Friday, April 26, 2013

Round 1 Player Evaluations

By Mat McWhorter



#1 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Kansas City Chiefs Select -
Eric Fisher - Left Tackle - Central Michigan


Height: 6'7"
Weight: 306
Arm Length: 34 1/2"
Hand Length: 10 1/2"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.03
20 Yrd Dash: 2.90
10 Yrd Dash: 1.72     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27
Vertical Jump: 28 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.44
3-Cone Drill: 7.59

Positives: Eric Fisher has great knee bend for someone that stands at 6'7" and just as much natural quickness to mirror ends around the pocket. He gets low, plays with leverage, and finishes every pass block with an attitude which is something you love to see. He is the most balanced left tackle in the draft and yet he is still an ascending talent. He excels at every level of playing offensive tackle whether its driving his legs with great leverage when run blocking, working off combo blocks to make the block on the move at the second level, or taking any edge rusher no matter how diverse their pass rushing repertoire and having an answer for everything they have to show. This is all put over the edge to greatness when you see that he is a glass eater as a blocker. He doesn't look to simply block the opposition, he seeks to dominate and embarrass them in both the run and passing game.

Negatives: Fisher needs to add some more functional strength if he wants to be an all-pro at the NFL level. He already has pro-bowl potential but once he gets in the weight room to add a tad more strength considering his lack of natural leverage since he stands at 6'7. He didn't play NFL caliber pass rushers at Central Michigan but he performed very well at the probowl. When going up against shorter defensive players they can get under his pads because of his height and sometimes can drive him back in his stance with an explosive bull rush. He has somewhat of a shorter than expected despite his towering height.

Conclusion: Considering his lack of elite functional strength and natural leverage (Despite great knee bend) Fisher never figures to be much of a road grader at right tackle and is purely a left tackle prospect. However, he plays with the attitude of a right tackle which teams will absolutely fall in love with. He really took to coaching at the senior bowl and grew more dominant every day. He seems to take challenges head on and playing at an NFL level will hardly intimidate him. Eric Fisher will thrive on the left side of an offensive line.

#2 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Jacksonville Jaguars Select -
Luke Joeckel - Left Tackle - Texas A&M


Height: 6'6"
Weight: 306
Arm Length: 34 1/4"
Hand Length: 10 1/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.25
20 Yrd Dash: 3.07
10 Yrd Dash: 1.83      225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27
Vertical Jump: 28 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.68
3-Cone Drill: 7.40

Positives: Joeckel is fluid in every facet of the game. He makes it look like he could neutralize edge rushers in his sleep. He sits low with natural knee bend, has great lateral foot quickness, and balance to take just about any pass rushing move you could throw at him one after another. If he's bull rushed he keeps his hips low and has the functional strength and leverage to hold his ground. When edge rushers try to run the arc he has the ability to mirror and he isn't susceptible to spin moves or inside moves because he plays completely under control in his stance. His recovery speed his top notch and his explosion out of his stance is as well. He shows top notch mobility in working to his second level blocks as well as the leg drive and strength to drive block in short yardage situations. He also has a very efficient cut block and rarely lets his hands get out of place.

Negatives: He exclusively played from a two point system and as a result was caught playing upright a little bit. Some scouts believe he wasn't tested as much as others on passing downs as he blocked for two very mobile quarterbacks in Tannenhill and Manziel so edge rushers also had to maintain gap discipline and contain in case they scrambled. Had he played with less mobile quarterbacks, in some circles it is believed he would have been exposed more with spin moves inside but it's pure speculation. He doesn't have the huge reach that most current NFL elite tackles have.

Conclusion: Luke Joeckel is one of the safest picks in this draft. Sure, he was fortunate to block for two very mobile quarterbacks but at the same time that could have affected him in a opposite manner in that he never really knew where his quarterback was going to be at any given moment in the play. Considering this, he showed a great understanding of leverage as well as establishing space between him and the quarterback with proper use of blocking angles. His run blocking isn't going to project him as a road grading right tackle but that's not to say he wouldn't be effective at the position considering he did just fine having to adjust after firing off the ball in a 2 point stance.

#3 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Miami Dolphins Select -
Dion Jordan - Defensive End / Rush Linebacker - Oregon


Height: 6'6"
Weight: 248
Arm Length: 33 7/8"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.54
20 Yrd Dash: 2.59
10 Yrd Dash: 1.61     
Vertical Jump: 32 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.35
3-Cone Drill: 7.02

Positives: Dion Jordan is no doubt a top tier athlete that displays the loose hips and coordinated footwork to play rush linebacker in a 3-4. He shows a level of quickness in transition and the ability to remain balanced when suddenly changing direction. He has natural knee bend and an explosive first step that really helps him run the arc effectively. Shows the ability to play all over the field matching up with tight ends and shows the quickness and change of direction to stay with slot receivers. He plays unselfishly in that he will take on a block in order to help a teammate make the play. He has a very high motor and attacks offensive linemen with a violent punch and follows it up with impressive hand fighting. He really has a feel on how to set up initial moves and counter moves in getting off the block in the run and pass game.

Negatives: Dion Jordan is very lanky and despite playing tough with violent hands he really lacks the functional strength to hold up against the run as a 4-3 defensive end. He at times plays with such a high motor that he will play almost recklessly and run himself out of plays completely. There are durability concerns that will only amplify at the next level if he doesn't put on more muscle but there are also questions as to just how much more muscle his body type can put on. He never produced at a high level at Oregon despite being such a specimen of natural talent.

Conclusion: Dion Jordan is an ascending talent who best fits in a 3-4. Although he has the frame to put on more muscle to play as a 4-3 defensive end, his talents are much better suited to play the Joker position in a 3-4 lining him up all over the field.

#4 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Philadelphia Eagles Select -
Lane Johnson - Left Tackle - Oklahoma


Height: 6'6"
Weight: 303
Arm Length: 35 1/4"
Hand Length: 10 1/8"
40 yard dash: 4.69
20 yard dash: 2.73
10 yard dash: 1.68
225 Lb Bench Press: 28
Vertical Jump: 34 inches
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 yard shuttle: 4.52
3-cone drill: 7.31

Positives: Lane Johnson has some of the best natural athleticism of this Left Tackles class. He kick-slides quickly with little effort after exploding at the snap to mirror pass rushers. He has the natural knee bend you like to see in a lineman while also using his length to neutralize pass rushers. He shows a level of competitiveness and nastiness in finishing every block whether in the run game or passing game. He works to the second level and gets in good position to wall off linebackers. Despite being such a good offensive tackle after just 2 years playing the position, he still has potential to be that much better.

Negatives: He needs to get stronger in his upper and lower body to better help him when drive blocking if asked to play at some point on the right side of the offensive line. He is still raw at the position often bending at the waste and reach for blocks which causes him to fall off blocks. He still has some trouble in consistently moving his feet in pass protection as well as driving his legs when run blocking.

Conclusion: Lane Johnson made the transition from Tight End to Right Tackle in 2011 and performed admirably. He then started 11 of 13 games at Left Tackle and earned All-Big 12 second team honors from coaches. He is an ascending talent that shows the natural athleticism that is utilized at Left Tackle. He shows a nasty demeanor in the run game but still does not have the strength and leg drive to start at Right Tackle.

#5 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Detroit Lions Select -
Ezekiel Ansah - Defensive End / Rush Linebacker - BYU


Height: 6'5"
Weight: 271
Arm Length: 35 1/8"
Hand Length: 10 1/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.66
10 Yrd Dash: 1.62     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 34 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.26
3-Cone Drill: 7.11

Positives: He is an ascending talent with an absurd amount of untapped potential. His combination of natural size, athleticism, explosion and strength will make just about any coach drool. He shows a lot of balance when trying to fight off the block as well as regains it quickly when a blocker tries to knock him off balance when rushing the passer. He showed a lot of awareness in getting his hands into passing lanes when he was unable to make it to the quarterback and possessed an impressive motor. He has the versatility to line up all over a defense as he was utilized at BYU as a defensive end, defensive tackle, stand up rush linebacker (From every linebacker spot), and occasionally even as a nose tackle.

