#1 Arizona — Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)
Having drafted a quarterback early a year ago, the Cardinals take Bosa to pair with Chandler Jones.
#2 Oakland — Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)
A one-year wonder who’s still a teenager, Williams has emerged as a nailed-on top-five pick.
#3 New York Jets — Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)
Gary had an underwhelming college career but he was the #1 recruit for a reason and has enormous potential.
#4 TRADE w/SF — Denver — Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)
The Broncos make a big move from #13 to go and get Murray — arguably the top draft eligible prospect. Fantastic talent.
#5 Jacksonville — Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)
Back in the day, Lawrence was #2 only to Rashan Gary in the recruiting rankings. An exceptional talent worthy of a top grade.
#6 Atlanta — Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)
Ferrell would be a high pick in any draft. He has ideal length and the ability to win with speed or power.
#7 TRADE w/DET — Miami — Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon)
So far I haven’t included Herbert because there’s a feeling he won’t declare. This week he’s in. Miami moves up to get him.
#8 New York Giants — Cody Ford (T, Oklahoma)
Ford has exceptional feet for a man with his size. If nothing else he’ll be a top guard.
#9 Tampa Bay — Devin White (LB, LSU)
A brilliant athlete once touted as the next Leonard Fournette, White switched to defense and never looked back.
#10 Buffalo — Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
Ideal three-technique who will test well at the combine and wow teams with his personality.
#11 Green Bay — Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky)
Allen could have issues defending the run so a 3-4 scheme suits him best.
#12 TRADE w/CAR — Philadelphia — Raekwon Davis (DT, Alabama)
The Panthers might look to move down to get into range for a safety. The Eagles could target one of the top defensive linemen.
#13 TRADE w/DEN — San Francisco — Jachai Polite (EDGE, Florida)
Polite was superb this season, beating double teams and playing with relentless effort.
#14 Cincinnati — Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)
The issue for Oliver is size. He’s about 275lbs but lacks the length and style to play defensive end. Is he an every-down defender?
#15 Cleveland — Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
Even this early, Cleveland would be getting a steal with Brown. A complete defensive tackle.
#16 TRADE w/MIA — Detroit — Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)
Murphy is the best draft eligible cornerback. Sudden, aggressive and tough.
#17 Washington — Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)
The Redskins can’t afford to sign another veteran QB because of the huge guarantees due to Alex Smith. So they almost have to draft one if Smith can’t go in 2019.
#18 TRADE w/CAR via PHI — Houston — Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)
The Texans need a corner. With the (somewhat overrated) Greedy Williams still on the board, they move up.
#19 Indianapolis — Jaylon Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana Tech)
Ferguson is raw and needs refining but there’s talent and potential to work with.
#20 Tennessee — Zach Allen (DE, Boston College)
Allen is big like a five-technique but quick like a defensive end. He had a great 2018 season.
#21 Minnesota — David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)
We’ll see if he declares but teams will like Edwards’ competitive nature and character.
#22 TRADE w/SEA — Oakland — Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)
The Raiders need an offensive playmaker. They move up to land ‘Hollywood’ Brown, the cousin of Antonio.
#23 Baltimore — D’Andre Walker (EDGE, Georgia)
Walker looks like an ideal AFC North defender. Strong, tough, quick and productive.
#24 Pittsburgh — Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State)
A possible five-technique or interior rush specialist, Jones is slippery and consistently gets into the backfield.
#25 TRADE w/OAK — Seattle — Jabari Zuniga (EDGE, Florida)
Zuniga quietly had a fantastic season and if he tests well at the combine he could sneak into the top-40.
#26 New England — Daniel Jones (QB Duke)
The Patriots have to think about the future and Jones has some of what they like at the position.
#27 Oakland — Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)
Explosive, physical, breakaway speed and great in pass-pro — Harris can be a feature back at the next level.
#28 Kansas City — Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)
He was recruited as a left tackle but switched to defense. Tillery is tall, long and can create pressure.
