Eagles Pushing Hard To Trade Up
The Eagles are are “doing all they can” to make the move from No. 20, according to a source that spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Presumably, they’re gunning for the No. 2 pick to take Oregon star Marcus Mariota.
The Eagles could potentially get up to the No. 2 pick without giving up much thanks to the Browns’ persistent interest in quarterback Sam Bradford. While the Eagles publicly and privately have denied that they’d want to trade Bradford shortly after acquiring him, they could be convinced to part with him if it would give them the assets necessary to get Mariota.
Florio speculates that the Eagles could use the No. 12 pick (from Cleveland), the No. 20 pick (their own), and a 2016 first round pick to meet the Titans’ exorbitant asking price. It’s possible that on top of that, the Titans would push for a third round choice, but Chip Kelly could meet that asking price if he’s really as smitten with Mariota as people say he is.
East Notes: Mayo, Kendricks, Jets
A look at the AFC and NFC East..
- Jerod Mayo‘s reworked three-year deal with the Patriots calls for $4.5MM guaranteed with a $3MM bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). He has a $1.5MM guaranteed base salary in 2015 and a chance to earn $1.8MM through incentives. Mayo (link) has $11.4MM 2016 cap figure under the new pact with a $3.25MM base and a $4MM roster bonus (due first day of league year) in his option year.
- Mychael Kendricks plans to be back in Philly with the Eagles in a few weeks, assuming he still plays there, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets.
- The Jets have been more active than any other team, calling around about potentially trading up and down as they explore all options, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- The Jets worked out defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick today, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
Eagles Shopping Mychal Kendricks
With the draft just over 24 hours away, the Eagles are shopping linebacker Mychal Kendricks, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). According to La Canfora, teams are currently balking as Philadelphia’s asking price of a second-round pick, but there’s still a chance something happens.
Kendricks, 24, has been a starting inside linebacker for the Eagles since entering the league as the 46th overall pick in 2012. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former second-round pick was one of the league’s best ILBs last season, despite only playing 12 games — his grades as a pass rusher and in pass coverage were among the best at his position.
Nonethless, there have been some questions about how committed the Eagles are to Kendricks. The team brought in former Bill Kiko Alonso in a trade earlier in the offseason, and reworked DeMeco Ryans‘ deal to keep him in the mix, rather than parting ways with the veteran. Kendricks is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there has been no indication that the club has interest in extending him, which led to some trade speculation earlier in April.
As La Canfora points out in a pair of subsequent tweets, Kendricks’ apparent availability adds another wrinkle to the rumors about the Eagles potentially trading up in the first round for Marcus Mariota. Kendricks – or the draft pick(s) acquired for him – could be included as part of a package for that sort of move.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), rival teams believe the Eagles would also be willing to part with cornerback Brandon Boykin, which is something we heard a few weeks ago.
AFC Notes: Bengals, Rivers, Mercilus, Browns
Multiple reports and mock drafts in recent weeks have suggested the Bengals could use their first-round pick to add a young tackle, perhaps envisioning that player as an eventual replacement for Andrew Whitworth. As he tells Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer though, the idea of the team adding his potential replacement doesn’t worry Whitworth.
“I’ve always had the opposite mentality,” Whitworth said. “Mess up and draft somebody at my position because you are going to sit around and watch him sit the bench. That’s always been my mentality. I see it as a challenge.”
While we wait to see which direction the Bengals decide to go on Thursday, let’s check out a few more notes from around the AFC….
- The Chargers met with Philip Rivers‘ agent in person last week and are still focused on extending the quarterback’s contract, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. If Rivers is still a Charger on Sunday, it should signal that the team is relatively confident it can get something done.
- Speaking today to reporters, including John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links), Texans general manager Rick Smith said he and the club are still deciding whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Whitney Mercilus. “Whether we pick it up or not, we want him around long time,” Smith said of the outside linebacker. For his part, McClain doesn’t expect the team to exercise its 2016 option.
- On the heels of ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reporting that Sam Bradford wants to play for the Eagles, and Philadelphia is unlikely to trade him, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the Browns would still like to acquire the former first overall pick — however, it’s not likely to happen.
- Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com ranks the Raiders‘ top five draft needs, and according to Bair, the No. 1 priority is finding a pass rusher that can take some of the heat off of Khalil Mack. Oakland could use a defensive end and they could very well use the No. 4 pick to shore up that spot. Bud Dupree, Leonard Williams, and Dante Fowler Jr. are candidates to end up in Oakland next season, Bair writes.
