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NFL Prospect Focus: Stanford Defense
Ever since Jim Harbaugh became Stanford's head coach in 2007, the type of player the NFL has gotten from the school has changed. While I'm not going to say that Stanford players used to be soft, I will say that there were not nearly as strong, tough minded, and physically imposing as we are seeing now.
This year, Stanford has four players on defense who are likely to be drafted (some very high) in next May's NFL Draft. They are linebackers Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy as well as defensive linemen Ben Gardner and Josh Mauro.
Shayne Skov – Linebacker
Skov is the most talented of the senior defensive players at Stanford. Skov has been a starter at linebacker since midway through his freshman year in 2009. He injured a knee in the third game of the 2009 season and was given an injury redshirt year. The former five-star recruit has lived up to his lofty high school recruiting status.
Skov has excellent size for a Mike linebacker. He is listed as being 6'3 – 245 and looks all of that. He is a very good athlete with speed, balance, and body control. I would say he can easily run in the low 4.6 area. He has explosive quickness, strength, and power. He is a quick-reacting, instinctive player who finds the ball. He shows strength and power at the point of attack and gets rid of blocks very quickly. He always seems to take good angles to the ball, and when he reaches the play he is an excellent tackler.
He is used to blitz often and is a very good pass rusher. With his quickness and burst, he does an excellent job timing his blitzes and is extremely effective. He can shed on the move and has a quick burst off of blocks to close. In pass coverage, he has the suddenness and hip flex to turn and run in man cover and has excellent awareness in zone. His transition is very good.
Skov is a complete linebacker and can play in any type of defensive system. He can play Mike or Will in a 4-3 or either inside position in a 3-4. His skill set is such that he should play and start right from the get go. He will be a very high pick and a solid contributor as a rookie.
Trent Murphy – Linebacker
Murphy is a fifth-year senior from Mesa, Arizona. He is a three-year starter at outside linebacker, and in the Stanford scheme, he really plays a combination OLB/DE. He lines up from both a two-point and three-point stance.
Listed as being 6'6 – 261, Murphy is bigger than your prototypical OLB. On tape, he looks to be a good athlete. While he has smooth movement, I don't see explosive quickness and power. He plays with good, not great, strength. He has average speed for the position, and I would estimate he runs in the 4.8 area.
Murphy has put up some outstanding numbers to date this year with 45 tackles, including 18 for loss and 12 sacks. In the three games I viewed (USC, Oregon, UCLA), I did not see that type of production in his play. While he is very consistent and plays hard, I didn't that all that many "big" plays.
Murphy has good initial quickness and stays low. He can get his hands on his opponent quickly and shows the hand use to shed blocks. He has good instincts and finds the ball. I wouldn't call him a disrupter versus the run, but he does make plays. He is a very steady player who, while not flashy, at the end of the day, you see makes a lot of plays. As a pass rusher, he gets off the ball with good quickness. He is not an explosive pass rusher, but he knows how to put moves together and goes snap-to-whistle. He is smart, and you seldom see him break contain. He is used some in pass coverage and is best in zone. He has a good drop and shows a feel in coverage, but he lacks the explosive quickness that you would prefer an OLB to have.
Murphy is a bit of a tweener, big for an OLB and small for a DE. His workouts will have a lot to say about where he gets drafted. In watching three games, I still don't have a really good feel for this player, so I need to watch more tape. Right now, I see him as a "B" level player (third – fourth round), but he could be better. His best fit is a 3-4 OLB, but there are some 4-3 schemes in the league he could play in. I will update this report as I see more tape.
Josh Mauro – Defensive Line
Mauro was not on a lot of pre-season scouting lists, but when you watch tape, he jumps out at you with his effort and consistency. Because of injuries to many of Stanford's defensive lineman, Mauro has lined up at all three defensive line positions this year.
Mauro is a fifth-year senior and a two-year starter. He is listed at being 6'6 – 282, and he has the frame to easily carry 300 pounds. He has good arm length, plays with strength, and is a fairly good athlete. While he is not extremely fast, he has quickness, stays on his feet, and is a top competitor.
Mauro gets off the ball quickly, and with his quick first step and power, he can get penetration and disrupt the run game. With his strength, he usually wins the battle at the line of scrimmage, and can gain ground. He takes good angles in pursuit and will make some pursuit plays because of his aggressive attitude on the field.
He doesn't show many moves as a pass rusher, but he is able to push the pocket and never stops coming. While he may not get a lot of sacks, he will get pressures.
Mauro is not a top talent, but he is the type of player that most teams want. While he may never be a starter, he is the type of player that can be effective as a sole player in a rotation. I see him as a "C" level player (fifth – seventh) rounds who still needs some development but should still play early in his career.
Ben Gardner – Defensive line
Gardner played in only one of the games I viewed (UCLA). He injured a pec muscle in late October, had surgery, and is out for the season. In the one game I saw, he looked to be an undersized player with a high motor. He usually plays as a five-technique. He is a fifth-year senior, and a three-year starter.
He lacks ideal size at 6'4 – 275, but he is strong and explosive. He gets off the ball very quickly and can disrupt run plays with his quickness. He has good hand use and can shed. Though he lacks top size, he shows he can hold the point and not give ground. As a pass rusher, he can be effective with his moves and flashes a bull rush.
Gardner is a good player but undersized. He does not look like he can get much bigger than 285. With just one tape viewed, I need to see more before I can come up with a more definite opinion on this player.
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Draft Review – The NFC North
Chicago Bears
The Bears had three goals going into the 2016 NFL Draft, get younger, get faster and get more athletic. Looking at their selections over the three day event and you can see that they achieved those goals.
First pick Leonard Floyd the edge player from Georgia was the most athletic pass rusher in
Chicago Bears
The Bears had three goals going into the 2016 NFL Draft, get younger, get faster and get more athletic. Looking at their selections over the three day event and you can see that they achieved those goals.
First pick Leonard Floyd the edge player from Georgia was the most athletic pass rusher in the draft. Yes he needs toad strength and bulk but when you look at his frame, speed and overall athleticism he has the necessary tools to be exactly what the Bears want.
Second pick Cody Whitehair played left tackle at Kansas State but will move inside to guard. He tested out as one of the more athletic offensive linemen at the Combine. Bears offensive line coach Dave Magazu is looking for players who have versatility and the ability to play in space which matches the skill set of Whitehair.
The Bears passed up chances to draft Alabama defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed in the second round and selected Florida's Jonathan Bullard in the third because they again wanted athleticism and pass rush ability. Bullard may not be as stout versus the run as the Alabama players but he is a far better pass rusher.
Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski is a tackling machine who will provide depth and special teams play as a rookie. Safety Deon Bush from Miami has a chance to start at strong safety and Northern Iowa's Deoiondre' Hall has rare height and length for a corner. He is very similar to Charles Tillman coming out of college.
Fifth round running back Jordan Howard from Indiana is a north-south power runner who gives the Bears the type of inside power running that Jon Fox prefers.
Detroit Lions
With a new General Manager handling the Lions draft, not many knew the direction the Lions would take. The Lions needed to add depth to both lines and that's exactly the area where General Manager Bob Quinn would go.
In the first round Quinn selected Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker who should be able to play on the left or right side. Decker is a big, powerful mauler who instantly upgrades the Lions line. Second round selection A'Shawn Robinson from Alabama is a physical defensive tackle with upside. Robinson will be a 21 year old rookie and has only beginning to scratch the surface of how good he can be.
Third round pick Graham Glascow from Michigan has the versatility to play guard or center. My guess is that he will line up at center first. Safety Miles Killebrew is a physical strong safety type who could also fill the nickel linebacker role in sub packages. Joe Dahl played left tackle at Washington State but will move inside to guard in the NFL. He is strong physical and athletic. Jake Ruddock the quarterback from Michigan gives the Lions a developmental type quarterback behind Matthew Stafford.
Green Bay Packers
General Manager Ted Thompson has always been a strong believer of building through the draft and since he has been in charge the Packers have drafted extremely well. This year was no different.
With B.J. Raji retired, the Pack needed a powerful interior defensive lineman and got that in UCLA's Kenny Clark. Clark is best suited to play on the nose, but he can also play the 5-technique.
Second round pick Jason Spriggs was one of the more athletic tackles in the draft. HH
He has all the physical tools to be a top notch left tackle in the league. While his athletic numbers are second to none, he does have a tendency to play tall which he will have to correct once he gets to training camp.
Third round pick Kyler Fackrell should be able to play either inside or outside linebacker in the Packers defensive scheme but he is more suited to play outside. He has very good size and strength. Dean Lowry from Northwestern will be a rotational player along the defensive line.
I feel sixth round pick Kyle Murphy the tackle from Stanford is a steal. Like many college linemen, he needs to get stronger, but he is technique sound and has versatility.
Minnesota Vikings
No one can complain about the Vikings first two selections. Until his pro day when he didn't run as well as expected, Laquon Treadwell was thought of as the best receiver in the draft. While he won't be a deep thread, he will be an Anquan Boldin type possession receiver and put up big numbers for the Vikings.
Second round pick Mackenzie Alexander has to be a steal. Many felt he was a late first round type. He has excellent press cover skills and will challenge receivers. His height and timed speed hurt his overall draft value.
Willie Beavers is a developmental tackle. He has the size, length and athleticism to play left tackle nut needs to use his hands and position himself better when in pass protection. Beavers has a lot of upside.
Don't be surprised if Kentrell Brothers becomes a starter early in his career. He was perhaps the most instinctive inside linebacker in the draft. His timed speed (4.8) dropped him some on value boards.
Wide receiver Moritz Boehringer has excellent physical traits, but no one is more raw. He played in a German league that isn't as competitive as the Division III leagues here but with his size, speed and overall athleticism to warrant a look. He will most likely need a year on the practice squad as he adjusts to NFL style football.
The NFC East Draft Review
Philadelphia Eagles
When Andy Reid was Head Coach in Philadelphia, he thought it was both necessary and good business to draft a young quarterback if not every year at least every other year. With Howie Roseman back in charge of football operations, the Eagles are going back to that same philosophy. With that thought in
Philadelphia Eagles
When Andy Reid was Head Coach in Philadelphia, he thought it was both necessary and good business to draft a young quarterback if not every year at least every other year. With Howie Roseman back in charge of football operations, the Eagles are going back to that same philosophy. With that thought in mind, the Eagles traded up from the 8 slot to number 2 overall to draft one of the two top quarterbacks in this draft.
It's my opinion that Roseman and the Eagles wanted North Dakota State's Carson Wentz all along. Regardless ofJared Goff going first overall, Wentz has more upside than any other quarterback in the draft. He is big, strong, athletic and has played in an NFL style system while at NDSU. Will there be a learning curve? Of course and it would serve him better if he can sit and learn for a year, but in the end, the Eagles got themselves a potentially great player.
Isaac Seumalo has size, strength and versatility. He has experience at guard, center and tackle. That versatility will let him be one of 7 linemen that dress on Sunday's a rookie. While Seumalo may not be ready to start as a rookie, he will be a starter by year two and has very good upside.