#29 TRADE w/HOU — Carolina — Taylor Rapp (S, Washington)
The Panthers reportedly want a safety but none are worth taking early. They can trade back and get Rapp in this range.
#30 LA Rams — Jonah Williams (G, Alabama)
Williams plays tackle but needs to kick inside. He’s overrated but could provide a solid option at guard.
#31 LA Chargers — Greg Little (T, Ole Miss)
Little is a bit stiff at tackle and might need to move inside to guard — just like Jonah Williams.
#32 Green Bay — A.J. Brown (WR, Ole Miss)
Brown can line up in the slot and compete for the ball as an outside receiver. Is he athletic enough to go earlier than this? Debatable.
The trades included…
Denver trades with San Francisco to move from #13 to #4
Miami trades with Detroit to move from #16 to #7
Philadelphia trades with Carolina to move from #18 to #12
Houston trades with Carolina to move from #29 to #18
Oakland trades with Seattle to move from #25 to #22
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Thanks. You’ve convinced me of Murray’s skills, talent and value, but can old school gms like John Elway make the change from qbs-are-tall-like-me to accept a doesn’t-fit-the-metric qb like Murray?
It is about the system and the team built around the player. Follow the Seahawks model (strong rushing attack and strong defense) and the kid can be lights out. *looking at Jacksonville specifically*
I don’t know. Maybe. Keenum isn’t big.
Rob. Any thoughts about the TE class beyond Fant? or any other TE catch your eye?
The Stanford guy could go top-45
There’s some good tight ends out there, gotta wait and see who declares though. The backup at Iowa, T.J. Hockenson, is pretty darn good in his own right. Sternberger at TAMU caught my attention early in the year. I like what I’ve seen from Irv Smith Jr. at Alabama and Isaac Nauta at Georgia. Lucas Krull at Miami and Keenen Brown at Texas State could be some really deep intriguing sleepers.
One of my sleepers this year will be Drew Sample from UW. Think he’s gonna get the same pre-draft hype as Dissly, labeled as a blocking TE, etc. He’s really well rounded as a player and is a better receiver than the stats would indicate. UW just doesn’t ask their TE’s to do that.
Dissly’s patellar tendon injury is worrisome. JG returned from one and I hear the procedures are improving, but it’s traditionally been a tough injury to recover from all the way. I hope he can make it back as his play was so promising.
Did you know? Dickson is the first rookie punter to be selected to the Pro Bowl (2018) since Dale Hunter of the Rams in 1985, according to the Seahawks. He’s the Seahawks’ first Pro Bowl punter since Rick Tuten in 1994. Dickson, a Sydney native, grew up playing Aussie Rules Football and has only been punting an American football since 2015. — Brady Henderson
Who’s laughing now, Elway?
Dare I say, one of the better 5 round draft picks in a long time for Seattle.
They have a knock for finding guys, no doubt. If only they hit on the early round guys more often.
But I confess, it is a crap shoot no matter where you pick. The highest risk picks are QBs…… since they tend to be over drafted. But, if you find your guy, such as Cleveland has… screw what the pundits have to say.
In this scenario what does Seattle get? Extra 3rd? I’d would like a trade like this to honest. Still get a 1st Rd talent and have the extra pick. Can also use sacrifice a later pick to move up from 3rd to late 2nd if someone falls likee when we picked Reed.
It’s a mid 4th
Rob, do you think the Seahawks, in a situation like the one you’ve painted here, would look to/find a trade partner for a second move back? Or do you think there’s a cliff near the 25-30 range that they’d want to avoid falling off?
^
Sure they could move down again
What about….. Jacksonville trading their 1st round pick to Atlanta for Matt “Cold as Ice” Ryan?
The offense in Atlanta is way underachieving and the defense is also not playing up to par.
A different QB under center might be the kick in the pants they need. (for both teams).
