NFL Rumors: Latest Draft and Trade Talk from Around the League
We're now only a few days away from the official start of the 2016 NFL draft. Of course—and if you fancy yourself a football fan to any degree, you're well aware of this—draft season has been in effect pretty much since the second week of free agency.
Thing have really started to heat up over the past couple of weeks, though. We've already had two blockbuster trades involving the first and second picks in the draft, which now belong to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.
There's no chance the draft drama is close to finished.
The proverbial smoke screen will be swirling with full force over the next few days, and there will be no shortage of rumors about what teams will or won't do once they find themselves on the clock. Today, we're going to take a look at the latest chatter surrounding the 2016 draft, and—whether it's statement, rumor or just plain speculation—we'll try to sift through the noise and make some sense of it all.
Jets Were Interested in Trading for No. 1 Overall Pick
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The Los Angeles Rams rocked the football world earlier this month when they traded away two first-round picks, two second-round selections and a third-rounder to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft from the Tennessee Titans.
What's interesting now is that the Rams weren't the only team interested in making the move.
New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan recently admitted that his team considered making a move up to No. 1.
“The short answer is yes,” Maccagnan said recently, per Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. “The short answer is we inquired.”
Presumably, the Jets would have targeted a quarterback such as California's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz with the selection. The team still hasn't reached an agreement with 2015 starter and current free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick and doesn't appear 100 percent sold on either Geno Smith or Bryce Petty as the future.
Obviously, New York didn't make the move because the Rams did. The Jets also didn't secure the second overall pick because the Philadelphia Eagles did that. So, now the questions surround the team's current first-round pick at 20th overall.
Could the Jets target a quarterback such as Memphis' Paxton Lynch in Round 1? It seems possible. If New York bypasses the position in the first round, we could see the team take one on Day 2 or move a lot closer to patching the bridge with Fitzpatrick.
Trade of No. 2 Overall Pick Doesn't Guarantee Browns Will Turn to RG3
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The Cleveland Browns were in prime position to snag a potential quarterback of the future with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. However, the team decided instead to sell that opportunity to the Philadelphia Eagles for five more selections, including future first- and second-rounders.
However, this doesn't automatically mean the Brown will hand the starting job to offseason acquisition Robert Griffin III, according to vice president of football operations Sashi Brown.
"Listen," Brown recently said, per Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. "We have Connor [Shaw] and Austin [Davis] and Josh [McCown] here competing along with Robert and that's what we want to provide, which is competition at that position."
It's easy to think that the Browns, who inked Griffin to a two-year deal, view him as starting material. After all, he can't really be much worse than what the team has had at the position in recent years. However, we tend to believe Brown when he says Griffin is only part of the equation.
What Griffin really provides Cleveland is another veteran option alongside McCown, who missed time with multiple injuries in 2015. The Browns need to put their best possible option on the field at quarterback this season, not for the sake of winning anything of note but for the sake of player development.
Trading away the No. 2 selection doesn't mean the Browns will automatically view Griffin at their best option, just as the presence of Griffin doesn't mean Cleveland won't look at other developmental quarterbacks in the draft.
The Browns own picks No. 8 and No. 32 and could easily look to snag a signal-caller with either selection.
The Chargers Could Deal the Third Overall Selection
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Barring some bizarre and unforeseen development, the top two picks in the draft are going to be used on quarterbacks. This essentially puts the San Diego Chargers on the clock with their third overall selection. However, there's also a chance they don't stand at No. 3.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the Chargers were getting just as much attention as the Browns from teams that were looking to trade up before Cleveland made the deal to move the No. 2 pick. While there isn't likely to be a juicy quarterback prospect sitting at No. 3 the Chargers can use to bait potential trade partners, this doesn't mean San Diego can't still make a move.
Players such as pass-rusher Joey Bosa and cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be sitting at No. 3. In fact, every prospect not named Wentz or Goff will be sitting there if the first two picks unfold as expected. This means the Chargers will be in control if any team out there falls in love with a player.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco recently said the following, per NFL Nedia's Marc Sessler:
"The phones were pretty active up until Wednesday and then once that trade was made, it's really slowed down. But we'd still be open to it, we've got six days to go and we feel like we're in a very good spot and obviously there's going to be a great player there for us to take. If there's a trade there that makes sense for us, we can move back and acquire some picks either this year or next year or both and that would be a great option, too. So we'll kind of see how it plays out.
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The Chargers, who went 4-12 last season, are more than just one player away from being a legitimate contender. Therefore, it makes sense for the team to pull the trigger on a trade if it means improving multiple positions on the roster. Of course, such a deal would depend on another team viewing someone at the top of the draft as a can't-miss prospect.
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The Broncos Are Looking to Trade Up for a Quarterback
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Los Angeles and Philadelphia might not end up as the only teams to trade up for a quarterback in the first round of this year's draft. The Denver Broncos, who lost quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler this offseason, could well be another.
According to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com, the Broncos are looking into trading up from No. 31 in order to snag a quarterback. Memphis' Paxton Lynch, who many regard as the third-best quarterback in this draft class, could be the target. Of course, the Broncos may have to trade up more than just a couple of spots to secure Lynch, as he could become the top quarterback available as early as pick No. 3.
Campbell also reports that the Browns are looking to move up from pick No. 32 in order to grab a quarterback like Lynch. This means Denver may have to pull the trigger first.
Dale Lolley of the Washington (Pa.) Observer-Reporter recently reported that Denver is looking to move up and believes the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a potential trade partner with the 25th overall pick.
