Mcginn on the Oline draft class

[locked&loaded]

some bits from mcginns article today. let me know if you want to see a specific player and ill try to help you out.

“This is the worst offensive-line crowd in the history of the draft — maybe,” a long-in-the-tooth NFL personnel executive. “We have like 15 guys in our top 150. For an entire 32-team league. We need 320 linemen.

“It’s so bad,” he continued. “There’s going to be some reaches on offensive linemen in this draft. I think every lineman in the top 100 overall will go a half-round to a full round, if not two rounds, higher than they normally would in a given year.”

Six years ago, talent evaluators also foresaw a terrible draft for offensive linemen. That year, however, teams didn’t even bite. Just 10 were taken among the top 100 selections, a far cry from the five-year average of 19.4 in the top 100 from 2018-’22.
In years past there have been more clear-cut (elite linemen),” an executive in personnel for an AFC team said. “Charles Cross would still be the top guy in this draft by head and shoulders. There’s guys with traits. Paris Johnson has those kind of traits so it wouldn’t surprise me if people took him at pick 9 or 10 but the film isn’t as clean as some of those other guys that have gone that high. A lot of these guys don’t feel as clean as what you feel like a first-round O-lineman is.”

My recent polling of 16 personnel men asked each to rank their top offensive linemen regardless of position on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis. A first-place vote was worth 6 points, a second 5 and so on.

Paris Johnson and Peter Skoronski tied for first with 74 points, although Skoronski had eight first-place votes compared to five for Johnson. Following, in order, were Broderick Jones (61, three), Darnell Wright (29), Anton Harrison (28), Matt Bergeron (20), O’Cyrus Torrence (14), Dawand Jones (10), Cody Mauch (eight), Joe Tippmann (seven), Steve Avila (four), John Michael Schmitz (three), Sidy Sow (two) and Luke Wypler (two).

 

[J-man]

One of the main reasons I'd be all for taking an o-lineman at 26.
I'm really hoping Wright or Torrence is there. But I'd be happy with Tippmman, JMS or Availa too. 26 is probably rich for them, but they probably wont make it to 58 so what do you do? Move up in rd 2?

 

[reddyuta]

We are in a position not not force an Oline pick this year.

 

[locked&loaded]

One of the main reasons I'd be all for taking an o-lineman at 26.
I'm really hoping Wright or Torrence is there. But I'd be happy with Tippmman, JMS or Availa too. 26 is probably rich for them, but they probably wont make it to 58 so what do you do? Move up in rd 2?

#3 tackle
3. DARNELL WRIGHT, Tennessee (6-5 ½, 333, 5.01, 1-2): Another 5-star recruit, this time from Huntington, W.Va. “He is a talented underachiever,” said one scout. “Not great football character. You could hit on him. If he has an epiphany and becomes a pro, he’s got a ******** of talent.” Started 42 of 47 games over four seasons, including 27 at RT, 13 at LT and two at RG. “There’s a lot of entitlement with this kid but did he shut out (Alabama’s) Will Anderson,” another scout said. “Absolutely. If you want to like him that’s the tape you point to and say, ‘This guy’s a starting left or right tackle. Case closed.’ But when you dig into it, he’s never been much of a worker. Barely does enough to get by. Not super cooperative. Hard work is not in his vocabulary. Just does enough … But he has absolutely helped himself. Had a good Senior Bowl. Had a good combine. He’s probably been clean enough in the interviews that somebody would say, ‘Hey, we’ll work with him.’ I think he could flame out pretty quick because he’s not a worker. It might not be as easy as he thinks it’s going to be in the league.” So-so arm length (33 ¾), tiny hands (9). “Pro Bowl-caliber player,” a third scout said. “Looked a lot more comfortable on the right side. Really strong hands. Aggressive, can move people in the run game. Hard to beat in pass pro because he’s good with his set. You can’t run through him because he’s strong.” Wonderlic of 18. “He’s got character but he’s talented,” a fourth scout said. “He’s just got poor football character. Lazy, but he blocked Alabama, he blocked Georgia like it was nothing.”

#2 guard
2. O’CYRUS TORRENCE, Florida (6-5 ½, 331, 5.34, 1-2): Started 36 games from 2019-’21 at Louisiana. In the last three drafts, the Ragin’ Cajuns had three offensive linemen drafted and get off to successful starts: guard Kevin Dotson (fourth round) in Pittsburgh, guard Robert Hunt (second round) in Miami and tackle Max Mitchell (fourth round) with the Jets. “Is he the best of the four? He probably is,” one scout said. “But he helped himself by going to Florida.” Played his final season in Gainesville, starting at RG. “Good player, not a great player,” that same scout said. “He was a gap-scheme guard all the way.” Largest hands among the guards (11 ¼), arms were 33 7/8. “When I watched his pro-day stuff, is he a better athlete than I ever expected,” said a second scout. “I’m not talking good. I’m talking really good.” Scored 18 on the Wonderlic. “He is a power-oriented guard but he doesn’t move bad for a big guy,” a third scout said. “Really strong, can anchor. Plays on his feet. Really heavy-handed. Needs to work on his hand use as far as placement and maximizing his length. But if he hits you he’s got a powerful punch. His (negative) is technique-oriented. He’s a good second-round player on talent, particularly if you run a power scheme.” From Greensburg, La.

 

[CATCH17]

I don’t want a pure guard with our first pick.

I’d be ok with it but it’s meh. We shouldn’t have to use our first rounder every year to get a quality guard.

Darnell Wright is like a dream pick for the Oline though.

Continuity is just not realistic and injuries will happen so having guys that can play multiple positions is huge. Especially at tackle.

 

[Carson]

We are in a position not not force an Oline pick this year.

There seems to be two opinions on LG

- We don’t need to force and play our best 5

-Holy crap reach for Avila at 26!!!!

 

[RandyOh]

We don’t need to force a oline pick early. We have options at left guard. May not be elite options but we have options. If anything this sounds like we are in perfect position to get a great haul in a trade back with an oline desperate team.

 

[Stash]

One of the main reasons I'd be all for taking an o-lineman at 26.
I'm really hoping Wright or Torrence is there. But I'd be happy with Tippmman, JMS or Availa too. 26 is probably rich for them, but they probably wont make it to 58 so what do you do? Move up in rd 2?

I hear ya. You’d prefer to get them at 40 or later, but the question becomes ‘do you risk losing out entirely?’

 

[Stash]

We are in a position not not force an Oline pick this year.

Are we?

I’m not so sure.

Based on the lineups the Jones boys talked about, I’m very concerned. And any lineup that includes Chuma Edoga is downright terrifying.

 

[Gaede]

Yikes. Wright sounds a lot like Lael

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I don’t want a pure guard with our first pick.

I’d be ok with it but it’s meh. We shouldn’t have to use our first rounder every year to get a quality guard.

Darnell Wright is like a dream pick for the Oline though.

Continuity is just not realistic and injuries will happen so having guys that can play multiple positions is huge. Especially at tackle.

Yeah, D. Wright would be awesome.

 

[J-man]

#3 tackle
3. DARNELL WRIGHT, Tennessee (6-5 ½, 333, 5.01, 1-2): Another 5-star recruit, this time from Huntington, W.Va. “He is a talented underachiever,” said one scout. “Not great football character. You could hit on him. If he has an epiphany and becomes a pro, he’s got a ******** of talent.” Started 42 of 47 games over four seasons, including 27 at RT, 13 at LT and two at RG. “There’s a lot of entitlement with this kid but did he shut out (Alabama’s) Will Anderson,” another scout said. “Absolutely. If you want to like him that’s the tape you point to and say, ‘This guy’s a starting left or right tackle. Case closed.’ But when you dig into it, he’s never been much of a worker. Barely does enough to get by. Not super cooperative. Hard work is not in his vocabulary. Just does enough … But he has absolutely helped himself. Had a good Senior Bowl. Had a good combine. He’s probably been clean enough in the interviews that somebody would say, ‘Hey, we’ll work with him.’ I think he could flame out pretty quick because he’s not a worker. It might not be as easy as he thinks it’s going to be in the league.” So-so arm length (33 ¾), tiny hands (9). “Pro Bowl-caliber player,” a third scout said. “Looked a lot more comfortable on the right side. Really strong hands. Aggressive, can move people in the run game. Hard to beat in pass pro because he’s good with his set. You can’t run through him because he’s strong.” Wonderlic of 18. “He’s got character but he’s talented,” a fourth scout said. “He’s just got poor football character. Lazy, but he blocked Alabama, he blocked Georgia like it was nothing.”

#2 guard
2. O’CYRUS TORRENCE, Florida (6-5 ½, 331, 5.34, 1-2): Started 36 games from 2019-’21 at Louisiana. In the last three drafts, the Ragin’ Cajuns had three offensive linemen drafted and get off to successful starts: guard Kevin Dotson (fourth round) in Pittsburgh, guard Robert Hunt (second round) in Miami and tackle Max Mitchell (fourth round) with the Jets. “Is he the best of the four? He probably is,” one scout said. “But he helped himself by going to Florida.” Played his final season in Gainesville, starting at RG. “Good player, not a great player,” that same scout said. “He was a gap-scheme guard all the way.” Largest hands among the guards (11 ¼), arms were 33 7/8. “When I watched his pro-day stuff, is he a better athlete than I ever expected,” said a second scout. “I’m not talking good. I’m talking really good.” Scored 18 on the Wonderlic. “He is a power-oriented guard but he doesn’t move bad for a big guy,” a third scout said. “Really strong, can anchor. Plays on his feet. Really heavy-handed. Needs to work on his hand use as far as placement and maximizing his length. But if he hits you he’s got a powerful punch. His (negative) is technique-oriented. He’s a good second-round player on talent, particularly if you run a power scheme.” From Greensburg, La.

Thanks for posting, interesting review of Wright, where is this from?

 

[RS12]

Yikes. Wright sounds a lot like Lael

Good point. I was gonna say maybe being around Zack and Tyron would rub off on him but it never really did with La'el.

 

[RS12]

Thanks for posting Locked. McGinn scout articles always the high light of pre draft for me.

 

[locked&loaded]

Thanks for posting, interesting review of Wright, where is this from?

every year bob mcginn talks to anonymous nfl team scouts about the top prospects for each position. it used to be free with the journal sentinel when mcginn worked for them. now he writes for go long. its 8 bucks for the month and they are releasing one position group a day going forward. yesterday was tightends and wrs

https://www.golongtd.com/p/part-2-ol-buyer-beware

 

[Stash]

Good point. I was gonna say maybe being around Zack and Tyron would rub off on him but it never really did with La'el.

And now it’s even worse in Cincinnati. Their tackle situation is a mess, thanks in large part to Collins. I think based on the contract they gave him, they can’t even cut him.

 

[gtb1943]

Position flex all too often means jack of all trades master of none

This idea you have to have position flex is FINE for BACKUPS

Not for starters.

I would love a pure guard at LG

 

[Sydla]

I don’t want a pure guard with our first pick.

I’d be ok with it but it’s meh. We shouldn’t have to use our first rounder every year to get a quality guard.

Darnell Wright is like a dream pick for the Oline though.

Continuity is just not realistic and injuries will happen so having guys that can play multiple positions is huge. Especially at tackle.

Wright is a dream pick for me too.

 

[CATCH17]

Wright is a dream pick for me too.

Trent Williams starter kit.