Negatives: Has only played football for 2 years and initially was hesitant to enroll in the program because of his concerns over the amount of contact in the game of football. His commitment to the game isn't very clear as he only pursued it after 2 attempts to play on the BYU basketball team. He is a very raw prospect that lacks a lot of refined technique which allows him to be handled by players with solid fundamentals despite being outmatched athletically. He only had one full season as a starter at BYU and he was used all over the field to create mismatches in order to be more of an effective player. He is way too quick to fall back on his athleticism and doesn't hand fight the way you would like to see from a top prospect, often looking lost if his initial surge/move is neutralized. Not much of a run defender at this point. He's either very disruptive or a non-factor play to play.

Conclusion: Scouts will be quick to make comparisons of Ezekiel to the Giants Jason Pierre-Paul considering a lack of productivity they both had when coming out but the immense potential both have. As time went on during the season, Ansah began to develop more of a feel for the game and improved his instincts. If he can continue to develop a nose for the football and learn to effectively string counter-moves together a long with developing more feel for the blockers momentum and use it against him, he could be one of the best defensive ends in this class. He projects as a 4-3 defensive end as well as a rush outside linebacker.

#6 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Cleveland Browns Select -
Barkevious Mingo – Outside Linebacker - LSU


Height: 6'4"
Weight: 241
Arm Length: 33 3/4"
Hand Length: 9 5/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.53
20 Yrd Dash: 2.63
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57
Vertical Jump: 37
Broad Jump: 10'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.39
3-Cone Drill: 6.84

Positives: Mingo shows the type of versatility that is seen with players like Von Miller. He could play outside linebacker in a 4-3 or a 3-4 and could also put his hand in the dirt on 3rd and longs to rush the passer from defensive end. He shows a lot of hustle when playing to go with a very explosive first step. When he is unable to get to the quarterback he does everything he can to make an impact on the play such as getting his hands up in the passing lanes when it calls for it but he won't be quick to give up after his first effort and do it like other prospects in this draft. Despite his size he is surprisingly effective in anchoring against the run and keeping contain. He has world class athleticism and a nasty playing style to go with it. He runs the arc more than effectively and flashes a spin move back inside.

Negatives: He doesn't have a lot of room to put on any more weight and figures to stay around the 240 range. He needs to become more consistent in keeping contain and shedding blocks in pursuit. He at times will lose vision on where the ball is going because he gets so engrossed in his one on one matchup. He regressed as a pass rusher in 2012 as he really seemed to lack the finish despite blowing past multiple offensive tackles.

Conclusion: Mingo could be a force at the NFL level as a pass rusher and despite being perceivably too light to play as a 3-4 rush linebacker and too much of a pass rusher to play as a 4-3 outside linebacker he has all the talents to be effective at both. He can be immediately effective as a situational pass rusher but may see some struggles at first if asked to man up in coverage. He should by no means be drafted to play defensive end as he will be an absolute liability against the run at the next level and doesn't figure to get much bigger.

#7 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Arizona Cardinals Select -
 Jonathan Cooper - Left Guard / Center - North Carolina



Height: 6'2"
Weight: 311
Arm Length: 33"
Hand Length: 10 1/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.06
20 Yrd Dash: 2.89
10 Yrd Dash: 1.72     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 35
Vertical Jump: 27
Broad Jump: 09'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.84
3-Cone Drill: 7.78

Positives: Cooper shows a top tier understanding of establishing blocking angles and a good feel for gaining leverage in both the run and pass game. He is very smooth in his movement and displays very coordinated footwork when getting into position. His balance is very impressive when fighting through traffic to get to the second level. He has the versatility to play in a zone block scheme as well as a power man scheme. He is very quick and explosive in the phone booth and shows the ability to effectively pull and kick out defenders as well as the ability to effectively perform reach blocks.

Negatives: Despite his short stature and exceptional understanding of leverage, Cooper can still be overpowered by big and strong bull rushers. His height may cause some to question whether he should move to center or not but his functional strength at the moment does not make the transition look to be a smooth one if he is asked to take on NFL nose tackles.

Conclusion: Despite his scheme versatility, Cooper could make most of his money in a zone block scheme. He could be a very good power man guard/center once he gets in the NFL weight room but he would be exceptional in a zone block scheme. Any team that needs a guard or maybe even a center should take a long look at Cooper and ignore his height as his arm length and hand size are adequate enough despite being a few inches short than preferred at the position.

#8 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The St. Louis Rams Select -
Tavon Austin - Wide Receiver / Return Specialist - West Virginia


Height: 5'8"
Weight: 174
Arm Length: 30"
Hand Length: 9 1/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.28
20 Yrd Dash: 2.49
10 Yrd Dash: 1.50     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 14
Vertical Jump: 32
Broad Jump: 10'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.01

Positives: Extremely elusive in the open field. Has elite stop and go ability, elite lateral quickness, and great vision to find daylight. A versatile weapon that can contribute as a X, Y, and Z receiver, a returner, and even as a runningback in special packages. He shows patience to follow his blocks when he has the ball in his hands and will look to make the tough catch in traffic. Tavon Austin will make his money in the NFL as a player that lines up all over the field to create mismatches and could be one of the top tier game breakers at his position. His presence on the field is enough to open up holes for the rest of his teammates. If he is unaccounted for he could completely take over a game.

Negatives: His 5'8 174 lbs frame causes concerns regarding his durability despite him not having any issues while at West Virginia. He tends to dance a little too much instead of getting north/south once he makes his cut or initial move. Seems to at times lose focus on situational football to pick up the tough yards for the 1st down, he rather try to take it to the house on every play which causes him to leave some yards on the field. He offers very little as a blocker.
Conclusion: Tavon won't be able to play full time as an outside receiver for a team that values blocking on the edge. It's something he never figures to be all the good at. Most would then consider him as a slot receiver, but playing in the slot he could take some nasty bone jarring hits going over the middle. He was never really tested much with big hits over the middle in college. He will need to be lined up all over the field and used heavily in motion to create mismatches whether he lining up or motioning to the X, Y, Z or to the back field. He will contribute immediately as a returner but returning duties could also put him at risk for injury considering some of the big hits on kickoff returns at the NFL level.

#9 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The New York Jets Select -
Dee Milliner - Cornerback - Alabama


Height: 6'0"
Weight: 201
Arm Length: 32"
Hand Length: 8 3/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.35
20 Yrd Dash: 2.50
10 Yrd Dash: 1.52     
Vertical Jump: 36
Broad Jump: 10'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.32
3-Cone Drill: 6.95

Positives: Shows good height and length at the position. He is very smooth in his back pedal and displays the flexible hips to keep up with receivers in man coverage. His read and react ability are top notch in both zone and man coverage as made evident by his 20 pass deflections in 2012. He is quick to read the receivers route as well as whether it is a run or pass play. One of the better corners in the draft in run defense, he is extremely reliable in his pursuit angles, attacking the sideline to keep contain, and making the wrap up tackle in open space. He is also exception in press man coverage and can remain in the receivers hip pocket down field. He also has the ability to play off a receiver to bait the quarterback into a throw that he consistently will make a play on.

