NFL Notes: Draft, Dwayne Haskins, Rule Changes

Draft

Georgia CB DeAndre Baker called himself the “best” cornerback in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

“I know I’m the best cornerback in the draft,” Baker said, via Charles Odum of the Associated Press. “I don’t just believe it, I know I’m the best.”

Baker added that his film, stats, and production throughout his collegiate career “speaks for itself.”

“My film speaks for itself,” said Baker. “My stats, everything. My production, week in and week out. You go back to 2017 or the first day I started I was the best cornerback in the nation.”

• Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones said he has visits scheduled with the Broncos, Panthers, and Browns. (Dan Hope)
• Ohio State RB Mike Weber said he plans to visit the Saints, Cowboys, Steelers, and Bears. (Dan Hope)
• San Jose State TE Josh Oliver has official visits scheduled with the Broncos and Vikings. (Matt Barrows)
• The Lions, Steelers and Bengals all sent RB coaches to Pitt’s pro day, where RBs Qadree Ollison and Darin Hall worked out.  (Gil Brandt)
• Tony Pauline of Draft Insider reports that nearly 50 scouts from all 32 teams were on-hand at Louisianna Tech’s Pro Day to observe DL Jaylon Ferguson.
• Pauline writes that Ferguson has over 20 official pre-draft visits scheduled including the Chiefs, Giants, Bills, Texans, and Dolphins.
• Louisianna Tech OL Immanuel Turner has 14 official pre-draft visits scheduled and met with the Jets, Steelers, and Raiders this week. 
• Pauline also writes that Louisianna Tech OL O’Shea Dugas met with the Texans on Monday. 
• According to Tony Pauline, Ohio State CB Kendall Sheffield will tentatively hold a private workout the week of April 8th.  Sheffield suffered a partially-torn pectoral during the bench press at the NFL Combine.  

Dwayne Haskins

Raiders’ recently hired GM Mike Mayock said Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins “put on a show” during his Pro Day workout on Wednesday. 

“He threw really well,” Mayock said, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports. “I thought he put on a show. I thought his receivers put on a show. That’s typical for Ohio State. They did a great job.”

Rule Changes

2019 Playing Rule Proposals Summary

1. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 6 to make permanent the kickoff rule
   changes that were implemented during the 2018 season.
2. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 12 to expand protection to a defenseless player.
3. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2 to change the
   enforcement of double fouls when there is a change of possession.
4. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 11, Section 4, Article 2 to simplify the
   application of scrimmage kick rules for missed field goals.
5. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 14, Section 2, Article 3 to allow teams
   to elect to enforce on the succeeding try or on the succeeding free kick an
   opponent’s personal or unsportsmanlike conduct foul committed during a
   touchdown.
6. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 15, Section 2 for one year only to expand
   the reviewable plays in instant replay to include fouls for pass interference; also
   expands automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a
   foul, and any Try attempt (extra point or two-point conversion).
   6a. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 15, Section 2 for one year only to expand
   the reviewable plays in instant replay to include all fouls for pass interference,
   roughing the passer, and unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless
   posture; also expands automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers
   negated by a foul, and any Try attempt (extra point or two-point conversion).
7. By Kansas City Chiefs; to amend Rule 16 to (1) allow both teams the opportunity to
   possess the ball at least one time in overtime, even if the first team to possess the ball
   in overtime scores a touchdown; (2) eliminate overtime for preseason; and (3)
   eliminate overtime coin toss so that winner of initial coin toss to begin game may
   choose whether to kick or receive, or which goal to defend.
8. By Denver; to amend Rule 6, Section 1, Article 1 to provide an alternative to the
   onside kick that would allow a team who is trailing in the game an opportunity to
   maintain possession of the ball after scoring
9. By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2 to subject all plays that occur during a
   game to coaches’ challenge by teams or review by the Officiating department in the
   instant replay system.
10. By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add review of personal fouls
    as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.
11. By Kansas City; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add review of personal fouls (called or
    not called on the field) as plays subject to coaches’ challenge in the instant replay
    system.
12. By Carolina, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia, and Seattle; to amend Rule 15, Section 2,
    to add review of designated player safety-related fouls (called or not called on the field)
    as plays subject to coaches’ challenge in the instant replay system.
13. By Philadelphia; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add scoring plays and turnovers
    negated by a foul to be subject to automatic review in the instant replay system.
14. By Denver; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add all fourth down plays that are spotted
    short of the line to gain or goal line to be subject to automatic review in the instant
    replay system.
15. By Denver; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add all Try attempts (Extra point or Twopoint conversion) to be subject to automatic review in the instant replay system.
16. By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 15, Section 1, Article 5 to allow League
    personnel to disqualify for both flagrant football and non-football acts.

2019 Bylaw Proposals Summary

1. By Buffalo; to amend Article XVII, Section 17.4 to liberalize the rule for
   reacquisition of a player assigned via waivers.
2. By Competition Committee; to amend Article XVII, Section 17.1 to provide clubs with
   more roster flexibility during training camp.
3. By Competition Committee; to amend Article XVIII, Section 18.1 to provide teams more
   effective access to players during the postseason.
4. By Competition Committee; to amend Article XIV, Section 14.3(B)(8) to make the tiebreaking procedures fairer for the selection meeting.
5. By Competition Committee; to amend Article XVII, Section 17.1 to provide
   additional roster spots during the preseason.
6. By Competition Committee; to amend Article XVII, Section 12.3 to offer more roster
   flexibility.