Broncos Acquire No. 102, Select Oregon WR Troy Franklin
The Broncos have traded for the second selection of Day 3. Denver has acquired picks No. 102 and No. 235 from the Seahawks, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In return, Seattle will receive picks No. 121, No. 136, and No. 207.
The Broncos have used the pick on Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin.
Following a breakout 2022 campaign, Franklin had an even bigger season in 2023. He finished the year setting a school record with 14 receiving touchdowns, and he compiled 1,383 yards on 81 receptions. Knocked for his size and physicality, Franklin wasn’t able to parlay his performance into a selection in the first three rounds. Fortunately, he’ll land in a perfect spot in Denver.
Franklin, of course, is plenty familiar with new Broncos QB Bo Nix, with the duo playing alongside each other for the past two seasons. The Broncos reportedly had their eye on several Ducks players, as Mike Klis of 9News in Denver notes that the team hosted Nix, Franklin, and running back Bucky Irving for private workouts on the same day.
With Jerry Jeudy out of the picture, the rookie could carve out a role on a Denver depth chart that also includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and offseason acquisition Josh Reynolds.
Seahawks Select DT Byron Murphy With No. 16 Pick
The Seahawks did not host Byron Murphy on a top-30 visit, but the team has nevertheless gone ahead with adding him. Seattle has drafted the Texas defensive tackle 16th overall. 
With the litany of offensive picks to open the night, a number of top defensive players were naturally going to slide. Seattle is able to land the top defensive tackle on the board at No. 16 overall. Murphy was a second-team All-American for the Longhorns in 2023. After impressive contributions in a rotation during his freshman and sophomore year, Murphy’s production more than doubled. He comes out of Austin with five career sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
While stout at just over 6-feet tall, Murphy makes up for a lack of ideal size with impressive leverage and power off the snap. His high motor and determination make him a disruptive menace. He was expected to be able to step in as a starter immediately.
In Seattle, though, Murphy may have to wait for his snaps. The Seahawks are set to return three starters on their defensive line. Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, and Leonard Williams — re-signed after arriving as a deadline rental piece last year — are back to create a daunting defensive front. Reed is set to be a free agent after this season, so perhaps Murphy is being brought in to eventually replace the veteran.
Regardless, Murphy provides a strong option to come in and compete for snaps on the defensive line as a rookie and into the future. Murphy becomes the first first-round defensive tackle to come out of Austin since Malcom Brown in 2015.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Draft Rumors: Williams, Bears, Fashanu, Latham, Bolts, Bowers, Seahawks, Murphy
Pass rusher and wide receiver have been mentioned most often as the Bears‘ targets at No. 9 overall. Though, the player who will almost definitely be chosen at No. 1 (Caleb Williams) in a few hours seems to have Chicago’s D-line ranked outside the top two among his positional priorities here.
“I’d probably go Olu Fashanu because I know he’d put his life on the line for me, protecting me,” Williams said, via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith. “Then I’d go one of the top three wide receivers.”
A Penn State-developed tackle, Fashanu played high school football (at Gonzaga College HS in Washington D.C.) with Williams. That makes it unsurprising the 2022 Heisman winner would stump for his old teammate. The Bears are believed to have a tackle addition on their radar for No. 9, with GM Ryan Poles splitting his staff into pods debating the merits of taking a tackle, edge rusher or wide receiver with that pick. Chicago looks to have done more work on wideouts and pass rushers, being linked to adding a weapon — potentially Rome Odunze or tight end Brock Bowers — for Williams. The team has Braxton Jones and 2023 No. 10 overall pick Darnell Wright at tackle. Fashanu grades 15th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board.
Hours away from Williams starting this draft, here is the latest:
- Confirming a previous view around the league, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones indicates teams wanting Bowers will need to hold a top-10 pick. By far the top tight end in this class, the Georgia product appears unlikely to make it past the Jets at No. 10. The Chargers (No. 5), Bears (No. 9) and Jets met with the three-year Bulldogs receiving leader. The Giants not going quarterback in Round 1 would seemingly point them to a wideout, but Darren Waller‘s retirement call is not believed to have emerged. Sitting at 15, the Colts are also believed to be interested in Bowers.
