Tag: DeAngelo Malone

Falcons sign rookies Troy Anderson and DeAngelo Malone

Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen and EDGE DeAngelo Malone signed their rookie deals on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Falcons inked two members of their 2022 draft class on Wednesday, signing second-round pick Troy Andersen and third-rounder DeAngelo Malone to their rookie deals.

Andersen, a versatile and athletic inside linebacker out of Montana State, should immediately compete for reps on the Falcons defense. Malone is a slightly more raw prospect, but the Western Kentucky standout’s pass-rush ability will make him hard to keep off the field this season.

The Falcons didn’t re-sign Dante Fowler or Steven Means — last year’s starting outside linebackers — so Malone has a chance to make an impact as a rookie. There’s a bit of a logjam at inside linebacker, though.

Despite letting Foye Oluokun walk in free agency, the team signed Rashaan Evans, Nick Kwiatkoski and drafted Andersen. Then there’s Deion Jones, Atlanta’s highest-paid player ($20 million cap hit in 2022).

As for the other rookies, Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, John FitzPatrick and Justin Shaffer have all signed their rookie deals. The team still must sign OLB Arnold Ebiketie and quarterback Desmond Ridder.

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Twitter reacts to Falcons drafting Desmond Ridder, DeAngelo Malone

Falcons Twitter reacts to the team drafting QB Desmond Ridder and EDGE DeAngelo Malone in round three.

Falcons fans had to wait until round three but the team finally drafted a quarterback on Friday night, selecting Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder with the 74th overall pick.

A few spots later, Atlanta drafted Western Kentucky edge rusher DeAngelo Malone at pick No. 82. With their first five selections, the Falcons have drafted a wide receiver, two edge rushers, an interior linebacker and a quarterback.

Here is how Falcons fans reacted to the team’s two third-round picks on Twitter.

2022 NFL draft: Alex Katson’s final 7-round projections for Chargers

Find out how Chargers Wire’s Alex Katson thinks the 2022 NFL draft will play out for Los Angeles.

It’s almost time for Roger Goodell to address NFL fans worldwide from Las Vegas to open the 2022 NFL Draft. So here’s one last look at a possible Chargers haul across all seven rounds from our Alex Katson.

1.17: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College

Johnson has been my preference for this selection for a few weeks now, especially with rumors that other Chargers targets like WR Chris Olave or CB Trent McDuffie may not tumble to 17. The former Davidson and Boston College lineman gives LA the flexibility to move Matt Feiler to right tackle, where he played well as a starter on the Steelers. It also retains the nasty run-blocking combo on the left side, where standout Rashawn Slater and Johnson would be combining to open gaping holes for Austin Ekeler and co.

3.79: DeAngelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky

As much as fans want to see Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on the field as much as possible, there are going to be times when one or both of them are on the sideline for breathers. When that occurs, the Chargers’ best option right now is 2021 fourth-rounder Chris Rumph, who may not be ready to take on that role on his own. Malone is a touch undeveloped as a standup rusher after mainly playing defensive end as a Hilltopper, but deploying him in designated pass rush situations while Bosa and Mack coach him up could result in a diamond in the rough.

4.123: Danny Gray, WR, SMU

Gray has been a popular prospect to mock to the Chargers as a downfield speed threat with the potential to warp opposing defenses. He also has a bit of returner experience and could be the primary backup to DeAndre Carter. If the first three rounds don’t result in LA drafting a receiver, Gray will be an excellent selection early on Day 3.

5.160: Eyioma Uwazurike, IDL, Iowa State

Uwazurike has been heavily linked to the Chargers for a few months now, ever since the staff spent ample time working him out following Iowa State’s pro day in March. The defensive line is complete mainly after adding Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, but a Day 3 pick to groom behind those players and Jerry Tillery could still be in order. It could also give us a clue on whether or not the Chargers plan to pick up Tillery’s fifth-year option.

6.195: Zamir White, RB, Georgia

I do believe Chargers fans are in for another Day 3 pick at running back after the struggles of Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree III a year ago. White has experience in a rotation after splitting time with James Cook at Georgia. He was also the more bruising back of the two, which could take some pressure and wear and tear off of Ekeler, who’d be freer to utilize his receiving talents.

6.214: Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas

A former four-star recruit, Brown is an instinctual zone corner who plays longer than he is. While his testing numbers aren’t the most inspiring, I think he could be worth a flier pick this late as a potential developmental depth piece at corner.