Negatives: He occasionally will take himself out of plays by attacking recklessly and taking himself out of position. He also will dive early when attempting the tackle and doesn't display strong enough hands to secure the tackle when doing so. Milliner's main problem is that despite having such good awareness his hand into break up the pass no matter where it is thrown, he doesn't get a lot of interceptions showing a lack of stickiness with his hands for the game changing plays.

Conclusion: Milliner is one of the top corners in the draft. He is the absolute best corner from a purely coverage stand point but some scouts may value other corners just as much as Milliner when looking at his inability to snatch the football out of the air and hold onto it. However, if Milliner displayed sticky hands this past season that scouts would have loved to have seen, the race to be the number 1 corner wouldn't be close.

#10 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Tennessee Titans Select -
Chance Warmack - Right Guard - Alabama


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 317
Arm Length: 34 3/4"
Hand Length: 9 5/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.49
20 Yrd Dash: 3.20
10 Yrd Dash: 1.90
Broad Jump: 09'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 5.01
3-Cone Drill: 7.93

Positives: Warmack is one of the most functionally strong offensive linemen in this draft. He displays not sand in the pants, but bricks in the pants when anchoring against bigger bull rushing Defensive Tackles. He also displays the arm strength to get full extension in pass protection. He does everything that you would like to see a guard do very well. He shows great awareness and drive when double teaming and working to the second level. He shows the fight and attitude on which he clearly thrives in finishing his blocks until the whistle looking to physically dominate his opponent at all times. He also shows flexible hips and balance when pulling and the explosion and phone booth quickness for a reach block. He can play in both a zone block scheme as well as a power man scheme but his talents are best utilized in a power man scheme.

Negatives: People will question his lack of height but that should be of no concern considering Warmacks arm length rivals many of the offensive tackle prospects in this year’s class. Despite having the quickness to get outside on screen plays he does at time struggle in latching onto a defender in space. He will occasionally stand straight up but it's not of much concern considering he has such a natural knee bend the majority of the time.

Conclusion: Chance Warmack is currently considered a can't miss prospect. He was the best offensive linemen playing on the Crimson Tide and he has flashed greatness for years when playing with the team. He shows an absolute dominance at times and rarely looks lackluster or lazy when playing. He may not be the most athletic linemen but what he lacks in athleticism he makes up in pure football ability and a superior feel and understanding of the game.

#11 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The San Diego Chargers Select -
DJ Fluker - Right Tackle - Alabama



Height: 6'5"
Weight: 339
Arm Length: 36 3/4"
Hand Length: 10 1/2"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.28
20 Yrd Dash: 3.06
10 Yrd Dash: 1.90     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 27 1/2"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 5.00

Positives: DJ Fluker is an absolutely massive man. Not many prospects can compare to him from a pure size point of view. He has exceptional arm length and impressive athleticism despite coming in at 339 pounds. Fluker shows the ability to be a dominant run blocking Right Tackle. There's not a lot of hope in moving DJ Fluker off the line, as defenders are much better off trying to out quick him then squaring up and taking on the block when matched up against him. When he latches onto a defender at the second level, they rarely get free and normally find themselves utterly dominated by him.

Negatives: Unless Fluker makes major strides in pass protection he never figures to be versatile enough to play Right Tackle. He will get drafted high because of his dominating size but despite his natural physical talents he lacks the natural knee bend you see out of elite offensive linemen. He has the tendency to fire out of his stance too high when run blocking and if the defensive end keeps enough knee bend or is shorter in stature they typically can run right underneath his reach. He will attempt to over compensate at times by letting his chest get out over his feet in an attempt to reach for the defenders causing him to slip off the block while opening up lanes behind him for linebackers to penetrate. He was an absolute liability in pass protection at liability and just about every defensive end he played got the better of him when pass rushing. If he doesn't improve his pass protection dramatically he could see a transition to Right Guard and even there he still has question marks.

Conclusion: DJ Fluker is strictly a Right Tackle at this point. His liability in the pass game has largely been overlooked due to his raw potential, size, and dominance he flashes in the run game. Teams will be comforted by his almost 37 inch reach but he lacks a quick, smooth kick-slide to mirror and wall off pass rushers. If he is asked to start, he could have a very up and down rookie season unless he makes major strides in the offseason. He draws comparisons to Minnesota's Phil Loadholt.

#12 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Oakland Raiders Select -
DJ Hayden - Cornerback - Houston


Height: 5'11"
Weight: 191
Arm Length: 31 1/8"
Hand Length: 9"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.40
20 Yrd Dash: 2.60
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57     
Vertical Jump: 33 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'00"

Positives: DJ Hayden has outstanding coverage skills. He is one of the best corners in the draft in all aspects of the game. He can play press man, off man, and zone. He has great instincts, awareness, route recognition, and is one of the best cornerbacks in pursuit of the class. He has a very smooth and low back pedal and explodes out of it to disrupt short routes. He has great ball skills and can take it to the house at any time. He battles for 50/50 balls and doesn't let the receiver come down with it if he doesn't. He shows great hustle all over the field and will come from the other side of the field to stop a breakaway runner before they reach the end zone. He's also aware enough in that if he's chasing a play down he will secure the tackle and try to punch the ball lose when taking them to the ground. He's one of the top playmakers at cornerback and a certified top 3 corner. He has very loose hips and great recovery speed.

Negatives: DJ needs to extend his hands away from his body more often when intercepting the short routes as he will get great position but then intercept it with his body causing in some blown opportunities. He almost died from a ruptured Vena Cava, something most people do not survive. There are questions about if it will affect him in the future but it was freak injury that is unlikely to occur again. Teams will be wary of the injury but he has appeared to check out medically according to some teams. He lacks consistent experience against top tier competition but when he has faced NFL talent he has performed admirably.

Conclusion: At one point DJ Hayden was one of the biggest sleepers in the draft. I've been very high on him for the past 3 months as he was a top prospect before his injury. His injury scared many analysts into declaring him completely undraftable. Upon his pro day performance and medical checks at the combine, DJ launched himself back into the 1st round discussion. He has shutdown corner potential and was a shutdown corner at Houston. The best thing about Hayden is that he is fully capable of scoring every time he intercepts the ball and if given the chance he will cause Quarterbacks to learn his name very quickly.

#13 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The New York Jets Select -
Sheldon Richardson - Defensive Tackle - Missouri


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 294
Arm Length: 34 1/2"
Hand Length: 10 1/2"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.96
20 Yrd Dash: 2.71
10 Yrd Dash: 1.68
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 30
Vertical Jump: 32
Broad Jump: 09'08
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.59
3-Cone Drill: 7.33

Positives: Richardson displays nice explosion off the snap while also having a natural ability to get skinny to slip through gaps in the offensive line. He has good balance and feel to render cut blocks ineffective as well as the flexibility and lateral quickness to work around them. He is very instinctive in feeling his blocks and recognizing the direction the play is headed. He is a strong tackler in close quarters rarely allowing runners to get out of his grasps when he latches onto them. He has a high motor often running plays down from behind or the other side of the field. Although he lacks a diverse repertoire of pass rushing moves, he will look to get his hands in passing lanes when his initial rush is thwarted and if the QB brings the ball back down he will continue to attempt to push the pocket.

Negatives: Richardson is more of a penetrator than a stout run defender that dictates the line of scrimmage. He can be driven off the line of scrimmage as he doesn't display a lot of natural knee bend often standing up and trying to out quick offensive linemen through a gap. This causes him to make some eye popping plays be penetration as well as renders him completely neutralized and helpless. He attacks the line of scrimmage like it's going to be a pass every play, not looking to necessarily mix it up with the blockers. His academic struggles in the past as well as a suspension for violating team rules causes some concern from a character and work ethic perspective.

