Tag: Malik Harrison

2020 NFL Draft: 5 LBs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are five linebackers that could be on the board when the Bills make their pick on April 24th. 

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks at No. 54 overall.

Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.

This installment of our position-by-position series looks at the linebacker prospects and which players could still be on the board when the Bills make their first selection at the upcoming draft:

Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Current roster

The linebacker position is a relative strength on the Bills roster. Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano have complete control over two of the starting linebacker positions in Buffalo’s nickel defense. Edmunds led all Bills defenders by playing in 94.7 percent of the team’s snaps on defense, while Milano was fifth among defenders, playing 86.3 percent.

When Buffalo does move into a 4-3 defense, they will rely on the recentlight signed AJ Klein, a recent free-agent signing, to play opposite Milano. The Bills also have Tyler Matakevich, Corey Thompson, Vosean Joseph, and Tyrel Dodson as depth players and special teams contributors. 

Buffalo could look for an athletic player to provide better depth at the linebacker position. The second round is most likely too early for the team to select a player at this position. However, if there are any fears that they may not be able re-sign Milano, who will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2020 season, they may find a player who could spell Milano in the long run in this draft. At this point, though, there’s a minuscule chance that Brandon Beane would allow Milano to see the open market. The Bills also will have to find their new Lorenzo Alexander too, which will be easier said than done. 

South outside linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Akeem Davis-Gaither | Appalachian State

Davis-Gaither is a small school standout in this draft. He eclipsed the century mark in total tackles in each of the past two years. During his senior year, Davis-Gaither set a career-high with five sacks. He’s a bit lighter at 224 pounds, fitting into the stature of a hybrid role. He did fairly well as a blitzer. He’s able to get through gaps easily. However, Davis-Gaither sometimes gets hung up getting off blocks. But he can do a lot as a defender, someone who could eventually be eased into an Alexander type mold as a strong pass defender and pass rusher. 

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Prospect for the Pack: Ohio State LB Malik Harrison

Breaking down the draft profile of Ohio State LB Malik Harrison, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2020 draft.

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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 Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison:

What he can do 

– Good size for the position (6-2, 247). He’ll survive just fine at inside linebacker at the next level

– Thumping run stopper. Works through blocks, fires downhill through gaps and patrols well sideline to sideline. Aggressive. Always arrives at the ball carrier with physicality. Should be a plus run defender

– Long arms and good overall length (nearly 80″ wingspan) provide a big tackling radius

– Tested well at the combine. Had explosive jumps and finished the three-cone drill in 6.83 seconds. Profile suggests a quick, easy mover, but didn’t always show on tape

– High energy and always in pursuit

– Some struggles in both man and zone coverage could limit his usage. Can be manipulated in zone and didn’t have an abundance of good reps in man

– Not sure he can flip his hips and hang with fast tight ends and running backs downfield

– Showed ability to use length, quickness and power to shed blocks

– Lived in the backfield. Produced 25 tackles for losses the last two seasons

– Ohio State liked using him as a blitzer and spy. Effective in both roles. Great burst downhill

– Indecisiveness shows up from time to time. Hesitation steps put him a step behind the action. Might need to trust his eyes more; see it, and go. Problem will be magnified at the next level

How he fits

Each of the last two seasons, the Packers had to scramble during August to find a veteran run-stopper at linebacker, trading for Antonio Morrison in 2018 and B.J. Goodson in 2019. Harrison is the upgrade on both players. There are question marks about his ability to be a true, three-down linebacker in today’s NFL, but he’ll bring verified run-stopping ability to the table early in his career at the next level. If his play-diagnosing ability catches up to his athletic ability, he’ll have a chance to be one of the top run-stopping linebackers in the league over time. If the Packers took Harrison, they’d be banking on Oren Burks developing into the complementary coverage player at linebacker.

NFL comp

Former Buckeye linebacker Raekwon McMillian, who went to the Dolphins with pick No. 54 in the 2017 draft. They are both big, physical run defenders with limitations in coverage. Harrison is probably a slightly better athlete.