- JC Latham sits 18th on Jeremiah’s big board, but the Alabama tackle may go off the board much earlier. He could be in play for the Chargers at No. 5, with ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan offering that the draft’s run on tackles may begin with the ex-Crimson Tide RT. This would be a surprise, given Joe Alt‘s pedigree (and the Chargers’ reported interest in the two-time All-American). But many teams see Alt as a left tackle. Clubs regularly make switches up front, but if the Bolts — also believed to be Latham fans, potentially in a trade-down scenario — view the two blockers’ values as close, the player with right-side experience could win out. Latham started the past two seasons for Alabama at right tackle. A Chargers first-round tackle investment would be to replace Trey Pipkins, not Rashawn Slater, potentially strengthening Latham’s case for a rookie contract in the No. 5 slot.
- Mentioned as a team that scheduled a visit with Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy, the Seahawks did not end up hosting the high-end prospect, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. Murphy falling to 16 may now be unlikely, with rumors he could — as this DT class is not viewed as deep — land inside the top 10 circulating. The Seahawks did visit with Murphy Longhorns DT mate T’Vondre Sweat, per Henderson, who adds the team would have considered Jalen Carter at No. 20 last year but not with their top choice (No. 5). The then-Pete Carroll-led team, which was split on Carter before the 2023 draft, chose Devon Witherspoon. Carter went 10th to the Eagles.
- In play to become the fourth receiver drafted this year, LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. may instead see some injury concerns lead to a slight drop. NFL medical staffs have flagged Thomas’ shoulders, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who notes the Tigers’ No. 2 wideout last year may need surgery on his left shoulder after his rookie year. Jeremiah rates Thomas as this class’ No. 4 wideout (17th overall) after an 1,177-yard, 17-touchdown 2023 showing. LSU is still expected to see he and Malik Nabers become first-rounders tonight.
Latest On Michael Penix Jr.’s Draft Stock
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye have sat relatively firmly atop mock drafts throughout the pre-draft process, and it sounds like J.J. McCarthy is destined to join that trio in the first round. After those top-four quarterbacks, focus shifts to Michael Penix Jr., and it remains to be seen how early the Washington product will hear his name called.
While teams like the Patriots (No. 3) and Giants (No. 6) have recently been connected to Penix, it’s more likely those teams would only consider the quarterback in trade-back scenarios. As a result, Albert Breer of SI.com believes the earliest Penix could be selected is by the Falcons at No. 8.
This would be an unexpected move by Atlanta, considering the team’s sizable offseason commitment to Kirk Cousins. However, since Penix has generally been viewed as less NFL-ready than his positional counterparts, the Falcons could secure their QB of the future while also competing now. As Breer notes, the duo of GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris could be enticed by a “Jordan Love-like plan” at quarterback, and they’ll likely be in prime position to select the Washington signal caller with their first-round pick.
While the Raiders could be ready to pounce on Penix at No. 13, there’s been some belief in league circles that the QB could land with the Seahawks at No. 16. The organization has plenty of connections to the incoming rookie. Besides being a local prospect, Penix is also familiar with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff, who were both poached from the Huskies staff. We heard similar rumblings surrounding the Seahawks/Penix connection earlier this month.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautions that the Seahawks may not be a logical landing spot for the quarterback. For starters, GM John Schneider has only drafted a pair of quarterbacks in his 15 years at the helm (Russell Wilson and Alex McGough). Further, the Seahawks are high on offseason acquisition Sam Howell as a future replacement for Geno Smith. Plus, Howell is the same age as Penix and already has 18 games of NFL experience.
If Penix isn’t selected in the top half of the first round, it’s uncertain how far he could fall. Yahoo’s Charles Robinson notes that there are several teams that have a “second-round grade on him or lower.” Penix has continued to be a divisive prospect, with one NFL offensive coach previously declaring him as the No. 2 QB in the draft (behind Williams).
Part of the skepticism is naturally surrounding the player’s injury history, as Penix suffered four season-ending injuries during his time in college. The QB was also knocked for his “scattershot accuracy underneath,” although Penix seemed to alleviate some of those concerns with a strong pro day showing. The varying opinions of the signal caller will make him one of the more intriguing prospects to watch through the first two days of the draft.
