2019 Iowa Hawkeye-Defense

Defensive Line

Starters: DE AJ Epenesa, DE Chauncey Golston, DT Cedric Lattimore, DT Brady Reiff

Backups: DE Amani Jones, DE John Waggoner, DT Daviyon Nixon, DT Austin Schulte, DT Noah Shannon

Notable Depth Chart: DL Zach VanValkenburg, DE Logan Lee, DE Taajhir McCall, DL Jake Karchinski, DL Chris Reames

The Hawkeyes lost all four starters off of last year’s defensive line and that is certainly going to affect their depth.  It may not affect their production from their starters as they bring up some more than capable replacements.  DE AJ Epenesa didn’t start a game last year and yet he was still named 1^st Team All-Big Ten due to his 10.5 sacks.  He’s an absolute beast and he’s easily a Top 10 draft pick if he enters the 2020 draft following his junior year.  DE Chauncey Golston flashed last season as the 4^th DE.  He was basically a pass rushing specialist so this year he’ll have to be a more complete DE but he’s a talented player.  With most offenses focused on Epenesa on the other side, Golston will see plenty of one-on-one matchups, hopefully he can take advantage.  DT Cedrick Lattimore was supposed to start last year but ended up losing the job to Sam Brincks, with Brincks graduated it is Lattimore’s job.  He’s a senior with plenty of experience and the Hawkeyes will be counting on him to be a steady presence in the middle.  DT Brady Reiff is the undersized but quick complement to Lattimore and while he isn’t big at 277 lbs., he is effective.  The Hawkeyes have had undersized DTs before so they know how to best use them and Reiff will be just fine.

The backup spots are where the questions begin on the defensive line.  There is little to no experience but there is talent.  DE John Waggoner was a four-star recruit last year and redshirted so he could fill out, judging by the pictures, he has.  Waggoner has no real experience but he is a talented player.  Amani Jones was a LB last season but he is moving to DE to be a pass rushing specialist.  Considering he just moved to DE this spring and then missed most of spring with an injury it probably doesn’t say much for the DE depth that he’s already listed as a backup.  Jones brings an aggressiveness that should suit his pass rushing specialty quite well but he’s not going to be one to really spell the starters otherwise.  The team will rely heavily on a three-man rotation of Epenesa, Golston and Waggoner unless either Zach VanValkenburg or one of the true freshmen can step up.  DT Daviyon Nixon finally appears on the two deeps sharing role with Austin Schulte.  Nixon brings size that no one else at DT possesses so he will find playing time.  Schulte moved around a bit during bowl prep, trying out offensive line, but he is needed as depth on the defensive side and he’s settled in at DT.  Noah Shannon is a talented redshirt freshman the team needs to step in and play at least a little to spell the starters.  Shannon has good size and I like his potential.

Grad transfer Zach VanValkenburg is almost exclusively the depth beyond the two-deeps.  He comes with a nice pedigree but at a much lower level.  He could play some DT and some DE so he has versatility and playing experience.  Beyond VanValkenburg it is a host of true freshmen; Logan Lee, Taajhir McCall, Jake Karchinski and Chris Reames.  It’s possible someone shows enough growth to get a little playing time but I highly doubt any of them will play more than four games in order to preserve their redshirts.

Linebackers

Starters: WLB Djimon Colbert     MLB Kristian Welch        OLB Barrington Wade

Backups: WLB Nick Niemann      MLB Dillon Doyle            Cash- DJ Johnson

Notable Depth Chart: Jayden McDonald, Seth Benson, Logan Klemp, Jestin Jacobs, Jack Campbell, Yahweh Jeudy

The Linebacker position is in transition for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Not so much when it comes to personnel but in the way the position is used.  Djimon Colbert and Kristian Welch both started at times last season with Colbert becoming a consistent performer as the year went on.  Welch is getting another shot at MLB after having the job, losing the job, getting the job back and dealing with injuries.  Barrington Wade is listed as a starter at OLB but that is where things get interesting.  Last year Amani Hooker played a hybrid LB/S position now known as the Cash position.  It was a rousing success and the Hawkeyes are looking to use it more, specifically against spread offense teams.  DJ Johnson has stepped up as the new Cash and he’ll be used in place of Wade against teams that like to use 3 and 4 WR sets.  Wade will still be needed against more traditional offenses like Wisconsin.

As backups go Nick Niemann is pretty damn good.  He started most of last season and really only came out of the lineup due to an injury.  It’s interesting to see him listed behind Colbert and not where Barrington Wade is at OLB.  Niemann probably backs up any LB spot at this point given his versatility and experience.  MLB Dillon Doyle, son of strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, is a redshirt freshman who is pushing for playing time in the middle.  It will be interesting to see if there is a need to replace Welch in the middle for any reason (injury or ineffectiveness) will Ferentz turn to the redshirt freshman Doyle or go with the more experienced Niemann.  Interestingly enough Niemann is also the son of an assistant coach, new assistant DL and defensive recruiting coordinator Jay Niemann.

With the prevalence of spread offenses, the Iowa Hawkeyes using two LBs and the Cash position, which is really a defensive back, that leaves less snaps at the LB spots.  The Hawkeyes are really deep at LB given only two spots.  Jayden McDonald, Seth Benson and Logan Klemp are all redshirt freshman while the team has true freshman Jestin Jacobs, Jack Campbell and Yahweh Jeudy joining the team this year.  It seems unlikely that many players will remain with the Hawkeyes with only two starting spots available.  The good news is that given the physical profile of most LBs it is possible some of these guys could transition to other positions.  TE, FB and DL are the most logical spots some of these guys might try out.

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB Michael Ojemudia, CB Matt Hankins, SS Geno Stone, FS Kaevon Merriweather

Backups: CB Julius Brents, CB Riley Moss, SS Devonte Young, FS Jack Koerner

Notable Depth Chart: S Dallas Craddieth, CB Terry Roberts, DB Dane Belton, S Sebastian Castro, CB Daraun McKinney, CB Jermari Harris

The Hawkeyes have great depth at CB with four guys that have plenty of playing time experience.  Matt Hankins and Michael Ojemudia are set to start this year.  They have the most playing experience and they are talented players but they won’t have to shoulder the load themselves.  At safety Geno Stone steps in as the top guy and he’ll line up at strong safety.  Stone is a talented player who played well enough last season that the Hawkeyes were able to move Amani Hooker to the Cash position and continue to play great defense in the back end.  New free safety Kaevon Merriweather doesn’t have any real experience and is a late comer to football as he only played his senior year of high school.  He’s a top athlete, evidenced by the fact he was a basketball recruit most of his high school career, and that athleticism will serve him well as he becomes the last line of defense for the Hawkeyes.  Phil Parker seems to like him, that’s good enough for me.

