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kacakathal-blog · 4 years

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Vikings schedule could look like if NFL pushes back start to October

The coronavirus pandemic has led to uncertainty concerning the upcoming NFL season.There has been countless speculation and ideas about how the league can become Packers vs Vikings Live Game accustomed and appear in football in a touch of months. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the NFL season might not happen unless its played in a bubble system, which the NBA, MLS and NHL are implementing.

MMQBs Albert Breer recently appendage to the speculation on how the NFL can do something in 2020. Breer said on the subject of radio via Browns Wire this week, the schedule wouldnt just be pushed straight past. But rather, it would reportedly have the first four games moved to the halt of the schedule. With this scholarly schedule modification, the season would begin at what is now Week 5. So where does that depart the Vikings? The Week 5 primetime matchup behind Seattle becomes the put into energy game. Minnesota along with has to wait to battle-disagreement the Packers until November gone the team will head to Lambeau Field.One impinge on to note here: I pushed the Bye Week lead slightly, because a Week 7 Bye Week out cold this modification means the Vikings by yourself play-act two games encourage on having a crack.

Will this subside going on instinctive the good to the NFLs schedule? Its hard to proclaim right now, but it every one makes things appealing. NFL fans will have to stay tuned through the coming weeks to see what happens.As we collective all along the days until the Vikings' opener adjoining the Packers in fable to September 13th, InsideTheVikings will be previewing all single performer in credit to the roster. The amount of days surviving corresponds taking into account the jersey number of the artiste enliven thing examined in description to that hours of hours of daylight. Today is June 26th, and there are 79 days until kickoff for the 2020 regular season.

That means its become very old to undertake a see at a seventh-round choose who could become the latest Rick Spielman discovery in that round.Here are a few of the players Rick Spielman and the Vikings have chosen in the seventh round of the draft in recent years: Shamar Stephen, Stephen Weatherly, Jayron Kearse, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Kris Boyd, and Bisi Johnson. Notice that five of those six names are defensive players, and three of them are defensive linemen. That alone should be ample to present some optimism once it comes to the viewpoint for Kenny Willekes, who was one of four seventh-round picks made by the Vikings in this year's draft.

Take a long see at Willekes as a prospect and that optimism should and no-one else ensue. Although he's lacking ideal length for the defensive fade away incline, the former Michigan State star was an elite gloves professor artist who has the athleticism, strength, and accomplish ethic to manufacture into an NFL-caliber edge rusher on summit of times. Willekes had to have an elite pro ethic to profit to this mitigation. Coming out of tall learned in Grand Rapids, MI, he had zero D-I scholarship offers, behind his main collective coming from place D-II schools bearing in mind Wayne State and Grand Valley State. Willekes was thinking enlarged, so he headed to MSU and walked a propos to Mark Dantonio's team. He redshirted in his first year and appeared in one game as a redshirt freshman.

In 2017, Willekes broke through. He became a full-era starter for the Spartans, and recorded 72 tackles, including 5.5 sacks and 8.5 non-bag tackles for loss. He was named third team All-Big Ten for his efforts. Willekes as well as took his game to unconventional level in 2018, putting uphill 20.5 tackles for loss considering eight sacks and four p.s. breakups. He was named first team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the conference in TFLs. As a redshirt senior, he set a career-high behind ten sacks and was behind as soon as again named first team all-conference. Willekes moreover won the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy, hermetic annually to the best former promenade-re in scholarly football.The primary knocks going on for Willekes as a NFL prospect are his nonattendance of length and elite athleticism, as well as shape an court warfare strength and technique plus coming uphill as concerns in scouting reports. His 31.25-inch arms rank in the 3rd percentile for defensive linemen, and his 9.5-inch hands are in the 22nd percentile. Willekes has room to cumulative from a rarefied standpoint; count more variety in his pass-hurrying moves and counter-moves would reach a lot for his upside.

Willekes posted sound psychotherapy numbers at the go into detail subsequent to a 4.87 40, a 119-inch broad jump, and 32 bench press reps. The latter two are in the 84th percentile or above for defensive linemen. He's a hermetic rule defender who has enough burst to complete on the subject of the edge and apply pressure. The No. 1 excuse to bet upon Willekes carving out a role in the NFL, even even though? His effort. He has a motor that handily never quits, and it's a guarantee that he'll arrive in and fasten endless accomplish in the weight room and upon the practice auditorium to add together.

Projected by many as a fourth or fifth-circular pick, Willekes slipped to the seventh circular, likely due to the concerns not quite length and athleticism. In 2020, Willekes will be dogfight considering than players bearing in mind Anthony Zettel, Wonnum, Eddie Yarbrough, and Stacy Keely for a roster spot at defensive subside. Out of those five players, three will likely make the 53-man roster. I think Willekes makes the team or at worst, sticks on the order of the practice squad. He may not contribute much as a rookie, but just taking into account he did at Michigan State, he'll vigor hard every share of single one day until his declare is called.The Vikings normal widespread omnipotent compliment for their haul in the 2020 NFL Draft. Rick Spielman aced Day 1, landed a lot of upside at positions of compulsion upon Day 2, and went upon to set a league sticker album taking into account 15 selections in seven rounds.

Each of those picks was made taking into consideration the well along of the direction of view in mind. Still, many of the Vikings' rookies will be in important roles in 2020, even though their first NFL offseason has taken area sedated uncommon circumstances. The Vikings will likely have to lean upon quite a few minor players after losing a significant amount of gift in March. With that in mind, here are two franchise rookie records that could be blinking this season.The Vikings' first selection of this year's draft was Jefferson, an chosen accomplished and nimble broad receiver prospect from LSU. The No. 22 overall pick will rapidly replace Stefon Diggs as a starting receiver for the Vikings in 2020, and he'll have the opportunity to put happening some mighty numbers in his rookie season.

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asfeedin · 4 years

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2020 NFL draft – Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams

4:30 PM IST

NFL NationESPN

The 2020 NFL draft — moved from Las Vegas into the homes of owners, general managers and coaches because of the coronavirus pandemic — is in the books. While it’s uncertain when the 255 drafted rookies will meet their new teammates and coaches in person, the depth charts are beginning to come into focus. While many holes have been filled, there are still lingering personnel questions for each of the 32 teams going forward.

Our NFL Nation reporters were asked to identify the biggest question for the team they cover.

Scan through all 32 teams by division, or click here to jump ahead to your team:

Jump to: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC East

Have the Bills improved their offense enough to make them AFC contenders?

Trading their first-round pick for receiver Stefon Diggs was a drastic move to give this offense a home-run threat, and taking running back Zack Moss presumably gives Buffalo an ideal complement to Devin Singletary. By the end of draft weekend, Buffalo added two more receivers and a backup quarterback as GM Brandon Beane looks to improve the NFL’s 23rd-ranked scoring offense from a season ago. On paper, it appears better. But, the newest additions will need to jell quickly given the truncated offseason. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

What is the timeline for Tua Tagovailoa and his newly drafted offensive line to lead the Dolphins?

The Dolphins drafted their quarterback of the future and three potential starting offensive linemen (Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley) to protect him, but they might not get immediate contributions from all. Ryan Fitzpatrick could start the season at quarterback while Tagovailoa continues to rehab and learn, and Jackson has to gain strength before he’s ready to take on NFL defenders. It’s unclear whether Miami will expedite the process by throwing them into the fire or take a gradual approach while waiting until the 2021 season to unleash a new-look offense. — Cameron Wolfe

First-round QB Tua Tagovailoa might not start right away for the Dolphins, who remade their offensive line in the draft. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Is Jarrett Stidham the answer as Tom Brady‘s replacement at QB?

When the Patriots passed on Jordan Love at No. 23, it was a moment of truth for how the organization viewed Stidham relative to Love, the fourth-rated quarterback in this year’s draft. And then the Patriots passed on drafting a quarterback altogether, instead adding Louisiana Tech’s J’Mar Smith as an undrafted free agent. Brian Hoyer is the veteran fallback option, but the path is clear for Stidham to be QB1 if he continues to develop. Now, more than ever, it’s Stidham’s job to lose. — Mike Reiss

Did the front office give quarterback Sam Darnold enough weapons?

The early answer is no, as the receiver-needy Jets drafted only one: Denzel Mims (second round). Mims has a high ceiling, but he will need time to develop because he played in an unsophisticated passing offense at Baylor. GM Joe Douglas should have taken another wideout in what was billed as one of the deepest receiver drafts in history. Now they will have to sign a veteran to fortify themselves. — Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

How will the Ravens divvy up the touches in their backfield?

The Ravens drafted Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins in the second round even though they return the three running backs that helped them set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season. Mark Ingram, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season, remains the starter, but everything is up in the air after that. How will Baltimore incorporate Dobbins, the top-ranked running back on its board? What are the roles for Gus Edwards (5.3-yard career average) and Justice Hill (the fastest running back at the 2019 combine)? All in all, dealing with the most loaded backfield in the league is an enviable position for offensive coordinator Greg Roman. — Jamison Hensley

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Joe Burrow joins Scott Van Pelt to discuss being selected first overall and how ready he is to get to work in Cincinnati.

What’s next for quarterback Andy Dalton?

The Bengals have their new franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow. Now that the draft class has officially arrived, Dalton’s $17.7 million cap hit becomes a bigger issue. A resolution to Dalton’s fate could happen sooner rather than later. — Ben Baby

Will quarterback Baker Mayfield take advantage of what Cleveland has accomplished?

After landing right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper in free agency, the Browns added offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. with the 10th pick in the draft. The Browns also drafted the most productive tight end in college football last year in Harrison Bryant. With what should be a significantly better offense line, combined with all the weapons Mayfield will have at his disposal, there should be no excuses next season for the third-year quarterback. — Jake Trotter

What version of Ben Roethlisberger will return after an elbow injury?

The Steelers didn’t draft a quarterback, and with Jameis Winston close to a deal with the Saints, that storyline is out the window. By not adding a quarterback, the Steelers’ front office continues to affirm their belief Roethlisberger will be a “better” version of himself in 2020. But with the uncertainty of the offseason program, it could be a while before Roethlisberger can work with his new teammates, including big-bodied receiver Chase Claypool. The Steelers also telegraphed their confidence in Mason Rudolph‘s development by passing on a quarterback. He had a roller-coaster 2019 season, but the Steelers believe he can rebound as Roethlisberger’s backup. — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Are the Texans done making changes at safety?

In coach/GM Bill O’Brien’s pre-draft news conference, safety was one of two positions he specifically mentioned despite signing former Browns safety Eric Murray to a three-year deal last month. The Texans didn’t pick a safety, instead agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran Michael Thomas after the first day of the draft. Houston still has last year’s starters — Justin Reid and Tashaun Gipson — on the roster, but in that same news conference, O’Brien did not mention Gipson when talking about the position, instead naming every other player he thinks could contribute. — Sarah Barshop

Is Jacob Eason the next franchise quarterback?

The Colts addressed all their needs during the draft — receiver, offensive line, defensive line — while also adding some speed in the backfield with running back Jonathan Taylor. Eason was projected by some to be a first-round pick, but he ended up falling to the fourth round. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for the Colts. After he signs, Eason will be the only quarterback under contract for the Colts after next season, assuming he makes the roster. “Let’s slow our roll a little bit in terms of tagging this guy as the next messiah walking into town. He was a fourth-round pick,” general manager Chris Ballard said. — Mike Wells

• All 255 picks » | Biggest takeaways » • Bowen’s favorites » | Pick analysis » • Experts on Round 1 » | Home setups » • Full class rankings from Scouts Inc. » More NFL draft coverage »

What about running back Leonard Fournette?

The Jaguars tried to work out a trade for Fournette for about a month, but they weren’t able to get anything done. There’s still time to do so before the season, but if the Jaguars do move him, that leaves a massive hole in the offense. Fournette accounted for 1,674 yards last season, and if he’s dealt, the Jaguars’ most experienced back would be Ryquell Armstead, who had 35 carries as a rookie in 2019. The Jaguars didn’t draft a back; GM Dave Caldwell said they would have done so in only the fifth round or later if they believed there was a back better than Armstead or Devine Ozigbo. So it’s not exactly the best situation for second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew. If the Jaguars hold on to Fournette, how is he going to react? — Mike DiRocco

Will Jadeveon Clowney be the next addition to the defense?

The Titans went through the draft without selecting an edge defender, even though there were some good ones on the board when they picked. GM Jon Robinson said the draft was “its own entity” but when asked about potentially signing Clowney, he mentioned how the roster-building process is never over. Titans coach Mike Vrabel was the defensive coordinator in Houston during Clowney’s best season in 2017. — Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

Will the Broncos get a new deal done for safety Justin Simmons?

Minutes after the team wrapped up its 10-player draft class, Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway said negotiations with Simmons’ representatives would restart. He also said he didn’t expect Simmons to sign his franchise-player tender during the offseason, and the Broncos were scheduled to begin their virtual offseason program for players Monday. Simmons, who has played every snap on defense in each of the past two seasons, is looking to be in the top tier of pay for safeties, and that would take at least a $14 million a season. — Jeff Legwold

Will defensive tackle Chris Jones play for the Chiefs this year?

The Chiefs didn’t trade him before the draft and haven’t signed him to a long-term contract. Jones has given no indication he plans to sign the one-year, $16 million tender he received as their franchise player. For now, it’s no sure thing the team’s leader in sacks in each of the past two seasons will be a part of things in 2020. — Adam Teicher

In a draft geared toward mimicking the Chiefs, did the Raiders do enough to catch them?

“That’s a loaded question,” Las Vegas GM Mike Mayock said. “That’s a tough question.” But a fair one, after he acknowledged that while every team in the NFL is chasing the high-powered Super Bowl champs, the Raiders have the unenviable task of facing them twice a season. Picking the fastest guy in the draft in wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, the most versatile in the draft in Lynn Bowden Jr. and a ball-hawk slot corner in Amik Robertson are steps in that direction. — Paul Gutierrez

Who will play left tackle?

The Chargers filled several position needs through the draft but must still determine who will play left tackle as they did not select a tackle with any of their six picks. “I’m comfortable with what we have,” coach Anthony Lynn said after the draft. But after trading Russell Okung to the Panthers, it’s unclear if Trey Pipkins or Sam Tevi will be able to step up. — Lindsey Thiry

NFC EAST

What’s next for the Cowboys’ pass rush?

If the question can’t be about when quarterback Dak Prescott will sign a multiyear contract, it has to be about the pass rush. It was an issue before the draft, and the Cowboys did not address the spot until taking Bradlee Anae in the fifth round. Though Anae had 13 sacks in Utah in 2019, it’s not realistic to ask a Day 3 pick to be an influence. Yes, Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory could be reinstated, but Smith has not played since 2015 and Gregory has played 16 games in the past four years. Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said the team has reached out to the agents for some veteran players, but he did not specify the position. Finding a backup offensive tackle and perhaps a safety also could be options, but the pass rush is more pressing. — Todd Archer

Will the Giants sign Markus Golden or Jadeveon Clowney?

As things stand, they don’t have a player on the roster who had more than 4.5 sacks last season. They also didn’t draft an edge rusher until the sixth round. Still, GM Dave Gettleman made it seem a move for Golden or Clowney was unlikely. He talked about a “group effort” without a “blue goose” pass-rusher leading the way. He also mentioned they “can do it with scheme.” That makes it seem as if their pass-rush hopes are likely to rest on the shoulders of Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines and Kyler Fackrell, rather than a veteran such as Golden or Clowney. — Jordan Raanan

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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman breaks down what went into the decision to draft Jalen Hurts.

How will Carson Wentz react to the addition of Jalen Hurts?

It’s unusual for a team to use a high pick on a quarterback when it has a franchise starter still in his prime. Wentz emerged from the shadow cast by Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and now must share the locker room — and apparently some playing time — with the dynamic Hurts, while dealing with the media scrutiny that has already started. The 2020 season just got a whole lot more interesting in Philly. — Tim McManus

Did the Redskins find enough help for quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr.?

They added a versatile weapon in running back/receiver Antonio Gibson in the third round and an intriguing receiver in Antonio Gandy-Golden in the fourth. Both could help soon — especially Gibson. They aren’t sure who will protect Haskins’ blind side with Trent Williams now in San Francisco. Washington has a few choices, including fourth-round pick Saahdiq Charles, but it lacks a proven starter and it will remain a question. It was a bad draft class for tight ends, and the Redskins did add two in free agency — Richard Rodgers and Logan Thomas — who are better than anything they probably would have added late in the draft. But that leads to another question: Do they have a legitimate starter at the position? — John Keim

NFC NORTH

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Who starts at safety alongside Eddie Jackson?

The Bears had the opportunity to draft a starting-caliber safety in the second round but instead addressed tight end (Cole Kmet) and cornerback (Jaylon Johnson). After the departure of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in free agency, the Bears made a couple of modest moves at safety when they re-signed Deon Bush and added veteran Jordan Lucas. But is that enough? Especially on a top-10 defense? Chicago is rolling the dice on a pair of veterans who have primarily been special-teamers in the NFL. The decision could prove cost-effective, but it could also backfire. — Jeff Dickerson

How are the Lions going to create pressure?

Drafting linebacker Julian Okwara was a good start, but the Lions went light on linemen, waiting until the sixth round to take a defensive tackle. It’s the position that going into the draft was a top-three need and remains a massive question. Danny Shelton is now likely to have a huge role in the middle of Detroit’s line, and the team is potentially counting on Nick Williams to do more than he has in stints with four other teams. Detroit has cap space, so a veteran or two could sign to provide more stability, but the Lions’ biggest weakness remains the middle of the defensive line. — Michael Rothstein

Will the Packers keep looking for a receiver?

A record-tying 36 receivers were picked in the draft. The Packers didn’t take one despite most believing it was their biggest need. GM Brian Gutekunst said afterward he liked the receivers in the draft but didn’t believe it was as deep as others. He didn’t take a mid- or late-round receiver because he did not think there was one to beat out the likes of Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, Equanimeous St. Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Malik Taylor, Darrius Shepherd or CFL pickup Reggie Begelton for a spot behind Davante Adams. “We really think we’ve got a lot of guys who are going to be pushing for playing time and production,” Gutekunst said. — Rob Demovsky

• 2020 NFL draft analysis for every pick • Jets’ draft hinges on a speedy receiver • Patriots’ draft has a 2001-type feel to it • Pros, cons for every first-round selection • Ravens’ 5th-round pick ends in D-line help

What will the offensive line look like?

The Vikings made a home-run pick in Ezra Cleveland, who was available at No. 58 without the team having to trade up. Missing on trading for Trent Williams worked out for the best for the Vikings, who saved a bunch of money and have a young, potential franchise left tackle in the fold. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill had a full offseason in advance of his rookie season in 2018, and he still wasn’t ready to start until Week 6; this season’s truncated offseason program might not afford Cleveland time to develop.

GM Rick Spielman said Riley Reiff is going to hold down the “left side” for now, but does that mean at his current position (left tackle) or a move to guard with a possible contract restructure? The Vikings will be shuffling the interior of the offensive line with a “wide-open competition” at both guard spots, so it’s time to see what they have in Dru Samia (2019 fourth round), Oli Udoh (2019 sixth round) and potentially veteran Dakota Dozier, who filled in at both left and right guard in 2019. The Vikings could also sign a veteran to compete in training camp. — Courtney Cronin

NFC SOUTH

Is the defense fixed?

That’s what the Falcons would like for their fans to believe after selecting four defensive players in the first five picks. It looks good on paper to have a potential shutdown starting corner in first-rounder A.J. Terrell and a versatile pass-rusher in second-rounder Marlon Davidson, along with depth in linebacker Mykal Walker and safety Jaylinn Hawkins. But the Falcons still need to show it on the field under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, especially against Drew Brees and Tom Brady in the NFC South. Newcomer Dante Fowler Jr. must make an impact at pass-rusher, and second-year corner Kendall Sheffield has to live up to that No. 1 corner potential, among other things. — Vaughn McClure

Can fourth-round pick Tony Pride Jr. develop into a No. 1 cornerback?

He has the speed, physical traits and confidence, saying he’s a “competitive beast.” He sounds like Josh Norman, a fifth-round pick in 2012, who was benched after 13 games as a rookie and didn’t emerge as a star until the 2015 season. The Panthers need Pride to contribute quickly, especially considering the uncertainty at the other cornerback spot with Donte Jackson. Beefing up the front line with first-round pick Derrick Brown helps if quarterbacks don’t have as much time to throw. But for Carolina to be competitive in coach Matt Rhule’s first season, the secondary has to be strong in a division with Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. — David Newton

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Mike Triplett reacts to the Saints’ contract discussions with Jameis Winston and their two-year deal with Taysom Hill.

