Tag: Jeff Gladney

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Cornerbacks

The Lions Wire staff has identified which cornerbacks Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the cornerbacks won’t take the field until the final day of on-field drills — Sunday, March 1st.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, EDGE rushers, and linebackers previews.

Cornerback traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the secondary are:

  • Balance through the hips, watch when they’re asked to flip sides
  • Backpedal, quick feet
  • Fluid speed/acceleration when they change direction
  • Tracking with their eyes
  • Natural hands catching

Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

If Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State) is off the board and the Lions stay at pick No. 3, all the signs point to the Lions making a decision between Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn) and Jeffrey Okudah (CB, Ohio State).

Comfortable in press-man coverage, Okudah (est, 6-1, 200) is blessed with elite traits — burst, speed, strength, length — and the confidence required to be one of the best cornerbacks, not just on his team, but the entire NFL.

With Darius Slay’s future in Detroit in question and an immediate need for a starting corner, Okudah would fill a much-needed role this season, while also giving the team security for the future.

Trevon Diggs, Alabama

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler and Sonja Greenfield

The younger brother of Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon is just as athletic as his brother and he uses his experience, size (est. 6-2, 202), and near-elite technique to achieve success in Alabama’s press-man scheme. After Okudah, this top-end corner class will feature another eight to 10 prospects capable of being selected in the first two rounds, and with the multitude of different schemes and player preferences, if Diggs is sitting there at pick No. 35, he should get heavy consideration from the Lions.

Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

Another tall, long corner (est. 6-2, 183) who could hear his name called at the top of Round 2, Dantzler is flying under the radar nationally but fits the mold for what the Lions look for in a corner. With fluid hips and the speed to stay in a receiver’s hip pocket all over the field, Dantzler could start as a CB2 in year one with the upside to develop. He needs to gain weight, which in turn should help him with his tackling, but most of his flaws are fixable with coaching and an NFL weight program.

Jeff Gladney, TCU

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon and Derek Okrie

Gladney will be higher than Dantzler — and maybe Diggs — on some teams boards but he’s a full four inches shorter than both those prospects which will lose him some checkmarks on his evaluation sheet for the Lions. Gladney has terrific technique, noticeable quickness in mirrored coverage, great anticipatory instincts, and a physical nature that will appeal to most teams if they are comfortable with his size (est. 5-10, 183).

Bryce Hall, Virginia

Suggested by: Matt Urben and Ty Finch

Another corner expected to check-in at 6-2 at the Combine, Hall is comfortable in press and zone schemes, with his best attribute being his ability to use his foot quickness to close on the ball. Long speed will be a key measurement for Hall at the Combine, as his transitions can be delayed, forcing him into trail positions.

Stanford Samuels, Florida State

Suggested by: Zack Moran

Samuels — another 6-2 corner that fits the Lions’ physical preferences — is comfortable in press-man due to his physical nature, athleticism, and speed. Despite his physicality, he needs to improve his run support before a team like the Lions would consider letting him see the field. If the Lions are looking for another Day 3 corner with upside they can mold in the same manner they did with Amani Oruwariye, Samuels will be on their radar.

Lamar Jackson, Nebraska

Suggested by: Max Gerber

The Lions got a long look at Jackson during North practices at the Senior Bowl. He is big — yep, another 6-2 corner — long, physical, excels in press coverage, and has active hands which lead to pass breakups and turnovers. Jackson’s ceiling is as a CB2, as he appears to be limited as an athlete who can play vertically but lacks horizontal elements to his game at this time.

Lavert Hill, Michigan

Suggested by: Scott Warheit

A Detroit native, Hill (est, 5-11, 181) has drawn the comparison to former Wolverine and current Dallas Cowboys corner Jourdan Lewis since his first days on campus. He has started the last three seasons after taking over for Lewis, relying heavily on his quickness and ability to impact the run game. Those traits make him a natural slot option for most teams but he has the skill set to also contribute on the outside in specific situations, much like the Lions Justin Coleman.

2020 NFL Draft: What the experts say about the top CBs

As free agency is set to begin on March 18th and with the draft just over two months away there is still plenty of work that needs to be

free agency is set to begin on March 18th and with the draft just over two months away there is still plenty of work that needs to be done to build this Cowboys roster. In the meantime the Cowboys have an important decisions to make about the cornerback position and it starts with former All-Pro Byron Jones.

