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Late breaking credible draft rumors (1 Viewer)

Vikings bad mouth Manziel via Zimmer. Lots of talk about defense with the pick. Rick talks about trading down. If he gets to 8, the Vikes jump on Manziel? Maybe because they need the buzz a guy like that can generate to sell season tickets and PSLs in the new stadium?
For a team that was accustomed to having the circus in town for years (Denny Green threatening to buy the team, whatever "broke" inside of Daunte Culpepper's head, Mike Tice scalping Super Bowl tickets, "the Love Boat," et al), I would be absolutely STUNNED...DUMBFOUNDED, if the Vikings drafted Manziel. Zimmer and Turner were brought in to offer some stability, discipline and savvy...and we want them in front of a microphone for most of the 2014 season talking about "Johnny Football" instead of coaching players up and instilling a new philosophy and order in the locker room? :shrug:

I'll hand it to Spielman if they do...as that smokescreen would have had me completely fooled. MAYBE if Manziel falls into the latter part of the first round or top of the second. But not 1.08. And even if Manziel's there in the 2nd? I'd bet that they've got their eye on Bortles or Bridgewater (for a move-up in Round 1). Or MAYBE even Murray in the 3rd?

 
This is starting to feel like last years draft where QBs started to fall fast. Might not have one taken till the 20's when someone trades back into the first.

 
2014 NFL Draft: Rumor Roundup on the Draft

May 6, 2014, by Arif Hasan http://vikingsterritory.com/2014/rumors/2014-nfl-draft-rumor-roundup-on-the-draft#more-5981

The draft is just days away and the media would have you believe that front offices are leaking like the Titanic. Over the past few days, the rumor mill has gone into overdrive, and the number and nature of the rumors seems like… well any other draft year, really.

The unfortunate truth is that we can guarantee some rumors to be true, we just don’t know which ones. In the past few days alone, I’ve catalogued something like 60 rumors, many from sources around the web (like Tony Pauline, Walter Football, ESPN, NFLTradeRumors, etc.) and some from speaking to colleagues with “sources,” whom they trust as much as you can this time of year (not much). Let’s go down the list in generic draft order (that means Washington 2nd, Cleveland 4th, St. Louis 13th, Indianapolis 26th) and see what we can find.

UPDATE: The most recent Manziel rumor is now “Manziel to the Jaguars,” per John McClain, a Texans insider.​
ALSO UPDATE: Lots of folks love Kyle Fuller. Namely, the Steelers and the Eagles.​
UPDATE x3: Tony Pauline reports the non-shocking news that the Cardinals are attempting to come away with a QB in the first three rounds.​
More from Pauline indicates that an owner at some point will force a Manziel pick, and that the Buccaneers are definitely a team where that could happen.​
The Cleveland Browns, however, like Mike Evans and not Manziel—at least as far as their front office goes.​
UPDATE TO THE FOURTH: Pen the first-round pick for Carolina as Joel Bitonio, per the same source (Pauline).​
UPDATE FIVE: Mike Mayock is really sold on Manziel to the Cowboys, and they’re willing to package together picks to move up and grab him.​
The Houston Texans‘ consistently most mocked pick is Jadeveon Clowney, but the rumors that they’re willing to trade down are strong—in fact they’re not so much as rumors as they are confirmed by the Texans themselves. They’ve also indicated that they’re willing to trade pick #33, likely down.​
They also seem to be interested in Maine Outside Linebacker (edge rusher) Michael Cole, proving that Kendall James (CB) isn’t the only Maine prospect worth tracking.​
Every single 2-3 round mock draft I’ve catalogued, save for one of the fifty, has the Texans taking a quarterback with pick #33. The other mock has them taking Tom Savage at #65.​
The Clowney pick, if they don’t trade down, is not a certainty. Aside from Gil Brandt’s report that Mack is going before Clowney as well as Peter King’s mock of Mack to Houston, NFLTR seems to think there’s a lot of doubt about it in general.​
There isn’t much word on the Washington Redskins. Despite consistently hearing that they should trade Kirk Cousins, they’ve said more than a few times that they aren’t willing to trade him. The word is that they’d get a third-round, maximum, for him.​
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a pretty good spot, and figure to take whoever between Teddy Bridgewater, Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney will fall to them and are high on all three of them. That said, the more recent slew of mock drafts put Sammy Watkins to them, and they’ve indicated that they’re not counting on Justin Blackmon playing for them next season.​
There’s also an indication that they may in fact be targeting Jake Matthews.​
As it stands, the most surprising but likely indication may end up being Sammy Watkins, with a quarterback at pick #39. Again and again, GM David Caldwell has been linked to “safe” picks, and HC Gus Bradley even mentioned at the Combine that they are not “arrogant enough” to think they can “fix” any players coming out.​
The Cleveland Browns are evidently high on both Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr, and using the 26th pick on either figures to be the strategy by most analysts. According to Ian Rapaport, you could add Teddy Bridgewater to that list.​
There has also been a contradictory rumor that they’re willing to pick Manziel at #4 overall. This stems from the fact that the owner, Jimmy Haslem, reportedly “loves” Manziel. As Bud Adams proved with Vince Young, the guy who signs the checks usually gets his way.​
Ray Farmer, Browns GM, is very high on Sammy Watkins, but that doesn’t mean he’s a draft target. Same with quarterback Blake Bortles, though more as a target later on than with the fourth pick.​
One of the most reliable insiders in sports, Jay Glazer, disagrees. A rational person would back off, but I still think it’s very likely. Given how rarely he’s wrong, I’m sure I’ll be caught with egg on my face.​
Should they choose against Watkins or Manziel, they could be a trade partner with the Dolphins or any other number of teams in the 18-22 range.​
The Oakland Raiders have two theoretical targets from what I hear (Sammy Watkins and Khalil Mack), but are also candidates to trade down. They specifically do not seem interested in the quarterbacks with the fifth overall pick, but are intrigued by both Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater. They are also high on Mike Evans.​
I’m hearing the most likely scenario at this point is the following:

