Tag: NFL Draft

Raiders address offensive line, safety in latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft

Raiders address offensive line, safety in latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft

Unlike the previous two drafts, the Raiders are low on draft capital in the top-50. Since 2019, the team has made five first-round picks after trading away Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack. They no longer have that type of ammunition to go and get their guys, so draft sequencing is going to be more important than ever.

Entering the draft, the Raiders have two big holes on their roster. They need a starting right tackle and a free safety who can cover the deep third of the field. And in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, he has them addressing both needs with their first two picks.

Kiper has the Raiders picking USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker at No. 17 with the rationale being that he is the best offensive lineman on the board. He might be more of a guard in the NFL, but he should be a high-quality starter by the 2022 season.

At pick No. 48, he has them going with Richie Grant, the safety from Central Florida. Grant is an undersized safety, but he knows how to cover and can find the football. Here is Kiper’s explanation behind the selection:

“Grant is another player who made my superteam — he had 10 interceptions and forced six fumbles in his career. He’s always around the ball. He can play next to Johnathan Abram, who has limitations in coverage. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders took another offensive lineman here, depending on their board, and they could be in the mix for an edge rusher.”

Grant might be the best safety in the class and is a perfect fit in Gus Bradley’s defense. He isn’t the biggest safety, but he has no problem matching up with running backs and tight ends in coverage. If picked, Grant would be a Day 1 starter for the Raiders and a big upgrade over what they’ve had at that position in the last decade.

If the Raiders are able to pull off a pairing of Alijah Vera-Tucker and Richie Grant in the first two rounds, it’s hard to imagine a better duo. Both players would be values where the Raiders pick and would be big upgrades. Consider this the best-case scenario for the Raiders in the first two rounds of the draft.

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Pass-rushing prospect Jaelan Phillips misses medical check due to COVID-19

He tested positive for the virus and could not get checked in Indianapolis last week.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL did not hold its yearly scouting combine, giving teams the chance to see, test and interview draft prospects all in one place.

One part of the NFL combine that is very important to NFL teams is having medical exams for the prospects, so the league still organized medical checks in Indianapolis.

One player who could be under consideration for the 16th overall pick by the Arizona is Miami pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. However, he missed his medical check last week because of a positive test for COVID-19, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

With the NFL draft more than two weeks away, there is still time. Phillips is one of the top pass rusher prospects in the draft. Without the medical checks, it would be hard for the Cardinals to select him with their pick, especially considering the fact he suffered two concussions in less than a year when he was at UCLA.

But Rapoport says that he will be able to have his physical in plenty of time.

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Northwestern CB Greg Newsome should be under consideration for 16th pick

Newsome deserves some of the same consideration as the other top cornerbacks in the draft.

The Arizona Cardinals hold the 16th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, which will be held in a little more than two weeks. The position getting the most attention has been cornerback, as there are three players considered the best — Alabama’s Patrick Surtain, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley.

Horn has been mocked to the Cardinals a lot. Surtain is not expected to be available with the 16th pick and some believe Farley’s back surgery makes him too risky to pick at No. 16.

However, there is another cornerback who should be under consideration — Northwestern’s Greg Newsome Jr.

He has the size, the physical traits and some really good tape.

Here are his measurable:

  • Height: 6-foot-0
  • Weight: 192 pounds
  • Arm length: 31 1/8 inches
  • Hands: 8 7/8 inches
  • 40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds
  • Bench press: 18 reps
  • Broad jump: 123 inches
  • 3-cone drill: 6.90 seconds
  • 20-yard shuttle: 4.26 seconds

According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a single catch for more than 20 yards last season and he allowed just 12 catches on 34 targets and fewer than 100 yards all season on 387 defensive snaps.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had good things to say about Newsome.

“He’s easy to watch,” he said in a conference call. “I mean, he’s always in phase. He’s always in position, what we like to call being in phase. You never see a lot of separation there with him in his assignments. He’s really clean from that standpoint. He’s so smooth. I think there was some question about just how fast he was, and sometimes we see guys like that. Well, he’s as fast as he needs to be.

“I was talking with a GM the other day about him, and he said they were having their draft meetings, and he said, We all kind of questioned his speed and then we went around the room and we said, Do you have any examples
of anybody running away from him? Well, no. I don’t see anybody running away from him.”

His pro day results take away any questions about his speed. He does have some injury concerns, so this might be a red flag.

“You’ve got to make sure everything is good there from a durability
standpoint, but size, length, speed, ball skills. There’s a lot to like there.”

