I know a lot of people (not just posters here) like Pat but it just seems as if he's never right. Nothing to do with these particular tweets btw
McGinn’s NFL Draft Series: Scouts on top linebackers Spoiler My poll of 16 personnel men indicated there are a host of good players at the position this year besides Simmons. His narrow margin might be considered somewhat surprising considering the attention he has drawn in the past few months. Scouts were asked to tab their best linebackers on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis, with a first-place vote worth 5 points, a second-place vote worth 4 and so on. Simmons led the way with 68 points and 10 firsts, with Kenneth Murray (61, four), Patrick Queen (46, one), Zack Baun (27) and Jordyn Brooks (15) rounding out the top five. Following, in order, were Willie Gay (six), Jacob Phillips (five, one), Logan Wilson (five), Shaun Bradley (two), Cam Brown (two), Akeem Davis-Gaither (two) and Malik Harrison (one). “The hardest thing to find as a scout is a three-down linebacker,” said an AFC personnel man. “You’re in nickel 75 percent of the time. You can find these two-downs on every street corner. A three-down guy that never comes off the field, it’s impossible to find. They’ve got to be very, very smart.” RANKING THE LINEBACKERS 1. ISAIAH SIMMONS, Clemson (6-3 ½, 233, 4.38, 1) 2. KENNETH MURRAY, Oklahoma (6-2 ½, 242, 4.55, 1) 3. PATRICK QUEEN, LSU (6-0, 229, 4.50, 1-2) 4. ZACK BAUN, Wisconsin (6-2 ½, 238, 4.68, 1-2) 5. JORDYN BROOKS, Texas Tech (6-0, 240, 4.52, 2-3) Brooks moved to MLB as a senior after starting the first three seasons on the outside. “I kind of like him,” said one scout. “He can get off the spot and runs to the ball. He can chase. He can cover. He’s got exceptional quickness. He can drop his hips, change directions, explode and make a tackle in space. Modern-day linebacker. He’s top 50 for sure.” He’s the first LB mentioned by a scout when asked to pick out the heaviest hitter. He posted a Wonderlic of 10. “I don’t think (running a defense) comes natural to him, but he worked at it,” one scout said. Another scout disagreed, saying there was no way he could direct and call a defense. “No, no, no, no, no,” he said. “But he’s a good player. Real tough. He’s been hurt, we don’t have that much medical on him and he’s 5-11. I don’t like that (10 test).” Has had two shoulder operations and finished with 367 tackles (33 for loss) and seven sacks. He’s the first All-American LB for the Red Raiders since Zach Thomas in 1995. “Kind of thick, active, play-hard,” a fourth scout said. “He can do enough in the pass game.” Brooks is from Houston. 6. WILLIE GAY, Mississippi State (6-1, 243, 4.47, 3) 7. LOGAN WILSON, Wyoming (6-2, 238, 4.60, 3) 8. AKEEM DAVIS-GAITHER, Appalachian State (6-1 ½, 224, no 40, 3) 9. JACOB PHILLIPS, LSU (6-3, 229, 4.64, 4) 10. MALIK HARRISON, Ohio State (6-2 ½, 247, 4.63, 4) 11. JUSTIN STRNAD, Wake Forest (6-3 ½, 238, 4.74, 4) 12. DAVION TAYLOR, Colorado (6-0 ½, 227, 4.44, 4) 13. TANNER MUSE, Clemson (6-2, 226, 4.39, 4-5) Last April, the combine scout estimated his 40 time at 4.75. In a shocker, Muse ran sub-4.4 in Indianapolis. “I didn’t see that 4.39 on tape,” said one scout. “I thought he was stiff and slow. He’s not a safety. He’s got instincts, and he’s a tough guy. He doesn’t have vision. Unathletic, stiff. Free agent. You’d have to try him at linebacker.” Muse started for three years at FS but is now viewed more as a subpackage LB. “He’s real stiff but God, he ran 4.41 (on the scout’s watch) and he’s got a square jaw,” said a second scout. “There were times where Simmons races across the field and overruns and whiffs badly, and then Muse, who is stiff as a board, squares the guy up and tackles him. How does that happen? One’s gonna go top 10 and the other one’s an afterthought.” His Wonderlic score of 26 was the highest at the position. His final stats included 237 tackles (10 ½ for loss), six interceptions and 22 passes defensed. Said a third scout: “I imagine he could go in the third now. Look at his size-speed ratio. He does play well in the box. He tackles well. I had no idea he’d run a 4.4.” Muse is from Belmont, N.C. 14. TROY DYE, Oregon (6-3 ½, 237, no 40, 4-5) Dye played 87.5 percent of the defensive snaps from 2016-’19 as a WLB. “He’s not a take-on guy at all,” said one scout. “He can pick up backs and tight ends and run with them. To his detriment, he played most of this year with a big club on his right hand (broken thumb). I like the guy a lot, but he’s just not real physical. He’s not a big person.” Finished with 397 tackles (44 for loss), 15 sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and 21 passes defensed. “He’s like that nickel linebacker that comes in on passing downs,” a second scout said. “He just has a knack in coverage. He does need to get bigger and stronger.” Underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January and couldn’t work at the combine. “He gets the ball,” said a third scout. “He plays long. There’s a little bit of finesse to his game, and it frustrates you at times. But most of the time those guys get more physical. They figure out they need to be more physical as a pro. They can’t just run around. I was thinking second or third round. Because of the injury, I could see him getting to the fourth and eventually becoming a starter and being a really good pick if he gets his head on and eats.” Dye is from Norco, Calif. 15. SHAUN BRADLEY, Temple (6-0 ½, 235, 4.49, 5) OTHERS, in order: Mykal Walker, Fresno State; Cam Brown, Penn State; Kamal Martin, Minnesota; Chapelle Russell, Temple; Evan Weaver, California; Shaquille Quarterman, Miami; Francis Bernard, Utah; Khaleke Hudson, Michigan; David Woodward, Utah State; Markus Bailey, Purdue; Joe Bachie, Michigan State; Jordan Glasgow, Michigan; Dante Olson, Montana. THE SKINNY UNSUNG HERO Shaquille Quarterman, Miami: The first true freshman to start at MLB for the Hurricanes since Dan Morgan in 1998, Quarterman started all 52 games of his career, finishing with 356 tackles (46 ½ for loss) and 13 sacks. But, at 6-0 1/2 and 234, Quarterman needed to run faster than he did (4.76). “They loved the kid,” said one scout. “He’s Mr. Intangibles. But he’s kind of a dying breed, the two-down inside linebacker.” SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE Evan Weaver, California: Weaver is extremely productive with ideal size (6-2, 237) and is able to run a defense. “Unbelievable instinct, positioning,” one NFC scout said shortly before the combine. “Always around the ball. He’s not going to test well. I’d say third round.” Weaver ran 4.78 with just 15 reps on the bench. The other perspective came from an AFC scout: “Awful. Everybody felt he didn’t belong at the Senior Bowl.” SCOUT TO REMEMBER Jim Finks: Finks was a quarterback, assistant coach, general manager, club president and almost NFL commissioner in 1989 when Paul Tagliabue instead of him was selected by owners on the sixth ballot. Finks built winning programs in Calgary, Minnesota, Chicago and New Orleans. Revered by friend and foe alike as a man’s man. He died of lung cancer in 1994 at age 66. QUOTE TO NOTE NFL executive in personnel: “I think everyone there (LSU) is going to get overdrafted because of the year they had. Not that they’re not good players. But I just think that every player that’s going in the second round would usually be a third.”
