2025 PLAYER PROFILES
by Drew Boylhart

Quarterbacks
Will Howard QB Ohio St
Will has improved and shown everyone his talent this year simply because he was given the chance. He has excellent size and strength and has the athleticism needed outside of the pocket to make throws on the run or gain 1st downs with his legs. He is very smart and his improvement from game to game this year shows a unique ability to take what he learns in practice onto the field quickly. Will stands strong in the pocket and only leaves the pocket when he is ready and not just because there is pressure. He can make all the throws with accuracy and has the needed velocity in the red zone to be more than effective. You can empty the backfield and still have a running game with Will as quarterback because of his size, competitiveness, and athleticism to run the ball with power. He has the tools to become a franchise quarterback and the talent to start and learn through adversity as well as success. He makes the players around him better through his play on the field and when you need a big play, he finds a way to give his team that needed lift and make the big play. Good leaders know when to follow and when to lead and Will understands on the field to use the talents of the players around him to gain the teams goals. Will is going to be a hell of a quarterback for the team that selects him…a franchise quarterback. Place your bets now. Talent Grade: 1.36
Cameron Ward QB Miami
If your team is looking to become competitive at the QB position, trust me, they would be foolish not to select Cameron. Cam has dealt with the adversity and the success of playing the quarterback position. He has the size, bulk, accuracy, and arm strength to make all the throws and handle the pounding at the next level. Cam also has the athleticism needed to extend plays. His mechanics can sometimes be lacking, affecting his velocity, but he has the strength to be effective when he is throwing off scrip. Cam’s leadership skills are outstanding. Cam can throw with accuracy at different release points. Cam’s improvement from year to year is proof that he is coachable, smart, and willing to learn and improve. Cam reminds me a lot of Teddy Bridgewater when he came out. Eventually, Cam should become an excellent pocket passer who doesn’t need to “rely” on his ability to extend plays out of the pocket in the future. Talent Grade: 1.40
Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado
Shedeur is one of the most physically gifted QB’s in this draft. He has excellent arm strength and throws the ball with good velocity and accuracy. He might be one of the best 2-minute drill QB’s at the college level I have ever seen. He reminds me a lot of Chiefs Patrick Mahomes. Same size, same arm strength and accuracy, and the same football IQ. Shedeur makes most of his excited throws by extending plays out of the pocket. In fact, he might make too many plays out of the pocket and will need to learn to stay in the pocket more. Of course, his offensive line struggled and to his credit, Shedeur made plays when other QB’s might not be able to. Right now, Shedeur holds on to the ball too long and takes too many hits. He will need to rely less on his athletic talents and more on his football IQ and anticipate and trust his WR’s more or he will be on IR more than he is on the field. Talent Grade: 1.42
Jaxon Dart QB Ole Miss
Jaxon is one of the best pure throwers in this draft. He has good size, is smart, and shows leadership skills through his confident play on the field. Jaxon is a touchdown passing machine in the Red Zone. His accuracy is outstanding and his moxie to throw receivers open is the best in this draft. Jaxon is not the most athletic QB in this draft but he will get first downs with his legs and when he sees an open field he will not hesitate to take off. That being said, the strength of his game is in throwing the ball, the mature instincts to manipulate the pocket, and identifying the mismatch before the snap with the football intelligence of a coach on the field. Most “experts” are suggesting that this draft lacks the talent at the QB position and as usual I’m telling you differently. There are plenty of 1st round-talented QB’s in this draft. The talent might need good coaching to be brought out but it is there for sure. Jaxon has the same potential as the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes to impact and like Patrick looks to throw more than run once he breaks the pocket and that is just one of the reasons I consider him one of the better QB’s in this draft. Talent Grade: 1.53
Jalen Milroe QB Alabama
Jalen has unique Olympic-level athletic talent. He could play on either side of the ball and be an impact player at multiple positions. Jalen has the size and bulk you look for in an NFL player. He has a strong arm with excellent velocity to make plays inside the red zone. Jalen seems to lack confidence in adverse situations passing the ball and will get himself out of trouble using his unique Olympic athletic talent to run and make yardage with his legs. Jalen can make all the throws when needed but having the athletic talent makes him a potentially dangerous QB for defenses to defend against. By the time we get to the draft, Jalen could easily be considered the top QB in this draft because he has more upside than the other QB’s in this draft. That being said, he could also be selected later in the first round because he is “less ready” to compete right away for a 17-game schedule than some other QB’s in this draft. Jalen has franchise QB talent but will need to learn to manipulate the pocket, and look to throw on the run, instead of taking off to gain the needed yardage without concern for his body. Talent Grade: 1.62
Dillon Gabriel QB Oregon
Dillon is a very experienced and talented QB. At the college level, Dillon extends plays, works from the pocket, and throws any style of pass you need him to throw with dart-like accuracy that most NFL QB’s are lacking. He shows excellent leadership skills and is the type of QB who will make your playcaller look like a genius. Dillon reminds me a lot of former Bills QB Doug Flute. He has that high football IQ that helps make the players around him better. Right now, Dillion is better than at least half of the starting NFL QB’s. He has been invited to the Senior Bowl and that means the scouts like what they see. The 2 big issues holding him back from being considered as an early draft pick are his size and the fact he is left-handed. I’m not suggesting the round Dillion will be selected, all I’m suggesting is when he gets on the field he will play like he was selected in the 1st Rd. That’s his talent. Talent Grade: 1.75
Tyler Shough QB Louisville
Tyler is a 7-year, college QB who reminds me a lot of former Redskins/Commanders, Vikings, and Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousin. He has a good arm and solid accuracy and because he has played for seven years at the college level, does a very good job managing the game. He has the needed athleticism to work outside the pocket and does a good job manipulating the pocket and handling the pressure on passing downs. Tyler is smart and shows the needed velocity on his throws to be effective in the red zone. I believe Tyler can be a starting quarterback if he is in the right system and with a strong team and coach around him. Tyler will need a coach who understands that Tyler, will struggle when the play breaks down, but given the time can be a winning quarterback because of his football intelligence and leadership skills just like Kirk Cousins is. I’m giving Tyler a 2nd round grade and that means for me, I would select him at some point after the third round as a potential Backup, QB with the potential to start. Tyler has to learn to read defenses at the NFL level he has never seen before and his lack of ability to make plays when a play breaks down with the needed arm talent will be magnified until he does. Talent Grade: 2.69
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty RB Boise St
Ashton is a complete RB. He can run the ball inside or outside, catch the ball, and block. He can power the ball into the end zone or finesse it into the end zone. Ashton is an excellent blocker and a strong blocker for his QB and takes pride in his blocking. He doesn’t give up on running the ball if he is struggling early in a game and in the fourth quarter, can be your 4-minute, run the clock out, running back. There will be those in this draft who will nitpick about Ashton and tell you the competition he went up against doesn’t warrant selecting him early. To those people I say, turn on the Oregon film and then tell me that. There will be those that will say, Ashton has been used up and there is not enough “tread left on the tires”. I would say to them, that it’s going to be a hell of a benefit to get him for the first four years of his career…wouldn’t you say? This is an RB who is mature and smart and knows how to pick up the blitz the day you put him on the field. That alone should tell you to select him early in this draft. The level of competition for a running back has nothing to do with his ability to be effective in the NFL. Starting RB’s and franchise RB’s come from all levels of competition. Talent Grade: 1.43
Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio St
Quinshon has the size and speed needed to be a starting running back. He has excellent lateral agility that allows him to make his own yards and pick up blitzing players when pass-blocking. Quinshon does an excellent job catching the ball down the field and can be used in the slot or out of the backfield on passing downs. He reminds a lot of former Titans RB Chris Johnson who in 2009 ran for 2,006 yards, and rushed for over one thousand yards for six straight years from 2008 to 2013. Quinshon is lightning on the field and will demand offensive coordinators to game plan for him. Although Quinshon does run a little high and struggles getting the tough yards, between the tackles, he compensates with quick feet and vision when he is in the red zone to score touchdowns. Quinshon will break tackles when he needs to nevertheless, he is more likely, with his quickness, to shake and bake his way to first downs, and to gain run after the catch yardage. Although in the open field, Quinshon is a “now you see him, now you don’t”, type of running back, don’t let that fool you, he will put his head down and has the size and strength to make those tough yards in the “big” games, for sure. Quinshon has the ability to be a weapon for the team that selects him. Talent Grade: 1.50
TreVeyon Henderson RB Ohio St
When I watched TreVeyon on film, he reminded me so much of a young former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas that it sent chills down my spine. TreVeyon is made to run from a spread offense. He has excellent vision and balance and quick cutting north/south feet to break the line of scrimmage without getting touched as Thurman had. He runs with the same pad level as Thurman did, and this, along with his excellent vision, allows him to break tackles in the open field with little movement, keeping him going forward instead of laterally, gaining more yards than most other backs in the open field. TreVeyon, like Thurman, is an excellent receiver any place on the field, and his ability to pass block is equal to Thurman’s also. As I stated before, Treveyon is a perfect fit for a spread offense. All you have to do is give him a good blocking tight end like Thurman had, and he will impact your offense the day after you draft him. Many teams in the NFL are running the old Bills K-gun offense, but now they are doing it without a blocking tight End. That makes TreVeyon more valuable than a lot of other running backs in this deep class. If Treveyon falls into the 2nd round, all I can say is some team will be getting themselves a real steal and a plug-and-play impact player. Talent Grade: 1.50
Ollie Gordon II RB/H-Back Oklahoma St
Ollie could be the best RB in this very talented group of RB’s for this draft. He is 6’ 2” – 225 lbs, and extremely athletic. He has solid speed but what sets him ahead of other big running backs is his vision, lateral agility, and ability to break tackles at the line of scrimmage and the open field. Ollie can catch the ball down the field as well as any pass catching Tight End. He likes to chip block on his way out of the backfield and can put a 300-lb offensive lineman on the ground with just his shoulder. Ollie needs his shoulders to be square to the line of scrimmage to be effective but he is smart and can turn the corner because of his athleticism and good RB techniques. He doesn’t look as fast as Ravens Derrick Henry who is 6’ 3” 247 lbs, but his burst, lateral agility, and quickness are equal for sure, and you can bet DB’s will not be happy to see him break the line of scrimmage. Ollie struggled mentally to return fully from his 2023 injury until the last three games of the 2024 season. Taking his injury into consideration, he looks ready mentally and physically now, to become a franchise RB/H-back for the team that selects him. Talent Grade: 1.83
Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina
Omarion reminds me a lot of the Colts' Jonathan Taylor. He runs with his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and when he gets into the second level most safeties and linebackers will struggle to handle his power and strength trying to tackle him. Omarion has the soft hands to catch the ball out of the backfield and once again in the open field corners better have their big boy pants on if they want to tackle him or he will break those tackles and make those needed after the catch yards. Omarion will have to learn to lower his pad level when running and when picking up the blitz. When he is blocking, he loses leverage and when he runs, he takes too many big hits after the tackle and when hitting the ground. I’m not sure I have ever seen a running back hit the ground harder than Omarion and this alone will take a toll on his NFL life if he doesn’t learn to lower his pads more. The medicals will most likely determine what round Omarion will be selected and if he can stay away from injuries, I suspect he will have as impactful a career as Jonathan Taylor has had. Taylor was selected in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft after running a 4.3 in his 40 at the combine. That being said, times are changing for running backs and the value is too. Talent Grade: 1.83
Cam Skatteboo RB Arizona St
