Tag: Pat Freiermuth

What Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said about Penn State pro day

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was impressed by what he saw at Penn State’s pro day leading up to the 2021 NFL draft.

Under the direction of head coach James Franklin, Penn State football players have developed quite the reputation in NFL combine style events. The latest exhibition of NFL talent coming out of Happy Valley was in the spotlight this week with Penn State’s pro day event.

With linebacker Micah Parsons expected to be a lock for a first-round draft pick and defensive lineman Jayson Oweh continuing to surge up various big boards, Penn State’s pro day event was one to be paying close attention to in the NFL draft cycle. And with 31 NFL teams having representation in State College, the eyes of the NFL were definitely plugged in. The only NFL team not represented in Happy Valley was the Los Angeles Rams.

Among those on hand for Penn State’s pro day was Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, and he certainly seemed to come away impressed with the display of talent brewing in Happy Valley.

“This is a freak show out here,” Tomlin said when reacting to Penn State’s pro day.

As noted by Steelers Wire, the Steelers have a few Penn State players that could be potential targets for the AFC franchise. Parsons and Oweh would certainly be good fits in Pittsburgh gold and black, but Pittsburgh may be in a position to make a run at tight end Pat Freiermuth as well. Considering Tomlin was joined by tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts, who ran some drills with Freiermuth at pro day, it sure looks like the Steelers could be looking to use a pick on the Nittany Lions tight end.

The Steelers have the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Parsons is expected to be gone by then, but most mock drafts seem to have Oweh and Freiermuth available for sure by the time the Steelers make a pick. The Steelers also have the 55th overall pick and could use one on either Oweh or Freiermuth if still available.

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PHOTOS: Penn State’s first round NFL draft picks since joining the Big Ten

Re-evaluating the Jags’ needs after Week 1 of free agency

It’s a over a week past free agency and the Jags roster is improved. However, they still have a lot of needs to address in the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and his staff have wrapped up one of the most important parts of his first season as an NFL head coach, and that’s the first week of free agency. Typically, that’s the timeframe where the most significant additions are made to the roster, and also the point where fans and the front office can gauge the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft.

In early January, we assessed the Jags’ needs heading into free agency. With the free agency additions made over the last week-plus, we’ve now re-evaluated those needs to give fans an idea of what the Jags can do in the draft.

From their biggest needs to their minor ones, here is how we’ve ranked the Jags’ needs heading into the draft:

Podcast: Diving deeper into Jags Wire’s latest 7-round mock

Jags Wire James Johnson and Phil Smith go over their newest mock for the Jags as the first week of free agency is over.

In this week’s episode of “Bleav in the Jaguars,” Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and myself started things off re-ranking the Jacksonville Jaguars’ needs  now that free agency has been ongoing for over a week. Overall, there were eight needs discussed though some weren’t as pressing as others.

Afterward, we dove deeper into the recent mock draft released on Jags Wire this week. It’s one that knocked out all eight of the needs we discussed before hand and utilized all 10 Jags selections.

The full episode can be heard below in the media player, while our archived episodes can be revisited here.

Feel free to subscribe to “Bleav in the Jags” via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

Giants’ Joe Judge attends wildly impressive Penn State Pro Day

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge was in person for an incredibly impressive PSU pro day that featured a lot of Sean Spencer praise.

Penn State players absolutely showed out during their official pro day on Thursday, and New York Giants head coach Joe Judge was front and center for all of the action.

Judge watched on as 2021 NFL draft hopefuls such as linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end Shaka Toney, edge rusher Jayson Oweh and tight end Pat Freiermuth put on a show.

And we’re not kidding. Numbers across the board will raise the draft stock of several PSU players.

Beyond just the numbers, several Penn State players offered up high praise for Giants defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who held that position at PSU from 2014-2019.

There was a lot to take away from the performance of the players and their comments, but one thing is for certain: don’t be surprised if the Giants target a Penn State player over the first three rounds of the draft.

