Tag: robert hunt

Colts stock up on offense in CBS Sports mock draft

A look at CBS Sports’ latest mock draft.

With some additions made to the defensive side of the ball, the Indianapolis Colts are likely looking at some offensive pieces in the upcoming 2020 NFL draft.

With needs at wide receiver, tight end and depth along the offensive line, there is a chance that the Colts take advantage of some of these positions with some of their Day 2 picks.

In the latest three-round mock draft from Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, that’s exactly what the Colts did. Here’s a look at what the haul was:

34. Brandon Aiyuk | WR | Arizona State

“After trading their first-rounder for DeForest Buckner, the Colts circle back at the top of the second round to get one of the most explosive wideouts in this draft. Aiyuk is a four-down player who is only going to get better with experience.” – Ryan Wilson

Aiyuk would be a great fit for the Colts offense. He could work both in the slot and on the outside while giving them an explosive and vertical threat for Philip Rivers. There are concerns about beating press coverage, but the Colts could use his skill set from Day 1.

44. Robert Hunt | OL | Louisiana-Lafayette

“The Colts offense is strong up front, but the depth behind the starting unit is suspect. That’s where Hunt comes in.” – Ryan Wilson

The Colts have their starting five on the front line, but depth is needed. Hunt has areas to develop and it isn’t clear where he would primarily work in terms of on the edge or the interior, but there are plenty of traits to intrigue the Colts.

75. Cole Kmet | TE | Notre Dame

“The Colts said goodbye to Eric Ebron, but they’ll have options to fill that void on Day 2 or possibly later. Here, they pick up arguably the top tight end in the class.” – Ryan Wilson

Kmet has the size and speed to be a mismatch for the Colts. He can work best as a receiving tight end while his blocking develops—hopefully with some help from Jack Doyle. The Colts love to use tight ends and there is a chance they look to invest in the position on Day 2, though most would likely expect Chris Ballard to wait.

Bills met with OL Robert Hunt at combine

According to The Draft Wire, the Bills had a formal meeting with Hunt at the recent scouting combine. While meeting him there, Hunt reportedly had not yet scheduled a pre-draft workout with the Bills yet. 

The Bills met with a 2020 NFL Draft prospect who was previously compared to one of their own players in Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt.

According to The Draft Wire, the Bills had a formal meeting with Hunt at the recent scouting combine. While meeting him there, Hunt reportedly had not yet scheduled a pre-draft workout with the Bills.

The 6-foot-5, 323-pound offensive lineman was a tackle in college, but lined up in both positions during his career. In the NFL, multiple draft analysts project him as a guard instead of a tackle.

Because of this, NFL.com’s Lance Zierliein compared Hunt to Buffalo’s Cody Ford. Here’s his comparison:

Like Cody Ford in last year’s draft, Hunt is a plus athlete with a big man’s frame who could be considered at guard or tackle. Inconsistent footwork and pad level are the primary culprits when he fails to win the rep, but there aren’t any physical limitations that should prevent him from improving in both areas. Pass protection traits are present but getting the skill level up to par is going to take time. He’s a little raw but has the necessary talent to become a solid future starter at right tackle.

While the Bills are returning all five of their starters on their offensive line, including Ford, bringing in youthful depth to try and develop is never a bad thing. Along with his versatility, the Bills will likely covet that fact he’s a senior as well. Since Sean McDermott’s arrival, the Bills have preferred many of their draft picks to be upperclassmen.

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2020 NFL draft: Robert Hunt scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Louisiana-Lafayette offensive line prospect Robert Hunt

Robert Hunt | OL | Louisiana-Lafayette

Elevator Pitch

Whether you project him as a tackle or a guard, Hunt is a dancing bear of an offensive line prospect who has the raw play strength and the mobility to be a quality NFL starter. He’s a bit raw from a technical standpoint, but if he can clean up his game a bit, he has a high ceiling in the pros.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 323

College Bio Page

Strengths

To be blunt, Hunt is a massive individual.

He possesses very good height and overall length, and he has a well-proportioned frame with plenty of raw strength packed into it. His powerful upper body allows him to redirect defenders and seal off lanes as a run blocker with ease, and he has good recovery strength in his anchor. Hunt blocks with a high motor and has shown the willingness to pound a defender into the dirt. He packs a powerful punch at the point of attack and is able to easily latch onto his opponents with formidable grip strength.

Hunt is also an impressive athlete for his size, as the nimbleness and overall agility he shows in his footwork is certainly apparent on film. He changes direction well in pass protection and has the athletic ability to climb to the second level with good acceleration and body control. As a four-year collegiate starter who has experience at both tackle positions and as a guard, he should be able to hold plenty of value early in his career through his versatility.

