Corey Davis

South Notes: Panthers, Newton, Titans, Davis, Henry, Buccaneers, Winston

July 14th, 2018 at 8:51am CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Just three years ago, Cam Newton was the league’s MVP who led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The past two years haven’t gone nearly as well for him, and now Newton is on the “hot seat” according to David Newton of ESPN.com. He notes that 2018 will be a big year for Newton as he starts anew with a new offensive coordinator and scheme.

“If he doesn’t show improvement after consecutive down years, there will be a lot of questions about his future” he writes. Newton is the face of the franchise, but the team could theoretically get out of his contract relatively easily after this season. It would be shocking if it happens, but according to this report, it’s not totally inconceivable that the end of the Cam Newton-era in Carolina could be near if he doesn’t turn things around this season.

Here’s more from the league’s southern divisions:

Corey Davis “was one of the stars” of the Titans’ early offseason workouts, according to Jim Wyatt of Titansonline.com. The fifth overall pick in 2017, Davis was somewhat limited by injuries last season, but still flashed a ton of potential. Wyatt notes that Davis “looked smooth during the offseason, snatching the ball out of the air with ease in traffic”, and that the team is “counting on Davis to make a big leap in Year 2.”
Jameis Winston‘s suspension may have caught a lot of people by surprise, but it didn’t shock the Buccaneers, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Stroud writes that the Bucs had been bracing for the suspension for quite some time, and re-signed Ryan Fitzpatrick back in March knowing they might need him to start some games.
“The plan” is for Derrick Henry to be the Titans‘ lead back in 2018, according to Wyatt. The Titans signed Dion Lewis to a four-year, $20MM deal this offseason, but apparently view him as more of a complimentary piece.

Extra Points: Donald, Gruden, Titans, Bills

August 4th, 2017 at 9:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

There’s no end in sight to the standoff between the Rams and holdout Aaron Donald, but the two sides remain on “amicable” terms, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. The superstar defensive lineman is under control through the next two seasons at low costs relative to his play and could be a franchise tag candidate in 2019 and ’20, meaning the Rams don’t have any incentive to give him a long-term mega-deal, one NFL agent told Gonzalez. “The Rams should sit back and do nothing. Let him play out this year, let him play out the fifth-year option, and franchise him,” said the agent.

The agent’s point of view makes sense from a financial perspective, but it wouldn’t be acting in good faith, notes Gonzalez, who writes that Donald is worth breaking the bank for and someone who’s clearly a franchise player. While the Rams are aware of the 26-year-old’s greatness, they also realize that they technically don’t have to cave into Donald, which puts them in a tough situation. Ultimately, if a deal does come together, it might not be until closer to September, observes Gonzalez. That’s when the Rams extended wide receiver Tavon Austin, edge rusher Robert Quinn and nose tackle Michael Brockers in past years. In the meantime, they can fine Donald $40K per day as long as he’s absent.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden wouldn’t be surprised if his brother, Jon Gruden, returned to coaching. “It wouldn’t shock me, no,” said Jay Gruden (via John Keim of ESPN.com). “I don’t know why he would want to do that. He has a pretty good job. He has a passion for the game, the way he talks and prepares for the job he has is second to none. He loves coaching and he loves preparing. I don’t know if he’ll come back or not.” Jon Gruden hasn’t coached since 2008, and while the Monday Night Football commentator suggested last week that a comeback was possible, he indicated he’s content in his current role a few days later.
Titans receiver Corey Davis, the fifth pick in this year’s draft and the last rookie to sign his contract, will sit out at least a week after suffering a hamstring injury Thursday, head coach Mike Mularkey told 104.5 The Zone in Nashville (via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com). Davis will not need surgery, fortunately, though the Titans will evaluate him week to week. He expects to be in Tennessee’s lineup come Week 1, tweets Wolfe.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t rule out foot surgery for left tackle Cordy Glenn. Both the Bills and Glenn can now breathe a sigh of relief, though, as the stalwart’s “fine” and will likely resume practicing next week, reports John Wawrow of The Associated Press. Glenn’s ankle injury limited him to a career-low 11 games last season, but the five-year veteran’s play still ranked an impressive 21st among 76 qualified tackles at Pro Football Focus.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Titans, Corey Davis Agree To Deal

July 29th, 2017 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2017 rookie class is now completely signed. Corey Davis reached an agreement with the Titans on the customary four-year rookie contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Davis is on his way to the Titans facility to sign the contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The No. 5 overall pick follows first-rounders Solomon Thomas (49ers) and Gareon Conley (Raiders) as draftees signed on camp weekend.

