NFL Notes: Draft, Seahawks, Texans, & Vikings

Draft

• Purdue DT Ryan Watson has visited, worked out for, or drawn inquiries from eight teams since his Pro Day. (Aaron Wilson)
• Howard OT John Smith attended the Falcons‘ local prospect day. (Aaron Wilson)
• Jason La Canfora could see Florida S Keanu Neal being drafted “way higher” in the first round than where he is currently projected.

Seahawks

Seahawks GM John Schneider told reporters on Tuesday that they plan for veteran DE Chris Clemons to be a situational pass rusher.

“With Chris, last year they wanted him to be a little bit more of a situational pass rusher,” Schenider said, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “They ended up playing him more than they wanted to. We recognized that, you could kind of see it on tape. But he’s been here, he’s got a specific attitude about him. Losing Bruce (Irvin in free agency), some of those reps that Bruce was taking as a situational rusher, that’s really kind of how we see Chris.”

Texans

• According to Aaron Wilson, the Texans had a “heavy presence” at Baylor WR Corey Coleman‘s Pro Day, which included GM Rick Smith and HC Bill O’Brien.

Vikings

Vikings GM Rick Spielman said the team is in position to take the best player available and is not locked in to draft a receiver in the first round.

“As I sit there and enjoy reading the mock drafts and everybody out there trying to determine what we’re going to do, we are in a position to take the best player,” Spielman said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “I’m sure I’ll get a receiver question here. … In case someone (asks), we’re not honed in on a receiver in the first round. We’ll look at the potential best available player regardless of position.”

Spielman also said that he wants to add a safety that can play both safety positions.

“I know from a philosophy standpoint, we are looking for safeties that are interchangeable; they have to be able to do both,” said Spielman. “It’s not just one playing strong up to the line of scrimmage and the other one playing back free all of the time.”

Additionally, Spielman said teams have inquired about trading for the Vikings’ No. 23 overall pick

“It’ll be interesting at the 23rd pick because I’ve already had two calls that I can verify (Tuesday) about teams potentially coming up our way,” Spielman said. “So we’re going to have to make some determinations, and usually those decisions aren’t made until we’re actually on the clock. … One (team) was (willing to trade) first round (pick) to first round, one was second round to first round… They’re asking about my 23rd pick.”