Extra Points: Mariota, Welker, Forte, Gurley
The Titans will not trade Marcus Mariota after selecting him second overall, GM Ruston Webster said, per Paul Kuharksy of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Moreover, he’ll be the Week 1 starter, says head coach Ken Whisenhunt (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean). Additionally, despite reports that Zach Mettenberger wants to be traded, Webster says he think the incumbent QB will come to embrace his new backup role, adding that Mettenberger won’t be traded (link).
- Free agent receiver Wes Welker has been cleared to play by a top concussion expert, according to Mike Klis of 9 News, who writes that Dr. Stanley Herring (a member of the NFL’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee) has given Welker the green light. The 33-year-old Welker indicated in February that he intends to play in 2015 despite a myriad of health concerns.
- Despite the fact that he wasn’t present at voluntary workouts, Bears running back Matt Forte doesn’t intend to stage a training camp holdout as he angles for a new contract, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Though Forte admits he wants an extension, and says he and GM Ryan Pace discussed such a deal earlier this offseason, Forte realizes he has little to no leverage in the situation.
- Todd Gurley was the No. 1 player on the Rams’ board, so choosing him at No. 10 was an easy call, per Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- The Eagles apparently aren’t interested in players with character concerns, as neither Marcus Peters nor Dorial Green-Beckham is on their board, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Bears Discuss No. 2 Pick With Titans
6:33pm: Besides the Eagles, the Bears are the team pushing hardest for the No. 2 pick, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Kuharsky passes along word from ESPN’s Bob Holtzman (Twitter link) that the Bears have tried to stir up interest in Cutler, but the Titans have no interest.
2:51pm: A handful of teams, including the Eagles, Browns, Jets, and Rams, continue to be cited as potential Marcus Mariota suitors, linked to the second overall pick in the draft. Now, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has added another club to that list. According to Rapoport (Twitter links via Shayne L. Marsaw), the Bears have touched base with the Titans about the possibility of moving up to No. 2.
The Bears, who currently hold the No. 7 overall pick, would certainly have an easier time moving up from their spot than a team like the Eagles (No. 20) would, but there are several notable roadblocks impeding a potential deal. For one, the team has Jay Cutler under contract, and while the new regime hasn’t exactly been overflowing with praise for the incumbent quarterback, the guaranteed money still left on his contract would make it difficult to simply move on from him.
Additionally, the Bears have a number of other holes on their roster, and will likely be in the market for players who will fit their new defensive scheme — surrendering multiple picks to move up for Mariota would significantly hinder the club’s ability to add talent at several different positions.
Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report (Twitter links) suggests that the Bears’ primary needs are at wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, and safety, and landing a pass rusher wouldn’t hurt either. Giving up another premium pick to move up from No. 7 to draft a quarterback would leave Chicago with plenty of question marks, putting pressure on the club to nail its mid-round picks.
Breer’s Latest: Titans, Gurley, Rams, Bears
With the draft less than an hour from getting underway, Albert Breer of the NFL Network took to Twitter to pass along a number of draft-related nuggets. Here are the highights from Breer (all Twitter links):
- The Titans have fielded offers for the No. 2 pick, but haven’t gotten any to their liking yet and are ready to draft Marcus Mariota. The club isn’t very interested in picks below 15th overall as a central part of any trade package.
- Teams like the Browns, Dolphins, and Chargers are eyeing Todd Gurley, and it’s possible one of those clubs – or another suitor – will get anxious and trade up for the Georgia running back, given the interest he’s generating.
- Although Washington, the Jets, and the Rams are all viewed as trade-down candidates in the top 10, St. Louis is a little more flexible than the other two teams, who may not want to drop too far. Washington may target an offensive lineman like Brandon Scherff or Ereck Flowers if Scot McCloughan decides to move down, and those players – or Andrus Peat – could be targets for the Giants and Rams as well.
- There’s a belief that Giants GM Jerry Reese would prefer a pass rusher to an offensive lineman at No. 9, but depending on how the first few picks play out, the value might not match up.
- According to Breer, the run on offensive lineman may happen earlier in the first round than people think, which may motivate one or two teams to trade up. Cameron Erving has a chance to go in the teens. The Panthers and Broncos are among the teams picking late in the first who are seeking offensive linemen.
- Cornerback Trae Waynes is generating buzz and could go as high as seventh overall to the Bears. Dupree and Kevin White are also in the mix at No. 7. The draft range for Amari Cooper appears to be between the third and sixth overall pick, so he likely won’t be available for Chicago at No. 7.
- The Falcons may decide to move up from No. 8 for an impact defender like Leonard Williams, but if they stay where they are, Bud Dupree could be their man.
- Either Sean Mannion or Bryce Petty figures to be the third quarterback off the board, and it’s not likely to happen in the first round.
- According to Breer, teams believe Shane Ray will slip but will be picked in the first round, whereas Randy Gregory isn’t viewed as a first-round pick.