Offset language appeared to be at the root of the impasse between Davis and the Titans, and the team typically includes it in its rookie deals. It’s unclear whether the Titans budged on their precedent.

Davis headlines a wide receiver makeover in Tennessee, which also added third-round pick Taywan Taylor and UFA Eric Decker. The Western Michigan prodigy posted three straight seasons of 1,400-plus air yards and caught 52 touchdowns during his four-year career with the Mid-American Conference program.

Extra Points: Gilchrist, Titans, Kaepernick

July 26th, 2017 at 9:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent safety Marcus Gilchrist has been cleared for action and is lining up visits for next week, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Gilchrist tore his patellar tendon while with the Jets last season and wound up on the injured reserve in mid-December. The six-year veteran has combined for 91 appearances and 69 starts with the Chargers and Jets since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2011. Gilchrist started in all 61 of his appearances from 2013-16, when he combined for eight interceptions. He picked off two passes in 13 games last season en route a passable 53rd-place ranking among Pro Football Focus’ 90 qualified safeties.

Draft Rumors: Cowboys, Conley, McCaffrey

April 27th, 2017 at 3:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Let’s round up the latest NFL Draft rumors:

The Cowboys should not been overlooked as a possible destination when it comes to Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. Dallas need cornerback help and, as Pelissero notes, they’re used to taking risks. Dallas had Conley in for a visit and also phoned him on Wednesday. Conley, of course, is dealing with allegations of rape, and could fall as far as the third round. If he’s cleared of all charges, Conley could represent an excellent value for the Cowboys at the end of Round 1.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) gets the sense that Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey is likely to go in the top ten. One NFL GM told Schefter that McCaffrey “had the best combine workout I’ve seen. Ever.” McCaffrey has been linked to the top-10 range for some time, and a number of clubs within that space make sense as a landing spot. The Eagles, sitting at No. 14, are reportedly “infatuated” with McCaffrey, but understand they may have to trade ahead of Carolina.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) wouldn’t be shocked if the Chargers beat the Panthers to the punch on selecting McCaffrey. Los Angeles used a first-round pick on running back Melvin Gordon in 2015, and he broke out with 10 rushing touchdowns during his sophomore campaign. However, the Chargers did lose Danny Woodhead in free agency, and McCaffrey would presumably fill Woodhead’s passing down role with aplomb.
The Ravens‘ interest in Corey Davis is real, Peter Schrager of NFL Network tweets. Baltimore owns the No. 16 overall pick, and is certainly in the market for a wide receiver after losing Steve Smith to retirement. Former first-round pick Breshad Perriman has been injured during much of his NFL tenure, so the Ravens could use another pass-catcher to pair with Mike Wallace. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported a strong link between Davis and the Ravens on Wednesday.
Both UCLA linebacker Takkarist McKinley and Washington wide receiver John Ross could slide due to their medical history, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Both players underwent surgery during the predraft process. While McKinley and Ross are certainly considered talented prospects, interested clubs will have to weigh injury risk against potential upside.

Ravens Have Strong Interest In Corey Davis

April 26th, 2017 at 9:05pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

With the 16th pick in this year’s NFL draft, the Ravens could attempt to bolster an underwhelming receiving corps. The club has “considerable interest” in Western Michigan wideout Corey Davis, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Even though Davis underwent ankle surgery in February and missed the scouting combine, it’s possible he’ll be off the board long before the Ravens are on the clock. Davis is nearly all the way back from the surgery, which bodes well for his draft stock. So does the 6-foot-3, 213-pounder’s production at the college level, where he hauled in 331 passes and 52 touchdowns over four years. Davis was at his best in 2016, finishing with personal highs in receptions (97), yards (1,500) and scores (19).

Landing Davis could be a pipe dream for Baltimore, but somehow adding him would be a boon to a Ravens team in need of more weapons in the passing game. Steve Smith retired after last season, leaving Mike Wallace as the only receiver on the Ravens’ roster with a significant track record of success in the pros. The 30-year-old Wallace is unsigned beyond next season, though, so his time with the club might be winding down.

