NFL Draft Talk
Thought we could make a general draft discussion thread with the Combine approaching. Just a few pre combine thoughts I had while digging in on some early evaluations;
- There could be as many as 7 cornerbacks going in the 1st round. While I don't see any elite, Patrick Surtain type's, the position is deep and talented. I'd be pretty upset if the Vikings took a cornerback, but there will be some talented corners still on the board when our pick comes up.
- I absolutely love this group of linebackers. Drew Sanders, Noah Sewell, and the Simpson kid from Clemson all look like really good prospects who offer some scheme flexibility. Hicks won't be back for us and they still have a decision to make on Kendricks. It's possible all 3 of these guys are still on the board at #23 and would be really good picks.
- I've got Jalin Hyatt as my #1 WR in this class. He would be an absolute home run pick for us and give us a deep threat dimension this offense is sorely lacking. I'm going to be very curious how teams separate Johnston, Addison, Zay Flowers, and Smith-Njigba after that.
- Not a great crop of defensive lineman. I think we can find some scheme specific bodies with our mid round picks but otherwise need to be active in free agency. We are going to continue running this crap 3-4 and IMO all three down lineman positions need to be upgraded. A couple guys I'll be watching at the combine are Ika the nose tackle from Baylor (LSU transfer), Gervon Baxter from Florida, and Keeanu Benton from Wisconsin. All bigger bodies that fit our scheme and to me defensive line is the biggest position of need on this roster.
- My early overrated list: Tyree Wilson, Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee, and Paris Johnson.
- I'd be shocked to see the Vikings draft a QB. If we trade down and add more picks, then taking someone like Hendon Hooker and stashing him away for a year makes a lot of sense. I think it's far more likely we add a Sam Darnold in free agency or trade for someone like Zac Wilson on the low end.
@"supafreak84" said:@"MarkSP18" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"supafreak84" said: https://youtu.be/K2oSbwycSikInteresting take in favor of Will LevisAnd he doesn't even mention one of the biggest factors. Levis played in a pro style offense. What you saw him do this year and last was very similar to what he'll be asked to do in the NFL.And unlike most college QBs who get shell-shocked by the amount of pressure and tight passing windows, Levis has been dealing with this for the last two years.
Not only did he play in a pro style offense, his OC/QB coach was Liam Coan who was the assistant QB coach for the Rams under O'Connell. If you check videos of Levis, there will be many bad ones from those that do not like him, but what he does well and will have to do in the NFL is throw from an imperfect pocket. He makes tons of throws under duress.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"supafreak84" said:@"MarkSP18" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"supafreak84" said: https://youtu.be/K2oSbwycSikInteresting take in favor of Will LevisAnd he doesn't even mention one of the biggest factors. Levis played in a pro style offense. What you saw him do this year and last was very similar to what he'll be asked to do in the NFL.And unlike most college QBs who get shell-shocked by the amount of pressure and tight passing windows, Levis has been dealing with this for the last two years.
Not only did he play in a pro style offense, his OC/QB coach was Liam Coan who was the assistant QB coach for the Rams under O'Connell. If you check videos of Levis, there will be many bad ones from those that do not like him, but what he does well and will have to do in the NFL is throw from an imperfect pocket. He makes tons of throws under duress.
Well he did go to college at Kentucky, so......
Quickly becoming one of my favorite players in this class. Late 1st, early 2nd round. Trade down, pick up a 3rd, pair him with Asamoah and forget LB for a decade.
DJ's updated top 50. Hooker makes an appearance. JMS skyrockets, Forbes plummets.
https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-50-2023-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-2-0
Update: Alabama QB Bryce Young's real height is 5'10½, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 27, 2023
“If I’m a GM, I’m scared to death of drafting him.” said McShay.https://t.co/IX0Jf0GLXP pic.twitter.com/jcz1ZAlf9G
The next Aaron Donald? Similar size and quickness...
@"MaroonBells" said:
The next Aaron Donald? Similar size and quickness...
https://youtu.be/_ndpuokV6ss
I've seen a wide range of rankings on him and maybe I'm a little sour from us drafting the last "next Aaron Donald" from Pitt last time in Jalyn Twyman and him busting. I'd prefer just avoiding these undersized guys all together and getting some legit horses on the line to collapse the pocket and cover our LB's.
@"MaroonBells" said:Quickly becoming one of my favorite players in this class. Late 1st, early 2nd round. Trade down, pick up a 3rd, pair him with Asamoah and forget LB for a decade. https://youtu.be/LfZQusXgpp4 I really like this LB group overall. Sanders, Simpson, and Sewell I think are all terrific. Sewell is being criminally underrated IMO and I think he can be one of the better defensive players from this draft.
