Tag: facetime

Star WR tells Jayden Daniels that 49ers ‘don’t want me back’

Aiyuk and Daniels are close from their time together at Arizona State.

During the 2024 NFL draft, there was a lot of talk about whether the San Francisco 49ers would trade star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The draft came and went, and Aiyuk remained. The 49ers consistently said they wanted to agree to a long-term deal with Aiyuk, who is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

Now, here we are, over a month away from training camp, and Aiyuk told a former teammate about the 49ers: “They said they don’t want me back.”

Who did Aiyuk tell this to? That would be Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in a FaceTime call posted on TikTok. Aiyuk and Daniels are close, dating back to 2019, when Daniels was a freshman quarterback at Arizona State while Aiyuk was an All-American wide receiver.

Could the Commanders be an option for Aiyuk if the 49ers decide to trade him?

On the surface, it sounds good. Washington does have a No. 1 wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, who is under contract for two more seasons. Former first-round pick Jahan Dotson is entering his third NFL season this fall, and the Commanders just spent a third-round draft choice on Luke McCaffrey.

Beyond that, there are plenty of questions.

Aiyuk would cost any team draft picks, in addition to a salary of around $28 million annually, which is in line with what Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins received recently.

Washington’s salary cap is in excellent shape for future seasons, so money isn’t a problem. However, general manager Adam Peters would be more reluctant to part with draft capital. It is worth noting that Aiyuk and Peters also have a relationship, as Peters had a hand in drafting Aiyuk in San Francisco.

Don’t count on Washington making a move for Aiyuk, but you can’t rule anything out.

Russell Wilson has message for Seahawks draft pick Damien Lewis

Shortly after getting selected in the 2020 NFL draft, Seahawks guard Damien Lewis got a call from quarterback Russell Wilson.

LSU guard Damien Lewis received a phone call from the Seattle Seahawks on Friday evening, confirming he would be their selection with the 69th pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Shortly after, Lewis received another call. This one came from the man he will now be tasked with protecting, quarterback Russell Wilson.

“Man, you ready?” Wilson asked Lewis. “We’re trying to win the Super Bowl over here. We don’t play (around). We’re trying to make it happen this year.”

“He was fired up about it, and I’m fired up about it,” Lewis said of his conversation with Wilson. “I’m ready to make it happen.”

Lewis is a mauling right guard who is known more for his proficiency moving guys forward as a run-blocker, which is why Seattle coveted him, but he has all the tools to be a strong pass blocker in time.

Lewis also claimed the Seahawks are his favorite team, even prior to being selected, and he revealed he was playing Madden20 as the Seahawks on Thursday when his friend predicted he would get picked by Seattle the following day.

The Seahawks have a ton of guards on the active roster, including both starters from 2019 in D.J. Fluker and Mike Iupati, but Lewis is too talented to not earn playing time right away, and he made it clear he plans to work tirelessly to help out his new/old favorite team.

“I’m determined,” he said. “I’m going to be there for the team. I’m going to lay it all on the line. I’m going to come to practice; be at the meetings; be responsible; be accountable. I’m going to leave it all out there and give it all for this team.”

The Seahawks do not have any more picks on Day 2 of the NFL draft, but they have four picks to deal with on Saturday, April 25, when the draft will pick up at 9:00 a.m. PT.

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Saints met with underrated Tulsa cornerback prospect Reggie Robinson II

The New Orleans Saints recently interviewed Tulsa cornerback Reggie Robinson II, an underrated prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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One position the New Orleans Saints can be counted to address in the NFL draft is defensive back. They’ve added either a rookie cornerback or safety in every year since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team, even if they may not do so at the top of the draft. So it’s a good idea to know the depth of this year’s class.

That brings us to Tulsa cornerback Reggie Robinson II, who Justin Melo over at Draft Wire reports spoke with the Saints on a FaceTime video call. He’s also met with teams including the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, and the Houston Texans. Why all the interest?