Cam plays football like a torpedo firing off an aircraft. He plays with the effort needed to keep the chains moving and the passion to score touchdowns that most backs in the NFL lack right now. He shows the vision and lateral agility to bounce off tackles, keep his balance, and finish his runs. His quick feet and short strides also make it easy for him to change direction without much upper body movement. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field, gaining the respect of his teammates because of his passion to gain yardage almost every time he gets the ball in his hands. Cam has good hands to catch the ball out of the backfield and down the field. Because he is tight in his hips and small in stature, he gives you the misconception that he is not as athletic as other running backs. Nevertheless, Cam has the athleticism that running backs need to be effective, and that's all that counts. What round Cam gets selected in is a guess. Injuries, past and present, will most likely dictate what round Cam will fall to in this draft. That being said, no matter the round, he will be an impact player and a fan favorite and sell more merchandise for your team than most running backs in the NFL right now. Cam is a gold mine player who will help to dictate the tone of your offense, and that is what a player with a first-round grade should do. Cam runs the ball in the red zone with the same commitment to getting into the end zone as Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, and that alone will make him the torpedo of choice for most teams looking to score more points for their offense. Talent Grade: 1.83
Brashard Smith RB/WR SMU
Brashard has natural athletic talent that most NFL players lack. He can play multiple positions on your offense. He can play as a running back in the backfield, in the slot as a receiver, or because of his strength and quickness, out wide as a receiver. Brashard has that type of lateral agility and in a “phone booth” quickness that makes it easy for him to embarrass Defensive backs and linebackers, trying to tackle him in the open field. He reminds me of the cartoon character, the Road Runner going Beep Beep, as he runs past everyone on the field. Brashard, because of his bulk, 195 lbs, and strength, should be able to stay on the field for more snaps than your average speed demon that may have the same speed and quickness but lacks the natural strength and bulk to not get injured. As a running back, Brashard had an unbelievable impact on his college team this last year gaining 1,332 yards on 235 carries, a 5.7-yard average, and 14 Touchdowns. Brashard’s position originally was as a receiver as a deep threat and trust me putting him on the move and into the open field, he is a touch away from scoring at any point on the field. As a punt returner, he also is a touch away from scoring every time a team has to punt to him. Brashard, is an offensive weapon, ready to explode anytime he touches the ball. The Roadrunner is the nickname of a bird called the Ground Cuckoo and trust me, trying to tackle Brashard in the open field will drive you Crazy Beep-Beep. Talent Grade: 2.17
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio St
Emeka is a long-striding receiver with excellent, quiet hands, very much like the Buccaneers Mike Edwards, and the Jaguars Brian Thomas. His long strides give him deceiving speed to make yards after the catch. Emeka has the agility and body control to make the difficult catch. He also has the lateral agility to run excellent routes and a High football IQ to read defenses on the run. Emeka runs precise routes and with his long strides can separate easily. Because of his excellent route running, and ability to separate, Emeka can play any one of the receiver positions. He can move the chains or go deep, and with his quiet hands, can catch the deep ball with ease. Emeka has the size needed to take the pounding to the next level. He does a solid job blocking and looks to be a good teammate and that is very important for a receiver not to be a diva. I think the most impressive aspect of Emeka's overall talents is his ability to be in sync with his quarterback on down and distant situations. He still has to prove that he can come up with the contested catch in the red zone but that is nitpicking. Emeka should be an excellent receiver for his team. Talent Grade: 1.83
Isaiah Bond WR/ST Texas
In this draft of “put me to sleep” Wide Receivers, we finally find a Diamond. Isaiah is a speed receiver who runs the whole route tree and catches the dam ball. He is not a speed receiver who is a cubic zirconia Diamond like so many speed receivers are. Isaiah runs the quick out, the slant, the comeback, the curl, the square out and in, the corner, post, and the go route, all with precision, and he catches the dam ball. He is undersized, but he doesn’t take the big hit after catching the dam ball because of his speed, quickness, and precision route running. Isaiah will give you some run-after-the-catch yardage because of his quickness. That being said, if your QB hits him in stride, Isaiah will fly by defensive backs like a NASA X-43 fighter plane going at Mach speed while catching the dam ball! Size matters when it comes to the draft. The NFL is obsessed with size when analyzing players and projecting how they might do at the next level. I’m more of a guy who tries to project a player’s character, football IQ, and football maturity from how that player is playing on the field. I’m a profiler, not an analyst. I do include production, size, and the numbers from the workouts, but most of that is to help confirm what I have already seen in profiling the player from film. I don’t interview players because interviews can be the most misleading part of profiling a player. After all, the really smart people can act like an angel while asking for directions as they pick your pocket in a busy airport. From what I see on film, Isaiah is unique. He is a speed receiver who runs the route tree with precision, and unlike most speed receivers, he catches the dam ball. Because of his size, he will be labeled as a number 2 or 3 receiver, and that seems logical in selecting him. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that his size will limit his impact. Isaiah is no cubic zirconia; he’s a real Diamond, and impacting your offense is where he will shine. Talent Grade: 2.06
Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
Tetairoa has the length that a lot of receivers lack and this helps him dramatically. He has good, strong hands to catch the ball and is one of the most consistent, and crafty route runners that I have seen coming out in any draft. Tetairoa has those smooth long strides and quiet hands that allow him to catch anything thrown his way. He has a high football IQ that allows him to stay in sync with his quarterback when a play breaks down. Tetairoa is not fast and he is not quick so running his forty at the combine would not be smart because there is too much attention on the forty time, and his speed will be the biggest issue for a lot of teams to judge him by. My guess is if he runs in the 4.6 range he will sneak into the 1st round but anything close to 4.7 or over, will drop him into a later round. Nevertheless, his speed, or lack of it, should not affect his production on the field if he is matched up with a franchise quarterback. All Tetairoa needs to do is build the trust of the quarterback and playcaller to be an impact receiver for the team that selects him. His length, quiet hands, crafty route running, and high football IQ, will make him a quarterback’s favorite target, and that’s all that matters when it comes to a receiver impacting. Talent Grade: 2.19
Luther Burden III WR Missouri
Luther has the potential to be an excellent slot receiver because of his quickness to elude tacklers after the catch. He does a good job in the slot, finding those soft spots in a zone and showing his numbers to the quarterback for easy receptions. Luther should be excellent on special teams returning punts. He has good hands and does a good job adjusting to the ball in the air. His quickness and High Football IQ will make him a “security blanket” type of receiver when plays break down giving his quarterback and offensive play-caller the ability to call any type of play knowing Luther is on the field. Luther is more quick than fast and that will affect teams thinking about his ability to play on the outside and gain separation unless he becomes more of a technician running routes. Nevertheless, inside the red zone, he is strong enough and smart enough to be a weapon in the slot or lined up wide, using his quickness to gain the needed separation to score touchdowns. Talent Grade; 2.50
Jack Bech WR TCU
Jack is on a mission, and that mission has given Jack the confidence to play at a level he never thought was attainable. Tell me, what do Cooper Kupp selected in the 3rd round, Devante Adams selected in the 3rd round, Puka Nacua selected in the 5th round, and Adam Thielen who was undrafted, all have in common? They are all about the same size as Jack, and their workout numbers are all about the same but that is not what makes them all excellent receivers, in fact, as far as teams were concerned, their workout numbers led to them all being down-graded. So, what does Jack have in common with all of those players you ask...Jack catches the ball. Jack catches the ball over his head, under his legs, with players hanging on him. He runs his routes with annoying consistency and will adjust his route making it easier for his quarterback when he breaks the pocket. Jack is on a mission and that mission is to catch the ball when it is thrown to him with no excuses. Jack has that annoying football intelligence that will allow him to play inside or outside. He also can establish that annoying trust built with his quarterback and play-caller that other receivers will wonder how he established that trust. That trust is established because Jack catches the ball with no excuses. So, nitpick away. Use the fact that Jack only has one season of stats to show as outstanding, he’s not fast, he’s not fluid enough to run routes. I’ll take my Cooper, Devante, Puka, Adam, and Jack Bech over your 4.3 receiver who is fast and fluid but struggles to catch the ball with excuses. Talent Grade: 2.64
Matthew Golden WR Texas
Matthew is a receiver who plays smaller than his size. He is a complimentary receiver who can scare a defense with his speed and make big plays on the field when he is not being double-teamed. Mathew has been clocked at the combine at 4.29 speed. Nevertheless, on film, it’s hard to see that speed when he gets caught from behind, and is a better route runner against zone coverages than against single coverages. Matthew can adjust to the ball in the air and looks to have good hands to catch the ball. He is tough, and against zone coverages, will go over the middle and catch the ball. Matthew’s impact should be as a 3rd or even a 2d receiver in a team’s passing offense. Because of his long speed, he should be able to go deep for the quarterback and pull an offense out of trouble in their part of the field. Because Matthew lacks the burst and quickness that you like to see in a 4.29-speed receiver, gaining yards after the catch and separating from single coverage makes him a limited route runner until he can improve. If Matthew works hard and learns the tricks of the trade, he has shown on film the toughness and hands to become much better than I have him rated right now. That being said, and in profiling him for this draft, I’m not convinced that will happen given his lack of the ability to play to his speed on film. Talent Grade: 3.14
Tight Ends
Tyler Warren TE Penn St
Tyler is an “I’m always open” big receiver playing the Tight End position. He has those long strides that allow him to separate with very little effort when running any kind of route. Tyler has excellent hands and the agility to change his body in the air, allowing him a bigger catch radius than most 6’6” 260 lb. receivers. He is not fast or quick but he has deceiving speed in the open field because of those long strides. Tyler is difficult to tackle in the open field because of his size, forcing DB’s and LB’s to need help to bring him down. He will make more than one big play in a game if your quarterback is smart enough to pass the ball to him. Tyler can block when he wants to, and if you need him to, but if the block isn’t to his side or not needed to spring a player, Tyler is more inclined to keep himself available and open for his quarterback to pass to him in case the play breaks down. He is a very smart runner with excellent vision in the open field, using that vision to anticipate and defeat the angle of his tackler two or three yards before his opponent can redirect to finish. Tyler is a weapon. He is smart, big, and athletic with those pillow like receiver hands, and a big catch radius that makes him an impact player on any down and distance for the team that selects him. Talent Grade: 1.57
Mason Taylor TE LSU
Mason has the potential to become a complete Tight End. His savvy route-running skills are better than most Tight Ends in the NFL right now. His football intelligence to adjust routes on the run and extinguish the defender’s cushion to gain separation is outstanding. Masson shows very good foot quickness and the fluid hips to block in space or on the move and when he lowers his pad level, he gains the needed leverage to put a defender on his back and open up holes. Mason has those strong hands to make catches with defenders hanging on to him and just enough burst and quickness to make the needed yardage after the catch, and to break a tackle to make 1st downs. He does need to improve his inline blocking, getting stronger, and keeping his pads lower to not lose leverage. This will come in time because it is easy to see that Mason is an excellent teammate and wants the respect of his teammates and he knows that respect will come through improving his blocking and doing the dirty work. Mason is on a mission to be the best that he can be. If Mason is selected by a team that uses Tight Ends instead of just having them on the team, he will become a Pro Bowl player. Look for Rob’s value board to check what round Mason is most likely to be selected. Mason will be the quarterback’s best friend on the field. Talent Grade: 1.94
Colston Loveland TE/WR Michigan
Is Colston a Wide Receiver running Tight End routes, or is he a Tight End who can run Wide Receiver routes? Colston reminds me a lot of Bills Dalton Kincaid and this type of pass-catching Tight End’s productivity is directly related to the Quarterback and Play caller's trust. Colston has excellent eye-hand coordination to catch the ball. He has a Wide Receiver's athletic talent to adjust to the ball in the air. Colston knows how to use his body in the red zone and understands how to manipulate coverage in the red zone to score Touchdowns. Colston has enough speed to work out as a wide receiver and if he ever learns to run routes better could be used “at times” as a wideout, tight end, or coming out of the backfield like an H-back. Colston had shoulder surgery recently and this will affect his draft status. Real Tight Ends are supposed to block and shoulder injuries usually affect that ability. Colston could be a weapon but if you don’t make him an integral part of your passing offense, and don’t throw the ball to him, then you have wasted your pick. Blocking is not the impact part of his game, pass catching is. Some teams will rate Colston as a 1st round pick and some will rate him as a 2nd round pick but no matter what round he gets selected in, if you don’t include him and throw to him, you will nullify his impact.
