Latest On Dolphins, Josh Rosen
Sent to the Dolphins for second- and fifth-round picks, Josh Rosen apparently did not go on the trade block until minutes before the Cardinals selected Kyler Murray.
Steve Keim texted Rosen’s agent, Ryan Williams, just before the Murray pick to give him permission to join the Cardinals in finding a Rosen trade partner, Robert Klemko of SI.com reports. When Keim asked Williams if the Patriots were interested in making Rosen Tom Brady‘s heir apparent, Williams wondered why this wasn’t worked out weeks ago — when the Murray-to-Arizona rumors started.
The Redskins laughed at the Cardinals’ request for a first-round pick, per Klemko, who adds Keim did have a contingency plan that involved keeping both Murray and Rosen on the roster.
The Dolphins did not enter into the Rosen equation until the draft was 20 minutes old, with the Giants’ and Redskins’ first-round quarterback picks eliminating the other primary Rosen suitors. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if the NFL was responsible for the Cardinals’ 11th-hour approach to dealing their previous starter, with a pre-draft Rosen trade removing the drama surrounding the first overall pick.
When Keim and Chris Grier spoke at the Combine, Rosen’s name did not come up, per Albert Breer of SI.com. Grier called Keim about Rosen 20 minutes into the draft, but Breer adds the GMs did not reconnect on the quarterback until Friday afternoon.
“We’d fielded some calls from some people asking if we were willing to move down in the second round,” Grier said, via Breer. “Our goal before the draft was, if we’re able to pick up a first or a second in 2020, that was something we’d consider. But we were more than willing to take a player at (pick No.) 48. There was a player we really liked. And we had a couple calls.
“We were ready to pick at 62 (after a trade with the Saints). And I’m telling you, Steve was pushing hard for what he wanted, and so were we. So we were to a point there where I wasn’t sure if it was going to get done or not.”
Miami’s previous front office studied Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen more closely than Rosen as prospects last year, Breer notes, due to the thinking, at the time, those two had a better chance of dropping to the team’s No. 11 overall draft slot in 2018. Because the Dolphins were able to land Rosen at an extreme discount, compared to his No. 10 overall price last year, Grier said the pick will not stop them from looking at first-round-caliber quarterbacks next year.
“Every team in the league is looking for that guy that’s going to lead them to championships,” Grier said. “And so for us, we’re in a position where we’re trying to find that guy, like a lot of teams in the league. So yeah, it was an easy decision. And it doesn’t stop us from doing anything in the future. Who knows? If things go well and we feel he’s the guy, who knows? But it doesn’t stop us from doing anything.”
The Dolphins were the first team reported to be playing a 2020 long game at quarterback, having been connected to what is expected to be a Tua Tagovailoa– and Justin Herbert-fronted 2020 class for months. They will enter this season with Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick headlining their quarterback room, likely set to observe the former’s development while studying top college prospects. The Cardinals will go into OTAs with Murray and Brett Hundley as the main cogs in their quarterback room.
“I absolutely would have competed if (the Cardinals) kept me, but I would’ve been kind of bummed about it because I knew I wouldn’t get a fair shake,” Rosen said, via Klemko. “A GM’s not going to draft a quarterback and draft another one the next year, higher, and then play the first one. It’s admitting you made two mistakes. It just wouldn’t happen.”
Patriots Meet With Jared Veldheer
Not much has emerged surrounding Jared Veldheer this offseason. After the Broncos made their annual right tackle switch, pivoting quickly to Ja’Wuan James, their previous option began an anonymous free agency stay.
Veldheer, however, secured a post-draft meeting with the Patriots and visited the defending Super Bowl champions, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. This is believed to be Veldheer’s first 2019 visit.
New England drafted third-round tackle Yodny Cajuste but lost Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle this offseason. They have 2018 first-rounder Isaiah Wynn coming off a season-nullifying torn Achilles, potentially pointing to a depth need.
