Tag: Brandon Aiyuk

Another CB-WR combo for 49ers in mock draft

The 49ers switched up their priorities in the latest Touchdown Wire mock.

The door of NFL draft possibilities blew wide open for the 49ers when they sent DeForest Buckner to the Colts in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick.

Pinpointing the 49ers’ biggest draft need isn’t easy since they have a few smaller holes instead of one gaping one. While it looks like receiver might be their biggest need, and one they address early in most mid-free agency mocks, they take an alternate approach in Doug Farrar’s latest mock draft for Touchdown Wire.

Instead of taking a receiver, then addressing another need later in the first round, they snag a cornerback back with the 13th pick and scoop up a receiver at No. 31.

The corner they take is former Alabama standout Trevon Diggs. Diggs is a fascinating prospect who has the size (6-1, 205 pounds) that the 49ers typically want out of their corners.

He began his career with the Crimson Tide as a do-everything athlete who returned punts, played receiver and spent time in the secondary as a freshman. Diggs became a full-time corner in his sophomore campaign while still shouldering the kick return and special teams duties.

His junior season, where he earned a full-time starting cornerback job, was cut short by an ankle injury, but he bounced back with a strong senior season. In his fourth year, Diggs posted three of his four career interceptions. Farrar had an excellent note on Diggs’ production last season:

The brother of former Vikings and current Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon allowed 15 receptions on 50 targets last season for 266 yards and one touchdown in 2019, per Sports Info Solutions. If you combine his three interceptions and 12 pass breakups last season, he negated as many receptions as he allowed.

While the 49ers may not need a starting cornerback this year, scooping up an athlete like Diggs who can contribute right away as a returner while also competing for the starting right cornerback job across from Richard Sherman, would make sense. Especially if they believe he can step in and be a difference-maker on Day 1, which he’d need to be to go this early in the draft. Pushing Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon down the depth chart would also immediately improve the 49ers’ depth at corner.

San Francisco in Farrar’s mock takes advantage of a deep wide receiver class and adds another playmaker at that spot with Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk doesn’t project as the true No. 1 receiver the 49ers’ offense is missing, but the prospect of him and Deebo Samuel cruising through opposing secondaries could give defensive coordinators nightmares.

The former Sun Devil isn’t a huge target at 6-0, 205 pounds, but he’s a terror after the catch. In two years with ASU, Aiyuk posted 98 catches for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He rode a huge senior season where he posted 66 of those receptions, 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns.

If the 49ers miss out on one of the top receiver prospects early, Aiyuk isn’t a bad consolation prize. There’s a universe where he and Samuel are both Swiss Army knife types of players and allow head coach Kyle Shanahan to get ultra creative in the passing game. Aiyuk probably isn’t physical enough to do a lot of the things Samuel did as a runner, but he can certainly make quick work of the space Shanahan schemes open.

While it makes sense for the receiver-needy team to take one at the No. 13 pick, it’s difficult to take anything off the table for the 49ers draft-wise.

Colts take Jerry Jeudy, Jacob Eason in latest CBS Sports mock draft

Colts go offense heavy in this mock.

The Indianapolis Colts are just over a week away from the start of free agency, but some of the focus is still on the ever-important first-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft.

Free agency will certainly play a part in the way the Colts go about their draft approach, but they are likely looking at a trio of positions at No. 13. They could go with a quarterback, a wide receiver or a defensive tackle.

In the latest three-round mock draft from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, the Colts took wide receiver Jerry Jeudy as a way to add more weapons for quarterback Philip Rivers, who was a projected signing in this scenario.

The marriage of Indianapolis and Philip Rivers is a poorly kept secret at this point. If he does end up there, their focus should be adding another dynamic wide receiver to pair with T.Y. Hilton. The offense was a one-trick pony last year when Hilton was absent.

Jeudy would be a fantastic addition to the Colts wide receiver room and one that desperately needs some revamping. Jeudy is a special talent. With his route-running ability, separation and change of direction, Jeudy would be a nice fit for the Colts as T.Y. Hilton’s successor.

Further in the mock draft, the Colts have three more picks. Here’s how they wound up:

  • No. 34 | Jacob Eason | QB | Washington
  • No. 44 | Jordan Elliott | DT | Missouri
  • No. 75 | Brandon Aiyuk | WR | Arizona State

This is an offensively-minded mock for the Colts. They get a great duo of wide receivers, a project with a rocket arm at quarterback and a potentially penetrating defensive tackle in Elliott.