Weaknesses

While Hunt has the physical tools to be successful, he’s still a work in progress. His hand placement can stand to be more consistent, as while he has been dominant when he places his strikes well, he ends up misplacing them too often. He is also prone to leaving himself susceptible to letting defenders into his frame, making it tougher for him to gain leverage.

Hunt’s pad level could use some improvement, too. He tends to struggle with staying low and sinking his hips into contact. His ability to adjust his set points and make sure he doesn’t overset can be improved. As a pass protector, his footwork can fall apart at times, and while he got away with it in college due to his raw athleticism, polished edge rushers in the NFL will take advantage of it to knock him off balance. He is also coming off of a groin injury that ended his 2019 season and forced him to miss both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.

Projection: Day 2

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Titans’ pre-draft visit with OT Robert Hunt impacted by COVID-19 outbreak

The Titans’ pre-draft visit with OT Robert Hunt was cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The COVID-19 outbreak has practically brought the sports world to a halt, and its impact has extended to the process of pre-draft visits.

Louisiana-Lafayette offensive tackle Robert Hunt is on the radar of several NFL teams, as he went through formal interviews at the combine with the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But concerns surrounding the coronavirus have affected his visits with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

How this issue gets resolved remains to be seen until the spreading of the virus is under control.

The 6-foot-5, 323-pound lineman started all 13 games at left guard as a redshirt freshman, and split time between left guard and left tackle in the next season.

He played right tackle in all 14 contests in 2018, and was voted to second-team all-conference.

Hunt only played in seven games of his senior season, struggling with a  groin injury, but still earned first-team All-SBC honors for his performance at right tackle.

As the Titans look to strengthen the depth behind their starting offensive line and right tackle Dennis Kelly, Hunt could be an option for them in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Broncos met with OL Robert Hunt at NFL combine

Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt met with the Broncos at the NFL combine last week.

The Denver Broncos interviewed Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt at the NFL combine last week, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Hunt (6-5, 323 pounds) is a do-it-all offensive lineman who has spent time at left tackle, guard and right tackle. His versatility could make him an intriguing prospect for Denver.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Hunt to Cody Ford, who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2019 draft.

“Like Cody Ford in last year’s draft, Hunt is a plus athlete with a big man’s frame who could be considered at guard or tackle,” Zierlein wrote.

Hunt is the 11th-best offensive tackle in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s 2020 NFL draft big board for Draft Wire.

Hunt is projected to be a second- or third-round pick in April’s draft, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com.

Denver will have five picks in the first three rounds of the draft.

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2020 NFL Combine: Matt Peart stands out as offensive tackles measure in

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez drops some of his takeaways from the offensive tackle’s measurements at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The offensive tackles were among the positional groups that measured in on Tuesday at the 2020 NFL Combine.

For the Chargers, addressing the position sits the near the top of their to-do list this offseason. Therefore, they will likely be in the market for one in the early rounds of the draft.

Here is a look at the measurements of the tackles courtesy of CBS Sports, followed by some of our takeaways:

Takeaways

  • Matt Peart was arguably the biggest winner. The former UConn product boasted the longest arms and wingspan, which is extremely beneficial at the position. At 320 pounds, he looks the part with an NFL frame. Peart put together solid tape at the right tackle position, stamping himself as a top-100 pick. He should help his stock even more after showing off his athleticism this week.
  • Standing at a whopping 6-foot-8 and 365 pounds, Mekhi Becton has an enormous frame with natural girth and a wide base, along with octopus-like arms. Becton has seen his stock rise throughout the past couple of months, and he should be picked within the top-20 selections.
  • There’s been plenty of chatter of kicking Tristan Wirfs inside to guard because of his arm length, but those talks were put to rest after coming in at 34-inch arms. At 320 pounds and an 80-inch wingspan, Wirfs looks the part as an NFL offensive tackle.
  • Robert Hunt has also been on the fence of whether or not he needs to move from tackle to guard, but after coming in with a solid 82-inch wingspan, it’s safe to say that he can stay on the outside.
  • Ben Bartch, the small-school standout, didn’t have the most ideal measurements for the position. Bartch came in with the shortest arms of anyone in his group and he fell short of 310 pounds. His tape suggests that he should be able to play tackle at the next level, but he will likely have to put on a little bit more weight.
  • There were concerns in regards to Ezra Cleveland’s arm length, but he came in at 33 7/8 inches with a wingspan of 80 7/8 inches. We currently have Cleveland stamped as an early-third rounder, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he moves himself into top-50 consideration after this week.

Patriots 4-round mock draft: Bill Belichick finally lands Gronk’s replacement

A small-school prospect with major upside.

As the 2020 NFL combine approaches, it’s time to dive deeper into mock drafts, with multiple-round projections of how the draft will go. It’s all in good fun at this point in the process, with plenty of evaluation and rumor milling still to go. Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling put together a four-round mock draft, which features three selections from New England.

The Patriots traded away their second-rounder for receiver Mohamed Sanu, and while they are likely to get two third-round compensatory picks (Trey Flowers, Trent Brown), the NFL has yet to award those selections. So Easterling skipped them for now. Here’s a look at the Patriots’ three picks.

23. Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Here’s what Easterling wrote on the selection:

“Another safety not named Grant Delpit? Don’t be surprised. Tom Brady’s future is obviously the big question mark, and finding him another pass-catcher could be a priority here if he returns. That said, the Pats need to address their need for youth on the back end of the defense, and Winfield’s combination of physical and mental tools would be a perfect match.”

It’s fun to consider the Patriots drafting Brady’s successor, a tight end (like Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet) or a receiver (like LSU’s Justin Jefferson). But the Patriots need to get younger at safety, where Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung are entering their mid 30s. McCourty is also a pending free agent, and may depart this offseason. Even Duron Harmon looks like a candidate to be a cap casualty, even if that feels unlikely. Winfield isn’t a sexy pick, but it’s the type of selection Bill Belichick likes to make.

87. Adam Trautman | TE | Dayton

The Senior Bowl standout showed that, while he spent his college career at a lower level of competition, he is physically capable of competing with some of the nation’s best college players. But what about the best pros? Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said about Trautman:

“Trautman is a fluid big man, and his basketball background shows at the catch point with his ability to adjust and attack. His routes need fine-tuning and his blocking is based more on effort than technical understanding right now, although he doesn’t lack in intensity or effort in either category. Overall, Trautman doesn’t have the body of work versus top-level competition, but his athleticism and pass-catching traits for a player his size make him a highly intriguing prospect, projecting as a player who should crack the starting lineup as an NFL rookie.”

Considering the Patriots were woefully understaffed at tight end in 2019, they’d be wise to stock up on talent at the position in the draft and during free agency. It’s much clearer than last season: Rob Gronkowski isn’t coming back. They should act accordingly.

115. Robert Hunt | OL | Lafayette (pick from CHI)

With the Patriots potentially set to lose both Joe Thuney and Ted Karras in free agency, New England may want to keep restocking with young talent in hopes one of their picks will prove ready to start. The Patriots have Hjalte Froholdt, a 2019 fourth-round pick who spent his rookie season on IR. New England also traded for Jermaine Eluemunor. Add in Hunt, and they should have a satisfactory level of competition for the starting job at left guard.

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Chargers 2020 NFL Draft Target: Louisiana-Lafayette OL Robert Hunt

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez puts Louisiana-Lafayette OL Robert Hunt, a potential draft target, under the microscope.

Over the next few months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up into the 2020 NFL Draft. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Today, we are taking a look at Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt.

Honors and Awards

  • All-Sun Belt First-Team (2019)
  • Outland Trophy watch list (2019)
  • All-Sun Belt Second-Team (2018)

Strengths

  • Rare combination of athleticism, strength and mobility. Very wide base and burly build.
  • Displays incredible power on initial contact. Knocks defenders off balance with initial hand punch and devastates defenders to the ground.
  • Lateral quickness to slide with outside speed rushers and ride them out of play.
  • Sinks hips and can anchor, rarely giving up ground. Uses arm length and extension to keep defensive lineman off his frame, maintains spacing.
  • Sets up his blocks in space by using angles and quickness. Rangy run blocker, can cut off inside penetration, or locate blocks early at second level. Moves well when pulling.
  • Adequate reaction skills to diagnose and pick up blitzes.
  • Aggressive blocker that attacks his assignment. Flashes a mean streak and a desire to finish blocks.
  • Experience at guard and tackle.

Weaknesses

  • Gets in good initial position, but often loses his leverage, playing too upright.
  • Strong hands at the point of attack, but needs to do a better job with placement. Can be too high or wide.
  • Forgets his feet sometimes and chooses to use his reach.
  • Often caught lunging at defenders to engage or land his punch.

Summary

Hunt is a big man with a unique athletic skill-set for the position, showing above-average balance, lateral agility to handle speed, and power at the point of attack. In the run game, he uses a strong grip to move bodies to create lanes and his nasty temperament sees him taking defenders to the ground. His footwork technique is still a work in progress and he needs to be weary of his pad level.

Chargers Fit

Based on his physical traits and athleticism, Hunt profiles as a solid starting right tackle at the next level. He has experience at guard, but his athleticism and pass-protection skills could allow him to be a plug-and-play on the right side, opposite of Russell Okung. If tackle doesn’t pan out, he could easily kick inside. Hunt’s tools suggest a bright future, assuming he receives the necessary coaching and development by the Chargers coaching staff.

Projection: Late 2nd-Early 3rd