Tag: Amari Rodgers

Browns full mock draft v5.0: The trade up scenario

In the last edition of the Browns Wire full 2021 mock draft, we explored the concept of trading back from the No. 26 spot and acquiring more picks. This time, we go in the other direction.

In the last edition of the Browns Wire full 2021 mock draft, we explored the concept of trading back from the No. 26 spot and acquiring more picks. This time, we go in the other direction.

Trading up requires two things: a specific target to go after and a team willing to move back for a reasonable price. With that in mind, I picked out two potential targets that should appeal to the Browns but don’t figure to be available when they pick at 26. I’m not willing to mortgage much in the future to move way up, nor do I expect GM Andrew Berry to do that either.

The two targets I zeroed in on were Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye and South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn. Using three different mock draft simulators (The Draft Network, Pro Football Focus and Fanspeak), I ran several mocks to get a good feel for where those players generally project.

Now to the move up…

Amari Rodgers draws interesting comparison from Jags after meeting with them

The Jags could use another dynamic receiver on their offense and it appears they believe Amari Rodgers has a lot of traits they like.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have several needs in the draft. However, wide receiver isn’t one of them. Despite that, they could still afford to take advantage of this year’s solid class at the position, and most NFL journalists have them snagging a speed threat in the top-5 rounds or so.

When considering the history of Urban Meyer and his offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, it feels like the probability of the Jags drafting a receiver could be at 50% at the least. During the offseason, they’ve met with various receivers (as all teams have), and Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers can now be added to the list.

In a recent interview with Kelly Gramlich of The Roar (Clemson’s flagship sports station), Rodgers stated that he had met with the Jags last week for a meeting that went “very well.” He also added that the Jags had an interesting comparison for him in the process and it was to a name Gators fans are very familiar with in former receiver Percy Harvin.

When considering Meyer’s is connection to the Gators, this comparison makes sense. It’s also not shocking that Meyer could be looking for a Harvin-like player to plug into his offense and put pressure on opposing defenses.

The Jags already have some skill players who are ascending in DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault, James Robinson, and Collin Johnson. However, adding Rodgers to the mix would give the Jags a player they could designate to the slot and maybe even use out of the backfield. That would allow Chark, Shenault, and Johnson to predominantly be X and Z receivers.

If the Jags were to select Rodgers, their fifth selection (No. 65) could be the spot to do it as he has third-round projections. Drafting him would give the Jags the chance to pair presumptive No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence with his top receiver of 2020, as Rodgers led the Tigers through the air with 77 catches for 1,020 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Lions 7-round mock draft 4.0: The fantasy episode

Most mock drafts are predictive in nature. Not this one…

Most mock drafts are predictive in nature. Not this one. For v4.0 of the Lions Wire’s full Detroit mock draft, I turned the dial to Fantasy Island.

It’s time to dare to dream!

Being that this is a dream, everything written here is intended to be narrated by BBC news presenter Alan Kasujja, whose deep tones and accented diction help guide me to sleep most nights.

Don’t expect any of this to actually happen. That’s not the point. This is my ideal fantasy for how the 2021 NFL draft would play out for the Lions.

Lions 2021 NFL draft: A wide receiver for every round

Identifying a WR prospect for each round of the 2021 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions

The ongoing series of Detroit Lions prospects at a position for each round of the 2021 NFL draft moves to offense. After covering linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks, the shift to wide receiver spotlights the biggest positional need on offense.

Right now, the Lions depth chart is loaded with NFL journeymen on short-term deals. Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman and Kalif Raymond are the top three after signing in free agency, with holdover Quintez Cephus and 2020 opt-out Geronimo Allison rounding out the crew.

In short, wide receiver a position of dire long-term need for both high-end impact and depth for Detroit. Expect at least one Lions pick to get devoted to wide receiver, and it’s certainly possible multiple WRs come off the board to the Lions in this deep, diverse draft class.

The projected rounds here are based on a sampling of mock drafts and projections as of April 10. The Lions do not have picks in the sixth or seventh round as of now but we included prospects for those rounds just in case…

Rookie Rundown: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson

What does Amari Rodgers bring to the table for fantasy football?

Clemson senior receiver Amari Rodgers can do a little bit of everything and certainly will endear himself to a professional suitor in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was a high school standout from Knoxville, Tenn., being tabbed as a top-100 recruit. Rodgers is the son of former Tennessee Volunteers and NFL quarterback Tee Martin.

At his Clemson Pro Day on March 11, Rodgers checked in with the following measurables:

Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 212 pounds
40 time: 4.51 seconds

Built like a running back, with a compact frame and powerful legs, Rodgers even worked out as one in front of NFL personnel. It’s likelier than not that he primarily plays wideout in the NFL, but teams will look to get him the ball in creative ways, such as on jet sweeps.

