Latest On Johnny Manziel
A look at Johnny Manziel as he gets set to make his Spring League debut:
- Manziel is scheduled to play roughly half of his team’s offensive snaps on Saturday coach Terry Shea tells ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. That’s going to be standard procedure for the league, which has eight quarterbacks spread out among its four teams. Manziel will play the first and third quarters for the South team on Saturday, while Cody Keith, who played at East Carolina and in the CFL, will handle the second and fourth quarters. Besides Manziel, former Titan Zach Mettenberger is the most notable quarterback in The Spring League.
- Recent comments by Manziel regarding his time with the Browns drew some criticism. “If Cleveland did any of their homework they would have known I wasn’t a guy who came in every day and watched film,” Manziel on The Dan Patrick Show (Twitter link). “I wasn’t a guy who really knew the X’s and O’s of football.”
- Those comments won’t hurt Manziel’s bid to return to the NFL, in the opinion of Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Garafolo doesn’t believe that the former first-round pick was was trying to make excuses or shift blame, so it likely won’t be a strike against him with coaches. Manziel is reportedly willing to accept a practice squad deal with no money guaranteed if necessary, so it sounds like he has humbled himself and is willing to put in the work this time around.
Jaguars Worked Out RG3
The Ravens signed Robert Griffin III to a one-year deal this week, but not before he drew interest elsewhere. The Jaguars auditioned the quarterback on Monday, according to Mike Florio of PFT. 
The Jaguars did not offer Griffin a contract, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union (on Twitter). But, the Jaguars’ level of interest in Griffin was enough to push the Ravens to get a deal done with him now, rather than after the draft.
All in all, it’s a low-risk proposition for Baltimore as they gave RG3 a one-year deal worth $1MM with a modest signing bonus. If Griffin flops, the Ravens can cut bait with little fiscal penalty. If he looks solid in camp, the Ravens can move forward with him as their No. 2 QB behind Joe Flacco, replacing free agent Ryan Mallett.
In his younger days with the Redskins, Griffin was among the most dynamic talents in the NFL. Since then, health issues have held him back. He later found his way to the Browns, but injuries limited him to just five games in an uninspiring 2016 campaign. Last year, Griffin was out of the game altogether. Few expect Griffin to recapture the glory of his 2012 season, but he could be a value signing if he play up to a league average backup.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, have just two QBs on the roster in Blake Bortles and the newly-acquired Cody Kessler. It’s likely that Jacksonville will explore signal callers in this month’s draft and also continue to scour the free agent market for veteran options to fill out the QB depth chart.
Giants Had Interest In Marquette King
Marquette King signed with the Broncos, but not before hearing from some other interested teams. The Giants were among the clubs to reach out to the former Raiders punter, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). 
Ultimately, the Giants were unwilling to match or exceed the Broncos’ offer. King’s contract is a two-year, $4MM deal with an option that can take him into a third year at an additional $2MM, which would give him $6MM in total. If King is a First-Team All-Pro in 2019, his 2020 salary will escalate from $2MM to $3MM, boosting the total value of the pact to $7MM. It’s worth noting that despite King’s notoriety, he has never before earned a First-Team All-Pro nod. The closest he ever came in that regard was a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2016.
King’s previous deal with the Raiders had him as the fifth-highest paid punter in the league at an average rate of $3.3MM/year. His new deal puts him in the middle of the pack at $2MM/year, so this is ostensibly a bargain signing for the Broncos.
The Vikings also expressed interest in King before he agreed to terms with Denver.
Latest On Michigan DT Maurice Hurst
NFL Combine medical rechecks take place late next week and Michigan’s Maurice Hurst was not requested back for them, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That is a positive sign for the defensive lineman after he was found to have a heart condition during the February combine, cutting his stay in Indianapolis short. 
[RELATED: Wisconsin CB Nick Nelson Suffers Injury]
Hurst was allowed to participate in the Wolverines’ pro day and could still come off of the board early if he passes physicals with enough teams (or, perhaps, the right teams). The Browns recently met with Hurst and they could be among the clubs to consider him with second round picks at No. 33 and No. 35.
Although Hurst is a bit undersized for the defensive tackle position, he has been lauded for his explosiveness and hand moves to get around linemen. From a talent perspective, he’s one of the best interior pass rushers in this year’s class, but his medical situation will ultimately dictate his draft stock.
NFL Draft Rumors: Jackson, Patriots, Rudolph
Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson may have erred by opting to go through the NFL draft process without an agent, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com writes. Jackson will avoid paying a portion of his rookie deal to a representative, but in an effort to save some cash, he could be hurting his draft position, which would negate the savings on the standard 1.5% fee.
Reportedly, Jackson struggled in breaking down X’s and O’s on the white board in meetings with teams and his Wonderlic score was poor. Some say the Wonderlic is meaningless, but some execs still use it as part of their evaluation process and an agent would have had him prepped for the test and other aspects of team interviews. An agent would also help to push the narrative that Jackson should be considered above some of this year’s top quarterbacks, including USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, and Wyoming’s Josh Allen.
