Draft Updates: Bucs, Bills, McCarron, Savage
A handful of teams picking at the top of next week’s draft have expressed an openness to move down in the first round, and we can add the Buccaneers to this list. Speaking to reporters today, including Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht didn’t rule out the possibility of trading down.
“That’s definitely something we’d look into,” Licht said. “We’ve already reached out to teams. If our player isn’t there, we’d be open to conversations about moving back.”
Here are several more draft-related items for Tuesday afternoon:
- Within his latest mock draft at ESPN.com, Todd McShay cites three league sources who have told him in the past week that the Bills are trying to trade up from No. 9. According to McShay, if Buffalo does make a move, it will likely be to land Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, or Greg Robinson.
- Appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, Alabama signal-caller A.J. McCarron suggested he’s been told he could be drafted as high as 16th in the draft, which is the spot the Cowboys currently hold (link via Andrew Gribble of AL.com).
- Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage quietly made a pre-draft visit to the Jets last week, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
- After previously identifying a few teams who hosted Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com names a few more, tweeting that Ward also visited the Colts, Saints, Texans, and Vikings.
- LSU guard Trai Turner has worked out privately for the Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons, and Saints, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Wilson adds that Turner also visited the Cowboys, Cardinals, Colts, and Dolphins.
- Kansas wide receiver and special teams ace Josh Ford has drawn interest from the Packers, Panthers, Texans, Jets, and Chiefs, tweets Wilson.
- The Giants, Jets, and Lions were among the teams to host Maryland cornerback Dexter McDougle for a pre-draft visit, writes Wilson.
- Finally, Wilson reports that Wisconsin defensive tackle Beau Allen had a total of eight visits and three private workouts, and tweets that Albany tackle Kadeem Williams has been informed he’s on an AFC South team’s draft board.
Poll: Which Embattled QB Will Have Most Success?
Vince Young is set to work out for the Browns, and if he catches on he’d join a list of quarterbacks looking for a restart.
A number of embattled quarterbacks found new homes this offseason, each hoping to resurrect their once-promising careers. The majority of them will likely be serving as backups, but that also means an injury could suddenly thrust them into a starting role.
Mark Sanchez inked a one-year, $2.25MM deal to sit on the bench with the Eagles. He could be Nick Foles‘ backup, but the team could also select a quarterback in the draft. If that’s the case, Sanchez’s opportunity diminishes even more.
Brandon Weeden will have another opportunity to showcase the talent that (debatably) justified his first-round selection in 2012. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, minimum deal with the Cowboys where he will serve as a backup to Tony Romo. Considering Romo’s injury history, Weeden may have a chance to start next season (assuming Kyle Orton is not on the team).
It seemed inevitable that Matt Schaub‘s tenure in Houston would come to a close, and he was traded by the Texans to the Raiders last month. Following the trade of Terrelle Pryor, the starting gig seems to be Schaub’s. Barring the team drafting a top quarterback, he’ll likely be atop the depth chart heading into next season.
Josh Freeman was the starter for the Buccaneers from 2009 to 2012, but he completely unraveled prior to his release. After finishing the season with the Vikings, he signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Giants this offseason. Eli Manning is one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL, but Freeman is certainly a competent backup.
Which embattled quarterback do you expect to have the best season in 2014?
Which Embattled QB Will Have Best Season?
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Matt Schaub, OAK 86% (672)
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Mark Sanchez, PHI 6% (47)
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Josh Freeman, NYG 5% (38)
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Brandon Weeden, DAL 3% (25)
Total votes: 782
Draft Notes: Bridgewater, Seamster, Pierre-Louis
If Teddy Bridgewater slides into the second round or later (and if he can subsequently prove an injury or illness), he should collect $5MM in tax-free money, reports Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Following this past college season, the Louisville quarterback added $5MM to his $10MM total disability injury policy while supplementing that with loss-of-value insurance worth $5MM.
