1. Chase Young, DE Ohio State 99
I haven’t given 99s often in my career as an evaluator but this one was easy. This is the 9th draft board I’ve done from beginning to end and only the 3rd 99 grade I’ve ever given out, (Andrew Luck and Saquan Barkley were the other two). Young is an incredible player and an outstanding athlete who was the best player in the nation this season. As impressive as Nick Boss was as a rookie in 2019, Young was clearly the better player in college and the better pro prospect. Young averaged more than a sack a game over the past two seasons, and his explosive get off, power, and elite technique lead me to projecting him as a double digit sack artist as early as his rookie year.
What makes Young such an elite prospect isn’t just his innate ability to get after the quarterback in whatever way he wants, its that he can create havoc in the run game as well. His speed and ability to close from the back side is in the top tier, and therefore he’s the rare player who you can’t stop whether running right at him or away from him. Either way he dominates. The pop and ability to bench press linemen and get off of those blocks to close and finish plays is as good as you’ll ever see from a college player.
As someone who gets after the quarterback he has the potential to lead the NFL in sacks, he’s that good. His quickness and explosion is completely ridiculous. His initial get off is the best I’ve ever watched from a college player, and that lightning quick first step leads to tackles taking a quick kick step. They open up and then he has the intense power to get tackles pushed back with a speed to power move that is among the nations’ best. What I love about him though is that yes, he has 10/10 Height/Weight/Speed and his productivity is literally the best in the entire country, its his technique and use of a variety of moves that really stands out. I love Young’s ability to win in any way against any player and impact the game on every snap. While quarterback is certainly going to be an obvious pick at #1 particularly in a good quarterback class, Young is someone who can transform a defense overnight. He’s one of the top 3 prospects I’ve ever scouted. Only injuries can stop him from being a Hall of Famer - I said it.
2. Joe Burrow, QB LSU 97
Burrow went from being a virtual unknown a couple of seasons ago, to a 3rd day prospect before the season to being someone who could very well get selected first overall in April. Burrow is quite literally the nation’s most accurate passer this season, completing over 70% of his passes on a consistent basis throughout each game. His ability to not only drive the football but also throw with tremendous touch and anticipation is rare in a college quarterback. Burrow isn’t just an “old-school” pocket passer who can’t move and is a statue in the pocket, Burrow moves very well and shows great toughness when he gets out and moves. He can throw on the run or pick up third downs with his legs whenever the situation presents itself. Burrow is the new age quarterback who every team is looking for. The kid is a guy who combines athleticism and accuracy with above average arm strength and he processes defense with high football IQ. This is the type of guy you feel comfortable taking with the first pick in the draft.
There really isn’t a big question mark for Burrow as his ability to consistently move the ball up and down the field at every level has been shown in spades this season. A lot of this could be chalked up to Joe Brady and his impressive New Orleans style offensive attack. It’s difficult to a point to ascertain how much of his success this season is due to an incredible scheme, top tier receivers, an underrated running back or Burrow himself. That said you can’t fake how impressive some of this throws are and his consistent accuracy at all levels. What impresses me most about what he does is at the intermediate level and how he throws with anticipation. Watching him throw flag routes and deep digs and put those throws right on the numbers with perfect touch is among the most impressive from a quarterback prospect I’ve scouted.
Burrow has good size at 6’3 and around 220 pounds and his athleticism is well above average. I’ve seen comparisons’ to Tony Romo and I love it, I could 100% see that. His ability to move within the pocket, extend plays and pick up big chunks of yards with toughness and speed are all at a higher than average level. Burrow throws well on the run but is elite when he allows himself to set his feet and throw on time. The most absurd stat of the season isn’t the fact that Burrow leads the nation in completion percentage at over 78% as of this write-up, it’s that he’s completed over 70% of his passes in every.single.game. His consistency is insane.
In short the guy is one of the best quarterback prospects I’ve scouted. I wouldn’t have any hesitation in taking him with the top pick in the 2020 draft. Great player.
3. Isaiah Simmons, S/LB Clemson 97
One of 6 elite players in this class Simmons is the epitome of what defensive coordinators want in the new age NFL. He’s got very good size at about 6’3 and 230 pounds and is built like a freaking truck. That said his main weapon and the one that gets me all bitty just talking about is Simmons’ ability to cover any and every position on the football field, he’s the best coverage linebacker I’ve ever scouted. The kid plays single high safety, slot corner, man to man on running backs and tight ends, can cover wide receivers and is absolutely elite at all of it. He looks like he runs in the low 4.4’s and even if he doesn’t his instincts and fly off the tape when you watch him. He’s one of the rare players who will excel in today’s pass happy NFL as a second level player and is someone who could help transform a coverage unit early in his career.
Other than his coverage skills, Simmons is an above average tackler, with over 92 heading into the college football playoff already. He has tremendous burst as a blitzer, and it’s scary to watch him get into the backfield when he times up his jump. I love watching him off the edge when he’s lined up over the slot, talk about an elite potential slot and nickel rusher. He’s a sideline to sideline guy who reminds me a bit of Lavonte David in the way he runs and tracks down plays and the angles he takes to cut off ball carriers. He’s someone who will consistently end up with double digit tackles in the NFL if he ever gives up enough completions to warrant that.
I could go on and on and on about how much I love this kid as a prospect but it’s fairly simple. He’s THE BEST COVERAGE LINEBACKER I’VE EVER SCOUTED. That’s enough right there to go top 10 at worst and top 5 potentially. You pair up that ability with good tackling, being an explosive pass rusher, and having the versatility to line up virtually anywhere on a defense and you have the makings of a defense altering player.
4. Jeffrey Okudah, CB Ohio State 96
I think there are a handful of players with All-Pro potential in this draft class and this is one of the top ones. Okudah is a truly elite level top tier cornerback and someone who could challenge to be taken with the 3rd overall pick in the draft. He absolutely locks down on people on one side of the football field. With elite size at 6’1 200 pounds and tremendous quickness and athleticism, there is simply nothing he can’t do well at the corner position. He’s not necessarily a ball hawk, but it’s more because no one throws his way. The reason I have Okudah at 3 instead of Jeudy is simply because I value corners more than receivers but pick your poison here, they are both tremendous players with huge upsides and high floors.
In coverage, there is not much that this superstar can’t do. He has an absolutely tremendous size and speed combination and his ability to jam or play press man is at an elite level. Watching him play against high quality competition he simply shuts down a player in a one on one situation. Okudah doesn’t have any issues man to man or zone as his size and tackling ability is at an above average level as well. The only issue that you can quibble about with Okudah is that he hasn’t been a superstar when it comes to production. Okudah hasn’t had many picks or pass breakups throughout the years but it’s simply because so many people end up not throwing in his direction at all. He’s the best in a long line of great Ohio State man corners, and as good as Ward and Lattimore have been, this guy is better in my opinion. He’s that good.
5. Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama 96
The most complete wide receiver prospect since Julio Jones and AJ Green came out of college is Jerry Jeudy from Alabama. The kid is a true number one who can run any route in the route tree with precision and has enough pure speed to run right by defensive backs. Jeudy may be the truly safest player in this entire draft. There is nothing he can’t do at a high level and his route running combined with his elite speed creates a player who will instantly transform any offense. Jeudy Is the rare player who will instantly be a 1000 yard receiver in the NFL and has a chance to be a pro bowl level player immediately.
Jeudy’s quickness and separation skills are as good as any you’ll find in any draft class that I’ve scouted. He can do anything and his ability to run by people helps create separation on all the mid range routes that he runs at such a high level. He’s good with the ball in his hands too, using that acceleration to get to the edge and run by people when he needs to do so. He plays physical football too, not getting beat up by defensive backs who try to jam him off his route.
I think he can play inside or outside in the NFL and his ability to run any route in the route tree makes him dangerous and almost impossible to guard. To me he reminds me a bit of a bigger more physical Stefon Diggs at times but with that elite speed and quickness combination of a Tyler Lockett. He is similar to those guys but with an even higher ceiling. He’s a rare player who I can say is can’t miss. Love this guy.
6. Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama 95
The final super elite prospect of the 2020 draft is arguably the most accurate quarterback prospect I’ve ever scouted. Tagovailoa, the southpaw from Alabama, is one of the most precise quarterbacks i’ve ever seen throw the football. Not only does he spin an obscenely catchable football, his touch, ability to lead receivers, and his true misses are so rare that he constantly picks up 3rd downs. Tua would have been the number two rated player in this class, yes even ahead of Joe Burrow had he not had a devastating hip injury midway through this past season. While he doesn’t have prototypical size, he has better than average mobility and his accuracy is simply a 10 out of 10 with more than enough arm strength to stretch the field. Long way to say he’s a true franchise quarterback who if he checks the medical boxes off should in no world escape the first 5 picks.
Tua is a winner, a mobile kid who does a better job of creating YAC yards than any quarterback I’ve watched. He leads people away from defenders, throws a beautiful deep ball, and hits slants and outs with precision. While he played with outstanding receivers of course at Bama he still showed what he’s capable of on a consistent basis, constantly picking up 3rd downs and rarely putting the ball in harms way. Honestly he reminds me of Drew Brees in the way he completes passes.
There’s really not much for me to say negatively about him. He’s not the worlds most mobile guy but he has really good pocket mobility and he can certainly pick up first downs with his legs. His height and body type are the real knocks on him because he’s constantly had injuries throughout his career. The durability question is the only thing that may keep him off teams’ boards in April. If the hip injury he sustained and the ankle surgeries he’s had are bad enough that teams take him down a peg I can certainly understand that. That’s the only thing that will keep Tagovailoa from being a top tier franchise quarterback for the next ten years though.
7. Derrick Brown, DT Auburn 94
Brown is an absolute monster. There is no other way to describe the Tiger alum. It’s incredible watching him play against top tier talent in the SEC, as he can at times just annihilate the other team and is one of the most disruptive players in the entire nation. While Brown isn’t the most technically refined pass rusher you’ve ever met, and at times he relies completely on his power and quickness combination, he can still collapse the pocket in the blink of an eye. If a good defensive line coach can work with him on his hand placement, pass rush moves, and can scheme him up to some one on ones, he could end up being one of the better players in the NFL.
As a pass rusher, the quickness he has and the shock in his hands is among the most elite players in the country, on the outside or the inside. He is essentially a power rusher who can generate impressive initial quickness and leverage by keeping his pads low. Brown however, rarely disengages as well as he should because he doesn’t have tremendous hand placement or pass rush moves. I really want him to do a better job countering and using a rip move but as of now he simply bullies his way into the backfield. It’s still extremely disruptive, but it’s raw right now with just obscene upside. While he is very disruptive as hell, he needs to become a better finisher as he has only 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
As a run defender he’s already elite. His initial push into the backfield can absolutely wreck running attacks. He has long arms that he uses well to bench press people and then shucks them when he sees where the run play is going. His short area quickness for a player at 315 pounds is insane, and he can create tackles for loss on a regular basis. He has the nature and toughness that you want to 2-gap as well to hold the point of attack. The way he can pop you with his hands and then disengage in the run game is as good as you’ll find.
Overall the kid is one of the better players in the nation and someone who won’t escape the top 10 draft picks. He can dominate and wreck games right away and his toughness, quickness, and power is as good as you’ll find. Brown can generate big time plays in the run and pass game and he compares favorably to Chris Jones. The power and quickness combination is extremely enticing. He has All-Pro potential and will start immediately and be an instant impact player in the NFL.
8. CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma 92
This kid is so damn fun to watch play football. He’s a big play receiver at 6’2 and around 190 pounds and although he’s not a burner, he’s got plenty of juice to make big plays. He averaged 20 yards per catch this season despite catching screens at times. Lamb with the ball in his hands is one of the better players after the catch in the entire country and his physicality and vision is elite. Lamb is good at creating separation and his quickness and elusiveness is at a super high level, while I think he needs a bit of help in the nuances of route running the potential is there for him to be exceptional. Overall Lamb is someone who shouldn’t’ make it out of the top 12 picks. He could use about 10 more pounds of muscle and his top end speed isn’t elite, but he’s one of the most natural receivers and runners you’ll ever watch play at the college level.
His biggest skill is how he takes the ball away from defenders. Lamb plucks it out of the air with ease and despite not having tremendous size or speed he plays a lot bigger and faster than that. Lamb has tremendous run after catch ability and sets up blocks and makes defenders miss on an almost every touch basis. He hangs onto the ball through contact and it leads to him making big time plays down the field.
There isn’t a ton of negatives here and it is why I have zero fear about him being a number one or a super high number two wide receiver in the NFL. The two biggest things in the NFL are can you create separation, he certainly can, and can you catch the ball consistently, which he is elite at doing already. Lamb’s run after catch ability is among the best from a receiver you’ll see and while he certainly benefitted from Oklahoma’s attack he seems to have a good feel for the game. He is someone who not only has a nice high floor, his ceiling is damn good as well. I’m a huge Texans fan and to be honest his game reminds me a lot of Deandre Hopkins, that’s huge praise and he deserves it.
9. Justin Jefferson, WR LSU 91
Dear lord this guy is a freaking stud. No he’s not the world’s best athlete. Yes he plays primarily in the slot. Yes a ton of his offense was generated by the genius that is Joe Brady. All of that is 100% true. So is the fact that he has the best hands in this draft class, he snatches everything thrown his way, through contact, jump balls, in traffic, he catches it all. He was arguably the most productive receiver in the nation this year, playing in the SEC and he just simply dominated. The guy reminds me so much of Michael Thomas, with his ability to catch everything in traffic and generate first downs and touchdowns at an incredible rate. Add in the fact I think he’s one of the best blocking wide receivers in this class, and he ran a 4.43 at the combine. He can play outside, he can play inside, he can block on the edge, and he turns bad throws into first downs. He could be a 100 catch guy in the NFL.
As a pure pass catcher he’s an elite player. There were a number of throws on the tapes that I watched that were slightly off target or behind Jefferson and it didn’t matter, even playing through the middle of the field with players all around him he made the plays. He’s a hand catcher on slants and out routes and knows where the sticks are at all times. In the redzone, while he’s not a crazy leaper he posted a 37.5 inch vertical at the combine with 33 inch arms which means you can toss it up on the top shelf and he’ll score, 18 touchdowns this past season. He has good speed but not great, but he creates separation particularly on crossing routes, and he has a really good feel for zone. Sometimes it takes him an extra beat to create separation at the LOS and that’s the only reason he’s not ranked even higher. Jefferson needs to win quicker at times but for the most part he creates enough separation and has such tremendous ball skills that it most of the time doesn’t matter.
He’s good after the catch, making a lot of guys miss and gaining tough and grimy yards when he has to. While he’s not CeeDee Lamb breaking ankles or running over guys, or Ruggs running past them, he certainly is difficult to bring down in the open field. The best part of his game though is that he can run every single route on the route tree. He’s a pure 3 level route runner at this point and while he certainly needs to become more intricate in his routes and more precise, as he doesn’t generate high end separation, he’s still very good and challenges the entire field. In the run game he’s very very good. He’s one of the best blockers in the class and his physicality in the run game sprung a ton of high end runs for the LSU championship team.
He’s an elite slot receiver who can certainly play outside if you want him to do so. Jefferson has elite hands, is a top tier blocker, has plus size and speed, and good athleticism. He’s not going to blow you away as an athlete and it’s tough because he projects best as a slot but his floor is really high. At worst he’s a great slot receiver and a solid number 2 at best I think he’s someone who could be like a Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, Davonte Adams type player. No way in hell would I let this guy leave round 1 and I would look to take him in the top 15.
10. Denzel Mims, WR Baylor 90
Why in the hell is everyone not all over this guy as a top 15 to 20 player in this draft class?!? What am I missing? He’s 6’3 with super long arms, runs a 4.38 and has a 6.66 3 cone drill, which is the best time from anyone this year. He also has a 38 inch vertical and was an exceptionally productive player throughout his career. You add all of that stuff up, then put on his 1 on 1 tape from the Senior Bowl where he put on an absolute clinic. Go to his game tape, and he absolutely shines. His catch radius, punch against press coverage and leaping ability in the red zone stands out as him being one of the best wide receivers in the country. Mims absolutely in no way should get out of round 1 and he looks like a WR1 in the NFL.
There are really only two things that I noticed on tape that could make him drop to outside the top 50 in terms of rating players, and like I said I think that’s insane. He does occasionally drop or struggle with easy throws and it’s simply a concentration thing here because he makes some of the most impressive contested catches you’ll ever see. The one thing he is below average at doing, but his insane physicality and 3 cone show that it can certainly come along, is his route running. It takes him a long time to come out of breaks and so really good corners might give him problems early in his career. That said, people who say he struggles to get off press don’t really watch the tape correctly in my opinion, he uses a jab punch into their shoulders to get a free release and then his speed is so easy he runs by you. He needs refinement as a route runner but by year 3 if he’s a worker that gets cleaned up and then he’s unstoppable.
Where he looks like he’ll absolutely shine is running the deep routes in the NFL passing game and in the red zone. He’s got tremendous size and catch radius and that long speed is deceiving. A guy that size runnin a 4.38 as easily as he does is frightening for defensive coordinators. In the red-zone his leaping skills and ability to box out and come down with contested catches is a major plus. Watching him run sideline routes and deep breaking routes is a thing of beauty, and as soon as he can figure out how to create more urgency on his underneath routes, he’ll blossom into a superstar. As a blocker he’s very good. He uses tackle length arms to shield defenders and he looks to pop you when he gets the opportunity.
Look the kid needs to get more refined as a route runner but other than that he’s a dynamic WR1. Early in his career he’ll be a deep threat and red zone threat mostly, but as he learns to run routes he’ll develop into a more complete receiver. Mims’ ability to stretch the field and his gigantic catch radius gives him a chance to be a quarterbacks’ best friend. He reminds me a lot of DK Metcalf on tape from last year’s draft with that size and speed combination and he really helped the Seahawks this past season. At worst you have a dynamic size and speed WR2 but to me this kid’s upside is as a top tier WR1. There’s no reason he should escape the top 25.
11. Andrew Thomas OT Gerogia 90
This dude is a ball player. He’s strong, sturdy, has good football IQ, and started for the past 3 years in the SEC, winning it’s OL of the Year award this past season. At 6’5 and 320 pounds Thomas has the length, strength, athleticism, and football IQ to be a very good starting left tackle in the NFL for a long time. While he has some technique issues that need to be ironed out and he’s not super flexible, those aren’t major issues or red flags as he looks to be one of the safest picks in the 2020 draft. Thomas shouldn’t escape the first half of the first round this year being a rock solid prospect at one of the most coveted positions in the sport.
Thomas can likely play the left or the right side in the NFL with the requisite power to play on the right and the athleticism to play the left, but he seems polished enough to play LT. He’s quick out of his stance for a big man and while smaller quicker pass rushers can give him the occasional problem, his get off out of his stance and length is enough to typically combat those issues. His best trait in pass protection however is his ability to recognize complex defensive schemes and his ability to pass off defenders to other players and react to delayed rushers or potential problems. Thomas processes this information at a very high level for a college lineman. His lower body strength allows him to anchor very well against bull rushers and his length and quickness pushes speed rushers past the edge.
As a run blocker he’s a powerful guy in the lower half. He likes to lean on you throughout a game and has that type of strength and heft that will wear down opposing ends, especially those smaller quicker guys throughout the game. Thomas has the quickness to get to the second level and doesn’t miss often when he gets there but he’s not the most nimble guy consistently. Thomas will get caught leaning here and there and his hand placement can allow guys to fall of him when getting up on linebackers. The forward lean means at times he’ll end up on the ground instead of using the proper leverage and technique to get the block done. It’s correctable but is a factor on tape.
There aren’t any legitimate red flags that I see right now. Counter moves and super quick defensive ends aren’t his strong suit but he is still above average in this regard and his hand placement at the second level needs work. That said those are super minor in the grand scheme of things and therefore he’s a rock solid first half of round 1 left tackle prospect. You don’t find those very often in the NFL draft and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him taken in the top 10 picks on Thursday.
12. Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama 89
Holy crap is this dude an athlete. He’s one of the fastest players in the NFL now and has that ability to scare you and score from anywhere on any play from day 1 in the league. Ruggs ran a 4.27 at the combine and that burst is so obvious on tape that you can tell he’s a true threat and someone that will keep DC’s up at night. You pair that with decent size and insane explosiveness with that 40+ inch vertical and you have a big play monster. He also shows really good hands and snatches the ball in the air. Add all that up and you have a first round wide receiver who will be your big play guy from the first day of training camp his rookie year.
Ruggs is never going to be a high volume pass Catcher in the NFL which is why he can’t Get a 90 grade from me. His releases off the line of scrimmage vs press coverage aren’t very good right now and he stutter steps to create separation. Despite insane athletic ability, speed and explosion he doesn’t generate separation until the route has taken quite a while to develop. Ruggs breaks away from defenders on long developing routes and those quick throws and inside slants and crosses just take him too long at this point. He could use to add a little muscle although he blocks and plays the run game with really good physicality and I actually think he’s plus as a blocker.
Those are his negatives but his positives far outweighs any of the minor things that can be cleaned up with more reps. Ruggs ability to fly past you as a receiver means that he’ll create more room to work for every member of an opposing offense. He doesn’t track the deep ball as well as you’d like for a burner but when he catches in breaking routes he simply runs past every defender in his way. He is an angle-less runner in terms of his ability to score every time he touches it. He is a lot more of a straight line athlete than someone with wiggle with the ball in his hands but the burst is just absurd. Usually you worry a bit about the speedsters not being good catchers of the football but Ruggs is a natural hands catcher with well above average ball skills. Some of his back shoulder snatches are really impressive stuff to watch. His leaping skills give him a plus catch radius as well.
Look he’s not going to be someone who will rack up 100 catches a year and probably won’t come close to 80 unless some team tries to scheme him a lot of underneath stuff. That said he could be a low volume super high production guy in the NFL and I think at worst he ends up being Will Fuller. He’s got a lot of potential to be a superstar though if he can clean up his releases against press and more physical corners. His ability to separate at the end of routes and run past you with that combination of speed and explosion is rare. Obvious first round WR for a team looking for a big play threat.
13. Josh Jones, OT Houston 88
Jones is a very polished player with tremendous athleticism and is yet another first round graded tackle in an extremely deep offensive tackle draft. At 6’7 and 310 pounds with excellent feet and quickness, he projects nicely as a starting left tackle in the NFL early in his career. While he lacks prototypical power, his above average balance and handwork allow him to wall off blockers with ease and although he doesn’t typically get tremendous push in the run game, he takes sound angles to create running lanes. Jones started for four years at Houston and while he still needs to clean up his technique and hand placement at times, his efficiency and tape is very good. Quite simply he’s a first round Left Tackle in the league which is insanely valuable. He shouldn’t escape day 1.
Jones as a pass protector has a lot of traits to work with. He has great length and he uses his 6’7 frame as well as any player in this class does. His feet are very quick and he rarely allows pressure, locking up and squaring up as well as you’ll see on a consistent basis. He sees defenders coming and does an above average job at passing people off and noticing rushers, and his ability to counter moves that oncoming rushers use is at a high level. His anchor could use some work as occasionally he’ll give a tiny bit of ground but above all it’s not bad. The main issue I see is he’ll occasionally reach or lunge a bit when his hand placement gets out of place, the first year in the league he may give up some pressures or allow an easy sack or two while he adjusts but a good offensive line coach and adding a bit of strength should shore that up.
As a run blocker he takes sound angles, and has tremendous athleticism and feet. He gets to the second level and takes linebackers and DB’s out of plays completely. He’ll finish off defenders with pancake blocks when he can and he has enough nasty in him to work as an NFL lineman. That said the lack of power here may be a bit of an issue as he rarely gets great push, he mostly walls off player and creates lanes. It’s not a problem but he will be much more successful with a team that loves to run screens, which is where he thrives, or outside zone and stretch plays. A zone system would be ideal and he’ll be much more attractive to teams like Minnesota and San Francisco than he would to a team like Oakland.
In summation, Josh Jones is a first round left tackle prospect in this draft class. Finding someone who doesn’t have to switch sides in the NFL or kick inside is pretty rare and therefore it would be pretty surprising to me to see him not taken on day 1. He reminds me quite a bit of Andre Dillard last year and I gave him a 90, which is honestly about where I see Jones but as some of the more athletic and less powerful lineman have struggled I’m adjusting my grade down just a touch to modify the approach. Regardless he’s someone who should go somewhere between 16 and 32 based on tape at the absolute worst, with athleticism, length, position, and experience as a four year starter. Could use a few games or a year to learn but there’s a lot to work with here. The greatest thing about him though is that if you DID have to kick him inside, he could be an elite guard as well, really good ceiling and a huge floor.
14. Xavier McKinney, S Alabama 88
One of my favorite players in this year’s draft class is McKinney the versatile defensive back from the Crimson Tide. It’s possible that McKinney is among the top 5 most versatile and complete players in this entire draft class. He played all over the place in Alabama’s complicated secondary scheme, anywhere from dime linebacker to single high, slot, and in the typical split safety look. McKinney is an excellent tackler in space, an impressive slot corner, and he takes excellent pursuit angles. Where he’s not a truly elite athlete, his size is solid at 6’1 and 200 pounds and productive as he had 7 turnovers this past season and 95 tackles. McKinney is an excellent player who will automatically help a back end with his versatility, consistency, and playmaking ability.
The only thing that keeps McKinney off the 90 list is that he doesn’t show truly elite speed down the field. For me 90s are typically restricted only to players who are able to do everything on the back end with the speed and closing burst to play free or strong. He’s not quite at that level, it doesn’t mean that if he goes to the right system he couldn’t be a Pro Bowl level player because he absolutely could. He has a lot of Harrison Smith to his game and while Smith isn’t an elite athlete, in the right scheme he’s phenomenal. Simlilary to another Bama alum Eddie Jackson. I’m not saying he will be that, I’m saying he has that type of skill set.
I really like McKinney as the combo type safety who can help play multiple roles in the Nickel that has become the base defense for the NFL nowadays. I think he’s good enough in the slot to be the big nickel and his tackling ability lets him potentially play toward the line on a consistent basis. He’s not the best player in the deep spot but he’s not a liability and in a split safety look he has good ball skills and takes plus angles. McKinney is a starter immediately and someone who will be an asset for a decade in the league with Pro Bowl ability if used correctly.
15. Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina 88
A first round player on the defensive interior is Javon Kinlaw from South Carolina. At 6’6 and 305 pounds he is an imposing figure and while that height at times causes him to get too upright and lose leverage, his length looks to be an overwhelming net positive. He has elite strength and is initlal burst and pop into the backfield is as good as anyone you’ll scout on the interior defensive line. There are times he ends up 3-4 yards deep in the backfield in the blink of an eye and that ability to simply dominate players at the point that quickly is impossible not to notice. Overall, his ability to create havoc from the interior, elite length and pop, and an ability to make splash plays, combined with elite potential means that the Gamecock alum shouldn’t escape the first round.
Kinlaw is productive with 10 sacks the past two seasons, which is solid if unspectacular. Where he really creates plays is that initial quick first move where he simply jabs one direction to get guards off balance and then he bench presses them with insane length and pop. When he’s allowed to simply get up the field and cause mayhem is when he’s at his best. Trying to anchor and hold the point he isn’t as adept but when he just gets to get as much penetration as he can as quick as possible he looks like a Pro Bowl caliber player. There are plays on tape where he will push his blocker 5 yards deep and completely blow plays up, he can do it on the goalie as well, causing congestion and problems for interior offensive players. He’s one of the better pure penetration defensive tackles you’ll scout.
If he gets too high coming out of his stance though it allows the guard to anchor better and he gets stoned at the point. His secondary moves are garbage at this point for lack of a better term and while he showed an ability to move a bit in short spaces this season in T-E games and slants he gets pretty upright in these areas and he ends up on the ground more than you’d like. Not a ton of production when he loses with his first move, he rarely ends up getting you anything production wise down the field or down the line which is a bit of a knock on his grade. Another area for concern when watching him was when he would get double teamed he seemed to lack the anchor you’re looking for. I think he needs to add 10-15 pounds to play and hold up on the interior in the NFL because those doubles at times really caused him problems.
All in all there is a lot more to like than not like when it comes to Javon Kinlaw. His ability to get into the backfield, pressure quarterbacks, collapse pockets, and great length to disrupt passing lanes make him a very intriguing prospect. While he’s not a 90 graded guy because he lacks a secondary move and he struggles against double teams, he’s clearly someone who should get taken in the first round. Causing havoc is extremely valuable even if it doesn’t lead directly to sacks or TFL’s, it leads to wins and Kinlaw creates disruption and havoc consistently. Good player, obvious first rounder.
16. Tristan Wirfs, OL Iowa 88
I like Wirfs as a really solid right tackle and particularly as a guard at the next level. I think another year of school would have probably landed him among the top 10 picks in 2021 but as it is there isn’t a chance he escapes round 1. Wirfs has incredible power and when he’s asked to simply go right at you, he creates big running lanes and a major push. He has long arms at 6’5 and 322 pounds and better than average feet. While he makes mistakes when playing in space, and can get caught reaching and occasionally gives up the inside move, his hands are super strong and his power is enticing. Wirfs could end up being a very solid right tackle in the NFL or an elite guard depending on which team takes him.
Wirfs main element to his game is simply his raw power. When he’s asked to simply gap block forward and move the pile he is a road grader. There’s a possibility he is the most powerful run blocker in the class and the movement he generates is elite. He uses this power to stop bull rushers and his hands are strong enough that once he locks onto you if he’s squared you up, you’ve lost the rep. That said in the run blocking game he whiffs at times by lunging forward, and in space smaller defenders get around him on a semi regular basis. The zone blocking, blocking down, and second level combination blocks are not something he excels at doing. While he is more than capable with good athleticism, he lunges often and it leads to the occasional poor rep.
As a pass protector he looks like he could be an elite guard or a solid right tackle. He has good enough feet outside to stick out there without much of a problem. If he kicks inside though is when he can use those long arms and powerful base to stone interior rushers. Wirfs can be a tick slow to pass off games on the edge, and the occasional speed rush will get him to set too wide. These are things that he will likely clean up, but right now they are things that push his grade from the top 10 or even top 5 like you’ll see in some mock drafts, to where I would target him between 17-32.
Wirfs is a really good football player with a lot of talent and exceptional power. I think he could be a very nice right tackle in the league or an elite guard. He has a lot of the same talents that Brandon Scherff had coming out of Iowa and their games are very similar in nature. Where I believed Scherff could also be a high quality right tackle he ultimately made his home as a Pro Bowl caliber guard who might reset the market in March. He has room to grow and could turn into one of the better players in this class, but he has the occasional bad rep, there’s a chance he corrects that at the next level but if he doesn’t it’s something when you’re drafting you’ll have to know if you can live with it or not.
17. Jaylon Johnson, CB Utah 88
This kid is an absolute stud and the fact that very few people are talking about him in the first round discussion is criminal. He is one of the best cornerbacks in the country and was a 2nd team All American this past year. Johnson has good ball skills, with 6 interceptions the past two seasons and this year had 11 PBU as well. According to PFF he allowed a catch rating of around 40% and did this despite playing with a torn labrum. The only real question I had with Johnson was his deep speed and then he went out and ran 4.50 for me as a big physical press corner and he answered the call. He’s a first round corner who has the chance to be a high end CB1 with in my opinion the floor of a rock solid CB2.
Johnson can play both press or off man and I believe if necessary can kick inside although he is better suited to play the boundary. He’s at his best in press and he makes literally every single throw difficult. Even completions against Johnson are contested. His game tape against USC this past season wasn’t very good and honestly if you tossed that out he might Get a 90 grade from me, his tape is that quality. He’s a good tackler, and plays physical in the flats and when he jams you he makes you work just to get off the line.
As a zone corner he has the ball skills and football IQ to be a nice player but he doesn’t look as comfortable here yet. He gets a little wonky in his backpedal and needs to play with more patience but it will likely come with more reps. At Utah he was in man a lot and didn’t play much cover 1 or 3 which is something he could see more of in the NFL. His ball skills, size, physicality, and awareness could lead to him becoming a very good zone corner but he has a ways to go there now.
Johnson is an easy evaluation. He’s a first round corner with a good ceiling and a great floor. He forces every throw to be a challenge and he has enough physical tools to compete with virtually everyone he matches up against. The only thing that keeps him from being a bit higher is he isn’t a true burner and the USC tape was problematic. That said he’s likely going on day 2, and someone is getting a gem.
18. Zack Baun, OLB Wisconsin 87
Wow his tape is so damn fun to watch, it’s awesome. Baun had some injuries in 2017 and 2018 that limited how much he played but in 2019 he was one of the absolute best players in the country and would have been on my All American team. His first step quickness is as good as it gets, and while he’s not really the most athletic guy in the world, he wins with that first step as often as any player you’ll find. You pair that with the fact he has the ability to drop in space, and while I think the analytic community likes his pass defense, I think he’s only okay in that regard. That said, the ability to do both, as well as be a consistent tackler is a huge versatile plus. He is probably the most refined pass rusher in this draft as well, using a speed rush, a jab step outside to set up an inside rush, and a cross arm move that are all impressive. Baun projects as a starting 34 outside linebacker who has the versatility to play multiple spots. While his athleticism is only okay, and at 240 pounds, bigger tackles could wash him out of run plays, I still think he should get taken at the back third of the first round and he has the potential to be a core building block of an NFL defense.
Baun has a tremendous motor and his biggest attribute is that he’s ready to roll as an NFL pass rusher right now. I think as a rookie you could put him in pass rushing situations and just let him eat from the minute you say go. He uses a bevy of moves but his best attribute is simply his ability to time the snap count and bend the edge with a speed rush that is top tier. Then he has a good feel for when tackles overset and he’ll use an outside in move with a jab step that allows him to get to the inside shoulder of the tackle, collapsing the pocket. It’s an impressive 1-2 move combination that could help him net double digit sacks at the next level. While PFF did give him back to back 80 coverage grades, I think he only projects to be adequate here. His movement skills are okay, and while he shows super good IQ in finding crossers and covering up zones quickly, he doesn’t look natural in space when covering. It’s still a plus he’s capable in this regard though.
As a run defender is where there might be a bit of trouble. Yes he has good acceleration, and his quickness means he’ll make his fair share of plays in the backfield. But at only 6’2 and 240 pounds when he’s on the edge against bigger tackles at times he’s going to get eaten up in the run game at the next level. I worry about that a bit and think it could cause him to lose some reps here and there that could cost his team. He just needs to add some strength, but that will come in time. It just means as a rookie he might need to split some reps here. That said that acceleration and motor he has means that by year 2 or 3 you won’t be able to get him off the field.
Really good football player. If he didn’t have two major foot injuries he would be rated somewhere around 89-90. I think he could develop into a true core player on a defense. There’s a chance he ends up being a double digit sack guy in the league and someone whose versatility and motor is going to be a plus. Early in his career he needs to add strength and ultimately he’s not the biggest or longest so he’s fighting a bit of an uphill battle as a prospect. But his football IQ and pass rush refinement are unbelievably impressive. He shouldn’t escape the first round.
19. Jordan Love, QB Utah State 87
I’m sure there are going to be a lot of people who think I’m crazy for having Love ahead of Justin Herbert but if it were me I like Love more. He has insane arm talent, and not just throwing rockets as he can do, but he can add or change trajectory and pace as well as anyone you’ll find. Yes he predetermines some reads and in 2019 it led to 17 interceptions which is a major problem, but his supporting cast went to nothing this past season and he was carrying a terrible roster. Love is a quarterback who needs to learn a system and sit for a year or so before playing, he has some growing to do in terms of not forcing the football and pocket awareness, but he has MVP potential. I’m serious, the guy could be a superstar if given time, but the turnovers are scary.