Conclusion: Sheldon Richardson appears to be the boom or bust type. He can either develop much better knee bend, feel for getting off blocks, and become stronger and nastier against the run or he can continue to play almost selfishly in being all or nothing and not being content in playing his role and keeping his gap responsibility. He doesn't project at all as a 3-4 DT because of his lack of knee bend and stoutness against the run. He projects best as a penetrating 3-technique in a 4-3. The natural talent is there, but his head doesn't always seem to be in the right place despite impressive hustle in chasing plays down.

#14 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Carolina Panthers Select -
Star Lotulelei - Nose Tackle - Utah


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 311
Arm Length: 33 5/8"
Hand Length: 9 3/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.41
20 Yrd Dash: 3.12
10 Yrd Dash: 1.89     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 38
Vertical Jump: 30
Broad Jump: 08'09"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.63
3-Cone Drill: 7.79

Positives: Star Lotulelei displays the sort of raw functional strength that rivals any prospect in this draft. He has the versatility to play the 1 or 3 technique in a 4-3 as well as the 5 and 0 technique in a 3-4. He is consistently one of the first players exploding out of his stance demonstrating good snap anticipation and foot quickness. He has one of the best bull rushes of the draft class showing remarkable and relentless leg drive while getting full extension on his blocker. Star will rarely let an offensive linemen get into his pads to control him. He shows a more diverse repertoire than most DT prospects in getting off blocks and into position in the run game. He has improved steadily in reading the play and shedding blocks.

Negatives: Doesn't project to get a lot of sacks from the interior unless he plays as a full time 3-4 DE but he will likely be casted to play NT in the 3-4 or the NT in the 4-3. He's not going to make a lot of open field tackles which could limit him at a 3-4 base end prospect, he is much better suited to make plays between the tackles as he can just toss people around in the trash and create absolute log jams in the middle. Although he didn't noticeably take plays off or play down to his level of competition, it was odd that he was at his most dominant against top competition calling his effort game to game into question. He falls back on his sheer power more than scouts care to see rather than consistently playing with sound technique. There was a red flag at the combine pertaining to a heart condition where his heart wasn't pumping optimal levels of blood through his body which could take him off some team’s draft boards altogether. He was prevented from participating at the combine because of those concerns but has since said to be cleared medically.

Conclusion: Star is one of the most physically dominant defensive tackles in this draft. Against USC there was a noticeable fear in the interior offensive line especially with the center he played head up on. He seemed to get into his head from the very beginning causing a few false starts, fumbled snaps, and at times absolutely erratic and panic stricken play. I don't know if I ever saw an interior defensive prospect make a player from a top program like USC noticeably scared and hopeless like Star did and he did it all with just his play. Some see star as a boom or bust type, but he appears to be one of the more sure things at the top of this draft on the defensive line if everything checks out medically.

#15 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The New Orleans Saints Select -
Kenny Vaccaro – Free Safety - Texas


Height: 6'0"
Weight: 214
Arm Length: 32 3/4"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.59
20 Yrd Dash: 2.59
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 15
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.06
3-Cone Drill: 6.78

Positives: Kenny Vaccaro is the type of modern day combo safety that the NFL has increasingly moved towards in recent years. He has marginal strength against the run as well as the athleticism to prevent the long play down the field. He can play at either strong safety or free safety. He has a smooth backpedal and a burst when changing direction that teams can utilize in covering some of the quicker slot receivers in the NFL. Vaccaro doesn't find himself out of position often as he shows very good vision and football IQ in recognizing route progressions. He fires out of a cannon when coming up on the line in run support as well as when making a jump to break up the reception.

Negatives: As mentioned with him firing out of the cannon against run plays, he tends to play so fast and with such reckless abandon that he struggles to come under control when attempting to make a tackle in space. Although he will get his hands on the runner he will often attempt to arm tackle opponents slipping off or lower his head for the big hit either completely missing the tackle or bouncing off the runner. He seems too concerned with making the big play rather than being a reliable last line defender. Despite his talents and somewhat selfish play, he never flashed enough high end playmaking ability.

Conclusion: Vaccaro is an ascending talent at the safety position but there are shades of being a boom or bust prospect. He has great on field athleticism and looks the part but he doesn't always play the part. His ball skills leave a lot more to be desired and he needs to start accompanying his instincts and vision with a more disciplined and controlled style of play. If he doesn't, despite his raw ability, he could find himself on the bench very quickly for a coaching staff that absolutely loathes bone headed mistakes and players that give up just as many big plays as they make.

#16 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Buffalo Bills Select -
EJ Manuel - Quarterback - Florida State


Height: 6'5
Weight: 237
Arm Length: 35"
Hand Length: 10 3/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.59
20 Yrd Dash: 2.60
10 Yrd Dash: 1.64     
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.21
3-Cone Drill: 7.08

Positives: Has the NFL size teams are looking for. Manuel has one of the strongest arms in this year’s draft class. He exudes confidence and leadership as a Quarterback. He has very good deep ball accuracy and throws with varying touch depending on the throw and play situation while also firing the ball into tighter windows than any other quarterback of the class is capable of. He has a good feel in the pocket and is extremely tough to tackle when he breaks the pocket. Manuel is a very intelligent and high character player. He has a very quick release and throws bullets without showing much effort.

Negatives: He forces way too many throws while also being very quick to scramble and break the pocket when he feels pressure. He needs to stand more confidently in the pocket when pressure is bearing down on him. He has too much focus on firing balls on short throws with absurd velocity that he fails to lead his receivers to make plays after the catch. Hasn't shown an ability to go through his progressions or read a defense pre-snap. He has happy feet in the pocket at times appearing to look to run at times more than make the pass. He has terrible ball security at times, playing way too loose with it.

Conclusion: One of the most physically gifted quarterbacks of this class, EJ is a boom or bust product. He has exceptional mobility and the strongest arm in the class. He plays with toughness and is a true leader on the field. He needs to improve his decision-making and become more consistent in making the right throws. He can be eased into the NFL with the right system like the ones RGIII and Cam Newton ran. It's common for quarterbacks that typically resort to running before passing to never overcome that set back when they get to the NFL. Can EJ overcome what has become second nature? If he can, he has the potential to be the best quarterback in this draft. Make no mistake; EJ Manuel is an absolute gamble.

#17 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Pittsburgh Steelers Select -
Jarvis Jones – Rush Linebacker - Georgia


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 245
Arm Length: 33"
Hand Length: 9 1/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.88
20 Yrd Dash: 2.79
10 Yrd Dash: 1.66     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 20
Vertical Jump: 30 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.71
3-Cone Drill: 7.46

Positives: Jarvis Jones is one of the best edge rushing players this draft class has to offer. His last 2 years at Georgia he was an elite talent off the edge providing game changing plays with outstanding numbers in sacks and quarterback pressures. He has an absolute talent for ball disruption when a quarterback is attempting to throw the ball showing superior technique in swatting the arm before securing the tackle. He is one of the best prospects at running the arc and displays fantastic knee bend, shoulder lean, flexibility, and strength to create all sorts of problems for teams in pass protection. Despite his less than ideal size as an edge rusher, teams just couldn't stop him. He played with as much heart as any prospect coming out and has a quiet, confidence. He can stand his ground against trap blocks, fullback kick outs, and even drive blocking tackles. He also has a knack for getting around double teams which he saw a lot of.

Negatives: He doesn't figure to get much bigger or stronger supplanting him as an OLB. Yet he appears to lack the speed and open field quickness to hold up consistently in coverage as a 4-3 linebacker. He needs to develop more counter moves to his pass rush. He didn't exactly display a smooth back pedal in coverage and has long-term durability issues after being diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis by USC (Although it is rumored he has cleared most medical reports).

