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2017 NFL Combine


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Figured this would be a good place to compile all draft relate news...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000788038/article/what-we-learned-from-mayocks-nfl-combine-teleconference

 

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The Cleveland Browns' ideal scenario for the Nos. 1 and 12 picks of the 2017 NFL Draft doesn't involve one of the top quarterback prospects available, and requires a trading partner in the New England Patriots. But if they can make it happen, says NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock, the Browns should be thrilled.

"If I'm the Cleveland Browns, and I've got No. 1 and No. 12, if I came away with either (Myles) Garrett or Jonathan Allen at No. 1, and gave up the No. 12 pick to get (Jimmy) Garoppolo, I would be stoked," Mayock said on Monday during a media teleconference. "I would feel like I got a difference maker on defense, and we've got a quarterback on offense. Now let's get to work. We've got five of the first 65 picks -- let's get to work. ... If they gave up No. 12 and could get Garoppolo, I'd be all over that."

The Browns certainly have a big need at the quarterback position, but whether any of the top passers available in the draft are worth the No. 1 or even the No. 12 pick is questionable. As for Garoppolo, he's short on NFL-game experience, but there is heavy speculation that the Patriots could move the former second-round pick. NFL Network analyst and former Washington Redskins general manager Charley Casserly believes Garoppolo's a better quarterback than any of the draft options.

As for the No. 1 pick, Mayock believes either Texas A&M's Garrett or Alabama's Allen would be good choices for the Browns at the top of the draft -- Garrett for a big impact on the edge of the defense, and Allen for a more versatile presence who can be disruptive in the interior. Mayock described Garrett as the prospect with the higher ceiling of the two, while Allen is the safer selection.

Here are seven other things we learned Monday from Mayock's teleconference with reporters:

2. NFL clubs will begin to get a better idea of what Michigan's versatile defensive star, Jabrill Peppers, can do in the pros at the NFL Scouting Combine (March 3-6 on NFL Network) this week. It's not an easy read, because he played everywhere from cornerback to safety to linebacker in his Wolverines career, along with a few other positions. Two specific things club officials will want to see at the combine from the potential first-round pick: sub-4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, and hip flexibility in position drills. "Show a defensive back's skill set," Mayock said. "... The more he can do to show people he can be a starting safety from day one and also be a dime linebacker, the better."

3. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes' draft stock is making a climb even before he gets to the NFL Scouting Combine this week, and he's looking like a viable first-round candidate. Although Mayock ranks Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer as the draft's top quarterback, he spoke of Mahomes Monday on relatively equal terms with Kizer, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and UNC's Mitch Trubisky.

4. Let there be no doubt: It's a big year for running backs in the 2017 draft. Five of them are worthy of a first-round grade (LSU's Leonard Fournette, FSU's Dalvin Cook, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, Oklahoma's Joe Mixon, Tennessee's Alvin Kamara), per Mayock. As for which will actually get a first-round draft call come April 27, Mayock sees Fournette, Cook and McCaffrey as first-round selections.

5. USC CB Adoree' Jackson is one of the draft's most exciting athletes, but has a technique deficit that will require some development. Still, that doesn't mean he can't bring some immediate excitement as a rookie. "Whether he's a nickel or outside, I'm all in on the kid," Mayock said. "Day one, he's your punt returner and kick returner, and doing that, he can put the ball in the end zone for you while he learns his craft as a corner."

6. While Mahomes is joining the conversation among the top quarterbacks in the draft, Chad Kelly is nowhere near it. The former Ole Miss quarterback was not invited to the combine due to the NFL's conduct policy for combine candidates, is recovering from a torn ACL, and could be waiting a while for a draft call despite a rocket-like arm. But where would he be selected absent character and injury concerns? Mayock said he's a second-round talent, at minimum.

7. Tennessee hasn't produced a first-round draft pick since Ja'Wuan James went to the Miami Dolphins in 2014, but look for DE Derek Barnett to snap that drought this year. Mayock's expected range on the selection of Barnett is No. 10 overall (Buffalo Bills) to No. 22 overall (Miami Dolphins).

