Tag: Zack Moss

4 players the Seahawks could take on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks have plenty of positions of need to address on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft. Here are four players they could target.

The Seattle Seahawks shocked the NFL world in two big ways on Thursday evening. First, they actually used their original first round pick – the first time they’ve done that since 2011 – and second, they used it on a speedy, run-stuffing middle linebacker, which doesn’t exactly address a position of need.

While there is some reason to be optimistic about Jordyn Brooks, the Seahawks will have to address some key areas of need in rounds 2-3 of the NFL draft, set to begin on Friday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT.

Pass rush, offensive tackle and some skill positions (running back and wide receiver) are areas this team could stand to improve upon in the NFL draft, and will likely address at least in some fashion on Friday evening.

Here are four players who are still available who the Seahawks could target with their remaining picks on Day 2 of the draft, which are as follows:

Round 2 (59)

Round 2 (64)

Round 3 (101) (Supplemental)

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2020 NFL Draft: Final Bills Wire staff mocks

Final Bills Wire staff mock drafts for the 2020 NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills.

Little introduction needed.

It’s Thursday and the 2020 NFL Draft is upon us. While the Bills don’t have a first-round pick as things kickoff, Buffalo still enters the selection process with seven picks.

The first is slated in the second round and the last at No. 239. What could the Bills possibly do with those?

The Bills Wire staff once again comes together to present perhaps the largest grouping of mock for Bills Mafia to digest. Managing editor Nick Wojton’s final mock is joined by contributors Kyle Silagyi, Justin DiLoro, Matt Johnson, McKenna Middlebrook and Jeremy Juhasz.

Check out all six mock drafts here, and either let us know on social media or our message boards which one you’d prefer:

Boise State Broncos linebacker Curtis Weaver. Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

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Nick’s mock

Round 2 | No. 54: DE Curtis Weaver, Boise State

Round 3 | No. 86: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

Round 4 | No. 128: RB Zach Moss, Utah

Round 5 | No. 167: RB/ WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis

Round 6 | No. 188: WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty

Round 6 | No. 207: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati

Round 7 | No. 239: OL Daryl Williams, Ole Miss

Without a need in sight for the Bills, it’s best player available time in Orchard Park. Starting things off my mock is Boise State’s Curtis Weaver. He lacks some speed, but aside from that, what didn’t he do in the Mountain West? Where he won the Defensive Player of the Year Award just last season. With that in mind, Weaver could be a first-round talent the Bills grab in the second round because he’ll have to prove he can play in the pros. The Bills can stick him in their defensive line rotation and even give him a bit of a redshirt type of season behind Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison.

If the move is Weaver, Round 2 must be offense, right? Not here. Akeem Davis-Gaither, the App. State linebacker, is the move. Two things are for sure about Sean McDermott. He runs that rotation on the D-line, and he loved what Lorenzo Alexander brought to the table. AJ Klein is a short-term fix for the Bills there, but Davis-Gaither can be groomed for the long haul.

Finally some offense, and some offense the rest of the way for me. Running back Zach Moss from Utah isn’t going to be Frank Gore in the locker room, but he can be him on the field. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in power. A strong complement to Devin Singletary. Sticking in the backfield, kind of… Antonio Gibson from Memphis is snagged next. His stock falls because he doesn’t even have a true position to play. Is he a running back? Is he a wideout? Some teams would shy from that, Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will love it.

Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden, Cincinnati’s Josiah Deguara and Ole Miss’s Daryl Williams rounds this out. Gandy-Golden, at 6-foot-4, brings some size at the wideout room. The Bills brought in Greg Olsen this offseason for a free agent visit, so Deguara, who’s met with the Bills multiple times in the pre-draft process, is a late-round pick as a tight end, and then Williams could compete with… you guessed it, the Daryl Williams already signed in free agency, for playing time on the O-line. But on a more serious note, he’s a former team captain and versatile.

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8 top RBs the Ravens could target in the 2020 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens have three solid running backs on the roster already. However, they could still look to add one in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Baltimore Ravens are putting the finishing touches on their draft board and gearing up for the 2020 NFL Draft. With this draft class being especially deep at many positions, the Ravens will have no shortage of good prospects to choose from. However, there are some positions that Baltimore will be looking to target more than others.

Running back has been the most controversial position of need for the Ravens in this draft, with some not seeing it as a need at all. While there are some exceptionally talented runners in the 2020 draft class, the Ravens have three productive running backs of their own in Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill. But with Edwards and Ingram not guaranteed to be back for 2021, and Baltimore’s typical best-player-available strategy, the Ravens could look to address a future need here in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Let’s take a look at eight top running backs the Ravens could select in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia

Swift leads a talented top half of the 2020 running back draft class. He racked up 2,885 rushing yards at 20 touchdowns on the ground while also adding 666 receiving yards and five touchdowns catches over three years at Georgia. Swift is dynamic in the open field and can use his lower body strength to run over guys standing in his way.

But just because Swift is the top running back doesn’t mean he’s going to go in the top-10. Running backs aren’t valued like they once were and Swift could easily fall to Baltimore at No. 28.

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2020 NFL Draft: Bills land Curtis Weaver, Zach Moss in 4-round mock

Buffalo Bills land RB Zack Moss, DE Curtis Weaver in Draft Wire’s latest four round 2020 NFL Draft mock.

Despite not having a first-round pick, in Draft Wire‘s latest four-round mock ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft still sees the Bills land a solid 1-2 punch with their first two selections.

At pick No. 54, the Bills start things off with Boise State edge defender Curtis Weaver.

Curtis Weaver #99 of the Boise State Broncos. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)

Weaver is a bit of a hybrid player like Lorenzo Alexander was for the Bills. His scouting reports say the defender can lineup as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt or as a standup linebacker, but he’d likely be an end with the Bills. Overall, he had a knack for getting into the backfield in college. Weaver recorded 34.5 sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss in his career at Boise State.

The Senior Bowl and recent scouting combine proved him well too, where he posted a 7.0-second time in the 3-cone drill and a 4.27-second short shuttle time. Weaver was also the 2019 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

Some have Weaver pegged as a first-round edge defending talent, but with the Mountain West in mind, that’s not high-profile SEC play in college. He’ll have to proven himself as a formidable defender in the NFL with a high jump in competition en route.

 

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Seahawks Wire mock 4.0: Predicting Seattle’s picks in NFL draft

A look at how the Seattle Seahawks could attack the 2020 NFL draft, including taking a quarterback early and three defensive ends.

The NFL draft is just a few short days away, and the Seattle Seahawks are currently holding onto seven picks they will use to make the roster better in 2020.

The Seahawks Wire is releasing their fourth and final mock draft of the season. Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator, we made a trade back (as per tradition) and selected eight total players we believe the Seahawks could or should target in the draft this year.

Stay tuned for an unexpected selection in the second round, and a wrap up at the end, which includes the rationale for not taking a receiver, despite the stellar crop of talent at that position in this class.

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10 potential targets for Cardinals in the 3rd round of the draft

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.

Moss finished 2019 with 1,416 yards for the Utes to go along with 28 catches out of the backfield and 17 total TDs.

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A RB prospect for the Jaguars in top-3 round of the 2020 NFL Draft

The Jags are open to trading RB Leonard Fournette which means they may have to find a new No. 1 in Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, or Zack Moss.

This past weekend it was revealed that the Jacksonville Jaguars are open to trading one of their top offensive weapons in running back Leonard Fournette, which definitely could mean his chances of returning are bleak. If the Jags already have it in their minds that they are moving on, they likely have a plan to find a replacement for him through the upcoming draft, too.

When looking at the prospects at the running back position, there is a variety of rushers to choose from. Here are some names the Jags could be interested in within the top-3 rounds if they trade Fournette:

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 – Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

While the Jags are unlikely to take a running back in round one, what is their not to like about the ultra-productive Jonathan Taylor? He’s pretty much everything fans want in a running back.

Taylor is the definition of a human highlight reel and proved to be a workhorse back while at Wisconsin, accumulating 12 games with 200 yards or more during his career. Part of the reason he was able to do that was because of his size as he is built like an NFL tailback at 5-foot-10, 226-pounds.

Additionally, he cuts well, shows great burst as a former track runner, and can garner yards after contact — all of which makes him as the perfect player to place Fournette should the Jags trade him.

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#OnePride Q/A: Exploring RB additions the Lions could consider

Check out and see how fans felt about the Detroit Lions RB corps. Can Devonta Freeman or Antonio Gibson help the Detroit Lions running back corps?

Throughout the week, we at Lions Wire presented the #OnePride Twitter fan base several questions, hoping to hear their voice on various topics concerning the Detroit Lions.

Through the use of Twitter polls, we were able to gauge the fan’s thoughts on a variety of topics, including what they believe the Lions are poised to do in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.

Confidence with Lions’ RB corps?

