Vikes talk QB trade with Falcs... The Minneapolis Tribune is reporting that the Vikings have been involved in trade discussions with Atlanta for backup Flacons’ QB Matt Schaub in recent days. Reportedly, the talks were of an exploratory nature and currently no further talks are planned, but sources indicate that things could heat up as we get closer to the draft. In fact, as many as a half-dozen teams have reportedly inquired about Schaub’s availability, but the Falcons have demurred claiming he is too valuable a reserve behind oft-injured Michael Vick. Schaub, though, will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2006 season so the Flacons may want to get something for him when his value is at its highest. The Falcons likely will also be looking to enhance their draft position after they traded their 2006 first-round draft pick to the New York Jets last month as part of a deal for defensive lineman John Abraham. The Vikings have five picks in the first three rounds, but may very well have to part with their first-round pick, the 17th overall, in order to complete a trade.

Tennessee, which holds the 3rd pick overall at the 2006 with which the Titans are expected to select a QB, pretty much finished up their pre-draft evealution of the top prospects at the position when G.M. Floyd Reese, head coach Jeff Fisher, offensive coordinator Norm Chow and a full contingent of Titans’ receivers put Southern Cal QB Matt Leinart through a private workout yesterday in Los Angeles that included a lengthy classroom session. The Titans will still have Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler in for a private throwing session later this month, while Texas’ Vince Young will also be by later in the month for a private visit, but according to the Titans the heavy lifting part of the exercise is completed. The Titans though are not tipping their hands as to who they like. Reese was quoted in the local press, for example, as saying: “They’ve all done well; they’re all athletic guys, all knowledgeable guys, they can all spin the ball and they’ve all won. All in all, it’s a pretty good looking group.” Reese added that while Leinart lacks the raw arm strength of Cutler or Young, he has made all the necessary throws and proved himself to be well versed in his offense during the football talk time. Meanwhile, the Titans have taken another step to clearing up their QB situation by telling veteran QB Steve McNair that he was not welcome at the team’s training facility until his contract situation is resolved in a move that could force a showdown to determine whether or not he stays with the team. McNair currently counts $23.5 million against the Titans’ salary cap and has a $9 million base salary for the coming season; he’s also due another $1 million on September 1st. There has been speculation that if McNair does not agree to a radically lowered contract he likely will be released especially if the Titans, as expected, select a QB with the third pick overall.
(12:01 AM): Draft starts to come into focus...Not!!! With the draft now less than a month away one would figure it is about time that the opening round starts to take shape however that just doesn't appear to be the case as there is still much sorting out to be done even with the on-campus workout process now in the books. Indeed, putting together our latest "moving draft projection" with results from the latest pro days figured had the feel of herding cats. The biggest problem right now is figuring out where the QBs are going to go. We also got the feeling that there is plenty of potential for trades, especially in the middle part of the draft. If the QBs indeed start to slip then teams like Baltimore with the 13th pick and Minnesota at 17 might start to think about trying to move up. Meanwhile, would St. Louis, which wants to throw more to the TE this year but doesn't have a legitimate pass-receiver at the position perhaps think about trying to move up from #11 to grab Maryland TE Vernon Davis. Then there's Denver sitting there at #15 armed with a second #1 at 22 that could be packaged in a move to get into the top 10 to take anyone of several top players.