8. The offensive tackle class is light on talent. How light? Mayock noted that the top two prospects at the position -- Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Utah's Garett Bolles -- have each started only one season at the major college level. As well, there are typically up to 10 offensive tackles worthy of a first-day or second-day selection. "I can't find 10 guys that deserve round 1-3 grades at tackle," Mayock said.

 

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3 hours ago, Jason said:

Mayock doesn't think the Bengals might take Barnett at 9?  If he's viable at 10, he is at 9 (though I still think it's a bit of a reach).  Or does he think Barnett isn't a 4-3 DE, or too short for us?

Hopefully he is wrong and the Bengals take this guy, he's a monster pass rush specialist, if he's still available. 

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With many draft experts projecting the Bengals to select a LB early in the 2017 draft, here is a breakdown on some of the LB's that are currently available. 

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Last week, I previewed five edge defenders with the most to prove at this year's NFL Scouting Combine (March 3-6 on NFL Network). Generally, pass rushers are going to get more coverage than other linebackers because of the premium scouts place on guys that are able to chase quarterbacks.

Defensive coaches know, however, that inside linebackers are the glue of their units, and coverage linebackers have become more important over time as offenses rely on tight ends and slot receivers. These five linebackers might earn high draft slots, even if attacking QBs isn't their primary role, with the help of an excellent performance in Indianapolis.

1. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Peppers will have perhaps the most important workout of any combine participant. Why? Teams know he's an athletic talent, but aren't necessarily sure where he fits in their defensive scheme. Is he physical enough to be a safety/linebacker hybrid player like Deone Bucannon? Can he hold up against pro linemen in that role? Or is he fluid enough to handle coverage responsibilities against NFL tight ends and slot receivers as a safety? His 40-yard-dash time and agility test results will be examined, but scouts will be analyzing his position drills just as closely to see if his movement ability allows him to be effective in the deep half.

2. Haason Reddick, Temple

Reddick gave his stock a big boost with his performance last month at the Reese's Senior Bowl. Now the question is whether he can show off enough athleticism to ensure a mid-first-round draft position. At under 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, will 3-4 teams view him as an edge rusher? Probably not. But those same teams could consider Reddick as a potential prolific inside linebacker who can blitz effectively to stop the run and affect the pass. There's a big difference (that can be measured in millions of dollars) between going in the middle of the first round (potential landing spots: Indianapolis, Miami, Denver) vs. late in Round 1 (Kansas City, Pittsburgh, New England). Reddick could also prove himself athletic enough to earn a starting job as a 4-3 outside 'backer at the combine, so teams like Minnesota, Detroit, and the Giants might see him as a fit in that role.

3. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt

Although Vanderbilt doesn't get a lot of national attention, evaluations were paying attention to Cunningham's play this year, especially his game-sealing play on 4th-and-one against Georgia. Teams will be interested to see how strong and quick the tall, lean Cunningham appears in workouts. If he weighs in at 6-3 and more than 240 pounds, scouts know those measurements were similar to those of mid-first-round inside linebackers like Derrick Johnson and Brian Cushing. If Cunningham can show the agility (sub-4.0 three cone) and explosiveness (37.5-inch vertical) that Johnson did in 2005, Kansas City might not be able to draft Cunningham as Johnson's potential replacement because he'll be gone by the time they're on the clock at No. 27.

4. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State

McMillan's been a bit under the radar this year, although he played well enough to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2016. His work in athleticism drills this weekend could help bring his name back to the forefront. While he's likely a Mike-only linebacker at the next level, displaying the quickness to be a three-down player can push up his stock from a mid-to-late second-round selection to a top-40 pick.

