Latest draft rumors around the NFL

[ChrisW]

• NFL GMs expect the Rams to draft Jake Matthews at No. 2 in the event that they are unable to trade back. (NFLTR)
• The Jets continue to do a “lot of groundwork” on QB prospects who could be available in the late round one and early round two. (NFLTR)
• Majority of NFL executives expect the Jaguars to take WR Sammy Watkins over Khalil Mack. (Tony Pauline)
• “The feeling in the war room” is that the Steelers will take Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller. (Tony Pauline)
• There hasn’t been a lot of buzz regarding the Jets taking a cornerback at No. 18 overall. (Tony Pauline)
• NFL GMs expect the Packers to take either Alabama LB C.J. Mosely or Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier. (NFLTR)
• There is a chance that the Packers could trade back and take a center like Colorado State’s Weston Richburg. (NFLTR)
• USC’s Marquise Lee and Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks are the two names that come up the most regarding the Eagles. (Tony Pauline)
• Ohio State CB Bradley Roby continues to come up as their first round target for the Bengals. (Tony Pauline)
• Colorado State C Weston Richburg and Boise State DE Demarcus Lawrence have come up as options for the Broncos. (Tony Pauline)
• Missouri DE Kony Ealy is expected to be drafted in the late first or early second round. (Adam Caplan)
  • Kony Ealy had pre-draft visits with the Cowboys, Titans, Patriots, Bears and Rams. (Adam Caplan)
• Three teams have told LSU QB Zach Mettenberger that they have him rated in the top-half of round two. (Aaron Wilson)

———–

• The Raiders are believed to have Blake Bortles as the No. 1 quarterback on their draft board. (Adam Caplan)
• The Buccaneers will not take Johnny Manziel at No. 7 overall. (NFLTR)
• The Cowboys may have Johnny Manziel as the top player on their draft board. (NFLTR)
• The Giants would consider drafting Johnny Manziel at No. 12 overall. (NFLTR)
• Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert “makes a lot of sense” for the Vikings due to his fit in Mike Zimmer’s defensive scheme. (Adam Caplan)
• The Bills are “very serious” about drafting LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr at No. 9 overall. (NFLTR)
• The Chargers are hoping that one of their highest-rated CBs will be available to them at No. 25 overall. (NFLTR)

————

• The Raiders are believed to prefer Mike Evans to Sammy Watkins. (NFLTR)
• The Dolphins reportedly have their eye on Notre Dame OL Zack Martin in a possible trade-up from No. 19 overall. (NFLTR)
• Auburn RB Tre Mason could be in play for the Titans in round two. (NFLTR)
• The Lions, Jets, Browns(from No. 26 overall), 49ers, Texans (from No. 33 overall) and the Falcons (from No. 37 overall) have inquired about trading up. (NFLTR)
• The Raiders, Buccaneers, Titans, Ravens, Dolphinsand Patriots have all shown interest in doing so. (NFLTR)
• The Texans, Rams and Vikings can be added to the list of teams looking to trade down. (Albert Breer)

———-

• The Texans are reportedly asking price a 2014 first, second and third-round pick, as well as a 2015 first-round selection for No. 1 overall. (John McClain)
• Browns HC Mike Pettine mentioned that Johnny Manziel will be in the discussion at No. 4 overall. (Lindsay Jones)
• Rams informed QB Sam Bradford of the plans to leak interest in Johnny Manziel as a smokescreen. (NFLTR)
• LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr and Notre Dame’s Zach Martin are “hot names” who could go in the top 12. (John Clayton)
• Penn State WR Allen Robinson could sneak into first round. (Paul Domowich)
• Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller recently met with the Ravens. (Aaron Wilson)
• Virginia OT Morgan Moses visited the Ravens. (Aaron Wilson)

 

[PhxRam]

 

[ChrisW]

• The Rams aren’t expected to draw much interest in the No. 2 overall pick if DE Jadeveon Clowney is no longer on the board. (Jim Thomas)
• “Signs are pointing to” OT Greg Robinson being the Ramspick at No. 2 overall. (Mike Florio)
• The Jaguars are “believed” to considering Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, Johnny Manziel, and possiblyBlake Bortles. (Mike Florio)
• “All signs are pointing to” the Browns taking OT Jake Matthews. (Mike Florio)
• There’s a “whisper or two” that Raiders owner Mark Davis “really likes” QB Derek Carr at No. 5 overall.
• Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins are expected to be the Buccaneers pick if they’re available. (Mike Florio)
• Aaron Donald, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel along with highest-rated CB are believed to be the Vikingstargets. (Mike Florio)
• A team drafting in the top 10 has a higher grade on Mike Evans than Sammy Watkins. (Adam Schefter)

————-

• The 49ers and Ravens have been contact in recent days regarding a potential in round one. (NFLTR)
• The Jets have been in contact with the Titans about a potential trade up No. 11 overall. (NFLTR)
• Three of four teams are convinced that Johnny Manziel will be falling and could be available to the Cowboys. (Lance Zierlein)
• The Titans reportedly like Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier, but not at No. 11 overall. (Albert Breer)

 

[ChrisW]

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the Vikings’ owners, coaches, scouts and evaluators are all meeting later today to discuss their plan if Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel happens to be available to them at No. 8 overall.