At 5'10 – 208, Wendall Smallwood does not have ideal size but he has exceptional speed (4.41). In today's NFL, more and more teams are going to a rotational back scheme and Smallwood will fit very well into that type of roll. He is quick to the hole, has power, can make people miss and is a very reliable receiver.
Auburn's Blake Countess will be a slot corner and can be very good matching up against the smaller quicker slot receivers in the league. Jalen Mills can be a 7th round steal. While he had some off field issues that caused him to drop, his talent level is more of a mid-round type of prospect.
New York Giants
Word out of New York was that the Giants were looking at Michigan State's Jack Conklin as their top choice. After the draft day slide of Laremy Tunsil, Conklin went at number 8 to the Tennessee Titans after they traded up to get him.
That left the Giants looking at Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd, but the Chicago Bears sensing that moved ahead of the Giants to draft him. The Giants then chose Ohio State corner Eli Apple. Apple with his size and length has the talent to be outstanding. He still had two years of college eligibility left so he is raw, but there is no mistaking the upside.
In my opinion, Oklahoma receiver Sterling Shepard was the best slot receiver in the draft. He is an exceptional athlete with very good ability to get in and out of cuts. His hands and run after skills are excellent also.
Boise State free safety Darian Thompson is an interception waiting to happen. He has great awareness and anticipation playing the backend to go along with great ball skills. B.J. Goodson is a throwback type of Mike linebacker. He has strength and power at the point of attack and can stuff the run. There is no way UCLA running back Paul Perkins should have lasted until the 5th round, but except for Zeke Elliott, all the backs fell in this draft.
Dallas Cowboys
Around the league it was believed that Cowboy Head Coach Jason Garrett was pushing hard for the selection of Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. He felt that after the Cowboys lost DeMarco Murray in free agency the run game went downhill quickly. Elliott is similar to Murray in that he is very physical but he is also an improvement in the pass game over Murray.
No one knows when or if Jaylon Smith will ever step onto the football field again, but with the Cowboys orthopedic surgeon having done the surgery on Smith, they know better that anyone else as to the prognosis. If the Cowboys guessed right, Dallas got two picks with top 5 value.
Maliek Collins can play on the nose or the 3-technique in Rod Marinelli's defense, but I believe he will be better off at nose. Charles Tapper gives Dallas a pure edge rusher who very well could have gone much higher in the Draft.
Quarterback Dak Prescott showed much improvement from 2014 to 2015. That said, he is still a work in progress and it will take time for him to adjust to playing in a pro-style offense. The Cowboys have to hope that Tony Romo is around at least a couple of years to help Prescott with the transition.
Anthony Brown is a developmental press corner with size and length. He may need a year on the practice squad.
Washington Redskins
I felt that Josh Docson was the best receiver in this draft. While he may not have the natural physical traits of Corey Coleman, he is a better route runner and can be effective both short and deep.
Washington lists Su'a Cravens as a safety, but I feel he is more of the nickel linebacker type who many teams covet right now. He has experience at both safety and linebacker and has coverage skills as well as defend the run type traits. A very solid pick!
Corner Kendall Fuller is coming off a knee injury but when he is ready to go he will fit nicely into the Redskins scheme. He may start out as the team's third corner as upside to becoming a very good second corner.
Matt Ioannidis is a tough physical inside defensive lineman who will most likely play on the nose. Nate Sudfeld is a developmental quarterback.
Some thoughts on the 2016 NFL Draft
I have been involved in some way with the NFL Draft since 1981. That said, the 2016 NFL Draft was one of the strangest drafts I have ever witnessed. A month ago no one would have thought that quarterbacks would go first and second. Up until the Tennessee Titans traded away the number one pick
I have been involved in some way with the NFL Draft since 1981. That said, the 2016 NFL Draft was one of the strangest drafts I have ever witnessed. A month ago no one would have thought that quarterbacks would go first and second. Up until the Tennessee Titans traded away the number one pick to the Los Angeles Rams on April 14th, Laremy Tunsil the big tackle from Ole Miss was looked at as the likely first pick in the draft. The following week the Philadelphia Eagles traded up from the number 8 slot for the second overall pick. Those two trades assured us that for the second consecutive year quarterbacks would be selected with the first two picks and Tunsil was basically out of luck.
Now the question was "when will Tunsil get selected"? At first, many thought that San Diego with a need on the offensive line would be the team to select him. Then a few days before the draft, word got out that if San Diego did draft a tackle, it would be Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley. With it pretty much a certainty that both Dallas and Jacksonville would pass on drafting a tackle that meant the earliest Tunsil could go was the sixth pick to Baltimore.
Now, fast forward to the night of the Draft. About 15 minutes before the start of the Draft, someone hacked Tunsil's twitter account and posted a video of Tunsil with a gas mask and a bong smoking marijuana. In all the years I have been involved with the draft, I have never seen anything like this. A damaging social media post cost a player at least $7 million dollars!
Granted it was Tunsil in the video, but it was also obvious that the video was made a few years earlier as Tunsil looked much younger. Still, NFL clubs had to immediately make a decision and for many it was "pass" and Tunsil kept dropping. The Miami Dolphins finally took a chance at number 13 and made Tunsil their first round selection. Getting one of the premier members of this class at 13 is a steal though the pick does come with some risk.
This was the first time that social media had an influence on where a player got drafted. Something tells me it won't be the last!
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are in a must win situation in 2016 and in order to do that, the defense has to show improvement. Part of that improvement will come with last year's first round pick Dante Fowler Jr. stepping on the field. Fowler suffered a knee injury before training camp even started and missed the season. His presence will give the Jags a gifted edge pass rusher.
In free agency, Jacksonville added former Denver Bronco Malik Jackson who will give the Jags another top pass rusher. In the draft, Jacksonville concentrated on defense as well with their first pick being Florida corner Jalen Ramsey. In the second round they chose UCLA linebacker Myles Jack who until it was revealed that he had an arthritic knee condition was thought to be a top three selection. In the third and fourth round, the Jaguars selected edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue from Maryland and explosive 3-technique Sheldon Day from Notre Dame. In the sixth round Jacksonville selected Montana edge rusher Tyrone Holmes who ran in the mid 4.6's on his pro day. The common denominator for the Jacksonville draft was speed and athleticism. With the players they acquired, the defense became much faster. This could turn out to be a great draft for Jacksonville.
Tennessee Titans
When a club has a rookie General Manager running his first draft there are always questions as to how good their draft will be. In the case of new General Manager Jon Robinson, he scores an A for what he achieved.
The first thing Robinson did was trade the first pick in the draft to the Los Angeles Rams for a number of picks both this year and in 2017. The he made the most of those picks. Loaded with enough ammunition to move around in the draft, Robinson traded up from the 15 slot to number 8 in order to draft Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin. That took care of the offensive tackle need the Titans had.
In the second round, Robinson had three picks and made the most of them. With the first two he selected Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd who can play the 5 or outside linebacker. Next he took big Penn State defensive tackle Austin Johnson who can play on the nose or defensive end. He closed out the round by selecting Alabama running back Derrick Henry who could be the second coming of former Titan great Eddie George. You could argue that both Dodd and Henry were first round caliber talents.
After the second round, Robinson loaded up with players to add depth to a roster that needed turnover. Many will argue that Middle Tennessee safety Kevin Byard selected in the third round will compete for a starting spot and even win it. Tennessee is well on their way to staying out of the AFC South basement.
Dallas Cowboys
Leading up to the Draft, there was a lot of speculation as to where Notre Dame Linebacker Jaylon Smith would be drafted. As you all know, Smith suffered a severe knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Smith tore his ACL and LCL ligaments as well as suffer nerve damage. While the ligament injuries are healing nicely, there is still nerve dame that is causing a drop foot condition. At the Scouting Combine medical re-checks in mid – April it was said that the nerve dame had not shown much noticeable improvement since the Scouting Combine ended in late February. Because of this, it became almost impossible to predict when Smith would be drafted.
Most if not all the NFL teams are in agreement that there is no way Smith will be able to play this season. Being that there is nerve damage there is also no telling as to when if ever Smith will be able to resume playing football. Some analysts felt Smith would be drafted in the third round, while others felt he would not get selected until Day 3 of the Draft.
The advantage that the Dallas Cowboys had in the matter concerning Smith is their Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Dan Cooper performed the surgery. No one knows Smith's knee and prognosis better than Dr. Cooper. With that knowledge in hand, the Cowboys selected Smith in the second round knowing full well that he probably won't be able to pay in 2016.
While a question mark remains as to when/if Smith is able to play, if the Cowboys get a player even close to the Jaylon Smith we saw the last three years at Notre Dame, they got the steal of the Draft.
Gabriel's Mock Draft 4.0 for the 2016 NFL Draft
When I did my first "final" mock draft yesterday, I inadvertently left out Paxton Lynch, so here we go again. Obviously with the Lynch addition, there are some changes from yesterday. For the record, I expect at least two more trades within the top 10.
Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff – QB – California
When I did my first "final" mock draft yesterday, I inadvertently left out Paxton Lynch, so here we go again. Obviously with the Lynch addition, there are some changes from yesterday. For the record, I expect at least two more trades within the top 10.
Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff – QB – California – Personally, I like Wentz better but I'm hearing that Goff is the Rams guy.
Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz – QB – North Dakota St – I think that the Eagles wanted Wentz all along as he has the best upside of the two quarterbacks.
San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil – OT – Mississippi – This could very well be a defensive pick but for now the Chargers get a player who can help keep Philip Rivers on his feet.
Dallas Cowboys – Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State – A week ago I would have gone with Myles Jack, but with both Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence getting suspended, the Cowboys don't have a pass rusher.
Jacksonville Jaquars – Jaylon Ramsey – DC – Florida State – David Caldwell adds another strong player to the defensive side of the ball.
Baltimore Ravens – Ron Stanley – OT – Notre Dame – The selection not only fills a need, but gives the Ravens the best player available.
San Francisco 49ers – Paxton Lynch – QB – Memphis – With the 49ers saying that there is a good chance Kaepernick gets traded this weekend, they have a huge need for a quarterback. Lynch may be Kelly's type because of his great athleticism and passing skills. He played in an Oregon type offense at Memphis.
Cleveland Browns – Ezekiel Elliott – RB – Ohio State – I think Elliott goes in this slot but it may not be to the Browns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves III – DC – Florida – Hargreaves is from the Tampa area so this will be a very popular selection in the Tampa Bay area. And by the way, it also fills an important need.
New York Giants – DeForest Buckner – DT – Oregon – The Giants took care of defense in free agency and may go offensive tackle here but Buckner is too good to pass on.
Chicago Bears – Shaq Lawson– OLB – Clemson – A strong edge pass rusher that the Bears need. A big 5-technique could also be in play here.
New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins – DT- Louisville – Rankins gives the Saints a versatile defensive lineman who can be an explosive inside pass rusher.
Miami Dolphins – Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama – I know, this is a surprise but The Dolphins need a RB and I'm a big fan of Henry's
Oakland Raiders – Reggie Ragland – ILB – Alabama – Personally I feel this is too high for Ragland, but the Raiders are said to be enthralled with his traits.
