Howdy. First post. Wanted to stay away from an Odell Beckham Jr. discussion because it still feels kind of raw to me and I'm on the side that believes it was a colossal mistake.
Alas. What's done is done and moving on. Wanted to talk about some 1st round prospects that I've watched and talk about play styles and pro comparisons because I've found that it's the easiest way of visualizing a player's game. So here goes:
Quinnen Williams - Fletcher Cox. Has the strength to two gap, but is at his best as a one gap penetrator. Can play anywhere along the line. 3T or 5T would likely be ideal. Huge arms, relatively small waist, thick lower end and lots of power and explosiveness.
Nick Bosa - Joey Bosa. I may be cheating here with this one, but how could I not? Speed to power that wins with leverage. Well built with long arms and crazy motor.
Greedy Williams - Stephon Gilmore. Long frame with smooth athleticism and very good down the field speed. Boundary corner only that isn't the most physical but can play man or zone. I can see Greedy thriving as a press bail corner shutting down one side of the field.
Josh Allen - (Rich man's) Bud Dupree. Just because Dupree hasn't lived up to the billing doesn't mean they aren't similar players. Allen has an explosive first step and is quite powerful but also quite raw and needs to develop a pass rush repertoire.
Clelin Ferrell - Derek Barnett. Didn't test the best at the combine but Ferrell has a phenomenal motor, sets the edge very well, doesn't take plays off and every so often surprises the OT with an incredible jump off the snap. Very, very similar to Barnett. I cannot overstate how the best aspect of Ferrell's game is his motor.
Brian Burns - Vic Beasley. Absurdly athletic and very, very smooth. Watch some of Burns' workouts at the combine. Undersized and questions about run defense. Best fit as a stand up EDGE. He came in at a good size at the combine, but I can definitely see his playing weight at around 230. Takes some plays off.
Devin White - Bobby Wagner. A do-everything, ridiculously athletic and intelligent field commander that rarely takes false steps and is a very, very good tackler. Good blitzer as well.
Ed Oliver - Jurrell Casey. Great twitch and powerful first impact against offensive linemen. Athletic and capable of collapsing the pocket. Plays stronger than his 290 lbs frame will let on. Best fit as a 5T in an odd front.
Jonah Williams - Jake Matthews. Easy comparison. Really polished coming out of college with great footwork. If there is anything to critique, it'd be nitpicking but I'd say sometimes he lets DL get into his body a bit too often. Matthews had that issue and was overpowered early.
D.K. Metcalf - Josh Gordon. Herculean body-type/frame that can overpower defensive backs with both strength and just pure straightline speed. Natural hands catcher. Won't run the full route tree but doesn't really need to.
Cody Ford - Trai Turner. Just a nasty, big, physical size/athleticism freak. Has the athleticism to succeed in a zone blocking scheme, but he would crush it in a man blocking unit. Can play tackle but could be a nightmare for defenders at guard.
Kyler Murray - Russell Wilson. I don't think he's as good as what we see with Wilson now, HOWEVER, the thing that both hang their hats on is escapability. It's what makes Murray special. The ability to escape and still target players down the field is why he might go 1st overall.
Dwayne Haskins - Phillip Rivers. Patient and intelligent, makes great adjustments pre-snap. Tremendous arm with acceptable delivery. Phenomenal intermediate accuracy. Tough in the pocket. Only question I have is ability to stay accurate under pressure. Rivers developed that trait.
Taylor Rapp - Tony Jefferson. Rangy and compact, didn't run at the combine but had a very good 3-cone that coincides with his ability to flip his hips in coverage. Strong hitter, but not his calling card.
Montez Sweat - Leonard Floyd. Not an exact comparison, as Floyd's frame is a bit thinner than Sweat's but they both make their hay on the same thing: a unique blend of length (both are 6'6), explosion, and athleticism. Both can drop back and cover, but are probably better moving forward towards the QB. Sweat makes good use of his arms, but needs to add a finishing move.
T.J. Hockenson - Travis Kelce. Obliterates people in the blocking game. Natural hands catcher with advanced route running and can overpower most safeties down the field. Above average athleticism. One of the best TE prospects in quite some time.
All of those seem like reasonable comps to me.
One guy that I think will disappoint is Greedy Williams. Athletically he has EVERYTHING. I just dont see technique nor instincts.
Yes. Murray doesn't take unnecessary hits. People look at him and automatically think he's a running QB, but like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, for the most part he has mastered looking down the field and directing traffic while using his legs to escape.
All of those seem like reasonable comps to me.
