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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

NFC North Notes: Lions, Finley, Bortles

April 29th, 2014 at 7:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Eastern Michigan’s Donald Coleman is hoping to hook on with the Lions or another NFL club, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “When you don’t win very much, sometimes they don’t look at you as hard because they see the losing record and then they say, ‘Well, maybe they don’t have the type of players.’ But that’s nothing I can do,” said the strong safety. “I can just try and get in front of people and when I get in front of them like (Saturday), I have to show that I can play and that I have the ability to play the next level, and that’s all I’m trying to do.” Here’s more out of the NFC North..

  • Packers free agent tight end Jermichael Finley will soon undergo tests on his neck in the hopes of being medically cleared, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Finley is one of the more noteworthy offensive players still available, but he’s coming off spinal surgery, meaning teams may be reluctant to sign him until he’s further along in his recovery.
  • While things are subject to change and there tend to be a lot of smoke screens this time of year, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter) hears from some that the sense is Blake Bortles is the top quarterback target for the Vikings. That’s not a surprising piece of news as many regard the Central Florida star as this year’s best signal caller. Recently, I profiled the 6’4″ QB who could go as high as No. 1.
  • A reader asks Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter) if he could see the Lions and Raiders swapping draft picks in a deal to send Ndamukong Suh to Oakland. Tafur sees such a deal as less than likely for multiple reasons.

Draft Updates: Bucs, Bills, McCarron, Savage

April 29th, 2014 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

A handful of teams picking at the top of next week’s draft have expressed an openness to move down in the first round, and we can add the Buccaneers to this list. Speaking to reporters today, including Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht didn’t rule out the possibility of trading down.

“That’s definitely something we’d look into,” Licht said. “We’ve already reached out to teams. If our player isn’t there, we’d be open to conversations about moving back.”

Here are several more draft-related items for Tuesday afternoon:

  • Within his latest mock draft at ESPN.com, Todd McShay cites three league sources who have told him in the past week that the Bills are trying to trade up from No. 9. According to McShay, if Buffalo does make a move, it will likely be to land Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, or Greg Robinson.
  • Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, Alabama signal-caller A.J. McCarron suggested he’s been told he could be drafted as high as 16th in the draft, which is the spot the Cowboys currently hold (link via Andrew Gribble of AL.com).
  • Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage quietly made a pre-draft visit to the Jets last week, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
  • After previously identifying a few teams who hosted Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com names a few more, tweeting that Ward also visited the Colts, Saints, Texans, and Vikings.
  • LSU guard Trai Turner has worked out privately for the Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons, and Saints, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson adds that Turner also visited the Cowboys, Cardinals, Colts, and Dolphins.
  • Kansas wide receiver and special teams ace Josh Ford has drawn interest from the Packers, Panthers, Texans, Jets, and Chiefs, tweets Wilson.
  • The Giants, Jets, and Lions were among the teams to host Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle for a pre-draft visit, writes Wilson.
  • Finally, Wilson reports that Wisconsin defensive tackle Beau Allen had a total of eight visits and three private workouts, and tweets that Albany tackle Kadeem Williams has been informed he’s on an AFC South team’s draft board.

Minor Moves: Bengals, Browns, Lions, Packers

April 28th, 2014 at 5:01pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll keep tabs on Monday’s minor transactions right here — that includes free agents accepting contract tenders, notable CFL signings, and roster moves involving players who haven’t seen much or any NFL action lately. Here are the day’s minor moves, with any new transactions added to the top of the list throughout the evening:

  • The Bengals have cut center Scott Wedige, the team announced today (Twitter link). Wedige, who didn’t appear in a regular-season game for Cincinnati last season, saw his only NFL action in 2012, briefly appearing in a pair of contests for Arizona.
  • Kicker Brandon Bogotay has been waived by the Browns, the club announced today (via Twitter). The move leaves Billy Cundiff as the only kicker on Cleveland’s roster.
  • The Lions have signed tight end Jordan Thompson, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Thompson’s signing was first broken by his old high school coach, who tweeted a congratulatory message on Friday.
  • Wilson also tweets that the Packers have cut running back Orwin Smith. The Georgia Tech product was on Green Bay’s practice squad last season before inking a futures deal with the team.