Where Packers could get him

At some point on Day 2. Teams that think Harrison can play on all three downs might like him in the second round. He should be a top-100 player.

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

Dueling 4-round mock draft has Ravens going in different directions

With the same prospects available in our mock draft, we each tried to predict what the Baltimore Ravens would do in the 2020 NFL Draft

With the 2020 NFL Draft going all-digital thanks to social distancing from the coronavirus, things could get a little interesting this year. While picking exactly what any single team will do in the draft is a fool’s errand, the turbulence of this year’s draft make it even harder to predict. To try and narrow down what the Baltimore Ravens might do, we’ve created a dueling mock draft.

Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator to pick for the 31 other teams, Kevin and I looked at what prospects were still available when Baltimore was on the clock through the first four rounds. These were the picks we each made for the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1st round (No. 28)

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Matt: LB Patrick Queen, LSU

Inside linebacker might be Baltimore’s most pressing need right now. While the position has gotten less valuable over time with defenses playing more dime, the Ravens are probably one of the few teams that could still use a true three-down linebacker. Queen would be one of the best answers to that hole.

Queen is a smart, fast and rangy linebacker that can drop back into coverage as well as come down in run support and lay the hammer. He’s an immediate starter with legitimate Pro Bowl capability, which is impressive to find this late in the first round. That’s too much to pass up, regardless of what other needs might exist.

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Kevin: EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

Epenesa would be a great selection at 28 for the Ravens. Due to a poor performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, it seems he’s fallen a bit from the top-20 pick he was supposed to be, but he still presents great value. Epenesa can play both defensive end and EDGE, where Baltimore can experiment with him in multiple different positions on the defense. He can also be insurance incase one of the Ravens new defensive linemen gets injured. He’s long, powerful, instinctive, and dominates at the point of attack. He truly screams “Raven”.

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2020 NFL Draft: Examining Giants’ third-round possibilities

Using multiple mock draft simulators, Giants Wire breaks down a few interesting third-round possibilities for the New York Giants.

The New York Giants traded their 2020 third-round pick as part of the package used to obtain New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams last October.

That pick turned out to be the 68th overall selection later this month, or the fourth pick in the third round. The Giants did recoup a third rounder when they were awarded a compensatory selection by the league for losing Landon Collins in free agency last March. That pick is No. 99 overall.

So, who could the Giants potentially get with that pick? Let’s take a quick look.

Using The Draft Network’s latest rankings on their simulator, here’s who we selected in the first two rounds and a few players that might pique Dave Gettleman’s interest at No. 99.

Round 1, Pick 4: Isaiah Simmons, linebacker, Clemson

Round 2, Pick 36: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

Round 3, Pick 99….

There are three candidates on the board that stuck out to me. First was UConn offensive tackle Matthew Peart, a 6-foot-7, 310-pounder who has been climbing up draft boards of late.

Second, is another tackle, LSU’s Saahdiq Charles (6’4″, 295) who is quick and versatile.

Then, there is one of the most intriguing players in the draft in Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool, who at 6-foot-4 and 238 pound ran a 4.42 40 at the NFL Combine.

My pick: Claypool. There’s a lot of upside with him and the Giants need a bigger receiver to compliment their group of predominantly smaller players.

Using Fanspeak.com’s mock simulator, here is how we fared when picking for the Giants.

Round 1, Pick 4: Simmons. He was also the highest rated on their board.

Round 2, Pick 36: Xavier McKinney, safety, Alabama

Round 3, Pick 99….here are the three top candidates that would fit the Giants the best.

Nick Harris, center, Washington: The Giants are in the market for a young center and Harris (6’1″, 302) is a tough guy who fits what the Joe Judge Giants are aiming to be: hard-working and team-oriented.

Zack Moss, running back, Utah: A running back? Yes, the Giants would like to augment their backfield even though it looks solid with Saquon Barkley and Dion Lewis. Moss is a compact runner that can run between the tackles and can also be a factor in the passing game.

