Tag: 2017 NFL Draft

Bears shouldn’t get a second chance at Texans QB Deshaun Watson

The Chicago Bears blew their chance at Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL draft. The Houston Texans shouldn’t give them a second chance.

On April 27, 2017, after watching the Cleveland Brown select Myles Garrett No. 1 overall, the Chicago Bears made a bold move that would define the next five years of their franchise. The Bears traded their third and fourth round selections to San Francisco, letting them move up to the first overall pick and giving them their “pick of lot” on the 2017 quarterback class.

The star-studded class included Patrick Mahomes, an All-Pro who played in his second straight Super Bowl this past Sunday, and the Houston Texans’ own Deshaun Watson, who led the NFL in passing this past season.

Unfortunately for the Bears, their scouting department led them to conclude that Mitch Trubisky, a one-year starter for North Carolina, was their guy at second overall.

In the past four seasons Trubisky, despite multiple playoff appearances, has certainly proved to Chicago he isn’t their guy moving forward. Even with above average defenses and studs at wideout like Allen Robinson, Trubisky has failed to keep them competitive once the team reaches the post-season. Last offseason the team voiced their displeasure by deciding to turn down the fifth-year option and now it is widely regarded that the team will move forward.

Ironically, rumors now speculate that Deshaun Watson, disgruntled with Jack Easterby and the dysfunctional management for Houston, is a candidate to solve their quarterback woes. The Chicago media has gone out of their way to court Watson, with fans speculating when he followed two Chicago weatherman and fans working together recently to donate to Watson’s charity.

Houston must consider all offers when deciding what to do with their stud quarterback, especially if the decision reached is a trade. However, the Bears are not an ideal candidate for the Texans to trade with.

To begin, the Texans are supposedly looking for two firsts, two seconds, and two defensive players in any trade package according to John McClain. Many other analysts are adamant that the discussion around Watson will start at three first rounders. If the Texans are to trade Watson, the goals are relatively simple. They need to assemble draft capital, figure out the next quarterback, and help the roster or salary cap situation. When looking at Chicago, that framework becomes troubling for executing a deal.

In terms of draft compensation, the Bears could offer the 20th overall selection in this April’s draft with two additional firsts in 2022 and 2023. That number could go to four firsts hypothetically if a deal was executed on draft day, however that would certainly be unprecedented. This is all before considering what level of day two compensation Chicago would be willing to include in a package for Waston. Assumably, with general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy on the hot seat, the Bears would be willing to throw everything at a Watson trade to save their jobs.

Is a package of firsts that starts at 20th and is likely never below 20th appealing to Houston? This isn’t a top ten selection from the likes of Miami or Carolina that can quickly provide a new solution under center. These level of picks likely ensure that Houston will not be able to find a starting quarterback until the 2022 NFL draft, after what one imagines would be a pathetic 2021 campaign.

First-round picks are incredibly valuable, even in the lower portions of the round. However, are they OK to throw away a season to wait for the next quarterback after trading the fan’s favorite player?

Something tells me even that isn’t appealing even to someone with Easterby’s level of job security.

Next, Houston has been adamant on the importance of players they’d get back in a Watson trade. This part may actually be the biggest stinger for Chicago, as the Bears’ assets do not necessarily lineup with the future need of the Texans.

Many mention the idea of including Khalil Mack in a Watson trade. Would Houston want to absorb the bloated contract of a $27 million pass-rusher for a team that is about to tank? Mack’s deal is expensive and he is close to the wrong side of 30 at 29 years old. This is only two years younger than franchise star J.J. Watt, who many argue doesn’t fit with the Texans plans because of his age. This doesn’t seem like a logical inclusion.

Other mock drafts include corner Kyle Fuller, who is certainly an above average corner and would boost the Houston secondary. That probably isn’t enough for a team that is looking for “two young defensive starters.” Would Chicago be willing to include star inside linebacker Roquan Smith? Smith is coming off a phenomenal, 139-tackle campaign and is debatably the most important player for Chicago’s defense with 18 tackles for loss.

