Problem is before all the allegations everyone though he was the quintessential high character guy. Even his college coaches. It completely came out of nowhere.
Deshaun fooled a lot of people. Most often it’s easy to ascertain character, the way they talk or come across as an example say a Justin Reid as I stated in the past as a positive example of ..but then there are a few exclusions where they fool even the best of our intuitions or perception. Unfortunately, Deshaun either changed when he was first drafted or he hid his ugly side well
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/04/nfl-draft-top-10-trade-fmia-peter-king/ 1) Jacksonville Jaguars — Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher, Michigan 2) Detroit Lions — Travon Walker, edge rusher, Georgia 3) Houston Texans — Evan Neal, OL, Alabama Second straight team that wouldn’t surprise me taking Thibodeaux because of the promise. But when I think of GM Nick Caserio, I think of long-term program-builder, and I think “Saban dude.” As a disciple of Bill Belichick, Caserio learned to trust Belichick’s best pal in coaching, Nick Saban, and Saban is all-in on this versatile long-term lineman. Neal can start at right tackle if need be and play four spots on the line, and is a near-lock to earn a second contract from the Texans. 4) New York Jets — Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati 5) New York Giants — Ikem Ekwonu, T, North Carolina State 6) Carolina Panthers — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh 7) Los Angeles Chargers (trade with New York Giants) — Charles Cross, T, Mississippi 8) Atlanta Falcons — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty 9) Seattle Seahawks — Derek Stingley, CB, LSU 10) New York Jets — Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher, Oregon
https://theathletic.com/3223899/202...-corral-travon-walker-devin-lloyd-and-others/ Spoiler 1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan Hutchinson is a terrific talent, and folks inside Michigan rave about his character and commitment. He will make the Jaguars better and should be a high-level pro for the next decade. Jacksonville might be tempted by the upside of Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker. It also wouldn’t be shocking if the Jaguars tried to snag an offensive tackle, especially Ickey Ekwonu, but they franchised Cam Robinson and also have second-year OT Walker Little, whom we hear the team is encouraged by, and 24-year-old Jawaan Taylor, a 2019 second-rounder. Hutchinson (14 sacks in 2021) could cause problems for rival quarterbacks. His change of direction for someone 6-foot-6, 260 pounds is remarkable. He clocked a 4.15 shuttle time, fifth-fastest of anyone at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, and a 6.73 3-cone, sixth-best in Indianapolis. The Coaching Intel “He loves football and wants to be a great leader. He can play the run. He can play a 9-technique, a 6-technique, a 4i. He can rush off the edge as a 5. He can drop in coverage. He’s flexible and has mental and physical toughness. He’s a rare dude. When you talk about position flexibility, there’s not much he can’t do.” “There’s no question: He’s pretty. He’s long and he can rush the passer. I am curious how he translates to the next level. I thought he was good, not elite. In our game, he seemed a little hesitant. I thought we blocked him pretty well. He and Chase Young are not in the same ballpark. Young is bigger, twitchier.” “On film, I wasn’t as impressed. But in person, he’s a wrecker. It’s the motor he plays with, in combination with his speed and strength. His use of hands is great. He affected the game on every play. His ability to generate speed to power from his hips to his hands on film doesn’t look great, but he is just violent. They moved him all over. I’ve got nothing but respect for that kid.” 2. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia There’s buzz that the Lions might nab a quarterback here. I’m skeptical there’s someone on whom they’d invest the No. 2 pick. They really could use a wideout, but again, there’s not one they’d spend this on. They go for a potentially dominant big-play edge rusher in Walker, who is considerably bigger physically than Kayvon Thibodeaux and has many convinced he has as much upside as any defensive player in this draft. Walker led Georgia in quarterback pressures in 2021 (36) and had six sacks. The Coaching Intel “I think he might end up as the best of all these Georgia players. He’s so long. He’s huge. He can run his ass off. He doesn’t have all the technique. He’s still very raw. I think there’s so much untapped potential there.” “He has so much juice. He’s violent, man. He’s long and slippery and had some wiggle to him. He could wreak some havoc.” “This is just a big, scary dude who can roll. He was a tight end’s worst nightmare.” 