NFC Draft Notes: Eagles, Vikings, Giants
Eagles coach Chip Kelly is on record saying how much he loves Johnny Manziel. Kelly recruited Manziel while at Oregon, but Manziel spurned Kelly’s best efforts and ended up at Texas A&M.
Is a possible reunion in order?
Andrew Kulp of The 700 Level pegs Johnny Football as the best fit for the Eagles at No. 22, citing Kelly’s affinity for the free-wheeling Texan. It’s highly unlikely that Manziel slips that far, but it sure would make for must-see TV every Sunday.
More draft notes from the NFC…
- The Vikings select Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley in Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ latest mock draft. Vikings brass could be skittish after the Christian Ponder pick didn’t work out so well, Tomasson writes.
- A strong relationship between head coach and general manager is key to a team’s success in the draft room, and it appears that the Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman of the Vikings are in the process of building one, reports Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
- The Giants will need to get as close as they can to batting 1.000 in the upcoming draft, says Tom Rock of newsday.com. After building a reputation as a draft savant — leading to two Super Bowls — general manager Jerry Reese has not had the same success in recent years.
- Three players that the Giants could target at No. 12, according to the New York Daily News’ Ebenezer Samuel: North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans and Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin.
- If the Seahawks want to stay on top of the league, they’ll have to do more of the same — draft well. But, as The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta writes, it’s become even more important to hit on late-round picks now that key players like safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas are earning second contracts and eating up prime real estate on the salary cap.
- The Bucs may have to take Manziel if he’s on the board at No. 7, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. If not, Stroud thinks the team could take a QB in the second or third round, possibly offering 2013 third-round pick Mike Glennon in a trade.
- The Panthers worked out Fresno State cornerback L.J. Jones, reports Aaron Wilson of National Football Post. Jones is projected as a late-round pick after being named as an All-Mountain West-Conference honorable-mention.
- You can try your hand as Ted Thompson and play GM of the Packers with an online roster builder tool launched by Press-Gazette Media, spending up to $133MM and cutting the roster down to 53 players.
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.
Extra Points: Lions, 49ers, Dalton, Draft
Longtime Lions scout Silas McKinnie is retiring after next week’s draft, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The retirement of McKinnie, who has been with the team as a regional and personnel scout since 2003, leaves the Lions with two vacancies in their front office. In January, Lions assistant director of pro personnel Miller McCalmon stepped down after five seasons with the team and 35 years in the NFL. Here’s more from around the league:
- While there has been a lot of attention placed on troubled defensive talent Aldon Smith, 49ers teammate NaVorro Bowman is an example of a player who turned things around despite off-the-field incidents in the past, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- One NFL team exec spoke with CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry (on Twitter) about an interesting trade idea that won’t happen: a swap between the Bengals and Vikings centered on quarterback Andy Dalton and the Vikings pick at No. 8. Minnesota is said to be looking hard at quarterback options with their top pick, including UCF’s Blake Bortles.
- After talking to four GMs, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports says (via Twitter) the consensus top five draft picks seem to be Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, Greg Robinson, and Jake Matthews, in some order.
- Eastern Washington edge rusher Anthony Larry had private workouts with the Patriots and Eagles, and has also drawn interest from the Packers, Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens, and Browns, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Larry won’t come off the board early, but he’ll either be a Day 3 pick or a priority free agent, according to Wilson.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Packers To Decline Derek Sherrod’s Option
Confirming what had been expected, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Packers won’t exercise their fifth-year option on Derek Sherrod‘s contract. The decision will ensure that Sherrod is eligible for unrestricted free agency following the 2014 season.
As our fifth-year option tracker shows, the option for Sherrod would have been worth $7.438MM, an exorbitant price to commit to a player who has had trouble getting healthy in recent years. A 2011 compound leg fracture sidelined the former 32nd overall pick for a good chunk of his first three NFL seasons, limiting Sherrod to just 121 career offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Sherrod, 25, is reportedly healthy and expected to compete for a starting job this summer, but considering he’s the rare player who had an injury sideline him for multiple seasons, it would have been too risky for the Packers to pick up that option, which is guaranteed for injury only.
