Notre Dame’s six NFL draft picks over the weekend gave them the most of any school ever. Well, depending who you ask anyway. USC?
With Cole Kmet, Chase Claypool, Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, Troy Pride, Jr. and Alohi Gilman getting drafted over the weekend Notre Dame now has as many NFL Draft picks as any school in college football history.
Notre Dame made that claim early Saturday evening on Twitter and also in their press release that recapped the annual draft. The first two sentences from that release:
With six players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, Notre Dame Football has totaled 511 draft picks over the tenure of the program. No other college football program has totaled more than the Irish.
A quick look to DraftHistory.com finds that Notre Dame does in fact have 511 draft picks all-time but that USC actually has 512.
Don’t count USC in that way of thinking however as USC is also proud of their 511 all-time selections that they claim on their official athletics website. At the time of Michael Pittman’s selection in round two their release said the following:
Pittman is USC’s 511th all-time NFL draftee, the most of any school. He is the 16th Trojan wide receiver drafted since 2000, including the 10th in the top two rounds.
Both schools claim 511 while the website prided on all things NFL Draft claims a different number for USC. I’d go and count myself but I’d rather not. Way too many numbers for a Sunday afternoon if you ask me.
My favorite part of all of it though is that there is no mention of the other on either Notre Dame or USC’s websites or releases. Instead it’s just “as many as any other school” or something of the sort. We not be getting any live games anytime soon but I’m here for the *redacted, replaced with* spitting match between these two rivals.
Honest question, though: does USC get to claim Reggie Bush if they don’t acknowledge he ever stepped foot on their campus in any other capacity?
Free safety Tre Boston certainly seems to approve of the pick.
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The Panthers secondary desperately needed some reinforcements coming into the 2020 NFL draft.
After addressing their defensive line with their first two picks, the team has shifted its focus to the back end. First, they traded up to the bottom of the second round (No. 64 overall) to pick Southern Illinois’ Jeremy Chinn, who can play any defensive back spot.
Boston had a similar reaction last night when the team picked Chinn.
Creating turnovers on the back end is one area they definitely could stand to improve on. After a promising start to the 2019 season, the secondary’s play dropped off a cliff. They finished the year with a mediocre 14 interceptions and 67 pass breakups.
The work may not be done yet. Carolina still needs to add a true slot cornerback and find a replacement for quality backup Ross Cockrell.
The Cardinals have one selection on Day 2 as of right now – pick 72 in Round 3. Here are ten players they could look to select.
The NFL Draft is finally upon us this week. While there has been a lot of talk about what Arizona could do at pick 8, how about at pick 72?
This player could also play a big role in this upcoming season, even if they aren’t a full-time starter.
Here are 10 players that could make sense for the Cardinals.
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona has shown quite a bit of interest in Moss, having a FaceTime visit with him and spent time with him at the combine. He makes some sense in Round 3. He’s not a back that fits every system, but would make for a good one-two punch with Kenyan Drake.
Moss would bring a bigger body to the backfield room, but not only that, he would bring a surprising amount of elusiveness and ability to cause miss tackles. Those traits are what led him to be PFF’s number one ranked running back.
Utah's Zack Moss forced a missed tackle on 38% of rushes in 2019.
Buffalo Bills select Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Collin Johnson in Sports Illustrated 2020 NFL Draft mock.,
While the Bills don’t have a first-round pick at the 2020 NFL Draft, there’s still plenty of intrigue attached to their first few picks.
With no glaring need on their roster, when Buffalo’s named is called in rounds two through four, they could still find diamonds in the rough. Think Devin Singletary and Dawson Knox, both third-round picks last offseason.
At this point, these picks could end up seeing Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane add players to anywhere on their roster. In Sports Illustrated‘s latest multi-round mock draft, the Bills see two of their top three picks add offensive playmakers, starting with running back:
LSU Tigers running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
54. Buffalo Bills: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
In Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Bills address their “Frank Gore” need. Singletary is Buffalo’s No. 1 running back, but Buffalo needs a complementary piece next to him. Enter Edwards-Helaire.
During Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s three-year career at LSU he ran for 2,103 yards, and 23 touchdowns. He became a household name during his final year, where he helped lead LSU to a national title.
