Laremy Tunsil - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Notes: Tunsil, Dolphins, Jets, Bills

April 29th, 2016 at 9:03am CST by Zachary Links

Laremy Tunsil contends that the video of him smoking from a gas-mask bong was from two years ago. If it is found that the video was more recent than that, then Tunsil could wind up in the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Dolphins GM Chris Grier also told reporters that the video was “two years old.”

Here’s more on Tunsil and other news out of the AFC East:

Several GMs told Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that the big issue with the Tunsil video was timing and the fear of the unknown. Had Tunsil’s video come out sooner than ~13 minutes before the draft, teams would have had enough time to appropriately investigate things.
In addition to the infamous video, Tunsil’s Instagram account was also hacked with a screenshot of a text that appeared to show a request for money from Ole Miss assistant athletic director John Miller for rent money. When asked by a reporter if he took money from a coach while at Ole Miss, Tunsil answered, “I’d have to say yeah,” (via ESPN.com). Tunsil was suspended for the first seven games of last season for accepting improper benefits, including loaner cars and an interest-free loan.
The Jets tried to trade up for Tunsil during his slide last night but the asking price was too steep, Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets.
The Jets never seriously considered drafting Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch last night, Mehta tweets. The Jets considered him to be more of a third or fourth-round type of player. Lynch, of course, went to the Broncos at No. 26.
Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson says that he doesn’t need shoulder surgery but at least six teams told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that they believe he will need shoulder surgery at some point.

Draft Rumors: Lawson, Tunsil, Cravens, Fins

April 28th, 2016 at 9:26pm CST by Dallas Robinson

New Bills edge rusher Shaq Lawson will need to undergo shoulder surgery at some point, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The operation will knock Lawson out of action for four-to-six months, so Lawson will likely wait until after the season to undergo the surgery.

More draft rumors…

Washington is hearing interest from clubs who want to move up to No. 21, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link). The club hasn’t heard yet heard an offer that will entice them to move back.
A report earlier tonight suggested that the Cowboys could trade back into the first round while targeting a quarterback, but David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link) hears that’s unlikely. Dallas will likely stay in place at No. 34 and take a defensive player.
Laremy Tunsil was the No. 2 player on the Dolphins‘ board, general manager Chris Grier tells Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter links). Grier also says the video that caused Tunsil to slip down the board is two years old. Meanwhile, Tunsil’s stepfather — who is currently suing the former Ole Miss tackle — has denied to TMZ that he hacked his son’s account or leaked the video.
The Falcons drafted one safety/linebacker at No. 17 in Keanu Neal, but they apparently considered another hybrid-type player in Su’a Cravens, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Dolphins Select Laremy Tunsil With No. 13 Pick

April 28th, 2016 at 8:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Laremy Tunsil‘s draft day slide has ended. The Dolphins have used the 13th overall pick to select the Ole Miss offensive tackle, drafting Tunsil after a social media snafu earlier tonight threatened to send Tunsil down draft boards.

Tunsil, of course, was once projected to be the first overall selection when the Titans still held that pick. After Tennesee traded out, Tunsil was still thought to be a top-6 pick (at worst), but after a video posted earlier tonight showed him smoking out a bong, it was anyone’s guess as to where he would land. The Ravens reportedly passed on Tunsil in favor of Ronnie Stanley after seeing the video (a decision that cost Tunsil about $8MM, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com), while another GM voiced his concern: “It’s bad.”

Reporting on NFL Network, Ian Rapoport said that the video is several — potentially up to five — years old, and adds that Tunsil never failed a drug test while at Ole Miss. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) is skeptical of that story, noting that while Tunsil was in high school five years ago, the video shows an Ole Miss flag in the background.

