Tag: Cory Durden

Rams sign DT Cory Durden back to practice squad

After cutting Cory Durden on Tuesday, the Rams have brought him back on the practice squad

The Los Angeles Rams made a bunch of roster moves this week during the bye, shuffling things up as they get ready for the second half of the season. Among their transactions was the release of Cory Durden, a defensive tackle they signed earlier this season.

After Durden cleared waivers, the Rams signed him back to the practice squad, keeping the big nose tackle in Los Angeles.

Durden has played four games for the Rams this season and he’s made three tackles. He’s played 44 snaps on defense and also contributed on special teams with 19 snaps played in that department.

Rams sign CB Shaun Jolly to practice squad, add DT Cory Durden to active roster

The Rams made a pair of roster moves on Thursday, signing Shaun Jolly to the practice squad and Cory Durden to the 53-man roster

The Los Angeles Rams’ roster shuffling continued on Thursday with two more moves. The Rams announced they have signed Shaun Jolly to the practice squad, adding some depth at cornerback with Derion Kendrick’s status up in the air following his arrest.

Los Angeles also signed Cory Durden to the active roster, promoting him from the practice squad. He got his first opportunity on Sunday against the Cardinals and played well in place of the injured Bobby Brown III.

The Rams have Duke Shelley and Tre Tomlinson as backup corners if Kendrick is unable to play, but Jolly is another player with experience in the Rams’ system. He joins fellow cornerbacks Michael Ojemudia and Cameron McCutcheon on the practice squad.

Jolly was with the Rams last season and re-signed with them this offseason, but he was released in September during the final wave of roster cuts.

Rams sign DT Cory Durden to practice squad

The Rams added defensive tackle Cory Durden to the practice squad on Tuesday

The Los Angeles Rams have had to shuffle their roster in the last couple of week, including the promotions of Brett Maher and Brett Rypien from the practice squad. With an opening available, the Rams filled a spot on their practice squad Tuesday by signing defensive tackle Cory Durden, an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina State.

Durden, who’s 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds, was signed by the Lions after going undrafted but he was cut in late August when they trimmed their roster down. He’ll now get a shot with the Rams on their practice squad, hoping to carve out a role for himself in Los Angeles.

Last season at NC State, he was a third-team All-ACC selection, starting every game at nose tackle for them.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Lions vs Giants: Best and worst PFF grades from Detroit’s preseason win

Here are the standout performances from this week’s best and worst PFF performers for the Detroit Lions against the New York Giants.

The Detroit Lions kicked off their season with a 21-16 victory over the New York Giants in their first preseason game. Despite many of the team’s key players sitting out, the Lions’ management was able to evaluate potential roster candidates.

The game started off slowly, with the offense struggling, but the defense saved the day by repeatedly stepping up to the challenge and shutting down their opponents. Although some areas showed promise, others may require further evaluation by the Lions’ management.

Here are the standout performances from this week’s best and worst Pro Footbal Focus (PFF) performers, highlighting those who impressed and those who fell short in their bid for a coveted roster spot.

Lions UDFA profile: NC State DT Cory Durden

Breaking down Lions UDFA defensive tackle Cory Durden from North Carolina State and what he offers Detroit

Another undrafted free agent hoping to make a name for himself in the Detroit Lions upcoming rookie minicamp is a big one. Defensive tackle Cory Durden from North Carolina State

The Lions see enough promise in Durden that the team released Demetrius Taylor, who made the team a year ago as an undrafted defensive tackle. Durden’s significantly bigger frame likely has something to do with it.

Durden measures in at 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds, a weight that is down from his playing weight of over 315 when he was at Florida State. Durden transferred for his final two seasons and reshaped his body into more of a leaner athlete. His long arms (34.25″) and wingspan (82.5″) are more in line with what the Lions desire on the defensive interior.

Durden had a weird college career. He bagged seven sacks and 28 QB hurries for the Seminoles back in 2019 and was seen as a rising star. A coaching and scheme change didn’t suit him well, eventually leading him to bounce to Raliegh and the Wolfpack. He missed playing with Lions DT Alim McNeill by a year at NC State and somewhat took over McNeill’s role, but he wasn’t overly productive. Durden registered just 3.5 sacks (all in 2021) and 7.5 TFLs in his two years with the Wolfpack.

He uses his length well initially and still has solid power despite the drop in bulk. For Durden to make the Lions, he’s going to need to keep his pad level and center of gravity lower; he tends to slide upright after contact. When he dictates the action, Durden does keep the weight balance low and can anchor, but it’s inconsistent across his game film.

Finishing is also not something Durden excelled at beyond his sophomore year. He’s not quick enough to slip through cracks in the line, and his pursuit speed and lateral range did not stand out. His lost weight didn’t make Durden much quicker or faster, unfortunately. Durden wins with initial pop from his hands, strength in his shoulders and base (when he stays low) and a visibly strong motor that doesn’t stop until the last echo of the whistle.

