Titans Acquire No. 178 From Redskins
The Titans have moved up in the sixth round of the draft, acquiring the 178th overall pick from the Redskins, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter). Tennessee, who had previously been set to pick 186th, sent that pick and No. 228 to Washington in the swap, per Jones (via Twitter).
The Titans used the pick to take Zach Mettenberger of LSU. Mettenberger is a big, strong armed quarterback, in the mold of what Ken Whisenhunt has failed to develop since working with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. The LSU signal caller is coming off a torn ACL, but had been impressive in pre-draft workouts as he began to move up draft boards.
Of course, as much as his stock was improving, it was leaked that he was one of ten players who had a flagged drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. Mettenberger’s camp held that his test was flag due to a diluted urine sample, not a banned substance.
Panthers Acquire Pick No. 148 From Vikings
The Panthers have moved up in the fifth round, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Carolina has acquired the 148th overall pick from the Vikings. Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports (via Twitter) that the Panthers used the pick to select San Jose State cornerback Bene’ Benwikere.
According to Goessling (via Twitter), Minnesota will moved back to 168th in the sixth round, and also picked up the 225th selection in the deal.
Bills Acquire Bryce Brown From Eagles
1:14pm: The pick the Eagles received from the Bills could become a third-rounder in 2016 only if Johnson meets his conditions that would defer the pick to 2016, and then Brown also meets his conditions, reports Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Sports Radio (via Twitter).
12:22pm: The Eagles have confirmed the trade (via Twitter) and provided more details. In exchange for Brown, the Birds will receive either a 2015 fourth-rounder or a 2016 third- or fourth-rounder. Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out (via Twitter) the condition is tied into Stevie Johnson’s performance in San Francisco because he was acquired from Buffalo for a conditional fourth-rounder.
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the trade is simply a depth move, and Jackson’s job is safe (via Twitter).
11:49am: The Eagles have traded a player for a draft pick, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, who reports (via Twitter) that running Bryce Brown will be sent to the Bills. Philadelphia acquires a future pick in the deal, per Mosher.
Brown became expendable following the addition of Darren Sproles. In Buffalo, Brown will provide depth behind C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, both of whom are entering the final year of their deals.
AFC Notes: Browns, Texans, Pats, Jets, Jags
Despite reports of Josh Gordon facing a possible season-long suspension and Nate Burleson suffering a broken arm in minicamp, Browns GM Ray Farmer “isn’t concerned” with the team’s depth at receiver, he told reporters tonight, including Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). Farmer indicated that Burleson’s injury isn’t expected to sideline him for any games, and pointed to the final day of the draft, trades, and additional free agent signings as ways the club can fortify its group of wideouts, if need be (Twitter link via Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle).
Let’s round up a few more leftover Day Two draft items from around the AFC…
- General manager Rick Smith confirmed that the Texans had a few conversations about moving down from the No. 33 pick, but the club ultimately liked UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-Filo better than any trade offers (Twitter link via James Palmer of CSN Houston).
- Discussing the Patriots‘ selection of Eastern Illinois signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, head coach Bill Belichick said the club wanted to address its quarterback situation “too soon rather than too late” (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe). The Pats would have been set for the 2014 season, with Tom Brady returning and Ryan Mallett on the last year of his deal, but there’s a good chance neither of those players will be on the roster within a few years.
- We heard earlier tonight that the Jets were pushing hard to trade up in the second round to nab USC wideout Marqise Lee, and while GM John Idzik didn’t confirm that Lee was his target, he admitted he made calls about moving up (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News).
- Asked about whether he’ll use all nine of the Jets‘ remaining 2014 draft picks, Idzik was noncommittal: “It’s good to have some ammunition” (Twitter link via Mehta).
- In non-draft news, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley strongly suggested today that wide receiver Justin Blackmon is done in Jacksonville, as Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union details.
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Cards, Rams, 49ers
The Seahawks traded down multiple times before picking for the first time in this year’s draft, from 32nd to 40th to 45th. However, when they eventually did make a selection, they nabbed the player they had ticketed for that No. 32 pick in the first place, in Colorado wideout Paul Richardson — Richardson’s name was the one the Seahawks had ready at the end of the first round on Thursday, GM John Schneider told reporters, including Terry Blount of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Here’s more from around the NFC West:
- Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said his team has interest in a big receiver, but hasn’t found the right guy yet and doesn’t want to force the issue (Twitter link via Blount).
- Cardinals GM Steve Keim admitted that he tried to get back into the second round via trade tonight, but didn’t find a taker, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets. It’s not clear which player Arizona was targeting.
- According to Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, St. Louis suspected that another team wanted to draft Lamarcus Joyner, which is why the Rams moved up to No. 41 to take him. The club the Rams suspected of targeting Joyner then ended up trading down, says Fisher (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). As Wagoner suggests (via Twitter), the Titans were the only team between No. 41 and the Rams’ original spot to trade down, so perhaps Fisher’s old team was eyeing Joyner as well.
- Asked about the possibility of acquiring more draft picks after a flurry of trades today, 49ers GM Trent Baalke replied, “The more darts you have, the more balloons you can pop” (Twitter link via Scott Kegley of 49ers.com).
- Baalke also weighed in on the topic of the team’s punt returner, suggesting that it’s not an area the 49ers feel a need to address: “LaMichael James did an excellent job for us a year ago, and that’s his job. We don’t feel an urgency to go out and replace LaMichael. That’s his job” (Sulia link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee).
