2016 NFL Draft: Second Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 27, 2016
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32. Cleveland Browns – Michael Thomas, 6’2”, 212lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
04/20/16: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
04/13/16: Jonathan Bullard, DE/DT, Florida
Josh Gordon’s reinstatement status is still up in the air, meaning if the season were to start today, the starters at WR would be Andrew Hawkins and Brian Hartline, with the likes of Taylor Gabriel, Marlon Moore and Terrelle Pryor coming off the bench. Without Gordon, the Browns desperately need a No.1 WR and Michael Thomas would make sense here. Thomas has the size and ability to develop into a go-to WR as long as he can consistently make plays on the outside. He has the prototypical size with enough speed to be a No. 1 wideout at the next level. Thomas, the nephew of former No. 1 overall pick Keyshawn Johnson, burst onto the national scene as a sophomore in 2014 and played a major part in the Buckeyes offense in his final two seasons in Columbus. He finished with 110 receptions for 1,580 yards and 18 TD over the course of those two years. Thomas does a good job tracking the ball and attacks it with both hands when it’s in the air. He has a big catch radius and has a flair for the acrobatic catch. He also uses his body well in the red zone to shield defenders from the ball. Thomas is raw but improving in his route running and struggles to create separation, especially against elite CB’s. Against Michigan, Thomas was unable to shake Jourdan Lewis, who dominated him on the outside, virtually eliminating any separation. Thomas will have to continue to focus on his route running so he can create distance from CB’s and because of this, he is a high-risk player. However, he has the size, length and athletic ability to be a playmaker at the next level.
33. Tennessee Titans – Chris Jones, 6’5”, 310lbs, DT, Mississippi State, Jr.
04/20/16: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
04/13/16: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
Tennessee had a top-15 defense against the run, but struggled to put pressure on the QB up front as the only other D-lineman to sack the QB at least four times besides Jurrell Casey and his team-leading 7.0 sacks was Karl Klug, who recorded exactly 4.0 sacks. Tennessee needs to get difference makers up front to help Casey and adding a player like Chris Jones, who could easily wind up coming off the board in the 1st Round, would be a nice pick early in Round 2. Jones has good quickness off the ball to shoot gaps and penetrate the line of scrimmage. He has excellent power in his hands to drive his man back into the backfield as well. Jones plays with good leverage, getting under blockers’ pad level, which allows him to fight through blocks at the point. When he plays with a low pad level, he can be a dominant force against the pass as well, showing an ability to dip his shoulder to shoot by defenders and can drive his man back with an effective bull rush. Jones was only credited with 7.5 sacks in his three years with the Bulldogs, but he also racked up 34 QB hurries, which means he spent a lot of time in the backfield. I look at Jones much like Ra’Shede Hageman when he was coming out of Minnesota a couple years ago. When his motor was running, he could be dominant. The problem is, like Hageman, Jones does not have a consistent motor and actually appears to wear down as the game goes on. He’s often content just leaning on blocks rather than getting off them when he gets tired. The lack of consistent effort kept Hageman out of the 1st Round and will do the same for Jones, but he has all the tools to be a playmaker in Tennessee. Adding Vernon Butler and Chris Jones to the fold to support Jurrell Casey would instantly upgrade the defensive front and would provide much-needed depth to the position.
34. Dallas Cowboys – Carl Nassib, 6’7”, 277lbs, DE, Penn State
04/20/16: Artie Burns, CB, Miami, Fla.
04/13/16: Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
The Cowboys will be without Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence for the first four games for violating the substance abuse policy, so the pass rush need priority attention during this draft. If the Cowboys pass on Joey Bosa in Round 1, expect this pick to be used on an edge rusher. Why not use this pick on the leading sack artist in the FBS a season ago in Carl Nassib, who amassed 15.5 sacks for the Nittany Lions. Nassib was the feel-good story of the year after winning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Lombardi and Ted Hendricks Awards and the Lott Trophy. He’s a former walk-on that came to Penn State as a 218-pound freshman and has put on over 50 pounds in his four years. He’s a self-made football player having not even started a game in high school or college until his final season with the Nittany Lions in 2015. Needless to say, Nassib has an excellent work ethic, which also comes out on the playing field as he plays with an intense relentlessness on every play. Nassib is not an explosive edge rusher, but you can expect he’ll outwork you with his motor that never stops. He does have a decent burst off the line, but will win at the point of attack with quick hands, often slapping the OT’s hands away, then dipping and ripping off the OT’s outside shoulder to get to the edge. He uses his seven-foot wingspan to control his man at the point of attack and is able to get quickly off the block. Nassib does a tremendous job running a tight arc around the edge and has very good closing speed to the QB. He plays with good leverage, getting under the OT’s pad level and can drive his man back into the backfield, forcing the QB to step up in the pocket, often right into another defender. Nassib is equally disruptive against the run, driving the OT up the field to reset the line of scrimmage, then quickly disengaging to drop the RB in the backfield. He can even drop into coverage, showing decent hips for a guy his size and can quickly get into the flat to chase down a RB in the open field. Nassib only has one year of production, but it appears he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. He can affect nearly every play with his effort, something the Cowboys would desperately need.
