morasp
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The Combine is over but there is still plenty of activity to go before the NFL Draft including college pro days and free agency. A lot of the prospects chose not to test at the combine so the rankings are still cloudy. This draft used OnTheClock by fanspeak with the NFL mock draft database big board. I think all of these players have the potential to come in and start or contribute in their first year. All draft grades are from NFL.com.
17:R1P17 CB C.J. Henderson Florida Grade 6.74 (year one quality starter) If we lose Byron Jones and don't sign an expensive free agent CB he could come in and compete for a starting job. Jaylon Johnson, Treyvon Diggs and Jeff Gladney were trade back options. Diggs hasn't been timed in the forty yet Johnson and Gladney ran 4.5 and 4.48 respectively. We had a meeting with Henderson at the combine.
Overview
Silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes. He has NFL recovery burst and the long speed to track vertical routes downfield. He has the twitchy acceleration to jump a throw and take it away if the quarterback lingers on the target, and he's quick to wrap and finish after the catch. He makes mental mistakes from time to time and occasionally loses awareness from zone. He's willing and capable in run support but needs better control as an open-field tackler. Henderson is a fluid cornerback with ball skills and burst and has CB1 ability as a first-rounder.
Strengths
Overview
Flashes menacing disruptive qualities as a gap seeker, but is just ordinary when forced to sit and take on blocks. Blacklock rebounded from a 2018 Achilles injury and showed off basketball quickness that was often too much for a single blocker. However, his technique and hand usage need work, as he's inconsistent holding the point and keeping his feet. He's a hit-or-miss run defender, but he's a relentless pass rusher with elite lateral quickness and change of direction to exploit interior galoots and open pathways to the pocket. Blacklock needs development as a one-gapping three-technique with rare movement talent and intriguing rush potential.
Strengths
Overview
Big, smart and reliable, Pittman falls into the "possession receiver" bin, but has top-notch ball skills that allow him to bully and best cornerbacks down the field. Improving release quickness against press will be an early focal point in an NFL camp, but his frame and physicality should create work space underneath even with close coverage. He lacks the speed and separation quickness teams covet from WR1 candidates, but he comes from NFL bloodlines and plays with a pro demeanor. He should be a productive plug-and-play talent at WR2 early in his career.
Strengths
120:R4P17 Edge Alton Robinson Syracuse 6.33 (will be starter within first two seasons) MM wants guys that can rush the QB and Robinson has the traits to develop into a good pass rusher. We met with him at the combine.
Overview
Twitched-up edge rusher with exciting potential to become a disruptive factor in NFL backfields with a more skilled and willful approach. Robinson has the burst and bend to become a pass rushing problem for tackles early in his career, but his approach is too "one-trick" and needs workable counters to become less predictable. As a run defender, he has enough strength, but lacks consistent technique and instincts. He's worthy of consideration as a designated rusher while he smooths out the kinks and could take a big leap forward with better skill and control.
Strengths
164:R5P18 LB Logan Wilson Wyoming 6.33 (will be starter within first two seasons) I don't know what the state of our LB group is but either way drafting a potential starter in the fifth round is too hard to pass up.
Overview
Ultra-productive three-year team captain with instincts and cover talent to find work as an every-down linebacker. His play recognition, burst and lateral agility help him play faster than his timed speed and his fundamentals as a tackler are as good as you'll find in this draft. Wilson needs more consistency of approach at taking on blocks and it may take him a minute to adjust to NFL game speed. He should be a core special teams member early, but possesses the tangibles and intangibles to become a productive pro as an inside or SAM (strong-side) linebacker.
Strengths
179:R5P33 WR Lynn Bowden Jr. Kentucky Grade 6.24 I live pretty close to UK so got to see him quite a bit. He played RB, WR, QB, and kick returner and could be our version of Taysom Hill. When I read the write up talking about creative play callers I immediately thought of Kellen Moore. Run the wildcat with Pollard split out running jet seep motion and Zeke in the backfield with Bowden at QB and let the defense decide who to key on. This is the only highlights video I'll post and if you haven't watched him you should give it a view.
Overview
In a rare twist, Bowden is both versatile and a little bit limited. He might require a plan to maximize his value. While he's a slot receiver by position, creative play-callers can use him as a zone-read quarterback and as a gadget receiver for jet sweeps and a variety of short catch-and-run screens. He's not overly sudden or explosive and some teams may want him to prove he can be more than a glorified running back. He's instinctive, highly competitive and makes big plays. His development as a receiver was slowed due to his move to quarterback in 2019, but his return talent and versatility gives him a chance to contribute immediately as he waits to become a starting slot.
Strengths
231:R7P17 TE Colby Parkinson Stanford Grade 6.13 I think Witten will be gone and MM likes TEs. We met with Parkinson and the combine and he would provide a big target with a good catch radius.
Overview
He'll be listed as a tight end, but he's a big receiver who can be released into routes as a wingback, slot or wideout. He was much more productive in the red zone in 2018, but he didn't always have functional throws to work with. He runs well for a pass-catching tight end and has the athletic traits to attack on all three levels. He's almost automatic on the easy catches and has ball skills to rescue some of the harder ones. Teams looking for him to check the run-blocking box will need to keep it moving. Parkinson may be a little polarizing, but appears to be a field-stretching flex tight end with above-average playmaking ability down the field and near the goal line.
Strengths
17:R1P17 CB C.J. Henderson Florida Grade 6.74 (year one quality starter) If we lose Byron Jones and don't sign an expensive free agent CB he could come in and compete for a starting job. Jaylon Johnson, Treyvon Diggs and Jeff Gladney were trade back options. Diggs hasn't been timed in the forty yet Johnson and Gladney ran 4.5 and 4.48 respectively. We had a meeting with Henderson at the combine.
Overview
Silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes. He has NFL recovery burst and the long speed to track vertical routes downfield. He has the twitchy acceleration to jump a throw and take it away if the quarterback lingers on the target, and he's quick to wrap and finish after the catch. He makes mental mistakes from time to time and occasionally loses awareness from zone. He's willing and capable in run support but needs better control as an open-field tackler. Henderson is a fluid cornerback with ball skills and burst and has CB1 ability as a first-rounder.
Strengths
- Good size and premium athleticism
- Play strength to stall route schedule from press
- Agile to mirror and cut off the release
- Swivel hips offer no resistance in his transitions
- Reads quarterback's eyes and plays with anticipation
- Explosive closing burst on the throw and plays the passing lane
- Able to phase up with long speed downfield
- Very patient and poised when playing the football
- Able to mix and match in a variety of coverage
- Strikes with intent to jar throws loose
- Willing to charge downhill and attack in run support
Overview
Flashes menacing disruptive qualities as a gap seeker, but is just ordinary when forced to sit and take on blocks. Blacklock rebounded from a 2018 Achilles injury and showed off basketball quickness that was often too much for a single blocker. However, his technique and hand usage need work, as he's inconsistent holding the point and keeping his feet. He's a hit-or-miss run defender, but he's a relentless pass rusher with elite lateral quickness and change of direction to exploit interior galoots and open pathways to the pocket. Blacklock needs development as a one-gapping three-technique with rare movement talent and intriguing rush potential.
Strengths
- Extremely athletic and agile in short spaces
- Knees stay bent and pads stay low
- Snappy initial quickness
- Can find and split a double-team crevice
- Leverage and leg drive to play under and through edge blocks
- Rush instincts of a defensive end
- Never in one place for long as a rusher
- Elite lateral quickness and directional change unlock his disruption
- Changes speeds and stride length to tilt blockers and loosen the edge
- Plays with fast hands and sudden arm-over
- Impossible for only one player to mirror
- Relentless pass-rush energy
Overview
Big, smart and reliable, Pittman falls into the "possession receiver" bin, but has top-notch ball skills that allow him to bully and best cornerbacks down the field. Improving release quickness against press will be an early focal point in an NFL camp, but his frame and physicality should create work space underneath even with close coverage. He lacks the speed and separation quickness teams covet from WR1 candidates, but he comes from NFL bloodlines and plays with a pro demeanor. He should be a productive plug-and-play talent at WR2 early in his career.
Strengths
- Big production jump as go-to target in 2019
- Outstanding size and toughness
- Clears tight coverage underneath with hands and physicality
- In and out of breaks with plus quickness for a big target
- Makes contested catches on all three levels
- Strong hands attack throws away from his frame
- Football smart and can run a full route tree
- Build-up speed to sneak and stack cornerbacks vertically
- Elevated levels of poise and focus tracking deep balls
- Excellent work-back talent to own back-shoulder throws
- Will get after it as run blocker
- Talented on special teams with gunner value
120:R4P17 Edge Alton Robinson Syracuse 6.33 (will be starter within first two seasons) MM wants guys that can rush the QB and Robinson has the traits to develop into a good pass rusher. We met with him at the combine.
Overview
Twitched-up edge rusher with exciting potential to become a disruptive factor in NFL backfields with a more skilled and willful approach. Robinson has the burst and bend to become a pass rushing problem for tackles early in his career, but his approach is too "one-trick" and needs workable counters to become less predictable. As a run defender, he has enough strength, but lacks consistent technique and instincts. He's worthy of consideration as a designated rusher while he smooths out the kinks and could take a big leap forward with better skill and control.
Strengths
- Possesses traits for NFL disruption
- Initial movements are sudden and threatening
- Anticipates snap and rockets upfield
- Speed, bend and agility to flatten to QB in a hurry
- Foot quickness for edge-to-edge rush mentality
- Seeks out strip-sack opportunities
- Has speed-to-power potential to unlock
- Elusive when allowed to play in gaps
- Can't leave him unblocked on backside
- Instant trigger to capture backs before they hit the hole
- Low pads and fluid lateral transitions for B-gap attack
- Reactive athleticism to stalk and tackle bouncing runners and cutbacks
164:R5P18 LB Logan Wilson Wyoming 6.33 (will be starter within first two seasons) I don't know what the state of our LB group is but either way drafting a potential starter in the fifth round is too hard to pass up.
Overview
Ultra-productive three-year team captain with instincts and cover talent to find work as an every-down linebacker. His play recognition, burst and lateral agility help him play faster than his timed speed and his fundamentals as a tackler are as good as you'll find in this draft. Wilson needs more consistency of approach at taking on blocks and it may take him a minute to adjust to NFL game speed. He should be a core special teams member early, but possesses the tangibles and intangibles to become a productive pro as an inside or SAM (strong-side) linebacker.
Strengths
- Well-built with ability to play MIKE or SAM linebacker
- Plays and excels on all three downs
- Alert and instinctive pre- and post-snap
- Rarely trapped behind climbing blocks on stretch plays
- Shoots into backside zone gaps looking to make a play
- Quick diagnosis improves range as tackler
- Bends and squares to leverage his gap
- Elite fundamentals as a tackler
- Comes to balance and springs into runners like a bear trap
- Impressive recognition and ball skills from zone
- Athletic ability to handle some man coverage
179:R5P33 WR Lynn Bowden Jr. Kentucky Grade 6.24 I live pretty close to UK so got to see him quite a bit. He played RB, WR, QB, and kick returner and could be our version of Taysom Hill. When I read the write up talking about creative play callers I immediately thought of Kellen Moore. Run the wildcat with Pollard split out running jet seep motion and Zeke in the backfield with Bowden at QB and let the defense decide who to key on. This is the only highlights video I'll post and if you haven't watched him you should give it a view.
Overview
In a rare twist, Bowden is both versatile and a little bit limited. He might require a plan to maximize his value. While he's a slot receiver by position, creative play-callers can use him as a zone-read quarterback and as a gadget receiver for jet sweeps and a variety of short catch-and-run screens. He's not overly sudden or explosive and some teams may want him to prove he can be more than a glorified running back. He's instinctive, highly competitive and makes big plays. His development as a receiver was slowed due to his move to quarterback in 2019, but his return talent and versatility gives him a chance to contribute immediately as he waits to become a starting slot.
Strengths
- Well-built with above-average play strength
- Highly competitive
- Creative play-callers will love his versatility
- Has zone read, running back and jet sweep value
- Runs with excellent vision and toughness
- Slippery but strong with ball in his hands
- Very difficult for first tackler to get him down cleanly
- Has some vertical value from the slot
- Quick catch-and-tuck to get upfield after catch
- Hard to jar ball loose from him at catch-point
- Fearless, efficient and effective as kick returner
231:R7P17 TE Colby Parkinson Stanford Grade 6.13 I think Witten will be gone and MM likes TEs. We met with Parkinson and the combine and he would provide a big target with a good catch radius.
Overview
He'll be listed as a tight end, but he's a big receiver who can be released into routes as a wingback, slot or wideout. He was much more productive in the red zone in 2018, but he didn't always have functional throws to work with. He runs well for a pass-catching tight end and has the athletic traits to attack on all three levels. He's almost automatic on the easy catches and has ball skills to rescue some of the harder ones. Teams looking for him to check the run-blocking box will need to keep it moving. Parkinson may be a little polarizing, but appears to be a field-stretching flex tight end with above-average playmaking ability down the field and near the goal line.
Strengths
- Height and length create matchup issues in the red area
- Can release into routes from a variety of alignments
- Strides into routes like a big receiver
- Capable of attacking all three levels effectively
- Crisp breaks with tight turns underneath
- Can create route leverage and defeat coverage leverage
- Able to extend the high-point and play over safeties
- Plucks it away from body to protect it from hand rakes
- Good focus to make the challenging catch
- Body control for necessary adjustments downfield
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