A nine-year veteran, Veldheer started 12 games in Denver last season. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 58-rated tackle during his one-season Broncos stint. Veldheer has more experience playing left tackle, having lined up there with the Raiders and Cardinals for several years. But the Cards switched Veldheer and D.J. Humphries in 2017, beginning his right tackle career. The 31-year-old blocker may be a swing option for the Patriots.
Patriots Trade Jacob Hollister To Seahawks
The Patriots have agreed to trade third-year tight end Jacob Hollister to the Seahawks pending a physical, league sources tell Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Patriots will receive a 2020 conditional seventh-round pick in return. 
The Seahawks had four tight ends on their 90-man roster, plus incoming undrafted free agent Justin Johnson. But, with Will Dissly coming off a knee injury, the Seahawks felt the need for some reinforcement.
Enter Hollister, who has just eight catches to his credit across two injury-filled seasons in New England. The Seahawks aren’t necessarily expecting a ton out of Hollister, but could provide valuable depth support if he manages to stay healthy.
AFC East Notes: Rosen, Patriots, Darron Lee, Bills
The Dolphins weren’t the only team interested in trading for Josh Rosen, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson writes. Jackson sites an NFL official who was in contact with the Cardinals after the trade was announced, and mention the Patriots as another team that was attempting to acquire the 2018 first-rounder.
Rosen, of course, ended up in Miami, and New England took its own quarterback when it tabbed Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round. In the weeks leading up to the draft, New England was mentioned, along with several other teams, as a potential landing spot for the quarterback.
With other teams being interested, it helps explain why the Dolphins were willing to part with a 2019 second-rounder, and a fifth-round pick in 2020.
Here’s more from around the AFC East:
- Teddy Bruschi thinks the Patriots might have been led to draft N’Keal Harry in the first round because of the physical presence Josh Gordon brought to the team last year, ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes. “They get him last year, put a 6-3, 225-pound target out there and see what a great piece it was for them, how great it was for Tom Brady,” Bruschi theorized. “Maybe that changed the perception of what they might need.” Of course, the Patriots haven’t picked a receiver in the first round in the Bill Belichick era, so the theory could be accurate.
- Sticking in New England, the video that led to the arrest of team owner Robert Kraft will eventually be released to the public, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes. The judge ruled the tape can be released in a way that won’t taint the jury pool.
- The Jets have been shopping linebacker Darron Lee throughout the offseason, and that isn’t expected to stop now that the 2019 draft has concluded, Pro Football Talk’s Darin Gantt writes. Lee became expendable once the team brought in C.J. Mosley.
- Also in New York, team general manager Mike Maccagnan has reportedly been on the hot seat. If the team does make a change, one exec to keep an eye on is Joe Douglas with the Eagles, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets. La Canfora mentions the Eagles exec has ties to Jets first-year head coach Adam Gase.
- The Bills made a splash in the undrafted free agent pool, signing local product Tyree Jackson. Buffalo reportedly couldn’t believe the Buffalo quarterback wasn’t drafted, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes. “He was on our draft board to be drafted. I’m surprised. You saw his name still sitting there late in the seventh, and you start going, ‘Man, if this kid doesn’t get drafted, we’re going to have to go after him.’ And we did,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. Jackson is expected to compete for the team’s backup spot to Josh Allen.
- The Dolphins already boast 12 picks in the 2020 draft. General manager Chris Grier says that is to be the rule going forward, the Miami Herald’s Adam Beasley tweets. Beasley predicts the team is expected to use its cap space next offseason to buy even more draft picks rather than signing top free agents.
Eagles Send No. 163 To Patriots
The Patriots had their eyes on some fifth-round performers, trading up for the second time in five picks. This time, a punter will be headed to New England.
For giving up the No. 163 pick, the Eagles will receive the Pats’ No. 167 and No. 246 overall choices.