Bridgewater purchased the policy for $20K when he was projected to be the number-three pick, and a source told Rovell that Bridgewater would start to collect if he falls out of the top 11. Rovell also adds that the difference between being picked third overall and 33rd overall (first pick of the second round) is about $15MM.
Here are some more draft notes, all from Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and The Baltimore Sun…
- Middle Tennessee State cornerback Sammy Seamster met with the Jaguars and the Giants last week, reports Wilson. Seamster previously met with the Chiefs and Dolphins.
- Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis visited the Giants, reports Wilson. The former Boston College Eagle finished last season with 108 tackles and six sacks.
- Kansas State offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas auditioned for about half the NFL teams today, writes Wilson. Lucas was medically cleared two weeks ago after having sustained a foot injury. The Raiders were among the teams at his showcase today, and the Dolphins and Saints have already expressed interest.
Draft Visits: Bradford, Vereen, Shembo, Tripp
2014’s period of pre-draft visits for prospects and NFL teams came to an end yesterday. Players will no longer be permitted to visit clubs between now and the draft on May 8, though teams are still allowed to work out players. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com have some details on some players who made visits prior to yesterday’s deadline, so let’s round up the highlights….
- Arizona State outside linebacker Carl Bradford worked out for the Falcons and visited the Steelers, 49ers, and Chargers, reports Wilson. The Jaguars and Dolphins were among the other clubs to meet with Bradford, who is viewed as a potential second-round target.
- The Giants hosted Richmond wide receiver Ben Edwards for a visit, according to Wilson. Edwards, who caught more than 200 passes during his college career, had his Pro Day attended by 20 NFL teams. Wilson adds that Minnesota safety Brock Vereen also visited the Giants.
- Notre Dame outside linebacker Prince Shembo visited the Packers and also privately worked out for the Patriots, Jaguars, and Falcons, league sources tell Wilson.
- Wilson also has the latest on Florida cornerback Jaylen Watkins, the brother of Sammy Watkins. According to Wilson, the former Gators DB has visited the Redskins, Falcons, and Eagles, and worked out for the Panthers and Patriots. Watkins met with the Colts and Lions as well.
- In addition to his previously reported visits with the Falcons and Eagles, Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp also had workouts for the Patriots and Panthers, tweets Caplan.
- In a separate tweet, Caplan adds North Carolina State defensive back Dontae Johnson to the list of prospects who visited the Eagles.
Giants Sign Rusty Smith
Not long after signing Josh Freeman to a one-year contract, the Giants have added another free agent quarterback. According to a press release, the team has signed former Titan Rusty Smith.
Smith, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Tennessee, appearing in just three games for the Titans (two in 2010, one in 2012). The 27-year-old was shaky in what little action he saw, completing just 51.1% of his passes and throwing four interceptions with no touchdowns.
Considering the Giants are already pretty well-stocked at the quarterback position, Smith looks like a long shot to make the club’s regular-season roster. In addition to Freeman and starter Eli Manning, the Giants are also carrying Curtis Painter and Ryan Nassib. With Manning recovering from ankle surgery, more bodies were needed for the offseason program, but New York will have to pare down its depth chart at some point before the season begins.
New York Rumors: QBs, Barr, Draft, Spencer
With the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback situation, there is a chance one of the signal callers could still be on the board when the Jets pick at 18. The most likely to free fall is Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes the Jets should still pass on him. However, Cimini writes that if Johnny Manziel is the quarterback available, the team would have to think and long and hard about taking the Texas A&M star.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- UCLA’s Anthony Barr is another prospect who was once thought of as a sure fire top-10 pick, but who is now slipping on draft boards. Cimini also believes the Jets would be unwise to draft Barr should he be available at 18, because of his limited experience on the defensive side of the ball.