Julius Brents and Riley Moss stepped in last season as true freshmen when Ojemudia and Hankins were both injured and they held their own.  Both have bright futures but for now they will back up the upper classmen.  They both have excellent size and athleticism and the future is bright at CB.  The backups at safety are a little less of a sure thing.  Devonte Young was a WR until the middle of last season when the team needed depth at safety and he made the move.  Young had been passed up at WR by a number of younger players and he excels on special teams so he moved to defense.  He’s a selfless player who was looking to help the team and seems to have found his niche.  He’s inexperienced at safety so the Hawkeyes will hope Geno Stone stays healthy and on the field.  Jack Koerner is one of those typical Iowa walk-on safeties that Phil Parker is known to unearth.  Koerner played offense and defense in high school as well as playing baseball and his overall athleticism will help him at free safety. I feel like I’ve heard this story before and it usually works out well for Iowa.

The overall depth at the position will depend on some freshmen stepping up.  Two redshirt freshmen looking to distinguish themselves this year are S Dallas Craddieth and CB Terry Roberts.  They need to show some development because Phil Parker has never been afraid to play true freshman if they are the best players.  Just look to last season when true freshmen Julius Brents and Riley Moss stepped up at CB, it’s the reason Trey Creamer and Josh Turner both transferred.  Craddieth and Roberts have to hold off a very talented freshmen group; Dane Belton, Sebastian Castro, Daraun McKinney and Jermari Harris.  There isn’t room for all of these guys to play so only the best will survive.

Punter

Starter: Colton Rastetter or Ryan Gersonde (hopefully not)

The one guy not listed here is the guy everyone should want to win the job.  Grad transfer Michael Sleep-Dalton from Arizona St. arrives this fall and unless Ryan Gersonde has found some magic, Sleep-Dalton better win the job.  If Iowa is trotting out Rastetter and his lame rugby kick again it’s going to be a long season on punt team.

 

2019 Iowa Hawkeye Football Preview

It’s about that time of year again, the Hawkeye will start fall camp in just a few weeks.  Big Ten Media Day was just held in Chicago last week and we got a new updated depth chart for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  This season is going to be interesting with Iowa’s offense having their QB, Nate Stanley, returning for his third season as a starter and a defense led by a guy who is a legitimate candidate to be a top 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, DE AJ Epenesa.

The Hawkeyes have a tough schedule for the 2019 season and while it’s very possible the team will be better overall the record may not reflect it at the end of the season.  The first four games include Miami (OH) in week 1, Rutgers in week 2, Iowa State in week 3 and Middle Tennessee St in week 4.  The Iowa St game is on the road and that’s always a tough test but the other three games shouldn’t be all that challenging.  October brings the gauntlet, at Michigan, home against Penn St., home against Purdue, and at Northwestern.  That is going to be an extremely challenging month.  November doesn’t open easily on the road at Wisconsin, even if the Badgers don’t look quite as good as they have been recently.  Then Iowa has three games that will likely decide whether the season is an overall success or not.  Home against Minnesota and Illinois back-to-back and ending the season on Black Friday at Nebraska.  The Big Ten West is going to be a crap shoot this season as Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Nebraska all expect themselves to win the division while Purdue and Minnesota hope to build on last season and make a move to the top of the division.  With the exception of Illinois, a team that needs a whole lot to go right this season to exceed expectations, there are no easy games against the west division.  The fact that Iowa has to face two tough opponents from the East this season in Michigan and Penn St. makes this schedule a fight almost every week.  Iowa’s defense is always good and I’ll get to them later, this season’s success is likely to hinge on the Iowa offense.  Let’s take a look at Iowa Hawkeye Offense.

Quarterback

Starter: Nate Stanley

Backup: Peyton Mansell

Notable Depth Chart: Spencer Petras, Alex Padilla

Nate Stanley is going to be in his third year as the starting QB and he has a chance to put himself in the Iowa record books along side players like Chuck Long and Drew Tate.  Stanley has had two successful years as a starter but he has lacked week-to-week consistency.  If he can manage to play up to his considerable talent, especially against Iowa’s toughest opponents, Iowa can win the Big Ten West and compete for the Big Ten title.  He brings all the physical gifts you want in a QB and he’s a smart player, he just has to put it all together.

Stanley is in no danger of losing his job considering his overwhelming experience over the rest of the QBs on the roster.  Peyton Mansell is listed as his backup but he will have to hold off Spencer Petras during fall camp and even true freshman Alex Padilla can’t be completely counted out after he enrolled early and went through spring practice.  The backup battle is likely less about this season, unless something happens to Stanley, and more about setting up the competition to replace Stanley next year.

Running Back/Fullback

Starters: RB Mekhi Sargent                                      FB Brady Ross

Backups: RB Toren Young                                         FB Joe Ludwig

Notable Depth Chart: Ivory Kelly-Martin, Henry Geil, Shadrick Byrd, Tyler Goodson

Mekhi Sargent took over the role of starter at the end of last season and had a few very good performances.  He can handle all three major roles a RB must fill; he can run the ball, he can catch out of the backfield and he can handle the blitz pickup.  That makes him quite valuable.  The hope this season is that the RBs get on the same page as the offensive line a little sooner than the did last year and get rolling early and often.  Sargent isn’t a power back but he’s not small at 212 lbs. Iowa is unlikely to ask him to carry a huge workload given the depth at the position but the other guys are going to have to take carries away from Sargent, he’s not going to just give them up.

Toren Young is listed as the backup and in my opinion, he needs to get more carries.  Young is the power back and Iowa would be wise to use him as the hammer early in the game.  He can wear on a defense and make everyone more effective in the run game.  Young is a player that needs more consistent touches to maximize his usage and I think the coaches understand that after watching last season’s film.  No disrespect to Mekhi Sargent but Young is my pick to be the breakout offensive player this season.

Ivory Kelly-Martin was supposed to be the starter last year but he ended up hurt and he never really looked healthy even when he played.  His bad luck continued in the spring as he still wasn’t really healthy enough to make up ground on Sargent or Young so for now, he’s the third guy.  Iowa knows all too well that you need depth at RB and they seem to have it this year.  Redshirt freshman Henry Geil will try to hold off the challenge of the two true freshmen while trying to find any playing time he can.  Shadrick Byrd was an early enrollee in the spring and he looks like a pretty solid back.  The X factor could be the other incoming freshman Tyler Goodson.  He’s an extremely talented player out of Georgia and while there are a lot of players ahead of him in the pecking order, he may be too good to keep off the field.