  1. Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney
  2. St. Louis Rams – Greg Robinson
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sammy Watkins
  4. Cleveland Browns – Johnny Manziel
  5. Oakland Raiders – Trade
The Atlanta Falcons have been a prime target for trading up, and have been mocked in trades up to #2 consistently for Khalil Mack or Jadeveon Clowney, depending on what the Texans do. With the Texans selling the #1 overall pick and Thomas Dimitroff’s propensity for trading, they could make even more of a splash.​
If the Falcons still have a third-round pick after all the drama passes, they may look at LSU running back Jeremy Hill.​
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have almost universally been mocked Mike Evans, but there’s more than a rumor that they’re interested in Derek Carr at #7 overall, especially with Jeff Tedford—a close friend of the Carr family—as the offensive coordinator. The small data we have on the decisionmaking process in war rooms (books like Michael Holley’s “War Room,” Nicholas Dawidoff’s “Collision Low Crossers,” Tom Callahan’s “The GM,” and John Feinstein’s “Next Man Up”) suggests that these connections can be very meaningful.​
Of course, Buffalo passing on former Syracus QB Ryan Nassib when former Syracus head coach took over the Bills job may mean we look to far into it.​
All that said, someone reassures me that Bortles to Tampa Bay is a big possibility. There is a good indication that they do not really want Mike Evans, which means any potential trade partners will have an easier time of it.​
With Gerald McCoy’s injury history and the fact that he’s in the last year of his contract, Aaron Donald is a real possibility. Otherwise, an offensive tackle if they’re rated highly enough.​
The final rumor I’ve found is from PFT—a trade up to #2 with the Rams for Johnny Manziel. This could be the “draft day trade that could blow the top off the draft” that Louis Riddick was referring to.​
———-​
I naturally have more rumors regarding the Minnesota Vikings than any other team because 1) this is a Vikings website and 2) the Vikings may have the most awkward spot in the draft.​
The rumor mill indicates that the Vikings are high on quarterback Johnny Manziel, quarterback Blake Bortles, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebacker Khalil Mack, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, receiver Mike Evans and linebacker C.J. Mosley. Those same rumor-mongers also like the Vikings to target Zach Mettenberger or Derek Carr with the 40th pick.​
The rumor mill also indicates that the Vikings are low on Blake Bortles and have C.J. Mosley and Zach Mettenberger off their boards entirely—Mosley for medical reasons an Mettenberger for off-field reasons. Good to know that the Vikings can be simulataneously high and low on the same players.​
Those off-field reasons for Mettenberger may have been confirmed with Mettenberger’s “positive test” at the combine—a positive not because any illegal substances were detected in his urine (there were no trace of them) but because his sample was too diluted. This is of particular importance given his history of “recrational drug use” when he was at Georgia.​
Over-drinking water before a drug test is a pretty common method of avoiding detection, but in this case Mettenberger’s agent quickly produced paperwork from his trainer indicated that the muscle cramps Mettenberger took during his ACL recovery demanded additional hydration. That paperwork was rejected by Dr. Lawrence Brown, the NFL’s advisor for drugs of abuse, alcohol and HIV.​
