6 new NFL Draft rumors on Bills, Vikings, Falcons, Patriots, and more

Happy Tax Day, I guess?

A new week begins, and it is perhaps a critical one in the NFL world.

It is the last full week before the 2024 NFL Draft.

The rumor carousel is spinning wildly as the week begins, so let’s buckle up and take it for a ride.

At least one member of the Buffalo Bills thinks they are trading up
With Stefon Diggs now in Houston, and Gabe Davis down in Jacksonville, the Buffalo Bills certainly have a need at wide receiver.

And at least one member of the organization believes General Manager Brandon Beane is going to swing a trade up in the first round to land one of the top wide receivers in the draft class.

Pass rusher Von Miller played the meme game on social media over the weekend, posting a video with the caption “Brandon Beane arriving to the 2024 NFL Draft to trade up for a WR. In Beane we trust.

Some fans, however, were rather skeptical of the message, given Miller’s recent track record at playing armchair GM. Miller recently made bold predictions that Odell Beckham Jr. would be signing with the Bills, only to see the receiver sign with the Baltimore Ravens.

Still, maybe this time Miller gets it right.

Vikings insider “confident” that Minnesota is trading up for a QB
The Minnesota Vikings are a team commonly viewed as the most likely organization to trade up in the first round for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. With Kirk Cousins now in Atlanta, the Vikings have a need at the position, and while Minnesota added Sam Darnold to their quarterback room, many believe the Vikings are targeting a quarterback early in the draft.

One Minnesota insider believes that the Vikings are absolutely going to make such a move.

Darren Wolfson of KSTP was on an episode of SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast recently, and had this to say about Minnesota’s plans in the first round:

“I’ll die on this hill, that my stance from a few weeks ago isn’t changing, regardless of what comes out the next couple weeks. My understanding is the Vikings would be plenty happy with any of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy. I really think it’ll be one of those three,” Wolfson said on the “Mackey and Judd” podcast.

“I really believe they are going to end up with one of those three. That, whether it’s Arizona at No. 4 or the Chargers at No. 5, whichever of the three end up falling. That the Vikings will get their hands on one of those guys, that the Vikings are plenty happy with any of those three,” Wolfson added.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Atlanta “wide open” at No. 8
For the third-straight draft, the Atlanta Falcons will be on the clock when the eighth-overall selection comes around.

In the past two years the Falcons addressed the offensive side of the football, adding wide receiver Drake London in that spot in 2022, and running back Bijan Robinson last season.

This year, however, General Manager Terry Fontenot is taking a “wide open” approach with that selection.

“It’s a strong draft,” Fontenot said recently. “We’re going to be staring at some really good players at eight, or whether we’re up a little bit or whether we’re back a little bit, and that’s the excitement. We’re wide open. And I love that about Raheem [Morris] and the staff – we’re completely wide open.”

According to recent mock drafts, the Falcons are likely going to address the defensive side of the football with that pick. As calculated by NFL Mock Draft Database, Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner is the overwhelming favorite in that spot, currently appearing in almost 50% of mock drafts for the Falcons. Another pass rusher, Jared Verse from Florida State, appears in just over 7% of mock drafts.

Another 7% of mock drafts must have no confidence in Kirk Cousins being the long term answer for Atlanta, as those have the Falcons selecting Jayden Daniels.

Patriots hosting J.J. McCarthy
Over the past week or so, the New England Patriots were linked to some potential trades out of the third-overall pick.

However, that does not mean the Patriots are certainly trading out, and the organization continues to do their homework on the top quarterbacks in teh draft.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy made the trip to Foxborough on Sunday night for a dinner with the team’s leadership, and is slated to spend today meeting with the Patriots on an official visit:

The #Patriots are having dinner with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy tonight and will host him on a visit Monday in Foxborough, per source.

New England — which owns the No. 3 pick — previously hosted North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Now, more time with McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/qpc3BE0d0g

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 14, 2024

As noted by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero the organization already hosted Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.

It is also worth noting that at least one recent mock draft has the Patriots selecting McCarthy at No. 3 overall.

Jayden Daniels QB1 for one prominent evaluator
Speaking of the LSU quarterback, one prominent evaluator listed Jayden Daniels as his QB1 on Monday.

ESPN analyst, and former general manager, Louis Riddick.

In a piece for ESPN titled “Louis Riddick’s favorite prospects, sleepers” the former GM led the way with the LSU quarterback. Yes, ahead of Caleb Williams.

Here is what Riddick had to say:

Daniels is the best quarterback in the draft — and that list includes USC’s Caleb Williams. Don’t believe me? Let’s start with the numbers. Last season, Daniels was first in the nation in Total QBR (95.6), first in QBR outside the pocket (98.8), first in QBR against zone coverage (98.3), first in QBR on play-action (93.8), first in QBR on deep balls (99.7) and second in QBR while under pressure (78.6). He threw 40 touchdown passes, ran for 10 more scores and had only four interceptions. And that’s just for starters.

At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he has just begun to grow into his frame. I see great decision-making, arm strength, touch and accuracy as a passer that will translate to the NFL. And on top of all that, Daniels is the kind of dual-threat runner who can change a game with his top-end speed and elusiveness once he breaks contain and gets into the open field. He is a student of the game, and I expect him to become a dynamic player in today’s NFL.

It should be noted — and Riddick points this out — that he had C.J. Stroud at the top of this list a year ago.

Do with that information what you will.

Tee Higgins expects to stay in Cincinnati
For teams eying wide receivers in the draft, there is a fear they could miss out on top prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze.

Which makes a trade for an established WR like Tee Higgins a rather attractive Plan B.

Higgins received the franchise tag from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, and that has only added to the idea that he could be on the move this spring. However, speaking at a youth football camp this weekend, the receiver dismissed the notion of playing anywhere else.

Tee Higgins spoke briefly at a camp.

Higgins on if he anticipates playing for Bengals this coming season (interview was ended after that question by event organizers to get him on the field):

“I do anticipate it. I’ve grown a love for Cincy I didn’t think I would. pic.twitter.com/Q0QfeqZ0Ac

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) April 14, 2024

“I do anticipate it,” Higgins said when asked if he felt he’d be back in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. “I’ve grown a love for Cincy that I didn’t think I would, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Just over a week to go …