Zack Baun – Page 20 – Syndication Server

Ravens get big-play prospects in 2-round mock draft after start of legal tampering period

With the NFL’s tampering period starting yesterday, the football world went nuts. Players have agreed to deals that will see them on different teams and a bevy of big trades have been pulled off. Among that group has been the Baltimore Ravens, who …

The Ravens have beefed up their defensive line by pulling off a trade for Calais Campbell and agreeing to a deal with Michael Brockers. Tight end Hayden Hurst is now gone but with his departure comes a bunch of changes to Baltimore’s picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

So what better time to take a look forward at the draft and what might have changed with the first day of the legal tampering period finished. Are any new players on the board for the Ravens this time around and have their needs dramatically changed enough to see them go in a different direction? Only one way to find out and that’s to run a simulation.

As usual, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator with the predictive board. To get the most out of Baltimore’s wild first day, I went with a two-round mock, which will give us three players that should make an immediate impact on the Ravens’ roster. Let’s see who I picked.

1st round (No. 28) EDGE Zack Baun, Wisconsin

After packing on the pounds on the defensive line and hopefully fixing their run-defense woes, adding another outside linebacker just makes too much sense. I’m assuming the Ravens are keeping Matthew Judon after franchise tagging him, but finding someone opposite him would be a wise decision even if they’re able to sign him to a long-term extension this offseason. With the addition of Campbell and Brockers, another potent outside pass rusher would really help free up Judon more and could see Baltimore’s defense do a brilliant job at moving and collapsing the pocket on quarterbacks next season.

There were a bunch of options for me to choose from with A.J. Epenesa, Yetur Gross-Matos, Baun and Terrell Lewis all sitting there. If I could, I would have tried to move down to the last pick in the first round to still get one of these guys but also get an extra pick out of it. But in this case, I went with Baun.

While many people find themselves in love with one of these pass rushers and will surely hate my pick accordingly, I like the versatility Baun brings to the table for the Ravens given what they’ve done already. He can be a stand-up outside linebacker or play on the line with his hand in the dirt if needed. He’s smart and is a solid tackler, which will help in early downs while being quick and agile, which will help as a speed rusher on the outside. Baun “plays like a Raven,” which accounts for far more than some people think when it comes to who Baltimore brings on board.

Pages: 123

Chris Orr Performs well at Wisconsin’s 2020 Pro Day

Wisconsin held its annual pro day on Wednesday as 11 former Badgers competed in front of NFL teams.

Wisconsin held its annual pro day on March 11th as 11 former Badgers participated as they continue to try and improve there NFL draft stock.

In particular, Wednesday was an important day for Chis Orr as he wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine in February. Wisconsin’s pro day served as his combine as he competed in the events that he would have if he was in Indianapolis.

With this being Orr’s first chance of demonstrating his on field abilities in front of NFL teams made it important that he turned in a good performance as he continues to work to hear his name called during the NFL draft.

The biggest drill for Orr that he needed to ace was the 40-yard dash as there are questions on how his speed will translate to the next level and if he can hold up. Orr was able to post a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, which was the same time Zack Baun posted in Indianapolis at the scouting combine.

Outside of Orr running a solid 40-yard dash time he also posted a 4.08 second in the 20-yard shuttle and a 6.99 second in the 3-cone drill. He also put up 20 reps on the bench press too.

Outside of Orr needing to have a successful pro day it was another chance for Quintez Cephus to improve upon his 40-yard dash time that he ran in Indianapolis. After running a 4.73 40-yard dash he ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash on Wednesday. Outside of catching passes in front of NFL teams that was the only other drill Cephus took part in.

Jonathan Taylor didn’t compete in any of the drills as he stood by what he did at the scouting combine.

Other Badgers to participate in Wisconsin’s pro day were Connor Allen, Jason Erdmann, Zach Hintze, Tyler Johnson, David Pfaff, and Travis Wiltjer.

Erdmann ran a 5.5-second 40-yard dash and put up 21 reps on the bench press. Johnson ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash time, a 4.15 in the 20-yard shuttle, and 6.93 seconds in the 3-cone drill.

Wisconsin to Host NFL Pro Day March 11th

Eleven former Wisconsin players will partake in the Badgers pro day on March 11th

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst likes to break down a season into four phases. The first phase is winter conditioning, the second phase is spring football, third phase is fall camp, and the fourth phase is the season.

When it comes to the NFL Draft one could break it into four phases too. Phase one would be the college football all-star games, phase two would be the scouting combine, phase three would be the combination of pro days and private workouts, and phase four being the NFL Draft.