Other players recovering from ACL surgery did not get flagged for diluted urine, and some masking agents can actually cause muscle cramping, but it also is something that is really easy to believe on face, too—water is the most common response to muscle cramps, and muscle cramps are really common in rehabilitation.​
C.J. Mosley’s medical red flag may be unique to Minnesota, but imply a problem beyond just his knees.​
The things I’ve heard from the people I trust the most say the following: the Vikings are not sold on Blake Bortles with the eighth pick, and that the Aaron Donald interest is both real and contrived—they like him as a player, but are not planning on taking him with the eighth pick, instead using him as bait for a trade down in the teens to get Teddy Bridgewater.​
Otherwise, the folks I’ve talked to indicate that the Vikings are also very much interested in Johnny Manziel, but there is a strong feeling he’ll be gone by pick four anyway. If they do trade up, it will be to pick #5 with the Oakland Raiders, and it will probably be for Khalil Mack.​
If that doesn’t happen and the Vikings also cannot swing a trade down, they may be more interested in Darqueze Dennard than Aaron Donald.​
Should Mike Evans fall, he’ll be a serious consideration but ultimately may be trade bait (like I believe Donald to be).​
The Vikings have been linked to Sam Bradford by Jason La Canfora via trade, but others like Ian Rapaport have indicated that the Rams and the Vikings have not talked at all. Mike Florio also says that the Rams are committed to Bradford, even though they will likely draft one sometime in the draft this year. Rick Spielman further denied these claims when speaking to reporters today. For what it’s worth, La Canfora says the Rams denied those claims, but personnel men outside of both organizations believe these discussions have happened. Norv Turner was a big fan of Bradford coming out of Oklahoma and this would pair him back up with Adrian Peterson.​
———-​
The Buffalo Bills have been linked to a trade up into the top five for the past week or so, and ESPN basically confirmed the strength of this rumor on Sportscenter. In particular, they like Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans, who would round out a strong receiving corps featuring Robert Woods, Stevie Johnson and Marquise Goodwin.​
With how things are currently projected, they could be aiming for pick #5, where the Oakland Raiders are selling.​
Otherwise, there are rumors that the Bills are interested in offensive lineman Zack Martin. It’s a little higher than he’s been generally projected, but he’s a good all-around lineman that can get their run-game going again.​
The Detroit Lions, plagued with discipline issues as they are, seem not to be interested in offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. Further, they also are evidently low on Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.​
If they can, they might trade into the top five. That means a defensive back is unlikely, though they could covet Khalil Mack. Rapaport seems to think it’s for Sammy Watkins.​
The Tennessee Titans may really like UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr—their linebackers coach, Lou Spanos, was his defensive coordinator at UCLA the past two years, and one of the people that suggested Barr switch from RB to LB.​
They need help in more than one place and now have a running back to replace. To that end, they are high on LSU RB Jeremy Hill, probably in the third round.​
The New York Giants have been linked to two players as far as I can tell: Zack Martin and Aaron Donald. The Giants are known for loving defensive linemen and may consider Damontre Moore/Johnathan Hankins/Aaron Donald/Jason Pierre-Paul the starting defensive line of the future.

