Month: April 2012 (Page 7 of 9)

A minor upset at #7 with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Michael Floyd. In the closest vote so far, Floyd (43%) narrowly beat out Quinton Coples (41%). I can certainly see the Jaguars going receiver in round one as they look for a way to boost Blaine Gabbert’s performances in year two. Would Gene Smith take a receiver that early? Especially one with Floyd’s off-field problems? Or is this the SDB community saying it believes owner Shahid Khan will be having most of the influence on Jacksonville’s draft?

Let’s move on to #8 and the Miami Dolphins…

A lot of people expect Miami to draft Ryan Tannehill here. The Dolphins struck out on Peyton Manning and seemingly had little interest in Matt Flynn. Tannehill’s coach at Texas A&M – Mike Sherman – is now the offensive coordinator in Miami. This is a team that needs some direction at quarterback.

Even so, is it really such a guarantee that Tannehill will go at #8? A lot of people – myself included – aren’t sold on Tannehill as a top-ten selection. The Dolphins may feel it’s a bit of a risky choice, especially given the team’s limited options at receiver and the need to keep building the offensive line. They’ve scheduled a visit with Brock Osweiler and could also look at Kirk Cousins and Brandon Weeden as options beyond the first round. If they’re not 100% sold on Tannehill, they could use the Cincinnati/Andy Dalton route and take a quarterback later on. Tannehill is still the favorite to go #8 overall, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. And let’s not forget, Matt Moore did a decent job as the starter at the end of last season.

What are the alternatives? You’d expect pass rushers to be on the agenda. It’s still not clear exactly what defense Miami will use and it could end up being a bit of a 4-3/3-4 hybrid. Both Quinton Coples and Melvin Ingram are scheme diverse and available in this mock. Alternatively, the Dolphins may choose to bolster their offensive line with Riley Reiff given they’ll be coming up against Mario Williams twice a season for the next few years. Over to you…

(polls)

Written by Kip Earlywine

Rundown:   Lavonte David is a senior linebacker from Nebraska.  He was not heavily recruited out of high school and began his college career at the junior college level.  David transferred to Nebraska in 2010 from Fort Scott Community College.  He produced immediately, and was named an All American in 2010.  The next season he was awarded the Butkus-Fitzgerald award, given to the best linebacker in the Big Ten.

Age:  22 (January 23, 1990)

Height:  6’1″

Weight:  233

40 time:  4.65

10 yard split:  1.56

3 cone:  7.28

Vertical Jump:  36.50″

Trivia:  Lavonte David was a high school teammate of Sean Spence (and also Jacory Harris).

Compilation Videos:

vs. Washington

vs. Iowa

vs. Michigan

vs. South Carolina

Positives:

• Fast
• Smart
• Consistent
• Very good in coverage
• Excellent closing speed
• Keeps eyes in the backfield, tracks ball carrier well
• Tackle Machine
• Effective blitzer
• Insanely productive
• Standout player on a talented defense

Negatives:

• Built more like a defensive back than a linebacker
• Not terribly physical
• Short arms
• He played at 225, can he remain as quick at 233?

Lavonte David is an undersized linebacker who saw reps at Mike and Will linebacker.  He could probably manage either role in the NFL, but he’d need to add bulk to man the middle on a consistent basis and his pass defense friendly skillset makes him a natural born weak side linebacker.

Its an imperfect task trying to judge coverage ability from broadcasts, but David consistently ran stride for stride with tight ends, which more often than not discouraged quarterbacks from targeting them.  In the Washington compilation you’ll see David make an eye opening interception against Keith Price on a pass targeting Austin Seferian-Jenkins.  The announcers thought the pass was underthrown, but it was actually a perfectly accurate pass that would have hit ASJ in the chest without him breaking stride.  Price did make a mistake on that play, and that mistake was underestimating Lavonte David’s ability to quickly close space in coverage.  Keith Price shattered school records last year and Austin Seferian-Jenkins could be a future first round pick at tight end.  Its amazing to think that play was David’s only interception of his Nebraska career.  Given his ability to cover and close space, this probably speaks of how little David is targeted as much as anything else.

