Random 2011 Draft Chatter....

[sbk92]

Ravens considering QBs

The Baltimore Ravens are pretty well set through the No. 1 slot on their quarterback depth chart for the next several years with Joe Flacco. But with the likely departure of Marc Bulger this offseason -- he's hitting free agency, and there have been overtures linking him to a number of QB-needy teams -- that leaves Hunter Cantwell as the only other QB under contract for 2011, as he was retained on a futures deal earlier this offseason.

As a result, it appears that the team may elect to draft a mid- to late-round developmental QB to act as Flacco's understudy. According to Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens were amongst the teams that bore witness to Iowa's pro day, which included QB Ricky Stanzi.

Recently, Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated has indicated that Stanzi does not project to ever being an NFL starter -- "Forget about it," Pauline said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's a career backup." -- but that'd be just fine for the Ravens, who appear to be set with a young franchise arm already. File this one away under "possible."

 

[sbk92]

Sturdivant making visits

Within our discussion of possible inside linebacker draft targets for the Baltimore Ravens in this year's draft, we speculated that UNC LB Quan Sturdivant is somewhere on their continuum of interest. As it turns out, the Ravens are far from the only team that may select the productive 'backer on the weekend of Apr. 28-30.

According to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post, Sturdivant will have dinner with representatives of the New Orleans Saints prior to UNC's pro day. In addition, the LB has scheduled visits with the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as a private workout with the Atlanta Falcons.

Given Sturdivant's experience as a quarterback and safety in high school, it's notable that the Bills and Bucs might both be losing their starting MLB this offseason (Paul Posluszny and Barrett Ruud, respectively). A player with Sturdivant's level of football intelligence -- based on that prior experience -- might make a good fit for those potential vacancies.

 

[sbk92]

Kaepernick update

UPDATE: Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed his private workout with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, and will continue his furious schedule of workouts and visits as teams finalize their draft grades.

The Browns' interest in Kaerpernick and other QBs in this draft class is a bit counterintuitive to some. On Wednesday, ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker offered up his take on the situation (see below).

---

Kaepernick is part of a big group of second-tier quarterbacks that, depending on whose opinion one reads, will go somewhere between the end of the first and second rounds of the NFL draft. There appear to be plenty of teams interested in Kaepernick, and we have an update on some teams that will get a closer look this week.

According to Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated, Kaepernick has visits lined up with the Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. A busy schedule over the next seven days, no doubt about it.

As we always say, the visits and private workouts scheduled during the pre-draft season don't always equate to actual interest, so any updates like these shouldn't be taken at face value. However, there is an argument for any of these teams to add the Nevada product when the weekend of Apr. 28 comes around.

 

[sbk92]

Bucs' offseason plan changing?

UPDATE: Things have gotten worse for Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib since we last posted on the situation. Meanwhile, our NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas commented on whether the Bucs will use all this room under the salary cap to make a big splash in free agency this offseason (see below for an excerpt).

---

As a rule, we here at Rumor Central stay out of athletes' off-field lives unless it's going to affect their playing status or their standing with the team that employs them. But there have been some allegations within the past 48 hours regarding Talib that, if they lead to criminal charges, could affect how the team behaves this offseason, as Yasinskas wrote Monday.

With the CB's status in the air (the NFL has said it will review violations of the personal conduct policy following the end of the labor dispute) the Bucs could be working on two sets of contingency plans this offseason: one with Talib and one without Talib. E.J. Biggers, Elbert Mack and Myron Lewis are on the roster, but in the no-Talib contingency plan, the team may have bumped CB up the list of priorities for player acquisitions.

This could involve draft picks -- though the Bucs don't pick until No. 20 overall, a quality CB could fall to them -- free agency, or trades. In the tail end of his column discussing the Talib situation (and what the Bucs will do as a result), Justin Pawlowski of 620 WDAE (Tampa) writes that the Bucs may target the cream of this year's free agent crop.

"Do not discount the possibility of the Bucs going after Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency. Once a new CBA is in place, a new salary cap will include a salary floor. Since the Bucs have one of the lowest payrolls of any team in the NFL, they will have to spend enough money on some players just to reach that floor. Asomugha would be a good player to start with."