Having Jeudy and Aiyuk to go with Hilton, Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal and a potential free-agent wide receiver would make the room look much better entering the offseason.

Free agency will have a lot to do with their draft approach, but the possibilities are endless at this point.

8 NFL draft prospects 49ers could target in trade back

The 49ers need to get creative with their use of picks in the 2020 draft.

The 2020 draft will be a new experience for 49ers general manager John Lynch. For the first time since he took over in 2017, the team won’t have a top 10 pick. They pick No. 31, and then they’re off the clock until early in the fifth round. Lynch and the 49ers are slated to go another 108 picks without a selection.

While Lynch has been aggressive moving up in drafts, including a trade up into the back end of the first round to select linebacker Reuben Foster in 2017, it stands to reason they’ll be aggressive in the opposite direction this year.

Scooping up additional draft capital is going to be essential, which likely means a move backward instead of picking 31st overall.

Moving back in the draft doesn’t necessarily mean the 49ers won’t find a quality player with their first selection, especially if their first pick is in the second round. Here are eight players who may be available early on Day 2 of the draft that San Francisco might target.

RB JK Dobbins, Ohio State

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers under head coach Kyle Shanahan have had a lot of success finding running backs late in free agency and in the undrafted free agent pool. With other needs lingering, it’s easy to see them passing on a running back until later in the draft, but a trade back into the middle of the second round where Dobbins falls to them might be too good of a value to pass up. Dobbins was a monster for all three years with the Buckeyes. He racked up 4,459 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 645 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He also has the athleticism, vision and versatility to be effective in Shanahan’s scheme. Running backs are losing value in the NFL, and the 49ers could take advantage with a very good player falling to them.

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2020 NFL draft: Brandon Aiyuk scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk | WR | Arizona State

Elevator Pitch

Aiyuk is a dynamic athlete with impressive fluidity and plenty of value after the catch. His technique as a route-runner could be improved, but the explosiveness he brings to an offense should make him high in demand as a secondary option at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 205

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for a receiver with athletic tools in this class, Aiyuk is one of the best prospects you can find.

An explosive wide out with very good acceleration off the snap and once he gets the ball in his hands, Aiyuk brought an enticing dynamic of speed to Arizona State’s offense in 2019. He’s a shifty ball-carrier who can change direction easily and has plenty of spring in his step. He runs with good vision when he gets into the open field, presenting opportunities for him to exploit a defense for a big gain.

Though not a finished product, Aiyuk has also shown some promise and growth as a route-runner. He stems his routes well and excels at attacking leverage points on the opposition, and he bursts out of his stems well. He has shown some potential in regards to his ability to sink his hips and make sharp cuts.

Weaknesses

Aiyuk could stand to add a little more physicality to his game. He tends to struggle with boxing out defenders in tight-window situations, and his hands aren’t quite strong enough to consistently make catches when contested. He’s a much better receiver in space than he is going up for the jump ball.

His route tree isn’t incredibly advanced at this stage in his career, and he can get better at accelerating coming out of his breaks. He could get better at using his hands to create separation, particularly against press coverage. Aiyuk also only has one season of notable FBS production, as he was a complementary piece to N’Keal Harry in 2018 and played at the JUCO level in 2016 and 2017.

Projection: Day 2

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6 players whose draft stock fell after combine

Some players tested low athletically when it was not expected.

With the conclusion of the NFL combine, many players helped their stock for the NFL draft. Not all did.

Some hurt their stock at least a little. Who are those players?

Auburn DT Derrick Brown

 Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Brown has great tape but testing very low athletically. His 8.22-second three-cone is in the first percentile of his position group. While mock drafts still have him going in or neat the top ten, unless he tests well at his pro day, he will likely see a slide on draft day.

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Daniel Jeremiah’s post-combine mock draft has Saints picking Brandon Aiyuk

Daniel Jeremiah connected the New Orleans Saints to Arizona State prospect Brandon Aiyuk in his updated post-combine mock draft on NFL.com.

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Wide receiver prospects remain the trendy pick for the New Orleans Saints in NFL mock drafts following last week’s combine in Indianapolis, with NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah connecting the team with Arizona State wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Jeremiah is a fan of Aiyuk’s ability to pick up yards after the catch, which he speculates could be featured well in the Saints offense.

