Tag: pre-draft visit

Bo Nix aced his pre-draft meeting with the Broncos

The Broncos gave Bo Nix three packets of offensive play installation to study at his pro day and the QB “crushed” his test the next morning.

The Denver Broncos gave quarterback Bo Nix extensive homework at Oregon’s pro day last month. Broncos coach Sean Payton handed Nix “three packets of offensive play installation” to study ahead of his meeting with Denver’s staff the next day, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

In the classroom the next morning, Nix “crushed it,” according to Schefter. The QB then went out on the field for a private workout for the Broncos and continued to impress. Six weeks later, Denver picked Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

After making the pick official on Thursday night, Broncos coach Sean Payton went on Pat McAfee’s draft show and recalled the QB’s studious work to prep for his meeting with the team.

“I don’t know what time he got to the office, but I felt like he was in a hotel room with a “Do not disturb” sign on [the door with a] coffee, the whole thing. … He’s super intelligent,” Payton told McAfee.

That late-night study appears to have paid off because Payton was clearly impressed with the quarterback. Nix is now set to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting QB job this summer.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Packers hosted South Carolina WR Xavier Legette on top 30 pre-draft visit

The Green Bay Packers hosted South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers hosted South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, according to an interview with Justin Melo of The Draft Network. Legette said he’s been on 14 total visits during the pre-draft process.

Teams are allowed to host up to 30 prospects on visits ahead of the draft. Packers Wire is tracking all the reported visits here.

Legette (6-2, 221) caught 113 passes for 1,678 yards and 12 touchdowns across 53 games and 32 starts at South Carolina. He was an All-SEC selection in 2023 after setting career highs in catches (73), receiving yards (1,255) and touchdowns (7). In 2022, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Legette has experience as both a kickoff returner and covering kicks and punts on special teams.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

At the combine, Legette ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, hit 40″ in the vertical leap and covered 10-6 in the broad jump. He finished 24 reps on the bench press at his pro day. Although he didn’t test agilities, Legette has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.88 out of 10.0.

What did teams tell Legette during his visits?

“Their biggest takeaway has been my ability to high-point the football,” Legette told Melo. “Teams are impressed with my ability to climb the ladder and go get it. I turn those 50-50 balls into my ball. Everybody sees me being versatile enough to move me around their formations as well.”

Legette, a South Carolina native, is 23 years old. He was invited to and participated at the Senior Bowl.

Legette is the No. 43 overall player on the consensus big board, giving him second-round potential. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Legette as a third-round player. The Packers have four picks between the second and third rounds.

Packers hosted Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie on top 30 pre-draft visit

The Green Bay Packers hosted Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers hosted Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Teams are allowed to host up to 30 prospects on visits ahead of the draft. Packers Wire is tracking all the reported visits here.

Amegadjie (6-5, 323) made 14 starts at left tackle and 10 at right guard over the last three seasons. He was a three-time All-Ivy League selection.

A significant quad injury requiring surgery forced Amegadjie to miss the final six games of the 2023 season, the Senior Bowl and the pre-draft process. He did 21 reps on the bench during his pro day but did no other testing.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Amegadjie, 22, allowed zero sacks and only 10 total pressures over the last two seasons. He has 36 1/8″ arms and a wingspan of 85 1/2,” highlighting his incredible length.

Amegadjie is the No. 77 player on the consensus big board. Dane Brugler of The Athletic believes he’ll be a third-round pick.

Why a visit? Amegadjie is a small-school prospect at a premium position and need position for the Packers who is recovering from a major injury and lacks athletic testing.

The Packers recently signed Andre Dillard but will likely need to find a developmental offensive tackle in the 2024 draft.

Broncos host CSU TE Dallin Holker on pre-draft visit

The Broncos brought in CSU tight end Dallin Holker for a pre-draft visit. He’s projected to be a late-round pick.

The Denver Broncos hosted Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker on a pre-draft visit earlier this month, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Holker (6-3, 241 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.66 seconds at the NFL combine. He started his college career at BYU in 2018, hauling in 19 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown as a freshman.