That said, they need a lot of help on the offensive line, and Martin has played everywhere on the line with skill and poise. For what it’s worth, Peter King really likes the idea and has heard it was a big possibility.

Despite that need on the offensive line, the general manager stressed taking the “cleanest guy possible” in round one, and Taylor Lewan is not that guy. There is also some indication that Ryan Nassib is on the trading block.

Given their need at tight end, some have connected the Giants to Eric Ebron, but potential character flags have had them back off (immaturity). They are not particularly enamored with him.

Aside from that, Odell Beckham is a favorite of theirs as well.

The St. Louis Rams are very interested in trading down, and a lot of talk has been about their ability to do that from the #2 spot. They are supposedly high on Johnny Manziel, and that interest is supposed to be genuine.

In the final two rounds, they may also be interested in South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw.

The Chicago Bears are also big fans of Aaron Donald, but it’s looking less and less like that is a possibility for them. They are also considering Kony Ealy, and the fact that many teams see him as a potential defensive tackle convert from the DE position he played at Missouri may make him a very viable first-round target. Aside from that, I have not heard much about them.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are high on Greg Robinson, but it is extremely unlikely they’ll be able to get him even by trade. Instead, they are more likely to grab Ra’Shede Hageman at #15 to shore up their weak defensive end depth. They currently do not have Brett Keisel on the roster but have not ruled it out.

If they don’t draft Hageman, look for an edge rusher. Even though they drafted Jarvis Jones, they could still find ways to generate pressure.

The Steelers are open to trading down, but not up.

The Dallas Cowboys are high on a lot of guys that they probably won’t get. They like Johnny Manziel (despite Jerry Jones’ probably accurate reassurances that they will not use a quarterback on their first overall pick). They also like Kony Ealy, Zack Martin and Aaron Donald a lot.

Ian Rapaport argues that the Dallas Cowboys will ultimately target a receiver like USC’s Marqise Lee or LSU’s Odell Backham, Jr.

Anthony Barr is a name connected to them as well.

The Baltimore Ravens have had some ink spilled in their name as the draft approaches, and the most consistent rumor I’ve heard is that Virginia’s Morgan Moses is high on the Ravens’ board which would be a surprise given the nature of the talent boards around the NFL. That doesn’t mean he’s the target at their pick, but if they trade back it could be for him.

That said, Tony Pauline has heard differently, and Eric Ebron is their “number one target.” I haven’t confirmed the Moses-Ravens stuff, so Pauline could very well be correct. The Ravens are one of many teams connected to Ebron.

The two running backs that have been mentioned with the Ravens are LSU’s Jeremy Hill and Towson’s Terrance West, and may even grab Hill in the second round. Towson’s location in Baltimore may make him a fan favorite.

The New York Jets are extremely high on Odell Beckham, Jr. The fact that he’s projected as a stellar kick returner and that their current special teams coach worked closely with Beckham at LSU when he was their special teams coach for the last three years only helps.

It sounds more and more like the Jets would need to trade up to get him, and it sounds a little like they’re willing to do that. A separate rumor has indicated that they want to trade up for a receiver, and my guess is that Beckham is it.

They also seem to be interested in Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd as a late-round pick.

The Miami Dolphins are expected to target an offensive lineman at pick #19, but it sounds like their target (specifically Zack Martin) will be off the board by then. As it stands, I’ve heard that Alabama right tackle Cyrus Kouandjio is off their board for medical reasons. Jason La Canfora disagrees, and sees Kouandjio as their target.

A player not on the offensive line, linebacker Ryan Shazier from Ohio State, is a favorite of Miami, even if they don’t draft him for positional reasons. He scores extremely high for them as having extraordinarily good character. His crazy athleticism should only help.

The Arizona Cardinals also like Kony Ealy, and interestingly USC pass-rusher Morgan Breslin—who was touted highly before the season, but has dropped significantly. Maine OLB Michael Cole could also be a target for them later on.

They are also reportedly interested in quarterback Blake Bortles and he could fall this far, especially as the word may be that many teams do not in fact have him in the first round.

The Cardinals are also one of the teams projected to trade up, per Dan Pompei, for Eric Ebron should he fall out of the top ten.

The next team, the Green Bay Packers, are also potentially interested in Eric Ebron per the same report, but that feels less likely than some of the other teams given how the Packers draft and who they need—even though they lost Jermichael Finley and have limited TE depth, they aren’t really in need of pass-catchers.

Another option for them could be Ryan Shazier, especially if the generally projected pick, C.J. Mosley, isn’t around or is not their flavor.

While Packers’ draftniks have generally not been a fan of the Calvin Pryor projection, Jason La Canfora thinks the pick is instead Washington State safety Deone Bucannon.

The Philadelphia Eagles like Odell Beckham, Jr as much as anyone else it seems, and really do want to get a receiver at some point in the draft. Beckham is certainly a system fit and the fact that GM Howie Roseman has been in contact with two other teams could be an indication that he’ll go fairly high and that the Eagles may want to trade up for him.

If not, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks would fit in perfectly with the Eagles.

