Tag: jacob breeland

Report: Ravens to waive UDFA TE Jacob Breeland as injured

Jacob Breeland is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered with Oregon last season and wasn’t going to be ready for the Baltimore Ravens.

One of the more interesting battles at Baltimore Ravens training camp is at tight end. Following the trade of Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons, the third tight end spot on the Ravens’ depth chart is wide open for someone to win. Sadly, UDFA Jacob Breeland won’t be among those competing for the spot.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Ravens will be waiving Breeland with an injury designation, after initially placing him on the non-football injury (NFI) list at the start of training camp. With Baltimore agreeing to terms with veteran tight end Jerell Adams, they needed the roster spot held by Breeland. However, Pelissero also noted the Ravens are still interested in Breeland and would like to keep him around for 2021, but first, he needs to clear waivers.

Breeland has been rehabilitating from a torn ACL that ended his 2019 season with the Oregon Ducks. He suffered the knee injury in the sixth game of the season, against Colorado, derailing what had been an impressive year that likely would have seen Breeland drafted fairly early. Sadly, with the knee injury, Breeland ended up going undrafted and signed as a UDFA with Baltimore.

Breeland caught 26 passes for 405 yards and six touchdowns over six games with Oregon last season. Over four years and 30 total games, Breeland had 1,225 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions on 74 catches.

[vertical-gallery id=50970]

Report: Ravens to sign TE Jerell Adams

The Baltimore Ravens were looking to add a little more depth at tight end after trading Hayden Hurst and found it in veteran Jerell Adams

The Baltimore Ravens use their tight ends more than just about any team in the league. Apparently, they wanted a little more depth on the roster at training camp, signing tight end Jerell Adams, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Adams has played with the New York Giants and Houston Texans over his four-year career. He’s started three of the 30 games he’s been active in, catching 24 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. He’ll likely compete with the likes of UDFA Eli Wolf for the primary backup spot behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle.

The Ravens were in need for more help at tight end following their trade of Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason and UDFA Jacob Breeland going on the non-football injury list at training camp. Though Andrews and Boyle are a great one-two punch at the position, Baltimore loves utilizing up to four tight ends in a play.

Coming into the league in 2016, Adams fit the physical mold of a tight end, according to Draft Wire’s scouting report. He’s big at 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds with the strength and speed to play as either an in-line blocker or as a receiving threat. But, like his sixth-round draft status indicates, Adams wasn’t a polished product and subsequently has been buried on depth charts over his four years in the league.

[vertical-gallery id=50970]

Ravens place UDFA TE Jacob Breeland on non-football injury list

The Baltimore Ravens continued to trim the roster down to 80 players ahead of training camp, placing UDFA TE Jacob Breeland on the NFI list

The Baltimore Ravens are working to trim their roster down to 80 players ahead of officially opening training camp on Tuesday. One such move was placing undrafted free agent tight end Jacob Breeland on the non-football injury (NFI) list, according to the team’s Twitter account.

Breeland had been primed for a big 2019 at Oregon ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. He set career highs in all major receiving categories in spite of playing just six games due to a torn ACL, catching 26 passes for 405 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Breeland went undrafted, signing with the Ravens this offseason as a UDFA.

It was hoped Breeland would be ready for the start of training camp. After Baltimore traded tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, there was at least one open roster spot on the depth chart. Both Breeland and fellow UDFA Eli Wolf are expected to compete for the Ravens’ third tight end spot behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle, with the potential for a meaningful role in Baltimore’s tight-end-heavy scheme this season.

Breeland’s placement on the NFI list keeps him with the Ravens as he continues to recover from his injury. However, it also means he can’t practice with the team until he’s taken off the list and put back on the 80-man roster. It’s a good opportunity for Baltimore to keep Breeland around while maximizing their already reduced roster space due to the COVID-19 restrictions the NFL and NFLPA agreed to this offseason.

[vertical-gallery id=50943]

6 sleepers Colts should target on Day 3 of NFL draft

Sleepers on Day 3.

The Indianapolis Colts made some noise on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft and now shift their focus to the final four rounds on Saturday. After adding some explosiveness to the offense, Indy will now be tasked with four selections on Day 3.

There are so many prospects the Colts could target on Day 3, but there are some that stand out above the rest when it comes to value and upside in the final four rounds. After the first two days of the draft, there are a handful of sleepers to target on Saturday.

Here are six sleepers the Colts should target on Day 3 of the draft:

Hakeem Adeniji | OT | Kansas

The Colts used two of their three picks on Day 2  on the offensive side of the ball. While they came at the skill positions, the Colts have to be looking at a high-upside prospect at offensive tackle. Adeniji checks that box resoundingly and would be a wonderful addition to the offensive line on Day 3.

