2020 Draft Prospects Thread

[Jordan]

If the Browns believe there may not be an OT worthy of the 10th overall selection in this draft, then either 1) they've massively screwed the pooch by not getting one in free agency, or 2) they plan to do what is necessary and trade up to get a guy they believe is a franchise OT.

Ha! Fair point...

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Ha! Fair point...

The problem is if they trade down, some other team sees Jones the way you do, and he's gone by their next pick. And if we don't have a high enough pick to get a franchise OT in next year's draft, or there just isn't one available....

My guess is that if we're sitting at 10, and the picks go in a way that make them worried that they may miss out, they'll trade up. Given the lack of Browns FA activity at that position, and our current roster, that just has to be Priority 1A heading into the draft.

 

[Jordan]

The problem is if they trade down, some other team sees Jones the way you do, and he's gone by their next pick. And if we don't have a high enough pick to get a franchise OT in next year's draft, or there just isn't one available....

My guess is that if we're sitting at 10, and the picks go in a way that make them worried that they may miss out, they'll trade up. Given the lack of Browns FA activity at that position, and our current roster, that just has to be Priority 1A heading into the draft.

Yeah, if the Browns see a guy that they even believe has a chance to be a franchise left tackle, they better take them and worry about trading down later.


I think what impresses me most about Jones is his downfield vision. It seems like he blocks the perfect guy every single time. And he is patient, you will see a few plays where he does not rush into the nearest rusher, something that is super important in a ZBS.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Yeah, if the Browns see a guy that they even believe has a chance to be a franchise left tackle, they better take them and worry about trading down later.


I think what impresses me most about Jones is his downfield vision. It seems like he blocks the perfect guy every single time. And he is patient, you will see a few plays where he does not rush into the nearest rusher, something that is super important in a ZBS.

Caveat -I don't know squat about any of these guys except what I read on the internet.

From what I've read, he seems to have some technical issues, etc., and needs to be coached up. Assuming that is true, that's where something like interviews (and Wonderlic scores) that we don't get to see become critical. How smart is he? How coachable is he? For offensive linemen who need to be coached up, I think intelligence really matters.

So I'm stuck in my usual position of not really having a preference for any of those guys. I just know that I want the best LT prospect we can get -- whomever Berry, Callahan, and the rest of the Browns brain trust determine that to be.

 

[Jordan]

Fuck it, in the name of RBF, I am going to learn about the draft. I just tried this draft simulator (https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-draft-simulator) to learn about prospects. I would pause before every pick, look at the top guys at all positions I identified as needs for the Browns, and read reports from Draft Network, PFF, and Bleacher Report. Then I would usually watch draft breakdowns to make any final decisions. Again, I do not watch much college football, so this could all be a load of crap. Nevertheless, my Twitter thread on the picks.

 

[AllforOne]

If the Browns believe there may not be an OT worthy of the 10th overall selection in this draft, then either 1) they've massively screwed the pooch by not getting one in free agency, or 2) they plan to do what is necessary and trade up to get a guy they believe is a franchise OT.

The flip side could be that the guy they really like is somebody like Josh Jones -- a prospect who has a strong multi-year body of work, but is getting overshadowed by some of the results from the Underwear Olympics.

I suspect that what the Browns would really like to do is trade back into the mid-teens, get another high pick (whether this year or next) for their trouble, and still get the guy they really want (and at a lower salary, as a side benefit). If they really like Jones, then that scenario may be plausible.

Of course, as you (I think it was you) noted elsewhere, so much of this process is dependent on information that we don't know. For all we know, Jones is a bright kid who learns quickly and breathes football ... or he could be dumber than a box of rocks. All of us here are trying to figure out who will win the poker hand based on seeing two of the cards. Come draft night, whichever way the Browns go, I'm sure I'll talk myself into supporting it. All I hope is that it's a quick conversation.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

The flip side could be that the guy they really like is somebody like Josh Jones -- a prospect who has a strong multi-year body of work, but is getting overshadowed by some of the results from the Underwear Olympics.

I suspect that what the Browns would really like to do is trade back into the mid-teens, get another high pick (whether this year or next) for their trouble, and still get the guy they really want (and at a lower salary, as a side benefit). If they really like Jones, then that scenario may be plausible.

