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2018 Draft Prospects

ILB/OLB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise St. 6-4 256



Combine Results:
Arm - 33 7/8
Hand - 9 3/4
40 - 4.65
Bench - 20
Vertical - 39.5
Broad - 10'4"
3 Cone - 6.88
20 yd. shuttle - 4.15
60 yd. shuttle - 11.57

Strengths
Big, long and athletic. Has history of achievement with dominant performances and state titles in two sports in high school. Former basketball standout with fluid hips and smooth movement around the field. Almost no delay in his change of direction. Has agility and quick-twitch for sudden lateral bursts in his slides to close out slashers. Triggers with compact burst to the ball. Works under climbing blockers to stay clean. Easy sideline-to-sideline range as tackler. Has athletic ability to recover and tackle despite over pursuit. Widens frame and opens arms to welcome his prey as a tackler. Generally wraps up. Very talented in coverage. Quick but smooth in his drops. Mirrors quarterback's eyes with ability to redirect from side to side as he follows. Uses active, catch-ready hands to breakup the pass or take it away. Shows real rush talent and instincts as a blitzer. May have enough ability to beat a tackle as edge rusher from time to time.
Weaknesses
Has just one year of starting experience. Still filling out his frame. Play strength has room for improvement. Has some struggles in taking on blocks and will get washed away by down blocks. Hasn't learned to use hands effectively to punch and separate. Takes himself out of tackle opportunities by attacking iso-blocks and lead blocks with a shoulder. At times, will over pursue or run himself out of position in attempt to play fast and avoid having to deal with blockers.
Draft Projection
Rounds 1-2
NFL Comparison
Karlos Dansby (early version)
Bottom Line
Vander Esch is a loose-hipped, instinctive linebacker who played in 2017 like he had a GPS tracker on the football. His production totals against both the run and pass are rare for being a first-year starter and with a frame that is primed for more muscle, his NFL ceiling is high. Vander Esch might benefit from a reduced role his rookie season while he improves his play strength and becomes more skilled at taking on blocks. He's an every-down linebacker with very good starting potential and the talent to fill up a stat sheet.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/leighton-vander esch?id=2560232
 
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OLB/ILB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech 6-4 253





Combine Results:
Arm - 34 1/2
Hand - 9 3/8
40 - 4.54
Bench - 19
Vertical - DNP
Broad - 9'9"
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Unique size with long limbs and a rangy frame. Wears his weight with ease. Frame is destined to become even more imposing with additional weight work. Feet pump and trigger like pistons. Excellent lateral quickness to scrape and stalk. Uses his size and speed to cast a wide, playmaking net and cover large swaths of grass. Twitches for a second when it is time to make a play. Spins out of blocks to find his way back into the play. Combines length with rare reactive athleticism and agility to access and tackle opportunities from unconventional angles. Captures and finishes as a tackler at highly efficient rate. Elite traits help to create sensational production across the board. Disruptive in all phases. Electric as "add-on" rusher when back stays in. Has length and burst to affect pocket as edge rusher. Effective man cover talent with ability to match shifty running backs and bulky tight ends.
Weaknesses
Instincts are average and relies on athletic gifts. Can be a step slow to diagnose. Lured by misdirection. Will take random downhill paths that trap him in the quagmire. Patience is lacking. Races ahead of plays and voids his leverage and run fits at times. Needs to add more upper and lower body strength. Average base strength and high center of gravity create issues holding up at the point of attack. Needs to be quicker to punch in order to maintain clearance. Mental busts in man coverage hurt his team. Takes time to process moving pieces.
Draft Projection
Round 1
Sources Tell Us
"Good luck with your player comp on this one. They don't come like him. I don't think there has ever been a linebacker that has had his size and speed. You're better off comping him with a basketball player." -- NFC regional scout
NFL Comparison
Brian Urlacher
Bottom Line
Edmunds combines elite size, speed and explosiveness into a productive, versatile linebacker package that will have evaluators salivating. Edmunds has posted high-impact production over the last two seasons and he still has room to get bigger and better. Edmunds will make mental mistakes and his instincts are subpar, but he has an ability to mitigate those issues with his athletic ability. Edmunds can play in any alignment at any linebacker spot and has All-Pro potential no matter where he lands.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/tremaine-edmunds?id=2560062
 
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SS/CB Siran Neal, Jacksonville St. 6-0 206



