Marcus Mariota Rumors: Thursday
Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the consensus top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and while Winston is considered by many to be the more NFL-ready QB, it’s Mariota who is dominating headlines as the first round nears. With Winston viewed as a near-lock to come off the board first overall to the Buccaneers, the big question heading into tonight is which team will end up with Mariota, either at No. 2 or a little later.
Here’s the latest on Mariota and that No. 2 overall pick:
- Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) identifies the Eagles and Browns as the top two contenders for Mariota and the No. 2 pick, suggesting that Philadelphia is willing to put Sam Bradford, Mychal Kendricks, and Fletcher Cox on the table in trade talks. According to Cole, the Titans want a 2016 first-round pick in any deal, and are looking to somehow come away with a potential franchise quarterback, since that would raise the value of an organization that may be sold within the next couple years.
- If the Eagles want to get from No. 20 to No. 2, they may need to go through the Browns at No. 12, sending Bradford to Cleveland, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. I don’t think the Browns would give up the No. 12 pick for Bradford straight up, and it would still take quite a bit to move from No. 12 to No. 2.
- Despite the obstacles, the Eagles continue to make a serious bid for the second overall pick, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- While there are no offers currently on the table that would make the Titans bite, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) fully expects those offers to improve over the next few hours.
- Earlier today, the Rams, Jets, and Bears were also mentioned as teams that have spoken to Tennessee about the No. 2 overall pick.
Michael Brockers Drawing Trade Interest
1:40pm: The Cardinals did not inquire about Brockers and the Rams wouldn’t trade him in the division anyway, a source tells Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
12:17pm: A report earlier this week indicated that the Rams were exercising their 2016 option on defensive tackle Michael Brockers, but apparently teams around the league aren’t convinced that St. Louis will hang onto Brockers for the long term. According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), the Cowboys, Texans, and Cardinals have been calling the Rams trying to strike a deal for Brockers, and the Dolphins have also expressed interest.
Brokers, 24, has played well for St. Louis since being drafted 14th overall by the team in 2012, though his sack total slipped in 2014. After recording 46 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2013, Brockers totaled just 32 tackles and 2.0 sacks last year.
The presence of 2014 first-round pick Aaron Donald may have limited Brockers’ impact last season, and he may see his playing time reduced a little this coming season after the Rams signed former Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley in free agency. I imagine Brockers will still see plenty of action on running downs, but the idea of having Donald, Fairley, Robert Quinn, and Chris Long getting after the quarterback on passing downs must be tantalizing for the Rams.
Last month’s addition of Fairley to go along with Donald is likely what’s spurring teams to call the Rams about Brockers. St. Louis is already spending a good chunk of money on its defensive line, so the idea of paying Brockers $6.146MM (his option salary) for 2016 may be a little off-putting.
Nonetheless, Rams COO and EVP of football operations Kevin Demoff said yesterday that there’s a better chance of Adam Wainwright pitching again for the Cardinals this year than there is of the Rams trading Brockers (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Wainwright, of course, recently tore his Achilles and will miss the rest of the MLB season. Still, it’s worth noting that the Rams adamantly denied that Sam Bradford was going anywhere, just weeks before he was dealt to Philadelphia.
2015 NFL Draft Primer
The 2015 NFL draft gets underway in a matter of hours, and we’ll be covering all the picks, trades, and notable rumors here at Pro Football Rumors.
As usual, ESPN and the NFL Network won’t be reporting teams’ selections before they’re announced by Roger Goodell, and this year the NFL has asked its broadcast partners – NBC, FOX, and CBS – to refrain from tipping the picks early as well, meaning reporters like Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com may not be quite as far ahead of the TV broadcast as usual.
However, we’re still anticipating some of the picks to leak early, and assuming those leaks come from trusted reporters, we’ll have them up immediately on our site, adding them to our 2015 draft results page. So if you want to know all the picks as quickly as possible, be sure to stick to our site tonight, refreshing that draft results post early and often.