3. Houston Texans: Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu, OL, NC State I think Lovie Smith and the Texans would love to have Walker, but with him off the board, they move to strengthen their offensive line and bring in a 6-foot-4, 310-pounder who clocked a 4.93 40 with a 1.76-second 10-yard split. Ekwonu will provide a nasty defensive mentality to the offense. That should be a welcome addition for promising second-year quarterback Davis Mills. A former unheralded recruit who was overshadowed by his twin brother, Osita, a linebacker at Notre Dame, Ekwonu blossomed into a dominant force. Last year at this time, he was the O-lineman all the coaches in the ACC were buzzing about, even though Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw was the player all the mocks were touting. The Coaching Intel “He’s as good an offensive lineman as I’ve seen in years. He’s athletic as hell, and he’s mean as ****. It was so unusual to see a guy enjoying his craft as much as he does. He plays with great balance. He can really run his feet on contact, so he can drive guys for as long as he wants.” “I was really impressed with him. He’s so athletic. He’s still raw, but I think he’s got huge upside. Offensive tackles like him are rare. I could see him as the first (overall) pick.” “He has incredible short-area power and explosiveness. He looks a little more like a guard, but his arms are really long and his feet are so good. He can be a great guard or a great tackle.” 4. New York Jets: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama The choice between Ekwonu or Neal is made easier with the Texans drafting Ekwonu, leaving the 6-foot-7, 335-pound Neal available for a move to the Northeast. Neal has wowed Tide coaches since the day he arrived in Tuscaloosa, from his eye-popping flexibility and athleticism to his size and approach to the game. Neal, who has played in the 350-pound range, is seen by some opposing coaches as better suited to play inside than as a tackle. The Coaching Intel “He’s very strong at the point of attack. He has some meat hooks and a good center of balance. This is a big old monster. He’s just hard to run around, but I think he might be more of a guard than a tackle.” “I think he’s more of a guard playing offensive tackle. There’s some movement stuff that he struggled with. I think he’ll be an excellent guard.” “He has unbelievable size and athleticism. To be that big, he really has good feet, and he can bend. The guy is always in a good football position. He times up his punch and switches it up. I do think he’s gonna be a very good left tackle.” 5. New York Giants: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah 6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh 7. New York Giants: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati I imagine there will be a lot of hope Big Blue grabs Kyle Hamilton, but they won’t be able to pass up a true lockdown corner in the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder. Almost no opposing offense in college wanted to mess with him. The Giants might also take a long look at Derek Stingley Jr., the other exceptionally talented corner in this draft, but the hunch here is that the former LSU Tiger’s up-and-down past two seasons will steer them to Gardner. The Coaching Intel “I thought he was the best player we played against last year. He completely shut down that side of the field. We came in thinking, ‘We’re gonna go after him.’ We got off that idea real quick. He jammed our guy into the sideline. Then, on a shallow, he’s playing the drill with our quarterback. He’s getting beat, but then he closes and picks it off. He’s really savvy, really long.” “You could tell he studied film. He really recognized pass concepts. There’s a reason why he didn’t give a touchdown his whole time in college.” “I thought he was very good but I didn’t know how good he was because nobody ever really went at him. We didn’t want to. We put a slapdick (receiver) over there the whole game and never looked at him. He’s imposing. His parameters are elite in terms of his size, range and speed.” 8. Atlanta Falcons: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon Atlanta has a lot of holes, and if Pickett was still available, I think the Falcons would scoop him up. But with him off the board, do they go after Willis or Matt Corral? Trade down for a wideout, especially with Calvin Ridley suspended for the season? In the end, Atlanta opts for Thibodeaux. The No. 1 recruit three years ago has the talent to help a defensive line that really struggled to pressure the quarterback. The 6-foot-4, 254-pound Southern Californian, who clocked a 4.54 40 at the combine and was a two-time All-Pac-12 player, has some doubters bothered by his lack of consistency. The Coaching Intel “When he wants to go, he can really go. He’s got good speed-to-power and he has excellent get-off, but he cannot play in space at an elite NFL level. I don’t think he’s a 3-4 outside linebacker. He’s more of a 4-3 DE that can, at times, drop. He doesn’t have a big counter game as a rusher. He’s gonna have to develop that.” “He’s a high-waisted long guy, and his get-off is elite. Going into the game, you really worried about that, that he was gonna beat us off the ball.” “There’s talent there, but what are you getting? He plays in spurts. He’s got it in his body — although there’s a little bit of stiffness in there. It’s not like he’s got an amazing body. He’s got a good first step for a 250-pound guy. I’d worry about his interests off the field. In a weird way, he reminds me of (Josh) Rosen. I think they’re both really good football players, and if they really concentrated on football, they’d be really good at it. But you listen to Thibodeaux talk and you wonder about his mindset. I think whatever his perception of being an NFL guy is is going to be totally different to what it actually is.” “He’s a generational talent, freaky on film. He was the best D-lineman in the Pac-12 since Vita Vea. I didn’t think he was consistent with effort. He didn’t have much success early in our game, and he kinda shut it down.” “I don’t see it, man. He’s good. He’s not great. He was a non-factor in so many games. He’s an independent contractor. His first step is unbelievable. You just wonder, how important is football to him?”
