NFL Notes: Caleb Brantley, 49ers, Bengals, Giants

Caleb Brantley

On Sunday, reports surfaced that Florida DT Caleb Brantley is facing a misdemeanor charge (NFLTR) for allegedly knocking a woman unconscious.

It’s very likely that this situation will impact Brantley’s draft stock and could lead to him possibly going undrafted.

When asked about whether a decision to pursue a case against Brantley, State Attorney Bill Cervone made it clear that a decision won’t come by Thursday.

“I don’t care about the NFL draft, and I don’t believe there’s any way we will make a decision before Thursday,” Cervone said. “The police filed their report with us Friday and we’re trying to figure out what’s what.”

49ers

49ers GM John Lynch told reporters that they plan to field trade offers right up to the start of the draft, but they’re fine staying at No. 2 and taking a “cornerstone” player.

“We’re going to listen right up ’till draft day,” Lynch said, via Cam Inman of the Mercury Times. “Otherwise we are going to take a player at (No.) 2 that we feel is a cornerstone for this franchise for years to come and we’ll be very passionate about that pick and player.”

• In regards to Jimmie Ward‘s fifth-year option, Lynch said they have yet to make a decision whether they’ll pick it up. (Matt Barrows)

Bengals

Bengals backup QB A.J. McCarron was asked about the possibility that he could return to Cincinnati in 2018, given that he’s slated to be a restricted free agent after not accruing a full year of service time last season.

“We’re still going through all that,” McCarron said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. “And it’s probably going to go into next year. It’s just something they’re going to fight on their side and something I’m going to fight on my side to prove why I shouldn’t have to have another year.”

McCarron is, however, keeping tabs on the quarterback market.

“There were some quarterbacks that got some pretty nice paydays this offseason,” McCarron said. “Hopefully in my future, one of those days is coming up.”

Giants

• A team source tells Ralph Vacchiano of SNY that the Giants are “wide open” in regards to who they could take at No. 23 overall.
• Vacchiano mentions that the Giants “are not in love” with the offensive line prospects in this year’s draft class. However, they could still take one of Alabama’s Cam Robinson, Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk or Utah’s Garett Bolles.
• It’s possible that they could consider a tight end such as Miami’s David Njoku, but Vacchiano says there are “mixed signals” about New York’s interest in him.
• Vacchiano says it’s unlikely they’ll grab a quarterback in round one, but he wouldn’t rule out them looking at the available options in round two.