2013 NFL Rookies

[BINGO]

Josh Boyce - WR - Patriots

Patriots fourth-round WR Josh Boyce is missing rookie minicamp due to a broken bone in his foot.

He suffered the injury at the Combine and underwent surgery. Boyce called himself "day to day," and it sounds like he'll be fine for training camp. A potential vertical field stretcher out of TCU, Boyce will compete for snaps at X receiver. Danny Amendola is the Z, leaving New England's X job is wide open to competition.
Source: ESPN Boston

May 3 - 2:22 PM

 

[BINGO]

Stedman Bailey - WR - Rams

The Rams envision third-round WR Stedman Bailey as their replacement for Brandon Gibson.

Gibson had been a starter in recent years, but the Rams never viewed him as more than a No. 3 or No. 4 wideout. Bailey will compete for fourth receiver duties as a rookie, behind Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, and Chris Givens. He can also returns kicks and punts. Bailey is unlikely to be a fantasy factor in 2013.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

May 3 - 2:46 PM

 

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Top-10 team passed on Geno for 'diva' reasons

ESPN New York reports at least one quarterback-needy team passed on West Virginia's Geno Smith in the top-ten picks because he displayed a "diva attitude" during a pre-draft visit to club headquarters.

The report aligns with a recent one from Yahoo Sports claiming Smith spent most of his time texting and checking Twitter on his cellphone during visits to club facilities. "He's going to have a tough time in New York," predicted one NFC scout. "Right now, he's coming off as a spoiled, pampered brat." Once club official confirmed to ESPN New York that "the cellphone episode was mentioned and discussed in its draft room while evaluating Smith." Added one AFC exec, "One of his perceived weaknesses is working through adversity." Smith can make this all go away by playing well in football games.
Source: ESPN New York

May 3 - 4:13 PM

 

[BINGO]

E.J. Manuel - QB - Bills

ESPN's Adam Schefter believes the Bills' E.J. Manuel is the rookie quarterback most likely to earn a starting job.

Schefter isn't exactly going out on a limb since Manuel was the only signal caller to come off the board on day one, but it's the rare year where no rookie quarterbacks may start. "Now they did go out during the offseason and sign Kevin Kolb," Schefter said. "(But) clearly with all that Buffalo has invested in E.J. Manuel it figures that he would be the first rookie quarterback to start this season." Manuel and the Jets' Geno Smith are the only two rookie QBs with a realistic chance to start. Oakland's Tyler Wilson is a distant third.
Source: buffalobills.com

May 6 - 10:52 AM

 

[BINGO]

Levine Toilolo - TE - Falcons

Falcons coach Mike Smith hinted fourth-round TE Levine Toilolo could be an option in the red-zone.

Toilolo — who's a mountainous 6-foot-8, 260 pounds — was drafted primarily for his blocking ability, but scored four touchdowns his final year at Stanford. "Obviously, his efficiency in the red-zone is well documented," Smith said. "To throw the ball to a guy in the red-zone, you want to make sure he’s going to catch the ball. I think that kind of says what kind of hands he has." Toilolo is unlikely to be Tony Gonzalez's heir apparent, but could come into some fantasy value as a plug-and-play TE2.
Source: atlantafalcons.com

May 6 - 9:51 AM

 

[BINGO]

Terry Hawthorne - DB - Steelers

Steelers DBs coach Carnell Lake believes sixth-round CB Terry Hawthorne has "all the physical tools."

"What I like about Terry is that he has a lot of upside potential that I see in him," Lake said. "He is big. He is fast. He doesn't mind tackling, and he can play press coverage well, kind of in the same way as an Ike Taylor." The Steelers clearly believe Hawthorne has starting potential, but his biggest 2013 impact should come on special teams.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

May 6 - 8:57 AM

 

[BINGO]

Matt Elam - DB - Ravens

According to the Baltimore Sun, first-round S Matt Elam played with "obvious confidence" in Ravens' rookie minicamp.

Per reporter Aaron Wilson, Elam lined up at free safety, and was "intercepting passes and barking out defensive signals." Coach John Harbaugh came away impressed. "Matt really picked things up quickly," Harbaugh said. "He really did a nice job of communicating in the back end which isn't usual for a rookie. ... He was very forceful back there and played fast. He looked good." Elam will start as a rookie.
Source: Baltimore Sun

May 6 - 8:41 AM

 

[BINGO]

Tobais Palmer - WR - Jaguars

Jaguars undrafted rookie WR Tobais Palmer opened eyes at rookie minicamp.

Palmer (5-foot-10, 178) succeeded T.J. Graham at NC State and led the Wolfpack in receptions in 2012. At the school's Pro Day, Palmer ran a 4.39 forty to go along with a 10-foot-1 broad jump and 33 1/2-inch vertical leap. He also brings some kick and punt return skills to the table.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran on Twitter

May 5 - 5:30 PM

 

[BINGO]

David Amerson - DB - Redskins

The Redskins are grooming No. 51 overall pick CB David Amerson to play on the outside.

Amerson has the size and ball-hawking skills to play safety, but he lined up almost exclusively at right corner in rookie minicamp this weekend. He has good speed (4.44 forty) and long arms (32 5/8"), and he's a very aggressive corner who likes to jump routes. Amerson led the nation with 13 interceptions in 2011 at NC State. The Redskins picked off 21 passes in 2012.
Source: Washington Post

May 5 - 2:53 PM

 

[BINGO]

Geno Smith - QB - Jets

Jets rookie QB Geno Smith went 4-1 as a starter in cold-weather games (40 degrees or below) at West Virginia.

Smith struggled in the Pinstripe Bowl against Syracuse, but otherwise he was an effective cold-weather quarterback, which matters because the Jets play eight home games in the sometimes-chilly Meadowlands, as well as one game in Buffalo and another in Foxboro each year. Smith's stats in cold-weather college games: 90-for-126 (71 percent), 1,215 yards, and a 10:0 TD-to-INT ratio.
Source: ESPN New York

May 5 - 1:40 PM

 

[BINGO]

Cooper Taylor - DB - Giants

Both GM Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin mentioned fifth-round pick Cooper Taylor as a candidate for the Giants' three-safety package in addition to playing special teams as a rookie.

Taylor goes 6-foot-4, 228 with 4.49 wheels. He was viewed as a linebacker prospect by some teams. "He is a safety by trade but you drop him down in that three-safety package or whatever you want to do," said Coughlin. "Whether he plays an outside backer or whatever." Taylor will have to earn the job in camp.
Source: ESPN New York

May 5 - 1:17 PM

 

[BINGO]

Kyle Long - G - Bears

Of all offensive linemen tested at the Combine, Bears first-round pick Kyle Long had the biggest hands (11") and least body fat (15.8 percent).

For comparison's sake, Jonathan Cooper had 21.5 percent body fat per "Bod Pod" results, while Chance Warmack's body fat percentage was 21.4. D.J. Fluker has 24.8 percent body fat. Bears GM Phil Emery skewed toward measurables instead of production throughout his draft. Only time can tell whether it will pay off.
Source: Chicago Tribune

May 5 - 12:30 PM

 

[BINGO]

Chris Thompson - RB - Redskins

Redskins fifth-round RB Chris Thompson is sitting out rookie minicamp while rehabbing his torn left ACL.

Thompson tore the ACL last October 20. He says he's able to "sprint and cut," but won't be full-go until training camp. Thompson will compete with Roy Helu, Jawan Jamison, and Tristan Davis for one or two spots behind Alfred Morris and Evan Royster. Thompson brings rare straight-line speed to the table.
Source: Tarik El-Bashir on Twitter

May 5 - 12:11 PM

 

[BINGO]

Luke Joeckel - T - Jaguars

Despite admitting to some discomfort in his adjustment to right tackle, Jaguars first-round pick Luke Joeckel has been "downright dominant" through two days of rookie minicamp.

According to the Associated Press, Joeckel hasn't allowed a single sack or even quarterback hurry in team drills. Joeckel is competing against UDFAs and tryout players, but it's notable after his previous comments. "It's feeling a lot better than I thought it would," Joeckel said Saturday. Joeckel will face more of a test against Jeremy Mincey and Jason Babin at full-squad OTAs.
Source: Associated Press

May 5 - 11:19 AM

 

[BINGO]

Aaron Dobson - WR - Patriots

Patriots coach Bill Belichick cited second-round pick Aaron Dobson's basketball background as a big plus for his NFL outlook.

Dobson was recruited to play basketball at West Virginia, Delaware, and Hofstra out of high school. He's 6-foot-3, 210 and didn't drop a single target as a senior. "Basketball players, most have good hands," Belichick opined. "They have to handle the ball a lot. The ball is on them quick, tight passes and handling the ball in traffic and that kind of thing. Usually, when you get a good basketball player, those guys usually have pretty good ball skills."
Source: Providence Journal

May 5 - 10:32 AM

 

[BINGO]

Dwayne Gratz - DB - Jaguars

The Jaguars are internally comparing No. 64 pick Dwayne Gratz to Carlos Rogers, whom Jags DBs coach DeWayne Walker coached in Washington.

An almost certain Week 1 starter, Gratz has adequate size (5-foot-11, 201) and can play bump-and-run coverage, which is the style Jacksonville will use under Walker and rookie coach Gus Bradley. "He’s just a football player," said Walker. "He reminds me a little bit of Rogers when I had him as a rookie. He’s tough and just a smooth player. And you can see he has good football instincts."
Source: Florida Times Union

May 5 - 9:34 AM

 

[BINGO]

Johnathan Cyprien - DB - Jaguars

The Jaguars are expected to use rookie Johnathan Cyprien "close to the line of scrimmage" as an in-the-box strong safety.

The 33rd pick in the draft, Cyprien is locked in as a Week 1 starter and will be a sneaky candidate to lead Jacksonville in tackles. Jaguars DBs coach DeWayne Walker was impressed with Cyprien at rookie minicamp. "He’s tough, he has really good instincts and I think he’s smart," said Walker. "After one day, you see the things on the field that we thought we would get out of him."
Source: Florida Times Union

May 5 - 9:27 AM

 

[BINGO]

Corey Fuller - WR - Lions

The Lions' website considers sixth-round pick WR Corey Fuller a strong candidate for a roster spot.

Fuller (6-2, 204) was a one-year wonder at Virginia Tech, but has 4.43 speed and the potential to be an explosive downfield receiver. With Ryan Broyles (ACL surgery) injured and Nate Burleson the favorite for the Lions' No. 2 job, Fuller could be an option for the Titus Young role in Detroit's offense. He shouldn't have any trouble beating out Patrick Edwards and Kris Durham.
Source: detroitlions.com

May 4 - 10:16 PM

 

[BINGO]

Will Davis - DB - Dolphins

Dolphins third-round CB Will Davis "stood out" in Friday's rookie minicamp practice.

The Dolphins traded up for Davis and expect him to compete for a starting job as a rookie. With Dimitri Patterson and Richard Marshall not guaranteed roster spots, both Davis and No. 54 overall pick Jamar Taylor should see extensive playing time. Davis is undersized and may be best suited for nickel duties.
Source: Miami Herald

May 4 - 8:31 PM

 

[BINGO]

Brandon Williams - DL - Ravens

Ravens third-round pick DT Brandon Williams said he expects to make an "immediate impact" on defense.

Williams dominated the small school levels at Missouri Southern, and the Ravens agree he won't need much time to develop. As NT Haloti Ngata's backup, Williams should provide immediate help to Baltimore's run defense as a 335-pound rotational player with quickness. If Williams is good enough right away, the Ravens could cut the chord on former second-round bust Terrence Cody.
Source: baltimoreravens.com

May 4 - 7:14 PM