NFC Notes: Eagles, Peterson, Willis, Draft
Wide receiver figures to be a primary area of focus for the Eagles in the draft, and according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, UCF’s Breshad Perriman is paying a visit to the team today. It’s one of 18 pre-draft visits or private workouts Perriman has on his schedule in advance of the draft — the young wideout has had private workouts for the Giants and Texans, and recently visited the Ravens.
In addition to bringing in Perriman, the Eagles are also taking a look at USC’s Nelson Agholor, with Chip Kelly in Tampa today to work out a player he recruited back in his Oregon days (Twitter link via Kevin O’Donnell of WTVT Fox13).. Philadelphia has previously been linked to Agholor, so it looks like that interest is very genuine.
Here’s more out of the NFC:
- Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an extended, in-depth look at Adrian Peterson‘s situation in Minnesota, suggesting that if the Vikings were to trade the veteran running back, they probably shouldn’t expect more than a second-round pick in return. Corry also identifies seven potential trade partners for the Vikes, with clubs like the Falcons and Chargers joining oft-mentioned suitors such as the Cowboys and Cardinals.
- Speaking to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, Corry says he’d be surprised if the 49ers don’t attempt to recoup a portion of Patrick Willis‘ signing bonus, following the linebacker’s retirement. In Corry’s view, the team could probably recover a minimum of $3.54MM from Willis. Chris Borland, who also retired this offseason, previously indicated he’d be returning three-quarters of his signing bonus to the Niners.
- Linebacker Darin Drakeford, who participated in last month’s veterans combine, is working out today for the Buccaneers, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- The Lions continue to examine speedy receiving prospects, bringing in UAB’s J.J. Nelson today for a pre-draft visit, writes Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
West Notes: Wilson, Raiders, 49ers
Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter) has the details of C.J. Wilson‘s two-year deal with the Raiders. The defensive end will get $2.05MM guaranteed in total, but the second-year salary of $1.8MM is not guaranteed. Wilson, who will turn 28 later this month, accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts) with the Raiders last season. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wilson 27th out of 57 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends for his work. More from the West divisions..
- The Raiders have no reason to move from the No. 4 pick if Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota go No. 1 and No. 2, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game tweets. If the two quarterbacks go at the top, Oakland will have Amari Cooper and Leonard Williams to choose from, so Middlekauff doesn’t see why they’d move down at that point.
- By the same token, Middlekauff (link) wouldn’t be surprised to see 49ers GM Trent Baalke trade back at No. 15 into the 20s to acquire another pick and try to fill one of his many holes left by retirement and free agency.
- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon explained that he is not against a public vote with regards to St. Louis county publicly financing a new stadium for the Rams, but there is simply not enough time for such a vote to take place, as David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. On Tuesday, in a game of chess between the state and County Executive Steve Stenger, Nixon’s office informed the county that they would not be asked to help finance a new stadium.
Draft Notes: Raiders, Williams, Winston
Peter King of The MMQB doesn’t believe in mock drafts, but today he gave us his “best guess” draft. Going by “the look in coach Ken Whisenhunt’s eyes when he talked about the pick last week at the league meetings,” King projects that the Titans will take Marcus Mariota at No. 2 after Jameis Winston is taken with the top pick. After that, he rounds out the top five with the Jaguars taking Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler at No. 3, the Raiders selecting USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams at No. 4, and Washington taking West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 5, before trading him to the Rams for the No. 10 and 72 picks. Here’s a look at today’s draft news..
- The Raiders are high on Williams and could trade up to land him, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Oakland is in the pivot spot at No. 4 and although people have pegged them to land a wide receiver, they want the USC superstar and fear that he’ll be gone by No. 3. If they can’t get up land him, Cole says that they could move back to still take White or Amari Cooper while adding another asset.
- The NFL is still concerned about Winston’s maturity, according to Cole (video link). King (on Twitter) adds that the Bucs have done major homework on the FSU star. Their private eyes have interviewed more than 75 people in Winston’s past.
- Winston isn’t the only FSU product tied to the Buccaneers. Guard Josue Matias said he is scheduled to visit the Bucs next week as well, as Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com writes. Matias is viewed by draft experts as a second- or third-round pick. The Bucs, meanwhile, have a glaring need at right guard and their offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL in 2014.
- Former South Carolina guard A.J. Cann is drawing a ton of pre-draft interest, Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Right now, Cann has visits and/or workouts scheduled with 14 different teams. Getlin adds that the Ravens, Saints, Vikings, and Buccaneers are among the teams the young lineman will meet with (link).
- South Carolina running back Mike Davis would be a great fit for the Patriots and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that he indeed has a visit lined up with them.
- Albany tight end Brian Parker will work out for the Eagles and visit the Bengals, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Parker has also drawn interest from the Vikings, Bills, and Seahawks. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder caught 39 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns last season.
- The Buccaneers worked out Idaho defensive lineman Quayshawne Buckley on Wednesday, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Pauline describes him as a sleeper and a strong fit for Tampa Bay’s system.
- University of Miami tight end Clive Walford has visits or workouts lined up with the Saints, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter).