In terms of pure throwing the football he is absolutely elite. His accuracy is above average but not great at this point because he wants to take deep shots down the field. He can absolutely bullet the football anywhere you want it to go and his ability to make deep out throws is as good as anyone you’ll find. On second level throws he will throw away from defenders and his interior passing on slants and deep ins is really impressive. He can fit the ball in super tight windows and shows enough pace and trajectory ability to pick up 3rd downs that lesser quarterbacks wouldn’t even attempt.
Love has plus movement skills, and while he isn’t an elite runner in terms of straight line speed he has the ability to pick up third downs with his legs. He has decent feel in the pocket and knows where his check downs are before plays break down but at times he’ll hold onto the ball a little long. He wants to make the big play so he will forget to take the profit at times it leads to him going broke. Pocket awareness is okay but could improve.
Where Love needs grooming is definitely his decision making and not predetermining his first read. When he gets a favorable read pre-snap he goes there immediately and it’s the biggest jump he’ll need to fix before he can play in the Big Leagues. This past season he forced more throws than you would like to see because the talent around him was very weak and his defense was worse so he was trying to make big plays. It’s something that happens at the college level at times but those mistakes can end up creating bad habits. If he goes to a team that can develop a quarterback i.e. Indianapolis he has a chance to be a star in a year or two but he needs a coach who can get him to be more of a point guard than he was this year.
Overall he was one of the most fun guys I’ve scouted. I think he has legit QB1 potential and is someone who could be a Pro Bowl caliber player. His ability to zip the football, throw with touch, and make big time plays on the run with his arm or his legs is at a top tier caliber. At 6’4 and 225 he has ideal size and his demeanor is impressive. Look there is without a doubt some risk taking Love, the turnovers are scary and his accuracy is good but not elite. That said if I’m a team who is willing to bet on upside I could go all in with this kid and you might get a franchise changing player.
20, Grant Delpit, S LSU 87
One of the players with the highest upside in this entire class, and someone who can start and be an impact player right away. He’s extremely inconsistent with his tackling and it’s pretty easy to argue he was better in 2018 than 2019. That said he’s an extremely versatile defensive back who has shown the ability to play both man and zone, cover the slot, blitz the quarterback, and play dime and slot linebacker when needed. That versatility, combined with fluidity, high tier acceleration, and being 6’3 and 205 pounds, being ultra productive means that he’s got top 10 potential and under no circumstances should he fall out of round 1.
Delpit was my number 6 rated prospect coming into the 2019 season. He certainly didn’t play up to that this season as his tackling inconsistencies were frustrating to watch. At times he’s a big time hitter who will come up and lay the wood, creating takeaways and tackles for loss. At other times it seems like he throws his body in the way instead of wrapping up and he’ll come downhill at such an aggressive angle he’ll either overrun the play or he’ll be too out of control to bring down the ball carrier. He made 65 tackles this season but missed over 20 and it wasn’t’ just a problem in 2019, he had a similar issue in 2018 as well.
That said, my oh my do you have elite potential. He has tremendous size, is going to run probably sub 4.5 at the combine or close to it anyway, and has elite acceleration to get into position to contest deep passes. He had 24 passes broken up over the past 3 seasons to go with 8 interceptions. His ball skills are well above average and his ability to man up on tight ends or in the slot with players and use his length and acceleration to give them problems is very impressive. He’s good as a blitzer as Delpit will come down hill as fast as anyone off the slot in the entire draft, he could be someone who consistently gets 4-6 sacks in the NFL. His ability to play deep 3rd, cover 2, single high, slot corner, dime linebacker, and outside man is a rare ability and while he’s not a 10/10 on any of them he’s probably no worse than a 5/10 at any, and closer to a 7 or 8 at all.
Delpit is a playmaker with the perfect blend of Height/Weight/Speed to be a Pro Bowl caliber player. The missed tackles are something that you can’t have and still be the number one safety on the board, that’s still McKinney for me, but make no mistake Delpit has more talent. He’s someone who legit has top 6-8 talent at ANY position in this draft. His floor is as an above average starting free safety. He could go anywhere in the back half of the first round and he’ll probably help any defense he goes to immediately. He could end up being a ridiculous special teams player as well.
21. Jedrick Wills, RT/G Alabama 86
A very good, powerful run blocker with some elite traits, Wills is someone who can maul you at the point of attack. He’s the consensus number one tackle in the draft in early February when I’m working on his tape and write-up. To me though he’s further down the board but still a first round talent. I don’t think he’s an elite athlete and there’s no shot for him to play left tackle, and honestly he looks like he would be a lot better at guard at the next level. That said he’s a very good starting right tackle prospect or a tremendous guard prospect who has the functional strength to play immediately in the league.
Wills biggest strength is his power at the point of attack. When he starts going downhill he can move the pile as well as any player you’ll find. His hand placement and movement skills are somewhat limited though so at times he’ll start to get really good movement and then let up, allowing his guy to get back in the play. He’s best in a gap scheme as the movement schemes sometimes he’ll simply lose his technique down the field or won’t finish the play as well as you’d like. In a power based scheme though he could be a real asset in the run game. The power he possesses here helps him a lot anchoring in pass sets as well, he rarely gives up ground because he’s strong as hell.
As a pass protector he’s solid but not special. His lateral agility is only okay and it can lead to him oversetting and giving up the inside. His ability to anchor and not give ground on bulrushes though is really impressive and leads me to believe he could be a high caliber pass protecting guard. On the outside, speed rushers will give him problems occasionally in the NFL and while I think he still projects as a nice pass protector, I doubt he dominates out there. His recognition skills are good but not great.
Overall Wills is a good prospect who should go somewhere in the back half of the first round. While I think he’s overrated at this point in the process he’s got really good power, a strong anchor, and does a nice job game to game. My initial reaction when watching his first four or five tapes was that he has more potential than he’s shown so far but the lack of popping lateral quickness probably caps him out as a good starter and not a ton more. I also want to see him finish more and sustain blocks with better technique more consistently. There’s room for him to grow and if he’s kicked inside to guard he might be very good, at tackle he’s a high quality starter but not a top 5-10 player like everyone else thinks he is.
22. CJ Henderson, CB Florida 86
Henderson is a tremendous cover cornerback who has some absolutely tremendous traits. He has elite length and size at 6’1, paired with a 4.38 40 and solid ball skills. He was a first team all SEC performer and it’s easy to see why. In an off ball situation he has ridiculous burst and first step quickness and he can run with virtually any receiver he’ll match up against. Pair that with good tape, particularly from 2018 where he was dynamic, and you have a first round cornerback prospect. The only thing that’s keeping him from being a 90+ graded player is he’s one of the worst tacklers you’ll ever find on tape. It’s the least important thing in terms of cornerback play but it’s so glaring that you can’t help but notice it on film.
As a pure cover corner there is so much to fall in love with here. It’s the reason there’s no way he falls out of the first round. He has that elite H/W/S that you look for in a prospect and his length is plus. He does a good but not great job of finding the football, and it looks like he has solid play recognition skills. While he’s an elite corner in off man, he’s only okay in press as stronger players can jolt him off his spot. In zone he’s physical and big enough to come up and make plays but can get caught flat footed here and there and the lack of tackling ability is truly troubling. He’s best if he goes to a man heavy team.
Again I hate to harp on this but he doesn’t disengage well when trying to make a tackle, takes poor angles, and almost never wraps up. He throws his body in the way here and there but he misses it feels like as many tackles as he makes. While he was injured this year and you have to wonder how big of an impact that had on his ability to bring down a ball carrier, the tape don’t lie and his was bad in this facet. It’s bad enough that I had him as a 93 corner in pure cover grade, elite status, and dropped him down to someone who is a back half of the first rounder instead. When he’s playing that 8-10 yard off man and someone throws a 3 yard out, there’s about a 50/50 chance Henderson will miss him in the open field and it’s too big of a gap to overcome.
Overall he’s a truly impressive talent and cover cornerback. He’s tremendous in off man coverage and has the potential to be a top tier player at that position. I think he has among the highest ceilings of any prospect in this class and there’s no way in hell he should get out of the first round. Somewhere around pick 20 makes sense to me for him and as of now the Eagles have pick 21 and that makes way too much sense. Really good player but you have to live with the warts of his ineptitude as a tackler.
23. Justin Herbert, QB Oregon 86
There is so much to like about Herbert that’s it’s tough to imagine him going through the pre-draft process and not being a hit. The kid won the academic Heisman, the player of the game at the Senior Bowl, and led the Ducks to a Rose Bowl win. He’s 6’5 230 pounds, mobile, with an absolute howitzer. You pair those things with a 32-6 touchdown to interception ratio and you have someone who should be in the running for the first overall draft pick. Those are all the positives though, the negatives with Herbert are real. That said, the kid is a good football player with excellent tangibles and very impressive productivity. I doubt he gets past number 8 in the draft, with a potential for him to go in the top 5 without question. To me he’s a QB1 but I would feel a lot more comfortable taking him in the mid teens.
We’ve went through all the positives, but lets’ talk some of the things that give evaluators such as myself pause. The number one thing that strikes me with Herbert is his inconsistency. In 2018 he completed less than 60% of his passes despite excellent pass protection and a number of easy throws. While he bumped that up substantially as a Senior he still missed a number of open throws and at times can struggle with trajectory. In big games, against high quality opponents his numbers have dwindled noticeably. While he played what looked to be good football on the surface in the Pac-12 championship game against a dominate defense in Utah he again only completed 53% of his throws. He also is very mobile but never ran for more than 200 yards in a season at the U of O. I wanted to see that dog in him more consistently, that I’ll will you to win mentality and there are questions about whether it’s there within Herbert.
On the plus side though the kid takes care of the football as well as almost any college quarterback you’ll watch. He has thrown just 23 interceptions in almost 1300 attempts. He doesn’t miss time, and his mobility and arm strength means you can run any offense you want with him as he can challenge every spot on the field. He didn’t have great weapons at Oregon but still led his team to points and wins. Overall Herbert is a super talented, smart kid with a good work ethic and great mobility and size. I think his consistency and him missing a little of the “go get it” attitude is a downside that are real questions that a team needs to answer before pulling the trigger on him. Herbert has a ton of talent but there are questions here.
24. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU 85
I absoultely love this kid’s motor, he plays as hard as he can possibly play every single down. He’s extremely versatile and shows the athleticism to drop into coverage and even jam receivers in the slot. Chaisson really needs to add to his game to be a more effective pass rusher but he has tremendous burst and initial get off that could help him win some early in the NFL. I think he projects best as a 34 OLB but he can certainly reduce down to a 7 technique in a 43 defense on passing downs. His versatility, burst, effort, awareness, and consistency in doing his job give him a late first round or early second round grade but the ACL tear and lack of pass rush technique and productivity is an issue.
Let’s start with most of the positives. He has a really good initial get off, particularly from a 2 point stance and when he simply tries to get the edge or convert speed to power he’s fairly effective. Chaisson is really good in stunts and slants and it allows him to use his athleticism and length to create pressure. Despite only weighing 250 pounds he has that initial burst and good enough length to create some pocket collapsing ability, likely to create more pressures than sacks at the next level.
What I love about watching him play though and what makes him a high floor player in my opinion are three things he does very well. First he almost never gives up leverage on an outside run play, constantly getting his shoulder to the outside and forcing the plays back inside. At times he uses his length and awareness to get in on the play as well. Second, he is athletic enough to drop into coverage and he shows really impressive zone awareness to take away the quick throw and create problems in passing lanes. Most edge defenders in college lack this and it scares you when converting someone to a 34 OLB. And most importantly his motor is out of this world. He’ll make plays and get in on stops on the other side of the ball that almost zero other edge defenders even attempt to get to. He’ll get you more tackles than most edge players and while it’s not gaudy, it gives him a high floor.
There are some things to keep in mind though with his game. Yes he has really good initial burst but he has zero technique and when he tries to mix up his pass rush moves he generally gets nowhere. His sacks are from effort, winning the edge initially, or games up front. He also doesn’t seem to really get a huge burst when he’s asked to reset and Go a second time on a play, if he doesn’t win early, he has a hard time restarting his pass rush. He had an ACL tear in 2018 as well and his size at only 245-250 pounds means he could have problems staying healthy in the NFL as he probably needs to add some strength. If he does, will he lose that acceleration that makes him so dangerous?
He’s a good football player and his versatility and potential is really high. I think somewhere around pick 25 would be ideal but I could see someone liking him a lot earlier than that as his potential and motor is really enticing. That said he doesn’t even have 10 sacks for his career yet and only 6.5 this past season. I think he projects best as a versatile EDGE player who will likely end up with more tackles than most ends will in the league, and someone who can create pressure at times with upside. I really like him in the back third of the first round and if he falls to day 2 someone is getting a super solid value, but I seriously doubt he makes it that far.
25. Kristian Fulton, CB LSU 85
Really good man corner who has some ability in zone and in the slot as well. His long speed is plenty good but his short area quickness and fluidity in coverage, particularly press is where he’s going to make his living in the NFL. He’s a good athlete whose quickness and agility is top notch and in playing in the SEC he put up some really impressive tape. While he’s not a plus in the run game he’s not a liability either and his ball skills are only good not great on tape. He also had a suspension in 2017 for cheating a drug test, so the red flag there dropped his grade a bit and adds a touch of risk. That said to me he projects as a really high end CB2 in the NFL or an elite slot corner, with CB1 upside. I think he’s a first round pick and at worst a top 40 pick if somehow he falls to round 2. Really good corner prospect.
In terms of pure coverage ability, he’s one of the better pure press corners you’ll find coming out of college. His ability to jam and trail is absolutely tremendous and he plays through the hands of receivers, creating problems for players who try to gain separation. He’s just sticky in coverage. When he’s playing off or in cover 1/3 technique he plays the deep half very well but isn’t quite as good playing off, as he’ll let players cross in front of his face and make catches occasionally but he’s still good here. His grade isn’t quite as good as some of the other players as a corner just because he doesn’t quite have the elite on ball skills you’d love but I think as a slot corner due to his quickness or his stickiness outside, he’s an excellent man to man cover corner.
Against the run he’s okay but not great. Doesn’t lay the wood but mostly makes tackles and isn’t a liability. Not a ton to write home with there.
Every time I’ve watched him play his tape just screams that he’s a solid number two corner in the NFL. I think he has some CB1 upside and he can certainly take reps in the nickel, but overall he looks like a high CB2 with a floor of a really good CB3. I just think if he goes to a man heavy team, particularly one that likes to jam he could end up being a really good NFL player. With how difficult it is to find good corners, and how valuable that position is, I think it’s the most valuable defensive position, he shouldn’t get out of the first round. Somewhere between pick 20 and 32.
26. Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma 85
Wow this kid has some unbelievable game tape. It is so fun to watch him when he’s kept clean and is allowed to just run around and make plays. Murray is an incredible athlete and runs a 4.52 40 at 242 pounds with exceptional acceleration and closing burst. There are very few linebackers in the NFL that can run sideline to sideline and close like this kid and it’s very likely he’s a triple digit tackle machine in the NFL. Those things said, he doesn’t get through traffic very well despite long arms, he’ll miss his fair share of tackles, and while he projects to be a very good player against the pass, he never intercepted a ball at Oklahoma and only had 6 PBU his entire career. Murray is a run and chase linebacker who will likely pile up stats and big plays but he’ll make some mistakes here and there as well and you’ll have to live with the good as well as the bad. All things considered though I would absolutely love to have him on my team and he could truly fit in just about any system. He looks like a late first or early second round linebacker to me with upside.
He’s so damn fun to watch. There are plays he makes in the backfield with such quickness and explosion that he really jumps off the screen. Murray is a very effective blitzer because that combination of quickness and downhill acceleration is rare in a linebacker. Because of how fast he plays though at times he’ll overrun plays or get out of his gap responsibilities. It also leads to him missing tackles because he’ll overrun the ball carrier. When Murray is square with you, he’ll bring you down but if he’s off a little bit he rarely slows down to square you up, instead coming in at 100 MPH. He only knows one play speed and it gets him into a bit of trouble and out of position at times.
While those are some negatives, and the fact he doesn’t have much passing game productivity in terms of on ball plays (6 PBU, 0 INT), he is a tackling machine. Over the past two seasons he has wracked up 260 tackles with 30 for loss and 8.5 sacks. He reminds me some of Darius Leonard or Fred Warner in recent drafts with his ability to just run around sideline to sideline and make plays. When he’s kept clean and allowed to just sprint to the ball he’s exceptional but he doesn’t get through traffic super well and his 242 pound weight at the combine was a major plus for me because I figured he’d be closer to 230. He does a really nice job when he’s in man and the running back goes to the flat, it’s almost always covered up and typically in man he’s solid. His zone coverage is a bit more flat footed than you’d like to see but he could turn into a plus plus player here in time.
Murray is a really fun player to watch and that speed and acceleration is impossible to not get excited about. I think if he goes to a team that has good defensive linemen he has a chance to be a top 10 guy in the league in terms of tackles. While his coverage shows potential, and his blitzing skills are very good, he needs to grow a bit here but certainly could turn into a 3rd down star. In a draft that’s not very deep at linebacker, I would be surprised if he doesn’t go in round 1.
27. Antoine Winfield Jr, S Minnesota 85
One of the best pure football players in this draft. He’s not a dynamic athlete and is undersized but he has elite football IQ and recognition skills. You pair that with the fact he’s an absolute ball hawk, a solid tackler, and a playmaker and you get someone who should be in the conversation toward the end of the first round and at worst shouldn’t get out of the top half of round 2.
His biggest pluses are the fact that he has tremendous ball skills and exceptional recognition skills. Winfield clearly sees the plays developing and understands when he should fire his gun and rarely bites on play action. He had 7 interceptions this past season playing for a very good Minnesota defense. He looks like he’ll be best in a 2 deep safety look but despite only being 5’9 he rarely gets pushed around by tight ends when he’s asked to cover them. He shows some promise in man defense without a question and despite on tape looking like he only had decent straight line speed, he really helped himself with a 4.45 and 36 inch vertical.
Winfield has short arms and barley weighs over 200 pounds but he’s a damn good tackler and a missile when he comes up to hit you. He rarely misses, even in space and wraps up instead of just trying to punish you. I’m not sure his range as a tackler is going to be great because he’s only an okay athlete but he takes great angles and is a well above average tackler. He shows promise as a blitzer as well, showing good timing and anticipation.
There are some things that make giving him a borderline first round grade tough though. He missed a lot of time in college, only playing 4 games in 2017 and 2018 due to injuries. They weren’t lingering things to be worried about, a foot and a hamstring, but when you have undersized players getting hurt in college is a bit nerve wracking. He’s also only 5’9 with short arms. You have to be a bit worried that bigger receivers, despite Winfield having great ball skills, will just post him up deep down the field. His H/W/S doesn’t profile super well.
Winfield is a great football player though. He has tremendous instincts and almost never makes a mistake. He provides toughness and physicality in man defense, can play in the box despite his stature, and makes more plays on the ball than any safety in this draft. While there are a couple of issues here and there with size and injury history, the way he plays the game is impressive. He reminds me a lot of Anthony Harris and Eddie Jackson, high praise I know. If he goes to a team that plays a split safety look he could have a major impact and be a Pro Bowl caliber player in time. I like him a lot.
28. Jonathan Greenard, DE Florida 84
Just a really damn good football player who I think could end up being a rock solid NFL player for a long time. He’s a guy who I think could be a double digit sack guy, but even if he never gets there he could still be a high quality starter in the league. Greenard has really good power, and utilizes it when he gets tackles on their heels. His quickness and explosiveness is pretty apparent and then his short shuttle and 7.1 in the 3 cone was eye popping at the combine. He has exceptionally long arms at almost 35 inches and he carries his 265 pounds very well. You add all this up and what you get is someone who is ridiculously underrated in NFL scouting circles at this point and who should challenge to be taken at the end of the first round.
In the passing game he’s not a completely finished product yet which gives me hope. He doesn’t have a bevy of pass rushing moves but he simply can get the edge with speed at times, bull rush you at times, and he translates speed to power exceptionally well, pushing the pocket and creating plays for others. His straight line speed isn’t great but his first two or three steps are really good. He shows impressive awareness of defensive line concepts and leverage and uses it to increase negative plays even if he’s not the one making them, clearly a high level team player.
In the run game he’s really solid on the edge. His quickness, strength, and length to set the edge is good but where he thrives is not just setting the edge but getting off the block and making the play. He’s not elite here but he’s well above average and I think he could be the rare defensive end who accumulates more than a handful of tackles per game. He uses his hands to disengage and he has really impressive recognition skills, his eyes diagnose plays like a middle linebacker and it allows him to shred blocks in the correct angles to get in on plays.
Greenard isn’t the smoothest or fastest athlete, and he’s more explosive out of a 3 point stance than standing up. He may never be a dominant rusher or stack up the edge every single play but he projects above average to well above average at everything with plus recognition and an explosive acceleration and length. I just simply don’t understand how everyone has the guy ranked in the 3rd or 4th round right now, it’s a travesty. Zero way he should get out of round 2 and honestly I think he should be in the discussion sometime after pick 25, he’s that good. One of my top 10 most underrated players in this class.
29. Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin 84
I love watching this kid run and in terms of being a pure NFL style running back he’s probably the best in the class. At Wisconsin he had 3 consecutive seasons of 1900 rushing yards and tallied almost 1000 touches in three seasons for the Badgers. Taylor is a prototype in terms of H/W/S with a sub 4.40 40 at 228 pounds. His durability, toughness, speed, and patience as a runner means he should be a very good 2 down back in the NFL. He improved in the passing game this year but doesn’t look like he’s a natural in terms of catching passes but he could develop here. I think Taylor is a smooth runner with power and very good straight line speed. I can’t give him a first round grade because he’s not great in the passing game, has almost 1000 touches which is scary for longevity, and has average quickness. He also fumbles at a super high rate, which automatically is a drop in grade. That said for a team looking for a first and second down running back who can wear down defenses, he should be at the top of your list in round 2.
Taylor doesn’t have much wiggle but he runs strong, pushes the pile, and breaks a lot of arm tackles. He is the best runner in this draft class at setting up his blocks and allow them to develop in front of him. He glides a little when he runs early and he rarely misses the hole in front of him. While he doesn’t make many people miss with nifty moves, arm tackles rarely bring him down and once he gets into the open field with a head of steam, the breakaway speed is legit. His quickness was better at the combine than I expected in the 3 cone but on tape it only looks average.
In the passing game he wasn’t utilized much at Wisconsin, but he showed some promise this past season. While he doesn’t look super natural catching the football, the way he sets up blocks shows that he could be effective in the screen game. I doubt he’s ever a high volume pass catching target and I would be surprised if he plays much on 3rd down in his career but that speed and size means that he could develop into a good pass protector and given time he could be a decent option.
I don’t know if there’s a ton of upside here because he likely won’t be a big time 3rd down guy in the NFL and you have to be legitimately scared of what he’ll look like after 1000 touches in college down the road. He also really needs to figure out his fumble issues as he had 18 in 41 games in college, a really rough number. The upside with Taylor is that he reads blocks exceptionally well, has prototype H/W/S, and is a natural runner with the ball in his hands. He’s a guy who could get finish in the top 10 in rushing yards in the NFL consistently. Really solid player who should go early on day 2.
30. Devin Duvernay, WR Texas 84
Maybe my favorite player in this entire class is this kid from Texas. While everyone else is projecting him to go on day 3 I think this guy is a Tyler Lockett clone who could end up being a 100 catch guy in the NFL. He has ridiculous speed at 4.39 and has arguably the best hands in this entire draft class, Duvernay plays extremely tough, and he is seemingly always open. I truly believe he could be the next great slot receiver in the NFL and if someone gets him on day 3 they could end up with the steal of the entire class with the speedster from Texas.
I’m still at a loss for while people don’t love this kid as a prospect. He had 106 catches this past season with elite hands, someone said he didn’t drop a catchable ball and I never saw one on the tape that I did on him. While he’s not a great route runner at this time in his career because well he’s a little tight hipped for a slot guy, somehow he’s open 90% of the time. What I love about him though is he plays so damn physical. He’s 5’11 and 210 pounds so he’s not small and he has that Golden Tate type ability to run through people once he catches the rock.
He ran a 10.27 100 in high school and a 4.39 40 at the combine. He’s definitely a lot faster than he is quick which could end up making him be better on the outside but I just see the way Seattle uses Tyler Lockett as the blueprint for how to use Duvernay. His lack of elite quickness and his average route running skills are a problem but if he improves as much the next two years as he did from his sophomore to his senior seasons in Austin you could be getting a very impressive player. Yes there is some risk here particularly with me giving him a high 2nd round grade. But that combination of speed, physicality, hands, and productivity makes me a believer in this kid. I think he could be a really good kickoff returner too, and he has some experience there. He’s my biggest sleeper in this class.
31. Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona State 84
Aiyuk is one of the 2 best wide receiver in this draft class with the football in his hands, all respect paid to Shenault. He’s a truly elite punt and kick returner and his ability to create yards after catch is really fun to watch. He used to play running back and plays the wide receiver and returner positions like that. Aiyuk has a wonderful feel for finding the holes on returns and has absolutely insane acceleration. He can start and get going to 60 again in a blink and it leads to him creating big time separation on downfield throws. While he doesn’t have truly elite speed, the 4.50 he ran at the combine was plenty fast enough. He’s got a bit of a funky build, at around 5’11 with 33 inch arms but he plays big. Aiyuk is still raw with his complex routes, and he struggles to create separation against good man coverage, but early in his career you can stick him in the slot and let him figure it out later. He will only continue to grow, he looks like a guy who will be a talented starting slot receiver and number 2 guy throughout his career and a potentially All-Pro returner.
As a true wide receiver there are few minuses when reviewing his tape. The only minuses are that he has good hands but they aren’t great. He’ll occasionally have some drops as the ball will get on him a lot quicker than he thinks and the ball will play him a little bit. He doesn’t look like the world’s most natural hands catcher. He lacks polish as a route runner, and while his downfield routes and deep shots he has a really good ability to create that hesitation you need to blow by guys, the intermediate routes aren’t good yet. Most of his production came on off man which he ate up, and on screens and deep shots. That limits his ability to be a superstar and probably ends up putting him in that WR2/Slot/WR3 type range.
Where he shines though are the other things, and that’s what makes him a top 40 type player. He’s exceptional as a returner, showing insane burst, great vision, and good top end speed. Aiyuk is a good downfield catcher of the football and he has the ability to generate the big play on almost any down. He’s exceptional with the football in his hands and his ability to make people miss is as good as you’ll find in this class. He plays the game with physicality at the receiver position and while good tough physical corners can cause him problems with press, you can eliminate some of that by putting him in the slot, or in motion where he’ll be a lot early in his career.
He’s a really talented guy but he’s a bit raw. I don’t think he’s a first round pick because it’s a deep draft and he needs some legitimate polish. That said in round 2 he looks like a tremendous find, with a fairly high floor because of his likely ability in the slot and as a return man, but a quality ceiling as well. I say that because he’s only really played this position for a few years and only 1 with high end reps against high quality talent. If he can continue to grow and make the strides he’s made his first couple of years in the Pac-12 he could become a really high end receiver. You might need some patience with him but by year 2 or 3 he could be a dangers weapon for a coach with a plan for him.
32. Tee Higgins, WR Clemson 84
He’s a very easy write up to do as he clearly is what he is, a huge jump ball target who projects as a difficult matchup due to his size. While I doubt Higgins has the upside to be a true number 1 receiver he looks like after a year of learning NFL route trees’ he’ll be locked into a high quality #2 WR for a long time in the league. His ability to track and high point the deep ball is elite, and he has probably the best catch radius in this entire draft. He also doesn’t generate separation often, can drop some intermediate balls, and lacks much wiggle to run anything underneath with high success rates. He’s a deep ball, jump ball number 2 WR for a long time in the NFL.
He’s like a lot of those huge wideouts who create mismatches with their size in the NFL. While I think he’s probably around a 4.58 or something in that range, he has decently quick feet. He’s not overly physical despite being 6’4 with 34 inch arms. Really physical corners can jam him or get him off his route, particularly at the top of the route which limits his ability to be an impact player on intermediate routes. It’s something he can improve on but it means he might struggle a bit as a rookie unless he goes to a team with a great quarterback. Despite his hulking size he’s not a great run blocker, not awful but not great.
The positives here are pretty high for Higgins. If a team already has a burner and a quality chain mover, like Buffalo for example, adding a player of Higgins size and downfield acumen is a perfect fit, and it’s why he has a chance to go at the end of the first round. That said he certainly looks like a second round receiver to me. His ability to track the deep ball and make big plays, as well as score touchdowns in the red-zone is super impressive. He’s a guy who can help you score points. He’ll never be a high volume pass catcher, and I doubt he’s ever a true number 1 wideout, but his size and catch radius is something that every quarterback in the league would want. Quality number 2 receiver, not much ceiling, not much floor.
33. D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia 84
Swift is a very solid 3 down running back who will likely be a quality starter in the NFL. He is adept in the passing game both catching the ball on option routes and as a pass protector. His straight-line speed is only okay on tape but he showed out at the combine with a 4.48 that should cement his status as a top 2 or 3 running back taken in this draft. Swift has good vision, patience, and reads blocks well in front of him. All of that said, there’s nothing he does poorly but nothing he does exceedingly well either. To be a first round back you have to have elite traits and while he profiles as a really steady starting running back in the NFL I don’t see an elite talent.
As a pure runner he is much better on outside zone plays than anything else. Swift rarely moves the pile on the inside and he looks to bounce plays outside when he can. His acceleration from 0-30 is really good and from 30-60 is above average. He doesn’t have that elite speed you look for in homer hitters but it’s plenty good enough. He doesn’t hit a ton of huge runs but consistently gets you those 7-15 yard carries. While he’s not an ankle breaker consistently he has a really good one cut move when he’s moving to his right when he cuts back and has a spin move he should employ more often. He’s fairly elusive but doesn’t finish behind his pads or move the pile well.
In the pass game he’s pretty darn good. He has really good hands and rarely drops the ball. He didn’t run many routes at UGA other than option routes or flair routes but was adept when he did run them and him in space is better than him inside the tackles. In pass protection he was much better than most college players, and while he threw his body in there much more often than used his hands in pass pro, Swift is a major plus in pass pro thus far.
I think he’s a bit overrated and the first round buzz is silly to me. To be a first round running back you have to be very special at at least one thing and probably be a game changer for an offense. While I think he’s going to be a nice 3 down runner in the NFL, I don’t see him dominating games or being a huge difference maker. Swift should go on day 2 and if you get him in round 2 and need a RB know you’re getting a guy with a high floor and that can help you in the passing game as well as the running game. Probably a guy who is a top 10 floor guy in this draft. He’s a MIUCH better fit in a zone blocking scheme and stretch scheme though.
34. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU 84
I usually don’t start my write-ups with Comps but he is almost exactly like Devin Singletary who had a very impressive rookie season for the Bills. He’s a shorter, stocky back who lacks elite top end speed running in the 4.6 range but he’s a dynamic player who makes people miss at a high level. Quicker than fast, he is extremely difficult to tackle in the open field and while he’ll drop a pass or two here and there he projects well as a pass catcher. I think he’s some sort of combination of Singletary, Mark Ingram, and maybe a little bit of Austin Ekeler. If you give me that, it screams 2nd round pick to me.
The positives here are very good but I really would prefer him to be paired with another running back to make him his most productive. While he’s a physical player he doesn’t have the homerun speed you would want and giving him someone who could take it the distance anytime to pair with him would be ideal. He also has shorter arms and while he’s stout in pass pro, longer players will run him over and cause some problems with him. You almost have to flex him out or send him in the pattern at this point. While I think most teams like having more than one back, with him I believe you really NEED to have someone to pair him with.
I really like the way he runs because he can make something out of nothing consistently. He is difficult to tackle in space or in the hole and while he’s not necessarily going to hammer you at under 210 pounds, he runs much more physical than you would think. He’s got some Frank Gore in his running style where if you don’t get him squared up, he’ll punish you. He has good vision and a decent little burst here and there but he does his best runs when he gets out in space. Trying to bring him down with just one guy is going to be difficult, and it’s why I think him in the passing game out in routes is something he can really thrive on in the NFL because he’s so elusive.
He’s a fun guy to watch play and I think NFL OC’s are going to be enamored with the ways they can use him. While I think he’s best suited for around 200 touches per season in the NFL he’s someone who could definitely have an immediate impact because he’s so damn tough to tackle. The lack of breakaway speed and probable need for him to be in a timeshare is the only reason he’s not rated higher but whoever ends up with this kid in round 2 is going to be very happy.
35. AJ Epenesa, DE Iowa 84
A guy who reminds me a ton of Trey Flowers right here. I tend to not love to do comp’s because people always say oh you said he looked like him so you expect that production. What I’m saying is, that he plays mostly outside right now but kicking him inside to play the 3 technique on passing downs is where he’s going to be the most successful. He’s a 43 or even perhaps a 34 base end who will be most effective creating pressure when he’s kicked inside over a guard. He has the lower body strength and really good length to be a good edge setter in the run game, but he lacks the athleticism to really bend the edge as a full time outside pass rusher. To me he’s a guy who might go at the end of round 1 because he plays a premium position but he has high second round value with versatility to play 34 end 43 end or 3T on passing downs.
As a pass rusher Epenesa was exceptionally productive at Iowa. He had 26.5 sacks and 9 forced fumbles in his career. He doesn’t use pass rush moves except for a chop move to get tackles hands off of him. The thing about him though is when he kicks inside he actually provides some really good initial pressure as a penetrator. This is where he looks the most impressive to me on tape, when he reduces down as a 3T. Off the edge his pass rushing production is simply, getting on the edge in a half-man situation and bull rushing the tackles edge using his length to create pressure. He gets home when its a weak tackle or when the quarterback takes a deep drop, other than that, no quick pressure. When he’s inside though he can get to the shoulder of the guard quickly and can really cause mayhem. I don’t know if he’s a ten sack guy in the league but he could be a 7-8 sack guy who can create inside pressure.
As a run defender he’s certainly stout enough to set the edge. He uses his length well and while his motor is only okay his lower half is strong enough that he rarely loses ground at the point of attack. When he’s doubled he isn’t great but he certainly holds his own. It’s very rare on a run play to see him give ground when he’s one on one, but again he shines when he can simply use his length and his really impressive punch and then disengage to make plays. He’s an NFL edge setter right now. His lateral quickness isn’t very good so he won’t get a ton of tackles but he’ll get his share of tackles for loss and he’ll never be a liability against the run.
Overall he’s a good player who lacks the elite quickness and pass rush moves to get a first round grade from me. That said he has a high floor and if he goes to a team that will line him up as a base end on early downs and kick him inside in pass rushing situations he’ll be very effective. I think if Epenesa is stuck outside every play he’ll probably only be a decent starter as a pro, but he has upside inside. Should start and play a lot of snaps early because of his size and power, not much bust potential here either.
36. Neville Gallimore, DT Oklahoma 83
A super quick pass rushing interior defender who might struggle to hold up against double teams at the NFL level. Gallimore is very disruptive when asked to shoot the gap and simply get up field. His initial quickness is elite for a defensive tackle prospect and it leads to slower interior offensive linemen losing quickly at times, a very valuable trait. He plays with great effort and a tremendous motor. As a run defender his lateral agility is a big strength and he will make plays at the sideline that other interior defenders can’t or won’t make. Right now double teams and holding the point of attack is a weak spot that won’t get shored up in the NFL for a few years, that said he’s in the mix to get taken in the first round but I’d like him a lot more value wise around pick 40.
Gallimore as a pass rushing prospect from the inside is one of the more talented guys you’ll see. There were a lot of games where he reminded me of how Grady Jarrett looks for Atlanta when he’s asked to play the 2 or 3 technique on passing downs. His initial quickness and lateral movement skills give slower interior guys fits on a consistent basis. His hand placement and fighting for an interior guy is solid and he looks impressive on twists and stunts, knowing his job on a given play. He’s someone who early in his career even probably won’t come off the field on 3rd downs.