The only other players under 27 with 20-plus tackles are safety Eddie Jackson, CB Jaylon Johnson and NT Bilal Nichols. Jackson is a former All-Pro and considered elite at his position while the other two are unproven commodities.

What defensive starters could Chicago sell Caserio on while already having to offer more in draft compensation due to the position of their 2021 selection? The difficulty satisfying the ‘young defensive starter’ criteria is a big question for Pace in putting together an adequate package.

As always, money must be looked at.

The Bears are in salary cap hell entering the 2021 season, not dissimilar to the Houston Texans. They are a projected $10 million under the cap, which means moves would certainly have to be made before absorbing Watson’s contract. Watson is projected to count around $11 million against the cap in 2021 before ballooning to over $30M in 2022.

Cutting Akiem Hicks ($11 million) or Fuller (salary savings at $11 million) would start making this roster look far more capable of absorbing a player with a $400 million price tag like Deshaun Watson.

Finally, would Watson want any part of Chicago?

They are a team that passed on him in 2017 with an entire off-season knowing they’d most likely select the first quarterback. The Bears are in a division that includes Aaron Rodgers and a conference that still has the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers looming large. Robinson has seemingly noted his desire to leave and chase a ring.

Getting away from Easterby is always going to be a win for Watson. However, is Chicago the right situation to waive the no-trade clause for? That’s debatable.

Ultimately, the questions over draft compensation, lack of young defensive starters, and an unclear quarterback succession plan make Chicago a less-than-likely destination for Watson compared to suitors such as Miami or New York.

Sorry Chicago, Madden may be your best choice at seeing D4 on the roster.

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Sean Payton on Patrick Mahomes, ‘the best college QB I’ve ever evaluated’

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton reflected on scouting and missing Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes before the 2017 NFL draft.

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New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton appeared on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program to survey the 2021 offseason and preview Super Bowl LV’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs — two teams Payton’s Saints took down to the wire in games this year. And the Chiefs are built around quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who nearly wore black and gold himself.

“Yeah, we spent a full day on that campus,” Payton said of his 2017 pre-draft visit to Texas Tech, having flown into Lubbock on the owner’s jet with a handful of assistants. “We came away from there, like, just blown away. Impressed. I know I made the comment that [Mahomes] is the best quarterback, the best college quarterback I’ve ever evaluated.”

At that point, the priority was stealthily hurrying back to the airport and flying out to the next stop on the pro day circuit. But everything Mahomes showed them stuck with Payton: “There were all the other checks, the things you don’t see on video. His personality was fantastic. He was one of those guys probably always hanging out in the gym after high school, he comes from an athletic family. He’s got a bright smile. It was all there.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t mean to be. New Orleans’ visit to Texas Tech was leaked, along with Payton’s interest in drafting Mahomes. On draft day, the Chiefs traded all the way up from No. 27, leapfrogging the Saints at the last minute before Payton could make the call to pick Mahomes.

“We were picking at 11, Andy [Reid] went to 10,” Payton recounted. “And as soon as that trade took place we knew it was Mahomes. We were staring at Lattimore and Mahomes, so those were two great scenarios. He’s fun to watch and certainly tough to defend.”

While Payton and the Saints have publicly moved on quickly from the missed opportunity to transition from Drew Brees to Mahomes, fans have been left reeling and wondering how things may have gone differently. And if Payton’s extended anecdote is anything to go off of, the Saints may still be privately kicking themselves for not being more aggressive.

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Patrick Mahomes on predraft workout with ‘offensive genius’ Sean Payton

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has a lot of respect for New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton after meeting before the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Things could have gone very differently for the New Orleans Saints — and for future Super Bowl-winning league MVP Patrick Mahomes. The former Texas Tech quarterback was a highly-valued prospect in the 2017 draft, and he ranked high on the Saints draft board. He ranked so highly, in fact, that the Saints would have picked him at No. 11 overall if the Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t leapfrogged them in a trade up to No. 10.

And Mahomes would have welcomed that opportunity. He was impressed by a predraft visit with Saints coach Sean Payton, who put him through a private workout and left quite a positive impression.

