I'm sure it's already been mentioned...but one thing that's nice about being done in the 5th round (if that's going to be the case) is that we can start executing the UDFA strategy earlier than other teams still drafting.
Unless someone just blows you away with an offer at 1.32, I'm just taking BPA and moving on.
Those are throwaway picks for a SB organization w/ a deep roster. They have 5 picks on day 3 that flat out don't !#@#ing matter for a good team because 3rd day picks are going to struggle like crazy to make the roster.
More picks allows more flexibility in the draft. Also, more picks puts less pressure on the GM to get each selection "right". It's okay to miss on a late 3rd or 4th rounder when you hit on a 6th, which the Chiefs have done several times since Reid became the HC.
Take away those two picks and it's much more difficult to fill out your draft class.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
If you can snag a pick in the 3rd round to trade back a handful of spaces - go ahead and do that. But anything in the 5th or later is worthless to this roster and this team.
Fenton, LDT and Fulton were all 6th rounders and while Fenton performed well during his rookie season and the book is yet to be written on his career, Fulton and LDT were most certainly hits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Those are wild cards and you can use UDFA and street FAs to fill those roster spots just as effectively.
As I've been saying for the past month, the UDFA market is going to be absolutely insane because teams weren't allowed facility visits nor were they allowed medical exams and physicals. There will be an enormous amount of talent but there will be questions surrounding most of those players, mainly due health. It wouldn't surprise me at all if many UDFA's end up getting larger contracts than many 6th and 7th rounders.
In case you missed it, Veach addressed it with Peter King, which was featured in his interview yesterday but hasn't seen any traction around here, for whatever reason:
“You hit the real story behind the draft,” Chiefs GM Brett Veach said last week. “The biggest challenge for most staffs this year will not be in the draft, but [in undrafted] free agency . . . It’ll certainly be a story for years to come for all draft rooms, how it all went down.”
This is the 36th year Bob McGinn has written an NFL Draft Series. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-’17) and BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19). Through 2014, scouts often were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts.
FYI: The Wonderlic scores as reported in this series were the lowest for players, some but not all of whom had the opportunity to take the test more than once. An increasing number of NFL teams regard the lowest score as the most meaningful score. Many players receive repetitive coaching on the Wonderlic before taking the test at the combine, and thus many teams consider second scores with skepticism and often view them as misleading. Also, some players never get a chance to retest.
This is the seventh part of our nine-part series. Today, we dive into linebackers. You can find edge rushers here, defensive linemen here, quarterbacks here, running backs here, offensive linemen here and wide receivers and tight ends here.
Isaiah Simmons played a leading role for great teams at Clemson, compiled enviable statistics, blew out the combine and has been anointed not only as the most unique but also one of the five or 10 best players in the NFL draft. It would surprise no one if some teams are plotting an attempt to trade up and secure his versatile services as a building block for their defenses.
Simmons, however, is not without his detractors, some more vociferous than others. One executive in personnel went so far as to label Simmons the most overrated player in the draft. NFL general managers and coaches will say of an atypical prospect, “I don’t know what to do with him.” They like certitude, both in their players and throughout their organizations.
With Simmons, that’s next to impossible. In my poll of 16 executives asking what they thought his best position would be in the NFL, 10 replied weak-side linebacker, three said nickel linebacker, one said outside linebacker and two said safety. “He’s the best linebacker or the best safety,” said a personnel man for an AFC team. “It’s where you want to play him.”
Before selecting Simmons, it would behoove any team to have a definitive plan on how to employ him. His efficacy would be threatened if the secondary coach wanted Simmons in his room, the linebackers coach wanted him in his room and the pass-rush specialist wanted him sitting in with the defensive line.
“If you put this guy at sam linebacker only, he’s going to struggle,” said an AFC executive. “If you put him at free safety only, he’s going to struggle. You’ve got to be creative. Some coaches in the NFL are creative, and some are not. If he goes high, that team has to be fully committed. If not, he’s dead in the water.”
If the coordinators view Simmons one way and the personnel department sees him another way, a team might just as well select somebody else or trade back.
“He has to go to the right team,” another AFC personnel man said. “There’s a high bust probability if you put too much on his plate or you don’t have the right plan.”
Given Simmons’ size (6-3 ½, 233), speed (4.38), vertical jump (39 inches), broad jump (11-0) and arm length (33 3/8), everyone can see his extraordinary physical gifts. Not only that, but he produced superbly for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Brent Venables, his defensive coordinator. His three-year statistics included 249 tackles (28 ½ for loss), 10 ½ sacks, 26 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and four interceptions.
In December, former Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera spoke to NBC’s Peter King about some things he had taken away from his almost nine years on the job and also by observing Bill Belichick in New England.
“The style of defensive player you need today, in my opinion, has changed,” said Rivera. “I got that based on what I saw him (Belichick) do last year in the playoffs. He put guys on the field that could chase Patrick Mahomes, then stop the Rams from running.
“So looking for these big, bulky defensive-end type players is no longer relevant … you have to find the sideline-to-sideline guys who can play every down.”
Simmons isn’t a defensive end, although there were occasions he lined up there under the ever-unpredictable Venables. “I played every position except for nose or 3-technique,” he said at the combine. But his game is based on speed, sideline to sideline and goalpost to goalpost.
Many scouts can agree that Simmons has all the size and skill required to carry the fight even to the finest tight ends in coverage. “I can promise you he can take any tight end in the NFL out of his game,” an executive in personnel said. “Instead of having a guy catch eight, 10 balls in the middle he could hold him to two. That he can do.”
That scout went so far as to say Simmons could have success against wide receivers using press coverage if they were outside, not in the slot. “He’s got those long arms,” he said. “You don’t have to have great hips to be a press corner because you’re already turned. You’re just beating them up all the way down the field.”
At Clemson, Simmons sometimes would align with responsibility for a slot receiver but line up 10 to 12 yards off. At other times he would align deep in a one- or two-high safety look. Some scouts maintain that Simmons can handle all types of coverage in the NFL because “he’s a freak show, athletically,” according to one.
Others disagree. “If an offensive coordinator or quarterback sees him as a single-high safety they’re going to throw at him every single time,” one personnel man said. “He’s a really good athlete for a linebacker but not a really good athlete for a safety. If they play him in the slot, they’ll throw at him because he can’t cover receivers.”
Another personnel man said Simmons wasn’t physical enough to operate in close quarters as a linebacker. “He’s going to have to be a safety but he’s so leggy,” he said. “It’s the leggy thing that bothers you.”
Could Simmons pick up a wide receiver flying across the field on an over route if he was aligned as a center fielder and that was his man?
“He can’t drop his hips and flip and go another way,” the scout said. “He’s not that twitchy of an athlete.”
Simmons stood out by ranging all over the field and making tackles. “To make plays he has to run and chase,” said one scout.
When it comes to stopping the run in the tackle box, few executives think Simmons would be much more than average. “He doesn’t play off blocks really great but you don’t have to take on in the box anymore,” said one personnel man. “All you’ve got to do is get ‘em down now.”
It’s probable that much of Simmons’ tackling opportunities will come from off-ball positions varying in distance from a few yards to 15. It will require him to “run the alley,” break down and tackle.
“He’s a tall, high-cut kid,” one personnel man said. “Unless he’s in that alleyway where he can just sit and explode, it’s tough for a big, tall kid. He has overrun some plays because he gets there so fast and when somebody makes a quick cut he doesn’t adjust real well. He isn’t a hammer, but nobody cares about that anymore. It’s getting to be like flag football. I’m talking the NFL. I think there are tougher hits in the Division I college game than in the NFL.”
Another scout said Simmons tackles well enough and is physical enough when compared to the typical NFL safety but not at the level of the typical NFL linebacker. “He tackles like a freakin’ corner,” said one scout. “He’s not a blow ‘em up guy.”
Also in the passing game, Simmons was used to spy quarterbacks and to rush from various locales. He had eight sacks in 2019, many of which were the results of schematic victories by Venables or his relentless, lightning-like pursuit of fleeing quarterbacks.
“They scheme him off the edge, and he comes flying and he’s free,” one scout said. “He’s got some sacks because of that. It is not as if he’s putting his hand down and working moves, spinning, bull rushing, slipping and dipping. He’s not doing any of that. He’s running straight or they’re stunting him where he comes flying through the gap.”
Because of Simmons’ size, talent, production and the wide-ranging nature of his collegiate career, the comparables used by scouts in relation to him make for a diverse group, to say the least.
In order of their NFL career start, the seven comps with their collegiate height-weight-speed have been Charles Woodson (6-1, 200, 4.43), Brian Urlacher (6-3 ½, 258, 4.62), Tommy Polley (6-3 ½, 230, 4.68), Troy Polamalu (5-10, 206, 4.45), Zach Brown (6-1 ½, 243, 4.46), Anthony Barr (6-4 ½, 251, 4.46) and Derwin James (6-2, 216, 4.44).
“Although they’re totally different types of players, in their usage maybe Troy Polamalu,” said one executive. “It’s unorthodox. Troy really didn’t play a position … this guy is a space player. A space-matchup guy.”
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
(Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
1. ISAIAH SIMMONS, Clemson (6-3 ½, 233, 4.38, 1): Simmons redshirted in 2016, played extensively as a safety in ’17 and started as a LB/nickel back in 2018-’19. “Love the speed,” one scout said. “Love the size, the length, the versatility, coverage. I’d play him at linebacker close to the line of scrimmage. In some schemes he may be a safety. He can wear a lot of different hats. That’s what makes him so special. He can cover. He can play in the slot. He can play in the box. He can play in the deep part of the field. Even if he is your ‘sam’ backer you can play him at nickel. You can blitz him. He’s a hybrid. Love him.” He declined to do shuttle runs or drill work at the combine after testing superbly earlier in the night. “With the exception of (Joe) Burrow I might make the guy the first pick,” said a second scout. “At North Carolina, Lawrence Taylor played all over the field. Played in space and rushed the passer. I don’t want to make that comparison now because it’s been so long, but this guy can rush the passer, play on the line of scrimmage, move 12 to 15 yards down the field and cover people.” Simmons scored 12 on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic test. Many understand the test has its limitations and doesn’t always provide the clearest model of intellect. Still, it’s survived because teams still view it as a valuable tool in the evaluation of players. “It’s crazy to think he had a low test score and played like five different positions at Clemson,” a third scout said. “For him to be able to handle all that stuff and perform like he did, it doesn’t match up.” Simmons is a fourth-year junior from Olathe, Kan. “You can’t play a base defense with him,” said a fourth scout. “He could be a huge hit. He could be like a satellite defender that everything revolves around. Or he’s never going to find a home and people will be left scratching their heads saying, ‘He wasn’t a safety, he wasn’t a linebacker, we could never find a home for him.’ There’s a lot of risk. If you do not have a fully engaged shared vision, oh yeah, it could go south quickly.” His arms were 33 3/8, hands were 9 5/8. “He is not a tough, physical football player,” said a fifth scout. “He’s not a hitter. Doesn’t break down well. I don’t get it. Down in and down out, he’s not a factor or a difference-maker.”
2. KENNETH MURRAY, Oklahoma (6-2 ½, 242, 4.55, 1): Murray is a third-year junior. “One of my favorite players,” said one scout. “When you plug in the player and the person you love him even more. He does everything you want. He runs the defense. I thought he was better than Roquan Smith. I don’t think he’s quite as good as a Luke Kuechly. He’ll be a Pro Bowl-type player. He didn’t cover there. They didn’t ask him to, but I think he can. He’s an explosive athlete but he’s not a physical tackler. That’s one of the only knocks I have on him.” Murray started all 42 games, finishing with 335 tackles (37 for loss) and 9 ½ sacks. “He can run the show,” a second scout said. “Just a little bit lacking on instincts and angles. But he’s big, fast and a hell of a kid. He loves football. Great locker-room guy.” Murray is a tremendous testing athlete, too. He scored a Wonderlic of 21. “He’s sideline-to-sideline,” a third scout said. “Inside, he tries to take on. He’s just not the strongest. He’s more of a slip-and-dip type, which is what you’re playing with now. As far as a modern-day linebacker, he has those traits. Covers well.” Murray is from Missouri City, Texas.
3. PATRICK QUEEN, LSU (6-0, 229, 4.50, 1-2): Queen is a third-year junior who wasn’t even starting until Michael Divinity was suspended early in the season. “I think Queen’s the second-best player in the draft,” said one scout who designated Chase Young as No. 1. “Well-built. Explosive runner. Guy makes plays. He’s not an Alpha dog. That’s OK as long as the ‘mike’ can run it.” Divinity called the defense before the suspension and the more experienced Jacob Phillips played an instrumental role next to Queen. “He’s not going to be Ray Lewis mentality,” another scout said. “It hasn’t been his thing to this point because he’s only been a one-year starter. Had he started for more than one year I think he would have grown into that role more.” Queen started just 16 games in three seasons, finishing with 131 tackles (17 ½ for loss), four sacks and no forced fumbles. He posted a Wonderlic of 24. “Divinity made the calls,” said a third scout. “That’s why it took so long for Queen to get on the field. He’s a smart kid but he’s not very vocal.” Queen is from Ventress, La. “He is a straight-line fast guy,” said a fourth scout. “Besides that, I don’t think he does much well. He’s not very athletic in space. He doesn’t break down well. He misses a ton of tackles. Not physical at all taking on and getting off blocks. I don’t think he has great instincts. In coverage, he kind of drops to spots. He’s not a man-cover athlete for being that size.”
4. ZACK BAUN, Wisconsin (6-2 ½, 238, 4.68, 1-2): Baun redshirted in 2015, backed up in ’16 and missed all of ’17 with a Lisfranc tear in his left foot. “I got guys that don’t like him but I like how he plays,” one scout said. “He’s a pretty smart dude. I like the way his motor’s always running. He’s got good hands to stack. He works to capture the edge. Size gives him a few issues. Too productive not to get drafted high.” Baun started at OLB in a 3-4 defense the past two seasons and played off the ball at the Senior Bowl, where he is listed here. “He’s going to essentially change positions,” said another scout. “The first-round stuff is kind of crazy to me. He’s a good football player but he kind of came out of nowhere if you’ve watched last year’s tape. To take a guy in the first round at a position he’s never played is kind of bizarre. You’re not talking about a tackle playing guard. You’re talking about a defensive end playing inside linebacker. That’s a whole different world.” Baun finished with 154 tackles (30 for loss) and 15 sacks. “He’s borderline-to-small to be a 3-4 outside backer,” a third scout said. “I wrote him as a ‘sam.’ He’s tough and has good strength for a guy his size.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter cited sources saying Baun tested positive at the combine for a diluted sample stemming from excessive water intake before the weigh-in (and also reported that “under the NFL’s new CBA, it will not count as a strike against him whereas it would have under the NFL’s old CBA. Therefore, teams don’t believe it will impact his draft status much.”) Baun posted a Wonderlic of 24 and is from Brown Deer, Wis.
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): Gay is a third-year junior with a mere six starts in 31 games. Besides an impressive 40 at the combine, his 11-4 broad jump led linebackers and his hands led at 10 ½. “He blew it up at the combine,” said one scout. “He is active. He is tough. Tries to take on. Did not see the speed and change of direction on film that he displayed with the workout numbers. He does play hard. Just thought he was an old-school, inside, one-down linebacker.” He missed eight games in 2019 for academic fraud, according to scouts, and reportedly punched a teammate (QB Garrett Shrader) in the face during the leadup to the Music City Bowl, causing Shrader to miss the game because of an orbital bone injury. “You’ve got to drop him a little for the character and off-the-field stuff,” a second scout said. “He’s not a criminal, so I don’t mind him. Some issues are terminal; some aren’t. He’s just going to be maintenance for you as a rookie.” Gay posted a Wonderlic score of 14. “Has a starter’s physical ability but doesn’t have a starter’s full package,” said a third scout. “It’s a roll of the dice on him. He’s talented, but really, really inconsistent.” Gay finished with 99 tackles (11 for loss) and three sacks. He played college ball in his hometown of Starkville, Miss.
7. LOGAN WILSON, Wyoming (6-2, 238, 4.60, 3): Wilson is just the second player in the Cowboys’ history to be a three-time captain. “Really productive almost every game you put on,” one scout said. “He’s a good athlete, and he’s got prototypical NFL size. He’s got an ability to take on and use his hands. He sees the game pretty quickly.” That personnel man viewed Wilson as a starter with a chance to play every snap given pro experience. “He’s a sleeper almost, if you will,” said another scout. “He’s really good. He’s not a physical tackler, but he is tough, big and strong. He does enough of everything that matters.” He started 52 games, finishing with 421 tackles (35 for loss), seven sacks, 10 interceptions and 24 passes defensed. “Nice feel for the game,” said a third scout. “Can break down and make space tackles. Can run and cover ground.” Wilson posted a Wonderlic of 16 and is from Casper, Wyo.
8. AKEEM DAVIS-GAITHER, Appalachian State (6-1 ½, 224, no 40, 3): He started 30 of 55 games after redshirting in 2015. “Nickel backer,” said one scout. “Athletic guy with quickness, toughness and natural football skills. Will be an excellent special-teams player. Space player. Plays hard. He’s a modern-day linebacker.” Davis-Gaither was unable to run or work out at the combine because of foot surgery in March. “Not running will hurt him,” said another scout. “Never have a problem with this type of kid. Good athletic background.” His father, Keith, is WR coach at Army. He finished with 258 tackles (28 for loss) and eight sacks. “He can run,” said a third scout. “Low 4.5’s. Really high-character kid. He’s explosive on contact. He’s the new wave of NFL backer.” Davis-Gaither is from Thomasville, N.C.
9. JACOB PHILLIPS, LSU (6-3, 229, 4.64, 4): Phillips led the national champions in tackles with 113. “He had no hype at all, but he’s actually my favorite of all these linebackers,” said one scout. “He worked out well and played hard. More physical than (Patrick) Queen. Phillips is bigger, more competitive, more physical, more instinctive, more productive. Second round.” He declared a year early after playing extensively off the bench and starting 26 games the past two years. “Fifth round,” a second scout said. “I question his level of explosion. Struggles to easily open up his hips. Doesn’t show natural feel. Needs a clean path to make plays. Just enough speed. Plays high and doesn’t use his hands around blockers.” Phillips finished with 218 tackles (13 ½ for loss) and two sacks. “He won’t last to the fifth or sixth round,” a third scout said. “He started at LSU for two years. If a guy can run a defense, a guy like that is invaluable.” Phillips is from Nashville.
10. MALIK HARRISON, Ohio State (6-2 ½, 247, 4.63, 4): Harrison is a two-year starter at WLB. “People are discounting the athlete because he’s a thumper,” one scout said. “I think he can really run. That’s where people might get it wrong. At first I thought, ‘This guy’s just a two-down ‘mike.’’ The more I watched him, I think he’s got enough juice.” Finished with 205 tackles (29 for loss), 10 sacks and 10 passes defensed. “Ran better than I think people thought,” another scout said. “Really good football player. Physical. Trouble in space breaking down. Third round.” He had a 36-inch vertical jump and is from Columbus. “We think he’s a 3-4 ‘mike’ without instincts,” said a third scout. “He looks the part. Something’s missing intangibly. He’s more flash than consistent. He can’t play ‘mike’ in a 4-3.” Added a fourth scout: “I’m not impressed with him. Too slow. Tough kid, but what you going to do with him?”
11. JUSTIN STRNAD, Wake Forest (6-3 ½, 238, 4.74, 4): Strnad is a fifth-year senior, two-year starter. “He’s interesting,” one scout said. “He didn’t play well last year. He didn’t play with any kind of physicality. Has athleticism in coverage.” Finished with 244 tackles (22 ½ for loss), eight sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. “Like his instincts and range but needs to be more physical,” a second scout said. “Extremely instinctive player with good quickness. Tackles OK.” His senior season ended with a torn biceps in Game 7. “He has value at the back end (of the draft), especially with the injury,” a third scout said. “I was thinking middle rounds until I saw his body. I said, ‘No, you can’t draft this guy in the middle rounds.’ He looks like a big wide receiver.” Strnad is from Palm Harbor, Fla.
12. DAVION TAYLOR, Colorado (6-0 ½, 227, 4.44, 4): Taylor practiced football but didn’t play in high school because of his mother’s religious beliefs (Seventh-Day Adventist). He played two years at a junior college before starting at star LB in a 3-4 defense in 2018-’19. “He’s raw but, man, athletically, he’s probably as good as anybody in this group,” one scout said. “At the end of the day, he might be as good of a player as anybody other than Simmons. You’ve just got to be a little patient with him. He’s not going to start right away. Maybe you can put him on the field in sub the first year and he’ll be a really good (special) teams guy. Man, he is fast.” He’s not a quick study and just hasn’t played enough football. “You talk about a guy that’s gonna make it on special teams,” another scout said. “He can’t process. He’s never played stack (LB). He’s a JC guy. But I’ll guarantee you one thing: he’s not getting out of the fourth round.” He finished with 144 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and was an outstanding sprinter for the Buffaloes’ track team. “Better athlete than football player,” said a third scout. “He’s not very instinctive. It’s not his fault.” Taylor is from Magnolia, Miss.
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): Bradley grayshirted at a junior college in 2015, backed up in ’16 and started 38 games from 2017-’19 at MLB. “He is a really good athlete,” one scout said. “Instinctive, plays hard. Just that modern-day space linebacker. He can cover a lot of ground. Liked him a lot.” His production would have been much better if he were a more reliable tackler. Finished with 256 tackles (22 for loss), three interceptions and three forced fumbles. “I did not see a 4.5 guy on tape,” a second scout said. “At all. Ever. I thought he played real lackadaisical for a guy that had a single digit (jersey number 5) at Temple. Those guys are supposed to be bad asses. I didn’t see a guy that deserved to have a single digit.” Bradley is from Mt. Holly, N.J.
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.”
You certainly couldn’t argue with the company that Boise State’s Curtis Weaver and Utah’s Bradlee Anae keep when it comes to the sack artists in the NFL draft.
Weaver rolled up 34 sacks, Ohio State’s Chase Young recorded 30 ½ and Anae finished with 30. Of the top 30 edge rushers this year, they rank 1-2-3 in career sacks.
Young’s berth atop the position is unchallenged. When 17 personnel people were asked to name the best front-seven player in the draft, Young drew 14 votes compared to three for defensive tackle Derrick Brown of Auburn.
As for Weaver and Anae, they find themselves in a free-for-all for draft positioning with a horde of less productive but generally more gifted players.
“I’m not in love with any of their physical traits,” an AFC executive said. “But they do have production that is undeniable.”
There’s the rub. As invaluable as sacks are in today’s NFL game, no team in their right mind would dismiss Weaver and Anae out of hand. At the same time, every one of the league’s 32 decision-makers must answer this question: do the production numbers for Weaver and Anae translate to pro football?
My poll of 17 personnel men placed them well down in the pecking order. In the poll, scouts were asked to rank the best edge players on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis, with a first-place worth five points, a second-place vote worth four and so on.
A unanimous selection, Young totaled 85 points. Four other players finished in double digits, including K’Lavon Chaisson (59), A.J. Epenesa (34), Yetur Gross-Matos (31) and Julian Okwara (16 ½).
Rounding out the vote were Anae (six), Josh Uche (six), Darrell Taylor (3 ½), Jason Strowbridge (three), Jabari Zuniga (three), Alex Highsmith (two), Alton Robinson (two) and Jonathan Greenard, Terrell Lewis, Delontae Scott and Weaver, each one.
“Chase Young, and you’ve got to take a chance on Chaisson,” an NFC executive said. “Besides that, if you’re looking for somebody to come in, there’s nothing.”
Another more hopeful scout, mindful that the undrafted Shaquil Barrett led the league in sacks last season with 19 ½ for Tampa Bay, said, “there’s always those rushers that come out of nowhere.”
Although Weaver and Anae played out west away from the main media focus, they did major damage in the Mountain West and Pacific-12 conferences. They did it, however, without relying on the physical attributes usually associated with the NFL’s leading rushers.
Each has short arms: 32 3/8 inches for Weaver, 32 1/8 for Anae.
Neither runs fast. Anae clocked a disappointing 4.93 40 at the combine. Weaver postponed his 40 until the Utes’ pro day, which won’t be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One scout estimated Weaver’s speed at 4.9; another scout guessed between 4.85 and 4.9.
Their body composition leaves much to be desired as well. At the combine, Weaver’s body fat was measured at 18.4% and Anae’s at 16.2%. Of the 66 players categorized as defensive ends and linebackers in Indianapolis, the only two with higher body-fat percentages than Weaver were Epenesa (21.6%) and LSU linebacker Michael Divinity (18.6%). Over time, statistics show that the average body fat for an All-Pro edge player was 11.8%; of the defensive ends, Young had the lowest this year at 7.8%.
Some teams combine all testing information and measurements, which leads ultimately to a composite athletic score for each player. Players are divided into six color-coded categories. Weaver was in the fifth category, Anae in the sixth.
Even before the combine, an AFC scout wondered how Anae’s modest ability would stack up. “Plays hard, good rush feel, good player,” he said. “You question how well his traits will translate.”
The teams that forecast success for Anae view him as an all-out player who simply will not be denied. “This dude just goes and goes and goes and goes,” said one scout. “The 4.88 (in the 40) is acceptable. Has enough speed to turn the corner. Got a little tightness. Struggles to get off blocks. I got him third round.”
Anae has described himself as an “adrenaline junkie” who grew up in Hawaii idolizing Junior Seau and Troy Polamalu. His family includes a long line of athletes. He has studied the Steelers’ T.J. Watt, trying to pattern his game after him.
Still, doubts persist. One team with a 4-3 defense graded him as a free agent at defensive end.
“Maybe he’d be a little bit higher for 3-4 teams,” said one of the team’s personnel people. “We didn’t think he had any special physical qualities. Kind of just saw him as an effort guy that was playing against a bunch of teams that were throwing 60 times a game so he was getting a lot of chances at sacks.”
Weaver broke the Mountain West Conference record for career sacks. Given the level of play that might not be regarded as a monumental achievement, although it should be noted that top NFL rushers such as Jerry Hughes (28 ½), DeMarcus Lawrence (20) and Barrett (18) were among those that he surpassed.
“He is slippery,” said one scout. “Very good with his hands. More finesse and athleticism as a pass rusher than power. He does have pressure production, which counts, too. If you hit with Weaver he’s a guy that can be a talented pass rusher and a three-down starter.”
At the combine, Weaver said his ability to bend beneath tackles on outside rushes is his forte and exceeds that of any rusher in the draft.
Four years ago, Weaver weighed about 300 pounds. He played between 275 and 280 this season, and after suffering a high-ankle sprain and foot damage Nov. 16 against New Mexico his conditioning suffered as he tried just to get through the final four games.
Weaver’s non-competitive performance in the Las Vegas Bowl damaged his stock with several teams.
“Not a big fan,” one personnel man said. “Really average traits. Really average genetics. Bad body. Just don’t see it.”
NFL draft history is littered with edge pass rushers that flourished in the collegiate game but either failed or had only modest success in the professional game.
The need is never-ending for defensive coordinators. Anae and Weaver will get every opportunity to prove themselves.
“He damn near can do anything he wants,” said one scout about Chase Young. “He can do it all. Just draft him.” (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
RANKING THE EDGE RUSHERS
1. CHASE YOUNG, Ohio State (6-5, 264, no 40, 1): The third-year junior played as a backup in 2017 and started at DE in a 4-3 in 2018-’19. “He damn near can do anything he wants,” said one scout. “He can do it all. Just draft him. I thought Nick (Bosa) was better than Joey (Bosa) with his hands, and I think Nick is better than Chase Young.” Young doesn’t win through use of hands. “He wins down the middle (of blockers) and with inside counters,” said another scout. “He’s not an elite bender. He’s explosive on contact. That’s what makes him who he is. I did Myles Garrett. He was a more gifted bender on the edge than Chase.” Young finished with 99 tackles (42 ½ for loss), 30 ½ sacks, 10 forced fumbles and eight passes defensed. “I love him,” said a third scout. “But I think the (Nick) Bosa kid last year is better because I think he’s tougher.” Scored 19 on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. “I don’t think he’s a really great competitor but he is so big and so talented,” a fourth scout said. “I don’t think he’s as talented as Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney was lazy. Cruise control isn’t a term that I use but that’s exactly what (Young) does. He puts it in cruise control. He was dominant anyway, but he picked his spots. He overpowers guys or just runs around those big, slow tackles in the Big Ten.” Young is from Hyattsville, Md.
2. K’LAVON CHAISSON, LSU (6-3, 254, no 40, 1): One scout remembered Chaisson not doing much in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia but finally solving LT Andrew Thomas at crunch time. “Thomas won the first part of the game but as the game moved on Chaisson won some battles,” one scout said. “He’s the entire package. Explosive pass rusher, plus he can play in space. I’ve seen him pick up backs on wheels (routes) against Mississippi State and Alabama. Can be an excellent pass rusher with enhanced technique. He’s a much better player than Danielle Hunter.” Chaisson finished with 92 tackles (19 for loss) and 9 ½ sacks. “I liked him more than Chase Young,” a second scout said. “This guy knows where the quarterback is. There’s so many guys that just line up and just rush. He has got hand use. He can make that inside move. If he gets pushed inside he’ll go chase the quarterback. Chase Young isn’t that energetic.” Chaisson played off the bench in 2017, was given a redshirt year in 2018 after suffering a torn ACL in the opener, started in ’19 and then renounced his final two years of eligibility. Two scouts insisted there was no way, barring injury, that he could have a better career than Young. “He’s got more glaring deficiencies,” a third scout said. “He’s smaller. He’s got short arms (32 ¼). He has things he’s going to struggle with at times.” He won’t turn 21 until July and his Wonderlic of 27 was the highest among the top 20 at the position. “Not for me,” said a fourth scout. “He’s weak in the upper body. He’s only been a starter for one year. He’s a DPR (designated pass rusher) for us. I think he’s a ‘sam’ backer in a 3-4.” Chaisson is from Houston.
3. A.J. EPENESA, Iowa (6-5, 275, 5.06, 1-2): Third-year junior didn’t become a starter at RE in a 4-3 until 2019. “Most of his success came from knocking tackles back, getting them off balance and running by and through them,” one scout said. “Played with good hands. Doesn’t allow a lineman to get his hands on him. More productive against the pass than the run. Played a little stiff at times.” He finished with 101 tackles (36 ½ for loss) and 26 ½ sacks. “More of a 6-technique, an old school ‘43’ left end,” another scout said. “I don’t think he’s an elite pass rusher. He’s more of a steady guy that can play all three downs. His motor, toughness and competes are all over the place. Every time I watched him I wanted more. He had a good game against USC but you wanted to see that all year. He has a high bust factor. You just don’t know which guy is going to show up.” Won two state track titles in the discus and scored more than 1,000 points as a basketball player in Glen Carbon, Ill. “I just don’t know how much fire there is internally in him to achieve,” a third scout said. “It’s not like he’s a bad kid, by any stretch. I just don’t see that J.J. Watt-type desire and motivation to be great. But he is a solid football player that will play a long time.” Ran a disappointing 40 and managed just 17 reps on the bench. “He worked out like shit,” said a fourth scout. “He hurt himself. Guy played behind a guy that was a free agent in 2018. He’s tall and long (34 ½ arms), but I don’t know how you can justify drafting him in the top 50. He’s one of the most overrated players.”
4. YETUR GROSS-MATOS, Penn State (6-5, 266, no 40, 1-2): Gross-Matos, a third-year junior, is “very talented,” one scout said. “He’s a three-down player. He’s a bigger guy than most of these pass rushers, which I like about him. He’s bigger than Chaisson and Okwara and Uche. But he’s got some off-the-field stuff, maturity and things. (Editor’s note: Gross-Matos was suspended in July of 2019 for a violation of team rules and spent that summer away from the team). I think he’s a first-round talent.” Played in a rotation as a freshman before starting 25 games as a DE in a 4-3 for two seasons. “He’s still pretty raw,” said another scout. “He’s got to learn a little more toughness, a little more finish. Got to get his technique down. He’s got traits that are pretty high end and you’d like to develop.” Arm length (34 7/8) tied for the longest among the top 15 at the position. “His floor is pretty high but his ceiling isn’t as high as Okwara’s,” said a third scout. “But the bust factor isn’t there because he plays his balls off. He can play the run.” He finished with 111 tackles (37 for loss) and 19 sacks. “I think he stinks,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not explosive. He’s leggy. More of a technician than anything else.” Gross-Matos is from Spotsylvania, Va.
5. JULIAN OKWARA, Notre Dame (6-4, 252, no 40, 2-3): A polarizing prospect, to say the least. “Like him,” said one scout. “He can rush the passer. He’s athletic as heck. He can (bend). Second round.” Okwara started in the last two of his four seasons, mainly from a two-point stance in a 3-4 defense. “Sometimes these kids go to Notre Dame and they make them think they’re something really, really special,” said one scout. “That’s not an attitude you want in a defensive lineman. You want a hungry guy, and I didn’t see that. I do think he’s gifted. Not Chase Young gifted. But he’s not an impact player. I wouldn’t bet on him.” Okwara finished with 77 tackles (23 for loss) and 14 ½ sacks. His senior season ended after nine games because of a fractured fibula. “He does have elite pass-rush skill,” said a third scout. “He’s more talented as a rusher than Epenesa. He’s got better bend. He’d have been a low 4.6, maybe even a 4.5 guy. He’s more talented than Anae. It’s not even close.” His brother, Romeo, is an edge rusher for the Lions. “He has high bust potential,” a fourth scout said. “He is freakishly talented but he has never consistently played to his ability. He’ll give you one game where he looks like a top-10 pick and then three games where he looks like a sixth-rounder. Football character is not very good at all. He doesn’t like to gain weight. He has a hard time holding weight. It’s reflected in his game. Somebody could take a swing at the bat in the third or he could slide to Day 3 depending on how he recovers from the injury and what his weight’s like and how much you believe you can get the stuff out of him.” Okwara is from Charlotte, N.C.
“Some guys know how to rush the quarterback and some guys don’t,” said one scout. “Bradlee Anae does.” (Photo: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)
6. BRADLEE ANAE, Utah (6-3 ½, 257, 4.93, 2-3): Anae is a three-year starter at LE. “Some guys know how to rush the quarterback and some guys don’t,” said one scout. “Bradlee Anae does. He’s got a great feel for it. Knows how to counter pressure. Can really turn the corner. Really good with his hands. Similar to Nick Bosa that way. He has the right mentality. People were saying he’s a meathead. Do you want a bookworm to play defensive end?” Anae broke the school-record of 29 ½ sacks by Hunter Dimick with 30 and also had 135 tackles (41 ½ for loss) and six forced fumbles. “He’s going to be a pain in the ass (for offenses),” another scout said. “He has talent but there’s not a lot of skill. He can bend a little bit but it’s more just quickness off the ball and he just doesn’t stop. Like the Energizer Bunny. His sacks will come from effort or winning right off the bat as opposed to skill.” Anae ran a slow 40 and his arm length of 32 1/8 was the shortest of the leading edge rushers. “He’s not an elite guy,” said a third scout. “He’s been a big hype guy. He had a good Senior Bowl. He’s not that talented as a rusher in terms of twitch, explosiveness.” Anae is from Laie, Hawaii.
7. JOSH UCHE, Michigan (6-1, 245, no 40, 2-3): Uche gave consideration to transferring after hardly playing from scrimmage in 2016-’17. He posted seven sacks as a third-down rusher in 2018 and added 8 ½ more as a starter on the edge in ’19 before declaring a year early. “He was so underused there,” one scout said. “With his ability to bend the edge it’s ridiculous. He can affect the quarterback from a bunch of different angles. Michigan really did this kid a disservice. For as versatile as this kid is he should never leave the field. He can run. He can cover. I thought he was the best defensive player in Mobile besides (Javon) Kinlaw. He’s super conscientious. He would have run high 4.4s, low 4.5s and jumped close to 40. All that stuff people don’t know.” Uche finished with 56 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and 16 ½ sacks. “He’s a real serious, matter of fact, no bullshit guy,” a second scout said. “You can tell he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, but in a good way. He had to wait to play. When he got a chance he produced. The more you talk to him the more you like him. You feel like he’ll come in hell-bent to prove to people that he deserves to be there. There won’t be any damn drama with him. I think he’s a 3-4 outside backer. No way, no chance of that (playing stack LB).” He has abnormally long arms (33 5/8) for his height. “Little guy,” said a third scout. “He’s not a very good athlete. Nothing against the run. No burst as a pass rusher.” A fourth scout compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. Uche is from Miami.
8. DARRELL TAYLOR, Tennessee (6-3 ½, 267, no 40, 3-4): Taylor finished second in the SEC both as a junior and senior with 11 and 10 sacks. “Whew, if that guy wasn’t hurt you could hit on him,” one scout said. “He’s a tough guy, I can tell you that. He’s got a little bit of everything (off the field) but I’m going to tell you, if I wanted to take one down the line in the third he might be my guy.” Taylor played with a stress fracture in his fibula for much of the season and underwent surgery after the Senior Bowl in which a rod was inserted into the leg. “He’s coming off an injury with a lot of rehab and nobody’s seen him,” said a second scout. “He had some issues at Tennessee. He was semi on the rise but I bet he ends up as a third or fourth rounder because there’s a lot of question marks.” Taylor wound up kicking a teammate during a practice fight in October 2017 and was suspended for two games. “He is fricking strong,” said a third scout. “He’s tough. He’s mean. His speed is good enough for a left end in a 4-3 and he could play outside in a 3-4.” He finished with 118 tackles (26 ½ for loss) and 19 ½ sacks with a Wonderlic score of 12. He was compared by one personnel man to Frank Clark. “He is an absolute Adonis as a human being,” another scout said. “There’s not one of these guys that looks better than Darrell Taylor. He’s got double-digit sack potential.” Taylor is from Hopewell, Va.
9. CURTIS WEAVER, Boise State (6-2 ½, 265, no 40, 3-4): Weaver was redshirted in 2016, started nine of 27 games from 2017-’18 and all 14 in ’19. “He’s a tough study because he’s not twitchy or explosive,” said one scout. “He’s really, really bendy and he’s got really good body control and savvy. That’s how he gets his sacks. Bad body. He’s got so much sack production but when you put on the tape you go, ‘This is the guy?’ You just don’t see any kind of burst or explosion but when he turns the corner he’s got really good body control.” He amassed 34 sacks, second at Boise State behind Erik Helgeson (54 ½). “He needs to get stronger,” said a second scout. “When people get their hands on him he’s nullified. If he’s able to win early and slip around edges and keep your hands off him, that’s when he causes problems. He could be a boom or bust guy. He had all that production but there were games where he completely disappears. When he plays some of the better tackles, the ones that were able to get their hands on him, he was kind of just a guy. You’re betting on the come. I would think he’s third to five (rounds) but somebody may do it in the second.” Weaver finished with 128 tackles (46 ½ for loss) and eight passes defensed. “Is he Nate Orchard?” said a third scout. “He plays hard. Needs better get-off. Good hands on the rush. Will chase the quarterback. Flashes pressure. Feel rusher. He doesn’t have enough length. I like guys that are longer. Probably somewhere in the third round.” Weaver is from Long Beach, Calif.
“When he’s healthy, he’s been a really good player,” a scout says of Jabari Zuniga. (Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
10. JABARI ZUNIGA, Florida (6-3 ½, 264, 4.61, 3-4): Zuniga led the position in the broad jump (10-7) and bench press (29 reps). “His weight has been all over the place,” said one scout. “I actually see him more as an inside guy. I think he needs to get his weight up. Somewhere 280, 285 would be a good weight for him. I don’t know what Zuniga is and I don’t know what he thinks he is. When he’s healthy, he’s been a really good player. If you hit on an interior rusher … if three years from now Jabari Zuniga has eight or nine sacks for a team, that wouldn’t surprise me at all.” Zuniga was limited to six games in 2019 because of an ankle injury and started 27 of 42 games. “Exceptional takeoff,” another scout said. “Chases from the backside. Plays hard. Can slide inside as a 3-technique. He’s pretty close to the second round.” Zuniga is from Marietta, Ga. “He doesn’t have any production,” said a third scout. “Looks like he has no idea how to play. You see some burst but doesn’t really know how to put everything together.”
11. JASON STROWBRIDGE, North Carolina (6-4, 275, 4.91, 4): Strowbridge started at DT for three years in a multiple front but saw time at end in the final month and worked there at the Senior Bowl. “He can do both,” one scout said. “They played him on the inside primarily, and that’s probably for a reason. That’s probably where he plays best. His body says he probably should be outside.” Short arms (32 3/8) will make his assignment difficult wherever it is. “We have concerns about his toughness to play inside,” a second scout said. “Then when you put him outside he’s kind of ordinary. He’s a tweener that you don’t really get excited about.” Strowbridge spent five years in Chapel Hill, starting 33 of 44 games and finishing with 127 tackles (22 for loss) and 11 ½ sacks. “Nobody likes him but me,” a third scout said. “But I’m looking at him in the fifth, not the third. He’s surprisingly athletic. When you kick him down as a 3-technique he’s got enough power and strength. There he can actually do things.” Strowbridge is from Deerfield Beach, Fla.
12. TERRELL LEWIS, Alabama (6-5, 262, no 40, 4): Several teams said Lewis was a major medical risk stemming from elbow and right knee injuries, including a torn ACL in July 2018. “He’s really talented,” one scout said. “The durability stuff scares me. He’s got like top-15 talent if his body holds up.” He declared a year early after starting just four of 26 games. “Three years ago I would have said, ‘Oh, yeah, top-10 pick,’” said another scout. “Three years later he’s had two major injuries and missed almost two full seasons. This year he knew he was on the clock, damaged goods potentially, so he just cruised through the year. Just did everything to stay on the field and everything not to get hurt. He’s got a basketball body. He looks the part but, wow, doesn’t make any plays. He’s got the potential to, but just hasn’t. He’s a true boom or bust. He’s either going to hit big or he’s going to be out of this thing pretty quickly.” Lewis finished with 58 tackles (14 ½ for loss) and eight sacks. “He was mentioned in the first round in some mock drafts,” said a third scout. “My God, I hope somebody drafts him there.” Lewis is from Washington.
13. JONATHAN GREENARD, Florida (6-3 ½, 263, 4.87, 4-5): Greenard started six games at Louisville in 2016-’17, registering seven sacks in ’17 and suffered a season-ending wrist injury in the ’18 opener. He departed as a grad transfer for Florida, starting 12 games and piling up 9 ½ sacks. “He is an intense football player,” one scout said. “The guy is a Tasmanian Devil. His motor’s running all the time. What worries me about guys like that is if you step up to the next level and, unless you’re really special, all of that thunder and lightning doesn’t bring any rain. He was pretty much an arc rusher. He made plays.” He finished with 122 tackles (38 for loss) and 19 sacks. “He’s combative,” another said. “He plays hard. I like him. Taylor’s got a higher ceiling.” Greenard is from Hiram, Ga.
14. ALEX HIGHSMITH, Charlotte (6-3, 248, 4.70, 4-5): Highsmith was redshirted in 2015 after not being heavily recruited. Backed up in 2016-’17 and started at DE in 2018-’19. His statistics improved every year. “Had a really good game against Clemson (Sept. 21) and then his play kind of leveled off,” one scout said. “He didn’t play with the same motor after playing with his hair on fire against Clemson. Overachiever all the way. A rotational guy that has to play special teams.” Finished with 185 tackles (46 for loss) and 20 sacks. “He has zero strength,” said another scout. “He’s undersized. Looks like a 3-4 outside guy. He worked out pretty good.” Highsmith scored a Wonderlic of 26 and is from Wilmington, N.C.
15. D.J. WONNUM, South Carolina (6-4 ½, 258, 4.76, 5): He posted the best vertical jump (34 ½) of the top 15 at the position and also possesses long arms (34 1/8) and large hands (10 ½). “He’s an interesting guy in the fifth or sixth rounds,” one scout said. “He’s got sacks on that Georgia tackle, I can tell you that. He’s a great kid, too, but he’s a little undersized (for DE) and not that strong. He’ll make a team.” Wonnum missed eight games in 2018 with an ankle injury and started 30 of 43 games, finishing with 137 tackles (29 ½ for loss) and 14 sacks. “Really a 3-4 outside backer,” another scout said. “He can be hard to block. He can do enough in space where you can drop him. Not a high-end rusher. You have a better chance of hitting on (Syracuse’s) Alton Robinson as a rusher but he’s a good all-around football player. He could be starting for a 3-4 team.” Wonnum is from Stone Mountain, Ga.