The problem is that we can't confirm it is plausible until after we've already traded down, and no other team has selected him before our pick. We have to assume that if the Browns believe he is that good a prospect, then multiple other teams probably see him the same way. So, it is entirely possible we trade down, figuring to pick him up in the mid-teens, and then one of those teams who values him as much as we do, and knows that we're targeting him, trades up with the team in front of the Browns and nabs him. And then it is too late to undo the trade.

Stefanski throwing a chair across the draft room because someone has just picked the OT version of Kyle Brady one pick before ours won't help.

 

[Jordan]

I found this guy while running one of those mock draft simulations: Troy Dye, linebacker out of Oregon.

Dye played 796 defensive snaps in 2019. On those snaps, he registered 66 solo tackles (9 for a loss), 22 assisted tackles, 26 pressures, four pass deflections, and two interceptions. Thus he made a countable play on over 15% of all of his defensive snaps. Dye is also one of the most well-rounded linebackers in the draft for PFF, averaging an 82.4 run defense grade and 79.2 coverage grade.

Here is a great prospect analysis. He seems like the type of early-mid-round linebacker that analytics people will love and who could have a long career due to his versatility, sideline-to-sideline speed, and tackling ability.

 

[Jordan]

This is a really cool video comparing Wills and Wirfs. Tl;dw = Wills is already a complete prospect at tackle and a total film junkie. Wirfs is more athletically gifted and is absolutely a tackle at the next level, but he is fairly undisciplined, does not always use his hands correctly, and sometimes gets beat from not knowing enough of the other team's tendencies.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

This is a really cool video comparing Wills and Wirfs. Tl;dw = Wills is already a complete prospect at tackle and a total film junkie. Wirfs is more athletically gifted and is absolutely a tackle at the next level, but he is fairly undisciplined, does not always use his hands correctly, and sometimes gets beat from not knowing enough of the other team's tendencies.

I love Brett Kollman and have supported him on Patreon for a long time.

However, he has a way of discussing players, and showing film, that makes it very easy to agree with him completely and rule out other opinions.

I'm not sure his evaluations are that reliable with regards to college players. I think he's really good with NFL players, but his college takes I view more as entertainment. If he highlights someone, I find more value in watching film of that player myself rather than taking his word on it.

 

[Jordan]

I love Brett Kollman and have supported him on Patreon for a long time.

However, he has a way of discussing players, and showing film, that makes it very easy to agree with him completely and rule out other opinions.

I'm not sure his evaluations are that reliable with regards to college players. I think he's really good with NFL players, but his college takes I view more as entertainment. If he highlights someone, I find more value in watching film of that player myself rather than taking his word on it.

Good to know, thanks! Yeah, I’m starting to try and do that now that I’m working from home. Trying to find some good film guys on YouTube to help speed-up the process because I don’t have time nor energy to watch every game these guys all played in.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Good to know, thanks! Yeah, I’m starting to try and do that now that I’m working from home. Trying to find some good film guys on YouTube to help speed-up the process because I don’t have time nor energy to watch every game these guys all played in.

Not a film guy, but common man football is good stuff.

 

[Jordan]

Not a film guy, but common man football is good stuff.

Subscribed, thanks!!

 

[Randolphkeys]

I posted a highlight reel of David Woodward of Utah State, and here is another linebacker from the mountains who is very intriguing in the late third or early fourth:


Logan Wilson from Wyoming. The junior Woodward has incredible advanced metrics and tackles per game, but the senior Wilson had a more productive career and better durability. Wilson was a quarterback in high school and a safety as a freshman, and you can see that recognition in his zone coverage.

 

[Jordan]

I posted a highlight reel of David Woodward of Utah State, and here is another linebacker from the mountains who is very intriguing in the late third or early fourth:


Logan Wilson from Wyoming. The junior Woodward has incredible advanced metrics and tackles per game, but the senior Wilson had a more productive career and better durability. Wilson was a quarterback in high school and a safety as a freshman, and you can see that recognition in his zone coverage.

He slams the gap, whole shit. And he can stick with runningbacks in coverage and on outside zone runs. This is the exact type of linebacker that the Browns should go for in middle-to-later rounds. Thanks for sharing!