2020 NFL Draft Thread

rfrocket · Apr 23, 2020

Simmons still there.

rfrocket · Apr 23, 2020

Not anymore!

J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

1. Bengals - QB Joe Burrow

Dane Brugler said:

BACKGROUND: Joseph “Joe” Burrow was born in Ames, Iowa where his father (Jim) was the head coach at Ames High School. His father then became an assistant coach at Nebraska (2001-02) followed by two seasons as defensive coordinator at North Dakota State (2003-04) before the family moved to Athens, Ohio in 2005 when Jim accepted the defensive coordinator position at Ohio University (2005-18). Burrow started playing quarterback in third grade at the pee-wee level and was a three-year starter at Athens High School in both basketball (his first love) and football, leading the football team to the playoffs three straight years. As a junior, he completed 71.2% of his passes (218-for-306) for 3,732 yards and 47 touchdowns, earning Gatorade layer of the Year honors. As a senior, Burrow was even better with 4,437 passing yards and a 63-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, leading Athens to the Division-III title game (which it lost to Toledo Central Catholic, 56-52) as the team set the state record for single-season points (861, 57.4 points per game). He was named the 2014 Mr. Football in Ohio and finished his career with 11,428 passing yards (fourth-most in Ohio history) and 156 passing scores (third-most). On the basketball court, he was also a first-team all-state point guard and was named the conference’s Player of the Year, averaging 19.3 points as a senior and leading the team to a 22-3 record.

A four-star quarterback recruit, Burrow was rated as the No. 11 recruit in the state of Ohio and also received attention from several mid-major basketball programs. His first football offer came from Ohio (where his father was the defensive coordinator) followed by Iowa State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and others. But Ohio State was where he wanted to play, and he committed to the Buckeyes the spring of his junior year (a few days after Urban Meyer extended the offer). He was slated to become J.T. Barrett’s backup in 2017 before a broken hand sidelined him, allowing Dwayne Haskins to pass him on the depth chart. With Haskins set to become the OSU starter in 2018, Burrow elected to transfer and narrowed his choice to Cincinnati and LSU, choosing the Tigers. He graduated in only three years at Ohio State (with his degree in consumer and family financial services), allowing him to be eligible immediately. Burrow graduated with a Master’s degree from LSU (December2019). His father (Jim) played defensive back at Nebraska and was an eighth-round draft pick in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Green Packers, playing five seasons in the CFL (1977-81). Both of Burrow’s half-brothers (Jamie, Dan) played at Nebraska. Burrow declined his invitation to the 2020 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Carves the defense with his downfield accuracy, delivering with natural touch and ball placement…highly intelligent and quick to identify man or zone…understands how to use his eye level to hold defenders and create passing windows…never rattled, showing the composure to reset on the fly…locates pressures pre-snap and adjusts his internal clock…rhythmic pocket movements to sort through the rush and maneuver tight spaces…creative scrambler, using his legs to evade and move the pocket…toughness to bounce off tackle attempts, but also understands how to preserve his body (hasn’t missed a start due to injury since fifth grade when he broke his arm)…intense competitive nature with fiery confidence and win-at-all-costs attitude (Burrow: “I think you need to flip a switch on the field if you want to be one of the greats”)…remarkable production as a two-year starter and team captain, especially as a senior, setting the LSU and SEC singleseason records for passing yards (5,671) and passing touchdowns (60)…forget a negative game, he didn’t even have an average game on tape in 2019.

WEAKNESSES: Has the arm strength to work either sideline, but he’s not a power thrower and his velocity is best described as good, not great…tends to put too much air under his deep ball, leading to underthrows…can be caught holding the ball too long at times and needs to throw it away…received checks from the sidelines in college…benefited from a new scheme in 2019, which helped boost his production immensely from 2018.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at LSU, Burrow steadily improved throughout his first season in Baton Rouge in 2018, but he thrived in passing game coordinator Joe Brady’s scheme in 2019 – a spread, RPO offense that features the team’s weapons and makes the quarterback the point guard. He set the FBS records for passing touchdowns (60) and total touchdowns (65) in a single season, finishing with the second-best completion percentage (76.3%, just behind Colt McCoy’s 76.7%). A “competitive maniac,” according to Urban Meyer, Burrow plays with the fiery intensity of Phillip Rivers and much of his success comes from channeling his competitive juices in a focused, motivational manner. He shows the ability to quickly identify the void or vulnerable match-up and he doesn’t miss once he finds it. He doesn’t have top shelf arm strength, which could be an issue in certain weather conditions, but he plays with terrific timing and ball placement to make-up for his lack of RPMs. Overall, Burrow is the ultimate competitor and he orchestrates the offense with poise, processing skills and accuracy, projecting as an immediate NFL starter with Pro Bowl skills worthy of the No. 1 overall pick.
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2. Redskins - DE Chase Young

BACKGROUND: Chase Young, who grew up primarily playing quarterback, was undersized (5-foot-6, 160 pounds) as a high school freshman at St. Vincent Pallotti before hitting a growth spurt prior to his sophomore year. Along with his growth spurt came a spike in his on-field talent (at defensive line and tight end), prompting a transfer to athletic powerhouse DeMatha Catholic after his sophomore season. As a senior, Young led the football team to a 12-0 record and 2016 state
championship, finishing his senior season with 118 tackles, 37.0 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and five forced fumbles. He earned multiple All-American honors and was named The Washington Post’s Defensive Player of the Year.