A team captain at Kansas, Adeniji moves well and his athleticism would fit right in with the Colts offensive line. He isn’t a pure power blocker but has the upside to thrive in a zone-base scheme. He started 48 straight games for Kansas at left tackle and has the movement skills, high football IQ and high character that the Colts love in Day 3 picks.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

2020 NFL Draft Prospect ranking: Tight ends

It’s not a primary need for the Browns but TE could be on the draft menu later

The Browns just signed Austin Hooper for the richest tight end contract in history, but it is extremely likely that Kevin Stefanski rolls with multiple tight end sets frequently. David Njoku is still on the roster, but has been on the hot seat for some time. It is not crazy to think the Cleveland Browns may snag a tight end in this extremely strong and underrated tight end class.

I grade players extremely generous and like to think with an open mind. Most writers only rank 20-25 first-round grades and that is probably more indicative of their talent rather than where they are selected. I rank prospects based on the highest I could possibly see them be snagged.

1st Round

1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame, 6-6, 262 pounds

Kmet has insane upside with intriguing athleticism as evidenced by the fact he was once viewed as an MLB prospect. It is not surprising that Kmet comes from NFL bloodlines; his father was drafted by Buffalo in 1992. The most concerning issue with Kmet is that he does lack elite burst coming off the line of scrimmage.

2nd Round

2. Hunter Bryant. Washington, 6-2, 248 pounds

Bryant is a large and dynamic receiving threat who was finally able to stay healthy and dominate the entire season. His unique athleticism makes him a difficult player for defenses to cover. Bryant is not exactly a complete tight end and will need some serious work as a blocker if is he to compete in-line as the No. 1 option.

3. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue, 6-4, 245 pounds

Like Bryant, Hopkins is another top-of-the-line athlete and his quick burst off the line of scrimmage and acceleration going in and out of routes make him a dangerous target. Despite being a great athlete, Hopkins did not have the best combine workout and will that will likely have an effect on his stock.

4. Adam Trautman, Dayton, 6-5, 255 pounds

Trautman was utterly dominant playing against FCS competition, but what really allowed his stock to soar was his fantastic week at the Senior Bowl. It is clear that he is a capable blocker that can play in the NFL. With that said, Trautman is still very raw as he is a former walk-on quarterback from the FCS level. He may need a red-shirt season to adjust to the NFL.

5. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic, 6-5, 243 pounds

Bryant is an extremely long receiver that can pluck the ball out of the sky with the best of them. He is an excellent receiver that checks practically every box needed to thrive in the NFL. Bryant, unlike Trautman, is not a great blocker and this is the only box he fails to check.

3rd Round

6. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri, 6-6, 258 pounds

Okwuegbunam is excellent at tracking the ball and has the athleticism to make teams pay when he works up the seam. He also has an extremely large frame that helps him box out defenders fighting for the ball. Okwuegbunam, like Bryant above, still needs a ton of work as a blocker.

7. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 257 pounds

Pinkney had a fantastic junior campaign with 50 receptions for 774 yards and seven touchdowns. He looks like the prototypical NFL tight end and has the frame to put on even more weight. After a sensational junior season, Pinkney had a rough 2019, where production took a huge dip with only 20 receptions for 233 yards.

8. Thaddeus Moss, LSU, 6-2, 250 pounds

Moss plays like a player with NFL bloodlines as he is already a fairly technically refined prospect. The son of Randy Moss had an explosive season for the Tigers, but flew a bit under the radar due to the high powered offense. Moss is not the athlete that some others on the list are.

9. Colby Parkinson, Stanford, 6-7. 252 pounds

Parkinson is arguably the most athletic tight end in this class and lives up to the TEU stereotype of a long 50-50 ball threat. He is extremely crisp in his routes, especially on the underneath. Even though Parkinson is an elite athlete, he does lack the top end speed most teams prefer.

10. Cheyenne O’Grady, Arkansas, 6-4, 253 pounds

O’Grady has an insane amount of untapped potential as evidenced by his former five-star recruiting ranking. He was able to snag 63 receptions for nine touchdowns during his last two seasons. His combination of size and speed will be extremely enticing to teams looking for a capable in-line tight end.

O’Grady was never able to reach his full potential due to being suspended multiple times and that will warrant deeper investigation. He also may require a red-shirt season. There have been comparisons made between him and former Philadelphia Eagles player, Scott Orndoff. As far as physical profile goes it is spot on, but O’Grady does offer a much higher ceiling.

11. Jacob Breeland, Oregon, 6-5, 252 pounds

Breeland was having a phenomenal season before injuries hit him. He is a clean receiver with solid route-running ability and ideal ball skills. He is also able to create separation. Breeland would be much higher on this list, but a knee injury robbed him of the second half of the season and that injury warrants deeper investigation.

