Tag: first-round pick

Chiefs hail former first-round pick as ‘an inspiration’ after waiving him

The Kansas City #Chiefs hailed veteran RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire as an “inspiration” after waiving him earlier this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to waive veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire this week came as a surprise to many fans, despite the fact that the former LSU Tiger hadn’t made an impact on the team’s offense this season.

Edwards-Helaire was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and played a key role in Kansas City’s rushing attack before Isiah Pacheco arrived in Western Missouri back in 2022.

After parting ways with the two-time Super Bowl champion, the Chiefs commemorated Edwards-Helaire’s tenure in Kansas City with a post to Twitter, in which the team hailed him as an “inspiration.”

Check out the Chiefs’ post about Edwards-Helaire below:

Though it is unclear if Edwards-Helaire will catch on with another team—or find his way back to Kansas City’s practice squad—it is clear that the Chiefs have no ill will toward him.

Stay tuned to see what is next for Edwards-Helaire as the regular season draws to a close.

Former Commanders’ first-round pick signs with Vikings

A former Commanders’ first-round pick has a new home.

Former Washington linebacker Jamin Davis has a new home. On Tuesday, the 2021 first-round draft pick signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ 53-man roster.

The Commanders released the 25-year-old Davis on Oct. 22, and he signed with the Green Bay Packers practice squad the following week. He remained on Green Bay’s practice squad until signing with Minnesota.

The Commanders moved Davis to defensive end this past offseason after he spent his first three seasons at linebacker. Once Washington signed Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, Davis’ future was in question. The Commanders moved him to defensive end, where he worked exclusively with assistant coach and Washington’s all-time sack leader, Ryan Kerrigan, on rushing the passer. Coaches praised Davis for embracing the change and working hard, but the Commanders ultimately needed the roster spot and had other defensive ends they liked better.

Davis appeared in 50 games for the Commanders with 36 starts, recording 282 tackles, seven sacks and one interception.

PFF: Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy tallied third-most receiving yards in FBS since 2021

According to Pro Football Focus, #Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy racked up the third-most receiving yards in the FBS since 2021.

The Kansas City Chiefs found their newest offensive weapon in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft by selecting Texas standout Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick.

Few players made more of an impact for their college team, and after Worthy set the 40-yard dash record at the NFL combine earlier this year, it is a wonder that he managed to drop within striking range for Kansas City.

According to Pro Football Focus, Worthy had the third-most receiving yards in the FBS since 2021 with 2,752, trailing top 10 picks Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers, who were taken by the Chicago Bears and New York Giants respectively.

While Worthy’s slight frame was a concern for some scouts, his blazing speed and outstanding productivity warranted a first-round selection and should translate well to his new career in the NFL.

Chiefs fans will have to wait a few months to see Worthy in action but have plenty of his highlights to watch to hold them over until training camp opens this summer.

Green Bay Packers 2024 first-round pick: OL Jordan Morgan

The Packers selected Arizona OL Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan in the first round (No. 25 overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 311
Age: 22
From: Marana, AZ

College profile

Breakdown: 37-game starter at left tackle and two-time All-Pac 12 pick. Lacks ideal arm length for offensive tackle (under 33″) but is a terrific athlete overall. Wide, well-built frame with huge hands. Two-time team captain. Tore ACL in 2022 but returned to be a top player in 2023. The Packers think he has the athleticism, strength and intelligence to play both sides of the line at offensive tackle and guard. Expected to get a chance at left tackle but could compete to start at right guard right away.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 7, Arizona OL Jordan Morgan

Dane Brugler’s scouting report: “A four-year starter at Arizona, Morgan was a constant at left tackle in offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll’s zone -based scheme (Carroll is the son of Pete Carroll and was the assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 2015-21). After Arizona won a combined five games during his first three seasons on campus, Morgan helped lead the program’s turnaround in 2023 (Arizona won 10 games in a season for just the second time since 1998). A quick-footed blocker, Morgan displays range and aggression in the run game and gets on top of rushers quickly in his jump sets when he uses well-timed hands. His struggles in pass protection come when he is overaggressive with his kickslide and gets too far up the arc, which can create a two-way go for rushers and open the door for inside counters. Overall, Morgan struggles to anchor mid-slide versus power, but he is a balanced mover who is well-schooled and physical in all phases. Though he can survive at tackle in the NFL, his skill set projects much better inside at guard, similar to Matthew Bergeron.”

