Draft Notes: Options, Robinson, Chiefs, Easley
The majority of teams that held fifth-year options on their first-round picks chose to exercise them, leading Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com to examine whether it makes sense for a franchise to trade into the first round of the draft. For example, had the 49ers and Bengals traded back into the first round of the 2011 draft to select quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton, respectively, they would have had the choice to keep them around in 2015 at reasonable rates. But because both QBs were second-round picks, San Francisco and Cincinnati are now forced to either negotiate long-term extensions for the young signal-callers, or franchise tag them at a salary of about $19MM. The entire piece is worth reading, as Fitzgerald also looks at what it would cost in terms of draft picks to trade up into the first round.
More news and notes about next week’s draft:
- Rumors abound about a potential trade “that could blow the top off the draft at the QB position,” tweets Louis Riddick of ESPN.
- The Panthers plan to have a last-minute visit with Penn State receiver Allen Robinson, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Carolina, of course, has a dire need at the receiver position, as the top of its depth chart at the position currently features the likes of Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant.
- The Chiefs could be a landing spot if a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater falls in the first round, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. The Chiefs hold pick No. 23, and general manager John Dorsey doesn’t sound like he’s against the idea of using that pick on a QB. “I think it’s a unique group. As everybody knows, the quarterback position is the high premium. There are a lot of teams that need quarterbacks that are gonna do everything that they feel is best for their organization,” Dorsey said. “But do I think there’s some depth here with the quarterbacks? Yeah, I do.”
- Defensive tackle Dominique Easley might be an option for the Bears in the second round, especially if they opt to use their first pick on a safety or linebacker, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Easley, who was viewed as a first-round talent before tearing ACL, has deemed himself “85 to 90 percent” recovered.
- In his latest mailbag, Paul Guiterrez of ESPN.com writes that if the Raiders are faced with a draft day decision between Sammy Watkins and Jake Matthews, he thinks the team would opt for the playmaker in Watkins.
NFC North Links: Bears, Vikings, Packers
It seems likely that the Bears will bring in a quarterback for some camp competition, and that player could come from the draft, writes ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright. The writer thinks the team would only select a quarterback in the first two rounds, and he bases that off of quotes from team GM Phil Emery.
Emery has studied “developmental quarterbacks” since the 2006 Draft (Jay Cutler‘s year) and discovered that “developmental theory doesn’t hold a whole lot of water.” The research showed that since that draft, there hasn’t been a long-term starting quarterback selected later than the third-round (the 2012 draft is considered a “blip on the radar”).
Emery elaborated on his findings:
“So, to get a high-quality quarterback, you’ve got to draft them high. Most of the starters in this league come from the first and second round. So that’s where you need to take a quarterback. So when you talk about quarterback every year, they have to be somebody you truly believe will beat out the second and third quarterback that you perceive on your roster. And if not, history shows that you shouldn’t make that pick.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC North…
- The previous Bears regime did not value safeties, but that could change under Emery, Wright mentions in the same article. Considering the increasing importance of the position and the relative lack of depth on the squad, it wouldn’t shock Wright if the team selected a safety in the first round.
- It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but the Vikings have declined the fifth-year option on quarterback Christian Ponder, confirms FoxSports’s Alex Marvez (via Twitter).
- The fifth-year option is a “key benefit” in selecting a player in the first round, and that is why the Vikings may be inclined to select a quarterback earlier than later, writes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.
- It would be tough for the Packers to pass up Calvin Pryor if he’s sitting there at the 21st pick, writes ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. Of course, as the writer points out, it’s unlikely the safety would fall that far.
- In the same article, Demovsky expresses his belief that the Packers will select a tight end early in this year’s draft. Wide receiver could also be an option in the later rounds. The team lost receiver James Jones this offseason and likely won’t bring back tight end Jermichael Finley.
NFC Notes: Giants, Ealy, Hatcher, Panthers
Jordan Raanan of NJ.com lists a few of the primary takeaways from Giants GM Jerry Reese’s Thursday press conference, noting that Reese hopes to land two starters in the draft, and that the club will target “clean” players early. In other words, the Giants don’t want a guy with injury concerns or off-field question marks, which helps explain why the team reportedly prefers Zack Martin to Taylor Lewan. Raanan also points out that the New York GM didn’t shoot down the idea that the team could trade backup quarterback Ryan Nassib.
- Some NFL teams may want Missouri defensive lineman Kony Ealy to put on a few pounds and convert to defensive tackle, which could result in him being drafted earlier than expected, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport identifies the Giants, Rams, Cowboys, and Bears as a few clubs that could have interest in Ealy (Twitter link).
- He has only been a Redskin for a few weeks, but former Cowboy Jason Hatcher is already enjoying some aspects of the experience more than he did in Dallas, as he told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News). “They really take care of the veteran guys,” Hatcher said of the Redskins. “They give us more say-so over the team. This is our team. The head coach don’t want to be policing the team.”
- ESPN.com’s David Newton reads between the lines of some recent comments by Panthers GM Dave Gettleman to make a case for why Carolina is very unlikely to trade up from No. 28 in next week’s draft.
- Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group tweets that Jonathan Baldwin‘s fifth-year option was removed from his contract when the 49ers restructured his deal earlier in the offseason. Baldwin’s option wouldn’t have been exercised anyway, but Inman’s tweet confirms that it can’t be.
- This year’s draft could be a pivotal one for Lions GM Martin Mayhew, as Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News explains.
NFC North Notes: Ponder, Packers, Robinson
Former MVP Adrian Peterson says he’s on board with new coordinator Norv Turner‘s plan to change his role and the offense — if it means the Vikings are playing in January, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “My rushing yards might not be up to par, but it’s not about that,” Peterson said. “It’s all about winning. I’m trying to win a championship, so if that (means) taking less of a pounding and being more productive in the pass game, I’m all-in for it.” Tonight’s look at the NFC North:
- While the Vikings aren’t expected to exercise their fifth-year option on Christian Ponder, the team has yet to make its decision one way or the other, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The deadline to pick up that option is tomorrow night at 11:00 central time, and considering Ponder is currently second on Minnesota’s QB depth chart, I’d be pretty surprised to see the club lock in the 26-year-old at a $9.686MM salary for 2015 — even though it wouldn’t be fully guaranteed.
- Packers GM Ted Thompson didn’t exactly drop a ton of newsworthy nuggets during his conversation with local media today, but he addressed a few notable topics, including the signing of Julius Peppers, the team’s draft focus, and what he looks for in safety prospects. Mike Vandermause of PackersNews.com has the details and quotes from Thompson.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press takes an in-depth look at Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson, who participated in the Lions‘ local prospect day and recently had a private workout with the Bears. According to Birkett, Robinson also visited the Colts and Broncos.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Bears Rumors: Draft, Trades, Palmer
One of several general managers conducting pre-draft press conferences today, Bears general manager Phil Emery spoke to reporters at Halas Hall about the team’s approach to next week’s draft and a few other topics. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune and Brad Biggs (via Twitter) passed along several of the highlights from the Bears GM, so let’s dive in and round them up (all subsequent links go to Twitter)….
- The Bears have identified six players they’d be happy to take with their No. 14 pick, and Emery says he’d be happy if two were available, and “ecstatic” if three were still on the board.
- Even in that scenario though, the Bears haven’t ruled out the possibility of moving down if the right opportunity materializes. “We’ve gotten some calls,” Emery said. “Other than working with our staff and our scouts on refining and fine-tuning our selection of players that we feel will be available in particular areas of the draft, we’re also working very hard at figuring out the scenarios of what works in terms of how far down we could go.”
- On the other hand, a trade up from No. 14 doesn’t seem likely for the Bears, according to Emery, who says the cost would be “expensive” and would only make sense if there was a player who would make a “dynamic difference” for the team.
- The Bears don’t seem overly enthused about drafting a quarterback in the late rounds, with Emery suggesting he doesn’t believe in finding “development” QBs late. The GM feels comfortable heading into the season with Jordan Palmer as the No. 2 signal-caller behind Jay Cutler.
- Considering Chicago certainly won’t be taking a quarterback in the first round, Emery is hoping at least three QBs are off the board by the time the Bears pick, and thinks at least two will be gone.
- The Bears are evaluating whether a number of cornerback prospects in this year’s class could play safety.
- Unlike some others, Emery is very much enjoying the extra two weeks between free agency and the draft this year: “I love it. I have heard reports of people complaining about it. I don’t know what they’re complaining about.”
South Notes: Glennon, Bucs, Falcons, Titans
The Buccaneers are currently carrying three quarterbacks on their roster, but with the club expected to add another one in next Thursday’s draft, one of those three could be on the move. ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan indicated on WDAE 620 AM in Tampa Bay this week that, while the Bucs have denied shopping Mike Glennon, Caplan thinks he’s “as good as gone” (link via Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune).
“It’s obvious to me and people around the league that [the Bucs] are going to try to move him,” Caplan said.
Following up on his comments, via Twitter, Caplan suggested he doesn’t think Tampa Bay should move Glennon unless the team can land a third-round pick in return, given the 24-year-old’s impressive rookie season.
Here’s more on the Bucs and a few more NFC and AFC South clubs:
- Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers will likely be open to moving down in the draft. As Rapoport notes, Bucs GM Jason Licht previously worked under Bill Belichick, who has made a habit of trading down.
- Free agent tight end Bear Pascoe is meeting with and working out for the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). The 28-year-old spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Giants.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com gives the Titans a grade of C for their moves in free agency, which included signing linebacker Wesley Woodyard and offensive tackle Michael Oher, as well as letting cornerback Alterraun Verner walk.
- Wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Jheranie Boyd are participating in the Titans‘ minicamp on a tryout basis, tweets ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky.
- He won’t be drafted as high as fellow Louisville safety Calvin Pryor, but Hakeem Smith was a four-time All-Conference selection and had private workouts with the Titans and Falcons, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- The Texans and Jaguars are among the teams that have expressed interest in Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). According to Wilson, the Ravens, Bears, and Dolphins are a few other clubs with interest.
NFC North Notes: Pryor, Rodgers, Lions
The Bears have a tremendous need at safety, and Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune looks at some of the top prospects at the position. According to Campbell, the Bears’ top choice would be Calvin Pryor of Louisville, but he also lists a number of “intriguing options”, some that could be available after the first round of the draft. Here are some other notes from around the NFC North..
- Surrounding Aaron Rodgers with as many playmakers as possible will always be a goal for the Packers‘ front office, and Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel looks at a few lesser-known prospects that could be added to the mix in later rounds. As part of his draft series, McGinn offers a historical comparison and the words of an unnamed NFL personnel man to round out his preview.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press looks at possible quarterback targets for the Lions. Of course, with Matthew Stafford under center and Dan Orlovsky on a one-year deal to back him up, Detroit doesn’t have a huge QB need, but the club could draft someone in the later rounds to give Kellen Moore a run for his money.
- ESPN’s Todd McShay says the Vikings should take UCF star Blake Bortles, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. McShay views Bortles as the best quarterback in the draft and feels that Minnesota should pull the trigger if he falls to No. 8.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Aaron Donald’s Potential Fit With Bears
Each year, a group of players will get brought up with the same team over and over leading up to the draft. A combination of the player’s talent level, his fit with the team and the team’s draft slot make it convenient to send the same guy to the same team when making mock drafts.
This year, it’s Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald going No. 14 overall to the Chicago Bears.
The talent of Donald is obvious, as noted by Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Donald tore up the Senior Bowl, ran a 4.68 second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, as well as impressing in the bench press and three-cone drill.
More obvious than his talent is the potential fit as a three-technique penetrator on the Bears defensive line. Donald led the nation in tackles for loss and sacks per game, and concerns about his relative small stature (6-1, 285 pounds) have lessened as of late.
As for the Bears draft slot, landing in the mid-first round seems reasonable for Donald. CBSSports.com lists Donald as the No. 13 overall prospect and the No. 1 defensive tackle. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay campaigned for the Bears to draft Donald, saying the team’s Plan B would be in “panic” were he to be off the board. DraftInsider.net’s Tony Pauline figures Donald to come off the board anywhere between No. 6 and 16.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah is sold on Donald’s pro potential: “I don’t think he really has anything to answer. The only concern you’d have is he’s not a 315-pound guy. But we always talk in scouting: You want a guy to make it through the whole process and check every box.
“He’s dominant on tape. . .. He lives in the backfield as a pass rusher. He’s explosive with his hands, and he’s also able to kind of bend and wrap, and a really dynamic interior pass rusher.”
And, as pointed out by Finley in the article, after losing Henry Melton and Corey Wootton in free agency, Donald would fill the void well and figure to be a key cog in the Bears defensive line for years to come.
NFC Notes: Finley, Redskins, Latimer, Bears
Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley is scheduled to undergo a X-ray tomorrow, and if all goes well, MRI and CAT scans, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Finley, who is recovering from a spinal injury, will continue this process until he is fully medically cleared. The 27-year-old has drawn interest from the Seahawks and the Dolphins, but he will need to prove he is able to play before any team would be willing to sign him.
More news from around the NFC:
- New Redskins head coach Jay Gruden worked with multiple tight end sets when he was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, and Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com examines whether Gruden may want to pair another TE with incumbent Jordan Reed in Washington.
- The 49ers had a pre-draft visit with four of their past five first-round selections, so the fact that that the team met with Cody Latimer, who is now projected as a late first-round-pick, could signal legitimate interest, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- Two years after fielding one of the worst offensive lines in the league, the Bears head into 2014 with excellent depth at the position, opines Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Bears, who added four new lineman before last season, re-signed backup Eben Britton and brought in veteran center Brian De La Puente on a cheap, one-year deal.
- Tommy Lawlor of PhiladelphiaEagles.com does a deep dive and profiles some lesser-known names in the draft at positions of need for the Eagles, with defensive back and receiver being among them.
NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears
Assuming Kyle Orton plans on playing out the final year of his contract in 2014, his salary will be decreased by $75K as a result of his missing the Cowboys‘ offseason workouts, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Taking into account Dallas’ recent additions of Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie, the offseason rumors about Orton’s potential retirement, and his absence from the workout program, the 31-year-old’s NFL future seems somewhat uncertain.
Here are a few more leftover Friday links from around the NFC:
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) adds offensive lineman Joel Bitonio to the list of players who visited the Giants this week. We heard yesterday that the Dolphins, Panthers, and Buccaneers were among the teams who might be eyeing the Nevada lineman.
- The Lions hosted their final three prospects today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who has details on today’s visitors: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora, and Kent State running back Dri Archer.
- In addition to having pre-draft visits with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Cardinals, as we heard last month, Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster worked out for the Cowboys, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune fields a slew of Bears-related questions on the team’s draft needs and Alshon Jeffery‘s contract situation, among other topics.
- North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, a potential late-round pick, visited the Vikings last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
- In a series of tweets, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides the full list of seven prospects who participated in the Rams‘ local prospect day on Friday.