Brady Ross is your typical Iowa fullback.  He’ll do the dirty work and not get enough credit.  He’s backed up by Joe Ludwig and a number of other walk-ons.  The unsung heroes of Iowa’s offense will remain unsung.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Brandon Smith               Ihmir Smith-Marsette                   Nico Ragaini

Backups: Tyrone Tracy Jr.            Calvin Lockett

Notable Depth Chart: Max Cooper, Desmond Hutson, *Oliver Martin

If Toren Young isn’t the breakout offensive player of the year for the Hawkeyes it’s going to be Brandon Smith.  He really started to come on at the end of last year and he brings a physical presence to the position Iowa hasn’t had in quite some time.  He’s a big, physical player who isn’t afraid to go up and compete for the ball, and he’ll win plenty of those competitions.  If he and Stanley can find a rhythm, he could have a huge year.  Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the outside speed receiver.  He has the deep speed to open things up for the offense and Stanley has the arm to get it down the field to him.  He needs to be consistent and he has to get off the line cleanly when teams try to slow him up by being physical. Nico Ragaini is the starting slot receiver.  He takes over the role vacated by Nick Easley so there will be plenty of opportunities at the position.  I really like the complementary skill sets of these three WRs and I think they give Stanley some weapons to use in the passing game.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. is listed as a backup at two spots but he really could line up at any of the three receiver spots and make some plays.  That makes him a valuable piece as a back up but hopefully Brian Ferentz has come up with some creative ways to get him involved in the offense so his playmaking skills don’t go to waste.  Calvin Lockett redshirted last year but he is a bigger receiver in the Brandon Smith mold and Iowa doesn’t have a lot of those guys so he could find some playing time.  Max Cooper is coming off an injury but the coaches have seemed to like him in the past so once he’s healthy he’s a viable option for playing time.    Desmond Hutson is an incoming freshman who is likely to redshirt unless something drastic happens.

*There is an X factor in the WR group too.  Iowa City native and prodigal son Oliver Martin returns to his hometown after transferring back from Michigan.  Martin was a 4-star recruit who spurned the Hawkeyes the first time around but after some time away and a change at offensive coordinator in Ann Arbor he decided to come home.  He has reportedly submitted a waiver to the NCAA to become immediately eligible but given the inconsistency in the NCAA’s handling of eligibility waivers it could go either way.  If the waiver is granted Martin is talented enough to push for playing time.  It’s unlikely he unseats any of the top four guys right away but he will play if he’s eligible.  It will be an interesting story to follow whether it happens this season or next but I have a feeling eventually Oliver Martin will be significant piece of the Iowa offense.

Tight End

Starter: Nate Wieting

Backup: Shaun Beyer

Notable Depth Chart: Drew Cook, Josiah Miamen, Sam LaPorta

Wieting is the starter and he’s earned it by being a steady presence who has only gotten better even with his limited playing time.  Even playing behind TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant he was still able to carve out a role as a blocker and while he hasn’t had the opportunity to flash his receiving skills, I think there is more there than we have seen.  Iowa’s latest depth chart made a change from last season where they listed two TEs and two WRs to listing one TE and three WRs.  This probably isn’t really a philosophical change so much as using the personnel they are most comfortable with. Iowa isn’t very deep at TE this season and certainly doesn’t have the top end talent they had last year.

Shaun Beyer continues to be a tease as he simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to show off his skills.  Beyer should be a bigger pass catching threat than Wieting given his athleticism.  Now he just needs to stay healthy enough to actually get on the field.  He was in line to get playing time last year behind Hockenson and Fant until he got injured and was never able to get back into the picture.

Drew Cook is the son of former Hawkeye TE legend Marv Cook but he’s taken the long route to playing TE as he started out as a QB at Iowa.  He has good size and athleticism but he needs to show he can actually compete on the field.  The other TEs on the roster that will get a look are true freshman Josiah Miamen and Sam LaPorta.  Neither of whom are necessarily ready to compete full time in the Big Ten but either one could find themselves having a role in Iowa’s offense.

Offensive Line

Starters: LT Alaric Jackson, LG Landan Paulsen, C Tyler Linderbaum, RG Cole Banwart, RT Tristan Wirfs

Backups: LT Mark Kallenberger, LG Cody Ince, C Jeff Jenkins, RG Levi Paulsen, RT Jack Plumb

Notable Depth Chart: Kyler Schott, Coy Kirkpatrick, Ezra Miller, Noah Fenske, Tyler Endres, Justin Britt

The starting lineup looks pretty solid.  Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs are two of the best OTs in college football and they are only going to get better as they mature.  They both have a lot of starting experience for young guys and both are potential early entry candidates for next years NFL draft.  Iowa couldn’t be in a better position at OT than they are with these two.  The interior of the line is where things get tricky.  Cole Banwart should start at RG and he’ll be good there, he was pretty solid last year even splitting time.  He could be the starting C but the coaches didn’t move Tyler Linderbaum over from d-line to have him sit.  He’s still trying to get a little bigger but for now the center job is his to lose.  Landan Paulsen is the starting LG for now which is good for him because he’s fought injuries throughout his career.  For now, it’s his more experienced twin Levi Paulsen who coming off an injury which is probably the main reason he’s not a starter.

Mark Kallenberger is probably good enough to start at OT but he’s got two huge roadblocks in front of him in Jackson and Wirfs.  There is no shame is having to wait your turn behind those two.  Kallenberger will get his shot eventually, for now, he’s simply a really nice insurance policy behind both guys.  Cody Ince is a redshirt freshman the coaches must like as he’s stepped into a backup role without any playing time to speak of.  Levi Paulsen is listed as Banwart’s backup at RG but he is most likely the backup at either guard spot and he has shown he can step in at OT if needed.  Once he gets healthy, he’s an invaluable piece for Iowa.  Redshirt freshman Jeff Jenkins is listed as Linderbaum’s backup at center but if Linderbaum goes out of the game the most likely scenario is Banwart slides over into the center spot and Levi goes in at RG.  No disrespect to Jeff Jenkins but that’s just what I see Ferentz doing if need be.  Jack Plumb is listed as Tristan Wirfs backup but Kallenberger is the most likely fill in as the third OT, he can play either side.  Even if Iowa needs two OT replacements Levi Paulsen has played at RT in the past and he may be the most likely player to be the fourth tackle.  Plumb has potential but he’s still a bit undersized given he’s a redshirt freshman.