He doesn’t have the measurements of a traditional NFL running back, he stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs in at 209 pounds, but those sorts of measurements actually play to his strengths as a runner. Edwards-Helaire is a patient yet physical runner who makes would-be tacklers miss with jump cuts, spins, or simply lowering his shoulder. Sounds similar to Gore, but he’ll have a long, long way to go to get to Gore’s accolades, naturally.
No one on defense could stop Clyde Edwards-Helaire 😳
Buffalo Bills four-round mock draft from the Bills Wire staff following NFL free agency.
The transactions over the initial weeks of the NFL’s new year have shifted the landscape of the league quite a bit. Major names have been traded and significant free agents shifted their homes. This has an impact on many teams with their choices at the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills among them.
The Bills Wire staff now takes a look at how the Bills’ moves will impact their draft selections. The most glaring change in this version is that Buffalo does not have a first-round pick, as that draft slot was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. The Bills will need to be judicious with their remaining picks, finding value with the loss of a high-profile pick.
Editor Nick Wojton, along with staff writers Justin DiLoro, McKenna Middlebrook, Kyle Silagyi, and Matt Johnson, make their predictions for Buffalo’s picks in this edition of The Bills Wire staff four-round mock draft.
Here’s a look at each of their four-round mock drafts for the Bills, following the start of the league year and free agency:
Round 2 | Pick No. 54
Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KJ Hamler. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nick’s Pick: DE Julian Okwara | Notre Dame
The Bills saw Devin Singletary take the NFL by storm last year and they shouldn’t forget one thing: he was a third-round pick. The Bills don’t need to reach here for a bak.
Buffalo’s best value in Round 2 might be an edge defender with some pass rush potential. The Bill have Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison already over 30. Trent Murphy, on the final year of his contract, is 29 himself. Julian Okwara could be a given a redshirt type of season, while still seeing a nice chunk of playing time in the defensive line rotation that the Bills run.At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Okwara has the makings of an NFL defensive end. Okwara sat out the recent combine due to injury, but he’s flashed as a strong pass rusher who plays with a high motor, something the Bills will covet.
Since 2018, Okwara’s 19.1 QB pressure percent led college football, per Pro Football Focus, and 33 percent of his career tackles went for loss. Run defense is where Okwara will likely need to prove his worth at the pro level, but that’s where a less-pressured rookie seasons comes into play.
Justin’s Pick: CB Damon Arnette | Ohio State
As is the case with no first-round pick, the Bills might not find a player that addresses a short-term need. So we’ll have the Bills address the player who will start opposite Tre’Davious White in 2021 instead. Damon Arnette was solid across the way from consensus top-cornerback prospect Jeff Okudah. Arnette can play both inside and out on the boundary. This flexibility will make him a very good support player in the secondary for Buffalo this year.
Arnette is a physical cornerback. He is aggressive in man-to-man coverage and thrives in press coverage. While he is not a burner (4.56 unofficial 40-yard dash time, according to NFL.com), he is an intelligent player who makes the right decision most of the time on the field. He needs refinement within zone coverage schemes. However, the Bills have had a great deal of success with developing secondary players under Sean McDermott, and the same would most likely happen for Arnette.
Kyle’s Pick: WR K.J. Hamler | Penn State
Though the Bills’ receiving corps is arguably among the league’s best after the acquisition of Stefon Diggs, the position group gets thin at the bottom of the depth chart. Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie, and Duke Williams certainly bring unique aspects to the team’s receiver room, but if Buffalo has the opportunity to add youth and big-play ability to the unit through a day-two selection, it should take advantage of it.
Enter K.J. Hamler. The speedy wideout out of Penn State is an ever-present home-run threat, a slot wideout who consistently creates separation with speed. Though he’s a bit undersized at 5-foot-9, 178-pounds, winning with size is not necessarily part of his game. He wins with agility off the line of scrimmage and sub-4.40 speed.
He’d be a rotational receiver in Buffalo’s offense straight away, a gadget player who could spell Cole Beasley from time to time. His immediate production would likely be far from earth-shattering, but long-term, Hamler could develop into a multi-use wideout – a burner who would also be useful in the short-to-intermediate passing game. By 2022, he could be a focal point of the team’s offense.
