Gareon Conley To Fall To Round 3?
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
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).
More from the NFC:
- The 2017 quarterback class is “probably the best group of arms in the last four or five years,” Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told the Associated Press, adding that “maybe five or six” are capable of starting in the NFL. The Cardinals, whose own starter, Carson Palmer, is entering his age-37 season, are reportedly targeting a signal-caller with the 13th overall pick. But general manager Steve Keim insists they’re “not going to force it” and will opt for a best-player-available approach. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem as if Keim will put off drafting a potential successor to Palmer until 2018. “You can look ahead and say there are two or three that we have watched on tape that are fantastic,” he said. “But if they are picking one, two or three in the draft, and I hope we are not picking anywhere but 32, how are we going to get up there and get them? Even if we had 11 comp picks, that is not going to get it done. I just don’t think you can rely on that. If you have a player you fell in love with (this year), you take them.”
- Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reported Tuesday that the Falcons and Seahawks are discussing a trade that would see Atlanta send the 31st pick and a fourth-round choice to Seattle for No. 26. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff implied Tuesday that he’d be open to such a move (though he wasn’t specifically addressing that rumor), telling the AP: “I think the reality is again the opportunity to potentially move up into the 20s potentially is there. There will be some interesting opportunities, I believe.”
- Along with the previously reported Tim Barnes, the 49ers tried out cornerback Steve Williams and offensive lineman Kitt O’Brien on Wednesday, tweets Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. A three-year veteran who has appeared in 33 games, Williams spent time with the Chargers and Rams last season. In six games (two starts), he totaled 18 tackles. O’Brien, undrafted in 2013, hasn’t seen any regular-season action. He was on and off the Colts’ practice squad in each of the two previous seasons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/26/17
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?
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
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.
NFC Notes: Mixon, Eagles, Lions, Stafford
Thanks to his off-field transgressions, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon‘s draft stock is reportedly dropping, but the Eagles are among those who have him on their board, writes Jeff McLane of Philly.com. Owner Jeffrey Lurie has given team brass his blessing to consider drafting Mixon, two sources confirmed to McLane. Notably, two of the Eagles’ key decision-makers, vice president of football operations Howie Roseman and VP of player personnel Joe Douglas, spoke highly of Mixon’s abilities on Thursday. “There’s not much he can’t do,” Roseman said. “He’s incredible with the ball in his hands, you can split him out, he’s got really good hands [as a receiver], he can pass-protect, he can make people miss.” Douglas added that “a lot of people think that he is one of the top backs in this draft,” but he noted that “most teams” are considering Mixon’s character issues.
More on Philadelphia and a pair of its NFC foes:
- Speculatively, Mixon could be a possibility for the Eagles beginning in Round 2. Before debating whether to take him, they’ll have to make a decision in the opening round, where they’re slated to pick 14th. The club has come up with “probably about seven or eight scenarios” for that spot, according to Douglas, and Roseman expects to end up with a star-caliber player with that selection. “One thing I know — when we make a pick at 14, with the way our board looks right now, we’re going to all be high-fiving then, and very excited about that pick,” declared Roseman (via Les Bowen of Philly.com).
- Entering a contract year, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford could become the highest-paid player in the NFL by next offseason, though Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press argues that he’s not worth it. While Monarrez expects the Lions to cave to Stafford’s demands, he opines that the signal-caller’s age (30 next February) and zero playoff wins are among the reasons the team would be better off letting him test the market than become the league’s richest player in Detroit.
- Speaking of the Lions, general manager Bob Quinn addressed the strengths of this year’s draft Thursday, saying it’s particularly deep at running back, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and tight end (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of the team website).
- Linebacker Sam Acho‘s one-year deal with the Bears is worth $855K, including $130K fully guaranteed, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
John Schneider: “Odds Are” Seahawks Keep Richard Sherman
The Seahawks aren’t ruling out trading cornerback Richard Sherman, but “odds are” he’ll stay put, general manager John Schneider told 710 ESPN Radio on Thursday. If Sherman does return to the Seahawks for a seventh season, there’s unlikely to be any behind-the-scenes drama, as Schneider insists that “everything is fine” between the two sides (all Twitter links via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times).
While Sherman reportedly requested a trade, Schneider indicated that shopping him is a mutual decision based on “constant communication” with the corner. Asked why the Seahawks would deal Sherman, a three-time first-team All-Pro, Schneider reasoned that doing so would enable the club “to create cap room” and “become a younger football team.” Sherman is set to play his age-29 season in 2017, in which he’s due to earn an $11.4MM-plus base salary and count over $13.6MM against the cap. He’s under contract for similar numbers ($11MM and $13.2MM) in 2018, the final year of his deal.