OTHERS, in order: Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame; Casey Toohill, Stanford; Alton Robinson, Syracuse; Azur Kamara, Kansas; Delontae Scott, SMU; Trevis Gipson, Tulsa; James Smith-Williams, North Carolina State; Carter Coughlin, Minnesota; Kenny Willekes, Michigan State; Anfernee Jennings, Alabama; Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State; Jonathan Garvin, Miami; Nick Coe, Auburn; Mike Danna, Michigan; Oluwole Betiku, Illinois.
THE SKINNY
UNSUNG HERO
Casey Toohill, Stanford: Toohill made himself some money with a big combine: a 4.62 clocking in the 40, a position-best 39-inch vertical jump and a position-best 30 on the Wonderlic. A late bloomer, he didn’t start until his third year (2018), and that season ended after seven games with an ankle injury. He had an eight-sack season in 2019 as an OLB in a 3-4. “Awesome kid,” said one scout. “He’s on that fringe of maybe being able to start.”
SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE
Nick Coe, Auburn: A four-year DE out of Asheboro, N.C., Coe posted a seven-sack season in 2018 before the roof fell in. At 6-4 ½ and 277, he’s a physical specimen with loads of ability. But according to a scout, he fell asleep in meetings, complained about his role and ended up being benched. Now, he might not even be drafted. “You think you’ve got to give this guy a chance just because he’s body beautiful,” said one scout. “But the guy made like four plays all year.”
SCOUT TO REMEMBER
Walt Yowarsky: Yowarsky spent five decades in the NFL, first as a top lineman, then as an assistant coach and finally as an area scout for the Cowboys from 1977-2001. Described by one former colleague as “strong-willed” and “not afraid to ask tough questions of coaches and players.” In 1990, Yowarsky got on the proverbial table and helped persuade Jimmy Johnson to draft Florida RB Emmitt Smith in the first round. Citing several others members of the Dallas’ personnel department, ESPN reported that the final sentence in Yowarsky’s report read: “Smith will some day make Cowboys fans forget about Tony Dorsett.” He died in 2014 at age 86.
QUOTE TO NOTE
AFC executive in personnel: “The 3-cone, to me, is the most important drill because you see feet, you see hips, you see change of direction. How does football differ from baseball, basketball, track? Those are straight-line games, basically. Change of direction is the whole key in football.”
This is the 36th year Bob McGinn has written an NFL Draft Series. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-‘17) and BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19). Through 2014, scouts often were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts.
This is the fourth part of our nine-part series. Today, we dive into running backs. You can find quarterbacks here, offensive linemen here and wide receivers and tight ends here.
Running backs have gone from the belle of the ball to an ugly stepchild in the last generation. Guess what? It’s time to become reacquainted with the men that pound the rock.
Everybody in the scouting world seems smitten with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the little big man who played a major role in LSU’s undefeated national championship season. Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins join CEH in a formidable foursome atop most draft boards.
Stealthily creeping beneath the hype meter are another dozen or so backs who have the chops to do some damage as well. Everyone knows the position has been devalued in the last decade, but the fact that backs aren’t being selected as high anymore clearly hasn’t diminished their ability to play if not excel.
“There’s no Zekes, but does that even matter anymore?” said an executive in personnel. “You just want a good back, really. The (Todd) Gurleys, the Zeke’s (Elliott), does that even matter?”
It does, and it doesn’t. Just nine backs have been drafted in the first round over the last five years, and teams have gotten it right. Not one of the nine has been a bust, and at their best Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Elliott and Gurley were impact players.
That doesn’t begin to tell the story, however, about the influx of good players from the previous five classes of running backs.
In 2015, David Johnson and Tevin Coleman arrived in the third round, Jay Ajayi in the fifth and Raheem Mostert in free agency.
In 2016, it was Derrick Henry in the second round, Kenyan Drake in the third and Jordan Howard in the fifth. In 2017, the haul included Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon in the second round, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt and James Conner in the third, Marlon Mack and Tarik Cohen in the fourth, Aaron Jones in the fifth, Chris Carson in the seventh and Austin Ekeler as a free agent. In 2018, the second round included Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones and Kerryon Johnson while free agency produced Phillip Lindsay and Gus Edwards. Last year, Miles Sanders was a second-round pick, Devin Singletary, Alexander Mattison and David Montgomery were thirds and Tony Pollard and Benny Snell were fourths. Others have produced for teams as well.
Some of them had more fanfare than others. In some of those years, not many people were talking pre-draft about it being a banner year for running backs. As the wide receivers, tackles and, of course, quarterbacks dominate the chatter on the offensive side this spring, beneath the surface many teams detect another bumper crop of ball carriers awaiting destinations.
“It’s been proven that you don’t necessarily have to take a running back super high,” an AFC personnel man said. “There are some good ones, and they’re coming in all shapes and sizes. The NFL has become a different game that way in terms of what’s acceptable for a running back. Four different guys could be classified as the top guy this year.”
Edwards-Helaire is short, but he’s not small. Swift is the best receiver of the upper crust whereas Taylor is the fastest and Dobbins could be the most complete.
All or none could get into the first round. It doesn’t matter. Teams seem confident all four will be producers, barring injury.
“Unless you’re Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott, you ain’t going in the first round,” said another executive in personnel. “That’s because you can get somebody late second or third round, sometimes in the fourth round, that is a good running back. It’s the new NFL.”
The height of backs also has changed over time. Ten years ago, seven of my top 10 backs stood at least 5-11. This year, Boston College’s A.J. Dillon is the only one that does. “They’re all 5-8, 5-9,” said another scout. “The game has changed.”
The shortest of the top 25 backs is LSU’s Edwards-Helaire. He’s a shade over 5-7, a 1,448-yard rusher who also found time to catch 55 passes for the prolific Bayou Bengals. “Love him,” an AFC personnel man said. “If Joe Burrow was the star, (Edwards-Helaire) won the Academy Award for best supporting actor. He’s a little engine that could. He is a terrific football player.”
LSU went with journeyman Nick Brossette (5-11, 210, 4.70) in their 10-3 season of 2018. An undrafted free agent in 2019, he’s out of football. Edwards-Helaire had to be content with 146 carries and 11 receptions that year. “I don’t think they knew what they had,” said another AFC scout. “Last summer, I missed him, too. He’s 5-7, sharing reps, and you think he’s just a good little college player. He’s just been overlooked because of the way he looks when he gets off the bus.”
In chronological order, here are the names and height-weight-speed entering their drafts of seven players that have been compared in some form or fashion to Edwards-Helaire by at least one personnel man: Kevin Faulk (5-7 ½, 205, 4.48), Darren Sproles (5-6, 187, 4.48), Maurice Jones-Drew (5-7, 207, 4.39), Danny Woodhead (5-7 ½, 197, 4.41), Cohen (5-6 ½, 177, 4.41), Austin Ekeler (5-8 ½, 198, 4.48) and Devin Singletary (5-7 ½, 201, 4.65).
One significant difference is Edwards-Helaire ran just 4.59 at the combine, a least one-tenth of a second slower than six of those seven success stories. “But he has maybe the best play speed I’ve seen in like five years among running backs,” said one scout. “His game against Alabama and even his combine workout … his first step is full speed. It’s absolutely crazy how fast he plays.”
My poll of 18 evaluators asked them to rank their top five backs. As always, a first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place was worth four and so on.
Swift led with 77 points and 10 firsts, followed closely by Taylor (63, five), Edwards-Helaire (51, one) and Dobbins (50, two). The other vote-getters were Cam Akers (11), Zack Moss (seven), Dillon (five), Ke’Shawn Vaughn (five) and Darrynton Evans (one).
Even beyond the leading dozen, there are down-the-liners such as Miami’s DeeJay Dallas, Florida’s Lamical Perine, Cincinnati’s Mike Warren and Illinois State’s James Robinson that scouts have studied more than just casually.
It’s a good bet that the next Aaron Jones or Phillip Lindsay is sitting deep on draft boards just waiting to explode in the NFL. Running backs are very, very much alive and well. “It’s a good class,” an NFC decision-maker said. “There are interesting backs all the way through.”
Perhaps for the first time, several teams say college football hasn’t sent forth a conventional fullback of merit. So if you’re a club that needs one, it’s a game of projecting shorter tight ends to do the dirty blocking work from the backfield.
RANKING THE RUNNING BACKS
(Photo by Chamberlain Smith)
RUNNING BACKS
1. D’ANDRE SWIFT, Georgia (5-8, 212, 4.48, 1-2): Swift followed in the footsteps of recent top backs Todd Gurley, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb at Georgia. “Dalvin Cook isn’t a bad comparison,” said one scout. “He’ll be a stud.” He was limited to 440 carries and 73 receptions because of leg and foot injuries during his three-year career. “Even this year they didn’t let him carry the load when he was the No. 1 back,” said another scout. “When I compare him to successful NFL backs, he’s not elite in any category. He is more well-rounded than Dalvin Cook. He’s a better route runner. He’s got better hands. But Cook’s one-cut vision and acceleration are better, and he’s bigger. Swift can line up and run choice routes. He can track the ball down the field. He’s got three-down value.” Gained 2,885 yards for a school-record 6.56 per carry. Another personnel man said Swift wasn’t as good as Cook or Chubb. “He’s the only back (in the draft) that really scares you in the pass game,” a fourth scout said. “That’s why he’s going to go higher. He can create mismatches in the pass game, he’s a good runner and he tested well.” Swift is from Philadelphia and scored 17 on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test.
2. JONATHAN TAYLOR, Wisconsin (5-10 ½, 221, 4.38, 1-2): A third-year junior, Taylor averaged a whopping 2,058 rushing yards per season. “(Melvin) Gordon was pretty darn good, but Taylor is better,” one scout said in assessing Badgers backs over the last 25 years. “I think it’s slight, the difference. Montee Ball would probably be next, but the drinking got him out. (Ron) Dayne and Terrell Fletcher and John Clay. John Clay sucked; he was a good college player. Brent Moss, golly. Dope got him but he was pretty darn good, too, wasn’t he? The top-end speed with Taylor’s vision is in the top tier of guys I’ve done.” He finished with 926 carries, averaged 6.7, scored 55 TDs from scrimmage and caught 42 passes, including 26 in 2019. “Only bugaboo with him is ball security,” said another scout. “He had 18 fumbles, and he lost 15. That’s very high. His lower (body) is so thick that he just wouldn’t go down, which gives everybody time to swarm him. I think in the NFL he’ll go down a little easier.” Several scouts said he caught the ball adequately at pro day. “The elite size-speed combo is where people will buy in,” said a third scout. “He’s going to disappoint you between the tackles. He doesn’t run to his size. He’s not going hit up in there. You watch the Ohio State games, he’s cringing before he even gets to the line. He’s cringing in the hole. That was really disappointing. I’ve seen it where NFL running back coaches can get that out (of players). That was the big knock on Le’Veon (Bell) coming out, that he didn’t run very big.” He posted a Wonderlic score of 21 and is from tiny Salem, N.J. “Melvin Gordon was different,” said a fourth scout. “He was slick and explosive and made big plays all the time. This guy is strong, not powerful. Excellent vision, excellent patience. Kind of a typical Wisconsin back. He just might have more of the workout-type attributes that you’re looking for. I’d rather have Gordon, all day.”
3. CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE, LSU (5-7, 207, 4.59, 1-2): He declared for the draft a year early after making dramatic strides as a third-year junior. “He’s so flexible and runs so low, he doesn’t give you anything to hit,” said one scout. “He’s got great contact balance. He’s creative and elusive. He’s got really natural hands. Talking to the people at LSU, I really like his makeup, too. Joe Burrow said he’s the best teammate he ever had. That’s real.” He never started a game in his first two seasons and finished with 370 carries for 2,103 yards (5.7) and 23 touchdowns to go with 69 receptions. “He is a 25, 30-carry a game guy,” said another scout. “He’s put together.” Has exciting ability as a receiver all over the formation. “I think he will take over that third-down role the minute he walks in the office,” said a third scout. “You can screen him, do things to get him the ball in space. Kevin Faulk kind of had that small, stocky stature. He’s a little squirt but I like him a lot. He reminds me of that kid that came out of Florida Atlantic (Devin Singletary) and played well this year. He’s more quick than Maurice Jones-Drew (but) Maurice had breakaway speed.” Scored 21 on the Wonderlic. “Some guys are too short, but I don’t think he is,” said a fourth scout. “He’s thick and just carries his weight so well. For some people it can be a benefit. Like Tarik Cohen. He’s short but thick. Or Russell Wilson, short and thick. It’s so hard to get them down because of their center of gravity.” Edwards-Helaire is from Baton Rouge, La.
“We had an awesome interview with him,” said a scout on JK Dobbins. “He’s really smart, really upbeat. He loves football. The whole thing is important to him.”(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
4. J.K. DOBBINS, Ohio State (5-9 ½, 209, no 40, 1-2): Dobbins is a third-year junior and a three-year starter. “Like him,” said one scout. “He runs hard. Just a natural runner. He’s good on first contact. He runs with an edge. He’s going to be a really good back.” Dobbins played his best in big games and finished with 724 carries for 4,459 (6.2) and 38 TDs to go with 71 receptions. “We had an awesome interview with him,” said another scout. “He’s really smart, really upbeat. He loves football. The whole thing is important to him. He knows what he’s doing. He wants to be coached.” His deficiencies in pass protection became pronounced as the season went along. “He’s OK but he’s not special,” said a third scout. “He’s a good backup back. I don’t see him breaking tackles. He’s got to have room. He’s quick. He’s not a power back. He’s kind of a change-of-pace guy.” Dobbins is from LaGrange, Texas. “I’ve got him as the best back because I think he has more three-down ability,” said a fourth scout. “You can actually move him out of the backfield and do things. He can become a really good player in this league.” Dobbins posted a Wonderlic of 16.
5. CAM AKERS, Florida State (5-10 ½, 217, 4.46, 2-3): Akers joined Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook as the only Seminoles with more than one 1,000-yard rushing season. “You talk about a guy who was stuck with a lemon and trying to make lemonade out of it at FSU,” said one scout. “A nightmare, and he persevered through it. He’s a hell of a player. He was a quarterback in high school (Clinton, Miss.). He went to FSU when they were riding high and the whole program fell apart around him. I give him credit. That was a disaster. Terrible line. He was getting hit before the ball got to him.” A third-year junior, he carried 586 times for 2,874 (4.9) and 27 TDs to go with 69 receptions. “He ran like a scalded dog (in the 40), but he don’t play that way,” another scout said. “I questioned his toughness and run instincts. They did throw the ball to him. Cam Akers is the kind of kid who knows who to block and he will get in their way. Some of these kids won’t even get in the way. They try to cut.” Some scouts insist he isn’t special; others insist he is. “He’s not a great makeup guy,” said a third scout. “One of these talented guys that never put all the commitment there. But the guy has the talent to be an every-down back. It’s where you want to throw the dice on him.”
