Tag: Cesar Ruiz

2020 NFL Draft: Saints select Michigan OL Cesar Ruiz

The New Orleans Saints selected Michigan Wolverines center/guard prospect Cesar Ruiz with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The New Orleans Saints made their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz. Initially slotted to pick at No. 24 overall, the Saints stood pat despite media chatter speculating on their efforts to trade up the board grew as the day wore on.

Ruiz started at center for the Wolverines the last two years after playing right guard as a freshman back in 2017, and should slot back into that spot whenever Pro Bowl right guard Larry Warford moves on. Warford is entering the final year of his contract and has the second-highest salary cap hit on the team, so he may be a candidate to be traded so Ruiz can contribute right away.

It’s not the glamorous pick many Saints fans may have wanted, but it’s a smart investment. Ruiz should do a lot to solidify an offensive line that struggled to hold itself together down the stretch in 2019.

Cesar Ruiz first Wolverine off board in 2020 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints have taken the Wolverines center off the board.

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It turns out that Cesar Ruiz made the right choice to leave Michigan with another year of eligibility remaining.

The Wolverines starting center the past two seasons opted to leave Ann Arbor early, which was initially met with skepticism from many fans of the maize and blue. However, as the offseason wore on, the more it became apparent that Ruiz would be a day one selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Various mock drafts, especially after the March NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, started by having the Camden, New Jersey native who finished his high school career at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy near the tail end of the first-round of the draft, but the closer the draft got, the higher Ruiz started to get in the predictions. In January, it seemed as if Ruiz could be a 3-4 rounder, but eventually became a first-round lock.

And those who saw him as such turned out to be prescient, as Ruiz was selected on Thursday as the No. 24 overall pick in the first-round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

Ruiz’s selection by New Orleans gives it a day one starter at center, as well as a highly intelligent player adept at understanding the defense laid out before him. After getting his first start against Minnesota in 2017 replacing injured starter Michael Onwenu at right guard, Ruiz made some early mistakes but settled in immensely, allowing next to nothing as far as pressures are concerned in his junior year, as well as no sacks allowed.

Per NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, this is how Ruiz’s prospects look at the next level:

Overview

Athletic and tenacious with the combination of skills and technique to fit into a variety of blocking schemes on the next level. Ruiz wins early with initial quickness and fast hands into first contact. He works to convert early advantages into wins. He’s consistent in securing down-blocks and has the athletic traits to become a second-level factor. He’ll give some ground to power rushers and needs help against wide-bodies, but the tape checks out. Ruiz has early starting potential and should develop into a good pro with guard/center flexibility.

Strengths

  • Excellent snap-to-step quickness
  • Waits for defender to declare before capturing and securing the block
  • Consistent to run feet through double-teams and down-blocks
  • Plays with bend and leverage
  • Fluid on the go and can lead the charge on wide pulls and screens
  • Tenacious demeanor from whistle to whistle
  • Early into pass sets with good hand placement
  • Compact, stiff pass punch with good arm extension
  • Clear eyes to identify pre- and post-snap danger
  • Consistent base width throughout pass sets
  • Has feet and lateral slide to mirror anyone in front of him

Weaknesses

  • Frame appears to lack desired width
  • Could benefit from better acceleration and thump into first blow
  • Needs to work at steering blocks into position
  • Positional blocker with average face-up power
  • Could struggle to set a shallow anchor against NFL bull-rushers

All-in-all, New Orleans has picked up the top center in the draft, and a versatile player who can play anywhere on the interior. At 6-foot-3, 307-pounds, Ruiz is poised to be a multi-year starter if his projections prove to be true.

He’s the first Wolverine off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft, but assuredly won’t be the last.

7 players that could slide down to Ravens in 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens pick near the end of the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft but could see some top-10 players fall into their laps.

The Baltimore Ravens sit at the back of the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft — No. 28 specifically. While that doesn’t give them the plethora of amazing prospects like the first 10 teams will get to choose from, it does give Baltimore a chance to see someone fall into their laps.