Dane Brugler's Top 300 Spoiler 1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State (6-5, 264) 2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU (6-4, 221) 3. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 205) 4. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson (6-4, 238) 5. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama (6-4, 312) 6. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama (6-0, 217) 7. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn (6-5, 326) 8. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa (6-5, 320) 9. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma (6-2, 196) 10. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama (6-1, 193) 11. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville (6-7, 364) 12. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama (5-11, 188) 13. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida (6-1, 204) 14. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU (6-3, 254) 15. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia (6-5, 315) 16. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina (6-5, 324) 17. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU (6-1, 202) 18. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon (6-6, 236) 19. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State (6-4, 224) 20. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State (5-10, 209) Dobbins is very skilled at finding and clearing holes and he makes it a chore on defenders to finish him, chopping his feet in space, stepping out of tackle attempts and maintaining his balance at contact. He benefited from a talented offensive system and when the hole was there, he took advantage, but he isn’t a consistent creator when the play design isn’t properly executed. Overall, Dobbins is built for the pro game and runs with outstanding vision, decision-making and open-field elusiveness, displaying the innate qualities to be a reliable three-down starting running back in the NFL. 21. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU (6-0, 229) 22. Josh Jones, OT, Houston (6-5, 319) 23. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State (6-0, 205) Aiyuk is a “runway” athlete — if given any type of runway, he has the explosive gears and top-end speed to be a big-play threat, stretching simple slants into impact plays (averaged 11.1 yards after the catch in 2019). While he has a remarkable wingspan, his average play strength and continued maturation as a route runner are two areas where he needs to improve. Overall, the definition of a playmaker is a player who turns small plays into big plays and that is exactly what Aiyuk can do with his dynamic athleticism, projecting similar to Emmanuel Sanders (his skill set, role and impact) at the NFL level. 24. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma (6-3, 241) 25. Austin Jackson, OT, USC (6-5, 322)
Spoiler 26. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia (5-8, 212) 27. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (5-10, 226) 28. Marlon Davidson, DT, Auburn (6-3, 303) By expanding his hand tactics between his junior and senior seasons, Davidson became a more efficient stack-shed player, shaking loose from blocks due to his play strength and hand timing. While agile in his movements, he isn’t a sudden player, which will create more hurdles in the NFL. Overall, Davidson is a jumbo end with only average speed off the edge, but he works for his production with the foot/hand quickness and overall balance to defeat blockers, projecting as a starting-level base end or three-technique tackle. 29. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU (5-10, 191) Gladney has the athletic movement skills to pattern match from press and instinctively plays through the hands of the receiver. He isn’t a technically sound player with a bad habit of grabbing and gripping downfield. Overall, Gladney is a scrappy, quick-footed athlete with an ultra-competitive play personality and if he can improve his route anticipation and be more subtle with his physicality, he will be a decade-long NFL starter. 30. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State (6-6, 311) 31. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State (6-5, 266) Gross-Matos is a long, agile athlete with quick acceleration to win the edge and an explosive inside counter move. He is physical vs. the run and flashes violent rip moves, but must diversify his rush plan and shed skills to routinely beat NFL-level blockers. Overall, Gross-Matos requires time to mature, but his rangy frame and flexible athleticism give him the tools to be a high-impact edge rusher who can reduce inside on passing downs due to his gap quickness and length. 32. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa (6-5, 275) 33. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama (6-1, 205) Diggs arrived in Tuscaloosa as a two-way player and his offensive background benefits him on defense with his ball skills and awareness for what the offense is trying to do. He will drive his NFL defensive coaches crazy with his hopping around and sporadic technique, but his read/react skills and athleticism allow him to get away with it. Overall, Diggs needs to clean up his technique and discipline in coverage to reach his full potential, but he has shown improvement in those areas and projects as an NFL starter due to his size, twitch and competitive nature. 34. Xavier McKinney, DS, Alabama (6-0, 201) McKinney is explosive downhill and a reliable open-field tackler, finding his center and dropping ball carriers. He does a nice job in coverage vs. backs and tight ends with solid ball skills, although he doesn’t always play to his athletic profile when matched up with receivers. Overall, McKinney is an instinctive, full-speed-ahead defender with the functional range and diagnose skills to put himself in position to make plays, projecting as an interchangeable safety who should start from Day 1. 35. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor (6-3, 207) Mims boasts the athletic skill to win at every level of the field, but on tape he was at his best on straight-line or one-cut routes (slants, posts, go’s, etc.), although he showed much improved pattern movement at the Senior Bowl. He demonstrates the ability to make impressive extension grabs, but his ball skills are inconsistent, especially with a defensive back closing on the catch point. Overall, Mims must become a more consistent route technician, but he offers the length and contested catch ability of a big receiver while moving like a much smaller athlete to create separation, projecting has a high-upside receiver. 36. Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin (6-2, 238) A fantastic space athlete, Baun has the natural burst and loose hips to be deployed across the formation, handling open-field responsibilities. He consistently affects the game with his active play style and effort, but he rushes and covers more on instinct than technical know-how right now. Overall, Baun’s evaluation requires some projection because he won’t be a full-time rusher in the NFL, but he displays the fluid athleticism, smarts and motor to line up as a stack linebacker and nickel pass rusher, projecting as a top-40 prospect. 37. Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU (6-3, 290) As the son of a Harlem Globetrotters legend, Blacklock checks the boxes for size, core strength and athleticism, firing off the ball to win early or make himself small through gaps. He displays contact balance and length at the point of attack, although his shed and pass rush technique are still a work in progress. Overall, Blacklock doesn’t get home enough on tape, but all the traits are there with his blend of size, quickness and power to develop into a disruptive presence, projecting as a versatile lineman who can play anywhere from the nose to the five-technique. 38. Lloyd Cushenberry III, OC, LSU (6-3, 312) 39. Cesar Ruiz, OC, Michigan (6-3, 307) 40. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU (5-7, 207) While he is quicker than fast, Edwards-Helaire always has an escape plan with his elusive quickness, determined vision and low center of gravity to break tackles. With his high-level ball skills, he is dynamic in the passing game and shows the ability to shake defenders mid-route or hide behind blockers in the screen game. Overall, Edwards-Helaire needs technique work in pass protection, but he is productive with the ball in his hands due to his blend of agility, power and toughness, projecting as an any-down player who can line up across the formation. 41. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah (6-0, 193) Johnson is a good-sized athlete with the press-man skills and toughness that will attract him to NFL coaches, but what is the long-term health of his shoulders? Although he has recovery speed, his aggressive reaction skills can be a double-edged sword and savvy route runners will create false steps for him. Overall, Johnson needs to be a better finisher and continue his instinctual development, but he has the athletic traits to ride receivers up and down the field and his competitive mentality will be an immediate fit in a pro locker room, projecting as an NFL starter. 42. Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan (6-1, 245) 43. Jeremy Chinn, DS, Southern Illinois (6-3, 221) 44. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU (5-11, 206) 45. Kyle Dugger, DS, Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1, 217) 46. Grant Delpit, DS, LSU (6-3, 213) With his football IQ and athleticism, Delpit is quick to trigger vs. the pass and the run, trusting his keys and never second guessing himself. He often arrives too hot as a tackler and his overaggressive angles and poor finishing skills dent his batting average (there is no question that he was banged up in 2019 and how much that affected his production and performance is open to interpretation). Overall, Delpit needs to shore up his tackling inconsistency, but he is a rangy, smart and energetic player who quickly finds the football and attacks, projecting as an interchangeable NFL safety with starting potential. 47. Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado (6-1, 227) 48. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson (6-1, 195) Terrell didn’t perform very well in the final two games of his college career, especially in the national title game vs. LSU where Ja’Marr Chase dominated the match up, but his overall body of work shows a talented player, including a pick-six vs. Alabama a year earlier in the 2018 national title game. Terrell loves to challenge receivers up and down the field, showing the length and athleticism to stay within arm’s length. However, he will struggle vs. route specialists due to his average speed and inconsistent fundamental transition skills. Overall, Terrell must develop his hip and lower body mechanics to maintain his balance in coverage, but he is a well-built athlete with the physical and mental toughness to compete for starting reps early in his NFL career. 49. Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M (6-3, 293) An active competitor, Madubuike strikes with power and pad level, showing the heavy hands to work his way through bodies. While his initial quickness can be too much for blockers to handle at times, his pass rush stalls and he must expand his bag of tricks and rush plan. Overall, Madubuike isn’t a refined player right now, but he is a power-packed athlete with twitched-up muscles to win the point of attack, projecting as a three-technique tackle with upside. 50. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
Spoiler 51. Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama (6-5, 262) Different than most Alabama pass rushers under Saban, Lewis has the long frame and sudden athleticism to disrupt the pocket. However, his play motor is better than his instincts and he must introduce more variety and shed strength into his rush plan. Overall, Lewis is still unrefined with his setup and feel as an upfield player, but he is long, rangy and explosive with similar upside as Danielle Hunter when he entered the league, projecting as an impact NFL pass rusher if he reaches his potential and stays healthy. 52. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson (6-4, 216) Higgins’ basketball background shows at the catch point, playing above the rim with twitchy reflexes. However, he doesn’t have the lower body suddenness, speed or savvy to easily separate from press or at the top of patterns, which creates the question: can he mature into more than an athletic jump ball weapon? Overall, Higgins needs to get stronger and continue maturing as a route runner, but his athletic tracking skills and ability to utilize every inch of his frame and expand his catch radius are playmaking traits. 53. KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State (5-9, 178) A jitterbug athlete, Hamler is tough to corral due to his burst and balance, showing the twitch at the top of routes that makes him a nightmare to cover man-to-man. However, he will struggle vs. physical corners, competing with better confidence than play strength. Overall, Hamler’s diminutive size and shaky focus could limit the way he is deployed in an NFL offense, but his explosive speed has the potential to light up the scoreboard, projecting as high-upside playmaker in the slot. 54. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State (6-2, 224) 55. Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia (6-7, 350) 56. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton (6-5, 255) 57. Ashtyn Davis, DS, California (6-1, 202) 58. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame (6-6, 262) 59. Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State (6-1, 243) Gay owns the athletic twitch and pursuit speed that is the medicine for horizontal offenses, chasing down jet sweeps and defending both sidelines. While he plays with passion, his decision-making (on and off the field) deserves scrutiny. Overall, Gay’s undisciplined play style and inconsistent key-and-diagnose skills create concern for his next level role, but he flows to the football with urgency and closing speed, showcasing special teams skills and NFL starting upside. 60. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (6-0, 197) Fulton has a patient process to stay under control in his transition movements, displaying the athletic and mental requirements to match receiver steps mid-route. He shows the instincts and toughness to handle nickel duties, but must become a more reliable run defender. Overall, Fulton has room to improve his tackling and body positioning downfield, but he stays in the pocket of receivers with his disciplined process, athletic traits and feel for reading breaks, projecting as an average-level NFL starter. 61. Robert Hunt, OG, Louisiana (6-5, 323) 62. Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn (5-10, 198) 63. Antoine Winfield Jr., DS, Minnesota (5-9, 203) 64. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame (6-4, 238) Claypool has an easy accelerator for his size and wins with physicality at the catch point, expanding his catch radius. He also makes things happen when covering kicks and punts (25 career tackles in college). Overall, Claypool’s route running and instincts are a work-in-progress, but he is an impressive height/weight/speed athlete who attacks the football like a power forward and has the special teams background that will expand his NFL role as he continues to mature at the position. 65. Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State (6-2, 265) 66. Matt Hennessy, OC, Temple (6-4, 307) 67. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech (6-0, 240) 68. Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri (6-4, 302) Physically impressive on the hoof, Elliott peppers blockers with his long, aggressive frame to earn an early advantage, locking out, finding the ball carrier and disposing of his man. While he can bend, inconsistent pad level was a common theme on his film that negated his flexibility. Overall, Elliott is strong and slippery with effort in pursuit and budding awareness, displaying all the tools to be a high-ceiling, scheme-versatile NFL starter – if the character checks out. 69. Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State (6-0, 195) 70. Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma (6-2, 304) 71. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State (5-10, 217) 72. Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State (6-3, 247) 73. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama (6-6, 311) 74. Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina (6-3, 212) 75. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming (6-2, 241)
Spoiler 76. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington (6-6, 231) 77. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia (6-2, 219) 78. James Lynch, DT, Baylor (6-4, 289) 79. Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech (5-8, 187) 80. Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida (6-3, 263) 81. Terrell Burgess, DS, Utah (5-11, 202) 82. John Simpson, OG, Clemson (6-4, 321) 83. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State (6-2, 188) 84. Van Jefferson, WR, Florida (6-2, 200) 85. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic (6-5, 243) 86. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn (6-5, 308) 87. Zack Moss, RB, Utah (5-9, 223) 88. Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia (6-1, 202) A top-flight competitor, Hall has a nose for the football and does a great job locating and making plays at the catch point, posting elite ball production in college. However, his high center of gravity will stall his transition and skilled route runners are able to detach or force him to panic. Overall, Hall doesn’t have ideal long-speed or fluidity for the position, but he does receiver-like things in coverage with the length, awareness and football character to earn an NFL starting role, projecting best in zone coverage (if the medicals check out). 89. Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah (6-3, 257) Anae is quick out of the gate and accelerates around the edge with relaxed hips and physical hands to run the hoop. Against the run, he has strong ball awareness, but can be too easily overwhelmed by size on the edges. Overall, Anae relies too much on his first step and appears near maxed out, but he is a hungry, high-effort pass rusher with the edge quickness that will earn him immediate playing time as an NFL rookie. 90. Lucas Niang, OT, TCU (6-6, 315) 91. Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State (5-9, 185) 92. Nick Harris, OC, Washington (6-1, 302) 93. Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State (6-4, 320) 94. Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida (6-3, 264) 95. Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA (5-11, 212) 96. Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State (5-10, 203) 97. K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State (6-0, 196) 98. Reggie Robinson II, CB, Tulsa (6-1, 205) 99. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri (6-5, 258) 100. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma (6-1, 222) 101. Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis (6-0, 228) 102. Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut (6-6, 318) 103. Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame (6-0, 193) Pride is a plus athlete and although he doesn’t show great feel for the position, he is quick to recover when out of position and fights at the catch point. He struggles with spacing in off coverage and is at his best in press-man where he doesn’t have to overthink, he can simply rely on his speed. Overall, Pride is a balanced, quick-twitch athlete with track speed, but there are plenty of red flags with his undeveloped body position, ball awareness and route anticipation, projecting as a feast or famine man-to-man corner. 104. Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame (6-4, 268) 105. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty (6-4, 223) 106. Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame (6-4, 252) Okwara screams off the edge with the speed that makes quarterbacks uncomfortable, using that same athleticism to drop and make plays away from the line of scrimmage. He often appears aimless in his rush plan with erratic hands and too many “almost” plays on his tape. Overall, Okwara is an inconsistent run defender with strength and consistency questions, but he is an exceptional athlete with a projectable body, projecting as a high risk, high reward pass rusher. 107. Brandon Jones, DS, Texas (5-11, 198) 108. Collin Johnson, WR, Texas (6-6, 222) 109. Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA (6-3, 257) 110. Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF (6-2, 216) 111. Lynn Bowden Jr., WR, Kentucky (5-11, 204) 112. Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee (6-4, 267) 113. Leki Fotu, DT, Utah (6-5, 330) 114. Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s (Minn.) (6-6, 309) 115. Jason Strowbridge, DT, North Carolina (6-4, 275) 116. Damien Lewis, OG, LSU (6-2, 327) 117. Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest (6-3, 238) 118. James Proche, WR, SMU (5-11, 201) 119. Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte (6-3, 248) Highsmith finished his final season second in the FBS in sacks (14.0), third in tackles for loss (21.5) and did enough for Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney to call him “the best player we have seen” midway through 2019. The former walk-on needs to continue to expand his rush plan, but his coaches rave about his ability to quickly adapt to new techniques. Overall, Highsmith has tweener tendencies with his size and play strength, which especially shows in the run game, but he is an athletic edge player who has yet to reach his ceiling as a pass rusher, projecting as an intriguing mid-round value. 120. Larrell Murchison, DT, NC State (6-3, 297) 121. McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas (6-3, 309) 122. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas (5-11, 200) 123. Trevis Gipson, EDGE, Tulsa (6-3, 261) 124. Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa (6-1, 200) 125. Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado (6-1, 228)
Spoiler 126. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State (5-9, 207) 127. Ben Bredeson, OG, Michigan (6-5, 315) 128. Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State (6-4, 306) 129. Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU (6-4, 321) 130. Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue (6-0, 235) 131. Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA (5-10, 195) 132. Kenny Robinson Jr., DS, XFL (6-2, 205) 133. Hakeem Adeniji, OT, Kansas (6-4, 302) 134. Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington (6-2, 248) 135. Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island (6-2, 198) 136. John Reid, CB, Penn State (5-10, 187) 137. Keith Ismael, OC, San Diego State (6-3, 309) 138. Rashard Lawrence, DT, LSU (6-2, 308) 139. K’Von Wallace, DS, Clemson (5-11, 206) 140. Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon (6-4, 310) Lemieux moves with agile feet and enough body flexibility to leverage the point of attack and get his hands involved. However, his timing issues at the snap and with his punch will be even more pronounced vs. NFL-level speed and power. Overall, Lemieux’s lack of explosive traits limits his NFL ceiling, but he works hard to stay engaged and keep defenders occupied, projecting as a scheme-versatile reserve who should push for starting consideration. 141. John Hightower, WR, Boise State (6-2, 189) 142. Jonathan Garvin, EDGE, Miami (Fla.) (6-4, 263) 143. D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina (6-5, 258) 144. Lamical Perine, RB, Florida (5-11, 216) 145. Geno Stone, DS, Iowa (5-10, 207) 146. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan (6-2, 212) 147. Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State (6-4, 210) 148. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College 149. Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford (6-7, 252) 150. Troy Dye, LB, Oregon (6-3, 231) Speed isn’t a question for Dye, who covers a lot of ground and does a great job finding his balance in space to make one-on-one tackles. However, strength is a concern, often sticking to blocks once engaged and not anticipating enough to compensate. Overall, Dye looks like a modern-day linebacker with his length and athleticism, but he plays more like a safety with questions about his functional strength and scheme fit in the NFL, projecting as an immediate backup and special teamer. 151. Francis Bernard, LB, Utah (6-0, 234) 152. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota (6-1, 206) Johnson did his best work over the middle of the field where he is unfazed by traffic, embracing the post up opportunities with his body control. However, for a player with his ball skills, he needs to take better care of the football (17 drops and four fumbles the last two seasons). Overall, Johnson has average long-speed and short-area explosiveness, but his catch point skills, toughness and production are attractive qualities, projecting as a high floor, low ceiling prospect. 153. Tyre Phillips, OT, Mississippi State (6-5, 331) 154. Tanner Muse, LB, Clemson (6-2, 227) Muse is a smart, assignment sound player who can track down ball carriers from behind due to his pursuit speed. While he rarely makes undisciplined mistakes, he labors in his transition and won’t be able to mask his lack of fluidity in the NFL like he did in the ACC. Overall, Muse doesn’t have the athletic skill set to survive in coverage vs. pro weapons, but his straight-line speed, diagnose skills and toughness could make him a hired gun on special teams coverages and backup linebacker. 155. Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh (6-0, 187) 156. James Robinson, RB, Southern Illinois (5-9, 219) 157. Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State (6-4, 264) 158. Kevin Dotson, OG, Louisiana (6-4, 310) 159. Javaris Davis, CB, Auburn (5-9, 183) 160. Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State (6-2, 205) 161. J.R. Reed, DS, Georgia (6-1, 202) 162. Joe Bachie, LB, Michigan State (6-1, 230) 163. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt (5-10, 214) 164. Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee (6-3, 215) 165. Josh Metellus, DS, Michigan (5-11, 209) 166. Joe Reed, WR, Virginia (6-1, 224) 167. Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue (6-4, 245) 168. Broderick Washington Jr., DT, Texas Tech (6-2, 305) Washington started every game the last three seasons (and played at least 70 percent of snaps each year), using his leverage, aggressive hands and ball radar to be productive. While he plays with balance, he won’t be able to out-will and overpower NFL blockers like he could in the Big 12. Overall, Washington is a one-dimensional pass rusher, but he is a nasty, tough-minded trench player who never shuts it down and competes with power, projecting as a scheme-versatile nose. 169. Harrison Hand, CB, Temple (5-11, 197) 170. Tyler Biadasz, OC, Wisconsin (6-4, 314) A program kid, Biadasz hoped to play defensive line in Madison, but bought into the move to center as a freshman and developed into a technician, playing under his pads and timing his punch. However, his lack of top-level athletic traits and recovery skills showed vs. better opponents (see 2019 Ohio State tape). Overall, Biadasz moves with stiffness and his balance issues will be highlighted vs. NFL-level competition, but he is fundamentally sound with the smarts and toughness to fight for a starting role in an NFL camp – if his medical situation doesn’t interfere. 171. Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn (6-5, 306) 172. L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Louisiana Tech (6-1, 192) 173. Benito Jones, DT, Ole Miss (6-1, 316) 174. Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky (6-6, 317) Stenberg competes with a mauling attitude and is not only physically aggressive, but he works to dominate the mental game as well, getting into the heads of defensive linemen. While he removes defenders from run lanes with his play strength, he tends to play tight and upright in pass protection, causing his base to narrow and allowing rushers to move him. Overall, Stenberg must improve his pad level and discipline issues to be a more consistent performer, but his competitive edge and natural power are why he has starting potential in the NFL. 175. Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse (6-3, 264)
Spoiler 176. Braden Mann, PT, Texas A&M (5-11, 198) The top specialist prospect on this draft board, Mann put his name on the NFL radar as a junior, setting the NCAA record for the highest punting average in a game (60.8 yards at Alabama). He won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter as a junior before earning first team All-SEC honors as a senior. Overall, Mann has a powerful boot to change field position as a punter while also handling kickoff duties. 177. Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama (6-2, 256) Jennings rushes with short-area acceleration and strong hands to keep blockers busy, but lacks the first step explosion to scare them, showing better motor than athletic range. He is a stout run defender with his ability to stay square at the point of attack, dropping his weight and quickly locating the football. Overall, Jennings lacks athletic twitch and his tool box isn’t very deep as a pass rusher, but he sets a physical edge and is a natural ball hunter, projecting best as a run-defending inside or outside backer in a 3-4 scheme. 178. James Morgan, QB, FIU (6-4, 229) Morgan displays several intriguing traits for the next level with his size, arm talent and intangibles, which helped him become a team captain shortly after he arrived at FIU. While he can rip ropes to every level of the field, he struggles to walk the fine line of forcing throws and trying to make a play downfield. Overall, Morgan’s ball placement and decision-making lack consistency, but he is an intelligent, tough-minded thrower with an NFL-quality arm, projecting as a late-round developmental option. 179. Netane Muti, OG, Fresno State (6-3, 315) 180. Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland (5-8, 208) 181. Julian Blackmon, DS, Utah (6-0, 187) 182. Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU (6-3, 229) 183. DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami (Fla.) (5-10, 217) 184. Antoine Brooks Jr., DS, Maryland (5-11, 205) 185. Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU (6-2, 250) 186. Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M (6-1, 201) 187. Carter Coughlin, EDGE, Minnesota (6-3, 236) 188. Derrek Tuszka, EDGE, North Dakota State (6-5, 251) Tuszka plays with cat-like quickness and the maniacal motor that allows him to patch moves together and affect the backfield action due to his effort. While physical at the point of attack, he is an inconsistent edge setter and will struggle vs. NFL length. Overall, Tuszka isn’t the longest or strongest and needs to become a more reliable run defender, but he is a skilled pass rusher who screams off the edge with aggressive hands and bad intentions, projecting as a situational rusher with upside to be more. 189. Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor (6-1, 227) 190. Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin (6-1, 202) 191. Cameron Clark, OG, Charlotte (6-5, 308) 192. Danny Pinter, OG, Ball State (6-4, 306) 193. A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State (6-2, 202) 194. Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse (6-1, 197) 195. Malcolm Roach, DT, Texas (6-2, 297) 196. DeMarkus Acy, CB, Missouri (6-0, 195) 197. Charlie Heck, OT, North Carolina (6-8, 311) 198. Robert Windsor, DT, Penn State (6-5, 290) 199. Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati (5-9, 226) 200. Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt (6-4, 257) 201. Rodrigo Blankenship, PK, Georgia (6-1, 190) 202. Alex Taylor, OT, South Carolina State (6-8, 308) 203. Alohi Gilman, DS, Notre Dame (5-11, 201) 204. James Smith-Williams, EDGE, NC State (6-4, 265) 205. Jordan Fuller, DS, Ohio State (6-2, 203) 206. Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami (Fla.) (6-1, 234) 207. Lamar Jackson, CB, Nebraska (6-2, 208) Jackson passes the eye test and his physicality and length are his best traits, overwhelming receivers in press to escort them where he wants. While he controls himself well in short-areas, his lack of long speed and inconsistent effort vs. the run lead to positive plays for the offense. Overall, Jackson is a scheme-specific cornerback prospect who won’t be for everyone, but he has the combative personality and man-to-man skills to stay within arm’s length with receivers, projecting as a borderline starter in the right scheme if he maintains a professional attitude. 208. Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana (5-8, 188) 209. Tremayne Anchrum, OG, Clemson (6-2, 314) 210. Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon (6-4, 230) 211. Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss (6-0, 185) 212. Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota (6-3, 240) 213. Michael Onwenu, OG, Michigan (6-3, 344) 214. Stanford Samuels III, CB, Florida State (6-1, 187) 215. Grayland Arnold, CB, Baylor (5-9, 186) 216. Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech (6-4, 253) 217. Evan Weaver, LB, California (6-2, 237) 218. Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State (6-6, 224) 219. Darryl Williams, OC, Mississippi State (6-2, 304) 220. Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State (6-4, 308) 221. Kalija Lipscomb, WR, Vanderbilt (6-0, 207) 222. Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati (6-2, 242) 223. Colton McKivitz, OG, West Virginia (6-6, 306) 224. Kyahva Tezino, LB, San Diego State (6-0, 235) 225. Madre Harper, CB, Southern Illinois (6-2, 196)
