Peter King Pegs Darnold To Browns
- The MMQB’s Peter King released his first-round mock draft on Monday and has Sam Darnold pegged as the No. 1 pick to the Browns. King cites his pick on the team’s need to be safe and a source who is “someone I trust, who is very often right and is very well-connected, told me Sunday it’s not [Josh] Allen.”
- Unlike the Browns, who plan to have their drafted quarterback watch from the sidelines in 2018, the Jets are not opposed to having their top pick — should they draft a quarterback — starting from Day One, Jets head coach Todd Bowles tells Newsday’s Calvin Watkins. “It depends on the progress,” Bowles said. “I’m not afraid to play young players at any position. You go in and compete and as you gain confidence in the system, understand what you’re doing and go through training camp.” New York is highly expected to take a signal-caller at No. 3.
Four Teams Work Out DB Will Blackmon
Veteran defensive back Will Blackmon worked out for the Seahawks, Browns, Colts, and Falcons recently, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Blackmon will turn 34 in October, but he impressed in his workouts and Garafolo gets the sense that he’ll land with a team after the draft. 
Blackmon appeared in 30 out of 32 possible appearances for the Redskins between 2015 and 2016, including 16 starts, but missed Washington’s final cut in 2017. Blackmon auditioned for the Colts in November, but did not sign with a team last season.
The veteran offers experience at both safety and cornerback. Blackmon played almost exclusively at corner between 2013 and 2015, but shifted to safety in ’16 when the Redskins added Josh Norman. The move to safety suited him well as he earned his best marks ever from Pro Football Focus. PFF placed him as the 32nd in the league at the position in that season, ahead of notables like Shawn Williams, Bradley McDougald, and T.J. Ward.
Browns Haven't Closed Book On Baker Mayfield
In an inbox piece, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com informs that the Browns have not shut down the idea of taking Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. But few reports have linked the team with drafting the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma.
Cabot notes that Pro Football Focus has ranked Mayfield as its top quarterback in the 2018 draft class and that her sources indicate the Jets are likely to take him at No. 3 if the Browns elect to pass on him at No. 1. She also reminds fans that Browns draft consultant Scot McCloughan entered the draft process extremely high on Mayfield.
While it appears the Browns haven’t closed the book on Mayfield, the likes of USC’s Sam Darnold and Wyoming’s Josh Allen could lead the team to go elsewhere with the first overall pick.
- Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal points to USC running back Ronald Jones as a potential fit for the Browns in the second round. It’s unlikely the Browns would get a crack at taking Penn State running back Saquon Barkley unless they select him with the No. 1 overall pick. Jones is viewed as a “clone” of veteran running back Jamaal Charles, who new general manager John Dorsey worked with during his four seasons as the general manager of the Chiefs. The Browns have three picks in the second round (Nos. 33, 35 and 64).
Jets Engaged In Mayfield-Rosen Debate?
Less than a week remains until the rampant Jets quarterback rumor cycle will slow down, after the Kirk Cousins pursuit and the months-long prospect evaluations have kept the Big Apple’s AFC team at the center of many offseason news cycles.
But the identity of Gang Green’s hopeful franchise quarterback remains unknown, and the latest coming out of Jets headquarters centers on two players — with a catch.
New York would likely be quick to take Sam Darnold if the USC-developed passer remained on the board at No. 3. Though they didn’t work him out, the Jets finalized a Darnold visit because of the signs the Browns may pass on him at No. 1, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports. But if he goes to either the Browns or Giants, the Jets look to be engaged in an interesting debate.
Although the Jets were the only team to trek to Laramie, Wyo., to work out Josh Allen, the latest noise related to their No. 3 overall pick centers on a Baker Mayfield-or-Josh Rosen decision. Brian Costello of the New York Post describes a “hearty debate” among Jets brass about the merits of the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner or the brash UCLA product who may be the most pro-ready passer in this draft. Both Schwartz and Vacchiano expect Darnold to be the pick if he’s still there at 3, but if he’s gone, these contingency talks could decide the Jets’ future.
Mike Maccagnan was reportedly a Mayfield skeptic earlier the pre-draft process, with Rosen having the early advantage in this head-to-head comparison, but Vacchiano notes the fourth-year GM looks to have warmed up to him. The Jets’ concerns about how Mayfield would handle the New York market look to have diminished as well. All four of the top QB prospects visited the Jets, but they did the most work on Allen.
As we heard earlier this month, the Jets have concerns about Allen’s readiness — mostly based on his accuracy at Wyoming — and may not be especially interested in the 6-foot-5 prodigy. However, a Jets faction “loves” Allen’s skill set. Allen falling past the Browns would create an interesting scenario, because the Giants appear to be zeroing in on Darnold or Saquon Barkley at No. 2. His being there at No. 4 could make the Browns’ second first-round pick valuable for QB-seeking teams, because John Elway — whose Broncos hold the No. 5 selection — has a history of preferring this type of quarterback.
The Jets did not call the Giants about moving to No. 2 instead of No. 3, but Vacchiano reports the NFC’s Big Apple team would have listened to an offer. With the Jets having surrendered three second-round picks to move up to the Colts’ slot, though, Vacchiano notes there is a feeling in the building that the team has already made its big move and is set to stay at No. 3 and pick its favorite quarterback remaining.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/20/18
Here are Friday’s minor moves.
