We're just two days away from the NFL Draft, and the rumors and questionable stories are coming fast and furious. There are people who believe everything, and people who think they're all nonsense. I'm probably more on the side of the latter group, but try to keep an open mind. Let's look at some of the big ones a little closer.
This is a competitive business, so I understand there are people out there trying to make a name for themselves with the big scoop. There are also guys who, without mentioning any names, are just shills for either the NFL, various teams, or player agents -- blithely putting out the storyline those parties want to get out there. Maybe they're content to put out that kind of content, or maybe they're oblivious to what they're doing. Nothing bugs me more than guys putting out "news" that's blatant servicing of a particular team or agent.
Anyhoo. Here are some of the big stories that we've seen circulated the last few days. And here's my opinion on which ones are legit and which are garbage.
Giants looking closely at Justin Herbert. The Cardinals draft Kyler Murray a year after drafting Josh Rosen, and suddenly you get people thinking it's plausible that a team will draft first-round quarterbacks in back-to-back seasons. No. Rosen was bad as a rookie, and it was a brand-new coaching staff and decision-maker a year later, that had a history with Murray. If Dave Gettleman drafts Herbert (pictured) in the top 10 a year after drafting Daniel Jones in the top 10 he'll be fired on the spot. (Well not literally on the spot; social distancing and all.) It's not happening. I can only assume that somebody in the organization, perhaps Gettleman himself, is trying to trick some simple-minded front office into trading up.
Broncos looking to trade up for top wideout. John Elway was a great quarterback, but no one should necessarily consider him a great GM. He won a Super Bowl because he convinced Peyton Manning to sign with the Broncos, which he was able to do probably because he had the shared quality of being a great quarterback that no other GM had. He hasn't shown much as a GM in terms of acquiring talent, and most of his moves (trades, free agents, draft picks) involving quarterbacks have blown up in his face. Therefore, yes, I can believe he's fallen in love with one of the draft's top wideouts and is willing to move up to get him. Denver has three third-round picks, and I'm sure some team sitting at 10-12 would take one of them to drop back to Denver's spot at 15, enabling the Broncos to get their wide receiver target.
Jaguars trading Fournette. Is there any big-name player the Jaguars don't want to trade? I'm not sure if the team is hoping to be competitive in 2020, or if they're looking to tank and get a top pick next season, and/or move the team to England. All I know for sure is Fournette isn't going to be a part of it. He'll be traded or released in the next week or two, no question.
Dolphins taking offensive tackle at No. 5. Miami had a terrible situation at tackle last year; that's what happens when you lose JaWuan James in free agency and trade away Laremy Tunsil right before the start of the season. They've got three first-round picks, and the current storyline is they're going to take the draft's best offensive tackle at No. 5 (assuming the Giants don't take him at No. 4, which they probably will if they stay put), then trade back up for their quarterback of choice. Don't believe it. Offensive tackles are important, but quarterbacks are moreso. Would you really risk losing your favorite quarterback target to get that favorite tackle? I don't think so. I believe the Dolphins are taking Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5.
49ers shopping Tevin Coleman. Some will recall that the 49ers were supposedly shopping Matt Breida recently. Give it another day or two and maybe somebody will put out the fantasy that Jerick McKinnon has trade value. Bottom line is that Raheem Mostert is the team's best back and the size of Coleman's contract and Breida's too (on the second-round tender) is that they're going to have to move one of these guys. Especially if they add another running back, which they seem unable to help themselves from doing. Sadly for them nobody wants Coleman's contract and I'm not sure they want Breida's either. McKinnon hasn't played in two years and wasn't any good in Minnesota. Anyway: sure, San Francisco would love to trade a running back. So maybe.
Falcons hoping to trade up. This is plausible. Teams with a top veteran quarterback in place, like the Falcons and Steelers, who see their window of contention inching or crashing closed, are going to be looking to add a top player or two. Atlanta has an extra fourth-rounder and might be willing to flip it, and/or a future pick, to move up from 16. They did something similar to get Julio Jones, after all.
Chargers are sold on Tyrod Taylor. I've gone back and forth on this one. I know that if you're sitting at No. 6 and are enamored of one of the draft's top quarterbacks, you don't want to tip your hand, so this is exactly what you might say. Then again, Taylor did have some success as Buffalo's quarterback, including while Anthony Lynn was there. Chargers have improved their offensive line and have a lot of talent on defense, and could probably push for a playoff spot with Taylor in the lineup. Take one of the draft's top tackles at No. 6 and move forward. But: I could very much see them taking a quarterback and letting him sit for a year, or until Taylor struggles or gets hurt. The Chargers need to build a fanbase and, eventually, have a legit franchise quarterback in place. That might be Tua, or Herbert, or Love; it's not Taylor. When push comes to shove, I think they might draft the quarterback, if the one they like is there.
Anybody else have some ridiculous Rapoport (whoops, sorry, I wasn't mentioning any names) story they want to shoot down or back up? Feel free to post it below.