Spoiler 226. Rico Dowdle, RB, South Carolina (5-11, 213) 227. Yasir Durant, OT, Missouri (6-6, 331) 228. Daniel Thomas, DS, Auburn (5-10, 215) 229. Jon Runyan, OG, Michigan (6-4, 306) 230. Trey Adams, OT, Washington (6-8, 318) Adams has an above-average feel for spacing, but he isn’t a dancing bear in pass pro and explosive NFL rushers will force him to be perfect with his set point timing. He has terrific hand strength and is a grinder, both on and off the field, showing he can overcome adversity. Overall, Adams is a bully in the run game with adequate space skills to hold up in pass protection, but he isn’t quite the same prospect due to injuries with strong concerns about long-term durability. 231. Cam Brown, LB, Penn State (6-5, 233) 232. Lawrence Cager, WR, Georgia (6-5, 220) 233. Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State (6-4, 225) 234. Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah (5-9, 191) 235. David Woodward, LB, Utah State (6-2, 230) 236. Austin Mack, WR, Ohio State (6-2, 208) 237. Jonah Williams, EDGE, Weber State (6-5, 281) 238. Sean McKeon, TE, Michigan (6-5, 242) 239. Chauncey Rivers, EDGE, Mississippi State (6-2, 262) 240. Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska (6-1, 308) 241. Thakarius Keyes, CB, Tulane (6-1, 202) 242. Cohl Cabral, OC, Arizona State (6-5, 300) 243. Salvon Ahmed, RB, Washington (5-11, 197) 244. Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska (6-2, 313) 245. Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan (5-10, 190) 246. Cheyenne O’Grady, TE, Arkansas (6-4, 253) 247. Casey Toohill, LB, Stanford (6-4, 250) Whether he put his hand on the ground or stood up, Toohill was at his best rushing the quarterback on film due to his quickness, length and motor. He didn’t give up many chunk plays in space, but choppy breakdown skills put a sizable dent in his tackling batting average. Overall, Toohill is a projection because he is a better upfield player right now, but he should improve his hand work and functional strength to become more well-rounded, projecting as a late round developmental prospect. 248. Jalen Elliott, DS, Notre Dame (6-0, 205) 249. Dante Olson, LB, Montana (6-2, 237) 250. Khaleke Hudson, DS, Michigan (5-11, 224) 251. Calvin Throckmorton, OG, Oregon (6-5, 317) Throckmorton is very aggressive at run blocking and in pass protection, working hard to utilize angles and get his hands involved. However, his limitations with his feet and length leave him late when attempting to win on the edges or reach the three-technique on the interior. Overall, Throckmorton struggles to bend and won’t routinely overpower NFL defensive linemen, but his pro-level intelligence, toughness and versatility might be enough to earn a reserve spot in camp, projecting as a backup guard/center. 252. Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, CB, FIU (6-0, 192) 253. Kyle Hinton, OC, Washburn (6-2, 295) 254. Sewo Olonilua, RB, TCU (6-3, 232) 255. Tyler Bass, PK, Georgia Southern (5-11, 185) 256. Solomon Kindley, OG, Georgia (6-3, 337) 257. Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State (6-3, 230) 258. Trevon Hill, EDGE, Miami (Fla.) (6-3, 248) 259. Kendall Hinton, WR, Wake Forest (5-10, 193) 260. Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii (6-3, 215) 261. John Penisini, DT, Utah (6-1, 318) 262. Mitchell Wilcox, TE, South Florida (6-4, 247) 263. Trajan Bandy, CB, Miami (Fla.) (5-8, 180) 264. Javon Leake, RB, Maryland (5-8, 208) 265. Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU (6-3, 229) 266. Tyler Clark, DT, Georgia (6-3, 289) 267. Parnell Motley, CB, Oklahoma (6-0, 183) Motley is a locked-in competitor who loves to trash talk, playing with the closing speed and nose for the football that will translate to the next level. Although his aggressive play style also leads to negative plays, he was responsible for 12 turnovers (six interceptions, six forced fumbles) over the last three seasons. Overall, Motley’s high center of gravity leads to balance issues mid-transition and he must develop better discipline downfield, but his athleticism and confident mentality gives him a decent shot to make an NFL roster as a press-man corner. 268. Cale Garrett, LB, Missouri (6-2, 234) 269. Kindle Vildor, CB, Georgia Southern (5-10, 191) 270. Aaron Fuller, WR, Washington (5-11, 188) 271. Terence Steele, OT, Texas Tech (6-6, 312) 272. Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa (6-4, 235) 273. Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor (6-1, 332) Roy is a squatty, athletic nose with the active play style and nimble movements, leveraging gaps despite his lack of length. However, he is fundamentally raw and overly reliant on his initial quickness to stay detached and win the point of attack. Overall, Roy isn’t on the same level of an NFL prospect as Poona Ford was out of Texas, but he is being similarly overlooked because of his raw approach and lack of size, projecting as a late rounder or priority free agent with a chance to stick on a roster. 274. Nick Coe, EDGE, Auburn (6-5, 280) 275. Benny LeMay, RB, Charlotte (5-8, 221) 276. Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami (Fla.) (5-9, 170) 277. Oluwole Betiku Jr., EDGE, Illinois (6-3, 249) 278. Kam Curl, DS, Arkansas (6-1, 206) 279. Kyle Murphy, OG, Rhode Island (6-3, 316) 280. Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State (6-1, 212) 281. Brian Herrien, RB, Georgia (5-11, 209) 282. Darrion Daniels, DT, Nebraska (6-3, 311) 283. Brian Cole, DS, Mississippi State (6-2, 213) 284. Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU (6-5, 248) 285. JaMycal Hasty, RB, Baylor (5-8, 205) Hasty is able to drop his hips and explode laterally, shaking defenders as a ball carrier or route runner to create separation. While he runs low, tough and competitive, he struggles to break tackles and will never be a high-volume ball carrier. Overall, Hasty is a limited back due to his unimpressive run power and contact balance, but his open-field athleticism, receiving skills and value on special teams coverages could be enough to earn an NFL roster spot as a third-down back. 286. Justin Herron, OG, Wake Forest (6-4, 308) 287. Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, Portland State (6-2, 240) 288. Cordel Iwuagwu, OG, TCU (6-3, 309) 289. Kendrick Rogers, WR, Texas A&M (6-4, 208) 290. Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida (6-2, 209) 291. Amari Henderson, CB, Wake Forest (6-0, 170) 292. Josiah Coatney, DT, Ole Miss (6-3, 308) 293. Josh Pearson, WR, Jacksonville State (6-3, 205) 294. Qaadir Shepaprd, EDGE, Ole Miss (6-3, 261) 295. Tipa Galeai, EDGE, Utah State (6-5, 235) 296. Jake Hanson, OC, Oregon (6-4, 303) 297. J.J. Taylor, RB, Arizona (5-5, 185) 298. Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane (5-10, 176) 299. LeVante Bellamy, RB, Western Michigan (5-9, 192) 300. Bryce Huff, EDGE, Memphis (6-2, 254) Playing a conversion role as an edge rusher, Huff is built low to the ground and rushes with outstanding pad level and contact balance to pester blockers. However, his rush is predictable and overly reliant on his effort, lacking ideal length for the edge. As a run defender, he can be overwhelmed at the point of attack and pushed around, although he doesn’t miss tackles when in position. Overall, Huff is an inconsistent edge setter with tweener traits, but he rushes like an energetic ball of butcher knives, projecting as an NFL nickel rusher due to his first step quickness and relentless nature.
