NFL 2019 NFL Draft Prospects Discussion

[Exe Gesis]

• A team source told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano that Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray is "probably a little too small" for the Giants.
  The Giants "prefer to stick to the established measurables they have for a prototypical quarterback," Vacchiano notes. The Giants' organization emphasizes conventional wisdom and inside-the-box thinking, and they haven't started a quarterback that measures below 6-feet since 5-foot-11 Gary Wood went 0-6 in 1966. And "the philosophy hasn't changed all that much (in that over half-century timeframe)," Vacchiano confirms. 6-foot-3 Dwayne Haskins, 6-foot-4 Drew Lock, and 6-foot-5 Daniel Jones appear to be likelier candidates to succeed 6-foot-4 Eli Manning than 5-foot-9 Murray.
  RELATED:
  • New York Giants
  SOURCE: SNY.com
  Feb 12, 2019, 8:00 AM

 

[Exe Gesis]

Cardinals president Michael Bidwill shot down speculation about the team selecting Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick.
Considering new coach Kliff Kingsbury said he would select Murray "with the first pick in the draft, if I could" when he was still at Texas Tech back in October, the speculation linking Murray to the Cardinals is fair, but Bidwill clearly knocked it down. "There’s always a lot of speculation that turns out to not be true," Bidwill said. "But moving forward, we’re going to continue to build this team and build around the foundation that we have." Bidwill also said he is not worried about the speculation affecting Josh Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick last year. The Cardinals might not draft him, but it would be a surprise if Murray falls out of the top-15.
RELATED:

• Arizona Cardinals

SOURCE: Azcardinals.com
Feb 13, 2019, 3:49 AM

 

[Exe Gesis]

Speaking Tuesday, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury tried to tamp down speculation that the team would select Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall.
"Josh (Rosen) is our guy," Kingsbury said. He joins team president Michael Bidwill in insisting the team will stick with Rosen and pass on a player Kingsbury is on video as saying should be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The reality is, this is a storyline that could remain alive for some time. The ultimate hang up is that Rosen could probably only fetch a "sell low" price after his dismal rookie year.

SOURCE: Bob McManaman on Twitter
Feb 13, 2019, 7:26 AM

 

[Exe Gesis]

 

[rumply]

Tai Lopez showing off his sporting Knnnnnowledge outside of basketball once again...

how many chances for this guy. I'm starting to think ESPN doesnt give 2 *s about their audience.

 

[rumply]

 

[drd23]

Such a stupid rule, especially when applied in a blanket fashion like this for minor things

Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson has combine invitation rescinded for old battery conviction

The NFL has rescinded Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson's invitation to the combine after a background check turned up an old battery conviction.

Ferguson was convicted of simple battery his freshman year after a fight at McDonald's resulted in a deferred judgment and a $189 fine, according to his agent, Safarrah Lawson.

"We disagree with the NFL's position with regards to Jaylon Ferguson," said Lawson via statement. "Jaylon is a great person who made a mistake 4 years ago before he started playing college football. He was involved in a scuffle that resulted in him being charged with misdemeanor simple battery. He received a deferred judgment and $189.00 fine, a proper punishment for a fight between two teenagers. Since that day Jaylon has been a fine and upstanding student athlete that personifies the things we are trying to teach our young people today. The past four years at Louisiana Tech Jaylon has been a team leader who has led on and off the field clearly learning from the lessons of his past."

In 2016, the NFL put into effect a rule that states that prospective players who have been convicted on domestic violence, sexual assault or weapons charges are not allowed to attend the NFL scouting combine or draft. If a background check turns up either a felony or misdemeanor conviction, or if a player refuses to submit to a background check, he will not be permitted to attend any "league-related event." Despite the ban on events, players with prior convictions are still eligible to be drafted.

Ferguson is the NCAA's all-time sack leader. He is ranked the No. 5 defensive end in this year's draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Kyler Murray has real power, if he chooses to use it

Posted by Mike Florio on February 14, 2019, 6:33 AM EST

Getty Images


Last month, the case was made for Kyler Murray becoming the next name in a short line of quarterbacks who have turned the tables on the NFL by exercising control over his draft status — a line that currently consists of John Elway and Eli Manning.

“Murray can become one of the few to tell the NFL the circumstances under which he’ll willingly become an employee of a professional football team,” it was written. “He can say, plainly and clearly, that if he’s not drafted by a certain team (or teams) and/or if he’s not selected at a certain level, he’s not signing a football contract and playing baseball instead.”