Zack’s take: Fans were split on how confident they felt with the current Lions’ running back corps, ranging from reasonably confident to not so sure. Kerryon Johnson is the Lions’ primary weapon, but he hasn’t played a full season since he was drafted. Bo Scarbrough saw a career rejuvenation with the Lions but was it a fluke or things to come? As a sixth-round rookie, Ty Johnson saw an increase in touches when the injury bug hit Detroit but is his roster spot guaranteed?

Based on the current group of running backs on the roster, I fall under the 50-60-percent confidence range. On the surface, it has the potential to be a solid rotation of backs, but the depth and injury questions surrounding this group are hard to ignore.

Free-agent to the rescue?

Zack’s take: Devonta Freeman was unable to live up to his contract with the Atlanta Falcons and he was released after averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season. With his impressive receiving skills, Freeman has the potential to still be an effective back, with his biggest obstacle being the cost to sign him. With how quiet his free agency market has been, I suspect the cost to acquire him wouldn’t be too high. If the Lions’ strikeout in the draft, Freeman would offer them solid depth and a veteran presence for the young runners.

I included Prosise in this poll because he played under Bevell in Seattle and would fit in the Lions’ offensive scheme. He has terrific receiving skills but has been injury-prone, only playing in 25 games since 2016. If he can prove healthy, Prosise could be an option in a similar way J.D. McKissic was last year.

Suitable round for a running back?

Zack’s take: I agree with the fans here, feeling the most comfortable taking a running back in the third or fourth rounds. There have been plenty of mock drafts projecting the Lions to draft a running back in the second round, but I can’t see them using another second-round selection on a running back.

Don’t get me wrong, it would be fun to see either J.K Dobbins or Jonathon Taylor in Honolulu blue, but the Lions have more pressing needs early in the draft. The mid rounds feel like the perfect range for the Lions to get a complement back like A.J. Dillion or Darrynton Evans, both who have been talked about extensively as potential targets.

Speaking of potential targets.

Potential draft prospects to help?

Zack’s take: Gibson ran away with this one and it’s easy to see why. He is a versatile playmaker with his beautiful blend of speed, size, and vision that make him an effective running back even though he was primarily used as a slot receiver at Memphis. Gibson was one criterion away — burst score — from being a full QIB qualifier. However, he was close enough that he should still be in the conversation as a potential running back option on the Lions’ draft board.

Utah’s Zack Moss was not in the poll but had quite a few comments within the post. He is a player to keep your eye on, considering the Lions have had multiple meetings with Moss and could be an option for them in the third or fourth round.

Keep your eyes open for future questions. We would love to hear your thoughts. If you have any questions you’d like to see answered, send a message, or leave a comment with your question. Thank you to all Lions fans and the #OnePride nation.

Lions have second meeting with Utah RB Zack Moss

The Detroit Lions have had a second formal meeting with Utah RB Zack Moss, who is a prime candidate in the middle rounds

If pre-draft visits are an accurate barometer of interest in a player, consider the Lions smitten with Utah running back Zack Moss. The team has had a second formal interaction with the bruising Ute.

The Lions had a formal interview with Moss during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Moss ran a 4.65 40-yard dash at 5-foot-9 and 223 pounds in Indianapolis, which was slower than how he played at Utah. He’s a powerful, low center-of-gravity grinder with quick feet but lacking long speed, but didn’t appear that lacking.

Now the Lions have had another pre-draft meeting with Moss. This one came via a teleconferencing app and follows up Moss running a laser-timed 4.52 in a private pro day, which was videotaped and sent to teams.

The Lions would have had even more time with Moss, but he pulled out of the Senior Bowl. He was slated to be on the North roster that the Lions coached in January in Mobile. Moss opted instead to train on his own.

Moss generally projects as a 3rd or 4th-round pick, which tends to be the area where the Lions are expected to have some interest in adding to a backfield that already includes Kerryon Johnson, Bo Scarbrough and Ty Johnson.

NFL Draft: A RB in each round for the Philadelphia Eagles

AJ Dillon among RB’s the Eagles could target in every round

The NFL draft is just eight days away and as the Philadelphia Eagles decide on wide receivers to target, the Birds could look to add some depth at running back.

With only Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Elijah Holyfield on the roster, the Eagles could look to add some running back depth.

The Eagles don’t have a pick in every round but in case of some wheeling and dealing, we decided to project one running back from every round that the Eagles could target.

***

 D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

1. D’Andre Swift, Georgia

The 21-year-old Philadelphia native is a skilled route runner and has amazing hands out of the backfield (just three drops on 76 targets, per Pro Football Focus).

He’d be the perfect compliment to Miles Sanders without either player needing to worry about ego.

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