Malik Harrison, linebacker, Ohio State: The Giants are long on linebackers at the moment, especially if they land Simmons, so Harrison would be a severe luxury. But he’s a productive player from a top program who might be too good a prospect here to pass on.

My pick: Harris. The offensive line needs to get down and dirty and Harris playing in between Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler gives me some comfort they are headed in the right direction.

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Chargers stack deck in Draft Wire’s 4-round mock draft

The Los Angeles Chargers address both sides of the ball in Draft Wire’s latest four-round mock draft.

The majority of the signings and trades have concluded. Now all that’s left to the roster-building process for the Chargers and the rest of the teams in the league is the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the remaining needs, Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling pieced together a four-round mock draft that sees Los Angeles adding a quarterback, two offensive linemen and a linebacker.

Here’s who he has the Bolts taking with those four selections in the upcoming draft:

  • Round 1 – QB Justin Hebert, Oregon
  • Round 2 – OT Austin Jackson, USC
  • Round 3 – LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State
  • Round 4 – OL Daryl Williams, Mississippi State

Kicking things off, the Chargers address arguably their biggest need by selecting Herbert, the 6-foot-6 and 236 pounder. While some mental aspects of his game draw some concern, Herbert has all the physical tools in the world to become a successful franchise quarterback.

Following that up, Los Angeles selects Jackson, the 6-foot-5 and 322 pound tackle. Jackson is gifted with athleticism and talent for the position, but he needs to approve his footwork and hand technique. The Phoenix native would offer competition with Trey Pipkins at the left tackle position.

To conclude Day 2, the Bolts take an immediate contributor at the linebacker position. Harrison offers the skillset to push for the team’s starting Mike while Drue Tranquill mans the Will. Harrison, the 6-foot-3 and 246 pounder is a physical thumper in the run game who offers plus special teams value.

In Round 4, the Chargers add a key piece to the interior part of the offensive line. Williams played left guard for two seasons before moving to center in 2019. With Los Angeles, he projects as a multi-position interior offensive lineman who is a reliable in pass protection and run blocking.

2020 NFL draft: Malik Harrison scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State linebacker prospect Malik Harrison

Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State

Elevator Pitch

Harrison is a hard-hitting enforcer at the linebacker position. He has the size to provide some pass rush abilities as well. A linebacker who can provide some playmaking ability for a defense. He is a player who can get sideline to sideline and get downhill quickly. A true run stopper.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 247

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Harrison is very quick to fill the gap and get to the running back. He reads the flow very well and then uses his quickness to get downhill and plug the hole. When Harrison arrives, he brings the pop with him. He can close on his target quickly and good taking down runners one on one. Harrison also very good at backside pursuit.

His physicality isn’t just limited to his tackling, Harrison does a good job of shedding blockers in the run and pass game. His length allows him to keep blockers at bay while he tries to get loose and make the play. Does well to navigate through traffic when pursuing the runner.

Malik does provide some pass rush and blitzing from the linebacker spot. Recorded four sacks as a senior for the Buckeyes. Not an every down rusher but situationally he can be very effective with his timing of shooting the gaps.

Weaknesses

His aggressive play style can get him burned at times. He will bite on play action fakes that will leave a vacated spot in the defense when he tries getting downhill too quickly. He doesn’t have the best instincts in coverage so getting him up to speed will be paramount for the defensive staff.

Not a real fluid athlete in space, does well for someone of his size. His recovery speed is average at best when he gets out of position. Deeper drops will cause him fits as he wasn’t asked to do this much for the Buckeyes. He is more of quarterback spy or playing closer to the line of scrimmage.

Projection: Day 2

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The Browns Wire Podcast: Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors talks Buckeyes draft prospects

The Browns Wire Podcast: Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors joins to discuss Ohio State football and the Buckeyes’ NFL Draft prospects

Welcome to The Browns Wire Podcast, hosted by Josh Keatley (@JoshKeatley16). This week Adam Moore (@moore2012) and I talk to Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) of Eleven Warriors to discuss Ohio State football and the NFL Draft.

