King’s Latest: Mack, Manziel, Beckham Jr.
Once again, Peter King of TheMMQB.com has opened the week by sharing a number of intriguing notes, courtesy of his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column. Let’s work through the most interesting highlights:
- There is still talk that the Texans would like to either trade down from the first overall pick, or select Khalil Mack rather than Jadeveon Clowney. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported as much yesterday, and King adds that though a team like the Falcons is expected to be interested in trading up to No. 1, the Texans likely wouldn’t receive an overwhelming return.
- The Rams seem to be set on Greg Robinson at No. 2, rather than either Sammy Watkins or Jake Matthews. But things could get interesting when the Rams are back on the clock with the 13th pick — St. Louis’ GM Les Snead recently met with Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who was Johnny Manziel’s offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and left the visit believing Manizel could flourish in the NFL.
- The main concern of the Jaguars appears to be avoiding risk and making a safe selection; King observes that both Watkins and Matthews would fit that profile.
- The Vikings may look to add a defensive contributor with the eighth pick (perhaps Aaron Donald), and then select their quarterback of the future at pick No. 40.
- King hears that the Eagles are interested in trading up to select a receiver, with eyes on acquiring a versatile threat like Odell Beckham Jr. GM Howie Roseman has talked to at least two teams in the middle of the first round about moving up.
- The Cardinals remain interested in Derek Carr, but King wonders if it is prudent for Arizona to use a first-round pick on a “redshirt” quarterback when the team is so close to contention.
- Browns GM Ray Farmer has talked to one team with a low first-round pick about trading back into the first round, using Cleveland’s second-round pick as bait. This would mean the Browns would have three first-round picks in total, leading King to believe Cleveland wants to move ahead of the Texans at pick No. 33 in order to secure a franchise quarterback.
- One team within the top ten is seriously considering selecting Zack Martin, who is picking up the most buzz of any player in the draft.
Draft Notes: Eagles, LBs, Jets, Broncos
With less than four days until the NFL draft, here is the latest news and rumors from around the league:
- While the Eagles need to improve their porous secondary, selecting a safety might not be in the cards, according to Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Outside of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, and perhaps Jimmie Ward, most experts don’t consider this year’s safety class to be elite, and Eagles GM Howie Roseman agrees. “I don’t think it’s a good group overall,” said Roseman. “I think you’re talking about a drop-off, certainly when you get into Saturday.”
- Over the past few days, we’ve passed along the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGlnn’s reports on the crop of both running backs and offensive lineman, which heavily feature McGlinn’s conversations with informed scouts. McGinn’s most recent article focuses on the linebacker class, and is also a must-read for draftniks.
- In a separate piece, McGinn analyzes linebacker Chris Borland (who was profiled today by Rory Parks) and comes away noting that scouts love Borland’s versatility and work ethic.
- In his latest notes piece, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini observes that this will be the first draft in which Jets GM John Idzik will have his own group of scouts on which to lean. (However, the Jets didn’t fare too poorly in the 2013 draft with Idzik’s inherited staff, selecting an immediate contributor in defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson).
- With Peyton Manning‘s limited window and a dominant defense save for inside linebacker, Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post argues that the Broncos might trade up to select C.J. Mosley in order to further strengthen their defense.
- If the Browns are truly utilizing a “best player available” approach, a selection of Greg Robinson would be appropriate, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. However, Robinson (as Ulrich notes) is expected to be drafted before the Browns pick at No. 4.
Prospect Profile: Jake Matthews
If lineage is something to be desired in an NFL draft prospect, Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews has that contest won. The 22-year-old is the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, who played 19 seasons with the Oilers/Titans, the cousin of current NFL linebackers Clay and Casey Matthews, and the brother of Kevin Matthews, who has spent time with the Titans and the Redskins.
But even without his storied family history, Matthews’ own talent and development would make him a surefire top 10 draft selection. After being named a 2009 USA Today high school All-American, Matthews entered Texas A&M, and was plugged in on the Aggies’ offensive line, where he played started 33 games over his first three seasons (mostly at right tackle). In 2013, following the departure of incumbent left tackle Luke Joeckel (the third overall pick by the Jaguars), Matthews moved to blind side and protected quarterback Johnny Manziel for all 13 games. In addition to being selected as a consensus All-American last season, Matthews was named to the All-SEC team in both 2012 and 2013.