Where the top half of the round usually consists of teams that are chasing their biggest needs, the Ravens instead pick the highest-rated player on their board. And when someone they have a top-15 grade on falls to No. 28, they’re all too happy to write that name on the card and call it a night.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, that won’t be any different. Baltimore could easily see a player many have rated highly slide down to them. Whether it be a run on a specific position or some teams having larger concerns about something that checked out, these are the seven players who could slide to the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Simmons is a consensus top-10 player anywhere you look. The problem with Simmons is that many teams could be concerned about how to utilize him. While he’s labeled a linebacker and is sized accordingly, he’s got the speed of a safety. But he’s also a little raw on the mental side of the game, which makes a transition to one position or the other not as clear cut.

With so many hybrid players that have insane physical traits having not lived up to their high draft status because teams don’t know how to use them, they might not be as crazy about Simmons as draft analysts. But for the Ravens and their versatile scheme, you better believe they’ll know how to use Simmons and turn him into a monster.

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One Wolverine makes Mel Kiper’s latest first-round mock, two in final PFF prediction

The ESPN draft guru foresees one former Wolverine going in the first-round while Pro Football Focus predicts two.

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The 2020 NFL Draft stars on Thursday night, which begs the question: where, if any, Wolverines will hear their name called in round one?

If recent mock drafts are any indication, one of Michigan’s two junior entrants has a likely shot to be a first-round draft pick, as center Cesar Ruiz has snuck into the tail end of most prognostications as of late.

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But as of late, Ruiz has been selected higher and higher. Instead of going at No. 31-32, he’s been projected at 26. But ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he could go even higher, at No. 23 overall to the New England Patriots.

23. New England Patriots

Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan | Highlights

Bill Belichick loves to trade down, and I could see the Patriots adding picks and then taking a quarterback like Jalen Hurts in the second round. But Ruiz could be a replacement for guard Joe Thuney, who was franchise tagged but could be traded.

However, Pro Football Focus’ own draft guru Mike Renner doesn’t just see one Michigan player go on Thursday — he predicts that two could, with Ruiz being the latter.

While he still predicts a Wolverine will go to the Patriots, Renner thinks it won’t be Ruiz but Michigan LB/DE Josh Uche.

30. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (VIA GREEN BAY PACKERS) — EDGE JOSH UCHE, MICHIGAN

Uche’s versatility will be put to good use in Bill Belichick’s defense. He can rush from anywhere despite his size and he did so at Michigan.

But he still expect Ruiz to sneak in, going to the Kansas City Chiefs with the final pick of the night at No. 32 overall.

32. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — IOL CESAR RUIZ, MICHIGAN

The Chiefs are on the verge of making Patrick Mahomes the highest-paid player in the game, so it might be wise to protect that investment. Ruiz is young and already exceptionally sound in pass protection.

The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin at 8PM and will be televised on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.

2020 NFL Draft: Hottest rumors, updated 1st-round selection order

Who’s getting picked, who’s moving up, and who’s moving down? It all adds to the intrigue as the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft is here.

It’s finally here. All the speculation, all the what-ifs, all the hypotheticals, all the combine grades and mock draft madness and virtual interviews… it all becomes real Thursday night when the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off in home offices and man caves and living rooms all over the country. From the teams doing deals on their sofas to the commissioner announcing the selections from his house to the prospects camped out around their kitchen tables, this year’s first round promises to be like nothing else the league or its fans have ever seen.

What remains exactly like drafts past, though, is the scramble for inside information in the hours leading up to the picks. From veteran reporters to network analysts to armchair GM wannabes on Twitter, everyone has a hot “I’m hearing” take or a fresh “sources say” scoop to share. Some of them will bear out to be true; many won’t.

Latest Rumors and Announcements

Here’s where we’ll plug in all of the latest rumors and rumblings to keep you as up-to-date as possible. Jump to the bottom of the article for the full first-round draft order.

Miami Dolphins’ thirsty for Burrow?

