2016-2017 NFL ROOKIES

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Cody Kessler - QB - Browns

Browns EVP of football operations Sashi Brown claims third-round QB Cody Kessler will get a chance to start.

"It's a competition," Brown said. "We'll let it play out." Although both Brown and coach Hue Jackson are openly smitten with Kessler, consider us deeply skeptical that he'll get a legitimate chance to start as a rookie. Kessler is essentially a prototype game manager. He needs time to get up to NFL speed, and is best suited for clipboard duties in 2016, at least to begin the year. It will be a different story if Robert Griffin III hasn't made major strides on his final days in Washington.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter

Apr 30 - 8:38 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Paul McRoberts - WR - Rams

Rams signed Southeast Missouri State WR Paul McRoberts.

McRoberts (6'2/202) was a three-year starter for the Redhawks, earning first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference as both a junior and senior and finishing his career with a 175-2,435-29 (13.9 YPR) receiving line. He shined on punt returns in 2015, averaging 12.6 yards per return with one score. McRoberts' 4.69 forty disappointed at SE Missouri's Pro Day, though he did fare well in the vertical (35 1/2") and broad (10'5") jumps. McRoberts dominated in contested situations in the FCS and isn't a bad athlete, but his shortage of straight-line speed is a major concern for his NFL separation potential. He's making a huge jump in competition.
Source: Mike Loyko on Twitter

Apr 30 - 8:12 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Marquez North - WR - Rams

Rams signed Tennessee WR Marquez North.

North (6'3/223) went pro after a disappointing, injury-plagued three-year run at Tennessee, managing a 74-874-5 (11.8 YPR) career receiving line and hardly playing in 2015. He missed time with knee, back and shoulder injuries in college. North rehabbed his stock somewhat at the Combine, blazing 4.48 with a 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-1 broad jump. North just turned 21 and possesses NFL-level size and athleticism, but his track record isn't inspiring. He's still someone to monitor as a height-weight-speed prospect.
Source: Jim Thomas on Twitter

Apr 30 - 8:30 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Keyarris Garrett - WR - Panthers

Panthers signed Tulsa WR Keyarris Garrett.

Garrett (6'3/220) led the nation in receiving as a fifth-year senior, catching 96 passes for 1,588 yards (16.5 YPR) and eight TDs. Garrett combines a wide catch radius (34 1/2-inch arms) with Dez Bryant-like Combine numbers, running 4.53 with a 36 1/2-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump. Garrett's weaknesses are his inconsistent hands and routes. He's also old for a rookie, turning 24 in September. Garrett is still an exciting talent with big-time vertical tools and lots of experience working underneath. He has a chance to develop into an NFL starter.
Source: Porsha Richardson on Twitter

Apr 30 - 8:06 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Devontae Booker - RB - Broncos

ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold believes fourth-round RB Devontae Booker will "push for playing time."

Despite matching the Dolphins' four-year, $18 million offer sheet for C.J. Anderson, the Broncos have re-signed Ronnie Hillman and spent a fourth-round pick on Booker, a player GM John Elway confirmed was their second-highest graded running back. Denver has never committed to Anderson as the lead back, and they have now brought in quality competition in Booker. Despite his upside, Anderson will be difficult to trust as an RB1.
Related: C.J. Anderson
Source: ESPN

May 2 - 8:39 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sean Davis - DB - Steelers

The Steelers will use second-round pick Sean Davis at strong safety.

Davis shuttled between safety and cornerback at Maryland. "Primarily, we should plug him in at strong safety as Mike Mitchell’s primarily our free safety," said DBs coach Carnell Lake. "That’s where we’ll start and I’m assuming that he’ll wind up playing both positions at some point." Davis is a likely Week 1 starter, replacing Will Allen. Davis has some IDP potential as a rookie.
Source: Steelers Depot

May 1 - 11:34 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Mackensie Alexander - DB - Vikings

The Vikings will use second-round pick Mackensie Alexander at slot corner.

