NFL Draft Rumors: Metcalf, Bills, Bucs
Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf will take a Top 30 visit with the Bills on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Metcalf, who boasts the most impressive physical tools of any wide receiver in this year’s class, could be an option for Buffalo with the No. 9 overall pick.
Some have knocked Metcalf for his lack of natural catching ability, but he had no trouble reeling in the ball in 2017 when he averaged 16.6 yards per catch and scored seven touchdowns for Ole Miss. There’s also some concern about Metcalf’s health, but he was cleared for all football activities in January following his October neck surgery.
Here’s a look at the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will visit the Buccaneers on Monday, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter). The Bucs could use another wide receiver after losing DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries, but it’s not clear whether they’d be willing to use the No. 5 overall pick at that position.
- Iowa tight end Noah Fant will visit with the Lions on Monday, Rapoport reports. Fant registered 518 receiving yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in his final campaign with the Hawkeyes. The Lions could use a player like Fant after Levine Toilolo, Luke Willson, and Michael Roberts underwhelmed last year. Recently, the Lions strengthened the TE group by adding Jesse James, but there’s still room for improvement.
- Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker will get together with the Steelers, per RapSheet. Last year, Baker captured the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. But, at 5’11 and 193 pounds, Baker doesn’t offer ideal size for the position.
- Washington tackle Kaleb McGary will visit with the Patriots on Monday and the Packers on Tuesday, Rapoport hears. There has been some speculation that McGary could be employed as a guard at the pro level.
- The Giants are hosting Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Rapoport hears. The Giants are armed with picks at No. 6 and 17, though one of those selections may be spent on drafting Eli Manning‘s successor.
- Charlotte guard Nate Davis will take a Top 30 visit with the Bills, Rapoport hears.
Panthers Meet With Allen Bailey
Chiefs free agent defensive end Allen Bailey will visit with the Panthers on Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The incumbent Chiefs are still in the mix for Bailey and the defending champs may also have interest. 
Bailey cracked KC’s starting lineup in 2014 and has started in virtually all of his games over the last five years. Last year, he registered six sacks, 38 tackles, and two forced fumbles across 16 games. The advanced metrics weren’t high on Bailey (No. 91 ranked interior defender out of 112 players), but the sacks and game film show that he is an effective lineman.
The Panthers may employ a 3-4 scheme next season, which would suit Bailey well. With Carolina, he’d stick at DE, but he’d play on the interior with the Chiefs. Meanwhile, defensive tackle isn’t necessarily an area of need for Kansas City since they already have Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, and Xavier Williams in that group.
Bailey just wrapped up a four-year extension that paid him $6.25MM annually. His next deal may pay him in a similar fashion.
NFL Suspends Jhurell Pressley
Jhurell Pressley led the AAF (R.I.P) in rushing yards, but he has yet to land an NFL contract. That could be because Presley has been suspended by the NFL for two games, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) first reported. The ban stems from a violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com hears. 
Still, Pressley has two workouts scheduled for this week, so a deal could be just around the corner. Pressley impressed with 431 yards and one touchdown on 98 carries for the Arizona Hotshots and could hold appeal as an RB depth option for clubs.
Pressley’s failed test likely occurred while he was with the Giants. Last year, Pressley was set to spend the year on the team’s practice squad until he was abruptly released in November.
The 26-year-old (27 in May) has already signed deals with five NFL clubs over the course of his career. Before joining the pro ranks, Pressley averaged an eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry and scored 35 rushing touchdowns for New Mexico.
Darron Lee Reports To Jets
Linebacker Darron Lee, according to multiple reports, has been made available via trade. Still, Lee reported to the Jets for the club’s voluntary offseason conditioning program on Monday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
For now, Lee’s status remains unchanged. The young linebacker is still on the roster and GM Mike Maccagnan claims that he is still in the club’s plans.
However, it’s hard to believe Maccagnan given the recent addition of C.J. Mosley. The linebacker inked a five-year, $85MM contract, making the underperforming Lee expendable. Meanwhile, clubs could have interest in the former first-round pick given that he’s still on his affordable rookie contract for one more season with a possible add-on for 2020, if triggered before the May deadline.
Lee did tally 94 tackles and three sacks in 2017, but he took a step back in 2018, finishing with 74 tackles and no sacks in 12 games. To his credit, Lee did compile a career-high three interceptions last year, but he also missed four games due to a substance abuse ban.
Dolphins To Sign Ricardo Louis
Former Browns receiver Ricardo Louis has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a one-year deal, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Louis, a holdover from the Sashi Brown era, was cut loose earlier this month as a part of the Browns’ spring cleaning. 
The former fourth-round pick missed the entire 2018 campaign with a neck injury and his status going into 2019 is not entirely clear. In 2017, Louis enjoyed the best season of his young career with 27 catches for 357 yards, a step up from his 18 grabs for 205 yards as a rookie.
If healthy, the 25-year-old could profile as a potent deep threat for the Dolphins’ new look offense. He’ll compete for Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s targets with DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Brice Butler, and others. The Dolphins might not win a ton of games in 2019, but Louis could be primed for a bounce-back season in Miami.
Shawn Oakman Joins The Spring League
On Monday,The Spring League announced the signing of former Baylor defensive lineman Shawn Oakman. Oakman, who went undrafted in 2016 due to sexual assault charges, will suit up for the Austin Generals in his bid to make the NFL ranks. 
Oakman’s physical tools once positioned him as one of the top prospects in the country. In 2014, Oakman registered 25.5 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, and four forced fumbles. His 2015 campaign wasn’t as impressive (4.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL, two forced fumbles), but he was truly undone by a troubling incident that took place just weeks before the draft.
Recently, however, Oakman was acquitted of the charges against him. With The Spring League, he’ll have an opportunity to prove he’s on the right track and demonstrate that he still possesses explosive size, speed, and power.
Falcons To Meet With Tyeler Davison
The Falcons are bringing in veteran defensive tackle Tyeler Davison for a visit, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). This marks Davison’s first known visit of this free agent cycle. 
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Davison has been a starter for the Saints over the last three seasons and could have an opportunity to shine with their divisional rival. The Falcons tagged Grady Jarrett to keep him in the mix, but Terrell McClain continues to float in free agent limbo. For now, Jack Crawford and Deadrin Senat represent the only other defensive tackles of significance on the roster.
Davison has registered 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles for his career. Two of those sacks came in 2018, representing a new career best.
NFL Suspends Vikings CB Holton Hill
Vikings cornerback Holton Hill has been suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the league announced. It’s unfortunate news for the Vikings as Mike Hughes is still working his way back from an ACL tear. 
Hill, 22, made the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Texas and wound up appearing in all 16 games for the Vikings last year, including three starts. He finished out with 36 tackles in total and made his first career interception in the Vikings’ October romp over the Jets.
The Vikings recently picked up a couple of defensive backs displaced by the collapse of the AAF, so they’ll at least be covered on the depth chart. Still, losing Hill is less than ideal.
Ravens To Sign WR Seth Roberts
The Ravens are signing former Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts to a one-year deal, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Roberts became a free agent earlier this week when Oakland cut him loose. 
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Roberts was due to make a $4.45MM base salary with the Raiders in 2019 and up to $4.8MM through bonuses. However, his base pay was completely non-guaranteed, allowing the Raiders to shed the entire sum of his contract.
Roberts, 28, had 45 receptions for 494 yards and two touchdowns in 2018. In the previous year, he had similar figures with 43 catches for 455 yards and one score. Roberts has a career 11.6 yards per reception average, but he was more of a deep threat in his breakout 2015 season when he averaged 15 yards per grab.
The Ravens are still expected to target wide receivers in the draft, but the presence of Roberts may take off some of the pressure.
“One of the biggest things that we have to do is just take some at-bats and swing,” GM Eric DeCosta recently said of the team’s WR strategy in the draft. “It’s hard to be a .400 hitter if you’re only at bat twice. We’ve got to take some chances. We’ve got to find some guys that we like and try to appreciate the really good football players, the guys that make plays.”
Roberts joins a WR group that lost John Brown and Michael Crabtree this offseason. He’s just the third receiver on the roster who has actually caught a pass in the NFL, along with Willie Snead and Chris Moore.
Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence Nearing Deal
The Cowboys and Demarcus Lawrence are nearing agreement on an extension, according to PFT. We have similar word from Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (video link) who hears the two sides are in deep negotiations with reason for cautious optimism. 
Both the Cowboys and Lawrence’s agent want to get a deal done sometime soon and there’s hope that a pact can be agreed to in the near future. Often times, franchise tagged players will not make real headway on negotiations until the deadline draws near in July, but this could all be sewn up months in advance.
Just a few days ago, things seemed to be at an impasse between the two sides. The Cowboys finally upped their offer to about $20MM per year, but Lawrence’s camp countered by asking for around $22.5MM per season. A deal worth $20MM/year on average would make Lawrence the NFL’s highest-paid 4-3 defensive end, but he’s now gunning for a contract that would put him in the same neighborhood as Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack.
Lawrence, 27 in April, has spent his entire five-year career with the Cowboys. He has posted double digit sacks in each of the last two campaigns and is currently cuffed by a second consecutive franchise tag. Unfortunately for Dallas, Lawrence has indicated that he will not play on the one-year tender, even though it would pay him $20.5MM.