As a run defender he’s rangy for a 1T-3T type player. His quickness forces runners outside or out of their initial hole. Gallimore was better against double teams when he weighed 20 pounds more but he was a lot worse football player. Now his upper body is strong but his lower body needs to get that anchor ability back or he’ll get eaten alive on duo blocks and power runs in the league. He’ll mix a handful of okay reps here but other plays he gets beaten up on pretty badly. He’s not weak by any stretch but at 6’2 304 pounds he projects better as a 3T than a 1T.
Gallimore is a likely 3 down player at the NFL level in even fronts. I wouldn’t want him to be my nose in a 34 and while I’m sure he has some potential to play a 5 technique, he’s not fast enough to get and consistently set that edge. I don’t usually do a ton of comps on here because everyone expects that player to turn out to be the same but it was hard not to see a Poor Man’s Grady Jarrett, someone else said Timmy Jernigan and I liked that one a bit too. I think that was one of the guys on the Draft Network. Anyway I like him a lot more at 305 pounds and really appreciate his upfield explosion. In a relatively weak draft I could see him going at the end of the first round and if you’re able to get him early in round 2 you got a really good value pick with good interior pass rushing and negative run play upside.
37. JK Dobbins, RB Ohio State 83
A very solid prospect who works through arm tackles and has tremendous vision. Dobbins looks like someone who can play all 3 downs in the NFL and while he doesn’t have ideal H/W/S he’s got good enough size and enough burst to be a productive NFL running back. I always say that the best runners have the best vision and his is impressive. He finds the hole and understands defenses well enough to know where he’ll likely get the most bang for his buck. Dobbins is a good pass catcher and a decent pass protector but he can certainly improve in both areas. Overall he looks like a starting caliber NFL running back although he doesn’t project as a stud. Round 2 running back.
Dobbins as a pure runner is a good player. He uses tremendous vision and above average contact balance to consistently break arm tackles and break off chunk plays to the second level. He lacks Real top end speed though so it’s doubtful he’ll consistently get those huge runs that he feasted on at Ohio State. I think his patience is okay but at times he kind of just trudges ahead and gets an extra yard or two instead of seeing if something more can develop. He doesn’t make many people miss with wiggle, instead he uses strong legs and nice angles to get past defenders. Dobbins doesn’t really move the pile well and at around 209 pounds he’s not really a bruiser although he plays that way. He’s tough as hell though, didn’t miss a game in 3 years despite 800 touches in his college career.
In the passing game he looks like a solid pass catcher although there were some drops mixed in there. He’s better in check down situations and in the screen game than he is trying to run routes where he just doesn’t have much tape. In pass pro it’s a mixed bag to be honest. He has reps were he looks really impressive and others where he’s looking for work or it looks like he doesn’t block the right guy. I think it’s something that needs work but he clearly wants to be good at that part of the game so there’s upside for him to improve here. I think he’s adequate in the pass game and he can improve without question but his lack of wiggle and explosiveness probably cap him to being only okay in that factor of the game.
He’s a good player and on day 2 you’re getting someone who will likely be a solid contributor early on in his career. He’s tough and durable thus far and projects to be average to slightly above average as an NFL starter in almost every category. I don’t see him being a top 8-10 running back in the NFL but he could produce very well if he goes to a team with a great offensive line because his vision is exceptional. He doesn’t make enough guys miss or have the explosion to well above average if he doesn’t have the good players up front though. If your team needs a back and takes him in round 2, it’s a high floor solid move.
38. Troy Dye, LB Oregon 83
One of my absolute favorite players in this entire draft class is this dude. Dye is a run around and make plays linebacker who while a bit undersized is tough as hell and a damn good football player. Yes he’ll need to be kept clean because he doesn’t run through traffic as well as you’d like, and he needs to keep up his weight to succeed in the league, but I think he’s a four phase guy who will come in and immediately help you win games.
I don’t know where he will end up playing in the league but I do know he’s a starting nickel linebacker as early as his rookie season. He’s very good against the pass and has shown an aptitude in zone coverage while also flashing here and there following linebackers and particularly running backs around. He’s a capable blitzer and although he’ll get absolutely stoned if he’s not kept clean on the blitz his acceleration and patience waiting for a hole to open up makes him an ideal delayed blitzer. He’s well above average in the passing game.
Against the run he led the Ducks in tackles for four consecutive seasons, and while he struggles to get through traffic and off blocks, when he’s kept clean he’s a machine tackling. He won’t pop you often but he’s around the football on 95% of plays. If he’s inside in a 34 with a big guy partnering up with him he could be a really nice piece, or as a 43 will. He will misdiagnose plays occasionally and some scouts on the circuit have rumors going around that he’s not the most diligent guy in the film room, so that could be a problem. That said, I just know what’s on tape and that is an absolute playmaker on defense who will likely get you 80-100 tackles easily per season. With upside as a core special teamer as well.
This kid is a damn good player and one that I would love to have on my team. I worry a lot about the fact that 231 pounds was where he was at the combine because I know he’s a guy who only typically plays around 220. If he can keep his weight up in the NFL he’ll be a damn good player for a decade. He’s tough as hell, broke his thumb against Washington this year, taped it up and played the rest of the game. If Dye can keep the weight on throughout his career and button up his film game and get better there, he could be one of the more solid backers in the league, he reminds me a ton of Joe Schoebert, and that dude just got a $50 million contract. Clearly a 2nd round guy.
39. Lucas Niang, OT TCU 83
A solid second round right tackle prospect from TCU, Niang has good power, mobility, toughness and leadership. His ability to move and plus length, paired with getting the job done at a consistently high level on film makes me feel like he should at worst be a solid right tackle in the league. A hip injury, some strange footwork, and not having the ability to play either side limits him to a second round pick but the team that gets him is getting a starting caliber right tackle with toughest and upside.
As a pass protector he consistently does his job well although at times he can be a tiny bit late to diagnose delayed rushers. He has long arms and does a nice job of bringing the fight to the defender instead of waiting for them to make the first move. He consistently runs guys around the quarterback and doesn’t give up much when people are bullrushing him. Analytically, he rarely allows pressure, at a rate around only 3% so again, the job gets done. That said he almost backpedals in his pass sets and his footwork almost never matches up with the rest of his body. It’s one of the weirder technique things I’ve watched and it jumps out on tape. That said, it works pretty well and he wins a hell of a lot more reps than he loses but really good pass rushers in the league have a chance to beat him with counters and inside moves because of this technique flaw.
As a run blocker he’s good. I would think he would get more movement than he does at times because he has a powerful body at 6’7 and 325 pounds he is a massive human who is built thick throughout. That said he’s a solid run blocker in that he moves well enough to make plays at the second level and he has a nasty demeanor that allows him to finish off blocks until the echo which you love to see on tape.
Niang is a good prospect who should probably get drafted somewhere at the beginning of day 2. The hip injury and some technique issues along with not having an ability to play left tackle limits him to round 2 but really good right tackles are almost just as valuable today as left tackles. From what I’ve read his leadership and toughness is a plus as well so that can’t be undersold. Likely a day one starter with some upside to get even better if he can clean up his pass set technique.
40. James Lynch, DL Baylor 83
I always have 3 or 4 players who are my “favorites” in every draft class. It doesn’t mean they are the best or are projected to have Hall of Fame type careers. What it means to be a Tyler Hague favorite is that I think you are going to drastically out perform where all the other draft analysts think you’re going to go in the draft. Right now James Lynch is being projected by most outside the top 100 and by some not even in the top 150, I think the kid 100% should be taken on the 2nd day of the draft and likely in the 2nd round. He is one of my absolute favorites in this class and he’ll be a productive pro, likely for a decade in the NFL.
Lynch is 6’5 and around 305 pounds and played in a 3 down lineman system at Baylor. He was consistently double teamed and yet he was one of the most productive players in the entire country even in the wide open Big 12. This past season he had 13.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and his awareness is at such a high level he even knocked down 5 passes at the line of scrimmage. He’s more athletic than people give him credit for as he shows the ability to bend the edge and get home and he does a good job slicing through doubles to get quick penetration. His effort is ridiculous for a defensive lineman, as he chases down plays and creates second effort pressure on a consistent basis.
As a run defender he looks like the perfect 5 technique to me. He has good length and a solid frame and rarely gives ground to doubles especially from tackles. When tight ends are asked to block him or help double they usually get stoned as he sets the edge. He has enough athleticism and better straight line speed than you’d think too, watch the Oklahoma game if you don’t believe me, and he’ll push plays wider than teams like as well. He creates penetration when asked to and he’ll collapse holes and open things up for linebackers.
He’s not the world’s greatest athlete and perhaps he’ll be better suited to play a 3 technique in a 43 defense. That said he plays with good leverage and an unbelievable motor and his football awareness and ability to find the football from the defensive line spot is the best in this entire class. He’s going to be sneakily productive and his ability to set the edge and bend the corner even at 6’5 is really impressive. No he’s not an elite athlete, that’s really the only thing bad I can say about him, other than that I absolutely Love the player.If I were a team that ran a 34 or even a team that wanted to give him a chance as a 3T in an even front, if this kid falls to round 4 I would sprint to the podium. But there is no way he should escape the 3rd round. Love him.
41. Jacob Eason, QB Washington 83
Wow oh wow does this kid have an arm. He legitimately has one of the strongest arms you will ever scout and his fastball is elite. When he’s afforded time to throw and he can get into a rhythm he is absolutely a load to stop. Eason can make any throw on the football field and there are times when he looks like a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback when he’s given time to throw. Some of his inside fade routes, digs, and slants between defenders are as good as you’ll find. Then he’ll pepper in some abhorrent decisions when he’s under pressure, he’ll rely too much on his fastball and will try to squeeze in throws, and his lack of pocket mobility will lead to him getting hammered when there is a checkdown or an escape route. You get a mixed bag here with just a boatload of upside.
In terms of just pure throwing the kid is as talented as they come. He can make every throw on the football field and he’ll challenge every single inch, from deep comebacks to digs to slants you feel like are covered. He makes a few deep fade throws too that show he has the ability to put great touch on the ball at times, but its a bit more hit or miss there. Right now he needs to work on trajectory as he’ll throw the heater every time if you let him, but he has the potential to develop nice touch. His accuracy goes down pretty quickly when asked to come off his primary read, his throws to secondary reads unless they are shallow crosses or flat throws are typically a bit off target. When he’s pressured his accuracy plummets as well. He does a great job hanging in there and waiting for guys to get open, and he seems tough as hell, but if he can’t process his progressions quicker it will lead to too many negative plays.
In terms of his mobility he isn’t great here. He throws well on the run though and while he won’t be running any qb draws or read options at the next level he has okay escapability. The issue is he refuses to climb the pocket and instead tries to roll out left almost every time, leading himself into trouble here and there. Again progression speed is an issue he needs to work on.
Look I can’t take him in round 1 because he needs to get better at reading the game and needs to work on trajectory and not forcing tough throws. He also is below average in terms of mobility for players coming into the league now. That said as a 2nd rounder, particularly one who could sit for a year or two and learn he has insane upside. He needs a good offensive line to be effective though and he’ll likely be much better in a vertical scheme like Tampa Bay or what Pittsburgh runs when Big Ben is healthy. I would totally understand if a team takes him in the first, it’s easy to fall in love with that arm and his toughness is impressive. I just think I would like him a lot more with pick 40 given that he really needs room to grow and time and first round picks aren’t afforded that anymore. Huge upside.
42. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Penn State 83
A nice productive player with very good size and who already plays the run well. Gross-Matos has the potential to turn into a good pass rusher in the NFL and he already has the strong lower half and good athleticism and strength to be a very good run defender. He’s long and uses his reach, strong hands, and better than average quickness to create pressure in the pass game. He benefitted a lot from having a strong supporting cast at Penn State, getting a lot of his production when he was singled or in games up front. That said at almost 270 pounds with super long arms and good athleticism is always a plus. Most likely due to his position he’ll get taken toward the end of round 1 but to me he’s squarely in the second round grade range.
As a pass rusher he was productive at Penn State, racking up 18.5 sacks in his career there. That said he doesn’t really have many pass rush moves and tries to bull over tackles to get his pressure. It works well against weaker teams like Idaho and Purdue where he picked up 4.5 sacks this year but against top quality competition he can’t just outmuscle people. He needs to work on a secondary move to generate consistent pressure and early in his career he likely won’t be a high sack guy. That said, when he’s surrounded with talent he does have the get off and length to cause problems and he even could kick inside to a 3 technique if you really wanted on passing downs. He has upside here but right now not much to go with a bullrush.
As a run defender is actually where I think he’ll make the most hay in the NFL. He has really good length and lateral movement skills to be an excellent edge setting run defender. His biggest problem as a player right now though is that he’ll lose track of the football at times and it leads to him missing plays. If he could have a little more football awareness he would be an excellent run defender. I think he projects best as a number two defensive end in a 43 system, where he can set the edge and make plays as a run stopper and work himself into a good pass rusher by year 2 or 3.
He’s a nice player, he really is. He has two things that make him a good draft prospect, he has really plus size and his combination of solid floor as a run defender and high ceiling as a pass rusher is a wonderful combo. Because of those things I really doubt he gets out of the first round but his tape is pretty good at this point, but he just seems to be slightly missing some stuff. Gross-Matos would get the most out of his career being a complementary piece in a good defense, which is why I can’t give him a first round grade, but the upside is there if he can put it all together.
43. Michael Pittman, WR USC 83
One of the safest most solid players in the entire draft and the epitome of a second round pick is Pittman from USC. A 100 catch guy his Senior year and someone who has tremendous size, makes a ton of contested catches, and creates separation at the top of the route, Pittman looks like a high quality number two in the NFL for a decade. You add to that, he’s been a really good special teams player for 3 seasons for the Trojans, he’s widely respected as a hard worker and a really bright kid, and he’s 6’3 with very good ball skills and you have a rock solid second round pick.
Now the biggest fear with Pittman is that he doesn’t have the speed to really threaten teams vertically in the NFL. In College watching his tape, he caught a number of 5 and 6 yard outs when teams were playing super soft coverage, and while he has tremendous size, he’s not going to get those consistently easy catches in the League. Whether or not he runs sub 4.6 at the combine or not is an interesting question but for me it doesn’t disqualify him as a top 2 round pick because he’ll likely play some of the big Slot positions like Michael Thomas does for the Saints. His ability to create space and read defenses is close to elite in those short spaces. Pittman also is really adept at creating space at the end of the deep ball with subtle changes in speed or high pointing the ball at an elite level.
That said the lack of a second gear is a problem and limits his ceiling. The NFL now has had a lot of success though with those guys who simply are elite route runners, those guys don’t necessarily terrify defenses the way that a Julio Jones or OBJ does. Still players like Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, and Jarvis Landry are ridiculously successful because they create space, catch everything, and have tremendous football IQ’s and that’s where Pittman could be a poor man’s big X receiver. In an extremely deep WR draft, the best WR draft ever in my opinion, if you want someone who is already a savvy route runner, can contribute early, and is one of the safest players in the class, just take Pittman in round 2 and pair him with a burner and you’ll get a high quality player for the next decade.
44. Bryce Hall, DB Virginia 83
A zone corner with good length and tremendous ball skills. He looks a lot like someone who can naturally transition to safety at some point as well as he has elite recognition skills and he’s a good tackler and a physical player for a corner. His floor is super high because at worst he’s someone you play consistently in sub packages and in dime because of his length, physicality, ball skills, and recognition ability. An ankle injury in 2019 hurt his stock as well as the fact he has probably average at best deep speed and change of direction skills. Hall projects as a starting cornerback in a zone heavy scheme or a solid off corner, with an eventual or even early career move to safety a likelihood. Obvious middle of day 2 candidate with starter upside and a high floor.
In coverage Hall is really adept at playing the ball and not the man. He had an insane 22 PBU in 2018 to lead the nation and he understands route concepts to create issues there. While he doesn’t intercept as many balls as you’d like he creates incompletions at a high level. When he’s off about 8 or 10 yards and can simply watch the quarterback and react he’s very good. When he’s in mirror or press he isn’t as good and his straight line speed on deep routes is average at best, and likely a bit worse than that. The ankle injury he suffered this year may even hinder that ability even more. He’s a tad stiff in coverage as well as he doesn’t flip his hips and create that smooth acceleration. That said with really good length at taller than 6’1 and good recognition skills, he looks like a high quality zone corner and he could end up being an elite free safety.
The main reason I like him in zone heavy concepts though or at safety is how he reads plays. He’ll recognize a route concept or a run early in a down and he crashes down hard to make tackles and plays in the run game. He reminds me a bit of Logan Ryan with the toughness and physicality he.brings. He can blitz well and he’s tenacious attacking the line of scrimmage. He’s only okay at getting off blocks but there’s room for improvement there with his size.
Hall is a starting corner for a team that uses a lot of zone heavy concepts, particularly cover 3. He has adequate deep speed and when he’s playing off coverage he looks strong. His physicality and recognition skills scream to me that he’ll have a long career and while he didn’t play safety at Virginia I think it could be a natural early transition for him in his career. Super high floor and at safety he may even have a good ceiling. Rock solid round 2 in my book for a zone heavy team or someone wanting to kick him to even deeper in the secondary. Plus he played special teams at Virginia which he could do early in his career in the league.
45. Patrick Queen, LB LSU 82
A really good athlete with only one year of starting experience, Queen is an undersized linebacker who can really run. He’s 6’1 227 pounds, so definitely on the smaller side but runs a 4.50 and diagnoses plays well. In man coverage he’s probably the best linebacker in this class, and in zone he does a nice job for the most part. He blitzes with explosion and has a great closing burst in space. His best role is likely as a Will in a 43 but he’ll most likely get into a Mike and nickel linebacker in the NFL. He’s a 3 down guy with good upside but needs to improve play strength, getting off blocks, and needs to learn to take better angles and get proper depth in zone coverage. He’s an early day 2 linebacker with upside.
Where he’s very strong is in the passing game. His speed is evident and he certainly has all the skill set to run with tight ends and cover running backs out of the backfield. You rarely see him give up catches when he’s in one on one situations. This is where I think he’ll be the most efficient in the NFL. In zone you can tell he needs a few more reps. WhIle he covers a lot of ground, and the pick he made in the Bama game was impressive as hell, he does get improper depth on drops fairly often. He’ll go too deep, allowing easy lanes for crossers at times and sometimes not quite deep enough as he’ll allow the deep shots behind him. Delpit cleaned up some of those mistakes for him but in the NFL it could lead to some conversions if he doesn’t get that figured out. Easy to clean up but showed up on film here and there. As a blitzer there’s no pass rush moves there it’s simply his burst off the edge or up the middle. He lined up over the slot a number of times and came on the rush creating havoc. Queen isn’t the best finisher in the backfield but he causes problems. At times though if he gets off balance in blitz situations, linemen absolutely demolish him.
In the run game he shows overall good recognition skills and when he’s kept clean by the hogs up front he’s excellent. I think he’s an adequate tackler, although he’s not a thumper he does a good job. I doubt he’s ever a super high volume guy in that regard but he shows good effort and chases down plays well to the sideline with that electric speed. He struggles to get off blocks here and there and he’ll get washed out of a few plays due to lack of size. Queen is a little too patient at times when trying to get through traffic and that lack of size and beef could end up being a small problem.
Queen is a good, three down linebacker prospect who thrives in man coverage and when he’s kept clean in the run game. The better the team around him the better he’ll look which is why I think he’s a 2nd roudn grade and not a first like almost every other analyst I’ve seen so far. He’s raw but has good potential but that size at 227 pounds lends me to believe he’ll miss games in the NFL at a fairly regular pace unless he’s kept to a mostly nickel and dime linebacker role. He’s a nice player but should go in round 2 and not in the first.
46. Laviska Shenault, WR Colorado 82
I put him in this same tier as Pittman and Reagor because you have 3 guys who all have super positive things about their game but it’s almost like it depends on what you’re looking for. Pittman is a super high floor guy but doesn’t really have all the traits you want in terms of being this dominant guy. Reagor is a burner and an insane athlete with explosiveness, but lacks the productivity. Shenault is a RAC king who has durability problems and really needs to grow as a route runner but he’s insanely talented with the ball in his hands. At this point sometime in round 2 it’s simply what you’re looking for as an offensive coordinator.
Shenault’s strengths are pretty obvious. He has a strong body and is the toughest runner with the ball in his hands out of this wide receiver class. He drags ball carriers with him and rarely avoids contact, instead driving the pile ahead for tough first downs and chain moving plays. His 40 time at the combine of 4.58 was a bit disappointing because on tape he shows some solid build up speed but his short area quickness is where he’ll be solid. As a wildcat quarterback his vision and toughness was incredible and he actually had 5 rushing touchdowns his junior season. He’s a battering ram at receiver who shows really good feel for zone coverage, particularly from the slot.
On the outside in the 3 tapes I watched I never actually saw him make a catch, he made his living in the slot and on underneath routes. He made his living against zone coverage from the inside, finding holes in the zone but against good man coverage he really struggled to gain consistent separation. He has miles to go as a route runner despite the tools to be good. He’s a god awful blocker as well, one of the worst in this class. Shenault has a history of nagging injuries and the way he plays those will likely continue in the NFL. He has a much lower floor than most of the round 2 receivers.
The guy reminds you so much of Cordarelle Patterson watching him play it’s nuts. He showed some real promise as a kick returner but I don’t think he ever returned a punt, which is something I would REALLY want him to do at the next level. He’s insane with the ball in his hands and has a great feel for zone coverage, but as of now he couldn’t play outside despite playing a ton of reps out there because his route running is poor. He survived inside because of screens and zone coverage that he exploited, along with the occasional bomb against inferior athletes. He has a long way to go, but while you let him sit for the first year or two, let him be your kick returner, your 4th receiver, and teach him to return punts, while you give him carries in the run game. He’s someone who can make big plays happen every time he touches the ball, and he could be a game breaker in those short throws that he turns into long touchdowns. He’s got a high ceiling, but his floor is really low too. Big risk, big reward potentially here.
47. Jalen Reagor, WR TCU 82
This kid has tremendous explosiveness and speed to his game. He’s far from polished but can make some absolutely spectacular catches and has some games on tape that will wow you. I think he has a lot of work to do to be a good NFL receiver but his upside is as high as almost anyone in this class in terms of what his ceiling can be. While I couldn’t use a first round pick on him because he has concentration drops, only okay size, and doesn’t play through contact well, he certainly could end up as one of the better players in this class. The risk reward here could end up being very good with the downside of him being a number 3 type player and high end punt returner. Perfect round 2 type player.
In terms of as a receiver he is an elite downfield threat, and someone who is tremendous with the ball in his hands. His acceleration from 0-60 is among the top 5 for any player in this class regardless of position and that might be too low. He changes directions with absolutely zero slowdown in his game and the way he can string moves together is as good as you’ll find. It explains why he’s such an insanely good punt returner and someone who will be an immediate weapon in the return game. His deep speed looks absolutely killer on film, but you have to be careful of the Big 12 guys speed on tape because it usually isn’t as good when you get them to the combine, same was here with Reagor running a good but not elite 4.47. That said his ability to leap which is truly obscene based on his broad jump and 42 inch vertical paired with a good ability to track the deep ball and his speed make him a very good downfield threat as well. Getting him the ball on short throws, screens, and end arounds and coupling those quick games with deep basses are his bread and butter.
In terms of the reason he’s a 2nd round receiver and not a first round receiver are a handful of things, all of which he can improve on. He generally struggles playing through contact, whether that is caching the ball or against press. A small bump can get him off his route, so he needs to add play strength badly. He drops a few passes, particularly on intermediate in breaking routes, which is a bit troublesome because at 5’11 with taht quickness you’d like an ability for him to kick inside occasionally because he could be a matchup nightmare there but you need reliable hands there. He can make insanely difficult catches but drops too many easy ones. And he’s not good as a blocker. Gets in the way but looks below average there without any real snap or pop to his hands. I wish he got separation more easily too, it’s crazy for someone with his skill set he doesn’t really get a ton of wide open looks unless it’s on 9 routes.
Look those are ALL things that can be fixed though. If you get him to a team that has a good receiver coach and can work with him there’s a chance he turns into an absolute stud. I just think that there are more polished receivers in this class and so you have to be aware of someone’s negatives as well. The great thing here is that all of those things can be fixed and with his upside you have a super intriguing kid, I would think somewhere around pick 40 is really good in this draft that is so deep at the WR position. The 4.47 hurt him pretty badly at the combine I think, but that means someone could get a steal on day 2. Upside is high enough he could go in the back 3rd of the first round though, he’s that talented. At worst you’re getting a number 3 and a potential All Pro return man, not a bad consolation prize if he doesn’t turn into a stud WR.
48. Ross Blacklock, DT TCU 82
I’m a big fan of this kid’s game and I think he could end up being one of the better value picks in this draft if he falls to day 2. There’s a medical red flag here for sure in that he missed 2018 with an Achilles injury but his tape in 2019 was really impressive. He has a good burst and initial quickness upfield along with a great motor. He has a really good radius on making tackles and he can go sideline to sideline as well as almost any defensive tackle. Blacklock looks like a starting caliber 3 technique in the NFL with some pass rushing upside. The reason he’s not a first round grade is that he averages around 2 tackles per game throughout his entire career and doesn’t even have 6 sacks through 2 seasons. That lack of productivity puts him on day 2.
Blacklock’s ability to get up the field and move into the backfield forcing players wide or freeing up linebackers is a useful skill. He does a pretty good job playing with quality leverage but he does a better job than most of penetrating. I wish he would be more productive as a run defender but the system that he plays was more toward freeing up others to make plays. He’s only okay against double teams but sometimes he can use his quickness to split them.
As a pass rusher there is a lot to work with here despite only moderate production. He plays the zero technique in pass rushing situations for TCU and in the NFL as a 3 technique in an even front he could be a lot more productive. I like him the best when he’s allowed to do twists and stunts, he has good movement skills and will take two or three people with him.
Overall the guy is a good football player who is at his best in a penetrating 3 technique type role. I’m a fan of how he plays and the effort and quickness he has should show up early in his career. He has good upside and a higher floor than most other players because his motor is well above average and he’s willing to do what he needs to do to help his defense be better. The Achilles injury is a bit scary but the kid has talent and effort. Pretty perfect second round pick.
49. Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville 82
This was one of the harder evaluations I’ve done all season in terms of figuring out where I would grade a player. Becton has incredible size at 6’7 and almost 370 pounds and he uses his enormous frame to force players to run around him. While his athleticism is pretty damn good for his size he’s not an elite athlete at the position. There are some people who really like him at left tackle but his power and size combination along with an ability to at times completely annihilate players at the point of attack leads me to believe he would be the best fit at right tackle. Becton has tremendous potential, first round potential without question, but he has some consistency issues and his hand placement Is all over the place. The term raw comes up a lot with prospects but he is among the most raw players at the position in this class. Poor hand placement and issues with some consistency, particularly on stunts and inside moves, leads me to believe I would much rather select Becton in round two than in round 1 but either way he’s a highly talented player who projects as a starter at the NFL level with a floor as a very high quality swing tackle.
The main thing we focus on when looking at tackles, or offensive linemen in general, is how they project as pass protectors. With Becton there is a ton to work with and traits that project as a quality tackle prospect. Becton’s main asset of course is his size and his length. Two examples of people lately who project similarly to Becton and have had success are Trent Brown and a closer example of Orlando Brown Jr. coming out a couple of seasons ago. These guys were behemoths who rarely give ground to a bull rush and whose length and size cause players who speed rush to have to go around the outside of them to get home. Becton has solid feet but his hand placement is freaking everywhere, its the first thing I noticed on tape. His arms and hands are flailing everywhere and his hand placement can get all over the place, its a major issue that causes his grade for me to fall at least 10 points. He’s as raw as can be with footwork that’s shotty and sloppy hand placement. Quicker rushers earlier in his career will give him fits and there’s a chance he ends up with a large number of holding calls early. That said he’s got high upside as a pass protector if he can get coached up by an NFL O-Line coach and could lose about 15-20 pounds. I think if he were to play at around 340 or 350 instead of 370 it would do him wonders.
As a run blocker, Becton has ridiculous potential. His strength and length are insane and there are times that Becton will literally throw people out of the way. While he’ll stand too straight up from time to time his pure power is obscene and he’ll simply dominate, rarely giving up ground. His athleticism isn’t bad either so he can get out and cause problem at the second level or when he’s doing reach blocks on stretch plays. That said again his size is also occasionally a problem as quicker players can get inside sometimes and cause him issues or they’ll duck under or be quick enough to get around those outside plays. Overall though his power and athleticism are a big plus here.
Overall this kid was a difficult evaluation because his technique, hand placement, and issues with quicker players are real problems that need to be cleaned up. That said his tremendous size, good athelticism, and overall pretty quality tape means that he’s clearly got high upside. I really believe that this guy could be a high quality tackle in the NFL with potential to play on either side of the line although I trust his potential on the right side a bit more with that size and length. I think he should go somewhere in the 2nd round, but based on everything I’m hearing he likely won’t get out of the top 10. He’s a good athlete but needs to work on adding more punch consistently because at times he’s a dancing bear who doesn’t like to hit you and other times he’ll dominate. The consistency needs a bit of help, but his talent is probably top 15 in the draft.
50. Jeff Gladney, CB TCU 82
Gladney is a good man cover corner with toughness and grit and shows really good stickiness in press man coverage. He’s undersized at 5’10 but runs a sub 4.5 and has top tier quickness. I love how tenacious he is at the LOS and he works hard to jam or play soft press and his understanding of leverage is top notch. He’s clearly been coached well at TCU and he plays through the ball as well as anyone you’ll find. That said he shows promise in zone but didn’t play it enough and I think his instincts there are good not great. His ball skills are solid but he doesn’t create enough takeaways, and big receivers are going to body him up. Gladney looks like a really good nickel corner which to me means he’s a nice solid day 2 pick with good upside and downside of a dime.
In man to man press coverage is where he’ll shine at the next level. His physicality and tenacity at the point of attack is really solid and that’s why I think kicking him inside makes by far the most sense. Gladness looks exceptional running across the field in trail technique and that’s where he could thrive at the next level. He puts all his effort into blitzing off the edge too when asked and despite being only around 190 pounds, he plays bigger. In zone he has potential because he sees the game pretty well but he’ll simply allow too many shallow throws to be completed there. He also doesn’t catch the ball naturally so even in zone it’s a lot of projected PBU’s and not a lot of INT’s. In zone as well he’s undersized and thin so you wonder how he’ll hold up Long term. He plays hard in the run game but lacks the top tier strength to be anything more than just okay here.
His evaluation is pretty easy. He is a long Time Nickel who can kick outside here and there but big physical guys are going to beat him up occasionally. He is really sticky in man coverage though and his ability to play through garbage in front of him means that Gladney could be a top tier nickel back. He has potential in zone but his lack of size is troubling there and it worries me that he may have some durability concerns. He reminds me some of Kevin Johnson coming out of Wake Forest and a bit of Jason Verette as well, and both of those guys have had a ton of trouble staying on the field. Overall though he has legit potential to be a very good slot corner. I worry about durability and lack of size though, and couldn’t take him inside the top half of round 2, after that though he’s fair game.
51. Damon Arnette, CB Ohio State 82
This kid screams slot corner to me when I watch his tape. He’s sticky in man coverage, likes to play press, shows good willingness in the run game and has a lot better quickness than straight line speed. People who are real burners are going to give him problems if he is forced to play outside, although he looks good in press man. I think he projects best as a high quality slot corner who can kick outside in a pinch, but the way he plays the game makes him a good fit for zone or man schemes. He’s the epitome of a second round pick.
In terms of coverage, his tape was actually really impressive. He absolutely can blanket people at times and I love how quick he can flip his hips and get up to top speed. His short area quickness and toughness are major pluses. Arnette looks good in zone although occasionally in off man he’ll allow people to cross his face or catch the ball in the flat but overall he’s a solid zone corner. In man though he looks really good when he’s asked to simply press, but again, if he misses that initial punch on a burner on the outisde, he’ll get beat deep and in the NFL it’ll be more prevalent. On the inside though that toughness, physicality, and quickness would lend itself to being a really good nickel corner.
He’s good in the run game although I don’t know if he’s great. He lacks some length so bigger stronger ball carriers will probably give him fits. Arnette’s initial burst is solid though so he’s able to dive and dip around bigger linemen who are trying to set up blocks. I didn’t see him miss many tackles when he did give up catches or on the edge, although on occasion he’ll have trouble sifting through the rubble against the run.
Look his tape was good but projecting him to the NFL I think he could be okay on the outside and very good on the inside. He’s definitely scheme versatile which is a major plus in that he can be solid in zone and good inside in man to man, while not being a liability outside there. His overall athleticism and H/W/S aren’t wonderful and neither are his on ball production. His tape in 2019 was a lot better than 2018 so he’s getting better which is a plus. I don’t think he can be a top tier cover corner because he lacks the traits and his ball skills and deep speed aren’t good enough, but it doesn’t mean he can’t be an elite slot corner. He reminds me a little bit of Jason Verett coming out of school to be honest. Round 2 and stick him as your slot corner immediately and you might have found a high quality nickel corner with some outside versatility for the next decade.
52. Zack Moss, RB Utah 82
About as rock solid of a running back as you’ll find coming out of a draft class. He makes people miss with outstanding contact balance, catches it very well, and is someone who rarely misses the hole when it’s blocked well. I think he’s ready made to play in the NFL at around 5’10 and 220 pounds, he is a guy you can use to wear down defenses, as he punishes linebackers and defensive backs regularly. His physical style, paired with a very impressive spin move, and tremendous contact balance means he will likely be a nice piece in a tandem backfield. The issues with him and why he can’t be a first round pick and likely is a late 2 or early 3 is that he just doesn’t have any burst. He ran a 4.65 at the combine and his initial quickness isn’t very good. He’s a bruiser who can run through arm tackles but he doesn’t have the juice to break off long runs at the next level.
Where he fits in the NFL best is as a power back in an inside running team. At Utah when he was just asked to run between the tackles or on some off tackle plays he excelled, when he tried to bounce plays outside it wasn’t very effective. A power team could really use his talent though. He wears out defenses in the second half of games and those arm tackles almost never bring him down. Moss makes you miss if you don’t square him up and if you do, he usually pushes the pile forward. Very good in that regard.
In the pass game he has super soft hands. He catches almost everything thrown his way and he has good vision and patience in the swing and screen games. I like how he chips and then waits for his release, and it led to a lot of easy catches and first downs this past year. While he certainly isn’t going to be out running a lot of flexed out routes in the league, because well, his lack of quickness and speed means linebackers can easily carry him, he’s good in the check down game and punishes guys if he’s in space. Wasn’t asked to pass protect much but he looks like he could be a plus here, good awareness and doesn’t give up much ground against the blitz. Overall positive but little upside.
Moss is a solid guy who has a super high floor but a rather Low ceiling. He could easily be a 1000 yard back in the NFL because he’s ready made and he runs tough. Moss catches almost everything thrown his way and has a spin move that helps give him some creativity, although that’s not a strength to his game. He’ll get what’s blocked for him and will generally give you an extra yard or two but the issue here is he lacks the burst and creativity to be anything more than a nice solid player. Moss compares a lot to someone like Carlos Hyde or Jordan Howard, or if you want to go old school Marion Barber. Starting running back or a big part of a rotation with a very high floor and a low to medium ceiling.
53. Akeem Davis Gaither, LB App State 82
A seriously undersized linebacker who will likely be relegated to nickel linebacker duty in the NFL. That said he’s an absolute stud football player with tape that is incredibly fun to watch. He does everything in the defense for App State, lining up at all 3 linebacker positions, over the slot, on the edge, and as a spy. He has really good football instincts, and while at times he’ll overrun a play a bit and his size is a major detriment, I believe he could be a very impressive nickel linebacker in the NFL for a long time. Considering the NFL is in sub packages about 70% of the time, this guy could be a major contributor and teams should start looking at him in the back half of round 2.