Tennessee Titans – Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State – The Titans would have selected a tackle had they stayed at one, Conklin is the best one available, though he probably goes higher.
Detroit Lions – Leonard Floyd – LB – Georgia – Floyd gives the Lions and combo OLB/Edge pass rusher. The Lions could go for a pure DE here also.
Atlanta Falcons – Myles Jack – LB – UCLA – Who knows how far Jack will fall, my guess is here.
Indianapolis Colts – Eli Apple – DC – Ohio State – The Colts would prefer an O-Linemen, but the top ones are gone. Apple gives them a tall, long corner who matches up well against the taller receivers in the league.
Buffalo Bills – Kevin Dodd – DE – Clemson – With Mario Williams gone, the Bills have a strong need for an edge rusher. Dodd gives them an excellent replacement.
New York Jets – William Jackson III – DC – Houston – The Jets would prefer a quarterback, but there is not one worth taking at this time.
Washington Redskins – A'Shawn Robinson – DT – Alabama – Robinson has the versatility to play the 5-tech or on the nose.
Houston Texans – Corey Coleman – WR – Baylor – Coming from the Baylor offense, Coleman isn't the most polished receiver, but he has by far the most talent.
Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson – WR – TCU – Docson is the most ready to play receiver in this draft class. He can help the Vikings right away.
Cincinnati Bengals – Darron Lee – LB – Ohio State – The Bengals got rid of A.J. Hawk. Here is his replacement.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Mackenzie Alexander – DC – Clemson – The Steelers have don an inordinate amount of work on corners. Alexander is the best corner available.
Seattle Seahawks – Jarran Reed – DT – Alabama – Reed can play either tackle spot in the Seahawks defense.
Green Bay Packers – Emanuel Ogbah – DE – Oklahoma State – Ogbah can play OLB or at the 5-tech in the Green Bay defense. He is one of the better natural pass rushers in this draft.
Kansas City Chiefs – Artie Burns – DC – Miami – Burns replaces Sean Smith who was lost to the Raiders in free agency.
Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Kelly – OC – Alabama – Kelly is the highest rated interior offensive lineman in the draft. Can play center or guard and will start right away.
Carolina Panthers – Chris Jones – DT – Mississippi St. – Jones is young and raw, but has a lot of upside. Needs to play with a bit more consistency.
Denver Broncos – Connor Cook – QB – Denver doesn't have a quarterback who is good enough to start in the NFL. Cook is by far the best quarterback left on the board and has starter traits.
Gabriel's Final 2016 Mock Draft
A month ago we never would have thought that QB's would be the first two picks of the 2016 NFL Draft. After trades we all know that it's now a lock.
Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff – QB – California – Personally, I like Wentz better but I'm hearing that Goff is the Rams
A month ago we never would have thought that QB's would be the first two picks of the 2016 NFL Draft. After trades we all know that it's now a lock.
Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff – QB – California – Personally, I like Wentz better but I'm hearing that Goff is the Rams guy
Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz – QB – North Dakota St – I think that the Eagles wanted Wentz all along as he is the best upside of the two quarterbacks.
San Diego Chargers – Leremy Tunsil – OT – Mississippi – This could very well be a defensive pick but for now the Chargers get a player who can help keep Philip Rivers on his feet.
Dallas Cowboys – Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State – A week ago I would have gone with Myles Jack, but with both Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence getting suspended, the Cowboys don't have a pass rusher.
Jacksonville Jaquars – Jaylon Ramsey – DC – Florida State – David Caldwell adds another strong player to the defensive side of the ball.
Baltimore Ravens – Ron Stanley – OT – Notre Dame – The selection not only fills a need, but gives the Ravens the best player available.
San Francisco 49ers – Myles Jack – LB – UCLA – If there wasn't a question about Jacks knee, he may have gone a few slots higher.
Cleveland Browns – Ezekiel Elliott – RB – Ohio State – I think Elliott goes in this slot but it may not be to the Browns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves III – DC – Florida – Hargreaves is from the Tampa area so this will be a very popular selection in the Tampa Bay area. And by the way, it also fills an important need.
New York Giants – DeForest Buckner – DT – Oregon – The Giants took care of defense in free agency and may go offensive tackle here but Buckner is too good to pass on.
Chicago Bears – Shaq Lawson– OLB – Clemson – A strong edge pass rusher that the Bears need. A big 5-technique could also be in play here.
New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins – DT- Louisville – Rankins gives the Saints a versatile defensive lineman who can be an explosive inside pass rusher.
Miami Dolphins – Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama – I know, this is a surprise but the Dolphins need a RB and I'm a big fan of Henry's
Oakland Raiders – Reggie Ragland – ILB – Alabama – Personally I feel this is too high for Ragland, but the Raiders are said to be enthralled with his traits.
Tennessee Titans – Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State – The Titans would have selected a tackle had they stayed at one, Conklin is the best one available, though he probably goes higher.
Detroit Lions – Leonard Floyd – LB – Georgia – Floyd gives the Lions and combo OLB/Edge pass rusher. The Lions could go for a pure DE here also.
Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee – LB – Ohio State – Lee is in the mold of Myles Jack, an athletic versatile playmaker.
Indianapolis Colts – Eli Apple – DC – Ohio State – The Colts would prefer an O-Linemen, but the top ones are gone. Apple gives them a tall, long corner who matches up well against the taller receivers in the league.
Buffalo Bills – Kevin Dodd – DE – Clemson – With Mario Williams gone, the Bills have a strong need for an edge rusher. Dodd gives them an excellent replacement.
New York Jets – William Jackson III – DC – Houston – The Jets would prefer a quarterback, but there is not one worth taking at this time.
Washington Redskins – A'Shawn Robinson – DT – Alabama – Robinson has the versatility to play the 5-tech or on the nose.
Houston Texans – Corey Coleman – WR – Baylor – Coming from the Baylor offense, Coleman isn't the most polished receiver, but he has by far the most talent.
Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson – WR – TCU – Docson is the most ready to play receiver in this draft class. He can help the Vikings right away.
Cincinnati Bengals – Jarran Reed – DT – Alabama – Reed will be an excellent complement to Geno Atkins in the Bengals front four.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Mackenzie Alexander – DC – Clemson – The Steelers have don an inordinate amount of work on corners. Alexander is the best corner available.
Seattle Seahawks – Chris Jones – DT – DT – Mississippi State – Jones is a bit raw, but has tremendous upside. The Seahawks can afford to wait on that talent.
Green Bay Packers – Emanuel Ogbah – DE – Oklahoma State – Ogbah can play OLB or at the 5-tech in the Green Bay defense. He is one of the better natural pass rushers in this draft.
Kansas City Chiefs – Artie Burns – DC – Miami – Burns replaces Sean Smith who was lost to the Raiders in free agency.
Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Kelly – OC – Alabama – Kelly is the highest rated interior offensive lineman in the draft. Can play center or guard and will start right away.
Carolina Panthers – Vernon Butler – DT – Louisiana Tech – The Panthers would love to take a corner here, but there are none rated high enough to take at this time.
Denver Broncos – Connor Cook – QB – Denver doesn't have a quarterback who is good enough to start in the NFL. Cook is by far the best quarterback left on the board and has starter traits.
The Top Guards in the 2016 NFL Draft
The offensive line class this year has depth and there are a number of players who have the athletic traits to play more than one position. Such is the case with most of the players talked about here. All of these prospects will line up at guard first with some being able to play outside
The offensive line class this year has depth and there are a number of players who have the athletic traits to play more than one position. Such is the case with most of the players talked about here. All of these prospects will line up at guard first with some being able to play outside at tackle and others able to also play center.
Vadal Alexander – LSU –
Alexander is a four year starter with position versatility. He has shown durability and has started 45 of 49 career games. Alexander was moved to right tackle in 2015 after starting at right guard in 2013 and 2014. He is more suited to play guard at the NFL level. Alexander is a massive man who is well coached and plays hard. He is very strong and though he can get tall at times he still keeps his feet moving on contact and is able to get movement. In pass protection he shows a good punch, can mirror and anchor. He played at over 330 during the season and was at 326 at the Combine. May want to keep his weight at about 320 to be most effective.
Cody Whitehair – Kansas State
Cody is a four year starter with experience at both tackle positions as well as guard. At 6'4 – 301 with 32.5" arms, he is more suited to play inside at guard the NFL level. He may also be able to play center. Whitehair is tough and competitive with good to real good play strength. He is alert and does a real good job picking up stunts and blitzes. He shows quick hands and plays with bend. Has some explosiveness on contact and can generate movement in the run game. In pass protection he shows he has the lateral agility to stop wide speed and the recovery quickness to mirror versus counter moves. Played from mostly a 2-point stance at Kansas State so he will have to learn to play with his hand on the ground at the NFL level.
Joe Dahl – Washington State –
Another player with position versatility. He has started games at both tackle and guard but it has been two seasons since he last played inside. Dahl measures 6037 – 301 with 32.75" arms, so with that frame there is no way that he will play outside in the NFL. Dahl is very strong and physical and plays at a high level of intensity. He is easily athletic enough to play in space and adjust on the move. Joe plays a physical style game, always looks to finish blocks and also had a strong week at the Senior Bowl. In the run game, he has some snap through his hips and though he isn't the biggest guy, he can play with power. Had foot surgery following the eighth game but came back to start in Washington States Bowl game.
Josua Garnett – Stanford –
In recent years, Stanford has put out some fairly good defensive linemen and Garnett is another one that is similar to those before him. He is productive as both a run and pass blocker, knows how to use his hands and is very alert. If there is a negative to his game, he doesn't consistently play with good bend and he is more strong than explosive. Still he keeps his feet moving on contact and is able to generate movement. He is well coached with good technique. While he played his entire career at guard, I see no problem with him also being able to play center. Will come in and start for most teams as a rookie.
The Top Centers in the 2016 NFL Draft
I have always thought of center as an undervalued position. By the nature of the position, the center is the leader of the offensive line group. He not only has to be productive, he also has to smart, aware and instinctive. It's his job to recognize defensive formations and instantly make the line calls and
I have always thought of center as an undervalued position. By the nature of the position, the center is the leader of the offensive line group. He not only has to be productive, he also has to smart, aware and instinctive. It's his job to recognize defensive formations and instantly make the line calls and protections. That said, the group this year is as strong as I have seen it in years. Not only are there some quality players at the position but there are also s few guards that can also slide over and play center in a pinch. I will talk about those prospects when I write up the guard group later this week.
Ryan Kelly – Alabama
Kelly is a fifth year senior, a three year starter and the Remington Trophy winner. At 6'4 – 311 with 33 5/8" arms he has ideal size to go along with outstanding smarts and instincts. He has the strength and power to move big nose tackles and the athleticism to adjust on the move and get to the second level on combo blocks. In pass pro, he sets quickly, has a strong punch, can mirror and anchor as well as pick up blitzes and stunts.
Earlier in the scouting process, I felt that he would easily start as a rookie, but as I have watched more tape, I can see that Kelly is the type of player who will be a future Pro Bowl type player. He will be the first center selected and could perhaps get drafted in the later part of the first round.
