King’s Latest: Draft, Texans, Jags, Cards, Rams
As usual, Peter King of TheMMQB.com has kicked off the week by sharing a number of interesting tidbits that can be found in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column. Let’s dive right in and round up several of the highlights from King….
- Vikings general manager Rick Spielman on this year’s crop of quarterbacks: “There’s no Andrew Luck, no Peyton Manning. It is such a mixed bag with each player — every one of them has positives, every one of them has negatives. And if that’s the way you end up feeling, why don’t you just wait till later in the draft, and take someone with the first pick you’re sure will help you right now?”
- One friend of Texans general manager Rick Smith tells King that the GM prefers Buffalo’s Khalil Mack over Jadeveon Clowney. King adds that he thinks Houston will try to choose a sure thing with the No. 1 pick, which could mean Mack, Clowney, or Greg Robinson, but may rule out the top quarterbacks.
- At No. 3 overall, the Jaguars want a pass rusher “badly” and would be a good fit for Mack or Clowney, depending on who is still available, says King.
- Top tight end Eric Ebron recently suggested he thinks the Lions will draft him, though King is skeptical the club would go that route with its first pick.
- The Cardinals are “sweet on” signal-callers Derek Carr and A.J. McCarron. King says he expects Arizona to draft a QB within the first two rounds and the Rams to take one within the first three.
- Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandin Cooks are drawing interest from the Steelers, who are weighing the possibility of drafting a wideout in the first round.
- In King’s view, current draft risers include Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin, and Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. Players whose stock may be falling include Louisville signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr, and Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.
Extra Points: Clowney, Harper, Goodwin
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will be in Atlanta next week to visit the Falcons, a league source confirms to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Clowney is said to be close to shutting down workouts with teams, but will still be making visits to clubs at the top of the draft. The Falcons have the No. 6 pick and Clowney would be an excellent fit in Atlanta, but the club would likely have to trade up in the draft to have a real shot at the South Carolina standout. The latest from around the league..
- New Panthers safety Roman Harper told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that he chose Carolina in part because he wanted to go somewhere that was warm and would give him a chance to play. Cold weather and losing would be the quickest path to retirement for him, he explained.
- The Saints brought in former center Jonathan Goodwin for a visit today, a league source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (Twitter link). A reunion is possible for the two sides and makes a good deal of sense in Triplett’s view.
- While the Bengals signed punter T.J. Conley earlier today, they also had fellow punter Zoltan Mesko in for a tryout, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today.
- The Saints brought Goodwin in for a visit today, but the Cardinals won’t do the same, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. That’s because offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin doesn’t want to coach his younger brother.
- Florida State running back Devonta Freeman is visiting the Vikings on Monday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
Draft Notes: Swoope, Clowney, Bucannon, Long
As if NFL teams didn’t have enough players to consider when they’re on the clock in next month’s draft, one player who recently declared his eligibility didn’t even play college ball. Instead, Erik Swoope of the University of Miami played for the Hurricanes’ basketball team, but nonetheless hopes to catch on with an NFL team this summer, as ESPN.com details. Swoope, who aims to play tight end, had a private workout with the Broncos earlier in April, according to the report.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the league, with a focus on the draft:
- A Hurricane who actually played football for Miami this past season, quarterback Stephen Morris, is drawing some interest from the Dolphins, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
- Dismissing the idea that Jadeveon Clowney is “lazy” and “spoiled,” as one anonymous scout suggested, agent Bus Cook also told Jarrett Bell of USA Today that his client may conduct one more pre-draft workout for an NFL team. A previous report indicated Clowney was done with workouts, and Cook concedes that if the defensive end does work out again, he won’t do anything “that will risk injury.”
- Washington State safety Deone Bucannon visited the Colts earlier this week and is currently visiting with the Patriots, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. According to Wilson, Bucannon will visit the Vikings tomorrow, then the Eagles, Jets, and Giants next week.
- Nebraska guard Spencer Long will have pre-draft visits with the Eagles, Dolphins, Falcons, and Chargers, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Having previously met with the Chargers and Patriots, MTSU defensive end Jimmy Staten is scheduled to work out for the Packers and Chiefs this week, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter).
AFC Draft Notes: Texans, Chargers, Titans
We explored some NFC draft notes earlier today. Now, let’s take a look around the AFC…
- The Texans will be hosting the top quarterback prospects this week, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. In addition to Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, the Texans will also be bringing in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
- Having already visited the Chargers, as well as the Patriots, Middle Tennessee State defensive lineman Jimmy Staten will have a private workout with San Diego today, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- The Titans will privately work out LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger later this month, tweets Wyatt. In a separate tweet, Wyatt adds that the team will also be working out Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.
- Mike Klis of the Denver Post identifies middle linebacker, cornerback, and the interior offensive line as three areas the Broncos should be looking to address in the draft.