The connection to Spencer is strong, but the versatility and athleticism of PSU players is what will attract Judge & Co.

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Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast: Today is Penn State pro day

Today is an incredibly important day for a handful of former Nittany Lions looking to make the move to the NFL. Today is Penn State’s pro day, with eight players participating in the event as NFL scouts and coaches observe what they have to offer. …

Today is an incredibly important day for a handful of former Nittany Lions looking to make the move to the NFL. Today is Penn State’s pro day, with eight players participating in the event as NFL scouts and coaches observe what they have to offer.

While linebacker Micah Parsons is pretty much locked in to being a first-round pick and Jayson Oweh and Pat Freiermuth are definitely going to be drafted in the upper half of the draft, the pro day event could be even more important for players like Lamont Wade and Steven Gonzalez.

How to watch Penn State football’s 2021 pro day

Also discussed in today’s episode is a story posted on 247 Sports this week circling one game on each preseason top 25 team’s schedule. It isn’t much of a surprise which school appears to be Penn State’s biggest opponent this season. But what top 25 teams might have Penn State circled on their schedule?

We also touch on the Big Ten’s announcement from Wednesday regarding attendance policies for the remainder of the spring sports schedules, and where we could be heading for the fall around the conference and at Penn State.

Follow Locked On Nittany Lions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and wherever else you get your podcasts. Or, you can catch today’s episode below and listen in your browser.

Follow us on Twitter @NittanyLionWire and like us on Facebook for continuing coverage and commentary on the Nittany Lions.

Penn State Nittany Lions 2021 Football Schedule

2021 Jags Wire mock: 7-round projections after Week 1 of free agency

The Jags helped their defense tremendously in free agency, but the need for a No. 1 tight end is still there.

The first week of free agency is behind us and the Jacksonville Jaguars made several notable additions to their roster. That makes it the perfect time for us to release a new mock draft as the Jags added a total of 12 new faces from other teams when including their decision to trade for Malcom Brown.

This will mark our second mock of the season as our last one came out over a month ago. It has a lot of elements as the last one due to the Jags free agency approach, but at the same time, it also includes some interesting changes. Just as we did last time, we used Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, and below are the results we came away with.

Giants somehow land Ja’Marr Chase in latest PFN mock draft

In the latest mock draft from Pro Football Network, the New York Giants luck out and land LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

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The New York Giants are in desperate need of quality playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, so imagine a scenario in which LSU superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase falls to them in the 2021 NFL draft.

Improbable, right? But not impossible.

Although highly unlikely, Pro Football Network recently released a mock draft that provided a pathway for the Giants to snag Chase at No. 11 overall. It involved a few top-round trades and a wild run on quarterbacks over the top four picks.

It also included an unlikely scenario in which teams value Alabama wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle over Chase.

11. New York Giants: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Ja’Marr Chase is a stud weapon on the perimeter. With the Giants moving on from Golden Tate, they will need another weapon to help Daniel Jones. Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard aren’t true WR1s.

Chase’s ability as a receiver will help mitigate Daniel Jones’ accuracy issues and draw attention away from Slayton and Shepard.

This scenario is unlikely to ever see the light of day, but it’s a fun exercise when considering that most Giants mock drafts have centered around the same two or three players repeatedly. And somewhat ironically, those most often include Waddle and Smith.

In Round 2, PFN has the Giants selecting Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth.

The Giants and Evan Engram appear to be reaching a departure soon. The team will need a new replacement for him, as OC Jason Garrett loves to use TEs in his scheme.

Freiermuth isn’t a freak athlete in the sense of Kyle Pitts, but he wins with strength at the top of his routes and top-tier body control. He should prove to be a more reliable target than Evan Engram.

To close things out, PFN has the Giants selecting USC defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, Washington edge rusher Joe Tryon, Oregon State edge rusher Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Cal cornerback Camryn Bynum and Kent State wide receiver Isaiah McKoy over the final five rounds.

