Tick-Tock Tick-Tock…the most enjoyable day of the NFL offseason has arrived! Happy NFL Draft Day! Over this three day stretch your favorite team will hopefully get better and fill in the holes that have been keeping them from winning the Super Bowl and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
As a treat for every draft nut out there, I have decides to complie every draft related rumor I hear into one blog post. This will be updated throughout the day, so keep it here for the freshest rumors. Remember, these are strictly RUMORS:
-Several sources are reporting that the Cleveland Browns have narrowed their pick at fourth overall down to two players. Alabama running back Trent Richardson (who is believed to sit at the top of their board.) and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon is out of the running.
-The Browns are guaranteed either Richardson or Claiborne at #4 overall. It is believed they want Richardson but fear Tampa Bay will trade up with the Vikings (who have the third pick) to select Richardson. Claiborne is the Browns contingency plan if the Bucs trade up. The Vikings could then select either Claiborne or USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil at fifth and gain a mid-round pick for their troubles.
-Speaking of Matt Kalil, rumors abound that he could slide out of the top five tonight. If he slides the Buffalo Bills are very interested in trading up from the tenth pick to make sure that they can select the franchise left tackle. Some trade partner options include:
-The Rams at 6. I have been saying all along that Jeff Fisher is enamored with two defensive tackle prospects Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox and LSU’s Michael Brockers. They think that they can trade down from the sixth spot and still grab one of these players. The Rams know that quarterback Sam Bradford needs weapons, but they also netted a King’s Ransom of draft picks over the next three drafts when they traded the Redskins the second selection in the draft. There is no Calvin Johnson level elite receiver in the 2012 Draft, so the Rams can afford to wait and pick up prospects along the way. If they move back a few spots, a receiver like Blackmon or Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd could become options later.
-I an fairly certain the Jacksonville Jaguars will not be picking seventh overall. They have basically said “For Sale to the Highest Bidder”. If any team sees a prospects they love on the board at seven, they will be calling Jacksonville.
-Hottest name in the draft over the last 24 hours? LSU DT Michael Brockers. He is a raw prospect, who needs to get stronger and get coached, but he oozes potential and has the highest ceiling of any defensive player in the draft. He is huge (6’5 322lbs) and extremely quick and athletic for his size. The Eagles have Jim Washburn on staff, the best defensive line coach in the NFL, and are known to covet Brockers, who could turn into an absolute monster with Washburn’s coaching. The Eagles are worried that Brockers will be gone when they pick fifteenth (I know the Rams are interested) and they may decide to trade up to secure the big defensive tackle.
-Another hot name over the past week is Alabama safety Mark Barron. Many teams are reportedly interested in Barron including the Jets, Bills, Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots and Chargers for starters. I’m getting the feeling that the team that ends up with Barron will trade down to get him. Listen, I like Barron, he’s a good player and belongs in the second half of round one. I just wonder how much of his hype is supply and demand? So many teams need a safety and Barron is the only decent one in this class, so he will be overdrafted tonight. If I am a safety that decided to return to college for his senior year, (Miami’s Ray-Ray Armstrong, Georgia’s Baccari Rambo) I’m kicking myself. Teams are desperate for safety help, so desperate that Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith (a third rounder in my book) is getting mentioned in the later part of round one.
-If I’m Stanford guard David DeCastro I shrug my shoulders and say “what more can I do?” I’m the best prospect at my position to enter the NFL in a decade, I’m ready to play right away, and I should be a surefire ten time All-Pro. Yet, offensive guard is not considered a high value position, and nobody seems too interested in me. If I was in an NFL war room tonight I would be demanding my team draft this kid. I don’t see how Kansas City can possibly pass on him eleventh overall.
-Veterans who could be traded this weekend: Once again, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora is unhappy with his contract and has been rumored as a potential trade candidate. I highly doubt this happens, Osi is entering the final year of his contract and has been bitching about money for a long time, he wants to get paid and should have a MONSTER contract year. The Giants know this and will make Osi play out his deal, draft a developmental end (I like Penn State’s Jack Crawford for the Giants in the mid-rounds, looks like he belongs on NYG) then will probably let him walk. Rumor is Osi has long wanted to play for the Atlanta Falcons, where he has an offseason home, and they have needed a pass rush forever. Seems like a perfect match. The Indianapolis Colts are switching to a 3-4 defense under new head coach Chuck Pagano, and veteran Pro Bowl defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are reportedly not interested in moving to outside linebacker or being part of the Post-Manning rebuilding process in Indy. Look for one or both of them to be moved. There is also a rumor that the Atlanta Falcons are quietly shopping Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes, because they traded for Asante Samuel yesterday and with Dunta Robinson still on the roster, they have a ton of money tied up in that position.
