[Dynasty] 2019 NFL Draft Class (7 Viewers)

During the Senior Bowl opening press conference, director of operations Jim Nagy told reporters that no GM he spoke with gave Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson below a third-round grade.

Well that's interesting. Before you say this was a small sample size, Nagy said that he called 10 general managers to get their opinion on the Northwestern quarterback. Thorson was able to return from a terrible ACL injury and led the Wildcats to an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game and a victory in the Holiday Bowl. He opted out of the Senior Bowl, but even without playing in the event, it sounds like Thorson could be a Day 2 pick.

Source: The Draft Network on Twitter 

Jan 21 - 6:53 PM

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ESPN's Steve Wuench lists Stetson TE Donald Parham as a player whose stock can rise with a strong Senior Bowl.

This is an interesting tight end class, and one that could be even more intriguing if Parham (6'7/240) is legit. He posted an 85-1,319-13 line for the Hatters in 2019, so it won't be a question of production. "He's smooth transitioning upfield after the catch and is a long strider with good top-end speed," writes Wuench. "He's at his best working out of the slot. " The questions come from whether or not Parham can block, as he wasn't asked to do much of it at Stetson. As Wuench mentions, that's less of a concern now as tight ends aren't asked to block as much as they used to. We're excited to read the reports from Mobile.

Source: ESPN 

Jan 21 - 5:38 PM

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Gardner Minshew - QB -  Cougars

ESPN's Todd McShay believes that Washington State QB Gardner Minshew is a Day 3 prospect at this point.

Minshew put up incredible numbers in his only season at Washington State, and he went from battling for the starting job to legitimate Heisman contender until his less-than-spectacular play against Washington in the Apple Cup. McShay notes that Minshew has plenty of confidence and energy, and he "he displays adequate arm strength and above-average accuracy on tape." The issue right now is that Minshew didn't get a chance to show off the ability to make those tight window throws he'll have to make in the NFL. "Scouts will want to see how the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder does under center with the timing of his drops and anticipating throws this week," McShay closes. "Right now, he is a Day 3 prospect."

Source: ESPN 

Jan 21 - 4:12 PM

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T.J. Hockenson - TE -  Hawkeyes

The Draft Network's Jon Ledyard projects the Packers to select Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson with the 12th pick in his latest mock draft.

Hockenson is getting lots of love in mocks as of late, with NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah projecting the Iowa tight end to Detroit with the eighth pick. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end is viewed by most as the top all-around tight end in the class, and considering how poorly the Jimmy Graham experiment went, it's a position of need for the Packers. On paper -- and that's all this can be, anyway -- this makes an awful lot of sense.

Source: NFL Draft Scout 

Jan 21 - 3:58 PM

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ESPN's Todd McShay believes that West Virginia QB Will Grier needs to show more anticipation at the Reese's Senior Bowl.

One of the common criticisms of Grier is that he needs to see receivers open before he makes throws, and quite frankly, that's not going to work at the NFL level. McShay notes this, but also notes that the former Mountaineer has good accuracy on "all three levels." Grier has fallen behind some of the quarterbacks in this class, so if he can show more anticipation on his throws, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Grier could get back into the first-round consideration.

Source: ESPN 

Jan 21 - 2:09 PM

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler lists Old Dominion WR Travis Fulgham as a potential late-riser playing in the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Brugler has UMass wideout Andy Isabella as the top wideout on his board for the Senior Bowl, but Fulgham (6'3/215) was outstanding at the end of the year for the Monarchs, and finished with 63 receptions and 1083 yards. " Fulgham, who recorded a touchdown in the final nine games of his collegiate career, is a large-framed athlete who is still discovering how good he can be," Brugler writes. "The Senior Bowl could be a launch pad for his rise."

Source: The Athletic 

Jan 21 - 11:50 AM

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ESPN's Todd McShay calls Missouri QB Drew Lock a "poor man's Patrick Mahomes."

Poor man aside, this is obviously high praise for Lock (6'4/225). McShay notes that Lock had to make some adjustments in his first year in a pro-style offense, and there were some bumps in the road. He also notes that there is no denying Lock's talent, while noting he does need to improve his footwork to help with his accuracy. " He is the most naturally gifted of the Senior Bowl quarterbacks," McShay closes, "and I think he has the most to gain during the week."

Source: ESPN 

Jan 21 - 11:43 AM

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Slippery Rock RB Wes Hills accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.

This is a fun one. Hills (6'2/215) really impressed at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices, and then went on to win the MVP of the game while rushing for 79 yards on 10 carries with a score. "A grown man at 6-2 and 218 pounds, his size and quick feet make him a chore to finish to the ground," writes The Athletic's Dane Brugler. "Former NFL head coach Mike Tice, who coached Hills at the NFLPA Bowl, compared the Delaware transfer to a "not as fast" Robert Smith." We're excited to see how he does.

