Tag: Justin Madubuike

Steelers add DL and RB in new Draft Wire mock draft

Check out this new Draft Wire mock draft.

The 2020 NFL league year started Wednesday, and there’s already been a lot of movement.

Our friends over at Draft Wire posted a new trade-inclusive three-round mock draft, so we gave it a look to see how they did for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the No. 49 pick, the Steelers select former LSU team captain Rashard Lawrence, defensive tackle. With the departure of Javon Hargrave, DT is a position that will need to be addressed in the draft.

49. Pittsburgh Steelers | Rashard Lawrence | DL | LSU

50. Chicago Bears | A.J. Terrell | CB | Clemson

51. Dallas Cowboys | Chase Claypool | WR/TE | Notre Dame

52. Los Angeles Rams | Justin Madubuike | DL | Texas A&M

53. Philadelphia Eagles | Ashtyn Davis | S | California

54. Buffalo Bills | Julian Okwara | EDGE | Notre Dame

55. Baltimore Ravens (from NE via ATL) | Solomon Kindley | OL | Georgia

56. Miami Dolphins (from NO) | Lloyd Cushenberry | OL | LSU

57. Houston Texans | Brandon Aiyuk | WR | Arizona State

58. Minnesota Vikings | Jaylon Johnson | CB | Utah

59. Seattle Seahawks | Raekwon Davis | DL | Alabama

60. Baltimore Ravens | K.J. Hamler | WR | Penn State

61. Tennessee Titans | Damien Lewis | OL | LSU

62. Green Bay Packers | Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State

63. Kansas City Chiefs (from SF) | J.K. Dobbins | RB | Ohio State

64. Seattle Seahawks (from KC) | Curtis Weaver | EDGE | Boise State

The only question is whether Lawrence is a better DT option than Justin Madubuike or Raekwon Davis.

Injuries can’t be helped, but Lawrence suffered ankle injuries since he became a starter in his sophomore year. He did manage one full season as a junior and finished with 54 tackles, 10.5 for loss and 4.0 sacks.

Madubuike appeared in all 13 games his freshman and sophomore seasons and only missed one start for the Aggies his senior year. He racked up 105 tackles, a whopping 24.5 for loss, and 11 sacks. Madubuike added an interception and five forced fumbles.

Towering at 6-6, Davis is a defensive beast. He compiled 175 tackles, 19.5 for loss, 11.5 sacks and a pick for the Crimson Tide.

Though there’s speculation that the Steelers will draft a wide receiver, it’ll likely happen in later rounds.

Third round

Draftwire shows running back Zack Moss being taken with the Steelers’ third-round selection.

102. Pittsburgh Steelers | Zack Moss | RB | Utah

103. Philadelphia Eagles | Davon Hamilton | DL | Ohio State

104. Los Angeles Rams | Jabari Zuniga | EDGE | Florida

105. Minnesota Vikings | James Lynch | DL | Baylor

106. Baltimore Ravens | Albert Okwuegbunam | TE | Missouri

Pittsburgh will need to take an RB in this draft. James Conner has injury concerns, and Jaylen Samuels nor Benny Snell, Jr. have not yet shown that they can carry the load.

Moss’s running style could lead to durability issues, and with the way coach Mike Tomlin likes to use his backs, the Steelers will need a one that can provide longevity.

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Colts’ 7-round mock draft with updated pick order

A full mock draft with the updated order.

The Indianapolis Colts saw the order of their picks change slightly in the 2020 NFL draft following the announcement of the compensatory picks on Tuesday.

As was to be expected, the Colts didn’t receive any extra draft capital and because of it, a few of their selections were pushed back to make room for others. The rounds most impacted came on Day 3.

With the new pick order for the Colts, here is an updated seven-round mock draft using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator:

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

There were a lot of options on the board for the Colts, including both wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. Those two were difficult to pass up, but the Colts ultimately should be looking to draft a quarterback at the No. 13 spot if they can. In this simulation, Herbert is the choice.

Armed with a high upside and high character, Herbert brings just about everything the Colts could want in a potential franchise quarterback. He has immense arm strength, impressive mobility outside of the pocket and the work ethic, leadership and IQ to be an above-average starter in the league.

There are some concerns with his consistency on downfield throws. He will also need to work on his footwork within the pocket and when facing pressure. Timing and anticipation are also two aspects that will need improvement. Fortunately, all of those things can be improved.

There is a lot to like about Herbert and if he’s on the board at No. 13, it will be difficult for the Colts to pass him up.

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2020 NFL draft: Justin Madubuike scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Texas A&M defensive line prospect Justin Madubuike

Justin Madubuike | DL | Texas A&M

Elevator Pitch

Madubuike is an athletic and violent interior defender who offers good short-area quickness and the strength to hold his own when defending the run. His consistency could use some improvement, and he’s not the lengthiest defensive lineman out there, but he has solid starting potential at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 293

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

With a good blend of speed and power in his game, Madubuike has plenty of physical traits to like.