Holker then went on a Mormon missionary trip from 2019-2020. He returned to the football team in 2021 and totaled 14 receptions for 200 yards and one score. After being limited to three games in 2022, Holker transferred to Colorado State ahead of the 2023 season.

Holker had a breakout season last fall, totaling 64 receptions for 767 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Those numbers were better than his three-year totals in 28 games at BYU (42/521/3).

The 24-year-old tight end is now projected to be a fifth– or sixth-round pick in the NFL draft. The Broncos hold five picks in that part of the draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Lions draft prospect of the day: Javon Bullard, DB, Georgia

Bullard did a lot for the Bulldogs defense in a variety of spots and could do the same for Detroit

Today’s Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is an under-the-radar key cog of Georgia’s defensive dominance over the last few years. 

The focus for these potential Lions prospects is on players who should hold some appeal for Detroit in the draft. Not all of them will be prominent names or high draft picks, and today’s prospect is just itching for a Day 2 pick after he has been hiding in plain sight in a prominent program. 

Javon Bullard, DB, Georgia

Height: 5-foot-10.5 inches

Weight: 198 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

A two-year starter and three-year contributor to Georgia’s top-shelf defense, Bullard started out as a three-star recruit who primarily played slot CB. As his Georgia career progressed, Bullard moved more to a split-safety role and typically played over the side where the offense aligned its slot. He bagged 112 tackles, four INTs, 8.5 TFLs, eight PDs and 4.5 sacks in his final two seasons, which includes two games missed in 2023 with an ankle injury.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Bullard met with the Lions at the Senior Bowl. He turns 22 just before Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

What I like

  • Very high football IQ comes across instantly on game tape
  • Zero wasted motion in coverage
  • Good open-field tackler who can hit with some pop for his size
  • Exceptional timing on attacking behind the line of scrimmage
  • Smartly anticipates route concepts and throwing angles
  • Impressive ball skills with a go-get-it mentality
  • Considerable experience playing multiple secondary spots in a pro-style defense
  • Very seldom runs himself out of position in run defense or zone coverage
  • Best QB-baiting safety in the draft class with excellent eye discipline and spatial awareness

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Slighter and lighter than ideal for playing safety
  • Top speed is average and Bullard doesn’t have a true top-end chase gear
  • Short-steps for too long when pursuing in the open field; sounds odd but it’s quite noticeable when watching Bullard
  • A little tight-hipped to handle quickness in the slot in the NFL
  • Vulnerable to the stiff arm as a tackler
  • Struggles to get off blocks and will get moved off the point by better TEs

Best game I watched: Alabama in SEC Championship

Worst game I watched: Ohio State in ’22 CFP

Overall

Bullard is a coverage-oriented safety with outstanding instincts and reactions that are proven against some high-level collegiate passing attacks. Much like Lions 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch, Bullard can play as a slot corner, a free safety or a box safety, depending on the matchups. He’s not as big or quite as fluid as Branch, but performs with a similar heady, tough-nosed and playmaking style. Bullard would make a very smart fit for the Lions in the second round.

Broncos had a virtual pre-draft visit with OL Dylan McMahon

The Broncos had a virtual pre-draft visit with N.C. State center Dylan McMahon. He’s considered a sixth-round prospect.

The Denver Broncos had a virtual pre-draft visit with N.C. State center Dylan McMahon last month, according to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo.

McMahon (6-3, 299 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds and a 10-yard shuttle in 1.75 seconds at the NFL combine earlier this offseason. He spent five years with the Wolfpack and earned a team captain designation from teammates ahead of his final season in 2023.

After a redshirt season in 2019, McMahon started seven games at right guard in 2020. The following year, he made five starts at right guard and seven starts at left guard and filled in at center for one game.

He was a 10-game starter at right guard in 2022 and then moved to center for three games as an injury fill-in. After starting again in 2023, McMahon is now considered a sixth-round prospect in next week’s NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos met with WR Je’Quan Burton ahead of NFL draft

The Broncos met with small-school prospect Je’Quan Burton ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. He’s likely being considered as a UDFA candidate.

