texbengal

RBs I like on that list are more reasonable than Barkley or Jacobs (both of whom I like) Swift - explosive, does a lot of things well Pollard (he didn’t look good post-injury but turned it up late). He’s explosive and he’s a very good receiver (former WR). Moss - really underrated. Hasn’t been over-used but has shown he can be a feature RB Singletary - slippery, gets yards after contact. Can be featured if needed. Very productive Clyde Edwards-Helaire - hasn’t been used a lot in KC, versatile. Good receiver. Rico Dowdle - runs hard. Hasn’t been used much but showed me something this year. Gonna be an underrated get for someone. Dobbins… has had terrible injury luck but if he checks out medically, he runs really hard. Very talented runner.

Happy for Marvin and a good move by LV. He’s been through a lot and he can provide a lot of input to an inexperienced HC. A HC in waiting (or DC) if things go south. Said another way, a solid gamble by LV. And a good bet.

An empty bag? How appropriate!

Yes, but he WAS under contract when Duke said that. I'm not sure what you'd call it now... he's not under contract per se, and could become a free agent... but the Bengals do have exclusive rights until the free agent period starts... so they can tag him and negotiate a new contract prior to that time.

Here's Daniel Jeremiah's first crack at the Top 50: https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-50-2024-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-1-0

Here's an article from the Athletic re: some OL coming out in the draft. Duke Manyweather has a training facility for OL here in the Dallas area, and he's plugged into the league. A number of draft hopefuls train with him, but he also has veteran players working out there, too. +++++ Duke Manyweather breaks down Olu Fashanu, Amarius Mims, other top O-line prospects By Dane Brugler Jan 30, 2024 17 FRISCO, Texas — Outside of the 50,000-square-foot Sports Academy at the Star facility, across the street from Dallas Cowboys headquarters, Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson puts a group of offensive line prospects through drills on a truncated turf field. It’s just another January day at OL Masterminds, which has become one of the premier training options for offensive linemen. Under the tutelage of Duke Manyweather, NFL prospects here have an opportunity to better understand their craft — mentally, physically and technically — as they start the NFL Draft process. This year, Manyweather has 18 NFL Draft hopefuls under his tutelage. The group includes several projected first-rounders, as well as a few late-round sleepers (more on those guys later). While I was in Frisco for the East-West Shrine Bowl, I visited OL Masterminds and sat down with Manyweather to pick his brain on a few of his 2024 NFL Draft pupils. Here’s some of his analysis: GO DEEPER Dane Brugler’s NFL Mock Draft, 2.0: Which team makes a move up for Bryce Young? Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State Fashanu is the top NFL prospect on the OL Masterminds’ roster this year, and he’s also the top-ranked offensive lineman in this draft for several teams. How does he stack up against some of the other highly drafted linemen who’ve worked with Manyweather ahead of recent drafts, like Rashawn Slater, Creed Humphrey, Tyler Smith and Peter Skoronski? ADVERTISEMENT “I think he’s right up there at the top, in terms of total package,” Manyweather said. “He reminds me of two guys. Physically, he reminds me of Tyron Smith. His demeanor and mindset, in terms of being cerebral and being an elite thinker, remind me of Rashawn Slater. Their makeup is very similar in that regard.” The feedback from NFL scouts on Fashanu is a little split, which says more about the high-end talent at the position than the Penn State prospect himself. But Manyweather was encouraged by Fashanu’s development this season. “I saw him make a jump in his run blocking, especially when you throw on the Michigan tape,” Manyweather said. “He had one rough game versus Ohio State, and that was more of a communication and eye-discipline issue and how it relates to picking up twists and different pressures. But that’s all coachable and fixable. I think his best football is ahead of him.” The entrance to the Sports Academy at the Star. (Dane Brugler / The Athletic) Zach Frazier, G/C, West Virginia Watching Frazier crawl off the field with a broken leg in the final minutes of the Mountaineers’ 2023 regular-season finale was an indelible scene. It was also tough because most assumed the injury would sideline Frazier, several NFL teams’ top-ranked center prospect, for most or all of the draft process. During my visit, I asked Manyweather how Frazier’s rehab was going. He pointed toward a treadmill in the facility’s training room and said, “See for yourself.” There, Frazier was running without a limp or hesitation — only nine weeks out from a major injury. “Our whole approach is to be aggressive in treatment and aggressive in recovery while still being smart and cautious in terms of volume exposure,” Manyweather said. “Our aggressive approach and rehab modalities have allowed for great progressions, and we’re optimistic for what (Frazier) can do at the Senior Bowl and combine.” Frazier will attend the Senior Bowl, but he’s not fully cleared to practice or play in Saturday’s all-star game. He will be able to meet with NFL teams and show off the progress he’s made in his injury recovery. ADVERTISEMENT In Manyweather’s opinion, the first center selected in April will be either Frazier or Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia “Oh man, we haven’t even scratched the surface with this guy,” Manyweather said, chuckling. With his size, length and movement skills. Mims is a one-of-one type of player. He looks and moves differently than just about everyone else at the facility. But with only eight career college starts, his body of work doesn’t match the raw traits. For Manyweather and his team, Mims’ training is about building a complementary skill set to match his unbelievable physical gifts. “He’s so freaky and young,” Manyweather said. “But he’s also a smart football guy with a strong work ethic. We want to lay a groundwork of fundamentals and tools that will stay with them in any situation that they go to in the pros. I want guys to understand their superhero powers and build around that. “And Mims has a lot of that — a lot to build around with what he has already.” Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State When I asked Manyweather whose athleticism at the combine will open the most eyes, he didn’t hesitate to mention Beebe: “I think we all know what he is as a run blocker and (about) his consistency in pass blocking, but his testing is going to surprise some people.” Beebe played this past season at around 340 pounds but is down to the 325-330 range and looked fluid during drills. With 48 career starts across three different positions, he has an impressive collegiate resume — and Manyweather noted that experience really shows up during workouts and in the classroom. “Demeanor-wise, he has that calm-cool-collectedness similar to Zack Martin,” Manyweather said. “I’m not saying he is Zack, but I look for personality traits with these guys. How they carry themselves tells you a lot about how they can handle situations. I see that with Cooper.” Cooper was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pick at No. 48 in my most recent mock draft. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston In terms of size and length, Paul is one of the most impressive players in the 2024 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, he has ridiculous arm length (36 1/4 inches) and wingspan (86 3/4 inches) and has always relied on his length to out-leverage opponents. But it won’t be that easy in the NFL, so Paul has been focusing on the fundamentals in Frisco. ADVERTISEMENT “Stance and hands were the biggest things we wanted to work on with Patrick,” Manyweather said. “(We’re) getting these guys to understand that the more you can do with your hands, the better. It starts with a great stance because effective hand usage comes from efficient feet — and you can’t have efficient feet if you don’t have a functional stance. That was the starting point for us with Patrick.” Paul will be in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl, and it will be interesting to see if the focus-on-fundamentals approach starts to show during one-on-one drills. Brandon Coleman, OT/G, TCU Who is the biggest freak among Manyweather’s 2024 group? Coleman was the first name he mentioned. “Athletic testing-wise, he’s going to be impressive,” Manyweather said. “To tell you what type of athlete he is, I think he could legitimately have a shot at playing small forward in the NBA.” Coleman (6-4 1/2, 320) had some second-round buzz among NFL scouts over the summer, but his 2023 tape was a little up-and-down as he battled through ankle and knee issues. Despite his injuries, he started all but one game this season, which speaks to his toughness. “He was really banged-up but found a way to get the job done, and that’s a characteristic that will translate to the NFL,” Manyweather said. “Finding a way to get the job done when not 100 percent is what Sunday football is all about.” Having played both tackle and guard in college, Coleman has the mental makeup to handle either spot at the next level, according to Manyweather. But he added that it would be “hard to pass” on keeping him at left tackle with his type of ability. GO DEEPER Senior Bowl preview: 7 storylines to watch as NFL Draft prospects descend on Mobile Elijah Klein, G, UTEP Who’s the OL Masterminds draft sleeper? It’s Klein, who according to Manyweather is “one of the biggest sleepers in the draft,” not just at the Frisco facility. “You turn on the Middle Tennessee tape, the Northwestern tape, he did some nice things on the Arizona tape,” Manyweather said. “He didn’t get invited to any all-star games, but I’ll bet he is an NFL starter early on.” Klein (6-4, 318), a late call-up to the East-West Shrine Bowl roster this week, saw action at left and right tackle. He was at his best, however, at right guard — even while battling a high ankle sprain this season. He was outstanding as a pass protector and even better as a run blocker. “Honestly, I talk to a lot of teams and I know when they dismiss certain things,” Manyweather added. “It happened with Colby Sorsdal last year, and I get that feeling with Klein this year — people not doing enough due diligence.” The Detroit Lions selected Sorsdal, a William & Mary product, in Round 5. Manyweather also mentioned South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick (and his 57 career starts) as another sleeper in this draft class.

One person's opinion but I heard Daniel Jeremiah this morning (NFL Network)) that he thinks there could be 7 or even 8 Ts drafted in the first round. Said if you have needs at OL or WR or one other position (QB, maybe? I forget), it's a good draft.

Sometimes. Really thought that ADG would get used more in that role... he didn't make much of an impact, and I'm guessing he will go elsewhere to get more playing time. He's a good ST player but didn't carve much of a role on D.

Kinda same... he's actually very agile for a big fat guy, but he comes with some risk. Weight is one concern. He plays high for an interior guy. His last year was his best year, for sure, which is promising. I wouldn't take him in round one, but depending on what the Bengals do in FA and what needs they have, I'd consider it in day 2. But he's got some Terrance Cody to him, which isn't exactly a compliment. Ravens picked him and he pretty much washed out.

Tremendous college player - liked him a lot as well. Interesting that Monkton coached him at UGA so I'm sure Ravens would like him, too.

