More NFL Draft Rumor Mill Tidbits
Updated April 19, 2016
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter
@draftcampbell.
With the 2016 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, here some rumor mill tidbits I’ve picked up from speaking with team sources.
After the trade down from the No. 1 overall pick to the 15th, sources told me the Titans had Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin and Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker as potential targets. Conklin may not get to the pick with offensive line-needy teams picking ahead of the Titans. He could go off the board to the Bears, Saints or Dolphins. If there is another player the Titans like more than Decker available, Tennessee could address their right tackle position later on. Tennessee likes Texas A&M right tackle Germain Ifedi, and he could be in play for their pick at 33. With five second-day choices, they have plenty of ammo to move up into the end of the first for Ifedi if they feel compelled to do so. Sources say that Indiana’s Jason Spriggs and Texas Tech’s Le’Raven Clark would be options for their third-round picks. However it would be surprising if the Titans didn’t draft a tackle like Conklin, Decker, or Ifedi in the first two rounds.
Two defensive tackles who could go quickly on the second day are UCLA’s Kenny Clark and Penn State’s Austin Johnson. Some playoff teams say they really like Clark and Johnson, but they don’t expect them to get to their second-round picks. Don’t be surprised if Clark and Johnson go higher than many expect.
Everybody is projecting the Texans to take a wide receiver in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. I strongly believe that Houston’s preference is for Notre Dame’s Will Fuller. The Texans’ backup plan is Baylor’s Corey Coleman. After that, TCU’s Josh Doctson could be in play. Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell would also be a candidate, but he has a higher chance to be off the board by pick 22.
As we hit on in the last rumormill tidbits entry, the Redskins are said to be in the market to get younger and faster on the defensive line. However, the Redskins could take advantage of a deep defensive line class and address it on Day 2. Sources tell me I should mock the Redskins a cornerback in my final mock draft. I think the corner that I’m likely to go with is Houston’s William Jackson. Ohio State’s Eli Apple is also in the running, but I think they prefer Jackson. Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller can’t be ruled out after the positive news from his medical recheck. Another dark horse for Washington, depending on how the draft falls, is Alabama center Ryan Kelly.
Sources say they expect the Steelers to address their secondary in the early rounds, and that isn’t shocking in the least with the problems Pittsburgh’s secondary has had in recent years. Pittsburgh sources say they loved Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson last year (selected 16th overall), and if he had gotten to their pick, he likely would have been a Steeler. This year, cornerbacks like Eli Apple and William Jackson have similar skill sets to Johnson, so they could be in play for Pittsburgh’s first-round pick.
However, sources also say that the Steelers have strong interest in Florida safety Keanu Neal. He is said to be what Mike Tomlin loves in a safety. Neal won’t make it to Pittsburgh’s second-round pick, so if they want Neal, they’ll have to take him in the first round.
After Lovie Smith’s former Bears additions were ineffective last year, safety is in play for Tampa Bay early on the second day. The Bucs appear set with their top three corners for next season with Brent Grimes, Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks. Those veterans could man the secondary in 2016, and next year, the Buccaneers could remodel the corner position if they don’t play well.
They aren’t as strong at safety. From what I’m hearing, the Bucs like Florida safety Keanu Neal more than Ohio State safety Vonn Bell. Bell is limited as a free safety. Most pigeon hole Neal as a strong safety because he played that as a junior. However, during his sophomore year, Marcus Maye landed in Will Muschamp’s doghouse for some coverage busts and Neal moved to free safety for most of that year. He did a good job in coverage in that role. Thus, multiple teams have told me they view Neal as having more versatility. He also brings more size to the position than Bell. I think early on Day 2, Neal is a strong candidate to go to the Buccaneers if he makes it to their pick, but Neal could easily go late in the first round.
Comment on this story here.