Breaking down Packers picks in Jordan Reid’s seven-round mock draft

Breaking down all the picks for the Packers in Jordan Reid’s seven-round mock draft at ESPN.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid embraced the madness of March and released a seven-round mock draft on Wednesday. Reed has the Green Bay Packers addressing some major needs in the first four rounds and adding depth pieces in the fifth and seventh rounds. Let’s take a deeper look.

15th overall pick: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

Pro Football Focus has compared the Clemson edge rusher to current Green Bay edge rusher Rashan Gary. Murphy is a strong run defender and finished this past season with 34 pressures to go along with 6.5 sacks. Murphy has a nice blend of quickness and strength. 

With his ability to set the edge and get after the quarterback, Murphy would be the ideal selection with the 15th overall pick. Murphy would help shore up Green Bay’s run defense while giving its pass rush a jolt.

[lawrence-related id=91771]

45th overall pick: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Not sure many Green Bay fans would care about the rest of the 2023 NFL Draft if Brian Gutekunst landed Darnell Washington. The Georgia tight end is a mountain of a man.

At 6-7, 264 pounds and 4.6 speed, Washington is a walking mismatch. With his size, he can overwhelm defenders at the point of attack, but he’s a better blocker on the move. A high school wide receiver, Washington has natural pass-catching abilities. He has sticky hands and was flagged for just two drops this past season.

[lawrence-related id=90325]

78th overall pick: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

The Packers need more playmakers and Reed would help fill the void. Reed ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and he has an instant accelerator and the long speed to win vertically. He’s a shifty athlete in space and a dangerous YAC threat. Reed is a three-level threat and an electric playmaker.

[lawrence-related id=90587]

116th overall pick: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

Battle is a jack of all trades master of none type of prospect. He’s always where he needs to be and he could help fix some of Green Bay’s breakdowns in coverage.

Battle did a little bit of everything in the secondary during his time at Alabama and a lot was asked of him. The Alabama safety has great field awareness and disciplined eyes. He’s a steady, reliable presence, and landing him in the fourth round would be a great value pick. 

149th overall pick: Asim Richards, OL, UNC

A three-year starter at left tackle for the Tar Heels, Richards could kick inside at the next level. This past season Richards gave up three sacks and improved each season as a starter. He has strong, heavy hands that jolt defensive linemen at contact. The Packers have a rich history of developing day-three offensive linemen into reliable starters. 

170th overall pick: Anthony Johnson, CB, Virginia

A transfer from Louisville, Johnson enjoyed a breakout campaign during his lone season at Virginia. Johnson recorded 51 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 14 pass deflections. According to PFF, Johnson gave up zero touchdowns in coverage this past season.

Johnson would provide quality depth at cornerback, while also giving the Packers another player with plenty of special teams experience. Johnson logged 300-plus snaps on special teams during his collegiate career. 

232nd overall pick: Justin Shorter, WR, Florida

A five-star recruit out of New Jersey, Shorter never quite put it together at Penn State or Florida. At 6-4, 229 pounds with adequate speed, Shorter has all the tools to potentially earn a spot on a team’s wide receiver depth chart. With his frame, Shorter has a huge catch radius and tracks the ball well. 

235th overall pick: Cory Durden, DL, NC State

A transfer from Florida State, Durden had seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his two seasons at NC State. Durden was versatile during his collegiate career, playing all over the defensive line. He’s a stout run defender and he has the power to collapse the pocket. In 2019, Durden recorded 45 pressures for the Seminoles.

242nd overall pick: Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern

Hull is one of the better pass-catching running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft. Over the past two seasons, Hull has recorded 88 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns.

As a runner, Hull has good vision and runs with patience to let the blocks develop. The Northwestern back may never be the lead dog, but he has the skills to develop into a dynamic part of a running back room.

256th overall pick: Max Duggan, QB, TCU

The TCU quarterback is tough as nails and put together many highlight-reel-worthy runs during his time at TCU. Duggan gets the ball out with urgency and throws with nice touch.

His dual-threat ability could allow him to make a Taysom Hill-like impact in sub-packages. With his competitive toughness, Duggan could be a solid backup for Jordan Love. 

Draft prospects to watch during the Lions bye week

Here are a few potential Lions draft prospects to watch during Detroit’s bye weekend

It’s a great weekend to watch some college football. The conference schedules are now in full swing with quite a few fun matchups in CFB’s Week 7.

With the Detroit Lions on a bye week, it’s an even better time to start getting familiar (or more familiar) with some potential 2023 NFL draft prospects that could intrigue GM Brad Holmes. The Lions staff will be out scouting players all over the country.

Here are a few potential NFL players I’ll have my eyes on over the weekend in college football.