Tennessee Titans select Matt Peart in PFF’s latest analytics mock draft

Peart should be around on Day 2.

One of the positions the Tennessee Titans could address during the 2020 NFL Draft is offensive tackle.

The Titans lost Jack Conklin to the Cleveland Browns in free agency, and while Dennis Kelly has been re-signed to be his replacement, it wouldn’t hurt for Tennessee to start looking for a long-term solution.

In its latest analytics mock draft, Pro Football Focus has the Titans rolling with UConn offensive tackle, Matt Peart.

The 6-foot-7 tackle allowed just seven total pressures during his final season as a Huskie. After letting Conklin go and investing major money in Ryan Tannehill, the Titans also need to invest in keeping their quarterback upright. Peart projected very well thanks to his solid play during his college career.

The 6-foot-7, 303-pound lineman played at both guard and tackle during his college career, so he does present some versatility upfront.

However, Peart has been projected by many to be a Day 2 pick at the earliest, so he should be around when the Titans pick late in the second or third rounds. Clearly he has gotten a boost based on PFF’s methodology.

Among the other important needs the Titans have to look at in this year’s draft are cornerback, wide receiver, running back, EDGE, and perhaps even defensive line depending on how the team replaces Jurrell Casey.

The NFL Draft will take place from April 23 to April 25, but it looks as though it will be done virtually because of the coronavirus outbreak.

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2020 NFL Draft: 5 tackles the Jets could target in later rounds

Jets Wire takes a look at five tackles that the Jets could target in the later rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

It’s likely that the Jets select an offensive tackle with the 11th pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but that will not deter Jets general manager Joe Douglas from continuing to address the position later in the draft.

Douglas told reporters on a conference call earlier this week, that “there is a shortage of quality offensive linemen in the NFL.” He did his best to revamp New York’s line by signing Greg Van Roten, Connor, McGovern and Josh Andrews, as well as re-upping Alex Lewis and retaining Brian Winters. However, the Jets still lack depth at tackle with only George Fant, Chuma Edoga and Connor McDermott on the depth chart.

Douglas has to address Gang Green’s depth problem at tackle. What better way to do it than by stockpiling talent at the position? With that being said, let’s take a look at some offensive tackle prospects the Jets could target in the later rounds of the draft.

Matt Peart, UConn

Peart is a swing tackle prospect with outstanding size and length at 6-foot-7, 318-pounds. A former basketball player in high school, he made the switch over to the offensive line, just like George Fant did.

Peart spent his first two seasons at UConn on the left side of the offensive line. As a junior, he moved over to the right side, where he started all 24 games in his final two years playing for the Huskies. The transition was a seamless one, as Peart earned a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a senior.

The UConn product is a project with his raw skill set, but he could be worth taking a flier on considering Joe Douglas’ emphasis on finding athletic offensive linemen with positional versatility.

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2020 NFL draft: Matt Peart scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about UConn offensive tackle prospect Matt Peart

Matt Peart | OT | UConn

Elevator Pitch

A high-ceiling tackle prospect with a lengthy frame and commendable athleticism for his size, Peart has the physical tools to be a high-quality offensive lineman at the next level. Though he’s pretty raw and can add some more muscle to his frame, the upside he offers should help his draft stock a bit.

Vitals

Height | 6-7

Weight | 318

College Bio Page

Strengths

Coaches like length at the offensive tackle position, and Peart has that in spades.

A giant who measured with the longest arms at the Combine, Peart has fantastic measurables for his position. His arms alone give him plenty of range as a blocker, but that length is complemented by impressive speed and agility. He moves well laterally in pass protection and is light on his feet when changing direction. He has the burst coming out of his stance – as well as sustainable speed – to keep up with athletic edge rushers off the snap. When climbing to the second level, he accelerates quickly and has the body control to maintain blocks while on the move, which also helps out in down-blocking situations.

Peart also has shown that he can play with a nasty edge at times, demonstrating flashes of grip strength that can overwhelm opposing defenders. He offers versatility along the offensive line, having played as both a tackle and a guard at UConn. He was also a four-year starter, so he has plenty of experience and plenty of tape to go off of, and his growth as a blocker is apparent.