7.236: Chance Campbell, LB, Mississippi

Brandon Staley’s defense doesn’t value linebackers very highly, so I think an addition to the current room won’t come until late in the draft. The coaching staff is apparently high on 2021 rookies Amen Ogbongbemiga and Nick Niemann, but adding depth behind them will be necessary.

7.254: Jean Delance, OT, Florida

Delance is another player the Chargers have been linked to extensively after pre-draft meetings with him. While Trey Pipkins has substantially improved this offseason, according to trainer Duke Manyweather, adding a fourth tackle as quality depth never hurts.

7.255: Armani Rogers, TE, Ohio

Rogers might be a touch too similar to Donald Parham Jr. to justify this selection, but I can’t shake the feeling that LA could be the ones to take a shot on his athletic gifts. Rogers has never played tight end outside of an all-star environment at the Shrine Bowl, but the LA native has shown ample potential.

7.260: Joey Blount, S, Virginia

Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reported Wednesday that Blount visited the Chargers. While he’s mostly been talked about as a UDFA, interest from other teams has also ramped up in recent days. LA could need to spend a late pick on him to add depth to the safety corps if they’ve fallen in love.

Denver Broncos pre-draft visit tracker

The list of prospects who have visited the Broncos ahead of the NFL draft includes OT Matt Waletzko, RB James Cook and OLB Nik Bonitto.
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Each offseason, NFL teams are allowed to host 30 non-local prospects at their facilities ahead of the NFL draft. We will be tracking the Denver Broncos’ top 30 visits on this page.

Broncos Pre-Draft Visits

1. RB Shermari Jones
2. RB James Cook
3. RB Isaih Pacheco
4. RB Zamir White
5. OT Tyler Smith
6. OT Abraham Lucus
7. OT Matt Waletzko
8. OT Braxton Jones
9. OL Cam Jurgens
10. OL Dylan Parham
11. OL Cole Strange
12. TE/FB Chigoziem Okonkwo
13. WR Tyquan Thornton
14. WR Jared Bernhardt
15. CB Cordale Flott
16. CB DaRon Bland
17. CB Ja’Quan McMillian
18. CB Martin Emerson
19. DB Nick Grant
20. DB Tariq Carpenter
21. OLB DeAngelo Malone
22. OLB Nik Bonitto

Non-Top 30 Visits

1. LB Chad Muma (local visit)
2. TE Cole Turner (virtual visit)
3. OL Thayer Munford (virtual visit)
4. OL Jamaree Salyer (virtual visit)
5. OLB Isaiah Thomas (virtual visit)
6. RB Hassan Haskins (virtual visit)
7. WR Mike Harley Jr. (Hula Bowl)
8. WR D’Eriq King (pro day)
9. K Cade York  (pro day)

The draft will be held in Las Vegas from April 28-30. The Broncos currently own nine selections, including a second-round pick and a pair of third-round picks.

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7-round NFL mock draft for the Denver Broncos

Our first seven-round NFL mock draft for the Broncos has the team going LB, OT, RB with their first three picks.

The 2022 NFL draft will be held next week, which means mock draft season is heating up! Here is Broncos Wire’s first attempt at mocking Denver’s plans for this year’s draft.

Report: Colts to meet with WKU EDGE DeAngelo Malone

The Colts are set to meet with the two-time DPOY from Conference USA

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly meeting with former Western Kentucky edge rusher DeAngelo Malone ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Malone, a fifth-year senior, was named to the All-Conference USA first team three times during his career. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award for C-USA twice in his collegiate career.

Malone also attended the Senior Bowl and was named the MVP of the American team.

Malone likely profiles more as a stand-up outside linebacker in an odd front. In Gus Bradley’s system, he would profile at the LEO position along with Yannick Ngakoue.

Malone measured in at 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds with 33 1/8-inch arms at the NFL combine. That arm length, along with his 4.54 in the 40-yard dash and 1.60 10-yard split all check boxes for what the Colts like in their edge rushers.

Malone’s ceiling may be a bit capped due to questionable play strength but we’ve seen speed rushers have successful careers in the right system recently.

