NFL Rumors: Kyler Murray, Jeffery Simmons, Draft

Kyler Murray

• Should Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray slide in the first round, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated believes there would “definitely be a concern” that he would return to the Oakland A’s. 
• Breer notes that the A’s offered Murray a $14 million sweetner to the $4.66 million bonus he was already due as part of the baseball contract he signed last summer.
• With this in mind, Breer mentions that $18.66 million guaranteed would land between what the 10th and 11th picks, so the question becomes: What happens if Murray Murray falls out of the top 10 and into the teens?
• For what it’s worth, Breer still expects Murray to be selected No. 1 overall by the Cardinals.  

Jeffery Simmons

• Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that some around the NFL put Mississippi State DL Jeffery Simmons in the “Nick Bosa/Quinnen Williams category”, while other teams have him completely off their draft board due to the video of him striking a woman in high school. 
• However, Breer adds that his former coaches have been “vocal in defending Simmons” and Simmons has “impressed” NFL teams through the pre-draft process. 
• Simmons’ uncle, former Cowboys DT Jason Hatcher, is advising him and teams have noticed how Simmons is managing his travel schedule while rehabbing from a torn ACL. 

Draft

• Lance Zierlein writes to not be shocked to see teams run Baylor WR Jalen Hurd at running back, which was his original position. Zierlein points out that Hurd had an “impressive tape” when Baylor used him at running back at a lighter weight.
• According to Ian Rapoport, the following five prospects could “sneak” into the top-100 selections of the 2019 NFL Draft, including Boston College S Will Harris, Utah LB Cody Barton, TCU LB Ty Summers, San Jose State TE Josh Oliver and OSU WR Terry McLaurin.
• Houston DT Ed Oliver said he is thankful to be compared to Hall of Fame DL John Randle but hopes to surpass his comparison to Aaron Donald: “You can compare me to (Randle) for the rest of life, but as far as Aaron Donald, I want to be in competition with him, not just compared to him.” (Mark Berman)