“I mean, obviously he’s an offensive genius, but he also really is respected by his guys in his locker room,” Mahomes said during Wednesday’s media availability session. “Yeah, I mean, obviously then you could see how all the stuff he’s done for years and years had success and then when you watch them on film, you can see all the different game plan plays that they have is as long as their base plays.”

While Payton’s reputation preceded him, Mahomes’ interactions with him during their throwing session showed him everything he wanted to see: this was a coach who could get the most out of him.

Mahomes continued: “I think that was the first thing you kind of see I mean, the way he talks to you, the way he coaches you can tell he truly cares about the guys he coaches and he wants to make them better. That day he wanted to get it out of me and see where I was at and also help me improve in every way possible. You can see how he coaches.”

However, he acknowledged that Payton didn’t quite tip his hand one way or the other. Mahomes knew the team’s makeup meant they weren’t necessarily looking to draft another quarterback, and he didn’t think New Orleans was as invested in acquiring him as, say, the Chiefs.

“Yeah, with the Saints I didn’t sense it as much. I know I definitely had a good workout, but I didn’t sense  that they were going to pick me obviously with Drew (Brees) still being there and the success that he still has to this day,” he finished.

Mahomes did take time to point out that the Saints landed a pretty good prospect after missing out on him: cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lattimore is one of several defenders Mahomes is wary of facing on Sunday, describing the two-time Pro Bowler: “He’s a great cornerback. I mean, he’s not only physical, he can run and he’s very smart and he recognizes plays and so they do a lot different coverages.”

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Texans QB Deshaun Watson downplays the fact Bears didn’t select him in 2017 NFL Draft

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson isn’t focused on the fact the Chicago Bears passed over him in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Sometimes, superstars are perturbed that they were passed over in the NFL Draft. Just ask Randy Moss, who never let the Dallas Cowboys forget they passed him over in 1998.

When the Houston Texans take on the Chicago Bears Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field, quarterback Deshaun Watson will take on another team that needed a quarterback in 2017 but chose to take someone else.

With the second overall pick, the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky from North Carolina. At No. 12, the Texans selected Watson.

Don’t count on the two-time Pro Bowler making a big deal out of this fact leading into Week 14’s matchup.

“Nah, it’s no motivation,” Watson said. “That’s what the organization went with. I have no ties, nothing against the Chicago Bears or the organization.”

Though Chicago fans and even the sports media may make something of the fact Houston got Watson while the Bears passed over, Watson is focused on leading his 4-8 club to a win after a heartbreaking loss to the Colts at NRG Stadium.

“They did what they did and just keep pushing forward,” said Watson. “They thought that was the best situation for themselves at that time. For me, it’s no motivation. I respect and have all the respect for those players and coaches and ownership at the Chicago Bears.”

According to Watson, the Bears were just another team in the pack that didn’t really separate themselves from the other 32 to show more than nominal interest.

Said Watson: “All 32 teams were at the [Clemson] Pro Day so it was like a blur, honestly, from what I remember. That was pretty much it. I don’t really remember any, too much interaction with those guys. Maybe a little bit at the [NFL Scouting Combine] in Indianapolis, but nothing too crazy.”

Watson has compiled a 28-21 record with the Texans since 2017, leading the club to a playoff win the AFC wild-card last postseason.

Takk McKinley returns to waivers after failing physical with 49ers

When the Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley, the interest was strong throughout the league as multiple teams put a claim in for the former first-round pick. 

When the Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley, the interest was strong throughout the league as multiple teams put a claim in for the former first-round pick.

Two weeks later, McKinley has been claimed twice and waived two more times. After initially being awarded to the Cincinnati Bengals, the team placed him back on waivers after McKinley failed a physical.

Next up, it was the San Francisco 49ers to put a claim on Takk, saying they weren’t worried about his physical. Then, just like that, the 49ers seemed to change course. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, San Francisco has placed McKinley back on waivers after failing another physical.

McKinley had been dinged up all season with a groin injury, but the extent of it wasn’t believed to be that serious. According to Barrows, the 49ers still have interest once McKinley gets healthy.

