Kansas City Chiefs

It’s Patrick Mahomes world and we’re all just living in it.  At age 23 he threw for 50 TDs in a season, only the third time that’s been done in NFL history.  The other two guys were Peyton Manning and Tom Brady so that’s pretty good company. Mahomes rightfully won the MVP award but the Chiefs once again came up short in the playoffs.  Mahomes leads a star-studded cast on offense.  WR Tyreek Hill is a speed freak and now that he isn’t going to be suspended for his off the field issues the team can breathe a little easier.  TE Travis Kelce is one of the best in the business and a fantastic security blanket for the young QB.  WR Sammy Watkins had a good year playing second fiddle to Hill at receiver.  The team cut ties with Kareem Hunt during the season last year but Damien Williams stepped in at RB and they didn’t miss a beat.  After final roster cuts the Chiefs have added LeSean McCoy who was somewhat surprisingly cut from the Bills.  McCoy isn’t that far removed from being a very productive back.  He struggled a little last season but he should still have something left to give the Chiefs.  The offensive line was good last year but they lost Mitch Morse at center and the interior of the line might not be great, it’s the one thing that could derail this offense, if anything can derail this offense.

What really hurt this team last season was a defense that was terrible.  DC Bob Sutton was dismissed and Steve Spagnuolo was brought in to fix things.  Spagnuolo has coordinated some of the best defenses in the league before and the first thing he’s doing is ditching the 3-4 alignment and moving to a 4-3.  That meant trading OLB Dee Ford and not bringing back the aging Tamba Hali.  The team needed pass rushing from the DE spot so they traded for Frank Clark from Seattle and gave him a huge deal.  There are going to be some growing pains while the team changes personnel to better fit the 4-3 defense but this unit can’t be much worse so it’s worth the pain.  S Tyrann Mathieu was signed as stalwart Eric Berry wasn’t re-signed and while Berry was the heart and soul of the defense for a few years, Mathieu is the superior player now.  DT Chris Jones was one of the bright spots last season and he has the versatility to make the transition to the new front four.  The hope is that Clark’s presence will make Jones that much more affective.  The team is also hoping rookie Juan Thornhill can make the back end of the defense faster and more athletic.

On offense the idea is to change as little as possible and just let Patrick Mahomes keep maturing.  The weapons on offense are outstanding and he runs the offense well.  If Spagnuolo can get the defense to be halfway decent the team will be a major Super Bowl threat. Mahomes probably won’t throw for 50 TDs again, teams will adjust against him, but he could throw for 45 and still lead the league.  The AFC east won’t be a cakewalk as the Chargers are a tough team and Denver and Oakland won’t be as bad as they were last year.

Los Angeles Chargers

It’s still Phillip Rivers’ team and just once Chargers’ fans would like to know what this team could do if they could stay healthy.  Sorry, this probably isn’t the year you find out either.  LT Russell Okung starts the year injured and the team lost starting safety Derwin James for 3-4 months after foot surgery.  The team is also starting the season without holdout RB Melvin Gordon as he is angling for a new contract which he has no real leverage to get.  The team seems fine running out Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson at RB and they have survived without Gordon before.  Gordon’s penchant for missing time with injuries is not helping his cause in getting a new contract.  The team still has #1 WR Keenan Allen and last season former first-round pick WR Mike Williams started to really show some progress.  TE Hunter Henry returns after missing all of last season and that’s good news because Antonio Gates can’t play forever.  The offensive line still has questions.  With Okung out, their lack of depth is even more evident.  They aren’t exactly teeming with great offensive linemen and they could really use a breakout year from a guy like Forrest Lamp who hasn’t been healthy enough to live up to his draft billing.

On defense the team is happy to get back a healthy Joey Bosa who missed a lot of last season and only had 4 sacks.  He teams with Melvin Ingram to create a great pass rushing duo when healthy.  The d-line depth took a hit in off season and DT Brandon Mebane is aging so the team hopes rookie Jerry Tillery can contribute.  The defense isn’t great at LB but they get by.  The secondary has talent all over with CB Casey Hayward and nickel back Desmond King being two of the best in the game at their respective positions.  Losing Derwin James is going to be a killer though.  He may be listed as a safety but really, he’s a defensive chess piece that can be moved all over the field by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.  Veteran Adrian Phillips has to step up now and the team may have to rely more on King to pick up some of the slack.  Rookie Nasir Adderley is a talented guy they drafted in the second round out of Delaware.  The team may look to him to really step up too but he’s making a leap in competition coming from a small school like Delaware.