- Williams & Mary safety Jerome Couplin participated in the Ravens‘ local prospect day, reports Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- Northern Illinois defensive tackle Ken Bishop will visit the Jaguars on Thursday, tweets Wilson.
- The Bills will bring in an unconventional prospect for a workout. The team reportedly has interest in Canisius basketball player Chris Manhertz, according to WKBW-TV in Buffalo. The 6’6″ senior has never played football, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
North Notes: Lions, Ravens, Steelers
Jadeveon Clowney won’t be working out for any more NFL teams prior to the draft, as we heard this morning from Peter King, but that doesn’t mean he’s done making visits. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Lions will be hosting Clowney for a visit soon. There’s obviously no chance the standout defensive end falls to Detroit at No. 10, so bringing in Clowney could be a further signal that the Lions are exploring moving up in the draft. The club has also been linked multiple times to wideout Sammy Watkins, who will almost certainly be off the board by No. 10 as well.
Here’s more on the Lions and a few other teams in the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Rapoport’s previously linked tweet also includes word that the Lions are meeting today with UNC tight end Eric Ebron.
- Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas, who visited the Bills earlier in the month, recently met with the Ravens, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson also tweets a couple more players who were in attendance at the Ravens’ local prospect day: Dexter McDougle (CB, Maryland) and Louis Young (CB, Georgia Tech).
- TCU cornerback Jason Verrett, Arizona corner Shaquille Richardson and Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton are visiting the Steelers today, tweets ESPN.com’s Scott Brown.
- Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune takes a look at how the Vikings are spending their money by position, noting that the club is only among the top 10 NFL teams in spending at running back (first) and defensive end (ninth).
- The Lions hosted Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis on a pre-draft visit last week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). We heard on Friday that Pierre-Louis also visited the Steelers.
Rams Eyeing Watkins, Robinson, Clowney?
The Rams are hosting Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins for a pre-draft visit today, and will privately work out Watkins on Friday of this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). St. Louis, with the second and 13th overall picks in this year’s draft, has taken a look at several of the year’s top prospects, but Rapoport thinks the team’s pick at No. 2 could come down to Watkins, offensive tackle Greg Robinson, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Both Robinson and Clowney have already visited St. Louis.
Of the teams with top-five picks, the Rams appear to be the only one without any real interest in the top tier of quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. As such, the club can focus on the best players available at other positions, which includes guys like Watkins, Robinson, and Clowney. While Clowney ranks as perhaps the best overall prospect in the draft, defensive end also isn’t a real position of need for the Rams at the moment, whereas wide receiver is a spot where the team could use an upgrade. It’s also possible Clowney won’t be on the board when the Rams pick at No. 2, but it’d be a real surprise if Watkins or Robinson was unavailable.
If the Rams pass on Watkins, they’ll likely draft a receiver later on, and one candidate could be Indiana’s Cody Latimer. According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter), Latimer is visiting the Rams.
King’s Latest: Clowney, Savage, Jags, Mack
Peter King of TheMMQB.com shares a few notable draft updates to lead off his latest column, so let’s dive right in and check out the highlights….
- Jadeveon Clowney won’t be working out for any more NFL teams, according to King, who says that Clowney and his camp have turned down at least three clubs hoping to work out the standout defensive end. The decision, which stems from the torn ACL suffered by Brandon Thomas during a workout with the Saints, was met with mixed reactions from the general managers who spoke to King. While it shouldn’t have a real impact on Clowney’s draft stock, at least one GM was disappointed not to get a closer look at the South Carolina defender: “I’d want the guy who’s going to be coaching him to put him through some of our drills, and see how he responds.”
- Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage is one of the draft’s hottest names, and has such a full calendar this month that he literally has no room to schedule more visits. By the end of April, Savage will have visited with or worked out for 24 or 25 teams, says King. There’s a good chance that the young signal-caller could be drafted ahead of players like A.J. McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger.
- Four quarterback-needy teams with top-five picks – the Texans, Jaguars, Browns, and Raiders – are “strongly considering” passing on the position in the first round, according to King. Those teams aren’t necessarily in love with any of the top quarterbacks, and may prefer to take a surer thing at another position. I’d be pretty surprised if all four of those clubs decided not to draft a QB in round one, but it sounds like at least a couple could pass.
- The Jaguars “really like” Jimmy Garoppolo, who could be available when Jacksonville picks in the second round.
- King also explores the Alex Mack situation, suggesting that the Jaguars‘ willingness to negotiate with Mack and offer him $18MM+ guaranteed could buy some good will for the team next time the veteran center hits free agency. King adds that Mack likely won’t forget that the Browns, who had plenty of cap space and for whom the 28-year-old has never missed a game, didn’t choose to pay him until their hand was forced. I’m not sure I fully agree with King on that point, since simply using their transition tag on Mack indicated that the Browns were serious about keeping him around and paying him a significant salary. Still, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in two years when Mack has the chance to opt out.
