2014 NFL ROOKIES

[BINGO]

Lorenzo Taliaferro - RB - Ravens

Ravens coach John Harbaugh deemed fourth-round RB Lorenzo Taliaferro "very good at pass protection" following rookie minicamp.

Taliaferro's landing spot offers a lot of opportunity with questions surrounding Ray Rice (off field) and Bernard Pierce (shoulder). Pass pro is typically a major obstacle for rookie running backs. "I thought Lorenzo was very smooth running the ball," Harbaugh said. "He did a nice job picking up the aiming points and the reads. He looks like he is a big guy, a downhill guy. I was very impressed with what kind of shape he is in. There is not an ounce of fat on him, and he is 230 pounds. Very good at pass protection." Taliaferro is worth monitoring in re-draft leagues and drafting in Dynasty settings.
Source: Baltimore Sun

May 23 - 1:16 PM

 

[BINGO]

Devin Street - WR - Cowboys

The Cowboys had a third-round grade on fifth-round pick Devin Street.

The front office was reportedly intrigued by Street's size (6'3/198) and "ability to attack the ball." The Cowboys view Street as an option at outside receiver if Dez Bryant or Terrance Williams misses time. Cole Beasley is Dallas' primary slot guy. Street will battle Dwayne Harris for No. 4 receiver duties.
Source: ESPN Dallas

May 23 - 1:19 PM

 

[BINGO]

Tre Mason - RB - Rams

ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner "wouldn't be surprised" if third-round RB Tre Mason overtakes Zac Stacy for the starting job at some point in 2014.

We're not so sure. Stacy has shown true feature back ability, and current No. 2 back Benny Cunningham averaged 5.6 YPC as a rookie. We're not so confident Mason will open the season any higher than No. 3. Mason has ball security and pass protection issues. He'll likely max out as a change-of-pace back in 2014.
Source: ESPN.com

May 24 - 6:19 PM

 

[BINGO]

Gabe Jackson - G - Raiders

ESPN Raiders blogger Paul Gutierrez expects third-round pick Gabe Jackson to be the Week 1 starter at left guard.

A four-year starter at Mississippi State, Jackson is pro-ready and should provide an immediate upgrade in pass protection. At 6'3/336, he has potential to be a mauler in the run game. Assuming Jackson can pick up the Raiders' protection schemes, Oakland's starting offensive line should be LT Donald Penn, LG Jackson, C Stefen Wisniewski, RG Austin Howard, and RT Menelik Watson.
Source: ESPN.com

May 24 - 9:21 PM

 

[NinerSickness]

Seattle Seahawks waive draft pick Garrett Scott after finding rare heart condition - ESPN

 

[I_am_1z]

Paul Richardson is getting LASIK surgery. In college he had a case of "focus-drops". He displayed he could catch the ball very well with his hands, but us arm chair GMs thought Richardson somehow became distracted when the ball hit his hands. This could be huge and from what I'm reading on multiple sites, Richardson has been able to put on weight and has caught the attention of everyone with his speed.

Paul Richardson getting LASIK procedure - Field Gulls

 

[BINGO]

Ronald Powell - LB - Saints

Saints rookie OLB Ronald Powell rotated in with the first-team defense at OTAs.

Powell is behind Junior Galette, Parys Haralson, and Victor Butler for snaps in the Saints' base defense, but has potential to make a rookie-year impact as a situational pass rusher. At 6'3/237, he's a strong fit in DC Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme. Haralson is expected to be the early-down starter on the strong side, so Powell will need to beat out Butler for a sub-package role.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jun 6 - 8:46 PM

 

[BINGO]

Derek Carr - QB - Raiders

NFL Media's Albert Breer reports "there is internal belief" that second-round QB Derek Carr will push Matt Schaub for the starting job.

Breer adds that Carr has already convinced the Raiders he won't need a redshirt season. Schaub is getting the majority of first-team reps during OTAs and remains the favorite to start, but Carr has shown enough progress that he could challenge for the job early in 2014. Oakland may not have a choice but to force Carr into a starting role if Schaub plays anywhere close to the level he did in 2013.
Source: NFL.com

Jun 6 - 6:45 PM

 

[BINGO]

Timmy Jernigan - DL - Ravens

Ravens second-round DT Timmy Jernigan is "off to a fast start" at OTAs.

Jernigan has flashed during offseason workouts and is being rotated in with the first-team defense. He's competing with Kapron Lewis-Moore and Brandon Williams at the left end spot. Even if Jernigan doesn't win the starting job, he should make an early impact on the defensive line.
Source: Baltimore Sun

Jun 7 - 4:02 PM

 

[BINGO]

Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Panthers

ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton "wouldn't be shocked" if rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin surpassed eight touchdowns this season.

"From what I've seen so far there will be little hesitation to throw it up high and let him go get it," said Newton. Benjamin's size undoubtedly makes him a touchdown threat, but eight TDs may be stretching it. Eight touchdowns is a feat accomplished by only around 15 receivers every season, and Carolina traditionally runs the football when they get in close. Benjamin will certainly be a factor in the red zone, but the offense he plays in will limit his scoring potential to some degree.
Source: ESPN.com

Jun 7 - 10:44 AM

 

[BINGO]

Sammy Watkins - WR - Bills

Bills OC Nathaniel Hackett said rookie WR Sammy Watkins was "a guy we've got to get the ball to a whole bunch."

It is tough not to take this with a grain of salt considering Hackett's run C.J. Spiller until the "throws up" comments last year, but the reality is Watkins is already one of the Bills most explosive weapons. They would be foolish not to get the ball to him early and often. Watkins will be a high-volume target right out of the gate and should finish as the top rookie-fantasy receiver in 2014.
Source: Buffalo News

Jun 7 - 10:28 AM

 

[MHSL82]

First round rookie QBs not backups long - Stats & Info Blog - ESPN

The three quarterbacks picked in the first round of the draft have already encountered obstacles that could threaten their playing time as rookies.

