Day Three Draft Discussion

[Mingo]

No thread for Day 3? This will be the one with the most action in it. Now that Paton has got the rest of the league fat and happy - it's time to pick the bones of this bird.

I'll be particularly interested in the guys the Broncos trade to take. Also -keep in mind - drafting a guy with major injury and potentially unable to contribute this year - is another way of converting this year's picks into next year's players.

 

[PumpFake]

No thread for Day 3? This will be the one with the most action in it. Now that Paton has got the rest of the league fat and happy - it's time to pick the bones of this bird.

I'll be particularly interested in the guys the Broncos trade to take. Also -keep in mind - drafting a guy with major injury and potentially unable to contribute this year - is another way of converting this year's picks into next year's players.

Good point, Scott. 100% agree.

 

[SpringStein]

Also -keep in mind - drafting a guy with major injury and potentially unable to contribute this year - is another way of converting this year's picks into next year's players.

specific players in mind that fit this?

The one problem with this is that there is one less year on a rookie contract to progress and/or prove their worth before they become a FA

 

[BHamita]

specific players in mind that fit this?

The one problem with this is that there is one less year on a rookie contract to progress and/or prove their worth before they become a FA

Damone Clark out of LSU.

 

[BHamita]

Today I want in no specific order)

1. CB
2. OT
3. HB
4. S
5. WR
6. ILB
7. DL
8. C

 

[nflbronco]

PR P bolster lines for once. Just curious the number of picks are flipped for 23 picks. Will Mich RB become a Bronco today

 

[Mingo]

specific players in mind that fit this?

The one problem with this is that there is one less year on a rookie contract to progress and/or prove their worth before they become a FA

Chances are their 2nd contract will be cheaper.

 

[SpringStein]

Damarri Mathis, who has two brothers, grew up in central Florida and started playing football at the youth level where he was a standout on offense. He enrolled at Lakeland High and reluctantly moved to defensive back where he made the varsity team as a sophomore starting cornerback. As a junior, Mathis led the team with eight passes defended and one interception. He earned All-District and All-County honors as a senior and led Lakeland to an 8-3 record and spot in the Class 7A playoffs. Mathis finished his prep career with 73 tackles, 32 passes defended and five interceptions.
A three-star recruit out of high school, Mathis was the No. 64 cornerback in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 88 recruit in the state of Florida. He started receiving scholarship offers after his junior season and originally committed to South Carolina. However, he decommitted from the Gamecocks after his senior season and flipped to Pittsburgh. Florida entered the picture shortly before signing day, but Mathis felt comfortable with his commitment and signed with the Panthers. He graduated with a degree in communications and is pursuing a second degree in administration of justice. Mathis hyperextended his knee and decided to skip the 2021 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2022 Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Quick-footed athlete able to turn and run with receivers from press ... eagerly reroutes receivers at the line ... has the long speed to match deep routes and stay in phase ... deftly balances his eyes between the backfield and his cover responsibilities ... maintains a spatial relationship between combinations in zone ... highly aggressive demeanor at the catch point ... functional length to play through the hands of receivers (21 passes defended in 26 games the last two seasons) ... takes it personally when a pass is completed on his watch ... physical striker and receivers feel it when he connects ... widens his stance as a tackler to corral the ball carrier ... his teammates say he was a “key part” of Pitt’s defensive backs room.
WEAKNESSES: Very average body type with tiny hands ... too easily manipulated by double-moves and multi-break patterns ... his cover awareness breaks down with his back to the ball ... needs to be more calculating with his risk-taking (more touchdowns allowed than interceptions in 2021) ... quick to crowd the catch point but often arrives too early ... was a flag magnet in college with nine penalties as a senior, including six pass-interference penalties ... perimeter corner with only 5 percent of his coverage snaps coming against the slot ... his durability needs to check out: missed the 2020 season with a non-football injury to his left shoulder (August 2020) that required surgery; sat out the 2021 bowl game after hyperextending his knee in the ACC championship game (December 2021).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Pittsburgh, Mathis was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Randy Bates’ balanced scheme. Although he fell off the radar for some after missing the 2020 season with an injury, he played with more confidence as a senior and steadily improved his standing throughout the 2021 season and draft process. Mathis has the athletic profile needed for the NFL and shows play recognition and reactive twitch, both mentally and athletically. While physicality is an endearing part of his game, he isn’t shy going through receivers and must control his urgent play style. Overall, Mathis’ aggressive demeanor can be a double-edged sword and work against him, but he is smart, speedy and competitive, which is an easy sell in draft meetings. He can play man or zone and will push for early NFL playing time if he develops better discipline in coverage

