4-round Draft Wire mock gives Cowboys help at edge rusher, S, TE, WR

The latest 4-round Draft Wire mock gives the Cowboys help at edge rusher, safety, tight end, and wide receiver.

In their latest mock, Draft Wire addresses some huge needs for the Cowboys based upon what they lost due to free agency.

The Cowboys lost their sack leader Robert Quinn to the Chicago Bears in free agency, leaving a major hole opposite DeMarcus Lawrence. LSU’s K’Lavon Chiasson, regarded as the second-best edge rusher in the draft, has had a virtual meeting with the Cowboys recently, and according to this mock draft, he’ll be in Dallas midway through the first round.

17. Dallas Cowboys| K’Lavon Chaisson| Edge | LSU

The secondary needs help, but the value isn’t there at corner or safety compared to other positions of need. Dallas fortified the interior of their defensive line with veterans in free agency, but they still need an edge rusher to pair with DeMarcus Lawrence. Chaisson has the physical tools and upside to become a dominant player.

Chaisson would instantly bolster the Cowboys defensive front who ranked 19th in sacks last season. The Cowboys are looking to use multiple fronts and have a SAM/DPR (Designated Pass Rusher) position which seems ideal for a player like Chaisson.

51. Dallas Cowboys| Antoine Winfield, Jr | S | Minnesota

Since the days of Darren Woodson and Roy Williams, the Cowboys have been trying to find their next stud at safety. Antoine Winfield, Jr makes for a nice complement opposite free safety Xavier Woods and add more young depth at the position with 2019 sixth-round pick Donovan Wilson.

82. Dallas Cowboys | Hunter Bryant | TE | Washington

Long-time veteran Jason Witten is now with the Las Vegas Raiders which means the evolution of Blake Jarwin is set to take place. However, adding another dynamic tight end like Hunter Bryant, who was first-team All-PAC 12 in 2019, would give Dak Prescott yet another shiny toy to play with.

123. Dallas Cowboys | John Hightower | WR | Boise State

The loss of Randall Cobb has left a hole at slot receiver. John Hightower of Boise State, who’s amassed over 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons, would fit right in at the slot receiver position as the third option behind Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.

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5 mid-round wide receivers who should be on Bills draft radar

Here are five mid-round receivers that should be on the Bills radar at the upcoming draft.

The Bills brought Stefon Diggs on board with their first-round for the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Buffalo sent the selection to the Vikings for him via trade.

Diggs, Cole Beasley and John Brown will make a formidable trio next year, a strong crew for quarterback Josh Allen to rely on. But the Bills could still stand to add some youth and even height in their receiver room. Despite not having a first rounder any more, Buffalo could use one of their later picks to bring in another playmaker out wide on offense.

With that, here are five mid-round receivers that should be on the Bills radar at the upcoming draft:

Florida Gators wide receiver Van Jefferson. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Van Jefferson | Florida

Van Jefferson will likely stick around for a bit on draft boards simply because of the numbers. While he flashed his talents in college, he transferred to Florida from Ole Miss and never really put up big stats anywhere. His best season came as a senior when he put up 49 catches and six scores in 12 games.

The 6-foot-2 target is a bit of an older prospect as he’ll be 24 before taking his first NFL snap. But that could be appealing to the Bills, who’ve coveted upperclass prospects under Sean McDermott’s watch. With his age in mind, he might not bulk up much more or develop his game further. He does have versatility to play inside and outside formations, though.

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2020 NFL Draft: Tristan Wirfs gaining traction as Giants’ choice in first round

As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, it’s becoming more obvious that experts anticipate Tristan Wirfs going to the New York Giants.

The New York Giants hold the No. 4 overall selection in this month’s NFL Draft and one player is being linked to them more and more as the mock drafts keep rolling in.

Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is not only our internal favorite, but that of our sister site Draft Wire. They have the Giants taking the 6-foot-5, 320-pound athletic left tackle prospect at No. 4 and not looking back.

In his weekly Monday column, veteran football reporter Peter King also agreed that offensive tackle will the Giants’ top choice in this draft.

Hard to see Dave Gettleman go anywhere but tackle in this urgent draft for the G-men. Gettleman shocked the world with Daniel Jones at six last year, but the meat-and-potatoes GM is likely to go meat-and-potatoes this year with a tackle. Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs or Alabama’s Jedrick Wills are 1-2 or 2-1 on many draft boards.

The latest Draft Wire mock, compiled by Luke Easterling, goes the full seven rounds. After the Giants take Wirfs in Round 1, here’s how he sees the rest of the draft playing out:

Day 2

Round 2, Pick 36: Zach Baun | EDGE | Wisconsin
Round 3, Pick 99: John Hightower | WR | Boise State

Some have Baun as a late first-rounder, but it’s possible he slides the Giants here in the second. If he’s on the board, they’ll almost have to take him. He’s a very productive, full-service linebacker that can get to the passer. By passing on Isaiah Simmons, they can make up for it here by taking Baun.