Combine Results:
Arm - 31 1/8
Hand - 9 7/8
40 - 4.56
Bench - 17
Vertical - 40.5
Broad - 10'2"
3 Cone - 7.00
20 yd. shuttle - 4.28
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Has experience at safety and corner. Played near line of scrimmage and was active in run support in 2016 as a nickel. Spent his final season playing press corner for the first time during his career. Able to big-boy his level of competition off the snap. Consistently effective at landing hands into receiver's frame to slow release into route. Has mirror and match capability early in route and uses length to help maintain contact through route breaks. Plays under control. Crowds receivers down the field. Keeps watch on play development in man coverage and is quick to peel off and come support the run. Aggressive, wrap-up striker who drives feet and finishes. Shows off desired lateral range and athletic ability in run support.
Weaknesses
Has a hitch in transitioning against inside release. When beaten cleanly from press, he grabs rather than trusting his feet and technique. Instincts and anticipation are very average. Rarely gets an early jump on throws and relies on seeing it coming first. Too willing to cover grass rather than reading quarterback and making a play outside his area. Quick route specialists give him trouble. Lateral transitions are sluggish in man coverage.Sits in a blocker's sweet spot too long. Needs to get better at attacking and shedding earlier.
Draft Projection
Rounds 4-5
NFL Comparison
Eric Rowe
Bottom Line
Intriguing prospect with good size and physicality who is just learning to play cornerback. Neal has limitations in coverage but may factor as a bump and run specialist. Neal lacks the ball production and instincts of a high safety, but he has the toughness to play near the line of scrimmage and the cover talent to match up against tight ends. Neal's position fit could depend on scheme as well as how he ends up running. He has NFL traits and could become a productive backup or eventual starter.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/siran-neal?id=2559809
 
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FS Jessie Bates III, Wake Forest 6-1 200



Combine Results:
Arm - 31 5/8
Hand - 9 3/4
40 - 4.50
Bench - DNP
Vertical - 35.5
Broad - 9'9"
3 Cone - 6.78
20 yd. shuttle - 4.26
60 yd. shuttle - 11.34

Jessie Bates III is a fast rising 2018 NFL Draft prospect at the safety position. He is turning some heads thanks to his combination of length and quickness. Bates also flashes strong instincts that could make him a major turnover threat.
Wake Forest mainly asked Bates to work out of the deep part of the defense. In this role, he used his burst and overall quickness to cover sideline to sideline. Bates’ feel for developing round and ability to read the quarterback helped him rack up 6 intercepts in his career.
His ball skills are one of the more important aspects of his game. He will need to continue getting his hands on the ball and producing came changing plays. During his time at Wake Forest, Bates had a knack for taking interceptions and turning them into points.
That knack for finding the end zone also showed up on special teams where Bates saw some action as a punt returner.
He shows strong overall coverage ability. Bates plays with good balance and has the quickness to close on the football. The combination of his quick-twitch ability and instincts are what will stand out to evaluators.
One area where Bates needs work is as a tackler. He is too hesitant and more of a catcher rather than someone who will deliver a big hit.
Bates also struggles to wrap up and has too many missed tackles. He needs to show more toughness in order to be seen as someone who can support the run on a consistent basis. At this stage, Bates is not someone who should spend much time working in the box.
It’s possible that he gets some looks at cornerback at the next level. He has the athleticism and feel to potentially make the switch.
Overall, Bates is more of a developmental prospect than a finished product. The key is that he has big-time upside and could quickly develop into a difference maker. It’ll be interesting to see how early a team will be willing to take a gamble.
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https://withthefirstpick.com/2018/02/14/2018-nfl-draft-jessie-bates-iii-scouting-report/
 
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CB Denzel Ward, Ohio St. 5-11 183



