Tag: Daxton Hill

Could the Eagles double-dip at the safety position early in NFL Draft?

Could the Philadelphia Eagles double-dip at the safety position early in NFL Draft?

The Eagles have several needs in this weekend’s NFL, but none bigger than addressing the lack of dynamic playmakers at the safety position.

The Eagles re-signed Anthony Harris this offseason but still have a pretty clear need at the safety position.

Rodney McLeod moved on to the Colts and Philadelphia has been in the mix for all-world safety, Tyrann Mathieu.

Even after the Eagles’ trade with the Saints, they still have two first-round picks and 10 total, allowing for numerous opportunities to add versatility at a position that has several dynamic prospects.

Philadelphia could even look to add multiple safeties in the draft, with several prospects carrying the hybrid role, that allows for players like Dax Hill, Jalen Pitre, or Kyle Hamilton to play at all three levels.

Where Michigan football players are in NFL mock drafts 4.0

It’s just about draft time!

It’s officially NFL draft week — three days away to be exact.

Various different sites are coming out with their final mock drafts before Thursday arrives, and more have become a mixed bag on whether Aidan Hutchinson gets selected first overall — or if he stays in the state of Michigan going to the Detriot Lions.

Since our first mock draft showing where Michigan football players are going in the different mock drafts, more sites are changing their tune on David Ojabo — he is being mocked in the first round in more of them now.

Daxton Hill is still hit or miss according to the experts on if he will be a first-round pick or an early second-round selection. One thing that most people agree on with Hill, is that he will excel at the next level regardless of whom picks him.

Here are different mock drafts from NFL draft experts showing where your favorite Michigan players are slated to go.

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SKOL Search: The ‘What I Would Do’ 7-round mock draft edition

If you like trades, you’ll love this.

We are just days away from the NFL Draft kicking off on a man-made island platform in the heart of Las Vegas.

The Vikings are in a unique position to project out. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell are each in their first year at their respective positions, and the only data we can go off of is that of their superiors. How they will build the team moving forward has been a fascinating talking point.

The only real data point I’m going off of is this: Adofo-Mensah will maximize the market. Coming from Wall Street and having spent the last eight years in the NFL, he has a good understanding of what the market will look like, and he will find ways to maximize and manipulate it.

This mock, however, won’t be done from the lens of what Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell might do. It’s coming from my perspective. How would I maximize the board and the Vikings draft class.

I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator for this exercise and believe this would go a long way in fixing the Vikings.

Ravens 2022 draft prospect profile: DB Daxton Hill

We look at a Ravens 2022 draft prospect profile for defensive back Daxton Hill

The Baltimore Ravens have valued versatility and athleticism for a long time when it comes to the draft, but especially recently. They like players that can play all over the field in a multitude of roles, and when scanning over Baltimore’s roster, there are plenty of those types of guys on it.

If the Ravens want to add more versatility in the 2022 NFL draft, they won’t have any problem doing so. This is a deep draft class when it comes to prospects that can line up almost anywhere, especially in the defensive back room. One of those players is former University of Michigan star Daxton Hill.

Hill excels in a single high role or in the slot, but can align in multiple different spots regardless of the system. He has phenomenal instincts and is a very smart football player, always seeming to be able to play chess on the field. He uses his athleticism to move fluidly in coverage, and also has great straight-line speed that can help him close in an instant.

Hill could hear his name called in the back half of the first round or the early parts of the second round, making him a trade down candidate if Baltimore moves back from No. 14, or a trade up candidate if they want to move up for No. 45.

Eagles address major needs in Mel Kiper, Todd McShay’s alternating 3-round mock draft

Philadelphia Eagles address major needs in Mel Kiper, Todd McShay’s alternating 3-round mock draft for ESPN

Round one of the 2022 NFL Draft will kick off in nine days with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the clock and most experts unsure of who the pick will be.

Philadelphia has five picks in the first three rounds and the team will have an opportunity to add dynamic talent at several key positions.

With a little over one week of preparation remaining, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay combined for an alternating three-round mock draft that had the Eagles addressing several major needs.

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 safeties

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar concludes our positional rankings with the top 11 safeties in the 2022 NFL draft.

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What the NFL expects from its safeties has changed drastically over the last decade. There are multiple reasons for this.

Think about the need for a true shutdown post safety in predominantly single-high coverage. A decade ago, when Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense was the desired template, you were playing heavy press underneath with defined box and post safeties. The Seahawks were able to do this because they had a dominant press cornerback (Richard Sherman), a dominant box safety (Kam Chancellor), and the best post safety of his era (Earl Thomas).

That’s not an easy archetype to copy, because you obviously have to hit on multiple generational players at crucial positions that all teams desperately desire. Your hit rate is reduced by the scarcity of human beings who can do what Sherman, Chancellor, and Thomas could do, and it’s then exponentially reduced even more by the fact that so many teams are looking for those same types of players. Factor in the relative lack of scheme versatility in that particular instance, and all of a sudden, the structure for your hit rate goes from the ceiling to the basement.