We recognize that there’s also a portion of NFL fans – and our readers – who would prefer not to know those picks before Goodell announces them on the podium, so we won’t be posting any picks to our Twitter account tonight before they’re official. If you’d rather be surprised by the TV-broadcast announcements of tonight’s picks, feel free to follow our Twitter account — we won’t be spoiling anything there, but it will still feature all the latest rumors and trade news.
In the hours before the Buccaneers are officially on the clock, we’ve got plenty of content to prepare you for tonight’s first round. Here are a few highlights:
- Our Rob DiRe published the second edition of his 2015 mock draft this morning, and there are several notable changes from the version he posted earlier in April.
- Rob has also been hard at work taking a closer look at the notable prospects at each position in this year’s draft class. Here’s a round-up of those recaps by position:
- You can check out the complete 2015 draft order by round right here. We’ve also got a breakdown of all 256 picks, sorted by team.
- Prior to free agency, we previewed the offseason for all 32 NFL teams, and each of our pieces included a section on the club’s “positions of need.” It’s safe to say that if teams didn’t address those positions in free agency, they’re likely to do so in the next couple days.
- All of the news items and rumors we’ve passed along relating to the draft over the last few days and weeks can be found on our 2015 NFL Draft category page.
Titans To Sign Hakeem Nicks
WEDNESDAY, 5:23pm: It’s a one-year, $1.4MM deal with $100K fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
FRIDAY, 12:46pm: It’s a one-year deal for Nicks, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
12:04pm: Teams with interest in free agent wide receiver Hakeem Nicks have been informed that he’ll be signing with the Titans, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Nicks had visited Tennessee to meet with the Titans earlier this month.
Nicks, 27, first reached unrestricted free agency in March 2014, and signed a modest one-year contract with the Colts after spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Giants. While fellow 2009 first-round wideout Jeremy Maclin parlayed a one-year, prove-it deal in 2014 into a huge, long-term contract, Nicks was unable to do the same in Indianapolis.
After receiving 100 or more targets in each of his previous four seasons in New York, Nicks saw a career-low 68 passes thrown his way in 2014, as Andrew Luck and the Colts relied more on T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne, and Coby Fleener in the passing game. Nicks finished the season with 405 yards and three touchdowns on 38 receptions, and visited the 49ers before catching on with the Titans.
While Nicks has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, his mediocre recent production suggests that his signing shouldn’t affect the Titans’ draft plans significantly. There has been some recent speculation that the Titans could draft a wideout in the first round, particularly if the team trades down. A roster lacking star power could particularly benefit from selecting a player like Amari Cooper or Kevin White.
Still, having added Nicks and Harry Douglas to go along with presumed starting receivers Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter, Tennessee probably has other positions more in need of fortification.
Browns Make Titans Offer For No. 2 Pick?
5:04pm: Browns GM Ray Farmer tells NFL Media’s Andrea Kremer that he spoke to Webster, but specific compensation for the No. 2 pick wasn’t discussed.
“Things remain fluid and you always have to listen,” Farmer said. “When you get needy, you get desperate. We aren’t either.”
11:59am: In his full report on the trade talks between the Browns and Titans, McManamon writes that the Browns’ offer to the Titans “includes” the team’s first-round picks, which implies there may be more to it. However, he adds that another source close to the Browns says there have been “no substantive talks” yet with the Titans.
Presumably, McManamon is confident in enough in his first source to believe that there’s something to the story — it sounds to me like the two sides have definitely discussed a potential deal, even if nothing is imminent at this point.
11:53am: In an effort to move up to land Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Browns have offered their two first-round picks – 12th and 19th overall – to the Titans for the No. 2 overall pick, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com (Twitter link). However, fellow ESPN.com reporter Paul Kuharsky (Twitter link) hears from a Titans source that the Browns have not made an offer for that second overall pick.
Throughout the draft process, the Browns have been viewed as a candidate to shake up the first round, since they hold two top-20 picks. However, it would be a surprise if the 12th and 19th overall picks were all it took to move up to No. 2 to snag Mariota, so even if the Browns have made those picks available for the Titans, I’d expect further discussions to take place.
Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net reported last week that the Titans had asked the Browns for their second-round pick in addition to the Nos. 12 and 19 selections, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it took a little more than that to sway Tennessee — John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game tweeted today that the Titans would want both 2015 first-rounders, a 2015 second-rounder, and a 2016 first-rounder.
Additionally, Titans general manager Ruston Webster said yesterday that he has first-round grades on 16 or 17 players in this class, so that No. 19 selection may not appeal as strongly to Tennessee as it would to other clubs.
With the Eagles, Jets, and Chargers all still being linked to Mariota and the No. 2 pick as well, it would be a surprise if the Bucs moved the pick before they’re on the clock tomorrow night, even if there are currently offers on the table.
Eagles Shopping Mychal Kendricks
With the draft just over 24 hours away, the Eagles are shopping linebacker Mychal Kendricks, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). According to La Canfora, teams are currently balking as Philadelphia’s asking price of a second-round pick, but there’s still a chance something happens.
Kendricks, 24, has been a starting inside linebacker for the Eagles since entering the league as the 46th overall pick in 2012. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former second-round pick was one of the league’s best ILBs last season, despite only playing 12 games — his grades as a pass rusher and in pass coverage were among the best at his position.
Nonethless, there have been some questions about how committed the Eagles are to Kendricks. The team brought in former Bill Kiko Alonso in a trade earlier in the offseason, and reworked DeMeco Ryans‘ deal to keep him in the mix, rather than parting ways with the veteran. Kendricks is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there has been no indication that the club has interest in extending him, which led to some trade speculation earlier in April.
As La Canfora points out in a pair of subsequent tweets, Kendricks’ apparent availability adds another wrinkle to the rumors about the Eagles potentially trading up in the first round for Marcus Mariota. Kendricks – or the draft pick(s) acquired for him – could be included as part of a package for that sort of move.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), rival teams believe the Eagles would also be willing to part with cornerback Brandon Boykin, which is something we heard a few weeks ago.
Texans Sign Chris Polk
WEDNESDAY, 4:20pm: The Texans have officially announced the signing of Polk, via a team release.
TUESDAY, 6:16pm: Polk’s deal calls for him to earn a $660K base salary and he can make an additional $100K through per-game bonuses, according to McClain (on Twitter).
5:00pm: It’ll be a one-year deal for Polk, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
4:43pm: Four days after he officially became an unrestricted free agent, former Eagles running back Chris Polk has found a new home. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), Polk has reached an agreement to sign with the Texans.
Polk, 25, took on a slightly larger role in Philadelphia’s offense last season behind LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles, totaling 172 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. After agreeing to a trade that sent McCoy to the Bills, the Eagles – presumably expecting Polk to play an even more significant part on the offense in 2015 – assigned him a $1.542MM RFA tender.
Later in March, however, the Eagles landed DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews to go along with Sproles, creating a bit of a crowd on the team’s running back depth chart. After reportedly approaching Polk about signing for less than his $1.542MM tender, the team elected to rescind that tender last Friday, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent and sign anywhere.
Arian Foster still has a firm hold on the Texans’ No. 1 running back job, but Houston could use some depth at the position, and has been linked to multiple running backs in the draft. Polk figures to challenge Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, and Ben Malena for playing time and touches in camp this summer.
Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), Polk also received some interest from the Seahawks before he decided to sign with the Texans.
Steelers Re-Sign Robert Golden
The Steelers have re-signed safety Robert Golden, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who tweets that the restricted free agent signed his tender to remain with the team. Because Golden was tendered at the lowest level by Pittsburgh, he’ll be in line for a $1.542MM salary in 2015.
Golden, 24, has played all but one regular season game for the Steelers since joining the club in 2012, but has yet to see significant action on defense. In those three seasons, Golden has played just 107 defensive snaps, contributing more regularly on special teams — he has 17 tackles in kick and punt coverage over the last two years.