Carolina Panthers
- Suspended for four games (PEDs): TE Kent Taylor
Chicago Bears
- Waived WR Mekale McKay
- Signed: DE Nicholas Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Reggie Porter
- Waived: S Corey White
QB Luke McCown Retires From NFL
Longtime NFL quarterback Luke McCown is calling it quits. On Friday, the 36-year-old announced his retirement from football. 
“Today I am officially retiring from the NFL,” McCown wrote. “It’s bittersweet to leave the game I love and the craft I’ve worked at since the second grade.”
McCown first entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Browns in 2004. He started in four games as a rookie for Cleveland before a draft weekend deal shipped him to Tampa Bay. He did not see the field for the Bucs until 2007, when he made three starts for the team. Between ’07 and ’15, McCown started only three more contests.
Even though he didn’t see much playing time over the years, McCown earned enough on contracts with the Browns, Bucs, Jaguars, Saints, Falcons, and Cowboys to retire comfortably. We wish the QB and former Verizon spokesperson the best in the next chapter of his life.
Browns Re-Sign DL Jamie Meder
The Browns announced that they have re-signed defensive lineman Jamie Meder. Meder was a restricted free agent who was tendered at the lowest level this offseason. Per the terms of the tender, Meder will earn $1.907MM in 2018. 
Meder, 26, first entered the league with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Ashland in 2014. He found his way to the Browns in 2015 and has been with the team ever since. In 2016, he started most of the season on a thinned out Browns defensive line.
Last year, he appeared in ten games (two starts) for the Browns before landing on IR with an ankle sprain. In a limited sample of 178 snaps, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus gave him an average grade with a 74.8 overall score.
NFL Draft Rumors: Bengals, Ragnow, Browns
It increasingly sounds like Arkansas center/guard Frank Ragnow has a good chance to be drafted in Round 1, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com hears. The Bengals got a last minute meeting in with Ragnow and it’s possible that they could consider him with the No. 21 overall pick. Pelissero wonders if we could be in for a run on interior linemen towards the back of the first round, with guys like Ragnow, Iowa center James Daniels, Georgia guard Isaiah Wynn and Ohio State center Billy Price (despite his partially torn pec) coming off of the board sooner than expected.
“Those guys are just safe. They’re steady. The bust factor is very low on those guys,” an AFC executive said. “Maybe they’re not the sexiest picks, but worst-case scenario, you’re going to end up with a solid player who can step in and contribute pretty early.”
Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- Most people believe the Browns are zeroed in on a quarterback, but GM John Dorsey isn’t publicly ruling out Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 1 overall (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Of course, draft season is full of smokescreens, so we shouldn’t necessarily take Dorsey’s comments at face value. In all likelihood, the Browns will be selecting their QB of the future with the top pick while considering other players at No. 4.
- Draft visits are officially over, but the Seahawks are still doing their homework. On Thursday night, they’ll dine with Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, Rapoport tweets. The Seahawks pick at No. 18, so they may have to trade up if they want him. It will be interesting to see if they go in that direction since they have opted to trade down in recent drafts.
Agent Denies Steering Saquon Barkley Away From Browns
Saquon Barkley‘s handlers at Roc Nation do not want the Browns to draft him at No. 1 or No. 4, according to Ben Baskin of Sports Illustrated. However, Barkley’s agent Kim Miale says that’s simply not true. 
“I can say on behalf of our entire team that we would be thrilled for Saquon to go to whichever team drafts him,” Miale wrote to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “We know he will be a resounding success for any team fortunate enough to select him.”
Of course, this could wind up being a non-issue with the Browns. Cleveland is widely expected to take a quarterback – probably Sam Darnold – with the No. 1 overall pick. If Darnold goes at No. 1, there is increasing chatter that the Giants will pounce on Barkley at No. 2, which would satisfy Roc Nation’s goal of putting him in the No. 1 media market, according to SI’s report. However, in the event that the Giants do not take Barkley and the Jets take a QB at No. 3, as expected, this is a story to keep an eye on.
For what it’s worth, Basking hears that Barkley would in fact be “happy” to play for any team that selects him. Meanwhile, Roc Nation may have to do a bit of damage control as they also represent Browns head coach Hue Jackson.
Browns, Jags Not Interested In Dez Bryant
The Jaguars are unlikely to pursue Dez Bryant, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union (on Twitter). Same goes for the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears. 
The Browns seem pretty well set at wide receiver with high-priced acquisition Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon leading the way. Beyond those two, they also have former first-round pick Corey Coleman, athletic ex-Packer Jeff Janis, and others in the mix. Presumably, Bryant is looking for a situation where he would rank no lower than second on a team’s WR depth chart.
The Jaguars would have made a bit more sense for Bryant after losing Allen Robinson to free agency. Still, they have Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief, and Dede Westbrook leading the way. It’s also likely that top exec Tom Coughlin does not see Bryant as a personality fit for his locker room.
While the Jags and Browns are not in on Bryant, other teams are expected to show interest. Late last week, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter identified the Cardinals, Bills, and Packers as potential fits. The Ravens also reportedly have interest.