Strengths: Patient feet rarely fall for release fakes. Able to swivel hips and pursue with fluidity. Squeezes deep sideline routes with physicality. Contested catches are typically tilted in his favor. Solid transition quickness to plant and drive on the throw.
Weaknesses: Loses his leverage unnecessarily. Needs better open-and-sprint timing when squatting underneath. Vertical specialists can overtake and stack him. Inconsistent digesting route combinations. Doesn't play to his size in run support duties. Inconsistent coming to balance as an open-field tackler.
Score: 6.38 (Will eventually be a plus starter) Next Gen: 83 (Good)
Comp: Jaylon Johnson
RD 2 (63) James Cook RB (Georgia) 5'11" 190
2018: 41att/284yds 2TDs, 8rec/89yds
2019: 31stt/188yds 2TDs, 16rec/132yds
2020: 45att/303yds 3TDs, 16rec/225yds 2TDs
2021: 113att/728yds, 7TDs, 27rec/284yds, 4TDs
Combine: 4.42s 40, 33"vert
Strengths: Instinctive processing comes naturally. Runs with rapid feet and forward lean. Can make drastic path alterations with hard cuts. Patient behind his lead blockers. Used out of the backfield as a pass-catching mismatch on LBs. Steady hands with ability to run a route.
Weaknesses: A passive run finisher with disappointing contact balance. Collapsed by moderate contact as an inside runner. Does not offer value near the end zone. Will struggle against NFL blitzing LBs in protection.
Score: 6.15 (A good backup with potential to develop as a starter) Next Gen: 77 (Good)
Strengths: Rapid read and response against play-action. On a continuous quest to go get the ball. Loose & fluid in pursuit and change of direction. Bends & flattens off the corner as a blitzer. Speed to cover man targets underneath.
Weaknesses: Gets caught up too easily in the clutter. Struggles to fit and hold a gap. Knocked off-balance by redirect blocks. Angles to the runner leaves little margin for error as a tackler. Average coverage recognition. Has an injury history.
Score: 5.94 (Average backup/Special Teamer) Next Gen: 69 (Average)
Strengths: Receiver used on direct snaps, as a RB, on jet sweeps and in the return game. Laser-focused once the ball is snapped. Low center of gravity for sudden route cuts & breaks. Creates throwing windows with leverage, footwork & strength. Concentration to make circus catches. Relishes contact and can play through it. A patient runner with vision and foot hovering over the gas pedal.
Weaknesses: Won't run away from defenders. Might be quicker than fast. Better polish & speed variance needed to disguise intentions. Inconsistent working back to the throw.
Score: 6.18 (A good back with the potential to develop as a starter) Next Gen: 79 (Good)
2021: Ray Guy Award, Unanimous All-American, 1st All-Mountain West, Mountain West STPOY, 18/28 FGs, 53LNG, 45/45 XPs, 79 Punts, 51.2avg, 86LNG
Combine: 4.68s 40, 32"vert
Strengths: Elite field-flipping with unmatched power. Punting style creates a strong forward bounce if its not caught. A former soccer player & hurdler with plus athleticism. Hustles down and cuts off return angles as a talented tackler.
Weaknesses: Has relative disregard for touchbacks and coverage consideration. Needs better touch with nose-drop technique for coffin corners. Left-footed kicking makes field goal kicking less likely.
Score: 6.09 (Traits or talent to be an above-average backup)
Comp: Todd Sauerbrun
RD 6 (185) Christian Benford CB (Villanova) 6'1" 208
Strengths: Does a great job of reading play development. Takes clear advantage of his size on 50-50 balls. Body control & agility to phase stop-and-go routes. Completely eliminates catch space with deep-sideline box-cuts. Uses full-body challenges to disrupt the catch-point. Will deliver a blow to a RB.
Weaknesses: Average mirror-and-match footwork in early stages. Needs better patience with feet & hips in press. Loses track of his man in scramble situations. Slow step in recovery from quarters & Cover 3. Needs more aggressive detachments from blocking WRs.
Score: 5.95 (Average backup/special teamer)
RD 6 (209) Luke Tenuta OT (Virginia Tech) 6'8" 319
2021: Honorable All-ACC
Combine: 5.41s 40, 26"vert
Strengths: Started at both tackle positions. Uses size to wall off LBs on climbs. Inside hands will make him stronger in pass protection. Hustles out to meet edge speed with pass sets.
Weaknesses: Lacks explosive lift into contact. Below-average lateral movement. Below-average punch & control in pass sets. Below-average anchor.
Score: 5.52 (Priority Undrafted Free Agent) Next Gen: 51 (Below-Average)
RD 7 (231) Baylon Spector LB (Clemson) 6'0" 233
2018: 9tckls
2019: 43 tckls, 2scks
2020: 65tckls, 4.5scks, 2FFs, 1PD
2021: 74 total tckls, 2.5scks, 1FR, 1INT, 1PD
Combine: 4.60s 40, 36"vert
Strengths: Rapid-fire diagnosis and reaction to play movement. Quickness to flow & contain the outside run. Comes to balance and tackles with double leg wrap-ups. Former safety with smooth drops & weaves in zone.