The Texas A&M alum has good explosiveness when he accelerates off the snap, and his speed makes him a tough player for opponents to block. He has solid agility in the open field, allowing him to make tackles in space against the run or chase down scrambling quarterbacks. Madubuike is a powerful and determined defender who complements that speed with heavy hands and a lower body that packs plenty of strength. He is able to eat up gaps against the run, holding blocks and being able to free himself up to make the tackle.

Madubuike has shown some potential in his hand usage, and the flashes he has shown project him as a three-down lineman with value on passing downs. He blends violence and quickness well with his hands, varying his plan of attack depending on the situation. He has offered glimpses of stringing together moves and developing counter attacks, and he often wins the battle with his blocker when he does so. His production in his two years as a starter was also impressive, as he finished with 11 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss in that time frame.

Weaknesses

For Madubuike, it’s not about a lack of tools, it’s about putting them all together and being more consistent with them.

He can play with force in his frame, but the power of his punches at the initial point of contact can be hit or miss. His counter moves are displayed few and far between and should be utilized more often when he doesn’t immediately win at the point of attack. While his power shows up in spurts, his ability to deal with forceful jabs and mauling offensive linemen could be worked on a bit.

Madubuike also has occasional balance issues, as he tends to get knocked over when said forceful jabs are applied to him. He has obvious athletic gifts, but working on his body control and maintaining a low center of gravity could help him out. He also tends to lean over a bit too much when he gets engaged with a blocker.

Projection: Day 2

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So Defensive: 3-round Athletic mock has a theme for Cowboys

Dane Brugler of The Athletic sees Dallas shoring up 2019’s underachieving defense with a trio of collegiate stars in April’s NFL Draft.

Bolstering the secondary is the primary concern for many Cowboys fans this offseason. Whether it’s finding an improbable way to retain Byron Jones, courting a free agent veteran, making a splashy trade, looking to the college ranks in April’s draft, or piecing together a combo platter of those strategies, it’s no secret that the team needs DB help ASAP.

Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft for The Athletic (pay wall) has the club snagging one of the heroes of last week’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and using their first-round selection on a dazzling athlete who could flourish at the pro level. And his projections of the first three rounds has the team staying on the defensive side of the ball as they try to patch up one of 2019’s most disappointing units.

Round 1: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson “has a chance to be drafted in the top 10, so [the Cowboys’ 17th pick] might be the latest he comes off the board,” Brugler writes in The Athletic. “With Byron Jones destined to reach free agency, cornerback shoots near the top of Dallas’s draft needs. Henderson needs to be a better playmaker at the catch point, but he is a plus athlete with the size to blanket receivers.”

Henderson impressed during Day Four of the combine with a 40-yard dash time that was second-best at his position. His bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump numbers were all Top-10.

The junior was always seen as a first-day draft selection; his weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium only improved his draft stock. Many mocks project Henderson to be gone within the first 15 picks, so if he’s available to the Cowboys at 17, Brugler’s pick seems like a no-brainer.

The only knock on Henderson seems to be his tackling ability, but it’s probably not enough of a concern that Dallas wouldn’t jump at the chance to bring him aboard.

Brugler has Henderson being the second corner off the board, after Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah, mocked to go seventh overall to Carolina. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Auburn), wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), wideout Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina) are all taken prior to Dallas’s pick in the Brugler mock. All are considered to be on a possible watch list for the Cowboys, as is Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Brugler has McKinney going to the Saints with the 24th pick.

Round 2: Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M

In the second round, Brugler likes Justin Madubuike falling to Dallas at 51st. The defensive tackle from Texas A&M tallied 11 sacks over the past two seasons and worked under Maurice Linguist, who’s now on the Cowboys defensive coaching staff.

Mike McCarthy has a history of drafting defensive tackles highly, and Madubuike has made it clear he would love to play for the NFL team he grew up rooting for. “At 6-foot-2, 293 pounds,” writes The Draft Network’s Jonah Tuls, “Madubuike fits that mold of the undersized, quick one-gap penetrator in the middle.”

Round 3: Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

With so much attention on defensive teammates Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah, the Buckeyes’ 6-foot-3-inch linebacker is sitting slightly off the radar. But Brugler has the Cowboys pouncing on him with the 82nd overall pick. Current Dallas linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch can provide a dominant tandem, but the position could still use quality depth, especially with the question mark that is Sean Lee.

Harrison played in 42 games over his four years at Ohio State. He recorded 55 solo tackles as a junior and 49 in his senior season. In Indianapolis last weekend, he put up the best three-cone drill score at his position and ran the second-fastest 40 of any linebacker his size or heavier.

