NFC Notes: Bridgewater, Cowboys, Falcons
The Vikings ended the first night of the draft with a bang by trading into the first round to snag Teddy Bridgewater, and in his presser with reporters, GM Rick Spielman confirmed that the fifth-year option was a consideration in the trade-up for Bridgewater, tweets Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. Here’s more on that pick, along with a few more draft-night leftovers….
- The Vikings had a private workout with Bridgewater in Florida and it seems that was what ultimately sold them. Spielman told reporters, including Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that Bridgewater looked “totally different” than he did at his Pro Day and his performance in the workout matched his game tape. Meanwhile, the quarterback himself said Minnesota showed more pre-draft interest in him than any other team, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (via Twitter).
- According to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, his team was targeting four players at No. 16 — Anthony Barr, Aaron Donald, Ryan Shazier, and Zack Martin (Twitter link via Matt Mosley of ESPN 103.3). The first three players were off the board, but the Cowboys grabbed Martin.
- The Falcons made an effort to pick up a second first-round pick, and made calls to try to land a pick in the early 20s, according to GM Thomas Dimitroff (Twitter links via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure). Dimitroff didn’t specify a target, but D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that the club was eyeing Shazier and Dee Ford.
- Looking ahead to the second round, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (on Twitter) says that guards Xavier Su’a-Filo and Trai Turner are guys to keep an eye on for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is in serious need of an offensive guard.
Falcons GM: Trade Up To No. 1 Unlikely
An afternoon report suggested the Texans aren’t expecting to trade the first overall pick, and while that could be an attempt to stir up some last-minute interest, it seems one potential trade partner also views a deal as a long shot. General manager Thomas Dimitroff, whose Falcons have frequently been mentioned as a candidate to trade up to No. 1, tells Rich Hollenberg of the NFL Network that such a move is “highly unlikely” (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
Hollenberger tweeted earlier today that Dimitroff confirmed he’s engaged in trade discussions with teams and that a move is possible. A trade up is more likely and Hollenberger gets the sense that the club is leaning toward a pass rusher (Twitter link). However, in another tweet, Hollenberger adds that the Falcons are reluctant to part with their second-round pick in a deal.
Rapoport reported this afternoon that the Falcons may be eyeing the Browns’ pick at No. 4, which figures to be less expensive than No. 1 and could still get them the pass rusher they covet. Jadeveon Clowney figures to be off the board by that point, but there are scenarios in which Khalil Mack will still be available.
North Rumors: Browns, Ravens, Lions, Steelers
Could it be the Browns, rather than the oft-rumored Texans or Rams, that end up moving down in a deal with the Falcons tonight? Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) believes that’s a possibility if Khalil Mack is still available at No. 4. Mack remains a strong potential candidate to go to Jacksonville at No. 3, but there are certainly feasible scenarios in which he remains on the board at No. 4, and if Cleveland is eyeing another player, moving down a couple spots and picking up an extra pick or two could be worthwhile.
Here are a few more draft-day updates on AFC and NFC North teams, among others:
- Unsurprisingly, given the familial connection between the two franchises, the Ravens and 49ers have engaged in some trade discussions, per Rapoport (via Twitter). San Francisco has frequently been cited as a team that would like to move up in the first round and has the ammunition to do it.
- Finding help for their respective quarterbacks seems to be a focus for both the Lions and Bills, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). That suggests to me that if either team was able to trade up it would be for a wide receiver or an offensive tackle, rather than a defensive player.
- It’s worth keeping an eye on the Steelers and tight end Eric Ebron in the first round tonight, says Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
- Tight end Jordan Cameron has signed with CAA Sports and will be represented by agents Tom Condon and R.J. Gonser, tweets Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal. The Browns are reportedly hoping to lock up Cameron before he reaches free agency in 2015.
- The Lions intend to waive linebacker Jon Morgan with an injury settlement soon to free up space to sign undrafted free agents, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Morgan signed a futures contract with the team after the season, but injured his knee during a voluntary workout last month.
Draft Rumors: Mosley, Texans, Evans, Watkins
If you want to move up to the No. 1 overall pick, it’s going to cost you big time. When a team with a Top 10 pick contacted the Texans to ask what it would cost them to move up, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer (video link) says Houston responded that they wanted the Robert Griffin III package. Two years ago, the Redskins gave up three first-round picks and a second-round pick to get their franchise quarterback. Of course, a team in the top five won’t have to give up as much as a team towards the back end of the top ten, so that’s not a flat asking price for everyone. The latest draft news from around the NFL..
- Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley told Bob Glauber of Newsday that he thinks he’ll go somewhere in the top half of the first round and maybe even be one of the first ten players off the board on Thursday night. “I heard top 10, I talked to my agent, I heard eight through 17,” Mosley said. “But at the end of the day, you never know. Teams trade up, they pretty much know who they’re going to pick, but they’re just looking to try to get the upper hand on other teams. I’m just going to go in with my family and my friends, just have fun and be happy wherever I get drafted.”
- Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised to see Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans go in the top five. The expectation is that if Sammy Watkins out of Clemson goes before him, Evans doesn’t last much longer.
- Johnny Manziel is still the guy generating most conversation among execs, tweets Albert Breer of NFL Network (on Twitter). The perception around the NFL is the Buccaneers, Rams, and Vikings could all be in play for the polarizing Texas A&M star.
- Don Banks of Sports Illustrated hears that Manziel’s family doesn’t want him to go to the Texans for fear that he won’t be able to distance himself from his “Johnny Football” persona. On top of that, he hears Manziel himself doesn’t want to play for the Jaguars.
- Manziel’s agent Erik Burkhardt told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk that any talk of the QB not wanting to play for the Jaguars is untrue.
- Concordia defensive end Zach Moore tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) that he had private workouts with the Patriots, Dolphins, Panthers, and Falcons. We had previously heard that Moore visited the Chargers, Cardinals, and Raiders.
- The Jets and Eagles have some interest in Syracuse defensive tackle Jay Bromley, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
- The Broncos are more than open to moving up tomorrow night, tweets Rapoport.
Draft Updates: Cowboys, Watkins, Ealy, Pryor
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out last month, since Jerry Jones have overseen Cowboys drafts, the team has traded up or down in the first round in 20 of 25 instances, or 80% of the time. That would suggest there’s a good chance Dallas won’t stand pat on Thursday, but it doesn’t sound like the club is too engaged in trade talks yet.
“We haven’t heard a lot from other clubs,” Jones said today, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “We haven’t found that to be particularly productive. That’s day-of-draft type dynamics. I’d be surprised if there are not trade opportunities by the time you get to where we’re going to be picking or certainly afterwards.”
Here’s more on the 2014 NFL draft, which is now just a little over 50 hours away:
- The Lions have frequently been linked to wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and Watkins confirmed today to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter links) that Detroit was the only team to meet with him more than once. “That sounds like they really want me, but you never know,” said the Clemson wideout.
- If two meetings are a signal of legit interest, count the Cowboys, Falcons, and Bears among the potential landing spots for defensive lineman Kony Ealy. As Hubbuch tweets, all three clubs met with Ealy multiple times.
- The Jets‘ interview of Calvin Pryor was extensive, the Louisville safety told Hubbuch (Twitter link). “They really seemed interested,” according to Pryor.
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along updates on Florida State running back Devonta Freeman and Utah cornerback Keith McGill. According to Wilson, Freeman met with the Steelers and worked out for the Falcons, Patriots, and Dolphins, while McGill either visited or worked out for the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Redskins, and Raiders, among other teams.
NFC Links: Rams, Cowboys, Eagles, Draft
Rumors continue to swirl linking the Rams to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, but Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is skeptical that there’s any weight to those rumblings. According to Thomas, most sources he has spoken to are saying variations of the same thing — no one around the league believes St. Louis will actually select Manziel, and the Rams are attempting to drum up trade interest for the pick.
We only have two more days until we know for sure what to believe on draft night. In the meantime, let’s check out a few NFC items….
- The Cowboys would remove a player who failed his drug test from their draft board, but the team won’t do so with Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, who remains a potential target for the club, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
- Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) keeps hearing that there will be a cornerback run in the middle of the first round and that the Eagles may be in a position to draft a wide receiver with their 22nd overall pick.
- Xavier Su’a-Filo, one of the top guards among this year’s draft class, had workouts with the Rams and Falcons, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds that the UCLA lineman also visited the Broncos.
- The Cardinals worked out Virginia Tech wide receiver D.J. Coles, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. According to Wilson, Coles has also drawn interest from a handful of AFC teams, including the Texans, Broncos, and Raiders.
More Draft Rumors: La Canfora, Bryant
As the draft season has evolved, more and more pundits have come to believe that Jadeveon Clowney will be the first player taken in the draft. CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora lends his support to that theory, adding that although the Texans would love to trade down from their No. 1 overall pick, they will find it hard to do so. If they do manage to find a trade partner, the most likely scenario, La Canfora writes, is a team like the Falcons moving up to take Clowney. Of course, someone like Greg Robinson could be the target in such a move, but Clowney is still the top prize in this year’s class.
La Canfora goes on to describe in detail the options available to the teams holding the first five picks in the draft. For instance, he notes that the Rams are “wheeler-dealers” and have been entertaining calls for the No. 2 overall selection, although those conversations have not intensified as of yet. La Canfora believes that, if the Rams stay put and Clowney is somehow still on the board, they will go with Clowney. If Clowney has been taken, then Robinson would be the answer, though Jake Matthews would get some consideration as well. If, however, the Rams do find a trade partner and move down in the draft, then the Johnny Manziel-to-St. Louis rumors that have already been circulating in full force would gain even more traction.
