Tag: draft profile

2021 NFL draft profile: Texas safety Caden Sterns

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL.

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

Each profile will be updated according to where the player is eventually selected in the 2021 NFL draft and/or where they choose to sign as undrafted free agents. Safety Caden Sterns, a mid-season opt-out, is an interesting prospect.

Class: Junior

Height: 6-1

Weight: 210

Pros

Shows the ability to play well in zone or man coverage. His versatility ranges from lining up in the slot in man coverage, or staying deep at the free safety position. Keeps eyes focused on the quarterback and is able to adjust to either side of the field on deep passes.

Good ball skills. Has the instincts to dissect the passer and make a play on the ball. Creates contested deep passes.

Has the athleticism to play across the field in deep zone from the left all the way across to the right side of the field.

Cons

Not the best tackler. While he has the ability to tackle, he’s more comfortable when the balls in the air, rather than in the hands of the ball carrier. Especially when asked to blitz, he has the tendency to run into the blocks and is unable to escape.

People marveled at how far ahead he was in pass coverage as a freshman but despite being able to play both sides of the field, he often can get tricked by where the receiver is in relation to the quarterback and is forced to make a play.

Despite his impressive frame, he lacks the physicality you would want from a safety, especially when tackling running backs. He has a tendency to arm tackle against bigger, more physical runners.

Analysis

If Sterns had excelled every year from his outstanding freshman season, he would probably be positioned as one of the best safeties in the class.

Injuries and a drop in play has hurt his development, but he’s got ideal size and athleticism that teams will work with.

His tackling ability will hurt him most in the draft process but his playmaking ability is what will have one team take a chance on him.

Projection

Fourth to sixth round

2021 NFL draft profile: Texas safety Caden Sterns

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL.

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

Each profile will be updated according to where the player is eventually selected in the 2021 NFL draft and/or where they choose to sign as undrafted free agents. Safety Caden Sterns, a mid-season opt-out, is an interesting prospect.

Class: Junior

Height: 6-1

Weight: 210

Pros

Shows the ability to play well in zone or man coverage. His versatility ranges from lining up in the slot in man coverage, or staying deep at the free safety position. Keeps eyes focused on the quarterback and is able to adjust to either side of the field on deep passes.

Good ball skills. Has the instincts to dissect the passer and make a play on the ball. Creates contested deep passes.

Has the athleticism to play across the field in deep zone from the left all the way across to the right side of the field.

Cons

Not the best tackler. While he has the ability to tackle, he’s more comfortable when the balls in the air, rather than in the hands of the ball carrier. Especially when asked to blitz, he has the tendency to run into the blocks and is unable to escape.

People marveled at how far ahead he was in pass coverage as a freshman but despite being able to play both sides of the field, he often can get tricked by where the receiver is in relation to the quarterback and is forced to make a play.

Despite his impressive frame, he lacks the physicality you would want from a safety, especially when tackling running backs. He has a tendency to arm tackle against bigger, more physical runners.

Analysis

If Sterns had excelled every year from his outstanding freshman season, he would probably be positioned as one of the best safeties in the class.

Injuries and a drop in play has hurt his development, but he’s got ideal size and athleticism that teams will work with.

His tackling ability will hurt him most in the draft process but his playmaking ability is what will have one team take a chance on him.

Projection

Fourth to sixth round

2021 NFL draft profile: Texas pass rusher Joseph Ossai

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

Each profile will be updated according to where the player is eventually selected in the 2021 NFL draft and/or where they choose to sign as undrafted free agents. Edge rusher Joseph Ossai, a potential first-round pick, is next.

Class: Junior

Height: 6-4

Weight: 250

Pros

Ossai’s size and athleticism has allowed him to be able to move around the front seven from a hand-in-the-dirt rusher off the edge, or even a stand-up rusher and off-ball linebacker. His position flexibility allows him to fit multiple defensive schemes.

His long arms allow him to make tackles from a further reach and to separate from defenders. Once he’s wrapped up the ball carrier, or even just a hand, he brings the carrier down at the point of contact.