Talent Grade: 2.06
Elijah Arroyo TE Miami
Elijah is what I call a “Stack Receiver.” His size makes him listed as a Tight End, but let’s not call him something that he is not. Elijah is the type of receiver who needs a free release off the line of scrimmage to be productive and that is a “move”, or “Stack” Receiver. The other reason not to call him a Tight End or H-Back is because “blocking” is never going to be a strong point of his overall game. He might get in the way of an opponent but that’s about it. Elijah is a fluid athlete with excellent eye-hand coordination to catch the ball. He reminds me a lot of Dolphins/Patriots/Bengals Mike Gesicki whose production is directly related to the offensive coordinator’s, and Quarterback’s trust and his ability to take the pounding in the NFL. Elijah is not really, a “run-after-the-catch", type of receiver unless you hit him in stride. That being said, Elijah can make first downs and score touchdowns if he gets that free release off the line of scrimmage to get into his routes quickly. He has good speed, and because of his long strides and body length, he gets the separation needed to be effective on down-the-field routes. Nevertheless, getting into his routes quickly without a free release will always be a problem. Medicals will be an issue for some teams and the right coordinator and play caller will also be an issue that will affect his draft status. Elijah has the talent to be an impact “Stack Receiver” for the team that needs and knows how to use a “Stack Receiver” in their offense. Talent Grade: 2.67
Offensive Line
Grey Zabel C/G/OT North Dakota St
Grey reminds me a lot of former Eagles Center Jason Kelce. Grey is bigger at 6’5” 316 lbs compared to Jason who is 6’2” 280 lbs. The big difference is that Grey can play all five positions on the offensive line compared to Jason who was a center/guard and obviously, undersized. Those of you who have followed me over the years know that I consider the skill positions on offense to be QB, LT, and Center and not QB, RB, and WR. Grey can play two of my skilled positions at the next level, at a high level and that is unique. He proved it at the Senior Bowl so this is not an opinion, it is a fact. As a left tackle, he might not have the arm-length teams look for to play that position but he has such quick feet and lateral agility that he more than compensates. When he plays left tackle, Grey can mirror his opponent’s movements as if he were John Travolta using those smooth dancing moves in the movie “Michael” so, he doesn’t need long arms. He explodes out of his stance getting to the second level with the suddenness and quickness of a sidewinder rattlesnake, and he doesn't miss his blocks. Some teams will not be as high on him as I am because he played in the FCS, but that is a smoke screen because he proved in one-on- one’s at the Senior Bowl practices, that he could have easily played in the SEC. I believe Grey has top-ten talent but that's just me. If I needed a Left Tackle or a Center, I would think selecting the top offensive lineman in this draft might be a smart move but once again...that’s just me. Teams drafting every year early are screaming for help on their offensive lines and most years those teams pass on selecting the top offensive line players in the top five of a draft. Well, Grey is a player who can legitimately play all five positions on the offensive line, let’s see where he gets selected. Talent Grade: 1.43
Will Campbell OT LSU
Will reminds me of former Bengals/Rams OT Andrew Whitworth. He is extremely smart, understanding angles when pass blocking, leverage when run blocking, and in working with his linemates on stunts. For a big person he moves his feet well with solid lateral agility but his intelligence is what allows him to play on the outside as a tackle. Will does a solid job moving to the second level and sealing the end on sweeps and screens but I would not use him much as a pulling tackle or expect him to be consistent in getting out in space and down the field blocking. He is a pure tackle and most likely could play on either side because of his high football IQ. In Drew’s rules, I have always told you that if you don’t have an excellent QB, LT, and center…you will not have a successful offense. Those are the skilled positions as far as I’m concerned and teams looking for impact players at those three positions will be selecting them early in a draft. I suspect, most teams will believe that Will is one of those early selecting players. Will is not the most athletic player or lineman and he stands as tall as the Empire State Building on the field and that might turn some teams off him. That being said, he knows how to play the position, and plays it at a high level and that’s really all that matters.
Talent Grade: 1.50
Armand Membou OT/OG Missouri
Armand is an efficient, smart, and the most consistent technique-wise offensive lineman in this draft. His body type and lower body strength scream out for him to be a natural guard but his techniques and quick feet allow him to play tackle at a very high level. Armand has the quick twitch lateral agility to mirror bigger Defensive Linemen and his ability to reset quickly, anchor, or when needed, flip his hips to drive his opponent up the field, is the best I have seen since former Cowboys guard Zack Martin. Armand has short arms and this will be an issue for some teams if they are looking for an Offensive Tackle. Nevertheless, because of his athleticism and quick twitch-reset agility, Armand should be able to play Tackle in some offensive systems. The reason he can play Tackle is that he has the athletic talent to play out in space, is smart, and is consistent in using the techniques needed to minimize an opponent who has long arms. In this draft looking for pure Offensive Tackles with long arms seems to be missing but I think finding Offensive linemen with plug-and-play abilities at Guard or Tackle and the athletic talent to play in space, just might change some team’s minds. By the way, Armand is an excellent run blocker and as far as going to the second level or picking up stunts, and working in sync with his linemates...he does all those things at a Pro Bowl level as a tackle. Think about it. Talent Grade: 1.64
Josh Simmons OL Ohio St
Josh reminds me a lot of the Bills' LT Dion Dawkins. He is very athletic, with quick feet that allow him to minimize his lack of arm length that most scouts and offensive line coaches look for to play the offensive tackle position. Josh is an excellent run blocker using his size quickness and strength to dominate and finish his blocks. When pass-blocking at Left Tackle, he can be surprised by other players' quickness and will get beat, much like Dion when he came out in his draft. Josh needs to gain more confidence when pass-blocking. Josh could be a plug-and-play left guard the day after you select him. He also could develop into a Pro Bowl Left Tackle given the repetitions and coaching, on how to use his size and quick feet to his advantage just like Dion has after he was selected in the 2nd round of his draft. Deciding if Josh will be a guard or Tackle by teams will affect Josh’s draft status. If a team believes he can play tackle he most likely will be selected early. If teams only see him as a guard, then later because Josh is also coming off an injury. I see him as a Left Tackle, just give him some time to gain more confidence and coach him to use his quickness and short arms to his advantage when pass blocking, and he will be excellent. My theory about pass blocking...arm length isn’t everything, moving you dam feet is. Talent Grade: 1.75
Josh Conerly Jr. OT/OG Oregon
Josh is the type of offensive lineman who is as solid as they come. He has the athletic talent and quick feet to play Tackle or Guard. Right now, Josh might be considered as a tweener because he lacks the strength to be a guard and lacks the lateral quickness to be a tackle. That being said, he could play both positions because the talent to get quicker is obvious, and the ability to add strength should not be an issue. You can see the ability to be an excellent offensive tackle in the Penn St game when Josh went up against the consensus top-ten edge rusher in this draft. In that game, you can see how much quicker Josh is compared to some other games. He is not lazy, but he does seem to play up to the challenge and talent across the line against him. I guess what I’m trying to communicate when I watch film of Josh is that he lacks consistent aggressiveness from game to game. Because of his athletic talent, the game comes easy to him unless he is challenged. Josh has played a lot of snaps at Left Tackle, and I feel there are plenty of reasons to think that Josh will be one of the top Left Tackles in the NFL for the team that selects him. Nevertheless, he will need to get stronger, handle the bull rush better, and be consistently quick on every snap of the ball. I have no doubt he will do just that.
