Tag: prospect

Chiefs scouting report: Northwestern Wildcats DE Anto Saka

Northwestern Wildcats DE Anto Saka would add some explosiveness to the Kansas City #Chiefs’ defense if they select him in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a pass rusher with the combination of burst and bend that Northwestern Wildcats defensive end Anto Saka brings to the table.

They tried to add more dynamic athleticism when they drafted Felix Anudike-Uzomah, but that pick hasn’t worked out yet. Saka impacts passing downs more than Anudike-Uzomah, and the Chiefs won’t need to draft him until the third or fourth round at the earliest.

Saka’s elite explosiveness makes him one of the best pass rushers in college football. Northwestern doesn’t give the redshirt sophomore enough snaps for him to earn national recognition, making him one of the best kept secrets at a Power Four program.

Saka’s burst off the line, rapid footwork and impressive bend make it hard for most offensive tackles to keep him from turning the corner. Last year alone, Saka generated sacks against future first-round pick Graham Barton, future third-round pick Caedan Wallace, and priority undrafted free agent Julian Pearl.

Saka plays with a relentless motor. Northwestern hasn’t used him often on run downs this season, but he uses his speed and effort to separate from blocks quickly and chase down running backs.

Saka needs to add more pass rush moves to his arsenal and use more hand counters when his pass rush begins to stall. He lacks ideal arm length, which could make him fall into the draft’s middle rounds.

Northwestern faces a tough challenge against Washington on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m.

New Orleans Saints stay put at No. 29, pick Clemson DT Bryan Bresee

The mock drafts nailed it: the New Orleans Saints stayed put at No. 29, picking Clemson DT Bryan Bresee

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For all the talk this week about looking into trading up, the New Orleans Saints ultimately chose to stay put in the first round — selecting Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Bryan Bresee at No. 29 overall.

The move addresses their top position of need after the team lost three of their top four defensive tackles in free agency. Bresee has an injury history but he’s a prototypical athlete for what they look for. He needs to show he can compete at a consistent level and make the most of his rare athleticism after he missed a lot of time in college.

More to follow…

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Edge rusher prospects for Chiefs in each round of the 2023 NFL draft

Here’s a look at some of the edge rushers the #Chiefs could consider adding in each round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs could opt to reinforce the defensive line in the 2023 NFL draft, including additions at the edge rusher position.

The team invested in the position just a season ago, selecting George Karlaftis in the first round of the draft. With Frank Clark’s release and Carlos Dunlap still a free agent, the Chiefs could use some reinforcements at edge rusher. Many consider this class to be quite deep at the position too, with upwards of eight players at the position projected in Round 1.

Here’s a look at some of the edge rushers the Chiefs could consider adding in each round of the 2023 NFL draft:

Ravens host South Carolina CB Cam Smith for visit on Monday

The Ravens hosted South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith for a formal visit on Monday ahead of the 2023 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens are continuing to do their due diligence on draft prospects ahead of April’s annual selection meeting. They got off to a hot start to their week on Monday when they hosted University of South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith for a visit in a move that could indicate their interest to add talent to their secondary in the early to middle rounds.

Most of the Ravens talk on Monday was centered around Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and the massive extension he inked while Lamar Jackson remains unsigned. However, the news of Smith’s visit to the Charm City may prove to be more important in the short-term as the draft draws ever closer, as the team has plenty of holes to fill in the back-end of their defense.

Smith is a seasoned corner with ball skills that could help any secondary early in his NFL career. He came down with six interceptions during his time in Columbia, South Carolina, and made All-SEC teams in the 2021 and 2022 seasons before declaring for the draft this year.

Watch for Smith to be a name that many talking heads link to the Ravens throughout the draft and for his name to be called somewhere between the second and fourth rounds.

Ravens set to meet with Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of 2023 NFL draft

The Ravens are set to host Ohio State wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba for a pre-draft visit

After signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. over the weekend the Baltimore Ravens are looking to grow their stable of pass catchers even more in the upcoming NFL draft. The team is set to host standout Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this week as they solidify their draft board.

Smith-Njigba was a key cog in the Buckeyes’ offense last year and is one of the most prized prospects in the 2023 draft class. His ability to make contested catches and rare athleticism have attracted the attention of scouts across the league, and some analysts have predicted that he will be the first wideout to come off the board when the annual selection meeting commences later in April.

Though their aspirations of securing his talents are certainly warranted, the Ravens will be lucky if Smith-Njigba falls far enough in the first round for Baltimore to make a play on him. Unless the team has a plan in place to trade up, Ravens fans should view this visit as nothing more than a formality for Baltimore, which is simply doing its due diligence on one of this year’s most promising wideouts.

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One perfect prospect fit for the Packers at each position in 2023 NFL draft

With help from the new Green Bay Draft Guide, we pick one perfect prospect fit for the Packers at each position leading into the 2023 draft.