Conclusion: Jarvis Jones was at one point one of the best defensive players in the draft. I don't think that has changed. He has been knocked lately for a lack of timed speed as well as for is being surrounded with a lot of NFL talent, despite being the best overall player at Georgia. Von Miller is a less explosive Von Miller who is just as disruptive as a pass rusher but not so much as reliable against the run and in the open field. Jarvis Jones shows all the ability to be a consistent pro bowl talent and even all-pro if he plays in the right scheme. There are questions if he could make the transition to 4-3 OLB as Von Miller did. At worst, Jarvis Jones is a fantastic 3rd down specialist.

#18 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The San Francisco 49ers Select -
Eric Reid – Strong Safety - LSU


Height: 6'1"
Weight: 213
Arm Length: 33 5/8"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.49
20 Yrd Dash: 2.55
10 Yrd Dash: 1.53     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 40 1/2
Broad Jump: 11'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.22
3-Cone Drill: 6.99

Positives: Eric Reid has great size and speed at the safety position. His athleticism is off the charts for the position. He is solid in both the run and pass game. He plays a downhill attacking style punishing receivers for making catches in his area. He has great burst out of his back pedal to close in and make the pass break up on routes in front of him. Unlike other players that lay the wood, Eric Reid has a knack for wrapping up the ball carrier. He attacks his block in the run game and disengages effectively. He extends his hands away from his body to make the interception when he undercuts routes. He is very competitive against Tight Ends in man to man coverage.

Negatives: His hips aren't very loose in man to man coverage and quick slot receivers can get the better of him. His aggressive nature is as much of a negative as it is a positive since he plays out-of-control in pursuit. He also lets his emotions get the better of him and can be flagged for a lot of immature mistakes on the field. He is also overly aggressive in making plays in coverage and is therefore susceptible to giving up the big scoring plays down the field. He doesn't display the recovery speed to match up against receivers and too often will leave his feet and lunge at ball carriers for the big hit, completely whiffing on the tackle.

Conclusion: If Eric Reid can tailor his selfish style of play and realize that as a safety in the NFL he is the last guy to stop big plays from occurring, not the guy that should be giving them up. He needs to play with controlled aggression and needs to focus on breaking down in space and tackling before he makes the highlight reel hit. He also needs to understand that he needs to have better decision making when to jump a route and when it's ok to make the tackle for a short gain. He is too focused on being a big time playmaker that he allows playmakers to make big time plays against him.

#19 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The New York Giants Select -
Justin Pugh – Left Guard - Syracuse


Height: 6'4"
Weight: 307
Arm Length: 32"
Hand Length: 10 1/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.12
20 Yrd Dash: 2.87
10 Yrd Dash: 1.75     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 225
Vertical Jump: 28 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.63
3-Cone Drill: 7.45

Positives: Great body control and is very fluid in his movements. Pugh has the coordinated feet, smooth kick slide and athleticism to mirror pass rushers. He is just as good as any offensive linemen in this class at combo blocking and getting to targets on the move at the second level and driving them out of the play. He is very experienced starting every single game over his three seasons at Syracuse. Pugh has very good pad level due to a natural knee bend and as a result of sitting in his stance with good technique he stays fairly balanced.

Negatives: He has very short arms that will cause most teams to consider moving him inside to offensive guard. He will struggle on riding edge rushers around the pocket due to his short arms and will struggle to be effective in throwing them off running the arc when he gets full extension. His hand placement is not refined and slides off the defenders more then you care to see. Despite good use of leverage he is too easily bull rushed because his lack of core strength making him a question mark at both tackle and guard. He will not thrive in a power man scheme and is more suited for a zone block scheme. His upside is questionable outside of getting more functional strength at the position and he doesn't flash enough attitudes when playing to overcome some of those shortcomings.

Conclusion: Justin Pugh still has a lot to work on in terms of footwork and technique but don't mistake his lack of size, arm length, and strength for a lack of upside. In a power man scheme his upside is very questionable but in a zone block scheme his upside is better than it appears. He has a lot of room to become stronger in the weight room. His technique is sloppy despite being very seasoned at the position and his footwork is also unpolished. As a zone blocking tackle, he may be nothing but a disappointment but in a zone block scheme as an offensive guard he could prove to be a solid starter for a team. He is nothing spectacular but definitely solid.

#20 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Chicago Bears Select -
Kyle Long - Right Guard - Oregon


Height: 6'6"
Weight: 313
Arm Length: 33 3/8"
Hand Length: 11"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.91
20 Yrd Dash: 2.86
10 Yrd Dash: 1.70     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 28
Vertical Jump: 28
Broad Jump: 09'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.63
3-Cone Drill: 7.83

Positives: Kyle Long looks good exploding out of his stance and dropping his hips. He has surprisingly effective upper body strength to at times man handle defensive tackles. He has fantastic mobility and balance when trap blocking and lifts his feet high enough to avoid tripping over offensive linemen that get bull rushed back into his lane. Long shows the tenacity to finish on a block every whistle and seeks out as many targets as possible to lay a hit on when on the move, especially when working up to the second level. Very good knee bend and drive on combo blocks and understands the importance of establishing blocking angles to prevent defenders from having effective countermoves as well as spins in the run game. He is a cleanup blocker that gets in the heads of defenders by seeking them to dominate them at any given opportunity. He plays offensive line with a defensive linemen’s attitude and can be seen standing up for his teammates on a regular basis.

Negatives: He played in a very quick offense that didn't give scouts a ton of looks at whether he could sustain his blocks or not in both the run and pass game. He is prone to various blitzing schemes and can be confused with too much movement on the line. Needs to show that he can drive defenders out of the hole opposed to just punching them and moving onto the next level as he would commonly bend at the hips instead of rolling his hips into defenders when run blocking which caused him to lose balance more then you care to see, especially at the second level. He doesn't look to dominate one guy, he more so looks to hit as many guys as possible but that's not going to be effective at the next level. He needs to better focus on dominating his assignment first, but you have to love that he wants to make as many blocks as possible. He just needs to learn to finish them before he starts another. His sloppy hand placement could get him called for quite a bit of holds at the next level.

Conclusion: Kyle Long has the height to start at right tackle but the arm length to start at right guard. He shows the kind of attitude you want to see out of an offensive linemen. The son of HOF Howie Long and brother of Chris Long, Kyle definitely have the NFL bloodlines. He plays offensive line with the attitude his brother and father played defensive line with. He's still fairly raw and didn't see an opportunity to focus on his weaknesses in Oregon’s quick hitting offense that masks offensive linemen’s faults. He is very raw in his technique but if he puts it all together he has starter potential at right guard and right tackle.

#21 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Cincinnati Bengals Select -
Tyler Eifert - Tight End - Notre Dame


Height: 6'5"
Weight: 250
Arm Length: 33 1/8"
Hand Length: 9 1/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.65
20 Yrd Dash: 2.69
10 Yrd Dash: 1.65     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 22
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.32
3-Cone Drill: 6.92

Positives: Tyler Eifert has a very good feel for getting open in zone coverage while also being quick and physically imposing enough to be a headache in man coverage. He displayed steady improvement in his blocking from last year and was more willing in 2012 to be a factor in helping the run game. He has a very clean and quick release and runs very crisp routes. He has great body control in adjusting to badly thrown balls as well as high pointing the ball in traffic and coming down with it. His progress has made him a threat all over the field making him a factor as a run blocker, pass blocker, receiving tight end, and he has also shown a remarkable ability to play in the slot and outside the numbers as a receiver.

Negatives: He still needs to show some improvements as a blocker and develop more of a nasty finishing attitude when asked to do so. He doesn't drop the ball often but he can occasionally lose focus in big moments attempting to look for running lanes before securing the ball despite not being much of a threat after the catch. He isn't very explosive out of his stance displaying more build up speed in his route running and can miss reach blocks on more explosive defensive ends. He needs to develop a better feel for angles and display more natural knee bend as an in-line blocker.

