Tag: the draft network

Vikings sent USC WR in latest 2023 NFL mock draft

The Vikings get a massive upgrade at wide receiver in the latest mock draft from The Draft Network

The on-field season for the Minnesota Vikings is over but things are just getting started. My first round one mock draft of the year was released earlier on Monday and I had the Vikings taking a wide receiver.

The latest mock draft from Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network has the Vikings doing the same thing, but a different player as he has them taking USC wide receiver Jordan Addison.

You can find my scouting report on Addison here and this is what Sanchez had to say about adding him to the Vikings.

“We all know that Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, but in order for this Vikings offense to operate at their best, they need someone else who is a threat to take over a game. Jordan Addison is exactly that type of player. Addison has positional versatility with the ability to line up in the slot and on the outside and would be a nightmare to gameplan for with Jefferson. Addison falling to the Vikings in this NFL mock draft is the perfect match.”

Versatility is going to be something that you see regularly talked about with this Vikings team at wide receiver and Addison would be a tremendous addition to the room, especially with the uncertainty that Thielen brings to the table.

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Vikings get another cornerback in latest Draft Network mock

The fastest-rising corner heads to Minnesota in The Draft Network’s latest mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings spent a lot of resources last offseason on the cornerback position. They re-signed cornerback Patrick Peterson along with drafting Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans.

Due to injuries to both rookies and starting cornerback Cameron Dantzler, the Vikings were forced to start former practice squad player Duke Shelley. While he has played well this season, it’s not an ideal scenario for the defense.

In the latest mock draft from The Draft Network, Jaime Eisner agrees with that and sent them Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Here is what Eisner had to say about the physical cornerback.

“Patrick Peterson’s contract voids after this season, but the Vikings need more reinforcements in the CB room regardless. Devon Witherspoon is a momentum-flipper with his ability to get his hands on the ball. Outside of his ball skills, versatility may be his best trait. I believe Witherspoon can play outside or as the nickel and have success in both man and zone coverages.”

A fast riser up draft boards, Witherspoon would be a great get for the Vikings and could solve their slot cornerback issues year one before transitioning outside.

Latest TDN mock draft sends Vikings a cornerback

The cornerback position is going to be popular in mock drafts this year

I realize that the Minnesota Vikings are just a week away from being in the playoffs as either the NFC’s number two or three seed, but with the beginning of January comes mock draft season and this is no different. The latest mock draft from The Draft Network is from Kyle Crabbs and he has the Vikings taking Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III.

Here is what Crabbs had to say about the Utes standout.

“The Vikings have plenty of talent and have mastered the art of situational football this season. How do they encore? How about more talent in the secondary? I’d love to see Clark Phillips III as a new piece running around with a young player like Andrew Booth Jr. and a veteran like Patrick Peterson. Chandon Sullivan is a nice player too, but Minnesota needs more talent in general on the back end and more depth at corner.”

The Vikings’ secondary has been the weak link on the team and continuing to add talent is a net positive.

New 2023 NFL Mock Draft has four Clemson defenders going in first round

With football season right around the corner, and the college football and NFL seasons coming up, 2023 NFL Mock Drafts continue to pop up online. One of the latest mock drafts to come out has a quartet of Clemson defenders going in the first round – …

With football season right around the corner, and the college football and NFL seasons coming up, 2023 NFL Mock Drafts continue to pop up online.

One of the latest mock drafts to come out has a quartet of Clemson defenders going in the first round — The Draft Network projects redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, junior defensive end Myles Murphy, junior linebacker Trenton Simpson and senior defensive tackle Tyler Davis to all hear their names called within the first 30 picks.

The Draft Network sees Bresee and Murphy being selected with back-to-back picks by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 12 overall and the New England Patriots at No. 13, respectively.

“Man, I love this value for the Eagles,” Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network wrote in regard to his Bresee projection. “Philadelphia is a team reported to be evaluating their options at quarterback but I don’t love their options here with their first pick, which comes courtesy of the New Orleans Saints and last year’s draft pick swap. Instead, the team lands Bryan Bresee as a high-tools interior defensive lineman with positional versatility. Bresee can step into the shoes of both Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave as penetration types up front—neither of which are currently under contract for the Eagles beyond the 2022 season.”

Added Crabbs of his projection for Murphy: “Surely the Patriots wouldn’t pass on a standout pass rusher who fell into their laps, right? Myles Murphy might be every bit as good as 2022 first-overall selection Travon Walker but with more bend.

“Matthew Judon was a big-money free agent addition but he could certainly use some help in the Patriots’ front. And as the Patriots adjust to life without star cornerbacks, they’d likely benefit from some more standout play and versatility up front. Murphy gives you all of the above.”

Crabbs sees Simpson coming off the board nine picks after Murphy, going to the Dallas Cowboys with the 22nd selection.

“OK, so hear me out. You know what is better than one freakish linebacker with the ability to contribute in a slew of ways? How about two?” Crabbs wrote.

“This selection did give me pause to ask if Noah Sewell is a better fit to complement Micah Parsons. However, I’m going with Trenton Simpson and the understanding that if Dallas wants a secure run-fitting MIKE, they can run base personnel and achieve that security, too. Simpson is a speedy, long defender with the ability to play in coverage and even rush off the edge. His passing down skill set pairs with Parsons to give Dallas a pair of terrifying mismatch defenders on the second level.”

The Draft Network projects a fourth Tiger to be taken with a first-round pick in Davis, who Crabbs has going to the Los Angeles Chargers with the 29th overall pick.

“This selection is a bit of a projection but Tyler Davis has all the physical tools to be a disruptive presence on the interior,” Crabbs wrote. “If he’s able to stay healthy in 2022, I think he’s got a real shot at making a push for this kind of stratosphere as a player. Plus, the Chargers sure could use some interior push to go with all that heat off the edge in Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.”

Donovan Peoples-Jones tabbed for breakout season in 2022

This offseason setup perfectly for DPJ to have a breakout year in 2022:

The Cleveland Browns have had a lot of changes around their roster, especially at a few important positions on offense. Veteran stalwarts like J.C. Tretter and Jarvis Landry were followed out the door by Baker Mayfield and Austin Hooper.

The Browns added Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper and David Bell to help create a more explosive offense but it is Donovan Peoples-Jones who might benefit the most from the changes.

While Watson’s upside is much higher than Mayfield’s, returning from a year off could set him back a bit. We also don’t know whether he will be disciplined for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

It is the other moves that saw Peoples-Jones noted as a top breakout candidate for 2022 from The Draft Network.

Cooper’s addition bumps the former sixth-round pick down to the second receiver spot and should lead to less defensive attention. Releasing Hooper without adding another significant tight end should keep three receivers on the field more often while Bell takes mostly the slot receiver role and is less of a threat to play outside often.

As noted by TDN, the lack of other threats after Cooper and TE David Njoku really opens up the possibilities for Peoples-Jones:

Peoples-Jones is expected to start in Cleveland due to a lack of general activity at the position outside of acquiring Cooper. Jakeem Grant Sr was Cleveland’s lone free-agent signing at receiver, and Grant isn’t expected to find himself in a positional battle with Peoples-Jones given their differing body types and skill sets. Long-time veteran Jarvis Landry was released from his contract and Rashard Higgins signed with the Panthers as a free agent. The offseason departures of both Landry and Higgins further cemented Peoples-Jones’ positioning on Cleveland’s pass-catching depth chart.

The former Michigan star still needs to prove it on the field but Watson should help raise his play. For his career, the Cleveland receiver has 901 yards and five touchdowns on 48 receptions. Is it possible for him to eclipse those two-year totals combined in 2022?

SKOL Search: Mock draft update

Who are the Vikings taking with the No. 12 overall pick?

Mock drafts are a wonderful thing during the offseason. We get a myriad of them from draft analysts across the board. Every week, I will be writing a quick synopsis of who the experts have the Vikings selecting.

One thing to keep in mind with these: There will be a lot of repeats due to the value of the position, player and the needs of the Vikings. There will also be mocks with players that are very off the wall due to the volatility of the exercise in normal practice.

This week’s mock drafts keep a nice variety of players for the Vikings.

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Oklahoma Safety named The Draft Network’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Sooners’ Safety Delarrin Turner-Yell was named The Draft Network’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week 12.

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It was a fantastic week for several Oklahoma Sooners defenders on their way to a 28-21 win over Iowa State. Key Lawrence earned the Big 12 Conference’s Newcomer of the Week while Jalen Redmond earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Having a nice week of his own was safety Delarrin Turner-Yell.

For his performance against Iowa State, Turner-Yell earned The Draft Network’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

The senior safety recorded a team-high nine solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and an interception. He led the Sooners with six stops per Pro Football Focus and played all 89 snaps to help Oklahoma’s defense hang on to beat a tough Iowa State Cyclones team. He came up with big stops in the passing game like this one on third down with Iowa State driving in the first quarter.

And his interception helped the Oklahoma Sooners preserve a two-touchdown lead late in the fourth quarter.

Delarrin Turner-Yell, like much of the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense, has been trending in a positive direction each of the last few weeks. After missing games against Kansas State and Kansas, Turner-Yell has come back strong to help solidify the Oklahoma Sooners’ secondary.

While his tackle and tackle for loss numbers might be down from previous seasons, he’s having a career year in coverage with three interceptions while allowing a passer rating of just 58.9 (NFL) on the season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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NFL Draft: Longhorns Mock Draft Monday

On Mock Draft Monday Longhorns Wire rounds up the last mocks for the 2021 NFL Draft. Samuel Cosmi is the only Texas player featured.

Each and every Monday Longhorns Wire looks to round up the top mock drafts. This week the Draft Network and Sporting News released their latest mock draft. Only one Longhorn showed up in the first round mocks. No surprises here with Samuel Cosmi getting all of the preseason hype as far as how he fits at the next level.

The Draft Network projects Cosmi to Los Angeles

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

What Trevor says

As the 2020 draft season was winding down, there was plenty of debate over what the Chargers might do. Slotted at No. 6, the top guesses for what the team might do were either a quarterback selection or an addition to the offensive line. The team ended up selecting quarterback Justin Herbert, which could turn out to be the right move, but that puts a heavy emphasis on an offensive line upgrade over the next few years.

Sam Cosmi is the left tackle for the Texas Longhorns, and though he could stand to put a bit more weight on to help him anchor against some stronger pass-rushers, he moves very quickly and isn’t troubled much by speed rushers. That’s a good base to have for a left tackle that will face some good ones throughout a season. – Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network

The Sporting News projects Cosmi to Las Vegas

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

What Vinnie says

The Raiders have had disappointing tackle play from the combination of Kolton MIller and Trent Brown, and have a dead-money free out from Brown’s contract after the 2020 season. Cosmi is a massive prospect for the position with nimble feet to match. – Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News

What Longhorns Wire says

There seems to be only three teams that are consistently picked as landing spots for Samuel Cosmi. Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos or the latest spot in Las Vegas. One thing remains the seem, the outlook projected is a top 15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Connor Williams was the last offensive tackle drafted out of Texas in the second round to the Dallas Cowboys. Cosmi has the opportunity to be the first one to be selected since Leonard Davis in the 2001 NFL Draft.

Recently ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay released his top 50 NFL Draft prospects. McShay ranked Sam Cosmi as the No. 10 ranked prospect.

Cosmi shows some quick feet for a 6-7 lineman and can redirect really well in pass protection. He isn’t overpowering, but his hand placement is very good and he doesn’t fall off many blocks. As a run-blocker, his angles are strong, and he frequently walks defensive linemen off the line. Cosmi has 26 career starts, playing both sides of the line.

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Top 5 Draft Network sleepers: Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai

The Draft Network recently released their top five draft sleepers for 2020. Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai was among them.

The NFL Draft is more than an offseason event that takes place prior to rookie camps and all organized team activities leading up to the training camp and the NFL season. It is a year round process where teams, scouts and even analyst identify players who could sneak into the conversation. The Draft Network is one of those resources that fans can use to find out which of their favorite players could be movers and shakers in the annual event. One of those players identified is junior linebacker Joseph Ossai

Joseph Ossai: Edge, Texas

TDN100 ranking: 51st overall

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

TDN scout Jordan Reid pounded the table big time for Ossai’s talents — referencing his moldable skills and his high-end potential. No, Ossai doesn’t play in the SEC or in the Big 10; there will be questions regarding his ability to bang against bigger, more physical linemen than what he draws in the Big 12. But nevertheless, Ossai’s untapped potential captured Reid’s eye so much that the true junior nearly snuck into the top-50.

Joseph Ossai made the list as a top five sleep in the upcoming draft. He hasn’t received the same level of pre draft buzz as Sam Ehlinger, Samuel Cosmi or Caden Sterns up to this point. The bowl game performance was a giant shove for Ossai into the conversation. Jodan Reid recently spoke to his potential in a new defensive role.

With a continued effort over what we hope is a full 12-game schedule in 2020, Joseph Ossai could potentially work his way into the conversation of a top 60 selection.

Draft Network’s Mock Draft: Bears target edge rusher, tight end in 2nd round

The Draft Network released a two-round mock draft, where he had the Bears addressing EDGE and TE with their two second-round selections.

With the NFL offseason in full swing, attention has shifted to free agency and the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, where teams like the Bears will be looking to plug some needs on their roster.

The Bears hold the 43rd and 50th picks in the second round of the NFL Draft, as they got the Raiders’ second-round pick (No. 43) in the Khalil Mack trade.

The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid released a two-round mock draft, where he had the Bears addressing the pass rush and tight end with their two second-round selections.

With the 43rd pick, Reid has the Bears selecting Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. Gross-Matos has a penchant for getting after the football and making plays, even in pursuit. In 2019, Gross-Matos had 40 total tackles and 9.5 sacks.

Then, with the 50th selection, Reid has Chicago addressing their need at tight end with Washington ‘s Hunter Bryant. Bryant excelled in his role as the “move” tight end, which made him a matchup problem for opposing defenses. Bryant would figure to serve a similar role in Matt Nagy’s “U” tight end role, as the Bears are looking for production from that position. In 2019, Bryant had 52 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns.

Barring any trades, the Bears will have eight picks in this year’s draft, but only two in the top 50 and three in the top 150. Chicago’s selections include a projected fourth-round compensatory pick for safety Adrian Amos, as well as a conditional pick from the Eagles for running back Jordan Howard, which projects to be a sixth rounder.

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