Robinson combines a wealth of starting experience at the college level (having appeared in 45 games, with 32 starts) with a solid athletic profile. He timed the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at 6-foot-0, 205 pounds, and put those traits to good use with an AAC-leading 17 passes defensed last season. He ultimately defended 38 passes in his four-year career, intercepting four passes as a senior. There are players in this draft who have ball skills, and others who have prototype size and speed. Robinson is someone who can boast both qualities.

Robinson is projected to be picked on the third day of this year’s draft, though he might sneak into the final picks on day two. We ended up landing him in the fifth round of a mock draft earlier this month, which would be terrific value.

The Saints have their top two cornerbacks locked in between Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins, but Robinson would be a great pick to back them up while helping out on special teams (he blocked two field goals and two point-after attempts at Tulsa). Most of the other corners in New Orleans are slot specialists, so Robinson could fill multiple holes on the roster.

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Baylor WR Denzel Mims on Cowboys radar for 2020 NFL Draft

The east Texas star turned heads at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine; now he’s met with the Cowboys via FaceTime ahead of the NFL Draft.

With college pro days and in-person workouts scrapped, prospects and teams are depending on technology to get better acquainted with one another leading up the NFL Draft later this month. Virtual visits and internet interviews are the new normal this selection season, and the Cowboys have reportedly done their due diligence on a hometown product via FaceTime.

Wide receiver Denzel Mims was proclaimed one of the “winners” at the NFL Scouting Combine, showing off a ridiculous catch radius and tearing up the 3-cone drill. The Baylor burner recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash, tying him for the fifth-fastest time in Indianapolis this year. Mims has been a big climber on most draft boards, and it seems more and more teams are catching on.

The Cowboys locked up Amari Cooper with a new contract, and rising star Michael Gallup will be in just his third year, but the team is nevertheless shopping for depth at the position in 2020. Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb may be the first receivers selected in the draft, but the 22-year-old out of Daingerfield in east Texas could prove to be a sleeper-caliber steal if he lasts beyond the first round.

Mims played his final game for Baylor in the 2020 Sugar Bowl, and left a lasting impression. He led the Baylor offense in receiving yards against Georgia, finishing with five receptions for 75 yards and scoring the team’s lone receiving touchdown in the Bears’ win.

Then came the Senior Bowl, and Mims wowed again. He rocketed over 30 spots up the player rankings from Pro Football Focus after that game alone.

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Scouting report from Lance Zierlein, NFL.com:


“Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight and speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches. If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous “Z” receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with.”


Scouting report from Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network:


“Denzel Mims projects as an X-receiver at the NFL level. With his notable catch radius, physical play and high end body control, Mims projects as a potential starter at the pro level. He brings developing routes and effective play side blocking to the field — which will help him find reps early on in his pro career as he looks to add further refinement to his game. Mims enjoyed a career season in 2019 and appears to have the arrow facing up as he transitions into the pro game.”


Using the 17th pick on Mims may be a bit of a reach, as there will certainly be better players available. But if Dallas is able to use their first-round pick on a defensive standout, don’t be surprised if a big-bodied pass-catching talent like Mims gets a phone call from the Dallas area code their next time up.


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Chiefs have recently used FaceTime to meet with several draft prospects
	


				

				
The Kansas City Chiefs are still connecting with prospects ahead of the draft despite changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
With the coronavirus pandemic throwing a wrench into planned top-30 visits the Kansas City Chiefs have had to improvise. The Chiefs and many other teams have turned to video meetings with prospects using FaceTime or other applications at the instruction of the NFL.


Because of the new system in 2020, teams are no longer limited to 30 players. They’re allowed to interact with a prospect by phone or computer, up to three times per week for an hour at a time. While they don’t have limits on the number of prospects they can contact, don’t expect teams to go through and contact every prospect.


Kansas City has been active in this new system, speaking with several players. Justin Melo of Draft Wire reports that recently the Chiefs had FaceTime meetings with LSU guard Damien Lewis and Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr.





Lewis is a player that I figure to be a bit of a riser in weak interior offensive line class. He had a really good performance against an impressive crop of talent at the Senior Bowl. He was pancaking guys in pass protection on the regular and bowling players over as a run blocker. For a big man, he can move in space quite well too. Andy Reid would definitely like to feature him as a blocker in the screen game.


Don’t rule out Lewis as a target for the Chiefs in the second or third round.





Winfield Jr. is an interesting player. Obviously, there is a certain pedigree there, as his father played cornerback for the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. He’s a fit in Kansas City given his incredible versatility, but he only has one season of consistent production. Also, he has some medical history that teams won’t be able to check up on beyond the combine medical checks. That could impact his draft stock, but it’s hard to say for certain.


Many believe that Winfield Jr. could be the first safety selected in the 2020 NFL draft. If the Chiefs want him, it’ll probably have to happen at pick No. 32. I’m not even certain he lasts that long, but you won’t find me complaining about selecting him at that spot if he’s available.

	


	





	

		
		
Playmaking Texas A&M defensive lineman interviews with the Saints
	


				

				
The New Orleans Saints added Texas A&M defensive lineman Justin Madubuike to the list of 2020 NFL Draft prospects they have interviewed.

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
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NFL teams are adjusting to the new reality of doing business during the coronavirus pandemic, forced to interview draft prospects remotely over video chat services like FaceTime. The New Orleans Saints are one franchise that has embraced that option, having reportedly met with several prospects at linebacker remotely. Now we have another name on their board in Texas A&M defensive lineman Justin Madubuike.


Justin Melo over at Draft Wire reported that Madubuike spoke with the Saints and several other teams, including the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Before NFL-mandated travel restrictions were put in place, Madubuike also made a formal visit to the Tennessee Titans facility as one of 30 trips teams are each allowed to host.


So why all the interest? Madubuike has been a force for the Aggies, putting up impressive college game tape filled with bright moments. He declared for the draft early after his junior year, having put up 40-plus tackles in each of the last two years (with a combined 105 tackles in his career, totaling 24.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks). He also logged five forced fumbles and four pass breakups in his time at College Station. On top of that, Madubuike intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards in 2019, no small thing for a 6-foot-3, 293-pound wrecking ball.


Madubuike was a participant at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, where he turned in performances in the 40-yard dash (4.83 seconds) and the three-cone drill (7.37 seconds) that are great for an athlete of his size, while also impressing with 31 reps on the 225-pound bench press. He’s obviously put in the work teams want to see in the weight room.


If he aces his interviews with NFL personnel, Madubuike should be a slam-dunk pick on the second day of April’s draft (which features rounds two and three). While the Saints have their starting interior duo locked in between David Onyemata and Malcom Brown, former first-round pick Sheldon Rankins is no sure thing to hit the ground running in a contract year.


If there’s going to be another delay in his recovery (Rankins missed time early last season from a previously-torn Achilles tendon, and ended the year on injured reserve), someone like Madubuike might make sense as a long-term investment on the depth chart. He and Saints fan folk hero Shy Tuttle would allow the Saints to run very deep at an important position for the foreseeable future.


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2020 NFL Draft: Saints interview Fresno State linebacker prospect
	


				

				
The Saints have worked around the coronavirus to use FaceTime to interview 2020 NFL Draft prospects like Fresno State LB Mykal Walker.

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
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With the coronavirus pandemic disrupting NFL operations around the country, teams are getting creative as they continue to fill out scouting reports and learn more about the prospects in this year’s draft class. With the 2020 NFL Draft less than a month away, the New Orleans Saints are one of several teams using the popular FaceTime video chat service to conduct interviews.


According to a report from Justin Melo over at Draft Wire, the latest prospect to speak with the Saints was Fresno State Bulldogs linebacker Mykal Walker. Walker has had a full schedule, with future FaceTime meetings set up with both the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts.