One guy that I think will disappoint is Greedy Williams. Athletically he has EVERYTHING. I just dont see technique nor instincts.
I do think he has some technique issues he needs to work on, though I will respectfully disagree on the instincts. Has 8 INTs and 19 PDs in two years and his closing speed playing in zone is probably best in class. The fact that his biggest negative is technique can perhaps even be spun into a positive in that it's something that's fixable and could make him even better IMHO
I do think he has some technique issues he needs to work on, though I will respectfully disagree on the instincts. Has 8 INTs and 19 PDs in two years and his closing speed playing in zone is probably best in class. The fact that his biggest negative is technique can perhaps even be spun into a positive in that it's something that's fixable and could make him even better IMHO
Fair enough. I am also wary of DK Metcalf although DG loves rocked up receivers so I think he will be in play at 17.
Not a great route runner, too many drops. That said, I think he helps Saquan immediately.
...and thank you for a very interesting and informative post!
Totally agree with this. He never takes a big hit (unless he doesn't see it coming). And wow he is FAST. And he throws a great football. If he was a few inches taller it's clear to me not anyone would question him being the 1st pick in the draft.
This is such another intriguing draft, so many good choices in the top ten picks. I'd be excited about any of the guys listed at #6. But if we go QB, I want Murray over Haskins.
Sounds like an interesting pick. Would allow to move Engram out wide, or as a second TE. So would plug a hole in the receivers. Would also help the O Line and blocking for Barkley is he’s as good a blocker as stated in the original post. Where is he projected to go?
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2nd in high jump, shuttle and cones. 6 or 15, we need to grab him for SB. GB is lurking for a TE but they may prefer Fant.
Sounds like an interesting pick. Would allow to move Engram out wide, or as a second TE. So would plug a hole in the receivers. Would also help the O Line and blocking for Barkley is he’s as good a blocker as stated in the original post. Where is he projected to go?
He's a sleeper for #6 to be honest with you. Could see him going as high as #4 to the Raiders and wouldn't bat an eye. More than likely will end up either in GB or CIN.
The Giants are going to this "run-first preferred Gettleman" philosophy. Evan Engram does not fit that as a TE. Hockenson is the perfect fit for what they might want to do, though I personally think they will likely go EDGE at #6. I doubt Hockenson will be available at 17, but he'd be a candidate for BPA if he does end up being there.
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2nd in high jump, shuttle and cones. 6 or 15, we need to grab him for SB. GB is lurking for a TE but they may prefer Fant.
Sounds like an interesting pick. Would allow to move Engram out wide, or as a second TE. So would plug a hole in the receivers. Would also help the O Line and blocking for Barkley is he’s as good a blocker as stated in the original post. Where is he projected to go?
He's one a like. He would fit perfectly in this "new" offense. But word is that both the Jags and the Lions are interested. So if they Giants want to take him, they may have to take him at 6.
Who's your comp on Daniel Jones?
His blocking is like having another lineman. He's not just a one-dimensional TE.
Who's your comp on Daniel Jones?
I'm going to be completely honest with you, I do NOT like Jones as a prospect. He has some good qualities but a lot of bad ones that I'm not sure are fixable.
My comp:
Daniel Jones - E.J. Manuel. They are roughly the same size and possess some of the same physical gifts. Really good dual threat potential. However, decision making lapses are present in every. single. game. He goes through progressions but is late on pulling the trigger too often for my liking. Accuracy is fine, but he'll have a high amount of interceptable throws.
I personally wouldn't touch Jones before our 95th pick.
You'd be killing two birds with one stone. A TE who can block and receive, a la Kelce, and a wideout in Engram. They need both.
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After all the heat DG got for taking a Rb 4th, I can’t imagine the heat he’d get for a TE, no matter how good of a fit he’d be. Even at 17, with all the holes on this team, I don’t see them going there. Ouch.
His blocking is like having another lineman. He's not just a one-dimensional TE.
Absolutely, this guy is a devastating blocker.
This model reminds me of the Pats when they had Gronk and Hernandez. It was very effective.
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but I would still keep Engram at TE.
This model reminds me of the Pats when they had Gronk and Hernandez. It was very effective.
And how!
...just re-read your opening post.
Wow, very impressive information, not to mention very well written!
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After all the heat DG got for taking a Rb 4th, I can’t imagine the heat he’d get for a TE, no matter how good of a fit he’d be. Even at 17, with all the holes on this team, I don’t see them going there. Ouch.
His blocking is like having another lineman. He's not just a one-dimensional TE.
Two way TEs are more of a unicorn than two way edge rushers nowadays.