Official 2015 NFL Draft Thread

[10508 cardo jr ln]

I don't see it, he played on the #1 defense in the country and unless he was trying to get in the backfield he was a liability. Very athletic, undersized, 3rd down edge rusher. Hope Jacksonville pulls a Jacksonville and draft him.

he gained 10-15 lbs since last season though.

Those 10-15lbs gonna teach him how to cover, disengage, hold the edge etc? Doubt it made him anymore faster/explosive either.

 

[The Glove]

Those 10-15lbs gonna teach him how to cover, disengage, hold the edge etc? Doubt it made him anymore faster/explosive either.

i think it'll help with disengaging and holding the edge. i think he's enough of a "natural" athlete to be good in coverage..his footwork and change of direction is fantastic for a guy his size. the extra weight didnt hurt his explosiveness....he tore up the combine...it'd be a diff story if he gained the weight and disappointed at the combine but this is "good" weight.

View media item 1512090

 

[toast1985]

View media item 1511966

Hard to watch this and wonder about the criticism you hear about this kid. He catches in traffic, and away from his body. Break away speed to take it home, and beat angles. Great body control, and adjust in air to make the catch.

You can see the poor technique in route running, especially in the one example shown in the video.

But I can somewhat see why Mel Kiper flip the script on his entire draft board for the kid.

I want to see a video of his drops, next. He may be worth a 15-21 draft pick.

 

[buc em]

You Vikings fans just went through this same type of player with Cordarrelle he does look good in that video though.

 

[jamie dimon]

It's a highlight video. No one looks bad in their highlight video

 

[stillin729]

Someone needs to take Perriman before 20 if we stay there

 

[toast1985]

It's a highlight video. No one looks bad in their highlight video

Look at his highlights, and look at Jaelen Strong's highlights, and tell me that. I get it, Jaelen's route running, and good hands may translate better. But break away ability is missing.

Don't get me wrong, I see potential; but I'm not 100% solid. Comeback routes, going across the middle and getting separation throughout his route still remains to be seen.

I was just impressed with the highlights.

 

[IATT]

Someone needs to take Perriman before 20 if we stay there

+ Landon Collins

 

[stillin729]

+ Landon Collins

All indications is they really don't like Collins

Brian Dawkins basically called him a bust waiting to happen

 

[IATT]

if Collins is draft by the eagles, it's to play ILB

 

[flyerthandelta]

You know they trollin when you compare Mariota to Arod and Jameis to Cutler foh

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/4/28/8457981/eli-harold-virginia-2015-nfl-draft-breakdown

Eli Harold is the most frustrating pass rusher in the 2015 NFL Draft

So, about Eli Harold ...

This was one frustrating dude to watch and break down. I swear his film was full of contradictions and inconsistencies.

One minute he is hauling *** running down the field trying to make a play, the next minute he is just chilling watching the play happen, not doing much to affect it.

One play he does a good job coming off the ball and jacking up the blocker on a running play, the next he is getting ragdolled and manhandled trying to play the run.

Then you have this skinny guy (247 pounds at the Combine) -- who runs a 4.6 forty and has a 35-inch vertical, which is pretty damn good, and shows above average explosion -- who was actually better as a power rusher instead of a bonafide speed rusher.

What the ****?!

Spoiler

For the purposes of this breakdown I went over to Draft Breakdown and watched him play against UCLA, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Florida State and Miami. Those represented the first, third, sixth, 10th and 11th games of Virginia's season, respectively.

Even after watching those games, I am still not sure I know who and what this kid is. Worse still, I'm finding it hard to project who and what he will be on the next level.

Harold's inconsistency scares the **** out of me. With his measurables he should have been a much better pass rusher than what I saw on film. The problem is there were times when he looked impressive rushing the passer. He did have a good power rush, and when he actually decided to use it he was very effective at getting pressure on the quarterback. Of course, I wouldn't expect a smaller edge rusher to have a bull rush as their signature move, but hell, if it works, why not keep doing it?!

Harold also had a pretty good arm-over move, but again he just wouldn't use it all that much. When he did he tended to at least beat the offensive tackle even if he didn't get to the quarterback before he threw the ball. I seriously have no idea why he didn't try to use it more considering his success was with that move.

More often than not, Harold would just kind of run into the left tackle and get stuck on his block on passing plays. He might as well have run a 4.9 as far as I'm concerned considering how rarely he won with a speed rush. What's the use of being a really good athlete if you aren't going to use your athleticism as a pass rusher but every once in awhile?

That was frustrating as hell to watch.

I kinda hate the fact that I did see Harold use good moves at times because then I had to wonder why he didn't use them all the time. If he had he might've had a bunch more sacks. But he didn't, which is probably why he "only" had like 7.5 sacks on the season. That's not really a bad number, but it certainly isn't a great one either.