I confess, the Jaguars are going to have many cap problems and this scenario doesn’t quite pan out numbers wise. Perhaps, as I mentioned above, could draft Murray. Cheap QB who has some real upside talent. Not the pile of garbage they have right now. It would be ballsy, but it just might work.
It would take a massive offer.
Think they’re more likely to go after Joe Flacco.
I don’t know where I can find out this so I will try to ask here…Does anyone know when will come out “Rain city redemption 3”?
Love the draft Rob. Love that you incorporate trades and move teams around to draft for needs. I am curious to your thoughts on why you have Miami moving up to draft a QB over the NYG? Personally I think Miami can afford to kick it down another year whereas NYG are staring at a cliff with Eli and potentially wasting the better part of Saquon’s rookie deal.
Just my opinion, but..
I think if the NYG fall out of the top 5 then they should do anything necessary to get back in and pull the trigger on their choice of QB. Frankly, they’d be idiots not to. T is definitely a top need for them, but of the options available at QB, drafting Murray seems like a no-brainer. The trio of Murray-OBJ-Barkley would be a monster for years to come. Murray’s mobility certainly helps mitigate the shortcomings of the line somewhat (see: WIlson, Russel).
I had Miami trading above NYG to get the QB. There were recent reports suggesting the Dolphins love Herbert.
Ah, that explains it. I haven’t seen those reports. Thanks!
Have watched a lot of Oregon football because I created PAC 12 North treason and married a Duck. I’ve wanted to like Herbert, and can still see the intrigue, but IMO, the guy is really raw and lacks a lot of the fundamental subtleties needed to play QB at the next level. Even the most diehard Duck fans I know believe his hype is WAY overrated.
Personally, I’m hoping he stays in school for another season, but with the dearth at QB in this draft, I can see why he would declare. This might be his best chance to be the first QB drafted. I think if Miami or NYG draft this guy, might be best to redshirt for at least a year. Ideal scenario might be New England landing him so that he can soak in Brady.
Love that notion of Seattle picking up another elite level edge rusher. IMHO, I think that’s the key to getting this defense to take the next leap forward to where it once was.
Clark and Reed have been absolute studs, but where have the other contributions come from? Jacob Martin has flashed a bit, QJeff has been valiant in his effort, but Green has been quite, and is probably more inside that outside as a rusher once he spends the offseason building up his strength. Getting another blue chip edge rusher would be HUGE for this defense, IMO.
Regarding Murray – the risk of being sued by – and being liable to – the A’s for interfering in their contract is underrated. You’d have to get the owner to agree to that risk – potentially millions of dollars in damages. Unless a team is 100% sure they are going to be getting one of the top QBs in the league I’m not sure that will happen. For a prospect like Murray – with “flaws” – it is iffy.
For people saying it won’t happen – put the shoe on the other foot. An MLB team, say the Yankees, approaches Russell Wilson and says “you know your contract with the Seahawks – you should forget about that and sign a deal with us to be our new second baseman”. And Wilson accepts. Would we sue?
Caveat being if a team works out a settlement with the A’s before hand. But I’m not optimistic they would be receptive to that either.
Murray made his choice and will have to stick with it.
Not at all.
If people honestly think this way, I’ve got news for you. The Oakland A’s are not going to force him to play baseball. It’ll be his call, and so it should be, and if he chooses the NFL (which he hasn’t ruled out) he will pay back any money he’s received and then earn loads more when he goes in the top-10.
He won’t be sued. It’s a kids life.
The Chargers couldn’t even force Eli to play for them.
How is baseball gonna do Shiiiiii
I would certainly hope that the Seahawks wouldn’t sue in that hypothetical.
suing sets a bad precedent for the team also.
I cannot see why they would do it. they can sue to get the money back if he does not pay it back, I doubt they can sue to make him play baseball.
Practical leverage will win over legal leverage 99% of the time in civil cases like this.
Rarely are contracts ironclad, there is either a legal out or a practical out.
Losing a #10 pick sets a bad precedent, too.
