West Notes: James, Watkins, Raiders
With Jim Harbaugh at the 49ers‘ helm, not keeping issues in-house leads to the doghouse, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. LaMichael James could be finding that out for himself this week as he’s reportedly being shopped. The 2012 second-round pick excelled at Oregon but he hasn’t seen a great deal of time on the field. Here’s more out of the AFC and NFC West..
- In addition to Sammy Watkins, the Rams worked out fellow Clemson wide receiver Maravis Bryant today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) crunched the numbers and found that no NFL team has more 30+-year-olds than the Raiders with 13. The Bears and 49ers are close behind with 12 while the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Rams have just three a piece.
- The Seahawks have found success with tall, powerful cornerbacks and Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune wonders if the Chargers should do the same. One player that fits the bill is Utah’s Keith McGill, a prospect with a longer wingspan and bigger hands than Seattle star cornerback Richard Sherman.
NFC West Rumors: 49ers, Kaepernick, Rams
This morning’s round of rumors relating to NFC West clubs heavily involves the 49ers, with a specific focus on a couple San Francisco players dealing with off-field issues. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….
- The 49ers aren’t expected to pick up Aldon Smith‘s fifth-year option for 2015, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Smith’s play on the field makes him worthy of such an investment, but given his off-field issues and what we’ve heard recently about his future in San Francisco (or lack thereof), it’s not surprising that the club would be reluctant to extend his rookie contract by a year.
- Negotiations with Colin Kaepernick on a long-term extension have been tabled by the 49ers for the moment, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. San Francisco still hopes to get something done with its quarterback before the 2014 season begins, but the club is waiting for more clarity on an investigation being conducted by the Miami PD into an incident involving Kaepernick.
- It’s a big day for the Rams and Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins, tweets Rapoport, noting that the team is sending a contingent to Clemson today for a private workout with Watkins. The Texans aren’t believed to be considering drafting a receiver at No. 1, but the Rams could use a wideout, meaning Watkins – the best one on the board – could be in play at No. 2.
- The Seahawks will be conducting a private workout with Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Caplan adds the Redskins and Steelers to the list of teams who will host Lawrence for a visit, and says the Saints will also be privately working him out (Twitter link).
Latest On Aldon Smith
THURSDAY, 9:38pm: The 49ers don’t currently plan to release Smith, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
TUESDAY, 6:02pm: After talking with several sources involved in the 49ers decision making, Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News gets the sense that Aldon Smith won’t play for the club in 2014. That doesn’t mean that San Francisco will release the talented outside linebacker, but the Niners have reached a point of frustration that they haven’t shown towards any player in recent years.
The 49ers won’t cut bait with Smith right away since they’re on the hook for a guaranteed $3MM+ and want to wait and see what the NFL’s punishment will look like. However, 49ers owner Jed York, the York family, and GM Trent Baalke feel embarrassed, according to Kawakami’s sources, and Jim Harbaugh feels similarly. San Francisco knows how talented Smith is and it’s conceivable that the club could change course and welcome him back, but it would take a lot from the 24-year-old in a short period of time for that to happen.
On the flipside, Kawakami hears that the club’s weariness and frustration is mostly focused on Smith. Team management supports Colin Kaepernick through the “suspicious incident” that he had in Miami and they’re not planning to release Chris Culliver despite his felony and misdemeanor hit-and-run charges recently.
Extra Points: 49ers, Mack, Smith, Savage
After years of having one of the most ideal salary cap situations in the NFL, the 49ers are finally beginning to feel some strains from success, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. All things considered, the Niners weren’t expected to do much and they really didn’t in the end. Fitzgerald gives them a C for their work this winter while knocking them a bit for taking on Blaine Gabbert‘s $2MM salary and “wasting” some cap space. Here’s tonight’s look around the NFL..
- Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack is scheduled to visit the Falcons next week, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Although Mack is viewed by most as a top-five pick and the Falcons own the sixth overall selection, they are doing extensive homework on all the top prospects that could possibly be available to them and fill their biggest needs: offensive tackle and pass-rusher.