NFC Draft Rumors: Nabers, Giants, Falcons, Bears, Cowboys, Barton, Murphy, Seahawks
As the Giants continue to be tied to a potential trade into the top four for a quarterback, they have the likely option of staying at No. 6 and filling a years-long wide receiver need in their back pocket. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze visited the team in March. Of this trio, Nabers may the likeliest to end up a Giant. They are interested in the LSU speedster, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes, adding many in the league expect this match to come to fruition at No. 6. A wideout in Round 1 would stand to give Daniel Jones new life, whereas his Giants tenure would be on borrowed time if a QB trade-up happens.
The Giants are also high on Harrison, as should be expected, and SI.com’s Albert Breer views 6 as the floor for the two-year Ohio State standout. Breer also offers Odunze as being a cleaner prospect, character-wise, compared to Nabers, who has developed a bit of a reputation as being tougher to coach. Some teams have the Washington prospect higher on their boards. If the Giants stand down at QB, they are virtually guaranteed one of these three WRs. That presents a big opportunity to fortify a position that has not employed an impact player since Odell Beckham Jr.
Here is the latest from the draft scene:
- Breer also ties the Falcons to Nabers, noting some teams have this match on their radar. Atlanta, which holds No. 8 overall, has a greater need on defense; the team has been linked to pass rushers throughout the pre-draft process. Nabers would stand to represent value, and the Falcons could plug him in alongside Drake London and Darnell Mooney at receiver. Though, Atlanta having gone TE-WR-RB in the top 10 over the past three years would invite a Matt Millen-era Lions vibe if this happens again. It would be interesting to see if GM Terry Fontenot would truly use a fourth straight top-10 pick on a skill-position player. The Falcons have also been connected to trading down, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
- How the Falcons proceed will be of interest to the Bears, who have also been tied to pass-catching aid with their No. 9 choice. Chicago is poised to go either pass catcher or pass rusher at 9, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes, with Breer adding wideout may be the more likely play — if one of the top three remains available. Both Jones and Biggs mock Odunze to Chicago at 9. The Bears hosted the Washington standout on a “30” visit; Keenan Allen‘s contract expires after the 2024 season. Brock Bowers is not expected to make it out of the top 10, and the Bears also hosted the Georgia tight end recently. Holding only four picks, the Bears could also opt to trade down.
- The Cowboys are believed to be interested in Duke’s Graham Barton, per Breer, who notes the O-lineman has been the player most closely connected to the team during the pre-draft process. While Barton started the past three seasons at left tackle, he is viewed as a better fit inside in the NFL. The Cowboys hosted Barton, among a number of other O-linemen, on a “30” visit recently. Dallas lost Tyler Biadasz and also must replace Tyron Smith. Tyler Smith‘s success at left tackle and left guard give Dallas options. While the team adding one of this draft’s many tackle prospects would stand to keep Tyler Smith inside, Barton would allow him to move back to LT.
- The Seahawks passed on Jalen Carter last year, but they may be readier to pull the trigger on a D-tackle this week. The prospect of Seattle snagging Texas DT Byron Murphy at 16 has come up, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline noting the former Big 12 standout — who logged a Hawks “30” visit — also has an outside chance of moving into the top 10. The Falcons, who have been tied to edge rushers, are high on Murphy as well. Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson confirms some interest inside the top 10 indeed exists here. This year’s crop is light on DTs, potentially driving Murphy up the board.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/19/24
Today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Tyler Shatley
Seattle Seahawks
- Invited to rookie minicamp: QB Kory Curtis
Shatley will continue his run as the Jaguars’ longest-tenured player with a new contract. The long-time Jacksonville sixth man on the offensive line has continued to play a big role into his 30’s. In the first seven seasons of his career, Shatley started 25 games as an injury fill-in or replacement starter. In the three seasons since he’s turned 30 years old, Shatley has 26 starts. He isn’t projected to be a starter in 2024, but he should continue to be the first man off the bench in situations of injury or ineffectiveness.
Curtis is a name that’s been around college football for a while. After spending two years backing up J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State, Curtis transferred to Bryant University, where he started for two more seasons. Utilizing his redshirt season and his extra year of eligibility as a student during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curtis played two more seasons at Gannon University. Playing his final season with the Golden Knights in 2022, Curtis returns to the football world via a rookie minicamp invitation to Seattle.
