One of the great mysteries in life is the concept of “destiny.” Are we destined to be someone, or does our surroundings influence that end result. Do our actions or decisions alter our lives, or is the path pre-determined. Through a three-act story, director Derek Cianfrance is able to deconstruct this mystery by examining the relationship between fathers and sons in the film “The Place Beyond the Pines.” Starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Emory Cohen, and Dane Dehaan, the film opens up with Gosling’s character Luke walking at a carnival. His job is to ride a motorcycle at carnivals across the country. Immediately, the audience can tell what type of guy Luke is. Luke doesn’t seem to care about anyone but himself, but more importantly, he has no purpose in life. He is going across the country, having meaningless flings, doing the only thing he knows for sure that he is good at. Riding a motorcycle. Along comes Eva Mendes’ character, Romina. Over a year ago, Luke and Romina had a fling before he left town and never called again. He runs into her at the carnival, as she says she wanted to check in on him. He gives her a ride home, but she shuts down an advance that Luke makes, claiming she is seeing someone. Luke returns a few nights later to have Romina’s mother answer the door, with a baby in hand. Turns out it is Luke’s son, Jason. Luke is shocked by the overwhelming feelings that have come over him. For the first time in his life, he has a purpose. He grew up without a father, and he does not want to make that same mistake with his child. Luke visits Romina at the local diner, where she works, and confronts her about not telling him. Luke, in this conversation, clearly demonstrates that he is willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of Jason’s life. He has no money, he has no job, but he is determined to provide. So he turns to the only thing he can, robbing banks. With the help of his friend Robin, they start to rob banks around town, where he uses his incredible abilities as a driver to get away from the scene in an orderly fashion. He then uses the money to try and provide for Jason. He buys a crib, toys, whatever he thinks will prove that he deserves to be in Jason’s life. He just doesn’t want to make the same mistake as his father. One day, Luke is building a crib inside Romina and her boyfriend Kofi’s house without the two present. When the two arrive, Kofi demands that Luke leaves. Luke freaks out and hits Kofi in the eye with a crane, resulting in jail time and a restraining order. At this point, Luke’s life is spiraling out of control. He is asking Robin to amp up the bank robberies, because in his eyes, the only purpose he holds in life is providing for Jason. If he can’t do that, he has nothing. He will rob a million banks if it means he does something. Robin tells Luke that he wants out, saying the amazing line “if you ride like lightning, you will crash like thunder”, essentially explaining the current path Luke is on if he continues to play with fire. Luke just decides to do the robberies himself. But this time, Luke is sloppy, due to the fact that he is falling apart. He lost his family, his only friend, and he is desperately grasping onto his last bit of hope. His final robbery ends in a cop chase, where he is in a random house holding a family hostage while the police officer is waiting outside. Luke, finally realizing what he was doing is wrong, releases the hostages and waits for the police officer, Bradley Cooper’s Avery Cross, to come arrest him. He calls Romina, telling her to not tell their child about him. Avery breaks into the room, and gets trigger happy, shooting Luke. Luke is able to get a shot off back, before falling through the window and to his death. As an audience, this is shocking. The main character of the movie is dead within the first hour of the film. The first act of the film is over, leaving Jason in the same position Luke was in as a kid. Fatherless. The second act then starts with Avery waking up in the hospital, with his wife and baby, as well as his father, who is a legend in the police force, by his side. Everyone is proclaiming Avery a hero, although he doesn’t feel that way. Only he knows he shot first. He lied to the detectives that Luke shot first, and that guilt is eating Avery alive. He cannot even look at his child, as his child AJ reminds him of the fact that he took a person’s life and left a child fatherless. He is being given a medal of honor, as well as being a hero in the eyes of the public, but deep down Avery knows he is no hero. One night, some cop buddies show up at Avery’s house and take him out for a ride along. They show up at Romina’s house, and steal the money that Luke left for Jason. They claim to be taking it for “evidence”, but in reality they are pocketing the money. This guilt is eating Avery alive. He already feels awful about killing Luke, but now he is stealing the one thing he left his child. He then goes to talk to his father about the situation. His father gives him advice, but Avery dismisses it, as he claims that he is not the “election type” like his father, rather he would like to live a simple life. He eventually comes clean to the guy who runs the police force, only to get kicked out for trying to “snitch”. Desperate, Avery sets up one of his friends, and blackmails the police force to promote him to assistant district attorney, as he accumulated evidence that shows major corruption within the police force. Avery gains his power, as well as showcasing the lengths he will go to achieve power. The entire case is publicized, again showcasing Avery as the hero, although this time, he is starting to believe it. We start act three with a 15 year time jump. The act starts with Avery giving a speech at his father’s funeral. He is using this opportunity to boast about his upcoming campaign as Attorney General. Immediately, the audience sees the type of guy Avery has become. He only cares about public appearance, he wants nothing to do with his kid, and he has transformed from a guy who wants a simple life, to a divorced politician who has no time for his family and only cares about winning the “election”. Essentially, he has turned into his dad. But here comes the twist. AJ, Avery’s son, has decided to move and stay with his dad. He is attending a new school, and on the first day in lunch, he decides to sit at some random table. The kid sitting across from him? Jason, Luke’s child. Jason has no idea who Luke is, or the fact that Avery shot and killed Luke. They immediately hit it off, as they ditch class to smoke pot. They then get arrested for possession of drugs. Avery marches down to the station, only to see the kid his son is hanging out with is no one other than Luke’s son. Immediately, Avery feels an overwhelming amount of guilt. In his eyes, this kid is in this position because he had no father, and Avery was the one who took that from him. Avery throws AJ against the wall and demands AJ stays away from Jason. But AJ ignores his dad and continues to badger Jason, convincing him to come to his party and to bring more drugs. Jason shows up to the party, and gets absolutely wasted. As he was stumbling up the stairs with some girl, Jason notices a picture hung on the wall. Earlier in the film, Kofi told Jason the name of his dad. Jason did some research, finding all about his past as a biker and how Avery Cross was a hero for shooting his dad. Jason sees this picture of Avery, and he absolutely loses it. He confronts AJ, who then beats him up so badly he ends up in the hospital. Jason then returns to AJ’s house with a gun, knocking him out and taking Avery out to the woods at gunpoint. Jason then demands that Avery gives him his wallet. With a gun held at his head, Avery breaks down and apologizes. He stops burying the guilt that has overtaken him. He repeatedly says “I’m so sorry, Jason.” Jason proceeds to run away, opening Avery’s wallet to see the picture of him as a baby with his real parents. The movie concludes with Jason running away with nothing but a motorcycle and some cash, and Avery winning his election for Attorney General. When I first saw this film, I was absolutely floored. The idea that we don’t have control over who we become is one that is terrifying. In the end, Jason just ends up becoming his father, as does Avery, and probably in the future AJ will become like Avery. The main takeaway I had was this: The environment one grows up in directly affects the type of person one becomes. Jason became like Luke because of Luke’s mistakes, leaving him fatherless. Avery became like his dad because his dad was never there for him emotionally, and AJ will unfortunately suffer the same fate.  They are in a relentless cycle of being stuck “Beyond the pines” an area where one is stuck with the destiny created by their environment.

Funny People by Judd Apatow featuring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, and Leslie Mann among many others is a masterpiece. On the surface, this film is simply about a famous comedian who is dying and takes a struggling comedian under his wing to both help him perfect his craft while taking care of him and keeping him company. Some will say this movie is too long, some will say that the movie feels like two different films, and to that I say, sure. Those are valid arguments. But from where I am standing, Adam Sandler’s portrayal of George Simmons is one of the most fascinating character studies that I have ever seen in a movie. To understand Simmons as a character, you first have to have context to how the movie opens. The first scene shows Simmons in a doctors office, being told that he has cancer. Very Walter White esc. As the doctor explains to him the severity of his illness, Simmons attention drifts off. He is staring at the doctor’s photos in his office, pictures of his wife and kids. In that moment, Simmons immediately feels regret for his entire life. He sees a life where he has pushed his family away, explained in a later scene with his sister, he lost the love of his life, played by Leslie Mann’s character, and he has no friends. So he goes to the only place he feels any worth. The comedy club. He is the star there. As he mumbles along in his performance, he feels alive again. He only identifies as a “funny person” and nothing more. After his performance, Seth Rogan’s character follows him, and well he sucks. But a few scenes later, Simmons calls up Ira (Rogan’s character) and offers him a job. Ira’s job is pretty simple. He will be the only person who knows about George’s illness and he will essentially serve as a friend/caretaker. Simmons life is so full of emptiness and regret, that he has to pay some nobody to be his friend. In some ways, he is a tragedy. He spends most of his time either cracking jokes to remind himself that people “like” him, or he reminisces on what his life could have been. He chose an empty life of meaningless sex and fake friends and now, as he stares down death, he has no one but a failing comedian who is being paid to spend time with him. We see scenes where he rekindles a spark with his old flame (Mann’s character), we see him give an emotional speech at Thanksgiving about appreciating every moment you have. He is just a guy who wants a second chance at life. But here is the twist. He gets that chance. Halfway through the film, the doctor informs Simmons that he is cancer free. He has been given that second chance. The film is so fascinating to me because we get to see Simmons arc while going through his illness, how he wishes he could have a 2nd chance in life. Now we get to see what he does with it. The only thing that he wants out of his second chance is Laura(Mann’s character). She is married and has two kids, but in his eyes, she is the epitome of everything he realized he wants in life. He drags Ira to her house in Northern California, and they spend the weekend with Laura and her kids. Laura and George even have a romantic moment where in George’s eyes, he was winning back the one that got away. But then something funny happened. The glamour wore off. George slowly began to question whether this life is for him. He started showing off in front of Laura about his hollywood connections, he started being a jerk. He wanted the life and family with Laura, but he wasn’t willing to put his ego aside, which is why they didn’t work to begin with. Things only get more complicated when Laura’s husband Clarke returns home from China. Sandler’s character is trying to win over Laura, even though doing this would essentially ruin their family, as Ira points out. But Simmons doesn’t care. He wants to prove to himself that his life has meaning. That the epiphany he had actually meant something. That he was a changed man. But by trying to be this changed man, he showed his true colors. That he is a selfish asshole. This story ended how it should have. Laura stays with her husband, and Simmons leaves with a black eye. His friendship with Ira is essentially over because he feels he betrayed him by not letting him be happy with Laura. And this is where, in my opinion, the best scene takes place. Ira and Simmons are driving back to LA, and Simmons is just ripping on Ira. He is explaining to Ira that for a guy who is a comedian, he is remarkably unfunny. Comedy is for “funny people”. That is when Rogan delivers the best line in the movie. “Well if funny people are like you, then I don’t want to be funny”. Simmons entire existence, his second chance that was gifted to him, was just thrown in his face when Laura decided to stay with her husband. He felt like his entire arc in the first half of the movie was for nothing. So he went back to the one thing that he could rely on. Being a funny person. Rogan hitting him with the returning line is a wake up for Simmons. Being funny, rich, and successful never made him happy, and this low blow by Ira affirms that. Simmons character is one that fascinates me. He goes through the entire first half of the movie wishing for a second chance, and when he got that, he still didn’t get the happy ending he wanted, because no matter how bad he desired that life, he was never going to be anything more than one of the funny people.

Grading scale

99-95; Top ten elite talent

94-90: First round pick

89-85: Second round pick

84-81: Third round pick

80-77: Fourth round pick

 

Condensed version: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BDzolFcztUqG4Z7f3fz6hJX-Hk1qvUGzCpZkY_D7-OE/edit#gid=0

 

 

1. Chase Young- EDGE Ohio State

6’5 265 lbs

Strengths

Athletic freak

Ideal size

Burst off the edge

Explosive first step

Strength

Powerful, quick hands

Bend 

Closing speed

Coverage ability

Convert speed to power

Length

Relentless motor

Constantly causing havoc

 

Weaknesses

Not great against the run

Needs to add spin move

Can take himself out of the play with speed rushes

Grade:97.5

If I had to design a pass rusher in a lab, the result would look something like Chase Young. Freak doesn’t even begin to describe the skillset that Young brings to the table. He has a lightning quick first step. He has powerful, quick hands that allow him to control offensive lineman. He has the burst and bend to get to the edge. He has the power to go through lineman. He has the football IQ to manipulate his opponents. He is a blur. His closing speed is terrifying. Simply put, he has the tools to be unstoppable. He isn’t dominant in the run game, but he is more than adequate. He can still add a spin move to his arsenal to prevent taking himself out of plays when he is trying to get to the edge. Scary that the most dominant defensive player in years can get better. Number 1 overall player on my board. Slam dunk all pro and potential hall of fame type player.

 

2. Joe Burrow- QB LSU

6’4 216 lbs

 

Strengths

Great Pocket Awareness 

Poise

Great Touch

Mechanics are sound

Clean footwork

Throws a pretty ball

Good arm strength

Good accuracy on all three levels

Good athlete

“it “ Factor

Can throw on different platforms and angles, doesn’t need clean pocket or perfect mechanics

Takes what the defense gives him

Winner 

Knows how to look off safeties, manipulate defenses with his eyes

High IQ 

Not afraid to go through progressions, check down to RB 

 

Weaknesses

Sample size/one year wonder

Habit to look at first read and if not there, scramble

Doesn’t have “great arm” 

One read offense to a degree

 

GRADE: 96.5

Games Watched: Auburn, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma

Comp: Tom Brady/Jared Goff

I love Joe Burrow. Shocker, so does the rest of the world. But man, the dude is such a baller. He is so poised, so cool under pressure. He just has that “it” factor. When diving into his tape, man it’s so clean. He is incredibly accurate on all three levels. He has an unbelievable knack for sensing pressure, maneuvering in the pocket. He’s not an unbelievable athlete, but he can move. He is able to read defenses and manipulate safeties and linebackers with his eyes. He has good mechanics, he throws a pretty ball. Honestly, there isn’t much I don’t love. You could nitpick and say he was a one year wonder, or that his arm is only “good” not special. Sometimes evaluations are difficult. This is not one of those cases. Burrow is my guy.

