Jaguars' Gareon Conley Summit Set
The Texans may not have hosted such passers, but the team is expected to take a quarterback early, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. The reporter believes Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes won’t get past the Texans at No. 25. Watson has visited the 49ers, Browns, Jaguars and Cardinals thus far.
- Gareon Conley‘s early-week itinerary finally appears set. After some confusion, the Ohio State cornerback will be visiting the Jaguars on Monday then pack up for Floram Park, N.J., for a Jets powwow on Tuesday, Rapoport reports (on Twitter). Conley recently adjusted his travel schedule, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, after initially being scheduled to visit the Jets on Monday. Conley, interestingly, may be benefiting from doubts about his former Buckeyes teammate’s health. Perception about Marshon Lattimore‘s hamstring trouble could help elevate Conley’s stock, which looks to have risen into the top 10 and possibly the top five.
Allen Robinson: I’ve “Earned” Jags Extension
Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson is entering the final year of his rookie contract which will pay him just south of $900K for the 2017 campaign, and he believes he’s “earned” an extension from Jacksonville, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Still, Robinson doesn’t sound as though he’ll hold out or use any other negotiating tactics in order to secure a long-term deal.
“If we get something done, we do and if not, I have a big year coming ahead for me and I have an obligation to my teammates to play at a high level,” Robinson said.
The Jaguars have already extended fellow pass-catcher Allen Hurns, handing him a four-year, $40.05MM deal after only two seasons. Hurns only had to wait two years to earn a long-term deal given that he was originally an undrafted free agent, while Robinson — a drafted player (second round) — had to finish his third NFL season before becoming eligible for a new deal.
The Hurns deal is a clear floor for Robinson, who has eclipsed Hurns’ production since entering the league in 2014 and is easily viewed as Jacksonville’s No. 1 wideout. Robinson, 23, posted a breakout campaign in 2015, hauling in 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns. 2016 was a down year, however, as Robinson managed only 73 catches, 883 yards, and six scores (quarterback Blake Bortles‘ decline certainly didn’t help Robinson).
While Hurns’ $10MM annual average is the bare minimum asking price for Robinson, he’ll certainly target a higher total. Antonio Brown recently reset the wide receiver market with a $17MM AAV, and A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and T.Y. Hilton are all earning $13MM or more per season.
Latest On Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley
NFL clubs are beginning to worry about the fragility of Ohio State Marshon Lattimore‘s hamstrings, and have concerns about him staying healthy for a full season, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Those injury issues could push Lattimore down draft boards, and may lead to him falling outside the top 10 picks.
Lattimore had been widely viewed as the draft’s No. 1 corner prospect, and was expected to be selected first among that strong position group. In PFR’s first mock draft of 2017, I sent Lattimore to the Bears at pick No. 3. The Titans, too, have shown a good deal of interest in Lattimore and are not expected to pass on him if he falls to pick No. 5.
But those hamstring issues may affect Lattimore’s stock — his hamstring tightened up during the scouting combine in March, and he had similar problems during his time with the Buckeyes. Those problems — and the fact Lattimore is only a one-year starter — could lead to the rise of his Ohio State teammate, fellow cornerback Gareon Conley.
Conley is considered a safer pick than Lattimore, and may now be overtaking the latter as this year’s No. 1 CB. The Jaguars will host Conley for a visit on Monday, reports Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, who adds the Titans and Saints have also exhibited “a lot” of interest in Conley. NFL teams like Conley’s “work ethic and temperament,” per Pauline, and feels he’s ready to play in the pros immediately.
Draft Rumors: Jets, Mahomes, Foster
It’s not a guarantee that the Jets will select a quarterback at No. 6 overall, but they’re certainly doing their homework in that area. Today, the Jets are meeting yet again with Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Earlier this month, Mahomes did a private workout with Gang Green and he apparently did well enough to warrant further consideration. After the college season, Mahomes looked to be a second or third-round type of player. Now, all signs are pointing towards him going in the first round. It’s even possible that he could be the second QB off the board.
Here’s more NFL Draft news:
- The Saints are still evaluating linebackers and expected to have Reuben Foster in for a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Foster has already met with a number of clubs and has a busy schedule still ahead of him between now and the draft. He won’t be on the board for long and Dallas Robinson’s mock draft 1.0 has him going inside of the top ten.
- 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback coach Rich Scangarello flew to Chapel Hill, North Carolina last Thursday to work out Mitch Trubisky, a league source tells Schefter (on Twitter). If the latest rumors are to be believed, Trubisky might not be available when SF picks at No. 2.
- Cal quarterback Davis Webb is visiting the Seahawks today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Many believe he’s a first-round QB, Rapoport adds.
- The Jaguars are still doing their quarterback homework and they have scheduled a private workout next week with Pitt QB Nathan Peterman, a source tells Rapoport (on Twitter).
- The Raiders have scheduled cornerback Kevin King for a visit today (Wednesday). King is an Oakland-area native.
Jaguars Re-Sign Peyton Thompson
- The Jaguars re-signed exclusive rights free agent defensive back Peyton Thompson, per the league wire. Thompson, 26, went undrafted out of San Jose State in 2012. After starting his NFL career in Atlanta, Thompson has spent the past three seasons in Jacksonville. Last year, he played 84 defensive snaps and 284 special teams snaps.