The Kansas City Chiefs are rumored to be shopping safety Eric Berry, which would be extremely interesting. They may even be willing to only grab a second-rounder for the top-tier safety. They might also want to trade pro bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers, per Dan Pompei.

I’ve also heard that the Chiefs are a low-key candidate for a quarterback should one fall. For what it’s worth, I did mock them Johnny Manziel. The issue is that contract talks with Alex Smith haven’t been progressing well and that he wasn’t the one to make their offense go.

Without a second-round pick, they may be missing out on a talent-rich draft. If they don’t trade Berry or Flowers (which really seems like a stretch), they could trade back into the second for a team that’s interested in Derek Carr.

There’s some talk that Teddy Bridgewater is an option for the Cincinnati Bengals. Most people have been mocking them a cornerback, which makes sense, but seems kind of odd.

The San Diego Chargers are high on Ohio State center Corey Linsley, but I doubt he’s worth a first-round pick to them. A late round prospect they could be interested in is Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin. The Chargers are one of many teams that Eastern Washington’s edge rusher Anthony Larry has drawn interest from.

The Indianapolis Colts are one team that hasn’t hit my radar at all. Haven’t heard anything about them, and that could be because they don’t have a first-r0und pick. One thing I have heard is about Maine tight end Justin Perillo, further proof that the Maine squad has multiple draft-worthy players I hadn’t heard of.

The New Orleans Saints want to pair Kenny Vaccaro with another safety, and it sounds like Western Kentucky’s Jonathan Dowling is their man, even though they have a top safety in Jairus Byrd.

They are evidently high on interior offensive lineman Marcus Martin, who may now go in the first round.

The Carolina Panthers have been connected with all sorts of receivers in the draft, and despite a need on the offensive line, it’s pretty clear that it’s their biggest need. They are reportedly high on Marqise Lee and Brandin Cooks. Look for receivers who were especially productive in college, per Peter King.

If they do go for an offensive lineman, look for Nevada’s Joel Bitonio or Virginia’s Morgan Moses, whom they seem to like.

The New England Patriots are consistently mocked Ra’Shede Hageman from Minnesota—more so than any other player with any other team in the bottom half of the draft—but the reports are that they’re actually low on Hageman, and MMQB is skeptical of the Hageman-to-Patriots connection.

Instead, they’ve been connected to injury concern, but preternaturally talented Dominique Easley, and occasionally Notre Dame 5T Stephon Tuitt.

Aside from the defensive line, they also seem to be interested in Odell Beckham, Jr. but I doubt they trade up for him, or that he’ll fall. Instead, King thinks they will once again trade out of the 29th pick.

They are also very interested in Pitt quarterback Tom Savage, especially as his former coach at Rutgers, Greg Schiano, still seems to love him.

The San Francisco 49ers seem desperate to trade up for a receiver, and they have all the ammo in the world to do so. It still seems unlikely that they’ll get Odell Beckham, but he’s a guy they like.

If Zach Mettenberger is still not drafted by Day Three, the 49ers could go after him.

The Denver Broncos like Ra’Shede Hageman quite a bit. That’s all I have, but the interest is real.

The Seattle Seahawks are looking to trade down even more, and may do so if a “special” player isn’t there. They value some form of measureable uniqueness, whether that’s length or speed and a prospect who fits that bill may not be there at #32.

———-​
As for individual players, there’s a chance that Stanford LB Shayne Skov will go completely undrafted because of slow recovery and a bad Pro Day.

Both Auburn defensive end Dee Ford and Boise State defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence are expected to go in the second round, and there’s a lot of talk about Cody Latimer going late in the first round.

Gil Brandt is of the mind that Khalil Mack will go ahead of Jadeveon Clowney.

Jason La Canfora seems to think that A.J. McCarron will be the fourth or fifth quarterback picked in the draft, and that evaluators have been gushing about him.

Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois safety, is considered to be talented enough for a late-first round pick.

Kony Ealy seems to be a defensive tackle prospect, which would increase his value to teams. Kevin Williams was a defensive end before being converted to a defensive tackle by the Vikings.
 
I love how something that is probably like a quick 3-4 minute phone call from a team like Buffalo to teams like Houston and St Louis is reported as "Burning up the phone lines".

I mean, are they calling them so much that Houston needs to call the police on them for telecommunications harrassment???

 
Im beating the dead horse here. Bucs are not drafting a friggen qb if they dont like young qbs, dont like Glennon, grabbed mccown, they are not in the market for a qb this early in the draft. Their wr corp needs a big shot and beckham or evans fits the bill here, hell id be estatic with ebron.

Not saying early second a few of the qbs fall... They dont get one in the second. But no way they stunt their future by drafting any one if these huge questionmarks in the top ten.

 
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No link, saw this on a Browns board. Maybe someone else can confirm this one.

"Sal Palantonio just said on ESPN that 2 teams (Atlanta & Buffalo) are in talks with Cleveland for their #4 pick."

I didn't hear that first-hand but it falls in-line with some other chatter so if someone can confirm that would be great.

 
No link, saw this on a Browns board. Maybe someone else can confirm this one.

"Sal Palantonio just said on ESPN that 2 teams (Atlanta & Buffalo) are in talks with Cleveland for their #4 pick."

I didn't hear that first-hand but it falls in-line with some other chatter so if someone can confirm that would be great.
Sal Pal is on site covering the Browns draft for ESPN. If he's reporting 2 teams are in talks, that means the Browns want that info out there. I'd guess Atlanta and Buffalo have contacted the Browns about their pick, but Cleveland wants to generate "buzz" and get others involved.

 
No link, saw this on a Browns board. Maybe someone else can confirm this one.

"Sal Palantonio just said on ESPN that 2 teams (Atlanta & Buffalo) are in talks with Cleveland for their #4 pick."

I didn't hear that first-hand but it falls in-line with some other chatter so if someone can confirm that would be great.
Sal Pal is on site covering the Browns draft for ESPN. If he's reporting 2 teams are in talks, that means the Browns want that info out there. I'd guess Atlanta and Buffalo have contacted the Browns about their pick, but Cleveland wants to generate "buzz" and get others involved.
Sure, every team wants buzz about their pick, lol.

I've been hearing the same rumor about Atlanta moving-up to Cleveland if 'their-guy' reportedly OLB/DE Kalil Mack, is still on the board. Its possible they would also want OT Greg Robinson is he's there but I think its Mack they're after so since Sal-Pal reported it, I think its a legit possibility.

Thanks for confirming that one.

 
I think adding a 'credible rumors' generator would be a valuable addition to fantasy football league sites like myfantasyleague

-QG

 
No link, saw this on a Browns board. Maybe someone else can confirm this one.

"Sal Palantonio just said on ESPN that 2 teams (Atlanta & Buffalo) are in talks with Cleveland for their #4 pick."

I didn't hear that first-hand but it falls in-line with some other chatter so if someone can confirm that would be great.
Sal Pal is on site covering the Browns draft for ESPN. If he's reporting 2 teams are in talks, that means the Browns want that info out there. I'd guess Atlanta and Buffalo have contacted the Browns about their pick, but Cleveland wants to generate "buzz" and get others involved.
Sure, every team wants buzz about their pick, lol.

I've been hearing the same rumor about Atlanta moving-up to Cleveland if 'their-guy' reportedly OLB/DE Kalil Mack, is still on the board. Its possible they would also want OT Greg Robinson is he's there but I think its Mack they're after so since Sal-Pal reported it, I think its a legit possibility.

Thanks for confirming that one.
I didn't even read your post before I was thinking the same thing: those two teams would love to draft Mack and it seems reasonable that he will be there at 4. It also seems possible that Cleveland is trying to drum up some interest from Oakland, a team that also might want Mack.

 
Seen this one before and now Rapoport is giving a bit more intormation so it seems like the Lions really are interested in moving-up for WR Sammy Watkins.

--------------------------------

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet1 hr

Fascinating to see what business decision #Lions make today: Trade up for Sammy Watkins or stay put. Brass took him to lunch post-Pro Day.

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet1 hr

How much work did the #Lions do on #Clemson WR Sammy Watkins? At 1 point, they were talking to him nearly every day. The interest is real.

 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000347800/article/draft-day-buzz-last-minute-whispers-around-the-nfl?campaign=Twitter_atl

Here's some last-minute buzz before Roger Goodell takes the stage:

» Jerry Jones might love Johnny Football, but NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport says it's Blake Bortles who actually sits atop Dallas' draft board at quarterback.

» Rapoport reports that the Texans' asking price for the No. 1 overall pick, for at least two inquiring clubs, is three first-round picks at a minimum. Whoa.