The depth consists of Kyler Schott, a walk-on who has held his own enough to make a depth chart here and there and Coy Kirkpatrick, a guy who has been passed by some younger guys.  The rest are true freshman.  Ezra Miller may need the year to transform his body into that of a Big Ten offensive tackle but he is the future at the position.  Noah Fenske and Tyler Endres will spend this year redshirting and finding their best position on the line.  Justin Britt will spend the year rehabbing a knee injury from high school and then be ready to compete for playing time next year.

Kicker

Caleb Shudak and Keith Duncan will fight for the kicker job.  Anybody got a coin we can borrow?

 

 

 

 

 

NFC West Draft Review

The Rams rule the roost out west in the NFC with the Seahawks trying to keep pace. Both teams have taken a few hits to the roster while Arizona is in full rebuild mode and San Francisco is waiting for Jimmy G to get back so they can get their rebuild back on track. This draft changed the course of the Cardinals, the 49ers stayed the course, the Seahawks tried to supplement the Russell Wilson led roster and the Rams found a few helpful pieces.

Arizona Cardinals

(1) Kyler Murray QB
(33) Byron Murphy CB
(62) Andy Isabella WR
(65) Zach Allen DE
(103) Hakeem Butler WR
(139) Deionte Thompson S
(174) KeeSean Johnson WR
(179) Lamont Gaillard OL
(248) Joshua Miles OL
(249) Michael Dogbe DL
(254) Caleb Wilson TE

Immediate Impact: QB Kyler Murray, CB Byron Murphy, WR Andy Isabella
For better or for worse Kyler Murray is going to make an immediate impact on the Cardinals and they hope it’s a positive and long-lasting one. I’ve been pretty clear about my feelings towards Murray as a prospect but here he is and Kliff Kingsbury better get the best out of him or this franchise will be set back about five years. Byron Murphy was slated to be the nickel back behind Patrick Peterson and Robert Alford but with Peterson’s 6 game suspension to start the season Murphy will be counted on to start right now. He’s a solid prospect and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in the lineup when Peterson returns. Kingsbury’s offense is going to be predicated and speedy WR’s taking Murray’s passes and making something from them, that’s Isabella’s game, he will excel.

Best Value: S Deionte Thompson
Thompson entered the college season as a potential first-round pick and even after the season he looked like a potential first-round pick. A wrist injury hurt him a little bit and the fact that he didn’t make a ton of plays for Alabama knocked him back a bit but the Cardinals stole him in the fifth round. That’s crazy, he’s got great talent and if I were a betting man, I would bet he ends up starting at safety for this team for a large part of the season. They have Budda Baker but their other starter is DJ Swearinger and he’s not exactly a modern coverage safety. Thompson might be the best value pick of the entire draft.

Sleepers: WR Hakeem Butler, TE Caleb Wilson
Butler was a fourth-round pick but he brings a dimension to the WR corps no one else brings. He’s a huge target at 6’6 227 lbs. and he’ll make a great red zone target. The Cardinals are not deep at WR and Butler will make them better. He has some consistency issues with catching the ball but that can be developed. TE Caleb Wilson was the last pick of the draft but he will outplay that draft slot. He’s a good pass catcher who played on a pretty rough UCLA squad. The Cardinals TE position is a mishmash of odd ball players. Ricky Seals-Jones is a converted WR, Charles Clay can’t seem to stay healthy, and Maxx Williams never lived up to his draft slot in Baltimore. There is room to move up on this TE chart and Wilson is talented enough to do it.

Overall Analysis
I don’t like the Murray pick, but I actually love the rest of this draft. Byron Murphy wasn’t my favorite CB in this draft but he was a very solid 2nd round pick. Andy Isabella was one of my favorite WRs in the draft and was a steal in round three. DE Zach Allen isn’t a flashy pick but he’s a good one and he’ll be a contributor on the defensive line. Hakeem Butler in the fourth round and Deionte Thompson in the fifth round were fantastic picks, no one else did that well with their fourth and fifth round picks combined. KeeSean Johnson adds depth at WR which is something Kliff Kingsbury’s offense really needs. The offensive linemen, Lamont Gaillard and Joshua Miles, are really just developmental players but that’s okay at that point. The team did address offensive line with a free agent (JR Sweezy) and a trade (Marcus Gilbert). Michael Dogbe might add some competition to the end of the roster for training camp but he probably won’t stick. Caleb Wilson was Mr. Irrelevant at the draft but he won’t be irrelevant for the Cardinals.

Los Angeles Rams

(61) Taylor Rapp S
(70) Darrell Henderson RB
(79) David Long CB
(97) Bobby Evans OT
(134) Greg Gaines DT
(169) David Edwards OT
(243) Nick Scott S
(251) Dakota Allen LB

Immediate Impact: RB Darrell Henderson
On a team that went to the Super Bowl there are not a lot of holes to be filled and they didn’t really address their biggest ones early in the draft they did it in free agency. That said, Todd Gurley had some issues at the end of last season and the team had to rely on CJ Anderson, a street free agent. Anderson did well but now he’s off to Detroit so they will need someone to take some pressure off Gurley. Henderson is a different sort of back, he’s smaller with explosive speed. He can play in place of Gurley or just complement him, either way he’s the most likely rookie to make an impact next season.

Best Value: OT Bobby Evans
Evans is probably a little shorter than your typical LT but he has the ability to play the position. He’s excellent in pass protection and the team has an aging LT. Evans should backup Andrew Whitworth this season and he could eventually take over at the position next season. A potential starting LT in the 3rd round is pretty good value.

Sleeper: OT David Edwards
Well if Bobby Evans doesn’t work out it’s possible Edwards ends up starting at OT for the Rams someday. Wisconsin offensive linemen aren’t a bad investment, especially late in the draft. Edwards is solid but unspectacular but the last Wisconsin o-lineman the Rams drafted started at RT in the Super Bowl last year, Rob Haverstein. At the very least, Edwards is a very solid swing tackle for a long time.