Anthony Lynn has done a nice job in his time with the Chargers and it hasn’t been easy because this team always seems to have injuries to key personnel.  His coaching staff is led by coordinators Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley so they won’t be outcoached by anyone.  The James injury is a killer to that defense, the kid was an All-Pro as a rookie.  Okung isn’t the greatest OT around but he’s far better than anyone else they have to man the position.  Melvin Gordon’s absence can be mitigated but he’s pretty good and they will miss him a least a little.  These issues likely put the team just slightly behind the Chiefs in the division but they are still a very likely playoff team.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos made a few of major moves this off season that should highly impact the franchise.  The biggest and most obvious move was trading for Joe Flacco from the Ravens.  The team has had a revolving door at QB since Peyton Manning’s retirement and while Flacco isn’t the most exciting option he does stabilize the position.  Flacco has had a steady career sandwiched around one great playoff run that helped Baltimore win the Super Bowl.  He won’t be the next Manning but he’s better than Trevor Simien.  Last season the Broncos offense was mostly made up of undrafted rookie RB Phillip Lindsay. Lindsay was a fantastic find but they hope RB Royce Freeman can give them a nice duo with Lindsay in the backfield and take the pressure off of Flacco.  WR Courtland Sutton had some good games after Demaryius Thomas was traded so they hope he can build on that.  Sutton will be more effective if Emmanuel Sanders can return from his injury that wrecked last season for him.  The Broncos invested their 1^st round pick in TE Noah Fant and that was a smart investment because while Joe Flacco isn’t the sexiest choice as a new QB he’s always loved getting the ball to his TEs.  The offensive line struggled last year and this season they imported Ja’Wuan James at RT and drafted Dalton Risner at LG and they are hoping new o-line coach Mike Munchak can work some magic and save LT Garrett Bolles from being a complete bust.  If the line can hold up this offense has a chance to be effective.

The defense still has plenty of talent and it’s still built around OLB Von Miller and his second-year running mate Bradley Chubb.  However, the biggest addition wasn’t on the field it was on the sideline where Vic Fangio takes over as the head coach and brings his incredible defensive mind to this team.  Giving a guy like Fangio players like Miller and Chubb to work with is almost unfair.  The Bears defense under Fangio for the past several seasons has been fantastic and when he got Khalil Mack last year, they were downright nasty.  Fangio unleashing Miller and Chubb is going to keep this team in a lot of games.  The defensive line isn’t sexy but they are effective.  At ILB, Josey Jewell takes over for the departed Brandon Marshall and he and Todd Davis will be asked to do a lot in Fangio’s scheme.  The secondary replaced Bradley Roby with Kareem Jackson, Jackson isn’t flashy but he’s versatile and that will go a long way in the new defense too.

Fangio is a very, very long-time assistant at the NFL level and he’s one of the best defensive minds in the game.  He waited a long time to get his opportunity as a head coach and while this team is still a little short on talent compared to the Chiefs and the Chargers they won’t be outcoached.  Fangio brought in Rich Scangarello from San Francisco to run his offense so there will be a return to a familiar Shanahan style offense in Denver.  The biggest addition could very well be Mike Munchak as the offensive line coach.  He interviewed for the head job but when Fangio got it instead Munchak was one of his first hires.  The offensive line has been a problem for a few years and Munchak is one of the best in the business, if anyone can fix it, it’s him.  Denver still has a little bit to go on this reboot but they won’t be an easy out for the Chiefs or the Chargers.

