Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the conference championship games in the books, we now know the draft order for 30 of the first round’s 32 picks. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
32. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
NFC Rumors: Redskins, Cravens, Lions
Will the Redskins bring Su’a Cravens back into the fold? ESPN.com’s John Keim gets the sense that coaches are still reluctant to bring him into the locker room again.
Meanwhile, the presence of safety Montae Nicholson may make it easier for the team to part ways with the versatile defender. Nicholson, last year’s fourth-round pick, has only given the team a limited sample to evaluate. However, when he was on the field, his presence allowed slot corner Kendall Fuller to focus on his man. Nicholson’s ability to cover could also allow the team to use D.J. Swearinger more in the box where he is at his best. Cravens’ talent is undeniable, but at this time, it sounds like the Redskins are on course to cut or trade him.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein isn’t necessarily expecting major changes to the Lions‘ offense with Matt Patricia in command, though he anticipates a renewed focus on the run game’s efficiency. On the other side of the ball, Patricia may move to change from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4. Ultimately, that may lead to a personnel shakeup in the front seven.
- Fullback Marcel Reece implied to John Clayton of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he was waiting on the Seahawks to bring him back last year and turned down other offers as he waited on Seattle. Reece, 33 in June, sat out the entire 2017 season after he missed Seattle’s final cut but he hopes to continue playing in 2018.
- Before Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, it was reported that the Vikings are giving serious thought to franchise tagging quarterback Case Keenum.
Gronk In Concussion Protocol
Rob Gronkowski is in the concussion protocol after taking a big hit in the AFC Championship Game. However, there is optimism that Gronk will be cleared in time for the Super Bowl, a source tells Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald (on Twitter). 
Gronk was knocked out of action late in the first half after he was leveled by Jaguars safety Barry Church. The tight end managed to walk to the locker room under his own power, but he was clearly out of it. The good news is that Gronk has two weeks to rest up before the big game on February 4.
Gronkowski had one catch for 21 yards in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville. He came up big against the Titans last week, however, as he hauled in six grabs for 81 yards and one touchdown. In the regular season, Gronk had 69 catches, 1,084 yards, and eight TDs, earning him a fourth career First-Team All-Pro nod. Needless to say, he’ll be sorely missed if he cannot play in the Super Bowl.
Bengals Owner Mike Brown On Marvin Lewis
The Bengals re-signed coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year deal, leaving many in the football world perplexed. While Lewis has led the Bengals to the playoffs five times, including five consecutive appearances from 2011-2015, he has never gotten the Bengals past the Wild Card round. There were also multiple reports indicating that Lewis was looking forward to doing something else in 2018. 
On Friday, owner Mike Brown sat down with Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer to discuss what went into the team’s decision to re-sign Lewis. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
On whether he thought the team’s relationship with Lewis was over in light of the aforementioned reports:
‘I chose not to make a decision on what we were going to do going forward until all the evidence had been submitted. And that meant playing through the full season and not making a call prematurely. I would say that while we had serious reverses and they were unsettling, to put it mildly, we bounced back at the end of the year. We beat two teams that were in playoff runs. We beat them in games that were important for them where they gave their best shot and I was impressed how we rebounded. That played into what was in my mind when I had to make a final call.”
On the impact of the team’s season-ending wins over the Lions and Ravens:
“Yes. We had a very unusual season. Obviously, we were off offensively. We lost a handful of games that were games we could’ve, should’ve won. They were very close. They were one-play games. And if we had managed to win our share of those, we would’ve been out of that middle group of teams. In my mind, there’s a middle group that runs from say 6-10 to 9-7. That’s over a dozen teams. With all of them, they have a fan base that is dissatisfied. Ours is no exception. And yet they are all close to having been in the next level. And I think that that’s where we were. We had a disappointing season because we didn’t win our share of those close games that we could’ve, should’ve won. I think it goes beyond that, though. I think we tailed off in some areas that brought us down. I think those issues are correctable. I don’t think we’re far off. I think we can make the changes that we need to make and quickly rebound to the level where we were a couple years ago.”
