There are still a lot of good football players available after a wild first round on Thursday. The Michael Penix pick threw me for a loop after committing 100 million guaranteed to Cousins for the next 2 seasons, but whatever. Then neither the Giants or Vikings were willing to pay the Patriots price for Maye, and the Giants passed on Mccarthy. The Vikings ended up only having to move up one spot for a low price to get Mccarthy as well. So well played Minnesota. The raiders taking Bowers , and passing on a right tackle or corner surprised me as well. All the first round players left on my board except Nubin fell because of injury concerns , and NFL teams know more about them than I do. The Bills trades made little sense to me. The Broncos stayed at pick 12 and took Nix even though no one close behind them wanted him. Plus Xavier Worthy did go in the 1rst , and if anyone can get the most out of him it's Andy Reid & Mahomes so it might even work out. Maybe they couldn't find a trade partner. Especially the 2nd trade was imbecilic in my opinion. They gave up the 5th year option for a swap of a 5th for a 6th? That only makes sense if you are planning to trade that first day pick for a ransom type haul. I welcome your comments , but please be cool about it. Agreeing or disagreeing is welcome, but please do it intelligently & respectfully , or I just won't post it. So here it is. Enjoy.
# Is for a player for with reported character or maturity concerns.
** Is for a player with reported injury concerns.
2ND ROUND
33.BILLS-(car) - ADONAI MITCHELL - ** - WR - TEXAS - 6"2" , 205
NFL PLAYER COMP - JAVON WALKER - retired
I do not like the of the Bills 1rst round trades. They didn't enough value in either move , especially the second one. Why would any team , especially a cap strapped team like Buffalo , give up the 5th year option to upgrade from a 6th to a 5th? Wacko! Unless the have a plan to hold up the first pick of day 2 for a ransom it makes no sense to me. The Bills may have missed their window , but they are still trying to get that ring , although there will be some key players from the last few seasons missing this year. On the bright side the offense did improve after Joe Brady took over as OC , and they started running the ball more. It's just that they have huge cap problems, and started releasing & restructuring long term players. Jordan Poyer has been a mainstay of their defense for 7 years , and he and Micah Hyde previously teamed to give the Bills 2 safeties that can play high or low to disguise coverages. While both are on the decline I was still sad to see the pair broken up. Tre'davious White I understand , because he has missed more games than he has played over the past 3 years , and 12 in the last season alone. He was once a great player though. All 3 have been to the Pro Bowl before. They resigned Taylor Rapp at safety , but he has never had the coverage chops of Hyde or Poyer. Mitch Morse was just a average center at this point , and this is a good center class in the draft , so this cut to save money makes sense to me. They also got Von Miller to take a pay cut , but he can earn it all back with incentives if he plays well & stays healthy. Making Taron Johnson the leagues highest paid slot corner coming off a career year was also necessary. Then you have the mercurial Stefon Diggs who seemed unhappy last year because his numbers were considerably down in the 2nd half of the season. Diggs has a big salary , but they ran the ball a lot more late in the season , and winning should trump his numbers. Its just I'm not sure Diggs agrees . Plus Diggs did have a lot of drops in 2023. LB Tyrel Dodson shined after the Matt Milano injury , especially in coverage , and I think they should have resigned him. He went Seattle though. Josh Allen's contract had to be restructured if they can actually be ALL-IN his season. The Bills need WR help even if Diggs was going to be on the team next season, because Gabe Davis was free agent. Since Davis never showed any consistency I doubted they would bring him back even if they could afford him , but he signed with the jags. Although they will definitely miss his blocking , physicality , and occasional explosive big plays. Leonard Floyd is also a departing free agent , and while he was a disappointment , he played a lot of snaps off the edge, Its a lesser need though. They signed Mitch Trubisky to be the backup QB , and don't have any other key free agents. The Bills wisely resigned long term LT Dion Dawkins. Backup G David Edwards , and Rotational D-lineman AJ Epenesa & NT Daquan Jones were brought back as well. They signed former Chargers backup center Will Clapp, who started 11 games in 2023 because of injuries to Corey Linsley , but he has proven to be more of a solid backup at this point. Center and WR are still their biggest needs in my opinion , and I don't know why they signed Curtis Samuel to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal , because they already have Khalil Shakur who does the exact same thing. Big blocking 30 year old WR Mack Hollins was also brought in , and he can at least do some of the stuff Gabe Davis did, but his top receiving numbers then they traded away Stefon Diggs! Plus the Bills are eating more than 30 million in dead money this season , are giving up a 6th this year , and a 5th next year. All they got back was a 2nd in 2025. Talk about teams going in different directions. The Bills seem to be going through a mini re-build , and The Texans are going for it all. Although it is a great WR class. So its possible that they take 2 over the entirety of the draft with their 11 total picks , but 7 of those picks are from the 5th round or later. Their are 3 centers in this draft with a chance to go in the first round, but only Graham Barton or Zach Frazier have a good chance to make it to pick 28 , but if Jackson Powers Johnson is there for some reason they should run to the podium. I just think they have to go WR now. AD transferred away from Georgia , and into Texas before last season, and it makes sense because the Longhorns throw the ball a lot more to their WR'S. Mitchell has the potential to be a prototypical number one X WR , but the effort & results aren't consistently there on tape , although he did have a massive 11 TD's on just 55 catches. You see the ability to sink & separate well for a taller guy , but again its not consistent. He's got long legs so he doesn't look like he's running as fast as he is , but that 4.34 forty at the combine shows up on tape sometimes. I don't know if he is just lazy or has a bad gas tank , but to me he doesn't look like he trying as hard as he can all the time. He has the size , body control & hops to corral off target throws. which he does use to win sometimes , but he doesn't seem to have that intense my ball mentality that you see on badass contested catch guys. He should be a better more consistent blocker too , and there are times he shows the ability , but again it doesn't seem to be a priority for him. You see him beating press off the line off scrimmage more with shiftiness & technique , but doesn't often play with the strength his size suggest , although he doesn't drop easy passes. Maybe he just plays hard when he wants to , or harder against based on what he sees as tougher competition. Caught 2 bombs against Bama in 2023 , but also only had 3 catches in the game, and I believe he would be targeted more if he was balls out on every play. Lack of effort & grit is just selfishness in my book so lets just hope he just needs better cardio. On tape he currently reminds me lot of former big finesse NFL WR Sidney Rice , but if he can be so much more if he buffs up and commits . If Mitchell ratchets up his motor & intensity he could be a Andre Johnson type in time. So I split the difference with my final comp because I trust my eyes, and my eyes say he is a underachiever. That means he may never be consistent , but he will have some big games , and probably even some big seasons if he thinks he will get paid for it. I hope I'm wrong and he fulfills his potential by replacing Stefon Diggs as Josh Allen's new number one guy. I feel kind of bad because I have been questioning Mitchell's effort/gas tank , buy I found out today after I posted my final mock & rankings that he has type one diabetes. I know a guy who has that , and his energy levels wax & wane plenty. Although the report I heard said that some teams think AD isn't as diligent on managing his disease as he could be. I can't decide if that's a injury worry or character concern if he doesn't manage the disease correctly . Maybe both , but I'm just going to file it under a health concern.
34.PATRIOTS - LADD MCCONKEY - WR - GEORGIA - 6ft. , 186
NFL PLAYER COMP - EMMANUEL SANDERS - retired
McConkey is a smart versatile player with great quickness & long speed. As a former high school QB he has advanced awareness & understanding of coverages , and how to set up DB's plays ahead. Also has a plus understanding of how to find the hole against zone , and he sells it well even when he isn't high in the progression of getting the ball , or on play action. He eats up the cushion fast , and has good explosion out of his breaks. He lacks the size & strength to beat better press guys , but he's super shifty to escape enough on the outside when the DB is up on the line , and he blocks with the heart of a bigger guy. In the slot he not only can light it up on option routes, but can also be a vertical slot. Has good hands on your basic short to immediate route tree, but his catch radius is limited. Also not the guy who will win a bunch of jump balls, or track it well down the field right now. He is great in the open field both as a receiver & punt returner , and has some gunner experience covering kicks. He has had a lot of nagging injuries over the last 2 years , and that is a worry considering his lack of size , but if he played 70% of the snaps on offense, and was your primary return guy that is still very valuable . He isn't a #1 WR , and I doubt he will ever be. Yet he could be a good number 2 , or great number 3 who returns kicks. I have a high 2nd round grade on him , and thought he might come off the board at the end of the first to a team like the Chiefs , but no dice. Either way I would want him on my team if I had a WR need in the top 40. The pats got thieir new QB at the op of round one, and now the get him someone to throw to.
