Tag: Draft Pick

Raiders sign former Bengals draft pick after he visits with Saints

Former Bengals third-round pick Zach Carter visited the Saints this week. He played for their defensive line coach in college but ultimately signed with the Raiders:

This is interesting. The Las Vegas Raiders announced Thursday they had signed defensive tackle Zach Carter to their practice squad, just days after he visited with the New Orleans Saints, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

Carter, 25, was a third-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 NFL draft but was waived last week. That’s after he played for Todd Grantham, the Saints’ defensive line coach, for three years in college at Florida. So clearly that relationship wasn’t enough to seal the deal, even though the Saints have a vacancy on their practice squad right now just like the Raiders.

Maybe Carter sees more opportunities to get on the field with Las Vegas. Bryan Bresee is seeing the lion’s share of snaps at defensive tackle for the Saints (225 in five games), followed by Nathan Shepherd (176 in five games) and Khalen Saunders (58 in two games). John Ridgeway (61 in three games) and Khristian Boyd (51 in four games) have been competing for that fourth spot in the rotation each week, and Kendal Vickers (21 snaps in Week 1) remains on the practice squad.

None of them are currently listed on the injury report, so this may have just been an opportunity to try and improve depth rather than a real search for more help.

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What is Marshon Lattimore’s trade value if Saints make a move?

A Marshon Lattimore trade has been frequently discussed, but how much could the Saints get in return? Bleacher Report says at least a third-round pick:

They’re back at it again. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine took a look at the New Orleans Saints potentially dealing Marshon Lattimore. It’s been discussed frequently, but Ballentine does look at it from a different angle.

Ballentine listed players who should be traded before roster cuts. It’s common to see players get dealt around this time of the year. Ballentine looked at why the Saints should trade Lattimore, and how much they could get back in return.

It’s important the Saints get good value in return for one of their best playmakers. Ballentine argued they should trade their star cornerback to prioritize the future, recouping a draft pick or two and opening up salary cap dollars to be spent elsewhere. That includes paying Paulson Adebo. Solid premise but let’s get to the main event, compensation. Ballentine said the Saints should look for a “at least a third round pick.”

It’s hard to see Lattimore even commanding a third-round pick, let alone “at least” that much. Yes he’s extremely talented and would be worthy of a third and then some if he were healthy. The thing is he hasn’t been for the past two years. Even right now, Lattimore is working his way back from a hip flexor injury.

So what is Lattimore’s trade value? That is a difficult one to really settle in on. For as talented as he is, he’s only played 17 games in two years, the equivalent of a single season. You’re not getting full value on a player with those concerns.

If the Saints trade Lattimore they should look for a trade package with a  conditional pick attached. If you could get a fourth-round pick that could turn into a third-round selection if he hits a threshold for games played or percentage of snaps. But as we’ve said before, if that’s the best they can get then they’re better off not trading him at all. The situation isn’t so toxic that anyone’s hand should be forced. Hopefully Lattimore heals up, plays well, and these questions get answered another time.

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PFF names Chiefs DB Jaden Hicks one of the 2024 NFL draft’s biggest steals

Pro Football Focus named #Chiefs DB Jaden Hicks one of the 2024 NFL draft’s biggest steals.

The Kansas City Chiefs have an excellent track record of finding talented players in the late rounds of the NFL draft, and the team’s haul last week drew the attention of experts around the league.

Kansas City’s fourth-round pick Jaden Hicks, a Washington State product, was widely regarded as one of the most exciting defensive backs in the 2024 class and somehow managed to fall to the Chiefs on Day 3.

Pro Football Focus named Hicks one of the draft’s biggest steals this week, which could signal that the former Cougar has the potential to develop into a starter for Kansas City in relatively short order.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is among the most respected talent evaluators in the NFL, and after putting together an excellent rookie class in 2024, he seems to have Kansas City in a position to continue competing for Super Bowl championships for years to come.

Hicks is just the latest in a series of young defenders that Veach has found in the late-rounds who can help the Chiefs keep their defense on the cutting edge.

Saints waive wide receiver Kawaan Baker, their former 2021 draft pick

Report: The Saints are waiving wide receiver Kawaan Baker, their former 2021 draft pick. He’s spent time on their practice squad before and could return in that capacity

The hits keep coming: the New Orleans Saints waived third-year wide receiver Kawaan Baker, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. Baker was a seventh-round pick out of South Alabama in the 2021 NFL draft, and this isn’t a new experience for him. He’s been let go by the Saints and returned to their practice squad before while experiencing brief stops with teams like the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, it’s tough to see his efforts go unrewarded. Baker put in a lot of work to develop into an asset on special teams, and he was one of the Saints’ most-consistent players covering punts and kickoffs in the preseason. His punt recovery deep inside enemy territory in the first exhibition matchup stands out as a big positive in his favor. Maybe that will help him draw more attention on the waiver wire and as teams build their practice squads later this week.

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Which Packers rookie draft pick has best chance to contribute in 2023?

Picking Packers rookies with the best chance to contribute during the 2023 season.

The Green Bay Packers added 13 draft picks to Brian Gutekunst’s roster durnig the 2023 draft. All 13 will have a chance to contribute to a increasingly young team transitioning away from the Aaron Rodgers era.

Can a rookie be a difference maker? Just last year, second-round pick Christian Watson led the offense in total touchdowns and first-round pick Quay Walker led the defense in total tackles.

So, which rookie draft pick has the best chance to contribute in 2023? The staff at Packers Wire made their picks:

WATCH: Trenton Simpson’s best highlights from Clemson

Simpson’s highlight reel warranted his selection by the Ravens with the 86th overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens invested in their linebacker corps in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Clemson product Trenton Simpson with the 86th overall pick. Simpson is something of a work in progress heading into his rookie season but should be served well by the presence of Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith as mentors.

Clemson had two defenders taken in the first round before Simpson was taken by the Ravens. Check out the linebacker’s best plays from his time in South Carolina to get more acquainted with his skillset ahead of the team’s next selection:

 

 

 

 

 

2023 NFL draft: Chargers pick USC EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu with No. 54 overall selection

The Chargers added to their edge defender room with their second-round pick.

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The Chargers have taken former USC edge defender Tuli Tuipulotu with the No. 54 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Chargers needed more players capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and Tuipolutu fits that billing, having logged 42 quarterback pressures and 13.5 sacks last season.

Tuipolutu was the 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also had 22 tackles for loss, which was second in the nation.

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ pick of WR Quentin Johnston at No. 21 overall

What the selection of Quentin Johnston means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have finally done what we’ve all asked them to do all offseason: add playmaking to the wide receiver room.

While Quentin Johnston only runs a 4.52 40 yard dash, putting him in the range of every other wide receiver on the team, he adds juice after the catch that the rest of the Chargers roster simply does not have. His explosion grades are elite, with higher than 95th percentile marks in both the vertical and broad jumps.

If there’s a player on the Chargers roster to compare Johnston to, it’s likely Mike Williams. That’s an important distinction to make, as one of Williams or Keenan Allen is bound to be off the roster by the start of the 2024 season. Johnston’s selection makes Williams’ departure much more likely, an outcome that was already likelier than Allen’s given the latter’s chemistry with Justin Herbert.

There are some fair concerns when it comes to Johnston, however. While he stands 6’2 ¾”, he jumps to make nearly every catch, a reflection of his rather poor hands. Drops have also been an issue in his career at TCU, but the Chargers will hope that those problems were due more to shoddy accuracy from QB Max Duggan than problems with Johnston.

Down the field, Johnston is a viable option in the same way Williams is: while he’s not a true burner, he can create downfield push with his route-running tempo and big frame that always threatens a contested catch. Johnston does extend outside of his frame to make catches in these situations with some regularity.

With his combination of high-point ability and shake after the catch, Johnston is a three-level playmaker, one of the traits the Chargers have publicly emphasized repeatedly when speaking about the position. His first season requires less impact, which gives him more time to iron out his flaws before blossoming as an electric playmaker in Year 2 and beyond.

Bottom line: this is the player L.A. has been looking for all offseason.

Who are Chiefs’ likeliest first-round draft picks per ESPN’s draft day predictor?

Who is the likeliest player to be taken by the #Chiefs at pick No. 31? Here’s what ESPN Analytics has to say:

The 2023 NFL draft is getting closer which means there are more and more tools at our disposal to predict draft picks. Kansas City currently has just one first-round pick (No. 31), and there have been plenty of mock drafts, meetings and visits over the past month, linking the Chiefs to some of the top wide receivers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen in this class.

ESPN Analytics recently put together a draft day predictor tool that’s quite unique. It scours ESPN’s mock drafts and pre-draft rankings to create charts showing the likeliest prospects to be selected by a team at a given pick.

Below you can find the top 10 players who are most likely to be selected by Kansas City in Round 1. There’s a healthy blend of positions and prospects, but five of those players play on the defensive line.

Check it out:

Brandon Staley on Chargers’ first-round selection: ‘Where we’re picking is wide open’

Brandon Staley said he feels the Chargers will have plenty of good options.

The Chargers are in need of more talent to fill out their roster after facing serious attrition in free agency, and hopes are high that they will be able to find some quality players in April’s draft.

Though they’ll make their first selection in the back half of the opening round with the No. 21 overall selection, head coach Brandon Staley told reporters on Monday that he believes plenty of solid prospects will be available when the Chargers come on the clock.

“This draft, to me, where we’re picking is wide open,” Staley explained. “Certainly with where the quarterbacks are going and how many will go, will certainly push everybody back a little bit. Kind of like last year, the board opened up for us at 17.

But hopefully we’re picking in the late 20s for a long time … [in the] 30s … we just want to board to open up because it creates more options for you. I think this draft, sort of later in the first round or early second round, there will be a lot of good players to draft. I know Tom and I feel that way about this draft.”

Who Los Angeles might target with their initial pick in the coming draft is the object of much speculation, but to hear Staley tell it, the Chargers should have several options who could help the team in many different areas.

Whether they look will look to select a prospect that fell down draft boards or someone who has impressed them in the pre-draft process, Los Angeles can rest assured that Staley and his coaching staff will do everything in their power to ensure that their first-round pick finds success in 2023.