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Titans met with Western Kentucky EDGE DeAngelo Malone in pre-draft visit

The Titans are doing their due diligence on edge rushers ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

Despite the fact that the Tennessee Titans are fairly set at EDGE going into the 2022 season, the team is still doing its due diligence on the position ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Titans held a pre-draft visit with Western Kentucky edge rusher, DeAngelo Malone. He has also met with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, and is set to meet with the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers.

Malone compiled 32.5 sacks over five years with the Hilltoppers. His best campaign came in 2019 when he tallied a career-high 11 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss.

In 2021, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge rusher had eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Here’s more on Malone, per The Draft Network:

He has excellent overall athleticism with speed, burst, and quickness. He is explosive off the snap as a pass rusher and threatens the edges in an instant. A very loose and agile athlete, Malone shows an ability to corner and flatten to the quarterback with very little difficulty. He flashes the ankle flexion to turn tight angles and can reduce his surface area around the edge to bend the arc. A high-motor player, Malone plays hard and hustles to the football with impressive closing speed. Malone is a long and lean football player with a very narrow frame. While he is able to use his length to his advantage and maintain distance between he and opposing blockers so that he can disengage and make the tackle, his overall lack of mass and strength severely hurt his ability to be a productive run defender—especially since he plays on the ball nearly 100% of the time. Tackles can easily absorb his punch and bull rush and can quickly move him out of gaps and maul him. He does show quickness to evade blocks and his narrow frame allows him to be slippery in the run game, but if an offensive tackle can square him up, it’s good night. Malone is rarely asked to play off the ball and play in space, but based on his strength limitations that will likely be what he is asked to do at the next level. He does show the necessary athleticism and instincts to succeed off the ball but is entirely a projection in that regard. 

Ideal Role: Sub rusher for 3-4 based team with upside to develop into an every-down player. 

Scheme Fit: 3-4 OLB

The Western Kentucky product could be a target of the Titans on Day 3. It wouldn’t shock me if the Titans do take an EDGE in this year’s draft, but they should take care of the offensive line (guard and/or tackle), wide receiver and tight end first.

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7 edge rush prospects for Cowboys to consider through 2022 draft weekend

The Cowboys have a definite draft need on the edge, but what round will they scratch the itch? @TimLettiero provides a look at a list of prospects for each draft weekend day.

The Dallas Cowboys have employed some of the game’s best sack artists across their storied careers. Harvey Martin and Charles Haley are legendary staples of some of the greatest teams in franchise history. While it was a shock that DeMarcus Ware didn’t make the Hall of Fame this past February, his name will likely be called soon.

Young phenom Micah Parsons certainly helps this however his dynamic ability in multiple facets raises questions if he should be pigeon holed into one role. Dallas re-signed veteran DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who has consistently graded out as one of the game’s best edge rushers despite only two seasons of double-digit takedowns. There are question marks beyond those two, though, and as Parsons will primarily play off-ball linebacker, there’s a need to grab a young edge player in the draft later this month.

Dorance Armstrong is an intriguing re-sign, but his career high in sacks happened last season at five. Watching DE Randy Gregory walk out the door after a breakout year undoubtedly hurts.

Tarell Basham, Chauncey Golston and recently signed veteran DE Dante Fowler round out the current group and while it’s enough to go into a season with, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loves to rotate players, so the more the merrier. Here are some names who would be good additions and potential long-term starters.

Ravens add numerous athletes in latest 7-round mock draft

The Ravens select numerous athletes in our latest 2022 seven-round mock draft

The 2022 NFL draft is less than one month away, meaning that the Baltimore Ravens will be able to add plenty of talented playmakers to their team. Baltimore currently has 10 draft picks in this month’s draft, including nine in the first four rounds.

The Ravens have plenty of needs to fill, even after signing players such as safety Marcus Williams, offensive lineman Morgan Moses and defensive lineman Michael Pierce. The draft will be key for the team round out the rest of their roster with rookies that can contribute at a high level both right away and in the future.

Below we look at a full seven-round mock draft for Baltimore.

Vikings 7-round mock draft 3.0: Za’Darius Smith signing changes things

A trade shakes things up early for the Vikings

We are two weeks into free agency and the landscape is becoming more and more clear. For the Vikings, they are being very calculated with their additions and cap maneuvering.

The latest of those is the signing of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. In doing so, the Vikings have created one of the best edge rushing tandems in the league and now have more flexibility when it comes to the draft.

You can check out my previous mock drafts below.

Mock Draft 1.0
Mock Draft 2.0

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