35.ARIZONA - COOPER DEJEAN - ** - CB/S - IOWA - 6 ft. , 203
NFL PLAYER COMP - JALEN RAMSEY - DOLPHINS
The cards stayed put at #4 and took stud WR Marvin Harrison JR , and got big combo edge rusher/DT Darius Robinson with their 2nd first rounder. Now they get 1rst round CB that fell because of injury concerns. Dejean is a big smart physical corner who can be the QB of a teams secondary. He played a lot of slot in 2022 , but played outside CB this season. His results were still good , but I like his slot/safety 2022 tape more. Cooper is a big , smart , fast , physical corner with a smooth pedal. No matter where you play him he can get his hands on the ball, and take it to the house like the punt returner he is. Also a ACE gunner on special teams. He is mostly a zone guy right now, but I think he will be fine in press with a little time, because of his natural aggression & football IQ. Love the way he brings it as a tackler, and that's why some people see him as a safety. The other reason some probably see him as a safety is he's a bit stiff right now. If Cooper was a full time safety he would be my #1 guy there , but as a corner he is my #3. Dejean had a broken leg , and couldn't run at the combine or I think he might have gone higher. Then he ran a 4.42 forty at his late Pro Day so maybe he will move up on some teams boards. Coopers potential versatility to be moved all over are what could make him even more valuable. I actually think he is a steal at this draft slot. Dejean has the gritty attitude that Dan Campbell will love.
36.WASHINGTON-GA'QUINCY MCKINSTRY- ** -CB - ALABAMA- 5"11" , 199
NFL PLAYER COMP - MARLON HUMPHREY - RAVENS
Since Washington got their new QB in the first it is a new day for Commanders fans. Yet it's surprising to me that a player I have ranked so highly with a 1rst round grade falls to them in the 2nd round , and its a msn corner that fits Dan Quinn's needs. Koolaid is one of the rare DB's to start at as a true freshman for Nick Saban , and history has taught us that those guys generally have good NFL careers. Plus he improved all 3 years at Bama. He is so smart & polished in press coverage , but the foot injury discovered at the combine won't alleviate questions about his long speed , although he did run in the mid to late 4.4's at his Pro Day. Has good size and plus length to press & disrupt receivers. He is smooth and in phase, and he has a good short area burst to the ball , but he too often gets grabby when the receiver is coming out of the break. Koolaid doesn't make quite as many plays on the ball for a guy who is often so close to it at the catch point. Most of time he looks confident & aggressive enough in coverage , but there are others where he just seems too chill. This laid back attitude shows up way more in run support where he seems to be a pile inspector at times , but is more aggressive coming up on screens , and tackling receivers. Also a good punt returner. He is my 4th CB , has a low first round grade , and is the 22nd player on my overall board.
37.CHARGERS - JUNIOR COLSON - LB - MICHIGAN - 6"2" , 240
NFL PLAYER COMP - VONTAZE BURFICT - retired
Colson has been starting for 2 and a half seasons , and on a playoff team that's 36 starts , which is more than many 3 years starters get in college. He's a big physical rocked up LB with throw back size , and he has old school toughness playing through injuries , which is getting rarer by the day. Junior can stack blocks well, although he doesn't shed quite as capably. He's a good athlete , but lacks sideline to sideline speed , but that could be alleviated if his football IQ keeps growing. Right now he is often just a tick to late to read & react to the ball in the run game , and he's a tad stiff moving laterally initially , but he gets up to speed quickly. Yet all these things were improved compared to 2022 tape. He needs better angles getting through the trash. He will take the cheese on occasion, but not often fooled by play action. He fills with a will coming forward , whether it taking on blocks , or hammering ball carriers. Yet he doesn't always hit the right gap. Good hitter & strong tackler , but just a solid athlete. In good position in zone coverage , but he didn't make many plays on the actual ball. Has the size to cover some TE's , but I wouldn't want him in man coverage much. Just OK as a blitzer. It always bothers me when guys don't run at the combine , and the fact that he didn't makes me believe he's just a 4.7 guy. That's doable if he keeps improving his diagnostic ability. and if he keeps building up those read & recognition skills he can be a good starting MLB , but the weakside might workout better earlier.
***TRADE*** The DALLAS COWBOYS TRADE the 2nd (#56) rounder and the 3rd rounder (#73) they got from the LIONS to The Titans for their 2nd (#38) and 6th (#182) rounders ***TRADE***
38.DALLAS-(tenn)- JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON - C/G - OREGON- 6"3" , 328
NFL PLAYER COMP - NICK MANGOLD - retired
Powers-Johnson is only a one year starter at center for Oregon, but it was a year with great tape. He's a big powerful brawling dude who's head is always on a swivel in pass pro, you see him pointing out the MIKE backer pre-snap. He has good awareness always looking to help out when uncovered , and he keeps an eye out for blitzers. I can't remember the last time I saw a college center who is this good in pass protection. Jackson has a wide based anchor like a pillar of iron , and his punch looks nasty. In the run game he has initial knockback power in his hands, but is usually too high off the snap , and he doesn't always latch on after that first pop. Despite that he can give you some push off the ball, but he is especially adept at turning his man out of the hole. He doesn't look that quick, and I was surprised by how well such a big guy played on the move. He was even effective on a lot of his reach blocks. He sustains better laterally than straight up , but that may just be because he has average arm length for a center. Even though he has a few starts at guard in his past its this years center tape where he broke out in a huge way , and I would leave him at the pivot. On combo blocks he usually ends up being the guy coming off to the 2nd level because his initial pop jolts the guy over , and he has some great decletes down the field, but his timing & quickness getting to the right spot are still a work in progress. Hands aren't always inside , and that's partly because he strikes guys on initial contact instead of regularly fitting & latching. He's not a dirty player by any means but he bullies defenders by displacing them from a gap and keeps getting after them through the echo of the whistle. Powers-Jonson was also the best O-Lineman at the Senior Bowl. He didn't run at the combine because of a hamstring injury, but did some drills and looked good. Jackson is a mean tone setter that would make any O-line better , and everyone should want him on their team. He is also my clear #1 center, and this is a good center class. Plus he's a solid first rounder, and the #18 overall player on my board. I though his injury concern was the hammy he re-injured at The senior Bowl , but I heard during the draft that he has had multiple concussions , and that's why he fell out of the 1rst round. JPJ is worth the risk here , and if Dallas can fill both their left tackle ( Tyler Guyton in the 1rst round and center spot here with young high upside players The Jones family will have redeemed what had previously been a dismal off season for Cowboy fans. Trading here gets them ahead of the center needy Panthers just in case they prefer JPJ over Frazier.
39.CAROLINA-(nyg)- ZACH FRAZIER - ** - C - W. VIRGINIA - 6"3" , 313
NFL PLAYER COMP - RYAN JENSEN - retired
The Panthers must really like Xavier Leggette , as the traded up into the 1rst round to get him , and secured the 5th year option , and it barely cost them anything. I like the hire of new head coach Dave Canales because in the last 2 years he has helped turnaround the careers of previously highly drafted busts turned journeyman QB's Geno Smith & Baker Mayfield. Surely he can get Bryce Young back on track after only one disappointing rookie season. The Panthers aren't winning anything this season , and anything more than doubling last seasons 2 wins to 4 would be impressive with the roster they are likely to field. So trading edge rusher Brian Burns for 2nd & 5th round draft picks doesn't bother me too much , because they probably won't be in playoff contention for 2 or more years , but you would think they should have gotten at least a 1rst rounder for him. He's a twitchy talented 25 year old edge rusher who has been productive every season , and you can't get a single first rounder for him? Anyway my main focus would be protecting Bryce Young , and giving him the weapons he needs to succeed. As that would be the opposite of last season where he had just had one good receiver in a past his prime Adam Thielen & one good O-Lineman in Taylor Moton. Although there is still plenty of hope for the the young & talented WR Jonathan Mingo , and OT Icky Ekwonu. They started out doing half of that by providing Bryce two 27 year old beefy guards in Robert Hunt & Damien Lewis that are known for moving the line of scrimmage in the run game & anchoring in the pocket in pass protection. Now they need a much better center , and some more pass catchers to give Young a chance to fulfill his promise. So they made a trade for a potential #1 WR in 27 year old Deonte Johnson , and he can flat out separate. It made me laugh when I saw how little they paid for him too , because when all it cost you for him is a CB ( Donte Jackson ) that you were going to cut , and a swap of late round picks you are winning . Signing big DT A'shawn Robinson gives them 2 nose tackles so I thought they might be trading Derrick Brown too , but they wisely re-signed him to a extension. Or maybe they just want to play more base 3-4 looks , and one would be at the 5 technique. The Panthers also brought in high IQ off the ball LB Josey Jewell to QB the middle of the defense. So far they are using their cap space pretty wisely. It sucks that the 2024 #1 pick they traded to the Bears last year to get Bryce Young ended up being #1 overall , but with pick #33 at the top of the 2nd their is a decent chance either Graham Barton or Zack Frazier could fill their center void. If not it should definitely be another WR , but with their new 2nd (#39) they have a great chance of getting a good WR , and I doubt Barton or Frazier will be there then. Since they traded CB Donte Jackson & Burns corner and edge rusher are also large needs. Bringing in Jadeveon Clowney on the edge could help take some of the sting out of losing Burns in the short term. The cash strapped Panthers also resigned veteran CB Troy Hill , and he did start 3 games for them in 2023 so who knows. I would go with either a center or WR here , as both would help Bryce. At this moment the Panthers plan at center is probably Austin Corbett , but he is returning from a ACL tear so I'm not sure he can be depended on. At least Frazier fills a need , and he has the nasty physical temperament that everybody wants. Frazier is a tough guy former wrestling champ who understand leverage , and he has played center at a high level in the BIG 12 for a long time. He is a 4 starter overall , with 9 starts as a freshman at guard, but the last 3 years at center show where he belongs in the long term. I thought he might have lost his chance to go in the 1rst round when he broke his leg late in the season , because he wasn't healthy enough to play at the Senior Bowl , but he was already well enough to do some of the drills at the combine. A good showing in Mobile could have really helped Frazier move up into the 1rst round because the Big 12 isn't exactly a hot bed of interior D-Lineman , but you can see how well he played against Murphy & Sweat for most of the 2022 Texas game. Went out like a man when his leg broke as he gutted it out trying to crawl off the field so he wouldn't have to slow down the offense. Like most good shorter ( although 32 and quarter inches is really average for a center ) armed O-Lineman Frazier wins by playing low & keeping his hands inside off the snap, although you see most of his losses when his hands get outside , and it happens more than it should. That lack of length becomes a problem when he doesn't latch on early in the run game with his huge hands , because he loses his leverage, and it hampers his ability to sustain blocks later in the play. Not to mention that smart longer armed D-Lineman can get into his chest & shed his blocks. Zach is strong & well balanced, and has a maulers mentality looking to control defenders against their will in both the run & passing games. He succeeds more by turning guys and getting some push rather than driving D-Lineman far down the field. Knows how to explode his hips on contact with shock coming out threw his hands into the defender , and he can twist & torque defenders off balance onto the ground. Just solid awareness on stunts, twists , and blitzes. Its the second guy coming around , or on delayed blitzes he's a tick slow on. Unless some guy long arms him Frazier has a good anchor in pass protection as well , and he's always looking to help out when uncovered. He gets grabby when beaten in both the running & passing games , especially when it happens early. Although his arms are short he uses them well often enough in pass protection by keeping them inside , mixing up one or both hands , and timing his punches well. When he doesn't keep his hands inside , or gets them knocked away he can lose early then turn and grab. The turning bothers me more because you should always keep your butt pointed at the QB. Also could be better on combo blocks , and coming off to the second level. Plus its the quicker guys that can shoot the A-Gap that gives him more trouble than the strong brawlers. He has the good floor of a solid starting NFL center, but he lacks the higher ceiling of the other 2 centers I think could go in the first round. I love how this guy plays , ended up giving him a solid 2nd round grade , and he is the 42nd player on my board.