Now, look at where the NFL has prioritized its defensive resources in the last few years. The Vic Fangio/Brandon Staley template of two-high coverage and lighter boxes works in today’s NFL for a lot of reasons. Teams are throwing more often. Teams are running the ball not only less, but in different ways and with different types of players. In 2021, offenses threw out of more quick-game concepts (zero to three step drops) at a 60% rate, and the ability of the quarterback to have second-reaction ability to keep things alive when the play breaks down is seen as more of a near-necessity than a prominent luxury.

So, that Earl Thomas/Ed Reed-level deep safety, while awesome if you can get him and if he even exists in any draft cycle? I mean, if you know the draft prospect can possibly be that level of player, you move heaven and earth to get him, because you’re talking about a once-in-a-decade player who can define your defense.

More likely, you’re getting safeties who do a lot of things — some very well, some with developmental issues, and some things they probably shouldn’t be doing at all. You’re going to want a guy who can play some free, some slot, some box, maybe even a few snaps of outside corner, and some reps as a blitzer along the defensive line. It’s why teams go less and less for the defined box and free safeties as they used to.

There are far more Tyrann Mathieus than Earl Thomases. And there are far more safeties who work well in two-high shells, whether they stay in two-high or spin to something else post-snap. Player value at the position has turned from athletic to schematic. It’s more about finding the player who works in the concepts you want to run, as opposed to waiting around for the guy who will fill in the nearly impossible blank.

Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, the consensus top safety in the 2022 draft class, had 1.440 defensive snaps over three collegiate seasons, per Pro Football Focus. Hamilton had 644 snaps at free safety, 437 in the slot, 313 in the box, 29 along the defensive line, and 15 at outside cornerback.

Hamilton’s specific value is not in his ability to play that many positions, because nearly every safety coming into the draft over the last few years has a somewhat similar position share. His specific value is in his ability to take the multi-position archetype that is the order of the day, and play those positions at a level that is disproportionately high in comparison to the other safeties in this class. Factor in his height/weight template, and that’s where Kyle Hamilton becomes a potentially generational prospect. It’s not at all that he does one thing very well. It’s entirely that he does 4-5 things, he’s NFL-ready at all of them, and he’s NFL-plus ready with this or that attribute in ways we haven’t seen from other players.

When you see the position snaps for the top 11 safety prospects on our list. you’ll see, over and over, how much the value guide for the position has flipped on its head.

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Here are Touchdown Wire’s top 11 safeties in the 2022 draft class.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated. All testing data comes from the 2022 scouting combine, with percentile per position, courtesy of MockDraftable.com. Certain biographical information was gleaned from Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” draft guide over at The Athletic, which is a must-read every year).

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 cornerbacks

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 linebackers

2022 NFL draft: The top 12 edge defenders

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 interior defensive linemen

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 interior offensive linemen

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 offensive tackles

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 tight ends

2022 NFL draft: The top 16 receivers

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 running backs

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 quarterbacks

10 hybrid defenders that could interest the Eagles in the 2022 NFL draft

10 hybrid defenders that could interest Jonathan Gannon and the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFL draft

The Eagles have an ever-evolving defensive scheme, and if Jonathan Gannon had it his way, he’d probably employ a 4-1-6 base defense with six defensive backs and one hybrid linebacker who can cover.

Philadelphia will look to increase pressure off the edge with the acquisition of Haason Reddick, and they’ll be quicker at linebacker after the addition of Kyzir White.

The days of three linebackers on the field are all but over and as the Eagles work to stop some of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, we’ve highlighted 10 hybrid defenders who can do it all.

Michigan players in Mel Kiper’s latest NFL mock draft

These NFL teams would be great spots for them!

We have just a little over two weeks until the 2022 NFL draft, and the mock drafts keep pouring in.

Mel Kiper Jr. with ESPN has a new two-round mock draft that came out on Wednesday. Kiper Jr. has been an NFL draft analyst since 1984, and he has been known to be pretty accurate with his mock drafts over the years.

Kiper Jr. has three Michigan players being selected in the first two rounds, and two of those going in the first round.

Like most people, he has Aidan Hutchinson going first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars — he calls him the best prospect in the class.

Kiper Jr. also sees Daxton Hill going in the first round, and he says he’s very versatile, so a lot of teams should be intrigued by what they could do with him.

His new mock draft also lists David Ojabo as an early second-round pick.

Here is where he has all three players going.

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Where Michigan football players are in NFL mock drafts 2.0

Do you agree with these mocks?

It’s Monday which means it’s time to find out where your Michigan Wolverines are slated to be picked in the 2022 NFL draft.

We are just a little over two weeks away from the three-day event where dreams are made, and there should be plenty of maize and blue being selected in the seven rounds.

