Falcons Select Florida TE Kyle Pitts At No. 4
The first non-quarterback is off the board. As expected, the Falcons have selected talented Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth-overall pick.
Many pundits had Pitts ranked as their top prospect in the entire draft (or, at least, even with QB Trevor Lawrence), but he wasn’t expected to go in the top-three considering the Jaguars, Jets, and 49ers were all eyeing quarterbacks. Atlanta seemed like a natural landing spot for the tight end, although there were some wondering if the Falcons front office would consider an eventual successor to veteran Matt Ryan. Instead, the team has provided the former MVP with another talented weapon.
The 6-foot-6 tight end put himself on the NFL radar with 54 catches for 649 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Then, last year, he took his game to a whole ‘nother level. In 13 games, he reeled in 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. That was good for a 17.9 yards per catch average — a major leap from his previous 12.0 ypc. Pitts even placed as a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff award, which goes to the top wide receiver in football.
The Florida product profiles as a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Pitts is too fast for most linebackers and he’ll likely outstretch most cornerbacks on deep routes. His aforementioned 40-yard-dash time only boosted his stock further — most evaluators expected him to land somewhere in the high 4.5 range, which still would have been impressive for a player of his size. Playing alongside Calvin Ridley and (potentially) Julio Jones, Pitts should have plenty of opportunities to showcase those skills. Pitts will form an impressive 1-2 TE combo with Hayden Hurst.
It’s been decades since a TE went in the top five. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Vernon Davis came close, but they were taken No. 6 overall in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Latest On Bears’ First-Round Draft Plans
The Bears may be looking to jump up the draft board in pursuit of a quarterback. Jason La Canfora reports (via Twitter) that the Bears “have canvassed the teams currently selecting between 7-10,” with the front office focused on drafting a signal caller. Chicago is currently slated to pick at No. 20, which would probably be too late in the round to select any of Mac Jones, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance.
[RELATED: Updated 2021 First-Round Draft Order]
There have been rumblings throughout the offseason that the Bears could be looking to trade up for a quarterback, although we heard recently that the organization hadn’t been particularly active in trade discussions. With general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy potentially on the hot seat, it would be a surprise if they don’t take a bona fide starter with their first-round selection. The team seems to be set in 2021 with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles under center; if Pace and Nagy opt for a young quarterback, there’s a chance they won’t be around to see their plan come to fruition. Chicago has plenty of immediate needs, so there’s some merit to retaining their draft selections and adding players at other positions.
On the flip side, neither Dalton nor Foles are very inspiring choices, and the front office may believe the Bears have a higher upside in 2021 with any of the rookie quarterbacks. Head coach Matt Nagy even seemed to acknowledge that the organization has been eyeing a handful of rookies QBs during a recent meeting with reporters.
La Canfora notes that the Patriots have joined the Bears in shopping around for a top-1o pick, and the reporter believes that one of New England or Chicago will ultimately be successful in their pursuit of a rookie quarterback. We heard a similar sentiment earlier today, with one report indicating that New England could look to trade up from No. 15 all the way to the Falcons at No. 4.
Saints Looking To Move Up In First Round?
The Saints are motivated to add a cornerback in the draft, and the team would consider moving up in the first round to get it done. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that New Orleans is “weighing a potential move up” in the first round. Yahoo’s Charles Robinson previously reported that the organization was looking to move up for Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley (via The Athletic’s Joe Rexrode on Twitter).
[RELATED: Saints HC Sean Payton Says Team Has To Add Cornerback]
The Saints probably won’t be willing to give up the ammo it’d take to trade up for cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn, so it’d make sense to switch focus to Farley. Robinson notes that the Saints, who are picking at No. 28, believe they may need to jump the Titans at No. 22 if they want to select the Virginia Tech product. For what it’s worth, agent Drew Rosenhaus previously insisted that his client will be taken somewhere in the top 20, so the Saints may need to jump close to 10 spots if they want the cornerback.
Farley hasn’t seen the field since 2019 thanks to a pair of surgeries, but his surgeon told clubs that the player should be cleared prior to training camp in late July. Even though Rosenhaus’ estimation should be taken with a grain of salt, that’s excellent news for Farley in advance of Thursday night. While Farley’s stock already took a small hit after sitting out the 2020 campaign, he saw another slide after irritating a joint at the base of his spine. There was some speculation that he could fall all the way to the second round, but recent reports point to him going in the first.