40.WASHINGTON-(chi)- PATRICK PAUL - OT - HOUSTON - 6"8" 331
NFL PLAYER COMP - FLOZELL ADAMS - retired
If the season started before the draft Braeden Daniels would probably be the Washington left tackle , and that shouldn't make any QB comfortable. Let alone a rookie learning a new offense. So I am giving them a new blindside protector. Paul is a experienced player with 44 starts at left tackle in 5 years of college so he should have better technique. He has good overall athleticism for a bigun , and was a team captain the last 2 years. Paul has a big wide frame with really long arms ( 36 and a half) , and he even out lengthed Tyree Wilson on 2022 tape. If only he used that length better on a more consistent basis. It's good to have a strong grip & to consistently latch on , but Paul almost always grabs outside the shoulder pads. Patrick has the nasty finishers temperament you want , and he blocks to the whistle in the run game , but his high start prevents him from living up to it more consistently. Sometimes he goes too far past the whistle too. Basically his technical faults keep him from finishing with more consistency. He has that same physicality as a pass blocker because Paul wants to stay at it , and he will fire his hands a little better , but he does tend let that grip go earlier there. Also has more of a skipping hop than a smooth kick step that will get him put on his ass by NFL bull rushers when they catch him in the air or over balanced . However if he is beat with speed , whether to the outside or on a inside counter , he can panic & hug. Part of that is that speed obviously worries him , and he tends to retreat too far before engaging. His feet & change of direction are just OK for a OT , but he's just so wide & long that he's hard to get around . If he actually used his length better he could be a plus pass protector in the NFL. Patrick is often too high off the snap, and that's both running & pass blocking. In the run game. Paul occasionally ducks his head , and gets too far forward , but at least he rarely ends up on the ground. Love the way he gets after it on down blocks. Even though he starts out too high inline he's so big sometimes his mass knocks them back a little anyway , but then he will readjust & start pushing. Pulls alright for a big guy , but rarely seems to hit someone at the end of it. As a pass blocker his mass helps his anchor , even though he's high , but he can get pushed back a little on contact. Both of these area's will have worse results in the NFL unless he's lower , but tall guys often struggle with pad level. Has good awareness for stunts , twist , and blitzes passing off rushers well. He goes hunting at the 2nd level , and when he makes contact its nice, but often takes poor angles , and is just chasing a defender when the ball carrier shows up. He already looked to be playing lower at The Senior Bowl, so he probably was working with a personal coach in the 3 months between the seasons end , and his week in Mobile. I liked that Paul used the short set at times to catch the defender off balance there, because its a effective but underused technique in my opinion .Yet those outside the shoulder pad grabs & jersey pulls were still front & center. He actually was actually lower & less grabby this season compared with 2022 , but he still deserved a lot more holding calls. I love watching guys improve over time , because you know that they are coachable , and it shows Paul should keep getting better. If Paul can learn to consistently play lower with his hands inside & extend with more consistency , he can go from a guy who has a finishers mentality to a actual regular finisher. I like him more than most because he is aggressive , and I put him just outside my top 50 , but I think he will go higher because of need & a high upside. I would trust him to hold up OK on the blindside in pass protection as a rookie more than some other guys I have ranked higher for the long run , but I'm not sure how well he will do as a run blocker right out of the gate.
41.PACKERS-(jets)- JER'ZHAN NEWTON - ** - DT - ILLINOIS - 6"2" , 304
NFL PLAYER COMP - TOMMIE HARRIS - retired
Jer'zahn (or Johnny Newton) only falls here due a injury , but it's a great value for the packers. Jerzahn Newton has fast hands , and so many ways to beat blockers. The only reason he is available here is a injury that prevented him from working out at the combine. Since all indications are that he will be fully healthy by training camp I see this as a huge steal. Newton was my #1 DT coming into the season, and even though stopping him was the main focus of offensive game plans he still had a great season, and ended up my #1 guy again. Newton even won the Big 10 defensive player of the year award while playing way more snaps than Byron Murphy. He underwent surgery for a Jones fracture on a toe after the season , and wasn't yet ready for a full workout at the combine. I may be in the minority with so much love being thrown at Byron Murphy being the consensus #1 three technique , and I like Murphy a lot , but I like Newton more. Although I have a 1rst round grade on both guys . He has so many different ways of beating blocks , and there were so many times blockers got away with holding him in college that its hard for me to see a way where he isn't a regular Pro Bowl guy. He moves all over up & down the line of scrimmage , chases hard, shows nifty feet , and has a great motor. When he fires out low he can penetrate quickly , but there are too many times he stands up to hand fight right off the snap , and even though he usually is able to slap aside a O-Lineman it keeps him from moving forward quicker. Plus when he loses early it allows the blocker to get underneath him , and start pushing him back against the run them making him shed too late. He looks a bit undersized on tape , and even though he measured in at 6"2" 304 at the combine I would guess that he played at around 290 during the season. He is a A+ hand fighter with a definite thought out plan as a pass rusher , multiple plus pass rush moves , and the best counters of any interior defender in the draft. That skill hand fighting helps alleviate his lack of arm length. I would like to see him bull rush more , and strike defenders early instead of looking to repeatedly defeat them with craftiness. In a defense that allowed him to just come forward more I think he would be even more disruptive in the backfield than he already is, and that's saying something. He can hold his ground early one on one when he is low, and even split some double teams , but in a read & react scheme he would be wasted. Johnny is my #1 three tech , #2 five technique , #1 of all interior defensive players, and # 4 overall defensive player in the draft at #14 on my final board. He was just so productive the last 2 seasons that it really bothers me that some people seem to be sleeping on him. I correctly believed he would go after Murphy , and he even fell out of the first round because of his inability to workout in the pre-draft process. For the record I think he would have kicked ass at the combine.