A five-star defensive end recruit out of high school, Young was ranked the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 7 player nationally regardless of position, receiving scholarship offers from every major program in the country. He considered home state Maryland, but committed to Ohio State prior to his senior season. Young played basketball through his junior season at DeMatha where he was on the varsity squad along with Markelle Fultz, who played one season at Washington before he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Young’s father (Greg) is 6-foot-10 and played college basketball at Bowie State (1985-89) where he set the school record for career rebounds (still ranks top three). Young elected to forego his final season at Ohio State and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Grown man with a freaky combination of size, strength and athleticism…always gaining ground out of his stance due to his get-off, flexibility and power…initial quickness allows him to flip his hips and wrap the corner…always has a pass rush plan and keeps blockers off-balance…skillful with his heavy hands, using a variety of swipe and side-scissors as his go-to moves…also effective using club-rip, long-arm and bull-rush techniques to displace blockers…strong counters
and always has a “plan B,” patching together multiple moves in one sequence…strong stack-shed, gap-sound run defender…fluid in space to redirect without sacrificing speed in chase mode…explosive wrap tackler and doesn’t allow ball carriers out of his grasp…used to seeing extra attention and acquits himself well vs. double teams…blocked one field goal in college…intelligent player who senses draws and screens…coachable and picks up things quickly…voted a team captain in
2019…raised in a tight-knit family and his coaches laud him for his mature character and professional work ethic…led the FBS with 16.5 sacks in 2019, finishing his career second in school history with 30.5 sacks (behind 36 sacks by Mike Vrabel).
WEAKNESSES: Radar in the run game needs continued improvement…guilty of guessing wrong vs. zone read and needs to become a more disciplined run defender to consistently contain…snap anticipation has improved considerably, but needs continued work…competitive player and effort isn’t a question, but didn’t show the same motor with plays away from him…missed two games as a junior (November 2019) following a suspension for accepting a small loan.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Young rushed off the left and right edges in the Buckeyes’ four-man front, occasionally kicking inside on passing downs, and was accustomed to seeing extra blockers to his side of the field. A tireless student of the game, he stayed productive with a target on his back and attached himself to the hip of legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who helped cultivate his talent, taking him from good to great and great to elite. Young has
impressive athletic twitch, especially for his size/build, keeping his hips, hands and feet in sync to maintain his balance mid-rush. His ease of movement expands his bag of tricks and he is quick to read blockers, adjusting his attack mid-play instead of predetermining his moves. Overall, Young not only has the physical ingredients (size, speed, strength), but his technical know-how and diagnose skills as a pass rusher are advanced for his age, projecting to the NFL as a freakier version of
Bradley Chubb and the best overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

3. Lions - CB Jeff Okudah

BACKGROUND: Jeffrey “Jeff” Okudah (oh-KOO-duh) is the son of Nigerian immigrants, who arrived in the United States in the 1990s. Originally from New Jersey, he and his family moved to Texas when he was young, settling in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Okudah was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball at South Grand Prairie and started receiving scholarship offers as a sophomore. As a senior, he finished with 43 tackles and five passes defended, earning second team all-state
honors. Okudah was also responsible for 795 total yards on offense and had a 103-yard kickoff return for a score.

A five-star cornerback recruit in high school, Okudah was the No. 1 cornerback recruit in the 2017 class and the No. 8 recruit overall, collecting offers from every major program in the country. He ultimately whittled his list down to three finalists and committed to Ohio State over Florida State and Oklahoma, graduating high school early. Only one week after he arrived in Columbus, his mother (Marie) died (January 2017) after a 15-year battle with lymphoma. Okudah elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Elite foot quickness and agility to mirror all types of receivers…physical in press and reroutes at the line…quick to recover if caught out of position and uses his length to latch onto receivers…excellent plant-and-drive mechanics from off coverage…quickly locates and makes plays on the ball without going through the receiver…willing run defender and usually gets his man on the ground…more physical than he looks and doesn’t play timid…very observant both on and off the field (graduated high school with a 3.73 GPA) and “absorbs” everything, according to the OSU coaches…committed only one penalty in 2019 (personal foul for a late hit vs. Michigan)…mature for his age and credits former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for opening him up as a leader (Hafley: “He takes his job very, very serious…a lot of guys on our team look up to him and the way he approaches day in and day out”)…one of the team’s top gunners in 2018, making special teams plays on kick and punt coverages…productive starter, finishing second in the Big Ten in passes defended in 2019.

WEAKNESSES: Slender frame with only average play strength, struggling to shed receiver blocks…embraces contact, but will slide off tackle attempts…can be turned around at the line and needs to add patience to his initial movements…freelancing tendencies, relying on his athletic talent…inconsistent deep ball defender…handsy in coverage, although he was rarely called for it in college…only one season as the full-time starter…played his senior year of high school and freshman season at OSU with a torn labrum, requiring offseason surgery (January 2018), sidelining him for spring drills.