Seahawks To Sign G Laken Tomlinson
APRIL 18: While Tomlinson’s deal maxes out at $4MM, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson notes the base value checks in at $1.21MM. Incentives cover the rest; $500K of Tomlinson’s Seahawks pact is guaranteed, providing a tremendous step back from the veteran guard’s 2022 Jets deal (three years, $40MM). For a 10th-year player, $1.21MM is the veteran minimum.
Tomlinson’s durability would make part of the incentive package attainable, though he will need to win a starting job. He would collect $1.29MM with a 90% snap rate; the former Lions, 49ers and Jets blocker has hit that in each of the past six seasons.
APRIL 12: Known to be in the market for guard additions, the Seahawks recently showed interest in Laken Tomlinson. That has now resulted in a deal; the veteran is signing with Seattle on a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the pact has a maximum value of $4MM.
The Seahawks have been connected to Tomlinson for some time now, and the team has shown interest in a number of options capable of starting along the interior. The 32-year-old offers plenty of first-team experience (138 starts), having missed only one contest across his nine-year career. He will aim to rebound from his time with the Jets upon returning to the NFC West.
Tomlinson spent the past two years in New York, manning the left guard spot during that time. He was released this offseason despite one year remaining on his contract, however. That move saved the Jets cap space and paved the way for additions to be brought in via free agency. Tomlinson has not drawn rave PFF reviews in recent years, with deficiencies in run blocking in particular being a factor working against him.
Prior to his time in New York, though, the former first-rounder was a consistent contributor along the interior. Tomlinson began his career with the Lions, but his best performances game during his five-year run with the 49ers. His lone Pro Bowl nod came in 2021, his final campaign in San Francisco. Adding another to his resume will likely not be in the Seahawks’ plans for 2024, but starting-level play at any position is welcomed this late in free agency.
Seattle lost Damien Lewis in free agency and Phil Haynes remains unsigned. The Seahawks were active on the veteran market in terms of interior O-line options, showing interest in Cody Whitehair and bringing in Greg Van Roten as well as Lucas Patrick and Ike Boettger for visits. It will be interesting to see if Tomlinson is joined by any of those blockers in Seattle before or after the upcoming draft.
The Seahawks entered Friday with just $1.8MM in cap space, the third-lowest figure in the NFL. While this Tomlinson addition has not come at a particularly prohibitive cost, the team will need to free up funds to afford its draft class. In any case, Seattle’s draft efforts will now take place with a veteran presence in place as a starting option ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Draft Rumors: 49ers, Corley, Commanders, Bears, Alt, Giants, Eagles, Seahawks, Steelers, Vikings, Lions
No Brandon Aiyuk trade request has emerged yet, separating this situation from the Deebo Samuel saga from 2022. Samuel receiving an extension later that year complicates matters for Aiyuk, who has needed to wait longer to enter extension territory due to being a former first-round pick. As this remains a storyline to monitor ahead of the draft, the 49ers scheduled a notable visit. Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley stopped through team headquarters, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, just before the deadline for “30” visits this week.
Playing a role in the Hilltoppers’ Bailey Zappe-led aerial fireworks in 2021, Corley enjoyed a more prominent position in the mid-major team’s passing attack over the past two years — each 11-touchdown campaigns. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein threw out Samuel as a comp for Corley, who is projected to be a second-round pick. Though, he will be unlikely to be available by the time San Francisco’s No. 63 slot arrives. With big-ticket expenses at three other skill-position spots (and Brock Purdy eligible for a re-up in 2025), the 49ers have a major decision to make with Aiyuk soon.
Here is the latest from the draft ranks:
- The Giants‘ quarterback-or-wide receiver decision at No. 6 figures to be one of this draft’s most important, but the team did bring in some first-round prospects who do not play those positions. Tackle Joe Alt and edge rusher Dallas Turner visited the team recently, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. Highly unlikely to draft Turner due to the Brian Burns trade and Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s status, the Giants could conceivably consider Alt. The All-American Notre Dame left tackle would need to be moved to the right side, however, and Schwartz reaffirms a recent report that indicates the team has not given up on keeping 2022 No. 7 overall pick Evan Neal at tackle.