42.HOUSTON-(min)- BRADEN FISKE - DT - FLORIDA ST.- 6"4" , 292
NFL PLAYER COMP - MALIK JACKSON - retired
The Texans are not only coming off a great turnaround in DeMeco Ryan's first season as head coach , but the young talent on this team makes it look like they can be a contender for a long time. Most of us , and that definitely includes me , were too low on CJ Stroud as he looked like a veteran 10 year franchise QB as a rookie. In fact I think it was the greatest rookie QB season in NFL history. Throw in offensive building blocks in great LT Laremy Tunsil , young WR Nico Collins , a just re-signed TE Dalton Schulz , and Tank Dell if he can stay healthy. On defense young building blocks like edge Will Anderson , CB Derek Stingley JR. , safety Jalen Pitre , and maybe even LB Christian Harris make the future look bright. NT Foley Fatukasi was brought in from the jags right before free agency started to help clog up the middle some , but he did play for DC Matt Burke with the Jets earlier in his career , although he is a run down player only. They signed good young LB Azeez Al-Shaair LB away from the Titans too. Versatile veteran D-Lineman Denico Autry is a solid rotational guy that they also took from the Titans , but he is in his 30's. The Texans basically swapped Pro Bowl edge rushers in free agency with the Vikings as Danielle Hunter is coming to Houston & Jonathan Greenard is heading to Minnesota. Hunter is the longer , twitchier , more explosive & consistent rusher on the field , and has the higher upside as a pass rusher of the two guys. Yet he does not set a good consistent edge in the run game , and he's the greedy type who is always looking to squeeze more money out of you , even when he already has a good contract. Greenard finally busted out in 2023 , and he sets a better edge , but he got too much money for a guy with his career production. The Texans also traded for RB Joe Mixon , and it only cost them a 7th , but I was surprised they signed to him a new kind of pricey ( 3 years , 27 million with 13 million guaranteed) contract at this stage of his career. Former injury prone #4 overall pick CB Jeffrey Okudah was brought in on a cheap prove it deal too. If Okudah & Stingley can be healthy , and live up to the prospects they were coming out of college together that would be something to see. They traded away their first rounder to the Vikings for a 2nd (# 42) and a 6th (#188) this year and a 2nd in 2025. Then WOW! They traded for Stefon Diggs only giving up a 6th this year , and a second & 5th in 2025. Talk about teams going in different directions. The Bills seem to be going through a mini re-build , and The Texans are going for it all. I'm not a fan of Tytus Howard at RT , but I don't see a right tackle prospect worth this pick who fits their system. Ryans defense depends upon getting pressure with the front four , and they rarely blitz so they have to have a rotation of rushers. Right now newcomers Denico Autry & Mario Edwards JR are their only interior D-Lineman that can rush the passer with any skill , and both are in their 30's. So I'm giving them a interior pass rusher. After 3 years as a starter at W. Michigan Fiske transferred to Florida St. , and kept kicking ass, so he is a older prospect. He had to flip teams because of players either injured or opting out of the actual Senior Bowl game after spending all week of practice with the other squad, but played very well in the game after a standout week of practice in Mobile. Explosive and versatile with inside & out ability , and can play multiple positions in both odd and even front. Between the Senior Bowl & the combine he is one of the biggest risers in this years Pre-Draft process , and he is ripped with good stamina. He's very athletic , fires off the ball quickly , and is skilled with both hands & feet to beat blockers. Will chase down everything he can. He fights through the whistle versus the run or pass , but he isn't super stout at the point of attack. Fiske can hold his ground one on one versus your average O-Lineman , but will get pushed back by big mauler types. Not a guy who can win against a double team unless he splits it early at the snap. Braden has short arms , but he knows how to use them well to slap away the hands of blockers , and keeps them inside pretty well to fight for leverage. Yet a skilled long armed blocker can get the drop on him because of it. As a 6th year senior he may only be a one contract guy , so that will probably keep him out of the first round , but a man with his motor & versatility is very valuable.
43.ATLANTA - TJ TAMPA - CB - IOWA ST. - 6"1" , 189
NFL PLAYER COMP - AHKELLO WITHERSPOON - RAMS
After shocking me , probably most people ( especially Kirk Cousins ) by taking Michael Penix in the first round it's time for Atlanta to fill some needs on defense. AJ Terrell is a free agent after the season , and he has great length , which both Dee Alford & Clark Phillips lack. TJ is physical with those long arms and big hands to re-route in press coverage , but doesn't play press a lot. Better in bump & run , but I want him to have safety help over the top because he lacks long speed. Has good feet , but a high pedal , and he's a bit stiff with his change of direction. Plays inside & out but I like him more outside because he can't stay with the shifty quick guys if he misses his jam. Far more experienced in zone than man , and his body type and skill set are perfect for cover 3. He's a former WR with great ball skills , and he challenges at the catch point with those long arms & big hands. Plays the run like a man. Comes forward and fights through blocks, and will hit you , but lacks the shiftiness to be a reliable open field tackler. Plus he ducks his head and dives at times. His combine was Ok , but he looks a lot bigger than 189 on tape , and he only ran a 4.59. I still like him in the 2nd round to a zone team , and Raheem Morris is zone guy so Tampa should fit right in with his Tampa 2. Sorry , but I just got done watching Ted Lasso so I can't resist a good pun right now.
44.RAIDERS - EDGERRIN COOPER - LB - TEXAS A&M - 6"2' , 230
NFL PLAYER COMP - LAWRENCE TIMMONS - retired
Cooper has the length , burst , and speed of a good edge rusher in a off the ball LB's body. He's lacking in the football IQ to play the middle even though he has the size , and he plays outside more anyway. Runs like a deer to the ball once he sees it , can change direction like a safety , and has sideline to sideline range. He's willing to take on blocks , but can get high making it harder to stack & shed. When he extends those long arms , and times them right he can keep blockers off him then cut right to the ball carrier. Explosive blitzer , especially outside with a clear runway he can get there as fast as some corners , but he needs to add at least a few moves in case someone gets in his way. I would line him up at edge rusher in the NFL on some obvious passing downs if he just had 2 solid moves. Right now he's just basically sprinting towards the QB. Cooper tackles with force coming forward , but can be indecisive in space. He can get too aggressive by either taking the cheese , or coming in too hot and overrunning plays. He has solid instincts in zone , but with his athleticism he should be great at it. Cooper even lines up in the slot sometimes. He could be good in man too , especially against TE's , but it all comes back to him building up his read & reaction skills. There is so much talent here , and even though he made plenty of splash plays on tape it should be much more. if he can get to the point where his reads are just right & on time he's a Pro Bowler, but if he ever gets to the point where he is seeing it early he's an ALL PRO LB. Even if he just ends up being used a nickle LB , and blitzer in the regular defense as a rookie Cooper could make a impact. Not to mention a guy with his speed & physicality would kick ass on special teams.
45.SAINTS-(den)- KEON COLEMAN - WR - FLA. ST. - 6"3" , 213
NFL PLAYER COMP - MARQUES COLSTON - retired
Coleman transferred in this year from Michigan ST. , and I'm sure he thought he would get more targets than he did. He is a big down the field threat who's long strides can take a bit to reach top speed. He's not a burner, and doesn't separate as well as he could , but he also wins a lot of contested catches. Has great big hands to snatch the ball, body control to adjust , a wide catch radius , and the hops & timing to go get it. Even impressively pulled off some nice one handers , and has great focus & tracking abilities. Never saw Keon drop a ball he should have caught , and he caught a bunch he shouldn't have. Shows more explosion & quickness out of the slot compared to when he's running deep outside. Rare for a guy this size to return punts , but he does. Actually has some elusiveness in the open field when the ball is actually on time & hits him in stride, and he moves decently laterally for a big man on some out breaking routes. Breaks a lot of tackles , and even hurdles guys occasionally. I wish they threw him more slants because he can murder them the same way he does back shoulders. You see him taking short passes , and making something out of nothing plenty , but they telegraphed way too many screens to him. Doesn't always use his long arms & strength as well as he could to get off the line. Blocks like a stud though. As primarily a power slot and red zone target he could easily have double digit TD's with a accurate QB in the NFL. He could possibly even do a passable Michael Thomas impersonation for the Saints.
46.COLTS - JADEN HICKS - S - WASHINGTON ST. - 6"2" , 211
NFL PLAYER COMP - DERWIN JAMES - CHARGERS
Hicks is a 2 year starter who looks like the poster boy for box safeties. He's big , rocked up , fast , and has above average speed for a safety. He's better at covering TE's than slot receivers, because he's a little stiff , but he's still alright inside against power WR's. When the balls in front of him his reads are good, especially in zone. Moves around a lot , but I like him closer to the line of scrimmage. He will hit you , and can be a forceful tackler , but his form can be hit & miss. Plays some LB , and hits like one , but doesn't take on blocks like one. Hicks can be too aggressive as a tackler. Brakes on the ball quickly , and sees the field well in coverage , but doesn't always see the blockers hunting him. Lightning blitzer too. Jaden has the tools & traits NFL teams want , and he should be a 2nd rounder.
