INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State defensive end Chase Young said Thursday he’s the best player in the draft. Scouts at the NFL scouting combine and those attending his pro day may have to take his word for it.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is the presumptive No. 1 overall selection to the Cincinnati Bengals. But Young led the nation with 16.5 sacks despite missing two games with a suspension.
The problem is that Young won’t participate in any drills this week at Lucas Oil Stadium. He said he only would do position drills at Ohio State’s pro day March 25.
"I definitely think I'm the best player in the draft,'' Young said. "I think I showed on my tape, you can look at every game, I think I showed (it). I think I put my best foot forward this year. ... I think I bring a lot to the table, the whole package as a defensive end.''
Why is Young skipping combine drills, which include the 40-yard dash and bench press?
“That first day at (training) camp, when I step on the field, I want to be the best player I can be. I don't want to waste time trying to be a combine athlete,'' Young said.
Gators Jefferson learns of foot fracture
Florida receiver Van Jefferson has a fracture in his right foot that was discovered by doctors examining him at the NFL scouting combine, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jefferson will undergo surgery next week in Green Bay with Dr. Robert Anderson. Jefferson is projected to be sidelined 6-8 weeks, the report said.
The 6-2, 195-pound Jefferson was a solid if not spectacular receiver for the Gators. He tied a career-high with 49 catches last season for 657 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Brady buzz and the trickledown effect
With each passing day, there is more buzz around the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that quarterback Tom Brady is operating under the belief he will play somewhere other than New England next fall.
Brady, who turns 43 in August, has not had any talks with the Patriots as they await an agreement between the league and its players on a new collective bargaining agreement.
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Explore all your optionsThe Raiders, Chargers, Titans and yes, even the Bucs, have been identified as the teams that may have the most interest in signing the 20-year veteran.
But if Brady leaves the Patriots, there could be a trickledown effect. If he were to sign with the Raiders, that would make quarterback Derek Carr available for a trade.
You’d have to believe the Bucs and several other teams would have an interest in Carr.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock tried to tamper down speculation about their quarterback situation.
“Derek Carr played at a high level. I’m very happy with Derek Carr,’’ Mayock said. “ What I told everyone that I’ve been in touch with since the day I took this job is we’re going to evaluate every position, every year. And if we can get better, we will. Guys get tired of me saying that, but that’s really what I told Mark Davis before I took the job. And that’s my mantra.”