Latest On Browns’ Mitch Trubisky Interest
Earlier today, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Browns were still mired in a Myles Garrett-vs.-Mitch Trubisky debate despite the former being the consensus top talent in the draft. More came out of Cleveland on Friday night to support the Browns are legitimately considering the North Carolina product.
The team is both pondering a trade-up for the former Cleveland-area high school quarterback and selecting him at No. 1 overall, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Cabot adds that the pro-Garrett vibes coming out of Sashi Brown‘s Wednesday press conference do not mean the team is going to take the defensive end, noting the Browns are “strongly considering” bypassing the Texas A&M sack artist and selecting Trubisky.
Cleveland’s line of thinking here is believed to be that the pro-Trubisky contingent within the Browns’ decision-making structure is uncertain he will be there at No. 12 and isn’t sure the team will be able to swing a trade back into the top 10 to select him. Sources informed Cabot the team is ready to select its quarterback of the future.
During the second-year GM’s pre-draft presser, Brown said the Browns have “just about finalized” their decision at No. 1. While that was believed to be interpreted as a sign the team was ready to take the best player available, sources told Cabot that Brown may have meant Trubisky is the emerging consensus choice.
Cabot also hears the 49ers are a threat to take Trubisky at No. 2 overall, and that the North Carolina-honed signal-caller won’t last past the Jets at No. 6. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported earlier this month some Jets officials are high on Trubisky, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report noted the team could serve as a trade partner for the Browns if they wanted to get back into the top 10.
If the Jets are entertaining the thought of using another high pick on a passer, the Titans hold the No. 5 pick. Tennessee had to surrender a 2016 third-rounder and 2017 second-round choice to Cleveland in order to move from No. 15 to 8 to select Jack Conklin. The price could be similar for the Browns, who have been more known for stockpiling draft picks than trading up for talent since the Brown- and Paul DePodesta-led front office took over.
The Browns have turned down offers for the No. 1 pick, Cabot reports, but after the team traded out of No. 2 last year and passed on Carson Wentz, it’s now poised to make that quarterback pick this year. Cabot adds that the Browns missing out on Trubisky would result in them moving on to Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes — presumably with their No. 12 pick. Of course, a GM told NFL.com’s Charlie Casserly he believes two quarterbacks would go in the top nine selections. In that scenario, the Browns would have to trade back into the top 10 if they wanted to draft the second-best quarterback on their board.
This would wrap up another complex Browns pre-draft process. Reports about the Browns’ astronomical grade on Garrett and team brass being awed by his Combine showing eventually leading to a Trubisky pick would be quite interesting. As would the possibility that owner Jimmy Haslam, who was possibly connected to having made the decision to trade up for Johnny Manziel in 2014, being involved in the decision-making process, as La Canfora suggests he could be.
Teez Tabor, Jabrill Peppers Visit 49ers
- Florida cornerback Teez Tabor and Michigan defensive back/linebacker Jabrill Peppers were among the 49ers’ visitors, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Neither will be in play for the 49ers’ first-round pick (even if they trade down from No. 2), but could still be on the board when the club’s second-rounder comes up at No. 34.
Dan Feeney To Visit 49ers
- Indiana offensive lineman Dan Feeney could be a late first-rounder or an early second-rounder, according to Pauline, who reports he has visited the Vikings, Bears and Colts. Feeney also has meetings with the 49ers and Rams on tap. The Dolphins have also worked out Feeney, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who adds Miami has also spent “considerable time” with Western Kentucky guard Forrest Lamp.
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Obi Melifonwu Visits 49ers
- Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore visited the Jets on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). New York holds the sixth overall pick, with which it could theoretically take Lattimore, but it’s possible concerns over his health will cause him to slide out of the top 10. Should that happen, the Jets may still end up a candidate to draft Lattimore if they succeed in trading down.
- A couple of NFC West teams are eyeing Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu, per Wilson (Twitter link). Melifonwu met with the 49ers on Tuesday and will visit the Seahawks on Wednesday. Speculatively, the 6-foot-4, 224-pounder could be a fit for the 49ers early in Round 2 (No. 34 overall) or the Seahawks late in the first (No. 26).
49ers Offered Garry Gilliam Multi-Year Deals
- Before inking Seahawks restricted free agent Garry Gilliam to a one-year, $2.2MM deal, the 49ers approached Gilliam with two- and three-year offers, both of which were rejected, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. By agreeing to a one-year commitment, Gilliam affords himself the possibility of reaching unrestricted free agency in 2018. Seattle had the option of matching San Francisco’s offer sheet, and though the Seahawks had five days to make a decision, they used just over 12 hours to turn down the terms. Gilliam will earn $1.4MM in guarantees under his new 49ers pact, while his RFA tender with Seattle would have paid him $1.797MM in non-guaranteed base salary.
Seahawks Decline To Match 49ers’ Garry Gilliam Offer Sheet
The Seahawks have opted not to match the 49ers’ offer sheet to restricted free agent offensive tackle Garry Gilliam, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
San Francisco originally made a proposal earlier to Gilliam earlier this week, but Gilliam rejected the initial offer. The 49ers came back with a one-year deal worth $2.2MM ($1.4MM guaranteed). In contrast, Gilliam would have earned a non-guaranteed base salary of $1.797MM under the terms of his RFA tender with the Seahawks. Seattle deployed the original round tender on Gilliam, but because he entered the league as an undrafted free agent, the Seahawks won’t receive any draft pick compensation for his loss.
Gilliam, 26, will conceivably compete for time at right tackle with the 49ers. But it’s not clear he’ll be much of an upgrade over Trent Brown given that Gilliam graded as a bottom-10 offensive tackle in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Gilliam does offer experience — 44 career games, including 30 starts — and will serve as a swing tackle, at worst. He’ll hit unrestricted free agency in 2018.
Seahawks’ Garry Gilliam Signs Offer Sheet With 49ers
Seahawks restricted free agent right tackle Garry Gilliam has signed an offer sheet with the NFC West rival 49ers, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. It’s a one-year, $2.2MM contract, including $1.4MM in guarantees, report ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Kapadia (Twitter links). Seattle will have five days to match the proposal, but if the team lets Gilliam go, it won’t receive any compensation for the 2014 undrafted free agent because it only assigned him an original-round tender (worth $1.797MM, with nothing guaranteed).
The 49ers hosted Gilliam on a visit last Thursday and subsequently offered him a multiyear deal, but he rejected it. By taking a one-year offer, Gilliam has set himself up to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason at the age of 27.
Since entering the NFL, Gilliam has totaled 30 starts, nearly all of which (29) came over the past two seasons. Gilliam’s performance across 14 appearances last season ranked just 71st among Pro Football Focus‘ 78 qualified tackles, making him one of the least effective parts of one of the league’s worst offensive lines. The 49ers’ O-line was also woeful, though PFF ranked their top right tackle, Trenton Brown (No. 55), higher than Gilliam.
Jamal Adams Recently Visited 49ers
- LSU safety Jamal Adams recently visited the 49ers, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Adams will come off the board somewhere in the top 10, though San Francisco’s first-rounder (No. 2 overall) could be too early to select him. The 49ers do want to trade down, however, and if that happens, perhaps they’ll look to Adams if he’s still available.
- The Eagles hosted Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett and Florida cornerback Quincy Wilson on Monday, according to Rapoport (Twitter links). Barnett joins Missouri’s Charles Harris as the second prospective first-round DE to visit the Eagles, owners of the 14th pick, in the past week. Barnett tallied 13 sacks last season, while no one on Philadelphia’s roster finished with more than 6.5. Wilson, meanwhile, could quickly become “a solid No. 2 cornerback” in the pros, opines NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who rates him as the 29th-best player in this year’s class.
Leonard Fournette To Visit 49ers
LSU running back Leonard Fournette will visit the 49ers prior to the draft, reports Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. While the 49ers would reportedly like to trade down in Round 1, Fournette could be a possibility for them if they keep the second overall pick. San Francisco already has a productive No. 1 back in Carlos Hyde, whom general manager John Lynch spoke highly of last week, but there are whispers that the rookie executive wants to make change in the backfield.
- The Jets hosted Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster on Monday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. As is the case with the 49ers, the Jets’ goal is to move down from their current first-round slot (No. 6). If a deal doesn’t come to fruition, though, they’ll likely be in the neighborhood of where Foster will come off the board.
- Offensive tackle Cam Robinson, who was teammates with Foster at Alabama, is drawing significant interest from the Texans. Houston worked out Robinson earlier this month, and he’s now in town for a two-day visit that will include another workout, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). The tackle-needy Texans are in line to pick 25th overall, but Robinson could be gone by then. The Bengals, owners of the ninth overall selection, met with Robinson over the weekend, Rapoport adds. In the event Robinson falls to the end of the first round, the Falcons (No. 31) will be a team to keep an eye on, writes Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com.
49ers, Bears, Jets Eager To Trade Down
The 49ers, Bears, and Jets are the clubs holding top-10 draft picks that would most like to trade down, according to Peter King of TheMMQB.com. The problem, per King, is that few teams are interested in trading up in a draft that’s considered deep, but not necessarily stocked with elite talents.
San Francisco, particularly, is in a tricky spot at No. 2, as King writes. Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett is considered the best prospect in this year’s class, but the second-rated player varies depending on team. Solomon Thomas, Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams, Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Allen, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, Reuben Foster, Christian McCaffrey, and O.J. Howard could all claim the title as the second-best player of 2017, so convincing rival clubs to trade up to No. 2 overall is difficult.
Not mentioned in that list of players is the 2017 quarterback class, where top-end options include Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and DeShone Kizer. The 49ers, Bears, and Jets could all use help under center, and each of those teams may believe they can move down in the first round and still acquire a long-term signal-caller. San Francisco, specifically, is known to be willing to deal its first-round pick.
The Browns, meanwhile, may want to trade back up after likely selecting Garrett first overall. Although it sounds as though King is speculating rather than reporting, Cleveland could be willing to use its stockpile of draft picks to move up from No. 12, perhaps leaping all the way to No. 2 in order to secure a long-term quarterback option.