Behind Wallace, the Ravens’ best option is Breshad Perriman, a first-rounder in 2015 who sat out his rookie season because of injury. Perriman stayed healthy last year and showed promise (33 receptions, 15.1 yards per catch and three TDs), but he wasn’t exactly a force. Meanwhile, the only other wideout on the Ravens’ roster who caught a pass last year, Chris Moore, totaled just seven receptions.

PFR’s 2017 Live NFL Mock Draft

April 25th, 2017 at 9:47am CST by Dallas Robinson

The 2017 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night, and Pro Football Rumors is back with its second mock draft of the year. While our initial mock attempted to project what will happen in Round 1, we’ve taken a different approach for mock draft 2.0.

PFR editor Zach Links and I conducted this live mock draft on Tuesday morning, rotating picks and breaking down what we would do were we in charge of these selections. We posted each pick on Twitter, followed by a short explanation of our thought process on this page.

Here’s the complete mock:

1. Cleveland Browns (Zach) – Myles Garrett, LB, Texas A&M

I suspect this is the easiest pick either one of us will make all day. Garrett is the best pure talent in this year’s draft and the Browns would be foolish to go in any other direction at the top of the draft.

2. San Francisco 49ers (Dallas) – Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Reports that the 49ers are considering a quarterback with the second overall selection stand out as a potential smokescreen, and instead San Francisco uses the No. 2 pick to bolster its defense. Hooker, who recently earned a full medical clearance following combine rechecks, has been commonly linked to the Chargers as a perfect fit for Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gus Bradley‘s scheme. But the 49ers are running the same defensive look as the Chargers under new DC Robert Saleh, and Hooker would give the team a centerfielder with the upside of an Earl Thomas. San Francisco’s plan to convert nickel cornerback Jimmie Ward to safety won’t stop it from adding Hooker, who is possibly the draft’s No. 2 overall prospect.

3. Chicago Bears (Zach) – Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

Dallas’ bold pick left my Bears with a golden opportunity. The Bears could go safety or cornerback in this scenario, but the talent of Thomas is too good to pass up. Thomas can be used on both the inside and outside of the Bears’ defensive line and I see him as one of the safest talents on the board.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (Dallas) – Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

No, we didn’t forget the Jaguars used a top-five pick on Jalen Ramsey in 2016 and then handed a $67.5MM contract to A.J. Bouye in free agency last month. But one of Ramsey’s key selling points last year was his versatility: while he’s a shutdown corner at his best, Ramsey can man the slot, cover tight ends, and dabble at safety. As such, adding Conley doesn’t mean Jacksonville is facing cornerback overload, especially given that NFL clubs are in the nickel more than two-thirds of the time. Conley is viewed as a safer prospect than his Ohio State teammate Marshon Lattimore, and he’d give the Jaguars a Broncos-like secondary.

5. Tennessee Titans (Zach) – Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

The Titans, arguably, get the best cornerback available in the draft even though they are the second team to address the position. No, we don’t have a ton of film to go on for Lattimore, but his combine numbers indicate that he could be a megastar. Few teams in the NFL would have a young cornerback duo like the Titans if they can pair Logan Ryan with Lattimore.

6. Cleveland Browns (projected trade with Jets) (Dallas) – Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

In need of a franchise quarterback, the Browns send the No. 12 and No. 52 pick to the Jets in exchange for No. 6 with the intention of drafting Trubisky. It’s a slight overpay for Cleveland (at least, based on Chase Stuart of Football Perspective‘s draft value chart, which is likely what the Browns front offices uses), but it does the deal anyway to land a long-term option under center. Given that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is reportedly pressing the club to select a quarterback early — and the fact the Cleveland may still be considering Trubisky with the first overall selection — landing the UNC signal-caller at No. 5 for the cost of a mid-second-round pick is a move the Browns can’t pass up.

7. Los Angeles Chargers (Zach) – Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

In this scenario, it seems like Allen’s subpar workouts have led to a bit of a drop. His size (6’3″) is a bit of a concern, but he has the ability to be an effective defensive end while spending some time on the inside as well. Allen would look great lining up on the opposite end of Joey Bosa.

