Sunday, May 12, 2024

2024 NFL Draft Review: Kansas City Chiefs

 



The summaries are from NFL.com





RD 1 (28) WR Xavier Worthy: Texas  5'11", 165















combine: 4.21s 40, 41"vert, 10'11"broad jump

2023: 1st All-BIG 12, 75rec/1,014yds/5TDs, 4car/35yds

strengths: Deep speed requires additional defensive attention. Creates space & loosens coverage for teammates. Has bend and agility to run post-corner & whip routes effectively. There'll be problems for the defense if he breaks a tackle after the catch.

weaknesses: Needs to improve efficiency & quickness getting off the ball. Lack of hand strength gets him bullied on contested catches. Takes reps off when he's not expecting the throw to come his way. Fails to adjust his speed to the ball placement consistently enough.

grade: 6.29 (Will eventually become an average starter)

comp: Tank Dell




RD 2 (63)  OT - Kinglsey Suamataia: BYU  6'5", 326











combine: 5.04s 40, 28"vert, 9'2"broad jump, 31reps

2023: 2nd All-BIG 12

strengths: Patient with punch timing to prevent hand counters. Uses size & strength to ride the rusher and stall momentum. Good lateral quickness in outside zone and acceleration as a pulling tackle. Effective in climbing, tagging & sealing targets in space. 

weaknesses: Average slide quickness forces his gate to open prematurely. Lacks sudden hands to find opponent's frame first. Heavy-footed recoveries won't help much when beaten. Sloppy hand placement limits block control in the run game. Fairly average contact balance at the point of attack. 

grade: 6.17 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter) 

comp: Abraham Lucas




RD 4 (131) TE Jared Wiley: TCU  6'6", 249











combine: 4.62s 40, 37"vert, 9'10"broad jump

2023: 1st All-BIG 12, 47rec/520yds/8TDs

strengths: Willing to get physical; at the top of the route. Rarely has a focus drop and uses size to shield catch challengers. Gets into base blocks with inside hands & proper posture. Uses footwork and feel for angles to seal blocks.

weaknesses: Lacks desired footwork to get in & out of breaks cleanly. Needs to make earlier adjustments to bring in off-target throws. Doesn't break enough tackles on his run-after-catch. Inconsistent physicality to handle lead-blocking asks.

grade: 5.95 (Average backup/Special teamer)



RD 4 (133) S Jaden Hicks:  Washington St  6'2", 211













combine: 37.5"vert, 10'2"broad jump, 16reps

2023: Honorable All-PAC 12, 79tckls/6TFLs, 2.5scks, 2INTs/4PDs, 1TD, 1FF, 1 blocked kick

strengths: Good closing burst to play the ball and tackle in the alley. Takes playmaking angles on throws, leading to on-ball production. Keeps outside shoulder clean when playing contain role. Hurries from play-side high safety look to make plays near the line versus the run. 

weaknesses: Gets pads turned when taking on blocks. Below-average short-area agility as open-field tackler. Needs to do a better job of keying wideouts & TEs on play-action.

grade: 6.24 (Will eventually become an average starter)



RD 5(159) C Hunter Nourzad: Penn St.  6'3", 317
















combine: 27reps

2023: 2nd All-BIG 10

strengths: Quick-sets pass rushers with early hands in their chest. Firm jab followed by a firm anchor to withstand a charge. Power to displace & push blocks vertically on inside zones. Athleticism to find positioning as a zone blocker and get out in front when pulling. 

weaknesses: Wide base can limit change of direction quickness in protection. Can get too hurried looking to charge into angle blocks. Needs to improve feel for sustaining against movement.

grade: 6.19 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter)

comp: Juice Scruggs




RD 6 (211) CB Kamal Hadden: Tennessee  6'1", 196

















2023: 19tckls, 3INts/8PDs, 1TD

strengths: Bounces and slides for extended mirror & match from press. Sticky feet for stop-short action in vertical-route phase. Tracks & adjusts to the deep ball from shuffle and constricts catch space. Anticipates breaks from off-man and charges into the throwing lane.  

