Dolphins, Chargers Considering Non-QBs At Nos. 5-6?
The Dolphins have been linked to a first-round quarterback in this draft since before the 2019 draft. After a 5-11 season preceded Philip Rivers‘ departure, the Chargers have been mentioned as a prime QB landing spot as well. But it may not be a lock both teams pull the trigger near the top of the draft.
Buzz has swirled about both Miami and Los Angeles passing on quarterbacks at Nos. 5 and 6 overall, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding that tackle may be each team’s fallback choice. Both franchises possess a need at tackle, and each would be in line to land one of the draft’s coveted prospects at this position.
For the Dolphins, this would be a fascinating strategy. They also hold the Nos. 18 and 26 overall picks, which would fall in Jordan Love territory. The team brought Love in for a visit — before the NFL nixed that process — and other teams believe the Dolphins’ interest in the Utah State product is genuine. A Monday report also indicated Justin Herbert — whom the Dolphins have done extensive work on — is not in consideration at No. 5. Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline pointed to the Fins picking Tua Tagovailoa or a non-quarterback there.
The Bolts are believed to be fans of both Herbert and Tagovailoa, and their timetable is further along than the Dolphins’. Los Angeles signed three 30-something starters — Chris Harris, Bryan Bulaga and Linval Joseph — this offseason and have a veteran group of skill-position players. For what it’s worth, Breer mocks Herbert to Miami and Tua to L.A. But if the teams go elsewhere, that would open the door to craziness atop the draft. Anthony Lynn has spoken highly of Tyrod Taylor as a legitimate starting option. Taylor has not been a full-time starter since his time in Buffalo, where Lynn coached him for part of his tenure.
Additionally, Breer notes that 49ers running back Tevin Coleman and Colts cornerback Quincy Wilson have surfaced as potential trade candidates. With Matt Breida also emerging as a possible trade chip, it seems this might be an either/or setup alongside Raheem Mostert next season in San Francisco. One year remains on Coleman’s two-year, $8MM deal. Wilson has not panned out for the Colts, who took him in the 2017 second round. One year remains on his contract. Indianapolis, which has not used Wilson as a starter since 2018, added both Xavier Rhodes and T.J. Carrie this offseason.
NFL Draft Rumors: Giants, Herbert, Tua
Will the Giants actually consider quarterback Justin Herbert with the No. 4 overall pick, even though they already have Daniel Jones under center? The answer is no, according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, though GM Dave Gettleman has been eyeing him for quite some time. Had Herbert entered last year, he would have been Gettleman’s top choice, Pauline hears.
Here’s a look at the latest draft rumblings from around the NFL:
- In private conversations, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has indicated that Herbert is not actually in consideration for the No. 5 pick, a source close to Ross tells Pauline. That same source says the pick will either be used on Tua Tagovailoa or a position player, with Jordan Love being selected sometime later. If it’s a non-QB at No. 5, Pauline hears that tackle Andrew Thomas is the most likely choice.
- Multiple NFL execs tell ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler that the Vikings are looking to move back. The Vikings own Nos. 22 and 25, but they could fill their needs at cornerback and wide receiver later on. In the second round, they should be able to land one of this year’s second-tier corners such as Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, LSU’s Kristian Fulton, or Alabama’s Trevon Diggs – the brother of former Vikes receiver Stefon Diggs.
- Based on what we’ve heard, Washington’s Jacob Eason profiles as a Day 2 pick for QB-needy teams like the Patriots. He could also be a fit for teams looking to groom their next signal caller. One AFC exec pondered the possibility of Eason going to the Buccaneers, where the pure passer serve as the heir to Tom Brady. The Bucs own the No. 45 overall pick in the second round and Eason could be there for them, provided that teams like the Colts (No. 34) don’t pounce first.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Williams, Thuney, Dolphins
Throughout the offseason, the Jets have been unwilling to part with a second-round pick for Trent Williams. With days to go before the draft, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY hears that their position hasn’t changed.
And, even if the Jets were willing to cough up a second-round pick, Vacchiano doesn’t think that would be enough to bring the Redskins’ left tackle to Gang Green.
More on the Jets and the rest of the AFC East:
- The Jets want to keep Jamal Adams for the long haul, but they’re also willing to slow-play negotiations to get the best possible price, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini writes. Meanwhile, Adams’ camp has not set a deadline for talks, so the Jets don’t feel rushed or pressured to get something done. As it stands, Adams is under contract through the 2020 season, and the Jets also hold a fifth-year option on his deal that could take him through 2021.