You definitely saw flashes from Murphy, and some plays as the season progressed. The speed and explosiveness, and effort plays. I think he's going to be a good player. Elite? Maybe not. But he's got the tools to be that.

I do, probably because I saw him play at OK State and followed his career in the NFL. I remember reading even back then that he was likely gonna be a coach some day. Had a pretty weak arm but was a smart player.

theyve drafted superbly lately but that OL makes them go. They are annihilating SF up front. All the more reason for the Bengals to continue to invest there.

I feel similarly. Their OL needs to be better, and for that matter, so does the interior of the DL. At WR, I fully expect Tee to be tagged and as much as I'd like to see it, I don't think they'll be able to come to terms with him on a longer-term deal... and with Chase, Jefferson and Lamb all coming up for deals in the next year or two, just can't see spending all that coin at WR. So while I do see WR as a need, especially with Tee likely gone in 2025 and TB very likely leaving as well, I wouldn't go there in round 1, assuming that there is both talent available at T and interior DL of equivalent value, and they still have needs after FA. As you stated, the depth on the OL sucks rocks and the starters, for the most part, aren't anything great either. They need OL help... whether it's via FA, the draft, or both... and interior DL first and foremost. With good OL play, Burrow can win without having premium talent at every WR spot.

True, they've had their share of injuries. That's one thing you gotta give Zac and the strength and training staffs credit for... injuries happen, of course, but load management has, I believe, helped them too. Harbaugh is more "old school" and that UM team was hella physical, and Harbaugh himself gave a lot of credit to the strength staff for helping to build and maintain that identity that wore many opponents down. And yeah, physically, Herbert is as good as it gets in the league now... size, speed, arm, and he's smart... but as you say, processing-wise (and leadership-wise, IMO), JB has "it" and Herbert hasn't shown the ability to get them over the hump yet. Staley seemed like a pretty horrible situational coach, and I think he held the team back some... I think there's a lot for Harbs to work with, especially relative to a lot of the other HC jobs that came open this year.

Agreed... overrated. Was a hella college QB and a smart guy who brought a lot of buzz with him, but he really didn't do a lot in Dallas, and hasn't lit it up with LAC either... even though he's had good skill position talent in both places.

Leading up to the draft, his mock versions weren't team-specific... rather, he basically took how the guys were rated overall, and slotted them in. Then, the day before the draft, he matched up position and team needs to have a targeted mock. Then, the day OF the draft, he published his top 100 players.

He retired from the DMN... he still does some draft stuff, but I don't believe he does his mock anymore. He was a long-time NFL writer and he had a slew of contacts with team insiders, so being plugged in really helped him. And IMO it wasn't so much the mock draft that was spot-on, but his top 100 players list was damned accurate. And it was always revealing to read where some guys were slotted, relative to the many social media draft weenies out there... and usually, it was guys who were rated highly by draft "experts" who actually were valued/drafted lower than anticipated. I actually think Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks are two of the better ones out there... both were NFL scouts for a few teams, and both have a lot of contacts in the league, so they get a lot of the intel (I'm sure some of it is bullsh, but still).

funny, I thought the same thing as I was watching the CFB championship game… he looked Indiana Penix. He was getting pressured and battered quite a bit, and I think he was playing hurt too. But he’s a solid prospect… that Texas game he was terrific, and I saw some other UW games where he was hella accurate. He’s come a long way since Indiana, when you could see the talent - but also the inconsistency.

I’ve never been a Harbaugh the person fan but there’s no denying he’s had success. Not only at Michigan but at every stop he’s had. When he took over, they simply didn’t have the horses and it started at QB, where they didn’t seem to be able to find a guy… and his recruiting classes were good, but not as star-studded as some other places…. i think he’ll continue to do well in LA. They’ve got a helluva QB and some very good skill guys… plus some great pieces on D like Mack, Bosa, James… I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them in the playoffs next year.

I don't think it's that... from what I'd read, he was valued as a day 2 pick even before he balled out in the playoff vs. Texas. He has been injured some, too.

He was horrid as a safety, but he's a good ST player. I know... maybe too much coin for that, but there are worse things that having good STs play on your team.

Agree but I would also expect they would supplement that in round 1. Either of those spots, or CB... WR, even? I still wonder about Jackson Carman... i know he didn't play at all last year, and Cody Ford was the first guy off the bench. But I think back to the playoffs a few years ago and don't know why he couldn't be more than serviceable at RT. He's big and powerful, and he's more athletic than Ford. I dunno... just not ready to throw in the towel yet.

Maybe they'll trade for Kyler Murray. Just sayin'.

Jones is a great player, no doubt. But like DJ Reader, he's gonna turn 30 this year, and he's an interior DL with some wear and tear. He'll want big money and a multi-year deal, which I get. But I wouldn't at this stage. ... I have hopes for DJ coming back, depending on his rehab and there are DT out there that won't demand that kind of coin who will be available for less money who are younger. Not the same impact in the short term, understandably, but they got Ogunjobi on a short-term deal and there will be some vets out there that are upgrades over Zack Carter, plus guys they can look at in the draft.