Season 30 Draft News

Week 1
"Unrivaled strength - once considered a sure thing for the Olympic squad as a weightlifter, Sterling Vellano is now concentrating his strength and energy into football at RE at Wisconsin."
SMLE Draft Expert: Vellano's strength translates well into power in football and the recent success of slower power rushers in the league makes him a hot commodity.
Combine Review: 7.1 - Ok speed and bend but great power!
Player Comparison:  Joey Bosa - similar size, technique and power.
Draft Prediction: Top20 - coaches will fall in love with a star at a key position.

Week 2
"Athletic family - athleticism is in Deonte Pegues' genes. The Auburn HB is the son of a legendary Olympic sprinter."
SMLE Draft Expert: Teammates nickname him the Pegasus because this horse flies!! He's got some wear and tear as a senior and his moves can so with some polish instead of relying on his speed.
Combine Review: 7.2 - Elite speed and agility with functional strength.
Player Comparison:  Jerrick McKinnon - solid runner who doesn't generate a tonne of fear up the middle.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 - running backs are not at a premium and he's not quite blue chip.

Week 5
"Tweet: FS Willie Fitzgerald has lost his mojo. Turning out to be not nearly the shutdown DB he seemed to be."
SMLE Draft Expert: Fitzgerald has been exposed as a box safety with good instincts but poor coverage. He's not a bad player but his limitations means he'll only be drafted by a black'n'blue run heavy division team.
Combine Review: 6.4 - He's a slower box safety but can turn and plant well.
Player Comparison:  Karl Joseph - Good instinctive safety exposed in coverage.
Draft Prediction: Rounds 3 to 5 - Combine dependant but he's a good backup and special teamer.

Week 6
"Tweet: LE Lester Carr is proving himself as one of the top D-Linemen in the country"
SMLE Draft Expert: Carr is a pure speed Wide9 guy with great instincts to track down a ball carrier but the extent of his pass rush moves are in question. He'd be a great addition as a 3rd down rusher if he can improve his technique and not rely purely on speed.
Combine Review: 7.2 - A rare combination of speed, burst, bend and strength
Player Comparison:  Osi Umenyiora - Great pass rusher used by the Giants in key situations.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 - The potential is there but technique is raw.

Week 7
"Gilbert goes to work vs Fair - Tasked with the assignment of Covering Branch Fair, Jordan Gilbert delivered. The star DB never let Fair get comfortable as LSU racked up the win."
SMLE Draft Expert: CB Gilbert plays bigger than his size, shorter than 6' and less than 200lbs he still has the tenacity to engage with big bodied WR and use both power and speed to dislodge the ball without being a pure cover guy. He's also pretty good against the run.
Combine Review: 7.7 - He's got average speed but elite hips and burst
Player Comparison:  Kareem Jackson - Not the purest cover guy but good enough slot and can tackle.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 to 2 - Stock might drop if other CBs prove they're faster and better in coverage.

SMLE Draft Expert: Very undersized slot WR (hello Patriots) but with exceptional hands! I think the shutdown was a one off as Gilbert is his kryptonite... physical CB who plays big. But Fair should...fair...against less physical DBs in the league.
Combine Review: 6.6 - As predicted, slow super agile mighty mouse.
Player Comparison:  TY Hilton - Small size and doesn't play big but great hands and routes.
Draft Prediction: Round 2 to 3 - Stock could improve at combine but right now he's a small 3WR slot option.

Week 9
"Tweet: Long Lucas showed how much he can impact a game. A true difference maker at DB."
SMLE Draft Expert: FS Lucas sadly doesn't play up to his name at only 5'11. A converted CB he has natural coverage instincts despite being a liability against the new wave of taller WR.
Combine Review: 6.4 - Slow and not great hips, he relies on his technique to not get caught out.
Player Comparison:  Ricardo Allen - small CB to FS convert who covers well.
Draft Prediction: Round 2 or 3 - it's a bad safety class following an awesome one so he'll move up.

"Tweet: Even if he can't help a team on day 1 of his career, Reid Strzelczyk will still be a top-notch NFL QB."
SMLE Draft Expert: A torn shoulder and multiple surgeries really showed at the combine when QB Reid could barely get any zip on the ball. But the spiral looked tight and timing great. Some coach will need a backup but he'll be battling the prototypes for a roster spot.
Combine Review: 5.3 - Not really a "wow" athlete but he's got the strength to survive a sack.
Player Comparison:  Colt McCoy - Pop gun arm but with great touch and vision.
Draft Prediction: Rounds 5 to 7 - the arm kills it but he's not a bad QB.

Week 12
"Tweet: Which Davyon Daniels is the real Davyon Daniels? Tough to tell o a weekly basis."
SMLE Draft Expert: The questions about inconsistency means that Daniels will fall, and by falling he'll drop to an established team who'll place him in a strong group to succeed. He's a very well rounded player who needs a good combine.
Combine Review: 6.7 - Great lateral ability and strength but lacks the straight line speed.
Player Comparison:  Richard Seymour - great length, power and flexibility in his game.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 to 2 - he can do it all in any system, run, pass, 43, 34.

