Official NFL Draft Rumors and News Thread

[derp]

58 minutes ago, Greensleeves said:

True, but we're a Mike Williams setback from having Lazard be our #2 receiver. How does that sit with everyone on this board? Tackle will potentially be our 2nd or 3rd option off the bench. Some fans are just over reacting (playing scared) to the #1 pick needing to be an offensive tackle when he won't even start. I'll say it again, I don't want a rookie OT getting Rogers hurt this year because he hasn't adapted to the pro game. Grab another vet and draft a weapon in round 1 (unless Alt drops) and then grab a developmental tackle in round 3. Rookie OTs need time to develop and we don't have the luxury of picking a non contributor to our team in round 1. 

This is where I am. Would just add that the #3 receiver probably plays like 2/3 of the snaps too, so you’re going even deeper into the depth chart with one injury.

Also with Lazard being healthy scratched multiple times last year and not having extra dead money as a post June 1 cut I’m not certain he’s assured a roster spot let alone the current #3. That being the case I do wonder if it’s worth trying to make a play on depth depending how the board falls - but I do really want Odunze.

[Matt39]

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama: A 39-game starter, he led the SEC in yards per reception (20.5) last year as a legitimate deep threat. As a talent, Burton (6-0, 202, 4.42) should be a Day 2 selection. Instead, he’s off at least two teams’ boards for various character-related issues and could face an agonizing drop in the draft.

[Matt39]

The hand size thing is kind of wild. His hands just never grew

This year, 70 offensive linemen had their hands measured in Indianapolis. The next smallest was 9 inches (the largest was Amarius Mims with 11 ¼).

In the 10 previous combines, eight offensive linemen (out of about 600) had hands measure less than 9 inches. Just one was a tackle; four were centers and three were guards. The smallest measurement among the eight was 8 ½, the same as Fashanu.

Four were drafted. Georgia tackle Isaiah Wynn (8 ½) went to New England in the first round in 2018; Wake Forest guard Justin Herron (8 7/8) went to New England in the sixth round in 2020; Oklahoma guard Marquis Hayes (8 7/8) went to Arizona in the seventh round in 2022, and Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi (8 5/8) went to Seattle in the fifth round last year.

Four were signed as undrafted free agents. Auburn center Reese Dismukes (8 7/8) went to Pittsburgh in 2015; Clemson guard Taylor Hearn (8 ¾) went to Carolina in 2018; Washington center Coleman Shelton (8 ½) went to San Francisco in 2018, and Kentucky center Drake Jackson (8 ½) went to Detroit in 2021.

Most of Wynn’s 47 starts for the Patriots and Dolphins have come at left tackle despite the fact he stands just 6-2 1/2. Shelton has started 32 games at center. Herron made 11 starts at guard but isn’t on a roster now. Oluwatimi started once as a rookie.

The tallest of the eight players is Hayes, whose official measurement was 6-4 7/8.

Seven tackles at least 6-6 were taken in the first round of the past five drafts. Their hand sizes were 10 ¾, 10 ¼, 10 1/8, 10 1/8, 10 1/8, 10 1/8 and 9 ½.

Several personnel men found it hard to fathom that someone as tall as Fashanu could have such small hands.

“Only thing I can envision in my mind is a long-armed Tyrannosaurus Rex with these little hands,” said an AFC exec who has had contact with Fashanu. “And it’s kind of noticeable. When you see him walking around you’re, like, ‘He does have small hands for this big of a person.’”

But does it matter?

One evaluator, an offensive lineman in his playing days, didn’t know about Fashanu’s hands. Immediately, he recalled the difference playing against defensive linemen with big hands.

“Everyone you ever talked about that was strong-handed had big 10-inch hands or more,” he said. “I don’t like it. If you’re a tackle and you get your hands on someone, it should be over with. If you kept seeing snaps where he was letting guys off the hook, maybe I’d say, ‘There, it is showing up.’ I would have a hard time if I loved him to say, ‘I don’t trust that the hands are going to be big enough to carry him through.’

