Tag: Greg Dulcich

Falcons hosting UCLA TE Greg Dulcich on top-30 visit

The Atlanta Falcons are meeting with UCLA tight end prospect Greg Dulcich, Ian Rapoport reported on Monday.

Despite drafting Kyle Pitts fourth overall last year, the Atlanta Falcons have a need at the tight end position after losing both Lee Smith and Hayden Hurst over the offseason.

Smith retired after the 2021 season while Hurst signed with the Bengals in free agency. The 2022 NFL draft is just a few weeks away, though, and the Falcons will have the chance to add a No. 2 tight end with one of their nine picks.

On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Atlanta is meeting with UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich.

Dulcich is a good all-around athlete who’s made steady production as a receiver at UCLA. In 2021, he racked up 42 catches for 725 yards (17.3 yards per reception) and five touchdowns.

The Falcons are also set to meet with North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell this week, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

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Lions 2022 NFL draft: A tight end for every round

The latest in the “prospect for each round of the 2022 NFL draft” series focuses on tight ends, a definite need for the Detroit Lions

It doesn’t get brought up very often in the list of Detroit Lions needs this offseason, but tight end definitely merits inclusion. The Lions bring back Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson, who should be healthy and ready to roll once again. Free agent signee Garrett Griffin can handle the veteran blocking TE role, at least that’s the expectation. Griffin is on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract so that certainly doesn’t mean anything for the long-term team building.

The rest of the depth chart consists of undrafted rookies from a year ago (Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra) and some castoffs (Matt Sokol, Jared Pinkney) who have collectively never caught a single NFL pass. While the Lions subsisted a year ago by using an extra offensive tackle (primarily Will Holden, still unsigned) as a blocking tight end, it would be nice to get some youthful potential with experience at the position into the Lions pipeline. Hockenson is the only tight end under contractual control after 2022.

As with the rest of this series of identifying potential prospects of interest in each round of the draft, the purpose here isn’t to advocate for any one player. It’s to show the different options that could be available for Lions GM Brad Holmes and his staff to consider, and what caliber of player and positional depth looks like in this class.

Lions 2022 NFL draft: A quarterback for every round

Lions 2022 NFL draft: A safety for every round

Lions 2022 NFL draft: A wide receiver for every round

Tight end is a little tougher. There isn’t a prospect worthy of consideration with any of the Lions’ first three picks (2, 32, 34). To keep the same format, consider the second-rounder listed here as the Lions’ pick at the top of the third. It seems very unlikely any tight ends are drafted by any team in the first 50 or so picks this year.

Browns reportedly bringing in UCLA tight end for “top 30” visit

What is a “Top 30” visit? We explain as the Browns reportedly bring in a tight end for one of them on Monday:

Before we talk about who the Cleveland Browns are bringing in for a visit prior to the NFL draft, we first must explain the idea of a “top 30” visit. While that nomenclature has become normal, it is far from accurate. Instead, teams are allowed to have 30 draft-eligible players visit their facilities prior to the draft.

During that visit, prospects can meet front-office executives, coaches, and training staff and as well as go through medical evaluations. They cannot, however, work out or do any drill-related activities during that time.

Teams use these visits to get a feel for a player, their knowledge base, their medical history and, often, to see what they retain from a meeting with the team at the NFL combine.

According to a report, the Browns brought in tight end Greg Dulcich for one such visit on Monday:

The 22-year-old Dulcich ran a 4.69 4-yard dash at the combine at 6’4″ and 243 pounds. He showed explosiveness in the broad jump leading to the following athletic scoring:

With David Njoku still unsigned after having the franchise tag placed on him this offseason, the Browns have Harrison Bryant as their only proven tight end under contract right now. Brant has a total of 45 receptions in two seasons in Cleveland.

Austin Hooper was released earlier this offseason.

Dulcich was a walk-on at UCLA before earning a scholarship in the spring of 2020. In four years, he caught 77 passes for 1,353 with an impressive average of 17.6 yards per catch. He really exploded his last two seasons with all but nine of his receptions coming as a sophomore and junior.

With a somewhat weak tight end class, Dulcich is expected to be a day two draft pick with a chance to go in mid to high second round.

Winners from Day 1 of 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

Highlighting the quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends who made themselves money at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine began in primetime at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with tight ends, quarterbacks, and wide receivers taking the field.

Here are a handful of prospects who helped their draft stock during Thursday’s testing and on-field workouts.

Tight end standouts from the first day of scouting combine drills

These five tight ends helped their draft stock the most during the first drills of the 2022 scouting combine.

There may not be a first-round tight end in this draft class, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a Pro Bowl starter at the position in the later rounds. The 49ers stole George Kittle in the fifth round of the 2016 draft out of Iowa, the Ravens got Mark Andrews in the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma, and theChargers got Hunter Henry in the second round of the 2016 draft out of Oklahoma.