- The Giants have a number of needs after a down season, with more holes to fill in any draft in recent memory. They need an upgrade at tight end, and must add depth to their defensive line if they want to return to Super Bowl form, writes Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The team also needs to add a center, a receiving threat on the outside to replace Hakeem Nicks, and more help at linebacker.
- The Giants have a number of options with the 12th pick in the draft, and pundits are pencilling in many different players into that slot in recent mock drafts. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com collected some of the mock drafts, and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald has become the most popular choice for the Giants to take.
- While the Cowboys just re-signed Anthony Spencer, Raanan adds that the Giants had considered Spencer as well. However, the health concerns were too high, causing the Giants to pass on offering him a contract (via Twitter).
NFC Notes: Eagles, Giants, Packers, Saints
In an attempt to narrow down the wide range of players the Eagles could select at No. 22, Philly.com’s Jeff McLane focuses on 11 prospects who could pique the team’s interest and be available. Three receivers top the list.
In other NFC news and notes. . .
- We know the Giants are “livid” at Will Hill over his most recent transgression, but in a mailbag piece, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano writes the team doesn’t know whether Hill will be suspended (because he can appeal), doesn’t know how long the suspension will be or if he’ll be released. “As for a replacement,” writes Graziano, “Stevie Brown was slated to be a starting safety for the Giants this time last year, and assuming he’s fully recovered from his ACL surgery in time for the season, they’d just make him the starter opposite Antrel Rolle.”
- “The most important Giants player on the defensive side of the ball is Jason Pierre-Paul,” opines Paul Schwartz in the New York Post. “And no one is a close second.” After a breakout season in 2011 with 16.5 sacks, Pierre-Paul “got derailed by physical issues and, perhaps, motivational lapses.” The 25-year-old pass rusher is making his optimism for the upcoming season known, however, saying he’s healthy, in better shape (reportedly a lean 270) and ready for a leadership role. Perhaps most important, he’s motivated entering the final year of his rookie deal knowing he stands to make a fortune if he shows improved production, consistency, durability and stability.
- Free agent defensive linemen Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly, who started 16 and eight games, respectively, for the Packers last season, remain on the team’s radar. However, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky describes their situation as a “holding pattern,” saying the Packers “will wait to see what comes of the draft and then reassess their needs.”
- “The last time the Saints promoted two less-experienced starters into their starting o-line (Zach Strief and Brian De La Puente in 2011), they wound up setting the NFL record for yards gained in a season,” writes ESPN’s Mike Triplett. Three years later, the team is preparing for another pair of second-year players to step into starting roles: left tackle Terron Armstead and center Tim Lelito.
- The 49ers have done their homework on San Jose State quarterback prospect David Fales, seeing him live during the season and working him out at the team’s pro day for local prospects. Head coach Jim Harbaugh thinks Fales is a top-five QB in the draft, according to ESPN’s Bill Williamson.
NFC Notes: Orton, Draft Visits, Bears
Assuming Kyle Orton plans on playing out the final year of his contract in 2014, his salary will be decreased by $75K as a result of his missing the Cowboys‘ offseason workouts, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Taking into account Dallas’ recent additions of Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie, the offseason rumors about Orton’s potential retirement, and his absence from the workout program, the 31-year-old’s NFL future seems somewhat uncertain.
Here are a few more leftover Friday links from around the NFC:
- Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link) adds offensive lineman Joel Bitonio to the list of players who visited the Giants this week. We heard yesterday that the Dolphins, Panthers, and Buccaneers were among the teams who might be eyeing the Nevada lineman.
- The Lions hosted their final three prospects today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who has details on today’s visitors: Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik Lora, and Kent State running back Dri Archer.
- In addition to having pre-draft visits with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Cardinals, as we heard last month, Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster worked out for the Cowboys, tweets Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune fields a slew of Bears-related questions on the team’s draft needs and Alshon Jeffery‘s contract situation, among other topics.
- North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, a potential late-round pick, visited the Vikings last week, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
- In a series of tweets, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides the full list of seven prospects who participated in the Rams‘ local prospect day on Friday.
