Tag: Dane Brugler

The Athletic’s 2-round mock draft has Saints drawing from blue-chip programs

There have been a lot of complaints about the Saints spending early-round picks on small-school prospects. That isn’t a problem in The Athletic’s mock draft:

The 2025 NFL draft class is beginning to take shape with underclassmen declaring whether they’ll turn pro and seniors telling their schools goodbye. And while the there’s been plenty of criticism for the New Orleans Saints spending early-round draft picks on prospects from smaller programs, that wasn’t an issue in this two-round mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler argues the Saints should start their 2025 draft by picking Georgia safety Malaki Starks at No. 9 overall:

Safety might feel like a luxury option for a Saints team that needs help at quarterback, pass catcher and on the defensive line. But Starks can play across the secondary and be a playmaker in different ways. With his athleticism, football IQ and makeup, he will be an easy sell in NFL war rooms.

Starks is an intriguing talent, and if he’s able to play every down defensively he could be well worth the pick. The Saints lack a sure thing next to Tyrann Mathieu on the back end and had to platoon older pros like Will Harris (861 snaps), Ugo Amadi (527), and Johnathan Abram (115) far too often last season. We didn’t see the hoped-for second-year leap out of Jordan Howden, who was limited to 552 snaps across 17 games. Maybe Starks could help them get younger and more dynamic at that spot even if it isn’t as clear an immediate need.

Starks would be a perfect young player to have lock down the secondary for the next few years in New Orleans. He is a smart player that can do a lot across the defense.. The defensive back had 197 career tackles with six interceptions and 17 passes broken up. He is mostly known for making highlight plays in coverage, but that isn’t all he does.

This was a two-round mock draft, and while Brugler didn’t go into detail about the Saints’ selection at No. 40, he did have them picking Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. And that might be a controversial decision. Golden has the production you look for from players coming out of a blue-chip program — he led the Longhorns this season with 987 receiving yards and 9 touchdown catches — but he’s got a similar frame to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed at a listed 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds. He wouldn’t add much of a size element fans have been looking for since Michael Thomas left the team.

Still, Golden was the fourth receiver taken in Brugler’s mock draft (out of seven). He would be an absolute steal in the second round, as some consider him to be in the conversation for the best wide receiver prospect in the draft class. At some point the team needs to just draft the best players available and raise the roster’s overall talent level. Olave’s history of concussions and looming contract issues can’t be ignored. Assuming the Saints pick up his fifth-year option this spring, he’ll be up for free agency in 2027 with Shaheed hitting the market in 2026. Drafting Golden in 2025 could give the Saints a viable successor for at least one of those two receivers.

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Mock draft watch: Top takeaways from The Athletic’s latest projections from Dane Brugler

Mock draft watch: Top takeaways from The Athletic’s latest projections from Dane Brugler

Sometimes it’s fun and educational to look around at some prominent mock draft projections as they flow out, even at this early juncture. It’s a good way to see what some analysts might be hearing or anticipating.

One of the most respected draft analysts is Dane Brugler from The Athletic, and he posted his projections from the end of the college football regular season on Wednesday. At this point in the draft cycle, we still aren’t sure who will be declaring or which team will be picking where, but the early insight offers some glimpses as to how the 2025 NFL Draft might shape up in April.

Here’s what I took away from Brugler’s latest mock draft and commentary.

It’s thin at the top

If you follow the NFL Draft community or even the college football season, you already know that the 2025 class isn’t considered very strong relative to recent drafts. Brugler lays that out right away, sharing this from an AFC team staffer,

Outside of Travis Hunter, there is very little consensus about the non-quarterbacks at the top of this draft. “Hunter,” a second AFC scout told The Athletic, “is the only guy this year who would have been a top-10 pick last year — probably in most years.”

Non-traditional No. 1 pick

The No. 1 overall pick has been either a quarterback or a defensive end in every class since the 2013 draft, when offensive tackle Eric Fisher went to the Chiefs with the top pick. There hasn’t been any other position but those three represented with the No. 1 pick since 1996.

That should give an indication of just how special Colorado’s Travis Hunter is as a dual-threat prospect. Brugler projects him No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, even though nobody is really sure if he’s going to play wide receiver, cornerback or both.