Yes he’s only around 215 pounds at his playing weight but he’s fairly long and I think he can add weight to his frame. While he doesn’t get off blocks super well he is slippery and he does a duck move to escape linemen that’s extremely impressive. His bend and athleticism is really apparent when you watch his tape. I love how he gets depth in his drops and reads where receivers are going in zone coverage, he looks more like a strong safety than a linebacker in the depth he gets in his drops and his recognition skills. While I don’t know if he’s going to be a good man cover guy, I almost never saw this, his zone skills are plus.
In the run game you have to keep him clean because his lack of length and size will be a problem at the NFL level. That said his effort and recognition skills make up for it in some cases. He could play the will in a 43 defense but you’d have to have confident in your guys up front or he’ll be at a major disadvantage. That said despite lacking length he was a good tackler, although he did drag some guys down here and there. As a blitzed he doesn’t have pass rush moves he just uses his agility to get around tackles and guards but he’s impressive here at times. He also gets his hands in passing lanes when he recognizes the quarterback’s getting rid of the ball.
Where I think he could be elite as early as his rookie year is on coverage units though. Davis Gaither might end up being one of the better special teams players in the league. I think his athletic abilty, recognition skills, and honestly the fact he’s just a damn good football player means he has the chance to get a ton of snaps in passing situations, he could see even more snaps as a core special teams player as well. Yes taking him in round 2 is a bit of a risk, but given the current state of the league and how athletic quarterbacks and tight ends are getting, having a fast undersized guy with good instincts playing linebacker in passing situations is important. I’ll bet on him to make plays consistently on Sundays.
54. Adam Trautman, TE Dayton 82
It’s always tough to watch someone at the FCS level on tape and try to determine how that guy will be against NFL competition. That said Trautman went and played good football the week of the Senior Bowl and he proved that he’s arguably the most complete tight end in the 2020 draft. His speed and size combination is plenty good to play in the NFL at 6’6 255 pounds with a 4.80 in the 40 is solid. But during the combine he posted an insane 6.78 3 cone drill which is the 4th best for a tight end in the past decade, it shows his quick feet and basketball background. The kid is raw as a blocker, and needs to understand route leverage better and route running at a higher level but he’s a starting caliber tight end in the NFL and someone who will make an impact and make a team better.
Lets start with some of the things that will concern an NFL scout or front office. Obviously playing at Dayton he just manhandled most of the small school kids he played against both in the blocking game and at the catch point. Those kids had no shot to defend him catching passes and he did an excellent job boxing them out and making big time catches. He was also bigger than a lot of even the D line he played against so he was difficult to bring down after the catch. The jump up in competition is going to be a big thing for him, particularly as a blocker because his technique really needs to get cleaned up. He comes out of his stance with his arms out frantic and shoves at times when he gets out in front of his feet. He will really need to clean that up or he’ll called for a lot of holds at the next level and will get driven back despite solid size and strength. He also has only been a tight end for 4 years as he was a high school quarterback, so while he displays really good hands, he still needs to figure out leverage against zone coverage and to not tip his hand on his route, he’s easy to read both pre and post snap on his moves.
Those are the negatives, but they are all easily cleaned up at this point. He’s clearly a good athlete who is a smooth mover for his size and he eats up space quickly when the ball is snapped. He has natural hands and catches the ball with ease. While Trautman isn’t slippery in space he runs with physicality and has just enough movement skills and quick feet to pick up extra yards and turns up field quickly. He works his ass off as a blocker too and while he annihilated kids at the FCS level, he’ll need to improve his technique but when he does he could be a rock solid in line blocker. I like his aggressiveness and assertiveness here and at times when they needed a first down they ran behind him for the tough yards.
Trautman is a good player who has plus athleticism and effort. He’s going to be a good blocker in time and he can play flexed out or inline which is a big plus. While as a rookie he likely will only be a sub package guy because he has a ways to go with technique and route efficiency, by year two he has a chance to be a quality starter and by year 3 a plus starter. He’s not dynamic at anything so he’s obviously not a round 1 guy but in round 2 he’s solid and in round 3 he’s a steal. He’s a good player who I think will turn into a quality starter.
55. Leki Fotu, DT Utah 82
For someone who is 6’5 and 335 pounds this guy has outstanding initial quickness. Obviously his height at times gives him some leverage problems, but he has a burst for someone his size that you simply don’t see. Fotu’s raw power is impressive as hell and when he’s matched up with zone type run blockers he will own them. I think he projects best as a 1 technique in an even front, because at times he’ll lose leverage just a touch if he were a true nose, but that can be worked out. He’s a two gapping defensive tackle with some pass rushing upside and a guy who can make plays in the backfield or hold the point. While that means to me he should be a round 3 guy because the lack of importance of that position, his grade is at least in the 2nd round area because he is a damn good player.
As a run defender there is a lot to like here. He has really good length so some of the shorter armed interior offensive linemen have a tough matchup on their hands. Because of his 6’5 frame though he’ll occasionally stand up but for the most part he does a nice job of staying low off the snap. He has really good straight line speed for a 335 pounder and he carries his weight well. Fotu can penetrate into the backfield and typically holds the point very well. If he gets off balance though or too high he can get moved, see the Oregon tape when he doesn’t play poorly, but he isn’t quite as good and Warmack smacked him into the ground a couple times. He’s a plus player here though with the ability to anchor very well against doubles, probably as well as anyone in this class not named Derrick Brown.
As a pass rusher he’s mostly a pocket pusher but he does have some pass rush acumen. He has an over move that he uses occasionally that works fairly well and his intiial quickness can lead to some early wins. He has a hard time changing direction though so any quarterback who can slide easily will give him problems and he’ll likely be a guy who can get some pressure, but I doubt he ever ends up getting many sacks and actual takedowns. It’ll probably take a couple years for him to figure out how to be consistent here.
Overall Im a fan of his game and he should be a target for every team that needs a 2 gapping defensive tackle starting around pick 55. He is a round 2 player at a round 4 position so round 3 is the perfect spot for him. If my team takes him in the 3rd you might as well pencil in 30 solid reps a game for the next 4 seasons, because he is a really solid 2 gapper who can help you win right away.
56. Cam Akers, RB Florida State 81
For years and years I’ve mentioned what I call volume running backs in my write ups and people always ask what I mean. What I mean by that is the definition of what Cam Akers is. He has an opportunity to be good if he has a good offensive line and gets to a scheme that runs a lot of zone and inside iso plays. If he goes to a team with a bad offensive line or in a time share he’ll be okay but not great. He’s the guy who like most running backs will be successful more based on system than his own talent, which is solid if not spectacular, but is more dependent on what’s in front of him and around him than his own skill set. By volume back, I mean that if he goes to a good team and gets the proper value, he’ll be deemed successful by normal fans. To me he looks like a good solid part of a running back rotation but not a lead guy.
As a pure runner he has some potential. His deep speed and acceleration are both above average for a running back. His lateral agility in the hole is also slightly above average, and when players get into the backfield quickly which they did a lot against the shitty Seminoles offensive line, he made guys miss consistently. Akers doesn’t move the pile often at all but typically falls forward for an extra yard. I like his vision for the most part although you can see occasionally where he tries to do too much because his line was so bad that he misses the obvious cut up opportunity. He’s a good back with above average skills but no elite ability.
In the passing game he looks pretty solid as a screen option and despite every other analyst I’ve looked at saying he struggles in pass pro I think he’s well above average here. While he’s mostly a pusher in this spot and not a stand and hold your ground guy, he’s stout and strong and doesn’t give much ground. He also doesn’t just whiff like a lot of college guys do. Maybe I’m wrong here but I was actually pretty positive about his ability here. He’s not natural catching the ball but he catches it more often than not, and I think in the screen game, or flexed out in the slot he could provide a serious mismatch, particularly in the screen game because his acceleration is really positive. He’s not a 3rd down back by nature but he has skills here.
He’s the perfect day 2 running back to be part of a rotation. I think he could be a starter if you need him to be but his skills aren’t elite. It doesn’t mean he can’t be a 1000 yard rusher or very successful but it would be more dependent on his team around him. I like the kid, he’s solid but he fumbles a lot and doesn’t have any skill set that’s better than a 7 out of 10. Good solid rotational piece, and I think if he goes in the 3rd round you’re getting really good value in the 2nd round you probably reached a touch due to position and lack of elite skill.
57. Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama 81
Diggs is a nice player with great size for a corner at 6’2 and weighing in around 205-210 pounds. He has above average speed for that size as well, probably running around that 4.5 range with long arms and a receiver background. Missed the second half of the 2018 season with an injury so a little bit of durability concerns are mixed in here with him as well. That being said he looks like a press man corner or someone who should be in a zone heavy scheme. He has good ball skills and is a physical player but the long speed and grabbiness of it makes it seem to me like he should go to a team that plays primarily cover-3. He is a middle of day 2 guy who will probably go earlier than that because his traits are high and he played in the SEC.
Diggs biggest attributes are two-fold. He has tremendous size, and he has well above average ball skills. These are two things that to me scream zone corner. The physicality he plays with at the line and in the run game are both pluses, but he misses more tackles than he should and allows a lot of yards after contact. He’s much better when he can watch the quarterback instead of playing a trail with his back to the passer. His technique gets really wonky when he plays off bail and he’ll give up pretty simple underneath completions when he shouldn’t but he isn’t targeted super often because for the most part he’s pretty sticky in coverage. Lots to work with here.
Some of his warts are things that stand out pretty hard for me though and push him toward the end of round 2 or round 3 consideration instead of the first round or early second where many draft analysts think he’s going to go. He gets super grabby when he starts to get beat deep and it happens more often than it should. While there weren’t many completions on him over the top, he had players behind him frequently and Jamar Chase absolutely thumped him against LSU. Now to be fair, Chase is a freaking monster and one of the best all around players in the country but it showed that Diggs isn’t a number one corner in the NFL. So to me that knocks him out of round 1 consideration. The other couple issues are that his hips are a bit tight and his technique is a little raw when he has to bail. In press or when he’s watching the quarterback he looks good but with his back turned he can grab or panic a bit as he’s raw playing corner.
Overall Diggs is a talented, ball skilled cornerback who fits well in a zone heavy scheme with the occasional press man. I think he’s someone who will force some incompletions and get some picks but understand that faster guys and elite route runners are going to give him fits early in his career. The technique issues and little episodes of panic are going to lead to a lot of penalties unless he can clean it up quickly but he projects as a solid outside number 2 cornerback in a zone heavy scheme but he’s not the safest corner in the draft and there’s a bust chance here that’s probably a bit higher than some teams would like. Good day 2 prospect.
58. Raekwon Davis, DT Alabama 80
Davis is a high ceiling prospect who has some impressive physical tools but hasn’t put it together yet on tape. He looked like someone after his sophomore year who could end up being a top 10 pick in the draft. Since then the past two seasons he only has 2 sacks and a handful of tackles for loss. The productivity isn’t there and his lack of a plan or counter moves as a pass rusher has led to him being a bit disappointing there. That said his length, power, and initial quickness is an enticing mix that leads to him being a high upside day 2 draft pick and someone who could likely play as either a 3 technique or a 5 at the NFL level on early downs.
Davis as a pass rusher lacks traditional polish or secondary moves. Davis struggles to keep his pad level low on pass rushing downs and typically only ends up trying to run through the guy straight across from him. He gets his pressures through schemed up plays like stunts and twists. His athleticism in these plays is pretty evident though and he has that upside to get some of those schemed up sacks at the next level if there is enough talent around him. Right now though he probably is only an early down 3 or 5 tech.
Where Davis looks like an NFL caliber player though is as a penetrating run defender. At times he plays a bit high here though. If he can keep his pad level low though and work as a quick off the penetrating 3 technique he’s an absolutely dangerous run defender. While he doesn’t make a ton of plays Davis plays with really good effort and makes plays from sideline to sideline from an interior player which is pretty impressive. I like him as a two down run defender early in his career. He has impressive recognition skills in this capability as well and I think he could end up being a factor in this capacity.
Look Davis has pass rushing potential but right now lacks a plan or secondary moves to give you anything more than pressure and pocket collapsing ability. At worst he looks like a really talented run defender with huge upside and tremendous physical tools and quickness. I would prefer him in the 3rd round because he lacks that pass rushing upside right now but as a run defender he’s already NFL caliber.
59. Jordan Elliott, DT Missouri 80
Elliott is one of your more classic third round picks in my opinion and his write up is going to be fairly easy. He’s a penetrating interior defender who can shoot gaps very well from an inside position and is a productive tackler despite some very big holes in his game. Elliott plays way too high and against double teams gets absolutely destroyed sometimes. He’ll turn his shoulders laterally to the line of scrimmage and get blown out of plays as a run defender occasionally. Early in his career he’ll likely be a major project against the run, except for the occasional time he’ll penetrate the backfield and make a tackle for loss or guess correctly and bring a runner down a yard from the line. He’s a splash player with loads up upside, but right now is too messy with technique and leverage to play a lot of meaningful snaps.
As a run defender and a pass rusher he provides the same thing. He has really good initial quickness when he guesses right and he uses an overhead swim move or a spin on occasion that is very effective. If he does disengage his first step quickness when he’s allowed a second run at a quarterback is better than most interior offensive linemen, leading to a bevy of late pressures. He seems to have good straight line speed for an interior guy as well, leading to tackles all the way out to the 9 gap. At times though he has no plan and will guess, and when he guesses wrong he looks terrible. Elliott will play too high at times and get blown out of plays. He’s a homerun or strikeout hitter right now.
Elliott has big time potential as he weighs 315 pounds but wears it well. He has initial quickness and straight line speed that are impressive for an interior defender and he may have the capability to play the 5 technique as well as his lateral movement skills are certainly impressive. He generates decent pass rushing numbers in terms of knockdowns and hurries and he’s not someone who won’t make plays in the run game. He struggles to keep his leverage though and his technique is shoddy, if he can’t get those things cleaned up he could really struggle as a pro and may only be a rotational pass rushing interior player who shoots gaps. I couldn’t take him in the first two rounds but he has legit upside, but you have to understand he could be a miss as well.
60. Matt Peart, OT UConn 80
Peart isn’t the sexiest offensive linemen on the list but his athleticism, length, and consistent improvement year to year leads him to being someone teams should target on day 2 of the draft. At the Senior Bowl he was very solid day after day and although he occasionally lost it was rare. The game tape on him that day was really impressive as well, and he showed an ability to recover without holding which is pretty rare from an outside offensive lineman. While he could certainly stand to spend a year in the weight room, he does a good job of dropping his butt and although he may give a step or two against NFL edge rushers, it’s better than most. Peart projects as a starter at tackle with good enough athleticism and enough potential and length to play either side.
I think his athleticism is well above average and with over 35 inch arms, Peart has the potential to play the left or the right side in the NFL. While he may not have the undeniable upside that other tackle prospects have there’s no dobut Peart can be a starting caliber player in the NFL. Watching him get to the second level is really impressive as well, as he walls off second level defenders with ease. He isn’t an overly powerful guy in pass protection as he will occasionally give up a little ground to power rushers but he’s not bad at this route.
As a run defender he doesn’t create a ton of movement with bigger players but he can get them turned and walled off with exceptional length and solid athleticism. Despite playing for an awful UConn team he still was the one constant on their offensive line, creating holes and getting to the 2nd level in the zone blocking game.
Overall one of the main upsides I see in Peart is his athleticism and ability to play either left or right tackle in the NFL. His mobility would also allow him to kick inside at guard and be a solid player there as well. What it does is make his floor a lot higher than other tackle prospects because at worst he ends up as a long time swing tackle in the NFL. While he certainly doesn’t dominate on film, he’s a good player who could probably play sooner rather than later in the league. Peart should go sometime on day 2 and while I like his value better in round 3 than round 2 I wouldn’t hate someone grabbing him in the back half of the 2nd round.
61. Reggie Robinson, CB Tulsa 80
I am just so confused as to why everyone has this kid as a round 7 guy or UDFA. He’s 6’1, ran a 4.44 at the combine with long arms a 36 inch vertical and he threw up 22 reps on the bench. On top of that, he has good ball skills and it’s not like he has bad tape at all. He was a first team all Conference player this season with 4 interceptions and 13 PBU. Yes he’s a little stiff and his hips aren’t that fluid but he looks like a perfect guy to play in a cover 2 or cover 3 type team and he has that length and pop with his hands to play a perfect press bail. The kid should 100% be a target if he falls to day 3 and I don’t even quite understand why everyone has him so late in their rankings, hell scouts inc doesn’t even have a grade on the guy and PFF has him in the 200s. I think he should be in the conversation starting at the end of round 2, not round 5.
He’s not fluid and he’s not quick twitch for a cornerback and those type of guys are going to give him problems. That said watching his tape against Tylan Wallace this year, he was probably the better player that day. Robinson is physical at the point and yes he’ll get beat up on underneath by those quick guys no question but in a zone look where he can use his length and ability to redirect, he could be a starting level corner.
I just don’t see why nobody else really likes him. When I watch his tape I get reminded over and and over again of Pierre Desir or Amare O last year from Penn State coming out of school and those guys are high quality CB2 or at worst CB3 in the NFL. He’s physical and tough with good ball skills. Yes he’s tight hipped and he’ll give up some underneath throws, but in a zone heavy team he should certainly be a target on day 3 at the worst and the farther he slides down the draft board the more he’s worth a shot. I think he’s one of the 5-10 most underrated players in this class.
62. Curtis Weaver, DE Boise State 80
Solid player who doesn’t have the bend or pop to be a first round pick, but with the technique and frame to be a good NFL player. He projects as someone who can get a few sacks per season and has the powerful lower body to set the edge against the run. He’s not very laterally quick and the lack of bend and flexibility likely limits his upside, but as a high floor defensive end or even big 34 outside linebacker he projects nicely. I think in a fairly weak edge rusher draft, Weaver might get pushed up the board a bit but he has a solid mid day 2 grade.
As a run defender he has some positives and negatives to his game. As a positive he seems to do a good job setting the edge, and throughout his game tapes you’ll find a few plays each game where he wins and causes disruption. His best attribute is his ability to wiggle through tight spaces and get small to create early wins. When he’s blocked by a tight end or a weaker player he will win those reps almost every time, good players he gets stimied. He’s not long nor flexible so his tackle radius is small and he’ll miss in space pretty often. I think he’s okay to be a do his job guy with a handful of splash plays but he’s not going to be a high volume tackler from the outside.
As a pass rusher he has some potential to be solid but I doubt he’s ever going to be an elite guy here. He’s quicker than you would think but he really doesn’t have a pass rush move. When he’s allowed to win outside with speed he’s good, or when he’s left alone on an edge with a tight end he’ll win. Occasionally he’ll get small in the hole and jump the snap to get into the backfield as his quickness is pretty decent. That said while he was productive, it likely won’t translate as well to the league.
He’s a solid player, but he’s not elite in any category. I like his size and think he projects as a number 2 defensive end in a 43 as a solid run defender and a guy who can get a few sacks each season. If you think he’s going to develop into some double digit sack guy though you’re mistaken. He’s not a first rounder and honestly to me he should go closer to around pick 50 but pass rushers are in demand, particularly productive ones who have the strength to set the edge. Weaver projects as a high floor guy with the potential to play 34 OLB or 43 DE but who doesn’t have high upside. Potential starter in year 2.
63. Ashtyn Davis, S Cal 80
Probably one of the safest and highest floor prospects in this draft is Davis from Cal. He’s got good size at 6’1 205 pounds and he’s a track star in the 60 and 110 hurdles. The kid has ridiculous athletic ability and good ball skills. He was a walk-on, however, and so his recognition skills, angles, and discipline aren’t quite caught up at this point in his career. Davis looks like a year two starter at least in every sub package and a potential Pro Bowl caliber special teams player. At worst he’s a long time special teams ace and 3rd safety, but I truly believe he’s going to be a quality starting safety in the league for a while starting probably in his second season.
Davis still has work to do with recognition skills and angles. He’s really only had 2 full seasons playing safety and he was mostly a track athlete until 4 years ago. At times he’ll take strange angles to the football both on the ground and in the air but he has really high top end speed so at times he can make up for his mistakes by tracking down plays anyway. He has good natural ball skills but he’ll take a false step or two right now. He doesn’t have awful recognition skills, he just needs more reps to hone it, and the more he plays and practices at an NFL level the better he’ll get.
I think he looks the most comfortable covering the slot, particularly tight ends in one on one though and this is why I like his floor. He’s a bit tight in and out of his breaks but he’s physical and the height and speed means he can definitely play with tight ends and run with most receivers out of the middle of the field. Davis is solid in cover 2 man and looks okay in single high but he’s best covering man to man at this point which is a plus.
He’s a feisty and tough player who is difficult to block in the run game. While he’ll miss occasional tackles because he’ll dip his head he definitely isn’t afraid to mix it up. He rarely stays blocked down the field and although at times he’ll flow too hard down hill on play action or will overrun the play his aggressiveness is a plus. He’s a net positive in the run game and more reps again will help him out.
Davis is a fun evaluation because while he’s raw in his game right now you can see steady improvement each season and top tier size and athleticism. He was also named his teams special teams player of the year twice and shows aptitude as a kick returner as well as potentially being an elite gunner on kick and punt coverage units and return units as a vice. He’s just a super high floor guy who I think the more reps you give him the better he will get. Early on he’s probably you’re 3rd safety or big nickel type guy but in a couple of seasons he’s like a full time starter. Anytime in the middle of round 2 and if you manage to take him in round 3 he’s great value.
64. Hunter Bryant, TE Washington 80
I list Bryant here as a tight end but he’s sort of a hybrid WR/TE/F type player who will need to be a matchup in the NFL. He lacks the strength to be anything more than a stock blocker or wham guy in the NFL because he lacks the pop to play in line at all. If you play him in that role then you’re a bad coaching staff. Bryant as a chess piece and matchup problem across the formation is a really intriguing weapon and his athleticism and ability to create separation at the second and third level is really impressive. Add to that he’s good after the catch and has excellent ball skills and you have a super interesting slot option or F tight end who can become a weapon in your passing game.
I’ll start with some negatives and it’s why I have a borderline 2 but likely a 3rd round grade on Bryant. Number one this is a WR class that’s super deep so a guy who is only 6’2 at tight end is essentially a big WR and there are about 30 of them that could have top 4 round grades, that slides him down. Secondly, he’s not a traditional tight end in that he is a really poor inline blocker. That said he’s good on the perimeter as a stock blocker or a blocker like a wide receiver because outside he rarely whiffs, inside he’s about a 2/10 inline. While he can make some spectacular catches, I’ve also seen him drop a very catchable ball or two but he’s still a very good receiving option but he’s not perfect there. The big knock though is on the first level, he’s not good at getting off press and he has a lot better deep speed than short area quickness on his routes. I don’t think he’s going to catch a lot of short easy first downs because he doesn’t create early separation.
Those are the bad things and it’s why he’s not a typical tight end and he’s more of a hybrid. Your team is going to need a traditional tight end if you want to draft Bryant and you’ll need a plan for him. If you have one though you have a guy with good speed at 4.7 in the 40, someone who can run away from most linebackers when he gets up to top speed, and who is really good at creating big plays in the passing game or with YAC. Bryant is a top tier second and third level threat as a slot or tight end and his ability to find the football when it’s in the air and make big time plays is really impressive. He’s the rare tight end or big slot who can threaten a defense and create some matchup problems.
Overall his success or failure in the NFL is going to be determined a lot by which team he goes to. If he goes to a team that tries to pigeon hole him into a traditional tight end role he won’t have a long career and he’ll struggle. However, if he goes to a creative offensive coach who can scheme up plays for him and lets him play the F role or H-back spot or even a big slot receiver he can create headaches for defenses. Two tight end offenses could really find a nice way to use him in their gameplan. A team like New England who could utilize multiple position groupings would be a super nice fit. Round wise take your pick, but he’s a late 2 or 3 for me if I have the right plan to use him.
65. Tyler Biadasz, C Wisconsin 79
This was one of the top 5 most difficult evaluations I did this entire draft process. While Biadasz had some super impressive film in 2018 his tape in 2019 wasn’t nearly as impressive and it jumped out. The hip surgery he had in the offseason clearly effected his mobility and pop and it scares me a bit in terms of drafting him where a lot of other evaluators have him rated. I think his power, toughness, and positional versatility to play any of the 3 interior positions means he can’t escape the second day of the draft, I like him more toward the middle of day 2 than in any first round consideration. At this point there is no way I could use a first round pick on him.
As a pass protector he is solid if unspectacular. His lack of length and the tendency for him to bend at the waist are the factors that make him pretty decent here but nothing spectacular. He does a nice job of picking up blitzes but doesn’t do it at an elite level and his lack of foot quickness this season means that the slightly delayed blitz pickups are more of a problem now. He will give up some immediate pressure, but does a good job reanchoring because he has a very strong upper half. Overall he projects as a league average interior pass protector.
As a run blocker he plays with such toughness and physicality that it’s tough to not have fun watching him. He’ll get completely out of control at times and loses his balance way too often ending up on his knees. The lack of balance is a bit of a problem and it will allow quicker defense tackles to at time get to his edges if he doesn’t have help. Overall though he does a nice job even if he’s overrated as a run blocker, he’s good but not great.
Biadasz is someone who simply is rated like an elite player when he’s solid if not great. He probably does everything fairly well but nothing spectacularly and he struggles with speed and balance issues. He has decent length but it’s not a plus and while he has solid recognition skills it’s not something that jumps out on tape. I think he’s a guy who has a high floor but probably not a great ceiling. Starter in the league but I don’t see what everyone else does who thinks he’s a first rounder.
66. Cole Kmet, TE Notre Dame 79
This is someone who I think could develop in time to be a really impressive starting level tight end but he’s got a long road ahead of him. Kmet has a wonderful combination of H/W/S for the tight end position at 6’6 263 pounds running a 4.70 with 37 inch vertical leap and 33 inch arms. Those are very impressive numbers and while maybe not a 10/10 in that category it’s probably at worst an 8. He showed decent numbers this past season with over 500 receiving yards and blocked inline, in space, and as an H-back this season for the fighting Irish in a fairly pro-style offensive attack. If you give him 2 or 3 years to continue to add play strength and get more reps to increase his feel for the game you have someone who could be an excellent downfield weapon as well as an inline blocker from the Y position. That said he could turn into a number two or 3 tight end as well in time. He looks like a 3rd round pick to me, he has good upside if given time to develop but he has work to do to become a productive tight end in the NFL.
As a pass catcher, which is where we start with tight ends now, he has a lot of downfield potential. He is very smooth coming off the line of scrimmage when he’s not jammed and has really good second level speed. That 4.70 at his size and leaping ability is extremely enticing. Kmet doesn’t have any wiggle after the catch but he’s hard to bring down and he plays with a physical demeanor and will drag defenders. He has well above average hands and does well with contested catches. The cons are pretty evident on tape though. Kmet struggles to get off of press coverage, lacks the ability to create separation on underneath routes, and needs to use his buildup speed to give a passing lane, and his feel for zone as a tight end is below average. I don’t think he’ll ever be a high volume pass catching tight end and won’t be a consistent chain mover unless he can improve all of those things.
As a blocker he has a ton of potential and he mixes in some very good reps with a lot of only okay ones. Kmet has good length and right now looks like a better pass blocker than a run blocker. He shields off defenders well and will occasionally give you a good initial pop, particularly coming across on wham blocks or when he’s asked to collapse a defensive end. He also allows players to get off his blocks too easily and his guy makes more tackles than you’d like to see. There’s an awful lot of potential here though because he works his tail off here he’s just not good at it yet due to mediocre technique and strength.
He has potential. If my team needed a developmental tight end and we grabbed him at pick 50 on I would be happy, and I would be ecstatic if it were in round 3 which is where I think he should go. Kmet has all the tools to turn into a really good player but he certainly needs a year or two of work in the weight room and classroom to develop some skills to be effective. If not he could struggle to make an impact in the league. Prefer him in round 3 but loads of upside and some floor questions that I think are legitimate.
67. Jake Fromm, QB Georgia 79
A rock solid thrower of the football who will provide you everything you want from an intangible standpoint. Fromm compares favorably to a few guys who get the unfortunate moniker of game manager, such as Andy Dalton or more recently Derek Carr. He throws a pretty football and has some of the best mechanics you’ll find coming out of school. Fromm takes care of the football, manages the game as well as anyone you’ll see, and has a high football IQ. He also has some struggles with accuracy, won’t wow you with physical tools, and has a capped ceiling. That said, there are a lot of teams who can win with defense, running game, and a quarterback that gets you in the right position a lot, Fromm is a 2nd day quarterback who will likely start a lot of games in the NFL. At worst he’s a decade long backup.
In terms of talent there isn’t a ton to work with here unfortunately. His deep sideline throws and strong arm second level throws aren’t great and when he tries to put something extra on it, he loses accuracy. Fromm has 40 career rushing yards, so he’s zero threat to run which in today’s NFL is a pretty big negative. He protects the football as well as anyone though and he has decent pocket presence as well, taking the check downs and understanding what defenses are giving him to get the ball out with a compact delivery.
Overall the kid has a super high football IQ and won’t Lose you many football games. I don’t know if he has the pop in his arm or his legs to carry a team, but if you want someone to manage games for you, he’s one of the better day 2 prospects you’ll find. He’s also a tremendous leader, very well respected, and has won a ton of football games. He gets a 3rd round type grade from me with the understanding that quarterbacks are going to go a full round early based on the positional importance. He should go sometime in the 2nd round and I’m pulling for him to overachieve.
68. Justin Madubuike, DT Texas A&M 79
Madubuike is a productive player who has versatility playing in multiple positions along the defensive line. He can penetrate well and has really good initial quickness and explosiveness. He plays with good leverage and has solid pop with his hands. The past two seasons he ended up with more than 40 tackles and 5 sacks both years. I like Madubuike as a 3 technique best but he can certainly play the 0 or 1 in pass rush downs or the 5 technique in a 3 man front. Madubuike has quickness plays with good leverage and is fairly productive. That said his tape is a bit inconsistent and there are a lot of reps where he is just a guy. I like him sometime on day 2, although I would prefer him in round 3.
Madubuike as a pass rusher provides good potential but I doubt he’s ever going to be a super disruptive interior rusher. He has good leverage and initial quickness, and when he gets to play in twists and stunts he has that lateral agility that gives him a chance to make some upfield sacks. I don’t think his length is very good, and quicker longer interior linemen stone him frequently. He plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage with some regularity and he could pick up some cheap sacks because he plays behind the line. He doesn’t have many pass rush moves but sometimes he can win early with quickness.
As a run blocker he’s only okay as a project. He won’t hold up on double teams at the next level and right now he can get blown out of plays if he doesn’t get his pads low enough. Later in games he’ll get more straight up and will lose the ability to make plays in the run game. He’ll make some plays laterally in the run game at a higher level than most interior defensive players. That said he lacks the length to make plays all over the place but he can cause some initial disruption in the run game and his ability to at times get into the backfield with regularity is a plus.
Looks he’s not a superstar level player, but he has starter potential. I think he’s a rotational piece anywhere between the 2T to the 5T in a 3 man front. He has the chance to turn into a good starter given time. Nice versatile player.
69. Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota 79
Wow I love watching this kid on tape, he’s one of the better college football players i’ve watched this scouting season. He makes some of the most insane catches you’ll watch on tape and he is arguably the best contested catch maker in this entire draft. Johnson is a savvy route runner who can run every route in the route tree and while he rarely creates separation, a yard or two is all it takes for him. He’s 6’1 208 but plays the game a lot bigger than that. Those things said he projects best as a WR3 in the NFL due to lack of any type of deep ability and separation skills that appear well below average.
Johnson’s main weapon is the fact he’s a top tier player at catching the ball with players draped all over him. He’s a very reliable pass catcher with a catch radius that is about 25% bigger than you’d expect for someone his size. Johnson is going to be a friend to your quarterback from either the big slot position or the outside spot against zone coverage. He struggles mightily to get away from good corners and he’ll have to live in the big slot spot and in the redzone early. That said he’s just so good at the point of the catch that he could end up being a high end WR3 in the league.
I legit think he runs somewhere win the 4.62-4.66 range and the fact he didn’t work out at the combine was a red flag to me. It shows the concerns I have on tape about his speed and athletic ability are justified. That said he put up pretty massive numbers despite having mediocre quarterback play and his redzone and first down skill set will translate to the league. He’s not good after the catch but he doesn’t dance a ton and gets upfield which is nice.
He’s an interesting prospect because he is what he is in the league. He’s not fast or athletic enough to be a high ceiling guy but the way he catches the football and runs routes, particularly how he can turn off target throws into first downs and touchdowns is at a top 10-15% level. Johnson is very savvy against zone and finds spots with ease, creating openings to throw to. While his ceiling is low, his floor is solid as a WR3 or at worst a WR4 who will help pick up first downs and help you score in the redzone. For a team with an off target quarterback who could use some help on day 3, this is your target. He would be a great guy to round our your receiving corps if you have a burner and a solid number two guy, and I could see a team like Cincinnati, Buffalo, or Detroit wanting to take him to give them that 3rd or 4th option to help out and pick up the dirty first downs.
70. Josh Uche, LB Michigan 79
This kid is a very difficult evaluation because well he doesn’t have many reps on tape but he has a lot of upside and potential as an NFL player. Early in his career he has a ton to work on, but he could start out as a top tier special teams’ player and rotational guy in sub packages. He has good speed and athletic ability to drop in coverage but also has put up.a decent amount of sacks as a versatile pass rusher. Right now he’s below average against the run and in the NFL I think that issue will make him never be an early down player. That said, he has promising upside as a sub package player and as a special teamer and I think in round 3 is a really good spot for him.
Uche is undersized for a pure rush end and not strong or big enough to play a traditional 34 OLB. He’s a true tweener, and I use that term when I mean the guy has versatility but it’s not necessarily a plus. In base I just don’t see where you can play him because if you play him at the SAM in a 43 or as a 34 OLB he doesn’t have the strength or size to hold up and if you play him at a 43 DE he’s around 245 pounds. He has to only play on throwing downs and it means that he simply can’t get taken in the first two rounds.
That said he shows good feet in coverage although he wasn’t asked to do it a ton but you have some instances that really show some potential, such as running the Tampa 2 and carrying the middle of the field against Hamler in the PSU game. He was beat but hung in beautifully. He also isn’t natural back there but works his tail off and gets really good depth in his drops. Eventually he could be a good jam guy against in line tight ends too because he has long arms. Where he has higher potential though is as a movement piece in the blitz game. He has pretty good speed to power moves, particularly inside and has the initial quickness in the A and B gaps to cause pocket collapses and rushes from the interior. He’s getting better as a hand fighter but right now is mostly a speed to power rusher or a dip the edge guy.
His evaluation is almost strictly on potential because he’s raw right now. I think he could be a top tier special teamer due to his H/W/S and effort which are all above average. He projects to be a solid sub package linebacker who has plus potnetial as a situational rusher and zone coverage guy. He needs a lot more reps and his rookie year I think he’ll likely struggle but could show flashes. There’s some risk here he doesn’t develop but in round 3 you have someone who could turn into a really good situational player and if he can add strength, maybe down the road you have a quality starter. At worst he should be a long time backup and special teams contributor.