Talent grade 1.97
Aireontae Ersery OL Minnesota
Aireontae is big and strong and has enough “athleticism” to play Offensive tackle but I’m not convinced he’s athletic enough. His workout numbers are fine but when you put on the film you see him off-balance when pass protecting at the snap of the ball. His athleticism allows him to be competitive at the college level but I think moving him inside to guard is in his near future for the next level. Nevertheless, I do see him developing into a pretty good Right Tackle making Aireontae more valuable and in this draft, weak at the tackle position, being selected earlier than I have him rated in this draft. He does a good job going to the second level and is a good run blocker overall. If Aireontae can stop bending at the waist and unlock his hips when pass blocking, he has the foot agility to mirror and become a much better pass blocker. If he loses some weight, he will improve his balance off the snap and his natural foot agility will come more into play. When this happens, he will open the door to being able to play either tackle position. Otherwise, if he stays at his weight, he most likely will be moved inside to a guard position. Of course, this is just my opinion and I’m not an offensive line coach so take this for what it is. Aireontae has a future as a starting offensive lineman for sure, it’s just a matter of what position will be best for him, and the team that selects him. If teams see him as an Offensive Tackle he will be selected early.
Talent Grade: 2.39
Tyler Booker OL Alabama
Tyler is a guard and a guard he shall be. He has the size, bulk, and strength that teams look for in a run-blocking nightmare guard, against those big, strong Defensive Lines. Tyler has excellent pad level and leverage coming off the snap when running-blocking. He works well with his teammates and does a solid job going out to the second level to make blocks. Tyler is a good pulling guard despite his lack of foot speed. When Tyler stays on balance, he is a very good pass-blocker. That being said, off the snap, he sometimes is on heels, loses his balance, and confidence, and panics, forgetting to trust his techniques to recover. Tyler has the talent to be an excellent pass-blocking guard, given the time to gain more confidence and trust. There is much to like about Tyler’s overall game and I believe becoming a Pro Bowl guard, is very much in his future. Talent Grade 2.53
Kelvin Banks OT/OG Texas
Kelvin has the athletic talent to play more than one position on the offensive line. He shows on film the ability to mirror his opponent when pass blocking. He has the ability to be used as a pulling guard and does a good job going to the second level to make his blocks. Kelvin can be used on sweeps and screens because of the athleticism and lateral agility he shows when pass blocking. The problems Kelvin has is a lack of consistency, passion, and overall strength, and those three issues are the worst issues for an offensive lineman to have. Sometimes he has lazy feet, and sometimes he gets overpowered. Sometimes he doesn’t fire out when run blocking and will let defenders slip off blocks and doesn’t make enough of an effort to reengage. That being said, he has Pro Bowl talent and if gets stronger and in NFL shape, I think the passion and the aggression to become an outstanding offensive guard or tackle will be discovered. I like him as a guard until he can improve and show that he can be trusted to give the same effort in every down and distance situation. There is no real reason why in the future he can’t play tackle and that’s why he most likely will be selected earlier than I have him graded. But if I’m right about his lack of consistency, then Kelvin won’t be a 1st round pick.
Talent Grade: 3.89
Defensive Line
Mason Graham DT/DE Michigan
Mason is an excellent run stuffing, shed, and makes a tackle at the line of scrimmage DT. He has those strong hands that are very important for a defensive lineman to have. Mason, when he is using the correct techniques and not overly aggressive trying to make a play by himself, has the franchise, size, strength, and excellent techniques needed to build your defense line play around. He looks on film to be an excellent leader and teammate. Mason’s ability to be an impact player at the next level is without any doubts. That being said, his aggressiveness at times tends to work against him taking himself out of the play and on the ground. Mason has a good understanding of offensive line play and this allows him to get a jump on the offensive line but it also at times allows him to play sloppy and this needs to be addressed. That being said, Mason is the real deal, I have no doubt his impact at the next level will be outstanding. Talent 1.50
Ty Robinson DT/DE Nebraska
Ty reminds me a lot of Redskins/Commanders DL Jonathan Allen and like Jonathan, if you're looking for a defensive player to be the focal point of your Defense Line look no further than Ty Robinson. Ty can play inside or outside in a 4/3 or 3/4 line. He is big, strong, and has a powerful burst that changes the line of scrimmage in his favor off the snap in every down and distance situation. If he plays on the outside he will be what I call a “power rusher” shutting down the run, vacuuming up the sweeps and screens for losses, and giving you 8 to 10 sacks a year. If you play him on the inside he will be like a Metamorphic Rock, shutting down the run, pushing the pocket, disrupting the rhythm of an offense, and in general, causing havoc for the opponent’s offense. Ty is a leader and will be a franchise Defensive lineman for your team. He will make the players around him better through his play on the field and leadership. He will make coaches...better coaches, because of his attention to detail in his play on the field. Ty is one of the best Defensive linemen in this draft. He is a Rock and the more pressure and heat you put on him the less chance opponents have to move him off the line of scrimmage. Talent Grade: 1.54
Jordan Philips DT/DL Maryland
Jordan is an explosive, powerful, Defensive lineman with the potential to play in a 1gap as a disrupter, or a 2gap as a run stuffer. Jordan can change the line of scrimmage in his favor on every down. He is athletic with excellent lateral agility and foot speed to get into the backfield and finish. He has solid, change-of-direction agility, for a person his size and gives the effort on every down needed to be a core player and the type of player you can build your defensive line game around. Jordan has the body type of Sponge Bob Square Pants and because of his athleticism and pad level coming off the line, can dominate if you try to block him with just one offensive lineman. His explosiveness off the snap will give Defensive Coordinators the ability on passing downs to use him to collapse the pocket and not allow quarterbacks to step up into the pocket for those home run throws down the field. Jordan is a bit of a “maniac” on the field and is happy to do his job no matter what is asked of him. After his combine workouts, I think you will see him flying up a lot of the team's boards quickly, and be selected early in this loaded Draft of Defensive tackles.
Talent Grade: 1.56
Walter Nolen DT/DE Ole Miss
Walter is a Defensive Edge Rusher in a Defensive Tackles body. He reminds me a lot of when Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith came out in the 1985 Draft. Bruce was over 300 lbs when he came out of college. He was called the Sack Man with 46 career sacks, averaging 11.5 sacks a season. At the end of his NFL career, Bruce was a 260 lb Edge Rusher and the all-time leader in sacks. Walter has nowhere near that type of production but he does have that mentality and if he loses a little weight, and gets into NFL football shape, I think moving him to a defensive end position would benefit him dramatically. Walter has the size, length, body type, and excellent overall athletic talent, of a pure defensive end. He has the explosion off the line of scrimmage like an Edge Rusher too. He does not like to take on blocks and make tackles at the line of scrimmage. What Walter likes to do is get into the backfield, disrupt, and make tackles or sack the QB. I don’t think you going to change him no matter how much you try. So, why bother? Use him inside on passing downs and outside on passing downs. Walter can and will set the edge and make plays against the run, on sweeps and screens because of his excellent athletic talent but put him on the inside, and he gets constricted by the garbage and it lessens his impact. Walter is like a sidewinder heat-seeking missile, firing off the line and honing in on his target and not waiting for his target to come to him. Talent Grade: 1.61
Derrick Harmon DL Oregon
Derrick reminds me of the Chiefs Chris Jones when he came out in the draft. Derrick has the size, explosion, long arms, and strength to dominate on the line of scrimmage. He is made for a 3/4 defense as a Nose Tackle or Defensive End. The fewer players around Derrick the easier it is for him to do his work. Using him in a 4/3 defensive front as a Defensive Tackle stifles his ability and movement to manipulate and fight through the double teams. Derrick is much better at lining up against one player and then exploding off a double team that comes to help out than being hit with a double team right off the snap of the ball. The reason is that he plays up high and gives away his chest to the offensive lineman and loses leverage despite his strength and length. Derrick also struggles to change direction so passing downs would be more impactful coming from one side or the other to force a quarterback out of the pocket with a more directional path to the quarterback to collect sacks. If the team that selects him uses him the same way the Chiefs use Chris Jones he will be as dominating a player with double-digit sacks as Chris has been. Park him on the line as an interior Defensive Tackle in a 4/3 front, and it lessens his impact. Remember good coaching is everything when it comes to using players to their strengths. Talent Grade: 1.61
Cam Jackson DT Florida St
Cam is a big, strong, powerful, long-arm, pure, push-the-pocket, stuff the run Defensive tackle. There is no “I can be a Defensive End”, in this kid's repertoire at all. His measurements at the Senior Bowl were 6’ 6 ½", 339 lbs. with a 6’11 ¼" Wing span and he wore it well. Cam very simply did the one on one’s with a dominating push, straight back to the quarterback. No fancy moves and with the full knowledge by the offensive lineman that collapsing the pocket and not defeating the man in front of him was all he had on his mind. When Cam, uses his long arms to keep offensive linemen away from his body he is one of the best run-stuffing Defensive linemen in this draft. There is a saying with the scouts in the NFL that most “Experts” and talking heads don’t seem to understand. That saying is, the closer you are lined up to the ball the more valuable that player is. Centers, Defensive Tackles, and Quarterbacks are the most valued positions, and the positions you must have impact players at or your offense and defense will not be good enough to compete in the big games. The exception to that rule would be Left Tackle, we all know how important they are. Cam can be a dominating Nose Tackle or a pure, Defensive Tackle. He could make your defense dominating by freeing up others to make the tackles and sacks and take the glory. I don’t know what round Cam will be selected but I do know, that his talent and value make him an early selection in my book. Talent Grade: 1.64
Kenneth Grant DT/NT Michigan
Kenneth reminds me a lot of former Patriots Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork. Kenneth is a remarkable athlete. He demands a double team on every down and in every down and distance situation. He is a run-stuffing nightmare for offensive linemen to block. When he is used as a pass rusher it is like watching a Tsunami of waves, crashing through the offensive lineman, hitting the itty-bitty blocking back, and then slamming into the QB who will try frantically to get out of his way. That being said what you get from Kenneth is a run stuffer who most likely will come off the field in pass-rushing situations in spite of his athletic talents. Kenneth will have to lose some weight and build up his stamina to be effective at the next level. He’s listed at 340 lbs and if he gets down to 320 Lbs he will stay on the field longer and get more of a chance to pass rush. Kenneth is exactly the type of defensive lineman you can build your defense around if he loses a little weight and gains stamina. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field and because he demands a double team and that makes the players around him better. Kenneth is a 340 lb Tsunami and trust me, when he’s on the field he owns it, hash mark to hash mark. Talent Grade: 1.67
Deone Walker DT Kentucky
I don’t think there is any doubt about Deone’s potential to be a dominating Defensive lineman for the team that selects him. His size and athletic talent alone suggest that. The problem is, his film in 2024 contradicts his film in 2023 and that is the big concern. Deone has shown on film that he can shed blocks and shed double teams to be disruptive and make plays that many other Defensive linemen are not able to do. He has also shown on film, being handled one on one by Georgia offensive lineman. In that game, he was pushed off the line and thrown around like a rag doll. The question is, did he try to play with injuries in 2024? He showed up against Ole Miss and dominated and played well but there are other games where the only reason you notice him on the field is because of his size. If you look at his 2023 film, Deone is worthy of being selected in the top five of any draft. In fact, off of his 2023 film, I would look at him as potentially being considered as the 1st pick of that draft. This year I would consider him as having 1st round talent that could slip into the 2nd or even the 3rd round depending on his interviews and medicals. If Deone was trying to play through some injuries, he is certainly worth selecting early in this draft. Talent Grade: 1.89
