2012 NFL Draft: Latest News, Buzz and Rumors from Around the League

Following months and months of speculation and rumors, the 2012 NFL draft is now just 10 days away. On Thursday, April 26, the first round of the draft will finally kick off. But until we get there, there's still more speculation and rumors to sift through. 

Here are some of the latest news and rumors, including where Brandon Weeden may go, the Philadelphia Eagles' interest (or lack thereof) to move up and how long Ryan Tannehill will last in the first round. 

Weeden a Top 40 Pick?

Most of the quarterback buzz over the last month-and-a-half has been centered around Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill. However, an overlooked player at that position is Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, who ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks could be a late first- or early second-round pick.   

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My sense is that Weeden is going to go at the top of the second round to a team that doesn't get Tannehill. Maybe Cleveland, Buffalo, Kansas City or Seattle. But somewhere right around that spot. However, there's always a premium on quarterbacks, and the value of them rises, so Weeden always could sneak into the bottom of the first round.

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Weeden makes a lot of sense for each of the team's Schefter lists. It shouldn't be a surprise if some team really likes Weeden and moves into the late first round to nab him. This late in the game, Weeden looks like a sure bet to be a top 40 pick.

Eagles Fine Staying Put?

There has been some speculation regarding the Eagles' interest in moving up in the first round, mostly in regard to their perceived interest in Tannehill. But according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, Philadelphia won't pay a ransom to move up for the Texas A&M quarterback.

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I sense their interest in Tannehill has been overstated. Philadelphia has sniffed around the quarterback position through the offseason, which could be a sign they've cooled on Michael Vick as their long-term solution at the position, and the Eagles have been linked to the Texas A&M quarterback because they sent quarterback coach Doug Pederson to the school to work out Tannehill two weeks ago. The Eagles might pay something to move up for Tannehill, but it won't be much, and the move won't be far.

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King's opinion should be music to ears of Eagles fans. While I don't think taking Tannehill would be a terrible decision, moving up a bunch of picks to get him is a big risk. If Tannehill eventually falls far enough to where the price isn't substantial to get him, then the idea makes sense.

Stripping the team's draft capital for a quarterback—especially one most were so cold on early in the draft process—doesn't add up.

Tannehill Won't Last Long

We're not done with Tannehill just yet. According to King, who is one of the nation's most plugged-in NFL reporters, Tannehill isn't going to last long in the first round. 

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In the unlikely event Tannehill makes it out of the top 10, I believe he'll be the 11th overall pick. That spot belongs to the Chiefs. I don't see the Chiefs taking Tannehill. I see Kansas City taking the best offer for the pick, and there will certainly be offers for that pick if Tannehill slips. Still, the most likely scenarios are Tannehill to Cleveland at four or Miami at eight. But why 11? Because teams around the league know how much Seattle loves Tannehill. And you can write this down: If Tannehill were to be there at 12, Seattle would take him, even though the Seahawks just paid medium dollar for Matt Flynn in free agency. That's how much Seattle loves him.

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The Browns look like a long shot unless a plan is in place to move down. As King states, Miami still appears to be one of the most likely landing spots. But what King learned about the interest in Tannehill outside the top 10 is certainly interesting.

The Chiefs could get a nice deal from a team that wants Tannehill at No. 11, which certainly includes the aforementioned Eagles. 

If he did get past Kansas City's pick, the Seahawks taking Tannehill at No. 12 would create one of the NFL's most intriguing quarterback stables in Seattle. Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson, Charlie Whitehurst and Tannehill is the same NFL camp would give Pete Carroll plenty of options to turn around that position.

Other Tidbits from around the NFL

-In the same Monday Morning Quarterback linked above, King wrote that South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore is a candidate to go in the top 10, with the Carolina Panthers at No. 7 being one potential landing spot.

-NFL.com's Gil Brandt told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Wake Forest receiver Chris Givens may be the best route runner in the 2012 class. Givens has drawn comparisons to Steelers receiver Mike Wallace. He also said Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon is a mini-Michael Irvin, who Brandt helped draft while with the Cowboys back in the late 1980s. 

-The Philadelphia Inquirer learned that Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is a favorite of Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn. The question will be whether or not Cox is available for the Eagles when they pick at No. 15 overall.