Author: Rob Staton (Page 263 of 424)

Pittsburgh’s Adam Bisnowaty could be a good option for the Seahawks in 2016

The 2016 draft looks pretty healthy for offensive lineman. That’s good news for the Seahawks.

Not only is the O-line in need of some care and attention, three fifth’s of Sunday’s starting line against Arizona is out of contract in the off-season. Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy are hitting the market. Patrick Lewis is a restricted free agent.

It seems unlikely both Okung and Sweezy will depart. The line has suffered enough thanks to a lack of cohesion and continuity. Three inexperienced new starters in 2016 looked like a recipe for disaster and so it has proved. The Seahawks are just hoping they can hold it together enough to avoid derailing a key season in the middle of the teams Championship window.

Even so, they could be facing at least three more changes in 2016. If Okung moves on, Gilliam could swap to the left tackle position. He’d need time to make that adjustment. That would create a hole at right tackle. It seems likely another face will be starting at center.

Adding more youth and inexperience isn’t an attractive proposition. More than ever young lineman are struggling to adapt to the NFL. Even the players drafted in the top ten are having a hard time making the transition. An apparent sure thing like Jake Matthews has been fairly ordinary. The insane upside of Greg Robinson hasn’t provided St. Louis with a fantastic left tackle yet.

The Seahawks would benefit from some choice veteran additions in free agency. Can they afford Alex Mack if he voids his contract? That would be a start. It’s unlikely to prevent at least one rookie starting next year. They don’t have a bottomless pit of cap space to fill the line with experienced vets.

Their ability to fill a hole in round one will be down to draft position more than anything. The later they pick, the harder it’ll be to get at the best group of tackles which for me includes Shon Coleman, Laremy Tunsil, Taylor Decker and Jack Conklin.

There will be options later on. Jason Spriggs is a largely unspectacular, solid blocker for Indiana with a shot to play right tackle at the next level. Joe Dahl is out with a foot injury for Washington State but has excelled in pass protection when healthy.

Time to throw another name into the mix.

Pittsburgh left tackle Adam Bisnowaty is extremely mobile with excellent, ideal tackle size (6-6, 300lbs). He ticks several boxes for the Seahawks. For starters, he’s a wrestler who was still competing as of 2011 (Tom Cable previously highlighted Justin Britt’s wrestling background). He’s a blue collar type who spent his youth fishing and hunting. He played basketball too — a testament to his athletic potential.

He was a former four-star recruit and one of the more heavily recruited prospects from Pennsylvania in recent memory.

He recently caught my eye watching the Pittsburgh vs North Carolina game. There’s no Bisnowaty tape on Draft Breakdown, but there’s plenty showing off Tyler Boyd. Including the UNC game:

Bisnowaty plays LT and wears #69.

So what stands out? He has a very fluid kick slide. Although he was never really challenged by speed in this game, he showed ample mobility and balance. He delivers a fantastic initial punch and showed off the ability to dominate and finish when squared up 1v1. It’d be very interesting to see how he’d adjust to guard where he can focus on downfield blocking where he should excel. I still think he has the mobility and range to play tackle.

There’s a willingness to get to the second level and he moves well laterally so he can pull and kick across easily enough. He passes off blockers and transitions with ease. There’s an awful lot to like here. Attitude, toughness, strength, size, mobility. A lot more to like than someone like Ronnie Stanley or Jerald Hawkins, that’s for sure. Stanley is a borderline first rounder for me, while LSU’s Hawkins has barely warranted a draftable grade (watch the Alabama game).

If the Seahawks wanted an upside prospect who could potentially man a tackle spot or move inside to guard, Bisnowaty is one to monitor. He’s a redshirt junior so should theoretically declare for the draft. He has a chance to rise. The skill set is there.