@"supafreak84" said:I don't think anyone called Twyman the next Aaron Donald. He was not particularly undersized and, as a 6th rounder, hardly a bust.@"MaroonBells" said:The next Aaron Donald? Similar size and quickness...https://youtu.be/_ndpuokV6ssI've seen a wide range of rankings on him and maybe I'm a little sour from us drafting the last "next Aaron Donald" from Pitt last time in Jalyn Twyman and him busting. I'd prefer just avoiding these undersized guys all together and getting some legit horses on the line to collapse the pocket and cover our LB's.
Like Donald, Kancy is likely a borderline 1st or 2nd rounder. Remember, this time back in 2014, Donald was a borderline 1st or 2nd rounder too. He had a great Senior Bowl and folks started talking about maybe late 1st. It wasn't until he blew up the combine that he rose to the middle 1st in some rankings. I'm not saying Kancy is definitely the next Donald. Just that there are similarities in size and quickness.
@"supafreak84" said: https://youtu.be/e4iL4Ejd_1EI think Sewell would be a great pick...if it were 1985. Dominant against the run. I just question whether he has the speed, range or coverage chops to be more than a 2-down guy in the NFL.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"supafreak84" said:https://youtu.be/e4iL4Ejd_1EI think Sewell would be a great pick...if it were 1985. Dominant against the run. I just question whether he has the speed, range or coverage chops to be more than a 2-down guy in the NFL. He is ideally what you would want from a 3-4 inside backer. Size to stack against the run and has the pass rush ability to be used as an effective blitzer in different situations. Range isn't an issue as we can see in the video he is able to get sideline to sideline tracking down quarterbacks and ball carriers. I think he is adequate in coverage, but Combine testing will be big in helping to make that determination. Anything in that 4.6 range at 250 pounds, I'm good with...
Spielman’s pick is Bryce Young, could there be larger red flag then that!?
@"Kentis" said: Spielman’s pick is Bryce Young, could there be larger red flag then that!?
Watched more of the WRs in this class. Wow, Quentin Johnston is the best receiver in this class and it's not really close IMO. Much lower on Addison now than I was before. Same with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashee Rice. That Daniel Jeremiah has Johnston ranked behind Addison, JSN and Hyatt seems ridiculous to me right now. But we'll see.
Much higher on Boutte, Tank Dell, Zay Flowers and Michael Wilson than I was before. I think Boutte is the 2nd best receiver in this class, but understand the ankle and character concerns. He could be a steal for someone if he drops into the 3rd round.
https://247sports.com/college/notre-dame/Article/Ex-Georgia-DL-Jalen-Carter-has-arrest-warrant-issued-by-police-for-reckless-driving-racing-in-fatal-car-crash-205521558/
Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter...
@"supafreak84" said: https://247sports.com/college/notre-dame/Article/Ex-Georgia-DL-Jalen-Carter-has-arrest-warrant-issued-by-police-for-reckless-driving-racing-in-fatal-car-crash-205521558/Uh oh.Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter...
...."and with the 23rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...Jalen Carter, DT Georgia"
@"MaroonBells" said: Watched more of the WRs in this class. Wow, Quentin Johnston is the best receiver in this class and it's not really close IMO. Much lower on Addison now than I was before. Same with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashee Rice. That Daniel Jeremiah has Johnston ranked behind Addison, JSN and Hyatt seems ridiculous to me right now. But we'll see.Much higher on Boutte, Tank Dell, Zay Flowers and Michael Wilson than I was before. I think Boutte is the 2nd best receiver in this class, but understand the ankle and character concerns. He could be a steal for someone if he drops into the 3rd round.
Big Zay Fowers fan here, don't sleep on him. Regardless of his size he can play outside and has the skillset to win on any route. Has the speed to get deep and is agile enough to break off a lot of separation when he runs good routes. Reminds me a lot of Brandin Cooks.
I agree Johnson is the best in the class, depending on the type of receiver you are looking for. He just doesn't win "quick".
You might be a bit tough on Addison, but would argue he is definitely WR 2 or 3. He'll be better in the NFL since he'll have been alignments to win off the LOS. But his play strength is concerning at times. Not many high-end receivers in the NFL who aren't in the top 1/3 of contested catches win rate.
One name to maybe throw into the mix is Tyler Scott. He can fly and wins both from the slot & outside. If you're looking to take the top off the defense he seemingly could have some good value in the 2nd/3rd.
On the wide receivers, it's a little tough for me to rank them this year. Johnson is intriguing from a size perspective, but he was really feast or famine, and when he'd feast, it was on the likes of Kansas and Oklahoma State. He broke one long one in the playoffs against Michigan but otherwise was held to one catch for 3 yards against Georgia in the championship. Addison's never really impressed me and looks like a Nepson Agholor type player. Zay Flowers looks like Tavon Austin, whose biggest contributions might be as a kick returner. Smith Njigba is a really good player, but he's a move the chains, possession receiver. I've got Hyatt number 1 because he has the one thing that can't be taught, and that's blow by speed to take the top off a defense and keep them honest. Blew up the SEC and when you see him run by LSU and Bama guys like they are playing in mud, that's impressive. 15 TD's on the year and has the numbers to show he's not a one trick pony.
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