“It’s got to look kind of funny for someone that big. Can he shock and stay connected? I’ve never heard of ones that small for a man that size.”

His curiosity piqued, the scout took time to study Fashanu in three games from last season. The verdict?

“I don’t see anywhere on film where the hand size showed up,” he said.

Paul Boudreau, who in 1987 began a 30-year run coaching offensive lines for seven NFL teams, said Fashanu’s arm length was more than adequate to overcome his small hands.

“To me, a lineman just needs to lock out and punch a guy,” said Boudreau. “I would worry with a center with 8 ½ because the ball gets wet and you go up to Green Bay, it’s cold. That would bother me. But arm length is a little bit more important than hand size.”

Jim McNally, an NFL O-line coach from 1980-’07, agreed with Boudreau that arm length is more vital.

“If a guy’s got short arms it doesn’t matter if he’s got hands like Schwarzenegger’s,” said McNally. “All those appendages are important. The length, obviously. The size of the hands. The strength. You’re grabbing now. The bigger the hands are, I would imagine the stronger the grip. I would think it (hand size) is important but I would not think it’s the No. 1 factor.”

When Mike Sherman, an old offensive line coach, was running the show in Green Bay from 2000-’05 he and assistant coach Joe Philbin were adamant about acquiring offensive linemen with large hands. His predecessor as the Packers’ general manager, Ron Wolf, remembered that arm length was important for the position.

“It doesn’t help to have smaller hands,” Wolf said. “But it was never a factor in determining whether a person could play or not.”

This is regarded as a good to outstanding year for tackles. Last year, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson was the first to be picked when he went No. 6 to Arizona. When 16 scouts were asked how many of this year’s tackles were better prospects than Johnson, the average of their responses was 3.3.

Twelve players received mention in a poll of those 16 personnel men asking to name their six best offensive linemen regardless of position. Six points were awarded for a first-place vote, five for second and so on.

Joe Alt led with nine first-place votes and 87 points. Following, in order, were JC Latham (58, two), Troy Fautanu (47), Taliese Fuaga (45, two), Olu Fashanu (44, three), Jackson Powers-Johnson (18), Amarius Mims (17), Tyler Guyton (eight), Graham Barton (seven), Jordan Morgan (three), Blake Fisher (one) and Christian Haynes (one).

“Depth-wise, it’s pretty good for the first couple rounds,” a seasoned scout said in reference to the tackles. “Classically speaking, compared to Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden and Tony Boselli, no, but we’re in a different era of the game. This is the best of what college football has to offer.”

[Beerfish]

9 minutes ago, Matt39 said:

 

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama: A 39-game starter, he led the SEC in yards per reception (20.5) last year as a legitimate deep threat. As a talent, Burton (6-0, 202, 4.42) should be a Day 2 selection. Instead, he’s off at least two teams’ boards for various character-related issues and could face an agonizing drop in the draft.

Just the type of guy who comes to a team and is a choir boy.   It is so tough to know if a guy will keep being a bad dude or grow up and at least stay mostly out of trouble.  Guys like tyreek hill last till the 5th round due to this.

 

[TuscanyTile2]

5 hours ago, Augustiniak said:

Yes, if true it says they’re looking for legit home run threats who stretch the field.  I love the idea.  Don’t love btj that high though.  

How about Ricky Williams?

[Larz]

Only a week to go discussing the same player !

 

[SomebodytoAnybody47]

1 hour ago, bla bla bla said:

Agreed, I think this only comes into play if the evaluation is close. Nabers appears significantly better than WR4 and beyond. I could be convinced on Odunze or MHJ over him though.

I have a strong feeling Odunze will be the 2nd WR off the board. 

[Adoni Beast]

Just now, SomebodytoAnybody47 said:

I have a strong feeling Odunze will be the 2nd WR off the board. 

If he is we should be doing everything in our ability to trade up for Nabers then.

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

56 minutes ago, Matt39 said:

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama: A 39-game starter, he led the SEC in yards per reception (20.5) last year as a legitimate deep threat. As a talent, Burton (6-0, 202, 4.42) should be a Day 2 selection. Instead, he’s off at least two teams’ boards for various character-related issues and could face an agonizing drop in the draft.

Would be a 3rd round prospect on Maccagnan’s board 🤣

[T0mShane]

1 hour ago, Beerfish said:

Just the type of guy who comes to a team and is a choir boy.   It is so tough to know if a guy will keep being a bad dude or grow up and at least stay mostly out of trouble.  Guys like tyreek hill last till the 5th round due to this.

 

This year‘s “he’s been taken off every team’s board” and then gets picked up by the Steelers in Round Four. Tamarick Vanover

[jetstream23]

1 hour ago, Matt39 said:

 

SCOUTS’ NIGHTMARE

Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama: A 39-game starter, he led the SEC in yards per reception (20.5) last year as a legitimate deep threat. As a talent, Burton (6-0, 202, 4.42) should be a Day 2 selection. Instead, he’s off at least two teams’ boards for various character-related issues and could face an agonizing drop in the draft.

 

Sounds pretty....irrelevant.... to me.

 

 

Come to JD!

[Greenseed4]

The big knock on him is he smacked an opposing fan in the head... and she happened to be a female.

But in his defense, she was probably annoying.  

I mean… 

[BornJetsFan1983]

Trade back take a first round tackle and 2nd round wr. Or the other way around but trad back to get a second rounder. Please

[TuscanyTile2]

2 hours ago, Larz said:

Only a week to go discussing the same player !

 

Let's discuss someone else then.  What do you think of the TE from Georgia, Brock Bowers?

[Jethead]

On 4/17/2024 at 3:26 PM, Rich Thornburgh said:

He had 11.5 sacks last season.  Glad we dodged that bullet!

Thibs not in Sauce's zip code. Long term JJ over Thibs so we got both.

[Maynard13]

2 hours ago, BornJetsFan1983 said:

Trade back take a first round tackle and 2nd round wr. Or the other way around but trad back to get a second rounder. Please

If the trade is there, do it. The talent in WR and OT is there to do that in rd 1 & 2.  But it would be advantagous to take the WR first ( Thomas, Mitchell, Worthy) and the OT round 2 (Paul, Suamatala, Beebe) .  The talent in WR in rd 2 is not significantly better than rd 3.  While the talent in OT is fairly similar in mid to later round 1 to round 2.  But lets say Odunze is there at 10 which is possible. You then would have to take Rosengarten or Armedgie at 72 and maybe a guard like Coleman at 111 to solidify the OL. In round 4 pick 134 WR Cowing.  

[CTJetsFan]

I never got the "his hands are too small" argument for Fashanu. If his arms were short, I'd get it. But his hands? He's not supposed to be holding anything. Just punch and shove.

[Paradis]

5 hours ago, Beerfish said:

80% of all WRs are or will be diva assholes after a few years.   If you are looking for a choir boy WR you will miss out.

maybe, maybe not. For what it's worth i don't think that they are approaching WR exclusively with this mentality, 

Anyway, barring some classified Douglas plan - feels like the agenda is self-evident. The Staff and Front Office want a Tackle, seems obvious; we brought every mf'er...  So we're prepping for all scenarios. including trading back 5-10 spots. Rome is the one name it seems obvious they'll pivot for... Bowers?... maybe, but i think there's also a lot of market manipulation happening there. 

The degree of time they've invested in WRs whom may be there at the top of Round 3 tells you where they expect to go with that pick 

My Early prediction, however it plays out - we end up with OT Fautanu, and WR Roman Wilson.

[Beerfish]

The thing that Bowers has going for him is he plays the security blanket position.  Pass catching yac TE/HB can be a QBs best friend.

I could easily see a team like the Colts trading up for Bowers.  How do you best protect a young inexperienced franchise guy?  Give hm a guy that you can throw 2 yards passes to who will get you first downs.

That is my hot take draft day trade for he Jets.  Jets trade down to 15 with Indy and get a 2nd rounder out of it. (Jets would probably have to kick in a small sweeter late round pick)

 

[Paradis]

10 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

The thing that Bowers has going for him is he plays the security blanket position.  Pass catching yac TE/HB can be a QBs best friend.