- Former Titans quarterback Rusty Smith had a tryout with the Saints, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports. The Giants also auditioned the signal-caller earlier this month. Smith, 27, appeared in three games for the Titans between 2010 and 2012, throwing no touchdowns and four interceptions.
- Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage has been invited to New York for the draft and Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) sees that as a sign that he’s a virtual lock for the second round.
- Ohio state running back Carlos Hyde had a private workout with the Falcons today, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
West Notes: Fuller, Rams, 49ers, Chiefs
Let’s round up the latest draft items related to teams in the NFC and AFC West….
- Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller will visit the Rams next week, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). A report last Friday indicated that Fuller would be working out for St. Louis at some point.
- Thomas adds in another tweet that the Rams will also host Missouri Western TE/FB Reggie Jordan for a local visit next Friday.
- The 49ers hosted Miami offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson for a visit this week, and Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com suggests that it may have been to gain more information about a prospect with possible character concerns. Henderson was suspended three times in college for violating team rules.
- UTEP edge defender James Davidson has a visit on the docket with the Chiefs, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who refers to Davidson as a potential sleeper.
Extra Points: Easley, Murray, Lions, Visits
Defensive tackle Dominique Easley, who tore his ACL in September, held a personal Pro Day to attempt to prove his health to NFL teams today, and Jeff Barlis of ESPN.com (Twitter links) reports that at least 17 clubs were in attendance. According to Barlis (via Twitter), Easley feels like his knee is at “about 80%” and that he’ll be fully prepared for summer mini-camps. In his ESPN.com piece on Easley’s performance, Barlis adds that the former Florida Gator will visit NFL clubs for seven straight days starting on Sunday.
Here are a few more notes from around the NFL, including one additional update on Easley:
- Easley is drawing “heavy interest” from the Seahawks, Bears, Patriots, and 49ers in particular, and looks like a second-round pick, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
- Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links) adds the Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Rams to the list of teams who have met or will meet with Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray.
- In addition to tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, whose visit was previously reported, the Lions are also hosting USC receiver Marqise Lee and Mississippi State defensive end Denico Autry today, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Jason Fitzgerald’s evaluatons of each team’s free agent periods continued today at OverTheCap.com with pieces on the Redskins, who received a C grade, and the Eagles, who got an impressive grade of B+.
- Towson running back Terrance West, who has had private meetings with the Cardinals and Dolphins, will visit the 49ers, Falcons, and Bills next week, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Steelers hosted Minnesota defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, UMass tight end Rob Blanchflower, and Rice cornerback Phillip Gaines for pre-draft visits today, tweets Bob Labriola of Steelers.com.
NFC Draft Notes: Falcons, Lions, Eagles
To kick off the day, we rounded up a handful of draft-related items out of the AFC. Now let’s shift our attention to the NFC and check out the latest….
- We heard earlier in the week that Jake Matthews has a visit scheduled next week with the Falcons, but before that happens, Atlanta is sending a contingent to Auburn to meet with the draft’s other top offensive tackle, Greg Robinson, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (via Twitter).
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along word of a pair of tight ends visiting or working out for NFC teams. According to Wilson, Iowa’s C.J. Fiedorowicz, who was previously visited the Jets and Buccaneers, is visiting the Lions today, while Cincinnati’s Blake Annen recently had a private workout for the Eagles.
- Cal linebacker Khairi Fortt, who met with the Ravens earlier in April, is visiting the Seahawks today, tweets Rich Cirminiello of CampusInsiders.com.
- Chris Russell of ESPN 980 reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins are bringing in Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu for a visit this week. Attaochu indicated last month that Washington was one of the teams showing the most interest in him.
- The 49ers hosted Cumberlands running back Terrance Cobb for a pre-draft visit, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times takes a look at Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees, who is scheduled to visit the Bears on Friday.