Can the Saints afford all this star power at QB?

The Saints worked quickly to address their biggest remaining need after the draft, with news breaking Sunday morning they were closing in on a deal with Jameis Winston while re-signing Taysom Hill. But depending on how much Winston costs, the Saints might need to release someone to make room. One candidate is Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford, whose starting job is in jeopardy after Cesar Ruiz was picked in the first round. — Mike Triplett

Did the Bucs do enough to help the secondary?

Tampa Bay, which ranked 30th in pass defense in 2019 (4,322 passing yards), drafted safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the second round but did not address depth needs at cornerback. In free agency, they re-signed Ryan Smith, but his primary role is serving as a gunner on special teams and he hasn’t done much in Todd Bowles’ defense. They drafted four cornerbacks in the first three rounds of the past two drafts (2018 and 2019) and will have to bank on developing Smith, Mazzi Wilkins and M.J. Stewart even more to see what kind of depth they can provide behind starters Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean. — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

1 Related

Did the Cardinals fill all their roster holes?

The short answer is yes, as they don’t have any major needs coming out of the draft. Drafting Isaiah Simmons with the eighth pick filled a slew of concerns on defense, and the addition of tackle Josh Jones gives Arizona, at worst, a backup at right tackle this season and, at best, a new starter. The rest of the draft class filled out depth issues. — Josh Weinfuss

Did the Rams find enough talent to improve their defense?

Several key playmakers were lost in free agency or released because of salary-cap space. It remains to be determined whether the free-agent signings of defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, plus the selections in the draft of outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, defensive back Terrell Burgess, safety Jordan Fuller and linebacker Clay Johnston will provide enough ready-made talent to step into meaningful roles. — Lindsey Thiry

How fast can their new additions get up to speed?

The 49ers are leaning heavily on continuity as they retained 18 of their 22 primary starters as well as plenty of depth and the majority of their coaching staff, including all of their coordinators. But they suffered a few important losses in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, left tackle Joe Staley and receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Now, the Niners turn to rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk as well as left tackle Trent Williams to fill in. In an offseason of uncertainty, that trio won’t get the usual on-field work, but much will be expected as the Niners try to return to — and win — the Super Bowl. — Nick Wagoner

Have the Seahawks improved their pass rush enough?

They signed veterans Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa, then drafted Darrell Taylor (second round) and Alton Robinson (fifth) to address their biggest needs, but they still don’t have a Pro Bowl-caliber player like Jadeveon Clowney as a primary threat off the edge. In the past 10 seasons, only six times has a player drafted outside of the top 16 recorded eight or more sacks as a rookie, so immediate expectations should be kept in check for Taylor and Robinson. The door isn’t closed on a reunion with Clowney, but without him or another big-name addition, the Seahawks would have to bank on Irvin (8.5) and Mayowa (7.0) replicating their career-best sack totals from last year, plus significant contributions from Jarran Reed and their younger pass-rushers. — Brady Henderson

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junker-town · 4 years

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The final 2020 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams

Photo by NFL via Getty Images

The Ravens, Vikings and Buccaneers aced the draft.

In what was a unique 2020 NFL Draft, things turned out to be mostly normal. With teams making the picks from their homes, the draft started as we expected with Joe Burrow and Chase Young leading the way.

Things opened up after that with several surprise picks in the back of the first round and a bunch of trades on the second and third days of the draft.

On a first glance with way-too-early grades, no teams had better drafts than the Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No team had more of a head scratching draft than the Green Bay Packers.

The grades below are based on a combination of factors, starting with player value. It’s much less about player quality and more where they’re drafted. After that, filling needs and personnel fit are considered. Early picks get weighted higher. No team gets dinged for a Day 3 pick, but their grade can improve slightly for a good one. Not filling a need in the draft knock a grade slightly. And let’s be honest, all teams draft for need to an extent.

Arizona Cardinals

Isaiah Simmons slipped to the Cardinals with the eighth pick in the draft, and he turned out to be too good to pass on. Simmons gives the Cardinals a versatile defender who can fill multiple roster holes. He’s not a safety, and he’s not a linebacker. Simmons is both, and he should be an early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Cardinals arguably got the biggest steal of the draft by taking offensive tackle Josh Jones in the third round. Jones was my 21st ranked player overall in the draft, and fills the big need the Cardinals had at tackle. He’ll have to transition to the right side, but he has the athleticism to do so.

General manager Steve Keim then used his next two picks on defensive linemen in Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence. Fotu is a big run stopper, and Lawrence is a player who can line up at end in three-man fronts.

Grade: A-

Atlanta Falcons

When the Falcons released cornerback Desmond Trufant, replacing him in the draft became a priority. That’s the direction Atlanta went in the first round by taking Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell. He is a good fit in Atlanta’s press scheme, and he has good tools and size.

After taking two offensive linemen in the first round in 2019, the Falcons added Temple’s Matt Hennessy to the line in the third round. He could push for the left guard job, or take over for center Alex Mack, who is in a contract year.

The puzzling thing about Atlanta’s draft is the lack of a pass rusher. Second-round pick Marlon Davidson can provide some of that from the inside, but the Falcons need another edge player to go with free agent signing Dante Fowler.

Grade: C+

Baltimore Ravens

As they often do, the Ravens cleaned up in the draft. In the first round, the team let the best player available drop to them when they took LSU linebacker Patrick Queen at No. 28. He’s the sort of sideline-to-sideline linebacker Baltimore’s defense badly needed.

In the second round, the Ravens let another player fall to them in running back J.K. Dobbins. He was the fifth running back taken, and could assume the lead running back role for Baltimore before long.

In the third round, Baltimore filled needs with its four picks. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the kind of player who can play inside and outside for Baltimore, wide receiver Devin Duvernay gives them a weapon in the slot and linebacker Malik Harrison is good depth, at worst. Tyre Phillips of Mississippi State and fourth-round pick Ben Bredeson give the Ravens good depth on the offensive line.

Grade: A

Buffalo Bills

Without a first-round pick after trading for Stefon Diggs, the Bills still managed to find good values on the second and third days of the draft. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa isn’t a dangerous speed rusher on the edge, but he’s extremely solid. To me, he’s a lighter version of Cameron Heyward of the Steelers. He’s a player who can plug in at end to set the edge against the run, and do enough as a pass rusher. He as among my favorite Day 2 picks. Don’t forget, at one point some thought Epenesa might be a top 10 pick.

The Bills found a nice compliment for Devin Singletary in the third round with Zack Moss of Utah. If he’s healthy, he’s a bulldozer running back who can shake off tacklers.

Don’t overlook the selection of quarterback Jake Fromm in the fifth round. A backup quarterback is a greater commodity than they’re given credit, and Fromm should be a good one based on his football smarts and competitiveness.

Taking two wide receivers was a little strange given how Buffalo’s offense is constructed. The Bills really needed to come out of this draft with an outside linebacker and guard at some point.

Grade: B

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers got things started with in a big way with their draft. Literally. The Panthers’ run defense was bad last season, but the addition of monstrous first-round pick Derrick Brown will greatly improve that area. Brown is a dominant lineman who can move blockers around with ease.

Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos was a productive player in college, and gives the Panthers a physical and athletic edge player.

Jeremy Chinn is a big, fast and explosive safety who can play press man coverage and work in the box. The Panthers traded up at the end of the second round to get him, and in Chinn they should have a good starter.

The Panthers continued rounding out the defense on the third day of the draft with cornerback Troy Pride Jr., safety Kenny Robinson and defensive tackle Bravvion Roy. Of those three, Robinson could make the quickest impact. The former XFL player has speed and is a willing tackler.

The Panthers needed to fix their defense, and used all seven of their picks on that side of the ball.

Grade: B+

Chicago Bears

If a team can be made of all tight ends, the Bears are positioned to do it. The Bears didn’t have a first-round pick because of the Khalil Mack trade. In the second round, Chicago’s first pick was on Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet. It’s hard to completely fault the pick considering Kmet was the best tight end in the draft. But now the Bears literally have 11 tight ends.

The Bears followed that up in the second round by taking Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Some thought he might have been picked in the first round, so the value at No. 50 was good. Chicago doesn’t have much at cornerback after Kyle Fuller, so getting Johnson was the team’s best pick. The Bears doubled up on the position in the fourth round with Georgia Southern’s Kindle Vildor.

Third-round pick Trevis Gibson has value as a long linebacker who can play the run and do enough as a pass rusher. The problem with this draft is the lack of offensive linemen until the seventh round.

Grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals

As expected for months, the Bengals got things started in the 2020 draft with quarterback Joe Burrow of LSU. After several years of middling play by Andy Dalton, the Bengals now have a quarterback to build their franchise around. Burrow should quickly assert himself as the team’s leader thanks to his toughness and moxie. On the field, Burrow excels at exploiting the weaknesses in a defense and maneuvering around the pocket.

In the second round, the Bengals got Burrow a weapon in Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins. He gives the Bengals a wide receiver who excels at high-pointing the ball and getting physical with defensive backs. He’s not a speed receiver, but he fits nicely with the type of throws Burrow can make.

Cincinnati’s linebacker play has been suspect for years, so it makes sense that the team would take two in Logan Wilson of Wyoming and Akeem Davis-Gaither of Appalachian State with back-to-back picks. Davis-Gaither is the model of a current linebacker who has speed and athleticism to burn. Wilson is a good three-down inside linebacker who should quickly assume a starting job.

Notre Dame pass rusher Khalid Kareem should provide good depth and Kansas offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji has nice developmental potential.

Grade: A-

Cleveland Browns

No team in the NFL needed a left tackle more than the Browns. They got a player they hope can be one in Alabama’s Jedrick Wills in the first round. After playing on the right side in college and high school, Wills will have work to do to make the move to Baker Mayfield’s blind side.

For the second year in a row, the Browns took an LSU defensive back who was in free fall. Last year it was cornerback Greedy Williams, and this year it was safety Grant Delpit. If Delpit’s tackling can be improved, he can be the exact type of safety Cleveland needs.

Center Nick Harris of Washington, taken in fifth round, should be the eventual replacement for J.C. Tretter. He’s a quick center who specializes in pass protection. The Browns got a steal with their last pick in wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones of Michigan. The quarterback play at Michigan has been awful, and Peoples-Jones could be the replacement for Rashard Higgins.

Grade: B+

Dallas Cowboys

I’m seemingly the only person in the minority of not liking the selection of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the first round. It just didn’t make sense to draft at No. 2 wide receiver with the 17th pick on a team that had so many glaring needs on defense. Namely, K’Lavon Chaisson, who was taken a few picks later, had value and filled a need.

Cornerback Trevon Diggs, taken in the second round, gives the Cowboys the player they needed in the secondary. He’s a big cornerback who should push for a starting job following the departure of Byron Jones. Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore was a nice pickup in the third round. If his production ever matches his athleticism, watch out. Tulsa defensive back Reggie Robinson II in the fourth round was a smart depth pickup.

Grade: B-

Denver Broncos

It’s clear that Denver’s goal in this draft was to help second-year quarterback Drew Lock. They did that with two back-to-back wide receivers starting with Jerry Jeudy in the first round. Denver was lucky that Jeudy was around with the 15th pick. He’s the best wide receiver in the draft, and gives Lock a dependable pass catcher. Jeudy is a stellar route runner, has speed and his hands are good.

The team’s second-round pick was used on Penn State’s KJ Hamler. If there is a DeSean Jackson in this draft, it is Hamler. His game is speed and more speed. Speaking of, the Broncos got Lock another speedy target in tight end Albert Okwuegbunam of Missouri in the fourth round. A year after taking Noah Fant, the Broncos now have two young tight ends to diversify their offense.

The Broncos were one of several teams that had three third-round picks, and their first selection in that round went to cornerback Michael Ojemudia. He’s a bigger cornerback with speed, so he should start opposite A.J. Bouye.

Nose tackle was a big need for the Broncos, and they got one of the better ones in the draft in the third round with McTelvin Agim of Arkansas. If he’s healthy, guard Netane Muti will be a steal. The problem with this draft is a lack of an offensive tackle.

Grade: B+

Detroit Lions

The mindset of the Lions in the draft this year was finding impact players. That’s what they got, starting with Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah in the first round. After trading Darius Slay, the selection of Okudah became obvious. It was no reach, though. Okudah is one of the elite players in this draft, and should help fix the NFL’s worst past defense.

The Lions followed that up in the second round by taking the draft’s best running back in D’Andre Swift of Georgia. He should be a factor in the run game and pass offense. If Julian Okwara, the team’s third-round pick can stay healthy, he can be the type of pass rusher the Lions have needed for a few seasons.

The Lions also added some toughness, taking guards Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg in the middle of the draft.

Grade: B

Green Bay Packers

The Packers had a strange draft. As Aaron Rodgers enters his 16th season, it was clear the Packers needed to get him weapons in the passing offense. That didn’t happen. Not only did the Packers draft Rodgers’ replacement in Jordan Love of Utah State, but they traded up to get him. Rodgers has three years left on his contract. What if Love doesn’t see the field before then? But maybe Love sees the field early, like Patrick Mahomes did in Kansas City, and I look like a fool.

Late in the second round, the Packers took running back AJ Dillon. Aaron Jones is going into a contract year, so taking a running back makes sense in that regard. Dillon doesn’t have a lot of wiggle, but he was productive in college. Tight end Josiah Deguara, taken in the third round, is a decent pass catching tight end.

The Packers continued to ignore the passing offense on Day 3 of the draft by taking three players on defense and three offensive linemen. My favorite Day 3 choice for the Packers was offensive lineman Jon Runyan.

Grade: D

Houston Texans

After not having a first-round pick following the Laremy Tunsil trade, the Texans got a first-round player in defensive tackle Ross Blacklock. The TCU product is more than capable of replacing D.J. Reader on the line. Houston’s run defense needs help, so it’s not a surprise to see them take a player like Blacklock.

Florida edge rusher Jonathan Greenard was a steal in third round. He’s a good pass rusher who can stand up or play with his hand in the dirt. Offensive tackle Charlie Heck was an intriguing Day 3 pick. There are parts of his game that need work, but at 6’8 and 311 pounds, his size can make him worth the risk.

Grade: B

Indianapolis Colts

Trading for DeForest Buckner meant the Colts didn’t have a first-round pick, but they made up for it on the second and third days of the draft. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is the type of big pass catcher the Colts need. T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell are good speed receivers with shiftiness and Pittman gives Indianapolis a physical possession player.

If running back Jonathan Taylor can protect the ball a little better, the Colts have a player who can take carries from Marlon Mack. Safety Julian Blackmon, taken in the third round, would have been more highly considered if he wasn’t coming off an ACL injury.

The Colts made the first big splash of Day 3 of the draft by taking Washington quarterback Jacob Eason. He’s all tools at this point. But if he can learn behind Philip Rivers, the Colts could have their quarterback of the future.

Grade: B

Jacksonville Jaguars

Cornerback C.J. Henderson was the player the Jaguars needed in the first round after moving on from A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey. Taking Henderson at No. 9 was a little high, but the Jaguars couldn’t risk trading back and losing out on the draft’s second-best cornerback. Like getting Josh Allen last year, the Jaguars were lucky with an edge rusher in the first round with K’Lavon Chaisson at No. 20 overall. If Yannick Ngakoue is gone, Chaisson is the replacement.

Laviska Shenault was the ninth wide receiver drafted, but I thought he should have gone much higher than where Jacksonville took him in the second round. If he’s used properly, he can be a highly productive player who adds an element of physicality to Jacksonville’s offense. Jacksonville’s run defense was bolstered by third-round pick Davon Hamilton.

Of Jacksonville’s three fourth-round picks, cornerback Josiah Scott was my favorite. He’s not very big, but he has good speed. He should be a nice slot player for the Jaguars. Wide receiver Collin Johnson is like the D.K. Metcalf of this draft. His best role is a vertical threat, so the Jaguars will have to use him correctly.

Grade: B+

Kansas City Chiefs

Coming off a Super Bowl win, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t need to do much. The value of taking a running back in the first round can be debated, but at pick No. 32 it’s not that big of a deal. Kansas City used that selection on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire of LSU. He’s a dynamic running back who is compact, fast and violent with the ball in his hands.

Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. scared some teams because of his off-field issues, but he’s an impressive athlete who stars in coverage. Third-round pick Lucas Niang had first-round buzz early in his college career. If he’s healthy, he’s the type of player who can eventually succeed the great Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.

The big problem with Kansas City’s draft is the lack of a cornerback before the seventh round. The Chiefs have lost several cornerbacks this offseason, and didn’t address the position until the they Thakarius Keyes of Tulane with their last pick.

Grade: B-

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders obviously wanted wide receivers, using three of their first four picks on the position. Henry Ruggs III was a surprising choice at No. 12 overall, but Ruggs’ speed adds a new dimension to Las Vegas’ offense. Lynn Bowden Jr., the team’s third-round pick, could be a lot of fun if he’s used correctly. He’s a wide receiver who can do a little of everything on offense. Bryan Edwards of South Carolina, the team’s second third-round pick, compares favorably to current Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams.

Perhaps Las Vegas’ best pick was their last one. In the fourth round, the team took Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson. He is a big-time competitor who will get physical with receivers during their routes. He could be stellar moved inside to cover the slot.

The Raiders also got a pair of Clemson players in safety/linebacker Tanner Muse and guard John Simpson. They should provide good depth.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Chargers

What you think of the Chargers’ draft begins and ends with what you think about quarterback Justin Herbert. Instead of trading up to take Tua Tagovailloa, the Chargers held at No. 6 and took Herbert. He’ll be relied upon to replace Philip Rivers and be the face of the franchise. No pressure.

The Chargers jumped back into the first round to take linebacker Kenneth Murray at No. 23 overall. After releasing Thomas Davis, getting a quality linebacker was a must for the Chargers. Murray has range and power, so he should be an asset against the run. He only adds to a loaded Los Angeles defense.

With Melvin Gordon now gone, the Chargers needed a new running back to pair with Austin Ekeler. When there was a run on the position, the Chargers jumped on Joshua Kelley of UCLA in the fourth round. He’s a shifty and agile runner between the tackles, and will wait for a running lane to open. Maybe more importantly, he is one of the best pass blocking running backs in the draft.

The major flaw in this draft class is the lack of an offensive tackle. Getting Bryan Bulaga this offseason was fine. But Sam Tevi struggled last season on the right side.

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Rams

The draft for the Rams this year was about getting pieces to help fix their offense. The team’s first pick was used on running back Cam Akers in the second round. With Todd Gurley gone, a running back was a must in this draft. In Akers, they have a big but quick running back who can get out onto the second level in a hurry.

Wide receiver Van Jefferson, the team’s other second-round pick, is like Jerry Jeudy lite for the Rams. He’s a very good route runner, shrugs off press coverage and has good hands. He’s not a speedy receiver, but he fits the Rams’ offense.

The Rams built up the back seven of their defense with Terrell Lewis, Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller. If they can get one starting safety out of Burgess and Fuller, this is a good draft.

This grade would be better if the Rams targeted a guard at some point before the seventh round.

Grade: B-

Miami Dolphins

Miami had a load of picks going into the draft, and they took a load of players. That started with three first-round picks beginning with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Whether or not this ends up being a good pick is dependent on Tagovailoa’s health. If he can play two healthy contracts for the Dolphins he should give them the type of franchise quarterback play they haven’t had since Dan Marino.

Even before the Dolphins took Tagovailoa they had to improve their offensive line. That’s what they did by taking Austin Jackson in the first round and Robert Hunt in the second. Jackson needs some developmental work, but he has the potential to be a good starting left tackle. Hunt is likely to move from right tackle to guard in the NFL. Solomon Kindley, taken in the fourth round, provides good depth at guard as well.

Of course, under head coach Brian Flores, the Dolphins took plenty of players on defense. Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was a surprise first-round pick. Defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, taken in the second round, had some first-round buzz before the season. Defensive end Curtis Weaver was a steal in the fifth round.

Taking a long snapper was strange. Especially so instead of getting a running back. Maybe Malcolm Perry from Navy will be that player, but with so many picks, the Dolphins could have found a running back at some point.

Grade: B-

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings had one of the best drafts in the entire NFL this year. That started with the 22nd pick, taking LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The consensus fourth-best wide receiver in the draft, Jefferson is a weapon out of the slot, and had 111 catches in 2019. For the Vikings, he should work outside. Jefferson gives the Vikings a seamless transition from Stefon Diggs, the player they traded for the No. 22 selection.