Conclusion: He is by no means a dominant presence as a blocking tight end and should not be drafted by a team that will primarily utilize him as a blocker to help with a shaking offensive tackle in protection. Tyler Eifert is a very large receiver in a Tight Ends body and although he has showed progress in his ability and willingness to block, he is still a long ways away from being a reliable and efficient in-line blocker at the NFL level. It is doubtful that he will put on much more weight and there are questions about how much stronger he can really get. If the light comes on in terms understanding the angles and leverage while having more of a natural knee bend with a glass eater mentality when attempting to block, he could be a dominant tight end at the NFL level. For now, he is a very reliable receiving tight end that will create mismatches in the secondary. He is a young quarterback’s best friend.

#22 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Atlanta Falcons Select -
Desmond Trufant - Cornerback - Washington


Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190
Arm Length: 31 1/4"
Hand Length: 8 5/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.47
10 Yrd Dash: 1.50     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16
Vertical Jump: 37 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'05"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 3.85
3-Cone Drill: 6.67

Positives: Trufant has the versatility to match up with elite slot receivers as well as blanket receivers outside the numbers. He is effective in press man, off man, and zone coverage. He's at his best in man coverage. Very smooth and low backpedal with great change of direction to stick to receivers on quick slants as well as double moves. He plays with a swagger and has a very short-term memory which is something you love to see in a corner. He doesn't care how physically outmatched he is when lined up on a receiver; he just refuses to back down. Trufant is ery balanced in space and loose hips down the field. He won't let receivers get clean catches and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, in that he is aware enough to take the penalty over giving up the touchdown.

Negatives: Trufant needs to be more disciplined when mirroring receivers in opening his hips up too early has he can get lost on double moves despite his make up speed. He can play out of control at times especially against the run and is inconsistent in that sometimes he will attack the receiver and sometimes he will let the block come to him. He doesn't do so well maintaining outside contain and may need to play as a nickel corner until he becomes more consistent on 1st and 2nd down in attacking the receivers outside shoulder. He can get called for defensive holding penalties at the next level as his technique is sloppy and he will fall back on pure athleticism and in doing so will panic when unbalanced in transition and attempt to grab a receiver to slow him. He is too quick to dive at the legs of the ball carrier and is a much less reliable open field tackler then he should be. He doesn't attack and he doesn't break down, he just dives early at the legs or will even tackle high at times which NFL talent will squirm out of.

Conclusion: Trufant has the NFL bloodlines and shows flashes of 1st round talent but he has also had games where you can't help but bury your head in your hands because of his mental mistakes. You have to love his confidence but he needs to realize that he has a lot of work to do and his athleticism is not going to get him by at the next level. He needs to be more disciplined and under control because if he is, he can be a very good #1 corner and a great #2 corner. He needs to get stronger in order to take on blocks and consistently bring down ball carriers when making the tackle. He needs a lot of work on his tackling technique. If he puts it altogether he is 1st round talent.

#23 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Minnesota Vikings Select -
Sharrif Floyd - Defensive Tackle - Florida


Height: 6025
Weight: 297
Arm Length: 31 3/4"
Hand Length: 10 1/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.87
20 Yrd Dash: 2.80
10 Yrd Dash: 1.70     
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 30
Broad Jump: 08'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.75
3-Cone Drill: 7.40

Positives: Floyd displayed a certain level of versatility in that he has lined up in the 7, 5, 3, and 1 technique in a 4 man front at Florida. He can play in one gap penetrating schemes as well as two gap schemes. He shows adequate effort and solid footwork accompanying solid backfield vision and more than marginal block shedding ability. His best trait is his balance. He rarely is on the ground, which is why he is very effective in working through the trash to make the tackle. He has flashed the ability to shoot the gap and split double teams against both the run and pass. He has an impressive first step and hand usage when taking on cut blocks.

Negatives: Despite his good backfield vision, Floyd is slow to get off the block. He shows the instincts to feel where the ball is going but struggles getting his head on the right shoulder of the offensive linemen. Although he explodes out of his stance he too often stands straight up negating his speed and power. He has limited experience at any one position at the college level. Despite playing inside more in 2012, he was never dominant. He looked to be a jack of all trades and master of none. He doesn't show much of a bull rush and shows a lack of hustle in fighting through blocks. He is too easily washed out of the play by blockers that display an understanding of angles, using his momentum against him. He doesn't dig his feet into the dirt when facing double teams.

Conclusion: Floyd factors into being a penetrating 3-technique in a 4 man front but also has the versatility to play 5 technique in a penetrating 3-4 like the scheme Wade Phillips runs. His versatility is valuable but he also doesn't excel at any one position. He has caught a lot of hype lately as a top tier prospect after being projected to go at the bottom of the first. I'm not really sure how he picked up so much height because the film does not warrant it. I can only guess that scouts grew excited about watching a 297 pound defensive tackle be marginally effective at defensive end and thus believe his potential to be sky high. He has shown flashes in his career but it has been far and away from the dominance other highly defensive tackles have flashed.

#24 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Indianapolis Colts Select -
Bjoern Werner – Left Defensive End - Florida State


Height: 6'3"
Weight: 266
Arm Length: 33 1/4"
Hand Length: 9 5/8"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.81
20 Yrd Dash: 2.78
10 Yrd Dash: 1.67     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25
Vertical Jump: 31
Broad Jump: 09'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
3-Cone Drill: 7.30

Positives: Bjoern Werner is a very good edge rusher and flashes show top tier explosion and snap anticipation. He is stout against the run as well as a force against the pass. He has a very high ceiling considering his lack of playing experience in football. He shows heavy hands in taking on blocks and surprising knee bend when running the arc and ripping through the block. He keeps his eyes in the back field when rushing the passer showing the awareness to get his hands in the passing lane if he doesn't arrive on time. He good at setting the edge and keeping contain and shows the discipline to play under control when facing more mobile quarterbacks. He also flashes a powerful bull rush

Negatives: Werner struggles in performing counter moves because of his lack of sudden quickness. Outside of his spin move back inside, he never figures to get by blockers by cutting back inside because of his athleticism. He isn't consistent in staying low and despite shooting out of a cannon at the snap, he doesn't maintain that quickness throughout his pass rush. He doesn't flash enough knee bend and flexibility when running the arc. Either he wins within his first few steps off the snap or tackles effectively guide him around the pocket. He doesn't show the hustle scouts would like to see when the play goes away from him often content to just stand around or jog it out, having little to no effect on the play unless directed towards him.

Conclusion: Werner shows a lot of raw talent especially given his lack of football experience but it's a huge red flag that he seems completely uninterested in chasing down plays away from him. When considering this, it's also alarming that he seems tired at the end of games despite showing the least hustle of any of his teammates on the field. When rushing the passer his motor runs high but when he realizes it's a run his motor runs cold. He has shown steady progress as a football player all his years of playing at Florida State. He is stout and solid at times, and flashes very good ability at other times. The only real knock against him is that he just doesn't show much heart when he isn't given the opportunity to make the big play by the play being a quick pass or run away from his gap.