Excellent in the running game; shows patience at the line of scrimmage in case of a run-pass option or cutback. Takes good angles at the point of attack.

Cons

He has shown to not be very comfortable in coverage, especially in man-to-man. Ossai is better at covering in a zone scheme.

He is able able to shed blocks, but doesn’t often do it as fast as you would like to see. If whoever’s blocking has him latched up, he has tendencies to take too long to get off the block.

Analysis

His athleticism and size have given him a lot of position flexibility. Depending on the scheme, he could either be a 4-3 true defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker.

While Ossai is far from the perfect prospect, he lands in a draft that doesn’t have a true, elite edge rusher and instead just a handful of good ones. That fares well for Ossai since he plays a premier position that teams will always try to reload and improve on.

He’s likely not a top 10 prospect, but he’ll be gone by the end of day one.

Projection

First round

2021 NFL draft profile: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021. Continue reading “2021 NFL draft profile: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi”

2021 NFL draft profile: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi

Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021.

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Longhorns Wire will create a draft profile for each former Texas player transitioning to the NFL in 2021. Continue reading “2021 NFL draft profile: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi”

Falcons NFL Draft Profile: Breaking Down Center Matt Hennessy

The Falcons took an offensive lineman in the third round that should be the long-term starter at center in Matt Hennessy.

The Atlanta Falcons needed a tough, competitive, athletic center to replace Alex Mack when he retires in a year or two. Matt Hennessy out of Temple was the Falcons’ third round pick, and he’s the perfect fit for Atlanta as a center who could also compete at left guard in 2020 and potentially win.

Combine/Pro Day Measurables

Hennessy has great size as a 6-foot-4, 307-pound center. But when you go down and compare him to Alex Mack as an athlete, the entire profile screams a carbon copy. It’s insane how close they are athletically. The Falcons got a really good athlete with great size. He could slot right in at left guard or center at his profile.

Stats

2019: 12 Games Started at center

2018: 11 Games Started at center

2017: 12 Games Started at center

2016: 1 Game Started at left guard, 2 Games Played at left guard

Hennessy has a ton of experience at center in Division I FBS and that should translate well to the NFL. The Falcons will love having someone with his pedigree who could also compete at left guard after red-shirting as a true freshman left guard and practicing in the role at Temple.

Highlights

How does he fit on the field?

As a rookie, Matt Hennessy should be in the starting left guard competition. He’s got the size, strength, speed and technique to be a winner at the position. He’s a true center, but he can play either right or left guard. Adding him to Alex Mack and Chris Lindstrom on the interior could really give the Falcons that push in the middle of the offensive line to create a real running game for once.

He’s a very mobile left guard projection for Atlanta who fits in well with the outside and inside zone running game that the team likes to use. The biggest beneficiaries of this selection though aren’t Jake Matthews or Mack, it’s Matt Ryan and Todd Gurley. They should have more time to make plays. The Falcons really knocked this pick out of the park.

How does he fit the Comrade Filter?

Hennessy was a team captain for the Temple Owls. He was one of Geoff Collins’ favorite recruits through the years and was always utilized as a leader in the locker room. When Alex Mack retires, the Falcons will have to replace his locker-room presence. For now, though, Hennessy can learn from one of the best and continue to be one of the hardest workers on the team.

How does he fit into the long-term plans for the Falcons?

It’s obvious. For now, he will compete at left guard. But once Alex Mack wants to retire, the Falcons will use him as the long-term center. He’ll be tasked with leading the offensive line and helping with line calls. Hennessy learning next to his mentor as a rookie should be the move, though. His production could really take the offense to the next level.

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Falcons NFL Draft Profile: Breaking down Marlon Davidson

The Atlanta Falcons got a bolster to their defensive line with Marlon Davidson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Atlanta Falcons got a bolster to their defensive line, adding Marlon Davidson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Davidson’s attitude, talent and athleticism make him one of the more dangerous interior rushers.

