NFL Draft Rumors: Quinton Coples, Courtney Upshaw, Riley Reiff, Vikings, LSU Players

Quinton Coples

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock mentioned that he’s not going anywhere near UNC DE Quinton Coples if he was an NFL GM.

“If I’m a GM, I’m not taking him in the 1st,” said Mayock. “I might not take him in the 2nd round. The bust potential is high.”

Mayock went as far to say that he wouldn’t even have him on his draft board and has had a hard time finding anything positive about Coples’ senior tape.

There’s no question that Coples’ draft stock has been dropping, but there’s a chance that NFL team’s could view him the same way. It would be shocking to see him fall out of the first-round given his upside, but I guess it’s possible.

Nolan Nawrocki

In case you haven’t read Nolan Nawrocki’s recent article for Pro Football Weekly, it’s a must-read. Nawrocki spoke with some NFL executives, coaches and front-office personnel about a few of this year’s draft prospects. 

Courtney Upshaw

“The more Courtney Upshaw talked (in the interview process), the more I got scared,” said the NFL personnel man. Despite the fact that his team is in need of a pass rusher, he said that he’d “have hesitations in the second where we’re picking, after hearing him talk about grabbing his girlfriend by the hair.“

Upshaw is another defensive prospect has been dropping down draft boards in the last month. He put together a less-than-stellar Combine and has team’s that are in need of skills very concerned about drafting him. There’s actually a better chance than it may seem that he could drop into the second-round.

LSU Players

A league executive mentioned that he worries about drafting LSU players tend to come with “issues.“

“I worry about LSU skill guys — look at the corners and safeties and receivers that have come out of the program, he said, via Pro Football Weekly. “How many have been free of issues coming out?“

It’s a fair point when you start going down the list of LSU players. There are a lot of people who believe Morris Claiborne is one of the best prospects in this year’s draft because he doesn’t just come with the speed of Patrick Peterson, but it will be interesting to see if he can step in and be an effective cornerback at the next level.

Riley Reiff

A league executive believes that Iowa OT Riley Reiff is clearly going to be a guard in the NFL.

“(Iowa OLT) Riley Reiff is a guard all the way,” he said,via Pro Football Weekly. “He is a tough, grinding guard — the same as (Ravens All-Pro and former Hawkeye Marshal) Yanda. That’s what I think he is.”

People have been saying this since the Scouting Combine, and the fact that his arm length measured out pretty short, hasn’t helped his chances of being drafted to play tackle in the NFL. If he goes within the Top 20 picks, then it’s pretty safe to say that whoever drafted him feels he can play tackle.

Chris Polk 

One player who has since his stock increase a bit in recent weeks is Washington RB Chris Polk.

 “(Washington RB Chris) Polk was productive on a (bad) team, but he gained weight this year and lost some speed and did not have any burst,” said one NFL executive. “He was coming off knee surgery. I’m not sure if he ever had explosive speed, to be honest. We have him in the fifth (round).”

There’s enough interest that he should be taken in the third-round, but these things are obvious concerns that team’s will have to consider if they’re seriously about adding him to their backfield. To his credit, Mike Mayock believes that he can be a three-down back in the NFL.

Vikings

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Minnesota Vikings are considering three players at #3 overall. Their list reportedly includes: Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, LSU CB Morris Claiborne, and USC LT Matt Kalil.

Earlier in the day, Schefter mentioned that the Vikings aren’t sold on taking Kalil. Some believe that the Vikings could still grab him at #4, if they’re able to convince the Browns to part with a third-round pick.

Not sure this is going to happen, but I guess it’s still a possibility.

Brian Quick

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has actually moved Appalachian State WR Brian Quick up to #4 on list of wide receiver prospects.

This is interesting because he has him ahead of Stephen Hill and Rueben Randle, both of whom have been listed as first-round talents in recent weeks. Quick does have great game tape but he put together a poor performance at this year’s Senior Bowl which affected his stock a bit.

Shea McClellin

Greg Cosell of NFL Films appears to another a person on Boise State LB/DE Shea McClellin’s bandwagon.

Cosell mentions that McClellin could end up becoming a “dynamic edge pass rusher” in the NFL, which is in line with what some other analysts have been saying recently.

Mike Mayock mentioned that he would take him over Quinton Coples and said that he seems to show up in every game he watches. McClellin’s draft stock appears to be soaring right now and there’s a very real chance that he could off of the board after the first 20 picks.

Mike Mayock

Here are some notes from Mike Mayock during today’s Path To The Draft.

• On the Browns #4 pick: “If Cleveland doesn’t go quarterback, I think they have to go Richardson and take some pressure off (Colt) McCoy.”
• On  Boise State RB Doug Martin: “I have him No. 24 or 25 on my board. … He’s a true 3-down back. I love him at the end of the first round.”
• On RB’s David Wilson to Lamar Miller. “If you put Miami tape on, Miller doesn’t show up on 3rd down, short yardage, or goal line.”
• On Boston College LB Luke Kuechly being his #6 overall player: “I’ve had several GMs tell me he’s the cleanest single player in the draft.”
• On Northern Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins: “The Off-the-field baggage is gonna hurt this kid. … Jenkins could go in the 1st, but probably slides.”