Darius Alexander DT Toledo
Darius is the type of Defensive lineman that could develop into something special. He has the size, strength, and speed, along with excellent athletic talent, and those long arms needed to be an impact lineman. Darius gets an advantage off the line of scrimmage on just about every down and distance, because of his pad level. For a Defensive lineman, to change the line of scrimmage to his advantage, you must come off the line with a pad level equal to or lower than your opponent. If a player can do that consistently, they will be an impact defensive lineman. It is really that simple. The lower the pad level with the ability to keep your feet is the key to winning off the snap of the ball. Darius is one of the best in this draft at keeping his pad level low and keeping his feet and that is where he gets his explosiveness from. Darius has the size, foot, speed, and explosiveness to be used all along the Defensive line. He is stout against the run and does a solid job shedding blocks and making tackles at the line of scrimmage. He will need to get quicker and faster using his hands but this will improve with experience and repetitions for sure. That being said it's his size and explosiveness that sets him apart from other Defensive linemen in this draft. Darius has a high ceiling and with a good work ethic and better attention to detail, could become one of the best linemen from this very deeply talented draft class. Look closely for his name on Rob’s board and don’t be surprised what round he gets selected in. Talent Grade 1.92
Tyleik Williams DT/NG Ohio St
Tyleik is as big as the USS Ticonderoga. His lateral agility is outstanding, and that is why he can destroy an offense's running game between the hash marks. Tyliek demands a double team if a team wants to run the ball between the tackles, and even then, he can make tackles at the line of scrimmage. Teams are not going to “tush push” Tyleik to score touchdowns or make a first down. He will push a team’s tush right back into the QB’s face. Tyleik is the answer, teams are looking for to stop that play. He can come off the line of scrimmage and change the line of scrimmage in his favor on almost every snap of the ball. He has enough lower body power to demand a double team on passing downs, and this will allow him to get into the backfield and collapse the pocket, causing all kinds of disruption. He does have short arms for his size and is inconsistent coming off the line with the pad level needed to defeat offensive line men, but because of his lower body strength, it is still difficult to move him off the line of scrimmage. Tyleik is the answer to the tush push for sure. He is also the answer to a team’s defense in their weakness in stopping the run, too. If your team selects Tyleik, then trust me, your team can kiss the tush push as a weapon against them goodbye, forever. Talent Grade: 2.22
Jamaree Caldwell DT Oregon
Jamaree is a pure Defensive Tackle. He has excellent run-stuffing ability and just enough foot quickness to get a few sacks and disrupt the pocket on passing downs. That’s the key for Jamaree, the ability to beat his man one-on-one and demand double teams allowing his teammates to make plays in the backfield or sacks. When Jamaree is lined up over the center, he can beat those college centers easily and therefore, demands a double team. The question is, can Jamaree demand and beat, a double team at the next level against quicker and stronger centers? He has athletic talent, but it takes more than talent to play in the NFL. Techniques and the ability to read and see the offensive center’s weakness, and exploit that weakness is the key. He needs to get stronger for sure and learn to use his hands quicker despite the fact, that he is dam good right now at shedding blocks and making the tackle at the line of scrimmage. He has good lateral agility between the hash marks to be effective in stringing out sweeps and screens too. Because Jamaree can be effective on passing downs and stuffing the run, makes him more than just a rotational run-stuffing defensive lineman. Jamaree will still be rotated, because of his size to keep him fresh, but he can stay on the field longer and get more snaps and this should make him more valuable to teams than just your average run-stuffing lineman. Talent Grade 3.06
Edge Rusher
James Pierce Jr. ER Tennesse
James has the potential to be the next Browns Myles Garett. That being said some people are suggesting that he could be the next former Rams Leonard Little. What I see on film is a player who is very smart and very frustrated and that frustration is affecting his play on the field. James has the athletic talent to play on the line, or off the line at a number, of different positions. What I think is that James just wants to be an Edge Rusher in a 4/3 defense and collect sacks so he can get the big payday. I don’t think he wants to play off the line or drop off the line into coverage despite the fact, that he is excellent in coverage. James has the burst, size, length, and foot speed to dominate as an Edge Rusher. He has those long arms that allow him to shed blocks and make tackles against the run and is solid at setting the edge. He might wind up being the best Edge Rusher from this group of Edge rushers in this draft. Yes, he has to get a little stronger and needs to answer some questions about off-field issues but I’m going to guess that he will answer those questions with sufficient maturity to make teams realize that sometimes issues do get overblown. All of that being said, what I see in his play on film, is the potential to be the next Myles Garrett, if he can stay healthy and bulk up. At least that's what I see.
Talent Grade: 1.44
Donovan Ezeiruaku ER Boston College
Donovan has the athletic talent, strength, and long arms to become as impactful a pass rusher as Bills/Rams/Broncos Von Miller. He is stout against the run and has a variety of pass-rushing moves. He has the quickness and strength to bull rush along with the lateral agility to bend around the corner to make a sack. Because of his lack of length, Donovan comes off the line of scrimmage with the natural pad level that gives him the immediate leverage advantage against those tall offensive linemen. The biggest advantage Donovan has that many Defensive linemen lack is very strong hands that give him the advantage along with his body strength to control his opponent against the run. There will be teams that will downgrade Donovan because of his lack of length. Of course, we all know that size only means something in the draft before a player is selected, but not on the field. Turn on the film and you will be watching an impact defensive player making plays and leading his team despite his lack of size. Donovan has a high football IQ. He sets up the offensive lineman and understands situational football. If you're looking for an Edge Rusher who can finish I suggest your team not overlook this kid for very long. My guess is, you're going to have to move up to select him because I suspect he will be drafted early. Talent Grade: 1.47
Abdul Carter ER/DE Penn St
Abdul is a natural pass rusher with the athletic attributes to become a franchise DE for the team that selects him. He has those long arms and explosiveness off the line that gives him the advantage and forces offensive linemen be off balance at the snap of the ball. He is a lean, mean, rocket firing off the line of scrimmage with very little effort allowing him to surprise offense linemen before they can get set. Although Abdul has been an impact Defensive End for his team, he is just learning the position and right now all of his impact is directly related to his athletic ability. He must learn to get off blocks, hand fight better, develop a second move, and do a better job holding the edge. He must also learn offensive line schemes better and anticipate who will block him on sweeps and screens. That being said, considering this is his first year playing this position he has been remarkable and has improved from game to game this year. Abdul is tough, smart, and learns quickly. He has the strength, size, and athletic talent to play as a DE in a 4/3 front or in a 3/4 defense. If Abdul has the same work ethic that former Cowboys Demarcus Ware had, Abdul can have similar impact as DeMarcus had, for the team that selects him. Talent Grade: 1.64
Jack Sawyer ER Ohio St
Jack has as much talent and potential to impact as Joey Bosa did when he came out in the 2016 draft. Joey had marginal workout numbers and is a little bit bigger, but not really. I expect Jack to maybe have better workout numbers but not by much. Jack is a football player. He uses power and quickness as an edge rusher and very little finesse. He is very smart and a team player and is the best Edge Rusher in this draft at setting the edge and getting off blocks to make tackles. Jack despite his size, stats, and lack of arm length, is a big play, in big games football player. If your team needs a sack in the 4th quarter of a game, Jack will get the sack or scare the living crap out of the quarterback into thinking Jack will get the sack. He is one of the best at handling double teams at him, against the run. His footwork is excellent but if he doesn’t get a jump on the offensive tackle off the snap, he does struggle to get by him to make sacks. Nevertheless, I have never seen him give up on a play before the whilst and he makes a lot of plays on effort alone. Jack has marginal, change of direction agility but makes up for it with an excellent burst once he turns his hips. Jack’s career college stats are equal to Joey’s. Jacks has 23 sacks, 68 solo tackles, and 6 forced fumbles to Joey’s 26 sacks, 51 solo tackles, and 5 forced fumbles. The big difference between these two players is, in 2016 there were no DE/ER to pick from and this draft has a ton on them likely to be selected early with excellent workout numbers but less production. Joey was the third pick of the 2016 draft, and Jack might not make the first round but Jack will be as productive a player as Joey, a leader, and a fan favorite for sure. Talent Grade: 1.83
JT Tuimoloau ER Ohio St
JT reminds me a lot of Chiefs ER George Karlaftis. They are both big game players with solid athletic abilities for their positions. JT is always in the backfield on every snap disrupting, sacking, and tackling running backs, just like George. JT will need to strengthen his hands to better secure tackles but because of his strong lower body, he doesn’t get pushed out of his gap against running plays right at him. JT shows good solid quickness off the line of scrimmage when pass-rushing, and if he anticipates the snap, he also shows the physicality to beat double teams. He works well with his teammates. Although he is stiff in his lower body, making him slow to change directions, his lower body strength and high football IQ make it easy for him to take advantage of offensive linemen when they make the slightest mistake or are slow to react against him. JT will give you everything he has, on every snap for the whole game, and in the fourth quarter, like George, he will come through with a game-impact play almost every time. Talent Grade: 1.94
Oluwafemi Oladejo ER UCLA
Oluwafemi is a remarkably talented football player. Remember Drew’s rules and how I always say it takes more than talent to play in the NFL? Femi has more than talent. Femi has more than talent to go around to his teammates, too. Femi has more than talent to go to his coaches, the fans, and the media. What he doesn’t have right now is the technical talent to play his position because he has only played Edge Rusher for about 10 games just this year. Femi’s athletic talent overall is excellent for his new position. His effort is excellent, and his ability to shut down the run and penetrate the backfield to make tackles is excellent. As a pass rusher at times, he looks like Tubey –the wacky wavy inflatable man you see as you dive past a store, trying to get you to notice they have a sale on. That being said, right now, Femi’s effort, hand strength, and passion for making a sack are undeniable. His ability to affect the play of his teammates around him positively is undeniable. Femi is the type of player Bill Belichick would draft. In fact, he reminds me a lot of Tedy Bruschi. He might have more athletic talent than Tedy did and be better suited to play more on the line of scrimmage as a pure pass rusher, but their demeanor on the field is the same, and the way they go about their craft is the same. Femi has to get stronger in his lower body to improve his ability to pass rush from all angles. He also will have to learn some secondary moves and other technical skills, but believe me, he is smart and is like a sponge, learning quickly. He could sneak into the 1st round, but as far as I’m concerned, whatever round he might be selected in, he will be a steal. Talent Grade: 1.94
Mykel Williams ER/DL Georgia
Mykel has the size, length, and wing span to be an impact Defensive End for the team that selects him. He shows on film, a solid football IQ and can be used inside depending on down and distance to rush the quarterback. He does a good job against the run and has the footspeed to run down quarterbacks when a play breaks down, and they leave the pocket. Mykel is used a lot on stunts to pressure the pocket and when he is one-on-one with a tackle to rush the passer, he gives the effort needed to be considered a potential impact Edge Rusher. Nevertheless, his lack of production over his college career and lack of overall body strength, suggest it might take some time for him to develop. Mykel shows the needed work ethic and effort on the field to develop, but he needs to get stronger, build more bulk and strength, and learn better pass-rushing techniques. He also has to become more explosive off the line with a better pad level to be a consistent pass rusher. When he does, there will be no limit to his ability to impact. Talent grade: 2.36