Originally a quarterback in high school, Farley committed to the Hokies in 2017 as a wide receiver. After an ACL tear wiped out his true freshman season, he was asked to change positions again — this time, he moved to cornerback. By 2019, he was a star for Virginia Tech, racking up four interceptions and 12 passes defensed en route to First-Team All-ACC honors. He also allowed a completion rate of less than 50% on passes thrown in his direction.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/28/21
Today’s minor, er, move:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: TE Hunter Bryant
Bryant played three seasons at Washington, including a 2019 campaign where he earned First team All-Pac-12 honors. He went undrafted during last year’s draft, but he eventually overcome an ankle injury to make the Lions active roster. He ultimately appeared in five games for Detroit, hauling in a single 44-yard pass while appearing on 25 offensive snaps. Bryant also had a stint on the injured reserve with a concussion.
As Kyle Meinke of MLive.com points out, Bryant was a favorite of the former front office, with the tight end earning the most money among last year’s grouping of undrafted free agents. New general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t have that same connection to the Lions’ young players, leading to today’s move.
The Lions added a blocking tight end in Josh Hill earlier this offseason, pairing the veteran with starter T.J. Hockenson.
Latest On Extension Talks Between Browns, QB Baker Mayfield
The Browns have yet to engage in negotiations with Baker Mayfield on a long-term deal. However, owner Jimmy Haslam made it clear that it’s more a matter of when, not if, Mayfield will sign an extension.
[RELATED: Browns Exercise Option On Baker Mayfield]
“We’re are all pleased to see the growth in Baker last year both as a player and as a leader,’’ Haslam said during a recent press conference (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “We all understand how important quarterback is in the NFL. We were delighted to see that.
“Baker deserves a fifth-year option, and he and Andrew [Berry] have both addressed the possibility of things after that. We’ll leave that up to Andrew to decide when that happens, but we’re well pleased with where Baker is.”
It’s a bit refreshing to see an owner defer to his general manager, but Haslam seems to be hinting that Mayfield would stick around Cleveland for the foreseeable future. There’s no real rush for the two sides to agree on a long-term pact, and it makes some sense for both sides to exercise patience. For the Browns, they can continue to evaluate the progress of the former first-overall pick, especially following a career year where Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
For Mayfield, it makes sense to wait for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson , who could easily land a five-year deal in excess of $210MM, putting him just behind Patrick Mahomes‘ league-leading average annual value. Mayfield would command less than the Ravens QB, but Jackson’s deal could push Mayfield’s ask above $35MM/year.
For what it’s worth, Mayfield isn’t all that worried about a lack of extension, with the 26-year-old noting that he has greater priorities at the moment.
“Whatever happens, happens, but it really is out of my control at this point,” Mayfield said (via Cabot). “The fifth-year option just happened so a long-term deal is a little bit on the back burner for me. I am not worried about it. I want to go out and win games. I think everything happens for a reason so we will see what happens.”
Giants Pick Up RB Saquon Barkley’s Fifth-Year Option
As we all expected, Saquon Barkley will be sticking around New York through at least the 2022 season. The Giants have picked up the star running back’s fifth-year option, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
[RELATED: 2022 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
Barkley will earn a guaranteed base salary of $7.217MM during that 2022 campaign. As things currently stand, Barkley would have the ninth-highest cap hit at his position that season.
Considering the modest salary, it’s hardly a surprise that the Giants have made this move. Since he was selected with the second-overall pick in the 2018 draft, Barkley has establish himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL. He had a historic rookie campaign where he compiled 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in 16 games. He had an equally impressive 5.4 yards per touch in 2019, but he missed three games thanks to a high ankle sprain.
Most of us are familiar with Barkley’s 2020 campaign. The 24-year-old only saw time in two games before succumbing to a torn ACL. The injury ultimately ended his season, although Schefter reported earlier today that the running back is on track to be ready for the start of the 2021 season. Considering the short shelf life of running backs, it’s a good sign that Barkley is seemingly recovering well from the injury.
Following the recent trend of teams dumping first-round running backs following their rookie contracts, there have been some questions about whether Barkley would stick around New York long term. While Giants owner John Mara previously stated that the organization wasn’t in any rush to extend the Pro Bowler, he also made it clear that he wants Barkley to stick around New York.
“We’re not in any hurry to do that,” Mara said at the time. “We fully expect him to be as good as new. … We hope he’s going to be a Giant for life. At the appropriate time, we’ll start those discussions.”
Patriots Looking To Trade Up For QB Justin Fields?
Bill Belichick has a well-known affinity for trading back in the draft, but it sounds like New England could buck the trend and trade up. Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes that the Patriots have spoken with the Falcons about a trade for the fourth-overall pick.
