Tag: marlon davidson

2020 NFL Draft: 6 DEs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are six defensive end/edge rushers for Bills to consider in the second round of the NFL Draft.

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks 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 is the third piece in a series exploring realistic options who could be on the draft board when the Bills pick in the second round. 

Here are seven defensive ends who could be an option for the Bills in the second round of the draft:

Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Current roster

The Bills addressed this position by bringing in Mario Addison and the versatile Quinton Jefferson in free agency, who could play up and down their defensive line, perhaps more at the 3-tech defensive lineman spot.. However, the unit could benefit from an infusion of youth, particularly a player who can get after the quarterback. 

Buffalo’s defensive ends are getting a bit long in the tooth, with as Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison who are currently 31 and 32 years old, respectively.  In addition, Trent Murphy enters the final year of his contract this year, and he’s 29 himself.

Thus, it’s realistic that the team could use their first pick this year on an edge rusher in order to both prepare for the future along with adding another piece of talent in Buffalo’s rotation at the position. 

 

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Titans select Marlon Davidson in Peter Schrager’s 1st mock draft

Schrager has the Titans taking former Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson.

The Tennessee Titans have the pieces in place for a highly successful offense again in 2020, but there are still some improvements that could be made to the defense ahead of the season.

Edge rusher and defensive line are both positions of need, and they could address either of them early on in the 2020 NFL Draft.

In his first mock draft, Peter Schrager of NFL Network has the Titans taking former Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson with the No. 29 overall pick.

“Davidson is a high-level performer (more SEC Player of the Week awards in 2019 than teammate Derrick Brown) and high-energy leader who can line up outside or inside in the Titans’ defensive scheme,” Schrager wrote. “Mike Vrabel will love Davidson’s personality, and Titans fans will love his effort.”

The Titans have already shown interest in Davidson, as the team has held a pre-draft meeting with him over FaceTime, so he’s definitely on general manager Jon Robinson’s radar.

Davidson posted 48 tackles (29 solo), 6.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2019.

Over four seasons with the Tigers, Davidson recorded 174 tackles (90 solo), 14.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

The 6-foot-3, 297-pound lineman has a solid skill set and good outside pass rushing ability for his size.

The Titans have also been projected to pick a cornerback in the first round, so it will be interesting to see which of the two positions — if either of them — the team selects in the first round later this month.

Tennessee Titans showing interest in Auburn DL Marlon Davidson

The Titans have met with Marlon Davidson.

The Tennessee Titans have their eye on Auburn defensive lineman, Marlon Davidson.

According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, the Titans have held a pre-draft FaceTime meeting with him.

The Auburn product is at least the second prospect we’ve heard the Titans have met with over FaceTime. They did the same with Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims, also.

General manager Jon Robinson made it clear during a conference call on Wednesday that the team has to get creative in how it prepares for the draft, and this is certainly one way to do it.

Davidson is an interesting prospect and one that should be around when the Titans are on the clock with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

While the 6-foot-3, 278-pound lineman started at defensive end for Auburn, he has the versatility to play both inside and out, which would help check a few boxes for what the Titans need.

Tennessee lost a big part of their defensive line this offseason by trading Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos, but have yet to fill that void.

Drafting Davidson would be a step in the right direction for sure, however it’s doubtful general manager Jon Robinson will simply leave replacing Casey up to the draft. I’d expect a move to be made in free agency first.

Bears held pre-draft meetings with D-linemen Marlon Davidson, Darrion Daniels

The Bears are doing their homework on some young defensive linemen in this year’s draft class.

If there’s an area of strength on the Chicago Bears, it the defensive front-seven. Specifically, the defensive line. Even after losing defensive tackle Nick Williams to free agency, defensive line remains the Bears’ deepest group.

Still, it’s smart to do your homework on the young defensive linemen in this year’s draft class, especially when they present with the ability to serve as an edge rusher. Which is exactly what the Bears are doing ahead of the NFL Draft later this month.

The Bears have held pre-draft meetings with Auburn defensive lineman/pass rusher Marlon Davidson prior to the coronavirus outbreak and Nebraska defensive lineman Darrion Daniels over FaceTime, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

Davidson, a four-year starter at Auburn, has versatility as an interior defensive lineman and coming off the edge. While the Bears recently signed Robert Quinn to replace Leonard Floyd opposite Khalil Mack on the edge, bringing in a young prospect that has versatility in the front-seven wouldn’t hurt.