On why he ultimately stuck with Lewis:
“I think he knows our situation well. He brings continuity. I don’t think he lost the football team. I think that was evidenced by the last couple games. The players like Marvin. They support him. I think that’s a good thing. The area where we have some making up to do is with our public. They are unsettled because they wanted to see more. And then it didn’t come through for them in the fashion they had expected or hoped; they began to make commentary and some of that was well, it’s Marvin, some of that was well, it’s Mike, some of that was whatever it was. I have to look beyond that. I have to just do what I think puts our team in the best position to win. Even if it is a short-term issue with our fans. I will tell you that it’s all going to play out on the field here. And if we win, it will be great. If we don’t, you’ll be right back here asking why.”
“…I think he can manage. I think he has managed it in the past and I think we’ve been very close. We haven’t quite gotten where we needed to get. He knows that. I know that. I do think, repeating again, that our best chance to get there is with him having another run at it. He brings a lot to the table. You can always say the next one will be better, an improvement, but you’re talking about the unknown essentially. We do know Marvin. We know him with his strengths, we know him with his weaknesses. And we all have a few of those. He has his. I think they’re enough to get us there. And I decided to give him the opportunity.”
Latest On Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
It’s safe to say that the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell are not in a good place right now. Bell arrived late for the Steelers’ playoff game against the Jaguars last week and missed almost all of the walk-through on the day prior, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears. 
Bell made waves earlier this month when he said that he would retire if the Steelers use the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive season. It’s hard to imagine Bell walking away from the game in the midst of his prime, but the Steelers might not want to invest $14.57MM in him for an additional season knowing that he could pull similar stunts. He’s also not doing himself any favors in regards to getting a lucrative long-term deal out of the organization.
Last year, Bell reportedly turned down a deal with an average annual value of $12MM per year and upwards of $30MM over the first two years. Some reports indicated that Bell’s agent was pushing for him to take the deal when the running back declined the offer at the last minute.
“It will eventually come down to me playing on the tag or not,” Bell said on Jan. 11. “They tag me again, it will be me [saying], ‘OK, do I want to play on the tag or do I not want to play on the tag?’ That’s what it comes down to. If I was a free agent and they let me go, be a free agent, then yeah, I’m going to go explore free agency, test the market.”
Bell finished out 2017 with 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 85 passes for 655 yards and two scores en route a First-Team All-Pro nod.
Fritz Pollard Alliance Responds To Raiders Ruling
The NFL has decided that the Raiders did not violate the Rooney Rule during the interview process that resulted in Jon Gruden‘s hiring. The Fritz Pollard Alliance is less than pleased. 
“We strongly disagree with the NFL’s conclusion that the Raiders did not violate the Rooney Rule,” the Fritz Pollard Alliance said in a statement (via PFT). “We believe the facts overwhelmingly point in the other direction. In his enthusiasm to hire Jon Gruden, Raiders’ owner Mark Davis failed to fulfill his obligation under the Rule and should step forward and acknowledge he violated the Rule.”
The league feels that the Raiders complied with the Rooney rule by interviewing a pair of minority candidates before officially hiring Gruden. But, it appears that Gruden verbally accepted the job and agreed to terms with the club well before Raiders tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin met with GM Reggie McKenzie. The Fritz Pollard Alliance says it will push to change the Rooney Rule to ensure that a black candidate is genuinely considered for every head coaching vacancy.
“The NFL broke ground when it created the Rooney Rule, but it made the wrong call in refusing to penalize Mark Davis in this instance,” the statement said. “Davis crossed the line, and we are disappointed in the League’s decision. The Rooney Rule and all of the League’s equal opportunity efforts need to be strengthened. We have called for meetings with the League to ensure that a process like this never happens again.”
The Fritz Pollard Alliance is led by John Wooten and U.S. civil rights attorney Cyrus Mehri. Mehri, a tenacious lawyer who ran an aggressive campaign to take over the NFLPA last year, figures to fight hard for an update to Rooney Rule protocol.
NFL: Raiders Complied With Rooney Rule
When the Raiders seemingly agreed to hire Jon Gruden without interviewing any other candidates, black or otherwise, many wondered if the team would face sanctions for violating the Rooney Rule. The NFL investigated the matter and concluded on Friday that the team did comply with the rule, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
The ruling is sure to draw eye rolls from many around the game. In Gruden’s introductory press conference, owner Mark Davis insinuated that he had reached agreement with the coach on Christmas Eve. Two minority candidates – Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin – were technically interviewed before Gruden signed a contract, but it seems that the job was already taken by the time they met with team brass in the New Year.
