NFL Draft Rumors: Browns, Price, Broncos
The Browns‘ No. 1 pick remains a mystery to everyone, including head coach Hue Jackson, according to Robert Klemko of The MMQB (on Twitter). He also adds that Dorsey has already made his determination, contrary to what has been leaked to the press.
On Wednesday morning, it was reported that the Browns are likely to select either Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen or Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield. Of course, that could just be a smokescreen as many still believe the Browns will take USC’s Sam Darnold.
Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- On Wednesday, the doctor for Billy Price announced that the Ohio State offensive lineman will be ready for training camp (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Now that Price is on track for this summer, it seems likely that he’ll still go within the first 32 picks. Price could be one of several interior offensive linemen to come off of the board in the bottom third of the first round.
- The Broncos have received calls from teams interested in what it would take to trade up to their No. 5 pick, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. GM John Elway has said that he is open to trading, so it’s a situation to keep an eye on.
- Many believe the Vikings will select an offensive lineman with the No. 30 overall pick, but GM Rick Spielman says that’s not necessarily the case, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Instead, Spielman says they could draft a player from four other positions.
Browns, Colts Lead League In Cap Space
The Browns and Colts have the most cap room of any team in the NFL heading into draft, as Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes. Here’s the official rundown of every team’s cap space for 2018 on the eve of draft weekend:
- Browns – $69.5MM
- Colts – $59.8MM
- 49ers – $43.8MM
- Titans – $35.8MM
- Texans -$35.6MM
- Bears – $24.1MM
- Jets – $21.9MM
- Bills – $19.4MM
- Jaguars – $18.6MM
- Cardinals – $18.1MM
- Redskins -$17.1MM
- Bengals – $16.8MM
- Packers – $16.2MM
- Vikings – $15.5MM
- Broncos – $14.6MM
- Patriots – $13.8MM
- Buccaneers – $12.3MM
- Cowboys -$11.9MM
- Chargers – $11.4MM
- Lions – $9.4MM
- Giants -$9.4MM
- Ravens – $8.8MM
- Seahawks – $7.6MM
- Chiefs – $6.7MM
- Saints – $5.7MM
- Panthers – $5.2MM
- Dolphins – $2.9MM
- Eagles – $2.2MM
- Steelers – $2MM
- Raiders – $1.8MM
- Falcons – $1.3MM
- Rams – $264K
Latest On RB C.J. Anderson
Former Bronco C.J. Anderson has drawn interest from eight teams, a source close to the running back tells Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). However, it’s not clear when he will sign with a club. 
It seems probable that Anderson will have to wait until after the draft to sign with a team. Former Cowboys star Dez Bryant finds himself in the same boat as teams will have to reassess their needs after the weekend is through.
Anderson turned in his first career 1,000-yard season in 2017 after tearing a meniscus in 2016. However, with no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, the Broncos opted to save $4.5MM and go in a different direction.
We don’t know the identity of these eight teams yet, but one has to imagine that the Dolphins are among the clubs in the mix. Miami discussed a swap of right tackle Ja’Wuan James for Anderson earlier this offseason and he could give the Fins a formidable three-headed rushing attack if the price is right. It’s hard to see the Dolphins getting into a bidding war for Anderson, however, given that they already have Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore under contract and little cap room remaining.
Speculatively, teams like the Patriots, Texans, Giants, Redskins, Lions, Panthers, and Seahawks could also have interest in the 27-year-old.
Shane Ray Optimistic 5th-Year Option Will Be Picked Up
The Broncos have yet to publicly express whether they intend to pick up the fifth-year option on linebacker Shane Ray‘s rookie deal. But Ray, the No. 23 overall pick of the 2015 draft, remains optimistic that it’ll get picked up.
“I’m not concerned,” Ray said, per Vicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. “I love being a Bronco. [John Elway’s] got a lot of things to deal with, and whether or not he picks up my option, it doesn’t say anything about what I’m going to be for this team, my role for this team. I’m just excited. I wouldn’t look into too much. I think that it’s going to get picked up. I think that I’m going to be here, and I’m just looking forward to this opportunity.”
Ray, 24, appeared in just eight games last season due to a wrist injury. He started seven of those games and ended with a sack to go with 10 tackles. The Missouri product had 12 sacks through his first two seasons in the league.
The Broncos have until May 3 to decide whether they’ll pick up the option on Ray’s contract, which would guarantee him $9.2 million. Ray is currently projected to start at strong-side outside linebacker, opposite Von Miller.
The team’s depth at outside linebacker includes Shaquil Barrett, Deiontrez Mount, Stansly Maponga and Marcus Rush. Barrett made a career-high nine starts last season in place of Ray and appeared in all 16 games for a third straight season.