Oh, it might've helped had he not missed so many tackles, including a few sacks. In the Louisville game alone, a game where he had two sacks, the dude flat out missed three other tackles, one of which was another sack opportunity. Again, this dude is supposed to be a good athlete but even when he comes scot-free he doesn't make the play?

That is worrisome.

I haven't even gotten around to talking about Harold's less than stellar play against the run. I freely admit that every once in awhile he came off the ball well, jacked up the blocker and made the play. Most of the time, however, he either got stoned at the line or manhandled.

No bueno.

Harold also gave up the edge to a running back on running plays wayyyyy too many times in those five games, and that just won't do. I know he's a little light in the ***, but the blocking will be even better on the next level. He is going to have to find a way to fix that **** in a hurry. A little extra weight, some squats and better technique would be my prescription, but for now imagining Harold trying to set the edge against NFL level offensive tackles and tight ends is not a pretty sight.

In fairness, there were times when Harold made some outstanding plays against the run. The thing is I kind of expect that from top guys. It's not doing it once or twice that impresses me. It's doing it consistently, play after play after play that will get me fired up. Harold flashed in every game against the pass and against the run, but you also might watch any given play in those five games where he would look like just another guy.

That ain't good.

The good news for Eli Harold is all of the problems I have with him are fixable. He already has decent pass rush moves; he just has to use them more. He has shown that he can do a decent job against the run; he just needs to work on getting better and more consistent with his technique. As he gets bigger and stronger in the NFL, that should also help him in both areas. He certainly is athletic enough to play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, and he's also a fit as a 4-3 defensive end so his scheme versatility should also benefit him.

The bad news is that he isn't ready to be a starter right now and may not be ready for a year or so. It's going to take time for him to gain the kind of weight and strength he will need to be a good player in the NFL. It's also going to take some time to get his technique better and learn to play more consistently. Eventually he is probably going to be a really good player, but the team that takes him is going to have to be patient.

That sounds good, but most teams do not take a non-quarterback high in the draft unless they expect him to play right away. I understand that "everyone" needs edge rushers and that there may be a run on them early in the first round, but I would still be leery of taking Harold so high. Hell, I might be leery of taking him in the second round to be honest with you. He has some work to do and if I'm a team that needs immediate help from a pass rusher I just don't think he is your guy. I really wanted to like Harold as a player more, but I just don't see it.

#KanyeShrug

 

[stillin729]

Report: Mariota’s camp believes Chargers, Eagles trying to trade up to draft him

On Tuesday, Titans General Manager Ruston Webster said that he has had trade talks with teams regarding the second overall pick in the 2015 draft but that none of them have been with the Chargers.

According to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, that isn’t convincing members of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota’s camp that the Chargers won’t wind up taking a trip up the draft board to secure the Heisman Trophy winner’s services. Paolantonio reported on Wednesday that the feeling around the quarterback is that the Chargers are part of a two-team competition to make a deal that nets them Mariota.

The other team won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s been following Mariota buzz through the pre-draft process. It’s the Eagles and Mariota’s camp is joined by former Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti in the belief that Chip Kelly is still on the trail of the player he recruited to Oregon. Unsaid is what the two teams would be paying to move up the board, although there would seem to be a good chance that Philip Rivers or Sam Bradford would be involved in a deal that moved the Titans to a later spot in the first round.

The Rams, Jets and Browns are also mentioned as teams in the mix, which pretty well covers all the teams that have been linked with Mariota at one point or another in the process. So have the Titans, of course, and there figure to be a few more reports about their intentions before we finally find out what will happen with the No. 2 pick on Thursday.

 

[jpzx]

Jameis Winston spells trouble for one foolish NFL team


View media item 1512325

Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune

They poke. They prod. They investigate. They interview. If you cheated on a fourth-grade spelling bee, NFL executives supposedly will find out.

And yet somehow, Jameis Winston is the overwhelming favorite -- 1-to-15 odds (!) on Bovada -- to be the No. 1 pick Thursday in the NFL draft. That’s a scenario I find hilarious.

Winston is Johnny Manziel, one year later. He’s a guy who has gotten this far because of a strong arm, some small-town charm, a win-at-all-costs mindset at Florida State and see-no-evil mentality in Tallahassee.

The guy threw more interceptions last season (1 than Marcus Mariota, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley combined, and yet scouting reports praise his ability to read coverages. O-kay.

Winston knows when to drop “sir” into conversations to give the air of being respectful. But even that act has its limits.