» Peter King of TheMMQB.com wrote that he will be "very surprised" if the Niners don't make a "Falcons/Julio Jones-type move" up the draft board. Remember, GM Trent Baalke has six picks in the top 100.

»Also from King: There's a very real chance the Rams take Clowney if the South Carolina stud doesn't come off the board at No. 1. King writes that the Rams aren't concerned about Clowney's drop in production in his final season under Steve Spurrier.

» A week after saying the Browns were best suited to take a QB later in the draft, Mike Pettine told USA Today that Manziel will "be in the discussion at four." Does anybody have the slightest idea what the Browns are going to do tonight? Mission accomplished, we suppose.

» Jeff Fisher stood beside Sam Bradford on stage at a St. Louis Rams pre-draft event Wednesday night and told a crowd of season-ticket holders: "Sam's our guy." It will be some cold-blooded primetime soap opera stuff if the team pulls the rug out from under their QB tonight.

» In case you missed it: The Mailman, Chris Wesseling, offered up 12 takeaways from Mike Mayock's first and only mock draft of the year.

» Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 in Buffalo is reporting that the Bills are "very serious" about taking LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. at No. 9, according to league sources. If that happens, expect to see Stevie Johnson on the trade block.

» More Manziel madness: Jordan Raanan of NJ.com is reporting that the Giants would seriously consider drafting Manziel, according to a person with knowledge of the team's draft philosophy. This does not feel like a Giants-like move at all.

» Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reports that the Raiders "are believed to prefer" Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans over Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins. Both players could still be on the board when Oakland picks at No. 5.
 
SF and BAL talking trade according to Rap Sheet.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet9 mins

Two teams that have also talked about a trade (this is a big surprise): #Ravens and #Niners. May be a past relationship there. #Bro

------------------------------------------------------------------

SF has been rumored to have an interest to move-up if a WR they lke, Odell Beckam Jr. has been the name kicked around, is still available.

 
SF and BAL talking trade according to Rap Sheet.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian Rapoport‏@RapSheet9 mins

Two teams that have also talked about a trade (this is a big surprise): #Ravens and #Niners. May be a past relationship there. #Bro

------------------------------------------------------------------

SF has been rumored to have an interest to move-up if a WR they lke, Odell Beckam Jr. has been the name kicked around, is still available.
COLLUSION!!!!!!!

 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
What happened to signing the player before the draft, like Jake Long?

Or is that just not needed now?

 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
What happened to signing the player before the draft, like Jake Long?

Or is that just not needed now?
Under the new CBA there's not much leeway in contracts, so no benefit. They will not choose one guy over another because he's easier to sign.

 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
What happened to signing the player before the draft, like Jake Long?

Or is that just not needed now?
We'll see how settled they are when they are on the clock. If they take 2 minutes, well yeah then they really were settled. My bet is they take closer to 9 minutes.

-QG

 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
What happened to signing the player before the draft, like Jake Long?

Or is that just not needed now?
We'll see how settled they are when they are on the clock. If they take 2 minutes, well yeah then they really were settled. My bet is they take closer to 9 minutes.

-QG
I don't think this should be a spoiler for anyone but John McClaine spills the beans on the Texans first round selection with the first pick of the NFL draft.

---------------------------

ESPN Cleveland‏@ESPNCleveland5h

.@McClain_on_NFL on Houston's pick: I know what they are going to do- They will take Clowney. They are trying to trade the pick though."

 
Schefty lays out who has been in discussions for moving-up/down:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter5 hrs

Teams that have inquired about trading UP include DET, NYJ, CLEV (from 26), SF, HOU (from round 2 into 1), ATL (from round 2 into 1).

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter5 hrs

Teams with some level of interest in trading BACK include OAK, TB, TENN, BALT, MIA, NE (surprise, surprise).

 
@AdamSchefter
Houston is now locked in on its player and is not expecting a trade, per sources. Texans happy to sit at 1 and take player it wants.
What happened to signing the player before the draft, like Jake Long?

Or is that just not needed now?
We'll see how settled they are when they are on the clock. If they take 2 minutes, well yeah then they really were settled. My bet is they take closer to 9 minutes.

-QG
I agree. This could be a last ditch effort to "Show me your best offer" to the other teams.

Only a few more hours until I have to stop with the conspiracy theories. :cry:

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.

