Tag: Reggie Robinson

Touchdown Wire’s top sleepers in the 2020 NFL Draft

You know the names at the top. Joe Burrow. Tua Tagovailoa. But the NFL Draft has seven rounds. Who are the top sleepers for the 2020 Draft?

The hay, as they say, is in the barn.

Here at Touchdown Wire, we have made you as ready as possible for the start of the 2020 NFL Draft. We have broken down our top 11 at each position. We have put together our top 50 overall players, along with a list of comparisons for each player, to get you ready for Thursday night. We have assembled various film breakdowns, watched tape with prospects, and given you a variety of mock drafts to game out various scenarios.

But the work goes on, and the dream never dies.

By “the dream,” we mean the NFL hopes for players that might not be included in those previous pieces. Players that might not have cracked a top 11 at their position. Players that might not break into a top fifty list, and players that might have to wait until Friday or even Saturday to see how their NFL story begins.

Part of the reason that people love sports is the underdog story. Rocky. Rudy. Miracle. Movies that capture our attention are rooted in pulling for the longshot. Before they became the Evil Empire, the New England Patriots were the crappy underdog, led by a sixth-round sleeper of a quarterback, taking on the Greatest Show on Turf. It is why people love March Madness, as it taps into our love of Cinderella stories, and why we still get choked up when Gene Hackman says his team is on the floor.

In that spirit, here are some of the best sleepers in this draft class. Underdogs that might not hear their name called until late on Saturday, but players that have both NFL dreams, and NFL potential.

Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming

(Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports)

Logan Wilson cracked Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 11 linebackers, but as we get closer and closer to the draft the Wyoming defender might be moving even higher on draft boards. Wilson received just one scholarship offer coming out of Natrona County High School in Wyoming, despite being a two-time All-State performer at both defensive back and wide receiver. But after a redshirt year, Wilson was slotted into Wyoming’s defense as a linebacker, and never looked back. Over his four years on campus he played 3,618 snaps, which is almost a Cal Ripkenesque number in today’s college game.

On the field, Wilson is a smart, experienced and patient linebacker who is ready to take on the responsibilities asked of him in an NFL defense. Wilson is a sure tackler between the tackles in the run game, moves well as a blitzer and handles his coverage responsibilities well. Over his career he tallied ten interceptions, an impressive number for any college linebacker. Given the need to stop the pass, linebackers who can both cover and still stop the run are a desired commodity, and Wilson checks both of those boxes.

Beyond that, Wilson checks some of the throwback desirables at the position. If you are a coach or a general manager that loves seeing a linebacker standup a lead blocker in the hole, shed him at the point of attack and make the tackle, then Wilson is going to get you excited.

But he can also contribute plays like this, one of the more amazing moments from the 2017 college football season:

Wilson has the coverage chops and experience to handle the pass defense aspects of the position, but the nose for the football, along with the stack and shed requirements, that will allow him to play on both first and second downs in the league. Perhaps it is no surprise that in Bob McGinn’s pre-draft piece on the linebackers (his pre-draft series is must-read every year) a scout told him that Wilson is a starter with a chance to play every snap given his experience.

Do not sleep on the kid from Wyoming.

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Chargers add QB, OT, two playmakers on defense in Draft Wire’s 4-round mock draft

Who did the Los Angeles Chargers get in Draft Wire’s latest four-round mock draft?

We are two days away from the 2020 NFL Draft, which means that we are on the tail end of projections on what analysts believe the Chargers along with the other 31 teams will do on Thursday night.

Our good friend, Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire put together a four-round mock draft that sees Los Angeles scooping up the future face of the franchise, his blindside protection and a play-making linebacker and cornerback.

Here is a look at the haul for the Bolts:

Round 1. Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

Round 2. Ezra Cleveland | OT | Boise State

Round 3. Akeem Davis-Gaither | LB | Appalachian State

Round 4. Reggie Robinson | CB | Tulsa

In the first-round, the Chargers, by no surprise get the quarterback of the future. I am a believer that they will select whoever the Dolphins don’t (barring any trade up).

Herbert gets a lot of flack for his consistency and decision-making issues, but he has the size, arm talent, mobility and above average accuracy. With the scheme and the weapons that Los Angeles has in place, he should be able to flourish.

