Tag: Dane Brugler

Three Badgers crack analyst’s Top 100 in draft guide

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked former Badgers Keeanu Benton, Joe Tippmann and Nick Herbig in his top 100 ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler ranked former Badgers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton, offensive lineman Joe Tippmann and edge rusher Nick Herbig in his top 100 guide ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Tippmann was ranked as Brugler’s top center in the 2023 draft class and the number 43 player overall. Described as a “weight-room warrior” with strong character reviews, the rangy big man ranks the highest of the Badger prospects.

Next, Keeanu Benton was ranked as the sixth best defensive tackle and the 56th best player total. Playing with “urgency and violence” reiterate that effort is not a problem and he’s described as having “powerful hands to mash centers”, particularly in the run game.

Finally, Nick Herbig is rated at the fifth best linebacker in the class and the 79th best player overall. Described as a competitor who is “wired a little differently”, Herbig’s take-off speed is expected to put blockers on their heels.

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Where did Devon Achane, Antonio Johnson, and Jaylon Jones land in Dane Brugler’s latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft?

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler maps out all seven rounds and 259 picks as he forecasts where Texas A&M’s three prospects will land in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With less than two weeks from the 2023 NFL Draft, Texas A&M has a trio of prospects eagerly awaiting to make the jump from College Station to the pros. Until we officially hear their names called come April 27, a plethora of mock drafts will have to do for now.

In his latest mock, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler mapped out all seven rounds and corresponding 259 picks with the exception of including trades. A swap here or there of course could swing where a few Aggies land, but Brugler’s latest prediction provides some keen guidance nonetheless.

Brugler has running back Devon Achane off the board first (Pick No. 67, Denver Broncos) followed by safety Antonio Johnson (Pick No. 78, Green Bay Packers). Rounding out the trio is cornerback Jaylon Jones (Pick No. 185, Jacksonville Jaguars).

That makes two Aggies hearing their names called in the third round, while Jones comes off the board in the sixth round.

Brugler’s latest mock mirrors NFL.com’s Chad Reuter’s in that they both foresee Achane heading to the Mile High City. The fit makes sense after the Broncos ranked 21st in rushing last year (113.8 YPG) and only a slightly better 17th in rushing yards per attempt (4.4). Achane’s speed would bolster a backfield that is awaiting the return of Javonte Williams from injury (knee) while complementing the veteran addition of Samaje Perine.

Green Bay’s drafting of Johnson could help address the void left by Micah Hyde ever since his departure following the 2016 season. The Packers allowed an average of 10.7 yards per completion in 2022 (25th) and while Johnson thrives in more of a box safety role, he’s more than capable of staying in stride versus receivers with moderate speed.

The Jaguars ranked 19th in yards per completion allowed (10.4) and 27th in passing yards per game allowed (238.2), so their backend unit will take any addition of depth they can spare. Jones, at 6’2″ and 200 lbs, would give their secondary an immediate boost of physicality and size, but he’ll need to refine his footwork and technique as he looks to carve out a role in the rotation.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Breaking down the Saints’ picks from Dane Brugler’s 7-round mock draft

Breaking down the Saints’ picks from Dane Brugler’s extensive seven-round mock draft: Saints add several Michigan defensive linemen, Tennessee receiver

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is one of the most clued-in analysts covering the NFL draft, so it’s important to pay attention to the players he links to the New Orleans Saints. And Brugler recently published an extensive seven-round mock draft that put a couple of new names on our radar (while reinforcing the consensus that’s starting to build surrounding some early-round prospects).

Let’s quickly break down the picks and see how each prospect would fit in New Orleans:

Raiders stay put and land 4th QB in Dane Brugler updated top 10 mock since Panthers trade

Raiders stay at 7 and still land last of the top QB prospects in Brugler’s updated top 10

Not 24 hours ago, the draft landscape had a seismic shift with the Panthers making a trade with the Bears to take ownership of the number one overall pick.

The move had a lot of draft gurus scrambling to adjust. Among them is Dane Brugler of the Athletic who today put out an updated top ten.