47.GIANTS-(sea)- JA'TAVION SANDERS - TE - TEXAS - 6"4" , 245
NFL PLAYER COMP - MARK ANDREWS - RAVENS
Since the Giants didn't trade up , or reach for a QB , they are now stuck with a Drew Lock - Daniel Jones combo running the show. The got a electric WR in Malik Nabers , but more weapons are needed if any QB they play is to have a real chance at succeeding. With Darren Waller getting injured again , and possibly retiring the Giants could use a new pass catching TE. Before this season I thought Sanders had a chance to go in the late first round , but his receiving numbers were down this season. Plus he ran slower than I expected at the combine, and that's after I assumed he slimmed down to 245 in the hopes of running a faster time , because he looks about 10 pounds bigger on tape. Definitely looks faster in pads too , as he can run vertical rotes beating LB's & safeties consistently. The ability to be a true inline TE is there, and he has good hand placement initially , but his effort & hips snap is inconsistent. Lines up inline , in the slot, and even in the backfield some. Has some good down the field blocks too , but again doesn't always look like his hearts in it. He separates pretty well , but is not a nuanced or polished route runner inline. Great big hands to win at the catch point. Had no drops on any of the 6 games I watched over the last 2 years , and that includes contested catches , and going up to get it. Good physical runner after the catch , and I wish they threw him more screens , used him more at the goal line , and handed him the ball 2 or 3 times a game. He actually covers kicks so that should push him up some. As a pass catching TE he could really blossom early with a team that made a more concentrated effort to get him the ball.
48.JAGUARS - RENARDO GREEN - CB - FLORIDA ST. - 6 ft. , 186
NFL PLAYER COMP - L'JARIUS SNEED - TITANS
New Jaguars DC Ryan Nielsen played primarily man coverage in Atlanta , and I expect he will do the same in Jacksonville. So I am giving him a man corner who won't back down from any receiver. Out of all the corners who could go in the top 75 Green is the grabbiest. He is a former safety who is super physical , and he shines in press man coverage , but he's gonna get you some flags along with it. Don't like it when he's in off coverage its a waste of what he does best. Despite just solid length & size he can jam WR's and redirect them off the line. Shows brains & the patience to jump in at the right time. LSU has 2 WR's that are going to go high in this draft , and Green is one of just 4 CB's ( Bama's Arnold & Koolaid , and Auburns DJ James are the other 3 ) who slowed them down , and Green was far better than the other guys specifically against Nabers. Has good feet and the ability to cut well out of the break. Will battle anyone at the catch point , but ball skills need work. Green mans up against the run , even though he isn't always a controlled tackler , and he lacks the sand in his pants to punish ball carriers much. Has great quickness, but just good top end speed. I would want him on my team . He will frustrate some WR's and put them on tilt, but you have to accept the penalties that go along with it.
49.BENGALS - MARSHAWN KNEELAND - OLB/DE - W. MICHIGAN - 6"3" , 267
NFL PLAYER COMP - TRENT COLE - retired
With Trey Hendrickson wanting a trade unless he gets a new contract adding a new young edge rusher seems like a god idea to me. Kneeland is a thickly built small school power rusher with good length , but he needs more pass rush moves to make it in the NFL. Normally a guy with his stocky build is better coming out of a 3 point stance , but he tends to just pop up high sometimes then. When he starts out standing , and that's either on the edge, or up the middle like a blitzing LB he is more explosive. Has a good first step and burst off the ball , but doesn't close quick enough to finish some plays. This is a guy you should short set a lot , because he is almost always bull rushing, and he's very good at it. All Marshawn's speed to power shock comes up through his legs , and into his hands to smack the blocker in the chest to knock him back with full extension. If you keep retreating and give him a run way , or even worse you are too high before contact , he can put you on your ass. Even when he isn't bull rushing he's just going off the threat of his bull rush by going through either shoulder or gap with maybe a little rip move or swipe at the hands. Can corner a little outside , but not a bend the arc outside guy. Sometimes he misses the chest strike zone and gets hands up to the face or the throat. Another guy you shouldn't block with just a TE , unless its George Kittle , because he will just over power them. Pretty alert to get his hands up into passing lanes when he isn't gonna get the QB. Got held a lot on tape , but still kept pushing people back into the QB. Love his motor , even when initially blocked he will keep fighting . Although he doesn't disengage well , or counter right rushing the passer he will keep fighting. He drops in coverage some , but doesn't have the lateral agility to do it well. In the run game he isn't the stud stack & shed guy I was expecting at that weight , but he can hold his ground pretty well if he is single blocked. Even though he holds up fine one one one , and he is always looking for the ball carrier , he doesn't see many blockers coming from the side to double him. Kneeland even chases some plays down from the backside , makes plays on outside screens , or chases plays down the field. He ran a 4.75 at the forty , but he looks faster on the field. Throws long arms wide to swallow ball carriers as a tackler. He needs more polish, especially adding more pass rush moves. If he can do that , play more under control, and become more aware of blocking schemes Marshawn can be a good starter in the NFL. He played pretty well at The Senior Bowl too. Plus he got a lot of pressure on game film , and I admit he got plenty of attention from offensive game plans this year , but I expected more sacks & TFL's considering his level of competition. I just love guys who play this hard , and he has good tools & traits so I gave him a solid 2nd round grade.
50.EAGLES-(no)- PAYTON WILSON - ** - LB - N.C. ST. - 6"4" , 233
NFL PLAYER COMP - FRED WARNER - 49ers
Wilson doesn't just have the best tape of all the off the ball LB's in this draft , but I also gave him a first round grade based off that 2023 tape. Yet he is a 24 year old 6th year senior with the medical history of a M.A.S.H unit , so I can't give him a first round grade based on his future. Has had multiple knee & shoulder surgeries so you are probably just hoping for one good healthy contract out of him. Wilson's football IQ , burst , and long speed are all top notch. First time I saw him he was picking off Sam Howell way down the field in 2019. I was just watching a game for fun , and I didn't know who he was. Plus he was #11 so I thought he was just a huge cornerback. Then I saw him chasing someone down across the field with that blazing speed , and wrote his name down for future study. I thought he might enter the draft years ago , but here we are today. Now he's coming off his 6th year , is a 3 time captain , and is FINALLY entering the NFL. He's still really fast now , and he makes so many tackles on tape I almost thought there were 2 of him. Lacks the arm length you want from a 6"4" guy so he mostly avoids block instead of taking them on , but he's really good at it slipping them while taking the right angles to the ball. If he goes to a defense where he is protected , and is allowed to just run to the ball he will fill up the stat sheet everywhere. Picks, sacks, passes defensed, TFL's , beating RB's to the corner, and just plain old tackles will come in abundance. He has the brain to be a Mike backer , and he's always around the ball , but not the play style for the inside. So it's good he's outside. He's so good in coverage he could be a safety , and I mean both zone & man erasing some RB's & TE's. Great blitzer too. He's a good tackler, but he's so tall he comes in high sometimes , and loses it. On a team that is right in the thick of a Superbowl run like the Eagles Wilson could step in , and be the LB they need to take their defense to the next level.
51.STEELERS - ENNIS RAKESHAW - CB - MISSOURI - 5"11" , 183
NFL PLAYER COMP - JACK JONES - RAIDERS
Getting a good zone corner like Rakeshaw here is good value. I know Rakeshaw is lighter than average , and has a sketchy injury history , but I love him. Just not in the first round. He tackles with the will & skill of a much bigger man , and since the the AFC North is a physical division tackling is a necessity , although he could be more under control coming forward. He's not just undersized, but also has a small frame that can't carry much more muscle without losing speed & quickness. Yet he's strong for his size. Ennis played in a variety of zone coverages in college , and looked good in all of them because he has the high football IQ to recognize route combinations. However he has very little man coverage tape to grade , and it didn't seem a strength from what I saw , but maybe with more time there he could improve in man because he is physical. He also ran a 4.51 at the combine so a lot of off man coverage is probably never going to work , but in press man I believe he could hold up well enough in the NFL because he is so physical with his hands. Maybe too physical at times , and he will get even more penalties in the NFL , but I want competitive guys on the island at CB. He's smart to read the QB, and recognize coverages. Had a torn ACL in 2021 that only team doctors will know if it can be a future problem. He played both inside & out in college. Plus he has the feet & short area quickness , and mirror ability for the slot. When the balls in front of him he times he breaks on the ball quickly , but can be a bit late grabbing for it, and didn't have as many passes defensed or picks as his talent warrants. He can lose track of the ball down the field when its behind him, and grabby then too. If you put him in a zone defense I think he will be a good starter. Rakeshaw fits this defense.