4th Round

12. Devin Asiasi, UCLA, 6-3, 257 pounds: Explodes off the line of scrimmage and weight needs monitoring at the next level as he has a propensity to gain negative weight.

13. Stephen Sullivan, LSU, 6-5, 248 pounds: Had 12 receptions for 130 yards last season and is extremely raw. Had a fantastic Senior Bowl week and a highlight-reel touchdown against SE Louisiana as a junior. Comparisons have been made between him and Darren Waller of the Las Vegas Raiders and he could certainly exceed those expectations.

14. Mitchell Wilcox, South Florida, 6-3, 247 pounds: Versatile receiver who played in the slot and split out wide, but he is not a good blocker.

5th Round

15. Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland St, 6-2, 240 pounds: Raw with H-Back ability, but not an ideal tight end, especially due to his lack of blocking ability.

16. Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati, 6-2, 242 pounds: Ability to contribute in a number of ways, but is not the best athlete. Also has H-back ability.

[lawrence-related id=43359]

17. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech, 6-4, 253 pounds: Unique upside and able to block effectively, but lacks ideal speed.

6th Round

18. Sean McKeon, Michigan, 6-5, 242 pounds: Solid blocker, but was not an extremely productive receiver.

19. Ahmad Wagner, Kentucky, 6-5, 234 pounds: Giant frame that he uses effectively to box out defenders, but rough route runner.

7th Round

20. Kyle Markway, South Carolina, 6-4, 250 pounds: Best blocker in the class with a physical mentality. Not a productive receiver and not athletic enough to become one.

21. Joey Magnifico, Memphis, 6-4, 240 pounds: Raw prospect that saw few opportunities in college.

22. Nate Wieting, Iowa, 6-4, 244 pounds: Another intriguing upside prospect, but the former walk-on has a few injury concerns.

23. Eli Wolf, Georgia, 6-4, 245 pounds: One of the viral workout videos that was recently released showed Wolf running a 4.43 forty, but that’s hard to see on film.

24. Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee, 6-4, 261 pounds: Fairly raw former quarterback with good size, but inconsistent tape.

25. Tyler Mabry, Maryland, 6-4, 248 pounds: Grad-transfer from Buffalo failed to build on his solid junior campaign.

26. Farrod Green, Mississippi St., 6-3, 245 pounds: Raw prospect who was expected to breakout in 2019 and never did.

Priority Free agent

27. Parker Houston, San Diego St., 6-2, 250 pounds

28. Charlie Woerner, Georgia, 6-5, 244 pounds

29. Noah Togiai, Oregon St., 6-4, 246 pounds

 

[lawrence-related id=44275]

 

Colts had virtual meeting with Oregon TE Jacob Breeland

Colts got some time with TE Jacob Breeland.

The Indianapolis Colts will be looking to add to the tight end room during the 2020 NFL draft and while it remains to be seen when they will do so, it appears Oregon’s Jacob Breeland is on their radar.

Likely a Day 3 pick, Breeland had a pre-draft visit with the Colts over FaceTime and even had a meeting with them following Oregon’s pro day.

Breeland is one of the underrated prospects in the tight end class, one that doesn’t seem to have a lot of top-end talent. The Colts will have their chances to add some talent to the tight end room early if they want or they could target a developmental prospect with upside like Breeland on Day 3.

Breeland brings some solid athleticism to the table and would be a fine pass-catching option to work in the room behind Jack Doyle and alongside Mo Alie-Cox. He didn’t have a whole lot of production, but he brings an intriguing skill set as a Day 3 pick or a priority free agent.

It will be interesting to see how the draft goes but Breeland might be a player to watch for the Colts late on Day 3.

2020 NFL Draft: Jets land Jerry Jeudy in Draft Wire’s new 7-round mock

The Jets land Jerry Jeudy in Draft Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft projections.

The Draft Wire just released its latest seven-round mock draft, which has the Jets taking a top receiver.

In this seven-round projection, Luke Easterling Draft Wire’s has the Jets making some interesting picks. First, Easterling has the Jets spurning an offensive tackle in favor of taking a potential All-Pro wide receiver in Jerry Jeudy.

From there, the projections teeter from needs to positional value. Easterling has the Jets addressing the tackle position, but it’s the right side, which is less of a concern. He is able to find immediate, impact starters in the third and fourth rounds, but from there, the Jets aren’t drafting based on needs.

With that said, let’s take a look at Eatserling’s projections for the Jets in Rounds 1-7.

Round 1

11. Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

With Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills and Mekhi Becton all off the board before the 11th pick, Easterling has the Jets swinging for the fences by taking Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy over the fourth-best tackle, Andrew Thomas.