With potential big money deals for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper there may not be enough available money left for Byron Jones which will create an immediate need at corner. In addition to Jones third year corner Anthony Brown is set to hit the open market. Luckily for this Cowboys team there are some intriguing cornerback prospects in a deep draft class that would be a great fit for this team. We take a look at seven cornerback prospects the cowboys could target in this years draft.

Jeffery Okudah, CB, Ohio St.

Image result for Jeff Okudah

Listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, the junior finished the year with 34 tackles, three interceptions, nine passes defended, and one forced fumble and has established himself as the top corner and and one of best defensive prospects in this draft. Okudah shows a very patient process at the line of scrimmage, with smooth hips to open, turn and run with receivers. He is an excellent man corner who stays in the pocket of receivers and crowds the catch point.

With his combination of  length and speed to match receivers he projects as a Day 1 starter. The Cowboys would have to hope Okudah slides some and also be willing to package picks to come up to get him.

What the experts say:

Draft Network:

Jeff Okudah is going to be a star at the NFL level — there’s no coverage he can’t play, no role he can’t fill in the secondary. Okudah pairs prototypical size with trust in his technique and dynamic movement skills and should be a lockdown cornerback at the NFL level in just about any system. This is a top of the 1st-round caliber player that will excel in man or zone and can be used to mirror and erase the opposition’s best receiver in the NFL. A future Pro Bowl/All-Pro player.

Drafttek:

Okudah is a competitor, and at times he does get chatty, but I have yet to see it affect his play. Another admiral trait is his work ethic while he was more of a rotational corner. Okudah has only been a true starter for a year, having rotated with Kendall Sheffield quite a bit in 2018. Still, he played his role with confidence, and when his number was called, he was chomping at the bit. Not every player responds well to sharing a role or coming off the bench, but Okudah not only stay prepared, but he pushed himself to get better. His play on the field has him locked into being a first-round pick, but it’s little details like those that make a difference when teams are discussing the top players in this draft. I see him as a top-10 selection heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t shock me one bit if he were gone before we got to pick five.

NFL:

Head coach and general manager’s dream prospect with blue-chip physical traits, mental makeup and personal character. He has size, length and foot quickness to road-block press release and elite closing burst to close catch windows or eliminate yards after catch. He has room for improvement with his recognition and balance at the top of the route, but quarterbacks rarely target and beat him over the top. He has a rigid adherence to technique, but squeezing coverage even tighter and trusting his traits, talent and recovery speed could make him one of the top shutdown corners in the game.

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Texans 2020 NFL draft target: TCU CB Jeff Gladney

Former TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney would be an ideal, young upgrade for the Houston Texans in the 2020 NFL Draft.

If the Houston Texans want to get younger at cornerback and are willing to use a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, then TCU’s Jeff Gladney has to be on their radar.

While Pro Football Focus lists Gladney as 33rd overall on their draft board, there is a chance he falls to the Texans. Consider that not every team is going to pick the best player available; some will draft according to need, which pushes talent down the board.

Gladney appears to be a solution to stopping deep balls.

Gladney has serious speed to burn and it showed up when opposing quarterbacks tried to test him downfield. On targets 20-plus yards downfield the past two seasons, Gladney has allowed only 10-46 receiving for 333 yards. That target number was considerably higher than any other cornerback on this list, as it’s often trial by fire in the Big-12. The fact that he only allowed 690 yards on 130 targets over the past two seasons is a massive difference from your average corner in the Big-12.

One question mark surrounding Gladney, and one that will be answered at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, is how the former Horned Frog can move with additional weight. Currently, Gladney is listed at 6-0, 183 pounds. By comparison, Bradley Roby was 194 pounds, but of comparable height. Houston may not need to have him play at that weight given their other starter, Johnathan Joseph, was listed at 185 pounds.

Houston will get a better idea of how to build improve their roster when they get a chance to scout the 2020 class along with meeting with their current players’ agents at the combine. If the Texans want to get younger, Gladney could be the solution. If he is available at No. 57 overall, deep in the second round where the Texans pick, Houston will have to think hard about taking the TCU product.

5 CB prospects Bears should watch at NFL Scouting Combine

The Bears have a hole at cornerback following the release of Prince Amukamara, which figures to be a top priority heading into the draft.

The Bears have a hole at the cornerback position following the release of Prince Amukamara, who was one of the team’s first cap-casualties of the offseason.

Chicago has already signed CFL free agent Tre Roberson, who will be given a shot to win the starting job opposite Kyle Fuller. The Bears also have Kevin Toliver on the roster, who figures to get a shot. But the Bears will likely make cornerback a top priority during the NFL Draft.