- Chiefs president Mark Donovan has signed a long-term contract extension to remain in Kansas City, the team announced today in a press release.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
East Notes: Eagles, Jordan, Mathis, Cowboys
When Adam Schefter of ESPN.com first reported today that Dion Jordan had been suspended for the 2015 NFL season – news that has since been confirmed by the Dolphins – he also added another interesting tidbit, noting that the Eagles were nearing a trade for Jordan prior to his latest ban.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer has some additional details on those trade talks between the Dolphins and Eagles, tweeting that Jordan would’ve gone to Philadelphia for a conditional late-round pick. Per McLane, veteran guard Evan Mathis was also discussed, but it doesn’t appear Mathis would’ve been involved in the deal, if it had been finalized.
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Speaking today to reporters, including David Helman of DallasCowboys.com (Twitter link), Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said having the No. 27 pick increases the team’s chances of moving around in the draft, either up or down. Per Helman (Twitter links), Jones also classified Dallas’ need at running back as “not urgent,” suggesting that defense is a much greater priority. In Jones’ view, running back is merely a position of interest, while the D must be improved “by hook or crook.”
- General manager Doug Whaley made a visit to meet with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty today, a source tells Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com. Peter Schrager of Fox Sports adds (via Twitter) that Whaley isn’t the only member of the Bills‘ front office in Dallas to have dinner with the young signal-caller. Petty is viewed as a probable day two pick in this week’s draft.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links) provides the specific details on Chris Jones‘ new three-year contract with the Cowboys. Based on Wilson’s figures, the deal features a $1MM cap number for 2015.
- The Dolphins met with Miami running back Duke Johnson today, since a conflict with a Colts workout had prevented him from attending the team’s local pro day, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- Former TCU quarterback Casey Pachall and ex-Patriots defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick are among the players attending the Jets‘ minicamp as tryout players, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter links). Deaderick has also played for the Saints and Jaguars since spending three seasons in New England.
Miller’s Latest: Cooper, Browns, Gurley
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report reported yesterday that while there are NFL teams interested in drafting Dorial Green-Beckham in the first round on Thursday, ownership has squashed those plans. In fact, a source from one team drafting in the top 15 tells Miller that ownership responded with a flat-out “no” when the topic of DGB in the first round was broached.
Miller has many more items in his latest piece at Bleacher Report, so let’s dive in and check out the highlights….
- Raiders sources tell Miller that coaches in Oakland have “fallen in love” with Amari Cooper. The Alabama wideout, who has also been linked to the Jaguars at No. 3, could be the surprise pick over Leonard Williams if he’s available at No. 4.
- The Browns like Marcus Mariota a lot, and Miller continues to hear that the team has interest in trading up to land him. Miller also hears that Cleveland has spoken to the Giants – drafting ninth overall – about a possible deal.
- Browns sources don’t expect safety Tashaun Gipson to be on the roster in 2016. According to Miller, the belief is that he’ll price himself out of Cleveland’s range. Gipson is currently forgoing the Browns’ voluntary workouts, having not yet signed his RFA tender.
- Todd Gurley‘s knee is looking better than anticipated, with one team source telling Miller the running back could play in Week 1 of the NFL season.
- The Eagles are being connected to UCF wideout Breshad Perriman, according to several GMs who spoke to Miller.
- Miller asked four different teams about Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory, and while none of those four clubs expect him to be selected within the top 10, they all believe he’s still a first-round player.
- Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead has been the popular pick for the 49ers in mock drafts, and Miller hears that Armstead is indeed a Niners target at No. 15 if the club doesn’t trade up or down.
- Chronic knee problems have resulted in a pair of guards – Florida State’s Tre‘ Jackson and Alabama’s Arie Kouandjio – failing physicals during the pre-draft process, sources tell Miller. Both players’ stocks figure to take a significant hit as a result of injury concerns.
Dion Jordan Suspended For 2015 Season
Former third overall pick Dion Jordan has violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy once again, and is facing a season-long suspension for the 2015 campaign, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Jordan had multiple positive tests last year, and was suspended in September as a result of that. At the time, the defensive end vowed to “make better choices” going forward.
“I am currently undergoing treatment to address my situation,” Jordan said in a statement at the time. “I am working hard to become a better man and to make better choices in the future. I am especially looking forward to returning to the team. I also want to thank my family, Coach [Joe] Philbin and the Miami Dolphins organization for their support.”
According to Schefter (via Twitter), while Jordan didn’t outright fail a drug test this time around, the league determined that one of his samples was diluted, which counts as a strike. Prior to the diluted sample and the year-long ban, the Dolphins had been nearing a trade with the Eagles that would’ve sent the Oregon product to Philadelphia, tweets Schefter.
Instead, Jordan will miss the entire 2015 season — he won’t appeal the suspension, so the penalty will stand, per Schefter (Twitter link).