Surprise names

Remember–this is all speculative conjecture about who will come off the board and when they will hear their name called. But there does tend to be the “usual suspects” of about 20-25 names that predominate nearly every mock draft at this time of year. Brugler includes a couple of names outside those usual suspects, at least names that surprised me as I set out to concoct my latest projections.

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel stands out here. He’s certainly talented and has coveted NFL size and athleticism. But Revel hasn’t played against NFL-caliber talent for the Pirates. In fact, he hasn’t played at all; Revel tore his ACL in September and has missed nearly all of the 2024 season. Brugler still projects him as a top-15 pick to the Colts.

Others who don’t normally appear as top-32 projections at this juncture:

Oregon OT Josh Conerly to the Seahawks
Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston to the Steelers; like Revel, Hairston has fallen out of mind thanks to injury.
Purdue OL Marcus Mbow to the Vikings. Mbow just declared this week
Marshall EDGE Mike Green to the Bills. Green still has two years of eligibility but this is more confirmation that the hype around him declaring is real.

Detroit picking 32nd

I know that’s the current draft order based on the NFL standings entering Week 14. But it’s still crazy for this longtime Lions fan to look at a mock draft and see my team picking No. 32 and last in the round.

Brugler’s projection for Detroit with the final pick of the first round is another name that doesn’t currently get a lot of first-round run, Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell. Wouldn’t be my choice, but the draft is still almost five months away…

Cowboys Top-5 2024 draft picks all mentioned in Dane Brugler’s All-Rookie teams after 4 weeks

The Cowboys had more than their fair share of rookies make The Athletic All-Rookie teams through a quarter of the season. | From @KDDrummondNFL

There were 259 players selected in this past April’s NFL draft. Another 350 undrafted free agents signed with teams immediately following the weekend, adding over 600 new faces to NFL rosters. So for the Dallas Cowboys’ haul to have five different rookies be mentioned among the best rookie performers through the first four games of the season is impressive on it’s own.

For them to go five-for-five with their first five picks from the draft in being mentioned among the 90 best rookies identified by The Athletic’s draft guru Dane Brugler is a testament to Will McClay’s scouting department getting back on track in the immediate return department.

Brugler went position by position, identifying who he would name to the All-Rookie team, who would be the runner up and then added a varying number of honorable mentions. And while none of the Cowboys’ picks were named to the quote-unquote first team, they did have a runner up and four players in the honorable mention.

The math is easy; 32 teams, 90 players identified means the average team should have 2 to 3 players mentioned. Dallas had five. Part of that is the big ask being placed on this year’s rookie class to play early. Caelen Carson isn’t mentioned if Daron Bland doesn’t hurt his foot and go on IR. Two rookie OL don’t start if the team didn’t let Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz walk. But the fact remains the Cowboys’ rookie class is acquitting themselves extremely well so far in 2024.

Here’s who ranked where, according to Brugler.

LT Tyler Guyton – Honorable Mention for tackles
C Cooper Beebe – Runner-Up for interior OL
DE Marshawn Kneeland – Runner-Up for edge rushers
LB Marist Liafau – Runner-Up for linebackers
CB Caelen Carson – Runner-Up for cornerbacks

Raiders sign rookie tackle who Dane Brugler deemed mid-round draft worthy

Dane Brugler’s Scouting report put a mid-round draft grade on Gottlieb Ayedze. Now the Raiders get to see if he can live up to it.

This week the Raiders opened up a spot on the practice squad with the signing of CB Sam Webb. They have filled that spot with the addition of tackle Gottlieb Ayedze.

Ayedze was originally signed this offseason by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland. He landed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List heading into camp and never got a foothold before being waived at the final roster cutdown.

The 6-4, 308-pounder spent his first four college seasons as the full time starting left tackle at Frostburg State. He then transferred to Maryland as a fifth-year Senior and started nine games at right tackle for the Terrapins last season and was named Honorable Mention All BigTen.

In the leadup to the draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler put a mid-round grade on Ayedze. Here was his scouting report from his BEAST Draft Guide:

STRENGTHS: Offers functional size, strength and length for NFL trench play … doesn’t labor out of his stance and widens out mid-slide to help cut off cornering edge rushers … well-timed punch centers his target, but he can also recover and refit if his reach gets knocked away … has enough power in his upper half to turn and dump overeager blitzers, using their momentum against them … lateral quicks show on backside pulls and when working up on com bo blocks … shows adequate range when advancing on screens … keeps his head/eyes on a swivel to locate and react to extra pressures … a false start on t he Illinois tape was his only penalty in his lone FBS season…played primarily left tackle and right tackle over his career, but he also looked comfortable with his guard reps (19.3 percent of his 2023 offensive snaps came at right guard).