This mock draft also includes a trade of tight end Evan Engram to the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Chargers attain balance in Chad Reuter’s 4-round mock draft

The Los Angeles Chargers draft two offensive linemen, Hunter Henry and Melvin Ingram’s replacement and a cornerback.

NFL Media’s Chad Reuter released his latest four-round mock draft, where he sees the Chargers building around quarterback Justin Herbert with their first three picks and filling in the holes on the defensive side of the ball with their next two.

With their first-round selection, Los Angeles selects former Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.

Slater is not the tallest or longest of offensive tackles, but he will be a solid starter at the next level. Not only will he help Justin Herbert’s development, but also open holes for Austin Ekeler and whomever else the Chargers line up in the backfield the next few years.

I feel like a broken record saying this but drafting Slater would be splash. Slater might be moved inside due to his lack of arm length, but he has the athletic skill set and overall technique to be an All-Pro blind-side protector in the NFL.

In Round 2, L.A. stays on the offensive side of the ball by selecting former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth.

With Hunter Henry a pending free agent, the Bolts could be looking for his replacement if he signs with another team this offseason. Like Henry, Freiermuth is a versatile tight end to get the job done in the receiving and blocking department.

With their first selection of the third-round, the Chargers get an interior offensive lineman after finding their tackle of the future by drafting former Ohio State center Josh Myers.

With Dan Feeney set to be a free agent, the team could be looking to upgrade at the position. Myers is a seasoned run blocker who possesses good intelligence, athletic traits, and effort to block in space effectively, while possessing good strength to anchor down vs bigger rushers.

Los Angeles uses their compensatory selection at the end of the third-round to address another need, drafting former Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph. Joseph is an aggressive and physical corner who thrives in press coverage with his height, length and ball skills.

Finally, with their fourth-round pick, L.A. takes former Oregon State outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr as a replacement to Melvin Ingram, who is currently a pending free agent.

Rashed’s pass-rush arsenal lacks variety, and his production is based more on effort and athleticism than technique. However, Rashed is only scratching the surface of his ability and shows the athleticism, coverage skills, competitive toughness, and physical traits to be a productive player in the NFL.

Mel Kiper gives thoughts on Jags’ need for a TE

The Jags have several needs, but Mel Kiper feels tight end is one of the top ones they need to address this year.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of needs after coming off a one-win season in 2020, and as a result, Urban Meyer and company will have a task on their hands when it comes to bolstering up the group to a respectable level. However, depending on what analyst fans get their information from, the team’s top needs vary, which has made trying to figure out the Jags’ direction interesting these last few months.

In a recent conference call, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. revealed one of the positions he felt was a top-3 need for the Jags, which is at tight end. Thankfully, Kiper feels there will be plenty of prospects to choose from, though, as the Jags have 11 picks in April’s draft.

“Yes, that is a need – and that is one of their top three needs overall,” Kiper said about the tight end position. […] “There will be a lot of tight ends. It depends on which ones they like. They’re all a little different, but they all certainly would be possibilities for Jacksonville in this draft.”

In addition to the draft picks they have, the Jags are projected to have a figure of over $80 million in available cap space. They could use that to sign a veteran like Jonnu Smith or Hunter Henry in a few weeks if they become available.

As for the draft, the top prospect is Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, who should be a top-10 selection. Of course, his ranking as an elite prospect would rule the Jags out unless they gave up significant compensation to move up.

What’s more likely is for the Jags to snag a tight end in Rounds 2-5. Pat Freiermuth is a popular name at the position who has a second-round grade. He also has ties to the Jags as his former position coach, Tyler Bowen, is on the staff. Other options include Brevin Jordan, Tre’ McKitty, and Hunter Long, who the Jags could snag in Days 2-3.

Regardless of what route the Jags go, it’s hard to see them not addressing their weakness at tight end as the position has proven to be important for quarterbacks. By addressing it this year, the team would be bringing in the tight end at the same time as probable No. 1 selection Trevor Lawrence, giving him a weapon at the position to build a bond with immediately in his young career.

