Gil Brandt’s Hot 150 has some surprises for possible Lions draft targets

Gil Brandt’s Hot 150 has some surprises for possible Lions draft targets in the 2020 NFL Draft

Gil Brandt is the “Godfather of the NFL Draft”, the title bestowed upon him during his Sirius XM NFL Radio visits. It’s a fitting moniker. Brandt is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the architect of the Dallas Cowboys for 30 years and the man who still chooses which prospects get to attend the draft ceremony. His “Hot 150” is perhaps the best insider-type peek at how NFL teams view prospects that gets widely disseminated to the general public.

Brandt released his Hot 150 via NFL.com on Monday, and some players who the Detroit Lions presumably have targeted in their sights for next week’s draft show up in some interesting, unexpected places.

Joe Burrow being 1st and Chase Young 2nd on Brandt’s list are no surprise. But the presumptive No. 3 overall pick, the player who appears as the Lions’ projection at the three spot in over 80 percent of current mock drafts, isn’t anywhere in sight in the top five. Or top 10.

Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah shows up at No. 13 overall. Okudah is still the highest-rated defensive back, one spot ahead of Florida CB C.J. Henderson, but this is about the lowest anyone of national significance has rated Okudah.

The No. 3 player on Brandt’s board is Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons, with Oregon QB Justin Herbert at four and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa at five. Simmons is almost never linked with the Lions by anyone outside of fans, but Brandt seems sold despite his own questioning in his comments,

I have some questions, based on the relatively small sample size we have of his performance at any one position, but Simmons is a playmaker who should start as a rookie and do well. I can’t ever remember another player like this

Some other points of interest with relation to the Lions:

The No. 35 player (Detroit’s 2nd-round slot) on the list is Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson. No. 36 is Auburn DT Marlon Davidson, who has become a popular Lions projection of late.

Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa, another player often suggested as a Lions target with their second pick, is No. 40.

The top center is Temple’s Matt Hennessy at No. 34, ahead of Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz (No. 47). The Lions don’t need a center but could entertain one that can move to guard. Ruiz can do that, while Hennessy is regarded exclusively as a pivot.

Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden is at No. 44, one spot ahead of Clemson WR Tee Higgins. The Lions met with Bowden at the combine and Detroit sorely needs long-term solutions at wideout, where they currently do not have a player under contract after the 2020 season. USC’s Michael Pittman, another player the Lions formally interviewed in Indy, is 46th.

Utah Edge Bradlee Anae, a popular 3rd or 4th-round projection to Detroit, is No. 58. That is one spot above Penn State WR K.J. Hamler, who has some juice as a possible pick at No. 35.

There is a run of five straight players from 71 to 75 overall who all get projected to the Lions in various mock drafts in Rounds 3 and 4. In order:

North Carolina DE Jason Strowbridge

Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger

TCU OT Lucas Niang

UConn OT Matt Peart

Michigan LB Josh Uche

A couple of RBs popular with Lions fans are ranked 106-107: Utah’s Zack Moss and Florida State’s Cam Akers. Personal fave Darrynton Evans is No. 129.

There are one punter and one kicker in Brandt’s top 150. The last player on the list is Florida International QB James Morgan, who would be a fun developmental prospect for the Lions on Day 3.

Prospect for the Pack: Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden Jr.

Breaking down the draft profile of Kentucky receiver Lynn Bowden, 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 Kentucky receiver Lynn Bowden Jr.:

What he can do

– Combination of quick, evasive, fluid and tough with the ball in his hands. Natural and creative playmaker. Will make tacklers miss at the next level

– On the smaller side. Only 5-10, with short arms and small hands. Didn’t stop him from barreling through tacklers or winning between the tackles as a running quarterback

– Had to play quarterback for Kentucky for eight games in 2019. Attempted only 74 passes but ran for almost 1,500 yards and 13 scores

– Caught 67 passes as a full-time receiver in 2018. Have to wonder if move to quarterback in 2019 stunted long-term development at receiver