David was one of the more undersized linebackers of 2011 to receive serious consideration in the 2012 draft.  He played at a meager 225 pounds- the same weight as 7th round pick Malcolm Smith.  Standing out of defensive formation, you might assume him to be a defensive back.  A 4.65 forty time does not seem to reflect David’s field speed very accurately.  Could the extra weight be slowing him down? I was surprised when David opted to stand by his combine performances at his pro-day.  From tape study he looks like a guy that could crack the 4.5’s easily, though I guess he would know best.  Its also worth noting that David weighed in at his pro day (which took place only a couple weeks after the combine) at 227 pounds.  Was the weight gain just for show?

Lavonte David may not be as physical as Dont’a Hightower or Ronnell Lewis, but he knows his limitations and acknowledges his lack of size when making tackles.  His tackling technique reminds me a lot of Marcus Trufant’s (an excellent tackler by corner standards).  He will attack the upper body when he has a perfect shot at it, but more often than not he dives for the legs and wraps up.  He’s sure tackler- very few of them are broken- but going lower body has the disadvantage of allowing the runner to fall forward for extra yardage.  Still, its better than not getting a tackle at all.  The same way that Russell Wilson has qualities that helped him work around his height, Lavonte David uses intelligent tackling technique to get the job done.  While its easy to dismiss David based on his weight, the guy had 285 tackles over the last two seasons, while playing about half his snaps at Will.  That’s unbelievable production for a 225 pound player.

David was consistent game to game in my four game sample.  He plays mostly mistake free football.  He doesn’t take many gambles, but he also doesn’t make as many tackles downfield as Luke Kuelchy or Bobby Wagner.  He tracks the ball carrier in the backfield and does a great job meeting the carrier as soon as that player penetrates the first level.  David does not attack behind the line of scrimmage often, but when he does, he makes it count. He’s a very dangerous pass rusher when he has a lane to attack and can easily track down rushers in the backfield when given the green light.  He had 24.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

With 31 3/4″ arms, David has some of the shorter arms among this year’s outside linebacker class.  The only other big name outside linebackers to have arms under 32″ are Sean Spence (who can play Mike where arm length matters less) and Melvin Ingram.  Arm length is not a glaring weakness for David, but he does struggle sometimes to get off blocks quickly and arm length plays a role in that (and will only get worse at the next level).  Arm length also plays a role in coverage, though David more than makes up for it by staying in the hip pocket of his assignment.  This isn’t much of a strike against David, its really more a case of how the best players often force evaluators to scrutinize the smallest of flaws.

In conclusion:

Lavonte David may be undersized, but in my opinion, he is the best pure 4-3 Will linebacker in the draft.  If David was 240 pounds, he’d be a no doubter 1st round pick, and who knows, maybe he’ll end up a 1st rounder anyway.  David could probably bulk up to 240 pounds if he really wanted to, but I suspect whichever team drafts him will just play him at his comfortable weight to begin with and see how things go.

With Malcolm Smith already on the roster, would Seattle draft another identically sized weak side linebacker?  I’m starting to lean towards yes.  David only played two seasons at the BCS level, but he stayed healthy, something Smith couldn’t do in four years at USC.  If you compiled Smith’s career numbers over 4 years and put them in one season, it still wouldn’t be as impressive as David’s 2010 All-American campaign, and David’s 2011 season was very impressive as well.  If Pete Carroll envisions a role for Smith, he could do the same for David.  Lavonte David is not without risk, but only a few defensive talents in the 2012 draft stood out amongst good defenses like David did.  I don’t know how the front office rates David, but he’d be a 2nd round pick I’d be excited about.  That’s if he even reaches the #43 pick, which he probably won’t.

Five days ago I reported on Twitter that Chandler Harnish would be visiting Seattle:

Today, the player confirmed the visit via his own Twitter account and posted the picture at the top of this blog post showing the team’s now famous ‘welcome’ to any visiting prospects.

I like Harnish and wrote this article in early January suggesting he could be a sleeper for the Seahawks: “There’s an awful lot to like here. Even at the collegiate level his drops backs are crisp and sharp – an underrated feature. It’s not so much the footwork either, which is good, but rather the way he scans the field while stepping back. There were several instances against Arkansas State, Toledo and Army where you can see Harnish looking downfield as he sets, switching from one option to another and making a completion. Although he’s a long way off the kind of technical qualities we see from Matt Barkley, he’s certainly a cut above the majority of college QB’s I’ve watched this year.”