52.RAMS - TYLER NUBIN - S - MINNESOTA - 6"1" , 200
NFL PLAYER COMP - JUSTIN SIMMONS - FA
Last year the Rams ran a lot of 2 deep zone, and even though former Dc Raheem Morris is now the HC in Atlanta I expect they will so again in 2024 , because this defense doesn't have the talent to run another defense and still hope to be able to win. So having a FS who is adept at safely keeping everything in front of him makes a ton of sense, and it's also great value in my book. Unless you see Cooper Dejean as a safety Nubin is clearly the best safety in this draft to me, and unlike Dejean he actually played safety last season. Tyler is a 4 year starter , and he got his hands on the ball a lot ( 12 picks and 21 passes defensed) in the last 3 years. He is a true QB of the secondary , getting people lined up , has high level route recognition , and he rarely fall for traps. That my ball mentality , eyes for jumping in at the right time, and hands at the catch point are what every team wants. Tyler has CB feet , the football IQ to be moving in the right direction before others , and covers a lot of ground. He can play high or low , but he is at his best as the free safety who is the last line of defense. While Nubin's not a regular slot guy I think he could play there some against power slots , but he isn't loose or fast enough to cover a shifty slot guy down down the field. Has good arm length , and isn't grabby in coverage , but he lacks makeup speed if a man gets behind him. He layed some nasty hits on ball carriers, but also plays a bit dirty here & there. So he could end up with some fines & suspensions if he doesn't stop hitting with his helmet , and also could start some brawls on the field if he lays a cheap shot in the NFL. He's solid against the run , but I think he takes that last line of the defense a little too seriously. There are times he should be coming forward earlier , or taking a more direct route to the ball instead of worrying about giving up the big play. He's a good safe tackler who is rarely out of control against the run , but still meets ball carriers with force. Overall he has a good balance between jumping routes , and playing it safe deep. I think he could succeed most in a zone heavy scheme in the NFL , but he's also the type of potential single high safety blitzing teams will love too. That's hard to find. Also has a history of playing special teams. I have a late first round grade on him , but its unlikely he goes there , and to me this is a steal for the Rams.
***TRADE*** The SAN FRANCISCO 49ers their 2nd (#63) rounder they and their 3rd rounder (#94) in this draft to PHILADELPA EAGLES for their 2nd (#53) rounder and their 5th round compensatory pick***TRADE***
53.SF 49ers-(phi)- CHRISTIAN HAYNES - G/C - UCONN - 6"3" , 317
NFL PLAYER COMP - CHRIS SNEE - retired
Haynes is another 6th year senior who I think should have entered the draft in 2023. He was one of those guys I had already watched 3 games of early in preparation for the 2023 draft , because I couldn't see a logical reason why he would stay in school. He had already graduated, and Uconn isn't a contender for a National Championship , and those are the main reasons to stay in school. They weren't even a logical contender to win the ACC. I had a solid 2nd round grade on him by then so I just don't get it. I don't see any difference in his tape between 2022 & 2023 , and I especially loved his tape against Michigan in 2022. His team was overmatched, but Haynes was kicking ass in the run game. All of his few losses were in pass protection . With the exception of being late on a couple of twists stunts , and getting turned while allowing a few guys to beat him on a shoulder he won there too. This was against a defense with a lot of future NFL players , and Haynes looked great on the whole. He ended up a 4 year starter , and any guy who starts that many games in division one should be ready to contribute early in the NFL. Haynes starts out with good knee bend pre-snap, and he fires off the ball quickly & low , but he can be leaning too far forward. It's just that he's so quick off the ball he rarely get shucked early , which surprised me. He has 33 inch arm length , which is solid for a guard , but he carries those hands too low initially , and they are behind the rest of his body. Your hands need to be coordinated with your feet so your initial jab step positioning allows the power from your legs to come out through your hands when you explode your hips right after contact. So if he can get his timing with his hands & feet synched right this guy could be a ALL PRO. The funny thing is that so many defenders don't keep their hands inside , and Haynes is usually successful anyway. Even though he sometimes get stood up a bit early he usually has to re-adjust his hands post contact before his legs kick in too start pushing. Christian has the initial quickness & positioning to make the reach blocks so vital for stretch zone plays , and he can stay attached moving laterally , but his hands can get outside some there too. He picks off so many guys at the second level. He is controlled getting there, almost always makes a good block 3 or 4 yards down the field, and even though a lot of those are stalemates from that point he is clearly doing his job well. Every once in a while he will make a highlight block down the field , or just a get a little shove , but usually he is an ACE there. Now he uses his skills best in a zone scheme , and he especially excels at all those combo blocks coming from the side before going up the field. In pass protection his hands can get outside at times, but he does throw hands with force. My bigger worry is that he occasionally turns sideways when someone is shooting through the shoulder of one of his gaps. Instead he needs to move his hips & shuffle sideways to stay in front of his man, while keeping his frame between him and the defender in front of the the QB. His anchor is usually good when he's positioned right , even though he does lose the initial hand position fight too much. When he was lined up at center at The Senior Bowl in the one on ones he was slower & higher off the ball than he is at guard. Defenders were getting into him immediately and driving him back quickly , but then he would sit down re-adjust his hands sink & anchor strong. At guard it was better early , but the D-Lineman were getting their hands into the face & throat of O-Lineman too often , and he even got his helmet ripped off once. I wish I could hear if the coaches were getting on the defensive players for it, and how they graded those plays , because Haynes was winning most of them in my book. In the practices his anchor looked real good overall. I stress the Senior Bowl so much because he was facing better competition there than he usually sees on most of Uconn's schedule, and played well doing it. Since he has been a RG his whole college career , and he has good tape there , that's where I would leave him. His tape shows a plus player zone blocking , and just a solid one in man/gap , so primarily zone teams should have higher on their boards. You won't see him just standing around watching , because Haynes is always looking to hit someone with a finishers mentality. and he is rarely on the ground unless he is on top of someone. So overall I love his ability to run block in a zone scheme , and while I think he is a good pass protector on the whole I think he needs better hand placement & positioning there. When I finish my tape study and solidify my grade I look around to see what other people on the internet who's opinion I respect think of those same players. I am higher than the consensus at #44 overall. However, if Haynes goes to a Shanahan taught guy ( except for McVay who's doing a lot of man/gap now) he's a plug N play starter. So I am giving Haynes to a Shanahan where I believe he will be starting over one of their veteran guards soon enough
54.CLEVELAND - KRIS JENKINS - DT/DE - MICHIGAN - 6"3" , 299
NFL PLAYER COMP - CHRISTIAN WILKINS - RAIDERS
The Deshaun Watson signing has been a crap fest. Pre off the field perv allegations I would have called him a top 5 QB in the NFL , but he has played like a bottom ten guy in Cleveland. Whether its the time off , or inner turmoil I don't know. Either way they played better with broken down Joe Flacco last year. Despite tons of injuries HC Kevin Stefanski did a masterful job last season , and he should not be blamed if Watson sucks again. The Browns have a bad cap situation. Almost 13 million over when free agency started so you can't expect a lot of big deals. They did wisely re-sign edge Zadarius Smith. Then they signed interception waiting to happen Jameis Winston to be the new backup when Flacco went to the Colts. Also they traded for often banged up former 1rst rounder Jerry Jeudy , which only cost them a 5th & 6th. I thought it was a great deal until they signed him to a 3 year 58 million dollar deal with 41 million guaranteed. Jeudy has never even had a 1,000 yard season , and if you guaranteed me that he would reach his current career high 2022 ( 67 catches, 972 yards, and 6 TD's ) stats every year he still isn't worth that deal. Rotational DT's Shelby Harris & Maurice Hurst also inked new deals as well, and both were needed , but I still think they need more youth on the D-Line. The question is along the edge or interior. I would just take the best player available at OT , because both starters were hurt last season, although massive 4th rounder Dawand Jones actually played alright filling in for Conklin at RT. Off the ball LB , and RB are needs as well. I like the D'onta Foreman signing , because even though I think Nick Chubb is the best RB in the game , he is also coming off his 2nd major knee injury. I am going with the potentially best D-Lineman available here. Jenkins is really strong & athletic for his size. He can definitely stop the run one on one, and play the 3 or 5 technique well there. He even does alright against some double teams in college , but even when he stacks right he doesn't shed quick enough. He has some shock in his hands , and knows how to get them inside for control , but lacks consistent knock back power. Jenkins was also in a heavy rotation at Michigan, but often on the sideline on passing downs, and I need to see more reps & improvement as a pass rusher. His huge father had a much better pass rush array & plan, with a good arm over , but JR's looks rudimentary. JR. flashes the occasional nice spin move. He has a good motor , and can shoot some gaps , but he doesn't use his hands & length well enough getting after the QB. I believe he has the talent to be a good NFL player in a defense that allows him to come forward and attack more, but he didn't make the improvements I was hoping for this season. Maybe a NFL coach in the right scheme can unlock that potential , but I have a late 2nd on him after all the tape was done.
55.MIAMI - RUKE ORHORHORO - DT/DE - CLEMSON - 6"4" , 294
NFL PLAYER comp - DARNELL DOCKETT - retired
Other than maybe Zach Seiler the Dolphins don't have a interior D-Lineman that is even remotely above average right now. Ruke is a versatile guy who can play all along the line of scrimmage in a odd or even front , but I think he is best as a 3 or 5 technique , but he's not strong enough against doubles at the 3 right now. He can hold his ground one on one , stack & shed outside and knows how to disengage with active hands. He has a good ripped frame with long arms that he used well to control blockers , and has good initial hand placement. Fires out low off the snap and has the feet of a smaller man to move laterally , but doesn't have good closing speed , and needs to learn how to get skinny in the gaps more. Uses those feet to change direction well and good on stunts & twists. He stalls too much as a rusher , but he does get his hands up to alter or bat down passes. Despite 5 years in college he's still just 22 , and started out late in high school, so I think he has some good upside if he takes to coaching.