NFC North Rumors: Packers, Peterson, Bennett
News from the NFC North..
- Veteran tight end Tom Crabtree took to Twitter to announce his retirement from football. “I’m officially retiring from football,” he wrote. “Thanks for all the support and criticism over the years. This means I can do dirty jokes on here now.” Crabtree spent parts of five seasons in the NFL, three of which were with the Packers. He took home a championship ring with Green Bay following the 2010 season.
- Former Vikings receiver and Hall of Famer Cris Carter, hinted today on Mike & Mike that he has been given inside information about an Adrian Peterson trade, as Michael David Smith of PFT writes. “I’m under gag order on the Adrian Peterson situation, but I believe something’s gonna happen,” Carter said. “But I can’t talk about it.”
- Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter), meanwhile, has heard nothing to suggest that anything has changed with Peterson and A source who spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter) termed the speculation as “BS.”
- When asked if he expects tight end Martellus Bennett to still be on the roster after the draft, Bears head coach John Fox responded in the affirmative, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported on Wednesday that the tight end is on the trade block.
Extra Points: Hardy, Randle, Jordan
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith firmly believes there is precedent for getting Greg Hardy‘s suspension reduced, Charean Williams of the Star Telegram writes. “In the last three years, we’ve had the league overturned three times in [the Saints’] Bounty, [Adrian] Peterson and Ray Rice,” Smith said as he gears up to defend the Cowboys star. “To me, it’s never a question about whether I’m confident or not. We start with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and if they continue to seek to impose penalties that are inconsistent with that agreement or inconsistent of the law of the case that has been developed under that agreement, this is what unions do. We fight that.” More from around the NFL..
- Cowboys running back Joseph Randle won’t face domestic violence charges for his incident in Wichita, according to Drew Davidson of the Star Telegram tweets. There was a “lack of evidence” cited by the DA’s office in the case. More from around the NFL..
- Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan issued a statement through the NFLPA regarding his suspension. “I’m very disappointed that I will not be playing in the NFL in the 2015 season,” the statement read. “Because of past positive tests and my status in the drug program, the consequence of dilute (not positive) tests is severe. I deeply regret putting myself in this position, and I apologize to my teammates and the Dolphins organization. I will use the time away from playing to finish my college degree. I will stay in excellent physical shape and look forward to returning to the NFL as soon as possible. I’m deeply grateful to my family and friends for their continued support.”
- Before the Seahawks traded for tight end Jimmy Graham, they had trade discussions with the Bears about Martellus Bennett, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- Alex Boone, who held out last offseason for a new contract, will skip all of the 49ers‘ voluntary activities in the final year of his contract, a source close to the guard tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Boone, who will earn $3.4MM in 2015, has not taken part in the 49ers’ offseason program, and he was not on the field Tuesday and Wednesday for the start of the team’s voluntary three-day minicamp at the team’s practice facility.
- The Titans have gotten calls from multiple teams inquiring about what it will take to deal for the No. 2 overall pick, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- Meanwhile, one team executive tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that the Titans have been asking for three first round picks to part with the No. 2 choice. The executive laughed hard when passing that info along, he adds.
Martellus Bennett On Trade Block
Earlier in 2015, a report suggested that Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett wanted a new contract and a trade out of Seattle. Members of the Seahawks organization quickly shot down the idea that Bennett was seeking a trade, though it does still appear that the standout pass rusher wants to rework his deal.
Now, a similar report has surfaced regarding Bennett’s brother, Martellus Bennett. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Bears are entertaining trade offers for their Pro Bowl tight end, and Bennett wants a new contract, whether he remains in Chicago or lands with a new team.
Bennett, 28, is coming off his best season, having racked up 90 receptions, 916 receiving yards, and six touchdowns for the Bears in 2014 — all of those figures were career-highs. So it makes sense that the veteran tight end would be seeking a raise, particularly since his contract doesn’t include any more guaranteed money.
Bennett is slated to earn about $5MM annually in 2015 and 2016, the final two years of his contract. While those are respectable salaries, Bennett presumably took notice of what happened on the free agent market this offseason, as players like Jordan Cameron and Charles Clay signed for $7.5MM per year — between them, Cameron and Clay combined for fewer catches than Bennett had in 2014.
While no teams have been linked to Bennett as potential suitors at this point, the Ravens, Packers, Browns, and Falcons are a few clubs with ample cap room and without a top-tier tight end.
Bears To Decline Shea McClellin’s Option
The Bears will not exercise their fifth-year option on outside linebacker Shea McClellin, general manager Ryan Pace told reporters today (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). The decision means that McClellin will enter a contract year, and will be eligible to hit the open market in 2016.
McClellin was selected 19th overall by the Bears in the 2012 draft, and after playing sparingly in his rookie year, he earned 20 starts for the club over the past two seasons. However, the 24-year-old failed to have a real impact for the defense during that stretch, compiling a combined 66 tackles and five sacks in 2013 and 2014.
