So where is DeMarco Murray going to play next season ...

Thursday, March 12, 2015

NFL Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft After Opening Days of Free Agency

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Free agency took what many expected to happen in the 2015 NFL draft and turned it on its head, with many NFL teams' biggest needs being answered in the open market throughout the opening few days.

The league's new year is only a couple of days old, but some of the league's biggest names have already seen changes of scenery, and surprise moves have appeared in droves. While not much has happened to change some of the picks at the very top, plenty of teams have seen their draft focus shift recently.

With that said, let's take a look at how the first round of the draft should shake out.

Round 1 2015 NFL Mock Draft
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, FSU
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5	Washington Redskins	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
6	New York Jets	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7	Chicago Bears	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
8	Atlanta Falcons	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
9	New York Giants	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
10	St. Louis Rams	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
11	Minnesota Vikings	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
12	Cleveland Browns	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
13	New Orleans Saints	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
14	Miami Dolphins	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
15	San Francisco 49ers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
16	Houston Texans	Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
17	San Diego Chargers	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
18	Kansas City Chiefs	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
19	Cleveland Browns via Buffalo	Arik Armstead, DT/DE, Oregon
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE, Kentucky
23	Detroit Lions	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
24	Arizona Cardinals	Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU
25	Carolina Panthers	D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	P.J. Williams, CB, FSU
28	Denver Broncos	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
29	Indianapolis Colts	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State
30	Green Bay Packers	Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami
31	New Orleans Saints via Seattle	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
32	New England Patriots	Cameron Erving, C, FSU

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, FSU

The beginning of the free-agency cycle proved to be quiet in Tampa Bay, which is likely just how the Buccaneers would have liked it. They've long been set on adding a franchise quarterback to a young offensive nucleus, and the time is finally arriving to do so.

For what Tampa Bay covets, there's no better fit than Jameis Winston.

The Florida State quarterback has the total package of a strong, accurate arm along with in-pocket awareness and an intelligence to both sniff out coverages and take advantage of their weaknesses. Few quarterback skill sets have been as polished coming out of school, most of which are in the midst of incredible careers.

The biggest speed bump for prospective NFL teams has always been his maturity level, but even that is taking big strides in the predraft process. ESPN's Darren Rovell uncovered that Winston not only deleted his Twitter account, but he also met with the league commissioner:

The emergence of Oregon's Marcus Mariota may have made it a two-horse race for the top spot in the draft, and it should turn out that both have strong careers. But you don't pick a quarterback at No. 1 overall unless you're sold on him, and Winston's stock is the easiest one to sell at the moment.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE/OLB Dante Fowler, Florida

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still a few stud players away from truly turning the corner, so why not look in-state when one of the draft's top prospects hails from the University of Florida?

Of course, Dante Fowler possesses much more than just a home-state feel. The 6'3", 261-pound menace is a dominant edge-rusher and run-stuffer, racking up 15 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hurries during his final season with the Gators.

In a class that boasts a number of elite edge-rushers, Fowler may be the best, per Bleacher Report's Matt Miller:

Jacksonville has been associated as one of the league's worst teams over recent history and justifiably so, but the Jags defense actually took a surprise turn for the better in 2014. The 45 team sacks ranked sixth in the NFL, with most of the danger coming from the interior rather than the edge.

But those days without an impact off the edge will be over and done with if the Jaguars take Fowler at No. 3 overall. It's picks like this that get a team like Jacksonville away from the top five of the draft in the future, and this could be the selection that finally puts the Jags over the hump and allows for some real improvement.

10. St. Louis Rams: WR Kevin White, West Virginia

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Former No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Sam Bradford might be gone, but recently acquired gunslinger Nick Foles is going to need better options in the passing game. After having his fair share of weapons in Philadelphia, he's entering a Rams team awfully shaky at the skill positions.

Now that head coach Jeff Fisher has somewhat of an idea of how his team's offense is going to look, he can take the next step by giving Foles his very own go-to receiver in West Virginia's Kevin White.

The Rams attempted to bring in a game-changer with the eighth overall pick of Tavon Austin in the 2013 draft, a selection that hasn't exactly paid off. But while Austin emerged in a relatively weak receiving class, White has emerged as a serious candidate to be drafted ahead of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper.

Foles won't be able to get very far in St. Louis without the Rams addressing their need at the skill position, but it's not really a big one. Plug in a player of White's caliber alongside Austin and Kenny Britt, and the Rams could have a much more potent offense in 2015.

Henry Melton to Buccaneers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Following a one-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys, defensive tackle Henry Melton latched on with a new team Thursday, as he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

According to Melton's agent, Jordan Woy, Melton signed with the Buccaneers:

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the deal was for one year.

Melton signed a contract with the Cowboys last offseason after four years with the Chicago Bears. It was a one-year pact with three option years, but Dallas opted to decline the option on Feb. 14, per Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News:

It was a cost-cutting move on the Cowboys' part, as they saved $9 million by allowing Melton to hit free agency:

Ultimately, the former University of Texas standout didn't live up to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' lofty expectations, according to George:

I think we all had hoped from the day that he got there and OTAs that he would be at Pro Bowl form. That was probably unrealistic but that's a goal. As he went on through the season, he evolved and improved. He had a setback or two that I would call nicks, probably impacted his overall steady progression to get back to where he was that year in Chicago before he got hurt. But in general, I did see progress with how he rehabbed from his injury.

While Melton didn't play at the level he had maintained as a Pro Bowl selection in 2012, he was quite impressive considering he had missed most of the 2013 campaign with a torn ACL.

Melton finished the 2014 season with just 15 tackles, but he registered five sacks, which helped him rate among the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL, per Pete Damilatis of Pro Football Focus:

The fact that he maintained his ability to pressure the quarterback was a positive sign, but it is understandable that the Cowboys felt they couldn't make a long-term investment in him.

Dallas entered the offseason needing to upgrade its defense in order to take the next step toward becoming an elite team. It could be argued that letting Melton go was a setback, but the unit wasn't good enough with or without his services.

Melton proved in 2014 that he still has value, though, even if it was just in a situational pass-rush role. Because of that, it isn't surprising he has found a new landing spot.

The former fourth-round pick is in his prime, and there is reason to believe he'll be even better in 2015 now that he is another year removed from the ACL tear.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Chris Conte to Buccaneers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reportedly reached a deal with free-agent safety Chris Conte. It's a one-year deal. Financial details weren't immediately released.

Vaughn McClure of ESPN passed along word of the signing:

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times confirmed a deal was in place:

The Chicago Bears used a third-round pick to select Conte in the 2011 draft. The free safety appeared in 57 games, racking up over 230 tackles along with 21 passes defended and nine interceptions. He's an average option at the back end of the secondary.

There are still questions to answer for Tampa Bay, though. It's reportedly set to release Dashon Goldson to pave the way for Conte's arrival. Whether the new signing will end up sliding into the starting lineup might not be known until training camp.

The Bucs have both Major Wright and Bradley McDougald on the roster. The team could end up holding a competition during the preseason to fill the two roles. That is unless Conte was told prior to signing that he'd be a starter.

Having too many options is better than being short, though. Conte gives the Buccaneers some depth without having to invest in a long-term deal.

NFL Rumors: Breaking Down Free Agent and Trade Buzz on Key Targets

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

The initial frenzy that always occurs when the new NFL league year gets underway is starting to fade. A lot of players have found new homes, and now things are starting to become more deliberate as the remaining targets survey the new landscape.

Running back is one position where plenty of movement is still to come. A lot has been made about the changed outlook for teams around the league in the backfield. The urge to give players at the position lucrative long-term deals isn't as strong these days.

That said, the impact that the good ones can make is still incredibly big. That makes it interesting to see how the market plays out. So let's check out some of the latest rumors involving running backs available either through free agency or a trade.

DeMarco Murray

The Dallas Cowboys finally committed to the running game last season. Murray responded by rushing for over 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. It's hard to believe the team would willingly allow that successful partnership to end, but the interest elsewhere is picking up.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the dynamic back is heading to meet with the Philadelphia Eagles brass Thursday:

His ESPN colleague, Adam Caplan, notes the interest from Philadelphia is legitimate:

The Eagles have undergone some major changes already this offseason. One of the moves was reaching a deal with running back Ryan Mathews. Adding Murray to create a high-upside duo would create plenty of options for Chip Kelly.

Losing Murray is one thing. Watching him walk into the hands of a division rival would be a major setback for the Cowboys and put pressure on them to find a top-tier replacement. Whether that will force their hand into offering him a better deal to stay remains to be seen.

Adrian Peterson

Peterson and the Vikings have held recent talks to discuss his future with the organization. The running back wasn't prepared to provide details of the meetings or speculate about the next step, telling Ben Goessling of ESPN, "I'm just waiting to see what happens."

