Bob McGinn's draft series begins

trigger warning in the write-up for prospect #3:

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QUARTERBACKS 1. CALEB WILLIAMS, Southern Cal (6-1, 217, no 40, 1): His career passer rating of 118.9 using the NFL scale was the best of this class. “I think Caleb has the best chance to bust but also has the best chance to be freakin’ special,” one scout said. “I think he’s boom or bust. There are plays he makes that are fantastic where he scrambles and throws 50 yards downfield for a touchdown. Then you look at that play and there are simpler options that he doesn’t see or ignored.” Replaced Spencer Rattler and started the final seven games of his freshman season at Oklahoma. “Obviously, it’s very similar to how (Patrick) Mahomes played at Texas Tech,” a second scout said. “He constantly is trying to hit the grand slam against just taking the single or the double. I have a hard time believing you can’t coach that out of him. Caleb is the most natural thrower of the four. Seventy yards in the air, arched on a dime. Effortless. Throwing moving to his right from his hip 25 yards downfield on a line. My biggest concern will be his height. It does look at times he struggles to see in the pocket. That’s why he likes to move. He just does things other guys can’t do. Blend that in with being able to play on time and he’s going to be outstanding.” Declined to take a medical exam or test at the combine. “The biggest chance for bust is if Caleb Williams goes to Chicago,” a third scout said. “It’s going to be a lot tougher than people think. He’s got a lot of talent but, wow, he’s had red carpet treatment since the 9th grade. This is getting ready to be a whole different deal. It’s the Chicago media, then the comparison. If (Justin) Fields goes and does anything in Pittsburgh it won’t play well. And the pressure … he ended up in the stands (clutching his mother at the Coliseum Nov. 4 after a loss to Washington) crying like a baby. For a lot of scouts that was a disqualifier. Then you got the painted fingernails, the cars, special treatment. He knows one offense, which you can write on one piece of paper, with Lincoln Riley. Of all those OU quarterbacks he’s the most gifted but none of them have really done it in the league. And Williams’ workout (at pro day) wasn’t godawful but just mediocre.” According to one club official, his father, Carl, told him “it’s too windy in Chicago. Why should we go to Chicago when the open-air stadium is not a place Caleb will like?” Said the official: “You talk about self-serving, vicariously live through your son b.s. He needs to get away from his old man. … I like the kid. He gets a little caught up in the LA bullshit, but once he gets with somebody strong he’ll be fine. Because Lincoln Riley’s not a strong guy, either.” Three of his five interceptions in 2023 came at South Bend in a 48-20 loss to Notre Dame. “I’m going Jayden Daniels because I can’t get the f--king Notre Dame game out of my head,” a fifth scout said. “A lot of Caleb is when he’s just running around kind of being playground. He’s also kind of making it about myself.” One of the scouts said Williams, who posted a 23-10 record as a starter, shouldn’t be thrust into the lineup immediately. “You better have the right offensive coordinator for him and do not rush him into the NFL,” he said. “In today’s football everybody wants to rush guys. Let him sit for a while. Let him process.” An executive with an established quarterback has followed Williams from afar. “He just comes out with these things that are kind of spoiled and demanding,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the people around him or what it is. Whether this is the case with him or not, when you get a guy that in his mind feels like you’re fortunate he’s there, it can come off that way and rub teammates the wrong way. I don’t know if he’s got that but he can’t come in with that. People are going to have to jell with him immediately. Because if they don’t, it might be an issue from a leadership standpoint.” From Washington, D.C. Hands were 9 ¾ inches. 2. JAYDEN DANIELS, Louisiana State (6-3 ½, 210, no 40, 1): His NFL passer rating jumped from 101.9 in 2022 to 145.3 in ’23. “I’m assuming Chicago is taking Williams but they were at that workout and Williams’ was mediocre and Jayden’s was pretty good,” one scout said. “I wouldn’t be stunned if that happened (the Bears pick Daniels). I have a little more appreciation for what Jayden did this year. He had a spectacular year, no doubt about it. There’s a lot of momentum for him but it doesn’t come without some concerns.” Daniels rushed for 3,307 yards in five seasons compared to 966 for Williams in three. His aggressive style of running, however, raises durability issues. “He was 185 at Arizona State (in 2021),” one scout said. “At that point in time there was so much concern over his physical body weight. He was putting up stats in every game but don’t trust him to win the big game, which you saw this year. With Jayden, you’re going to see a lot of running very early on. He doesn’t have the poise, the processing to hang in there and find a receiver like a lot of guys can do. (Scrambling) isn’t the worst thing in the world. A lot of guys have made a good living doing it. Jayden has that instant speed. I’d estimate he’d run 4.45. Justin Fields has more build-long speed. Jayden takes off and it’s full speed quick, which is a huge benefit for him. It’ll come down to can he stay healthy. I think you’re going to see a lot of flaws in his game that everyone saw the first four years he was playing college football and aren’t even being talked about now.” The Tigers, ranked fifth at the start of last season, ended up 12th after going 10-3. Daniels’ record for LSU against top-20 teams was 3-5. “Athletic freak,” another scout said. “Still going to have to learn the nuances of an NFL defense and read coverages a little bit better. He was surrounded by really good, skilled athletes at receiver. The question is, can he overcome that? He’s got a lot of gifts and a lot of savvy and has played a lot of football.” Several scouts worried that his mother, Regina, might have an adverse effect on his career. “She pushed him to leave school after the (2022) season,” said one. “She will show up to the facility at times. She will probably move to wherever he goes.” His career passer rating was 109.1. His record was 37-18. His hands were 9 3/8. “I just didn’t see consistency from a condensed pocket,” one scout said. “When it’s clean, he’s really good. He has rhythm and had really good playmakers on the outside. But in gotta-have-it, pressure situations, when it looked more like an NFL game, I thought his accuracy declined. I’m somewhat nitpicking. At the college level, you can see an off-placement throw and it’s a catch. At our level, some of those limitations are magnified. I thought he’d struggle a little bit playing with a lot more (pressure) in the pocket.” From San Bernardino, Calif. 3. DRAKE MAYE, North Carolina (6-4 ½, 227, no 40, 1): Backed up Sam Howell in 2021 and then went 17-9 as the starter in 2022-’23. “Andrew Luck was further along than Drake Maye but the talent level is somewhat similar,” said one scout. “His pro day was really good. He throws a great deep ball for a guy that’s not supposed to have an elite arm. His accuracy and touch are his secret sauce. That’s what he’s really good at.” Finished with a passer rating of 106.3. Rushed for 1,209. “He’s the Jared Goff clone with his mobility,” a second scout said. “Goff ran 4.82. I’d say he’s 4.75.” Hands were 9 1/8. “I see a gifted athlete who can make all the passes,” a third scout said. “In the ’23 season he had a really bad offensive line and got exposed a little bit. There was a degree of inconsistency with his throwing motion and his throwing accuracy. I still think there’s upside with this guy, and he’s young (will be 22 in August). I do see him as a Pro Bowl starter.” Comes from an enormously athletic family. “He’s gotten close to Philip Rivers, who’s a little bit of a hillbilly from Alabama who went to NC State,” a fourth scout said. “Maye is from Charlotte and went to Carolina. So you think this guy’s going to have some polish. He walked in the room and he sounded like Jethro Bodine on the Beverly Hillbillies. We just went, ‘Who is this guy?’ Watching the tape, all this animation. This kid is sort of wound tight trying to be something he’s not … I thought his tape was kind of average, to be honest. He needs a year to just sit, and I don’t know if the teams that are going to take him can do that. I think it’s going to be real hard. He is not explosive with his arm. He’s a good athlete, but you see very few plays where he just rips the ball into a tight window. One thing I noticed was that all his takeoffs were into the boundary, the short side of the field. Any time he threw to the field (side) was to the slot (receiver) down the hashmark. I kind of thought they even recognized that there were some arm strength issues there. I thought I was going to turn on the tape, sit back and watch the show. After about five throws I went, ‘Are you kidding me? All this hype over this guy?’” His family lives in Huntersville, N.C. “He’s got all the physical tools,” a fifth scout said. “Sometimes there’s some wiring … there’s some Daniel Jones in there. Sometimes when it gets a little hairy, what’s he wired like?” 4. J.J. McCARTHY, Michigan (6-2 ½, 215, no 40, 1): Of the top four quarterbacks only McCarthy truly elevated his team. “He’s got major weaknesses but there’s something about that kid that is absolutely special,” one scout said. “He completely changed that rivalry (Ohio State-Michigan). He singlehandedly won both of those games. The one in Columbus (in 2022), people don’t realize some of those throws he made in that game. Then his ability to never get off the field and extend plays is uncanny. All this talk that Michigan built him and it was (Jim) Harbaugh and the O-line. Their O-line sucked this year … The 9-inch hand and the way he throws the ball really scares me. It’s one speed. He has no ability to layer balls in between defenders. Everything’s a fastball. His deep balls are line drives, which is very unfriendly to receivers especially when he gets to this level and it’s contested and not just wide open. But there’s magic. There are these guys that seem to always do this and it always works. The throws by Mahomes early in his career when he’d throw into coverage and it somehow landed in the lap of the Kansas City guy. I don’t know if he’s got this magic to him or if it’s just luck. You’re drafting a guy whose character has been so overhyped you’re neglecting some of these holes. It’s somewhere in between.” Third-year junior won the job in Game 2 of 2022 from Cade McNamara. “I don’t think he’ll fail,” a second scout said. “I saw him as a Kirk Cousins type player.” Finished with a passer rating of 111.3. Rushed for 632. “I like him as a short-to-intermediate passer,” said a third scout. “He’s smart. He’ll distribute the ball. But I don’t see him as a guy who will win a game for you on his own.” His record was 27-1. “He’s better than Harbaugh was,” a fourth scout said. “It’s difficult to have a personality like Harbaugh but he might be close. He does some different things. Meditation, all this he does. He’s got feet. He’s at least a 4.5 guy. He’s got a strong arm. But everything about this guy is development. He won’t make as big an impact maybe as the three above him at first but he can overtake Caleb Williams and Maye. If you play for Jim Harbaugh and win a national championship, you’re good.” In October, Michigan’s athletic department released a 3-minute video in which McCarthy discussed the “big depression” he fell into as a senior in high school and the value of meditation. “He has championed the mental health stuff,” said a fifth scout. “But in the NFL, those fans aren’t going to be the same. You’re going to do that at Arrowhead? Foxborough? Those fans are going to destroy this poor kid if he’s out there sitting under the goal post an hour and a half before the game. It’s part of his resume. You got to make sure you understand that and that’s going to be something you’re going to be involved in with him. How do you replicate the cockpit and the nest he was in at Michigan. It’s hard.” Averaged 22.1 pass attempts in the Wolverines’ 15-0 title season. “He still doesn’t have much experience because he hasn’t thrown the ball very much,” said a sixth scout. “There’s a level of immaturity that he’s going to have to work through. He’s a good kid (but) he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. It’s kind of buyer beware.” From La Grange Park, Ill. 5. MICHAEL PENIX, Washington (6-2, 216, 4.58, 1-2): While the top four quarterbacks along with Bo Nix, Michael Pratt and Devin Leary declined to run a 40, Penix blistered a 4.58 at pro day. One scout estimated he’d run 4.9; another guessed 4.75 to 4.8. “If he goes in the first round I wouldn’t be shocked,” said one scout. “If Tua (Tagovailoa) went top 10 (No. 5 in 2020), I don’t know why this guy can’t go top 10. He’s a better athlete. He throws it just as well. It’s all timing and rhythm. They’re both not great outside extending plays.” Went 12-5 as the starter at Indiana from 2019-’21; in ’20, the Hoosiers cracked the Top 10 for the first time since 1969. “He did a lot of stuff outside the pocket at Indiana,” a second scout said. “When I saw him at Washington I was shocked. He wasn’t the same guy. He stayed in the pocket and made good decisions. He was best throwing outside the numbers (in 2023). He can throw the back shoulders, the fades and ups.” His four seasons at IU ended with four season-ending injuries: two torn right ACLs, a right shoulder dislocation and a left shoulder dislocation. “I can’t get the damn Indiana tape out of my mind,” said a third scout. “It was real bad. Now give the kid credit. He changed scenery and kind of reinvented himself and had a hell of a team this year. He’s got arm strength, big hands and he can fling it, but he’s got like a weird sidearm short release. Accuracy’s up and down. I don’t know how tough this kid is. He shows you fringe starter talent and barely No. 3 talent. But there are so many quarterback gurus and experts that, ‘Oh, if I get my hands on him I can do this.’” Hands were 10 ½, largest at the position. “Penix is an incredible passer,” said a fourth scout. “He is a pure passer of the ball. He throws the best deep ball I’ve seen in 30 years. It’s an absolutely beautiful deep ball. But there are a lot of things with him that may not translate. The injury history. Been in the same system at Indiana and UW. How will that translate to new coaches, new system? As far as just going out there and throwing the football, he can do it.” The left-handed Penix posted his best passer rating in 2023 (106.8) to finish his career at 99.4. At Indiana, his rating was 87.9. “You saw him fall apart against Michigan (in the CFP title game),” said a fifth scout. “He’s been pretty fortunate. Good offensive line, quality receivers. He couldn’t get out of the pocket and scramble and get away. He’s had injuries in the past. I wouldn’t want to take him.” From Tampa, Fla. 6. BO NIX, Oregon (6-2, 217, no 40, 2-3): Auburn went 21-13 with him starting from 2019-’21. Oregon went 22-5 with him the past two years. “He truly had a transformation,” one scout said. “The kid played at an all-time high. Forty-five touchdowns, three picks (in 2023). He was absolutely on point the second year at Oregon. He’s dedicated, mature and all that. He’s also the oldest guy (turns 25 in February 2025). You pull him out of that situation and put him into the NFL, especially if he were to go as a first-rounder, the expectations, the pressure, now you’re right back to Auburn. And he went to the Senior Bowl and reverted back. He was bailing out backwards as soon as pressure showed, not as accurate. If you told me second or third round, great. Top 15 or top 25? God bless him. As a first-round pick with imminent pressure and expectations? You’re creating a circumstance where the kid has already failed once.” His father, Pat, quarterbacked Auburn from 1992-’95 and has coached football for years. “He completed 77.4% this year,” said a second scout. “Throws a lot of short and intermediate stuff but he still is accurate down the field. He’s been in two different systems and produced. I never thought he was that good at Auburn but at Oregon I was really impressed by his ability to process and get the ball down there. He’s got a good enough arm to get it intermediate and throw the long ball. He doesn’t throw the long ball as good as Penix but he can move and scramble. I’d like to have somebody better but if I had to have one I’d take him as my starter.” Finished with a passer rating of 104.3, including 86.2 at Auburn and 126.2 at Oregon. Also ran for 1,613 and 38 touchdowns. “Started more games in college football (61) than most,” a third scout said. “He had the opportunity to play in an offense (Oregon) that is not in sync with the NFL. But the guy is competitive. He’s a subtly good athlete. Better than you realize. He’s sneaky good in terms of moving, avoiding, extending and running if he has to. I just think he’ll be a quality backup.” Hands were 10 1/8. “He will bust,” a fourth scout said. “That (no 40) is an indication he doesn’t run well. He’s selling himself on his running. He can’t throw the ball. Got a noodle arm. He can’t push the ball down the field. If he went first round that would shock me. He’s last year’s Tennessee quarterback, Hendon Hooker. The hype.” From Pinson, Ala.