It's Captain Munnerlyn's position, though Munnerlyn's job security should be somewhat safe after a solid 2015 season. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune suggests Alexander could take over at slot corner in 2017. The Vikings will start Xavier Rhodes on the boundary across from either Terence Newman or Trae Waynes.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

May 1 - 11:06 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Austin Hooper - TE - Cardinal

ESPN's Todd McShay wrote that Stanford TE Austin Hooper was the Cardinals' best pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

"[Hooper] isn't a great route runner and he needs to continue to add weight and strength," McShay noted, "but for a team in major need of some pass-catchers with upside, Hooper is a good fit in Atlanta. Ryan can't have enough weapons." The Falcons snatched the 6-foot-4, 254-pounder up with the 81st pick in this weekend's draft. McShay specifically complimented Hooper's frame and his ability to stretch defenses with whatever the tight end equivalent of wheels might be.
Source: ESPN Insider

May 1 - 8:00 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Roberto Aguayo - K - Seminoles

An NFL general manager told Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman that the Buccaneers' selection of Florida State K Roberto Aguayo at No. 59 overall pick was "the dumbest pick in the history of the draft."

In trading third- and fourth-round picks to move up into the end of Round 2 to take a kicker, Tampa Bay drew heavy criticism from Freeman's sources. Not everyone disagreed with the thinking, however. One scout, for instance, said that recent rule changes have made kickers more valuable, further arguing that they will be as valuable as running backs within a few years. The Bucs, who played in 10 games last year decided by 10 points or less, clearly believe Aguayo (69-of-78 on field goals and 198-of-198 on extra points in college) can become a difference-maker in close games.
Source: Bleacher Report

May 1 - 2:59 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Jared Goff - QB - Rams

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said upgrading the weapons around No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff was their priority in the draft.

Upgrading one of the worst offenses in the league would have been a priority either way, but Goff's development depends partly on the weapons around him. The Rams tried to bolster those weapons by adding two tight ends and two receivers with four of their five non-Goff picks. All four players have serious question marks, but at least Los Angeles is attempting to address the lousy state of their skill positions outside of Todd Gurley.
Source: CSN Bay Area

May 2 - 10:09 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Paxton Lynch - QB - Broncos

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak praised first-round QB Paxton Lynch's ability to make plays on the move.

"When I watch him on film, the thing that’s really exciting is that this guy extends plays," Kubiak said. "It’s really hard in this business to coach guys to keep their eyes down the field when they’re moving, and this guy does a great job of that." Kubiak likes to move the pocket and utilize bootlegs at much as any offensive mind in the league, and Lynch should fit those play designs perfectly. Mark Sanchez will likely open Week 1 under center, but Lynch will almost certainly make starts this season.
Source: ESPN

May 2 - 11:38 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Laremy Tunsil - T - Dolphins

ESPN Dolphins reporter James Walker reports first-round OT Laremy Tunsil will not be placed in the league's substance abuse program.

A video surfaced minutes before the NFL draft began last Thursday allegedly showing Tunsil smoking weed using a bong and gas mask. The video prompted some teams to take Tunsil off their board completely and pushed him all the way down the Dolphins at No. 13. There was also speculation the NFL would use the video as evidence to place Tunsil in Stage 1 of their substance abuse program. That is not going to happen, but Walker reports "the league will closely monitor" Tunsil's situation. After a nerve-racking draft weekend, it looks like Tunsil will be able to put this situation behind him.
Source: ESPN

May 2 - 11:29 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Deion Jones - LB - Falcons

Second-round LB Deion Jones will be the Falcons' middle linebacker this season.

Jones is a bit undersized at 6'1/222, but the Falcons want to get faster on defense. Jones will supply it after he blazed a 4.38 forty at LSU's Pro Day. Incumbent MLB Paul Worrilow will either be a sub-package player or lose his job altogether. Worrilow is a run-of-the-mill linebacker who doesn't make many plays.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

May 2 - 7:34 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

I liked him better than Garnett. Many of us did...

Cody Whitehair - G - Wildcats

Pro Football Focus called the Bears' selection of Kansas State G Cody Whitehair one of the best picks of the draft.