But Davidson projects to be a Day 2 pick, and considering Chicago has bigger concerns to address with their two second-round picks, he might not be in the cards for the Bears.

Daniels, on the other hand, wouldn’t be brought in as a pass rusher. He’s a candidate for nose tackle, but some worry he lacks the instincts and traits needed to be a rotational defensive tackle. Although, Daniels projects to be a Day 3 prospect, which could be interesting for the Bears that have five Day 3 selections.

The Bears have seven draft picks this year — including a pair of second rounders, one pick in the fifth round, as well as two selections both in the sixth and seventh rounds.

While the Bears certainly have bigger needs than defensive line at this point — especially on offense and even on defense in the secondary — it doesn’t hurt to do your research.

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Browns hold pre-draft visit with Auburn DT Marlon Davidson

Browns hold pre-draft visit with Auburn DT Marlon Davidson

The Cleveland Browns continue to try and get as much information on as many potential draft targets as possible. Even in this time of restricted travel and personal contact, the Browns are finding ways to “meet” with players.

The latest name to pop up on the Browns virtual meeting radar is Auburn defensive tackle Marlon Davidson. He has confirmed with Justin Melo of our brother site, Draft Wire, that he had a recent FaceTime visit with the Browns in advance of the 2020 NFL Draft later this month.

Davidson is generally projected as a third-round prospect, so the Browns meeting with the energetic Davidson makes sense. Cleveland has two third-round picks and a need for a gap-shooting tackle with some positional versatility. Davidson had an impressive turn at the Senior Bowl and offers a lot of personality.

2020 NFL Draft: Jets get Jerry Jeudy & Marlon Davidson in Todd McShay’s latest mock

Todd McShay has the Jets picking wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson in the first two rounds of the draft.

As we hit the two-week mark since free agency opened, ESPN analyst Todd McShay released his latest two-round mock draft.

Despite two of the four top offensive tackles being available in Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, McShay has the Jets selecting a wide receiver with the 11th pick in the draft. That would be none other than Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

Here is McShay’s explanation for the pick:

[Offensive tackle Mekhi] Becton also would make sense here, as that offensive line still needs work, but Jeudy is the class’ best route runner and top wideout available. How can the Jets, who would be entering the season with Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman as their top two wide receivers, pass on this type of playmaker? The Jets were one of four NFL teams to average fewer than 200 passing yards and score fewer than 20 passing touchdowns last season, and that was with Robby Anderson still in green.

While McShay’s rationale does make sense, it’s hard to believe Joe Douglas would go wide receiver given that two of the top four offensive tackles are available in this mock. Douglas has made the offensive line his priority so far in free agency and the feeling is that he’s going to continue to address it in the draft.

If none of the top tackles are there at No. 11, then picking Jeudy would be wise. The Jets are hungry for dynamic playmakers and Jeudy has all the tools to be a star wide receiver in the NFL one day.

As for the second round, McShay has the Jets taking Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson at No. 48.

Here’s McShay’s reasoning on this pick:

It’s not easy to skip out on the offensive tackle position — or cornerback — but there just isn’t a player worth reaching down the board for at No. 48. So instead, the Jets tack on an edge rusher in Davidson, who has power, explosiveness and versatility.

The Jets desperately need some help on the edge, but picking a defensive lineman makes little sense for them right now. They have a crowded defensive line headed by Quinnen Williams, Steve McLendon and Henry Anderson.

Even without an edge presence, the Jets were still tied for 16th in the league in sacks last season with 39. It’s not like the Jets aren’t getting to the quarterback at all. They just need guys like Williams and Anderson to step up and be more productive.

An offensive tackle has to be a priority in this year’s draft, whether it’s in the first round or second round. The Jets cannot afford to have Sam Darnold get pummeled into the ground because George Fant and Chuma Edoga can’t hold up in pass protection.

2020 NFL draft: Marlon Davidson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson

Marlon Davidson | DL | Auburn

Elevator Pitch

A versatile defender with athleticism, size and power, Davidson is a bit of a tweener but possesses the tools to be a solid contributor, regardless of where he plays at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 303

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Defensive coordinators will have plenty of different ways to utilize Davidson at the next level.

