Updated MM + some other news (from Senior Bowl):
—One position group scouts do love is
running back. During a dinner with one scout, he remarked this is the deepest running back class he's ever seen, with as many as six first-round grades floating around. The scout named Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara and D'Onta Foreman as potential top-32 players.
—Many in the media and in the football world are connecting the dots between
Kirk Cousins and the San Francisco 49ers, with potential new head coach Kyle Shanahan thought to love his former quarterback. One high-level personnel man I spoke with this week doubts the San Francisco connection for two reasons: the draft picks it would take to secure him and the high salary Cousins will command as a free agent.
—The love for Malik Hooker is legit. The Ohio State safety is a top-10 player in the class. One scout this week told me Ohio State tracked his interceptions while he was a member of the scout team, and he grabbed 40 in his redshirt season.
—Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore has many high grades around the league, but I continue to hear of teams that value Florida's Quincy Wilson as the top cornerback in the class. My board reflects that same belief, with Wilson over Lattimore for the CB1 ranking.
—Two small-school linemen generated a lot of pre-Senior Bowl buzz, but neither Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky) or Antonio Garcia (Troy) were able to build strong performances. Lamp went out with a high ankle sprain Wednesday, but one scout who watched him exclusively during the first day of practice said he "struggled a lot with inside speed and power. He's a project." As for Garcia, who weighed in at 293 pounds, the same scout said, "We'd need to add a lot of strength there, and you have to wonder if he can even hold more weight."
5 Names to Know, Senior Bowl Edition
5. EDGE Jordan Willis, Kansas State
Jordan Willis, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, needed to show the bend and twitch of an athlete in Mobile to push his stock up draft boards. He accomplished that and made my early look at him look very wrong.
Willis' ability to get around the corner and attack the quarterback resulted in 11.5 sacks this past season, and he displayed those same traits in Mobile. Willis' fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end will have his value soaring for teams. Don't be surprised if he's a late second-rounder.
4. WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
Cooper Kupp, the small-school wide receiver on everyone's mind coming into this week, did not disappoint with his separation skills and hands. Kupp was the best receiver on the field for either team and showed that he's fighting for the No. 3 wide receiver spot in the class.
There are times where he'll have a concentration drop, but Kupp's speed and route running were top-notch. And while Kupp weighed in under 200 pounds, I'm told he'll be heavier for the combine now that he's healthy and can commit to working out again.
3. S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut (@AZ_ )
You don't see many 6'4", 219-pound safeties who can flip their hips and run like Obi Melifonwu.
Teams are talking about Melifonwu as a tight end eraser. He's physical enough at the line of scrimmage and has the length to be developed into an effective press safety. His over-the-top range is also impressive.
I'd like to see Melifonwu attack the ball better in high-point situations, but his measurables and traits are off-the-charts good.
2. CB Desmond King, Iowa
Desmond King may end up playing safety in the NFL, but no matter where he lands or what position he plays, he'll be one of my favorite players in the class.
King has a short frame but a thick and well-built physique (5'10", 206 lbs). He's aggressive, tough and competitive on the field. In talking to a coach at Iowa, he raved about King's leadership skills and "whatever it takes" mentality.
His lack of long speed and length may mean a nickel or safety move, but King has the goods to carve out a long, productive career as a second-round pick.
1. LB Haason Reddick, Temple
Nothing could stop Haason Reddick, who played both linebacker and defensive end in practices. He was a monster all over the field, making plays as an inside linebacker in run/pass drills and again when asked to put his hand in the dirt and rush the quarterback.
Reddick's size (6'1 ½", 237 lbs) isn't an ideal fit for a true defensive end position, but his movement in space is opening doors for him as an off-ball linebacker who can then dip down on third downs and rush the quarterback. If you want a versatile, attacking linebacker, he's a fit.
MOCK DRAFT (2 round):
1. Myles Garrett
12. DeShaun Watson (passed on ppl like: Lattimore, Corey Davis, Quincy Wilson)
33. Garett Bolles, T, Utah (passed on ppl like: Cam Robinson, Budda Baker, Lamp, Justin Evans, Cunningham)
50. TJ Watt, LB, Wisconsin (passed on ppl like: McMillan--only name that we have mentioned before. Then ppl like Kupp, Leggett)
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nior-bowl-buzz-and-updated-2-round-mock-draft