Nick Martin – Notre Dame
Martin was a three year starter for Notre Dame and has starts at both center and guard. He is also the younger brother of All Pro guard Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys. While at Notre Dame he accumulated 37 starts. Martin has good size at 6'4 – 300. While his arms are a bit short at 32 ½", he has very good strength and power to go along with very good overall athleticism.
Martin grades out well as both a run and pass blocker. He stays low coming off the ball and has some snap in his hips on contact. He demonstrates good hand use, keeps good position and can anchor and mirror in pass protection. He easily gets to the second level and does a good job in space. When at guard he can pull and adjust on the move to hit a moving target. While Martin may never be an All Pro like his brother, he will be a solid starter who should be able to come in and start as a rookie.
Max Tuerk – USC
Earlier in the process I had Tuerk as my number one center. That was before he tore a ligament in his knee, had surgery and missed the rest of the season. He was unable to work out for any clubs during the post combine evaluation period.
Tuerk has excellent size (6'5 – 300) to go along with very good overall athleticism. He has made starts at center, guard and tackle for USC during the course of his career. Tuerk is a sound technician and plays with strength and power. He plays an aggressive game and demonstrates the movement skills to be very good in space. He shows he can play with bend and he is a consistent run and pass blocker. If he has a negative, it's that his lower body is a bit on the lean side. To compete at a high level in the NFL he will need to add some lower body strength and bulk. If his knee is sound once camps open, I see no reason why he can't come in and start as a rookie at either center or guard. While he has the talent to be drafted as high as the second round, his draft status will be determined by far along he is in the rehab process with his knee.
The Ever Changing First Round
The one thing that is certain about the NFL Draft is that nothing is certain until the draft begins a week form Thursday. We can look at all the pre-draft predictions we want and they all are meaningless. All 32 NFL clubs keep getting relevant information until shortly before the start of the draft. As
The one thing that is certain about the NFL Draft is that nothing is certain until the draft begins a week form Thursday. We can look at all the pre-draft predictions we want and they all are meaningless. All 32 NFL clubs keep getting relevant information until shortly before the start of the draft. As information comes in, raft boards can change and remember, no two draft boards are alike.
Last week we had the big trade between The Rams and the Titans. That trade changed how the top five and more than likely the top ten will come off the board. The other event that could have a drastic effect on how the players come off the board was the medical re-checks in Indianapolis last Thursday and Friday.
Let's look at the trade first. With the Rams now holding the first overall selection, we know one thing and that is a quarterback will be selected first. What we don't know is who that quarterback will be. It could be Carson Wentz or it could be Jared Goff. The other thing that is certain is that the second pick will most likely be the quarterback that the Rams don't select. AT this time, I'm hearing that Cleveland want Goff, so id Goff goes first, Cleveland will try and trade out of the second pick.
Teams around the league are wondering what it will be like dealing with the Browns when it comes to draft day trades. The Browns front office is very inexperienced when it comes to draft day deals and no club has a clue right now how a deal will come about. That said, it would not surprise me if the Browns trade out of number two before the draft begins.
If the draft falls the way I think it will, with Goff and Wentz being the first two selections, it's anyone's guess as to who the to five falls. Does San Diego select Leremy Tunsil who a week ago looked like a safe bet to go number one? Or do they stay with a defensive player as they originally planned? That pick could be the key to how far Tunsil falls because it's safe to say that Dallas won't be selecting an offensive lineman at number four.
Getting back to the quarterbacks, if in fact Goff and Wentz are the first two picks, when does Paxton Lynch get selected? Will a club with a quarterback need trade up into the top 10 or 12 to take Lynch? Before the trade went down, I thought it was a safe bet that Lynch would go at 15 to the Rams. I felt that was the floor for Lynch. Now I am thinking it could very well be somewhere between 6 and 12.
After the medical re-checks, it was revealed that some teams are not good with UCLA linebacker Myles Jack knee. The question is not if Jack can play this year, but rather how sound is his knee and will his injury prevent him from having a healthy career. Arthritic conditions can have a huge effect on a player's longevity. Having sat in on numerous pre-draft medical meetings, I know and understand how each team can look at an injury differently. There will be some clubs who downgrade Jack because of his condition, others will say he is good to go. We won't know how they really feel until the night of April 28th when he actually gets selected. If Jack does not go in the top five, then clubs are truly worried about his knee.
We still have 10 days to go before the draft and the top half of the first round already looks much different than it did a week ago. I can guarantee one thing, between now and April 28th it will change even more>
The Top 4 Tight Ends in the 2016 NFL Draft
Looking at this tight end class, it may be one of the weakest in years. There are some prospects who can potentially turn into fairly good move type tight ends but there are very few prospects who can make a living playing the "Y" tight end. This isn't a fault of the players, it is
Looking at this tight end class, it may be one of the weakest in years. There are some prospects who can potentially turn into fairly good move type tight ends but there are very few prospects who can make a living playing the "Y" tight end. This isn't a fault of the players, it is what the college game is producing at the position right now at the position. There is little or no premium put on in-line blocking.
Hunter Henry – Arkansas –
Henry has only been a fulltime starter for one season (2015), before that he was a part time starter and played in a rotation. This year he lined up in the slot, flexed out and in tight. He is athletic and run well. He didn't run at the Combine but came back to time 4.67 at the Arkansas pro day.
Henry is a good route runner who does a good job working to get open. He shows he can get in and out of cuts quickly and can gain separation. After the catch he shows good run skills. Where he needs work is in the blocking game. He plays with no power, seldom gets movement and lacks snap in his hips. AT Indy he only did 13 reps of 225 which is poor for the position. He came back 3 weeks later to do 21 reps at his pro day. In all honesty, in over 30 years of doing this work I have never seen a player improve by eight reps in three weeks. Three or four reps maybe but not eight. Something is wrong with this equation.
Austin Hooper – Stanford
Probably the most "complete" tight end in this class is Stanford's Austin Hooper. By the nature of the Stanford offense, Hooper has to line up as a "Y" at times and block at times He just may be the best blocker in the position group this year. That said, he still needs to play with more strength and aggressiveness as a blocker.
As a receiver he is a good route runner who shows he can uncover versus man and zone. While not a "burner" he has enough speed to get open deep as well as underneath. Hooper has soft hands and does a good job adjusting to the ball. After the catch he shows strong run skills. Being that Hunter was only a third year sophomore with two year of eligibility left, he is very young and has upside. He could very easily get drafted in the second round or third round.
Nick Vannett – Ohio State
When you look at Vannett physically, he looks like the proto-typical NFL tight end. He's 6'6 – 257 pounds and runs 4.85. You would think that with his frame, he is a top blocker. He isn't! In the Ohio State offense Vannett was used more as the move tight end than the "Y".
Vannett shows a willingness to block and he is able to get good position but he is not explosive and does not consistently get movement. He does a much better job when blocking on the move. As a receiver, he lacks top end speed but he can uncover versus zone coverage. He will never challenge a defense deep but he can be a consistent short range theat.
Tyler Higbee – Western Kentucky
Higbee was having a strong 2015 at Western Kentucky until a knee injury cut short his season and he missed the final four games. In nine games, he had 38 receptions for 563 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is a good route runner, can adjust to the ball, has soft hands and is a good runner after the catch. As a blocker he is adequate. He shows a willing ness but lacks the strength and power to get movement at the NFL level. He has the frame to get bigger and stronger, so the ability to develop as a blocker is there.
What hurts Higbee going into the draft are obviously his knee injury and also he had a recent assault arrest. How clubs feel about his knee was found out at the medical rechecks this weekend in Indianapolis. As for the criminal charge, clubs will have to do their research to see if it is a situation that makes Higbee undraftable.
The Top 5 Outside Linebackers in the 2016 NFL Draft
When we say outside linebackers, I am talking about mostly Sam's and Will's. I have already covered the top guys that I see as edge pass rushers who would play outside in a 3-4 though there may be a one or two here that could fill that role here.
Myles Jack – UCLA – Jack
When we say outside linebackers, I am talking about mostly Sam's and Will's. I have already covered the top guys that I see as edge pass rushers who would play outside in a 3-4 though there may be a one or two here that could fill that role here.
Myles Jack – UCLA – Jack has great versatility in that he can play multiple positions. I see him best suited at Will but he can play strong safety, Sam or even outside in a 3-4. He is so athletic that he will never come off the field and will be an asset in coverage. While he isn't a real physical point of attack player, he does everything else almost effortlessly. He is a rare athlete with to body control, speed and agility. With today's game having such an emphasis on passing a linebacker like Jack is what everyone will be looking for.
Darron Lee – Ohio State – Lee is a third year sophomore and a two year starter who entered the draft as an underclassman. Like Jack, he is an excellent athlete and is very good when playing in space. AT Ohio State he was often walked off and played man wide receivers. Also like Jack, he isn't a real physical point of attack player, but once he gets a little bigger and stronger he will easily be able to adapt to that role. I see his best fit at Will in a 4-3 but he has the athleticism and versatility to play in any scheme. Being as young as he is, he hasn't begun to scratch the surface of how good he can be.
Leonard Floyd – Georgia – I keep seeing people list Floyd as a pass rusher and in my opinion he isn't. In his three years at Georgia he had a total of 17 sacks with only 4.5 coming this year. Floyd is tall and long with a bit of a narrow frame. On tape he looks like a 235 pound guy but showed up at the Combine at 246 and moved extremely well. While he is very athletic, he lacks to strength and power. He is the type of player who would rather go around or elude a block than take one on. While he can get away with that in college, he won't in the NFL. He will have to get stronger and learn to stack and shed. Overall, I think he has to be in the right scheme. Right now he reminds me of Barkevious Mingo and we all know how he has turned out. I see him as a Sam in a 4-3 not a 3-4 edge guy.
Su'a Cravens – USC – Coming out of the Combine, I had Cravens listed number two behind Myles Jack. I dropped him down after his very average Pro Day and then his agent saying he wouldn't be doing any private workouts. After seeing the Pro Day numbers, not doing a private workout is ludicrous.
On tape, Cravens looks and plays like a poor man's Myles Jack. He didn't test that way. While he plays like a guy with about 4.58 speed, he actually ran 4.7 and his vertical was only 30.5". he will be drafted to play as a hybrid linebacker and will be used in coverage a lot. He has played some safety at USC and has very good coverage skills. He still needs to get stronger and become more physical at the point, but the tolls are there to eventually be very good. Remember, he doesn't turn 21 until just before training camp opens.
Terrance Smith – Florida State – Another guy whose best fit seems to be at Will in a 4-3. He is a very good athlete with play speed and the frame to get to 240 – 245. Smith has good instincts and reacts quickly. He plays well at the point and is also very good in pursuit. Smith shows he can play in coverage and is able to match up versus tight ends and running backs. On the downside, Smith has missed some time with injuries the last two seasons, so durability is a concern. While his best fit is in a 4-3, if he can get to 245 and add some strength he should also be able to play inside in a 3-4. Another young guy with upside.