5. Tyus Bowser, Houston

Much like Reddick, Bowser is a former All-American Athletic Conference rush linebacker (8.5 sacks in eight games) whose stock could rise at the combine. While he could end up outside in a 3-4 defense, I suspect his ability to cover ground as a three-down 'backer will get him on the radars of teams looking for a versatile second-level defender. In a draft lacking top-level talent in stack linebackers, Bowser's ability to market himself to all teams through an excellent combine workout could result in a second-round draft position.

Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter @chad_reuter.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000788516/article/five-lbs-with-most-to-prove-at-2017-nfl-scouting-combine

 

I really like Tyus Bowser, he's a former basketball player that has the athletic ability to cover TE's and get after the QB, but he's raw enough that he should be available in the 3rd round. 

Raekwon could be a good 2nd round pick but I'm concerned about his coverage skills, didn't seem that quick foot or able to change directions quickly while at OSU. 

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An option for the Bengals at #9 is Leonard Fournette, a guy that many scouts believe is a once in a generation type of talent...

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Leonard Fournette tips combine scales at 240 pounds

By Chase Goodbread

College Football 24/7 writer

Published: March 1, 2017 at 01:43 p.m.

Updated: March 1, 2017 at 02:17 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nobody can accuse Leonard Fournette of trying to re-invent his physical stature for the NFL Scouting Combine.

The former LSU star running back, whose imposing size and powerful style could make him the top player selected in the draft at his position, weighed 240 pounds at the combine weigh-in. That made him the heaviest running back at the event, and five pounds heavier than his official listing on the LSU roster. While Texas RB D'Onta Foreman dropped weight for the combine -- he was Texas-listed at 249, but was just 233 when he stepped on the scale for NFL scouts Wednesday -- Fournette went in the other direction.

Is there such a thing as too much Fournette?

NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah doesn't seem to think so. Jeremiah pointed out that former Baltimore Ravens RB Jamal Lewis enjoyed his best pro season -- 2,066 regular-season yards and 14 touchdowns in 2003 -- at 245 pounds. And according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, at least one NFL general manager isn't concerned about Fournette's weight. Fournette's combination of size and speed has already been placed in a legendary category, and if he turns in a remarkably good 40-yard dash time when running backs work out Friday, a few extra pounds will matter even less.

But there are different ways of looking at what this means for the former Tigers star.

"I think it has to be a little bit of a concern," said NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein. "He's a big man, but the bigger he gets, the less quickness he is likely to have and quickness matters in the NFL. There have been plenty of running backs who have come into the league and decided to slim down once they experience the speed of NFL defenses. My guess is that he will be told he is too heavy by some NFL teams and he will come in lighter at his pro day."

Different teams likely would hold slightly different opinions about what Fournette's ideal weight is, but there is no mistaking that he falls into the category of a power back who will need to absorb his share of punishment. NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock said Monday that selecting Fournette in the draft should come with a commitment to get him 20-25 carries per game, the kind of workload that requires plenty of size.

Make no mistake -- Fournette has that in spades.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000788629/article/leonard-fournette-tips-combine-scales-at-240-pounds

 

So Fournette gained weight and Foreman dropped over 15 lbs, I think Foreman helped his draft stock while Fournette certainly didn't help by coming in so heavy. Le'Veon Bell is a guy that came into the league heavy at 244 lbs and is now playing at 225 lbs. 

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10 minutes ago, PatternMaster said:

An option for the Bengals at #9 is Leonard Fournette, a guy that many scouts believe is a once in a generation type of talent...

So Fournette gained weight and Foreman dropped over 15 lbs, I think Foreman helped his draft stock while Fournette certainly didn't help by coming in so heavy. Le'Veon Bell is a guy that came into the league heavy at 244 lbs and is now playing at 225 lbs. 

I want to know his 40 time before I worry about his weight. 

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Mayock doesn't think the Bengals might take Barnett at 9?  If he's viable at 10, he is at 9 (though I still think it's a bit of a reach).  Or does he think Barnett isn't a 4-3 DE, or too short for us?

Duffner said he doesn't have a type

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