For the former Wisconsin players they are currently in phase three as the Badgers will have a total of 11 players competing at the Badgers pro day on Wednesday, March 11th.

The players are punter Connor Allen, outside linebacker Zack Baun, center Tyler Biadasz, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, offensive lineman Jason Erdmann, kicker Zach Hintze, outside linebacker Tyler Johnson, inside linebacker Chris Orr, defensive end David Pfaff, running back Jonathan Taylor, and inside linebacker Travis Wiltjer. Drew Rakers a long snapper from UW-Platteville will also partake in the Badger pro day.

Baun, Biadasz, Cephus, and Taylor were all invited to the NFL scouting combine in February and the four may not compete in all of the drills tomorrow as they may be happy with what they did in Indianapolis.

Cephus will likely run the 40-yard dash again as he posted a 4.73 second time. If he can improve upon his time he’ll likely ease concerns from NFL scouts when it comes to his speed.

The pro day will be particularly important for Orr as he wasn’t invited to the combine and wasn’t invited to play in any of the college all-star games.

Outside of the workouts, he goes on leading up to the draft this will be one of the first times Orr will have a chance to demonstrate what he can do in front of NFL teams. In particular, for Orr, he’ll need to run a good 40-yard dash time.

The NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas starting April 23rd to April 25th.

PFF pegged this draft prospect as a perfect fit for the Patriots

With Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins heading into free agency, this linebacker seems like a great fit.

The New England Patriots like their linebackers to boast versatility. Regardless of what scheme Bill Belichick is running in any given year, he tends to identify linebackers who can contribute as pass-rushers and run-defenders with some work in coverage. Perhaps the Patriots will do that in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Certainly, New England deploys role-players, who generally contribute in a niche. Linebacker Chase Winovich spends most of his time on the field as a pass-rusher on passing downs. John Simon, meanwhile, serves as an early-down linebacker as a run defender. Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy were every-down ‘backers on the edge and in the interior.

Because Van Noy and Collins are pending free agents, the Patriots may look to replace their veterans in the draft. And Pro Football Focus, a digital scouting service, has just the prospect for the Patriots: Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun. Here’s what PFF wrote about the strong fit:

“Baun is somewhat stuck between positions as he transitions to the NFL. He played almost exclusively as an edge defender at Wisconsin, where he produced at a high level as a pass rusher. Last year, his 91.0 pass-rushing grade was a top-10 mark among qualifying FBS pass rushers. He showed, however, that he could also perform out in space in coverage, earning a 91.1 coverage grade over the last two seasons on 195 coverage snaps. At only 238 pounds, he may be better suited as an off-ball linebacker given his combination of size and fluidity.”

He could be an ideal fit in lieu of the Patriots’ two veteran free agents, who seem likely to depart in free agency. Collins played on a one-year prove-it deal in 2019, and that’s — for the most part — what he did. He’s likely to get a solid financial commitment from another team. And Van Noy seems ready for a payday. He has been underpaid for his significant contributions in New England. The veteran must feel like he’s long overdue for a payday.

So perhaps that’s where Baun steps in. He seems like a prospect who might fall in the second round. So would the Patriots reach for him at 23rd overall? Or would they trade back to pick him up along with more draft assets? If the Patriots find they like him, they’re probably make a move to get him.

[vertical-gallery id=80676]

Giants trade back, select Mekhi Becton in latest NFL.com mock draft

The New York Giants trade back and select OT Mekhi Becton in latest NFL.com three-round mock draft.

In the latest NFL.com mock draft, analyst Chad Reuter has New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman doing something very uncharacteristic — trading back in the first round.

In Gettleman’s seven trips to the NFL Draft table, he’s never traded back. This year, with his pick — No. 4 overall — a hot ticket, he’ll be getting some offers to move back, and he’s going to have break precedent and pull the trigger.

In Reuter’s three-round mock, Gettleman flips picks in the first round with No. 5 Miami, picking up a second-round pick this year and a mid-rounder next year.

With the fifth pick, Reuter projects Gettleman will select massive Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton after Miami takes Oregon quarterback at No. 4. The first three players Reuter sees being selected are LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa (Washington Redskins) and Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young (Detroit Lions).

Becton over Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons? Why not? He’s a surer bet. Simmons might be the sexier pick here, but Becton fills a more pressing need and he’s do big and athletic he’ll be hard to pass up. Personally, I would have held out for one of Miami’s other two first-round picks (No. 18 or 26) instead of a second rounder.

