Tag: Quartney Davis

Giants select Mekhi Becton, stock up in Draft Wire’s 7-round mock

In Draft Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft, the New York Giants select OT Mekhi Becton and stock up at positions of need.

Now that the NFL has announced the compensatory draft picks for the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, we can take mock drafts a little more seriously.

Luke Easterling of USA Today’s Draft Wire released his full seven-round mock draft on Wednesday. Here’s how he sees the New York Giants making out.

Round 1, Pick 4: Mekhi Becton, offensive tackle, Louisville

Taking Becton over Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is going to disappoint many Giant fans. So is not trading back at No. 4 and still getting one of the three. But Becton is a monster of a prospect and should be a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle n this league. It’s not the sexiest pick, but with a young quarterback and an offensive line that is in dire need of upgrades, I’ll take this pick all day long.

Round 2, Pick 36: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

The Giants need to address the pass rush and their defensive end roles. Lewis is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds and is seen as an ascending prospect who hopefully has put his injury woes behind him. He did not run the 40 at the Combine, so his pro day will tell more of the tale of where he is physically.

Round 3, Pick 99: Troy Pride Jr., cornerback,  Notre Dame

Highly productive college player with polish and should be able to walk right into the Giants’ secondary and secure a role. The Giants are young and inexperienced at corner and need some steady hands at the position.

Round 4, Pick 110: Brandon Jones, safety, Texas

Average skills and size but played aggressively. The Giants need more depth at safety with Jabrill Peppers coming off injury and Antoine Bethea turning 36 in July, a young safety is needed.

Round 5, Pick 150: Michael Divinity Jr., linebacker, LSU

Ran a 4.85 40 at the Combine and doesn’t appear to be more than backup material at first glance. Would’ve gone with another player here.

Round 6, Pick 183: Quartney Davis, wide receiver, Texas A&M

Probably coming out a year too early but that’s the nature of the games these days. Davis is fast (4.54 40) and productive and could be a sleeper the way Darius Slayton was last year.

Round 7, Pick 218: John Molchon, offensive lineman, Boise State

Pegged as in interior guy with decent size (6’5″, 310) but has short arms for his size. It may not matter if he can hold his own in the NFL. He was all-conference two years running in spite of that.

Round 7, Pick 238 (from NO): Rodney Smith, running back, Minnesota

A fifth-year senior, Smith was second-team All-Big 10 last year and was the 2016 Holiday Bowl MVP. The Giants are concerned with Saquon Barkley’s durability after last year’s ankle injury and are in the market for running backs.

Round 7, Pick 247: Harrison Hand, cornerback, Temple

Athletic Jersey kid who is worth taking a flier on. They need both depth in the secondary and on special teams and Hand might fit both roles.

Round 7, Pick 255: Trevis Gipson, defensive line, Tulsa

Still a developing talent, Gipson exploded last year at Tulsa with 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks with two forced fumbles in 11 starts. Doubtful he’s here to be taken with the Mr. Irrelevant pick.

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Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Wide receivers

The Lions Wire staff has identified which wide receivers Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis and the wide receivers will be among the first groups to take the field.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, and running backs previews.

Wide receiver traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for receivers are:

  • Natural hands: Do they fight the ball or allow it to land softly in their grasp?
  • Acceleration in and out of breaks: Do they throttle down, or can they maintain speed?
  • Quickness versus long speed: where do they gain separation?
  • Body control: Being fast is great but it means nothing unless they can maintain balance and focus.
  • Ball tracking: Do they have the patience to look late and still locate? Do they maximize their speed by not reaching early?

Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

Suggested by: Ty Finch

With rare skills, Jeudy can line up everywhere on the field, run every route, and should be in the conversation for the Lions 1st round draft pick, regardless of it’s at No. 3 or slightly further back after a trade.

Every route Jeudy runs looks the same, which allows him to disguise his intentions, making it hard for defenders to anticipate if his route is short, intermediate or deep. Defenders are forced to respect his speed, while also struggling to stay with him during his breaks, as he doesn’t need to throttle down when making cuts — which he executes with pinpoint accuracy and elite quickness — making him an extraordinarily difficult player to match up with.