Source: The Athletic 

Jan 21 - 11:06 AM

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Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin was clocked as the fastest player on the field during practice for the Reese's Senior Bowl on Tuesday.

McLaurin was clocked at 22.1 mph using the Zebra Technology, which is fast. In fact, the only player who came within an mph of McLaurin was defensive back Corey Ballantine. There were loads of good reports on the former Ohio State wideout on Tuesday, as he shows impressive speed and made some nifty plays on the football. His draft stock is certainly on the rise after Tuesday, even if it is only one day.

Source: Reese's Senior Bowl 

Jan 22 - 6:44 PM

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Jarrett Stidham - QB -  Tigers

Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline passes along that Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham was "right on the mark" during Tuesday's Senior Bowl practice.

Pauline dished on Stidham's Tuesday practice on his podcast, The Draft Analysts, noting that the Auburn signal-caller "showed some terrific arm strength" and that receivers "weren't waiting for the ball." The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is looking to put a good foot forward to start the draft process after he posted a wayward campaign with the Tigers in 2018. Pauline hits Stidham up with a Round 2-3 grade at this stage in the process.

Source: Bleav Podcast Network on Twitter 

Jan 22 - 5:33 PM

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Deebo Samuel - WR -  Gamecocks

At the Reese's Senior Bowl, South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel measured in at 5-foot-11, 216 pounds with 10 1/8-inch hands.

Samuel boasts the biggest paws of any receiver down in Mobile. During Tuesday interviews with the media, the loquacious wideout ran through a number of notable topics. Among the ground covered, the USC receiver compared himself to Eagles WR Golden Tate, told reporters that he was 100-percent recovered from the broken leg he sustained in 2017 and admitted that he still has much work to do as a blocker. He also noted that NFL squads are intrigued by his ability as a return man on special teams (no surprise there). Walter Football's Charlie Campbell views Samuel as a potential Round 2 or even Round 1 selection.

Source: Zach Goodall on Twitter 

Jan 22 - 3:02 PM

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Michigan RB Karan Higdon measured 5-foot-9, 203 pounds at the Reese's Senior Bowl.

While Higdon is undersized on the height front, he is not a back to be easily tossed around. Of his 203-pound weigh-in, NFL.com's Chase Goodbread wrote to Twitter that the Michigan product "[l]ooks like he was born in the weight room." The Draft Network's Kyle Crabbs, meanwhile, believes that Higdon may ease some concerns about durability with his measurements in Mobile.

Source: Chase Goodbread on Twitter 

Jan 22 - 1:11 PM

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Bojang0301 said:

Tyree Jackson may not be a good QB but he’s a mountain of a human being.

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Tyree Jackson - QB -  Bulls

Buffalo QB Tyree Jackson measured in at 6-foot-7, 249 pounds at the Reese's Senior Bowl.

We already knew that Jackson was an imposing physical prospect, with his Senior Bowl weigh-in simply confirming those bonafides. In addition to the above listed measurements, the Buffalo gunslinger's hands checked in at an even 10 inches. As impressive as all of this is, it is merely window dressing for the practice week itself. Jackson is an exceedingly raw prospect and has as much to prove as any player on hand in Mobile. If he shows off more polish than expected during the practice week, it would be an encouraging development for his draft stock.

Source: The Draft Network 

Jan 22 - 12:33 PM

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ESPN's Steve Wuench lists South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel as one of the risers after Tuesday's practice at the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Samuel measured in at 5-foot-11, 216-pounds on Tuesday, and also had the biggest hands of any wideout with a 10 1/8-inch measurement. He also impressed once on the field in Mobile on Tuesday, with Wuench mentioning he "showcased his ability to stretch the field during one-on-ones" with speed and the ability to beat press coverage. Samuel has some health concerns and wasn't a consistent performer, but the talent is here for him to be among the top wideouts in the class.

Source: ESPN 

Jan 22 - 9:42 PM

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Josh Oliver - TE -  Spartans

ESPN's Todd McShay notes that San Jose State TE Josh Oliver had a good showing during Tuesday's practice ahead of the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Oliver (6'4/246) played for a an awful San Jose State team in 2018 -- they went 1-11 -- but it wasn't the tight end's fault. McShay notes that he only has average speed, but his size and ball skills make him a weapon in the middle of the field. This is a strong tight end class, but Oliver has a chance to be a Day 2 selection if he continues to perform well at the Senior Bowl and at the combine.

Source: ESPN 

Jan 22 - 10:57 PM

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Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin vowed that he would run the 40-yard dash in at least 4.35 seconds.