Overall Analysis
The Rams first pick came in round two and they took S Taylor Rapp who was a highly productive college player who had a terrible workout at the combine that really hurt him. It was also a good safety class overall so he dropped a bit. For now, he’ll back up free agent signee Eric Weddle but Rapp has long-term starting potential for sure. Henderson will be a useful change-of-pace back at the least. CB David Long isn’t a great athlete but he’s a solid player. With the long-term future of Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib in doubt Long has a chance to be a future starter. He’s a good coverage guy who doesn’t jump off the page but does a steady job. OTs Evans and Edwards are good depth at the least and potential starters down the road. The team needed to get help at DT and they took Greg Gaines but it wasn’t until the fourth round and he’s not going to replace Ndamukong Suh. I don’t think S Nick Scott is going to make the roster but LB Dakota Allen brings a nice skill set and he has a good shot to stick around.

San Francisco 49ers

(2) Nick Bosa DE
(36) Deebo Samuel WR
(67) Jalen Hurd WR
(110) Mitch Wishnowsky P
(148) Dre Greenlaw LB
(176) Kaden Smith TE
(183) Justin Skule OL
(198) Tim Harris CB

Immediate Impact: DE Nick Bosa, WR Deebo Samuel
They probably drafted the best player in the draft in Bosa. You can make an argument for Quinnen Williams or Josh Allen but Bosa probably wins the argument in the end. The team has spent a lot of early draft capital over the past several years on the defensive line (DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead) but Bosa is a playmaker. This is a great pick. Samuel doesn’t look like a WR who is going to beat you, he’s not tall (he’s only 5’11), he’s not particularly fast or even quick but he will beat you, just wait for it. He’s one of my favorite players in this draft, he just knows how to play the position and get open. Jimmy G is going to love this kid. He can line up anywhere and be effective. He has a legitimate chance to lead t he 49ers in catches this year (although George Kittle will be hard to beat).

Best Value: Samuel
He was my favorite WR in this draft and they got him in round two. He was expected to go around the range of where he went but he’s a steal.

Sleeper: CB Tim Harris
The team has Richard Sherman at one CB spot and he played well last year. However, Ahkello Witherspoon took a step back last year, Jimmie Ward is really only a nickel guy and newly signed Jason Verrett has a long injury history. Harris is a long, athletic CB who had injury problems in college but if he can stay healthy, he could really make a move here.

Overall Analysis
The first two picks, Bosa and Samuel, will be starters on opening day. These two are just simply better than any veteran alternative the 49ers currently have. Bosa is a double-digit sack guy and Samuel is headed to an 80-catch season, minimum. I didn’t like the Jalen Hurd pick, there were better and more accomplished WRs available; Terry McLaurin, Mile Boykin, Hakeem Butler and Riley Ridley to name a few. The 49ers need more help at WR right now, Hurd is a bit of a project. The team needed a punter but they have plenty of other holes to fill and drafting one in the fourth round is not wise. The team clearly wants to get smaller and faster at LB with the signing of Kwon Alexander so drafting Dre Greenlaw fits the new mold. TE Kaden Smith isn’t the most natural route runner and he probably won’t play much with Kittle and Garrett Celek in front of him but he’s not a bad investment in the future of the position in round six. Not sure if OT Justin Skule will make the team but they aren’t very deep at OT and Skule did start in the SEC. He’s not the prettiest blocker but he was effective. Harris was the typical really good athlete with injury problems that teams take a shot on late in the draft, they could have done worse. This draft was hit and miss but Bosa and Samuel are excellent picks.

Seattle Seahawks

(29) LJ Collier DE
(47) Marquise Blair S
(64) DK Metcalf WR
(88) Cody Barton LB
(120) Gary Jennings WR
(124) Phil Haynes OL
(132) Ugochukwu Amadi S
(142) Ben Burr-Kirven LB
(204) Travis Homer RB
(209) Demarcus Christmas DL
(236) John Ursua WR

Immediate Impact: None? Unless my sleeper comes through (more on that in a minute)
I’m not a fan of the top of their draft. Collier will now have to sit behind Ziggy Ansah until Ansah gets hurt. Blair is alright but he was the third safety off the board and he shouldn’t have been. DK Metcalf is big and fast but he lacks innate WR skills and he will struggle against NFL coverages.

Best Value: LB Ben Burr-Kirven
Burr-Kirven is a fantastic LB with great coverage skills and his skill set will work well in the NFL. He’s always around the ball and he was an absolute steal in the fifth round. He’s going to have a hard time finding time right away unless one of the starters gets injured.

Sleeper: WR Gary Jennings
The team just lost Doug Baldwin to retirement and while many are penciling in DK Metcalf to start opposite Tyler Lockett, I have my doubts. If a WR in this draft is going to make a splash I think it’s Jennings. He was the “other” WR at West Virginia to David Sills III but he was highly productive and if anyone is going to fill the Doug Baldwin role in Seattle it’s him. Russell Wilson will find him very reliable and highly effective. He’s not the biggest, not the tallest and not the fastest WR but he’s just solid all-around, kind of like Doug Baldwin.

Overall Analysis
I didn’t think Collier was the best DE available, I know Blair wasn’t the best safety available and while DK Metcalf was a solid choice late in the second round, he is a better athlete than he is a WR at the moment. The team took both Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven at LB and while LB didn’t look like a huge need these are two really good picks. They are very modern LBs. Jennings is my favorite pick of this draft. OG Phil Haynes is not a well-known name but he could really give them some good depth at OG and if Mike Iupati’s age catches up with him or DJ Fluker has issues Haynes could be a valuable piece. Ugochukwu Amadi is a small defensive back who is more of a nickel back and could find a place but I wouldn’t count on it. RB Travis Homer is a decent back but they have a lot of decent backs and I don’t think he’ll be able to beat them out. DT Demarcus Christmas is probably just a run-stuffing interior player but those guys can find a role in the NFL so he just might in Seattle. WR John Ursua has a chance to make the roster but there are a lot of bodies fighting for position on the roster so it will be an uphill battle.

 

NFC South Draft Review

The Saints ran away with this division last year and while they have lost a few key players, as long as they have Drew Brees slinging it, they are the favorites. Atlanta did some work in the draft to really improve their offensive line and that should seriously help the offense. They are hoping for better health on the defense to turn that side around. Carolina was just as disappointing as Atlanta last year and they are hoping for a healthy season out of Cam Newton and a better year out of their defense. Tampa Bay brought in Bruce Arians in the hope he can salvage Jameis Winston’s career and turn the Bucs fortunes around. There is plenty of work to do in Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Falcons

(14) Chris Lindstrom OG
(31) Kaleb McGary OT
(111) Kendall Sheffield CB
(135) John Cominsky DE
(152) Qadree Ollison RB
(172) Jordan Miller CB
(203) Marcus Green WR

Immediate Impact: OG Chris Lindstrom, OT Kaleb McGary
The Falcons offensive line was terrible last season and so they went out and drafted an entirely new right side of the line in the first round of the draft. Lindstrom wasn’t the most talked about prospect but he’s rock solid at OG. Then they traded back into the first round to grab Kaleb McGary at 31, just ahead of the Patriots. McGary is big and physical and he should be plenty good at RT where he excelled for Washington. These weren’t the flashiest picks of the first round but they may pay bigger dividends than anybody in terms of helping a team improve over last season.

