Tag: mock draft

Six Wolverines make NFL 7-round mock draft, with a few notable exceptions

In DraftSite.com’s latest 7-round mock draft, 6 Wolverines make the cut, but there are three notable exceptions.

[jwplayer 5hWBNgGm-XNcErKyb]

With both the East-West Shrine Bowl and Reese’s Senior Bowl in the books, we now have to wait until February/March’s NFL Scouting Combine to truly have a good idea of how the April NFL Draft in Las Vegas will shake out.

While linebacker Josh Uche showed out, getting Pro Football Focus’ highest grade of the week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, others impressed at the event itself, including Shea Patterson, who threw a 75-yard touchdown, Ben Bredeson who continued his solid level of play and in the Shrine Bowl, Michael Onwenu turned some heads.

But DraftSite.com, which put together a full seven-round mock draft, isn’t that high on Michigan’s outgoing prospects.

Though they do have six players being selected come April:

  • Josh Uche, third-round, 70th pick, Miami Dolphins
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones, 123rd pick, Dallas Cowboys
  • Ben Bredeson, fourth-round, 145th pick, Seattle Seahawks
  • Jon Runyan Jr., sixth-round, 160th pick, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Shea Patterson, sixth-round, 188th pick, Buffalo Bills
  • Lavert Hill, sixth-round, 203rd pick, New Orleans Saints

There are three notable omissions, of course. First and foremost, center Cesar Ruiz, who declared for the NFL Draft with a year of eligibility remaining. He’s made recent mocks as early as the second-round and is high in Mel Kiper’s big board.

Additionally, the aforementioned Onwenu didn’t make DraftSite’s cut, despite a solid showing in his senior season and subsequently in the Shrine Bowl.

Lastly, safety Josh Metellus has long been pegged as a likely third-day pick, but didn’t make the cut in this seven-round mock.

That said, should all of them get selected, which they all do, Michigan could put nine players into the draft, which would be the highest since 2016, when the Wolverines had 11 players selected.

2020 NFL mock draft: Colts add LSU edge rusher

Colts add to their pass rush in Lance Zierlein’s mock draft.

With a few months still to go before the arrival of the 2020 NFL Draft, there are a number of ways the Indianapolis Colts can go with the No. 13 overall pick.

Most are hoping general manager Chris Ballard will add a quarterback such as Jordan Love or Justin Herbert (if available). There is also a chance they add to the defensive line given his affinity of building through the trenches.

In his first mock draft of the offseason, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com went with the latter as the Colts selected LSU edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson.

If Indy loves Jordan Love, he could be the guy here, but Chaisson fits the rush profile the Colts covet. The redshirt sophomore has exciting potential.

The Colts saw their pass rush production increase slightly. They finished with 41 sacks and 82 quarterback hits, both of which were higher totals than the 2018 season.

However, the group was still extremely inconsistent. Outside of Justin Houston, the Colts didn’t get much production week in and week out, especially from the interior.

But Chaisson has a high ceiling similar to a former LSU Tiger that has been wreaking havoc in the NFL. Here is his scouting report from our friends over at Draft Wire:

K’Lavon Chaisson is going to be a top player selected in the NFL Draft. Disregard the sack numbers, the production will come at the next level once he works on his technique. Very reminiscent of another LSU defender in Danielle Hunter.

The Colts could be a team that adds a quarterback in the NFL draft, but there is a similar chance they add to the trenches as well.

[vertical-gallery id=38153]

Latest NFL mock draft has Seahawks selecting edge rusher

The Seattle Seahawks need some help off the edge, which is why NFL.com has them selecting Yetur Gross-Matos in their latest mock draft.

The Seattle Seahawks desperately need to shore up their pass rush heading into the 2020 season. A unit that featured Jadeveon Clowney, Ziggy Ansah and Jarran Reed was led in sacks by Rasheem Green, who had just four.

Clowney, Ansah and Reed are all free agents, and while Seattle will certainly try to get at least Clowney back, it’s no secret this team has some serious shopping to do in order to effectively get to opposing quarterbacks in 2020.