35. San Diego Chargers – Hunter Henry, 6’5”, 250lbs, TE, Arkansas Jr.
04/20/16: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
04/13/16: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
For the past 13 years, Antonio Gates has been a fixture in the San Diego offense at TE. Now, he’s 35 years of age and is wearing down at the back end of his career. Ladarius Green was seen as his eventual replacement, but then he left for Pittsburgh in free agency. Gates’ heir apparent could very well be in this draft, especially if they’re able to land Henry, clearly at the top of the TE class. Henry is a natural pass catcher and a reliable target, having not dropped a single pass in 2015 and is a tremendous route runner with the ability to create separation out of his breaks. Henry is not only a threat up the seam, but he can also line up in the slot or on the outside to create mismatches. He’s also deceptively fast for a TE, running a 4.64 and a 4.67 at his Pro Day. Henry is still a work in progress as a blocker, but he’s a TE in a Bret Bielema, so you know he’s been coached well and can play with leverage, proper hand placement and will generate a push in the ground game. I think Henry will quickly become a favorite target of Philip Rivers.
36. Baltimore Ravens – Cody Whitehair, 6’3”, 301lbs, OG, Kansas State
04/20/16: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
04/13/16: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
The Ravens are feeling the loss of Kelechi Osemele to the Raiders. While John Urschel and Ryan Jensen are currently set to compete for the LG spot opposite Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda, both are best suited to add depth. Cody Whitehair is a versatile lineman out of Kansas State who has experience at both OT and OG. He’s a good technician, playing with excellent leverage and lateral agility to keep defenders in front. He can get out and pull as a lead blocker and has great awareness in space. Whitehair likely won’t be able to handle the speed off the edge, so he’ll be best suited inside at OG. However, I compare him to Joel Bitonio, who was the 35th overall pick out of Nevada in the 2014 Draft; both are athletic OT’s who will make an impact inside and like Bitonio, Whitehair should be a starter Week 1.
37. San Francisco 49ers – Tyler Boyd, 6’1”, 197lbs, WR, Pittsburgh, Jr.
04/20/16: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
04/13/16: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
The 49ers lacked playmakers at the WR position last season and now the team’s leading receiver Anquan Boldin is an unrestricted free agent and likely won’t be back. Boldin had 69 receptions in 2015, which was 36 more than the second-leading WR Torrey Smith and the only other WR with at least 30 receptions was Quinton Patton, who had exactly 30. That’s why the Niners have to target a WR early in this year’s draft. Many look at Tyler Boyd and don’t see an explosive wideout, but he’s the most prolific WR in Pittsburgh history, surpassing the records in receptions and yards set by All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald. Boyd is a precise route runner, sinking his hips and creating separation out of his breaks. He does a tremendous job when the ball is in the air, showing incredible body control to contort his body to haul in the pass. He has a large catch radius and attacks the ball in the air with very strong hands. Boyd is deceptively fast, running a 4.5 40 at Pittsburgh’s Pro Day. Boyd can be a playmaker at the next level and should be a starter early in his career.
38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Emmanuel Ogbah, 6’4”, 273lbs, DE, Oklahoma State, Jr.
04/20/16: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
04/13/16: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
The Big XII Co-Defensive Player of the Year last year was a menace in opposing backfields all season long, finishing the season the year with 16.5 tackles for loss and dropping the QB 13 times, the second-highest total in the FBS. Ogbah has to be one of the more powerful pass rushers off the edge. He doesn’t have dynamic speed, but he’s able to generate movement with speed to power moves to get a good bull rush and drive his man back into the QB. You’ll see a quick rip move off the edge and can make a tight turn off the corner to the QB. When his motor is firing on all cylinders, he plays with a relentlessness that keeps him working to the football. He just can’t take so many plays off. Again, his speed isn’t what he’s known for, but his first step can be so explosive that he can beat OT’s off the ball. His man better get a deep set off the ball in those situations or Ogbah is already by him. The production was also there as a pass rusher, recording a sack in 15 of his final 20 games with the Cowboys. Ogbah’s strength also allows him to shed blockers to make an impact in the run game. The power in his hands will generate a push and he can get off blocks to then chase down the RB. Ogbah plays upright as an edge rusher, which was why it made some sense to see if he could play in space at the Combine. First of all, he proved he had the speed, as his 4.63 40 time was the second-fastest of all D-linemen and would actually be eighth-fastest among LB’s! In the LB drill, Ogbah looked like a smooth athlete, showing he could drop and change directions. The Jets need consistent effort from Ogbah if he’s going to take over for Pace.
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Karl Joseph, 5’10”, 205lbs, SS, West Virginia
04/20/16: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
04/13/16: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
There is a need at Strong Safety and West Virginia’s Karl Joseph may be the top Safety in this year's draft. A devastating knee injury in October kept Joseph from finishing his senior season captaining the Mountaineer secondary. He has been a stalwart for West Virginia, starting all 42 games in which he played in his career, racking up 284 tackles, 209 of those were solo and 16 were behind the line, along with 7 Int. and 15 pass breakups. However, he may be best known for his aggressive style and his reputation as a big hitter. Joseph plays very well in the box, shooting in off the edge or getting to the perimeter to chase down the running back. He’s a sure open tackler, wrapping up and driving through the ball carrier. His presence in the back end of the defense is often felt when he’s launching himself into the opposition, laying the lumber or separating the ball from the receiver, something he’s done six times in his career.