Jaguars Release LB Dan Skuta
The Jaguars have released linebacker Dan Skuta, according to a team announcement. The move will save the Jaguars $4.1MM against this year’s cap.
Skuta, 31 later this month, came to Jacksonville on a five-year, $20.5MM deal two years ago. That free agent investment did not pan out. Skuta was demoted to a bench role in 2016 and turned in his worst campaign in the last four years, according to Pro Football Focus. Skuta’s 68.3 overall score would have placed him as the No. 62 ranked edge defender in the league last year, if he had enough snaps to qualify. He saw only 268 defensive snaps across his 13 games.
The Jaguars have revamped their reserve linebacker group this offseason with the signings of Lerentee McCray, Josh McNary, and Audie Cole. With Skuta gone, the Jags still have six outside linebackers on the roster and nine linebackers in total. Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, and Telvin Smith currently project as the starters.
Skuta’s deal called for him to earn $4.1MM in each of the next three seasons, but none of that money was guaranteed.
Bengals Acquire Chris Smith From Jaguars
The Bengals have acquired defensive end Chris Smith from the Jaguars, per a team announcement. Jacksonville will receive a 2018 seventh round pick which could go up, depending on certain conditions.
Smith has appeared in 19 games for the Jaguars since being drafted in the fifth round in 2014. Over the last three seasons, he has a combined 4.5 sacks and 19 tackles. Most of those sacks came during Smith’s rookie campaign.
At 6’1″, Smith doesn’t fit the typical mold of an NFL defensive end, but that doesn’t necessarily bother the Bengals.
“If that guy is 5’11” and he can get there, I don’t care,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said of smaller bookends earlier this offseason (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Enquirer).
The Bengals now have five defensive ends under contract in Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Will Clarke, Wallace Gilberry, and Smith. There already has been some D-Line shakeup this offseason with Margus Hunt and Domata Peko leaving via free agency and the draft could bring further changes.
OT Garett Bolles Visits Jaguars
- Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles visited the Jaguars last week, reports Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller (via Twitter). As the reporter notes, offensive line coach Pat Flaherty previously worked out the prospect. The lineman attended Snow College for two years before transferring to the University of Utah last year. During his lone season with the team, Bolles was named to the First Team All-Pac-12.
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Multiple Teams Prefer Cook To Fournette
- Doug Marrone told Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com he wants a running back who can move the sticks when teams know they’re going to run the ball. This thinking leads Breer to believe Leonard Fournette could be in play for the Jags at No. 4. Jacksonville has gone defense with three of its past four first- or second-round picks, with T.J. Yeldon being the only outlier since 2015. The Jags met with Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon last week. Breer reports multiple teams prefer Cook to Fournette due to the Florida State back’s “21st-century style” compared to the more run-centric Fournette. PFR’s Dallas Robinson projects the LSU dynamo to fall to No. 16 to the Ravens.
- Don’t count on the Jaguars or Colts trading for Richard Sherman, offer ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco and Mike Wells. As much as the team has prioritized impact defenders in recent years, the Jaguars just authorized two mega-contracts for A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell and have the promising Jalen Ramsey. The Colts are in need of a starter alongside Vontae Davis, but Wells points to Chris Ballard wanting to build this operation through the draft rather than give up multiple picks for Sherman. DiRocco believes it will take a first-round selection and another mid-range pick to pry Sherman from the Seahawks. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports Seattle seeks a high pick and a “very good player” in exchange for the 29-year-old Sherman.
Miller’s Latest: Bills, Watson, Mahomes
They say that you shouldn’t draft a box safety in the top 10, but that’s not enough to get Matt Miller of Bleacher Report to cool off on LSU’s Jamal Adams. That’s because he doesn’t view him as a box safety. Yes, the Tigers had Adams playing more in the box last year, but he did more coverage work in 2015 and excelled. Anyone who thinks he’s just a box safety, Miller argues, hasn’t looked closely enough at the tape. Miller believes he can go as high as No. 3 to the Bears and “can’t see any way he falls out of the top 10.”
Here’s more from Miller:
- The buzz is that Bills GM Doug Whaley is “in love” with Deshaun Watson. In fact, Watson may be the first QB off the board if the Bills go for him at No. 10 overall. The 49ers, Bears, Jaguars, and Jets are also in the market for a QB, but some believe that might not happen in the first round.
- Tennessee edge-rusher Derek Barnett looks like a first-rounder on film, but he hasn’t done well in workouts, Miller hears. Recently, he ran a subpar 4.89 second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
- Some scouts who attended Patrick Mahomes‘ pro day weren’t super impressed by the Texas A&M product’s scripted throws . One scout said he’s a “thrower, not a passer” while another said “[he’s] got some [Colin] Kaepernick to his arm.” All in all, however, those in attendance were high on Mahomes’ arm, athleticism, and poise. Meanwhile, Miller polled six execs and they all said that Mahomes will come off the board in the first round.
- Solomon Thomas seems like a top five lock and the Jaguars really like him if he’s on the board at No. 4.
- Chad Kelly injured his wrist during his pro day, but the Ole Miss product was recently cleared to throw and do drops, Miller hears.
- John Ross‘ 4.22 second 40-yard-dash time turned a lot of heads, but teams Miller have spoken to are worried about his injury history. He has had knee injuries in the past and suffered a torn labrum that was operated on right after the combine.