Combine Results:
Arm - 31 1/4
Hand - 8 3/4
40 - 4.32
Bench - 16
Vertical - 39.0
Broad - 11'4"
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Supreme athletic ability. Expected to be impressive Combine tester. Can park in a deep squat under wide receiver's chin at the line. Patient from press showing no panic or hurry in initial movements. Can pedal and mirror for a long time without opening hips. Tremendously gifted footwork. Mirrors and matches with good balance throughout the route. Matches changing route speed stride for stride. Plays from low side of route to take away comebacks. Uses big burst for recovery and closeouts. Carries true long speed down the field. Reads clues from off-man. Reads slants and drives in front of the route in search of an interception. Allowed just over 32 percent completions over last two years. Ballhawk with sudden hands to attack the throw. Bats throws down and will swirl arms around the catch point to prevent target from finishing the catch.
Weaknesses
Frame is somewhat slight and he feels small in coverage at times. Lacks play strength to jam and disrupt. Appears to avoid route contact so he doesn't upset coverage balance. Physical receivers can body him around at the top of the route. Needs to turn and find football sooner with back to the ball. Always around the throw, but lack of size and length shows up with "just misses" in pass defense. Several pass breakups came on throws with poor placement. Coverage benefitted from deep, talented rush unit up front. Has issues disengaging from big blocking receivers. Big backs drag him for a ride in run support.
Draft Projection
Round 1
NFL Comparison
Chris Harris Jr.
Bottom Line
Ward has the experience and talent to handle duties on the outside, but his lack of play strength combined with his elite footwork might be the deciding factor for a move inside. Ward is outstanding as a mirror-and-match cornerback with great route feel who is able to maintain tight coverage around the field with good technique and pattern recognition. He should become an early starter at nickel cornerback with the talent to make an immediate impact for a defense that faces a pass-happy division foe twice per year.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/denzel-ward?id=2560061
 
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QB Chase Litton, Marshall 6-6 232



Combine Results:
Arm - 32 1/8
Hand - 9 3/8
40 - 4.90
Bench - DNP
Vertical - 29.5
Broad - 8'10"
3 Cone - 7.49
20 yd. shuttle - 4.53

Strengths
Prototypical size and build for a pocket quarterback. Former high school basketball standout who is definitely not afraid to shoot his shot on the field. Doesn't scare easily and looks to hurt man coverage over the top. Had run of 27 straight games with a touchdown. Stands tall in pocket. Squares to his target as a passer. Release time is good. Ball comes out smoothly when throwing in rhythm. Good touch near goal line. Feathers balls over top of trail defenders.
Weaknesses
Lacks functional mobility. Rollouts are labored. Deep ball accuracy and ball placement are below average. Decision making is problematic. Has issues working through progressions and finding the best options. Some interceptions are inexcusable. Misses what defense is giving him to take shots into coverage. Finished last six games with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Air-mails drive throws leading to easy interceptions for safeties. Eyes lock into target making life easier on defensive backs.
Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA
Bottom Line
Litton is an early entrant who has the size and enough arm talent to potentially pique the interest of an NFL team looking to develop a big pocket passer, but Litton's issues with decision-making and locking onto targets may be tough to break. Litton is a rhythm passer who will need a task-master at quarterback coach who can improve his pre- and post-snap plan so that he can become a more efficient, trustworthy quarterback. He could find his way onto a practice squad this season.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/chase-litton?id=2560211
 
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DKphin said:
I put in his tape from the Miami game.
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Are you tying to build a case against him? Another lack luster tape. It seemed like it was purposely edited so it only showed him out of position, over pursuing, or lost in coverage.
 
RB Ronald Jones, Southern California 5-11 205



Combine Results:
Arm - 31
Hand - 8 3/4
40 - 4.65
Bench - DNP
Vertical - 36.5
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Runs with desired level of calm in the face of oncoming traffic. Trusts blocking development and hides cut intentions until the last second. Plays with light, electric feet that are dynamic in tight quarters. Elite plant and acceleration. Loose hips able to make rare cuts as sharp as 90 degrees. Deadly stop-start to ruin linebackers trying to pace and mirror him. Can find side door out of traffic and to the outside track. Maintains top play speed and is able to string together moves on moves on moves. Has lower body wiggle to dead-leg tackle attempts and slide by defender. Willful as a runner. Squares pads at impact for improved contact balance. Fights for yardage and falls forward. Had just two fumbles over 591 carries. Wasn't prolific as pass-catcher but is more than capable. Willing to stand in and offer some blitz protection.
Weaknesses
Relatively lean frame. Could require limitations with his touch count over the course of a season. Coming off of a 275-touch 2017 campaign. Interior vision can be a little inconsistent and will leave meat on the bone. Lacks a broad base and contact balance could become an issue on next level. Reactive runner who could still use a more fine-tuned rush plan. Needs to balance pace with patience. Can get too far downhill leaving himself limited escape routes. Has room for improvement with run track in gap scheme. Can improve tempo and rhythm to set up cutbacks on stretch plays. Takes too many punishing blows in his quest for additional yardage.
Draft Projection
Rounds 1-2
Sources Tell Us
"I love his juice. You have to have some of that to become a good back in the pros and he has a lot of it. He may be a little too light to give it to him more than 12-14 times per game though. I worry if he can hold up." - NFC Personnel executive
NFL Comparison
Jamaal Charles
Bottom Line
Jones is a classic slasher with the wiggle and explosiveness to elude open-field tacklers and then burst to chunks of yardage. Jones was a much more assertive runner in 2017 and improved upon areas of improvement from the 2016 season. Jones also has the ability to turn into a much more dangerous pass-catcher than we saw at USC. He should test well at the Combine, but there will still be teams concerned with how many carries he can handle and how that affects his draft value. He's a big play talent with a chance to thrive at a high level wherever he lands.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/ronald-jones?id=2560106
 