McKenna’s Pick: RB Clyde Edwards-Helarie | LSU
This pick may ruffle some of my colleagues’ feathers, but going into the draft the Bills still need playmakers. During Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s three-year career at LSU he ran for 2,103 yards, and 23 touchdowns. He became a household name during his final year, where he helped lead LSU to a title. While he ran the ball well, he was also effective as a pass-catcher, in his junior year he caught 43 passes for 453 yards and one touchdown. LSU’s offense had him lineup in the backfield and out wide to catch passes, where he showed off slick route running to create separation from linebackers and defensive backs.
He doesn’t have the measurements of a traditional NFL running back, he stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs in at 209 pounds, but those sorts of measurements actually play to his strengths as a runner. Edwards-Helaire is a patient yet physical runner who makes would-be tacklers miss with jump cuts, spins, or simply lowering his shoulder. In both versatility and production, there may not be a better running back in the draft.
Matt’s Pick: RB Cam Akers | Florida State
After a strong free agency period, one position that’s a little higher in demand for depth than others is at running back. In a draft that is QB, WR, and DL heavy, Buffalo could have their pick of the litter when it comes to the top RB prospects.
Edwards-Helaire is an option, but Cam Akers of Florida State is the pick. Devin Singletary is the guy in Buffalo, but he needs his complement. Many of the better teams in the NFL have used talented RB duos and have found success. Buffalo can get a top-10 talent from this RB class in Round 2. Over three seasons, Akers gained 2,875 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 486 receiving yards, and seven receiving scores.
The Philadelphia Eagles have conducted a pre-draft interview with KJ Hamler (via @MikeGarafolo).
The former Penn State WR could be a potential 2nd round option.
The Bills have added a lot to their defense this offseason and when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, Draft Wire sees that trend more than continuing.
The Bills have added a lot to their defense this offseason and when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, Draft Wire sees that trend more than continuing.
With their first-round pick now turned into wide receiver Stefon Diggs via trade, the Bills decide stick on defense with their next three picks in DW’s mock, selecting an edge defender, defensive back and defensive lineman.
Here’s a rundown of the Bills’ three selections in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft:
While the Bills added Mario Addison to their defensive end spot this offseason, he’s 32 while Jerry Hughes is 31. While still plenty left in the tank for those two, Buffalo lacks a long-term prospect at the position.
At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Okwara has the makings of an NFL defensive end. Okwara sat out the recent combine due to injury, but he’s flashed as a strong pass rusher at Notre Dame who plays with a high motor, something the Bills will covet. Run defense is where Okwara will likely need to prove his worth at the pro level.
Pride played in all 13 of the Fighting Irish’s games in 2019-20. He finished with 40 tackles, six pass breakups and one interception. The Vikings’ Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are both entering free agency, so it seems like Minnesota could have at least one opening at corner. There’s also a possibility that Xavier Rhodes will be a cap casualty, so that could make the depth at cornerback all the more troubling.
It makes sense for the Vikings to take a corner in the draft and Pride could be a good fit. If they can’t put him out wide as a mainstay starter, they could always use him as a nickel corner next season. I think the Vikings should re-sign Alexander, though.
For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.
A ton has been made about Troy Pride, Jr. who we discussed last week for despite not having the most impressive statline, having quite a resume and seemingly having his stock rise ahead of the NFL Draft.
Pride’s coverage skills were always good at Notre Dame even if his size isn’t exactly that of a traditional NFL cornerback, at least not of the traditionally sized stars.
However, his speed is truly elite. The former track team member at Notre Dame ran a 10.5 second 100 meter dash at the ACC Outdoor Championships in 2018, good enough for a fifth place finish before he moved on from track and focused solely on football.
One of our earlier picks as a sleeper to watch at the combine, Pride could seize the stage at the combine by following a standout Senior Bowl with another impressive workout. Pride said he’s “way faster now” than when Notre Dame hand-timed him at 4.30, and he was recognized as one of the Athletic Coast Conference’s top sprinters during his freshman and sophomore years.
For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.