In it, he has the Panthers using their top pick on Ohio State QB CJ Stroud. Then the Texans follow that up with the selection of Alabama QB Bryce Young.

The first non-QB goes to Arizona in the form of Alabama EDGE Will Anderson.

At fourth overall, Colts trade out with the Ravens to get Lamar Jackson. The Ravens then use the pick on Florida QB Anthony Richardson.

So,  the top three QBs are all gone in the top four picks.

That leaves just Kentucky QB Will Levis there as the last remaining top prospect QB in this draft.

Brugler then has no other team trading up to get him, which means he is on the board for the Raiders when they select. Making him the obvious choice in this scenario.

Brugler said of the Raiders selection of Levis:

Levis has the most uncertainty in terms of where he will land on draft weekend. He could be drafted top three or fall out of the top 10, and I don’t think either scenario would be shocking.

There is no doubt that Josh McDaniels and the Raiders will be interested in Levis’ package of skills. Enough to draft him here? Time will tell.

It’s still a bit risky for the Raiders to sit and hope they get one of these quarterbacks. And even more risky if they’re not high on Levis.

As we posted yesterday, the only way the Raiders can assure they get one of these quarterbacks — let along one of the top three — would be to trade up to the third overall spot with the Cardinals.

Brugler adds that “all signs point” to the Falcons not attempting to leap frog the Raiders to get a QB and rather sticking with Desmond Ridder at QB next season.

Can the Raiders take a risk based on those “signs” is the question. Or at least one of the questions. Along with if they are cool with settling for whichever QB is left over for them or if they even like Levis enough to take him.

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Jets add Clemson linebacker in Dane Brugler’s first mock draft

Some linebacker help for the Jets in the first mock draft from Dane Brugler.

Yes, the Jets are thinking about the playoffs with a 7-4 record with six games left. But there will be a time after the playoffs to begin thinking about 2023 and beyond. And with college football entering conference championship weekend, draft season is about to be kicked up a notch.

One surefire sign that draft season is gearing up is when the first mock draft drops from one of the best in the business, Dane Brugler of The Athletic. He did just that this week. (Subscription required)

His pick for the Jets at No. 22? Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson.

C.J. Mosley is getting older and Quincy Williams is in the final year of his deal, so linebacker might be a position the Jets examine in the early rounds next April. With his position flexibility as a blitzer, run stopper and cover man, Trenton Simpson offers the athletic versatility that will appeal to Jets coach Robert Saleh.

Linebacker certainly will be among the top needs for the Jets next offseason. As Brugler notes, C.J. Mosley is 30 years old and Quincy Williams and Kwon Alexander are set to be free agents, so the Jets will have some decisions to make.

Simpson would add plenty of flexibility to the Jets defense. He can play the hybrid safety/linebacker role for the Jets and give Jeff Ulbrich’s unit another excellent, sideline-to-sideline player in the second level.

Simpson currently ranks second for the Tigers with 65 tackles, behind only Jeremiah Trotter Jr., has 2.5 sacks and also three passes defended.

Dane Brugler’s 2023 mock draft sends Michigan DT Mazi Smith to the Saints

Dane Brugler’s 2023 mock draft linked Michigan DT Mazi Smith and Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker to the New Orleans Saints. Either of them would be a good fit:

Time flies by, doesn’t it? The college football regular season has wrapped up, with team shifting focus to conference title matchups and bowl game exhibitions — with many prospects considering whether to declare for the 2023 NFL draft. So it’s a good time to take stock of the upcoming draft class and see who might be a good fit for the New Orleans Saints.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler published his latest mock draft for 2023, including picks for teams currently without a first round selection — like the Saints, who aren’t scheduled to get on the board until the second round. Brugler is one of the most clued-in draft analysts around and always puts a lot of thought into his work, so it’s worth tuning in when he has something to say. And he has the Saints addressing one of their top needs in Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mazi Smith:

“The Saints are in quarterback purgatory right now, so we could always see a quarterback here (Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker?). If New Orleans doesn’t like the second-round QB options, defensive tackle is another potential need. The No. 1 player on Bruce Feldman’s preseason Freaks List for a reason, Mazi Smith has an impressive mix of athleticism and power and is expected to be an early second-round pick.”

