Extra Points: Manziel, Saints, Broncos, Webster
Former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel kicked off his comeback efforts today in Texas, playing two quarters in the Spring League. NFL teams took notice, with at least eight teams sending representatives, according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson (Twitter link).
Robinson also noted that at least 17 NFL teams have caught a glimpse of Manziel this week as he ramped up activities. Though it is a long way from the NFL, the appearance marked Manziel’s first on a professional field since December 2015.
Manziel’s overall goal, of course, is to land an NFL contract and he is reportedly willing to accept a practice squad deal with no guaranteed money to prove that he belongs in the league. If he can not catch on with a team, the Heisman Trophy winner has not ruled out a move to the CFL.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- After the trade of Aqib Talib, the Broncos could use a little depth at the cornerback spot. According to Denver 7 ABC’s Troy Renck, former Denver defensive back Kayvon Webster be interested in returning to the team (Twitter link). Renck notes the Broncos are more likely to see what their options are in the draft before bringing back Webster, who played four seasons in Denver before spending time with the Rams in 2017.
- The Lions have an opening at tight end after the departure of Eric Ebron to the Colts. The team thinks 2017 rookie Michael Roberts could fill that role, Tim Twentyman of detroitlions.com writes. Roberts only caught four passes during his first season in the league, but the fourth-round pick does offer intriguing upside. As a senior at Toledo, he hauled in a whopping 16 touchdowns.
- In February, Michigan defensive tackle and potential first-round pick Maurice Hurst was not allowed to participate in the NFL Combine after doctors discovered a heart condition. He was not later needed for a medical recheck, a common practice in the NFL, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. A recheck is only needed when further imaging or examination is deemed necessary.
Latest On Michigan DT Maurice Hurst
NFL Combine medical rechecks take place late next week and Michigan’s Maurice Hurst was not requested back for them, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That is a positive sign for the defensive lineman after he was found to have a heart condition during the February combine, cutting his stay in Indianapolis short. 
[RELATED: Wisconsin CB Nick Nelson Suffers Injury]
Hurst was allowed to participate in the Wolverines’ pro day and could still come off of the board early if he passes physicals with enough teams (or, perhaps, the right teams). The Browns recently met with Hurst and they could be among the clubs to consider him with second round picks at No. 33 and No. 35.
Although Hurst is a bit undersized for the defensive tackle position, he has been lauded for his explosiveness and hand moves to get around linemen. From a talent perspective, he’s one of the best interior pass rushers in this year’s class, but his medical situation will ultimately dictate his draft stock.
Draft Rumors: Mayfield, Jets, Vea, TEs, Bears
A number of NFL insiders anticipate, in the event Sam Darnold is off the board, the Jets will use their No. 3 overall pick on Baker Mayfield, Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reports. The Jets have already conducted a private workout with the 2017 Heisman Trophy recipient and are scheduled to meet with him next week. And plenty of Mayfield-to-New York buzz has emerged already. They’re among the seven teams that will do so, but Gang Green could have the inside track on Mayfield if the Browns turn to Darnold or Josh Allen. And several league execs and scouts expect the Giants to take Darnold if Allen goes to Cleveland. Pauline adds that if Rosen is on the board and the Jets draft Mayfield, they would be making a “colossal mistake.”
Here’s the latest from a busy Monday in the draft world. A lot of flights are being scheduled for top prospects.
- Arguably the top linebacker in this draft, Roquan Smith has visits scheduled with the Colts and Bears, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Hill adds the Cowboys are not tabbed to meet with the Georgia linebacker. The Colts and Bears hold picks 6 and 8, respectively, and Smith has been mocked to teams either in that range or shortly after.
- The tight end contingent has begun making key trips recently. Hayden Hurst is visiting the Jaguars on Tuesday, and the Saints have already put the South Carolina pass-catcher through a workout, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. Meanwhile, the Vikings will host South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert on a visit beginning Tuesday night, per Darren Wolfson of KSTP.com (on Twitter).
- Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson will visit the Bears and Dolphins, with the Chicago trip coming first, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. An expected first-round pick, Jackson will meet with the Bears today.
- Three more teams intend to visit with Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) the Packers and Buccaneers will host the mammoth lineman. The Cowboys are already scheduled to meet with Vea, and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal notes Vea will visit the Browns as well. The four-year Huskies cog rates as the top interior defender in the draft, per Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com.
- The Browns are also meeting with Michigan defensive lineman Maurice Hurst. In line to be a second-generation NFLer, Hurst said during a Sirius XM Radio appearance (via Ulrich) he will meet with the Browns. Hurst was discovered to have a heart condition at the Combine but has since been cleared. The Michigan talent could be an option for the Browns in the second round, with the team holding picks 33 and 35.
