Tag: pre draft

Saints schedule Top-30 visit with Western Michigan combine standout

The New Orleans Saints have scheduled a Top-30 draft visit with Marshawn Kneeland, an NFL Scouting Combine standout from Western Michigan:

The New Orleans Saints have scheduled their second Top-30 prospect visit of the 2024 NFL draft, after lining one up previously with Northern Iowa defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Next up on the docket is Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, per Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report.

Kneeland was one of the 321 total players invited to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine and was also a participant at the 2024 Senior Bowl. At the combine, Kneeland weighed in at 6-foot-3 and 267 pounds and stood out as an exceptional athlete in pretty much every event. He ranked highly amongst his peers at the defensive end position:

  • 40-yard dash: 4.75 seconds (19th)
  • 10-yard split: 1.66 seconds (tied-18th)
  • Vertical jump: 35.50 inches (8th)
  • Broad jump: 9 feet 11 inches (T-14th)
  • 3-cone drill: 7.02 seconds (1st by 0.28 seconds)
  • 20-yard shuttle: 4.18 seconds (1st)
  • Bench Press: 21 reps (T-8th)

It is worth noting that he has been listed at defensive tackle in other rankings, which would only help his case. In terms of Relative Athletic Score, a measure created by Kent Lee Platte, Kneeland ranked 75th out of 1,620 defensive tackles from 1987 to present day, with a 9.54 out of 10.00.

Kneeland is an extremely disruptive defensive lineman with 37 total pressures, 6 sacks, 38 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles this past season. He also has NFL size for a defensive lineman, a similar frame to Cameron Jordan who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds. Kneeland will absolutely be an intriguing prospect in this draft process, and he may see a substantial rise in draft stock due to his combine success.

He also has other Top-30 visits scheduled with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers, so it is extremely clear that he is garnering attention in the pre-draft process. He’s currently seen as a second-round draft prospect.

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Joe Hortiz says Ravens will have advantage in draft given Todd Monken’s experience

Newly hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken could play a key role in helping the Ravens excel in the 2023 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens have several holes on their roster after their slow start to the 2023 offseason, and with the NFL draft fast approaching, it seems that the team will opt to add younger talent rather than take their chances on veteran free agents.

One advantage that Baltimore has is the familiarity that their new offensive coordinator Todd Monken will bring the Ravens after previously coaching at the University of Georgia. Given that several of the class’ best prospects played their college ball in Athens, Baltimore’s director of player personnel Joe Hortiz told reporters in a pre-draft press conference that he feels the team has a distinct advantage.

“Yes, we certainly do. We know the Georgia players with [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken]. But we’re still going through that process, and we’ll have medical meetings, and then we’ll talk it over with the coaching staff. [Scouting information & research manager] Steve Clagett does a great job with all our background investigations and research. So, we kind of talk through it. We don’t eliminate anyone based on a quote-unquote grade; it’s a discussion and a conversation that we talk through with the coaching staff during the meetings.”

While he went out of his way to make it clear that other departments will have a significant impact on the team’s evaluations of prospects, Hortiz’s comments about Monken’s presence shouldn’t be taken lightly. The newly-minted offensive coordinator has been around the game for a long time, especially at the collegiate level, and should prove to be invaluable to Baltimore as the Ravens look to re-tool for a comeback 2023 season.

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