weaknesses: Had season-ending shoulder injury. Allows vertical separation from his shuffle technique. Can be too content to hold or interfere when coverage panic sets in. Effort level can be very spotty as a run defender & tackler.

grade: 5.96 (Average back-up/Special teamer)




OG C.J Hanson: Holy Cross  6'5", 300
























combine: 5.00s 40, 33.5"vert, 9'7"broad jump

2023: 1st All-Patriot League

strengths: Throws punch hands with firmness and right down the chute. Good eyes & hand twitch to pass and receive against twists. Body control and footwork to adjust and land as a pulling guard. 

weaknesses: Below-average play strength in upper & lower body. Lacks agility for sudden recovery when beaten. Feet can lag in mirroring edge-to-edge movement.  

grade: 5.80 (Average back-up/Special teamer)

Saturday, May 4, 2024

2024 NFL Draft Review: Buffalo Bills

 



The summaries are from NFL.com


RD 2 (33) WR Keon Coleman: Florida State  6'3", 213





combine: 4.61s 40, 38"vert, 10'7"broad jump

2023: 1st All-ACC, 50rec/658yds/11TDs

strengths: Attacks underneath throws with extended, sticky hands. Works aggressively back on short & intermediate throws. Unlikely to see focus drops. Meets jump balls with full extension to the high-point. Uses size to gain advantage over the corner on jump-ball wins. Hard to bring down after the catch.

weaknesses: Press coverage can blanket his release & catch a ride. Below-average acceleration getting out of breaks & cuts. Could struggle finding separation to avoid excessive contested catches. Capable of being a much more effective run blocker.

grade: 6.25 (Will eventually become an average starter)

comp: Drake London



RD 2 (60) S Cole Bishop: Utah  6'2", 206





combine: 4.45s 40, 39"vert, 10'4"broad jump

2023: 2nd All-PAC 12, 60tot tckls, 3scks. 1FF/2FRs, 2INTs/3PDs

strengths: Solid stop-start burst in coverage & pursuit. Looks to blister receivers in his zone. Hustle never shuts off, regardless of his proximity to the ball. Navigates traffic and knifes into crevices as a base defender.

weaknesses: Desire to make plays causes him to vacate coverage zones. Below-average eye balance between route & QB. Needs to do a better job of playing off run blocks near the line. Pursuit can lack pacing control, leading to overruns. 

grade: 6.20 (Will eventually become an average starter)




RD 3 (95) DT DeWayne Carter: Duke  6'2", 302




combine: 4.99s 40, 32"vert, 9'1"broad jump

2023: 1st All-ACC, 41tckls/3.5TFLs, 1sck, 4PDs

strengths: Plays with energy and active feet to probe for opportunities. Good technique to stack and play off the block as a run defender. Disguises his desire to jump-step and use club move on upfield charge. Bull rush can be salty as an interior rusher or as a base end.

weaknesses: Too easily beaten to the spot against lateral blocks. Needs to play with better anticipation & snap reaction against the run. Fails to maintain ideal separation to prevent being neutralized. Needs to find a counter to improve his secondary rush off the bull rush.

grade: 6.17 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter) 



RD 4 (128) RB Ray Davis: Kentucky 5'8", 211





combine: 4.52s 40, 35"vert, 9'11"broad jump

2023: 2nd All-SEC, 199car/1,129yds/14TDs, 33rec/323yds/7TDs

strengths: Runs behind his pads, falling forward after delivering a blow. Ran with much better patience behind lead blockers in '23. Uses slow-&-go pacing to distract the edge and open the corner. Catches with soft hands and has the ability to shake or break tackles. 

weaknesses: Hip tightness slows ability to gather and cut on outside runs. Lacks desired flow speed to widen the defense to the boundary. Very average vision as an interior runner. More reactive than proactive on the 2nd level.  

grade: 6.17 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter)