 

[SpringStein]

Eyioma (E-oh-mah) “Enyi” Uwazurike (Ooh-WHA-zah-REE-kay), who has Nigerian roots, grew up in inner-city Detroit and started playing sports in the Detroit Police Athletic League. He attended Southfield-Lathrup High in north Detroit, where he was a defensive end and tight end. As a junior, he finished with 58 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks, earning team defensive MVP honors. Uwazurike helped lead Southfield-Lathrup to the 2015 playoffs as a senior and earned First Team All-City and All-Conference honors. He finished his final season with 50 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
A three-star defensive end recruit out of high school, Uwazurike was the No. 37 strongside defensive end in the 2016 recruiting class and the No. 22 recruit in the state of Michigan. He struggled with academics in high school, which led to in-state schools like Michigan and Michigan State holding back an offer. Uwazurike received primarily MAC-level offers and committed to Toledo, the first program to offer him. When Matt Campbell left Toledo for Iowa State, Uwazurike switched his commitment as well. He was forced to redshirt in his first season on campus because he was academically ineligible. A Nigerian national, his father (Roland) was convicted in 2008 of smuggling high school books into Detroit with more than $150,000 worth of heroin. Roland, who Eyioma says was his best friend, passed away in December 2019 at the age of 48. Uwazurike decided to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility because of COVID and return to Ames for a sixth season in 2021. He became the first in his family to earn his college degree and is currently pursuing his master’s degree. Uwazurike accepted his invitation to the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Giant-sized defender with above-average length ... active hands to swat and force his way through the shoulders of blockers ... has explosiveness in his lower body ... keeps his feet alive to work laterally and avoid reach blocks ... controls himself as a tackler to finish the ball carrier ... able to make tackles away from his square because of his hustle ... blocked a pair of field goals in college ... the coaches speak highly of his toughness and importance to the culture (Uwazurike: “Growing up in Detroit, it makes you the tough person you are.”) ... has experience lining up everywhere from the nose to five-technique ... played in the second- most games in school history (60), including five bowl games ... only the second player in ISU history to reach 9.0 sacks in a season.
WEAKNESSES: Inconsistent pad level and needs to establish his base ... can get wild in his pursuit and tends to lose balance through contact ... needs to improve his snap anticipation to play out in front ... predictable with his rush attack and can do a better job mixing up move selection ... his hands keep going, but they can be more efficient ... bad habit of turning his pads and losing lane leverage ... doesn’t consistently absorb down blocks and can be washed ... occasionally late to react to play action or misdirection.
SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Iowa State, Uwazurike played inside and outside in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s multiple front, lining up at a handful of positions on the defensive line. While he was at his best as a three-technique, he also played comfortable as the shaded nose or out wide at 4i-technique, finishing his career third in school history with 34.5 tackles for loss. Uwazurike, who started every game the last three seasons, took sizeable jumps each year, playing his best as a senior because of his active hands and ability to find the football. However, his base strength can be inconsistent at engagement and he is more likely to bull rush with wild hands than use coordinated counters. Overall, Uwazurike needs to play with more consistent pad level and contact balance to secure run fits, but his blend of length and athleticism allow him to be disruptive from different alignments. He fits even and odd fronts and might be best as a five-technique

 

[BHamita]

Love both of these picks.