Pompei On Clowney, Ebron, Jets, Thomas
Jadeveon Clowney is widely regarded as the best player in this year’s draft but that doesn’t mean that teams believe he’s someone worth trading up for, writes Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report. The Bills (No. 9) and Falcons (No. 6) are potential players in a Clowney trade-up scenario. The Bills are a long way away and would have to come up with a compensation package for the Texans that might be regrettable down the line. The Falcons, at No. 6, meanwhile, have less of a gap to cross but it still won’t be cheap. Officials familiar with trades of this nature estimated it would cost Atlanta the sixth pick, their second-round pick, and their fourth-round pick in a best-case scenario. Here’s more from today’s column…
- Teams could be jockeying for tight end Eric Ebron and even though several execs say the UNC product has the ability to be a top-10 pick, he might slip further because some teams don’t want to take a tight end that high. The word going around is teams in the low teens or even high 20s could make a move for Ebron if he slides a bit. Candidates to move up for him are the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Packers.
- Chris Borland of Wisconsin may be the best pure 4-3 middle linebacker in the draft (if C.J. Mosley is considered an outside linebacker), but he might not be the first drafted. There have been questions about Borland’s height (shy of 6’0″), arm length (29 1/4″) and speed (4.83 40-yard dash), but none of those issues are as problematical as his bad shoulder. Sources say multiple teams have downgraded Borland because of his medical file. In 2010, he missed all but two games with a shoulder injury, and some doctors fear the shoulder will become an issue again. Borland has undergone had two shoulder surgeries.
- The Seahawks had no hesitation about making Earl Thomas the highest-paid safety in league history last week in part because they saw him take his commitment to a higher level over the last year. Seattle sources say Thomas, taking a cue from quarterback Russell Wilson, began working harder than ever last offseason. Thomas’ new work ethic proved to be contagious and others played follow the leader.
- One of the reasons Indiana receiver Cody Latimer‘s stock has risen is he has come across wonderfully in interviews. One front-office man said Latimer has the type of character that can help give a receiver room and even an offense an identity.
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.
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.
Jamari Lattimore Signs RFA Tender
Packers linebacker Jamari Lattimore has officially signed his restricted free agent tender, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (Twitter link via Brian McIntyre). Green Bay had extended the low RFA tender to Lattimore, so he’ll be under contract for a $1.431MM salary in 2014.
Lattimore, 25, saw his first significant action for the Packers in 2013, playing 272 defensive snaps and recording a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. He also chipped in with six tackles on special teams. Assuming he plays out the 2014 season under his current one-year deal, he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter.
As McIntyre tweets, Lattimore’s decision to accept and sign his RFA tender leaves just two restricted free agents on the market — Doug Baldwin of the Seahawks and Byron Bell of the Panthers. The deadline for players to sign offer sheets with rival suitors is this Friday, and I’d be surprised if either Baldwin or Bell inked an offer sheet. Both players received the $2.187MM tender from their respective teams, meaning a rival club would have to part with a second-round pick to sign them away.
NFC Notes: Packers, Falcons, Bucs, Eagles
The Packers re-signed Sam Shields earlier in the offseason, ensuring that the 26-year-old remains under contract with the team through the 2017 season and that cornerback won’t be an immediate area of need. Still, as Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, GM Ted Thompson has demonstrated repeatedly that he places significant value on the position, so despite the presence of Shields and Tramon Williams, the Packers still may be eyeing cornerbacks in next week’s draft.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- It was a given that the Falcons would pick up Julio Jones‘ fifth-year option, as they did yesterday, but the next step for the club will be locking up the receiver to a longer-term contract, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Head coach Mike Smith recently said he expects Jones to be a Falcon for “a long, long time.”
- Based on comments by head coach Lovie Smith, it doesn’t sound like the Buccaneers will be drafting a quarterback with the No. 7 pick, writes Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. A report last week suggested Johnny Manziel was on the short list of players Tampa Bay is “heavily considering” with that pick.
- Appearing on SportsRadio 94-WIP in Philadelphia, Eagles GM Howie Roseman confirmed that he expects his club to land at least one wide receiver in next week’s draft (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
- The Eagles recently met with Eastern Washington edge rusher Anthony Larry, BYU safety Daniel Sorensen, and UMass tight end Rob Blanchflower, says Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com.
NFC North Notes: Lions, Finley, Bortles
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.