Browns Considering Baker Mayfield?
For weeks, we’ve heard that the Browns will select either USC’s Sam Darnold or Wyoming’s Josh Allen with the No. 1 overall pick. Reportedly, it’s more than a two-horse race. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is “definitely” in Cleveland’s conversation to become the top choice, an NFL executive tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
It’s a little hard to parse out what news is real this time of year. But, taken at face value, it sounds like there could be a split of opinions within the Cleveland front office. None of this year’s quarterback prospects are considered to be slam dunks, so it’s possible that the Browns are wavering on which signal caller to take.
It’s also possible that the Browns are working to give the impression that they could take Mayfield or even one of this year’s non-QBs at No. 1 overall. If the Browns can give at least one team the impression they are going to select Mayfield, it could open the door to a trade-down scenario for Cleveland. The Jets, for example, are said to be high on Mayfield, and it is conceivable that they could make another move up in this year’s draft order to land him. The Bills, armed with the Nos. 12 and 22 picks in the first round, are also in the market for a QB but are likely out of range for this year’s top four signal callers.
Publicly, GM John Dorsey has indicated that he is not concerned about Mayfield’s lack of size, which has been the main knock on him from evaluators.
“The only thing I care about is, do guys win?” Dorsey said. “Does he have accuracy? Does he have a strong arm? Can he throw the ball in the red zone in tight windows? Can he drive the ball? At the end of the game, does he win? That’s what I look for.”
Bills Unlikely To Trade Up To Giants’ No. 2 Pick?
Many have speculated that the Bills will use the Nos. 12 and 22 picks to move up to the top 5 and the Giants, who are reportedly split on this year’s top quarterback prospects, appear to be logical trade partner. However, that might not be in the cards. 
Right now, it seems unlikely that Bills GM Brandon Beane will “sell out” and trade up to the second pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Instead, the Bills are more likely to make a move if a QB they like falls to No. 5 or No. 6.
The writing has been on the wall for the Bills to make a move for a quarterback in this draft ever since the team dealt Tyrod Taylor to the Browns. Though there is a chance a quarterback they like could fall to No. 12, it has long been speculated the team will use both picks to go after the team’s No. 1 target.
With the Browns (No. 1 and No. 4) and Jets (No. 3) likely locked in to taking a quarterback, Buffalo could find more likely trade partners in the Broncos and Colts. Denver has the No. 5 pick and could be out of the quarterback market after they signed Case Keenum in the offseason. The Colts at No. 6 could also be looking to acquire additional assets from a team looking to get in on the quarterback feeding frenzy.
The Cardinals have been heavily linked to Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and could also be looking to move up into the top 10 if the Heisman Trophy winner falls.
Jets Work Out FB Derrick Coleman
The Jets auditioned fullback Derrick Coleman on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Coleman was one of several veterans to audition for the team, joining edge rusher Lamarr Houston, defensive tackle Chris Jones, and defensive linemen Tyrunn Walker and Lavar Edwards. 
Coleman, 28 in October, appeared in all 16 of the Falcons’ regular season games in 2017. He is regarded as one of the best at his position, but hasn’t found much of a market this offseason as most teams do not utilize a fullback in their offense. Known mostly for his blocking ability, Coleman has just three catches in his last two NFL seasons and 13 grabs across four active years in the league.
Coleman made headlines for the wrong reasons during his Seahawks tenure. An alleged hit-and-run incident in 2015 kept him out of football in 2016, but he avoided jail by agreeing community service plus 12 months of community supervision. The Jets already have multiple players who are dealing with legal trouble, so they’ll do some serious homework on Coleman before extending him an offer.
Chargers WR Tyrell Williams Signs Tender
Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams signed his restricted tender on Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). As of this writing, there are now only two restricted free agents who have yet to sign their tenders: Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen and Chiefs defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches. 
The Chargers will return Williams to a WR group that also includes Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, and 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams. Per the terms of the second-round tender, T. Williams will earn $2.914MM in 2018.
Williams, 26, caught 69 passes for a team-leading 1,059 yards in a breakout 2016 campaign. He came back to earth somewhat in 2017 with 43 grabs for 728 yards and four scores, but remains a dangerous receiving threat.
With four quality receivers under contract, the Chargers theoretically could deal from their surplus in advance of this weekend’s draft.
Cowboys’ David Irving Under Investigation
David Irving is under investigation from Frisco, Texas police, as Drew Davison of the Star Telegram tweets. Irving has been accused of domestic violence from a woman claiming to be his girlfriend. Cops are looking into allegations of assault for bodily injury of a family member; assault against a family member while impeding breath/circulation, and unlawful restraint. The charge of impeding one’s breath/circulation (which, effectively, means choking someone) is a felony. 
On Monday afternoon, his girlfriend retracted her allegations, per Davison (Twitter link). The Frisco Police Department plans to continue with its investigation. “We’re still going to do our due diligence,” officer Radd Rotello told Davison.
This is not Irving’s first instance of off-the-field trouble, but it is the first of its kind during his NFL career. Last year, he began the season with a four-game ban for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. He rebounded well from that suspension, however, as he racked up seven sacks in eight games. This offseason, he signed his one-year, $2.9MM restricted tender to remain in Dallas.
If the allegations have merit, Irving could be looking at another suspension to begin the 2018 season, not to mention a host of legal trouble.
