Category: Draft News

Tracking the 5th-year options on the 2020 NFL draft class

How many fifth-year options got picked up for the first-round class of the 2020 NFL draft?

Tuesday marked the deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year contract options on the first-round picks from the draft class of 2020. All first-round picks get initial contracts for four seasons with a club option for a fifth year.

That fifth year is not a cheap one. Values are based on the average salary at a particular position, with additions to the base average according to playing time and Pro Bowl honors. Exercising the option guarantees the full salary for the player. They become unrestricted free agents after the conclusion of the fifth season, barring any extensions.

Picking up the option doesn’t mean the two sides can’t agree to a contract extension. Players can also be traded or cut, but the salary is guaranteed.

C.J. Stroud growing as a favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft

Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud growing as a favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft

The Carolina Panthers have not yet declared which player they’re targeting after trading up to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, the sportsbooks have a clear and growing suspicion that the Panthers will select Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud with the first pick.

The latest odds update at Fanduel sportsbook lists Stroud as the most likely pick by the Panthers. Stroud is currently -220 to be the top pick, up from -120 a week ago. Bryce Young remains the No. 2 option in the odds at +250, followed by Anthony Richardson at +350.

It’s a little different at BetMGM, where Richardson is ahead of Young in the odds to be the top pick. Stroud is an even bigger favorite there; the Buckeyes QB is -250, while Richardson checks in at +300 and Young is +350.

2023 NFL draft film room: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud

The Big 12 Conference will have one giant pro day in 2024

The Big 12 will have one giant pro day in 2024 instead of each school hosting its own

The collegiate pro day circuit will look a little different in 2024. Instead of each school in the Big 12 Conference holding individual pro days on their campuses, the member schools will hold one big, unified pro day next year.

Per Dennis Dobbs of CBS Sports, the Big 12 partnered with the NFL for the unique new concept. In effect, the conference is holding an event similar to the NFL Scouting Combine workouts for its 14 schools–which includes Texas and Oklahoma in their final season in the league in 2023.

From Dobbs’ report:

The Big 12 will be partnering with the NFL to hold its own conference-wide pro day next year ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, CBS Sports has learned. The event will be held at the Dallas Cowboys training facility in Frisco, Texas.

The Big 12 pro day is believed to be the first of its kind: a comprehensive event where NFL evaluators can observe the top players from a major-college conference in a single location. That is the Ford Center, a 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility within the Cowboys’ complex known as The Star in Frisco.

The event will be closed to the public but will air on the NFL Network.

Bears trading No. 1 pick in 2023 NFL draft to Panthers

The Chicago Bears are trading the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers

The Chicago Bears are trading the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers, per multiple reports.

The Panthers are sending a massive haul to the Bears in return for this year’s top pick, including a pair of first-round picks, two second-round picks, and star wide receiver D.J. Moore, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This move allows Carolina to have their pick of this year’s top quarterback prospects, while the Bears load up on additional resources to build around quarterback Justin Fields, including a new No. 1 receiver in Moore.

NFL announces 37 compensatory picks for 2023 draft

See which teams are getting extra picks in the 2023 NFL draft

The NFL has officially announced the list of 37 compensatory picks in the 2023 NFL draft, which have been awarded to 16 of the league’s 32 teams.

The San Francisco 49ers are getting a trio of third-round picks, which will help balance out the fact that they don’t have a selection in either of the first two rounds.

These picks are awarded based on a formula that accounts for losses and additions in free agency from the previous offseason, as well as for having minority members of the organization hired by other teams as head coaches or general managers.

USC OL Andrew Vorhees suffers torn ACL during NFL Scouting Combine

One of this year’s top interior blockers suffered the injury during Sunday’s on-field workouts

USC offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees suffered a torn ACL during his on-field workouts at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, per multiple reports.

Vorhees still managed to compete in the bench press Monday after sustaining the injury Sunday, and put up a whopping 38 reps of 225 pounds despite having one leg on the ground, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

One of the top interior blockers in the 2023 NFL draft class, Vorhees will now focus on surgery, recovery and rehab as he prepares to make the jump from college to the pros.

Check out Bryce Young’s official measurements at the NFL Scouting Combine

See how the Alabama quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner measured in at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine

The most highly anticipated numbers at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine are officially in.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young measured in at just over 5-10 and 204 pounds, after being listed at 6-0 and 195 pounds while playing for the Crimson Tide.

Widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the 2023 NFL draft class, Young’s lack of ideal size has been one of the biggest storylines heading into this year’s event.

His measurements are nearly identical to those of Kyler Murray, who was the No. 1 overall pick in his draft class.

Jalen Carter booked and released, returns to NFL Scouting Combine

The top NFL draft prospect has returned to Indy for the NFL Scouting Combine after answering to his arrest warrants

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter has returned to Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after being booked and released from jail back in Georgia late Wednesday night, per multiple reports.

Police in Athens issued multiple arrest warrants for Carter stemming from the traffic accident that killed teammate Devin Willock and Bulldogs football staffer Chandler LeCroy back in January.

Upon learning of the warrants, Carter left the combine to return to Athens and answer to the warrants.

Carter released a statement Wednesday, saying he will be “fully exonerated.”

Georgia DL Jalen Carter releases statement regarding arrest warrants

Top NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter says he’ll return to Athens to answer the charges against him, and that he’ll be “fully exonerated”

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter has released a statement following news that arrest warrants had been issued for him in connection with the January 15th traffic accident that claimed the lives of teammate Devin Willock and Bulldogs football staffer Chandler LeCroy.

Carter was not present for his scheduled media availability Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, and says he intends to return to Athens to answer the charges against him. He also says that when all the facts come out, he will be “fully exonerated.”

Widely regarded as one of the best prospects in the 2023 NFL draft, Carter is a leading candidate for this year’s No. 1 overall pick.

Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter stemming from crash that killed teammate, staff member

An arrest warrant has been issued for Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter stemming from the crash that killed a teammate and staff member

An arrest warrant has been issued for Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter stemming from the traffic accident that killed teammate Devin Willock and Bulldogs football staffer Chandler LeCroy back in January.

The statement from the ACCPD announcing the warrants (via The Athletic’s Seth Emerson) notes that Carter and LeCroy were both driving “in a manner consistent with racing,” and determined that “alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Carter misled police about his whereabouts at the time of the crash. Both charges Carter is facing are misdemeanors, per Emerson.

Carter is currently in attendance at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and is widely regarded as one of the top overall prospects in the 2023 NFL draft.