Oakland Raiders

After the debacle that was Jon Gruden’s first season back on the sidelines the Raiders have made some major changes.  The skill positions around Derek Carr are completely overhauled and if Carr can’t get this offense moving now he’ll be looking for a new job next year.  WR Antonio Brown was the big name but Tyrell Williams is a fantastic addition too and a perfect complement to Brown.  Even the backups are changing at WR with JJ Nelson and Hunter Renfrow around.  Marshawn Lynch is out at RB with rookie Josh Jacobs ready to take the reins.  Jacobs is a playmaker and Gruden should use him extensively.  They also brought in two big additions to the offensive line in OT Trent Brown and OG Richie Incognito.  Brown had a great year for the Patriots last season and Incognito is looking for redemption after his previous transgressions.  If the offensive scheme is from this decade and not the 90’s there is no reason this offense shouldn’t put up points.

The defense was pretty bad last season and the team is taking some chances hoping for a payoff.  They drafted DE Clelin Ferrell #4 overall and most people saw that as a reach (because it was).  Ferrell is going to be a starter but that’s as much of an indictment of the rest of the DE position than anything.  Ferrell is a solid player but he was a little over drafted.  The team needed a lot of help at LB and they signed Brandon Marshall, who’s a solid if unspectacular, and then they cut him.  That’s not a good sign.  They also signed Vontaze Burfict who is a wildcard, and not in a good way.  Burfict has numerous injury issues and he’s more likely to get fined and suspended for illegal hits than to actually contribute to the defense.  The team signed S Lamarcus Joyner and CB Nevin Lawson and drafted S Jonathan Abram which should tell you how they felt about their secondary.  All three should find significant roles on the defense and they should be upgrades over last year’s guys.

Jon Gruden’s big off the field move was replacing GM Reggie McKenzie with former NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock.  Mayock knows football but he has a certain type of player he’s looking for and I’m not sure it’s the best for today’s NFL.  Gruden is calling the shots but he’s taking Mayock’s advice for sure.  The biggest on the field move was trading for Antonio Brown.  So far, it’s been a circus.  Antonio Brown got frostbite because he didn’t prepare properly for cryotherapy and he’s had a dispute with the NFL over his helmet.  They haven’t even played a game yet and he’s sucking all the oxygen out of the room.  The team needs him to get his helmet on straight (literally) and play up to his considerable talent.  He will make Derek Carr a far better QB if he can just play football and forget all the other stuff.  This team still lacks playmakers on defense and they play in a tough division so they will finish fourth but they will make it harder on the other teams than they did last year.

 

 

 

Chicago Bears

The Bears ran away with the division last year so it’s completely understandable that they basically are standing pat with last season’s starters, there are a few notable exceptions.  On offense, they will count on the continued maturation and development of QB Mitchell Trubisky under the tutelage of head coach Matt Nagy to take them up a notch.  Trubisky isn’t asked to carry the offense just keep things moving and get the ball to the playmakers.  The team has a number of good playmakers in WRs Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller, TE Trey Burton and RB Tarik Cohen.  The one significant change came when the team traded RB Jordan Howard to Philadelphia in the off season.  They signed Mike Davis and drafted David Montgomery to be the complements to Cohen in the backfield.  Cohen is an offensive weapon that is best used in a variety of ways and not as a every down runner.  Davis had a good year in Seattle last season but I look for Montgomery to stake his claim to the job of doing the heavy lifting for the offense.  Montgomery is a talented back and will be a little more dynamic and versatile in the offense, more so than Howard was last year.  The offensive line will start the same five but there is one change.  Cody Whitehair and James Daniels will switch positions as Daniels moves over to the center spot while Whitehair will man left guard.  This switch is intended to put both players in spots they will be more comfortable and it should help the group overall.  LT Charles Leno Jr, RG Kyle Long and RT Bobby Massie fill out the unit that plays better than the sum of its parts.  This unit isn’t going to be confused for the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs but the offense is more than enough to win the division.