Whether he gets selected No. 1 overall or not, Aidan Hutchinson is arguably the best player on the board, and he will be mocked first in a handful of mock drafts by the experts. Hutchinson is looking to be the first Wolverine selected first overall since Jake Long back in 2008 when he was picked by the Miami Dolphins.

Along with Hutchinson being guaranteed a top-five pick, the Wolverines are going to have a couple more that could sneak into the first round like Daxton Hill and David Ojabo.

We are now going to dive back into some mock drafts and find out where the maize and blue could potentially play next season.

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Pair of stud safeties look like first-round fits for Packers

Michigan’s Daxton Hill and Georgia’s Lewis Cine look like first-round fits for the Packers in the 2022 NFL draft class.

The Green Bay Packers will bring back Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage at safety in 2022, but a long-term need exists at the position, and a pair of likely first-round picks in the 2022 draft class look like tremendous fits for the Packers.

Daxton Hill of Michigan and Lewis Cine of Georgia could both be in play when the Packers come on the clock at either No. 22 or No. 28 overall later this month.

Both Hill and Cine are young, highly athletic and versatile. Each played a lot of football in a talent-laden defense and grow into legitimate standouts in the secondary. NFL teams likely view Hill and Cine as first-round talents. Both could come off the board in the second half of the round and neither would be a reach.

What’s the Packers’ level of need at safety, and would it make sense to use a first-rounder on the position? As of now, Amos and Savage are going into the final year of their contract, and there’s no obvious third safety on the roster. Only Vernon Scott – who was a healthy scratch for most of last season – is under contract at the position past 2022. The Packers could extend Amos before his contract voids next year, and the guaranteed fifth-year option is possible for Savage, so the need level here is fluid. But Amos turns 29 this month, and Savage is coming off a disappointing third season. Henry Black, who played almost 300 snaps as the third safety last year, wasn’t retained as an exclusive rights free agent.

The Packers view safety as a premium position. They’ve drafted two safeties in the first round since 2014 (Savage, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix) and another (Damarious Randall) who played safety in college. During his first offseason as general manager, Brian Gutekunst signed Amos to a lucrative four-year deal.

Need plus positional value should make safety a first-round option for the Packers.

Hill and Cine look like the top options after Kyle Hamilton, who is likely to go in the top half of the first round.

Hill is 21 and has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.03. He started as a true freshman and ended up playing in all 33 games (23 starts) for Michigan over the last three seasons. While lacking ideal size (only 191 pounds), he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds (1.51-second 10-yard split) and finished the three-cone drill in 6.57 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.02 seconds. Hill is an easy and explosive mover who can cover from multiple alignments and defend the run with the physicality of a much bigger player.

Hill’s tape shows a player who will be best used in the slot at the next level and could easily become one of the NFL’s top slot defenders early in his career. He has incredible feet and hips, allowing him to stay in phase against all route types, and an enticing mix of anticipation and ball skills. With an 80″ wingspan, he can disrupt passing lanes and compete at the catch point. The fact that he’s such a willing and capable run defender from the slot (while never missing a game to injury) suggests he’ll be just fine playing in the box at the next level.

The Packers don’t have an obvious slot defender despite rostering three starting-caliber cornerbacks and a safety (Savage) who played a lot in the slot in college. Adding Hill could give the Packers defense another weapon to either throw in the slot full-time or move around as a chess piece. He’s a top-20 talent who could easily be available at No. 22 or 28.

Cine is a different type of safety with a similar profile. He is 22 and has a RAS of 9.92 (with no agility testing). He played in all 39 games for Georgia over the last three seasons, including two starts as a true freshman. Even on a loaded defense filled with NFL talent, he was a full-time starter as a true sophomore and a highly productive star as a true junior.

Cine is 6-2 and 199 pounds, giving him a more traditional safety profile. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, including a blazing fast 10-yard split of 1.45 seconds. He hit 36.5″ in the vertical leap and 11-1 in the broad jump, highlighting his explosive lower-body power.

In 2021, Cine led Georgia in tackles (73) and pass breakups (10). He possesses an intriguing mix of range and play-tracking ability, allowing him to make impact plays on every inch of the field. With a big-hit appetite and ball-magnet skill set, he turned himself into a tone-setting player for a Georgia defense that dominated opponents every week. While Cine might not have the slot defender potential of Hill, he could be a better fit as a deep safety, which could possibly give Savage more opportunities to play near the line of scrimmage or in the slot.

Baylor’s Jalen Pitre could be another option for the Packers, but he’ll turn 23 in June and isn’t quite as athletic as Hill and Cine. His tape can be as exciting as any defensive back prospect in the class one minute and then also far too Josh Jones-like the next, so he comes with some risk.

The Packers clearly like a specific type of player in the first round. Young, super athletic, and playing a premium position of need. Hill and Cine check all the boxes. If Gutekunst identifies a need at safety, the Packers could grab either player in the mid-20s on Thursday night of the 2022 draft.

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