- San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny is meeting with the Broncos today, Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter). Denver has yet to make a decision on C.J. Anderson, who has a nonguaranteed $4.4MM salary this season. Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson represent depth behind Anderson, although Booker frequently saw action upon returning from injury last season.
Michigan’s Maurice Hurst Cleared To Play
Good news for Michigan standout Maurice Hurst. The potential first round defensive tackle has been cleared by cardiologists at both the University of Michigan and Harvard to resume playing football, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. He’ll do a full workout for teams at Michigan’s pro day on Friday.
Hurst was found to have a heart condition during the draft combine, cutting his week in Indianapolis short. Reportedly, Hurst’s condition is similar to that of former Lions and Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who missed all of 2017 as a result of his medical issues.
Hurst could have been drafted early on in 2017, but he opted to stay in school for another year. That extra year with the Wolverines helped his draft stock from a football perspective, but interested teams will be taking an extra close look at his medical records.
In 2017, Hurst tallied 59 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. In his final three seasons with the Wolverines, he racked up a total of 13.5 sacks.
Latest On Michigan DT Maurice Hurst
SUNDAY, 9:50am: Gil Brandt of NFL.com tweets that Hurst has not, in fact, left the combine yet, though he will undergo more tests shortly. Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports reports (via Twitter) that Hurst will be meeting with one of the nation’s top heart specialists from the Cleveland Clinic, and that there should be more clarity on the situation after next week. For what it’s worth (and hopefully that’s a lot), Hurst himself has said he is not concerned about the tests, and he hopes to participate in Michigan’s pro day on March 23 (Twitter link via Kimberly Jones of NFL.com).
SATURDAY, 6:11pm: A potential first-round pick has hit a major roadblock. Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was found to have a heart condition and has left the draft combine in Indianapolis, league sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter) He’ll undergo further testing this week.
Hurst was cleared to play by medical officials at Michigan, but his condition popped up as a red flag for Saints doctors, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) adds. One source that spoke with Rapoport compared Hurst’s condition to that of former Lions and Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Fairley missed all of the 2017 season due to that issue but is now looking to return to football.
Hurst was on the draft radar last year, but analysts told Albert Breer of The MMQB back in December that he helped his draft stock by staying in school for an extra season. That may be the case, but his entire football future may be in flux.
As a senior, Hurst totaled 59 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. In his final three seasons with the Wolverines, he amassed 13.5 sacks in total.
NFL Draft Notes: Mayfield, Lamar, Barkley
While there’s still plenty of time for evaluation before the 2018 draft gets underway in April, it would be a “surprise” if Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t selected in the first round, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Mayfield, this year’s Heisman winner, completed 71% of his passes this season for 4,340 yards, 41 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Per Breer, there are character questions about Mayfield, and his height (6’1″) could also present concerns. But Todd McShay of ESPN.com placed Mayfield in the first round of his first 2018 mock draft, and new Browns general manager John Dorsey — who will certainly be in the quarterback market next year — recently sang Mayfield’s praises.
Here’s more on next year’s NFL draft, all courtesy of Breer:
- Mayfield may be a locked-in first round, but last year’s Heisman — Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson — isn’t likely to be selected on Day 1, reports Breer. Some evaluators have openly wondered if Jackson will play wide receiver in the NFL, but he simply may need time to develop at the next level. Indeed, Breer says there are still questions about Jackson’s “instincts and anticipation,” as well as those who believe Jackson is “more thrower than passer.” Jackson has topped 3,400 yards passing and 1,400 yards rushing in each of the past two seasons.
- While the 2018 running back class may not compare to that of 2017 (which included Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, and many others), Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is still viewed as an elite prospect, per Breer. While Barkley faded down the stretch, one AFC executive tells Breer “to the people that matter, nothing’s changed” in regards to Barkley’s draft stock. Barkley posted at least 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons as a Nittany Lion, and scored 34 touchdowns over the past two years.
- Running backs might not be plentiful in 2018, but next year’s class is loaded with offensive line talent. Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, plus Texas’ Connor Williams, are all potential top-15 picks, per Breer. That’s quite a contrast to 2017, when only two offensive lineman were selected in the first round (with Garett Bolles being the first off the board at No. 20).
- Although Courtland Sutton (SMU) perhaps isn’t as well-known as Alabama’s Calvin Ridley or Oklahoma State’s James Washington, he has a chance to become the first wide receiver selected, according to Breer. Sutton, who is expected to stand 6’4″, 230 pounds at the combine, could even be a top-10 pick. From 2016-17, Sutton averaged 68 receptions, 1,132 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
- Analysts believe Mayfield, North Carolina State edge rusher Bradley Chubb, and Michigan defensive lineman Maurice Hurst all helped their draft stock by staying in school for an extra season, says Breer. What does one evaluator like about Chubb, who has posted 10 sacks in consecutive seasons? “Everything.”