That’s difficult to disagree with. While Aiyuk is currently seen as a fringe prospect to be selected in the first round, that speaks more to the depth and quality of this draft class than any flaws in his scouting report. Aiyuk was held out of Senior Bowl practices with a core muscle injury, but he completed athletic testing at the combine and put on a show.

Tipping the sales at 6-foot-flat and 205 pounds, Aiyuk sets himself apart with a remarkable catch radius — his wingspan measures in at 80 inches, just shy of the 81-inch wingspan boasted by Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins, who stands nearly 6-foot-4. For added context, Michael Thomas measured in with a 78-inch wingspan when he came out of the college ranks.

That expansive catch radius allows Aiyuk to compete on off-target passes, giving him opportunities to make a play that opponents may underestimate or not expect. And as Jeremiah alluded to, he’s a terrific threat after the catch. He averaged 10.9 yards after the catch per the Pro Football Focus draft guide, forcing 14 missed tackles on just 65 catches. That raw speed and lower-body strength carried through into Aiyuk’s combine testing; he timed the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds exactly, and placed inside the top six competitors in both the vertical jump (40 inches) and the broad jump (128 inches).

He has the tools to help the Saints fill the role vacated by Willie Snead a few years ago, as their dynamic slot receiver. While Cameron Meredith’s body was too broken down to give him a real shot at it, the carousel of other candidates (ranging from Austin Carr to Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall, as well as Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Krishawn Hogan) has been uninspiring.

Aiyuk specifically asked the Arizona State coaching staff to let him run more routes from the slot in his senior year, and that was reflected in his alignment. Per the PFF Draft guide, Aiyuk ran 102 slot snaps (out of 642 total) in 2019 after running just 26 snaps (of 402) from the slot back in 2018. He correctly diagnosed that his best shot at making a career in the NFL will come from the slot, and that’s something the Saints should keep in mind on draft day.

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Broncos met with WR Brandon Aiyuk at NFL combine

The Broncos met with ASU wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at the NFL combine last week.

The Denver Broncos interviewed Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at the NFL combine last week, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Aiyuk (6-0, 205 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at the combine.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Aiyuk to Robert Woods, who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 draft.

Aiyuk had a breakout senior season in 2019, catching 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. He is the 51st-best player in the draft and the eighth-best wide receiver, according to Luke Easterling’s 2020 NFL draft big board for Draft Wire.

Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy (No. 8) and Henry Ruggs (No. 12), Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb (No. 9), Colorado’s Laviska Shenault (No. 25), TCU’s Jalen Reagor (No. 33), Clemson’s Tee Higgins (No. 36) and LSU’s Justin Jefferson (No. 43) are the seven receivers Draft Wire has ranked higher than Aiyuk.

Aiyuk is projected to be selected sometime between the second and third rounds of the draft, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. Denver will have five picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft.

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2020 NFL Combine: 7 WRs for the Eagles to watch

2020 NFL combine: 7 WRs for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicked off on Monday, but the most important part of the week – the workouts – begins tonight in prime time.

Eagles executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman and his staff are projected to have 10 picks to work with during the NFL draft and with the goal being to retool and get younger, Philadelphia is set to infuse youth and talent.

With the deepest wide receiver class in draft history all in Indianapolis, here are 7 different wideouts for the Birds to watch at the Combine.

***

Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame

A stud at Notre Dame, Claypool finished his final season in South Bend with 66 receptions for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. At 6-4 and 238 pounds, Claypool will give Eagles fans Deja Vu about JJ Arcega-Whiteside, but Claypool is a big-bodied wide receiver who can create space, win the jump ball and could transition to tight end as well.

He can get better at route running and there are the questions about his speed, quickness, and ability to separate from NFL cornerbacks.

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Prospect for the Pack: Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk

Breaking down the draft profile of Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk, a potential pick of the Packers in the 2020 draft.

The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.

