Draft Notes: Winston, Gregory, Steelers, Rams
The NFL announced (via Twitter) that 26 prospects will attend the draft in Chicago later this month, but neither of the two biggest names — quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota — will be present to hear their respective names called. Receiver Amari Cooper, also expected to be a top-five pick, will also skip the event, but the likes of Leonard Williams, Kevin White, and Dante Fowler Jr. will be on hand.
Let’s look at some more draft news as we get closer to April 30:
- Winston reportedly scored a 27 on the Wonderlic, the NFL’s predraft intelligence test, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who notes Winston’s mark is just one shy of Peyton Manning‘s grade in 1998. It’s unclear what role the Wonderlic plays in teams’ draft decisions, but it’s an interesting note nonetheless.
- We previously heard that Nebraska edge rusher Randy Gregory was set to visit Pittsburgh at some point this week, and it looks like he’ll meet with the Steelers on Thursday, writes Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- In the market for offensive line help, the Rams met with guards Ali Marpet, Tre Jackson, and Jamil Douglas today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- Oklahoma fullback Aaron Ripkowski met with the Packers today, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
- Texas long snapper Nate Boyer (a former Green Beret whose story can be read here) has a predraft visit lined up with the 49ers, he tells Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- More from the Bay Area: The 49ers have maintained heavy interest in a pair of LSU players — linebacker Kwon Alexander and running back Terrence Magee — a source tells Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link).
Chargers Notes: Los Angeles, Draft, D. Smith
NFL executive Eric Grubman says the league is considering moving up the deadlines in place for relocation to Los Angeles, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). Accelerating the current timeframe, which runs from January 1 to February 15, makes sense, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, because a shorter window would limit distractions for the applying team. Altering the deadline would seem to make it more likely that the Chargers (or Rams or Raiders) will eventually move to L.A.
Here’s more from San Diego…
- Grubman said a club interested in relocating simply needs to “engage in a good faith effort” to remain in their home city, tweets Gehlken. “It doesn’t need to exhaust all possibilities,” Grubman added, before noting that in his opinion, the Chargers have done enough to justify relocating (link).
- Adam Day, the chairman of the stadium task force in San Diego, said his group is “on target” to present a stadium funding plan to the city’s mayor by its May 21 deadline, per Gehlken (Twitter link).
- Fresno State safety Derron Smith has worked out for the Chargers, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter links), who adds that Smith has also had workouts with the Bengals, Jaguars, and Raiders, while also meeting with the Colts.
- Earlier today, we learned that the Chargers worked out quarterback prospects Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley.
Sean Smith Facing Suspension
According to court documents, Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith plead guilty last month to driving under the influence and received two years probation, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, who adds that under the terms of the NFL’s new drug agreement, Smith will now face a two-game suspension.
The league’s new drug policy, which was jointly approved by the NFL and the NFLPA last September, calls for a two-game ban to be levied upon a player’s “conviction or plea agreement for violations of law involving alcohol and driving.” According to Paylor, the policy also allows for longer suspensions in the case of “aggravating circumstances” such as property damage (Smith allegedly drove into a light pole).
So despite the fact that Smith won’t face any legal ramifications, he’s still likely to face discipline from the league. During talks on the drug standards, the union successfully argued against immediate suspension for players upon arrest for DUI, so Smith, who was arrested last June, didn’t face any penalties until entering his plea.
Smith, who is entering the final season of a three-year pact he signed in 2013, recently said he wouldn’t be opposed to playing out his deal with Kansas City (instead of working out an extension). His base salary for the year is guaranteed, so he probably isn’t going anywhere despite this incident, but the club will likely have to turn to its backup corners to get through the first two contests of 2015.
AFC East Notes: Byrd, Cassel, Bowman, Fins
The Dolphins are expected to re-sign receiver LaRon Byrd this week, a source tells Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Byrd, 25, saw brief NFL action last season, appearing in one game with the Browns. He spent the last five weeks of the season on Miami’s practice squad before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Let’s take a look at more from Miami and the rest of the AFC East…
- New Bills quarterback Matt Cassel is excited about the club’s chances in 2015, and favorably compares Buffalo’s roster to that of the Chiefs’ playoff team of 2010 (which Cassel helmed). “The talent level of what we have here overall is much higher than what we had in Kansas City back in 2010,” Cassel told Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. “…We’ve got all the pieces to the puzzle here to be a successful football team.”
- After signing with the Dolphins yesterday, veteran cornerback Zackary Bowman now has his sights set on a starting job, as he explains to James Walker of ESPN.com. Miami has a wide open competition at No. 2 CB, where Brice McCain, Will Davis, Jamar Taylor, and perhaps a draft pick will all battle Bowman for time.
- Bowman will also contribute on special teams, an area of focus for the Dolphins this offseason, writes Chris Perkins of the Sun-Sentinel. Along with Bowman and McCain, linebacker additions Kelvin Sheppard and Spencer Paysinger also have special teams experience that could come in handy. Miami’s ST unit ranked as the league’s worst in 2014, according to Football Outsiders.
NFC South Notes: Saints, Falcons, Draft
The Saints’ addition of veteran linebacker Anthony Spencer could prove to be a bargain, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. The 31-year-old Spencer, who qualified for a minimum salary benefit contract, will see time at outside linebacker in New Orleans’ 3-4 scheme, and could also play defensive end in four-man fronts. At the very least, Spencer should have a familiarity with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (who was Spencer’s DC with the Cowboys) and assistant general manager Jeff Ireland (who was Dallas’ top scout when Spencer was drafted).
