Meet Jamar Watson, Kentucky’s next pass-rushing prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Kentucky edge defender Jamar “Boogie” Watson

Last year, the NFL draft featured a talented edge rusher by the name of Josh Allen. In 2020, another pass-rushing Wildcat could make waves at the next level.

A versatile prospect who can get after opposing quarterbacks and shut down ball-carriers in the backfield, Watson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the skill set he brings to the table, how playing at Kentucky has prepared him for the next level, and what fans can expect from him the rest of this season.

JM: How would you describe your skill set?

JBW: I’m a very athletic edge rusher. I can play off the edge as a rusher and I can drop in coverage a little bit as well. I’m a savvy player and I have a high football I.Q. as well.

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing linebacker?

JBW: I love having the ability to effect the game on a snap-by-snap basis. I play in the middle of the defense and we get to be involved on every single play. I have a role to play on every single defensive snap. I love that. That gives me a chance to be a high impact player.

JM: I heard that you’re a tap dancer. How did you get into that?

JBW: My high school basketball coach recommended that I get into tap dancing. I needed an extra credit and it was a pretty easy class, if I’m being honest (laughs). I gave it a shot and I’ve actually kept it going since high school. I really ended up liking it.

JM: Your dream job outside of being an NFL player is to become a police offer. Why is that?

JBW: It started off with me watching lots of law enforcement shows. Those were my favorite types of shows growing up. CSI, Law & Order, shows like that. As I got older, my interest in law enforcement became more serious and I started doing some research. If I wasn’t playing football, that would be my dream career. That’s what I’m studying right now in school. That’s my top desire aside from football. My goal is to play in the NFL, first and foremost, but a career as an officer of the law after football definitely intrigues me.

JM: What’s your favorite cop show of all time?

JBW: That’s a great question. If I had to go all time, I would probably say “Person of Interest.” It’s on Netflix now, and it has about five seasons. It’s about this I.T. nerd guy who has the ability to predict future crimes and he has this badass friend who’s the muscle of the group. He sends him out on these missions to stop these crimes before they happen. That’s probably my favorite show of all time.

JM: Who do you think is the best NCAA player you’ve ever gone up against?

JBW: I would probably go with Sony Michel or Deebo Samuel. Those guys stood out for obvious reasons. I can’t forget about Lamar Jackson. He’s as dynamic as they come. Those are definitely my top three.

JM: Is there an NFL running back or tight end you’re looking forward to tackling or covering?

JBW: I would probably say Ezekiel Elliott. He’s received so much publicity over the last couple of years. He’s a superstar running back and I’d love to test out my abilities against a guy like that.

JM: Coach Brad White did a great job with Josh Allen last year. He also has six years NFL experience with the Indianapolis Colts. How has he helped elevate your game?

JBW: He’s definitely taken my game to another level. He has an incredible feel for the game. He understands the role of a linebacker well beyond pass rushing. He’s helped me in every faucet of my game. His attention to detail is tremendous. It’s the small things that he’s taught me that helped me become a better player. He’s really made a difference in my life. Josh Allen will tell you himself, we as a linebacker group give a ton of credit to coach White. He puts a huge emphasis on having us reach for the ball. Try to strip it out and create turnovers. It’s the small technique stuff that he’s really helped me out a lot.

JM: How has Kentucky helped prepare you for what’s next?

JBW: The weight staff is one of the best in the country. We have some veteran guys around this program. The coaching staff has a ton of experience. The training staff is top notch as well. They keep us right throughout the summer and throughout the season as well. Our coaches have had success at multiple levels. Having these guys at my disposal has been huge for me.

JM: What can Kentucky fans expect from you for the rest of this season?

JBW: They can expect me to be continue being a productive member of this defense. My team needs me to be productive. I’m working hard to improve every single day. I’m definitely focused and locked in right now.

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Giants select Chase Young in latest Sports Illustrated mock draft

In their latest 2020 mock draft, Sports Illustrated has the New York Giants selecting Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young.

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The New York Giants would select No. 3 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft if the regular season were end today. They also have roughly a 10% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick, but the highest odds have them remaining at No. 3.

Based on the current draft order, Sports Illustrated released their latest mock draft on Wednesday and had Big Blue making a substantial improvement with the selection of Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young.

3. New York Giants: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

Despite serving a two-game suspension for accepting a loan, Young remains the top prospect on my big board as well as the vast majority of draft analyst big boards. Dave Gettleman passed on Kentucky’s Josh Allen in the 2019 draft due to his “full-blown love” for Daniel Jones, but he gets a do-over this year as Chase Young falls into his lap.

Building upon his productivity down the stretch last season with Nick Bosa sidelined, Young has been absolutely dominant this season with 13.5 sacks in just eight games. The Giants rank just 26 in team pass rush win rate and their most productive pass-rusher (Markus Golden, 6.5 sacks) is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

The Giants land a much-needed defensive playmaker in this scenario with the Cincinnati Bengals selecting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and the Washington Redskins selecting Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, who could be another top target for Big Blue.

The top five rounds out with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 4 overall and Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy going to the New York Jets at No. 5 overall.

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Steelers miss the mark in latest 2020 NFL draft

The Steelers needs to be smart with their second-round pick in 2020.

2020 draft picks are in short supply for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After trading away their first and third-round picks for 2020, the pressure to land an impact player in the second round goes up significantly. And unfortunately, in the latest three-round mock draft from Draft Wire, the Steelers miss the mark with their one all-important choice.

They have the Steelers drafting Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace. Don’t misunderstand, Wallace is an excellent receiver. He had 86 receptions for 1,491 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in 2018. He’s a solid route runner and fits perfectly in a scheme designed to use his explosiveness.

But there are two things wrong with this pick. First off, the Steelers have a nice rounded out group of receivers. The Steelers have two second-round picks in JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington along with former third-round pick Diontae Johnson. There are greater positions of need on this roster to spend a pick this important on Wallace.

Second, and maybe more important is that Wallace suffered a torn ACL just two weeks ago. I understand how far medical technology has come but it is hard to see him being a contributor as a rookie at this point. Wallace could be a great player but with needs at other spots, it would be better to look elsewhere.

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Mock draft watch: Lions haul in major help in the latest 3-rounder from Draft Wire

Two ready-to-roll defensive linemen and an impact wide receiver join the Lions in this fantasy projection

The latest three-round mock draft update from our friends at Draft Wire is one that should pique some intrigue among Detroit Lions fans. Disconsolate over the direction of the defense? You’re gonna like this one…

This edition breaks from the prior versions where the first-rounder has been a defensive back. It’s still defensive help, just in much brawnier fashion at the No. 11 pick.

South Carolina’s wrecking ball of a defensive tackle that is Javon Kinlaw gets the nod in edit Luke Easterling’s latest. It’s a pick that makes a lot of sense,

Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Kinlaw’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.

I have personally compared Kinlaw to the healthy and motivated Shaun Rogers of his Pro Bowls years; they play with a similar style and destructive athletic dominance on the interior.

The second round brings talented Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson. With only Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones under contract at WR after this season (and both potential free agents after 2020), adding receiving help is a major imperative.

In the third round, Draft Wire sticks close to Detroit. Michigan State EDGE Kenny Willekes joins the Lions with the No. 75 overall pick. That’s decent value for a high-floor, high-motor player who plays the run well on his way to the passer.

2020 NFL mock draft: Latest 3-round projections

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re 10 weeks into the NFL regular season, and the college football season is hitting crunch time, with playoff pushes starting at both levels.

It’s crunch time for some of the nation’s top prospects, as well as the pro teams fighting for position at the top of next year’s draft board.

Here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated pick order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while another high-ankle injury has dinged Tagovailoa’s stock. Don’t be shocked if there’s a different QB in the top spot come next April.

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Another franchise in disarray, Washington needs to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position. They already have their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins, so they need impact players elsewhere on both sides of the ball. Young is a monster of a pass rusher with all size, athleticism and technique to be a dominant player at the next level.

3. New York Giants | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

Now that Odell Beckham, Jr. is gone, the Giants need a true No. 1 target to help Daniel Jones reach his full potential. Jeudy is one of the most polished, explosive pass-catchers we’ve seen in years, and he’s well worth a top-three pick.

4. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

Aside from the injuries, it’s hard to find a flaw in Tagovailoa’s game. A few months ago, it would have been hard to imagine the Dolphins landing him without getting the No. 1 overall pick, but thanks to Burrow’s soaring stock, he just might fall into their lap here.

5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

If Sam Darnold is ever going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be, he’ll need a franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Thomas is the best of a deep class, and would be an immediate upgrade for New York.

6. Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

In today’s NFL, you can never have too many quality corners. The Falcons may have more pressing needs elsewhere, but with this pick, they land one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. Okudah is keeping up the trend of sending blue-chip defensive backs from Columbus to the pros.

7. Cleveland Browns | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

After all the offseason hype, the Browns have struggled mightily this season. They need to give Baker Mayfield everything he needs to succeed, and that means improving things up front. Wirfs would be an instant upgrade at either tackle spot.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

Despite investing heavily into their secondary in recent drafts, Tampa Bay still needs help on the back end. Without a worthy tackle prospect still on the board here, the Bucs opt for the best playmaker in the defensive backfield, getting a versatile playmaker who can line up all over the field.