8. Carolina Panthers (Dallas) – Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Sitting at pick No. 8, the Panthers certainly have options. General manager Dave Gettleman & Co. could go after a running back like Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey, bring in a young edge rusher to play alongside veterans like Charles Johnson and Julius Peppers, or even reach for an offensive tackle given Michael Oher‘s health questions. With Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey Brown having defected via free agency, the Panthers need another wideout to pair with Kelvin Benjamin. Enter Davis, who topped 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (Zach) – Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Foster’s stock, by all accounts, is slipping after he turned in a diluted urine sample and got into an argument with a hospital worker at the combine. However, with other teams in the market for an inside linebacker (like the Jets at No. 12, for example), it would be somewhat risky to trade down into the teens and expect Foster to still be there. The Bengals have been willing to overlook character concerns in the past, so I see no reason why they can’t do the same here and land the Alabama star.

10. Buffalo Bills (Dallas) – Jamal Adams, S, LSU

While the Bills gave Jordan Poyer a four-year deal with $6MM in guarantees earlier this offseason, I’m still not convinced Buffalo views him as a definite starter. Those questions come to the forefront with Adams still on the board, and the Bills don’t hesitate to take the LSU defensive back. With ex-Packer Micah Hyde also in the fold, Buffalo can field one of the more diverse and flexible safety tandems in the league. Adams is viewed as a leader in the locker room, and has been favorably compared to former Cowboys All Pro Darren Woodson by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

11. New Orleans Saints (Zach) – Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Leonard Fournette would have been a logical choice here, but the Saints have now landed Adrian Peterson. Instead, the Saints get one of the draft’s best pass rushers. With 33 sacks over the last three years, Barnett will provide an immediate boost to the Saints’ lackluster D.

12. New York Jets (projected trade with Cleveland) (Dallas) – O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Former Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey got next to nothing of his tight end group in 2016, as Charone Peake led Gang Green with 19 receptions for 186 yards. New play-caller John Morton comes from the Saints, the club that unearthed production from Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson, so it stands that the New York front office will give Morton a fresh face in Howard. Universally regarded as the draft’s No. 1 tight end, Howard is a threat in the passing game as well as a willing blocker in the run game.

13. Arizona Cardinals (Zach) – Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

Popular thought has the Cardinals taking a quarterback here, but I instead have them targeting a cornerback to pair with Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals have the rest of the draft to explore a potential Carson Palmer successor/stand-in, and I’m higher on Humphrey than most.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (Dallas) – Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Having already added two starting wide receivers in free agency, the Eagles continue to make Carson Wentz‘s life a bit easier by giving him an all-purpose weapon in McCaffrey. While Leonard Fournette gets more run as a generational talent, I think McCaffrey is actually the best back in the 2017 class. His pass-catching skills are on par with a full-time wideout, and his ability as a runner is underrated. McCaffrey would team with Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles in a dynamic Philadelphia backfield.

15. Indianapolis Colts (Zach) – Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

The Colts’ revamped linebacker group looks even brighter with the addition of Reddick. This board climber can be used at both ILB and OLB.

16. Baltimore Ravens (Dallas) – Cam Robinson, T, Alabama

Robinson is now expected to be the first offensive lineman off the board on Thursday night, and the Ravens can use front five help after losing right tackle Ricky Wagner to the Lions last month. By slotting in Robinson, Baltimore will be able to keep Alex Lewis at guard, where he’s better suited. While Robinson has the qualities to play left tackle, that won’t be a consideration with the Ravens, who just drafted Ronnie Stanley sixth overall in 2016. Robinson, who is only 21 years old, gives Baltimore options, as he could certainly be a fallback player at guard if he can’t cut it at tackle.

17. Washington Redskins (Zach) – Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Fournette fell right into the laps of the Redskins! The Eagles went with McCaffrey because he is the best scheme fit, but I feel that the rival Redskins are getting the superior talent three spots later.

18. Tennessee Titans (Dallas) – Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

After landing Marshon Lattimore with the No. 5 pick, the Titans address their other glaring need by selecting Williams. At present, Tennessee’s wide receiver group is lead by Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, and Harry Douglas, so the club definitely needs to give quarterback Marcus Mariota more talent at pass-catcher. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com compares Williams — who managed 1,361 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016 — to former Cardinal/Patriot Michael Floyd, but Titans fans clearly hope Williams will provide more value than did Floyd. Washington’s John Ross was also a possibility here, but he may fall to the second round due to ongoing injury concerns.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Zach) – Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

The Buccaneers just couldn’t resist going with the homegrown talent. Cook can contribute right off the bat and provide the kind of production that was expected of Doug Martin. Let’s just hope the Bucs’ running back jinx of 2016 doesn’t extend into 2017.