71. Jeremy Chinn, S Southern Illinois 78
Chinn is someone with elite H/W/S as a box safety, nickel linebacker hybrid who reminds me a ton of Jayron Kearse. At 6’3, 221 pounds, and running a 4.45 with over a 40 inch vertical it’s pretty safe to call him a 10 in terms of H/W/S. That said he’s an excellent tackler, has tremendous ball skills, and should end up being a very high end special teams player. He also has below average instincts, football IQ, and his awareness on play fakes and in zone is below average. While he projects as a weapon in man to man coverage, right now it’s well below average. He projects as a 3rd round pick with both a high ceiling and a low floor but to me he looks like he could make his mark as a top tier special teams player.
In pass coverage he projects as someone you could have chase a tight end all over the field. His elite athleticism and size make him a coaches dream in terms of being a matchup chess piece. That said he’s a bit stiff in coverage and he struggles to stay sticky even despite his tangibles. In zone coverage he has really impressive hands and ball skills when he’s asked to be either the down man in a cover 1 or 3 look or in a split safety look. When he’s asked to read and react he’s typically at least 2 steps slow and it’s the weakest part of his game. If he guesses right on throws and routes he is a big time playmaker but he guesses wrong or is late too often.
In the run game right now he’s ready to contribute though. Chinn is a tremendous tackler and his length and athleticism get him into position to run down plays and he doesn’t miss often in space. While he’ll take the occasional wrong angle or fill the wrong gap, he is a nice player here and shows good promise as a box safety.
Overall I think where he makes his mark in the league is on special teams where he can be a rare player. That size and speed combination coupled with really impressive tackling skills are going to have special teams’ coaches screaming to take him. At worst he could be a dime linebacker or nickel linebacker who could eventually turn into a quality box safety. He’s someone with a high ceiling due to his athleticism but a low floor due to his recognition skills. I could see some combination of Mark Barron or Deone Buccannon here as a downside but his upside could be a player like Landon Collins. Risk reward with a huge upside as a gunner.
72. Jabari Zuniga, DE Florida 78
One of my 5 hardest evaluations of this draft process was Zuniga. He’s an extremely toolsy player who ran 4.67 at 264 pounds at the combine and has exceptional quickness and athleticism. His tape had moments where he absolutely wowed you and other moments where you completely forgot he was on the field. I spent more time on his tape than all but about 4 guys in this class because I just don’t know where I would want to pull the trigger on him. He’s one of the top 20 H/W/S tools guys in this class. He also never had more than 6.5 sacks in a single season despite getting major playing time all 4 years, minus his senior year with the high ankle sprain. He also only had one season of double digit TFL’s despite playing with one of the best defenses in college football. Ultimately I gave him a round 3 grade. He has tremendous upside, initial burst, and length. I think with technique work he could turn into a quality starter.
You just can’t deny the flashes he shows on tape. There are stretches of games where he looks like a clear cut NFL stud. He has good power, and an excellent speed to power move where he uses his exceptional speed to set up defenders and good length to shove them back into the pocket with regularity. Where he excels though is when he’s allowed to just use his get off to split double teams from the interior and get quick initial pressure. He does this lined up at the 3 or 4 technique when the Gators would kick him inside on obvious passing downs. He really jumps off the screen there. On the outside he certainly needs to develop pass rushing counters because he can get stoned consistently out there and he’ll go through long stages of games where he makes little to no impact. Good tackles give him fits right now.
Against the run its a mixed bag again. He 100% has the length and pop in his upper body to set the edge but he can get run off of plays by powerful blockers. Zuniga is very good at getting small and getting to the inside shoulder and into the backfield of tackles and guards. He misses a few tackles in the backfield there but he’s a lot more disruptive against the run than his numbers suggest. Ultimately though he’ll need a couple years of lower body work in the NFL to really shine as a run defender but again, upside there.
Where he struggles the most is simply productivity. He’s disruptive but it doesn’t lead to a lot of big plays and in 4 full seasons he barely recorded over 100 tackles and only forced and recovered 1 fumble. Those things are problematic to me. That said he’s one of the more fun projection in this class because there are so many things he doesn’t do well yet, but has the potential to be great at doing down the road. His technique is shoddy and he struggles to disengage and use counters despite the athleticism and length to thrive there. Biggest pet peeve here though is at times he’s the last one off the ball for entire drives, he has to get better at anticipation of the snap count. These are thing that are EASILY cleaned up and they scream upside to me. He’s a risky guy. The downside is he’s a rotational guy who isn’t a big impact guy in pass rush situations. The upside though is really high, and at worst he would be terrifying on special teams. I just think the 3rd round is worth the risk for someone with such tools and such a high reward. He could be very good given time and quality coaching.
73. Harrison Bryant, TE FAU 78
A complete tight end who won the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end this past season. While his athleticism is only okay he has good straight line speed and ended up with over 1000 yards receiving from the tight end spot which is very hard to do. He was an offensive lineman in high school and his technique and tenacity as a blocker is admirable, you can tell he takes a lot of pride in that work. He runs 4.72 and can make big plays in the passing game. I think he projects as a number two tight end who has number one upside if he can add strength to his game and limit his focus drops with underneath route running improvement.
Bryant’s main positives are pretty clear in this draft. He can block, although I think if he’s forced to go as a traditional Y tight end too often he’ll get beat up. He’s only around 240 pounds and he’s better as an F or H where he can use his movement skills better. Bryant shows toughness and physicality but he has shorter arms for the position and doesn’t possess elite strength so strong DE’s in the NFL are going to give him problems early. He gets in good position though and is solid overall as a blocker with upside down the line. He’s probably a year or two away from being able to hold his own inline though in that capacity.
As a receiver he has legit 3 level potential. However, when I watch him play the majority of his production came from a very savvy scheme and not from the player. A lot of his big plays where schemed up for him to be wide open and didn’t really rely on him being a good route runner. He also drops a ton of catchable passes and it’s very frustrating. His speed and YAC ability in the open field are certainly positives but he’s not a great route runner right now and he drops a decent percentage of catchable passes.
Bryant has talent and toughness and I love those two things. You pair those up with the fact he was exceptionally productive and it’s hard to pass him up. That said he’s got a year or two of learning and growing to do in the NFL in order to be a starter. Early in his career he’s likely a core special teams player and number two or three tight end who can play some fullback and flex out here and there as a motion F tight end. I think he can turn into a really high quality player though given time but you have to have some patience to get the long term reward. By year three he could develop into a real nice starter but only if he gains 15 pounds of muscle, dials in his route running, and gets rid of the drops. Good value in round 4 but I’d begin looking at him in the early 3rd and be okay with it.
74. Antonio Gibson, ATH Memphis 78
This kid is a really damn good football player I’m just not quite sure where he plays in the NFL most. At Memphis he was primarily a slot receiver as he only played two seasons there and he barely played as a junior. That said he’s 225 pounds and runs a 4.4 so there’s a lot to like. He was a lead blocker on wildcat runs, on wide receiver screens, a kick returner, a slot receiver, and a shotgun running back. I think his best position in the NFL will ultimately be as a running back but his versatility is a major plus. I also think with his physicality and speed he could be an exceptional special teams player as a vice on punt returns and as a tremendous cover guy and kick returner. I just want him on my roster, I’ll figure out how to use him later.
I don’t know if you can take him in the 3rd round with only 34 career rushing attempts but he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He’s very difficult to bring down and shows a nice combination of pure speed, power, and balance. As a slot receiver he’s not dynamic in his short area routes. On his downfield routes he’s much better, he’s really adept at double moves and deep crossing routes and shows the ability to separate at that level. It’s tough to glean much from his rushing attempts because they are all out of shotgun at this point.
He’s a projection, but watching him play football is fun. Gibson has toughness, speed, and balance and the versatility is a huge plus. I think at worst he’s a damn good special teams player who is a walking touchdown if you can get him into the right offense. He could be a dynamic 3rd down back who you can obviously flex out. I think in the 3rd round he’s a risk but the reward down the road could be really high and at worst he shouldn’t escape round 4.
75. Malik Harrison, LB Ohio State 78
A very solid round 3 linebacker who will likely play for a while in the league. Harrison is a high floor low ceiling prospect who projects as a starting Mike or Sam in the NFL for a decade. While his athleticism is clunky and he’s not a smooth mover, he plays very hard and physical and is a good solo tackle artist. He’s below average in coverage and is more of a run you over type collapse the pocket blitzes which may make him a first two down player in the league. He’s a get what you see type prospect who is a good tackler, physical, and a try hard guy who won’t make a ton of mistakes. Solid if unspectacular.
Harrison takes on guards and fills the hole at a high level. He gets through traffic well and despite pretty good straight line speed he’s pretty high cut and players with quickness give him problems. He put together a super nice 3 cone and short shuttle at the combine which was a bit surprising to me because he lacks that twitchiness that you’d really want. I like how he wraps up as a tackler and he is one of the harder hitters in the draft. He’s around the football a lot and he creates some havoc in the backfield when he reads the play correctly because he’s bigger and stronger than a lot of typical linebackers.
He has a nice feel for zone coverage but really lacks the quickness and lateral agility to do much with it. Harrison is a solid blitzer but really got a lot of help from how good the Buckeyes were on the outside and took advantage of that to cause disruptions and pick up sacks. I think he gets manipulated by quarterbacks and misdirections on occasion and he can get caught moving downhill with the play behind him here and there. In man to man coverage in the league he’ll struggle mightily.
Harrison is a nice player. He’s a good tackler and plays with physicality. He is a block eater at linebacker who will take on pulling guards and second level centers while the other safeties and linebackers clean up plays. I think he could end up as a solid volume tackler but never too high because he can’t consistently play on passing downs. Harrison is a good get in round 3 if you want a physical linebacker who is a solid tackler but only if you’re already comfortable with your nickel and dime linebackers.
76. Gabriel Davis, WR UCF 78
A really quality number 2 or 3 WR option in the NFL who has just enough of everything to convince me he’ll have some success at the next level. Davis has good size at 6’2 216 pounds and long arms. His deep speed is good enough as is his explosiveness but none of those things are going to be things that really wow you. He’s good enough in everything he does to show that he can be a quality secondary option in an NFL passing game, and I think while he still has room to grow he will likely be a WR2/3 earlier in his career.
Davis is a worker, and you can tell because he steadily improved every single season. This last year he became a better route runner and it led to him having more success on slants and stop routes, adding to his volume as a pass catcher. He’s at his best using his build up speed on deep crossers and stutter and go routes. Adebo from Stanford is a hell of a player and Davis whipped him up pretty good which put him on my radar. He’s a good catcher of the football and utilizes his body well, and I like how he runs his downfield routes. Shows a willingness as a blocker as well.
He’s not good after the catch, he shows pysicality but he’s not going to make many people miss. Davis isn’t sudden, so while he’s improved as a route runner he’s not going to shake and bake the top tier corners at the next level. It takes him a while to create separation so he’s not going to have nearly as much room to work at the NFL level and he’ll have to become adept at making contested receptions.
I just see him and he screams WR2 to me in an NFL offense. That doesn’t mean he’s the second target on a team but it does mean he’ll play the boundary side in NFL offenses and should be a good contributor. I think he’s got enough vertical talent and intermediate route running with quality hands to develop into a good player. I don’t think he has the upside as a high volume type guy but he’s consistently improved so I wouldn’t put it passed him. I think as a rookie he’ll likely need to be worked in slowly because he has some nuances to the game he needs to add but by year 2 or 3 he’s a high quality player who I think can start or at worst be a solid contributor.
77. Bradlee Anae, EDGE Utah 78
Anae is a scheme versatile solid edge player with a tremendous motor. He projects best I believe as a rush 34 outside linebacker who can reduce down to a 43 end in pass rushing situations. I think he’s probably a starter but his lack of bend and athletic ability and being a tad stiff certainly leads me to think his upside isn’t perfect. Almost all of his production comes on guessing the snap count and getting to the edge or on effort. His tackle range is super limited and he doesn’t have great length so he’s capped but he’s a nice player who is one of those borderline starter or quality depth pieces. His scheme versatility, toughness, and motor are huge pluses and so he looks like a mid day 2 pick to me.
Anae picked up almost 27 sacks the past 3 seasons and the production is something that certainly jumps off the page. You pair that with a Senior Bowl where he whipped up on a weak tackle group in front of him and he gained some steam there. He didn’t test well at the combine in my opinion and some of the things that showed up on tape were validated there. He’s not the most agile player and his bend is okay but not good. He has decent strength to set the edge though and it leads me to believe he could be a 43 end or a 34 outside linebacker which is certainly nice for versatility. That said the lack of pop and a 40 that was close to 5.0 is a bit of a rough time for someone with short arms who only ended up with 32 tackles despite playing in a 2 point stance a decent amount of the time.
He gets his production and potential to be a starter based on his motor and ability to jump the snap count. His hand usage is okay and although he has a nice inside spin counter move he doesn’t use it enough. He will get “try-hard” plays and productivity and occasionally can blow up run plays when he times the count right but currently good tackles will eat him alive. Just not enough to work with there.
He’s a solid if unspectacular prospect who most average analysts will look at production and the Senior Bowl tape and think he’s a high 2nd round pick. If you dig a little deeper while there is a nice floor there due to effort, a good ability to jump the snap, and versatility, his ceiling isn’t very high. Someone from the Draft Network compared him to John Simon and I loved the comp, he’s got some Brennan Scarlett in him too. A player who can start but you would prefer to be a part of a rotation. I prefer him in the 3rd round for a team that likes to play in both the 34 and 43 i.e. the Dolphins, Patriots, or Texans and think that the high effort high motor versatility leads him to a pretty long solid NFL career.
78. Ben Bredeson, G Michigan 78
This kid is a really solid football player. I think he projects as a starting caliber guard in the NFL without a ton of upside, but he may have one of the higher floor interior line players in this draft. Bredeson is average or slightly above average in every single aspect of playing the interior. He has decent length, okay agility, and good power and grit playing through each game. His consistency is solid and he plays hard every tape. He rarely gets beat quickly and could probably start earlier in his career more than most players.
Bredeson as a pass protector is decent although his issues with hand striking and only average agility means he likely won’t ever be a top tier pass blocker. He doesn’t lose quickly but at times he can get too straight up and get pushed deep back into the backfield. He reanchors pretty well because he has good power but he doesn’t reset his hands as well as you’d like. His lateral agility is okay but he isn’t exactly a great mover. His technique at mirroring is okay and he is really good at picking up stunts and blitzes and you can see his recognition skills are well above average. He looks like an average pass protector.
As a run blocker he has some legit upside though. I don’t think he plays with great contact balance and his forward lean and misses on quicker slants into the backfield do give him some issues. That said he has good power and his toughness and pop at the point of attack is his greatest attribute. He will finish people at the point and when he gets people off balance or can get the right angle he will flat back people. He doesn’t have great agility though and he’ll swing and miss at the second level.
Bredeson has a nice high floor. I really believe he will be a starting level guard in the NFL. His lack of position flexibility and limited upside means I can’t take him in round 2 and I would certainly prefer him in round 4. That said for teams who are looking for a solid player and someone who at worst can hold his own a round 3 pick could be used a lot worse. Just a rock solid mid round pick with a high floor and somewhat limited upside.
79. Robert Hunt, G Louisiana 78
This dude is a bad man. He absolutely mauls people and while he has a long way to go as a pass protector he is someone who can absolutely move the pile in the run game. He projects as a starting guard in the NFL with upside as a high end run blocker who has the power in his lower half to not get collapsed in pass pro. While he has some technique issues when playing outside he won’t be out there on an island in the NFL. Kicking inside is going to lead to him probably being a better pass protector. He reminds me of Mike Iupati coming out of Idaho a lot. I think he’s a 2nd or 3rd round pick depending on scheme.
As a pass protector he has some things he has to get better at doing. Hunt is going to do well with speed rushers in the league as he has a very good anchor and a strong punch and lower half. He can miss at times though and quicker players on stunts and slants are probably going to give him some problems. His punch is strong but can get a little high allowing some quicker shorter players to allow him to lose some leverage.
As a run blocker he’s someone who can annihilate you at the point. He has tremendous grip strength and his power is in the 90% range of prospects. Quicker players can get underneath him and delayed players can definitely create penetration but if he gets to line up and smash someone across from you he will win.
Overall the kid is an easy guy to scout. He has tremendous power and has some serious ability to move bodies and create huge holes in the running game. His comp to Mike Iupati is just so easy to see and read. While quicker players and a lack of foot quickness will likely lead to him being a good power run blocker and nothing more, there is a lot of teams who will be intrigued with him sometime on day 2.
80. Devin Asiasi, TE UCLA 77
He really needs more reps to get better but he has tremendous upside and shows an aptitude as a pass catching tight end. At 257 pounds he carried some bad weight this season and a year or two in an NFL weight room is going to do wonders for him. He has good top end speed at around a 4.73 and he shows a good feel for zone coverage. Overall the kid is a bit of a project because he’s not a very good in line blocker yet, and coming into this season he only had 8 college catches, so he’s got a ways to go but his upside is as a fairly good pass catching TE1. He shouldn’t get out of round 3, particularly in a fairly mediocre TE draft.
In the passing game he looks solid flexed out as well as in line coming out of his breaks. He eats up space going down the seam easily and I think if he had better offensive line and quarterback play his season may have been outstanding. He does a good job of getting off the initial press with a dip and rip move that allows him to get into his route quickly. Asiasi as a tight end has above average hands and catches it away from his body, he’ll have the occasional big guy drop but for the most part he’s solid here. He has a very good feel for zone and finds his spots well. I think he projects as the pass catching part of a tight end duo, and if he goes to a team that runs a lot of play action deep passes he could excel.
As a run and pass blocker he works hard but just isn’t strong enough yet. While he weighs enough it’s not enough good weight and he does a nice job stock blocking but doesn’t get much push. He looks more comfortable as a move blocker, and an H back, particularly on leads and counters where he seems to be able to use his athleticism better. In line he just has a ways to go as he hasn’t had that many reps but in time he could become something here.
He’s a bit of a projection but his tape shows a lot of upside. I think he could be someone who could end up catching a lot of passes at the NFL level. Every tight end class there is eventually someone drafted later than they should be that becomes a very productive player in the NFL and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it’s this guy. He reminds me a bit of Owen Daniels and a little of Dallas Clark. I doubt he ends up as good as Clark was, and he went to the perfect team for him in Indy but you get my point. He runs well, catches it well, and has a good feel for zone. Round 3 he’s a quality pick and round 4 you’ve got a potential pass catching steal.
81. Lloyd Cushenberry, C LSU 77
A very athletic and long center, Cushenberry has the talent to develop into a solid starter in the NFL, although I think it will be at guard. I like his overall length and the fact that he moves his feet exceptionally well. He has good footwork in his pass sets and when he’s allowed to get out in space he looks the most free and certainly it’s his biggest attribute. Against really good competition he struggles a bit though, Brown at Auburn gave him fits and his Alabama tape wasn’t great. He needs to add serious play strength and to work on his hand placement because power players will hurt him early in his career. Overall I think he’s a 3 position backup who has the talent to develop in time to a starting level player on the inside with upside.
As a pass protector he gives up some pressure and gets put on skates occasionally. While he’s rarely beaten quickly, he does get beat occasionally if the rep lasts longer than the first couple of reads. I have some questions about how fast he diagnoses as well, which is why I think he likely should kick to guard. That said the foot quickness is impressive and he mirrors those with his hands pretty well at this point. He gets out of his stance well too so the athleticism is there but the lack of constantly being able to hold the point of attack against high quality competition is troublesome.
As a run blocker he isn’t a mauler, he’s more of a shield off guy. I don’t think he’s someone who can really play power football yet, but with good length and the ability to add some strength he could develop here. Where he shines is out in space and the movement parts of the game. I will be interested in what he runs at the combine because he seems like he has good foot speed. He’ll get a little too out ahead of his pads in space and can sometimes whiff because he gets too excited.
Overall I think he’s more of a developmental prospect than other analysts do in this draft. The upside is there but there’s a chance he ends up not making it as a starter unless he goes to a movement and screen/draw heavy team. At this point I think the fact he played for the National Champion is giving him more props than he should get and he’s slightly overrated. A 3rd round grade is where he should go because he has the upside to be very good given time but there’s probably an equal chance he ends up a 3 position backup.
82. KJ Hamler, WR Penn State 77
A pretty easy evaluation as a late day 2 pick as he’s pretty much what he is and it’s an easy projection. Hamler is a small guy at 5’9 and around 175 pounds and durability and volume is always going to be a major concern. Guys this size typically miss a ton of games so you’re drafting him with the expectation that the best you can expect is for him to play around 75% of the games you’ll play in his first contract. That said he has tremendous quickness, acceleration, and his straight line speed looks pretty enticing. He’s only a slot receiver, and while he did return a lot of kicks in his career and everyone projects him as a good returner, well his stats in college were below average there. I think he’s a high risk high reward player who I would rather take on day 3 than day 2.
He’s a role player who could end up being a really nice vertical slot option. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and his quickness and acceleration are really impressive. I think he has the potential to be a dynamic slot guy in a couple of seasons but to be honest there’s bust potential there. He drops a lot of passes and he doesn’t track the football well. In the offense Penn State ran, he rarely ran traditional slot routes and instead had most of his production on deeper routes form the slot where safeties went over and covered him. That won’t happen super often where he has such a huge speed advantage at the next level. For Hamler to eventually become a viable consistent weapon he’ll have to improve and grow on his underneath slot route tree.
He’s a projection with really impressive speed and quickness. His size, hands, and route running ability all need improvement and obviously his size isn’t something he can really improve on too much. Hamler plays bigger than 5’9 175 but the odds are he’ll have injury concerns throughout his career. A high risk high reward slot receiver with big play ability, easy evaluation.
83. Kyle Dugger, S/LB Lenoir-Rhyne 77
One of the 5 or so best athletes in this entire draft class is the D2 kid who can really run. He’s a specimen in terms of H/W/S at 6’1 217 pounds with a 4.48 and 42 inch vertical leap. He won the Cliff Harris award for small school defensive player of the year this past season and he has terrific ball skills and is one of the best return men in the country. He’s physical, plays hard, and works his tail off but honestly at this point I don’t see a great football player, just a great athlete. I think it will take him a couple of years before he’s ready to really help a defense, but early in his career you’re looking at potentially a dynamic special teams player.
In terms of his coverage ability I really don’t see him as a safety unless it’s a guy covering tight ends. In zone coverage he drifts too much and relies on his athleticism, because his eyes wander and he loses track of the football often. He’ll get too deep in his drops and he lets guys cross his face at times, getting himself sucked into the routes instead of the play. I think where he fits best in terms of in the passing game is as a nickel or dime linebacker given his size, power, and athleticism where he can match up on tight ends or running backs coming out of the backfield. He’s raw in man coverage for sure but he could eventually turn into a weapon. The nice thing about him though is when he’s around the football he has terrific ball skills and he could end up with a number of interceptions.
In the run game he has the potential to be very good and at times he’ll come downhill and thump you. He’s not a terrific wrap up tackler at this point but he obviously has room to grow with insane arm length and speed. Honestly he may be best suited in the NFL to a 43 will linebacker spot or as a big nickel playing that hybrid type role.
Right now he’s a terrific athlete who has a ways to go in terms of technique and processing. It’s tough to pass up on 10/10 athletes though who have been productive. He projects as a high end special teams player and a good return man who can help in sub packages throughout his career. Early on that may be the only way he contributes unless it’s as a run and chase guy because his processing is well below average. High risk but high reward type of draft pick with upside to the moon but a floor as simply a special teamer. Round 3 is a good risk-reward spot for him.
84. Noah Igbinoghene, CB Auburn 77
A really good athlete who has only played two years of cornerback for Auburn. Igbinoghene is a converted wide receiver who came out of school after his junior year which was honestly a huge mistake. The kid needs more reps and he has the potential if he had continued to improve to be a first round pick in 2021. That said right now he’s a physical player who can really run and who mixes in impressive upside with a really low floor. As a pure cornerback right now he struggles with his back to the ball, doesn’t have great recognition skills, and despite being a former receiver only has 2 career interceptions. That said he’s got a stocky build, plays super tough, is a phenomenal kick returner, and projects as an elite special teams player. Round 3 feels right with round 1 upside in two years and being a career special teamer as the floor.
High risk high reward type draft pick here because he runs well and is still very new at the position. Igbinoghene does mix in a number of high quality reps throughout his tape. You can see the potential for him learning to be a good corner given time but it’s a big risk because if he played immediately in the NFL he would be one of the bottom 10 or 12 corners in the league. He panics with his back to the quarterback and doesn’t have a great feel for the game. He’ll get caught flat footed and despite his speed, he can give up big plays. In zone he’s better because he can see the quarterback but due to lack of reps he gives up some catches he shouldn’t. All of this can be fixed in time, but it’s certainly not a guarantee.
His positives are pretty high though. While he’s not tall he has pretty long arms and plays extremely physically. He has the potential to be a Pro Bowl special teams player as he’s a very good kick returner and could be one of the league’s best gunners. His speed and explosiveness are on full display sometimes and he won’t get outmatched often in terms of physicality or pure speed. For someone who hasn’t played defense long he shows a willingness to tackle and mix it up, and he will deliver some big hits.
I gave him a 3 because I split the difference on floor and ceiling. My thought on him is at worst you have someone who could be elite on special teams and that’s worth a fourth round pick if you get a guy to completely buy in and I think he would do that. There’s a chance he never develops as a corner but he shows glimpses of being able to handle the responsibility but if you think he’s going to help you as a rookie in the defensive backfield you are badly mistaken. Given a couple more years though you could have a very good corner but it’s a risk. He’ll likely go in round 2 as a traits based player but for me, I can’t take him until the 3rd with the knowledge he could be a miss.
85. Logan Wilson, LB Wyoming 77
He’s a good football player and someone every single team needs in their locker room. He averaged over 100 tackles per season for 4 consecutive years and was a team captain the last 3 seasons for the Cowboys. Wilson has good athleticism for the position, has really good instincts in coverage, and is the best form tackler in this draft. While he doesn’t show much as a blitzer and right now he struggles to get off blocks, he projects as at worst a rotational linebacker and a core special teams player but I honestly think he’s a long term starter in the NFL as a high volume tackler and solid zone cover guy.
I’m going to start with some things that could have him slipping to day 3 in this draft. Primarily he isn’t very good getting off blocks at this point and that’s not going to improve his rookie season as he goes up a level or two or eight in competition. While he has good length he just is too late to use it and he allows players to get into his body. His DT’s at Wyoming weren’t very good and he had to avoid blockers consistently and yet he still ended up with 100 tackles per campaign. He also needs better eye discipline as he can get sucked out of a play or out of position too often. Counters and misdirections give him problems at times, and he’ll get himself two or three steps the wrong direction before coming back.
Wilson is one of the better tacklers in this entire draft though. The way he wraps up and brings down ball carriers is a clinic and it’s something that will translate well to the next level. He’s athletic enough and has a high football IQ and he recognizes route concepts and gets proper depth consistently. While I don’t know if he’s going to be a good man defender, he didn’t do it often, he looked really smooth in zone. There were a number of times that he forced the quarterback to pull the ball down because he had jumped the route. He’s just a good player.
I don’t think he’s some dynamic game changer on defense but I think it’s tough to find good tackling, good zone cover guys who can probably play all four phases. Wilson is rock solid with a very high floor and these are the types of guys you love to grab in rounds 3 and 4. As a rookie you may need to play him mostly on special teams until he can get up to speed on the game and figure out how to get off blocks better and get better eye discipline but honestly I wouldn’t count him out. By year 2 he’s likely going to be a starter and I could see him being a triple digit tackle guy in the NFL sooner rather than later. I don’t see a super high ceiling but he’s a quality football player with a sky high floor.
86. Logan Sternberg, G Kentucky 77
A strong as an ox power blocker who doesn’t move well. Sternberg plays with a serious mean streak and has exceptional grip strength and pop. As a gap blocker he’s one of the better ones in this draft, who can move people with ease in the run game and has the nastiness to finish people off and pancake people when he gets them off balance. That said he also isn’t flexible and doesn’t bend well, he projects as a below average pass protector and won’t give you much in any type of movement based scheme. Sternberg is a good football player who would be a true mauler you want to have one or two of on every single line. He just won’t be a good pass protecting guard and doesn’t have any position flexibility. He’s a round 3 guy for a gap heavy team, but you want him in round 4 if you can wait.
Sternberg has arguably the best grip strength of any player in this class. Sternberg struggles with getting off the ball at times and even though he has serious power his lack of hip flexibility means that players can put him on skates at times off the snap. He has crazy hand strength though and reanchors very well. It’s rare than someone he gets his hands on gets in on the play even if he’s shoved back at the snap.
In the pass game though he’s likely going to be below average. While he can certainly reanchor as well as any player in this class, the fact that he can’t bend his knees well and he’s slow off the Ball at times collapses the pocket more than you would want. Quicker defenders cause him issues as well and the lack of speed that he has is going to be a problem at the next level. Blitzing linebackers are going to give him fits as well.
Sternberg is going to be a starting level guard in his career because he has crazy strength and he plays hard and tough. Sternberg is probably somewhere in the 8/9 out of 10 range on power and there are going to be teams who really like his pop. His ability to grab a hold of people and not let them make plays after he latches on is really impressive. Overall though he just doesn’t have the upside to be anything more than an average guard because he’s not someone who can be trusted against speed rushers or smaller guys in pass pro.
87. Ben Bartch, OL St. John’s 77
The kid is a good football player who still has potential to get better and better. He’s an athletic guy and started his career as a Johnnie at tight end before making 27 consecutive starts at left tackle. He could still add a bit more weight to his almost 6’6 frame as right now he weighs in around 305 pounds. He was impressive during the Senior Bowl week and he was one of the rare ones who looked pretty good during the one on ones. While he has decent arm length at 33 inches there’s a shot he kicks inside to guard at the next level. I’ve heard the comp to Ali Marpet, another small school kid who got kicked inside and there’s a little bit there. He needs a year to add strength to his game and to refine some technique things but he could be a starter in year two with some upside.
Bartch as a pass protector has some things to work out but his tape is good for the most part. While he certainly needs help because he’ll overreach and get out in front of his feet too much, he has adequate play strength, and good athleticism on the edge. His technique and stance timing sequence needs work as he’ll sometimes explode off the ball and other times he looks a half tick slow. He recognizes blitzes and delayed rushers very well and has a good feel for the play. The main issue I notice with Bartch though is that he is way too passive in his pass sets. He will let the defender get a full on 3 steps before making contact, which collapses the pocket from the outside before the edge defender even makes contact. He has to bring the fight more to the defenders at the next level or he’ll give up cheap sacks.
As a run blocker, even though he’s still adding weight and strength he has some nasty to his game. While it was clearly against lesser competition Bartch at times would manhandle smaller defenders. Although on a very pass happy offense it was fun to watch when the team would run duo or gap schemes to his side and just watch him demolish smaller edge players. He has good athleticism as well and enough length and quickness to perform reach blocks and stretch plays. He still needs to add strength and refine his hand placement which is actually fairly good for someone with only two years at the position there’s a chance for him to be a good run blocker.
Overall as with any small school kid it’ll likely be a year of sitting before he should play a ton. That said he’s talented and still has room to grow both figuratively and literally. I think his athleticism makes him a potential fit at tackle but he may be a better fit at guard. That versatility means that at worst you have someone who could be a four position backup which to me screams 3rd round. He’s tough with good football IQ and I thought his Senior Bowl week was impressive. Not sure if he’s a guard or a tackle but I think he could end up as a quality starter or even better in a year or two.
88. Ezra Cleveland, OT Boise State 77
This is a perfect example of a 3rd round pick and what you should look for there. He has some serious athleticism and upside and at worst as a floor you’re getting a 4 position backup. Cleveland has enough athleticism and length to play either side and his tape is solid if unspectacular. He never panics and is the most calm blocker I’ve watched this year. While his hands can get too low at times and he’ll allow the occasional speed rusher and the occasional bull rusher to beat him, he typically does a nice job. I think Cleveland is someone who can develop into a starter in time but who may have a nice long career as a third tackle because of versatility, length, and solid consistent tape.
Cleveland in pass protection is pretty decent. He has good quality length and decent feet overall. He always sets with good overall angles and rarely allows himself to get dominated at the point. He notices stunts and blitzes well and rarely oversets or gets too out of position. When his hands get too low it causes a little problem as quicker and stronger shorter players can push him back into the pocket but his anchor isn’t terrible. Overall he does a nice job but super high quality players will beat him. He needs to add both technique improvements and strength but he looks like there is potential for him to be solid here.
As a run blocker he’s got a little ways to go. He lacks the leverage and pop to really get a ton of movement but as a zone blocker he has some skills. His footwork and the angles he takes are pretty high quality. While he doesn’t dominate players and good players can fall off him at times because he doesn’t have overwhelming grip strength. He needs to get stronger and to use his leverage and hand usage better but given a couple of years he has potential. If he’s a zone blocker, he has the quickness to get better here.
The kid doesn’t have top tier upside but he has starter potential. He needs to add grip strength and pop and to play with better technique but he has enough calmness to his game that I think he won’t lose quickly often. If he doesn’t play with better contact balance and strength though he likely won’t be able to play early in his career. As a long term guy he projects as a quality third tackle or a starter in time. I love how calm he plays and his lack of panic. In round 3 I would certainly be looking at Cleveland as a four position backup as his floor and as a potential left tackle which are hard to find in the draft.
89. Lamichal Perine, RB Florida 76
Perine is a good football player who doesn’t have a ton of rushing attempts but projects to be a very dependable RB2 in the NFL. He’s not a burner and has average NFL size with a 4.62 at around 215 pounds. That said he’s competent in short yardage situations, is a good route runner and pass catcher for a running back, and has good contact balance and plus vision. While I don’t see a ton of upside in him as he lacks the traits to be elite, he’s above average at virtually everything for a running back and I could see him being a quality four phase guy as early as his rookie season.
As a pure running back he’s got good vision and patience, he sees the hole and lets his blocks develop. The Florida offensive line wasn’t very good but he consistently got the yards that were available to him and rarely made mistakes there. I like how he stayed on his feet when linebackers didn’t wrap up and he got a ton of his big plays all on his own. I doubt he breaks many big runs in the NFL but he’ll get what’s blocked for him consistently with the ability to bounce off tacklers here and there. Inside zone plays will be his bread and butter.
In the passing game he’s not going to be a matchup problem but he’s consistent and reliable. While he didn’t pass protect much for the Gators he did an okay job here. Where he looks solid is on check downs and he shows soft hands on swing passes. He even would split out and run slants effectively at times which is a major plus. While he doesn’t project as a big time threat, he’s above average here.
You add all of this up, plus given his physicality and low mileage and I think you have a gunner on special teams, a solid backup rotational running back on all 3 downs, and a quality football player for a while. I don’t think he’s someone who will ever light up a stat sheet but reliable players with high floors are really nice to add. He should be a target early on day 3 for a team looking for running back depth as he can probably give you a little bit of everything in the running back room. High floor guy.
90. Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma 76
Hurts is an interesting quarterback prospect in that he’s certainly not an elite thrower of the football but he’s a terrific athlete. I think he projects best as a backup quarterback who can give a team a boost when he has to play due to really good athleticism and toughness, and an innate ability to pick up big plays with his legs. He doesn’t throw with anticipation and he’ll miss the occasional easy throw, but overall the kid wins everywhere he goes and I think he could end up being an athletic tough backup who might be able to stick in the league for a while.
As the NFL has gone to more of an athlete who plays quarterback era instead of just a pure pocket passer, it’s allowed teams to begin to look at players with Hurts profile. He’s 6’1 and 220 pounds but he’s an athletic runner who runs sub 4.6 right now. In true NFL throws he struggles to lead receivers and is instead more of a guy with mediocre accuracy. I love how he runs with power though and he’s a very good goal line runner who is tough to bring down and he has plus vision.
In terms of being a pocket thrower he’s not where he should be though. Hurts has above average arm strength though so he has a chance to be the type of guy who can stretch the defense vertically while he can run with power while the safeties are pushed back. Right now he’s a backup with upside, but drafting him to be a starter in the next year or two is probably a mistake. He’s athletic, smart, and tough, it’s the perfect combination of a backup quarterback who could eventually become a starting quarterback in the league.