If the Patriots are planning on spending assets to move up from No. 15, they presumably have a target in mind. Howe believes that these trade discussions are a strong sign that the Patriots have “found conviction” in at least one prospect, and he opines that the player is Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported a similar sentiment earlier this week (Twitter link), noting that the Patriots were sniffing around at a trade with the hope of landing Fields. Pelissero’s report indicated that New England had spoken with the Lions at No. 7 and the Panthers at No. 8.
If Belichick and the Patriots do decide to cash in on a quarterback prospect, it’d be a surprising development. The Patriots haven’t used a first-round pick on a quarterback during Belichick’s tenure with the team (although that was easy to do with Tom Brady under center), but they’ve also generally been wary of trading up during the first day of the draft. Belichick has only traded up in the first round on three ocassions during his time in New England, and only one of those trades saw him acquire a top-15 pick (Ty Warren at No. 13 in 2003).
For a team that likes to retain their draft capital, the Patriots would have to give up a bounty to acquire the No. 4 pick. The 49ers had to give up No. 12, two future first-rounders, and a third-round pick to get up to No. 3; the Falcons would presumably ask for a similar haul if New England wanted to jump from No. 15 to No. 4. It wouldn’t be as pricey to move from No. 15 to either No. 7 or No. 8, with Pelissero estimating that it’d cost at least a second-rounder.
Of course, it’s still uncertain if Fields will even be around at No. 4, much less No. 7 or No. 8. The 49ers could still very well select the Ohio State product with the third-overall pick.
North Carolina RB Javonte Williams Could Be First-Round Pick
While Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne have continually been mentioned as potential first-round picks, another running back could hear his name called during the first day of the draft. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero writes that North Carolina’s Javonte Williams could end up sneaking into the first round of the upcoming draft.
“I love Javonte Williams,” an AFC executive told Pelissero. “I think he’s the best back in the draft.”
In an era where teams seem to reset their running back depth chart every few years, it’d be a bit of a surprise if three running backs end up getting selected in the first round; we’ve only seen two first-round running backs over the past two years (Josh Jacobs (No. 24, 2019) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (No. 32, 2020)). Still, Williams has the talent to warrant that lofty draft stock.
As Pelissero notes, Williams’ strength should be an asset in the NFL (with the reporter citing this giant run against Miami). The running back is more than a bruiser, however; his pro day numbers (including a 4.55-second 40 and a 36-inch vertical jump) showcase his athleticism. Williams also showed improved pass-catching ability throughout his collegiate career, culminating in a 2020 campaign where he hauled in 25 receptions.
So where could the running back land? Pelissero points to the Steelers are a potential landing spot. Pittsburgh has continually been mentioned as a suitor for Harris, but it’s uncertain if the running back will fall all the way to No. 24. If the top running back is off the board, the team could end up favoring Williams over someone like Etienne.
Cowboys Split On Which Cornerback To Select At No. 10
The Cowboys could be eyeing a cornerback with the No. 10 pick, but it sounds like the organization is split on who they should take. Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reports that there’s a “50/50 split” in the Dallas front office about whether the team should select Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn with their first-round pick.
If the Cowboys are indeed seeking a cornerback, it makes sense that the team is deciding between Surtain and Horn; the duo has established themselves as the top-two cornerbacks in the entire draft. Dallas could use reinforcement everywhere on their defense, but as ESPN’s Todd Archer notes, there aren’t pass-rushers or defensive tackles worth taking at the No. 10 spot (and the team’s need for a linebacker doesn’t outweigh their need for a cornerback). While the Cowboys front office is apparently struggling to decide which of the cornerbacks to select (assuming they even have that luxury), the team can be confident that they’ll be adding a foundational piece to their defense.
While it’s always important to take pre-draft news with a grain of salt, Archer notes that the Cowboys have generally hinted at their first-round selection days before the draft. The reporter details how the Cowboys have narrowed their focus on a specific first-rounder each year since 2015, with the one exception being last year when CeeDee Lamb unexpectedly fell.
One thing is for sure: the Cowboys won’t be trading up from No. 10. The team has made it abundantly clear that they won’t pay the required bounty in order to move up the draft board, even if tight end Kyle Pitts (a Jerry Jones favorite) falls outside of the top-four
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/27/21
Today’s minor transactions:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: TE Carson Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Josiah Coatney
The Williams signing is a fun one. He split four seasons of collegiate basketball between Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound forward averaged 11.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game during his collegiate career. Jimmy Durkin of The Athletic tweets that Williams hasn’t played football since the 8th grade, although he did participate at Western Kentucky’s pro day.