It’s no secret: the Green Bay Packers look for specific types of players – depending on position – in the draft. Although unclear on the exact specifics, the team does use size, athleticism and production thresholds to help guide the process when drafting players. Years of examples from the Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst eras have helped provide clues on the thresholds.

Here’s where the excellent “Green Bay Draft Guide: Powered by Packer Report” comes into play. Spearheaded by Jacob Morley, the draft guide dug through the top prospects in the draft to help identify those who meet the team’s estimated thresholds at every position.

With the guide as our, well, guide, here’s one perfect prospect fit for the Packers at every position in the 2023 draft.

You can purchase the draft guide here.

Prospects who interviewed with Chiefs at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Here’s a look at the prospects who told reporters they’d had formal and informal interviews with the #Chiefs at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

The media portion of the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is officially over, but we’ve learned plenty about the upcoming crop of draft prospects, including information about the teams they’ve interviewed with. Over 30 prospects confirmed they’d met with the Kansas City Chiefs in either formal or informal interviews at the combine.

Informal interviews are exactly how they sound. They’re quick and dirty, usually taking place with a scout or position coach in an informal setting. Usually, it’s just a way to get introduced to a prospect or check in after a meeting at another event like an All-Star Game.

Formal interviews are what the combine is all about for NFL teams. That’s where they really get an opportunity to know draft prospects. These are longer, highly structured, sit-down meetings that happen with multiple members of an organization. In the case of Kansas City, this usually means Andy Reid, the coordinator, the position coach, Brett Veach and an area scout.

Teams are only permitted 45 formal interviews and they typically use those on players they hold in high regard. Some of these interviews are done so teams can learn more about medical or character concerns, others are strictly an opportunity to better understand the type of player a particular prospect is. Reid and the rest of those in the room will watch tape with them and get them on the whiteboard breaking down plays. It’s an exercise that they use to get to know both the person and the player.

Below you’ll find a list of the prospects who said they met with the Chiefs at the combine or elsewhere during the course of the pre-draft process:

Packers film room: A closer look at intriguing edge prospect Cameron Thomas

In this film room, we take a closer look at San Diego State edge rusher Cameron Thomas, an intriguing prospect for the Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.

There is a very strong chance the Green Bay Packers will add an edge rusher in the 2022 NFL draft. Still well over the salary cap, the team is in jeopardy of losing one of their top edge rushers in Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith. The Packers will hope to keep at least one of their top pass-rushers to pair with Rashan Gary next season, but even then, expect them to draft one to get the developmental process started. An intriguing option is San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas.   

Thomas is coming off a remarkable 2021 season in which he logged 71 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. He was eventually named the 2021 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for his incredible production. Thomas has generated some first-round buzz, but in a deep edge class, he will likely be a day two pick.   

Thomas only participated in the bench press at this year’s NFL combine after injuring his hamstring at the Senior Bowl. He logged 24 reps – a solid number that topped another potential first-rounder in Purdue’s George Karlaftis (21). Thomas plans to participate in running drills and the vertical jump at his Pro Day scheduled for March 22.   

Green Bay would be wise to be in attendance. Thomas is scheme versatile but projects best as a three-tech defensive end. The Packers are not opposed to kicking edge rushers inside on occasion. Ideally, Thomas will add strength and mass to his 6-4, 267-pound frame. He will continue to get stronger and eventually emerge into a starting-caliber edge rusher who can make an impact from a variety of alignments.   

This week, we are going to take a closer look at Thomas by reviewing his film from a game last season against Utah. Let’s dive right in and see what the promising edge prospect could bring to an ascending defense.   

As a pass rusher:

If he adds strength, Thomas will be a potential nightmare for NFL guards. For one, he is extremely agile for a guy his size, which is demonstrated through his explosive first step and lateral movement in the play above. We see Thomas immediately gains leverage with his quickness and hands. Thomas’ hands are well versed and one of his best attributes. He clubs the guard’s inside hand while implementing a swim move with his offhand so the blocker cannot get proper hand placement. All of this is done in unison and looks like poetry in motion when combined with his upfield burst and vision to take a direct line to the quarterback. The result is an immediate pressure to force a hurried throw that is nearly intercepted.   

I really can’t get over Thomas’ hand usage. Here we see Thomas use a cross chop-club into a swim. Again, he generates quick pressure to get the quarterback to drop his eyes and eventually scramble into a sack. The important thing to note is how well Thomas implements his plan of attack. He knows exactly what he wants to do before the ball is snapped and then does an outstanding job with his execution.  

This time, Thomas is lining up over the left tackle and looks like he is going to take an outside rush. However, he quickly uses another deadly club-swim to gain inside leverage. The center sees this and has to help immediately. The center actually helps Thomas a bit by knocking him into the quarterback, but he is unable to make the tackle. It still forces the quarterback into an off-balanced throw into double coverage that falls incomplete. Thomas is only going to get better as a pass rusher but generating immediate pressure like this is extremely valuable even if it doesn’t always end in a sack. His explosiveness paired with Gary would be a lot of fun.  