 

3. Jeffrey Okudah- CB Ohio State

6’1 200 lbs

 

Strengths

Great tackler

Competitor

Very quick feet

Loose hips; flips with ease

Mirroring ability

Can turn and go without losing speed

Phenomenal movement skills

Timing is phenomenal

Flawless technique

Zero penalties 2019

Has good size and length

Good ball skills

Click and close is smooth

Closing speed

Instincts

Dominant in man coverage

 

Weaknesses

Doesn’t have elite speed

 

Grade:96

Okudah is unfair. He has good size and length, matches that with flawless technique and unbelievable foot quickness. He has loose hips that allow him to turn and go with ease. He can click and close effortlessly, and has the ball skills to make plays. He had zero penalties in 2019. Dominant in man coverage. Very good tackler. He has great timing. Doesn’t have many flaws. Lacks elite speed I guess but he has plenty of juice. All-pro. 

 

4. Isaiah Simmons- LB Clemson

Clemson 6’4 230 lbs

 

Strengths

Freak Athlete

4.39 40 time

Versatility

Coverage ability

Range is absurd

Tackling ability

Size-Speed combo

Can blitz well

Ultimate chess piece

Effort

Instincts

Quick Hips

Change of direction

Closing speed

 

Weaknesses

Could add some strength

What is his true position?

 

Grade:95.5

Isaiah Simmons is a freak. Jesus. He is 6’4, runs a 4.39, he can play everywhere on the defense. He is a game changer. When looking at what he does well, he has a skill set that fits the modern NFL perfectly. He has the athleticism and range to be dominant in the run game while also being able to cover tight ends and receivers. He has great instincts, he plays with great effort. He is the ultimate chess piece for a team. You can ask what his position is, safety or linebacker? My answer is a football player. 

 

5. Jedrick Wills- OT Alabama

6’5 320 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size at 6’5 320

Moves his feet so well

Dominant in pass pro

Cuts off pass rush angles with ease

Great length

So balanced with his feet 

He can move well for a guy his size

Picks up stunts incredibly well 

Smart player

Competitive/tough

Once he gets his hands on you, its over

His understanding of angles is phenomenal

Solid against the run

Technique is outstanding

Powerful along with good technique

Plug and play pro bowl starter

Auburn game-> Helmet falls off, keeps playing; TOUGH

Always in the perfect spot

 

Weaknesses

He can be late off the snap 

Can he play on the left side?

Grade: 95

Jedrick Wills is a plug and play starter, all-pro type player. In terms of strengths, the list is endless. The guy is dominant in pass pro. His footwork and ability to understand and manipulate angles to control edge rushers is beautiful to watch. He has prototypical size and length for a tackle. He uses that length to control his defenders. Once he gets his hands on you it’s OVER. He is a very smart player as well. He has great awareness, and picks up complex stunts with ease. He is a complete player. He has the desired physical profile, he is tough, athletic, smart. He moves his feet very well and excels in space. There really isn’t much to not like. He is nasty in the running game as well. He anchors very well and is never not finishing through the whistle. I guess the biggest concern is if he can flip to the left side, but I see no reason why he can’t. For my money, he is one of the safest players in the draft. Don’t overthink this one. Stud.

 

6. Ceedee Lamb- WR Oklahoma

6’2 189 lbs

 

Strengths

Soft, natural hands

ANIMAL after the catch

A+ ball skills

Playmaker 

Plays fast

Great body control

Natural

Good size

Has the “it” factor

Makes it look easy

Always finds a way to get open

Elite coordination/tracking of the ball

Change of speeds is ridiculous

Blocker

Fearless

Special catches weekly

Contested catches

 

Weaknesses

Lack of a route tree

Lacks elite speed

Didn’t face great competition in BIG 12

 

Grade:94

Some guys just have that “it” factor about them. I think it is the best quality a player can have. You can’t point to one trait that makes them special, it is just that sense of inevitability. Burrow has it. And in my eyes, so does Ceedee Lamb. Ya, he didn’t run the most complex route tree or face the best competition with those infamous big 12 defenses. He isn’t a burner. But the dude is an absolute baller. He reminds me of a receiver version of Alvin Kamara. He might not be straight line fast, but he is slippery and understands how to change speeds so well. He is so dangerous with the ball in his hands. He has great hands, the dude seems to always be open and has no fear in going up and getting it knowing he is going to take a hit. He is only 189 pounds, but he plays big. He only ran a 4.51 at the combine, but he plays fast. He has great body control and timing to get the ball at its peak. He makes special catches weekly and makes difficult, contested catches look easy. For my money, Ceedee Lamb is the best receiver in the class. Electric. 

 

7. Derrick Brown- DL Auburn

Auburn 6’5 318 lbs

 

Strengths

Tremendous strength

Quick off the ball

Loves initiating contact and controlling o lineman

Powerful hands

Dominant against the run

Block shedding

Demands double and triple teams

Disrupter

Has good quickness for a guy his size

 

Weaknesses

Lack of pass rush moves

Goes so fast he sometimes runs himself out of the play

 

Grade:94

Derrick Brown is a man. When you turn on his film, what jumps off the screen is his first step quickness and his strength. As soon as the ball is snapped, Brown uses his elite snap recognition to quickly jump off the LOS and gain control over the offensive lineman. His strong hands allow him to shed 300 pound lineman with ease. It is what makes him an elite run defender. He is just an absolute wrecking ball. He isn’t an elite pass rusher from the interior, but he is so dominant in the run game that it shouldn’t matter. Derrick Brown is the ultimate disrupter.

 

8. Jerry Jeudy- WR Alabama

6’1 192 lbs

 

Strengths 

Solid size for a receiver

Phenomenal route runner

Explosive after the catch

Smooth 

Plucks the ball out of air

Consistent separator

Ability to set up defenders is ridiculous

Very good quickness/stop start ability 

Very good release

Hand usage

Very good peed 

 

Weaknesses

Lacks elite traits physically 

Doesn’t have a great catch radius

Lacks physicality

Doesn’t attack defenses downfield, does his damage near LOS

Grade:93

Jerry Jeudy is so clean. He isn’t the biggest, or the fastest, but he is a damn good football player. He is such an advanced route runner. He is so good at setting up cornerbacks, his understanding of manipulating angles is phenomenal, he has such great feet that allow him to change direction with ease. He is just a guy who knows how to separate and catches mostly everything. Once he has the ball in his hands, it is a show. He is more quick than fast, but he can make defenders look silly with his make you miss ability. He is so versatile, he can line up in both the slot and on the outside. I think some will be turned off due to his lack of elite physical traits such as size or speed. He isn’t a flashy, vertical receiver. But he is going to be a really good pro for a long time with route running and quickness. 

 

9. Javon Kinlaw- DL South Carolina

6’5 315 lbs

 

Strengths

Elite first step

Strength

Length

Elite athlete for size

Great combo of strength, length, hands, and athleticism

Great upside as a pass rusher

Block Shedding

Physical specimen

 

Weaknesses

Can look lost out there sometimes

Mental Processing

Raw

Doesn’t rush with a plan, just tries to out athlete you

 

Grade:93

Kinlaw is very interesting. He is the kind of guy who looks the part. He has the athleticism that jumps off the screen. That first step. Explosiveness for days. He has very good length and a strong frame. He bench presses grown men in the SEC every saturday. If you are looking for a tools guy, look no further than Kinlaw. He is just a little raw. His mental processing and overall play recognition need improvement. He also tries to “out athlete” opponents when he rushes the Qb rather than win with his mind. He doesn’t rush with a plan. Overall though, Kinlaw’s physical tools are worth a first round selection despite his lack of polish.

 

10. CJ Henderson- CB Florida

6’1 202 lbs

 

Strengths

Elite speed; allows to recover when beat

Good size

Good length

Flexible hips

Click and close 

Turn and go 

Closing speed

Elite athlete

Natural 

Sticky in man coverage

Fluid mover

Quick feet

Solid in press coverage

Mirroring ability

 

Weaknesses

Tackling lol

Can get fooled by Qb’s eyes in zone

 

Grade:93

CJ Henderson is rightfully overshadowed by Jeff Okudah, but that doesn’t mean Henderson isn’t a hell of a player. From a tools perspective, he has better skill than Okudah. He has better size, length, and speed. He is an effortless mover. He has fluid hips and quick feet. He is so sticky in coverage. He has the speed to recover even if he gets beat. His click and close is effortless. Very good mirroring ability. Most comfortable in a man-press scheme. Natural player. Tackling is an issue. Big one. Holds him back from being an elite prospect. He is more comfortable in man than zone. Very good player with all the tools to be a pro bowler. Upside. 

 

11. Andrew Thomas- OT Georgia

6’5 315 lbs

 

Strengths

Beast in the run game

Mauler

Great size, good length

MOVES people in the run game

Plays with an aggression/Anger

Strong Hands

Solid in pass pro

Incredibly strong

Once he gets his hands on you, its over

 

Weaknesses

Struggles with speedy rushers

Footwork can break down when trying to get upfield after getting beat

Solid athlete, but nothing special 

Fine foot speed, adequate in space

 

Grade: 92.5

Andrew Thomas is so solid. He isn’t flashy, he isn’t the greatest athlete in the world, but he is just consistent. In the run game, he is dominant. He is big, long, strong, and mean. He has powerful hands, and uses those hands and a strong lower body to move defenders. He plays with an edge. He wants to cause pain to the opponent. In pass pro, he is pretty solid as well. He doesn’t have great feet, they are good enough to play tackle, but he can struggle with speedy rushers, shown in the LSU game. He does a phenomenal job absorbing strength, his anchoring ability is textbook. He isn’t the athlete Wirfs is, but the dude will be a starting LT for 10-12 years. Incredibly high floor.

 

12. Tua Tagovailoa- QB Alabama

6’0 217 lbs

 

Strengths 

Accuracy in short-mid 

Great touch 

Throws a pretty deep ball

Maneuvers in the pocket pretty well due to quickness

Very good athlete, mobile

Great leader

Great ball placement 

Anticipates well

winner/tough

Quick release/good mechanics

Great at manipulating defenses with his eyes 

 

Weaknesses 

Smaller guy 

Injury history

Can get overwhelmed with pressure and size

Arm strength pretty average

Footwork sloppy, too many off-balanced throws

So much talent around him

Too many batted down balls

Pre-determines throws

 

Grade:92

I like Tua. I do. He is a talented guy. But the take of Tua> Burrow if he was not injured is  garbage. When looking at Tua’s film, there are a lot of things to like. He is incredibly accurate. The guy on all three levels has great ball placement and anticipation. Along with being a natural thrower of the football, he is a very good athlete, and he is a great leader. But there are plenty of concerns. The easiest one is his injury history. It is not great to see a guy his age having a dislocated hip. Part of it is his size. Like it or not, size is important. He is small, and it shows on the field. He gets overwhelmed by size and pressure, along with it making him a greater risk of being injured again. He also played with arguably FOUR first round receivers. A lot of the time, he had it easy, making simple throws and seeing Ruggs or Jeudy or Smith making incredible plays after the catch. His arm is also pretty good but not great. He can lack some zip on his throws. Tua is a really good prospect. Just don’t think he is elite.

 

13. Mekhi Becton- OT Louisville

6’7 364 lbs

 

Strengths 

Massive size and length

Physical specimen

Very good athlete for his size

Incredibly strong

Quick Feet 

Great anchoring ability

Moves people

Plays with an edge

Powerful hands

Very good run blocker

Moves very well for his side

Upside pick

 

Weaknesses

Doesn’t have great awareness

Doesn’t seem to know who to block on pulling situations

Hand placement needs work

Raw player, relies on “bully ball” due to physical tools

Doesn’t fully understand proper angles, tries to beat you with pure strength, not skill or technique

 

FREAK. People this size should not move that well. He is a grown man. He bullies people. He is the king of the pancake block. His ability to move people in the run game is absurd. He improved a lot in pass pro as well. He is a little raw. He would just bully people with size rather than technique. But man, is he fun to watch. Chance to be a phenomenal player. 

Grade:92

 

14. Henry Ruggs III- WR Alabama

6’0 190 lbs

 

Strengths 

Unbelievable speed

Unbelievable quickness

Slick route runner

Great release

Great body control

Very good hands

Ability to separate with ease 

Homerun ability 

Run after catch

Alpha/ Competitor

Willing blocker

Can really go up and get the ball

 

Weaknesses

Smaller guy, thin frame

Doesn’t love catching through contact

Shies away from physicality

Lacks big catch radius

Disappears from time to time

 

Grade:92

Speed kills. When you turn on the film of Ruggs, you get blown away by his athleticism and speed. He is so smooth and natural. His route running, the ability to get in and out of breaks, his explosiveness after the catch, his hands, everything is natural for the guy. He is a complete stud. He is the type of guy who consistently takes slants and screens to the house. Big play waiting to happen. He isn’t great finishing through contact, he shies away from jump ball situations, and he can get bullied at his release. But if you use Ruggs correctly and play to his strengths, we have a Tyreek Hill like talent. 

 

15. K’Lavon Chaisson

LSU 6’4 250 lbs

 

Strengths

Love his tools

Good height and length

Burst 

Bend off the edge

Quick first step

Awareness

Effort

Coverage ability

Versatile

 

Weaknesses

Strength to get off blocks

Hand usage needs work

Injury history

Needs polish as a rusher

 

Grade:92

I like Chaisson’s game a lot. He is a tools guy with a high motor. Great combo. He has an explosive first step, speed, bend, quick hands. He has the height and length you would want in a pass rusher. He is a guy with all the tools. He is versatile as well. Has plenty of experience in coverage situations. My favorite thing about him is his motor. He might be overmatched physically, but that will never stop him from playing to the whistle and relentlessly pursuing the ball. Love that about him. He does need to add strength, as he can get overwhelmed in the run game. His pass rushing needs polish as well, in terms of hand usage. But I am a firm believer that in the right situation, he will be a stud. 

