Tag: Brandon Aiyuk

2020 NFL Scouting Combine: List of wide receivers expected to attend

Here’s a look at the wide receiver prospects planning to attend the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis at the end of February.

The Seattle Seahawks struck gold last April when they were able to scoop up wide receiver DK Metcalf with the final pick of the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Metcalf earned himself the No. 2 spot behind Tyler Lockett but Seattle will likely be looking to build support around the duo, allowing a few veteran wideouts to walk away in free agency.

Here’s a look at the receivers planning to attend this year’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State
Lynn Bowden, WR, Kentucky
Tony Brown, WR, Colorado
Lawrence Cager, WR, Georgia
Marquez Callaway, WR, Tennessee
Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Gabriel Davis, WR, Central Florida
Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M
Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
Chris Finke, WR, Notre Dame
Aaron Fuller, WR, Washington
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis
Stephen Guidry, WR, Mississippi State
KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
John Hightower, WR, Boise State
K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon
yler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Kalija Lipscomb, WR, Vanderbilt
Austin Mack, WR, Ohio State
Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami
Aaron Parker, WR, Rhode Island
Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy
Michael Pittman, WR, USC
James Proche, WR, SMU
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Joe Reed, WR, Virginia
Kendrick Rogers, WR, Texas A&M
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
Darrell Stewart, WR, Michigan State
Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
Ben Victor, WR, Ohio State
Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Mississippi
Cody White, WR, Michigan State

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Colts’ 3-round mock draft

Taking a stab at a three-round mock.

Now that the month of February is here and the Super Bowl is just arriving, all of the attention surrounding the Indianapolis Colts is focusing on the 2020 NFL draft and the upcoming free agency crop.

A lot is going to change before the draft arrives at the end of April. Some players will be re-signed and free agency will play a major role in how the Colts go about their draft process.

Before it arrives, we will be going through several mock drafts with different scenarios. It’s not always about trying to get each pick right but seeing what the crop could look like when making certain decisions.

Using The Draft Network’s simulator, here’s a three-round mock draft in which the Colts decided to wait on a quarterback:

AP Photo/Butch Dill

13. DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Most of Colts nation is hoping the front office will use this pick on a quarterback such as Jordan Love or even Justin Herbert if available. Both were in this simulation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Chris Ballard will pull the trigger.

Ballard mentioned this offseason that the “three-technique drives” the defense. This could be a precursor to using their first-round pick on a talent like Kinlaw, who would immediately compete for the starting spot.

A penetrating and disruptive interior defensive lineman, Kinlaw would be a perfect fit for the Colts defense. Add in his high character and incredible story, and Kinlaw seems like one of the perfect fits for the Colts.

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ASU WR Brandon Aiyuk could help solve Packers’ YAC problem

The top YAC creator in the 2020 draft class could help the Packers solve a major need.

A former running back who led the 2020 draft class in yards after the catch could help the Green Bay Packers solve a major issue on offense.

Arizona State receiver Brandon Aiyuk has the ability to be a dynamic player after the catch in the NFL, and there’s no doubting the Packers’ need for a player who can create after the catch.

According to Pro Football Focus, Aiyuk, one of the top senior receivers, led all players in the 2020 draft class with an average of 9.9 yards after the catch. A little over half of his total receiving production came after the catch.

A history at running back and experience returning punts and kicks helped create Aiyuk’s rare ability to break tackles and create space after making the catch.

“My background is at running back,” Aiyuk told Dane Brugler of The Athletic in October. “It’s like being a back again after the catch. I think it’s the strength of my game and it really makes a difference.”

After Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams and running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, the Packers lack a player capable of creating on his own after the catch.

As noted by Bill Huber of SI, Packers receivers forced a total of nine missed tackles in 2019. Pro Football Reference was even more harsh, crediting Packers receivers with only six broken tackles – three from Adams, two from Jake Kumerow, one from Geronimo Allison and zero from everyone else.

Jones and Williams led the team in broken tackles after the catch, with both creating 10. Aiyuk could give the Packers a similar threat at receiver.

The Arizona State star is a gifted athlete who showed the vision to find space,  instincts for creating creases in the defense and acceleration to get around and past defenders. Even if his route tree is limited early in his NFL career, he could be a difference-maker on quick in-breaking routes or tunnel screens.  Aiyuk was particularly dangerous on slants, turning several into long touchdowns during his senior season.

The Packers are going to be on the hunt for explosive offensive players this offseason. Acquiring playmakers in the passing game is one of the major needs for GM Brian Gutekunst.

Expect Aiyuk to be on the Packers’ radar. His best skill – an ability to create after the catch – fits perfectly with one of the Packers’ needs at receiver.

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Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk could add dynamic element to Chargers’ offense

The Los Angeles Chargers should have this dynamic playmaker on their radar.

Speed kills.

That’s something that the Los Angeles Chargers have been lacking at the wide receiver position. The talent is there with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams highlighting the group, but they could be touted as one of the best corps in the league if they were to add a dynamic play-maker at the position.