Daniel Jeremiah’s scouting report: “Morgan is a very athletic left tackle with average size. In pass pro, he is quick out of his stance to meet and cover up speed rushers. He can sink his weight and drop levels when bull rushed. He also does a nice job re-working his hands when he gets knocked back to regain leverage. He struggles to redirect inside when facing counter moves, getting beat on that inside shoulder too often. He also will occasionally duck his head, which is correctable. In the run game, he is more finesse than power. He can use his quickness to cut off the back side and he takes excellent angles to the second level to wall off linebackers. He doesn’t have a lot of knock-back power to displace defenders over his nose. Morgan is just over a year removed from ACL surgery, and I’m hopeful he can add more strength/power now that he’s healthy. Overall, he has starting tackle ability.”

Lance Zierlein’s scouting report: “Three-year starter who displayed his resilience and work ethic by coming back and playing good football after suffering a torn ACL late in the 2022 season. Morgan is both fluid and flexible in space, with the ability to help spring running plays with second-level blocks and play-side lead blocking. He fails to secure back-side cutoffs too frequently, but improving his pad level and landmarks might fix that issue. His punch approach diminishes his pass protection length and causes him to lose connection at the top of the rush. He will need to get his hands and feet synced up in order to improve his balance and consistency against athletic rushers. He’s a capable run blocker and pass protector, and he features projectable upside with more work. Morgan has the traits and talent to become a solid starting left tackle.”

They said it: “Big man, left tackle, really good athlete, can play out in space. Ability to play all four positions for us. Been a left tackle mainly there but we think he can move inside to guard. He has power in his lower body, can move people off the spot. He’s just wired like a Packer. Two-time team captain. A really good dude.” — GM Brian Gutekunst

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RAS card

Highlights

Jordan Morgan follows Brian Gutekunst’s first-round trends

Big, athletic and young, with positional versatility: Jordan Morgan follows the first-round trends of Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

The Green Bay Packers taking Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan at No. 25 overall might have caught some surprise during the end of Thursday night’s first round, but Morgan — a young, elite athlete with versatility — perfectly fits what general manager Brian Gutekunst has looked for in a first-round pick since taking the job in 2018.

Like all but one first rounder before him, Morgan is 22 years old or younger and has a Relative Athletic Score above 8.0 — 9.24 out of 10.0 as an offensive tackle and 9.83 out of 10.0 as a guard. Under Gutekunst, the Packers have prioritized finding young, elite athletes in the first round to maximize potential and return on investment at a crucial part of the draft.

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Here’s the new updated first-round chart for Gutekunst:

Year Name Pos School Pick RAS Age
2018 Jaire Alexander CB Louisville 18 9.54 21
2019 Rashan Gary EDGE Michigan 12 9.95 21
2019 Darnell Savage S Maryland 21 8.35 21
2020 Jordan Love QB Utah State 26 8.46 21
2021 Eric Stokes CB Georgia 29 9.38 22
2022 Quay Walker LB Georgia 22 9.63 21
2022 Devonte Wyatt DL Georgia 27 9.60 24
2023 Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa 13 9.39 21
2024 Jordan Morgan OT Arizona 25 9.24 22

Gutekunst said the Packers debated moving down in the first round but ultimately felt Morgan was too good to risk losing.

“Where we had him valued, this was a pretty easy decision for us,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan isn’t just young and athletic — he fits what the Packers look for in an offensive lineman. He started 37 games in college at left tackle, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds and put up 27 reps in the bench press. Experienced, fast and strong. He might fit better by moving inside to guard, where his lack of arm length could be negated some, but the Packers believe he can play both tackle spots and both guard spots at the next level. Gutekunst called him a four-position player along the offensive line.

“Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan’s arms measured in at just under 33″ long. It wasn’t a worry for Gutekunst and the Packers.

“The longer the better, but we’ve had a bunch of guys who have played outside without prototypical arm length and been fine. What makes up for it is usually feet and athleticism, and that’s what Jordan has.”

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah talks learning Chiefs defense, transition to NFL from college

Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah spoke about learning Steve Spagnuolo’s playbook and transitioning to the NFL from college. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made Felix Anudike-Uzomah one of their first-round selections in the 2023 NFL draft in front of his hometown crowd. Despite being an overwhelmingly popular pick, his draft slot came with high expectations that are different than most of his teammates in training camp.