Combine/Pro Day Measurables

There aren’t any agility numbers for Davidson, but his size and straight-away speed show a man who is nasty right up front. He had a slower 10-yard split than most defensive tackles, but at 303 pounds, he should be able to utilize his power off the line to keep offensive guards off balance.

Stats

2019: 12 Games Played, 48 Tackles, 12.5 Tackles for Loss, 7.5 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Pass Deflection

2018: 13 Games Played, 46 Tackles, 4.5 Tackles for Loss, 3.5 Sacks, 11 QB Hurries, 3 Pass Deflections, 3 Blocked Kicks

2017: 13 Games Played, 43 Tackles, 6.5 Tackles for Loss, 3.5 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries, 1 Fumble Forced, 1 Fumble Recovered, 1 Pass Deflection

2016: 13 Games Played, 38 Tackles, 6.0 Tackles for Loss, 2.5 Sacks, 6 QB Hurries, 1 Fumble Forced, 4 Pass Deflections

The new Atlanta Falcons lineman had a total of 17 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss as one of the most productive players in college football’s interior lines. Long-term, the Falcons have drafted someone who should develop and continue to improve as he sees more time on the field. He also looks like a very durable player, not missing a single game during his college career.

Highlights

How does he fit on the field

Davidson is one of the best pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the draft. The Falcons needed a guy to come in and partner with Grady Jarrett in nickel sets and they might have gotten the best possible player to do so. And he’s not some 270-pounder, either. Davidson is a 305-pound mauler on the interior. Just listen to him talk about why he loves football:

When a guy talks about abusing people being the reason why he loves the game of football and his film backs that all up, that’s a guy any NFL coach will love on the inside of their defensive line. The Falcons will likely use him as a base under tackle to spell Grady Jarrett there at times, but in the nickel, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Davidson be the primary rusher next to Jarrett.

Atlanta gets another player who has that “dawg” in him. The team needed a fighter up front and having a guy who can come in and dominate some of the solid guards in the NFC South will only help the pass rush. The additions of Fowler and Davidson could help the team take that next step in improving what was an underwhelming pass rush in 2019.

How does he fit the Comrade Filter?

Marlon Davidson, not Derrick Brown, was the team captain for the Auburn defense. The Falcons’ defensive front has been lacking that vocal leader and Davidson could be that guy as the team moves forward. Having someone come in as a rookie with the kind of talent and leadership that Davidson has as a second-round pick is rare.

How does he fit into the long-term plans for the Falcons?

Long-term, the Falcons should see Davidson as the primary defensive tackle next to Grady Jarrett. As he develops, the team’s interior rush ability could become one of the most dangerous in the NFL. If Jarrett can continue being a poor-man’s Aaron Donald and Davidson can turn into a rich man’s Corey Peters, the Falcons could have the interior set to dominate the NFC South.

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Troy Pride, Jr. Listed as Contender for Fastest 40 Time at NFL Combine

For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.

A ton has been made about Troy Pride, Jr. who we discussed last week for despite not having the most impressive statline, having quite a resume and seemingly having his stock rise ahead of the NFL Draft.

Pride’s coverage skills were always good at Notre Dame even if his size isn’t exactly that of a traditional NFL cornerback, at least not of the traditionally sized stars.

However, his speed is truly elite.  The former track team member at Notre Dame ran a 10.5 second 100 meter dash at the ACC Outdoor Championships in 2018, good enough for a fifth place finish before he moved on from track and focused solely on football.

The USA TODAY tried to guess who will run the fastest 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine this week and named a few of the favorites to walk away with the fastest time.  Pride is by no means their pick but he’s listed with the following writeup:

Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame

One of our earlier picks as a sleeper to watch at the combine, Pride could seize the stage at the combine by following a standout Senior Bowl with another impressive workout. Pride said he’s “way faster now” than when Notre Dame hand-timed him at 4.30, and he was recognized as one of the Athletic Coast Conference’s top sprinters during his freshman and sophomore years.

For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.