Tony Pauline of SI.com is reporting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji tested positive for drugs at the NFL combine in February. He cited unnamed NFL sources.
It is unknown what drugs Raji may have tested positive for, but the testing results will be officially released to teams later this month.
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If true, the news puts a further dent into the chance Seattle may be targeting the massive defensive tackle in the first round.
With a blend of size and agility, Raji has been the number-one defensive tackle on most draft boards since the college season ended. His performance at the Senior Bowl and combine cemented Raji as a top 10 pick.
Whether the positive test result will affect his stock for most teams, it almost certainly will keep him low on GM Tim Ruskell's board. Combined with losing an entire season due to academic ineligibility, Raji seems to lack the mental makeup of a Ruskell pick.
Even if it isn't Seattle, someone is likely to disregard the news and take a chance on Raji.
Curent Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo tested positive for androstenedione, a steroid hormone, in 2005. He sent letters of apology to all 32 teams, and the Chargers took him near the end of round one, where he was projected to go before the positive test results.
Of course, Castillo claimed to have taken the drugs at the end of the season in order to fight through the pain of an elbow injury and help his team.
One thing is for sure, there will be a great deal more news and scrutiny should Raji's positive test results be true. It's just the kind of negative news that can really hurt a projected top 10 pick, as former NFL player Warren Sapp knows.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