Now let’s continue to clean out the draft notebook:
- Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta says that there are three elite prospects in the draft: Clowney, Robinson, and Khalil Mack, according to Jim Corbett of USA Today Sports. There has been enough chatter surrounding each of those players to at least keep them in the conversation surrounding the first overall pick.
- Like a lot of wide receivers in this year’s class, Clemson’s Martavis Bryant, despite being a first-round talent, will probably end up being a Day 2 selection, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. Marvez cites Bryant’s college coach, Dabo Sweeney, who adds that Bryant would have benefited from one more year at Clemson.
- As we learned yesterday, it is more difficult to draft a wide receiver than almost any other position. The 49ers know that better than anybody, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Since 1990, the 49ers have drafted 10 wideouts in the first three rounds of the draft, and only three of those players logged more than 78 career receptions. San Fransisco is, as Branch notes, expected to dip its toe into the pool of early-round receivers yet again this year, and GM Trent Baalke acknowledges the difficulty of the task.
- NFL.com’s Albert Breer tweets that Odell Beckham, Jr. and Ryan Shazier are two players who could go a little higher than expected. We learned earlier tonight that at least one team above the Jets’ No. 18 overall pick loves Beckham, and Shazier has put himself alongside C.J. Mosley as the second-best LB in the draft outside of Mack.
- Unfortunately for Mosley, middle linebackers are becoming more and more of an afterthought, write Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
NFC South Notes: Bridgewater, Martin, Visits
The Buccaneers have not given up on on Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater despite his Pro Day struggles, writes Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Bridgewater was once thought of as a possibility for the Texans with the first pick, but is now considered a late first or early second-round pick. Buccaneers’ general manager Jason Licht said he and head coach Lovie Smith do not change grades during the draft process due to performance at pro days.
“We try not to let the pro day dictate whether a player gets massaged up the board or not,’’ Licht said. “For us, opinions only change if Lovie and I haven’t really had a chance to see a lot out of the player earlier.”
It should be noted that Cummings does not mention where the team originally projected Bridgewater.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC South:
- The Buccaneers need a guard, and Notre Dame’s Zack Martin, who is climbing up draft boards, could be in play with the seventh pick, writes Cummings in a separate article. Martin, a tackle in college, is projected as a possible guard in the NFL. Cummings writes that the Buccaneers fans would be hesitant to support a pick that passes on playmakers at the skill position in order to add a guard.
- The Panthers meeting with Penn State receiver Allen Robinson went “very well,” reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Robinson could bring some relief to a team in dire need of a receiver. The Panthers will most likely come to the podium with the top four or five receivers already off the board in the first round.
- The Falcons met with L.J. Jones of Fresno State, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun-Times (via Twitter). The cornerback also recently worked out with the Panthers according to Wilson.
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 South Notes: Bucs, Falcons, Panthers
Though the position isn’t necessarily a need, defensive tackle could be an area of focus in the draft for the Buccaneers, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay’s front four includes All-Pro Gerald McCoy, free agent signee Clinton McDonald, and second-year player Akeem Spence, but, in new head coach Lovie Smith’s scheme, tackle is the most important defensive slot, and a solid rotation would be of help. Additionally, a selection of a player like Aaron Donald would be in line with general manager Jason Licht’s “best player available” philosophy. “What we’ve said all along is we want the best player,” said Licht. “Our team needs in September are going to be totally different than what our team needs are right now. The player you take, you may not think we have a need for him now. But a lot of times, you’re thankful you have them when the season starts.”
More items from the NFC South:
- Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff obviously wasn’t happy with his team’s 4-12 record in 2013, and tells Jarrett Bell of USA Today that his “goal is to rectify this with a vengeance.” Dimitroff hasn’t been afraid to trade up in the draft to acquire an impact player (Julio Jones, 2011), and some believe Atlanta is a player for the first overall selection.
- We previously noted that Florida State linebacker Telvin Smith had worked out for the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Panthers, and now Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post adds the Saints to that list, meaning Smith has completed the NFC South tour.
- In a separate post, Wilson reports that Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Jacob Maxwell, a late-round or free agent candidate, has drawn interest from about half the league, including the Buccaneers and Panthers.
- The Buccaneers could afford to trade Mike Williams to the Bills thanks to an especially deep class of receivers, writes Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
- The Panthers have been highly successful with their first-round selections over the past few seasons, according to ESPN.com’s David Newton, and though Carolina is picking later than usual this year, there is reason to believe they’ll draft a useful player once again at pick No. 28.
- Don’t look for the Panthers to draft a developmental quarterback on Thursday, says Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, because the team likes the presence of new addition Joe Webb, who is focusing solely on QB.
- The Saints have a history of finding gems in the draft, from late-round picks like Marques Colston and Jahri Evans, to undrafted free agents like Junior Galette, writes Sheldon Mickles of TheAdvocate.com.