WEAKNESSES: More smooth than explosive as an athlete … needs to do a better job staying balanced in space to answer two -way rushers … improved sink at contact will help strengthen his anchor when responding to bull rushers … shows a little too much give when absorbing contact, allowing rushers to pry their way free … leans into his blocks in the run game but would like to see better leg drive and nastiness … core strength could use adjustments, s o he can better access power from different parts of his body … hand placement at the end of pulls tends to be inconsistent … only one season against top compe tition at the FBS level … missed the first two games of the 2023 season because of injury.

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Maryland, Ayedze played predominantly right tackle in offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ RPO-heavy, multiple-run scheme. Despite only playing football for six years (one year of high school, four in Division II and one season in the Big Ten), he played well with the Terps, and several NFL teams bumped his draft grade between the summer and end of the 2023 season. Although he can use improved hip roll in the run game t o create displacement, Ayedze is efficient out of his stance and on the move, staying patient in pass protection to mirror rushers in smaller spaces. He started only one game at guard in 2023, but it came against Illinois — and he more than held his own against potential first-rounder Jer’Zhan Newton. Overall, Ayedze doesn’t have overwhelming size and needs to prove himself against NFL power, but he plays with control and several baseline traits that will translate well. He projects as a developmental guard who can play tackle in a pinch.

GRADE: 5th-6th Round

Most likely the Raiders liked Ayedze coming out of the draft, but their board took them elsewhere. The Raiders had already added a guard and a tackle on day two and once the draft was over had hoped to get Ayedze as an undrafted free agent, but the Eagles got him instead.

Ayedze’s injury never really gave him a chance to prove he belonged. Now healthy again, the will have that chance with the Raiders.

Qwan’tez Stiggers named favorite Day 3 pick for Jets by Dane Brugler

Qwan’tez Stiggers named favorite Day 3 pick for Jets by Dane Brugler

The Jets came away with some intriguing talent on the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft but none more intriguing or with perhaps a more inspiring story than Qwan’tez Stiggers, the cornerback from the Toronto Argonauts who decided against college football to help support his family after losing his father following a car accident and subsequent months-long coma.

It should come as no surprise then that Dane Brugler of The Athletic named Stiggers the Jets’ Day 3 pick that could surprise in a recent article.

Stiggers has an astounding backstory, but there’s more to him than just his inspiring journey. He also has the tools to develop into an impactful role player. Stiggers (6-0, 205) has 4.4 speed and was the CFL Rookie of the Year last season with 12 passes defended and five interceptions.

Stiggers is going to add good depth and special-teams value initially and could set himself up for a bigger role in 2025. D.J. Reed, Michael Carter and Bradin Echols are all entering contract years in 2024. Stiggers can also play multiple positions in the secondary. He’ll be one to watch in the preseason.

Breaking down Chargers’ pick in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft

The Chargers trade back in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft on Tuesday.

Let’s break down what one of the highly touted draft analysts thinks for Los Angeles in the 2024 NFL draft after the NFL Scouting Combine.

Round 1, No. 9, OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (via Bears)

Brugler included a few trades in this mock draft, including the Chargers, who moved back four spots with the Bears. Chicago jumped up to grab Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. In return, Los Angeles acquired a third-round pick (No. 75 overall) and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The Bolts selected Fuaga at No. 9 overall to take over as the team’s starting right tackle. Jim Harbaugh has a vision of running the ball, and they need road graders up front to make it come to fruition. Fuaga is a massive man with the power and plus run-blocking skills.

Joe Alt has been the commonly mocked player to the Chargers at No. 5 overall, but I believe that if they want to address the offensive line, they’re better off trading down to get a true right tackle, like Fuaga or Alabama’s JC Latham and acquiring more draft ammo.

Jets land Penn State’s Olu Fashanu in latest mock from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler

Another day, another mock with an offensive tackle for the Jets at No. 10, this time from The Athletic.

Another day, another mock draft featuring an offensive tackle heading to the New York Jets. This time around, it’s the latest post-Combine mock from Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

In this mock, it’s Penn State’s Olu Fashanu as the selection for the Jets at No. 10. Joe Alt (No. 8 to Patriots in projected trade with Falcons) and Taliese Fuaga (No. 9 to Chargers in projected trade with Bears) were off the board, so the Jets take, presumably, the top option available at the position in Fashanu.

The Jets don’t have a left tackle currently on the roster, and the free-agent options will be lean.

Fashanu needs to continue improving as a run blocker, but he is outstanding in pass protection because of his footwork and body control. A rookie having to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside wouldn’t be ideal, but it might be the most realistic scenario.

The Jets will have three new starters up front this season in a potential make-or-break season. The name of the game at this point is protecting Aaron Rodgers, which is why offensive tackle is more and more likely for the Jets, even if it means passing on someone like Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who went to the Denver Broncos at No. 12 in Brugler’s mock.

NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler explains ranking Texas’ Byron Murphy No. 1 DT

Will Byron Murphy be the first defensive tackle drafted?

Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy could see his name called early in this year’s NFL draft. In fact, it could be called in the first round according to one analyst.

NFL draft expert Dane Brugler has the Texas defensive lineman as a first-round player. He said the following of that belief.

“Byron Murphy went No. 16 overall in my mock, and I think he’ll be somewhere in that mid-1st range.

No DT was more consistently disruptive on film this season vs. both the pass and run than Murphy. Love his quickness and handwork.”

It is difficult to measure the impact a defensive tackle can have for a defense, but disruptive is the most complimentary descriptor that position can receive.

The Texas defense benefited from Murphy’s disruption as teams were forced away from the defensive interior. The strong defensive lineman looks to bring similar disruption at the next level.

Breaking down Chargers’ picks in Dane Brugler’s latest two-round mock draft

Breaking down who one of the highly touted draft analysts has pegged to the Chargers in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his new two-round mock draft on Tuesday.

Let’s break down what one of the highly touted draft analysts thinks for Los Angeles in the 2024 NFL draft right before the pre-draft all-star circuit.

Round 1, TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

With Gerald Everett set to be a free agent at the end of the season, the Chargers will be in the market for a starting tight end. Bowers would be a homerun pick as he’s not just the best tight end in this year’s class, but you could make the argument that he’s the best in previous classes, too.

Bowers, the only player to win the John Mackey Award twice, finished this past season with 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns.

Along with his ability to be a mismatch for any defender in the passing game, Bowers is really good as a run blocker, which the Bolts have struggled to get from their tight ends in recent seasons.

So not only could Bowers come in and quickly develop a rapport with Justin Herbert, but he could also boost the run game.

Round 2, DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan

If Jim Harbaugh is the next head coach of the Chargers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him target some of his former players, and Jenkins would make sense, considering the interior part of the defensive line will need some retooling with Austin Johnson set to be a free agent.

Jenkins is an athletic, versatile and powerful interior defender who dominates in the run game with good extension and leverage, is strong at the point of attack, possesses the ability to stack and shed, and has untapped pass rush upside.

Vikings fortify trenches in Dane Brugler’s mock draft

Is taking back-to-back trench players a smart idea for the Vikings? Dane Brugler thinks it is

Mock drafts are coming out more often now that there are only eight teams left in the National Football League playoffs. There are multiple directions that the Minnesota Vikings can go in the 2024 NFL draft but it will be determined by how the top of the draft.

In the latest mock draft from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, the top three quarterbacks are all gone by the eighth overall pick so the Vikings have to change their direction.

At the 11th overall pick, Brugler has the Vikings selecting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu and he had great things to say about the talented Bruin.

Over his two seasons at UCLA, Latu accounted for 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He has first-step quickness and bend, but his crafty handwork and ability to diversify his attack separate him as a pass rusher. His injury history could be an issue, but this Vikings regime has taken chances with those risks in the past.

As Brugler states, the injury history could become a really big issue with Latu, especially since he medically retired due to a neck injury.

With their second pick in Brugler’s two-round mock draft, he has the Vikings taking another piece to add to their defensive line in Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhohoro.

The Vikings double up on the defensive line. Well-built at 6-4, 295 with 34-inch arms, Orhorhoro is an impressive mover and offers a high ceiling after he was late to the game of football.

This isn’t the sexiest mock draft for the Vikings but sometimes you need to eat your oatmeal and get back to the basics. This accomplishes that and more.

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