20. Denver Broncos (Dallas) – Garett Bolles, T, Utah

The Bolles-to-Denver connection is perhaps the strongest link in the first round of this year’s draft. Bolles will be 25 years old when the 2017 campaign gets underway, which is a concern, but the Broncos can afford to possibly eschew long-term value in favor of immediate need. If the season began today, either Menelik Watson or Donald Stephenson would be Denver’s starting left tackle. Unless Broncos management has a death wish for Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch, they can’t allow that to happen. Bolles would instantly upgrade the left side of Denver’s line, solidifying a massive need area for the Broncos.

21. Detroit Lions (Zach) – Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA

The buzz around McKinley seems to have quieted a bit in recent week, but I feel great about this pick for Detroit. He needs some polishing, but the potential is there for McKinley to be a Pro Bowl talent. The Lions needed defensive help and the get it in a major way with McKinley.

22. Miami Dolphins (Dallas) – Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

While the Dolphins have also been tied to defensive ends during the predraft process, Miami could still use help at guard, where projected starters Ted Larsen and Jermon Bushrod will each be over 30 years old when the season starts. Recent reports have indicated the Dolphins “love” Lamp (I know, I know) and are “locked in” on the Western Kentucky guard. Lamp played tackle at the collegiate level, and Mike Renner and Sam Monson have been making the case on the Pro Football Focus podcast that Lamp should stay at tackle in the NFL. If Lamp lands in South Beach, however, that probably won’t be a consideration, as the Dolphins already employ Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James.

23. Kansas City Chiefs (projected trade with Giants) (Zach) – Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Here’s the inside scoop: my Giants are eyeing three players in particular and at least one of them will be available at No. 27. So, why not use this opportunity to gain some draft capital? The Chiefs, meanwhile, seized an opportunity to leapfrog the Texans and secure their desired QB. The Chiefs sent the No. 27 and No. 91 overall picks to the Giants to get back the No. 23 and No. 167 selections.

24. Oakland Raiders (Dallas) – Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

Having released Dan Williams, the Raiders’ interior defensive line is now headlined by Justin Ellis, Jihad Ward, Darius Latham, and Denico Autry, all of whom graded as bottom-half defensive tackles in 2016, per Pro Football Focus (Ward ranked dead last). If former second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. can return from injury, he makes a fine sub package interior rusher, but Oakland still needs a big body in the middle. Enter McDowell, who stands 6’6″, 295 pounds. He’s faced effort questions throghout his collegiate career, but he’s clearly a first-round talent if his head is on straight. The Raiders can take the risk with the hope their coaching staff gets the best out of McDowell.

25. Houston Texans (Zach) – Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Watson, in my opinion, has the greatest upside of any quarterback in this year’s draft. This is a solid pick for Houston at No. 25.

26. Seattle Seahawks (Dallas) – Ryan Ramczyk, T, Wisconsin

Seattle invested $7MM guaranteed in former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel with the intention of playing him at left tackle, but I have a hard time believing Joeckel will stick in the starting lineup all season given his history of poor play. Ramczyk is too good a value to pass up at No. 26, and he can play guard or right tackle (depending on how the Seahawks deploy 2016 first-rounder Germain Ifedi) until Joeckel proves he shouldn’t be starting any more. Cornerback is also a consideration here, but Pete Carroll can find developmental defensive backs later in the draft.

27. New York Giants (projected trade with Chiefs) (Zach) – Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

As the Giants GM, I will neither confirm nor deny that we traded down with an eye on getting Ryan Ramczyk here (OK, you got me – we wanted him). Fortunately, Davis was also on our short list and still available. Linebacker is an area of need for the Giants and Davis could have a bright future. Let’s just hope that the Giants can unearth an offensive line gem or two in the later rounds.

28. Dallas Cowboys (Dallas) – Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

Harris is shooting up draft boards, and Josh Norris of Rotoworld now has the Missouri product ranked 15th overall on his latest big board. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have “made no secret” of their interest in Harris, as Charean Williams of the of Star-Telegram recently reported. With former second-round pick Randy Gregory on a yearlong suspension (and never having produced at the NFL level anyway), Dallas needs another edge presence to pair with Demarcus Lawrence. Harris posted 16 sacks over the past two seasons for the Tigers.

