49ers Trade No. 104 To Bengals
The Bengals have acquired pick No. 104 from the 49ers, reports Matt Maiocco NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). The 49ers acquired a third-rounder (No. 110) and a pair of sixth-rounders (No. 183, No. 198).
The Bengals will use the pick on NC State quarterback Ryan Finley. Following two seasons with Boise State, Finley had the opportunity to start for NC State over the past three seasons. He finished the 2018 campaign having completed 67.4-percent of his passes for 3,928 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Finley shouldn’t supplant Andy Dalton for playing time, but he should at least push the veteran. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that Finley was the only quarterback prospect the Bengals hosted during the pre-draft process.
Rams Move Up To Patriots’ No. 97 Slot
For the second time Friday night, the Super Bowl LIII opponents swapped picks. This time, the Rams made the move up.
The Patriots traded their No. 97 and No. 162 overall selections to the Rams for Nos. 101 and 133. With the new pick, the Rams took Oklahoma tackle Bobby Evans.
The defending NFC champions have now used three first-round picks, taking running back Darrell Henderson, cornerback David Long and now Evans. This follows their Taylor Rapp selection earlier Friday night.
Evans is the second Sooners offensive lineman to go off this year’s board, following second-rounder Cody Ford. These two followed Oklahoma stars Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown. Evans left after his junior year.
Bills Acquire No. 96 Pick From Redskins
The Bills made a move in the third round, agreeing to a deal with the Redskins to acquire the No. 96 overall pick. For moving down 16 spots, the Redskins will receive a fourth-round pick (No. 131).
With the higher pick, the Bills selected Ole Miss tight end Dawson Knox. He will join Tyler Kroft as part of Buffalo’s new-look tight end corps.
Charles Clay headed the Bills’ tight end group for four years, but the team released their longtime starter earlier this year. They now have Kroft, Knox and converted tackle Jake Fisher in the fold.
Vikings Send No. 93 Pick To Ravens
More Vikings trade action. The Ravens enticed Rick Spielman to trade down, for the fourth time in Round 3.
While the Vikings just acquired a seventh-round pick for a one-spot Jets move, the Ravens will send them two choices — sixth-rounders, at 191 and 193 — for the right to climb nine spots in the third round. The Ravens used the pick to take Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin.
Minnesota began its Round 3 odyssey at No. 81, then moved to 88, 92, 93 and now 102. At this rate, the Vikings will be busy on Day 3.
Boykin will follow Marquise Brown to Baltimore, with the Ravens using the draft to augment their aerial weaponry corps this year. With a developmental quarterback in Lamar Jackson, this strategy makes sense. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Boykin does offer a complementary skill set to the former Oklahoma deep threat.
Vikings Trade No. 92 Pick To Jets
The Vikings apparently are not into this section of the third round. This marks the third time Minnesota has traded down in Round 3.
The Jets moved up one spot, to No. 92, and will send the Vikings a seventh-round pick (No. 217) to do so. Minnesota is now set to pick at No. 93, though that cannot be guaranteed at this point, based on the events of the past hour.
With the one-spot climb, the Jets chose USC tackle Chuma Edoga.
Seahawks Land No. 88 Pick From Vikings
For the second time in an hour, the Vikings have traded down. This time, they will send the No. 88 overall pick to the Seahawks.
Minnesota previously dealt its No. 81 choice to Detroit. Seattle selected Utah linebacker Cody Barton. This was a four-pick swap, with the Vikings also dealing a sixth-round pick (No. 209) and the Seahawks sending back a fifth-rounder (No. 159).
The Vikings have now acquired fourth- and sixth-round picks Friday night. Their next selection window will open at pick No. 92.
Barton joins what is now by far the Seahawks’ most experienced defensive position group, with Bobby Wagner and the recently re-signed K.J. Wright anchoring the linebacking corps. Barton registered four sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Utes.
Lions Acquire No. 81 Pick From Vikings
Two NFC North teams worked together on a third-round deal. The Lions moved up seven spots to No. 81, sending the Vikings a sixth-round selection (No. 204) to do so.
Detroit took Boston College safety Will Harris with the pick. A second-generation NFLer, Harris ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He finished with six fumble recoveries and 158 tackles the past two years.
The Lions cut Glover Quin this offseason and signed Andrew Adams in free agency. Harris joins a safety group headed by Quandre Diggs and Tavon Wilson.
Patriots Send No. 73 Pick To Bears
The Bears will send three picks to the Patriots for their No. 73 overall choice.
New England will move down again and acquire third- and fifth-round Chicago picks (Nos. 87 and 162). The Patriots will also collect a 2020 fourth-round selection from the Bears. Meanwhile, New England will also send the No. 205 choice to the Bears.
Chicago is selecting Iowa State running back David Montgomery. He’ll join a revamped Bears backfield that includes free agent signee Mike Davis as well as holdover Tarik Cohen.
Rams Move Into Buccaneers’ No. 70 Slot
After multiple trade-down decisions, the Rams will move up early in the third round. They acquired the Buccaneers’ No. 70 overall pick in exchange for picks 94 and 99.
Entering this swap, the Rams held three third-rounders between 94 and 99. They still hold the No. 98 pick. Following Los Angeles’ Taylor Rapp second-round choice, the defending NFC champion selected Memphis running back Darrell Henderson.
At the American Athletic Conference school, Henderson shredded competition in averaging a Division I-FBS-record 8.2 yards per carry during his three college seasons. Last season, Henderson finished 10th in the Heisman voting after rushing for 1,909 yards and 22 touchdowns. This also represents an interesting running back investment, considering how much the Rams are paying Todd Gurley.
Despite having Gurley entering the first year of his second Rams contract, the Rams did some work on this year’s running back prospects, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic tweets. The Rams matched the Lions’ RFA offer sheet for Malcolm Brown but let C.J. Anderson join the Lions. Gurley’s knee issue, reported to be arthritis, will certainly be worth monitoring this offseason. And the Rams added some insurance in the mid-major prospect.
Seahawks Trade Up For D.K. Metcalf
After trading down multiple times in this draft, the Seahawks made a move up. They acquired the No. 64 overall pick from the Patriots.
Seattle moved down in both the first and second rounds. They have been the most fluid team in this draft, which featured them having an extra first-round pick because of the Frank Clark trade.
The move will result in the Seahawks ending D.K. Metcalf‘s slide. The workout phenom will be a second-round pick. Metcalf will attempt to prove what turned out to be a litany of doubters wrong in Seattle. He joins a Doug Baldwin– and Tyler Lockett-fronted receiving corps. Although, Baldwin’s status is now up in the air.
Metcalf’s skill set became a hotly debated topic, with his college production and agility numbers paling in comparison to his physique and speed-strength combination. Many mocked Metcalf as a first-rounder, but the late reports of teams doubting him turned out to be accurate. He became this year’s ninth receiver taken.
The 6-foot-3 wideout declared after his sophomore season. As a freshman, Metcalf caught 39 passes for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. All turned out to be career-best marks, with A.J. Brown having led the Rebels in receiving last season. Metcalf finished as Ole Miss’ third-leading receiver in 2018.