Insert former Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk was a phenomenal wideout in his two years at Sierra College – a community college in Northern California. He totaled 2,499 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns in his two-year career. He had a few offers, including Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas and Arizona State.

But ASU was one of few schools that actually wanted him to play receiver and a return specialist, not a cornerback, so he elected to play for the Sun Devils. After two years of junior college, Aiyuk was immediately inserted into the wide receiver rotation upon arriving.

In 2018, he caught 33 passes that season for 474 yards and three touchdowns. Little did we know that Aiyuk was about to be in store for a monster senior season after the offense was more tailored to former teammate and current Patriots wideout N’Keal Harry.

Serving as freshman phenom quarterback Jayden Daniel’s go-to guy, Aiyuk was targeted 99 times in 2019, hauling in 65 of them for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. Dangerous with the ball in his hands, he was near unstoppable after the catch with 18.3 yards per reception.

In a league where getting open and stretching the field has become a must to have offensive success, there’s no denying that Aiyuk has a skillset that matches what is being needed in today’s NFL.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, Aiyuk has been blessed with an uncommon blend of burst, agility and track-like long speed.

Aiyuk changes speeds and direction incredibly well. He makes dynamic cuts that showcase tremendous acceleration, putting his foot in the ground without losing any speed and exploding upfield.

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Aiyuk, who’s expected to run in the low 4.4’s, is capable of blowing right by defensive backs on vertical routes if they play in off-man coverage or they simply don’t get their hands on him.

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He’s also explosive as a return specialist. He averaged 34 yards per kick return and 16 yards per punt return. That special teams ability could allow Aiyuk to make an immediate impact for the Chargers, knowing they have struggled to find a consistent return man.

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The area where Aiyuk will have to improve in is being more consistent with using his hands to defeat press coverage. He needs to get better in contested catch situations as he doesn’t have the “go get it” mentality as much to extend throwing windows.

However, Aiyuk’s play-making athleticism is what would be the selling point for the Bolts.

The former Arizona State product is currently being viewed as a top-50 prospect, which means that the second-round is where they would likely have to draft him.

It seems a bit rich to address the wide receiver position that early even though it is a positional group that needs to be solidified. But general manager Tom Telesco could see this as an opportunity to give whoever is behind center another dynamic option.

The thought of Allen in the slot, Williams as the X, Aiyuk as the Z and tight end Hunter Henry would force defensive coordinators to really draw up an efficient game-plan to stop this prolific group on a weekly basis.

Carson Wentz needs his own Tyreek Hill: 5 players that could fill such a role for the Eagles

With Carson Wentz needing playmakers on the Eagles offense, Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman must find him an explosive player like Tyreek Hill.

The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best head coaches in the NFL but they are without question in the Super Bowl because of Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill quickly becoming the most explosive QB/WR duo in the NFL.

The NFL is now a passing league and most of the more successful signal-callers in the league have a guy on the roster that can outrun a defense.

Whether it be Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins, Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett or any other dynamic duo, the need for speed is the one common denominator.

How explosive has Hill been for the Chiefs?

As a rookie, Hill scored nine touchdowns on 85 total touches, while playing only 41 percent of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps. Over the past two seasons, Hill and Mahomes have connected on 18 pass plays of 30 yards or more, most for any quarterback-receiver duo in the NFL.

Mahomes’ 56 completions of 30 or more yards are most in the league among quarterbacks, and Hill’s 22 receptions of 30+ yards are the most among receivers.

With the Eagles having a serious need for speed, here are five players that can do for Wentz what Tyreek Hill has done for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

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1. Henry Ruggs III — WR — Alabama

Ruggs III is the one constant name being linked to the Eagles this draft season, and he’d fit right into a league that’s already dominated by speed.

During a win over the South Carolina Gamecocks this season, Ruggs III was clocked at 24.3 miles per hour on a touchdown run and he ran 10.58 seconds in the 100-meters while in high school.

Ruggs III averaged 18.6 yards per catch this season and 17.5 yards per catch during his three-year career at Bama with 25 total touchdowns.

Ruggs is more than just a vertical threat and his ability to make things happen with the ball in his hands, gives him the best shot to be utilized like Hill in the Eagles offense.

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7 Senior Bowl players who would look good with the Cardinals

It is still early in the draft evaluation period, but these players already look like a fit for the Cardinals.

The NFL draft is still months away but because of the Senior Bowl, many draft prospects are fresh on the mind of NFL fans everywhere. Several players who participated in the Senior Bowl look like they would fit nicely with the Arizona Cardinals.

There is still much evaluation to do, but just what we know from how they played last season and what they did the week of the Senior Bowl, here are some players would would look great in Cardinal red.

South Carolina Javon Kinlaw

(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Kinlaw was the talk of the Senior Bowl during the week. He created some buzz with his practice and some with what he said. He didn’t end up playing in the game but is expected to be a top-16 pick. He could land on the Cardinals’ radar and they desperately need more talent on the defensive line.

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2020 Senior Bowl: 7 players Giants should keep an eye on

The 2020 Senior Bowl will be played on Saturday, and here are seven players the New York Giants should keep an eye on.

