Agent Joe Linta talks NFL Draft; says he wouldn’t take Jameis Winston(WTNH)–NFL agent Joe Linta is a well-connected man. Just ask Sports Illustrated. He’s got clients all across the league, including Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, lineman Matt Birk, and former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi.So, when he offers his opinions on Thursday’s NFL Draft, you better listen. SportzEdge had him in studio on Monday and picked his brain about some of the draft’s biggest questions:SE: The big question right now before the draft is, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota? Who’s going to be the No. 1 pick. Your thoughts?LINTA: Tampa Bay is pretty locked in to Winston now because of the locality of where he’s from. People are putting their careers on the line by taking him. There’s a lot of off-the-field baggage. A lot of on-the-field baggage, he had 18 picks last year.SE: If you were picking, would you take him?LINTA: No. I would’ve signed a veteran quarterback and taken one of the guys in the third, fourth round and hope they develop. Because I’m pretty sure he’s not [the guy].SE: At the second pick, the Tennessee Titans. They may want a quarterback, you hope they don’t want a quarterback. You represent Zach Mettenberger, the starter there. Will Marcus Mariota end up there?LINTA: I don’t think he ends up there, because he’s not a fit for Whisenhunt’s system. We talked today, Zach and I, and I just don’t see it happening.SE: You had mentioned perhaps a trade involving Tennessee with a quarterback?LINTA: If they were going to do it, they would probably try to move Zach to a place that would be attractive for the team acquiring him. There’s been some speculation about Phillip Rivers, but I don’t see that happening.SE: Locally, the New York Giants. What are they looking for?LINTA: The Giants have to fill some needs at offensive line. Two guys that come to mind for them are Brandon Scherff from Iowa, who is a versatile, big guy who can play tackle or guard. But the best offensive lineman in the draft probably is a guard from Stanford named Andreus Peat.SE: The Jets may see Mariota slip down to 6.LINTA: If they’re not sold on Geno Smith, they could make a move for him. If not, there are plenty of things to pick from. Linebacker, defensive end, wide reciever, they’ve got a lot of shopping to do in this draft.SE: What are the Patriots looking for?LINTA: They’re going to need to replace Shane Vereen. There’s a kid out of Miami of Florida named Duke Johnson who really fits the bill for them. He can catch the ball, run the ball, do a lot of things. And also, this is a really deep wide reciever class. They’re going to have a few good ones to pick from.SE: You represent Tyler Varga. We know he had a great Senior Bowl. What are you hearing about him?LINTA: Based on the calls I’ve been getting in the last week, I think he’s going to go somewhere in the fifth or sixth round range. He could go a little higher or lower. But fifth or sixth is where it seems like he’s falling.SE: We’ve heard people talk about him as a fullback in addition to being a halfback.LINTA: No, the only reason anybody talks about that is because he went to the Senior Bowl as a fullback because that was the spot that was open. But as soon as he got out of the Senior Bowl, he started practicing at tailback.SE: UConn’s Byron Jones shot up draft boards with his performance at the NFL Combine. Where do you think he’s going to be going?LINTA: I think he’s going to end up in the first round because he’s a phenomenal kid, tremendous individual. Chip Kelley and the Eagles organization is very enamored with him. They sent a contingent on his pro day and also sent another contingent recently. I would not be surprised to see them pick him at 20, and he’ll be gone by 40. http://sportzedge.com/2015/04/28/agent-joe-linta-talks-nfl-draft-says-he-wouldnt-take-jameis-winston/