AFC Notes: Jets, Titans, Raiders
The Jets haven’t selected an offensive player in the first round since Mark Sanchez in 2009, but Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com doesn’t think its farfetched for the team to select a defender for the fifth-straight year. While the team has a need at wide receiver, Cimini believes cornerback should be the priority. The writer suggests Darqueze Dennard as a possible fit.
Let’s take a look at more notes from Cimini and fellow AFC writers…
- If the Jets do select a wide receiver, Cimini doesn’t think that signals the end of the line for Stephen Hill. Cimini does acknowledge that the team’s patience is wearing thin on the former second-round pick, though.
- The Titans could go a number of different ways in the draft, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com mentioned in a recent mailbag. The only positions Kuharsky can’t see the team selecting with their first pick would be quarterback or running back.
- Continuing with the draft, Kuharsky believes the Titans will draft a receiver at some point after the first round. Additionally, a Titans deal to move up in the first round would be “huge surprise” to the writer.
- If the Raiders could have traded Terrelle Pryor for fair value, a deal would have already happened, says Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Gutierrez points out the team’s clear desire to have more of a traditional pocket passer, making Pryor expendable.
- In the same article, Gutierrez expresses his belief that if Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins are off the board by the time it gets to the Raiders at pick number-five, the team should trade down. As an alternative, the team could select an offensive lineman like Jake Matthews or Greg Robinson.
Draft Notes: Lions, Falcons, 49ers, Pats
The Lions are hoping to make it back to the playoffs in 2014, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com believes that the team is one player away from being a true contender. With that said, there are plenty of different directions the Lions could go in during the draft. If they select a wide receiver like former Clemson standout Sammy Watkins, Rothstein says the offense “would look extremely talented.” Of course, Rothstein also adds that it may be in the team’s best interest to draft defense.
Here are some more draft notes from around the NFL…
- A Falcons congregation travled to Towson University to workout running back Terrance West and cornerback Jordan Love, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
- The 49ers will bring in former Sooners cornerback Aaron Colvin for a pre-draft visit, reports Eric Branch of SFGate.com. Colvin is currently rehabbing from an ACL tear sustained during the Senior Bowl.
- Considering Vince Wilfork‘s age and questionable future in New England, the Patriots need another elite defensive tackle, writes Tom E. Curran of CSNNewEngland.com. Specifically, Curran looks at Notre Dame’s Louis Nix, stating that the defender would be “the most reasonable replacement” for Wilfork.
- One scout referred to Jadeveon Clowney as “spoiled” and “lazy,” writes Mark Eckel of the Times of Trenton. While the scout can’t see Clowney overcoming his apparent lack of commitment, he still acknowledges that the defensive end will be a top-five pick.
Draft Visits: Raiders, Falcons, Bucs, Dolphins
It would be a surprise if Jadeveon Clowney is still on the board when the Raiders pick fifth overall in next month’s draft, but Oakland will nonetheless host the standout defensive end for a visit next week, according to John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (via Twitter). The team is also hosting Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage for a visit today, according to ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez. Savage isn’t a candidate for that No. 5 pick, but he’s drawn plenty of attention lately, and seems to be rising up a few draft boards.
Here’s more on pre-draft visits around the NFL:
- The Falcons are hosting Boise State pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence for a pre-draft visit, according to ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Agent David Canter recently tweeted that Lawrence has visits to 10 teams scheduled in a two-week span.
- McClure also reports (via Twitter) that Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews has a visit lined up with the Falcons for the week of April 21.
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along updates on a pair of prospects. According to Wilson, Arizona State linebacker Carl Bradford has met with the Jaguars, Dolphins, Chargers, and Falcons, while Marshall offensive tackle Garrett Scott is visiting the Raiders today after having also visited the Chiefs, Dolphins, and Buccaneers.
- Florida State running back Devonta Freeman is among the players visiting the Dolphins today, writes Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, adding that Freeman has also visited the Falcons and Patriots.
- Another Florida State running back, James Wilder Jr., tells Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (Twitter link) that he worked out for the Buccaneers today.
- We’ve already heard plenty of reports about Kyle Fuller’s pre-draft visits, but Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds a few more teams to Fuller’s list. According to Brandt, the Virginia Tech cornerback has worked out for the Titans, Buccaneers, and Falcons, and will also do so for the Bills and Rams, among other clubs.
- Ole Miss wideout Donte Moncrief, who previously visited the Steelers, will work out for the Dolphins and Broncos next week, tweets Brandt.
- UCF running back Storm Johnson will visit the 49ers on Monday and the Falcons later this month, says Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).