faster, has the same work ethic and character and also lacks explosiveness. If we draft him at 6, he'll disappoint.

4 were in the Round 1 only classification (Williams, Daniels, Maye, and McCarthy), Penix had a Round 1-2 grade, whereas Bo Nix was in the same tier as Spencer Rattler with a Round 2-3 grade. Nix also by far was the 6th QB when he asked the 15 scouts are so he talked with about who the top 5 were (the difference between Penix and Nix was slightly larger than the difference between McCarthy and Penix and almost as large as the gap between Daniels and Maye). His rankings clearly look like Williams/Daniels <gap> Maye/McCarthy <gap> Penix <gap> Nix

In comment 16475097 Ira said:

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faster, has the same work ethic and character and also lacks explosiveness. If we draft him at 6, he'll disappoint.

I don't see that comparison at all. Shep never had anywhere near the ball skills that Odunze has

In comment 16475111 Strahan91 said:

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In comment 16475097 Ira said: Quote: faster, has the same work ethic and character and also lacks explosiveness. If we draft him at 6, he'll disappoint. I don't see that comparison at all. Shep never had anywhere near the ball skills that Odunze has

Agreed don’t see that at all. Sheppard’s balll skills were nowhere near odunze (which is why his production was nowhere near) and without looking it up I’d bet he was at least 20 pounds lighter and worse in every combine drill.

.

the way it comes across, ALL these QBs suck, don't bother.
WTF, so I guess teams shouldn't EVER take a shot, unless Andrew Luck comes along. Sheesh!

In comment 16475275 Dave on the UWS said:

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the way it comes across, ALL these QBs suck, don't bother. WTF, so I guess teams shouldn't EVER take a shot, unless Andrew Luck comes along. Sheesh!

i mean a scout said he could see qb3 (maye) starting in the pro bowl and that qb4 (jjm) is special in how he elevated his team.

is the expectation that any of these guys have no negatives at all? no the less the qb3 and qb4?

enjoy these, but I've always found them overly negative.

I still say the guy who had the best balance was Joel Buchsbaum.

In comment 16475285 Eric from BBI said:

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enjoy these, but I've always found them overly negative. I still say the guy who had the best balance was Joel Buchsbaum.

Co-Signed. Miss Joel a ton.

I appreciate the work McGinn puts in - but agree.

In comment 16475285 Eric from BBI said:

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enjoy these, but I've always found them overly negative. I still say the guy who had the best balance was Joel Buchsbaum.

buschbaum was the best. i think belichek either wrote in his obit that he tried to hire him more than once. he wrote more from his own observations than scout quotes though.

i dont think mcginn's reports are overly negative but i do think he makes sure to include the best/worst opinions to give both sides vs. playing it down the mushy middle.

his best thing is that his rankings are almost always the correct order of how the players come off the board in the draft. his top 100 is almost always the most accurate and his grade projections are usually dead on. if he says there are 25 first rounders, almost all of those guys are going first round.

I don't understand why no one has copied Joel's old format. It was the best draft guide because of the content, but also because of the format.

I do suspect, however, Joel probably would have gotten into far more hot water today given the overly sensitive nature of today's athletes. But he was the best at identifying off-the-field concerns and attitude issues.

In comment 16475299 Eric from BBI said:

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I don't understand why no one has copied Joel's old format. It was the best draft guide because of the content, but also because of the format. I do suspect, however, Joel probably would have gotten into far more hot water today given the overly sensitive nature of today's athletes. But he was the best at identifying off-the-field concerns and attitude issues.

i think basically everyone has copied it? i still have like 20 of them in a box somewhere, his format was bio, positives, negatives, summary. bascially exactly what brugler, ourlads, nfl.com all do.

by the way just googled it and joels old draft guides are for sale on amazon for $150+. collectors items lol.
https://www.amazon.com/1994-Draft-Preview-Joel-Buchsbaum/dp/B000FJNGU2 - ( New Window )

and the "little bit of Daniel Jones there" and immediately made up his mind that Maye is his guy.

Ourlads has one single paragraph and mixes the pros and cons together.

The others kind of do it with positives and negatives, but they don't cut to the chase like Joel did.

I learned more from fewer words in Joel's guides than I do with The Beast. I think the reason is Joel's write-up emphasized the most important attributes and the other, longer guides almost have overkill and the big stuff gets lost in the little stuff... if that makes sense.

Long story short, Joel had a way of painting a true picture of the prospect.

I have a fortune in Joel Buchsbaum's guides!

i have them going back to 1985 or 1986.

I have his guides from 1987 - 2003.

Then Nawrocki took over until 2017 and they disappeared.

In comment 16475312 Eric from BBI said:

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Ourlads has one single paragraph and mixes the pros and cons together. The others kind of do it with positives and negatives, but they don't cut to the chase like Joel did. I learned more from fewer words in Joel's guides than I do with The Beast. I think the reason is Joel's write-up emphasized the most important attributes and the other, longer guides almost have overkill and the big stuff gets lost in the little stuff... if that makes sense. Long story short, Joel had a way of painting a true picture of the prospect.

i agree he was the best. this is the only screenshot i could find of one of his books but maybe one day this week ill try to dig some of the old ones out. my memory is his scouting reports were longer for better prospects. I remember the randy moss scouting report being like 2 full pages.



for years pre-internet id go back to his books for scouting reports on free agents the giants signed 4-5 years after they were drafted.

In comment 16475316 Eric from BBI said:

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I have his guides from 1987 - 2003. Then Nawrocki took over until 2017 and they disappeared.

thats awesome i think i have about the same i just need to find them.

if you go back and read them it is shocking how well they hold up. sucks he passed a year before eli, that would have been an interesting one to go back to.

he got more wordy than that... that's even shorter than a remember.

In comment 16475325 Eric from BBI said:

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he got more wordy than that... that's even shorter than a remember.

that was low profile players. i think my dad has all the way back to simms/montana and even those were lengthier.

6-4, 255, 4.9, Texas Southern

Notes: Very limited football background. Played only one year of high-school football. Has improved every year since coming to Texas Southern. Had 38 tackles and two sacks in 1990, 50 stops and 14.5 sacks in 1991 and 62 tackles and 19 sacks in 1992. Was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after the 1992 season and played in the Senior Bowl.

Positives: Well-built and has the fame to get bigger. Long arms. Well-developed legs and calves. Good athlete. Quick and agile. Good first step and is really quick over the first 10 yards. Fine competitor. Will hustle and chase. Learns well. Is receptive to coaching. Is learning how to grab and jerk, is developing an inside move. Has improved every year.