56.TITANS-(dall)- BLAKE FISHER - OT - N. DAME - 6"6" , 310
NFL PLAYER COMP - MARCUS GILBERT - retired
After adding giant OT JC Latham in the first the Titans get another rookie OT in round 2 and fix the biggest weakness on this roster giving Will Levis young talented bookend pass protectors , and quite possibly turning their biggest weakness into a strength . Fisher was a 2 year (26 total ) starter at RT for N. Dame , but I believe he has a chance to play the blind side if he would just get off the ball quicker. Its frustrating to watch , and the main reason why he struggles with speed at times, but it makes no sense that he can't get off the ball because he knows the snap count! A offensive lineman should be itching to explode off the ball like a angry sprinter who gets to hit somebody when the pistol shot is fired. Has a good lean muscled athletic build. I love the way he has good knee bend pre-snap , and starts off the ball with a wide power base , but sometimes ruins it by popping up off the ball. That combined with his slow start means he can get stood up or even pushed back inline off the snap far more than a guy with his talents ever should , but at least he strikes a blow. His hands tend to get a bit outside outside , but not nearly as bad as a lot of other highly ranked guys in this draft. Blake does have good arm length , and he extends them early & well for the most part in pass pro , but he can get caught leaning too far forward at contact. His kick step is quick enough , but his strides are a little long which can make him vulnerable at the collision point sometimes. Didn't struggle much with speed on the outside despite the late start , but that will be a bigger worry in the NFL. He will grab outside and hold if he's beat in any situation , but rarely does it blatantly otherwise. Fisher has high level awareness for stunts , twist , and blitzes. Has a good anchor when he doesn't retreat too far before contact , even against 5 techniques, but he can walked back to the QB when he waits too long to strike. He's good on the move in the run game once he gets going, a skilled combo blocker , and climbs to the second level looking to do damage. Although he does get high there too , and his angles aren't always sound . Plus he did do that damage down the field a lot because he arrives with force. In fact the overwhelming majority of his highlight reel blocks are made down the field. Good initial pop on kick out blocks, but tends to just try to turn them out , and even though his feet are moving he usually gets very little movement off the ball there. Quick puller too , but he needs to be a little tighter inside turning up the field. He's active to the whistle , and you rarely see him standing around watching , but when he pulls he often fails to hit someone. Also does end up on the ground more than he should. He's scheme diverse , and all 32 teams should like him some. , but I want him in a scheme that gets there lineman moving so his down the field blocking is highlighted. I really believe that If he just learns to get off the ball quicker he could be a average starter at right tackle as a rookie , but its also clear to me if he polishes his other techniques as well he could be a plus starter in time. Maybe even on the left side.
***TRADE*** The BALTIMORE RAVENS TRADE their 2nd (#62) and 4th (#130) rounders to the BUCCANEERS for their 2nd (#57) rounder ***TRADE***
57.RAVENS-(tb) - DOMINICK PUNI - OL - KANSAS - 6"5" , 313
NFL PLAYER COMP - ELGTON JENKINS - PACKERS
There are a lot of things I like about Puni , but here are 3 key ones that are far more rare than many people realize. 1- He can play all 5 positions in a pinch , which he showed at The Senior Bowl , and he was winning lined up all across the line of scrimmage. Also showed consistently lower pad level in Mobile than on tape. 2- Instead of riding out his career at lower level Central Missouri he transferred up to a power five team 2 years ago which shows he is willing to both test & prove himself. 3 - After transferring , and his results going down in year one at Kansas, he took to coaching by showing much improved technique on his 2023 tape. Which is even more impressive because he kicked outside to tackle this season with much better results , but edge rushers aren't as strong. He's a 6th year senior so you have to take his age into the equation , but I really think this guy can start for a NFL team somewhere up front as a rookie. His biggest weakness is that he's too high on tape too often, but he was improved there this season. He's got a wide thick build , and the aggressive attitude I like , but too much of that weight is in his upper body making him top heavy. He's strong with shock in his hands on contact , but too often his hands are wide. That lessens the initial power and leaves his chest open , but when his hands are right he can win quickly , and start driving his opponent off the ball in the run game. If he can play with better knee bend , and Z in his legs I think center might be his best position long term , but he needs to hit the squat rack more. The center thing is ironic because even though he has 13 starts at guard, and 26 at tackle ( all but 3 on the left side ) he has never started a college game at center. Not only will squatting get him in the habit of getting lower early , but it will also help his body be more balanced , and keep him from getting too far forward. It will also help him to sustain blocks longer. Has a good punch in pass protection , and can use his hands independently at times, but still gets his hands outside the target too much. Surprisingly good anchor outside in 2023 for a guy who's pad level is iffy , but edge guys are smaller. Mostly it just comes down to him getting lower on a consistent basis , especially if he's playing inside , because the power of interior players pushed him back too much on his 2022 guard tape. Since he was already doing that in Mobile I have given him a late 2nd round grade. His versatility could allow the Ravens to putt here best five O-Lineman on the field at the same time.
58.PACKERS - JAVON BULLARD - CB/S - GEORGIA - 5"11' , 198
NFL PLAYER COMP - BUDDA BAKER - CARDINALS
Bullard can play all over. Lines up in the slot , at either safety spot , and can be a stud on special teams. Also, he is so high on my board I just have trouble with him getting out of the 2nd round. Bullard was named defensive MVP of the 2023 National Championship Game in his first year as a starter. Ne not only picked off max Duggan twice, but also was all over the field making plays & being disruptive. When you play on a defense with 2023 1rst rounders Jalen Carter & Nolan Smith , and yet you are the guy kicking the most ass in the biggest game of your life that is a ringing endorsement for future NFL success. Even though he has played all over the secondary I like his slot tape best, even though he spent more time playing as a deep free safety this season. He is a beast in run support and as a tackler. Bullard is so physical & hits so hard that I think he would spend more time in the box if he was bigger , but I doubt NFL teams will want that to be his primary spot . Although if he isn't covering the slot he could spend time at both high & low safety. He will get some flags both for being grabby & some vicious hits. He's a good , but not great athlete , but his football IQ & route recognition is high enough to make him play faster than his 4.47 forty time would suggest. Also can cover kicks. I couldn't give him a first round grade , but he is a high floor guy that is # 30th on my overall board , but I think he will be drafted later because of his lack of size.
59.HOUSTON - ROGER ROSENGARTEN - OT - WASHINGTON - 6"5" , 311
NFL PLAYER COMP - BRADEN SMITH - COLTS
Roger was the starting RT the last 2 years for the left handed Michael Penix making him the blindside protector for the Huskies. Arms are a little over 33 inches long , but when he throws inside hands it alleviate that some. He gets off the ball well , and he's kind of a athletic OT who fits best in a zone scheme , especially in a Shannahan type stretch zone , but he has a soft build. He needs to get stronger to hold up in the NFL , and he has the frame to add more muscle , and he specifically needs it in his legs . He has decent left tackle feet & quickness , but if he was more rocked up that should improve. His initial pass sets are usually solid , but he too often loses after contact because he is too high. He uses his arms & hands inside much better than most of these guys early with a decently timed punch, but he does have a tendency to jump set too far outside against speed & throw both hands too early. Roger doesn't hold as much most OT's in this draft , but when he does its usually when he is beat early , and then the hands get outside and grabby. Mostly he struggles with anchoring against power , because he upright so much & his legs need to get stronger , but when he short sets it catches them off guard and slows them down. You can literally just look at Fautanu lined up at the other OT spot and see how much more knee bend & leverage he plays with both pre & post snap compared to Rosengarten, but if he got to spend more time in a 3 point stance that could improve. Good awareness on stunts , and twists , but not quite as good with delayed blitzes. Also has a tendency to let guys go too early on screens. Looks to help out when uncovered in pass pro , which happened a lot in the Texas game because they were overloading Fautanu's side for some reason. Washington seems to pass about 75% of the time while the game is still in doubt so I had to watch extra games to get a read on the run blocking of their OT's. His best run blocks are when he is down blocking inside , and does a solid job getting to the second level on combo blocks , although he is hit & miss down the field. Sometimes he lays a shot on a guy at the second level , and other times gets juked or takes a bad angle and whiffs. Gets stood up too much inline at the line of scrimmage , but he keeps trying to readjust his hands and drive his feet, but does fall off too many blocks. Takes too much depth when pulling too his left , and is also hit & miss there, but he does a better job down the field on screens. He plays aggressive , and keeps fighting to the whistle ,but lacks a true finishers mentality & results. With a lot of time in the squat rack , and increased patience & some technique refinement I could see him being a solid starter down the line. How long that takes depends on how hard he works in the weight room , and how coachable he is because he is not ready for NFL power rushers right now. Multiple Michigan pass rushers took it to him in the Championship game , and it wasn't just bull rushes either. Gave up plenty of pressure to the outside, got beat multiple times to the inside on spin moves , and a early jump cut when he set to far outside . He will see much worse in the Pros. Looked better at the Senior bowl so you know he's working on it , but still consistently too high almost all the time. While his tape makes him look kind of athletic he was much more so at the combine where his 4.92 forty led all O-Lineman, and I wish he was consistently that quick on film. If he dedicates himself to getting stronger and plays lower he is at least a solid swing tackle , but he could be a solid starter too. I gave him a high 3rd round grade , but my guess is he goes in the second to a team that lost out on the higher ranked OT's earlier.