6. ZACK MOSS, Utah (5-9 ½, 223, 4.62, 3): Moss did himself no favors with a bad 40 at the combine. “But a lot of good backs run in the 4.6’s,” said one scout. “He’s going to give you an identity. Teams that want to be more of a ball-control, run-heavy team, this is your guy. He’s going to be a workhorse. He runs with an attitude. He really was Utah’s offense this year.” He finished with 712 carries for 4,067 (5.7) and 38 TDs to go with 66 receptions. Played four seasons, starting 37 of 45 games. “Eddie Lacy is probably a good comparison,” a second scout said. “Not as good. Runs hard, quick feet. Easily breaks arm tackles. No real burst. Degree of tightness. Aggressive, hard-charging runner.” He’s a medical question because of knee, ankle and shoulder injuries. “He’s big and has some fluid movement but I just didn’t see any suddenness, any burst,” said a third scout. “To me, he was just a guy. I didn’t see a great role (for) in the passing game. Maybe he fits your deal as a big back or maybe a 4-minute back or whatever.” Moss is from Hialeah Gardens, Fla.
7. KE’SHAWN VAUGHN, Vanderbilt (5-9 ½, 214, 4.50, 3-4): Vaughn played for bad teams at Illinois (2015-’16) and Vandy (2018-’19) and could be a sleeper. “Heck, I could see him eventually starting in the league,” said one scout. “He’s got burst. He’s talented. On an undermanned football team he had to shoulder the load this year. He’s kind of been forgotten about.” Vaughn started eight of 22 games for the Illini and 21 of 24 for the Commodores. “He can get the home run and the tough yards,” another scout said. “He (has) explosive speed. He has improved in the passing game but he’s still not ideal.” He finished with 572 carries for 3,296 (5.8) and 30 TDs to go with 67 receptions. “He’s stiff in the ankles and he played with nobody, but he’s a tough son of a gun now,” a third scout said. “He’s tough as shit. He played a lot better last year (2018) when (Pat) Shurmur’s kid (Kyle) was the quarterback.” Vaughn is from Nashville.
8. A.J. DILLON, Boston College (6-0 ½, 247, 4.50, 3-4): Dillon played just three seasons, but he holds the school record for yards (4,382) and TDs (38). “He and Derrick Henry are similar in the sense they’re better in carry 30 than carry five,” said one scout. “They lull you to sleep. They’re taller, not physical guys. But when you get to the third or fourth quarter, they’re just so heavy that people just get tired of hitting them. Derrick Henry was a much more natural runner coming out.” He stunned some NFL personnel by running a fast 40. Also led the backs in the Wonderlic (30), vertical jump (41 inches) and broad jump (10-11). “I didn’t think he had any speed,” said another scout. “His toughness wasn’t that good. He didn’t run like a power back. He wasn’t a tackle breaker. Very limited (as a receiver) but he can catch. He’s big and he’s hard to bring down. He should be knocking people down. He should be like a bowling ball with the pins but he’s not.” He finished with 845 carries, a 5.2 average and 21 receptions. “In the old days this guy would be a fullback,” a third scout said. “In goal-line and short-yardage the guy would be excellent. He gets 3 yards each time. He takes people with him.” Dillon is from New London, Conn.
“He’s fast, mean,” a scout said of Darrynton Evans. “He might turn out better than some of these more heralded guys.” (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
9. DARRYNTON EVANS, Appalachian State (5-10, 203, 4.47, 3-4): Evans backed up in 2016, sat out ’17 with an injury redshirt and started 22 of 27 games in 2018-’19 before declaring a year early. “He’s a finesse guy,” said one scout. “He’s not a very strong inside runner, but get him on the perimeter and he’s got a really natural feel. He can slip (blocks) and make guys miss, and he’s a really good kickoff returner.” He finished with 482 carries for 2,884 (6.0) and 25 TDs to go with 39 receptions. “He’s fast, mean,” a second scout said. “He might turn out better than some of these more heralded guys. He’s got every bit as much ability as some of them. He’s just coming from a small program, albeit a successful one. He’s a good sleeper. It would not surprise me to see this guy starting within a year.” Evans is from Oak Hill, Fla. “He’s got good hands and some return ability, but he is not tough and he will not block,” said a third scout. “He’s not a tough kid at all. But he is an athletic, talented kid. Fourth round.”
10. ANTHONY McFARLAND, Maryland (5-8, 208, 4.44, 4): McFarland’s claim to fame was a 21-carry, 298-yard explosion against Ohio State in November 2018 when he scored on runs of 81 and 75 yards. “Just looking at that game, you get excited about him,” said one scout. “I remember there was one run, you go, ‘Who is this?’ Didn’t have quite the production you’d expect. He is a talented guy with speed.” McFarland departed with two years of eligibility remaining. “We took him off the board because his football character is absolutely atrocious,” said another scout. “He’s like a child. Really high maintenance. Every week there’s going to be something with this guy. Now, talent-wise, whew. He’s a weapon.” He ran a fast 40 at the combine but fared poorly in the vertical jump (29 ½) and broad jump (9-8). “Oh, man, he can accelerate,” a third scout said. “He looks like Dalvin Cook. He’s a little smaller but he has that type of speed. If you can give him a crease in a one-cut scheme I think he could be effective. Dalvin’s a more complete player, especially when you factor in the off-the-field stuff.” He finished with 239 carries for 1,636 (6.8) and 12 TDs to go with 24 receptions. McFarland’s Wonderlic score of 11 was the lowest among the top 12 backs. He’s from Hyattsville, Md.
11. ANTONIO GIBSON, Memphis (6-0 ½, 228, 4.41, 4): Gibson played two seasons in junior college and caught six passes as a backup WR in 2018 at Memphis before exploding for 12 TDs from scrimmage in ‘19. He moved from WR to RB late in the season, then played RB at the Senior Bowl. “The guy just came out of the blue,” said one scout. “The last two games they stuck him in the backfield and the guy just exploded. He looked extremely natural playing back there.” Gibson opened more eyes in Mobile, especially during the game. “You want to watch the Senior Bowl game,” another scout said. “He flashes speed. He’s got power. He can catch the ball. Will run a little high. Has to get that down. Will run aggressively inside. Has the feet to make defenders miss on inside runs. Huge ceiling.” Just 44 receptions and 33 carries in his career, and he scored 12 on the Wonderlic. “They had Tony Pollard the year before, and he kind of made a name for himself at Mobile,” said a third scout. “Gibson’s the same way. As a receiver this dude breaks a million tackles. If you draft him you need a really creative coordinator. He could end up being a better player than Jonathan Taylor.” Gibson is from Stockbridge, Ga.
12. JOSHUA KELLEY, UCLA (5-10 ½, 212, 4.53, 4-5): Kelley played two seasons at UC Davis, departed after a coaching change and walked on at UCLA, redshirting in 2017. He started in 2018-’19, surpassing 1,000 yards each year. “Similar to Jamaal Williams,” said one scout. “I’d take Kelley by a nod because he has more upside than Jamaal. He may not get much love on draft day, but he’s going to be a good pro.” Kelley finished with 647 carries for 3,442 (5.3) and 31 TDs to go with 42 catches and has an effervescent personality. “He’s going to play for somebody,” a second scout said. “He’s too knowledgeable, know what I mean?” He rushed 15 times for 105 yards in the Senior Bowl. Said a third scout: “I got him buried. Tight hips, dances too much. Dime-a-dozen running back.” Kelley is from Lancaster, Calif.
OTHERS, in order: DeeJay Dallas, Miami; Lamical Perine, Florida; Eno Benjamin, Arizona State; Mike Warren, Cincinnati; Patrick Taylor, Memphis; James Robinson, Illinois State; LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan; Rico Dowdle, South Carolina; Darius Anderson, TCU; Raymond Calais, Louisiana; Javon Leake, Maryland; J.J. Taylor, Arizona; Xavier Jones, SMU; JaMycal Hasty, Baylor; Toren Young, Iowa.
FULLBACKS
One scout calls fullback Josiah Deguara a “Swiss army knife.” (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
1. JOSIAH DEGUARA, Cincinnati (6-2 ½, 242, 4.72, 5-6): Deguara is a four-year player, two-year starter. “Swiss Army knife guy,” one scout said. “Played fullback at the Senior Bowl. He runs well. He’s a little short so you’re not going to use him on the line as much. He’s a wing, a fullback. He’s tough as nails. Really competitive guy. He’s a guy you want in your locker room. He’ll play on all the special teams. It’s hard for teams to find a fullback who can actually be good on teams. He will be that.” Finished with 92 catches, a record for Bearcats’ tight ends, for 1,117 (12.1) and 12 TDs. “He kind of did it all for them,” said a second scout. “He’s a good athlete. He’s quick, has good ball skills and is a competitive blocker. He’s a good football player.” Deguara is from Folsom, Calif.
2. JAKE BARGAS, North Carolina (6-1 1/2, 254, no 40, 7-FA): With no collegiate fullbacks available, teams are beating the bushes looking for tight ends to convert. Bargas played four years for the Tar Heels, starting just six of 48 games (none as a senior) as a tight end. “This guy’s strong, he’s physical,” one scout said. “You like the way he stones guys, you know? Not a great athlete. He’d be a good practice-squad fullback.” Finished with 21 receptions for 189 (9.0) and two TDs. From Boca Raton, Fla.
3. SEWO OLONILUA, TCU (6-2 ½, 232, 4.64, 7-FA): He played behind Darius Anderson, starting just nine of 52 games. “He leaves you scratching your head because he’s big and pretty and talented,” said one scout. “He’s got talent. They couldn’t get it out of him, and TCU’s a tough-minded program. If they couldn’t for four years, now we’re going to get it out of him?” He played fullback at the NFLPA all-star game, and because there are no fullbacks some teams have him on their boards at that position. “He is a strong short-yardage runner,” said a second scout. “I’ve never seen him block. He can catch. He runs hard.” Olonilua finished with 348 carries for 1,624 (4.7) and 18 TDs to go with 60 receptions and is from Kingwood, Texas.
OTHERS, in order: Reggie Gilliam, Toledo; James Lockhart, Baylor; Dominick Wood-Anderson, Tennessee.
THE SKINNY
UNSUNG HERO
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State: Benjamin is one of the toughest, most reckless players in the draft. “Breaks a ton of tackles,” said one scout. “The offensive line there was horrible so a lot of times he had to create stuff on his own.” Rushed for 1,642 yards as a sophomore and 1,083 as a junior before declaring. At 5-9 and 207, his 4.56 clocking in the 40 hurt him more than it helped.
SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE
Lamical Perine, RB, Florida: He led the Gators in rushing from 2017-’19 but never gained more than 826 yards. Possesses excellent hands but ran just 4.59 at 5-10 ½, 216. Wonderlic of 8. “Thinks he has all the answers,” one scout said. “Not sure I trust him.” His cousin, Samaje, was the Redskins’ fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2017 and led them in rushing (603) as a rookie.
SCOUT TO REMEMBER
Dick Mansperger: A meticulous Californian, Mansperger was described by one of his peers as “professional” and “focused.” In 1965, Mansperger left collegiate coaching to join the Cowboys as a scout. He spent a decade there, then departed for Seattle in 1976 to become director of player personnel for the expansion Seahawks. During his highly successful tenure he “stole” quarterback Jim Zorn from the Cowboys’ clutches and then uncovered free agent Dave Krieg to succeed him. Mansperger returned to Dallas in 1984 and, as director of college scouting, played a vital role in building three Super Bowl-winning teams. He quit the Cowboys in 1992 after a salary dispute with owner Jerry Jones. Mansperger died in 2013 at age 80.
QUOTE TO NOTE
NFL personnel man: “I try not to overscout pass pro. At that (collegiate) level, they don’t spend a ton of time on it. They don’t get coached on a lot of the mechanics of it. If a back’s willing to put his face in there and has enough strike to stop the charge, I keep him alive.”
GUARDS
1. TRISTAN WIRFS, Iowa (6-5, 320, 4.87, 1): Wirfs is a third-year junior from Mount Vernon, Iowa (pop. 4,000). “All-state wrestler,” said one scout. “May be a better guard. Strong, physical run blocker. Has enough size and strength not to get bull-rushed. Strong hips. You may start him at right tackle, but eventually you’ll move him inside to guard.” Made 29 starts at RT, four at LT. “After he tested at the combine people started saying, ‘He can play left tackle,’” said another scout. “There’s no verifiable evidence of that. He was not good at left tackle for Iowa.” He blew out the combine with guard-bests in the 40, vertical jump (36 ½) and broad jump (10-1). “You can play him anywhere you want,” a third scout said. “He’s really good. He had great numbers at the combine but other than blocking the inside power move all he needs is technique. He’ll be a star.” He posted a Wonderlic of 23. “He’s a better athlete than football player at this point,” said a fourth scout. “He isn’t your typical polished Iowa NFL-ready guy from a technique and awareness standpoint. He’s not ready to play. Where you draft him you’re going to have to plug him in and start him, and he’s going to lose you some games next year. But he’s obviously a phenomenal test athlete so some team will get enamored with that. The tape is really up and down.”
2. ROBERT HUNT, Louisiana (6-5, 323, no 40, 2): Started at LG in 2016-’17 and at RT in 2018-’19. “Tough guy,” said one scout. “Got some initial pop. He can strike you. Not an elite athlete. Got some waist-bend issues. But there’s a lot to work with.” His chances for an early selection took a hit because of a groin injury that required surgery in January and cost him the last seven games and post-season participation. “Had he been able to go to the Senior Bowl and showed out against tough competition he might be a guy we’re talking about late in the first round,” another scout said. “He plays with a mean streak. He’s powerful. He can move people.” His Wonderlic score of 13 was second-lowest among the top guards. “He’s actually much more football smart than you want to give him credit for,” said a third scout. “He’s going to go pretty high because he can play four positions. He’s a little bit rough around the edges. You don’t want to rush him. You don’t want to depend on him to do too much. Maybe third round, but tackles usually get overdrafted so second wouldn’t surprise me.” From Burkeville, Texas.
3. SHANE LeMIEUX, Oregon (6-4, 308, 5.12, 3): Started all 52 games at LG from 2016-’19. “That is a tough, competitive bastard,” one scout said. “It surprised me. I wouldn’t think coming out of the Oregon offense there would be a guy like this from what they do. But this guy’s mean. He’s limited athletically a little bit. He’s got straight-line speed but some stiffness. Once you get him out in space he struggles a little bit. He’s more of a power-game player.” Short arms (32 ¼), relatively smaller hands (9 ½). Two scouts said he reminded them of Richie Incognito. “Just style of play, nasty, strong hands, sturdy in pass pro — not all the other stuff (with Incognito),” said one. “Not the most agile in space. Grit, finishing to the whistle, that’s him. Realistically, he’ll probably go third, fourth round. Wherever he goes, I think he’s a starter.” He’s from Yakima, Wash. “Sort of a meat-and-potatoes guard,” said a third scout. “Probably a one-spot guy. You can’t move him all over the place. He’s solid. He’ll be an NFL starter.”
4. JONAH JACKSON, Ohio State (6-3 ½, 306, 5.26, 3): Jackson started for 1 ½ seasons before graduating from Rutgers and playing a final season at the other end of the Big Ten standings as a grad transfer. “You walked on the field at Ohio State and looked at the offensive linemen and you could pick out the guy from Rutgers right away,” said one scout. “He’s got a horrible body. He’s a little bit behind having been at Rutgers. The beginning-of-the-year film wasn’t as good in a new scheme. But then, by the end of the year, he was playing well, and he did well at the Senior Bowl. He doesn’t do everything pretty, but he’s a good football player. He’s a great, great guy, and he’s got some mean to him.” Started 16 games for the Scarlet Knights, mostly at RG but also three times at center, before moving to LG in Columbus. “I hate Rutgers players, but that Jackson kid, he’ll play 10 years,” said another scout. “He’s a tough (guy) and he’s smart.” From Media, Pa.
