The first couple days of the NFL Draft Combine brought the first day of head coach and general manager press conferences, shedding some light on the offseason plans of some of the league’s top franchises. While Browns general manager Sashi Brown may have stolen the show on Wednesday with headlines about not giving Terrelle Pryor the franchise tag and potentially trading the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, several other front office minds unveiled their blueprints.
2017 NFL Combine: News, rumors and highlights from Day 2
Coaches and general managers had the podium to themselves on Wednesday and Thursday in Indianapolis, and they had plenty of lines for us to read between.
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The topics ranged everywhere from possible landing spots for former All-Pro tailbacks to the restorative power of reality dating shows. Here’s a breakdown of the other highlights from the combine’s executive interviews:
Thursday, March 2:
- Mitch Trubisky is 6’2 and that’s just right for Hue Jackson and the Browns.
- The Browns are “strongly considering” taking Trubisky with the top pick.
- Nerd alert: John Lynch used to do mock drafts “for fun” before becoming the 49ers GM.
- Set to be a free agent, Colin Kaepernick will stand for the national anthem again in 2017. Lynch said the “door is still open” for Kap to return to the 49ers.
- Lynch thinks it’s “liberating” that the 49ers have no quarterbacks, though.
- Dolphins coach Adam Gase hates free agency.
- Pete Carroll said Earl Thomas should be ready to go by the start of the season.
- Sean Payton said Brandin Cooks isn’t on the trade block, but they’ll listen to any offers.
- Keenan Allen is on track to return for the Chargers.
Wednesday, March 1:
Live updates from the combine for Thursday, March 2
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Follow all the fun from Indianapolis with us! We’ll be dropping in highlights from the various measurements and interviews this year’s draft prospects are doing and offering insight into what the coaches and general managers are saying.
- New Broncos head coach Vance Joseph says his team won’t be looking for anymore quarterbacks this offseason.
- John Elway, Denver’s general manager, wouldn’t shut the door on adding a veteran quarterback should the opportunity arrive.
- Elway also said that there is “probably not” a quarterback in this draft class who will be ready to start Day 1.
- Arizona head coach Bruce Arians told reporters his training camps will feature more full-contact drills and tackling than before.
- Cincinnati general manager Duke Tobin is open to trading backup quarterback AJ McCarron, but the price will be high.
- The Vikings aren’t closing the door on bringing the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, back into the fold.
- The Giants are interested in free agent running back Adrian Peterson, but coach Ben McAdoo wouldn’t commit the team to making an offer.
- Brown expects Robert Griffin III to participate in offseason workouts, but wouldn’t commit to his presence on Cleveland’s roster this fall.
- Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone confirmed Blake Bortles will remain the team’s starting quarterback heading into 2017.
- Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told the press he’d like to not just re-sign Eddie Lacy, but also wants to bring back all of the team’s impending free agents.
- Titans general manager Jon Robinson is willing to make trades in the 2017 NFL draft, one year after trading away the No. 1 overall pick.
- Eagles coach Doug Pederson acknowledged his team will be in pursuit of recently released tailback Jamaal Charles this offseason.
- 49ers general manager John Lynch, who will have zero passers under contract once Colin Kaepernick opts out, told reporters San Francisco’s front office is working “tirelessly” to secure its quarterback of the future this spring.
- Panthers GM Dave Gettleman, apparently learning from past mistakes, has no plans to rescind defensive tackle Kawann Short’s franchise tag this spring.
- Chiefs head coach Andy Reid kinda-sorta chalked up Travis Kelce’s breakout season to his dating show.
- Texans head coach Bill O’Brien declined to give evaluations of Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage, saying both are working to improve and that it’s not for public consumption.
- O’Brien also said that J.J. Watt’s rehab is going well, and that he should be able to participate in some capacity in OTAs.
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