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney will visit the Saints this week, according to Sean Fazende of FOX 8 (Twitter link). McKinney, who is expected to be a second-round pick, would make sense for New Orleans, who are likely to draft a linebacker, adds Larry Holder of the the Times-Picayune (via Twitter).
- The Saints will stay busy with predraft visits, as they’ll meet with Michigan defensive end Frank Clark this week, per Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com. The 6’3″, 270-pound Clark was kicked off the Wolverines last November following a domestic violence incident, but he recently accepted a plea agreement that dropped the charges.
- Miami tight end Clive Walford met with the Falcons over the weekend, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Walford finished last season with 43 receptions for 646 and seven touchdowns, and could be a second- or third-round pick.
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here, with any updates being added to the top of the list:
- Offensive lineman Eben Britton incurred a four-game suspension, according to The Sports XChange’s Howard Balzer on Twitter. The 27-year-old is a free agent and started 34 games for the Jaguars and Bears the past six seasons, respectively. The reason for Britton’s suspension was not specified.
- Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall signed his exclusive rights tender today, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The 25-year-old Marshall started 13 games for Denver last season, racking up 95 tackles. He’ll be one of the club’s starting inside linebackers when it debuts its new 3-4 front this year.
- The Colts have placed linebacker Aaron Morgan on the reserve/retired list, tweets Mike Chappell of RTV6. Morgan appeared in 18 games during his five-year career, seeing time with the Jaguars and Buccaneers in addition to Indianapolis.
- Running back Da’Rel Scott and defensive tackle Nate Collins have both signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Both players participated in the recent veteran combine, adds Caplan (link).
- Former 49ers receiver Ronald Johnson, a sixth-round pick in 2011, has signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, tweets Caplan.
North Notes: Bears, Perriman, Draft, Peterson
As the Bears search for Brandon Marshall‘s replacement at receiver, they’ve brought in one of the top draft prospects at the position for a visit, meeting with UCF receiver Breshad Perriman today, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Perriman, who posted a 4.25 40-time at his Pro Day, is fighting with Louisville’s Davante Parker to be the third receiver chosen behind Amari Cooper and Kevin White.
Let’s take a look at more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- The Steelers met with three prospects today, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter), who says the club visited with Texas A&M tight end Cameron Clear, West Virginia guard Quinton Spain, and Auburn receiver Sammie Coates.
- Having already brought in UAB return specialist J.J. Nelson for a visit, the Lions met with another special teamer/receiver — Utah’s Kaelin Clay — today, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
- Though Adrian Peterson was in Minneapolis over the weekend, he did not meet with any Vikings officials, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
- Rob Housler‘s one-year, $1.76MM deal with the Browns contains $750K guaranteed, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
- Washington defensive end Andrew Hudson just wrapped a predraft visit with the Browns, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), and he’ll meet with the Buccaneers next.
Eagles Re-Sign Cedric Thornton
The Eagles announced they’ve re-signed defensive end Cedric Thornton, who was a restricted free agent (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Enquirer). The club had tendered Thornton at the second-round level, so he’ll earn $2.356MM for the 2015 season.
The 26-year-old Thornton started all 16 games for the Eagles last season, posting 36 tackles, one sack, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The Southern Arkansas alum graded as the league’s 20th-best 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and was especially proficient against the run, where his +11.3 grade placed him eighth at his position.
Thornton has become a key cog in defensive coordinator Bill Davis‘ 3-4 scheme, starting 32 games over the previous two seasons. The club clearly values him, as a source told Mark Eckel of NJ.com on Friday that the Eagles were working on a long-term extension with Thornton. Whether or not Thornton signing his tender means the two sides couldn’t come together on a multi-year pact is unclear, but they’ll now have a year to try to work something out.
Running back Chris Polk, who was assigned the lowest RFA tender, is Philadelphia’s only remaining restricted free agent who remains unsigned.
Hakeem Nicks Visiting Titans
Despite being only 27 years old, receiver Hakeem Nicks hasn’t generated much interest on the free agent market. But after telling Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports last week that he is “nowhere near finished,” Nicks has in fact lined up a visit, as he’s meeting with the Titans today, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link).
Nicks was highly productive during stretches of his time with the Giants, particularly from 2010-11, when he averaged 78 receptions for more than 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. He faded during the latter portion of his time with New York, however, and was forced to take a one-year deal with the Colts prior to the 2014 season. Nicks continued to struggle in Indianapolis, catching just 38 passes for 405 yards.
But the North Carolina product’s youth is obviously enticing, and he’d add depth to a Titans receiving corps that is mostly fronted by young players. With Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter currently projected as starters, and free agent signee Harry Douglas penciled in as Tennessee’s No. 3, Nicks would have to fight for playing time.
Nicks has only taken one other known visit, as he met with the 49ers near the end of March.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Draft, Dolphins, Bills
The Jets might be ready to move on from Geno Smith, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), who says the New York is taking a look at all the quarterback options available in the draft. The Jets like Florida State’s Jameis Winston, but the Buccaneers are expected to either select Winston, or ask for a “king’s ransom” to trade down, per Cole. As such, Gang Green is also interested in Marcus Mariota, Bryce Petty, and Garrett Grayson, among others, so it sounds like Smith might not be in the club’s 2015 plans.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- In addition to quarterbacks, the Jets are taking a look at receivers, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) reports that the club will have a predraft meeting with Arizona pass-catcher Austin Hill today.
- Oregon tackle Jake Fisher is a candidate to be selected near the end of the first round, and he’ll meet with several teams in need of offensive line help, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Fisher has visits lined up with the Dolphins, Bengals, Saints, and Colts, per Garafolo.
- With Marcell Dareus heading for free agency after the upcoming season, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com examines whether the Bills could expend an early pick on a defensive tackle.