Landon Jackson ER/DL Arkansas
Landon has the potential to be a dominant, defensive lineman for the team that selects him. He is one of the best run stuffers I have seen since J. J. Watt came out in his draft. He is excellent against double teams because of his length and long arms. As a pass rusher, he struggles off the edge to finish because of his pad level and size, but is very disruptive. Landon’s medicals will be the issue for most teams to think about before selecting him early in this draft. As a child, his immune system was compromised. As he got older, playing football, Landon also had other medical issues that teams are going to have to be satisfied with before they rate him on their boards. That being said, I believe Landon can be something special at the next level. Landon came into the Senior Bowl at 273 Lb’s and the combine at 264 Lb’s, but I think letting him bulk up to 280 to 290 Lb’s is the smart thing to do, and moving him inside to rush the Quarterback on passing downs would also be the smart thing to do. When Landon has a direct line to the quarterback, he is at times, unstoppable and will demand double teams to stop him. As I said before, against the run, Landon is one of the best now, at 264 Lb’s. Can you imagine the havoc he will do at 280 Lb’s. Talent Grade: 2.67
Shemar Stewart ER Texas A&M
Shemar is an athletic specimen. He came into the Senior Bowl weighing 281 lbs and 3½ weeks later at the combine, weighed in at 267 lbs. That’s almost 5 lbs a week. Shemar then ran a 4.59 in his 40, 1.58, 10-yard split, 40 Vertical, and 10’11” broad jump. Shemar could not finish the rest of the drills because of a tweaked hamstring after running his 40. Now you would think that with all of those athletic talents, Shemar would be considered as a top-ten pick in this draft. Here is the big problem, Shemar’s college three-year, career stats are; 2022, 11 solo tackles-1.5 sacks, 2023, 5 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks, 2024, 14 solo tackles and you guessed it...1.5 sacks. So, let's add this up, he loses 14 lbs in 3 weeks, tweaks his hamstring, and has a total of, 30 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks...in 3 years of college football. Picture yourself as a scout or GM of a team, and tell me that you have the biggest set of balls to suggest that this Child should be selected in the 1st round of this draft. I watched Shemar on film and he has poor footwork. I watched his one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl and saw improvement in his footwork with better coaching and also saw his speed-to-power explosiveness, and thought to myself, where was that for the last three years? I’m not suggesting that I don’t think that Shemar can be an outstanding Edge Rusher for the team that selects him. What I am saying is that I don’t believe that I could stand on a table and insist a team select him early in this draft. There are too many questions for me about a lack of production and how he lost 14 lbs in three weeks and kept the strength and stamina to jump 40”... then again, I do not have the information teams have on these players and I do not interview them either. Maybe there are logical answers to my logical questions. Talent Grade: 3.00
Jordan Burch ER Oregon
Jordan’s size, length, footspeed, quickness, and change of direction agility, is exactly what teams are looking for athletically, in a Defensive End. He has the athletic talent to be a dominant Defensive Lineman at multiple positions on the defensive line for the team that selects him. That being said, Jordan’s play has not lived up, or been dominant after playing for five years at the college level until his last year at Oregon. At South Carolina, he had to deal with Covid issues, and in 2022 finally broke out with 32 solo tackles but only 3.5 sacks. At Oregon in 2024 he showed improvement in sacks with 8.5 but only 13 solo tackles. So, what’s the deal? Is it a lack of passion for football in general? Maybe it’s difficulty in understanding his assignments or a learning issue like I have. Is it a case of a player trying to do too much and not accomplishing enough? Maybe it’s a situation where a player tried to play through injuries. Or maybe he got double team all the time or teams ran to the other side to stay away from him. Truth is, I don’t know why, with his talent, Jordan struggled to be consistent. All I can tell you is, after looking at his film, I see his potential to dominate but it seems he doesn’t. In the later rounds, Jordan could be a steal. Selecting him in the first three rounds he could be a disappointment or...a steal. I gave Jordan a 3rd round talent grade but you never know what round a player could be selected in. If Jordan’s interviews are good, he might be selected earlier. There are always excuses for a player not playing up to their potential. Maybe in this case those excuses are valid.
Talent Grade: 3.14
Mike Green ER Marshall
Mike has been very productive at the college level. Although he has been an excellent pass rusher, I think his talent to stop the run has been overlooked. Mike has good size, coming into the Senior Bowl at 6’3, 251 lbs. This season he had 17 sacks but also had 38 solo tackles and 3 forced fumbles and those stats along with watching his film show me his ability to get off blocks quickly against the run. That being said what I also saw on film was a lot of poor techniques in his footwork off the line of scrimmage and a lack of speed and explosiveness to finish that will be magnified at the next level until he can correct his footwork. Mike struggles to make secondary moves when pass-rushing. He also struggles running down players away from him and when quarterbacks break the pocket. At the Senior Bowl practices, he was inconsistent and left early. I don’t see Mike being as productive at the next level as he was for the one season, at Marshall’s college competition level. He needs to go to the combine and compete in all areas to show better athleticism than he shows on the field. At least that’s what I see and will be expecting from at this combine.
Talent Grade: 3.67
Linebackers
Jalon Walker LB/ER Georgia
Jaylon reminds me of a bigger version of Troy Polamalu. Jalon is listed at 6’2” and Troy was listed at 5’9” or 5’10” and was a safety, but the truth is, like Jaylon, Troy played all over the field with the instincts of a linebacker and the speed and quickness of a safety. Jaylon can play multiple positions in your front seven, and I know in my gut, he could play as a safety in a two-deep zone situation if you chose to use him that way. Jaylon is very smart and is a leader and because of his high football intelligence, and quick feet, can analyze the crap out of a play as it is unfolding before him. When Jaylon is lined up on the edge, he is one of the best in this draft at holding the edge and shedding blocks to make a tackle. On passing downs, he is like a heat-seeking missile, causing disruption with his speed into the backfield and making a sack. As an off-the-line linebacker, Jaylon is like a sniper calmly setting up his target and waiting for just the right moment to make his play on that target. He’s not perfect. He is tight in the hips and does struggle on his pass rush to turn the corner, but he compensates for that lack of perfection using leverage. Jaylon is a weapon, and the biggest concern for the team in selecting him is how the hell to replace his impact on the field if he gets injured. It won’t be easy to find another weapon like him for sure. Talent Grade: 1.27
Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA
Carson is an off-the-ball, impact, playmaking Linebacker. This was his first year starting, and he embarrassed whoever was keeping him off the field with 90 solo takes, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions. Carson plays the game of football with the instincts of a veteran NFL linebacker. He reminds me a lot of the Bills LB Matt Milano. Carson might not be as fast as Matt is but his ability to anticipate, and react to what is happening in front of him is outstanding. He has excellent leadership skills and a high football IQ to be a coach on the field. Carson has that quick twitch reaction agility, that minimizes his lack of pure speed that others may have in this draft but don’t be fooled he still can go sideline to sideline and is very good in coverage. Because of his size and length, he can trail in coverage fooling quarterbacks into thinking he is beat, and still make a play on the ball. My guess is, if Carson runs 4.5 or under on his pro day he will move into the 1st round, anything more he most likely the 2d round. There will be some teams that will question why Carson only started one year, and think that maybe he is a one-year wonder. I think he has first-round talent and a team late in the 1st round would be smart to select him no matter what. But that’s just me. Talent Grade: 1.50
Jihaad Campbell LB/ER Alabama
Jihaad reminds me of former Redskins LB Lavar Arrington. Jihaad has the speed, explosiveness, size, and strength, to play more than one position in the front seven for a defense. He is explosive when he plays on the line of scrimmage in pass-rushing situations. When he plays off the ball, he is decisive and explosive once he deciphers what is happening in front of him in going to the ball. Jihaad has improved his decision-making and quickness to the ball in every game he played this year despite playing different positions in the front seven of the defense. This shows the ability to take what he learns in practice, and from game to game with him, to the next game. This also shows leadership skills that once he gains more confidence in his own game will naturally start to show up on the field. Because Jihaad has been moved around, he hasn’t learned any one position fully. Teams will have to decide his impact position and give him repetitions and more technique work. He has to improve the strength in his hands to control blockers right at him and to shed blockers quicker. He also has to gain better strength in his hands, to improve his tackling. Jihaad is also slow to change directions and needs more core strength to improve control of his body to break down quicker when pass-rushing, finishing, and sacking quarterbacks. All of this will come with more direction in his strength and conditioning and more repetitions on the field. Talent Grade 1.58
Demetrius Knight Jr. LB South Carolina
Demetrius is one hell of an inside Linebacker. He is the type of linebacker I grew up watching and reminds me a lot of former Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson. Demetrius is a read-and-react type of linebacker and not a react-to-what-I-think-I ’m-reading type of linebacker. He has a high football IQ in both the run and passing game and is a coach on the field. Demetrius will take on blocks and shed them and also wait for blocks to be taken up in front of him to make tackles. He doesn’t overrun sweeps, allowing for cutbacks until he senses the running back knows the cutback isn’t there, and then he makes his burst to the sideline to make a tackle. When Demetrius sees that Tight End come off the line down the slot, he rides him until he knows the 2 deep safeties have him. When an offense has to attack a great linebacker, they do it by attacking their eye discipline, making it hard for the undisciplined linebacker to stay disciplined. Demetrius does not fall for the “banana in the tailpipe” routine of “movement” before the snap of the ball offenses that teams use now because he has excellent eye discipline skills. As the running game is being rediscovered in the NFL, bigger linebackers like Demetrius will be needed more and more to stop that run and spy on the big athletic quarterbacks. Linebackers like Demetrius usually are selected in the third and fourth rounds, but I think this Knight will be valued and brought into battle a little bit earlier than most others in the past. Talent Grade: 1.58
Jeffrey Bassa LB Oregon
Jeffrey is a pure Linebacker with the coverage skills of a safety/slot corner. He is listed at 6’2” 230 lbs, and in this day of linebackers, that is big. Jeffrey is quick and the speed to run from sideline to sideline and limit the run after the catch yardage, that haunts so many teams’ defensive stats. In the open field, he will take on blocks and shed them quickly. Around the line of scrimmage, he is adept at slipping the blocks of those big offensive linemen with his lateral agility to make tackles. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field, but he will have to improve his communication skills to make the players around him better and not to do it all himself. Jeffrey is a bundle of energy and passion, but it's his instincts, high football IQ, and overall moxie, added with his athletic talent, that makes him stand out when you watch him on film. His athletic talent makes me think that on some downs and distances that he can be used as the slot cover corner. He has been invited to the Senior Bowl, and I have a sneaking suspicion that if I’m correct, Jeffrey will rise up most teams’ boards very quickly. If your team needs an LB who can play the run and cover better than most safeties in the NFL now, I would not hesitate to select Bassa, and doesn’t every team in the NFL need a defensive player like that? Think about it. Talent Grade: 1.61
Cody Simon LB Ohio St