– Will have immediate gadget value. Think jet sweeps, quick screens, possibly even snaps in the backfield. Smart teams will expand role during developmental window at receiver

– Future is in the slot. Not built for winning outside. Rarely played on the perimeter at Kentucky

– Hit a few vertical shots from the slot. Not a speed demon, but he could have some value here

– Wanted to see more impact in the intermediate areas. He should feast there. Didn’t always win against man-to-man

– Legit worries about drops and fumbles. Had way too many of each at Kentucky

– Ability to make plays as a true running quarterback suggests possibility of impact as a running back

– Better than expected in the red zone. Crafty work wiggling free late and making plays near the boundary

– Such a balanced player. Never looks out of control. Shows up as a runner with the ball and as a receiver with the ball in the air

– Tough and elusive as a returner. Took two punt returns back for touchdowns. Experienced as a kick returner with 71 career attempts. Should be a Day 1 starting returner at the next level

– Joined Randall Cobb as the only two players in Kentucky history to produce 1,000 yards rushing, 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards returning kickoffs.

How he fits

Bowden is another option as a slot weapon and a true gadget player for Matt LaFleur. His ability to win after the catch and create for himself in confined areas could make him a valuable target in the slot and on a variety of manufactured touches. All his run-after-catch skills should translate to the next level. He was also much better than expected in the scoring area and near the sideline, expanding his range of playmaking opportunities. Bowden will also be an immediate option for return duties, both on punts and kicks. There’s a decent chance he’ll develop into a starting slot receiver who returns kicks and earns other opportunities to get the ball in his hands, but a good chunk of development is required before he’s anything close to a polished receiver.

NFL comp

This one is easy. It’s Randall Cobb. The versatility, the school, the position, the size, the likely future NFL role. Bowden is a Cobb impersonator.

Where Packers could get him

In a deep receiver class, Bowden could easily fall to Day 3. He’s a work in progress and a little bit of a projection after spending most of 2019 at quarterback. The guess here is that a team will gamble on his playmaking abilities in the fourth or fifth round.

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
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
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.
OT Jack Driscoll
WR Devin Duvernay
OT Ezra Cleveland
WR Van Jefferson
OT Andrew Thomas
S Grant Delpit
TE Cole Kmet
OT Tristan Wirfs
QB Jordan Love
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
DB Jeremy Chinn
RB/WR Antonio Gibson
DL Jordan Elliott
DB K’Von Wallace
WR Bryan Edwards
DL Ross Blacklock
LB Logan Wilson
DL Justin Madubuike
RB Cam Akers
LB Malik Harrison
RB Darrynton Evans

2020 NFL Draft: 6 receivers the Jets could target in later rounds

Jets Wire takes a look at six late-round wide receiver prospects the Jets should target in the 2020 NFL draft.

This year’s wide receiver draft class is nothing short of loaded.

Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III and Oklahoma’s CeeDeeLamb steal most of the headlines, but the depth of the class is what sets it apart. Given how deep the pool of talent runs, it is not unrealistic to expect to find a starting-caliber receiver on day two or even day three of the draft.

It remains to be seen if the Jets will go with an offensive lineman or wide receiver with the 11th pick. Either way, it’s safe to assume Douglas will look to add additional talent at receiver later in the draft regardless of what he does in the first round.

So, who are some late-round prospects the Jets should be interested in? Let’s take a look.

Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado

In 2018, Shenault was one of the best receivers in college football, catching 86 passes for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. His numbers took a hit last season due to Colorado’s quarterback struggles and injuries, which caused his draft stock to take a major hit.

Shenault’s medicals will dictate where he gets drafted. His injury history and the fact that he just underwent core surgery after the combine is not encouraging. Shenault’s combine interviews were also reportedly underwhelming.

When he’s healthy, Shenault is an elite receiver with the size and ball skills to make plays downfield. If he slips late into day two as some are now projecting, it would be worth the Jets’ while to take a chance on him.

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