The Top 5 Inside Linebackers in the 2016 NFL Draft
This is not what I would call a great inside linebacker class. Before his horrific injury, Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith would have been a top five selection, perhaps top three but until after clubs get more information at this weekend's medical rechecks, he is a wild card.
Jaylon Smith – Notre Dame
Before his
This is not what I would call a great inside linebacker class. Before his horrific injury, Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith would have been a top five selection, perhaps top three but until after clubs get more information at this weekend's medical rechecks, he is a wild card.
Jaylon Smith – Notre Dame
Before his injury, Jaylon Smith was one of the best players in this draft. He had all the traits needs to be a great player at inside or outside linebacker. His plays shows, instinctiveness, strength, power, speed and explosiveness. He was the type of player that offenses had to game plan for because he could single handedly destroy and offense.
The only question I have about his play is why Notre Dame didn't use him to rush the passer. There is a tape that I have and that was sent to all 32 NFL clubs that shows Smith being used as a pass rusher in practice. No Notre Dame tackle and that includes Ron Stanley who will be a top 10 selection this year could block him coming off the edge. His combination of speed, explosiveness and power is hard to find.
The unanswered question on Smith is when/if he will return to the player he was before the injury. He tore two ligaments (ACL, LCL) and had some nerve damage. While clubs will get an updated prognosis this weekend, there is still no way to tell how good he can be again until after he gets on the football field.
Reggie Ragland – Alabama
With Smith's injury, the first inside linebacker who will be drafted this year will most likely be Alabama's Reggie Ragland (unless you count Myles Jack as an ILB, I don't). We have all seen Ragland pop up as a mid to late first round pick in many mock drafts. Personally, I feel that is too high for him, as I see him as more of a guy who goes in the early second round. Why? As good as Ragland is, he does not have first round athletic numbers (4.72 speed, 7.55 3-cone, 9'8" LJ. 31.5" VJ). He also is more of a reactor than an instinctive anticipator.
Ragland plays behind an NFL quality defensive line which also helps his numbers. He has size and strength, can shed and stack at the point. While he is used at times to rush the passer that is not really a strong point. He should become a solid 3-4 ILB starter in the NFL.
Kentrell Brothers – Missouri
Brothers actually measured bigger than he looks. On tape he looks like a 5'11" – 6' type but measured at 6005 – 245. While he only ran 4.89 at Indy, he came back to run 4.82 at the Mizzou pro day. He is so instinctive and quick reacting that he plays like he is a 4.70 type.
He is a fun guy to watch on tape as he is a playmaking machine. In the last two seasons he was credited with 274 total tackles including 17 tackles for loss. Brothers plays with strength and explosion and is quick to shed, he has good range and shows very quick lateral agility. While his 40 time may take him out of the second round, Brothers will come in and start as a rookie for most teams….he's that good!
Josh Perry – Ohio State
Perry is what a proto-typical 3-4 inside linebacker should look like. He is 6035 -255 and runs 4.68. He doesn't get the notoriety of some players because he play on a star studded Ohio State team. Perry is a presence in the middle and was a three year starter for an OSU team that went 38-4 over that span.
Perry reads and reacts quickly, is strong at the point, can shed at make plays at the line of scrimmage. He shows the speed and range to make plays on the perimeter. In coverage, Perry is adequate at best and at early in his career he may only be a two down player. Still he has upside as he will get better in coverage as he gains experience. I doubt you will ever see him locked up in man coverage that often.
Blake Martinez – Stanford
When it comes to inside linebackers, I have to admit I am a bit "old school". I prefer guys who are strong at the point of attack, instinctive, can shed and make plays at the line of scrimmage. That is exactly what Blake Martinez does.
His speed is at the enough level (4.71). He is alert, around the ball and makes plays. Weighing in at 237, he needs to get a little bigger but that should be no problem once he is in an NFL weight room and nutrition specialists.
Martinez is a very consistent tackler both at the point and in space. In coverage he gets depth with his drops, has good receiver awareness and can transition. I feel he has the versatility to play Mike in a 4-3 or either 3-4 ILB position. With smarts, instincts and toughness, he will be an NFL starter early in his career.
The Top 5 Running Backs in the 2016 NFL Draft
In the 2013 and 2014 NFL Drafts there wasn't a running back drafted in the first round. Last year the running back class was good and we saw two get selected in the first. Todd Gurley from Georgia went 10th overall to the Rams and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon went at 15 to the San Diego
In the 2013 and 2014 NFL Drafts there wasn't a running back drafted in the first round. Last year the running back class was good and we saw two get selected in the first. Todd Gurley from Georgia went 10th overall to the Rams and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon went at 15 to the San Diego Chargers. This year I feel that we will again see two backs selected in the opening round of this year's Draft. Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott and Alabama's Derrick Henry should both be gone by the end of the first day of the Draft on April 28th.
Ezekiel Elliott – Ohio State
At 6000 – 225 with 4.47 speed, Zeke Elliott has the size. Speed, power and run instincts to become a very good NFL running back. In three seasons at Ohio State Elliott ran for over 3900 yards and 43 touchdowns. He is quick to the hole with excellent vision and instincts. He seldom makes a poor decision. He shows the ability to create and has the power to consistently break tackles and get yards after first contact. As a receiver he has soft hands and can work to uncover. When asked to pass block he will face up his opponent and can anchor. There really isn't anything he doesn't do well. Some analysts feel he is a legitimate top 10 selection. I'm not quite that high but I do feel he should go in the 10 to 15 area. While he is very good, he isn't special like an Adrian Peterson. If a club is going to use a top 10 pick on a running back, he has to be "special".
Derrick Henry – Alabama
It's no secret that every year Alabama recruits some of the best running backs coming out of high school. In their 2013 recruiting class, they got one of the best in Derrick Henry. While some players never live up to the high school hype. Henry did. In his first two years at Alabama he had to play in a rotation with another top recruit T.J. Yeldon. With Yeldon off to the NFL following the 2014 season, Henry got his chance to be the bell cow in 2015. He responded with 2219 yards and 26 touchdowns.
When you watch Henry play, it's hard to come up with a player that is similar. The one I feel he is closest to form the past id Eddie George. Like George, Henry has rare size to go along with outstanding speed for one so big (4.54). He is an outstanding inside runner with top vision/instincts. Henry can move the pile and get the tough yards and can also take it the distance if a seam is there. With his size and power, Henry wears a defense down and he is actually better in the fourth quarter than he is in the first. Not only can Henry be productive as runner but he is very reliable as a receiver and is an outstanding blocker.
While I know there are some who feel he is overrated, I can't help but laugh at that notion. Derrick Henry will be a feared running back in the NFL starting next September.
Alex Collins – Arkansas
Like Henry and Elliot, Collins was highly recruited out of high school and he lived up to the hype. The 5010 – 217 pound back ran for over 1000 yards in each of his three seasons at Arkansas. He finished 2015 with 1577 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also has 13 pass receptions.
Collins runs with good lean and is quick to the hole and is a very good decision maker. He is patient, with quick feet. Excellent cutback skills and jump cut ability. He is not a speedster (4.59) but he is quick and has a burst. Collins is best as an explosive inside runner who can consistently get yards after contact. He also shows that he can make defenders miss both in – tight and in space. Alex is a very reliable receiver and a willing blocker but he will need work on his pass blocking technique. Can start for a team with a need as a rookie.
Jordan Howard – Indiana
Howard began his career at Alabama – Birmingham and then transferred to Indiana for the 2015 season after UAB dropped football. His final year at UAB he ran for 15 87 yards and in only 9 games at Indiana he had 1213 yards. Howard has size and power (6000 – 230) to go along with fairly good speed (4.62). He is a productive inside runner who can get the tough yards and move the pile. As an outside runner, he shows vision and patience but lacks the top end speed to be a break away type. I see him starting out as a rotational back and he should become a solid starter in his second or third year.
C.J. Prosise – Notre Dame
When you look at the numbers that Prosise put up in 2015, it's hard to believe that he has played the running back position for less than a year. He came to Notre Dame as a safety, then moved to wide receiver before making the switch to running back for the 2015 season. As a rookie running back he ran for 1032 yards, 11 touchdowns and a long run of 95 yards.
At 6000 – 220 with 4.48 speed he has the natural traits to be an outstanding NFL runner. While he is still raw, his upside is unlimited. What impressed me the most about Prosise, is his natural run instincts. He makes quick decisions and has the elusiveness to make people miss both in tight quarters and in space. Once he gets in space he's gone with his speed and acceleration. On the negative side, Prosise runs tall and needs work on his pass blocking. He shows a willingness to block but needs to use his hands better and learn how to position himself. These will come as he gains experience at the position.
Because of his inexperience at the position I don't see him playing in a rotation as a rookie but if progresses the way I feel he will, he will be a solid starter by year two.
Three Non-Combine Sleepers for the Draft
Every year it's the same situation. 335 players get invited to the Scouting Combine, 255 players get drafted and out of those 255 player there are always about 30 to 35 players who did get invited to Indy get drafted. This year will be no exception and some of the non-Combine guys could get drafted
Every year it's the same situation. 335 players get invited to the Scouting Combine, 255 players get drafted and out of those 255 player there are always about 30 to 35 players who did get invited to Indy get drafted. This year will be no exception and some of the non-Combine guys could get drafted as high as the third or fourth round. The following are three players who fit the mold of the non-Combine player whose college production and Pro Day warrant being drafted.
Jordan Canzeri – RB – Iowa
Size –
5080 – 194 – 4.43
Strong Points –
Quick, fast and explosive. Had 183 carries for 984 yards and 12 TD's. Also had 20 receptions for 208 yards and 1 TD. Had 2073 career rushing yards. Quick to the hole with good vision/instincts. Runs low, has power on contact and consistently gets yards after first contact. Is a quick cutter with a burst when he finds day light. Has the speed to break long runs. Quick footed and can make defenders miss both inside and in space. Lacks size but willing as a blocker and will face up. Good hands and receiving ability. May be able to return kickoffs.
Weak Points –
Short and lacks Ideal size but he should be able to get to 200. As a receiver he is used mostly on screens and check downs, will have to develop his route running skills. Can't be an every down back at his size.
Summation –
In 2013 and 2014, Canzeri played as part of a running back rotation. This past season he became the bell cow and put up very good numbers. Canzeri is short, but he is strong and powerful. Had a great Pro Day, running 4.43, a 6.55 3-cone, 34.5" VJ and 20 reps of 225. He played in a pro-style offense and is quick to the hole and a very good decision maker. He runs low, has the strength to break tackles and get yards after contact. He is alert with very good instincts. He shows he can make a cut in the hole or cutback to find a seam. Has the speed to go the distance if the opening is there. As a receiver, he has good hands and adjusts to the ball. He is used mainly as a check down type or on screens and swings. He gets upfield quickly after the catch. Shows a strong willingness to block, is alert to pick up blitzes and shows he will face up pass rusher. He is very tough and competitive. Might be able to be used as a kickoff returner. Overall, I see him as a role player/complimentary back who should also produce on special teams. A solid late round selection.
