NFL Notes: NFL Draft, Jets, Patriots, Titans

NFL Draft

• An NFL scouting executive tells Daniel Jeremiah that Ohio State DE Nick Bosa is just like his older brother, Chargers DE Joey Bosa: “Bosa’s little brother is a stud. He’s the same player in a smaller package. He has the exact same swipe move and he plays with the same effort. The (OSU) coaches told me he’s further along than his brother at this point in his career.”
• Jeremiah mentions three “hidden gems” at quarterback for the 2018 NFL Draft, including West Virginia’s Will Grier, N.C. State’s Ryan Finley and Memphis’ Riley Ferguson.

Jets

• Although Rich Cimini of ESPN could see the Jets starting Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg if the team continues to struggle, he mentions that HC Todd Bowles likely needs win a few more games to keep his job and Josh McCown doesn’t deserve to be benched based on his play this season.
• As long as McCown continues to perform, Cimini does not think Bowles would turn to another either Petty or Hackenberg. Cimini believes that Bowles would be waiving the “white flag” on the 2017 season the moment he decides to start Petty or Hackenberg.
• The next three games could dictate the Jets’ quarterback situation, as Cimini could see Bowles making a change if the team is 3-7 by their Week 11 bye.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN writes that it’s unlikely the Patriots will make a run at acquiring veteran Bills WR Anquan Boldin, given that Boldin expressed that he would like to play closer to his home in Florida.
• While Reiss writes that the “door remains open” for Patriots ILB Dont’a Hightower to return from injured reserve this season, the expectation is still that he’ll miss the remainder of the 2017 season and the playoffs.
• As for some players that could possibly return off the injured reserve, Reiss mentions LB Shea McClellin, and then DT Vincent Valentine and WR Malcolm Mitchell as possible options.
• Reiss believes that Patriots are more inclined to re-sign backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo to an extension rather than trade him.
• Reiss doesn’t get the sense that the Patriots are in a position where they would seriously consider trying to convince DE Rob Ninkovich to come out of retirement.

Titans

• Cameron Wolfe of ESPN writes that there’s a misconception going around that the Titans’ offense has abandoned the pass for the run this season. In fact, Wolfe points out that Tennessee has passed the ball 54 percent of the time and ran the ball 46 percent.
• According to Wolfe, once first-round WR Corey Davis (hamstring) is deemed healthy and “up to speed“, he will “likely” start opposite of Rishard Matthews.
• As for Titans WR Eric Decker, Wolfe mentions that both he and Matthews are often redundant in their route running since they are both possession receivers, which makes Tennessee easier to plan for defensively.
• Instead, Wolfe expects Decker and third-round WR Taywan Taylor to split time as their third receiver role.