Ah, the 40-yard boast. A staple of the evaluating season. McLaurin (6'0/205) calling his shot at 4.35 seconds "or better," here. He certainly had the wheels spinning on Tuesday, when he was at one point clocked at 22.1 mph (fastest among all players) during that day's Senior Bowl practice. On the whole, the Ohio State wideout has been among the stronger performers in Mobile as we hit the middle of the week.

Source: Chase Goodbread on Twitter 

Jan 23 - 5:39 PM

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Jarrett Stidham - QB -  Tigers

ESPN's Todd McShay believes that Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham showed the biggest improvement in Day 2 of the quarterbacks at Reese's Senior Bowl practice.

Stidham (6'2/214) got widely mixed reviews for his Tuesday effort, but McShay came away much more impressed with his effort on Wednesday. He notes that the 49ers' offense is much more friendly for quarterbacks than Auburn's, and it fits Stidham well. The tape from his senior season is going to hurt him, but if Stidham shows more improvement in Mobile, we're start talking about him as a Day 2 prospect again on a more consistent basis.

Source: ESPN 

Jan 23 - 10:27 PM

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JohnnyU said:

According to NFL draft insider Tony Pauline, some general managers and scouting departments are "starting to detest" analytics as a means of decision making and evaluation.

We know firsthand this isn't true for all teams, and Pauline makes it clear it pertains specifically to GMs who "come through the scouting ranks." Per Pauline, scouts and coaches he's spoken to since last week's East-West Shrine All-Star game remain of the belief analytics "have little to do with Xs and Os as well (as) the work ethic and personality of players or the ability of prospects to fit a specific position." Last February, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl after placing a heavy emphasis on analytics to improve their decision-making processes. If what Pauline is hearing is true, it reinforces the fact that analytical teams have a decided advantage on their stone-age competition.

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Pitt RB Darrin Hall has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Hall was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster, as he took a red-eye flight to join the group for Thursday's practices and meetings. The former Pitt running back has already played in one postseason all-star game this month, as he rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries in the East-West Shrine Game. Hall's senior season was the best of his collegiate career, as he rushed for 1,144 yards and ten touchdowns with an average of 7.5 yards per carry.

Source: IHC Sports on Twitter 

Jan 24 - 11:56 AM

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Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat continues to excel at the Senior Bowl, with Bleacher Report's Matt Miller saying that he's receiving top-10 talk from NFL scouts.

Sweat has been one of the best performers during Senior Bowl week, and the feeling is that he's made himself a lot of money in Mobile. According to Miller, Sweat "was a solid tier 2 edge rusher with nice traits before this week," with interviews and his play in practices placing the former Bulldog amongst the top defensive linemen in the draft. Among the other defensive linemen expected to be drafted early are Ohio State's Nick Bosa and Kentucky's Josh Allen.

Source: Matt Miller on Twitter 

Jan 24 - 12:06 PM

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UCLA TE Caleb Wilson has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Wilson is one of two players to accept late invites to play in the Senior Bowl, with the other being former Pitt RB Darrin Hall. The former UCLA tight end, who caught a red-eye flight to be in Mobile in time for Thursday's practices and meetings, caught 60 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. Wilson has been lauded for his pass-catching ability, and he ranked fourth among draft-eligible tight ends by Walter Football's Charlie Campbell.

Source: Senior Bowl on Twitter 

Jan 24 - 12:59 PM

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Andy Dufresne said:

Funny that analytics supporters have a sample size of one when it comes to teams that have won the Super Bowl using analytics.

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Andy Dufresne said:

Funny that analytics supporters have a sample size of one when it comes to teams that have won the Super Bowl using analytics.

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FreeBaGeL said:

Say what now?  Haven't the Pats been playing the odds on 4th downs and letting teams score etc way more than was generally accepted by the rest of the league for the last decade?  And in college it's been guys like Saban and Meyer doing the same.

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Bojang0301 said:

I know I’ll get attacked and people will vehemently disagree but I’m not seeing it and I’m not breaking process because Dane Brugler had one too many drinks before the playoff game and got the fantasy community in a huff. 

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menobrown said:

I for sure will not be attacking your or your rationale even if I disagree with it but the bolded  was one super lame and inaccurate comment on your part.

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Faust said:

Scout’s Eye: WRs & President Trump Shine At Senior Bowl

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menobrown said:

Looking forward to Trumps combine numbers. Claims to be 6'3" and 230 but I'm not sure he's not got a little heavier. Not expected to run well . Also small hands and if he is really coachable are major concerns.

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menobrown said:

Looking forward to Trumps combine numbers. Claims to be 6'3" and 230 but I'm not sure he's not got a little heavier. Not expected to run well . Also small hands and if he is really coachable are major concerns.

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