Hightower is a bit of reach here for me. He’s more of late rounder, not only in my eyes but many others. He’s got 4.43 speed, but that’s not enough to warrant taking him on Day 2. He can, however, return kicks so if the Giants are thinking multi-prong usage with him then it makes the selection more palatable.

Day 3

Round 4, Pick 110: Matt Hennessy | OL | Temple
Round 5, Pick 150: Markus Bailey | LB | Purdue
Round 6, Pick 183: Jordan Fuller | S | Ohio State
Round 7, Pick 218: Kindle Vildor | CB | Georgia Southern
Round 7, Pick 238: Dalton Keene | TE | Virginia Tech
Round 7, Pick 247: Javon Leake | RB | Maryland
Round 7, Pick 255: Bravvion Roy | DL | Baylor

Hennessy is a nice fourth round pick up. Chances are, though, he’ll be gone by then. The rest of these picks address the Giants’ needs across the board. I’m not sure if these particular players would have been my choices, but at least they will be bringing in new blood at some positions that sorely need it.

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2020 NFL Draft: Most underrated prospects at every position

Luke Easterling’s picks for the most underrated prospects at every position in the 2020 NFL draft class

We’re two weeks away from the 2020 NFL Draft, and while there are plenty of top prospects getting their well-earned attention in the first-round conversation, others are flying under the radar.

Here are my picks for the most underrated prospects at every position in this year’s draft:

QUARTERBACK

Jalen Hurts | Oklahoma

It’s hard to imagine a player with Hurts’ resume being underrated, but he’s still not getting enough respect as a top quarterback prospect in this class. Hurts made huge improvements as a passer in his senior year, similar to what we saw from Dak Prescott in his final season at Mississippi State.

Hurts has a similar skill set to Prescott, too, and has the ability to make a similar impact at the next level. Hurts should be in the second-round conversation after one of the most incredible careers of any college quarterback in history.

Runner-Up

James Morgan | FIU

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Prospect for the Pack: Boise State WR John Hightower

Breaking down the draft profile of Boise State WR John Hightower, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2020 draft.

The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.

Up next is Boise State receiver John Hightower:

What he can do

– Teams will love the way he accelerates off the ball. Tremendous quickness. Had a 10-yard split of 1.49 seconds at the combine. Elite time

– Great at gaining a step on the defender, stacking vertically and creating late separation needed to be a deep threat. Ran 4.43 in the 40, proving he can sustain top speed

– Experienced as a “move” receiver. Boise State always had him in motion, on the move, taking jet sweeps, pressuring the defense pre-snap. Same concepts apply in Green Bay

– Timed speed and athleticism are terrific, just need it to show up every play. Play speed can be hot and cold

– Lean but long frame. Almost 6-2 but under 190 pounds. Probably needs to add some strength to his game

– Can he consistently beat press? Size will invite NFL cornerbacks to be physical at the line. Needs to be excellent using quick feet and deception at the line to get into routes

– Had tons of opportunities in space. Used as a kick returner, on screens and as the ball-carrier on jet sweeps. Teams will want to manufacture ways of getting the ball in his hands. Super effective on screen plays

– Teams might be concerned about contested-catch ability. Not particularly strong at the catch point in traffic

– Devastating working against man to man on deep crossing routes

– Good feel for stopping and starting on comeback routes

– Great jumper (38.5″ vertical) but not always a consistent high-pointer of the ball. Might need to improve tracking the ball deep

– Big, reliable hands. Made several impressive catches away from his body

– Wasn’t impactful against Florida State defensive backs

How he fits

While a lot of receivers could be great in Matt LaFleur’s offense, Hightower looks like one of the very best fits. He’s quick off the line of scrimmage, a legitimate vertical threat, good in the space and experienced on the move and as a gadget player, giving him all the qualities the LaFleur offense covets. The Packers will especially appreciate his ability to play all the receiver positions, including inside in the slot. Hightower also meets all of the Packers’ athletic thresholds. Don’t be surprised if he’s strongly considered by GM Brian Gutekunst next month.

NFL comp

Just about everyone is comparing Hightower to Kenny Stills. It’s a terrific comp. Both are fast, lean deep threats lacking play strength but packed with big-play ability. Hightower might be more versatile as a player, too.

Where Packers could get him

In this receiver class? Who knows. Most years, Hightower would probably be a coveted Day 2 player. This year, he could easily fall as teams take big bites out of a deep, talented class of pass-catchers. The Packers getting him in the third or fourth round would be a great score.