The team smartly traded down in the first round with San Francisco and landed cornerback Jeff Gladney at No. 31. He’s a good scheme fit in Mike Zimmer’s defense and is a player who can set the tone in the secondary. The Vikings also added cornerback Cameron Dantzler in the third round, helping shore up a sore spot in Minnesota’s defense. Second-round pick Ezra Cleveland has starting potential at left tackle. Fourth-round pick D.J. Wonnum is the type of lanky developmental pass rusher Zimmer loves. His comparison was Danielle Hunter, so the choice makes a lot of sense.

Fourth-round pick James Lynch is a player who can play outside and inside, which is good for Minnesota’s roster construction. Of the team’s roughly 528 Day 3 picks, Lynch is the best one. Defensive end Kenny Willekes could be a nice rotational piece.

Grade: A

New England Patriots

As expected, the Patriots traded out of the first round. In fact, the Patriots traded all but one of their scheduled picks during the draft. Going into the draft, I thought this would be one where Bill Belichick leaned into defense and his comfort zone, and that’s what happened.

The team’s first pick ended up being Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kyle Dugger, a hybrid safety and linebacker. With Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung getting up there in age, Dugger could be a starting safety soon for the Patriots.

The Patriots then took a pair of versatile edge players in Josh Uche in the second round and Anfernee Jennings in the second round. They’re players who can line up at linebacker, standing up at the edge or with their hand down. This is how the Patriots replace Kyle Van Noy.

Those two picks were followed by two tight ends in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. New England’s need at tight end last season was obvious, and these two fill that hole. The Patriots found a replacement for kicker Stephen Gostkowski and drafted three offensive linemen.

This was an extremely Bill Belichick draft. The big problem is no quarterback.

Grade: B

New Orleans Saints

The Saints were one of the teams in the NFL with the fewest roster holes going into the draft. And that was proven by the moves they made on Day 2. They maneuvered around and took pass rushing linebacker Zack Baun in the second round and tight end Adam Trautmann in the third. Baun fills the need at linebacker the Saints had after A.J. Klein left this offseason. Trautman was regarded as the top tight end by some in the draft. He’s a solid backup to Jared Cook.

In the first round, the Saints took center Cesar Ruiz from Michigan. The best true interior blocker in the draft, Ruiz could play center or guard in New Orleans.

While the Saints didn’t have a lot of needs going into the draft, it was a surprise they didn’t take a wide receiver or look for an eventual heir to quarterback Drew Brees until the seventh round.

Grade: B

New York Giants

The Giants surprised some in the first round by taking Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas in the first round. But if you think about it, it’s the most pro ready true left tackle in the draft. On a team with a young quarterback, that’s what the Giants need.

In the second round, the Giants were able to take Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Many thought he could come off the board in the middle of the first round. McKinney gives the Giants a safety who excels at coming down into the box and making tackles. He’s good enough in coverage too.

The Giants doubled up on offensive tackles taking developmental right tackle Matt Peart of Connecticut in the third round. They also added Oregon guard Shane Lemieux.

The issue with New York’s picks is the lack of a linebacker until they took Cam Brown in the middle of the draft’s third day. While McKinney and Jabrill Peppers are capable playing a hybrid role, New York’s linebacker group is thin on talent.

Grade: B

New York Jets

For the sake of Sam Darnold, the Jets needed a left tackle. And they got literally the biggest one in the draft by taking Louisville’s Mekhi Becton in the first round. To use a Mike Mayockism, Becton is this draft’s dancing bear. He’s a powerful blocker who can get out to the edge and he can finish off blockers. Even better, the Jets could wait until pick No. 12 to get him.

The Jets then got some help for Darnold with wide receiver Denzel Mims in the second round and running back La’Mical Perine in the fourth. Mims should automatically assume the No. 1 receiver role in New York.

Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall was a good risk to take in the fifth round. If he’s healthy he can be a starting cornerback on the outside for the Jets.

Grade: B+

Philadelphia Eagles

Arguably the biggest need in the entire NFL going into the draft was the Eagles and a wide receiver. That was satisfied with the selection of Jalen Reagor of TCU at No. 21. That was a little high for Reagor, but the Eagles had to get a receiver early.

Philadelphia then shocked everyone by taking quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round. Head coach Doug Pederson will be able to fit Hurts in somehow, and maybe he’ll be their Taysom Hill. But is that a player you take with the 53rd pick in the draft?

Linebacker Davion Taylor is still raw, as he only played two games of high school football, but he’s a solid hybrid linebacker/safety with great athleticism. Getting John Hightower was a nice pickup on Day 3 of the draft.

It’s a big head scratcher why Philadelphia didn’t target a cornerback at any point.

Grade: C-

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers didn’t pick until the second round after sending their first-round pick to Miami for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Second-round pick Chase Claypool gives the Steelers a wide receiver who can develop into the team’s No. 1 target if Juju Smith-Schuster leaves after this season. He’s a physical wide out and gives the Steelers something different compared to the other receivers on the roster.

Alex Highsmith, taken 102nd overall, gives the Steelers the type of versatile pass rusher they need. It’s a pick you could see coming because he fits the mold perfectly in Pittsburgh. Highsmith’s first step will get him on the field right now. If he can get stronger to play the run better, he can become a starter for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers got two players in the fourth round who should be solid contributors. Running back Anthony McFarland is a nice compliment for James Conner. His speed in the open field is impressive. Guard Kevin Dotson is a nice depth piece who could push free agent signing Stefen Wisniewski for the starting left guard job.

Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers

Going into the draft, everyone seemed sure that the 49ers would use their first pick in the first round on a wide receiver and then trade out of the first round to accumulate draft capital. Neither of those things happened. The 49ers did maneuver around a couple times in the first round and landed two starting players, but they did it in a different order.

The team used the 14th pick on defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, a massive and unique athlete who will replace DeForest Buckner. Then the team traded up from No. 25 to 31 to take wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of Arizona State. He’s a big impact player after the catch and fits nicely in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The cost to move up six spots, though, was expensive.

I liked the pick of tight end Charlier Woerner in the sixth round. He’s a good blocker, and is a better receiver than he often got to show at Georgia.

Grade: B-

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks went against the expectation and didn’t trade their first-round pick for the first time since 2011. It was an even bigger surprise when Seattle used their pick on Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks. It’s hard to see where Brooks fits on Seattle’s defense. Bobby Wagner just got a massive contract, and is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Last year the Seahawks picked Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven. This one is a head scratcher.

The Seahawks made up for it the rest of the draft. The team took edge rusher Darrell Taylor in the second round, filling their big need at pass rusher. Guard Damien Lewis from LSU is a nice system fit in Seattle. My favorite pick Seattle made came in the fourth round with tight end Colby Parkinson. He has the size to create mismatches and has a surprising level of speed in his game.

Taking Alton Robinson of Syracuse was another good Day 3 pick. It was smart to double down on edge rushers with the hope that one Robinson or Taylor works out. Robinson is a little bit better of a standup player.

Grade: C

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are in win-now mode after bringing in quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski this offseason. They further proved as much by moving up one pick in the first round to take offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. This is the exact player the Buccaneers needed to get. The trade up cost them a fourth-round pick, but it’s understandable given the need and value fit of Wirfs.

Tampa aced the second round too, taking Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. He’s a big-play defensive back who should start immediately for the Buccaneers. There was a run in the second round on safeties, and the Buccaneers lucked out when Winfield was still available.

Don’t be shocked if running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn pushes Ronald Jones for the starting job in the backfield. Wide receiver Tyler Johnson was highly productive in college and gives the Buccaneers a dependable pass catcher. He could be a weapon in the slot.

Grade: A

Tennessee Titans

You could see the pick of offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson coming a mile away for the Titans. The massive right tackle is the perfect system fit in Tennessee’s run-based offense. He’ll replace Jack Conklin and give the Titans a blocker who can open massive holes for Derrick Henry.

Second-round pick Kristian Fulton should help the Titans fix their 24th ranked pass defense. Adoree’ Jackson has been uneven throughout his career and Logan Ryan has yet to be re-signed. The Titans also let LeShaun Sims and Tramaine Brock walk this offseason. If Fulton can clean up a couple areas of his game, he should start as a rookie.

Running back Darrynton Evans, taken in the third round, is a nice replacement for Dion Lewis, a cap casualty this offsesaon.

Grade: B+

Washington

Even though it adds to the team’s strength already, taking defensive end Chase Young with the second overall pick in the draft was the right move by Washington. He is the latest superstar pass rusher to go highly in the draft and is a similar prospect, in terms of quality, as Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garret and Joey and Nick Bosa.

Washington smartly added wide receiver help to go with 2019 third-round pick Terry McLaurin. In the third round the team took Antonio Gibson of Memphis and in the fourth added Antonio Gandy-Golden. Gibson is a player who can line up at multiple positions and gives Washington a nice versatile piece. Gandy-Golden is a nice outside threat who has size and athleticism.

The big question about Washington’s draft is whether or not they did enough to replace left tackle Trent Williams. The team took LSU’s Saahdiq Charles in the fourth round, and he’ll need to be coached hard.

Grade: B+

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Fox news Schrager's final mock draft: 5 trades; Tua goes 16th - NFL.com

Fox news

After months of buildup and a busy few weeks of mobile phone calls, texts and Zoom sessions with NFL skill evaluators and coaches, I am placing out my closing mock for the 2020 NFL Draft. This one comprises quite lots of trades, with reasoning and context, as there are many teams searching to lunge up (Atlanta, hi there) and quite a few searching to drop down and acquire more sources. I've received correct three quarterbacks going in the first round and handiest two in the tip 10. There would possibly be a shuffle on offensive tackles early and a few names you couldn't peek in numerous areas. Glean at it, of us.

College: LSU | Year: Senior (RS)

As I acknowledged on Factual Morning Football this week, the Bengals would possibly maybe maybe additionally have three advantages heading into the draft:

1) They're first on the clock and would possibly maybe maybe stay away from any seemingly tech components if issues catch strange when they're making an try to put their opt. 2) Their teaching employees had a chance to familiarize itself with shut to 30 top prospects for per week at the Senior Bowl, whereas 30 numerous teams did not. 3) They know the quarterback they're selecting is the tip one on not handiest their board nonetheless that of correct about every GM (who I've spoken to, not not as much as).

College: Ohio Relate | Year: Junior

Wouldn't overthink this. Young is seen in a clear caliber than correct about every player on this draft; coach Ron Rivera and VP of player personnel Kyle Smith know that, too.

College: Oregon | Year: Senior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH LIONS. The Dolphins replace their second-round opt (No. 39 total) to swap spots with the Lions in Round 1 and put clear they catch their quarterback. And it's miles never Tua Tagovailoa.

College: Alabama | Year: Junior

While you happen to can't have official days and also it's seemingly you'll maybe maybe presumably presumably not bring prospects into the constructing, you count on relationships. And not correct head coaches, nonetheless assistant coaches the total scheme down to the tools of us. I've long gone aid and forth on Wills or Tristan Wirfs right here a million instances after hearing conflicting issues from folks I belief. Nonetheless in the pause, I will lunge with the contemporary coach and his historical previous with the Alabama teaching employees.

College: Ohio Relate | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH DOLPHINS. The Lions scoop up one other second-rounder and catch Okudah right here at No. 5 total. The Ohio Relate corner is a correct away-affect man and carries himself love a official. He's all enterprise, a pupil of the sport and entirely deflects by methodology of others raving about his play. GM Bob Quinn, entrance dwelling of enterprise govt Kyle O'Brien and coach Matt Patricia all got right here up throughout the Patriots system. Factual fit, right here.

College: Iowa | Year: Junior

Our first shocker of the night. The Chargers pass on a quarterback and lunge with an offensive lineman. Three issues I've been informed by numerous evaluators in the closing 48 hours:

1) Keenan Allen, Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa and Hunter Henry are all entering the closing yr of their most up-to-date contracts. "Which player offers them the most fascinating chance to resolve now?" 2) "The Chargers build not replace up and build not replace aid." 3) By methodology of GM Tom Telesco, "Whatever you noticed is the chalk resolution (QB, Tua?), lunge with something else."

Tua falls and turns into the most fascinating name in the 2020 draft.

College: Auburn | Year: Senior

Matt Rhule gets an anchor for his defensive line with the first opt of this contemporary Panthers generation. I hear there is some right affection for CB CJ Henderson right here, too, nonetheless Brown's the opt.

College: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)

Is he a safety? Is he a linebacker? The Cardinals have a historical previous of taking "positionless avid gamers" on D. Here is their most up-to-date. Esteem this proceed for Arizona.

College: Florida | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH JAGUARS. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff wasn't bluffing when he acknowledged he'd be in the market to replace up, and he finds a mighty associate in his old colleague from Atlanta, Dave Caldwell. The Falcons lunge up seven spots and offers up subsequent yr's first-rounder to catch a CB many teams peek merely up there with Okudah.

College: Georgia | Year: Junior

Some teams have Thomas higher than even Wirfs and Mekhi Becton. I bet 10 to Cleveland seems most fascinating. Factual fit. One NFL GM described Thomas to me as the "cleanest" prospect on this draft.

College: Louisville | Year: Junior

With Wills, Wirfs and Thomas all off the board, Jets GM Joe Douglas takes the largest "threat/reward" offensive line prospect on this class. Becton is an absolute avenue paver and erases pass rushers. He's also received a pair red flags. A mountain of a man who measured in at 6-foot-7, tipped the scales at 364 pounds and ran a 5.1 40 at the combine, Becton would possibly maybe maybe presumably be the left (or merely) kind out to present protection to Sam Darnold.

College: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

The Raiders catch their man. I've been hearing plenty of Tua-to-Vegas buzz the closing few days, nonetheless I cannot peek it. Not right here. Lamb's my celebrated prospect in the total 2020 draft. He's been when when put next with DeAndre Hopkins, and these comparisons are seemingly to be not crazy.

College: Alabama | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH 49ERS. Longtime friends and Stanford alumni John Elway and John Lynch put one other replace, and on this case, it's for Denver to lunge up two spots to catch the professional route runner out of Alabama. The Broncos return the third-rounder they received from the Niners in the Emmanuel Sanders replace (No. 95 total) and add one other target to lunge with Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant.

College: Houston | Year: Senior (RS)

The Bucs catch one other huge physique to wait on provide protection to Tom Brady.

College: Alabama | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH BRONCOS. The Niners replace down two spots, procure a third-rounder (No. 95 total) and easy catch Ruggs. Kyle Shanahan's had speedily receivers in the previous -- Taylor Gabriel and Aldrick Robinson spring to thoughts -- nonetheless he's never had a burner with a total skill station love Ruggs. Can you correct take into consideration the 5-foot-11 speedster alongside George Kittle and Deebo Samuel? The smartly to put catch richer.

College: Alabama | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH FALCONS. The largest thriller of this draft is where Tua ends up. If the Jags replace aid from ninth total and derive a first-rounder for subsequent yr, I would possibly maybe maybe additionally peek them correct seeing the rate being too huge and announcing, "Why not?" I do know Slit Saban's been singing Tua's praises to groups around the league. I correct build not sense a protracted line of suitors for the time being.

College: South Carolina | Year: Senior

Kinlaw is a prospect some teams seem to love and others will not be as high on by methodology of their draft boards. At 17th total, the Cowboys scoop up the DT who dominated Senior Bowl practices earlier than bowing out at the pause of the week on story of of tendinitis in his knee. Kinlaw's received a huge memoir, a ton of vitality and the flexibility to catch at the aid of the line of scrimmage.

College: Utah | Year: Junior

An absolute freak athletically, Johnson also interviewed with teams extremely smartly at the combine. Raiders GM Mike Mayock hit dwelling runs for the length of closing yr's draft and, in a bit of a surprise, goes with the Utah product over a Clemson one ( Raiders took three Clemson avid gamers in 2019).

College: Clemson | Year: Junior

The Jaguars have a questionable cornerback inform, to claim the least. Terrell had a rough displaying in the national championship recreation, nonetheless he's responded to any and all questions about that performance, and has owned it. Teams have loved meeting with him. Jacksonville adds Tua Tagovailoa, Terrell and a 2021 first-rounder on Day 1 of the draft. Not a nasty inaugurate.

College: LSU | Year: Sophomore (RS)

Two issues to perceive about GM Howie Roseman, a smartly-revered and Tidy Bowl-worthwhile evaluator who realized the replace at the hips of Joe Banner and Andy Reid. First, he never thinks he has enough offensive linemen. 2d, he never thinks he has enough pass rushers. Eagles followers would possibly maybe maybe additionally lose their minds if Philadelphia passes on Justin Jefferson. That would possibly maybe maybe additionally very smartly happen if Chaisson slips out of the tip 20.

College: LSU | Year: Junior

Exchange Stephon Diggs and pause up with Justin Jefferson with one among the four picks received? Not harmful, if it works out this methodology for Minnesota. Jefferson set apart up peep-popping numbers closing season at LSU, nonetheless there have been skeptics on his bustle heading into the combine. He then ripped off a 4.43 40, dazzled in interviews and showed why he's the fourth-most fascinating wideout -- if not higher -- on this loaded class.

College: LSU | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH PATRIOTS. Original England trades down 5 spots in the first round and picks up one among the Ravens' two third-round picks in the technique. Baltimore takes Queen, an uber-athlete who's above Kenneth Murray on not not as much as a few teams' draft boards. The LSU linebacker had an eminent 2019 and would possibly maybe maybe additionally handiest catch higher. GM Eric DeCosta is one among the savviest executives in the league. This would maybe maybe presumably be one other feather in his cap.

College: Arizona Relate | Year: Senior

The like for Aiyuk in league circles is loads stronger than maybe what we're hearing in the media. I've received him going to the Saints, a team that has fully a few holes nonetheless would possibly maybe maybe additionally seemingly exhaust one more receiver if they would possibly maybe maybe put a shuffle for Drew Brees' elusive second Tidy Bowl ring. Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Aiyuk would possibly maybe maybe presumably be a extremely bad 1-2-3.

College: LSU | Year: Senior

But one other LSU player goes off the board -- to a playoff contender in dire need of cornerback wait on. Fulton would possibly maybe maybe presumably be asked to play Day 1, and he'd be more than ready.

College: Michigan | Year: Junior

Viewed as one among the most legit interior offensive linemen on this draft class, Ruiz is a young protector and chief who will wait on stabilize the Dolphins' shaky offensive line. With this opt, Miami's first-round haul comprises: Justin Herbert, Xavier McKinney and Ruiz. I am not clear that is lights any Dolphins fan's hair on fire, nonetheless we're talking about three avid gamers who would possibly maybe maybe additionally wait on as cornerstones of their respective fashions for future years aid.

College: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH SEAHAWKS. The Seahawks have traded help in the first round of every draft since 2012. They pause it as soon as more, transferring down three spots to acquire the Packers' fourth-round opt (No. 136 total). I had an AFC coach relate me Murray -- who turned a captain in his sophomore yr at OU -- used to be the most fascinating combine interview he'd been a phase of in years. A slither-setter in every sense of the discover, Murray's also an extremely proficient athlete and tackler. Supreme addition for the Mike Pettine-coached Packers D.

College: Georgia | Year: Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH RAVENS. I build not peek the Patriots going huge receiver or quarterback right here and assume they would possibly maybe maybe additionally match merely aid to the University of Georgia running aid smartly. Swift is a dynamic playmaker and that Georgia connection is right.

College: Auburn | Year: Junior

The CB no one is talking about as a first-rounder, nonetheless who has the versatility to lunge amongst the tip 32, is my proceed for Tennessee at No. 29. Igbinoghene has correct dimension, is lightning speedily and would possibly maybe maybe contribute on special teams. He would possibly maybe also be the third cornerback in the rotation with Adoree' Jackson and Malcolm Butler in Tennessee. Intention more like for Igbinoghene in NFL circles than in mock drafts.

College: Tennessee | Year: Senior (RS)

PROJECTED TRADE WITH PACKERS. Taylor's a reputation that is been constructing a bunch over the closing 48 hours. I've received him sneaking into the first round to a team that would additionally exhaust some more wait on up entrance.

Fully unrelated aspect present: Seahawks GM John Schneider has shared with me what he'll be wearing for the 2020 Virtual Draft, and it's unbelievable. Honest wait.