Spoiler 9. Seattle Seahawks: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU The Seahawks could really use an offensive tackle, and Charles Cross, a top pass protector, is available, but they also really need a quarterback (I have my doubts whether Seattle will view Drew Lock as the answer to life after Russell Wilson). I toyed with the idea of a big wild-card pick here, where they draft Corral. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks are going to get as good intel on this one as anyone, since Corral’s coach is Lane Kiffin, who has been extremely close to Carroll for decades. But Corral is just too high here. The Seahawks draft Stingley, another gifted player for whom Carroll will have keen insight, as Carroll is a mentor to former LSU coach Ed Orgeron. Stingley was a star as a freshman on the Tigers’ 2019 national title team and had LSU staffers believing he was capable of playing in the NFL right then. Every practice he gave Ja’Marr Chase his toughest battles. But the past two seasons from Stingley were inconsistent, marked by a lot of time on the sideline because of injury. The Coaching Intel “The kid is uber talented. He’s long as ****. He wasn’t physical but there’s no question he’s talented. He’s an impressive athlete. I think he moves better than the other (top) cornerbacks. I’ve heard he’s a good kid.” “I thought he was a finesse corner. He wasn’t violent at the line of scrimmage, but he has great feet and is a real technician, and his ball skills really set him apart. But you wonder: Is the drive or fire there? He had that great freshman year. I don’t know what’s happened the past two years. He’s got the ability to be really good. I just wonder if he’s built for it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets to the league and he does really well. But if he gets a second contract, is he gonna be the same player?” “He’s got those long arms that pretty much touch the grass in his stance. I think he’s smoother than a sudden guy. Plays the ball in the air very well. I think he got a little bored at times. When the ball isn’t going his way, his technique gets away from him. He did fall off a little bit; maybe that was new scheme, new defense.” “He’s almost like a wide receiver playing DB. His ball skills and the way he made plays on the ball are rare. It’s one thing for a defensive back to get in position, but his body control and the adjustments he could make in mid-air, this dude is different. He looked like a seasoned vet as a true freshman.” 10. New York Jets: Drake London, WR, USC 11. Washington Commanders: Kyle Hamilton, safety, Notre Dame Though it wouldn’t surprise me if he fell further than many draft analysts have been projecting, I think the Commanders jump on the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who only turned 21 last month. Hamilton has exhibited the kind of range that turns heads. His athleticism at his size is impressive: He’s broad-jumped 10-11 and vertical jumped 38 inches. There are some concerns about his coverage skills, but he is still a unique talent. The Coaching Intel “He has above average instincts, and he has great length. We didn’t think he was that fast or that he could cover a slot.” “People remember that (he) made that long INT against Florida State. He is long and rangy, but we didn’t think he was a good cover guy in space. He is fast and has all the measurables, but he had a hard time tackling our slot and covering our guys. I didn’t think we had to go away from him. When I heard top-5 pick, I get it, because he has the measurables, but I didn’t really see that.” “He’s got great instincts, a real nose for the ball. Got that great size and range, and he will come downhill and be physical. I think he’s special.” 12. Minnesota Vikings: Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State If Stingley is still available, I think Minnesota takes him. But with him gone, I’m not sure the Vikings would jump for either Trent McDuffie or Kyler Gordon, two excellent corners out of Washington. Johnson feels like a nice fit here. The former Georgia Bulldog missed out on being on a national title team in 2021, but his move to FSU worked out for him; he won ACC Defensive Player of the Year after posting 70 tackles, 18 TFLs and 12 sacks. At 6-foot-5, 254 pounds, Johnson clocked a 4.58 40 in Indianapolis and broad-jumped 10-5. Excellent numbers for an edge guy who displayed a lot of production. The Coaching Intel “He’s still pretty raw and wasn’t that great with his hands, but he’s explosive and really active. He looks like he can also get a lot bigger.” “He’s a skilled pass rusher. He’s tough, physical and also played the run well. He was a menace. I don’t think he’s freaky athletic, but he’s a really good football player.” 