So, it’s important to watch this year’s class of tight ends as they go through their combine drills, and here are the guys who stood out as those drills got underway on Thursday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

12 prospects who should dominate the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

These talented prospects should put their athleticism on full display in this year’s NFL Scouting Combine

As the 2022 NFL draft draws closer, the rookie evaluation process is in full swing.

Prospects are going to do anything they can to impress NFL decision-makers, and this year’s Scouting Combine will be one of the biggest opportunities for them to do so.

In prior years, we’ve had prospects make names for themselves at the event, showing off impressive athleticism. So who will be the ones to make that happen this year?

Here are 12 players who could enhance their draft stock with big performances in Indianapolis this week:

Chargers Wire’s winners, risers from 2022 Senior Bowl: Offense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez and Cole Topham break down the 2022 NFL draft prospects that made themselves money at the Senior Bowl.

Now that the 2022 Senior Bowl is over, it is time to reflect back on the meaning of the week.

Which NFL draft prospects helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile? Let’s dive in with our winners and risers.

Quarterback

Our winner(s): Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis (Liberty)

Pickett refused to have his hands measured at the Senior Bowl, citing an issue with his double-jointed finger. No matter how much stock you place in the hand size of quarterbacks, Pickett was accurate and put together quality performances across all three days of practice. He was accurate, progressed through his reads quickly, and got the ball out in a timely fashion.

Throughout the week, Willis was an interesting study. His lower body fundamentals can be a mess at times in the pocket and Willis will need a strong coaching staff to develop that area at the next level. However, his ability to extend plays, find receivers on the run, and throw off-platform are traits to salivate over. The ball zips out his hand and I did not see a pass wilt on him all week. 

Our biggest riser: Carson Strong (Nevada)

Like Willis, Strong entered Senior Bowl week as a wild card of sorts. By the event’s conclusion, Strong had done enough to disassociate himself from that label. For starters, he clarified the medicals around his knee and did not wear a brace after sporting one all through the 2021 season at Nevada. This resulted in increased mobility and comfortableness exiting the pocket and operating on bootlegs. Strong was fearless throwing the deep ball in practice, showing off his cannon and throw power. Sometimes, the ball would have too much arc, which increased the hang time, and often the receiver would have to sit on the end of the rope to make the catch. Nevertheless, Strong proved he has the intangibles to play quarterback in the NFL.

Running Back

Our winner(s): Abram Smith (Baylor) and Brian Robinson (Alabama)

A compact rusher at 5’10” and 220 pounds, Smith was the best all-around running back in Mobile. A former linebacker, Smith showcased that physicality by punching through the line with vigor and running through tacklers with his frame. His deceiving burst allowed him to quickly dip in and out of the box.

Robinson performed well in every facet of the position but gained the respect of defenders for his work in pass protection. When practice was moved indoors on Thursday, Robinson put together his best showing. He bowled over Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in a National Championship blitz pickup rematch. It was one of the more memorable moments at the Senior Bowl this year.

Our biggest riser: Rachaad White (Arizona State)

White introduced himself to those on the East Coast who fell asleep before he fueled the Sun Devil offense this season. White brought all the traits to the Senior Bowl that made him a star in ASU’s backfield. His jump-cut ability, soft hands out of the backfield, and methodical approach behind the trenches to allow the offensive line to root themselves in their blocks are all translatable to today’s NFL playstyle.

Wide Receiver

Our winner(s): Christian Watson (NDSU) and Calvin Austin III (Memphis)

Hulking 6’4” size and a spiderweb-like catch radius. Fluid hips and freakish speed that defy the physics of his frame. Strong hands and tracking skills to reel in the football through traffic. Watson dominated in pretty much every aspect of the wide receiver position at the Senior Bowl and quickly garnered the “unguardable” tag from the media in attendance. 

Austin III was expected to be one of the Senior Bowl’s high-profile wideouts but surprised on Monday by measuring in two inches shorter than expected. The 5’7” speedster evaporated concerns over his height by becoming untouchable off the line and separating consistently on every level of his route. Austin’s electric route running and dauntless mentality was thrilling to watch and won the respect of a talented American defensive back group.

Our biggest riser: Bo Melton (Arizona State)

A legacy product out of Rutgers, Melton showed off one of the more advanced release packages at the Senior Bowl. Melton displayed exceptional short-area quickness and overall smoothness as a route runner. He ran a technical route tree, incorporated rocker steps as well as hesitation at the top of his stems, and was used heavily as a gadget player for the National offense in 11-on-11.

Tight end

Our winner(s): Trey McBride (Colorado State) and Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)

McBride, the John Mackey Award winner, reaffirmed that he is this year’s No. 1 tight. Not only did he flash by catching nearly everything thrown his way during practices, but McBride showed athleticism in his routes to create separation, ran through arm tackles to pick up yards after the catch and finished plays with aggression. Further, McBride displayed the chops as a blocker. He capped off his impressive Senior Bowl week with a touchdown in the game.

Ruckert’s production was limited because of the offense he played in at Ohio State. Throughout the week, not only was he adept as a blocker but he showed why he is going to be far more reliable in the passing game as a pro. Ruckert looked smooth with his routes and his ball skills stood out, as he made grabs away from his body.

Our biggest riser: Greg Dulcich (UCLA)

McBride reassured that he remains the top tight end in this class, but Dulcich made a statement as one of the guys right behind him. At his best catching the football, Dulcich displayed fluid downfield strides and an understanding of route depth, with vacuum-like hands to reel in everything thrown his way. For a team like Chargers in need of someone to fill the “F” role, Dulcich is worth considering.

Offensive line

Our winner(s): Zion Johnson (Boston College) and Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)

Johnson was our top guard coming into the week and he only helped maintain that spot with his showing throughout the week. While it took some time for him to adjust to center after spending his time in college at tackle and guard, Johnson quickly found his groove. With a combination of play strength, lateral quickness, leverage and proper hand placement, defenders struggled to get by him. He also provided a surge in the running game.

After facing and dominating small-school pass rushers, this was a big test for the presumed first-rounder. While it wasn’t always pretty for him as he struggled with leveraging and keeping his balance against power at times, Penning improved each day, with his mauler’s mentality and nasty temperament when finishing plays being the highlight of the week.

Our biggest riser: Cole Strange (Chattanooga)

After Quinn Meinerz put together a dominant week coming out of a Division III program, everyone was wondering if there would be another small-school stud to follow in his footsteps, and it was Strange. When isolated in pass protection in one-on-one drills, Strange stymied his opponents with a great anchor, base, and power absorption and the footwork to mirror. Further, he created consistent movement in the run game. Strange made his case to be a Day 2 selection.

Biggest winners from 2022 Senior Bowl week

Highlighting the NFL draft prospects who made themselves money at the 2022 Senior Bowl.

Another Senior Bowl is officially in the books, and just like every other installment, this year’s week of festivities saw a handful of NFL draft prospects send their stock in the right direction with impressive performances.

Here are my picks for the biggest winners from the 2022 Senior Bowl:

UCLA will present unique challenges for the Oregon defense

UCLA will present many unique challenges for the Duck defenders this week at the Rose Bowl.

Whenever you face a Chip Kelly offense, it’s going to be a tough week of practice for the opposing defense.

Oregon fans know this all too well when Kelly was on the Duck sideline as his offense terrorized the Pac-12 and caused nightmares for 11 defensive coordinators.

Now it’s Oregon defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s turn to have some sleepless nights. Not only are the Bruins running a similar offense, but they are now veterans made of juniors and seniors with experience, making it even tougher.

It all starts with senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He didn’t play against the Ducks last season due to Covid protocols and UCLA definitely missed him as Oregon took the close 38-35 win in an empty Autzen Stadium.

The Rose Bowl will be far from empty on Saturday, however.

Thompson-Robinson is having a good season as he is completing 61 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s making the right decision most of the time in the run-pass option and when he passes, DTR is finding open receivers down the field. His average completion is almost 14 yards past the line of scrimmage.

There’s not one particular receiver having a monster season as it’s been a group effort. But if there’s one guy Oregon might want to pay extra attention to it might be tight end Greg Dulcich. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has 21 catches and three touchdowns. He torched Arizona State a couple of weeks ago with nine receptions for 136 yards.

“Dulcich is as good of a tight end as we have in the league,” DeRuyter said. “He’s a great combination of not just blocking, but you saw his great explosive play-making ability and his ability to stretch the field. I also think he’s a comfort zone guy for their quarterback.

When the Bruins run the ball, Zach Charbonnet is the main man as he is averaging nearly 100 yards on the ground per game. He is coming off a season-high 131 yards in the 24-17 win at Washington. Brittain Brown is the Bruins’ second tailback and he averages 66 yards a game.

Those two tailbacks present a unique challenge, according to DeRuyter.

“Both of those running backs they have is as good of a pair as we’ll face all year,” he said. “They’re both very powerful and strong backs. They don’t appear to change the running game that much with those two. Both can hit downhill and do a good job at making the first guy miss and they’re patient enough to make really good cuts.

Thankfully for the Ducks, however, their defense is as healthy as it has been all season. Kayvon Thibodeaux showed he is fully recovered from that sprained ankle and players such as linebacker Mase Funa and defensive end Bradyn Swinson are all full-go and ready to disrupt the Bruins’ offense in the backfield.

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