“Somebody hacked my Twitter account,” said Tunsil at the draft tonight. “It was a mistake. It happened years ago.” Tunsil is being sued by his stepfather, but he said he wasn’t sure if it was his stepfather who hacked the account.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Rumors: Bosa, Tunsil, Jack, Chargers

April 28th, 2016 at 8:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers had been intending to draft Joey Bosa “for months”, a source tells Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com (Twitter links), who adds that San Diego was extremely happy when the Eagles traded up to No.2, since that deal meant that Bosa would likely slip to pick No. 3. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco spoke with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer for over an hour on Monday night, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), which may have helped the Chargers solidify their pick.

Here’s more draft news as the first round action continues…

The Ravens drafted Ronnie Stanley at No. 6, but they originally had another offensive tackle in mind. According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), Baltimore was prepared to select Laremy Tunsil, but a video posted earlier tonight of Tunsil smoking out of a bong “scared them off.”
Before selecting running back Elliott, the Cowboys considered trading out of the No. 4 pick, tweets Schefter. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link), Dallas was discussing a pick swap with the Ravens before drafting Ezekiel Elliott. Baltimore, per Moore, wanted Jalen Ramsey, who ultimately went fifth overall.
The Dolphins are a potential suitor for linebacker Myles Jack, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who says he’s heard “over and over” that Jack could be a target for Miami. Jack’s health, specifically a 2015 knee injury, could force him to tumble down the draft board, but the Dolphins could be ready to catch him at No. 13.

Laremy Tunsil Video To Affect Stock?

April 28th, 2016 at 7:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

7:58pm: Tunsil could end up falling quite a ways down the board, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). A source tells Cole that Tunsil’s account was hacked, but Tunsil is not denying that it was him smoking in the video.

7:38pm: Minutes before the draft began, a video was posted on Laremy Tunsil‘s verified Twitter account that showed the Ole Miss tackle smoking from a bong. The post was quickly deleted (but can still be viewed on NFLDraftDiamonds.com), and Tunsil’s entire account has now been deactivated.

As Tom Pelissero of USA Today notes (Twitter link), it’s been an eventful few days for Tunsil, who was sued by his stepfather earlier in the week. None of the press is positive news, and Pelissero adds that NFL clubs are aware of the video and have viewed it. Said one general manager to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link): “It’s bad.”

Tunsil, of course, was once thought to be the favorite to be selected first overall. But once the Titans traded out of No. 1, Tunsil’s landing spot became less clear. The Chargers, thought to be a potential destination, just drafted Joey Bosa, but the Jaguars, Ravens, 49ers, Browns, and Giants are among the clubs in the top-1o who could be interested. It’s too early to say exactly how this video will affect Tunsil’s status, especially given the timing, but it’s a situation worth monitoring.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pauline’s Latest: OTs, Steelers, Packers, Bucs

April 28th, 2016 at 5:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

League insiders believe that as many as six offensive tackles could be selected in the first round of tonight’s draft, according to Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com. Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin, and Taylor Decker are the obvious names, but Jason Spriggs, Le’Raven Clark, and Germain Ifedi are also candidates to go off the board tonight. The clubs that have put the most research into offensive tackles, per Pauline? The Colts, Packers, Seahawks, Broncos, Panthers, and Steelers.

Let’s check out the latest draft rumors, all courtesy of Pauline:

Among the teams hoping to trade down tonight are the Falcons, Colts, Vikings, and Jets, according to Pauline. On the other side of the coin, the Cardinals, Panthers, and Broncos may like to trade up. Denver, presumably, would be targeting a quarterback in a trade-up scenario.
The Steelers will consider a cornerback at pick No. 25, but they’ll also look at offensive tackles, writes Pauline. Pittsburgh returns Alejandro Villanueva at tackle, and signed Ryan Harris this offseason, but an upgrade wouldn’t be out of the question.
The Packers might also like to find a new left tackle, says Pauline, as Green Bay would like to transition incumbent David Bakhtiari to left guard.
If pass rusher Noah Spence is still available at the end of the first round, a club might trade back up in order to draft him, per Pauline. The Buccaneers are one team to watch in such a situation.