It’s that technical quality that really stood out as a potential difference maker at the next level. He’s a good athlete, he will make plays with his legs. In terms of a character, just search Youtube for one of his interviews and you’ll notice he’s extremely switched on. But it’s that ability to go from one target, to the second, to come back to the initial read on a developing route which intrigues me. Arm strength isn’t at the ideal level and he’ll need to drive the ball with greater velocity downfield. At the same time, on short/intermediate routes he shows enough strength to make it passable at this stage in his career.

He had some big games for Northern Illinois, including some highlight plays (see below). Harnish is only 6-1 and a lack of elite competition will ensure he’s in the later round bracket. He may even be a priority UDFA signing . However, the Seahawks are likely to spend a pick in the round 4-6 range on a quarterback and they could certainly do a lot worse than the Northern Illinois QB.

Gil Brandt has an updated ‘hot 100’ list at NFL.com. If you want an idea on who will get an invite to New York for the draft, it’s worth checking the top names listed here – Brandt has a lot of say in who attends. Courtney Upshaw and Brock Osweiler – two prospects that have created a lot of debate on this blog – both received invites. Upshaw is ranked #16 overall, Osweiler is at #35.

Jon Gruden’s QB camp features Osweiler tonight on ESPNU at 17:30 EST. To see a sample clip, click here.

Tony Pauline lists his ‘risers’ after the busy pro-day schedule, a list that includes Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry. Pauline: “Curry’s combine workout was disappointing and bordered on awful. To his credit, he looked like a different athlete at the Marshall pro day. His 40 time of 4.67 was a full .2 seconds better than his mark from Indianapolis and he bettered his vertical jump by 3 ½ inches. He’s considered a terrific pass rusher and a good athlete. The combination could push Curry into the first round.”

Danny Kelly at Field Gulls has written a piece on John Schneider and Seattle’s direction under their GM. Kelly: “He’s well-organized and methodical, not afraid to explore every angle and avenue for player acquisition, and he does the legwork involved to give the franchise the best chance possible to strike when the iron is hot on certain players. This has allowed them to identify and acquire some key players like Clemons and Lynch, Washington and Brandon Browner. Obviously, not all of their moves work out, but they’re anything but complacent when it comes to building depth and adding talent.”

Adam Teicher at the Kansas City Star has a mock draft with a few interesting picks. It’s also the first non-Seattle based projection that has Courtney Upshaw to the Seahawks. Teicher on Upshaw: “Equally skilled against the run as he is against the pass.”

Albert Breer also has a new mock, with the Seahawks drafting Fletcher Cox at #12. Following the signing of Jason Jones, I just cannot picture the Seahawks drafting a defensive tackle. Breer: “The defensive tackle spot is muddled at the top. My guess is John Schneider goes for the guy with the best tape, which is Cox.”

Below I’ve added game tape on two mid-round pass rushers, Bruce Irvin and Jack Crawford. Tape courtesy of JMPasq.

Von Miller had 11.5 sacks as a rookie, but also played well against the run

When I wrote a piece exploring how Courtney Upshaw or Melvin Ingram could be used as a hybrid DE/OLB ‘elephant’, it received a mixed response. Some agreed, others not so much. I still believe the Seahawks intend to draft a pass rusher in the first round, and that they’ll want that player to have an impact immediately. I wanted to look at two successful first round picks from last year to try and determine what it is exactly Seattle is looking for.

I found this article, published by Derek Pease just before week 16. It detailed different statistics for Aldon Smith (7th overall pick for San Francisco) and Von Miller (2nd overall pick for Denver). Neither team runs a defense directly comparable to Seattle’s 4-3 under/hybrid – Denver’s is closer to an orthodox 4-3 while the 49ers are a pure 3-4. Even so, the way the two teams used their first round picks is still interesting.

Smith had 14 sacks as a rookie, just 0.5 away from the NFL record for a first-year pro. He achieved that number playing largely in a nickel role, taking just 446 snaps prior to week 16 compared to Von Miller’s 823. Pease: “Could Smith have challenged Miller for Defensive Rookie Of The Year honors if he was a player with an every-down role? Or have the 49ers maximized his potential by limiting him to nickel situations and not putting him in bad spots (against the run) where he might struggle?”

It’s an interesting concept, and there are similar players in the 2012 draft class who could deal with the same issues. Illinois pass rusher Whitney Mercilus isn’t great against the run, but he showed in 2011 he can get to the quarterback. I’ve had real difficulty working out Mercilus this year – he’s a bit of an enigma. You can’t argue with the production, but the tape doesn’t flash a consistently dominating pass rusher. Yet he still made plays. I’ve seen him struggle at times to disengage against tight ends, but he’s also shown the ability to set up a tackle and work to develop an opening. Very few college pass rushers have that in their locker.