5. BEN BARTCH, St. John’s (Minn.) (6-5 ½, 309, 5.16, 3): Reminiscent of Ali Marpet, an NCAA Division III guard from Hobart (N.Y.) who was the Buccaneers’ second-round pick in 2015. Marpet is a five-year interior starter for Tampa Bay. “He’s the best small-school guy since Ali Marpet,” said one personnel man. “This Bartch kid may surprise everybody. They go down to the Senior Bowl and they either wilt or they fit in. He fit in.” Bartch made four receptions in two seasons as a backup TE for the Johnnies, located in Collegeville, Minn., before adding weight and making the move to LT in 2018. He also played tackle in Mobile but some teams say his arm length (32 7/8) is better suited inside. “He liked the weight room,” said another scout. “He put on a ton of weight (he was 280 last spring). It’s a small-college weight room, and he had to eat on his own and all that stuff. I think he did the most that he possibly could with his development. He’s an intriguing guy, for sure. He has the temperament that you want.” Bartch is from McMinnville. Ore.
6. DAMIEN LEWIS, LSU (6-2, 327, 5.24, 3-4): Lewis played two seasons of junior-college ball before starting all 28 games at RG from 2018-’19 for LSU. “Like him,” said one scout. “He is f—— powerful. He’s short, but he’s compact. The key with him is, will he be able to play center? He’s a really good Day 3 guy. He’s too short but he’ll end up playing for somebody.” His ability to play center might hinge on his ability to make the line calls. His Wonderlic score of 11 was low among the top guards. “Wasn’t crazy about him,” said another scout. “Typical big, slow guy. Competes. Wasn’t much there.” Lewis is from Canton, Miss.
7. JOHN SIMPSON, Clemson (6-4, 320, 5.26, 4): Simpson backed up for two years before starting all 29 games at LG in 2018-’19. “There are some flashes of him controlling or pressing out defensive linemen but also inconsistencies,” said one scout. “Lacks true explosive power off the ball and shock on contact.” Weighed 336 a year ago. “He’s tough but he has no feet,” said a second scout. “Clemson’s offensive line, with the exception of the (sophomore) left tackle, was not good.” Had the most bench-press reps (34), the longest arms (34 1/8) and the biggest hands (11 ¼) among the top guards. “He did just enough to keep you interested,” said a third scout. “Problem is, he’s a guard only. That reduces his value.” From Charleston, S.C.
8. HAKEEM ADENIJI, Kansas (6-4 ½, 301, 5.18, 4): Four-year starter at LT. “I like that guy,” one scout said. “He’s developed a lot over the last two years and has more to go. Maybe the volatility of that program has held him back a little bit. He had four different offensive line coaches during his time there. Smart kid, good kid, good athlete, has the right size, has the right feet, has the right length (33 ¾ arms). I think he’ll start out at guard, but ultimately I think he’d be better as a tackle because he’s more long and athletic than strong and stout.” His Wonderlic score of 34 led the top-10 guards and he had a strong week at the Senior Bowl. “I don’t like him,” said another scout. “Small-boned athlete. Not a very strong player. Hips get high in pass protection. Wish I saw better control of his body. Doesn’t always finish. … He just kind of creeps around and gets in the way. He’d be an oozer, too.” From Garland, Texas.
9. KEVIN DOTSON, Louisiana (6-4, 313, no 40, 4-5): Dotson wasn’t invited to the combine. “He’s very intriguing,” said one scout. “He’s going to be one of the first non-combine guys taken. He’s physical. He doesn’t give up any pressure. One of the more productive players in that conference (Sun Belt).” He started 52 of 53 games at RG. Dotson, who’s from East Iberville, La., is the son of a high school coach. His two uncles, DT Alvin McKinley and FB Dennis McKinley, were drafted in the middle rounds and had substantial NFL careers. Short arms (32 ½) but big hands (10 5/8). “He’s got stiff ankles,” another scout said. “Non-athletic power guard. Phone-booth kind of player. He might be a late pick.”
10. LOGAN STENBERG, Kentucky (6-6, 317, 5.34, 4-5): Stenberg was a three-year starter at LG. “Remember Joe Jacoby and Conrad Dobler, guys like that?” one scout said. “He’s an old-time player. They just want to get in the dirt. I’m sure if he doesn’t get 60 pins a game he’s had a bad game. Tough, nasty, mauler type. Questionable lateral quickness and change of direction. I don’t like this guy as an athlete, but I like him as a player. These guys line up and play.” He has short arms (32 ½) and was heavily penalized, but he’s durable. Another scout calls Stenberg, from Madison, Ala, a “country boy … he has a pickup truck, chews tobacco. Mother’s a teacher, father’s retired Army lieutenant colonel. Has a farm now and raises cattle. Smart kid.”
OTHERS, in order: Ben Bredeson, Michigan; Netane Muti, Fresno State; Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson; Michael Onwenu, Michigan; Cameron Clark, Charlotte; Jon Runyan, Michigan; John Molchon, Boise State; Solomon Kindley, Georgia; Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island; Cordel Iwuagwu, TCU; Simon Stepaniak, Indiana.
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CENTERS
1. CESAR RUIZ, Michigan (6-2 ½, 307, 5.11, 1-2): Ruiz started five games at RG as a true freshman and then all 26 at center the past two seasons before declaring a year early. “I think he’s going to be a Pro Bowl center,” said one scout. He had a long afternoon against Alabama’s Raekwon Davis in the Citrus Bowl, according to one scout. “He’s like a (Garrett) Bradbury,” the scout said. “He’s really going to be excellent for a zone team because he’s so quick. Really got to the second level. Only negative I had was the strength thing. He just had OK strength. He’ll have problems like Bradbury has problems, but he can do all the stuff that Bradbury did.” Led the centers in vertical jump (33), broad jump (9-5), bench press (28) and hand size (11). His arms were 33 1/8. “He’s the top center,” said a third scout. “Right at prototype from the size and the length. He’s got good feet and movement skills. Smart, strong, good hands.” He posted a Wonderlic score of 21. “We have some division on him,” said a fourth scout. “I think he will be a starter. I don’t know if he’ll be a win-with starter. I don’t think he’s a great athlete. He is strong, really strong naturally. He didn’t measure as big as we thought he’d be. He’s better than Mason Cole as a center. He wasn’t a guy that excited me, but there’s only 32 centers.” Ruiz is from Camden, N.J.
2. LLOYD CUSHENBERRY, LSU (6-3, 312, 5.28, 2-3): Cushenberry, from Carvilla, La., is a fourth-year junior and a two-year starter. “He’ll be a Pro Bowl center,” said one scout. “His wingspan (84 ¼ inches) is the longest I’ve ever seen on a center. Phenomenal kid. Held his own against (Javon) Kinlaw in the one-on-one’s (at the Senior Bowl). He’s about the only one that did that. … Elgton Jenkins played great for the Packers (in 2019), but Cushenberry is a better prospect than Jenkins.” Made himself some money in Mobile. “I thought he was kind of a heavy-footed player,” another scout said. “At the Senior Bowl, he showed he had feet like a dancing bear. Now I think he’s going in the second. He’s got an anchor ass to him. Plays like a good athlete.” Longest arms (34 1/8) among centers, hands were 10 3/8. “He’s not displacing anybody (in the run game),” said another scout. “Can become a good depth player.” He posted a Wonderlic of 15. “He can anchor and has length,” a fourth scout said. “He does some nice things, but he gets beat too much when isolated.”
3. MATT HENNESSY, Temple (6-4, 307, 5.18, 3-4): Hennessy is a fourth-year junior and three-year starter. “He’s a really good technician,” said one scout. “Really light on his feet. He can bend. He’s tough. High intangibles. Not powerful, but not deficient.” Hennessy is from Bardonia, N.Y. and “people love him,” another scout said. “He worked out really well. Little bit physically overmatched but plays hard, gets after it, tough guy.” His Wonderlic of 34 was tops among centers. Arms were merely 32 ¼. “I thought he was fifth, sixth round,” a third scout said. “He’s not very big. He got tossed around. Their blocking scheme at Temple is everybody goes left or everybody goes right. Pass block, run block. You’re just sealing a gap. It’s not like taking somebody head-on all then time. I didn’t see him play to any of his numbers. He’s a good football player, but I think he’s a backup.”
4. DANNY PINTER, Ball State (6-4, 306, 4.88, 4-5): Pinter played TE in 2016-’17 (nine receptions) before moving to RT in the 2018 off-season. “He’s got 31 7/8 arms,” said one scout. “That’s why I made him a center. He’s going to make a hell of a center.” Center is purely a projection. “He worked out well,” said a second scout. “He’s a good athlete. But you’re talking about a guy from Ball State that you’re going to fall in love with as a center and you’ve never seen him play center?” He posted a Wonderlic of 27. “He can play center, which he’s been working at,” a third scout said. “Got all the intangibles for center. He’s athletic, super tough, really a competitive guy. Goes for the finish. Will take some work to develop him where he can play guard, too. He’s never done it. Awesome kid.” From South Bend, Ind.
5. NICK HARRIS, Washington (6-1, 302, 5.13, 5-6): Harris made 17 starts at guard in 2016-’17 before starting 25 games at center in 2018-’19. “He looks awful on the hoof,” one scout said. “He’s just a pear-shaped, bad-body guy. But you put the tape on and he’s a damn good player.” Harris is durable and smart (Wonderlic of 30). His arms were 32 1/8. “He’s fine, he’s a good athlete,” another scout said. “But I hope we play him.” Harris is from Inglewood, Calif. “I love him, but he’s small,” said a third scout. “He super smart, gets to the second level, all that. But it seems like every time he measured in somewhere he lost an inch. I think he’ll play because of who he is. I thought he’d be a second- or third-round pic but with those measurables it’ll scare teams off.”
OTHERS, in order: Keith Ismael, San Diego State; Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin; Darryl Williams, Mississippi State; Trystan Colon-Castillo, Missouri; Cohl Cabral, Arizona State; Justin Herron, Wake Forest; Jake Hanson, Oregon.
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THE SKINNY
UNSUNG HERO
Trey Adams, T, Washington: The course of his career was altered in October 2017 when he suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact injury. Then he needed season-ending lumbar disc surgery two games into 2018. Adams (6-8, 318) returned to start at LT in ’19 but wasn’t effective and then ran 5.60 at the combine. “He was a sure-fire No. 1 pick in ’17,” said one scout. “After that he was a shadow of himself. Even when he walks now he looks like he’s still limping.”
SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE
Saahdiq Charles, T, LSU: This is a first-round talent. Charles (6-4, 321, 4.98), a three-year starter at LG, has terrific feet, flexibility and body control. “Nobody ever beats this guy,” said one scout. “…But guys might get scared away from this dude.” Multiple failed drugs for marijuana led to a six-game suspension last season.
SCOUT TO REMEMBER
Joe Woolley: A long, tall Arkansan, he was a successful prep coach in Texas and then a scouting/personnel director for the Oilers, Saints, Eagles and Cardinals for about 20 years. One of Bum Phillips’ favorite people, Woolley worked under him in Houston and New Orleans before going to Philly and Phoenix with Buddy Ryan. In New Orleans, he was responsible for establishing an extensive film library that became a model for the NFL. Never one for a loss for words, Woolley loved to wisecrack at draft time. When asked about Wayne Simmons, the combustible linebacker from Clemson, not long before the 1993 draft, Woolley drawled, “Keep him sober and not beating up bartenders and he’ll be all right. He’s got a little shaky character in him but I’ll tell you what. I’d rather have them f—— that will fight than those that won’t.” Awaiting a heart transplant that never came, he died in 2003 at age 65.
QUOTE TO NOTE
NFL executive in personnel: “Here’s the problem. Those guys at (Louisiana) Lafayette and Temple and Houston and Florida Atlantic, they have never seen an NFL defensive lineman. They never have gone against one in those leagues. They don’t know what one looks like. It’s called level of competition. That’s why I watch SEC film. Even Big Ten guys play against better competition than they do.”
This is the 36th year Bob McGinn has written an NFL Draft Series. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-17) and BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-19). Through 2014, scouts often were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts. This will be a nine-part series, starting with receivers.
So many conversations about this class of wide receivers began with a common refrain.
“This is maybe the deepest wide receiver group,” said one longtime AFC personnel man. “But as far as like a Julio (Jones) or Calvin Johnson, absolutely not.”
Johnson (6-5, 239, 4.35) had it all. When he left Georgia Tech a year early to enter the draft in 2007, he was compared by scouts to Jerry Rice, James Lofton, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and Keyshawn Johnson. Jones (6-2 ½, 220, 4.39) left Alabama after his junior year and became the sixth overall selection in 2011. People dug deep to come up with comparables for him as well. After nine seasons of superstardom, Johnson walked away from the Detroit Lions whereas Jones’ drive still burns hot after nine years in Atlanta. Their physical gifts led to a consistently unique level of play. Although this certainly rates as the year of the wide receiver, Johnson and Jones have more dominant traits than anyone in the class. Obviously, that doesn’t mean a decade from now there won’t be a player or two who deserves to stand in their company.
The sheer numbers at wide receivers are astounding. “Deepest I’ve ever seen,” said one 20-year scouting veteran. “I like so many of them, and for different reasons.”
One scout counted at least 20 wideouts that “in the right circumstance could actually become a player in this league.” Another said a starter could be uncovered in the fourth round, much like how Washington found Terry McLaurin, its top receiver, in the third round a year ago. “The first 13 or 14 names that we have are all going to play,” an AFC executive said. “There’s some wild cards beyond that. There’s not any game-changers.”
The result, of course, are the NFL’s ever-expanding scouting departments grinding endlessly at tape machines. “It’s the most over-scouted position just because there’s so damn many of them, especially in today’s game,” said one scout. All the attention makes perfect sense given the product that the league office and ownership have promulgated through rules changes favoring scoring. “That’s natural because of the evolution of football,” an executive said in reference to the scrutiny of wide receivers.
As draft boards are made final, we hear about speed, ball skills, explosiveness, run after the catch and other physical traits that are most often weighed to loosen packs of receivers with similar grades. We don’t hear a lot about intelligence, which some scouts have said often separates the haves from the have-nots.
“To me, the hardest transition from college to pro is the wide receiver position,” said an executive. “You have to be smart. Dummies won’t make it.”
The oldest method used by NFL teams to measure intelligence is the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic test. Many in the industry understand the test has its limitations. It’s why the continuing usage of matrices testing involving shapes and other non-reading material is thought by some to provide a clearer model of intellect. Yet, the Wonderlic has survived because teams still view it as a valuable tool in the evaluation of pro football players. The average score of the eight wide receivers voted to the Pro Bowl in 2019 was 21.6. The average score of my top 13 wide receivers in this draft is 17.1.