The Falcons originally selected McKinley with pick No. 26 in the 2017 draft. In three and a half NFL seasons, the former UCLA standout has recorded 53 solo tackles, 45 QB hits, and 17.5 sacks.

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Tracking the crazy end results of the Browns-Eagles ‘Carson Wentz’ trade

The 2016 draft-day trade between the Browns and Eagles that resulted in Carson Wentz has taken many twists and turns for Cleveland

Sunday’s meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles will see Carson Wentz make his debut at quarterback in FirstEnergy Stadium. That’s four years later than many wanted it to be at the time, back when the Browns had the opportunity to draft Wentz in 2016.

Instead of selecting the North Dakota State QB, the Browns traded the pick to the Eagles. The full initial trade:

The Browns sent the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft along with the No. 139 pick in the 2017 Draft to the Eagles for Nos. 8, 77, and 100 picks in the 2016 draft, the No. 12 pick in the 2017 draft, and a second-round pick in 2018.

Wentz has been a rollercoaster for the Eagles. There are the highs of leading them to an 11-2 mark in 2017, a year that culminated with the Eagles winning the Super Bowl — albeit with Nick Foles replacing an injured Wentz for the playoff run.

Outside of that magical season, Wentz has a losing record (24-27-1) as a starter. He currently leads the NFL in interceptions and times being sacked, and Wentz’s completion percentage and yards per attempt have both steadily fallen from his Pro Bowl 2017 campaign. His QB Rating of 73.1 in 2020 ranks 31st, several spots below Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield (90.0).

The Browns end of the trade evolved several tentacles. The initial deals resulted in this menagerie of moves:

Cleveland Traded No. 8, 176 to Tennessee for No. 15, 76, and 2017 Second Round Pick (No. 52)
Cleveland Traded No. 77, 141 to Carolina for No. 93, 129, 168
Cleveland Traded No. 100 to Oakland for No. 114, 154

All the picks from those trades resulted in the following haul in 2016:

No. 15 – Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
No. 76 – Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
No. 93 – Cody Kessler, QB, USC
No. 114 – Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn
No. 129 – Derrick Kindred, S, TCU
No. 154 – Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA
No. 168 – Spencer Drango, OG, Baylor

In 2017, the Browns traded the first-round pick from the Eagles in the deal too.

Cleveland traded the No. 12 pick to Houston for No. 25 and a 2018 first-round pick.

Houston used the pick to select QB Deshaun Watson. Despite Houston’s 2-7 record and last weekend’s loss in Cleveland, the Texans are still elated with the deal.

The Browns got these picks from the Wentz-to-Watson deal.

No. 25 – Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
No. 52 – DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

Cleveland used the 2018 first-round pick acquired from Houston with the strand of the Wentz trade on CB Denzel Ward with the No. 4 overall pick.

The final pick, Philadelphia’s 2018 second-rounder, was (of course) traded by the Browns during that draft weekend. The Browns dealt the No. 64 overall pick in that 2018 draft to the Colts, who selected DE Tyquan Lewis. The Browns picked up Miami DE Chad Thomas with the No. 67 pick. This is where it gets really complicated…

Unpacking the further trade tentacles

From the initial trade, the Browns eventually traded Shon Coleman for a 2019 seventh-round pick to San Francisco. The Browns traded that pick and WR Josh Gordon to the Patriots for a 2019 fifth-round pick that Cleveland used on Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert.

The Browns also received the Colts’ sixth-round pick in that Chad Thomas deal. Cleveland packaged that pick (No. 178 overall) as part of another trade during the 2018 draft weekend. Along with its own fourth-round pick (No. 114 overall), the Browns sent that acquired pick to the Patriots for a fourth-round pick (No. 105 overall). That pick became Florida WR Antonio Callaway.

Back to the 2017 trade of the Wentz bounty to Houston. The Browns traded Jabrill Peppers to the Giants as a primary part of the package to acquire WR Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019. The Giants also got two other picks from the Browns in that deal, with which they selected DT Dexter Lawrence and DE Oshane Ximines.