In the second-round, the Bolts draft a player that has been commonly mocked throughout the pre-draft process. Cleveland needs to get stronger, but he has the athleticism and mobility needed, which makes him a projected NFL starting tackle.

In the third-round, the Chargers switch gears and address the defensive side of the ball with a lite-version of Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons. Davis-Gaither possesses a well-rounded skillset as a run defender, cover man and pass-rusher while providing an asset on special teams.

In the fourth and final round, Los Angeles adds some competition to the outside cornerback position. Robinson is a tall and lengthy cornerback who has the play speed and physicality to stay with receivers in man coverage as well as the zone awareness and ball skills to create turnovers.

Overall, this is a great haul for L.A.

A cornerback for Chargers in every round of 2020 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers could look to find a play-maker opposite of Casey Hayward in the upcoming draft.

The Chargers added four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to the mix earlier this offseason.

However, Harris will be manning the slot this upcoming season, which still leaves a question that needs to be answered at the outside spot, opposite of Casey Hayward.

Michael Davis is slated to be the starter, but he was up-and-down last season, while also struggling to stay on the field towards the end of the year. Davis also only has one more year remaining on his contract.

With that being said, Los Angeles could look to add a cornerback in the upcoming draft.

Here is a cornerback from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:

Round 1 | Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Arguably one of the most physically gifted and talented cornerbacks in this year’s class, Okudah possesses the ideal measurements for the position at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. An elite coverage player, Okudah has the speed, instincts, mirror abilities and ball skills. He’s also willing in the run game.

In his three seasons for the Buckeyes, Okudah finished with 88 tackles, 21 passes defensed, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack. In his final campaign, he was named unanimous All-American; First-Team All-Big Ten and Jim Thorpe Award finalist.

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Full 7-round Cleveland Browns mock draft: Easter trade edition

Full Cleveland Browns 7-round mock draft for Easter features a big trade and some new names in the mix

Time for a fresh new 7-round Cleveland Browns mock draft for the holiday morning. With just 11 days remaining until the 2020 NFL Draft, it’s time to enjoy some sweet mocking.

For this Easter mock, I decided to color the eggs a little and make a trade in the first round. The Browns found a partner willing to move up in the Miami Dolphins, who snagged QB Justin Herbert at the No. 5 pick. With versatile Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons still on the board, the Dolphins pounce.

The trade details:

Cleveland trades No. 10 and No. 74 overall to Miami in exchange for No. 18 and No. 26 in 2020. The Dolphins take Simmons with the 10th pick. Andrew Berry and the Browns now have two first-rounders.

First round, No. 18

The Browns still need an offensive tackle but traded out of the range of the top tier. Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills are all gone. Andrew Thomas came off the board at No. 14.

That leaves two viable choices to play left tackle: Josh Jones from Houston and Austin Jackson from USC. Or they could really roll the dice and go after Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland. But there is another path to follow.

Safety.

The pick: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

With veterans Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo both short-term solutions (Joseph is on a one-year contract, Sendejo is 32), the Browns still strongly need a long-term fix. They get their man in Alabama’s Xavier McKinney.

McKinney can step right into the Browns lineup with the ability to play free safety and make plays on the ball. The tackling productivity and coverage skills are top-notch. My guess here is the Browns would rank McKinney higher than any tackle on the board and get defensive coordinator Joe Woods his new Anthony Harris on the back end of the formation.

First round, No. 26

The pick: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

Cleveland is a pass-blocking specialist of a left tackle, and a very effective one. He’s got the movement skills and length to play on Baker Mayfield’s blindside right away. Cleveland needs to get much stronger to ever be effective in the run game and will need early help with power off the edge, but the primary job function is to keep Mayfield happy and safe. Cleveland can do that.

[lawrence-related id=43713]

Second round: K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State

Hamler has electrifying speed and big-play potential from the slot but also working on the outside. Think Desean Jackson and how the Eagles used him in his prime. His presence would ease the coverage pressure on Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry in 3-WR sets and give the Browns offense a true home-run hitter for Mayfield. Halmer is also a lethal prospect as a return man, a bigger need for the Browns than is generally advertised.

Third round: Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

Remember, the Browns traded away the earlier of their two third-rounders in the deal with the Dolphins. That leaves just the No. 97 pick, acquired from Houston for Duke Johnson.

They use the pick on a player who the Texans themselves would probably like to have in Harrison. A savvy, versatile backer with length and tackling power, he shores up the middle-of-field defense and offers some potential to emerge as a better pro than collegian.

Fourth round: Reggie Robinson, CB, Tulsa

Robinson brings some needed bulk to the Browns cornerback room. At 6-1 and a solid 205 pounds, Robinson has size and he knows how to use it in press coverage. His ball skills and route awareness improved in 2019, though nobody will ever confuse him for a lockdown outside CB. Robinson must learn to not clutch and grab when a receiver gets a step on him. As a bonus, Robinson blocked at least one punt in all four years for the Golden Hurricane. Ascending talent who tested quite well at the combine.

Fifth round: None

Still no pick here, traded to Buffalo

Sixth round: James Morgan, QB, Florida International

Morgan is a wild card in more ways than one. His game film is all over the map. There are times when he will zip anticipatory throws into small windows with expert placement and strong velocity. There are times when he will stare down a linebacker dropping in coverage and still throw the ball right to him.

As a developmental QB, he’s a good investment. Like Mayfield, Morgan plays with confidence and the right kind of derring-do. I am a believer the Berry regime will actively seek out late-round QB talent yearly, and having a QB guru like Kevin Stefanski as the coach could make it pay off.

Seventh round: Justin Herron, OT, Wake Forest

Herron fits the bill of a zone-blocking left tackle with good length and better athleticism than power on the edge. He’s a seasoned, functional swing tackle prospect with some ability to grow into more with increased lower-body strength.

2020 NFL Draft: 4 cornerbacks the Jets could target in later rounds

Jets Wire takes a look at four cornerbacks the Jets could target in the later rounds of the 2020 NFL draft.

There is no question that the Jets need to add a cornerback or two in the upcoming 2020 NFL draft.

Joe Douglas did a nice job addressing the position in free agency by bringing back Brian Poole and inking Pierre Desir to a one-year deal. However, even with Poole back in the fold and Desir’s arrival, New York still needs additional cornerback depth. Past Poole and Desir, the Jets’ cornerback room is littered with inexperienced and unproven players.

New York is unlikely to address cornerback early in the draft, making the later rounds the ideal time for Douglas to sure up the position. Who are some potential late-round targets the Jets could have their eyes on? Let’s take a look.

Reggie Robinson, Tulsa

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Considering the Jets’ defensive scheme, Robinson’s skill set makes him an ideal late-round cornerback target.

At 6-foot-1, Robinson has the speed, length and athleticism to play in Gregg Williams’ defense. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL draft combine and has a knack for being disruptive in the secondary, as he recorded four interceptions and four pass breakups in his senior year.

Robinson’s not a finished product, but he has the potential to develop into a starting outside cornerback. Considering that is exactly what the Jets need, they would be foolish to pass on him if he is still on the board in the later rounds.

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Colts take QB Jacob Eason, WR Tee Higgins in Draft Wire mock

Who did the Colts take in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft?

The 2020 NFL draft is still scheduled for the end of April, which means the Indianapolis Colts are hard at work trying to do whatever they can to finalize their draft board.

With the draft just under a month away and still on schedule, the league has just gotten through the big wave of free agency. With that, most of the big moves have already been made and the league will settle before entering the draft.

Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire conducted a four-round mock draftfour-round mock draft following the big moves of free agency. Here’s a breakdown of what the haul for the Colts looks like:

No. 34 | Jacob Eason | QB | Washington

Even after signing Philip Rivers to a one-year deal, the Colts are likely looking at the quarterback position in the draft. Whether that comes here in the second round with their first pick in the draft or whether they decide to wait on the position, it is likely the Colts will try to address the quarterback room.

Eason is certainly an intriguing prospect. He brings some big arm talent and intriguing qualities for the Colts to develop. But they would have to develop him. Matt Danely over at Stampede Blue did a wonderful job highlighting Eason as a prospect.

Overall, I’m very intrigued with Eason. He’s got a lot of potential at the next level, and looks to have the skillset that teams will want to bring in with hopes of developing a guy into a potential starter. Eason is a fiery guy, he stands tall in the pocket, delivers a beautifully accurate ball the vast majority of the time, and typically makes the right decision.

With Rivers and Brissett under contract through 2020, the Colts should have time to develop Eason.

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