PFF/Scouting Megathread

[Finsup1981]

I want Lampkin badly enough that I'd use a 5 and not risk waiting til the 7th.

Do you think he can start year one? And be a long term solution at guard or center, or strictly depth?

He just worries me against some of these size strength monsters in the league.

 

[MrClean]

Jeff Legwolds top 100 big board, it’s a free article so here’s the link..Warren at 4 and Nolen at 5 are way too high imo, also think he has Grant and Shemar Stewart too low.

Legwold ranks the 100 best NFL draft prospects: An annual list of the top names to know

Jeff Legwold reveals his top NFL draft prospect list for 2025, which is based purely on ability regardless of position. Who is No. 1?

www.espn.com

I wouldn't mind if we came out of this draft with both TAMU Shemars.

 

[MrClean]

Do you think he can start year one? And be a long term solution at guard, or strictly depth?

He just worries me against some of these other guys size strength monsters in the league.

I think he could be a starter for multiple seasons, and as an OG, he'd be at least similar to Brewer in 2022 when he started all season at LG. He has functional strength, natural leverage, and his hand usage is elite. I do not agree with the notion that, because Brewer isn't a big Center, we must have enormous OGs next to him. We need OGs who can execute their blocking assignments, period.

 

[hoops]

I’m assuming there are personnel working under/in conjunction with these guys on scouting right? Cause a total of 12 scouts between college and pro doesn’t seem like nearly enough with all the information these guys have to sift thru and all the in person scouting they do…do you have any idea on how it’s broken down like one scout gets SEC, one’s a defensive only scout etc I’d love to know more info if you or anyone else has any

It’s mostly regional. Responsible for a region

 

[hoops]

McShays Risers and Fallers and updated top 100 big board.

These numbers on Booker along with RAS scare me, for a guard in a wide zone to be that unathletic really pushes him down to like OG7 or OG8 for me. If we were running a power gap scheme sure I can see the value and he’d be ranked higher but I wouldn’t touch him before 48 at the earliest:

OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 13

Membou has jumped three spots since my last top 100, and passed LSU’s Will Campbell to become the top offensive tackle on my board. Membou’s workout numbers at the combine—he ranked first among tackles in the 40, the bench press, and the broad jump—might have been better than his tape, which is really damn good. History suggests offensive tackle is a traits-driven position when it comes to the draft, and for good reason. I expect him to be the first offensive lineman off the board.

EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Current Ranking: 14
Previous Ranking: 21
The Texas A&M standout was my no. 6 edge and the no. 21 overall player on my board coming out of the Senior Bowl. After a strong combine performance, he’s jumped seven spots and become my third-ranked edge behind Abdul Carter and Jalon Walker.
Stewart’s combine workout reminded me of former no. 1 pick Travon Walker’s. In fact, Stewart ran a faster 10-yard split and performed much better in the vertical and broad jumps. I actually see a bendier athlete with more pass-rushing potential than Walker ever showed at Georgia. That said, the same production questions that were asked about Walker—who had 9.5 sacks in his college career—are being asked about Stewart (4.5 sacks in college), and understandably so. That’s why he does not project as a top-10 pick. Still, I like this guy more than most and I’m comfortable with that. I think he’s in play for teams drafting in the 11-20 range.

WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 25
Golden is up to no. 15 on my board and has passed Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan to become my top-ranked wide receiver. I was leaning toward Golden as WR1 before the combine, and his speed testing in Indianapolis—Golden’s 4.29 40 was the fastest among all wide receivers and the second-fastest among all players—sealed the deal. His 10-yard split also tied for first among the WRs, which matches his ability to heat things up off the line of scrimmage in a flash. Golden’s exceptionally crisp route running and his body control when adjusting to the ball in the air stood out most on tape. Don’t be surprised if he’s the first receiver off the board, potentially as high as no. 12 to the Cowboys.

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Current Ranking: 30
Previous Ranking: 40
Ezeiruaku has risen 10 spots since my last top 100 and is firmly in the first-round conversation. He was the only edge at the combine to log a sub-7.0-second three-cone time, and he ran a faster short shuttle (4.19 seconds) than several wide receivers. Ezeiruaku also has above-average arm length at 34 inches and production (16.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss last year) to back up his testing numbers.

CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Current Ranking: 24
Previous Ranking: 42
Hairston is one of the biggest risers from this group, and for good reason. He ran the fastest 40 (4.28 seconds, with a top speed of 24.25 mph) of all players at the combine and ranked in the top three at his position in both the vertical and broad jumps. Teams I talked to about Hairston are really excited about his ability to excel in both man and zone coverage. He’s an absolute ball hawk who had six interceptions (three of which were pick-sixes) over the past two seasons.

WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Current Ranking: 28
Previous Ranking: 46
Higgins is a big, physical X receiver with unique route running ability and body control for his size. His touchdown reception against Iowa from this past season shows his contested-catch ability and focus in traffic. He ran a 4.47 40 at the combine and ranked among the top half of his position group in the broad and vertical jumps. I wouldn’t have a problem drafting Higgins late in the first round.

WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Current Ranking: 35
Previous Ranking: 48
Noel had an outstanding combine, ranking first among wide receivers in the broad jump, tied for first in the vertical, tied for fifth in the three-cone, and fifth in the short shuttle. Noel is small but sturdy—he performed better in the bench press than five offensive linemen and five linebackers that tested in Indianapolis—and ultra quick out of the slot. I love his tape and his workout numbers gave me all the ammunition I needed to move him up the ranks. Like his Iowa State counterpart Jayden Higgins, I could see Noel being drafted late in the first round or early in the second, even though receivers his size typically don’t go that high.

CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss
Current Ranking: 48
Previous Ranking: 93
Amos is a longer corner with sticky man-to-man cover skills. I’ve dug into his tape recently, including the first two days of Senior Bowl practices, and have come to appreciate his natural movement skills. He’s also a ball hawk and worked out better than expected at the combine, posting a 4.43 40 time and a 10-foot-6 broad jump, both of which ranked in the top 10 among cornerbacks. Amos is inexperienced but toolsy and should continue developing in the NFL. I could see him being drafted as high as the top 50.

RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Current Ranking: 93
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Giddens’s workout numbers—he ranked among the top eight running backs at the combine in the 40-yard dash and the 10-yard split, fourth in the short shuttle, and tied for second in the broad jump—matched his lightning-quick agility on tape. I think he’s getting lost in the shuffle a bit in this historically loaded class, but don’t be surprised if his stock continues to rise. He was my no. 14 running back after the Senior Bowl and is up to RB9 a little over a month out from the draft.

DS Jonas Sanker, Virginia

Current Ranking: 94
Previous Ranking: Unranked
I went back and studied Sanker’s tape more after the combine, where he ranked in the top half of safeties in the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split, and both jumping drills. He has the traits of a well-rounded, top-tier safety. I think his draft range is anywhere from the late third to the early fourth round.

DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
Current Ranking: 100
Previous Ranking: Unranked
I admittedly might be a little high on Ingram-Dawkins, but he’s a former five-star recruit who battled some injuries and frustration while playing behind first-round defensive line talent at Georgia. He finally got his shot in 2024, playing in all 14 games with 10 starts and ranking fourth on the team with eight tackles for loss. He also had a career-high three sacks.
Ingram-Dawkins is a work in progress, but the tools are undeniable, and I think his best football is still ahead of him. In the late third or early fourth round, you might catch lightning in a bottle with this guy. That’s a risk I’d be willing to take as a GM in the 100-120 range of the draft.

QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 19
Sanders may have fallen only one spot in my top 100, but his place here is more about how the conversation surrounding him and this quarterback class has changed since the last time I updated these rankings in early February.
Let’s start with the positives: Sanders is the best pure passer in this draft, he’s accurate, and he throws with anticipation. He’s a surgeon when he has protection and is playing in rhythm. That said, he’s not the surefire QB2 and top-10 pick many expected him to be throughout the college football season.
We’ve spoken at length on The McShay Show about Sanders’s interview process in Indianapolis, which left two high-ranking individuals from teams drafting in the top 10 that I spoke to wondering how much the quarterback cared about their impressions of him. But most of the conversations I had coming out of Indianapolis actually focused more on Sanders’s tape, and specifically how his worst habits—such as holding on to the ball too long and turning down easy plays—are reminiscent of Caleb Williams’s a year ago. The difference between Sanders and Williams is that Caleb has the mobility and arm strength to bail himself out of bad plays in the NFL, where Sanders doesn’t have the same type of high-end traits.
Sanders may still go as high as no. 3 to the Giants, but if he’s on the board after they pick, it could be a long first night of the draft for the Colorado quarterback.

OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
Current Ranking: 22
Previous Ranking: 18
Booker’s intangibles are off the charts and the tape is damn good. However, NFL teams are having a hard time trying to unsee one of the worst combine workouts turned in by a top offensive line prospect in recent memory. Take a look at where he ranked among his position group in the following drills:
40-yard dash: 5.38 seconds (second worst among offensive linemen)
10-yard split: 1.96 seconds (worst)
Vertical jump: 27 inches (third worst)
Broad jump: 7-feet-10-inches (worst, and the only OL under 8 feet)
Short shuttle: 4.84 seconds (fifth worst)
Three-cone: 7.96 seconds (second worst)
This is the rare instance where it would have been better had the player chosen to not work out.

My First Top 100 Big Board, Including the Biggest Risers and Fallers

mcshay-report.beehiiv.com

A 1.96 10 for booker

 

[hoops]

No thanks on a 5 foot 10 290 lb guard as a starter.

Compete or not no thanks

Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a udfa

 

[Finsup1981]

Jordan Redis 7 round mock…Dolphins only rest anyone can pm me

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13. Miami Dolphins​

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Even prior to the Dolphins actively exploring trade options for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the team had a major hole at the position. Barron is capable of playing on the perimeter or inside. He logged 300-plus career snaps at all four cornerback spots (right, left, slot and wide), which shows alignment versatility unmatched by any other corner in this class. The Dolphins' 16 takeaways ranked 27th in the NFL last season, and Barron is a standout turnover generator with a career-high five interceptions in 2024.

48. Miami Dolphins​

Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona

Offensive line is a top need after Terron Armstead's retirement. Savaiinaea is a wide-bodied blocker with experience at guard and right tackle, though he projects best at guard in the NFL. Savaiinaea didn't allow a sack in the final 669 pass-blocking snaps of his college career.

98. Miami Dolphins*​

Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

The Dolphins need defensive linemen, and Walker falling to them here would be ideal. He has appealing size (6-foot-7, 331 pounds) and potential.


116. Miami Dolphins: Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State
135. Miami Dolphins*: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
150. Miami Dolphins: Dylan Fairchild, G, Georgia
155. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Jay Toia, DT, UCLA
224. Miami Dolphins (via CHI): Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon
231. Miami Dolphins: Johnny Walker Jr., Edge, Missouri
253. Miami Dolphins*: Branson Taylor, OT, Pitt

Reid's seven-round NFL mock draft: We projected fits for all 32 teams across 257 selections

Jordan Reid forecast the entire NFL draft, from the Titans' pick at No. 1 to "Mr. Irrelevant" at No. 257. See where 12 QBs and a ton of playmakers could land.

www.espn.com

 

[Finsup1981]

Schefters notes from around the league this week, some interesting nuggets

Questions loom over this draft class​

It's easy enough to figure out the top picks in this draft. Miami quarterback Cam Ward is expected to go to Tennessee with the top pick, while Colorado standout Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter are expected to be gone by New England's turn at No 4. But that's where it gets murky -- and this year might be murkier than any other in recent memory.

Multiple teams have said the player who will be drafted at No. 10 is the same quality as the player drafted at No. 32. It will be about each team's preference, but in the opinion of multiple personnel people, there is not a tremendous amount of difference.


At least one team does not have a first-round grade on any of the quarterbacks in this draft. The general manager of another team said there are "no surefire quarterback solutions" and the top-rated passer in this class -- Ward -- would be the seventh-rated passer in last year's class. "And I don't think it's close," he added. Some teams and prognosticators have predicted four quarterbacks to go in Round 1, but there are smart people around the league who believe there might only be one or two who go in the top 32 picks.

There is a scenario in which Friday night could be more interesting and active for quarterbacks than Thursday night. If fewer quarterbacks are drafted in Round 1, Rounds 2 and 3 set up to be explosive. Currently, the Browns are scheduled to hold pick No. 33, Friday night's opening selection. The Giants are next at No. 34, and the Saints are scheduled to pick No. 40 but already are making calls about trading up. In the eyes of some around the league, It's possible there could be more signal-callers selected in the first eight picks on Friday than there are in the 32 picks on Thursday.

Additionally, there isn't an elite offensive tackle in this draft. No cornerback is, in the eyes of evaluators, a can't-miss prospect. There seem to be more questions in this draft than answers. Multiple teams consider the value to be not in Round 1, but in Rounds 2 and 3 and maybe bleeding into Round 4.

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The latest on the Falcons' draft plan -- and Cousins' future​

Publicly, the Falcons have said they're not interestedin trading quarterback Kirk Cousins. Privately, they have had discussions with teams -- and have asked for a lot in return, per sources.

Atlanta has asked for any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $45 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins' contract. To date, no has been willing to do that, and no team is expected to be willing to. But what happens this weekend -- and which franchises come out of the draft with or without rookie quarterbacks -- could influence how much guaranteed money a team might be willing to absorb on Cousins' contract.

​

There is a feeling around the league that a team, whether it is the Vikings or Steelers, might be willing to pay down roughly $10 million. How much any team would be willing to pay also would influence the compensation it gives up. The higher the payment, the lower the draft compensation; the lower the payment, the higher the draft compensation. The Falcons and Cousins recognize their future is not together, and how it will play out could very well be influenced by this draft.

What could the Falcons do in the draft? As much as anything, they need pass-rush help. They have not had a player record seven sacks in a season in any of the past five years. No other team since 1982 went five straight years without a player reaching at least seven sacks in a season. Atlanta's sack leaders since 2020: Deion Jones (4.5 in 2020); Dante Fowler Jr. (4.5 in 2021); Grady Jarrett (6 in 2022); Bud Dupree and Calais Campbell (6.5 in 2023); Arnold Ebiketie (6 in 2024).


There is a belief that the Falcons' pick at No. 15 could be used on a pass rusher -- if they don't trade back. They have only five picks in this draft; if they can find a trade partner, they'd be willing to move back to stockpile extra picks.