- If rival teams call with trade interest in guard Joe Thuney, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss expects the Patriots to pick up the phone and listen with an open mind. The Pats stunned everyone by using the franchise tag on Thuney, cuffing him at a $14.78MM rate for 2020. That’s not Bill Belichick‘s style, of course, so Reiss thinks he’d consider dealing Thuney if they’re offered a second-round choice or even a high third-rounder.
- The Dolphins have done lots of homework on mid-round running backs and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wouldn’t be surprised to see them come out of draft weekend with two new RBs. They’ve also done lots of interviews with kickers like Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, which could spell the end for Jason Sanders.
- After undergoing wrist and groin surgeries, Jerry Hughes says he’s “on schedule” for the 2020 season (via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News). That’s fantastic news for the Bills, who hope to feature Hughes at defensive end alongside Trent Murphy and newcomer Mario Addison.
Teams Convinced Dolphins Are High On Love
- A bold Dolphins strategy would be passing on a quarterback at No. 5 and preparing a Jordan Love move later in the first round. Other teams are convinced the Dolphins are intrigued by the Utah State prospect — whom Miami secured a visit with before the NFL shut down that process — but doubt they will gamble to that degree, La Canfora notes. The Dolphins’ actions over the past year and change have been centered around landing their franchise quarterback in this draft. Although they hold the Nos. 18 and 26 picks, it would be a risk to let Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert go in hopes of landing Love later.
Dolphins Waive DT Gerald Willis, Five Others
Once a player thought to be a borderline Day 2 pick, Gerald Willis will again be in search of a new team. The Dolphins made the Miami native defensive tackle one of six players they waived Saturday.
The Dolphins also cut linebacker Jake Carlock, linebacker Jamal Davis, wide receiver Andy Jones, cornerback Linden Stephens and wide receiver Terry Wright. None of the players have seen much NFL action, but the Dolphins had signed Carlock, Jones and Wright to futures deals just after last season.
Jones caught 11 passes with the 2018 Lions but has not played since. Davis and Stephens played in three games for the Dolphins last season. Carlock and Wright did not suit up for a game as Dolphins. Originally a Ravens UDFA after seeing his value drop extensively during the 2019 draft, Willis saw action in two games with his hometown team.
Miami holds a league-high 14 picks in next week’s draft. No other team possesses more than 12 selections. Teams also will be signing their next round of UDFA classes, though this unusual offseason may make that a fluid process.
2020 NFL Draft Picks By Team
The 2020 NFL Draft is just days away and it’s just a matter of time before picks are swapped and shuffled at lightning speed. Before the trading frenzy starts, let’s take a look at the draft picks owned by each team.
[RELATED: 2020 NFL Draft Order By Round]
Updated: 4-17-20 (5:00pm CT)
Arizona Cardinals
1-8:
3-72:
4-114:
4-131: (from Houston)
6-202: (from New England)
7-222:
Atlanta Falcons
1-16:
2-47:
3-78:
4-119:
4-143: (from Baltimore*)
7-228: (from Tampa Bay, via Philadelphia)
Baltimore Ravens
1-28:
2-55: (from Atlanta, via New England)
2-60:
3-92:
3-106*:
4-129: (from New England)
4-134:
5-170: (from Minnesota)
7-225: (from Jets)
Buffalo Bills
2-54:
3-86:
4-128:
5-167:
6-188: (from Cleveland)
6-207: (from Baltimore via New England)
7-239: (from Minnesota)
Jets Eyeing OL At No. 11?
It’s no secret that the Jets could use some help at wide receiver. And, with the No. 11 pick, they could have the opportunity to take CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, who stand as the cream of a rich WR crop. Meanwhile, they also need to protect quarterback Sam Darnold (and his spleen), so they could opt for offensive line help in the first round. As Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, the Jets have done their homework on this year’s top big men. 
[RELATED: Jets Could Also Start The WR Run At No. 11]
Before the travel restrictions, the Jets had dinner and a private workout with Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, per Pelissero. He also hears that they’ve hosted Louisville’s Mekhi Becton on a top 30 visit and Zoom-chatted with Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. They’re the four best offensive lineman in this year’s class, so there’s no guarantee that any of them will slip to Gang Green. Thomas has also garnered interest from the Dolphins (No. 5), Pelissero hears.
Of that quintet, Wirfs is widely viewed as the most NFL-ready. He also offers serious athleticism for his size (6’5″, 320 pounds), plus versatility. At Iowa, he played primarily at left and right tackle. Pro scouts also believe that he has the ability to move inside and play guard.
