Tag: Travis Jones

Ravens build up trenches early in 7-round mock draft by CBS Sports

The Ravens built up their depth in the trenches early in the latest seven-round mock draft by CBS Sports

The Baltimore Ravens have done an extremely solid job of upgrading certain parts of their roster during the 2022 offseason. They added safety Marcus Williams, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive lineman Michael Pierce while also bringing back fullback Patrick Ricard, inside linebacker Josh Bynes and defensive lineman Calais Campbell. However, with the 2022 NFL draft coming up there are other areas that Baltimore can shore up with the 10 projected picks that they have.

In his latest full seven-round 2022 mock draft, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports utilized all of the Ravens’ 10 selections to address some of the holes remaining on their roster, including in the trenches. Edwards goes very offensive line and defensive line heavy on the first two days of the draft, starting off with University of Northern Iowa offensive lineman Trevor Penning at No. 14. Edwards explains that there has been buzz that Penning won’t make it past Baltimore’s selection.

“Baltimore traded away Orlando Brown Jr., and Ronnie Stanley has battled injuries of late. Considering the ground game is the foundation of the Ravens offense, the franchise would be wise to invest in the position and have some options down the road. There is a lot of buzz that the Northern Iowa product is not going to make it beyond this pick.”

Penning is a very powerful player, but many view him as a trade-back candidate for the Ravens due to his lack of refined technique that could be a problem at the next level. He’s still a first-round prospect, but he might not be one that the team considers if they make a selection at No. 14.

On day two of the draft in the second and third rounds, Edwards selects Connecticut defensive lineman Travis Jones at No. 45, Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonnito at No. 76, and UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan at No.100.

Day three of Edwards’ draft has Baltimore filling out the rest of their needs, starting in the fourth round where the team selected cornerback Martin Emerson out of Mississippi State at No. 110, Mississippi State wide receiver Makai Polk at No. 117, tight end Charlie Kolar out of Iowa State at No. 128, cornerback Alontae Taylor out of Tennesee at No. 139, and BYU running back Tyler Allgeier at No. 141. Finally, with the 196th overall pick the Ravens round out their draft with inside linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel out of North Carolina.

Positionally, Edwards valued the trenches early while filling out the rest of the draft with other needs. Emerson and Taylor make for a nice mid-round cornerback duo, while Kolar, Allgeier and Gemmel represent smaller needs with good value in the later portion of the draft.

The players selected by Edwards would also give the Ravens some flexibility for other free agent signings after the draft. Edwards only selects on edge rusher for Baltimore, so a potential free agent such as Jadeveon Clowney could be in the cards for this scenario.

Mel Kiper Jr.’s two round mock draft beefs up Browns interior

Mel Kiper is back and this time it is a 2 round mock which means Browns fans can celebrate or bemoan the addition of an interior defensive lineman:

With the Cleveland Browns not having their first-round pick, the thirteenth overall, and having moved their early fourth-round pick as well in the Deshaun Watson trade, a lot of focus will be placed on their first selection at pick #44. Much like many fans know the name Beau Bell, because he was the team’s first pick in 2008 despite that coming in the fourth round, whoever the team drafts in the second round will have a little extra attention.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN fame was one of the first to make covering the draft a full-time job. Kiper’s hair, passion and diction have made him a mainstay around the league’s annual event. That is why when he puts out a mock draft, many want to hear what he thinks will happen.

Today (subscriber, $), Kiper produced his most recent mock and this time included the second round which allows Browns fans to be involved. Kiper had a first-round trade projected with the New York Jets trading up with the Cincinnati Bengals but Cleveland’s first pick has a beefy interior defensive lineman headed to Ohio:

Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut

Like the Colts, the Browns have just one pick in the first two rounds, and Jones would fill a need. The 6-foot-4 and 325-pound nose tackle can eat up space and allow the rest of the defense to find the football. He might end up as only a two-down defender; I’d feel better about taking him in Round 2 than in the top 32.

Browns fans hoping for an impact receiver or edge rusher may be disappointed in the addition of Jones. While Kiper thinks he could be just a two-down player, it is possible that Jones can do a bit more as a pocket disruptor.

Kiper’s mock had five receivers and two tight ends being drafted after the Browns picked. He also had four other defensive linemen, including three edge players, selected after #44.

Jones would be a solid pick for Cleveland but lacks the wow factor that fans might hope for with their first pick. If Andrew Berry believes he can make an impact on all three downs, Jones would be a solid pick and help fill one of the team’s biggest needs.

2022 NFL Draft: The top 11 interior defensive linemen

Mark Schofield dives into the guys up front, looking at the top 11 interior defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL draft.

This is a fascinating draft class up front on the defensive side of the football.

While last year fans of the defensive line had to wait until the second round to see a player at that position selected, odds are there will be no such wait this season. Two players — Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt — are consistently inside the first round in mock drafts at the moment, and players such as DeMarvin Leal, Perrion Winfrey and Travis Jones are others who might sneak into the first.

Let’s take a deeper look at this class. Here are the top 11 interior defensive lineman for the 2022 NFL draft.

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 interior offensive linemen

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 offensive tackles

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 tight ends

2022 NFL draft: The top 16 receivers

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 running backs

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 quarterbacks

2022 NFL draft: Travis Jones scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about UConn defensive lineman Travis Jones

A fast-rising prospect since the Senior Bowl, UConn nose tackle Travis Jones will look to capitalize on his performance in Mobile as he enters the 2022 NFL draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Huskies’ massive interior defender:

6 surprise prospects for Chiefs in first round of 2022 NFL draft

By now you’ve seen the same old scenarios hashed out for the Kansas City Chiefs in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft. Every year there are a few prospects who surprise and sneak into the first round when the consensus believed they’d go on Day 2 or …

By now you’ve seen the same old scenarios hashed out for the Kansas City Chiefs in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft. Every year there are a few prospects who surprise and sneak into the first round when the consensus believed they’d go on Day 2 or later. With two picks at the end of the first round, the Chiefs find themselves in that surprise first-rounder territory.

Here’s a quick look at six of those players who could potentially surprise Chiefs fans at picks No. 29 and No. 30:

Full 7-round Eagles mock draft post-blockbuster trade with the Saints

2022 NFL draft: Philadelphia Eagles add more talent on defense in full seven-round mock post blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Saints

The Eagles once again shook up the NFL draft boards after a blockbuster trade that saw general manager Howie Roseman trade pick No. 16, No. 19, and No. 194 to the Saints for pick No. 18, No. 101, No. 237, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-rounder as well.

Philadelphia now has two first-round picks in 2022, an extra third-round picks in 2022, along with pushing a first-round pick back to 2023 and also accumulating an extra second-round pick in 2022.

With the moves made, here’s an updated Eagles-only seven-round mock draft via Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, that’ll likely see the Birds still land players that were on their board.

2022 NFL draft: Eagles add more dynamic talent on defense in full seven-round mock

2022 NFL draft: Philadelphia Eagles add more dynamic talent on defense in full seven-round mock

The NFL’s official league year got off to a roaring start as the quest for a Super Bowl in 2022 is underway for all 32 NFL teams.

The Eagles just completed the first two weeks of an intriguing offseason that started off strong with free agency,  features three-first round picks, valuable salary-cap space, and several different routes the franchise can choose to follow.

With Jalen Hurts as the quarterback for at least the next calendar year, Philadelphia has chosen to build around the quarterback, and they still could push a first-round pick back to 2023 where the quarterback class will be much more talented.

It’ll be an interesting lead-up to April’s NFL draft and we’re adding to the fun with our fifth full seven-round mock draft 5.0, this time, after the first wave of free agency.

In this seven-round mock draft using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, we again avoided making any trades in this version, choosing to fully restock a roster that has holes on both sides of the ball, utilizing seven of the 10 picks on high-profile and highly versatile defensive players.

Chiefs 2022 7-round mock draft v2.0: Post-Tyreek Hill trade edition

Our @goldmctNFL reveals his 7-round 2022 mock draft 2.0 for the #Chiefs and the first since the Tyreek Hill trade:

There are less than 30 days to go until the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have loaded up on draft picks due to the Tyreek Hill trade, but they’ve also created an even greater need at the wide receiver position. This mock draft looks quite a bit different from our 1.0, not just because of the new draft picks, but also given our recent look at the 90-man offseason roster. There are plenty of needs to consider, both for the upcoming season, but also for the future in Kansas City.

In order to gauge player availability for the mock draft, I ran multiple simulations using the various mock draft machines to create a composite. If players weren’t available with regularity, they were eliminated from contention at a specific pick. Typically, I’d have 8-10 players on my big board to choose from at a given pick, though in Round 7 the pool is significantly larger.

Without further delay, here’s a look at our mock draft version 2.0:

Packers take athletic and disruptive DL in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft

Dane Brugler’s post-combine mock draft has the Packers taking 325-pound DL Travis Jones (UConn) in the first round.

The Green Bay Packers grabbed an athletic and disruptive defensive lineman prospect in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft for The Athletic.

Brugler has the Packers taking UConn’s Travis Jones at No. 28 overall in his post-combine mock draft.

Jones (6-4, 325) has dominated the pre-draft process so far, including the combine.

From Brugler: “It would be easy to overlook Jones playing for a program like UConn, but he has made it impossible for anyone to miss him throughout the draft process. He was nearly unblockable at the Senior Bowl and continued that momentum at the combine, crushing the position drills and posting outstanding numbers (4.92 40-yard dash, 7.33 three-cone drill) at 325 pounds.”