The Jaguars have repeatedly claimed that the plan is for Blake Bortles to sit in 2014. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has said that Johnny Manziel is currently the team’s backup QB. And Teddy Bridgewater is locked in perhaps the NFL’s only three-way quarterback competition in Minnesota.

But history tells us that not only will we see Bortles, Manziel and Bridgewater on the field in 2014, we might not need to wait long.

A look at rookie first-round QBs since the merger by the numbers.

5 – Each of the last 5 quarterbacks drafted in the first round started in Week 1 of their rookie seasons, the longest streak since the merger.

78 – 78 percent of quarterbacks drafted in the first round started at least one game as rookies (71 of 91). That means there is only about a one percent chance that Bortles, Manziel nor Bridgewater starts this season.

49 – 49 percent of first-round quarterbacks started within their team’s first five games in their rookie seasons (45 of 91). That equates to an 87 percent chance that at least one of these three quarterbacks will start in their team’s first five games.

3 – Teams that draft a quarterback in the top five (like the Jaguars did with Bortles this year) are even more unlikely to sit him as a rookie. Only three of the 41 quarterbacks drafted in the top five did not start a game as a rookie (Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer, Art Schlichter).

Starting with Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in 2008, both of whom went 11-5 in 16 starts as rookies, first-round rookie QBs have averaged over 12 starts per season and won 46 percent of their starts. From the merger through 2007, 1st-round rookie QBs averaged just over 5 starts per season and won only 37 percent of their starts.

 

[I_am_1z]

Jordan Matthews opening eyes in Eagles practices - NFL.com

In limited media access to OTAs so far, Jordan Matthews has looked like the best WR on the team, in my opinion, and it hasn't been close.

 

[NinerSickness]

Jordan Matthews opening eyes in Eagles practices - NFL.com

In limited media access to OTAs so far, Jordan Matthews has looked like the best WR on the team, in my opinion, and it hasn't been close.

 

[I_am_1z]

Camp call

First-round pick Darqueze Dennard and his Michigan State teammate, safety Isaiah Lewis, have looked terrific the first two weeks and get the chance to keep it going. Dennard has looked like a pro playing the slot cornerback with the first group even though he barely played inside at East Lansing.


Steelers Insider: Practice heating up - Timesonline.com: Steelers/NFL

Arguably the least impressive wide receiver through the early going has been Martavis Bryant. For the second day in a row, coach Mike Tomlin rode the fourth-round pick hard. After Justin Brown knocked down a would-be Ben Roethlisberger interception in the end zone, Tomlin shouted in Bryant’s direction, “Hey, 10! You see that?”

That's pretty terrible because they have my least favorite WR on their roster.

 

[BINGO]

Brandon Coleman - WR - Saints

Saints undrafted rookie WR Brandon Coleman is noticeably having a "tough camp."

Coleman was signed as a priority UDFA out of Rutgers. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound physical specimen tied the Scarlet Knights' school record with 20 career touchdown catches and has a massive catch-radius due to his 34-inch arms, but not a day goes by where we don't see a Saints beat writer talking about Coleman dropping a pass. He's looking like "just a guy" and a roster long shot early on.
Source: Mike Triplett on Twitter

Jun 11 - 2:17 PM

 

[BINGO]

Paul Richardson - WR - Seahawks

Seahawks second-round rookie WR Paul Richardson expects to contribute mainly on special teams as a rookie.

"I'm going to be a punt returner, so I look forward to doing that and making an impact and changing the game when I can from punt return," said Richardson. He returned just four punts in college, but GM John Schneider pointed to Richardson being Colorado's "whole offense" as the reason he wasn't back there more. Richardson has next to no 2014 re-draft appeal as the No. 5 receiver.
Source: ESPN 710 Seattle

Jun 11 - 2:53 PM

 

[BINGO]

Jordan Matthews - WR - Eagles

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jimmy Kempski opines that Eagles second-round WR Jordan Matthews has "looked like the best receiver on the team" during OTAs, "and it hasn't been close."

This isn't the first we've read about Matthews starring at OTAs. Kempski's colleague, Jeff McLane, singled out Matthews, saying the No. 42 overall pick has yet to drop a pass as the slot receiver with the second-team offense. Jeremy Maclin is still knocking off the rust from his torn ACL, and Riley Cooper played better than many expected last season. Anticipate Cooper taking on more of a blocking role in 2014. He's a candidate to be over-drafted in fantasy. Matthews is a hard worker and could have some re-draft appeal in the later rounds.
Source: Jimmy Kempski on Twitter

Jun 10 - 1:17 PM

 

[BINGO]

Brandin Cooks - WR - Saints

First-round WR Brandin Cooks has earned the nickname "lightning" from his teammates.

"A (defensive back) might be in his back pocket and the next thing you know he's 50, 60 yards down the field," said CB Keenan Lewis. Cooks ran a 4.33 at the Combine, the second-fastest time behind Dri Archer (4.26). He's going to be incredibly fast on the Superdome turf. Cooks, who missed OTAs while finishing up at Oregon State but returned for minicamp, said he'll visit Drew Brees in San Diego before training camp to learn more about the offense.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jun 23 - 7:59 AM

 

[I_am_1z]

Giants | Coach getting frustrated with Odell Beckham Jr. injury - NFL Hot off the Wire

Randle and Manningham had their problems understanding the playbook, now it looks like Beckham will be the next guy that will have difficulty with the NYG playbook