College: USC | Year: Junior

Joe Staley doesn't have a protracted time left in his eminent career, and I would possibly maybe maybe additionally peek the Niners beefing up the kind out dwelling if they build not replace this opt. Jackson is correct 20 years old and his memoir is as though-provoking and selfless as any it's seemingly you'll maybe maybe ever read on a draft prospect.

College: Alabama | Year: Senior

Stefon Diggs' diminutive brother would inject skill in maybe the one space where Kansas Metropolis would possibly maybe maybe additionally exhaust one other prompt contributor. The Chiefs are beyond loaded, bringing correct about everyone aid for their title defense, and have a GM who's never been troubled. Diggs goes 32nd total.

Be conscious Peter Schrager on Twitter @PSchrags.

Develop a distinction for the duration of the 2020 NFL Draft and unite for the #DraftAThon, a 3-day virtual fundraiser in reinforce of COVID-19 reduction efforts.

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funface2 · 5 years

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The interesting or funny things Alabama football players said this week – AL.com

It was another busy week in Tuscaloosa with Alabama planning for the homecoming game against Arkansas with a backup starting at quarterback.

With all that as a backdrop, we spoke to a number of Crimson Tide players this week and not everything made it into a story.

So, to fill in those gaps, we bring you some of the more interesting things Alabama players said that ended up on the cutting room floor.

— Terrell Lewis has been a star in the interview room this year, often bringing along football he calls his “baby” to cradle while talking. He also had a few one liners in recent meetings with the press, like Saturday night when asked about different formations he’s seen from Alabama offenses. “You ask me too much information,” he said with a suspicious look before being interrupted by former Tide linebacker Christian Miller.

— There’s history there since Lewis stood at Miller’s side in the same postgame room last year as his water butler while sitting out with an ACL tear. Miller, now a Carolina Panther, was in town and returned the favor and cracked up Lewis on Saturday night. See the video above for that.

— Back to Monday, Lewis was asked about leading the SEC in sacks at this point of the season. It was cool, “but you’re not gonna be remembered as, ‘Oh, he was leading in sacks after Week Seven.’” Good point.

— The punts of Ty Perine also made waves and Lewis was asked if they lift the defense. “Yeah,” he said without hesitating, “but then again you don’t want to take as if, ‘Oh we have a bunch of first downs to give up either.'”

— Receiver Henry Ruggs was on punt coverage and said he was “definitely” surprised by how far Perine’s punts traveled. “Definitely, I definitely was,” he said. “You got the reaction from the crowd as soon as the ball was in the air, so I knew it was a good kick, but I definitely didn’t think it was going that far.”

— The Bryant-Denny Stadium lights were also the topic of conversation with a few players. “It felt like a movie,” Lewis said. “I was telling guys, I told Anfernee (Jennings), they’re going to start having a concert at halftime.”

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— Ruggs also reacted to the new glow of the stadium. “At first it was just a casual warm up but when the team first came out, that’s when we finally got the first real glimpse of it,” he said. “That just gave everybody a little boost, everybody got to jumping around because that was the first time seeing them, first night game. It just brought more energy.”

— Said left tackle Alex Leatherwood: “I mean, Tennessee being a rivalry game, that’s always a good motivation to pump you up and stuff like that,” he said. “So, I feel like just that and it also being our first night game and you know the cool new lights and stuff like that. I feel like the whole team was really pumped up about it and had a lot of juice for that game.”

— On the topic of catching Mac Jones’ right-handed passes compared to Tua Tagovailoa’s lefty throws: “The spin on the ball is probably a little different,” Ruggs said, “but like I said, we practice with all quarterbacks, we throw with all quarterbacks, so we know what all their balls are like.”

— And what about the new blindside? Any pressure shifting from right tackle to the left side with a righty like Jones? “No, not really,” Leatherwood said. “I mean, you still have the same expectations and duties as the right tackle or the left tackle, no matter what side you play on.”

— The Wildcat formation also came up with Miller Forristall, the tight end who caught the first pass from a non-QB in that look since 2010. You might remember Forristall was a high school quarterback before a young underclassman named Trevor Lawrence came along. “I wasn’t great or good enough, obviously,” Forristall said of his passing skills. “Here and there, I’d like to think I can throw it a little.”

— Forristall set the edge on a touchdown run against Tennessee. He was asked about the blocking aspect of his job.

“It’s always going to be a pad level, hat placement, hands, especially for me, whether it be coming off the ball,” he said. “I’m not as big as some of these D-linemen that we play, I’m not 300 pounds. So, I have to play super aggressive at the point of attack and play low. And when I play high, bad things happen. When I play low, good things happen. And that’s something we continue to work on, whether it be like blocking guys like Terrell (Lewis) or Anfernee (Jennings) or Raekwon (Davis) or any of these guys, that kind of helps me in practice. If I have a good week of good-on-good, I usually block well. If I have a bad week of good-on-good, I don’t block as well.”

— Senior safety Jared Mayden is a newcomer to the interview circuit and he had a strong performance. He got especially animated when talking about special teams players like Ale Kaho and Perine. “Man, Kaho, that boy a headhunter like he do not care,” Mayden said. “That’s one person, like, a lot of people in football who don’t … when you play football, you kind of have to be like you don’t really care. You have to be ready to throw your body around. But Kaho … Kaho is special. He’ll go and blow up the shield every chance he gets. That’s something special. Not a lot of people can do that. And it’s not like he’s the biggest. He’s just, you can’t say he’s not giving a 110 percent effort. I mean he brings a real spark to the special teams unit and even the defense.”

— We also asked Leatherwood about the wheels he saw on freshman guard Evan Neal after Tagovailoa’s interception. “I was very impressed with him,” Leatherwood said. “To be that big and to move that fast, that speed is very impressive. That was cool to see.”

— Senior cornerback Trevon Diggs had a big play with the 100-yard fumble return, but he said conversations with NFL star big brother Stefon Digs aren’t usually about things like that. “We kind of like talk about the things we do wrong,” Diggs said. “So, we didn’t really talk about the play, it was a good play, but I feel like I left plays on the field. That’s the kind of things we talk about. We look at each other’s games and say he drops a pass or something. We talk about things like that, we try and not talk about good things.”

— Being homecoming week, Diggs was asked if he’d ever met the Big Al mascot. “No, I haven’t,” he said. “That’s something I haven’t done since I’ve been here. I haven’t met him yet.” In case you were curious, now you know.

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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koreanpike3-blog · 5 years

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Bears vs. Vikings: Notes from a tough 25-20 victory

There is something about Sunday Night games that has every fan on the edge of their respective seats towards the final two minutes of regulation....

Regardless, a stingy defense and Cody Parkey’s bid for redemption balanced out an uneven effort on offense in their return from a 5+ year absence on Sunday Night. They also gained a much firmer grip on the race for the NFC North crown. Plus, this is the type of “signature” win that will make most critics believe in the Bears this season.

First; and foremost, the fans should take a bow for their performance at Soldier Field. They were LOUD from start to end, and surely that electricity was felt in every square inch of that stadium. Well done, Bears fans. I’ll raise a cold one in your honor tonight.

And right on cue, the Bears forced a 3-and-out on the Minnesota Vikings’ first possession of the night. Akiem Hicks is a freakin’ monster.

Also on cue, the Bears score on their first possession of the night, albeit only a field goal. Mitchell Trubisky looked great in their initial march down the field, until he took a sack in the red zone. Jordan Howard was also heavily featured in this first drive. Cody Parkey’s first kick of the night split the middle of the uprights.

Parkey is just having the worst month of his career. After he boots the field goal, he shanks the following kickoff as it flew over the Vikings’ two-yard line. Woof.

“Bend but don’t break,” a saying made famous during Lovie Smith’s career in Chicago, was on full display during the 2nd possession against the Vikings’ offense. Literally, the Bears’ D needed to force a takeaway to keep the scoreboard blank. It almost seemed destined that a big play would be made in the Bears’ own red zone.

And then Khalil Mack delivered. Again. He stripped and recovered his 5th forced fumble of the 2018 season. He came into the night as the first player since 1982 to have 7+ sacks, 4+ forced fumbles, and 1+ interceptions within the first ten weeks of the regular season.

This is where the night started getting rough for Trubisky. And Matt Nagy, for the matter; they appeared to abandon the run while opting to go vertical with the passing game. This drive ended with an interception, where Trubisky tried to thread the needle to Taylor Gabriel in between three different Viking DBs. All three Viking DBs had a significant height advantage on Gabriel, too.

Oh look, that Khalil Mack guy seems pretty good at this football stuff. The entire front seven just whipped the Vikings’ O-Line on all three snaps, with Mack getting the Bears off the field as he hammered Kirk Cousins while the $84 million-per-year quarterback was throwing the ball. Had Bryce Callahan just held onto the ball for two seconds longer, that would have been a pick.

If Trubisky has displayed anything to this point in his career, it’s resilience. After he tossed the interception in their previous series, he teamed up with Jordan Howard — something they should have done in the previous series — to control the clock and score a touchdown. Trubisky and Howard punished the Purple People Eaters on the ground, which set the play-action passing game up nicely.

Anthony Miller has some ridiculously good hands. I initially thought the ball bounced off the turf following a low delivery from Trubisky, yet Miller held on and secured the touchdown. The chemistry between these two players is strong nowadays, as Miller has recorded a receiving touchdown in 3 of the last 4 games.

Oh, boy. A two-point conversion already? Most fans didn’t like that call, as it appeared to be a bit too aggressive for that situation. Me....to hell with it. The days of bubble wrapped offense under John Fox are loooooong over, my frents.

If I were to tell you that Kirk Cousins is earning a fully guaranteed $84 million per year, after watching this series, I’d expect a few weird faces. He continued to crumble under pressure in this series as he failed to connect with Adam Thielen on two separate tries.

It’s nice to see this Bears offense when Jordan Howard is given more than one touch per series. It would also be nice if Nagy could just stop getting cute in critical moments. After Howard trucks for some solid gains, the offense started going horizontal. Against one of the fastest flowing defenses in the league. Not a good idea.

Cody Parkey hit his 2nd field goal just barely inside the left upright. All this while the NBC broadcasting crew was obsessed with the “doink” sound effect trademarked by John Madden. Idk who was happier to see Parkey sink his 2nd kick; the Bears’ coaching staff, or Al Michaels.

Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs went from having a combined 0 catches in the first 29:10 minutes of the game, to making all the catches on this last minute effort to score some points heading into half time.

That was until Leonard Floyd forced Kirk Cousins to toss an arm punt straight to Adrian Amos. Amos now has a career high in interceptions (2) within a season. And that ensured the Vikings would be blanked on the scoreboard heading into the 3rd quarter.

You know, it would be splendid if the Bears’ offense could stop sleepwalking in the 3rd quarter. Despite Tarik Cohen having a nifty 21-yard gain on 2nd and 21, the gameplan just didn’t appear to make sense as the Vikings’ defense stiffened up big time.

Luckily for the Bears, there’s more than one monster on their defense. His name is Akiem Hicks, in case the rest of the NFL hasn’t figured this out yet. He recorded another tackle for loss, and Leonard Floyd joined in on the fun with a TFL of his own.

TRUBISKY NO! That’s all I’ll say on this series of which resulted in his 2nd interception of the night; or should we say, arm punt. It also gave the Vikings excellent field position to begin a comeback.

MACK YES! Just as Thielen and Diggs are heating up in the receiving game, Khalil Mack took Cousins down for his 8th sack of the year. That became too much for the Vikes’ offense to overcome as they settled for a field goal.

This is where I started saying “oh s—-.” Granted, this forced fumble was a result of outstanding hustle from the Vikings’ defense. And I respect how hard Cohen fights on every tout. Still, it’s not a bad thing to just go down and secure the ball after contact is made. Be smart and survive to live another down. Instead, the Vikes are once again gifted with a turnover deep in the Bears’ territory.

AKIEM HICKS YES! Seriously; though, how did the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints miss on this guy? He took Cousins down for a huge sack on 3rd-and-2 that forced Minnesota to settle for another field goal.

At least the Bears chewed up some clock on the ensuing possession. This was a “big boy” moment for Trubisky and the Bears’ young offense, and they missed on a chance to effectively end the game.

EDDIE JACKSON OMG!!! The budding star at safety made a Mike Brown-esque pick six on a poorly thrown ball from Cousins. He overthrew Laquon Treadwell badly, and instead of simply backing away from the play, Jackson attacked the ball and returned it for the back-breaking touchdown.

Here we go: two D-linemen in on the Bears’ 2nd 2-point conversion of the night. Roy Robertson-Harris and Akiem Hicks got their opportunity to play offense in yet another package featuring members of Vic Fangio’s crew. Best of all Akiem Hicks lined up in the backfield as a tailback, in a T-formation, and motioned out wide as a slot receiver.

So because for the sake of common sense, Trubisky lobbed a ball to Adam Shaheen after the 6’7” tight end received a single manned look in coverage. Welcome back, Shaheen.

I would have absolutely lost my mind had the ball gone to Hicks....and I actually wanted that to happen, too. Here’s to hoping that’ll come against the Green Bay Packers.

Another thing that would be nice — the theme of tonight’s thread — is if Vic Fangio could discontinue the soft prevent look in the fourth quarter. Not only does Cousins finally get a touchdown on the board following an impressive drive, but a BS call on Hicks gave them two attempts at a two-point conversion. They, naturally, succeeded on their second attempt.

I swear, Matt Nagy planned on getting Cody Parkey his chance at redemption tonight. Even though the previous two touchdowns resulted in consecutive two-point conversions, after Parkey made his first field goal. Nevertheless, the Bears controlled the clock and forced Minnesota to burn out some of their timeouts. And when called upon, Trubisky made a few decent plays, while drawing an unnecessary roughness from Harrison Smith.

The moment every Chicagoan was waiting for — both in fear and in anticipation — Parkey’s chance to drive the final nail in the Vikings’ coffin. He delivered, beautifully mind you, on a 48-yard field goal that kept the Bears ahead by two scores. Kudos to Parkey for gutting out what was a gruesome week of memes, angered fans, and calls for him to be cut; only to deliver the knockout punch against such a tough opponent.

Barring anything stupid, any touchdown drive this late in the game would be considered “garbage time points.” Sure, Cousins got Diggs and fantasy owners a touchdown to make the score a bit closer. Of course, all it would take is #BearsSpecialTeams to manifest itself again in the obvious onside kick attempt.

Nope. Not happening. Benny Cunningham made a smart play to snatch the ball immediately after Dan Bailey kicked it. And that wrapped up the game.

In all, Mitchell Trubisky completed 20 of 31 passes for 165 yards, a touchdown, and two picks. His performance wasn’t pretty; rather, he did just enough against a top five defense to control the clock and keep Cousins and Co. off the field. The ability to extend drives with his legs is reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers. One could say this is his first true win against a tough opponent.

For those who follow me on Twitter, you all have likely seen how adamant I am when it comes to feeding Howard the ball. Tonight is a great example of that; 80% of the time Howard carried the ball inside, he’d pick up 5+ yards. I, still, can’t see why it’s a good idea to not give him more touches.

After being shut out last week, Taylor Gabriel led all Bears receivers in receptions and receiving yards. I can get used to this whole “spreading the wealth” concept in the passing game.

I’m sure coaches from all levels would agree with the following statement: the Bears’ defense is the best in the league when one considers a “whole team” concept. From Akiem Hicks recording 5(!) tackles for loss, to Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos recording a pick each, to Khalil Mack feasting on multiple plays. This defense is 1) stacked from top to bottom and 2) built to last for a long time.

The Chicago Bears (7-3), currently winners of 4 straight games, have a short week with a game on Thanksgiving Day being hosted by the Detroit Lions (4-6) this coming Thursday afternoon. They will then be at the New York Giants (3-7) and at home versus the Los Angeles Rams (9-1) the following week.

It feels good to finally be in a healthy position for clinching a spot in the playoffs.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/11/19/18102253/chicago-bears-vs-minnesota-vikings-notes-from-a-tough-25-20-victory-akiem-hicks-cody-parkey-nfl-2018

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flauntpage · 6 years

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Jojuan Collins Carries the Football Hopes of L.A.’s Public Schools

It's a cool Friday night in early September and the Dorsey Dons have taken the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium, a well-manicured track and field adjacent to their campus in South Los Angeles. Stray palm trees pierce the skyline. Green pom-poms shimmer under the stadium lights. A DJ with a multi-colored disco ball on his booth has set up shop by the track near the 40-yard-line and blares songs like "Bodak Yellow" and "Niggas In Paris."

Early in the first quarter, Dorsey's 16-year-old running back is handed the ball behind the line of scrimmage. He bounces left, then strafes right and bursts through a hole before plowing into—and pushing back—a pile of four defenders. His name is Jojuan Collins, and this is what he does. It's why he had five scholarship offers, including ones from Oklahoma and Georgia, to his name before ever competing in a full varsity game.

Jojuan only began lifting weights this spring and yet his figure resembles that of a Navy SEAL. Veins snake through his forearms, while his calves better resemble those of Dorsey's offensive linemen than his fellow skill position players. He is still two years away from his high school graduation but that hasn't stopped his coaches from postulating that Collins will one day become the most sought-after football recruit in America.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Dorsey's opponent in this game is Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, a formidable private school in Los Angeles's South Bay region. Less than a decade ago, this matchup would have been heavily tilted in the Dons' favor. For decades, no program west of the Mississippi gave its student-athletes a better shot at playing professional football than Dorsey. Tonight, they are the underdogs. Dorsey is among the inner city public schools in Los Angeles that have had their talent cannibalized by private schools from as far north as the San Fernando Valley to as far south as Orange County.

Many observers point to Serra as the high school that changed everything. Tonight's game, then, is about more than the two teams on the field. It is the way things are now versus the way things used to be. It is also a perfect showcase for Jojuan's amplified blend of strength and explosiveness—traits that should be an either-or proposition but which he somehow makes an "and."

At first, it appears that with Jojuan in their corner, Dorsey can go the distance. Early in the first quarter, Serra jumps ahead 7-0, only for Dorsey to respond in kind with a 40-yard touchdown pass. Then the levee breaks. Serra pours on 21 unanswered points in the second quarter, then 16 more in the second half. The Dorsey line is stymied. Drives are snuffed out before they can ever begin. The Dons lose 44-7. The next week, Dorsey will fall to another private school powerhouse, St. John Bosco, 69-14.

By all accounts, Jojuan should be playing for one of those wealthy schools. In fact, he spent his freshman year at Santa Ana's Mater Dei High School, one of California's most established and financially blessed football programs. But Dorsey is his neighborhood school. It is exactly where Jojuan wants to be.

"[This is] where I should have come in the first place," Jojuan says. "This is my home. This is where I started."

Is Jojuan Collins part of a new generation of talented kids spurning the advances of big money football programs to stay home, or the last of a dying breed?

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Little about Dorsey High School announces itself as one of America's great incubators of NFL talent.

Start with how they train. For much of this past summer, Dorsey's practice field was an unusable checkerboard of too-high tufts and vacant squares of dirt.

"Like a receding hairline on an old person—a patch of grass here and nothing there," says running backs coach Stafon Johnson. "We don't even have lines out there…[We tell the players] 'Go 15 yards!' 'Well, coach, where the hell is 15 yards?'"

Then there's the weight room. The ceiling tiles are water damaged or missing entirely, with rusted steel beams peeking through the gaps. Some of the light tube filaments overhead flicker in and out. Others are burned out entirely. It's been this way for a while now. Thanks to budgetary crises on both the state level as well as in the Los Angeles Unified School District, there's nothing anyone can really do about it.

That grime, however, is juxtaposed with a parade of white banners—a couple dozen at least—each embossed with an NFL shield, the color-coded name of a Dorsey football alumnus, and the NFL franchise for which he once played. Keyshawn Johnson's banner is on the wall opposite the entrance. He's joined by league stalwarts like Na'il Diggs, Dennis Northcutt, Rahim Moore, Sharmon Shah—who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for the 1997 season playing under the name Karim Abdul-Jabbar—and current Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson, to name a few. That's not counting the part-timers, either, like John Ross, the ninth overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and a Dorsey Don for his first two years of high school. There are more banners than available wall space, a byproduct of Dorsey producing more NFL players than all but two high schools in America.

"They've had some legendary players go through that program," says Greg Biggins, a national analyst for CBS Sports and 247Sports.com who has covered high school football in Southern California for more than 20 years. "It is Los Angeles football."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

In many ways, it is Los Angeles itself. To the west is Culver City, a one-time sleepy suburb that has recently blossomed into a chic boomtown. A few miles north is Mid-City, a highly diverse neighborhood favored by millennials. Due south is Baldwin Hills, an affluent, traditionally African-American enclave. And east is the University of Southern California, as well as some of the most gang-riddled streets in the city.