The top 10 already has teams in need of line help and other teams are contemplating trades to land one of this year’s best OLs. The Bucs and Broncos have serious interest in moving up the board and they could leapfrog the Jets on Thursday.
Draft Rumors: Henderson, Dobbins, Davis
Are you ready for surprises on draft day? It sounds like you should be. “The media is wronger about mock drafts this year than you guys have ever been,” one NFL general manager told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). That’s undoubtedly because of the ongoing certainly involving COVID-19, which has caused the league to upend its predraft process. As Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com tweets, “group think” is less likely to occur in 2019 because scouts and executives were unable to congregate at pro days, events where evaluators typically will — intentionally or not — develop something of a consensus on prospects.
After deciding whether “wronger” is actually a word, let’s take a look at more on the upcoming draft:
- The Falcons held a predraft video meeting with Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson last week, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Atlanta currently holds the 16th overall pick, but recent reports have indicated general manager Thomas Dimitroff & Co. could be interested in moving up the board. Henderson is considered the draft’s second-best cornerback behind Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah, although some decision-makers may rate Henderson No. 1.
- Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins has held video meetings with several NFL teams, including the Chiefs, Packers, Bills, Lions, Saints, Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. This isn’t the first time Dobbins has been linked to Miami, as he took a predraft visit with the Dolphins before such meetings were shut down due to COVID-19. Indeed, Dobbins left that visit feeling Miami was “infatuated” with him.
- Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis says the 49ers, Packers, Dolphins, Ravens, and Eagles are the teams that have contacted him most, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. A massive presence at 6’6″, 310 pounds, Davis a first-round projection and comparisons to DeForest Buckner from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus, however, ranks Davis just 10th among interior defender prospects, noting his lack of development as a pass-rusher.
- The Ravens, 49ers, Panthers, Titans, and Seahawks have all held video sessions with TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, per Wilson. Blacklock, who stock has risen during the predraft process, missed the 2018 campaign with an Achilles injury but was productive during both his freshman and junior seasons. Last year, he posted 40 tackles (nine for loss) and 3.5 sacks.
2020 NFL Draft Capital By Team
Every NFL team automatically gets seven draft picks per season, but thanks to lots of trades and the compensatory pick process, many clubs end up with more (or less) than their original seven selections. After running down the NFL Draft round-by-round, let’s take a look at how much draft capital each club has amassed:
Updated: 4-16-20 (6:00pm CT)
14 picks
- Miami Dolphins
12 picks
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
10 picks
- Denver Broncos
- Green Bay Packers
- New York Giants
9 picks
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
8 picks
- Carolina Panthers
- New York Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
7 picks
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Washington Redskins
6 picks
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tennessee Titans
5 picks
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New Orleans Saints
AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Patriots, Draft
Want to know the Dolphins‘ plans for the NFL Draft next week? You’ll have to wait, because general manager Chris Grier says his lips are sealed (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald):
“We’ve spent a lot of time going through, spent a lot of time with the players. We’re going to do what’s best for the Miami Dolphins..My wife and kids are worse than you guys [asking who we’ll take].”
Grier claims there are “about eight or nine players” the Dolphins could select at No. 5 overall, but we’d wager that the list is much shorter than that. Based on what we’ve been hearing, the ‘Fins are most likely looking at quarterbacks, though no one is sure whether their preferred QB is Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
Here’s the latest from the AFC East:
- It’s no secret that the Patriots are in the market for a QB and the feeling is that Bill Belichick will either find his next passer in the first round or in the middle rounds, with no real in between, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Meanwhile, one NFL GM tells Peter King of NBC Sports that the Pats “love” Herbert, though they’re not in love enough to vault way up from No. 23 to get him.
- So, what is Belichick looking for as the Patriots try to replace Tom Brady? Recently, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (Twitter link) unearthed scouting material from BB’s Browns days where he said the No. 1 trait is someone that makes “good decisions.” Arm strength, to BB, is secondary – he values accuracy over “a guy with a cannon.” Those descriptions fit Brady and they’ll likely be prerequisites for the Patriots’ QB of the future. Beyond Tua and Herbert, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe sees Jake Fromm as a solid fit.
- Earlier this year, the Patriots exercised their option on Jason McCourty, which helped bring brother Devin McCourty back to New England. If the Patriots didn’t hold on to Jason, Devin would have left for the Dolphins, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears.