Scouts Inc. - Prospects on rise after Senior Bowl

[Risen Star]

Cream of the crop

These players were the top five performers in Mobile last week, and all have the potential to be selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.


1. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
Martin took his game to another level as a senior at Notre Dame, and he was able to match that level at the Senior Bowl -- both in practices and in Saturday’s game. The biggest question mark for Martin is his lack of ideal length to play the tackle position in the NFL (32¼-inch arms). But while that is definitely a concern (former Raiders’ No. 2 pick Robert Gallery is one such cautionary tale), it isn’t a deal-breaker. Justin Pugh has similarly short arms, but he was a first-round pick in 2013 and showed a lot of promise as a rookie for the Giants.

Martin could quickly develop into a premier starting guard at the next level if he’s asked to move inside, but based on his tape and his performance in Mobile, there’s enough evidence in favor of giving him a shot at left tackle in the NFL. We’d be surprised if his name isn't called in the first round in May’s draft.


2. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Hageman has some boom-or-bust qualities to his game, but there is no denying his talent. We wish he had been a little more consistent in Mobile, and he still needs to work on his hands and learn to play with more consistent leverage, but there is no denying his talent; he has the raw tools to develop into an every-down difference-maker in the NFL.

Hageman could play defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense or 5-technique in a 3-4 -- or a mix of both. He’s expected to put up some pretty remarkable testing results at the combine, and we won’t be surprised if he ends up as a top-20 pick on May 8.


3. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Donald was one of the most productive defenders in college football last season, and he might have played himself into the first round in Mobile. He gave offensive linemen trouble all last week with his quickness and hands, and he has excellent snap anticipation and get-off speed.

His biggest concern as a prospect is his short frame. He has received a lot of comparisons to the Bengals’ Geno Atkins (a D-tackle who has overcome his lack of ideal size). But in the right defensive system (playing as a 3-technique in a Tampa-2 scheme) he could be very effective.


4. Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
Moses is still working on his technique and consistency, but he has the natural ability to develop into a solid starting tackle in the NFL, and he stood out as the second-best O-lineman (after Martin) in Mobile last week. Moses looks a lot more comfortable at left tackle (where he played this past season, and in Mobile) than he did at right tackle (where he played in 2012), especially with his pass protection sets.

Moses projects as a late first-round pick, and the Saints and Seahawks are two teams that could have interest in him.


5. Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn
Ford is undersized and struggles to set the edge as a run defender, but he is a highly effective edge rusher -- a skill that could buy him some time in the NFL as he improves his bulk and strength (he could thrive as a situational pass-rusher until he's physically ready to be an every-down player). He has good snap anticipation and outstanding first-step quickness, and he has developed a potent combination of outside-in and inside-out moves off the edge. He displayed violent hands and good upper-body power in practices last week, especially during bag drills.

He stood out as one of the most dominant players all week long, including a two-sack performance in Saturday’s game. He might not be a first-round pick, but if he makes it to Round 2 he isn’t likely to last long. Gus Bradley and the Jaguars’ coaching staff got a close-up look at Ford last week, and he’s also a potential fit for Tampa 2 teams like the Bears and Cowboys as a subpackage rusher, or 3-4 teams like the Packers and Jets as a rush linebacker.


http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nfl-draft/post?id=2641

 

[Risen Star]

Money makers

These prospects weren’t particularly well-known coming into the week, but they turned heads with their strong play in Mobile and may have made themselves some money in the process.


Keith McGill, CB, Utah
McGill’s week got off to a strong start on Monday morning when he checked in at 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, which is elite size for a cornerback prospect. While he has some tightness to him and can improve his technique in press coverage, McGill’s instincts, length, overall range and ability to locate and play the ball stood out throughout the week. He comes with some character baggage that scouts will need to investigate, but his performance last week and his solid game tape from 2013 make him a likely Day 1 prospect.


Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin
Borland lacks prototypical measurables, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more instinctive defender. His ability to make quick diagnoses last week allowed him to constantly be around the ball, and he also has excellent awareness in coverage and the versatility to provide pressure as a pass-rusher. He has worked himself into Day 2 range, and his game reminds us of former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas.


Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State
Despite a few miscues during the game, Mewhort helped his draft stock last week. We were impressed with his technique and overall balance in his movements, and he showed above-average inline capabilities as a run-blocker plus nice patience with his sets in pass protection. Mewhort now sits squarely in the second-round range and adds depth to what is developing into a strong class of offensive tackles.


Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
Ward was the best cover safety at this year’s Senior Bowl. His versatility stood out throughout the week as he showed above-average range lining up at the high point, while also possessing the fluidity to drop down in the slot and match up in man-to-man coverage. Ward also showed excellent instincts, and his performance in Mobile combined with strong production in 2013 has him in in the fringe Day 2 mix.


Nevin Lawson, CB, Utah State
It’s hard to argue that a player has gained more from this year’s all-star circuit than Lawson. He was able to parlay a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Game into an invite to Mobile, where he continued to catch scouts’ eyes. While he lacks ideal size (5-9, 184 pounds), Lawson makes up for it with above-average man coverage skills plus strong anticipation and ball skills. He capped off the week with a solid performance in Saturday’s game, highlighted by an interception that showcased his recovery speed. He looks to be in the early Day 3 conversation.


Other notable candidates:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
RB Charles Sims, West Virginia
RB James White, Wisconsin
WR Shaq Evans, UCLA
WR Ryan Grant, Tulane
TE Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State
OLB Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska
CB Jaylen Watkins, Florida


http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nfl-draft/post?id=2641

 

[Risen Star]

Missed opportunities

These guys didn’t help their stocks with their performances in Mobile last week.


Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor
Richardson got off to a strong start at the weigh-in, where he measured 6-4 and 343 pounds with 33⅞-inch arms, but his performance on the field was substandard. He flashed his brute strength but struggled with quickness as a run-blocker, and he got exposed working against defensive tackles in one-on-one pass-protection drills. In addition to ducking his head and lunging too often, he failed to move his feet and stay in front of defenders.


Michael Sam, DE, Missouri
Sam’s greatest strength is supposed to be rushing the passer, and even though he recorded a sack in the game, he didn’t look nearly as explosive as Ford and he relied on his speed rush too much during one-on-one pass-rushing drills over the course of the week. There are also concerns about his ability to play 3-4 outside linebacker. He looked uncomfortable in underneath coverage and stiff in space, raising concerns about his open-field tackling after the catch.


Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State
Sutton had four tackles in Saturday’s game, including a tackle for loss, but the bottom line with him is that at 6-0 and 315 pounds he is carrying too much weight on his frame and doesn’t appear nearly explosive as he did when he played at a lighter weight in 2012. He still plays with an edge and flashes heavy hands, but offensive linemen reached and engulfed him when he failed to win initially. If he can shed some weight and post a strong 10-yard split at the combine, it will help his cause. He’ll also need to interview well and ease concerns about his conditioning.


Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
In fairness, Matthews had the best week of the players to make this list. The adjustment he made on a back-shoulder catch during one-on-one drills and the way he tracked the ball on a 33-yard catch late in the game stood out. Yet he turned in an underwhelming and inconsistent performance during the week. He dropped too many passes and struggled to make contested catches, and after measuring at 6-2 and 209 pounds, Matthews struggled to get off the line working against McGill.


North team QBs: Tajh Boyd, Clemson; Stephen Morris, Miami (FL); Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
Boyd, Morris and Thomas failed to maximize their opportunities to make a positive impression with NFL evaluators. Thomas won the weigh-in at 6-5 and 250 pounds, had the strongest arm in Mobile, and reportedly interviewed well, but he missed the strike zone a bit too often during the week. Boyd was the most accurate of the three but struggled with his downfield touch and wasn’t nearly as effective in the game. The stakes were even higher for Morris, but he turned in the most underwhelming performance of all three of these passers.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nfl-draft/post?id=2641

 

[tm1119]

Really like Jimmie Ward. Perfect compliment to Church at FS.

And I hope Michael Sam drops because I think he can be a really good pass rusher at DE. Maybe not an every down player, but he knows how to get after the qb

 

[Oh_Canada]

Not impressed by Matthews-looks Brian Robiskie-ish to me.

 

[DFWJC]

I wish Jimmie Ward was a little taller. But then if he was, I guess everyone would want him.
Good player though.