Negatives: Still very raw and green. Plays tall. Lacks weight, upper-body strength and technique. Will stand up and peek into the backfield at times. Struggles to come off a block if he does not beat the blocker with his first move. Looks like a one-speed player at times. Rarely shows big-time closing burst. Tries hard bust is not a mean, ornery, Richard Dean-type player.

Summary: Very interesting developmental prospect with pass-rush potential. Needs good, patient coaching but has the tools to rush the passer, provided he has the toughness and tenacity. Could develop into a double-digit sack man but has some similarities to Keith Baldwin (Texas A&M and the Cleveland Browns' second-round draft choice in 1982) that are troubling.

to use yellow highlighters to identify my favorite guys and I had Strahan highlighted!

In comment 16475333 Eric from BBI said:

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to use yellow highlighters to identify my favorite guys and I had Strahan highlighted!

honestly i used to almost read those cover to cover. im trying to think of any other good ones, i vaguely remember either ron dixon or jeff hatch being funny because those were ernie picks where nobody even knew who they were when they were announced but buschbaum had them exactly right.

was alive when Kadarius Toney came out, Buchsbaum would have said there was a problem there with his attitude. No question.

There was a fascinating article on him years ago about his life after he died... how he lived in this little apartment that was filled with published material on all of the prospects (pre-internet remember). If you looked at the guy, you never would have guessed it.

In comment 16475346 Eric from BBI said:

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was alive when Kadarius Toney came out, Buchsbaum would have said there was a problem there with his attitude. No question. There was a fascinating article on him years ago about his life after he died... how he lived in this little apartment that was filled with published material on all of the prospects (pre-internet remember). If you looked at the guy, you never would have guessed it.

he was somewhere on the spectrum. my dad met him in the 70's at the draft (when only like 100 people went to the draft) and he said he was basically how you would expect a 3am WFAN caller to be. pretty sure he was still living in his families basement when he passed.

Also pretty sure he used to do everything hand written then fax it to pro football weekly and then they had to type it all up. i think that may have been in an article the times wrote after he passed which may be what you are thinking of too - it had pics of his hand written notes on vince manuwai for the upcoming draft book he hadnt yet completed.

I could remember what article that was... it was a fantastic overview of a strange life. I think he lived in Brooklyn.

"Those fans are going to destroy this poor kid if he’s out there sitting under the goal post an hour and a half before the game."

McGinn has never heard of noise-canceling headphones.

''All the years I knew him, I saw him once,'' Accorsi said. ''Most N.F.L. people never saw him; they just talked to him on the phone.''

His monthly phone bills were as much as $1,500, which Pro Football Weekly paid. But he never took a month off. Or a week or a day.

''He was the first to make the draft a 365-days-a-year obsession,'' said Joel Bussert, the N.F.L.'s senior director of player personnel.

Before his death, Buchsbaum had completed about 70 percent of his predraft book analyzing virtually every player who might be selected (and many who would not be), then summarizing the player's future.

''I guarantee you,'' Accorsi said, ''that Joel's predraft book is in every team's war room this weekend.''

Of quarterback Carson Palmer, the overall No. 1 choice already signed by the Cincinnati Bengals, Buchsbaum wrote: ''Great mechanics, good feet, size, arm and accuracy. Plays hurt. Has big 10-inch hands.'' But he warned: ''Lacks a quick arm. Doesn't have much personality or fire and is a marginal leader who seems to lack the persona to attract teammates as followers.''

Of Byron Leftwich, the Marshall quarterback taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday with the seventh choice, Buchsbaum wrote: ''Top leader and competitor, whose teammates and coaches love to be around him. Has rare size and exceptional arm strength that lets you draw your plays on longer paper.'' But he warned, ''Tends to run hot and cold and has too much confidence in his arm strength and accuracy at times.''

Perhaps Buchsbaum's most prescient evaluation involved Ryan Leaf, the quarterback who may be the N.F.L.'s biggest first-round bust.

''Very self-confident,'' he wrote in his 1998 predraft analysis, ''to the point where some people view him as arrogant and almost obnoxious.''

Bill Belichick, the New England coach, and Accorsi were among those who attended Buchsbaum's funeral. Belichick later spoke at a tribute to Buchsbaum at the N.F.L. scouting combine in Indianapolis.

''I tried to hire Joel as a scout,'' Belichick said, ''but he told me he didn't want to work for one team. He wanted to work for all of them.''

To prove his impartiality, Buchsbaum liked to wear caps with various N.F.L. team logos rather than, say, a cap with one team's logo.

''I never met Joel, I just talked to him on the phone,'' Belichick said. ''I've got all his draft books going back to '78; they never really go out of date. After the first day of the draft, I'd call him and ask, 'Who are your top five that haven't been drafted yet?' The second day, they'd usually peel off in the order he had them in.''

Belichick sent Buchsbaum 30 to 40 college tapes at a time to assess the pro potential of various players.

''Joel did it just through work,'' Belichick said. ''He watched tape and he took notes. The beauty of his being an independent scout was that he didn't care if a player was from Florida or U.S.C. or Bethune-Cookman. He just told you what he saw. His write-ups were in all of our scouting reports.''
Sports of The Times; Remembering The Ultimate N.F.L. Draftnik - ( New Window )

In comment 16475359 Eric from BBI said:

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I could remember what article that was... it was a fantastic overview of a strange life. I think he lived in Brooklyn.

im not positive if it was the same one i just posted, that one covers some of it but i remember a longer article on his odd life with more quotes too which may be what you are remembering.

a strange guy, but I miss him.

Died way too young.

Never into the draft guides I did read up a bit on JB one time. Interesting guy and one respected for his work. Kept only canned soup in his cabinets.

One poster posted a little while back that the Giants saw Alt as a potential HOF OT.

In comment 16475299 Eric from BBI said:

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I don't understand why no one has copied Joel's old format. It was the best draft guide because of the content, but also because of the format. I do suspect, however, Joel probably would have gotten into far more hot water today given the overly sensitive nature of today's athletes. But he was the best at identifying off-the-field concerns and attitude issues.

Immediately thought of Eli Apple and Kadarious Toney when I saw you type this.

In comment 16475285 Eric from BBI said:

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enjoy these, but I've always found them overly negative. I still say the guy who had the best balance was Joel Buchsbaum.

Eric

I couldn’t agree more about Joel B.
In my mind , nobody ever got evaluations right at a higher rate than him.

I’m happy to see you giving him credit.

could see giants going RB in round 3 for the right guy (shout out madplaid) but i think more likely round 4/5 is where they come into play. ideally they'd do what they did a few years ago to add an extra 4th round pick or 2.

1. JONATHON BROOKS, Texas (6-0 ½, 214, no 40, 2-3): Third-year junior. “He’s not only a great person but he’s a really talented player,” one scout said. “They had brought in a guy with NIL money (CJ Baxter) and he still beat him out. They had those other backs (Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson) earlier in his career they tried to force in there but he was as good as they were. This guy’s a good player. He’s country, he’s tough and he’s fast. I’d say he’s a 4.4.” Carried just 51 times in 2021-’22 before delivering 1,139 yards in ’23. Suffered a torn ACL Nov. 11 against TCU and remains in rehabilitation. “You’ve got to worry about that,” a second scout said of the injury. “He was a really good player before that. He backed up Bijan Robinson, and when he came in the game there wasn’t much difference.” Finished with 238 carries for 1,479 yards (6.2-yard average) and 16 touchdowns. His reception total was 28. “He’s hurt but he’s good,” said a third scout. “Any other year he’d be a first-round dude. He catches, he runs, he’s got vision, he’s smooth. He’s got big-play ability. He’ll pound it in as well. I was never a huge Bijan guy so I don’t think there’s that much difference.” From Hallettsville, Texas.

2. TREY BENSON, Florida State (6-0, 221, 4.42, 2-3): Helped himself considerably with a swift 40 at the combine. “I estimated 4.60,” said one scout. “He surprised me. I blew him big-time. More of a straight-line guy. I thought he was best as a receiver. He’s my third-down back the way he can catch the ball, he can run and he’s a strong runner. I don’t really see elusiveness.” As a freshman at Oregon in 2020 he suffered a torn ACL, additional ligament damage and cartilage damage in a December practice. Available for just six carries in 2021 before becoming a Seminole. Made second team All-Atlantic Coast Conference the past two years. “Good player – very consistent,” said a second scout. “He can do everything. He’s a starter.” Finished with 316 rushes for 1,917 (6.1) and 24 TDs to go with 33 receptions. “He could go in the top 60,” a third scout said. “If you need one you’ve got to take one at some point. He’s a viable second-round talent. He’s not that great in the passing game. Not a real natural catcher. He’s not a hammer. He’s not lacking toughness. He’s more slippery. But he’s fast and sudden, got really good feet, hits home runs. No wasted motion to his running style. He’s also 220. Has a chance to be a pretty good player.” From Greenville, Miss. “Another big back who runs hard with vision but no juice, no quickness, no explosiveness,” a third scout said. “He’s the exact opposite of (Frank) Gore. He’s got all the measurables and the 40 and size.”

3. BLAKE CORUM, Michigan (5-7 ½, 204, 4.53, 2-3): Started 29 of 45 games over four years, setting the Wolverines’ record for touchdowns from scrimmage with 61 (28 in 2023). “Love that kid,” one scout said. “Great pad level, tough, hard to tackle, very strong for his frame. Just not a home-run guy, but the NFL is made of guys like that on first and second down. He can play on third down because you can trust him in pass protection. He’ll be a playoff-style running back when you have to run the football. I would not be afraid to take him in the second, based on your roster. He has to stay healthy but trust me, he will do everything in the offseason to make sure he’s healthy. In the offseason, Blake Corum will be one of those guys who’s in the building every single day even if he doesn’t have to be. Character is off the charts.” Was in the running for the Heisman Trophy in 2022 before suffering ligament, cartilage and bone damage in a knee late in the season. Still finished seventh before being named the team’s MVP and toughest player by vote of his teammates. Started all 15 games in 2023 but his yards per carry dipped from 5.9 to 4.8. “I thought he lost just a tick from what he was playing at before the injury,” a second scout said. “Undersized and shifty. Shows good quickness, speed and vision. Just limited in the pass game. He’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Willing in pass pro. The size obviously is there but he’s not afraid to throw his body around. Not a natural route runner but he can catch it. There’s a shot for him to be a starter.” Finished with 675 carries for 3,737 (5.5) and 58 TDs but caught just 56 passes. “He’s faster than Emmitt Smith but Smith weighed 10 more pounds and was taller,” a third scout said. “Of all the players in this year’s draft, if I had to pick one player that I loved watching, (Jayden) Daniels would be first and Corum would be the second. I don’t know if the guy can last at that size. Emmitt Smith had the best balance of anyone and this guy has that same type of balance. The guy is a terrific player.” His 27 reps on the bench press led the position. “Other than size, I really like him,” said a fourth scout. “I don’t like that size. I think he’s strictly a strong backup.” From Marshall, Va.