"Dorsey is right here in the middle," says defensive line coach Jovon Hayes. "It's like a melting pot of everybody."

A healthy chunk of the football team hails from the east side. Many are the sons of single parents. Most struggle economically. To them, Dorsey football is less an activity than a society, a place for belonging. Those affiliated with the program refer to themselves as the "Dorsey Dons Posse"—DDP for short—and their ranks span generations. The school's coaches are tacticians, the way they'd be everywhere else, but also fulfill a great number of functions that fall outside the job description.

"Sometimes, you have to be more than a coach," says Ivan Stevenson, Dorsey's defensive backs coach, who by day is a building inspector for the Los Angeles Fire Department. "Sometimes you're the father. You're the big brother. You're the uncle. You're the confidant. You're the counselor, without a PhD."

It's why all but one member of the coaching staff is a Dorsey alumnus, despite only one being a school employee. Officially speaking, a handful are in line for stipends, around $1,500 or so apiece for the season. They usually burn through that cash to subsidize equipment costs or buy dinners for hungry players, which effectively means they work for free. Even Hayes, the only coach employed full time by the school, also teaches history and economics during the day, and works the night shift at a group home for special needs children to make ends meet.

"If this wasn't my alma mater, I wouldn't be here," says Charles Mincy, the team's head coach. A ten-year NFL veteran with his own banner on the wall, he took over the program in 2016 and pads his income with the occasional substitute teaching gig. "I came back around to help because I didn't want the program to go into the dumps."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Which is a very real concern. As recently as a decade ago, public schools like Dorsey retained an inordinately high percentage of the best talent in Los Angeles. It had been that way for generations, nearly ever since their governing body, the City Section, was established by the California Interscholastic Federation in 1936 following a dispute between Los Angeles public schools and the other members of the Southern Section, the oldest and largest athletic body in Southern California.

The result was that high school sports in the area became, in effect, Los Angeles versus everybody. In a region where the actual city of Los Angeles is dwarfed by the sprawl surrounding it, that means David vs. Goliath. At present date, the City Section has 70 high schools that field 11-man football teams, none of which are private, compared to the Southern Section's 396 member schools, some of which are among the wealthiest institutions in the state.

The City Section punched above its weight and by the 1980s, three of its schools became synonymous with the best talent: Dorsey, Carson High School in Carson, and Banning High School in Wilmington. Thirty years later, Banning battles irrelevance. Carson hasn't produced a top prospect since 2012. Dorsey is in far better shape, comparatively, but the production of NFL banners has slowed to a crawl. The blue chippers in their backyards began to suit up elsewhere—not for other City Section rivals, but Southern Section outfits recruiting several zip codes away from their campuses.

Hayes, who played at Arizona from 2006 through 2011, recalls being in college and noticing schools that were once blips on Dorsey's radar were beginning to crush the Dons on Friday nights. "Dorsey lost to who? They're horrible!" he'd think while checking box scores. His former teammates wondered the same thing. Then, on a visit home, he popped into the coaches' office. That's when he learned things had changed for good.

"They started letting us know that private schools are coming in and getting kids that normally would have come to Dorsey," he says. "[The coaches] were like, "'[Kids] aren't in city schools anymore.'"

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

The first time I ever asked Jojuan Collins a question, his answer stretched on for nearly 15 uninterrupted minutes.

He sat in on a bench in Dorsey's weight room and, twirling a neon orange fidget spinner, meandered from Pop Warner football to his report card, school uniforms to religion. He sometimes talks this way, in long amiable strolls through and around the topic at hand.

There is an unusual lightness to him, the sort that would not seem to reconcile with a 16-year-old who runs so violently on the football field that a defender once slinked out of his way to avoid tackling him. He grew up in the Jungles, the once-infamously hardscrabble projects portrayed in the Denzel Washington movie Training Day. He was short until he turned 11 years old, and he was bullied in school. Then, seemingly overnight, he bloomed into a physical marvel, and so he was challenged to fights by teenagers who wanted to look tough.

Yet those closest to him never worry about whether South Los Angeles might harden him. Instead, they're worried about how gentle and trusting Jojuan can be.

"He has a very soft heart underneath all the muscles," says Joe Jenkins, Collins's grandfather. "His heart is made out of glass."

He sings tenor in the choir and his favorite pastime since the age of 12 is composing love songs with his older sister.

"You don't write with your brain," he says. "You write with your heart. Take out your heart and write with it."

Football was something of a happy accident. Tony Beavers, a family friend whom Collins affectionately calls his "Uncle Tone," is a Pop Warner coach and had tried for years to coax Jojuan into picking up a ball. It never stuck; his nephew preferred to skateboard and play Call of Duty.

That changed on January 8, 2011. Jojuan was ten-years-old and over at Beavers's house during the NFL playoffs. Seattle was playing New Orleans, and he feigned comprehension for the sake of impressing his uncle.

"I was like, 'Who are these people? Seahawks, I'm guessing?' Because it said Seahawks on the jersey. 'I'm going to act like I know who this is,'" he remembers thinking. "I had no idea what a score meant."

His attention waxed and waned until late in the fourth quarter, when Seattle's Marshawn Lynch took a handoff 67 yards for a touchdown. This was the famous "Beast Mode" run, the most iconic moment of the running back's career. Jojuan was entranced.

"I kept rewinding and [playing it back]," he says. "They were chasing me around the house trying to get the controller."

Sitting in the Dorsey weight room six years later, he breaks down the run's components from memory with impressive accuracy, right down to the model of gloves Lynch wore that afternoon in the Superdome.

"I've watched that game so many times, I know it like the back of my hand," he says.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It wasn't long until he put on a jersey for the first time. Naturally, he chose 24 as his number, in honor of Lynch. At age 13, he was starring for the Inland Empire Ducks, one of the Southern California's premier Pop Warner teams, as both a running back and a linebacker. He was already pushing six feet tall and 200 pounds, and his high metabolism blessed him with the muscle definition of athletes well beyond his years. A nickname was born: "Man Child." Ferocious hits became his trademark.

"I'm talking about you've got to describe those hits with words like 'jarred,'" laughs Jadili Damu Johnson, a Dorsey assistant and Pop Warner coach who coached against Jojuan. "Ugly. Nasty."

Two years later, Jojuan says his preferred position depends on the day. "When I'm happy, running back," he says. "When I'm pretty pissed off, linebacker." But deep down, his heart lies on offense. And while he lives to emulate Lynch, every coach interviewed for this story believes Jojuan better compares to Adrian Peterson, the most physically gifted running back of his generation.

"He runs like he's the biggest kid on the playground," says Stevenson. "It's like a 'man amongst boys'-type deal."

Like everyone else who saw Jojuan play Pop Warner, the Dorsey coaches realized that Collins was special. While players from nearly every position are represented in the ring of NFL banners, running back was always the school's glamour position. Stafon Johnson, once a 5-foot-11, 225-pound jackhammer, parlayed his talents at Dorsey into a full scholarship at USC and a three-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans before he returned to coach running backs at his alma mater.

"The natural power, the natural speed—stuff you can't teach," Johnson says. "He understands he's a [physical] specimen and he can do certain things, but I don't think he understands how good he could be."

The Dorsey coaching staff does. For the previous two seasons, the star of the program was a defensive end named Kayvon Thibodeaux, who transferred in midway through his freshman year from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, one of the city's foremost private school powerhouses. It only took a handful of games for everyone to label Thibodeaux a program-changing talent. After less than a calendar year, he was named the top-ranked player in the class of 2019. His impact was made even more significant by the circumstances of his arrival: he'd left the neighborhood for a private school, like most prospects of his ilk now do, but then he returned.

Until, that is, Thibodeaux transferred again in May to Oaks Christian, a private school powerhouse located in Westlake Village. No one at Dorsey saw it coming.

But around the time Thibodeaux bowed out, Jojuan—an old Pop Warner rival of Thibodeaux's—arrived. Now he is primed to pick up where Thibodeaux left off, a throwback to an era where the best talent in the inner city played where they came from. It's not just the backstories that are similar, either.

"Big-time, big-time guy," Biggins says. "Everything is there for him to be a superstar."

Says Stevenson, "When it's all said and done, Jojuan will be the number one player in the nation."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It's hard to pinpoint when, exactly, the balance of power began to shift away from inner city. But the most commonly accepted flash point occurred in 2009, with the emergence of a wide receiver named Robert Woods.

Woods was arguably the most dynamic player the region had seen in years, an eventual All-American at USC who later became a second-round NFL draft pick and today suits up for the Los Angeles Rams. He also grew up right around the corner from Carson High School, where it was assumed he'd one day play.

Instead, he enrolled at Serra, then a nondescript private school in Gardena. Woods had family ties to the school—his older sister, Olivia, was two grade levels ahead of him—but it wasn't long before he was joined by a staggering amount of the city's top talent. Marqise Lee, another USC All-American and NFL second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, came in from Inglewood. Paul Richardson, now of the Seattle Seahawks, transferred in as a senior. On and on it went, until Serra became the de facto school of choice for the best players in the city.

An overwhelming amount of success followed: Serra went 15-0 in 2009 to win their first of two state championships in four years. From 2007 through 2013, the Cavaliers posted a combined record of 87-10. Their reach even extended nationally. Adoree' Jackson, yet another USC All-American and a first-round draft pick in this year's NFL Draft, moved all the way from East St. Louis to attend the school.

"I think with the success of Serra, the private schools started taking notice," Stevenson says. "All of these schools basically took a page out of their book: Tap into the inner city. You look at any successful private school program, they have at least five kids who are from the inner city on their roster, guaranteed."

Imitators bubbled up swiftly. St. John Bosco didn't post a winning season from 2005 through 2010. In 2013, they posted a perfect 16-0 record, won a state championship and graduated arguably the most star-studded senior class in state history by signing seven players to Pac-12 schools. They haven't won fewer than 12 games in a season since.

Chaminade, a private school in West Hills, hired a renowned City Section coach in 2009 and then went 47-9 from 2011 through 2014. Bishop Mora Salesian, in Boyle Heights, lept from a 2-8 doormat to three straight double-digit winning seasons. Traditional powers like Mater Dei and Oaks Christian added reinforcements.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

"I call it, 'The private school year," says Junie Rivero, Dorsey's special teams coach. "All of them always have their year where they're super-hot and everyone wants to go to those schools."

Private schools have some structural advantages: they can use tuition to raise capital, are not subjected to public school budgets, and can enroll students from anywhere. But the institutional benefits of playing in the resource-flush Southern Section also worked in their favor. Even a few Southern Section public schools like Corona's Centennial High School, Calabasas High School, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School began to entice inner city talent to move to their districts.

"It's just not a level playing field," Biggins says. "The Southern Section has so many built-in advantages… In terms of city coaches, there are five stipends [per team] versus 12 for Southern Section coaches… 12 guys and a full-time strength and conditioning program, year-round, versus these guys who don't even have a weight room. How do you compete with that?"

Those edges come into play long before those schools ever meet on Friday nights. They are spoken of and leveraged every time a player like Jojuan Collins emerges as a middle school prospect.

"You go to a local Pop Warner game and there's, I guess you could call them, 'Friends of the program'" Biggins continues. "Every school basically has a guy who is kind of the one who is able to sell your program, talk about and once you get the kid on campus for what they call a 'prospect day,' that's when the selling starts to take place."

If that sounds eerily similar to college football recruiting, that's because it is. "That world can get to money, quick," Damu Johnson says. "Now you're seeing, in eighth grade… is there some incentive given to get this guy we know is going to be the number one guy in college at some point?... It's an actual business."

The points of entry are volunteer youth football coaches. The inducement? Funnel the best players on your team in exchange for a full-time paying position with the program.

"It's always tied to a Pop Warner coach," Stevenson says. "In the inner city, the drug game has dried up. Rap game is drying up. What's the next-best hustle for someone without a job? Hustle kids."

For the players and parents on the receiving end of those pitches, the result is an ecosystem shaped by perception and unverifiable promises.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

"Your high school decision is pretty much based off of what you think you know and not exactly what you know," says Isaiah Smalls, Dorsey's star tight end who has made a verbal commitment to play college at Oregon State. "You just know what you see. 'Oh, that kid is getting scholarships at that school, I want to go there. I want to go to that school.'"

Sometimes the reality is different once they arrive on campus. Playing-time promises aren't fulfilled, or the academic environment wasn't what they were expecting. Perhaps they don't fit in culturally among students with vastly different backgrounds and home lives. In other cases, the tuition stops being affordable for students who are only on partial aid. A transfer becomes the best option, which is where things get more complicated.

For years, the CIF charter forbade transfers for athletically-motivated reasons. Then, in April, a rule was revised to permit athletically-motivated transfers, theoretically paving the way for players like Jojuan to switch schools more easily.

But schools still have recourse to contest transfers, usually through claiming "undue influence"—that is, some illegal enticement to lure a player elsewhere. It's the sort of accusation that, wielded by a private school against a city school, would seem baseless.

Yet according to James G. Schwartz, a Bay Area attorney whose firm has handled CIF-related cases for more than 15 years, "the committee looks at transfers with a jaundiced eye." Appeals of blocked transfers, meanwhile, are extraordinarily difficult to win. In his time dealing with the CIF, Schwartz has seen everything from appellate panels composed of members who did not understand the charter to rules that went completely unenforced. The letter of the law, then, matters far less than who is enforcing it and how inclined they are to hammer a point home.

"Whether or not...after 15 or 20 years, they're going to change their mindset, I don't know," Schwartz says.

The endgame dramatically favors the first school where a player enrolls—which, in Los Angeles, increasingly means somewhere in the Southern Section. Consequently, Biggins says, "I feel like it's easier for kids to leave [the inner city] than come in, which again goes with [it] not [being] a level playing field."

The costs are not just borne out on the field.

"For some of these kids from the inner city, let's be honest: This is their only ticket to get into a college," Stevenson says. "It's the only ticket." Constricting their freedom of movement, or eligibility thereafter, jeopardizes that. The system has yet to correct itself. Dorsey estimates they had five incoming transfers contested in the past calendar year alone.

"The playing field is like politics," Stevenson says. "It's never going to be even for the guy who puts on his work boots every day versus the guy who puts on his wingtips every day."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

By the time Jojuan finished eighth grade, he had established himself as one of the most sought-after middle school prospects. The legend of "Man Child" had spread.

"When you look like a man already, then people are going to know who you are whether you've taken a snap or not," Biggins says.

Consequently, Jackie Jenkins had no shortage of private schools interested in Jojuan, many of which offered significant financial aid to defray expenses.

She saw Mater Dei, a private Catholic school in Santa Ana with annual tuition cost of $16,050—the number drops to $14,650 for Catholic students—as the best opportunity. Founded in 1950, few schools in Southern California have married academics and athletics so successfully. Every year, Mater Dei places alumni in colleges throughout the country, to say nothing of their healthy representation in the University of California system, USC, and Stanford.

The football team, meanwhile, has produced two Heisman Trophy winners and, as of this writing, is the number one-ranked team in the country. Its star wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, is regarded as one of the two best high school seniors in the country at his position. Its star quarterback, J.T. Daniels, rivals Kayvon Thibodeaux as the best high school junior at any position.

It seemed to be the best of all worlds, a private education with the type of football program that could nurture Jojuan's talent enough to punch his ticket to any college he wanted to go to.

Jojuan was excited, and bewildered. For all his prowess on the field, he says it took until high school for him to understand exactly what he could do. The prospect of being able to attend a school like this, all the way in Orange County, seemed unbelievable in the truest sense of the word.

"This high school does all this stuff and they want me to come here?" he says, recalling his mindset at the time. "Me? Out of all these kids?"

His mother was warier. A year earlier, she had Jojuan repeat his eighth-grade year. His grades were flagging and she wasn't comfortable sending him to high school. "If you bring their report card with D's on it and C's, that's hold-back material for me," she says. "He wasn't doing what he was supposed to do."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Denverly Grant, a friend of Jojuan's uncle Tony and the mom of a Pop Warner teammate, offered to take him in and homeschool him alongside her own children for the next year. With Grant, his grades began to creep upwards. Still, the prospect of thrusting him back into a regular environment at such a competitive school concerned Jackie. She wondered whether Mater Dei was the right fit. She also wondered how she, an in-home care nurse and a single mother to three children, could ever turn it down.

"When you are living in low-budget or whatever, when someone comes to you and tells you that your son can go here, what are you going to do?" Jackie Jenkins says. "Are you going to say, 'Hell no?' You're not going to say that… I felt like that was a chance of a lifetime. I wanted my son to be involved in that."

And so he went. On the field, things went well. Jojuan thrived as the star running back on Mater Dei's freshman team, and made a brief cameo on varsity to end the season. His physique and skillset already manifested enough for the first wave of scholarship offers to roll in. A larger role beckoned.

He came to appreciate the school's diversity. Perhaps his favorite aspect was the social environment, which was unlike anything he experienced.

"I was always one of those shy kids and I started opening up," he says. "I'm going to different neighborhoods, [hanging with] people I've never met before and I'm trusting them. My life and everything, it was just amazing, because I used to go around and see, 'This is what this is like. This is what this is like.'"

Jackie understood that while maintaining his grades in a public school environment had been challenging enough for her son, the rigors of Mater Dei would place even greater demands on Jojuan. It would also be difficult for her to watch over him. The campus was a long drive away from the family's apartment and she was working long hours.

She gained comfort in the knowledge that there were multiple coaches from Jojuan's Pop Warner team who either coached at Mater Dei or had children there. She claims she made repeated requests to the Mater Dei coaching staff asking that if her son's grades were suffering, they bench him so he could have extra time to focus on his studies. She trusted them to keep a mindful eye on her only son.

"I thought we were a big family," she says.

However, she alleges, Mater Dei staffers would often minimize the degree to which Jojuan was struggling academically, and even went so far as to tell her that benching him would be tantamount to a forfeit. Jackie claims that it took until nearly the end of the semester for her to learn that Jojuan was failing nearly all of his classes.

Citing California's Right to Privacy laws as well as school policy, a Mater Dei representative declined to address specific questions about Jojuan Collins, instead providing VICE Sports with a statement that read in part:

"We treat all of our students with the same caring and compassion regardless of their athletic ability, while also striving to include and provide every student with a space and facilities that allow them to reach their fullest potential both on and off the field. While we are extremely proud of our rich athletic tradition at Mater Dei, we hold our students to a higher standard both academically and personally. The student in question was a freshman and per CIF rules all freshmen are eligible to play football at the start of the season. We provided [Collins] with the maximum opportunities to receive academic guidance and assistance provided to any MD student."

For his part, Jojuan accepts that, regardless of the time commitment that football represented, at least some of the responsibility for his low grades falls upon him. "I tried to pull my grades up," he says. "I wasn't able to. I made some bad decisions."

With finals looming, Jackie decided to withdraw Jojuan from Mater Dei in December. It meant forfeiting the entire semester's worth of credits, something she believes was fait accompli with how low his GPA already was. "At this point, what the heck would a final do for you?" she says.

Almost immediately, she received offers from other private schools interested in Jojuan's talents. She claims some went as far as to offer to relocate her, as well admit Jojuan's younger sister. Jackie wasn't interested.

"It's like, you know what? I've had enough," she says. "My thirst was already quenched. I didn't want anything else to do with a private school."

This time, Jackie opted to enroll him at Dorsey, just a few minutes down the road. It would take months for him to be declared eligible at Dorsey. But when the season began in August, Jojuan was decked out in his new green and white #24 jersey.

He says he has no hard feelings towards anyone at Mater Dei. His family, on the other hand, still feels misled.

"Simply because it was a private school, I just thought that he had a better shot at education," Joe Jenkins, Jojuan's grandfather, says. "I can only say that Mater Dei disappoints me. The reason they disappoint me was I had a child who is very good in football and it ended up Mater Dei giving me the impression that he was better at football than he was learning. I think it should have been the other way around… All they want is football out of you. They don't really want to work with you. They just want football."

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Jojuan ended the Serra game averaging six yards per carry. It was not enough. This is the new order of things. It's what's supposed to happen now that the private schools have won.

"The City Section is dying," Stevenson says. "The well is getting dry because everyone's getting pulled out."

Financially, there is no putting the genie back in the bottle. The most sweeping legislative change capable of leveling the playing field—a mandate that students play for the high school in their most immediate neighborhood—is impossible. There's no telling whether there's enough documented impropriety to investigate Pop Warner recruiting and school transfers, or whether such a probe would amount to anything.

So, as is too often the case in areas without resources, the undue burden of survival falls on individuals to succeed where the system has failed. For Dorsey, that means it's up to the DDP to keep them afloat.

"As long as the dudes right here, in this room here [stay], we're going to be alright," says Mincy, the Dons' head coach. "As long as we've got those community people holding this thing down, we're going to be OK. But once they go... I'm trying to find ways to get these dudes compensated for their time just so it doesn't blow up."

"How long can you do it with your money?" Stevenson asks. "How much can you do with less resources? How much can you tell a parent, 'We're going to provide X, Y, and Z for your kid,' and you go get your bank account statement and you're like, 'Shit, I'm behind on X-amount of bills because I did this?'"

He doesn't have an answer. But he doesn't see himself anywhere else. "I can't preach about kids leaving the area and I leave also," Stevenson says. He knows, however, that the same doesn't necessarily apply in return.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It has only been six months since Kayvon Thibodeaux left. Who's to say Jojuan Collins won't do the same?

"At the end of the day, you always have it in the back of your mind," Stevenson admits.

Jojuan says his loyalties lie with Dorsey. He has seen the other side of things and believes that what he needs was in his backyard all along. If that makes him the start of something bigger, so be it. For now, he's just like any other 16-year-old, taking comfort in finally being back home.

"I'm able to walk in my neighborhood and get that feeling like, 'This is where I started. This is where it all went down, and this is where I'm going to end my high school [career]," he says.

As of this writing, Jojuan has as many touchdowns (11) as the Dons' second- and third-placed players combined. His grades have rebounded. There is work to be done, still, but his mother believes that there is no place better equipped to support him than Dorsey.

"All we can provide is a family atmosphere," Stevenson says.

Jojuan Collins Carries the Football Hopes of L.A.’s Public Schools published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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Jojuan Collins Carries the Football Hopes of L.A.’s Public Schools

It’s a cool Friday night in early September and the Dorsey Dons have taken the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium, a well-manicured track and field adjacent to their campus in South Los Angeles. Stray palm trees pierce the skyline. Green pom-poms shimmer under the stadium lights. A DJ with a multi-colored disco ball on his booth has set up shop by the track near the 40-yard-line and blares songs like “Bodak Yellow” and “Niggas In Paris.”

Early in the first quarter, Dorsey’s 16-year-old running back is handed the ball behind the line of scrimmage. He bounces left, then strafes right and bursts through a hole before plowing into—and pushing back—a pile of four defenders. His name is Jojuan Collins, and this is what he does. It’s why he had five scholarship offers, including ones from Oklahoma and Georgia, to his name before ever competing in a full varsity game.

Jojuan only began lifting weights this spring and yet his figure resembles that of a Navy SEAL. Veins snake through his forearms, while his calves better resemble those of Dorsey’s offensive linemen than his fellow skill position players. He is still two years away from his high school graduation but that hasn’t stopped his coaches from postulating that Collins will one day become the most sought-after football recruit in America.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Dorsey’s opponent in this game is Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, a formidable private school in Los Angeles’s South Bay region. Less than a decade ago, this matchup would have been heavily tilted in the Dons’ favor. For decades, no program west of the Mississippi gave its student-athletes a better shot at playing professional football than Dorsey. Tonight, they are the underdogs. Dorsey is among the inner city public schools in Los Angeles that have had their talent cannibalized by private schools from as far north as the San Fernando Valley to as far south as Orange County.

Many observers point to Serra as the high school that changed everything. Tonight’s game, then, is about more than the two teams on the field. It is the way things are now versus the way things used to be. It is also a perfect showcase for Jojuan’s amplified blend of strength and explosiveness—traits that should be an either-or proposition but which he somehow makes an “and.”

By all accounts, Jojuan should be playing for one of those wealthy schools. In fact, he spent his freshman year at Santa Ana’s Mater Dei High School, one of California’s most established and financially blessed football programs. But Dorsey is his neighborhood school. It is exactly where Jojuan wants to be.

“[This is] where I should have come in the first place,” Jojuan says. “This is my home. This is where I started.”

Is Jojuan Collins part of a new generation of talented kids spurning the advances of big money football programs to stay home, or the last of a dying breed?

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Little about Dorsey High School announces itself as one of America’s great incubators of NFL talent.

Start with how they train. For much of this past summer, Dorsey’s practice field was an unusable checkerboard of too-high tufts and vacant squares of dirt.

“Like a receding hairline on an old person—a patch of grass here and nothing there,” says running backs coach Stafon Johnson. “We don’t even have lines out there…[We tell the players] ‘Go 15 yards!’ ‘Well, coach, where the hell is 15 yards?'”

Then there’s the weight room. The ceiling tiles are water damaged or missing entirely, with rusted steel beams peeking through the gaps. Some of the light tube filaments overhead flicker in and out. Others are burned out entirely. It’s been this way for a while now. Thanks to budgetary crises on both the state level as well as in the Los Angeles Unified School District, there’s nothing anyone can really do about it.

That grime, however, is juxtaposed with a parade of white banners—a couple dozen at least—each embossed with an NFL shield, the color-coded name of a Dorsey football alumnus, and the NFL franchise for which he once played. Keyshawn Johnson’s banner is on the wall opposite the entrance. He’s joined by league stalwarts like Na’il Diggs, Dennis Northcutt, Rahim Moore, Sharmon Shah—who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns for the 1997 season playing under the name Karim Abdul-Jabbar—and current Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson, to name a few. That’s not counting the part-timers, either, like John Ross, the ninth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft and a Dorsey Don for his first two years of high school. There are more banners than available wall space, a byproduct of Dorsey producing more NFL players than all but two high schools in America.

“They’ve had some legendary players go through that program,” says Greg Biggins, a national analyst for CBS Sports and 247Sports.com who has covered high school football in Southern California for more than 20 years. “It is Los Angeles football.”

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“Dorsey is right here in the middle,” says defensive line coach Jovon Hayes. “It’s like a melting pot of everybody.”

A healthy chunk of the football team hails from the east side. Many are the sons of single parents. Most struggle economically. To them, Dorsey football is less an activity than a society, a place for belonging. Those affiliated with the program refer to themselves as the “Dorsey Dons Posse”—DDP for short—and their ranks span generations. The school’s coaches are tacticians, the way they’d be everywhere else, but also fulfill a great number of functions that fall outside the job description.

“Sometimes, you have to be more than a coach,” says Ivan Stevenson, Dorsey’s defensive backs coach, who by day is a building inspector for the Los Angeles Fire Department. “Sometimes you’re the father. You’re the big brother. You’re the uncle. You’re the confidant. You’re the counselor, without a PhD.”

It’s why all but one member of the coaching staff is a Dorsey alumnus, despite only one being a school employee. Officially speaking, a handful are in line for stipends, around $1,500 or so apiece for the season. They usually burn through that cash to subsidize equipment costs or buy dinners for hungry players, which effectively means they work for free. Even Hayes, the only coach employed full time by the school, also teaches history and economics during the day, and works the night shift at a group home for special needs children to make ends meet.

“If this wasn’t my alma mater, I wouldn’t be here,” says Charles Mincy, the team’s head coach. A ten-year NFL veteran with his own banner on the wall, he took over the program in 2016 and pads his income with the occasional substitute teaching gig. “I came back around to help because I didn’t want the program to go into the dumps.”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

The result was that high school sports in the area became, in effect, Los Angeles versus everybody. In a region where the actual city of Los Angeles is dwarfed by the sprawl surrounding it, that means David vs. Goliath. At present date, the City Section has 70 high schools that field 11-man football teams, none of which are private, compared to the Southern Section’s 396 member schools, some of which are among the wealthiest institutions in the state.

The City Section punched above its weight and by the 1980s, three of its schools became synonymous with the best talent: Dorsey, Carson High School in Carson, and Banning High School in Wilmington. Thirty years later, Banning battles irrelevance. Carson hasn’t produced a top prospect since 2012. Dorsey is in far better shape, comparatively, but the production of NFL banners has slowed to a crawl. The blue chippers in their backyards began to suit up elsewhere—not for other City Section rivals, but Southern Section outfits recruiting several zip codes away from their campuses.

Hayes, who played at Arizona from 2006 through 2011, recalls being in college and noticing schools that were once blips on Dorsey’s radar were beginning to crush the Dons on Friday nights. “Dorsey lost to who? They’re horrible!” he’d think while checking box scores. His former teammates wondered the same thing. Then, on a visit home, he popped into the coaches’ office. That’s when he learned things had changed for good.

“They started letting us know that private schools are coming in and getting kids that normally would have come to Dorsey,” he says. “[The coaches] were like, “‘[Kids] aren’t in city schools anymore.'”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

The first time I ever asked Jojuan Collins a question, his answer stretched on for nearly 15 uninterrupted minutes.

He sat in on a bench in Dorsey’s weight room and, twirling a neon orange fidget spinner, meandered from Pop Warner football to his report card, school uniforms to religion. He sometimes talks this way, in long amiable strolls through and around the topic at hand.

Yet those closest to him never worry about whether South Los Angeles might harden him. Instead, they’re worried about how gentle and trusting Jojuan can be.

“He has a very soft heart underneath all the muscles,” says Joe Jenkins, Collins’s grandfather. “His heart is made out of glass.”

He sings tenor in the choir and his favorite pastime since the age of 12 is composing love songs with his older sister.

“You don’t write with your brain,” he says. “You write with your heart. Take out your heart and write with it.”

Football was something of a happy accident. Tony Beavers, a family friend whom Collins affectionately calls his “Uncle Tone,” is a Pop Warner coach and had tried for years to coax Jojuan into picking up a ball. It never stuck; his nephew preferred to skateboard and play Call of Duty.

That changed on January 8, 2011. Jojuan was ten-years-old and over at Beavers’s house during the NFL playoffs. Seattle was playing New Orleans, and he feigned comprehension for the sake of impressing his uncle.

“I was like, ‘Who are these people? Seahawks, I’m guessing?’ Because it said Seahawks on the jersey. ‘I’m going to act like I know who this is,'” he remembers thinking. “I had no idea what a score meant.”

His attention waxed and waned until late in the fourth quarter, when Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch took a handoff 67 yards for a touchdown. This was the famous “Beast Mode” run, the most iconic moment of the running back’s career. Jojuan was entranced.

“I kept rewinding and [playing it back],” he says. “They were chasing me around the house trying to get the controller.”

Sitting in the Dorsey weight room six years later, he breaks down the run’s components from memory with impressive accuracy, right down to the model of gloves Lynch wore that afternoon in the Superdome.

“I’ve watched that game so many times, I know it like the back of my hand,” he says.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It wasn’t long until he put on a jersey for the first time. Naturally, he chose 24 as his number, in honor of Lynch. At age 13, he was starring for the Inland Empire Ducks, one of the Southern California’s premier Pop Warner teams, as both a running back and a linebacker. He was already pushing six feet tall and 200 pounds, and his high metabolism blessed him with the muscle definition of athletes well beyond his years. A nickname was born: “Man Child.” Ferocious hits became his trademark.

“I’m talking about you’ve got to describe those hits with words like ‘jarred,'” laughs Jadili Damu Johnson, a Dorsey assistant and Pop Warner coach who coached against Jojuan. “Ugly. Nasty.”

Two years later, Jojuan says his preferred position depends on the day. “When I’m happy, running back,” he says. “When I’m pretty pissed off, linebacker.” But deep down, his heart lies on offense. And while he lives to emulate Lynch, every coach interviewed for this story believes Jojuan better compares to Adrian Peterson, the most physically gifted running back of his generation.

“He runs like he’s the biggest kid on the playground,” says Stevenson. “It’s like a ‘man amongst boys’-type deal.”

Like everyone else who saw Jojuan play Pop Warner, the Dorsey coaches realized that Collins was special. While players from nearly every position are represented in the ring of NFL banners, running back was always the school’s glamour position. Stafon Johnson, once a 5-foot-11, 225-pound jackhammer, parlayed his talents at Dorsey into a full scholarship at USC and a three-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans before he returned to coach running backs at his alma mater.

“The natural power, the natural speed—stuff you can’t teach,” Johnson says. “He understands he’s a [physical] specimen and he can do certain things, but I don’t think he understands how good he could be.”

The Dorsey coaching staff does. For the previous two seasons, the star of the program was a defensive end named Kayvon Thibodeaux, who transferred in midway through his freshman year from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, one of the city’s foremost private school powerhouses. It only took a handful of games for everyone to label Thibodeaux a program-changing talent. After less than a calendar year, he was named the top-ranked player in the class of 2019. His impact was made even more significant by the circumstances of his arrival: he’d left the neighborhood for a private school, like most prospects of his ilk now do, but then he returned.

Until, that is, Thibodeaux transferred again in May to Oaks Christian, a private school powerhouse located in Westlake Village. No one at Dorsey saw it coming.

But around the time Thibodeaux bowed out, Jojuan—an old Pop Warner rival of Thibodeaux’s—arrived. Now he is primed to pick up where Thibodeaux left off, a throwback to an era where the best talent in the inner city played where they came from. It’s not just the backstories that are similar, either.

“Big-time, big-time guy,” Biggins says. “Everything is there for him to be a superstar.”

Says Stevenson, “When it’s all said and done, Jojuan will be the number one player in the nation.”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It’s hard to pinpoint when, exactly, the balance of power began to shift away from inner city. But the most commonly accepted flash point occurred in 2009, with the emergence of a wide receiver named Robert Woods.

Instead, he enrolled at Serra, then a nondescript private school in Gardena. Woods had family ties to the school—his older sister, Olivia, was two grade levels ahead of him—but it wasn’t long before he was joined by a staggering amount of the city’s top talent. Marqise Lee, another USC All-American and NFL second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, came in from Inglewood. Paul Richardson, now of the Seattle Seahawks, transferred in as a senior. On and on it went, until Serra became the de facto school of choice for the best players in the city.

An overwhelming amount of success followed: Serra went 15-0 in 2009 to win their first of two state championships in four years. From 2007 through 2013, the Cavaliers posted a combined record of 87-10. Their reach even extended nationally. Adoree’ Jackson, yet another USC All-American and a first-round draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft, moved all the way from East St. Louis to attend the school.

“I think with the success of Serra, the private schools started taking notice,” Stevenson says. “All of these schools basically took a page out of their book: Tap into the inner city. You look at any successful private school program, they have at least five kids who are from the inner city on their roster, guaranteed.”

Imitators bubbled up swiftly. St. John Bosco didn’t post a winning season from 2005 through 2010. In 2013, they posted a perfect 16-0 record, won a state championship and graduated arguably the most star-studded senior class in state history by signing seven players to Pac-12 schools. They haven’t won fewer than 12 games in a season since.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

“I call it, ‘The private school year,” says Junie Rivero, Dorsey’s special teams coach. “All of them always have their year where they’re super-hot and everyone wants to go to those schools.”

Private schools have some structural advantages: they can use tuition to raise capital, are not subjected to public school budgets, and can enroll students from anywhere. But the institutional benefits of playing in the resource-flush Southern Section also worked in their favor. Even a few Southern Section public schools like Corona’s Centennial High School, Calabasas High School, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School began to entice inner city talent to move to their districts.

“It’s just not a level playing field,” Biggins says. “The Southern Section has so many built-in advantages… In terms of city coaches, there are five stipends [per team] versus 12 for Southern Section coaches… 12 guys and a full-time strength and conditioning program, year-round, versus these guys who don’t even have a weight room. How do you compete with that?”

Those edges come into play long before those schools ever meet on Friday nights. They are spoken of and leveraged every time a player like Jojuan Collins emerges as a middle school prospect.

“You go to a local Pop Warner game and there’s, I guess you could call them, ‘Friends of the program'” Biggins continues. “Every school basically has a guy who is kind of the one who is able to sell your program, talk about and once you get the kid on campus for what they call a ‘prospect day,’ that’s when the selling starts to take place.”

If that sounds eerily similar to college football recruiting, that’s because it is. “That world can get to money, quick,” Damu Johnson says. “Now you’re seeing, in eighth grade… is there some incentive given to get this guy we know is going to be the number one guy in college at some point?… It’s an actual business.”

The points of entry are volunteer youth football coaches. The inducement? Funnel the best players on your team in exchange for a full-time paying position with the program.

“It’s always tied to a Pop Warner coach,” Stevenson says. “In the inner city, the drug game has dried up. Rap game is drying up. What’s the next-best hustle for someone without a job? Hustle kids.”

For the players and parents on the receiving end of those pitches, the result is an ecosystem shaped by perception and unverifiable promises.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

“Your high school decision is pretty much based off of what you think you know and not exactly what you know,” says Isaiah Smalls, Dorsey’s star tight end who has made a verbal commitment to play college at Oregon State. “You just know what you see. ‘Oh, that kid is getting scholarships at that school, I want to go there. I want to go to that school.'”

Sometimes the reality is different once they arrive on campus. Playing-time promises aren’t fulfilled, or the academic environment wasn’t what they were expecting. Perhaps they don’t fit in culturally among students with vastly different backgrounds and home lives. In other cases, the tuition stops being affordable for students who are only on partial aid. A transfer becomes the best option, which is where things get more complicated.

But schools still have recourse to contest transfers, usually through claiming “undue influence”—that is, some illegal enticement to lure a player elsewhere. It’s the sort of accusation that, wielded by a private school against a city school, would seem baseless.

Yet according to James G. Schwartz, a Bay Area attorney whose firm has handled CIF-related cases for more than 15 years, “the committee looks at transfers with a jaundiced eye.” Appeals of blocked transfers, meanwhile, are extraordinarily difficult to win. In his time dealing with the CIF, Schwartz has seen everything from appellate panels composed of members who did not understand the charter to rules that went completely unenforced. The letter of the law, then, matters far less than who is enforcing it and how inclined they are to hammer a point home.

“Whether or not…after 15 or 20 years, they’re going to change their mindset, I don’t know,” Schwartz says.

The endgame dramatically favors the first school where a player enrolls—which, in Los Angeles, increasingly means somewhere in the Southern Section. Consequently, Biggins says, “I feel like it’s easier for kids to leave [the inner city] than come in, which again goes with [it] not [being] a level playing field.”

The costs are not just borne out on the field.

“For some of these kids from the inner city, let’s be honest: This is their only ticket to get into a college,” Stevenson says. “It’s the only ticket.” Constricting their freedom of movement, or eligibility thereafter, jeopardizes that. The system has yet to correct itself. Dorsey estimates they had five incoming transfers contested in the past calendar year alone.

“The playing field is like politics,” Stevenson says. “It’s never going to be even for the guy who puts on his work boots every day versus the guy who puts on his wingtips every day.”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

By the time Jojuan finished eighth grade, he had established himself as one of the most sought-after middle school prospects. The legend of “Man Child” had spread.

“When you look like a man already, then people are going to know who you are whether you’ve taken a snap or not,” Biggins says.

Consequently, Jackie Jenkins had no shortage of private schools interested in Jojuan, many of which offered significant financial aid to defray expenses.

It seemed to be the best of all worlds, a private education with the type of football program that could nurture Jojuan’s talent enough to punch his ticket to any college he wanted to go to.

“This high school does all this stuff and they want me to come here?” he says, recalling his mindset at the time. “Me? Out of all these kids?”

His mother was warier. A year earlier, she had Jojuan repeat his eighth-grade year. His grades were flagging and she wasn’t comfortable sending him to high school. “If you bring their report card with D’s on it and C’s, that’s hold-back material for me,” she says. “He wasn’t doing what he was supposed to do.”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Denverly Grant, a friend of Jojuan’s uncle Tony and the mom of a Pop Warner teammate, offered to take him in and homeschool him alongside her own children for the next year. With Grant, his grades began to creep upwards. Still, the prospect of thrusting him back into a regular environment at such a competitive school concerned Jackie. She wondered whether Mater Dei was the right fit. She also wondered how she, an in-home care nurse and a single mother to three children, could ever turn it down.

“When you are living in low-budget or whatever, when someone comes to you and tells you that your son can go here, what are you going to do?” Jackie Jenkins says. “Are you going to say, ‘Hell no?’ You’re not going to say that… I felt like that was a chance of a lifetime. I wanted my son to be involved in that.”

And so he went. On the field, things went well. Jojuan thrived as the star running back on Mater Dei’s freshman team, and made a brief cameo on varsity to end the season. His physique and skillset already manifested enough for the first wave of scholarship offers to roll in. A larger role beckoned.