Roy Robertson-Harris – Edge – UTEP
Size –
6060 – 260 – 4.80
Strong Points –
Productive player at a mid-major conference. Tall with long arms, has the frame to carry 275 easily and maybe more. Athletic with good body control, runs well, has good change of direction and balance. Plays both down and on his feet. Quick to react. Makes plays, flashes as a pass rusher. Competitive and his motor keeps running. Can be quick off blocks.
Weak Points –
As good as he is, he still has just scratched the surface. Needs to lean better technique. Gets himself out of position at times.
Summation –
A fifth year senior who wasn't invited to the Combine. He is tall with a muscular lean frame and has the ability to easily get better. Has played both on his feet and down but plays the majority of the time with his hand in the dirt. Quick off the ball, can get tall at times but he has long arms and knows how to play with leverage. Needs to further develop his technique but has some "wow" plays. He is athletic quick and explosive. Shows good pass rush talent and can close off of blocks to the quarterback. Shows consistent ability versus the run, can hold the point, shed and get to ball. Good lateral agility, can clear piles and get to the play. Has dropped some but still doesn't look comfortable. His best fit is as a 4-3 defensive end but has the traits to play OLB in a 3-4. Will go through a learning curve as far as learning how to drop and play in zone. May never be a starter but can play in a rotation after a period of adjustment.
Tyrone Holmes – Edge – Montana
Size –
6024v – 253v – 4.62v
Strong Points –
Good size, speed and overall athleticism for an edge player. Dominated FCS level of competition with 18 sacks in 2015 and 34 sacks for his career. Very explosive player. Has a quick first step. Shows he can put counter moves together and can close to the QB. Aggressive player and a strong tackler.
Weak Points –
Plays at a lower level of comp. Still raw. Has a tendency to get tall at times. Has to further develop his hand use and moves. Does not have a lot of experience in coverage.
Summation –
Tyrone was not a Combine invitee, but gathered a lot of attention by putting up some outstanding numbers at his pro day, Ran 4.62, did 28 reps of 225, had a 37.5" vertical jump and a 7.12 3-cone. This was all done outside in only 50 degree weather. He has totally dominated FCS competition as a pass rusher but he is still a bit raw. Needs to play with a lower pad level and learn to use his hands better. Explosive pass rushers are hard to find and this guy has the natural traits to work with. It will not be a surprise if he comes off the board in the third or early fourth round. A player on the come.
The NFP 2016 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
As many of you know, I am not a big fan of mock drafts. As soon as the first trade comes about, it throws off the whole order. That said, NFL fans love the mocks as they can argue whether or not they like an analysts selection for their club. Also, as I get further
As many of you know, I am not a big fan of mock drafts. As soon as the first trade comes about, it throws off the whole order. That said, NFL fans love the mocks as they can argue whether or not they like an analysts selection for their club. Also, as I get further into the round, I am doing a lot of best available player type picks.
1 – Tennessee Titans –
Laremy Tunsil – OT – Ole Miss – The Titans have their pick of the whole draft class and with the selection of QB Marcus Mariota last year they have to have quality linemen to protect him, Tunsil is the best tackle in this draft.
2 – Cleveland Browns –
Carson Wentz – QB – North Dakota St. – Wentz might not be the second best player in this draft, but he is hands down the best quarterback and Cleveland has to finally get a quarterback in which to build a team around.
3 – San Diego Chargers –
Jalen Ramsey – DB – Florida State – Ramsey has the versatility to play corner or safety and the Chargers have a need at both positions. He becomes an immediate upgrade.
4 – Dallas Cowboys –
Jared Goff – QB – California – Jerry Jones has gone out of his way to say the Cowboys won't draft a quarterback with this selection. This is the lying season, so why would Jones be telling us the truth? Tony Romo doesn't have much left in the tank and this could be the Cowboys best chance to draft a top flight signal caller.
5- Jacksonville Jaguars –
Vernon Hargreaves III – DC – Florida – The Jags like to stay in the State when they make their top selection. This year they are basically getting two top five picks as last year's first round pick Dante Fowler hasn't played yet. This year, Fowler's teammate helps shore up the secondary.
6 – Baltimore Ravens –
Joey Bosa – DE/OLB – Ohio State – The Ravens stay with their highest rated player on their board and select a guy who can give them a strong outside pass rush.
7 – San Francisco 49ers –
Myles Jack – LB – UCLA – The 49ers could have gone this route or selected Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. Looking at the San Francisco linebacker corps, the selection of Jack makes more sense.
8 – Philadelphia Eagles –
Ronnie Stanley – OT – Notre Dame – The Eagles have done a lot of research on quarterbacks, but the #8 slot is too high to take Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. Unless they trade down, Stanley gives them a very good offensive lineman with upside. Some evaluators were down on Stanley going into his pro day, but he lit it up to solidify a top 10 selection.
9 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers –
DeForest Buckner – DL – Oregon – Buckner might not fill a need, but he is clearly the best player on the board. The Bucs could look to trade down here with a team looking to get a shot at Buckner.
10 – New York Giants –
Jack Conklin – OT – Michigan State – The Giants have to protect Eli Manning and Conklin is rated as the second best tackle in this draft by many clubs. Conklin gives the Giants a solid starter the day he signs his contract and will work well with last years' top choice Ereck Flowers.
11 – Chicago Bears –
Shaq Lawson – DE/OLB – Clemson – The Bears have to get some outside pass rushers. If Lawson's shoulder gets by the medical people, this could very well be the player the Bears choose.
12 – New Orleans Saints –
A'Shawn Robinson – Alabama – Yes, the Saints just signed free agent Nick Fairley, but the defensive line still needs more. Robinson just turned 21 and has unlimited upside. He could well be a very good one for years to come.
13 – Miami Dolphins –
Zeke Elliott – RB – Ohio State – Some people have Elliott as a possible top 10 guy. I think that is too high for any running back. This could be is landing spot as RB is very important in an Adam Gase offense.
14 – Oakland Raiders –
Corey Coleman – WR – Baylor – With Amari Cooper taken last year, wide receiver may not be a need, but put Coleman next to Cooper and Derek Carr has two potent weapons.
15 – Los Angeles Rams –
Paxton Lynch – QB – Memphis – If Wentz and Goff go as high as I think they will go, the team wanting Lynch may have to trade up to get him. Lynch is the last of the legitimate first round QB's and has great value here.
16 – Detroit Lions –
Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio State – The lions have to find a way to protect Matt Stafford. Decker is the next best tackle on the board.
17 – Atlanta Falcons –
Darron Lee – LB – Ohio State
Atlanta has been active in free agency and they signed Courtney Upshaw recently, but Lee gives them a Will linebacker with speed and instincts. He will never come off the field.
18 – Indianapolis Colts –
Eli Apple – DC – Ohio State – I'm going with value here as Apple is the next best player on the board.
19 – Buffalo Bills –
Kevin Dodd – DE – Clemson – Dodd had a very strong 2015 with 12.0 sacks and we are just beginning to see how talented he is. Buffalo needs a pass rusher and he is the best one available. It wouldn't surprise me if he went higher than this.
20 – New York Jets –
William Jackson III – DC – Houston – I'm going with value again here as Jackson is the best player available and gives the Jets a potential great press cover corner across from Darrelle Revis.
21 – Washington Redskins –
Sheldon Rankins – DT – Louisville – Rankins lacks ideal height, but he is very explosive and provides an inside pass rush.
22 – Houston Texans –
Josh Doctson – WR – TCU – The Texans go with an in-state player who just happens to be the next best receiver available.
23 – Minnesota Vikings –
Laquan Treadwell – WR – Mississippi – Until last week when Treadwell held his pro day, most felt he would be the first receiver off the board. When he ran 4.62 that dropped his stock. Still the tape shows he plays faster and he catches everything that gets close.
24 – Cincinnati Bengals –
Kenny Clark – DT – UCLA – A strong inside player who will line up next to next to Geno Atkins. Clark is strong and can occupy blockers and that should free up Atkins.
25 – Pittsburgh Steelers –
Mackenzie Alexander – DC – Clemson – Alexander lacks ideal size but he is a strong cover guy who can play man and zone.
26 – Seattle Seahawks –
Chris Jones – DT – Mississippi St – Jones is a size/speed athlete whose best football should be in front of him. Will flourish in the Seahawks defense.
27 – Green Bay Packers –
Jarran Reed – DT – Alabama – With B.J. Raji retired, the Pack needs to get some quality players with size on the D-Line.
28 – Kansas City Chiefs –
Artie Burns – DC – Miami –One NFC scout told me Burns was the best corner in his area and he also saw Hargreaves and Mackenzie. Burns can be undisciplined but he has excellent natural talent.
29 – Arizona Cardinals –
Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama – Do I feel that the Cards will select Henry? No, but I do believe someone will trade up and grab him in this area of the first round.
30 – Carolina Panthers –
Keanu Neal – DS – Florida – The Panthers don't have a lot of weaknesses but they could use a good young safety. Neal fits the mold of the other Panthers defensive players….tough and aggressive.
31 – Denver Broncos –
Ryan Kelly – C – Alabama – Not really a huge need here, but Kelly is another player who I feel will get drafted in the later part of the opening round.
The Top Safeties in the 2016 NFL Draft
I wouldn't call the safety class this year "great" by any means, but it is above average and clubs can find some players who can come in and play right away. There is a good mixture of both free and strong safety types as well as some players who can most likely play either position.
I wouldn't call the safety class this year "great" by any means, but it is above average and clubs can find some players who can come in and play right away. There is a good mixture of both free and strong safety types as well as some players who can most likely play either position.
Keanu Neal – Florida
Neal is an underclassman with size, length and athleticism. He looks and plays faster than the 4.59 that he timed. He does a very good job keeping things in front of him and he is a very aggressive run support player and tackler. In short, he is a quick twitch athlete with explosiveness and instincts, He has the flexibility to turn and run with receivers and can transition and close. Neal has the capability to play strong or free and will start very early in his career.
Vonn Bell – Ohio State
Like Neal, Bell does a good job keeping things in front of him. He is instinctive with quick reactions. Bell is more quick than fast but he can cover man to man and is very alert in zone. Vonn will need to get a little bigger and stronger to play at the NFL level but he has the traits to play either free or strong safety. He has good ball reactions and hands as his 9 career interceptions show. Bell should be rafted sometime in the second round.
Darian Thompson – Boise State
Going into the Combine, Thompson was one of my favorite safeties in this class. On tape he looked and played fast and was a big time playmaker. He had 19 career interceptions while at Boise.
At Indy, Thompson did not run well and some evaluators got a bit down on him. It turns out that he had a stomach virus and that was the reason for his poor time. Earlier this week he ran 4.52 at the Boise St. Pro Day and that time puts him back up with the better safeties in this draft.
In short, Thompson is a ball hawking free safety. He has great instincts and you seldom see him out of position. He plays the run well and for the most part he is a consistent tackler. He can be so aggressive trying to make a tackle that he will get out of control and miss. That weakness should be easily corrected. I can see Thompson going in the second or third round.
Justin Simmons – Boston College
Like Thompson, Simmons did not run as well as expected at Indy. He came back at his Pro Day with a time in the low 4.5's.
Simmons is a former corner with excellent height and length. While he has a bit of a narrow frame, he is strong (16 reps) and explosive (40" VJ). I see him as being the ideal NFL free safety. He has awareness and range in coverage and reacts very well to the ball in the air. His experience at corner helps in that he is a better man to man cover guy than most safeties. Simmons is a solid run support safety and consistent tackler. I see him coming in and starting right away for most clubs. He is a solid day two selection.
Tyvis Powell – Ohio State
At just under 6'3 – 211 with 4.46 speed, Powell is just what clubs are looking for in a strong safety. He has the frame to easily carry 220 without losing any speed. Powell is a consistent run support player and a good tackler. He has registered over 70 tackles in each of the last two seasons. In coverage he is best on zone where he shows awareness and range. While he is very fast, he lacks the suddenness needed to be a top man cover guy but he should have no problem with NFL tight ends.
Powell isn't a finished product by any means, but he has the traits and upside to continue to improve. His physical capabilities are hard to find.
Karl Joseph – West Virginia
Had Joseph not been injured, he would be ranked right up near the top of this list. In the fourth game of last season, Joseph tore an ACL and missed the rest of the season. He is not ready to play yet and where he gets drafted will be determined more by the medical people than the personnel staff. Rest assure when he is ready to go, he is an excellent prospect and he will become a very good NFL free safety.
The Top 5 Quarterbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft
Last September, I was having a conversation with a Personnel Director friend and he asked me if I had looked at North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz yet. I told him I hadn't and that I would do it right away. A day later, I called him and told him that I felt Wentz was
Last September, I was having a conversation with a Personnel Director friend and he asked me if I had looked at North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz yet. I told him I hadn't and that I would do it right away. A day later, I called him and told him that I felt Wentz was easily a late first and maybe by the end of the season he would move up to a mid -first round type.
A few days later I started evaluating California true junior quarterback Jared Goff. At that time I wrote here in the NFPost that while I recognized Goff's talent, I felt he would be better off staying in school another year to further develop his game and get bigger and stronger.
The way the college game is being played, the colleges are not doing a very good job preparing quarterbacks to play in the National Football League. Most schools play in some variation of a spread offense and seldom do we see quarterbacks play from under center and have to read a whole field. While many of these quarterbacks have the traits to become solid NFL players, they aren't ready to line up and play.
An added problem is these quarterbacks are over drafted and because of that they are forced to play before they get a chance to develop and feel comfortable like Aaron Rodgers did. That has led to over 50% of the first round quarterbacks either outright busting or failing to live up to the position in which they were drafted. That is not going to change, because there is a lack of quality quarterbacks in the NFL clubs with a need at the position will take a quarterback higher than he deserves and play him before he is ready. It's a vicious cycle that I don't see changing in the near future.
That said, the quarterback class of 2016 is not very deep and again players at the position will be drafted higher than their talent level. A General Manager friend of mine told me that if when scouting a quarterback I don't see him as a potential starter in the league than don't draft him. Looking at this year's class I only see six and maybe seven quarterbacks who have a chance to become eventual starters in the league. There will be many more than that drafted in four more weeks and the cycle will continue.
Carson Wentz – North Dakota State
There is no question that Wentz is very talented and deserves to be the first quarterback drafted. He played in a more sophisticated offense than all of the other top five quarterbacks except Kevin Hogan from Stanford.
Wentz has great size and is an outstanding athlete for his size. He has a very strong arm can spin the ball, is accurate short and deep and can make every possible NFL throw. He may very well get drafted within the top two or three slots of the Draft. My question is if he is ready to be drafted that high? Like other before him, he isn't ready to jump in and play. Playing at the FCS level is much different than the NFL.
What Wentz has going for him are the intangibles. He is very smart, has outstanding football character and is a natural leader. I think he will become a much better player than Blake Bortles once he established himself in the League. I can also see the Browns selecting him pick #2.
Jared Goff – California
I feel now the same way I felt in October. Jared Goff should have stayed in school. Yes, he is talented and yes he will be the second quarterback selected, but is he ready to compete in the NFL? Goff is intelligent and has leadership skills but from a physical viewpoint he needs to get bigger and stronger. While he spins the ball well, he has just a little better than average arm strength and I don't see him every having close to the arms strength Wentz or Lynch have. His small hands don't help either when it comes to ball security.
Still he has a quick release and is a good decision maker. I don't see the accuracy that others do because the offense he played in is geared to complete 70% of a QB's throws. He still needs work on ball placement and timing and be more consistent with his deep ball.
There is no question that Goff has upside and if he gets drafted by the right club, he will be able to sit and learn until he is ready. I see him going to Dallas at #4.
Paxton Lynch – Memphis
Earlier in the process, I had Lynch as my number one quarterback. He is a very good athlete for his size, has a very strong arm and is capable of making all the necessary throws. I have dropped him down to the third rated quarterback because of the offense he played in at Memphis and because of reports that he struggled on the board some when meeting with coaches at the Combine.
Lynch has as much upside as any quarterback in this draft but he clearly isn't ready to step in and play. From a physical standpoint he has as outstanding talent but he needs to learn and understand the concepts of an NFL passing attack. There will be a period of adjustment for him once he gets to the league, but in three years it wouldn't be a surprise to me if he is the best quarterback of this years group.
Kevin Hogan – Stanford
Hogan doesn't have the physical tools of some of the other quarterbacks in this draft but his intangibles are right up at the top. Hogan has been trained in the most sophisticated pro-style passing attack in college football. Once he gets to the NFL his learning curve will be much less than the other quarterbacks.
Not only has he been well trained but he has excellent football character and he is a very good leader. Yes. He needs to work on his throwing mechanics but that part is easy. You can't teach his maturity and decision making ability. He will come into the league as a solid backup and will eventually become a winning starter. While he may not take a team to a Super Bowl, he will be able to get his club to the playoffs.
Connor Cook – Michigan State
Cook is almost the opposite of Hogan. He has excellent natural tools in which to work with but he isn't close when it comes to the intangibles. Like Hogan, he has been trained in a NFL style offense and has a lot of experience playing form under center.
He has been a three year starter and a consistent winner in a very good conference. What people in the league question is his passion for the game, leadership and overall work ethic. He was a three year starter and was not voted as a captain. That is a huge red flag for any quarterback. There is no question that Cook can play the game at high level. He will be one of the bigger risk/reward players in this draft. How he turns out, won't be known for a few years at least.
The Top 4 Edge Rushers in the 2016 NFL Draft
The 2015 NFL Draft was loaded with edge rushers. We saw players like Vic Beasley, Shane Ray. Dante Fowler all go very high. There was depth at the position last year also as clubs were getting talented pass rushers into the middle rounds of the draft. Such is not the case this year. While the
The 2015 NFL Draft was loaded with edge rushers. We saw players like Vic Beasley, Shane Ray. Dante Fowler all go very high. There was depth at the position last year also as clubs were getting talented pass rushers into the middle rounds of the draft. Such is not the case this year. While the pass rushing talent isn't what we saw a year ago, the defensive tackle class is huge. That happens every year, as there are some positions that just have more talent than others.
Emmanuel Ogbah – Oklahoma State
I could have very easily put Ogbah in the 4-3 defensive end group, but after his Combine performance, many of the 3-4 clubs are looking at Ogbah as a potential outside linebacker on base downs and as a pass rusher on pass downs.
At 6'3 – 273, Ogbah has position versatility. His Combine numbers were excellent, running the 40 in 4.63, leaping 35 ½" in the vertical, 10'1" in the long jump and a quick 7.26 in the 3-cone. Ogbah is a natural pass rusher with 28 career sacks. He has the hand use and redirect skills that all good pass rushers have.
As good as Ogbah has played, he has moments where he doesn't consistently play to that high level. Because of that he will be most likely drafted in the bottom half of the first round. If he gets with the right team, he could put up some big numbers as a pro.
Shilique Calhoun – Michigan State
Calhoun played down as a 4-3 defensive end at Michigan State. While he can play that position in the NFL, I feel that he will get a strong look form each of the 3-4 teams. Calhoun is easily athletic enough to play on his feet and looked good dropping into coverage at both the Combine and the Michigan State Pro Day.
Calhoun didn't run as well as anticipated (4.82) but he showed exceptional quickness and change of direction. With his quickness he plays much faster than he times. Calhoun lacks great size (251) and I doubt he can get bigger than 260 so OLB may be the better position for him at the next level. One thing is certain, on pass downs he will be rushing the passer and that's what he does best. He can use his hands and has a variety of moves.
Jordan Jenkins – Georgia
Jenkins is one of my favorite players in this draft. While teammate Leonard Floyd gets all the recognition, Jenkins is the guy who does the dirty work and makes plays.
Jenkins didn't waited until his pro day to show what kind of athlete he is. He measured 6'3 – 259 and ran a 4.77. He also leaped 38" in the vertical jump, 10'3' in the long jump and had a 7.41 3-cone.
On tape, Jenkins plays with strength but he didn't show top strength when he lifted (16 reps). He is a high motor guy who makes plays and is consistent player versus the run and can rush the passer. He is the type of player that will be a better pro than a collegian.
Yannick Ngakoue – Maryland
Ngakoue has had 19.5 sacks the last two seasons at Maryland. Added 45 quarterback pressures. He's a very good athlete with quickness and explosion. Yannick is a pass rusher first and that takes him out of some plays because he gets undisciplined. He also has to improve upon his awareness in coverage but the traits are there. Will most likely be a designated pass rusher early on while he learns the NFL game.
My Bonus Sleeper Candidate
Tyrone Holmes – Montana
Holmes was not invited to the Combine and took part in the University of Montana Pro Day on March 21st. Holmes measured 6024 – 253 and ran 4.62. He also had a 37 ½" vertical jump and a 9'5" long jump. His agility drills were very good also going 7.12 in the 3-cone and 4.28 in the 20 yard shuttle. To top things off he put up 28 reps of 225.
Holmes has excellent pass rush ability, he finished the season with 87 total tackles including 24 tackles for loss and 18 sacks! He finished his career with 34.5 sacks. Holmes lacks ideal defensive end size and is more suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He has an explosive first step but he does have a tendency to get tall. He closes off a block very well. With his pro day numbers, he is sure to gather a lot of attention in the next few weeks and will most likely have a number of private workouts in the coming weeks.
The Top 5 Offensive Tackles in the 2016 NFL Draft
Looking at the offensive as a whole, the 2016 NFL Draft is not nearly as strong on that side of the ball as some of the recent drafts. However that is not the case at the tackle position, where as many as four or five players could be selected in the opening round of the
Looking at the offensive as a whole, the 2016 NFL Draft is not nearly as strong on that side of the ball as some of the recent drafts. However that is not the case at the tackle position, where as many as four or five players could be selected in the opening round of the Draft next month in Chicago.
Laremy Tunsil – Ole Miss
As of right now, Tunsil is the odds on favorite to be the first pick in this year's Draft. He has the natural physical tools to be a quality starter for years to come. Tunsil has height, bulk, length, athleticism and skill. He is a natural knee bender who is explosive on contact. In short he makes things look easy.