 

[fightinredantz]

Pierre Strong to the Patriots. Loved watching him in college, going to be hard yo root for him in New England.

 

[fightinredantz]

I would like to see Zyon McCollum or JJ Domann here in the 5th round.

 

[Mingo]

I hope McCollum will be there

 

[fightinredantz]

He was there but not the selection. Delarrin Turner-Yell was the pick.

 

[SpringStein]

Delarrin (duh-LAIR-ee-in) Turner-Yell grew up in the small town of Hempstead (population of less than 10,000), which is 50 miles northwest of Houston. He attended Hempstead High, where he was a four-year letterman as a wide receiver and free safety. Turner-Yell put himself on the recruiting radar after his junior season when he finished with 87 tackles, nine passes defended, four forced fumbles and two interceptions, which earned him 2016 District MVP honors. He was crowned Homecoming King as a senior and earned team MVP honors. Turner-Yell also lettered in basketball and track, setting personal bests of 10.74 in the 100 meters, 21.84 in the 200 meters and 20’11 in the long jump.
A three-star recruit out of high school, Turner-Yell was the No. 66 safety in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 124 recruit in the state of Texas. He collected offers from Iowa, Nebraska and Utah and initially committed to Matt Rhule and Baylor as a junior in April 2017. However, Turner-Yell flipped to Oklahoma a few months later after visiting Norman.

STRENGTHS: Has above average speed for the position, which shows on tape with his chase down tackles ... opens his hips and covers ground, showing the looseness to stay on top of routes ... trusts his keys to trigger and won’t play hesitant (his film preparation is evident on tape) ... closes downhill with violent intentions, which allows him to wrangle ball carriers in the open field ... shows savvy when the ball is in the air and won’t make contact with receivers before the ball arrives ... his coaches said he was a tone-setter “since the day he showed up” with his on-field motor and team-first attitude ... productive tackler.
WEAKNESSES: Looks more like a cornerback than safety, lacking an ideal build for the position ... doesn’t play explosive in coverage ... better as a floater than attaching himself to receivers or tight ends in man coverage ... not immune to false steps in his reads ... below average ball production for a player with 30-plus starts ... fearless tackler, but his lack of upper body power leads to finishing issues when he attempts to wrap ... needs to be more of an impact guy on special teams coverages ... missed at least one game each of his four seasons in Norman, including three games as a senior because of a hamstring injury (October 2021); Suffered a broken left collarbone (December 2019) and missed the College Football Playoff semifinal vs. LSU.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Oklahoma, Turner-Yell was the strong safety in former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s 3-3-5 base scheme. When on the field, he brought a level of consistency to an otherwise inconsistent Sooners defense, finishing top-four on the team in tackles per game the past three seasons. Turner-Yell trusts his preparation and eye discipline, which allows him to play fast and be in the right position to make plays vs. the run and in coverage as a split safety. His toughness is a strength to his game, but his physical nature works against his durability, which is a potential problem in the NFL. Overall, Turner-Yell is undersized and will have his struggles in man coverage, but he is a decisive downhill alley runner with the range and intangibles that will appeal to NFL defensive coordinators. He will need to get better on special teams to help his long-term roster chances.

 

[fightinredantz]

Both our DBs are under 6’ and under 200 pounds. They are going to have to be tough and ultra competitive.

I don’t know a lot about either, so will trust Paton that they are going yo be good.

So far this draft feels a bit different then last years. I hope in the end it is just as successful of a draft.

 

[fightinredantz]

More guys I like at this point in the draft:
Zyon McCollum
JoJo Domann
Kingsley Enagbare
Braxton Jones
D’Marco Jackson
Ty Chandler
Bo Melton

 

[Draft Crazy]

Gimme a Turner-YELLLLL. I want more, more more.