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Where could the draft's most interesting prospect land?​

From the moment the draft process kicked off, the biggest question has been where Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be selected. It continues to be the single most intriguing storylineheading into Thursday night. No team has done more work on one player than the Giants have done on Sanders.

Officials from the Giants' organization were at most, if not all, of Sanders' games last season. They went to some of his practices. They met with him at the combine in Indianapolis in March. They flew him to New Jersey for a visit. They went to his "Showcase Day" in Boulder, Colorado. They went back to Colorado on Thursday to put Sanders through a private workout and spent a full day with him exactly one week ahead of the draft. As another NFL general manager said about the Giants general manager: "Joe Schoen has lived in Boulder."

The Giants even had access to added unique insight that no one else did: Colorado's director of on-campus recruiting for the football team is Maileka Slayton, sister of Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton.

And yet there still might not be consensus within the building about whether to draft him. There is a belief around the league that certain segments of the Giants organization want Sanders more than others. Per sources, Sanders wants to be in a place where he has the full support of an organization, and there are questions about whether the Giants fit into that category.

Here are insights into each of the three teams linked to the Sanders and their perceived level of interest in him:

New York Giants (No. 3): Scheduling a private workout for Sanders on Thursday initially seemed like a big deal, but it was not as big as it seemed. The Giants did the same thing with the top quarterbacks they considered in last year's draft. They had visits and/or private workouts with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthyand Bo Nix.

This year's private workouts came later, and closer to the draft, but that was only because Sanders held his pro day on April 4. Even if the Giants bypass Sanders with their top pick -- and there are split opinions across the league about whether they will -- they always can attempt to trade back into Round 1 to try to land him later.

As some evaluators pointed out, however, if they like him enough to trade back up for him, they should like him enough to take him at No. 3. As an NFL executive said about the Giants: "If they like Shedeur, they're taking him at 3."

New Orleans Saints (No. 9): New Orleans hasn't used a first-round pick on a quarterback since 1971, when it drafted Archie Manning at No. 1. Yet even with the drought, even with Derek Carrdealing with a lingering shoulder injury, there still is a healthy dose of skepticism the Saints are interested in Sanders at No. 9.

The Giants and Browns had full staffs in attendance at Colorado's pro day, but the Saints had limited attendance that didn't even include coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. The Saints coaches spotted at Sanders' pro day were quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien and wide receivers coach Keith Williams. If the Saints needed any further insight into Sanders, veteran running back Alvin Kamara has been training at Colorado this offseason, but it doesn't sound like they do.

There is a belief around the league that the Saints are more interested in using a high pick on an offensive or defensive lineman, because there are questions about two starters: tackle Trevor Penning and guard Nick Saldiveri. The belief is they want to draft a quarterback -- just maybe not at No. 9, and maybe not Sanders. As another personnel executive said: "I don't think New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I think they're hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart."

Speaking of Dart, there is skepticism about whether the Saints would take the Ole Miss passer at No. 9 -- it feels high to many around the league. They have an equally strong need on defense, and had a contingent of officials -- including Moore, assistant general manager Jeff Ireland and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley -- in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday to visit with defenders Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, both of whom are projected to be first-round picks.

Dart would figure to be squarely in play for the Saints' next pick, whether that's in the second round (No. 40) or a trade-up. An then there's this: New Orleans already has made exploratory calls about trading up in Round 2, per league sources, and it's worth noting it has two third- and two fourth-round picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21): Sources said the Steelers had not been planning to draft a quarterback in Round 1, but they also were not expecting Sanders to fall out of top 10. Now, all options seem to be on the table, and they are preparing in case they have the option to draft Sanders.

There has been speculation about whether Pittsburgh would trade up to secure a quarterback, and remember, it already has traded its second-round pickto Seattle for wide receiver DK Metcalf, leaving the franchise short-handed heading into the draft's early rounds. This makes it more likely the Steelers will trade back in the draft, not up.

It also might make their choice at No. 21 even more critical. If they pass on a quarterback, they very well might not have another chance to get one until Round 3. It accentuates the pressure on this pick.

In the eyes of some across the league, it now feels like Sanders could go as high as No. 3 to the Giants or as low as No. 21 to the Steelers -- with a team potentially trading up to a spot anywhere in the No. 4 to No. 20 range to select him. But what if Sanders slides past Pittsburgh? He could be the object of a trade up from a team such as the Giants, or he could fall to one of the top picks in Round 2. It all makes for great intrigue -- and the biggest predraft storyline.

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What makes the Sanders situation so unique​

Here's a point that some personnel people in the league made about Shedeur Sanders: He is the rare player whose NFL experience will be a reversal of his college experience. He has played for his father Deion Sanders throughout college; he didn't have the chance to be on his own.

Adam Schefter's NFL draft intel: Everything he's hearing ahead of Round 1

Where could Shedeur Sanders land? Which teams could make trades? What's going on with Kirk Cousins? Here's what Adam Schefter is hearing.

www.espn.com

​

 

[Finsup1981]

Now, at the NFL level, he will be without his father's presence in football for the first time, and he will have to adapt to his new life the way some players do when they go from high school to college. This, in the eyes of some, will be an opportunity for Sanders to grow, continue to learn and take his game to an even higher level.


And then there's this: Short of Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, any other coach who drafts Sanders better be comfortable with his standing within the organization. Because if that team struggles and the fan base is calling for a coaching change, speculation will start to swirl about Sanders' father taking over.

Though Deion recently finalized a five-year, $54M contract extension, his buyout is not overly restrictive. It starts at $12 million if he leaves before Dec. 31, 2025, then drops to $10 million if he leaves in 2026, $6 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028 and $3 million in 2029.

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Where are the trades? And who could get dealt?​

This draft already has made a mark all on its own: Now that it is three days away, this is the closest to the start of Round 1 that there have been no trades for first-round picks in the common draft era (since 1967).

One of the biggest reasons for the lack of movement is what evaluators perceive to be the lack of blue-chip quarterbacks; for most teams, there isn't a quarterback outside of Cam Ward (Miami) worth trading up for. The Browns inquired about the possibility trading up from No. 2, and the Giants at No. 3 were even more persistent in their efforts to try to trade up for the top pick with Tennessee. The Titans have resisted those overtures and are expected to hold on to their pick.

On the other side of things, the Steelers (No. 21) are among the teams interested in moving back from their first-round slot. That list also includes the Jaguars (5), Panthers (8), 49ers (11), Falcons (15), Seahawks (18), Buccaneers (19) and Vikings (24), who currently have four picks, the fewest any team.

There has been, however, a lack of teams willing to trade up -- at least so far. Denver is one of those: The Bronco have made inquiries about moving up in Round 1, according to sources. But there aren't many others. This always could change when players start falling and teams are on the clock.

Draft weekend is also a busy time for trades of players already on rosters. Here are players on rookie contracts who could be deemed expendable:

• Will Levis, QB, Titans
• Treylon Burks, WR, Titans
• Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Giants
• Evan Neal, OL, Giants
• Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants
• Sam Howell, QB, Seahawks
• Tyree Wilson, Edge, Raiders
• Greg Newsome II, CB, Browns
• Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jaguars
• Odafe Oweh, Edge, Ravens
• George Pickens, WR, Steelers
• Rachaad White, RB, Bucs
• Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots

And here are veterans who could be available via trade:


• Jalen Ramsey, CB, Dolphins
• Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers
• Kirk Cousins, QB, Falcons
• Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
• Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
• Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Bengals

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How high could Shough go?​

Plenty has been made about the age of Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, who turns 26 in September. Some teams view his age and experience as a positive, as they would be drafting a mature professional. To put Shough's age in perspective: He is three months older than his high school rival whom he played against four times -- 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who was drafted in 2022. The two friends from Arizona squared off in the 2020 Fiesta Bowl, not far from where they grew up, in a game in which Purdy's Iowa State team beat Shough's Oregon team 34-17.

There are teams that actually have Shough rated as their top quarterback in this draft. The concern is that, even at his age, he has only started one full season across his seven at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville, though he did make 32 career starts. He could figure into the back part of Round 1 or possibly into Round 2.

There are a group of teams after Tennessee that would like to address quarterback early, including the Browns, Giants, Saints and Steelers. Cleveland also happens to own the ever-valuable No. 33 pick, the first pick at the top of Round 2, which is why the Giants or Saints could explore trading back into Round 1 to jump them. Shough is likely to land on one of these quarterback-needy teams.

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What to make of Milroe's invite​

Just because Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was invited to attend the draft in Green Bay doesn't mean the league expects him to be picked on Thursday night. The league invites players it believes have a chance to be picked high, and even some that could still be on the board on Day 2. A team of league officials reaches out to the top prospects, but that should not be confused for a projection nor with the idea that the league has any inside info.


The league invited Milroe because he's one of the top quarterback prospects, and even if he is not picked in Round 1, he could be in attendance Friday night. Teams certainly like Milroe enough, and it's fair to say many are incredibly intrigued: "Rare physical talent," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said of Milroe last week. "Maybe the only quarterback who's faster than Lamar Jackson."

Milroe has some similarities to a quarterback named Jalen who also played at Alabama. He is 6-foot-2, 217 pounds; Jalen Hurts is 6-foot-1, 223 pounds. Both are represented by agent Nicole Lynn. Hurts went in the second round to the Eagles in 2020, while Milroe figures as a potential second-round pick to a team willing to bet on his upside.

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Jeanty's superpower, and which team could target him​

One of the strengths of this class is, undoubtedly, the running backs. Scouts Inc. has 11 ranked in the top 100, the most since a 2008 class that included Darren McFadden, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart and Jamaal Charles.

The best this year are Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina's Omarion Hampton, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. There is one factor, however, that separates Jeanty, according to evaluators. He has a remarkable ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact. In fact, Jeanty had 1,733 rushing yards after contact last season while Hampton -- regarded as the No. 2 back in this class -- had 1,660 total rushing yards. Jeanty's total rushing yards after contact are the most by any FBS player in a season over the past five years.


There are multiple personnel people who believe the Bears are praying that Jeanty slips to them at No. 10. They think new Bears coach Ben Johnson could feature Jeanty and D'Andre Swift as a two-headed duo the way the Lions did with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs when Johnson was Detroit's offensive coordinator.

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Who could be drafted higher than most think​

Each year there are players who go higher than prognosticators predict. Here are four who evaluators are expecting to go higher than projected:

• Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou now looks like a top-10 lock, with the Raiders (No. 6) and Jets (No. 7) being possible destinations.

• A pair of Texas players -- offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and cornerback Jahdae Barron, have generated less talk than some of the other prospects at their positions. But both are in position to go higher than some people realize, with Banks being in play for Miami at No. 13 and Barron being linked to the Jets at No. 7.

• UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, projected by many as a Day 2 pick, has a chance to go in the end of Round 1 to a team such as the Commanders (No. 29) or Bills (No. 30) that might be be looking for additional defensive help.

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[Finsup1981]

Will the Jags go against conventional wisdom?​

Many mock drafts have pegged the Jaguars to select Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 overall. As the venerable Lee Corso says, however -- not so fast, my friends. New GM James Gladstone -- who has 10 picks to work with, including four in the top 90 -- might not be that predictable. As one league executive said recently: "Jacksonville is a wild card -- watch."

Jaguars coach Liam Coen has long had a soft spot for wide receivers in the draft, and the top-rated wideout in this class, Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, has drawn comparisons to ... the Bucs' Mike Evans. Coen, who coached Evans last year, knows how valuable a player like that can be to an offense. Some have questions McMillan's passion for football, but others suggest he is misunderstood and that, when he's on a football field, "he's an absolute baller."

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A prospect to watch for the Jets​

The Jets, who own the No. 7 pick, have made a concerted effort to "move in silence" this offseason, as new coach Aaron Glenn put it at last month's league meeting. There has been less talking out of their building as they begin to focus on how to turn around a team that went 5-12 last season.

So what the Jets wind up doing this week still is the subject of speculation, shrouded in more secrecy than usual. But they did recently and quietly have Penn State's Tyler Warren in for a visit, and there are certain members of their organization who are said to be enamored with the player many consider to be the top tight end in this class.

If the Jets target the other side of the ball, some people around the league believe Glenn could target a cornerback, with Texas' Jahdae Barron as an option. Glenn, of course, played cornerback for 15 seasons in the NFL.

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Will the Browns take another QB?​

Welcome back to the top of the draft, Cleveland. The Browns have not made a top-50 pick in any of the past three drafts. Since 1990, the only other team to go three consecutive years without a top-50 pick was the Rams, who had a five-year streak from 2018 to 2022. At least they have a Super Bowl title to show for it, though.

The Browns will be returning to the top 50 in style, holding the No. 2 overall pick and the opening pick, No. 33, on Day 2. The closer the draft has gotten, however, the more it has seemed like they will not take over the league lead for drafting the most quarterbacks since returning to the NFL in 1999. They have drafted five in Round 1, tying Chicago and Washington for the highest total. Cleveland's first-round QBs since 1999: Tim Couch (1999), Brady Quinn (2007), Brandon Weeden (2012), Johnny Manziel (2014) and Baker Mayfield (2018). Those five combined for a 61-97 (.386) record with the Browns.

It feels as if Cleveland will not go quarterback in Round 1 on Thursday, but nobody would be surprised if its next pick -- whenever it comes -- turns out to be a passer.

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Ohio State's 'special' player -- and class​

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard played with a number of NFL prospects on the school's national championship team last season. Asked earlier this month on The Adam Schefter Podcast to point out one teammate who is set to have a special NFL career, Howard didn't hesitate.

"One guy I've been saying over and over, and I think he's a special guy, is Emeka Egbuka," Howard said. "He's been special throughout his whole career here, and he's going to be special at the next level. I see something different with him, man. He's got unbelievable route-running ability, he's got great speed, he's got some of the best hands that I've been around. On top of that man, he's one of the best guys I've been around. He's super into his faith, understands the game like a quarterback. You could sit him down in a quarterback meeting and he spit stuff out damn near like I could, and it's pretty impressive. I know he's got a really bright future ahead of him."

Egbuka figures to be selected somewhere in the 20s. Ohio State had 15 prospects in Matt Miller's seven-round mock draft, the most of any school. If there are 15 Buckeyes drafted, it would be the program's most in a single year, surpassing the 14 it had selected in 2004.

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Expect a Day 2 run on receivers​

Thursday night of the draft always is the headliner. But Friday night gives teams just as much of a chance to upgrade their roster. One of the strengths of the 2025 class is the wide receiver talent available on Day 2, where Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates had nine wideouts being selected in their most recent mock draft.

Two of those receivers are likely to be Iowa State standouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Others that could fall in that range include Washington State's Kyle Williams and TCU duo of Jack Bech and Savion Williams. Last year, there was a run on second-day receivers that included Keon Coleman going No. 33 to Buffalo and Ladd McConkey going No. 34 to the Chargers. There is expected to be another Day 2 receiver run this year.

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Can the Titans add more premium picks?​

A team looking for more firepower on Friday night will be the Titans, who in a bit of irony don't have a third-round pick thanks to their own general manager, Mike Borgonzi. Just over a year ago, Borgonzi was the assistant GM for the Chiefs and a central figure in the trade that sent cornerback L'Jarius Sneed from Kansas City to Tennessee in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder

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Expect the Texans, Eagles to be active​

No general manager seems to enjoy making draft weekend deals more than the Texans' Nick Caserio. During the four drafts he has run, the Texans have made a remarkable 22 trades either shortly before or during the draft, including one with the Vikings on March 15 last year that netted Houston the 2025 second-round pick Caserio turned into wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

The trade with the Vikings was just a warmup for draft weekend, when the Texans went on to make three more deals -- two with the Eagles and one with the Lions that involved nine draft picks in last year's draft. As busy as they were last year, it was nothing compared to how active they've been during other drafts.

During the 2023 draft, they made eight trades, including the move up for edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3 overall. During the 2022 draft, they made seven. During the 2021 draft, they made three. If history is any guide, the Texans -- who have seven picks this year -- will be moving all around the board again this weekend.

Speaking of trades, no team is in a better position to make them this week than the Eagles. They own 20 selections over the next two drafts -- more than the actual number of players who can make their team. Therefore, they have added bargaining power should they try to trade for available veterans -- a certain possibility during the draft -- or if they decide in a less-likely scenario that they want to move up.

Moving up is what they've consistently done in the past. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman traded up in 2019 to get offensive tackle Andre Dillard, in 2021 to get wide receiver DeVonta Smith, in 2022 to get defensive lineman Jordan Davis and in 2023 to get Jalen Carter, Davis' college teammate. With the added pick firepower, Philadelphia is armed to make more trades, but deals for veterans instead of moving up in Round 1 are considered more likely.

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Could the Seahawks trade a QB, then draft one?​

John Schneider has done many good things during his 17 years as the Seahawks general manager. He just hasn't drafted many quarterbacks. The only two quarterbacks he has drafted are Russell Wilson in the third round in 2012 and Alex McGough in the seventh round in 2018.

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Quick-hit notes​

• One source predicted this is going to be one of the most talented lists of priority free agent (PFAs) in recent years. The class is filled with players who won't get drafted but have draftable grades on them. It's two COVID classes and underclassmen combined together. Prospects who normally are late-round picks now will go undrafted and become PFAs. The Vikings have only four picks, so they would figure to sign as many of these players as they could. The Falcons, who have five picks, also will be in the mix.


• Contrary to internet speculation, the Eagles are not trading A.J. Brown. The star wide receiver signed a three-year extension a year ago this week.

• Once he is picked Thursday night, Colorado standout Travis Hunter wants to make sure NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces him as a cornerback and a wide receiver.

• Once again, North Dakota State has a quarterback prospect in the NFL pipeline in Cam Miller, who threw 33 touchdown passes and had just four interceptions last season. The Steelers, Jets and Broncos all sent their quarterback coaches to North Dakota State last month to meet with Miller, who is expected to be a late-round pick.

• At 464 pounds, Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson could become the heaviest draft pick in NFL history.

 

[Finsup1981]

This UDFA class is supposed to be one of the best ever, let’s hope the good guys sign the guys we are scouting and competing with other teams for.

 

[MrClean]

Great points, I just feel there are other guards that would fit what we do better, for example Jackson and Savaiinaea give you that same power and nastiness but can also get to the 2nd level much better and tested far better at the combine, plus I think he has the ability to fill in at tackle in a pinch whereas Booker is strictly a guard. I wouldn’t be unhappy with Booker because he can’t be worse than Eich but only if some of these other guys are off the board.

This video explaining wide zone is Alex Mirabal when he was Oregon's OL coach. Now, he is the Canes' OL coach. He and Cristobal seem joined at the hip. Wherever Cristobal goes, Mirabal follows. Watch the LG and see if it looks like he is being asked to do anything Booker could not do.

 

[Finsup1981]

McShays AFC draft mailbag, great read to get an idea of what players and positions the teams are targeting

Baltimore Ravens
With the Ravens historically leaning into a best-player-available philosophy but clearly having needs at edge and corner heading into the 2025 draft, how do you see them balancing immediate roster needs with long-term value? Are there any prospects you think fit the Ravens’ mold in terms of scheme, personality, or developmental upside?
—Carter

Guard, corner, and edge are areas they could address in the first two days. I also think interior defensive line is a place they could go. I think Mason Graham is going off the board in the top 10 picks, and I doubt Derrick Harmon will still be available when the Ravens draft at 27. But I do think there’s a chance that Walter Nolen—who has some off-field baggage but might be the most physically gifted IDL in this class—or Kenneth Grant could be there. Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori might also be available. My guess? Baltimore will sit back, be patient, and wind up with a damn good football player that most of the league didn’t expect to be there for them at 27. That’s just how they do business.

Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills fan here! If by some miracle the Bills had the choice between Derrick Harmon or Kenneth Grant at pick 30, who do you think they would prefer to plug into their existing scheme?
—Pete
The intel I’m getting is that Derrick Harmon will not be available with this pick, but if he is, I’d love to see him teamed up with Ed Oliver along that interior. That said, while Kenneth Grant doesn’t have as high of a grade from me, he might actually be a better complement to Oliver, who’s a 6-foot-1, 287-pound 3-technique. Having a 6-foot-4 330-pounder like Grant next to Oliver would be pretty awesome to watch.
I also think the Bills could strongly consider drafting a corner at 30 if one they like is on the board. It’s the need that stands out most to me, even with the recent signing of Tre’Davious White, who at this point in his career might be more of a depth piece than a reliable starter. Maxwell Hairston (my CB3) might not be there when they pick, but I could see Buffalo trading down into the second round and targeting a first-round talent like Benjamin Morrison, who had excellent 2023 tape and would be available only because of injury questions.

Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have so many needs (G, IDL, Edge, S, LB) that the ideal move seems to be moving down 4-5 spots from 17 to grab Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen, or Kelvin Banks Jr. while also pocketing an additional third-rounder. What would you do at 17 if you were Duke Tobin?
—Bryan
If Duke Tobin gets a great offer to move back, by all means, collect as much draft capital as possible. But if you move back, you’re at risk of your top target no longer being on the board, and if he’s your guy, that’s not necessarily a risk worth taking. Harmon may not be available at 17 regardless, but I’m with you on Nolen. He’s supremely talented, and I think Cincinnati is a team that might be comfortable with some of the off-field red flags that could cause him to slide. As for Banks, I’m not sure he’ll be available even if they stick and pick at 17.
I also think—regardless what happens with Trey Hendrickson—that edge would be a position they’d like to target early. And while there’s a lot of depth in this class in the late-second-to-early-third-round range, there is a big drop-off after the first seven guys that project as first-rounders. Because this is such a coveted class, Tobin may actually need to move up a couple spots to secure his guy, rather than moving back and hoping someone falls.

