2016 PGSF NFL Mock Draft Round 3....On the Clock- Manch
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- Start date
The Vikes pick Sterling Shepard WR Oklahoma.
Smooth as glass. Excellent route runner. Not afraid to go across the middle. Impossible to cover at the Senior Bowl. Catches everything. Blocks very well. Size problem. Can be redirected. If he was bigger, he would be in the 1st round.
Smooth as glass. Excellent route runner. Not afraid to go across the middle. Impossible to cover at the Senior Bowl. Catches everything. Blocks very well. Size problem. Can be redirected. If he was bigger, he would be in the 1st round.
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Jim was nice enough to offer to post my selection, but I'm here and awake now. With the 54th pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select...
Braxton Miller, ATH, er..., WR, Ohio State. 6-1, 201.
After losing Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones in free agency, it's no secret that the Bengals need to replenish the receiver position and find someone to line up opposite the all-world A.J. Green. The addition of the mediocre Brandon LaFell provides a warm body, but Cincinnati goes for the big splash with the addition of an amazing athlete and excellent football player with seemingly unlimited upside here in Miller. The just-selected Sterling Shepard and various defensive tackles were also considered here. (The hope is that if this gets to the 3rd round, the latter position will still have some quality players available.)
Per CBS Sports:
Player Overview
Miller made the switch to wide receiver from quarterback over the 2015 offseason, and his athleticism and versatility paid off for the Buckeyes throughout the year. He finished fourth on the team with 26 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns, added 260 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries and even completed his only pass - albeit for three yards.
Miller told the Columbus Dispatch in June that he is the "best athlete" in all of college football, and he might be correct with that assessment. While he may not have had the traits to play quarterback at the next level, he is a very interesting prospect as a receiver.
In 2013 as a junior, he passed for 2,094 yards, 63.5 percent completions and a 24-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. Miller showed improvements as a passer throughout the season, compelling scouts to take a "wait-and-see" approach as the Ohio State quarterback entered his senior year. But he missed the 2014 season with another injury to his throwing shoulder and J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones helped lead the Buckeyes to last year's College Football Playoff.
Many thought Miller would transfer to pursue playing quarterback elsewhere, but he chose to stay in Columbus and focus all of his energy on transitioning to wide receiver.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Athletic body type and solidly-built for the position. Extraordinary athleticism and speed with sudden, explosive cutting ability. Tremendous balance and body control in all of his movements.
Multiple gears to separate in his routes or as a ballcarrier. Understands hesitation in his patterns, setting up defenders before bursting in different directions. Vision to be a home-run threat whenever he touches the ball.
In his one season as a receiver, showed the locating ability to track and keep his focus through the catch. Capable of the acrobatic reception. Strong arm as a passer and spins a pretty ball. Deceiving body strength to squirm out of would-be tackles. Highly productive three-year quarterback and looked natural making the transition to a skill player in 2015 - versatile player who affected the game as a receiver and rusher.
Holds several school records and was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Mature leader and determined individual who wants to be great.
WEAKNESSES: Raw route-runner and lacks experience at the receiver position. Needs work with his footwork, especially at the stem of patterns. Natural hands, but had some drops in 2015, especially with the fastball.
Still learning how to properly adjust to throws and attack at the highest point. Too much east-west and will get himself in trouble looking for the big play. Alligator arms and too concerned with what's going on in the middle of the field - often braced himself for contact or showed tentativeness in space before securing the catch.
Willing blocker, but still very raw and needs technique work. Ball security needs tightened with 30 career fumbles (three fumbles in 2015 as a non-quarterback). Doesn't have any special teams experience.
Health is a concern with his past medical issues - missed two games due a left knee sprain (Sept. 2013); injured his throwing (right) shoulder in the 2013 Orange Bowl that required surgery (Feb. 2014); re-injured the same shoulder that summer (Aug. 2014) and missed the 2014 season after labrum surgery; left game due to concussion symptoms (Nov. 2015).
IN OUR VIEW: After starting three seasons as Ohio State's quarterback, Miller moved to a hybrid H-Back position in 2015 for his final season of eligibility and adapted well. He enters the NFL as a wide receiver or running back, not a quarterback and his 2014 shoulder surgery ended up being a blessing in disguise, allowing Miller to speed up the inevitable transition to a skill position for the next level.
Miller is a gifted and exciting open-field athlete with game-changing speed and the twitched-up ability to be elusive, not slowing down in his cuts. He showed signs of being able to translate his ability to read defenses as a passer to reading coverages in his routes, but is still unpolished in this area and will need time as he continues his development at wide receiver.
The No. 1 concern moving forward for Miller is durability - true competitor, but can he stay healthy? Overall, while still raw, Miller is a special athlete for his size with considerable upside, putting him in the top 50 overall range. He will likely be a gadget player as an NFL rookie before competing for a starting role in year two.
--Dane Brugler (1/25/16)
Braxton Miller, ATH, er..., WR, Ohio State. 6-1, 201.
After losing Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones in free agency, it's no secret that the Bengals need to replenish the receiver position and find someone to line up opposite the all-world A.J. Green. The addition of the mediocre Brandon LaFell provides a warm body, but Cincinnati goes for the big splash with the addition of an amazing athlete and excellent football player with seemingly unlimited upside here in Miller. The just-selected Sterling Shepard and various defensive tackles were also considered here. (The hope is that if this gets to the 3rd round, the latter position will still have some quality players available.)
Per CBS Sports:
Player Overview
Miller made the switch to wide receiver from quarterback over the 2015 offseason, and his athleticism and versatility paid off for the Buckeyes throughout the year. He finished fourth on the team with 26 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns, added 260 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries and even completed his only pass - albeit for three yards.
Miller told the Columbus Dispatch in June that he is the "best athlete" in all of college football, and he might be correct with that assessment. While he may not have had the traits to play quarterback at the next level, he is a very interesting prospect as a receiver.
In 2013 as a junior, he passed for 2,094 yards, 63.5 percent completions and a 24-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. Miller showed improvements as a passer throughout the season, compelling scouts to take a "wait-and-see" approach as the Ohio State quarterback entered his senior year. But he missed the 2014 season with another injury to his throwing shoulder and J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones helped lead the Buckeyes to last year's College Football Playoff.
Many thought Miller would transfer to pursue playing quarterback elsewhere, but he chose to stay in Columbus and focus all of his energy on transitioning to wide receiver.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Athletic body type and solidly-built for the position. Extraordinary athleticism and speed with sudden, explosive cutting ability. Tremendous balance and body control in all of his movements.
Multiple gears to separate in his routes or as a ballcarrier. Understands hesitation in his patterns, setting up defenders before bursting in different directions. Vision to be a home-run threat whenever he touches the ball.
In his one season as a receiver, showed the locating ability to track and keep his focus through the catch. Capable of the acrobatic reception. Strong arm as a passer and spins a pretty ball. Deceiving body strength to squirm out of would-be tackles. Highly productive three-year quarterback and looked natural making the transition to a skill player in 2015 - versatile player who affected the game as a receiver and rusher.
Holds several school records and was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Mature leader and determined individual who wants to be great.
WEAKNESSES: Raw route-runner and lacks experience at the receiver position. Needs work with his footwork, especially at the stem of patterns. Natural hands, but had some drops in 2015, especially with the fastball.
Still learning how to properly adjust to throws and attack at the highest point. Too much east-west and will get himself in trouble looking for the big play. Alligator arms and too concerned with what's going on in the middle of the field - often braced himself for contact or showed tentativeness in space before securing the catch.
Willing blocker, but still very raw and needs technique work. Ball security needs tightened with 30 career fumbles (three fumbles in 2015 as a non-quarterback). Doesn't have any special teams experience.
Health is a concern with his past medical issues - missed two games due a left knee sprain (Sept. 2013); injured his throwing (right) shoulder in the 2013 Orange Bowl that required surgery (Feb. 2014); re-injured the same shoulder that summer (Aug. 2014) and missed the 2014 season after labrum surgery; left game due to concussion symptoms (Nov. 2015).
IN OUR VIEW: After starting three seasons as Ohio State's quarterback, Miller moved to a hybrid H-Back position in 2015 for his final season of eligibility and adapted well. He enters the NFL as a wide receiver or running back, not a quarterback and his 2014 shoulder surgery ended up being a blessing in disguise, allowing Miller to speed up the inevitable transition to a skill position for the next level.
Miller is a gifted and exciting open-field athlete with game-changing speed and the twitched-up ability to be elusive, not slowing down in his cuts. He showed signs of being able to translate his ability to read defenses as a passer to reading coverages in his routes, but is still unpolished in this area and will need time as he continues his development at wide receiver.
The No. 1 concern moving forward for Miller is durability - true competitor, but can he stay healthy? Overall, while still raw, Miller is a special athlete for his size with considerable upside, putting him in the top 50 overall range. He will likely be a gadget player as an NFL rookie before competing for a starting role in year two.
--Dane Brugler (1/25/16)
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The Seahawks select Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech.
Elite footwork. Long body with long arms. Can mirror defender side to side. Athletic with speed. Great lower body core. Needs more upper body strength. Questions about learning to pass protect the NFL way. Could be a steal.
Elite footwork. Long body with long arms. Can mirror defender side to side. Athletic with speed. Great lower body core. Needs more upper body strength. Questions about learning to pass protect the NFL way. Could be a steal.
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Green Bay Packers select Scooby Wright ILB Arizona:
Philip "Scooby" Wright III (his dad gave him the nickname, calling him his "little Scooby-Doo") was simply the best defender in college football in 2014, winning the coveted triple crown of national awards: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award. The unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year ranked among the top five players in the country with 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew. Wright showed some glimpses of that talent in his freshman season, where he started 12 games, making 83 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and an interception straight off the bus as a two-time California All-State pick. His junior year was much more of a struggle than he expected, as he played just three games due first to a torn lateral meniscus in this left knee and then to a sprained right foot. His final game in a Wildcat uniform was one to remember, however, as he racked up 15 stops, 3.5 for loss and two sacks against an option team in the New Mexico Lobos in the New Mexico Bowl. Wright was a two-star recruit despite his successful high school career due to a perceived lack of athleticism, but doubters of his ability to play in the NFL have hopefully learned their lesson.