4. JAYLEN WRIGHT, Tennessee (5-10 ½, 210, 4.38, 3): Third-year junior led the Volunteers in rushing the past two seasons in an Air Raid offense. “He’s a slippery, darter-type runner that is highly efficient,” one scout said. “Has speed, quickness and vengeance. Will finish runs. He’s tough. Not into dodging when the picture becomes cloudy. Can elude in tight spaces. Can get to daylight. Not a punishing runner but very proficient with his style. Functional as a receiver but not as a blocker. His weakness would be the power to move piles and break tackles, pass pro and routes.” Fastest back in the draft. “More of a big-play, straight-line guy,” said a second scout. “Does have good hands. Of all the backs, this guy might be the most explosive. He’s not elusive.” Finished with 368 carries for 2,297 (6.2) and 18 TDs plus 30 receptions. His 7.4 average in 2023 led FBS. “He’s fast but I’m not going there,” a third scout said. Led the top 25 backs in the broad jump (11-2). From Durham, N.C.

5. BRAELON ALLEN, Wisconsin (6-1, 236, no 40, 3-4): Third-year junior. “God, I just wish he would show more,” one scout said. “There’s a ‘but’ that drives me crazy. It’s called consistency of domination. He doesn’t bring the hammer. He just doesn’t run big. He’s not Derrick Henry, by any means.” Finished with 597 carries for 3,494 (5.9) and 35 TDs to go with 49 catches. “Kind of a conundrum,” said a second scout. “For being a big, good-looking running back he doesn’t always play that way. There are times he thinks of himself as a 195-pound back, not a 230-pound back. The thing that’s concerning is his instincts and vision, which are pretty much a requirement for a running back. Some have it naturally. Maybe he’ll figure it out more as he gets a little older. He only played running back for the three seasons in college.” Recruited as a safety with a planned move to linebacker before injuries forced the Badgers to move him to RB almost immediately. One of the youngest players in the draft; turned 20 in January. “What’s interesting is he played his whole college career as a teenager,” said a third scout. “They ran more of a pro-style system with Paul Chryst and the kid was extremely productive two years in a row. This year, they switched to a shotgun-spread offense where he was a sidecar. There were a lot of delays. You go across, get the ball, then you go downhill. It did not fit his eye, so to speak. He still finished 16 yards from having 1,000 again. He is not the rolling ball of AJ Dillon but he’s got more foot agility and change of direction than Dillon. I think he’s got a chance to be pretty good because he is big and can break tackles. No, no, no, no, Derrick Henry is Secretariat. I think Allen would (run) 4.55.” Declined to run the 40 or shuttles at the combine or pro day. “I think he’s not running because he’s (slow),” said a fourth scout. “My biggest issue is what the speed would be and being up to that size. I wish he played more to his size, played nasty and ran guys over. But he is a big bitch to wrap up and bring down.” From Fond du Lac, Wis. “Poor man’s AJ Dillon,” said a fifth scout. “Take that for what it’s worth. He’s a big ol’ lumbering, straight-line guy that needs momentum to get going. He won’t make anyone miss with elusiveness or catching the ball. No, he’s not better than Ron Dayne. All those Wisconsin backs that ran for 2,000 yards a year and none of them are any good.”

In comment 16475097 Ira said:

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faster, has the same work ethic and character and also lacks explosiveness. If we draft him at 6, he'll disappoint.

Isn’t explosive? He ran a 4.45 40 at 215 lbs, and had a 39” vertical. Sterling Shepard? Come on. I like Shep, but he isn’t in Odunze’s league when it comes to athleticism.

Scouts seem to think Sweat will still be day 2.

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If anything distinguishes this class of defensive tackles, it might be the lack of height. “There’s a bunch of good players,” an AFC personnel man said, “but they’re all really short in stature.” Sixteen scouts were asked to rank the defensive linemen on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis, with a first-place vote worth 5 points, a second worth 4 and so on. Byron Murphy led with 11 firsts and 69 points. Following, in order, were Johnny Newton (47, two), Darius Robinson (30, two), Kris Jenkins (26, one), Braden Fiske (23), T’Vondre Sweat (16), Michael Hall (15), Maason Smith (six), Ruke Orhorhoro (three), Brandon Dorlus (two), Justin Eboigbe (one), Jordan Jefferson (one) and McKinnley Jackson (one).