Previous Prospects for the Pack

WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
WR Laviska Shenault
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler

2020 NFL draft: John Hightower scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Boise State wide receiver prospect John Hightower

John Hightower | WR | Boise State

Elevator Pitch

Hightower is wide receiver who can make an impact in two different areas on the field with his kick return ability. At Boise State in 2019, he was named second-team Mountain West at both wide receiver and kick returner. He has an opportunity to make a team for his return skills while he develops as a pass catcher in the NFL.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 189

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Hightower can come into a team and immediate contribute as a special teams player. In the last two seasons as a kick returner, he returned 36 kicks for an average of 23.3 yards per return and one touchdown for the Broncos. He uses his speed well and it is apparent that he was a track runner when he was in junior college.

His 4.43 speed can help teams wanting to throw it deep down the field with Hightower. Has good size and length to combine with that speed. Made some circus level catches on passes thrown away from his frame, mostly behind him that shows flashes of having good hands. He creates separates with how he comes out of his breaks.

Weaknesses

He is very limited in his route running. Hightower needs to work on his route tree and his technique. He will struggle to get off the line with more physical cornerbacks at the NFL level. His inability to deal with physical cornerbacks will alter his routes down the field.

Hightower has issues with catching some passes, including contested catches. If he can improve here, Hightower can be a real problem after the catch. He will need to add strength to upper body. He should still be able to fill out frame without suffering any drop in speed, which is his true weapon.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL Draft: Tristan Wirfs falls to Jets in NFL Network 3-round mock

In NFL Network’s post-combine mock draft, the Jets are able to re-tool their offensive line with their first two selections.

With the NFL Scouting Combine ending last weekend, the NFL is in a holding pattern of draft buzz until the start of the new league year. With that, NFL Network’s Chad Reuter released his latest mock draft, a three-rounder.

In this hypothetical, the Jets are able to reload the offensive line while finding potential replacements for both Robby Anderson and Jordan Jenkins on Day 2. At the same time, the Jets whiff on the copious amount of wide receiver talent in this draft.

Free agency will be telling of what the Jets plan to do round-by-round. For now, projections are the best measurement until it is understood what the front office wants to do with the offensive line.

With that said, here’s a look at the players selected by Reuter in each round for the Jets.

First Round: Tristan Wirfs | OL | Iowa

It’s unlikely that Tristan Wirfs is still on the board with the 11th pick, but with Cleveland trading out of No. 10 and four quarterbacks going within the top-10 picks, it opens up a window for New York.

Here’s the explanation for the pick from Chad Reuter:

The Jets’ O-line is a mess right now. Wirfs gives them a stout protector whether he’s at guard or tackle.

While the Jets seem interested in trading for Trent Williams, who the Redskins have made available via trade, that doesn’t take them out of the running for OL in the first round.

Wirfs is athletic enough to play both tackle spots. He started 10 games at right tackle and three games at left tackle for the Hawkeyes in 2019. Daniel Jeremiah believe Wirfs has All-Pro potential at guard, too.

Wirfs would make an immediate impact on the Jets wherever he lines up. He is a big, powerful offensive tackle who shows off a solid balance of size, speed and strength. The 6-foot-5, 322-pound product from Iowa would be a homerun first pick for Joe Douglas and company.

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Chargers post-2020 NFL Combine 4-round mock draft

Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez projects the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft for the Los Angeles Chargers after the NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books. How will it affect the Chargers’ draft plans?

Below is our latest four-round projection.

Round 1, No. 6, QB Jordan Love, Utah State

Oregon’s Justin Herbert has been in this position quite a bit throughout the pre-draft process, but a slight curveball has been thrown.

Love has been getting a lot of buzz as a top-10 selection after a strong performance at the Scouting Combine where he displayed his athleticism in the agility testing and arm talent in the on-field drills.

The Bakersfield native is arguably the biggest wild card among all quarterbacks. Even though he’s an extremely talented player, he struggled with turnovers in 2019, throwing 17 on the season.

The reason for the handful of interceptions could’ve been due to losing his head coach and all but one of his starters.

But a year prior to that, he threw 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions, which has had many believing that they could get the 2018 version with Love with some polish and surrounding him with play-makers, which the Chargers have.

The bottom line is that there’s no denying that when Love met with Los Angeles he had to explain the costly mistakes this past season when put on the whiteboard.

However, if the coaching staff feels like they can get the most out of him, they’d be getting the ideal signal-caller for their system, one who is competitive, has the arm to get the ball to all levels of the field and the mobility to be a threat with his legs.

If L.A. felt like Love was their guy, he would benefit from being able to sit behind Tyrod Taylor in Year 1. Coach Anthony Lynn, who maximized Taylor’s potential when they were in Buffalo together, would be able to do the same for Love.