But who is he? Walker transferred to Fresno State from Azusa Pacific, a small private university, and immediately started after redshirting the 2017 season. He wore many different hats for the Bulldogs, lining up at both middle and outside linebacker as well as defensive end; that versatility paid off with a career statline of 182 total tackles (94 solo, 22.5 for loss) with splash plays including 6.5 sacks, an interception returned 38 yards for a defensive touchdown, 10 passes defensed, three fumbles forced and three more recovered. He made plays all over the field during his 26 games in the Mountain West.


Walker measured in at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, putting up above-average testing numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds) and broad jump (122 inches). He was more pedestrian in the agility drills like the three-cone (7.09 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.25 seconds).


Right now, Walker’s projection suggests a first-year impact as a backup who would see most of his action on special teams — much like Kaden Elliss, who the Saints added in the seventh round last year out of Idaho (home of the Vandals! Not a team name you see too often), which would put Walker on the board during the third day of this year’s draft. It’s interesting that he shares an alma mater with Michael Hodges, the recently-promoted Saints linebackers coach.


That perceived value lines up with the other linebackers the Saints have interviewed lately. In normal years, every team eventually meets with every player, whether at pro days, all-star games, combine events, or in formal facilities visits. So we probably shouldn’t look too deeply into these reports.


But it might suggest that the Saints are doing their homework on the “middle class” of this year’s crop at linebacker, in case they aren’t able to add a top prospect in the first round such as Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray, LSU’s Patrick Queen, or Wisconsin’s Zack Baun. Linebacker looks like the biggest Saints roster need right now, having addressed wide receiver (Emmanuel Sanders), defensive back (Malcolm Jenkins and Janoris Jenkins), and the offensive and defense lines (Andrus Peat and David Onyemata) through veterans in free agency. It’s always wise to be prepared.


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Saints hold pre-draft meetings over FaceTime with several linebacker prospects
	


				

				
The New Orleans Saints had FaceTime meetings with linebacker draft prospects including California’s Evan Weaver and Colorado’s Davion Taylor

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
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Travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in NFL teams conducting interviews with draft prospects over video chat services such as FaceTime, and the New Orleans Saints are no exception. It’s nobody’s preference, of course; teams typically fly in 30 prospects for tours of their facilities, private workouts, and one-on-one meetings with position coaches and front office staff. But like other teams, the Saints are working to remain innovative, doing what they can to keep this hurdle from slowing them down.


Justin Melo over at Draft Wire reports that the Saints have spoken with two different linebackers recently, including Colorado prospect Davion Taylor and California’s Evan Weaver. Both players have also touched base with other teams, which isn’t unusual. By the end of this process, just about every draft-eligible prospect will have contacted each team in the NFL.


Weaver (6-foot-2, 237 pounds) was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, following a senior season in which he racked up 181 total tackles (103 solo, 11.5 for loss of yards), 2.5 sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles. He has been a big part of the Golden Bears defense throughout his college career but played his best football the last two seasons as a starter. He’s likely to be picked on the final day of the draft but could go late in the third round if a team like the Saints rates him highly.


Taylor (6-foot-0, 228 pounds) is a better athlete than Weaver, thanks to a background in track and field as well as football; it showed up at the combine when he clocked the 40-yard dash in just 4.49 seconds against Weaver’s 4.76 time. But he brings a smaller body of work against top competition, having played just two years at Colorado after transferring from the junior college ranks. He’s projected to be drafted in rounds four through seven on the third day, if at all, and his evaluation largely depends on how well teams think he can bulk up to NFL standards without sacrificing his movement skills.








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Carmelo Anthony gets to hang with his son via FaceTime while on the court
	


				

				
Carmelo Anthony got to salute his son in the middle of a Blazers timeout, thanks to the magic of TECHNOLOGY.

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
The Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony may not be all that great at basketball anymore, and he may only be on the team because the team lost a bunch of players and doesn’t know what else to do, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still have cool moments.


This was a cool moment.


While Anthony was chilling during a timeout, La La Anthony pulled up her phone, which had their son on FaceTime. She flashed it to his dad, who gave his son a little mid-timeout salute.


Technology. Marvelous.





The Blazers won, too! They beat the hapless Bulls, but still, a win is a win.


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