He came to appreciate the school’s diversity. Perhaps his favorite aspect was the social environment, which was unlike anything he experienced.

“I was always one of those shy kids and I started opening up,” he says. “I’m going to different neighborhoods, [hanging with] people I’ve never met before and I’m trusting them. My life and everything, it was just amazing, because I used to go around and see, ‘This is what this is like. This is what this is like.'”

She gained comfort in the knowledge that there were multiple coaches from Jojuan’s Pop Warner team who either coached at Mater Dei or had children there. She claims she made repeated requests to the Mater Dei coaching staff asking that if her son’s grades were suffering, they bench him so he could have extra time to focus on his studies. She trusted them to keep a mindful eye on her only son.

“I thought we were a big family,” she says.

Citing California’s Right to Privacy laws as well as school policy, a Mater Dei representative declined to address specific questions about Jojuan Collins, instead providing VICE Sports with a statement that read in part:

“We treat all of our students with the same caring and compassion regardless of their athletic ability, while also striving to include and provide every student with a space and facilities that allow them to reach their fullest potential both on and off the field. While we are extremely proud of our rich athletic tradition at Mater Dei, we hold our students to a higher standard both academically and personally. The student in question was a freshman and per CIF rules all freshmen are eligible to play football at the start of the season. We provided [Collins] with the maximum opportunities to receive academic guidance and assistance provided to any MD student.”

For his part, Jojuan accepts that, regardless of the time commitment that football represented, at least some of the responsibility for his low grades falls upon him. “I tried to pull my grades up,” he says. “I wasn’t able to. I made some bad decisions.”

With finals looming, Jackie decided to withdraw Jojuan from Mater Dei in December. It meant forfeiting the entire semester’s worth of credits, something she believes was fait accompli with how low his GPA already was. “At this point, what the heck would a final do for you?” she says.

Almost immediately, she received offers from other private schools interested in Jojuan’s talents. She claims some went as far as to offer to relocate her, as well admit Jojuan’s younger sister. Jackie wasn’t interested.

“It’s like, you know what? I’ve had enough,” she says. “My thirst was already quenched. I didn’t want anything else to do with a private school.”

He says he has no hard feelings towards anyone at Mater Dei. His family, on the other hand, still feels misled.

“Simply because it was a private school, I just thought that he had a better shot at education,” Joe Jenkins, Jojuan’s grandfather, says. “I can only say that Mater Dei disappoints me. The reason they disappoint me was I had a child who is very good in football and it ended up Mater Dei giving me the impression that he was better at football than he was learning. I think it should have been the other way around… All they want is football out of you. They don’t really want to work with you. They just want football.”

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

Jojuan ended the Serra game averaging six yards per carry. It was not enough. This is the new order of things. It’s what’s supposed to happen now that the private schools have won.

“The City Section is dying,” Stevenson says. “The well is getting dry because everyone’s getting pulled out.”

Financially, there is no putting the genie back in the bottle. The most sweeping legislative change capable of leveling the playing field—a mandate that students play for the high school in their most immediate neighborhood—is impossible. There’s no telling whether there’s enough documented impropriety to investigate Pop Warner recruiting and school transfers, or whether such a probe would amount to anything.

So, as is too often the case in areas without resources, the undue burden of survival falls on individuals to succeed where the system has failed. For Dorsey, that means it’s up to the DDP to keep them afloat.

“As long as the dudes right here, in this room here [stay], we’re going to be alright,” says Mincy, the Dons’ head coach. “As long as we’ve got those community people holding this thing down, we’re going to be OK. But once they go… I’m trying to find ways to get these dudes compensated for their time just so it doesn’t blow up.”

“How long can you do it with your money?” Stevenson asks. “How much can you do with less resources? How much can you tell a parent, ‘We’re going to provide X, Y, and Z for your kid,’ and you go get your bank account statement and you’re like, ‘Shit, I’m behind on X-amount of bills because I did this?'”

He doesn’t have an answer. But he doesn’t see himself anywhere else. “I can’t preach about kids leaving the area and I leave also,” Stevenson says. He knows, however, that the same doesn’t necessarily apply in return.

Demian Becerra/Holy Mountain

It has only been six months since Kayvon Thibodeaux left. Who’s to say Jojuan Collins won’t do the same?

“At the end of the day, you always have it in the back of your mind,” Stevenson admits.

Jojuan says his loyalties lie with Dorsey. He has seen the other side of things and believes that what he needs was in his backyard all along. If that makes him the start of something bigger, so be it. For now, he’s just like any other 16-year-old, taking comfort in finally being back home.

“I’m able to walk in my neighborhood and get that feeling like, ‘This is where I started. This is where it all went down, and this is where I’m going to end my high school [career],” he says.

As of this writing, Jojuan has as many touchdowns (11) as the Dons’ second- and third-placed players combined. His grades have rebounded. There is work to be done, still, but his mother believes that there is no place better equipped to support him than Dorsey.

“All we can provide is a family atmosphere,” Stevenson says.

Jojuan Collins Carries the Football Hopes of L.A.’s Public Schools syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6

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junker-town · 4 years

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6 winners and 5 losers from Day 2 of the NFL Draft

AJ Epenesa, Jonathan Taylor, and Xavier McKinney were all Day 2 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Ravens’ running game got better, Carson Wentz is on notice, and Roger Goodell needs a nap.

Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft is over, and 74 more college stars saw their pro dreams come true. Players coming from programs ranging from LSU and Ohio State to Lenoir-Rhyne and Dayton heard NFL commissioner Roger Goodell call their names to shove them off on their NFL journeys.

The ripples of Friday night’s decisions won’t be fully understood for at least a decade as early-round picks fizzle and overlooked prospects rise to the top of the NFL. Even so, we can gather a pretty good idea of which players, teams, and college programs are celebrating a little bit harder than others as the draft nears its halfway point.

So who looks best after a quick glance in the rear view mirror? And which teams may need to stick their landing on Day 3?

Winner: Every team that got a first-round talent on Day 2

On Thursday night, 32 elite football players were welcomed into the NFL fraternity. But the amount of sheer talent that was still waiting to be drafted was incredible:

One personnel director calls this “the deepest second round in the last 25 years.” He believes there are 20 players available tonight that could have been first-round picks; there usually are 7-10. “There will be as many starters in this round that there are in the first round.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2020

So many names who were expected to be drafted in the first round — and might have been in any other year — remained on the board. Safety Xavier McKinney was a popular mock draft pick for the Cowboys or Dolphins. So was cornerback Kristian Fulton to the Raiders, edge A.J. Epenesa to the Patriots, cornerback Jaylon Johnson to the Vikings, OT Josh Jones to the Dolphins, and WR Denzel Mims to the Packers, among others.

Other players who could’ve sneaked into Round 1 included safety Antoine Winfield Jr, OT Ezra Cleveland, and even running backs D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor or J.K. Dobbins. (Please, no debates about the value of a first-round running back right now.)

All of those players were available heading into Day 2. Teams like the Colts (Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr.), Cowboys (Trevon Diggs, Neville Gallimore), Giants (McKinney), Bills (Epenesa), Jets (Mims), and Cardinals (Jones) were the ones to benefit most.

Winner: The scary as hell Ravens running game

No team had more rushing yards than the Ravens in 2019.

Lamar Jackson earned MVP honors by becoming the first NFL quarterback to ever eclipse 1,200 rushing yards. He was joined in the Baltimore backfield by Mark Ingram, who racked up 1,018 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Oh, and don’t forget about Gus Edwards, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

That unstoppable ground game somehow got even better Friday when the Ravens added J.K. Dobbins with the 55th pick.

Dobbins rushed for at least 1,000 yards in all three of his seasons at Ohio State. In 2019, he became the first Buckeyes running back ever to have a 2,000-yard season. That’s something Eddie George, Ezekiel Elliott, Archie Griffin, and many other great running backs didn’t accomplish.

Baltimore definitely didn’t need Dobbins’ help. Unfortunately for the entire AFC, he’ll make the Ravens — who are putting together an excellent draft — even harder to stop.

Loser: Carson Wentz

Aaron Rodgers landed on our list of Day 1 losers because the Packers drafted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. But at least that pick made some sense. Yes, Green Bay could’ve provided Rodgers with the help he needs to win a Super Bowl, but he’s 36 and the Packers need to consider life after his retirement.

That logic can’t be applied to the Eagles’ pick, though.

Wentz is 27 and has five seasons left on his contract. It’s hard to figure out what exactly the team was thinking when it drafted Jalen Hurts in the middle of the second round. While Philadelphia knows all about the benefits of a quality backup quarterback, there were plenty of better ways to improve the roster.

Instead, there’s legitimate reason to question Wentz’s future with the franchise. A team doesn’t draft someone in the second round unless it foresees that player being a long-term fixture.

Winner: Drew Lock

The Broncos’ 2019 second-round pick gave them a lot of reason to be optimistic last year. Lock finished his rookie season 4-1 as a starter with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

On Thursday, Denver gave him some help by picking Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy with the No. 15 pick. Unsurprisingly, Lock was happy about it:

— Drew Lock (@DrewLock23) April 24, 2020

The Broncos didn’t stop there, though. In the second round, they Penn State receiver KJ Hamler with the 46th pick. Lock was excited about that too:

— Drew Lock (@DrewLock23) April 25, 2020

Suddenly, Lock has a quite the arsenal. Jeudy and Hamler are joining an offense that already had receiver Courtland Sutton and 2019 first-round tight end Noah Fant. Adding center Lloyd Cushenberry in the third round was just the icing on the cake.

Winner: Good dogs

A fully virtual NFL Draft promised us one very important thing: a lot of good dogs on TV. But the first day was a little bit disappointing. While Giants coach Joe Judge talked about how well-versed his golden retriever Abby is about the 2020 class, she didn’t make a single appearance.

Fortunately, there was a much larger dog presence in Day 2. Bill Belichick even turned into one:

No wonder the Patriots dominated the last two decades.

Loser: Tom Brady

Thursday was a great day for Touchdown Tom, with the Buccaneers moving up one spot in the draft order to secure Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. It’s a good thing they did, because the rest of the NFC South spent Friday loading up on players to take Brady down.

First, the Panthers took Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos with the 38th pick. He made it clear what his immediate NFL goal is for the 2020 season.

Yetur Gross-Matos: I want to sack Tom Brady.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) April 25, 2020

The Atlanta Falcons were next when they picked Auburn pass rusher Marlon Davidson at 47th overall. The All-SEC defensive lineman will likely line up at defensive tackle in Dan Quinn’s defense, which added Dante Fowler Jr. earlier in the offseason.

New Orleans got in on the pass rush party too. After not picking in the second round, the Saints traded away a 2021 third-round pick to move up and take Wisconsin edge rusher Zack Baun at 74th overall.

Brady got some help of his own in Day 2. The Buccaneers added running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the third round (and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the second round, which probably only reminded Brady of how old he is). But that didn’t do much to change the fact that he’s clearly in the crosshairs of the other NFC South teams.

Loser: Aaron Rodgers, again

Rodgers didn’t get his first-round wideout. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; borderline Day 1 talents like Tee Higgins, Laviska Shenault, Denzel Mims, and Michael Pittman Jr. were all on the board to begin Day 2. With a little luck or another trade up the draft board — like the club did to select Rodgers’ possible replacement, Jordan Love — one of those players would be the next big addition to the Packers’ receiving corps.

Green Bay got none of those players. It got a Boston College power back with 21 collegiate receptions to his name (AJ Dillon) and a third-round tight end out of Cincinnati who had 92 catches and 1,117 receiving yards ... in four years with the Bearcats (Josiah Deguara). Instead of getting an immediate boost to his passing game, Rodgers got a couple of lottery tickets who may not make his offense any better.

Winner: Matt Hennessy

The former Temple offensive lineman didn’t just get drafted with the 14th pick in the third round Friday night by the Falcons. As the 3.14 pick, he also won a shit load of pizza.

As the 78th pick, Matt Hennessy gets free @pizzahut for a year. As the 2020 Pizza Hut Pi Pick

— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) April 25, 2020

That’s an award that should only go to offensive linemen. Congrats on the pizza, Matt.

Loser: Roger Goodell’s gas tank

The commissioner’s doing more work than usual during the draft. In a typical year, Goodell would only announce the first-round picks. The other rounds have recently been handled by trash-talking NFL alumni (who could forget Drew Pearson roasting Philadelphia?), animals, and league representatives other than Goodell reading the picks.

But this year Goodell has to read off all the selections and it seems to be wearing him out. Just look at him by the time the back half of the third round rolled around.

Roger Goodell is exhausted pic.twitter.com/TYHRjV5F8A

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 25, 2020

There’s another 149 draft picks coming Saturday. Is Goodell going to make it?

Loser: QB Jake Fromm

Fromm had to go through the first two nights of the draft without hearing his name called. What’s even worse is that there was a camera in his living room that captured him having to wait in agony:

We still don’t understand why Fromm declared for the NFL Draft this year. He had three OK seasons in Athens, but he was also coming off his least efficient year and failed to impress at the NFL Combine.

If he had returned in 2020, his team could’ve still won the SEC East division and he would’ve gotten a chance to his boost his NFL resume with a bounce-back year. Sure, maybe he didn’t want to come out in 2021, the same year as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields (aka Fromm’s former backup). But he’s already seen five quarterbacks go ahead of him this year. Who knows how much longer he’ll be waiting alongside his generically handsome family.

Winner: Tight ends

There were six tight ends taken in the first rounds of the last three drafts. That streak ended this year, when zero tight ends went off the board on the first night of the draft. It wasn’t a shock, by any stretch. But it confirmed what many already thought about the positional group: It’s the weakest of the draft class.

The second night of the draft was another story. Now, as many tight ends (five) as quarterbacks have been selected through two nights of the draft.

Tight ends started making their comeback one-third of the way through the second round, when the Bears took Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet with the No. 43 overall pick. (Did the Bears need a tight end? Probably not.)

The third round is where things really started to pick up, though. Four different tight ends heard their name called by an increasingly sleepy Goodell: UCLA’s Devin Asiasi, Cincinnati’s Josiah Deguara, Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene, and Dayton’s (yes, Dayton!) Adam Trautman.

Two of them, Asiasi and Keene, have been the Patriots’ only two offensive draftees so far. Belichick might not be done, either, with players like the highly athletic Albert Okwuegbunam and “Randy Moss is my dad” Thaddeus Moss still available on Day 3.

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junker-town · 4 years

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Here’s our latest NFL mock draft after the start of free agency

Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs, Kristian Fulton, and CJ Henderson are all possible first-round picks in 2020.

There’s much more to this draft than Jeff Okudah in pass coverage. Here are a few other corners who could come off the board early.

In the past week, a lot has changed in the NFL world. Of course, many players have signed with new teams. But there have also been some blockbuster trades involving first-round picks that shake up the 2020 NFL Draft.

Namely, the 49ers acquired the 13th overall pick by trading defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts. Minnesota turned wide receiver Stefon Diggs into the 22nd pick overall. Strangely, though, the Houston Texans are still without a first-round pick because they didn’t get one for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The moves in free agency have filled holes on rosters and opened new ones. The cornerback market has been strong at the top, with four cornerbacks getting contracts of at least $40 million — Byron Jones, James Bradberry, Trae Waynes, and Kendall Fuller all cashed in.

But plenty of teams still need good cornerbacks. In today’s NFL, a complete roster should have three quality cornerbacks. Few actually do. This week’s mock draft features five cornerbacks in the first round. The last time that happened was the 2017 draft, which featured Marshon Lattimore, Marlon Humphrey, Adoree’ Jackson, Gareon Conley, and Tre’Davious White in the first round.

This year’s group could be just as impactful. Here’s a look at where they land:

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

A recent mock draft by NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein floated the wild idea of the Bengals trading out of the No. 1 pick. In the theoretical deal, the Bengals got pick Nos. 5 and 18, and a second-rounder from the Miami Dolphins. On a rebuilding team, that makes some sense. But passing on Burrow could come back to haunt Cincinnati.

2. Washington: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

If we’re being honest, Washington doesn’t really need Young. The team is loaded up front with pass rushers Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat, and Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne on the defensive line. But when a player of Young’s caliber is available, he’s impossible to pass on.

3. Detroit Lions: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

The Lions have spent the offseason acquiring as many former New England Patriots as possible, including outside linebacker Jamie Collins. That shouldn’t impact the fit of Simmons, though.

4. New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

In free agency, the Giants swapped out Mike Remmers for Cameron Fleming, a player familiar with the team’s new coaching staff. But it would be unwise to simply hand a starting tackle spot to him. A player like Wirfs could push for a starting spot at multiple positions on the line. The only thing that should keep the Giants from taking him is a trade back or Simmons being available.

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

The plan for Tagovailoa is to still have a personal pro day on April 9 and he’ll send the tape out to teams. But the greater issue is health and the concern of re-injuring himself. I’m keeping him either at this pick or to the Chargers, but his situation still deserves monitoring.

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

The Chargers made a push to sign Tom Brady, but it was unsuccessful. After that, they aren’t expected to sign a veteran quarterback. That would lead you to believe they’re going to take a quarterback in the first round this year.

7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

By signing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the Panthers are clearly starting a new chapter. That also includes a rebuilt left side of their offensive line, which now features Russell Okung and John Miller. On defense, the Panthers still need help. Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah could be considered, but the Panthers have to get better up the middle. Brown is a force on the inside who can improve Carolina’s run defense.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

After performing highway robbery acquiring Hopkins, that leaves offensive tackle as the obvious move for the Cardinals. Although Louisville’s Mekhi Becton is the better player, he and Wills grade out pretty similarly. Wills could get the nod because the Cardinals need a right tackle, and that’s where he predominantly played at Alabama.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Cornerback Darqueze Dennard was a decent pickup on a three-year deal, but at $13.5 million total, Jacksonville isn’t exactly paying him to be a starter. If Okudah is still around with the ninth pick, he’s an easy choice for the Jaguars.

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

The loser of the Hopkins trade, besides Houston, was Cleveland. It all but assures the Cardinals taking one of the offensive tackles off the board. After handing out a huge deal to right tackle Jack Conklin, the Browns will be after the best left tackle available with the No. 10 pick. That could be Becton or Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

11. New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Jets gave big money to offensive tackle George Fant, which should be an indicator of their plans for him. That could lead New York to take the first wide receiver in the draft. Lamb would give Sam Darnold a game-breaking target who can make a play after the catch.

12. Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Almost all of Las Vegas’ additions this offseason have been on defense. The Raiders could be waiting for the draft to snag a No. 1 receiver. The issue here is about which Alabama player they prefer. Jeudy gets the nod this week. He’s more of a sure thing than teammate Henry Ruggs III.

13. San Francisco 49ers (via Indianapolis Colts): CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

There has been talk since the NFL Scouting Combine that Henderson would be a top-15 pick. Now that the 49ers hold the 13th selection, they could be the team to make that come true. After this season, defensive backs Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt, K’Wuan Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon are all unrestricted free agents. That could lead the 49ers to future-proofing their defense with a player like Henderson.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

The Buccaneers have Tom Brady, and now they have to protect him. The interior of Tampa’s line is good with Ryan Jensen and Ali Marpet. However, the tackles leave plenty to be desired. Thomas saw a lot of snaps at Georgia and is the type of rookie who should be able to start straight away. That’s what the Buccaneers need.

15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

One of the better moves of this offseason has been the Broncos trading for defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. That helps negate the loss of Derek Wolfe. If they don’t want South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, the Broncos could find a partner for wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Ruggs, Sutton, and second-year tight end Noah Fant would give the Broncos an impressive group of receiving options for Drew Lock.

16. Atlanta Falcons: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

The Falcons locked up pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. on a three-year deal, but that shouldn’t stop them from taking a defensive lineman. In last year’s draft, the Falcons used their first two picks on offensive linemen, so general manager Thomas Dimitroff won’t shy away from doubling down on a need. Kinlaw could be what the Falcons were hoping to get in Ra’Shede Hageman in 2014.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State

While the Cowboys are still trying to figure out a contract for quarterback Dak Prescott, they’ve made some big-name moves. They gave $100 million to wide receiver Amari Cooper and added Gerald McCoy and HaHa Clinton-Dix on defense. The Cowboys still need pass rush help, and could nab Gross-Matos to play opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.