91. AJ Dillon, RB Boston College 76
Really easy evaluation here of what this kid is and will likely be at the next level. He’s a punishing big runner at 250 pounds who runs a 4.53. He has over 800 carries at the college level and is a downhill pile driver who is decently nimble and falls forward. Dillon is a two down back who looks like he won’t give you much if anything in the passing game, and despite his big size he’s only okay in pass protection. He’s a two down thumper who lacks the quickness or acceleration to be a top tier player but he’s someone who can wear down defenses and could be the power part of a committee in the NFL.
The combine was big for him because he’s likely a 3rd round pick now because of his size and speed combination, paired with that vertical. That said his tape is only okay and the wear and tear on his body make it pretty unlikely he lasts more than 4 or 5 years in the league playing the way he does. He’s a downhill, power runner who will likely be almost solely a first and second down back and a goal line guy. His vision is solid and I like that he drives the pile, and picks up dirty yards. I just don’t see him as someone who will consistently break off big chunks and he’s likely gonna give you very little as a pass catcher.
I’m not going to dive too far into this evaluation. It’s always nice for a team to have someone like this who has good build up speed and size and can help pound away at defenses. just like almost any running back, if he goes to the right situation he has a chance to be successful. He’s a bit like James Conner or Gus Edwards in that he’s going to fall forawrd, get you what’s blocked, but likely isn’t going to be dynamic or anything like that. I would much prefer him in the 4th or 5th round but that size and speed likely means he’s a day 2 kid.
92. Terrell Lewis, OLB Alabama 76
His tape is that of a 6th or 7th rounder in my opinion, and his injury history is a major red flag. That said though, damn this kid has some talent and his H/W/S is really impressive. To me you can’t take him until the end of day 2 at the earliest and I wouldn’t really personally want to pull the trigger until round 4 but there’s an upside here you don’t typically get. Lewis was a 5 star out of high school and is 6’5 262 pounds with 34 inch arms and really enticing athleticism. If someone can figure out how to get the most out of him he’s a first round talent, but the injury history, missing almost 2 full seasons, and the take it or leave it tape are hard to ignore. Late 3 for me but he’ll almost assuredly go earlier than that based on upside.
I’m going to skip over the H/W/S portion because it’s easy to say he’s a 9 or a 10 there. As a pure football player there are some things you want to work with here. There are times when he times up the snap count that his initial get off is really impressive. He uses his supreme length and initial burst and explosiveness to get into the body of offensive tackles quickly. He does this and then uses an inside move to at times create quick pressure. He’s not a good finisher in the backfield yet despite the length but he does create quick havoc at times.
In the run game he needs to get stronger at the point and he simply doesn’t make many tackles. He’s okay setting the edge but you would think with his athleticism he would be better here. I just think he needs more reps and more strength and essentially despite the fact that he looks absolutely shredded, he just doesn’t play as strong as he looks. I doubt he ever ends up being an even average volume tackler as a 34 OLB.
This write up is almost purely speculation. He has a fairly high ceiling because of all the aforementioned talent and explosiveness but his floor is super low. Early in his career I just don’t know how much you can play him because I’m not sure what he’ll give you expect the occasional early pressure when he times the snap count correctly but it’s doubtful he ever is a sack artist. A guy with his size and athleticism is extremely enticing, and he could certainly help you on special teams early in his career but he’s a developmental prospect with injury history. I can’t use a top 75 pick on a guess and a low floor. Somewhere around pick 90 to 100 though he could be worth a flier.
93. Cameron Dantzler, CB Mississippi State 76
Dantzler is a bit of a tough evaluation because for the most part he puts up pretty damn good tape but I think his transition to the NFL might not be great. He’s slow, at 4.62 and he plays a bit slow as well. He also is lanky at 6’2 and 190 pounds and people with thin builds typically end up on the training table in the NFL, he already missed some games in college. He also already gives up a handful of easy short completions per game, and those drive me nuts, I hate the occasional easy 8 yard gimme and he had one or two of those almost every tape. That said he typically holds his own on the outside and the length and size are major pluses. If you have a DC who plays a lot of zone with occasional press man and he likes big outside guys, he’s someoen you can certainly look at in round 3.
In terms of pure coverage skills he put up some pretty solid college tape. He looks relatively smooth for someone his size and he’s physical at the catch point, making things difficult on wide receivers. I don’t know if he’s going to be a high interception guy in the league because he’s not sudden but he’s solid here and attacks the football fairly well. He’ll give up the occasional short ball because he lacks the quick twitch and his explosion despite being a long jumper is only okay on tape. I also think in terms of being a press man corner, speed guys are going to simply run by him. He’s likely going to be a sometimes press man, but mostly cover 2 and cover 3 type guy. You also have to note that he consistently got a lot of help from his blitz heavy scheme in college and wasn’t asked to cover for a long period of time, it helped his tape.
In the run game he comes down hill and tries to make plays. Despite his length he’s below average getting off blocks. He doesn’t wrap up very well but he’ll fire his gun and comes downhill with pretty good toughness for the most part. I like him blitzing off the short side too, on tape he did it a few times and was typically pretty successful. I think he could end up being a decent gunner on special teams.
He’s a big zone corner with decent toughness and good length. His tape was solid but you have to live with the fact he’ going to give up the occasional slant and short out because he lacks the deep speed to run with burners. I love his size but again he’s scheme specific. He’s a zone corner most likely in the league who will need to develop his tackling skills, but if he goes to the right team in round 3 you could have a quality starter but that’s likely his ceiling.
94. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Missorui 76
Total projection over what he can be and someone who is the ultimate boom or bust type player in the NFL. On one hand you have a guy who is 6’5, 260 pounds with 34 inch arms and the guy runs a freaking 4.49 at the combine. On the other hand you have someone who has some people questioning his toughness, bad route running, and mediocre at best blocking. He has 23 career touchdown catches which is a plus but less than 100 total catches as well. Okwuegbunam has major upside and major bust potential and therefore he’s someone you can’t take in the first two rounds but after that, if you have a plan for him as a stretch tight end who can challenge a defense down the field, you may get rewarded nicely. You just have to understand he may never put it together. High risk, high reward.
Okwuegbunam will make his mark in the NFL by stretching the seam and running downfield routes. He can really jump and is a true weapon in the redzone as you can tell by his 23 career touchdown catches. You add in that size and wing span and put sub 4.5 speed and you have someone with truly elite traits. There are not many people like him in the entire NFL so you can understand why he was getting first round buzz in the 2019 preseason. This is where he’ll thrive, as his ball skills appear solid and his speed is incredible for his size. He looks pretty solid in pass protection as well in the few games I watched of him, while he’s not going to pop you in pass pro, his length is really impressive and his feet do a good job in mirroring.
The negatives though are pretty clear. He’s a bad route runner, not below average, not has promise, just bad. It takes him a day and a half to come out of his breaks and he telegraphs them terribly. He gets off the line with decent urgency but it’s never really that quick. He’ll never be a good underneath or first down getter because he simply lacks the quickness and his hips are too tight to flip through and create separation. As an inline blocker he mixes decent reps with ones where he looks disinterested. He has a long way to go here but about one out of six or seven reps he shows some dominance, it makes you question how much he loves football though.
He’s a really difficult player to gauge because on one hand you can’t teach that size and speed combination and he looks like someone who can score. Tight ends don’t run 4.49 at 260 pounds so when you find one that does and has ball skills it piques your interest. I don’t think he can ever turn into a TE1 because he isn’t much of a run blocker and his inability to create any type of separation underneath is a major issue. He also has some shoulder injury history that could cause him to drop. That said if he’s still around on day 3, which I really doubt he will be because of his traits he’s 100% worth the risk. Play him flexed out and see if you can get some mismatches here and there and throw him fades in the redzone and you could have a weapon. Just understand that you’re drafting someone with a very low floor and he could certainly be a guy who doesn’t get a second contract. The upside though is a field stretching tight end who linebackers can’t run with and safeties aren’t big enough for. One of the truly high risk reward players in the entire class.
95. Jordyn Brooks, LB Texas Tech 76
He’s a bit of a difficult evaluation because of the type of defense he was asked to play at Tech. In passing downs, which were frequent in the Big 12, he was almost exclusively a blitzer or a spy. While he was fairly effective in this role, it’s not a role that’s typical for an NFL defense. Brooks is an excellent tackler and racked up 360 in his four year career as a starter for the Red Raiders. He struggles to get off blocks but has supreme athleticism and really good size at 6’ and 240 pounds running in the low 4.5s. He’s mostly a projection despite 4 years of starting because he was never asked to cover. I think he could be a guy who can get most of the reps on running downs, and some of the reps eventually on passing downs in the league because he has the athleticism to cover just not the experience. He’s likely a very good special teams option early in his career as well with the H/W/S combination. I think he’s someone I would prefer grabbing in round 4 but I could understand someone really liking him in the 3rd.
Brooks as a run defender has mostly pluses but a couple things that he struggles doing. He’s a high volume tackler despite never dropping in coverage which shows that he plays the run well. Brooks has good instincts and typically reads the play well. This last year he got more aggressive as well and played more downhill, it led to more overruling the play but a lot more TFL’s too. He was top ten in college football in TFL’s this past season. He struggles to get off blocks despite long arms though and good linemen in the league are likely to give him problems until he cleans it up. Overall though he’s an above average run defender with the top end speed to go sideline to sideline. He just needs to get off his blocks better.
In the passing game he’s a complete enigma. While he has the athletic ability and long arms you crave in someone playing zone coverage, he almost never did it in Lubbock and when he did he looked a little wonky and panicky. He showed good skills as a spy but it’s a position that has started to wane in the league even with more rushing quarterbacks. He’s got decent feel as a blitzer though and has some pop and really good acceleration. Overall though he likely won’t be able to play on passing downs for a while but there’s long term upside here if he can figure it out or be used primarily in the blitz/spy role early.
Brooks is a borderline day 2 kid because the production and H/W/S are there. He also has some warts to his game and you never like it when kids struggle to get off blocks in college because it gets so much more difficult in the NFL. The fact that he has good speed but was never asked to cover is another bit of a red flag. Overall though I think he starts quite a few games in his career because he’s a high quality tackler and that’s just always going to be needed. Worst case scenario he’s a part time linebacker and high upside special teams player. Those are qualities that mean he can’t last past round 4 no matter what.
96. Terrell Burgess, DB Utah 75
This is the perfect guy you want to add to your team on day 3 if he falls that far. Burgess is known throughout the Utah football team as the best teammate, most prepared, and person who is best thought of as a person. You add to that the fact that he can play slot, corner, box safety, or single high and is a quality special teams player and you have that 5th or 6th DB that every team in the NFL wants. He ran a really good 4.46 at the combine and despite having well below average length, he put himself squarely in the Day 2 conversation this past season. Burgess only started for one year at Utah, but his tape was supremely impressive, and he’s a guy that if he manages to fall to the 4th round should be an immediate target for all 32 NFL teams.
There are some negatives to his game that everyone has to be aware of and they are pretty obvious. First he really only started one season for the Utes, and while he played well he is a converted cornerback who moved into the safety and nickel position this year. Secondly, he’s well below average when it comes to size and length to play the slot position. He has below 30 inch arms, plays around 200 pounds, and only has a 33 inch vertical leap, so big slots and tight ends could eat him alive in one on one coverage. He projects best as a dime, third safety, and slot corner on smaller guys so despite his versatility to play all over the place, you have to try to keep him from being one on one with big bodied guys.
The positives are clear though. He’s got quick feet and better long speed than you would think for a traditional safety. He has the ability to play literally every position on the back end of your defense and be a core special teams player, that versatility saves roster spots which makes him exceptionally valuable. I like him playing that third safety in the big nickel role because despite his size he is a very quality tackler in space. He is known for being the most prepared player on the defense and it shows up on tape, he’s almost never out of position and knows where the ball is going before its’ snapped consistently. He is good in coverage, no doubt, he rarely gives up much separation on the inside.
I think he’s a perfect round 4 prospect. He might not make it to me if I wait for him here because his tape is good and his demeanor is great. Burgess works community outreach programs, works his ass off, and his teammates and coaches love him. He’s played special teams for 2 seasons and is exceptionally versatile. That said, he is limited a bit in what he can bring you due to his size and you have to wonder if he’ll hold up due to his slight build. There’s a chance he doesn’t make it to round four though with his speed and tape this season, but if he does he could be valuable to literally every NFL team.
97. Lynn Bowden, ATH Kentucky 75
He’s just a damn good football player. Bowden was a receiver his first two years for the Wildcats but this year when his team needed it, he moved to option quarterback en route to becoming the nation’s first team all American as an All Purpose player. He ran for around 1400 yards after moving back from slot receiver and showed a team first mentality and toughness that you love to see. He got in a fight before his bowl game this year, which I know should really piss me off but he just plays with that kind of edge, even during the game that teams need a little bit of. I don’t know where he plays, as ultimately he should be a slot receiver but he’s not super fast and his route running before this season needed refinement. He’s a developmental prospect who will probably return punts and be a wildcat gadget type player, running back, and part time slot receiver early in his career.
I don’t know why I like him so much, but I just can’t get enough of watching him play. He’s exceptionally difficult to tackle in the open field and shows really impressive vision running the ball. He’s not overly quick or fast but he has some nice suddenness to his game when he decides to turn upfield. I love his patience letting blocks develop, and he sees the field very well. I’m not sure if a move to running back full time will be in the cards but he’s almost 210 pounds so as a part time RB I could see it. He could be a very good punt returner immediately.
As a receiver he has a ways to go as he’s not really a precise route runner and he won’t scare you vertically. Where he’ll be impressive there is on screens, under, and fly sweeps where you can just let him create on his own. He doesn’t have the best hands but they aren’t bad and with his quickness and toughness it wouldn’t be surprising to see him develop in time to a starting level slot receiver.
Bowden is just a good player. Early in his career he’s probably a special teamer mostly with a good upside as a punt returner and toughness and physicality as a gunner. He could be your 3rd or 4th running back, wide receiver, and top gunner on special teams and that ability to provide quality depth for at least one contract is worth a lot. He obviously has the potential as a wildcat quarterback in the red-zone as well, and he would give something for DC’s to think about throughout each week. I just think he’s a good player, I don’t know where to play him and in a super deep WR draft I don’t think I can take him in the 3rd round, but on day 3 just give me the best players, and he’s a good one.
98. Trey Adams, OT Washington 75
The real question here with Adams isn’t if he can play, he certainly can and would probably be in the early day 2 discussion for me on tape alone. The real question is where his medicals check out. He had so many serious injuries at Washington including a back injury that is a serious red flag. A couple of seasons ago there was a chance this kid was a top 10 pick at left tackle, now it would be almost impossible to take him on the first two days of the draft because you aren’t sure how long his career will be.
His pluses are obvious and clear. He has ridiculous length and hand strength and at 6’8 and 320 pounds bullrushers are simply stoned almost every time. The kid is built to play tackle in the NFL. His reps are consistently solid and he doesn’t lose quickly almost ever, which is critical. Adams’ length allows him to push speed rushers past the edge and around the quarterback and his angle he takes out of his stance is consistent. He doesn’t give up the inside quickly. He recognizes stunts and games well and isn’t going to give up cheap sacks often.
His power as a run blocker is good although I would expect him to be better given how strong his hands are. I think at times he stands too straight up and so he doesn’t get the push you would expect and that lack of leverage can sometimes get him to backpedal an extra half step against a straight on pass rusher. That said he’s a good run blocker who typically plays well in that regard.
Some of the negatives about his game are the fact that he is simply not a real agile guy. His feet aren’t bad but he bends at the waist too much and therefore smaller guys at times can fall off of him, particularly at the second level. He isn’t going to ever be a good blocker in space which limits which schemes you could take him in. Also speed rushers, particularly outside can get to his edges quickly as that big frame takes a bit. These aren’t horrible red flags as he does a nice job for the most part but projecting him to the next level they are going to be issues.
Overall the kid is a good football player and he has the potential to be a really quality tackle in the NFL. That said he’s not a perfect guy and some of his earlier rankings of a top 10 prospect were probably too high to begin with. He’s someone without injury history though would be in the top 40-50 conversation and now he might fall out of the top 100. Adams could be one of the better risk-reward prospects in this class. You just have to understand that injury history is real and he could not even make it to his second contract.
99. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT Auburn 75
One of the more raw prospects I’ve watched this year is Wanogho from Auburn, but his upside is pretty evident. The first and most obvious thing that just jumps out on tape is how athletic the kid is, he can really move for someone his size. A former basketball player who moved to the U.S. to pursue hoops, he’s still pretty new to the sport. His hand placement and technique have miles to go until he’s ready to start in the NFL means to me he should be looked at in round 3 and no earlier but the talent is pretty impressive and there will certainly be some line coaches, particularly in movement oriented schemes who are going to be wanting to get their hands on the Prince.
As a pass protector the nice thing about him is he won’t get “out-athleted” very often out there on an island. He has really good feet and solid length that means that the speed rushers who play the 9 technique won’t intimidate him. This leads me to believe he has a chance to be a decent swing tackle earlier in his career if need be. That said he can be a little late getting out of his stance when the ball is snapped and therefore even though he’s a good athlete those quick twitch guys can get home. He’ll stand too straight up at times as well and although on the tapes I watched he anchored okay, he could get bullied early as he doesn’t have the sand in his pants you’d want. His hand placement is all over the place as well and if it doesn’t get cleaned up he’ll be a penalty machine.
As a run blocker and in the screen game the kid has a shot to be very productive. Wanogho is such an easy mover in space and he gets to the second level with ease. The issues I find right now are he doesn’t move people when he gets there, he simply turns them despite them being 50-100 pounds less than him. He can get out on the edges but doesn’t hammer people and his motor runs a little hot and cold at times during the game. He lacks the power to play in gap scheme so you’re looking at a movement scheme based guy here and I don’t see him moving to guard unless it’s a super zone heavy run scheme so he has some limitations there.
I get the appeal here, I really do. He has all the tools you’d look for in a left tackle prospect and one who could maybe even play the right side if you want someone who can move at that spot. That said he has miles to go to be a good pro and therefore I can’t draft him in the first two rounds, honestly I would like him way more in the 4th than the 3rd in this draft that is very deep at the tackle spots. He just has a very long way to go and it might take until year 3 to get any consistently good games from him. He could be a swing tackle and that might be all he ends up being. There is very high reward here if he pairs his tools with strength and technique but the risk is someone who is at best a backup.
100. Matt Hennessey, C Temple 75
Here’s a good football player who has some warts but certainly has the ability and toughness to develop into a quality starting center. While Hennessey isn’t an outstanding athlete and could stand to gain 10-15 pounds of muscle, he wins way more reps than he loses. In 2018 he was credited by PFF as only giving up two pressures all season, although I think he probably gave up a couple more than that. He puts up good tape but doesn’t have the overall dominance but typically wins almost every rep he puts out there. He’s a very solid player who should be looked at in the round 3 range.
He was a difficult evaluation because his tape and the reps he put out there were consistently solid but you can see he might struggle early in his career at the NFL level. He can give up a step or two with really powerful defensive tackles and at the next level that will prove problematic. While he has good movement skills and really positive length for a center he doesn’t look powerful and can get put on skates if he misses his strike. He has good IQ and recognition skills though and likely won’t give up any cheap sacks in his career. Hennessey sees the game well.
As a run blocker there are some positives, particularly out in space. When he gets to the second level he does a really nice job of latching on. A lot of guys have people fall off them and while Hennessey isn’t a powerful guy he doesn’t often allow the guys he hits to bounce off and make plays. He’s the same way in the passing game, he rarely lets the defender disengage quickly. He takes solid angles and looks like a big time plus in the screen game. His lack of power is sometimes noticeable though and while he’ll get stalemates at times he’s not a big time mover of people.
Hennessey is a nice player without many glaring weaknesses. He looks average to slightly above average at everything without the ability I think to be a top tier player. I’m not sure he can start right away as he might need a year or two to develop but his technique is pretty solid and you can tell he’s tough. I like his typical reps as he rarely loses quickly and he does a nice job of locking on. That said he needs to add strength in his lower half to avoid the issues that players moving up a level tend to have. He has starters upside though in a couple of seasons and in round 3 for a team with an aging center or that runs a lot of screens, draws, and stretch plays he could fit in nicely.
101. Troy Pride Jr, CB Notre Dame 75
A 5’11 corner with good length and excellent top end speed, Pride has the ability to be a very good corner in the league. That said he doesn’t have great ball skills and has trouble locating it at times, giving himself some penalties occasionally. While there is a lot to work with for the track star, and I believe he has an opportunity to run in the 4.30 range at the combine, he simply gives up too many completions. The possibilities are good here with him but he needs another couple of years to develop into what he can be. If he could improve his on ball production and become a better and more forceful tackler he could turn into a starting corner in the NFL.
He plays a variety of different coverage looks from press, to inside tech, to press and bail to off. Notre Dame players are coached very well and you can tell he’s a smart guy with good football IQ. His technique isn’t sloppy at this point it just seems like he doesn’t have the world’s best feel for when the football is coming. In 37 games he only had 4 interceptions and this past season he only had 6 pbu. That said he typically is in phase with receivers and rarely gives up a ton of separation. The times that Pride is beaten badly is really rare. Like I said, there are positives to his game no doubt.
He’s a bit soft when it comes to coming up and tackling and getting off blocks. He’s too easily controlled by receivers in the run or screen game and is more of a throw your body in the way guy instead of a tackler outside. Despite him looking more comfortable with his eyes on the QB, I wonder about his ability to play Zone due to his lack of pop and power and not wanting to hit people.
Overall the kid has potential and it’s tough when you have good size and excellent speed to not want to take the player higher. That said he simply is a better prospect than a player right now. Round 3 feels right to me for him and in round 4 you’re getting an excellent value. He played well at the Senior Bowl during the week and he has consistently gotten better throughout his career. I would start to look for him to go on the back half of the 2nd day, but could see someone falilng in love with the H/W/S and grabbing him in the 40s.
102. Van Jefferson, WR Florida 75
Jefferson is an outstanding route runner who lacks the elite physical traits to be more than a 3rd or low end WR2. That said he’s about as solid as you will find and he plays with a consistency that you love to find. When you watch his tape it’s pretty obvious that his father played professional football for a long time. He’s a true professional route runner who catches the ball fairly well but Jefferson lacks the straight line speed and explosiveness to scare defensive backs. I think he’s someone in that 3rd or 4th round range discussion as an impressive route runner who can be the chain mover in a wide receiver room.
Where he thrives is when he’s allowed to get a free release off the line and on in breaking routes. He’s absolutely nasty on slant routes and back shoulder throws. I love how he gets upfield after the catch and while he’s not slippery in the open field he does a great job of getting downhill as quickly as possible. He’s a good chain mover and while he’s not the most natural hand catcher of the football he’s solid there. He creates separation well particularly when he has a corner playing off, as he gets pushed off the line by good press corners.
He lacks the speed and explosiveness to threaten anyone. So I seriously doubt he ends up being anything more than a WR3 but he has the ability to really be a quality depth piece in that room. Jefferson is solid as can be, but he has very limited upside. I think he’s clearly best as a slot option in the NFL but his quickness is only okay. He figures out ways to get open and I think he could be someone who could be a solid reliable target at the next level, and he doesn’t need any seasoning. He’s ready to produce right now as a 3rd or 4th option on an NFL roster.
103. Hakeem Adeniji, OG Kansas 74
This is a pretty good football player who I think will end up being a player in the league for a while. Adeniji is athletic, tough, and seems to be a smart football player. While he played almost his entire career at left tackle and has the length to play outside, he doesn’t have the pop in his hands so he projects best as a movement based guard in the NFL. At the Senior Bowl they moved him inside and while he got beat in some on on ones, he was pretty damn good in the game. I think he projects as a round 3 or 4 guy, I would prefer round 4 but in a movement based scheme and particularly after a year or two in the weight room, he could be a starter.
In pass protection he seems smart and has taken a lot of winning reps. He also can drop his hands too low and let players get into his body. I think on the outside he would overstep or let better pass rushers take advantage of some of his technique issues but that will likely get cleaned up a bit on the interior. He certainly needs to learn the position after mostly playing tackle, and the lack of pop in his hands scares me a bit about people collapsing the pocket on him, but he held his own against some good power rushers as well.
As a run blocker he doesn’t get a bunch of movement as he’ll hit you a bit too high at times. That said he rarely gives up quick losses and he has really good athleticism. He looks comfortable in space and I think in a team that utilizes a lot of screens and draws he could be highly effective. Adeniji uses angles to his advantage and at times he’ll get you on your edge and drive you a few yards off the ball. He doesn’t have power but he plays hard and can get movement that way.
He is probably a year or two away from really being a starter in the league because he needs to add strength and pop to his hands. Also while the transition from tackle to guard is easier than the other way around, it’s still a transition. That said I really like this kid if you can get him in the fourth round or so, he could kick outside in a pinch on either side and he seems smart enough football wise that maybe he could even play center. So you have a potential 5 position backup with movement skills. He needs to get stronger, and get some technique work like most college lineman but I feel like there’s a quality starter in there somewhere and he would be a target for me if I’m an NFL GM late in round 3 or on day 3.
104. Cesar Ruiz, C Michigan 74
I just don’t understand the infatuation with this kid? He has good length for a center and played for a big time program at Michigan but he looks like a low end starter or a backup to me in the NFL and while he has some tools that you could use, he simply doesn’t put up very good tape. At 6’4 and around 320 pounds he exhibits some good movement ability at times and looks like there is some power there although he doesn’t show it consistently enough.
As a pass protector there are some things to work with, particularly the length that he has at his size. He anchors pretty well and has some legit power here and there. He misses his punches in pass pro every once in a while but for the most part he does a decent job there. In terms of recognition skills he’s okay but nothing special. The biggest worry with him though is that he lets players get to his edges and fails to sustain blocks for a long period of time. He also looks for work and fails to block people way too often. When he’s heads up, he’s pretty good, maybe he’s a guard in the league but as a center he doesn’t have his head on a swivel well enough or pair up to pound on DT’s nearly enough.
As a run blocker he has some pop at the point of attack and shows enough mobility to get to the second level. He looks pretty good on interior zone plays but at times he simply gets to the second level and doesn’t do anything. It’s a huge pet peeve when watching him play is that he’ll simply not hit anyone on plays. He also can get good movement here and there, but it’s not consistent enough at this point. The biggest weakness to his game though is that players will fall off his block too often. Linebackers still make tackles even when he gets his hands on them, that’s not okay for someone at 320 pounds.
Overall there is some talent here, but there’s not top 40 talent which is where I keep seeing him mock drafted at this point. There is decent starter talent but I simply don’t see what everyone else does. To me he’s a 3rd or 4th round pick more likely and someone who has the versatility to play all 3 interior positions so his floor is fairly high as at worst a quality backup but I think at this point his ceiling is vastly overblown.
105. Anthony McFarland, RB Maryland 74
A one cut and go running back who needs to be part of a rotation to be successful. He has serious juice and his acceleration and straight line speed are both very impressive. I think he needs to play in a zone blocking type scheme in order to be successful. His vision and wiggle are both below average but he is explosive when he’s allowed to just get a foot in the ground and get downhill. He’s a well below average blocker and doesn’t look like he has good feel in the passing game at this point so he’s a rotational back who doesn’t have the size to handle a full rushing load at the NFL level. He’s a day 3 kid with upside as a low volume big play threat in a zone blocking scheme.
The main reason you wouldn’t take a running back in the first two days of the draft is either because they don’t have the size to handle a full load and stay healthy, which McFarland doesn’t. Or he can’t handle a full compliment of duties like third down or short yardage, which he can’t do either. I gave him a fourth round grade because he has an extra gear that most running backs don’t have and he accelerates at an obscene level. The quickness and then straight line speed he has are both well above average and it creates someone who can gain huge yards if you just give him a seam. It’s tough to find backs who can create Huge plays and he’s one of them. He can’t handle more than probably 150 touches in a season ever in his career, but he’s someone who can take it to the house every time he touches the rock.
McFarland has his limitations and he probably won’t ever be a feature back. That said as part of a committee he can really give you something in terms of being a big play guy out of the backfield. I think he can develop into a receiver as well but doubt he’s ever very good in pass pro. Send him to a one cut team that already has a bell cow and you could have a very capable backup who can light up highlight reels on occasion. That’s certainly worth a pick in the top half of day 3.
106. Marlon Davidson, DL Auburn 73
A basic run of the mill 5 technique who could kick inside as a 3T on passing downs. I think he does his job well, has good length and decent quickness but his football instincts don’t seem great at this point. He won’t ever be overly productive but he does a nice job setting the edge in the run game and he has a decent amount of pop and good length. He will make plays against weaker offensive tackles but he’s not consistent as a pass rusher at this point and looks more like a rotational piece on a defensive line. I like him late in round 3 or more likely in the 4th round as a 5 technique.
Davidson has good length and power and he carries his size well. He reminds me a bit of Wormley coming out of Michigan a few years ago. He has good sideline range and he can create some pressure late in downs. That said he gets a bit upright at times and he’ll get pushed out of plays if he gets himself off balance. Overall though he does a decent job rushing the passer from the outside but his pressures and sacks are almost all going to be on second effort or off coverage.
As a run defender where he provides the most upside is that he sets the edge well with his length. Rarely does he allow plays to get outside of him and if you’re looking for a guy who will do his job on a consistent basis as a run defender he’s your guy. He puts forth pretty good effort as well and will make a few tackles here and there down the field a bit which is nice. He’s just not an elite player at this level.
Davidson is a rotational defensive end in a 34 or a rotational 3 or 4T depending on scheme in a 43. I don’t think he provides a ton of upside but he’s a guy that a lot of DC’s are going to like because he typically does his role well. He’s a quality player who should go in a typical draft somewhere around pick 90-120, yet he’s projected to go in round 2.
107. Isaiah Hodgins, WR Oregon State 73
Hodgins is an easy projection as a number 3 or 4 WR in the NFL although I don’t really see him having much upside. He’s an excellent route runner who has exceptional hands and does a great job of finding holes in zone coverage. He was highly productive at Oregon State and runs a complex route tree. That said he lacks a second gear and at the NFL level he’ll probably struggle to separate and he’s only okay after the catch. I think he’s a nice guy at moving the sticks as a 3rd or 4th option on Sunday’s, just don’t expect a high ceiling guy.
I think where he will find a lot of success is in multiple offenses where he can play the big slot and in bunch sets. He struggles to get off press and his lack of speed at 4.61 is going to hurt him because good corners are just going to sit on underneath routes because he won’t threaten them. That said at 6’4 with long arms he has a huge catch radius and insane hands. It’s why I think he ends up being a good quality number 3 in the NFL because he doesn’t drop the ball and really understands leverage, particularly in zone and in the redzone.
He’s a pretty easy evaluation. Hodgins tape is really good but he lacks burst and struggles to get off press. Good corners gave him major problems, Jaylon Johnson whipped his ass this year. That said I really like him in the 4th round range particularly where he can play in multiple wide receiver sets and on teams that have 2 or 3 productive receivers and he can be part of a quality WR corps. Low ceiling, solid floor.
108. Julian Okwara, EDGE Notre Dame 73
A perfect example of what you should look for around pick 100 is Okwara from Notre Dame. A late 3 or 4th round grade is typically reserved for traits based players who are going to be situational or developmental and that’s exactly what he is right now. He’s lanky with super long arms and good closing burst but he’s awful against the run and like needs space to operate so he’s probably only a 34 OLB. He has athletic ability to drop into space but he doesn’t look natural there yet. The chance for him to be productive in the NFL is if he can get the edge as a 34 OLB but there’s a chance he never turns into much more than a backup. The length and quickness are both pluses though and he’s certainly worth a look in the bottom of day 2 or top of day 3 if you are looking for a developmental edge rusher with length.
In terms of in the pass game, that’s where almost all his early reps in his career will come. He has the athleticism to drop in space as a coverage 34 OLB and the length to give teams fits and make throwing lanes smaller. While he likely won’t get asked to carry many tight ends deep down the field he looks like he has the ability To do that in time. Where he’ll make his money early is on pass rush downs from a two point stance. He doesn’t have a counter yet, but he simply uses his length and quickness to get the edge and accelerate upfield past slower tackles. Coaching could develop a counter for him and strength could help him with a speed to power move that with his length could be a deadly weapon.
In the run game he simply isn’t good. I could go into this a lot more but he doesn’t have the pop to set the edge. In the Georgia game, Werner the tight end was asked to block him on a few occasions and just blew him off the ball. In the NFL he’ll be a major liability there, with his only chance in getting into the backfield quickly. It’ll be two years at least in an NFL lifting program before he can be adequate against the run.
Overall he’s a traits based guy who has some talent and some athletic ability but he’s scheme dependent and can really only play one position. He may be able to play some special teams early too due to athletic ability and plus length. Okwara broke his leg this last year as well so there’s some injury history, but it’s not soft tissue so probably not much of a major concern. I couldn’t take him in the first 75 picks in the draft, his tape just isn’t where it needs to be. In round 4 if I run a 34 team though I feel like he’s worth a risky type pick to see if in a couple years there would be something here. Could be a decent backup though.
109. Bryan Edwards, WR South Carolina 73
Edwards is a bit of an interesting wide receiver case in that he has some plus H/W/S and good productivity but never really excelled as an elite player in college. He started for four years for the Gamecocks and ended up breaking a lot of school records down there despite below average quarterback play. He is good after the catch as he’s a physical runner at around 6’3 and 215 pounds but is more shifty than you’d think for someone that size. He’s not a natural catcher of the football and despite good size he has below average catch radius. Edwards mixes in good tape with mediocre tape and to me in a normal draft he would certainly be in the round 3 conversation but to me he’s a round 4 guy in this draft but with long term upside of a WR2 but I think he’s probably initially a WR3/4 in the NFL.
He played for four years at South Carolina but this last year lined up primarily in the slot. I like what he did there for the most part but it’s strange to me how they lined him up to get him the most free releases they could. Typically with someone with that size and straight line speed combination you line them up outside and you welcome press coverage. He actually doesn’t play through contact as well as you’d like. His hands are average at best and while he catches it okay, he just doesn’t have the catch radius you would like for someone his size. He’s also only an okay blocker and doesn’t put forth the edginess you’d want from a 215 pound receiver.
What he does well though is get upfield and pick up tough yards after the catch. He runs solid routes and he eats up space quickly in a short period of time. It’s rare to find a guy his size with legitimate acceleration and quickness but he has it which gives me hope for his future. He is very good running in breaking routes and it means that I think he could end up being a boundary receiver as well, which is where I think he probably projects best in the NFL. What I like about him is that I think the worst thing he become is a WR4 but with WR2 upside. With how deep this WR class is he’s the type of guy I wait on in until round 4 and if he slides to me there I’m happy to grab a fairly high floor fairly high upside guy who has the ability to probably play all 3 WR spots.
110. Chase Claypool, WR/TE Notre Dame 73
A fast riser in the predraft process due to his outstanding 40 and vertical at the combine. Claypool was seen as a likely wide receiver turned tight end in the NFL but the speed and jumping ability shut down that discussion for most scouts. For me though i just don’t see that speed on tape. He rarely gains any separation unless it’s in zone coverage and he’s running a crossing route and if you watch his jump ball situations on tape he doesn’t actually win many of them. The tools are 100% there for this kid to be a good contributor and the H/W/S is electric, but the tape just tells me he’s a number 3 or 4 WR and probably a key special teams contributor. I couldn’t take a shot on him in such a deep WR draft until round 4 and that’s likely going to be too late knowing a GM who likes measurements and potential more than tape is going to snatch him up earlier.