Draft Visits: Bradford, Vereen, Shembo, Tripp

April 28th, 2014 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

2014’s period of pre-draft visits for prospects and NFL teams came to an end yesterday. Players will no longer be permitted to visit clubs between now and the draft on May 8, though teams are still allowed to work out players. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com have some details on some players who made visits prior to yesterday’s deadline, so let’s round up the highlights….

  • Arizona State outside linebacker Carl Bradford worked out for the Falcons and visited the Steelers, 49ers, and Chargers, reports Wilson. The Jaguars and Dolphins were among the other clubs to meet with Bradford, who is viewed as a potential second-round target.
  • The Giants hosted Richmond wide receiver Ben Edwards for a visit, according to Wilson. Edwards, who caught more than 200 passes during his college career, had his Pro Day attended by 20 NFL teams. Wilson adds that Minnesota safety Brock Vereen also visited the Giants.
  • Notre Dame outside linebacker Prince Shembo visited the Packers and also privately worked out for the Patriots, Jaguars, and Falcons, league sources tell Wilson.
  • Wilson also has the latest on Florida cornerback Jaylen Watkins, the brother of Sammy Watkins. According to Wilson, the former Gators DB has visited the Redskins, Falcons, and Eagles, and worked out for the Panthers and Patriots. Watkins met with the Colts and Lions as well.
  • In addition to his previously reported visits with the Falcons and Eagles, Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp also had workouts for the Patriots and Panthers, tweets Caplan.
  • In a separate tweet, Caplan adds North Carolina State defensive back Dontae Johnson to the list of prospects who visited the Eagles.

Sunday Morning Notes: Ravens, Suh, Visits

April 27th, 2014 at 9:24am CST by Rory Parks

Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore wonders if the Ravens should be wary of Alabama defensive players in the draft, including top prospects like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and C.J. Mosley. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome is an Alabama alumnus and has close ties with the school, ties that may have contributed to the Ravens’ selections of players like Jarret Johnson, Terrence Cody, and Courtney Upshaw.

Although Johnson was a standout performer in Baltimore, Cody has largely been a disappointment, and after a promising rookie season, Upshaw fell off in 2013. That’s not to mention, of course, non-Raven Alabama products like Kareem Jackson and Mark Barron who have failed to live up to expectations. As ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. observed, Alabama defenders play in an elite system with top-flight coaching and consequently “come into the league thinking they pretty much are as coached as they can be and basically they’ve hit the ceiling.”

Will the trend of Crimson Tide defensive standouts who fizzle in the NFL deter Newsome from drafting players like Clinton-Dix and Mosley if he feels they represent the best fit for his club? Given Newsome’s skill and reputation, probably not. But it is another storyline to consider as the first round of the draft unfolds in a couple of weeks.

Now for some more early morning notes:

  • Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin has been generating a lot of buzz in recent weeks, and we recently heard that Martin is expected to be off the board within the first 17 picks. Now, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah tweets that he would not be surprised if Martin went in the top 10, with Buffalo (No. 9 overall) being a potential landing spot.
  • As our own Luke Adams wrote several days ago, although the Lions might be willing to trade Ndamukong Suh, any such deal would be riddled with obstacles. As such, Suh seems likely to stay put in Detroit for at least 2014, but if he were to be traded, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk names the Jaguars and Raiders as the likeliest candidates.
  • Although the Falcons have shown a great deal of interest in Jadeveon Clowney and visited with the top prospect last week, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes that interest is a “smokescreen” to drive up the price for teams like Detroit that might want to move up in the draft. Ledbetter writes that Atlanta has too many holes to mortgage the future to move up for Clowney as they did for Julio Jones several years ago.
  • Stanford DE Ben Gardner visited with the 49ers and Raiders this weekend, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
  • The Bengals worked out Tusculum QB Bo Cordell, who also threw for the Eagles, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

Draft Notes: Medicals, Manziel, Lee, Pats

April 26th, 2014 at 1:06pm CST by Matt Feminis

Medical re-checks for draft prospects are underway, writes NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread. Notable prospects getting a second look from doctors include Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, Auburn running back Tre Mason, Indiana receiver Cody Latimer, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt.