Shane Ray Expects Broncos To Pick Up Option
- While trading down is a firm option for the Broncos at No. 5, Mike Klis of 9News notes that a member of the Sam Darnold/Saquon Barkley/Bradley Chubb trio remaining on the board would likely mean Denver stays and selects which one is left. Of this troika, Chubb seems like the player who has the best chance of remaining available by that point. Illustrating John Elway‘s interest in locking this position down, the Broncos used a first-round pick on Shane Ray in 2015 with Von Miller in the fold and with DeMarcus Ware having two years left on his deal. Ray and Shaquil Barrett remain under contract through 2018, with the former’s fifth-year option decision looming.
- Denver has until May 2 to pick up Ray’s option, which is worth $9.232MM, and the former Missouri pass rusher expects that to happen. “I think that it’s going to get picked up,” Ray said, via Jhabvala (on Twitter). “I think that I’m going to be here, and I’m just looking forward to that opportunity.” Elway said he’s undecided on Ray’s option. He picked up Miller’s in 2014, passed on Sylvester Williams‘ in ’16 and exercised Bradley Roby‘s last year. Even if the Broncos don’t select Chubb, it could come down to a Barrett-or-Ray decision as to whom the team wants to keep alongside Miller long-term.
Broncos Notes: Keenum, Harris, Draft, Dixon
Mock drafts have gone in numerous directions regarding the Broncos‘ No. 5 overall pick, and it’s possible the team could make yet another big investment at the position. But if they do, Case Keenum will not be ceding the reins anytime soon. John Elway confirmed that if the Broncos do select a quarterback at No. 5 overall the recently signed quarterback would be the unquestioned first-stringer.
“Case is our starter,’’ Elway said, via Mike Klis of 9News. “We’ll cross that road when we get there. Every situation for young quarterbacks is different. I think it’s different in today’s world, and the fact that it depends on what kind of football team those guys step onto.”
The 2016 Eagles thrust Carson Wentz into duty from the start because they traded Sam Bradford, whereas the 2017 Bears allowed Mike Glennon four starts before turning to Mitch Trubisky. It can be expected Keenum will have a longer leash, if the Broncos opt to bypass a top-tier non-QB.
Here’s the latest out of Denver:
- The Broncos have gotten All-Pro work from Chris Harris for No. 2 cornerback money over the past three seasons. They’ve agreed to incentivize the eighth-year corner’s deal, and Klis details what that will entail. Harris was a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and a second-teamer in Denver’s Super Bowl season; should he land on one of those two teams this year, he’ll earn $500K. Harris can collect $200K for a two-interception season, and if he reaches five picks, Klis reports that bumps up to $500K. Harris has intercepted two passes in each of the past three seasons. Interestingly, the Broncos’ win total will impact their top corner as well. Klis reports Harris playing 65 percent of Denver’s snaps and the team winning six games will mean a $300K bonus, with a 75 percent snap season and eight Bronco wins meaning that spikes to $600K. Harris, who has an $8.5MM base salary in 2018, has been a full-time player for the past six seasons. If Denver returns to the playoffs, the soon-to-be 29-year-old DB earns $300K.
- Prior to their trade earlier tonight, the Broncos and Giants had been circling each other about a deal for Riley Dixon for a bit now, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Klis reports (via Twitter) Vance Joseph told the incumbent punter the day the team signed Marquette King he would be moved. Multiple teams were interested in the third-year specialist, per Klis.
- Elway appears to have evolved on his affinity for cannon-armed QBs. The addition of Keenum, who does not have an upper-echelon arm the way Paxton Lynch does, marked a change of pace for a GM that’s targeted tall passers with strong arms. “I was a lot more six or seven years ago, but then we had Peyton (Manning), right?’’ Elway said, via Klis. “Peyton was more of the cerebral type. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been doing this job as far as what certain quarterbacks have success with.”
- However, the GM that traded Tim Tebow after a memorable season doesn’t regard it as a must to have a mobile quarterback. “The bottom line is that I believe the one thing is that you got to be able to win from the pocket,” the eighth-year exec said. “You can win games, but you can’t win championships unless you have the ability to win it from the pocket. Then if you can get out and move around and create, and do those types of things then that’s an added bonus.” While the Broncos have been connected to Baker Mayfield, an earlier report indicated they were high on Josh Rosen — the least mobile of the top four QBs in this class.
Giants To Acquire Riley Dixon From Broncos
The Broncos’ Marquette King signing made Riley Dixon expendable, and it looks like the team has found a taker for the third-year punter’s services.