In Round 2 at No. 36, the Giants snatch up Wisconsin edge rusher Zack Baun and Utah defensive tackle Leki Fotu at No. 56.

Defense, defense, defense. They need defense. Can’t really argue with this. Baun comes from a long list of solid Badger defenders and Fotu is a 6-foot-5, 335-pound specimen who ran a 5.15 40 at the Combine.

In Round 3, the Giants don’t have their pick (No. 68) having foolishly forked it over the Jets in the Leonard Williams deal, but Reuter has Big Blue grabbing Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson with the 101st pick, which is scheduled to be awarded to them when the league announces the compensatory draft picks.

[lawrence-related id=642081,642065,642070]

Seahawks Wire’s post-combine mock has team selecting EDGE

Everyone else is doing a mock draft, so why not us? Here is a look at what the Seattle Seahawks could do in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, are unpredictable when it comes to the NFL draft.

General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have a unique way of evaluating talent, and the team’s desire to trade down and collect more draft picks has benefited them quite a bit in the past – and is entirely on the table again in 2020.

With the combine over and Pro Day season in full-swing, I decided to take a shot on my first official mock draft of the season. Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator – which does not account for comp picks – I selected five players who I think could be realistic targets for the Seahawks this year, starting with a potential first round pass rusher.

Round 1, Pick No. 27: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

There are a whole lot of people who have been mocked to the Seahawks in the first round, mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

While this class is not nearly as deep at defensive end as the 2019 class was, Baun is one of many EDGE defenders who could find his way to Seattle at No. 27 overall.

Baun is projected as a better fit in 3-4 defensive sets, but his versatility all along the defensive line will appeal to coach Pete Carroll, and his twitchiness and explosiveness will make him a strong pass rusher in due time.

He still has some development to do, which could give Seattle pause, but there is a reason he has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews. If he’s around at No. 27 overall, it will be hard for Seattle to pass him up.

Pages: 123

Prospect for the Pack: Wisconsin LB Zack Baun

Breaking down the fit of Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun, a potential prospect for the Packers in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.

Up next is Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun:

What he can do

– Fluid hips for a man his size; drops into the zone well

– Was asked to cover quite a bit for an edge rusher and played the part well; as a former quarterback at Brown Deer High School, Baun “sees” the field well in coverage and seems to intuit pass lanes

– A slick pass rusher with a variety moves, Baun shows clear hip flexibility to dip and turn the corner underneath and around the tackle

– Also keeps a variety of counter rushes in his toolbox, including an inside spin (which can be devastating for over-leveraged offensive tackles)

– Uses hands/arms well to create and maintain separation and leverage

– Doesn’t have ideal edge rusher size (6-2, 238), which is likely why scouts see him as an off-ball linebacker

– Speed is just OK but makes up for it with instincts and savvy; anticipation puts him in the right spot more often than not. Baun ran a 4.65 40 at the NFL combine last week. His speed on tape is fine but that isn’t how he’s going to “win” at the next level

– That said, though he’s not the fastest straight-line speed guy, Baun is still a heck of an athlete. Possesses fluid change-of-direction skills; plays within his center

– Like most Badgers, Baun’s a high-effort, to-the-whistle defender

– While speedier runners may elude him, Baun plays in control and tackles well; he may not have the sideline-to-sideline ability of Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray, but he’s also more judicious with his leverage, which often means less missed tackles.

How he fits

Baun is a difficult fit for Green Bay. The Packers’ acute need for premier three-down off-ball linebacker and defensive signal-caller may not be what Baun is. At this point, his capacity to play off the ball and be productive is a bigger projection than, say, Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray, the consensus top-two inside linebacker prospects. The Packers could roll the dice, but Mike Pettine would have to have a plan. He can rush, and he’s best along the edge in that capacity, but with Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary, drafting Baun as a strict edge player might be a frivolous luxury the team can ill afford. With that said, if the Packers play him as their off-ball linebacker on obvious passing downs and use him as an additional rover, a la Za’Darius Smith, but with a greater tendency to drop into coverage, then they’d have a front seven full of chameleons. The additional athleticism – Baun’s tape looks like an athletic upgrade over Blake Martinez – should also help against the run.

NFL comp

Wild as it is, some are floating Clay Matthews as Baun’s comp. Matthews plays with a bit more ferocity than Baun, but they’re close in size and are similarly-bendy athletes. Another logical comp is Kyle Van Noy, who has played on the edge and off the ball.

Where the Packers can get him

It would probably take the No. 30 pick in the first round to secure Baun, depending on how teams view him. The dearth of edge talent might push a team to push his value a bit higher, but his floor isn’t much lower than the beginning of the second round.

Previous Prospects for the Pack

WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool

Zack Baun is a natural replacement for Browns for fellow Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert

Zach Baun is a natural replacement for Browns for fellow Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert, to whom he’s often compared

Now that the reality is sinking in that Joe Schobert won’t be back in Cleveland, it’s time to find his replacement in the Browns’ linebacking corps. One place GM Andrew Berry and the Browns could turn is the man who spent the last few seasons playing the same position Schobert did during his college days at Wisconsin, Zack Baun.

Baun is frequently compared to Schobert, and he embraces the similarities. They even had the same amount of tackles for loss (19.5) in their respective senior years at Wisconsin playing the attacking OLB role in the Badgers defense. Like Schobert, Baun transitioned to more of an off-ball LB role at the Senior Bowl and that figures to be his NFL position.

The former HS option quarterback mentioned in his combine interview that he’s talked to Schobert for advice and guidance as he follows the similar path to the NFL draft.

“Yeah, (Schobert) said the best thing for him was just diving into his playbook and learning it as much as you can from the older guys,” Baun said. “We from Wisconsin are smart enough and intelligent enough to make any transition it may be, and I think that’s why guys get a leg up being from Wisconsin because we run such an intricate scheme and just having that advantage going into the next level, whether you’re playing the same position you are or making a transition it’s pretty flawless.”

Baun also noted he borrowed elements of his game from another ex-Badger, T.J. Watt, who has remained in the pass-rush EDGE role they all played in Madison. Baun is more physically like Schobert, however; they’re within a half-inch and six pounds, although Baun timed faster at the combine in both the 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds) and 3-cone (7.0 seconds) drills than Schobert did in 2016.

Most projections have Baun coming off the board in the second or third rounds. Given his quick learning curve to playing defense and his impressive athleticism for the position, it’s worthwhile for Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski to strongly consider him to fill the hole vacated by his eerily similar predecessor.

[vertical-gallery id=42142]

8 potential Ravens 1st-round draft targets that impressed at the 2020 NFL Combine

These eight players did enough at the 2020 NFL Combine to put themselves in the running for the Baltimore Ravens 1st-round pick in the draft

The 2020 NFL Combine has come and gone, leaving only free agency remaining before the 2020 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens, like the rest of the league, will likely begin finetuning their draft boards with all the main measurements figured out. But which players impressed at the 2020 NFL Combine enough to have Baltimore potentially fall in love with them in the first round?

These eight players showed up on the field and could have raised their stock enough to see the Ravens select them with the No. 28 pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

There really wasn’t a consensus top running back in this draft class, meaning the 2020 NFL Combine could be the deciding factor. Taylor apparently understood that and showed up in a big way.

At 5-foot-10 and 226 pounds, Taylor put up the fastest 40-yard dash among the running backs, finishing in just 4.39 seconds. Taylor also posted the fourth-fastest 3-cone drill and sixth-fastest 20-yard shuttle from the running backs. He also put up a respectable 36-inch vertical jump and 123-inch broad jump as well.

Taylor has frequently been mocked to Baltimore in the first round and after his 2020 NFL Combine results, the Ravens could very well be swayed to make him their pick.

Pages: 12345678

Zack Baun’s Results in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

How did Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun do during the 2020 NFL scouting combine?

Entering the NFL draft combine Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun had the best chance of being the first Badger to hear his name called when the NFL draft begins on April 23rd in Las Vegas.

After partaking in the drills on Saturday he hasn’t done anything to prove why he shouldn’t hear his name called potentially on the first day of the draft.

Baun who’s projected to go late first-round registered a 4.65-second 40-yard dash time, which tied for 13th with Fresno State’s Mykal Walker. Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons led the way with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.

Baun will have another chance to see if he can improve upon his 40-yard dash time when Wisconsin holds its pro day in March. But he could also be happy with his time in Indianapolis and elect not to run again.

Prior to running a solid 40-yard dash time Baun was able to put up 24 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds, which ranked third. A pair of fellow Big Ten linebackers in Michigan’s Khaleke Hudson and Michigan State’s Joe Bachie finished with 30 and 26 reps respectively to finish ahead of Baun.

Baun finished his senior season with 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks and with pass rushers in demand by NFL teams, Baun’s demonstration of speed and strength should help him continue to solidify himself as a potential first-round draft pick.

Baun also posted a 7-second time in the three-cone drill, which ranked fifth, and a 4.31-second in the 20-yard shuttle, which ranked 10th among linebackers.