Tag: Calijah Kancey

4-Down Territory: 2023 scouting combine preview

It’s scouting combine time! Doug Farrar and Luke Easterling are here to ask answer all the questions about this year’s prominent draft event.

Every week in “4-Down Territory,” Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Luke Easterling of Bucs Wire and Draft Wire go over the things you need to know about, and the things you need to watch, in the NFL right now. It’s all about draft prospects with the scouting combine getting started this week, so Doug and Luke get into a bunch of questions about all the draft prospects looking to raise their games in Indianapolis — both on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, and in private interviews with NFL teams.

This week’s pressing questions:

1. Which top-tier prospect most needs a great combine performance?

2. Who among the lesser-known prospects could see their stock rise in Indianapolis?

3. Which prospects will be most reliant on positive medical reports?

4. Finally, which prospect are you most looking forward to seeing in the on-field drills?

You can watch this week’s episode of “4-Down Territory” right here!

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Daniel Jeremiah names NFL draft risers for Saints fans to watch at the combine

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah named several draft prospects on the rise for Saints fans to watch at this year’s scouting combine:

There aren’t many NFL draft analysts clued into the annual event better than Daniel Jeremiah, who has risen to prominence with NFL Network. This week he met with members of the media for a sprawling conference call ahead of the 2023 NFL scouting combine, touching on this year’s talented crop of college prospects.

And he shared some insight into three players that New Orleans Saints fans should be watching carefully once they hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium next week to go through a series of athletic timing and agility drills. These are some prospects on the rise at, as Jeremiah sees them, New Orleans’ positions of need:

Buyers Beware: 5 prospects the Browns should let other teams over-draft

Buyers beware on these prospects.

We are now in the thick of the pre-draft process as the Senior Bowl has come to an end and the NFL Scouting Combine is set to take place next week. In need of infiltrating their roster with young talent, the Cleveland Browns need to nail down the 2023 NFL Draft with the eight picks they currently hold.

They do not need to overthink this, as there will be some real value on the board when they come on the clock with the 42nd overall pick. However, there is some highly thought of players who just do not show that same level of hype on tape. Here are five 2023 NFL Draft prospects the Browns would be wise to let other teams over-draft.

Browns Mock Draft Round-up: Wide receiver continues to be neglected in mocks

There is still a lack of wide receivers appearing in mock drafts.

With the NFL Scouting Combine just a few days away, the 2023 NFL Draft picture will continue to become a clearer picture for the Cleveland Browns and the other 31 teams around the league. The issue, however, with all of the mock drafts coming out right now is they continue to overlook the need for a new wide receiver in an offense that was in the bottom quarter of the league in explosive plays through the air. Only LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte appeared in mock drafts around different sites this week.

Here is this week’s edition of Browns Mock Draft Round-up as defensive ends and defensive tackles once again dominate.

Pre-Combine top defensive tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft for the Browns to target

Who are the best defensive tackles for the Browns to target in the 2023 NFL Draft? Check out these pre-combine rankings.

The NFL Scouting Combine is set to take place next week in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Cleveland Browns will be there in full force as they look to upgrade their roster in the 2023 NFL Draft. Indianapolis is also where all of the deals shake out behind the scenes between general managers, agents, and more, so more free agency and trade news should begin to leak out after the combine as well.

However, as the Browns look to improve their roster, defensive tackle is a main need for them. Here are the top-ten defensive tackles to watch at the combine. Who knows? A couple of them could be in brown and orange next season.

Here are midseason defensive tackle rankings as some prospects have gone back to school, and more tape has come out since this article.

Texans grab Pitt DT Calijah Kancey in NFL.com 3-round mock draft

The Houston Texans invest in the defensive line with Pitt DT Calijah Kancey in the latest NFL.com three-round mock draft.

The Houston Texans need help on defense, too.

While the focus of the Texans’ No. 2 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft may focus on quarterback, the twin first-rounder at No. 12 overall — a gift from the 2022 offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns — has a myriad of possibilities.

According to Chad Reuter from NFL.com, the Texans use that extra first-rounder to take Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

Kancey could be a top-10 pick because of his strength at the point of attack and quickness. But we’ve seen other smaller tackles land in the middle of the first, such as when Aaron Donald went 13th overall in 2014. New Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is quite familiar with Donald’s game from his years in San Francisco, so you have think he’d love to add a playmaker like Kancey on what will be a revamped Houston defensive line in 2023.