Table: Amari Rodgers NCAA stats (2017-20)

Year
School
Class
Gm*
Receiving
Rushing
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg
2017
Clemson
FR
12
19
123
6.5
0
3
-9
-3
2018
Clemson
SO
15
55
575
10.5
4
1
5
5
2019
Clemson
JR
13
30
426
14.2
4
2
50
25
2020
Clemson
SR
12
77
1,020
13.2
7
0
0
0
Career
181
2,144
11.8
15
6
46
7.7

*includes postseason/bowl games

At Clemson, Rodgers was a role player to begin his tenure, but he still managed to see the field as a true freshman in 2017. The 2018 Clemson championship season saw him account for a larger role in the passing game and on special teams, earning a starting role in the offense.

In the spring of 2019, Rodgers tore an ACL and still managed to miss only one contest. He recovered at breakneck speed (166 days), roughly three months ahead of the usual schedule.

In 2020, with wide receiver Tee Higgins going pro and Justyn Ross (spine) being forced to sit out, Rodgers found himself atop the pecking order among Trevor Lawrence’s receiving targets. Rodgers tied for the team lead in touchdown grabs (7), capturing the crown all to himself for receptions (77) and yardage (1,020) on his way to being a first-team All-ACC selection.

Pros

  • Extremely tough to bring down in the open field, especially for leaner cornerbacks
  • Accelerates quickly from a stop
  • Pretty good spacial awareness and vision
  • Exceptional work ethic and determination displayed recovering so quickly from a torn ACL
  • Fine deep-ball tracker and has plus body control to adjust to an off-target throw
  • Plays faster than he times — displays a second gear and the ability to outrun most defenders if he has even a step
  • Special teams experience
  • Versatile — will be able to quickly get utilized in space from the get-go, seeing short-area passes to manufacture touches and allow him to create yards after catch

Cons

  • Inconsistent hands and concentration lapses led to some drops, including a few ugly ones
  • Plays best vs. man-to-man coverage out of the slot where his ability to shake a defender is more valuable — could be less impactful against zone defenses
  • Can he consistently defeat press coverage? If not, his role down the field will be diminished
  • Just an average route runner — needs to work with NFL coaches to refine his nuanced movements, particularly coming out of breaks
  • Could be pigeonholed as a slot receiver if drafted by a less creative coaching staff

Fantasy football outlook

Rodgers’ utility role allows him to fit just about any NFL system employed these days, although he is ideal for a West Coast offense or a spread system that emphasizes chipping away at a defense. It should take a few years before he is ready to make the next leap in production to a level in which fantasy footballers are thinking about him each week, however.

Expect a midround placement — somewhere in the range of Rounds 3-5 — and for an offense looking to add a Deebo Samuel-like player. While the comparison is far from perfect, both are competitive, bullish runners with the ball in their hands who are asked to earn yardage the hard way. How Carolina has utilized Curtis Samuel is possibly a more apt comparable in terms of play design and role.

New England could see him as a possible Julian Edelman replacement, and Detroit is in dire need of a player in Rodgers’ mold. Other interesting landing spots could be Tennessee, Miami, and Jacksonville (reuniting him with Lawrence). More possibilities include Cleveland, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Carolina, Minnesota, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants.

Patriots have met with Clemson WR Amari Rodgers multiple times

The Patriots obviously need to add help at receiver after a rough year in 2020.

The New England Patriots have repeatedly checked in on Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers, most recently with a virtual interview, he told The Boston Globe. Rodgers said he met with Patriots receivers coach Mick Lombardi.

“I had a FaceTime interview with him,” Rodgers told The Globe. “It went great, he’s a great guy.”

The Patriots-Rodgers connection started at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. It’s a pre-draft camp for the top college prospects. Every NFL team attends in an attempt to see and speak with as many prospects as they can. That’s when Rodgers spoke with a Patriots scout.

“I can definitely see myself playing for Coach [Bill] Belichick,’’ he said. “Because he kind of reminds me of Coach [Dabo] Swinney as far as discipline. Very hard and very focused and stuff like that. I feel like the Patriots and Clemson kind of relate to each other, so I feel like I would fit very well in the Patriots organization.’’

Rodgers managed 77 catches for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020. They were all career high statistics.

New England had issues at receiver in 2020. Their returners include Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry and Gunner Olzewski, among others.

[listicle id=102366]

Dream scenario for Clemson WR Amari Rodgers: Second round to Packers

Aaron Rodgers to Amari Rodgers? Going to the Packers in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft would be a dream scenario for the Clemson WR.

Aaron Rodgers to Amari Rodgers?

