When the Oakland Raiders took JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007, Lane Kiffin was the head coach and pushed for the team to draft Calvin Johnson instead.
Late owner Al Davis insisted on drafting Russell.
Kiffin wanted to sign Jeff Garcia in free agency and then take Johnson, who the Detroit Lions drafted at the No. 2 spot.
The Raiders went 4-12 in 2007 and fired Kiffin after a 1-3 start in 2008.
Myles Garrett said he would prefer to not be drafted by a cold weather city. The first two picks will be the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. The Browns are reportedly extremely high on Garrett, who ranks first in Jeff Risdon's Top-125.
"Doesn't matter (who drafts me) ... but I'd like not to go anywhere cold," Garrett said Tuesday, per The Houston Chronicle. "Whoever picks me up, I'm going to try and play my best for, to be the best player on the field at any given time. It doesn't matter who picks me up, I'm going to try and be a franchise player for them."
Garrett has drawn comparisons to Jevon Kearse.
The Cleveland Browns secured their first win of 2016 in Week 16 to avoid becoming the second 0-16 team in NFL history as they defeated the Chargers 20-17.
The Browns' win had put the 49ers in the driver's seat to secure the top overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft but they defeated the Rams 21-20 with a late two-point conversion.
The unlikely series of events was a reminder that the 49ers hold the tiebreaker with the Browns in draft order, should it come to that. The NFL uses reverse order of strength of schedule in those situations, and entering Week 16, the 49ers (.513) were well below the Browns (.565).
Cleveland will clinch the No. 1 spot if they lose to the Steelers in Week 17.
Christian McCaffrey will sit out the Hyundai Sun Bowl to focus on his NFL draft preparation, he announced Monday on Twitter.
"Very tough decision, but I have decided not to play in the Sun Bowl so I can begin my draft prep immediately," McCaffrey wrote on Twitter. "Thx to all my teammates for their 100% support -- It means a lot to me. Go Cardinal!"
McCaffrey announced Dec. 7 that he would forgo his senior season to enter the draft.
McCaffrey joins LSU running back Leonard Fournette as another high-profile name to sit out the bowl season. Fournette announced Friday that he would not play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 against Louisville.
"We understand that this was a very difficult decision. For three years Christian has not only been a great player, but a great teammate as well," Stanford coach David Shaw said in a statement. "We wish him great success at the next level, as we continue our preparation for the Sun Bowl."
RealGM's Jeff Risdon ranks McCaffrey second amongst prospective running backs in the 2017 NFL Draft while Fournette ranks fourth.
The New York Jets are believed to be very high on Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina, who could be the top quarterback selected in the 2017 NFL Draft.
"They got their eyes set on the North Carolina quarterback," one rival scout told the Daily News. "The Jets are all over this kid. All over him. They'll probably deny it if you ask, but they love that kid. That's their guy. They're not going to get him though, because I think that kid is going to get over-drafted."
The Jets believe their quarterback of the future isn't yet on their roster.
The Jets selected Christian Hackenberg with a second round pick in 2016 but he isn't close to being ready.
Bryce Petty kicked off his four-game audition with an uneven performance in a come-from-behind win in San Francisco a few days ago, but team decision makers aren’t sold that he's the right guy for the job in 2017.
If the Cleveland Browns finish the 2016 season with the worst record in the NFL and secure the top overall pick, they could select Myles Garrett.
The Browns have given an "astronomical grade" to Garrett during their evaluations. The Browns are enamored with Garrett, according to the source.
Even if the Browns go with Garrett with their No. 1 selection, Cleveland still has an extra first-round draft pick from their trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Leonard Fournette will declare for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Bothersome ankle sprains hampered Fournette's production throughout his junior season.
LSU received a bid to the Citrus Bowl Sunday, where the Tigers will face Louisville on New Year's Eve. LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Fournette wants to play in the game, but his playing status is "day to day" due to his ankle injury.
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