Despite Golden’s limited contributions – and the team’s limited cap flexibility – the Steelers saw enough out of the Arizona product that they were willing to tender him a one-year contract offer. With Troy Polamalu no longer in the mix in Pittsburgh’s secondary, it’s possible Golden will see his role expanded for the 2015 season.
Assuming he earns the necessary service time this coming season, Golden will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.
Draft Rumors: Gregory, Falcons, Bills, Saints
While Randy Gregory‘s failed drug test at the combine might not be enough to push him too far down draft boards on its own, there’s concern about the pass rusher’s ability to “handle the mental rigors of professional football,” according to Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer of NFL.com. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes, the NFL.com report is quite vague and short on specifics, but Rapoport and Breer suggest that multiple teams have removed Gregory from their draft boards entirely. According to the duo, Gregory’s issues might be manageable, but not fixable, which makes it crucial that he lands in the right situation.
“It all depends on the organization, and what they have in place for him,” said one NFC personnel executive. “There are quite a few players that have issues. It’s where you place football character over the things he can’t control. That’s the big thing to me.”
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports indicated earlier today that he wouldn’t touch Gregory, alluding to the Nebraska defender’s “other issues” (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets that those “issues” are a combination of mental health concerns and recreational drug use.
With players like Josh Gordon and Dion Jordan set to serve season-long suspensions, it makes sense that teams would be wary of a player like Gregory, who could potentially run into similar off-field trouble. It’ll be interesting to see which club eventually takes a chance on a player who has top-10 talent, and when exactly that happens.
Here are a few more draft updates:
- As rumors swirl suggesting that the Falcons could trade up from No. 8 for a top pass rusher, Rapoport tweets that most of the teams he has spoken to believe Atlanta will actually trade back and select an offensive lineman.
- According to Rapoport (via Twitter), Bills owner Terry Pegula initially planned to make the trip to Texas this week for the club’s meeting with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. It ultimately didn’t work out, but it could be a sign that Buffalo is serious about Petty.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com identifies the Rams, Saints, Bengals, Cowboys, Colts, Patriots, and Seahawks as teams that may be willing to roll the dice on some of the prospects in this year’s draft class who have red flags related to character and/or off-field incidents.
- While the Saints earned a mention in La Canfora’s list, GM Mickey Loomis did say today that some players will be off New Orleans’ draft board because of character issues, tweets Brett Martel of The Associated Press. Still, Loomis noted that in many cases he’s more concerned about a player’s judgment than the incident itself, and said it’s important to be careful about labeling a player based on one incident (Twitter links).
- Loomis also said today that the Saints are unlikely to trade picks, but will listen to opportunities to move up or down. The overarching goal for the draft, according to the GM, is to make the team better “right now” (Twitter links via Martel).
- Penn State tight end Jesse James, a probable mid-round pick, worked out for the Ravens, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Dolphins Rumors: Parker, Draft, QBs
Let’s round up a few Wednesday updates on the Dolphins, who hold the No. 14 pick in tomorrow’s draft….
- Todd Gurley has been generating plenty of buzz as a Dolphins’ target recently, but Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (Twitter link) says he keeps hearing the team is interesting in selecting a wide receiver in the first round.
- Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) takes Marvez’ report a step further, writing that he’s hearing the Dolphins are interested in moving up for wideout DeVante Parker. According to La Canfora, the Rams at No. 10 would be a logical trade partner, since St. Louis has interest in moving down.
- Recognizing that they need depth at the position behind Ndamukong Suh and Earl Mitchell, the Dolphins have done a lot of homework on defensive tackles in this draft, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. While Miami may not address the position in the first round, the team brought in several potential second-round picks for pre-draft visits.
- According to Jackson, the Dolphins have been “aggressive” as they consider adding a developmental quarterback to the roster, privately working out Garrett Grayson, Connor Halliday, Chris Donner, and Andrew Hendrix. While they won’t necessarily select one in the draft, the Dolphins are a good bet to add a rookie QB after the draft.
- Within Jackson’s piece, several draft experts weigh in on what the Dolphins should do with the 14th overall pick.