Category: NFL Draft

Who are the Commanders getting in Luke McCaffrey?

What are the Commanders getting in Luke McCaffrey?

With the final draft pick of Friday night’s round three, the Washington Commanders selected Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey at No. 100 overall.

If you read that name and are wondering, yes, Luke is the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey. By the way, both are sons of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.

Luke certainly knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. He has seen his older brother push himself to such limits that he is able to play in the NFL.

McCaffrey stands 6-foot-2 and is 23 years of age. While playing his high school football in Colorado, Luke played receiver for his first two years, while his older brother Dylan played quarterback.

A four-star recruit, Luke committed to and signed with Nebraska. Determining to depart after two seasons with the Cornhuskers, he committed to Louisville. After being at Louisville for a brief period, he departed for Houston to attend Rice.

In his last two seasons with Rice, McCaffrey caught 58 and 68 passes, averaging 12.5 and 14.2 yards per reception, including six and 12 touchdown receptions, respectively.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, McCaffrey ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and recorded a 36-inch vertical leap.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick has high praise for 49ers new CB Renardo Green

The ESPN NFL analyst had high praise for San Francisco’s second round pick.

After adding offense in the opening round of the draft on Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers flipped to the defensive side of the ball in the second round of the draft.

Following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers were on the clock with the No. 64 overall pick in the draft. John Lynch and the 49ers selected Florida State corner Renardo Green.

Following the pick, it didn’t take long for one of the members of ESPN’s broadcast to weigh-in on San Francisco’s selection. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick had high praise for Green, specifically one of his traits on the field.

Riddick called Green the best press cornerback in the draft class.

I thought he was the best press corner in the draft. He lives up at the line of scrimmage and there’s good reason why.

Via @EricGalko on Twitter:

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Best Penn State players still available on Day 3 of NFL draft according to ESPN

Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs and Theo Johnson some of the best available at their positions on the final day of the 2024 NFL draft.

Penn State was happy to see four members of its football family be selected by NFL franchises in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, but they are hoping to see more go on the final day of the draft on Saturday. Any NFL franchise looking to add a linebacker to the roster will have a few solid options to choose from beginning in the fourth round, including Penn State’s [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag].

Jacobs was a standout performer for Penn State and is ranked as the third-best linebacker still on the board according to ESPN’s ranking of best available players going into Day 3 of the draft. He is also among the top 25 best players available when the draft resumes with the no. 24 ranking.

North Carolina’s Cedric Gray is the top linebacker available according to ESPN’s ranking. Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the second-best available linebacker before Jacobs according to the same ranking. All three players figure to make some NFL franchise very happy with the bargain they will seemingly be getting.

Theo Johnson among best TEs still available

Penn State tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] was hoping to go somewhere in the second or third rounds of the draft, but his wait will drag into Day 3 as well. Johnson is ranked as the fifth-best tight end still available with four rounds remaining, so he still has a very good chance of being drafted.

Ja’Tavion Sanders of Texas, Cade Stover of Ohio State, Tanner McLachlan of Arizona, and Jared Wiley of TCU are all ranked ahead of Johnson at the tight end position.

Hunter Nourzad watch is also on

Penn State has already had two offensive linemen drafted in the 2024 NFL draft. Olu Fashanu was a first-round pick of the New York Jets and Caedan Wallace went to the New England Patriots in the third round. But Penn State could get one more offensive lineman drafted with center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] lingering on the board on Day 3.

ESPN ranks Nourzad as the third-best center available. Only Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini are ranked ahead of him.

Cornerbacks look like long shots?

Penn State still has a few cornerbacks sitting and waiting for a call from the NFL going into the final day of the draft. [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], and [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] are all still available, but all three are ranked between no. 21 and no. 25 at their position among best players available according to ESPN.

While Hardy and Dixon were always expected to be later round picks at best, the fall of King from a potential first-round draft pick a year ago is unfortunate to watch develop. If any player may have benefitted the most by returning for another season at Penn State, it is looking like it would have been King.

But maybe somebody is going to take a shot at King and capitalize on a player with a potential chip on his shoulder. If not, he will be one player to watch during the undrafted free agent frenzy following the draft.

Catch all of the latest updates from the NFL draft with USA TODAY’s live draft tracker. For a look at each Penn State draft prospect, be sure to check out our Penn State NFL draft tracker.

Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

2024 NFL draft: Best available players for the Bucs on Day 3

Check out some of the top prospects the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could target on the final day of the 2024 NFL draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already added four players through the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, filling some of their biggest needs with blue-chip talent that should have an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.

Heading into the final day of this year’s draft, the Bucs have three more selections to make, starting with the No. 125 overall pick in the fourth round. Tampa Bay picks again at the end of the sixth round, and they also have a late seventh-round pick.

Here are the top prospects still available on the board that the Bucs could target with those picks on Saturday:

Panthers 3rd-round pick Trevin Wallace has a scary definition for ‘dawg mentality’

Trevin Wallace on dawg mentality: “I’ma hurt you every play. I want you to be scared of me.”

“Dawg mentality” has probably been the most popular buzz term for the Carolina Panthers this offseason. So, what it does mean to their latest draft pick?

President of football operations/general manager/dawg hunter Dan Morgan wrapped up a busy Day 2 by selecting University of Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace at the draft’s 72nd overall spot. And if you’re not familiar with his game, he provided quite a rundown when speaking to reporters after the big announcement.

“I got a little swag to my game,” Wallace said. “I feel like with my game, like I said ‘swag,’ I’m determined to get to the ball carrier. Like, no matter what it is. If the play go on for like 12 seconds, I’m still determined to get the ball carrier. So I’m real determined as well, too.”

That description showed in Wallace’s play, particularly during his final season for the Wildcats. The athletic 6-foot-1, 237-pounder totaled 80 tackles (8.5 for a loss) with 5.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Wallace, clearly a dawg, was then asked what dawg mentality means to him.

“So dawg mentality to me, it might sound crazy, dawg mentality to me is you don’t care if you go out there and hurt somebody. It’s part of the game. You go in there and hurt somebody, you be like, ‘I did this and I’ma do it again.’ That’s what dawg mentality is. You don’t go in there being soft. You go in there like, ‘I’ma hurt you every play. I want you to be scared of me.'”

Geez.

Well, at least we know he’s got some bite.

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PFF grades Falcons’ selection of EDGE Bralen Trice in Round 3

Pro Football Focus reacts to Falcons’ selection of Washington EDGE Bralen Trice in Round 3

Going into the draft, the defensive tackle and edge positions were atop the list of roster needs for the Atlanta Falcons. After doubling down on defensive players with their Day 2 selections, the Falcons have managed to address both positions with one day left to spare.

Washington EDGE Bralen Trice is the newest rookie to join the Falcons, following former Huskies teammate Michael Penix to Atlanta. The team’s 2024 draft class hasn’t exactly received glowing reviews, however, the Trice pick earned Atlanta’s highest grade thus far from Pro Football Focus.

The Falcons rookie edge rusher was given an “average” rating from PFF following his selection at pick No 79:

Trice was one of the most productive pass-rushers over the past two seasons. This is the right spot for him, as the Falcons finally get the edge defender many expected them to grab early in the first round. Trice earned 90.0-plus pass-rush grades in each of the past two seasons and racked up 150 total pressures from 869 pass-rushing snaps in that span. – PFF

Trice should be a positive addition to this team as he was quite impactful on that Washington defense over the years. He ended his college career playing just three seasons with over 100 total tackles and 18 total sacks.

Orhorhoro has elite RAS

Fans react to Orhorhoro pick

Falcons pick EDGE Bralen Trice

Why Penix pick could pay off

Twitter reacts to Penix pick

Panthers 2nd-round pick Jonathon Brooks expects to be healthy for training camp

Jonathon Brooks, who tore his ACL in November, believes he should be ready to go for the Panthers when training camp rolls around.

Even coming off an ACL tear, Jonathon Brooks was still the first running back taken in the 2024 NFL draft. And soon enough, that injury may not be a factor.

After a little movement in the second round, the Carolina Panthers settled in on the 46th overall slot used it to select Brooks. When speaking to reporters for the first time since the card was turned in, the 20-year-old rusher confirmed the belief that he should be ready to go by the start of training camp.

“Honestly, as far as rehab goes, it’s good,” Brooks said. “I’m out there, I’m running, I’m about to start cutting. So I’m progressing well. I’m right on track on where I need to be. For me to get back to camp, it’s also just a blessing. I feel like this injury’s a blessing from God just being that it gives me a chance to focus on a lot of other things.

“As bad as it is, it’s the best-case scenario. I just only tore my ACL and it was a complete tear. It’s great, I can’t wait to get back out there and just can’t wait to keep playing football.”

Brooks played some spectacular football before the tear—having rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns over just 11 games. His efforts, while cut short, still earned him a second-team All-Big 12 selection for the 2023 season.

The Panthers, who are sticking around in Charlotte this summer, will begin training camp in late July.

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Grading the Lions selection of Ennis Rakestraw in second round

The Detroit Lions doubled down in the cornerback room with the selection of Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw in the second round

Following the selection of Terrion Arnold in the first round, the Detroit Lions continued to bolster their cornerback corps by drafting Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw with their second-round pick, initiating a comprehensive overhaul of last year’s cornerback room.

The decision to pick consecutive cornerbacks may have surprised observers, but Rakestraw embodies the qualities the Lions value in their players. Described as “super competitive” and willing to contribute in run defense, Rakestraw aligns perfectly with the Lions’ ethos of giving their all on the field to earn playing time.

Rakestraw’s skill set meshes well with the Lions’ press-man coverage scheme, having demonstrated versatility by playing both inside and outside at Missouri. His strong coverage abilities enable him to shadow opponents effectively, complemented by his physicality and relentless attitude.

However, concerns linger regarding Rakestraw’s lack of ball production, with just one interception in his college career, as well as his injury history, which includes a torn ACL and groin injury. Despite these drawbacks, Rakestraw’s short-area speed and sticky coverage skills offer promise for his NFL career.

The Lions likely view Rakestraw as a long-term investment, especially considering the thinning of their secondary group after the 2024 season. With the depth added during the offseason, the Lions can afford to ease Rakestraw into action, allowing him to develop and acclimate to the NFL.

Nevertheless, Rakestraw’s tenacity and determination suggest he’ll vie for playing time from the outset, setting the stage for an intriguing competition during training camp.

The Lions’ defensive back room now boasts an array of talented players, providing flexibility in defensive packages. Rakestraw’s addition reinforces the Lions’ desire for physical, aggressive cornerbacks, offering the potential for a formidable cornerback duo alongside Arnold for years to come.

Grade: B+

Panthers GM Dan Morgan asked if Trevin Wallace is Shaq Thompson’s successor

Was the Panthers’ selection of LB Trevin Wallace a succession plan for 30-year-old Shaq Thompson?

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan may know a thing or two about being a linebacker—seeing as though he was one. So Friday’s selection of Trevin Wallace will surely be one to keep an eye on.

Morgan and head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters following their second day of action in the 2024 NFL draft. He was asked if the choice of Wallace, a promising youngster at the linebacker position, is the start of a succession plan to veteran Shaq Thompson.

“I don’t know if it’s like Shaq’s successor,” Morgan replied. “Shaq’s played at a high level for a long time. Obviously, we think a lot of Shaq, we think a lot of Josey [Jewell]. We’re really excited about those guys.”

Thompson, who turned 30 years old last week, will be entering his 10th NFL campaign in 2024. He’ll also be entering the final year of his contract, which could mean the end of his long tenure in Carolina.

If that’s ultimately the case, the Panthers may have a potential replacement with the 72nd overall pick in Wallace. But for now, Morgan is hoping the 21-year-old just finds his place as a pro.

“I just want Trevin to come in here—and I think Dave would say the same thing—come in here, learn, compete, earn the respect of these veterans out there. I think that’s the main thing just coming in as a rookie—just growing, getting behind the right veteran leadership, just kinda find his way.”

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WATCH: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. talks to Cardinals’ media

Listen to what Harrison had to say during his introductory press conference in Arizona. #GoBucks

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. realized a childhood dream when he was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft as the No. 4 pick on Friday night by the Arizona Cardinals.

Since then has no doubt been a whirlwind with interviews and media appearances, but one of the most important forums took place on Friday, one day after all of the festivities, when he was introduced to the media in Arizona.

It should be no surprise that Harrison carried himself well and showed great class in front of the media, just like we’ve all become accustomed to during his time on the banks of the Olentangy.

If you didn’t get a chance to soak in Harrison’s introductory press conference, we’re repurposing it here thanks to the Cardinals’ YouTube Channel. Watch and listen to how excited Harrison is to be in Arizona, when he found out he was going to be selected by the Cardinals, his brand as a pro, and more.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.