Best Value: None
The Falcons got solid picks but they didn’t get anybody at a great value. All their picks came at around their expected slots.

Sleeper: RB Qadree Ollison
The Falcons like to run the ball and Davonte Freeman is a very good starter for them. They also have Ito Smith who proved to be solid last year in limited duty. They did lose Tevin Coleman in free agency and it pays to have some depth in the NFL. Ollison is a bigger back so he will complement Freeman and Smith who are both smaller backs. Ollison’s running style also fits Atlanta’s zone based running scheme quite well.

Overall Analysis
Lindstrom and McGary fix the major need this team had last year. They should protect the Falcons major investment, Matt Ryan, far better than he was protected last season, and improve the run game. On the defensive front they need a return to health and they took a shot on a talented small school prospect in John Cominsky. He may not help a lot this season but perhaps he gives them something situationally. Where the team really took losses in the off season was in the secondary where they lost two CBs; Robert Alford and Brian Poole. They already have Isaiah Oliver to step in as a starter on the outside but they are hoping Kendall Sheffield can become their nickel back. Sheffield is a better athlete than he is a corner but he is small and fast so perhaps playing in the slot will suit him. I like the Ollison pick, it’s always good to have a variety of RBs with different skill sets. CB John Miller is a bit stiff but he’s a very good athlete with the size you look for at CB. With the depth issues the team has in the secondary he has a very good chance to stick and perhaps even contribute in the dime defense. WR Marcus Green has virtually no shot at getting playing time on offense, the team is pretty stacked at WR. Maybe he finds a place on special teams but I would say he’s a practice squad guy at best.

Carolina Panthers

(16) Brian Burns DE
(37) Greg Little OT
(100) Will Grier QB
(115) Christian Miller OLB
(154) Jordan Scarlett RB
(212) Dennis Daley OL
(237) Terry Godwin WR

Immediate Impact: DE Brian Burns
The Panthers have very little at DE with Mario Addison the only established guy at the position. They signed Bruce Irvin but he’s never been a full-time DE. Burns is a speed rusher who can bend the edge and get to the QB, they need that desperately. He added some weight before the combine and still showed great athleticism, if he can keep his weight up, he can be a good all-around DE.

Best Value: OT Greg Little
I’m a little torn on Little. He has great talent and he looks the part of a future Pro Bowl LT; he just doesn’t always play that way. He could be a long-time starter for an NFL team or he could wash out in two years. He’s arguably the biggest boom-or-bust pick in this draft not named Kyler Murray. If he plays to his elite talent the Panthers stole a great LT at #37 overall.

Sleeper: OLB Christian Miller
Miller is an edge rusher who is built like an OLB. It seems the Panthers are going for a type as they signed Bruce Irvin and drafted Brian Burns in the first round. They must have a plan to use undersized DEs to create pressure and if that’s the case they might find a way to use Miller. He wasn’t a high usage player at Alabama but he was effective when he played.

Overall Analysis
The Burns pick was necessary and they got a really good DE prospect who should start right away. That’s what you want in a first-round pick, good value and fills a major need. Little is a lottery ticket, he’s all or nothing. The team likes Taylor Moton at LT and with the return of a healthy Daryl Williams they can have Little compete for a job without needing him to win one. If he plays to his potential, he could kick Moton to LG and really improve the Panthers offensive line overall. QB Will Grier seems like a bit of a luxury pick but with Cam Newton’s health issues he may be needed. He’s probably an upgrade over their other backups but they probably could have drafted someone who could help them a lot sooner with the pick they used on Grier. Miller was my pick as a sleeper but I could have included Jordan Scarlett there too. Scarlett played on a less than stellar UCLA team but he has talent and the Panthers are not exactly stacked behind Christian McCaffrey. I’m not sure OL Dennis Daley or WR Terry Godwin will make the roster but they were decent picks to take a chance on.

New Orleans Saints

(48) Erik McCoy OC
(105) Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S
(177) Saquan Hampton S
(231) Alize Mack TE
(244) Kaden Ellis LB

Immediate Impact: OC Erik McCoy
The Saints lost Max Unger to retirement and they need a new starter at center. Drew Brees likes a clean pocket and protecting him is priority #1. McCoy is a solid if unspectacular pick and while center isn’t a sexy position to draft it is a vital one for this offense. McCoy will have to earn the starting job but I expect he will without much problem.

Best Value: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson was talked about a potential first-round pick at one point but certainly seemed like a lock for round 2. He went 105th overall which put him in round 4. He brings a nice skill set as both a center fielder and potentially a nickel back. The Saints have a solid starting safety duo in Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams but Gardner-Johnson adds a nice piece to the secondary at the very reasonable price of a fourth-round pick.

Sleeper: TE Alize Mack
Mack certainly looks the part of a very good TE he just struggles a bit at getting open and presenting an enticing target for his QB. That can be worked on as he gets better with his technique getting off the line of scrimmage and running better routes. It will also help that he now has one of the most accurate passers ever throwing to him, Drew Brees has never needed a whole lot of space to get the ball to his targets.

Overall Analysis
This is a very small draft class of only five guys but the Saints may have made the most of it. McCoy fills a huge need and he could be the starting center for the next decade in New Orleans. Gardner-Johnson adds a nice chess piece on defense that Dennis Allen can make use of. The team signed TE Jared Cook in the off season but they don’t have many weapons at TE and Drew Brees will find Alize Mack often if he can work his way onto the field. Saquan Hampton and Kaden Ellis are going to find it hard to make the roster but if the Saints found three contributors out of five picks that’s a pretty solid hit rate for a draft class.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(5) Devin White LB
(39) Sean Bunting CB
(94) Jamel Dean CB
(99) Mike Edwards S
(107) Anthony Nelson DE
(145) Matt Gay K
(208) Scott Miller WR
(215) Terry Beckner Jr. DL

Immediate Impact: LB Devin White
White is a three-down LB who immediately steps into Kwon Alexander’s old ILB position. He’s a fast, twitchy LB who can run and can cover. New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will understand how best to deploy White to take advantage of his elite skill set.

