News: 2017 Senior Bowl: Thursday Rumor Mill

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2017 Senior Bowl: Thursday Rumor Mill

By Charlie Campbell - @draftcampbell

With all the general managers, coaches and scouts in attendance for the Senior Bowl, there is a lot of chatter going around. Here are some of the highlights from the rumor mill on Day 4.

• The Dallas Cowboys figure to have an interesting offseason with how they approach their defensive line. Defensive tackle Terrell McClain is entering free agency, and the Cowboys want to bring him back. However, they plan to let McClain test the market and see what offers he gets before bidding on his contact. The Cowboys like McClain's steady and hard-working presence in their defensive line room. With some problem children already in there, they like McClain's grounded approach. Sources say to keep an eye on the Seahawks as a suitor that could target McClain. The Seahawks would like an interior disruptor.
  
  Dallas is also faced with breakout defensive end David Irving as an exclusive rights free agent. The Cowboys would like to sign him to a cheap multi-year contract, but sources say that Irving will reject that and play under the 1-year tag to work his way to unrestricted free agency with the hopes of securing a lucrative market-value contract extension.
  
  With the suspension issues of Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys also could target a defensive end late in the first round. Irving will return to Dallas, but bringing back McClain would help give them more flexibility in the draft.

• One prospect that is creating a buzz is UConn safety Obi Melifonwu. He was one of the stars of the weigh-in, as he checked in at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds and obviously is a dedicated patron of the weight room. During the fall, scouting sources told BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1 that Melifonwu would rise in the lead up to the draft because he is a workout warrior and was putting together a quality senior season. He totaled 118 tackles, three passes broken up, and four interceptions on the year.
  
  Some sources believe Melifonwu could be a versatile safety with the size and speed to cover tight ends in man coverage. They also feel he can walk down into the box like Deone Bucannon and be an enforcer like Kam Chancellor. While it is very early in the process, here are five teams that are showing a lot of interest in Melifonwu: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers.

• One of the on-field stars at the Senior Bowl has been Alabama tight end O.J. Howard. Behind the scenes, sources say that Howard also was very impressive in the team interviews. They said he was great in the meeting room, and they came away very impressed with him as a person. Howard is taking full advantage of the Senior Bowl to solidify his standing as a first-round pick with a real shot to go in the top 20. ...

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