2019 NFL Draft Chatter

KIPER PICKS BEST OF THE REST
McShay just went through the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, so we asked ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. to break down the other top prospects in Mobile:


Oshane Ximines, OLB, Old Dominion
Team: South | Uniform number: 7

There are several potential first-round edge rushers in Mobile, and the list starts with Ximines, whom I had in the first round of my Mock Draft 1.0. At 6-foot-3, 253 pounds, he has a similar frame to DeMarcus Ware, who went in Round 1 in 2005 at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds. And Ximines' explosion at the point of attack reminds me of Ware. He's going to win some one-on-one battles this week.


Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 9

Sweat is another pass-rusher I put in my Mock Draft 1.0, but he has a different frame -- and game -- than Ximines. At 6-foot-6, 241 pounds, Sweat has room to grow into his body, but he's a superb athlete. He has an outstanding takeoff at the snap and has already developed good pass-rushing moves. Sweat is a true 4-3 defensive end at the next level.


Anthony Johnson, WR, Buffalo
Team: South | Uniform number: 83

The receiver-cornerback one-on-ones are some of the most-watched portions of practice in Mobile. Johnson, the best wideout there, should give the corners fits. When he's healthy, he's a touchdown machine (25 in two seasons). And at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he has great size. I want to see his true speed, however. Johnson is likely a Day 2 pick right now.


Zach Allen, DE/DT, Boston College
Team: North | Uniform number: 44

I have Allen ranked as my No. 4 defensive end right now, but at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, he has the size to play defensive tackle. The best spot for him might be as an end in a 3-4 defense, where he could hold up against the run and also get after quarterbacks. He was extremely consistent for the Eagles the past two seasons, and he can beat offensive linemen with skill moves and a straight-arm push. Allen is a handful.


Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 74

Jenkins is the top-ranked center on my board. He played guard and tackle for the Bulldogs, too, and he could get some reps at guard in Mobile. I wouldn't be surprised if he went in Round 1 to a team trying to shore up its interior line.


Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Team: South | Uniform number: 45

Ferguson had 45 sacks in his four-year career -- 17.5 this season -- and set the record for most sacks in FBS history. He pushed around offensive tackles in Conference USA. Can Ferguson (6-5, 260) do the same at the Senior Bowl? I want to see him and Ximines against some experienced tackles this week.


Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
Team: North | Uniform number: 21

Oruwariye is the top corner in Mobile, and he's another prospect who could rise up my board with a strong showing. He had seven interceptions and 20 more pass breakups over the past two seasons. And at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, he has the size that NFL teams look for in young, developmental corners. Does he have elite speed? I'm not sure, and that's what's holding him back from being a Day 2 lock.


Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 38

Abram is extremely physical. He'll set the tone in the middle of a defense. This isn't a great place to showcase those skills -- there's not much full-speed tackling -- so he needs to show that he can cover and run with receivers and tight ends. Abram (6-0, 215) is the No. 3 safety on my board and could jump into the first-round discussion with a good week. (Note: An injury will keep Abram from working out this week.)


Beau Benzschawel, G, Wisconsin
Team: North | Uniform number: 66

Benzschawel (6-6, 315) is a powerful road grader who is going to win some reps in Mobile with his brute strength. He's my No. 3-ranked guard. Also keep an eye on my No. 4-ranked guard Dalton Risner, who played mostly tackle at Kansas State but has the size (6-5, 300) to play in the interior at the next level.


Te'von Coney, ILB, Notre Dame
Team: North | Uniform number: 9

With 100-plus tackles in each of the past two seasons, Coney is great against the run. Where I'd like to see improvement is in the passing game, as he can be stiff when trying to cover tight ends. Coney (6-1, 240) is the fifth-ranked inside linebacker on my board. He could play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
 
UNDER-THE-RADAR PROSPECTS WHO COULD RISE
Looking for some draft sleepers? Scouts Inc. NFL draft insider Steve Muench picks out a few prospects who might move up the draft board with solid practices in Mobile:


Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Team: North | Uniform number: 23

Adderley is a versatile defensive back who lined up at corner his first two seasons at Delaware, and his above-average cover skills should stand out among the safeties. He's built like a corner and he doesn't project as a box safety in the NFL, but he's an aggressive run defender who plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn't shy away from contact.


Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
Team: North | Uniform number: 99

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds, Saunders is built like a fire hydrant, and he's tough to neutralize with one blocker when teams run inside. He flashes as a pass-rusher, and Western Illinois' willingness to line him up at defensive end on downs with pass-heavy tendencies is a testament to his athletic ability. A strong week could put him in the Day 2 conversation.


Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Team: South | Uniform number: 58

Howard is an outstanding pass-blocker with an above-average blend of quickness, length and balance. He held his own going up against Auburn's talented defensive line early in the 2018 season. Howard is a functional positional blocker in the run game, and he has experience playing on the left and right side, making him an excellent No. 3 swing tackle candidate early in his career.


Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State
Team: North | Uniform number: 95

Wren is a versatile defensive lineman with the length, frame and athletic ability to play on the inside in a base four-man front or the outside in a base three-man front in the NFL. His statistical production is underwhelming -- he finished his career with just three sacks -- but his tape is better than the numbers suggest and he has the natural ability to greatly improve his stock this week.


Donald Parham, TE, Stetson
Team: North | Uniform number: 49

Listed at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, Parham is a big target with a rare catching radius and good hands. He's smooth transitioning upfield after the catch and is a long strider with good top-end speed. He's at his best working out of the slot. His lean frame raises some concern about his ability to develop into an effective in-line blocker in the NFL, but he gets into position and fights to sustain. Tight ends aren't asked to do as much in terms of blocking as they once were.


Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
Team: North | Uniform number: 90

Omenihu is an improving hand fighter with excellent length, and he's versatile enough to kick inside to rush the passer in the NFL. He flashes the ability to stack blockers, track the ball and shed in time to make plays as a run defender. His pad level is worth monitoring, though, as he plays high and gives ground at times.


Terrill Hanks, OLB, New Mexico State
Team: South | Uniform number: 2

Hanks is a rangy run defender with good instincts and the length to keep blockers off his frame. His tightness in space is a concern when it comes to matching up in man and making plays in the open field. However, he's an above-average pass-rusher, and he flashes the ability to make plays in coverage as he finished his career with eight interceptions.


John Cominsky, DE, Charleston
Team: North | Uniform number: 5

Cominsky is a dominant FCS player who is a disruptive edge run defender with the frame and versatility to develop into an effective interior pass-rusher. While he has the height-weight-speed combination to make the jump from Division II Charleston to the NFL, his technique will need to get better. Two areas to watch this week are his pad level and his ability to win with his hands in one-on-ones.


Tony Pollard, RB/WR, Memphis
Team: North | Uniform number: 1

Pollard averaged 121.5 all-purpose yards per game at Memphis and tied the NCAA record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdown. His frame, big-play ability and background make him an intriguing prospect considering the ways NFL teams are using their backs in the passing game.


Trevon Wesco, TE, West Virginia
Team: South | Uniform number: 88

Wesco is a junior college transfer who didn't put up big numbers at West Virginia, and he's not much of a deep threat, but he has the potential to develop into a reliable possession receiver who is deceptively shifty after the catch. He's got the toughness, frame and strength to develop into an effective in-line blocker at the NFL level.
 
Risen Star said:
McSHAY SCOUTS EVERY QUARTERBACK
Expectations are different for every quarterback who accepts an invite to Mobile. Here's what ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay is hoping to see out of every signal-caller this week, along with their quarterback ranking from Scouts Inc.:


Drew Lock, Missouri
Team: North | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 3

Big (6-3, 228), athletic and equipped with a strong arm, Lock is a poor man's Patrick Mahomes. It was his first year in a pro-style offense, as well as his first season making pre-snap checks and kills, setting protections and making full-field progression reads, and it took him some time to catch up mentally. Lock still needs to be more consistent with his decision-making under pressure and his accuracy, which stems from inconsistent footwork. But there's no denying his talent. He is the most naturally gifted of the Senior Bowl quarterbacks, and I think he has the most to gain during the week.


Will Grier, West Virginia
Team: South | Uniform number: 7 | QB ranking: 4

Grier is the biggest name in arguably the best top-to-bottom class of pass-throwers that I've scouted at the Senior Bowl. He has just average size (6-foot-2, 221 pounds), but he's a good athlete and can extend a lot of plays with his feet. He has a gunslinger arm and good accuracy on all three levels. However, Grier likes to see his wide receiver open before throwing, so I'll be looking for him to throw with more anticipation this week. He was the first quarterback to sit out his bowl game and will surely be answering questions about that all week long.


Ryan Finley, NC State
Team: North | Uniform number: 15 | QB ranking: 5

Finley has a tall but somewhat linear frame at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, and his velocity is average on zip throws. But I think he has adequate-to-good delivery quickness with an over-the-top stroke, and he shows very good touch and anticipatory accuracy. Finley is particularly adept at leading receivers, and he gets the ball out on time, going through his progressions quickly. He is coming off one of his worst career performances in the Gator Bowl, but he ought to really impress coaches in QB meetings and have a steady week to help his stock in Mobile.


Daniel Jones, Duke
Team: North | Uniform number: 17 | QB ranking: 6

Jones is one of the best-coached QBs in the class with three seasons under David Cutcliffe and having spent time with the Manning family. He has adequate-to-good arm strength, but he has a longer, slower delivery. He really needs to speed it up without messing with his natural mechanics too much. I saw a lot of shorter throws to wide-open windows from him at Duke, so I'm looking forward to seeing him make more intermediate and downfield throws this week. I wouldn't call him a twitchy athlete, but he has adequate pocket mobility to extend some plays and rare top-end speed for a 6-foot-5, 220-pound QB -- a real pursuit-angle killer in the open field.


Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Team: South | Uniform number: 8 | QB ranking: 7

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound pure passer with impressive natural arm talent, Stidham was an up-and-down performer as a two-year starter at Auburn. But the system didn't feature many intermediate anticipation throws, which makes it hard to evaluate that aspect of his game -- a very important aspect for the NFL. So the biggest thing this week is seeing him make those throws as he works with Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers coaching staff in Mobile.


Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Team: South | Uniform number: 16 | QB ranking: 8

Minshew put up huge numbers in a passer-friendly system, completing 71 percent and throwing 38 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season. The Baker Mayfield-esque energy and confidence stand out. Minshew can make full-field reads, and he displays adequate arm strength and above-average accuracy on tape. But he needs to show he can hit the strike zone when working with smaller windows. Scouts will want to see how the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder does under center with the timing of his drops and anticipating throws this week. Right now, he is a Day 3 prospect.


Trace McSorley, Penn State
Team: North | Uniform number: 9 | QB ranking: 10

Yes, he's undersized (6-foot, 198 pounds), but he can hold up physically -- I love his toughness -- and he's an elite competitor. McSorley completed a high percentage of throws but had a lot of short passes and 50-50 balls. I really want to see him fit the ball into tight windows down the field this week. McSorley is a Day 3 prospect who could wind up sticking around as a backup in a West Coast system -- which we will get a peek at this week with Jon Gruden's Oakland Raiders coaching staff leading the North team.


Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Team: South | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 16

Jackson is massive (6-foot-7, 245 pounds) with a huge arm and good mobility, but he's inconsistent with his lower-body mechanics and ball placement. He lacks touch on some short throws and needs to keep his eyes up while moving in the pocket. The biggest thing he needs to show in Mobile is the ability to process quicker. He gets stuck on his primary target too long. Even so, Jackson has a lot of developmental upside as a Day 3 project pick.

Note: Wondering about Clayton Thorson? The Northwestern quarterback pulled out of the Senior Bowl.
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What.....no mention of Ndsu Easton stick...as a redshirt freshman..he carried the injured c.wentz to his senior year natl championship, then added 2 of his own Jr. and senior years
 
Really like this kid:
Risen Star said:
Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 9

Sweat is another pass-rusher I put in my Mock Draft 1.0, but he has a different frame -- and game -- than Ximines. At 6-foot-6, 241 pounds, Sweat has room to grow into his body, but he's a superb athlete. He has an outstanding takeoff at the snap and has already developed good pass-rushing moves. Sweat is a true 4-3 defensive end at the next level.
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Intrigued by these 4:
Risen Star said:
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Team: North | Uniform number: 23

Adderley is a versatile defensive back who lined up at corner his first two seasons at Delaware, and his above-average cover skills should stand out among the safeties. He's built like a corner and he doesn't project as a box safety in the NFL, but he's an aggressive run defender who plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn't shy away from contact.


Donald Parham, TE, Stetson
Team: North | Uniform number: 49

Listed at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, Parham is a big target with a rare catching radius and good hands. He's smooth transitioning upfield after the catch and is a long strider with good top-end speed. He's at his best working out of the slot. His lean frame raises some concern about his ability to develop into an effective in-line blocker in the NFL, but he gets into position and fights to sustain. Tight ends aren't asked to do as much in terms of blocking as they once were.


Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
Team: North | Uniform number: 90

Omenihu is an improving hand fighter with excellent length, and he's versatile enough to kick inside to rush the passer in the NFL. He flashes the ability to stack blockers, track the ball and shed in time to make plays as a run defender. His pad level is worth monitoring, though, as he plays high and gives ground at times.


Terrill Hanks, OLB, New Mexico State
Team: South | Uniform number: 2

Hanks is a rangy run defender with good instincts and the length to keep blockers off his frame. His tightness in space is a concern when it comes to matching up in man and making plays in the open field. However, he's an above-average pass-rusher, and he flashes the ability to make plays in coverage as he finished his career with eight interceptions.
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Risen Star said:
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Team: North | Uniform number: 23

Adderley is a versatile defensive back who lined up at corner his first two seasons at Delaware, and his above-average cover skills should stand out among the safeties. He's built like a corner and he doesn't project as a box safety in the NFL, but he's an aggressive run defender who plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn't shy away from contact.
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Very interested to see Adderley in Mobile. He's one guy I think may pull a Deion Jones type of Senior Bowl. Jones went in "undersized" and proved he could play, looked like he had a different gear than all those guys while tackling everything. Really helped his draft stock and has turned out to be great value drafted just outside the top 50.

I think Adderley has the same kind of potential, looks like he's tailor made for today's game, but we'll see.
 
If we're looking to move on from Beasley, I'd be watching Hunter Renfrow during the senior bowl
 
QUARTERBACK REPORT
Let's look at how the signal-callers did on Day 1, along with their quarterback ranking from Scouts Inc.:


Drew Lock, Missouri
Team: North | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 3

Lock is big (6-foot-3, 223 pounds), possesses a strong arm and shows athleticism, but he was inconsistent on touch throws and when on the move Tuesday. It was similar to what you see from him on tape. He really needs to become more consistent with his trajectory on touch throws and deeper passes. And a big talking point of the day was his 9-inch hands at the weigh-in. It was pretty surprising and is obviously a concern when it comes to ball security, pump fakes and handling poor weather. -- McShay


Will Grier, West Virginia
Team: South | Uniform number: 7 | QB ranking: 4

Grier looked pretty good on drops from under center Tuesday. It's all new to him, but he seemed comfortable for the most part and showed quick feet. I felt he was decisive when passing if his first read provided the answer, but he still tends to lock onto his primary target too long at times. He did show off a stronger arm than expected but was a little inconsistent when throwing on the move and out of play-action. -- McShay


Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Team: South | Uniform number: 8 | QB ranking: 7

I thought Stidham got more comfortable as the day progressed. There's no denying the strong arm and smooth stroke, and he was at his best on out-breaking routes Tuesday. He was late on some of his reads but seemed to improve as he settled in. It'll be something to keep an eye on during the course of the week, as will hitting his spots. He missed within the strike zone too often, and it cost his wide receivers yards-after-the-catch potential throughout the afternoon. -- McShay


Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Team: South | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 16

Wow, this kid is just massive in person (measured at 6-foot-7 and 249 pounds), and he has the strongest arm of the group. He has a long-levered delivery and appeared a bit heavy-footed on drops, but because he's so tall, it's hard for him to consistently get his footwork and balance correct. He overshot a deep ball to an open wide receiver at one point in the 7-on-7 drill. -- McShay


Other quarterback notes from McShay:

  • Duke's Daniel Jones showed good anticipation and touch on some intermediate routes. He even let a couple of strong deeper throws fly, something you don't see a ton of on Duke tape -- although he overshot a deep ball that he should have connected on.

  • Ryan Finley of NC State was consistent and accurate on short-to-intermediate passes. His quick reads and ability to make intermediate timing throws stood out. He played it safe on a lot of the throws I saw him make today -- a lot of check downs -- and his arm strength is average at best.

  • Washington State's Gardner Minshew was decisive and got the ball out quickly, but he has an average arm and didn't take a lot of chances vertically, playing it safe most of practice. He was missing within the strike zone quite a bit, and I want to see that improve throughout the week.

  • As expected, Penn State's Trace McSorley is the smallest of the eight Senior Bowl quarterbacks (6-0 1/4, 200 pounds). His hand-span (9.25 inches) is on the smaller side too. He has average arm strength and doesn't drive it like some of these other guys, but he is very comfortable throwing on the move, and the ball placement on short-to-intermediate throws was pretty good overall.
 
DAY 1 DRAFT RISERS
These are the under-the-radar prospects who had a strong day of practice and whose college tape deserves closer inspection:


Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Team: South | Uniform number: 1

Samuel showcased his ability to stretch the field during one-on-ones, and it's not just about his speed. He quickly beats press coverage and tracks the ball well. He made a nice over-the-shoulder catch during practice. He also knows how to use his hands to create late separation without blatantly pushing off. -- Muench


Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
Team: North | Uniform number: 10

This kid just ran right by cornerbacks on two occasions, using his wheels on some vertical routes. The speed is real. He was the fastest player tracked Tuesday (22.2 mph max speed), according to Zebra Technology. -- McShay


Tyre Brady, WR, Marshall
Team: South | Uniform number:11

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Brady looks like a natural pass-catcher with good length and big hands. His physicality and ability to quickly build speed stood out during one-on-ones. He looked explosive. -- Muench


David Long Jr., LB, West Virginia
Team: South | Uniform number: 11

Long stood out a few times in team drills, and sure seemed to be around the ball a lot. He's a player I have not done tape on yet, and I'm interested to see if he continues to make plays this week. -- McShay


L.J. Collier, DE, TCU
Team: North | Uniform number: 91

During one-on-ones Tuesday, Collier overpowered Kansas State offensive tackle Dalton Risner and then showcased his versatility by kicking inside to beat Charlotte guard Nate Davis with a nice push pull move. He moved well after weighing in at 280 pounds and he has excellent length (34-plus-inch arms).
 
QUICK HITTERS
Here are some additional scouting notes on players who stood out on the practice field:


McShay:

  • Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat had a strong first day. He flashed some power, including knocking Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard over on a power move. Sweat has a lot of speed and bend off the edge. He had some great battles Tuesday with Washington State OT Andre Dillard.

  • San Jose State tight end Josh Oliver had a good showing on Day 1. He has average speed but solid size (6-4, 246) and very good ball skills. He's showing that he's a reliable target in the passing game.

  • Offensive linemen Dru Samia (Oklahoma) and Ross Pierschbacher(Alabama) were very good in the run game. Jacksonville State's B.J. Autry also had some dominating snaps in the run game, even though he's not much of an athlete and has limitations in pass protection.

  • Boston College tight end Tommy Sweeney isn't much of a vertical threat and doesn't offer much run-after-catch ability, but he catches everything in his zip code. And he was a really consistent route runner Tuesday, making a lot of plays in 7-on-7 and team units.

  • UMass receiver Andy Isabella showed off his quickness and speed. He might just be the quickest wide receiver in attendance.

  • Western Illinois defensive lineman Khalen Saunders, who stayed in Mobile even while his fiancée was in labor, impressed with a perfect backflip at the end of practice. It's pretty impressive seeing a 320-pound defensive lineman pull that off in person.

Muench:

  • Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson and Buffalo wide receiver Anthony Johnson got into some physical battles during one-on-ones.

  • Texas A&M defensive tackle Daylon Mack ran over Pierschbacher, winning with hands and leverage. You'd like to see Mack vary his pass-rush moves, though, and that's an area of improvement to watch this week.

  • The North offensive line got pushed around a little during one-on-ones, and it will be interesting to see how it responds Wednesday.
 
QUARTERBACK REPORT
Let's look at how the signal-callers did on Day 2, along with their quarterback ranking from Scouts Inc.:


Drew Lock, Missouri
Team: North | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 3

Lock might be the least consistent of the four North quarterbacks when it comes to anticipatory accuracy and decision-making, but it's obvious after two days of practice that he's the most naturally gifted. If he's put in the right system with a good QB coach and coordinator to bring him along properly, Lock has a chance to develop into a good NFL starter, even though he's not a "plug-and-play" guy for the NFL right now. His trajectory and ball placement on the deep ball are outstanding, but when moved off the spot and then forced to reset his feet before throwing, he struggles with consistency. -- McShay


Daniel Jones, Duke
Team: North | Uniform number: 17 | QB ranking: 6

Jones has just an average arm and struggled to make some throws in the wind when he was late. At one point, he had back-to-back interceptions during 7-on-7s. On the first one, he locked onto his primary too long and tried to force a throw to the flat too late. Still, he did show very good touch on intermediate timing throws. He doesn't get great zip on the ball, but he certainly has a very good feel for trajectory. -- McShay


Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Team: South | Uniform number: 8 | QB ranking: 7

Stidham showed the biggest improvement of the quarterbacks from Tuesday to Wednesday. Kyle Shanahan's system is passer-friendly and fits Stidham a lot better than Auburn's did. He looked more comfortable and seems to have gained confidence. Shanahan and his staff kept telling him to trust the read and his arm to make the throw, and he did it frequently. -- McShay


Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Team: South | Uniform number: 16 | QB ranking: 8

Minshew is built a bit like Baker Mayfield at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds with a thick lower body. He has just average mobility, and his lack of arm strength was obvious on a windy day (practices were under a roof, but it was not enclosed). However, he shows very good anticipation, and he's a rhythm thrower who gets the ball out on time and can throw his receivers into an open window. He really needs to end up with a West Coast offense and preferably with a team that plays in a dome. -- McShay


Other quarterback notes from McShay:

  • NC State's Ryan Finley wasn't having as much trouble with the wind on downfield throws, and he made a couple nice throws when rolling out to his right during team drills. He appears to have the most control of the offense of the group and is on time with most of his throws. It should be noted that he showed the least agility of the quarterbacks during footwork drills, though. He can run a little bit once he gets going, but he is not very sudden with his feet.

  • Penn State's Trace McSorley lacks ideal arm strength, and it limits some of the throws he can attempt, especially when the weather becomes an issue. He was really pressing to get the ball out at times and rushing his mechanics on some throws, especially early during 7-on-7s. He threw an interception during team drills, trying to squeeze the ball into a tight window on a slant route and just didn't get enough air on it to clear the linebacker underneath. But he has been mostly accurate on short-to-intermediate throws, and for what it's worth, he was the best athlete of the quarterbacks during footwork drills.

  • West Virginia's Will Grier was solid but unspectacular on Wednesday. I thought he got into a good rhythm in 7-on-7s, but he is really benefiting from having three Mountaineer pass-catchers on the roster.

  • Tyree Jackson out of Buffalo uncorked some head-turning deep balls with swirling winds, but he remains highly inconsistent with his accuracy.
 
DAY 2 DRAFT RISERS
These are the under-the-radar prospects who had a strong day of practice and whose college tape deserves closer inspection:


Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Team: North | Uniform number: 23

Adderley's above-average cover skills continue to show up, as do his above-average balance and fluidity. He matched up with UMass' Andy Isabella and Georgia State's Penny Hart in the slot on Wednesday a bit, and it's really something to see a safety compete in that spot. He has good closing speed, and on a Hart corner route, the smoothness with which he flipped his hips stood out. He also showcased his instincts by reading Duke's Jones and jumping a route in the flat for an interception during 7-on-7s. -- Muench


Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Team: South | Uniform number: 1

Samuel has average height but a thick frame, built sort of like Golden Tate. He has been consistently outstanding for two straight days, quick off the line out of the slot and creating after the catch. He has shown the ability to get vertical and is adjusting to every ball thrown in his direction. Stidham at one point was shaking his head after Samuel caught another one of his passes and said, "That dude's a freak." Samuel is the best offensive skill player at this year's Senior Bowl, and I can't see him getting out of the first two rounds in April. -- McShay


Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
Team: North | Uniform number: 21

Oruwariye is a big corner (6-foot-1, 204 pounds) with good length (32-inch arms), and he's showing good body control transitioning out of breaks. He has smaller hands (8 5/8 inches) and he's not a natural hands catcher, but he still makes plays. He picked off a pass during 7-on-7s, and he intercepted eight passes at Penn State. -- Muench


Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Kentucky
Team: South | Uniform number: 1

Johnson lacks elite change-of-direction skills, but he moves well enough for a 6-foot-3 corner with long arms, and he has adequate top-end speed. He really harassed multiple wide receivers with his press technique today. Johnson is a really intriguing midround prospect for a team like Seattle that runs a single-high, press-man scheme. -- McShay


Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Team: South | Uniform number: 60

Dillard doesn't have elite length (34-inch arms), but he does a good job of taking away the edge with his kick step. He showed good balance redirecting inside and resetting against power during one-on-ones. He needs to do a better job of keeping his hips under him, but he got off the ball and generated some initial surge as a run-blocker on Wednesday. -- Muench
 
QUICK HITTERS
Here are some additional scouting notes on players who stood out on the practice field:


McShay:

  • TCU's L.J. Collier was the most consistently dominant defensive lineman on the North squad today. He plays with an edge and displays a quick first step to get into the offensive lineman's body, and then the power to advance his rush while engaged.

  • Wide receiver Keelan Doss from UC Davis was really good off of press coverage. But he lacks an elite second gear when tracking overthrown deep balls.

  • Georgia State's Hart is an undersized slot receiver at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, but he's tough for his size and has good hands. I think he has really stood out adjusting to throws.

  • Donald Parham, the Stetson tight end, is an interesting late-round prospect. He has just ridiculous measurables: 6-foot-8 and 243 pounds with 36 1/8-inch arms and 10.5-inch hands. And he showed some athleticism in his movements on Wednesday; he plucks the ball away from his frame and transitions upfield quickly. However, despite the effort he gives as a blocker, he is terribly overmatched and cannot be trusted in pass protection.

Muench:

  • Sutton Smith, an edge rusher out of Northern Illinois with 24.5 TFL and 15 sacks on the season, doesn't have the frame (6-0, 234) to play defensive end or 3-4 OLB in the NFL, and needs to show teams he can play off the line. He helped himself in that regard during one-on-ones with the running backs. He didn't always win, but he was competitive by showing good speed and change-of-direction skills.

  • Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow showcased his ball skills and route running. He pulled in some off-target throws and fast balls, and he separated from coverage with his ability to gear down quickly.

  • Olisaemeka Udoh out of Elon certainly has the tools, length and frame to play in the NFL. The offensive lineman was competing in one-on-ones all afternoon and impressing. Alabama State's Tytus Howard, meanwhile, seems to engage with high hands initially, but he did recover quite well. Howard is showing good body control in staying in front of the pass-rusher, going up against Jonathan Ledbetter of Georgia on Wednesday.

  • Daylon Mack seems to flash potential every time we see him. He wins with power and with his hands. His teammate at Texas A&M, Kingsley Keke, also stood out, at one point nicely swiping Dru Samia's hands off of him in a one-on-one drill. Arizona State defensive lineman Renell Wren impressed me as well with disruptive play. He was quick off the ball in the 9-on-7 drill.
 
Huge supporter of Deebo Samuel (even though he plays for the OTHER South Carolina team)

Would be an amazing addition to our team
 
Risen Star said:
QUARTERBACK REPORT
Let's look at how the signal-callers did on Day 2, along with their quarterback ranking from Scouts Inc.:


Drew Lock, Missouri
Team: North | Uniform number: 3 | QB ranking: 3

Lock might be the least consistent of the four North quarterbacks when it comes to anticipatory accuracy and decision-making, but it's obvious after two days of practice that he's the most naturally gifted. If he's put in the right system with a good QB coach and coordinator to bring him along properly, Lock has a chance to develop into a good NFL starter, even though he's not a "plug-and-play" guy for the NFL right now. His trajectory and ball placement on the deep ball are outstanding, but when moved off the spot and then forced to reset his feet before throwing, he struggles with consistency. -- McShay


Daniel Jones, Duke
Team: North | Uniform number: 17 | QB ranking: 6

Jones has just an average arm and struggled to make some throws in the wind when he was late. At one point, he had back-to-back interceptions during 7-on-7s. On the first one, he locked onto his primary too long and tried to force a throw to the flat too late. Still, he did show very good touch on intermediate timing throws. He doesn't get great zip on the ball, but he certainly has a very good feel for trajectory. -- McShay


Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Team: South | Uniform number: 8 | QB ranking: 7

Stidham showed the biggest improvement of the quarterbacks from Tuesday to Wednesday. Kyle Shanahan's system is passer-friendly and fits Stidham a lot better than Auburn's did. He looked more comfortable and seems to have gained confidence. Shanahan and his staff kept telling him to trust the read and his arm to make the throw, and he did it frequently. -- McShay


Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Team: South | Uniform number: 16 | QB ranking: 8

Minshew is built a bit like Baker Mayfield at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds with a thick lower body. He has just average mobility, and his lack of arm strength was obvious on a windy day (practices were under a roof, but it was not enclosed). However, he shows very good anticipation, and he's a rhythm thrower who gets the ball out on time and can throw his receivers into an open window. He really needs to end up with a West Coast offense and preferably with a team that plays in a dome. -- McShay


Other quarterback notes from McShay:

  • NC State's Ryan Finley wasn't having as much trouble with the wind on downfield throws, and he made a couple nice throws when rolling out to his right during team drills. He appears to have the most control of the offense of the group and is on time with most of his throws. It should be noted that he showed the least agility of the quarterbacks during footwork drills, though. He can run a little bit once he gets going, but he is not very sudden with his feet.

  • Penn State's Trace McSorley lacks ideal arm strength, and it limits some of the throws he can attempt, especially when the weather becomes an issue. He was really pressing to get the ball out at times and rushing his mechanics on some throws, especially early during 7-on-7s. He threw an interception during team drills, trying to squeeze the ball into a tight window on a slant route and just didn't get enough air on it to clear the linebacker underneath. But he has been mostly accurate on short-to-intermediate throws, and for what it's worth, he was the best athlete of the quarterbacks during footwork drills.

  • West Virginia's Will Grier was solid but unspectacular on Wednesday. I thought he got into a good rhythm in 7-on-7s, but he is really benefiting from having three Mountaineer pass-catchers on the roster.

  • Tyree Jackson out of Buffalo uncorked some head-turning deep balls with swirling winds, but he remains highly inconsistent with his accuracy.
Click to expand...

Wouldn’t any QB benefit from having familiar WR’s? Lol! I’d think every starting QB is familiar with his guys. Grier has looked fantastic. Too bad Jerry is afraid to bring in real competition for Dak who might actually benefit from being pushed for the job.
 
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