Also, we don’t really know what Murray signed, what his obligations are. If he signed a contract which don’t allow him to play pro football, and that is pretty much straightforward MLB practice, he has a major problem. Because this obligation has practical value..
The leverage you describe is only true if the contract is pretty much in limbo. That’s not the case here, the A’s have already fulfilled some of their obligations.
Plus, he needs to solve this matter by April, better by end of January. Then, he will need to get an agreement that doesn’t require him to pay any instant money.
So, I guess, Murray is in the process of seeking a very good lawyer, who will strike a deal. I expect him to sign a record rookie contract in the NFL, and pay half of it to Oakland and Boras.
People are taking this way too seriously.
If anyone thinks the A’s of all teams are going to say to a young man, “No you are our slave you can’t consider an option that wasn’t possible or even likely a few weeks ago” I think you are seriously mistaken.
I believe the language in his baseball contract says he can’t play other professional sports, or had a provision that allowed him to keep playing football in college. I could be wrong, but I believe his contract only prevents him from playing professional football if he is actively trying to play baseball at the same time. An all or nothing type thing.
But really, what are the A’s gonna do? If he is drafted in the first round and immediately makes 5x more than his A’s contract he could easily just say ” I retire from Baseball,” move on and never look back. It’d be no different than a player retiring to become a minister or baker. He’d pay back the signing bonus, and his baseball career would be over.
I don’t think the As have any leverage here at all. I think the biggest problem is going to come from Boras. Don’t think he is going to go quietly into the night.
I doubt his agent will be any concern. Hardly going to jeopardise looking bad in front of potential future clients to prove a point on Kyler Murray.
It’s really as simple as this. One way or another — if Kyler Murray wants to play football, he will play football.
Boras is gonna Boras.
There is no way the A’s would be able to enforce a non-compete that includes all professional sports. That’s way too broad and no court would enforce that (particularly not a California court). The A’s can probably force him to pay back his bonus (which he’d be able to do with his football money) and own his rights for baseball, but no way they have an enforceable contract prohibiting him from playing other professional sports.
If I’m Murray I’m taking the baseball money and living a good life with minimal risk of long term football issues. But I get how hard it is to turn down the life of being a star quarterback.
There’s no lawsuit if he plays both, they wouldn’t have standing. If he’s a late first and backs up for a year or two in the NFL, he’ll have a higher probability of making more money in the NFL. I think he’d be nuts not to explore the NFL. Backup quarterback is a lot higher percentage money than no power center fielder. Unless he turns into Mike Trout, football is better probability. I could see a Aaron Rodgers situation if he shows out. He’s got Michael Vick speed and agility with better football intelligence.
Great mock, Rob. Have you had the chance to look at Charles Omenihu yet? Jon Ledyard from Draft Network really rates him. Says he has a great get off and versatility. He “rushes from a 3-technique position all the way out to a wide 9 for Texas, and has success at every spot.”
Well, I wouldn’t agree with the quote at the end there. If a defensive end kicks inside that’s him kicking inside — not showing he can/rush play three-technique. Seems a bit like using positional names for the sake of it.
I’ve watched him. He’s active for sure. There’s some quickness. Very much a DE for me. Plays a bit out of control sometimes. There’s not really a method or a plan to his rush. Kind of just flies out of the traps off the snap. On one snap against USC he was dumped on his backside by the RT, not a good look. He’s best on stunts when he can create a free path to the QB and use his quickness. Like his effort and the straight line speed but he needs a lot of work. At Texas he runs around like his pants are on fire trying to find any gap to get into the backfield. I’d rather see a more disciplined approach with some edge-setting vs the run, some thought into setting up a tackle over numerous plays, some clear wins and not just with speed — let’s have him engage, disengage, bull-rush, hand-fight. So for me he’s someone you might bring in and work on but there are better DL’s. My fear is when the athletes are better at the next level his quickness won’t be a difference maker and he’ll get found out.