If the Seahawks took a player like Mercilus, they wouldn’t want him playing the edge opposite Clemons – two under sized defensive ends would be asking for trouble. They also want to keep Red Bryant at end, given he’s now the highest paid defensive player on the roster. Just like Aldon Smith, a prospect like Mercilus would be limited as a rookie to nickel pass rushing situations. The big question would be whether he’d have enough snaps to utilise the talent just emphasised – to set up a tackle and work out a way to the QB. Is he explosive enough – as Smith proved – to be an impact pass rusher on obvious passing downs? Would there still be a way for Seattle to manufacture pressure? San Francisco would use Justin Smith to take out two blockers, having Aldon Smith hook around the team’s defensive MVP to exploit 1vs1 match-ups. He dominated in those situations. The Seahawks could try and do the same behind Bryant and Jason Jones, although obviously neither will ever warrant the same attention as Justin Smith.

The NFL has often been described as a copycat league and it makes sense that teams will be hunting to emulate the success the 49ers had in drafting Smith. The Seahawks had a front row seat in the NFC West to watch how San Francisco regularly churned out an elite pass rush, and they were probably jealous. Raheem Brock is unlikely to be retained, opening up a spot for a specialist pass rusher. If the Seahawks are serious about finding their version of Aldon Smith, it opens up the possibility of drafting a Mercilus, a Vinny Curry or an Andre Branch. Whether that’s their intention remains to be seen.

Seattle’s defense is set up to play strong against the run. Drafting a player who won’t be able to play a large number of snaps because of issues in run defense kind of goes against what the team has been preaching. Although Seattle’s main aim is almost certainly to increase their QB pressure in this draft, are they going to go the specialist route? As successful as San Francisco were with their choice last year, it’s still quite an early pick to spend on a prospect who will feature in about half the team’s defensive snaps as a rookie. Trying to copy the 49ers just doesn’t seem like a very Pete Carroll-type move given the Seahawks penchant for being unique. But it could be an option, particularly if the first eleven picks fall a certain way.

Pease’s breakdown (Aldon Smith)

Total snaps: 446

Run defense: 100

Pass defense: 346

Pass coverage: 37

Von Miller was an every down player for Denver, featuring strongly against both the run and pass. According to Pease, he almost doubled the number of snaps seen by Aldon Smith by week 16 (823 vs 446) and was used fairly evenly across the board. While Smith was guarded against the run, Miller defended the pass just twelve more times than the run (365 vs 353). Pease: “Miller is much more than a one-trick pony, playing nearly every down on defense and handling run-stopping and pass coverage duties with equal aplomb. Together with pass-rush demon Elvis Dumervil, Miller has led the Broncos’ defense back to respectability.”

Imagine the Seahawks do draft an Upshaw or Ingram. Von Miller played defensive end for Texas A&M but always projected to linebacker at the next level. Both Upshaw and Ingram played most of their college snaps at end, but could transition to a more versatile role in the NFL. Look at Pease’s final sentence above and subtract Elvis Dumervil for Chris Clemons, and it’s easy to see how the Seahawks might go in a similar direction.

Of course this is the moment people point out that neither Upshaw or Ingram are Von Miller. Neither will be the #2 overall pick. Neither flashed the scintillating combine performance or had the kind of production Miller enjoyed in college. The thing is, the Seahawks aren’t picking second overall. And although many people expect the #12 pick to provide some kind of elite talent, it’s really just a run-of-the-mill mid-first rounder. Seattle can’t expect to find a Von Miller in that range, but they might be able to find a player who can do the same kind of job, just with a different skill set.

It’s interesting to note that of Miller’s 823 snaps prior to week 16 last season, 13% were in coverage situations. Despite the raw athleticism and high potential to play brilliantly in coverage, not even a fifth of Miller’s snaps before the final two regular season games were in coverage. It’s often a point of contention when discussing Upshaw’s (and even Ingram’s) ability to play a similar role. If the Seahawks are looking for someone who can get to the quarterback (like Miller) but predominantly play well against both the pass and the run, then it’s not such a ridiculous idea. For the 10-15% of coverage responsibility Seattle might be looking at, would it not be possible to manufacture this situation to make it less of an issue? To stop a less mobile DE/OLB such as Upshaw being exploited? Or would you just put that responsibility on the player and live with it for the effectiveness vs the run/pass?