In other draft-related news and notes…

  • Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be a top-10 pick, according to all the evaluators NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has spoken to (via Twitter).
  • USC receiver Marqise Lee has visited the Patriots, Lions, Ravens, Panthers, Dolphins, Saints and Jets, according to Aaron Wilson at National Football Post. Lee racked up 118 receptions for 1,712 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, but his production fell off in 2013 when he battled injuries and was without the help of Matt Barkley and Robert Woods. Lee does not have elite speed, but is a talented playmaker with return ability. He’s projected as a first-round pick.
  • Center is among the Patriots’ draft needs, and Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com looks at six prospects who could be available to the team in rounds 2-7.
  • Florida outside linebacker Ronald Powell, a talented albeit inconsistent prospect, has visited with the Raiders, conducted private workouts for the Patriots, Lions and Colts, and drawn interest from the Eagles and Saints, according to Wilson at NFP.
  • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league will consider expanding the draft from three days to four, via NFL.com.

NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears

April 25th, 2014 at 10:04pm CST by Luke Adams

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.

Minor Moves: 49ers, Rams, Lions, Broncos

April 25th, 2014 at 5:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including a pair of free agents accepting their contract tenders, two other minor signings, and a roster cut….

  • Demarcus Dobbs, who received a $1.431MM restricted free agent tender from the 49ers, has accepted and signed it, the club announced today in a press release. Dobbs will compete for playing time on the defensive line, and may also contribute on special teams and even on offense, where he has played some tight end.
  • Rams center Tim Barnes, who started the last four games of the 2013 season, has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Barnes will be in line for a $570K salary in 2014.
  • The Lions have signed center Sherman Carter and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt to contracts after bringing the players to camp for tryouts earlier this week, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Carter was on the 49ers’ roster last summer, while Roosevelt has some previous NFL regular-season experience with the Bills.
  • The Broncos have cut offensive tackle Mike Farrell, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post (on Twitter). Farrell, who signed a futures contract with Denver at the end of the 2013 regular season, will have to pass through waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

North Notes: Suh, Lions, Browns, Bengals

April 25th, 2014 at 1:23pm CST by Zachary Links

There has been talk that the Lions are shopping Ndamukong Suh, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report writes that Detroit is really just doing its due diligence. “What the Lions are doing is standard operating procedure,” one team executive said. “Just in case they don’t think they can sign him, they’re preparing for worst case. It’s smart.” Team officials that have spoken with the Lions believe that the two sides will work out an arrangement and the defensive tackle will stay in Detroit. Meanwhile, as you might expect, clubs from around the NFL love Suh’s talent but are very concerned about his behavior. More out of the NFC and AFC North…

  • The Lions should hang on to Suh if they want to win now, opines Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The best move for the Lions would be to let things play out in 2014 and then work out a new contract, in McCosky’s view.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap offers his thoughts on the Browns‘ job in free agency. Fitzgerald didn’t like the Browns’ handling of the Alex Mack situation and gets the impression that they didn’t have a concrete plan regarding the center heading into the offseason. Additions Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, and Andrew Hawkins could give the team a boost, but they’re all overpaid. All in all, Fitzgerald gives the Browns and GM Ray Farmer a C grade.
  • Fitzgerald also offers up his thoughts on the Bengals‘ work in free agency. In short, he feels that the Bengals didn’t do nearly enough to improve their situation despite having plenty of cap room to make changes.

NFC North Rumors: Bears, Reynaud, Lions

April 24th, 2014 at 9:24pm CST by Zachary Links

With the draft rapidly approaching, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune looks at the wide receivers the Bears might target. With wide receiver being a position of moderate need, Thompson suggests they could look at South Carolina’s Bruce Ellington, Saginaw Valley State’s Jeff Janis, and others.

  • Kick returner/running back Darius Reynaud worked out for the Bears yesterday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Reynaud, 29, could be brought in to fill the sizable shoes of Devin Hester as a return man. Last season, the veteran spent time with the Titans and Jets.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) has the goods on George Johnson‘s one-year deal with the Lions. The defensive end gets $730K with no guaranteed money. He’ll have a $570K cap number thanks to the minimum salary benefit.
  • The Lions hosted former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy on a pre-draft visit today, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Van Noy, who has gotten first-round and second-round grades from analysts, has also met with the Ravens, Jaguars, and Falcons.
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