We recently picked Smith ourselves in a seven-round mock draft simulator, though that scenario had him falling to the fourth round. Brugler’s take is informed by what he’s hearing from scouts and personnel around the league, so we should anticipate Smith to go off the board much more sooner than we maybe initially assumed. So what’s so appealing about him?

For one thing, the Saints don’t have a single defensive tackle under contract for 2023. Not one. David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle will both be unrestricted free agents, while Kentavius Street and Malcolm Roach are both expected to be restricted free agents (giving the Saints more options in retaining them). But for now they don’t have any players at the position signed for next season, so investing an early draft pick there makes sense.

And Smith would be worth it. He’s maybe the best run defender in the country and definitely one of the strongest players in college football. He’s got unique athleticism and the work ethic to match. Just look at his numbers from Feldman’s preseason Freaks List, which Brugler cited:

“The 6-foot-3, 337-pound senior has rare power and agility. So rare, in fact, it’s hard to find the right superlative to begin with. But let’s start with this: Smith does 22 reps on the bench press, but that’s with 325 (not 225). He close-grip benched 550 pounds. He vertical-jumps 33 inches. He broad-jumped 9-4 1/2. Smith, who had 37 tackles last season, has clocked a 4.41 shuttle time, which would’ve tied the best by any defensive tackle at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, and it would’ve been better than any defensive tackle weighing 310 pounds or more in the past decade. His 6.95 3-cone time would’ve been by far the fastest among defensive tackles in Indianapolis. The fastest was 7.33. Smith’s 60-yard shuttle time is 11.90.”

So it’s a safe bet that he’ll post a sky-high Relative Athletic Score just like other players the Saints have drafted as of late. The team values big athletes who can move well, and he fits the bill. Smith improved as a pass rusher as the 2022 season wore on, and a good position coach like Ryan Nielsen could probably get more out of him in the NFL. Whether the Saints bring back all their defensive tackles or just some of them (or if they decide to sweep the slate clean altogether), Smith would add a lot of juice to a group that hasn’t quite asserted itself as well as in years past. He’s someone to watch as the Wolverines advance further into the College Football Playoff tournament.

Brugler is right to consider quarterback here too, though. Neither Andy Dalton nor Jameis Winston are long-term answers for New Orleans, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team move on from both players in the spring. They’ll be active buyers in the market for a new passer. Brugler suggested Tennessee Volunteers star Hendon Hooker (who we’re fans of, despite his season-ending knee injury), and it’s likely he’ll be in play around the time the Saints are on the clock. But that’s something to worry about further next April.

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Dane Brugler sends Vikings a wide receiver in his first mock draft

A wide receiver would be an excellent addition to the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are in an interesting place for the upcoming draft. They could go a lot of different directions, but one common theme I expect to see is the Vikings taking a wide receiver.

In his first mock draft of the season, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had the Vikings selecting Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

As a player, Smith-Njigba was a dominant force in 2021, including a record-setting Rose Bowl 347 yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions.

Here is what Brugler had to say about sending Smith-Njigba to the Vikings.

“The Adam Thielen contract is tricky, but the Vikings could clearly use an upgrade there. Although it has been a lost season for Jaxon Smith-Njigba because of a hamstring injury, he has more than enough tape for teams to understand what he offers. With his route prowess and ball skills, he would be a great fit for what Kevin O’Connell wants the Vikings to be on offense.”

Will Smith-Njigba fit the prototype of what Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah? That is yet to be seen, but based on talent along, he would be a tremendous selection for the Vikings.

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Packers get WR Treylon Burks, OLB Drake Jackson in Dane Brugler’s final 2022 mock draft

The Packers got Arkansas WR Treylon Burks and USC OLB Drake Jackson in Dane Brugler’s final 2022 mock draft for The Athletic.