[Reiss] Texans mock draft: Trading down and addressing a sudden need at safety Spoiler While explaining why the Texans’ secondary excites him, Bill O’Brien mentioned practically every member of the unit, with one glaring omission: Tashaun Gipson. Was O’Brien leaving a hint in between the lines of a 228-word answer to a question about his defensive backs? Or did the coach just forget about the 30-year-old safety who started 14 games during his first Texans season? Without getting inside O’Brien’s head, it’s impossible to know. On one hand, cutting Gipson just a season into his three-year, $22.5 million contract would leave Houston with a dead cap charge of about $4 million. On the other, despite Houston signing safeties Eric Murray and Jaylen Watkins during free agency, safety was one of just two positions O’Brien mentioned as needs during his pre-draft press conference. “Safety is another position I think we can add to,” he said. “We’ve added Eric Murray. We’ve added Jaylen Watkins. But we can continue to add depth there.” Regardless of whether O’Brien is looking to pair Justin Reid with a new starting partner or simply deepen his bench, safety has risen up the rankings of positions I believe the Texans will address during this week’s NFL Draft. Combine that change with the Texans altering their allotment of picks once again because of the Brandin Cooks trade, and it only seemed right to do one more mock draft. So with help from “The Beast,” an in-depth draft guide by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, here’s my final attempt at projecting the 2020 Texans draft class. It features a trade down, which I’m in favor of the Texans executing if possible, given the hefty package of picks they gave up to acquire Laremy Tunsil from Miami. Using Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator, I dealt the 40th and 240th picks to Jacksonville for picks No. 42 and 137, along with a 2021 sixth-rounder. Got it? Good. To the mock! Round 2, Pick 42: S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois O’Brien addresses his safety need early by drafting Chinn, who fits the versatile label that the coach applied to every safety he mentioned while discussing his secondary. Chinn came to Southern Illinois as a corner but quickly moved to safety and excelled in both run and pass defense — though the level of competition he faced could be a concern. Reid’s work as a deep safety last season allowed the Texans to rank third in defensive efficiency against deep passes, according to Football Outsiders. But they ranked last in efficiency while defending passes over the middle. Drafting Chinn could be a step toward fixing that issue. Brugler’s positional ranking: 2nd Brugler’s scouting report: Played various roles on tape, finding success vs. slot receivers due to his size, speed and ball skills. While he matches up well vs. tight ends and defined underneath patterns, speedy route technicians will eat him up in space. Overall, Chinn is caught guessing too often and must develop his football instincts to see immediate reps in the NFL, but his range, length and closing burst give him the versatility to fill various roles, projecting as a matchup starter and special teamer. Round 3, Pick 90: WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina Do the Texans need a receiver? After trading for Cooks, not necessarily. Not for this season, at least. But they’d be wise to draft one anyway. This is one of the deepest receiver classes ever, and two of Houston’s top wideouts, Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, are entering the final year of their respective contracts. Drafting a receiver would build cost-controlled depth for future years. It could also enable O’Brien to move on from Stills, if he decides $7 million in cap savings (and draft capital from a possible trade) are more valuable than the insurance Stills provides as a backup to Fuller and Cooks, who both have lengthy injury histories. With all of that in mind, if the Texans opt to go this route, why does Edwards make sense? Houston has plenty of speed in its receiving corps, but following the DeAndre Hopkins trade, the Texans are missing a big-bodied receiver who can make contested catches in the short and intermediate parts of the field. Edwards, who caught 71 passes for 816 yards and six touchdowns during his final season at South Carolina, can be that guy. Brugler’s positional ranking: 13th Brugler’s scouting report: A physically impressive size/speed athlete, Edwards will deliver more blows than he takes and uses his big body to his advantage, making him effective on slants, screens and crossers. While graceful as an athlete, he isn’t sudden in his patterns, and coverage will be able to match his speed downfield. Overall, Edwards needs to hone his technique and reliability finishing catches, but his athletic skill and physicality as a pass catcher make him a potential NFL weapon, especially over the middle of the field. Round 4, Pick 111: DL Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina Other than safety, what did O’Brien mention as a need heading into the draft? Defensive line, of course. Houston tied for 26th in sacks and 18th in QB hits last season while generating little pressure from the inside. And that was with D.J. Reader, who has since signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Bengals. Strowbridge, who was third-team All-ACC as a senior while playing all over the line, doesn’t solve Houston’s issues upfront, but he helps. Brugler’s positional ranking: 12th Brugler’s scouting report: A power-packed rusher, Strowbridge attacks with heavy hands and nimble feet to quickly reach his points, work off contact and be disruptive. In the run game, he torques his body to stay rooted in his spot, although he struggles to counter once locked up. Overall, Strowbridge is an ascending player who should become more effective off the edge once his pass rush nuance catches up with his physical ability, projecting as a base end who will reduce inside on passing downs. Round 4, Pick 137: CB Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh Cornerback, where the Texans are returning much of the same group that contributed to the team ranking 26th in pass defense efficiency, strikes me as a bigger need than safety. But based on O’Brien’s pre-draft comments, the Texans don’t view their roster that way and could be willing to wait until the middle rounds to add a corner. Jackson, who broke up 43 passes during college, excels in press man coverage, which O’Brien has mentioned as a must for any corner he drafts. Perhaps Jackson’s biggest flaw as a prospect, figuring out how to harness his physicality, reminds me of the knocks on now-Texans corner Lonnie Johnson coming out of Kentucky, so I could see O’Brien believing his coaches can fix that issue. Brugler’s positional ranking: 19th Brugler’s scouting report: Jackson is a composed athlete and quick to trigger once he sinks, playing with the fearless mentality to jump routes and attack catch points. However, he defaults to grabbing jerseys, and his not-so-subtle physicality while the ball is in the air is a problem. Overall, Jackson is a super-competitive athlete always looking for work in coverage, but he will need to improve his discipline and play strength to secure an NFL roster spot, projecting as a potential reserve.
Spoiler Round 5, Pick 171: OG Keith Ismael, San Diego State Back in January, guards Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete both landed on The Athletic’s list of Texans who could be cap casualties this offseason. If the Texans don’t draft an offensive lineman until this late, I could see them keep Fulton as their right guard for at least one more of the two seasons remaining on his deal, which features $7 million cap hits in each and no dead money. But Kelemete could be expendable, as the Texans already have a starting left guard in second-year pro Max Scharping, a reserve in O’Brien favorite Greg Mancz and, with this pick, a developmental rookie. Cutting Kelemete would net the Texans about $2.8 million cap savings while they paid less than $800,000 in dead money. In Kelemete’s place, Ismael — whose experience at both center and guard could attract O’Brien — would serve as a rookie backup. If Ismael develops well, he could take Fulton’s starting spot late in the season or next year. Brugler’s positional ranking: 5th Brugler’s scouting report: With his eager play style, Ismael is quick to engage and get to work, relying on leverage and upper body power to clear running room. While efficient off the snap, his frame is likely maxed out and his play strength doesn’t always match his intentions, leaving smaller margin for error. Overall, Ismael too often finds himself on his toes or skates, but he has excellent initial quickness, intelligence and toughness, projecting as an immediate NFL backup who will push for starting reps at either center or guard. Round 7, Pick 248: EDGE D.J. Wonnum, South Carolina Did I mention how bad the Texans’ pass rush was a season ago? Drafting Strowbridge in the fourth round was nice, but Houston could use more help than that. This late in the draft, why not take a shot on an edge rusher with potential? Brugler’s positional ranking: 17th Brugler’s scouting report: A long-framed rusher, Wonnum plays well on his feet with the urgency to attack contact or give chase on plays away from him. While he loves to mix things up, his pass rush lacks sophistication and he must become a better finisher in space. Overall, Wonnum relies more on his motor than instincts as a pass rusher, but he has a projectable frame and uses his hands to free himself, projecting as a backup pass rusher with starting upside. Round 7, Pick 250: RB Michael Warren II, Cincinnati Despite the Texans already having Duke and David Johnson in their backfield, don’t be surprised if Houston drafts a running back. O’Brien clearly places a higher value on the position than most, and the team needs a contingency plan if, even with a change of scenery, David Johnson continues to average 3.7 yards per carry. Brugler’s positional ranking: 17th Brugler’s scouting report: Warren is a decisive, tough-minded inside runner, bouncing through congestion with his run balance. While gaining yards after contact is a key part of his game, the absence of explosive qualities could put a low ceiling on his pro potential. Overall, Warren isn’t a dynamic make-you-miss back and needs to get better as a blocker, but he runs with the compact power and quick feet to be a banger between the tackles, projecting as a potential backup option.
There are two players secretly related for former Broncos QB Craig Morton that will get drafted by someone. Both will be superstars. I dreamed it last night. And some guy who goes by "Jay" will have a miserable career.
