It happens every year, but with what seems like increasing frequency and ridiculousness: As the draft draws near, misinformation seems to hit its peak.
That’s because at this point everyone has had too much time to think and talk about the prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft. The pre-draft process has grown very long — too long.
At times, there are slivers of truth passed between teams and reporters. But often, this is when teams take time to set misleading breadcrumb trails while dropping one smokescreen after another. So we’ve been collecting some of these eyebrow-raising rumors and opinions over the past few weeks to identify some of the more confusing — and outrageous — tidbits that have surfaced. And we’ve tried to figure out whether there’s truth to them.
Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray could fall out of the first round
Probability: As likely as the Cardinals winning Super Bowl LIV
Ever since Kyler Murray declared for the NFL Draft, he has been the leading candidate for the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 1 overall pick, even though the team has a quarterback, Josh Rosen, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft. But in the last few days, Murray’s buzz has slowed. The Cardinals are strongly considering other candidates, according to MMQB’s Albert Breer and CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco.
Those reports seemed to inspire a slew of takes: MURRAY’S DRAFT STOCK IS FINISHED! But actually, CBS college football analyst Aaron Taylor thinks Murray might slip out of the first round.
That’s just not happening.
Murray decided not to meet with the Washington Redskins, who pick at No. 15 and need a quarterback. That means he’s supremely confident that he won’t last until 15th overall.
Bengals want a quarterback at 11th overall
Probability: As likely as the Bengals trading A.J. Green.
The Cincinnati Bengals are looking for a replacement for Andy Dalton, according to Bleacher Reports’ Matt Miller.
Who could blame them? Dalton has underwhelmed for quite some time, and because they are the Bengals and they hate change, they stuck with their quarterback. However, the Bengals don’t love spending money, and would likely sign their 11th overall pick to a four-year, $17.5 million deal. That’s a decent deal for a backup quarterback, and a great deal if the player becomes a starter.
So while many of these rumors are comical, this one might have some truth to it.
There’s one wrinkle: It behooves the Bengals to say they want a quarterback in the event it spurs trade interest at No. 11. If the Redskins (15th overall) or Miami Dolphins (17th overall) think the Bengals want a quarterback, they might trade with the Bengals, who could then acquire more picks.
Dwayne Haskins’ draft stock has gone haywire
Probability: As likely as Rob Gronkowski coming out of retirement.
Before Murray entered the draft, media members believed Haskins to be the top quarterback prospect in the class. He was dominant at Ohio State, albeit for just one season. He completed 70% of his passes for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
But now, there’s some sentiment that Haskins’ draft hype was manufactured by #FakeNews.
Haskins, once considered a lock in the top 10 selections, may fall into the teens, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Oh my!
In fairness, falls like this happen all the time. They just don’t typically happen to quarterbacks, especially not in recent years. So could it happen? Yeah. Is it likely? Probably not. What’s more likely is that one of the teams picking later in draft is trying to get Haskins to fall to them, rather than having to convince the Bengals or someone in the top 10 to spin a blockbuster.
Just one first-round receiver: Marquise Brown
Probability: As likely as Antonio Brown holding his tongue about Ben Roethlisberger.
D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss’ version of “The Mountain,” made waves at the 2019 NFL Combine. He was a cut-up 228 pounds, and still ran a 4.33- second 40-yard dash. (He also ran a devastatingly bad 7.38 3-cone, which people didn’t really talk about.) He seemed like a potential first rounder, just like his college teammate A.J. Brown, who was far more productive than Metcalf in college. Imposing athletes Hakeen Butler and N’Keal Harry also have the pedigree to end up in the first round.
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is suggesting that just one will go in the first round: Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown.
Brown recently shared a video of himself pushing a sled. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted this video was a promising sign since Brown recently underwent foot surgery, a procedure which negatively impacted his draft status. Thing is, Brown was pushing a sled that appeared to have a 25-pound plate on it. That’s like squatting a pillow. That is the only receiver going in the first round?
Drew Lock will end up on the Broncos
Probability: As likely as the Browns making the playoffs.
For most of the draft process, Lock has been linked to Broncos general manager John Elway, who reportedly told Lock he would be a top 10 pick in the 2019 draft. Elway owns the 10th pick, and could ensure his prophecy stays true. We’ve even got mock drafts of Elway trading up to No. 2 overall to land Lock. That’s true love.
And yet, an AFC executive told me the Broncos think Lock isn’t “dominant” enough to justify picking him at 10th overall.
OK then.
Daniel Jones could go No. 6 to the Giants
Probability: As likely as the Chiefs missing the playoffs.
If Josh Allen flew up to No. 7 overall in 2018, then maybe Jones can make it to No. 6 in 2019, where the New York Giants would turn the Duke product into Eli Manning’s replacement. Jones, however, has a second-round grade from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Frankly, many pegged him as a candidate to get over-drafted at 32nd overall (though our Steven Ruiz sees him as a solid first-round pick), which is a long way away from sixth-overall.
Frankly, if Jones goes at No. 6, it would be the biggest story and surprise of the entire 2019 NFL Draft. Few things could trump that.