29. Green Bay Packers (Zach) – T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

Reach? Maybe. Fan pleaser? Definitely. But Watt would be a great fit for a team in need of reinforcements at outside linebacker.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers (Dallas) – David Njoku, TE, Miami

The Steelers inked Ladarius Green to a four-year contract prior to the 2016 season, but he played in six games during his inaugural Pittsburgh campaign due to lingering concussion issues. General manager Kevin Colbert says Green will be ready for the upcoming season, but there’s no guarantee Green will fully recover from his head injuries. Pittsburgh needs insurance at the tight end position, and Njoku — an athletic freak with competent blocking skills — gives them that. An offense armed with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Njoku, and (hopefully) Martavis Bryant would be among the best in the league.

31. Atlanta Falcons (Zach) – Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

The versatile Jabrill Peppers was a consideration here, but his diluted drug test could allow Atlanta to get him later in the draft. Instead, I tuned to defensive end. Takkarist McKinley, T.J. Watt, and Derek Barnett are all off the board, but Charlton isn’t a bad consolation prize late in the first round.

32. New Orleans Saints (Dallas) – DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

While I seriously considered giving the Saints LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White, I’ll stick with the pick I made in PFR’s first mock draft: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer. Drew Brees is now 38 years old and entering the final year of his contract, and the Saints haven’t shown any urgency in signing him to an extension. Head coach Sean Payton said in February that his club is always in the “quarterback business,” and it’s now time to find Brees’ successor. Kizer, who tossed 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 2016, can be the next man up. Personally, he’s my favorite quarterback in the 2017 class.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

East Notes: Eagles, Jenkins, Pats, Dolphins

April 24th, 2017 at 9:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles reportedly offered veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins to the Saints as part of a package for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and though Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman later denied dangling Jenkins, the 29-year-old defensive back admitted today he’s known New Orleans wanted him for some time, tweets Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Jenkins of course, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Saints, but he’s indicated to Eagles management that he prefers to remain in Philadelphia, per Berman.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:

Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis visited the Eagles and Cardinals during the predraft process, he tells Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Davis also confirmed that he was hosted by the Titans, Ravens, and Browns over the past month or so. After undergoing ankle surgery and missing the combine, Davis says his ankle is now roughly 85% healed, per Laine. Davis comes from a small school, but he’s been extremely productive against lesser production, topping 1,400 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons. He’s expected to be one of the first three wideouts off the board in Round 1.
The Patriots created $4.75MM in cap space by reducing wide receiver Danny Amendola‘s pay for the 2017 campaign, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Amendola, 31, has now agreed to a paycut for the third consecutive season. He’ll earn a $100K signing bonus and a fully guaranteed base salary of $1.25MM, and can also bring in a $50K workout bonus and $300K in per-game roster bonuses. Originally $7.791MM, Amendola’s 2017 salary cap charge is now $3.041MM.
Dolphins center Mike Pouncey recently underwent a stem cell procedure on his hip as part of his regular rehabilitation program, reports James Walker of ESPN.com. Pouncey, who missed 11 games during the 2016 season, is now on crutches but hasn’t suffered any setbacks. Yesterday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote the Dolphins are aware they need to invest in an insurance policy at center given Pouncey’s repeated health scares.

Draft Notes: Bills, Kizer, Howard, Davis

April 23rd, 2017 at 6:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills may not like their current position in this draft. A day after we heard the franchise is looking to move down from its No. 10 overall perch, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes (via Twitter) the team is also gauging what it would take to move up further into the top 10.

Buffalo looms as one of the more intriguing spots because of its tenuous relationship with Tyrod Taylor, whom the team retained but on a similar prove-it basis. The Bills are thought to be high on Deshaun Watson, while another report pegged the team as being higher on Mitch Trubisky. The latter has gained steam on going No. 1 overall, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted he was unlikely to get past the Jets at No. 6 in the event the Browns didn’t use their top pick on him. The Jaguars are now also a threat to take a first-round quarterback, further complicating the Bills’ possible ambitions regarding this position.