RD 5 (141) C  Sedrick Van Pran: Georgia  6'4", 298









combine: 5.20s 40 

2023: 1st All-SEC, Jacobs Blocking Trophy

strengths: Keeps slide steps measured and choppy sliding to the pass rusher. Hands are twitchy getting from snap to punch in the run game. Powerful grip strength helps bring the opponent tight & lock him into place. Plays with above-average feel for run block positioning on 1st & 2nd levels. Success rate blocking LBs helped spring long runs. 

weaknesses: Too straight-kneed getting into contact at the point of attack. Footwork starts to get sloppy once rush action heats up. Short arms and can be beaten by length at the punch point. Leans out past his toes getting into most blocks due to lower-body tightness. 

grade: 6.22 (Will eventually become an average starter)

comp: Lloyd Cushenberry




RD 5 (160) LB Edefuan Ulofoshio: Washington  6'0 1/2", 236










combine: 4.56s 40, 39.5"vert, 10'8"broad jump

2023: 1st All-PAC 12, 94tot tckls, 3scks, 1FF, 1INT/3PDs, 1TD

strengths: Steps downhill and meets blockers with a jarring punch. Physical at the top of the route when covering TEs. Runs through tackler with the force of a sack of bricks.

weaknesses: Doesn't show enough feel for play development. Gets eager and bounces out of position during diagnosis. Below-average range as a tackler & in man coverage.

grade: 5.92 (Average backup/Special teamer)



RD 5 (168) EDGE Javon Solomon: Troy  6'1", 246










combine: 4.72s 40, 37"vert, 9'11"broad jump, 23reps

2023: 1st All-Sun Belt, 56tckls/18TFLs, 16scks, 3FFs

strengths: Powerful hips and relentless effort help propel him around the block. Quick to read and beat reach blocks to maintain contain positioning. Shows ability to bend the edge and flatten to the QB. Weaponizes counter moves to pry upon inside path to the pocket. 

weaknesses: Can be widened out by a centered block and a wide base, Short-strider in his take-off to the top of the rush. Has trouble separating form long-armed tackles who cinch him up.

grade: 6.13 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter)

comp: James Houston



RD 6 (204) OT Tylan Grable: UCF  6'6", 306
















combine: 4.95s 40, 36.5"vert, 9'9"broad jump

2023: Honorable All-BIG 12

strengths: Smooth pass slides and carries punch-ready hands. Ability to open hips & hitch recovery ride around the arc. Big, strong hands clinch in and stabilize run defenders. Has foot quickness to become a better move blocker in time.

weaknesses: Punches can lack accuracy & timing as both a run and pass blocker. Far too satisfied with grabbing and holding when the block starts slipping. Attention to angles & positioning for sustain are missing as a run blocker. Plays with a narrow power zone and very average body control.

grade: 5.94 (Average backup/Special teamer)


RD 6 (219)   CB Daequan Hardy: Penn St  5'9", 179
















combine: 4.38s 40, 42.5"vert, 10'6"broad jump

2023: Honorable All-BIG 10 (2nd All-BIG 10 Return specialist), 22tot tckls, 1sck, 2INTs/7PDs, 2 punt return TDs

strengths: Special teams standout. Phases deep sideline routes with optimal positioning. Consistent to whip his head around and find the deep ball. Maximizes pass breakups with well-timed hand attacks.

weaknesses: Technique in transitions gets away from him at times. Doesn't appear to have ideal speed or acceleration. Much more of a watcher than worker in run support.

grade: 5.84 (Average backup/Special teamer) 




RD 7 (221) OT Travis Clayton: International Pathway Program (England)  6'7", 301

















strengths: Competitive background in rugby & boxing. Shuffles & slides with fluidity and clean change of direction. Pass sets come naturally with weight heavier on the inside foot. Good bend with the ability to stay low into contact in drills.

weaknesses: Currently lacking functional mass & strength for the NFL. Will take time adjusting to league speed & size during development. Would like to see a little more pop in his punch.