Defense wins championships, the saying goes. With those three picks in the first three rounds of the 2020 Draft, Cowboys Nation would likely feel pretty good about getting closer to a sixth Lombardi Trophy coming home to Dallas.

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Colts’ 7-round mock draft post-NFL combine

A full mock draft after the NFL combine.

With the NFL scouting combine on its way out, the Indianapolis Colts now have some official measurements to add to the tape they’ve been watching on the majority of prospects entering the 2020 NFL draft.

There is still a lot left in the process for the Colts. They have to go back to the tape, compare the measurements and scores with what they see on film, talk to these players that might be on their draft board and a number of other objectives before April 23 hits.

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Free agency will also have a lot to do with how the Colts go about their draft process but it isn’t yet clear what will happen as we still have a few weeks left until the market opens.

Using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, here is a seven-round mock draft for the Colts following the combine:

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

I know, I know. The Colts need a quarterback, and I ultimately think that’s the best way to go about their draft regardless of what happens over the next few months. However, the possibility of the Colts not addressing the quarterback position heavily is just as high as using this pick on a signal-caller.

General manager Chris Ballard has stated all offseason the need to get more explosive. It doesn’t come in a better package than Ruggs. Some might believe he’s just a burner, but that narrative should be put to rest. His combine numbers only backed up what he was putting on film.

We knew Ruggs would crush the 40-yard dash, which he did by posting a 4.27 time. But he also tested in elite percentiles in other important measurements:

  • Broad jump: 131″ (94th)
  • Vertical jump: 42″ (97th)
  • Hand size: 10 1/8″ (90th)

The Colts don’t like to invest heavily into wide receivers in the first round, but the ceiling for Ruggs is Tyreek Hill. Ballard desperately needs that type of talent in Frank Reich’s offense.

This pick could certainly address the defensive line, but Ruggs’ impact might go further because of the complete lack of explosiveness on offense.

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Vikings take DT Justin Madubuike in Walter Football mock draft

Should the Vikings go for a defensive tackle?

There is a possibility of Linval Joseph being on the move, and if that’s the case, the Vikings will have to add depth to the defensive tackle position in the offseason.

One of the ways Minnesota can do that is through the draft.

That’s what Walter Football has them doing. The outlet predicted that the Vikings would take Justin Madubuike, a defensive tackle out of Texas A&M, in a recent mock draft.

Here’s what they said about the choice:

“Linval Joseph is still a dominant presence in the interior, but he’ll turn 32 next season. He’ll decline soon, and the Vikings could use some help next to him in the meantime.”

So it appears that the site thinks that Joseph could stay on the team, and the Vikings would still draft a defensive tackle. That’s definitely possible, but I think they would go for a defensive tackle later in the draft if Joseph stays.

Seahawks select defensive tackle in Mel Kiper’s mock draft 2.0

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper projects the Seattle Seahawks select Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in the year’s NFL draft.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off next week and mock draft season is in full swing.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has now released his second mock of the new year and has the Seattle Seahawks selecting defensive tackle Justin Madubuike out of Texas A&M at No. 27 overall.

“Get to know Madubuike’s name, because I expect him to rise at the combine,” Kiper writes. “The 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle put up stellar numbers as an interior penetrator for the Aggies the past two seasons, racking up 11 sacks and 22 total tackles for loss. He wreaked havoc on SEC offensive linemen.”

“Seattle could see huge turnover along its defensive line with Jadeveon Clowney, Ezekiel Ansah, Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods all free agents, so Madubuike would help it reload after a down season in which the Seahawks had just 28 sacks,” Kiper continued. “They have an extra second-round pick to help them restock.”

The defensive linemen are scheduled to work out Saturday, Feb. 29 from 1-8:00 p.m. PT.

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Seahawks select defensive lineman in latest CBS mock draft

CBS has the Seattle Seahawks selecting defensive tackle Justin Madubuike from Texas A&M in the first round of their latest 2020 mock draft.

The Seattle Seahawks rarely do things conventionally, and that is particularly true of the NFL draft.

Trading down and out of the first round has become almost the norm for this team, and when they do make first round picks they are often players who many pundits didn’t consider first round caliber (L.J. Collier) – or were players that didn’t seem to fit Seattle’s positional needs (Rashaad Penny).

Thus, folks who are making mock drafts are trying their best to calibrate to Seattle’s unpredictability in the first round, a difficult task at this stage of the draft process when player values are still a long way from decided.

Still, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson went with a rather unheralded selection in his mock draft, projecting the Seahawks to select Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike at No. 27 overall.

Madubuike certainly fills a positional need for Seattle as a versatile defensive lineman with the requisite strength and athleticism to excel as a gap penetrator and an interior pass rusher, but he is not often viewed as a first round talent.

Of course, a strong showing at the combine could change that.

Madubuike is an interesting name to keep an eye on in a draft that lacks elite talent across the defensive line.

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