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ohio State, Okudah lined up at left cornerback in Hafley’s press-heavy scheme, seeing extensive reps on an island in Cover 1. The Buckeyes have been a cornerback factory when it comes to producing NFL-level players, but none of them were unanimous All-Americans like Okudah, who led the team in passes defended and interceptions in 2019. Okudah owns the athletic twitch to attach himself to receivers and make plays on the football, showing a keen understanding of zone, man and different schemes. He learned from three position coaches in his three seasons in Columbus and his technique quickly caught up with his traits. Overall, Okudah owns the necessary physical and mental makeup to be a No. 1 cornerback early in his NFL career, projecting as one of the best defensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
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4. Giants - OT Andrew Thomas

BACKGROUND: Andrew “Drew” Thomas started playing youth football in the rec leagues in DeKalb County before earning the opportunity to attend Pace Academy, a private high school in Atlanta. He played baseball, basketball and was also a member of the school’s concert band (plays the drums and piano), but football became his main focus, starting every game of his high school career at left tackle. As a senior, Thomas was part of an offensive line that had five Division-I commits (two to Georgia and three to FCS-level Furman), leading Pace to a 14-2 record and the 2015 Class AAA State Championship. He was named a U.S. Army All-American and alsoplayed defense, posting 59 tackles as a nose tackle.

A four-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Thomas ranked as the No. 9 offensive tackle recruit in the country and the No. 5 player in the state of Georgia (top offensive lineman). The offers piled up for Thomas and he narrowed it to three finalists, committing to in-state Georgia over Clemson and Notre Dame. His connection with former offensive line coach Sam Pittman (now the head coach at Arkansas) was a major factor. His paternal uncle (Darrel) played college basketball at Samford. His maternal uncle (Emmanuel Jackson) played college basketball at Stephen F. Austin. Thomas elected to forego his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, skipping his bowl game.

STRENGTHS: Well-built blocker with proportional frame and adequate length…latches and runs his feet in the run game…rolls his hips and maintains his balance through contact…smoothly climbs to the second level and forklifts linebackers…efficient on combination blocks…stout anchor in pass protection…forceful punch with shock absorbers for arms/hands…solid footwork to mirror laterally and shut down the corner…sees things quickly to stay between ball and defender…one of the team’s “best leaders,” according to the coaches (Georgia head coach Kirby Smart: “When Andrew speaks people listen”)…battle-tested with 41 starts in the SEC, including playing time at both left and right tackle.

WEAKNESSES: Balance concerns as run and pass blocker…allows his top half to overextend past his feet, spending too much time on the ground…bad habit of winding up with his punch and needs to keep his hands tight…inconsistent knee bend and his feet get heavy in his redirect…oversets and his feet get too wide in his initial kickslide…durability isn’t a red flag, but he missed one game over his career due to a left ankle sprain (September 2018).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Georgia, Thomas was the starting left tackle in former offensive coordinator James Coley’s pro style spread. He put his name on the map starting every game as a true freshman and graded as one of the most effective blockers in the SEC the last three seasons. Thomas has dominant qualities in the run game, steering and controlling blockers once he gets his hands on them. With his tendency to wind up, lean and abandon his lower body fundamentals, he needs to shore up his pass pro technique, but he gets the job done on tape due to his anchor, toughness and girth. Overall, Thomas’ balance issues are the main concern with his pro transition, abandoning his mechanics and getting himself out over his skis, but he can maneuver his hips in pass protection and clear run lanes, projecting as a starting NFL tackle with fixable issues.
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Juxtaposed Jolt · Apr 23, 2020

Giants already Giants-ing the draft. 4th best OT, apparently.

rfrocket · Apr 23, 2020

Jags got a good player.
I no likey!

zeeshan2 · Apr 23, 2020

He’s the most pro ready tackle and the safest

Juxtaposed Jolt said: ↑

Giants already Giants-ing the draft. 4th best OT, apparently.
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Juxtaposed Jolt · Apr 23, 2020

Jags pick up a CB. Probably should have picked an OT to keep Minshew upright tbh.

J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

5. Dolphins - QB Tua Tagovailoa

BACKGROUND: Tuanigamanuolepola “Tua” (TOO-uh) Tagovailoa (tongue-uh-vai-LO-uh), who is the oldest of four children, grew up in Ewa Beach (located on the island of O’ahu) and a household steeped in American Samoan culture and Christianity. He was groomed to play the quarterback position at a very young age by his father (Galu), who was born in American Samoa before moving to Hawai’i at the age of three. Tagovailoa attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu, the same program that produced Marcus Mariota, who was a childhood mentor for Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa became the starting quarterback as a sophomore, beating out a returning senior starter, and was named Hawai’i’s Offensive Player of the Year as a junior with 63% completions, 2,932 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns in 2015. His best season came as a senior when he led St. Louis to the 2016 District 1 state championship. Tagovailoa recorded 3,932 passing yards and 43 touchdowns as a senior and was named the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year in Hawai’i. He passed Timmy Chang to become the most prolific prep quarterback in Hawai’i history, finishing his high school career with 8,158 passing yards, 1,727 rushing yards, 111 total touchdowns (84 passing, 27 rushing) and a 24-5 record as a starter.