Adding Kancey that early in the draft would indicate the club wants a playmaker up front on defense. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins did well playing as the three-technique in Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, tallying 3.5 sacks along with nine tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits. Houston also has 2021 sixth-round defensive tackle Roy Lopez, who generated 1.0 sack, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and a safety last season.

The rest of the draft is rather puzzling as Houston takes Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave at No. 33 overall in Round 2. The Texans drafted Brevin Jordan in Round 5 in 2021 and later took Teagan Quitoriano in Round 5 in 2022. Houston also found some value in Jordan Akins’ production last season.

Houston finishes the third round taking Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah with No. 65 overall in Round 5. The Texans traded their other third-round selection via the Browns to the Chicago Bears as part of a package to take Alabama quarterback Bryce Young No. 1 overall.

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Bengals go surprise route in new 2023 NFL mock draft

An unexpected route for the Bengals in a new mock draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t strangers to a best-player available approach in the NFL draft and at times, panicking and drafting for need has resulted in big misses (see: Billy Price).

So while offensive line, cornerback and tight end look like major needs before free agency, there’s always a chance they hit a position of strength in the first round out of sheer value.

That’s just what the Bengals do by taking Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey at No. 28 in a new mock draft from NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein:

“Let’s step outside of the box here. Kancey is right at 280 pounds but is ridiculously explosive with A+ rush talent. He can’t play every down, but he can impact games from the interior.”

The biggest problem here is that Kancey is a surefire bet to keep rising up draft boards, especially when he charts near some uber-productive NFL names:

But besides that, this would be an amazing pick for the Bengals. The defensive line already boasts one of the best nose tackles in football with DJ Reader. In a dream scenario, a prospect like Kancey could come in and add a Geno Atkins-styled rush next to him.

Adding Kancey to a rotation with the likes of B.J. Hill and Zach Carter would have a positive ripple effect on the entire defense. Provided they hit other needs in free agency, the Bengals would net an A grade for this one.

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Browns bolster their putrid front seven in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft

A front seven makeover for Jim Schwartz

The Cleveland Browns are handing over the defensive reigns to new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz hoping to turn around that unit. The Browns’ current roster aligns well with what he asks his defensive backs to do. But if the team wants a total defensive turnaround the defensive line and front seven need improvement.

This draft has plenty of options and fun prospects along the defensive line and is a much better defensive tackle class than last year’s. The Browns will likely attack the interior defensive line in free agency by adding some young pieces through the draft.

Now for this week’s seven-round Browns mock draft.

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New prospect mocked to Vikings in latest CBS Sports Mock Draft

The Vikings have had 32 different players mocked to them this mock draft season. On Tuesday the are sent a 33rd prospect from CBS Sports

As free agency and the NFL draft approaches, it remains unclear which route the Minnesota Vikings will take with their first pick. In fact, the Vikings have been mocked 73 different players through the first four weeks of 2023.

On Wednesday, Chris Trapasso from CBS Sports tried to pinpoint a position the Vikings could look at in his latest mock draft by having them select Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey.

“Kancey’s a smaller defensive tackle, but has major juice and a developed set of pass-rush moves. He’s the type Minnesota needs on the interior.”

The Vikings currently have a need on the defensive line since Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Bullard are slated to become free agents unless the two sides can reach an agreement. While Kancey is a bit smaller than Tomlinson, he’d fill a need along the defensive line. It’s not a sexy pick, but with many holes on the roster, the Vikings may not have much of a choice.

Eagles land 2 dynamic defenders in Mel Kiper’s first 2023 NFL mock draft

Mel Kiper released his first NFL mock draft of 2023 and he has the Philadelphia Eagles reloading with two impact defenders

The 2023 NFL draft is fast approaching and even with the Eagles preparing for the NFC Championship Game, scouts within the organization are doing their due diligence on potential prospects.

Thanks to some draft night wizardry from Howie Roseman, the Eagles traded the No. 16 overall pick, No. 19 overall pick, and a 2022 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for the No. 18 overall pick, a 2022 third-round pick, a 2022 seventh-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick.

We tracked the Eagles’ picks via Tankathon, and after New Orleans went 7-10, Philadelphia locked down a top-ten selection.

ESPN’s legendary draft guru, Mel Kiper, Just released his first mock draft of 2023, and he has Philadelphia reloading on defense with their two first-round picks.