Cody is an excellent instinctive pure linebacker. He can run your defense on the field. His high football IQ allows him to play better than his numbers, although his numbers at his pro day were good enough. Cody works well at any of the linebacker positions, but he is best as an inside linebacker or middle linebacker because of his anticipation skills and natural linebacker instincts. He shows very good lateral agility and burst to the ball to string out and make tackles sideline to sideline. Cody is sneaky, camouflaging when he is going to attack the line of scrimmage to make tackles behind the line or to get a sack. He does a solid job in zone coverage, but single coverage is not his forte. He needs the play to stay in front of him. Cody reminds me a lot of the Buffalo Bills LB Terrel Bernard. Cody, like Terrel, is an overlooked and unrated player for his team. He plays special teams and makes plays, and if the team needs a sack, Cody will get that sack. If the team needs a tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a third down stop, Cody will get that for you, too. Like Terrell, Cody has the football instinctive ability to raise his athletic talent to make a play when his team needs a play at the most important time in a game. Cody is the type of player that when he is not on the field your defense just doesn't play as well as when he is on the field, and that’s what makes him so valuable. My guess is, look for teams to draft Cody in the 3rd or 4th rounds and be glad when your team selects him. Talent Grade: 2.53
Cornerbacks
Travis Hunter CB/WR Colorado
We all know how talented Travis is and how well he can play multiple positions on both sides of the ball. But what makes him different from other players with the same physical talents? I'll tell you because I'm the only one you can. It's his football intelligence and situational understanding of down and distance. Add to that, Travis's innate instincts, problem-solving intelligence, and camouflage ability of an eight-limbed octopus. Travis is a competitive junky. The only thing that will confuse any team about Travis is what side of the ball he wants to become an impact player on because his body will not take the pounding of playing both sides. If Travis can get through his first contract without many injuries, he should be able to break the bank on his next contract. That being said if he insists on playing both sides of the ball his impact will be less on both sides and the injury factor will increase. Talent Grade: 1.27
Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky
Maxwell is a pure cover corner with the skills, speed, quickness to play in single coverage, and the instincts and high football IQ to play in zone. He can jump and knock down passes like a kangaroo and that means those taller receivers will not have much of an advantage in the red zone. Maxwell is a good tackler and before he hurt his shoulder, he had 53 solo tackles and 5 interceptions in 13 games in the 2023 season. He has good enough hands to make interceptions and be used to return punts on special teams. Maxwell is so lighting fast and thunder quick, that Webster’s Dictionary could put his face right next to the definition of the Big Bang Theory. Max is about the same size as Denzel Ward, the Brown's 5th pick, in the 1st round of the 2018 draft. That being said, Danzell has a long history of missing games in every season since he was drafted and this bit of information will most likely affect Maxwell’s draft status. I think most teams want to see their corners in the 200 Lb range and Max came into the Combine at 188 lbs. My talent grade does not reflect a player's, injuries or injury history. I will mention them when I do a profile, but all I see on film is the player’s talent, any speculation by me about injuries or lack of them is up to the teams and how they value that information in their profiles. Nevertheless, Maxwell has top-ten talent and where he gets selected will be interesting for sure. Talent Grade: 1.40
Will Johnson CB Michigan
Will is an aggressive defensive back with excellent size, strength, and speed along with a high football IQ that makes him very dangerous. Will has the unique talent for reading body language. He recognizes, on the snap, who will be blocking him and that allows him to jump the block and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also reads the receiver when lining up, and knows if the ball is going to go to his side. This makes it easy to bait QB’s into throwing the ball and allows him to jump routes to make a play on the ball. He will get beat deep because of his aggressiveness against double moves and by receivers who are just as smart and just as sneaky as he is at the next level. That being said, because of Will's athletic talent, size, and speed and his high football IQ, he will adjust, to become one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL for the team that selects him. He can play in any style of defensive back system, and position, because he is one of the smartest Defensive Backs coming out, I have seen in a long time. Talent Grade 1.62
Trey Amos CB Ole Miss
Trey is a potential lockdown corner who can start the day after he is drafted. Trey’s high football IQ, allows him to anticipate routes likely to be run against on every down and distance and that is what gives him the edge against most receivers before they run their routes. He has the size, length, and speed, along with the quick-twitch athleticism needed to cover all types of receivers at any place on the field. He is smart and can play in any style of defense. Trey is a good tackler but will get sloppy at times because he likes to go for the ball in the air rather than make the tackle. Trey’s ability to anticipate and slip blocks, making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, is outstanding. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field and reminds me a lot of former Buffalo Bills CB Tre White. Trey’s size and quick-twitch skills give him the ability to recover quickly when he does get fooled. Nevertheless, his workout numbers at the combine will be the deciding factor of where Trey will most likely be selected but for me, it’s 1st Round all the way. Talent Grade: 1.62
Jahdae Barron CB/S Texas
Jahdae is a multi-position Defensive back with the leadership skills and high football IQ to help turn a team's defense around. In the right defensive system, he can play cornerback and in any defensive system, he can play either safety position. He is “coach–smart”, on the field, and that along with his size and sure tackling skills makes him the type of player who can play all over a team's defense. Texas would sometimes even play him as a linebacker because of his intelligence of understanding down and distance and situational football. At Texas, he played in a lot of off-coverage type of defense at the corner position so at the combine his workouts will set the table for teams to decide what position he will play. Of course, if Jahdae insists, on being “labeled” as a cornerback, he must show the speed and agility to be a lockdown corner to be selected early in this draft. I don’t see that type of athletic talent in the film but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it. Despite all of that nitpicking, Jahdae is an extremely talented player, and selecting him early in this draft if you need a defensive back who can play multiple positions, and be a coach on the field would be a hell of a value pick no matter what round you select him in. He’s a “plug and play” type of player for your defense for sure.
Talent Grade: 1.83
Jordan Hancock CB/S Ohio St
Jordan is a multi-positional defensive back, showing a high football IQ and leadership skills. He is a good tackler in the open field in zone coverage and has the cover skills to be effective in single coverage. Jordan’s high football intelligence allows him to minimize his weaknesses if he were to be asked to play one position on every down and distance. I believe his impact position at the next level will be as a safety, keeping the play in front of him, allowing him to use more than just athletic talent to make an impact play. He is adept at reading receivers and knowing when to look back into the backfield for the QB’s eyes to make a defensive play. Jordan also has that long, lengthy size that makes it easy for him to trail a receiver and make a play, but he is better, as I stated before, with the play in front of him. He has played nickel and has been effective on those quick passes to slot receivers, showing his cover skills close to the line of scrimmage, but this success is mostly because of his length and toughness. When Jordan plays safety, that's when he can use both his athletic talent and high football IQ to make plays all over the defense. When he keeps the play in front of him, that’s when he truly becomes dangerous. I don’t expect Jordan to be selected early in this draft, but I do believe he will show up big for the team that selects him. A bargain basement player, for sure. Talent Grade: 2.31
Azareyeh Thomas CB Florida St
Azareyeh is a big physical cornerback with long arms and legs like a giant Huntsman Spider. At the Senior Bowl practices, he dominated as an outside corner, using all the tricks of the trade and his length to dominate any size receiver. Azareyeh has the physical tools to play in any style of defense, but he hasn’t played much in zone coverage. Therefore, he lacks the interceptions that most others get from playing in zone coverage. He is 20 years old and will not be 21 until he starts camp with the team that selects him, and that is a big positive. Azareyeh is smart and very confident, and that is important. He has a powerful punch at the line of scrimmage that stops receivers from getting into their routes, and this helps him big time against the smaller, quicker receivers. That being said, Azareyeh has a lot to learn. Zone coverages, stack receivers and how to play them, one one-on-one with move receivers and how not to get lost in traffic. Understanding the blocking of Tigh Ends coming at him and getting off blocks quicker to make a tackle. Also continuing to tackle the way he has been tackling in his last year of college. He will even have to learn nickel coverages and to play a little safety. In fact, he just might be moved to safety if he shows the ability to break down in space and make a sure tackle. Right now, Azareyeh has the ability to be effective in single coverage and should be able to help right away in that capacity. That will help him get on the field and learn quickly. This is one young, talented, smart, athletic football player. Talent Grade: 2.44
Shavon Revel CB East Carolina
Shavon has the athletic talent, speed, length, and quickness to be a potential shutdown cornerback for the team that selects him. He is aggressive in single coverage with good strength to manipulate receivers off their routes and affect the rhythm of the play. Shavon struggles in zone coverages, and because he is injured, he will struggle to work out, and this will affect his draft status. Looking just at his film and not taking into account his injury, I see an athletic corner who will struggle to get up to speed mentally to be effective at the next level. Even if a team is using single coverage, Shavon hasn’t been up against the quality of quarterback play and play callers and smart receivers that he will have to learn to deal with at the next level. Yes, he will make some great plays, but he will also commit penalties and give up big plays at inopportune times of a game, too. Shavon is a good tackler, and this will help him when learning zone coverages and spacing. That being said, consistency is a big part of being a great corner at the next level. Remember what I say every year...it takes more than talent to play in the NFL. Talent Grade: 3.06
Safeties
Xavier Watts S/DB Notre Dame
Xavier is a multi-position defensive back. He has excellent speed and quickness and the high football IQ of a coach on the field. He has outstanding size and is a sure tackler. Xavier is one of the best pure cover safeties with the size, speed, and football fundamentals to make an impact in any game he plays in. Because of his excellent cover skills, he has more interceptions and passes defended in the last 2 years than most cover corners in this draft. Because of his high football IQ, he has more solo tackles as a pure safety, than a lot of linebackers in this draft. When you turn on the film, Xavier’s overall play and leadership jump's out and his cover skills to shut down Running backs out of the backfield, Tight Ends, and slot receivers, are very obvious. Some safeties are better closer to the line of scrimmage and some are better in two deep zone defenses. Some safeties need to keep the play in front of them and some safeties who can cover struggle to make the tackle in the open field. Xavier doesn’t struggle being used in any style of defense, or at any position in the defensive backfield. Xavier is around the ball all the time. That’s pretty obvious with 6 interceptions one year, and 7 interceptions the next. There are always good safeties in the draft but there are rarely safeties with the talent and high football IQ in one complete package like Xavier has. Talent Grade: 1.47
Nick Emmanwori S/LB South Carolina
Nick has the size and athletic talent to play multiple positions for your defense. He has the size, length, and burst to be used at Defensive End, Linebacker, and as a safety. Depending on the situation, he could also be used as a slot cover corner against those bigger receivers and pass-catching Tight Ends. Nick shows the ability to cover those pesky running backs out of the backfield too. Inside the red zone, Nick is a weapon with the radius to destroy any pass play or run play that an offensive coordinator can think of. Nevertheless, to use him as a weapon all over your defense, Nick will have to improve his Football Intelligence and instincts. Right now, Nick is making plays off his athletic talent alone and that will not do at the next level. He shows some leadership skills to become a franchise player for your defense, but he has to learn to see things quicker and communicate better, before the snap of the ball. Nick has the potential, to impact like the Charges Safety Darwin James. His athletic talent, size, speed, length, and ability to make plays, make him worthy of being considered as an early pick in this draft. That being said, his improvement mentally, and work ethic, will be the key to how much he does improve. Remember Drew’s rules, it takes more than Talent to play in the NFL.