It’s also available on all of your favorite podcast apps, including iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher and Spotify. Thanks for listening!

Music provided by Good Reverend.

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2020 NFL draft: LB Malik Harrison NFL draft profile

Steelers Wire draft profile featuring LB Malik Harrison (Ohio State Buckeyes).

Columbus, Ohio born and raised, naturally Harrison chose to attend The Ohio State University. He came into OSU with a reputation for the ability to play anywhere on the field. In high school, Harrison played on both sides of the ball – quarterback, strong safety, and returned punts.

Harrison played in 12 games as a reserve his true freshman season. He appeared in 14 games his sophomore season with one start (36 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks). In Harrison’s junior season, he tied for the Buckeyes’ lead with 81 tackles. The linebacker entered his true senior season second on the team in career tackles with 130 and solo tackles with 87 and ended the season as the leader in tackles with 75 stops.

The linebacker capped off his Buckeyes career with 205 tackles, 29 for loss, nine sacks, nine pass breakups, an interception, and three fumble recoveries.

An early-down player for most teams, Harrison brings more value against the run than the pass. With more development in zone, his playing time could increase. He’s projected to be a starter within two seasons.

Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State University

Height | 6-3

Weight | 247

Class | Senior

College Bio

Career Stats

Beyond Vince Williams and Devin Bush, there is no depth at inside linebacker. The Steelers lost reserves Tyler Matakevich to the Buffalo Bills in free agency, and Mark Barron was released, which signals that the Steelers will be snagging an ILB via the NFL Draft. If Harrison is on Pittsburgh’s radar, it would have to select him with the third-round pick.

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Bears target offensive, defensive needs in new 7-round mock draft

In a new 7-round mock draft, Draftwire has the Bears addressing every need from tight end to offensive line to quarterback to cornerback.

Now that compensatory picks have been announced, we have the complete order for the picks in April’s impending NFL Draft.

Draft Wire released their first seven-round mock draft, which includes those compensatory selections, and Luke Easterling has Chicago addressing every need from tight end to offensive line to quarterback to cornerback.

The Bears have eight draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, which include a pair of second rounders and a fourth-round compensatory pick.

Here’s who Easterling believes the Bears will target:

43. Cole Kmet | TE | Notre Dame

  • The Bears are searching for answers at the tight end position, and who better than arguably the best tight end in the NFL Draft? Kmet would be the perfect “in line” tight end in Matt Nagy’s offense.

50. Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State

  • The Buckeyes used Harrison off the edge to rush the passer, and the Bears could do with more production at edge rusher on defense, especially with Leonard Floyd’s future in question.

140. Dane Jackson | CB | Pittsburgh

  • The Bears are looking to replace Prince Amukamara, and they could find that guy in Jackson, who brings athleticism to the position and also is a solid special teams contributor.

159. Charlie Heck | OT | North Carolina

  • The Bears need all the help they can get on the offensive line. While they’re likely stuck with tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie for another season, Heck could be a prospect to develop for the future.

163. Isaiah Coulter | WR | Rhode Island

  • After the release of Taylor Gabriel, the Bears are in search of a speedy receiver to serve as an additional weapon for Mitchell Trubisky. Coulter raised his draft stock with a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, including a 4.45 40-time.

196. Anthony Gordon | QB | Washington State

  • The Bears are in the market for a quarterback, and Gordon would certainly fit the bill. Gordon could be a Day 3 project Chicago could develop as they see what Trubisky or a veteran addition can do in 2020.

200. D.J. Wonnum | EDGE | South Carolina

  • Chicago needs some help in the pass rush following a disappointing effort in 2019. While Wonnum hasn’t been too impactful in his collegiate career, he could be someone to develop beside Khalil Mack.

233. Robert Windsor | DL | Penn State

  • The Bears are deepest on the defensive line, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t add some developmental prospects. Windsor plays with great effort, and he always seems to find himself around the football. He also provides some interior pass rush, which could complement Akiem Hicks.

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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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