NFC Notes: Rams, Kaepernick, Draft, Boykin
Let’s check in on a few Wednesday items from around the NFC….
- Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, and Louisville offensive tackle Jamon Brown are among the prospects paying pre-draft visits to the Rams today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (all Twitter links).
- Colin Kaepernick‘s long-term outlook in San Francisco isn’t entirely clear yet, but for the foreseeable future, he’s the 49ers‘ starting quarterback, and that became even more certain today — as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com details, Kaepernick’s $10.4MM salary for 2015 became fully guaranteed when the calendar turned to April.
- The son of former Detroit wide receiver Brett Perriman visited his father’s old team today, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who writes that the Lions hosted Central Florida wideout Breshad Perriman for a pre-draft visit. The younger Perriman is one of the fastest players in this year’s draft class.
- Another speedy receiving prospect, Miami’s Phillip Dorsett, said today that he has visits lined up with the Falcons and Panthers, per James Walker of ESPN.com.
- Prior to his Pro Day today, Towson cornerback Tye Smith had a dinner meeting with the Saints, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Smith is expected to be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
- Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com provides the details on wide receiver Jarrett Boykin‘s one-year deal with the Panthers, tweeting that it’s a minimum salary pact with a $20K bonus.
49ers Notes: Crabtree, Nicks, Briggs
Sometimes, holding out for more can be the wrong move. Sources around the league believe that the market on Michael Crabtree has crashed and feel that it is no longer near the level that he expected, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. No. 15 expected to be a $9-$10MM player, but he now looks like he’s poised for a smaller one- or two-year make good deal. Also hurting Crabtree is the depth of the wide receiver position in this year’s draft. With many WR needs filled around the league and great young talent around the corner in May, the former 49ers star is in a tough spot. More out of SF…
- When the 49ers brought in wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and linebacker Lance Briggs, it was for a tryout and not just a meet-and-greet, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Nicks just turned 27 in June and has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but seem to be generating a ton of interest on the open market at present. Briggs played his whole career with the Bears, playing in 173 games and earning seven Pro Bowl appearances while making a case for the Hall of Fame.
- Cornerback Marcus Peters, regarded by many as the top player at his position in this year’s class, has a pre-draft visit scheduled with 49ers in April, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. Over the last season and a half, the physical corner has eight interceptions and 24 pass defenses.
- West Georgia defensive lineman Tory Slater will meet with the 49ers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Slater recorded 69 tackles, 16.5 for losses and 10 sacks last season.
49ers To Re-Sign Desmond Bishop
Looking to add some depth to their linebacker corps, the 49ers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Desmond Bishop, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). Bishop, a Bay Area native, will return to the team after signing with San Francisco last December.
Bishop, 30, spent the first six years of his NFL career in Green Bay, emerging as one of the team’s starting linebackers in 2010 and 2011. The former sixth-round pick racked up more than 100 tackles in each of those seasons, totaling eight sacks, 10 passes defended, and four forced fumbles in those two combined years. However, injuries have since derailed his career. Bishop suffered a ruptured hamstring in 2012 while with the Vikings, and in 2013, his season was cut short after four games thanks to an ACL tear.
In 2014, Bishop signed with the Cardinals but didn’t see much action in Arizona. After he was released by the Cards for a second time, he caught on with the Niners in December and appeared in two games for San Francisco, logging a pair of tackles.
Another year removed from his season-ending injuries in 2012 and 2013, Bishop could be poised to play a little more for the Niners in 2015. The veteran shouldn’t be penciled in for a major role, but the club will need some help at the inside linebacker spot after having both Patrick Willis and Chris Borland announce their retirement from the NFL this offseason.
Draft Notes: Lions, Goldman, Holliman
The Lions hosted Texas A&M offensive lineman Cedric Ogbuehi for a pre-draft visit at their training facility, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com writes. Ogbuehi was an All-SEC performer last season, but he tore his ACL in the team’s bowl game against West Virginia. Even though he could have jumped ship early and been a first-round pick in the 2014 draft, he says that he doesn’t regret his decision to return to campus for his senior year. Here’s more draft news..
- Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman has pre-draft visits with the Browns, 49ers, Colts, Lions, Panthers, and Patriots, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). In his junior year with the Seminoles, Goldman recorded four sacks to go along with 51 tackles and a forced fumble.
- The Lions canceled a meeting with safety Gerod Holliman, according to Miller (on Twitter). The Louisville star already met with the Bucs and will meet with the Dolphins prior to the draft.
- Of the presumptive seventh-round cornerbacks, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) would rather take a gamble on De’Vante Bausby than most of the players he’s competing with at his position.
West Notes: D. Thomas, Wheeler, Tate
Here are a few Monday afternoon updates from out of the AFC and NFC West divisions….
- Demaryius Thomas, who has yet to sign his franchise tender, won’t take part in Peyton Manning‘s annual workouts at Duke or attend the Broncos‘ offseason program, the star wideout said today, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. It’s not unusual for a player who receives the franchise tag to skip his team’s spring workouts, and Thomas is still hoping that he and the team can work out a longer-term deal. “My agent is dealing with that right now,” Thomas said. “I’m in the loop, but I’m letting [GM John] Elway and my agent handle that, come up with something.”