Cleveland Browns
Hi Todd! Diehard Browns fan from Jersey City. My question: The Browns have obviously coalesced around Travis Hunter. What happened in the last 10 days? It seemed like many mocks had Carter or Sanders, but the flip has happened. Given the strength of the secondary (Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward), it seems like a pick of luxury.
—Patrick
Hey, Patrick! I actually don’t know whether anything has changed in the past 10 days, as I (and many GMs in the NFL) have learned that your GM, Andrew Berry, is pretty good at getting misinformation out there.
What I do know is this: Travis Hunter is one of the most special athletes I’ve evaluated in over two decades of doing this. And he’s about to venture on a path that no player in the NFL has traveled before. The Jets selected Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner with two of their 2022 picks—the Browns could get pretty damn close to that package with just that no. 2 pick if they use it on Hunter.
I love Abdul Carter. I think he’ll be a great player in the NFL. But if I’m Andrew Berry, I’m not passing on the opportunity to draft a once-in-a-lifetime prospect in Hunter.

Denver Broncos
Which of the first-round-graded running backs would be the best fit for Sean Payton's offense?
—Lindsay
Sean Payton wants a bruiser who’s also versatile. To me, that screams Omarion Hampton, who, as a 220-pound power back, ranked in the 96th percentile in missed tackles forced as a receiver last season at UNC.
But I have this hunch that Payton will take advantage of the interior defensive line depth or grab a talent like Jihaad Campbell, should he fall to 20. My understanding is that Payton believes he can find some skill guys later in day two and day three (think Michael Thomas in 2016 and Alvin Kamara in 2017) that he can turn into big-time players in his scheme. There’s some evidence to back this theory, too. Over Payton’s final decade with the Saints, New Orleans selected just one offensive skill player (Brandin Cooks in 2014) in the first round while taking three DEs, two DBs, two OCs, a DT, and an OT.

Houston Texans
As a Texans fan, I’ve watched Nick Caserio hit on quarterback, cornerback, edge rusher, safety, wide receiver, and linebacker in all different rounds, but whiff massively on offensive line (both high in the draft and in free agency). It’s so odd that they can be excellent at evaluating so many positions while being so bad at one in particular. Help me be optimistic about the guy they’ll take in the first round this year!
—Jeff
I hear you, Jeff. Nick’s mentor in this business is Bill Belichick, who’s considered by most as the greatest coach in the history of the NFL. But he had far more misses than hits on early-round wide receivers, running backs, and cornerbacks. Point being: No one is batting a thousand when it comes to the draft and free agency. I’m not making excuses for Nick—as you mentioned, his track record speaks for itself. But I have a ton of respect for what he’s done in Houston and in New England, where he was a big part of building those championship rosters. One other thing to remember: Outside of QB, no position gets pushed up more on night one of the draft than OT. So sometimes you wind up having to take a player at that position a little higher than you would like.
Spinning it forward to this year, the Texans sit at 25 and could have their choice between guys like OT Josh Simmons, who’s the most physically gifted offensive lineman in the class but comes with some immaturity and injury flags, and OG Tyler Booker, who had the worst combine performance of all the OLs in this year’s group but is a road-grading tone-setter and one of the highest-character prospects in the draft. Given DeMeco Ryans’s ties to Alabama, I might lean toward Booker being the pick. Regardless, I think they’ve got a good chance to get a starting OL at 25 if that’s the direction they want to go.

Indianapolis Colts
Lifelong Colts fan here. It SEEMS obvious the Colts look at TE with the first pick but the reality is they need A LOT of contributors on both sides of the ball to take the division. Could we see a mini run on TEs if Tyler Warren goes earlier than widely projected, like 5 or 7? And if a TE isn’t there, are the Colts trading back for more chances at beefing up the lines or are they going with best available at 14?
—Matt
It does seem like everyone in the world is “mocking” a tight end to the Colts at 14, and for a while I was asking myself the same question you asked here. What if there’s a run on TE before 14? Where would the Colts go? But for what it’s worth, the closer we get to the draft, the more confident I am that one of the top two TEs (and perhaps both) will be available for Indy.
To answer your second question, unless it’s a significant trade down to the early second round, I’m not sure there’ll be a lot of small movement (five to seven spots) in the first round. More realistically, I think their best bet at 14 (should both of those TEs be gone) is to hope for a tackle like Armand Membou to fall or to simply take their highest-graded edge. Abdul Carter and Jalon Walker will likely be gone in the top 10, but at 14, the Colts would be in the middle of what I expect to be a five-player run at edge in Round 1.
Still, I would love to see Chris Ballard land Warren or Colston Loveland to provide Anthony Richardson and/or Daniel Jones with a chess piece in the passing game. If the opportunity is there, it makes too much sense.

Jacksonville Jaguars
I’m a Jaguars fan and have been trying to go through the possible options outside of Mason Graham, especially looking at the “combo pick” thought experiment that y’all went through. Could you talk through who the Jags could take with that second-round pick depending if they choose to go either Graham or Jalon Walker in the first? Would love to hear which path out of the two you believe is more beneficial to the team.
—Hayden
Hey, Hayden, thanks for being a friend of the show. Based on conversations I’ve had recently, I’m actually starting to think Jacksonville will buck expectations and target an offensive skill player with this pick. Liam Coen is an offense-first guy, and he was brought in to get the most out of Trevor Lawrence. There’s been some buzz about Tetairoa McMillan at 5, and while it’s not necessarily something I would do, it does make some sense.
Lawrence had success with larger receivers in college—Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins combined for 42 touchdown catches and almost 4,000 receiving yards over a two-year span with Lawrence at Clemson—but he’s mostly thrown to smaller guys (with less margin for error) in the NFL. What better way to help a QB who’s had accuracy issues than to give him a big-bodied target with a massive catch radius?
If McMillan is the choice, I could see Jacksonville targeting a couple of man-to-man cover corners in Trey Amos and Azareye’h Thomas at 36. I’d also like to see the Jaguars land a tight end on day two. I think Terrance Ferguson—with his 4.63-second 40-yard dash—could make a lot of sense with that 70th pick.

Kansas City Chiefs
Lived in KC my whole life, longtime Chiefs fan. Offensive tackle is clearly a need, but I don’t see anyone being available at 31 who’s an immediate upgrade over Jaylon Moore or Jawaan Taylor (unless someone like Josh Simmons or Josh Conerly Jr. falls, which seems unlikely). More realistically, I think a top DL might slide. My dream pick is Walter Nolen, though he’ll probably be gone. With Hollywood Brown on a short deal and Rashee Rice likely facing suspension early on, what do you think about a luxury pick like Luther Burden III at 31 for KC?
—Max
You’re all over it with your thinking on the offensive lineman, Max. At this point, I think there’s a shot Conerly will be available, but I won’t be surprised if both he and Simmons are gone when the Chiefs pick at 31. I think Brett Veach and Andy Reid realized that possibility, and it could be why they brought in Jaylon Moore.
And I hear you on Burden. I do think that Reid would have a lot of fun cooking up different ways to deploy and utilize a player who’s most commonly compared to Deebo Samuel. But there are a couple of reasons I’m not sure if that will be the case. First, I agree with you that one or two DLs (Nolen, like you mentioned, and perhaps James Pearce Jr., who is the second-best pure pass rusher in this class, in my opinion) could fall and would be hard to pass on for a wide receiver. And second, the age-old theory in personnel departments is that when a player is entering the league with some external challenges (practice habits and general immaturity, in the case of Burden), getting them away from their hometown is the best practice.

