theoneandonly
Quality Starter
- Messages
- 5,274
- Reaction score
- 561
PFF aside, if Hurst checks out I am starting to warm up to him if his health checks out. If he falls to the bottom of round one or top of round two, they should make a run at him.
- Thread starter dbair1967
- Start date
PFF aside, if Hurst checks out I am starting to warm up to him if his health checks out. If he falls to the bottom of round one or top of round two, they should make a run at him.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
Top was Aaron Donald, bottom one was Geno Atkins
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
This is from last yr obviously, but Taco's 10yd split is elite. I thought he improved as the yr wore on and with this offseason to train and refine his technique more, he could end up being a really solid starter for us this year opp DLaw
Scot
Pro Bowler
- Messages
- 14,924
- Reaction score
- 6,180
So I’m watching draft day which was made in 2014
It starts off with the Seattle front office who have the #1 overall pick talking about trading out of the #1 spot for a boatload if picks.
The GM says what team is desperate enough to overpay for this pick.
And of course it’s Cleveland.
It’s four years later and the situation is still the same. Cleveland is still trying to figure out the QB situation and still at the top of the draft year in and year out
Even tho it’s a fictional movie.....
Some things never change
It starts off with the Seattle front office who have the #1 overall pick talking about trading out of the #1 spot for a boatload if picks.
The GM says what team is desperate enough to overpay for this pick.
And of course it’s Cleveland.
It’s four years later and the situation is still the same. Cleveland is still trying to figure out the QB situation and still at the top of the draft year in and year out
Even tho it’s a fictional movie.....
Some things never change
theoneandonly
Quality Starter
- Messages
- 5,274
- Reaction score
- 561
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Ball skills, range everything to know about safeties
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 29, 2018
Derwin James and Minkah Fitzparick highlight a top-heavy safety class, and the skills of those two elite prospect highlight the state of the position in the NFL.
Versatility reigns supreme as the most important aspect of being able to play safety in the NFL, and it's gotten to the point where they need to be quality coverage defenders too.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top safeties in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Ball Skills
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Derwin James
Justin Reid
Ronnie Harrison
Quin Blanding
Jessie Bates
No one in this group should be labeled as a ball-hawk, as none of these safety prospects are ultra-rangy centerfielders like Malik Hooker was last year. Fitzpatrick gets his hands on plenty of passes, and James knocked down 11 throws in 2017. Reid's plus body control helps him when moving out of one zone and into another to make a play on the football. Harrison has sound ball skills, which combined with his large frame, makes for a tantalizing combination. Blanding and Bates are super-active safeties who certainly know what to do when the ball is coming their way, but neither routinely made plays on the football this past season.
Sleeper: Josh Kalu
The former Nebraska cornerback transitioned wonderfully to the safety spot as a senior. His combination of explosiveness and leaping ability allow him to get to the football and his natural ball skills lead to many impact plays. He snagged seven interceptions and broke up 27 passes in his four-year collegiate career.
Range
James
Reid
Fitzpatrick
Blanding
Bates
Harrison
James' outstanding combine numbers check out with his range on the field. While not often used as the single high safety, he undoubtedly has the ability to quickly get to the sideline from the middle of the field. Reid too has high-caliber range due to springy athleticism and plenty of speed. Fitzpatrick and Blanding are best in the box when attacking the run, blitzing, or striking on a shallow route. The same can be said for Bates, and there are a few plays from 2017 in which he covered a lot of ground to get to the football. Harrison is your traditional "strong safety."
Sleeper: Damon Webb
The former Ohio State safety didn't crush his combine, yet he plays faster than he timed. He makes up for any athleticism or burst deficiencies with rapid reactionary skills. Webb snagged five interceptions in his final season in Columbus.
Coverage Ability
James
Fitzpatrick
Reid
Bates
Harrison
Blanding
James' combination of size, athleticism, and length make him a safety capable of matching up with bigger tight ends and even some running backs out of the backfield. Fitzpatrick is a quasi-cornerback. Reid and Bates have the twitchiness to stay with some receivers out of the slot. Harrison has the length to be a menacing coverage safety, just not the fluid hips to quick turn and run. Blanding is a spring-loaded athlete, he's just best coming downhill.
Sleeper: Kameron Kelly
As a former cornerback, it should be no surprise Kelly is the sleeper here. He didn't have the smoothness in his movements to stay on the outside, but for a safety, he has plenty of experience and production in coverage.
Run Support/Tackling
James
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Blanding
Bates
Reid
When James is lurking in the box, he has the diagnosing skills and physical ability to make consistent impact plays near the line of scrimmage, and he's a reliable tackler. The same can be said for Fitzpatrick, who kicks it into high gear when he recognizes run. Harrison makes his presence felt often in run support. Blanding was a tackling-machine in college and is typically one of the first players on the defensive side of the ball to react to the direction of the run play. Bates sticks his nose into the action but is hurt by his lack of size. Reid is typically in the right position, there are just more missed tackles from him than you'd like.
Sleeper: Kyzir White
The former West Virginia star was a hybrid cornerback-safety during his time in Morgantown and is a forceful hitter. He's tall and long, and it's rare to see him hesitate when the play is in front of him.
Scheme Fits
Free Safety
James
Bates
Blanding
Reid
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Sleeper: Jeremy Reaves
Reaves could've been the sleeper in the run support or range categories, as he was a ridiculously active member of the Jaguars' defense during his illustrious career in Mobile. Despite his smaller size, he gets to the football in a hurry thanks to plus recognition skills, change-of-direction ability and impressive speed.
Strong Safety
James
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Blanding
Reid
Bates
James and Fitzpatrick are elite blitzers, so aligning them close to the football at the snap gives them an opportunity to create a big play in the backfield. Harrison is a big, thumping defensive back with good movement skills for his size, and Blanding was a run-support specialist at Virginia. Reid and Bates aren't slouches in the box but can't stack up with the other four in this role.
Sleeper: DeShon Elliott
The former Texas standout doesn't have the smooth hips to win in man coverage consistently. However, he has the football intelligence and burst to make an assortment of plays near the line of scrimmage against the run and pass.
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 29, 2018
Derwin James and Minkah Fitzparick highlight a top-heavy safety class, and the skills of those two elite prospect highlight the state of the position in the NFL.
Versatility reigns supreme as the most important aspect of being able to play safety in the NFL, and it's gotten to the point where they need to be quality coverage defenders too.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top safeties in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Ball Skills
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Derwin James
Justin Reid
Ronnie Harrison
Quin Blanding
Jessie Bates
No one in this group should be labeled as a ball-hawk, as none of these safety prospects are ultra-rangy centerfielders like Malik Hooker was last year. Fitzpatrick gets his hands on plenty of passes, and James knocked down 11 throws in 2017. Reid's plus body control helps him when moving out of one zone and into another to make a play on the football. Harrison has sound ball skills, which combined with his large frame, makes for a tantalizing combination. Blanding and Bates are super-active safeties who certainly know what to do when the ball is coming their way, but neither routinely made plays on the football this past season.
Sleeper: Josh Kalu
The former Nebraska cornerback transitioned wonderfully to the safety spot as a senior. His combination of explosiveness and leaping ability allow him to get to the football and his natural ball skills lead to many impact plays. He snagged seven interceptions and broke up 27 passes in his four-year collegiate career.
Range
James
Reid
Fitzpatrick
Blanding
Bates
Harrison
James' outstanding combine numbers check out with his range on the field. While not often used as the single high safety, he undoubtedly has the ability to quickly get to the sideline from the middle of the field. Reid too has high-caliber range due to springy athleticism and plenty of speed. Fitzpatrick and Blanding are best in the box when attacking the run, blitzing, or striking on a shallow route. The same can be said for Bates, and there are a few plays from 2017 in which he covered a lot of ground to get to the football. Harrison is your traditional "strong safety."
Sleeper: Damon Webb
The former Ohio State safety didn't crush his combine, yet he plays faster than he timed. He makes up for any athleticism or burst deficiencies with rapid reactionary skills. Webb snagged five interceptions in his final season in Columbus.
Coverage Ability
James
Fitzpatrick
Reid
Bates
Harrison
Blanding
James' combination of size, athleticism, and length make him a safety capable of matching up with bigger tight ends and even some running backs out of the backfield. Fitzpatrick is a quasi-cornerback. Reid and Bates have the twitchiness to stay with some receivers out of the slot. Harrison has the length to be a menacing coverage safety, just not the fluid hips to quick turn and run. Blanding is a spring-loaded athlete, he's just best coming downhill.
