“With Malik McDowell, it depends on how you classify him, if he’s going to play inside or outside from Michigan State,” ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay said Wednesday. “He’s tall, long. I think he might be the most talented interior defensive lineman. Some questions about the work ethic and consistency. From a skills standpoint, I think he can become a highly disruptive player.”
Source: Land of 10t
The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed free agent WR Keshawn Martin. Contract terms were not disclosed.Martin enters his sixth NFL season following previous stints with the Houston Texans (2012-14), New England Patriots (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2016).
Source: Detroit Lions
Quarterback Brian Hoyer will be reunited with former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in agreeing in principle to a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, according to reports.The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the former Michigan State QB chose the 49ers over the New York Jets in order to play for Shanahan, who recently became the 49ers’ coach.
Source: MLive.com
According to a report this week from Yahoo!, multiple NFL teams felt McDowell performed poorly in team interviews. The report quotes one team executive calling McDowell the “worst interview we did.” Another called him an “awful interview.”
Source: MLive.com
Nobody has ever accused Montae Nicholson of not being athletic enough to play in the NFL. The former Michigan State safety reminded everyone of that athleticism Monday, when he delivered a strong performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Nicholson ranked fifth among all safeties with a broad jump of 10-foot-5 and sixth with a 35-inch vertical. Where he really impressed was in the 40-yard dash, which he ran in 4.42 seconds, the third-fastest time by a safety at this year’s Combine.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
Three Spartans were in attendance for the NFL’s yearly meat market, more commonly referred to as the NFL Scouting Combine, this past weekend. The combine is a huge chance for players to improve (or hurt) their draft stock all while running Jim Tomsula directed drills in their underwear. It has to be embarrassing but hey, when there are millions of dollars at the end of that tunnel you don’t ask questions. This year, it was Malik McDowell, Riley Bullough and Montae Nicholson running around in their skivvies for their chance at a pay day. Let’s see how they measured up.
Source: The Only Colors
Safety Montae Nicholson took full advantage of the spotlight he was under at the NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, ranking as one of the top performers in his position group with an impressive all-around performance. Nicholson, who measured at 6-2 and 212 pounds, perhaps made the biggest splash with his 40-yard dash time of 4.42 seconds, the third-fastest among safeties in Indianapolis.
Linebacker Riley Bullough and defensive lineman Malik McDowell performed on-field testing in front of NFL coaches and scouts on Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium on the sixth day of the NFL Combine.
Malik McDowell kept his answers short and sweet at the 2017 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Prior to the 2016 season he told reporters, “If I’m not top three, I don’t leave (Michigan State).” When asked Saturday why he declared early for the NFL draft, he chose not to take the question as an opportunity to back out of his previous statement. “Because I still feel that way,” he said.
Source: Land of 10
Malik McDowell believes he is a top five draft pick, says he has no work ethic problems at NFL combine Saturday, March 4, 2017
Source: Detroit Free Press
Connor Cook thought he deserved to be a first-round pick. Then he slipped into the fourth round of last year’s draft, and wound up spending his rookie season buried behind both Derek Carr and Matt McGloin in Oakland.There’s no guarantee the former Michigan State star will move the depth chart next year either.
Source: MLive.com
While the football activities currently happening in East Lansing are going on behind closed doors, three former Spartans players are about to head to one of the most highly scrutinized football events in the country. Riley Bullough, Malik McDowell and Montae Nicholson will all be at Lucas Oil Stadium this week as three of the 300-plus prospects participating in the annual NFL Combine.
Source: MLive.com
Opinions on Malik McDowell are mixed in the mock-draft world, but count Mike Mayock as a believer as the NFL Scouting Combine begins.The NFL Network analyst still believes the former Michigan State defensive lineman can be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Source: Detroit Free Press
For the second consecutive year, the Washington Redskins have placed their franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins, the team announced Tuesday. This year, the team used the exclusive tag, which prohibits Cousins from negotiating and seeking an offer sheet from another team. Had the team used the non-exclusive tag, Cousins could have sought an offer from another team, and the Redskins would have received two first-round picks in return if Cousins left.
Source: USA Today
Kirk Cousins is one of the most popular offseason subjects within rumor mills and on wish lists across the NFL, even though the most likely scenario still has him back next season with the Washington Redskins – and much richer, too. Cousins will wait for Washington to apply a second franchise tag to him by the March 1 deadline, Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported late Monday. That will ensure him a contract of $23.94 million after the $19.95 he earned last season when first tagged.
Source: MLive.com
If Spartan fans were missing Connor Cook this past season, they’ll be happy to know he hasn’t changed much after his first season in the NFL. Last we heard from the Oakland Raiders quarterback, he had just taken a beating in his first NFL start, a 27-14 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. Leading up to the game, Cook was the top story line — the first quarterback to ever start his first game in the playoffs, he made NFL history by taking his first snap.
Source: Detroit News
Offseason moves are going to take center stage over the coming weeks. NFL teams will attempt to keep their best players headed toward free agency. Most players won’t be in a rush to re-sign, even if remaining with their own teams is the preference. Testing the market becomes more appealing after risking injury and poor performance for an entire season.
Source: CBSSports.com
Add another name to the list of former Michigan State players headed to Indianapolis for the NFL combine. Riley Bullough has received an invitation to the annual league scouting event, according to a Tweet from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio.
Source: MLive.com
Michigan State had two underclassmen declare for the NFL Draft following an underwhelming 2016 season. The Spartans will certainly miss Malik McDowell and Montae Nicholson, but NFL scouts are eager to usher them into the league. Judging by tweets sent by Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio on Thursday, both players have been invited to the NFL scouting combine.
Source: Land of 10
Why this even ranks as a tussle, as a debate topic chewed to fragments, mystifies more than a few familiar with NFL lore. Morten Andersen’s self-crafted numbers are, well, astonishing.
Source: Detroit News