Tag: Kendrick Green

Steelers C Kendrick Green signs his rookie contract

The Steelers finally have their entire 2021 NFL draft class signed.

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When the Pittsburgh Steelers meet up to start training camp this week, they will have their entire 2021 NFL draft class signed and ready to go. According to Green’s agent, Green signed his contract Tuesday.

Green is in line to be the starting center for the Steelers on opening day. Longtime center Maurkice Pouncey retired rather suddenly after the 2020 season leaving a definite need at center. The Steelers drafted Green out of Illinois in the third round of the 2021 draft and although his experience at center was limited in college, the Steelers hope he can be the next great Steelers center.

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Clock is ticking for Steelers to sign OL Kendrick Green to rookie contract

Of the nine players in the Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 draft class, only offensive lineman Kendrick Green remains unsigned. 

Of the nine players in the Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 draft class, only offensive lineman Kendrick Green remains unsigned.

No need to fret, though — there’s still plenty of time.

If Green is not yet signed by Pittsburgh on August 10, a notice sent to NFL clubs from the player personnel department this week states the following:

If a Drafted Rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2021, and may sign a Player Contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft in the 2022 League Year.

It’s not likely this scenario will come into play for Green and the Steelers, but it’s nevertheless an intriguing policy.

Unsigned rookies can participate in offseason activities, including upcoming Steelers training camp, as Green has been. There’s no telling why he hasn’t been signed, but one possibility is that his exact role is undefined. Camp should be an excellent indicator as to whether the Steelers believe Green will be a starter beginning Week 1 or if they’ll make him wait it out behind J.C. Hassenaur or B.J. Finney.

Perhaps the most probable reason for the holdup is that Green’s agent, Jason Bernstein of Clarity Football, is waiting to see how the contracts of other players drafted in a similar spot shake out. Only two players selected in the third round — Dyami Brown of the Washington Football Team and Nico Collins of the Houston Texans — have signed their deals.

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VIDEO: Mike Tomlin’s call to Steelers rookie OL Kendrick Green

Rookie offensive lineman Kendrick Green gets the call that life-changing call from head coach Mike Tomlin.

Watching these moments where the newest members of the Steelers family get the call from Mike Tomlin never fails to choke us up. This one is no different.

Illini football posted a video of when offensive lineman Kendrick Green’s phone rang and his new head coach was on the other end.

A smile immediately came to Green’s face when he heard Tomlin’s voice no doubt asking him if he was ready to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.

What Green said to Tomlin was beeped out, but I think it was, “Let’s fudging go”.

It’s such a happy moment that rookies will remember for the rest of their lives.

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Kendrick!

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PFF tabs a Vikings-fan-favorite draft prospect for 2021

Do you want the Minnesota Vikings to draft Illinois guard Kendrick Green in the 2021 NFL draft?

Though the Vikings bring back both of their starting guards from 2020, the team could very well need to upgrade both spots in the upcoming NFL draft.

Minnesota struggled to protect the quarterback from the interior of the offensive line this past season. Starting left guard Dakota Dozier has re-signed, but he might just be a depth play at this point. There’s also Ezra Cleveland, the starting right guard from 2020, who the Vikings could move to left tackle with Riley Reiff’s departure.

So it makes sense that plenty of Vikings fans are looking at guards in NFL draft simulations. PFF has a draft simulation and the outlet reported that Illinois guard Kendrick Green has been a fan-favorite among Minnesota fans doing draft simulations.

Green is quick off the line and can pay multiple positions. He was listed at 6-4, 315 pounds in college. NFL.com currently has Green projected as a third-round pick. PFF gave Green a 93.6 zone blocking grade, so he fits with what the Vikings’ offensive line scheme in that sense.

Green could come in and start right away, especially if Mason Cole is not a starter at either of the guard spots. Although, there is a possibility that Minnesota would want more of a sure-fire bet at guard, so maybe the team opts to land one earlier in the draft.

What an ideal 2021 draft looks like for the Cardinals

In what could be an important draft for Arizona’s future, here are some ideal scenarios for the Cardinals.

This could be a pivotal draft for the Arizona Cardinals, one that could make or break their future.

Right now, they have the pieces in place to make it to the playoffs, but there are still holes that they need to fill. While it is true that they can still fill some holes in free agency and have cleared some recent cap space to be able to do so, they still need to have a solid draft to round everything out.