While he’s packed on close to 30 pounds in his transition to the interior defensive line, Davidson can still play off the edge in a stand-up or hand-in-the-dirt role. He does a good job of setting the edge as a run defender and can also work off of blocks to make plays in space. He plays with a high motor when engaged with blockers and keeps his legs churning to try and penetrate the backfield. When slotted inside, Davidson’s athleticism for the position makes him tough for guards and centers to stop. He accelerates well off the snap and moves well laterally for someone his size. His agility allows him to be utilized on stunts, as well as pull off finesse moves like spins and swims as a pass-rusher.

The big appeal with Davidson is that he’s more powerful than most edge rushers and quicker than most interior defensive linemen. Whether you project him as a 3-tech, a 5-tech or even a pure edge rusher, he brings some sort of mismatch to the table, and that versatility should help him get on the field early on in his career. He also has some value on special teams, having blocked three kicks in 2018.

Weaknesses

As is the case with most tweener prospects, there’s some question as to where Davidson fits best at the next level. He started off his career as a 240-pound edge rusher, but has since had to put on a lot of weight to kick inside, and there are some inconsistencies in his game that show that inexperience. He’s still getting used to playing in the trenches, as his play strength hasn’t quite developed completely yet. His ability to eat up gaps against the run and hold on through blocks using his anchor strength could be improved.

Davidson’s pad level can be improved a bit, which is one of the factors affecting his lack of significant lower-body strength on tape. His overall feel and instincts as a run defender could be worked on, but that should come with spending more time and taking more reps as an interior defensive lineman.

Projection: Day 2

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Jedrick Wills highlights latest 3-round haul for Browns in Draft Wire mock

Jedrick Wills highlights latest 3-round haul for Browns in Draft Wire mock

Our friends over at Draft Wire released their latest 3-round mock draft for the 2020 class, and it’s chock full of trades and action at the top. The Cleveland Browns aren’t involved in the movement, but it creates some dynamics that lead to different players than typically projected being available still on the board when the Browns pick at No. 10 overall in the first round.

It’s a familiar face at No. 10. Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills gets the nod, keeping him in the top three of players projected in over 100 mock drafts we’ve tracked since January. And it makes perfect sense, even after the Browns signing of premium tackle Jack Conklin in free agency. Wills would have to move to left tackle, however, and it remains to be seen if he can switch sides.

Another familiar name comes in the second round with safety Kyle Dugger from Lenoir-Rhyne. The D-II stud remains despite the Browns signing Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo at safety.

The two third-round picks are both from the SEC. Kentucky OL Logan Sternberg is up first, followed by Auburn DT Marlon Davidson with the pick acquired from Houston for Duke Johnson.

 

Full Cardinals mock draft simulation after DeAndre Hopkins trade

See who the Cardinals get in this draft now that they don’t have a second-round pick.

The Arizona Cardinals no longer have a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and have an extra fourth-round pick, as a result of the trade for receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

What might the Cardinals’ draft look like? Here is the latest simulation I ran.

Round 1: Alabama OT Jedrick Wills

 (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

CeeDee Lamb went surprisingly high and Tristan Wirfs is also off the board, as well as Isaiah Simmons. I decide between Wills and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton. Wills has good size and is athletic enough, but the tape and the consistently winning one on one is the sell. Becton has the potential to be better but Wills should be very good and is the safer bet.

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Giants’ Joe Judge in attendance at Auburn Pro Day

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge and members of his staff are in attendance at the Auburn Pro Day.

It’s that time of year again. The NFL Combine is over and now colleges and universities will begin to host pro days to showcase their NFL Draft-eligible players.

On Friday, Auburn was conducting their pro day and New York Giants head coach Joe Judge was one of the many NFL coaches, scouts and executives in attendance.

The big names to watch are defensive lineman Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson, offensive lineman Jack Driscoll and the three players listed below by Giants beat writer Art Stapleton.

The Giants had been rumored to be enamored with Brown, who is slated to be an early first-round pick even after an extremely disappointing performance at the combine that showed him to be slow and lumbering. Many experts believe it won’t impact Brown’s draft status too much.

It would be a surprise if the Giants picked Brown at No. 4 overall considering they are essentially set on the interior defensive line and there will be several offensive linemen and/or linebacker Isaiah Simmons starring them in the face on draft day.

Last year, the Giants selected Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton in the fifth round of the draft.

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