Claypool was a good special teams player as a freshmen and it’s where I think he could be an excellent pro. At 6’4 and 238 pounds running a 4.42 he’s a 10/10 in terms of H/W/S and it screams ideal special teamer. Later on in his career he became better as an all around receiver although his route tree was very simplistic. He ran go routes, back shoulder fades, or drags. If he ran anything other than that he essentially wasn’t targeted. I think he could turn into some sort of big slot tight end hybrid down the road although as a blocker he has the size but not the technique and he’s not good there right now. He has okay hands but fights the ball at times. While he is very good and adept at back shoulder throws, he doesn’t high point the ball well despite great height and a 40 inch veritcal.
The kid is insanely talented and has absurd H/W/S. He’s a smart guy and at worst a high quality special teams player as he led Notre Dame in special teams tackles as a freshmen and isn’t above the grind. You could use him as a sort of flexed out tight end down the road as well as he has that ability to box out smaller DB’s in the slot. He needs some work and really has to remind his route tree. That said if you give him a chance at jump balls, and downfield throws with the occasional drag he can be effective. I just wouldn’t draft him on pure potential with so many elite route runners and high quality receivers in this class. I’d use a 4th on him though because you can’t teach that size and speed.
111. Brycen Hopkins, TE Purdue 73
I put him in the 4th but his upside is much higher and his floor is probably a one contract guy. He has good quickness and straight line speed for a tight end and he is solid at wham and downblocks. Where he struggles is against top tier man coverage despite all the traits necessary to be a good weapon he just doesn’t separate like you’d want. When he’s schemed up and open he’s a real weapon because he’s got good speed and burst. He has 2nd round tight end potential, with very high productivity and acumen as a first team all American tight end this season. Hopkins though struggles mightily with drops and man coverage gives him fits. I’m going to say he’s a TE2 or a flexed and H back who a good coach can turn into a quality weapon. Round 4 is the risk/reward sweet spot and he provides plenty of upside in that spot.
The kid had over 60 catches and 800 yards this year in a pro style offense so he has plenty of tools. He ran 4.66 at the combine at 250 pounds and he’s solid in movement blocks. Now he lacks power as a run blocker and is more of a shield guy at this point but he rarely completely whiffs. The upside here is that he has good burst after the catch as well and while DBs will track him down, it’ll take them a few more yards than most TEs.
His downside though is pretty evident. He’s very good at finding the spots in zone but quality press man he just can’t quite get off of it like he should. Really good players are just better than him, and that’s in college, the spread will get wider in the League. Very adept at uncovering in zone, and he’s a smooth downfield route runner but guys in his hip are problematic. Hopkins really struggles to adjust to poorly thrown balls and quarterbacks are likely not going to love that despite his size his catch radius is about a 2 or 3 out of 10 for tight ends.
He’s a round 4 risk/reward prospect to me. If you already have a quality TE1 and are looking for some playmaking, particularly against zone, he could be a nice grab. The upside is really high, I think he ultimately could be a pretty high volume pass catcher in the NFL, and that size and speed combination will make special teams coaches happy because that’s where he could be above average as well. That said, there’s a higher than normal chance he doesn’t get to his 2nd contract unless he can develop better hands and add strength and technique as a blocker both in the run and pass games. Draft him for upside and not floor.
122. Ke’shawn Vaughn, RB Vanderbilt 73
Vaughn is a solid rotational back who has some solid traits but lacks number 1 RB vision and quickness. Vaughn looks like a good complementary back, particularly in a zone running scheme. While he’s not the most elusive or creative back he is rarely brought down by the first tackler and does a nice job falling off of most of those sloppy tackles. It takes an effort to get Vaughn on the ground. He looks like he catches the ball naturally despite not being a good route runner and his pass blocking at this point in his career is awful. He’s a two down back with special teams ability who should go early on day 3.
In terms of pure running the football he’s definitely a one cut runner. He’s decisive when he wants to turn it upfield and shows good pop with the ball, typically falling forward or bouncing off tacklers. He’s not shifty at all and rarely makes people whiff but he’s tough enough that he’ll pick up tough yards. His long speed is pretty damn good though, and his 4.51 is a good time. He’s not explosive or quick though and he’s stiff as a runner with choppy steps. I do like how he uses his speed to get the edge at times, although that won’t be as effective in the league. He’ll have his fair share of minus yardage plays.
In the passing game he looks like a natural catcher of the football. His route running and releases from pass pro into the flats and as an outlet are bad at this point. He’s a terrible pass protector who gets ran over or looks for work far too often and as a rookie he’ll struggle to see the field unless he can get that cleaned up.
Overall he’s a high end day 3 running back prospect because he’s tough to bring down and has good long speed. I think if he goes to a team that uses primarily zone blocking and outside stretch plays like San Fran he could really thrive. His speed and toughness means I think he could be a good gunner on special teams as well early in his career which he may need in order to get a lot of reps. Developmental kid with good long speed and nice one cut ability but who is raw in terms of the pass game and needs to improve his vision.
113. Colby Parkinson, TE Stanford 73
Really easy evaluation here when watching Parkinson play football. He’s essentially a tight end wide receiver hybrid who isn’t fast or twitchy enough to play wide receiver but isn’t strong or tough enough to be a tight end. He’s a big slot receiver who has a massive catch radius but isn’t going to wow you after the catch. I like him as a number 4 wide receiver in spread situations running the seam route and around the goal line where he struggled in 2019 but was good in 2018. He’s a day 3 niche player who could develop in time to become more of a hybrid player.
He’s not a good blocker, although he uses good angles to try to help teammates get the edge he lacks any real pop. He’s 6’7 and runs a 4.77 so there is certainly a weapon to be had here but he has very little route running savvy so he’s mostly a wall off or jump ball type guy. His hands are really impressive though and you can tell he’s an athletic kid just not twitchy so it takes him a while to ramp up which is why he mostly runs vertical routes at this point. Again, he’s an easy evaluation. If I’m in round 4 or 5 and he’s still on the board and I want a red-zone target or I need a big slot for those 4 and 5 wide sets he’s a nice option, other than that he doesn’t have much of an upside in the league.
114. Anfernee Jennings, EDGE Alabama 73
These guys are the normal guys in round 3 through 5 that make up a lot of the rosters in the NFL. Jennings isn’t a dynamic pass rusher although he’ll pick up sacks here and there on blitzes or through effort. He’s a good run defender with solid length and strength but he lacks the quickness to be a high volume tackler. I think he’s strong enough to set the edge against the run as a 43 end or 34 outside linebacker but he’ll have to rely on scheme and other guys doing their jobs to get much productivity. Yet all of that said he’s okay at almost everything and guys who just do their jobs and have above average recognition and football IQ stick around for a long time. He projects as a long time backup or starter without much upside but a decent floor. I couldn’t take him in the first two days of the draft, but on day 3 if I need a solid rotational EDGE player you could do a lot worse.
As a pass rusher he has some pop and can deliver a blow. He lacks twitchiness though and therefore he won’t threaten the edge often. He’s shows some ability to rip through his hands though and create some inside pressure, particularly in blitz packages where he can get some mismatches. I seriously doubt he’s ever a threat as a pass rusher but he’ll help collapse pockets with his strength and bullrush, and he could pick up gimme sacks based on defensive play calling. Jennings does bat down a ton of passes though and he showed that he’s not awful at dropping into coverage like most 34 OLB’s although it’s certainly not a strength.
Jennings is an above average edge setter against the run. He made quite a few plays at Bama in the run game but he’s not going to be great in open space as a tackler. He’s strong and causes pile ups but he doesn’t get off blocks exceptional well. That said this is where he’ll likely make his money in the NFL because he’s strong, and could likely hold down this role on early downs for a long time.
He is what he is, a solid round 4 or 5 guy without a ton of upside but a solid floor as at worst an EDGE backup. He could play OLB in a 34 or base end in a 43 and would likely be good in a role with versatility like Miami, New England, or Detroit. I just don’t get really excited about these guys but they don’t make many mistakes and usually stick around for a few years because they do their job consistently.
115. Joshua Kelley, RB UCLA 73
A solid 3 down backup running back who will likely need to produce some on special teams early in his career. Kelley went to Juco early and transferred to UCLA sitting out so he’s an older guy coming into this draft class. His offensive line at UCLA was just god awful and he created a lot of the runs on his own. He has good speed at 4.49 and runs a hell of a lot stronger than his 212 pound frame would lead you to believe. Kelley catches the football naturally and despite not being a great pass protector he works at it. He’s not creative as a runner and the only way he makes people miss is by falling off their tackles which he doesn’t do super well. His yardage is by following his blocks and by using his burst and one cut downhill ability to pick up chunks.
Kelley lacks the traits and creativity to be a long time starter in the league. That said when you watch him run, it’s tough not to notice that he constantly is picking up an extra two or three yards when there is absolutely nothing there for him. He falls forward on almost every run and while he rarely makes people miss, he will run through arm tackles. He wasn’t utilized much in the passing game, but when the ball was thrown his way he looked like an absolute natural, showing that there is some potential there. He’s never going to wow you as a running back, but someone who will get you the yards that are there and fall forward is a valuable get on day 3 of the draft.
Supposedly his coaches and teammates really like the kid. I think there’s no doubt he would end up being a solid special teamer as well, guys with his speed and toughness are useful there. His line was terrible and he still ran for over 1000 yards each of the past two seasons for a terrible Bruin team. His speed, burst, and urgency to get downhill as a ball carrier are all positives. He would be a great four phase backup running back for a team looking for a volume back in their RB room.
116. McTelvin Agim, DL Arkansas 73
He shows flashes of being very disruptive and I think the versatility he shows could end up being a major positive for his future. He’s not going to ever be a high stats guy because he struggles to find the football consistently and he looks like a rotational defensive lineman. That said Agim is extremely quick for his size, runs a 40 in the 4.9s at 308 pounds and has long arms. He played some 0,1,3,5, and 7 technique at Arkansas which is going to be nice for his future as he could potentially be on every teams’ radar come draft day. People who can create disruption in the backfield with early penetration, are scheme versatile, and who have plus physical traits are good upside draft picks. I think he’s a 4th rounder who teams who play multiple fronts may want to start looking at in round 3.
As a pass rusher he looks like he has some juice. Watching the East-West shrine game one on one’s in practice he looked like he was clearly the best lineman there from either side. He’s lightning quick at times off the snap and he’ll shoot the gaps as well as anyone. He played some 5 technique at Arkansas up until this last year and he honestly has a fairly decent tackle radius because he moves better than you would think. He doesn’t really have any pass rushing moves other than trying to beat you with quickness, and on the inside he lacks the strength to generate a huge push unless he beats you off the snap. He’s a penetrator who may generate occasional pressure, and he’s someone who could be utilized as a 3T in pass rushing downs, particularly on teams that like to run stunts and slants up front.
As a run defender he is a ways away from being able to do much on the interior. He has a weak anchor right now, which makes sense because he’s only played one year on the inside. That said the first thing I thought about when watching him was, damn that kid needs to do 2 straight years of squats and deadlifts before he plays inside. I do think though with his athleticism and length he could be a base 34 end in that 5T spot on occasions to give you some pass rush juice and penetrate to try to make plays in the backfield.
My buddy who I trust as a scout said he reminds him a lot of Ricky Jean Francois and I totally see that, I thought it was a great comp. He ended up playing for 10 years in the league and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Agim have a career like that. He has work to do to get stronger and anchor better without question, but he also has quickness, length, and versatility. I didn’t see a ton of tape from him but he looks like he plays hard. I think he’s a fourth for most teams but teams who use multiple fronts consistently like Detroit, New England, Miami, Arizona, etc could start viewing him as early as round 3 due to him being able to play all over their defensive front. Really quality depth piece most likely.
117. Jared Pinkney, TE Vanderbilt 72
Pinkney is an interesting evaluation because as a junior I really thought he was going to be a 2nd round tight end coming out in 2020. Then this past season he only looked okay and seemed to be more of a TE2 or TE3 at the next level. He ran a supremely disappointing 40 at the combine that made me go back and look at his tape again. Pinkney is more athletic than 4.96 but he really isn’t a great route runner and while he has good ball skills and is decent in both the pass and run game he really looks to be your prototypical TE2 in the NFL. Pinkney is someone to target early on day 3 as a developmental tight end and situational player.
In the passing game he works hard and has some functional athleticism. He is a decent pass protector, and although sometimes he’ll get out in front of his pads he has upside here. As a route runner he has a long way to go and while at times you’ll see him open, it’s not because he’s shook loose, it’s schematic. He’s 6’4 and 257 pounds but he lumbers a bit down the field and he doesn’t high point the football on a few of his tapes with the consistency you’d want to see. He seems reliable catching the ball but he’s okay here, not great.
In the rum game as a blocker he looks to be average or slightly above. Pinkney puts in the work but he gets out in front too much here. The versatility to be a Y an F or an H is pretty impressive though and you can tell he understands leverage and blocking schemes. He needs to improve here but he’s solid and has potential to be above average or even good in time.
I think he’s more athletic than he showed in 2019 and at the combine. His 2018 tape was pretty solid, and his Notre Dame game that year was impressive stuff. I think I was too high on him last year though and really believe he’s more of a TE2 in the NFL. He’s got enough skill and enough toughness that he could carve out a long time role in the league if he can focus on his blocking and can learn to run routes and create separation underneath at a more consistent level because I do think he’s fairly athletic and has solid hands. He’s your typical TE2 and is a day 3 guy.
118. John Simpson, OG Clemson 72
I think I like Simpson better than almost everyone else except maybe Mel Kiper at this point in the process. While he’s really tight in the hips and struggles with quicker players overall though he wins way more often than he loses. While his tape doesn’t necessarily translate, he works his tail off and typically wins his reps. He has ridiculous pop in his hands and delivers blows like a heavyweight fighter. He lacks the short area agility and flexibility to turn into anything more than an average pass protector but I don’t want to vote against him developing into a quality starter because he wins so many of his reps.
As a pass protector he certainly has some limitations. He lacks the flexibility and quickness you would like as an NFL caliber inside player. That said he anchors well despite at times getting off the ball a bit slower than you’d typically like although it doesn’t jump off the screen. Once he engages quicker players in pass pro he’ll strike but he won’t mirror it with his feet so he can stop which allow secondary moves to give him some issues. He has the strength in his hands to win reps quickly though and once he pops you it usually is Simpson delivering the blow.
As a run blocker the guy can shock you with his hands. He also had more pancake blocks than almost anyone else I watched in this class, some of his reps are dominant. Quicker players can get across his face but he is an above average run blocker with really good power and super heavy hands. He weighs 330 pounds and uses it effectively. That said he also can play a bit high at times if he gets off the ball slowly. Overall though he wins the majority of his reps here.
Look there is certainly the potential that his college tape is better than what he’ll show in the NFL but on the offensive line I look for people winning reps primarily, and he does that at a pretty damn high level. I like how strong his hands are and how hard he plays, there’s a toughness to him that you love to see. I might be the only one who thinks this but I wouldn’t even hate if my team took him on day 2 because I think he’s tough and I like his football iQ and strength. He needs technique work and he would probably be better playing at 315-320 to improve agility. I think he goes in round 4 or 5 and has a chance to be a starter in a gap heavy system.
119. Jonah Jackson, OG Ohio State 72
Jackson is a decent prospect but looks like a day 3 kid who could turn into a starter in time but without the upside that you’d really want. Jackson played most of his career at Rutgers before playing his last season at Ohio State. While he looked really good at the Senior Bowl during the week, he had some things that he struggled with in his career. He has mediocre balance and looks for work way more often than a player should, he typically wins his battles and has good pass protecting skills. As a run blocker though he’s below average and I don’t know if it’s going to get much better. Jackson could turn into a decent pass protecting guard who probably won’t get much push in the run game. High pass percentage offenses would probably be more intrigued by him than teams who like to have balance. I don’t love his tape, and just don’t see what some others see but I wouldn’t hate grabbing him in round 4 or 5 because he is pretty solid in pass pro.
As a run blocker he just doesn’t generate the pop you would like and he’ll stand up too often. His hand placement at times is pretty darn good though and he’ll latch on and rarely let go. That said he struggles to get himself into position despite not even weighing 310 pounds his footwork isn’t great. He doesn’t get great leverage so his ability to generate movement and create running lanes simply isn’t good enough at this point to be anything other than a slightly below average run blocker.
Overall he does a decent job but in pass protection he’ll allow others to get into plays. Really good power rushers can get a little push into the pocket and collapse it easier than some. I think his lack of losing reps quickly is his biggest strength. He just projects as a low end starter who is better in pass protection than as a run blocker. He’s not my cup of tea but quality pass protectors are hard to find and he’ll be solid if unspectacular in this area.
120. Trevis Gipson, DE Tulsa 72
I don’t know why but I just like this kid. He plays the game super hard and he was certainly playing in a tough situation there at Tulsa where they played him as a 5T at 260 pounds when he arrived at the school at 200. He has good length, he’s athletic, and he plays the game as hard as you’ll find. He’s super raw and early in his career I really doubt you can give him very many reps because he just needs seasoning and technique work and weight room strength for sure. That said he’s one of those guys that I would like if I were a DC and a DL coach because he has the will and there is some talent there to work with as well. You pair that with the fact that he actually had solid production and you have someone in round 4 and definitely in round 5 that I would want to target as a sleeper.
He doesn’t really have a pass rushing plan at this point and while his stab and bullrush is really damn good due to his long arms, there’s not many counters off of it. When he gets to play out wide in the 7 or 9 position he has solid bend though and he looks athletic out there. I think in the league he’s a guy who could do a lot for you as eventually a 5T or even on pass rush downs as a 3T all the way out to the wide 9 spot, those guys are awesome to have on the roster. There’s potential as a pass rusher and to quote another scout, he’s slippery, tackles are reaching and grabbing all the time as he goes around them or under them. Just a tough guy to block and he gets to your edges better than most players.
In the run game he has a ways to go. He just needs to add lower body strength and some sand in his pants if he wants to play early in his career. Gipson works his ass off but he can get too high centered and when he’s blocked he’ll struggle at times to find the ball. That said he was taking on double teams and he still for the most part held his own and at times created piles to help out his linebackers. He needs to get better here, and better leverage and technique will certainly help.
I think in round 4 and definitely in round 5 he’s someone to target in this draft. I like his upside and while there’s certainly a chance he washes out I think he is going to continue to improve the more reps he gets and the more strength he gains. He’s a versatile defensive linemen with good length, athleticism, and a terrific motor. You give me that on a DL rotation all day and get him with a good DL coach and there’s solid starter upside here.
121. Larrell Murchison, DL NC State 72
Murchison is a pretty good football player. I don’t think he ever turns into anything more than a rotational piece along a defensive line I like how hard he plays and his activity. He can be someone who could play a base 5 technique although I like him more as a 3T in an even front. That versatility means that he could be on everyone’s radar though which is really attractive come draft time. He doesn’t have the explosiveness or anchor at this point to provide a ton of upside but he’s the perfect guy to play 20-30 reps per game of high energy football.
As a pass rusher he does a better job than he should considering he’s probably only a moderate athlete. He looks a little clunky but plays with good effort and his hands are always working to get free. Murchison is good in games and slants and his second effort to reposition his hands or work free allows him to get some second effort sacks. He wins some battles when he’s allowed to get one on one as well and it led to a productive 7 sacks this past season. While I don’t see that translating to a ton of production in the NFL he’ll get his share of plays and hurries. Not a ton of upside here but he’s good enough to give you some production.
As a run defender he’s better suited probably to play a 34 end spot than a 43 3T but he has upside as a penetrator inside. He does a solid job at 295 pounds of holding the point against double teams considering his size. While he won’t hold it completely, he does a good enough job of occupying two lineman. He plays harder than his size and when he’s allowed to simply shoot his shot early in a down he’s a pretty good penetrator.
Overall he’s a solid player who works his tail off and looks like the perfect versatile rotational defensive lineman. I can’t take him on the first two days of the draft but to me he looks like a really solid round 4 or 5 pick who I could see playing in the league for a while. Love the effort and he’s probably a bit better athlete than you’d think and he plays a bit stronger than his size and weight indicates. Nice floor guy early on day 3.
122. Austin Jackson, OT USC 71
I love all the upside here as he’s crazy long, has really good athleticism, and looks the part of a starting left tackle. That said his tape just leaves so much to be desired. His hand placement is just awful and in the two games he played against top level NFL talent in Iowa and Utah he was a turnstile. Jackson has all the talent in the world and you can’t teach his length but the thought of him going in round one or early on day 2 is laughable to me. Jackson in three years or so could turn into a serviceable left tackle in the NFL but right now he looks like he’s a swing tackle who doesn’t quite have the power you want and the technique may lead to your quarterback getting killed or you having a lot of first and twenties.
His pluses are pretty damn obvious he has tremendous length and really good athleticism. When he’s out in space he looks quick and nimble particularly for the size of him. Jackson can move and does a nice job walling off on stretch plays and draws and screens are a plus for him. There are times that even though he’ll be beaten he figures out how to counter and can win reps that he maybe shouldn’t.
His minuses are too overwhelming to me at this point to consider drafting him in the first two days. He has weak hands and is more of a shover than a finisher now. Despite very good athleticism he has poor bend and will give the edge up constantly. He lacks the pop to move people all the time in the run game and with the wide hand placement he simply gets better hand fighters a huge advantage. Jackson has huge upside but he’s one of the more overrated prospects in the 2020 draft. He looks like a swing tackle and I couldn’t take him before round 4.
123. Michael Ojemudia, CB Iowa 71
A long fast zone corner who doesn’t play man well but has a lot of the tools you look for in a zone corner. He’s 6’1 and runs a 4.45 and while he doesn’t play with the physicality you’d look for all the time I don’t think he’s as weak here as some other analysts believe. He has great instincts dropping into coverage, and while he’ll certainly give up his share of underneath catches, he almost never gets beat over the top. I don’t know if he’s going to be a starter in the league or not, but if he can add strength and get a better press-bail technique he certainly has a shot in time. Good looking round 4 guy in my opinion for a zone heavy team.
He’s got good ball skills and has long arms, both of which are intriguing to me. You pair that with the fact he had an exceptional combine workout and he ended up with 6 interceptions and 15 PBU in the past two seasons and that’s damn good. Now on tape he struggles to come downhill as hard as you’d want but he’s not bad there. I think you’ll have to live with some 8-12 yard catches here due to lack of suddenness coming out of breaks. That said his recognition of route combinations and where the sticks are is very good.
He’s not a great tackler but he has room to grow here. He’s not afraid to tackle, just struggles to wrap up at times. It’s something you’d want him to improve on if he’s going to be a zone heavy corner. If he goes to a team that plays a lot of man he’ll need to improve his ability to press because that’s where he has an opportunity later. He isn’t fluid enough in the hips to play off man.
Ojemudia is a nice player and someone who could develop into a starter on a zone heavy team. His ball skills and playmaking ability are above average and he has a high football IQ and rarely gives up big plays. Going to a team like Indianapolis, Seattle, or San Francisco early on day 3 would be a nice fit for him and would give him the opportunity to grow into a role there.
124. Darrynton Evans, RB Appalachian State 71
A jitterbug with exceptional acceleration and top end speed. He’s going to be a day 3 pick because he lacks the traits you would need from a starter but Evans has really good quicks and burst and he runs a 4.41. In open space he’s very difficult to tackle and he excels at outside zone plays where he can put a foot in the ground and go. He started this past season at under 190 pounds though and he doesn’t run with any power at all. He slows his feet into contact on the inside and I really worry about whether or not he’ll have any longevity at his size. He lacks the power to pass protect at any level and right now he’s a poor route runner although he is dangerous in the screen game. He’s a very good kick returner though with a touchdown in each of his 3 seasons. I think anytime on day 3, particularly if you’re a stretch running team who already has a thumper he can add some real juice to your running back room.
Again, he won’t ever be a primary running back in the NFL because he lacks the size. He went to the combine at 203 but played around 185 from local scouting sources. Evans never moves the pile when he runs but he’s slippery as hell and he runs with very impressive vision. I don’t know how to really put this but on tape he typically creates a very high number of successful runs. What I mean by that is on 2nd and 3 he gets the 3 yards he needs, he picks up 4 or 5 on first down, he constantly putting his team in good position by understanding the blocking scheme and down and distance. He’s a good running back who is outstanding on outside zone runs and draws.
In the passing game he has a long ways to go. When he pass protects he falls off of defenders, and lacks the power to help at all there. He’s not a good route runner right now though and over the next 2 or 3 seasons if he wants to be anything more than a specialist he’ll need to improve there. He seems to catch the ball well but he’s not a threat except on screens and dump offs at this point which limits his floor a bit. He could start as a kick returner though immediately with his speed and vision.
Evans is a round 4 or 5 guy and a niche player right now but I like how he is in the open field and he has the burst to create big plays. You need to have a plan for how to use him and a role for him early on in his career or he could wash out. If you do though he can give you some really good touches throughout his career.
125. Donovan Peoples Jones, WR Michigan 70
The number one WR coming out of high school 3 seasons ago DPJ is an exceptional athlete who is only an okay wide receiver. In 3 seasons in Ann Arbor he never had one single 100 yard game throughout his time. He’s a below average route runner who lacks quickness and has some trouble separating from defensive backs. He is a crazy athlete at 6’2 and 215 pounds running a 4.48 with a 44 inch vertical leap. He is a great selection in the fourth or fifth round of the draft though because he certainly has a ton of tools and pretty impressive hands but he needs better quarterback play and really needs to refine his route running. Given two or three seasons he could turn into a good number 3 or even with the upside as a 2 but right now he’s a 3 position backup WR and returner with gunner upside as well.
In terms of a pure wide receiver he has a decent second gear but he needs quite a bit of time to ramp it up. He does a nice job out of the slot as he bodies up secondary players with good size. He catches the ball well and does an above average job of adjusting to poorly thrown footballs, which were plentiful with the pathetic quarterbacks and scheme they run at Michigan. I really like him when he’s allowed to run crossing routes and posts and the deep digs he does a nice job of creating separation on those downfield routes because he’s allowed to get up to full speed. On underneath routes he doesn’t generate much separation though.
He’s good in the open field and does a nice job of creating RAC yards because he has good power and wiggle and shows good vision. DPJ blocks well and plays as hard as any player in the nation at the wide receiver position. I like how hard he plays and it’s why I think he could develop into a starting level WR in the league and at least qualifies as a high floor player. That said he hasn’t shown any productivity at this point and his lack of ability to separate is a major issue. He’s a project but one that is certainly worthy of a risk, particularly sometime on day 3, I just couldn’t pull the trigger in the 2nd or 3rd round, I need more production in order to use that high of a selection and he just never showed he could produce.
126. Collin Johnson, WR Texas 70
Johnson is a sub package WR with insane length and size at 6’6 222 pounds. He lacks top end speed and his intermediate route running and inability to create separation limit him to a zone or red zone threat or a jump ball receiver down the field. His footwork to get off press is pretty solid but he needs to work on stacking corners to give himself a better chance to dominate those 50/50 balls where he’ll make a living in the league. Everyone wants a big weapon, and Johnson is certainly that but it’s tough to take someone before day 3 if they can’t create openings and aren’t overly productive in college. Johnson is a solid jump ball, zone WR or move tight end on passing downs in the league and a day 3 selection.
Johnson’s size and ball skills put him on virtually every team’s radar because it’s hard to score touchdowns in the NFL. Johnson isn’t an insane leaper but his size is elite and even though I think he runs in the 4.6’s being 6’6 with really good ball skills is enough to give you a long look. His route running is only okay because he lacks the quickness to get open but he uses his size well and catches it with ease. He’s solid at high pointing the football.
There’s not much else to say about him at this point. His dad is a HOF’er so you know he’s got the pedigree. He lacks the upside of a 2 because he is what he is but if he goes a team that is lacking a big target, particularly a deep threat or a redzone guy, this could be a nice low risk target in round 4 or 5. If you can get him to add 15 pounds he could even be your move tight end in passing downs.
127. AJ Terrell, CB Clemson 70
One of my 5 most overrated players in this years’ class is AJ Terrell from Clemson. While it’s difficult to not be at least interested in him due to his length and size at 6’1 and around 195 pounds, I simply do not think he’s a good enough player to make an impact to be picked on the first two days of the draft. His ball skills are below average as he only has 10 passes defensed, including only 2 this entire last season, in his entire career. He doesn’t do a good job finding the football and while he didn’t give up a ton of yards based on analytics this season, when he went against high end talent, particularly in the CFP Championship game, he looked overmatched. He didn’t give up a ton of catches throughout his career, and while I don’t think he’s an awful player, the thought of drafting him on day 2 or the end of round 1 which is where everyone projects him to go is going to be a bad choice.
Talent wise there is a lot to work with here though. He has great length and it looks like his straight line speed isn’t bad. As an analytical guy looking at coverage grades, there were a number of different analysts who said he only ended up giving up more than 60 yards once this season not counting the National Title game. That said he also grabs, gets himself out of position, and looks like someone who will get a dozen penalties a year early in his career in the NFL. He reaches and grabs and I think his hips are too tight. His lack of ball skills means that he’ll give up some contested catches, and his tight hips means he’ll end up giving up things underneath.
Where I think Terrell actually could end up being a nice player is if he goes to a super zone heavy team. His size looks like he could end up being ideal in that cover 2 or 3 zone heavy scheme like Indy or San Fran runs. It allows him to use his size, and he’s a solid tackler when he’s allowed to simply watch the backfield and attack. If he goes to that sort of team he has a chance to have some success, but I typically like my corners who can make more plays on the ball in that situation. To me he looks like a backup zone corner, who could potentially end up being a good gunner on special teams. Some talent but a long way to go to getting a professional defensive back on the field.
128. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR Liberty 68
I’m going to keep this evaluation pretty short because it’s pretty clear what this guy is in the NFL. AGG is a huge receiver at 6’4 and 225 pounds with a good vertical leap. He can make insane catches at times and his catch radius is gigantic. He also can’t separate with any consistency and runs a 4.60 and is a mediocre at best route runner. AGG is going to be a jump ball and red zone specialist who may get some reps when teams go to a 4 wide scenario but he projects as a target specialist.
In 2018 he had a pretty decent amount of drops and it hurts to watch it on game tape. In 2019 his hands got a lot better and he made some catches this past season that are ridiculous and I thought his tape got quite a bit better. When corners play off him, for whatever flipping reason, he runs decent in breaking routes, and his slants are tough to stop because of his size. That said pretty much any other route than a 9 route he doesn’t generate much if any separation at all. In the red-zone he’s definitely a weapon and he’s a good blocker but again just not much of a projection other than a WR4 and jump ball and redzone WR. Day 3 guy for a team looking to supplement their receiving corps with size and a big catch radius, but don’t expect him to develop into a starter.
129. Eno Benjamin, RB Arizona State 68
He’s a decent player but when I evaluate running backs the first thing you need is good vision and Benjamin doesn’t have that. He lacks patience and he runs into the back of his own blockers or into the arms of a defender way too often. If you don’t have patience you better be able to move piles and at 208 pounds he just doesn’t do that often. He is good in the passing game, works hard as a pass protector though he’s average at best there, and he has average speed. He’s slippery in the open field though and he plays through contact when he can but to me Benjamin is a day 3 kid and looks like a backup.
I can see why people would like him as a potential starter down the line though. He has pretty quick feet and his acceleration is a plus. Benjamin catches the football fairly well and he attacks angles in the defense picking up quite a few 7-15 yard gains. He is ultra competitive and plays the game hard, he’s always working for extra yards and he rarely goes down on first contact and even at times second contact. He’s not a pile mover but his feet don’t stop. He’s not the most natural hands catcher but he catches the ball fairly well.
Those are reasons to like him but to me he’s just not where he needs to be as a football player right now. He has to have more patience as a runner and he absolutely needs to see the hole develop better. Without much power and only average speed he just feels like a backup to me, and there’s nothing wrong with that it just feels like a round 5 or 6 grade and if he goes to a team where he gets some touches I’m sure he’ll be fine but he looks like mostly a replacement level back at this stage.
130. Amik Robertson, CB LA Tech 68
The kid plays his ass off he just lacks tools. In the NFL he will only be a nickel back as he is 5’8 and around 180 pounds, and with how physically he plays I doubt he lasts too long in the NFL as the wear and tear on his body is going to be tough to overcome. He’s probably a 4.6 guy and without the length and size you’d want he can’t play outside. That said he has insane ball skills and productivity, he has 14 career interceptions and has averaged 60 tackles and 12 PBU per season. I wanted to like him a lot because of how hard he plays but the physical limitations make him a day 3 slot candidate.
You love a few things about his game. Number one is he has elite ball skills, while he’s small he’s explosive and finds the football as consistently as any DB in this class. I think he could thrive on the inside in a zone heavy team in those short area zones. He’s extremely physical despite his size and he’ll attack in run support. He has short arms but tries his best in press and at times he bullies bigger receivers. I like how hard he plays.
The downsides are pretty clear though. Big receivers just outmuscle him for the ball and can shield him off easily. If he’s kicked inside and big slots, which are the big new thing in the NFL, and tight ends will just annihilate him with their size. Despite having good ball skills and being a good football player, he lacks the elite quickness as well and when he was on the outside a few plays guys just beat him to the spot. I think he’s quick just not insane quick like some NFL slots are.
I think on day 3 if you’re a zone heavy team and you’re looking for an inside guy he would be a high target. I love his ball skills and the fact that he can take it away is highly prized by every DC in history. He’s tough, and a good tackler despite his size, although that will probably drop a notch or two at the next level. He’s limited, by size and straight line speed, but he’s feisty and he could be someone who could make some plays for you if given the right scheme. I’d start looking at him in round 5.
131. Darnay Holmes, CB UCLA 68
A super smart kid who is going to end up being a nickel or dime corner in the NFL. He plays hard and is quick but lacks the length to play on the outside and bigger receivers just kind of eat him up a little bit. He’s got good ball skills, as he ended up with 8 career interceptions in 3 seasons. Holmes lacks the traits of an outside corner and he’s only okay in zone at this point, he’s a developmental 3rd or 4th corner who could eventually develop into a quality nickel, but he needs to get better at diagnosing and in zone or he could struggle to stick in the league. He’s a day 3 kid.
In terms of pure cover, he’s not bad. His tape is a bit scattershot and if you watch the Washington State game he was just awful, it was an undraftable tape. His Utah tape was damn good, and that’s pretty much how this entire season was for him. He’s good at covering crossing routes and has above average top end speed to make those catches contested. He’s good playing off and then downhill to make catches tough which is why he looks so much like an inside guy to me at the next level, or even maybe down the road a safety.
He’s a solid tackler but not overly physical and his tackle radius isn’t very big because he lacks length. In zone he just needs to react quicker to things. He’ll allow some catches that he shouldn’t because he may be a step or two slow in recognizing route combinations here and there, it’s not bad but it needs improvement. I think he has some talent but the tape is too hit or miss right now. Fifth and Sixth defensive backs are staples in today’s NFL and there’s a chance he turns into a quality inside player in the league, but he comes with some risks. He’s a really smart guy so that’s a plus but ultimately he’s a day 3 inside guy with some ball skills and toughness. He’s worth a shot there if you want to add depth to your DB room.
132. Shane Lemieux, G Oregon 68
A day 3 guard who looks a lot like the other guards you typically see as fringe starters in the NFL. Lemieux is powerful in his upper half but plays too upright and despite what looks like great pop, he doesn’t drive and finish as often as you’d like. He wins most of his reps and his power when he gets lined up on you is pretty impressive. That said there are times he just is simply okay and the longer a rep goes on the worst his technique and feet get. He has to win pretty quickly or he’ll lose. Lemieux is a good drive blocker who is kind of slow footed at the second level despite being asked to move a lot in Oregon’s scheme. He looks like a gap run blocker who might struggle a bit in pass pro at the next level.