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Report: Saints met with several wide receiver prospects at 2020 Shrine Bowl

The New Orleans Saints met with several 2020 NFL Draft prospects at the 2020 Shrine Bowl, including Boise State receiver John Hightower.

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Everyone meets with everyone in the months leading up the NFL Draft, and 2020 should be no different. Whether contact is made before or after practice at all-star games like the Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl, in brisk interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, after-hours following pro day workouts, or on private facilities visits, the New Orleans Saints and every other team will have opportunities to meet with every draft prospect on their big board.

So we shouldn’t look too deeply into individual meetings. All of that said, it’s fun to track these things and speculate about the future. Per a report from The Draft Network, the Saints were noticed meeting with four different draft prospects at last week’s Shrine Bowl practices. Here’s a quick summary on each of them:

RB Rico Dowdle, South Carolina

Other meetings: Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins

Weighing in at 5-foot-1 and 214 pounds, Dowdle is a perfect fit for what the Saints like from a height/weight profile. He logged 428 rushing attempts for 2,167 yards on the ground in four years with the Gamecocks (averaging 5.1 yards per carry), scoring 16 touchdown runs along the way. He also caught 62 passes in his collegiate career to gain 483 yards through the air (7.8 yards per reception), scoring three touchdowns in his first three years. He played 39 games for South Carolina, averaging 11.1 carries and 1.6 receptions per game.

WR Binjimen Victor, Ohio State

Other meetings: Miami Dolphins

Victor weighed in at 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds, and has shown an ability to stretch the field in four years with the Buckeyes. He averaged 16.1 yards per reception in 33 games, totaling 83 receptions for 1,340 yards — and catching 18 touchdown passes. He averaged 2.5 catches and 40.6 receiving yards per game, though he caught just 4 passes for 64 yards in three games as a true freshman back in 2016. He could be someone the Saints target on the third day of the draft, or maybe in undrafted free agency.

WR Keith Gavin, Florida State

Other meetings:Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Chargers

Tipping the scales at a hair under 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, Gavin only played one game as a true freshman before finding a role for himself the last three years. Injuries limited his availability throughout his career, however, as Gavin suited up for just 28 games in his last three years. He finished his career with 71 receptions for 901 receiving yards (12.7 yards per catch) and only a single touchdown grab. He averaged 2.5 receptions and 31.1 receiving yards per game and might be a priority free agent after the draft.

WR John Hightower, Boise State

Other meetings: Philadelphia Eagles (twice), New York Giants, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs

Hightower measured in at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, a little shorter and quite heavier than his listed stats, which is preferable (the list of productive 172-pound receivers in the NFL is brief, but plenty don’t quite reach 6-foot-2). He transferred to Boise State from the junior college ranks and immediately established himself as an offensive weapon, averaging 17.6 yards per catch in two years while scoring 16 touchdowns from scrimmage. He averaged 3.6 catches for 63.0 receiving yards per game, as well as 1.0 carries for 13.8 rushing yards per outing. He could be seen as a backup option should the Saints target someone like Laviska Shenault Jr. early but aren’t able to select that kind of versatile weapon.

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Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl betting odds between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (12-1) and Washington Huskies (7-5) square off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Boise State-Washington odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State vs. Washington: Three things you need to know

1. Boise State ranks 38th in the nation with 441.5 total yards per game, and 35th in passing yards per contest (267.4). QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is questionable to play, but backups Jaylon Henderson (four starts) and Chase Cord have proven to be more than capable when called upon.

2. Washington ranks 33rd in the nation against the run, allowing 152.2 yards per game. BSU freshman RB George Holani led the team with 979 yards and seven total touchdowns.

3. Boise State is 4-0 in its previous four appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl, including a 28-26 win over Washington back on Dec. 22, 2012.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Boise State vs. Washington: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 5:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 29, Washington 24

Moneyline (ML)

BOISE STATE (+130) is a good bet in this game. The Broncos are 4-0 straight-up all time in the Las Vegas Bowl (formerly the Maaco Bowl) – all against Pac-12 opponents. The Broncos might be deeper than the Huskies at the skill positions as Holani, WR John Hightower and the trio of quarterbacks give Boise State tremendous talent across the board.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on the Boise State ML will profit $1.30 if the Broncos win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (+3.5, -121) is a nice play with the points if you want a little bit of insurance, although the Broncos are a great play straight-up, too. The Broncos are 7-0 ATS in their past seven as an underdog, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 bowl games while going 9-4 ATS in the past 13 neutral-site affairs. On the flip side, Washington is 1-4 ATS in the past five neutral-site games and 1-4 ATS in the past five bowl games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 49.5 (+105) is a good value at plus-money. The over is 5-2 in Boise State’s past seven bowl games. Plus, the Broncos are 5-2 in their past seven games as an underdog. The Over is 5-2 in the past seven for Washington against teams with a winning record.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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