Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Denver Broncos selected Patrick Surtain from Alabama No. 9 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Here are 10 facts surrounding the pick.
The Denver Broncos decided they have solutions at quarterback after trading for Teddy Bridgewater and standing behind 2019 second-rounder Drew Lock.
Why not find a shutdown cornerback with their No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft?
The Broncos selected Patrick Surtain from Alabama. Here are 10 facts surrounding their selection of the Crimson Tide product.
2021 NFL draft Live blog and Philadelphia Eagles updates
The NFL draft is upon us and we’re less than an hour away from the Jaguars selecting Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall.
The rumors will be flowing up until the Eagles are on the clock and there’s been some discussion of a Kwity Paye or Christian Barmore selection at No. 12 overall.
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Tune in here for a running live blog, rumors, and draft updates.
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NFL Draft: Eagles could go in another direction despite needs at WR and CB
Anything and everything is on the table for the #Eagles with the 12th overall in the draft tonight, and 11 picks total. With clear needs at WR and CB, and while they could go there, don’t be shocked if they go in another direction…#FlyEaglesFly #NFLDraft2021 @nflnetwork 🏈🦅 pic.twitter.com/8WKNGktyTh
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) April 29, 2021
The Eagles have 11 picks in tonight’s NFL draft and with Howie Roseman loving to steal the show, Philadelphia could shake up the draft at No. 12.
Stacey Dales has been reporting from the NovaCare Complex all day and as the draft approaches, the veteran reporter says Howie Roseman could pull off a big move that’s not centered around Patrick Surtain or DeVonta Smith.
While on the NFL Network, Dales had this to say moments ago.
They’re going to be prepared to move up, move down — as far as trades are concerned —, or stay right there at 12. I talked to a couple of people within the building and they believe this thing runs 16, 17 deep. So, yes, they’re going to go through their 1 through 12. Not a mock draft, necessarily, but their board, based upon their grades. And if somebody’s there at 12, they’ll be prepared to strike.
And I leave you with this: we all talk about wide receiver and cornerback being huge positions of need, but don’t be surprised if it’s somebody else. It may not be the perfect position, I’m told, it’s going to be the player. It may not be the position everyone thinks based upon the biggest need at the moment, but it’s going to be a really good player at a position this franchise needs in 2021, 22, 23, 24, and beyond.
The Eagles love to build inside out and if Rashawn Slater, Kwity Paye or Alijah Vera-Tucker are on the board, Philadelphia could look to reshuffle the offensive line immediately.
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Who will be the newest member of the Los Angeles Chargers by the end of the night?
The Chargers will be on the clock in about four hours from now.
Who might be the newest member of the team by the end?
Here’s a look at Los Angeles’ 10 targets in the first-round based on positions of need and top players likely to be available.
This would require a trade-up, but it would be worth it. Arguably the top offensive lineman in this year’s draft, Sewell is a big-bodied athlete who is light on his feet coupled with impressive play strength in the running game to overwhelm his opponents and a high football IQ. Being only 20 years old, he will need to continue to develop parts of his game, but he projects as a starting left tackle with All-Pro upside.
While many believe he should get kicked inside at the next level, Slater is technically sound and has the athleticism and smarts to overcome any measurement concerns, projecting as a top-notch blindside blocker with the ability to play any position along the offensive line.
Horn is the type of matchup eraser who can be used inside or outside and against any receiver or tight end, similar to the way Jalen Ramsey was used. Due to his combination of size, athleticism, competitiveness, football IQ, smoothness, ball skills and versatility, Horn has All-Pro upside.
While Surtain isn’t going to run as fast as some of the other corners in this year’s class, he can pattern match from press coverage and find the football downfield at a high and consistent level. He’s big and long enough to handle even the most physical of receivers, projecting as a starting corner with inside-out versatility.
Vera-Tucker put together a solid season as the Trojans’ left tackle this past season and he has plenty of experience at guard, where many project him to play in the NFL due to his lack of arm length. In my opinion, Vera-Tucker comes with the functional athleticism, movement skills and impressive strength to match and stymie pass rushers, and I believe he can be a fine blindside blocker in this league.
While he needs to develop his true strength & power and more attitude in his game, Darrisaw has the size at 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, athletic ability, body control, run-blocking prowess and most importantly, the experience (35 starts at LT), projecting as a player with the tools and traits to become a Day 1 starter.
Waddle would give quarterback Justin Herbert a dynamic weapon who can win with speed, quickness and route running ability to consistently separate and win with the ball in his hands, as well as a player who can return kicks and punts at a high level.
Paye is an explosive pass rusher who’s powerful with his hands and plays with good leverage, loose lower body movements and a motor that never cools down when getting after the quarterback and the anchorage ability to control at the point of attack against the run, projecting as a versatile chess piece up front.
A natural athlete at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, Ojulari possesses the physical traits, balance, flexibility, short area quickness, explosiveness needed to disrupt the quarterback, solid ability against the run and experience in coverage. At only 20 years old, Ojulari is still developing into his frame. However, the upside is there to generate pressure and contribute against the run on a consistent basis.