The NFL draft is almost certainly going to be an area where Seattle looks to upgrade off the edge, and while this year’s class is not as strong as the 2019 group, there are still a handful of players the Seahawks could look to in the first round, should they keep their pick at No. 27 overall.

One of those is Yetur Gross-Matos, an edge defender out of Penn State University who Bucky Brooks of NFL.com mocked to the Seahawks in his latest first round projections.

Gross-Matos declared for the draft back in December, and is considered one of the five best edge defenders in the class. He had an extremely accomplished career at Penn State, recording 94 tackles, 17 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons with the Nittany Lions.

He is an explosive athlete off the edge who, with some refinement in his technique, could become an elite NFL pass rusher. Most scouts think he’ll take a year or two to acclimate to the NFL game, which may not be ideal for the Seahawks, but a player with his athleticism and explosiveness off the edge might be just what the doctor ordered for this Seattle squad.

[lawrence-related id=55489]

Seahawks select defensive lineman in latest CBS mock draft

CBS has the Seattle Seahawks selecting defensive tackle Justin Madubuike from Texas A&M in the first round of their latest 2020 mock draft.

The Seattle Seahawks rarely do things conventionally, and that is particularly true of the NFL draft.

Trading down and out of the first round has become almost the norm for this team, and when they do make first round picks they are often players who many pundits didn’t consider first round caliber (L.J. Collier) – or were players that didn’t seem to fit Seattle’s positional needs (Rashaad Penny).

Thus, folks who are making mock drafts are trying their best to calibrate to Seattle’s unpredictability in the first round, a difficult task at this stage of the draft process when player values are still a long way from decided.

Still, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson went with a rather unheralded selection in his mock draft, projecting the Seahawks to select Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike at No. 27 overall.

Madubuike certainly fills a positional need for Seattle as a versatile defensive lineman with the requisite strength and athleticism to excel as a gap penetrator and an interior pass rusher, but he is not often viewed as a first round talent.

Of course, a strong showing at the combine could change that.

Madubuike is an interesting name to keep an eye on in a draft that lacks elite talent across the defensive line.

[lawrence-related id=55450]

Rams 7-round 2020 mock draft: Post-Senior Bowl edition

Projecting seven rounds for the Rams coming out of the 2020 Senior Bowl.

The first major event of draft season is in the books with the 2020 Senior Bowl wrapping up on Saturday. It was a week of practice for many of the top senior prospects in the upcoming draft, and several players shined in drills and the game.

Rams scouts were obviously in attendance in Mobile, so they got a good look at the players who were on the field last week. They’ve had a penchant for drafting guys who participate in the Senior Bowl, and this year should be no exception.

We put together a new seven-round mock draft for the Rams after the last week of evaluation, addressing the team’s top needs. Here’s who we went with, using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.

52. Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

Baun was a standout at the Senior Bowl last week, helping his stock significantly. He could be in the conversation as a first-round pick, partly thanks to his athleticism and versatility. Baun can rush the passer and play off-ball linebacker in the NFL, which is a valuable trait. He’d fit well in the Rams’ scheme, similarly to the way Clay Matthews does.

84. Logan Stenberg, IOL, Kentucky

Stenberg is a bigger guard, standing 6-foot-6, 317 pounds. He plays with an edge, too, often talking trash on the field, but also sometimes playing a bit too aggressively. He still needs work in pass protection, but his physicality and play strength make him a good run blocker. Stenberg was in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, too.

116. Hakeem Adeniji, OT, Kansas

Another Senior Bowl participant, Adeniji played guard in Mobile, which is out of his usual position of tackle. He’s a better fit at tackle, but his ability to play guard is a bonus – especially with the Rams not having much clarity on the offensive line.

155. Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest

Strnad doesn’t lack athleticism or speed, but what may push him down draft boards is his awareness. His effort is always top-notch, and he has the range to roam sideline to sideline in the Rams’ scheme – similarly to the way Cory Littleton does. Ultimately, he could go much earlier than this if teams fall in love with his potential, and understandably so.

179. A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State

Green has the requisite size at cornerback, and while he could afford to bulk up a bit, he’s a promising prospect. His ball skills are good, too, picking off four passes in 2017 but only one in each of the last two years. He did break up 11 passes in 2018, though, and made 147 total tackles. Green would provide depth at cornerback with all of the Rams’ starters set to hit free agency in 2021, as of now.

211. Calvin Taylor Jr., EDGE, Kentucky

The first thing you’ll notice about Taylor is his size. He’s 6-foot-9, 310 pounds and fits nicely as a 3-4 defensive end in the Rams’ scheme. The problem with his game is that he’s not particularly explosive and he only has one season of quality production; he had 9.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2019. If Michael Brockers leaves, Taylor could fit as a candidate to replace him at DE, initially starting out as a backup.

Mel Kiper NFL mock draft 1.0: Broncos select WR Henry Ruggs

In his first 2020 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs.

In his first 2020 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III with the 15th overall pick (subscription required for link).

Ruggs (6-0, 190 pounds) is a speedy receiver who caught 86 passes for 1,487 yards and 18 touchdowns during his final two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He is widely considered one of the top WRs in this year’s draft class.

Kiper said he also considered cornerback at No. 15 because Denver might lose Chirs Harris during free agency. Kiper also pondered the possibility of Justin Simmons leaving and needing to be replaced but that seems unlikely.

Todd McShay, Kiper’s ESPN colleague, predicted the Broncos would select LSU safety Grant Delpit in his first 2020 NFL mock draft. Given that Denver aims to re-sign Simmons, Delpit would be a surprise at No. 15.

The draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25. The Broncos are projected to have 12 picks, including seven in the first four rounds.

[vertical-gallery id=631293]

49ers add safety help in early Mel Kiper mock draft

The 49ers NFL draft needs aren’t set ahead of Super Bowl 54, but a safety might be the right call.

While the 49ers are focused heavily on Super Bowl LIV, they’re not far from turning their sights toward the 2020 NFL draft. General manager John Lynch and members of the 49ers’ front office were in Mobile, Ala. during the Super Bowl Bye week to check out practices and get a head start on prospect evaluation.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock of the draft season and stuck with an emerging trend in pre-draft analysis of the 49ers. He has San Francisco selecting LSU safety Grant Delpit with the No. 31 overall pick.

Delpit is massive at 6-3, 200 pounds, which makes him big enough to play in the box, but he’s athletic enough to play in coverage on the back end. Across three seasons for the Tigers, Delpit posted 199 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, eight interceptions and 24 pass breakups.

Secondary helps seems to be the theme for San Francisco in early mock drafts. The emergence of offensive tackles Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill as quality depth and possible starters along the offensive line moved around some of the prioritization of draft needs for the 49ers.

If Jimmie Ward exits in free agency, safety becomes an immediate need that the 49ers would probably aim to address early in the draft. However,  the prospect of a trade back remains since San Francisco doesn’t own a pick in Rounds 2, 3 or 4.

Getting a top-end safety that can plug in and start right away if Ward leaves is probably the right call if the 49ers do use their first-round pick, and Delpit might be a great value that late in the draft.

Seahawks select linebacker in 1st round of Mel Kiper’s Mock Draft 1.0

ESPN’s Mel Kiper is projecting the Seattle Seahawks select linebacker Zack Baun with the No. 27 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Draft talk is in full swing now that ESPN’s Mel Kiper has released his 2020 Mock Draft 1.0. After losing to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks will select at number No. 27 in the first round come April.

Kiper projects Seattle will select linebacker Zack Baun out of Wisconsin.

“It’s fair to say the early returns on 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier, whom I ranked outside my top 50, were disappointing; he played just 142 defensive snaps and didn’t have a sack,” Kiper writes. “Put that next to an injury-plagued season from Ezekiel Ansah and an inconsistent year from Jadeveon Clowney, and the Seahawks produced a very un-Pete-Carroll-like 28 total sacks, tied for second-fewest in the league.”

“This front seven could be depleted in free agency – Jarran Reed is another who could leave – which means Baun, whom I really wanted to find a way to sneak into the first round here, makes a lot of sense,” Kiper continues. “He’s not going to be a traditional hulking 4-3 defensive end, but he gets after quarterbacks in different ways. His 2019 breakout season (12.5 sacks) included a few “wow” moments from his relentlessness, and he’s going to get some comps to former Badger T.J. Watt. If he lands in Seattle, he’d play outside linebacker, but he’d get plenty of opportunities to get after quarterbacks.

“I thought about Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, who has had a good week at the Senior Bowl as a Reed replacement, but I’ll stick with Baun.”

With a significant increase in the salary cap this upcoming season, it’s foreseeable the Seahawks could renew a contract or two as opposed to losing so many players to free agency.

What Seattle manages to do come March will have a huge impact on the Seahawks’ draft board.

[lawrence-related id=55334]

Mel Kiper has two Georgia football players going early in 2020 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has two Georgia football players taken in first round of his 2020 NFL mock draft.

ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has two Georgia football players going in the first round in his most recent 2020 NFL mock draft.

With the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft, Kiper predicts the Arizona Cardinals will bolster their offensive line by selecting Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas. Kiper has Thomas as the first left tackle off the board.

Kiper wrote:

This is about the range in which we could see a run on offensive tackles, and Thomas, who has played on both the left and right, is No. 1 on my board. I debated going with a receiver here; wouldn’t Kyler Murray’s former teammate CeeDee Lamb enjoy catching a few more long touchdown passes from his friend? But this comes down to protecting the franchise quarterback, and Arizona desperately needs help along its line, particularly at left tackle, where starter D.J. Humphries is a free agent. The Cardinals also have some defensive deficiencies, so keep an eye on a defensive back, too.

Running back D’Andre Swift is the second Georgia player that Kiper has going in the first round. He has Swift going to the Miami Dolphins, who possess three first round picks, at 26 overall. Kiper also has the Dolphins taking Too Tagovailoa with the fifth pick. What a tandem that would be.

On the prediction, Dolphinswire.com sounds content with the Swift selection.

Miami’s biggest area of need is improvement in the run game. Forget positional value — Miami has enough picks that they should be focused on finding difference makers for their team. Swift definitely fits the bill as a dynamic three down back.

Seahawks select EDGE defender in latest Sporting News mock draft

The Seattle Seahawks select Boise State EDGE defender Curtis Weaver in the Sporting News’ latest 2020 mock draft.

The Seattle Seahawks have large holes to fill on their 2020 roster, and 19 unrestricted free agents make it even harder to tell just how sizeable some of this team’s needs will be heading into the NFL draft.

However, regardless of what happens with pending free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed, the Seahawks will need to find more pass rushing off the edge this offseason, as it was a glaring weakness all season long.

The 2020 draft is not nearly as ripe with edge rushers as last year’s talent pool, but the Seahawks could still find a nice piece in the late first round.

Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News has them doing exactly that, projecting them to select Boise State edge defender Curtis Weaver in his latest first round mock draft.

“The Seahawks will have a hard time keeping pending free agent Jadeveon Clowney, who seems intent on breaking the bank with any contender,” Iyer wrote. “Weaver (6-3, 265 pounds) was an absolute beast on the blue turf with 13.5 sacks in 14 games in his final college season.”

I don’t necessarily believe that Clowney will be as hard to keep as Iyer does, considering the massive amount of cap space Seattle has, but regardless Weaver does seem to check a lot of the boxes Pete Carroll looks for.

He’s a big, powerful, explosive rusher who has shown proficiency in the run game and passing game, and probably projects as an oversized five-tech at the next level.

Rasheem Green and Quinton Jefferson have both taken to that role well in the NFL, and Weaver could be the next big piece at that spot for a Seattle team that is desperate for someone to come in and record big sack numbers in 2020.

[lawrence-related id=55327]