Two of the three lowest scores among the 2019 Pro Bowlers belonged to first-rounders DeAndre Hopkins (17) and Jones (15). Another first-round pick, Mike Evans, scored 25. The other five players, including two second-round choices, two third-round choices and one fifth, possess a wide array of strengths and weaknesses. The common bond, however, could well be their ability to think on their feet and make critical pre- and post-snap adjustments. Tyreek Hill led that group of five with a Wonderlic score of 27, followed by Chris Godwin (26), Jarvis Landry (23), Michael Thomas (21) and Keenan Allen (19).
My polling of 17 executives in personnel took place in the last 2 ½ weeks. Each scout was asked to rank the wide receivers on a 1 to 6 basis, with a first-place vote worth 6 points, a second worth 5 and so on.
CeeDee Lamb, with 87 points and 10 first-place votes, nosed out Jerry Jeudy, who had 86 and five. Following, in order, were Henry Ruggs (66, one), Justin Jefferson (28 ½), Tee Higgins (25 ½, one), Bryan Edwards (13), Brandon Aiyuk (12), Laviska Shenault (11), Jalen Reagor (10), KJ Hamler (4 ½), Denzel Mims (four), Lynn Bowden (three), Quez Watkins (three), Van Jefferson (two), Gabriel Davis (one) and Michael Pittman (one-half).
Then the personnel men were asked who among the top 10 or 12 players had the best chance to bust. Shenault led the way with eight votes followed by Mims with four, Higgins with two and Hamler, Reagor and Ruggs, each one.
“It’d be foolish for a team to sit there (in the teens) and take a wideout,” one scout said. “You can get another wideout in the second or third, a Bryan Edwards, a Michael Pittman, a Lynn Bowden … it’s a real deep pool but it’s shallow at the top. There’s nobody that’s super elite, height-weight-speed freakish Julio, Calvin Johnson.”
Could someone such as Aiyuk, Edwards, even Quez Watkins emerge as the best in the class three years from now?
“Sure,” said an AFC evaluator. “It all depends on where they go, what the system is and who’s coaching them.”
An NFC personnel director summed up the talent pool at tight end thusly: “It’s the shits.”
Before conducting the poll at tight end, the decision was made to classify Chase Claypool, a wide receiver at Notre Dame, as a tight end. This time, votes were asked to rank the tight ends on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis.
Cole Kmet easily won with 78 points and 11 first-place votes. Following, in order, were Adam Trautman (44, one), Claypool (41, two), Harrison Bryant (29, one), Albert Okwuegbunam (22, one), Devin Asiasi (16, one), Hunter Bryant (nine), Brycen Hopkins (six), Thaddeus Moss (five), Colby Parkinson (four) and Dalton Keene (one).
“It’s not a strong group,” one personnel man said, “when you’re more excited to work with a wide receiver projection (Claypool) than guys that played tight end their whole life.”
Tight ends often are divided into Y (play-side base blocker), U (back-side base blocker), F (detached as a receiver) and H (move). The numbers of conventional Y and U players continues to dwindle. As scouts debate whether a tight end has the speed to threaten a two-deep secondary or blocks well enough in-line, intelligence seems to be a very important factor for the position.
“That’s a killer at tight end,” said one scout. “They’re asked to do so much. It’s hard to play with dumb tight ends.”
My top seven tight ends posted an average Wonderlic score of 27.1.
RANKING THE RECEIVERS
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. CEEDEE LAMB, Oklahoma (6-1 ½, 198, 4.48, 1): Compared by one scout to Chad Johnson. “You throw the ball up, he’s coming down with it,” said one scout. “He’s got courage. He has better feet than (Justin) Jefferson. I had no idea he could run as good as he did. He’s a great kid on top of it. He’s a no-brainer.” A third-year junior from Richmond, Texas, he “catches the crap out of the ball,” according to another scout. “Great hands. He runs 4.48, which is way fast enough. He runs really good routes. He can go against press and off.” Finished with 173 receptions for 3,292 yards (19.0 average) and 32 touchdowns. “Just a competitive and strong guy,” said a third scout. “Almost an Anquan Boldin-type of receiver. I don’t think he’s a superstar. Lamb kind of maximizes what he has.” Jumps were pedestrian: vertical (34 ½ inches, 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump). So was the bench press (11 reps). “They scheme him up a lot,” said a fourth scout. “Bubble passes. He comes flying around in motion and catches it. It’s like watching the CFL. If you think you’re just going to line him up as a classic X or Z and he’s going to run a full route tree, no. He’s a work in progress, too.” Scored 12 on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. “He’s wildly overrated,” said a fifth scout. “I don’t see an overwhelming trait. A lot of people point to his run after the catch, but I think you have to evaluate the guys trying to tackle him. He’s playing against some really bad Big 12 defenses. You’re just not going up against NFL people in that league. I’m just not a big believer in his skill set transitioning.”
2. JERRY JEUDY, Alabama (6-1, 193, 4.44, 1): The third-year junior is one scout’s “favorite player to watch in the draft because he’s a very accomplished, precise route runner. You don’t often see that in a draft prospect. He’s very advanced in the route-running.” Backed up in 2017 before starting the past two years. Finished with 159 catches for 2,742 (17.2) and 26 TDs. “He has more of that superstar potential than anyone,” said another scout. “Just a phenomenal route runner. Explosive. Just makes things happen. He had some drops in the LSU game but he came back after that and caught a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. So he’s a competitor and rises up.” Posted a 9 on the Wonderlic. “He was good in the interview with us,” a third scout said. “He really understands football … He’s lived life in the ultimate football playground. Speed merchants on the outside. Point guard at quarterback. 5-star offensive line. Draftable running back. He plays in the slot and was never pressed. He’s got a three-way go every route. If you draft him to be your No. 1 and you put him at X and they have a 6-1 corner rolled up in his face with a safety over the top and a linebacker buzzing from inside, life can be a heck of a lot different. All his game is instincts, getting in and out of breaks. It’ll knock your socks off against Southern Miss and New Mexico State. If you’re set everywhere and you just need a slot guy, he’s like a luxury pick.” From Deerfield Beach, Fla. “I think Calvin Ridley, his former teammate, was a little bit better of a route runner,” a fourth scout said. “He’ll be able to get open. He can really slam on the brakes and lose people. All the physical traits are good, but nothing’s elite.”
3. HENRY RUGGS, Alabama (5-11, 188, 4.24, 1): Ruggs, who’s from Montgomery, Ala., followed a similar career arc as Jeudy, backing up as a freshman and starting two years. “He has a chance to be special because he’s got the rare trait of speed,” said one scout. “But he’s not a one-trick pony. He’s not Ted Ginn, he’s not Darrius Heyward-Bey. He’s not just an outside-the-numbers guy. He’s super athletic (vertical jump of 42), he can run every route. He’s extremely tough. When you talk to the people in Tuscaloosa, he’s the most competitive kid in the program. You want to draft playmakers, and he’s got a chance to be a great playmaker. He’s a significantly better player coming out than Tyreek Hill was.” Finished with 98 catches for 1,716 (17.5) and 24 TDs. “Does that guy turn into Brandin Cooks or Ted Ginn?” said another scout. “Often, when teams try to make (speedsters) into more than they are, they struggle. He may turn into more than that. We’ll see. I don’t see Tyreek Hill.” Third-year junior with a Wonderlic of 20. “If you expect him to come in and be your No. 1 receiver I don’t see that,” said a third scout. “He was really a specialist in their offense where they designed certain plays for him … He is fast, but when people get on him you don’t see the same speed and route running. When he gets the ball, if he has a clear path, he can go. But he’s not a make-you-miss player. I don’t think he’s timid (in traffic). But he’s not a playmaker on the ball so when bodies are around him he doesn’t catch the ball. He’s a space-vertical linear route runner that needs space to catch the ball.”
4. JUSTIN JEFFERSON, LSU (6-1, 202, 4.47, 1-2): Jefferson surprised a segment of the scouting fraternity with his fast 40. “The big thing on him was going to be his speed because he’s such a smooth athlete,” said one scout. “His workout was really good. I don’t think he’ll ever be a Pro Bowl No. 1 guy, but he’s a really good No. 2.” He destroyed Oklahoma in the national semifinals not long before declaring as a third-year junior. “Polished, good hands, does most of his damage from the slot,” another scout said. “Good all-around skill set.” A two-year starter with 165 catches for 2,415 (14.6) and 24 TDs, a third scout says he’s “a solid No. 2, but I don’t see him as a good No. 2,” a third scout said. “I don’t see ultra explosiveness. I don’t see the test numbers. He had a lot of production, but the guys he plays on this level (NFL) will be able to take some of those opportunities away. He can make contested catches. I saw him go through a lot of zone and I saw a lot of clean, free access getting off the line. I want to see him beat more press. I didn’t see that.” Jefferson is from St. Rose, La and scored 19 on the Wonderlic.
“Even going back to his junior year, he only had 33 catches but just grading the flash plays he was better than N’Keal Harry,” one scout said about ASU’s Brandon Aiyuk. (Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
5. BRANDON AIYUK, Arizona State (5-11 ½, 205, 4.53): Aiyuk played in junior college for two seasons. He played second fiddle to N’Keal Harry in 2018 before breaking out in ’19. “He’s (5-11½) but he’s got an 80-inch wingspan, which is so disproportionately long for his body, so he’s really a big target for a smaller guy,” one scout said. “He has ranginess to him, yet he’s compact enough where his change of direction is great. He’s really explosive on tape. Even going back to his junior year, he only had 33 catches but just grading the flash plays he was better than N’Keal Harry.” He caught 65 balls as a senior, finishing with 98 for 1,666 (17.0) ands 11 TDs. “The first three or four games this year it was kind of whatever,” said another scout. “Then something clicked and he really turned it on. Their offensive line was horrible, so a lot of his deep routes didn’t really have time to develop because the quarterback (freshman Jayden Daniels) had to get the ball out. He became that quarterback’s best friend. He’s underrated. Early on, he comes in as your No. 1 punt returner and kickoff guy.” He has a Wonderlic score of 23. “Explosive with a 40-inch vert, excellent route runner, quickness,” said a third scout. “You could compare Greg Jennings to him. He’s better than Nelson Agholor.” From Reno, Nev.
6. TEE HIGGINS, Clemson (6-3 ½, 215, 4.58, 1-2): More than one personnel man identified him as having the best hands in the draft. “He’s an outside-only guy,” one scout said. “He’s a contested, 50-50 ball guy with strong hands and a big catching radius. He may need some help getting open, but he can catch it. He’s going to be covered a lot but he’s got the catching radius.” Arms measured a position-best 34 1/8 but hands were a small 9 ¼. “Just worried about the 40 time and his inability to separate,” said another scout. “They match up. He is really good down the field going up and getting the football. But getting off press, which you don’t see a lot at the college level, for a guy that isn’t real twitchy, he’ll have to win with size at the line of scrimmage. I think eventually he’ll be able to do it, but it’s going to be a transition for him.” Caught 135 passes for 2,448 (18.1) and 27 TDs. “Behind Ruggs, he’d be my next pick to bust,” a third scout said. “For a big, athletic kind of guy I don’t think he plays very strong. I don’t think he plays very sudden. And I don’t think he’s very tough. For the type of receiver he has to be, being that big guy making plays over people, I just don’t see that grit and toughness that you need. I wasn’t surprised at all (by the slow 40). He’s a buildup (speed) guy. Lot of that (production) was scheming him.” Wonderlic of 11. From Oak Ridge, Tenn.
7. BRYAN EDWARDS, South Carolina (6-2 ½, 212, no 40, 1-2): A four-year starter from Conway, S.C, “he excited me,” one scout said. “There’s a ceiling on him because I don’t think he’s a dynamic athlete. He’s a 4.5’s kind of guy, like a big, physical banger, a guy who will do dirty work. He can play big slot. It’s not like he’s lightning quick, but he’s fluid enough to be a good enough route runner. He’s a lot like Sterling Sharpe was except he doesn’t have the run after. You probably have to have some other pieces around him, guys that are more dynamic playmakers. But if you have that and you throw him in the mix then he’s interesting. I think he’s a great third-round pick.” His value was diminished by the broken foot he suffered while training in February, a meniscus tear in November, a concussion and sports hernia surgery in 2017. “He’s very physical, which I love about him, but it’s kind of counterproductive for him,” said another scout. “Durability is a big problem. I don’t think people give him credit for how athletic he is. I just think he does a lot of things that really matter for that position. He’s one of my favorite players.” Finished with 234 catches for 3,045 (13.0) and 22 TDs, surpassing ex-Gamecock Sharpe in several statistical categories. “He’s really lost steam because of the injury,” a third scout said. “He’s kind of your old school West Coast (receiver) catching slants, breaking tackles and go. There’s a lot of love for that guy in the league.” Edwards scored 28 on the Wonderlic and ranked second among the top 13 wideouts.
Eight. JALEN REAGOR, TCU (5-10 ½, 206, 4.46, 1-2): The third-year junior posted the best broad jump (11-6) of the top 25 wideouts. “Holy shit, he’s exciting,” said one scout. “His speed and run after … we’re looking for explosive playmakers. His punt returns were like holy hell. … His skill set is outstanding.” Finished with 148 catches for 2,248 (15.2) and 22 TDs. “He’s faster and quicker than CeeDee or (Justin) Jefferson,” said a second scout. “He’s tough, he’ll catch in the middle and he takes the ball away from people. But, if the ball’s not coming to him, he doesn’t do much. He doesn’t block. He hardly gets off the line of scrimmage sometimes. He is a talented, talented kid, but his body language and attitude, from film only, is bad. Kind of a reluctant football player. When the ball’s coming to him he’s full-speed.” He posted 13 on the Wonderlic. “He may be the most explosive guy coming out of this draft,” said a third scout. “Quick and aggressive, plays fast, quick hands. Can he be a slot receiver, too? I think he can.” From Waxahachie, Texas. Added a fourth scout: “If I want a jet sweep guy I want Reagor. That (guy) is fast.”
9. DENZEL MIMS, Baylor (6-3, 207, 4.38, 1-2): Among his many achievements at the combine was a position-best 6.66 3-cone. “The 6.6 3-cone is crazy for a guy with that lever system,” said one scout. “He can really go up and make acrobatic plays on the ball. He showed at the Senior Bowl he can beat press coverage and get open at the top of routes. He’s better than Lamb and maybe better than Jeudy. He’s bigger, faster, longer. You’ve got a chance to really hit on Denzel Mims.” Mims was a three-year starter for a Baylor program that has never had a receiver make it big in the NFL. “He’s big, but I see a finesse guy who dropped too many balls in traffic,” a second scout said. “He’s got the height, weight, speed. I’ve seen too many guys with traits like that come in and fail out, and he doesn’t play special teams. I don’t see that kind of dog in him.” A three-year starter, he finished with 186 receptions for 2,925 (15.7) and 28 TDs. “He’s got vertical speed, he does have tracking skills and he understands how to use his size in the red zone,” said a third scout. “He’s an outside receiver. He’s going to need a lot of work on how to run routes. He has tight shoulders. Better high-ball catcher than low-ball catcher. More of a 400-meter guy. He’s got inconsistent hands. He’s going to need work on how to get off press. He’s just got average body control. I got him in the second round.” He’s from Daingerfield, Texas and posted a Wonderlic score of 17.