Weaknesses

Though his athletic upside will see Peart drafted highly, his rawness as a blocker will more than likely prevent him from going higher than Day 2. He has a skinny frame and doesn’t possess much raw power in his lower body. That underwhelming strength is affected more so by his subpar pad level, as he doesn’t do a great job of sinking his hips and staying low to get his weight underneath him. It’s not a matter of flexibility with him, as he is a quality athlete, but rather composure. He fails to generate significant force or drive in his legs.

Peart can also stand to improve his hand placement a bit. While he has shown some flashes in that regard, he can be more consistent at places his strikes correctly and making sure not to lunge at opposing defenders. He weighed in heavier at the Combine than he ever did at UConn, but time will tell if that weight was fluctuated, or if it wasn’t, if that weight translates to more power.

Projection: Day 3

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Breaking down Chargers’ picks in Dane Brugler’s latest 3-round mock draft

Dane Brugler upgrades the offensive side of the ball for the Los Angeles Chargers in his latest three-round mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his new three-round mock draft on Wednesday.

Let’s break down what one of the highly touted draft analysts is thinking for Los Angeles in the 2020 NFL Draft after the Combine and right before free agency kicks off.

Round 1, No. 6, QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Addressing the most important position on the football field sits atop of the priority list for the Chargers this offseason.

While bringing in a proven veteran like Tom Brady is a possibility, I believe the team wants to roll with Tyrod Taylor as the starter and bridge to whichever rookie quarterback is drafted. In this case, Brugler mocks Tagovailoa to Los Angeles.

Even though rolling the dice on Tua – who has durability concerns – could be a gamble, it’s a risk worth taking, especially if all the medicals check out. If he remains healthy, the Chargers could have a quarterback that could produce positive results on a yearly basis.

Tua has an excellent feel for the game, thriving with his football intelligence, instincts, processing skills and vision where he’s one of the best in this class. He’s accurate and is capable of making all the throws, inside or outside the structure.

Here is what Brugler said about mocking Tagovailoa to the Bolts:

Tagovailoa is the wild card of the draft. Talking to teams in Indianapolis, they are taking a cautious approach, but until they can see him throw on April 9, it is anyone’s guess how high he will be drafted. With the Chargers moving on from Philip Rivers, their quarterback situation is obviously in flux.

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Full Browns post-combine mock draft

A 7-round mock draft for the Cleveland Browns following the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

Now that the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is over, it’s time to freshen up the Cleveland Browns mock draft choices.

These projections represent the choices I would make, with a nod to what I expect the Browns would consider realistic options as well. Without further ado…

First round, No. 10 overall

The pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Wirfs is the second OT off the board in this mock, following Mekhi Becton to the Giants at No. 4. He played right tackle for the Hawkeyes and thrived as both a run blocker and pass protector. His outstanding athletic performance at the combine proves he can move to the left side if desired. Considering the Browns need major upgrades at both tackle spots, he’s an easy choice here.

Second round, No. 41 overall

The pick: Antoine Winfield Jr., safety, Minnesota

A natural playmaker with NFL bloodlines and local ties, Winfield is too obvious of a choice to ignore. The Browns don’t currently have anyone at safety who can come close to the productivity Winfield showed in 2019. Injury issues are indeed real, but so is the Pro Bowl potential.

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Third round, No. 74 and No. 90

The picks: Matt Peart, OT, UConn and Leki Fotu, DT, Utah

Building up the lines on both sides of the ball here. Peart is a smooth-moving left tackle who excelled at the Senior Bowl. He can handle the zone scheme the Browns expect to run under Kevin Stefanski. Fotu is the immovable object in the middle of the defensive line, though he does have some ability to disrupt in the backfield too.

Fourth round

The pick: Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech

A playmaking gnat of slot cornerback, Robertson stands just 5-8. That didn’t stop him in college from picking off 14 passes and consistently undercutting routes with his quickness and fast eyes. His size limits him to playing inside, but the Browns don’t have anyone on the roster who can do that right now.

The Browns do not currently have a fifth-round selection

Sixth round

The pick: Dustin Woodward, OL, Memphis

A four-year starter with experience at both center and guard, Woodward was an All-AAC performer the last two seasons. He’s undersized, playing in the 285 range, but he moves incredibly well. With agility and technique more important than bulk in the new Browns offense, he’s a good late-round fit.

Seventh round

The pick: Easop Winston, WR, Washington State

Winston was a wildly productive wideout in college in an offense familiar to what Baker Mayfield operated. He’s got some length and incredibly sticky hands, and Winston understands how to work back to the QB when things go off-schedule.