NFL Draft Rumors: Lynch, Hackenberg, Elliott

April 28th, 2016 at 12:09pm CST by Zachary Links

During interviews on official visits with teams, Paxton Lynch seemed to deflect blame to many of the critical questions thrown his way, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes (via WalterFootball.com). The Memphis product “did not throw anyone under the bus,” but he seemed to make ‘a number of excuses,” Pauline hears. Overall, teams left with the concern that Lynch is not yet ready to be the guy to lead a franchise. Many now believe that Lynch may be able to eventually blossom into a franchise guy, that time is not today and he may be better off with a situation where he can take his time. Lynch’s poor interviews may help to explain his apparent stock drop in recent days.

Conversely, Pauline is hearing good things about quarterback Christian Hackenberg‘s interviews. The Penn State signal caller apparently took responsibility when asked uncomfortable questions and admitted that certain things were his fault. There have been reports of Hackenberg throwing Penn State coach James Franklin under the bus, but Pauline doesn’t buy it based on conversations that he has had.
If Laremy Tunsil does not fall into their laps, the Ravens will consider Ezekiel Elliott with their No. 6 choice unless they are able to trade down, Pauline hears.
In the last week, there have been conflicting reports on how much the Jets like Lynch. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter) doesn’t believe that the Jets like him very much at all. He also doesn’t believe that he’ll last until pick No. 20.
If the Cowboys take Elliott, Miller (on Twitter) expects the 49ers to try very hard to move up for FSU defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
The Texans have displayed late-round draft interest in Valdosta State running back Cedric O’Neal, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. O’Neal, an All-Gulf South Conference running back who led the conference with 17 touchdowns last season, has also drawn interest from the Chiefs and Eagles.
Cincinnati defensive back Leviticus Payne is drawing late interest from the Colts, Vikings, Jets, 49ers, and Texans, Wilson tweets.

Draft Rumors: Lynch, Floyd, Giants

April 27th, 2016 at 5:27pm CST by Zachary Links

NFL GMs are dying to know where Paxton Lynch gets picked, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. Some teams are hoping that he makes it to the 20s in order to facilitate a trade at their pick. Others are hopeful that he’ll go just outside the top 10, allowing a different player to fall to them. Overall, no one really has a clear understanding of where he might go.

“He could go anywhere from 12-to-31,” one GM posited.

While we wait to see what happens with Lynch on Thursday night, here’s a rundown of the latest NFL Draft rumors:

Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd is generating big buzz heading into the draft, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Floyd, he says, could be a candidate for the Jaguars at No. 5, the Buccaneers at No. 9, the Giants at No. 10, and the Bears at No. 11. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) says that he appears destined to go inside the top ten. Schrager (link) hears that a team with a top 10 pick scheduled a meeting with Floyd on Tuesday to get one last look.
Hours before the NFL Draft, former Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil is being sued by his stepfather over an alleged attack which took place last June, Daniel Paulling of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger writes. “I don’t know anything about it,” Tunsil said when asked by reporters on Wednesday. Tunsil is widely projected to be a top five pick.
Oregon wide receiver Byron Marshall visited the Ravens and worked out for the Cardinals and Eagles, Wilson tweets. Marshall suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss all but four games last season, but he is said to be healthy now. In 2014, Marshall cracked 1,000 receiving yards for the Ducks.
Air Force defensive end/outside linebacker Alex Hansen is drawing late interest from the Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Texans, Broncos, Rams, and Lions, Wilson tweets.

Draft Rumors: Spence, J. Smith, Rankins, Vikes

April 27th, 2016 at 11:51am CST by Luke Adams

Eastern Kentucky edge defender Noah Spence, who had multiple positive drug tests during his time at Ohio State, sent each of the NFL’s 32 teams the results of the 20 drug tests he has taken since last May, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Schefter, Spence had Eastern Kentucky conduct five drug tests from May through December, then submitted to 15 more – one per week – since January.