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.87 seconds
Vertical: 35 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Short shuttle: 4.55 seconds
3-cone: 7.25 seconds
Analysis
Strengths
Possesses elite instincts. Appears to head in direction of the play like he knows the play call. Extremely active and always on the balls of his feet and ready to hunt. Plays with an insane amount of competitive fire. Flows quickly to point with downhill action and looking to disrupt. Is often able to force cutbacks or alter the running backs track. Can time snaps and shoot gaps making him a dangerous blitzer. His 2014 season, which included 163 tackles, 29 tackles for losses, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles, is widely considered the most productive for a linebacker in college football history. Explodes with hips into tackles and finishes with his feet. Play speed is faster than timed speed thanks to combination of instincts and burst to the ball. Shows plus lateral agility with ability to engage in, shed, or beat the block.
Weaknesses
Needs to learn to harness his energy and passion to improve his body control. Will end up on the ground a little too often due to revved up motor. Average athlete with below average straight-line speed. Plays upright. Needs more bend in his waist and knees to improve his pad level and leverage. Can improve his tackling. Will get run through at times due to leverage issues. Stiff change of direction creates arm tackling situations and missed tackles. Gets caught guessing sometimes and will vacate his run fit.
Sources Tell Us
"I hope he falls to us because I will do everything in my power to get him drafted. Make Zach Thomas your comp for him. They are the exact same guy." -- AFC East area scout
NFL Comparison
Zach Thomas
Bottom Line
Scooby Wright probably wont tear up the combine with eye-popping athletic numbers and his injury-plagued 2015 season put his name on the backburner as far as draft discussions, but his instincts, production and overall competitive fire make him one of the safer second day bets in this draft. He could make a late move up the draft board for teams who value elite production. Probably a reach but I love this guys spirit and fire, he gives everything he's got on the field. I would take this guy on my team in a heartbeat and he's got Packer wrote all over him.
Philip "Scooby" Wright III (his dad gave him the nickname, calling him his "little Scooby-Doo") was simply the best defender in college football in 2014, winning the coveted triple crown of national awards: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award. The unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year ranked among the top five players in the country with 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew. Wright showed some glimpses of that talent in his freshman season, where he started 12 games, making 83 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and an interception straight off the bus as a two-time California All-State pick. His junior year was much more of a struggle than he expected, as he played just three games due first to a torn lateral meniscus in this left knee and then to a sprained right foot. His final game in a Wildcat uniform was one to remember, however, as he racked up 15 stops, 3.5 for loss and two sacks against an option team in the New Mexico Lobos in the New Mexico Bowl. Wright was a two-star recruit despite his successful high school career due to a perceived lack of athleticism, but doubters of his ability to play in the NFL have hopefully learned their lesson.
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.87 seconds
Vertical: 35 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Short shuttle: 4.55 seconds
3-cone: 7.25 seconds
Analysis
Strengths
Possesses elite instincts. Appears to head in direction of the play like he knows the play call. Extremely active and always on the balls of his feet and ready to hunt. Plays with an insane amount of competitive fire. Flows quickly to point with downhill action and looking to disrupt. Is often able to force cutbacks or alter the running backs track. Can time snaps and shoot gaps making him a dangerous blitzer. His 2014 season, which included 163 tackles, 29 tackles for losses, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles, is widely considered the most productive for a linebacker in college football history. Explodes with hips into tackles and finishes with his feet. Play speed is faster than timed speed thanks to combination of instincts and burst to the ball. Shows plus lateral agility with ability to engage in, shed, or beat the block.
Weaknesses
Needs to learn to harness his energy and passion to improve his body control. Will end up on the ground a little too often due to revved up motor. Average athlete with below average straight-line speed. Plays upright. Needs more bend in his waist and knees to improve his pad level and leverage. Can improve his tackling. Will get run through at times due to leverage issues. Stiff change of direction creates arm tackling situations and missed tackles. Gets caught guessing sometimes and will vacate his run fit.
Sources Tell Us
"I hope he falls to us because I will do everything in my power to get him drafted. Make Zach Thomas your comp for him. They are the exact same guy." -- AFC East area scout
NFL Comparison
Zach Thomas
Bottom Line
Scooby Wright probably wont tear up the combine with eye-popping athletic numbers and his injury-plagued 2015 season put his name on the backburner as far as draft discussions, but his instincts, production and overall competitive fire make him one of the safer second day bets in this draft. He could make a late move up the draft board for teams who value elite production. Probably a reach but I love this guys spirit and fire, he gives everything he's got on the field. I would take this guy on my team in a heartbeat and he's got Packer wrote all over him.
The Steelers select Sheldon Day, DT-Notre Dame
The steelers have a defense that is aging and can use a young disruptive force on the DL. Day can play the run, but will need to add a little weight to his 286.
He is disruptive as evidenced by his TFL and sack numbers over the last 2 years
The steelers have a defense that is aging and can use a young disruptive force on the DL. Day can play the run, but will need to add a little weight to his 286.
He is disruptive as evidenced by his TFL and sack numbers over the last 2 years
With the 58th pick, the Kansas City Chiefs select...
Aldolphus Washington, DE, Ohio State. 6-3, 301.
Mike Devito is a UFA and still unsigned, so this position needs an upgrade. Washington is a first round talent who happens to love dem h__s. This got him into a bit of legal trouble, but he'll now be able to afford higher-class call girls after signing his rookie contract. Hopefully, he'll come in ready to pounce on a starting job there for the taking.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
After a slow start to his career in Columbus, Washington steadily improved throughout last season and began to live up to the lofty expectations as a top recruit out of Cincinnati. Starting all but one game in 2014, he finished his junior season with 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He returned for his senior season and started 12 games (missed bowl game due to suspension), recording 49 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors and an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Washington has a tall, long, moldable frame and is a limber big man who can easily throw his weight around and make stops away from the line of scrimmage. Has above average snap quickness and burst off the ball to penetrate gaps and disrupt the offensive backfield.
Strong hands and long arms to tie up blockers and grip-and-rip without losing momentum. Not bothered by bodies in his path. Punishing striker as a tackler, using his weight to drive through his target. Flashes the ability to work down the line of scrimmage and sniff out screens.
WEAKNESSES: He needs to refine his breakdown skills in short areas to better collect himself and finish. Needs to do a better job looking through blockers to better track the ball without surrendering the point of attack.
Instincts and recognition skills are stuck in the development phase, flowing with the action and losing sight of the ball. Tends to think too much instead of allowing his reactive athleticism to dictate his play. Hand placement and mechanics are still a work-in-progress. Production tends to come in spurts and will disappear for stretches. Off-field decision-making needs vetted following a Dec. 2015 arrest for solicitation (suspended for his final college game).
IN OUR VIEW: Washington has excellent movement skills for a man his size with the well-rounded skill-set to fit several positions on the defensive line, but his football instincts and anticipation are still undeveloped. A naturally talented player who leaves you wanting more, he displays early-round traits, but needs a strong positional coach in the NFL to fully reach his potential.
--Dane Brugler (2/10/16)
Aldolphus Washington, DE, Ohio State. 6-3, 301.
Mike Devito is a UFA and still unsigned, so this position needs an upgrade. Washington is a first round talent who happens to love dem h__s. This got him into a bit of legal trouble, but he'll now be able to afford higher-class call girls after signing his rookie contract. Hopefully, he'll come in ready to pounce on a starting job there for the taking.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
After a slow start to his career in Columbus, Washington steadily improved throughout last season and began to live up to the lofty expectations as a top recruit out of Cincinnati. Starting all but one game in 2014, he finished his junior season with 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He returned for his senior season and started 12 games (missed bowl game due to suspension), recording 49 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors and an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Washington has a tall, long, moldable frame and is a limber big man who can easily throw his weight around and make stops away from the line of scrimmage. Has above average snap quickness and burst off the ball to penetrate gaps and disrupt the offensive backfield.
Strong hands and long arms to tie up blockers and grip-and-rip without losing momentum. Not bothered by bodies in his path. Punishing striker as a tackler, using his weight to drive through his target. Flashes the ability to work down the line of scrimmage and sniff out screens.
WEAKNESSES: He needs to refine his breakdown skills in short areas to better collect himself and finish. Needs to do a better job looking through blockers to better track the ball without surrendering the point of attack.
Instincts and recognition skills are stuck in the development phase, flowing with the action and losing sight of the ball. Tends to think too much instead of allowing his reactive athleticism to dictate his play. Hand placement and mechanics are still a work-in-progress. Production tends to come in spurts and will disappear for stretches. Off-field decision-making needs vetted following a Dec. 2015 arrest for solicitation (suspended for his final college game).
IN OUR VIEW: Washington has excellent movement skills for a man his size with the well-rounded skill-set to fit several positions on the defensive line, but his football instincts and anticipation are still undeveloped. A naturally talented player who leaves you wanting more, he displays early-round traits, but needs a strong positional coach in the NFL to fully reach his potential.
--Dane Brugler (2/10/16)
With the 59th pick, the New England Patriots select...
Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh. 6-1, 197.
Bill Belichick may be a genius when it comes to the x's and o's of football, but he can come off as just a bit bullheaded when it comes to making personnel decisions. He is blessed with perhaps the greatest QB ever to don an NFL uniform but continues to leave Tom Brady without high-quality outside-the-numbers wide outs to throw to. To TB's credit, he has continued to produce Hall of Fame numbers throwing mostly to tight ends and slot receivers since Randy Moss left years ago. New England finally attempts to rectify this situation with an early round selection.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
A three-year starter, Boyd played with three different starting quarterbacks each of his three years with the Panthers, but his production was consistent each season, leaving Pitt as the school's all-time leading receiver.
With streaky quarterback play and running back James Conner sidelined for 2015, the Pittsburgh play-calling manufactured touches for Boyd as the clear top playmaker on offense, including hand-offs and shorter routes.
Boyd saw early playing time as a true freshman, starting 10 games and leading the team with 85 catches (new ACC freshman record) and 1,174 receiving yards, breaking Larry Fitzgerald's Pittsburgh freshman records in both categories.
Boyd started 12 games in 2014 as a sophomore and set a career-best with 1,261 receiving yards to become the first player in ACC history to tally 1,000-plus receiving yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning First Team All-ACC honors.
He started 12 games in 2015 as a junior and led the team in receiving for the third straight season with a career-best 91 catches for 926 yards (only time he finished below the 1,000-yard mark) and six touchdowns. Boyd was the lone unanimous First Team player on the All-ACC team.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Gliding athlete with an instant accelerator to reach his top speed with his initial strides. Sharp cuts and burst off his plant foot, mixing his gears well in his patterns.
Quick release off the line of scrimmage with natural route running prowess, setting up defenders and selling routes with beautiful body fakes. Easy body control to twist mid-air and adjust to obscure ball placement. Excellent hand-eye coordination with strong hands to pluck, extending his catching radius beyond what most his size can - attacks the ball, doesn't wait for it.
Lack of body strength shows in traffic, but surprisingly efficient in contested situations. Tough over the middle and always looking to pick up yards after the catch with his innate field awareness. Highly competitive playing temperament and lunch pail worker.
Lined up everywhere in the Pitt offense, including outside and in the slot. Also lined up as a running back (8.3-yard career rushing average, 63/520/1) and quarterback, displaying a strong arm to be a passing weapon (3-for-4 passing in his career for 96 yards). Return man on special teams, averaging 24.4 yards on kickoff returns (46/1,124/0) and 8.8 yards on punt returns (27/238/1). Leaves Pitt with the school career records for receiving yards (3,361) and receptions (254).
WEAKNESSES: Underwhelming size with a thin torso and lean body features. Limited bulk and lacks the power to fight through tackle attempts or pick up yards after initial contact. Lacks an ideal build to take consistent punishment in the NFL.
Majority of his routes at Pitt are within seven yards of the line of scrimmage (screens, slants, etc.) and unproven as a consistent downfield threat. Will hear ghosts around him, leading to focus drops. Holds the ball too loose as a ballcarrier, leading to ball security concerns. Struggles to gain correct positioning as a blocker with below average functional strength - too easily pushed around and needs technique work to mask his lack of power.
Off-field decision-making needs investigated - arrested and charged with a DUI (June 2015), leading to a suspension over the summer and 2015 season opener.
COMPARES TO: Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles - Agholor has a little more twitch and Boyd is more detailed, but there are similarities on film between the two wide receivers.
IN OUR VIEW: A graceful athlete, he trusts his hands and uses quick eyes to snatch and immediately analyze his surroundings, but his body size does lead to durability concerns, especially over the middle. Despite average measureables, Boyd is an exquisite catcher of the football and able to stand out by paying attention to the details, putting his value in the top 50 range. His ideal NFL fit is in the slot in a Jarvis Landry-type role.
--Dane Brugler (1/5/16)
Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh. 6-1, 197.
Bill Belichick may be a genius when it comes to the x's and o's of football, but he can come off as just a bit bullheaded when it comes to making personnel decisions. He is blessed with perhaps the greatest QB ever to don an NFL uniform but continues to leave Tom Brady without high-quality outside-the-numbers wide outs to throw to. To TB's credit, he has continued to produce Hall of Fame numbers throwing mostly to tight ends and slot receivers since Randy Moss left years ago. New England finally attempts to rectify this situation with an early round selection.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
A three-year starter, Boyd played with three different starting quarterbacks each of his three years with the Panthers, but his production was consistent each season, leaving Pitt as the school's all-time leading receiver.
With streaky quarterback play and running back James Conner sidelined for 2015, the Pittsburgh play-calling manufactured touches for Boyd as the clear top playmaker on offense, including hand-offs and shorter routes.
Boyd saw early playing time as a true freshman, starting 10 games and leading the team with 85 catches (new ACC freshman record) and 1,174 receiving yards, breaking Larry Fitzgerald's Pittsburgh freshman records in both categories.
Boyd started 12 games in 2014 as a sophomore and set a career-best with 1,261 receiving yards to become the first player in ACC history to tally 1,000-plus receiving yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning First Team All-ACC honors.
He started 12 games in 2015 as a junior and led the team in receiving for the third straight season with a career-best 91 catches for 926 yards (only time he finished below the 1,000-yard mark) and six touchdowns. Boyd was the lone unanimous First Team player on the All-ACC team.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Gliding athlete with an instant accelerator to reach his top speed with his initial strides. Sharp cuts and burst off his plant foot, mixing his gears well in his patterns.
Quick release off the line of scrimmage with natural route running prowess, setting up defenders and selling routes with beautiful body fakes. Easy body control to twist mid-air and adjust to obscure ball placement. Excellent hand-eye coordination with strong hands to pluck, extending his catching radius beyond what most his size can - attacks the ball, doesn't wait for it.
Lack of body strength shows in traffic, but surprisingly efficient in contested situations. Tough over the middle and always looking to pick up yards after the catch with his innate field awareness. Highly competitive playing temperament and lunch pail worker.
Lined up everywhere in the Pitt offense, including outside and in the slot. Also lined up as a running back (8.3-yard career rushing average, 63/520/1) and quarterback, displaying a strong arm to be a passing weapon (3-for-4 passing in his career for 96 yards). Return man on special teams, averaging 24.4 yards on kickoff returns (46/1,124/0) and 8.8 yards on punt returns (27/238/1). Leaves Pitt with the school career records for receiving yards (3,361) and receptions (254).
WEAKNESSES: Underwhelming size with a thin torso and lean body features. Limited bulk and lacks the power to fight through tackle attempts or pick up yards after initial contact. Lacks an ideal build to take consistent punishment in the NFL.
Majority of his routes at Pitt are within seven yards of the line of scrimmage (screens, slants, etc.) and unproven as a consistent downfield threat. Will hear ghosts around him, leading to focus drops. Holds the ball too loose as a ballcarrier, leading to ball security concerns. Struggles to gain correct positioning as a blocker with below average functional strength - too easily pushed around and needs technique work to mask his lack of power.
Off-field decision-making needs investigated - arrested and charged with a DUI (June 2015), leading to a suspension over the summer and 2015 season opener.
COMPARES TO: Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles - Agholor has a little more twitch and Boyd is more detailed, but there are similarities on film between the two wide receivers.
IN OUR VIEW: A graceful athlete, he trusts his hands and uses quick eyes to snatch and immediately analyze his surroundings, but his body size does lead to durability concerns, especially over the middle. Despite average measureables, Boyd is an exquisite catcher of the football and able to stand out by paying attention to the details, putting his value in the top 50 range. His ideal NFL fit is in the slot in a Jarvis Landry-type role.
--Dane Brugler (1/5/16)
With the 60th pick, the New England Patriots select...
Artie Burns, CB, the University of Miami. 6-0, 193.
Another position Belichick has largely neglected in recent years by plugging in guys off the street is cornerback. The Patriots are therefore woefully thin at the position due to attrition the past couple of offseasons. New England spends its second pick in this draft on a highly-promising prospect.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
Former track star who ran the 60 meter hurdles in 7.68 seconds to break a 38-year-old record, and won three state titles in hurdles, Burns is not the typical track guy making the transition to the football field. Speed doesn't hurt at this position naturally, and he led the ACC in interceptions (six).
He's heading to the NFL early after losing his mother, Dana Smith, to a heart attack in October and taking over custody of his two brothers while raising his own son, because his father is incarcerated.
Don't let Burns' track background fool you, he's a legitimate NFL prospect with the upside to warrant early-round consideration and clear determination to succeed. He's at his best in press man coverage, using his length, aggression and speed to harass wideouts on the perimeter and has the ball skills to punish quarterbacks who challenge him.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Looks the part of an NFL cornerback with broad shoulders, long arms and a tapered, well-developed frame. Offers an exciting combination of size, temperament and overall athleticism, including excellent straight-line speed, which has helped him star on the gridiron as well as the track for the Hurricanes. He broke a 38-year-old American record (amongst athletes under the age of 21) with a time of 7.68 seconds in the 60-yard hurdles in 2014 and was a three-time Florida state 3A 110 hurdle champion.
Burns is far from just a track athlete, however. While perhaps not as physical as scouts would prefer, he's a competitive defender who was asked to play inside at safety, at times, by the Hurricanes. He flashes savvy and body control to slip by would-be blockers in run support and on blitzes off the edge. He extends his arms to get a physical jam on receivers at the line of scrimmage but isn't reliant on it, showing the agility to turn and run with receivers downfield, as well.
Burns possesses the body control and sticky hands to snatch passes outside of his frame and possesses impressive ball skills, overall. He is an effective open-field tackler, tripping up ballcarriers with his length and showing good awareness to rip at the ball when assisting.
WEAKNESSES: Isn't yet the sum of his parts. Overly reliant on his physical tools, at this point, allowing savvy route-runners to gain inside position on him and losing track of the ball. Prefers to latch onto and drag ball-carriers to the ground rather than lowering his shoulder and exploding into opponents and looks to avoid oncoming blockers.
IN OUR VIEW: Don't let Burns' track background fool you, he's a legitimate NFL prospect with the upside to warrant early-round consideration. He's at his best in press man coverage where he can use his length, aggression and speed to harass wideouts on the perimeter and has the ball skills to punish quarterbacks who challenge him.
COMPARES TO: Darius Slay, Detroit Lions: A fluid athlete with agility, speed and ball-skills, Slay has developed into a standout for the Lions after being selected 36th overall selection in the 2013 draft. Burns has this kind of potential but like Slay, may need a year or two to acclimate, especially when it comes to run support.
--Rob Rang (@robrang) (2/13/16)
Artie Burns, CB, the University of Miami. 6-0, 193.
Another position Belichick has largely neglected in recent years by plugging in guys off the street is cornerback. The Patriots are therefore woefully thin at the position due to attrition the past couple of offseasons. New England spends its second pick in this draft on a highly-promising prospect.
From CBS Sports:
Player Overview
Former track star who ran the 60 meter hurdles in 7.68 seconds to break a 38-year-old record, and won three state titles in hurdles, Burns is not the typical track guy making the transition to the football field. Speed doesn't hurt at this position naturally, and he led the ACC in interceptions (six).
He's heading to the NFL early after losing his mother, Dana Smith, to a heart attack in October and taking over custody of his two brothers while raising his own son, because his father is incarcerated.
Don't let Burns' track background fool you, he's a legitimate NFL prospect with the upside to warrant early-round consideration and clear determination to succeed. He's at his best in press man coverage, using his length, aggression and speed to harass wideouts on the perimeter and has the ball skills to punish quarterbacks who challenge him.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Looks the part of an NFL cornerback with broad shoulders, long arms and a tapered, well-developed frame. Offers an exciting combination of size, temperament and overall athleticism, including excellent straight-line speed, which has helped him star on the gridiron as well as the track for the Hurricanes. He broke a 38-year-old American record (amongst athletes under the age of 21) with a time of 7.68 seconds in the 60-yard hurdles in 2014 and was a three-time Florida state 3A 110 hurdle champion.
Burns is far from just a track athlete, however. While perhaps not as physical as scouts would prefer, he's a competitive defender who was asked to play inside at safety, at times, by the Hurricanes. He flashes savvy and body control to slip by would-be blockers in run support and on blitzes off the edge. He extends his arms to get a physical jam on receivers at the line of scrimmage but isn't reliant on it, showing the agility to turn and run with receivers downfield, as well.
Burns possesses the body control and sticky hands to snatch passes outside of his frame and possesses impressive ball skills, overall. He is an effective open-field tackler, tripping up ballcarriers with his length and showing good awareness to rip at the ball when assisting.
WEAKNESSES: Isn't yet the sum of his parts. Overly reliant on his physical tools, at this point, allowing savvy route-runners to gain inside position on him and losing track of the ball. Prefers to latch onto and drag ball-carriers to the ground rather than lowering his shoulder and exploding into opponents and looks to avoid oncoming blockers.
IN OUR VIEW: Don't let Burns' track background fool you, he's a legitimate NFL prospect with the upside to warrant early-round consideration. He's at his best in press man coverage where he can use his length, aggression and speed to harass wideouts on the perimeter and has the ball skills to punish quarterbacks who challenge him.
COMPARES TO: Darius Slay, Detroit Lions: A fluid athlete with agility, speed and ball-skills, Slay has developed into a standout for the Lions after being selected 36th overall selection in the 2013 draft. Burns has this kind of potential but like Slay, may need a year or two to acclimate, especially when it comes to run support.
--Rob Rang (@robrang) (2/13/16)
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Yeah, Davis is aging, so if he gets too big, move him to LB, and as strong as they were last year they needed some center fielders to make teams pay for staying away from Norman
I forget who it was exactly, but one of the famous draft experts on one of the networks has talked at length about how 2nd round picks are gold. Teams can often get 1st round talent at a better value after doing their research due to injury histories, red flags off the field, etc.
Artie Burns, CB, the University of Miami. 6-0, 193.
From CBS Sports:
Former track star who ran the 100 in 7.68 seconds to break a 38-year-old record, and won three state titles in hurdles, Burns is not the typical track guy making the transition to the football field. Speed doesn't hurt at this position naturally, and he led the ACC in interceptions (six).
CBS got his track history wrong. He ran the 60m hurdle in 7.68, not the 100m. It is a minor error, but to track folks it is a big deal. That is a shame about his mom passing.
From CBS Sports:
Former track star who ran the 100 in 7.68 seconds to break a 38-year-old record, and won three state titles in hurdles, Burns is not the typical track guy making the transition to the football field. Speed doesn't hurt at this position naturally, and he led the ACC in interceptions (six).
CBS got his track history wrong. He ran the 60m hurdle in 7.68, not the 100m. It is a minor error, but to track folks it is a big deal. That is a shame about his mom passing.
Nice catch, fmol. I just edited it. That would be rather amazing to run the 100 in under 8 seconds. What mountain was he running down?? lol
With the 62nd Pick the Denver Broncos select Kenyan Drake RB Alabama:
The real Heisman running back at Alabama(see pic)
We choose Drake to fill a need at the RB position. This pick was between a RB need or DT need. We feel this pick was the best bang for our buck. The Organization likes bigger faster backs and with him playing behind Derrick Henry we know he took less hits than most college backs. He is NFL ready and has the size and speed to run in our zone scheme. Catch the ball out of the back field extremely well.
This running back can bring a lot of versatility to an offense because of all the things he can do. First, Drake has good size and excellent speed. This is a quick athlete who can beat you up the middle, around the perimeter or in the passing game.
Drake is one of the SEC's most explosive players. He has good vision and terrific feet. Runs with patience, allowing things to set up in front of him before he makes his move. He can see things evolve during the play and react quickly. Drake can accelerate to top speed quickly. He loves to find space and bounce things to the outside. Runs with good balance and decent power. What's impressive is that he consistently made explosive plays against some of the nation's best and fastest defenses.
The real Heisman running back at Alabama(see pic)
We choose Drake to fill a need at the RB position. This pick was between a RB need or DT need. We feel this pick was the best bang for our buck. The Organization likes bigger faster backs and with him playing behind Derrick Henry we know he took less hits than most college backs. He is NFL ready and has the size and speed to run in our zone scheme. Catch the ball out of the back field extremely well.
This running back can bring a lot of versatility to an offense because of all the things he can do. First, Drake has good size and excellent speed. This is a quick athlete who can beat you up the middle, around the perimeter or in the passing game.
Drake is one of the SEC's most explosive players. He has good vision and terrific feet. Runs with patience, allowing things to set up in front of him before he makes his move. He can see things evolve during the play and react quickly. Drake can accelerate to top speed quickly. He loves to find space and bounce things to the outside. Runs with good balance and decent power. What's impressive is that he consistently made explosive plays against some of the nation's best and fastest defenses.
With the first pick in the 3rd round the Tennessee Titans select Pharoah Cooper WR South Carolina:
Many college football players are lacking in discipline, driving their coaches crazy. Cooper does not have that problem, as he grew up in a military family -- his grandfather and father were Marines, and his brother is a Marine. After winning back-to-back state high school titles in North Carolina, Cooper used his maturity to get on the field right away for the Gamecocks, receiving Freshman All-SEC honors as an all-purpose back and returner (359 kick return yards). Once given a chance to receive regular touches on offense, Cooper excelled, garnering consensus first team all-conference recognition as a receiver in 2014 (69-1,136, 11 TD) and second team honors as an all-purpose back (200 rushing yards, two scores). His production dipped a bit in 2015 (66-973, nine TD), but South Carolina's offense struggled in many ways this season. SEC coaches still named him first team all-conference receiver and all-purpose player for his efforts.
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.63 seconds
Vertical: 30 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
Short shuttle: 4.26 seconds
3-cone: 7.15 seconds
Bench: 19 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths
Short but compact and strong. Especially fast with first three steps off the line. Reaches top speed almost instantly. Should blaze his 10-yard split at combine. Operates with excellent balance and body control at all times. Staccato footwork and seamless change of direction out of breaks opens early passing window. Will break off route and improvise to free space when route is compromised by coverage underneath it. Competitiveness ramps as soon as he hits the grass. Has burst to steam past safety if cornerback takes bad angle on his slants. Strength to play through contact in his routes. Stutter-go release near goal line is difficult to stop.
Weaknesses
Has neither height nor length for desired catch radius. Was unable to reach big-play throws downfield. Contested catches became a chore. Battled focus and concentration drops at one point. Hip tightness creates rounded routes and limited wiggle after catch. The more wrinkles in the route, the less effective Cooper becomes. Relies on straight line quickness over speed or agility in open field. Limited route exposure while at South Carolina.
Sources Tell Us
"He's a good player. Scouts can't worry about how a player like Cooper is going to be used because that is the OC's job. Our job is to find good football players. He's a good football player." -- NFC South scout
NFL Comparison
Josh Reed
Bottom Line
Amidst turbulent offensive times at South Carolina, Cooper has been a rock with consistent production in all areas of the field. While I see Cooper as slightly limited as a pro due to his reliance on straight-line acceleration and scheme fit, NFL personnel men seem to love his playmaking ability and competitive nature. The Titans could really use another good receiver to counter Green Beckham, Justin Hunter just hasn't been the guy they expected. Wright is an average receiver at best. Cooper brings great discipline and work ethic to the table. With Murray in the backfield and solid receiving core in place this offense can possibly muster up some points this upcoming season.
Many college football players are lacking in discipline, driving their coaches crazy. Cooper does not have that problem, as he grew up in a military family -- his grandfather and father were Marines, and his brother is a Marine. After winning back-to-back state high school titles in North Carolina, Cooper used his maturity to get on the field right away for the Gamecocks, receiving Freshman All-SEC honors as an all-purpose back and returner (359 kick return yards). Once given a chance to receive regular touches on offense, Cooper excelled, garnering consensus first team all-conference recognition as a receiver in 2014 (69-1,136, 11 TD) and second team honors as an all-purpose back (200 rushing yards, two scores). His production dipped a bit in 2015 (66-973, nine TD), but South Carolina's offense struggled in many ways this season. SEC coaches still named him first team all-conference receiver and all-purpose player for his efforts.
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.63 seconds
Vertical: 30 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
Short shuttle: 4.26 seconds
3-cone: 7.15 seconds
Bench: 19 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths
Short but compact and strong. Especially fast with first three steps off the line. Reaches top speed almost instantly. Should blaze his 10-yard split at combine. Operates with excellent balance and body control at all times. Staccato footwork and seamless change of direction out of breaks opens early passing window. Will break off route and improvise to free space when route is compromised by coverage underneath it. Competitiveness ramps as soon as he hits the grass. Has burst to steam past safety if cornerback takes bad angle on his slants. Strength to play through contact in his routes. Stutter-go release near goal line is difficult to stop.
Weaknesses
Has neither height nor length for desired catch radius. Was unable to reach big-play throws downfield. Contested catches became a chore. Battled focus and concentration drops at one point. Hip tightness creates rounded routes and limited wiggle after catch. The more wrinkles in the route, the less effective Cooper becomes. Relies on straight line quickness over speed or agility in open field. Limited route exposure while at South Carolina.
Sources Tell Us
"He's a good player. Scouts can't worry about how a player like Cooper is going to be used because that is the OC's job. Our job is to find good football players. He's a good football player." -- NFC South scout
NFL Comparison
Josh Reed
Bottom Line
Amidst turbulent offensive times at South Carolina, Cooper has been a rock with consistent production in all areas of the field. While I see Cooper as slightly limited as a pro due to his reliance on straight-line acceleration and scheme fit, NFL personnel men seem to love his playmaking ability and competitive nature. The Titans could really use another good receiver to counter Green Beckham, Justin Hunter just hasn't been the guy they expected. Wright is an average receiver at best. Cooper brings great discipline and work ethic to the table. With Murray in the backfield and solid receiving core in place this offense can possibly muster up some points this upcoming season.
No apology needed...You picked in plenty of time. I really like your Drake selection...Was going to consider him for the Pats later this round if he got that far. Noticed you skipped over a couple of guys most "experts" have ranked higher...Very interesting. I like Drake as a solid all-purpose back.