13. Houston Texans: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue The Texans have big needs almost everywhere, and they’ll have two excellent options to boost their O-line with Cross or Trevor Penning, but with Ekwonu already in the fold, they jump on another physical player with whom Smith is very familiar from Karlaftis’ days in the Big Ten West. The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Boilermaker isn’t quite as nimble as some of the other top edge guys, but no one will grind harder than this all-around athlete. In 2021, while often being double- and sometimes triple-teamed, he had 11.5 TFLs and forced three fumbles. The Coaching Intel “There are guys with more length who may run faster, but I’m not sure any of them have any more pop and power than he does.” “We thought (George) Karlaftis was gonna be a maniac, but (he) didn’t do that much in our game. He was a b**** on film; he is really strong and tough but not super athletic. We were planning on double teams and being strategic in our pass rush, but our tackles were able to match his physicality.” 14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia This 6-foot-6, 341-pound behemoth put on one of the most remarkable combine performances and could be an ideal fit to replace longtime Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams. Davis has considerably more length and agility, as evidenced by his jaw-dropping 4.78 40 to go with a 32-inch vertical and 10-3 broad jump. Davis was in great shape for the combine but will have to be mindful of his conditioning. Word is, he weighed around 355 pounds when Georgia played Alabama in the SEC title game and was slowed in his play, especially as the Tide went up tempo. The Coaching Intel “He’s freakishly different. I’ve seen a lot of big people, but he’s a bit of an athlete, like a super-sized tight end. He’s like a 20 mph guy (on the GPS). He’s got rare burst and can get after the ball. He’s light on his feet and freakishly strong and can really torque and twist.” “He just ate people up. The guy is not just big in the middle but explosive and can knock back and get penetration. They didn’t allow you to get to the second level.” 15. Philadelphia Eagles: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington 16. Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia 17. Los Angeles Chargers: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State 18. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State 19. Philadelphia Eagles: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa 21. New England Patriots: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia 22. Green Bay Packers: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama 23. Arizona Cardinals: Zion Johnson, OG/C, Boston College 24. Dallas Cowboys: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas 25. Buffalo Bills: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington 26. Tennessee Titans: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M 28. Green Bay Packers: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan 29. Kansas City Chiefs: Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan 30. Pittsburgh Steelers (trade with Kansas City): Malik Willis, QB, Liberty 31. Atlanta Falcons (trade with Cincinnati): Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss 32. Detroit Lions: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
https://theathletic.com/3225021/202...n-hutchinson-kayvon-thibodeaux-travon-walker/ Spoiler Ahead of the 2011 NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated published a feature story by Peter King, detailing the evolution the NFL had undergone in its scouting and evaluation process through the lens of what many expected to be a quarterback class full of potential starters. At the heart of King’s analysis was a truth that stands today: For every snap watched and graded, interview taken, press availability done, productivity/accolade/experience accrued, there’s no way to be certain of what a college football star will become at the next level. It’s humorous to look at King’s piece from today’s lens, for two reasons: 1) The 2011 NFL Draft may be the greatest of all time, with five to seven players vying for the Hall of Fame, nearly two dozen players making an All-Pro team (six on the NFL’s most recent All-Decade list), and more than 30 picks in that draft making at least one Pro Bowl. 2) Pictured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated issue were three flawed but intriguing quarterback prospects — Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker. Newton was a physical (though technically unrefined) prototype with questions about his commitment to winning at the highest level, Locker had all the necessary physical gifts without much top-end production, and Gabbert’s impressive throws were being weighed against his ability to transition out of an offense that didn’t ask for much out of the quarterback pre-snap. A little more a decade later, the 2022 NFL Draft approaches with some similarities to 2011. For the time spent hand wringing over the lack of a polished franchise-level quarterback, this year’s class is stacked with offensive linemen, wide receivers and defensive backs that project to be multi-year starters. At the top of the conversation and most mock drafts is a trio of edge rushers with equal parts franchise player and “just-another-guy” potential: Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Georgia’s Travon Walker. The narratives and concerns around the three defensive ends mirror some of what we heard about the quarterbacks in 2011: Hutchinson accomplished everything short of winning the Chuck Bednarik and Heisman trophies, but there are questions about whether his ceiling is high enough to justify being the first name announced; Thibodeaux has been perceived as a brand-conscious guy who can’t keep his public statements from rubbing a pundit or anonymous scout the wrong way; and Walker blew up the NFL Scouting Combine, but his “breakout” 2021 season garnered just 13.5 sacks and tackles for loss combined. Using the most recent franchise tag valuations, pass rushers are still the most important non-quarterbacks in the sport, and the best available veterans at the position get paid like starting signal callers (see Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby). With Jacksonville and Houston making a commitment to build around the quarterbacks they selected in 2021 and Detroit sticking with Jared Goff as a bridge to a yet undetermined future, each of the top edge rushers may be off the board by the New York Jets’ pick at No. 4, an unprecedented event. Athletic testing Category | Hutchinson | Thibodeaux | Walker Height/Weight | 6’7” - 260 | 6’4” - 254 | 6’5” - 272 10 Yard Split/40 Yard Dash | 1.62/4.74 | 1.59/4.58 | 1.62/4.51 3 Cone Drill | 6.73 | DNP | 6.89 Vertical/Broad Jumps | 36”/117” | DNP/119” | 35.5”/123” Arm Length/Bench Press | 32”/28 Reps | 33”/27 Reps | 35”/DNP Raw production and accolades don’t appear to be a barrier to entry this draft season, given Walker’s rapid ascent. The combine and pro day circuit did little to clear up the picture, either. Each player put up comparable athletic testing when accounting for height and weight differences, and it would be dishonest to break ties based on personality types and off-field intangibles without first-hand information about how players interviewed or what came back from background checks. The best method at my own disposal is evaluating these players by the only method consumers are truly invested in — what each of these players have put on tape in their college careers, and what it means for Walker, Hutchinson and Thibodeaux at the next level. Blame the former player and current coach in my core, but everything on defense still begins with stopping the run, and few things in football carry more weight than how ends and outside linebackers set the edge. Beyond that, how players go about setting the edge is often an indicator of how they’ll be used as pass rushers. Each of these players is a plus run defender on the whole, but each goes about it differently based on his ability and coaching. For example, Thibodeaux plays like a true stand-up nine technique (lined up outside of tackles and tight ends), looking to strike kick-out blocks with heavy hands and squeeze away creases on the perimeter. If pullers or lead blockers are attacking the perimeter, Thibodeaux has the balance and power to set on his technique and maintain the edge or knife inside and back upfield if the defensive concept calls for it. This was a major area of growth for Thibodeaux in his career at Oregon — in 2019, he was essentially used as a designated pass rusher only, and in 2020 he spent more time trying to defeat or work around run blocks than was needed. By 2021, he had smoothed out some inconsistencies and could handle a job as an outside linebacker in the NFL. Aidan Hutchinson transitioned positionally in 2021 after spending a large bulk of his early career as an interior lineman for defensive coordinator Don Brown. When Jim Harbaugh brought in Mike Macdonald last year to modernize the Wolverine defense, Hutchinson was moved to a stand-up edge rusher, like Thibodeaux. Hutchinson’s height and weight made it possible to set the edge from that alignment in college, but picking nits is the nature of the beast during draft season, and when kick-out blocks are coming his way, he has a bad habit of bending at the waist and absorbing contact instead of striking through his hands and playing with a low pad level. To add, when Hutchinson is taking on tackles and tight ends, his lack of arm length compared to his height forces him to turn his body into blocks. Every defensive lineman in football will struggle to disengage if an offensive lineman has access to their chest. These issues are equal parts coaching and genetics: As an interior lineman, there are times when you have to take on blocks from compromised positions, and you see those habits come up at times for Hutchinson. In addition, it’s generally difficult to consistently win the leverage battle at 6-7. Hutchinson was a great run defender in 2021, so I’m not predicting that he’d be unable to handle NFL edge responsibilities. I do think that it would be in his best interest to play with his hand down and a bit closer to the point of attack at the next level, though, in what’s called a “six technique” (outside of tackles, but stacked over tight ends). From that alignment, it will be a little easier for Hutchinson to stop the run on the way to the quarterback. As for Travon Walker, he exists somewhere between the two high-profile edge rushers in this class, a common theme in my evaluation of his 2021 film. Looking only at how he was used by Kirby Smart at Georgia, Walker plays the run like an old-school “under front” tackle (aligned outside of tackles, but inside of tight ends). His physicality at the point of attack is just as explosive as his 40-yard dash time, but the concept of the under tackle — which mattered a great deal more when the entire league was based out of two-back formations — is an extinct archetype in an NFL that’s spreading out more every year. Using only his technique to project his pro fit, Walker can play wherever he’s needed against the run, and that versatility is his greatest asset. “At the University of Georgia, we play a lot of different defenses,” Walker said at the NFL combine. “Therefore, you can be scattered all out on the field — from playing a five technique, a 4i, an under front, you play a (three technique) – so you’re really doing everything to just expand your résumé.” As a nine technique, Walker has the speed to close space and the length to keep his chest clean against blockers. If he were a six technique, he would have the physicality to play in close quarters and deal with blockers coming at him from different angles.
Spoiler I often find myself thinking of this sport in comparison to other games and facets of entertainment — an affliction of standing too close to this thing, for far too long. An easy point of comparison for most around modern football is the open, free-flowing game of the NBA. I find the threads that tie those two games to be flimsy, but there are two scenarios where the body movements, techniques and ingenuity translate directly: wide receivers releasing against press corners, and edge rushers against tackles in pass protection. Just like an isolation on the wing, these matchups require a blend of mental acuity and physical ability that transcend the foundation of this sport, intended for each cog to influence the outcome of a play relatively equally. The best receivers, edge rushers and isolation scorers speak in similar terms about creating consistent success: leaning on their best ability and developing a plan of attack with contingencies in case their opponent takes away their best moves. Through this lens, the player of this trio with the most ground to gain is Walker. In theory, you couldn’t ask for a better archetype in an edge rusher — 270 pounds with 35-inch arms, a 4.5-second 40 time and a sub 7-second three cone time, with the short area explosiveness reflected in his elite jumps (35-inch vertical, 10-3 broad). Walker could be whatever kind of edge rusher he wants to become, but he’ll need to develop a plan to be a dominant edge at the start. In Walker’s press availability in Indianapolis, he cited his speed-to-power and long arm as his best rush moves, and both can be effective for speed rushers and elite benders as secondary moves against tackles taking deep pass sets. Given his athletic testing, I’d have to imagine that Walker can develop into a speed rusher, but it’s just not evident on film. How a coach would diagnose this issue is a matter of how optimistic they feel about the player. The most generous outlook would explain the lack of pass rush production on his varying alignments and assignments in Georgia’s scheme and his lack of reps because of the depth of talent along the defensive front. Walker’s teammates Nakobe Dean, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker were all gifted blitzers, and Smart maximized their skill sets at the cost of more traditional pass rush off the edge. To generate free rush lanes for those linebackers, Walker and the rest of the defensive linemen looped, slanted and twisted around to occupy offensive linemen. At worst, Walker will be a high-motor player and one who can kick inside on third downs to pick on guards and centers. A less kind outlook, though, would point out multiple reps of bull rushes and an inability to disengage or turn the corner, and the fact that he’s only played around 500 snaps at edge (per Pro Football Focus), as evidence that Walker’s just not polished or experienced enough to project elite pass rush ability based on what he’s shown in his limited snaps. Because Walker hasn’t yet found himself as a rusher, his leap from raw to productive will show the greatest increase of the these three edges. For Kayvon Thibodeaux, making a leap from productive to dominant pass rusher would be the most impactful of the trio. A change in mentality will work wonders for Thibodeaux — and it has nothing to do with concerns over his effort or motor in this context. Thibodeaux has an elite trait at his disposal — his first step and bend — and he still hasn’t done nearly enough to maximize the threat of his speed on the edge. Watching Thibodeaux in 2021 leaves me with the impression that he fashioned