Dixon looks to be on his way back to the east coast, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) the Giants are in the process of finalizing a trade for the specialist. Dixon’s been the Broncos’ primary punter for the past two seasons and has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
The Giants will send a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick to the Broncos for Dixon, Rapoport tweets, adding this trade is now finalized.
Brad Wing served as Big Blue’s punter for the past four seasons, but the team cut him in March.
Denver turned to Dixon in 2016 after selecting him in the seventh round, and the younger player beat out longtime punter Britton Colquitt for the job. Dixon is a New York native and played his college ball at Syracuse.
The 24-year-old Dixon finished his two Broncos seasons with averages of 45.7 and 45.6 yards per punt. Playing in less friendly punting confines, Wing concluded his 2017 season with a 44.1 yards per punt; that ranked 26th among punters last year. Both players had two punts blocked last year, the only two such instances of their respective careers.
This trade going through would mark the second time since 2015 that the Giants and Broncos agreed on terms of a specialty trade. New York shipped Brandon McManus to Denver in 2015, and he’s been the Broncos’ kicker since.
Broncos LB Shaq Barrett To Sign Tender
Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett will sign his restricted tender on Monday, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (on Twitter). Barrett will earn $2.914MM in 2018, per the terms of the tender.
[RELATED: Broncos’ Matt Paradis Signs RFA Tender]
The Broncos now effectively have all of their RFAs in the fold after center Matt Paradis inked his tender on Friday morning. League-wide, there are now only three restricted free agents who have yet to sign their tenders: Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen, Chargers receiver Tyrell Williams and Chiefs defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches.
Barrett has been a key rotational player for Denver over the last three seasons. He has performed well against the run and the Broncos did not want to risk losing him by using the low-level tender on him this offseason, which would have been cheaper, but only would have granted the team the first right of refusal.
In the coming months, the Broncos may look to extend Barrett before he begins his contract year.
Broncos’ Matt Paradis Signs RFA Tender
Broncos center Matt Paradis has signed his restricted free agent tender, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (on Twitter). Paradis will earn $2.9MM in 2018. 
Paradis carried a modest $615K cap hit for Denver last year, so this marks a significant pay bump for the former sixth-round pick. The new deal also provides some financial security for a player who has had operations on both hips. Despite his injuries, Paladis has not missed a snap since taking over in the middle in 2015.
The 28-year-old (29 in October) will be eligible to hit the open market without restrictions next offseason. The Broncos may address Paradis’ contract between now and then, but cornerback Bradley Roby will be more of a priority.
La Canfora On Draft, Raiders, Miller, Patriots
UCLA tackle Kolton Miller could be a target for the Raiders if they trade down from the No. 10 overall pick, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com hears. However, they probably can’t move back all that far if they hope to land him. Evaluators and offensive line coaches that have spoken with JLC believe that Miller – and not Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey – is the best tackle in this year’s class. Plenty of teams in the teens are eyeing the 6’9″ prospect and McGlinchey is more likely to go in the late teens or early 20s, La Canfora hears. The Lions at No. 20 could be Miller’s floor as they would plug him in on the right side.
Here’s more draft buzz from JLC:
- The Patriots are entertaining the possibility of moving up in the teens if the right quarterback falls, La Canfora writes. The Dolphins and Bills are exploring QBs at Nos. 11 and 12, so the Raiders could potentially find value by trading down from No. 10. Josh Rosen, in JLC’s estimation, appears to be the most likely of the big four QBs to slide. I’d agree with that assessment as the Browns, Giants, and Jets are reportedly not high on the UCLA product.
- The Broncos say they are open to moving down from No. 5 and JLC believes that linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is very much on their radar. The likely trade scenario, he believes, would see the Bills moving up to get Josh Rosen if Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield come off of the board in the top four. The Bills own the Nos. 12 and 22 picks in the draft.
- The Bengals at No. 21 could be the floor for Arkansas center Frank Ragnow. Ragnow is climbing up boards around the league and has a good chance of going in the first round.
- The Ravens are looking for a tight end, but they would rather not select one at No. 16. La Canfora hears that the Ravens, ideally, would like to move down 5-7 spots to get South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst. The Ravens can’t go too far, however, with the Saints sitting at No. 27.
- Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who won’t turn 20 until after the draft, is a lock to go in the top 10, JLC hears. He also wouldn’t be shocked to see him go as high as No. 6 overall, depending on how the first five picks shake out.
- Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan could go just outside the top 10 and JLC believes his worst case scenario is No. 26.
- Florida state defensive lineman Josh Sweat could sneak into the late first round and seems very possible for the second round.