A review and breakdown of predictions for the Green Bay Packers in final 2022 mock drafts from a few of the most prominent analysts in the business:

The mock draft: Dane Brugler, The Athletic

The picks: WR Treylon Burks at 22, OLB Drake Jackson at 28

The reasoning

On Burks: “Some teams question if Burks will be an immediate starter or if he will require time, but the Packers value size and run-after-catch skills, and Burks offers both in a big way.”

On Jackson: “In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Packers selected an intriguing edge rusher out of USC in Clay Matthews. Maybe they go that route again with Jackson, who has a ton of ability.”

Our breakdown: Burks won’t be a fit for every team needing a wide receiver, but he could be the right guy for the Packers, especially if Matt LaFleur can find ways of manufacturing touches early on. The Arkansas star plays fast and chews up yards after the catch but may need time to develop his game overall. Jackson could be one of the first-round surprises on Thursday night. He’s young (just turned 21) and explosive, with the right kind of acceleration and bendy to terrorize offensive tackles if he can develop a more well-rounded pass-rush plan. He checks a lot of boxes for the Packers in a first-round prospect. This first-round duo comes with a bunch of risk, given how much development both players need, but the payoff could also be huge. They also help solve the roster’s most pressing immediate and long-term needs.

The player info

Burks

Height: 6-2
Weight: 225
40-yard dash: 4.45
Vertical leap: 33.0″
Broad jump: 10-2
Three-cone: 7.28
Short shuttle: DNP
Bench press: DNP
RAS: 5.76

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Jackson

Height: 6-3
Weight: 273
40-yard dash: DNP
Vertical leap: 36.5″
Broad jump: 10-7
Three-cone: 7.09
Short shuttle: 4.28
Bench press: DNP
RAS: 9.66

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Breaking down Dane Brugler’s picks for Packers in 7-round mock draft

It’d be hard to argue against the first four players given to the Packers by Dane Brugler in his seven-round mock draft.

The Green Bay Packers added a top playmaker in the passing game and got better along the offensive and defensive fronts in Dane Brugler’s seven-round mock draft for The Athletic.

Brugler, who writes the most comprehensive draft guide available, made all 262 picks in the 2022 NFL draft, including 11 for the Packers.

The focus for Matt LaFleur’s team was obvious. He added new talent for the offensive and defensive lines while still providing help at receiver and plugging in other roster holes.

Brugler’s picks for the Packers:

1.22: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
1.28: DL Travis Jones, UConn
2.53: OT Abraham Lucas, Wash. State
2.59: OLB Drake Jackson, USC
3.92: WR David Bell, Purdue
4.132: OLB Alex Wright, UAB
4.140: OL Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
5.171: DL Eric Johnson, Missouri State
7.228: LB Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin
7.249: CB Dallis Flowers, Pittsburg State
7.258: TE/FB Connor Heyward, Michigan State

Olave and Jones as a first-round duo would get high marks here. The two are perfect fits in Green Bay and both check all the boxes for what the Packers typically target early in the draft. Getting a playmaker at receiver and a disruptor for the defensive line would represent a terrific open for the Packers.

Olave is arguably the best separator and route-runner in the class and would be a terrific replacement for Davante Adams. He should be an instant impact player and a future No. 1 option.

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Jones gives off serious Kenny Clark vibes and would completely revamp the entire outlook of the defensive line. He could play multiple spots in the defensive front and give the Packers another menacing player alongside Clark.

Lucas visited the Packers and fits what the team looks for in offensive line talent in terms of experience and movement ability. He could be the future starter at right tackle if the Packers want to keep Elgton Jenkins inside.

Jackson might be the best-kept secret in the edge-rusher class. He’s young and explosive, with tremendous upside and development potential at a premium position. Putting him behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith could give him time to turn into game-changing player, and the Packers need depth on the edge.

Bell didn’t test well at the combine, which is generally a big red flag at receiver. The Packers might not consider him. But he found a lot of different ways to get open and make plays at Purdue, so maybe the testing isn’t a huge concern. Taking him in the third round feels like a reach here.