The Bears defense is what sets it apart from the rest of the division and what gives this team a chance to make noise in the playoffs.  The trade last season for Khalil Mack was the final piece to making this unit one of the best in the NFL.  There are a couple of subtle changes in personnel on the field, the most noteworthy being new safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.  He comes over from Washington after being traded there last year by Green Bay.  Clearly, he’s familiar with this division after his time in Green Bay and my guess is, he’ll be motivated to show the Packers they shouldn’t have traded him.  The real concern is the loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio who left to become the Broncos head coach.  He’s replaced by Chuck Pagano.  Fangio certainly knew how best to use his personnel but Pagano has been a successful defensive coordinator before too.  The team has talent at all levels of the defense.  DL Akiem Hicks, edge rushers Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, inside LB Roquan Smith, safety Eddie Jackson and CB Kyle Fuller are all terrific defenders.  The transition to Pagano may slow them a bit to start the year but I fully expect this to be one of the best units in the league again.

Head Coach Matt Nagy won 12 games and the division in his first season as a head coach.  He returns his offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich which should really help Mitchell Trubisky’s development.  The change from Vic Fangio to Chuck Pagano will take a little time to settle but Pagano runs the same type of attacking 3-4 defense Fangio was known for so the concepts shouldn’t be hard for the players to pick up.  Chicago walked away with the division last season and while I think their competition will be tougher, I still see the Bears winning this division.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers were bad last season.  There were problems all over the place.  The team had a number of significant injuries and the working relationship between QB Aaron Rodgers and then head coach Mike McCarthy was clearly broken.  A team with this much talent and Aaron Rodgers at QB shouldn’t be this bad and I expect them to be much better this year.  The unimaginative offense of McCarthy is gone and the team’s inability to recognize the value of a good RB is hopefully over.  It took the team far too long last season to see the value in RB Aaron Jones and once they did it was too late to save the season.  Matt LaFleur comes in after one season as the Titans offensive coordinator to take over as head coach.  His career in Green Bay will be defined by his relationship with Aaron Rodgers.  The team has a legitimate #1 WR in Devante Adams but they let Randall Cobb go in free agency so the position of #2 WR is up for grabs.  Marques Valdez-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, and J’Mon Moore will all take a shot at being Adams partner.  Geronimo Allison is likely to be the slot WR but the team needs another weapon outside.  Jimmy Graham and Mercedes Lewis hold down the TE spot but rookie Jace Sternberger could become a valuable weapon in the passing game.  The offensive line has serious talent especially at OT but they need everyone to stay healthy, that’s been the issue of the past few years.

In contrast to the offense the defense kept their coordinator as LaFleur decided to keep Mike Pettine but they changed out some important pieces on the field.  OLBs Clay Matthews and Nick Perry are gone, replaced by free agents Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith.  On the eve of training camp, the team cut DL Mike Daniels, a former Pro Bowler, in a cap saving move.  At safety free agent Adrian Amos comes in and the team drafted Darnell Savage Jr in the first round and he will have a shot at the other job.  The team also drafted DL Rashan Gary in round one and all these moves were made with the purpose of getting younger and giving Pettine some more athleticism to work with.  I think overall this defense will be improved.  While some of the guys they let go were excellent players in their prime they are mostly past their primes now.  These guys fit Pettine’s scheme and while I’m not a huge fan of Gary or Savage they do bring athleticism the team has been lacking.

I see the Packers bouncing back this season as long as they can be healthier than they were last year.  The youth movement on defense should help them stay fresh and avoid injury, they probably should have opted for more of that on the offensive line.  Keeping Rodgers free and clear to run the offense would help a lot.  LaFleur comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, hence the reason he got the job, but he also ran the offense in Tennessee last year where he relied heavily on the run.  He would be wise not to forget about using Aaron Jones to keep teams honest and allow Rodgers to have a complete offense around him.  I think the Packers will be better than the Vikings by just a little bit but not quite as good as the Bears.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings offense is based around WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.  Both players had over 100 catches each and over 1000 yards a piece.  QB Kirk Cousins had a good statistical year and the passing game is fine with Cousins, Thielen, Diggs and TE Kyle Rudolph.  The running game is a different story.  Dalvin Cook has simply been unable to stay healthy and last season was no exception.  Latavius Murray stepped but he’s moved on.  The team desperately needs Cook to stay on the field, he has great skill, it’s his availability that’s an issue.  The offensive line was once again an issue and the interior of the line was especially questionable.  The team drafted center Garrett Bradbury and they plan on installing him in the pivot.  The hope is that Bradbury at center allows them to move Pat Elflein to guard and that should improve two positions.  They’re still hoping Brian O’Neill can provide some consistency at RT also.  Kyle Rudolph almost got traded this off season but instead he inked an extension.  The hope is his consistency continues while rookie Irv Smith Jr. can be the dynamic receiver at TE.  Kirk Cousins can stuff a stat sheet but QBs are judged by their teams win/loss record and 8-7-1 isn’t getting it done for a guy making as much money as Cousins.

