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2021 Draft Prospects Thread

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Carlos "Boogie" Basham, DE, Wake Forest. Basham made himself some money this week by showing his inside/outside versatility. Some defensive linemen just have a knack for getting into the backfield no matter where they line up, and Boogie is one of those players. His quickness was a problem for guards when he rushed from the inside, and he's going to be a good edge setter against the run. I'd like to see him play as a 4-3 DE in a base defense at the next level and then kick inside in sub packages. There was no top-tier defensive end in this year's Senior Bowl, but Basham really stood out from the rest of the group.

Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina. Every now and then there's a player who just pops off the screen when I sit down to watch tape, and Carter was that guy this year. He showed burst and an ability to make plays out of the backfield as a receiver. I think he has a legitimate shot to be a Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) pick. In an era when running backs are being devalued, he has a unique skill set. I envision him playing a role similar to the one Nyheim Hines fills for the Colts.

Demetric Felton, RB/WR, UCLA. Felton played running back last season for the Bruins, but he primarily lined up as a receiver at the Senior Bowl, although he did get a little bit of work at RB, too. He has some dynamic qualities. UCLA coach Chip Kelly told me Felton practiced at both running back and wide receiver throughout the 2020 season. That familiarity with each position showed in Mobile. He's an explosive player.

Richie Grant, S, UCF. If you wanted to find Grant on the field, all you had to was follow the ball. He was around it all week long. I was really impressed with his performance in one-on-one drills. Grant proved he can cover in man and play in the deep middle. That's a good combination as far as NFL teams are concerned.

Robert Hainsey, OL, Notre Dame. Hainsey was one of the most consistent prospects this week. He played with good hands and a firm base, taking snaps at guard and tackle. The team that picks him will be getting a very polished player. It didn't go unnoticed that the Notre Dame guys worked after practice every single day, and I was told Hainsey's interviews with teams were outstanding.

Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State. Johnson did not play this fall because the Missouri Valley Conference postponed its football season until the spring, but he showed no signs of rust during practice. He consistently won in one-on-one drills, flashing his impressive quickness. If your NFL team needs a good slot receiver, Johnson is a player to keep an eye on.

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama. The national championship-winning QB was consistent and steady in practices, just like he was during the season. There's no individual trait that wows you, but he's a good decision maker with accuracy and touch, especially underneath and at the intermediate levels. He'll leave Mobile having shown he was the best passer of the Senior Bowl QBs. It was impressive that he came here to compete after wrapping up his season just a couple weeks ago and I still have him rated on the borderline of the first round. Hopefully we'll get a chance to see him in the game on Saturday, but he did say he hurt his left ankle in practice on Thursday and wouldn't play if he didn't feel 100 percent.

Quinn Meinerz, interior O-lineman, Wisconsin-Whitewater. Meinerz was the most impressive player during practices, from start to finish. He was a relative unknown coming into the week, hailing from a Division III school. Well, not only did he prove he belonged, he showed everyone that he's one of the best players here. Meinerz was dominant, displaying plenty of power and strength. No one should have any questions about his toughness either, as he reportedly played through a broken bone in his right hand on Thursday. He's going to be a quality starting interior offensive lineman in the NFL.

Quincy Roche, edge rusher, Miami. I think Roche came into the week as a likely early Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) pick, but he probably pushed himself up to Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) based on his work at the Senior Bowl. I came away impressed by how hard he battled from rep to rep. He just kept showing up in team drills. He has heavy hands and a motor that runs hot.

D'Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina. Smith played in only one game this fall due to injury and scouts were lukewarm on his tape from the 2019 season. So, there was very little buzz about him coming out of the 2020 campaign. There will be plenty of chatter about him coming out of this week, though. Smith was phenomenal at tackle and guard. He has extremely long arms and knows how to use them.
 