Best Value: DE Anthony Nelson
Nelson is a long, linear DE who can bend the edge and he’ll play the run quite well. He was talked about as a potential 2nd round pick and they got him early in round 4. He could end up with a starting job sooner rather than later given Jason Pierre-Paul’s recent neck injury, the fact that Carl Nassib is okay but not great and Noah Spence is still trying to prove he can be a productive player. New coaches tend to prefer the guys they picked so Nelson has that going for him too.

Sleeper: WR Scott Miller
This is a bit of a deep sleeper but that’s because I put Nelson as my best value choice. The Bucs have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the outside at WR but they lost the very productive Adam Humphries in free agency, he was their slot receiver. They really don’t have a slot receiver on the roster and that is where Miller is likely to play. Bruce Arians needs to get the best out of QB Jameis Winston so giving him a reliable player in the slot would help a lot.

Overall Analysis
Devin White is a good player but I was surprised to see the Bucs pass on Josh Allen after he fell out of the top four when Oakland passed on him. The team needs pass rushing help and Allen would have provided that and White’s ILB position is usually of lesser value than pass rusher. Then the team went CB, CB, S, which should tell you what they think of their current secondary group, it’s not good. Sean Bunting is more potential than polish at this point but he has plenty of skill for Bowles to mold into a competent CB. They took CB Jamel Dean and S Mike Edwards in round three and while I like the fact they are looking to remake their secondary there were guys left on the board I like better than those two; S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB Julian Love, S Amani Hooker, maybe even CB Iman Marshall. DE Anthony Nelson and WR Scott Miller are two picks I like that were sandwiched around a kicker. Matt Gay out of Utah was taken in round five, while they certainly need competition for Cairo Santos taking a kicker in round five is not a great idea, although at least they didn’t trade up in round two to get one (Roberto Aguayo anybody?). Normally, I would say a seventh round DT who had a poor combine probably isn’t making the roster but Beckner has a little versatility and with Jason Pierre-Paul most likely out for the year, Gerald McCoy likely on the move out of town, and the overall lack of good players at d-line, I would give Beckner a decent shot at making the team.

AFC East Draft Review

The AFC East is home of the Super Bowl winning New England Patriots and until Tom Brady and Bill Belichick retire the division belongs to them. The Dolphins, Bills and Jets didn’t do enough to take the division away from the Patriots yet so they have to just keep trying to get better and hopefully compete for a wild card spot. All three teams do have young QBs to build around and coincidently they all entered the league a year ago. Buffalo (Josh Allen, not the DE the Jags just drafted), the Jets (Sam Darnold) and the Dolphins (Josh Rosen, arrived in a trade) were all top 10 picks in the 2018 draft, for reference Tom Brady was pick #199 in 2000 (in case you’re wondering Bill Belichick is riding that pick all the way to the Hall of Fame).

Buffalo Bills

(9) Ed Oliver DT
(38) Cody Ford OL
(74) Devin Singletary RB
(96) Dawson Knox TE
(147) Vosean Joseph LB
(181) Jaquan Johnson S
(225) Darryl Johnson Jr. DE
(228) Tommy Sweeney TE

Immediate Impact: DT Ed Oliver, OL Cody Ford
Ed Oliver has been compared to Aaron Donald but that’s not really fair, no one is Donald and he doesn’t actually play like him he’s only slightly built like him. A more apt contemporary comparison is Geno Atkins or if you want an older comparison, John Randle. Randle is a Hall of Famer and Atkins is a fantastic player for Cincinnati, Oliver is that good and he’ll start immediately replacing Kyle Williams. Cody Ford could end up the starting RT or the starting RG, too bad he can’t play both. I think he gets the RT job and he’ll make their line much better. He’s a beast and he’ll make Josh Allen’s life a lot easier.

Best Value: Ford
The stole Ford in round 2. He has first round talent and there are going to be a few teams that passed on him that are going to regret it (I’m talking about you Houston). He may not always be the prettiest looking player out there but he can dominate.

Sleepers: LB Vosean Joseph, S Jaquan Johnson
The Bills did a nice job adding a couple of day three picks that could really help on defense. Joseph is a run-and-chase LB with solid coverage skills and isn’t blocked easily. He will give them someone to take some of the load off of 35-year-old Lorenzo Alexander whom they like to use as a pass rusher. Johnson is a smaller safety but he’s got good coverage skills and he’ll be a nice matchup piece for the defense, he can play some slot corner. Beyond starter Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, the Bills aren’t stacked at safety and while Poyer had a solid year last year but he’s been inconsistent in his career.

Overall Analysis
The Bills had an excellent draft, they aren’t quite ready to take the division from the Patriots but they could compete for the wild card. Oliver fills a huge hole on the defensive line left by the retirement of stalwart Kyle Williams. Ford upgrades the offensive line no matter where he ends up lining up and that will only make Josh Allen better and will improve the running game. Devin Singletary is a nice pickup at RB and while they already have LeSean McCoy and they added Frank Gore and TJ Yeldon, Singletary’s skill set will come in handy. McCoy is over 30 and Gore may be ageless but he’s not as effective as he once was. Singletary might make TJ Yeldon redundant because he’s a very good receiving back. TE Dawson Knox should find some playmaking opportunities he never got in college as they team looks to make Josh Allen’s life easier. Knox has more skills than he ever got to show at Ole Miss. Joseph and Johnson are really solid additions to what was a pretty solid defense last year. Not sure DE Darryl Johnson Jr. or TE Tommy Sweeney are going to make the roster but if there are two positions the Bills can use some young competition it’s at DE and TE so the picks are worthwhile.

Miami Dolphins

(13) Christian Wilkins DT
(78) Michael Dieter OL
(151) Andrew Van Ginkel LB
(202) Isaiah Prince OL
(233) Chandler Cox FB
(234) Myles Gaskin RB

Immediate Impact: DT Christian Wilkins
Wilkins is a beast and the Dolphins defensive line is pretty brutal at the moment. They lost a lot in the off season but Wilkins is a very solid cornerstone piece to start to rebuild around. He isn’t the flashiest player but he’s exceptionally talented and very experienced after starting many years at Clemson and winning multiple National Championships.

Best Value: QB Josh Rosen
Rosen was the 10th overall pick of last year’s draft and the Dolphins stole him from the Cardinals for a late second round pick. The Cardinals already paid him the bulk of his contract so the Dolphins only owe Rosen about $6 million over the next three years with an option on his fifth year in the league. I love Rosen and he could finally be the long-term QB the Dolphins have been looking for since Dan Marino retired. That’s incredible value.