At 6’5″, 305 pounds, the former Aggie is large enough to handle stout defensive lineman, but also has the agility to ward off quicker outside linebackers. When compared to Joeckel, Matthews grades out as slower, but he does have the advantage in power. Sound technique is the foundation of Matthews’ game, and that proficiency, combined with his size, allows him to simply maul in the run-blocking game. His physical traits aside, Matthews’ intangibles are off the charts — he was a team captain at Texas A&M, obviously has the pedigree, reportedly scored a 32 on the Wonderlic test, and scouts are said to be highly impressed with both his awareness on the field and his leadership off it. A prototypical franchise left tackle, Matthews has the ability to “walk in and play left tackle and sit there for 10, 12 years,” as one scout told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn.
Matthews, of course, also has his detractors and his limitations. Another scout told McGinn that Matthews’ surname might be clouding evaluators’ opinions: “If his last name was something else, I don’t think he’d be picked as high.” Physically, others believe that his arm length of 33 3/8″ might be too short, limiting his extension. Like Joeckel, Matthews is sometimes accused of lacking a “killer instinct” (however, that demerit didn’t seem to hurt Joeckel’s stock). Finally, some point to his prowess as a right tackle and believe he would be a better fit on that side of the line, which would obviously degrade his value.
It is difficult to find a team that wouldn’t be interested in Matthews, as most franchises could use a left tackle of his caliber, and if not, at least an upgrade at right tackle. The Texans will probably go in another direction, and while the Rams could be interested in an offensive lineman, most reports have Greg Robinson as the higher rated player and the favorite to go second overall. The Jaguars could re-pair him with Joeckel, but the first real possibility is probably the Browns at No. 4, who would immediately install Matthews at right tackle. Within the top 10 selections, the Raiders, Falcons, Buccaneers, Bills, and Lions are all possible landing spots for Matthews. Along with Robinson and Taylor Lewan, Matthews is part of a triumvirate of offensive tackles that will all likely be top 10 picks.
Photo courtesy of USA Sports Images.
North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Vikings, Bears
Browns GM Ray Farmer has lauded receiver Sammy Watkins, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio thinks those comments are simply a smoke screen, and suggests that the team could be angling to select an offensive tackle in Thursday’s draft. Cleveland could be interested in Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, or Taylor Lewan, any of whom would play right tackle (an increasingly important position, says Florio) with the Browns due to the presence of Joe Thomas on the left side of the line. In such a scenario, incumbent right tackle Mitchell Schwartz would presumably move to guard. Florio’s theory makes sense, especially when considering that the receiver class is extremely deep. Selecting an offensive tackle at pick No. 4, a quarterback at No. 26, and then potentially a corner and a receiver in rounds two and three might be exactly what the Browns brass is hoping to pull off.
More notes from the North divisions:
- Farmer and the Browns, as noted, hold the fourth and 26th overall selections in the draft, the same picks that Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome inherited when took over as Baltimore’s GM in 1996. Per Greg Bedard of TheMMQB.com, Newsome offers Farmer some advice on how to handle the scenario: “Just to trust the information that he has. Let the information make your decisions,” said the veteran executive. “If you spend nine months preparing for a draft and you set your board, why are you going to get to game day and then change? That never works, whether you’re calling plays, calling defenses or drafting players.”
- Speaking of Newsome, he is glad the Ravens aren’t in the market for a starting quarterback, and hopes many QBs are taken before Baltimore picks at No. 17, according to Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com. “If as many as three, four, or five quarterbacks go before 17, that means other players from other positions will slide down to us,” Newsome said. “There will be more players for us to choose from.”
- Vikings GM Rick Spielman tried to dispel the media’s notions that the team would draft a quarterback with the eighth overall selection, but noted “there are lots of possibilites,” tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
- In a series of tweets, Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune opines that Spielman cautioned there could be a “surprise” at pick No. 8, and that linebacker was the first position mentioned by the Vikings GM.
- The Bears’ defense has already been infused with talent this offseason, with player additions ranging from Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, and Willie Young, to coaching upgrades like Paul Pasqualoni (defensive line) and Reggie Herring (linebackers), but as Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune writes, the job isn’t done, and the draft will be critical if the Bears wish to contend in 2014.
NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Lions
Earlier this afternoon, we took a look at a possible extension between Mike McCarthy and the Packers. Now, let’s move on to some more notes from the rest of the NFC North:
- The Bears’ cornerback positions are filled for now, believes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com, and he grades corner as only a “medium” priority for the team heading into Thursday’s draft. Due to the age of Chicago’s top pass defenders, however, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the Bears used the fourteenth overall pick on a cornerback, especially if defensive tackle Aaron Donald has already been selected.