In terms of pure on-field talent, Spence is viewed as one of the top pass rushers in this year’s draft class, but his off-field question marks may cause him to slip a little further than he’d like. Still, he continues to be viewed as a first-round pick, and receiving evidence that he has been clean for the last year may make some teams a little more inclined to roll the dice on him.

Here are a few more of today’s pre-draft rumors and updates:

Despite his significant knee injury, which is expected to sideline him for the entire 2016 season, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith is still viewed as a potential day-one or day-two pick, according to Adam Schefter (Twitter links). Schefter hears that Smith is likely to be selected before the end of round three, and one NFL head coach even believes the linebacker could come off the board late in the first round.
The buzz surrounding Louisville defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins has intensified today. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter links) both have heard that Rankins will be considered as early as No. 4 by the Cowboys, with La Canfora predicting that he’ll end up as a top-10 pick. Tony Pauline at WalterFootball.com has heard that the draft stocks for both Rankins and Mississippi State DT Chris Jones have risen, with teams seeking interior pass rushers.
Several NFL teams think Ohio State wideout Michael Thomas is being undervalued, and will transition well to the NFL, according to Tony Pauline, who says the Chargers and Bengals are among the teams with interest in Thomas. Pauline adds within the same article that the Vikings aren’t a lock to draft a receiver in round one, and will consider Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche if he’s available.
With Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley being mentioned in the same conversations as Laremy Tunsil recently, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk looks into whether or not the Tunsil/Stanley debate is real.
The NFL is considering Philadelphia and Los Angeles to host the 2017 NFL draft, with Philly emerging as the favorite, tweets Adam Schefter. As Schefter points out, neither of those cities’ teams has a first-round pick in 2017.
Purdue defensive tackle Ryan Watson has visited, worked out for, or received inquiries from eight teams since his pro day, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Pauline’s Latest: Falcons, Neal, Joseph, Titans

April 27th, 2016 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

Cal quarterback Jared Goff and North Dakota State signal-caller Carson Wentz are widely expected to come off the board in that order with the top two picks on Thursday night, but there’s some uncertainty about how the next several picks will play out.

After speaking to several people around the league, Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com takes a shot at forecasting how picks three through eight will go. In Pauline’s view, the most probable scenario would see DeForest Buckner land with the Chargers, Jalen Ramsey to the Cowboys, Myles Jack to the Jaguars, Laremy Tunsil to the Ravens, Ronnie Stanley to the 49ers, and Joey Bosa to the Browns.

Ezekiel Elliott is a wild card – if he’s still on the board at No. 8, the Browns could potentially trade down with a team like the Dolphins – but otherwise Pauline’s predictions for the top eight seem entirely plausible. According to the draft scribe, the Chargers feel like they “desperately” need to add a standout defensive lineman, while the 49ers also covet Buckner, so that’s a situation worth watching too.

Here’s more from Pauline:

While Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee has frequently been linked to the Falcons at No. 17, Pauline hears that Clemson linemen Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson are also in play. According to Pauline, head coach Dan Quinn has been pushing for the team to select safety Keanu Neal, though that’s probably only a possibility if Atlanta trades down.
Washington wouldn’t mind trading down and nabbing West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, says Pauline.
According to Pauline, there’s a decent chance that the Titans will use one of their second-round picks to grab Ohio State wideout Braxton Miller, assuming the team doesn’t use any of those selections in a trade. Tennessee will also likely consider Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry on day two.
The Broncos plan on drafting a running back on day three, and Pauline hears that they like Auburn’s Peyton Barber in the neighborhood of the sixth round.
Teams are already talking to prospects and their agents in an effort to sign those players as undrafted free agents after the draft, and some clubs are creating “bad blood” with their approach to this process. According to Pauline, a couple teams have called potential UDFA targets and told them that they’re unlikely to be drafted. Those players are still optimistic about being mid-round selections, so being told that they’re likely to go undrafted has soured those players (and their agents) on those teams, per Pauline.