NFL Notes: Draft, C.J. Conrad, Free Agents

Draft

• Ian Rapoport reports that Alabama DT Quinnen Williams has visits scheduled with each team holding a pick in the top seven.
• Charles Robinson reports there were concerns about Alabama S Deionte Thompson‘s weight coming out of the combine.
• Robinson spoke with a number of NFL evaluators remarked that they had to go back to the tape more than usual after this last combine, due to both negative and positive assessments of prospects. 
• According to Robinson, there appears to be a feeling right now that this draft class could have a lot of bust potential.
• As for the quarterbacks, Robinson says evaluations are “all over the map” and it’s possible that Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock could experience “a mini slide.”
• Several NFL evaluators have told Robinson that they feel confident one of the middle-to-late round “development” guys will end up better than advertised and WVU’s Will Grier and NDSU’s Easton Stick both have some fans. 
• Robinson explains that “fit” is going to be really big this year for QB prospects and one evaluator mentioned that there are “very few” guys who can be molded into different offensive systems this year. 
• Georgia CB Deandre Baker, who was considered a potential high first-round pick at one point, could be “slipping a bit” during the draft process, per Robinson. 
• As for someone on the rise, Robinson mentions Washington CB Byron Murphy as someone teams have gone back to the tape to evaluate. One evaluator mentioned that his drill work was the best in years.
• Other players rising, per Robinson, include Alabama State OT Tytus Howard, Texas A&M OL Erik McCoy, Wake Forest OL Phil Haynes, West Virginia TE Trevon Wesco, Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin, West Virginia WR Gary Jennings, Massachusetts WR Andy Isabella, and Minnesota LB Blake Cashman.
• Robinson lists South Carolina OT Dennis Daley, Minnesota LB Blake Cashman, Washburn CB Corey Ballentine, Washington State QB Gardner Minshew, Eastern Michigan DE Maxx Crosby, and Central Michigan CB Sean Bunting as others on the rise. 
• Robinson adds that he would not be surprised to see Michigan LB Devin Bush and DE Chase Winovich go higher than expected.

C.J. Conrad

Former Kentucky TE C.J. Conrad, who was blocked from participating in the Scouting Combine due to a potential heart condition, was cleared Monday by cardiologists at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Conrad will be a full participant at his Pro Day on April 8. (Adam Schefter)

Free Agents

• According to Ian Rapoport, free agent OLB Justin Houston has generated “considerable interest” since becoming available and has reduced his list down to three teams. However, Rapoport says that Houston is still trying to determine the right fit and is in no rush to make a decision. 
• Former Rams DT Ndamukong Suh is still waiting for his market to develop and would prefer to remain on the west coast if possible. 
• Rapoport reports that free agent DE Ziggy Ansah has hit pause a bit after meeting with the Bills and Saints in the past week. 
• We have them featured in our Top 100 Available Free Agents list.