Fantasy Football News & Views
BAL BUF CIN CLE DEN HOU IND JAX KC LAC LV MIA NE NYJ PIT TEN
ARI ATL CAR CHI DAL DET GB LAR MIN NO NYG PHI SEA SF TB WAS
QB RB WR TE PK | All Non-IDP | DT DE DL ILB OLB LB CB S DB | Footballguys View | All the news | FBG News Blogger Archive

Alabama QB Mac Jones won't be drafted any lower than the No. 8 pick currently held by the Carolina Panthers, according to Mike Tannenbaum of ESPN.
Link to story
Impending free-agent CB Richard Sherman has the highest coverage grade since 2019 among free-agent cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Link to storyRichard Sherman player page

Free-agent DT Kawann Short (Panthers) said he has received interest from a few teams since his release. Short said he likely will have to accept a one-year contract this offseason.
Link to storyKawann Short player page

Oregon CB Thomas Graham Jr. has recently had virtual meetings with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.
Link to story
Clemson RB Travis Etienne's 588 receiving yards in 2020 were more than he recorded in his first three collegiate seasons combined.
Footballguys view: Etienne made a concentrated effort to improve as a receiver during his college career. His speed, burst and acceleration make him a big play just waiting to happen anytime he touches the rock. Expect Etienne to be one of the first, if not the first, running backs selected in the 2021 NFL draft. |

Southern California OG Alijah Vera-Tucker allowed four pressures and two sacks on 849 pass-block snaps over the past two collegiate seasons.
Link to story
Michigan DE Kwity Paye is a candidate to move to outside linebacker in the NFL, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.
Link to story
Oregon OT Penei Sewell allowed one sack across the 2018 and 2019 seasons combined and will be a 'starter from day one in the NFL,' according to ESPN's Todd McShay.
Link to story
Boise State CB Avery Williams recently had virtual meetings with the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
Link to story
Free-agent OT Ricky Wagner (Packers) has not decided if he will play next season or if he will retire, according to a source.
Link to story
Clemson RB Travis Etienne is 'a big-play threat in the mold of Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson,' according to Bucky Brooks of NFL.com.
Footballguys view: Etienne finishes his college career as the ACC's all-time leading rusher. He is a disciplined runner who is hard-charging when he sees the hole open up in front of him. Etienne has done great work improving as a receiver out of the backfield and is largely graded as a first-round pick. |

North Carolina RB Michael Carter has the all-around skills to become a 'change-of-pace back' at the next level, according to Bucky Brooks of NFL.com.
Footballguys view: Carter is a dangerous player in space. He can make defenders look silly in the open field as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. Carter is not great at pass-blocking so he'll need to improve in that department if he wants to get on the field as a rookie in 2021. |

Oregon State RB Jermar Jefferson recently had virtual meetings with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
Footballguys view: Jefferson is a creative runner with some size. He'll break off a 'dead leg' or spin move to create space as a runner, and he's got a gear to get outside if need be. Jefferson is willing between the tackles and can push the pile. He's also a good receiving option out of the backfield. Many see him as a mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. |

BYU QB Zach Wilson is considered to be the QB1 in the 2021 NFL Draft by at least one team, according to Matt Miller of NFLDraftScout.com.
Footballguys view: It's an interesting report to be sure, and reports indicate that more than one team feels like Wilson is a better prospect than Clemson's Trevor Lawrence. When all is said and done, both of these guys should be top-5 picks in the 2021 NFL draft. We expect Lawrence to go no.1 overall off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Wilson should be close behind him. |

Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. has recently had virtual meetings with the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers.
Link to story
Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson has recently had virtual meetings with the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Footballguys view: Patterson has a low center of gravity and that helps him run through contact. He has a nose for the end zone, and even though he's not a burner there is another gear he can get to in the open field. Most see Patterson as a late-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. |

Notre Dame DE Daelin Hayes recently had virtual meetings with the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. He is scheduled to talk with at least five more teams.
Link to story
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) underwent successful surgery Tuesday, Feb. 16, and is expected to begin throwing within 4-6 weeks and will be ready for training camp.
Footballguys view: Lawrence put on a show at his pro day last week, and now he will work on recovery. The surgery was to his non-throwing shoulder, but it's still going to take time for him to get 100 percent healthy. Lawrence is the likely no.1 overall pick and could be the franchise quarterback the Jaguars have been seeking for years. |

Ohio State DT Tommy Togiai recently had virtual meetings with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Link to story
Louisiana State S JaCoby Stevens said he had a 'great connection' with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and the Buffalo Bills during the Senior Bowl.
Link to story
Louisiana State WR Ja'Marr Chase led all players with 14 touchdown receptions of 20-plus yards over the past two seasons despite opting out of the 2020 season.
Footballguys view: Chase is arguably the best receiver in the 2021 NFL draft. He was a consistent target for LSU, thriving when Joe Burrow was under center for the Bayou Bengals in 2019. Chase has good vertical game and can rip away passes above the rim. He's got great 'my ball' mentality, and that shows up on big plays down the field. Chase should be a top-12 pick in the draft. |

North Carolina State DT Alim McNeill has had virtual meetings with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts. He is scheduled to have a meeting with the New Orleans Saints in a few weeks.
Link to story
West Virginia DT Darius Stills has had virtual meetings with the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers over the last few days.
Link to story
Free agent WR Chris Hogan (Jets) has decided to leave football and declare for the Premier Lacrosse League draft.
Link to storyChris Hogan player page

Updating previous reports, Clemson QB and NFL Draft prospect Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) will undergo labrum surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Los Angeles.
Footballguys view: Lawrence threw at his pro day, looked great, and now will go under the knife. A 5-6 month recovery period is expected, but Lawrence is expected be fine by training camp. |

Free-agent DE J.J. Watt has 'approximately a dozen teams' showing interest in him after his release from the Houston Texans on Friday, Feb. 12, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.
Footballguys view: No surprise here. When healthy, Watt can still be a disruptive player in this league. Per Werder, four of the interested teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. |
J.J. Watt player page

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence measured 6-foot-5 5/8, 213 pounds at his workout Friday, 12. He also measured a 10-inch hand.
Link to story
Free agent WR Kendall Wright (Cardinals) signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts on Friday, Feb. 12.
Link to storyKendall Wright player page

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) will have surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder that will require four to five months of recovery.
Footballguys view: Lawrence should be ready for training camp...with the Jaguars. He's set to be the no.1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and the Jaguars would be fools to pass on him. |

Brigham Young QB Zach Wilson completed 20 of his 27 passes thrown at least 30 yards downfield during his junior season.
Footballguys view: Wilson is a fun player to watch on film. He's a gunslinger in ever sense of the term, and that shows up with his willingness to fire passes deep. Wilson is seen as a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. |

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) will throw for NFL scouts Friday, Feb. 12, in order to undergo surgery on his non-throwing shoulder sooner than Clemson's official Pro Day next month.
Footballguys view: Lawrence doesn't need to throw as he's the no.1 overall pick barring a complete brain fart by the Jaguars. He'll throw at his pro day then shut it down and recover from non-throwing shoulder surgery. |

Former Baltimore Ravens DL Shane Ray signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Link to storyShane Ray player page

Free-agent DE Eli Mencer (Seahawks) signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Link to story
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) is dealing with a labrum injury in his left shoulder and will throw for teams Feb. 12, so he can have more time to recover from the injury. He is expected to ready for training camp.
Footballguys view: That's Lawrence's non-throwing shoulder, so it's less of a concern. Lawrence has the makings of a franchise quarterback and should be the no.1 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. |

Free-agent WR Ryan Grant (Packers) signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Link to storyRyan Grant player page

Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill (107) and WR Mike Evans (90) rank first and second in the league, respectively, in most targets on 20-yard throws since 2018, according to Pro Football Focus.
Footballguys view: This should be a fun game, for many reasons, and these two wide receivers are just part of that. Hill should be able to attack that young Buccaneers secondary, while Evans will do his best to work against the Chiefs defense. Both teams have other options, but these two are some of the best in the game and just fun to watch work. |
Mike Evans player page
Tyreek Hill player page

Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt 'struggled to gain separation' during Senior Bowl practices and is 'simply not fast,' according to Pro Football Focus, and he is likely to fall outside the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Footballguys view: Nobody should have been expecting Surratt to show a ton of speed at the Senior Bowl. His speed doesn't show up on tape as that's not his game. He's a bright player who knows how to win with strength, guile and leverage. Surratt can use his size to box out smaller defenders and has a knack for making the contested catch. He wasn't a first- or second-round graded player before the Senior Bowl, and that's not where he's going afterwards. Surratt could be a 'big slot' for a team in need at the position, likely in the mid rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. |

Cincinnati OT James Hudson was the best offensive lineman in one-on-one drills during Senior Bowl practices and 'could sneak into the first round' of the 2021 NFL Draft, according to Pro Football Focus.
Link to story
Central Florida S Richie Grant performed well in one-on-one drills during Senior Bowl practices, and 'it would be a surprise to see him slip out of the second round' of the 2021 NFL Draft, according to Pro Football Focus.
Link to story
UCLA RB Demetric Felton was one of the best players in receiving drills during Senior Bowl practices and could now be a Day 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, according to Pro Football Focus.
Footballguys view: Felton worked at wide receiver in most drills during the week of practice for the Senior Bowl. He's a versatile and explosive player who can make defenders miss in the open field. Felton could be a late third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. |

UCLA WR/RB Demetric Felton practiced as both a running back and a slot receiver during the Senior Bowl, and showcased some 'dynamic' qualities, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com.
Footballguys view: Felton is a package player in the NFL. Listed as a running back, Felton worked mostly as a slot receiver in practice at the Senior Bowl. He's dynamic in space and can make defenders look silly in the open field. Felton is small in stature and thus can't be asked to work between the tackles. |

Wisconsin-Whitewater OG Quinn Meinerz (hand) broke his right hand during Senior Bowl practice Thursday, Jan. 28, but he played through the injury. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com believes Meinerz will be a 'quality starting interior offensive lineman in the NFL.'
Link to story
Washington CB Keith Taylor Jr. was 'outstanding' during the Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 30, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com. 'I don't know that I remember a better game from a corner in an all-star game than what Taylor Jr.'s done today,' Jeremiah said. 'He's just been in position every time.'
Link to story
Tulane DE Cameron Sample was named the Defensive Player of the Game at the Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 30, finishing with a game-high seven tackles and a sack.
Link to story
North Carolina RB Michael Carter rushed eight times for a game-high 60 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 15 yards in the Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 30.
Footballguys view: Carter was fantastic in practice as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He'll explode quickly with the ball in his hands and runs with great control. Carter had a bad time working in pass-protection drills, an issue for him in college at North Carolina. For as good as he looked carrying the rock, it will be difficult to trust him if he struggles protecting the quarterback. |

Louisville WR Dez Fitzpatrick logged game highs of six catches and 90 yards during the Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 30. 'It was an outstanding week of work for Dez Fitzpatrick,' said Bucky Brooks of NFL Network.
Footballguys view: Fitzpatrick put in a strong week at the Senior Bowl. There's a lot of fight to his game, and he's physical at the catch point. Fitzpatrick has a nice size/speed combination but needs to be more nuanced as a route-runner. He's likely a late-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. |

Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond was named the MVP of the Senior Bowl Saturday, Jan. 30, completing 13 of his 25 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Footballguys view: Mond had an inconsistent week of practice in Mobile but came through in the game. He's a developmental quarterback who plays with poise. He's looking like a Day 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft with the hopes that he can be a solid pro backup-caliber quarterback. |

Notre Dame QB Ian Book 'vastly outplayed' Texas QB Sam Ehlinger and Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks during Senior Bowl practice Thursday, Jan. 28, according to Nick Falato of SI.com.
Link to story
Ohio State RB Trey Sermon (collarbone) said he expects to be 'good to go' for Ohio State's pro day in the spring.
Footballguys view: Sermon has had an up and down career and won't be one of the top two running backs drafted. He has a lot to gain or lose during the pre-draft season. |

Alabama QB Mac Jones (ankle) suffered an ankle injury during Senior Bowl practice Thursday, Jan. 28, and said he may miss the game.
Footballguys view: This won't help Jones bid to get into the first round as the fifth quarterback taken in the upcoming draft. The Panthers had the chance to scout him up close and personal as the coaches of Jones side in the Senior Bowl. He could still play Saturday, stay tuned. |