I could easily see a team like the Colts trading up for Bowers.  How do you best protect a young inexperienced franchise guy?  Give hm a guy that you can throw 2 yards passes to who will get you first downs.

That is my hot take draft day trade for he Jets.  Jets trade down to 15 with Indy and get a 2nd rounder out of it. (Jets would probably have to kick in a small sweeter late round pick)

 

Close. Jets may prefer to have Indy move up ahead of the Jets to snag Bowers in hopes of increasing their chances of Odunze making it to #10

[Dunnie]

The thing that Bowers has going for him is he plays the security blanket position.  Pass catching yac TE/HB can be a QBs best friend.
I could easily see a team like the Colts trading up for Bowers.  How do you best protect a young inexperienced franchise guy?  Give hm a guy that you can throw 2 yards passes to who will get you first downs.
That is my hot take draft day trade for he Jets.  Jets trade down to 15 with Indy and get a 2nd rounder out of it. (Jets would probably have to kick in a small sweeter late round pick)
 

Trade down to 15 then trade down again.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[jetsons]

1 hour ago, Maynard13 said:

If the trade is there, do it. The talent in WR and OT is there to do that in rd 1 & 2.  But it would be advantagous to take the WR first ( Thomas, Mitchell, Worthy) and the OT round 2 (Paul, Suamatala, Beebe) .  The talent in WR in rd 2 is not significantly better than rd 3.  While the talent in OT is fairly similar in mid to later round 1 to round 2.  But lets say Odunze is there at 10 which is possible. You then would have to take Rosengarten or Armedgie at 72 and maybe a guard like Coleman at 111 to solidify the OL. In round 4 pick 134 WR Cowing.  

Just the Opposite- OT 1st / WR 2nd ... the drop from one to other, at least on paper, is greater at tackle than receiver. 

[jetsons]

1 hour ago, CTJetsFan said:

I never got the "his hands are too small" argument for Fashanu. If his arms were short, I'd get it. But his hands? He's not supposed to be holding anything. Just punch and shove.

If it didn't bother Burrow it shouldn't bother Fashanu ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joey Burrow

 

@JoeyB

 

Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts.

 

 

5:36 PM · Feb 24, 2020

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

Are the Bears really going to draft a WR at #9?

Fields took 44 sacks last season after taking 55 in ‘22.

They’re not interested in keeping Caleb healthy?

[Maynard13]

2 hours ago, jetsons said:

Just the Opposite- OT 1st / WR 2nd ... the drop from one to other, at least on paper, is greater at tackle than receiver. 

Perhaps youre right. Mims, Guyton, etc. Supposedly 6 or 7 tackles will go  in round 1. Just not crazy or see much difference in WR quality from round 2 to 3. Could just skip WR in round 2 if they trade back and take a guy like Beebe or Edgerin cooper to replace Mosley next year.

[Bobby816]

3 hours ago, JoeNamathsFurCoat said:

Are the Bears really going to draft a WR at #9?

Fields took 44 sacks last season after taking 55 in ‘22.

They’re not interested in keeping Caleb healthy?

For them it very well might just be a BPA thing. If Odunze is there. He’s the best player. They trddd for Allen. But he’s older and on a 1 year deal. And they have DJ Moore. So they like us don’t have a huge need at WR. But Odunze could be BPA. They have Kmet or else they’d likely think Bowers too.

