CBS Sports predicts the Vikings taking DT Jordan Elliott, OT Ezra Cleveland and DE Alex Highsmith on day two. Like the picks?
Minnesota fixed some issues at wide receiver and cornerback, and CBS Sports has the team sticking to the trenches in a recent mock draft.
The outlet predicted the team taking Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland and Charlotte defensive end Alex Highsmith in a mock draft of the day two picks.
My personally favorite of those choices is Cleveland, who could probably come in and start right away. Those other players have chances to start, but they have to compete with better competition on the Vikings roster.
Here’s what the outlet said about Cleveland:
“Dream come true scenario for the Vikings, as Cleveland’s skill set matches perfect with Gary Kubiak’s stretch-run scheme.”
Cleveland could come in and instantly help the team move outside the tackles by getting out in space. If Dalvin Cook stays healthy, and the Vikings draft Cleveland, I could see the run game improving in 2020.
Arizona has two selections in Round 4 – here are 10 players they could look to take with those two selections.
The Arizona Cardinals currently don’t have too many selections in this year’s draft, but they have two picks in the fourth round — picks Nos. 114 and 131 overall.
Here are a few players they could look to select with one of those two selections:
Syracuse EDGE Kendell Coleman
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals just met with Coleman, who would make a lot of sense in the middle rounds as a rotational edge rusher. He finished with 10 sacks as a junior in 2018.
Edge players are hard to find, and always needed so Coleman may not be around in Round 4, but if he is, Arizona may be a good spot for him.
NFL.com believes the first two picks the Houston Texans make in the 2020 NFL Draft should be used on cornerback and defensive line.
The Houston Texans ought to use their first two selections in the 2020 NFL Draft to address cornerback and the defensive line.
So say Chad Reuter and Lance Zierlien from NFL.com, who released their ideal top two picks for every team. The Texans’ ideal picks are Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson at 40th overall in the second round, and Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott with the 90th overall pick in the third round.
After dealing one of their second-round picks for Brandin Cooks, the Texans can lock in on adding cornerback help and re-stocking their defensive line. Johnson has the traits and balls skills the Texans are looking for at cornerback. Elliott plays with good toughness and disruption along the interior. He should help fill the hole left by the departure of D.J. Reader in free agency.
The Texans are stocked at cornerback with Bradley Roby, Gareon Conley, Lonnie Johnson, Vernon Hargreaves, Phillip Gaines, and Keion Crossen. The nickel and dime packages will also see some of defensive back Jaylen Watkins as well. Taking cornerback with the Texans’ first pick of the draft would mean that someone in the cornerback group currently could be on the way out.
Adding Elliott would help the Texans get younger along the interior defensive line. Reader was a Pro Bowl alternate for the Texans in his final season with the team, and Houston will likely miss that production in their first season without the 2016 fifth-round pick from Clemson. Reader grew into being a solid starter for the Texans, and taking Elliott, or any defensive tackle, in the third round would carry that expectation of becoming a key contributor in the defensive trenches.
Houston’s holes are seemingly filled after the first wave of free agency. Now, the Texans have to choose wisely as they put their final touches on their offseason roster.
Javon Kinlaw and Derrick Brown are certainly names to know, but who are the other top interior defensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft?
Up next in Touchdown Wire’s position-by-position look at the top prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft is the interior defensive line. While EDGE players get the bulk of attention during draft season, this year’s interior DL class has some impressive players who are getting more first round buzz than some of the outside pass rushers. Both Javon Kinlaw and Derrick Brown are considered to be first-round locks, and some view players like Jordan Elliott and Ross Blacklock to be potential early picks as well. How does this group stack up?
Bio: Javon Kinlaw chose the junior college route coming out of Goose Creek High School in South Carolina, enrolling at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. During the 2016 season, he was a standout at defensive tackle, who was named a second-team All-America selection, a first-team All-Region 23 selection, and the MACJC South Division’s Most Valuable Defensive Lineman when he tallied 26 tackles (including 8.5 for a loss) and 4.5 sacks.
He committed to South Carolina for the 2017, and made 10 starts his first year on campus. He took on an increased role for the Gamecocks over the past two seasons, and had a career-year as a senior in 2019. He posted seven sacks and 26 quarterback hurries. Kinlaw rode that production to a spot in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, where it was apparently early on that he was arguably the best non-quarterback in attendance.
Stat to Know: According to charting data, Kinlaw was second among interior defensive lineman with a pass-rush win rate of 18.1%.