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DEFENSIVE TACKLES 1. BYRON MURPHY, Texas (6-0 ½, 306, 4.90, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s built kind of like Grady Jarrett,” said one scout. “He’s got qualities like Christian Wilkins and a little bit like Kenny Clark. He’s smaller than Kenny Clark because he’s short but he’s compact, really explosive and has good hands. He fits the mold of what some some successful defensive tackles look like.” Played in a rotation with NFL draftees Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo and alongside starter T’Vondre Sweat in 2021-’22 before starting in ’23. “Justin Madubuike is probably the best comparison,” a second scout said. “He would have been in the first round (in 2020) if he didn’t have all the character stuff. I like Byron’s tape better than Ed Oliver’s. He’s much better than Grady Jarrett. He can play 3-(technique) or nose. He can two-gap if you need him to. As good a motor as you’ll see on an interior player. As a pass rusher, he can go through with power and he has legit edge ability, which you wouldn’t think he has the way he’s built. He’s a hard block for a guard because you can’t just (sit) on his bull because he’ll go right around you. If you protect your edges he’ll get underneath you and leverage you and bull your ass back to the quarterback. A-plus character. Great kid.” Arms measured 32 3/8 inches, hands were 10 ¼. “He’s going to be like Casey Hampton,” a third scout said. “I don’t know if he’s as strong as Casey Hampton but he sure looks like it. Hampton was a (nose tackle) but he had movement skills, too. This kid has unbelievable movement skills.” Finished with 70 tackles (15 for loss) and eight sacks. “I really believe he has to be a penetrator and a one-gapper,” said a fourth scout. “He can get in creases. Not that he’s not strong at the point; he’s more about hitting a gap and disrupting. If a team asked him to two-gap, stay square, hold the point, that’s just not his thing. He’s not very big and he doesn’t play very big. He is athletically driven. Maybe only half the league would want this guy because of scheme. Yeah, he might go top 15 but I had a hard time loving the guy.” Took about 10 snaps as a goal-line fullback and scored two touchdowns. “Don’t laugh,” said one scout. “He was killing dudes. He’s going to be a hammer fullback on goal-line. He’ll do that 100% (in the NFL).” From DeSoto, Texas. 2. JOHNNY NEWTON, Illinois (6-1 ½, 304, no 40, 1-2): Fourth-year senior, three-year starter mainly as a 3-technique. ”High motor,’ said one scout. “Lacks some length but compensates with good quickness, burst and power in both phases (run and pass). Has the physical tools to disrupt and see the field early. Just the size holds you back, but he doesn’t necessarily play to that. He’ll be a solid starter.” Arms were 32 3/8, hands were 9 ½. “He can really use his hands,” a second scout said. “His hands and feet are tied together, particularly as a rusher. He’s a little stiff and not real big, but he has a knack for rushing the passer.” Finished with 187 tackles (28 for loss) and 17 ½ sacks. “If you put him in a penetrating scheme he can change the line of scrimmage,” said a third scout. “He can play square and two-gap equally good. All 32 teams looking for a defensive lineman will find this guy as a fit. He absolutely has quickness and athleticism. He’s very, very strong at the point, and he can find the football where some guys don’t make any plays. Jordan Davis, the Georgia kid, didn’t make any plays.” Played hurt down the stretch in 2023 and underwent surgery on his foot in January. “It’s the infamous Jones fracture,” said a fourth scout. “Fifth metatarsal is one of the worst injuries you can have coming out because it is so highly likely to reoccur. Our doctors would say take those guys off the board … He plays a style that’s a big man’s game. He can use extension, press, shed and get to the ball. He plays high pads. His shin angles and ankle stiffness really show up. He’s an awesome college football player whose game does not translate ideally to the NFL. I don’t think he’ll be a failure because he’s instinctive and knows how to play the game.” From St. Petersburg, Fla. 3. DARIUS ROBINSON, Missouri (6-5, 285, 4.97, 1-2): Half the league probably views him as an edge player, half the league probably views him as a 3-4 defensive end/sub interior pass rusher. “He’s determined to be great,” said one scout. “That’s what I love about him, and it’s all real. He comes from (bleep).” Didn’t play high-school football in Canton, Mich., until his junior year. “This sucker might have the highest ceiling in the whole draft,” said a second scout. “The build, the talent. You watch him in the SEC, they line him up over tight ends in a 6-technique and he beats the shit out of that tight end. Kind of like Wayne Simmons back in the Brent Jones era. You say, ‘Holy smokes, they might throw him in prison for that.’ He is physical and violent.” Led the position in vertical jump (35 inches) and hand size (10 5/8). Arms were 34 ½. “He’s an edge rusher all day,” a third scout said. “He is violent. Plays his ass off. He’s gonna be really productive. He can win outside with a 4.97 40 because he can kick your ass. He’s got enough get-off. He’ll win because he’s got 34-inch arms and (big) hands. He’s as good a grab-and-jerk pass rusher as there in the draft … I can’t see him playing inside at all. He’s too stiff to be an every-down 5-technique.” Starting 30 of 47 games, he finished with 111 tackles (21 for loss) and 13 sacks. “He was real average and not productive at all as a tackle,” a fourth scout said. “As an end, the 290 can come into play as he sets the edge. He was a bit of an underachiever. Kind of body beautiful. The more you did, the less you like. He’s just a straight-line bull rusher.” From Southfield, Mich. Getty Images 4. KRIS JENKINS, Michigan (6-2 ½, 301, 4.95, 2): Made 33 starts over four seasons. “Like that kid but he don’t make any plays in the pass or the run,” one scout said. “It’s all technique for him. He’s consistent. His weakness is his instincts. He doesn’t have Cullen Jenkins’ instincts. Cullen Jenkins is way better.” Cullen Jenkins (6-3, 305), his uncle, played 13 seasons for four teams and had 49 sacks. His father, Kris (6-4, 360), made four Pro Bowls from 2001-’10. “His old man was a beast,” said a second scout. “Amazing thing is, his old man was a whack job where this kid is a phenomenal kid. He was banged up at the end of the year. He’s too good of an athlete to drop too far.” Meager stat line showed 112 tackles (eight for loss), four sacks, one pass defensed and no forced fumbles. “At the end he was their third best defensive lineman,” a third scout said. “Their other two guys (Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant) were much better. I was kind of disappointed.” Arms were 34, hands were 9 3/8. “His effort and his play is so consistent,” said a third scout. “Not consistently amazing but every snap looks the same. You almost get bored watching this kid because he does the same thing every game. Isn’t that what we all want? He’ll be a functional starter. He’s got to play in one-gap scheme. If you just ask this guy to take on double teams he’ll struggle. I don’t think he’ll be a special rusher but he’ll be a good rusher. He plays hard.” From Olney, Md. “Just a try-hard guy,” a fourth scout said. “Knows how to play. Really not much of a factor. He’s fair. He probably makes it because of his dad but I didn’t see starter talent.” 5. BRADEN FISKE, Florida State (6-3 ½, 293, 4.76, 2): Played the 2023 season in Tallahassee after five years at Western Michigan. “I liked him way more this year than what I saw last year,” one scout said. “He took the money and improved his stock.” After a six-sack season for the Seminoles he was impressive at the Senior Bowl and aced the combine. “It always happens to a couple guys every year,” said a second scout. “He’s the one guy that won the process over in the spring. People fell in love with the workout. I think he’ll get overdrafted in the second (round). He’d be a great pick in the third.” His broad jump of 9-9 led the position. “He’s a determined, relentless athlete,” said a third scout. “His father’s a steelworker, his mom is blue collar. He’s f--king determined to win. Everybody talks about (FSU DE Jared) Verse but this guy has more of a motor than Verse. He challenges (Verse) every day at practice to be great. This kid is a winner.” Finished with 191 tackles (36 ½ for loss) and 19 ½ sacks. “I could watch the film all day long,” a fourth scout said. “You talk about passion. The negative is, hey, where’d he come from? He’s a transfer guy from the MAC so he’s a little bit late to the scene. I think this guy is destined for the first round.” His arms measured 31, the shortest at the position. Hands were 9 3/8. “We sit in meetings and say, ‘Length, length, length,’” said a fifth scout. “The guy’s got 31-inch arms. You know what you’re getting. Meat and potatoes guy. He ran fast. I’m not as high on him as maybe the league.” From Michigan City, Ind. “Now he’s a little older (will be 25 in January) and has an injury history so you’ve got to take that into account,” said a sixth scout. “But he fits bottom of the first. You could compare him to Kyle Williams because of his size and movement and angles and twisting the body and hand use. But this guy was more explosive than Kyle Williams. His weren’t manufactured workout numbers. You see the explosiveness on film.” Getty Images 6. MICHAEL HALL, Ohio State (6-2 ½, 299, 4.75, 2): Third-year sophomore played 28 games, starting 12. “He didn’t even start at Ohio State,” one scout said. “I think he came out because he realized he wouldn’t play much next year. He’s strong but he plays high and doesn’t make plays.” His pro day workout included a 4.75 40, the fastest at the position. “He’s the most gifted,” a second scout said. “As good as he is, he has the highest ceiling. He played the least amount of college football. When you watch him it’s kind of easy for him at times. The length shows up and he uses it in the run game at the point. Gets good separation. As the season went he got better and better. Now the Michigan game, he struggled. You can’t ignore that one because those were the best linemen he played against. But I see him as a high-impact starter.” Finished with 45 tackles (10 for loss) and six sacks. “Watch that sack in the Michigan game — he is a dude,” said a third scout. “Now I don’t think you can take him too high because I don’t think he’s going to be an every-down player. If he gets into the right scheme where it’s all penetration upfield – and it’s not stacking and shedding blocks — you’re going to feel him and hear a lot about him as a rookie. He’s a lot stronger than you think. When he showed up at 299 on pro day (290 at the combine) that will sell a lot of people.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 10. “He’s a problem child,” a fourth scout said. “Not real coachable. Underachiever as a worker. Didn’t have a great year production-wise.” From Streetsboro, Ohio. 7. T’VONDRE SWEAT, Texas (6-4 ½, 367, 5.27, 2-5): Played in a rotation from 2019-’21 before starting in 2022-’23. “He’s incredibly talented,” said one scout. Actually played 3-technique rather than nose tackle last season. “Sweat is a dominant player,” said a second scout. “I don’t care what he runs. They just don’t block him. He’s going to totally control the gaps. Only negative is he plays high. He just picks people up and tosses guys. He’s an athlete. He’s mobile.” One scout guessed he might have been pushing 400 in late January at the Senior Bowl when he refused to be weighed. “He’s always going to have a weight problem — you can take that to the bank,” a third scout said. “He’s big, lazy and overweight but he is very talented. He’s got some turd in him but he’s hard to move.” Was arrested for drunk driving April 7 in Austin. “Unbelievable,” said a fourth scout. “Way to live up to your (reputation). He has a real issue to do that. He could get one of the 60,000 students at Texas to drive him around for free and he decides to (drive).” Finished with 128 tackles (17 ½ for loss), five sacks and 14 passes defensed. “He’s 360 but he can move for a man that size,” a fifth scout said. “Now he’s had this DUI. He has a little bit of a reputation there so this was not really a surprise … the problem is, he’s two decades too late the way the game is played. He’s Gilbert Brown, and Gilbert Brown would be almost non-existent now.” Arms were 33 ¼, hands were 10 1/8. “Full-blown character reject,” a sixth scout said. “Took him off the board. For people that don’t care, he’s got top-two round ability. He does some freaky shit for a guy his size. Problem is, his size. He’s like 380 something in-season, and he’s fat. His football character is terrible. There’s no way you want him in your building.” From Huntsville, Texas. Added a seventh scout: “They (Texas staff) made the comment at pro day that he’s the one guy who can connect with every single person in the building. He’s got a big personality. The big defensive lineman that you want, in a good way.” 8. MAASON SMITH, Louisiana State (6-5, 308, 5.03, 3): Third-year junior. “He’s just got traits you can’t teach,” one scout said. “Has the same body type and is the type of athlete that Chris Jones is. He’s just not that level player. Plays like a freshman, honestly. I don’t think he knows how good he can be. Has a ton of upside and he’s a big man. Those guys are hard to find.” Started four of nine games as a freshman in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL in the ’22 opener. Came back to start 12 games at 3-technique in ’23 before declaring. “Should have probably stayed in school,” a second scout said. “Wasn’t great coming off the injury but most guys get better (later). I think he’ll be a better pro than college player.” His mother is a doctor and his father owns a company in the petroleum industry. “Parents are professional people,” a third scout said. “He might not be mean enough, to be quite honest. Got a lot of God-given talent. I’m gonna roll the dice with him. He was the No. 1 schoolboy defensive tackle in the country. He missed all of ’22, comes back for ’23 and there’s been a coaching change in the meantime. The D-line coach (Jimmy Lindsey) gets a brain tumor and they cycle through about five different line coaches. They didn’t know if they were a two-gap team, a one-gap team, a twist team. Truthfully, he’s a five-star who was going to play three years and head to the league no matter what. I think this year was all sort of geared to, ‘Hey, I’m just going to survive and get through the season.’ He doesn’t play hard all the time. He can play 3- or 5-technique. Very smart. He has real, real talent.” Finished with 47 tackles (9 ½ for loss) and 6 ½ sacks. Longest arms (35) at the position but also the smallest hands (8 ½). “He doesn’t play with passion,” a fourth scout said. “He’s big. He’s got range. But I can’t wait to see the team that takes him. I think he stinks.” From Houma, La. Getty Images 9. RUKE ORHORHORO, Clemson (6-4, 293, 4.89, 3): Born in Nigeria, came to the Detroit area at 9 and played his first football in 11th grade after helping River Rouge (Mich.) to the Division I state basketball semifinals as a sophomore. “He looks like a million dollars,” one scout said. “He’s probably too stiff and not a dynamic enough mover to play 3-technique. He’s probably a 5-technique.” Ended up starting 30 of 53 games over five seasons. “Just jacked up, thick, ripped,” a second scout said. “Extremely violent at the point. Like he can knock you back. There’s times when he puts his hands on people he looks like he’s playing against kids because he’s so damn strong. He won’t beat you with speed but it’s still hard because he’s so damn strong and all of a sudden he jerks you. He’s got a plan and he knows what he’s good at. You don’t see this guy trying to rush the edge of a guard because he’s not fluid and fast enough to do that.” Finished with 85 tackles (25 ½ for loss), 12 sacks and nine passes defensed. Arms were 34, hands were 9 3/8. “He’s a height-weight-speed guy,” said a third scout. “I thought the action inside was too much for him to see blockers coming at him from both angles. He might be better as a big end where you’re isolated on one side. Doesn’t make a lot of plays but he’s big and can run fast in a straight line. You want to work with him but he’s far from being some productive, finished product.” From Lagos, Nigeria. 10. BRANDON DORLUS, Oregon (6-3, 286, 4.90, 3-4): Played up and down the line during a five-year career in which he started 40 of 57 games. “He looks like Big Bird of Sesame Street,” one scout said. “His body is not going to win any contests. Sort of the opposite of Darius Robinson. He doesn’t look the part. He’s got really athletic hands and feet. He’s got some natural pass rush because of the hand and foot activity. His weight has been a little all over the map. One time he’ll be 270 and playing outside, the next year he’ll be up to the 290s and play inside. He’s not really a glass-eater inside but he’s not super fast on the outside. He’s sort of a ‘tweener. He’s got long arms so even when he doesn’t get there for the sack he can affect the quarterback with his length by batting the ball or disrupting the pocket.” Batted 13 balls (eight in 2023) to go with 106 tackles (27 for loss) and 12 sacks. “He’s a big D-end or a smaller D-tackle,” said a second scout. “He’s really competitive. Not really a quick-twitch guy. When he’s on the edge he’s real strong and stout. He can do all that, but the pass rush is not there (outside). You put him inside and he’s better as a pass rusher, but he’s not as stout. He might be a 3-4 guy somebody like Pittsburgh or the Ravens will just play in there messing things up.” Arms were 33 ¼, hands were 9 3/8. From Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Dorlus and Jenkins both remind me of guys the Steelers and Ravens take who go on to be really productive players in those defenses.

would be surprised if 1 of these guys doesnt get picked by NYG on day 2.

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J.J. McCARTHY, Michigan (6-2 ½, 215, no 40, 1): Of the top four quarterbacks only McCarthy truly elevated his team. “He’s got major weaknesses but there’s something about that kid that is absolutely special,” one scout said. “He completely changed that rivalry (Ohio State-Michigan). He singlehandedly won both of those games. The one in Columbus (in 2022), people don’t realize some of those throws he made in that game. Then his ability to never get off the field and extend plays is uncanny. All this talk that Michigan built him and it was (Jim) Harbaugh and the O-line. Their O-line sucked this year … The 9-inch hand and the way he throws the ball really scares me. It’s one speed. He has no ability to layer balls in between defenders. Everything’s a fastball. His deep balls are line drives, which is very unfriendly to receivers especially when he gets to this level and it’s contested and not just wide open. But there’s magic. There are these guys that seem to always do this and it always works. The throws by Mahomes early in his career when he’d throw into coverage and it somehow landed in the lap of the Kansas City guy. I don’t know if he’s got this magic to him or if it’s just luck.

I thought the Maye analysis was pretty brutal. if you didn't have the ranking number next to analysis, you'd think JJM was 3 and Maye was 4.