Then came Super Bowl week, and Murray was asked point blank on the set of PFT Live whether he’d be willing to make it clear that he’ll choose baseball unless he’s picked by one of a list of specific teams. Murray began the answer by praising the A’s for how they’ve handled the situation, apparently to indicate that he wouldn’t keep the door open to baseball on an equivocal basis out of respect to the MLB team that had drafted him. Murray then said he also wouldn’t place such restrictions on his NFL draft status.

But here’s the thing. With teams trying to avoid a Bo Jackson outcome, with a first-round pick squandered on someone who never signs a football contract, Murray necessarily will have the power to determine where he plays. With the A’s reportedly still at the ready to try to outbid whoever drafts Murray and with a very real difference between Murray’s recently-unveiled commitment to football and the ultimate commitment that would come from signing a contract containing the Jameis Winston no-baseball clause, any team considering writing K-Y-L-E-R-M-U-R-R-A-Y on a draft card needs to be sure that he’ll sign those same letters, in that same order, at the bottom of a formal four-year NFL agreement.

That’s where the power come from, whether Murray chooses to use it or not. The sword that Murray will be swinging comes from the shield the teams of Big Shield will be using to ensure that Murray will turn his commitment into a contract. Would any G.M. in his right mind draft Murray without first contacting agent Erik Burkhardt and saying, “Will your guy agree to terms, or will we be wasting a draft pick?”

Thus, look for Murray and Burkhardt to be subtle and passive, not active and aggressive, when it comes to the very rare position Murray occupies. He’s an NFL draft prospect with an opportunity to make as much or more money playing a sport other than football. And that will surely make every team considering Murray very, very nervous.

 

[Exe Gesis]

JT the Brick hosting for Farell on CBS Sports Radio says get ready for Kyler Murray to the Raiders.

Idea being that Gruden and Mayock think they have to compete with Mahomes for next 9 years....need someone dynamic. Guest on show said Murray is officially 5'9 and 7/8ths

 

[Brasher]

Make it simple NFL...if you are a college rookie and do not intend to play for the club that drafts you, you are ineligible to enter the draft or rookie free agency pool.

The me me attitude has a flow on affect with this behavior...what about the poor kid who could have been drafted but wasn't in favor of Murray who then doesn't even play.

 

[rumply]

 

[Exe Gesis]

Kyler Murray not helping himself.

Deciding to not throw at the combine, and also kind of hinting he wants to be drafted by the Cardinals.

It's like he wants to go #1 or else baseball

 

[rumply]

 

[Exe Gesis]

I think he's severely overrated. Don't like him at all. The Championship game showed him up.

 

[Exe Gesis]

 

[Exe Gesis]

Ravens have most compensatory picks in history

Posted by Charean Williams on February 22, 2019, 4:46 PM EST

Getty Images


The NFL has awarded compensatory picks since 1994. No team has more than the Ravens have all-time and by a wide margin.

The Ravens have received 50 extra choices in history, which means losing more or better compensatory free agents (CFA) than it acquired the previous year based on a formula using salary, playing time and postseason honors.

The Ravens received one compensatory pick this year, but it’s a third-round choice (No. 102 overall). They lost Mike Wallace, Ryan Jensen and Benjamin Watson as compensatory free agents, while signing John Brown.

The Cowboys and Packers tie for second with 42 all-time compensatory picks. The Patriots have 39, the Rams 36 and the Bengals 35.

The Saints have received the fewest — only 10 — in the history of compensatory picks, with the Browns ranking 31st with 13 and the Jets 30th with 14.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Alabama could tie Miami’s 2004 record with six first-round picks

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 22, 2019, 10:03 AM EST

Getty Images


In the 2004 NFL draft, six Miami Hurricanes were chosen in the first round. No college before or since has managed to get six players in the first round of one draft. But it could happen this year.

Alabama has six players who are in the first rounds of various mock drafts: Defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, offensive tackle Jonah Williams, running back Josh Jacobs, safety Deionte Thompson, tight end Irv Smith Jr. and linebacker Mack Wilson.

Saying that six Alabama players “could” go in the first round is a far cry from saying they “will” go in the first round, but the mere fact that it’s possible is another indication of just what an incredible collection of talent Nick Saban has collected. Alabama had 12 players drafted last year (including four in the first round) and 10 players drafted the year before (again including four in the first round). Year after year Alabama loses loads of talent to the NFL, and year after year Saban reloads.

