NFL Notes: Unsigned Draft Picks, Jaguars, Ravens, & Redskins

 

Unsigned Draft Picks

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk expects contracts to be worked out for the four remaining 2014 draft picks who have yet to sign their rookie deal once teams get back from vacation.

The only players still without rookie deals are: CB Justin Gilbert (Browns), OT Taylor Lewan (Titans), WR Marqise Lee (Jaguars) and OT Billy Turner (Dolphins).

Jaguars

According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union, The Jaguars’ No. 4 WR position is “[Ace] Sanders for the taking entering camp.”

Jaguars WRs coach Jerry Sullivan expects Sanders to get off to a much faster start than he did as a rookie.

“It shouldn’t take him as long to get started as it did last year,” Sullivan said. “He didn’t walk around the edges of the fire last year; we threw him right in the middle of it.

Last year, Sanders caught 51 passes for 484 yards receiving and a touchdown over the course of 15 games. He also contributed on special teams as a kick and punt returner.

Due to Justin Blackmon‘s indefinite suspension, Cecil Shorts and rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson are expected to be the team’s top-three receivers this year.

Ravens

Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that Ravens’ CB Jimmy Smith is not expected to face discipline from the NFL under personal-conduct policy.

  • Wilson adds that Smith’s incident is considered to be “fairly minor.”

Smith reportedly refused to step away from a women who was overdosing at a bar Saturday night, despite requests for police to do so.

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters a few weeks ago that they are hoping to sign Smith to a long-term contract extension at some point in the near future.

Baltimore did pick up Smith’s fifth-year option a few months ago, which will pay him $6.898 million for the 2015 season.

Last year, Smith totaled 59 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles for the Ravens over the course of 16 games. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 36 cornerback in the league.

Redskins

Keith McMillan of the Washington Post writes that Redskins third-year WR Aldrick Robinson finds himself in a tough position as the team prepares for training camp.

Robinson’s speed helped him secure a roster spot last season, but Washington has since added a number of players to their receiving corps this offseason, so the level competition has drastically improved.

Robinson will need to show that he has improved his route-running ability in the coming months to convince the coaching staff he’s worth carrying into 2014, according to McMillan.

There has even been talk that Leonard Hankerson could also be fighting for a roster spot as well, so this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.

The Redskins added veterans DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts in free agency to go along with rookies Ryan Grant and Cody Hoffman.

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