The Browns also dealt the net of the first Eagles’ pick in 2017, Corey Coleman. This one gets wacky. The Browns shipped Coleman to Buffalo in 2018 for a 2020 seventh-round pick. That pick got traded, then traded again, and eventually wound up being part of another trade that landed 2020 third-round pick Jordan Elliott into Cleveland.

End result

In 2020, the Browns have Denzel Ward, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jordan Elliott to effectively show for Wentz, via a convoluted path with many twists and turns.

Report: Jets claim former Vikings OL Pat Elflein off waivers

The New York Jets used their waiver priority to claim former Vikings OL Pat Elflein, who was released on Saturday morning.

The Jets just added to their offensive line depth.

New York claimed Pat Elflein off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Vikings released Elflein on Saturday morning, just a day after activating the former third-round pick out of Ohio State off injured reserve. Elflein was recovering from a thumb injury he suffered in practice following Minnesota’s season-opener.

Elflein can play all along the interior. He started his career at center for the Vikings after winning the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best center, at Ohio State. Elflein was moved to left guard in 2019 and then moved to right guard for the 2020 season.

After an impressive rookie season in which he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team, Elflein has failed to find his footing after dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries that required surgery and multiple position changes.

A change of scenery was certainly in order and the Jets need the depth. Cameron Clark has been unable to stay healthy, while Josh Andrews has been a huge disappointment as New York’s roving interior depth piece.

The Vikings actually traded up with the Jets in the 2017 NFL draft to select Elflein, so now this is a bit of a full-circle development for his career.

Saints try out DT Ryan Glasgow, former Bengals 2017 draft pick

The New Orleans Saints tried out free agent DT Ryan Glasgow, a 2017 Bengals draft pick who recently signed with the Patriots and Texans.

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Beefing up the interior defensive line is a priority for the New Orleans Saints. After signing free agent Christian Ringo to their practice squad, the Saints reported a tryout with fourth-year pro Ryan Glasgow on the NFL daily transactions wire.

Glasgow, 27 years old and listed at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, was a fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2017 draft. He’s been credited with 41 combined tackles and a fumble recovery in 24 games for the Bengals over the last three years, though he missed a lot of time in 2018 and 2019 with subsequent knee injuries.

He joined the Houston Texans practice squad for most of October and recently spent a week with the New England Patriots. Before entering the NFL, Glasgow appeared in 45 games with the Michigan Wolverines in college, totaling 77 tackles (13.5 for loss of yards).

While New Orleans has enough quality players at the top of the depth chart to fill in for the injured Sheldon Rankins, they could use more depth to pad out reps in practice. David Onyemata remains the clear-cut starting defensive tackle next to nose tackle Malcom Brown, with youngsters Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach rotating in behind him. Adding experienced veterans like Ringo and Glasgow to the practice squad and scout team would make sense.

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Bengals claim former Falcons DE Takk McKinley off waivers

On Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed McKinley off of waivers.

The Atlanta Falcons waived DE Takk McKinley on Monday after failing to move him at last week’s trade deadline.

McKinley, 25, was drafted with the team’s first-round pick in 2017 but the Falcons declined his fifth-year option during the offseason. On Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed McKinley off of waivers.

The Bengals are just 2-5-1 after eight games, but have a young core and could be a potential long-term landing spot for McKinley if he plays well down the stretch.

In four games with the Falcons this season, the former UCLA standout recorded eight tackles (five solo), one sack and seven QB hits.

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Falcons fans react to team waiving DE Takk McKinley

The Atlanta Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley on Monday in a move that wasn’t totally surprising after the team failed to move him at the NFL trade deadline. 

The Atlanta Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley on Monday in a move that wasn’t totally surprising after the team failed to trade him at last week’s deadline.

Things had gotten ugly between Atlanta’s front office and McKinley when the fourth-year edge rusher sent out a series of tweets claiming the organization had turned down multiple offers to move him. The Falcons denied the alleged trade offers, and cut the cord a week later.

While fans in Atlanta are frustrated, fans of other teams seem eager to take a flier on the former first-round pick. Let’s take a look at the top Twitter reactions to McKinley getting waived.

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