Against the run:

Thomas plays with a rare level of effort. His relentless attitude carries over to the run game as a stout run defender. On this play, the left tackle gets control over Thomas at the start. However, Thomas is able to get his arms extended so he can get off the block and get back into the mix. His help has done a nice job bottling up the running back, allowing Thomas to get back into the play and help bring the ball carrier down.  

It is easy to see why Thomas had so much success against the run last year. Here, we see his explosive first step put to good use as a run defender as he is able to cross the blocker’s face. Thomas then uses a rip move to get off the block and continue to move down the line of scrimmage so he can bring the running back down. The result is no gain.  

Here is not just another example of Thomas’ athleticism, but his mental processing as well. He quickly finds the ball and showcases his closing speed and tackling radius to make the play. None of this happens without great instincts.   

Thomas played lined up at basically every alignment in college. He probably won’t be asked to do this at the next level, but it is still worth showing what Thomas is capable of. Even as a 0-tech, Thomas continued to make plays for his defense. He gets his arms extended to get off the block and moves laterally in the direction of the play flow. The center tries his best to ceil Thomas, but his quickness is too much as he beats him at the point of attack and then tracks down the ball carrier. Just an impressive play.  

Bonus clip

Look at the hustle Thomas shows on this play. Utah runs a screen here, and we even see Thomas hit the ground. Some defensive lineman will give up on this play, but not Thomas. He gets up and chases the play almost 15 yards down the field to make the tackle. For an edge rusher, you want this kind of motor and mindset.  

No, Thomas is not a perfect prospect. There are questions about his ability to be an effective edge rusher when attacking the tackle’s outside shoulder. We never saw him showcase his speed or bend to create pressure from the arc. This is something he will have to get better at or he may be reserved to a 3-tech. Thomas also needs to improve his play strength. He doesn’t have great knockback power and will likely need to add more muscle so that he can stand up better to NFL competition. A couple of years of NFL strength training should do wonders.   

That said, there is enough to like about Thomas as a day two pick or even at the tail end of the first round. The Packers could select Thomas at 28 knowing that he will start as a rotational pass rusher. He can then add strength and hone in his craft to become a prominent player capable of making an impact against the run and pass.   

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2022 draft spotlight: Vols WR Velus Jones Jr. is a prospect on the rise

2022 draft spotlight: Vols WR Velus Jones Jr. is a prospect on the rise, and the Saints should take note

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We’ve already discussed how the New Orleans Saints hiring wide receivers coach Kodi Burns may help give them an inside track on some prospects in the 2022 NFL draft, but one player to note in particular is Tennessee Volunteers wideout Velus Jones Jr. Listed at 6-foot-even and exactly 200 pounds, Jones broke out in 2021 during Burns’ first year at Tennessee after transferring from USC a season earlier.

He was an effective No. 2 receiver in the Vols’ offense, ranking second on the team in receptions (62), receiving yards (807), and touchdown catches (7) while playing in all 13 games. And his role in the NFL will likely be a complimentary weapon working across from an established No. 1 wideout like Michael Thomas. But what’s interesting is that Jones didn’t hit his stride until Burns started coaching him; in his first 46 games, most of them at USC, he totaled just 58 receptions for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns.

And then Jones parlayed that production into a big week at the Senior Bowl, impressing NFL scouts and coaches in attendance. Zebra Technologies tracking found that he was consistently one of the fastest players in practices during the week, and he’s put enough work into refining his routes to compete at the pro level. His experience fielding kickoffs (he’s returned 122 of them in 59 college games) should also help his case.

New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. Alvin Kamara of course has been their most notable pickup from Rocky Top, but they’ve also gotten great returns on undrafted free agent finds like Marquez Callaway and Shy Tuttle. Ethan Wolf and Bryce Thompson are also returning for 2022 from the Saints practice squad.

Maybe Jones joins them. He would be a good pick on the third day of the draft, especially if the Saints add a more-established weapon sooner. Whether that means spending an early-round pick on a top prospect or investing in a veteran free agent, you’d like to see New Orleans double down on the receiving corps. Jones has real potential, but he’d be best served competing with Deonte Harty and Marquez Callaway in the rotation behind Michael Thomas and a new starter. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldn’t serve anyone well.

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Pete Werner: What the scouts said pre-draft about Saints 2nd-round LB

The New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State linebacker prospect Pete Werner with the 60th overall pick during round two of the 2021 NFL draft

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Pete Werner was picked by the Saints late in the second round of the 2021 draft, putting him in the middle of a tier of linebackers that were selected between picks 50 and 80. That group included Azeez Ojulari (50), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (52), Nick Bolton (58), Joseph Ossai (69), and Chazz Surratt (78), with Werner slotted in near the halfway point at 60.

The pick surprised some Saints fans, who were hoping for LSU prospect Jabril Cox (who fell all the way down to 115). But what was the word on Werner going into the draft? Let’s check in with a couple of prominent draft guides.