Tag: SirVocea Dennis

Bucs sign five 2023 draft picks

The Bucs’ first three draft picks remain unsigned.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the signing of five of their 2023 draft picks, including fifth-round picks LB SirVocea Dennis and TE Payne Durham and sixth-round picks CB Josh Hayes, WR Trey Palmer and EDGE Jose Ramirez. This leaves their first three picks of the 2023 draft, DT Calijah Kancey, OG Cody Mauch and EDGE YaYa Diaby, still unsigned.

The newly signed rookies are unlikely to impact the Bucs’ cap space in a meaningful way. Cap calculations are cut off after the top 51 salaries, and with rookies making as little as $750,000, they may not make that cutoff prior to preseason roster cuts.

With the majority of their 2023 draft picks coming in rounds five and six, the Bucs have locked up their depth and developmental prospects from this class. While the key draft picks are still unsigned, the Bucs are closer to season readiness.

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The total rundown on new Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis

Here are some things to know about the second Pitt player Tampa Bay drafted in 2023.

The Bucs didn’t stop at just one Pitt player in the 2023 NFL draft, selecting LB SirVocea Dennis in the 5th round of the draft. Dennis is undersized and lacks notable athleticism, but his instinct on the ball could be great value for Tampa Bay.

Here’s the rundown on the new Bucs LB:

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 226 lbs

Age: 23

Hometown: Syracuse, New York

Scouting Report (Dane Brugler, The Athletic): “A three-year starter at Pittsburgh, Dennis originally played the “Money” position before moving to “MIKE” linebacker in head coach Pat Narduzzi’s 4-3 base scheme. He led the team in tackles each of the past two seasons and developed into the captain of the defense with dependable personal and football character. With his agility and play recognition, Dennis has the range to cover every inch of the field vs. the run and in zone coverage (can get better in man-to-man). Though he is a strong form tackler, he lacks knock-back striking power, and he can be too easily overpowered and engulfed in the tackle box when his take-on timing isn’t precise. Overall, Dennis lacks desired size for every-down duties in the NFL, but he is fast-flowing with the eyes and tackling skills that lead to NFL production. He should be an immediate special teamer who can carve out a role on defense.”

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Instant analysis of Tampa Bay’s SirVocea Dennis pick

SirVocea Dennis is a tad undersized and didn’t ring in an impressive 40 time, but he was a natural leader on the field in Pittsburgh and boasts good ball instincts and secure tackling ability.

SirVocea Dennis is, in many ways, the opposite of Tampa Bay’s earlier YaYa Diaby pick. He has all the instinctual tools and production in college, but his physical tools are lacking.

Dennis has boasted 11 sacks in the last two years and is a tackle machine, racking up 91 total tackles in 2022 and 82 in 2021. He was Pitt’s captain on defense and was a considerable producer for the Panthers in the three years he played for them.

That being said, he is a bit undersized and is a little slow when it comes to pursuit speed. He ran a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash and is 6’0″, 226 pounds, so adding a bit of mass to his frame may do him good. He also doesn’t have a ton of string tape on passing downs, so that will be an area to improve on as well.

It’s very likely that Dennis will be a special-teamer with linebacker K.J. Britt, and his ability to break into the first team could depend on becoming more well-rounded in his game and gaining some playing weight.

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Bucs select LB SirVocea Dennis with pick No. 153 in the 2023 NFL draft

The Bucs grab one of Calijah Kancey’s teammates with their first pick in Round 5.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected LB SirVocea Dennis with the No. 153 pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Dennis was teammates with Pitt DT Calijah Kancey, who Tampa Bay selected with the No. 19-overall pick in the first round. Dennis is undersized, coming in at 6’0″ and 226 pounds, so it will be interesting to see where the Buccaneers put him on the defense.

He was a notable producer at Pitt, though, netting 11 sacks in his last two years. He will likely compete for a special teams spot and contend with linebacker K.J. Britt.

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2023 NFL draft: Gavino’s final 7-round projections for Chargers

Find out how Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez thinks the 2023 NFL draft will play out for Los Angeles.

Here it is! My final seven-round mock draft for the Chargers, with my prediction of who they’ll take with each of their picks.

Let’s dive in!

 

Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda lights it up at the Panthers’ pro day

Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda lights it up at the Panthers’ pro day in front of all 32 NFL teams

This year’s class of running backs has a sizeable cluster in the range between the second through fourth rounds. It’s a talented group but also one that is difficult to sort out.

Thanks to a superb athletic display at his pro day on Wednesday, Pittsburgh’s Israel Abanikanda helped move himself closer to the top of that RB cluster. Abanikanda put on quite a show for the 32 NFL teams in attendance. Scouts on the scene clocked the 5-foot-11, 218-pound runner with a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, a 41.5″ vertical and a broad jump of nearly 11 feet.

Abanikanda showed during his on-field time at Pitt that he can plant and go out of a cut extremely well, and he’s capable of lowering his pads and dishing out as much punishment as he takes.

2023 NFL draft big board: Running backs

Abanikanda wasn’t the only Panthers prospect to show out at the pro day. The vertical jumps from three different Pitt players would have been the best at their positions at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine — Abanikanda at RB, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and wideout Jared Wayne all topping 41 inches.

Post-Elijah Moore trade mock draft as Browns slide back to pick 74

What does a mock draft look like now that the Browns have acquired a receiver and slid back to pick 74?

The Cleveland Browns were able to fill the biggest remaining need after they traded with the New York Jets for former second-round wide receiver Elijah Moore on Wednesday. By filling most of the glaring holes on the roster, the team isn’t pigeon held into taking certain players at a position of need. No picking 32 spots later at pick 74, we have a perfect opportunity for another mock draft!

With this flexibility, the team can try and focus on the best player available approach. Though rookies could contribute if they are ready, having the ability to let them grow and develop first would be the best approach for the Browns long term. Let’s take a look at how the draft could play out now with the shake-up of the Elijah Moore trade.

7 linebackers for the Eagles to watch at 2023 Senior Bowl

We’re looking at 7 linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch at the 2023 #SeniorBowl

The NFL draft starts in Mobile, and even with the Eagles preparing to face the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, all eyes this week will be on Alabama, for the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Philadelphia has Haason Reddick under contract for two more years, but the other two starters, T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White are set to become unrestricted free agents.

The Eagles do have rookie Nakobe Dean, rookie Kyron Johnson, and Patrick Johnson under contract but could look to add more depth.

With kickoff from Mobile quickly approaching, here are seven linebackers to watch at the Senior Bowl on Saturday.

2023 Senior Bowl Preview: Linebacker

We continue our Senior Bowl preview with the linebackers

One of the most important events on the National Football League calendar is the Senior Bowl. Held the week after the conference championship games, it is the true beginning of the NFL draft cycle.

Not only do scouts and analysts like us get to see over 100 draft prospects in one place competing against each other, but it’s also an opportunity for analysts and personnel alike to get together and have discussions about a number of topics.

As we look forward to this year’s Senior Bowl, both managing editor Tyler Forness and columnist Matt Anderson will be there in person to break everything down.

We will be breaking down each position group and what to look for throughout the week. Here is the edge rusher position.

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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Interior offensive line
Interior defensive line
Edge rushers