Henry Ruggs III, Alabama

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler

If the Lions acquire a mid-to-late first-round pick in a trade up or trade back, Ruggs will be very appealing because of his game-changing speed. Like Jeudy, Alabama moved him all over the field and asked him to operate at all three levels, forcing the defensive to account for him. An offense won’t need Ruggs to be a high volume target, as his presence on the field will make defenses uncomfortable because when he is targeted there is always the potential for fireworks.

Laviska Shenault, Colorado

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

Like with Ruggs, if the Lions want Shenault, they may need to make a move into the first round to get him. Shenault is very instinctive, almost sensing where the defenders are without seeing them, and he leans on this skill to create separation in his routes. Once the ball is in his hands, his true talent shines through, as his physicality and natural athleticism allow him to bully defenders.

Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon and Erik Schlitt

If Aiyuk is there at pick No. 35, he should get consideration because he’ll check a lot of boxes for the Lions. A threat to take it to the house on every play, Aiyuk routinely takes simple five-step slants and houses them. He is still polishing his game — he was a JUCO transfer — but the fact that he is already where he is, and still isn’t near his ceiling, makes him a very appealing prospect.

K.J. Hamler, Penn State

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield

Hamler’s size (est. 5-9, 174) will scare away some teams, but for those in the market for a pure slot receiver, like the Lions, the Pontiac native will be near the top of the list. Explosive in and out of his routes, Hamler overwhelms man-coverage with his quickness and separation. Drops are a real concern, but for a high-volume target, it often comes with the territory.

Van Jefferson, Florida

Suggested by: Scott Warheit

Growing up with an NFL receiver turned NFL receivers coach for a father — former Lion Shawn Jefferson — has paid off for Jefferson, as he has turned into an absolute technician as a route runner. While Jefferson is expected to run an average 40-yard dash time at the Combine, he will likely find success in the NFL as a “big slot” because of his ability to manipulate coverages.

Chase Claypool, Notre Dame

Suggested by: Derek Okrie

The Lions got a long look at Claypool at the Senior Bowl — he was on the Lions coached North roster — and checked in at over 6-4 and 229-pounds, making him one of the biggest receivers in this draft cycle. He uses his size to his advantage by boxing out smaller defenders and presenting a large target for his quarterback. But, what makes Claypool unique is his work on special teams, as he is an elite gunner who looks to bury people.

Quartney Davis, TAMU

Suggested by: Zack Moran

Like Claypool, Davis also joined the Lions coaches at the Senior Bowl, and like Jefferson, his NFL success will likely come from the big slot position. Davis doesn’t possess elite speed or quickness but he isn’t afraid of going over the middle and will often attack the ball with physicality when it’s thrown in his direction.

Marquez Callaway, Tennessee

Suggested by: Matt Urben

Callaway is a vertical threat on offense and above-average returner on special teams, which could be enough to earn one of the final spots on a team’s 53-man roster. The speed is there — it will likely show up at the Combine — and he can win the 50/50 ball deep, due to his proven tracking skills.

Cody White, Michigan State

Suggested by: Max Gerber

Another locally grown player with connections to the Lions, White’s father is former Lions front office executive Sheldon White. With NFL size (est. 6-3, 215) and pedigree, White will get some looks from NFL teams but in my opinion, he should have stayed in East Lansing for his final season of eligibility. Being from the area, he will get an extra “local” workout with the Lions this offseason, which he could potentially use to get a priority free agent offer.

Chargers 7-round mock draft: Senior Bowl-only edition

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out a seven-round mock draft with only players from the Senior Bowl.

With the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl officially in the rearview, this is an appropriate time for a mock draft of what the Chargers could do if they only had players in the annual all-star game to choose from.

This is just an exercise, but keep in mind general manager Tom Telesco does covet the Senior Bowl as an outlet to find talent. Nine Chargers of the last three drafts attended the showcase in Mobile, AL.

Round 1 – QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

This has been the most popular pairing to this point, but Herbert to Los Angeles makes a lot of sense and he would be the perfect heir to QB Philip Rivers. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound signal-caller didn’t have to play in the Senior Bowl because he’s already projected to be first rounder, but he did because he wanted to “compete”.

“I love seeing players that are ‘projected to go high’ and still want to come play in this game. That’s great to see,” Telesco said. Telesco was there in attendance to see the former Oregon product up close. Given his showing during the three practices and his performance in the game, Herbert should’ve caught his attention.