The Miami Dolphins have three first-round selections, and a ton of needs, so how they will spend those picks is a source of major guesswork.

Is Miami’s worry over Tua Tagovailoa’s health genuine and compounded by the fact that they were unable to meet with him in person before coronavirus travel restrictions set in? Or is some of this leaked concern a ploy to scare other teams off the Alabama passer? The Dolphins would presumably love to take an elite offensive lineman with the fifth pick and still land Tagovailoa.

Jerry Jeudy’s knee concerns

Medical concerns have also surrounded Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, to the point that Jeudy’s doctor wrote a note to all 32 teams explaining the wideout’s previous knee surgery.

Despite persistent whispers that Jeudy has some mysterious knee ailment that is worse than has been revealed, teams say that they have no doubts about Jeudy’s ability. But when it’s time to actually call a name, will those lingering stories be enough to sway a GM to look elsewhere?

Giants willing to dump Daniel Jones?

One of the more curious rumors floating around is the Giants’ apparent interest in Oregon quarterback Justin Hebert. The Giants just anointed Daniel Jones their signal-caller of the future after taking him sixth overall last year and benching Eli Manning in favor of him.

But Big Blue, with the No. 4 pick this year, has reportedly spent an incredible amount of time this offseason on Herbert.

What New York chooses to do with the fourth pick Thursday night will be fascinating to watch.

Lions want to get more picks and move down

Many teams will eagerly give up a selection that high for more draft capital in later rounds, knowing that a desperate team might overpay to get the player they covet. Expect lots of wheeling and dealing with so many teams seemingly unsure about prospects they were unable to spend time with in person.

 

Cowboys looking at a Center with No. 17?

Even the Cowboys- with the 17th pick- have been targeted as a team that could trade back. There is sure to be a player Dallas loves who’s available once they’re on the clock, but the lure of instead getting multiple prospects that they simply like a whole lot may be just too much for Jerry and Stephen Jones to pass up.

That may be a plausible scenario, but ESPN’s Todd Archer considers it doubtful. He also nixes the talk of the team taking Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the 17th pick.

Falcons want to trade into Top 10

Of course, for teams to move down, there have to be teams who want to trade up. Atlanta seems to fall into that camp this year.

Yannick Ngakoue may get his wish to be traded

But it’s not just 2020 picks that can be used as collateral in a trade. It’s entirely possible that some clubs are burning up the phone lines prior to the draft trying to unload a current player from their roster.

And what about Jamal Adams?

That doesn’t bode well for Cowboys fans still clamoring for a deal that brings New York Jets safety Jamal Adams to Dallas, even though Jerry Jones has already tried to squash that rumor.

At least that’s what Jones said publicly. Part of a smokescreen? No one knows. And that’s what makes the draft such an endless source of intrigue for fans. It’s all possible. No conspiracy theory is too nuts, no potential deal is off the table, nothing is set in stone.

Until Thursday night rolls around, and then things suddenly are set in stone.

First Round Draft Order… For Now.

Here’s what we know for sure headed into the first round: the order of the 32 picks taking place Thursday night. In addition to Miami’s three Thursday-night picks, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Minnesota, and San Francisco each have two as well. Buffalo, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and the Los Angeles Rams will wait until later rounds to make selections.

The first round breaks down as follows.

2020 Draft Round 1 Order
Pick No. Team Selection School Trade Notes
1 Cincinnati Bengals
2 Washington Redskins
3 Detroit Lions
4 New York Giants
5 Miami Dolphins
6 Los Angeles Chargers
7 Carolina Panthers
8 Arizona Cardinals
9 Jacksonville Jaguars
10 Cleveland Browns
11 New York Jets
12 Las Vegas Raiders
13 San Francisco 49ers (from IND)
14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15 Denver Broncos
16 Atlanta Falcons
17 Dallas Cowboys
18 Miami Dolphins (from PIT)
19 Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI)
20 Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)
21 Philadelphia Eagles
22 Minnesota Vikings (from (BUF)
23 New England Patriots
24 New Orleans Saints
25 Minnesota Vikings
26 Miami Dolphins (from HOU)
27 Seattle Seahawks
28 Baltimore Ravens
29 Tennessee Titans
30 Green Bay Packers
31 San Francisco 49ers
32 Kansas City Chiefs

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What an A+ draft might look like for Giants

The New York Giants have a lot of work to do in the 2020 NFL Draft, but this is how they could earn an A+ grade.

