The Birds lost Jason Peters and Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency but will have 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard to take over the reins at left tackle.
With Brandon Brooks returning from injury, Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson a year older, the Eagles could start to look for reinforcements along the offensive line.
According to the Draft Wire, the Eagles held a virtual predraft meeting with Louisiana-Lafayette offensive tackle Robert Hunt.
The 6-foot-5, 323 pound Hunt has experience at guard and was a four-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he’s raw and must improve his footwork if he wants to become a competent starter in the NFL.
Hollywood gets football right. From “The Program” to “Rudy” football movies inspire. What comparisons be found in the 2020 NFL Draft?
Player comparisons are an inevitability in every draft evaluation process. Some find them useful, others think they’re useless. But they give people a good general thumbnail of a prospect’s traits and attributes.
That said, we’re going a bit outside the box with these comparisons. Here, we align 2020 draft prospects with their fictional football doppelgangers.
Joe Burrow: Jonathan Moxon, Varsity Blues
(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Joe Burrow is regarded by most as the complete quarterback in this draft class, and almost a lock to be the first player drafted when the NFL Draft begins.
Jonathan Moxon, however, was a backup. The caddy to Lance Harbor, the All-State quarterback with a scholarship waiting for him at Florida State. While Harbor was throwing touchdown passes all over the field for the West Canaan Coyotes and making the student body swoon with interesting pep rally speeches, Moxon was waiting on the sidelines, reading “Slaughterhouse-Five” instead of his playbook on Friday nights.
But when Harbor goes down due to a brutal knee injury, Moxon gets his chance. One of the things he installs in the new Coyotes offense in the movie’s critical final game – an offense he tried to install earlier, much to the chagrin of old school coach Bud Kilmer – is Mississippi Valley State’s “Oop-de-oop” offense. A five-receiver system that as Moxon points out, has MVS averaging over 44 points per game. Of course, it leads to Kilmer delivering a rather amazing comparison in this clip (which, by the way, is not exactly safe for work, but since you are likely working from home, just make sure the kids are in another room):
Now, it is important to remember for this comparison not that Burrow was an afterthought in the Ohio State quarterback room, which led to his transfer to LSU, but rather the offense that Burrow ran last season. Under Joe Brady, the LSU Tigers were predominantly a five-man protection scheme. Very similar, in that regard, to that vaunted Mississippi Valley State offense. That made Burrow responsible for the sixth man in any potential defensive pressure scheme. What does that look like on film?
nice 6 man pressure by georgia here. got the free rusher to the man side of the half slide. burrow just got the hot off pic.twitter.com/Yu5sdmyiri
Buffalo Bills have 2020 NFL pre-draft meeting with offensive lineman Robert Hunt.
The Buffalo Bills are certainly looking into their long-term options along the offensive line.
The Bills are returning all their starters in the trenches from last season, but the team has still had several pre-draft meetings with offensive line prospects. The latest is Louisiana-Lafayette’s Robert Hunt, according to Draft Wire:
While not a Power Five lineman, Hunt is certainly experienced as a four-year starter in college. He does have some versatility in that experience, playing guard early in his career, and later playing tackle for the majority of last season. Hunt also played on both sides of the offensive line.
The 6-foot-5, 323 pounder also got a familiar comparison by NFL.com‘s draft analyst Lance Zierlein. He compared Hunt to current Bills right tackle Cody Ford. Draft Wire also reported that Hunt and the Bills had a meeting at the recent 2020 NFL Combine.
Segundo @JustinM_NFL, os #Vikings conversaram via FaceTime com o ex-OL de Louisiana (n°50), Robert Hunt. O jogador também teria conversado com diversos outros times, entre eles os #Patriots, e os nossos rivais de conferência, #Bears. #SKOL#NFLDraft
Bears GM Ryan Pace figures to consider drafting an offensive lineman with one of Chicago’s 2nd-round picks.
The Chicago Bears have no shortage of roster needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the ball.
You figure general manager Ryan Pace will be considering drafting an offensive lineman with one of Chicago’s second-round picks. And they have certainly been doing their homework on offensive linemen.
The Bears recently held a pre-draft meeting with Louisiana-Lafayette offensive tackle Robert Hunt over FaceTime, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.
While the Bears are financially committed to left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and right tackle Bobby Massie in 2020, this draft presents itself as a chance to build toward the future.
Hunt played most of his collegiate career at right tackle, and he’d be a great developmental player that could be groomed to replace Massie should Chicago decide to part ways with him.
But the Bears are also looking for a right guard, and CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards has mentioned that Hunt was garnering some interest as an interior lineman at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The New England Patriots have met with a prospect that could bolster their offensive line.
The New England Patriots are looking to improve every area on offense, and that includes the line. They have held meetings with several top offensive line prospects. Offensive lineman Robert Hunt has met with the organization, according to Draft Wire.
Hunt was a four-year starter for the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. He played the left guard position for his first two seasons before making the jump to right tackle in 2018.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has him as the top guard in this year’s draft class. Hunt has allowed just two sacks and 11 total pressures over the last two seasons. He would certainly add depth to a New England line that is lacking bodies on the line at the moment.
One particular area of note is an injury that he suffered last season, one that caused him to miss the second half of the year. He did not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine
Hunt measures in at six-foot-five, 325 pounds. There could be additional help for the line on the way. The Patriots have two draft picks from last season that did not see the field. Hjalte Froholdt and Yodny Cajuste missed time last season with injuries. They should be able to have an opportunity to prove themselves once football resumes.
New England needs to rework the line as protection for the next quarterback is key. New England has been notorious for having some of the best offensive lines in football. Now with some veterans gone and others returning from injury, Bill Belichick is back to reevaluating talent for that positional group.
Hunt would be able to add additional size and blocking to the line. Depending on how the New England Patriots utilize their offense, addressing the line could be vital for the team’s future success.
He could be a third-round target for the Cardinals if they don’t select an offensive lineman in the first round.
The Arizona Cardinals have done a lot of predraft research and visiting with offensive line prospects. Most of the attention has been on the top four prospects who might be a possibility for them to select with the eight overall pick, but they have met with others who might not go early in the draft.
The latest is Louisiana-Lafayette’s Robert Hunt.
According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, the coronavirus pandemic kept him from having a private workout with the Cardinals, but since then he has had a FaceTime meeting with them.
Hunt is largely considered a Day 2 prospect but many feel he could be a great guard. He is a large individual at 6-5 and 323 pounds. He had an arrest in college and played at a small school, which probably pushes him to the third round of the draft. The Cardinals could target him in the third round if they don’t select an offensive lineman in the first round.
First a formal at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, now a pre-draft video interview with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to show pre-draft interest in Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt.
Hunt was one of the few offensive linemen that the Chiefs had a formal interview with at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Kansas City has since shown more interest by the way of a pre-draft video meeting. According to Draft Wire’s interviewer extraordinaire Justin Melo, Hunt has recently held pre-draft FaceTime sessions with 13 teams, including the Chiefs.
This, of course, is significant for Kansas City as they’re one of the few teams that don’t feign interest with these pre-draft interviews. They use them to gain as much information as possible about the players they’re most interested in.
Hunt is largely viewed as one of the top interior offensive linemen in this draft class. He is versatile, with experience playing both left guard and right tackle for Louisiana-Lafayette, starting a total of 45 games over four years. And at 6-5 and 323 pounds, he has the size to find success playing at either position in the NFL. Where he’ll end up playing at the next level really depends on the team. In Kansas City, I think he could start right away at the right guard spot and perhaps play tackle in case of injury.
For his size, Hunt moves very smoothly. His feet and hands are active in pass protection. He creates movement in the run game against defenders in the Sun Belt conference, but I suspect he’ll need to add more strength for the NFL game. He also plays with a bit of a nasty streak, looking to finish his blocks and play through the whistle.
Hunt suffered a sports hernia in his final season with the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he continues to work back from that injury. That doesn’t seem to be scaring teams away though as interest remains as strong as ever.
The Draft Wire released their latest seven-round mock draft, and the Houston Texans use a couple picks to address their offensive line.
The NFL Draft kicks off April 23, and the mock drafts are flying all over the place.
The Draft Wire released their latest seven-round mock draft and author Luke Easterling kept it straight for the Texans by using all seven of their picks on players, not pulling any tricks out of the “Trader Bill” playbook. Here is who the Texans ended up selecting:
250. Houston Texans | James Robinson | RB | Illinois State
Easterling had the Texans addressing their offensive line and interior defensive line with their third through fifth round selections. If the Texans wait until the seventh round to bolster their pass rush, then they could be in as bad of shape as they were in 2019 when they finished tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for sixth-fewest sacks with 31.
Arizona ends up with two extra third-round picks after trading down and landing one of the top corners in the draft.
Another week gone by means another look at simulating the NFL draft for the Arizona Cardinals. Last week, there was a trade scenario in the first round, moving down and picking up a second-round pick. In this new seven-round mock draft simulation, the Cardinals move down from the eighth overall pick to the 15th overall pick, swapping with the Denver Broncos and picking up two third-round selections in the deal.
How does the draft play out for the Cardinals after that?
Round 1, pick 15: Florida CB CJ Henderson
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
All top four tackles were off the board, as were receivers CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs. Defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw were also already drafted. Here the Cardinals land one of the most talented cornerbacks in the draft. It isn’t a 2020 need but with Robert Alford coming off a broken leg, it creates potential competition and Henderson would line up as the starter in 2021.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Louisiana offensive line prospect Robert Hunt
Versatility is a huge asset in today’s NFL, especially for teams looking to add depth to their offensive line units.
One of the most versatile offensive line prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, Louisiana’s Robert Hunt recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience as a four-year starter, how his versatility will help him at the next level, and his current health status as he works his way back from injury.
JM: You were a four-year starter at Louisiana, and you’ve played multiple positions. How does that experience serve you well going forward?
RH: I think it helps me out a lot. I’ve played multiple positions just like you said. That should really increase my value at the next level. I can play both tackle and both guard positions. I can play those four positions with a high level of comfort. I’m confident in my ability to play all four positions. That’s something that should really help me out in the NFL.
JM: Is there one position that you’re more comfortable playing at the next level?
RH: I don’t think so, no. The feedback I’ve received from NFL teams has been all over the place at this point in time. Some teams see me at guard, while others see me at tackle. It doesn’t really matter to me. I’ll play wherever my coach needs me to play. I definitely think I can play tackle in this league. That’s where I’ve played the last few years. I know I can be a great guard as well.
JM: Is there a scheme that you’re used to playing in?
RH: Not really. I can honestly do it all. Whatever plays we have to run, I feel comfortable executing that. I feel good in any scheme.
JM: You’re NFL Scouting Combine participation was a little limited. What was the injury that held you back?
RH: It was because of the sports hernia. It was just a little deal that I had to get through. We’re still rehabbing that right now I wasn’t ready to go at that time.
JM: Where are you at now with the injury?
RH: I’m at about 85% right now (March 12th). I should be 100% healthy in a few weeks time. I’ve already been doing some activities. We’re just checking all the boxes off and taking things day by day.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
RH: It was a great experience. I’ve been dreaming about that moment ever since I was a little kid. It was a good experience for me personally. I got to meet with a lot of coaches. We got to talk ball and make new friends out there. It was a good experience. I had a great time. I enjoyed it.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews?
RH: Yeah, I had a lot of formals. Informally, you know how that goes. You’re just walking around and having quick chats with the teams. That’s basically what an informal is. They just tap you on the shoulder and have a quick word with you. I had a lot of formals. I spent one night going through the informals.
JM: Who are some of the teams that you met with formally?
RH: I met with a bunch of them really. I had formals with the Seahawks, Bengals, Browns, Jets, Giants, Bills and Buccaneers. I had so many of them. Those are the ones that come to mind right now.
JM: Do you have a lot of private visits or workouts coming up, or is everything going down after the pro day?
RH: We’ll see what happens with the pro day. The COVID-19 is throwing things off right now. We’ll see what happens. I was supposed to meet with a lot of teams after the pro day.
JM: Even if they got canceled, who were you supposed to meet with or work out for?
RH: I had some things scheduled with the Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins, Titans, Colts and Texans. We’ll see what happens. We might have to FaceTime or something.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
RH: I honestly didn’t get asked any weird questions. I’ve heard the stories, but I didn’t get anything that caught me off guard. Nobody really gave me a hard time. I guess I was one of the lucky ones.
JM: How do you handle speed differently from power?
RH: You have to get out of your stance in a hurry with speed. You can’t be late off the ball. Don’t get me wrong, you can’t be late off the ball with power either though. You gotta get on a speed guy quickly and shut it down. With power, it sorta comes to you. You have to anchor and be a strong guy. You gotta get on that speed guy. You have to combat power with power.
JM: Who are some of the best pass rushers you’ve gone up against?
RH: I’ve always felt like my own teammates gave me the biggest challenges. I played against a couple of good ones this past season. Everybody was pretty good. I can’t say that I played against many bad players.
JM: What kind of player is Robert Hunt going to be at the next level?
RH: Robert Hunt is gonna be a Pro Bowl type of player. I’m a guy that can do everything. I’m gonna have longevity and play in this league for a long time. I’m gonna dominate at any position that I’m asked to play.