Seems like some scouts think he has a noodle arm too lol

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Based on speed and athleticism, Alabama’s Dallas Turner would be the obvious choice. Chop Robinson of Penn State would be next. As we know, there are many ways to affect the quarterback. Power rushing, effort rushing and textbook rushing all can get the job done. The close outcome from the 17-man panel of executives in personnel broke like this: Turner, 8 votes; Laiatu Latu of UCLA, 6; Robinson, 1; Jared Verse of Florida State, 1. The remaining vote went to a defensive tackle, Byron Murphy of Texas. “Latu is the exact opposite of Robinson and Turner,” one evaluator said. “Latu’s a technique pass rusher. He’s not explosive but he uses his hands well.” Latu played just two seasons for the Bruins after a serious cervical injury ended his career at Washington after three years. His 24 sacks fell short of the school record but there’s little doubt that he’s the greatest pass rusher in UCLA history. Defensive end Dave Ball, a fifth-round choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2004, totaled 30 ½ for the Bruins and 15 ½ in eight NFL seasons. “God, is he good technically,” an admiring scout said. “He’s really good because he knows how to use his hands.” Turner finished with 23 ½ sacks in three seasons and 42 games, including 27 starts. Will Anderson, his predecessor as the Crimson Tide’s difference-maker on the outside, finished with 34 ½ sacks in a three-year career that included 41 games and 41 starts. “I love them both,” one exec said. “I think Will Anderson was more of an ass kicker. I like Turner better as an athlete and Will’s toughness better.”

4 first rounders, but none seem likely to be in the mix for round 1 based on where nyg pick/roster are right now.

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1. DALLAS TURNER, Alabama (6-2 ½, 256, 4.43, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s a traditional 3-4 guy,” one scout said. “Some 4-3 teams won’t see him as valuable as 3-4 teams. He has huge pass-rush potential, and I say potential because he wasn’t a dominant pass rusher in college. But the upside, the body type, the length, bend and speed, it’s there. His wow plays are different than the other guys’ wow plays. It just jumps out on tape. Some teams will love his flexibility to play off the ball, to match up and run vertical with tight ends. If you stand him up and move him around he’ll have a lot of value. He has the potential to be the best pass rusher in the draft, but he hasn’t gotten there yet.” His 40 and vertical jump (40 ½ inches) were position-bests. It should be noted that he weighed 247 when he ran the 40 at the combine before scaling 256 at pro day. “He’s the No. 1 overall defensive player in the draft,” a second scout said. “You see some DeMarcus Ware traits in him. But it’s, like, ‘C’mon, man, give us more against the run, give us more every down.’” Others voiced a similar refrain. “He does have too much coast,” said a third scout. “He’ll piss you off. ‘Do it every down, please.’ He’s a top-5 pick when he turns it on. Then you watch him against South Florida (Sept. 16), their left tackle (Donovan Jennings) is a late pick or free agent, he almost shut Turner down. That bothered me.” Finished with 120 tackles (33 ½ for loss), 23 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed. “I have problems with him because he doesn’t finish and he doesn’t tackle well,” a fourth scout said. “He’s a full-time player if he tackled well. Soft. They (he and Will Anderson) are not even comparable. Anderson played hard, played tough, played the run. This guy against the run, he just catches. He does have explosive takeoff as a pass rusher.” Arms were 34 3/8, hands were 9 7/8. “There’s some rawness there,” a fifth scout said. “What I liked most was in big moments — third and long, tight games — this guy showed up.” From Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “He’ll flash a big play every so often when they stunt him and he comes free,” said a sixth scout. “He just doesn’t have much distinguishing talent and and he’s not really productive. Off the edge he’s not really a silky-smooth moving guy. Against the run he’s not really rugged. Overall, I don’t see it. It’s Alabama. It’s the Alabama gift that keeps on giving.” 2. JARED VERSE, Florida State (6-4, 259, 4.58, 1): Transferred after three seasons from FCS Albany, which was his only scholarship opportunity in spring 2019. “Hard-charging, tough motherf’er,” one scout said. “Gonna be the loudest guy on the field. He went from the little pond to the big pond and it didn’t affect him.” Recorded 10 ½ sacks as a starter at Albany in 2021 before registering 18 in 25 games (22 starts) for the Seminoles. “He has a zero chance you’ll miss on him if he stays healthy,” a second scout said. “He’s steady eddie, similar to the Texas kid (Byron Murphy). He’s not as fast as he ran at the combine because I think he dropped a lot of weight to run that 40 time. He was 254 and ran (4.58). Realistically, he’s a 265-pound guy that will run 4.7, which is plenty good. He’s an ass-kicker. Only thing he doesn’t have that’s a little concerning is he can’t win with just a straight fastball. He’s got to set up his rush on the outside to win. Whether it’s a counter, his hand use, a grab and jerk … you like those guys that win all three ways. Whether it’s just bursting off the edge and bending, going through with power or inside counter. He’s got 2 ½. Great kid.” Finished with 162 tackles (50 ½ for loss), 32 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. “The talent, you’ve seen better, but it’s still really good,” a third scout said. “Now you add this guy’s edge and it’s why people are really latching onto this guy. You need guys on your team like that. You need physicality on your roster.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 7/8. His 31 reps on the bench led the position. “Not a top talent but I like the way he played,” a fourth scout said. “He’s rugged. Got a lot of energy. Against the run, he’s got some jolt and energy to him. As a pass rusher, he’s not really a guy trying to beat you off the edge with moves. He’s more, ‘I’m gonna keep coming with second effort.’ Really good at stunts. He’s got a little bit of power, too. He brings it all the time and wears people out. That (Clay Matthews) is a good kind of comparison.” From Berwick, Pa. Getty Images 3. LAIATU LATU, UCLA (6-4 ½, 267, 4.65, 1): A master of the fine points of sacking quarterbacks. “Thing that stood out to me was he’s got a big-time outside swim and he does everything off it,” one scout said. “As he’s working your edge his feet and lower body are always moving. He’s so damn reactive and always making progress toward the quarterback. He has a plan. He has incredible feel on how he’s going to get there. You have to respect his speed. Then he's got a great long arm (stab) where he leans into your inside number. He walks guys back like they were little boys on some clips. His speed’s going to have to be respected. He’ll get tackles moving.” In November 2020 he suffered a neck injury in practice during his second season at Washington and underwent surgery. He was forced to medically retire in spring 2021. He departed for Westwood in January 2022 after finding a third-party doctor to pass him. Played all 25 games in 2022-’23 “without sticking his neck in the noise,” one scout said. Another executive said: “That’s 100% true. He’s been retrained how not to use his neck. You can see that the way he plays the game … People will get scared about his medical. There will probably be about a third of the league that kind of pulls him off the board because of the neck fusion.” The league’s ban on hip-drop tackles also might affect Latu. “He doesn’t do it as much but that’s kind of how he tackles guys,” a fourth scout said. “Like rugby. He’s not leading with his head. It’s more wrap and pull them down. I don’t know if subconsciously he does that but two months after neck surgery he played club rugby. A professional rugby team wanted to sign him.” Finished with 101 tackles (35 ½ for loss), 24 sacks, five forced fumbles and six passes defensed. “This guy looks like a lawyer in pads,” a fifth scout said. “He’s got kind of wide hips. Not smooth muscled. Not overly long, not overly developed. But he’s got a knack for rushing the passer.” Arms were 32 5/8, hands were 9 5/8. “He’s a little different,” the scout said. “There’s a lot of emotional baggage. There’s certain teams that won’t really care for the personality. This guy’s a little unique. He looks kind of pedestrian but he can shorten the corner. And he always plays hard.” From Sacramento, Calif. Getty Images 4. CHOP ROBINSON, Penn State (6-3, 255, 4.51, 1): Third-year junior spent 2021 at Maryland and 2022-’23 in Happy Valley. “Love him,” one scout said. “I see Chop every bit as good as Turner. Sky’s the limit. He’s why coaches get paid. Now you’ve got some work to do with him. You get annoyed because he doesn’t have a (lot) of production this year (four sacks, 15 tackles in 10 starts) but he only played 50% of their defensive snaps. They rotate the hell out of guys.” Able to rush equally well from both sides. “Must be an ambidextrous kid,” a second scout said. “I’m telling you, you don’t find that. He’s got a burst off the edge that’s rare. This is one of the few players you will ever see that can slip and dip and make the L move at the proper angle and depth of the quarterback, and he can do it from the left and right sides. And he can play the run. He’s not a hit-and-shed guy. He’s an escape guy. He runs off blocks. He doesn’t defeat blocks but he’s so quick and athletic he doesn’t have to beat on ‘em. He can escape and pursue down the line. This is what everybody’s looking for.” His 10-8 broad jump tied for the longest at the position. “He’s sudden, explosive, plays his ass off,” a third scout said. “Michigan couldn’t block him; they couldn’t even get their hands on him. That’s exactly why they started running the ball every play.” Started 11 of 35 games, finishing with 60 tackles (20 for loss), 11 ½ sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes defensed. “This Chop Robinson is the most overrated player in the draft,” a fourth scout said. “The comp is Bryce Huff. He’s the perfect example of a guy running a (fast) 40-yard dash. The way he’s being talked about, I thought they were talking about Lawrence Taylor. It makes no sense to me. If you told me third or fourth round, I’d get it. But first round? He's not even very big. Michigan ran right at that kid and he had no answer.” Arms were 32 ½, hands were 9 1/8. “He’s like Myles Garrett,” said a fifth scout. “He has the most potential but he doesn’t finish. He just doesn’t make plays.” From Gaithersburg, Md. “He reminded me of Haason Reddick and that (Arnold) Ebiketie that came out of Penn State (second round, 2022) and has been doing well at Atlanta,” a sixth scout said. “You talk about getting off the ball and flattening the edge. Whoa. He can do it. Rare get-off.”

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A total of 17 personnel men were asked to rank the top cornerbacks on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis; sixteen ranked the safeties. Scoring was 5 points for a first-place vote, 4 for a second and so forth. Terrion Arnold led the corners with seven firsts and 66 points. Following, in order, were Quinyon Mitchell (63, three), Nate Wiggins (47, two), Cooper DeJean (31, four), Kool-Aid McKinstry (29, one), Max Melton (six), Kamari Lassiter (five), Ennis Rakestraw (five), Cam Hart (one), Andru Phillips (one) and Mike Sainristil (one). At safety, it was a chaotic situation, with seven players gaining a first-place vote and 15 players receiving a vote. Tyler Nubin led with two firsts and 41 points. Following, in order, were Javon Bullard (35, two), Calen Bullock (34, three), Kamren Kinchens (29, two), Cooper DeJean (28, five), Cole Bishop (27), Jaden Hicks (21, one), Tykee Smith (six), Kitan Oladapo (five, one), Malik Mustapha (four), Mike Sainristil (three), Jaylon Carlies (two), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (two), Sione Vaki (two) and Josh Proctor (one). Just eight times in the last 30 drafts has a safety been chosen before the first cornerback. Rest assured this won’t be No. 9 on Thursday. “Every four years safety is a mess,” an NFC scout said. “This is a mess. This is a bad class.”