A five-star quarterback out of high school, Tagovailoa was the consensus top player in the state of Hawai’i and the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class. He narrowed his college choice to Alabama, Hawai’i, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC, but he said Tuscaloosa felt like home, also citing the Christian atmosphere as a deciding factor. His commitment to the Crimson Tide came two months after Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm flipped from Alabama to Georgia. As an admirer of Mariota, Tagovailoa originally hoped to follow in his footsteps and attend Oregon, but Mark Helfrich didn’t extend an offer until a month after Tagovailoa announced his commitment to Alabama (May 2016). His father played defensive line at Santa Rosa Junior College (1989-91). His cousin (Peanut Tuitele) plays women’s basketball at Colorado and his other cousin (Myron) is a junior defensive lineman at Notre Dame. Tagovailoa elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Outstanding field vision, passing instincts and processing speed…uses eye manipulation like a pro…twitchy passer, allowing him to reset under pressure and get the ball out…above-average accuracy with terrific touch and trajectory downfield…excellent pocket awareness and shows the spatial instincts to feel everything going on around him…recognizes pressures, climbing and sliding while keeping his eye level downfield…nimble athlete and slippery ball-handler, improvising well on the fly…explosive with zone-read concepts due to his quick reads and smart decision-making…in complete control pre-snap, IDing pressures and orchestrating protections…toughness isn’t a question and he isn’t afraid to hold the ball and take hits…rarely appears rattled, relying on his strong Christian faith to keep his emotions balanced during games…mature beyond his years with “face of the program” accountability and resiliency (head coach Nick Saban: “He’s the type of guy who isn’t really ever satisfied”)…remarkable production, setting the Alabama passing records for touchdowns in a single-season (43) and career (87).

WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t have a power arm and his ball gets heavy when attempting to throw off-balance…developed in this area over his career, but needs to continue and improve being “on time” with his movements and decisions…needs to cut down on the “hero” plays and show better judgement to limit mistakes…solidly built, but shorter-than-ideal…takes too many unnecessary hits on his body…reliability is a bright red flag due to his injury history in college, including three surgeries in an 11-month span: underwent tightrope surgery on his left ankle (December 2018), underwent tightrope surgery on his right ankle (October 2019) and required immediate surgery after dislocating his hip (November 2019), which is the injury that ended his college career and sidelined him for most of the NFL Draft process; also underwent surgery on a broken index finger (March 2018) and required a brace after spraining his knee (October 2018).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, Tagovailoa was the quarterback in offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s offense (third different play-caller in three seasons for the Crimson Tide) and should be the program’s first quarterback drafted in the first round since 1976 (Richard Todd, No. 6 overall). Averaging 2.9 touchdowns per game, he set numerous records in college, but his most impressive stats came on money downs (2019: 40-for-55, 72.7%, 620 yards, 9 touchdowns on third and fourth down). Tagovailoa owns phenomenal character (Saban: “Tua has probably had as much of an impact on our program as any player we have ever had”) and is an advanced passer for his age, showing the ability to hold post safeties and manipulate coverages. He is twitchy in his delivery and plays confident outside of structure, but those extended plays are also what leads to hits on his body and durability questions. While he benefited from an elite supporting cast, he does a great job taking what the defense gives him and spreading the wealth. Overall, Tagovailoa has obvious reliability concerns and the medical feedback must come back clean, but his passing instincts to read, process and fire are outstanding, projecting as an NFL starter who might require a partial redshirt as his hip returns to full health.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

6. Chargers - QB Justin Herbert

BACKGROUND: Justin Herbert, the second of three boys, grew up in Eugene, Ore. just 10 minutes from Autzen Stadium where his family had season tickets. He attended Sheldon High School where he starred in baseball, basketball and football. In baseball, Herbert batted .400 as a first baseman and threw 1.98 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 42.1 innings as a junior, earning second-team all-state honors and helping the team to the 2015 Class 6A state championship. In basketball, he was a three-year starter and helped advance the team to the 2014 6A state title game. Herbert became the starting quarterback at Sheldon as a junior, but suffered a season-ending injury in the first month of the season. Herbert returned as a senior and was named the conference’s Player of the Year with 3,130 passing yards, 543 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns, leading the team to 10 wins and a playoff semifinal appearance.

A three-star quarterback recruit out of high school, Herbert, who was considered the No. 5 recruit in the state of Oregon in the 2016 recruiting class, missed most of his junior year (his first as a starter) due to a broken leg in the third game, which halted his recruitment with only an offer from FCS-level Montana State. However, that changed once he returned to the field in 2015, first receiving an offer from Nevada (his first FBS-offer) a few weeks into his senior season and hometown Oregon soon followed. Those ended up being his only two FBS-level offers, but it likely wouldn’t have mattered because of his family ties to the Ducks. His grandfather (Rich Schwab) was a wide receiver at Oregon (1960-63) and longtime supporter of the program. Herbert’s older brother (Mitchell) played wide receiver at Montana State and his younger brother (Patrick) redshirted in 2019 at tight end in his first season at Oregon. He graduated with his degree in science (December 2019) and plans to attend medical school one day. He accepted his invitation to the 2020 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Explosive thrower…owns a quick, compact delivery and drives the football with unforced effort…light-footed athlete with loose body movements, which shows in the pocket and as a scrambler…controlled, yet urgent mobility to buy time as a passer or pick up chunk yards with his long strides…easily transfers his body weight and adjusts arm angles on the move without sacrificing accuracy…stands tall in the pocket to climb and fire, not rushing at the first hint of pressure…leads his
receivers with ropes, occasionally showing anticipation skills…built for the NFL with his height and moldable frame…doesn’t allow moments to get too big for him late in games, maintaining his steady demeanor…high character teammate and person with striking intelligence, winning the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman) with a 4.01 collegiate GPA…four-year starter with impressive career production, finishing with 10,541 passing yards and 108 total touchdowns.