Staley is a big advocate of position versatility and he could be enticed by the idea of getting another playmaker next to Derwin James to be able to impact all levels of the defense. Owusu-Koramoah is a player with high-end speed, coverage ability and sharpness as a blitzer who can be used as a linebacker, safety or nickel.
NFL Draft rumors: Asante Samuel Jr. is a name to watch for the Eagles
#Eagles have potential interest in #AsanteSamuel #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ugjMHNOqEV
— Glenn Erby (@thacover2NFL) April 29, 2021
The Eagles have a need at cornerback and the son of one former Philadelphia star could be just what the doctor ordered.
According to Stacey Dales of the NFL Network, Caleb Farley and Asante Samuel Jr. are two names to watch if Philadelphia trades down in the first round, potentially targeting those two players.
New Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is expected to deploy a lot of zone coverage in his scheme. Samuel, like his father, projects better in a zone scheme and could become a ballhawk in the NFL by utilizing his elite vision at the position.
He’s also extremely versatile and during the Seminoles’ matchup with Florida, Samuel spent a ton of time on Kyle Pitts.
Asante Samuel Jr. – the perfect pick for the Eagles at 38.
Over his 3 years at FSU, he only allowed a 51.8% reception percentage in coverage. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sjjOzmRgBv
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) February 24, 2021
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Philadelphia Eagles land DeVonta Smith in Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock draft
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The mock draft season is wrapping up and one of the best personnel analysts in the business just released his final NFL draft projections.
Daniel Jeremiah just released his final mock draft on NFL.com and the NFL Network, with the Eagles landing Heisman Trophy winner and former Alabama wide receiver, DeVonta Smith.
Pick
12
Philadelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith
Alabama · WR
Ideally, you don’t pick a wide receiver in the first round in consecutive years, but Smith is too good to pass up at No. 12. He gives the Eagles the true No. 1 WR they’re lacking.
Smith dominated the SEC to the tune of 227 catches, 3835 yards, and 43 touchdowns the last three seasons and his slight frame shouldn’t deter Howie Roseman from pulling the trigger on adding a versatile and polished wideout to the mix.
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The Saints have glaring holes on the roster, Sean Payton tipped his hand as to which direction the Saints may go in the 2021 NFL draft.
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With the 2021 NFL draft rapidly approaching, the New Orleans Saints have an opportunity to address some of the holes on their roster. With the majority of high-impact free agents already signed, that leaves the upcoming draft as the best time to add a roster-altering talent to the team.
Saints head coach Sean Payton occasionally lets on to what the team plans for the draft, but sometimes the need is so glaring he doesn’t risk giving much away by bluntly saying it.
“There’s one (priority),” Payton told Luke Johnson of the Advocate | Times-Picayune after golfing at the recent Zurich Classic. “Look, corner is an area that we have to address here between now and the start of the season, and I think we’ll be able to find that.”
The only lockdown corner that New Orleans currently has rostered is Marshon Lattimore. His recent arrest in Cleveland raises questions about his availability. After the release of Janoris Jenkins, cornerback was always going to be the priority this offseason, even more so than linebacker and wide receiver. The Saints’ only other options with starting experience are backups Patrick Robinson and P.J. Williams.
So that suggests the Saints might target a cornerback in the first round of the draft, and they might even need to trade up to get the right prospect. If you have been keeping up, the Saints Wire crew just took that exact path in our final mock draft. Prospects to watch in a first round trade would include Greg Newsome II and Caleb Farley, though Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II are expected to go much higher. Realistic options at No. 28 could be Asante Samuel Jr. and Eric Stokes, though Stokes’ teammate Tyson Campbell has been a late riser in media circles despite poor college numbers (11 passes defensed in 33 games, compared to 25 breakups in 24 games for Farley). And if the Saints can’t find a high-end corner early in the draft, veterans like Richard Sherman are still available in free agency.
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Draft Wire’s final mock draft featured Jaycee Horn falling to the Eagles thanks to the pick from Glenn Erby of the Eagles Wire.
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The Philadelphia Eagles are just days away from restocking a depleted roster and experts from around the league present their final mock drafts, the consensus seems to be either a cornerback or wide receiver.
The NFL Wire Network is a collection of 34 blogs (32 team sites, Touchdown Wire, and Draft Wire) covering the NFL.
In a collaborative effort, their team of experts, editors, and writers made picks for each team in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft (April 29-May 1).
When Philadelphia was on the clock, Glenn Erby (Eagles Wire) went with the best available cover guy on the board.
The son of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn has all the production and measurables, but he’s in a system that’s a year removed from being a true fit. With former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and his aggressive scheme, Horn would have likely flourished immediately. He’ll need to improve at playing in space under DC Jonathan Gannon, but there’s no doubt he’s the best defender available for a secondary needing a reboot. Per Pro Football Focus, Horn allowed eight total catches in 239 coverage snaps last season, so he’s outstanding in coverage and his resume against SEC competition makes it hard for Philadelphia to pass on. — Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire
Horn will need to improve at playing in space under Jonathan Gannon, but there’s no doubt he’s the best defender available after allowing eight total catches in 239 coverage snaps last season against SEC competition.
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The Philadelphia Eagles landed Jaycee Horn in USA TODAY Sports Network’s 2021 NFL mock draft
https://youtu.be/7pZhKS6KjO8
It’s NFL draft week and as teams start to settle into their draft boards, experts from around the country will be finishing and posting their final mocks of the offseason.
USA TODAY Sports Network broke down potential first-round picks with a live mock draft, as the Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling hosted the event.
Jori Epstein made the pick for Philadelphia at No. 12 and the Eagles went cornerback, selecting South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn.
The pick makes sense with Horn as the best available cover guy on the board and the New York Giants snagging Jaylen Waddle at No. 11 overall just in front of Philadelphia.
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ESPN’s Kiper, McShay send Cowboys CB in 1st, DT, OT, Safety in 3-round mock. Cowboys Wire breaksdown each selection and how they would fit on the roster.
With just a little more than a week until the first night of the 2021 NFL draft, thousands of mock drafts dissecting players and their fits on potential teams have been penned. However, in regards to the Dallas Cowboys some mock drafts are more friendly than others. ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay recently released a three-round mock draft where they alternate selections, choosing players they feel would be the best fit.
Kiper and McShay’s selections for the Cowboys would be an ideal scenario, and while the un-predictability of the NFL draft could render even the best mock draft useless, it’s interesting to study what two of the top draft analysts feel would be the best fits for Dallas. The Cowboys have four selections in the first three-rounds of next weeks draft, with the selections being at number 10, 44, 75 and 99.
10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
McShay gets the first selection for the Cowboys and with five quarterbacks and no defensive players selected in the top-ten, Dallas gets their choice of defenders. Surtain’s size (6-foot-2) and instincts would be a great fit in Dan Quinn’s scheme.
Dallas gets first pick of the defensive pool, and I’m reuniting Surtain with his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs in this CB room. Surtain is a true shutdown corner.
Surtain’s chances of being available here: 84.7%
44. Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
For the Cowboys second pick, McShay goes back to the Crimson Tide’s national championship defense.
Only three teams allowed five-plus yards per carry last year, and Dallas was among them. Barmore would help stop the bleeding in the middle of the defense.
Even though the 21 year-old is a bit raw, his power and energy make Barmore arguably the top defensive tackle in the class. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Barmore ranked as the 20th best player on his overall draft board. Barmore would likely start immediately for Dallas, giving them a respectable rotation that would include Trysten Hill, Neville Gallimore, Antwaun Woods and Brent Urban.
Christian Barmore!! 4th Down Stop #BamaVsOsu #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/wpK5uET2Ha
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) January 12, 2021
75. Walker Little, OT, Stanford
With the Cowboy’s first pick in the third-round, Mel Kiper takes the reigns adds some depth to the tackle position.
Offensive line is a sneaky need for the Cowboys, who had major injury issues last season. Little missed nearly all of 2019 with a knee injury and opted out of last season, but he has a first-round tool set.
With both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins missing most of last season, Dallas would be wise to draft a young potential tackle of the future. With the expected return of both Smith and Collins and the signing of Ty Nsekhe, the 6-foot-7, 313 pounder would not be forced into the lineup and would have time to develop some needed play-strength. However, if two of Dallas’ top tackles were to go down, Little would be a upgrade over Brandon Knight and/or Terrance Steele. Little would be a pick that would pay dividends in the future.
99. Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
Stephen Jones spoke earlier in the week about the Cowboys potentially selecting a safety early in the draft if the right player was available, Mel Kiper believes Johnson could be that player
A safety helps fill all of the Cowboys’ most immediate needs, as we’ve also given them a corner, defensive tackle and offensive tackle. Johnson could challenge Donovan Wilson and free-agent signing Damontae Kazee for a starting job.
While Johnson is not the most physical player, his strengths are his range, awareness and ball skills. He would likely find playing time in a rotation with Kazee, until he gets more comfortable in the NFL. While Dallas fans would understandably like to see a safety selected higher than pick 99, Johnson is a good player who fits exactly what Dan Quinn values in a free safety.
#Indiana safety Jamar Johnson is an interesting study.
Fluid movements. Plus range and ball skills. Needs to improve his discipline and tackling skills but he has interchangeable FS/nickel tools. pic.twitter.com/nM4kMHwSDX
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 19, 2021
With four picks in the first three rounds the Dallas Cowboys came away with a corner, defensive tackle, offensive tackle and a safety. Those are four positions of need for Dallas and they added three players that would compete for starting jobs immediately.
If next weeks draft plays out remotely close to this, the Cowboys would be ecstatic. Fans should keep their fingers crossed that Dallas is graced with a little luck from the draft gods.
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