- Now that Cooper DeJean went through a workout following a broken fibula suffered in November, a few teams brought him in for visits. The Iowa cornerback met with the Bills previously, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the Seahawks, Steelers and Eagles hosted the talented cover man on “30” visits before Wednesday’s deadline. Our Ely Allen recently examined the first-round-caliber CB’s prospect stock.
- Staying at corner, both the Vikings and Lions brought in the well-traveled Terrion Arnold for pre-draft visits, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Alabama corner, who slots as the top player at the position (No. 9 overall) on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, also met with the Cardinals, Titans, Falcons and Jaguars during the draft run-up. The Lions, whose CB situation changed after the Cameron Sutton arrest/release, also brought in Arnold teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry recently.
- Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, he of a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, made two more visits before visit season ended. The Bears and Commanders brought in the intriguing DE prospect, Rapoport adds. In need of D-end help after trading Montez Sweat to the Bears, the Commanders hold the No. 40 pick as a result of that trade. Washington carries Nos. 36 and 40, while Chicago does not have a second-round pick this year. Linked to a potential WR-or-Brock Bowers call at No. 9, the Bears may not be in the value range for Robinson, whom Jeremiah slots as this draft’s No. 21 overall talent.
- The Seahawks met with Bo Nix and have a clear connection to Michael Penix Jr., with new OC Ryan Grubb having coached the latter at Washington. With Geno Smith on a flexible contract that runs through 2025, Seattle brought in South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler for a pre-deadline visit, per Schultz. Slotted as the No. 7 QB on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board, Rattler met with the Giants this week as well. The former Oklahoma recruit earned Senior Bowl MVP honors in January.
Seahawks Eyeing Additional Draft Picks?
The Seahawks added Leonard Williams at the 2023 trade deadline, and he has since been retained on a three-year deal. While that move has given Seattle an experienced producer along the defensive interior, it has left the team without a second-round selection in next week’s draft. 
As things currently stand, the Seahawks are set to select 16th overall and then not again until the No. 81 slot. In total, Seattle owns seven picks but five of them fall outside the top 100. For that reason, they could represent a trade-down candidate on Day 1 with an eye on adding more draft capital for the second and/or third rounds.
An NFL executive informed the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora that Seattle is indeed interested in generating extra capital for the 2024 draft. While that objective could be met with a trade involving an established player – an NFL general manager surmised wideout D.K. Metcalf could be dealt – a trade down the order would allow the Seahawks to recoup at least some of the value lost in the Williams trade. GM John Schneider has a well-established reputation for trading down in the first round, having done so on five occasions.
Seattle, like all teams, has been busy over recent days by hosting prospects on local and ‘top 30’ visits. That process has included evaluations of edge rushers Jared Verse and Chop Robinson. Perhaps the most frequently linked prospect in the Seahawks’ case, though, is defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. The Texas product’s floor is seen as Seattle’s current selection in the middle of the first round.
The Seahawks have not only Williams but also Dre’Mont Jones in the fold on lucrative pacts along the defensive interior. That could steer the team in another direction if still on the clock at No. 16, although Murphy and a number of other prospects could help a defense which ranked 31st against the run and 30th in yards allowed per game in 2023. Especially without a second-round pick in hand, though, Schneider could be in position to once again authorize a move down the order; such a move may not come as a surprise around the league if it were to be made.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/24
Here are some minor moves from around the NFL today:
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OL Justin Murray
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Cam Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on reserve/retired list: P Jon Ryan
Murray has been a journeyman lineman since going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2016. While his most productive season came over three years with the Cardinals during which he started 20 games in 30 appearances, Murray has spent time in Denver, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Oakland, Buffalo, Las Vegas, and Tennessee. Most recently, he signed to the Browns’ practice squad midseason last year before signing a reserve/futures contract in January. Instead of competing for a roster spot, Murray will join wide receiver Rashard Higgins and linebacker Christian Kirksey in retirement.
Brown, a former sixth round pick out of Penn State, has spent his rookie contract as a core special teamer for the Giants. He’ll attempt to earn a bigger role in Miami in 2024.
After a 12-year NFL career, including 10 straight seasons with the Seahawks, Ryan found himself off of a roster following his 36-year-old season in 2017. Determined to continue playing, Ryan has continued punting, and excelling, in the Canadian Football League over the past few years. Now 42 years old, Ryan seems to have finally resigned to end his football career. He’ll retire a Seahawk.