WEAKNESSES: Very intelligent, but needs to process things more quickly…inconsistent feel vs. pressure and holds the ball too long…needs to better burn the blitz instead of the other way around…gets a deer-in-the-headlights look when the play breaks down…doesn’t see the entire field and late to locate coverage…routinely leads defenders to his throwing lanes, staring down targets…messy footwork with the bad habit of falling off throws…more of a “see it” passer instead of consistently anticipating, which leads to late throws and mistakes…benefited from a college offense with a high volume of quick throws or pre-determined reads…started every game the last two seasons, but missed a month of the season as a sophomore due to a broken collarbone (September 2017)…doesn’t have an alpha personality with questions about his emotional readiness for the NFL.

SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Oregon, Herbert was groomed in offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo’s spread, shotgun scheme, finishing with a 29-13 career record and second behind Marcus Mariota in most school passing categories. Most 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterbacks have an awkwardness to their athleticism, but not Herbert, who frequently escapes trouble with the foot quickness of a much smaller player, making the threat of his athleticism a lethal part of his game. Each of his game tapes contained NFL-level throws with examples of “wow” plays, however, he has the tendency to leave you wanting more due to his inconsistent reads and decisions. While he is highly intelligent, that doesn’t always translate to on-field processing speed for him — at quarterback, being book smart is great, but you need quick-minded players and he isn’t always that (you would rather have a Jeopardy champion at quarterback than a 4.0 student). Overall, Herbert is a dynamic dualthreat passer with an elite combination of size, athleticism and arm talent, but he must sharpen his decision-making and instincts, especially under duress, to live up to his immense potential as an NFL starter. He projects best in a heavy play-action offense that utilizes his athleticism.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

7. Panthers - DT Derrick Brown

BACKGROUND: Derrick Brown was born in Starkville, Miss., where his parents graduated from Mississippi State. He moved to the Atlanta area at 3 and started playing football at 9, although basketball was his first love growing up. In high school, Brown, who lettered in basketball and football at Lanier, blossomed into a star on the defensive line, recording 101 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks as a junior in 2014. He earned numerous All-American and player of the year honors as a senior with 106 tackles, 42 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, also lining up as a wildcat quarterback and pass-catching tight end.

A five-star defensive tackle recruit, Brown ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Georgia and the No. 9 player nationally. He was one of four interior defensive line recruits ranked in the top 10 behind Rashan Gary, Dexter Lawrence and Ed Oliver. Brown narrowed his college choice to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee, committing to the Tigers. His father, James, was in the Army and currently works as a court officer for the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department. Hismother, Martha, played basketball at Holmes Community College (Miss.). His younger brother, Kameron, is a freshman linebacker at Auburn. Brown has a 1-year old son, Kai, with his girlfriend, Tayla Main, who he has been dating since high school. He graduated with his degree in business marketing (December 2019). Brown received an invitation to the Senior Bowl but declined.

STRENGTHS: Initial quickness to create immediate knock-back off the snap, resetting the line of scrimmage…upper body power to be a people mover, forklifting blockers or bullying bodies in his path…impressive range, body control and flexibility for his size to create pursuit plays…long arms to stand up blocks and control the point of attack…welcomes double-teams and torques his body to hold his ground…quick to locate the football and shut down run lanes…smart, opportunistic player, recognizing screens or making plays on the ball…self-starter who affects the game with his effort…his parents instilled structure in his life at a young age and he is described as a locker room leader by his Auburn teammates…durable and didn’t miss a game over his four-year career at Auburn.

WEAKNESSES: Not an efficient pass rusher…relies too heavily on his bull rush and must develop his secondary moves when piecing together a rush plan…gets himself in trouble when his pads rise and hands wander…room to improve his snap anticipation…bruised his sternum (September 2019) and required extra padding under his jersey, but didn’t miss a game.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Auburn, Brown lined up primarily as the nose tackle in defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s four-man front, but his versatility made him interchangeable at three-technique or edge rusher (Steele: “Derrick does things that only the best of the best of the best can do.”). Although his college production doesn’t match his talent level, his impact was far greater than the numbers, facing frequent double-teams on tape. Brown is the rare example of a 300-plus-pound lineman who is explosive in his upper and lower bodies, firing off the ball and dictating the point of attack. A naturally powerful human, he is comfortable as a two-gapper, standing up blocks, locking out and finding the football. Overall, Brown displays the explosive strength to be a scheme-diverse NFL run defender with the athletic traits and motor to continue and grow as a pass rusher, projecting as a Pro Bowl level player anywhere from the zero to five-technique positions.
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zeeshan2 · Apr 23, 2020

Cards killed the offseason; got rid of David Johnson’s contact, got nuk for a 2nd and got Simmons

rfrocket · Apr 23, 2020

Juxtaposed Jolt said: ↑

Jags pick up a CB. Probably should have picked an OT to keep Minshew upright tbh.
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But they got a really good player.
Can't have too many good corners.

Let's hope we actually draft someone this weekend who CAN put Minshew on his back!

J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

8. Cardinals - "Defender" Isaiah Simmons

BACKGROUND: Isaiah Simmons was born and raised in Omaha, Neb. before moving to Kansas with his family in 2003. He was primarily a track athlete growing up before discovering football, playing running back and safety. Simmons was only 140 pounds as a high school freshman at Olathe North, growing into an enforcer at safety. As a senior, he posted 92 tackles and played wide receiver for the first time on varsity, finishing with 29 catches for 994 yards (34.3 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns. Simmons added two rushing scores and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and was named first-team all-state on both sides of the ball. Always the track athlete, he was the state champion in the long jump in 2014 and 2015 (career best 24’00”), posting a 22.02 in the 200 meters and participating in the relays.

A three-star safety recruit out of high school, Simmons was the No. 25 safety in the country and the No. 3 recruit in Kansas. He originally hoped to attend Arkansas, but they weren’t sure how to play him, so they didn’t offer. Simmons appeared to have his college choice narrowed down between Michigan and Nebraska until Clemson entered the picture a few weeks before signing day. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables made a strong push and convinced Simmons to sign with the Tigers. His father (Victor) started a training facility for track athletes. His older brother (Victor Jr.) played defensive back at Kansas (2011-14). Simmons also ran track at Clemson, finishing 13th in the long jump at the ACC Championships during the spring of 2017 (his redshirt year). He graduated with his degree in sports communications (December 2019). Simmons elected to skip his final season of eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Long, rangy athlete with a track background…gliding speed to cover large areas in a short amount of time…takes proper angles in run support from depth…flows well laterally with easy hip action to change directions…comfortable turning and running with receivers vertically…cover awareness to understand what is going on…shows burst as a blitzer with the shifty feet to avoid blocks…uses his length to corral ball carriers and has a strong batting average as a tackler…finds the football with a knack for disrupting the catch point…versatile performer, lining up at linebacker, cornerback and safety throughout his career…voted a team captain in 2019…didn’t miss a game the last two seasons, leading the team in tackles both years…unique production, finishing the 2019 season as the first FBS player since Khalil Mack (2013) to record at least 100 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and multiple interceptions in a season.

WEAKNESSES: Can be manipulated by the quarterback’s vision and needs to sort through route combinations quicker…room to improve his anticipation from zone coverage…average functional take-on strength on the edges, which doesn’t always match his intentions…tends to play tall and there is room for him to shore up his pad level…versatile style might leave him without a natural position in some schemes.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Clemson, Simmons played a hybrid Sam/nickel role in Venables’ 4-3 base scheme, playing a position that combined the responsibilities of safety, linebacker and cornerback. A track star turned safety turned linebacker, he was the centerpiece of the Tigers’ defense and gave college play callers fits because of his pre-snap deception, not tipping if he was going to spy, blitz or cover. Simmons accelerates with ease and closes with burst, showing tremendous reaction to movement and open-field ability. He must do a better job defeating blocks before they happen, but his blend of length and speed makes him efficient working the edge. Overall, Simmons is the ideal modern-day defender with his ability to blitz, cover and stop the run, projecting as a unique four-down defender with the multi-dimensional skills to be deployed in any situation.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

9. Jaguars - CB CJ Henderson

BACKGROUND: Christopher “CJ” Henderson Jr. started playing football at the age 4 and was a standout running back through pee wee, adding cornerback to his playing resume in middle school. At Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, he played primarily on offense as an underclassman, rushing for 636 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior running back. Thinking his best long-term position would be at cornerback, Henderson pushed to play both ways as a senior. He earned AllAmerican status at cornerback in 2016 while also starring at running back and receiver. Henderson was a track standout in high school, setting personal bests in the 100 meters (10.40), 200 meters (20.92) and 400 meters (48.48) during his senior year at Columbus.

A four-star athlete recruit out of high school, Henderson was the No. 24 recruit in Florida with some programs viewing him as a cornerback and others offering him as a running back (Auburn, West Virginia). He initially committed to his hometown Miami (Fla.) as a junior, but eight months later, he reopened his recruitment. Henderson’s college choice came down to Miami (Fla.) and Florida, finally settling with the Gators (his dream school) on signing day. His younger brother (Xzavier) is a four-star wide receiver in the 2020 recruiting class and also committed to Florida. Henderson elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, sitting out the bowl game.

STRENGTHS: Top-tier athlete with terrific height/length combination…above average long speed to position himself on the receiver’s hip and stay in phase with any type of receiver…stays square in his pedal with the footwork and balance mid-transition to pattern match…instinctive man-coverage player and recognizes route combinations, playing to his help…baits quarterbacks with the lower body muscles to spring into the drive phase…aggressively challenges routes…looks natural playing the football when he faces the action…quiet, egoless personality, but also highly competitive according to his coaches…puts his head down and works with a business-like approach to his craft…played confident and steady all three seasons in Gainesville, not allowing mistakes to pile up.