[Guilhermezmc]

12 hours ago, Paradis said:

I don't share that view, sounds like they're all about character profile and attitude. I don't think they would take Nabers over Fautanu personally

That probably would make me cry

[Matt39]

Good luck, Chicago

 

CALEB WILLIAMS, Southern Cal (6-1, 217, no 40, 1): His career passer rating of 118.9 using the NFL scale was the best of this class. “I think Caleb has the best chance to bust but also has the best chance to be freakin’ special,” one scout said. “I think he’s boom or bust. There are plays he makes that are fantastic where he scrambles and throws 50 yards downfield for a touchdown. Then you look at that play and there are simpler options that he doesn’t see or ignored.” Replaced Spencer Rattler and started the final seven games of his freshman season at Oklahoma. “Obviously, it’s very similar to how (Patrick) Mahomes played at Texas Tech,” a second scout said. “He constantly is trying to hit the grand slam against just taking the single or the double. I have a hard time believing you can’t coach that out of him. Caleb is the most natural thrower of the four. Seventy yards in the air, arched on a dime. Effortless. Throwing moving to his right from his hip 25 yards downfield on a line. My biggest concern will be his height. It does look at times he struggles to see in the pocket. That’s why he likes to move. He just does things other guys can’t do. Blend that in with being able to play on time and he’s going to be outstanding.” Declined to take a medical exam or test at the combine. “The biggest chance for bust is if Caleb Williams goes to Chicago,” a third scout said. “It’s going to be a lot tougher than people think. He’s got a lot of talent but, wow, he’s had red carpet treatment since the 9th grade. This is getting ready to be a whole different deal. It’s the Chicago media, then the comparison. If (Justin) Fields goes and does anything in Pittsburgh it won’t play well. And the pressure … he ended up in the stands (clutching his mother at the Coliseum Nov. 4 after a loss to Washington) crying like a baby. For a lot of scouts that was a disqualifier. Then you got the painted fingernails, the cars, special treatment. He knows one offense, which you can write on one piece of paper, with Lincoln Riley. Of all those OU quarterbacks he’s the most gifted but none of them have really done it in the league. And Williams’ workout (at pro day) wasn’t godawful but just mediocre.” According to one club official, his father, Carl, told him “it’s too windy in Chicago. Why should we go to Chicago when the open-air stadium is not a place Caleb will like?” Said the official: “You talk about self-serving, vicariously live through your son b.s. He needs to get away from his old man. … I like the kid. He gets a little caught up in the LA bullsh*t, but once he gets with somebody strong he’ll be fine. Because Lincoln Riley’s not a strong guy, either.” Three of his five interceptions in 2023 came at South Bend in a 48-20 loss to Notre Dame. “I’m going Jayden Daniels because I can’t get the f--king Notre Dame game out of my head,” a fifth scout said. “A lot of Caleb is when he’s just running around kind of being playground. He’s also kind of making it about myself.” One of the scouts said Williams, who posted a 23-10 record as a starter, shouldn’t be thrust into the lineup immediately. “You better have the right offensive coordinator for him and do not rush him into the NFL,” he said. “In today’s football everybody wants to rush guys. Let him sit for a while. Let him process.” An executive with an established quarterback has followed Williams from afar. “He just comes out with these things that are kind of spoiled and demanding,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the people around him or what it is. Whether this is the case with him or not, when you get a guy that in his mind feels like you’re fortunate he’s there, it can come off that way and rub teammates the wrong way. I don’t know if he’s got that but he can’t come in with that. People are going to have to jell with him immediately. Because if they don’t, it might be an issue from a leadership standpoint.” From Washington, D.C. Hands were 9 ¾ inches.

 

[BigRy56]

Way way way way too much consensus smoke around Bowers to the Jets. Has to be Jets driven to force a trade up to push Odunze or Nabers down. JD doesn’t traditionally let stuff out like that

[T0mShane]

6 minutes ago, BigRy56 said:

Way way way way too much consensus smoke around Bowers to the Jets. Has to be Jets driven to force a trade up to push Odunze or Nabers down. JD doesn’t traditionally let stuff out like that

Agent driven.

[slats]

8 hours ago, Paradis said:

Close. Jets may prefer to have Indy move up ahead of the Jets to snag Bowers in hopes of increasing their chances of Odunze making it to #10

Not necessarily Indy, but this was my first thought when the Jets finally brought Brock in for a meeting late in the process. 

[LIJetsFan]

3 minutes ago, slats said:

Not necessarily Indy, but this was my first thought when the Jets finally brought Brock in for a meeting late in the process. 