The Denver Broncos met with Florida Atlantic wide receiver Je’Quan Burton at The College Gridiron Showcase in January, according to The Draft Wire’s Ryan Fowler.

Burton (5-10, 187 pounds) is a speedy prospect with a 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds, according to NFLDraftBuzz.com. He started his college career at Southern Illinois, where he appeared in seven games from 2018-2019.

Burton then attended Iowa Central in 2020 before transferring to Florida Atlantic in 2021. Over the last three years with the Owls, Burton hauled in 84 receptions for 1,277 yards and nine touchdowns. His best season came in 2022 when he posted career highs in catches (33), receiving yards (517) and touchdowns (four).

In addition to his receiving ability, Burton also returned 25 kickoffs for 483 yards in college, averaging 19.3 yards per return. Burton is projected to go undrafted next week. The Broncos are likely considering him as a potential college free agent candidate.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos met with QB Kedon Slovis at the Shrine Bowl

The Broncos met with BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He’s likely being considered as an UDFA prospect.

The Denver Broncos spent “extended time” with BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this offseason, according to The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler.

Slovis (6-2, 223 pounds) was considered a promising prospect after he threw for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns as a freshman at USC in 2019. Unfortunately, he never managed to return to that level of production.

After a season shortened by COVID-19 in 2020, Slovis returned in 2021 and threw for 2,153 yards with 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He then transferred to Pitt in 2022.

In one year with the Panthers, Slovis threw for 2,397 yards with 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He transferred again in 2023, moving to BYU ahead of his final college season.

Slovis totaled 1,716 passing yards with 12 touchdowns against six interceptions in eight games with the Cougars last fall. He wrapped up his college career with a 64.5% completion percentage, 11,689 passing yards, 80 touchdowns and 39 interceptions.

A five-year starter in college, Slovis is now entering the NFL draft as a 23-year-old prospect. The Broncos are likely considering him as an undrafted free agent prospect.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos met with RB Jacob Kibodi ahead of 2024 NFL draft

The Broncos met with Louisiana running back Jacob Kibodi ahead of the NFL draft. They are likely considering him as an UDFA prospect.

The Denver Broncos met with Louisiana running back Jacob Kibodi before the NFL combine, according to The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler.

Kibodi (6-1, 225 pounds) started his college career at Texas A&M, spending three seasons with the Aggies (2017-19). He was a rotational player, rushing 45 times for 270 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.

Kibodi then transferred to Incarnate Word, but their 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. After sitting out the 2020 campaign, Kibodi transferred to Louisiana as a walk-on and had a redshirt year in 2021.

He dressed for nine games in 2022, rushing 37 times for 169 yards. Kibodi finally got his big break last fall, rushing 129 times for 729 yards and seven touchdowns with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

After seven years at the college level, Kibodi will enter the NFL draft as a 25-year-old rookie set to turn 26 in October. The Broncos are likely considering him as an undrafted free agent prospect.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=642364]

Broncos met with RB Trey Benson at the NFL combine

The Broncos met with FSU running back Trey Benson at the NFL combine. He is considered one of the top RBs in this year’s NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos had a formal interview with Florida State’s Trey Benson at the NFL combine, the running back told Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

Benson (6-0, 216 pounds) impressed at the combine with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and a 1.52-second 10-yard split. He is considered one of the top running backs in this year’s class.

Benson spent the first two years of his college career at Oregon. He missed his freshman season with a knee injury and played sparingly as a sophomore. Benson then transferred to FSU ahead of the 2022 season.

In his first year with the Seminoles, Benson earned second-team All-ACC recognition after rushing for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned that honor again in 2023 after totaling 1,133 yards from scrimmage and scoring 15 total touchdowns (14 rushing, one receiving).

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has Benson projected as a second- or third-round prospect. The Broncos do not have a second-round pick, but they do hold pick No. 76 in the third round. With Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine scheduled to become free agents in 2025, Denver would be wise to add more depth at running back this spring.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=642364]