Category: NFL Draft (Page 41 of 101)

C.J. Spiller to go in the top 10?

Clemson product C.J. Spiller is highly regarded as the best running back prospect in this year’s draft. But even though he carries that moniker, many draft pundits have been reluctant to view him as a top 10 selection.

That may have changed, however, as ProFootballTalk.com reported yesterday that teams are contemplating moving up into the top 10 in order to draft Spiller. Per the report, there are rumors that the Dolphins or Giants could trade up in order to get their hands on the tremendous athlete.

Shedding more light on the subject, apparently Spiller has accepted an invitation to New York to attend the first round. The NFL always does extensive research on players before inviting them, so there’s a good chance that Spiller will be taken off the board early.

If no team trades into the top 10, the Seahawks at No. 6 might be candidates to nab him early.


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Sam Bradford impresses at Pro Day

According to Oklahoma football beat writer John E. Hoover via his Twitter page, quarterback Sam Bradford had a great Pro Day performance.

From Rotoworld.com:

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford officially completed 49-of-50 passes at his Monday Pro Day. He completed another 13-of-13 from a stationary stance.

“That’s the best I’ve seen since Troy Aikman,” observed NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. Bradford’s lone misfire came on a drop by Sooners backup wideout Adron Tennell, and the projected No. 1 overall pick showed an impressive, strong build. Pro Days are intended to make players look good, but Bradford was as sharp as can be, exhibiting a quick release, plenty of velocity, and outstanding accuracy. We noticed just one throw behind his intended target (Jermaine Gresham still caught it), and he delivered one wobbler on a 40-yard slant-go.

Considering that Tim Tebow and Dan LeFevor failed to impress at their Pro Days and Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy have yet to work out because of injuries, Bradford just improved his draft stock dramatically. The Rams are already interested in him and if he performs well for them in a private work out in late April, he may be heading for St. Louis.

Nothing is a lock at this time of year, but Bradford just went a long ways in making a case that he should be the No. 1 pick. I realize that Pro Day performances don’t mean as much as game film when it comes to scouting players, but if the Rams were interested before, they’re really interested now.


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Rams, Redkins to hold private workouts with Sam Bradford

ESPN.com is reporting that the Rams will hold a private workout with Oklahoma quarterback San Bradford three days before the April 22 draft. The team will also attend Bradford’s private workout this afternoon, although Chris Mortensen reports that St. Louis won’t make a final decision until a couple of days before the draft. (At the earliest.)

The Redskins, who hold the fourth overall pick, will also have a private session with Bradford on April 15. There’s speculation that Washington will take a quarterback at some point during the draft, even though they extended a first-round tender to restricted free agent Jason Campbell and also signed free agent Rex Grossman.

In my first mock draft, I have the Rams selecting Bradford with the top pick and the Redskins taking Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the best athlete in the draft, but if the Rams view Bradford as a franchise quarterback then they won’t pass on him at No. 1 – especially considering that DT is one of the few positions that St. Louis doesn’t need.

If the Rams do select Suh (or Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy), then Bradford probably won’t get past the Redskins at No. 4. Whether or not people think that Bradford is a bona fide top 5 pick is irrelevant. It’s been 10 years since a quarterback wasn’t taken among the top five picks and that was in 2000 when Chad Pennington (Jets) slipped to No. 18. If history is any indication, Bradford will be taken at some point in the top 5.


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Rams begin contract negotiations with Bradford

Sorry for the fake out headline, but the Rams have actually begun preliminary contract negotiations with Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy too – not just Bradford. (Oh, whatever – you might as well stay and read the entire article now.)

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

“All the people who are in the discussion (for No. 1 overall), we’ve talked to their agents,” Demoff said. “We’re really just comparing notes. Also, it may take some time, so we figured we’d get a head start.”

In the past two drafts, the No. 1 overall pick (quarterback Matthew Stafford and offensive tackle Jake Long) had their contracts completed before the draft. But Demoff said that isn’t necessarily the goal for St. Louis.

“The goal is to get the right deal for the right player that you want to draft,” Demoff said. “If that happens before the draft, great. If it doesn’t happen before the draft, then we’ll spend May, June and July working on it.”

According to the report, the Rams have also had contact with Jimmy Clausen’s agent and while nothing has been confirmed yet, the team plans on talking with the representatives for all 600 draft-eligible players as well. Don’t laugh – the Rams can’t screw this one up. Kicker Leigh Tiffin had a great year for Alabama and he’s going to be sitting there with the top overall pick so the Rams have to do their due diligence here.

I don’t know if this means anything, but I find it interesting that the article essentially refers to Clausen as a throw in (oh-by-the-way, Clausen’s people were also contacted, although that’s because the Rams mistakenly thought they were ordering Thai food). That tells me that they’re down to Bradford, Suh and McCoy. If that’s indeed the case, then I’m sticking with my latest mock draft projection in that they’ll select Bradford at No. 1.


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Chiefs, Browns, Seahawks all interested in CMU’s LeFevour

According to Central Michigan beat writer Drew Ellis of the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, the Chiefs, Browns and Seahawks were all on hand to watch quarterback prospect Dan LeFevour work out at his Pro Day on Wednesday morning. The Panthers and Vikings also watched him go through passing drills.

The most notable name on hand was new Kansas City offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who told Ellis that he was specifically there to watch LeFevour. There was also a rumor that the Chiefs had dinner with LeFevour last night.

Questions have been raised about LeFevour’s arm strength and there also is concern that since he played mostly out of the shotgun in college that he won’t be able to run a pro style system at the next level. According to Ellis, LeFevour may not have quelled scouts’ fears about whether or not he can make all the throws.

“He did well throwing the short to intermediate passes today,” Ellis said. “But there was more loft on his deeper throws than you’d like to see and there wasn’t much velocity on his passes when he wasn’t throwing short. He might ultimately have to play in the West Coast Offense where accuracy is the most important thing.”

Ellis’ last bit about the West Coast Offense provides reason why the Browns would be interested, but why the Chiefs? GM Scott Pioli insisted in late February that the team would not be in the market for a starting quarterback in this year’s draft and is committed to Matt Cassel after signing him to a six-year, $63 million contract last season. And after extending a second-round tender on Brodie Croyle, they seem to be set on Cassel’s backup too, so it’s a little perplexing why Weis would want to watch LeFevour.

Another note from CMU’s Pro Day is that receiver Antonio Brown was garnering attention from the Vikings, Lions, Raiders and Dolphins. In fact, Miami held a private workout with him after he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, which was an improvement over his 4.5 time at the combine. Brown’s stock has improved and he may wind up being selected before LeFevour.


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