 

16. Justin Jefferson- WR LSU

LSU 6’3 192 

 

Strengths:

Good size

Incredibly strong hands

Smooth

Not afraid to go over the middle

Good route runner

Understands leverage very well

Good speed

Very good quickness

Willing blocker

Very good catch radius

Locates the ball so well

Great body control

Baller, shows up in big games

Solid RAC

 

Weaknesses

Slim

Rarely deals with press coverage, needs work on release 

Strictly a slot guy

Lacks deep speed to separate 

 

Grade:91.5

While Chase got all the love at LSU, Justin Jefferson is a complete stud. He is a very good route runner. He has great hands. He has an awesome catch radius. If you throw it in his direction, he is catching it. He goes up and gets the ball as well. His ability to track the football is elite. He consistently makes contested catches. He is so smooth. He might be a slot guy, but I see a pro bowl type player.

 

17. Clyde Edwards-Helaire- RB LSU

LSU 5’8 209 lbs

 

Strengths

Unbelievable quickness

Make you miss ability

Great vision

Great pass catcher

Solid route tree 

Great strength

Balance ++

Tough

Physical

Solid in pass pro

Very good change of direction

 

Weaknesses

Lacks long speed

Smaller guy

 

Grade:91.5

RB1. It’s not a conventional answer, as guys like D’Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor are more popular picks for the top RB in the draft. But man, CEH just fits the current mold of what I want in a running back. He has incredible vision and balance. He absorbs contact, and keeps powering on. He can both run over you or make you miss with his elite quickness. He is the best receiving RB in this class. He can run any route, and he has great hands. He doesn’t have the long speed you want, but he does everything else so well. The team that snags him will be very happy.

 

18. Tristan Wirfs- OT Iowa

6’5 320 lbs

 

Strengths

Massive human being

Freak athlete

Physically gifted

Effortless strength

Beast in the run game

Mobility to pull and get to the second level

Powerful hands

Unreal upside

Quick, light feet

Very good at anchoring in pass pro

 

Weaknesses

Prone to getting beat inside

Awareness is lacking in stunts

Times when he looks lost out there

Technique needs work

Hand placement needs work

Guard or tackle?

 

Grade:91

Tristan Wirfs is quite an interesting prospect. When you turn on the film, what immediately jumps out is how much of an athletic freak this guy is. He has great size and length for a tackle, while also having incredibly quick feet. He can get to the second level on pulls with ease. He is very strong as well, doing a great job of anchoring in pass pro, and pancaking helpless defenders in the run game. When you think of Wirfs, you think of athletic freak. He still has a long way to go. His technique is raw, his hand placement is inconsistent, and he is very prone to getting beat inside in pass pro. He also can struggle with picking up stunts, although that did improve through the season. Listen, based on physical talent alone, Wirfs will be a very solid pro. He might even kick inside to guard and easily be a pro bowler. But if a coach can channel his physical tools to become more technically sound to the point where he can trust his technique, then the sky’s the limit.

 

19. Denzel Mims- WR Baylor

Baylor 6’3 206 lbs

 

Strengths

Great athlete

Big, Strong, Fast

4.38 40 time

Strong Hands

Plays physical at the line
Uses hands so well

Releases well

Big catch radius

Plays big

Great body control

Tough as hell

Vertical guy, plays above the rim

Size, length, ball skills

BLOCKER

Smart player

 

Weaknesses

Not very quick

Needs polish as a route runner

Doesn’t separate consistently

Has some concentration drops

 

Grade:91

Denzel Mims is a freak. He is 6’3 with long arms, he runs a 4.38. He is tough, he is physical. He has great hands and gives Tee Higgins a run for his money in terms of ball skills and body control. He is a master of the back shoulder fade. He is so violent with his hands, both at his release point, and when gaining separation. He needs to polish his route running, but the ability is there, he just wasn’t asked to run anything other than slants, go’s and fades. He is a tough mf. He blocks like he is angry, he plays with an edge. A guy I would want on my team.

 

20. Cesar Ruiz- OL Michigan

Michigan 6’3 307

 

Strengths

Powerful guy

Great strength

High IQ
Really good athlete

Good lateral quickness

Can pull well

Powerful hands

Versatile

Plug and play

 

Weaknesses

Has some breakdowns with stunts

What position is he?

 

Grade:90

Ruiz is a stud man. He has great strength to pair with high IQ and good athleticism. He really is a plug and play guy. He is versatile. Can play center or guard. Has the speed to get to the second level. Has a couple breakdowns but it isn’t common. Safe player.

 

21. Patrick Queen- LB LSU

LSU 6’1 227 lbs

 

Strengths

Speed

Coverage ability

4.50 40 time

Range

Closing speed

Really good play recognition

Modern LB

Change of direction

Ball Skills for a LB

Leadership

 

Weaknesses

Smaller guy

Hard time block shedding

Inexperience

Finishing

 

Grade:90

The NFL is going towards guys like Patrick Queen at the linebacker position. He really is a great fit for the modern NFL. He is smaller, so he does have a hard time getting off blocks and his finishing ability as a tackler can be inconsistent. But he can cover, both zone and man, and can play with incredible range from sideline to sideline. He was the leader of the LSU defense, he plays hard and with an edge. Really good player. 

 

22. Antoine Winfield Jr.- S Minnesota

5’9 203 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good speed (ran 4.45)

Instincts

Football player**

Ball skills

Good range

Closing speed

Surprisingly hard hitter

Can cover both man and zone

Throws his body around

Family connections

 

Weaknesses

Injury history

Size

Overwhelmed by size

 

Grade:90

It is hard not to love Antoine Winfield Jr. He is a football player, man. Love his balls to the wall playstyle, he leaves it all on the field. Feisty player, great ball skills. He has really good speed and range, he hits hard, he can both cover man to man and zone. He has size and injury concerns, but I am going to bank on him being the next honey badger. 

 

23. Zack Baun- LB Wisconsin

6’3 240

 

Strengths

Versatility

Good in coverage

Solid pass rusher

Good athlete

Smart player

Good against the run

Not many flaws

Has really good hands

Block shedding

Underrated burst

Quick first step

Array of pass rush moves

 

Weaknesses

Lacks length to be a full time pass rusher

Jack of all trades-master of none

Lacks elite bend

Injury History

Age

 

Grade:90

Zack Baun is a really good football player. Versatility is what jumps out when you study Baun. In terms of pass rushing ability, he has an intriguing skill set. He is very technically sound as a pass rusher, with a very quick first step and an array of pass rush moves. He lacks the bend and length to solely be an edge rusher, but he can certainly do it. He is a very smart player. He uses his intelligence, instincts, and block shedding to be a force in the run game. He has the athleticism and ball skills to be a force in coverage as well. He does everything well. A coach would love to have him, using him as a chess piece in different situations. Will be a really good pro.

 

24. AJ Terrell- CB Clemson

6’1 195 lbs

 

Strengths

Height-Weight- Speed

4.42 40 time

Timing

Hip flexibility

Click and close

Character guy/Leader

Change of direction skills

Man Coverage

Zone coverage

Route recognition

 

Weaknesses

Tackling

Strength

Press

 

Grade:90

Terrell is an athletic freak. A guy his size should not move the way he does. His ability to flip his hips and run is elite. His change of direction skills are strong. He is very good in man coverage. Clemson put him on an island and he succeeded. His click and close is near elite. He isn’t really a tackler and needs to add strength to become more adequate in press, but he has all the tools to be a good starting corner.

 

25. D’Andre Swift- RB Georgia

5’8 212 lbs 

 

Strengths

Incredible Burst

Powerful running back

Breaks tackles with ease

Shifty

Great speed/quickness

Great cutting ability

Soft Hands

Good route runner

Make you miss ability is unreal

Solid in pass pro 

Limited amount of touches in college

Great Athlete 

Incredible balance

 

Weaknesses

Vision can be inconsistent

Size

Ability too handle full workload

D’Andre Swift is a stud. He is a great athlete, his cutting ability is elite. He can really catch out of the backfield. His ability to make defenders miss is phenomenal. He has not had the workload that other running backs had in college. Love his contact balance. Vision is inconsistent but it isn’t a big deal. Will be a very good pro.

 

26. Kristian Fulton- CB LSU

LSU 6’0 200 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good athlete

Good speed

Very quick feet

Press man corner

Click and close very well

Very good in press

Fluid hips

Turn and go

Ball skills solid

Good mirroring ability
Very good timing

Competitive

Patient at the LOS

 

Weaknesses

Not good tackler

Suspension 2017

Length

 

Grade:90

Fulton is very similar to Henderson as prospects, just not as good of an athlete. Fulton is a very good one nonetheless. Great feet, fluid hips, great balance. He excels in press man situations. He’s competitive, he likes jamming at the line and has the speed and hips to run with receivers. He can click and close on a dime, and has the awareness and instincts, along with timing, to make plays on the ball. Like Henderson, not a tackler. At all. But teams don’t draft and pay corners to tackle, they pay them to cover, and Fulton is damn good at it.

 

27. Jordan Love- QB Utah State

6’4 224 lbs

 

Strengths

Good size

Really good athlete

Unbelievable arm strength 

Effortless throwing motion

Solid pocket presence

Innovator

Stuck it out despite incredible change in personnel and staff

Really good touch on his deep ball

Consistently makes “wow” throws

Comfortable with throwing on the run

Potential

 

Weaknesses

RAW

Accuracy is inconsistent

Struggles with his eyes

17 int last year 

Locks onto first target consistently

Footwork and mechanics improved could lead to consistent accuracy

 

Grade:89.5

Ahhhhhh Jordan Love. I know you are risky. I shouldn’t like you as much as I do. Your decision making is awful. You have disappointing field vision. You can’t read defenses. But I just can’t get over your talent. He is Justin Herbert if Herbert had a feel for the game. He just is a natural. He makes some throws where I am flabbergasted at what I just witnessed. Good size, great athlete, can throw on the run, has a cannon of an arm, has very good touch. Highest ceiling in the class. I am a believer.

 

28. Jeff Gladney- CB TCU

TCU 5’10 183 lbs

 

Strengths

Competitiveness

Foot speed

Play recognition

Awareness

Turn and go

Loose hips

Sticky in man

Solid in zone

Reads Qb’s eyes well

Mirrors well

 

Weaknesses

Foot technique at press

Can be late to flip his hips

Press technique 

Smaller guy

Slot?

 

Grade:89

I love Jeff Gladney. He has such smooth feet and hips. His technique at the line of scrimmage isn’t great, but he is fearless. He plays with so much competitiveness and confidence. His ability to flip his hips and run is elite. He just lacks the size and length to be a first round corner in my eyes. He is so sticky in coverage that I know he will succeed.

 

29. Kenneth Murray- LB Oklahoma

6’2 234 lbs

 

Strengths

Speed

Range

Aggressiveness

Leadership

Potential in coverage

Intensity

Tackling ability

Instincts

Effort

Phenomenal closing speed

Very good blitzer

Really good movement skills

 

Weaknesses

Ability to get off blocks

Baited by play action

Not much experience in coverage

 

Grade:89

Murray plays with such an intensity, you just have to respect it. To begin with, he is a really good athlete. He ran a 4.52 at the combine, and it shows on the field. He is able to go sideline to sideline, his range is phenomenal. He has really good closing speed as well. Furthermore, he plays with such aggression and effort, something you love to see. He is a really good tackler as well, when he hits you, he hits you HARD. He is a great blitzer as well. The coaches at OU have raved about his leadership. I am concerned with his ability to get off blocks, as well as his aggression taking him out of plays and leading to him being baited on play action. He also has little experience in coverage, he was asked to QB spy or blitz most of the time. I think whichever team drafts him is getting a guy who will be a leader, worker, and really good player.

 

30. AJ Epenesa- EDGE Iowa

Iowa 6’6 280 lbs

 

Strengths

Big frame 

Looong arms

Strength ++

Power rusher

Really good against the run

Violent hands

Effort guy

High floor player

Versatility

 

Weaknesses

Limited athlete

Lacks burst

Lacks bend

Kind of is who he is as a player

5.04 40 time

 

Grade:89

Really solid player. He doesn’t have the upside like other rushers, but he is one of the safest players in the class. In terms of strengths, you have to love his frame. He has great size and length. He uses that length, along with powerful hands and strength to bully tackles in both the run and pass game. He plays hard, he is versatile along the line, and he has very good awareness in terms of where the ball is. As a pass rusher, he will not beat you with speed or bend. He has limited burst, he is pretty stiff. He beats defenders with length and strength. In terms of his position, he is kind of a tweener. Does he kick inside to 3 tech, is he a 4-3 DE? I don’t know but I think the right DC will have fun moving him around considering his versatility. Really solid player.

 

31. JK Dobbins- RB Ohio State

5’9 209 lbs

 

Strengths

Phenomenal Vision

Great Balance

Very smooth change of direction/Great cutting ability

Solid 2nd level speed

Powerful runner

Effort is pass pro

Solid receiver

Hits holes with confidence/Burst

Effort guy

Got some wiggle 

More quick than fast

Home run hitter 

Breaks tackles very well

Weaknesses

Recognizing blitzes/ Needs to improve in pass pro-> Wisco game

Concentration drops

Lacks breakaway speed

Homerun guy who lacks homerun speed

 

JK Dobbins is a homerun waiting to happen. He consistently broke off big plays after big plays. Love his vision and contact balance. When he hits the hole, he is off to the races. Has the power to run through you and the burst to run around you. My concern is he is a homerun hitter without homerun speed. That concerns me. His long speed isn’t great. Very good player. 

Grade:88

 

32. Jeremy Chinn- S Southern Illinois

6’3 221 lbs

 

Strengths

Unbelievable athlete

Fluid hips

4.45 speed

Great size and length

Good closing speed

Fluid hips

Range

Playmaker

Strength

Hard hitter

Range

Upside

 

Weaknesses

Competition

Awareness/Instincts

 

Grade:88

Physical freak. He has size at 6’3, runs a 4.45, plays with great strength, and has phenomenal range. Overall great athlete. Fluid hips and solid in coverage. Upside to be a stud in the NFL. Lacks the instincts that I love in a safety, along with playing not so great competition. I would bank on his physical tools. 