#25 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Minnesota Vikings Select -
Xavier Rhodes - Cornerback - Florida State


Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210
Arm Length: 33 3/4"
Hand Length: 9"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.39
20 Yrd Dash: 2.50
10 Yrd Dash: 1.55     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 14
Vertical Jump: 40 1/2
Broad Jump: 11'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.65
3-Cone Drill: 7.29

Positives: Rhodes specializes in press man coverage and displays one of the best jams of any corner this year. He is very physical when jamming and can dominate smaller receivers with it. He also has enough make up speed if he misses on the initial jam which doesn't occur quite often. He has a top tier frame with great length to play the position. He displays the type of versatility to play corner as well as free safety. He doesn't find himself out of position when pressing and rarely overextends and loses balance. He shows displays a fantastic vertical on the field and high points balls all over the field to disrupt the catch long before it falls to the receiver. Typically stays in the hip pocket of a receiver and when he doesn't he has the ability to stop the big play by way of undercutting a ball by getting full extension on his vertical for the deflection.

Negatives: When Rhodes learns to play with controlled aggression he will pan out as one of the top corners in this draft class. He too often will panic when he starts to lose his receiver and will draw defensive holding calls as well as pass interference calls. Despite his size and core strength Rhodes is too often washed by receivers who use his aggressive nature to their advantage. He doesn't show a lot of discipline in keeping contain and is surprisingly not as efficient in shedding blocks as his physical stature would indicate. He doesn't display anywhere near the type of explosion or fluidity when playing in zone so he maybe best primarily playing press man coverage as there are also question about his off man ability.

Conclusion: Rhodes is probably the best press man cover corner this draft has to offer. He has a surprising lack of physicality in the run game despite his physicality in the press. He is not very scheme diverse at this point but could dominate slot receivers and hold receivers outside the numbers in check with his physical coverage and make up speed. Rhodes is at his best when the ball is in the air and if put in the right system he could be a pro bowl talent.

#26 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Green Bay Packers Select -
Datone Jones - Defensive End - UCLA


Height: 6'4"
Weight: 283
Arm Length: 32 3/4"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.75
20 Yrd Dash: 2.72
10 Yrd Dash: 1.61     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 29
Vertical Jump: 31 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'04"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.32
3-Cone Drill: 7.32

Positives: Datone Jones has a surprising array of pass rushing moves when pursuing the quarterback. He shows a lot of power in his play. He is very aware and technically sound in playing the game. Datone consistently gets full extension in the run game which is the one part of his game he excels at. He also shows the versatility to be a factor against the pass sliding to the 3-technique on passing downs. He is somewhat of a tweener in that he can play strong side defensive end as well as play defensive tackle so his versatility could be highly valued by a creative team. He is violent in his initial punch and is one of the more effective defensive ends of this class in breaking down in the open field to make the tackle. He has a relentless motor and is recognized as a vocal leader at UCLA.

Negatives: Datone needs to stay lower than other defensive ends as he cannot rely on his arm length to get optimum separation. He needs to establish a low center of gravity and roll his hips into the opposition. When attempting to do so, he too often bends at the waste and finds himself off balance. He doesn't have enough natural lean and speed to run the arc as a weak side defensive end in the 4-3 and also lacks the necessary knee bend to dig his feet into the dirt when double teamed. Datone Jones is a classic tweener, where he doesn't have the natural knee bend and burst to shoot the gap as a 3-technique, the speed to run the arc as a weak side end in a 4 man front and the natural knee bend to stand his ground against double teams.

Conclusion: Datone Jones has very good size for the defensive end position. He has the versatility to play strong side defensive end in a 4 man front as well as the 5-technique in a 3 man front. Outside of those positions though and the occasional 3-technique in a 4 man front on passing downs, he doesn't figure to be very effective. It's hard to peg where his best fit is and it's hard to say whether he will ever establish himself as very effective at one position or just be a solid contributor all across the defensive line. One thing is for sure, he's neither boom nor bust, he is just a solid role-player that could achieve a pro bowl or two but doesn't figure to be a name to be feared. He is a versatile team player.

#27 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Houston Texans Select -
DeAndre Hopkins - Wide Receiver - Clemson


Height: 6'1"
Weight: 214
Arm Length: 33 3/8"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.51
20 Yrd Dash: 2.61
10 Yrd Dash: 1.58     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 15
Vertical Jump: 36
Broad Jump: 09'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.50
3-Cone Drill: 6.83

Positives: Hopkins has deceptive speed and strength after the catch with the ability to take it to the house after any given play. He has a surprising amount of explosion in and out of his cuts. He has very well rounded route running that he uses at all levels of the field. He highpoints the ball when called upon has very good body control when adjusting to poorly thrown balls. He accelerates out of his breaks and sets defenders up with polish route running which allows him to get consistent separation. No matter where the ball is thrown Hopkins will show the drive to go and get it to make a play. He is willing to make the tough catch over the middle, snatch the ball off his shoe laces or extend his body on the sideline and double tap to make the tough first down. His speed is deceptive in that he will run one speed to lull defenders to sleep and then activates a second gear to get separation in both his route running and after he makes the catch. He is very consistent in his production and shows more than adequate blocking ability. He appears to take blocking as a challenge and displays a sort of nasty attitude that you hope to see when locking up with the defender.

Negatives: Hopkins is far from the most athletic or physically imposing receiver. Although he is not typically inconsistent catching the ball he still does occasionally show a lack of focus when focusing more on where he's going after the catch before he catches the ball. He doesn't get north/south quickly and looks for the homerun play on short quick routes rather than being efficient and churning out what he can. Despite having deceptive speed and strength he doesn't break arm tackles like a top tier prospect would. There were rumors of him possibly trashing his hotel room at the combine after it appeared he made strides from a maturity standpoint.

Conclusion: DeAndre Hopkins could pan out to be a very solid contributor in the NFL. He doesn't display what I believe to be top tier #1 wide receiver but he could be a very solid #1 wide receiver. His feel for the game is what makes him stand out in his ability to deceive defenders just long enough to get open. He shows a level of competition that you like to see out of your players. What he lacks in pure athleticism he makes up with pure football ability and you can never rule a guy out like that. He is still an ascending talent and has a lot more room for improvement. Hopkins greatest asset isn't his ability to get separation but his ability to go catch the ball no matter how blanketed he might be in coverage. Just about anyone can throw Hopkins open because he will not allow the defender to beat him to the football.

#28 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Denver Broncos Select -
Sylvester Williams - Defensive Tackle - North Carolina


Height: 6'3"
Weight: 313
Arm Length: 33 1/2"
Hand Length: 10 3/4"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.99
20 Yrd Dash: 2.83
10 Yrd Dash: 1.72     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27
Vertical Jump: 26 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'06"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.80
3-Cone Drill: 7.93

Positives: Sylvester Williams is a very thick big bodied defensive tackle. he has a surprisingly quick first step to go with a coke machine build that makes it hard to create angles and move him around in the run game. He has surprisingly good vision and will work down the line of scrimmage and work through the trash very effectively. He is a high effort player that displays a high motor. He displays one of the best swim moves of any defensive tackle in the draft and is capable of being effective with it using both arms. He doesn't get driven down the field by double teams and effectively digs his heels into the dirt. He is an ascending talent with only 5 years of experience in football. He was used by North Carolina to line up in multiple positions and has surprising versatility in doing so. Can play two-gap or be a one gap penetrator. Maintains natural knee bend and good pad level in his play and shows a second effort in his pass rush when initially stalled. More often than not gets low and creates piles in short yardage situations.

Negatives: Needs more of a repertoire in shedding blocks in both the run and pass game. Williams doesn't have elite quickness or an overly effective bull rush. Will occasionally play high in short yardage situation and give up just enough yardage for the opposition to get a 1st down. When he wears down he tends to struggle shedding blocks. He doesn't have very loose hips in changing direction or enough discipline in breaking down and making the tackle in space. He doesn't have exceptional stop and go ability to get back in the play after overrunning it. He needs to be more aware in taking on cut blocks. He loses his breath too quickly when in pursuit down field.

