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FOOTBALL · SCOUTING · NEWS
Chicago Bears
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(8) Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
(39) James Daniels, OG, Iowa
(51) Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
(115) Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB, Western Kentucky
(145) Bilal Nichols, DT, Delaware
(181) Kylie Fitts, OLB, Utah
(224) Javon Wims, WR, Georgia
UDFA
Olubunmi Rotimi, DE, Old Dominion
Dejon Allen, C, Hawaii
Abdullah Anderson, DL, Bucknell
Garrett Johnson, WR, Kentucky
Michael Joseph, CB, Dubuque
Nyles Morgan, LB, Notre Dame
Elijah Norris, OLB, UConn
Nick Orr, S, Texas Christian
Andrew Trumbetti, DE, Notre Dame
Cavon Walker, OLB, Maryland
Ryan Winslow, P, Pitt
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Coming into the draft I thought the Bears were zeroing in on edge prospects with their 1st pick. Instead they kicked that need down until the 6th round and took the small but highly productive inside LB from Georgia with their first selection. I'm not a fan of the scheme fit. I thought Roquan was handled by blocks fairly often and needed to be protected so he could run free to the ball. Overall I had him a little lower than most even as an off ball backer. The team's second LB pick in the 4th has a similar skill set to Smith. Joel Iy can run and cover but gets swallowed up inside. It appears the Bears are putting a shit ton of confidence in their position coaches ability to develop these two.
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Daniels was first round worthy and could take over the LG spot from the jump or start at the pivot if they want to move Whitehair. He's athletic and quick but not the nastiest guy you've seen. 3rd round WR Miller and 7th rounder Wims are solid additions. Miller was one of the quickest guys in this class and carries a lot of potential as a route runner. He's an intense competitor and raises the passion meter of the offense. Wims has size, ball skills and quick feet. Nichols should push for reps at DE. He's explosive off the snap and an ideal fit. Though they waited till late for an edge guy, I'm a fan of Fitts and thought he could've gone higher.
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Detroit Lions
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(20) Frank Ragnow, OC, Arkansas
(43) Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
(82) Tracy Walker, S, Louisiana-Lafayette
(114) Da'Shawn Hand, DT, Alabama
(153) Tyrell Crosby, OG, Oregon
(237) Nick Bawden, FB, San Diego St
UDFA
AL-Rasheed Benton, LB, WVU
Amari Coleman, DB, Central Michigan
Antwuan Davis, DB, Texas
Josh Fatu, DT, USC
Mike Ford, CB, Southeast Missouri State
DeAndre Goolsby, TE, Florida
Michael Hill, DL, Ohio State
Chris Jones, DB, Nebraska
Brett Kendrick, OL, Tennessee
Kyle Lewis, WR, Cal Poly
Chad Meredith, OLB, Southeast Missouri
John Montelus, G, Virginia
Beau Nunn, OL, Appalachian State
Brandon Powell, WR, Florida
Teo Redding, WR, Bowling Green
Ryan Santoso, K/P, Minnesota
Anthony Sherrils, S, Missouri
JoJo Wicker, DL, Arizona State
The Lions needing interior OL help was obvious pre draft but I didn't realize Ragnow was their target ahead of blue chip guys like Wynn and Hernandez. Nevertheless he's a plug and play guy whether at OC or OG and should improve the running game. Johnson was an ideal target in the 2nd. He's a superior interior runner and goal line back despite looking skinny. He adopted a patient Le'veon Bell style last season at Auburn and put the team on his back before injuries mounted. Stardom's in his future if he can hold up as a pro. Walker was a surprise based on his slotting and position. He appears to be groomed for FS. Hand was an underachiever at Bama and there's no reason to believe he won't continue to underwhelm as a pro. Crosby was a 2nd round talent that fell due to injury concerns. He's a brute upfront and manhandles blockers. If he's healthy that's a major steal. And Bawden continues the push to improve the ground game, particularly in short yardage.
