NFL Draft Rumors: Vontaze Burfict, Stephen Gilmore, Browns, Jets, Cowboys, Eagles, WR’s

Mary Cay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the Browns could be targeting Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill in this year’s draft.

“I haven’t gotten the sense the Browns are hot on Hill’s trail, writes Cabot. “I’d be surprised but not shocked if they draft him at No. 22.”

Cabot adds that Alabama RB Trent Richardson makes sense for them at #4 overall but can’t see them making a run Stanford TE Coby Fleener considering their current depth at the position.

One more interesting note from her, she also mentions that Georgia OT Cordy Glenn could end up being someone that they consider at #22 overall, as they recently brought him in for a workout and could use a better option at RT.

You’d have to think that Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden would also be in consideration at #22.

Jets

Rich Cimini of ESPN New York isn’t very high on the idea of the Jets taking Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd in the first round.

“I know Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is one of the hot names in the draft, but I don’t think the Jets would take him at 16. Nor should they,” writes Cimini. “There’s too much quality depth at receiver to take one that high. Plus, I’m not sold on Floyd.”

Cimini specifically mentions that the Jets have interest in Alabama S Mark Barron, Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw and Syracuse OLB Chandler Jones.

It’s hard to say whether or not Mark Barron would be available to them at #19, but surely one of OLB’s will be there. There’s been a lot of talk that the Jets could try to move up for South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram, so he too could be in the mix.

Eagles

Jeff McLane of Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles have already brought in DT’s LSU’s Michael Brockers and Memphis’s Dontari Poe for visits. McLane adds that defensive line coach Jim Washburn “really likes” Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox.

At first it seemed like Boston College ILB Luke Kuechly was the obvious pick but since then, there’s been a lot of talk that the Eagles will end up taking a DT at #15. I can only imagine how formidable their defensive line would be with the addition of some like Cox. They already have Cullen Jenkins, Trent Cole and Justin Babin, all of whom are coming of great seasons, so taking Cox would lead one to believe that they could actually get better next season.

I’ll admit that things always look better on paper, but it still seems like a great pick for Philly.

Michael Floyd & Justin Blackmon

Gil Brandt mentioned that he believes that Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is a better prospect than the consensus favorite, Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State.

“It’s really close, but I think (Floyd) has a little more upside,” Brandt said, per Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s a little bigger, a little faster.”

With that being said, Brandt still gave Blackmon a pretty decent compliment.

“Blackmon is a smaller version of Michael Irvin,” Brandt said. “He’ll catch that slant. He will run after the catch. He is strong.“

We have them listed as the #7 and #8 best prospects in our Top 50 Prospects list, with Blackmon just edging out Floyd.

Quinton Coples

Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe suggests that North Carolina DE Quinton Coples could end up being an option for the Cincinnati Bengals at #17 overall.

Bedard points to the fact that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer likes to have options on the d-line and believes that Coples would be a good replacement for Jonathan Fanene, who they lost in free agency this year.

The Bengals are in a position to go a number of way’s early on in the draft, so going with the best player available at #17, really wouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Andrew Luck

Former Colts GM Tom Moore believes that taking Andrew Luck is the right move for Indianapolis.

“It’s really none of my business who people take in the draft, but personally, would I take him first? Yes, I’d take him first and no looking back,” Moore said, per Bob Kravitz. “That’s no reflection on anybody else, but that’s what I would do.”

There was some talk that the Colts should at least consider taking Robert Griffin III with the first-overall pick, but Moore praises Luck as being the “real deal.”

“To me, he’s the real deal. He’s extremely intelligent. He was placed in a high-power, first-class program. He was very productive — very, very dedicated to the game.”

It would come as a shock to see the Colts pass on him, even if some feel that Griffin has a higher ceiling.

Cowboys 

Dallas Cowboys VP Stephen Jones discussed some of the Alabama prospects like CB Dre Kirkpatrick , DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw and S Mark Barron with the Dallas Morning News.

Jones mentions that Upshaw is going to be some that they’re going to have to “take a long, hard look at over the next couple of weeks.” Jones added that they’ll have to decipher whether or not he can be their SAM linebacker.

He also showed plenty of interest in Barron.

“One thing you’ve got to look to when you’re talking safety in the first round, we think, in order to justify a pick at safety is that the guy needs to cover too,” said Jones. “We got to get them out on third down. I think you can get by with safeties in the box in our league, but to find one who can really cover is important.

While there’s a chance that they could end up drafting an OLB like Upshaw, it seems like a safer bet that Barron or even Dontari Poe will end up being the pick.

Brandon Brooks

Dan Pompei of the National Football Post writes that Miami of Ohio G Brandon Brooks showed what a mistake it was for him to not be invited to this year’s Scouting Combine. Pompei adds that Brooks was “lighting up his pro day workout” and displayed as much athleticism as “any guard in the draft.”

He’s done a great job of boosting his draft stock despite not participating in the Combine. We have him listed as the #78 best player in our Top 100 Prospects list.

Draft Notes

• Virginia Tech RB David Wilson had more yards after contact than any runner in the country last season, according to STATS X-Info. (Dan Pompei)
• Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus “opened up his market to include 3-4 teams” after “moving smoothly” in LB drills for NFL teams. (Dan Pompei)
• Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy had a “solid pro day workout” and may have “cemented a spot in the first round.” (Dan Pompei)
• Iowa State CB Leonard Johnson may have saved himself from being undrafted by running a  4.51 40 yard dash at his pro day. (Dan Pompei)
• Wake Forest WR Chris Givens is “probably the best route runner” in the 2012 draft class. (Gil Brandt)
• Louisiana-Lafayette TE Ladarius Green will visit the Steelers on Mon and has met with the Buccaneers, Browns, Falcons and Saints. (Aaron Wilson)
• Utah State LB Bobby Wagner will visit the Rams, Chargers, Seahawks and 49ers (Aaron Wilson)
• Iowa State OL Kelechi Osemele has already visited the Rams, Lions, Dolphins and Falcons (Aaron Wilson)