 
In a trade for top pick, the Texans are hoping to get a first-round swap and picks in the second and third rounds in this year's draft and a first-round pick in 2015, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Previous reports had the Texans asking for three first-round picks and a second-rounder. <--- :lmao:
what a ridiculous asking price.

Sounds like a team that wishes it wasn't picking 1st.

 
In a trade for top pick, the Texans are hoping to get a first-round swap and picks in the second and third rounds in this year's draft and a first-round pick in 2015, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Previous reports had the Texans asking for three first-round picks and a second-rounder. <--- :lmao: what a ridiculous asking price.

Sounds like a team that wishes it wasn't picking 1st.
Uh, that's what the Redskins paid to move up to #2 from #6.

 
In a trade for top pick, the Texans are hoping to get a first-round swap and picks in the second and third rounds in this year's draft and a first-round pick in 2015, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Previous reports had the Texans asking for three first-round picks and a second-rounder. <--- :lmao: what a ridiculous asking price.

Sounds like a team that wishes it wasn't picking 1st.
Uh, that's what the Redskins paid to move up to #2 from #6.
Yeah, worked out like a champ, didn't it? Also that was for a QB that people thought was a top caliber franchise QB of which there are none in this draft.

 
If the Lions move up for a WR, that's just so sexy. I'm not sure it makes winning sense, but damn that's sexy.

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.

 
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I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.
I'm not so sure the difference is anywhere near as big as you make it. Sammy is more dangerous in the open field, but Evans has a ton of tools and is a major mismatch for every NFL corner.

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.
I'm not so sure the difference is anywhere near as big as you make it. Sammy is more dangerous in the open field, but Evans has a ton of tools and is a major mismatch for every NFL corner.
Size and a short temper?

 
In a trade for top pick, the Texans are hoping to get a first-round swap and picks in the second and third rounds in this year's draft and a first-round pick in 2015, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Previous reports had the Texans asking for three first-round picks and a second-rounder. <--- :lmao: what a ridiculous asking price.

Sounds like a team that wishes it wasn't picking 1st.
Uh, that's what the Redskins paid to move up to #2 from #6.
Yeah, worked out like a champ, didn't it? Also that was for a QB that people thought was a top caliber franchise QB of which there are none in this draft.
I think the jury is definitely out on Griffin. Good God. He damn near tore his leg off playing when he shouldn't have an dang near beat the Seahawks by himself.

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.
I'm not so sure the difference is anywhere near as big as you make it. Sammy is more dangerous in the open field, but Evans has a ton of tools and is a major mismatch for every NFL corner.
Size and a short temper?
Umm we are in draft season. Size is called "Length" and anger is called "competitiveness."

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.
I'm not so sure the difference is anywhere near as big as you make it. Sammy is more dangerous in the open field, but Evans has a ton of tools and is a major mismatch for every NFL corner.
Size and a short temper?
Umm we are in draft season. Size is called "Length" and anger is called "competitiveness."
Touche!

 
I'm not going to be surprised at all when he gets picked before Evans.
I won't be surprised if Evans goes before Watkins.
DHB part deux.

ETA: I'm not saying Evans is in any way like DHB, I'm saying it would be like passing up on Crabtree to draft DHB.
The most disliked thing on this board is when people try to use current or past NFL players to try to make a point about an incoming player. If you think a guy will fail, then find a crappy NFL player. If you think a guy is super awesome, then compare him to Megatron, Brandon Marshall or Demaryius Thomas. There is no correlation at all in the above comparison, just like there is no correlation between Blackmon and these guys.

DHB had stone hands. Mike Evans does not and his body is completely different. All you did there was compare a 1st round bust to Mike Evans. I think you can do better than that.
I said it's clear they're nothing alike. My post had nothing to do with the players themselves, it was more referring to the teams drafting them.

I'm just saying passing up an all around elite prospect like Sammy Watkins for a guy with elite size like Evans, is like passing up an all around elite prospect like Crabtree for a guy with elite speed like DHB.

In other words, they're passing up on a complete WR with all around elite/great skills for a guy who's got 1 elite characteristic.
I'm not so sure the difference is anywhere near as big as you make it. Sammy is more dangerous in the open field, but Evans has a ton of tools and is a major mismatch for every NFL corner.
Size and a short temper?
Size, speed, hands, strength, body control.
 
If Evans goes to the Ravens he'll probably have to fight Steve Smith. And no I don't mean for a job.

 
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