At 6’4 and around 320 pounds he fits the bill as a nice interior player. He has a lot of experience and doesn’t make a ton of quick mistakes. That said the lack of leverage he plays with could cause him to get pushed back at the next level if he doesn’t stay below his pad level with more consistency. His strong upper body is a major selling point though as he’ll chuck players around at the point if he gets them off balance. In pass pro though with some clunky feet and only adequate at best functional athleticism he could struggle, particularly with delayed blitzes or quicker DT’s.
In the run game he’s a good run blocker but loses leverage enough that he doesn’t consistently generate movement. At times he’ll do some really impressive things by hammering away when he gets in a rhythm but he’s more of a turn you guy than a finish you off guy. At the second level he’s not really good, he misses more often than he hits. He fits best in a power/gap scheme and one that allows him to just drive off the football with power. I’m not sure the fit in the Oregon scheme was the best for him.
Overall he looks like a borderline starter at guard eventually but he lacks the upside of a lot of the other guys in this class. While his power and experience means he likely won’t have to sit around for a while and could probably contribute earlier rather than later, his footspeed or lack thereof and being a waist bender with tight hips means he probably won’t ever be a better than average starter. He looks like a round 4 or 5 type player and I couldn’t take him in the first two days.
133. Josiah Scott, CB Michigan State 67
A pure nickel back who is a good solid football player with the quickness and foot speed to translate to the NFL. At 5’9 and 185 with short arms he’s not going to be on everyone’s radar. I think he is going to give up some catches here and there and he certainly won’t be a top tier nickel in the league but he without question could be a dime or nickel slot guy early in his career. I think his upside isn’t super high as he doesn’t have the size and he’ll give up a catch or three but he’s tough, has excellent ball skills, and has the quickness to give slots problems.
Watching some of his tapes you notice a couple of things. The number one thing that jumps out is he has quick hips and feet. He could run with some really fast guys consistently and he wasn’t over matched against Hamler or the Ohio State kids in terms of pure speed or quickness. He also wants to tackle although he’s always diving at ankles as his size is a major detriment here and he really struggles to get off blocks. He’s got excellent ball skills with 32 PBU and 7 INT in his career. He’s a nice player.
I think he’s a starting slot corner when you’re playing against faster and quicker interior guys and a dime back when you’re playing against teams who utilize big slots. That’s tough because he’s only a number 5-7 DB on your team on his best day. That means he’s a round 4 or to me a 5th round guy due to lack of size and the worry about durability at that weight. I value ball skills more than almost any evaluator though and his ability to stick with quick guys is a valuable skill. In round 4 or 5 if I’m looking for an interior player you could do worse than him no doubt.
134. Saahdiq Charles, OL LSU 67
A day 3 guy who has some talent but I’m not sure if he has a true position is the former left tackle from the national champs. Charles started on the left side this season but at 6’4 with only okay length and weighing in less than 300 pounds I doubt he sticks on the outside in the NFL. He has some quickness when he times the snap count well and it seems like he has a solid anchor despite not weighing a ton. His reps weren’t bad and the consistency was good throughout the tapes I watched. That said he’s a nice player but nothing to write home about. I think he projects as a potential starter down the line on the interior who can pitch in as a third tackle if need be.
As a pass protector he’s got decent feet and quickness and an ability to reset. That said his technique is a bit strange as he’ll flip his hips open almost immediately upon the snap. It gets his hands down a bit and allows his torso to be open too quickly at times. He wins more reps than he loses and his batting average so to speak is pretty solid but he’s certainly not dominant. I think his hand placement and decent but not overwhelming athleticism along with some delays getting off the snap count at times might fit better inside but he does a decent job here.
In the run game he doesn’t get a ton of movement but does a nice job sealing off blocks. He rarely gets overwhelmed on reps and typically at least creates a stalemate. I think stronger outside guys might give him some problems in the league as he’ll have some balance issues that he may need to work out.
Overall he projects as a solid day 3 lineman. I think he has okay size to play inside but probably doesn’t have the elite quickness or length to be anything more than a backup outside or a below average starter there. The biggest question I have with Charles is what caused him to be suspended for the first 6 games of this past season and why did he jump to the NFL when he clearly needs another year in the SEC to really drive up his stock. His background check will be huge to see where he should go but he’s a day 3 kid to me without question.
135. Rashard Lawrence, DT LSU 67
Really easy guy to scout and project to the NFL. He will give you very little as a pass rusher as he has no counter moves and his initial quickness isn’t good. That said Lawrence has really impressive power and strong hands and does a nice job as a run defender. I doubt he can play nose in a 34 because he doesn’t have the weight but he looks like an early down run stuffer in an even front who does a nice job holding the point of attack and plays hard. Day 3 to somebody.
As a pass rusher there isn’t much to deal with here. He doesnt give counter moves when he plays, he simply tries to run through you. At times he’s very difficult in that regard, early in the Texas game that LG was getting shoved 3 yards deep right through his middle. That’s all he offers though, his sacks will be courtesy of pocket push and coverage ability, he’s rarely if ever going to get a sack on his own. He’s a pocket pusher and not much else.
As a run defender this is where Lawrence will make his money. He’s strong and despite only being about 305-310 pounds he has super heavy hands and does a pretty good job staying low and taking on blocks. He’s going to be a block eater and someone who won’t give a ton of ground going against zone teams as it’ll be tough to get off him initially. Not ever going to be a high volume tackler but he’ll make some plays here and there.
Overall really easy evaluation, day 3 run stuffer in an even front although maybe he could play base in a 34 in run stuffing situations. Not a ton of upside here but a quality day 3 run stuffer.
136. Isaiah Wilson, OT Georgia 67
A developmental right tackle without much of another position, it’s scary to draft these guys too early. Wilson is a huge guy at 6’7 and around 340 pounds but he plays a little too high and doesn’t get everything out of his game he can. He’s a puncher who loves to throw a lot of haymakers but he’ll miss his fair share. While he plays with good effort and has some potential the lack of positional flexibility and poor technique and quickness at this point means to me he’s a middle of day 3 kind of draft prospect.
If you’re looking for a right tackle to develop and you have a power scheme he’s a guy you might want to look toward. Wilson is huge, with good reach, and plays the game hard on every snap. While he’s not an elite run blocker with his size he has the potential to be down the road if you can work with him on hand placement. He will stand too straight up at times and it leads to not getting the movement you would want and more stalemates than wins.
In pass protection he has good reps and bad ones. The issue is I think he would likely give up a sack a game at least if he were to go into the League and be forced to play early right away. Speed rushers give him some problems because he lacks the quickness and kickstep to get back early enough, it leads to him overextending and allowing inside counters to beat him up. That and the fact that his hands aren’t in sync with his body leads me to believe he’ll end up losing his fair share and will probably have some holding problems.
All of that said he’s a big guy who plays hard and has good length. While he needs time to develop he still has the potential to be a starting right tackle given time. I don’t think he has the tools to be a great player out there, but in certain schemes he could turn into a starter or a backup right tackle or power swing tackle if you need. He’s got a ways to go until he’s ready though and the upside isn’t as high as some of the other tackles in this draft. Without being able to play guard or on the left side, you better have a plan or this could be a bust.
137. Thaddeus Moss, TE LSU 66
He looks like a TE2 in the NFL or a TE3 and a core special teams type guy. Everyone knows him because his Dad was Randy moss and because he played for the National Champions this season. What everyone should know about him though is that he’s a damn hard worker and does his job consistently without worrying about the glory. He’s a rock solid run blocker with good size and a reliable underneath catcher of the football. He lacks the traits of a starter but may find a lengthy career doing the yeoman’s work of blocking and catching underneath balls.
Moss lacks the athleticism or speed to be a TE1 in the league. While he does a nice job catching short passes and he runs a solid stick route, he won’t threaten any DB’s or linebackers with his suddenness or speed. He only runs routes at one speed and he struggles to uncover. While he shows terrific hands and he’ll body up smaller DB’s to pick up tough catches, he’ll never really be someone you fear at the TE position.
Where he’ll make his money in the league is in 2TE personnel looks, as an H-Back, and on special teams. He’s a well above average run blocker and while at times he’ll get his hands in the wrong place he works hard and he’ll play one on one with DE’s without giving up much room. Moss isn’t a road grader but he’ll do the job consistently and on down blocks he’ll create movement. Not the longest arms or frame but he gets his body in position frequently and he does a nice job on the move.
He’s not a flashy player. That said if you have a good pass catching tight end and need someone to do the dirty work, he’s your guy. He also catches almost everything and is a nice safety valve for your quarterback. He is a nice chip and release guy into the flats on passing downs as well and while there’s very little ceiling you know what you’re getting here. In round 5 or 6 he’s a solid get and while you won’t be doing backflips when your team drafts him, you’re probably getting a solid TE2.
138. Tyre Philips, OG Mississippi State 66
He played left tackle this past season for Mississippi State but he’s 100% a guard in the NFL. He’s 6’5 331 with over 35 inch arms and that length and size is immediately noticeable on film. He does not move well, and is definitely team specific for a power based team. He lacks the bend and agility to play on the edge but his raw power is prolific and he absolutely stones bulrushers and can create big holes in the run game. He’s not for everyone, but he can start eventually for power based gap teams who value big interior guards.
Phillips on tape has some really impressive reps when he’s allowed to just go downhill. He can create massive running lanes, and he provide the type of movement in the run game that you would want in a downhill team. His length is a major positive and while he can stand too tall at times and allow rushers underneath him, he has the anchor to hold his ground anyway. Big long powerful dude.
He’s got a little bit of what Seattle looks for in it’s linemen. He’s powerful but not a great pass protector because he just doesn’t have the feet for it. On the inside he should get protected quite a bit but delayed blitzes and stunts are going to give him trouble. He has the length to fend off some but to project him as anything other than a run first guard is probably too much to ask. I think in the back half of day 3 he has starters upside for a power based run team, and he could probably kick to right tackle if you absolutely needed that. I could see Seattle, Oakland, and the Saints all thinking he would fit in nicely on day 3.
139. JR Reed, S Georgia 66
He sees the field exceptionally well and it’s pretty clear he has excellent football IQ and diagnostic skills. Reed would be best suited as an old school split safety strong safety but that position kind of doesn’t really exist as it used to. He doesn’t have the range or fluidity to play single high or man to man at a high level so he’s going to be used likely as a big nickel, robber, or split safety in a two high look in the NFL. I think he’s going to be a good special teams player and a guy everyone wants in their locker room. Reed is someone who might very well turn into a starter in time because he sees the game so well, is a solid tackler, and is a good football player. He just lacks the ceiling due to his lack of physical traits.
On day 3 he’s kind of what you’re looking for if you know you need to add depth to your roster. Reed is a solid tackler, he breaks down instead of flying in like a missile like a ton of DBs do. He takes quality angles and is a solid blitzer and he identifies plays well almost every single time. Just a guy who doesn’t make any major errors. A team who prioritizes not giving up big plays will have a higher grade on him than a big play defense. He just won’t give you much of anything in man coverage, and if he’s in space with a better athlete there’s a shot he struggles to bring the guy down. Quality player, high football IQ, just limited.
140. Davon Hamilton, DT Ohio State 65
A day 3 kid who has some potential but his tape isn’t great at this point. He has barely played any reps despite being a senior and Hamilton has a ways to go before he is a productive player at the NFL level. He has really good size at 6’4 and 325 pounds but at times he won’t hold up as well as you’d like against double teams, which will be his main role at the next level. He diagnoses fairly well and has some definite untapped potential but right now he’s a role playing 2 rapper who needs to do a better job holding up against doubles to find playing time.
Hamilton’s tape is only okay at this point. He doesn’t give much as a pass rusher but at times he shows the ability to push the pocket, which is certainly a plus. Right now though unless it’s schemed up or it’s a pocket pusher he looks like he’ll never be a guy who gives you much in the pass rush. It eliminates him from being a 2nd day player.
As a run defender he’s pretty stout. He looks like he’d fit best in an even front as a 1T and while at times he’ll lose leverage against double teams, other times he hangs in there pretty well. He won’t make a ton of tackles but space eaters are important and he has upside here because he does move pretty well for someone at 325 pounds.
Hamilton’s evaluation was easy. He’s a 2 gapping run defender with a little bit of upside who probably won’t ever give you a ton as a pass rusher. He has potential to turn into more but it’ll likely take 2 or 3 seasons to see what he can become. In the meantime he’s a rotational interior defender but I wouldn’t take him before round 5.
141. Nate Stanley, QB Iowa 65
A guy with a tremendous arm, really good size, and who has played in a pro-style offense. When he was surrounded by talent, like last year with two first round tight ends, he was a really efficient player. That said his lack of pocket mobility and dumping the football off is a problem, and his accuracy and decision making under pressure are both below average. I love the tools here, and to be honest Stanley probably has late first round arm talent. I think in time he could turn into a really quality backup and if you have a team where you can let him sit for a year or three he could probably give you some good games here and there. He projects as a backup who could spot start for you occasionally and if he falls into the right system he certainly has the tools and moxy to give you good starts. I like him more than most evaluators and if he’s around in round 5 and my team needs a backup, I think there’s a chance this kid could turn into something.
142. Jack Driscoll, OL Auburn 65
A guy who probably needs to add some strength before he can play but who gets the job done fairly consistently. While his technique is super strange and his kick steps are wonky to say the least he typically wins his reps. He’s a bit slow out of his stance and rarely gets movement in the run game, but again the reps he plays he typically wins so the film doesn’t really lie with that stuff. I think NFL players will probably abuse him as a rookie so he essentially has to redshirt as a rookie, but there is some upside here from the former UMASS player turned Tiger.
I’m not sure he has the athleticism to play tackle in the league but he probably doesn’t have the pop in his hands to play guard so he is a bit of a tweeter right now. The biggest issue with his game though is his lack of play strength. He simply doesn’t get movement and that can’t work on the interior. While he plays hard the lack of pop doesn’t really help and it will only get worse on Sundays. He is constantly in the correct position with his body between his man and the qb on passing downs though despite footwork that you wouldn’t ever want to teach. He quick sets really often and it means that strong guys can collapse him and quick guys can get the edge at the next level. Again though, he won most of the reps and this is all a projection currently.
As a run blocker he has adequate foot speed to get to the second level and he holds his own on most blocks. He isn’t going to collapse down and create a seam though but with decent athleticism and toughness he typically doesn’t lose quickly. You rarely see him in run downs get blown back so at least he holds his own more often than not.
Overall he projects to me as a backup offensive lineman who needs to sit for a year and get stronger and to work on better technique. Down the road he could get some meaningful reps for you, particularly as a 3rd tackle because he has the ability to probably play both sides if you need and could kick inside at guard down the road too. I wouldn’t shut the door on him being a starter down the road but likely he’s a long time 6th lineman unless he can really add some pop to his game.
143. K’von Wallace, S Clemson 65
I think he could end up being a really good special teams player and backup safety in the NFL. Wallace is at his best when he’s blitzing off the slot and playing downhill. He’s a physical guy and runs 4.53 but he lacks the hip flexibility to be a good guy in coverage. While he makes plays on the ball it’s only when he’s playing downhill with his eyes on the quarterback. In man coverage he’s a liability because he just can’t flip his hips and run or change direction like you’d want. As a box safety he’s only around 200 pounds so I don’t know where his ability to play that spot would come from. That said he’s an instinctive player, and typically does his job. I like him as a slot blitzer a lot, and he could end up being some sort of dime or big nickel in the league. To me he’s likely a special teamer and sub package DB with the potential to maybe play quite a few snaps in a zone heavy defense.
144. Alex Highsmith, EDGE Charlotte 65
A day 3 kid who was very productive this past season but lacks a lot of the traits you’d want for a starter. I think there’s a shot that he could play in the league but he certainly needs to get stronger and when he went up against talented teams his production went way down. While he generated a lot of sacks this season most were against subpar competition. He’s pretty quick and times the snap well at times but at 240 pounds he just lacks the pop and strength to play a 34 OLB spot at this point and he would get mauled as a 43 end. If he can add 15 to 20 pounds of muscle he has the athleticism to turn into a rotational 34 OLB in time. He plays hard as hell and scouts say he has a good makeup so could be a long time special teams player as well.
Highsmith was a walk on and it took him two years to get a scholarship offer to Charlotte. He’s got decent straight line speed and I think if he learned how to drop into coverage he could end up being solid there because he seems pretty athletic. He diagnoses plays quickly and has very good lateral agility. He’s more of a slip the block guy because he gets squared up way too often in the run game and gets washed out of plays pretty easily at times. His big strength is that he can get off the ball quickly and has a good outside to inside counter with enough speed to get the edge so he’ll get you when you overset. I typically look for the guys with the best 3 cone and short shuttle as those edge/olb type guys that could translate and his numbers on both drills stood out as very impressive.
He’s a project but has a good motor and solid special teams numbers that could intrigue a team that plays an odd front. I could totally see a 34 team taking a chance on him in rounds 5-7 and giving him a year or three to get bigger stronger faster and learn how to drop into coverage. High motor guys who have to fight for everything are typically guys I want to root for. Right now though he just doesn’t have the play strength or the hand pop to play much in the league but in two or three years he’s got a shot. Back half of day 3 guy but he’s got a shot in time.
145. James Robinson, RB Illinois State 64
I really think this guy could be a RB2/3 at the next level. He lacks breakaway speed and truly looks like he’s lumbering in the open field but at 5’9 and 216 pounds he runs hard and has excellent pace to his game. He sees the field very well and doesn’t try to do too much with the ball in his hands, a trait that should translate well to the next level. This kid had over 500 carries the last two seasons, and is the leading high school rusher in the history of the state of Illinois. He lacks a ton of the traits you want, he’s not sudden or fast, but he has great vision, pace, and runs hard and downhill. I think he could be a solid back of the rotation running back and perhaps a decent special teams player as well. Definitely a day 3 kid but if I need RB depth on day 3, you could do a lot worse.
Robinson just lacks the traits you want from someone who could start meaningful games in the NFL but he just gets yards. He won’t break many big plays and may struggle to get the edge in the league but his running style is effective and he doesn’t make mistakes in seeing the hole. He can be smooth and glide on one play, and show choppy feet on another, pounding inside for yardage. His physicality makes me think he can get tackles on special teams and lead block as well.
He has virtually no ceiling, and there’s a very real shot he doesn’t make an NFL roster. That said, I think in round 6 or 7 and particularly as an UDFA he should be a target of NFL teams. He will get you the ugly yards and his coaches were all saying he has zero ego and will just do what you ask him to do. I like productive players and his running style will fit in the NFL. I could see a team like Pittsburgh or Oakland really liking what they see in him and him getting some work as a rotational back at some point in the NFL.
146. Evan Weaver, LB Cal 64
Easy evaluation here for Weaver. He makes an obscene amount of tackles and led the nation over the past two seasons in that category. Weaver can’t play on passing downs because he lacks the athleticism or speed to blitz or cover at an acceptable level. I think he will be a special teams dynamo though with his effort and ability to tackle but he lacks the quickness and speed to be great there. I’m not going to get too far into this evaluation because it’s pretty clear. Definitely a day 3 kid, really good tackler, and very tough. He just lacks the athleticism to be anything more than an early down linebacker and special teams player, but he’s a great guy to add when you’re trying to fill out your roster because he works his ass off, is smart, and I can always use more quality tacklers.
147. Darrell Taylor, EDGE Tennessee 64
Taylor is a better prospect than he is a football player at this point. When you watch his tape the first thing that jumps off the screen is how freaking slow he is off the football. He’s invariably the last one to get to the jump. Yes he had 8.5 sacks each of the past two seasons but honestly most of those were going up against inferior athletes or coverage sacks. He shows some ability to drop into coverage and to me I think he could end up as a 43 end or 34 OLB which will really help his draft stock because everyone could think he would fit their scheme. He’s built like a truck at 6’4 267 pounds of pure muscle but he just doesn’t recognize plays that well. He’s talented, there’s no question, but to me unless It’s a flier in round 7 I would let someone else take that risk because I just don’t quite see an NFL player except in how he’s built at this point.
148. Lavert Hill, CB Michigan 64
He lacks a lot of the traits that make up good defensive backs but he plays a physical brand of football that I think will translate to him being a good dime back in the NFL. He’s not fast enough to play outside in the NFL and it’s a problem that a lot of NFL teams will take him off their board but I think they are pigeon holing him into what they want him to be. I think he projects best as a press man nickel and particularly as a dime back and 3rd safety type guy. He plays the game hard as hell and while he will really struggle to run down the field with fast receivers, he truly has the makeup I’m looking for an I think he has the physicality to be a good special teams cover guy as well. These write-ups are easy to go through, I just think with how hard he plays, his football IQ which is damn high, and his ball skills which are above average, he could be an NFL player. If I draft him I consider an immediate move to safety as well.Round 6 or 7 target for me and he might be one of my first two or three calls as an UDFA.
149. Damien Lewis, G LSU 64
A backup guard who is slow off of the snap, but who has some pop in his hands and plays hard. Lewis right now isn’t a starting capable guard in the NFL despite holding down that spot for the national champion Bayou Bengals this past season. He played for two years in JuCo before moving to the SEC but despite having some success this year he simply doesn’t have enough of what you need to transition well to the NFL. In watching tape Lewis is slow off the snap and his inaccuracies with his hand placement cause him some issues. He also doesn’t have the quickness you would want and he simply doesn’t put up enough wins in reps to project as more than a backup at this point.
In pass protection he has a good anchor but the lack of quickness and how slow he is off the ball is going to be a major problem. Brown from Auburn annihilated him a few times and he gets way off balance on twists and stunts. He won’t give you much in the screen game either as he doesn’t possess the athleticism. Lewis has pretty strong hands and looks like he’ll shock you with power here and there which is fun to watch. That said despite having good anchor abilities, he’s so slow off the ball that quicker players will shove him a yard or two back or get inside him way too quickly.
As a run blocker there are some really good reps here and there. His consistency needs some work but as a run blocker he’s a lot further along than in pass pro. He at times can really create movement especially in inside zone plays when he’s just allowed to keep players going in whatever direction they start. He has some power that can move people off their spot. Again his lack of ability to get off the ball quickly and to move well in space limits his upside but he could end up being a pretty good run blocker in a man or gap system.
Right now Lewis looks like a day 3 guard who needs to develop into a better pass protector. That said he likely won’t ever be anything better than a league average guard but likely he looks like a backup.
150. Calvin Throckmorton, OL Oregon 64
Throckmorton is an interesting prospect with his versatility and toughness leading me to believe that he could be a long time backup in the NFL. The biggest plus to his game is that Throckmorton literally played every single position on the offensive line throughout his career for the Ducks. While at the Senior Bowl it was fairly obvious that playing tackle at the NFL level probably isn’t in the cards for CT, he projects as a nice backup on the interior in the NFL due to toughness and high football IQ. His lack of foot speed and length is going to be a detriment to his upside though.
As a pass protector his biggest strength is that he sees and identifies rushers with ease. While his foot quickness and flexibility are below average he typically gets his hands on you. Early in reps he isn’t very quick off the ball though so quicker interior players who get a good jump could probably give him a quick jolt. His length is only okay and while he’ll give you a shot early in the reps he doesn’t latch on well and players bounce off of him, allowing them to restart their motors toward the QB. Quickness will give him problems.
As a run blocker he plays with some grit and toughness. I think he has a chance to be okay here but he isn’t good at the second level, he whiffs too many times. Throckmorton plays with toughness and plays with good effort. He doesn’t generate a ton of movement but rarely gets killed.
The guy is a late day 3 guy who can likely play 3 or 4 positions on the offensive line but I think it’s a ways to go for him to be a consistent player in the NFL. Throckmorton’s positional versatility is a major upside that could end up helping him stick in the league for a while. I seriously doubt he could end up playing outside in the NFL but he could play some center and definitely guard which is where he fits the best. He should get targeted on the back half of day 3.
151. KJ Hill, WR Ohio State 64
You love having kids like this on your team because he’s tough, plays hard, and shows up every single day. That said he just isn’t athletic or quick enough to really make much of an impact. Hill is under 6 feet tall, runs a 4.6 and doesn’t have the acceleration or suddenness you’d want out of a slot man. While he put up solid numbers throughout his career at Ohio State he was never really someone who scared you in that offense. When I watched them play I was almost of the mindset of let Hill get whatever he wants because he’s not going to every really hurt you. I think he’s a 5th WR in the NFL and he could be a good special teams player because he is a good football player, but he has limited upside and is probably a ceiling of a WR4 or adequate slot man. I would consider him in the 200s though.
152. Jason Strowbridge, DE UNC 63
A 5 technique who could probably kick inside on passing downs, has a ways to go to turn into something but he’s a day 3 developmental kid with some long term potential. This isn’t going to be the longest writeup because well there isn’t much to go with here. He’s long and used to be a 245 pound end but he doesn’t really have the athleticism there and right now against double teams his best bet is to try to split them as he can’t anchor. I think he has potential as a 5T because of his length and he’s not a terrible athlete. The Senior Bowl one on ones were pretty impressive when he was asked to go over a guard so maybe some long term potential as a 3T as well. I wouldn’t take him before the 5th round but if you’re patient there’s a chance he develops.
153. Alton Robinson, DE Syracuse 63
A really well built 43 defensive end with a good speed rush who absolutely can’t play run downs. He’s a situational pass rusher who has super good burst and at 260 pounds ran a 4.69 at the combine and plays with that type of speed. He doesn’t even pretend to defend the run though as his game is almost entirely built on that one move. I think there’s a chance he could help you on special teams though but he’s a developmental player. I wouldn’t mind my team taking a shot on him in round 5 or 6 for sure because he is a very good athlete but just has a ways to go as a football player right now.
154. Michael Onwenu, G Michigan 63
A behemoth of a man who doesn’t probably have the requisite foot speed to be anything more than a huge backup in the NFL. Onwenu alternates periods of looking like a monster and other reps where he gets destroyed by anyone with even moderate foot quickness. He allows players to get off blocks too easily but at times he can absolutely dominate and maul players. I love how he plays with power and toughness at the point and for being 360 pounds he moves fairly well. That said he struggles to lock on as well as others but his pop at the point is impressive. He could turn into a starter in a power scheme but likely he’s a backup with some upside in time.
155. John Hightower, WR Boise State 63
Pretty simple evaluation here, he looks like a WR4/5 in the NFL because he has legit long speed and kick return experience. He’s not a route runner and he’s too small to do much other than go deep or catch screens and end arounds. There’s a place on every team for a guy like that without question though. He’s 6’1 and runs a 4.43 but is only around 185 to 190 pounds so you have to wonder if he’ll be able to stay healthy as well. He’s the type of guy you have in the WR room because he can be your big play guy and your gadget guy, if a normal WR draft he would probably be in the round 4 discussion because of that big play ability, but in this draft he’s a 6 or 7th round pick. He struggles with drops as well and doesn’t do well with contested catches.
156. Daryl Williams, G/C Mississippi State 63
A versatile offensive lineman who probably need some developmental time in the NFL. He played guard some in his career and center this season although his tape is quite a bit better at guard. I think he projects as someone who could likely be a 3 position backup in the league. He doesn’t look like someone who could start in the NFL for a while as he doesn’t have the strength you would look for an he has a bit of a soft anchor. Also he just simply looks for work too often in both the passing game and weirdly enough in the run game. I’m not diving too far into this write-up, he’s a versatile guy who simply doesn’t have all the tools you would look for in a starting caliber player but the positional flexibility is a plus and the length and decent movement skills could end up having him as an okay back-up.
157. Geno Stone, S Iowa 62
He looks like a split safety or 4th or 5th safety type guy. I think he could be okay on special teams but honestly he just lacks the traits I like to see in safeties. He sees the field well but I don’t like his lack of physicality at the end of plays. He’s not a great athlete but he’s clearly been coached well, I think Ferentz does about as good of a job as anyone coaching up his guys. He won’t make mistakes, and he sees the field well but I think he’s more of a backup permanently. Analytically he’s high in a lot of circles, to me he’s a 6th or 7th and not someone I’m going to target.
158. Quintez Cephus, WR Wisconsin 62
A kid I don’t think I could draft until round 7 or maybe late 6 at the earliest but someone with an interesting profile. He’s slow and struggles to separate but he’s a good blocker and has the size that could make him an enticing special teams player. He catches the ball fairly well and has some toughness to him but ultimately he projects as WR4/5 with special teams ability.
159. Tanner Muse, LB Clemson 61
He’s really interesting because he was productive at Clemson but there’s no way he can play safety because he’s too tight hipped. He ran a 4.41 at the Combine and it made me go back and watch a little bit more. I think he’s a cover linebacker in dime or even maybe in nickel looks, which is where he would go. But honestly my thought here in putting a draft able grade on him is that I would draft him solely to be my special teams ace and I’d tell him that when I drafted him. He’s 6’1 223 pounds and runs a 4.41 as an above average physical tackler, give me him in round 6 or 7 and go lead the league in tackles on special teams.
160. Soloman Kindley, OG Georgia 60
A huge behemoth of a man whose lack of athleticism and ability to bend puts him as a very late day 3 guy. He has tremendous power and size but he struggles to move and he plays way too straight up. At about 340 pounds he definitely has powerful hands but the mobility or lack thereof is a major red flag and his tape just wasn’t good enough. He really should have gone back to Georgia, lost 20 pounds and tried again. If he does that at the NFL level and is given a chance to essentially redshirt he could maybe turn into an NFL caliber player in a couple of years but there’s just as likely of a chance that he doesn’t develop.
OTHERS WITH RED FLAGS:
Netane Muti, G Fresno State
As a freshman he was dominant but then only played a few games over the next two seasons because of serious injuries. His tape is good and his good reps are phenomenal. He’s probably a 2nd or 3rd round guard if his medicals are okay but he has barely played in two seasons. He’s a day 3 guy but without the medical information it’s impossible to give him a grade.
Julian Blackmon, S Utah
Good football player with excellent ball skills but he had a major knee injury at the end of this season that requires looking at before signing off. Blackmon also switched from corner to safety and he’s a developmental player there. If my medical crew gave me the go ahead he would be a target for a team that values ball skills over sound play. I think Blackmon has skills that are high quality, hell he was a second team all American this past season but he’s a developmental guy. On day 3 sometime he’s definitely worth a flier but gotta check out the knee and see if he has the IQ to convert to safety completely by year 2 and not be a liability.
Willie Gay Jr, LB Mississippi State
He’s an absurd athlete. He had an 11’4 broad jump and ran 4.46 at 241 pounds, that’s 10/10 H/W/S stuff. That said he got suspended this past season for 8 games, then punched a teammate. I couldn’t draft him with the off the field red flags and the fact he’s only started 6 games in his career. He’s a slow processor on the field and coupled with the off the field stuff it’s tough. That said someone is going to love the measurable, but without team meetings, he’s too high of a risk for me.
Priority Free Agents or Low Team Specific Ratings
1. Terrance Steele, OT Texas Tech - just not a guy who can play.
2. Shea Patterson, QB Michigan - not a guy who can play.
3. Nick Harris, C Washington - he is draftable to a zone heavy team but too weak to start early in his career.
4. Alex Taylor, OT South Carolina State - Got a little talent but he’s developmental, worth a flier in the 6th or 7th maybe
5. Keith Ishmael, C San Diego State - not my cup of tea but won’t get upset if someone drafts him.
6. Cole McDonald, QB Hawaii - worth a late round flier, got wheels and a talented arm just never really put it together.
7. David Woodword, LB Utah State - worth a late round pick probably. 4.8 without quickness as a linebacker though him sticking isn’t likely.
8. Braden Mann, P Texas A&M - I would consider drafting him to be honest. He’s got a massive leg. I don’t usually recommend punters but he’s clearly the best.
9. Rodrigo Blankenship, K Georgia - Worth a shot. Played big boy football and was consistent.
10. Tyler Bass, K Georgia Southern - Massive leg, definitely a priority to get this kid into camp.
11. Kenny Willekes, DE Michigan State - one of about 2 dozen players who are good college players but won’t translate well to the league. Worth a 6th or 7th maybe because he works hard but doesn’t offer the profile.
12. Charlie Heck, OT UNC - He could be a swing tackle in the league. Lacks a ton of things that you would want but he hangs in there. 6th or 7th for me.
13. Jake Luton, QB Oregon State - big time arm, big time size, but if you put pressure on him he’s skittish. I think he could turn into a backup in time, poor man’s Mike Glennon.
14. Blake Brendel, OT Oregon State - sleeper pick to make a team as an UDFA. Really good pass protector in college, not sure he has the traits but he’d be a UDFA target for me as an NFL GM.
15. Davion Taylor, LB Colorado - insane athlete with good size but a mile and a half to go as an NFL player. Serious upside as a special teamer though, worth a 7th flier if you’re looking for a special teams only player to develop as a linebacker. 4.49 speed.
16. Shaq Quarterman, LB Miami - He’s a backup inside linebacker. He’s a good tackler but stocky build and not fast or quick to do anything on 3rd down. Not a guy I would target but team leader and maybe a special teamer too.
17. Dalton Keane, ATH Virginia Tech - could be a really good special teams player and maybe an H-Back or Fullback.
18. Benjamin Victor, WR Ohio State - looks like a WR4/5 in the NFL. I think with his physicality he could be a good special teams player too. Good athleticism just not a great player yet, worth a late round pick.
19. John Reid, CB Penn State - two major knee injuries and the fact he’s not a great tackler so I don’t know if he can play on special teams is a deal breaker for me. He’s versatile and has good productivity in terms of PBU and INT but two red flags are problematic. If he can’t tackle at the nickel where he should play in the leauge and he’s not a special teamer, the risk might be too high for the reward here except in the 7th.
20. James Proche, WR SMU - I didn’t get a chance to really go into him but he was impressive in the tape I watched, phenomenal hands. Looks like a really good slot receiver, round 4-6, probably the best player I didn’t do a writeup on.
21. Raymond Calais, RB Louisiana Lafayette - 4.42 speed but he’s small, was a gunner on punt duty so could easily be a 3rd or 4th RB.
22. Derrick Tuzcska, DE North Dakota State - super high productivity and an insane 3 cone drill, (best translation of success in the NFL). 100% worth a flier on day 3.
23. Malcolm Perry, ATH Navy - I think he’s a slot in the NFL, but he’s insanely quick. I just think he’s worth a shot, if you don’t draft him he would be one of my first calls to get to come in as a priority free agent because he’s a good football player and lightning quick.
24. Bryce Perkins, QB Virginia - for those teams that are looking for an athletic backup qb he’s got to be on your radar. He’s very mobile and tough and smart. I like that combo. Could be a target for Seattle, Baltimore, Chargers, among others late on day 3.
25. Colton McKivitz, OL West Virginia - can play tackle in a pinch but could eventually work his way into a starting spot as a guard. As my buddy put it “he’s not athletic but he’s a good football player.” I trust his eye, he gets a mid day 3 grade.
26. Isaiah Coulter, WR Rhode Island - looks like he can be a WR3-5 in the NFL maybe with some special teams talent as a gunner. I couldn’t get enough tape to feel comfortable giving a grade but mid to late day 3 he should get snapped up.
27. Joe Bachie, LB Michigan State - 100% draftable but probably a special teamer only for a while, needs to add strength but round 5-7 he’s worth a shot.
28. Kalija Lipscomb, WR Vanderbilt - he catches almost everything thrown his way but he won’t give you much else in terms of wiggle, separation, or speed. But he was reliable on tape. Round 6 or 7.
29. James Morgan, QB FIU - he had some rough tape but he also had some pretty damn good games. He would be a perfect QB3 early on a team with an aging quarterback. There’s a chance he turns into a low end QB1 in time, totally worth a round 5-6 pick. I was going to do a writeup on him but ran out of time.
30. Alohi Gilman, S Notre Dame - he’s worth a 5 I think. Competitive dude who I think might be a really good special teams player. Could be a 3rd safety in dime looks, triggers hard. Just nothing special, but a solid day 3 guy.
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