Thank you so much for the detailed response. Will keep your comments in mind when I check out more of his tape!
Nice to see the draft ‘media’ guys like Ledyard, who I really like FWIW, finally come around on certain guys.
Volume12 says:
November 29, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Great stuff here Rob.
I’m gonna go with Texas D-lineman Charles Omenihu as my player who could rise.
And Florida’s Jabari Zuniga. Assuming he declares and tests like he’s rumored to be capable of.
I don’t really have a view on Ledyard (don’t know him or follow him) but I hate the idea of a ‘draft media’ that doesn’t start and end with McShay, Kiper, Mayock and a handful of others. The rest of us are just guys who like and write about the draft.
Agree. That’s why I put media in quotations.
Love Zuniga. I’d be fired up with that pick. His physicality is a huge plus for me.
How does KJ Wright get in as an alternate, but not a guy like Jarran Reed? How does Chris Jones not make it?
Pro-bowl voting system remains trash.
How does the rookie LBs with the Colts or the Cowboys not make it…. both are very deserving.
Waste of time.
Just have a ‘best at each position’ awards do with the MVP and rookie of the year stuff. An ‘Oscars’ for football.
Agree on all counts Volume 12. J. Reed has had a pro bowl year and Chris Jones dominated the Chargers last week with 2 1/2 sacks and has 14 sacks this year! Pocic or whoever is at RG for us Sun. night is going to need help with him.
OMG! Of f***n’ course the Raiders would sign Nathan Peterman. I am dying over here. 😂😂😂
It’s a beautiful thing. I’m just surprised it wasn’t Washington.
Nice mock Rob.Would really like to see Pittsburgh target CB where there is no-one even up to the task of being a decent no.2 atm.Edge is also a priority if they decide not to commit to Dupree long-term.
Thanks Ste — and thanks for the heads up on Pittsburgh.
Most impressive haul as a GM over the last 5 years?
John Dorsey (with KC then Cleveland):
2014- Dee Ford
2015- Marcus Peters
2016- Chris Jones
2017- Patrick Mahomes
2018- Baker Mayfield & Denzel Ward
Will McClay/Jerry Jones:
2014- Zach Martin
2015- Byron Jones
2016- Zeke Elliott
2017- Taco Charlton
2018- Leighton VanderEsch aka LVS
Tom Telesco:
2014- Jason Verrett
2015- Melvin Gordon
2016- Joey Bosa
2017- Mike Williams
2018- Derwin James
Throw Mickey Loomis’ hat in the ring too
Cooks, Peat, Michael Thomas, Lattimore, Kamara, Davenport
Good call. Ramcyzyk and Anzalone are players too.
GM’s who have zero playoff wins!
Absolutely! And there’s
Tyreek Hill,
Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper to show for the 2019 1st,
Desmond King, Hunter Henry
Gotta say Chargers. They have killed it and are my pick for the superbowl. I’ve been saying all year long, it’s an all LA superbowl this year
Every single playoff team has issues this year. The teams that fix those issues while avoiding new ones will go to the SuperBowl.
Most significate GM moves….
John Gruden improving 2 teams to “playoff caliber” with the Cooper and Mack deals. ^.^
But did any of them draft Michael Dickson???
Check and mate.
Dorsey for me. Hitting on 1 QB is hard enough, let alone 2.
I like the idea of this debate, but I think it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, or two.
First, these are only first round picks. While they look great at first glance, they don’t fill out a team and if you can’t hit on a few in the later rounds then what good is it?
Second, I think it is a bit early to pass judgement on the rookies or even second year players. More data = better judgement.
FWIW: in terms of purely these picks, I think Telelsco is destroying the field. I mean there are potentially 4 perennial pro bowl to All Pro players in a row there.
In terms of top to bottom, Rd 1-7 drafting and manipulating the draft, Dorsey is my pick. The guys is a wizard when it comes to manipulating the draft his way and getting value all over the place.
With the 2019 DLine class being referred to as “historical”, I wanted to dig deeper.
Over the past ten drafts, only once has more than ten collegiate defensive lineman (DL+Edge) been selected in Rd1 (13 in 2011).
The five year average is 7 with a ten year average of 8.6 defensive lineman drafted in the first round.
Historically speaking, we can normally expect about SEVEN collegiate defensive lineman to be drafted in Rd1, with a couple transitioning to OLB in 3-4 schemes.
If 14 defensive line/edge are drafted in Rd1, that would double the five year average.
The five-year average was 21 DTs and 23 DEs drafted, including 9.6 DTs and 10.8 DEs in the top-100 = roughly ten a piece.
Over the previous five years, only 15 Down Lineman were drafted in Rd1.
Meanwhile, NFL teams selected an edge rusher 20 times over the past five years.
Looking more carefully, only NINE prospects have been drafted in Rd1, over the past five years, with the ideal frame to classify them as prototypical 4-3 DEs. That’s less than two per year!!
In regards to your last point or fact which is excellent BTW, it’s because the prototypes for 4-3 DEs are much harder to find than a 3-4 OLB.
I also think the final tally for D-lineman off the board in round 1 will be right around the 2011 class. IDK if that’s what your saying or not, but either way a great post.
Thorough analysis. Thanks Durst.
Interesting, thanks for taking the time.
If you want to see it one way, I think one could consider the Clemson guys’ decision to stay together 1 more year a big factor in creating this overloaded DL draft. They “should have” been counted in last year’s class.
Good point. To me, these things are cyclical. There has only been five TEs drafted over the past five years, but three went in Rd1 in 2017. There has been years when 5-6 WR were drafted in Rd1.
Four off-the-ball LBs were drafted in Rd1 in 2018. Prior to 2018, there hds been only ten off-the-ball LBs have been drafted in Rd1 over the past five years (2 per yr), with the highest being Anthony Barr at #9, and Haason Reddick at #13 (both of whom played as edge rushers in college).
Meaning, I think 2019 is more of an aberration than a trend.
This year, the offensive talent appears to be relatively lacking, while the defense appears top-heavy.
I expect about a 12-20 offense-defense split of the top-32 picks.
Did anyone watch that bowl game last night?
I need to know more about UAB WR Xavier Ubosi (6’3, 215 lbs.) Wow! Incredible, dominant performance. 7 rec., 225 yds, 3 TDs. Might be the hidden gem in this year’s WR class.
Was gonna say the same. He roasted that d
Tony Pauline has mentioned several times in his recent podcasts about Anthony Rush of UAB, 6’5″ 350, being a sleeper run-stuffing DT that can push the pocket and can be drafted late day 3. He had 5 tackles and a sack vs. N. Illinois in the bowl game.
I feel like Seeezy’s price keeps going up and Fluker is going to be an injury liability his whole career. Pocic is nearing his 3rd year which seems to be how long it takes for average nfl linemen to get used to the speed and physicality of the nfl game(a la Britt and Ifedi). I could see Green Bay outbidding for Sweezy along with a handful of other teams that want a solid veteran up front. Simmons also is injury prone. Good back up but not a starter imo. The Seahawks have always invested in the Oline and I think they grab one with one of their first 2 picks. I wanna see a BAMF taken at linebacker first. I’m drooling for a guy like Bruce Irvin who can set the edge(Irvin was amazing to watch setting the edge), then let’s see solari pick out a monster for up front. Awesome mock rob!
I’m not worried about losing Sweezy or Fluker. Both players have expressed a desire to stay, both have been in other places and not had success. Both were looking like they might not get a job last off-season. Both have had injuries. I think it’ll be fine
Bruce Irvin got moved from LEO to LB because of his problems ‘setting the edge’ iirc.
I’m always happy to added BAMFs to the trenches(O & D). It’s so sweet to win at the LOS.
No, they moved him to linebacker because Avril and Bennett were better at rushing the passer and he was just an all around football player that could rush the passer, set the edge, and cover in space. He was more valuable to drop in coverage as they had a ton of depth for edge rushers. I want an offensive linemen and a linebacker with the first 2 picks. Let Carroll work his magic late in the draft for db’s Like he always does.
Yesterday, I watched film about drafting RW, once again. 🙂 And this morning I listened Pete’s presser from yesterday.
John had the same grade on Luck and Russ. And Andy Ried called him immediately after Russ’s pick to tell him that he took his guy.
And Pete said yesterday that John was really high on Mahomes, and that they were surprised he last that long (10th pick).
John and Andy know how to evaluate QB’s.
And as long as John is GM I am not afraid for the future of the Seahawks. 🙂
JS was one of two GMs at Mahomes pro day I believe.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theringer.com/platform/amp/nfl/2018/12/19/18147692/kyler-murray-heisman-nfl-draft-oakland-athletics
An interesting article on the Kyler Murray discussion.
I recently saw a mock that had us land UMass wideout Andy Isabella in the 4th. I could see the interest – former RB, a quick-twitch separation guy with massive production, etc. That said, I kinda feel like he’s every GM’s mid-rounder. Given our limited draft capital at the moment, do you think he’d be a target?
Great pick of Zuniga for us Rob. I remember reading and posting a couple weeks ago about JZ’s freakish #’s from a web page that had Gary, Wilkins and Gustin with great measurables as well. “carries just 7.9 percent body fat on a 260-pound frame, per UF. His quickness and agility are way beyond typical for a player his size, evidenced by his 4.12-second 20-yard shuttle (the best 20-yard shuttle among edge rushers at this year’s combine was a 4.19) and 6.97 3-cone time. Other combine measurables on Zuniga include a 9-11 broad jump and 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.”
What do you think about us drafting (if we trade down to get another pick like in your mock) 2 DE’s, a LB and 2 DBs(CB and S), and no DTs? The DT rotation has looked much better since Poona has been in there – what a great pickup in UDFA! Plus Jefferson and Jones seem to get some good plays and pressures each game, and we always seem to add at least one good FA DT each year, as long as we don’t pay them to play for another team.
Saw this on Clayton’s observations from last Sunday’s 49ers game praising the DTs:
“• Not enough is being said of Jarran Reed’s season. He’s now up to 8 1/2 sacks. His inside pass rush reminds you of what Michael Bennett did when he would play defensive tackle in the nickel. Reed played 87 percent of the snaps Sunday against the 49ers, recording two sacks, four hurries and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
The Seahawks’ defensive line was explosive late in the fourth quarter and into overtime. Defensive tackle Poona Ford had his best game with six tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage. Pro Football Focus gave him an elite grade of 90.7. For the season, Ford has a 89.6 rating stopping the run, 12th among interior defensive tackles.”
Video analysis of Poona during 1st 49ers game – man, is he fast for a 310 lb. guy. Plus he can stop the run, push the pocket, etc. He was last year’s Big 12 defensive player of the year as a DT. Usually a conferences’ defensive player of the year is any other position on D, unless they really excel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYSRxYwC7TI
And the Seattle Times had a good article on him yesterday on his Mebane-like belly rub and recent success: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/the-inside-story-behind-rising-seahawks-rookie-poona-fords-celebratory-belly-rub/
Rob, thanks for all you do here and if you get time, please do another Google Hangouts podcast. Tony Pauline, Brock & Salk and John Clayton are good, but your podcasts are just like this site – far and away the best analysis on the Seahawks and the draft.
Thanks man. Appreciate it. I will do another hangout soon. Hopefully there will be some podcast invites down the road too.
I think it’s very possible they won’t draft a DT if the right one isn’t there. It’s a position they’ve generally found value with. And really they need a cheap, useful run defender. If one of the dynamite DT’s is available for them in R1 then great. Assuming they aren’t, it’s very possible they look at DE, LB and DB instead.