40. New York Giants – Jason Spriggs, 6’5”, 301lbs, OT, Indiana
04/23/16: Karl Joseph, SS, West Virginia
04/20/16: Karl Joseph, SS, West Virginia
04/13/16: Karl Joseph, SS, West Virginia
The Giants took Ereck Flowers in the 1st Round a season ago to man the LT position, but an upgrade is needed at RT as Marshall Newhouse is best suited as a backup. Spriggs is a converted basketball player whose athleticism is apparent as a pass protector. He’s a knee bender with good hip mobility and stays upright in his stance. He’s light on his feet, moving laterally with the effortlessness you would expect from a former basketball player. At the Combine, he proved he’s an athlete after running a sub-5.0 40 time. Spriggs, an AP 3rd-Team All-American in 2015, not only has elite lateral movement, but he has long arms (34 1/8”) and active hands in pass protection. He does have to make sure he doesn’t overset, which leaves him susceptible to inside moves. As a run blocker, Spriggs is inconsistent with his pad level, which limits his effectiveness. When he is balanced and under control, he can generate movement in the ground game, keeping his hands inside while keeping his legs moving, and will look to finish his blocks. Spriggs has great awareness as a combo blocker in zone schemes, which will make him a perfect fit in Seattle’s running game that features zone-blocking schemes. He’s still known as a finesse OT because of his lateral movement, but he showed off some strength at the Combine, putting up 31 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press at the Combine despite having such long arms, a total that was fourth highest among OL. Spriggs is also durable, having started 47 games for the Hoosiers. I compare Spriggs to Jake Fisher from a year ago. Both came into the Combine flying under the radar, but came out of it catching the eye of everyone with their athleticism. Like Fisher, Spriggs is garnering some 1st Round consideration. And like Fisher, I have a 2nd Round grade on Spriggs.
41. Chicago Bears – Kamalei Correa, 6’2”, 243lbs, OLB, Boise State, Jr.
04/20/16: Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State
04/13/16: Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State
The Bears finished the season with 35 sacks, but over 50% of those were registered by three players – Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young. However, the group needs an infusion of speed off the edge. Correa is explosive off the edge with a good burst and an ability to bend to turn the corner. Correa uses his hands well to get off blockers and will also get skinny to shoot gaps to get to the QB. Correa finished his career with the Broncos with 19 sacks, but he was also productive when defending the run, totaling 29.5 tackles for loss. Correa is a physical defender that can set the edge versus the run and can also run down the ball from behind. He will instantly provide depth, but it’s his athleticism that will keep him on the field.
42. Miami Dolphins – Robert Nkemdiche, 6’3”, 294lbs, DT, Mississippi, Jr.
04/20/16: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi
04/13/16: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Miami needs to give Ndamukong Suh help along the interior defensively as Miami was porous against the run and failed to get much of a push in the passing game from anyone other than Suh at DT. Nkemdiche is a 1st Round talent who, because of his off-field issues, will likely drop to the 2nd Round. You will remember that Nkemdiche fell out of a window and was charged with marijuana possession in December. Nkemdiche also came out and admitted he took plays off. While I’m sure teams appreciate his honesty, his nonchalant, lazy attitude has to be a huge red flag for teams. When Nkemdiche wants to play at full speed, he has a quick burst off the ball, athleticism to split double teams and the power to drive his man into the backfield. But, for as athletic as he is, his production doesn’t reflect a dominant player. Unlike Suh, who finished with over 200 tackles, 49.5 TFL and 24.5 sacks in his four-year career at Nebraska, Nkemdiche notched just 81 tackles, 16 of those for loss, and just 6.0 sacks in three seasons at Ole Miss. Nkemdiche showed off the athleticism at the Combine, running a 4.87 40 with a 1.68 10-yard split, 28 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press and a 35-inch vertical leap. There’s no question he has the tools to be a dominant player in the league. There are just so many questions at this point to warrant a 1st Round selection. He would be good value at this point in the draft, but Miami will have to hope they can keep Nkemdiche motivated.
43. Tennessee Titans (from Philadelphia via Los Angeles) – Artie Burns, 5’11”, 193lbs, CB, Miami, Fla., Jr.
04/20/16: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
04/13/16 (Los Angeles): Michael Thomas, 6’2”, 212lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
The 43rd overall selection is the first of three draft picks Los Angeles sent Tennessee as part of the trade involving the 1st pick in the draft. The Titans will likely use one of their six draft picks in the top 75 selections to take a corner. While Tennessee did boast the 7th-ranked pass defense, only 2 of the 11 Int. the team recorded were hauled in by CB’s still on the roster as Perrish Cox and B.W. Webb each notched one. Jason McCourty is back and should be ready to go. Who will play opposite him? Artie Burns would offer some physicality to the outside that the Titans desperately need. Burns has decent size, sub-4.5 speed and led the Canes with 6 Int. a season ago. He is still raw and will need some seasoning; his spring season was cut due to his track schedule as a hurdler. However, there has been consistent development year over year and he’s just scratching the surface on his potential.
44. Oakland Raiders – Su’a Cravens, 6’1”, 226lbs, S, USC, Jr.
04/20/16: Jonathan Bullard, DE/DT, Florida
04/13/16: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
The Raiders came into the offseason looking to upgrade the safety position and landed playmaker Reggie Nelson to play Free Safety. The question is what to do at Strong Safety. I think Su’a Cravens of USC could be the answer. Cravens is the type of LB/S hybrid that teams are coveting because the game is changing to feature the pass. I compare Cravens favorably to Deone Bucannon, the 27th overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals out of Washington State in 2014. Not only are their measurables are similar, but they are both versatile enough to play in the box at LB on one play, play deep safety the next and then line up in coverage after that. Cravens proved he could do a little bit of everything for the Trojans throughout his career. He was a reliable tackler, racking up 207 in his three years, but also affected the run game behind the line, finishing with 34.5 tackles for loss. Cravens could affect the pass as well with 10.5 sacks, 9 Int. and 16 pass breakups to his credit. Like Bucannon, he can play in the box against the run, which will come in handy as he can even spell veteran Thomas Davis as needed. Cravens is an instinctive player who trusts his eyes, diagnosing plays quickly and flows quickly to the ball. Once he arrives at the ball carrier, he’s an excellent open field tackler, breaking down and driving through the ball to drive his man back. Cravens also has the athleticism and quick hips to drop in coverage against TE’s and RB’s and even the occasional slot WR and has the ball skills to make a play when the ball arrives. Cravens was even making plays on Special Teams for the Trojans. Not many have talked about Cravens as a 1st Rounder, but the case was the same when Bucannon entered the draft two years ago. Cravens would be an upgrade at Strong Safety for the Raiders and would make a good pair with Nelson.
45. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles) – Will Fuller, 6’0”, 186lbs, WR, Notre Dame, Jr.
04/20/16: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
04/13/16 (Los Angeles): Vonn Bell, FS, Ohio State
On the surface, the Titans appear to be set at the WR position. Kendall Wright and Harry Douglas are the starters with big WR’s Dorial Green-Beckham and Justin Hunter providing size along with depth to the WR corps. However, Wright and Hunter are free agents at the end of this season, so either or both of them could be gone after the season is over. I think Fuller makes a lot of sense because he can stretch defenses to allow Wright, Douglas and DGB work underneath. I think Tennessee would be ecstatic if Fuller were to fall this far in the draft as receivers with 4.32 speed aren’t easy to find. Fuller was very productive in his final two seasons with the Irish, amassing 2,352 yards and hauling in a staggering 29 TD. He’s a vertical threat who can eat up the cushion and will get over the top of a CB in a hurry. He can shake press coverage, does a pretty good job tracking the ball in the air and has good awareness of the sidelines. Once he has the ball in his hands, he’s going to run away from you. Fuller will drive his man back off the line in off with his quickness and then sink his hips and break off the route, instantly creating separation. Once he makes the catch, he’s able to make the first man miss and get up the field. That said, Fuller is not a natural pass catcher. His smallish 8 ¼” hands often force him to let the ball into his body to make the catch, which makes him susceptible to drops, which hampered him throughout his career, having dropped nine passes in each of the last two seasons. Fuller has the speed to get deep, something the Titans could use to take pressure off Wright and Douglas. If he can show consistent hands, he’d be a nice option as a third WR along with DGB as the red zone threat.
46. Detroit Lions – Jonathan Bullard, 6’3”, 285lbs, DE/DT, Florida
04/20/16: Jason Spriggs, 6’5”, 301lbs, OT, Indiana
04/13/16: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
After exercising his option, we know that Riley Reiff will be somewhere up front for Detroit. Whether it’s at LT or at OG remains to be seen. Michael Ola filled in admirably at RT as well. However, the adding an athletic OT like Indiana’s Jason Spriggs would give them options up front. Spriggs is a converted basketball player whose athleticism is apparent as a pass protector. He’s a knee bender with good hip mobility and stays upright in his stance. He’s light on his feet, moving laterally with the effortlessness you would expect from a former basketball player. At the Combine, he proved he’s an athlete after running a sub-5.0 40 time. Spriggs, an AP 3rd-Team All-American in 2015, not only has elite lateral movement, but he has long arms (34 1/8”) and active hands in pass protection. He does have to make sure he doesn’t overset, which leaves him susceptible to inside moves. As a run blocker, Spriggs is inconsistent with his pad level, which limits his effectiveness. When he is balanced and under control, he can generate movement in the ground game, keeping his hands inside while keeping his legs moving, and will look to finish his blocks. Spriggs has great awareness as a combo blocker in zone schemes, which will make him a perfect fit in Seattle’s running game that features zone-blocking schemes. He’s still known as a finesse OT because of his lateral movement, but he showed off some strength at the Combine, putting up 31 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press at the Combine despite having such long arms, a total that was fourth highest among OL. Spriggs is also durable, having started 47 games for the Hoosiers. I compare Spriggs to Jake Fisher from a year ago. Both came into the Combine flying under the radar, but came out of it catching the eye of everyone with their athleticism. Like Fisher, Spriggs is garnering some 1st Round consideration. And like Fisher, I have a 2nd Round grade on Spriggs.
47. New Orleans Saints – Noah Spence, 6’2”, 251lbs, DE, Eastern Kentucky
04/20/16: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
04/13/16: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
The Saints struggled to put pressure on the QB and need an impact edge rusher opposite Cameron Jordan. Teams are looking for the next Khalil Mack or Von Miller and there’s a chance New Orleans may have landed the next impact pass rusher in Noah Spence. At 6’2” and 251 pounds, Spence has similar measureables to both Mack and Miller. He was also very productive off the edge in college, amassing 20.5 sacks and 38.0 tackles for loss. He’s quick off the ball to quickly get to the edge and uses his hands well to get off blocks. He has a powerful rip move to get to the edge, bends well to quickly run the arc and explodes around the corner in pursuit of the QB. Spence is a high motor guy who keeps working to get to the ball. He does a great job avoiding blockers in space against the run, but lacks the power to set the edge consistently. Then there’s the off-field concerns. Spence had positive drug tests in 2013 and 2014, which caused him to be banned for life from the Big Ten. He was also arrested in May 2015 for alcohol intoxication and second-degree disorderly conduct, but he did have the charges expunged from his record following completion of community service. It was also said that Spence interviewed poorly at the Combine. Spence is a 1st Round talent, but he has to prove to teams that his off-field problems are behind him. The concerns will keep him waiting until Day Two of the Draft to hear his name called. He’s a boom-or-bust prospect, but with the pass rush being a key need, I can see the Saints taking a chance.