10. LAVISKA SHENAULT, Colorado (6-0 ½, 227, 4.58, 2-3): Classic boom-or-bust prospect. “Mental and injury,” one scout replied when asked why Shenault was his choice to bust. “He’s always been the best guy on his team. You put him in one position and he’s just going to flounder. He’s head and shoulders in the bust factor above everyone else. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a big fall.” Played split end for the Buffaloes but also did extensive damage as a ‘wildcat’ quarterback. “Little bit immature but, my God, is he big and powerful,” a second scout said. “His ’18 film was way better than his ’19 film. He’s a power guy, and those guys play.” He’s coming off of core muscle surgery in late February and also has had shoulder and turf toe surgery. “He’s kind of got some Cordarrelle Patterson to him in terms of his role,” a third scout said. “Not as explosive. With that body type, I don’t see A.J. Brown. A.J. made so many contested catches and was so productive for three years. A.J. was a receiver when he came out. This guy is an athlete. He’ll have to make a transition to a receiver, and I think he’s going to have a tough time.” Finished with 149 catches for 1,943 (13.0) and 10 TDs. “He’s not bad, just not a lot of personality,” said a fourth scout. “Kind of low-key.” Wonderlic of 14. Small hands (9). A third-year junior from DeSoto, Texas.
“Van Jefferson is not just some polished kid, an overachiever. He’s got serious juice. He’s got a lot more speed than I thought he had. He can break people off and get open,” one scout says on the Florida WR. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
11. VAN JEFFERSON, Florida (6-1 ½, 200, no 40, 2-3): His father, Shawn, has been an NFL wide receivers coach for most of the past 20 years after a 13-year career in which he caught 470 passes for 7,023 (14.9) and 29 TDs. “Arguably he’s the best route runner in the class, and he’s got great hands and he’s mature and his dad is one of the best wide receivers coaches in the league (now with the Jets) and was a good player in his own right,” said one scout. “You knew he’d have some of that stuff just being a coach’s kid. Van is not just some polished kid, an overachiever. He’s got serious juice. He’s got a lot more speed than I thought he had. He can break people off and get open.” Jefferson started 41 of 48 games, finishing with 175 catches for 2,159 (12.3) and 16 TDs. He was unable to work at the combine after doctors discovered a foot fracture that required surgery. “He had a really good game against LSU,” another scout said. “Just kind of thin. Not really a speed guy. He’ll be a good backup. Your worry about Van is this guy is maxed out.” Wonderlic of 12. From Brentwood, Tenn. “Interesting guy,” said a third scout. “Terrible quarterback, terrible offense, but did really well at the Senior Bowl. He’s got size, really good quickness and route savvy. He can separate. He’s going to be a really good pro. He doesn’t have that explosive speed so he’s going to slide. This guy really knows how to play.”
12. MICHAEL PITTMAN, USC (6-4, 223, 4.52, 2-3): His father, Michael, played 11 years as an NFL running back gaining 5,627 yards (4.0 average) and scoring 25 TDs. “Doesn’t get a lot of love because he’s on the West Coast,” said one scout. “But he’s a big-body guy that belongs in the top-10 conversation (at wideout). Tough guy in traffic.” Started 30 of 48 games over four seasons, catching 171 passes for 2,519 (14.7) and 19 TDs. “Same type of guy as Bryan Edwards,” a second scout said. “Makes most of his catches in traffic. Strong after the catch. He surprised me with his speed. He and (Tee) Higgins are basically the same guy. Higgins played with a better team. I remember Pittman’s father in the Super Bowl when he played hard and tough even though the Raiders got beat badly. The son has that type of attitude as well. It’s going to be tough to stop him.” He led the leading wideouts with a Wonderlic of 29 and hails from Woodland Hills, Calif.
13. KJ HAMLER, Penn State (5-8 ½, 178, no 40, 3): Third-year sophomore. “He’s small, but his speed is rare,” said one scout. “He is electric after the catch. He’s a human joystick. He has home-run ability. You’re going to have to scheme him a little bit to get him the ball.” One scout said he had the worst hands in the draft. “He’s like a 50-50 guy,” said a second scout. “He probably has the best chance to bust because he can’t catch. He can stretch the field. He played tough. He went up for balls. The thing that killed me is he can be a return guy, but he just didn’t perform, which is weird. He was just average in every sense of the word.” Finished with 98 catches for 1,658 (16.9) and 13 TDs. “He would run across the formation and he wouldn’t even look and the quarterback is looking at him,” said another scout. “After seeing that three, four, five times, something was up with this kid. He’s a slot receiver. To play outside I think would be ridiculous. He is tiny. Third round.” From Pontiac, Mich, with a Wonderlic of 15.
OTHERS, in order: Lynn Bowden, Kentucky; Quez Watkins, Southern Mississippi; Gabriel Davis, Central Florida; Devin Duvernay, Texas; Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State; Isaiah Coulter, Rhode Island; James Proche, SMU; Darnell Mooney, Tulane; Collin Johnson, Texas; K.J. Hill, Ohio State; Dezmon Patmon, Washington State; John Hightower, Boise State; Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan; Joe Reed, Virginia; Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty; Trishton Jackson, Syracuse; Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin; Tyler Johnson, Minnesota.
TIGHT ENDS
“If you want an all-around guy, kind of a Kyle Rudolph-type guy, he’s it,” a scout says of Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet. (Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports)
1. COLE KMET, Notre Dame (6-5 ½, 262, 4.68, 1-2): Kmet reminded one scout of ex-Cowboy Jason Witten (6-5 ½, 260, 4.67). “If you want an all-around guy, kind of a Kyle Rudolph-type guy, he’s it,” said another scout. “He’s faster than Kyle, but he doesn’t have the ball skills. He’s had some durability issues. He’s got great intangibles. He can run. He can catch. He doesn’t have an elite trait but you really love the body type and everything about him.” Third-year junior with 60 catches (43 in 2019) for 691 (11.5) and six TDs. “He’s not a talent like Vernon Davis or Evan Engram,” a third scout said. “He’s more of a throwback, classic Y tight end. He’s solid. He won’t fail.” From Lake Barrington, Ill. “I don’t see a great blocker and I don’t see a great receiver,” said a fourth scout. “I see a guy that’s more of a U. I don’t see a great Y. He reminds me a lot of the (Drew) Sample guy that came out last year out of Washington and plays with the Bengals. Some of the workout (numbers) were better than the player he is. I don’t see first round. I think he’s always going to be a solid No. 2 (tight end), maybe a good No. 3.” Wonderlic of 28.
2. CHASE CLAYPOOL, Notre Dame (6-4, 238, 4.44, 1-2): Made 33 starts at WR over four seasons. Some teams are vociferous about him playing outside in the NFL. Others see him as a TE. “I think he’s big enough to be a tight end,” said one scout. “He’s every bit as big as Travis Kelce. He’s faster than Kelce. That’s who I saw.” His combine numbers were the best by a tight end. “I just don’t see the blocker at tight end,” a second scout said. “I don’t see how he holds up. People had the same conversation with Devin Funchess. You’re talking about the Jared Cook’s of the world. That’s just a different body type.” Finished with 150 catches for 2,159 (14.4) and 19 TDs. “The big ones that don’t make it, like Jonathan Baldwin, is because they’ve got a long ways to go because of (lack) of polish,” the second scout continued. “He’s not that far away. He’s fast, aggressive, has good hands. He was a dog on special teams. If you try to make him a multi-cut route runner, it’s going to be a problem. Let him be a big, fast, vertical, take-the-lid-off, contest-catch-winning guy. Mike Evans is a vertical route runner. I’m not calling this kid Mike Evans, but there are some comparable traits.” From Abbotsford, B.C., Claypool is the first Notre Dame signee from Canada since 1994. He posted a Wonderlic score of 27.
3. ADAM TRAUTMAN, Dayton (6-5, 255, 4.78, 2-3): Often compared to TE Adam Shaheen (6-6 ½, 278, 4.81), the Bears’ disappointing second-round pick in 2017 from NCAA Division II Ashland (Ohio), Dayton is a member of the FCS but non-scholarship Pioneer League. “It looked like (NCAA Division III) when I showed up at practice,” said one scout. “Some of the teams they played down south were good. I liked him. He didn’t back down at the Senior Bowl. They (the Flyers) kind of just used him as a pass-catching tight end. He has a big catch radius, soft hands. Needs to work on his lower-body strength and his blocking.” Started 40 of 44 games, catching 178 passes for 2,295 (12.9) and 31 TDs. “He played against little people, but he dominated that level of competition as a receiver and a blocker,” a second scout said. He ran a blazing 3-cone of 6.78. “He’s a poor man’s Cole Kmet,” said a third scout. “He does a lot of things well. He doesn’t do things great. He’s not that fast, not that strong. He’s a good route runner but he’s better laterally than stretching the field.” He scored 27 on the Wonderlic. “If the guy from the Bears (Shaheen) goes in the second, this guy goes in the third,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got a lot of football to learn but he’s got a lot of upside. Good blocker. Works to finish.” Trautman is from Elk Rapids, Mich.
4. HARRISON BRYANT, Florida Atlantic (6-4 ½, 243, 4.73, 3-4): “I have him shadowed across tight end and fullback,” said one scout. “He’s not an old-school thumper where you can run iso with him. With the way it is now, I could see him in a West Coast (offense) almost like San Fran uses their fullback (Kyle Juszczyk). He can line up on the wing, the edge of a formation and run across the formation and you can throw him the ball. He functions enough as a blocker.” Played a flex position under FAU coach Lane Kiffin, surpassing 1,000 yards as a senior. Finished with 148 receptions for 2,137 (14.4) and 16 TDs. His major negative might be an arm length of 30 5/8, shortest at the position. “Not real high on him,” said another scout. “He doesn’t have top size. He has no length. He’s not real strong. The athletic traits are just average.” He posted a Wonderlic of 26 and is from Gray, Ga.
5. ALBERT OKWUEGBUNAM, Missouri (6-5 ½, 258, 4.50, 3-4): A fourth-year junior, one scout said Okwuegbunam is “kind of an enigma to me. Really talented human being in terms of size and athleticism but just doesn’t put it all together. Someone’s going to take him based off potential. If they can get through to the mind to get it out of the body he’ll have a chance. It’s a risk-reward pick that I don’t have interest in. Someone might be silly enough to go second round.” He caught 43 passes from Drew Lock in 2018 but nabbed just 26 in 2019 to finish with 98 for 1,187 (12.1) and 23 TDs. “You’re talking about a 6-6 guy that runs 4.5,” another scout said. “He had a really good junior year. The senior year was off. At least he has dominant traits. You see guys like that go in the third, fourth and fifth rounds and become really good players.” His father emigrated from Nigeria. Okwuegbunam, from Springfield, Ill., posted a Wonderlic of 28 and has the longest arms among tight ends (34 1/8). “He oozes around on routes, lots of drops, timid blocker,” said a third scout. “Non-factor.”
6. DEVIN ASIASI, UCLA (6-3, 257, 4.79, 3-4): He spent one year at Michigan before departing for off-field reasons. He sat out at UCLA in 2017, backed up in ’18 and started in ’19. Almost all of his production (44 catches, 789, 15.2, six TDs) came as a fourth-year junior. “He is a ball-playing Jesse,” said one scout. “You love watching him. He is a competitive kid that will block. He’s tough, he finishes and he’ll go down inside. He’s got good hands, although they didn’t use him much as a receiver. He can run a little bit. He can flex, but he’s not going to challenge the safeties. He is a great utility player to have on your team.” He scored 25 on the Wonderlic and has had weight problems in the past. “He’s one of those dumpy-body looking guys that makes you think he isn’t athletic but he is,” another scout said. “Really good all-around player.” From Shoreview, Calif.
7. HUNTER BRYANT, Washington (6-2, 248, 4.75, 4-5): Personnel men for several teams expressed considerable concern about Bryant, a third-year junior with a long medical history (knee, back, hamstring). He missed time in his first two seasons but started all 12 games in 2019. “He’s a sawed-off, muscled-up dude,” said one scout. “Definitely a receiving tight end. He’s somebody you can move around and kind of take advantage of some mismatches against linebackers. Really good hands. Gives effort in the run game. He does enough. He gets in the way or seals people off. You can put him in the backfield. He’s not going to be that physical root-somebody-out kind of guy when you line him up at fullback. The versatility is what attracts me to him.” Finished with 85 catches for 1,394 (16.4) and five TDs. “I didn’t like him,” said another scout. “Most of these guys will try. He doesn’t even try to block. I don’t think he’s that athletic for being that small. Very inconsistent. Late pick.” He scored 29 on the Wonderlic and is from Issaquah, Wash.
OTHERS, in order: Brycen Hopkins, Purdue; Thaddeus Moss, LSU; Colby Parkinson, Stanford; Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech; Sean McKeon, Michigan; Cheyenne O’Grady, ex-Arkansas; Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt; Stephen Sullivan, LSU; Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State; Jacob Breeland, Oregon; Ahmad Wagner, Kentucky; Kyle Markway, South Carolina; Mitchell Wilcox, South Florida.
THE SKINNY
UNSUNG HERO
Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island: Bidding to become the Rams’ first drafted player since 1986 when T Bob White went in the seventh round to the Jets. Lightly recruited, he improved each of his three seasons before surprisingly declaring a year early. Lean at 6-2, 198, but ran fast (4.42) and is a smooth route runner.
SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE
Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU: As the son of Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss, there are advantages and disadvantages. Moss played just one season for the Tigers as the fifth wheel in a wildly explosive offense, so scouts wonder how much of his production (47 receptions, four TDs) was the result of defenses basically ignoring him. Medically excluded at the combine, Moss’ 40 time has been estimated at 4.85 and 4.9. At his size (6-2, 250), that type of speed won’t cut it.
SCOUT TO REMEMBER
C.O. Brocato: Anyone who ever scouted the Southwest knew him and no doubt liked him. For more than 40 years he worked for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, driving from his home in Arlington, Texas to colleges throughout Texas, Arkansas and elsewhere. Not only was Brocato an engaging personality, he also was a pioneer in terms of drills used at the combine and elsewhere. He deserves credit for coming up with the 3-cone run of today that replaced the outmoded four-square run. He died in 2015 at age 85.
QUOTE TO NOTE
NFC personnel executive: “Lamb, Shenault and Aiyuk aren’t your natural, traditional, fluid, route-running receivers. They’re almost Anquan Boldin types, but today people say Deebo Samuel. You get the ball out quick, run after catch, end around, slip screens, that kind of stuff they’re doing so much more now of with receivers.”
Like I said, I don’t see a lot of later round guys starting. Wanna get a guy who can start early 3 downs? Gotta probably take that player with one of the first 2 picks.
__________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny
I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs.
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04-15-2020, 06:16 PM
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Call Your Shot: Who’s the Chiefs first selection in the 2020 Draft
