Tag: TCU

Saints draft picks Kendre Miller, Jake Haener invited to NFLPA Rookie Premiere

New Orleans Saints draft picks Kendre Miller and Jake Haener have been invited to represent the team at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere:

This is a cool opportunity for a couple of the New Orleans Saints’ first-year players. The NFL Players Associated invited Kendre Miller and Jake Haener to its exclusive Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, where they’ll be highlighted for future business and marketing ventures.

The NFLPA describes the event as, “This is one of the most valuable opportunities available to NFLPA partners because it’s the first time to connect directly with professional football’s most promising and marketable young players–all in one place—and build content and relationships that extend into the season and beyond.”

Miller, the former TCU running back selected at No. 71 overall, is in a great position to make a name for himself as a pro with Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams joining him on the Saints depth chart. New Orleans traded up to the No. 127 picks for Haener, a quarterback out of Fresno State, envisioning him as a long-term backup for Derek Carr given Jameis Winston’s contract status.

Both young players could be in the spotlight for the Saints in the not-so-distant future so it’s a good idea for them to get out in front of any opportunities ahead of them. The NFLPA Rookie Premiere will be held May 18-21.

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1 stat to know about each of Chargers’ draft picks

These numbers should make Chargers fans more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

The Chargers came away with an impressive haul of draft picks last weekend.

We picked out one stat to know about each of Los Angeles’ draft picks from their collegiate career. These numbers should make supporters feel even more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

5 takeaways from the Chargers’ 2023 draft class

Here are some final thoughts on the Los Angeles Chargers’ haul in the 2023 NFL draft.

General manager Tom Telesco, head coach Brandon Staley and company knew that the 2023 NFL draft was a crucial part of their roster reconstruction after a steady approach in free agency.

For the most part, they accomplished that by landing impactful players and some that should be key pieces of the team down the road.

With that, here are five takeaways from Los Angeles’ haul.

TCU wide receiver Gunnar Henderson invited for Saints rookie minicamp tryout

TCU wide receiver Gunnar Henderson invited for New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp tryout, not to be confused with the Baltimore Orioles shortstop:

Here’s another one: former TCU wide receiver Gunnar Henderson accepted an invitation to try out at New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp in the weeks ahead, per The Spun’s Tanner Phifer. He’s not to be confused with the Baltimore Orioles shortstop.

Henderson is a marginal athlete by pro standards — he weighs in at just 5-foot-7 and 174 pounds, without the speed to compensate (having timed the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds for a mediocre 2.07 Relative Athletic Score). Someone with that slight of a frame ought to be able to scoot.

Maybe the Saints are looking for more diversity of body types and skill sets at minicamp. Henderson was used more often as a run blocker than a threat in the passing game, having been targeted just 17 times last season (a career high), catching 11 passes for 223 yards, with most of his yardage coming off a single 62-yard grab. He didn’t see much action on special teams or in the return game, either, so he has an uphill battle ahead in earning a contract offer.

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Todd McShay says RB Kendre Miller was the Saints’ best 2023 draft value pick

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says third-round running back Kendre Miller was the best New Orleans Saints value pick in 2023:

Which of the New Orleans Saints’ picks in the 2023 NFL draft was your favorite? Was it one of their early headlining picks? A third-day pickup that could be a diamond in the rough? Or one of the two players they traded up to go get?

ESPN senior writer Todd McShay shared his take on the best value picks in the 2023 draft class, and he’s a big fan of the move the Saints made in Round 3 to acquire TCU running back Kendre Miller. We’ll let him tell it:

The Saints have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams, but Miller is going to see some touches in this offense. The 215-pound back averaged 6.7 yards per carry over three seasons, and he just ran for nearly 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. Miller can ski through traffic, weaving in and out of cuts without losing speed, and he has the field vision to find holes. The agility and lower-body flexibility really pop on tape, though he’s not an overpowering back by any means, and he is just adequate in the pass game.

There’s also the current Kamara situation, which could result in a suspension at some point. He pleaded not guilty in March to felony and misdemeanor charges for battery after allegedly punching, kicking and stomping a man in Las Vegas during Pro Bowl week. So adding depth to the running back room could be even more important if the Saints are without Kamara at some point.

The Saints were in the bottom half of the NFL in rushing last season (4.3 yards per carry), and Williams will definitely help, but Miller should be able to sprinkle in some big gains when he gets touches. The only thing truly standing between Miller and a big role in the pros is his receiving skills, which he’ll need to improve on.

I’ve been high on Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener for most of the draft cycle and want to acknowledge my guy, too. At 6-foot, he’s an undersized baller with plus accuracy, and he can develop into a solid backup behind Derek Carr if Jameis Winston doesn’t return in 2024.

We’re high on Miller, too — he brings some much-needed fresh legs and big-play ability to the running backs room, and he certainly isn’t lacking for confidence. As McShay observed, he’ll be tough to keep off the field especially if Kamara if misses time with a suspension. If Miller weren’t rehabbing a December knee injury (which should be well behind him come training camp), he may have been drafted much higher.

Having Kamara backed up by Miller and Williams is a dramatic improvement over the depth chart the Saints trotted out last year, which asked a lot of a couple of past-their-prime veterans in Mark Ingram II and David Johnson. The Saints have gotten younger and more dynamic at running back. Let’s see if it pays off.

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Chargers’ 2023 draft class: All 7 players selected by Los Angeles

Meet the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2023 NFL draft class.

The Chargers completed the 2023 NFL draft with seven selections in total, four on offense and three on defense.

Los Angeles opened up the draft in the first round (No. 21) with wide receiver Quentin Johnston and closed it out in the seventh round (No. 239) with quarterback Max Duggan.

Here’s a look at every player the Bolts drafted and the spot where they were taken.

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ pick of TCU QB Max Duggan at No. 239 overall

What the selection of Max Duggan means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Well, it seems like the Chargers were big fans of TCU’s College Football Playoff run.

After selecting Quentin Johnston at 21 and Derius Davis in the fourth round, LA went back to the Horned Frog well, capping their draft with quarterback Max Duggan at the 239th overall pick.

A 4.52 athlete, matching Johnston, Duggan finished with a 7.12 RAS that was largely weighed down by his agility scores. After beginning the 2022 season as the backup due to a coaching change, Duggan returned to the starting lineup after an injury and blossomed into a Heisman Trophy finalist.

With 47 career games under his belt, Duggan has plenty of experience against high-level competition. He finished with 9,618 passing yards and 73 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions. Those passing numbers were buoyed with 1,856 rushing yards for 28 more touchdowns over his four seasons in Fort Worth.

The Chargers will, of course, hope that Duggan doesn’t have to see the field anytime soon given the existence of Justin Herbert. However, Duggan should compete with Easton Stick for the primary backup job, and his mental makeup will add value as a scout team quarterback and another pair of eyes in the position room.

With ample athleticism for the position, Duggan will be able to simulate some of the more mobile quarterbacks the Chargers will have to face next season. There may also be some room for him to see the field in designed run packages if Kellen Moore wants to get creative with his offensive personnel.

And, of course, Duggan’s chemistry with Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis will likely help all three players transition to the NFL.

Bottom line: the Chargers got their backup QB of the future, one who’s familiar with all their new weapons.

WATCH: Dee Winters’ best highlights from TCU

Winters’ highlight reel from TCU was all the #49ers needed to see to justify his selection in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft

Linebacker Dee Winters was a major part of TCU’s path to the 2023 college football national championship game and should be able to fight for a spot on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster next season. The rangy linebacker has a great football IQ and can make opposing ball carriers pay when they enter his area on the field.

Though he’ll need time to adjust to the professional game as a sixth-round selection, Winters brings an exceptional highlight reel with him to the league after an outstanding career as a collegian. Check out his best plays below to get acquainted with his skillset ahead of the 2023 season:

 

49ers select TCU LB Dee Winters with No. 216 pick

The #49ers selected TCU linebacker Dee Winters with their 216th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Saturday

The San Francisco 49ers made a bold move with the 216th pick in the 2023 NFL draft, selecting Texas Christian University linebacker Dee Winters in the sixth round. Winters proved himself to be an impactful starter for the Horned Frogs in the team’s meteoric rise in the college football rankings last season and should be able to work himself into a roster spot in 2023.

Winters stands just under six feet tall and has enough speed to compensate for his lack of height. He is a rangy, rugged linebacker with the ability to wrap up even the most elusive ball carriers in space, especially in key situations.

Scouts value the experience that players like Winters bring to the table, especially at this stage in the draft process. He will likely need time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game, but as a late-round pick, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Watch for this established stud to make waves in training camp and quickly become a fan-favorite in the bay area.

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2023 NFL draft: Watch best college highlights of new Chargers WR Derius Davis

Get familiar with Derius Davis, the newest member of the Chargers.

After taking a TCU receiver in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, the Chargers decided to take another on Day 3 in the fourth round. Derius Davis is the newest member of the team.

While he won’t be much of a contributor on offense early on, Davis is the favorite to be the return man, as he was arguably the best in college football in this department.

Check out his best collegiate highlights below to get more familiar with Davis’ game: