2014 Draft Rumors Thread

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by Colin Lindsay

GBN Editor and Publisher

May 6

Given that NFL teams have had an extra couple of weeks to mull over all the perms and combs of one of the most talented draft fields in recent years, it has actually been a surprisingly quiet run-up to the 2014 draft. Until now! Indeed, all of a sudden, with just over two days to go until the draft gets underway, there is so much smoke wafting about its like a real brushfire broke out. And the biggest buzz is coming from St. Louis where there have been multiple reports that the Rams are seriously considering taking Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel with the second pick overall on Thursday evening. And it doesn’t appear as if anyone around the league is sure whether that is indeed the direction the Rams are thinking of going or whether they are just trying to drum up interest in trading down the #2 pick. Along with the Manziel-to-St. Louis rumors, there have been growing reports that Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam wants the erstwhile Johnny Football with the 4th pick - if nothing else he’d be able to pay a ton of lawyer’s fees from sales of #2 Browns’ jerseys. However, what the Rams may actually be hoping to do is force the Browns to swap the 2nd and 4th picks where St. Louis would still likely get Auburn OT Greg Robinson, plus an extra pick or two. And just to punctuate their interest in Manziel, there have also been reports that the Rams have been in discussions with Minnesota about sending incumbent starting QB Sam Bradford, who has battled injuries and inconsistencies since being selected with the first overall pick in 2010 to the Vikings. Again, hard to know what is true and what is smoke, but the Rams would take a huge cap hit if they did move Bradford. It is also somewhat difficult to see Rams’ GM Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher hitching their somewhat tenuous job security to an enigma like Manziel, but time will tell …  Meanwhile, back in Cleveland, the Browns are pushing back a bit say that there are elements in their organization that really like Robinson. Of course, all along the Browns have been non to secretive about their desire to take a position player with the #4 pick, while using the 26th pick they acquired from Indianapolis for RB Trent Richardson to finangle a QB. In fact, there have been reports that the Browns are actually working the phones to try and acquire a 3rd opening round pick to use on a QB with a move up from the 35th pick in the second round …

 

At the same time, the storyline that Houston may be thinking of taking Buffalo OLB Khalil Mack over South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney won’t go away. The more likely storyline out of Houston, though, is that the Texans may agree to some kind of draft-and-trade scenario with Clowney. What the Texans need, of course, is a QB, but they don’t appear sold on any of the top prospects at the position - most likely Manziel and/or Blake Bortles of Central Florida - as potential top picks overall. What the Texans could do, though, is come to some kind of agreement with a team like Atlanta to trade Clowney if a QB they liked was still on the board at #6. The rumblings are however that the Texans may be asking for a little too much in return for the top pick …

 

Back to Manziel for a moment, another story that just won’t go away is that Dallas owner Jerry Jones would really like to make a splash in this draft and would like nothing more than to find away to take the former A&M star for the Cowboys as a future replacement for Tony Romo. Seems a little far-fetched especially with Manziel now likely destined to be a top 5 pick, but hey its Texas. One thing that would appear to be a good bet though is that Jones and the Cowboys will be active this weekend. Indeed, the Cowboys have 6 picks in the 7th and final round, but only 5 in the first 6 rounds …

 

There continue to be rumblings that there are multiple teams picking in the second half of the opening round, including the Jets (#18), Philadelphia (#22) and San Francisco (#30) that would like to move up into the top half of the round to get one of the elite receivers. On the other hand, teams that could move down include Tampa Bay (#7), Tennessee (#11), Chicago (#14) and Pittsburgh (#15) …

 

Most teams have had their boards set for some time now, however, there are reports that several guys could a little earlier than perhaps has generally been expected including Notre Dame G/T Zack Martin. Every G.M. in the league talks about wanting a ’clean’ prospect who comes without any red flags and is ready to plug in and play from day one, and no one comes closer to filling that bill than Martin, although most teams still appear to figure that he is likely a better fit at OG than OT. Alabama LB C.J. Mosley also appears to be a popular prospects once again. There was a time, for example, when Mosley, who was described as the best pure prospect in this draft, was thought to be top ten lock, but the fact that he didn’t test all that well this winter and that he plays a devalued draft-day position, appeared to drop him closer to the bottom of the opening round. However, it now appears unlikely he’ll get out of the top 20 and could go as high as 14th to Chicago. Mosley, in fact, is one of a half dozen or so prospects who could go almost anywhere in Thursday’s opening rounds. Others who appear to have a real divergence on their grade include Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater, Michigan OT Taylor Lewan, UCLA OLB Anthony Barr, Michigan State CB Darqueze Dennard and DTs Timmie Jernigan of Florida State, Minnesota’s Ra’Shede Hageman and Notre Dame’s Louis Nix. At the same time, Florida DT Dominique Easley has emerged as a kind of poor man’s Aaron Donald and may have started to generate some late first round consideration. Like Donald, Easley isn’t all that big, but is very quick and disruptive; he also appears to be close to 100% again after a second career ACL injury last September.

[MrBubba]

Daniel Jeremiah  account ‏@MoveTheSticks 44m

Which team could surprise us by taking a QB in RD 1? Asked a few execs, one said Saints. I would be shocked if that happened.

 

Interesting, Brees isn't getting any younger

 

 

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And now we can go back and read this thread and realize just how many lies are told in the last month before the draft.