The Bears plucked Whitehair out of the pool in the second round at No. 56. "His positioning and technique are already at the level of a seasoned NFL veteran," PFF's Gordon McGuinness wrote, "and if he can put a bit more strength on his frame, Whitehair has the potential to be a top-5 interior lineman." While the 6-foot-4, 301-pounder played tackle early in his collegiate career, PFF (like most outlets) views him as an NFL guard.
Source: Pro Football Focus

May 2 - 11:26 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Moritz Boehringer - WR - Vikings

Vikings signed sixth-round WR Moritz Boehringer to a four-year contract.

He's the first rookie to sign his contract. It's become a rudimentary thing to this point, as each pick has an amount slotted to it. Last year's No. 180 overall pick, Jaguars DT Michael Bennett, inked a deal worth a little more than $2.418 million. Boehringer will be a fascinating player to watch this summer.

May 2 - 9:02 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DeAndre Washington - RB - Raiders

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie talked up fifth-round RB DeAndre Washington, calling him "more than just a third-down back; he's a complete back."

"He can pound it up in there," McKenzie continued. "When he gets out in space, he can make you look silly. He can catch the ball, but he can run between the tackles as well as well as bouncing it outside. We think he’s the total package as a runner." It's notable because the Raiders spent a good portion of the offseason talking about how they wanted to add to their backfield and get Latavius Murray some help/competition. Washington has been the only addition. He'll have a chance to carve out a significant role in year one.
Source: raiders.com

May 4 - 10:12 AM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

DeAndre Washington - RB - Raiders

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie talked up fifth-round RB DeAndre Washington, calling him "more than just a third-down back; he's a complete back."

"He can pound it up in there," McKenzie continued. "When he gets out in space, he can make you look silly. He can catch the ball, but he can run between the tackles as well as well as bouncing it outside. We think he’s the total package as a runner." It's notable because the Raiders spent a good portion of the offseason talking about how they wanted to add to their backfield and get Latavius Murray some help/competition. Washington has been the only addition. He'll have a chance to carve out a significant role in year one.
Source: raiders.com

May 4 - 10:12 AM

[NinerSickness]

Roberto Aguayo - K - Seminoles

An NFL general manager told Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman that the Buccaneers' selection of Florida State K Roberto Aguayo at No. 59 overall pick was "the dumbest pick in the history of the draft."

That must be the Browns' general manager, because it's a ridiculous comment.

The Buccs were brilliant for taking Augayo. He's the highest-rated kicker since Janikowski, and they got him towards the end of the 2nd round. That pick is going to be paying dividends for nearly 20 years. He'll probably decide more games than any other non-QB in this draft. Here's a list of 59th-overall picks from this decade (most of which were much deeper drafts than this one):

Ty Sambrailo, Jack Mewhort, Aaron Dobson, Vinny Curry, Greg Little, Montario Hardesty

How many of those guys would a GM take over a high-quality kicker?

Exactly.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Tyler Higbee - TE - Rams

Rams fourth-round TE Tyler Higbee is expected to plead not guilty to second-degree assault, second-degree evading police, and public intoxication charges on Thursday.

Higbee was arrested on April 10 for allegedly assaulting a man outside a Bowling Green club. The man was reportedly unconscious for at least 20 minutes before being transported to the hospital in serious condition. He has since been released. Higbee claims the alleged victim was "getting close to his girlfriend" and "stuck his head" in Higbee's face. Higbee allegedly fled the scene after the altercation and was found "heavily intoxicated" hiding behind trees at a nearby church. Regardless of the outcome of the trial, Higbee is likely looking at league discipline.
Source: USA Today

May 4 - 7:04 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Myles Jack - LB - Jaguars

Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said second-round LB Myles Jack (knee) is "ready to go."

Caldwell said Jack would have been able to participate in spring ball if he were still at UCLA, but he admitted the linebacker may need a procedure in the future. "I don’t think the plan involves microfracture," Caldwell said. "I don’t think he’s a candidate for that from what I’ve been told, but there may need to be a procedure somewhere down the line." A top-five talent, Jack slipped to the second round because of long-term concerns about his knee. If the Jaguars can keep him healthy, he could end up being the steal of the draft.
Source: Pro Football Talk

May 4 - 5:47 PM