 

33. Tee Higgins- WR Clemson

Clemson 6’4 215 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size

Large catch radius

Strong hands

Great ball skills

Plays above the rim

His ability to track the ball is ridiculous

Good route runner

Good long speed

Vertical receiver

Red zone threat

Great body control

Solid after the catch

Physical

 

Weakness

Lacks burst

Lacks quickness

Loooooooong release

Takes a while to build up speed

Not a great separator

Not an explosive athlete

Didn’t test well

 

Grade:88

Tee Higgins plays football like its basketball. He isn’t a great route runner, he isn’t very quick, he needs to work on his release and separating more consistently. I do have concerns about a guy who isn’t very fast or isn’t a great route runner. But you throw it in his direction, he is catching it. Unreal catch radius, maybe the best hands in the class, and his ability to track the ball while it’s in the air is incredible. His body control is absurd. He plays vertical, he beats you with his ability to play above the rim. Didn’t test very well, but a really fun guy to watch on film.

 

34. Cam Akers- RB Florida State

5’11 212 lbs

 

Strengths

Size-Speed-Power

Great athlete

5 star top recruit

Great cutting ability

Runs hard

Can both make people miss and run over them

Great balance

Very good speed

Good vision

Thrived despite terrible situation

 

Weaknesses

Lacks elite trait

Needs to improve as a receiver 

Needs to improve in pass pro

 

Grade:88

Cam Akers was a great talent in a terrible situation. He was a top recruit coming out of high school, but his coaching staff and teammates did him no favors. However, when you look at his skillset, there is so much to like. He is a very good athlete. Has the speed and quickness desired, while also being physical enough to run over defenders and break tackles. He can both run around you with that cutting ability or running through you with his strength. He isn’t “elite” in one area, but his game is so balanced. He had impressive vision despite the terrible offensive line. He needs to work on pass pro and his receiving ability but he has promise . Overall, his game is so balanced and he will be a really solid pro.

 

35. Jalen Reagor- WR TCU

5’11 195 lbs

 

Strengths

Great athlete

Great speed

Great elusiveness

Very good after the catch

Solid catch radius
Can go up and get it

Vertical guy

Solid Hands

Good route runner

Playmaker

Elite footspeed/quickness

Great potential as a route runner

Punt returner

Out athletes you

Separation is really good

 

Weaknesses

Doesn’t have an extensive route tree

Smaller guy 

Concentration drops

Needs more reps with releases

Not much of a blocker

Contested catches 

Not very physical 

 

Grade:88

Jalen Reagor is an elite athlete. He put on too much muscle which slowed him down on his 40 time. That being said, being pretty disappointed running a 4.48 says a lot. He has game breaking speed and athleticism. His quickness and footspeed allow him to create separation despite his limited route tree. He is a smaller guy, but he is dangerous in the vertical game and actually makes some really tough catches. His catch radius is underrated in my opinion. When the ball is in his hands, he is electric after the catch. His hands are fine, but the drops are there. He can get scared going over the middle. When you think of Reagor, you think of an elite athlete.

 

36. Josh Jones- OT Houston

Houston 6’5 311 lbs

 

Strengths

Impressive physical ability

Good athlete

Strength
Good in pass pro; Rarely loses

Length

Good foot speed

Experienced

Weaknesses

Technique

Footwork

Run blocking average

 

Grade:88

Josh Jones is an intriguing guy. He has a very talented physical profile. Great height, weight, strength, and length. Very good athlete for his size. Experienced guy. Uses pure physical ability to dominate AAC competition both against the run and vs the pass. Needs technique work though. Hand placement, consistency with his feet, awareness of stunts, all need work. Get him the right coaching, he is a really solid pro.

 

37. Michael Pittman Jr.- WR USC

6’4 223 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size/physical profile

Smooth mover for his size

Good route runner

Very good catch radius

Good body control

Natural, strong Hands

Team Captain

 

Weaknesses

Lacks elite speed and quickness

Separation inconsistent

Release needs work

Lacks explosion at the top of his routes

 

Grade:88

Michael Pittman is a guy who does everything pretty well.  He is a big dude who can run routes, can really high point the football, and has an enormous catch radius. His hands are also a black hole. Dude catches everything. Turn on the Utah film and you see a first round talent. Back shoulder specialist. Possesses the body control and tracking to be a good red zone guy. Just lacks burst and quickness, so I question his separation ability. Good player though.

 

38. Xavier McKinney- S Alabama

Alabama 6’0 201 lbs

 

Strengths

Versatility

Hard hitter

Smart player

Solid tackler

Good in both man and zone

Physical player

Better short area quickness than long speed

Good blitzer

Leader 

 

Weaknesses

4.63 40 time

Size iffy

Range “ok”

Takes bad angles sometimes

 

Grade:87.5

McKinney is really solid. His versatility is the main attraction for teams. He is a hard hitter, he can blitz off the edge, he can cover both man and zone. He is smart, he was a leader for Alabama. Physicality, intelligence, instincts, all there. My problem is his limitations as an athlete. He ran a 4.63 at the combine, his size isn’t great, he doesn’t show great burst or range. I don’t think he is a good enough athlete to warrant a first round grade. 

 

39. Logan Wilson- LB Wyoming

Wyoming 6’2 241 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size

Great instincts

Read and react guy

Good movement skills

Good in zone coverage
Smart player

Effort in pursuit

Fun tape

 

Weaknesses

Man coverage

Lacks great range

Not a “special” athlete

 

Grade:87.5

Logan Wilson is so fun on tape. He is a guy who just goes after the ball. His instincts are phenomenal. Plays fast and fearless. He is incredibly smart as well. Good in zone coverage. For a guy his size, he moves really well. Isn’t experienced in man coverage and lacks elite athleticism to have great range, but he will be a stud at the next level.

 

40. Laviska Shenault- WR Colorado

Colorado 6’2 220 lbs

 

Strengths

Good size

Really good athlete

Playmaker

Strong player

RAC Monster

Really good hands

Really good blocker

Versatility

 

Weaknesses

Route tree

Injury History

Release needs work

Contested catch ability

2018 tape better than 2019

 

Grade:87.5

Playmaker. Find the way to get the ball in his hands, because he is going to make something happen. He is big, fast, and strong. He has great instincts as a runner, making him so hard to tackle in the open field. Great athlete all around. He has really strong hands as well. Not a great route runner, mostly because he ran like 5 routes at Colorado. He needs more experience with his release. He doesn’t high point the ball that well either. Colorado didn’t prepare him that well for the pros, but the talent is there. Get creative with him and let him make plays.

 

41. Jonathan Taylor- RB Wisconsin

5’10 226 lbs

 

Strengths 

Strong, Hard runner

Good size, Strength

Very Good Speed and Quickness

Very good vision

Patience

Breaks tackles with ease

Quick, Sharp Cuts

Great in the red zone

Make/Miss ability great for his size

Never stops moving his legs

Picks up speed in a HURRY

Ran 4.39

Great Balance

Accomplished player

North-South runner

Effort Blocker

Day one starter

Size-Speed-Power 

 

Weaknesses

Fumbling concerns-> Doesn’t know when a play is dead

Lot of touches in college career (968)

Not a very good pass catcher

Limited route tree

Needs to become more technically sound in pass pro

Longevity Questions
Grade:87

Jonathan Taylor, running back out of Wisconsin, is a pretty easy evaluation. When you look at him as a player, his strengths and concerns are quite transparent. When you look at his physical profile, he is a guy who has a really nice blend of size, speed, and power. He runs hard with consistent effort, which leads to him breaking tackles on a consistent basis. He’s a guy who loves to run north to south, and he loves the one cut and go. He isn’t a dancing runner, he’s a downhill runner. He displays great balance and vision as well, with the patience to let the play develop. He is also a guy who is quite accomplished, as he has been a very productive starter for three years. So what is there not to like? Well, JT seems to be a guy who does the things you need really well, but struggles in aspects of the game that might make him unplayable in the NFL. At Wisco, he was not much of a pass catcher. He had some struggles with drops, and didn’t have much of a route tree. He has a track record of a serious fumbling problem as well. The easiest way to not get playing time is putting the ball on the turf. He wasn’t utilized in pass pro all that often, and although he gave effort, he struggled with identifying blitzers and his technique needs work. Finally, he has had 968 touches in his career at wisco, so his body has already taken a ton of hits. He is the kind of guy where if you are a team in contention, he is the perfect “last piece” because he is a great running back. But I don’t see him as a guy who will be around for 10 years given the wear and tear on his body.

 

42. Ashtyn Davis- S Cal

Cal 6’1 202 lbs

 

Strengths

Ball Skills

Fluid mover

Former track guy

Physical player

Competitive

Good tackler

Versatility in coverage

Very good athlete

Range

Very good change of direction skills

 

Weaknesses

Thin frame

Short arms

Experience in man coverage

Pursuit angles

Injury concerns

 

Grade:87

I like Ashtyn Davis’ game. The former track guy has really good speed and change of direction skills. He plays with an edge and has a knack for the football. He has solid ball skills. He is a really physical player, he isn’t afraid to throw his body around. He is very versatile in his coverage ability. Range for days. He does have a thin frame and has injury concerns, which knock him down my board a bit. Solid player. 

 

43. Noah Igbinoghene- CB Auburn

Auburn 5’11 200 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good athlete

Impressive for only two years at the position

Very good click and close

Very good play strength

Good against the run

Fluid hips

Special teams

 

Weaknesses

Raw

Processing needs improvement

Zone coverage

 

Grade:87

Noah Igbinoghene, despite being relatively new to the cornerback position, is quite impressive. He is a converted receiver, but I love his natural ability. He has an intriguing blend of size, athleticism, strength, and hips. He has phenomenal click and close ability. He is still new to the position however, so his processing and instincts are lacking. Like him a lot though. 

 

44. Yetur Gross-Matos- EDGE Penn State

Penn State 6’5 264 lbs

 

Strengths

Size and length

Love his hands

Really good against the run

Good athlete

Good burst

Traits guy

KNOWS how to use his length

Versatility

Sets the edge so well

 

Weaknesses

Array of pass rush moves

Counters

Raw

Doesn’t play with a violence to his game

Doesn’t play with intensity

Doesn’t rush with a plan

 

Grade:87

Ok, Gross-Matos was a frustrating evaluation for me. In terms of his tools it is all there. He has the size and length. He shows moments of bend and burst, although it is inconsistent. I love him against the run. He sets the edge very well, he reads the backfield and uses his eyes very well. He uses his length and hands very well. Very good run defender overall. As a pass rusher, it just isn’t there for him. He doesn’t rush with a plan, he just kind of plays. He doesn’t really know what he is doing. He also doesn’t seem to play with any sort of violence, anger, or aggression. I would like to see more intensity in his game. He flashes his blend of hand usage, strength, length, and athleticism as a pass rusher, but never consistently. He will be a fine pro due to his strength as a run defender, but his upside is dependent upon his development as a pass rusher.

 

45. KJ Hamler- WR Penn State

Penn State 5’9 176 lbs

 

Strengths

ELITE Speed

Elite quickness

Can really get behind the defense

Very Good route runner

Separates consistently

Electric after the catch

Playmaker

Home-run hitter 

 

Weaknesses

Lacks size 

Contested catches 

Gets bullied due to size 

Strictly slot

Catches with chest too often

Small catch radius

Lacks ball skills

Not a lot of experience with releasing from press

Drops 

 

Grade:86.5

SPEEEEEED. KJ Hamler is so fast. He separates with ease due to his ridiculous speed. He can take the top off the defense. Absolute home run hitter. With the ball in his hands, he is electric. His hands are suspect and he won’t win jump balls due to his size. But he is a playmaker who can be a gamechanger for an offense.

 

46. Josh Uche- EDGE Michigan

Michigan 6’1 245 lbs

 

Strengths

Incredible length

Burst off edge

Flexibility to bend

Traits guy

Love his upside

Converting speed to power

 

Weaknesses

Experience

Strength

Reps

 

Grade:86

Josh Uche is a guy who didn’t get a ton of playing time at Michigan, but has all the traits to be a really good edge rusher. He showed bend, burst, athleticism, and the ability to convert speed to power, all incredibly important traits when looking at EDGE rushers. He has incredible length as well. He just needs to add some strength and have more experience, but the potential is there.

 

47. Neville Gallimore- DL Oklahoma

Oklahoma 6’3 304 lbs

 

Strengths

Really good pass rusher 

Quick first step

Wins with quickness

Active hands

Effort guy

Great athlete

4.79 40 time

 

Weaknesses

Lacks length

Gets overwhelmed by size 

Only average run defender

 

Grade:86

Neville Gallimore is an athlete. He doesn’t have the arm length or ability to shed defenders that you look for in a defensive lineman, but he makes up for it with his pass rush ability. He is extremely quick with a high motor. He uses these strengths to his advantage, allowing him to constantly live in the backfield. He won’t wow you in terms of his run defense or length, and he can get overwhelmed by size, but he makes enough splash plays as a pass rusher to become a rotational piece for a team. 

 

48. Julian Okwara- EDGE Notre Dame

Notre Dame 6’4 248 lbs

 

Strengths

Love his frame

Looks like a pro

Explosion off the snap

Converting speed to power

Burst

Bend

Traits

Flashed dominance

Brother in NFL

Effort

 

Weaknesses

Broken left fibula in 2019

Needs to add strength

Not very strong against the run

 

Grade:86

Okwara is another traits guy. His film was fun to watch. He plays really hard, to go with burst, bend, and length. His frame is enticing. He looks like a pro. There were times on film when he really dominated and looked like a first round pick. He just needs to be more consistent. He also needs to add strength to be a more competent run defender. 