Despite Sherman’s age and expensive price tag, the Seahawks are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional mid-rounder in 2018 for him. They’re not out of line to place a high asking price on Sherman, of course, as the playmaker has never missed a game and is coming off his sixth straight 16-start season. Sherman picked off four passes in 2016, giving him 30 for his career, and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 13th-best corner.
Lions Mulling Eric Ebron’s Fifth-Year Option
The Lions will have to make a decision on tight end Eric Ebron‘s fifth-year option by May 3, but their front office has “talked very little about” it, general manager Bob Quinn said Thursday to reporters, including Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Quinn added that team brass is undecided on Ebron’s option and will “spend the next two weeks discussing” it.
Exercising Ebron’s option would give the Lions control over him in 2018 for around $8.5MM, which would be guaranteed for injury only. But Ebron could become superfluous to the Lions beyond the upcoming season if they spend a high pick in this year’s draft on a tight end, which Meinke notes is a possibility. Ebron himself was a high pick not long ago, in 2014, when the Lions selected the ex-North Carolina standout 10th overall.
The 24-year-old Ebron has been fairly prolific during his career, having progressed from 25 catches as a rookie to 47 in 2015 to 61 last season. Only nine tight ends finished 2016 with more receptions than Ebron, who also posted a career-high yards-per-catch average (11.7) and logged a personal-best 13 starts. However, he finished last among TEs in drops (seven) and caught just one touchdown (four fewer than his 2015 total).
Ebron will make $3.9MM in 2017, potentially his final season in Detroit.
AFC Notes: Bills, Browns, Patriots
The Bills will send representatives to Clemson to meet with quarterback Deshaun Watson on Friday, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Bills general manager Doug Whaley is supposedly “in love” with Watson, but there’s a belief that the team’s highest-graded QB prospect is North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said Thursday on NFL Network (via Conor Orr of NFL.com). The problem for Buffalo, if it looks to draft a first-round passer, is that Trubisky might not be on the board when it’s on the clock at No. 10. Cleveland, which owns the 12th pick, may be angling to move ahead of the Bills to ensure it grabs Trubisky.
More on Buffalo and two other AFC clubs:
- Shortly after Cleveland acquired Brock Osweiler from Houston last month, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Browns were willing to eat around half of the quarterback’s $16MM base salary for 2017 in order to trade him. It turns out the exact number is $10MM, tweets La Canfora. It seems likely that the Browns will eventually cut Osweiler if they’re unable to trade him, but given that he’s still on the roster, both executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson have said that they expect him to compete for the team’s starting QB job. Of course, the Browns will probably add another signal-caller in the draft (be it Trubisky or someone else), perhaps lessening Osweiler’s chances of making the club.
- The Patriots ventured to the University of Connecticut on Thursday for a meeting with safety Obi Melifonwu, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI. New England’s not slated to pick until the third round, No. 72 overall, and Melifonwu should be long gone by then. However, trading cornerback Malcolm Butler to the Saints for the 32nd pick could put the Patriots in position to select Melifonwu.
- Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com offers more details on a bizarre incident involving Bills offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio this week. Police in Elma, N.Y., responded to a 9:22 a.m. call on Wednesday regarding a suspicious man in a field, which turned out to be a partially undressed Kouandjio. Firefighters then had to administer first aid to Kouandjio for an undisclosed condition. And though Kouandjio screamed “Shoot me!,” he was cooperative with deputies and was not arrested. Kouandjio did go to Erie County Medical Center for further evaluation, however.
Brandon Bostick Gets 4-Game Suspension
The NFL has handed free agent tight end Brandon Bostick a four-game suspension, according to Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (Twitter link). The reason for Bostick’s ban is unclear.
Bostick, 27, reached the open market when the Jets declined to tender the then-restricted free agent a contract last month. In 2016, his lone season with Gang Green, Bostick started in seven of 16 appearances for a club devoid of solid options at tight end and caught eight of 11 targets for 63 yards. With blocking factored in, Pro Football Focus ranked Bostick 51st in overall performance among the league’s 63 qualified tight ends.
Prior to joining the Jets, Bostick saw action with the Packers from 2013-14 and totaled nine receptions and two touchdowns in 24 regular-season games. In the NFC championship game in January 2015, Bostick’s final contest with the Packers, his inability to field an onside kick helped the Seahawks make an improbable comeback and advance to Super Bowl XLIX.