Moving up, as the Bills did three years ago to acquire Sammy Watkins, would strengthen their ability to land Trubisky or Watson. But if both of them go early, moving down would obviously allow the team to collect assets and regroup.

Here’s more from the draft, continuing with some quarterback buzz.

DeShone Kizer has not been shy about expressing belief in his abilities, but league execs are increasingly skeptical of the former Notre Dame quarterback’s NFL potential. “He’s not as good as he should be because he’s not committed to the game,” an AFC executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s committed to building a brand. He wants all the things that come with being a starting quarterback but doesn’t want to put in the work.” An AFC exec referred to the 6-foot-4 passer as a “prima donna,” while another NFC exec was concerned about the Fighting Irish benching him at one point and that his second year as a starter generated a 4-8 record. Nine of the 16 NFL staffers the Journal Sentinel surveyed rated Kizer as the most likely bust in this class of QBs.
While at least three wide receivers are likely set to go in the first round, an NFC executive told McGinn this is the “It’s the worst wide receiver draft at the top I’ve seen in a long time.” Of the throng of personnel people polled, more of them preferred Corey Davis as the No. 1 wideout prospect. Behind the top three — Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross — personnel staffers and scouts placed East Carolina’s Zay Jones at No. 4. The Seahawks are reportedly doing work on Jones as a possible second-round pick.
However, this group is bullish on the tight end class. One AFC personnel man called O.J. Howard and David Njoku future NFL difference-makers because of their ability to block and do the expected work in the passing game. That exec added that as many as 10 tight ends could go in the first four rounds. Only five went in Rounds 1-4 last year, with 11 being selected in total. Howard earned praise as the runaway winner of the Journal Sentinel poll on tight ends, with an AFC exec saying the Alabama product is “as good as Greg Olsen.”

AFC South Notes: Mahomes, Titans, Jack

April 16th, 2017 at 7:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Earlier today, Deshaun Watson‘s Texans visit schedule became known. He will have some company, it appears. Patrick Mahomes is also meeting with Texans brass, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. Mahomes is already in Houston and will be visiting with the Texans tonight and on Monday, John McClain of the Chronicle adds (via Twitter).

The Texas Tech product is one of the fastest-rising commodities in this draft. He’s had 18 visits and private workouts thus far, but this one is among the more interesting for the high-volume college passer because of the Texans’ status as a two-time reigning division champion and void at quarterback.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noted earlier this month Mahomes was unlikely to slip past the Texans at No. 25, and the team is now doing some work on him. Houston would have a better shot at drafting the strong-armed former Big 12 signal-caller at No. 25 than Watson, but the former looks to have gained extensive ground and could be a priority for a team holding a higher pick — or one that trades up in front of the Texans — at this point.

Here’s more from the AFC South.

Corey Davis made a trip to Nashville, Tenn., today to visit with the Titans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Davis will meet with the Titans tonight and Monday before flying to Baltimore for a Monday-Tuesday Ravens summit, per Rapoport. The Titans recently met with fellow first-round wideout prospects John Ross and Mike Williams. The franchise holds two first-round picks (Nos. 5 and 18) and is believed to be targeting wideout help. Their aggressive Brandin Cooks pursuit made this rather apparent.
The Jaguars will have some movement at linebacker, it appears. Last year’s second-round pick, Myles Jack has already learned middle and strong-side linebacker and is set to supplant Paul Posluszny in the middle, relocating the career-long middle ‘backer to the strong side. But the Jags view Jack as a natural fit on the weak side long-term, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Telvin Smith currently occupies that position and is expected to start there again in 2017. However, Smith is slated to be a 2018 UFA, and another Jack move would stand to impact Jacksonville’s decision on Smith. O’Halloran adds that Smith extension talks could pick up after the draft, but the fourth-year linebacker’s spot could be tenuous if Jack is viewed as the future at that position.
The Jags could also be exploring the idea of moving A.J. Cann to left guard, per O’Halloran. A third-year player, Cann’s been the Jags’ right guard starter the past two seasons. Recently re-signed Patrick Omameh and former Cardinal Earl Watford are the team’s other top guards presently. Jacksonville made a push for Kevin Zeitler but saw him sign with the Browns.
After picking up his fifth-year option, the Texans are expected to pursue an extension for Jadeveon Clowney. But they are waiting to see if he can deliver a repeat showing of last year’s Pro Bowl campaign.

Load More Posts