Did you watch ESPN’s “2015 Draft Academy ” show? During one scene that seemed more “Saturday Night Live” than real life, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wolverines quarterback coach Jedd Fisch work to prepare Winston for interviews with NFL teams.

As Winston strokes his goatee, Harbaugh tells him the basic goal of coaches and execs is to find out: “Is he an a--hole or not?”

Winston responds with a rambling answer about why he loves football: “You can be soft and play basketball. You can be soft and play baseball.”

When asked if he has been disciplined, Winston says once in high school: “Yessir, for one game for laughing at my coach (after) he cried. He felt I disrespected him.”

Nice, Jameis.

And college?

“I got disciplined for a game against Clemson for standing up on a table and saying something ... wrong,” Winston says, grinning.

Yes, after you’ve been accused of raping a fellow student – the state attorney declined to bring charges against him – you might not want to climb onto a table at the student union and shout something vulgar about a sexual act.

Any encounters with the police, Harbaugh asks.

Winston mentions his detainment by police after a 2012 BB-gun fight that damaged an apartment complex. And that’s it.

Here’s where it got weird.

Fisch: “I know there’s a story, with the stone crabs or snow crabs ... you left it out when Coach asked if you had any issues. I wouldn’t leave it out.”

Winston: “Oh, man, yeah.”

Harbaugh: “Stone crabs?”

Fisch: “Everybody will want to know what happened ... if you don’t, then it looks like you’re covering up.”

Winston: “How am I supposed to handle it if, like, I just got 'em for free?

Harbaugh: “Explain that to me.”

Yeah, Jameis, explain to us what happened at the Publix. At the time you claimed you simply forgot to pay for the seafood, calling it “a moment of youthful ignorance.”

So you’re either lying now or, more likely, were lying then to stave off an NCAA violation and eligibility questions at Florida State.

Winston: “A week before my buddy’s birthday, we got a cake and we met a dude at Publix and he said: ‘Hey, any time you come in here, I got you.’ So we just walked out and he hooked us up. So when I came to get crab legs, I did the same thing ... walked out.”

Harbaugh: “Is that what happened?”

Yes, Coach. The guy trying to show NFL teams he can be a franchise quarterback – think Tom Brady, Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson – thought that as long as a “dude” told him he could leave the store with $32 in crab legs, it was all good.

And this guy is poised to be the first pick in the draft, unless team owners listen to the likes of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who said Winston’s “red flags” would be enough to push him to take Mariota with the top pick.

“When you get a repeated pattern of bad decisions,” Mayock said, “you might be on your best behavior leading up to the draft ... But once you get comfortable in the NFL and you get paid, typically that kid goes back to being who he always was.”

Who is Jameis Winston? One foolish organization is about to find out.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...jameis-winston-nfl-draft-20150428-column.html

Never get why people go out on the limb on players right before the draft, but it always happens

 

[jpzx]

Where does the first TE go? Mayock's updated Top-5 TE (in order):

Maxx Williams
Clive Walford
Tyler Kroft
Blake Bell
Jeff Heuerman

 

[rolaholic]

This feels like another less than average TE class,don't see anyone that should be going before the 2nd round.

 

[The Glove]

This feels like another less than average TE class,don't see anyone that should be going before the 2nd round.

this is a horrible TE class

same with safeties

 

[rolaholic]

 

This feels like another less than average TE class,don't see anyone that should be going before the 2nd round.

this is a horrible TE class

same with safeties

Last years was pretty bad too,still surprised at the Lions taking Ebron at 10

. Couple of spots before ODB,Donald,Mosley...

Agreed,outside of 1 or 2 guys,there's not much else at safety.

 

[jumpman91023]

Have a feeling we'll go Defense in the first especially if there's a run on tackles early in the draft. The three defensive guys we'll probably take in the first are Landon, Shaq, or Owamagbe. It won't happen but don't be surprised if for some odd reason Gurley drops past the Dolphins and Chargers we make a move to get in front of the Cardinals.

 

[nick.]

Amaro

 

[jpzx]

5Dimes first few NFL Draft prop bets:

QB's taken in first round (Over 2.5: +350) (Under 2.5: -530)
RB's taken round one (Over 2.5: +430) (Under 2.5: -690)
Amari Cooper draft position (Over 5.5: +180) (Under 5.5: -260)
Kevin White draft position (Over 7: -110) (Under 7: -130)
Melvin Gordon draft position (Over 21.5: -165) (Under 21.5: +125)

 

[NickFolarin]

What happened to Nick O'Leary?

 

[IATT]

TE doesn't go in the 1st

 

[rolaholic]

 
What happened to Nick O'Leary?

Probably a mid round pick,he didn't really light it up at the combine.

 

[IATT]

some team has gurley as their number 1 player in the draft.. supposedly