Conclusion: Sylvester Williams shows the ability to be an absolute dominant force on the inside. He will need to be part of a rotation early in his career but he is scheme versatile enough to play the nose tackle in a 3-4 as well as the 1 and 3 technique in the 4-3. He needs to polish his technique more and get coached up as he relies on raw athleticism and talent too much at the moment. When he plays with proper technique he can be unstoppable. If he learns to stay more disciplined after breaking through the line of scrimmage and cuts back on wasted movements while increasing his stamina he will be one of the best defensive tackles this class has to offer.

#29 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Minnesota Vikings Select -
Cordarrelle Patterson - Wide Receiver - Tennessee


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 216
Arm Length: 31 3/4"
Hand Length: 9"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.33
20 Yrd Dash: 2.52
10 Yrd Dash: 1.52     
Vertical Jump: 37
Broad Jump: 10'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
3-Cone Drill: 7.28

Positives: Cordarrelle has outstanding straight line speed and burst off the line of scrimmage. He is an absolute handful in man to man coverage considering his strength to fight the press and his stop and go explosion getting a clean release off the line of scrimmage. He is an absolute threat on every play no matter how short or long the route is because he has superior vision and set up in taking the rock to the house. He is very elusive and can make cuts on a dime. When players play off man he is almost unstoppable on vertical routes. Although his route running isn't the most polished he shows a level of elusiveness running his routes in his footwork and use of head fakes. He can make very difficult catches in coverage and still turn them into touchdowns. He has great awareness to get open in zone and will break off his routes when the man on him is blitzing. Throws that most receivers would be tackled for 2 yard gains Patterson turns into 30+ yard gains. He is a game breaker.

Negatives: Doesn't have exceptional stop and go ability when making breaks in his routes. He’s dropped more than a few catchable balls especially when attempting to track the ball over his shoulder. Patterson doesn't seem interested in making blocks in the run game. He was consistently lined up off the line of scrimmage to help get a cleaner release. Too often tries to catch with his body rather than extending his hands away from his frame to bring the ball in. He doesn't have polished route running at this point and is still very raw. He could see himself called for offensive pass interference at the next level as he too often will fall back on push offs when he doesn't have adequate separation down field. Like other receivers in this draft, he needs to be more content going north/south and taking what’s given to him rather than dancing around looking for the homerun hit.

Conclusion: Patterson could contribute immediately as a return man but needs to become more polished to be a consistent contributing starter. He can line up all over the field and make plays as an X, Y, or Z. He seems to be a boom or bust type. He could either be limited to vertical routes, screens, and end around or he can be a versatile receiver that at times could be a dominant force.

#30 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The St. Louis Rams Select -
Alec Ogletree - Inside Linebacker - Georgia


Height: 6'2"
Weight: 242
Arm Length: 33 1/2"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.64
20 Yrd Dash: 2.66
10 Yrd Dash: 1.56
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 20
Vertical Jump: 33 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'02"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.53
3-Cone Drill: 7.07

Positives: Ogletree displays great sideline to sideline range as an inside linebacker. He is all over the field and constantly in the vicinity of the ball carrier because of his athleticism. He has a violent punch when taking on blocks head up and also shows enough quickness to beat blockers on the edge. He plays loose in the hips and is reliable in coverage over the middle. At times he can look absolutely dominant and flashes bone jarring hits as well as the awareness to force turnovers.

Negatives: Ogletree tends to play way too tall and doesn't keep proper knee bend when playing. This causes him to get thrown around like a rag doll at times when he tries to work through the trash. Since he plays so high, he is very unbalanced when approaching the hole. He also plays somewhat reckless causing him to completely whiff on tackles. He's not very strong in disengaging from blockers, when they get their hands on him he can be completely washed out of the play. He had a 4-game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy along with a DUI.

Conclusion: He needs to play in a 3-4 to keep blockers off of him. The way he plays linebacker could be a liability in a 4-3 as he will be tossed all over the field unless he learns to stay low. He makes his money attacking the line of scrimmage cleanly, not from fighting through traffic. In a 3-4 he can play all over the place lining up occasionally as a rush linebacker as well. If he plays in a 4-3, he will probably transition to weak outside linebacker to cover up his deficiencies. If he doesn't fix his out of control play style and start wrapping up he will have a lot of trouble getting on the field.

#31 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Dallas Cowboys Select -
Travis Frederick - Center - Wisconsin


Height: 6'4"
Weight: 312
Arm Length: 33"
Hand Length: 10"
40 Yrd Dash: 5.55
20 Yrd Dash: 3.14
10 Yrd Dash: 1.91     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 28 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.76
3-Cone Drill: 7.81

Positives: Travis Frederick has the versatility to play guard and center but best projects as a road grading center in a power man-block scheme. He flashes very quick hands when exploding out of his stance elite core strength in handling larger nose tackles. He shows fantastic leg drive when driving the man out of the hole as well as a great feel in combo blocks. He isn't fooled by various blitzing schemes and rarely gets driven back into the pocket. He finishes blocks until the whistle and  uses blocking angles effectively to wall off defenders when he is not blowing them off the line of scrimmage. He makes very little mistakes technically and is very polished. He shows supreme awareness as a center and has surprising foot quickness in working to the second level.

Negatives: Doesn't pick his feet up enough when working to the second level and will trip over falling bodies. He can struggle at times with explosive penetrating defensive tackles and doesn't always keep on his feet moving in pass protection which occasionally makes him susceptible to late blitzes and defensive tackles spinning inside off of guards.

Conclusion: Travis Frederick fits best in a power man-block scheme but is also serviceable in a zone block scheme. He can play guard as well as center at an NFL level but guard primarily in a power man scheme. He is the kind of player you want on your team for short yardage situations and he helped pave the way on a talented Wisconsin offensive line in years past in helping Montee Ball score and absurd amount of touchdowns. When in doubt, Wisconsin would run behind Travis. He may not be outstanding in pass protection at first but no one can deny his run blocking ability.

#32 Pick in the 2013 NFL Draft: The Baltimore Ravens Select -
Matt Elam – Strong Safety - Florida


Height: 5'10"
Weight: 208
Arm Length: 32 5/8"
Hand Length: 9"
40 Yrd Dash: 4.43
20 Yrd Dash: 2.53
10 Yrd Dash: 1.58     
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'10"

Positives: Matt Elam is one of the most physical safeties in the draft class. No one lays the wood as consistently as this kid does. He is the epitome of an in-the-box safety that is an absolute enforcer against the run as well as when receivers make catches over the middle. He throws his body into players with reckless abandonment. He has the versatility of a combo safety and is able to come down and man up on slot receivers. He shows very good ability in fighting through the trash and is outstanding at a special team’s gunner. He is a high effort player that displays unmatched passion on the field. He rolls his hips into the ball carrier and makes some of the biggest hits of this year’s draft class.

Negatives: He can at times be physically dominated by tight ends in man to man. Although he made progress, he still has a tendency to play out of control and look for the big hit rather than wrap up the tackle. He has marginal lateral agility causing him to lose track of slot receivers with elite quickness. He runs hot and cold in his play in that some plays he is almost reckless in his pursuit while other plays he is overly passive. His passion for the game sometimes will draw penalties for late hits and unnecessary roughness.

Conclusion: Elam is a vocal leader on the field and brings a tempo to the defense that is valued by defensive coordinators looking for their team to play with a nasty demeanor. He flashes domination just as much as he flashes bone headed mistakes. He needs to tackle with proper technique rather than looking for the highlight reel hits as he too often bounces off the runner when going for the tackle or comes up completely empty handed due to leaving his feet too early. However, Elam does make big plays in big moments and if he gets himself under control he could be one of the better strong safeties in the league.



No comments:

Post a Comment