There are many rumors circulating as of Thursday morning regarding this week’s NFL Draft, and the New York Giants could have a role in the chaos that is expected to ensue.

What would be an acceptable outcome for Giant fans in this draft? It’s difficult to please everyone but we’ll give it our best shot with the help of Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator.

Our mock has the Giants swinging a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, swapping first round picks. The Giants will send the No. 4 overall selection to the Jags in exchange for the No. 9 selection and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Jacksonville gets their franchise quarterback in either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert and the Giants get their pass rusher — and more.

With the ninth overall selection the Giants will take Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, a natural left tackle that will protect the blind side of Giants  quarterback Daniel Jones.

In the second round, the Giants select Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. I know he is rising up the boards and could go in the first round now, but he was there when the Giants were on the clock in Round 2, so we grabbed him. Ruiz is the tough guy who will galvanize and set the tone of the offensive line.

In Round 3, the Giants select the highly productive safety out of Cal, Ashtyn Davis, a player who reminds some scouts of Minnesota’s Harrison Smith. Gotta like that.

With many needs addressed, the hay was in the barn so to speak for Day Three. General manager Dave Gettleman could sit back and take some chances.

  • Round 4, Pick 110: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
  • Round 5, Pick 150: L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Louisiana
  • Round 6, Pick 183: Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
  • Round 7, Pick 218, Javelin Guidry, DB, Utah
  • Round 7, Pick 238: Stephen Guidry, WR, Mississippi State
  • Round 7, Pick 247: Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
  • Round 7, Pick 255: Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati

Analysis: Sneed and Javelin Guidry were the two fastest defensive backs at the NFL Combine in February. The three wide receivers all have nice size/speed combinations who will compete for the football. Coughlin (no relation to Tom) snubbed Ohio State to stay home to play for the Gophers. Warren is a tough inside runner who could help take some wear and tear off Saquon Barkley.

Ngakoue brings a competitive toughness to the Giants’ front seven. Where they’d fit him in their scheme(s) is more a pleasant problem that anything else.

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6 options for the Falcons at pick No. 16

Potential draft rumors are more exciting than the reality that the Atlanta Falcons could just as likely stay put at pick No. 16.

Potential draft rumors are obviously more exciting than the reality that the Atlanta Falcons could ultimately stay put at pick No. 16.

I’m not suggesting Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff isn’t capable of moving up if one of the elite defenders in this class falls into range. Deals don’t always work out the way the Julio Jones trade did in 2011, though.

Atlanta doesn’t need to move up in order to find a quality player in the first round. Let’s take a look at six potential options for the team in the middle of round one.

CB Jeff Gladney – TCU

 TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney (12) plays against Purdue.. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

2019 Stats: 31 tackles (24 solo), 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 14 passes defended

Analysis: Gladney wouldn’t just be a consolation prize to fill the team’s desperate need at the defensive back position. He has the size, speed and ball skills to become a really effective outside corner. No, he’s not CJ Henderson or Jeff Okdah, but Gladney has been a consistent force at TCU and has experience to step in as a No. 2 corner as a rookie effectively.

If Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen are healthy behind him, Atlanta would be in position to have three starting-caliber corners fighting it out for the two outside spots. The secondary would undoubtedly be better in this scenario, especially taking the team’s improved defensive line into account.

Video: Check out Gladney’s performance below against Texas.

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Cesar Ruiz moves up in latest FOX Sports mock draft

The latest from FOX Sports indicates that the junior center from Ann Arbor could be selected higher than anticipated.