Up next is Arizona State receiver Brandon Aiyuk:

What he can do

– Run after the catch skills are legit. Explosive, creative and tough with the ball in his hands
– Explosiveness translates to all areas of his game. Flies off the ball, explodes in and out of breaks and can turn on the jets at any moment
– Freakishly long arms create massive catch radius. Wingspan measured 80″ at the combine
– Really fluid moving within routes. High potential as a route-runner
– Straight-line speed is an asset. He should blaze through the 40. Speed shows up on tape all the time
– Deep threat who created a bunch of easy bucket throws with a strong release off the line and vertical speed
– Not great in contested catch situations yet but strength and wingspan suggest he could eventually be dominant in close quarters
– Big-play threat in the return game
– Gobbles up yards in the screen game, should be gadget play threat at the next level
– Played outside predominantly but has experience inside in the slot

How he fits

The Packers need receivers, and Aiyuk is one of the more exciting options in this rich, talent-deep class of pass-catchers. He really only produced for one year at Arizona State but the 2019 season was a showcase of all the ways Aiyuk can impact a game. Throw him a quick screen. Get him moving on the slant. Send him vertical. Line him up as a returner. Provide a manufactured touch on a gadget play. He created positive, game-changing plays in all these scenarios. There’s some boom-bust risk here but Aiyuk is undeniably talented and versatile. He looks like the kind of field-tilter the Packers just don’t have behind Davante Adams in the passing game.

NFL comp

Pro Football Focus compared him to Pierre Garcon, which makes sense on a lot of levels. Lance Zierlein picked Robert Woods. Both once played in offenses with Matt LaFleur on the staff.

Where Packers could get him

Some mock drafts and many mock draft simulators give off the impression that Aiyuk could be available at No. 62. It’s really hard to envision that being possible after studying his tape. Once he makes easy work of the combine, he’ll be a top-40 lock. It’s certainly possible the Packers will consider him at No. 30, or as a trade-down target from No. 30.

Previous Prospects for the Pack

WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims

Combine news and notes for the Browns: Tuesday

Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski faced the media, some weigh-in and player notes

The first day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis featured the first wave of player interviews, as well as the coaches and GMs for teams facing the media for press conferences. That included Browns GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, who followed one another at Podium 1 shortly after noon.

Here are some of the highlights and observations from a Tuesday at the Indianapolis Convention Center.

Kareem Hunt will be tendered

Berry indicated the Browns will indeed issue running back Kareem Hunt a tender offer as a restricted free agent. He did not state what level of tender Hunt would get, however. The Browns can choose what level of compensation to offer Hunt, and it would set the return compensation value if another team offered Hunt an offer and he left the Browns.

Coach Stefanski sees the value in bringing back Hunt, who was one of the NFL’s top receiving backs in the final eight weeks following his return from NFL disciplinary suspension.

“I think there’s a future for Kareem here, obviously, and we’ll work through all that,” Stefanski said of Hunt. “But he’s a player certainly that we’re eager to get to work with.”

Joe Schobert could stay in Cleveland

Berry spoke very highly of Schobert, calling him “a good player and an even better person.” But the standout linebacker is a pending free agent, and the market will dictate where he lands.

The new GM will meet with Schobert’s representation during the combine and discuss possible contract parameters.

“It has to work for us from a cost perspective with our long-term roster strategy, and obviously it has to be a fit for Joe and his family as well,” Berry said.

Schobert was not a priority for the old regime of John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens, and that led to the linebacker hitting free agency. Berry hopes to stave off future issues like this with more pre-market contract extensions.

No player workouts

The on-field portion of the combine for players, the part that everyone tunes in to watch, doesn’t begin until Thursday. Today was interview day for the tight ends, quarterbacks and wide receivers. Offensive linemen got measured and will take to the interview podiums in the morning, along with specialists.

Prospect notes

Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton’s measurements caused a stir in the media center. He’s a very large human:

His wingspan and hand size are excellent for offensive tackles.

Another measurement that was raising some eyebrows: Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs’ hands. As much consternation as there was over LSU QB – and presumptive No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow – having smallish hands, Ruggs owns some huge mitts.

Ruggs stands just 5-11, but his hands are over 10 inches wide. Compare that to Becton, who is eight inches taller and weighs over 150 pounds more than him, and Ruggs’ hand span is less than half an inch smaller. Ruggs also boasted he expects to break the record time in the 40-yard dash at 4.22 seconds.

Another odd positive measurement comes courtesy of Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk. He’s got exceptionally long arms and wingspan for a 5-11 guy…

Aiyuk indicated to me he has met informally with the Browns (among other teams) during his time here in Indianapolis.