Las Vegas Raiders
If the Raiders take Jeanty, I’ll drop to the floor and cry. I love Jeanty as much as I’ve loved every running back that has ever been considered a top-10 talent at the position. The Raiders simply aren’t ready for him. He’s the cherry to a sundae à la Saquon to the Eagles, but there is no sundae in LV right now. We need OL/DL. I want Graham or Campbell or Membou or a trade back for a corner like Barron. Am I wrong?!
—Austin
Austin, I’m impressed by your maturity. I’m sure you’re in the minority among your Raiders friends, but I don’t disagree with your premise here. In fact, after talking with some people in the league over the weekend, I no longer expect Jeanty to be the pick at 6. Don’t be surprised if the Raiders start a run on edge rushers at 6, with Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams the most obvious fits. Many teams have Walker higher on their board, but my gut tells me Pete Caroll could bet on traits and take Williams here.

 

[Finsup1981]

Los Angeles Chargers
Hi Todd. I’m a big fan of your podcast and website! How would you compare and contrast Walter Nolen vs. Derrick Harmon vs. Kenneth Grant at DT in a Jesse Minter scheme? Thanks!
—Josh
I get the strong sense that even if all three were on the board, Grant would be the pick. But let’s go through the exercise anyway.
Walter Nolen has a combination of quickness and power that makes him unique, and he’s versatile enough to fit in just about every scheme. Again, where you’re comfortable taking him with the character red flags is on a team-to-team basis.
As for Harmon and Grant, they couldn’t be more different players. Harmon’s a 3-technique who’s sensational with his quick hands and feet, while Grant is a massive, 330-pound space-eater with unique mobility for his size and untapped pass rushing potential. I see some Dexter Lawrence in his game.
I look at Minter and that scheme in a vacuum and believe that Harmon fits the system best, but I think Grant would complement Christian Wilkins better. I won’t be shocked if he’s the pick here.

Miami Dolphins
I’m a Miami Dolphins fan and I see everyone giving them an offensive lineman in the first round. This regime doesn’t historically value offensive linemen, so what other position could they look at in the first round? What offensive lineman would be a good fit for them in round 2-3?
—Tom
I’ll be honest, Tom, the Dolphins are entering this year’s draft with more needs than I expected them to have, and the Jalen Ramsey situation certainly doesn’t help matters. Let’s go through some of their options at 13.

It’s looking like Will Campbell and Armand Membou will be gone, and it’s possible that Kelvin Banks Jr., who I’m hearing they like with this pick, could be off the board as well. If there isn’t an OT they like available at 13, I could see them filling a need at CB here. Last year, the top cornerbacks slid a bit in the first round, but I think a run could start at this position in the early teens on Thursday. If they want to take the top CB not named Travis Hunter, they might have their choice between Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron at 13. With Ramsey’s departure and the combo coverages that they play, I think Johnson would be a good fit.
You’d probably feel better about moving back and taking the other positions I’m looking at—safety, interior defensive line—a little later, but that might not be an option. As for Miami’s second-round pick, my favorite target is Aireontae Ersery. He’s a brick wall at 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, and he ran a 5.01-second 40 at the combine. I think he’s the only potential day-two pick at OT that has a strong probability of becoming a good left tackle in the NFL. That said, I could see him going earlier than 48, so they might have to trade up.

New England Patriots
With Will Campbell in mind as a Patriots fan, why/how does wingspan matter for an offensive tackle beyond arm length?
—Max
Length is an important trait because of the advantage or disadvantage it creates when working against defensive linemen who could have 34- or 35-inch arms. Generally speaking, guys with long arms are able to get inside the pads of defensive linemen and utilize that length to control them. The longer your arms, the easier it is to lock out a defensive lineman and not allow him to get into your pads. As a run blocker, longer arms also allow you to pass blockers off as you’re working to the second level.

But when you’re evaluating arm length with an OL such as Campbell, the question you have to ask is: How often do you see that shortcoming show up? In other words, is he good enough as a technician with his quick hands, leverage, and placement to overcome the lack of ideal length? Or is it something that keeps popping up on tape that I’m concerned about at the next level?
For Campbell specifically, the biggest flaw I see in pass protection is when outside edge rushers cross quickly in front of his face while he’s getting set. The good news, as has been the case with other shorter-armed OTs like Rashawn Slater, is that Campbell is such a technician and will work so hard on tendencies on a week-to-week basis that he should be able to overcome that weakness. If the Pats draft him at no. 4, that’s what they’ll be counting on. Look for a proof of concept in Joe Staley and Joe Thomas, who both had excellent NFL careers despite their sub-34-inch arms.

New York Jets
If the Jets view RT as a position they need to come out of the draft with a day one starter, do they need to target one at pick 7 or pick 42? Or is there anyone we can realistically expect to get as a day one starter at RT with pick 73?
—Chris
I’m glad you asked this question. This type of hypothetical scenario is exactly what the Jets and other teams are trying to work out during the first two rounds of the draft.
If you’re new Jets GM Darren Mougey and you’re looking at this board, you’ve probably got a higher grade on TE Tyler Warren or a pass rusher than you do on the OTs. The tricky part is you’re not picking again until 42. At that point, Will Campbell, Armand Membou, Kelvin Banks Jr., Josh Simmons, Josh Conerly Jr., and possibly Aireontae Ersery will be off the board. So what are your options? The two guys I think could be available are Marcus Mbow, who’s more likely to be a guard, and Ozzy Trapilo, who I think will be a solid but unspectacular starter at right tackle. You’d feel good about getting Membou at no. 7 if you knew you could get Miami TE Elijah Arroyo at 42, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be available.
One final thought on this: the closer we get to the draft, the more I'm hearing the Jets could target a defensive player with their first-round pick. It is Aaron Glenn's team, after all. Keep an eye on Texas corner Jahdae Barron and possibly Michigan interior defensive tackle Mason Graham, should he be available at 7. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jets draft the best defensive player on their board and hope a tackle they like falls to them in Round 2, regardless how unlikely that may seem right now. They’d be better off taking the best player available in the top 10 than reaching for a perceived need.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Love your and Muench’s work. What are the odds the Steelers trade out of 21? Seems like if they need a running back, they can trade out and still get a good one later in the draft. That gives them the freedom to address their other needs like corner or defensive tackle.
—Ben
I agree that RB is up there in terms of needs, and my guess is Omar Khan would love to trade back if he has a dance partner, given that they don’t have a second-rounder after trading theirs for DK Metcalf. TreVeyon Henderson would be great in that offense, and I think there’s some love inside that building for him.
That said, I’m not sure there will be many options to trade back in this first round. If the Steelers are sticking and picking, I think interior defensive line would be their top priority, followed by cornerback. With Mason Graham off the board in the top 10 and Derrick Harmon likely unavailable as well, you’d potentially be looking at Walter Nolen and Kenneth Grant as the top IDL candidates at 21. Will Johnson, who had great 2023 tape but struggled with injuries this past season, could also fall to them and represent good value at a position of need.

