Kevin O’Connell joins Combine coverage and alludes to tampering with Kirk Cousins

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell alluded to otherse tampering with quarterback Kirk Cousins when he joined NFL Network

Free agency is going to determine a lot about the Minnesota Vikings future, specifically at the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins has been a major discussion topic during the entirety of the NFL Scouting Combine, including the press conferences of head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

During the first group of wide receivers, O’Connell joined NFL Network’s broadcast with Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah and was inevitably asked the question about Cousins’ future.

“I know Kirk is going to go through a full process. He’s a process guy. And hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking.”

What does this mean? Well, you can find just about any narrative you want in the comments. What his comments said to me here this: I want Cousins back but he’s going to test free agency and he could very well be gone.

He did make a comment alluding to some potential tampering going on, which is a well-known “secret” to occur during the week.

“The combine gave everybody else an opportunity, whether they’re supposed to be or not, to maybe have some conversations.”

Read into things however you want but it sure was interesting how much things had changed from his comments during his press conference.

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2024 NFL Scouting Combine: WR prospects run 40-yard dash

2024 NFL Scouting Combine highlights: Wide receivers run the 40-yard dash

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine resumed on Saturday as quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs took the field in Indianapolis. The Falcons are in the market for two of these positions and we’ve already seen some encouraging performances from the top prospects.

Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has impressed scouts with his size and athleticism. Mitchell, who met with Atlanta this week, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds. Check out highlights from Saturday’s wide receiver drills below:

Report: Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith will not participate in NFL Combine drills

A stress fracture in the shin of Ainias Smith will keep him out of the drill at the 2024 NFL combine.

Unfortunately, former Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith will not be able to participate in the drills at the combine due to a stress fracture in his left shin, which was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport on Saturday morning.

It’s been an up-and-down period after the end of the Aggies 2023 football season where Smith was not medically cleared to play in the bowl game against Oklahoma State, However, he did return to action in the Reese’s Senior Bowl making a good impression in the scouts in attendance.

Smith learned the news during the medical evaluations and will contact a specialist in the upcoming week. He’ll finish out his time in Indianapolis with any remaining meetings and complete his measurements. The news no doubt might affect his draft position, but if his second opinion goes well, he will still have another chance when Texas A&M holds its Pro Day.

Smith has most certainly had a few tough breaks over the past few years, however Sub-Zer0 can never be counted out. He’s shown the ability to bounce back and no matter where he needs up in the NFL them team will be getting a steal.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Steelers meet with ‘powerful’ OT Blake Fisher at NFL combine

The Steelers are in the market for an offensive tackle, but just how high they’ll take one is anybody’s guess.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for an offensive tackle, but just how high they’ll take one is anybody’s guess.

They met with a mix of early and later-round offensive tackle prospects at the NFL scouting combine on Saturday: J.C. Latham (Alabama), Amarius Mims (Georgia), Graham Barton (Duke), Troy Fautanu (Washington) and Blake Fisher (Notre Dame).

“There’s a great vibe,” Fisher said from the podium at the NFL Combine. “You know, Coach Tomlin and everybody else in there and Omar Khan GM. Really, it was really a really good interview in there. Felt really good coming out of there as well.”

Projected to go in the fourth round (where Moore was selected), Fisher, 20, is a project who isn’t seen as an immediate starter in most scouting circles. But he has the promise to develop into one down the road.

“Overall, Fisher is a young, long and powerful blocker with good athletic ability who can be an asset in the zone run game at tackle,” Bleacher Report NFL scout Brandon Thorn noted. “He has more of a boom-or-bust element to his game as a pass protector that will require a plan for development before becoming a consistent starter, but he has the runway and traits for that to happen within his rookie contract.”

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10 running backs for the Ravens to watch at the 2024 NFL combine

We’re looking at ten running backs for the Baltimore Ravens to watch during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Running back depth is a massive priority for the Ravens, and that’ll be the position to watch on Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Eric DeCosta is looking to retool the roster following Baltimore’s heartbreaking AFC Championship loss to Kansas City.

Baltimore has three free-agent running backs, and Keaton Mitchell rehabbing a torn ACL.

With Day 3 of on-field workouts set to begin, we’re looking at ten running backs for the Ravens to watch.

10 running backs for the Eagles to watch at the 2024 NFL Combine

We’re looking at ten running backs for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Running back depth is a massive priority for the Eagles, and that’ll be the position to watch on Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Howie Roseman is looking to retool the roster following Philadelphia’s historic collapse, finishing the season 1-6 after a 10-1 start.

Philadelphia has three free-agent running backs, and Kenneth Gainwell has done nothing to show that he can be an every-down, starting running back.

With Day 3 of on-field workouts set to begin, we’re looking at ten running backs for Philadelphia to watch.

Alabama CB Terrion Arnold shares heartfelt message for mom

Terrion Arnold is far more than just a great cornerback.

You never know what you are going to see at the NFL Scouting Combine. Saturday, during the cornerback drills, former Alabama Terrion Arnold used his time in front of the camera as he was being interviewed by NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales to share an important message to his mom Tamala, thanking her for everything she did for him.

Arnold is one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft after a stellar career as a member of the Crimson Tide. Arnold noted in the interview he considers his leadership his greatest strength and he even took on that role with the other cornerbacks at the combine, who he referred to as the “1 percent”.

March 20 is Alabama’s pro day and Arnold promises that what we saw in Indy was just a preview of the show he is going to put on there.

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Steelers takeaways from Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine

The Steelers got a show from the top cornerbacks and put in a lot of time into scouting top wide receivers as well.

The NFL Scouting Combine has once again been and exciting and illuminating exercise for all 32 NFL franchises as well as the dozens of top prospects in attendance. The Pittsburgh Steelers have stayed busy this week and here are our Steelers takeaways from Day Three.

Ravens had formal meeting with Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton at NFL Combine

The Baltimore Ravens held a formal meeting with Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

The Ravens face tough decisions at the offensive tackle spot entering free agency, with Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses potentially salary cap casualties.

Baltimore is always ahead of the curve at retooling the roster, and they’ve started to assess elite talent like Tyler Guyton.

The Oklahoma All-American offensive tackle confirmed a formal meeting with Ravens brass at the combine on Friday.

At 6-7, 328 with 34 1/4-inch arms, Guyton’s frame and movement skills are elite, and he’s stout enough to anchor down against an elite power rusher.

Guyton already got Lane Johnson’s approval for the first round and could lead Baltimore into another Super Bowl window.

11 quotes from OL interviews at NFL Scouting Combine

On the 4th day of NFL Scouting Combine interviews, the offensive linemen take center stage and answer questions of the media

The Minnesota Vikings are currently at the NFL Scouting Combine looking to find the next future stars to wear the purple and gold.

Throughout the course of the week, teams will be allowed to interview players to help them make their choices easier when it comes time for the NFL draft in April. In essence, it’s one more piece of the puzzle.

On Saturday, the media was able to interview the offensive linemen and specialists, as they will be working out on Sunday afternoon.

Here are some of the main takeaways from those interviews.

DL/LB Interviews
DB/TE Interviews
QB/RB/WR Interviews