NFL Draft
2019 NFL Draft Day News, Notes and Rumors: April 25
2019 NFL Draft Day is finally here. What will the Steelers do in the first round? Will they move up or down in the first round? Which other teams will make Draft Day moves? We’ll keep you updated on the deals and rumors here in this page. Check back often for anything you might have missed.
UPDATE (6:11 PM)-
Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph Possible Trade Target For Patriots? https://t.co/nmtZQb9245 pic.twitter.com/E4uhQt9FqD
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (5:42 PM)-
Steelers do not believe a trade up for Devin Bush is viable. Would be very surprised to see that materialize. They could have their pick of any CB at 20. My hunch is they'd go Deandre Baker in that circumstance
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (5:23 PM)-
**Where would the Steelers have to trade up to in order to have a shot at Michigan LB Devin Bush?
LB Devin Bush entering draft with belief he won’t get past Bengals at 11, per source. Anything different would be at least mild surprise. Steelers and others who might entertain moving up for him will need to make a big jump.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (4:04 PM)-
**Could their be movement in the Top 5 of the draft?
GMs Expect Jets To Trade Down From No. 3 Overall https://t.co/QeeubXsa0c pic.twitter.com/uWD2ZDeOiS
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (2:25 PM)-
This one might catch some people by surprise: @LRiddickESPN says the best player in this year’s #NFLDraft is Devin Bush from @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/FLFn7lTKKl
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) April 22, 2019
Per @AdamSchefter on ESPN just now, the Steelers are actively trying to trade up into the top 10.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (2:01 PM)-
If the #AZCardinals have made a decision on No. 1, they are keeping it quiet. Source said GM Steve Keim reached out to at least one player — #Bama DT Quinnen Willliams — to let him know he’s still a possibility to go first overall.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019
The name teams keep asking me about today is N’Keal Harry. Can see someone trading BACK into the first round to draft the Arizona State WR in final few picks of the first round.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (1:49 PM)-
5 Patriots who could be traded during the draft https://t.co/uBQhecPnPT
— The Patriots Wire (@Patriots_Wire) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (12:48 PM)-
My final 2019 NFL Mock Draft includes a couple of trades (will be far more than that), 4 QBs inside the top-20 picks, just 1 WR & 1 RB, and 8 offensive linemen:https://t.co/Hgk22uJ54l
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (12:13 PM)-
NFL Draft has averaged six first-round trades over the past three years – seven last year, six the year before, five the year before. Likely to be right in that range again tonight.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (12:08 PM)-
**An interesting name mentioned by a writer from Yahoo Sports in their final Mock Draft.
Final mock for 2019 NFL draft
Six mocks! cc: @mockdraftdb https://t.co/rejjdpu74x
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (10:49 AM)-
**Day 1 of the NFL Draft means rumors, rumors, rumors. Here’s what Rob Rang is hearing-
Top 5 #NFLDraft rumors from league sources late last night 🏈
1. #Cardinals like QW, take KM
2. #Raiders like Haskins
3. #Redskins trade up to 4 (ahead of #Giants) for Haskins
4. Montez Sweat could slip out of 1st. Did not in my mock.
5. DK Metcalf could too. Did in my mock.— Rob Rang (@RobRang) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (9:35 AM)-
My 2019 mock draft. Wilkins, Lindstrom, Savage amd JoeJuan Williams among those who are red hot. 4 QBs. At least 1 trade. https://t.co/fB4LQTJsui
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (9:29 AM)-
**As is usually the case, expect to see a lot of movement in the 1st Round, here’s the latest concerning that courtesy Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network.
Teams I’m told have shown the most interest in trading down: #Jets (3), #Lions (8), #Dolphins (13), #Seahawks (21/29), #Rams (31).
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (9:20 AM)-
Final Top 100 Players for the 2019 NFL Draft (Big Board).https://t.co/A8q3zkdYQr
— NFL Draft Blitz (@NFLDraftBlitz) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (9:10 AM)-
**Devin Bush is a player that Steeler fans want to see the team draft. Problem with that is, the Steelers aren’t the only team that would like to add a fast, athletic linebacker. In order to have a chance at him, Kevin Colbert would have to surrender some draft picks in order to move up in the first round.