48. Indianapolis Colts – Germain Ifedi, 6’5”, 324lbs, OT/OG, Texas A&M, Jr.
04/20/16: Germain Ifedi, OT/OG, Texas A&M
04/13/16: Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
The Colts must keep Andrew Luck healthy this season if they want to be contenders. Anthony Castonzo and Jack Mewhort will be holding down the left side of the lne, but the right side needs some competition. Joe Reitz was a solid RT, but Todd Herremans didn’t work out at RG and his replacement, Hugh Thornton, was inconsistent. Reitz can line up inside, while Mewhort spent time at RT, so landing Ifedi here would give Indy a third versatile lineman, which would give them options up front. There’s a good chance the versatile former Aggie could be off the board by the 48th pick. Ifedi has good length and can control his man at the point of attack with excellent hand placement under the DE’s pad level, allowing him to control his man at the point of attack. He’s surprisingly light on his feet and can mirror his man laterally. If you watch him against Sheldon Rankins with Texas A&M played Louisville in the Music City Bowl, he was able to lock into Rankins in the run game, keeping him from getting up the field. However, Ifedi tends to overset, which makes him susceptible to inside moves. He struggles with speed rushers, but is a powerful blocker at the point, which means RT will likely be his home at the next level and would be given a chance to start there, especially if Reitz can slide inside to RG.
49. Buffalo Bills – Kevin Dodd, 6’5”, 277lbs, DE, Clemson, Jr.
04/20/16: Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
04/13/16: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
I expect Buffalo to continue to address their defensive front in the 2nd Round as well since they finished with just 21 sacks in 2015. There wasn’t an edge rusher that finished the year stronger than Dodd, who finished the season with 7.5 sacks in his final 5 games with the Tigers, including a dominant three-sack performance against Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game. Dodd was a nightmare for RT Dominick Jackson with his burst off the ball. He used his long 34-inch arms to drive his man back and would use his hands well to slap the OT hands away then rip to clear the OT, finishing with a closing burst to chase down the QB. He has good hips, showing he can dip his inside shoulder and bend to get around the edge. Dodd wasn’t just a pass rusher. His 24 tackles for loss showed he lived in opposing backfields, working tirelessly to shoot gaps to disrupt run plays. He even has the size and strength to set the edge against the run. Dodd is absolutely a one-year wonder, so you have to hope he can build on the final five games of 2015.
50. Atlanta Falcons – Keanu Neal, 6’0”, 211lbs, S, Florida, Jr.
04/20/16: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
04/13/16: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
Atlanta’s secondary currently has two young safeties in Kemal Ishmael and Ricardo Allen. While Allen has emerged to be among the top half of safeties in the league, Ishmael is not the long-term solution at Strong Safety. Ishmael can play against both the pass and the run, but he won’t be a Pro Bowler in the future. He is in the last year of his rookie contract, but he’s a dynamic special teams performer, so I would expect Atlanta to keep him around. Neal physical presence in the secondary who will be competing with Ishmael for the starting SS job. He’s also a proved to be an explosive athlete after posting a 38-inch vertical leap and a 132-inch broad jump. He does an exceptional job playing the run, diagnosing and reacting to the play quickly. He takes good angles on outside runs to meet the RB along the sideline and isn’t afraid to come downhill on runs between the tackles, wrapping up the RB in the open field. Neal does a good job reading the play in front of him in pass coverage and has the range to make the big hit against the WR as the ball arrives. The problem with Neal is the fact that he often goes for the knockout blow instead of wrapping up, which allows the ball carrier to gain extra yards.
51. New York Jets – Kyler Fackrell, 6’5”, 245lbs, OLB, Utah State
04/20/16: Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
04/13/16: Germain Ifedi, OT/OG, Texas A&M
The Jets must find a pass rusher to be the eventual replacement for Calvin Pace opposite Lorenzo Mauldin. Fackrell has excellent size at the OLB position and is very athletic to bend and turn the corner as an edge rusher. Highly productive in his first two seasons at Utah State (169 tackles, 21 TFL, 8 sacks, 7 PBU, 3 FF), Fackrell saw his junior season end after tearing his ACL in the first game of the season. However, he rebounded to again be a factor for the Aggies, filling the stat sheet with 82 tackles, 15 for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. Fackrell can dip his inside shoulder and runs the arc well off the outside edge. He can rush the QB both as a stand-up rusher and with his hand in the ground. Fackrell also does a good job taking an inside path to the QB by setting the OT up with a fake outside before darting inside to shoot into the backfield. Fackrell has the length to set the edge, using his long arms to shed blockers and drop the RB for little gain. He covers a lot of ground in a hurry with his long strides, changes directions quickly without any wasted movement, often beating the RB to the hole. His versatility doesn’t end there as he has the athleticism and quick hips to drop into coverage and can get his hand in to make a play on the ball.
52. Houston Texans – Nick Vannett, 6’6”, 257lbs, TE, Ohio State
04/20/16: Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State
04/13/16: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
Bill O’Brien has always had athletic TE’s in his offense that can handle both blocking and receiving duties. C.J. Fiedorowicz has struggled to get going as a pro due to injury and even if he’s at full strength, O’Brien usually has multiple TE’s in his offense. Nick Vannett proved he can be a blocker in the running game, keeping his hands inside while playing with decent leverage to generate a push off the line. Vannett has been a red zone option for the Buckeyes and can get vertical down the seam in a hurry. He has soft hands and can adjust to the ball while it’s in the air. He can line up all over the field and does an excellent job moving the chains. I think Vannett can be a better receiving option at the next level than he was at OSU and will be a favorite target for Brock Osweiler early.