Anudike-Uzomah updated reporters on his progression in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system on Monday after the Chiefs’ rain-shortened practice session, emphasizing that he is still on the upswing in terms of his uptake.

“At the end of the day, I’m still learning,” said Anudike-Uzomah, “For me, I’m still not there yet. And I’ve got some learning to do.”

Anudike-Uzomah is already holding himself accountable for his work at training camp as he continues to find his way through the trials and tribulations of his first season in the NFL. The former Kansas State star detailed some of the differences between life in Manhattan and the professional ranks.

“Coming from college, you’re not met with the same competition as people in [the] NFL,” Anudike-Uzomah explained. “Other people [here] are the best of the best and… there [are] a lot more things to learn from jumping from Kansas State to here, like technique-wise and plays. Plus, I was in a 3-4, and now we’re in a four-down defense. So there’s a lot more stuff, and I’m dropping back. So it’s a lot of stuff that I gotta learn. So, yeah.”

The Chiefs have Anudike-Uzomah working in most second and third-team groups during practices as he continues to find his groove in St. Joseph.

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Green Bay Packers 2023 first-round pick: OLB Lukas Van Ness

The Packers selected Iowa OLB Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 272
Age: 21
From: Barrington, IL

Breakdown: Played in 27 games at Iowa, producing 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Played mostly inside in 2021 and moved outside in 2022. The Packers think he can do both at the next level and expect him to contribute right away. Should get development time behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith before becoming full-time player. Game is mostly power. One of the most athletic edge rushers in the class overall.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 8, Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness

Brugler’s scouting report: “Coming off the bench at Iowa, Van Ness was primarily an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s four-man front, but he also saw significant snaps inside over the B-gap. The Iowa coaches reward seniority, so John Waggoner and Joe Evans started at defensive end last season, but Van Ness had more defensive snaps than either and led the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss and sacks. Regardless of alignment, Van Ness has high-end tools with his length and play strength, which allow him to wear down blockers as a pass rusher or stack, locate and play off blocks in the run game. A hockey player most of his life, he credits his time on the ice for developing his balance, urgent play style and competitive toughness. Overall, Van Ness needs coached up with his pass-rush construction and overall pacing, but he is an ascending player and competes like a grizzly bear with his fierce power and explosive twitch. He has the upside of an impactful NFL starter with inside/outside versatility, regardless of scheme.”

Jeremiah’s scouting report: “Van Ness is a powerful defensive lineman with the versatility to stand up on the edge or slide inside and play over the guard. He is excellent at collapsing the pocket with his bull rush, getting his hands inside and driving opponents back with ease. He flashes a chop move and a rip move, but needs to develop a more diverse repertoire. Against the run, he has very strong hands to stack blocks on the front side and his effort/speed combination helps him make plays from the back side. For some reason, he didn’t start at Iowa. That doesn’t make any sense. Overall, Van Ness has ideal traits, and his best football is ahead of him.”

Zierlein’s scouting report: “Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro.

Iowa profile

They said it: “Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside…The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.” — GM Brian Gutekunst

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RAS card

Highlights

Packers film room: Closer look at what first-round pick Lukas Van Ness brings to defense

Breaking down the tape of Packers first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, the hulking edge rusher from Iowa.

The Green Bay Packers added a powerful edge rusher with their first pick in the 2023 draft.

Lukas Van Ness was considered one of the top pass rushers in this year’s class after two productive seasons at Iowa. The Packers took him with the 13th overall pick, even though he never started a game for the Hawkeyes.

“It’s unusual, but he played close to 1,000 snaps the last two years,” said Brian Gutekunst Thursday night. “Iowa’s got a very good culture there, and that’s just kind of the way they do things a little bit, but he played a majority of the snaps of anybody on the defensive line.”

While Van Ness’ lack of experience was a concern during the pre-draft process, Green Bay made the pick knowing that his best football was ahead of him. Despite coming off the bench in 2021 and 2022, he still managed to accumulate 13.0 sacks, 19.0 tackles for loss and 74 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Really big upside,” Gutekunst added. “The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.”