I suspect that if WR3 is gone JD is going TE.  In the event, I'd prefer OT2 instead.  None the less though I'll be hoping that that TE pick is a home run.  JD really needs to up his game draft wise. 

All that being said, JD is a keeper.  Go Jets!  

[UntouchableCrew]

2 hours ago, Matt39 said:

Good luck, Chicago

 

CALEB WILLIAMS, Southern Cal (6-1, 217, no 40, 1): His career passer rating of 118.9 using the NFL scale was the best of this class. “I think Caleb has the best chance to bust but also has the best chance to be freakin’ special,” one scout said. “I think he’s boom or bust. There are plays he makes that are fantastic where he scrambles and throws 50 yards downfield for a touchdown. Then you look at that play and there are simpler options that he doesn’t see or ignored.” Replaced Spencer Rattler and started the final seven games of his freshman season at Oklahoma. “Obviously, it’s very similar to how (Patrick) Mahomes played at Texas Tech,” a second scout said. “He constantly is trying to hit the grand slam against just taking the single or the double. I have a hard time believing you can’t coach that out of him. Caleb is the most natural thrower of the four. Seventy yards in the air, arched on a dime. Effortless. Throwing moving to his right from his hip 25 yards downfield on a line. My biggest concern will be his height. It does look at times he struggles to see in the pocket. That’s why he likes to move. He just does things other guys can’t do. Blend that in with being able to play on time and he’s going to be outstanding.” Declined to take a medical exam or test at the combine. “The biggest chance for bust is if Caleb Williams goes to Chicago,” a third scout said. “It’s going to be a lot tougher than people think. He’s got a lot of talent but, wow, he’s had red carpet treatment since the 9th grade. This is getting ready to be a whole different deal. It’s the Chicago media, then the comparison. If (Justin) Fields goes and does anything in Pittsburgh it won’t play well. And the pressure … he ended up in the stands (clutching his mother at the Coliseum Nov. 4 after a loss to Washington) crying like a baby. For a lot of scouts that was a disqualifier. Then you got the painted fingernails, the cars, special treatment. He knows one offense, which you can write on one piece of paper, with Lincoln Riley. Of all those OU quarterbacks he’s the most gifted but none of them have really done it in the league. And Williams’ workout (at pro day) wasn’t godawful but just mediocre.” According to one club official, his father, Carl, told him “it’s too windy in Chicago. Why should we go to Chicago when the open-air stadium is not a place Caleb will like?” Said the official: “You talk about self-serving, vicariously live through your son b.s. He needs to get away from his old man. … I like the kid. He gets a little caught up in the LA bullsh*t, but once he gets with somebody strong he’ll be fine. Because Lincoln Riley’s not a strong guy, either.” Three of his five interceptions in 2023 came at South Bend in a 48-20 loss to Notre Dame. “I’m going Jayden Daniels because I can’t get the f--king Notre Dame game out of my head,” a fifth scout said. “A lot of Caleb is when he’s just running around kind of being playground. He’s also kind of making it about myself.” One of the scouts said Williams, who posted a 23-10 record as a starter, shouldn’t be thrust into the lineup immediately. “You better have the right offensive coordinator for him and do not rush him into the NFL,” he said. “In today’s football everybody wants to rush guys. Let him sit for a while. Let him process.” An executive with an established quarterback has followed Williams from afar. “He just comes out with these things that are kind of spoiled and demanding,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the people around him or what it is. Whether this is the case with him or not, when you get a guy that in his mind feels like you’re fortunate he’s there, it can come off that way and rub teammates the wrong way. I don’t know if he’s got that but he can’t come in with that. People are going to have to jell with him immediately. Because if they don’t, it might be an issue from a leadership standpoint.” From Washington, D.C. Hands were 9 ¾ inches.

 

Interesting, where's that from? Def not the most flattering write up haha.

[playtowinthegame]

My sources say the Jets will trade up and draft Marvin Harrison Jr. I don't hate it. 

[Tranquilo]

6 minutes ago, playtowinthegame said:

My sources say the Jets will trade up and draft Marvin Harrison Jr. I don't hate it. 

For real?