60.BUFFALO - MAX MELTON - # - CB - RUTGERS - 5"11" , 187
NFL PLAYER COMP - TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE - RAMS
Melton is a experienced versatile cover corner with 40 starts in the big 10 , and is a two time team captain. He can run with anybody deep , and can leap out of the gym to go get the ball. Plus he has the timing & ball skills to get his hands on the ball a lot with 8 picks and 30 passes defensed over the last 3 years. I watched games from the last 3 years after his outstanding performances at The senior Bowl & combine, and you can see him getting better over time on tape. I love guys who can play inside or out because it allows you to matchup better & disguise coverages. He's physical with long arms to press , although he can get grabby , but I like him even more in zone. Mans up in run support. coming forward , but not the form tackler he needs to be. Good route recognition in off coverage, and as soon as he sees it he flies to the ball. He has good feet , but a high pedal can slow him out of the break. He's really athletic & tough , but he needs to polish up his techniques. Has also blocked a lot of punts. Has a stupid off the field incident that needs to be vetted , but hopefully it was just immaturity. Otherwise I would have him even higher.
61.DETROIT - ARIZONA-(hou)- CHRISTIAN MAHOGANY- ** - G - B.C. - 6"3' , 314
NFL PLAYER COMP - ALAN FANECA - retired
Mahogany is a 5th year senior , a 3 year starter , and he has 34 starts. Nasty & physical drive blocker that fires out with force & inside hands in the run game , but he would be even better if he could stay low more consistently. Christian has good arm length for a guard with a strong hand punch & he doesn't give up ground in the pocket in pass protection. Yet he lunges or leans so far forward in pass pro that he will get pushed pulled , olay'ed , and arm overed a lot more in the NFL. Plus he is a little stiff with limited lateral mobility for quick inside penetrators shooting gaps. Quick puller who had more de-cletes at the end of it than any guard tape I have seen in years. I Loved his 2021 Clemson tape , and I had a 3rd round grade on him after that year , but he went back to school after tearing his ACL. The tape is still good this season , but I liked his 2021 tape a little more . However , a lot of the time when a guy's coming back from a big injury it takes a year to get your full faculty back. Christian is a punishing drive blocker with powerful leg drive who pushes defenders far off the ball making it hard for 2nd level guys to get to the hole. Basically just a true mauler in the run game who is always looking to finish , especially in a gap scheme because right now he crowds the other guy on combo blocks too much. Yet he also needs to stay back & sink in pass pro to have a more fundamental anchor instead of just lunging or leaning hard. If his pass pro tape was as good as his beastly run blocking he would be a lock for the first round. I love the guy , and his tape is a blast , but pass heavy teams won't like him as much. Yet he's a ALPHA who will be a RB's best friend , and any coach who watches his tape will want this guy. Mahogony plays on the right side instead of the left , he's a little shorter , and he's not quite as polished but watching him pull was like watching Alan Faneca in his prime. I have him in the mid 3rd round so obviously I don't have a ton of faith that he can reach the comparison of a Hall Of Famer , but he plays the same way in the running game. Dan Campbell will love him.
62.TAMPA BAY-(rav)-KAMARI LASSITER - CB - GEORGIA - 6 feet , 186
NFL PLAYER comp - CARLTON DAVIS - LIONS
Lassiter isn't big or fast , but he's quick, smart , controlled , tough, and has good technique. After he didn't run at the combine, and than ran a slow 4.64 forty at his pro day so I had to drop him a round, but I didn't expect a burner after watching his game film anyway. Although I was expecting more like low to mid 4.5 , but the results on tape are good regardless of his timed speed in shorts. He plays his best in man coverage in the SEC , and you don't see a lot of balls caught on him , and he is very quick changing directions. Played even more zone this year, and he's solid there, but when he is up pressing he gets a good jam to throw the WR off before they can get into their routes. he didn't have any picks the last 2 years , but he will fight for every ball at the catch point. He comes forward manning up in run support , and as a tackler , but can get stuck on blocks or dive too low missing ball carriers. Also has a history of playing special teams.
63.EAGLES-(sf)- KIRAN AMEGADJIE - G/T - YALE - 6"5" , 328
NFL PAYER COMP - KELECHI OSEMELE - retired
Kiran looks like he was built in a lab with the wing span of Jurassic Park flying dinosaur , and good athleticism to boot. He's 6 "5' so tall enough , but not so tall that he should struggle playing with leverage long term like he does now. The Problem is he is raw , and way more raw than you would expect from a O-Lineman with 24 college starts because he played at Yale. So when your level of competition is filled with future doctors , lawyers , tech guys , scientist , businessmen , and hedge fund managers you aren't being tested much. The competition in lower levels like division 2 & the HBC is much better in my opinion , and while Kiran kicked a lot of ass against the future one percenters , his lack of technique will be exposed early in a NFL training camp. He will have to adjust to a whole new speed of the game too. So it might take him a year or 2 if you want to play him outside. Maybe a shorter term if you want to start him at guard because he has flashes of good balance & steady aggressive power , and he did start inside as a sophomore. Right now with him playing so high , and his hands all over the place it will come down to how coachable he is , but he does drive these low level guys off the ball most of the time anyway. At Yale he is just shoving lesser players around because he's bigger , stronger , and more athletic than his level of competition. Even then he doesn't sustain on a lot of his run plays , and he will grab or hug a guy who is escaping. Other times he looks like he's wildly chasing his man in a circle on some run plays. Although he also has straight dominant blocks on plenty of others. At least he is consistently trying to bury his man , and searching for somebody to hit when uncovered. It's hard to get a good read on him as a pass blocker because almost all of Yale's plays are RPO's , and his QB runs himself into tacklers sometimes , but you do see him extending his arms more early there. He went to Yale so he has to be smart enough to learn quickly , and bump up his awareness faster than most , because this offense won't easily translate with a lot of teams. Since he will be getting a much higher level of coaching it could come sometime during the middle of his rookie year , but then again Kiran is coming off a torn quad where he only played 4 games his final season so it could take longer for the rust to wear off. I was bummed that he wasn't healthy enough to play at the Senior Bowl , because he was one of the players I really wanted to see against that level of players. If was a rebuilding team , or one with some older OT's I might take him in the latter half of the 2nd round , or early 3rd. Or the ideal situation is that you are a team with two 2nd rounders , and you take him with one of those second 2nd rounders. Philly ( pick 53) , Green Bay ( pick 58) , and Houston ( pick 59) all fit that final criteria , and make the most sense. In Philly he could be mentored by future HOFer Lane Johnson , and maybe be his heir apparent at right tackle. The Packers are a young team on the rise, and they are great at developing O-Lineman. Then you have the Texans who are also a young team on the rise , and they have a pretty full roster where he could sit & develop . All these teams can afford to sit him a year in a low pressure environment where he can get real NFL level strength , conditioning , and coaching. Plus all 3 of those teams have at least one older O-Lineman , current underperforming starter , or a potential cap casualty next year. If Amegadjie can just learn to bend his knees , keep his hands inside part of the time , and learn to consistently extend his arms on time with his awesome length he could become a good starter in a year or 2. His potential upside is much higher though. He is a big toolsy talented ball of clay that any O-Line coach worth his salt would begging to mold. Whether he ends up at guard or right tackle , I would bet on him sometime in the late 2nd to early 3rd round.
64.CHIEFS - BRANDON DORLUS - DE/DT - OREGON - 6"3" , 285
NFL PLAYER COMP - TYRONE CRAWFORD - retired
Dorlus is a tweener, and although I like him more inside as a 3 technique he played the edge a lot this year. A 5th year senior and 3 year starter with good backfield production all 3 years. He played a lot of snaps at a variety of spots too. His length and quickness are best used inside as a pass rusher , and he has power coming forward , but he doesn't have the bulk or pad level to hold his ground in the run game. Although he can penetrate well. Has much less chance against double teams inside , and doesn't always see it coming either. Has good technical heavy hand use , and a wide array of pass rush moves. So ideally he can play run downs outside , and kick inside in passing situations. He's a lot like a more polished version of Marshawn Kneeland , except he's bigger , and not quite as athletic. Also Kneeland is a better player standing , and Dorlus excels more out of a 3 point stance. Plus Dorlus is more versatile , played against better competition , and was more productive. Brandon has a pretty good long arm bull rush , and if doesn't win early he stalls out sometimes, but when he does he is great at getting his hands up into passing lanes to alter or bat down throws. He has a tendency to want to get upfield even when he shouldn't , and overrun some plays too. He needs to go to a team with a DC who knows how to use him right , and stay low to be a NFL playmaker. 2nd round grade.
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