NFL Player News

The Colts used three Day 3 NFL draft picks on offense and two on defense. The notable names are Tennessee-Martin defensive tackle Montori Hughes, Oregon safety John Boyett, Utah State running back Kerwynn Williams and South Carolina tight end Justice Cunningham, the last player taken in the draft.

The Chargers official team website reports that general manager Tom Telesco said during a conference call with season ticket holders that he's a fan of running back Ryan Mathews. Telesco said Mathews is a great kid and works extremely hard. He liked Mathews when he with the Colts, and they game planned around him. The report says he expects "big things from the running back" this year.

The Panthers are loaded at running back but that didn't stop them from drafting Oregon running back Kenjon Barner with a sixth-round pick in the NFL draft. Barner has 1,123 total yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior and 2,023 total yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior for the Ducks.

The Jets selected fullback Tommy Bohanon in the seventh round of the NFL Draft out of Wake Forest, and he will compete for a roster spot.

ESPN reports that the Browns might not take running back Trent Richardson off the field on third downs this season like they did at times during his rookie year. He still managed 51 catches for 367 yards and a touchdown last year, but those stats could rise if he sees more time in strictly passing situations.

In the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft the Dolphins added University of Florida running back Mike Gillislee, who is 5-foot-11, 207 pounds. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Gillislee will compete with Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Marcus Thigpen and Jonas Gray for the starting spot vacated by Reggie Bush. Gillislee spent most of his career at Florida as a backup but started 11 games in his senior season, rushing for 1,152 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. "I'm a complete back," said Gillislee, who was projected as a fourth-round pick. "I'm a good competitor." He rushed for 2,072 yards on 389 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and scored 20 touchdowns during his career. He also caught 23 passes for 182 yards and scored two touchdowns through the air.

The Cowboys drafted Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle with the 18th pick in the fifth round on Saturday. The Dallas Morning News reports that with Felix Jones no longer on the roster the Cowboys were looking for a back to compliment DeMarco Murray. Randle rushed for 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and 1,216 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2011. The 6-0, 200-pounder, who started 31 of 39 games at Oklahoma State, was also a valuable receiver, catching 108 balls for 917 yards and three touchdowns. “The NFL is a two-back system now so guys need other guys to come in and you don’t want to drop the tempo off much,” Randle said of playing with Murray. “I think we’ll work well together.”

The Cardinals have added a second running back in the draft, selecting Clemson's Andre Ellington in the sixth round. Arizona used its fifth-round pick on Stanford's Stepfan Taylor and followed up by getting Ellington with the 187th overall pick. The 5-foot-9, 199-pound Ellington was first-team All-ACC after finishing with 1,081 yards rushing, 232 more receiving and nine total touchdowns. Though undersized, he has good quickness and speed, and has shown an ability to run inside. "Andre brings a different style to the table," general manager Steve Keim said. "His play style is different than the other three backs on our roster."

The Chiefs drafted Arkansas running back Knile Davis with a compensatory pick in the third round Friday night, grabbing a bulldozer to take some of the load off Jamaal Charles. Davis has a nice blend of size and speed, resulting in comparisons to former Razorbacks star Darren McFadden. But the knock on Davis - and one of the big reasons he fell late into the third round - is that he's dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career. He's struggled with ankle trouble going back to high school.

The Seahawks have selected Texas A&M running back Christine Michael with the 62nd overall selection, and final pick in the second round of the NFL Draft. The selection was another surprise move by the Seahawks, who were thought to be focused on improving the line of scrimmage and linebacker early in the draft. Instead, they picked up a bruising back to join Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. The Seahawks held the 56th overall selection but traded with Baltimore to drop back six spots and also picked up additional fifth- and sixth-round selections. The 62nd overall pick was the latest selection in Seattle's draft history. Michael saw limited action his senior season with the Aggies, but still rushed for 12 touchdowns. In 2011, Michael rushed for 899 yards in nine games before suffering a torn ACL.