49ers Shopping LaMichael James
8:22pm: A 49ers source says James would welcome a trade if it meant more playing time elsewhere, tweets Bill Williamson of ESPN. However, the source wouldn’t go so far as to say that the tailback requested a trade.
7:19pm: The 49ers are shopping running back LaMichael James, a source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The 2012 second-round pick could be used to vault San Francisco higher up in next month’s draft.
When asked in February if he was shopping James, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said, “No discussions. LaMichael is a 49er. He’ll continue to be a 49er.” Two months later, it appears that stance has changed quite a bit. The 24-year-old ran for 5,082 yards and scored 53 rushing touchdowns while at Oregon but hasn’t seen much burn at the NFL level. Today, he finds himself behind Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, and possible Marcus Lattimore on the depth chart at tailback this season.
James served as the team’s primary returner last year and played well in that role, averaging nearly 11 yards per punt return, but Barrows’ source says James has made it clear to the team he wants a bigger role as running back as well. He carried the ball only 12 times in the 2013 regular season and just once in the playoffs.
Barrows notes that the Eagles, at one time, would have been a logical suitor since Chip Kelly was James’ coach at Oregon and that the man who scouted James for the 49ers, Tom Gamble, is now with the Eagles organization. Philadelphia, however, filled its running back void with Darren Sproles earlier this offseason.
49ers Sign Brandon Lloyd
WEDNESDAY, 1:22pm: Lloyd’s deal includes no guaranteed money, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. However, the wide receiver can earn $1.005MM on the deal. He’ll get a $955K base with $50K available through a workout bonus. The deal doesn’t have a signing bonus or incentives.
TUESDAY, 12:17pm: The 49ers have signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to a one-year contract, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.
Lloyd, who is just two years removed from a 74-catch season, reportedly received inquiries from at least six teams last fall, including the 49ers, but rejected all overtures. A Pro Football Talk report at the time suggested Lloyd was “neither physically nor mentally ready” to continue his playing career at that point, but it seems the 32-year-old has changed his stance since then.
The 49ers pursued receivers like Julian Edelman and Emmanuel Sanders earlier in the offseason, but were only able to lock up their own free agent wideout, Anquan Boldin. That left San Francisco with a solid 1-2 punch of Boldin and Michael Crabtree, but the club was clearly looking for alternatives at the No. 3 spot. Lloyd, who was originally drafted by San Francisco in 2003, will presumably have the upper hand for that third receiver role over players like Quinton Patton and Jonathan Baldwin.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com first reported last week that the Niners were in talks with Lloyd about a possible comeback.
NFC Notes: Lions, Williams, Aldon Smith
The Lions‘ brass held a town hall meeting for season ticket holders on Monday, and there were a few highlights. For instances, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that team president Tom Lewand is optimistic that a new deal for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will get done, although there is nothing new on that front just yet.
Vice President of Player Personnel Sheldon White also spoke at the meeting. Referencing the Lions’ late-game meltdowns in 2013, White said the team will be looking for “closers” in this year’s draft (Twitter link). And special teams coordinator John Bonamego said that finding a kicker is his “top priority” from a scouting standpoint (Twitter link) and that the team will compare Giorgio Tavecchio and John Potter with the players available in the draft to determine the best fit in that regard (Twitter link).
More notes from the NFC to close out the night:
- Mark Craig of the Star Tribune tweets that free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams visited with the Giants Monday night and that the visit will continue on Tuesday. As our Luke Adams recently wrote, Williams still offers solid value as a veteran run-stopper.
- NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that it would be hard to imagine the 49ers picking up Aldon Smith‘s option by the May 3 deadline, given that the team will not have “enough answers” regarding his latest off-field incident by that time. Instead, he believes the team will go year-to-year with Smith (Twitter link).
- After meeting with the Titans, Colts, and Redskins, Louisville DE Marcus Smith will have his final pre-draft visit with the Eagles next week, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports.
- Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert is visiting the Saints, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.