The Clemson wide receiver and 2021 draft prospect said getting drafted by the Packers and landing with the NFL MVP in Green Bay would be his dream draft scenario.

“I’ll say second round to the Packers,” Rodgers said when asked the question by former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall at the 2021 House of Athlete Scouting Combine Showcase.

Rodgers, who finished with 181 catches for 2,144 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns over 55 career games at Clemson, noted the accuracy of the Packers quarterback as a primary reason for wanting to end up in Green Bay. He also said his relentless commitment to getting on the same page as his quarterback during practice – noting the path Rodgers and Davante Adams took to becoming one of the NFL’s best quarterback-receiver combinations – would make him well-suited for playing for the Packers.

“I feel like I could go in there and fit in right away,” Rodgers said.

The Packers are entering the offseason with a need at slot receiver. Rodgers, who operated in a variety of ways in the Clemson offense, could be the ideal player to do all the things coach Matt LaFleur needs out of a slot receiver and gadget weapon in his offense.

Rodgers pointed to Steve Smith and Jarvis Landry as receivers he’s looked up to or modeled his game on during his collegiate career. In Green Bay, he could be a player similar to Randall Cobb.

The Draft Network believes Rodgers has a chance to be a “featured slot receiver” at the next level.

From his profile: “He has reliable hands, plays a physical brand of football, and is a good athlete.”

What is Rodgers hearing about his draft stock?  “Second to third round right now,” Rodgers said, although he’s confident he can improve his status with a strong workout at Clemson’s pro day.

The Packers hold the 62nd pick in the second round of the 2021 draft. Ten years ago, the Packers used the 64th overall pick on Cobb, who gave Rodgers one of the top slot weapons in football.

[lawrence-related id=56438,56392]

[listicle id=56238]

Potential Dolphins WR target flexes muscle at House of Athlete Combine

Potential Dolphins WR target flexes muscle at House Of Athlete Combine

The Miami Dolphins, along with the rest of the league, are going to have to get a little unconventional with their approach to collecting information on 2021 NFL Draft prospects. Sure, you’ll have formal Pro Days, but the access to such events will be restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result teams will need to be able to vet out potential targets from mostly afar.

For the Dolphins, what is transpiring this weekend in Weston, FL should certainly catch their eye and command their interest. Former Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall is helping to put on a pseudo-Combine of his own courtesy of his fitness and lifestyle brand, House of Athlete (HOA). The HOA Combine has welcomed a slew of NFL Draft prospects into their facilities and, this weekend, all of that is coming to a head with workouts taking place all throughout the day today.

No NFL personnel is able to attend in accordance with the league-wide guidelines for this unorthodox offseason, but never the less there will be opportunities from afar to make observations and add boxes of information to certain prospects’ profiles.

Consider Clemson Tigers wide receiver among them. If the Dolphins are looking for a player to fill the slot/gadgety role in their wide receiver room, you’d be hard pressed to find more than a handful of intriguing options than Rodgers, who repped out 24 reps of 225 pound in the weight room yesterday as a part of the opening salvo of events.

Rodgers has a build that isn’t dissimilar to current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson, so there’s a clear path for him to generate interest from the team. And Rodgers, who looked like a much more dynamic player in 2020 after an Achilles injury in 2019, is going to have the chance to put an exclamation point on his growing resume with athletic testing.

Rodgers had a big increase in production, he’s rebounded from injury and now he’s showing that he’s got the weight room strength to match his running back-esque build. Look alive Miami, this is a Day 2 option to keep an eye on — even if you can’t lay eyes on his HOA Combine workout in the flesh due to the league mandates.

3 offensive Clemson players the Jags could draft with Trevor Lawrence

Trevor Lawrence isn’t the only Clemson player the Jags could use on offense as they have needs all over the place.

If there is one thing NFL fans have learned this offseason, it’s that there seems to be a lot of quarterback shakeup on the horizon. However, one team who will probably have the luxury of not having to get involved are the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have a direct path to Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

As talented as he is, however, Lawrence wasn’t the only standout from Clemson’s 2020 offensive unit to enter the draft as a few others did. With the Jags going 1-15, they have a lot of needs and could use some of Lawrence’s teammates, too, as many of them have draftable grades.

Here are three Tigers the Jags could snag with Lawrence this April:

8 Senior Bowl players who helped their potential Browns draft stock

8 Senior Bowl players who should have impressed the Browns during practices

The annual Senior Bowl week took on extra importance in 2021 with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the scouting combine and pro days. The week of practices, interviews and the Senior Bowl itself played out last week in Mobile, and there are a few NFL draft prospects who should have caught the attention of the Cleveland Browns staff in attendance.

Here are a few of the standouts from the week and an eye for how they could help the Browns as a draft pick or priority free agent.