Post by GordonG on Jan 26, 2018 20:58:05 GMT -5
From Sy'56 (BBI draftnik):
1 - Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen
How big is he? Will the athletic ability translate to quickly adapting to playing under center? My biggest question with him is who is this kid as a player when he isn't in an offense that has basically been engineered around him? I like Mayfield a lot and there is still a chance he ends up being my top overall QB. But my biggest question is the first thing I wrote down this past summer...how much of him is a product of the OU offense and the amount of yards the OU pass catchers gain after they get the ball? This kid has a lot of positives, but there are still major questions.
This is the time of year a kid like Allen starts to climb boards. It's hard not to fall in love with a big kid with toughness, arm strength, and a quick release. One constant throughout Allen's up and down career has been low completion % and poor play against his toughest competition. This is a make or break week for him. Yes, his name is still very much alive in the #1/#2 overall discussion.
*Mason Rudolph is out with a foot injury
2 - Guards/Centers
The OT class is still very much up in the air, but I expect it to be another down year. No blue chip guys, with the only one I see being Texas Connor Williams (not playing in the game), who was injured for most of 2017. Very gray there. However I do think this interior blocking group is near top notch, best in awhile. My two top guys, Braden Smith and Quentin Nelson, are not playing this week. But the names to look for are Will Hernandez (UTEP), Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), and Austin Corbett (Nevada). All are year 1 players in the NFL and Hernandez has a shot to be a 1st rounder if he plays well this week. Wynn is arguably atop my most underrated prospect list.
3 - The edge rusher nobody knows about....
Marcus Davenport from UTSA. I wrote him up in September and called him a top 10 pick. May have gotten ahead of myself....but now I am hearing maybe not. The tools will make scouts drool, we already know that. His power game was taken to another level against lesser competition in 2017 and I think he might be budding at the right time in a year where the top 3 edge guys (Chubb/Key/Landry) aren't exactly blue chip in some eyes. If he can dominate in the infamous Senior Bowl 1 on 1's....watch out.
4 - Power Backs
Saquon Barkley (not playing) is still very much in the mix at #2. We know that. But if they don't go with him, this talented RB class will be approached at some point. NYG should pair Wayne Gallman with a between the tackles bruiser if they don't want to spend FA money on one. There are 2 options coming from this game for sure. Rashaad Penny from San Diego State, #1 in the nation in rushing. Big play back with legit 4.4 speed at 230 pounds. And one of my favorite prospects in this class, Jaylen Samuels. Unreal versatility, has played literally everywhere on the NC State offense. Selfless guy, loves the game, runs hard. Runs through people. Catches the ball better than a lot of WRs.
5 - Small School Prospects
Always a good week to get looks at prospects that are now playing against more credible competition. Playing at a low level of college football does not mean they won't succeed in the league, we know that. 3 standouts for me, CB Taron Johnson (Weber State), an All American, 4 year starter, Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP. Moves as well as any CB in the class from a hip and feet perspective. Can he handle the physical side of the game? TE Dallas Goedert (South Dakota State) has been the top TE on my stack since August. Top FCS player in the class and a potential top 20 pick. Looked like Travis Kelce over the past 2 years. Evan Engram...I know I know. Not sure is will be a long term pure TE and don't overlook the combination of Gronkowski/Hernandez years ago. Yes, I think it could happen and yes, it would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. OT Alex Cappa (Humboldt State)...amazingly was a finalist for the Walter Peyton Award, the Heisman for FCS. A 4 time OL of the year in their conference. This is only my second live look at him, but he passed the initial test for sure.
1 - Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen
How big is he? Will the athletic ability translate to quickly adapting to playing under center? My biggest question with him is who is this kid as a player when he isn't in an offense that has basically been engineered around him? I like Mayfield a lot and there is still a chance he ends up being my top overall QB. But my biggest question is the first thing I wrote down this past summer...how much of him is a product of the OU offense and the amount of yards the OU pass catchers gain after they get the ball? This kid has a lot of positives, but there are still major questions.
This is the time of year a kid like Allen starts to climb boards. It's hard not to fall in love with a big kid with toughness, arm strength, and a quick release. One constant throughout Allen's up and down career has been low completion % and poor play against his toughest competition. This is a make or break week for him. Yes, his name is still very much alive in the #1/#2 overall discussion.
*Mason Rudolph is out with a foot injury
2 - Guards/Centers
The OT class is still very much up in the air, but I expect it to be another down year. No blue chip guys, with the only one I see being Texas Connor Williams (not playing in the game), who was injured for most of 2017. Very gray there. However I do think this interior blocking group is near top notch, best in awhile. My two top guys, Braden Smith and Quentin Nelson, are not playing this week. But the names to look for are Will Hernandez (UTEP), Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), and Austin Corbett (Nevada). All are year 1 players in the NFL and Hernandez has a shot to be a 1st rounder if he plays well this week. Wynn is arguably atop my most underrated prospect list.
3 - The edge rusher nobody knows about....
Marcus Davenport from UTSA. I wrote him up in September and called him a top 10 pick. May have gotten ahead of myself....but now I am hearing maybe not. The tools will make scouts drool, we already know that. His power game was taken to another level against lesser competition in 2017 and I think he might be budding at the right time in a year where the top 3 edge guys (Chubb/Key/Landry) aren't exactly blue chip in some eyes. If he can dominate in the infamous Senior Bowl 1 on 1's....watch out.
4 - Power Backs
Saquon Barkley (not playing) is still very much in the mix at #2. We know that. But if they don't go with him, this talented RB class will be approached at some point. NYG should pair Wayne Gallman with a between the tackles bruiser if they don't want to spend FA money on one. There are 2 options coming from this game for sure. Rashaad Penny from San Diego State, #1 in the nation in rushing. Big play back with legit 4.4 speed at 230 pounds. And one of my favorite prospects in this class, Jaylen Samuels. Unreal versatility, has played literally everywhere on the NC State offense. Selfless guy, loves the game, runs hard. Runs through people. Catches the ball better than a lot of WRs.
5 - Small School Prospects
Always a good week to get looks at prospects that are now playing against more credible competition. Playing at a low level of college football does not mean they won't succeed in the league, we know that. 3 standouts for me, CB Taron Johnson (Weber State), an All American, 4 year starter, Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP. Moves as well as any CB in the class from a hip and feet perspective. Can he handle the physical side of the game? TE Dallas Goedert (South Dakota State) has been the top TE on my stack since August. Top FCS player in the class and a potential top 20 pick. Looked like Travis Kelce over the past 2 years. Evan Engram...I know I know. Not sure is will be a long term pure TE and don't overlook the combination of Gronkowski/Hernandez years ago. Yes, I think it could happen and yes, it would be a nightmare for opposing defenses. OT Alex Cappa (Humboldt State)...amazingly was a finalist for the Walter Peyton Award, the Heisman for FCS. A 4 time OL of the year in their conference. This is only my second live look at him, but he passed the initial test for sure.