- Former Dolphins linebacker Philip Wheeler is visiting the 49ers today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Wheeler saw most of his 384 defensive snaps last season as an outside linebacker in Miami’s 4-3 scheme, but presumably the Niners are viewing him as an inside linebacker, after Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retired.
- Rapoport also passes along word of another visit, tweeting that former Bengals receiver and return man Brandon Tate visited the Chiefs. Tate caught just 31 passes during his four years in Cincinnati, but returned more than 250 combined punts and kicks during that stretch.
Hakeem Nicks To Visit 49ers
As the 49ers continue to weigh their options at wide receiver, they’ll host a veteran free agent for a visit, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Anderson reports that former Giant and Colt Hakeem Nicks is paying a visit to San Francisco to meet with the Niners.
While fellow 2009 first-round wideout Jeremy Maclin parlayed a one-year, prove-it deal in 2014 into a huge, long-term contract, Nicks was unable to do the same in Indianapolis. After receiving 100 or more targets in each of his previous four seasons in New York, Nicks saw a career-low 68 passes thrown his way in 2014, as Andrew Luck and the Colts relied more on T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne, and Coby Fleener in the passing game. Nicks finished the season with 405 yards and three touchdowns on 38 receptions.
The Niners made a big splash in free agency when they landed Torrey Smith on a lucrative five-year contract, and the ex-Raven should be a nice complement for former teammate Anquan Boldin. However, San Francisco has seen a number of receivers depart this offseason, with Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd hitting the free agent market, while Steve Johnson was released. As such, the team is in need of some additional depth at the position.
San Francisco will be the first team Nicks has visited this offseason. The former 29th overall pick just turned 27 in June and has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé, but doesn’t seem to be generating a ton of interest on the open market this year after posting pedestrian numbers for the Colts.
Extra Points: FAs, Bishop, Browns, Jennings
Free agency’s impact portion’s conclusion opens the door to early examinations of a star-studded — as of now, before new contracts are signed and franchise tags are applied — 2016 class. USA Today looks at a contingent that includes Eli Manning, Dez Bryant, Von Miller, A.J. Green and Marcell Dareus, among many other top-caliber performers.
The crop is high on pass-catchers and pass-rushers. Demaryius Thomas, particularly if the Broncos cannot get a deal done for Miller this offseason, becomes an interesting name, with Julio Jones and T.Y. Hilton joining Bryant and Green as No. 1 receiving options. Of the aforementioned wideouts, Thomas, who could be franchised for a second straight season, probably has the best chance of reaching the market, with Peyton Manning‘s waning career tied inextricably to his.
Aldon Smith, Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul headline the edge-pursing group, with the disgruntled Houston likely facing a lengthy staredown with the Chiefs and Smith’s off-field issues potentially holding up his future with the 49ers.
With Russell Wilson‘s mega-contract forthcoming with the Seahawks, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner could become an intriguing name in next year’s class.
On to some additional news from Saturday night …
- Former Packers longtime second-level cog Desmond Bishop will visit the 49ers on Monday, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com on Twitter. Reeling from retirements and injuries, the 49ers, who signed the 30-year-old San Francisco native in December after now-retired Chris Borland suffered a season-ending malady, have a need at the position. Bishop’s played both middle and outside linebacker in his eight-year career. The 49ers are also bringing in Lance Briggs for a visit Monday, as we noted earlier.
- The Browns are facing a future that may not include Alex Mack after the 2015 season, with the transition-tagged center having an opt-out clause in the contract he signed with the Jaguars before the Browns matched it last spring. Cleveland is likely to select a center or an interior lineman with versatility high in the draft, writes ESPNCleveland’s Tony Grossi. The All-Pro center cannot be traded in an NBA-style expiring-contract scenario since a no-trade clause resides in Mack’s contract to prevent such a move.
- Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw are going to be the Browns‘ quarterback options this season, Grossi said, with the focus of adding a franchise-caliber signal-caller on the agenda for next offseason. Although the Browns may add a lower-tier prospect in the draft, Grossi noted the team won’t target Sam Bradford in a last-minute trade centered on the No. 19 pick they attempted to send to the Rams for him, instead preferring to use the two first-round picks as supplementary pieces.
- Miami (Ohio) University cornerback Quinten Rollins will visit the Browns, Cowboys, Lions and Panthers, Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin notes on Twitter. The 2014 MAC defensive player of the year (after a seven-interception season) despite playing just one year of college football has visits with 10 teams scheduled.
- Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union took a detailed look at Greg Jennings‘ 2014 film and points out the potential fit for the Jaguars. Jettisoned after two unremarkable Vikings years, the 31-year-old Jennings would be an upgrade in Jacksonville, which houses Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee — two of Pro Football Focus’ least-favorite receivers; subscription required — and a talented but coming-off-injury Allen Robinson as its top-3 targets.
- In a chat with readers, Dallas Morning News reporter Rainer Sabin does not expect the Cowboys to draft a quarterback this year and believes the team will replenish its lacking defense with the No. 27 overall pick, unless they feel the need to use the valuable slot to replace DeMarco Murray.