53. Washington Redskins – Miles Killebrew, 6’2”, 217lbs, S, Southern Utah
04/20/16: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
04/13/16: Artie Burns, CB, Miami, Fla.
Washington finished the season with the 25th-ranked pass defense, so the secondary should get attention early in this draft, even after the Skins struck a deal with Pro Bowl CB Josh Norman. Specifically, the Skins could use an upgrade at the safety position and Miles Killebrew would be a steal at this point, especially considering he’s now being looked at as a possible 1st Round pick. I think it’s safe to say Killebrew is the hardest hitter in this year’s draft, acting as a heat-seeking missile over the top. Nearly every game I watched had one or two big hits from Killebrew, both against the pass and the run. Killebrew was also tremendous in the open field, showing he can deliver a blow and still wrap up and drive through the ball carrier. He showed range against the pass and had solid ball skills, finishing his collegiate career with 21 pass breakups. Killebrew could have solidified his status as the top safety in this year’s draft at the Combine, but looked a bit stiff and ran a disappointing 4.65 40 time. That said, he makes plays all over the field and is an intimidating presence on the back end of the defense, making him a perfect fit in Washington’s defense.
54. Minnesota Vikings – Vonn Bell, 5’11”, 199lbs, FS, Ohio State, Jr.
04/20/16: Vonn Bell, FS, Ohio State
04/13/16: Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame
The Vikings have a keeper at safety in Harrison Smith, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Smith has been the team’s starting Free Safety since he was drafted in 2012, but there is a need at Strong Safety, so if the Vikes pull the trigger on Bell here, that would allow Smith to slide over to Strong Safety, a position he played at Notre Dame. Bell is an active safety with solid instincts that allow him to be in the right place to make a play. He has the range to cover a lot of ground on the back end, but is also athletic enough to cover man-to-man, showing good anticipation on throws in front of him in the pass game, as evidenced by his 15 passes broken up. Bell also has 9 Int. under his belt, including hauling in 6 as a sophomore, so he has a knack for making plays on the ball. Bell just needs to work on being more physical when coming down in the box to play the run.
55. Cincinnati Bengals – Austin Johnson, 6’4”, 318lbs, DT, Penn State, Jr.
04/20/16: Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
04/13/16: Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
Domata Peko had 5 sacks a season ago, but this is his 11th year in the league and he’s entering the final year of his contract. Cincy should be preparing for his possible departure after the season and adding Johnson would be a nice get. Johnson is a 1st Round talent and in most years, he would be off the board on Day One of the Draft. However, with such a deep class of DT’s this year, Johnson could be on the board when the Bengals pick in the 2nd Round. Johnson had impressive tackle totals for Penn State finishing last season with 78, the most of any DT in this year’s class. He has a good burst off the ball to quickly shoot the A gap, using a quick swim move to beat the OG off the snap. Johnson can also pursue run plays from behind, showing the athleticism and motor to chase down RB’s coming down the line. He’s stout at the point of attack and will often stand his man up by getting under their pad level. Johnson’s burst off the ball also allows him to get after the QB. His nimble feet was especially on display against Georgia in the Tax Slayer Bowl, where he beat C Brandon Kublanow off the snap then sidestepped the attempted block of RB Sony Michel to then close and drop QB Greyson Lambert for the sack. Johnson and Geno Atkins would be a nice interior combo for the Bengals up front.
56. Seattle Seahawks – Kenny Clark, 6’2”, 312lbs, DT, UCLA, Jr.
04/20/16: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
04/13/16: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA,
The Seahawks finished 2015 with the league’s best run defense. However, if they want to stay on top, they’re going to need to replace Brandon Mebane, who departed for San Diego in free agency. Kenny Clark, a former wrestler, plays with excellent leverage and has tremendous upper body strength. He was productive from the DT position, finishing the 2015 season with 73 tackles, which was the second-highest total among DT’s in the draft. Clark can also collapse the pocket with a tremendous bull rush to drive interior linemen into the lap of the QB. He continued to get better in his three years with the Bruins, but the concern has been the fact that Clark performed far better earlier in the season against inferior competition and seemed to disappear at times as the season progressed. His lack of consistency toward the end of the season will bring enough of a concern to keep him from being selected in the 1st Round. However, he does have the ability to affect both the pass and the run from the DT position, making him an interesting prospect for Seattle. If Pete Carroll can bring the best out of Clark on a game-to-game basis, he could develop into an impactful starter.
57. Green Bay Packers – Joshua Perry, 6’3”, 254lbs, ILB, Ohio State
04/20/16: Joshua Perry, ILB, Ohio State
04/13/16: Joshua Perry, ILB, Ohio State
It’s no secret that the Packers will focus on finding an impact ILB that would allow Clay Matthews move back outside where he’s most effective. Perry was a productive for the Buckeyes, finishing the last two seasons with 229 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 6 pass breakups. I think his physicality is best suited as a 3-4 ILB, making him someone to watch for when the Pack is drafting on Day 2. Perry is known for his tackling prowess, having only missed one tackle in the last two years. He’s an excellent form tackler, getting low to drive through the ball carrier while wrapping up. He’s instinctive, takes good angles and puts himself in position to make a play. He has a high motor and is always working to the ball. Perry lacks the lateral quickness and change of direction skills to be a factor in coverage, but did record 7.5 sacks in his career at Ohio State and ran a solid 4.68 40 time, so it’s possible he could be asked to get after the QB on passing downs. Perry would battle incumbents Jake Ryan and Sam Barrington for playing time.