Well, that, and he's one of the premier players at one of the league's premier positions. It's an interesting thought, and Asomugha -- a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2010 for his off-field charitable work -- might well be described as the anti-Talib from an off-field standpoint.

- Tim Kavanagh

--

Pat Yasinskas
They'll be more active than usual

"The Bucs haven't been big players in free agency lately and they've been preaching about how they're building with youth, which is nice. But there also will be a salary-cap floor, if there is a salary cap and the Bucs will have to meet that. ... I'm not expecting the Bucs to go on a crazy spending spree in free agency, but I'm thinking Morris sounds like a man who is planning on doing a little shopping once the store opens. Hey, with that kind of cap room, the Bucs just might be able to replace Talib with someone like ... oh, let's just say Nnamdi Asomugha. That would be an upgrade on many levels."

 

[sbk92]

Tyron's schedule

Comments USC offensive tackle prospect Tyron Smith will reportedly visit with 10 NFL teams prior to the NFL draft on Apr. 28, and Aaron Wilson of National Football Post has a rundown of 60 percent of that list: the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.

Conspicuously absent from that list are the Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, though as we know, just because a team doesn't schedule an official visit with a prospect, this doesn't mean they're not interested.

With his long arms and athleticism, Smith projects to playing left tackle at the NFL level, though he is considered a somewhat raw prospect. Therefore, the best fit may be with a team that has a veteran nearing the end of his career at left tackle -- as the Green Bay Packers did last season in taking Bryan Bulaga -- as opposed to a team that needs someone to play right away.

 

[sbk92]

Bills aiming for D-heavy draft?

Tuesday, we considered whether the Buffalo Bills would invest the No. 3 overall pick in quarterback Cam Newton. Bottom line: it'd be a logical pick if he's still on the board.

Whether they do or don't fill their franchise QB vacancy with the third overall pick, the Bills are expected to load up on young defensive players thereafter, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. And though there were some who believed the Bills would be switching back to a 4-3 defense entirely, Brown notes that the team aims to run a hybrid scheme, with 3-4 looks as well. As a result, general manager Buddy Nix confirms that the team won't rule out certain players just because they project to being a better fit in one scheme or the other.

"We'll try to do what players can do best," Nix said, per Brown. "We're going to take those guys and if they can make plays we're going to put them in position to make them whether it's a 4-3 look or a 3-4 look."

Let's not forget that the Bills could also use some help at the bookend positions on the offensive line, so seeing them invest a second-round pick in an offensive tackle would not be surprising, either, regardless of their first-round behavior.

 

[sbk92]

Raiders' draft options

Would you rather have Richard Seymour, or the 17th pick in this year's draft. While the Oakland Raiders are very happy to have Seymour (witness the $15 million per year extension the defensive lineman signed this offseason), they sure will miss that draft pick, which they gave to the New England Patriots to acquire Seymour in the first place.

As it is, the Raiders don't pick until the second round, 48th overall. ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson projects who might be available when that pick rolls around.

As positions go, Williamson says the Raiders are likely to select a guard (to replace Robert Gallery) or a cornerback (to replace Nnamdi Asomugha?). Possible linemen for the Raiders include Georgia's Clint Boling, TCU's Marcus Cannon, or Miami's Orlando Franklin. He can also see the Raiders going the small-school route for Lehigh's William Rackley.

At cornerback, Williamson likes Texas' Curtis Brown or Aaron Williams, Virginia's Ras-I Dowling, or Miami's Brandon Harris.

Williamson also throws out the idea of the Raiders taking a quarterback, someone like TCU's Andy Dalton, Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, or Florida State's Christian Ponder.

 

[sbk92]

Jones to Redskins a lock?

UPDATE: The Julio Jones-to-the-Washington Redskins rumors are picking up steam. As ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando points out, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper has Jones to the Redskins at number ten in his latest mock draft. So does fellow ESPN analyst Todd McShay. And Jim Thomas, Rams beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wes Bunting of the National Football Post put up one of the few mocks you'll see where Jones doesn't go to the Redskins -- but he still goes at number ten. In Bunting's world, the St. Louis Rams will trade up with the Redskins to select Jones. The idea makes sense -- everyone figured Jones would wind up on the Rams, then he blew onlookers away at the Combine, boosting his draft value. It's well known that the Rams want Jones. But to get him, they'll have to make the Redskins a deal they can't refuse.