NFC East Notes: Eagles, Claiborne, Redskins
Some Eagles fans are fretting over the loss of DeSean Jackson, but Jeremy Maclin isn’t too concerned, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “I think we’ll be fine, man. Obviously, DeSean’s one of the better playmakers in this league, but we’re moving forward, and I think we’ll be just fine . . . I’ve got faith in the guys in the locker room. [Coach] Chip [Kelly] said it himself: The offense is not built around one guy. We have multiple guys out there who can make plays,” said Maclin, who was not critical of his former teammate.
- If it were up to Giants veteran Victor Cruz, the club would draft Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans at No. 12, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Cruz told NFL Network that he sees Evans as a possible replacement for the departed Hakeem Nicks and he’s not the only one in New Jersey thinking that way. Several sources have told Vacchiano that Evans, a 6-5, 225-pounder, is up near the top of their draft board .
- The Cowboys‘ decision to pick up the option of cornerback Morris Claiborne next year isn’t nearly as easy as the one they’ll have to make on Tyron Smith, writes David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. The cornerback, who has been hampered by injuries in each of his first two seasons, took a step back in his second season and lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick. Luckily for Dallas, the club won’t have to cross this bridge until next year.
- Mark Bullock of the Washington Post looks at three right tackles who could be fits for the Redskins. If Washington wants to tap a tackle early on in the draft, Bullock sees Morgan Moses of Virginia as a good match.
- CSNWashington.com’s Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir wonder who will take on London Fletcher‘s leadership role with the Redskins. With Fletcher now retired, El-Bashir believes it’ll have to be a team effort to lead the locker room while Tandler says Robert Griffin III is up to the task.
- Purdue offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile is visiting the Giants this week, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The Packers, Bears, Texans, Cardinals, Dolphins, Chiefs, Raiders, Rams, and Jaguars have also shown interest.
Pauline’s Latest: Dolphins, Donald, Latimer
In past years, we’d be gearing up for the NFL draft to begin in a matter of hours, but with this year’s event pushed back into May, we still have two more weeks of build-up until the big night. Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net is helping to bridge that gap by continuing to pass along noteworthy tidbits on this year’s prospects. Here’s the latest from Pauline, with these notes coming from his latest blog entries unless otherwise indicated:
- The Dolphins like offensive lineman Zack Martin, but don’t expect him to be available when they pick in the first round. Sources tell Pauline that Miami could end up trading down and targeting a player like Nevada’s Joel Bitonio — Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio isn’t expected to be a first-round option for the club. Bitonio, meanwhile, is also drawing interest from the Panthers and Buccaneers.
- Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald figures to come off the board somewhere between picks No. 6 and 16, according to Pauline, who identifies the Falcons (6th), Giants (12th), Bears (14th), and Cowboys (16th) as potential landing spots.
- At least 23 teams will travel to Bloomington, Indiana tomorrow for Cody Latimer‘s on-campus workout. Pauline hears that the receiver is one of the draft’s fastest risers, and even has a shot to be selected in the first round.
- Fresno State wideout Davante Adams is working out with the Panthers for a second time. Adams has also visited the Lions, Chargers, and Falcons, and worked out for the Titans.
- The Colts brought in Wisconsin safety Dez Southward for a pre-draft visit, according to Pauline.
- The Steelers, Colts, and Eagles are displaying the most interest in Oregon defensive end Taylor Hart.
- Wake Forest linebacker Justin Jackson is paying a visit to the Chiefs today, Pauline reports in a tweet.
- The Jets have reps at Clemson today to work out quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Roderick McDowell, and linebacker Quandon Christian, tweets Pauline.
- Pauline also reports (via Twitter) that the Packers, Patriots, and Chiefs are at Mississippi State today to work out quarterback Tyler Russell and safety Nickoe Whitley.