58. Pittsburgh Steelers – Joshua Garnett, 6’4”, 312lbs, OG, Stanford
04/20/16: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
04/13/16: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
The Steelers have solid starters at the OG position, so why would they be looking to address the interior of their O-line so early in the draft? Ramon Foster did sign a three-year deal, but at 30 years of age, he’s not getting any younger, while David DeCastro is in the final year of his rookie contract. Pittsburgh could look to another Stanford alum to be DeCastro’s eventual replacement if they go with Garnett here. Joshua Garnett is a road grader up front, playing his best in a phone booth. He has a very thick lower body that he uses to effectively drive his man off the ball with short choppy steps while staying low to get under the defender’s pad level. The Outland Trophy winner is also agile enough to get out and pull, keeping his eyes up to locate his target in the open field. Garnett will struggle with speed in pass protection, but he can anchor against the bull rush and has enough lateral quickness to mirror his man and keep him in front if he gets his hands on him early. Garnett is the best interior line prospect to come out of Stanford since DeCastro, so it would be fitting that he’s taken by Pittsburgh to be David’s eventual replacement.
59. Kansas City Chiefs – Kendall Fuller, 5’11”, 187lbs, CB, Virginia Tech, Jr.
04/20/16: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
04/13/16: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
The Chiefs hit a home run with the selection of Marcus Peters in the 1st Round a season ago. This year, they are hoping to land another starter at CB now that Sean Smith is gone. Kendall Fuller would be the fourth Fuller brother to be drafted into the NFL and would be the third, following Vincent and Kyle, to line up in an NFL secondary. Kyle and his other brother Corey, a WR, currently play for the Bears, while Vincent finished a seven-year career in 2011. Kendall is a ballhawk, racking up 8 Int. and defended another 24 passes in just his first two seasons with the Hokies. However, in 2015 he was only able to make it through three games before undergoing a knee surgery that ended his junior year. With his instincts in coverage, an ability to drive on the ball and the ball skills to make a play on the football, Fuller would have been a sure-fire 1st Round selection had he not sustained the injury. If he can prove he’s healthy, Fuller could be a steal.
60. New England Patriots – Jordan Howard, 6’0”, 230lbs, RB, Indiana, Jr.
04/20/16: Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana
04/13/16: Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana
The Patriots are without a 1st Round pick following “Deflate Gate”, but have back-to-back picks at the end of Round 2. Last season saw difficult times for the Pats on the ground as New England finished with the 30th-ranked rush offense. LeGarrette Blount (hip) and Dion Lewis (knee) fell victim to season-ending injuries. The run game situation became so dire that the Pats brought in Steven Jackson, who hadn’t played all year, for their playoff push. This offseason, Blount and Jackson are gone and Lewis’ health is still a concern. You have to imagine if Lewis is healthy, he will make an impact and James White will be a factor in the passing game, but the Pats would still lack the big bruising back, making Indiana’s Jordan Howard a natural fit at the end of the 2nd Round. Jordan Howard came to Indiana as a highly-touted transfer from UAB, rushing for 2,468 yards and 15 TD for the Blazers. Howard picked up where he left off with the Hoosiers, rushing for more than 140 yards in each of his first four games. He was then rolled up on while blocking against Ohio State, injuring an ankle that caused him to miss the next two games. He returned to put up 490 yards in the next three games, including a 230-yard and 2-TD performance in a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Michigan. Ankle and knee injuries forced him out of the Maryland game and he missed the final two games of the season. In total, Howard missed four games and parts of three due to the nagging injuries and still rushed for 1,213 yards with 9 TD on the ground. Howard is a physical, downhill back with a good burst to the line and some subtle shiftiness to avoid tacklers. He has light feet through traffic and runs behind his pads. He has thick legs that give him power between the tackles, running through arm tackles and bouncing off would-be tacklers. He can be a very violent runner, lowering his pads and looking for contact. He always seems to be falling forward and will drag defenders for extra yards. Howard is a bit unproven as a receiver, though he does have 24 receptions to his credit. He does show good hands as a pass catcher and can adjust to the ball in the air. Howard is also a willing pass blocker who isn’t afraid to mix it up. Howard was a workhorse for the Hoosiers and can wear down defenses as the game goes on. He’s not a game breaker and he’ll have to prove the injuries are behind him, but Bill Belichick would land the big back that everyone has grown accustomed to seeing in the Pats’ offense.