For more on the Seahawks pick, the mock draft and general NFL/NFL Draft thoughts — check out this weeks podcast…

Picks 1-10

1 Detroit Lions — Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State)
2 Cleveland Browns — Robert Nkemdiche (DE, Ole Miss)
3 Jacksonville Jaguars — Shon Coleman (T, Auburn)
4 Tennessee Titans — Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor)
5 San Diego Chargers — Laremy Tunsil (T, Ole Miss)
6 Baltimore Ravens — Tre’Davious White (CB, LSU)
7 Dallas Cowboys — Jaylon Smith (LB, Notre Dame)
8 Chicago Bears — Cameron Sutton (CB, Tennessee)
9 San Francisco 49ers — Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis)
10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon)

After watching Shon Coleman shut down Texas A&M’s brilliant Myles Garrett — there’s no reason not to make him the #1 offensive tackle prospect in this class. He’s the perfect compliment of attitude, athleticism and size. He loves to get to the second level and punish linebackers. He can mirror and kick slide well enough to play the blindside. People aren’t talking about him but don’t be surprised if he has a Greg Robinson, Lane Johnson, Eric Fisher, Ereck Flowers style rise.

Corey Coleman should be in the top ten of every mock draft you read. He probably should be leading the Heisman race. Incredible production is only part of the story. He will destroy the combine with eye-catching athleticism. He’ll take the ball away in contested situations, he’ll get downfield. He’s terrific in space. There’s no reason why he won’t be productive early in his pro-career. He could be the best offensive player in the class.

Paxton Lynch could’ve gone to the Browns at #2 but in this projection I have them waiting until the early second round for a quarterback. DeForest Buckner isn’t a fantastic, elite athlete but his play warrants an early first round grade.

Picks 11-20

11 Miami Dolphins — Eli Apple (CB, Ohio State)
12 Houston Texans — Jaylen Ramsey (CB/S, Florida State)
13 Washington — Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss)
14 Kansas City Chiefs — Taylor Decker (T, Ohio State)
15 New Orleans Saints — Michael Thomas (WR, Ohio State)
16 Philadelphia Eagles — Jack Conklin (T, Michigan State)
17 Oakland Raiders — A’Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama)
18 St. Louis Rams — Kendall Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech)
19 Seattle Seahawks — Myles Jack (LB, UCLA)
20 Buffalo — Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama)

Why are the Seahawks drafting a linebacker?

In this projection Shon Coleman, Laremy Tunsil, Taylor Decker and Jack Conklin are off the board. This represents the possible dilemma facing the Seahawks if they intend to go offensive line early in this draft. It’s still too early to determine who will or won’t be there if they pick even this late in round one (#19) — but there is such a crisis in the NFL with a dearth of good, young O-liners. The ones that are available will go quickly. The Seahawks, even in a scenario where they don’t make the playoffs, could be met with a situation where they either have to force a pick or look elsewhere.

Taking Ronnie Stanley or Germain Ifedi would be forcing the pick. Stanley’s play is too hit and miss. He looks assured and technically adept against USC and then sluggish and lazy against Temple. Unlike Coleman and Tunsil he doesn’t look to get to the second level. His footwork can be poor. You want to light a fire under him he’s so passive. He will likely go early because of the NFL’s need for linemen — but don’t be shocked if he drops into round two either. Ifedi meanwhile has not looked particularly great at right tackle this season. He has the size to move inside at the next level. That’s fine. But to me he looks like a James Carpenter type.

In the brilliant Real in the Field Gulls podcast last week with Danny O’Neil we heard about the possibility of Garry Gilliam moving to left tackle to replace Russell Okung. If you think about it, Gilliam has the athletic profile to make it work. And unlike some of these first round picks, he’ll have a year starting in the NFL under his belt. If you’re going to have to go through the growing pains with a rookie anyway — you can see the thought process here. Whether you believe Gilliam is good enough to make the transition — that’s a different story.

If Gilliam moves to the left you need a right tackle and possible a center (Justin Britt has actually improved considerably in recent games at left guard). If you’re not paying Okung can you lure Alex Mack to Seattle if he voids his contract? Can you add a veteran right tackle? These are all possibilities that theoretically enable some flexibility in the first round.

I went with Myles Jack because of the athleticism and versatility he’s shown at UCLA, the likelihood of Bruce Irvin departing and the opportunity provided due to Jack’s knee injury. He likely goes a little earlier without the injury. If the Seahawks do miss the playoffs and pick at #19 — they might see it as a bonus opportunity to get a genuine top-20 talent.

And now that I’ve spent the last few para’s trying to convince you they might not go O-line early next year… I still think it’s incredibly likely that’s exactly what they’ll do. But hey — it’s November and a bye week. We need something to discuss.

Picks 21-32

21 Indianapolis Colts — Ronnie Stanley (T, Notre Dame)
22 New York Giants — Darron Lee (LB, Ohio State)
23 Pittsburgh Steelers — Mackensie Alexander (CB, Clemson)
24 New York Jets — Germain Ifedi (T/G, Texas A&M)
25 Atlanta — Jonathan Bullard (DT/DE, Florida)
26 Green Bay — De’Runnya Wilson (WR, Mississippi State)
27 Arizona — Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio State)
28 Minnesota — Adolphus Washington (DT/DE, Ohio State)
29 Denver — Jared Goff (QB, California)
30 Cincinnati — Tyler Boyd (WR, Pittsburgh)
31 Carolina — Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson)

There’s every chance I’ll move Ronnie Stanley out of the first round again. For now he survives, just, due to the demand for OT’s in the NFL. Mackensie Alexander has impressed enough recently to warrant some attention in round one — adding to a talented cornerback class. De’Runnya Wilson is a poor man’s Kelvin Benjamin and could go in a similar range.

Taylor Decker could help upgrade Seattle’s O-line. But yeah, it’s November. So who knows?

In the podcast this week we conducted a live 1-31 mock draft (the Pats don’t have a first rounder). I said I’d list it out in full today and you’ll find it below. It’s very much a loose projection, designed mainly to look at the kind of range certain players might be drafted. Do I think the Bears will prioritise replacing prospective free agent Alshon Jeffery over defensive help? Not really. But I wanted to emphasise Laquon Treadwell’s stock as a possible top ten pick.

Picks 1-10

#1 Detroit Lions — Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State)
#2 Tennessee Titans — Robert Nkemdiche (DE, Ole Miss)
#3 Baltimore Ravens — Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor)
#4 Cleveland Browns — Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis)
#5 San Diego Chargers — Jaylon Smith (LB, Notre Dame)
#6 San Francisco 49ers — Tre’Davious White (CB, LSU)
#7 Jacksonville Jaguars — Laremy Tunsil (T, Ole Miss)
#8 Chicago Bears — Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss)
#9 Dallas Cowboys — Cameron Sutton (CB, Tennessee)
#10 Houston Texans — Shon Coleman (T, Auburn)

The Lions, Titans and Ravens aren’t likely to be in the quarterback market. If the Browns ended up with the first overall pick — or the 49ers — I’d have no issue putting Paxton Lynch right at the top of this class. He could go that early. I’ve said it a few times now — but teams are going to look at this quarterback class and decide Lynch has the bigger upside and the greatest combination of physical tools and accuracy. He’s leading Memphis, almost single-handedly, into the top-15 teams in the nation. Think about that. They beat Ole Miss, who won at Alabama. He doesn’t turn it over. He throws with touch and he’s mobile enough to be a threat as a runner. He won’t be Cam Newton. But he won’t be far off if he lands with the right team.

Corey Coleman is a production machine who competes for the ball and an elite athlete. He will destroy the combine if he declares for the 2016 draft. He has a realistic shot to propel his stock into the upper echelon of prospects — similar to Tavon Austin’s rise in 2013.

Laremy Tunsil could go as early as the #1 overall pick but in this projection I had teams looking at other needs. It’s no slur on Tunsil — and he lands with the Jaguars here because the value is just too good.

Tre’Davious White in my opinion is going to be highly coveted (leadership, coverage skills and an underrated kick returner). Cameron Sutton and Eli Apple aren’t far behind. Shon Coleman might be the most underrated player in college football. Like Corey Coleman, don’t be surprised if he leaps into the top ten in the new year.

Picks 11-20

#11 Kansas City Chiefs — Eli Apple (CB, Ohio State)
#12 Miami Dolphins — Jaylon Ramsey (CB/S, Florida State)
#13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon)
#14 Philadelphia Eagles — Jack Conklin (T, Michigan State)
#15 Washington — Michael Thomas (WR, Ohio State)
#16 Buffalo Bills — Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama)
#17 New Orleans Saints — Adolphus Washington (DT/DE, Ohio State)
#18 Seattle Seahawks — Taylor Decker (T, Ohio State)
#19 Pittsburgh Steelers — Kendall Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech)
#20 St. Louis Rams — Tyler Boyd (WR, Pittsburgh)

Eli Apple would make a nice partner for Marcus Peters while Jaylon Ramsey fills a big hole for the Dolphins either at corner or free safety. DeForest Buckner is a better football player than Arik Armstead who went in this range to the 49ers a year ago. Jack Conklin might end up at right tackle in the NFL — the Eagles could get creative with Lane Johnson to accommodate him.