If the sides determine it's best to go their separate ways, the trade talk will likely heat up. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports Peterson is willing to restructure his contract to make a deal work and has multiple possible landing spots in mind:

While the Dallas Cowboys have been reported to be a Peterson favorite destination, the running back prefers five teams: the Arizona Cardinals, the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys, the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That said, even if Peterson requested a trade, the Vikings could refuse and simply pay him the $12.75 million in base salary he's due in the 2015 season.

Which of these RBs has the most upside for 2015?

DeMarco Murray

Adrian Peterson

C.J. Spiller

Total votes: 3

The Cowboys obviously stand out from the list given the Murray situation. If they lose him and are able to bring in Peterson as a replacement, an offensive drop-off becomes less of a concern. They certainly don't want to put too much pressure on Tony Romo again. A balanced attack worked far better.

Indianapolis has signed Frank Gore since the report came out. Otherwise, the other potential fits are still in need of an upgrade at the position. The Cardinals are an interesting alternative with a solid aerial attack already in place. Peterson could take the offense to the next level.

C.J. Spiller

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Spiller is an interesting case. He's one of the league's most explosive rushers when healthy. He played just nine games last season and didn't look like his usual dangerous self when he did play, though. The Clemson product averaged less than four yards per carry.

Signing him to fill a void at running back would come with some clear risk. That said, the reward if he returns to full strength could be worth taking the chance. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports the New Orleans Saints are interested:

The Saints represent an ideal situation for Spiller. They already have a punishing back in Mark Ingram. So he could assume a moderate workload to increase his chances of staying healthy. He would also be a nice weapon in the passing game.

If that doesn't work out, Rapoport notes the Cowboys are a presence once again. Dallas would probably need more depth at the position if it wants to take a chance on Spiller as its starter. But it's clear the Cowboys are keeping all options open at this point.

Manny Pacquiao says Floyd Mayweather couldn’t beat Ronda Rousey in an MMA fight

Manny Pacquiao stopped by ESPN’s “His & Hers” on Wednesday to talk about his upcoming bout with Floyd Mayweather, and he said nothing inflammatory at all.

Ha, no.

“Do you think she could beat Floyd in MMA?” co-host Jemele Hill asked, referring to the oft-talked-about subject of whether Rousey could beat a man in a mixed-martial-arts fight.

“I believe so. She’s strong, and she’s strong enough to beat Floyd Mayweather in MMA,” Pacquiao replied.

Only 52 more days of this until Pacquiao and Mayweather actually get into the ring.

After spending the first 17 years of his Post career writing and editing, Matt and the printed paper had an amicable divorce in 2014. He's now blogging and editing for the Early Lead and the Post's other Web-based products.

Follow Will Ferrell as he plays all 9 positions in Cactus League games Thursday

Will Ferrell has never been known for his range on the big screen, but apparently he has some versatility on the baseball diamond.

According to SBNation, Ferrell is fielding for the cycle to raise awareness for cancer, with an assist from Major League Baseball and HBO. His exact schedule is not yet known, apart from a few stops on Wednesday’s eight-game Cactus League schedule:

The A’s take on the Indians in Mesa, Ariz., at noon EDT on Thursday.

Per the San Diego Union-Tribune, Ferrell also is expected to take the field during the Padres-Dodgers game at 9:15 p.m. EDT in Peoria. According to the U-T, the game was moved to the later time slot to accommodate Ferrell’s schedule.

The Cubs play the Angels at 4:10 p.m. EDT in Mesa. Will he bust out his Harry Caray?

He already has shown his stuff on the mound.

Justin Bieber sadly videobombed Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather press conference

The first and only press conference featuring Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was held Wednesday and — hey, Justin Bieber, what are you doing there???

Shortly after the two boxers promised a fight (and a payday) for the ages, the pop star, who often hangs around with Mayweather, inexplicably stepped up to video/photo bomb the fighters, along with trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum.

It was quite a spectacle.

While Bieber and Money exchanged bro-hugs, Pacquiao just kind of stood there, perhaps reminding himself just how much he is being paid to endure this.

The big fight, of course, is May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and you know the Biebs will be there.

After spending most of her career in traditional print sports journalism, Cindy began blogging and tweeting, first as NFL/Redskins editor, and, since August 2010, at The Early Lead. She also is the social media editor for Sports.