Miller, Upshaw and Ingram are all different players. All have different strengths, all have certain weaknesses. But is it such a ridiculous concept to believe all could play a similar position and role at the next level?

Pease’s breakdown (Von Miller)

Total snaps: 823

Run defense: 353

Pass defense: 365

Pass coverage: 105

Again we go back to the copycat nature of the league. Maybe Seattle is looking for their version of Aldon Smith, or maybe they’re trying to find someone who can play a role loosely similar to Miller in Denver? The NFL is becoming less and less about fitting round pegs into round holes. Teams will look for an edge, a way to do things differently and create a match-up problem. Conventional thinking, particularly when it comes to the pass rush and defensive line, is a thing of the past. Why else are the Seahawks using an undersized DE in space in a four-man front with a giant 330lbs behemoth playing the other end position? It’s the main reason why I think we should expect some ‘thinking outside of the box’ in round one for the Seahawks. What some people consider to be poor scheme fits, might be more realistic than you think. We may not truly understand the role of Seattle’s new rookie until he takes the field.

Written by Kip Earlywine

Rundown:   David Wilson is a junior running back from Virginia Tech.  In 2011- his first and only year as the team’s featured back- he posted 1,709 rushing yards, a school record.  He was named ACC player of the year last season.

Age:  20 (June 15, 1991)

Height:  5’10″

Weight:  206

40 time:  4.49

10 yard split:  1.55

3 cone:  7.09

Vertical Jump:  41.00″

Compilation Videos:

vs. Wake Forest

vs. Clemson

vs. Virginia

Positives:

• High top gear
• Strong
• Disciplined (doesn’t deviate from play call often)
• Young
• Productive

Negatives:

• Lacks vision and instincts; robotic
• Stiff, linear running style; not very shifty
• Long strides
• Only explosive or fast when running straight ahead
• Not much of an asset as a blocker or receiver
• Poor ball security

David Wilson is one of, if not the most athletic running backs in the draft- at least among the names you might recognize.  I list vertical jump for some positions as it is believed to correlate well with explosiveness.  Wilson’s 41″ vertical jump was the best out of 67 running backs who attended the combine.  Only two other running backs managed 40″ or more.  Wilson’s 4.49 forty time was roughly 80th percentile among that same group.  His ten yard split and three cone were similarly ranked.  In terms of raw athleticism, it could be argued Wilson is a 1st round talent.  Wilson shows that athleticism on the kind of Golden Tate styled improvised field reversals that cause coaches to lose their hair.  When in the open field, Wilson has an extra gear; in those moments he looks faster than his 4.49 combine time.

Wilson doesn’t break as many tackles as I’d like given his athleticism, but he is strong enough to push defenders for an extra yard.  He doesn’t maximize yardage like Richardson or Polk, but there are moments when his ability to keep his balance and continue a play is impressive.  Despite these gifts and the bounce-it-outside temptation that often comes with them, Wilson remains disciplined as a runner and almost always ends up going where Frank Beamer would want him to.  Wilson follows his blockers consistently, which in the sample I viewed led to an impressive ratio of rushes for gains of four yards or more.

Wilson has his issues, which I will cover in a moment, but time is on his side.  Wilson is one of just a handful of draftable running backs under the age of 21.  Funny enough, the draft’s youngest running back is none other than Trent Richardson- and Wilson is only a month older than Richardson is.  Despite his youth and lack of experience, Wilson was one of the most productive rushers in the country last year.  Only three other running backs finished with more yardage nationally.  Of those three, only LaMichael James has a prayer of being drafted ahead of Wilson.

That said, Wilson is a project at a “you have it or you don’t” position.  Vision, instincts, burst, shiftiness, breaking tackles, having a nose for the endzone… these kind of things are gifts and can’t really be coached.  Its possible that with the benefit of a few more years, Wilson could further hone his craft and make a few improvements*, but I doubt he’ll ever truly discover any of those innate qualities.  When Wilson gets the ball, I already know where he’s going a second before he goes there.  He lacks fluidity and runs to a spot almost like how some system quarterbacks throw to a spot and not to the receiver.