McGinn’s NFL Draft Series: Scouts on top defensive backs Spoiler Florida’s C.J. Henderson and LSU’s Grant Delpit are regarded by personnel men as the second-best players in the draft at their positions, a pair of third-year juniors who shared berths on the first team All-Southeastern Conference squad last season. They share something else, too, and it’s not the least bit pleasing to those decision-makers who will decide their landing spots beginning Thursday night. Put simply, Henderson was a poor tackler from his cornerback position and Delpit was an even worse one as a safety. For all the emphasis on speed and scoring and space, the core of defensive football remains toughness, intimidation and getting people down. When players, especially highly-rated ones such as Henderson and Delpit, fail in college to live up to the physical standards of a future NFL player, the NFL scouting fraternity reacts with equal parts disgust and dismay. “Henderson can cover,” said one executive in personnel. “He also signed a non-aggression pact with the enemy. He doesn’t even make a minimum effort to tackle. I don’t know how a guy can sit in there on Sunday afternoon and watch film with his teammates. He’s got more talent in his little finger than most of us do in our whole body. Against the run, he gets out of the way. The guy doesn’t force anything.” The size and workout numbers of Henderson and cornerback Justin Gilbert, the eighth player picked in 2014, were remarkably similar. Henderson (6-0 ½, 204, 4.37) had a 37 ½-vertical jump, a 10-7 broad jump and 20 reps on the bench press. Gilbert (6-0, 200, 4.36) had a vert of 35 ½, a broad jump of 10-6 and 20 reps on the bench. Gilbert, from Oklahoma State, lasted two seasons with Cleveland and another with Pittsburgh. His three career stars mark him as an all-time bust. Like Henderson, he was soft against the run. “He’s probably the most talented guy in the (cornerback) group but he doesn’t play hard,” said another scout. “He could be the kid from Oklahoma State that went to Cleveland if he messes around … He misses a lot of tackles. He’s everything you want. He just doesn’t compete. He doesn’t tackle. Everybody you talk to at Florida says he’s a great kid — he’s this, he’s that, loves football. Put the film on and you just don’t see it.” Can a soft collegian be shamed into becoming a more rugged player in the pros? “If you get the right type of locker room,” one scout replied. “The film doesn’t lie. In the NFL, guys call out guys more than they do in college. Right now, he’s the big dog in college. I don’t care how good he is, when he comes up here he’s not going to be the best player in the room, so guys will call him out. Even offensive players will call defensive players out. He’s shown enough on film that he’s not a coward. I just don’t think they necessarily made him do it.” With resignation heavy in his voice, an AFC scout said, “I’m a C.J. Henderson guy, as ugly as it gets.” An executive in personnel for another AFC team said Henderson “wasn’t a coward” before adding, “The first game he turned it (contact) down. They (Florida coaches) had a little conversation with him and he improved drastically.” Said a third AFC scout: “…He’s not going to take the ball away, but he’s a good cover guy. ****, he’s 6-1 and ran 4.3 something.” At the combine, Henderson pointed out that an ankle injury affected him. “Coming off of it Week 3 I was dealing with it the rest of the season,” he said. “But I still went out and played and competed. I have a passion for the game, and I’m a good tackler as well. That’s not being said a lot.” Henderson injured his left ankle in Game 2, sat out the next three games, played seven more and then elected to sit out the Orange Bowl. “He turns things down,” said an NFL scout under the age of 35. “I think he was playing not to get hurt this year, honestly. Guys do that more than you think. Nowadays, kids are soft.” Like Henderson, Delpit was a a four-star recruit, and he moved into the lineup as a freshman at a safety position left vacant by the departure of Jamal Adams. The Jets used the sixth pick of the 2017 draft on Adams (5-11 ½, 213, 4.45), and he’s already made the Pro Bowl twice as a wicked force in and around the line of scrimmage. “But Delpit is a totally different player than Jamal Adams,” one executive said. “Adams was an excellent box guy but couldn’t cover. He was physical. This guy can cover but he has a tackling problem.” Last season, Delpit won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. An AFC personnel man remains mystified that he did. “Jim Thorpe rolled over in his grave in Pennsylvania when Delpit won that award,” the scout said. “Forty-four missed tackles in three years. The name of the position comes because you’re the safety net. You’re the one that has to save the touchdown … and they pump him up in Baton Rouge. They sing his praise. He’s kind of like a movie star, he’s got such a presence. He’s in for a rude awakening.” How could a player with his size (6-2 ½, 213) and reputation manage to miss that many tackles? “He’s not an athlete so he can’t break down,” an executive said. “That’s why he misses. It’s not because he’s so aggressive. I’m sure his coaches get on him. He just can’t do it. I know he’s got the hype, I know he’s at LSU. It’s a confusing one for me. I haven’t seen a guy miss so many tackles as this guy.” Two personnel people pointed out that Delpit did tackle better in 2018 than in 2019. “I think too many people were in his ear,” said an AFC personnel man. “He missed tackles a bunch. He’ll be a good player because he’s smart, tough. But I wouldn’t take him in the first (round) and he’s not going in the first, either.” After calling Delpit “the most overrated guy in the draft,” an executive paused to reconsider and then said, “Yeah, OK. I don’t think he’ll be a bust. I just don’t think he’s special.” Delpit hurt an ankle in Game 8 but kept playing until the decision was made to keep him out of Game 11. He returned the next week, started through the national championship run and then opted not to go at the combine. “I played the whole season or pretty much half the season with a high-ankle sprain,” Delpit said in Indianapolis. “The ankle had a lot to do with it (poor tackling). I got it fixed toward the end of the season. It’s all about the approach and not trying to do too much. Just get them on the ground. It’s part of football, and I know I can do it. I’ve been doing it my whole life.” Undoubtedly, Delpit has been asked by dozens of NFL personnel to explain why his tackling was abominable. The injury card usually doesn’t carry much in the pro game. “Nobody gives a ****,” said one scout. “If you take your ass out there you’ve got to play. That’s just what it is.” My poll of 17 personnel people asked them to rank the top six cornerbacks and the top five safeties. A first-place vote was worth either 6 points (for corners) or 5 points (for safeties), and so on. Jeff Okudah led the way at cornerback with 99 points and 14 first-place votes. He was followed by Henderson (81, two), Trevon Diggs (34), Jaylon Johnson (30), Kristian Fulton (29), Jeff Gladney (23), A.J. Terrell (22), Noah Igbinoghene (13 ½), Damon Arnette (12 ½), Reggie Robinson (six, one), Bryce Hall (five) and Javaris Davis (two). “There’s no Jalen Ramsey or Darrelle Revis in this group,” one executive said. “But there’s starting-caliber players. There’s six or seven.” Xavier McKinney was the leading vote-getter at safety with 64 points and nine firsts. He was followed by Delpit (51, three), Antoine Winfield (36), Kyle Dugger (27, two), Ashtyn Davis (22, one), Jeremy Chinn (21, one), Julian Blackmon (11), Brandon Jones (six), K’Von Wallace (six), Daniel Thomas (five, one), Jordan Fuller (two), J.R. Reed (two), Antoine Brooks (one) and Chris Miller (one). “It’s not good overall,” one personnel man said of the safety class. “McKinney could go, and then it could be a long time before another one goes.”