The suspension helps to explain the ambiguous nature of Mike Tannenbaum‘s comments last week when he was asked about Jordan. At the time, a few Dolphins beat writers suggested that it sounded like Jordan’s time in Miami may be nearing its end. The 25-year-old’s suspensions void the remaining guaranteed salary in his contract, so the Dolphins could cut him without being on the hook for that money.
Extra Points: Bradford, Carter, Broncos
Teams like the Bears looking for edge pass rushers in the draft know that they have to assess some serious risk, writes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. It can be hard to gauge rush linebacker/ends and that was illustrated by the 2011 and 2012 drafts. The 2011 class produced the likes of Von Miller, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan, and more. But in 2012, another year with a supposed cluster of elite edge rushers, the results were not nearly as strong. That group included guys like Bruce Irvin, Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram, Shea McClellin and none of the edge rushers taken in the first round have been to a Pro Bowl. Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Despite speculation to the contrary, the Eagles acquired Sam Bradford to be their quarterback and not a trade pawn, Chris Mortensen of ESPN tweets. He adds that Bradford would only sign an extension with the Eagles if it includes a no-trade clause since he wants to play for Chip Kelly and Pat Shurmur.
- Before Tony Carter signed his contract tender from the Broncos, the Vikings had a few discussions with the representatives for the restricted free agent cornerback, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. According to Wolfson, Minnesota didn’t make an formal offer to Carter before last Friday, the deadline for RFAs to sign offer sheets.
- It’s a virtual certainty the Broncos will take a quarterback with one of their 10 draft picks, Mike Klis of 9 News writes. It’s a necessary move for Denver since Peyton Manning is 39 years old and returning to play for his 18th season after giving retirement some consideration. Meanwhile, backup Brock Osweiler is entering his contract year and there’s no guarantee that he’ll be around beyond this season.
Eagles Pick Up Option On Fletcher Cox
The Eagles have exercised their fifth-year option on defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, sources tell Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link). Will Brinson of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) first reported the decision, which has since been confirmed by the team (Twitter link).
Although Breer identifies Cox as a defensive tackle, the assumption is that he’ll receive a defensive end salary for 2016, since he plays end in the Eagles’ 3-4 system. So while a defensive tackle like Michael Brockers will be in line for a $6.146MM option-year salary, Cox will earn $7.799MM in his fifth year.
Cox’s 2016 salary is initially only guaranteed for injury, but it will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the ’16 league year, and I suspect the Eagles won’t have a problem with that. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the 24-year-old was the fifth-best 3-4 DE in the NFL last season, behind standout players like J.J. Watt, Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Calais Campbell. Cox graded well above average as both a run defender and a pass rusher.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Kelly, Cruz
Eli Manning is hopeful that Victor Cruz will be able to return, Tom Rock of Newsday writes. “You just hope he’ll be able to come back,” Manning said. “You see some of the plays, the catches and the stops real quick, making that first guy miss, some of the cuts, and you hope he’ll be able to do those things again. I think you hope for the best and he can make a full recovery. But we’re going to be smart with him, make sure he comes back on his own time, and when he’s ready get in there and be right back in the mix.” The good news is that the Giants aren’t desperate for a No. 1 wide receiver heading into the draft thanks to the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. Here’s more news out of the NFC East..
- Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (on Twitter) hears that Washington cornerback Marcus Peters or Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson may be too good to pass up if either are available for the Cowboys in the first round.
- Some teams are going for the best available player, but in the Eagles‘ draft strategy, players must fit their system, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “What Seattle is looking for is different than what San Francisco is looking for,” coach Chip Kelly said in March. “I think the teams that do it the best are getting players that fit their system.” This year, Alabama’s Landon Collins is viewed by many draft analysts as the top safety in the draft but he might not be an ideal fit because he’s more of an in-the-box safety and the Eagles require their safeties to cover like a cornerback.
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Todd Archer of ESPN.com whether the Cowboys will go defensive back or defensive lineman in the first round. Archer believes that Dallas’ preference is to go with a cornerback at No. 27 because there likely won’t be a pass rusher worth the pick at that spot. Randy Gregory is a name to watch, he says, if he falls that far. Personally, I don’t see the embattled Nebraska star staying on the board that long.
- The Eagles could choose from several offensive lineman at No. 20, Berman writes. Of course, that group includes Oregon standout Jake Fisher, and not just because Kelly recruited him to the Ducks.
- One league executive told Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel that this year’s draft class doesn’t feature any quality kickers. “There’s no draftable kickers. The combine was probably the worst display of kicking talent I’ve ever seen. It was, like, ‘Are you kidding me? You can’t develop a kicker?,‘” the unnamed exec told McGinn.