Not only did Herbert flash his live arm and accuracy as a passer, along with the ability to win with his legs, but he took a leap in the mental aspect, displaying better vision and processing when going throughs his reads – which is something he is knocked for. The former Oregon product looked poised and in control of the offense, and his receivers responded to him really well.

No matter if it’s Rivers or Tyrod Taylor as the projected starter in 2020, Herbert is the most ideal replacement. With the weapons around him and an improvement to the offensive line – which can be addressed in free agency and rounds following the first – Herbert could really maximize his potential.

Round 2 – OT Josh Jones, Houston

Upgrading the offensive tackle position is an absolute must. But the Chargers should benefit from this deep class where they can find a starting caliber tackle on Day 2. Among the crop is Jones, who if he’s available when they’re on the clock, would be a home run selection.

Arguably the best tackle all week was Jones. The 6-foot-5 and 311 pounder is a mirroring magician in pass protection and a bulldozer in the run blocking department. Jones is a smooth mover, who has the length and hand usage to keep defenders out in front of him.

Jones is a plug-and-play tackle who can take over Sam Tevi with the ability to move over to the left side when the team decides to part ways with Russell Okung. He’s got the tools, talent and durability to stay in the starting lineup for years to come.

Round 3 – OG Damien Lewis, LSU

Remember back in 2017 when the Chargers selected two offensive linemen (Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney) back-to-back in Round 2 and 3? That’s the route the team could look to go to solidify the offensive line this year, depending on what they do in free agency.

Using his brute strength, functional athleticism, intelligence, Lewis stymied defenders of all kinds that were in his way, both in pass protection and the run blocking department. The 6-foot-3 and 332 pounder does need to clean up his base in pass pro, but this is something that can be easily fixed.

With uncertainty surrounding Michael Schofield’s future, inconsistencies with Feeney and durability concerns with Lamp, the interior part of the offensive line does need a makeover that many people might not realize. Lewis is capable of earning a starting job as early as Year 1.

Round 4 – CB Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame

Telesco is notorious for finding gems late in the draft, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. In this case, he digs one out near the top of Day 3 with the former Notre Dame product – who would be the perfect compliment opposite of CB Casey Hayward.

Throughout the week, Pride showed speed, mirroring ability and spatial awareness to blanket receivers and not give up too much space in coverage. The 5-foot-11 and 193 pounder would be a perfect zone defender for the Chargers since he has a knack for reading and getting a feel for route concepts before making a play on the ball.

Round 5 – WR Quartney Davis, Texas A&M

Could the Chargers benefit from adding a burner at the wide receiver position? Sure. But in a league where getting open is an absolute must, the team could benefit from getting great value from a player who’s one of the best at doing so, along with the speed to beat safeties.

Davis possesses very good speed, quickness, and a fluid style in his route running to get open with ease and then become an absolute terror in the open field. He projects as a solid No. 3 receiver at the next level with No. 2 WR upside.

Round 6 – DT Benito Jones, Ole Miss

The Chargers have young talent with Justin Jones and Jerry Tillery, but they need to add more beef up front because Brandon Mebane doesn’t have that much juice left in the tank, and Damion Square and Sylvester Williams are both unrestricted free agents.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 321 pounds, Jones doesn’t play like someone of that weight. He has the movement skills and a plethora pass-rush moves to make an impact as a pass-rusher and the power and quickness to bulldoze his way into the backfield to stop the run.

Round 7 – RB JaMycal Hasty, Baylor

If the Chargers move on from Melvin Gordon, they could look to find another back to solidify the backfield. Telesco has had a lot of success finding talented players at the position late in the draft or in the undrafted free agency pool.

Hasty isn’t a complete back, but given the other two play-makers in Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, it isn’t an absolute necessity. The 5-foot-8 and 203 pounder has one of the best jump cuts to make defenders miss at the line of scrimmage and he has a hard running style where he runs through arm tackles with ease.

2020 Senior Bowl: Giants meet with three more prospects

The New York Giants met with three more prospects at the 2020 Senior Bowl on Wednesday.

All 32 teams are represented at the 2020 Senior Bowl and all 32 teams talk with just about every single prospect on hand over the course of the week. That’s a reality of the event that often goes overlooked.

However, some visits are more formal and tend to be reported on, which Walter Football has done a tremendous job doing over the years.