*(improving his blocking and ball security in particular)

Wilson is not especially tall, but he has long legs for his size, and this has in turn given him the curse of being a long stride runner.  Short strides are generally believed to be superior for short distance sprinting, but in the NFL they are useful for other reasons too.  Its easier to make cuts or change direction when your feet are are touching the ground in shorter intervals.  Because of this, Wilson does not look nearly as explosive, shifty, or as athletic on the field as his combine measurables would make you think, and he’s only able to tap into his impressive top gear when he can run in a straight line.

According to Rotoworld, Wilson had 7 fumbles in 290 carries last season and scored poorly in pass protection (he lost a fumble and looked unimpressive in protection in my sampling as well).

In Conclusion:

Ever see a movie that you didn’t really care for, but most people liked it and you figured, “what the heck, why even argue about it?”  That’s pretty much how I feel about David Wilson.  Wilson is a kick returner posing as a running back.  He could end up being a productive NFL back, especially in a “one cut and go” zone blocking system, but he’s not my kind of back.  Seattle may very well feel differently, especially since Marshawn Lynch is under contract for the next four years and Wilson (who is very young) would have plenty of time to improve and develop if drafted by Seattle.  I’d personally give Wilson a 4th round grade, but he will probably be a second rounder- maybe even a second rounder by the Seattle Seahawks.

We’re counting up to the #12 pick where we’ll extend the options and open up the debate for Seattle. 82% of the votes sent Justin Blackmon to the Rams, well clear of second placed Riley Reiff (9%). Whatever combination occurs in the top six, there’s unlikely to be too many surprises. Things become a little less obvious from #7 onwards.

The Jaguars are difficult to figure out. GM Gene Smith received a new contract and appeared to be receiving the backing of the team’s new owner, yet rumours persist that Smith may leave after the draft. Shahid Khan instructed his staff to negotiate with Denver for Tim Tebow, a move instigated purely by ownership. Just twelve months after trading up for Blaine Gabbert, there is no way Smith had any desire to trade for Tebow. So who’s making the decisions here?

If it’s Smith, expect one of two things. Either he’ll take someone to support his investment in Gabbert (receiver or offensive tackle), or a high motor defensive lineman to improve the team’s pass rush. If it’s Khan, he’ll probably look for the flashiest player who can help sell tickets. The move for Tebow screamed ticket sales, pure and simple.

There may be a happy medium – drafting a receiver to aid Gabbert, while getting a player who will help sell tickets. Justin Blackmon would be ideal but he’s off the board at #6. Swapping places with Tampa Bay or Cleveland is a possibility, but we’re not projecting trades in this mock. Michael Floyd is the next man in line, but will Smith buy into the character issues that have dogged the talented receiver at Notre Dame?

There are Smith and Khan picks on the defense too. Smith may prefer the solid, high motor types in Courtney Upshaw and Melvin Ingram. Khan may prefer the eye-popping physical potential of Quinton Coples. So who’s the pick?

(polls)

An option in rounds 2/3 for Seattle?

Morris Claiborne is headed to Tampa Bay after receiving 86% of the votes for the #5 pick. Justin Blackmon was a distant second with 6%. So far the draft is going according to general thinking, with the top five looking like this:

#1 Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford)

#2 Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor)

#3 Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil (OT, USC)

#4 Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU)

Let’s move on to St. Louis at #6…

With Justin Blackmon still on the board, most people would expect the Rams to draft the Oklahoma State wide receiver. I still believe it’s quite high for a player not comparable to AJ Green or Julio Jones in terms of physical potential, but Sam Bradford needs a legitimate target. Blackmon has a lot of body control and enjoyed mass-production in college. He’ll tend to have one ugly mistake per game, but he’s also very competitive with that ‘alpha male’ streak you want in a top receiver.

With two picks early in round two, the Rams need to weigh up whether they can still find a top receiver later on. Of the other options listed here, no others scream better value than Blackmon. Expect the Rams to contemplate further trade options to accumulate more picks ahead of a major rebuild.

If they don’t move down and just aren’t interested in Blackmon, Jeff Fisher could look to bolster both lines. They need an interior defensive line presence to compliment the edge rushers they’ve drafted in recent years. Dontari Poe could be asked to lose weight to fit into a three-technique role in the NFL – it might actually be his best position. I prefer Fletcher Cox as a pure 3-4 end, but he could still receive interest in the 4-3. Riley Reiff is the best tackle left on the board and would provide a book-end for Roger Saffold. Right tackle at #6? Seems a bit of a luxury, but Fisher always had great offensive lines in Tennessee.