NFL Notes: Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Draft

Lamar Jackson

An NFL scout tells Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com that there are concerns about Louisville QB Lamar Jackson’s intelligence and it’s possible he could drop in round one.

“Look, there is no getting around it, the question with (Jackson) is intelligence,” the scout tells Rang. “We all know what a remarkable athlete he is and that (Bobby) Petrino’s offense asks the quarterback to do some tough things, but you’re making quite a commitment with (Jackson). The entire offense is going to be built around him, so the owner, coaches and players already on the roster are going to have to buy in.

“If he gets past Arizona, he could slide, perhaps even all of the way out (of the first round). The Oklahoma State kid (Mason Rudolph) may jump him.”

Baker Mayfield

• According to Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout, some draft evaluators believe Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield has better “accuracy, winning percentage, and on-field poise” than the other top quarterback prospects.
• While some teams have focused on Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen as the top quarterbacks who could be top-five selections, Rang is told that Mayfield remains “very much in conversation” as a candidate to go in the top of the draft.
• Rang mentions the Bills and Patriots as two teams with enough draft capital to trade up in the first round to take Mayfield.
• Rang, citing sources, reports that there is “no way” Mayfield will slide to No. 12 overall to the Bills. A scout also indicated that the Bills will have to trade up into the top-five to draft the quarterback: “If the Bills want him, they’re going to have to come up to get him. I’ll betcha he goes top five and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is before some of those other guys.”

Draft

• According to Lance Zierlein, some teams are concerned about Alabama WR Calvin Ridley‘s size.
• Zierlein says it’s possible that some of the top guard prospects could fall in the draft due to the depth at the position.
• Zierlein expects Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey and UCLA’s Kolton Miller to go higher than some expect due to the poor depth at offensive tackle.
• Regarding Texas’ Connor Williams, Zierlein mentions that many teams view him as a guard.

• The 49ers are hosting LSU pass-rusher Arden Key on a Top 30 visit Friday. (Ian Rapoport)
• Ohio State CB Denzel Ward will wrap up his pre-draft visits with the Buccaneers next week. (College Football 24/7)
• The Bears are worked out SMU WRs Trey Quinn and Courtland Sutton on Saturday. (Billy Embody)

• Pittsburgh WR/RB Quadree Henderson worked out for 49ers and Browns this week and is drawing interest from Steelers, 49ers, Giants and Eagles. (Aaron Wilson)
• Western Illinois CB Tyrin Holloway is drawing interest from Jets and Seahawks. (Aaron Wilson)