Strengths: Kinlaw explodes off the snap. Simply turn on South Carolina’s game against Alabama and you will see his burst off the line from the opening play of the game. He plays with incredible pad level, but it is his first step that attacks gaps and threatens the structural integrity of the offensive line from the second plays begin. Kinlaw commands double-team blocks in the run game, and constantly frees up those around him to flow to the football and make plays. He also brings incredible lateral agility to the table, and is going to be a problem against zone running plays, and you can imagine how a creative defensive coordinator could employ him in the stunt and twist game.
As a pass rusher, his ability to convert strength to power as well as his bull rush move might be unparalleled in this class. His hands are constantly moving, forcing blockers to counter and second-guess their own actions. Proponents of the concept that “pressure equals production” are going to enjoy seeing plays like this against North Carolina:
If your interior defensive lineman is going to get double-teamed when the QB drops to pass, you’ll love seeing him fight through the first blocker with violent hands, spin into the second blocker and manage to drive him backward – initially with his back – and still get the QB to move off his spot. Leading to a big sack from the defensive end, left isolated with the right tackle. Pressure equals production.
Weaknesses: Kinlaw often loses track of the play and gets caught peeking into the backfield, which leads to him missing some misdirection plays and running away from the football. He has tremendous hands, but relies on his bull rush too much as a pass rusher. You can see evidence – such as in the above video – of him having other options in his tool kit as a pass rusher but he relies on the bull rush far too much to be a complete player right now.
Conclusion: Kinlaw’s length and size cannot be taught, nor can his explosiveness. This is a tremendous foundation for a disruptive force on the interior of NFL defensive lines. His explosiveness, coupled with that hand work he has developed to date, is enough to make him productive as a rookie. What he learns along the way is can make him special.
Comparison: Retired NFL defensive end Stephen White, in this meaty breakdown of Kinlaw, compared him to current Chicago Bears’ defender Roy Robertson-Harris. This makes a ton of sense, as Robertson-Harris began as an edge rusher before moving inside, and Kinlaw’s disruptive ability on the interior compares to the finished product that Robertson-Harris is now.
Here are six DTs for the Buffalo Bills to consider with their second-round draft pick.
The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.
Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.
This installment of our position-by-position series looks at the defensive tackle prospects and which players could still be on the board when the Bills make their first selection at the upcoming draft:
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Current roster
The Bills have invested a great deal of resources into the interior of their defensive line in recent seasons. They added Vernon Butler and Quinton Jefferson (who can also play defensive end) to the roster via free agency over the last few weeks.. The Bills drafted Ed Oliver ninth-overall at the 2019 NFL Draft, and Harrison Phillips returns from an ACL injury that cost him last season. Star Lotulelei, the team’s 2018 major free agent signing, will also command snaps once again in 2020.
Defensive tackle isn’t necessarily a high priority for the team. However, with the way that Sean McDermott rotates players on the defensive line, a player can provide depth, particularly at a specific role (pass rusher or run stuffer), which could be appealing in the second round.
Breaking down the draft profile of Missouri defensive lineman Jordan Elliott, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2020 NFL 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 Missouri defensive lineman Jordan Elliott:
What he can do
– Was really versatile for Missouri. Played all over the defensive line, including nose tackle, three-tech and five-tech. Might have the length to play end in the three-man front, but arms are short. Should be ready to contribute in several different ways
– Showed flashes of serious bull-rushing power. Can bench-press guards and centers deep into the backfield
– Impressive and encouraging production as a pass-rusher. Tallied 34 total pressures over just 290 pass-rushing snaps in 2019, per PFF. Had the top pass-rush win rate among interior defenders in the class. Good reason to believe he’s just tapping into his ability as a rusher
– Looks really labored getting off the ball. Not an explosive player. To his credit, he’s great playing uphill and winning late. But when he’s really late off the ball, the end result is ugly
– Will be interesting to see if he can consistently handle two-gapping responsibilities at the next level. Inconsistent here
– Hands never stop working. Often gets pressure by manipulating blockers with strong, active hands. Can win late in reps
– Mostly reactive against the run. Doesn’t always take the fight to the opposition. Can be a non-factor for long stretches
– Has a quick little swim move that works well when rushing. Sets it up with an outside jab step to get the offensive lineman leaning
– Wasn’t effective as an outside rusher. Not going to win pass-rushing reps against NFL offensive tackles
– Did some of his best work on third down in obvious pass-rushing situations
– Ran himself out of too many plays. Ball awareness is an issue
– Ten-yard split was 1.71 seconds, a great time for a player over 300 pounds. Shows up on film when he wiggles himself free and can close space. Would like to see it translate to more consistent quickness off the ball at the next level
– Will quickly rip through blockers and lasso down running backs for losses
How he fits
The Packers’ need for help along the defensive line is no secret. The team hasn’t added a veteran in free agency, so the draft might be the best avenue for improvement. Elliott has experience playing in odd-man fronts and could have multi-positional versatility upfront, especially if he can handle more five-tech duties. There are some inconsistencies in his run-defending abilities but he brings legitimate potential to the table as a rusher. The Packers really like athletic big people, especially if they can play a versatile role. This looks like a good fit.