Michael Thomas is just a terrific receiver with everything you want in a true #1. Reggie Ragland would be a tone setter and organiser for Rex Ryan’s talented but underachieving defense in Buffalo. Adolphus Washington makes enough splash plays to warrant consideration in round one. Kendall Fuller is a top talent coming off an injury otherwise he’d go earlier. Tyler Boyd is a gritty playmaker and the heart and soul of Pittsburgh’s offense.

What about the Seahawks? Right now it looks like they’ll simply have to take the best offensive lineman available next year — barring some big (unlikely?) moves in free agency. This need will be even more desperate if they lose Russell Okung. Ideally they find a way to keep Okung and then draft a right tackle. Decker’s an underrated athlete and should do better than expected at the combine. He’s technically very sound and has practised against Joey Bosa for a few years. Good personality with a ‘working class’ feel to his game. He should be able to start quickly.

Also playing into the equation is the possibility of Garry Gilliam improving at right tackle or even being given the chance to replace Okung (not out of the question). The Seahawks could look at alternatives later such as Indiana’s Jason Spriggs. They could even target a guard convert here like Germain Ifedi or Joe Dahl.

Ronnie Stanley is also still on the board in this projection and would be a risk/reward option to replace Okung. We’ve seen the best (vs USC) and worst (vs Temple) of Stanley recently. When he squares up to blockers and can hand-fight 1v1 he wins most of his battles. His effort, however, is so inconsistent and he frequently looks lost trying to find someone to block. Coleman, Tunsil, Decker, Conklin — they play with their hair on fire. Coleman and Tunsil in particular seek out the second level and just hammer linebackers. Stanley has this ugly tendency to coast through games playing at half-speed. It’s a real concern and I’d have a hard time personally taking him in round one. Such is the need for quality tackles, however, someone might feel obliged to draft him early and hope for the best.

Picks 21-31

#21 Indianapolis Colts — Ronnie Stanley (T, Notre Dame)
#22 New York Giants — Darron Lee (LB, Ohio State)
#23 New York Jets — Myles Jack (LB, UCLA)
#24 Oakland Raiders — A’Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama)
#25 Minnesota Vikings — Germain Ifedi (T/G, Texas A&M)
#26 Atlanta Falcons — Joe Dahl (T/G, Washington State)
#27 Arizona Cardinals — Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio State)
#28 Green Bay Packers — Jonathan Bullard (DT, Florida)
#29 Cincinnati Bengals — Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson)
#30 Carolina Panthers — Braxton Miller (WR, Ohio State)
#31 Denver Broncos — Jared Goff (QB, California)

It’s still too early to even consider how this part of the first round will play out. I like Darron Lee and Myles Jack a lot and they could go earlier than this. Ifedi and Dahl can move inside. Dahl is performing well in pass protection for the Cougs, while Ifedi is starting at right tackle for the Aggies. A’Shawn Robinson offers very little in terms of pass rush and that could hamper his stock.

Zekey Elliott could end up going to a good team who can afford to take him in round one. In this instance it’s Arizona. He might need a bit of time to click at the next level — but he’s a well-rounded weapon of a running back. Jonathan Bullard has lived in the backfield all season for Florida and deserves a first round projection here.

Shaq Lawson might be the best pure edge rusher after Joey Bosa but there will be some doubts about yet another undersized Clemson DE. I have no issues putting Braxton Miller in round open. He’s dynamic in space, has shown to be a natural hands-catcher. He’s bright, intelligent and an X-Factor.

Jared Goff completes the round. He had another rough day against USC with one horrendous interception in particular. He’s a very skilled, accurate, surgeon of a passer at times. He’s also erratic and needs to be brought along slowly at the next level. The internet has decided to anoint him as their champion (see: Teddy Bridgewater, 2014). So expect major overreactions when he goes later than ‘Draft Twitter’ projects followed by repeated ‘told you so’s’ when he has a good performance (and stoney silence when, like Bridgewater, he finds it pretty tough).

For further thoughts on each pick, check out the podcast: