Tag: Travis Jones

11 potential Chargers targets who should turn heads at 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

Here is a look at a few players likely on the Chargers’ radar who should blow up the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is set to begin.

This event is a useful tool for player evaluation, and some teams put more stock in it than others.

It is a big opportunity for prospects to showcase their athleticism and skill set through a series of tests, including the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, and on-field drills.

With that, I have compiled a list of 11 prospects Chargers fans must watch for in Indianapolis over the course of the next few days.

Below are the players to keep an eye on:

WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas

At Tom Telesco’s presser, he mentioned that one of the goals this offseason is to find more weapons for Justin Herbert. Should the Chargers look to check that off the checklist on Day 1, Burks is a polarizing option. Burks, the 6-foot-3 and 225 pounder proved to be a deadly weapon for the Hogs. He is a threat with the ball in his hands no matter the alignment and is set to show off his sheer combination of size, strength, and speed. Not only will he raise eyebrows in the positional drills, showing off his hands that require 4XL gloves, but look for him to run in the 4.4s and post a big number of reps on the bench press, having done 380 pounds, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

WR Chris Olave, Ohio State

If the Chargers want a receiver in the first round with a little bit different flavor than Burks, Olave could be that guy. Arguably one of the top route runners in this year’s class, Olave also has the top-end speed to win vertically. A track star at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, CA, Olave reportedly hit 10.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash and it would not be surprising if he runs in the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash.

WR Calvin Austin, Memphis

Unlike Burks, Austin is an example of why size does not always matter. With a frame at just 5-foot-7 and 173 pounds, Austin is capable of having defensive backs compromise with quickness and savvy with his releases and top-end speed to generate large gaps of separation vertically. When the ball is in his hands, Austin is nearly always going to create positive plays. Austin won nine state titles on the track in high school and ran track in college for the Tigers. Look for that speed to stand out.

OT Max Mitchell, Louisiana

With Bryan Bulaga’s future with the Chargers up in the air, they could be looking for his replacement, or at least someone to compete for the starting job from Day 1. Mitchell led all FBS tackles with a 94.8 PFF grade, as he allowed only 13 pressures and three sacks this season while racking up the third-most big-time run blocks. With very good athletic ability and foot quickness to get to his spot to protect the edge and range when blocking at the second level, it should be replicative when Mitchell performs the positional drills.

DT Jordan Davis, Georgia

Now until the draft, Davis and the Chargers will be a popular pairing. While I’m a believer that they should wait until Day 2 to draft a nose tackle, the coaching staff may see the impact against the run that Davis could make right away, and the testing might be the ultimate selling point. His rare movement skills are evident on tape, and even at 350 pounds, there is a strong chance Davis could run under a five-second 40-yard dash.

DT Travis Jones, UConn

If the Chargers choose to pass up on Davis in Round 1, Jones brings just as much, if not, more value in Round 2. Jones’ power and heavy hand should not only show up when hitting the bags, but his testing should reflect it, as he benches 455 and has done 32 reps at 225 pounds. Further, Jones also has a shuttle time of 4.57. For reference, former Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a top-10 overall pick who was almost the exact same weight, ran it in 4.79 at the 2020 combine, per Feldman.

EGDE David Ojabo, Michigan

Should the Chargers add another pass rusher into the mix on Day 1, Ojabo is just the type of player Brandon Staley covets. Wreaking havoc opposite top-3 selection Aidan Hutchinson, Ojabo is long and flexible with explosiveness, lateral agility, and closing burst. Per Feldman, he is expected to run the 40 in the low 4.5s and vertical jump in the high 30s.

EDGE Dominique Robinson, Miami (Ohio)

Robinson was a high school quarterback and converted to wide receiver in college. He moved to pass rusher in 2020, finishing his collegiate career with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Robinson is an explosive, edge rusher with the bend, burst, and change of direction to be a disruptive force in opposing backfields. At Miami, he ran a 4.31 agility time and also has vertical jumped 34 inches, per Feldman. Look for him to run in the mid-4.6s.

CB Trent McDuffie & Kyler Gordon, Washington

McDuffie and Gordon are set to join a long list of NFL defensive backs that the Huskies have produced, and the Chargers should be watching closely, having a glaring need at the position. McDuffie’s body control and sweet feet will show up in the positional drills, while his explosive burst will translate to when he jumps. McDuffie has posted a 41.5-inch vertical and a 10-9.5 broad jump. Meanwhile, Gordon also has elite athletic traits and change of direction on the field, which should show up in testing, as he has vertical jumped 42.5 and clocked a pro agility time of 3.87 seconds.

S Nick Cross, Maryland

The Chargers will also be searching for players to fill out the safety group. The do-it-all ability of Cross, who finished with three interceptions, 66 tackles and three sacks, should garner their interest. But it’s the athletic traits that may be the ultimate selling point. A track star in high school and college, Cross posted times of 6.93 in the 60 meters and 22.27 in the 200 meters.

Five Senior Bowl studs that the Browns should consider

Five Senior Bowl studs that the Browns should consider in the upcoming NFL draft from @joshkeatley16. #Browns

The nightmarish 2021 season is officially over and thank goodness as Cleveland Brown fans we didn’t have to witness a Cincinnati Super Bowl victory. At the Browns Wire we have been focused on the 2022 NFL Draft for a while and our sights have been set on what the possibilities are at the 13th pick and what missing pieces are needed for Cleveland to reach the level of play we saw in Cincinnati.

The Senior Bowl was recently completed and as always it featured a ton of talent that would look good in Cleveland. The following are five prospects that would be ideal for the Browns and looked great during Senior Bowl week based on reports and publicly available videos.

Chargers Wire’s winners, risers from 2022 Senior Bowl: Defense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez and Cole Topham break down the 2022 NFL draft prospects who made themselves money at the Senior Bowl.

Now that the 2022 Senior Bowl, the most premier all-star game for NFL draft prospects is over, it is time to reflect back on the meaning of the week.

Which players on the defensive side of the ball helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile?

Let’s dive in with our winners and risers.

Defensive tackle

Our winner(s): Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma) and Devonte Wyatt (Georgia)

Winfrey entered this week with a mixed bag of reviews, as the tape showed immense flashes but it was on an inconsistent basis. That wasn’t the case down in Mobile. Winfrey consistently lived in the backfield with his get-off, remarkable power, and lengthy arms. His electric energy throughout the sessions really stood out, too. Winfrey was named the Senior Bowl MVP after pairing three tackles for a loss with two sacks in the game.

Jordan Davis drew nearly all the attention for the Bulldogs, but Wyatt was just as impactful and he showed that when the spotlight was on him. In one-on-ones, Wyatt won with first-step quickness, lateral agility, and power at the point of attack. Reminiscent of Kenny Clark coming out of UCLA, Wyatt could find himself as a first-round pick when all is said and done.

Our biggest riser: Travis Jones (UConn)

If the Chargers pass up on Davis, who many are projecting to them, Jones is a nose tackle that can provide excellent value on Day 2. A straight-up bulldozer in one-on-ones, Jones consistently walked offensive linemen back to the quarterback with pure power and burst. In team drills, Jones was collapsing the pocket and stopping ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. There’s plenty of excitement surrounding Jones now.

Edge defender

Our winner(s): Jermaine Johnson (Florida State)

Entering the week, I had Johnson a fringe first-round pick, but he stamped himself as a top-20 selection. Offensive tackles had no rebuttal for his power and length, as well as some hand counters and agility when working either inside or outside of them. Further, Johnson looked good when defending the run. With the edge defender position set to be near the top of the Chargers’ priority list this offseason, Johnson is a strong candidate at pick No. 17.

Our biggest riser: Boye Mafe (Minnesota)

In a deep edge defender group, Mafe flew under the radar coming into the week. However, he made sure his presence was known coming out. All but unblockable, Mafe won with his wingspan to lockout and power to push blockers into the backfield, as well as great lateral agility and body flexibility to keep himself clean. He carried that over to the game, finishing with a strip-sack, a second sack, and a tackle for loss. An athletic specimen, Mafe’s stock is only going to continue to rise when he tests at the Combine.

Linebacker

Our winner(s): Damone Clark (LSU)

Utah’s Devin Lloyd and Georgia’s Nakobe Dean are the consensus top linebackers and behind them are a few candidates vying for the spot. Clark made a strong case to be LB3. Leading the pack in run stops during practices, Clark was explosive when attacking downhill. He was just as effective blitzing, especially in a one-on-one rep against one of the top pass-protecting running backs in Alabama’s Brian Robinson, as Clark shrugged him off with ease. Another thing going for Clark is that he should test out well athletically at the Combine.

Our biggest riser: Troy Andersen (Montana State)

There were many eyes on the small-school standout who made the conversion from quarterback/running back/wide receiver to linebacker, and his play raised their eyebrows. With his impressive athleticism, Andersen looked comfortable dropping back and making plays in coverage. His speed and range enabled him to move freely from sideline to sideline and make stops on opposing ball carriers. Andersen also showed plenty of special teams upside, as he was consistently the first guy down the field on coverage units.

Cornerback

Our winners: Coby Bryant (Cincinnati) and Roger McCreary (Auburn)

The 2022 Thorpe Award winner was by far the highest-profile player in the National group of defensive backs. Bryant demonstrated why he earned that accolade by blanketing receivers in one-on-one matchups with patient press coverage and rising to the catch point to bat away passes using rare ball skills. A consistent performer across all three days of practices, Bryant’s small hiccups in the Senior Bowl game should not be what NFL scouts remember from watching him perform in Mobile.

Another player who surprised with his measurements was McCreary with his 29” arms, which is significantly below average the target threshold for outside cornerbacks. But McCreary looked like the same player on the practice field as he did on tape, staying in the hip pocket of the receiver and smothering the throwing window. McCreary posted six interceptions and 30 pass breakups in his college football career. The shorter reach obviously did not hamper his production much.

Our biggest riser: Damarri Mathis (Pittsburgh)

Mathis flew under the radar in the National team group, but the Pitt cornerback left an impression on many as a scrappy cover man in isolation reps. Mathis was diligent in combating receivers off the line and did not bite on any ornamental moves during the release. He kept receivers close down the stem and consistently put himself in position to contest for the ball. 

Safety

Our winner(s): Jalen Pitre (Baylor) and Leon O’Neal (Texas A&M)

A hybrid defender that played the safety, linebacker, and slot cornerback positions at Baylor, Pitre was deployed in a similar “star” role at the Senior Bowl. Pitre struggled on the first day guarding some of the more physical tight ends like Colorado State’s Trey McBride, but showed growth over the rest of the week in coverage and as a box defender. In interviews, he expressed his belief that the NFL is transitioning toward positionless defense and is confident his variety of talents and versatility will benefit any team.

O’Neal played both free and strong safety positions and was a tough defender to slip past in the run game. An aggressive player that does not hesitate to lay the hammer on opponents, O’Neal also showed he had the quickness to stick with receivers in man coverage. His closing speed and physicality make him a desirable tone-setter.

Our biggest riser: Kerby Joseph (Illinois)

Joseph took all four years to grow into the player that competed in Mobile, and the case can be made that he has yet to reach his ceiling as a prospect. Joseph is instinctive and ball-hungry, zooming around the field with urgency to disrupt the play. His athleticism and raw potential were on full display at the Senior Bowl and just needs refinement to become a key cog in secondaries at the next level.

10 players the Eagles should be most excited to watch at 2022 Senior Bowl

Looking at the 10 players the #Philadelphia #Eagles should be most excited to watch in 2022 #SeniorBowl after a strong week of practice #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE

The draft starts in Mobile, Alabama and Saturday will officially start the process with kickoff from the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium, on the campus of South Alabama.

The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET and will air live on NFL Network.

The Eagles hold a good amount of draft capital with three first-round picks and the week saw all of the key personnel and staffers make the trip to Alabama to scout some of the top seniors and draft-eligible players.

Philadelphia has several positions of need and 10 players with key skillsets stood out the most.

12 Senior Bowl players who stood out as potential Lions draft picks during the week of practices

12 Senior Bowl players who stood out during practices as potential Detroit Lions draft picks in the 2022 NFL draft

The week of Senior Bowl practices wrapped on Thursday, capping off three days of hard-fought competition on the campus of the University of South Alabama. The Detroit Lions had their entire staff in Mobile to check out 130 prospects who are trying to prove they belong in the NFL.

Who were the biggest standouts from a wet week of practices? Which players here look like good fits for the Lions? Here are 12 who stood out from a Detroit eye.

Not all of the players came from the American roster, which the Lions are coaching here. A few are from the National team, which is being coached by the New York Jets.

2022 Senior Bowl: 5 potential Chargers DL/EDGE who stood out from Day 2

Highlighting the guys in the trenches who might have sparked the interest of the Chargers on Day 2 of the Senior Bowl.

Day 2 of practices at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl officially ended.

On a very cold and rainy day in Mobile, AL, there were a handful of NFL draft prospects who made themselves some money in the trenches.

Here are five players who stood out:

EDGE Boye Mafe, Minnesota

Explosiveness and length are two things that Brandon Staley covets at the edge defender position, which Mafe exemplified throughout his career for the Gophers and on the practice field on Wednesday. Mafe was nearly unblockable in one-on-ones and team, using his wingspan to lockout and power to push blockers into the backfield. He also showed great lateral agility and body flexibility to win.

DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

While his former teammate, Jordan Davis, drew most of the buzz, Wyatt was just as dominant for the Bulldogs. That carried over to Mobile, where his first-step quickness and hand usage caused problems for interior offensive linemen in one-on-ones. Wyatt’s play style reminds me of Kenny Clark when he came out of UCLA. If his ascend continues, Wyatt could find himself as a first-round pick when all is said and done.

DT Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma

Winfrey was near the top of my defensive tackle rankings heading into the 2021 season, but his inconsistent play caused him to slip. But he’s looked like a completely rejuvenated player out here. Winfrey showed burst off the snap, foot speed, and quick hands to work into gaps and across offensive lineman’s face to produce multiple what-would-be sacks and tackles for loss.

EDGE Jermaine Johnson, Florida State

Johnson has been arguably the best player down here in Mobile, as he has won nearly every single rep. Johnson primarily flourished with his length and power to bully blockers into the backfield on Day 1. But on Wednesday, he included some finesse, including a spin move and side-scissors move. Seen as a fringe first-rounder, Johnson has shown to be worthy of a top-20 selection.

DT Travis Jones, UConn

Jones was mentioned as a winner on Day 1, but he built off that dominant performance on the second day. At his best in the run game where he remained strong at the point of attack, Jones continued to show plenty of promise as a pass rusher with a bull rush to force blockers off their spots. If he finishes the final two days with similar showings, it’s going to be hard for the Chargers not to take him with their second round pick.

2022 Senior Bowl: Winners, losers from Day 1 practices

Find out which players impressed and disappointed on the first day of the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl kicked off on Tuesday with the National and American teams starting their practices.

Which players impressed? Which players disappointed?

Here are my picks for the biggest winners and losers from the first day of on-field action.

2022 Senior Bowl: 5 potential Chargers DL/EDGE who stood out from Day 1

Highlighting a few Senior Bowl interior defensive linemen and edge defenders who could be on the Chargers’ radar after Day 1 of practices.

Day 1 of practices at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl has officially ended.

On a chilly day in Mobile, AL, there were a handful of NFL draft prospects who shined in the trenches on the first day.

Here are five players who stood out:

DT Travis Jones, UConn

I highlighted Jones as someone who should be on the Chargers’ radar coming into it, and he showed why as the National team took the field to start the day. In one-on-ones, Jones displayed the upfield disruptiveness with power and length that was compromising blockers from the snap and the anchor strength to make him immovable in the run game. The 6-foot-4 and 328 pounder is showing to be the perfect 0-1-technique with mismatch ability.

DT Neil Farrell Jr., LSU

Farrell had the second-highest run-stop percentage among Power 5 interior defensive linemen (11.4%) in 2021, and it was replicative on the practice field. In one-on-ones, he demonstrated exceptional burst and power to work his way into the backfield, strength at the point of attack to stalemate double teams and occupy the interior of the offensive line.

EDGE Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati

Sanders is one of the top-ranked edge defenders down here, and he lived up to his billing on Tuesday. On back-to-back reps, he beat the massive tackle Daniel Faalele. On the first, Sanders went into the toolbox and pulled out a swipe to rip move and the body flexibility to turn the corner. He followed that with an attempted spin move but instead, Sanders’ power was too much for Faalele to withstand.

EDGE Dominique Robinson, Miami (OH)

Robinson, the small-school standout, shined in his first day against higher level of competition. He had two would-be sacks of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett. He won with speed and bend on the first rep, and followed that up with a bull rush that pushed the tackle back into the pocket, showing power and the length to lockout.

EDGE DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky

Flying under the radar is Malone, the 2019 Conference USA defensive player of the year. While relatively lean at 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, Malone looks like the type of player who Brandon Staley covets at the position. He is explosive and loose off the snap with speed and burst, and uses length to his advantage.

Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network gives Cleveland new receiver

Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network gives Cleveland new receiver #Browns

The college football season has long been over and the NFL season is slowly winding down and I am hoping everyday that the Cincinnati Bengals will lose, but that’s another separate issue. We here at Browns Wire are desperately looking forward with the NFL Draft and what Cleveland can do with a top 15 pick.

It appears the Browns knocked the Draft out of the park last year with the top two selections appearing to be long-term stalwarts, but time will tell what this year provides. The good people at Pro Football Network have supplied a big mock draft featuring the first four rounds and we are going to dive in a review.

The first slide will be the PFN selection and the second will be my preferred choice.