61. New England Patriots (from Arizona) – Tyler Matakevich, 6’0”, 238lbs, ILB, Temple
04/13/16: Tyler Matakevich, ILB, Temple
The Patriots have a hole in the middle of their defense now that Jerod Mayo has announced his retirement. Jonathan Freeny had been a special teams standout, but he was able to fill in at the MIKE and was productive, meaning he will get the first crack at the starting spot in 2016. However, expect the Pats to find another inside backer to challenge Freeny for the spot and why not go after the most productive tackling LB in this year’s draft. Tyler Matakevich became just the seventh player in FBS history to record four straight seasons with 100+ tackles. Matakevich filled up the stat sheets with the Owls, finishing with a staggering 493 tackles, along with 40.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 7 Int., 11 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. He is not blessed with tremendous size or speed, so you wouldn’t expect him to stand out at the Combine or in workouts. However, all you need to do is put on the game tape to see the instincts jump off the screen. It’s clear that Matakevich does his homework as he always seems to know where the play is going and is always around the ball. He’s very decisive, trusting his eyes and flying to the football. He’s quick to change directions and takes the right angle, running to where the RB is going to be, not where the RB currently is, which reminds me a lot of Luke Kuechly when he was at Boston College. Matakevich doesn’t stay blocked, constantly working to get to the ball. He can stack and shed blocks on the edge to drop the RB before the play can develop. Since Matakevich is a step slow, he struggles in man coverage. However, he gets good depth in zone coverage, reads the QB and makes quick breaks on the football to make a play. His 5 Int. a season ago were the most of any LB at the FBS level. Matakevich also seemed to be at his best when the lights were brightest. Early in the season, Temple had back-to-back games against Penn State and Cincinnati, both of which the Owls were the underdog. Matakevich had 3 sacks of Christian Hackenberg, showing he timed his jumps well to shoot the gaps and chase down the QB, helping Temple beat Penn State 27-10. He followed that performance up the following week with 2 Int. of Bearcats QB Gunner Kiel, which helped bring home a 34-26 win for the Owls. Matakevich always seemed to find a way to affect the game and played a key role in leading Temple to its first 7-0 start and first 10-win season since 1979. Matakevich was easily my favorite player to watch at the collegiate level in 2015. His instincts left you shaking your head because he was so quick to diagnose a play and was in the right place to make a play on the ball. His intensity and blue-collar approach to the game seem to rub off on his teammates. Many will point to the fact that he was beaten by RB’s on wheel routes and by TE’s up the seam, but he does everything else so well. Others will point to his lack of size, but I seem to recall another undersized LB that didn’t get much love leading up to the 2014 draft. Most had Chris Borland coming off the board in the 3rd or 4th Round because of his lack of size, but I had him getting drafted early in the 2nd Round because of his playmaking prowess. He ended up being the 77th overall pick of the 49ers and we all know the type of impact Borland made once he took over a starting spot. I see a similar future for Matakevich. I'm higher on Matakevich than most, which means he's likely to be taken anywhere between the 3rd and 5th Rounds. However, I think the football savvy, instincts and ability to always be around the football should trump his lack of size and get him taken at the end of Round 2. His intensity will be a welcome addition in New England.
62. Carolina Panthers – Devontae Booker, 5’11”, 219lbs, RB, Utah
04/20/16: Devonate Booker, RB, Utah
04/13/16: Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
Jonathan Stewart played a big role in Carolina’s 15-1 season in 2015, finishing with his best season since 2009, his second year in the league. However, his 242 carries were the most in his career and 180 more carries than the second highest total by a RB. Now 29 years of age, so he’s going to need some help in the Panther backfield and the trio of Mike Tolbert, Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whitaker was largely ineffective a season ago. Booker came to the Utes from American River College in 2014 and immediately burst onto the national scene with 1,512 yards on the ground and 10 rushing TD to go with 43 receptions for 306 yards, making him one of the more complete backs in the FBS. Booker picked up where he left off as a senior and was on his way to eclipsing the marks he set the season prior, amassing 1,261 yards on the ground before tearing his meniscus against Arizona on November 14. Booker is quick to press the line of scrimmage before finding the cutback lane with excellent vision. Booker will make cuts in the hole to make defenders miss, showing very light feet in traffic. Booker plays with a low center of gravity that allows him to easily bounce off tackles. He’s physical and has excellent balance, allowing him to run through tackles. In fact, 800 of his yards in 2015 came after contact. Booker’s vision allows him to set up defenders, playing to their aggressiveness, allowing them to overpursue and cut underneath the defender. He had a 40-yard TD against Cal that put on display what his cutting and vision can do in the open field as well. Booker took the play off tackle and the corner shot the gap, lining him up for the tackle when Booker cut inside underneath the corner with a jump cut; he then jumps back outside to avoid DE Todd Barr crashing down, bouncing the play to the sideline, allowing him to then run away defenders for the score. Booker is a natural pass catcher, extending his arms and catching the pass with soft hands, finishing his career with 80 total receptions in his career. Booker does have some ball security issues, having fumbled nine times in two seasons. He also has had 640 touches in just two seasons so there’s a lot of wear on those legs and at 24 years of age, that has to be cause for concern. However, if Booker is sharing the backfield with Stewart, he’ll be able to keep his legs fresher. The 2nd Round may be a bit high for Booker as a result, but he’s one of the most complete backs in this year’s draft, so if he can stay healthy, he can make an immediate impact.
63. Denver Broncos – Kentrell Brothers, 6’0”, 245lbs, ILB, Missouri
04/20/16: Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri
04/13/16: Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri
The loss of Danny Trevathan in free agency created a hole in the middle of the defense, so you have to imagine an early selection will be used on an ILB. Brothers was a tackling machine for the Missouri Tigers, showing impressive instincts and an ability to quickly diagnose plays. Brothers has 357 tackles in his career, including an FBS-best 152 last season. He has a high football IQ and a tremendous awareness of his surroundings. He is able to move over or under blocks to find the creases to get to the football, takes the right angles and seems to beat the O-linemen to where the RB is going to be. Brothers is stout at the point of attack, so you’re not going to see him blown back by a block. He’s at his best when coming downhill between the tackles, making him a natural fit as an ILB in a 3-4 scheme. While Brothers can drop into zone coverage, he struggles with man-to-man coverage. However the Mizzou team captain is a high character guy and his knack for always being around the ball is going to get him drafted higher than most think.