2020 NFL Draft: Jags acquire help at LT, TE with Trevor Lawrence in 3-round mock

After acquiring Trevor Lawrence, the Jags still need to spend some draft picks on offense and acquiring a LT could be on the table.

Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars will have a hard time finding a recent mock draft that doesn’t have Trevor Lawrence going to their team first overall. However, a lot of those same mock drafts have the Jags addressing safety, defensive tackle, or offensive tackle with the No. 25 overall pick, but that was not the case for Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network this week.

In his most recent mock, Cummings had the Jags going with Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with pick No. 25 after getting Lawrence first overall. While the Jags already have a notable linebacker duo between Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, Cummings stated that Owusu-Koramoah is more of a hybrid player who could be moved all over the defense.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Much like the Jets, the Jaguars’ early selection gives them the flexibility to use their later first-round pick on the best player available. With plenty of needs and no more pressure to find the franchise guy, the Jaguars can simply add talent from this point out. And with the No. 25 pick in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an excellent addition.

Owusu-Koramoah rests near the boundary of linebackers and safeties when it comes to size and usage, and that’s opened up a debate regarding what his role will be at the next level. To me, his versatility is what makes him such an exciting prospect.

Cummings added that Owusu-Koramoah is a player the Jags don’t have to find a concrete role for, but instead, he’s someone they could draft and figure out a way to maximize his athleticism and explosiveness.

For the fans unfamiliar with the 6-foot-1, 215-pound standout from Notre Dame, he’s similar to Isaiah Simmons when he was coming out of Clemson, who played a mix of nickel back, linebacker, and safety. With a need for speed in today’s pass-happy league, Simmons ended up going eighth overall in 2020.

Per Pro Football Focus, Owusu-Koramoah has been used in a somewhat similar fashion, taking 195 snaps on the defensive line, 433 in the box, and 680 in the slot. However, with the Jags needing help within their secondary it seems he could help them a lot there while moving around.

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

With Cam Robinson likely leaving through free agency, it’s imperative that the Jaguars don’t wait too long to address the tackle position. With Trevor Lawrence now rostered, this position takes on added importance.

Samuel Cosmi can develop into an effective blindside blocker opposite Jawaan Taylor. He’s 6-foot-7, weighs over 300 pounds, and has the necessary length/athleticism combination to be a high-level starter with some development.

In Round 2, the Jags took Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi, who would be their left tackle of the future. Cosmi, who is 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, has great movement skills, but will need to add more muscle to his frame and become a bit more technical. If he achieves those goals, Cosmi could be a fine NFL tackle. Something else worth noting is that Cosmi brings versatility to the table, playing both right and left tackle in college.

The selection of Cosmi would make a lot of sense as the Jags have a decision to make on Cam Robinson, whose contract expired in 2020. He’s not quite where a team would want a left tackle to be in terms of pass protection, but he could get there in one more season. That said, the Jags may look for an upgrade or tag him. If the franchise tag is used on Robinson, adding Cosmi could be a smart plan to give Robinson some competition, or an eventual successor.

With the 45th overall pick, the Jags were given Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, who would address another big need. Freiermuth is a player the Jags could view as a top target of the draft with his former positional coach, Tyler Bowen on the staff.

The tight end position has long been an issue for the Jags. It was an area former general manager Dave Caldwell could never find an answer at. Taking a swing at Freiermuth would give Lawrence a massive 6-foot-5, 250 pound, target who flourishes in snagging contested balls and picking up yards after the catch. However, he’s often been off the board by pick No. 45, so if the Jags could snag him here, it would be a steal.

Lastly, in the third round, the Jags were slotted defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. from Wake Forest. He’s a player who impressed at the Senior Bowl after being the Demon Deacons’ main source of a pass rush the last two seasons. At 6-foot-3, 281 pounds, Basham offers good size on the edge and made a name for himself by utilizing a mix of power, technique, and effort.

With new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen coming in from Baltimore, the Jags could look to have a heavy front seven rotation. A player like Basham would give them that though some analysts believe he could go sooner as a late first-round pick or as a second-round selection.