Playing in the tough SEC, Tunsil has had to go against some of the best defensive linemen in college football and has consistently shown well against them. He can mirror in pass protection and doesn't give ground versus bull rushers. He has no real negatives other than he missed half of the 2015 season due to an NCAA suspension. When he came back he looked as if he never missed a beat. He will become a starter the day he signs his contract.
Jack Conklin – Michigan State –
This name might surprise you. In league circles, the race for the number two tackle to be drafted is a close one between Conklin and Notre Dame's Ron Stanley. At the Combine, Conklin proved to be bigger, faster and stronger than Stanley in every drill. On the field, Conklin plays with a more consistent intensity.
Conklin has proved to be a physical run blocker who gets movement and consistently finishes. He can get to the second level and adjust on the move. In pass protection, he has a quick set and can mirror and anchor. He shows a strong punch and is able to control his opponents. Conklin is an underclassmen entering the draft so he is still young and will still get bigger, stronger and better. Some clubs are looking at Conklin as the safer pick at this time.
Ron Stanley – Notre Dame
Going back almost a year, Stanley has been looked at as being a possible top five type selection. There is no question that he has the physical traits and skill set to become a very good NFL tackle but there is a group of NFL people who question his intensity and demeanor.
Watch tape and you see a tall guy with great feet and length. He can slide and recover as well as anyone. In the run game, he shows his inconsistency. He lacks the power at this time to consistently get movement and you will see some stalemates. His intensity level varies form play to play. When he was at the Combine, he did exceptionally well in the position drills, but his performance in the measurable drills (3-cone, 20 yard shuttle, long jump, vertical jump) was very average. He also did not bench. In a recent interview on Sirius XM he stated that he felt he would do only 20 reps of 225 which is well below average for a lineman. Next week, is the Notre Dame Pro Day and Stanley has his work cut out for him to regain the number two slot on many draft boards.
Taylor Decker – Ohio State
Turn on the tape of any Ohio State game and it's easy to see why Decker is so highly thought off by NFL evaluator. He is a very physical guy who plays at a consistent high level of intensity. While he didn't test out as being an overly strong guy (22 reps at the OSU Pro Day), he has a lot of power in his lower body and through his hips and he is consistently able to get movement with run blocks. In pass protection he can set, punch, anchor and mirror. He can get a little wide with his hands but that can be easily corrected.
While Decker played his entire career on the left side at Ohio State, it wouldn't surprise me if he at least starts his career on the right side in the NFL. Though he is very tall at 6'7, he has shorter arms (33 ¾") for one so tall. His lateral agility is good, not outstanding and for those reasons he may be better suited for the right side.
Germain Ifidi – Texas A&M
In recent years. Texas A&M has done an outstanding job in developing offensive lineman. They have had a number of lineman taken in the premium rounds and this year will be no exception. Germain Ifidi entered the Draft as an underclassmen and he should have a bright future. His first two seasons as a starter were at guard and he moved outside to tackle this past season. He has tackle height and length (6'6", 36" arms) to go along with good strength (25 reps). He also has good natural size (324). With only one year of experience at tackle, he still needs to improve his footwork and technique but the tools are there. Having only played on the right side at Texas A&M, I assume that is where he will play in the NFL. He may lack the required lateral agility to make the move to the left side.
The Top Five Wide Receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft
The last two NFL Drafts have been two of the strongest wide receiver drafts in history. In comparison, the class this year doesn't compare. While there are still some very good prospects, the speed and overall depth of this year's wide receiver class is average to say the least. Throw out the last two drafts,
The last two NFL Drafts have been two of the strongest wide receiver drafts in history. In comparison, the class this year doesn't compare. While there are still some very good prospects, the speed and overall depth of this year's wide receiver class is average to say the least. Throw out the last two drafts, and the average number of wide receivers drafted in the opening round is three and four. That could well be the case this year.
Laquon Treadwell – Mississippi
As I write this on March 21st, Treadwell holds on to the top spot on the list, but he there is no way he has a lock on that spot. Treadwell did not run or do any of the agility drills at the Combine. His 33" vertical jump ad 9'11" long jump were very average by today's standards. Next Monday at the Ole Miss Pro Day, Treadwell has to really excel or he will really drop on many teams drafts boards. Everyone knows he is not a burner, but he still has to run 4.555 or better to be the first or second receiver drafted.
He has terrific skill set, with great hands, he can adjust to the ball, runs good routes and is strong after the catch. At the wide receiver position though, speed can be the determining factor on draft position.
Corey Coleman – Baylor
Coleman is a superb athlete. While he didn't run at Indy, he did have a 40.5" vertical jump and a 10'9" long jump. At his Pro Day he ran a quick 4.37 and showed fluid change of direction. What hampers Coleman compared to the other receivers on the board is that he ran a very limited route tree at Baylor. At his Pro Day he showed he could get in and of cuts quickly, adjust to the ball and make the difficult catch. He will have to go through a period of adjustment for sure but in two years he may well be the best receiver to come out of this draft.
Josh Doctson – TCU
Doctson's game is similar to Treadwell's only he is a little faster and more explosive. He showed that explosiveness at the Combine with a 41" vertical jump and a 10'11" long jump. His agility drills were also very good.
Like Coleman, Doctson played in an unsophisticated spread offense with a limited route tree. Because of that he will need work early on in developing his route running skills but in the end he will make some team very happy. In today's NFL game, clubs covet big receivers and that is exactly what Doctson is. He measured 6'2 – 202 and had big 9 ¾" hands.
Will Fuller – Notre Dame
Will Fuller's game is speed and he has an abundance of that trait. Fuller was the fastest receiver at Indy, running the 40 in 4.32. On tape he runs deep routes and makes the over the shoulder catch as well as any receiver.
Fuller has some negative traits also. He has a very lean frame and his hands were the smallest of any receiver at the Combine (8 ¼"). He also lacks strength, and has a small receiving radius. While he catches the deep ball well, he struggles with other catches and had over 20 drops the last two seasons.
Many feel he is a bit of a wild card this draft. His home run ability could get him drafted in the bottom of the first round, but because of his limitations others feel he is more likely to go in the second.
Tyler Boyd – Pittsburgh
Boyd is one of the more complete receivers in this draft. He has size, quickness, body control, runs outstanding routes and has very good hands. What he lacks is elite speed. He ran a 4.58 at Indy and clubs were hoping he would run faster than that before the Draft. He did just that at the Pitt Pro Day, clocking a 4.52 on March 16th.
When you watch tape, he is smooth and acrobatic and can make things look easy. He has excellent run after the catch skills and he can block. I don't see Boyd getting drafted in the opening round but he should go within the first 12 picks of the second round. He will start early in his career.
Follow Greg on Twitter @greggabe
The Top Five 4-3 Defensive Ends in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Like with the 3-4 defensive ends there are some quality 4-3 defensive ends who also have the positional versatility to be able to play on their feet in a 3-4 as an outside linebacker. Having the athleticism and versatility to play more than one position enhances their value come draft weekend,
Joey Bosa –
Like with the 3-4 defensive ends there are some quality 4-3 defensive ends who also have the positional versatility to be able to play on their feet in a 3-4 as an outside linebacker. Having the athleticism and versatility to play more than one position enhances their value come draft weekend,
Joey Bosa – Ohio State
Bosa will most likely be a top five selection come April 28th. He is easily the best 4-3 defensive end on the board and is one of those players with scheme versatility. Right now, Bosa stands about 6'5 – 275. He could easily get to 285+ and play as a 5 technique in a 3-4. At his present size and athletic ability he is the most dominant 4-3 end available and he showed at his pro day that he could easily drop in to coverage if used as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Regardless of where he plays and in what scheme, on passing downs his hand will be in the dirt and he will be rushing the passer. Bosa had 26 career sacks and is regarded as one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Others have compared him to J.J. Watt. If he can get to 285 and keep his speed and athleticism, I am one who believes he can be a similar type player. Bosa has no rea weaknesses and can be a force versus the run or pass game.
Shaq Lawson – Clemson
The last few years, Clemson has been loaded with excellent defensive linemen and because of that players like Lawson and teammate Kevin Dodd had to wait their turn to be the front line players. It showed this year as Lawson went form 3.5 sacks in 2014 to 12.5 in 2015.
Lawson has an exceptionally quick first step, very good hand use and the bend and flexibility to be a very difficult person to block on passing downs. He also has the instincts and quick reactions to be a force versus the run. At his present size and speed (6027 – 267 – 4.70) he can also play OLB in a 3-4. The only negative I see right now is that it was recently reported that Lawson has to return to Indianapolis in early April for the medical rechecks because of a shoulder injury. Granted he played with the injury all season, but if it is a problem whereas he needs surgery, he could drop a little on draft night. Right now he looks like a solid top 10 selection.
Kevin Dodd – Clemson
Like Lawson, Dodd is a player who really came on during the 2015 college season. By the end of the season, he was one of the most dominant outside players in the country. Dodd finished the season with 62 total tackles and 12 sacks!
At 6'5 – 272 – 4.80, Dodd has the frame to get bigger and stronger and the athleticism to play in any scheme. He is best suited to play as a 4-3 defensive end but he can easily get up to 280+ and play as a 5 tech and he can also standup as a 3-4 OLB.
Being that Doss is an early entrée into the draft he has a lot of upside and has the told to be a dominant NFL play. I can see Dodd getting drafted somewhere between the 10 and 20 slots.
Noah Spence – Eastern Kentucky
After a very strong season at Eastern Kentucky and with a dominant week at the Senior Bowl, many were anticipating Spence's workout at the Combine. The wind came out of the sails there as Spence did not run nearly as fast as people thought he would. He ran 4.80 at Indy and then came back a week later at the Eastern Kentucky Pro Day to run a 4.77. Scouts and coaches were estimating that he would run in the high 4.6's to low 4.7's.
Regardless of his timed speed, Spence is one of the better edge pass rushers in this draft and he can also play the run extremely well. He is strong and explosive and quick to find the ball. What hurts Spence besides his average speed is his off field issues. He has tested positive on multiple occasions and that got him booted from Ohio State and then he got ticked for a DUI while at Eastern Kentucky. It's those issues that make Spence a bit of a wild card during the draft. Talent says round one, the issues may drop him a little. Like the others, Spence has the versatility to play up or down in either defensive scheme.
Bronson Kaufusi – BYU
One of the most physically impressive specimens at the Combine was BYU's Kaufusi. He stands 6'6 – 285, runs a 4.85 and has 34 1/2" arms. All his measurable tests at Indy were as good as any at the defensive end position.
Kaufusi came on strong in 2015 with 64 total tackles and 11 sacks. He has experience playing both linebacker and defensive end. With his size and upside, I see him as either a left end in a 4-3 or either end in a 3-4. He is strong at the point, can shed and finds the ball. If there is a fault it's that he doesn't make as many plays as he probably should. Still with his natural physical talent, he most likely will get drafted in the second round. There aren't many plays as physically gifted as Kaufusi.
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