With that said, here are five cornerback prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:

1. Jeff Gladney, TCU

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Bears should keep an eye on TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney, who draft stock has risen in a talented cornerback class. In 2019, Gladney had 31 total tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception and a career-best 14 pass breakups, which was tied for eighth-best in the country. Gladney is an athletic corner, a good tackler, especially on the perimeter, and puts himself in position to make a play on the ball.

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Jets trade back, add capital in NFL Network’s pre-combine mock draft

In NFL Network’s three-round mock draft, the Jets trade back with the Denver Broncos and add Alabama OL Jedrick Wills Jr. with the 15th pick

With the NFL Combine next week in Indianapolis, the NFL Network released a three-round mock draft that includes multiple trades.

In this particular mock draft, the Jets trade back in the first round and add an extra pick on Day 2 and Day 3. While this mock draft has the Jets maximizing their value, some of the picks may be too good to be true. Obviously, the combine will help clear up any uncertainties, but players like TCU’s Jeff Gladney and Michigan’s Josh Uche could be dark horse first-round picks after they perform in front of teams next week.

With that said, let’s take a look at who the Jets got in NFL Network’s pre-combine mock draft.

Round 1: Jedrick Wills Jr. | OT | Alabama

(Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports)

In this scenario, as projected by NFL Draft analyst Chad Reuter, the Jets trade back from No. 11 to No. 15 and pick up a third and fourth-round pick in the process.

The Broncos trade up for Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was just recently mocked to the Jets by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, while the Jets trade back four spots and land arguably the draft’s best tackle in Jedrick Wills Jr.

Here’s Reuter’s explanation for the trade-back and the draft choice:

Wills lived up to the recruiting hype in 2019, showing nice athleticism in pass pro and destroying his man in the run game. The Jets pick up third- and fourth-round picks from the Broncos in this trade scenario.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, it’s highly unlikely that Wills will be on the board for the 11th pick, let alone the 15th.

If he were there at No. 11, the Jets probably wouldn’t trade back with Denver and risk him being poached by the Raiders, Colts and Buccaneers. That trio of teams could be in the market for a tackle depending on how free agency shakes out.

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2020 Senior Bowl: 7 prospects to watch on defense

The Bears have several needs they need to address this offseason. Here are 7 prospects on defense they should be watching this week.

The road to the 2020 NFL Draft starts in Mobile with the Senior Bowl, where Bears scouts will have the chance to get to know some of the top prospects in this draft class.

More than 100 of the top collegiate seniors from schools all over the country will participate in this year’s Senior Bowl, which will take place on Jan. 25.

But prior to then, practices during the week leading up to the game give front offices a chance to evaluate players on the field and meet with them off the field.

The Bears have several needs they need to address this offseason. Let’s take a look at seven prospects on defense they should be watching closely this week.

1. CB Lamar Jackson, Nebraska

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears could be facing changes in the secondary this offseason, especially with cornerback Prince Amukamara a likely cap casualty. If that’s the case, the Bears will be in the market for a new starting cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller.

Maybe that cornerback is Nebraska’s Lamar Jackson, who had a breakout senior season that has shown that he could be a solid and dependable cornerback in the NFL. Jackson had 40 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 12 pass breakups in 2019.

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2020 NFL mock draft: 4-rounds of Bills picks post-title game

Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL mock draft, four rounds, following the national title game.

The National Championship Game is in the history books and the LSU Tigers are the top team and grouping of Tigers after defeating the Clemson Tigers on Monday.

Of course, plenty of players out on the field will find new homes next season in the NFL. Could any of them be on the Buffalo Bills’ radar as April’s draft slowly comes into focus?

Draft Wire released a four-round mock draft following the divisional round of the playoffs last weekend, and here’s how that plays out for the Bills in another very early 2020 NFL mock draft:

Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In Buffalo’s first pick, wide receiver could certainly be in play and that’s the direction the Bills go in for this mock draft. The pick is Laviska Shenault from Colorado, one of the top-wideout prospect in the upcoming draft.

Here’s how Draft Wire breaks down the pick:

22. Buffalo Bills
Laviska Shenault, Jr. | WR | Colorado
The Eagles passing on a receiver here is a big win for the Bills, who are also in desperate need of a true No. 1 target for Josh Allen. Shenault is a physical player with a well-built frame who puts it to good use, both at the catch point and after the catch. He’s the complete player this offense needs to take their game to the next level in 2020 and beyond.