The six Miami first-round picks in 2004 — Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Willams, Vernon Carey and Vince Wilfork — were part of a run when Miami routinely had the most talent in college football. Alabama has assumed that mantle.

 

[CasuallyDressed]

Oliver is better.

 

[Exe Gesis]

NBC Sports' Peter King reports Kyler Murray is up to 206 pounds.

Murray's height -- likely below 5-foot-10 -- has gotten a lot of ink heading into the Combine, but his slight frame could end up being a bigger concern for scouts. If this report is true, however, it would show Murray has the ability to put on some more weight. As of last week, Murray had yet to decide if he will participate during the throwing drills at the Combine.

SOURCE: Football Morning in America
Feb 26, 2019, 2:57 AM





Kyler Murray’s about to get the hand-size treatment
Posted by Darin Gantt on February 26, 2019, 6:55 AM EST

Getty Images

Scouting Combine week makes some think about 40 times and bench press reps. But true knowers of the game understand there’s an even more important number coming this week.

That’s right. It’s hand-size season.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the latest size question about Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is whether his mitts are big enough.

“There’s not a quarterback in the NFL that has a smaller hand than like a 9 — a 9-inch hand, the span from the thumb to the pinkie,” an NFC executive told Pelissero. “They say [Murray’s] could be really small, like 8 5/8 or 8 7/8.”

An unnamed NFC Scout added: “He’s got a good arm for a guy that size. You do see him at times not be able to spin it. You see it come out pretty good, but if you’re looking at the college ball and counting revolutions on the actual stripes, it doesn’t look like there’s a ton of velocity just buzzing off his hand.”

While Murray’s height and weight are drawing comparisons to Russell Wilson(Murray’s just under 5-10 according to Oklahoma, and reportedly up to 206 pounds), Wilson has 10 1/4-inch hands.
While it’s easy to make fun of (and Lord knows we do it plenty), there is a practical application for measuring the span of a man’s grip. Whether it’s ball security, cold weather concerns, or the simple assist a big hand gives when it’s time to throw, it’s one of the many measurements scouts will harvest this week. Whether it’s meaningful depends on the player.

Some players have taken drastic measuresto not show up at Indianapolis with teeny little baby hands. Former Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen had his massaged and stretched, going from an 8 1/2 at the Senior Bowl to 8 7/8 by the time he got to the Combine.

 

[Morganashlee]

Well Kyler Murray might as well be Mason Cox according to twitter. Huge

 

[Exe Gesis]

Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf measured in at 6-foot-3, 228 pounds at the Combine.
That's with 1.6 percent body fat, which doesn't seem possible. Metcalf has become something of a social media sensation because of his truly absurd physique. Metcalf was eye popping on a per-play basis in the SEC but was limited to 21 games in three years thanks to injury. That includes a 2018 neck operation. Part of the Metcalf NFL dynasty, Metcalf is a truly absurd athlete who could hear his name called on Day 1 despite his injury concerns.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 1, 2019, 8:15 AM

 

[drd23]

Well Kyler Murray might as well be Mason Cox according to twitter. Huge

He's Russell Wilson sized, which will be massive for him because it dispels the implication that no QB his size has ever been successful in the NFL


I for one thought that he'd measure under 5' 9"

 

[Morganashlee]

He's Russell Wilson sized, which will be massive for him because it dispels the implication that no QB his size has ever been successful in the NFL


I for one thought that he'd measure under 5' 9"

I was glad he wore platforms. Big hands too

 

[Exe Gesis]

According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, "many NFL sources" believe the Cardinals are targeting Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray with the top pick in April's draft.
The rumor mill is firing on all cylinders this time of year, so we're taking this report with a grain of salt. With that said, this is obviously not the first time Murray has been linked to the Cardinals. Kliff Kingsbury famously asserted that he would draft Murray first overall if he had the chance, though that was before the Cardinals hired him as head coach. One source told Vacchiano that Murray "fits exactly what Kingsbury wants to do" while another said "it's a perfect match." Despite an underwhelming rookie year, it's still difficult to believe Arizona would throw in the towel so soon on 2018 first-rounder Josh Rosen. However, if the Cardinals do decide to shop Rosen, the quarterback-needy Giants would likely be one of his top suitors.

SOURCE: SNY.com
Mar 2, 2019, 6:56 AM

 

[drd23]

Seeming more and more like he's a cocky little bastard who sucks at media interviews. That might turn some teams off of him