NFL Draft Rumors: A.J. McCarron, Johnny Manziel, Eric Ebron, Greg Robinson

Here’s a collection of NFL Draft notes and rumors from recent days.

A.J. McCarron 

Matt Miller of the Bleacher Report has spoken with people close to Alabama QB A.J. McCarron who have informed him that he is being advised to “act like the top quarterback in this draft.“

This comes shortly after reports indicated that McCarron will not participate in the Senior Bowl just as Geno Smith elected to do last year.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports adds that scouts he’s spoken with have not reacted positively towards McCarron’s decision to skip next week’s Senior Bowl.

“One scout told me that he was ‘looking forward to A.J. changing’ his mind on him,” Brugler tweeted. “Not many QBs go to Mobile and hurt themselves.”

Johnny Manziel

Matt Miller spoke with “three high-level scouting sources” who all mentioned that Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel was a “lock” to be a top 10 pick, and even thought there was value there.

On Tuesday, Cecil Lammey spoke with a long-time scout who’s team has a “premium pick” that mentioned that they “don’t want him” due to personality and on field issues.

“I’ll throw to a [jerk], I’ll hand off to a [jerk], I’d never snap to a [jerk],” one scout told Lammey.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper stirred up a bit of controversy on Wednesday after the release of his first NFL Mock Draft. Kiper has Manziel going No. 1 overall to the Texans with Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater dropping to the Vikings at No. 8 overall.

• Gil Brandt of NFL.com has Manziel ranked as the No. 1 prospect in his 2014 Big Board.

Eric Ebron

North Carolina TE Eric Ebron reportedly has a chance to be a top-15 pick this year, according to Matt Miller.

A source told Miller that Ebron has been discussed as the “cleanest tight end prospect since Vernon Davis” during their meetings.

Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network lists Ebron among the players currently generating a “ton of buzz with NFL scouts/execs.“

Greg Robinson

According to a scout “who was responsible for evaluating Eric Fisher,” Auburn OT Greg Robinson has graded out higher. (Matt Miller)

Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network lists Robinson among the players currently generating a “ton of buzz with NFL scouts/execs.“

2014 Underclassman

Dane Brugler mentions that the number of underclassmen declaring for the NFL Draft has increased from 53 in 2010 to 93 in 2014. 

Brugler adds that 28.8% of the 73 underclassmen who came out last year went undrafted.

• 2014: 96
• 2013: 73
• 2012: 65
• 2011: 56
• 2010: 53

2015 NFL Draft

Matt Miller of the Bleacher Report offered his top-five for the 2015 Draft class:

1. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
2. Florida State QB Jameis Winston
3. USC DT Leonard Williams
4. Texas A&M OT Cedric Ogbuehi
5. UCLA QB Brett Hundley 

NFL Draft Notes: 

• Matt Miller lists Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo as the prospect who has improved his draft stock the most in recent weeks due to his playmaking ability and arm. 
• Matt Miller compares Oregon State DE/LB Scott Crichton to Colts first-round pick DE/OLB Bjoern Werner due to their similar strength and scheme flexibility.
• Florida State RB Devonta Freeman could end up being the best running back in the 2014 draft class. (Matt Miller)
• Alabama ILB C.J. Mosley was referred to as a “top 20 lock” by an NFL scout. (Matt Miller)
• According to an NFL source, “if he (TCU CB Jason Verrett) were 1.5″ taller, he’d be a top five pick.” (Matt Miller)
• Texas DE Jackson Jeffcoat, who wasn’t on the Senior Bowl roster, is reportedly preparing for the Combine already. (Matt Miller)
• Texas WR Mike Davis is generating a “ton of buzz” and has reportedly been more impressive than USC WR Marquise Lee. (Matt Miller)
• Coastal Carolina WR Matt Hazel and Michigan WR Jeremy Gallon. have bee two standouts during Shrine Game practices. (Dane Brugler)
• Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch may need to move to safety at the next level. (Bucky Brooks) 
• Baylor TE Jordan Najvar, who reportedly earned late-round grades from scouts, could be someone to keep an eye on his performance during the Shrine Game practices “could send evaluators racing to their computers to alter their grades.” (Bucky Brooks)

• Michigan State ILB Max Bullough reportedly showed up to the Shrine Game 20 lbs over his listed weight. (Spartan Sports Page)
  • Bullough wouldn’t speak with the media (Greg Auman)
  • Bucky Brooks mentions that Bullough will need to explain his suspension at some point.