Tennessee Titans
Hey Todd! I have been loving your podcast and reports. Thanks for all you and your team are doing. My question is regarding the Titans. Do you think they are considering shaking up the draft and trading Jeffery Simmons for more draft capital? They have brought in at least FIVE interior defensive players for 30 visits. Many of these are projected in rounds 2 and 3, and the Titans currently do not have a third-round pick. They seem pretty interested in somehow gaining back a third-rounder. Of course they will probably look to trade Will Levis, but they aren't getting a third for him. So what do you think? Big Jeff on the trade block?
—Chelsie
Good on you, Chelsie. I actually saw the top-30 visits too and made a similar mental note about how many IDLs they brought in. Some of the names that jump out to me are Darius Alexander, Vernon Broughton, Cam Jackson, Omarr Norman-Lott, and Elijah Roberts, all of whom could be day-two selections.
To answer your question directly, I think they’re less inclined to trade Simmons and more likely to move up using a combination of their six day-three picks to target reinforcements at the position. Because this IDL group is so deep and Tennessee picks so early in the fourth round, they may be able to get a quality player on day three without having to trade up. To me, scheduling as many top-30 visits as they did is about understanding the draft board and being very smart and diligent about where guys could be selected. All of this is due diligence to make sure they’re prepared if presented with that opportunity.

 

[Finsup1981]

PFFs big board Dolphins version
OFFENSE

Offensive Coordinator: MIKE MCDANIEL (HC)
QB Alignment: SHOTGTUN (50.8%), UNDER CENTER, PISTOL (28.2%)
Heavy Play Action?: YES (203, 7TH)
Passing Personnel: 21, 22, 11
Run Concept: MAN (29.27%), ZONE (50.85%)
Running Game Plan: SINGLE-BACK, TWO-BACK
DEFENSE

Defensive Coordinator: ANTHONY WEAVER (DC)
Safety Alignment: SINGLE (49.0%), TWO-HIGH (51.0%)
Coverage Scheme: ZONE (61.94%)
Cornerback Alignment: OFF
Coverage Formation: NICKEL
Defensive Front: 3-4


TEAM
TOP 100 BIG BOARD

RK PLAYER POSITION TEAM NEED LABEL
1 Travis Hunter WIDE ZONE CB PRIMARY STARTER
2 Abdul Carter 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
3 Mason Graham 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
4 Will Campbell MAN/GAP OT ANCILLARY DEPTH
5 Will Johnson WIDE ZONE CB PRIMARY STARTER
6 Walter Nolen 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
7 Kenneth Grant NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
8 Kelvin Banks Jr. ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
9 Armand Membou ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
10 Jahdae Barron WIDE ZONE CB PRIMARY STARTER
11 Grey Zabel ZONE C SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
12 Malaki Starks COVERAGE S PRIMARY STARTER
13 Shemar Stewart 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
14 Cameron Ward QB SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
15 Nick Emmanwori BOX SS PRIMARY STARTER
16 Tetairoa McMillan X WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
17 Emeka Egbuka Z WR SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
18 Ashton Jeanty RB NO NEED DEPTH
19 Shavon Revel WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
20 Trey Amos WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
21 Jalon Walker MIKE LB ANCILLARY DEPTH
22 Tyler Warren Y-TE ANCILLARY DEPTH
23 Jihaad Campbell MIKE LB ANCILLARY DEPTH
24 Mike Green 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
25 Josh Conerly Jr. ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
26 Benjamin Morrison WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
27 Luther Burden III Z WR SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
28 Donovan Ezeiruaku 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
29 Derrick Harmon 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
30 Donovan Jackson ZONE OG PRIMARY STARTER
31 Josh Simmons ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
32 Matthew Golden Z WR SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
33 Maxwell Hairston WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
34 James Pearce Jr. 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
35 Xavier Watts COVERAGE S PRIMARY STARTER
36 Kevin Winston Jr. COVERAGE S PRIMARY STARTER
37 Darius Alexander 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
38 Princely Umanmielen 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
39 Omarr Norman-Lott 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
40 Colston Loveland F-TE ANCILLARY DEPTH
41 Nic Scourton 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
42 Mykel Williams 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
43 Shedeur Sanders QB SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
44 Bradyn Swinson 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
45 Jared Ivey 3-4 DE PRIMARY STARTER
46 Landon Jackson 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
47 Oluwafemi Oladejo 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
48 Tyleik Williams NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
49 Andrew Mukuba COVERAGE S PRIMARY STARTER
50 Tate Ratledge ZONE OG PRIMARY STARTER
51 Jonah Savaiinaea MAN/GAP OG SECONDARY STARTER
52 T.J. Sanders 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
53 JT Tuimoloau 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
54 Marcus Mbow ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
55 Jalen Milroe QB SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
56 Jaxson Dart QB SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
57 Omarion Hampton RB NO NEED DEPTH
58 Kaleb Johnson RB NO NEED DEPTH
59 Darien Porter WIDE ZONE CB PRIMARY STARTER
60 Azareye'h Thomas WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
61 TreVeyon Henderson RB NO NEED DEPTH
62 Carson Schwesinger WILL LB ANCILLARY DEPTH
63 Tre Harris X WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
64 CJ West NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
65 Tyler Booker MAN/GAP OG SECONDARY STARTER
66 Kyle Williams Z WR SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
67 Alfred Collins NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
68 Elic Ayomanor X WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
69 Elijah Arroyo F-TE ANCILLARY DEPTH
70 Jayden Higgins X WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
71 Shemar Turner 3-TECH DT PRIMARY STARTER
72 Jalen Royals Z WR SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
73 Jaylin Noel SLOT WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
74 Aireontae Ersery ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
75 Demetrius Knight Jr. WILL LB ANCILLARY DEPTH
76 Josaiah Stewart 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
77 Dylan Sampson RB NO NEED DEPTH
78 Jack Bech SLOT WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
79 Mason Taylor F-TE ANCILLARY DEPTH
80 Quinshon Judkins RB NO NEED DEPTH
81 Damien Martinez RB NO NEED DEPTH
82 Kyle Kennard 3-4 EDGE SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
83 Lathan Ransom BOX SS PRIMARY STARTER
84 Ozzy Trapilo MAN/GAP OT ANCILLARY DEPTH
85 Elijah Roberts 3-4 DE PRIMARY STARTER
86 Jaydon Blue RB NO NEED DEPTH
87 Vernon Broughton 3-4 DE PRIMARY STARTER
88 Jordan Burch 4-3 EDGE ANCILLARY ROTATIONAL
89 Cam'Ron Jackson NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
90 Charles Grant ZONE OT SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
91 Wyatt Milum ZONE OG PRIMARY STARTER
92 Dillon Gabriel QB SECONDARY ROTATIONAL
93 RJ Harvey RB NO NEED DEPTH
94 Cameron Williams MAN/GAP OT ANCILLARY DEPTH
95 Savion Williams X WR ANCILLARY DEPTH
96 Jordan Phillips NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER
97 Jalen Rivers MAN/GAP OT ANCILLARY DEPTH
98 Nohl Williams WIDE MAN CB PRIMARY STARTER
99 R.J. Mickens BOX SS PRIMARY STARTER
100 Jamaree Caldwell NOSE TACKLE PRIMARY STARTER