3 Chargers takeaways from NFL Combine workouts: Offensive linemen

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez drops his thoughts from the offensive linemen’s workout at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine continued on Friday with the offensive line working out on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Here are three Chargers takeaways from the workouts.

‘The Freak’ wows

This year’s offensive line class is thought to be one of the deeper position groups, with Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs sitting at the top. While they all performed well today, the former Hawkeye stole the show.

Wirfs, who was listed as No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List, absolutely tore it up. He put together one of the best all-around performances certainly by an offensive lineman in recent memory. Wirfs ran a blazing 4.85 40-yard dash and 1.69 10-yard split at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.

Prior to running that eye-popping 40, Wirfs jumped out of the gym with an insane 36.5-inch vertical, which is an NFL Combine record for an offensive lineman. Wirfs then tied a Combine record for broad jump by an offensive lineman with a 10-foot-1 leap.

Should the Chargers look to address the offensive line in the first-round, Wirfs possesses starting-level talent at right tackle. He’s also played left tackle and he even provides the ability to kick inside to guard, but his strength and size are ideal for the right side in Year 1.

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2020 NFL Combine: Matt Peart stands out as offensive tackles measure in

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez drops some of his takeaways from the offensive tackle’s measurements at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The offensive tackles were among the positional groups that measured in on Tuesday at the 2020 NFL Combine.

For the Chargers, addressing the position sits the near the top of their to-do list this offseason. Therefore, they will likely be in the market for one in the early rounds of the draft.

Here is a look at the measurements of the tackles courtesy of CBS Sports, followed by some of our takeaways:

Takeaways

Matt Peart was arguably the biggest winner. The former UConn product boasted the longest arms and wingspan, which is extremely beneficial at the position. At 320 pounds, he looks the part with an NFL frame. Peart put together solid tape at the right tackle position, stamping himself as a top-100 pick. He should help his stock even more after showing off his athleticism this week.
Standing at a whopping 6-foot-8 and 365 pounds, Mekhi Becton has an enormous frame with natural girth and a wide base, along with octopus-like arms. Becton has seen his stock rise throughout the past couple of months, and he should be picked within the top-20 selections.
There’s been plenty of chatter of kicking Tristan Wirfs inside to guard because of his arm length, but those talks were put to rest after coming in at 34-inch arms. At 320 pounds and an 80-inch wingspan, Wirfs looks the part as an NFL offensive tackle.
Robert Hunt has also been on the fence of whether or not he needs to move from tackle to guard, but after coming in with a solid 82-inch wingspan, it’s safe to say that he can stay on the outside.
Ben Bartch, the small-school standout, didn’t have the most ideal measurements for the position. Bartch came in with the shortest arms of anyone in his group and he fell short of 310 pounds. His tape suggests that he should be able to play tackle at the next level, but he will likely have to put on a little bit more weight.
There were concerns in regards to Ezra Cleveland’s arm length, but he came in at 33 7/8 inches with a wingspan of 80 7/8 inches. We currently have Cleveland stamped as an early-third rounder, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he moves himself into top-50 consideration after this week.

4-round Chargers mock draft, pre-NFL Scouting Combine Edition

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez releases his latest four-round projections for the Los Angeles Chargers.

With the National Scouting Combine kicking off this week, the NFL draft picture has started to come into focus. As big boards become more evident, what might the Chargers do when the big day rolls around come April?

Below is our own four-round mock draft that sees Los Angeles get their future franchise quarterback, a weapon for him, some protection and an impactful cornerback.

Round 1, No. 6, Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

This has been the most common pairing to this point, but Herbert to Los Angeles makes a lot of sense on many levels, as the team looks to find Philip Rivers’ replacement.

Herbert is a physical specimen, who has the skillset, traits and tools that coach Anthony Lynn is looking for in a signal-caller. The area of his game that gets scrutinized the most is primarily mental, but he took a leap last month at the Senior Bowl to defy those.

With the weapons around him, headlined by Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry, as well an improvement to the offensive line (which can be addressed in free agency and rounds following the first) Herbert could really reach his full potential.

This week in Indianapolis, the interview process will be the most important part for Herbert. This will be his opportunity to show that he is capable of leading an NFL team and impress the coaching staff when they put him on the whiteboard.

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12 Offensive tackles for Browns fans to watch at the scouting combine

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Player workouts begin later in the week, with many of the drills now being performed in prime time for a wider television audience.