Stanford punter Jake Bailey will add to the Patriots’ specialists crew. New England re-signed longtime punter (and Super Bowl LIII standout) Ryan Allen in March but did so on a one-year deal. The six-season incumbent now has competition.
Bailey averaged north of 44 yards per punt in his final two seasons with the Cardinal, concluding his college career as the school’s all-time punting average leader (43.8 yards). He finished as a three-time All-Pac-12 selection. Bailey is this draft’s second punter taken, following the 49ers’ fourth-round selection of Mitch Wishnowsky.
Vikings Deal No. 159 To Patriots
After moving down four times late Friday night, the Vikings did so again in Round 5. The Patriots climbed up three spots, acquiring the No. 159 pick from the Vikings.
Minnesota’s next pick window will open at No. 162, and New England will send a seventh-rounder (No. 239) to the NFC North team. With the pick, the Patriots took Maryland defensive tackle Byron Cowart.
Cowart joins fellow former Big Ten defensive lineman Chase Winovich as front-seven players headed to New England. Cowart only played one season at Maryland, doing so after transferring from Auburn. He finished his college career with just three sacks, all three coming with the Terrapins last season.
Patriots Trade No. 134 To Rams
The Super Bowl champs have pulled off a trade with the team they defeated. ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry tweets that the Rams have acquired No. 134 and No. 243 from the Patriots. New England will receive No. 162 and No. 167.
The Rams used the pick to select Washington defensive tackle Greg Gaines. The 2018 Morris Trophy winner finished last season with career-highs in tackles (55) and sacks (3.5). The six-foot-two, 316-pound lineman should provide the Rams with a player who they can immediately insert in their defensive-line rotation.
Rams Move Up To Patriots’ No. 97 Slot
For the second time Friday night, the Super Bowl LIII opponents swapped picks. This time, the Rams made the move up.
The Patriots traded their No. 97 and No. 162 overall selections to the Rams for Nos. 101 and 133. With the new pick, the Rams took Oklahoma tackle Bobby Evans.
The defending NFC champions have now used three first-round picks, taking running back Darrell Henderson, cornerback David Long and now Evans. This follows their Taylor Rapp selection earlier Friday night.
Evans is the second Sooners offensive lineman to go off this year’s board, following second-rounder Cody Ford. These two followed Oklahoma stars Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown. Evans left after his junior year.
Patriots Send No. 73 Pick To Bears
The Bears will send three picks to the Patriots for their No. 73 overall choice.
New England will move down again and acquire third- and fifth-round Chicago picks (Nos. 87 and 162). The Patriots will also collect a 2020 fourth-round selection from the Bears. Meanwhile, New England will also send the No. 205 choice to the Bears.
Chicago is selecting Iowa State running back David Montgomery. He’ll join a revamped Bears backfield that includes free agent signee Mike Davis as well as holdover Tarik Cohen.
Seahawks Trade Up For D.K. Metcalf
After trading down multiple times in this draft, the Seahawks made a move up. They acquired the No. 64 overall pick from the Patriots.
Seattle moved down in both the first and second rounds. They have been the most fluid team in this draft, which featured them having an extra first-round pick because of the Frank Clark trade.
The move will result in the Seahawks ending D.K. Metcalf‘s slide. The workout phenom will be a second-round pick. Metcalf will attempt to prove what turned out to be a litany of doubters wrong in Seattle. He joins a Doug Baldwin– and Tyler Lockett-fronted receiving corps. Although, Baldwin’s status is now up in the air.
Metcalf’s skill set became a hotly debated topic, with his college production and agility numbers paling in comparison to his physique and speed-strength combination. Many mocked Metcalf as a first-rounder, but the late reports of teams doubting him turned out to be accurate. He became this year’s ninth receiver taken.
The 6-foot-3 wideout declared after his sophomore season. As a freshman, Metcalf caught 39 passes for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. All turned out to be career-best marks, with A.J. Brown having led the Rebels in receiving last season. Metcalf finished as Ole Miss’ third-leading receiver in 2018.