Raiders To Sign CB Daryl Worley
The Raiders have agreed to sign cornerback Daryl Worley, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Worley was released by the Eagles last week following a bizarre arrest. 
According to police, Worley was found passed out inside of a car in Philadelphia at around 6am on the morning of Sunday, April 15. The cornerback was combative with the cops, who ultimately tasered him. After that, police found a gun in Worley’s possession that was not properly registered. He now faces multiple charges, including a violation of the uniform firearms act, driving under the influence, and disorderly conduct.
Worley is now on his third team of 2018. In March, the former third-round pick was shipped from the Panthers to the Eagles in the Torrey Smith trade. The defending champs did not want to wait for things to shake out in court, but the Raiders are apparently willing to take a flier on him.
The Raiders will start Gareon Conley and free agent pickup Rashaan Melvin at the main cornerback spots. Worley joins Melvin, Shareece Wright, Leon Hall, Senquez Golson, and Shaquille Richardson as newcomers to Oakland’s CB group.
In two seasons with Carolina, the West Virginia product recorded three interceptions and two sacks while starting 25 of his 31 games.
Raiders Exercise Amari Cooper’s Fifth-Year Option
No surprise here. The Raiders have exercised their fifth-year option on wide receiver Amari Cooper, per a club announcement. 
As a wide receiver taken in the top 10, Cooper’s salary for 2019 will be $13.924MM. That’s not exactly cheap, but it’s well worth it for one of the best young wide receivers in the game.
The Raiders have already begun discussing a long-term deal with Cooper’s agent. There’s mutual interest in a long-term deal, but Cooper’s reps will push for a deal that will position him as one of the highest-paid players at his position.
“We’ve been in contact with his agent,” McKenzie said. “I don’t want to put anything out there, don’t want to put the cart before the horse so to speak, but we like Amari.”
Cooper, 24 in June, was inconsistent last year and had eight games with less than 40 yards receiving. However, he was excellent in the previous two years as he averaged 78 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns.
Latest On Ohio State C Billy Price
Good news for Ohio State center Billy Price. Price tells SiriusXM that he has regained full range of motion after suffering a partially torn pectoral muscle (via PFT). 
[RELATED: Draft Notes: Giants, Eagles, Lamar Jackson]
Price hurt himself while doing the bench press at the combine in February. As one of the draft’s top offensive linemen, he was widely projected as a first-round pick prior to the injury. The torn pec is a definite setback, but based on the latest info, it sounds as though he could still be a top 32 pick. The belief is that Price will be ready in time for training camp, so any team drafting him will not have to worry about Price being behind the 8-ball.
There are rumblings of a potential late-round run on interior offensive linemen, which could involve Price, Arkansas center/guard Frank Ragnow, Iowa center James Daniels, and Georgia guard Isaiah Wynn. The Eagles, who count tackle among their top needs but aren’t hard up for a guard or center, could score a decent haul for their pick at No. 32 if that happens.
Tom Brady’s Agent Says He’ll Play In 2018
Tom Brady reportedly hasn’t told the Patriots that he’ll play for them in 2018, but his agent says there’s no real uncertainty. Don Yee expects Brady to return to the field, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes. 
[RELATED: Patriots Host Louisville QB Lamar Jackson On Top 30 Visit]
“Tom’s intentions have not changed,” Yee said Monday. “He’s consistently said he’ll play beyond this contract and into his mid-40s, or until he feels he isn’t playing at a championship level. I understand the constant speculation, but this is one point he’s been firm about.”
Last week, multiple sources told Schefter that Brady’s status was up in the air. One source said there was a “75% chance” of Brady coming back, which means a 25% chance that he would not be back. Since then, word has surfaced that Brady wants to continue playing, but he would like a new contract from the team. Yee admitted that Brady, “like every player,” pays attention to his financials, but he continues to train every day.
“He customizes his preparation to each season in order to maximize his performance,” Yee said. “His training methods are always evolving and getting better. The year he missed the first four games — that month of training on his own was particularly efficient.”
In all likelihood, it sounds like Brady will continue to play into his age-41 season and intends to keep going well beyond 2018. The Patriots may need to address his contract, however, in order to keep their star player happy. As it stands, Brady is set to carry below-market cap numbers of $22MM in each of the next two seasons.
Patriots Host Lamar Jackson On Top 30 Visit
The Patriots quietly hosted Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson on a Top 30 pre-draft visit two weeks ago, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Pats were left “intrigued and impressed” with Jackson, which gives further credence to reports connecting New England to the Heisman Trophy winner. 
The Patriots may or may not be within range to select Jackson at No. 23 overall. The draft’s top four QBs – Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield – are widely projected to come off of the board in the top 10, but the Dolphins (No. 11), Bills (Nos. 12 and 22), Cardinals (No. 15), Ravens (No. 16), and Chargers (No. 17) all have varying degrees of interest in signal callers. If the Patriots are truly sold on Jackson, they may have to move up in the order. In theory, the Pats could package the No. 23 and No. 31 picks to advance in the first round, but that would be a gutsy move to make with more pressing needs to fill elsewhere.
The Patriots have not selected a quarterback in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, but they need to address the future of the position with Tom Brady‘s 41st birthday coming up in August. The Patriots are either gung-ho about Jackson as his heir or they are actively seeking to give other teams a false impression in advance of the draft.