Cornerbacks go quickly in the draft these days. It should be a priority in the draft for the Cardinals. But if Farley is going to be someone to consider, Newsome should also be on their radar and selecting him shouldn’t be all that out of the question.

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Justin Fields, Trey Lance incorporating Kyle Shanahan drills into Pro Days

The San Francisco 49ers will get to somewhat simulate private workouts with Justin Fields and Trey Lance ahead of the NFL draft.

If the 49ers are already set on taking Alabama quarterback Mac Jones No. 3 overall, they’re going to great lengths to try and talk themselves out of it.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero on Monday said on NFL Network that Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance will both mix in some drills specific to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s practices in an effort to simulate a private workout.

“What those quarterbacks are going to do on the field is going to be a mix of their original Pro Day, mixed with some drills and throws that Kyle Shanahan uses in practice,” Pelissero said. “In other words, no, you cannot do private workouts this year, but this is about as close as you’re going to get to what a private workout otherwise would look like.”

It’s not a huge surprise to see those quarterbacks incorporate those elements into their second Pro Days given the way Jones added more boot actions and throws on the run to help display some of his athleticism during his second Pro Day.

While Pro Days typically don’t carry a ton of weight for top prospects, they could be difference makers for the 49ers who haven’t gotten to work out privately with either Lance or Fields yet. Not to mention Lance has played only one game since the 2019 season, and San Francisco may need to see him up close to help corroborate what they saw on film.

The 49ers QB rumor mill hasn’t stopped churning since they traded up to No. 3 in the draft. Strong Pro Days from Lance and Fields could wind up kicking it into high gear for final week-plus leading up to the draft.

49ers meet virtually with Auburn safety and special teams ace

Jordyn Peters could immediately help the 49ers on special teams.

The 49ers need to find some depth at safety. Any player safety on the roster who’s going to fill a reserve spot on the depth chart is going to need to contribute on special teams. That makes Auburn’s Jordyn Peters an intriguing player for San Francisco. The 49ers were among a slew of teams to have virtual meetings with Peters according to the Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

Peters was never super productive for the Tigers with 101 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception and eight pass breakups in four seasons. However, he blocked five kicks and showed off big-time explosiveness at his Pro Day.

A good athlete who can contribute on special teams is the type of player the 49ers would target as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent. Peters has tools to carve out a role, but he’s not the level of prospect teams are going to seek out as a long-term answer in the secondary. However, his ability to play special teams could land him a job in the league for a long time.

USA TODAY names one Ohio State player an NFL bust in its biggest 101 busts in draft history

Only one Ohio State football player was identified as one of the 101 biggest NFL draft busts by USA TODAY. Can you guess who it was?

You just never know. Guys that are studs at football factories like Ohio State can go on to the next level and just never quite reach their potential. And with as many guys as OSU sends to the NFL, there’s bound to be a player taken high in the draft that doesn’t carve out a nice career at the highest level.

And it’s across the college football and NFL landscape. “Can’t-miss” prospects like Ryan Leaf come about every once in a while and just can’t get it together and — just like that — they are out of the game of football asking questions and looking for answers on where to go next.

USA TODAY recently wrote a piece detailing the 101 biggest busts in NFL draft history, and only identified one Ohio State player. You may be able to pick out the biggest Buckeye bust, but maybe not.

Here is a look at what OSU player Nate Davis of USA TODAY chose as a bust when he finally got his chance at the NFL.

NEXT … Biggest Ohio State NFL draft bust

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Jaelan Phillips missed NFL draft medical checks due to positive COVID-19 test

Miami edge defender Jaelan Phillips missed last week’s medical checks after testing positive for COVID-19

Miami’s Jaelan Phillips missed last week’s medical checks for the 2021 NFL draft after testing positive for COVID-19, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Phillips will still get his physical evaluation done in plenty of time before the draft later this month, per Rapoport.

One of this year’s top edge defender prospects, Phillips is an impressive athlete with tons of potential, but medical concerns are the biggest question in his evaluation. Phillips briefly retired from football during his college career due to a long list of injuries.

As long as everything checks out medically, expect Phillips to be a first-round pick on draft weekend.

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Justin Fields, Trey Lance tailoring 2nd pro day workouts for Kyle Shanahan, 49ers

Two top quarterback prospects are tailoring their second pro day workouts for Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have a tough decision to make with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and they’re leaving no stone unturned as they try to zero in on the best quarterback prospect for the future of their franchise.

