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.
Kevin King To Visit Raiders
- University of Washington cornerback Kevin King will visit the Eagles, Raiders, Browns and Ravens this week, reports FOX Sports’ Charles Davis (on Twitter). King, a prospective first-rounder, received an invitation to the draft, adds Davis.
Raiders Waive Demetrius Cherry
- The Raiders have waived defensive lineman Demetrius Cherry, according to James Palmer of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cherry signed with the 49ers last spring as an undrafted free agent from Arizona State. After the 49ers cut him prior to the season, he caught on with Oakland’s practice squad.
Marshawn Lynch Interested In Patriots
Marshawn Lynch has privately expressed interest in playing for Patriots if talks break off with the Raiders, Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald tweets. He remains focused on returning to the NFL as a Raider, but he is at least viewing the Pats as a Plan B. 
Lynch met with the Raiders last week and the belief, to this point, has been that he would only return to football with Oakland. The Seahawks still hold Lynch’s rights, so any union with the Patriots or Raiders would require him to be released or traded.
The Patriots do not have a clear need at running back after signing Rex Burkhead this offseason and re-signing Branden Bolden last week. Dion Lewis, James White, and D.J. Foster are also on the roster and a reunion with free agent LeGarrette Blount remains a possibility. There’s also the (outside) chance of the team circling back to Adrian Peterson after last week’s workout.
Lynch was held back by injuries in 2015 due to nagging injuries, but he had a strong 2014 with 4.7 yards per carry and a career-high 13 touchdowns on the ground. He’s still only 30 years old and, theoretically, would be returning to football with fresh legs.
Eagles Sign QB Matt McGloin
The Eagles agreed to terms with quarterback Matt McGloin, according to a team announcement. The former Raiders gets a one-year contract in Philly. 
McGloin, rated as one of Pro Football Rumors’ top remaining free agent QBs, was not expected back in Oakland for 2017. Last month, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio spoke openly about the idea of using Connor Cook as the team’s No. 2 QB or bringing in an outside arm for that role. When EJ Manuel was signed to a free agent deal, that pretty much closed the door shut on a potential McGloin return.
“I think, for us, we want to develop [Cook] first as our backup quarterback. He’s the guy we know we have right now,” Del Rio said. “But there’s always competition in this league, and I wouldn’t close the door there, to say we wouldn’t make it competitive for him.”
“Moxy” McGloin now projects to be the third QB on the depth chart in Philly behind Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, though he is not a lock for the 53-man roster. Last year, the Eagles kept 2 QBs on the roster with one on the practice squad.
Florio: Raiders' Status Increases Lynch's Leverage
- Under the terms of the Seahawks extension Marshawn Lynch signed in 2015, he’s set to make around $9MM this year. While the Raiders refused to outbid the Vikings for Latavius Murray on an offer far less than that, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the Bay Area native would mean more to this Raiders team than just as a running back. Although only one back (Le’Veon Bell) is set to take up more than $7MM of his team’s cap this year, Florio points out that Lynch could do well for a wounded Raiders Oakland-area fanbase that just saw the franchise agree to move (again) only to say it’s going to play the next two years in Oakland. Lynch’s productivity history, the Raiders’ lack of a proven every-down back on their roster and the ball-carrier’s Bay Area popularity give Lynch leverage in Florio’s mind. Of course, this running back draft class is believed to be quite deep, which could negate some of Lynch’s leverage.
- Lynch would be a good fit behind the Raiders’ power-based run game, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com observes. He’d allow the aforementioned complementary backs — Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington — to serve in similar roles that they did last year, with Brooks noting Lynch’s presence would help stop defenses from shifting too much attention to Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
Lynch Would Only Return For Raiders
- Consistent with what we’ve heard before, Marshawn Lynch would only return for the Raiders and no one else, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, the Raiders still need to figure out some things on their end, including how Lynch would mesh with their young locker room. Lynch met with Oakland brass on Wednesday afternoon and approval from coach Jack Del Rio was said to be the “final hurdle” to getting all of the Raiders decision makers on board with acquiring the running back.
Marshawn Lynch Meets With Raiders
Here we go. Running back Marshawn Lynch is at the Raiders’ practice facility today chatting with team officials, a source tells former NFL punter Pat McAfee, who is now with Barstool Sports. The news has been confirmed by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
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The Seahawks still hold Lynch’s rights, but they OK’d his meeting with the Raiders (Twitter link). One source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) believes that Lynch will ultimately wind up in Oakland. Today’s meeting with Jack Del Rio represents the final hurdle for Lynch to make his way to the Raiders, Rapoport tweets. If JDR says yes, the dominoes should start to fall, leading Beast Mode to Oakland.
During their meeting, Lynch told the Raiders he intends to un-retire and play again, Rapoport tweets. However, Rapoport cautions that a “long process” must play out before Lynch can actually join the Raiders.
The Raiders and Lynch have been connected to each other for some time now. Returning to play for the Raiders would give Lynch the opportunity to hook on with a contender and finish out his career in his hometown. The Raiders, meanwhile, would add a seasoned power back to help offset the loss of Latavius Murray. The Seahawks frankly don’t have room for Lynch at this juncture with Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and C.J. Prosise on the roster.
Lynch spoke with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll last month, but he reportedly did not ask to remove him from team’s reserve/retired list during that chat. Talk of a Lynch return has been swirling for a long time and agent Doug Hendrickson does not deny that the itch to play is still there for his client.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Raiders Had Interest In Re-Signing Hayden
Despite joining many of his high-first-round peers from 2013 in not living up to their draft statuses, D.J. Hayden signed a one-year, $3.75MM deal from the Lions. He will be looking to bounce back after four inconsistent seasons with the Raiders. His former GM agrees that Hayden needed to go elsewhere.
McKenzie considered making a push to re-sign the former No. 12 overall pick, and per the Free Press’ Dave Birkett, that might have happened if Hayden came at more of a discount. But the sixth-year Raiders GM concluded that if Hayden was going to reach his potential as an NFL corner he would have to leave Oakland. The injuries that dogged Hayden “killed his confidence,” per McKenzie. Hayden played in 16 games just once in his four Raider years, in 2015, and missed the final five games last season. The Lions are expected to give Hayden a quality opportunity to win their slot corner job alongside Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson.
Raiders Rumors: Carr, Jackson, San Antonio
- It sounds like we won’t see major progress in the Raiders‘ extension talks with Derek Carr until May or later. “He knows what we’re trying to do in free agency, and he’s never saying, ‘I need to know now. It’s not like that,” GM Reggie McKenzie said, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “More likely, the serious talks will happen after the draft. The communication has been ongoing, just talking about the philosophy of a contract and the thought process around it. Hopefully when the serious talks start going, then it’s going to be easier.” McKenzie also indicated that an extension could be on the way for right guard Gabe Jackson. The Raiders will also discuss a new deal with Khalil Mack, but they have more time on that front thanks to his option for the 2018 season.
- Multiple cities have reached out to the Raiders expressing interest in being their temporary home, including San Antonio, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News tweets. It’s possible that we could see the Raiders make a pit stop on the way from Oakland to Las Vegas.