9. Denver Broncos | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Offensive tackle is the bigger need, but the talent is too good to pass up elsewhere. Brown is a rare athlete for his size, with the explosiveness and power to be a dominant force up front. He’d be a much better use of a top-10 pick than reaching for he next-best tackle.

10. Arizona Cardinals | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

The Cardinals have lots of young talent, but they need more difference-makers on defense. Epenesa is a disruptive force who can line up inside or on the edge, making him the kind of versatile prospect Arizona should be targeting.

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Rookie returner Deonte Harris is on pace to make Saints history

The New Orleans Saints picked up a game-changing talent in Deonte Harris, and if he keeps it up, he might make franchise history.

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The New Orleans Saints didn’t have much to hang their hats on during last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but one player remained a bright spot: rookie return specialist Deonte Harris. Harris picked up 19 yards on a timely punt return and had his best game as a kickoff returner (bringing back four of them for 109 yards) in the loss, doing his part to give his team good field position.

What’s impressive is that this is who Harris has been all season. He’s the only player in the NFL to record 200 or more yards returning both punts (he has 232) and kickoffs (309). It’s rare to see a player impact both areas so well, especially as a rookie. And it’s not like he carries an elite NFL pedigree as a former five-star recruit; he’s a product of Assumption College, a small school in Worcester, Mass. While he stunted on that lower level of competition (earning the NCAA all-division record with 14 combined touchdown returns along the way), the ease of which his skills have translated to the NFL might be unprecedented.

His performance so far stands out well in the context of Saints team history. The 232 punt return yards he’s logged through nine games are the fourth-most in a single season for New Orleans since Sean Payton was hired as head coach, surpassing Reggie Bush’s own rookie production in 2006. He’s on pace to collect 412 yards on punt returns, which would be the best total in Payton’s era and the fifth-most in franchise history. It’s a long shot for him to unseat Michael Lewis’s 2002 season (his 625 punt return yards and 1,807 kick return yards earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition), but it’s obvious that Harris can’t be completely ruled out.

Talk about hitting on an undrafted free agent signing. And these numbers don’t account for a long punt return touchdown Harris scored against the Chicago Bears but lost on a dubious holding call that still vexes his coaches. He’s a player who’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball; hopefully the Saints can start to involve him on offense.

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Giants would select third overall if season ended today

If the regular season were to end today, the New York Giants would select third overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

With their Week 10 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, the New York Giants fell to 2-8 on the season and now have themselves set up for another top 5 pick in the NFL Draft.

Although records are unbalanced due to bye week cycle, the Giants would be slated to pick No. 3 overall if the regular season were to end today.

Here’s how the top 10 stacks up:

Cincinnati Bengals (0-9)
Washington Redskins (1-8)
New York Giants (2-8)
Miami Dolphins (2-7)
New York Jets (2-7)
Atlanta Falcons (2-7)
Cleveland Browns (3-6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)
Denver Broncos (3-6)
Arizona Cardinals (3-6-1)

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives the Giants a 10.1% chance to attain the No.1 overall selection and an 83.9% chance of landing a Top 10 pick.

The Giants are mired in such an ugly stretch in their franchise’s history that they’ve selected in the top 10 three times over the previous four seasons — No. 10 in 2016, No. 23 in 2017, No. 2 in 2018 and No. 6 in 2019.

If things don’t turn around over the final seven weeks of the season, the Giants will make that four times over the past five season, which speaks volumes about how far this organization has fallen.

The Giants have a bye in Week 11 and depending on how things shake out, they could move from No. 3 to No. 5, but will remain in the top 5 regardless.

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2020 NFL Draft: Lions hold No. 11 pick after Week 10 loss

There are a lot of really bad NFL teams this year

With the injury-ravaged Lions four wins behind current No. 6 seed Minnesota in the chase for the playoffs, it’s safe to say the postseason is not going to happen for Detroit in 2019. But those fans clamoring for a crash to get a top-5 draft pick are going to be disappointed, too.

After Week 10 wrapped with Seattle knocking off the last unbeaten team in San Francisco, the Lions 3-5-1 record is just the 11th-worst in the league. If the draft were held today, Bob Quinn and the Lions would hold the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It will be tough to get much higher than No. 5 or No. 6. The Lions’ tie game means teams would have to win four games to climb above them (presuming Detroit loses out). The eye test says there’s no chance Cincinnati, Washington or either New York team get to that level. As rough as the Lions look right now, their play in the Week 10 loss to Chicago would handily prevail in the upcoming game against Washington.

The current draft order out to No. 17 and 5-win Oakland, courtesy of Tankathon:

Saints offense adds Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. in 2020 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints picked a dynamo in the latest 2020 NFL mock draft, landing versatile Colorado football prospect Laviska Shenault Jr.

The New Orleans Saints offense is paper-thin, and that’s never been more clear than in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite 13 catches and 152 receiving yards from all-star wide receiver Michael Thomas, they were outplayed and outgunned, which was reflected in the final score of 26-9. The final play of the game was almost a metaphor, with Thomas reeling in a catch and fighting his way to the goal-line, only to be touched down a short away from a score.

Outside of Thomas, every other wide receiver on the team combined for one catch on five targets. Ted Ginn Jr. dropped all three passes sent his way, and Tre’Quan Smith struggled to adjust to off-target looks in his first game back from injury. Backups Krishawn Hogan and Deonte Harris were afterthoughts at best.

New Orleans has top-end talent in the receiving corps (just look at what Thomas can do, and tight end Jared Cook and running back Alvin Kamara are getting back up to speed after missing time with their own injuries). What they don’t have is much they can count on behind their star players. For decades the belief has been that Drew Brees can score touchdowns with anybody; Sunday’s loss proves that theory is outdated. Great as he has been, Brees can’t be expected to put the world on his shoulders anymore.

Fortunately, the Saints will have opportunities to improve in the offseason. The latest 2020 mock draft comes from Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network, who sees the Saints’ need for more juice on offense and addressed it with one of the most versatile playmakers in college football: Colorado Buffaloes do-it-all athlete Laviska Shenault Jr. Here’s what Sikkema wrote to justify the selection:

It feels like wide receiver Michael Thomas is about to break every NFL record for the position. That’s certainly due to how talented Thomas is, but it also has to do with the fact that the Saints don’t have much outside of Thomas in the passing game.

Shenault joining forces with the creative mind of Sean Payton and a group that already consists of Thomas and Alvin Kamara would be incredible to watch.

Shenault lives up to that billing. He’s racked up 2,038 yards from scrimmage and scored 17 combined touchdowns (9 as a receiver, 7 as a runner) in his career with the Buffaloes, though he’s only been a big part of their offense the last two years. While his junior year numbers aren’t as impressive in volume as what he accomplished as a sophomore, his efficiency has increased (jumping up from 11.8 yards per catch to 13.8, and 6.8 yards per carry to 7.9 this season) as Colorado has learned to spread the ball around more evenly. That’s a combined 11.4 yards per touch from 2018 to 2019, or 103.6 yards from scrimmage per game in the same span.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Shenault’s versatility would play well off of what the Saints have done with Kamara and Taysom Hill. All three players are experienced at moving all over the field, playing from different alignments and exploiting athletic mismatches with the defense. Saints coach Sean Payton loves using different personnel packages to put opposing defenses in a bind, and it’s easy to see Shenault’s appeal in New Orleans’ system. If the junior prospect does declare early for the 2020 draft, he’d definitely be worth keeping on the Saints’ radar.

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2020 NFL draft: Paulson Adebo scouting report

Everything you need to know about Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo

Paulson Adebo | CB | Stanford

Height | 6-1

Weight | 190

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Teams like length at the cornerback position, and Adebo certainly fits that criterion.

His 6-foot-1 frame bears lengthy arms and the size to match up physically with some of the league’s taller wide receivers. Adebo has the physicality in his skill set to jam receivers in press-man coverage, and he does a very good job of using his hands to counter release techniques and shut his opponents down. He is also a willing tackler who takes good angles and possesses the play strength to bring ball carriers down.

Adebo is more than just a big and physical corner, though, as he blends intelligence and athleticism into his game, as well. He is a patient defender who times his jumps on routes very well and fires out of his stance with great acceleration for his size. His hip fluidity is intriguing: he flips his hips with ease and has the athleticism to mirror his receivers’ routes consistently. If you’re looking for ball production, Adebo has that, too, as he has topped four interceptions and at least 10 pass deflections in each of his two seasons as a starter.

Weaknesses

Adebo did not see any playing time during his freshman year. Though he has been productive since, there are some flashes of his relative inexperience at times. His ball production is impressive, but there are times when he can be late to turning his head towards the ball and tracking it down on deep throws, thus impacting his ability to make a play on a more consistent basis.

He shows promise as a tackler, but his form could still use a little bit of work. His footwork in press-man coverage isn’t incredibly consistent yet, so considering he will likely spend a lot of his time in that role in the NFL, he should work on not wasting any steps at the line of scrimmage.

Bottom Line

Adebo is a length, physical and athletic cover man who has the physical tools that teams love at the outside cornerback position. His upside makes him one of the best prospects at his position in this draft class.

Category: 2020 NFL draft