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It’s the eve before the start of the 2020 NFL Draft, and it’s looking more and more likely that one Wolverine will be selected on day one if the various mock drafts are right.

The latest from FOX Sports continues to indicate that, with junior entrant, center Cesar Ruiz going in the first-round of its latest mock draft.

But while most have seen Ruiz selected with either the last pick on Thursday or close to it, prognosticator Jason McIntyre foresees the Miami Dolphins — which already has the No. 5 pick overall — using its last of three first-round picks to secure Ruiz with No. 26 overall.

26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans) — Cesar Ruiz, G/C, Michigan (NR)

Going QB, edge rusher and the best interior lineman in the draft is an A+ first round.

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According this mock, the Dolphins start out by selecting Oregon QB Justin Herbert at No. 5 while going to defense with the No. 18 pick it’s secured from Pittsburgh, taking LSU edge rusher K’Lavon Chiasson.

Regardless, given that Ruiz has been moving up in the predictions, there’s a strong indicator that he’ll be off the board before the second and third rounds begin on Friday evening.

The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night and will be held virtually. Ruiz is one of two Wolverines who have been invited to make virtual appearances once selected.

A breakdown of the Big Ten players who could go in the first round of the NFL draft

A look at where Big Ten stars could land in Thursday’s first round

[lawrence-newsletter]With the first round of the NFL Draft looming tomorrow, a number of Big Ten standouts will likely hear their name called within the first 32 selections. Here is a look at which Big Ten stars have a chance to go in the first round.

Locks

Chase Young — EDGE — Ohio State

Jeff Okudah — CB — Ohio State  

Tristan Wirfs — OT — Iowa 

It likely will not take long for the first two Big Ten stars to fly off the board on Thursday. Young and Okudah, a pair of Buckeye studs on the defensive side of the football, are widely expected to go in the top 5. USA TODAY DraftWire’s latest mock sees Young going second overall to the Washington Redskins, with Okudah following him at third to Detroit. Barring a trade for the third pick, the back-to-back selection of Buckeyes will likely take place within the top three.

The third Big Ten lock to be taken in the first round is an athletic, versatile tackle in Tristan Wirfs out of Iowa. Wirfs can play nearly anywhere on the offensive line and is arguably the best athlete at his position in the 2020 draft. DraftWire’s latest mock sees him landing at 11th overall to the New York Jets.

Likely

Cesar Ruiz — OL — Michigan 

It would be hard to imagine Ruiz slipping out of the first round on Thursday. The clear top center in the draft heads to Miami at 18 in the latest DraftWire mock. The Dolphins have a clear need at the position, and the Michigan product is widely regarded as the best interior lineman prospect in the class.

Questionable

Zack Baun — EDGE — Wisconsin 

Yetur Gross-Matos — EDGE — Penn State

Jonathan Taylor — RB — Wisconsin 

A.J. Epenesa — EDGE — Iowa 

A pair of Badgers highlight a group of Big Ten stars that will be waiting on pins and needles come Thursday to find out if they are first round picks. Taylor and Baun both have first round potential, but it would hard to see both going tomorrow. Badger fans do not need the NFL draft sales pitch on Taylor. After an incredible Wisconsin career, the two-time Doak Walker award winner is seen as the top running back in the class. Baun had a tremendous senior season in Madison in his own right. The Brown Deer, Wi. (Brown Deer High School) native finished the year with 12.5 sacks and ran an impressive 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine.

Gross-Matos is an interesting prospect that could look like quite the steal in a few years. The 6-5 edge rusher is a fantastic athlete and has next-level speed for his position. This season, he was a first-team all conference performer for the Nittany Lions after 9.5 sacks as a junior.

Epenesa, a 6-6, 280-pound rusher who has questions surrounding his speed, had a tremendous junior season at Iowa. His 11.5 sacks were a career high this season, although his 5.04 40-yard dash at the combine was a concern for scouts.

Tune in tomorrow to find out where the Big Ten’s best land.