Jeudy is the perfect No. 1 wide receiver for Sam Darnold. He’s a crisp route-runner who has the natural speed and ability to take the top off of defenses. Jeudy’s experience in pro-style route combinations at Alabama should bode well for his transition to the pros.

While Jeudy didn’t put up the numbers he did in his sophomore year with the Crimson Tide, he was still among the top receivers in the country last year. Starting all 13 games, he corralled 77 receptions for 1,1263 yards and 10 touchdowns, repeating as a first-team All-SEC pick.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8

Meet Jake Breeland, Oregon’s play-making TE prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Oregon tight end prospect Jake Breeland

Today’s NFL requires much of its tight ends, from helping out as a blocker in the run game to stretching all levels of the field as a pass-catcher.

If your favorite team is looking for a prospect in the 2020 NFL draft class who can do it all, Oregon’s Jake Breeland checks every box.

As he works his way back from injury in preparation for his jump to the pros, Breeland spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, the status of his rehab, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.

JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?

JB: It was good. There’s obviously a lot going on. I was just super happy to be there. I enjoyed the meetings and getting a chance to meet the coaching staffs. The tight end group was super cool. I met so many great guys out there. It was a good experience. I had a lot of fun.

JM: A knee injury that you suffered back in October kept you from competing, unfortunately. Where are you health-wise right now?

JB: The recovery has been going well. I’m about four and a half months out now. I’m feeling great. I’ve been doing a lot of running. I’ve recently started to do some change-of-direction stuff, which is a good sign. It’s going well. I feel great. I’ve been rehabbing every day. I’m getting stronger. I can’t wait to get back out there.

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal meetings at the combine?

JB: I had a lot of informal interviews. They were all informal. I probably met with every team, with the exception of maybe 3-4 teams. I had a lot of interviews going on. It was a lot of fun.

JM: Do you have any private visits or workouts coming up, or is everything going down after the pro day?

JB: I actually have a meeting with the Los Angeles Rams tonight (March 11th). They’re down here in Oregon right now. I’m headed to my meeting with them after this interview actually. Our pro day is tomorrow (March 12th). I won’t be participating physically.

JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?

JB: I didn’t have too many weird ones. This one team asked me if I would change anything about myself. Another asked me what I’d be doing if I wasn’t playing football. I didn’t get anything too strange. I was asked if I would rather win the Super Bowl or be an All-Pro guy. It was all relatively standard.

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the tight end position?

JB: I enjoy being able to do everything. I can split out wide and be a threat in the passing game. I can play in the slot or line up in the backfield. I can play next to the tackle and make an impact in the run game. You get asked to do a little bit of everything as a tight end. I can go out there and block. I love the versatility. You get a little bit of everything.

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

JM: Do you have a favorite route to run?

JB: I would probably say the climb-over. It would be a 12-yard climb-over route. I can run it up the middle, but if it takes me too high, I’m able to split it up the middle. I love doing that. My speed serves me well. The climb-over is definitely my favorite route.

JM: Is Justin Herbert the best quarterback in the draft?

JB: To me, yes, he is. I got to play alongside him, and we really grew up together over these past few years. We actually lived together. He’s a great guy, both on and off the field. He’s developed into a tremendous athlete. He’s a great leader. He’s more of a vocal leader than he gets credit for in the media. To me, he’s by far the best quarterback in this draft.

JM: What kind of guy is Jake Breeland going to be at the next level?

JB: That’s a tough question to answer in such few words. I’m gonna be a loyal, trustworthy kind of guy. I played for three different head coaches at Oregon, and I decided to stick with it. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and I persevered through it all. I’m in it for the long run. I would love to play on the same team for a long time. I wanna play in the NFL for a long time. I love the game, and I love to compete. Whatever team gets me, they’re gonna get the best of me.

[vertical-gallery id=614656]

3 PAC-12 players the Seahawks could target in the NFL draft

Here is a look at three PAC-12 players – a center, tight end and edge rusher – the Seattle Seahawks could target in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks, particularly in recent years, have taken a lot of talent from local schools in the NFL draft.

Will Dissly came to the Seahawks via the University of Washington in 2018, and a quartet of draft picks from the PAC-12 joined Seattle last year: Ugo Amadi (Oregon) Ben Burr-Kirven (Washington) as well as Marquise Blair and Cody Barton from Utah.

While that may be coincidental more than anything else, it could also be thanks to Seattle’s alignment with many of the offensive and defensive schemes being run by PAC-12 schools – and could point to more PAC-12 players joining the team in 2020.

While there are literally dozens of PAC-12 players who are draft eligible and, at least on paper, decent fits for this Seattle team, here are three who seem like arguably the best fits at this stage of the draft process.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4