If we learned anything from the 2019 Senior Bowl, it’s that New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman certainly puts stock into it.

Big Blue’s first-round pick, Daniel Jones, was the Most Valuable Player in the game last season and his performance might have put Gettleman over the top to take the Duke product at No. 6.

The Giants have several needs to address in what is a rebuilding project at this point. Jones could use help along the offensive line for both now and in the future, and a weapon at wide receiver wouldn’t hurt, also.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants were a mess in the secondary, and creating pressure with a consistent pass-rush was once again an issue for Big Blue.

If the Giants are going to successfully rebuild this team, Gettleman has got to make the most of his seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, and there’s a good chance some of those picks will be made based on what he sees in this year’s Senior Bowl.

Here are some players to watch on Saturday.

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

Getting pressure was once again an issue for the Giants in 2019, as their 36 sacks ranked No. 22 in the NFL. On the bright side, Big Blue improved upon its 30 sacks from the 2018 campaign.

Adding to the Giants’ overall sack woes, the team’s sack leader, Markus Golden, is a free agent this offseason and there’s no guarantee he returns.

With New York in the market for an EDGE once again, Terrell Lewis out of Alabama is a Senior to watch. In 10 games last season, the 6-foot-5, 252-pound linebacker totaled 31 tackles (11.5 for loss) and six sacks.

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8 prospects for Broncos fans to keep tabs on in Senior Bowl

Fans of the Denver Broncos should be watching these eight players during the 2020 Senior Bowl.

The 2020 Senior Bowl takes place this Saturday and while college All-Star games are far from the most interesting things, for a football junkie, it gives some insight into which players might be great at the professional level.

For fans of the Denver Broncos, a team with multiple needs in order to improve the team, this game will be chock-full of players to keep an eye on.

Who knows, one or more of these guys could be wearing blue and orange in the near future.

1. Leki Fotu, defensive tackle, Utah (North team)

(Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

Fotu stands 6-5 and comes in at over 320 pounds, making him an imposing force in the middle of any defensive line. He is stout against the run but is likely only a two-down defender.

If the Broncos were to lose a player like Shelby Harris to free agency, a guy like Fotu would be an option in the draft to help add depth to a defensive line that is going to need some work this offseason.

2. Malik Harrison, linebacker, Ohio State (North team)

(Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)

The Broncos could shoot to upgrade the inside linebacker position this offseason and Harrison would do that.

The linebacker from Ohio State should be a starter at the next level as he is a thumper when making tackles and a hammer against the run. With some coaching, he can acquire better skills to defend the pass to be a true three-down player.

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2020 Senior Bowl: Bills meet with WR Brandon Aiyuk

Tracker of the players the Buffalo Bills have met with at the 2020 Senior Bowl.

The 2020 Senior Bowl is getting underway this week in Mobile, Alabama. Practices started on Tuesday but one name was a late scratch of sorts, receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Despite not taking the field due to injury, Aiyuk still traveled to the practices to meet with potential teams. According to a league source, the Bills were among those teams to meet with Aiyuk.

The potential first-round pick told the Denver Post his injury was “minor” and something he had been dealing with during the season.

“If the Senior Bowl was next week, I would have been fine,” Aiyuk said.

Earlier this week, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said via the Buffalo News that Aiyuk’s injury wouldn’t knock his stock in their eyes.

“There’s nothing you can do about an injury, but it won’t knock him or anything like that,” Beane said. “His fall tape says what he can do physically.”

At Arizona State, Aiyuk had 1,192 receiving yards, which ranked second in the Pac 12, on 65 catches. The deep ball threat averaged 18.3 yards per reception and added eight scores.

While not overly tall in stature at 6-foot-1, Aiyuk measured an 81-inch wingspan.

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13 potential Bills prospects to watch at the 2020 Senior Bowl

Buffalo Bills prospects to watch at the 2020 Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl is upon us, which means the beginning of the draft season. Plenty of first and second day draft picks end up taking part in the festivities.

Josh Allen, anyone?

In 2019, 10 first-round picks took part in the game and since his tenure as Buffalo’s head coach, Sean McDermott has taken a liking to seniors due to their extra year of maturity and experience. There’s a good chance the Bills dip back into the Senior Bowl pool in 2020 with nine total draft picks currently slated to them at the upcoming draft.

With that, here are 13 Senior Bowl prospects to monitor for the Bills at the event as practices begin on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s game:

Clemson Tigers offensive lineman John Simpson (74). Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

OL John Simpson, Clemson

The Bills might have an opening for starting spot on their offensive line via Quinton Spain. He’s a free agent and where he struggled according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics were as a run blocker. Clemson’s John Simpson is described as a powerful blocker who could improve a bit as a pass blocker at the next level.

Simpson is currently projected as a mid-round pick that could use a big week at the Senior Bowl. Playing at a powerhouse school and using football to pull himself out of a tough upbringing. That could attract the Bills to him. Simpson can play both guard position, but only lined up at left guard in 2019.

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