Sleeper: Kameron Kelly
As a former cornerback, it should be no surprise Kelly is the sleeper here. He didn't have the smoothness in his movements to stay on the outside, but for a safety, he has plenty of experience and production in coverage.
Run Support/Tackling
James
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Blanding
Bates
Reid
When James is lurking in the box, he has the diagnosing skills and physical ability to make consistent impact plays near the line of scrimmage, and he's a reliable tackler. The same can be said for Fitzpatrick, who kicks it into high gear when he recognizes run. Harrison makes his presence felt often in run support. Blanding was a tackling-machine in college and is typically one of the first players on the defensive side of the ball to react to the direction of the run play. Bates sticks his nose into the action but is hurt by his lack of size. Reid is typically in the right position, there are just more missed tackles from him than you'd like.
Sleeper: Kyzir White
The former West Virginia star was a hybrid cornerback-safety during his time in Morgantown and is a forceful hitter. He's tall and long, and it's rare to see him hesitate when the play is in front of him.
Scheme Fits
Free Safety
James
Bates
Blanding
Reid
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Sleeper: Jeremy Reaves
Reaves could've been the sleeper in the run support or range categories, as he was a ridiculously active member of the Jaguars' defense during his illustrious career in Mobile. Despite his smaller size, he gets to the football in a hurry thanks to plus recognition skills, change-of-direction ability and impressive speed.
Strong Safety
James
Fitzpatrick
Harrison
Blanding
Reid
Bates
James and Fitzpatrick are elite blitzers, so aligning them close to the football at the snap gives them an opportunity to create a big play in the backfield. Harrison is a big, thumping defensive back with good movement skills for his size, and Blanding was a run-support specialist at Virginia. Reid and Bates aren't slouches in the box but can't stack up with the other four in this role.
Sleeper: DeShon Elliott
The former Texas standout doesn't have the smooth hips to win in man coverage consistently. However, he has the football intelligence and burst to make an assortment of plays near the line of scrimmage against the run and pass.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Speed, high-pointing and everything to know about WRs
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 9, 2018
What's more vital to playing receiver in the NFL -- separation skill or contested-catch ability?
My answer is contested-catch ability, as it's the ultimate trump card to perfectly executed coverage.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top eight wideouts in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at the position in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
High-Pointing/Contested-Catch Ability
Courtland Sutton
James Washington
Michael Gallup
Anthony Miller
D.J. Moore
Christian Kirk
D.J. Chark
Calvin Ridley
Sutton measured in at slightly over 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds at the combine, and he plays bigger than that. He's comfortable making grabs over his head and has the size to box out smaller defenders. He's one of the better pure high-point wideouts in this class. Despite being under 6-0, Washington is ridiculous in contested-catch situations. And that's different from high-pointing. Washington won't leap 35 inches in the air to snag the ball outside his frame. But he tracks it so amazingly well, has long arms, big hands, and outstanding concentration that allow him to consistently reel in the football in tight coverage down the field. Gallup and Miller are aggressive when the ball is in the air too, and this is an area in which speedsters Chark and Ridley struggle.
Sleeper: Allen Lazard
At almost 6-5 and 225 pounds with a 38-inch vertical, Lazard is high-pointing master. And he can take hits in the air while extending for the football and still bring it in. The former Iowa State target is athletic enough to stay at wide receiver in the NFL and dominate on the outside due to his "rebounding" ability. Auden Tate from Florida State and Oklahoma State's Marcell Ateman are two other prospects who excel high-pointing the football.
Route Running
Ridley
Gallup
Miller
Washington
Moore
Kirk
Sutton
Chark
Ridley is impressive here, frequently winning at the line with sudden movement and sharply cutting on his routes with multiple breaks. Gallup is smoother than Ridley as a route-runner, making it look effortless to create separation. Miller and Washington run excellent downfield routes -- especially double moves -- as does Moore. Sutton wasn't asked to run a variety of routes at SMU but has the movement skills to create space. Chark was mainly a go-route wideout at LSU and is super explosive yet limited with his change of direction.
Sleeper: DaeSean Hamilton
The former Penn State star sells his routes like he's a 10-year veteran. Everything from his head to his shoulders to his hips look like he's breaking one way before he quickly turns in a different direction.
Yards After The Catch
Gallup
Moore
Miller
Sutton
Kirk
Ridley
Washington
Chark
Flip on Gallup's film, and you'll notice him making linebackers and defensive backs miss every game on short and intermediate routes. He doesn't look particularly explosive though. Gallup is just a smart, natural runner with the ball in his hands. Moore had a handful of highlight-reel YAC plays in college because of high-end athleticism and balance. For his size, Sutton's fluidity is outstanding. Kirk and Ridley are a bit underwhelming in this area despite being smaller, lighter wideouts with serious downfield speed. Washington and Chark are more linear players than they are lateral movers.
Sleeper: Korey Robertson
The former Southern Miss standout morphs into a no-nonsense running back after the catch, using stiff arms and subtle jukes to free himself down the field. Watch the opening game of the 2017 season against Kentucky for prime examples of his YAC skills.
Downfield Speed
Chark
Washington
Moore
Ridley
Kirk
Sutton
Gallup
Miller
Chark tested as a 4.34 prospect at the combine, and he's that fast on the field. LSU not only utilized him on deep shots but got him the football on end arounds often. Washington ran 4.54 but is a classic "faster on film" player. While capable of running past collegiate corners, neither Moore, Ridley, nor Kirk appear to have as much speed on the field as they did at the combine.
Sleeper: Jordan Lasley
Surprisingly, Lasley only ran 4.50 at the combine. He repeatedly blew the top off deep coverage in the Pac 12. I wouldn't be shocked if he bulked up to hit the 200-pound mark in Indy, which likely slowed him in the 40. He's one of the premier deep-ball specialists in this class.
Position Fits
Outside
Sutton
Gallup
Washington
Moore
Miller
Chark
Ridley
Kirk
Sutton was made to play on the perimeter, and Gallup has loads of experience near the sidelines as well. Washington doesn't have ideal height to line up near the boundary but was college football's most productive receiver over the past two seasons while taking the majority of his snaps on the outside. On the outside, Chark, Ridley, and Kirk would have issues with bigger, physical cornerbacks.
Sleeper: Marcell Ateman
Ateman was a go-to target for Mason Rudolph in a variety of high-pressure situations last season, and the tall wideout works the sideline well thanks to tremendous high-pointing ability and plus body control.
Slot
Ridley
Kirk
Miller
Moore
Chark
Sutton
Gallup
Washington
The quickness of Ridley, Kirk, and Miller would be on full display inside, and Moore and Chark would be scary seam threats from the slot position. All of these receivers could make it work inside, but if Washington is on my team I want him in a position to run more North-South routes -- and posts -- than intricate patterns from the slot. The same goes for Sutton and Gallup.
Sleeper: Deontay Burnett
At just under 6-0 and 185 pounds, Burnett was built for the slot, and he absolutely excelled from that pre-snap position at USC. He's fast to recognize coverage, slippery in his routes and after the catch, and displayed high-level ball skills down the field.
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 9, 2018
What's more vital to playing receiver in the NFL -- separation skill or contested-catch ability?
My answer is contested-catch ability, as it's the ultimate trump card to perfectly executed coverage.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top eight wideouts in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at the position in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
High-Pointing/Contested-Catch Ability
Courtland Sutton
James Washington
Michael Gallup
Anthony Miller
D.J. Moore
Christian Kirk
D.J. Chark
Calvin Ridley
Sutton measured in at slightly over 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds at the combine, and he plays bigger than that. He's comfortable making grabs over his head and has the size to box out smaller defenders. He's one of the better pure high-point wideouts in this class. Despite being under 6-0, Washington is ridiculous in contested-catch situations. And that's different from high-pointing. Washington won't leap 35 inches in the air to snag the ball outside his frame. But he tracks it so amazingly well, has long arms, big hands, and outstanding concentration that allow him to consistently reel in the football in tight coverage down the field. Gallup and Miller are aggressive when the ball is in the air too, and this is an area in which speedsters Chark and Ridley struggle.
Sleeper: Allen Lazard
At almost 6-5 and 225 pounds with a 38-inch vertical, Lazard is high-pointing master. And he can take hits in the air while extending for the football and still bring it in. The former Iowa State target is athletic enough to stay at wide receiver in the NFL and dominate on the outside due to his "rebounding" ability. Auden Tate from Florida State and Oklahoma State's Marcell Ateman are two other prospects who excel high-pointing the football.
Route Running
Ridley
Gallup
Miller
Washington
Moore
Kirk
Sutton
Chark
Ridley is impressive here, frequently winning at the line with sudden movement and sharply cutting on his routes with multiple breaks. Gallup is smoother than Ridley as a route-runner, making it look effortless to create separation. Miller and Washington run excellent downfield routes -- especially double moves -- as does Moore. Sutton wasn't asked to run a variety of routes at SMU but has the movement skills to create space. Chark was mainly a go-route wideout at LSU and is super explosive yet limited with his change of direction.
Sleeper: DaeSean Hamilton
The former Penn State star sells his routes like he's a 10-year veteran. Everything from his head to his shoulders to his hips look like he's breaking one way before he quickly turns in a different direction.
Yards After The Catch
Gallup
Moore
Miller
Sutton
Kirk
Ridley
Washington
Chark
Flip on Gallup's film, and you'll notice him making linebackers and defensive backs miss every game on short and intermediate routes. He doesn't look particularly explosive though. Gallup is just a smart, natural runner with the ball in his hands. Moore had a handful of highlight-reel YAC plays in college because of high-end athleticism and balance. For his size, Sutton's fluidity is outstanding. Kirk and Ridley are a bit underwhelming in this area despite being smaller, lighter wideouts with serious downfield speed. Washington and Chark are more linear players than they are lateral movers.
Sleeper: Korey Robertson
The former Southern Miss standout morphs into a no-nonsense running back after the catch, using stiff arms and subtle jukes to free himself down the field. Watch the opening game of the 2017 season against Kentucky for prime examples of his YAC skills.
Downfield Speed
Chark
Washington
Moore
Ridley
Kirk
Sutton
Gallup
Miller
Chark tested as a 4.34 prospect at the combine, and he's that fast on the field. LSU not only utilized him on deep shots but got him the football on end arounds often. Washington ran 4.54 but is a classic "faster on film" player. While capable of running past collegiate corners, neither Moore, Ridley, nor Kirk appear to have as much speed on the field as they did at the combine.
Sleeper: Jordan Lasley
Surprisingly, Lasley only ran 4.50 at the combine. He repeatedly blew the top off deep coverage in the Pac 12. I wouldn't be shocked if he bulked up to hit the 200-pound mark in Indy, which likely slowed him in the 40. He's one of the premier deep-ball specialists in this class.
Position Fits
Outside
Sutton
Gallup
Washington
Moore
Miller
Chark
Ridley
Kirk
Sutton was made to play on the perimeter, and Gallup has loads of experience near the sidelines as well. Washington doesn't have ideal height to line up near the boundary but was college football's most productive receiver over the past two seasons while taking the majority of his snaps on the outside. On the outside, Chark, Ridley, and Kirk would have issues with bigger, physical cornerbacks.
Sleeper: Marcell Ateman
Ateman was a go-to target for Mason Rudolph in a variety of high-pressure situations last season, and the tall wideout works the sideline well thanks to tremendous high-pointing ability and plus body control.
Slot
Ridley
Kirk
Miller
Moore
Chark
Sutton
Gallup
Washington
The quickness of Ridley, Kirk, and Miller would be on full display inside, and Moore and Chark would be scary seam threats from the slot position. All of these receivers could make it work inside, but if Washington is on my team I want him in a position to run more North-South routes -- and posts -- than intricate patterns from the slot. The same goes for Sutton and Gallup.
Sleeper: Deontay Burnett
At just under 6-0 and 185 pounds, Burnett was built for the slot, and he absolutely excelled from that pre-snap position at USC. He's fast to recognize coverage, slippery in his routes and after the catch, and displayed high-level ball skills down the field.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Anchoring, run-game scheme fits and everything to know about interior OLs
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 16, 2018
You need an interior offensive linemen to boost your run game and protect your quarterback against the increasing number of high-caliber pass-rushing defensive tackles in today's NFL.
And there's a top-end prospect or two regardless of how you prefer your guard or center.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top interior offensive linemen -- both guards and centers -- in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
Pass Protection/Anchoring
Quenton Nelson
Isaiah Wynn
Will Hernandez
Frank Ragnow
Billy Price
James Daniels
In essence, this category pertains to the ability to sustain a bull rush, anchor then allow your back to bend without surrendering ground. Nelson is immensely strong and rarely, if ever allows himself to be beaten by sheer power. He dominated with his heavy hands and fantastic leverage at the collegiate level, and those two attributes are already at the caliber of an NFL starter. Wynn has the best back bend of any interior linemen I've watched in this class, and Hernandez grows roots quickly in pass protection. The same goes for Ragnow, who is the most effortless blocker in this group.
Sleeper: Wyatt Teller
Teller is a mauler, who seemingly wants a serious battle on every snap. With his wide base and loads of experience, he's ready to handle anything that comes his way in the power department.
Pass Protection/Grip
Hernandez
Nelson
Ragnow
Wynn
Price
Daniels
If Hernandez gets his hands on you, it's over. Donzo. Nelson and Ragnow have noticeably a strong grip too, and Wynn locked down edge-rushers with a fast and powerful punch. Price recovers well if he's initially beaten and displays outstanding technique with his hand placement. Daniels' game isn't about overpowering with his upper body, it's winning with his lower half.
Sleeper: Austin Corbett
Corbett has some of the most violent and powerful hands in the class at the interior line spot. He's not overanxious but loves delivering a stunning first blow. With his hands on you, chances are you're not going anywhere.
Awareness
Nelson
Ragnow
Hernandez
Price
Daniels
Wynn
Nelson's film is littered with insane plays in which he demonstrates what seems to be a sixth sense to find delayed blitzers and slower twists and demolish them before they can impact the quarterback. Ragnow is quick to help his teammates on the inside, as is Hernandez. None of these players is particularly bad in this area, but Price can be slow reacting to stunts, and Wynn played left tackle at Georgia, so he was on an island often.
Sleeper: Will Clapp
Clapp is a super-experienced center who faced plenty of future NFLers in his time at the pivot with the LSU Tigers. He's the type of center who'll call out exotic blitzes before the snap and get his line properly adjusted.
Mobility/Second-Level Blocking Accuracy
Daniels
Price
Nelson
Wynn
Ragnow
Hernandez
Daniels is a special mover, probably the most athletic center prospect I've ever scouted. Price is a close second in this class, which says a lot about the insane depth of this interior offensive linemen in this class. Nelson is mobile for his size and rarely misses a linebacker at the second level. With left tackle feet, Wynn is quick to get out in front of pitches and sweeps, and Ragnow is very accurate locating and contacting linebackers. The same goes for Hernandez.
Sleeper: Braden Smith
Smith wants to combo block a defense to oblivion, and he did that often at Auburn with an impressive blend of power, balance, and explosiveness.
Man-on-Man Run-Blocking
Nelson
Hernandez
Ragnow
Price
Wynn
Daniels
Nelson is a pulverizer. So is Hernandez. Ragnow is an Evan Mathis type who doesn't pancake many defenders but simply blocks them with ease. Price really gets after it one-on-one, and Wynn has the ability to man up as well. Daniels' equilibrium can be shaken if he's heads up with polished defensive tackle.
Sleeper: Bradley Bozeman
At Alabama, the Crimson Tide incorporated a variety of power concepts, and Bozeman executed the middle of those plays wonderfully with subtle but effective down blocks. He's big and strong enough to handle massive nose tackles too.
Position Fits
Power/Gap Scheme
Nelson
Hernandez
Ragnow
Price
Wynn
Daniels
You want Nelson or Hernandez in your power scheme. Believe me. Their combination of strength and pulling ability will create many running lanes. Ragnow will get the job done here too. Price is a fantastic puller as well, and is a gritty fighter on the inside. Wynn and Daniels are on the lighter side, so they may not have the type of mass a team would want in a power-heavy scheme.
Sleeper: Taylor Hearn
Hearn is a phone-booth brawler who's impactful in tight spaces due to his plus strength and active hands. He probably shouldn't be a team's primary pulling guard, yet he'll destroy the front side defensive tackle often. Hearn is best in straight up, man-to-man situations.
Zone Scheme
Daniels
Wynn
Price
Nelson
Ragnow
Hernandez
Because of his elite athletic gifts, Daniels will likely be a first-round prospect on the boards of teams that run a lot of inside and outside zone. The mobility of Wynn and Price would make them nice fits in a zone-based scheme. Nelson, Ragnow, and Hernandez are players you want deploying their power on every play, not flowing laterally down the line of scrimmage.
Sleeper: Skyler Phillips
At Idaho State, Phillips frequently sent a devastating punch and did so while displaying quick feet to get down the line of scrimmage. He's not the type to hold a block for three seconds, and that's fine. In a zone scheme, he's someone who can get his hands on two or three defenders on one play and stop them in their tracks.
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 16, 2018
You need an interior offensive linemen to boost your run game and protect your quarterback against the increasing number of high-caliber pass-rushing defensive tackles in today's NFL.
And there's a top-end prospect or two regardless of how you prefer your guard or center.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top interior offensive linemen -- both guards and centers -- in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
Pass Protection/Anchoring
Quenton Nelson
Isaiah Wynn
Will Hernandez
Frank Ragnow
Billy Price
James Daniels
In essence, this category pertains to the ability to sustain a bull rush, anchor then allow your back to bend without surrendering ground. Nelson is immensely strong and rarely, if ever allows himself to be beaten by sheer power. He dominated with his heavy hands and fantastic leverage at the collegiate level, and those two attributes are already at the caliber of an NFL starter. Wynn has the best back bend of any interior linemen I've watched in this class, and Hernandez grows roots quickly in pass protection. The same goes for Ragnow, who is the most effortless blocker in this group.
Sleeper: Wyatt Teller
Teller is a mauler, who seemingly wants a serious battle on every snap. With his wide base and loads of experience, he's ready to handle anything that comes his way in the power department.
Pass Protection/Grip
Hernandez
Nelson
Ragnow
Wynn
Price
Daniels
If Hernandez gets his hands on you, it's over. Donzo. Nelson and Ragnow have noticeably a strong grip too, and Wynn locked down edge-rushers with a fast and powerful punch. Price recovers well if he's initially beaten and displays outstanding technique with his hand placement. Daniels' game isn't about overpowering with his upper body, it's winning with his lower half.
Sleeper: Austin Corbett
Corbett has some of the most violent and powerful hands in the class at the interior line spot. He's not overanxious but loves delivering a stunning first blow. With his hands on you, chances are you're not going anywhere.
Awareness
Nelson
Ragnow
Hernandez
Price
Daniels
Wynn
Nelson's film is littered with insane plays in which he demonstrates what seems to be a sixth sense to find delayed blitzers and slower twists and demolish them before they can impact the quarterback. Ragnow is quick to help his teammates on the inside, as is Hernandez. None of these players is particularly bad in this area, but Price can be slow reacting to stunts, and Wynn played left tackle at Georgia, so he was on an island often.
Sleeper: Will Clapp
Clapp is a super-experienced center who faced plenty of future NFLers in his time at the pivot with the LSU Tigers. He's the type of center who'll call out exotic blitzes before the snap and get his line properly adjusted.
Mobility/Second-Level Blocking Accuracy
Daniels
Price
Nelson
Wynn
Ragnow
Hernandez
Daniels is a special mover, probably the most athletic center prospect I've ever scouted. Price is a close second in this class, which says a lot about the insane depth of this interior offensive linemen in this class. Nelson is mobile for his size and rarely misses a linebacker at the second level. With left tackle feet, Wynn is quick to get out in front of pitches and sweeps, and Ragnow is very accurate locating and contacting linebackers. The same goes for Hernandez.
Sleeper: Braden Smith
Smith wants to combo block a defense to oblivion, and he did that often at Auburn with an impressive blend of power, balance, and explosiveness.
Man-on-Man Run-Blocking
Nelson
Hernandez
Ragnow
Price
Wynn
Daniels
Nelson is a pulverizer. So is Hernandez. Ragnow is an Evan Mathis type who doesn't pancake many defenders but simply blocks them with ease. Price really gets after it one-on-one, and Wynn has the ability to man up as well. Daniels' equilibrium can be shaken if he's heads up with polished defensive tackle.
Sleeper: Bradley Bozeman
At Alabama, the Crimson Tide incorporated a variety of power concepts, and Bozeman executed the middle of those plays wonderfully with subtle but effective down blocks. He's big and strong enough to handle massive nose tackles too.
Position Fits
Power/Gap Scheme
Nelson
Hernandez
Ragnow
Price
Wynn
Daniels
You want Nelson or Hernandez in your power scheme. Believe me. Their combination of strength and pulling ability will create many running lanes. Ragnow will get the job done here too. Price is a fantastic puller as well, and is a gritty fighter on the inside. Wynn and Daniels are on the lighter side, so they may not have the type of mass a team would want in a power-heavy scheme.
Sleeper: Taylor Hearn
Hearn is a phone-booth brawler who's impactful in tight spaces due to his plus strength and active hands. He probably shouldn't be a team's primary pulling guard, yet he'll destroy the front side defensive tackle often. Hearn is best in straight up, man-to-man situations.
Zone Scheme
Daniels
Wynn
Price
Nelson
Ragnow
Hernandez
Because of his elite athletic gifts, Daniels will likely be a first-round prospect on the boards of teams that run a lot of inside and outside zone. The mobility of Wynn and Price would make them nice fits in a zone-based scheme. Nelson, Ragnow, and Hernandez are players you want deploying their power on every play, not flowing laterally down the line of scrimmage.
Sleeper: Skyler Phillips
At Idaho State, Phillips frequently sent a devastating punch and did so while displaying quick feet to get down the line of scrimmage. He's not the type to hold a block for three seconds, and that's fine. In a zone scheme, he's someone who can get his hands on two or three defenders on one play and stop them in their tracks.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Speed, block-shedding and everything to know about LBs
Find out how Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds and the rest of the top linebackers stack up
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 23, 2018
The linebacker spot is one of the best groups in the 2018 draft class, and that's not just because of Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds.
There are three or four more high-quality off-ball linebacker prospects who'll likely be picked in one of the first two rounds and will become solid NFL players.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top off-ball linebackers in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Sideline-to-sideline speed
Roquan Smith
Leighton Vander Esch
Malik Jefferson
Tremaine Edmunds
Darius Leonard
Rashaan Evans
Smith ran 4.51 at slightly over 6-foot and 236 pounds, and he plays that fast on the field. Many of his impact plays came when he ranged from his spot in the middle of Georgia's defense to the sideline on either an outside run or wide receiver screen. Vander Esch also flies to the football, although he doesn't look as fast because he's a tall, long-strider. Jefferson gets to the perimeter in a hurry, and the same can be said about Edmunds. Leonard doesn't lack in the athleticism department whatsoever, and is more than capable of making plays on the outside. Evans has plus physical gifts too.
Sleeper: Jerome Baker
At 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds, Baker has to be a speedy linebacker to win consistently, and he's exactly that. At Ohio State, he looks like what's become the norm at the collegiate and professional ranks: a large safety playing linebacker.
Coverage skills
Leonard
Smith
Vander Esch
Edmunds
Evans
Jefferson
Leonard is terrific smoothly following running backs out of the backfield and tight ends down the seam. He's a keenly aware, fluid athlete with plus long speed. Changing direction is not a problem for him, which also helps in coverage. Smith demonstrated tight coverage at Georgia often because of supreme athletic talents and route-recognition skills. Vander Esch is good in zone, where his length and speed are best utilized. Edmunds has insane coverage upside, yet his recognition skills are a tick slow when moving backward. Evans and Jefferson are the most effective making plays close to the line of scrimmage yet neither are heavy footed.
Sleeper: Skai Moore
Moore intercepted 14 passes -- at least three each year -- during his productive, four-year career at South Carolina and knocked down six other throws. He's a choppy mover but gets from point A to point B quickly. He's quick to drop into zone down the seam and react to what he's seeing from the quarterback in the pocket.
Tackling reliability
Smith
Vander Esch
Evans
Edmunds
Leonard
Jefferson
Smith is as sure of a tackler as they come, and his film is littered with big hits and, more importantly, textbook wrap-up takedowns. Vander Esch is a reliable tackler on plays near the line of scrimmage, where a large portion of his tackles are made. Evans and Edmunds will miss a tackle occasionally, but not frequently enough for it to be considered an issue. Leonard's tackling skills are good too, and he packs plenty of power when he gets to the ball-carrier. Jefferson flies all over the field, and his immense speed leads to a fair amount of whiffs when he gets in perfect position.
Sleeper: Chris Worley
Mostly a between-the-tackles playmaker who's kind of a throwback linebacker, Worley is super consistent when he gets his hands on an offensive player who's holding the football.
Block-shedding
Smith
Leonard
Evans
Edmunds
Vander Esch
Jefferson
To me, the ability to shed blocks separates the good linebackers from the superstars. Smith has a plan when blockers approach, often initiating contact to keep himself from being driven backward. Even when long-armed offensive linemen get into his frame, he is violent enough with his hand use to shed quickly to get in the running lane. Leonard too is aggressive on his shedding attempts, and it typically pays off. The rest of the players in this group struggle to disengage from blockers, the lone, clear-cut knock on their games.
Sleeper: Jason Cabinda
Like Smith and Evans, Cabinda isn't afraid of contact, and he's not shy about asserting his will on bigger offensive linemen in his assigned gap. At times, his jolt surprises blockers and leads to the Penn State linebacker having an easy route to the ball-carrier.
Pass-Rushing/Blitzing
Evans
Edmunds
Jefferson
Smith
Leonard
Vander Esch
Evans' pass-rushing skill comes mainly on the edge, where he was used by Nick Saban. His suddenness and hand use allow him to create a fair amount of pressure around the corner. Edmunds and Jefferson can overwhelm interior blockers by converting speed to power on A-gap blitzes. Edmunds could see some time on the edge too at 6-4 and nearly 260 pounds. Because Smith is smaller, his impact as a blitzer mostly comes from his agility and aggressive hands to work past offensive linemen. Leonard's high-cut frame doesn't help him as a blitzer. His springy athleticism does. Vander Esch isn't as powerful as you'd expect at 6-4 and 256 when sent on blitzes up the middle.
Sleeper: Micah Kiser
Kiser looks like an old-school linebacker... compact, strong, and effective between the tackles. He thrived as a run-stopper and was used frequently as an inside blitzer. His low center of gravity, deceptive athleticism, and upper body strength allow him to create disruption in the backfield.
Scheme Fits
Middle Linebacker
Smith
Vander Esch
Evans
Leonard
Edmunds
Jefferson
Smith is ready to be the quarterback of a defense and run with tight ends down the seam. Vander Esch's combination of range, coverage experience and size would translate to well to a spot in the middle. Evans is your classic Alabama linebacker with a bit more athleticism than we saw from the likes of Reggie Ragland, who was a second-round pick in 2016 and turned in a quality run-stopping season in 2017. Leonard has the skills to play in the middle but would probably be best utilized more on the outside, and the rawness that Edmunds and Jefferson display getting off blocks would create issues at middle linebacker.
Sleeper: Cabinda
From his non-stop motor, to his block-shedding ability, good speed and deceptive change-of-direction skills, Cabinda seems like a classic middle linebacker with just enough athleticism to stick in today's souped-up, pass-happy NFL. If he sheds a few pounds to get a tick faster, that'd probably help him, but he's a smart second-level defender who was productive in his three years as a starter with the Nittany Lions.
Weakside Linebacker
Edmunds
Smith
Vander Esch
Jefferson
Leonard
Evans
With Edmunds's linear speed and ridiculous length, he's the new-age physical prototype at the weakside spot, which is a position typically played by the most athletic linebacker on the defense, someone who can be a tackling machine if kept "clean" from mobile blockers. Despite their difference in size, both Smith and Vander Esch could be 125-plus tackle linebackers in a weakside role, and although he can play a bit high, making him a bigger target for offensive linemen, Leonard's athletic gifts would bode well as a run-and-chase linebacker. Evans would probably be best inside
Sleeper: Dorian O'Daniel
One of my favorite prospects in the entire class -- my No. 31 overall prospect -- O'Daniel is a fast, agile, reliable tackler who's proficient in zone coverage defender and a productive blitzer. The former Clemson standout is the exact type of player a team should want at weakside linebacker.
Strongside Linebacker
Evans
Edmunds
Vander Esch
Jefferson
Leonard
Smith
Given his flashes of impressive edge-rushing skills and overall physical nature, Evans is the best strongside linebacker prospect of this group -- a position typically shifted closer to the line of scrimmage in under fronts. He's athletic enough to handle some coverage responsibilities too. Edmunds's mammoth frame and explosiveness would make a fine candidate for a "SAM" role in the NFL. The same can be applied to the comparably sized Vander Esch. Jefferson isn't small by any stretch at over 6-foot-2 and 235-plus pounds. Leonard and Smith are middle or weakside 'backers.
Sleeper: Fred Warner
Warner has the size -- over 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds -- and toughness to be a team's primary strongside linebacker. While he was involved with many tackles near the line of scrimmage and has quality range, he's also capable of flipping his hips and getting downfield in coverage. The BYU alum is one of the draft's sleepers likely best at weakside or strongside in the NFL.
Find out how Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds and the rest of the top linebackers stack up
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 23, 2018
The linebacker spot is one of the best groups in the 2018 draft class, and that's not just because of Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds.
There are three or four more high-quality off-ball linebacker prospects who'll likely be picked in one of the first two rounds and will become solid NFL players.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top off-ball linebackers in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Sideline-to-sideline speed
Roquan Smith
Leighton Vander Esch
Malik Jefferson
Tremaine Edmunds
Darius Leonard
Rashaan Evans
Smith ran 4.51 at slightly over 6-foot and 236 pounds, and he plays that fast on the field. Many of his impact plays came when he ranged from his spot in the middle of Georgia's defense to the sideline on either an outside run or wide receiver screen. Vander Esch also flies to the football, although he doesn't look as fast because he's a tall, long-strider. Jefferson gets to the perimeter in a hurry, and the same can be said about Edmunds. Leonard doesn't lack in the athleticism department whatsoever, and is more than capable of making plays on the outside. Evans has plus physical gifts too.
Sleeper: Jerome Baker
At 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds, Baker has to be a speedy linebacker to win consistently, and he's exactly that. At Ohio State, he looks like what's become the norm at the collegiate and professional ranks: a large safety playing linebacker.
Coverage skills
Leonard
Smith
Vander Esch
Edmunds
Evans
Jefferson
Leonard is terrific smoothly following running backs out of the backfield and tight ends down the seam. He's a keenly aware, fluid athlete with plus long speed. Changing direction is not a problem for him, which also helps in coverage. Smith demonstrated tight coverage at Georgia often because of supreme athletic talents and route-recognition skills. Vander Esch is good in zone, where his length and speed are best utilized. Edmunds has insane coverage upside, yet his recognition skills are a tick slow when moving backward. Evans and Jefferson are the most effective making plays close to the line of scrimmage yet neither are heavy footed.
Sleeper: Skai Moore
Moore intercepted 14 passes -- at least three each year -- during his productive, four-year career at South Carolina and knocked down six other throws. He's a choppy mover but gets from point A to point B quickly. He's quick to drop into zone down the seam and react to what he's seeing from the quarterback in the pocket.
Tackling reliability
Smith
Vander Esch
Evans
Edmunds
Leonard
Jefferson
Smith is as sure of a tackler as they come, and his film is littered with big hits and, more importantly, textbook wrap-up takedowns. Vander Esch is a reliable tackler on plays near the line of scrimmage, where a large portion of his tackles are made. Evans and Edmunds will miss a tackle occasionally, but not frequently enough for it to be considered an issue. Leonard's tackling skills are good too, and he packs plenty of power when he gets to the ball-carrier. Jefferson flies all over the field, and his immense speed leads to a fair amount of whiffs when he gets in perfect position.
Sleeper: Chris Worley
Mostly a between-the-tackles playmaker who's kind of a throwback linebacker, Worley is super consistent when he gets his hands on an offensive player who's holding the football.
Block-shedding
Smith
Leonard
Evans
Edmunds
Vander Esch
Jefferson
To me, the ability to shed blocks separates the good linebackers from the superstars. Smith has a plan when blockers approach, often initiating contact to keep himself from being driven backward. Even when long-armed offensive linemen get into his frame, he is violent enough with his hand use to shed quickly to get in the running lane. Leonard too is aggressive on his shedding attempts, and it typically pays off. The rest of the players in this group struggle to disengage from blockers, the lone, clear-cut knock on their games.
Sleeper: Jason Cabinda
Like Smith and Evans, Cabinda isn't afraid of contact, and he's not shy about asserting his will on bigger offensive linemen in his assigned gap. At times, his jolt surprises blockers and leads to the Penn State linebacker having an easy route to the ball-carrier.
Pass-Rushing/Blitzing
Evans
Edmunds
Jefferson
Smith
Leonard
Vander Esch
Evans' pass-rushing skill comes mainly on the edge, where he was used by Nick Saban. His suddenness and hand use allow him to create a fair amount of pressure around the corner. Edmunds and Jefferson can overwhelm interior blockers by converting speed to power on A-gap blitzes. Edmunds could see some time on the edge too at 6-4 and nearly 260 pounds. Because Smith is smaller, his impact as a blitzer mostly comes from his agility and aggressive hands to work past offensive linemen. Leonard's high-cut frame doesn't help him as a blitzer. His springy athleticism does. Vander Esch isn't as powerful as you'd expect at 6-4 and 256 when sent on blitzes up the middle.