A mix of strength and athleticism, Jones could team with Pro Bowler Kenny Clark to give the Packers a pair of foundational pieces for Joe Barry’s defensive line.

Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire believes Jones has potential as a pass-rusher and “the quickness to win one-on-ones” on the interior.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jones produced 25 pressures and 21 run stops during his final season at UConn.

“He was the only guy on that defense,” Rupp said, “and was still able to be a disruptive force.”

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Jones to Jonathan Hankins and called him a “nose tackle with size and power” and a “rumbling play style.”

“Jones has the demeanor, traits and overall ability to become a successful run-plugger and potential starter in a two-gapping scheme,” Zierlein wrote.

With great testing numbers at 325 pounds, Jones produced a Relative Athletic Score of 9.65 of 10.0. The Packers typically target young and highly athletic prospects in the first round under general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Clark needs help along the defensive line, and adding a big, athletic player like Jones could open up more attacking possibilities for others in the Packers  front seven.

“In Green Bay, he’ll face constantly one-on-ones with teams focusing on Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary. That late in the first round you bet on the traits and upside that Jones possesses,” Rupp said.

In the second round of Brugler’s mock, the Packers took Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen, who is an ascending prospect after running the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the combine.

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7 Chargers targets who stood out on Days 2 and 3 of 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

Highlighting a few players on Days 2 and 3 of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine who should have caught the attention of the Chargers.

We are approaching the final day of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, where the defensive backs will take the field.

Before we look towards that, I want to rewind to the past two days to highlight a few prospects who stood out that could be on the Chargers’ radar.

Let’s take a look at seven in particular.

RB Pierre Strong, South Dakota State

I know Chargers fans won’t be thrilled with the idea of taking a running back after the Larry Rountree and Joshua Kelley, who were taken the past two years, have not panned out. However, with eight picks on Day 3, they might add yet another back, and Strong would make sense. At 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds, Strong recorded the fastest 40 time of the day at 4.37. His explosiveness also stood out, as he posted a 36-inch vertical jump. On the field, Strong was shifty with foot quickness and showed solid burst in the open field. Overall, he has the vision, speed, and pass-catching ability to crack into the No. 2 role potentially.

OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

The Chargers will likely be in the market for a right tackle, as Bryan Bulaga is a potential cap casualty and the last game of the season against the Raiders, where Justin Herbert was under constant duress, showed that Storm Norton is not the long-term answer. Therefore, they could resolve this with a cheap free agent signing and a Day 2 pick, like Penning. We knew Penning was a mauler with a nasty mean streak from his showing at the Senior Bowl. But he also showed the athleticism Los Angeles is looking for. At 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, Penning notched a 4.89 40 and 7.25 three-cone. Further, he was silky smooth in the drills, showing the ability to mirror and pull out into space.

OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State

Lucas started 42 games for the Cougars and did not allow a single sack this past season. At 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, Lucas posted elite times on the 40-yard dash (4.92), 3-cone (7.25) and 20-yard shuttle (4.40). On the field, Lucas was agile and fluid in his kick-slide and redirect ability and showed nice pop in his hands with the bag.

DL Jordan Davis, Georgia

Davis and the Chargers has been the perfect marriage to many media members and fans up to this point, given their desperate need to fix the run defense. However, there’s now a possibility that might not even come to fruition after Davis made himself a lot of money with his eye-popping performance. Coming in at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds, Davis ran an eyebrow-raising 4.78 40 and 1.68 10-yard split. Let me repeat that. A 4.78 40-yard dash and 1.68 10-yard split at 341 pounds is believed to be one of the fastest times for a player that size in the event’s history. Moments later, Davis posted a broad jump of 10-foot-3.

DL Travis Jones, UConn

Now, if either Davis is not available at No. 17 or the Chargers just choose to go with a different player altogether there, Jones could be just as good, if not, better value in the second round. Jones finished with a 4.92 40 and a 1.76 10-yard split at 326 pounds. Further, he looked smooth in the positional drills, especially in the Figure 8.

EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan

I felt like there was a decent chance that Ojabo would be on the board when the Chargers pick in the first round, but that may be a pipedream after Saturday. Nonetheless, Ojabo’s explosiveness was on display, as he posted 4.55 40, 35-inch vertical, 10-foot-2 broad jump, and 4.45 shuttle. While he only has a one-year sample size and he needs to further refine his game against the run, Ojabo has the traits that you’re willing to bet on to become a premier player at the next level.

EDGE Amare Barno, Virginia Tech

In a loaded edge defender class, Barno flew under the radar. But that’s no longer the case after testing. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds with 34-inch arms, the ideal measurements of a player that Brandon Staley covets at the position, Barno posted some freakish numbers of a 4.36 40, 1.54 10-yard split, 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-11 broad jump. While still a bit of a project, Barno has the athletic traits that could see him become a good defender in the NFL eventually.