 

49. Zack Moss- RB Utah

Utah 5’10 222 lbs

 

Strengths

Plays with great power and strength

Has really solid quickness

Great balance

Breaks a ton of tackles

Power back

Hits the whole hard

Good vision

Mean stiff arm

One cut guy

Changes direction so well

 

Weaknesses

Speed

Lacks burst

Question his longevity due to playstyle

Injury history

Receiving skills

Pass pro

 

Grade:86

I love Moss. He reminds me so much of Kareem Hunt. He plays with such a relentless physicality. He hits the hole hard. He is someone who defenders will hate to tackle. Never stops moving his legs and always falls forward for that extra yard. He has really good vision and surprisingly good quickness. He has great balance as well. Like Edwards- Helaire, his thick frame seems to absorb contact. His contact balance and change of direction is elite. The big question with him is speed. He ran a 4.65, and even though he plays faster than that, it is still a major concern. Like most young backs, his receiving and pass pro need work. You also have to question his longevity due to his playstyle. But if you are looking for a guy who just knows how to play the position, Moss is your guy. 

 

50. Hunter Bryant- TE Washington

Washington 6’2 248 lbs

 

Strengths

Great athlete

Great quickness

Electric after the catch

Good route runner

Very good ball skills

Best receiving tight end in the draft

 

Weaknesses

Smaller guy

Not a blocker

 

Grade:86

Hunter Bryant is my favorite tight end in this class. He is the only guy who jumped off my screen when I was watching Washington play. He is a very good athlete, with speed, ball skills, and YAC ability. He is a modern tight end. Not a blocker, but I would bet on his upside as an evan engram type player.

 

51. Damon Arnette CB Ohio State

6’0 195 lbs

 

Strengths 

Good athlete on film

Good effort as a tackler

Good press technique

Versatile (Outside or slot)

Solid instincts in zone

Good ball skills

 

Weaknesses

Lacks speed

Production 

Tackling consistency

Off field concerns

 

Grade:86

While Arnette is nowhere near as good as his teammate Jeff Okudah, he is still a really solid corner. He possesses the same patience at the line of scrimmage. He is incredibly sticky in man coverage. He has instincts to play zone as well. He has the versatility to play both inside and out. I question his speed as he ran a 4.56, but he plays faster than that. Really solid player. 

 

52. Ross Blacklock- DL TCU

TCU 6’4 305 lbs

 

Strengths

Quick first step

Good athlete

Motor

Quick, strong hands

Length

Tools guy

Strength

Potential as a pass rusher with physical gifts

 

Weaknesses

Polish his technique

Hand placement

Pad level

Disengaging from blocks

Achillis injury
Grade:85.5

Ross Blacklock is a very intriguing prospect. He is a guy who hasn’t exactly “figured it out” yet, but he has the tools to do so. He is a very good athlete to begin with. He has a lot of the physical tools scouts look for. Size, strength, length, quickness, hands, he has it all. He just needs to put it all together.

 

53. Justin Herbert- QB Oregon

6’6 225 lbs

 

Strengths 

Size 

Athleticism

Arm Strength

Comfortability with throwing on the run

Beautiful throwing motion/mechanics

Short accuracy very good

 

Weaknesses

Offensive system 

Touch on passes; tries to fire every throw in 

SCREEN PASSES

Field vision inconsistent 

Jumpy feet 

Footwork sloppy

Doesn’t feel comfortable in the pocket

Pocket presence/awareness

Short arms a lot of throws

Doesn’t anticipate well enough

 

Grade: 85.5

COMP: Josh Allen/Derek Carr

Oh, Justin Herbert. You are so frustrating. I love your size, arm, and athleticism. I love how every once in a while you will make a throw rolling to the left off balance and I am just sitting in my chair stunned with what I just watched. But here’s the thing with Herbert. Nothing is natural with him. Everything seems difficult. He feels uncomfortable in the pocket. When he throws the ball, he doesn’t have natural accuracy, it is like he is aiming the ball. He doesn’t read defenses, he reads receivers. When I watch Herbert, I see a guy who doesn’t love football but happens to be pretty good at it. Listen, under the right coaching, maybe a coach can harness his physical abilities. I just wouldn’t bank on it. 

 

54. Lucas Niang- OT TCU

TCU 6’6 315 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size 

Great length

Solid athlete

Very good leverage

Good run blocker

Upside in pass game

 

Weaknesses

Lacks burst out of stance

Struggles with speed rushers

Doesn’t have great feet

Needs technique work

 

Grade:85.5

Niang is one of many “traits” guys in this draft. Very good size and length to go with solid strength and athleticism. His technique though, not great. Solid in the run game but his pass sets need a lot of work. His explosion out of his stance needs work as well. Project with upside.

 

55. Grant Delpit- S LSU

LSU 6’2 213 lbs

 

Strengths

Really good size for the position

Good feet

Really good range

Great instincts 

Versatility 

Good ball skills

Good blitzer

Reads QB eyes well

Good leader

 

Weaknesses

Lacks length

Speed is iffy

Tackling

Injury history

2019 tape->serious regression

Can really get smoked in man coverage

Inconsistency

 

Grade:85

Delpit frustrates me so much. On the surface, he is intriguing. Size, instincts, ball skills, versatility. Those are awesome traits to have. But he is so inconsistent. He has good range, but doesn’t always show on tape. He has speed questions. His tape was much better in 2018. His tackling is pretty bad too. He has a long injury history. With all the good Delpit brings to the table, there are an equal amount of question marks and concerns. Ugh.

 

56. Lloyd Cushenberry- OL LSU

LSU 6’3 312 lbs

 

Strengths

Great length

Team captain, leader 

Great strength, power

Great anchoring ability

High football IQ

 

Weaknesses

Lateral mobility is iffy

Struggles getting to the second level

 

Grade:85

Cushenberry was a leader for one of the best teams of all time. I love his length. As a center, he is able to get the snap off and attach his long arms onto rushers. He has great strength and anchoring ability. He isn’t very mobile, but he will be a solid starter. 

 

57. Terrell Burgess- S Utah

Utah 5’11 202 lbs

 

Strengths

Really good coverage skills

High IQ

High effort

Good tackler

Solid Athlete

Nickel corner

Versatility

 

Weaknesses

Lacks length

Range is iffy

Doesn’t do anything special

 

Grade: 85

Terrell Burgess will be a solid pro for a long time. He is a good tackler who can cover slot corners. He isn’t a flashy athlete, he doesn’t have great range, but he is a swiss army knife that teams will love. 

 

58. Brandon Aiyuk- WR Arizona State

Arizona State 6’0 201 lbs

 

Strengths 

Very good quickness

Very good speed

Good route runner

Solid Hands

Very good RAC

Special teams stud

Height-weight-speed guy

Very good body control

 

Weaknesses

Struggles with physicality at the line

Not necessarily elite at one trait

Disappears in games

Injuries

 

Grade:85

Aiyuk is just good at mostly everything, it is hard to find holes in his game. He is a height- weight-speed guy. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He is a really good route runner, and has pretty good hands despite a few concentration drops. He is an animal on special teams as a returner. He is both quick and fast. He does struggle with physicality at the line, and his release needs improvement. I like Aiyuk, I just don’t love him. He never made that one play where I was like “WOW, I love him”. It is hard to explain, I just didn’t fall in love with Aiyuk’s film. He is a good player, just not one that excites me.

 

59. Matt Hennessy- OL Temple

Temple 6’4 307 lbs

 

Strengths

Great technique

Smart player

Solid athlete

Plays with great leverage, can really anchor

3 year starter

Great awareness with stunts

Quick feet

 

Weaknesses

Needs to add strength

36 percentile in bench press

Not very versatile

 

Grade:85

Hennessy will be a plug and play guy. Absolute technician with his hands and feet. Such a smart player. He has quick feet and great awareness. 3 year starter. He needs to add strength, but he will be a really good starter. 

 

60. Jaylen Johnson- CB Utah

Utah 6’0 190 lbs

 

Strengths

Long arms

Physical player

Aggressive in press

Good press technique

Great ball skills

Long strides, solid recover ability

 

Weaknesses

Lacks speed and burst

Click and close only ok

Grabby with his hands

Hips are a little stiff

Scheme specific

 

Grade:85

Jaylen Johnson is a guy who will be good given the right situation. He is an incredibly physical player with great press technique and ball skills. Love his frame and long arms. Just lacks the speed and hips to be a man cover guy. I can see him excelling in a zone scheme where his strengths can be utilized. 

 

61. Trevon Diggs- CB Alabama

Alabama 6’1 205 lbs

 

Strengths

Size

Strength

Length

Solid movement skills for his size

Descent speed

Solid hips

Pretty quick feet

Ball skills (ex receiver)

Aggressive, competitive player

 

Weaknesses

Tackling

Over aggressive in press

Lacks patience at LOS

Grabby

Injury History

Fails to get his head turned around

 

Grade:85

Diggs is a height-length-strength guy. He has a very good build for a corner. For a guy his size, he moves pretty well. He also plays with an edge which I like. He punches receivers at the line. He is afraid of no one. I just don’t like his patience at the LOS. He is over anxious to get his hands on receivers, and it leads to him getting burnt. He also fails to turn his head which bothers me to no end. That bad habit leads to corners begging for PI calls. He has a ways to go to take advantage of his physical gifts.

 

62. Jonathan Grennard- DL Florida

Florida 6’4 262 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good length

Solid frame

Descent pass rusher

Great strength

Very good run defender

Effort

 

Weaknesses

Lacks burst 

Lacks bend 

Wrist injury

 

Grade:85

I like Greenard’s game. He isn’t overly explosive. He doesn’t have the burst or bend. But he is just a good football player. Has powerful hands and long arms. He is developing as a pass rusher but dominant as a run defender. Love his effort as well. He doesn’t have the traits to be a top pass rusher, but he will be a nice rotational guy.

 

63. Isaiah Wilson- OT Georgia

6’6 350 lbs

 

Strengths

Humongous human being

5 star recruit

Solid movement skills for his size

Strength

Mover in the run game

Flashes dominance

 

Weaknesses

Hands are a mess

Footwork needs work

Raw, especially in the pass game

Project

 

Grade:84.5

Isaiah Wilson is a mountain of a man. That is the first thing that jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He is very good in the run game. From a size and strength perspective, he moves people. Very talented guy. Moves well for his 350 pound frame. He is a project though. It is a running theme outside the top 4 tackles, but his technique needs work. His hands specifically, his hand placement causes him to lose pass pro reps that he should win. When he keeps his hands inside and gets control of the rusher, it is over. He truly did flash dominance. High upside. 

 

64. Darrynton Evans- RB App State

App State 5’11 185 lbs

 

Strengths

Good athlete

Good vision

Good cutting ability

Slippery

Elusive

Solid receiver

Explosive dude

Thrives in outside runs/space

Very good acceleration

 

Weaknesses

Thin frame

Struggles in Pass Pro

Don’t think he can carry a heavy workload

Struggles with runs up the middle

 

Grade:84.5

Evans is a really exciting player. He has a thin frame and I don’t think he can carry a heavy workload in the NFL, but he can definitely serve as a valuable change of pace back. He is a really good athlete, displaying pretty great change of direction skills and overall burst. He is a good receiver out of the backfield, and has good vision and patience to let plays develop. He is slippery with the ball in his hands as well. Defenders seem to have a hard time bringing him down. He doesn’t have the body to be “the guy” for a team, but he would be a really good addition to any team in the 3rd-4th round.

 

65. Malik Harrison- LB Ohio State

Ohio State 6’3 246 lbs

 

Strengths

Bruiser

Tackling machine

Big, physical linebacker

Block shedding

Leader type

Descent range

 

Weaknesses

Not great in coverage

Lacks fluid hips

Modern LB?

 

Grade:84.5 

Harrison is a solid player. In 2002, he might be a first round pick. He is big and strong. He sheds blocks with ease. Tackling animal. Bruiser. Thumper. All the stereotypes for an old fashioned linebacker. He really struggles in coverage, which is my main concern. Will be a solid starter.

 

66. Brycen Hopkins- TE Purdue

Purdue 6’4 245 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good speed

Great route runner

Good ball tracking ability

Solid after the catch

Effort as a blocker

Great production

 

Weaknesses

Lacks the strength and size as a blocker

Thin frame

Too many drops on film

 

Grade:84.5 

Hopkins is a really intriguing guy.  He is a really good athlete, with the speed to make plays after the catch. He is a really good route runner, and he is a guy who was able to produce in college. He just has some drops and he doesn’t have the frame to be a blocker despite the effort. I like him. 

 

67. Tyler Johnson- WR Minnesota

6’1 206 lbs

 

Strengths

Great route runner

Really good hands

Phenomenal balance

Good body control

Contested catch ability

 

Weaknesses

Burst

Speed

YAC

 

Grade:84.5

Tyler Johnson is a really solid player. He is one of the best route runners in the class. He has a really good ability to manipulate defenders with head fakes. He has a great ability to go up and get the football with solid ball skills and contested catch ability. He just lacks the burst and YAC ability to be anything more than a slot guy.

 

68. Van Jefferson- WR Florida

Florida 6’1 200 lbs

 

Strengths

Route running

Explosive out of his breaks

Good size

Good hands

Solid catch radius

Understands leverage very well, savvy player

Good body control

Very good change of direction/quickness skills

 

Weaknesses

Ball Skills

24 years old

Thin frame

Average YAC

Production

 

Grade:84.5

Definitely a guy who will be a solid pro. He has the traits of a guy who will be around for 7-8 years. Smooth player. One of the best route runners in the class. Great footwork, incredibly savvy. Very good hands. Solid size. I see him as a big slot. He is an older guy, and he wasn’t very productive in college. But not many guys whooped Derek Stingley jr. like Van Jefferson did. I like him. 

 

69. Justin Madubuike- DL Texas A&M

Texas A&M 6’3 304 lbs

 

Strengths

Versatility

Good athlete

4.83 40 time

Heavy hands

5 star recruit

Upside

Plays with very good leverage

Quick first step

 

Weaknesses

Polish

Awareness

Control of movement

Raw 

Inconsistent

 

Grade:84.5

Another interior lineman with athleticism and upside. Madubuike is no different. The former 5 star recruit has a nice skill set to offer. He has a good blend of size, athleticism, and strength. There are flashes on tape of a guy who puts them together and looks like a first round talent. Those moments are pretty rare, however. Most of the time, he is either showing his lack of awareness or disappearing. He needs work with his technique. He’s raw. I do like his versatility. He lines up all over the place, due to his background as an edge rusher. He is a project, clay that a coach can mold. Hopefully he lands in a good spot to unleash his untapped potential. 

 

70. Jalen Hurts- QB Oklahoma

6’1 222 lbs

 

Strengths 

Great athlete

Competitor 

Winner

Tough

Hard worker

Incredible runner, sees the field very well

Enough arm talent

Incredibly strong

Has improved as a thrower

Poise is unmatched

 

Weaknesses

Doesn’t really go through reads quick enough; Locks onto primary target

Lacks the ability to anticipate throws

Lacks zip on the ball

Release takes too long 

Doesn’t possess ideal height

Looks to run first too often

Questionable decision maker

Long release leads to balls batted down

Not a natural thrower

Needs to work on his mechanics and footwork

Shaky pocket presence 

 

Grade: 84

Jalen Hurts is a very interesting prospect. He has mobility, leadership, intangibles. Very Dak Prescott like. He has improved as a passer, but he still has miles to go. Outside of the top 4, if I had to bet on one guy to put it together, it is this guy. Has the heart of a champion.

 

71. Akeem Davis- Gaither-  LB App State

App State 6’1 224 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good athlete

Quick as hell

Great Range

Solid coverage ability

Good blitzer

Effort player

 

Weaknesses

Thin

Smaller guy

Block shedding

Needs to add strength

 

Grade:84

Davis-Gaither is a pretty straight forward player. He wins with speed. His range is phenomenal. He will be able to cover tight ends due to his athleticism. Quick and plays like his hair is on fire. He needs to add strength. He will not be able to handle the size of offensive lineman with his thin frame. 

 

72. Austin Jackson- OT USC

USC 6’6 310 lbs

 

Strengths

Really good physical profile

Quick feet

Good lateral movement

Quickness

Length

Solid in pass pro

Zone scheme specific

 

Weaknesses

Lacks strength

Needs technical improvements

Lacks contact balance

Soft

 

Grade:84

Austin Jackson is interesting. He looks the part. With his 6’6 310 frame, he looks like a starting NFL tackle. For his size, he has great quickness. His feet are phenomenal. He has awesome length as well. His skill set of size, length, and athleticism is ideal. But his film. Eh. He seems a little soft. Lacks play strength. His technique needs major work. Hand placement is sloppy, and his understanding of angles is poor. His balance isn’t very good either. Upside is there, but a lot of work is needed.

 

73.  Donovan Peoples-Jones- WR Michigan

Michigan 6’2 212 lbs

 

Strengths

Elite athlete 

Great size

Good speed

99 percentile in Vertical jump and broad jump

Really solid hands

Good catch radius

Solid YAC

 

Weaknesses

Production

Lacks quickness

Release needs work

Athleticism doesn’t always show up on film

 

Grade:84

Another guy that I felt bad for. Shea Patterson is so bad, it is comical. Donovan Peoples-Jones, for how naturally talented he is, didn’t produce. But god damn, he is a good athlete. He is 6’2 212 lbs, he has 4.45 speed, and was in the 99th percentile in the vertical jump and broad jump. He has a great catch radius and really good ball skills, to go along with nice hands. He is a solid route runner. The production just wasn’t there, and there were many times where he flat out disappeared. Could be a steal, definitely a guy with the traits to be a star. Upside.

 

74. Cole Kmet- TE Notre Dame

Notre Dame 6’6 262 lbs

 

Strengths

Good size, frame for a tight end

Very good catch radius

Good ball skills

Solid hands

Good feel for zone coverage

Solid blocker

 

Weaknesses

Only “ok” athlete

Nothing special after the run

Not really elite at anything

 

Grade:84

Kmet is a solid tight end. He doesn’t do anything very well, but he does everything pretty well. Solid size, good hands, nice catch radius, descent blocker. Fine athlete. He isn’t all that honestly. Just a low end TE1. 

 

75. Robert Hunt- OL Louisiana- Lafayette

Louisiana- Lafayette 6’5 323 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size

Great strength

Good movement skills

Heavy hands

Versatile

Four year starter

 

Weaknesses

Inconsistent hand placement

Footwork

Timing

 

Grade:84

Hunt’s tape was so fun to watch. He was just destroying dudes. He can play tackle, but I think teams will kick him into guard. He was a 4 year starter at Louisiana-Lafayette. He has great size and strength. His hands pack a punch. He moves really well for a guy his size. Just needs to work on consistency and timing with his hands and movements. Good player.

 

76. Jonah Jackson- OL Ohio State

Ohio State 6’3 306 lbs

 

Strengths

Great in Pass pro

Great awareness

Understands stunts

Versatile

Great anchor

Can get to the second level

Good movement skills

 

Weaknesses

Strength

Leverage

Moving people in the run game

 

Grade:84

 Dominant in pass pro. The dude is a stone wall. Nothing gets by him. Fields will miss him next year. He is versatile, he can really move. His ability to get to the second level is really good. He needs to add strength, but another solid starter nonetheless.

 

77. Isaiah Hodgins- WR Oregon State

Oregon State 6’4 209 lbs

 

Strengths

Great body control

Good size

Very good ball skills

Very good hands

Tracks the ball so well

Very good route runner

Massive catch radius

 

Weaknesses

Won’t really do much after the catch

Tough time with press, not explosive off the line

Lacks speed

Lacks quickness

Play strength

 

Grade:84

I like Hodgins a lot. He tracks the ball phenomenally well. He catches everything. Great ball skills. He has a massive catch radius. Will be a safety blanket for any QB. Just lacks speed, quickness, and strength. He has a really hard time beating press coverage. He is a really good route runner, but he might not have the quickness at the top of his route to separate. I Like his game though.

 

78. Bryce Hall- CB Virginia

Virginia 6’1 200 lbs

 

Strengths

Good size and length

Very good tackler

Smart player

Thrives in zone

Reads QB’s eyes well

 

Weaknesses

Lacks speed

Hips tight

Injury history

Safety?

 

Grade:84

Byrce Hall is a guy who possesses great length and height. He is able to match up with a lot of the bigger receivers in the NFL. He is smart with good awareness, and he is possibly the best tackler in the class. I love the way he sits in zone coverage and reads QB eyes. He just lacks speed, hips, feet, burst. He also has a long injury history. Will be a good safety in the league if he makes the transition.

 

79. Chase Claypool- WR Notre Dame

Notre Dame 6’4 229 lbs

 

Strengths

Height-Weight-Speed guy

4.42 40 time

Great catch radius

Loves to go up and get it

Physical player

Descent route runner

Tools guy

 

Weaknesses

Lacks quickness to separate 

Hands are iffy

Tight end?

 

Grade:83.5

Yes, claypool is a freak athlete. Not a lot of guys are that big and run that fast. He has a massive catch radius. He loves to just go up and get the football. Loves playing physical, both in his routes and after the catch. I just question his ability to separate. He has too many drops. Honestly, he would be better at tight end. I see his potential, just looks like an athlete playing football to me. 

 

80. Matthew Peart- OT Uconn

Uconn 6’7 318 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size

Good mobility

Quick, light feet

Good length

Can get to the second level with ease

4 year stater, constant growth

Upside

 

Weaknesses

Strength

Hands

Balance

Technique

 

Grade:83.5 

Peart is ANOTHER athletic guy who has upside but needs work. I know, a lot of these guys. He is a very good athlete who is an effortless mover to go with size and length. He improved each year of his career. Upside guy. Light feet. Needs to add strength. His hand technique causes his balance to be exposed. Another upside guy. 

 

81. Jacob Eason- QB Washington

6’6 231 lbs

 

Strengths

Prototypical size

Unbelievable arm strength

Beautiful upper body mechanics

Tough guy

Can fit ball into tight windows

When the pocket is clean, he is very accurate

Can make some really special throws

Makes the difficult throws, misses the easy ones

Confidence in his arm

Deep ball touch/anticipation is phenomenal 

Gets away with questionable decisions due to ridiculous arm

 

Weaknesses

Stiff in the pocket

Does not handle pressure well at all

Horrible pocket presence

Tends to stare down receivers

Questionable decision maker

Bad feet

Beat out by Fromm at UGA

Struggles with anticipating in short/mid areas

Tendency to roll left when facing pressure

 

Grade:83

Jacob Eason has a cannon of an arm. He makes some throws where you have to sit back and say wow. With his size and arm, you can see why he was a big time recruit. When protection is great and his mechanics are perfect, there is not a throw he can’t make. I just hate his pocket presence. He doesn’t have great field vision and his decision making is suspect. But his lack of ability to go off script due to his lack of pocket presence, mobility, and handling of pressure is what scares me about him.

 

82. Bryan Edwards- WR South Carolina

South Carolina 6’3 212 lbs

 

Strengths

Great size for the position

Physical receiver

Very good catch radius

Good body control

High pointing the ball

Solid hands

21 years old despite 47 starts in SEC

Terrible QB play

 

Weaknesses

Speed

Quickness

Burst

Separation ability

 

Grade: 83

I felt bad for Bryan Edwards when watching his film. His QB play was honestly a joke. Despite that, he flashed nice potential to be a solid pro. He has really good size for the position. Solid hands to go with that size. He can really high point the ball, he has very good body control, and his catch radius is huge. He can make some truly spectacular catches. He just lacks that juice you look for in terms of athleticism. Isn’t fast or quick, just lacks the burst you want. He isn’t bad after the catch, but he wins with physicality instead of quickness. I question his ability to separate in the NFL. Solid 3rd round guy.

 

83. Ezra Cleveland- OT Boise State

6’6 311 lbs

 

Strengths

Great athlete

Tested well

Mobile enough to move in zone run scheme

Quick feet

Solid technique

 

Weaknesses

Strength

Gets bullied at point of attack

Does everything well until he actually has to block someone

Soft

 

Grade:83

Cleveland is a guy who has received a lot of first round hype and I get it. Dude is an elite athlete for the position. He moves his feet really well. He can match the depth that speed rushers want to get to. He can get to the second level very well. He is just soft though. His strength is so underwhelming. He does everything well up until he actually has to block someone. 

 

84. Prince Tega Wanogho- OT AUburn

Auburn 6’5 307 lbs

 

Strengths

Really solid frame 

Great athlete

Great quickness

Length

Advanced for lack of experience

Upside

 

Weaknesses 

Raw as hell

New to football

Needs ton of technique work

Feet can be sloppy

Hands are out of control

 

Grade:83

Prince Tega Wanogho is raw as hell. He is new to football, but his natural ability is incredibly impressive. He has great movement skills to go along with a nice physical build. The technique is expected. Not great. Honestly, he has no idea what to do with either his hands or feet. But when he puts it together, he looks like a first round talent. He flashed, but hasn’t put it together yet.

 

85. Jake Fromm- QB Georgia

6’2 219 lbs

 

Strengths 

Great decision maker

Good leader

Ability to read defenses 

Very smart QB

Manipulate defenses with eyes

Goes through progressions well

Winner

Good athlete

Solid Pocket presence

Pre snap guy

 

Weaknesses

Smaller guy

Noodle Arm

No zip on the ball

Accuracy is iffy

Struggles to push the ball down the field

Not dynamic

Captain checkdown

Very smart QB limited by his physical traits

 

Grade:83

Jake Fromm will be a very good backup in the league for a long time. He is so good pre snap. Incredibly intelligent. Reads the field very well. He is just limited by his physical traits. Not a great athlete. Has a noodle for an arm. Accuracy isn’t great. Don’t see a guy who will be a starter, but can be a very good backup for a very long time. Chase Daniel esc. 

 

86. Adam Trautman- TE Dayton

Dayton 6’5 255 lbs

 

Strengths

Has great size and length for a tight end

Awesome frame, looks the part

Catch point; radius

Basketball background

Potential 

Athletic guy

 

Weaknesses

Lacks polish

Not a good blocker

Competition

 

Grade:83

Trautman is a guy who dominated his competition due to pure athleticism. He was bigger, stronger, and faster. He was mossing dudes. I just wonder how it translates. He is raw. He just out-athletes players. Blocking is raw. Upside guy.

 

87. Cameron Dantzler- CB Miss State

Miss State 6’2 185 lbs

 

Strengths

Really good size for the position

Great length

Very fluid hips

Solid ball skills

Zone coverage guy

Great instincts

Good tape

Competitive

 

Weaknesses

4.64 40 time major red flag

Needs to add strength

Lacks athleticism to be top corner

 

Grade:82.5

I like Dantzler’s tape a lot, but I struggle with him. He has loose hips, to go with good size and length. But that speed. Not many corners will survive from running a 4.64. That is very concerning. He also needs to add strength to his frame. Good player, just don’t know if he has the athletic ability to be a starting corner.

 

88. Eno Benjamin- RB Arizona State

Arizona State 5’9 195 lbs

 

Strengths

Runs hard

Make people miss ability

Contact balance

Pass pro

Receiving ability

Solid vision

Pretty quick

 

Weaknesses

Limited athlete

Lacks burst

Lacks speed

3rd down back in NFL

 

Grade: 81

Eno Benjamin screams third down back in the NFL. He is a limited athlete, he lacks speed and burst. He has his strengths though. He plays angry to begin with. I love that about him, he plays with an edge. He is really feisty in pass pro. He is not afraid to put his body on the line when blocking and I admire that about him. He has good vision and can make people miss. He has great contact balance as well. He is also a pretty good receiver.  He will be a solid 3rd down back for whichever team selects him.

 

89. Terrell Lewis- EDGE Alabama

Alabama 6’5 258 lbs

 

Strengths

Very good size

Pretty explosive first step

Length for days

Pretty fluid hips

Converting speed to power

Flashes top end talent

 

Weaknesses

Pass rush moves

Injuries*

Having a plan as a pass rusher

 

Grade:80

Lewis is a guy who I just cannot trust. To begin with, his tape is so inconsistent. One play he is using his combination of length and strength to bend the edge and make plays. The next he gets stone walled and completely gives up. Frustrating guy. Furthermore, his injury history is very concerning. Fourth round guy in my eyes who has done nothing but tease his potential and do nothing with it.

 

1. Bengals: Joe Burrow QB LSU
2. Redskins: Chase Young EDGE Ohio State
3. Lions: Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State
4. Giants: Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa
5. Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama
6. Chargers: Justin Herbert QB Oregon
7. Panthers: Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson
8. Cardinals: Derrick Brown DL Auburn
9. Jaguars: CJ Henderson CB Florida
10. Browns: Mekhi Becton OT Louisville
11. Jets: Andrew Thomas OT Georgia
12. Raiders: Ceedee Lamb WR Oklahoma
13. 49ers: Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
14. Bucs: Jedrick Wills OT Alabama
15. Broncos: Henry Ruggs WR Alabama
16. Falcons: Javon Kinlaw DL South Carolina
17. Cowboys: K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE LSU
18. Dolphins: Josh Jones OT Houston
19. Raiders: AJ Terrell CB Clemson
20. Jaguars: Xavier McKinney S Alabama
21. Eagles: Justin Jefferson WR LSU
22. Vikings: Ezra Cleveland OT Boise State
23. Patriots: Zack Baun LB Wisconsin
24. Saints: Jordan Love QB Utah State
25. Vikings: Jaylen Johnson CB Utah
26. Dolphins: D’Andre Swift RB Georgia
27. Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Matos EDGE Penn State
28. Ravens: Patrick Queen LB LSU
29. Titans: Kristian Fulton CB LSU
30. Packers: Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona State
31. 49ers: Jeff Gladney CB TCU
32. Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB LSU

As some of you might know, I am a pretty huge KU fan. So call my opinion on this bias if you want, but I don’t care. This is the truth.

How It Happened

Let me take you back to earlier in the college basketball season. Kansas is playing a small school in Monmouth, up 110-55, and they are dribbling the clock out with seconds left in the game. Then, a Monmouth player comes from behind and steals it from the KU player dribbling it out, dunks it, then goes on to curse off the KU fans over their loud boos. This is important, because K-State tried to pull the same thing on Tuesday. Silvio De Souza, up 81-59, dribbled the ball over half court as the clock was winding down on another beatdown of little brother Kansas State. Then the K-state player comes out of nowhere, picks Silvio’s pocket, and is taking it the other way. After what transpired against Monmouth, Silvio was not going to let this BS happen again. He ran down the K state guard going for the layup and sent it to the moon with an emphatic pin against the backboard. He had some words to say to the player as he laid helplessly on the ground. All of a sudden, the ENTIRE K-state bench clears and starts going after Silvio. One player pushed Silvio to the ground, and in a state of self defense, he started throwing punches. Stupid, I know, but put yourself in his shoes. In his eyes, he was surrounded, so he acted accordingly. One thing led to another, but things never really got out of hand, as no punches were landed and no one got hurt. Silvio did pick up a stool with the intent to use it, which is ridiculous, but he dropped it as his judgement kicked in. That is what happened. K-State started the fight, KU made it worse. Both teams should be held accountable, suspend the players involved, and move on.

The Ridiculous Overreaction

After the game, people on twitter had some pretty ridiculous takes. It was either people saying Silvio should be kicked out of CBB, or people using this incident to push their agenda of KU being a dirty program. First, I will discuss the latter of the two arguments. It is true that Kansas has had some hiccups in the past couple years. From the stuff with the FBI, players getting suspended every year (Cliff Alexander, Cheick Diallo, Billy Preston, Legarald Vick, to name a few), it has not been a great couple years for KU in terms of public perception. However, using a little fight between two rivals to justify the opinion that Kansas runs a dirty program is asinine and lazy. There is zero correlation between the two whatsoever. It was the perfect storm. The picture of Silvio and the stool. The fact that the person who was at the center of the brawl was Silvio De Souza, a guy suspended for an entire season due to receiving illegal benefits. It was the perfect time to attack Kansas, as the reputation of the program was incredibly vulnerable. So anyone who had an agenda to fulfill took upon the opportunity and pounced. As for the people calling for Silvio’s head *cough* Seth Greenberg *cough*, I want you to take a moment an self reflect. Before you call for a young, black man to face legal action for picking up and stool and deciding not to use it, think about baseball for a second. Why is it okay for there to be fights in baseball? Why is the public so quick to view basketball players as “monsters” and “out of control” when they get into fights, but when it happens in baseball, it is “apart of the game”. An “unwritten rule”. The answer is so painfully obvious to anyone with enough guts to put their pride and ego aside, and just look at it from a logical perspective. Baseball is a predominantly white sport, while basketball is predominantly black. Race is a very tricky thing to discuss, especially for a 17 year old white kid with no idea how the world works. But I am going to give it my best effort. I find it pretty disgraceful that Seth Greenberg went on national television and called for legal action to be taken on Silvio. Yes, picking up the stool with the intent to use it was dumb. But please, for the love of god, stop using hypotheticals of “what if he used it” to fit a racist, pre-existing agenda of wanting to jump the gun and punish the 20 year old black student athlete, and then make excuses for the *professional athletes* for fighting over getting hit by a baseball when they are grown ups making millions of dollars a year. Silvio was wrong. But lets ask ourselves here, do we really want to punish a young man for *almost* making a terrible decision. And if you still do, ask yourself if you would have a different reaction if he was white.

1. Belichick exposed McVay– These Rams aren’t the Rams of last year. They have been fine, but last year the offense was an absolute juggernaut. So, the question is, what changed? I have a theory. The super bowl last year for the Rams was ugly. That high powered offense produced a grand total of 3 points, and I think the script is out on how to stop McVay’s offense, and Belichick is the one who wrote it. Other factors can be mentioned for the reasoning behind the regression, such as Gurley being hurt, Goff regressing and not being able to handle pressure or the offensive line completely falling apart. But the NFL is and always will be a copycat league, and I am convinced every coach watches the super bowl film and uses the same formula that Belichick created.
2. Baker and Kitchens were not ready for prime time– The hype coming into the season for the Browns was out of control. People were crowning Baker after a descent start where his stats were completely inflated and he struggled against any descent competition. He seems to have regressed drastically and you really have to wonder if he has already reached his ceiling as a player. As for Kitchens, he looks way in over his head. He seems overwhelmed, really looking like a guy who was a running backs coach at this point last year. The browns had a lot to live up to, with the addition of Odell and some pieces on defense. But I think that Baker has always thrived on being the underdog, but this time all the pressure was on him, and he shrunk under the pressure.
3. The NFL draft really is a crapshoot– Lets take a journey back to 2015. Specifically, to that NFL draft. The two absolute consensus, slam dunk top 2 picks were Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. No one was debating that. They were supposed to compete against each other for the next decade. Instead, both teams are moving on from them after the season. It just illustrates just how hard it is for these teams to evaluate talent. These guys were the unquestioned top 2 guys in the draft, and their careers are already over.
4. The best teams are built from the inside out-  This year is another example that you do not build your team on the perimeter. The most obvious examples are the Rams and the Browns. They both have young, first overall pick quarterbacks that have done some great things in this league. They have stud receivers who are getting paid lots of money. But none of it has mattered. Because it doesn’t matter who you have at receiver if the QB doesn’t have the time to throw. The philosophy for building a team should always be get the QB then get the o-line to protect the QB. Figure the rest out later.
5. Russell Wilson might just be the best QB in the NFL- Russell Wilson has been flat out unbelievable this year. The Seahawks players that were largely responsible for the super bowl victory against the Broncos (Lynch, Sherman, Thomas, Bennett etc.) are gone, but two things have remained constant. Wilson and Carroll. Wilson has been throwing with record-breaking efficiency and seems to always “figure it out”and pull out wins, despite his defense being below average. He is on his way to winning his first MVP and we have to ask if he is the best QB in the game at the moment.

*Had both Jaguars spread and picked them to win so 1-0 for the week so far.

Bengals @ Bills: BUF -6 O/U 43.5- I like the bills a lot, but giving them 6 points may be too many for my liking. The bengals have shown that they can score under their new coach Zac Taylor, allowing them to keep this game close. Bills win a close one, but the bengals cover.

BEN +6

Dolphins @ Cowboys: Cowboys -22.5 O/U 47- Ah I’m going to repeat the same mistake I did last week. Gambling brings out my inner insanity. Last week, I was saying “19 points is too many for any NFL team. Give me the dolphins.” And they went out and got blown out. But here I am, telling you to take the dolphins spread because 22.5 is just too many points. Cowboys win easily, but dolphins cover. Also take the over.

MIA: +22.5 OVER 47

Broncos vs Packers: GB -7 O/U 41.5- tough line here. While the packers are 2-0, they haven’t overly impressed me. The offense has looked like a mess for the majority of the season besides the first quarter against Minnesota, while the broncos looked pretty good against a tough bears team. I think this is a low scoring game, where the packers win by a field goal, so I am going to take the broncos to cover.

DEN: +7

Falcons vs colts: IND -1.5 O/U 48- I don’t trust Matt Ryan. Every time I gamble on the guy, he stabs me in the back. It’s like an alarm goes off in his head every time I put money on him. Give me the falcons.

ATL: +1.5

Ravens vs Chiefs: KC -5 O/U 52.5- whenever the chiefs are only losing 5 points at home, you have to take it. Yes, the Ravens have looked good. However, we don’t really know how legit they are. They played the Dolphins, who are on track to go 0-16, and the cardinals, who had a rookie QB playing his first game on the road. Give me Mahomes all day. It’s like betting the Yankees, it’s smart money. Also, life is too short not to take the over in this game.

KC: -5 OVER 52.5

Raiders vs Vikings: MIN -9 O/U 43.5- I don’t think the Vikings have earned that spread. I know the raiders aren’t very good, but what have the Vikings done? The answer is nothing. Yes, they are better at home, but 9 points is way too many for the Vikings. Give me the Raiders to cover, Vikings to win.

Raiders +9

Jets vs Patriots: NE -22 O/U 43- I will not make the same mistake twice. Betting against the Pats is not fun. They will dominate. The Jets will not score. Pats by 100. Also the under.

Pats -22 UNDER 43

Lions vs Eagles: PHI -4.5 O/U 45- The lions are a trendy pick to upset the Eagles this week. I understand why, with both Jeffery and D- Jax out. But 4.5 for the Eagles at home is too little. I trust Wentz and Pederson way more than Stafford and Patricia. Give me Eagles.

PHI -4.5

Panthers vs Cardinals: ARI -2 O/U 45.5- Love the cardinals here. Panthers are without Cam and have looked pathetic. The cardinals have looked pretty good. Could be a trap game, but give me the cardinals -2.

ARI -2

Giants vs Bucs: TB -6 O/U 48- I think the Giants bounce back and win this one. With Jones starting, life will be injected back into this team. It’s now or never for the Giants, so I think they beat a Bucs team that I don’t trust at all. Also, 48 is too many points take the under.

NYG +6 UNDER 48

Texans vs Chargers: LAC -3 O/U 48.5- I don’t really have a good feel for this game. If I had to pick a team I would go Texans +3, but I would just stay away from this game. If anything, take the over.

OVER 48.5

Steelers vs 49ers: SF -6.5 O/U 44- I think the 49ers are a little overhyped at the moment. Coming off a hot 2-0 start, I think they come back to earth a little with a sloppy win over a reeling Steelers team.

PIT +6 UNDER 44

Saints vs Seahawks: SEA -4.5 O/U 44.5- LOVE Seattle here. At home, against Bridgewater? Easy money. Seattle BIG

SEA -4.5

Rams vs Browns: LAR -3.5 O/U 47.5: I am conflicted here, because the Rams (Goff especially) really struggle on the road, while the Browns have looked BAD to start the year. If I had to pick, give me Rams -3.5, but the real play is the under at 47.5.

UNDER 47.5 LAR -3.5

As most people know, star running backs of the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers, Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon, are both holding out seeking new contracts. Their situations aren’t exactly the same, as Melvin Gordon is entering the final deal of his rookie contract, as the Chargers picked up his 5th year option which is about 5.6 mil a year (a clear underpay for a player of Gordon’s caliber), while Zeke still has two years left on his deal. Both of these players contracts are extremely important for the future of the running back and the value they hold within the league.

If I were the Chargers…

As of August 9th, Melvin Gordon has not reported to camp, and will do whatever it takes to get his money, as he has expressed through his agent that he is willing to hold out into the regular season. The question of whether I would pay Melvin Gordon is…complicated, because both sides have compelling arguments. The reasoning for paying is pretty clear. The Chargers Super Bowl window is right now. Rivers is not getting any younger. Gordon missing time would significantly hurt the Chargers title hopes. They have a real shot here, and Gordon is the missing piece at the moment. Currently, the Chargers are offering 10 mil a year, while Gordon is seeking 13 mil a year, similar to what David Johnson received (3yr, 39 mil). That 3 mil salary per year could be the difference between winning the super bowl, and being a fringe playoff team. The Chargers have to ask themselves whether that 3 mil is worth it. But then again, I understand why the chargers are hesitant to pay Gordon. To begin, the running back position is the least valued position in the league. They are disposable at this point, used until they have nothing left. Time and time again, we have seen teams hand over big time money to running backs and see it backfire, either due to injury or them losing a step. Ask the Rams if they regret giving Todd Gurley that big contract (here is a hint: they do). Running back is both a position that isn’t sustainable on the body and is easily replaceable. Melvin Gordon in his career has shown zero ability to stay healthy, having missed games in every season of his career but one, and they have guys in Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, who they believe are cheaper options who can feel the void left by Gordon’s absence. Some advanced metrics say that Ekeler is a better running back then Gordon anyway. So the question is, what would I do? After reviewing everything, I would have to make the tough call and not pay him. I get that Gordon is a great player and would increase the Chargers chances of winning it all, but capping the team with an injury prone running back doesn’t seem like a recipe for success.