"Tweet: Moore can start prepping for the draft now, Too bad his time at FIU didn't end under better circumstances."
SMLE Draft Expert: Moore enters the combine hoping to improve his 2nd round draft stock but looked out of shape and it showed. He's not talented enough in this class to rely on technique alone.
Combine Review: 6.2 - Slow with heavy feet and not that strong either.
Player Comparison:  Margus Hunt - from a length and build standpoint but Hunt better athlete.
Draft Prediction: Round 3 to 5 - The lack of burst and strength hurts and he looks a backup.

Week 14
"Tweet: With his game this week, Henry Watkins solidified his status as a top-tier QB in the draft."
SMLE Draft Expert: Henry Watkins looks good, he passes the eye test, he's squeaky clean and evaluates will like his potential and leadership but he doesn't have elite arm strength or natural touch. If he goes high can he carry a team by being an above average prototype?
Combine Review: 4.5 - He's a statue in the pocket... with stone feet and no burst.
Player Comparison:  Blake Bortles - size, draft hype and the inability to carry a team.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 - good pick if he goes late as a future starter, average pick if he goes high as a starter now.

"Tweet: Denard Brooking was the anchor of the Pittsburgh O-line. An absolute beast in pass protection."
SMLE Draft Expert: I don't know what tape everyone is watching but I don't see a beast. Brooking is technically very sound but doesn't dominate an opponent and the hype could make him a bust in the future.
Combine Review: 6.8 - He turned up looking jacked and lean and it showed. A dominant athlete.
Player Comparison:  Roger Saffold - great technician but not a bully or physically dominant.
Draft Prediction: Top20 - shortage of OL is less bad these days but still a premium position.

Week 15
"Cone rushes to Heisman - Zach Cone added another accomplishment to his incredible season today when Notre Dame running back was announced as the winner of the Heisman Trophy in New York City."
SMLE Draft Expert: Let me say that again, he's not a defender and he won the Heisman!! Cone was well suited to college ball as he outweighed most of the defense and ran very low. But he doesn't engage contact naturally and doesn't have that top gear so he's likely not a feature back in the NFL.
Combine Review: 7 - He's got a great balance of lateral movement and speed without missing the strength to his game.
Player Comparison:  Ricky Williams - old school runner who just doesn't go down.
Draft Prediction: Round 1 to 2 - he'll drop due to him being a bit of a luxury pick.

Superbowl
"Tweet: One of the great defensive performances in All-Star Game history turned in by Brenton Goodwell. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]."
SMLE Draft Expert: MLB Goodwell wowed with his teeth rattling collisions on the OL and FB. He's one of the old guard at 250lbs but is easily exposed in the speed run game and in the deep middle hook. He just can't get there as quick as the new school LB.
Combine Review: 6.1 - Old school LB with strength and burst but lacks speed.
Player Comparison:  Paul Posluszney - great tackler with instincts and not elite athleticism
Draft Prediction: Round 2 to 3 -  The speed hurts but he could move to SLB for 2 downs.

"Tweet: At least we already know who's the top of the draft board next year. Tre Allison is happy to make everybody wait."
SMLE Draft Expert: Stop the press!!!!! HB Allison just got his reapplication rejected by the NCAA and will now enter the draft late. It's a big risk without a combine but the guy runs shifty and safe.
Combine Review: DNP
Player Comparison:  Darren Sproles - The size and handling reminds me of him, plus he can make guys miss in space.
Draft Prediction: Round 2 to 4 - it's a big risk and a big headache to get wrong, but he can play!

"Tweet: College linebackers don't get much better than Holley. He was shedding blockers left and right at the All-Star Game."
SMLE Draft Expert: The experts are getting a bit down on MLB Simual Holley (mainly because noone can say his name without sounding like a Kiwi). They question where has this tape been all season???! Safe to say the anaemic Holley showed up at the combine instead.
Combine Review: 5.7 - He's got all around ability but no blazing speed and he's weak
Player Comparison:  Eric Kendricks - He can go sideline to sideline but isn't a great fit in a run first D.
Draft Prediction: Rounds 1 to 3 - depends on the run on LB but Holley could drop based on his run game.

"Tweet: Matt Hundon had trouble with every matchup at the All-Star Game. Needs some help with his footwork."
SMLE Draft Expert: I like the college tape on LG Hundon, it showed a great tenacious blocker with fantastic technique. His All-star tape showed a lack of power and anchor though.
Combine Review: 5.7 - He's got all around ability but not super strength
Player Comparison:  Austin Corbet - Great technique, lacks power.
Draft Prediction: Round 2 to 3 - Coaches have invested in OL a lot and will want an all around player, not a scheme fit.

Combine
"Tweet: Nice athleticism shown by DT Willis Saunders at the Combine. Like to see a D-Lineman who can move like that."
SMLE Draft Expert: Saunders just blew up the combine looking agile with burst and amazing strength. He plays nasty and his tape shows it, he seeks contact and looks to punish anyone in his way. He'll set the tone in any D that drafts him!
Combine Review: 6.6 - He flies off the snap and can push any pocket!
Player Comparison:  Ndamukong Suh - Same nasty streak and raw strength.
Draft Prediction: Top20 pick - DT isn't a premium and the market is saturated but he'll instantly upgrade a D.