The defense took a pretty dramatic step backwards last season from the sensational year they had two seasons ago.  The personnel is still there to be excellent as DE Danielle Hunter, LB Anthony Barr, S Harrison Smith and CB Xavier Rhodes are some of the best at their respective positions.  Outside of Hunter the rest of the defensive line was a bit disappointing and that seemed to have an effect on the rest of the defense as a whole.  There is plenty of talent with guys like MLB Eric Kendricks, CB Trae Waynes and DT Linval Joseph all capable of terrific play.  The one guy that struggled last year was DE Everson Griffin, he had some serious personal issues and the team is hoping he’s ready to get back on track.  If the defense can return to being closer to what they were two years ago the team can compete in the NFC for a playoff spot.

Head coach Mike Zimmer has a lot of goodwill built up after the team was so good two years ago but that will dissipate quickly if this team hovers around .500 with an $84 million QB and as much talent as the team has.  The offense is in the hands of Kevin Stefanski after he took over during last season.  The team also brought in Gary Kubiak from Denver to “advise” them on that side of the ball.  If Kubiak can get the running game going that would help a lot.  Although he’s not a magician so I’m not sure he can cure Dalvin Cook’s inability to stay healthy.

Detroit Lions

Matt Patricia begins his second season as the Lions head coach and he’s turning the offense over to Derrell Bevell.  I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but it is pretty much what the Lions do, they hire new offensive coaches every couple of years.  Bevell replaces Jim Bob Cooter who replaced Joe Lombardi who replaced…ah you get the picture.  QB Matthew Stafford is the one constant on the team and he always put up good stats.  Stafford has never played with a great RB and while Kerryon Johnson is better than most RBs Stafford has played alongside, he struggles with injury so he’s inconsistent.  Stafford has Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and the newly signed Danny Amendola to throw to but his new favorite target just might be rookie TE TJ Hockenson.  Hockenson is turning heads in the training camp early and he will almost certainly become a Stafford favorite in the red zone and on third down.  The offensive line was better last season and some stability goes a long way when it comes to how an offensive line performs.  If the Lions can find a running game, they will be better, they just won’t be great.

Matt Patricia is a defensive coach and he has been stacking defensive linemen all over for this team.  Last year they traded for DT Damon Harrison to go with A’Shawn Robinson.  In the off season they signed DE Trey Flowers and then this summer they signed DT Mike Daniels.  Patricia knows the value of a deep defensive line and while none of these guys are 15 sack type players, they will all be valuable pieces.  The LBs aren’t great; Devon Kennard, Jarrad Davis and Christian Jones aren’t Hall of Famers but they will be better with more consistent play in front of them.  CB Darius Slay is one of the more underappreciated players in the NFL.  He doesn’t always get mentioned with the best CBs in the game but he’s excellent.  The team needs to get him more help, Jalen Tabor isn’t great starting opposite him.  The team did sign free agent Justin Coleman to be the nickel back, that’s a step in the right direction.  Quandre Diggs is a solid find at safety but Miles Killebrew is a replacement level player.  I really like their mid-round draft pick Amani Oruwariye out of Penn St. he could be a real find.

I think Patricia is a good coach and he seems to be on the same page as GM Bob Quinn so that’s a solid start for the team.  Derrell Bevell isn’t an inspired choice as an offensive coordinator but they need some stability there.  The team needs to commit to fining a running game if they want to get better in the long run.  The defense is making strides but this team plays in a tough division so I don’t expect much out of them.  Hockenson is a dark horse for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

 

 

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.