What I would do if I were the cowboys…

Ezekiel Elliott’s case is pretty interesting as well. If you have watched the cowboys at all over the last couple years, you know that the cowboys entire offense revolves around Ezekiel Elliott. When Zeke was out with suspension, Dak looked like borderline starter. Zeke is the engine that runs the cowboys offense. Currently he is holding out, “training” in Cabo of all places. The question is why are the Cowboys so hesitant to pay arguably the best running back in the NFL? He’s a great player, he is only 24, about to enter the prime of his career. Well, there are two boulders standing in the way of Zeke’s big pay day. The first is his off the field issues. Since entering the league, Zeke has had a couple of off the field incidents that have caused him to miss games. It is difficult for a franchise to hand over millions of dollars to a guy when they can’t trust him. Hey, his dad did warn us, saying his son wasn’t ready for the NFL. It feels like every offseason of Zeke’s career, something has happened off the field, making it harder for the cowboys to commit. The other reason for the cowboys hesitancy is that they have other guys higher in the pecking order who need to get paid. Both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are entering the final year of their deals, and both are expecting big contracts. The cowboys front office has enough to worry about, and here is Zeke, with two years left on his deal, holding out. But at the end of the day, I would pay Zeke. The reasoning for not paying running backs are simple. They flame out by 30, they get injured, and they are easily replaceable. But Zeke is under that special category of guys who just can’t be replaced, especially for the Cowboys. He is also younger then Melvin Gordon who is 26, so they can give him a lengthy contract and still be protected from the 30 year old RB cliff. Zeke has also shown an incredible ability to stay healthy through his career. Overall, while not ideal with other big contracts looking, the cowboys NEED Zeke. Period.

Mock Draft (2 rounds)

Round 1

1. Cardinals: Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma
2. 49ers: Nick Bosa EDGE Ohio State
3. Jets: Josh Allen EDGE Kentucky
4. Raiders: Quinnen Williams DL Bama
5. Bucs: Ed Oliver DL Houston
6. Giants: Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State
7. Jaguars: Jawaan Taylor OT Florida
8. Lions: TJ Hockenson TE Iowa
9. Bills: Jonah Williams OL Bama
10. Broncos: Devin White LB LSU
11. Bengals: Daniel Jones QB Duke
12. Packers: Noah Fant TE Iowa
13. Dolphins: Christian Wilkins DL Clemson
14. Falcons: Brian Burns EDGE FSU
15. Redskins: Drew Lock QB Missouri
16. Panthers: Rashaan Gary DL Michigan
17. Giants: Devin Bush LB Michigan
18. Vikings: Cody Ford OT Oklahoma
19. Jeffery Simmons DL Miss State
20. Steelers: Rock Ya-Sin CB Temple
21. Seahawks: Montez Sweat EDGE Miss State
22. Ravens: Garrett Bradbury OL NC State
23. Texans: Andre Dillard OT Wash St
24. Raiders: Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson
25. Eagles: Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma
26. Colts: Jonathan Abram S Miss State
27. Raiders: Josh Jacobs RB Alabama
28. Chargers: Dexter Lawrence DL Clemson
29. Seahawks: Darnell Savage S Maryland
30. Packers: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Florida
31. Rams: Dalton Risner OT K-State
32. Patriots: AJ Brown WR Ole Miss
33. Cardinals: DK Metcalf WR Ole Miss
34. Colts: Byron Murphy CB Washington
35. Raiders: Greedy Williams CB LSU
36. 49ers: Deebo Samuel WR South Carolina
37. Giants: DeAndre Baker CB Georgia
38. Jaguars: Irv Smith Jr TE Bama
39. Bucs: Nasir Adderley S Deleware
40. Bills: Jerry Tillery DL Notre Dame
41. Broncos: Justin Layne CB Mich State
42. Bengals: Greg Little OT Ole Miss
43. Lions: Lonnie Johnson Jr. CB Kentucky
44. Packers: N’Keal Harry WR ASU
45. Falcons: Chris Lindstrom G BC
46. Redskins: Hakeem Butler WR Iowa State
47. Panthers: Eric McCoy C Texas A&M
48. Dolphins:Elgton Jenkins C Miss State
49. Browns: Amani Oruwariye CB Penn State
50. Vikings: Parris Campbell WR Ohio State
51. Titans: Chase Winovich DE Michigan
52. Steelers: Mack Wilson LB Bama
53. Eagles: Taylor Rapp S Washington
54. Texans: Juan Thornhill S Virginia
55. Texans: Michael Deiter G Wisconsin
56. Patriots: Julian Love CB Notre Dame
57. Eagles: Yodny Cajuste OT West Virginia
58. Cowboys: Deionte Thompson S Bama
59. Colts: Charles Omenihu DE Texas
60. Chargers: Tytus Howard OT Bama St
61. Chiefs: Sean Bunting CB Central Michigan
62. Saints: Andy Isabella WR UMass
63. Chiefs: David Edwards OT Wisconsin
64. Patriots: LJ Collier EDGE TCU

 

 

 

Top 100 Big board

Grading System

99-90- 1st round

89-85- 2nd round

84-81- 3rd round

80-77- 4th round

1. Quinnen Williams DL Bama Grade: 97
2. Nick Bosa EDGE Ohio State Grade: 95
3. TJ Hockenson TE Iowa Grade: 95
4. Montez Sweat EDGE Miss State Grade: 94
5. Jeffery Simmons DL Miss State Grade: 94
6. Brian Burns EDGE FSU Grade: 93
7. Ed Oliver DL Houston Grade:93
8. Devin White LB LSU Grade:93
9. Jawaan Taylor OT Florida Grade: 93
10. Jonah Williams OL Bama Grade: 92
11. Josh Allen EDGE Kentucky Grade:92
12. Jonathan Abram S Miss State Grade:92
13. Kelvin Harmon WR NC State Grade:92
14. Noah Fant TE Iowa Grade: 92
15. Josh Jacobs RB Bama Grade:92
16. Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma Grade:91
17. Greedy Williams CB LSU Grade:91
18. Byron Murphy CB Washington Grade: 91
19. Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma Grade: 90
20. Amani Oruwariye CB Penn State Grade:90
21. Garrett Bradbury OL NC State Grade:90
22. Cody Ford OL Oklahoma Grade:89
23. Jerry Tillery DL Notre Dame Grade:89
24. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson CB Florida Grade:89
25. Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson Grade:89
26. D.K. Metcalf WR Ole Miss Grade:89
27. Deebo Samuel WR South Carolina Grade:89
28. Justin Layne CB Mich State Grade:89
29. Irv Smith Jr. TE Bama Grade:89
30. Andre Dillard OT Wash St Grade:89
31. Chris Lindstrom G BC Grade:89
32. Christian Wilkins DL Clemson Grade:88
33. AJ Brown WR Ole Miss Grade:88
34. Dalton Risner OT K-State Grade:88
35. Devin Bush LB Michigan Grade:88
36. Julian Love CB Notre Dame Grade:88
37. Dexter Lawrence DL Clemson Grade:88
38. Darnell Savage S Maryland Grade:87
39. Juan Thornhill S Virginia Grade:87
40. Chase Winovich DE Michigan Grade:87
41. Amani Hooker S Iowa Grade:87
42. Darrell Henderson RB Memphis Grade:87
43. Michael Deiter G Wisconsin Grade:87
44. Eric McCoy C Texas A&M Grade:87
45. Deandre Baker CB Georgia Grade:86
46. Hakeem Butler WR Iowa St Grade:86
47. Rashaan Gary DE Michigan Grade:86
48. N’Keal Harry WR ASU Grade:86
49. Taylor Rapp S Washington Grade:86
50. Trayvon Mullen CB Clemson Grade:86
51. David Montgomery RB Iowa State Grade:86
52. Drew Lock QB Missouri Grade: 85
53. Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State Grade:85
54. Nasir Adderley S Deleware Grade:85
55. Marquise Blair S Utah Grade:85
56. Rock Ya-Sin CB Temple Grade:85
57. Devin Singletary RB FAU Grade:85
58. Mack Wilson LB Bama Grade:85
59. Jachai Polite EDGE Florida Grade:85
60. Riley Ridley WR Georgia Grade:85
61. Trayveon Williams RB Texas A&M Grade:85
62. Terry McLaurin WR Ohio State Grade:84
63. Deionte Thompson S Bama Grade: 84
64. Zach Allen DL BC Grade:84
65. Sean Bunting CB C. Michigan Grade:84
66. Miles Sanders RB Penn State Grade:84
67. Charles Omenihu DL Texas Grade:84
68. Jace Sternberger TE Texas A&M Grade:84
69. Christian Miller EDGE Bama Grade:84
70. Justice Hill RB OK State Grade:84
71. Dre’Mont Jones DL Ohio State Grade:83
72. JJ Arcega Whiteside WR Stanford Grade:83
73. Yodny Cajuste OT West Virginia Grade:83
74. Elgton Jenkins C Miss State Grade:83
75. Stanley Morgan Jr. WR Nebraska Grade:83
76. Damien Harris RB Bama Grade:83
77. Andy Isabella WR Umass Grade:83
78. Rodney Anderson RB Oklahoma Grade: 83
79. Emanuel Hall WR Missouri Grade:83
80. Dawson Knox TE Ole Miss Grade:82
81. Mecole Hardman WR Georgia Grade: 82
82. DeMarkus Lodge WR Ole Miss Grade:82
83. Bobby Evans OT Oklahoma Grade:82
84. Joejuan Williams CB Vanderbilt Grade:82
85. Parris Campbell WR Ohio State Grade:81
86. LJ Collier EDGE TCU Grade:81
87. Greg Little OT Ole Miss Grade:81
88. David Long CB Michigan Grade:81
89. Mike Edwards S Kentucky Grade:80
90. Daniel Jones QB Duke Grade:80
91. Lonnie Johnson Jr. CB Kentucky Grade:80
92. Tytus Howard OT Alabama State Grade:80
93. Elijah Holyfield RB Georgia Grade: 80
94. D’Andre Walker EDGE Georgia Grade:80
95. Jarrett Stidham QB Auburn Grade:79
96. Jaylen Ferguson EDGE LA Tech Grade:79
97. Tyree Jackson QB Buffalo Grade:79
98. Jordan Ta’amu QB Ole Miss Grade:78
99. Will Grier QB West Virginia Grade:77
100. Ryan Findley QB NC State Grade:77

With the highly anticipated being released worldwide tonight, I have decided to put a list together ranking the MCU movies from worst to best.

21. The Incredible Hulk: The forgotten of the movie of the MCU and for good reason. Hulk is played by Edward Norton rather than Mark Ruffalo, and lacks an interesting story or good action scenes. Just a forgettable movie.

20. Thor: The Dark World: I honestly forget what the plot of this movie is. Besides fun banter between Thor and Loki, nothing else is memorable.

19. Iron Man 2: Introduces Black Widow, but just has way too much going on. We have the son of a guy who was enemies with Tony’s father trying to kill him, we have a rival of Tony trying to copy his tech, we have pepper taking over the company, we have the stuff between Tony and his father, AND tony is dying from the thing that is keeping him alive and has to create an element to save his life. Feels like the plot of three movies mushed into one and it throws off the pacing.

18. Captain Marvel: Meh. When I saw this, I was not expecting much and it met my expectations. Couple jokes here and there, Nick Fury was cool, the story was fine. Captain Marvel wasn’t very likable and the villain was forgettable.

17. Thor: I actually like the first Thor. The fish out of water stuff is funny and Loki shines as the audience feels bad for him. The romance between Thor and Natalie Portman’s character did NOT work at all.

16. Avengers: Age of Ultron: Such a disappointment. Cool concept, but so confusing, and everything that made the first Avengers cool was lost in this one. Objectively not horrible, just this low due to expectation.

15. Ant Man and the Wasp: This movie was very funny, and Paul Rudd is always awesome, but the plot was kind of stupid, there were so many villains and none of them were effective, and they dumbed down Scott Lang (ant man) to make the Wasp look smarter. The Quantum stuff and the explanation for it was incredibly dumb as well.

14. Ant Man: Love it for what it is. Smaller scale movie, more of a heist film, about a former criminal trying to win the trust of his daughter. Very funny, knows what it is, and Paul Rudd shines. The Thomas the Tank Engine scene was both cool and clever.

13: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: The humor doesn’t hit as often as the first, but the character development of all the Guardians members is what makes this movie so good. Ego was a very interesting villain as well.

12. Doctor Strange: Better in Infinity War than his own film, however his movie is very good. The effects are both trippy and cool, and the character is funny. The villain is forgettable, but the action and origin story make it a fun film to watch.

11. Iron Man 3: The most hated on MCU film for some reason. Yes, die hard comic book fans hate the Manderin twist. But guess what? I don’t read the comics so I don’t care. I thought it was clever.  I love how this was a Tony Stark movie rather than an Iron Man movie.

10. Captain America: The First Avenger: Such a hidden gem in the MCU. We learn the morals of a young Steve Rogers and learn to love him as a character. His relationship with Peggy Carter is adorable as well.

9. Black Panther: Overrated, but still a very good movie. Cool setting, great story, and an interesting take on the current world. Kilmonger steals the show.

8. The Avengers: Changed the way super hero movies are made. More impressed with the accomplishment rather than the actual movie.

7. Spiderman: Homecoming: Tom Holland kills it as spiderman and Iron Man serves as a good role mode; (I know, weird). Funny and does a great job of setting up Spiderman for future movies.

6. Thor: Ragnarok: Completely changed Thor as a character and I love it. Very funny, colorful, and the Hulk was awesome.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy: I always tear up at the end with the scene between Starlord and his mom. A funny and heartfelt movie that explores the idea of sharing pain to become closer.

4. Iron Man: No movie has ever casted better then Iron Man. RDJ was born to play this role.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: A spy thriller in the MCU? Yes please. Shows how truly bad-ass Cap really is. Has an interesting take on the idea of government control and corruption. Nick Fury and Black Widow thrive, along with Bucky as the Winter Soldier. The “Im with you till the end of the line” scene always kills me.

2. Captain America: Civil War: Team Cap

1.  Avengers: Infinity War: At the end of the day, this is Thanos story. The Russo Brothers did such a great job at blending all these characters to make a cohesive, funny story with a shocking, iconic ending. I’ve seen it 20 times and I am still on the edge of my seat at the end.