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WR DJ Chark, Louisiana St. 6-3 199



Combine Results:
Arm - 32 3/8
Hand - 9 1/4
40 - 4.34
Bench - 16
Vertical - 40.0
Broad - 10'9"
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Has desired combination of size and speed. Acceleration is smooth and sudden. Can run away from people without even trying. Convincing salesman on first leg of his double moves. Flashed explosive potential with ten touchdowns on just 86 career touches while seeing 36 percent of his catches go for 25-plus yards. Build-up speed and long strides create winning separation on West Coast routes. Double moves leave defenders off-balance and stumbling. Can gather, sink and open to quarterback quickly on comebacks. Quality punt returner. Works in the middle and is unintimidated by hitters. Body control for late adjustments is adequate. Willing to work as a blocker.
Weaknesses
Frame is too easy to find for press corners. Can be leggy and sluggish in releasing upfield when crowded. Upright into his routes. Gets by with speed and talent rather than route focus and urgency. May be limited to linear and rounded routes on second and third levels only. Needs to improve set-up and finesse when looking to uncover. Not effective as hand fighter. Needs to improve upper body strength. Ball tracking is uneven. Has tendency to slow feet when tracking deep balls and will make adjustments too late at times.
Draft Projection
Round 2
Sources Tell Us
"He has his moments where you see it, but he just hasn't been consistent and he hasn't really gotten a lot better. He's tall and can run but I'm still torn on whether he is going to make the improvements he needs to bo be an NFL factor." -- NFC team personnel director
NFL Comparison
Chris Conley
Bottom Line
Tall and fast, Chark is a linear route-runner who may need a limited route tree, but who has the potential to back safeties off the line of scrimmage. Chark will be coveted by play-action passing attacks looking to win with chunk plays down the field, but he'll need to improve his ball skills to take advantage of all that speed. Chark could struggle early on against press coverage, but he has the ability to become a solid WR2.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/d.j.-chark?id=2559915
 
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TE Dalton Schultz, Standford 6-5 244





Combine Results:
Arm - 34 1/4
Hand - 9 1/2
40 - 4.75
Bench - 15
Vertical -
Broad - 10'0"
3 Cone - 7.00
20 yd. shuttle - 4.40
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Very tenacious and tough as a blocker. Well-schooled in blocking fundamentals. Leaned on as vital part of the run blocking unit. Initial hand placement is good. Ability to sustain and finish. Improves positioning after contact and can generate some movement at point of attack without a double team. Gave it to USC's Rasheem Green on more than a couple of snaps when matched head to head. Sinks hips into breaks. Opens sharply on underneath routes to look for the throw. Has good feel for attacking the voids against zone coverage. Will shut routes down early to keep throwing window open for quarterback. Physical in creating space at top of his routes. Short area footwork is adequate. Has ability to become a reliable target over the middle and in traffic.
Weaknesses
Receiving production has been underwhelming throughout his career. Routes can be monotonous and predictable. Allows too much leeway for defenders to play the catch point. Needs to play bigger in space and use his frame. Lacks speed to attack over top. Struggles to separate against man coverage on intermediate routes. Could have somewhat limited workspace as NFL pass catcher. Not as physical after the catch. Slows feet into contact and won't always fall forward. Strikes first, but will lose initial hand placement when long defenders get into him. Can improve approach angles to help keep angle blocks centered.
Draft Projection
Round 3
NFL Comparison
Dwayne Allen
Bottom Line
Schultz is a Y-tight end with the ability as a run blocker to help bolster a team's rushing attack very quickly. While his frame could still use more mass, he plays with good technique and play strength at the point of attack and shows an ability to impose his will upon edge defenders if they half-step into the rep. Schultz is a capable and reliable target underneath, but his living will depend on how he impacts the running game. Schultz's limited catch production could drop him a round, but he should be a solid, early starter.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/dalton-schultz?id=2560111
 