If the Bears had elected to pick up McClellin’s option for the 2016 season, it would have cost the team $7.751MM, though that salary is guaranteed for injury only until the start of the ’16 league year. New Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is transitioning the unit from a 4-3 to a 3-4 in 2015, so given McClellin’s underwhelming play to date, and potential concerns about his fit in the new system, it makes sense that the new coaching staff would decide to pass on the option.
Of course, it’s possible that switching to the 3-4 will actually help McClellin, but if that’s the case, the Bears should still have the opportunity to negotiate a new deal with him next winter before he reaches the free agent market, likely at a rate far below $7.75MM.
Here are a few more Bears notes:
- West Virginia wideout Kevin White said today that he believes he’ll be the Bears’ choice if he’s still on the board at No. 7, per Around the NFL (Twitter link). Receiver is an area of need for Chicago after the team traded Brandon Marshall, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the club opted for a defender instead.
- According to Pace, the team has identified seven players as targets for the No. 7 pick, so at least one of them will be available if the club doesn’t move up or down (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times).
- Pace had fielded calls for that seventh overall pick, tweets Jahns. The GM hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trading up from No. 7, but would be mindful of the cost and proceed with caution in that scenario (Twitter link via Jahns).
- According to Jahns (via Twitter), Pace’s big board features 170 prospects.
NFC Notes: Packers, Peterson, Ratliff, 49ers
With Tramon Williams (Browns) and Davon House (Jaguars) both departing in free agency, there’s a void at outside cornerback for the Packers. The odds-on replacement right now is Casey Hayward, but Green Bay will have options to choose from in the first and second round, Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes.
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has made no secret of the fact that he’d like to get some deals done on draft day. As Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes, the GM has a history of doing that.
- Of course, Adrian Peterson is the Vikings‘ most notable potential trade chip, and according to Mike Leslie of WFAA (Twitter link), the running back said yesterday that “it would be nice” to play in Dallas. However, Peterson acknowledged that the decision is out of is hands, and neither the Vikings nor the Cowboys seem inclined to work out a deal that would send the former MVP to his home state.
- Bears defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff, who has a $50K workout bonus for 2015 in his contract, won’t be present at the team’s voluntary minicamp this week, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that the 49ers don’t value inside linebackers in the first or second round, so someone like Denzel Perryman probably isn’t a fit for them.
- With this year’s draft just a day away, it’s important to remember that scouts don’t always get it right, and Darren Sproles is proof of that. The Eagles running back was overlooked by many teams in 2005, causing him to drop to No. 130 overall, as Vaughn Johnson of Philly.com writes.
- Tom Rock of Newsday looked at five safeties the Giants could target in the draft, including Landon Collins of Alabama and Arizona State’s Damarious Randall.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Draft Notes: Cooper, Lions, Collins
In his latest mock draft, Peter King of The MMQB sees the first two picks going as most of us suspect they will: Jameis Winston to the Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota to the Titans. However, he cautions that if a team offers something ludicrous like three first-round picks, the Titans would consider dealing the No. 2 selection. At No. 3, King projects that the Jaguars will take Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, though it’s tough to forecast what Jacksonville will do. Here’s a look at the latest draft news:
- The Lions among the teams making lots of calls about possibly moving down in the draft in order to get more picks and they’re not alone in that, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.
- Police are seeking to question La’el Collins following the shooting death of a pregnant woman last week, but the former LSU offensive lineman is not considered a suspect, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes. Collins is not being looked at as the shooter but he could potentially be the father of the infant who was delivered after the woman’s death. The former LSU standout is projected to be a first-round pick.
- Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis has visited the Cowboys, Dolphins, 49ers, Bills, and Bears, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News (on Twitter).
- The Saints worked out Central Arkansas wide receiver Dezmin Lewis, according to Kristian Garic of WWL 870am (on Twitter).
Bears Notes: McDonald, Forte, Cutler
Bears defensive end Ray McDonald hasn’t been charged despite a sexual assault allegation in December, and said Tuesday he’s “extremely confident” he will not be, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. “I had two incidences as to where I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “But, still, it’s in the spotlight. It was in the national spotlight for quite some time. I’m just trying to move forward from it. I’m a Bear now. I’m just trying to help this team win football games.” More from Chicago..
- When asked about the whereabouts of running back Matt Forte, John Fox replied: “I prefer he’d be here,” according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter). Forte has been absent from the team’s voluntary workouts and, ostensibly, is looking for a contract extension.
- Bears quarterback Jay Cutler acknowledged that his relationship with former teammate Brandon Marshall wasn’t the best. “We’ve had our ups and downs and back-and-forths,” the quarterback said of the wide receiver (via Jahns on Twitter).
- TE Gator Hoskins, G/C Ronald Patrick, NT Derrick Hopkins, OLB Rakim Cox, S Malcolm Bronson are all tryout players at the Bears’ minicamp, Jahns tweets.