“I felt pretty confident that he was all-in,” Davis said of the Dec. 24 discussion. “And that’s the term that we were using in our discussions and everything, are you all-in? And I never wavered from all-in. And this time he didn’t waver, either.”
First implemented in 2003, the Rooney Rule stipulates that at least one minority candidate must be interviewed for all head coach or senior football operations positions in the NFL. It’s possible that there will be changes to the rule in response to the Raiders’ conduct.
Jets WR Robby Anderson Arrested
Robby Anderson was arrested early Friday morning in Sunrise, Florida, according to multiple reports. Details are sparse at the moment, but the Jets wide receiver is facing the following nine charges: harm to a public servant or family, reckless driving, resisting an officer/obstruction without violence, fleeing/eluding while lights/siren active, failure to drive in a single lane, two counts of disobeying/avoiding a red light, speeding, and turning without a signal. 
Unfortunately, this is not Anderson’s first run-in with the law. The 24-year-old (25 in May) was arrested last year after getting into a fight at a Miami-area music festival. He is facing charges of felony resisting arrest with violence and obstruction of police for that incident and will appear in court on March 19.
Anderson’s latest slip-up comes on the heels of a breakout season. As an NFL sophomore, Anderson led the Jets with 941 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The former undrafted free agent figures to be a big part of the team’s plans in 2018 (along with a healthy Quincy Enunwa), but a suspension and/or jail time could force the Jets to look elsewhere for WR help.
Early Entry Players For NFL Draft
The NFL announced that 106 players have been granted special eligibility for the 2018 draft. Special eligibility, generally, refers to players who have met the NFL’s three-year eligibility rule and renounced their college football eligibility.
The group of 106 early eligibility players marks a new high for the league, up from 95 in 2017, 96 in 2016, 74 in 2015, and 98 in 2014. Ten years ago (2009), there were only 46 players forgoing their remaining college eligibility. It’s a trend that figures to continue, so long the NCAA continues its policy of not compensating its athletes.
As previously reported, this year’s early entry crop will include top quarterbacks Wyoming’s Josh Allen, USC’s Sam Darnold, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, and UCLA’s Josh Rosen plus Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, and LSU linebacker Arden Key.
Click “Read More” to see the entire list of players who have been granted early access to the NFL:
AFC South Notes: Brees, Jaguars, Titans
Drew Brees says that he will not test the free agent market this offseason, but Mike Florio of PFT is not convinced. It’s possible, he argues, that Brees is testing the Saints to see if they will make a lowball offer. If the Saints don’t come to the table with an adequate proposal, he could change course and see what else is out there.
If Brees does explore free agency, the Jaguars are one of several teams that could show serious interest in him, Florio speculates. Jacksonville is one win away from the Super Bowl, but if they do not win it all, the Jags could decide that the missing ingredient is a top-tier quarterback.
The Jaguars would almost certainly kick the tires on Brees if he’s out there, but they would have to get creative in terms of finances in order to land him. The Broncos and Jets would also figure to have interest in Brees and they both have significantly more cap room to work with than Jacksonville.
Here’s more from the AFC South:
- Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com looked back at the Titans‘ 2017 draft class. The group starts with No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis, who had a two-touchdown game in the playoff loss to the Patriots. Davis missed a good chunk of time in ’17, but Wyatt believes his confidence boost will help him going into the offseason. Meanwhile, Wyatt wonders what the rest of the WR group will look like around him since both Eric Decker and Harry Douglas are scheduled for free agency in March.
- With the No. 3 pick in the draft, should the Colts go with pass rusher Bradley Chubb or running back Saquon Barkley? Mike Wells of ESPN.com stacked the two standouts against each other but argued that they can’t go wrong with either one since they both fill a position of need. There is a bit of a stigma around taking a running back high in the draft, but the Rams, Cowboys, and Jaguars have gotten 1,000-yard seasons out of Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, and Leonard Fournette.
- The Texans are expected to try and bolster the cornerback and safety positions in free agency and the draft, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. They’ll first have to take stock of what they have in-house, however. Veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph is a pending free agent and they must decide whether to exercise a fifth-year option for injury-prone corner Kevin Johnson.