The Cleveland Browns and the new coaching staff led by Kevin Stefanski will be very active in scouring Indianapolis for talent that can help the team. With the biggest hole on the roster at offensive tackle, expect a big focus on the top tiers of tackles who can help the Browns immediately.

Here are the consensus top 12 offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft who will be working out at the combine. How they break down in order remains to be seen, but these are the names to watch during the week.

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7 potential Chargers that should blow up NFL Scouting Combine

Chargers Wire lays out who Los Angeles Chargers fans should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine is just around the corner. The event is a useful tool for player evaluation, and some teams put more stock in it than others.

It is a big opportunity for prospects to showcase their athleticism and skillset through a series of tests, including the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and on-field drills.

With that, we have compiled a list of seven prospects all Chargers fans must watch in Indianapolis next weekend, in addition to a handful of others Los Angeles could be targeting in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Below are the players to keep an eye on:

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

Herbert has been commonly linked to the Chargers since the start of the pre-draft process. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound quarterback’s tape shows a lot of good things, but two things stand out: arm strength and mobility.

I believe Herbert is going to run a 4.7 second 40-yard dash and his polarizing arm will be on display during the on-field drills, where he will make all the throws to all parts of the field, especially on the deep ball.

The interview process will be the most important for Herbert. This will be his opportunity to show that he can lead a team and impress the coaches when they put him on the whiteboard.

OT Josh Jones, Houston

The offensive tackle position is a glaring need for the Chargers, and Jones should be at the top of their board in the second-round (if he’s already not taken). With his basketball background, the athleticism is evident. He plays with long arms, coordinated feet and lower body movement skills in pass protection. Jones should do really well in the agility drills, but he should light up the on-field drills.

LB/S Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Like safety Derwin James, Simmons is a true chess piece on the defensive side of the ball. He can blitz, play the run, cover in the slot and play special teams. Think about that for a second, two James on the field at the same time.

Everyone is familiar with the 6-foot-4 and 230-pound hybrid defender after putting together such a polished resume for the Tigers. But the Combine is going remind people how much of a freakish athlete he is.

Simmons has a vertical jump of 40 inches and a broad jump of 11-0. He routinely jumps onto a 52-inch box for single-response jump work. He also has run a sub-4.4 40 this off-season, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

WR Jalen Reagor, TCU

The Chargers are in need of another deep threat, given the underwhelming production from Travis Benjamin and the guys behind him on the depth chart this past season. If they choose to go that route early on in the draft, Reagor should be on their radar.

Reagor is one of the fastest receivers in this year’s class. The 5-foot-11 and 195-pounder showed breakaway speed to burn corners week in and week out. This past offseason, he clocked a 4.29 40-yard, and his strength numbers are also eye-popping: a 620-pound squat, a 380-pound bench and a 380-pound clean, per Feldman.

CB Troy Pride, Jr., Notre Dame

The Chargers will be in the market for a cornerback. Pride Jr. got on my radar at the Senior Bowl, but it won’t be long until he catches the attention of others that aren’t familiar with him.

At the 2018 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships he ran a personal-best 6.73 seconds in the 60-meter dash. His 10.50 100 time is one of the fastest in school history. This past offseason he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, per Feldman.

The 5-foot-11 and 193 pounder would be a perfect zone defender for the Chargers since he has a knack for reading and getting a feel for route concepts before making a play on the ball. His speed, mirroring ability and spatial awareness are all plus traits of his.

OT Matt Peart, UConn

Peart, a four-year starter at UConn, is a good athlete that boasts terrific length. The 6-foot-5 and 310 pound tackle doesn’t have overwhelming power to dominate his opponents, but he quickly finds his landmarks and uses his natural movement skills, base and length to keep rushers busy. His quick feet will be evident during the on-field drills.

OT Ben Bartch, St. John’s

The 6-6, 308-pound Bartch is coming off a stellar Senior Bowl week, where he showed that he could hang with some of the best pass-rushers in the nation. Now, he is bound to stamp himself as the first Division III player to be drafted since Buccaneers’ Ali Marpet, who has turned into a quality starter.

Bartch, the former tight end, is likely to run under five seconds in the 40-yard dash. But the on-field drills will be a major plus for him because on tape he showcases a silky smooth set in pass protection with beautiful footwork, lateral range and quickness in his kick slide to protect the edge.