NFL Draft Rumors: Bengals, Colts, Bucs, Colts
The Bengals (No. 33) and Colts (No. 34) will kick off the second round and the belief is that they’re both targeting offensive help, Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com tweets. Beyond that, he gets the sense that defensive tackle Ross Blacklock could be the first defensive player selected in the second round. Earlier today, we heard Blacklock mentioned as a possibility for the Bengals, but they might be more focused on providing help for Joe Burrow instead. That could lead them to Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims, one of the most intriguing talents left on the board.
Here’s the latest as we get set for the second night of the NFL Draft:
- More from Jones (on Twitter), who says “everyone” he’s talked to around the league believes that the Panthers will go after Mims. As previously reported, they’ve been getting calls on wide receiver Curtis Samuel, though they’re not shopping him. Mims, or another wide receiver, could wind up taking Samuel’s spot on the depth chart. The Panthers’ currently sit at No. 38 overall (the sixth pick in the second round), which might not be good enough to get Mims.
- Over the last two months, the Buccaneers and Colts have both been high on Washington quarterback Jacob Eason, Albert Breer of The MMQB hears. Eason remains available heading into Day 2 of the draft and both clubs profile as potential fits. Before the night is through, Eason could be tapped as the heir to Tom Brady or Philip Rivers, a perfect scenario for a QB easing into the pro game.
- There weren’t a ton of trades in the first round, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Falcons pushed hard to trade up for cornerback C.J. Henderson and the Raiders wanted to move back from No. 12 before taking Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs.
Bengals Eyeing Mims, Blacklock At No. 33?
The Bengals, who hold the first pick in the second round, are high on wide receiver Denzel Mims and defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears.
Rapoport also notes several teams looking to move up/down in the order. The Jets, Jaguars, and Falcons are among the clubs interested in making a leap. Potential trade partners include the Colts (No. 34) and Dolphins (No. 39), who are willing to listen on offers to move back.
Cincinnati doesn’t necessarily need any immediate help at wide receiver, as the club boasts A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross as its top three options. However, Green and Ross haven’t been able to stay healthy, and each has just one year remaining on his respective contract (the Bengals hold a 2021 option on Ross that they’ve yet to exercise). Mims would add an explosive option for new quarterback Joe Burrow, and give Cincinnati a long-term asset.
Blacklock, meanwhile, was a draft riser in recent months and was viewed as a potential Day 1 pick. Instead, he’s likely to come off the board at the top of Round 2. The Bengals already have Geno Atkins and free agent acquisition D.J. Reader on the interior of their defensive line, but Blacklock would give them ample depth.
Saints Looking For Early Second Round Pick In Trade Talks
The Saints are looking to trade for an early second round pick, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter). As of this writing, the Saints have zero Round 2 choices, so they’d likely have to deal from their 2021 stockpile to get something done.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis threw everyone a curveball at No. 24 last night with his selection of center Cesar Ruiz. The Michigan product was pegged by many as a second-round type and offensive line depth wasn’t thought to be the Saints’ top priority. Meanwhile, LSU linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Kristian Fulton were still there for the taking.
The Saints have a stacked roster, but there are still areas they could target early in Round 2. On defense, Fulton, Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, and Utah’s Jaylon Johnson would all make sense at cornerback. Linebacker could also be an area of need in New Orleans, and the Saints could target prospects like Willie Gay (Mississippi State) or Zack Baun (Wisconsin).
Of course, New Orleans is never afraid to add to its already high-powered offense, and the club could look for another pas-catcher to team with Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Denzel Mims (Baylor), Laviska Shenault (Colorado), Tee Higgins (Clemson), and Michael Pittman Jr. (USC) all remain on the board.
Broncos Tried To Trade Back Into Round 1
The Broncos were among the clubs trying to get back into the first round, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Their target, according to Mike Klis of 9News, was LSU linebacker Patrick Queen.
The Broncos got their wish at No. 15, landing Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, their top-ranked receiver. Had Jeudy not been available, they would have looked to trade back for either Queen or fellow ‘backer Kenneth Murray. After landing Jeudy, they tried to get back into the first round for Queen – instead, he went to the Ravens.
Elway wasn’t so sure that he’d be able to get Jeudy at No. 15, but he was pleasantly surprised with how everything turned out.
“It was probably less than 50 percent,” Elway said. “I think that when you look at it he was there a couple of times. We really kind of worked off our mocks with him not being there, and in the situation he wasn’t there, which direction would we go. It was a lot less than 50 percent and that’s why when he was there, we were thrilled that he was there.”
With four picks on Day 2, the Broncos have plenty of ammo if they want to move up for another linebacker. They could also use that artillery to address remaining needs, including cornerback and center. For now, the Broncos’ Day 2 party starts in the second round at No. 46 overall. After that, they have a trio of third-round picks – Nos. 77, 83, and 95.
Panthers Open To Trading Curtis Samuel?
The Panthers have been “consistently” receiving calls from clubs interested in wide receiver Curtis Samuel, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. So far, they haven’t been keen on the idea of trading Samuel, but Rapoport says it’s worth monitoring in case they get an offer that’s too good to pass up. 
Right now, the Panthers seem intent on keeping Samuel and the rest of their primary weapons in place for new quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. At the same time, the former second-round pick is heading into his contract year, so the Panthers could be swayed if they’re skittish about the cost of his next deal.
Samuel is coming off of a career year with 54 catches for 627 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also an excellent bargain: This year, he’s slated to earn just $1.2MM in salary.
The Panthers want to hold on to Samuel, but they haven’t let sentimentality get in the way this offseason. They’ve also got other receivers behind D.J. Moore, thanks to the signings of Robby Anderson, Seth Roberts, and Pharoh Cooper.
Vikings Still Pursuing Trent Williams
The Vikings are still in the mix for Trent Williams, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Earlier this month, the Vikings offered up a Day 3 pick to the Redskins, Cronin hears. Heading into Day 2 of the draft, the Vikings still have the draft capital in place to put a package together, so a deal remains possible. 
Of course, it all comes down to what the Vikings are willing to offer for Williams – who would require a sizable contract extension upon arrival – and what the Redskins are willing to accept. Throughout the offseason, they’ve indicated they wanted at least a second-rounder for the multiple-time Pro Bowler.
To our knowledge, no one has met that asking price. But, after several suitors and potential suitors found left tackle help in the first round, the Redskins will have to dial back their expectations. The Browns were the frontrunners for Williams; they took Alabama standout Jedrick Wills Jr. with the No. 10 overall pick. The Jets, who were never willing to send a second-round pick for Williams anyway, grabbed Louisville’s Mekhi Becton at No. 11. The Buccaneers almost traded tight end O.J. Howard for Williams earlier this year, but they moved on and likely slammed the door shut with their move up for Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.
The market for Williams has shrunk and chances of a reconciliation seem remote, so the Vikings could get one of the league’s premier protectors for pennies on the dollar.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/24/20
As Day 2 draft news comes rushing in, we’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: P Sam Irwin-Hill
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OT Garrett McGhin
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: OT Jake Rodgers (ERFA)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed exclusive rights tender: TE Robert Tonyan
Eagles Tried To Trade Up For CeeDee Lamb
In one of Thursday night’s biggest surprises, the Cowboys landed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb at No. 17. The Eagles tried to catch him as he fell by trading up to the Falcons No. 16 pick, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears, but they were unable to get a deal done. 
Few expected the Cowboys to go WR in the first round, but Jerry Jones took advantage of the opportunity that fell into his lap. And, some say, he came away with the best receiver in a class chock full of exceptional talent. Meanwhile, the Eagles stood pat at No. 21 and nabbed Jalen Reagor, who offers phenomenal speed backed by his sub-4.3-second 40-yard-dash time.
Most prognosticators and insiders believed that Lamb would not be available beyond the Raiders’ No. 12 pick. The Jets, at No. 11, were also a prime landing spot for the 2019 consensus All-American. When Gang Green opted for the braun of Mekhi Becton and the Raiders chose Alabama speedster Henry Ruggs instead, Lamb was left to wait nervously in his living room.
It’s not clear what the Eagles were offering the Falcons to slide back five spots, but it wasn’t enough for them to risk losing out on A.J. Terrell. Eagles fans may be a little extra grumpy about the Cowboys’ big score after learning of the trade attempt, but the Birds can’t be too mad about “settling” for the blazing speed of Reagor.
Lamb finished last season with 62 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. That was Lamb’s second consecutive season with at least 1,000 yards and 10+ scores.
Lions “Never Got A Firm Offer” For No. 3 Pick
The Lions stayed at No. 3 overall last night and came away with their top target in cornerback Jeff Okudah. They tried to trade back and still grab the Ohio State star but, ultimately, there wasn’t much of a market for the pick. 
“We had a lot of conversations,” GM Bob Quinn said late Thursday night (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “We never got a firm offer. No team put anything on the table. Had multiple conversations with multiple teams. They were kind of fishing around and we were open for business as you guys know, and nothing was ever put out in front of us to evaluate.”
The Dolphins, at No. 5, were a prime candidate for a swap, but they were intent on acquiring the No. 3 pick without giving up their No. 5 overall choice. Whatever the ‘Fins offered didn’t move the needle for Quinn & Co. – there was no chance of landing Okudah or any of their preferred targets later on in the first round. The Dolphins didn’t up their offer, either, because they were ultimately comfortable with Tua Tagovailoa and confident that he’d still be available with the fifth pick. They were right and, besides, their imagined Godfather offer of the No. 3 + No. 5 wouldn’t have convinced the Bengals to pass on Joe Burrow.
“The few teams that showed a little bit of interest, just ultimately as we got to [Thursday], for whatever reason, decided to stay put,” Quinn said. “And I think looking back, they probably got the guys they probably would have taken at three. So it takes two teams to tango and, listen, we feel good about it…Ultimately, looking back at it, it really didn’t mean much because nothing happened.”
Jaguars Received No Offers For Yannick Ngakoue
The Jaguars did not receive any offers for Yannick Ngakoue, GM Dave Caldwell says (via ESPN.com’s Mike DiRocco). With that, they’re planning to have him on the roster in 2020, though the defensive end won’t be happy about that. 
“I think his options are very limited at this point in time,” Caldwell said. “We’ll welcome him back with open arms when he’s ready to come back, and we look forward to it.”
The Jags discussed a deal with the Raiders earlier this week, but those talks didn’t go anywhere and they fizzled well before the draft started on Thursday night. Also this week, Ngakoue and owner Tony Khan took their battle to Twitter. The two traded barbs as Ngakoue pushed the Jaguars to hurry up and trade him.
“He is a tremendous player, tremendous person,” Caldwell said. “He’s always been first class in everything he’s done here, in the locker room and through his time here, the first four years of his contract. Obviously, he feels like things have not gone the way he wanted. In some aspects, he may have a point. But we put our best foot forward not once but twice, and I hope he sees the light that Jacksonville is a good spot, and it could at the end of the day be his only option.”
Ngakoue has yet to sign his non-exclusive tender for 2020, which would pay him $17.8MM. What he wants is a deal that would be worth roughly $20MM per season – but he doesn’t want it in Jacksonville.