Carlos "Boogie" Basham, DE, Wake Forest. Basham made himself some money this week by showing his inside/outside versatility. Some defensive linemen just have a knack for getting into the backfield no matter where they line up, and Boogie is one of those players. His quickness was a problem for guards when he rushed from the inside, and he's going to be a good edge setter against the run. I'd like to see him play as a 4-3 DE in a base defense at the next level and then kick inside in sub packages. There was no top-tier defensive end in this year's Senior Bowl, but Basham really stood out from the rest of the group.
If his NFL career doesn’t pan out, he certainly can be a character in Super Mario game
 
I’d love a player like Demetric Felton on the Browns. A speed guy who can stretch the defense both laterally and vertically.
 
Nice article that just keeps the focus on defensive personnel:


This part stood out after all the discussion last week on positional value:

Per John Kosko of Pro Football Focus, which tracks personnel on every snap, the Browns defense under Woods broke down like this in 2020:



4-3-4: 267 snaps (24.8%)

4-2-5: 721 snaps (66.9%)



The rest was primarily 4-1-6 though some heavy packages on short-yardage and red zone situations also factored in.
 

26. Cleveland Browns: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse​

Surprise? I don’t think so. After measuring at 6’2, 212 with 32” arms, Ifeatu Melifonwu played great down at the Senior Bowl, backing up his already impressive 2020 film. His explosiveness and man-coverage ability are impressive.

The Browns need both size and speed on defense, especially in the secondary. With Melifonwu, they get both in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

59. Cleveland Browns: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama​

89. Cleveland Browns: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston​

91. Cleveland Browns (via NO): Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson​

104. Cleveland Browns (via PHI): Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri​

126. Cleveland Browns: Garret Wallow, LB, TCU​

156. Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota​

189. Cleveland Browns: Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Missouri​

223. Cleveland Browns: Tre Walker, WR, San Jose State​

 

26. Cleveland Browns: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse​

Surprise? I don’t think so. After measuring at 6’2, 212 with 32” arms, Ifeatu Melifonwu played great down at the Senior Bowl, backing up his already impressive 2020 film. His explosiveness and man-coverage ability are impressive.

The Browns need both size and speed on defense, especially in the secondary. With Melifonwu, they get both in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

59. Cleveland Browns: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama​

89. Cleveland Browns: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston​

91. Cleveland Browns (via NO): Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson​

104. Cleveland Browns (via PHI): Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri​

126. Cleveland Browns: Garret Wallow, LB, TCU​

156. Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota​

189. Cleveland Browns: Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Missouri​

223. Cleveland Browns: Tre Walker, WR, San Jose State​


I dont know a lot about these guys, specifically, but other than double-dipping at WR, im very happy with the *positions* of the people drafted...
 
A trio of new mocks today -


26. Zaven Collins

For the season Collins had four sacks, four interceptions (including two pick-sixes) and two forced fumbles. At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, he looks more like a defensive end but moves with the fluidity of the modern day inside linebackers that have become so prevalent around the league.


26. Zaven Collins

Adding a long, rangy linebacker with size, strength and thumping ability will help the Browns' defense go toe-to-toe with its division rivals.


26. CLEVELAND BROWNS: LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KOROMOAH, NOTRE DAME

Owusu-Koramoah is not your traditional linebacker, at 215 pounds, but his versatility will give his defensive coordinator at the next level — Joe Woods, in this case — a lot of flexibility. He showed he could handle himself in coverage in the slot at Notre Dame while also holding up between the tackles thanks to his explosiveness. His 82.8 coverage grade on over 200 snaps in the slot this past season at Notre Dame is not something you see very often from a linebacker. It’s the type of skill set a defense like Cleveland could use.
 
Not in the majority here but I’d love to move up for Pitts and out of left field would love to have Kyle Trask with him... even as Baker’s backup...

The Tulsa linebacker seems promising however...
 
Hate all you want but I want Pitts... Furthermore I haven’t felt so strongly about a QB prospect like Trask since Sanchez...

2 AFC Championship games for ole Sanchize in his first 2 years... Unfortunately the Jets refused to surround him with talent and blew out his flame...

But now there’s Kyle Trask....
 
What are folks thoughts on Parsons? With all the reports coming out regarding him harassing teammates and generally being kind of a shithead, he seems to be sliding pretty significantly down the 1st round.

the reporting on Parsons is severe enough that I think you have to take it into consideration when contemplating picking him up. Where do y’all stand on the issue?
 

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