As mentioned, the Bills could use some help for Allen. Are Cole Beasley and John Brown reliable options for 2020? Yes. But could the Bills use more depth and a youthful option at receiver too? Also yes. At 6-foot-2 and a strong 220-pound frame, Shenault looks very much like the No. 1 wideout the Bills have lacked in recent years.

We all love getting excited for the Duke Williams and Brandon Reilly’s of the world, but Buffalo, let’s get a real prospect in here.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Bears address offensive line, cornerback in 2nd round

In Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, the Bears address offensive line with Austin Jackson and cornerback with Jeff Gladney in the 2nd round.

The Chicago Bears have a busy offseason ahead of them, which includes addressing offensive and defensive needs both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

The Bears hold the 43rd and 50th picks in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as they got the Raiders’ second-round pick (No. 43) in the Khalil Mack trade.

In Draft Wire’s newest 2020 NFL mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Bears addressing offensive and defensive needs with their two second-round picks: Offensive line and cornerback.

With the 43rd pick (from the Raiders), Easterling has the Bears selecting USC offensive lineman Austin Jackson. Jackson has started the past two seasons at left tackle for the Trojans. There are some mock drafts that have Jackson going in the first round, and his quickness and agility at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds is impressive.

Then, with the 50th selection, Easterling has Chicago taking TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney. In 2019, Gladney had 31 total tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception and a career-best 14 pass breakups, which was tied for eighth in the country. Gladney is an athletic corner, a good tackler, especially on the perimeter, and puts himself in position to make a play on the ball.

The Bears currently have six draft selections, — two picks in the second round, one in the fifth round, two in the sixth round and one in the seventh round. They’re projected to receive a seventh pick — a fourth-round compensatory pick for safety Adrian Amos, who signed with the Packers in free agency last season.

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Eagles land Clemson WR, TCU CB in Draft Wire’s updated 2-round mock

Eagles land Clemson WR, TCU CB in Draft Wire’s update 2-round mock

The Philadelphia Eagles are just hours away from clinching a playoff spot, but that doesn’t mean NFL Draft season hasn’t officially gotten underway.

With the College Football Playoffs kicking off on Saturday night, tons of draft day prospects will on display over the next few weeks in bowl games and then again in the Senior Bowl.

Draft Wire and Luke Easterling just released an updated two-round mock draft and the Eagles come away with an All Acc selection and a stud from TCU.

With the 21st pick in the first round, Draft Wire has the Eagles selecting Clemson star wide receiver Tee Higgins. with the No. 54 overall pick, the Eagles then are projected to snag TCU cornerback, Jeff Gladney.

A five-star recruit, Higgins originally committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football before changing to Clemson. The junior was Clemson’s leading receiver this season with 53 receptions for 1,103 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Higgins was second-team All ACC in 2018 and capped his final season at Clemson by garnering first-team All-ACC honors.

Gladney stands 6-feet tall almost 200 pounds and was a four-year starter at TCU and one of the fastest players in college football. Gladney has been clocked at a 4.34 40-yard dash time and bench pressed 400 pounds last offseason.

Gladney is a shutdown corner, allowing the lowest passer rating in the Big 12 in 2018 with 13 pass breakups, and this season collected 14 more deflections — tied for fifth in the FBS.

Dallas Cowboys: Top 2020 NFL draft needs

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of holes in their roster on both sides of the ball, so we break down the biggest ones

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2019 NFL season has been one of disappointment and inconsistency.

They are currently on pace to finish what should be the final season of the Jason Garrett era the way it started, with a 8-8 record. Sunday’s debacle proved that the Cowboys team is in desperate need of a few playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Offense

Tight End

Drops seem to have been the theme of the season, in fact Dallas’ top four receivers on the team have accounted for 24 total drops. It wasn’t just Amari Cooper who has been listed as the player who has led the league in drops since 2015. Cooper has the least amount of drops of the top four.

Michael Gallup (8), Randall Cobb (7) and Jason Witten (5) have been worse. The Cowboys need to find some reliability at the position.

For what feels like the fifth or sixth draft in a row the Cowboys need to find a tight end who can stretch the field. Hunter Bryant of Washington should be a player of interest.

The Cowboys do have Blake Jarwin but for whatever reason the Cowboys staff doesn’t seem to trust him in the passing game despite the fact that he averages more than a first down every two catches. He was targeted just once against Philadelphia which was a catch and first down.

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