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CORNERBACKS 1. TERRION ARNOLD, Alabama (5-11 ½, 188, 4.51, 1): Redshirted in 2021 and made 21 starts in 2022-’23. “He’s my favorite corner,” said one scout. “He can play safety, nickel, outside corner. Really instinctive, really good at the catch point. He has played against first-round draft picks and played well against them.” Third-year sophomore didn’t run a good 40. “I wish he would have run faster but I think he’s the best pure corner,” said a second scout, adding that Arnold wasn’t close to being as good of a prospect that Sauce Gardner was in 2022. ”He was never out of control. He always got back in phase with guys. His coverage, his tackling, his ball skills … and he’s got feet and hips that are so good. He was an easy one for me. I think he’s great.” Finished with 108 tackles (7 ½ for loss), six picks and 26 passes defensed. “Arnold tries to do too much,” a third scout said. “He doesn’t play within himself. It got him in trouble at Alabama and I think it will get him in trouble in the league until he can get comfortable and settle down. He’s got a lot of talent, but it’s going to take somebody to really work with this kid. He is eminently coachable. It’s going to be a little bit of a work in progress.” A fourth scout described him as a “little immature.” Added a fifth scout: “Really, he’s just learning how to play the position. I don’t think there’s a downside. He checks so many boxes that don’t include his natural athleticism. He’s got leader written all over him. He was a safety at some point so he is (physical).” From Tallahassee, Fla. 2. QUINYON MITCHELL, Toledo (6-0, 198, 4.30, 1): Didn’t play at Toledo in 2019 because of academics before starting 40 of 46 games for the Rockets from 2020-’23. “He’s got speed,” one scout said. “Oakland Raider kind of corner. He is what he is.” On Oct, 8, 2022, he intercepted four passes at Northern Illinois, returning two for touchdowns. “It was a Deion Sanders-type performance,” a second scout said. “I didn’t want to be that high on the guy because of the people he was playing against but he might be the best. If he played at Alabama I’d probably give him a top-10 pick.” Made an impressive practice showing at the Senior Bowl. “When you go back to (2022) and watch him play against Ohio State (a 77-21 loss) he looks much more ordinary than when he was playing Senior Bowl receivers and at Toledo this past year,” said a third scout. “He wasn’t playing against NFL guys. Even at the Senior Bowl there were only a couple that were pretty good. You’re going on traits. He has outstanding movement for his size. He tested extremely well. If someone has a great nickel and is taking an outside corner, I can easily see this guy going before Arnold.” His 20 reps on the bench press led the position. “I was really impressed with him,” said a fourth scout. “Then at the combine it looked like he had never caught a ball in his life. He looked very awkward in his approach to catching the ball.” Finished with 122 tackles (6 ½ for loss), six picks and 52 passes defensed. “He’s got size, speed, quickness, strength,” said a fifth scout. “Only thing that worries you is just the level of guys he was going against consistently. Once he gets used to dealing with other (NFL) guys he’ll be able to do it … He’s willing (to tackle). I don’t know if he was saving himself in certain situations or it was that ‘I’m getting ready to go pro’ deal. Some games you could see him really selling out and other games you could kind of see him going, ‘Maybe next week.’” From Williston, Fla. Getty Images 3. NATE WIGGINS, Clemson (6-1 ½, 182, 4.29, 1): Fastest corner on the board. “At the top of the stem of the route will be a major issue for him,” said one scout. “That doesn’t translate very well. The guys that lack play strength at that position, if you’re mirroring (Philadelphia’s) A.J. Brown and he snaps off a route and you don’t have play strength, it’s just too hard. He’s a good college player, and obviously teams will draft corners. He’ll go higher than he should. I don’t have conviction on him.” Weighed just 173 at the combine before adding nine pounds for pro day. “I didn’t think he was very physical,” a second scout said. “He’s quick and things like that but he plays small. Boy, he is skinny. He’s got good feet and hips. Can change direction, plays with his eyes, has ball react.” Third-year junior, two-year starter. “Better in press,” said a third scout. “When he presses and uses his size and length he can really run with guys and jam. Off the ball, he’s not a silky movement guy so play to his strengths (press). He needs to turn up his focus. He is competitive. Little bit of panic with his back to the ball but his ball skills are good. Talented guy with a little bit more to give. When he needs to do it (tackle) he’s strong and can, but this is one of those selective dudes.” A fourth scout said maturity showed help his weight and strength. “These guys grow when they get into another environment,” he said. “They’re going to start maturing and then you get heavier.” Finished with 56 tackles (three for loss), three picks and 27 passes defensed. “He improved as the season went along,” a fifth scout said. “There’s upside there. He’s the total package. It’s just a matter if he can match up the mental and the physical for the pro game. He needs some more meat but his quickness, change of direction and speed is good. He’ll be able to match up with pretty much anybody.” From Atlanta. “He’s going to go in the first,” said a sixth scout. “But you know better than anybody, Clemson DBs, there have been some busts now.” 4. COOPER DeJEAN, Iowa (6-0 ½, 202, 4.45, 1): Third-year junior. “He can do a lot of different things,” one scout said. “I like him where he played at Iowa (cornerback). He can do that. Nickel would be a good spot for him. I think there will be teams that have him at safety. Versatility is one of his biggest assets.” His third season ended with a fractured fibula in November. He worked out and tested April 8 in Iowa City, combining the 40 with a 38 ½-inch vertical jump. “That (4.45) was good given what he was coming off of,” a second scout said. “The guy can run. He only trained for a week. He was a sprint champion in the state of Iowa in high school.” Seldom played in 2021 before starting two seasons, primarily on the left outside. “We thought he could do everything,” said a third scout. “I don’t worry about that (playing in Iowa’s zone system) at all. The athlete this guy is, you watch him play basketball …. He’s not bloodthirsty but he’s solid as a tackler in space. Plays well within his speed. He’s a really good natural athlete.” Finished with 120 tackles (five for loss), seven picks and 20 passes defensed. His hands (9 5/8) were the largest of the top 10 corners. “They have the best defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) in college football,” said a fourth scout. “All they do is play zone coverage. He is not going to play outside corner. He’s going to play safety or nickel, but you can’t put him in the safety pile (because) he’s never played safety. He may be more like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who played everywhere and turned into a really good safety and a really good nickel even though he can’t stay in the same building for more than one year because he absolutely won’t shut up.” A fifth scout doubted DeJean had “the hips for corner. He’ll struggle against some of the really good route runners.” Added a sixth scout: “You need guys that can play man coverage in the NFL and I’m not sure he’s that guy. The skill set is there. The things you’ve never seen worry you. I think he’ll probably be a better safety. The reason why is you don’t see the burst of a corner and they played zone all the time. He was a linebacker in high school. He’s an enigma in some ways.” From Odebolt, Iowa. Getty Images 5. KOOL-AID McKINSTRY, Alabama (5-11 ½, 196, 4.52, 1-2): Third-year junior. “I know a lot of people are down on him,” one scout said. “He had a little bit of a down year. He had a little bit of an ‘I’m just getting through this’ kind of year. Kind of like Marvin (Harrison). But you get a big, long corner like those guys that succeed in our league. He can run. He’s got good movement. He’s a little leggy and stiff but he makes up for it with his ability to get up and press guys and mirror routes. He’s a Bama DB, which translates very well to the NFL.” Nicknamed “Kool-Aid” at a very young age. “You see this guy, he’s at Alabama, he’s got a unique name, we better make him a guy,” said a second scout. “We kind of thought he was the most overrated player in the draft. First of all, he’s fat — for a corner. His effort’s real up and down. More smooth than sudden. Really instinctive … that’s kind of his best tool in the kit. Best in press. I didn’t see a great speed guy, and the effort and tackling was inconsistent. Didn’t make a ton of plays on the ball.” Started 33 of 42 games, finishing with 92 tackles (five for loss), two picks and 25 passes defensed. “His weaknesses are warding off blocks in run support and play strength,” a third scout said. “No, no, he’s not timid. Doesn’t have much strength. Everything else he’s got. He’s a very good coverage corner. He’ll have a focus loss and give up a play, but he can be sticky on sudden or abrupt change (of direction) by the receiver.” Average workout at pro day. “I guess he’ll be taken in the first,” a fourth scout said. “I don’t see any distinguishing athletic ability. Good athlete, not great. But really a non-factor (against the run). He doesn’t even float in run support. He just absolutely refused to do anything in run support. I question this guy’s NFL temperament.” From Birmingham, Ala. 6. MAX MELTON, Rutgers (5-11, 185, 4.38, 1-2): Four-year starter. “He’s kind of what you’d expect out of a Rutgers guy,” one scout said. “He’s tough, athletic, competes hard. It’s just a matter where you take him. He’s going to play well, and for a long time. Their top guys always show up. They’re like flies. You can keep swatting at them but here they come.” His 11-4 broad jump led the position. “He was a surprise,” said a second scout. “Really talented athlete. He can really run. Held his own against Marvin (Harrison). Can press and run with guys. Real good in zone coverage. Doesn’t play strong in run (support); at 193 he should be better than he is. There’s a play against Ohio State where he chased that running back (TreVeyon Henderson) down from across the field. It was, like, ‘Whoa.’” Finished with 114 tackles (nine for loss), eight picks and 30 passes defensed. Also blocked four punts. “Little bit better tester than player,” a third scout said. “He’s not ready to be a starter. You’d like him to be your third corner. His problem is controlling his speed. He can get out of control a lot. He’s really inconsistent in coverage. He is tough as f--kin’ nails. His problem is, he’s not big. Kind of a small-frame, small-waisted guy. He will miss some tackles but he’s not afraid. Has an infectious personality. Great locker-room guy. Loves ball. Great family. You get this kid with the right coach, you’d really have something.” From Mays Landing, N.J. 7. ENNIS RAKESTRAW, Missouri (5-11 ½, 187, 4.56, 2): Started 32 of 36 games over four seasons. “He’s probably the most talented of these guys,” one scout said in reference to the entire corner class. “He has zero interceptions and only three PBUs (in 2023) but he has athletic ability, quickness, speed, body control, suddenness. He gets on guys and he is sticky. He can mirror them. In run support, when he needs to do it, he is nasty. They rotated him in and out of there so much. Kind of odd. But just as far as pure talent this guy is the best of all these guys. Supposedly he was hurt (when he ran the slow 40), but I thought he’d run a lot better than he did.” Fourth-year junior. “He’s physical, tough,” said a second scout. “I don’t think it’s a strong corner class overall so that’s why Rakestraw makes the top five.” Finished with 106 tackles (seven for loss), one pick and 24 passes defensed. “Very good cover corner,” a third scout said. “Plays stronger than his (weight). He comes up and hits. He’s a marginal wrapup tackler but he will hit you. Kid is aggressive. Real good pedal and turn. Plays mostly in the press position but this kid can play up or off in zone or man. He’s got very good feet and quickness. I thought he could easily turn and run with speed. His (40) was shocking. The guy’s got play speed.” Came back from a torn ACL in October 2021 to start all 13 games in 2022. “I didn’t like the guy at all,” said a fourth scout. “I don’t know why he came out because the guy was a backup there most of the year. Skinny guy with arms that looked worse than mine.” From West Dallas, Texas. “I gotta have someone show me what they really like about him,” a fifth scout said. “I just didn’t see it. He's no more than a fifth-round pick for me. I didn’t feel like he had many standout, definitive traits. He’s competitive, he’s tough. I just didn’t think he was a really good athlete.” 8. MIKE SAINRISTIL, Michigan (5-9 ½, 179, 4.47, 2): Playing wide receiver from 2019-’21, he caught 36 passes for 532 yards, a 14.8-yard average and five TDs. Moved to defense and manned the nickel spot for two years. Face of the program type of individual. “It was one of the smoothest transitions from wide receiver to (corner) I’ve ever seen,” one scout said. “He’s phenomenal. His only problem is he just doesn’t have the length (30 7/8 arms). He can’t play outside corner. He’s a nickel only.” Intercepted six passes for the national champions in 2023, making countless big plays. “He’s so fun to watch,” a second scout said. “Gosh, he’s just a good player. (Tyrann) Mathieu is a good comparison. You wouldn’t know (Sainristil) is little the way he tackles. That play he made against Washington where he just fought through that block and tackled that dude, No. 7 (RB Dillon Johnson), with one arm. You don’t get a better play than that. Mike would be like (Antoine) Winfield, Sr., (who was a) hell of a player. He is more of a corner athlete with quickness and speed than (Antoine) Winfield Jr.” Another scout compared him to the Cardinals’ Budda Baker (5-9 ½, 193, 4.50). “His size will be a problem for some teams,” a fourth scout said. “Seeing the ball, making plays on the ball and the fact he also can cover guys man gives you a lot … The ‘Honey Badger’ (Mathieu) just has great instincts. This guy has great instincts, too, but this guy is more cerebral than the ‘Honey Badger.’ He seems like a bright guy that figures stuff out quick and he’s athletic enough to make it happen. He just figures it out mentally.” Finished with 108 tackles (11 ½ for loss), four sacks, seven picks and 20 passes defensed. According to teams, he has a degenerative knee; he had arthroscopic surgery on his knees in high school and had another scope in 2022. “Good kid, good player,” said a fifth scout. “He’ll be a starter. Michigan kids are all sharp. They know how to handle business.” From Everett, Mass. Getty Images 9. KAMARI LASSITER, Georgia (5-11 ½, 187, 4.64, 3): Third-year junior. “Love that kid,” one scout said. “Yet, you’ll say, ‘Well, he only ran this.’ He never gave up a touchdown. All the guy does is play football. He’s going second round. Slam dunk. He was 100% in the first round (before the 40).” It all changed March 13 in Athens when Lassiter ran 4.64 on his first 40 and 4.65 on his second. He ran a fast short shuttle (4.08), wouldn’t do positional drills and declined to take the Wonderlic test. “I didn’t think he was fast but I didn’t think he was that slow,” a second scout said. “A 4.64 corner? That’s hard to get over. He’s one of those guys that knows he can’t run so he just grabs people. He gets downfield, he grabs all the time. More of a No. 3 type zone underneath man talent.” His 6.62 3-cone at the combine led the position. “I like him but that was a disaster,” said a third scout. “I wouldn’t draft him until the fourth or fifth. He’s a good player, too.” Two-year starter on terrific teams for the Bulldogs. “He played faster than that,” a fourth scout said. “It doesn’t kill him because it’s just a 40 time. He’s quick, played against high-level competition and plays the ball aggressively in the air.” Finished with 86 tackles (8 ½ for loss), one pick and 15 passes defensed. “Can he play safety?” said a fifth scout. “Maybe teams will move him to safety. Other than being competitive and a good tackler … I don’t see it at all. I just see a good athlete that’s not very fast. He is definitely a dude that should have stayed in school.” From Savannah, Ga. 10. ANDRU PHILLIPS, Kentucky (5-10 ½, 192, 4.48, 3): Fourth-year junior with a 42-inch vertical jump and an 11-3 broad jump. “He’s excellent,” one scout said. “His movement skills, his toughness, his awareness and production … to me, this guy’s a slam-dunk starter. He can play inside and outside – probably better in the slot. He’s so fluid. You’d be good with him as your No. 2 corner moving forward.” Started 16 of 38 games over four seasons. “He has a compact build,” a second scout said. “More of a nickel. Not the greatest speed. Quicker than he is fast. Kind of a mid-range cover guy than deep.” Finished with 82 tackles (three for loss), no picks and 10 passes defensed. “He’s a little bit under the radar but a pretty good player,” a third scout said. From Mauldin, S.C. 11. T.J. TAMPA, Iowa State (6-1, 194, 4.58, 3-4): Prep wide receiver moved to corner as a freshman. “Good solid corner,” one scout said. “Better in press. I didn’t mind the speed. Average athlete with quicks in off man. I’d like to see more urgency. There’s potential to be a No. 2 corner outside guy. I liked the recovery speed just because he’s got the stride and enough to carry across the field. Just nonchalant in a lot of his tape. Physical tools are there.” Played four years, starting for 2 ½. “Really intriguing guy because of his size and his length (32 1/8 arms),” said a second scout. “Has some rawness to him but I thought he had natural coverage skills. He’s one of those you take a little bit higher than you probably should because of the value of the position and his skills were so good. I thought he’d run high 4.4s.” Finished with 106 tackles (9 ½ for loss), three picks and 22 passes defensed. “He does not have cover movement at all,” a third scout said. “Doesn’t like run support at all. He’s a former high-school wide receiver, and I think he plays like it as far as instincts and toughness. He’s just got to be a straight-line press speed guy and try to work with him. Someone will take a chance on him. Seattle, those kinds of teams.” From St. Petersburg, Fla. 12. CAM HART, Notre Dame (6-3, 200, 4.51, 3-4): Tallest of the top 25 corners and has the longest arms (33). “Big as hell,” one scout said. “Can change direction for a big guy. Got a little bit of burst. Doesn’t make many plays on the ball. That’s the only concern. Not a killer in the run game. For what he is, he’s going to start. That 4.51 is good for a big, tall guy that can change direction. Second round.” Spent five years in South Bend, starting for the past three years. “He’s a lot like the (Benjamin) St. Juste that came out of Minnesota (in 2021),” another scout said. “He’s a better athlete than a flat-out bursty guy. Not real strong for a big guy but he is a good mover. He’s not a murderer but he can come to balance (and tackle).” Finished with 91 tackles (10 for loss), two picks and 19 passes defensed. “Richard Sherman had change of direction hips,” said a third scout. “This guy’s hips are a tad tight. He’s better than Kevin King. But when a receiver changes his route on him, he’s all f----d up. Athletically, he’s very impressive, but he’s got no change of direction because he’s so long.” From Baltimore.