Weaknesses: Won't be a disruptive defender. Gets jostled around by box traffic. Below-average tackler when it's not in front of him. Range in coverage is very average. Lacks twitch to burst and disrupt at the catch point.
Score: 5.83 (Average backup/special teamer) Next Gen: 64 (Below Average)
Strengths: In a passing scheme that required full-field reads. Good recognition and decisions on combo-route throws to all levels. Worked with improved anticipation and tight spiral into windows. Velocity to stay ahead of closing coverage. Able to extend the play and win on the move with his arm. Arm talent to make off-platform throws. Elusiveness to escape a free runner and scramble for yards.
Weaknesses: Nervous feet and poise can get the best of him despite clean pockets. Feet don't always follow his eyes when throwing. Poor placement and touch added to drop issues. Better timing would prevent contested catches. Doesn't throw with much of an expedited release. Needs to take the incompletion instead of the sack.
Score: 6.40 (Will become a good starter within 2 years) Next Gen: 84 (good)
Comp: Andy Dalton (prime years)
RD 2 (52) George Pickens WR (Georgia) 6'3" 195
2019: 12GP, 49rec/727yds, 8TDs
2020: 8GP, 36rec/513yds, 6TDs
2021: 4GP,5rec/107yds (Played last 4 games)
Combine: 4.47s 40, 33"vert
Strengths: Off-hand & burst help defeat and overtake press. Creates throwing windows with suddenness at break points. Displays good focus in catching in a crowd. Catches with sudden hands and elite catch radius. Vice-grip hand strength rarely lets him down.
Weaknesses: Effectiveness can be diminished by physical press. Leaves coverage unstacked when he gets the ear;y advantage. Needs to learn to carve out & protect his catch space. Allows trespassers to tilt 50/50 balls in their favor. Missed time to injury, including a spring '21 ACL tear.
Score: 6.23 (Will eventually become an average starter) Next Gen: 78 (Good)
Comp: Josh Reynolds
RD 3 (84) DeMarvin Leal DT (Texas A&M) 6'4" 290
2019: 12GP, 38tck/5.5TFLs, 2scks
2020: 10GP, 37tckl/7TFLs, 2.5scks, 1INT, 1FF
2021: 1st AP All-American/1st All-SEC, 11GP, 58tckls/12.5TFLs, 8.5scks, 2PDs
Combine: 5.00s 40, 27.5"vert
Strengths: Lands hands quickly with initial strike. Hands & feet work well together. Hips and shoulder-turn to entice whiffed blocks. Uses one-arm press to lift & separate. Ability to toggle between finesse and power. Spin counter is quick and well-balanced.
Weaknesses: Lacks clear-cut position fit. Late getting lateral versus zone blocks. Pass rush lacks suddenness to put blocker in a bind. Disappointing acceleration as a looper on tackle/end twists. Gradual closing burst turns would-be sacks into hurries.
Score: 6.23 (Will eventually be an average starter) Next Gen: 78 (Good)
Comp: John Franklin-Myers
RD 4 (138) Calvin Austin III WR (Memphis) 5'8" 170
2018: 4GP, 2rec/24yds, 1att/83yds 1TD
2019: 9GP, 17rec/315yds 3TDs, 4att/3yds 1TD
2020: 1st All-AAC, 11GP, 63rec/1,053yds 11TDs, 2att/14yds, 20 punt returns/1TD
Strengths: Quick stem and release versus press. Feet are fluid & fast throughout the route. Gliding speed surprises the coverage. Reads the defense in scramble situations and finds open grass. Speed to eliminate tackle angles after the catch. Jitter-and-go punt return talent.
Weaknesses: Can be knocked off route path by physical coverage. Badly beaten when competing for 50/50 throws. Needs to create a cleaner catch window as a pro. Quickly tackled with modest effort by defenders. Bad habit of fielding punts inside the 5-yard line.
Score: 6.00 (Talent or traits to be an above-average backup) Next Gen: 72(Average)
Comp: Isaiah McKenzie
RD 6 (208) Connor Heyward TE (Michigan St.) 5'11" 233
Strengths: Former RB provides potential run & catch versatility. Hands are natural, strong & quick. RB instincts and acceleration as a target in the screen game. Accelerates quickly and finishes powerfully after the catch. Experience with punt coverage & kick returns.
Weaknesses: One-speed route runner. Minimal depth of target as a college pass-catcher. Requires additional control and technique as a blocker. Lacks coordination of hands & feet at the point of attack. Missing length & mass to control an NFL defender.
Score: 5.60 (Candidate for the bottom of the roster or Practice Squad) Next Gen: 61 (Below-Average)
RD 7 (225) Mark Robinson (Mississippi) 5'11" 235
2021: (1st Year at LB) 91 total tckls, 3scks
RD 7 (241) Chris Oladokun QB (South Dakota St) 6'1" 213
Strengths: Possesses NFL arm talent and an expedited release. Deep throws come out without much effort. Throws with confidence when he's on the move. Shows ability to sit down & drive throws into windows. Pocket mobility buys additional time to search for throws.
Weaknesses: Gets stuck on one side of the field with his reads. Coverage recognition can be a problem. Ball placement on intermediate throws need work.
Score: 5.69 (Chance to make the bottom of the roster or Practice Squad)