Speaking of physical traits, Van Ness measured in at 6-5, 270 lbs at the combine before he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, with eye-catching 10- and 20-yard splits and a 7.02 three-cone. When teams talk about moldable traits, this is what they mean.

However, scouting ultimately boils down to projection. Though production at the college level is taken into consideration, it means nothing once you are in the NFL. What can the player do, and where is he headed?

Much of that is uncovered by turning on the tape. In Van Ness’ case, the film speaks volumes about the player the Packers are getting, both as a pass rusher and run defender.

Today, we are breaking down both areas of Van Ness’ game. By the end, hopefully, we have more insight into Green Bay’s reasoning behind the pick and how they think he will fit into their defense.

For this film review, we are evaluating the All-22 from Van Ness’ performances against Ohio State and Michigan this past season. Let’s get started.

2024 NFL draft: Three Alabama players receiving first-round projections

2024 NFL draft look ahead seems quite promising for the Tide

I know, I know, we aren’t even complete with the 2023 NFL draft yet, but just for fun, let’s look ahead. The 2024 draft class is going to be special. Caleb Williams, quarterback for USC, and Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver for Ohio State, are widely regarded as two of the best prospects at their respective positions in the past decade. As well as having some insanely high-end talent, the draft is very deep with 20 players already receiving first-round grades according to On3 Sports.

It is well-documented that Alabama has dominated the draft under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban, and 2024 will be no different. During Saban’s time in Tuscaloosa, he has had 44 players drafted in the first round compared to only 27 losses. I mean that’s just bonkers.

As things currently stand, the Tide have three players receiving first-round grades in OT J.C. Latham, EDGE Dallas Turner and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry. Even a year away, it is pretty hard to imagine any of these guys playing themselves out of a first-round grade.

The Tide have also landed two first-round picks via the portal in Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs and I don’t think Saban is done shaping his roster quite yet. Additionally, there are guys in-house that will play themselves into first-round picks.The 2024 NFL draft could be another massive one for Alabama.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor 2024 NFL draft projections.

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Packers GM Brian Gutekunst on Lukas Van Ness: ‘Really big upside’

Brian Gutekunst on Lukas Van Ness: “Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside, and we’re really excited to get him.”

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst pointed to the athletic profile, positional versatility and growth potential of Lukas Van Ness as primary reasons why the Iowa edge rusher became the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 draft.

“Really excited about it. Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside, and we’re really excited to get him,” Gutekunst said after the first round on Thursday night.

Van Ness is 6-5 and in the 270-pound range. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.39 out of 10.0, meaning his size-athleticism ratio is in the 94th percentile for edge rushers. And the Packers like that Van Ness played both on the edge and inside and brought an “explosive nature” against the run and as a pass-rusher.

“He’s a very versatile player. That’s very important to us,” Gutekunst said. “He’s a different player than (Za’Darius Smith) was, but I think he’s going to be able to do a lot of that stuff. His best football is ahead of him. He is going to be a guy that can move inside and out.”

Van Ness could be the long-term edge-rusher partner of Rashan Gary, another highly athletic big man from the Big Ten who the Packers took at No. 12 overall and developed into an elite player.

“Both big, fast, long, powerful athletes. I think they will complement each other well,” Gutekunst said.

Despite not starting one game at Iowa as an underclassman, Van Ness produced 18.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks over 27 games. Gutekunst said he played roughly 1,000 snaps over the last two seasons.

A combination of Van Ness’ talent and upside and the positional value of edge rusher helped get him to Green Bay.

“I think it was just how we had him rated. We very much believe in rushing the passer, and edge rusher is a very premium position for us,” Gutekunst said. “We were happy to take him at 13.”

Van Ness, 21, got a late start in football and then only played two seasons at Iowa, creating the profile of an ascending player who can grow and learn at the next level.

“He was a hockey guy growing up. He started playing in high school, so I think there’s a lot of growth in his game,” Gutekunst said. “The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.”

Gutekunst said he believes Van Ness will play right away.

“I would expect him to be out there helping us this year,” Gutekunst said.

The final piece of the puzzle was the person. Gutekunst saw Van Ness at the combine and the Iowa pro day and checked the last box.

“The character of the guy really checked out. He’s a culture guy for us. He’s a fit for us here. He’s a worker. It’s really important to him. That always gives you comfort. Whatever talent he has in his body, if he’ll work, he’ll get there.”

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