NFL Notes: Draft, Eagles, Texans

Draft

An NFL GM tells Kristian Dyer that he doesn’t think the 2018 draft class will have a quarterback taken in the top five picks.

“Right now, this isn’t a draft where you see a quarterback go top three like everyone was saying, or maybe even top five,” the GM said. “The production isn’t there from anyone, and we are what, five, six or seven games in? You don’t see it.”

Many had USC QB Sam Darnold and UCLA QB Josh Rosen pegged as high picks entering this year, but the GM doesn’t think either has lived up to expectations.

“Right now, Darnold may not be coming out, and he was the one with all the hype,” the GM said. “You see him on film, he doesn’t seem settled in the pocket. He’s not secure with the ball, he wasn’t throwing those interceptions last year. Is he a first round kid? Yeah, I could see that. But he might benefit from another season at USC.

“Rosen — this is a tough one. I’m not sure a lot of teams are going to be crazy about him after this year. He hasn’t handled the spotlight well. You want maturity from a quarterback. I still think Andrew Luck was that prototypical guy a few years back, Deshaun Watson this past draft. They were poised and polished. (Rosen’s) comments on school were worrisome. If he thinks he has to study now in college, in the NFL that workload is triple.”

• Benjamin Allbright reports that USC QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to leave for the NFL this year.
• Allbright says that the 2018 quarterback class will likely consist of Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Rosen.
• Greg Gabriel mentions that the feeling of many of his NFL friends regarding Wyoming QB Josh Allen is that he should ”stay in school, not worth more than a mid-round pick at this time.”

Eagles

Matt Lombardo of NJ.com takes a look at some speculative options for the Eagles to consider at left tackle now that they’ve lost Jason Peters for the season.

• One internal option would be to promote practice squad OT Dillon Gordon to their active roster.
• If the Eagles look to the free agent market for a potential addition, Lombardo lists Orlando Franklin, Will Beatty, and Cyrus Kouandjio as three of the best available options at this point in the year.
• Lombardo points out that the Eagles actually expressed interest in Beatty last year after Lane Johnson was suspended 10 games.
• Of these options, Lombardo considers promoting Gordon to be the “most viable” and likely Philadelphia’s preferred option.
• We have all three of them featured in our Top 50 Available Free Agents list.

Texans

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that there’s still a chance that the Texans could trade LT Duane Brown before the upcoming deadline, even though he reported to the team on Monday.

Florio mentions that the recent injury to Browns LT Joe Thomas, who has also come up in trade rumors, leaves Brown as the clear best available option for teams looking for left tackle help.

For what it’s worth, Florio tosses out the Eagles as a team worth watching for Brown, considering that they just lost Jason Peters for the season to a serious knee injury.

Brown made it clear that he wants to remain in Houston and play for the Texans.

“I’m here. This is where I want to be. I love the city of Houston, love the fans, love my teammates, and so I’m here to work,” Brown said, per James Palmer.