Browns Acquire No. 94 Pick From Niners
The 49ers continue to be the most active team on the draft’s second night, having made another trade down. San Francisco has sent its 94th overall pick to the Browns, tweets Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. According to Hubbuch (via Twitter), Cleveland gives up a fourth-rounder (No. 106) and a sixth-rounder (No. 180). The Browns used the pick to snag Towson running back Terrance West.
West, a favorite of ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, is yet another piece added to a revamped Browns offense. At 5’11”, 223 pounds, West will likely compete with Dion Lewis and Edwin Baker for backup duties behind starting running back Ben Tate.
Eagles Trade With Titans, Move To No. 42
The Eagles have acquired the No. 42 overall pick in the second round from the Titans, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Eagles gave up their fourth round pick (No. 122) to go from No. 54 to No. 42, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. The Eagles will use the pick to take wide receiver Jordan Matthews out of Vanderbilt, according to La Canfora (on Twitter).
The 6’3″, 205 pound wide receiver didn’t come into the draft with as much hype as Marqise Lee, who was snagged by the Jaguars at No. 39, but he comes with tremendous hands and solid route running skills. Matthews worked out for a number of teams individually, including the Falcons, Raiders, and even the Titans, but he’ll go to Philadelphia to join Nick Foles & Co.
Cowboys Trying To Move Up From No. 47
6:07pm: In addition to the Cowboys, the Jets and Titans are also looking to move up in the second round, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
5:37pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier this afternoon (via Twitter), that the Cowboys are trying to make a “big move up” in the second round to secure help for their front seven. Now, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter) provides more details on that report, tweeting that he’s hearing the Cowboys are trying to jump ahead of the Falcons (No. 37) to land Boise State edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence.
The Cowboys had been expected to select a defender in the first round last night, but when a number of their targets came off the board before No. 16, they switched gears and nabbed offensive tackle Zack Martin. A move up into the top four picks of the second round would be tricky for the Cowboys, who are currently at No. 47. As our list of draft picks by team shows, only a handful of clubs have more picks to work with than Dallas, but six of the club’s remaining 10 picks for 2014 are seventh-rounders.
Josh Gordon Facing Season-Long Suspension
5:53pm: According to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (Twitter link), Browns coaches didn’t know about Gordon’s looming suspension until earlier tonight. Mortensen adds (via Twitter) that the club’s front office made its first-round decisions with knowledge of Gordon’s status, which is under appeal. Meanwhile, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter links) suggests that the Browns knew about Gordon’s failed test, but didn’t know he could be facing a season-long ban.
5:41pm: Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com adds (via Twitter) that the Browns have known about Gordon’s positive test for two weeks, so the club made all of its draft preparations with that knowledge.
5:31pm: According to multiple reports, including Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), the Browns knew before passing on Watkins in last night’s first round that Gordon could be facing a ban.
5:14pm: After an exciting first-round draft night that saw the Browns pick up an extra 2015 first-rounder and trade up for quarterback Johnny Manziel, the team is facing some potentially devastating news before the draft’s second day gets underway. According to T.J. Quinn and Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN.com, wide receiver Josh Gordon could be facing a season-long ban for repeated violations of the league’s drug policy.
Quinn and Van Natta hear from multiple sources that Gordon, who was suspended last season without pay for two games and two additional game checks for violating the league’s policy, failed his latest drug test as a result of marijuana being found. A source tells ESPN’s Outside the Lines that Gordon received a letter informing him that he faces a potential 16-game suspension, but would have the right to appeal the ruling.
Asked about a potential suspension, Gordon deferred to agent Drew Rosenhaus, telling Outside the Lines, “I really don’t know anything about it.” Rosenhaus declined to comment, but suggested the information is “not true.”
A lengthy suspension for Gordon would be a significant blow for a Browns offense that passed on Sammy Watkins last night, trading the fourth overall pick that was used on Watkins to the Bills. Cleveland has several more picks on the way in the draft, including one early in the second round tonight, so wide receiver will likely become a more pressing priority if the team is concerned about Gordon missing some or all of the 2014 season.
Poll: Best Trade Up In First Round?
While the Texans stayed put at No. 1, and many teams frequently mentioned as possible traders – including the Lions, Cowboys, Dolphins, and 49ers – also stood pat, there were a handful of intriguing moves in tonight’s first round. Five teams made deals that saw them move up in the first round, as follows:
- The Bills acquired the No. 4 overall pick from the Browns in exchange for the No. 9 pick, a 2015 first-rounder, and a 2015 fourth-rounder. Drafted wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
- The Browns acquired the No. 8 overall pick from the Vikings in exchange for the No. 9 pick and the No. 145 pick. Drafted cornerback Justin Gilbert.
- The Saints acquired the No. 20 overall pick from the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 27 pick and the No. 91 pick. Drafted wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
- The Browns acquired the No. 22 overall pick from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 26 pick and the No. 83 pick. Drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel.
- The Vikings acquired the No. 32 overall pick from the Seahawks in exchange for the No. 40 pick and the No. 108 pick. Drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Taking into account how far each team moved up, the price they had to pay to do so, and the player they ultimately landed, which trade up do you think represents the best deal of the night?