Safety and RB are interesting this year in that it may be that 0 go top 50.

SAFETIES

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1. TYLER NUBIN, Minnesota (6-1, 205, 4.61, 2-3): High-school corner moved to safety once he reached the Twin Cities. “They played him (in the box) but if you watch him covering on special teams you know he can play in space,” one scout said. “He is a special-teams demon. Nubin gives you more than (Kamren) Kinchens because he could be that big nickel. He plays with a physical mindset. He’s better than Kinchens in natural tight end matchups in man coverage or as a general slot guy. He’s got great ball skills, too. For a guy you don’t see going backwards very often he’s always around the ball.” Ran an unexpectedly slow 40. “That hurt him,” a second scout said. “Instincts are his thing. He’s quick to trigger. Better in zone than man. Physical around the line of scrimmage. Little tight in his backpedal but uses his size well to play physical and doesn’t give up separation much. Struggles to open his hips and change direction, but nothing crazy. Can track (the deep ball). Looks to lay a hit. I think he should have come out last year but I still think he’s a pretty good football player. Yes, he’ll be a starter. I would say second round but he would have been a first-rounder last year.” Just 10 reps on the bench press. “He doesn’t have great range but he can do the interchangeable stuff,” a third scout said. “He’ll be a good teams player. He’s had production on the ball.” Started 43 of 55 games, finishing with 207 tackles (4 ½ for loss), 13 picks and 24 passes defensed. From St. Charles, Ill.

still consider Verse. Three DE's in the modern game makes way more sense than a WR without a quarterback.

i think this list is something like 80-90% accurate every year. with 4 picks currently top 107 hopefully NYG get 4 of these guys.

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OFFENSE (56) Wide receivers (14): Marvin Harrison, Ohio State; Malik Nabers, LSU; Rome Odunze, Washington; Xavier Worthy, Texas; Brian Thomas, LSU; Keon Coleman, Florida State; Adonai Mitchell, Texas; Xavier Legette, South Carolina; Ladd McConkey, Georgia; Ricky Pearsall, Florida; Troy Franklin, Oregon; Roman Wilson, Michigan; Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington; Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky. Tight ends (4): Brock Bowers, Georgia; Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas; Ben Sinnott, Kansas State; Theo Johnson, Penn State. Tackles (12): Joe Alt, Notre Dame; JC Latham, Alabama; Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State; Olu Fashanu, Penn State; Amarius Mims, Georgia; Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma; Jordan Morgan, Arizona; Blake Fisher, Notre Dame; Kingsley Suamataia, BYU; Roger Rosengarten, Washington; Patrick Paul, Houston; Kiran Amegadjie, Yale. Guards (9): Troy Fautanu, Washington; Graham Barton, Duke; Christian Haynes, Connecticut; Cooper Beebe, Kansas State; Brandon Coleman, TCU; Isaiah Adams, Illinois; Matt Goncalves, Pitt; Christian Mahogany, Boston College; Mason McCormick, South Dakota State. Centers (4): Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon; Zach Frazier, West Virginia; Dominick Puni, Kansas; Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Georgia. Quarterbacks (7): Caleb Williams, USC; Jayden Daniels, LSU; Drake Maye, North Carolina; J.J. McCarthy, Michigan; Michael Penix, Washington; Bo Nix, Oregon; Spencer Rattler, South Carolina. Running backs (6): Jonathon Brooks, Texas; Trae Benson, Florida State; Blake Corum, Michigan; Jaylen Wright, Tennessee; Ray Davis, Kentucky; MarShawn Lloyd, USC. DEFENSE (44) Defensive line (10): Byron Murphy, Texas; Johnny Newton, Illinois; Darius Robinson, Missouri; Kris Jenkins, Michigan; Braden Fiske, Florida State; Michael Hall, Ohio State; T’Vondre Sweat, Texas; Maason Smith, LSU; Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson; Brandon Dorlus, Oregon. Edge rushers (11): Dallas Turner, Alabama; Jared Verse, Florida State; Laiatu Latu, UCLA; Chop Robinson, Penn State; Bralen Trice, Washington; Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan; Chris Braswell, Alabama; Jonah Elliss, Utah; Adisa Isaac, Penn State; Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian; Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State. Linebackers (4): Payton Wilson, North Carolina State; Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M; Junior Colson, Michigan; Cedric Gray, North Carolina. Cornerbacks (13): Terrion Arnold, Alabama; Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo; Nate Wiggins, Clemson; Cooper DeJean, Iowa; Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama; Max Melton, Rutgers; Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri; Mike Sainristil, Michigan; Kamari Lassiter, Georgia; Andru Phillips, Kentucky; T.J. Tampa, Iowa State; Cam Hart, Notre Dame; Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri. Safeties (6): Tyler Nubin, Minnesota; Javon Bullard, Georgia; Cole Bishop, Utah; Kamren Kinchens, Miami; Jaden Hicks, Washington State; Calen Bullock, USC.