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OG Isaiah Wynn, Georgia 6-3 313

LT #77


Combine Results:
Arm - 33 3/8
Hand - 8 1/2
40 - DNP
Bench -DNP
Vertical - DNP
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP

Strengths
Plays with fluidity of movement and desired knee bend throughout rep. Initial quickness is above average. Gets into blocks with tight footwork and runs feet through contact. Stays connected to his blocks and rarely falls off. Looks to finish. Effective as move blocker and base blocker. Takes good angles up to linebacker as backside blocker and has technique and athleticism to reach and secure blocks others may struggle with. Offers tackle-level pass technique if bumped inside. Has body control and balance and feet to handle counter rush moves. Extremely aware against twists and quick to respond. Plays with disciplined hand usage keeping them inside opponent's frame in both run and pass. Hands are very strong. Flashes necessary anchor. Has starting experience at both guard and tackle.
Weaknesses
Is a little lean in his lowers with a high-cut frame. Built more like a tackle than a guard, but is packed into a 6-foot-2 frame. Will have to prove he can withstand NFL power. Could benefit from getting better arm extension into initial punch as interior blocker in NFL. May lack necessary pop in his hips to displace 1-gappers who are clogging running lanes. Will lose patience and chase on occasion rather than standing his ground and making defenders come to him.
Draft Projection
Round 1-2
Sources Tell Us
"He's what you want from a tackle but he's not even going to come in at 6'3 so that's (stinks). He'll be a good player for a team who wants athletic guards. You might even see a team draft him as a center since he's stronger than a lot of the centers you will see in this draft." - NFC area scout
NFL Comparison
Ronald Leary
Bottom Line
Wynn is a talented, technically sound block-winner with a demeanor that offensive line coaches will love. His athleticism allows for quick advantages as a run blocker while his hand strength and footwork helps him sustain those advantages into open running lanes. His plus pass protection will be appealing to teams looking for help in that area and he is capable of sliding out to tackle in an emergency. He appears to have the technique and play traits to overcome any concerns about size and could become an early starter.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/isaiah-wynn?id=2559829
 
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OT Jamarco Jones, Ohio St. 6-4 299

LT #74


Combine Results:
Arm - 35 1/8
Hand - 9 1/2
40 - 5.50(10yd - 1.95)
Bench - DNP
Vertical - 24.0
Broad - 8'6"
3 Cone - 8.32

Strengths
Pass sets feature adequate balance, a flat back and chin tucked. Looked much more confident in pass protection this year. Hands are efficient and quick and punches are well-timed. Patient pass slider who waits until target is in range to let hands go. Lands early to disrupt rusher's rhythm. Has adequate reactive athleticism against inside moves. Mirror isn't perfect but is good enough. Has some anchor to sit down against bull-rush. Flexes upper body power to jolt on redirect and down blocks. Catches base block with upward strike and cranks feet to secure. Works double teams with good technique. Impressive agility to adjust to moving targets. Has athletic ability and radar to spring big runs with second level blocks. Comes off first block with smoothness and times up linebackers.
Weaknesses
Doesn't have optimal height/length for tackle. Needs to close distance and speed up hands against long edge-setters. Hip bend is average and pad level is high. Struggles to find optimal leverage at point of attack. May improve balance as drive blocker with wider base. Body control is below average. Power ends can stack and dislodge him. Approach angles and post-contact footwork are inconsistent. Outside hand is a little weak in pass protection. Will lunge against edge speed at top of the rush rather than sliding feet to protect the arc. Gets fooled by end/tackle twists. Tape shows potential concerns against good inside rush counters. Would like to see a little more edge in his play demeanor.
Sources Tell Us
"He has holes like they all do but I think he's safer than Mike McGlinchey as a pro. Ohio State's scheme doesn't give you as many pro-style looks as Notre Dame, but I think he'll fit in well as a pro." -- NFC team area scout
NFL Comparison
Michael Oher
Bottom Line
Jones isn't overly impressive and doesn't have many "wow" features, but he gets his job done. He lacks desired NFL height, but makes up for it with longer arms and good upper body strength. While his body control needs improvement, he has proven to have the slide quickness and lateral agility to handle duties on the blind-side. Jones has the talent to become a solid to good NFL starter.
Click to expand...
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/jamarco-jones?id=2559926
 
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