Sleeper: Micah Kiser
Kiser looks like an old-school linebacker... compact, strong, and effective between the tackles. He thrived as a run-stopper and was used frequently as an inside blitzer. His low center of gravity, deceptive athleticism, and upper body strength allow him to create disruption in the backfield.
Scheme Fits
Middle Linebacker
Smith
Vander Esch
Evans
Leonard
Edmunds
Jefferson
Smith is ready to be the quarterback of a defense and run with tight ends down the seam. Vander Esch's combination of range, coverage experience and size would translate to well to a spot in the middle. Evans is your classic Alabama linebacker with a bit more athleticism than we saw from the likes of Reggie Ragland, who was a second-round pick in 2016 and turned in a quality run-stopping season in 2017. Leonard has the skills to play in the middle but would probably be best utilized more on the outside, and the rawness that Edmunds and Jefferson display getting off blocks would create issues at middle linebacker.
Sleeper: Cabinda
From his non-stop motor, to his block-shedding ability, good speed and deceptive change-of-direction skills, Cabinda seems like a classic middle linebacker with just enough athleticism to stick in today's souped-up, pass-happy NFL. If he sheds a few pounds to get a tick faster, that'd probably help him, but he's a smart second-level defender who was productive in his three years as a starter with the Nittany Lions.
Weakside Linebacker
Edmunds
Smith
Vander Esch
Jefferson
Leonard
Evans
With Edmunds's linear speed and ridiculous length, he's the new-age physical prototype at the weakside spot, which is a position typically played by the most athletic linebacker on the defense, someone who can be a tackling machine if kept "clean" from mobile blockers. Despite their difference in size, both Smith and Vander Esch could be 125-plus tackle linebackers in a weakside role, and although he can play a bit high, making him a bigger target for offensive linemen, Leonard's athletic gifts would bode well as a run-and-chase linebacker. Evans would probably be best inside
Sleeper: Dorian O'Daniel
One of my favorite prospects in the entire class -- my No. 31 overall prospect -- O'Daniel is a fast, agile, reliable tackler who's proficient in zone coverage defender and a productive blitzer. The former Clemson standout is the exact type of player a team should want at weakside linebacker.
Strongside Linebacker
Evans
Edmunds
Vander Esch
Jefferson
Leonard
Smith
Given his flashes of impressive edge-rushing skills and overall physical nature, Evans is the best strongside linebacker prospect of this group -- a position typically shifted closer to the line of scrimmage in under fronts. He's athletic enough to handle some coverage responsibilities too. Edmunds's mammoth frame and explosiveness would make a fine candidate for a "SAM" role in the NFL. The same can be applied to the comparably sized Vander Esch. Jefferson isn't small by any stretch at over 6-foot-2 and 235-plus pounds. Leonard and Smith are middle or weakside 'backers.
Sleeper: Fred Warner
Warner has the size -- over 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds -- and toughness to be a team's primary strongside linebacker. While he was involved with many tackles near the line of scrimmage and has quality range, he's also capable of flipping his hips and getting downfield in coverage. The BYU alum is one of the draft's sleepers likely best at weakside or strongside in the NFL.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Hand use, one gap vs. two gap and everything to know about DTs
Find out how Da'Ron Payne, Vita Vea and the rest of the defensive tackles stack up
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 22, 2018
This is the draft to pick a defensive tackle. The class of interior defenders features a handful of blue-chippers at the top and a plethora of quality prospects who'll likely be available anywhere from the second to the fifth round.
Michigan's Maurice Hurst is the standout among the defensive tackles, and Vita Vea from Washington is one of the most dynamic athletes among 340-plus pound linemen. Taven Bryan from Florida emerged as a disprutive force in the SEC and probably has his best football ahead of him. The same can be said about Da'Ron Payne from Alabama, who'll only be 20 years old when he's drafted.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top defensive linemen in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Pass-Rushing Moves/Hand Use
Maurice Hurst
Taven Bryan
Harrison Phillips
Vita Vea
Da'Ron Payne
B.J. Hill
Derrick Nnadi
Hurst's swim move and club through the line of scrimmage are both devastatingly effective wrecking offensive plays before they can materialize. Bryan uses his long arms to his advantage often, and Phillips isn't super-consistent with his hand work, yet when he deploys his arm over or straight-arms offensive linemen, it's over. Vea certainly knows how to use his heavy hands at times, and Payne flashed that ability too. Hill and Nnadi are better with their hands in the run game.
Sleeper: Will Geary
Geary is the blue-collar defensive tackle prospect with the greatest likelihood to outplay his draft position. Always a stout run defender due to his low center of gravity and active hands, Geary flourished as a pass-rusher in 2017 with a variety of pass-rushing moves that allowed him to out-leverage bigger, stronger, and more athletic blockers and get the angle advantage on them en route to the quarterback.
Burst/Quickness
Hurst
Bryan
Payne
Vea
Phillips
Hill
Nnadi
This is another area in which Hurst is clearly the best at his position in his class. The former Michigan star has a Geno Atkins-like first step and the lateral quickness to make plays moving down the line of scrimmage. Bryan is a supremely gifted athlete for his height and weight -- as evidenced by a combine performance that was close to as impressive as J.J. Watt's. Payne is an explosive mover. The final four prospects on this list don't win with their burst off the ball.
Sleeper: Poona Ford
Somehow, Ford wasn't invited to the combine. Being a hair under 6-foot at the East-West Shrine Game likely didn't help him in that regard. The long-time, high-caliber producer at Texas is incredibly quick in one-gapping situations, and his smaller size actually helps him slip between bigger interior offensive linemen. There's a spin move in his pass-rushing arsenal too.
Run Defense
Hurst
Phillips
Vea
Payne
Nnadi
Bryan
Hill
Because of his excellent blend of hand use and explosiveness, Hurst is a run-stopper extraordinaire. Phillips, Vea, and Payne clog running lanes and devour backs with strength, proper hand placement, and the refined ability to shed blocks at the point of attack. Bryan and Hill are no slouches against the run either. Hill is a pure nose tackle who's nearly immovable on the interior.
Sleeper: Deadrin Senat
Similar to Hill, Senat has an outstanding anchor and plays with constantly moving hands against the run. The former South Florida standout plays with a high motor and quickly finds the football then does what he needs to do to get there. He's strong enough to dispatch blockers on occasion but actually can make plays with sheer quickness as well.
Scheme Fits
One Gap
Hurst
Bryan
Payne
Hill
Vea
Phillips
Nnadi
Let Hurst get upfield, and he has the potential to be a double-digit sack interior lineman who'll also affect the opposition's run game. Bryan too would be best in a free, one-gap role but has the frame to play at an edge spot as well as inside if need be. Despite his nose-tackle frame, Hill would flourish if given the opportunity to get between the guard and tackle at three technique. Vea, Phillips, and Nnadi are better suited for two-gapping roles, where their strength and block-shedding skills would be accentuated best.
Sleeper: Tim Settle
At 6-foot-2 and 320-plus pounds, Settle is deceptively quick off the ball and hits offensive linemen with a crazy amount of momentum. He looks like a space-eating nose tackle. He's not that type of defensive tackle prospect at all. In a one-gapping role, even at the one-technique, the former Virginia Tech Hokie would be able to reach his maximum potential in the NFL.
Two Gap
Vea
Payne
Phillips
Nnadi
Hill
Bryan
Hurst
Vea does have a good amount of potential in a one-gap role, yet would the most impactul with read-then-react duties. The same concept applies to Payne and Phillips. Nnadi, too is a wonderful run defender when he can see what's in front of him first. Hill certainly can two-gap and anchor against double teams. So can Bryan. Putting Hurst in a two-gapping role would be wasting his strengths as a penetrator.
Sleeper: Foley Fatukasi
An old-school two-gapping run-defender, Fatukasi can be the pivot man on a defensive line with an emphasis on stopping the ground game between the A and B gaps. Despite being taller than mose nose tackles, Fatukasi is generally good keeping his pad level relatively low, and he boasts a strong upper body.
Find out how Da'Ron Payne, Vita Vea and the rest of the defensive tackles stack up
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 22, 2018
This is the draft to pick a defensive tackle. The class of interior defenders features a handful of blue-chippers at the top and a plethora of quality prospects who'll likely be available anywhere from the second to the fifth round.
Michigan's Maurice Hurst is the standout among the defensive tackles, and Vita Vea from Washington is one of the most dynamic athletes among 340-plus pound linemen. Taven Bryan from Florida emerged as a disprutive force in the SEC and probably has his best football ahead of him. The same can be said about Da'Ron Payne from Alabama, who'll only be 20 years old when he's drafted.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top defensive linemen in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.
Pass-Rushing Moves/Hand Use
Maurice Hurst
Taven Bryan
Harrison Phillips
Vita Vea
Da'Ron Payne
B.J. Hill
Derrick Nnadi
Hurst's swim move and club through the line of scrimmage are both devastatingly effective wrecking offensive plays before they can materialize. Bryan uses his long arms to his advantage often, and Phillips isn't super-consistent with his hand work, yet when he deploys his arm over or straight-arms offensive linemen, it's over. Vea certainly knows how to use his heavy hands at times, and Payne flashed that ability too. Hill and Nnadi are better with their hands in the run game.
Sleeper: Will Geary
Geary is the blue-collar defensive tackle prospect with the greatest likelihood to outplay his draft position. Always a stout run defender due to his low center of gravity and active hands, Geary flourished as a pass-rusher in 2017 with a variety of pass-rushing moves that allowed him to out-leverage bigger, stronger, and more athletic blockers and get the angle advantage on them en route to the quarterback.
Burst/Quickness
Hurst
Bryan
Payne
Vea
Phillips
Hill
Nnadi
This is another area in which Hurst is clearly the best at his position in his class. The former Michigan star has a Geno Atkins-like first step and the lateral quickness to make plays moving down the line of scrimmage. Bryan is a supremely gifted athlete for his height and weight -- as evidenced by a combine performance that was close to as impressive as J.J. Watt's. Payne is an explosive mover. The final four prospects on this list don't win with their burst off the ball.
Sleeper: Poona Ford
Somehow, Ford wasn't invited to the combine. Being a hair under 6-foot at the East-West Shrine Game likely didn't help him in that regard. The long-time, high-caliber producer at Texas is incredibly quick in one-gapping situations, and his smaller size actually helps him slip between bigger interior offensive linemen. There's a spin move in his pass-rushing arsenal too.
Run Defense
Hurst
Phillips
Vea
Payne
Nnadi
Bryan
Hill
Because of his excellent blend of hand use and explosiveness, Hurst is a run-stopper extraordinaire. Phillips, Vea, and Payne clog running lanes and devour backs with strength, proper hand placement, and the refined ability to shed blocks at the point of attack. Bryan and Hill are no slouches against the run either. Hill is a pure nose tackle who's nearly immovable on the interior.
Sleeper: Deadrin Senat
Similar to Hill, Senat has an outstanding anchor and plays with constantly moving hands against the run. The former South Florida standout plays with a high motor and quickly finds the football then does what he needs to do to get there. He's strong enough to dispatch blockers on occasion but actually can make plays with sheer quickness as well.
Scheme Fits
One Gap
Hurst
Bryan
Payne
Hill
Vea
Phillips
Nnadi
Let Hurst get upfield, and he has the potential to be a double-digit sack interior lineman who'll also affect the opposition's run game. Bryan too would be best in a free, one-gap role but has the frame to play at an edge spot as well as inside if need be. Despite his nose-tackle frame, Hill would flourish if given the opportunity to get between the guard and tackle at three technique. Vea, Phillips, and Nnadi are better suited for two-gapping roles, where their strength and block-shedding skills would be accentuated best.
Sleeper: Tim Settle
At 6-foot-2 and 320-plus pounds, Settle is deceptively quick off the ball and hits offensive linemen with a crazy amount of momentum. He looks like a space-eating nose tackle. He's not that type of defensive tackle prospect at all. In a one-gapping role, even at the one-technique, the former Virginia Tech Hokie would be able to reach his maximum potential in the NFL.
Two Gap
Vea
Payne
Phillips
Nnadi
Hill
Bryan
Hurst
Vea does have a good amount of potential in a one-gap role, yet would the most impactul with read-then-react duties. The same concept applies to Payne and Phillips. Nnadi, too is a wonderful run defender when he can see what's in front of him first. Hill certainly can two-gap and anchor against double teams. So can Bryan. Putting Hurst in a two-gapping role would be wasting his strengths as a penetrator.
Sleeper: Foley Fatukasi
An old-school two-gapping run-defender, Fatukasi can be the pivot man on a defensive line with an emphasis on stopping the ground game between the A and B gaps. Despite being taller than mose nose tackles, Fatukasi is generally good keeping his pad level relatively low, and he boasts a strong upper body.
- Messages
- 58,599
- Reaction score
- 9,078
2018 NFL Draft rankings: Separating skill, blocking and everything to know about TEs
This is the fourth installment in a series that ranks prospects by the skills most vital to their position
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 14, 2018
The 2018 draft class of tight ends isn't great. There, I said it. However, there are a few players who can thrive in the right roles at the next level.
Dallas Goedert, Mark Andrews, and Mike Gesicki headline the class, and unsurprisingly, they excel the most as pass-catchers.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top six tight ends in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at the position in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
High-Pointing/Contested-Catch Ability
Mike Gesicki
Dallas Goedert
Mark Andrews
Ian Thomas
Hayden Hurst
Troy Fumagalli
Gesicki looks like the superb basketball player he was in high school when he's on the football field, ranging well outside his frame a few times each game to make acrobatic catches. Goedert is more solidly built than Gesicki, can undoubtedly box out smaller defenders and has large hands that make the ball look minuscule. Thomas has a flair for the dramatic grab -- check his Ohio State game -- and Hurst is capable of making catches with high degree of difficulty, especially near the sideline.
Sleeper: Tyler Conklin
During his reliable career at Central Michigan, Conklin made a variety of tough grabs in traffic and with defenders closing to make contact while he caught the football.
Separating Skill
Thomas
Gesicki
Hurst
Goedert
Andrews
Fumagalli
Thomas is the most fluid athlete in this tight end class. He glides in an out of his breaks without losing much speed. He'll be a productive player on option routes over the middle. Gesicki doesn't have top-notch change-of-direction ability, but once he gets his legs moving, he easily creates separation. The same goes for Hurst. Goedert chugs along a bit in his routes yet the explosiveness he showcases after planting his foot in the ground will give his quarterback room to fit in the football often. Andrews and Fumagalli are big-bodied, slower-movement types.
Sleeper: Jordan Atkins
Unfortunately, Atkins didn't work out at the combine, but at 6-foot-3 and 249 pounds, he has the ideal build to quickly move through the second level to create space for his quarterback. He averaged a solid 14.2 yards per catch during his career at UCF, which culminated with a 16.1 yards-per-grab campaign as a senior in 2017.
Yards After The Catch
Thomas
Goedert
Hurst
Gesicki
Andrews
Fumagalli
For many of the same reasons he was atop the Separating Skill category leads Thomas to the No. 1 spot here. His loose hips and flexible lower half allow him to almost float across the field before the ball is in his hands and after he catches it. He's a natural runner who with impressive vision and burst when he's accumulating extra yardage. Goedert's simply hard to bring to the turf because of his muscular frame, and Hurst and Gesicki create YAC with their speed in the open field.
Sleeper: Chris Herndon IV
Herndon is deceptively fast as a classic long-strider. Despite his angular frame, he has some wiggle in the open field and impressive balance for a tight end close to 6-4 and 250-plus pounds. He's the type of pass-catcher you want to get the ball on a shallow cross against man or a seam pattern against zone.
Downfield Speed
Gesicki
Goedert
Hurst
Thomas
Andrews
Fumagalli
As we saw at the combine, Gesicki is in a class by himself in the speed department among the top tight ends in this class. He's an explosive linear player who will be able to run by some of the league's slower safeties. The rest of the tight ends on this list are build-up speed runners with Goedert being the fastest when he's in top gear. There's a rather large space between Andrews and Fumagalli in this category.
Sleeper: Atkins
Atkins can stretch the field with his plus athleticism and aggressive ball skills. He's the type of split tight end teams are using more today than they did a decade ago.