As of now, it sounds like this is actually an option as recent reports have mentioned that the Buccaneers will not select Manziel at No. 7 overall.

No one has been able to figure out where Manziel could be drafted, but it seems unlikely that he’ll end up being a top-five pick.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the “widespread feeling” around the league is that Manziel will come off the board between the No. 3 and No. 13 overall picks.

It’s also worth noting that the Vikings were believed to be willing to wait and select a quarterback later in the draft.

 

[ChrisW]

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there is a “whisper or two” that Raiders owner Mark Davis“really likes” Fresno State QB Derek Carr at No. 5 overall.

• Jason La Confora of CBS Sports previously reported that Davis was “smitten” with Carr.
• La Confora acknowledges that pick No. 5 may be too high for Carr, but if Oakland moves down, you can “start penciling in Carr.”

Most of the conjecture to this point has moved away from Oakland selecting a quarterback with their first pick. With QB Matt Schaub in the fold, it seemed as though they would use the fifth pick on a player who can make an immediate impact.

There has been no shortage of reports that Oakland would like to trade out of the No. 5 slot and there appears to be at least some interest from teams like the Lions and Bills in possibly moving into the top-five.

Opinions vary on Carr, but he possesses a strong arm and underrated athleticism. He has received criticism for struggling against quality competition, most notably in his final game against USC.

If they do intend to move back and select Carr, they would likely have to stay in front of Arizona at pick No. 20, one of the few teams in the bottom half of round one believed to be interested in selecting a quarterback.

 

[ChrisW]

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen mentioned this afternoon that “everybody in the league” believes USC WRMarqise Lee won’t get past the Packers at No. 21 overall.

• Mortensen did say that the Jets are believed to have interest in Lee as well.

Numerous reports have said that the Jets are expected to target a wide receiver and could possibly trade up for a guy like LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr. However, Beckham’s stock is rising as much as any one’s and there is no guarantee that New York will be able to come away from Thursday’s first round with him.

That means guys like Lee and Brandin Cooks could be in play for the Jets at No. 18 overall.

As for the Packers, the consensus has been that they will select a linebacker in round one. The Packers could actually use another receiver now that they lost James Jones in free agency, but it would be at least a mild surprise to see them grab Lee in the first round.

 

[ChrisW]

Tom Curran of CSN New England is reporting that a source has informed him that the Patriots could be trading QB Ryan Mallett to the Texans “soon.”

• Curran adds that it’s not a done deal as of now, but the “machinations have begun.”

Mallett has been a popular name in trade rumors for a few years now, and the Texans have been a popular landing spot for him given that Bill O’Brien is now in charge of the team and has worked with Mallett in New England.

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston mentioned about a month ago that the Patriots would be lucky to get “a late-round pick at best” for Mallett, so it will be interesting to hear what type of compensation is being discussed, assuming that this report is accurate.

Reports from today mentioned that the Texans are comfortable remaining at No. 1 overall and making the pick, which could be seen as a sign that they will look elsewhere for a quarterback. There is still a chance they could draft someone at the start of round two.

Mallett, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so trading for Mallett is a little more complicated that parting with draft picks, as whoever trades for him would have to lock him up to a long-term contract once the deal is complete.

The fact that Houston would have already set the Patriots draft compensation for him would shift at least some leverage to Mallett in contract talks, but I’m sure they are already aware of this.

 

[A55VA6]

Not really a rumor but didn't want to start a new thread.

Greg Robinson: "I think I have a very good shot at being a Ram"

 

[brokeu91]

Not really a rumor but didn't want to start a new thread.

Greg Robinson: "I think I have a very good shot at being a Ram"

Well, it helps knowing that if the offensive line coach compares you to a future Hall of Famer in Orlando Pace

 

[A55VA6]

If we go OT at #2 I want it to be Robinson. Matthews is polished and very good, but I'd much prefer if we draft Matthews, do it with a trade up from 13 if things work out.

 

[ChrisW]

Ian Rapoport believes that the Raiders “would not think twice about grabbing Mike Evans at No. 5.“

“From what I understand is that if McKenzie was waiting on a Calvin Johnson or someone like that in the first round he would take him,” Rapoport said, via NFL.com. “The belief is that Evans is similar to that category. He’s big, he’s physical, he can go up and get it. I believe if he was there the Raiders would not think twice about grabbing Mike Evans at No. 5.”

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a league source, reports that the Raiders are believed to prefer Mike Evans to Sammy Watkins.

Jay Glazer reported earlier in the week that no prospect has risen up draft boards faster in recent weeks than Evans.

The idea that Oakland could prefer Evans actually came up a few weeks ago, so this news isn’t a complete shock.

It still seems like the Raiders would prefer to trade out of the No. 5 overall pick and acquire some additional draft picks in the process.