- Vince Verhei

---

With Donovan McNabb clearly not wanted in Washington and Rex Grossman being, well, Rex Grossman, it's clear that the Washington Redskins could use a new quarterback, and might well take one with the tenth pick in April's NFL draft.

ESPN's Matt Williamson says that would be the wrong decision, however. He points out that Washington's best receiver, Santana Moss, will be a free agent when the lockout ends, while deep threat Anthony Armstrong is "pretty much a one-trick pony" and "certainly is not a No. 1 wide receiver at this stage of his career." And there's nothing behind them -- the Redskin's third-leading wide receiver last season was the 39-year-old Joey Galloway.

"The rest of the wide receivers on this roster are pedestrian at best -- and they really don't offer much upside," Williamson writes. If Julio Jones from Alabama is available when Washington makes its first pick on draft day, passing him by could be a big mistake. The Redskins must add able bodies at wide receiver -- and more than one."

 

[sbk92]

The Cardinals and quarterbacks

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt wants it known very clearly that he is not a big fan of any of the quarterbacks in this year's draft. ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando recaps an interview Whisenhunt gave with XTRA910 radio in Phoenix:

"There is nobody that really stands out like Sam Bradford did last year. There are a lot of guys that are intriguing athletically like Blaine Gabbert, like Cam Newton, because of the skill set, some of the things they can do. But I don?t think they have shown the ability to do some of the things that you have seen in the past by some of these guys like a Matt Ryan or, obviously, like a Sam Bradford."

Whisenhunt when on to say that he wants players who are "going to have an impact for us this year," which eliminates most quarterback prospects.

Though Sando says he takes Whisenhunt's word at face value, it sure seems like the coach is going the extra mile to convince anyone within earshot of his plans -- the coach doth protest too much, methinks. Perhaps the Carinals are afraid another team will trade up ahead of them to select a quarterback, and are trying to (falsely) convince them that such a move won't be necessary?

 

[Cr122]

Nnamdi is going to cost them if they go that route.

 

[sbk92]

Atlanta's next pass rusher

Though he has played defensive tackle and linebacker, Allen Bailey believes his best position is defensive end in a 4-3 formation. A remarkable combination size and speed (he ran a 4.71-second 4-yard dash and weighed 285 pounds at the NFL scouting combine), he's expected to go early in the second round, although some observers he might climb into the later stages of round one.

Which is where the Atlanta Falcons come into play. Atlanta picks 27th in the first round, they need pass rush help (only 31 sacks last year), and according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, they've got their eyes on the Miami pass rusher. Wilson reports that Bailey has an official visit and private workout scheduled with the Atlanta brass.

 

[sbk92]

Pats' draft possibilities

The New England Patriots, masters of the draft-day trade, come into the draft this year with plenty of ammuntion -- six picks in the first three rounds. ESPN analysts Mel Kiper, Trent Dilfer, and Chris Mortensen recently discussed the Pats' options, and ESPN AFC East blogger Tim Graham was good enough to transcribe some of the most critical moments.

Kiper says the Patriots have plenty of holes (outside linebacker, wide receiver, running back, offensive line) and might be best served waiting patiently and taking the best players available. He says if they stand, er, pat, they could come away with Purdue pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan and Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson.

He can also New England putting together a package to move up and get one of the draft's top two receivers, either Georgia's A.J. Green or Alabama's Julio Jones.

Dilfer said the Patriots don't really have a choice -- they must move up and get a high-impact player.

"They don't have guys that change the down," Dilfer said. "They have guys that win the down based on doing their jobs, but they don't have that fear factor. They don't have the dynamic playmaker on either side of the ball.

"So, with all these picks, maybe it's an opportunity to move up there and get two dynamic playmakers that can actually change each down."

 

[sbk92]

The Mallett tour continues

As the visitation tours continue for NFL draft prospects, we've got a report on Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett's whereabouts for the duration of the pre-draft season.

According to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post, Mallett will begin a two-day visit with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, and worked out for the Miami Dolphins already this week. Additional teams on the docket for next month include the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans.