If Lynch is still available at No. 25, this is a deal that would make sense for both teams. Denver has a veteran option in Mark Sanchez and can afford to spend some time developing a quarterback. The Steelers have no real need for a developmental quarterback at this time and could use extra picks to bolster other positions.
Preventing the Browns from grabbing the quarterback they want would just be icing on the proverbial cake for Pittsburgh.
The Dolphins Are Comfortable at Running Back
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The Miami Dolphins lost starting running back Lamar Miller to free agency this offseason and are looking at having the inexperienced Jay Ajayi carry the load in 2016. However, Miami isn't going to force the pick of a running back in the early rounds of this year's draft. At least, this is how things are if we're to believe Dolphins general manager Chris Grier.
“I think we’re comfortable. I think with[ Coach [Adam] Gase’s history of what he has done with running backs, these guys all fit what he’s looking for in terms of their skill sets," Grier recently said of the team's running back group, per the Miami Herald. But again, we’ll take any opportunity we can to add at any position if it’s a good football player.”
Miami's current crop of running backs includes Ajayi—who logged just 59 carries in nine games last season—Damien Williams, Daniel Thomas and Isaiah Pead.
Perhaps Grier is being honest here and the Dolphins really won't make running back a priority in the early stages of the draft. However, we're not buying it. This is the team that signed restricted free agent C.J. Anderson to a four-year, $18 million offer sheet, only to have the Denver Broncos match the deal.
Miami owns the 13th overall pick in the draft, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the team maneuver to take Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott in Round 1. If this doesn't happen, taking a back with the Dolphins' second-round pick (42nd overall) could be likely.
Drew Brees and Saints Could Be Moving Closer to New Deal
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The New Orleans Saints found themselves in a precarious salary-cap situation at the start of the offseason largely because of the $30 million cap hit of quarterback Drew Brees, per Spotrac.
Because of the money tied to Brees, the Saints were never able to be aggressive players in the market. If Brees—who is in the final year of his current deal—were to agree to a new long-term deal with modified 2016 compensation, the situation could change dramatically.
Apparently, Brees considered doing exactly that this past week. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Brees was willing to modify his contract in order to bring in free-agent cornerback Josh Norman. The move obviously didn't happen, as Norman landed with the Washington Redskins.
The information from Werder suggests, however, that Brees and the Saints could be close to working out a new financial arrangement. It seems unlikely that Brees would have offered to sign a new deal if he didn't have something specific in mind.
If the Saints are close to coming to terms with Brees—or if team management even believes it is close—then New Orleans could head into this week's draft with a different mentality. The Saints could focus on certain positions knowing they'll have the cap space to address others with remaining free agents.
The team also might not put much attention toward a replacement quarterback like Memphis' Paxton Lynch or Michigan State's Connor Cook during the draft process if it knows Brees will be around for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, the Saints are likely to make the call on drafting a quarterback based on the development of 2015 third-round pick Garrett Grayson.
"I think that's the big thing: how Garrett Grayson is looking at this early stage of offseason activity," Gruden recently said, per Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com. "If he's not taking the bull by the horns and looking sharp and looking like he can be the heir apparent to Drew Brees, Sean Payton is looking for a quarterback."
If Brees is going to sign up for a few more seasons, Payton might put off his quarterback search for a later time.
DeForest Buckner Could Be the First Defender off the Board
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Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner is going to be off the board early on Thursday night, and there's a chance he could be the first defensive player taken in this year's draft.
According to NFL Media's Rand Getlin, Buckner has been hearing from the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans "pretty regularly."
The Chargers and the Cowboys hold the third and fourth picks in the draft, respectively. While players like Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa, Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil have been getting plenty of hype, Buckner could wind up being the first non-quarterback to hear his name called.
San Diego could take Buckner at No. 3, and if the Chargers take a prospect like Tunsil instead, the Cowboys could certainly take him at No. 4. If either team is looking for a dominant defensive lineman, the pick will probably be between Bosa and Buckner.
Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller recently ranked Bosa and Buckner No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in his rankings of top defensive linemen in the draft. Which one comes off the board first will be a matter of teams' personal preferences. The possibility of it being Buckner is very real.
Jaylon Smith Could Be Back to 100 Percent but Not Likely in 2016
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Notre Dame star linebacker Jaylon Smith was once widely considered one of the top overall prospects in this year's draft. However, this was before he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the team's bowl game against Ohio State.
On top of the ligament damage, Smith has experienced nerve damage that could put his playing career in jeopardy. He isn't likely to appear on an NFL field in 2016, but according to his surgeon, Dr. Dan Cooper, Smith could make a full recovery in the future.
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Cooper is “optimistic that his knee itself will be stable and a good knee and he’ll get all his strength back" and thinks "he has a very good chance of getting his nerve recovery back.”
Smith's situation is similar to that of former Oregon standout Ifo Ekpre-Olomu last year. Ekpre-Olomu was considered one of the top 2015 cornerback prospects but suffered a torn ACL near the end of the 2014 season. The Cleveland Browns took a flier on him in the seventh round but wound up releasing him this offseason.
Some team is going to end up taking a flier on Smith in this year's draft, and it could happen a lot earlier than Round 7 if teams like the progression he has made to this point. If Smith does make a full recovery, this gambling team is going to get a legitimate first-round talent and likely a huge steal in the draft.
This will be one story to follow as the draft unfolds.
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