Scouting Notebook: Matt Miller’s Final Team-by-Team Reports, Jared Goff Q&A

For fans of the NFL draft, 12 months of speculation and waiting all comes down to three days of excitement. For NFL scouts, coaches and general managers, nine months of work comes down to three days of nail-biting and hair-pulling as they watch the players they covet come off the board.  

The NFL draft is equal parts excitement and anxiety, but it’s also the number one area in which teams are built. Have a good draft class and your team is a playoff contender (see the Oakland Raiders’ 2014 class as evidence). Have a bad draft and you’re talking about a fired general manager and head coach, which can often mean years of wasted draft picks if the new regime changes schemes.

There is no substitute to getting it right on draft day, and now it’s here. Two teams have already moved up the board to secure franchise-changing quarterbacks, and the activity at the top isn’t likely to be done yet. After working the phones talking to scouts, coaches, players and general managers, the need and wants of those teams is starting to come into focus. To prepare for draft weekend, we’ll go team-by-team looking at the newest rumors from credible league sources—we’re not sharing information that isn’t vetted and found both factual and logical—and what we’re hearing will happen when the picks start flying.

Scroll down below for an interview with presumed No. 1 pick Jared Goff and one more mock draft looking at the first round before Thursday’s seven-round mock draft.

The Scout’s Report

 

Arizona Cardinals—Even with restricted free agent Tony Jefferson signing his one-year tender, I’m told by a Cardinals scout that they will target a defensive back in Round 1. … The center position is one the Cardinals could target early, and the scout also said the team fell in love with Alabama’s Ryan Kelly (Alabama). … The scout and another team source both said they wouldn’t be surprised if wide receiver Michael Floyd is used as trade bait to move up or add extra picks. That was the case last year, too.

Atlanta Falcons—Defense, defense, defense. Front-office executives in Atlanta expect a defensive end or linebacker at pick No. 17. … With only five picks in the draft, I’m told by the same sources that the Falcons would move down in Round 1 if Darron Lee is already off the board. … As a scout in Atlanta told me, “Scott Pioli always goes OL.” It would be reasonable to expect a guard to come off the board in the middle rounds. 

Baltimore Ravens—At pick No. 6 the Ravens have options, and I’m told by a coach that general manager Ozzie Newsome will stick to a “best available player” philosophy after reaching for a need in wide receiver Breshad Perriman last year. … The Ravens have done their homework on Eastern Kentucky edge-rusher Noah Spence. If he’s on the board in Round 2, a position coach in Baltimore says he’d be the pick.

Buffalo Bills—A scout in Buffalo opted not to answer when asked about the Bills’ liking of Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who has been linked to them by many around the league. … One thing is certain, according to the scout: The Bills are intent on adding at least competition for Pro Bowl quarterback Tyrod Taylor. … Kevin Hogan (Stanford) is another name a front-office source with knowledge of the Bills’ draft plans mentioned as a mid-round option. … If the Bills go defense in Round 1, I’m told by the same front-office source that the scouting staff praised Alabama’s Jarran Reed and consider him a fit there.

Carolina Panthers—The Panthers have been linked to pass-rushers throughout the draft process, but sources in the scouting room expect a defensive back to get the most attention in Round 1. … I’m told by coaching staff sources in Carolina that they’ve done heavy work on Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas and he may be a surprise Round 1 pick.

Chicago Bears—The Bears are said to love DeForest Buckner, according to a source on the coaching staff, but the Oregon defensive lineman won’t be available at pick No. 11. … Leonard Floyd is the player highest on the board likely to be available, but the same coaching source said left tackle and cornerback will be priorities.

Cincinnati Bengals—The Bengals have a reputation in scouting circles of drafting for need, and a coach on the staff expects a wide receiver to be the first-round need filled. … Other areas that will get attention are defensive line and defensive back, likely in the top four rounds, according to the same coach.

Cleveland Browns—League sources expect the Browns to consider Jack Conklin from Michigan State at pick No. 8 as they try to replace Mitchell Schwartz. … The Browns were “in love” with Myles Jack, according to a scout employed with the team this past season, but that may have changed with new information regrading his knee. … A scout still employed with the team believes they will be very active moving up and down the board, but the scout says the priority will be on defense.

Dallas Cowboys—Everything I hear out of Dallas’ front office is that the team is locked in on Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey. … If Ramsey is gone, a current Dallas player I spoke with who has knowledge of the draft board said Ezekiel Elliott is “100 percent in play”.

Denver Broncos—Many expect Denver to select a quarterback, but a scout in the front office says that general manager John Elway will draft the best player, not the biggest need. The scout mentioned safety Karl Joseph as someone they were high on.

Detroit Lions—Ryan Kelly is the top want from new general manager Bob Quinn, according to scouts who’ve worked with him in the past. … Don’t rule out a left tackle if Taylor Decker falls to pick No. 16. A coach I spoke to in Detroit say Riley Reiff isn’t expected to return after his contract runs out next season.

Green Bay Packers—General manager Ted Thompson doesn’t always stay on script, but everything coming out of the draft room in Green Bay points to defensive line and linebacker in the first two rounds. … One name heating up from scouts with the Packers is Clemson safety T.J. Green. He’s viewed as a hot candidate in Round 2 if he’s on the board. … The Packers love Alabama players, and according to the scouting source there, Reggie Ragland is viewed as a late first-round option.

Houston Texans—Sources in Houston on the coaching staff and in the front office have said all along that wide receiver is likely to be the first-round pick. … Keep an eye on Laquon Treadwell if he falls, as I’m told the Texans love him. … As for the most likely selection, the scout I spoke to said Will Fuller got his top grade at wide receiver.

Indianapolis Colts—The love for Alabama center Ryan Kelly is real, according to decision-makers I’ve talked to in Indianapolis. … Sources on the coaching staff tell me they’re not set on drafting an offensive tackle at any point in this draft and instead expect to go center and edge rusher in some order with their first two picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars—Myles Jack is the name everyone mentions when you ask around the league. If he’s passed his medicals, he’ll be the pick I’m told by a front-office source. … Joey Bosa is the top player on the board without a health risk, according to the same front-office source. There was a debate between Bosa and Jalen Ramsey among scouts. 

Kansas City Chiefs—The Chiefs stick to a strict “draft ahead” philosophy, and looking at future free agents, a coach there says a nose tackle in Round 1 wouldn’t be a surprise. … Other areas of consideration, per the coach, are wide receiver and cornerback. … The team would like to add a quarterback, but may not be able to without a third-round pick, according to a scouting contact.

Los Angeles Rams—This may seem a formality, but I’m told by a source in Rams’ front office that they are taking Jared Goff at No. 1 overall. … With just four other selections, the same source said the Rams will focus on an interior lineman and a big wide receiver.

Miami Dolphins—The team is enamored with Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, and my front-office source says a trade up to get in front of Chicago at No. 11 is possible. … The Dolphins are also expected to make a run at a cornerback early in this draft, per the same source.

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Minnesota Vikings—It’s no secret that the Vikings need a starting wide receiver, and I’m told by a scout in the front office that they prefer TCU’s Josh Doctson in Round 1. … Running back is not considered by …

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