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Minnesota Vikings
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(30) Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
(62) Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt
(102) Jalyn Holmes, DE, Ohio St
(157) Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan
(167) Daniel Carlson, K, Auburn
(213) Colby Gossett, OG, Appalachian St
(218) Ade Aruna, DE, Tulane
(225) Devante Downs, LB, California
UDFA
Hercules Mata’afa, DE, Washington State
Jeff Badet, WR, Oklahoma
Holton Hill, CB, Texas
Garret Dooley, LB, Wisconsin
Tray Matthews, S, Auburn
Roc Thomas, RB, Jacksonville State
Jake Wieneke, WR, SDSU
Korey Robertson, WR, Southern Miss
Kamryn Pettway, FB, Auburn
Mike Boone, RB, Cincinnati
Curtis Cothran, DT, Penn State
Armanti Foreman, WR, Texas
Chris Gonzalez, G, San Jose State
Tyler Hoppes, TE, Nebraska
Trevon Mathis, S, Toledo
Peter Pujals, QB, Holy Cross
Jonathan Wynn, DE, Vanderbilt
Vikings had few weaknesses heading into the draft apart from OL help. They came away with key contributors and a few upgrades. Apparently the team isn't sky high on backup corner Mack Alexander. Hughes is a Pac Man Jones caliber talent who could push for reps and severely upgrade the return game. O'Neill's a nice project to develop at OT. DE Holmes can play effectively inside and out. I prefer to see him as a situational inside rusher. Conklin is a talent with big time ball skills and could legitimately push for reps. Carlson was the consensus top kicker in this class. Gossett was a nice get in the 6th. I think he'll stick as a valuable depth guy to start and eventually fill a starting role. Aruna and Downs are solid late round try outs.
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Mata'Afa was the steal of the UDFA class. As of this writing I'm still not sure why he dropped out of the draft. He'll need a position switch but has the requisite athletic ability to transition. Badet is a field stretcher who could've been drafted. CB Hill could have been a top 50 guy if not for character concerns and a suspension. The talent is there but the young man might not be ready to be a professional. Dooley, Matthews, Thomas and Wieneke were all well liked in draft circles.
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Green Bay Packers
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(18) Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
(45) Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
(88) Oren Burks, LB, Vanderbilt
(133) J'Mon Moore, WR, Missouri
(138) Cole Madison, OG, Washington St
(172) J.K. Scott, P, Alabama
(174) Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, South Florida
(207) Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
(232) James Looney, DE, California
(239) Hunter Bradley, LS, Mississippi St
(248) Kendall Donnerson, DE, Southeast Missouri St
UDFA
Jacob Alsadek, G, Arizona
Parris Bennett, ILB, Syracuse
Tim Boyle, QB, Eastern Kentucky
Austin Davis, C, Duke
Damon Gibson, WR, Minnesota-Moorhead
Raven Green, S, James Madison
Naashon Hughes, EDGE, Texas
CJ Johnson, LB, ETBU
Tyler Lancaster, DL, Northwestern
Alex Light, OL, Richmond
Kyle Meadows, OL, Kentucky
Filipo Mokofisi, DT, Utah
Marcus Porter, LB, Fairmont State
Kevin Radar, TE, Youngstown State
Chris Seisay, CB, Portland State
Packers doubled down on the secondary with their first two picks and came away with a couple 1st round caliber talents. Alexander had a down final year but looked healthy and precise in pre draft evals. He's a small playmaker in the mold of a Des Trufant. Jackson is less precise but he's longer and is a ballhawk. He's not overly physical but his instincts and ball skills are superior. The expectation is that these two will start sooner than later. Burks in the 3rd was a slight reach and imo not a particularly high need. But he's fast to the ball and scheme versatile. They reloaded at WR with Moore, Scantling and Brown. Each are longer, wide catch radius types. Scantling and Brown have deep speed. Moore has great short area quickness. He's got some Brandon Marshal to his game. St. Brown is just as talented but dropped due to concerns about his work ethic/attitude. Madison fits the Packers profile and fills a need for an interior OL. Scott was the consensus #2 punter and clearly draftable. DE Looney was a good later round pick up. He's quick off the snap and a great fit in the scheme.
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