With that in mind, here are, barring any trades, an ideal seven-round scenario for Arizona (and let’s hope this turns out as well as this one):


Re-evaluating the Jags’ needs after Week 1 of free agency

It’s a over a week past free agency and the Jags roster is improved. However, they still have a lot of needs to address in the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and his staff have wrapped up one of the most important parts of his first season as an NFL head coach, and that’s the first week of free agency. Typically, that’s the timeframe where the most significant additions are made to the roster, and also the point where fans and the front office can gauge the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft.

In early January, we assessed the Jags’ needs heading into free agency. With the free agency additions made over the last week-plus, we’ve now re-evaluated those needs to give fans an idea of what the Jags can do in the draft.

From their biggest needs to their minor ones, here is how we’ve ranked the Jags’ needs heading into the draft:

Podcast: Diving deeper into Jags Wire’s latest 7-round mock

Jags Wire James Johnson and Phil Smith go over their newest mock for the Jags as the first week of free agency is over.

In this week’s episode of “Bleav in the Jaguars,” Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and myself started things off re-ranking the Jacksonville Jaguars’ needs  now that free agency has been ongoing for over a week. Overall, there were eight needs discussed though some weren’t as pressing as others.

Afterward, we dove deeper into the recent mock draft released on Jags Wire this week. It’s one that knocked out all eight of the needs we discussed before hand and utilized all 10 Jags selections.

The full episode can be heard below in the media player, while our archived episodes can be revisited here.

Feel free to subscribe to “Bleav in the Jags” via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

Chargers Prospect Interview: Illinois OL Kendrick Green

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez sat down with a potential draft target in the middle rounds.

I was fortunate enough to sit down and talk to former Illinois guard Kendrick Green to pick his brain and get an inside look at his mindset going into this year’s draft.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 315

College Bio Page

Overview

Green was recruited as a defensive tackle but switched to the offensive line as a redshirt freshman. Green started 33 games for the Illini, with 29 games at left guard and four at center. This past season, he was named USA TODAY second team All-America and All-Big Ten first team.

Green has good movement skills, is as durable as it gets and plays with a nasty disposition. While his pass protection is still a work in progress, he has the foot quickness, core strength and explosiveness up front to be impactful.

Green projects to be a strong contributor inside, either at center or guard. It may take him a year to carve up a starting role, but given his physical tools and willingness to take it to his opponents in the passing and running game, he profiles well to the next level.

Round Projection: 3rd-4th

Highlights

Describe your time working with Duke Manyweather, the leading expert on NFL offensive linemen.

I’m really enjoying it. Duke is one of the best at what he does and he’s taught me a lot. There’s a great group of guys out here, too.

You leave Illinois for the next level as an experienced interior offensive linemen. You really were one of the leaders of that offense. How does that experience serve you well going forward?

Being a leader you learn as you go to become a better teammate than you already are. Also, getting the trust from the guys in the locker room is a big thing for me, as well.

What do you enjoy the most about playing on the offensive line?

I like being a part of a wave, ya know? A unit, but of multiple parts. I think that’s the best part, but you get to play physical at all times.

Most of your experience has come at left guard, but you’ve played center. What do you feel is your best position at the next level?

I think I play both very well. I’ve been working on both in my training, snapping the football and working on some guard stuff, as well. Wherever a team wants me, I going to play at 110%.

Is there one scheme that fits you best?

Honestly, I can play in zone schemes. I can play in gap schemes. I can do a lot very well.

What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?

Try to take him into that deep water. Just wear him out the whole game, play through the whistle and break their spirit. I like to talk a lot on the field, too. I’m a big talker.

How do you react if someone delivers a late hit on your quarterback?

Gotta go get him back, in between the whistle.

Do you have a preferred pass set?

Not really. I do a little bit of everything.

What kind of impact is Kendrick Green going to make at the next level?

I am going to bring a sense of competitiveness and dependability. I want to be a guy for a team who can be plugged in right away and not have to worry about the position until my career is over.

2021 Jags Wire mock: 7-round projections after Week 1 of free agency

The Jags helped their defense tremendously in free agency, but the need for a No. 1 tight end is still there.

The first week of free agency is behind us and the Jacksonville Jaguars made several notable additions to their roster. That makes it the perfect time for us to release a new mock draft as the Jags added a total of 12 new faces from other teams when including their decision to trade for Malcom Brown.

This will mark our second mock of the season as our last one came out over a month ago. It has a lot of elements as the last one due to the Jags free agency approach, but at the same time, it also includes some interesting changes. Just as we did last time, we used Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, and below are the results we came away with.