While Alabama’s Mac Jones is the current favorite to land at that spot, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance will be making a strong push for their own candidacy with additional pro day workouts this week.

To that end, both Fields and Lance will be tailoring those workouts to fit certain plays and drills to the specifications of the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).

Fields and Lance would both make more sense for the 49ers than Jones, especially after having traded multiple first-round picks in the future just to be in the position to make such a decision at No. 3 overall. These workouts could be what makes the difference when Shanahan and company go on the clock in a couple of weeks.

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3 bold predictions for Chargers in 2021 NFL draft

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out three bold scenarios in this year’s draft.

The Chargers are hoping to find the right pieces to turn things around after an unexpected down season in the upcoming draft.

However, the draft rarely goes according to plan. Trades will occur and surprising selections will be made, leaving fans with their mock drafts they made in shambles.

With that, let’s take a look at three bold scenarios that might happen that supporters of the Bolts might not expect to happen:

Chargers draft a pass-catcher in Round 1

Los Angeles is projected to take a left tackle or cornerback in the first-round, but it wouldn’t be a Chargers draft if there wasn’t a curveball thrown by general manager Tom Telesco.

Telesco should have at least one of Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Patrick Surtain or Jaycee Horn available at No. 13. But passing up on them all together and giving quarterback Justin Herbert another weapon could be too appealing.

Guys like DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle or Kyle Pitts might be available and Telesco could roll the dice on one of them, knowing that Mike Williams will be in the final year of his contract and Jalen Guyton didn’t do enough to warrant himself as a starter after a slew of drops.

I am not an advocate of this move simply because good tackles will go early and often, and L.A. shouldn’t wait to pull the trigger. The chances of finding a Day 2 or 3 wideout who’s successful in the NFL are a lot higher.

Chargers trade back up into the first-round

After seeing a run on tackles, Telesco can’t wait until pick No. 47 to only have slim pickings of players at the position after taking a skill player. Instead, he jumps back into the first-round to draft one before the capable starters are gone.

We know that Telesco isn’t afraid to make this move, as he sent the team’s 2020 second-round pick (No. 37) and third-round pick (No. 71) to the Patriots in exchange for the No. 23 selection to take linebacker Kenneth Murray last year.

Guys that he might want to trade up for include Teven Jenkins, Samuel Cosmi or Alex Leatherwood.

Chargers draft a safety before cornerback

Next to left tackle is cornerback as team’s most pressing position needs, considering Michael Davis is the only starting-caliber boundary corner on the roster and Chris Harris Jr. is set to be a free agent after this upcoming season.

However, the safety position also needs to be addressed.

This group could get priority because Derwin James has dealt with two consecutive major injuries. Nasir Adderley is coming off a sophomore slump. Alohi Gilman isn’t much of a scheme fit.

Head coach Brandon Staley won’t be afraid to get his guy, who will be someone who can play on the back end of the defense and move into the slot to defend slot wide receivers and tight ends.

Staley would love to have a guy like Richie Grant, Jevon Holland or Trevon Moehrig on the Chargers.

Falcons stay at No. 4, draft Florida TE Kyle Pitts in PFF’s new mock

The NFL draft is less than 20 days away and we still have no idea the direction the Falcons will go with their No. 4 pick.

The NFL draft is less than 20 days away and we still have no idea which direction the Falcons will go with their No. 4 pick. There were rumors last week of a power struggle between head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot on who the team will take, but per D’Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the pair has since become aligned.

Unlike the last four mock drafts by Pro Football Focus which have Atlanta trading back, in the latest edition, Sam Monson has the team remaining at No. 4 and selecting Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

“In an ideal world, Atlanta would trade down, but I don’t see the team finding a dance partner. That leaves the Falcons to just pick the best available player, which is Kyle Pitts, in my opinion, even though he is listed as a tight end.”

The Falcons aren’t exactly in need of a tight end because they have Hayden Hurst on the roster, but Pitts offers more than a typical tight end. Unlike Hurst, Pitts has the versatility and athleticism to be used as a legit threat either inside or outside. It’s rare that a guy like Pitts, who has a Hall of Fame upside, is available at the time of selection.

“Despite that position designation, I think he is the best receiver in the draft and would still be a top-10 pick if he was listed as a wide receiver. Pitts has special skills, and a quick run through his target list led me to create a draft profile that screams special talent.”

For the Falcons to remain competitive in the NFC South, they will need to upgrade on offense. Pitts could contribute right away and has the potential to be a difference-making talent in the NFL.

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