Talent Grade: 1.69
Malaki Starks S/CB Georgia
Malaki might be the best cover safety in this draft. Don’t be fooled by the statement. Maliki also had in 2002- 45 solo tackles, 2023 – 31 solo tackles, and in 2004- 52 solo tackles. Maliki plays all over the Georgia defense. He plays Free safety, 2 deep zone safety, and as a slot cover safety against all sizes and types of receivers. In coverage at times, he does get caught peeking into the backfield instead of reading the receiver and that does get him beat but that’s a technique issue that he will correct for sure at the next level. When he is in the slot, up on the line of scrimmage he does struggle to get off blocks quickly to make tackles. Maliki has good speed but lacks the quickness to be a pure Cornerback but in zone coverage, you could use him on the outside as a corner if needed. He shows excellent leadership skills because of his high football IQ to play more than one position in the defensive backfield at a high level. It’s hard to find cover safeties and if Maliki can show better quickness at the combine his value becomes more than just the average safety. Nevertheless, Maliki can be an impact-defensive player because of his football IQ to lead and play more than one position and tackle in the open field, and those attributes alone, make him more valuable than the average safety in any draft.
Talent Grade: 1.86
Billy Bowman Jr. S/DB Oklahoma
Billy reminds me a lot of Buffalo Bills Slot cornerback/nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. They are about the same size, same athletic talent, and the same ability to make the big play against the run or the pass when it’s needed the most. They are impact players with the leadership skills and high football IQ equal to a point guard in basketball. Billy has the athletic talent to cover big-time yardage when he is used at the safety position. He can cover sideline to sideline if he lines up in 2 deep zones, and if he is rotated on the snap to single coverage, he is like a deadly viper coming out of nowhere to intercept the ball. When Billy plays deep, quarterbacks lose sight of him because of his size, and this makes him very dangerous when tackling or defending against the pass. If Billy plays in the slot, his impact to stop the run or cover is as good as any other cornerback in this draft. Three more inches and Billy would be talked about as a possible first-round player. Remember, when it comes to the draft, size matters. That’s why they take all those numbers. When it comes to the field, production is all that matters, and Billy has shown plenty of that in his college career. If Billy is selected by a team that doesn’t respect his talent because of his size, he will be lost in the shuffle. If he is selected by the right team with good coaching, Billy becomes a starting impact player, a core player, and a fan-favorite type of player. Just like Taron Johnson has been for the Buffalo Bills. Talent Grade: 2.19
Lathan Ransom Safety Ohio St
Lathan is a pure safety. He is consistent in everything he does on the field. He is so consistent that he is overlooked. He always seems to be in the right spot, making the right play whenever the right play is needed. During a game, Lathan does the “not noticed” plays that you “notice” big time the next day when you watch film of that game. He is a good open-field tackler and works well up near the line of scrimmage as well as in 2 deep zone coverages or as a single safety. He is the type of player that, because of his high football IQ, seems to play bigger than his size and faster than he will time. Because Lathan plays his position with consistency, he makes the players around him better because his teammates always know that Lathan has their backs. He doesn’t have the cover skills some teams may be looking for, but if you want cover skills at the safety position, I suggest you put a corner there who is not as smart. Lathan is almost the perfect safety because you don’t realize how good he plays until you see the film the next day. That’s the perfect safety. Lathan will be overlooked in this draft; bet on it. Talent Grade: 2.53
Kevin Winston S Penn St
Kevin has the size, length, and solid speed to make plays on the ball when others cannot. When he plays in the box, he does a good job tackling and can cover those big Tight Ends. Because of his long arms and length, he can trail a play and still make a play on the ball. When Kevin plays back, he shows an excellent burst to the ball and makes quick decisions to make a tackle. That being said, he does struggle when on the run, breaking down to make tackles in the open field. This is a big problem because it results in a lot of off-balance tackles and arm tackles that will be broken by stronger players at the next. Making sure tackles in the one field is a key skill that a safety must have, or he will not be a safety for long. Kevin has also been moved around, and that has not helped him to learn just one position to the max. Right now, he is better up close to the line of scrimmage than back off the ball playing deep. Nevertheless, Kevin does show the talent and ability to learn, and if he had stayed in for one more year, I believe he would be considered as one of the top defensive backs in the next draft. Talent Grade: 3.78
The Draft's B.S. Detector
Selena Roberts Sports Illustrated May 05, 2008
DECIPHERING THE NFL's draft hooey requires a player profiler with a past life as the shovel man behind elephants at a circus. Decoding draft-day politics begs for a personnel junkie with a background as a special assistant to the governor of New York.
Who is this perfect hybrid of hokum detection? Meet Drew Boylhart: He knows from crap. And in applying this skill set to his job as an expert contributor to TheHuddleReport.com, Boylhart says he heard from at least four teams before last weekend's draft. They reached out to him as an online Lucy at the 5-cent advice booth, asking for his blunt assessment of college talent observed through a different lens.
"I've been a single dad," Boylhart, 56, explains. "That's something different I bring to the process. I did diapers. I made the formula. In that existence you don't just think two years ahead, you think two hours ahead. When I see guys on tape, I look at what they're doing right now—in the moment."
He doesn't see LSU's Glenn Dorsey, who slipped to the Chiefs with the fifth overall pick, as a defensive daredevil; he sees a sloppy tackler. He doesn't buy the Ravens nabbing Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco's whip-snap arm with the 18th selection as a bold move but calls it another instance in which Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome "seems to fall in love with strong-armed quarterbacks and looks for nothing else." The player Boylhart liked best was Virginia defensive end Chris Long because "he never stops trying to improve."
Boylhart's player critiques read like eHarmony profiles: He doesn't connect with combine times but values the geometry of a cornerback's taking the correct angle on a tackle; he is seduced less by the minutiae of technique than by the nuance of attitude. A turnoff? When a receiver quits on a pass route. "Drives me crazy," he says.
This devotion to game film noir—every player is a mystery—raged during his days in Gov. George Pataki's administration, from 1997 through 2006. His working life had begun earlier, at 14, cleaning up for a circus in Windham, N.Y. "My girlfriend's parents were circus people," he says with a laugh. He went on to own kennels as a businessman, which drove him to seek solitude. He would turn off the phones, hit the lights and watch taped college games at 3 a.m. "I wanted to free my mind, feel like a human being again," he says. "I know how pathetic it is. Yet I enjoyed being pathetic."
He's not alone. The pathetic fan was the underpinning of yet another NFL boondoggle. It is a credit to the cult of the NFL that a draft-day game of duck-duck-goose has been transformed into a spectacle on the scale of the Detroit auto show: Players are all but showcased on turntables, like muscle cars and dragsters. The camera time—and skyrocketing costs of top picks—has opened the way to a cottage industry of Internet scrutiny. When Robby Esch launched TheHuddleReport.com in 2001, he recalls, he got 100,000 hits a month. Last week he reported 1.9 million hits for April heading into draft weekend.
Some visitors are surprising. "When one owner contacts me," says Boylhart, who wouldn't disclose the name of the big shot, "he wants to know why I see what I see. Or maybe he just wants to say, 'Drew, you don't know what you're talking about.'"
Two NFL personnel chiefs declined to publicly discuss whether they receive draft tips from Internet sources, but as Jeff Diamond, a former executive for the Vikings and the Titans, says, "You've got the old-school G.M.'s who probably scoff at something like that, but there are some who, out of curiosity, want to check it out.... When you're giving $20 [million] or $30 million guarantees to those first half-dozen picks, you don't want to be wrong."
A bust is a pox on a team's payroll for years. But the NFL's angst is shared by the Mel Kiper disciples on the Web who were also on the spot during NFL draft weekend. Who mocked best?
"I'm hyperventilating," Boylhart said after the first round last Saturday night. He was in hour 12 of marathon viewing. At 8 a.m. he had flipped on his 27-inch TV for the predraft countdown. He had cooked a pork roast for sandwiches and stocked his fridge with Gatorade. For a brief energy release he mowed his yard at noon. "I had to wait until my neighbors were awake," he jokes. "I know, pathetic."
When asked for an assessment of the draft on Sunday, Boylhart said, "I'm very surprised—and annoyed—at the number of small-college players picked ahead of good talent from larger schools. It's almost as if scouts are saying, 'I can find this sleeper pick' and trying to make a name for themselves. Such b.s."
Yes, but b.s. awareness has served Boylhart well. It's all a crapshoot.