- Jordan Palmer looks to be the early favorite for the Bears’ backup quarterback job behind starter Jay Cutler, although the team could look to pick a developmental QB later in the draft, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
- The Vikings have never been great at manipulating the compensatory pick system, according to Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, who also looks at the success of Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who is considered by many to be a master of the compensatory machine.
- Blake Bortles, C.J. Mosley, and Donald are among a list of ten players who could be available and intriguing to the Vikings at pick No. 8, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune staff.
- We noted more than a month ago that the Lions were looking for a backup quarterback after losing Shaun Hill to the Rams, and now Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the team will likely look to the draft to fill the position. Within the article, ESPN’s Jon Gruden mentioned David Fales and Tajh Boyd as late-round options for Detroit.
- Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com lists his top five need areas for the Lions, and among them are defensive end, linebacker, and receiver.
Draft Notes: Linemen, Lobato, Hughes, Boone
Few are more plugged in on scouts’ takes on draft prospects than the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn — yesterday, we looked at his reports on the running back class, and today we’ll examine his profiles of the available offensive lineman.
Greg Robinson was the highest rated offensive tackle, as one scout called the Auburn star “bust-proof,” and another lauded his power, punch, and speed. However, one evaluator did say Robinson might end up at right tackle rather than as a blind-side protector, and another scout said “I love [him], but what hurts him is he doesn’t know how to pass block yet. [But] [i]t’s not his fault. It’s the scheme.”
Zack Martin took the top spot among offensive guards, with one scout opining: “Love him. Not a real bulky guy. All I know is he’s got a great jam and can punch the hell out of you. Nobody beats him. Everybody keeps wanting to move him inside. Well, you better have somebody that can block those outside rushers.” Another scout stated the Notre Dame product is “as safe a pick as there is.” Among centers, Weston Richburg and Marcus Martin were given the highest grades. The entire piece is worth reading for expert opinions on prospects.
More draft notes:
- Northern Colorado quarterback Seth Lobato is drawing some pre-draft buzz — he talked with the Patriots during his Pro Day and worked out for the Dolphins, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- We noted yesterday that Indiana receiver Kofi Hughes met with the Redskins, and now Wilson reports that he also visited with the Bears, Colts, and Bengals.
- Late-round prospect Kadron Boone of LSU is also garnering interest, having received phone calls from about a third of the league, as per Wilson.
- Wilson has even more, as he adds on Twitter that Minnesota State defensive end Chris Schaudt is drawing interest from teams as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
- ESPN draft guru Todd McShay thinks Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio should have returned to school for the 2015 season, but allows that he could be a good value as a second-round pick, writes Andrew Gribble of Alabama.com.
- Andrew Sachais of Philly.com uses statistical correlations to examine the value of a quarterback in the draft, and, in what is sure to be disheartening to fans pinning their hopes on newly-selected QBs, finds that there is only about a coin-flip’s chance in discovering a franchise signal-caller.
PFR Originals: 4/27/14 – 5/4/14
Here’s the original content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- We continued our Prospect Profile series, as I examined Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack (link), Rob DiRe looked at Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (link) and Louisville safety Calvin Pryor (link), and Rory Parks wrote up Wisconsin safety Chris Borland (link).
- We also asked your opinion in several polls: Peter Sowards asked if the NFL should initiate a developmental league (with two-thirds responding in the affirmative), Ben Levine wondered which embattled quarterback will have the most 2014 success (most said Matt Schaub), and Luke Adams questioned what the Falcons will do in the draft (58% of respondents think Atlanta will trade up). Thanks for voting!
- Luke delved into restricted free agency, which affects players who have accrued three NFL seasons and have an expired contract.
- Luke also rounded up the decisions on fifth-year options, the majority of which were exercised.
Packers, Mike McCarthy Working On Extension
The Packers have approached head coach Mike McCarthy about extending his contract, reports Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. McCarthy, who has been leading Green Bay since 2006, has a career record of 82-45-1 and won the Super Bowl in 2010. He is currently signed through the 2015 season at a salary of about $6.5MM annually.
Head coaching salary figures are often kept under wraps, so any sort of comparison or estimation often proves difficult. Bill Belichick is thought to be the highest-paid coach at around $11MM per year, while Pete Carroll and Sean Payton each earn $8-9MM annually. A third tier of coaches — Tom Coughlin, Jeff Fisher, Andy Reid, and John Harbaugh — reportedly make $6.5-7MM each year. With a sustained record of success, and a championship under his belt, I would expect a McCarthy extension to have an AAV in the neighborhood of $7.5-8MM.
However, while it might seem obvious that the Packers would want to retain a highly successful coach like McCarthy, it may not be that simple. McCarthy’s boss, general manager Ted Thompson, is signed through the 2016 season, and some wonder how long Thompson wants to maintain the high-stress job of an NFL GM. When asked whether he would assure the team that he would stay on through the remainder of his contract, Thomspon replied, “I don’t look at it like that. It’s important for me to try to do a good job today.” One could read that statement simply as a veteran personnel man using a “one day at a time” cliché , or as an executive who sound non-committal.
If Thompson were to step away, it would create something of a quandary for the Packers. Team president Mark Murphy, who joined the team in 2007, inherited both McCarthy and Thompson. While all reports indicate that the power triangle exhibits a respectful working relationship, it would not make sense for Murphy to give McCarthy an extension, which could “potentially undermine the organization’s effective delineation of authority” if Thompson did retire. In other words, a potential Thompson replacement at general manager would want to have hiring and firing power — even if the new GM wanted to retain McCarthy, he wouldn’t want the coach’s contract outlasting his.
A departure by Thompson — whose tactics have not only been copied, but created something of an executive tree throughout the league — would create an attractive vacancy in Green Bay. Several candidates with Packers ties would be linked to the position, with current Chiefs GM John Dorsey, Packers contract negotiator Russ Ball, and Packers director of pro personnel Eliot Wolf among them. But the most intriguing option would certainly be Seahawks GM John Schneider, the former Packers Director of Football Administration, for whom the Green Bay position is reportedly a “dream job.” Schneider, who doesn’t wield full power in Seattle what with the presence of Carroll, could potentially make the jump to Green Bay if the offer was lucrative enough.
Week In Review: 4/27/14 – 5/4/14
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Major Move:
- The Seahawks signed All-Pro safety Earl Thomas to a four-year, $40MM extension, with $27.725MM guaranteed.
Other Signings:
- Browns – quarterback Vince Young (link)
- Browns – quarterback Tyler Thigpen (link)
- Falcons – tight end Bear Pascoe (link)
- Seahawks – cornerback A.J. Jefferson (link)
- Seahawks – linebacker O’Brien Schofield (link)
Fifth-Year Options Exercised:
- Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (link)
- Colts offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo (link)
- Saints running back Mark Ingram (link)
- Falcons receiver Julio Jones (link)
- Dolphins center Mike Pouncey (link)
- Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara (link)
- Broncos linebacker Von Miller (link)
- Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (link)
- Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor (link)
- 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (link)
Fifth-Year Options Declined:
- Titans quarterback Jake Locker (link)
- Packers offensive lineman Derek Sherrod (link)
- Seahawks offensive lineman James Carpenter (link)
- Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (link)
Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions page.
AFC North Draft Notes: Ebron, Ravens, Bengals
The latest out of the AFC North:
- The Ravens would likely select tight end Eric Ebron in the event that he falls to pick No. 17, tweets Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Baltimore could also have interest in Jace Amaro or Austin Seferian-Jenkins, likely in the second round.
- In another tweet, Zenitz mentions that the have Ravens interest in yet another tight end, Notre Dame’s Troy Niklas, who is viewed as an excellent in-line blocker.
- In a separate, full-fledged article, Zenitz points to the Ravens’ addition of tight-end friendly offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as evidence for why adding a third tight end to a group that already includes Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels is not unfathomable.
- Teddy Bridgewater to the Bengals makes sense, writes Cole Harvey of ESPN.com, even if Cincinnati has more pressing needs. Harvey still believes the team should focus on either defense or offensive line depth in the first round, but allows that the addition of Bridgewater would be a smart play what with Andy Dalton‘s looming contract situation.
- Former NFL general manager Bill Polian doesn’t think Ebron is a fit for the Steelers, writes Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Ebron, who is more a of a dynamic pass-catcher than an in-line tight end, would not mesh with the Steelers’ preference for TEs who maul in both run and pass blocking.
- Because of Brian Hoyer‘s rapid recovery from injury, and the signing of Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen, the Browns might be positioning themselves to draft a quarterback in the second round, or even later, according to Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. This would allow the team to focus its two first-round picks on other positions of need, such as receiver or cornerback.