NFL comp
Sharrif Floyd. Like Floyd, Elliott is quick for his size and possesses pass-rushing potential, and he’ll likely have some positional versatility along the defensive line. The Vikings made Floyd the 23rd pick in the 2013 draft.
Where Packers could get him
Opinions on Elliott are split. Some consider him a first-round talent and a potential top-30 pick. Others see him as a Day 2 player. Big, athletic guys with collegiate production don’t hang around on the board for too long. Elliott should go in the first three rounds.
Jeff Okudah of Ohio State leads a deep draft class of defensive backs. Xavier McKinney, Antoine Winfield and Trevon Diggs aren’t far behind.
With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to start finalizing draft boards. Not just for NFL teams, but for the team here at Touchdown Wire. Here is Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 25 defensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
1. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
If there’s one thing NFL teams need more than anything else on defense right now, it’s the prototypical lockdown cornerback who can take an opponent’s No. 1 receiver through any route in any coverage. Of the cornerbacks in this draft class, Okudah is the one who raises no questions regarding his ability to do so. After playing 70% of his snaps in man coverage in 2018, per Sports Info Solutions, Okudah dipped down to 54% man coverage last season, upped his zone percentage and still allowed just 21 catches on 54 targets for 280 yards, three interceptions, one touchdown, and an opponent passer rating of 46.8. There may be more physically talented players in this class, but outside of the top quarterbacks, none are more positionally important.
2. Isaiah Simmons, Defense, Clemson
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
In his 2019 season, per Pro Football Focus, Simmons played 299 snaps in the box, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, 132 snaps at free safety and 116 snaps at defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Simmons also played 13 snaps at outside corner, to make his versatility even more impressive. Asked at the scouting combing what his position was, Simmons simply responded, “Defense.” In the modern NFL, a player who can do everything from blitzing, to taking on the run game as a linebacker, to coverage as a slot defender and safety, is of prime value as defenses move to nickel and dime defenses as their base.
3. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
Young has often been compared to fellow Ohio State alums Joey and Nick Bosa, and from a traits perspective, those are pretty good matches. In 2019, Young put up 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and 31 quarterback hurries. And if you’re concerned about his getting shut out in sacks through his last three college games, a cursory look at the tape will tell you that he still had a massive effect on opposing offenses.
Chase Young this week on the three-sack drought: "Being the best defensive end isn't about sacks, it's about being the most disruptive player on the field. You can do that without having a sack… I had a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of pressures."
At 6 feet 6 and 302 pounds, Kinlaw fits the physical profile of the ideal multi-gap defensive lineman who can get nasty everywhere from over the center to outside the offensive tackles. In 2019, he raised his sack total from four in 2018 to six in his final college season, adding seven quarterback hits and 28 quarterback hurries. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Kinlaw’s potential is that he’s turned himself into a wrecking machine without the benefit of advanced hand technique. Once he reaps the benefits of NFL-level coaching, he projects well as an All-Pro-level disruptor.
5. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
(John Reed-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown’s relatively weak combine performance might debit him in the eyes of those who haven’t studied his tape. Similarly, his total of 12.5 sacks over four seasons at Auburn could push him under other defenders in your mind if you’re just box-score scouting. But when you watch Brown do his thing on the field, the perspective is entirely different. At 6-5 and 326 pounds, Brown had 10 quarterback hits and 20 quarterback hurries in 2019, adding four batted passes and two forced fumbles to his statistical arsenal. Brown is an ideal three-down defender who can stop the run as well as he can blast through double teams.
6. Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama
(Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
Multi-positional defensive backs are all the rage in today’s NFL, and Nick Saban has been grooming them at Alabama for a while. Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers was an early part of paradigm, and McKinney is ready to follow in Fitzpatrick’s footsteps. Last season, per Pro Football Focus, McKinney played 285 snaps in the box, 271 snaps at free safety and 227 snaps in the slot. The 6-1, 200-pound McKinney also played 38 snaps on the defensive line and five snaps at outside corner. Playing all those positions, he allowed an opponent passer rating of 73.6 and came away with three interceptions, as well as 21 total pressures in just 71 pass-rushing snaps. If you can’t get Isaiah Simmons in your 2020 draft because he goes too early, McKinney is more than an acceptable substitute.
7. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
(Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
In 2019, Queen established himself as one of the linchpins of the Tigers’ championship defense after lining up for just 255 total snaps in his first two collegiate seasons. The 6-foot, 229-pound first-year starter proved to be the model of the modern linebacker when he finally got his shot, playing 780 snaps in 2019 and showing the ability to excel everywhere from the box to the slot to the occasional go at outside cornerback. More impressively for Queen’s NFL future is his ability to face up against top running backs and make stops when stops are needed. Not every light linebacker can do that, and once Queen gets the hang of the intricacies of coverage (especially zone coverage), he could be one of the NFL’s best three-down linebackers.
8. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
(Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
Winfield missed all but a total of eight games in his 2017 and 2018 seasons due to injuries, but he came back with a full head of steam in 2019, picking off seven passes and giving up just 11 catches on 22 targets and an opponent passer rating of 45.5. A healthy Winfield has all the athleticism and range you’d want in a deep-third safety, but what really makes him the best in this class at that particular designation is his ability to read offenses and coverages on the fly — as he detailed to me in a recent film session, he learned a lot from his father, who played cornerback for the Bills and Vikings from 1999 through 2012.
Cleveland Browns 2020 NFL draft: A defensive tackle prospect for every round
Next up in the series recommending a player for each of the seven rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft at a particular position group for the Cleveland Browns: defensive tackle.
It’s a definite need for Cleveland, though not necessarily an urgent one. Sheldon Richardson is a great starting point and played well in his first season with the Browns. Newcomer Andrew Billings is an ascending talent at nose tackle, while enigmatic Larry Ogunjobi enters his contract year.
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Who fits best for what new defensive coordinator Joe Woods might want up front in Cleveland? Here is a defensive tackle prospect for each and every round in the draft who could make the Browns better on the line.
First round: Javon Kinlaw
Kinlaw leaped into the national consciousness by almost singlehandedly leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to upset the heavily favored Georgia Bulldogs last fall. It was the most impressive single-game performance by any player I watched all year.
Kinlaw is a physical freak who has worked hard at remaking his body and getting both quicker and stronger. He’s too fast for interior blockers when he gets the initial jump, and his swim, rip and up-and-under moves are polished already. There is some bust potential but also very high-end impact ability right away.
If the Browns somehow don’t take an offensive tackle in the first round, Kinlaw would be my No. 1 choice at No. 10.
Second round: Justin Madubuike
Madubuike posted just modest production in the last two seasons at Texas A&M (5.5 sacks both years), but he’s a player whose impact goes beyond the box score. He’s a quick gap-shooting 3-tech who wins with fast hands and feet and natural leverage. Madubuike is light at about 290 pounds, but he’s functionally strong and uses his lither build effectively to winnow past big blockers. He’s also quite good at chasing down mobile QBs and stretch runs.
The biggest wart with Madubuike is his overeager nature on the field. He runs himself out of the hole in the run game and will get pushed too far upfield on his rush at times, too. Those are problematic but coachable issues.
Who will replace Javon Hargrave? These defensive tackles are projected to be available second-to-mid rounds
With the departure of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave via free agency, expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to select his replacement in the second-to-mid rounds.
Here are the top DTs projected to be available:
Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Raekwon Davis | Alabama
Height: 6-6 Weight: 316
As a reserve in his freshman year, Davis contributed four tackles and one sack. He became a playmaker as a sophomore by posting 69 tackles, 10 for loss, and a team-high 8.5 sacks in 14 games (six starts), which earned him first-team All-SEC honors. During Alabama’s title run that year, Davis had 10 tackles, two sacks, and an INT in the team’s two playoff wins. His production dropped off his junior and senior seasons.
Davis compiled 67 solo tackles, 108 assists, 19.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, one INT, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during his career at Alabama.
Davis is a versatile run defender who can play DT or NT versus the run. With excellent strength and power, he is tough to move off the ball. He completely controls his run lane in either 1-gap or 2-gap situations. The more Davis played his last two seasons, his effectiveness as a pass-rusher diminished; he was better when he was fresh and played fewer reps.