himself as a hand-fighting technician, and he missed out on opportunities to create quick pressures when offenses didn’t send the back or tight end to help in protection. “Sometimes I get stalemated, sometimes I (don’t) have a second or third move, I can’t continue my pass rush and really finish through,” Thibodeaux said at the combine. Though it’s admirable that Thibodeaux thinks his way through his pass rush approach, his angles and timing are off when he tries the swipes, clubs and rips in his tool kit. Then, as he did in the second half of his 2021 game against Cal and throughout Oregon’s contest against UCLA, he’ll put together sequences of dominance that make it clear that he could be unblockable at a moment’s notice. The best pass rush technicians in the NFL — Nick and Joey Bosa — would likely trade their wide array of moves and counters for Thibodeaux’s 1.59 10-yard split. As it stands today, perfection has served as the enemy of good for the talented outside linebacker, and as he embraces his speed as his most important asset, the counter moves Thibodeaux wants to employ will be much harder to block. This leaves Aidan Hutchinson, who does not suffer from any lack of clarity about what makes him the betting favorite to be the first pick this month, according to FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM. What’s fascinating is that Hutchinson’s athletic testing might lead you to believe that he’s an elite bender, with a good enough first step to win as a speed rusher. His 1.62 10-yard split tied Walker, and he has the best three cone time of the three. Watching only his film, you’d believe that he’s just a high motor rusher, and it would seem as though the two are in conflict. In conjunction, though, the picture gets clearer: Hutchinson’s short area explosiveness is displayed best by his elite change of direction skills (4.15 pro shuttle, 6.73 three cone, 36-inch vertical). At his height, and without the arm length to keep tackles at bay, Hutchinson succeeds by giving himself options as a rusher in the same way Thibodeaux tried last season. By creating a two-way go over tackles, Hutchinson can work anything from a bull rush to an arm over, swipe or club. Once he’s worked an initial move, his hip mobility allows him to sink his center of gravity more than bend outright, creating enough leverage to crush the pocket on a quarterback and finish pressures with contact. Raiders end Maxx Crosby feels like an obvious point of comparison. Crosby’s arm length and athleticism is close to Hutchinson’s, and as a hand-down defensive end, Crosby wreaks havoc on twists and stunts and creates opportunities for success by attacking tackles instead of working to a landmark. Hutchinson can model that kind of play coming into the league, setting a high floor for his production. How I rank them Category | Hutchinson | Thibodeaux | Walker Run defense | 2 | 3 | 1 Pass rushing | 1 | 2 | 3 Potential | 3 | 1 | 2 Floor | 1 | 2 | 3 Overall | 2 | 1 | 3 In 2011, Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker ended up being the only top-10 picks not to appear in a Pro Bowl. The same risk exists with Walker, Thibodeaux and Hutchinson. Thibodeaux may never turn the figurative corner, Walker may only be an elite run defender, and Hutchinson may already be maxed out as an edge. With that, the Jaguars are the presumed landing spot for Hutchinson, and the NFL clearly has more interest in Walker than Thibodeaux at this stage of the draft process. As a personal evaluation, though, I’ve only seen one player with potential All-Pro production on the horizon: Thibodeaux. The combination of size and explosiveness, and an opportunity to play the edge differently in the NFL than he ever had at Oregon, is enough to sell me on his ceiling. Assuming no trade or surprises, the best fit for each player would land Thibodeaux in Jacksonville with the first pick, playing on the edge for Mike Caldwell. Hutchinson would land in Detroit with the second pick, playing in a scheme that keeps his hand in the turf and playing downhill. As the third pick, Walker would head to Houston, where defensive ends in the Tampa 2 scheme are expected to stop the run first and use their power and explosiveness to crush pockets and move quarterbacks off of their spot. For Houston, Detroit, and Jacksonville, each of the available edge rushers are freak athletes, making every kind of play from sacking quarterbacks to chasing ball carriers down to save touchdowns. Walker, Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are flawed, but it’s unlikely any of them are in the final iteration of what they’ll become as football players. This leaves the top three teams in a blind taste test: Do you prefer the raw talent, unproven but capable of absorbing whatever identity exists around him; the polished and dependable player with a potential limitation that stations him at good instead of elite; or maybe the best option is the player with other-worldly upside who needs to be reintroduced to the expectation of star players, particularly a franchise pick.