-The NFL is discussing canceling the Pro Bowl, which is reportedly “On life support”. PULL THE PLUG!!! Let the Pro Bowl die, sincerely, everyone. Just name the All-Pro teams and be done with it.
-Another late rising prospect is Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn. The massive (6’6 346lb) Glenn brings a ton of versatility to the next level and can play either guard spot or right tackle. If I’m the New York Jets, I know the fans will boo if I draft him, but he is very high on my board and tempting at sixteen as he could quickly fix their horrible right side of the offensive line.
-Hearing that Boston College middle linebacker does not get past Seattle at twelve. That’s his floor, he could be gone as early as Tampa Bay at fifth overall. He is a tough, athletic three down linebacker who is a tackling machine, every team needs a guy like him.
-The Broncos are known to be in the market for a running back, and the team is reportedly very high on Miami’s Lamar Miller, and has him ranked ahead of the second tier backs. Does Denver like Miller enough to take him late in round one?
-Reports are circulating that the New England Patriots (who always trade down, not up) called the Seattle Seahawks and asked what it would take to trade up to the twelfth pick. The Patriots have a plethora of draft picks, including two first rounders and are well armed if they want to make a move. Smart money is on the Pats targeting safety Mark Barron or OLB/DE Melvin Ingram (Belichick style versatile player) however, Belichick knows slipping talent and I would not be surprised of he drafted DeCastro or Kuechly if he trades up.
-Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB out of West Virginal tells the NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi that he has been told that he will be a first round pick by a team selecting in the bottom third of the round.
-Serious discussions are taking place between the Vikings and Buccaneers regarding the third pick in the draft, and proper compensation is being discussed. It is looking like the Bucs will trade up to the third pick and select Trent Richardson, the Browns will then pick Morris Claiborne at four, and the Vikings will pick either Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon at five woke gaining an additional pick. Stay tuned. NOTE: Some people claiming that if the Bucs trade up to third, their target will be Morris Claiborne, and not Richardson. This does not make a ton of sense to me, if the Vikings are trading out of three it means they don’t want Claiborne, and the Browns want Richardson. Seems like Claiborne would fall to Tampa if they want him…the only logical reason to trade up is to leapfrog the Browns and draft Richardson.
-The New York Giants are very interested in Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who seems to be sliding a bit on draft day, due to minor character issues and the fact that teams are questioning his positional fit in the NFL. Kirkpatrick would be a great fit on the Giants defense. He is a big corner (6’2 190lbs) which they lost when Aaron Ross signed with the Jaguars this offseason, and he could play all over the secondary, including nickelback and as a third safety. He would also provide insurance behind Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara who are both coming off serious injuries. While I don’t think Kirkpatrick slides all the way to #32, the Giants may move up a few slots to draft him.
-To update my post above, add Chiefs, Bills, Lions as teams that are interested in Mark Barron. It might save time right now if I tell you which teams are not interested in Barron. He’d be a great fit in Detroit, but its likely too costly for the Lions to move into the range to land him.
-If the Jaguars stay at number seven, it sounds like Justin Blackmon is their guy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter says there is no way Blackmon is available seventh overall. I disagree. I think the Rams could easily surprise some people. I think the only two teams the Jaguars would have to worry about taking Blackmon before them are the Vikings and the Rams. The Browns sound dialed in to either Richardson or Claiborne.
-New rumor says if the Patriots do trade up their target is UNC defensive end Quinton Coples and not Alabama safety Mark Barron. St 6’6 285 lbs I’m not sure Coples is a fluid enough athlete to play OLB in the Pays system, more of a 4-3 end when they go four down linemen.
-Hot rumor has the Lions actively pursuing a trade up with the secondary as the main target. One source telling me the target is Mark Barron, another days its South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gillmore. Getting better in the secondary obviously a huge concern in Detroit.
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