If Michigan LB Devin Bush were to slide, there are teams anxious to go up and get him.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 25, 2019
Clemson DT Christian Wilkins is one logical #Falcons target, but I’ve spoken to NFL people who are convinced it’s for Michigan LB Devin Bush. They’d likely have to get past #Broncos at 10. https://t.co/GY4YTh0rS2
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (8:58 AM)-
Two teams that have shown a willingness to trade into the top 10, doing their homework on what it would cost: The #Falcons and the #Redskins. For Washington, it would likely be for a QB. For Atlanta, the options are varied.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (8:52 AM)-
**At some point early in the draft, former Thomas Jefferson and Michigan DE Chase Winovich will hear his name called. He’ll become the latest player to go from the WPIAL to the NFL.
Ever since I was 7 years old I've worked my whole life to hear my name called in the NFL Draft. No matter what these next few days bring, I can't wait to get back to work doing what I love! pic.twitter.com/RfccY5fYbF
— Chase Winovich (@Wino) April 25, 2019
UPDATE (7:30 AM)-
As the #Raiders ponder where to go with their fourth overall pick, worth noting: Oakland brass moved QB Dwayne Haskins up their board late this week, source said. He impressed them in his workout, and could be a consideration at No. 4 🤔🤔.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2019
After cancelling the in-person NFL Scouting Combine last week due to COVID-19 concerns, the league released further details of the significantly altered draft process in a memo to clubs Friday.
Teams are prohibited from timing, testing, interviewing or examining draft prospects at any location other than all-star games or the respective player’s pro day.
Clubs are also banned from hosting draft prospects for facilities visits, dinners, film sessions and private workouts. Violations of these rules would be subject to punishment in line with the NFL’s anti-tampering policy.
Further muddying the process, clubs will only be allowed to have a maximum of three individuals attend pro days. However, all times and measurements are said to be made available league-wide.
Lastly, the league also released further details and restrictions on the pre-draft interview process. While in-person interviews and visits will be prohibited, they can be conducted virtually or via telephone.
Clubs can schedule up to five video conferences or phone calls with a prospect, with each conversation limited to one hour. Virtual psychological tests will not count against the five interview limit.
Teams can begin conducting interviews with draft eligible underclassmen on Monday, Jan. 25.
Interviews with seniors can begin on Monday, Feb. 1.
After weeks of rumors and speculation, the NFL has made it official, announcing in a memo to clubs Monday they are significant alterations to the 2021 Scouting Combine.
Annually held in Indianapolis, the league is scrapping in-person workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium, instead opting for pro days on college campuses. The NFL will coordinate with schools to ensure “consistency in testing and drills,” providing video of said workouts to all clubs.
Interviews and psychological testing of prospects normally executed at the physical combine will instead be conducted in an entirely virtual format.
As for medical evaluations, limited in-person exams will most likely be conducted over a three-day span in early April. While some evaluations will also be held virtually, an undetermined number of prospects will be invited to designated satellite locations for in-person exams. Each franchise will be permitted to dispatch a physician and athletic trainer to conduct the in-person portion.
Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft in April, the league will work directly with clubs, schools and affiliated broadcast partners to ensure media availability with Combine invitees. The NFL intends to keep with tradition and make head coaches and general managers available to the media as well.
The altered Combine format was devised and overseen by a special committee of league and club officials, including NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert.
Further details regarding protocols and finalized dates will be released as the committee continues to meet and plan over the coming weeks.
Here’s the full memo on changes to the 2021 scouting combine: pic.twitter.com/e1KNcuaUTn
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 18, 2021
Major changes to the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine are expected amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a report by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, plans of hosting the combine as traditionally constructed are “dead” following a conference call between league officials Friday. It is becoming increasingly likely that the medical and performance-based portions of the event will be held separately.
A number of alternatives are being considered, including regionalized medical checks, standardized pro days and interviews conducting via Zoom.
With regards to the regional medicals, the NFL could set up shop and administer the examinations at hospital in states where a large number of players are conducting their workouts and preparation, such as Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
The intent would be to limit travel for players, where as the team physicians conducting the examinations would likely have already received their vaccinations.
Other aspects of the medical process can be accomplished virtually, such as reviewing injury histories.
As for the pro days, NFL or individual team personnel would put players through drills at their respective schools, but standardize each workout to ensure prospects are going through the same exercises as they would in Indianapolis. Measurements and result would then be distributed league-wide as they normally would be.
League officials will continue to meet over the coming days, according to Breer, but a finalized plan is expected later this coming week.
The NFL has also weighed the option of postponing the combine until April, but still holding it in Indianapolis. While it is on the table, the move would likely requirement the 2021 NFL Draft to be postponed as well.