Blocking
Goedert
Fumagalli
Thomas
Andrews
Hurst
Gesicki
For his reputation as a mismatch pass-catcher, Goedert has a fair amount of experience blocking and really gets after it. Like the vast majority of tight ends, there are times he's overwhelmed by bigger, strong edge-rushers, but on blocks that ask him to get to the second level, he wins often. He's typically balanced and delivers a strong initial pop. As a Wisconsin guy, Fumagalli blocked frequently, yet I expected more out of him in that area. Thomas played on the line on occasion at Indiana and is similar to Goedert in his strengths and weaknesses as a blocker, he's just not as powerful as the South Dakota State alum. You do not want the last three with important edge-blocking responsibilities on a crucial run play.
Sleeper: Durham Smythe
Smythe was a glorified offensive tackle for much of his Notre Dame career, and his time spent in the trenches shows. His role expanded into the Fighting Irish pass game more in 2017 than it ever had before, and he moved people with more regularity as a junior. However, at over 6-5 and 250-plus pounds, Smythe blocks with proper fundamentals -- low pad level, strong grip, constantly moving feet, and a deceptive amount of strength.
Position Fits
Flex
Gesicki
Goedert
Hurst
Andrews
Thomas
Fumagalli
Gesicki is essentially a big wide receiver. I said on the Pick Six Podcast, he's kind of like Vincent Jackson. Similar size, similar athleticism. Goedert isn't Travis Kelce, but close. Hurst's game is reminiscent of Hunter Henry's. Andrews flashed crazy slipperiness early in the season and got downfield often but didn't show the reliable hands you'd want from your pass-catching tight end and lacks a bit in the athleticism department. At best, he's a Julius Thomas type.
Sleeper: Deon Yelder
The Western Kentucky tight end was featured in a wide-open, pass-happy attack and made the most of it as a senior, as he snagged 52 passes for 688 yards with seven touchdowns. He's not a tight end you want running intricate routes, yet he showed a knack to get open in simple, high-percentage throws in the 7-10 yard range in college.
In-Line
Goedert
Thomas
Fumagalli
Andrews
Hurst
Gesicki
Because of his reasonable blocking ability and definite threat as a receiver, Goedert would be ideal in-line, where his pre-snap alignment wouldn't give the defense any hint about whether the forthcoming play was a run or pass. Thomas and Fumagalli at least have experience against edge-setters.
Sleeper: Jordan Thomas
The big, former Mississippi State tight end -- nearly 6-6 and 265 pounds at the combine -- was kept in to block a portion of his snaps each game and clearly won due to his mass alone on an assortment of plays close to the line of scrimmage.
This is the fourth installment in a series that ranks prospects by the skills most vital to their position
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
Mar 14, 2018
The 2018 draft class of tight ends isn't great. There, I said it. However, there are a few players who can thrive in the right roles at the next level.
Dallas Goedert, Mark Andrews, and Mike Gesicki headline the class, and unsurprisingly, they excel the most as pass-catchers.
Below I've ranked each of the consensus top six tight ends in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at the position in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft that excels at each particular trait.
High-Pointing/Contested-Catch Ability
Mike Gesicki
Dallas Goedert
Mark Andrews
Ian Thomas
Hayden Hurst
Troy Fumagalli
Gesicki looks like the superb basketball player he was in high school when he's on the football field, ranging well outside his frame a few times each game to make acrobatic catches. Goedert is more solidly built than Gesicki, can undoubtedly box out smaller defenders and has large hands that make the ball look minuscule. Thomas has a flair for the dramatic grab -- check his Ohio State game -- and Hurst is capable of making catches with high degree of difficulty, especially near the sideline.
Sleeper: Tyler Conklin
During his reliable career at Central Michigan, Conklin made a variety of tough grabs in traffic and with defenders closing to make contact while he caught the football.
Separating Skill
Thomas
Gesicki
Hurst
Goedert
Andrews
Fumagalli
Thomas is the most fluid athlete in this tight end class. He glides in an out of his breaks without losing much speed. He'll be a productive player on option routes over the middle. Gesicki doesn't have top-notch change-of-direction ability, but once he gets his legs moving, he easily creates separation. The same goes for Hurst. Goedert chugs along a bit in his routes yet the explosiveness he showcases after planting his foot in the ground will give his quarterback room to fit in the football often. Andrews and Fumagalli are big-bodied, slower-movement types.
Sleeper: Jordan Atkins
Unfortunately, Atkins didn't work out at the combine, but at 6-foot-3 and 249 pounds, he has the ideal build to quickly move through the second level to create space for his quarterback. He averaged a solid 14.2 yards per catch during his career at UCF, which culminated with a 16.1 yards-per-grab campaign as a senior in 2017.
Yards After The Catch
Thomas
Goedert
Hurst
Gesicki
Andrews
Fumagalli
For many of the same reasons he was atop the Separating Skill category leads Thomas to the No. 1 spot here. His loose hips and flexible lower half allow him to almost float across the field before the ball is in his hands and after he catches it. He's a natural runner who with impressive vision and burst when he's accumulating extra yardage. Goedert's simply hard to bring to the turf because of his muscular frame, and Hurst and Gesicki create YAC with their speed in the open field.
Sleeper: Chris Herndon IV
Herndon is deceptively fast as a classic long-strider. Despite his angular frame, he has some wiggle in the open field and impressive balance for a tight end close to 6-4 and 250-plus pounds. He's the type of pass-catcher you want to get the ball on a shallow cross against man or a seam pattern against zone.
Downfield Speed
Gesicki
Goedert
Hurst
Thomas
Andrews
Fumagalli
As we saw at the combine, Gesicki is in a class by himself in the speed department among the top tight ends in this class. He's an explosive linear player who will be able to run by some of the league's slower safeties. The rest of the tight ends on this list are build-up speed runners with Goedert being the fastest when he's in top gear. There's a rather large space between Andrews and Fumagalli in this category.
Sleeper: Atkins
Atkins can stretch the field with his plus athleticism and aggressive ball skills. He's the type of split tight end teams are using more today than they did a decade ago.
Blocking
Goedert
Fumagalli
Thomas
Andrews
Hurst
Gesicki
For his reputation as a mismatch pass-catcher, Goedert has a fair amount of experience blocking and really gets after it. Like the vast majority of tight ends, there are times he's overwhelmed by bigger, strong edge-rushers, but on blocks that ask him to get to the second level, he wins often. He's typically balanced and delivers a strong initial pop. As a Wisconsin guy, Fumagalli blocked frequently, yet I expected more out of him in that area. Thomas played on the line on occasion at Indiana and is similar to Goedert in his strengths and weaknesses as a blocker, he's just not as powerful as the South Dakota State alum. You do not want the last three with important edge-blocking responsibilities on a crucial run play.
Sleeper: Durham Smythe
Smythe was a glorified offensive tackle for much of his Notre Dame career, and his time spent in the trenches shows. His role expanded into the Fighting Irish pass game more in 2017 than it ever had before, and he moved people with more regularity as a junior. However, at over 6-5 and 250-plus pounds, Smythe blocks with proper fundamentals -- low pad level, strong grip, constantly moving feet, and a deceptive amount of strength.
Position Fits
Flex
Gesicki
Goedert
Hurst
Andrews
Thomas
Fumagalli
Gesicki is essentially a big wide receiver. I said on the Pick Six Podcast, he's kind of like Vincent Jackson. Similar size, similar athleticism. Goedert isn't Travis Kelce, but close. Hurst's game is reminiscent of Hunter Henry's. Andrews flashed crazy slipperiness early in the season and got downfield often but didn't show the reliable hands you'd want from your pass-catching tight end and lacks a bit in the athleticism department. At best, he's a Julius Thomas type.
Sleeper: Deon Yelder
The Western Kentucky tight end was featured in a wide-open, pass-happy attack and made the most of it as a senior, as he snagged 52 passes for 688 yards with seven touchdowns. He's not a tight end you want running intricate routes, yet he showed a knack to get open in simple, high-percentage throws in the 7-10 yard range in college.
In-Line
Goedert
Thomas
Fumagalli
Andrews
Hurst
Gesicki
Because of his reasonable blocking ability and definite threat as a receiver, Goedert would be ideal in-line, where his pre-snap alignment wouldn't give the defense any hint about whether the forthcoming play was a run or pass. Thomas and Fumagalli at least have experience against edge-setters.
Sleeper: Jordan Thomas
The big, former Mississippi State tight end -- nearly 6-6 and 265 pounds at the combine -- was kept in to block a portion of his snaps each game and clearly won due to his mass alone on an assortment of plays close to the line of scrimmage.
- Messages
- 10,304
- Reaction score
- 6,452
james is rated higher than fitzpatrick in a lot of these and its strange since fitzpatrick has been the consensus better player
theoneandonly
Quality Starter
- Messages
- 5,274
- Reaction score
- 561