WEAKNESSES: Lean body type with marginal play strength…below average run defender, lowering his eyes and throwing a soft shoulder…struggles to escape wide receiver blocks on the perimeter…doesn’t appear comfortable with his back to the football and draws flags guessing…tries to rely on reading the eyes of receivers instead of turning and locating before the throw arrives…missed three games as a junior due to a left ankle sprain that required a boot (September 2019).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Florida, Henderson was the boundary corner in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s versatile 3-4 scheme, playing both man and zone coverages. He didn’t record an interception as a junior, but he was targeted only 4.2 times per game in 2019 as teams looked to throw away from him (Grantham: “He’s the best corner I’ve ever coached”). A finely tuned athlete, Henderson often does everything right for the first 90% of the play with coordinated movements to blanket routes, but his catch point skills are immature, leading to early contact and inconsistent plays on the ball. While he has a quick trigger to drive on plays in front of him, his break down and finishing skills are not currently strengths to his game. Overall, Henderson needs to become a better tackler and playmaker at the catch point, but his athletic traits, length and mindset are why he is one of the best press-man prospects in the 2020 draft class, projecting as a rookie starter.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

10. Browns - OT Jedrick Wills

BACKGROUND: Jedrick Wills Jr. was a basketball-first athlete growing up (coached by his father, Jedrick Wills Sr.) and played basketball through his sophomore year at Lafayette High School when he broke his foot. He started playing football at the age of seven, but it wasn’t until eighth grade when recruiting attention picked up that he started to take the sport more seriously. Wills was a four-year letterman at Lafayette and started his final three seasons, playing on both sides of the line. He saw snaps inside at guard and out at left tackle, but he was primarily a right tackle in high school, leading the program to back-to-back appearances in the Class 6A state championship game his junior and senior years. After earning honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore, he was second-team all-state as a junior and first-team all-state as a senior.

A four-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Wills grew up a few miles from the Kentucky campus and started hearing from the Wildcats’ coaches in middle school. He was the clear No. 1 recruit in the state and ranked as the No. 7 offensive tackle in the country, receiving offers from all the major programs. While he initially committed to Alabama as a junior, Wills continued to take visits and kept an open mind to staying home and enrolling at Kentucky. His decision came down to the final hours of signing day, ultimately choosing to stay committed to the Tide. Wills elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Mauling run blocker with the lock-on strength to uproot and generate movement…nasty competitor and highly aggressive, looking to assert his will from the first snap to the last snap…easily advances to the linebacker level and eliminates defenders…wide, flexible body type with excellent length…explosive through his hips and consistently blocks low-to-high…enough foot quickness to protect the corner…natural athleticism to recover after a false step…rarely bullied, firmly planting his feet in the ground to absorb contact…improved awareness to anticipate rush angles in pass protection…quick to replace his hands and reset on the move…his coaches call him a “student of the game” with the way he studies and prepares, showing an understanding of the “how and why” and cutting down on the mental errors (Michigan EDGE Josh Uche: “There’s no way you’re beating him on the same move twice.”)…started every game the last two seasons, playing 89.5% of Alabama’s offensive snaps.

WEAKNESSES: Susceptible to inside rush lanes, specifically with inside spin moves…pre-snap communication issues led to five false start penalties in 2019, including three at Auburn in the Iron Bowl…hands tend to wander, leading to wasted motion in his set-up and mistimed punches…pads will rise as the play progresses…saw practice reps at left tackle, but right tackle was his primary position in high school and the only position he played in-game at Alabama.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, Wills lined up as the right tackle in offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s scheme, allowing only one sack over his 39 games for the Tide. He protected Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside in college and while he has the talent to switch over to left tackle, all of his in-game snaps in high school and college came at right tackle, creating an unknown in his evaluation. A fired-up competitor, Wills looks like a man among boys as a run blocker, driving defenders off the ball and never passing on an opportunity to bury. He needs continued growth as a technician, but he has steadily developed in pass protection, gaining proper depth in his kickslide with fluid steps. Overall, Wills is a balanced, light-footed big man with the explosive power, aggressive mentality and budding confidence that should translate very well to the NFL level, projecting as a long-term NFL starter with All-Pro upside.
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J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

11. Jets - OT Mekhi Becton

BACKGROUND: Mekhi (ma-kai) Becton (BECK-tin) was raised in the Richmond, Va. area and his family moved to the Highland Springs district when he was young so he could eventually play basketball and football at Highland Springs high school. He was a three-year starter for the Springers (high school teammates with future ACC opponents WR Greg Dortch and FS K’Von Wallace) and helped lead the program to a 14-1 record and the 2015 5A state title (the first for the school since 1961) as a junior right tackle. Becton moved to left tackle as a senior where he helped Highland Springs go 14-1 once again and repeat as 5A state champions. He was also a center on the basketball team.