The Packers are rebuilding the depth at edge rusher, so getting Wright early in Day 3 makes sense. He has terrific size but needs time, which the Packers can offer. His potential is worth grabbing here.

Hayes looks like a Lucas Patrick replacement. Johnson is a highly athletic defensive line prospect who visited the Packers. Wisconsin football fans will know Sanborn, who could be a nice backup linebacker and special teamer. Flowers, a small-school corner, turned heads at the East-West Shrine Game, while Heyward fits the mold of the fullback-tight end hybrid in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

The draft strategy employed by Brugler looked simple enough. Getting Olave and solving the big need at receiver with the 22nd pick allowed the Packers to focus on getting big people for the line of scrimmage. Not finding help at safety and tight end is worth mentioning here, given the short and long-term needs at both positions. Getting Bell as the complementary receiver pick to Olave feels underwhelming given the options in this draft class. But this is just nitpicking. The first four picks – Olave, Jones, Lucas and Jackson – would make this an incredible class.

Mock Draft Watch: Dane Brugler revamps Lions defense in 7 round mock

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler introduces his 7 round mock draft and provides the Detroit Lions with strong core players

The NFL draft is just a couple of weeks away, and everyone is trying to finalize what each team could do, which means mock drafts are plentiful. The latest mock draft comes from one of the most respected draft minds in the industry, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who recently released his annual draft guide “The Beast,” which is highly recommended.

He gives a crack at the possible draft haul for each team in his seven-round mock, and below are the players he decided to bestow to the Detroit Lions.

2: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia
32: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
34: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
66: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
97: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
177: Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
181: Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
217: Chris Paul, OT/G, Tulsa
234: Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor

Walker has seen his draft skyrocket after he showcased his superior athletic traits and his versatility skillset along the defensive line, making him a popular selection lately for the Lions. Many have doubts due to his limited production, but considering how stacked the Georgia defense was, that is something that shouldn’t be a knock against him. He can be the type of player that can be a cornerstone player for the Lions defense for years to come.

Even the Lions have brought back nearly their entire receiving corps from last year, along with the addition of D.J. Chark; it shouldn’t take them out of the running for a receiver, hence Dotson’s selection. We have seen Dotson mocked to the Lions numerous times for a very good reason. He is another versatile player maker that can line up anywhere at receiver and be equally productive. He will fit right in with the Lions offense with his strong route-running ability and ball skills.

If there is any position the Lions must address in the draft is safety, they cannot walk away from the draft without potentially upgrading the position. The Lions did resign Tracy Walker and just signed DeShon Elliot, but the addition of Lewis Cine gives the Lions a three-headed monster in the deep field that will give opposing offenses fits. He is one of those do-it-all players that cover and defend the run, making him an excellent chess piece.

Brugler decides to give the Lions two linebackers in Chenal and Rodriguez and continues the trend of revamping the defense. Chenal is not the most fine-tuned linebacker in the class, but he makes up for it with his downhill thumper mentality and diagnoses plays on the fly. Rodriguez led Oklahoma State in tackles for three straight years after moving from safety to linebacker. He doesn’t have the ideal length for some teams at linebacker, but his football instincts are very strong, and he has a toughness that fits in with the culture Detroit is trying to build.

Evans brings a unique blend of athleticism and versatility due to his blend of superior length and speed that can make him an asset in the secondary. He may not have plays that some teams like, but this combination makes him an enticing prospect. Garrett was highly regarded coming out of high school, but unfortunately, he couldn’t put everything as many wanted to at Ohio State. He needs to improve his pass rush arsenal but can be quick in and out of blocks, has some strong burst, and can be a rotational piece.

We flip the script with the last two picks and address the offense with the selections of Paul and Ebner. You can never have enough versatile linemen, and that is exactly what Paul brings to the table. He played mostly left tackle at Tulsa, but he projects better as a guard due to his lack of movement skills. Ebner is the type of player the Lions can develop into an offensive weapon with his pass-catching ability and special team’s prowess. He won’t make strictly off just running backs but provides a set of skills that make him a dangerous player.