NFL Notes: Draft, Giants, Dolphins, Raiders, Las Vegas

Draft

  • Adam Caplan reports that Miami TE David Njoku visited with the Buccaneers this week and will end up being one of two tight ends to be selected in the first round of this year’s draft.
  • UConn DB Obi Melifonwu has visits lined up with the Steelers, Seahawks and Saints. (Aaron Wilson)
  • Melifonwu met extensively with the Lions on Tuesday and spent some time with the Panthers. The Buccaneers will host Melifonwo for a private workout on Thursday. (Tony Pauline)
  • Lamar RB Kade Harrington has a pre-draft visit with the Giants. (Aaron Wilson)

Giants

  • Field Yates has the full contract details for Geno Smith‘s agreement with the Giants.
  • According to Yates, Smith receives a $775,000 base salary for the 2017 season to go along with a $25,000 workout bonus and $800,000 in play-time incentives. Smith was paid a $200,000 roster bonus on Wednesday, per Yates.
  • Yates adds that Smith will likely earn $1 million as the Giants’ third-string quarterback this season.

Dolphins

  • Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that free agent LB Zach Brown is targeting a multi-year deal that would pay him around $5-$6 million per year. However, the Dolphins were willing to offer him something closer to $3-$4 million per year.
  • According to Salguero, the Dolphins have actually called free agent DT Johnathan Hankins “at least half a dozen times” but he’s still looking for a big-money deal.
  • In regards to veteran DL Jared Odrick, Salguero says that while he would like to return to Miami, the Dolphins aren’t interested in him.
  • Salguero adds that free agent DL Ricky Jean Francois isn’t a scheme fit for the Dolphins.

Raiders

After speaking with sources around the league in recent days about the Raiders’ plans to relocate to Las Vegas, Jason La Canfora is now convinced that it’s going to happen.

La Canfora mentions that with NFL owners set to vote on the matter next year, “there is almost no time for this to fall apart now.”

“This is going to happen,” a league source who has been in close contact with many influential owners on this matter tells La Canfora. “Enough people will hold their noses and pray for the best and vote this through. Oakland — and by Oakland I mean the government officials there — hasn’t stepped up nearly enough, and the league is ready to put this to a vote. And while there is some trepidation about this market, it is going to pass.”

A high-ranking official with one of the league’s more conservative franchises added that the Raiders will get the 24 votes they need next week, even with some obvious concerns about gambling and the Las Vegas market.

“Mark will get the 24 votes he needs,” an executive tells La Canfora. “If it’s going to a vote, that’s because the votes are there. If my guy is going to vote for it, then this team is moving.”

Albert Breer reports that the NFL has set a range of $325 million – $375 million for Raiders’ relocation fee, which happens to be $300 million less than what the Chargers and Rams will pay in fees to relocate to Los Angeles.

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