s lofty cap hits on their books through 2022.
Washington has also done “a ton” of work on this year’s draft-eligible quarterbacks, and Albert Breer of SI.com notes teams looking to move out of the top 10 view the Redskins as a prime trade partner. Although, Redskins executive VP Doug Williams did not sound like a trade-up was too likely.
Beyond Washington, Breer reports the Dolphins, Chargers and Giants have checked in on Rosen’s availability. The Cardinals have not given their incumbent starter any indication if he’s available, per Breer. They also are unlikely to accept the Giants’ No. 95 overall pick for a player they drafted 10th last year, King adds, which could complicate Big Blue’s plans. They have discussed a Rosen deal internally but have no picks between Nos. 37 and 95, giving up their third-rounder in last year’s supplemental draft.
The primary team linked to waiting until 2020 for their possible long-term quarterback, the Dolphins appear to be less bullish on this year’s class. The only way they will trade for Rosen or use their first-round pick on a passer this year is if they are convinced he is a possible 10-plus-year starter, King adds. The Dolphins have not had a 10-year QB starter since Dan Marino.
The Patriots were not high on Rosen last year, Breer notes, but that was partially because of what it would have cost them to move up in the first round to acquire him. After a rough year for Rosen, Patriots interest may still not be there, per King. Philip Rivers continues to indicate he has no near-future retirement plans, and the Bolts gave Tyrod Taylor $6MM on a two-year deal. This would not point to a Rosen-to-Los Angeles scenario coming to fruition.
Though most of the high-profile free agents have found homes, Tre Boston is not one of them. Not surprisingly, the safety is not happy about that fact, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes. 
Responding to a Pro Football Focus tweet that showed Boston as one of the top defenders in the NFC West, the safety wondered what there is left to do to get teams to notice.
“Doesn’t mean much but Stats are beyond there! OBVIOUSLY!! The Players see it, the Fans see it, and are starting to question what’s going on. I like it, keep asking question. You’ll see what’s really up. 2 Prove It Deals…. What’s left to prove? Lol Bout to jump on Offense. Lol”
Those two “prove-it deals” he mentions are the one-year deals he took with the Chargers (2017) and Cardinals (2018) looking to land a long-term deal. Despite performing at a level that should’ve netted him that deal, Boston has been left out in the cold.
He’s not the only one, as several other free agents like Ndamukong Suh, are still awaiting teams due to compensatory picks being attached to their signing, ESPN’s Dan Graziano tweets. Those players will have that pick stripped in May, when most will begin to find homes.
If the Cardinals decide to trade second-year quarterback Josh Rosen, expect the Redskins to be at the front of the line for his services, NBC Sports’ JP Finlay writes. 
Siting ESPN’s Todd McShay, who said he keeps hearing the Redskins from league sources, Finlay notes that Washington appears to be the front-runner for the UCLA product but will not include its first-round pick in 2019 in a deal.
Between Alex Smith (34), Colt McCoy (32) and Case Keenum (31), the Redskins would appear to make sense as a team in need of a young quarterback to build around. While the team has another four years committed to Smith, who broke his leg in 2018, it remains to be seen when he will return to the field. Though the newly acquired Keenum will compete with McCoy for the starting job, both have served most of their careers as backup signal-caller and would appear to not serve as a road block to Rosen, should a deal get done.
Though that first-round pick is off the table, Finlay says that a package of picks spread out over two seasons is firmly in play. With four selection in the first three rounds, Washington has plenty of ammo needed to make a deal work.
In addition to the Redskins, Rosen has been linked heavily with the Giants, Chargers and Patriots in recent days.
Despite being the subject of trade rumors, Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen is expected to report to and participate in the start of the team’s offseason workout program on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Other players rumored to be on the block have declined to report to workouts this offseason, but Rosen is apparently taking a business-as-usual approach.
The Cardinals, armed with the No. 1 overall pick, are rumored to be smitten with Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray. However, the Cardinals are still exploring other top prospects such as Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa and Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, so nothing is set in stone. It’s also possible the Cardinals could draft Murray and keep Rosen until they find a suitable deal for the UCLA product.
Statistically, Rosen had a lousy rookie year, but the Cardinals traded up from No. 15 to land him at No. 10 for a reason. Just one year ago, Rosen was considered to be one of the best QB prospects in the country, and the Cardinals are unlikely to give him away in a trade. If the Giants or other interested teams want to acquire him, it could cost them some significant draft capital.