NFL Notes: Draft, Streaming, Chargers

Draft

• An NFL scout tells Matt Miller that he believes Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is in the same group of RB prospects as LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk: “I’ve been doing this longer than some of these prospects have been alive, and the only backs I’ve seen like him are [Marshall] Faulk and LT (LaDainian Tomlinson). He’s that special.”
• Many consider Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson to be as safe of a prospect as any in this year’s draft and class. One scout tells Miller that if Nelson busts, there’s really no such thing as a “can’t-miss player“: “Strip away the value of his position and he’s the best player. If this kid misses, then there’s no such thing as can’t-miss.“
• Lance Zierlein writes that Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds has a rare combination of size and speed that reminds him of Hall of Fame Bears LB Brian Urlacher.
• An AFC scout tells Zierlein that Michigan DT Maurice Hurst will end up playing for a team that employs a 4-3 base defense: “He’s only going to play for 4-3, upfield teams as a three-technique. That’s the only place that works for him. He’s got a get-off that is crazy fast and if he gets with the right coordinator, he’s going to be tough to block.”
• One executive tells Daniel Jeremiah that FSU S Derwin James will start generating top-five buzz after the Combine: “Derwin is going to start garnering some top-five attention after everyone sees him work out. He’s going to turn some heads after he runs and does all the testing. He’s a rare athlete at that size.“

Streaming

A report from Variety says that Amazon, YouTube, Twitter and Verizon are all bidding for the streaming rights to Thursday night games.

Twitter held these rights two years ago before Amazon purchased them last year. In 2017 streaming was up 17 percent, according to Amazon, for a total of 18.4 million total viewers in 224 countries and territories. This led to a 2.5 percent increase in overall consumption of “TNF.”

Chargers

• Jack Wang of the Orange County Register mentions that the Chargers have an important roster decision regarding veteran impending free-agent TE Antonio Gates.
• Wang mentions that Gates returning to the team likely hinges on his salary demands after he made $4.5 million last year, which was eighth most among tight ends.
• Wang adds that it would be “unwise” for the Chargers to invest significant cap space in Gates.