A three-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Becton ranked as the No. 43 offensive tackle in the 2017 class and the No. 16 recruit and the highest-ranked offensive lineman in the state of Virginia. His first offer was from FCS-level Delaware State followed soon after by a wave of FBS programs his junior season. Becton narrowed his final choice to Louisville, Michigan, Oregon, Virginia and Virginia Tech, surprising some when he chose to go out-of-state to Louisville. His friendship with former Louisville tackle Geron Christian (third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins) was a deciding factor for the Cardinals. Becton elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Massive frame with broad shoulders and vines for arms…light feet for a man that size…wide lateral strides to protect the corner…twitched-up muscles in his lower half with body flexibility to react to whatever the action requires (former coach Bobby Petrino: “One of the most impressive things…seeing him do a reverse dunk”)…upper body strength/length to reach-block with ease…people-mover in the run game and drives them off their spot…collapses the line on down blocks…uses his length to ragdoll defenders before they can counter…stays after his blocks and buries when he can…not boisterous, but developed a leadership voice as a junior (Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield: “He has been a leader for our offensive line and our offense as a whole”)…experienced at both left and right tackle.

WEAKNESSES: Tends to lean into contact, falling off blocks and losing his balance…aggressively commits to his spot, making him late to redirect his momentum vs. inside moves…solid fundamentals, but defaults back on his size too often…body angles lacks refinement…uses knee bend, but naturally tall and body leverage will never be a strength to his game…needs to develop his eyes and overall awareness vs. pressures…missed one game as a junior due to a right ankle sprain (November 2019).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Louisville, Becton was the starting left tackle in head coach Scott Satterfield’s stretch zone scheme, becoming the first player in school history to win the Jacobs Trophy, which goes to the top blocker in the ACC (as voted on by the coaches). He alternated at left and right tackle under the previous coaching staff, which used strongside/weakside tackles, and is well-versed at either position (also played both spots in high school). With his rare combination of size and athleticism, Becton stonewalls rushers in pass protection and generates a surge in the run game, using his length to escort defenders off the screen. He overwhelms with his natural strength, although he has some sloppy reps on tape and must continue to fine-tune his consistency. Overall, Becton has overaggressive tendencies that lead to balance concerns, but he is a gifted blocker with impressive movement skills and power, projecting as a high-upside prospect at either left or right tackle.
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rfrocket · Apr 23, 2020

Ruggs so cool he just chillin' in his bathrobe!

J.R. · Apr 23, 2020

12. Raiders - WR Henry Ruggs

BACKGROUND: Henry Ruggs III grew up in Montgomery and attended McKee Junior High and Robert E. Lee High School where he was a four-sport letterman (baseball, basketball, football and track). A basketball-first athlete most of his life (known for his athletic dunking), Ruggs saw football as more of a hobby as a freshman and didn’t play as a sophomore. Due to his size, football was the more likely long-term career path than basketball and he was convinced by his best friend (Roderic Scott, who was tragically killed in a car accident in March 2016) to commit to the gridiron. Ruggs caught 44 passes for 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He played in nine games as a senior quarterback and receiver and finished with 38 catches for 639 yards and 20 total touchdowns (nine receiving, seven rushing, three passing, one kick return). Ruggs earned all-state honors and was a U.S. Army All-American. He started running track as a senior to stay in shape for football and set the class 7A state record in the 100-meters (10.58).

A four-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, Ruggs was the No. 11 wide receiver in the 2017 class and the No. 75 recruit overall, ranking as the No. 2 recruit in the state of Alabama (behind only LaBryan Ray). Not playing football full-time until his junior season, his recruitment picked up steam quickly, receiving 30-plus offers. Ruggs whittled down his college choice to in-state Alabama and Florida State, committing to the Crimson Tide on signing day. His younger brother (Kevontae) played linebacker at Ole Miss before transferring to the juco level. Ruggs elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Elite speed with different gears than most athletes…naturally explosive with start/stop suddenness…terrific route athleticism with plant-and-go burst out of his cuts to create separation at the break point…leverages corners with the threat of speed, forcing them off-balance…destroys pursuit angles as a ball carrier…big-play threat whenever he touches the football (11 catches of 25-plus yards in 2019)…natural hands-catcher, adjusting well to throws away from his numbers (one drop in 2019)…adequate height/length for the position…regular as a gunner and special teams coverages (15 career tackles at Alabama)…averaged 21.0 yards per kick return (25/525/0)…charismatic and competitively driven with better toughness and football character than expected.

WEAKNESSES: Lean-muscled and doesn’t have ideal body armor on his frame…play strength is average-at-best and not going to power through many tackle attempts…below-average run blocker right now…hurries his routes at times with room to sharpen his coverage reads…needs to develop his release mechanics vs. physical defensive backs…lack of size leads to durability concerns – missed one game as a junior due to bruised ribs (November 2019) and was knocked out of the Citrus Bowl with a concussion (January 2020).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, Ruggs was the “Z” receiver in offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s offense, lining up inside and outside and shining on special teams (returner and coverages). Despite not reaching 100 catches in his career, he ranks No. 3 in Alabama history in touchdown catches (behind Jerry Jeudy and Amari Cooper), averaging one touchdown every 4.1 catches. Ruggs has the ability to accelerate and decelerate on command and cornerbacks must respect his speed, averaging 29.8 yards per touchdown over his career. He must continue to fine-tune his releases and routes, but he has the explosive stem cuts and sudden feet to shake free from coverage. Overall, Ruggs displays the twitchy speed and quick, confident hands to be a dangerous offensive weapon, also offering the highlevel competitiveness and special teams skills that will lead to early playing time.
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desihooper · Apr 23, 2020

rfrocket said: ↑

Ruggs so cool he just chillin' in his bathrobe!
Click to expand...

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