Tag: Malcolm Koonce

Mel Kiper throws the Lions a serious 2-round curveball in his latest mock

Kiper projects his own 26th-ranked DE to the Lions as the No. 41 overall pick

Perhaps the most well-known NFL draft analyst, Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN is always provocative. In his latest mock draft, Kiper took the provocation to a new level for Detroit Lions fans with his second-round projection for the team.

Kiper colored within the lines with his first Lions pick. At No. 7 overall he projected LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase. While it might not happen, Chase is certainly a plausible candidate worthy of strong consideration by Lions GM Brad Holmes at that spot.

Then came the second round. Kiper went way off the beaten path to project Buffalo EDGE Malcolm Koonce to the Lions with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Here’s what Kiper had to say about Koonce,

Koonce is a natural pass-rusher who had 14 sacks over the past two seasons. He has great length and can be disruptive as a situational edge defender. He’s being underrated in the lead-up to this draft, but I love his tape.

Despite Kiper’s optimism, it’s a massive reach by draft standards. Koonce is the No. 33 EDGE defender in the rankings from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He’s the No. 166 overall player in The Draft Network’s current big board. Perhaps most condemning, Kiper’s own network at ESPN ranks Koonce as the 26th-best defensive end prospect in the draft.

I included Koonce as the seventh-round prospect in a “pass rusher for every round” piece at Browns Wire over the weekend. That seems more like the range where Koonce will be drafted, but crazy things certainly do happen in draft season.

Browns 2021 draft: A pass rusher for every round

Here is a pass rushing prospect for the Browns draft spot (before trades) for each of the draft’s seven rounds

One of the biggest remaining holes on the Cleveland Browns roster after the first couple of weeks of free agency is the starting DE/EDGE spot opposite Myles Garrett. The team signed Takk McKinley and Malik Jackson as veteran additions, but neither should prevent GM Andrew Berry and the Browns from finding a more permanent solution to replace Olivier Vernon in the starting defensive lineup.

The 2021 NFL draft offers scores of different options. It’s not a top-heavy class, but with the Browns not picking anywhere near the top of the draft, that’s just fine.

Here is a pass rushing prospect for the Browns draft spot (before trades) for each of the draft’s seven rounds, with an eye for fit in Cleveland and how we expect Joe Woods’ defense to operate.

Pro Day preview for March 18: Potential Giants targets

A quick breakdown of the Pro Days being held on March 18 and who the New York Giants may be scouting at each.

The college pro days continue on Thursday with eight schools holding workouts featuring their draft-eligible players. One school – Louisiana-Monroe – did not have any players rated by any of the top draft sites although they had one invited to the Combine in RB Josh Johnson.

Here’s the schedule and some possible players the New York Giants could be targeting.

Top MAC prospects to watch for the 2021 NFL Draft

The MAC is back and has some NFL prospects to watch

The Mid-American Conference kicks off the 2020 season with a “better late than never” approach on Wednesday night. MACtion is back!

Here at Browns Wire, we approach college football from an NFL Draft perspective. That means the MAC isn’t always prominent in the focus. The 2021 NFL Draft might go without a single player from the conference hearing his name called, a year after just two players from the conference were selected.

There is still some viable NFL talent in the MAC, however. Here are some of the MAC prospects to watch with an eye for the 2021 NFL Draft, in no particular order:

Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo. The best prospect in the MAC this year, Koonce is on the Senior Bowl watch list for his ability to rush the passer and finish plays behind the line. At 6-3 and a well-framed 250 pounds, he’s got a nice first step and good hand usage on the edge. Koonce is smart and quick enough to handle short-range coverage and run defense too.

Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green. A converted WR whose physical attributes (6-4, 251) project much better at tight end. He’s got strong hands and runs routes more like a wideout. His game against Notre Dame last year — 10 catches — was an eye-opener. Morris is on the Senior Bowl watch list and has a chance to get some buzz in the hybrid WR/TE role that is becoming more popular in the NFL.

Mike Caliendo, OG, Western Michigan. An unheralded physical presence, Caliendo will need to prove himself with Luke Juriga (now in the NFL) not playing center next to him. He’s a punishing run blocker with good natural bend and balance in pass protection.

Christian Albright, OLB, Ball State. Albright plays with a ton of energy and impressive power for a 6-2, 240-pound off-ball LB. He is at his best attacking gaps and blitzing. His play reminds me some of current Bills LB A.J. Klein.

Tommy Doyle, OT, Miami. He’s easy to spot at 6-foot-8 with long arms to match. Doyle opted out for the draft before the MAC announced its return, but he will play for the Redhawks. Doyle is a limited athlete but knows how to mitigate his deficiencies. He’s a better NFL prospect than former Toledo OT Storm Norton, who has kicked around practice squads and the bottom of active rosters for several seasons.

Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo. Patterson is a touchdown magnet; he scored 19 times in 2019. At 5-9 and 195 pounds, he’s got some stylistic similarities to Kenyan Drake of the Cardinals, only in a more diminutive package. He catches the ball well and has a natural slipperiness that makes him tough to hit squarely. With his strength to run through glancing blows, Patterson is a guy with a fun NFL future.

Treshaun Hayward, LB, Western Michigan. The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year for his 142-tackle effort, Hayward is everywhere on defense. He’s one of the surest tacklers around and very quick to the point of attack. At worst, Hayward has the makings of a special teams ace in the NFL.

D’Wayne Eskridge, CB, Western Michigan. Yes, I’m aware Eskridge plays wide receiver for the Broncos. But his NFL future is at cornerback, where he also played some out of injury-related necessity. His quick feet and savvy from playing the other side of the ball make him an appealing slot corner prospect with upside.

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