Ultimately, Jackson’s decision will look like a smart one if he winds up going in the top half of the first round, Corry argues. But, based on what we’ve heard so far, that doesn’t seem likely. It’s notable that the Texans, who are already armed with a star QB in Deshaun Watson and don’t pick until the third round, recently had a private workout with Jackson.
Here’s more NFL draft news:
- South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst will visit the Panthers on Friday Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Carolina owns the No. 24 overall pick and they could use that selection to give themselves a potent tight end with receiving ability. Greg Olsen will start for the Panthers this season, but he is 33 and entering a contract year. In the past, Olsen has fought for a revamped deal, so it’s conceivable that he will look to push the market next March. Even if Olsen is retained beyond 2018, the Panthers need to consider the future of the tight end position.
- The Patriots, who now own two first-round picks, recently had a private workout with Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, Rapoport tweets. Rudolph hasn’t garnered as much attention as this year’s top four QBs, but he is a potential first-rounder. Rapoport hears that he has been extremely busy with meetings and workouts, a possible sign that his stock is climbing.
- Rudolph will also have a top 30 visit with the Bills this weekend, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). The Bills own picks at 12 and 22, so he could be in the mix for one of those spots. Rudolph has also met with or had workouts for the Chargers, Saints, Giants, Steelers, and Bengals.
Wisconsin CB Nick Nelson Suffers Injury
Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson suffered a torn meniscus during a private workout with a team, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He’ll undergo surgery to repair his knee next week. 
Although Nelson was not considered to be a prospect on the same tier as Denzel Ward (Ohio State), Jaire Alexander (Louisville), Josh Jackson (Iowa), Mike Hughes (UCF), and Isaiah Oliver (Colorado), he was regarded as a potential Day 2 pick. The injury could push him down to Day 3 territory as he’ll be unable to conduct further workouts between now and the draft later this month.
The good news is that a meniscus tear is not as severe as an ACL tear or other knee ligament injuries. Nelson should be back on the field after 3-4 months, which would put him in line to still play in his rookie season.
Nelson, a Maryland native, began his collegiate career at Hawaii before transferring to Wisconsin. With the Badgers, he made a name for himself as a tireless worker who can stick to a receiver in coverage. However, his lack of ideal size at 5’11” and zero interceptions in three seasons are among the negative marks against him.
Patriots To Sign WR Jordan Matthews
The Patriots are signing former Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Matthews had a down year due to injury, but Schefter hears that Matthews is now back to full health. 
Matthews met with the Patriots on Monday and left town without signing a deal. He met with the Titans later on in the week, but he has circled back to New England for a prove-it contract. Matthews also had a visit with the Packers in this free agency cycle and drew interest from the Cardinals.
From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles. He had just 25 catches for Buffalo last season, but he could be primed for big numbers once again in the Patriots’ potent offense. He’ll help the Pats in their bid to replace Danny Amendola‘s production, though he offers a decidedly different skill set.
The Patriots shook up their WR depth chart this week by trading No. 1 receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams for a first-round pick. For now, the Pats’ WR group consists of Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell, and Matthews. All of those players are solid in their own right, but the Pats will probably continue to evaluate high-potential receivers in this month’s draft.
Cowboys To Sign DE Kony Ealy
The Cowboys have agreed to terms with defensive end Kony Ealy on a one-year deal, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Ealy spent last season with the Jets. 
Ealy met with Dallas on Tuesday and agreed to terms roughly 48 hours later. He’ll now help to back up starters Demarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford, filling a role previously filled by Benson Mayowa.
Ealy, 26, was traded from the Panthers to the Patriots last offseason, but was cut by New England in the summer. The Jets picked him up him off of waivers, but the Cowboys also had a claim in on him. He went on to put together a solid season in New York, even though his stat line doesn’t jump off of the page.
For his work last year, Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 61 edge defender in the league, which actually placed him ahead of former teammate Julius Peppers, despite Peppers racking up eleven sacks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/5/18
Today’s minor moves:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: RB George Atkinson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Tavarres King
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: LB Michael Mauti
Cardinals Claim 2 QBs Off Waivers
The Cardinals have added not just one, but two quarterbacks off of the waiver wire. On Thursday, Arizona was awarded QB Brandon Doughty from the Dolphins and QB Alek Torgersen from the Lions, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The signal callers join starter Sam Bradford and primary backup Mike Glennon on the Cards’ QB depth chart. Of course, the Cardinals will not carry more than three QBs on the final roster, so Doughty and Torgersen will be competing for one spot. There could also be additional veterans or rookies (both drafted and undrafted) thrown into the mix.
Torgersen played his college football at Penn before hooking on with the Falcons as a UDFA in 2017. He missed the final cut and hooked on with the Redskins’ taxi squad before finishing out the year in Detroit.
Doughty, a seventh-round pick of Miami in 2016, re-upped with the team on a reserve/futures deal in January before being handed a pink slip this week. In his final year at Western Kentucky, Doughty completed 71.9% of his passes for 5,055 yards with 48 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.