Mallett's draft stock has wavered from somewhere in the late first round to all the way down to the third in some reports. So it appears that most teams will get their shot at him at some point during the draft. The team that's in a bit of a pinch -- if they really want Mallett -- is the Dolphins. Their first-rounder (No. 15 overall) would probably be more wisely spent on another player, and they lack a second-round pick this season thanks to the Brandon Marshall trade from 2010. However, if they like Mallett enough, perhaps that will increase their vigor in attempting to acquire a second-rounder to grab him.

 

[sbk92]

Ravens' OLB possibilities

Earlier this week, we looked at some inside linebacker draft possibilities for the Baltimore Ravens, as they could be thinking about selecting a future heir apparent to Ray Lewis. In a post for BaltimoreRavens.com, Mike Duffy shifts the focus to the outside linebacker prospects.

Duffy profiles five different OLB prospects, a list that included Georgia's Justin Houston, Arizona's Brooks Reed, UNC's Bruce Carter, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Missouri's Aldon Smith. Of those, Kerrigan's name has been gaining significant steam lately, with the Jacksonville Jaguars (at No. 16 overall) and San Diego Chargers (at No. 18) appearing particularly interested. It's possible, however, that things could fall a certain way and the Ravens would have their choice of any of the five at No. 26.

Let's not forget that in an effort to find a suitable OLB counterpart to Terrell Suggs, the Ravens drafted Sergio Kindle last offseason. Though Kindle did not play a snap in 2010, the last reports on his prospects indicated that he was recovering well, and that the team still had plans for him. So, even if they aren't able to land one of this year's top OLB prospects, the Ravens could be adding a player that had a second-round grade just a season ago.

ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker has a favorite, if all five are still on the board:

--

James Walker
Kerrigan would be a great pick

"Of the list provided, I like Kerrigan. He's relentless to the quarterback and his motor could be a good complement to Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Suggs."

 

[sbk92]

Another OL idea for Steelers

In early March, we passed along the idea that the Pittsburgh Steelers could be interested enough in Maurkice Pouncey's twin brother Mike Pouncey that they'd trade up to take him. It's believed that Mike will not be available when the Steelers are up at No. 31 overall.

But if they elect to stay where they are, it doesn't mean that they'll give up on drafting an offensive lineman with that pick; in fact, many think that it'll come down to whether there's a better OL or cornerback on the board at that point.

In his latest mock draft, Steve Wyche of NFL.com has the Steelers taking Mississippi St. OT Derek Sherrod, the sixth OL taken in Wyche's vision of the future.

A drafting of Sherrod -- or another highly-ranked OT -- could give us a hint as to the team's plans later this offseason with impending free agent OT Willie Colon, as they appear interested in retaining Flozell Adams. Then again, there's also been a buzz that the team is considering sliding Colon inside to guard, so there could be room for everyone.

 

[sbk92]

Pick trade an option for Redskins

Wednesday, we noted that the idea that the Washington Redskins would draft Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones was gaining steam. However, within a roundtable discussion on Redskins.com, Matt Terl thinks that if Jones is still on the board, it might present the team with a great opportunity to trade down and grab some additional picks in the process.

In Terl's hypothetical, the Redskins would trade down with the New England Patriots from No. 10 to No. 17. The Patriots -- with a need at WR and a number of extra picks this season -- have been active pick traders in the past, and so this isn't a wildly speculative suggestion. Given that the 'Skins don't have a third- or fourth-rounder this season, every extra pick they can get will help, given the number of needs on the roster.

Whether or not the Redskins trade down, a player on whom they might have their eye is Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor. As Terl and his associates Larry Weisman and Gary Fitzgerald discuss, Taylor is the best prospect projected to be able to play nose tackle in the NFL, and finding a legitimate NT is a priority this offseason in Washington. So, even if they stay at No. 10, Taylor can't be ruled out with that pick, even though some might consider it an "over-draft" scenario.

 

[sbk92]

Eagles, Ravens eyeing Smith

UPDATE: Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reports that Colorado cornerback prospect Jimmy Smith visited with both the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday. Both teams have been linked to Smith in the past, so it's not surprising that they'd take a closer look.

