2020 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Kindle Vildor with 163rd overall pick

The Bears selected Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor with the 163rd overall pick.

After only two draft selections in the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, Bears general manager Ryan Pace has been busy adding some developmental talent to Chicago’s roster.

The Bears selected Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor with the 163rd overall pick. Chicago has now used three of their first four picks on defense.

Vildor is an athletic corner with the ability to play in multiple coverages. Vildor had 9 interceptions, 9 tackles for loss and 25 pass breakups in his final three seasons at Georgia Southern.

With the selection of Vildor, the Bears now have eight cornerbacks on their roster, which is almost as many tight ends that they have with 10.

Kyle Fuller, Jaylon Johnson, Buster Skrine, Kevin Toliver, Tre Roberson, Artie Burns, Duke Shelley and now Vildor make up Chicago’s cornerback room.

[lawrence-related id=443510,443544,443533,443440]

10 players who have had pre-draft calls with the Broncos

Here are 10 prospects who have had pre-draft video calls with the Broncos.

[protected-iframe id=”0f14af5fda7524a1947f9a1078021237-104190889-4678557″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/nfl-draftville-draft-insiders-preview/who-are-the-sleepers-in-this-years-draft-class/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

In previous offseasons, NFL teams were allowed to have 30 draft prospects visit their facilities in the weeks leading up to the draft.

This year, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, the league told teams that they were not allowed to travel to prospects or have prospects visit their facilities. Teams were permitted to hold video calls with players, though.

The Broncos presumably had pre-draft calls with 30 prospects. We know the names of 10 of the prospects that Denver called leading up to the draft.

We know that the Broncos had video calls with defensive lineman Robert Windsor, wide receiver Denzel Mims, cornerback Kindle Vildor, cornerback Cameron Dantzler, offensive lineman Josh Jones, defensive lineman Leki Fotu, linebacker Joe Bachie, offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, center Matt Hennessy and cornerback Kristian Fulton.

It’s clear that wide receiver, cornerback and the offensive line will be three of Denver’s biggest priorities in the draft. The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the draft, including the 15th overall pick on Thursday.

[vertical-gallery id=637207]

Last 7-round mock draft simulation has Cardinals failing to trade back, taking big OT

They are unable to make a trade that gets them a second-round pick.

Based on the names of the players that have come out as having had contact with the Arizona Cardinals, it would seem the team would like to trade down in the first round, hopefully adding a second-round pick. The players consistently seem to be ones pegged to be selected between picks 15 and 50.

However, in a mock draft simulation I ran, the Cardinals were unable to work a trade with either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos or Atlanta Falcons that would bring a second-round pick to the Cardinals. All three teams reportedly are looking to move up in the draft but were unwilling to give up a second-round pick.

So here are the results of this simulation for the Cardinals.

Round 1: Louisville OT Mekhi Becton

(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Becton is Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 1 tackle in the draft, but in this simulation, the first tackle to be selected in Tristan Wirfs at No. 5 overall. Becton has experience playing both tackle positions. He is a mammoth of a young man an has very quick feet and good speed. His technique improved tremendously from 2018 to 2019, showing how coachable he is. And his tape shows him throwing guys around with ease. He can play right tackle as a rookie and gives the Cardinals flexibility if D.J. Humphries gets hurt or underperforms during his new contract.

[protected-iframe id=”b8298580b0556a34b31c8547e1eb9674-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/25551206/download.mp3″ ]

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.

[lawrence-related id=644556,644614,644507]

Broncos had pre-draft call with CB Kindle Vildor

The Broncos are continuing to look at cornerback prospects entering the NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos had a pre-draft video call with Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor, according to Steelers Depot’s Daniel Valente.

Vildor (5-10, 191 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 22 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says the cornerback “has the ability to challenge for a CB4/CB5 spot for man-cover defenses.”

Zierlein was not impressed with Vildor’s tackling, which probably wouldn’t make him a good fit for Vic Fangio’s defense in Denver.

During his final three years with the Eagles, Vildor totaled 94 tackles, one sack, nine interceptions, one forced fumble and 25 pass breakups. He would likely compete for a rotational job if selected by the Broncos later this month.

Vildor is the 22nd-best cornerback in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine rankings on Draft Wire.

Denver will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25) and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team add multiple cornerbacks.

[vertical-gallery id=636923]

10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine

NFL Combine 2020: 10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch

The 2020 NFL Draft is fast approaching and with the Eagles looking to make changes up and down the roster, Howie Roseman and company could have a few surprises in store.

The Eagles have been linked to Henry Ruggs III and Tee Higgins for weeks now, but what if Howie Roseman believes in the depth at receiver in the draft and decides to lean another way in the first round?

The Eagles have several big needs and there’s been some discussion about a full-scale rebuild in the secondary.

Malcolm Jenkins wants a new contract, and Roseman has been transparent about both parties doing what’s best for both parties. Rodney McLeod is an unrestricted free agent along with cornerbacks Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby.

If the Eagles do choose to use a first or second-round pick on a defensive back, here are 10 defensive back options that make the most sense.

***

1. Kristian Fulton — CB — LSU

With Jalen Mills set to hit free agency, the Eagles could replace the former LSU cornerback with one of the current Tiger greats.

Fulton made an immediate impact when thrown into the fire and over the past two seasons, he’s been the highest-graded cornerback in America, according to PFF.

Fulton is elite at the point of attack, as he owns the highest forced incompletion rate in the past two years, allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught.

2020 Senior Bowl: 5 DB prospects for the Eagles to watch

2020 Senior Bowl: 5 DB’s for the Eagles to watch

We’re just moments away from kickoff at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl and with the Eagles holding 10 picks in the NFL draft, it’ll be imperative for Howie Roseman and company to evaluate the best senior talent in America.

With Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills expected to walk in free agency, the Eagles will have needs at the cornerback position.

Here are five defensive backs, regardless of the position that the Eagles should watch.

****

1. Darnay Holmes — UCLA

In his three seasons as a starter for the Bruins, Holmes led the team in interceptions, as has big-game pedigree, earning praises after becoming a rare true freshman to start for the school.

Because of an ankle injury, the 5-foot-11 corner missed the first two games of 2019, as he finished with 34 tackles and two interceptions — which still led the team — and six pass breakups.