18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers): Austin Jackson, OT, USC

The Dolphins have made several moves to fix their defense in free agency, bringing in Byron Jones, Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Kyle Van Noy. Their moves on offense, though, are lacking. That’s why I’m sticking with Jackson to Miami with the No. 18 pick.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

Linebacker was obviously a big offseason priority for the Raiders, as they went out and signed Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton. Adding two starters might mean waiting on the position until later in the draft. Instead, they could address cornerback with Diggs.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: (via Los Angeles Rams): K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

With Yannick Ngakoue wanting out of Jacksonville, his replacement could be found in Chaisson. While the LSU product will need to be developed, he has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage and knows how to create pressure.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

After adding four defensive backs in free agency, that need is no longer as pressing for the Eagles. That’s why I’m holding with Jefferson here. Jefferson would give the Eagles a dangerous deep-ball target for Carson Wentz.

22. Minnesota Vikings (via Buffalo Bills): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Minnesota’s cornerback play last season was a mess. Now with two first-round picks, the Vikings can address the position. Henderson or Diggs would be the preference, but Fulton is a good fit in Mike Zimmer’s defense.

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

It’s hard to believe the Patriots will go into next season with either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback. A lot of work needs to be done to develop Love, but his tools are outstanding.

24. New Orleans Saints: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

New Orleans smartly brought in wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and he is a good contrast to Michael Thomas. Now imagine a wide receiver group with those two and Shenault, a player Sean Payton can line up all over the place on offense.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are locked up for the next few years, but the Vikings could use another linebacker. Ben Gedeon has been an underwhelming fourth-round pick. Queen’s ability to chase down the ball would give the Vikings a good young linebacker to complete that unit.

26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

Putting McKinney on a defense that is being rebuilt would give head coach Brian Flores a versatile secondary player. McKinney can play single-high safety or in the slot. A secondary with Jones, McKinney, and Xavien Howard is suddenly one of the better groups in the NFL.

27. Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

Epenesa isn’t what the Seahawks usually look for in a defensive end — he really doesn’t fit the Leo position Pete Carroll utilizes. But this is the same team that took L.J. Collier in the first round last year, so maybe their blueprint up front has changed.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

The Ravens added some beef on the defensive line, acquiring Michael Brockers and Calais Campbell. That should help fix the team’s run defense. Adding a linebacker like Murray could finish off the front seven.

29. Tennessee Titans: Terrell Lewis, Edge, Alabama

The Titans brought in Vic Beasley on a one-year prove it deal, so they’re not set longterm at pass rusher. Lewis could be a good rotational piece with Beasley and Harold Landry. That would help them stay fresh and give the Titans some options.

30. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jones, OT, Houston

After losing Bryan Bulaga in free agency, as expected, the Packers signed free agent Rick Wagner. Unfortunately, he never lived up to a big contract in Detroit and shouldn’t just be the assumed starter on the right side. If Jones slides, the Packers shouldn’t hesitate taking him. He’s an athletic blocker with enough power to push for a starting job as a rookie.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

The 49ers swung and missed on Dante Pettis, their second-round pick in the 2018 draft. They swung and hit a home run in the second round last year with Deebo Samuel. In this loaded class of wide receivers, the 49ers could take one more swing with a big receiver like Higgins. He’s a good outside target who will go up and get the ball. He’s not the fastest wide receiver, but the 49ers have plenty of speed.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

The Super Bowl champions have been one of the quietest teams in free agency, doing little more than put the franchise tag on defensive lineman Chris Jones. The team’s needs are relatively the same, and they start at cornerback. Even if Gladney isn’t the biggest cornerback, he’s aggressive and coaches will love his style of play.

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junker-town · 4 years

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6 unsung heroes who will make an impact in Super Bowl 54

While a few players will get all the attention in Super Bowl 54, here are six who don’t get enough credit for their contributions.

It’s easy to think of Super Bowl 54 as a matchup of superstars, especially when the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have so many.

There’s Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill on the explosive Chiefs' offense, trying to find room against the stingy 49ers' defense led by the likes of Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman. Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco offense will lean on Raheem Mostert and George Kittle against a Chiefs' defense with Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones, and Frank Clark.

But football is more than just the biggest names on each side. There are plenty of others who played a significant role in getting the 49ers and Chiefs to the Super Bowl.

Here are three unsung heroes on each squad who will undoubtedly have an influence on who wins the Lombardi Trophy:

Kansas City Chiefs

Tanoh Kpassagnon, Defensive end

Kansas City probably knew when it drafted Kpassagnon in the second round in 2017 that it was going to be a while before the defensive end made a his presence felt. While Kpassagnon is a 6’7, 289-pound Goliath with lofty potential, the Chiefs didn’t draft a finished product.

“I feel like it’s been overall a football learning process,” Kpassagnon told the Kansas City Star of his first three seasons in December 2019. “I’ve learned so much more about the game in general.”

Now, Kpassagnon is starting to use his giant frame to make plays. With Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah both on injured reserve, Kpassagnon was thrust into a starting role in November. He’s improved in the months since, and had arguably his best ever performance when he recorded two sacks in the AFC Championship Game.

One of those sacks was basically a nail in the Titans’ coffin.

TK brings down Tannehill pic.twitter.com/8UhpzFCbtS

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 19, 2020

The third-down sack ended a Titans drive near midfield and forced a punt. Kansas City scored a touchdown not long after when Patrick Mahomes found Sammy Watkins for a 60-yard touchdown.

Kpassagnon is still a work in progress, but he’s already beginning to make the plays the Chiefs envisioned when they drafted him.

Mitchell Schwartz, Right tackle

Schwartz was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and earned second-team honors in 2019. Yet, he still hasn’t earned a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Only three offensive linemen (Ryan Ramczyk, Lane Johnson, Ronnie Stanley) have a higher grade on Pro Football Focus. If that’s not good enough for a spot in the Pro Bowl, then there’s no other way to describe Schwartz than underrated.

This year, Schwartz has played in 1,175 snaps in the regular season and postseason combined. He’s allowed exactly zero sacks over all those plays. He hardly ever gives Mahomes a reason to even sweat.

Mitchell Schwartz this postseason Pass blocking snaps: 90 Pressures allowed: 1 pic.twitter.com/NtU3ejRJ4n

— PFF (@PFF) January 24, 2020

Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Co. present a ton of challenges for the Chiefs. Getting around Schwartz is no small task, though.

Daniel Sorensen, Safety

“Dirty Dan” Sorensen came to Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and mostly contributed on special teams early in his career. He was the Chiefs’ starting safety in 2017, but that was only because Eric Berry went down with an Achilles tear in Week 1. Now Sorensen is a starter once again due to Juan Thornhill landing on injured reserve with an ACL tear.

Sorensen’s not the biggest or fastest safety. He was also juked into a faceplant by Titans tight end Anthony Firkser in the AFC title game. Yet, over and over again Sorensen has made huge plays for the Chiefs in the playoffs.

He leads the Chiefs in postseason tackles with 16, including a few drive-killing stops.

In the AFC Championship Game, Sorensen sniffed out a Derrick Henry screen before it ever had a chance. He also laid the boom on Ryan Tannehill to prevent a first down when the Titans quarterback was scrambling on third down.

Big boom @VersaceBoyEnt pic.twitter.com/ooceMMuMxj

— @VersaceBoyEnt (@VersaceBoyEnt3) January 19, 2020

No play mattered more than Sorensen ruining an ill-advised fake punt by the Texans. Kansas City was trailing by 17 in the second quarter, but was starting to gain momentum. Houston tried to stop the Chiefs’ surge with no luck. Sorensen made sure the comeback stayed alive and well.

pic.twitter.com/g5SfCdEGZT

— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) January 12, 2020

The Chiefs’ offense is potent enough that the team doesn’t need a shutdown defense. Just a few big plays can give Kansas City the upper hand. Sorensen’s been making them left and right.

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Juszczyk, Fullback

His popularity among the 49ers faithful makes it hard to call Juszczyk that under-the-radar, especially considering he’s a four-time Pro Bowler.

But any time there’s a team running the ball as well as San Francisco has been in the postseason, it’s the ball carrier who gets the most credit. After that, it’s the offensive line. The fullback is the last and most easily forgettable cog in the machine.

Raheem Mostert’s 220-yard and four-touchdown day against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game was largely a product of Juszczyk’s blocking prowess. Here’s a 34-yard gain for Mostert made possible by his fullback blasting a Packers safety out of the way near the line of scrimmage.

#49ers — Zone scheme with Juszczyk leading on the nickel safety. Can see the speed of Mostert here. Get through the 2nd level — and expose poor angles in the secondary. @NFLMatchup @gregcosell @nwagoner pic.twitter.com/PeeStkvMxb

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 21, 2020

He cleared the way for Deebo Samuel too, even blocking Pro Bowl outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith without touching him.

Juszczyk is such a savvy player. Check out how he works across the formation after the motion, sells the kick-out on Z with a hard fake inside, and bounces it outside to lead on the reverse. pic.twitter.com/bahvFcmo2V

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) January 23, 2020

Juszczyk is a load to handle and is a big reason why the 49ers had a ridiculous 471 rushing yards in their two postseason wins.

Dre Greenlaw, LB, 49ers

The 2019 fifth-round pick played sparingly in the first two months of the season before taking over as a starter in Week 9. He sure hasn’t looked like a late-round rookie in his starting role, though.

It was Greenlaw who drilled Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister near the goal line in Week 17, securing the 49ers a crucial first-round bye.

THIS. STOP. What a key moment this was in the @49ers season.@dregreenlaw pic.twitter.com/hpRGOghm23

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 29, 2020

But Greenlaw’s saved his best play for the postseason. He and Bosa were the only two 49ers players to get a grade above 90 from PFF in the Divisional Round. And he set the tone early against the Packers.

A defensive battle to start the NFC title game. #NFLPlayoffs : #GBvsSF on FOX : NFL app // Yahoo Sports app Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/jti8uZSrIn pic.twitter.com/zw9vfeJA5i

— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2020

Fellow 49ers linebacker Fred Warner told Niners Nation that Greenlaw’s instincts were easy to see from day one. Still, the 49ers probably didn’t think the rookie would be such a huge part of their Super Bowl defense so soon.

Jimmie Ward, Safety

The San Francisco defensive line — chock full of first-round picks — is the No. 1 reason why the 49ers are in the Super Bowl. Sherman’s lockdown play on the boundary certainly helped too.

Ward hasn’t got enough attention for how well he’s played in the middle of the 49ers secondary, though.

When the San Francisco decides to send a blitz, it often asks Ward to play centerfield all by his lonesome. It worked out well against the Vikings, with Ward covering a tremendous amount of distance to break up a pass to Stefon Diggs.

The 49ers team speed on defense is nuts. look how much ground jimmie ward covers here. pic.twitter.com/pcM7XFVSfR

— KP (@KP_Show) January 14, 2020

Ward isn’t afraid to lay a big hit either. He punctuated the 49ers’ win against Minnesota by dropping tight end Irv Smith Jr. a yard short of converting a fourth-and-22 play.

Jimmie Ward puts a stamp on an extraordinary performance by the 49ers defense. #MINvsSF pic.twitter.com/Y8wKSiKPyk

— Koro (@nonsmoknlifboat) January 12, 2020

Ward received a one-year, prove-it deal from the 49ers in the offseason due to his injury history. He’ll have his hands full with the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, but regardless of his performance Sunday, it’s hard to imagine the 49ers parting with Ward now.

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junker-town · 5 years

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2019 NFL mock draft: The 1st round is starting to look a little different

Could Duke QB Daniel Jones break into the top 32 in April?

Although the playoffs just started, most teams in the NFL are in the offseason process. That means either looking for a new head coach or, for more, is looking ahead to the 2019 NFL draft.

This week’s mock draft features a few new names, especially in the back end. This week there’s a surprise third quarterback and even a running back. One name you won’t be seeing is Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown. He announced on Sunday that he would return for his senior season, despite likely being a first-round pick in April.

Even without Brown, there are plenty of defensive linemen, which you should come to suspect by now.

1. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

This week’s mock draft was going to explore the possibility of the Cardinals taking Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the first overall pick. The logic would be that Arizona already has one really good pass rusher in Chandler Jones. But The Broncos still took Bradley Chubb in 2018 after having Von Miller already and the Chargers look pretty content with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Bosa and Jones should be able to co-exist just fine.

2. San Francisco 49ers: Josh Allen, OLB/DE, Kentucky

The 49ers should be figuring out how to get the Giants and Jaguars working against each other for a trade up for Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Moving back from the second pick to the sixth or seventh carries a risk, but the draft capital would help San Francisco accelerate its rebuild. If the team holds at No. 2, it will likely be choosing between Allen and Williams. Both have their merits. Allen just offers a little more than the 49ers don’t currently have.

3. New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

You have to do some gymnastics to get to this choice. It starts with the next Jets coach moving the team from a 4-3 base defense. If that happens, the Jets need inside players. Veteran Steve McClendon is a free agent and Leonard Williams has been disappointing the last couple seasons. Williams, who creates havoc up the middle, could be the type of talent the Jets need.

4. Oakland Raiders: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan

The Raiders had only 13 sacks this season, a shockingly low number. That’s the lowest number in the NFL since the Chiefs had 10 in 2008. But the Raiders could be in a tough spot if Allen, Bosa and Williams are all picked ahead of them. That’s one reason the Raiders should either look at a move up or hope a trade to get Haskins happens. Not that Gary is a bad option, though. The former blue chip recruit had 23 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his career at Michigan.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

This is the ideal for the Buccaneers. Williams could be a stalwart at left tackle considering current starter Donovan Smith is a free agent. Williams is a technician who comes into the NFL after three years of starting for Alabama.

6. New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

The Giants should take Haskins, they just might not be able to with the sixth overall pick. Although Eli Manning returning still seems like a toss-up, general manager Dave Gettleman was noncommittal on the quarterback.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

The Jaguars could turn to a veteran quarterback this offseason if they miss out on Haskins. After that, Jacksonville could turn its attention to the offensive line. The team will get Cam Robinson back from a torn ACL, but he could shift to the right side of the line. Little, one of the most athletically gifted tackle in the draft, could slot in on the right. If the Jaguars don’t have a high grade on him, a trade down to target a wide receiver is possible.

8. Detroit Lions: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

Darius Slay and Quandre Diggs are obviously good cornerbacks for the Lions, but they clearly need another player on the outside. Williams profiles as the best cornerback in the 2019 draft thanks to his size and playmaking ability.

9. Buffalo Bills: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma

Last year’s draft proved that teams are aggressive finding offensive tackles. Given the state of Buffalo’s line, they may be the team in 2019 that reaches a little bit on a blocker. Ford is a massive right tackle who plays with aggression.

10. Denver Broncos: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

Bradley Roby and Tramaine Brock are both free agents, and the Broncos may turn to the draft to replace them. A first-team All-American this season, Murphy excels at making a play on the ball. He finished the 2018 season with four interceptions and 13 pass breakups.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: Devin White, LB, LSU

White can be the player to cure Cincinnati’s long-standing issues at linebacker. He goes into the draft as easily the best off-ball linebacker available. Here’s a fun stat about White: In 2018, he had 123 tackles and 133 in 2017. Here’s the fun part. In 2018 he had 62 solo tackles and in 2017 he had 37.

12. Green Bay Packers: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

The Packers are still in search of a head coach, so it’s challenging to lock them into players based on system fit. If defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is retained by the next head coach, he’ll push for a pass rusher. Florida’s Jachai Polite is a logical choice, but Ferrell is closing his Clemson career strong.

13. Miami Dolphins: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

The Ryan Tannehill era, in all its mediocrity, is likely coming to an end for the Dolphins. If and when Miami trades him, the team’s biggest offseason priority becomes quarterback. Look for Miami to closely follow Lock and Duke’s Daniel Jones at the Senior Bowl.

14. Atlanta Falcons: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Following Oliver’s draft stock over the next few months is going to be interesting. The negative in Oliver’s evaluation is that he didn’t progress much as a pass rusher. The combination of that and a lower value on run-stopping defensive tackles could land him in the teens.

15. Washington: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Oh yes, another Alabama player injected into Washington’s defense. There’s some logic to Thompson fitting in Washington. The team badly needs a pure free safety, and Thompson is arguably the best cover safety in the draft.

16. Carolina Panthers: Jachai Polite, DE/OLB, Florida

If Thompson is gone when Carolina comes up in the draft, the team’s attention should turn to finding an edge rusher. Polite knows how to use leverage to get low and bend around the edge.

17. Cleveland Browns: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

Browns general manager John Dorsey was a semi-regular at Oklahoma games this season. He could pair Brown with his former teammate Baker Mayfield and help round out Cleveland’s wide receiver group.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State

In the first round, the Vikings should take whichever offensive lineman they have graded out the highest when they pick. The trouble for Minnesota is that there is no clear first round guard prospect. Forget a Quenton Nelson, there’s not even a guard who grades out close to players like Zack Martin or Mike Iupati. Risner probably comes the closest, and he gets a little extra bump in grade thanks to his versatility.

19. Tennessee Titans: Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State

The Titans need to add players this offseason who can create pressure, both from the interior defensive line and at the edge. Don’t forget, edge rusher Brian Orakpo is retiring to go into cupcake making. Jones isn’t know for stopping the run inside, but he does know how to use a swim move to get into the backfield.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

It certainly seems like the Steelers will be forced to make a move with Antonio Brown this offseason. If he’s traded away, the Steelers could turn to their first round pick for a replacement. Metcalf is an unfinished product coming out of Ole Miss, but no receiver in the draft his year has his combination of sheer size and athleticism.

21. Seattle Seahawks: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

The Seahawks go into the offseason with minimal money and just four draft picks. That means it’s likely the team will move down from No. 21 and accumulate more picks, which means more cheap players. If the Seahawks hold at No. 21, they need a player who can start immediately. Wilkins, who is playing in his 59th game for Clemson Monday night, should eat up snaps for the Seahawks on the defensive line next to Jarran Reed.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia

Receivers like John Brown, Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead are decent, but if the Ravens want to give Lamar Jackson a real chance as a wide receiver, they need a top target. Ridley, the younger brother of Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley, is a smooth route runner with good hands.

23. Houston Texans: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

Houston’s loss in the playoffs to the Colts proved that cornerback may be a bigger problem than offensive line this offseason. If Baker is on the board when Houston picks he should be an easy choice. He’s a technically sound cornerback with decent experience. Kareem Jackson is an unrestricted free agent, and at this point, Baker looks like an upgrade.

24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago): Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State

The Raiders, with a new front office manned by former NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, could go for value over character by picking Simmons. The Mississippi State defensive lineman would the Raiders another building block on a defense that needs a few of them.

25. Philadelphia Eagles: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

Brandon Graham and Chris Long are both free agents after the season, so the Eagles could look for a new edge rusher with their first-round pick. Sweat is a lanky pass rusher who brings speed around the corner. He needs to bulk up a little in the NFL, but he should be productive straight away at getting after the quarterback.

26. Indianapolis Colts: Gerald Willis, DT, Miami

The Colts are coming off a sensational draft class that had two first-team All-Pro players in it. But they still have some holes to fill. Namely, the team’s defensive line is still filled with players who fit better in a 3-4 than the team’s current 4-3 system. Willis is a menace up front and can occupy blockers and create a push.

27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas): N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

Ironically the pick that was acquired for Amari Cooper could end up being used on a wide receiver. Why? Because Oakland’s leading wide receiver last season was 33-year-old Jordy Nelson. Harry would give the Raiders a No. 1 wide out for Derek Carr, but he shouldn’t be the only receiver the team takes in 2019.

28. New England Patriots: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

Here is your quarterback surprise of the week. The Patriots desperately need a young quarterback behind Tom Brady, and Jones could make for an excellent understudy.

29. Los Angeles Chargers: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

Russell Okung has been a nice addition on the left side of the Chargers’ offensive line, but an upgrade over Sam Tevi could be used on the right side. Martez Ivey seemed to get more of the attention on Florida’s offensive line, but Taylor is the better player. He can handle speed rushers on the edge, and at 6’5 and 328 pounds, he has plenty of size and power.

30. Los Angeles Rams: Zach Allen, DE, Boston College

An edge player is clearly the Rams’ biggest need this offseason. Allen is a powerful defensive end who has good enough speed to create consistent pressure. At 285 pounds, Allen is also capable of setting the edge against the run.

31. Green Bay Packers: (via New Orleans): Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State

It wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Packers to double up on edge rushers in the first round of the draft. Burns is more of a standup rusher than Ferrell, and can be moved around a little more.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

The Chiefs have good depth at running back, but Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and Damien Williams don’t profile as a lead back. Jacobs is considered by many to be the draft’s top running back even though he was used sporadically this season.. He runs with power and has good vision, and can help eat up clock for the Chiefs.

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