Draft Rumors: Jets, Cravens, Pats, Ravens
The Jets’ second-round selection of Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg won’t affect their pursuit of free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick, general manager Mike Maccagnan said Friday (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). Maccagnan added that he wouldn’t rule out carrying four QBs if the team does re-sign Fitzpatrick, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Fitzpatrick, who reportedly hasn’t had meaningful contract discussions with the Jets in weeks, would be at the helm of a signal-calling corps that also includes Hackenberg, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty.
Here’s the latest on the draft with the second day in the books:
- USC linebacker Su’a Cravens said he was surprised to end up with Washington, which took him 53rd overall. He expected to land with the Patriots, who picked 60th (Twitter link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic).
- The Ravens tried unsuccessfully to get back into the second round after selecting Boise State edge defender Kamalei Correa at No. 42, GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- Had the Giants not taken Boise State safety Darian Thompson with the 71st pick, the Bears would’ve scooped him up at No. 72, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (on Twitter).
- The Eagles considered moving back from 79th overall – where they selected Oregon State center Isaac Seumalo – but they became uncomfortable as names were sliding off the board and decided to stay put, reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Pauline’s Latest: Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Giants
Here’s the latest from Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com entering the second day of the draft:
- After the Dolphins used the 13th pick on Laremy Tunsil, they called veteran left tackle Branden Albert and assured him he’ll remain at his current position and Tunsil will play left guard.
- The Cowboys “covet” Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah going into the second round, per Pauline, who dismisses the idea that they’re instead after Boise State linebacker Kamalei Correa or Eastern Kentucky edge rusher Noah Spence. Dallas holds the 34th selection but could end up moving down, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones (link via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
- Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander is unlikely to get past the Chiefs at No. 37, reports Pauline.
- The Giants are targeting offensive linemen and safeties entering Day 2, meaning Clemson safety T.J. Green could be a fit for the team at No. 40. Like Big Blue, the Steelers and Vikings are also eyeing safeties.
Giants Say They Didn't Reach For Eli Apple
Some saw Eli Apple as a reach at No. 10 for the Giants, but team scouting director Marc Ross does not agree with that assessment.
The Giants were widely linked to Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin and Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd, but those players came off the board at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.
Draft Rumors: Jets, Falcons, Giants, Jack
The Jets are trying to move up from the No. 20 pick, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). RapSheet doesn’t provide any more details, but it’s easy to speculate that New York might be targeting a quarterback like Paxton Lynch.
More from the draft…
- Like the Jets, the Falcons are also trying to move up, tweets Rapoport, who notes that only the Browns and Lions are ahead of Atlanta.
- The Giants took calls on the No. 10 pick before drafting Eli Apple, but GM Jerry Reese didn’t hear any offers that made him want to trade down, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
- The Giants reportedly took Myles Jack off their draft board due to his knee condition, and according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), at least two other teams have done the same.
Giants Not Considering Myles Jack At No. 10
8:49pm: Some teams that are interested in Jack are thinking about having him sign an injury waiver, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets. In an entry on WalterFootball.com, Pauline details how such a waiver would work:
“Teams can start their due diligence now and see if Jack would accept such a request before deciding on whether or not they would draft him. The injury waiver would be a clause that waives any compensation for Jack if he injures or re-injures the knee in question. The teams in question would require this for their short or long term protection, but it should be noted that verbal agreements of this sort are non-binding,” Pauline writes.
The Saints at No. 12 are a team to watch if Jack slips, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets.
7:37pm: The Giants are not considering linebacker Myles Jack with the No. 10 pick, sources tell Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The linebacker is considered to be one of the best talents in this year’s class, but the Giants have serious reservations about his medical situation. 
[RELATED: Giants Exercise Option On Justin Pugh]
“If the injury is so significant… It’s like school. F is bad and A is good. Anything in between… If it’s a C, there’s some risk,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said last week when asked about draft prospects with medical concerns. “If there’s a D, there is a lot of risk, and if it’s an F, we’re not going to take them. It’s hard for us to take a D. We rarely take a D.”
The Giants reportedly like Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd and Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin, two players who are regarded as safer picks than Jack, at No. 10. According to Raanan, Floyd is the Giants’ preference at No. 10 and Conklin is viewed as the fallback option, provided that he is also available.
Jack missed most of the 2015 campaign thanks to a torn meniscus in his knee. Now, there is growing concern that Jack could require further surgery that could keep him off the field for part of the 2016 season.
News of the Giants shying away from Jack comes on the heels of the linebacker personally doing a poor job of selling himself in a conversation with Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter link):
“[The degenerative problems are] there, but it’s nothing extreme. Down the line, possibly I could have microfracture surgery – potentially. Who knows what will happen? Nobody knows how long anybody is going to play in this league. To play three years in this league would be above average,” Jack said.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Eyeing Leonard Floyd At No. 10?
- Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd is generating big buzz heading into the draft, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Floyd, he says, could be a candidate for the Jaguars at No. 5, the Buccaneers at No. 9, the Giants at No. 10, and the Bears at No. 11. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) says that he appears destined to go inside the top ten. Schrager (link) hears that a team with a top 10 pick scheduled a meeting with Floyd on Tuesday to get one last look.
Giants Eyeing Floyd, Conklin?
- The thought is that the Giants like Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd and Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin an awful lot at No. 10 (link). Scouts say that Floyd projects more as a potential outside linebacker for a 3-4 team, but the Giants must see a role for him in their 4-3 scheme. Conklin has caught the eye of many teams and the Browns reportedly wouldn’t mind moving down from No. 8 to select him. The Titans also like Conklin and, interestingly, it has been speculated that they could trade up to the Giants’ No. 10 pick to snag him.
Giants Exercise Option On Justin Pugh
The Giants have picked up the picked up the fifth-year option on guard Justin Pugh, according to sources who spoke with Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter). The move, as Raanan writes, was widely expected. His contract for the 2017 season is expected to be worth $8.821MM. 
Pugh, 25, was taken with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Since then, he has been a big piece of Big Blue’s O-Line thanks to his versatility. He turned in a solid season in 2015 while playing at both guard and tackle. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus slotted Pugh as the 11th best guard in the NFL last season. For this upcoming year, Pugh is slated to start at left guard, though he could move to the outside if needed.
The fifth-year option for a player drafted outside the top ten is the average of the No. 3 through No. 25 salaries at their position. All offensive linemen – whether they’re guards, tackles, or centers – are lumped into the same category for option salary purposes.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Showing Interest In Army P Tardieu
- Army punter Alex Tardieu is drawing interest from the Giants, Jets, and Falcons, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
Giants Eyeing Laquon Treadwell
- The Giants have been linked to wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, but Pauline speculates that New York could trade down from the No. 10 pick before selecting him. The Titans (pick No. 15) would make for an ideal trade partner, and they could move up with their sights set on offensive tackle Jack Conklin.
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