Such was the case on Wednesday with Walter Football reporting three more prospect visits for the Giants.

The first was Texas A&M wide receiver Quartney Davis, who scouts feel possess tremendous body control at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds. He’s quick, shifty, runs solid routes and has good hands. The one major concern? A history of injury, including a torn ACL in 2016.

The Giants also met with Dayton tight end Adam Trautman, who is a player who stood tall at the FCS level after catching his first ever pass in 2016. The 6-foot-6, 253-pound Trautman recently drew significant praise from NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah.

Finally, the Giants met with Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay, whose stock has trended in an upward direction for a while now. Here is a quick scouting report from our friends over at Longhorns Wire:

His role is mostly as a slot receiver at the next level but he can be a weapon for teams in that he can attack the middle of the field and challenge defenders with his speed. Not the most physical receiver when coming off the line but he has all the skills to beat you many ways.

Duvernay is probably not the style of receiver the Giants are currently in the market for, but who knows what new head coach Joe Judge has planned.

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Broncos spoke with WR Quartney Davis at Senior Bowl

The Broncos spoke with Texas A&M wide receiver Quartney Davis after a Senior Bowl practice this week.

The Denver Broncos spoke with Texas A&M wide receiver Quartney Davis after a Senior Bowl practice on Jan. 21, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. Campbell considers Davis the 23rd-best wide receiver in this year’s draft class.

Davis (6-2, 200 pounds) caught 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns as a junior in 2019. That was somewhat of a disappointing season after he caught 45 passes for 585 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. Some scouts probably hoped to see a bigger jump in production last season.

After trading away Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders over the last two years, Denver needs more depth at wide receiver. New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur may use three WRs frequently. Courtland Sutton is an excellent WR but the Broncos will need more playmakers.

Campbell has predicted that Davis will be selected between the third and fifth rounds of April’s draft. Denver is projected to have six picks in that section of the draft and Campbell might be one of their targets.

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12 potential Chargers to watch during Senior Bowl week: Offense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out 12 potential Los Angeles Chargers on the offense to watch during Senior Bowl week.

The pre-draft process leading up into the 2020 NFL draft is headed to Mobile, AL, for the Senior Bowl. This event is one of the biggest college football all-star games that will feature the most prolific prospects in the country.

This week will draw the attention of many Chargers’ scouts, coach Anthony Lynn, and general manager Tom Telesco to do their homework on players that could potentially be suitors for Los Angeles come April.

Last year this event brought in safety Nasir Adderley and linebacker Drue Tranquill. The year before that the team found linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, defensive tackle Justin Jones, linebacker Kyzir White and center Scott Quessenberry in the game.

It all starts tomorrow with weigh-ins/measurements, three days of practices and finally, the game on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance, constantly giving updates throughout the week.

With that being said, here are 12 players to keep an eye out on the offensive side of the ball.

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon – South Team

Herbert is the most polarizing prospect going into this week. The 6-foot-5 and 237 pounder has all the physical traits that you would want in an NFL quarterback. Herbert’s arm talent is special. Not only can he deliver a beautiful deep ball, but he is sound when throwing outside the pocket, where he will move around, set his feet and deliver a dime. Though it wasn’t on display that much this past season, Herbert can beat defenses with his legs. Consistency and accuracy is the knock on him. While Herbert can make big plays at any given moment, some of the easy ones are missed. The former Oregon product should benefit from a strong wide receiver group this week, where he could unlock what he’s truly capable of doing at the next level.

QB Jordan Love, Utah State – North Team

After an outstanding 2018 season, the production dropped dramatically for Love. While some questioning the box score, the upside is there. The 6-foot-4 and 225 quarterback has the arm strength, talent, athleticism and physical traits that easily translates to the next level. According to the Athletic’s Dane Brugler, one scout even used the term “Mahomes-like” to describe his skill set. Currently being stamped as a mid-late first-round option, Love could skyrocket up the draft board with a strong showing this week.

RB Joshua Kelly, UCLA – North Team

If the Chargers move on from Melvin Gordon, finding another back to compliment Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson – but they could afford to do so on Day 3, given how deep the position is in this year’s class. Kelly finished his stint with the Bruins with 2,303 yards and 24 touchdowns on 454 attempts. Kelly, the 5-foot-11 and 219 pounder, is a physical, downhill runner with good vision, contact balance and burst when he gets in the open field.

RB Lamical Perine, Florida – South Team

This marks a homecoming for the Mobile native. At 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, Perine, the cousin of former Oklahoma and current Redskins running back Samaje Perine, is a tough downhill runner that wins with his pure physicality, vision and balance. Another plus is that he is a solid blocker who can protect on third down, and he can contribute in the short area passing game, as he hauled in 40 passes and five touchdowns through the air this past season.

WR Devin Duvernay, Texas – South Team

A high school track star in the state of Texas, Duvernay is a deep threat and an effective short area receiver. Built like a running back, Duvernay possesses the explosiveness and long speed to beat defenders, sticky hands, vision, and blue-collar toughness. In four seasons for the Longhorns, Duvernay posted 176 receptions for 2,468 yards (14 yards per catch) and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10 and 210 pounder also offers special teams value because of his runaway speed and tackle-breaking ability.

WR Quartney Davis, Texas A&M – North Team

Davis came on the map after an impressive campaign for the Aggies this past season. The 6-foot-2 and 202 pounder caught 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Davis possesses very good speed, quickness and acceleration, where he gets open with ease and is an absolute terror in the open space. He competes in his routes and plays tough, projecting as a solid No. 3 receiver at the next level with No. 2 WR upside.

OT Josh Jones, Houston – North Team

Jones, a four-year starter for the Cougars, is a former basketball star whose traits from that sport are very visible on the football field. He has the footwork, flexibility and knee bend to flourish in pass protection, as well as the strength to move defenders in the run game. Jones played at both left and right tackle in his four-year stint, so he has the ability to man the right side for Los Angeles and kick over to the other side when Russell Okung’s time is up.

OT Matt Peart, UConn – North Team

Peart, the 6-foot-7 and 302 pound offensive tackle, also has a basketball background. Peart, the Jamaica native, possesses the movement skills, footwork, and agility where he blocks with terrific leverage for a man of his height. He shows the ability to hit a moving target or adjust to knock speed rushers from their angle. Peart uses his long 35.25-inch arms to keep opponents away, and his strong and powerful hands to gain inside leverage – even though he can tend to be grabby. The former UConn product could land within the top-75 with a strong outing in Mobile.

OG Ben Bredeson, Michigan – North Team

The interior part of the offensive line is likely to get revamped. Guard Michael Schofield is an unrestricted free agent after this season, the future of Forrest Lamp is unknown after struggling to stay healthy and Dan Feeney has been up-and-down. Bredeson has plug-and-play traits. He looks the part at 6-foot-4 and 329 pounds and checks the necessary NFL boxes with his size athleticism, strength, intelligence, where he shines both as a pass protector and a run blocker.

OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn – South Team

Wanogho left Nigeria when he was 16 years old with NBA and Olympic swimmer aspirations, but he made an impact playing high school football. Wanogho, the 6-foot-7 and 305 pound offensive tackle, is still raw, given the fact that he’s been playing football for only five years. But he is athletically gifted and he possesses the physical traits to develop into a solid starting tackle at the next level in Year 1.

OG John Simpson, Clemson – South Team

Simpson, the 6-foot-4 and 336 pound guard, possesses the competitiveness and character that the Chargers should covet. The former high school state wrestler has extremely strong hands and does whatever it takes to finish his blocks as a run blocker. He has a really powerful anchor and sound technique in pass protection.

OG Logan Stenberg, Kentucky – South Team

Stenberg, the 6-foot-6 and 322 pound guard, is physical interior blocker with heavy hands, body control in the run game, and solid mirror skills in the pass game. He is an aggressive player who competes at a high level, plays with good toughness and grit, and shows an ability to finish blocks with a mauler temperament.

Chargers in attendance to scout Texas Bowl

There are seven players that the Los Angeles Chargers will likely be watching at the Texas Bowl.

The Los Angeles Chargers were one of several teams confirmed to be in attendance for the Texas Bowl between the Texas A&M Aggies and Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Here are a few players in this game that will likely be on the Chargers radar:

Texas A&M

QB Kellen Mond

WR Quartney Davis

WR Kendrick Rodgers

WR Jhamon Ausbon

Oklahoma State

RB Chuba Hubbard

WR Tylan Wallace

CB A.J. Green