--

Our last update on Smith was that half of the league will have visited with him by the time the draft kicks off. So, either they're interested and want to take a deeper look, or they want to give off the impression that they're interested. Smith has the talent of an elite, Top 15 pick, but there have been significant concerns on the part of some about his character.

National Football Post scribe, and former NFL safety, Matt Bowen provided some detail into Smith's attributes in a column on Wednesday, breaking down the positives and negatives both on and off the field.

Bowen's conclusion is that Smith is in the mix for the fourth best CB of this year's class, behind LSU's Patrick Peterson, Nebraska' Prince Amukamara and Miami's Brandon Harris. Furthermore, he believes that Smith should be a late first-rounder, and if he drops to the second, the team drafting him there is getting a great value.

Teams linked to Smith in the past -- at varying degrees of legitimacy -- include the Ravens and Eagles along with the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

[sbk92]

Locker's stock

UPDATE: Thursday, Todd McShay posted a column in which he broke down the possible destinations for Univ. of Washington quarterback prospect Jake Locker (see below).

---

Over the weekend, reports emerged that Locker's stock was on the slide, that a number of teams did not peg him as a first-round talent.

Locker went through his pro day workout on Wednesday -- ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando chronicled the festivities -- giving us another piece of his draft stock puzzle.

NFL analyst Greg Cosell provided an honest appraisal via Twitter. "Right now Locker is a movement QB. Not comfortable in the pocket. Erratic accuracy. Limited pocket command. Steep learning curve."

But one team that appears willing to work through those growing pains with Jake is the Tennessee Titans. Terry McCormick of Titan Insider reports that Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, QB coach Dowell Loggains, vice president of player personnel Ruston Webster and west region scout Marv Sunderland were all in attendance at the pro day, and will conduct a private workout with Locker this week, followed by another visit in Nashville in April.

Given that it'll take some time for Locker to be a legitimate NFL starter, the Titans -- whose best option if the season started today would be Rusty Smith -- might not be the most logical destination. However, if they're able to sign a veteran later this offseason as a "bridge-the-gap" type, maybe Locker wouldn't be such a bad choice.

--

Todd McShay
Several fits out there

"The Washington Redskins (No. 10 overall) offer a good fit based on coach Mike Shanahan's history with quarterbacks who can create outside the pocket. The Minnesota Vikings (No. 12) also need a quarterback, and if they feel their early picks are too high for Locker, they could trade back in the first round. ... Other teams offer scheme fits and have the ammunition to trade up from the early second round into the late first: the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Redskins and Vikings. Teams from that group that don't get a quarterback in Round 1 could be calling the New Orleans Saints (No. 24) as the first round winds down."

 

[sbk92]

A pick trade for Panthers?

Trading down from the No. 1 overall pick has always been a consideration for the Carolina Panthers this pre-draft season. They're without a second-rounder this year, and netting picks in the 2012 draft would be a nice bonus, too.

But in order to trade down, they'll have to find a willing trade partner, and Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald tweeted on Thursday that there's been no interest from the teams picking 2nd through 8th.

Looking at the draft pick points chart, the Dallas Cowboys, picking ninth, would have to make up 1650 points. There are some who argue that the pick value chart is outdated, but it does demonstrate the kind of package necessary to make such a leap up to the No. 1 pick. Given that, it would appear unlikely any other team is willing to pay such a hefty price to jump up to that spot.

 

[sbk92]

Cowboys' thoughts on Tyron

Wednesday, we reviewed the upcoming schedule of visits for USC offensive tackle prospect Tyron Smith, a list that includes the Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN NFC East blogger Fox Sports Southwest columnist Matt Mosley did some investigating, including asking a high-ranking Cowboys source whether Smith should be one of Mosley's three "locks" for the 'Boys with the No. 9 pick.

"Absolutely," the source responded. Mosley reports that after checking with some other sources around the league, the Cowboys' interest in Smith appears genuine.

If Smith is drafted, this will all but confirm that Marc Columbo is on his way out. The veteran RT carries a hefty salary headed into 2011, and has durability concerns. Mosley argues that Smith would be able to step in right away as the starting RT before replacing Doug Free at LT.