Sleeper: RB Myles Gaskin
Gaskin is undersized but that didn’t stop him form being a work horse for four years at Washington. The man wears like iron. He has a lot of miles on his tires so his career could be short but the Dolphins only have Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage at RB right now. Gaskin is a jack-of-all-trades and can fill in doing anything they need him to do. He could also carry the load if needed. He’s a good 7th round pick.

Overall Analysis
The choice of Christian Wilkins was fantastic and he’s an immediate starter but this draft will be remembered for them trading for Josh Rosen. They sat back and waited and eventually the Cardinals had to pull the trigger on trading Rosen after they had no leverage left when they took Kyler Murray 1st overall. The Dolphins were all set to wait until next year’s draft to find their QB of the future but Rosen came at such a cheap price they couldn’t pass him up. They will give him the year to show if he is their guy going forward and if they don’t think he is his contract is so cheap he just makes for a really solid backup. OL Michael Dieter isn’t spectacular but he is versatile and he could play OG or OT and he gives the Dolphins some much needed help up front. Andrew Van Ginkel might be a bit of a specialist for now because he’s pretty slight for a LB but he has potential. OL Isaiah Prince might make for a decent backup lineman but I’m not sure he’s going to stick on the roster. Not sure why they drafted a FB since most teams don’t use them but maybe new coach Brian Flores and new offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea wanted their own version of the Patriots’ James Develin. Gaskin is, at worst, great depth on a team that doesn’t have much at RB.

New England Patriots

(32) N’Keal Harry WR
(45) Joejuan Williams CB
(77) Chase Winovich DE
(87) Damien Harris RB
(101) Yodney Cajuste OT
(118) Hjalte Froholdt OG
(133) Jarrett Stidham QB
(159) Byron Cowart DT
(163) Jake Bailey P
(252) Ken Webster CB

Immediate Impact: WR N’Keal Harry, DE Chase Winovich
The Patriots have Julian Edelman but not much else at WR unless you count Phillip Dorsett, and I don’t. Josh Gordon might come back and I might win the lottery, neither of those things should be counted on. N’Keal Harry is a big-bodied WR who wins jump balls and gives the Patriots a legitimate red zone threat on the outside. They didn’t replace Gronk with a TE but they may have gotten someone who can replace some of his production in the red zone. Winovich isn’t likely to start but the Pats need help rushing the passer and Winovich is a productive player. He also just seems like Belichick guy, he could be the new Rob Ninkovich.

Best Value: RB Damien Harris
Harris was one of the better backs in the draft and the Patriots got him in the third round. Sony Michel was really good last year but he had some injury issues at times and it’s not a bad idea to have someone to take the load off of him. The team still has James White as the pass catching back but Harris may make Rex Burkhead expendable. Harris brings more power than Burkhead and he played for Nick Saban so Bill Belichick loves that fact.

Sleepers: OT Yodny Cajuste, DT Byron Cowart

I would really like to put QB Jarrett Stidham here, the Patriots did once turn Matt Cassell into a legitimate NFL starter but I’m not sure on Stidham, he needs to work on his accuracy. Instead I’ll throw Cajuste and Cowart in this category. The Patriots are counting on last season’s first round pick Isaiah Wynn playing LT but he missed last year with an Achilles tear. If Wynn can’t hold up it’s possible Cajuste ends up playing LT. He played it just fine in college. Cowart was a high school star who never really lived up to the hype. The Pats could use some depth at DT and maybe a disruptive guy to get some pressure, perhaps Belichick can turn Cowart’s talent into actual production.

Overall Analysis
If you’re one of the three teams in the division chasing the Patriots you really don’t like this draft. Harry brings an outside dimension in the passing game they have been missing. The team was already deep in the secondary and the added Joejuan Williams who could play corner or he could be Devin McCourty’s eventual replacement at safety. DE Chase Winovich and RB Damien Harris are depth pieces that could pay dividends in the short-term and the long-term. Cajuste along with OG Hjalte Froholdt add depth to an offensive line that returns four good starters, that’s not making the Patriots easier to beat. The scariest part for everyone in the NFL is the possibility that the Patriots could turn Jarrett Stidham into their next starting QB, they got Brady at pick #199, Stidham came at #133. Cowart has talent, what he does with it is up to him. They even drafted competition for their punter Ryan Allen with Jake Bailey. The Patriots secondary is pretty deep and seventh-round pick Ken Webster will have a hard time making the team.

New York Jets

(3) Quinnen Williams DT
(68) Jachai Polite OLB
(92) Chuma Edogu OL
(121) Trevon Wesco FB/HB
(157) Blake Cashman LB
(196) Blessuan Austin CB

Immediate Impact: DT Quinnen Williams
Williams is arguably the best player in this draft and the Jets defense is looking to transition to more of a 4-man front that will now feature him and Leonard Williams at DT. That’s a hell of a starting block up front and Quinnen Williams is a freak on the field. He’s powerful, disruptive and dominant.

Best Value: LB Blake Cashman
The Jets signed CJ Mosley and they already have Avery Williamson so they have some expensive LBs. Cashman came cheap as a fifth-round pick. He’s not the sexiest player out there but he’s always around the ball. When Cashman plays, he will make plays. Kid is a baller.

Sleeper: OLB Jachai Polite
Polite put on a clinic on how not to handle the pre-draft process. He had a horrible combine and then perhaps a worse pro day. He didn’t interview well and apparently didn’t receive glowing recommendations from the coaching staff at Florida. He went from a surefire 1st round pick to luckily getting drafted in the 3rd round. He has talent and the Jets need pass rushers so he can find a place here if he gets his act together. Gregg Williams has put together some great defenses in his career, if he can get something out of Polite, he will be on the right track to another good one in New York.

Overall Analysis
It’s a small draft class so it’s tough to say it’s going to turn around their fortunes but they did well on the defensive side of the ball. Williams is a stud and he could be an unstoppable force inside. Polite is a talented kid who needs some direction and some discipline. Gregg Williams can give him both it’s just up to him to accept it and be his best self. I like the Cashman pick a lot, he’s the type of LB that produces for a long time. The sixth round CB Blessaun Austin has an uphill battle to make the roster but you can do worse things than take a big, athletic CB with a sixth rounder. On the offensive side OT Chuma Edogu is a solid pass blocker but his run blocking leaves a lot to be desired. He’s a developmental guy. FB Trevon Wesco is basically an extra offensive guard who will line up in the backfield, not a lot of those guys in the league anymore, maybe he sticks due to special teams.