I you drop the top 8 or 10 players from last years class and drop the players from rounds 5 and 6 of last years class you have sort of a picture of this year’s class. It is not terribly bad, but in no way is it close to last year and probably slightly down from an average draft class. imo

That is the general consensus of this years class. Remember Snead saying that this is why it was such a good deal to get Barron last year for a couple of this classes draft picks.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Agamemnon.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Agamemnon.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25111295/nfl-draft-versatile-disruptive-linebacker-group

Inside linebackers

1/35. Eric Kendricks, UCLA, 6-0, 232, 4.61, 1-2

Nice genes: Like brother Mychal (Philadelphia Eagles), Eric has that rare read-and-react instinct necessary to be a great inside linebacker. Add quickness and fluid athleticism and Kendricks gets in position to make more than his share of plays. He played in 52 games, started 41, and set the school record with 482 tackles (307 solos), adding ten sacks, 26 tackles for a loss, four fumbles caused, four others recovered, advancing two for touchdowns. More? How about two blocked kicks and five interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown. That was enough to earn the Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2014. However, Kendricks played hurt through 2013 season (shoulder sprain, back bruise and ankle injury that required surgery). Father, Marvin, was star running back at UCLA and Canadian League.

Notable quote: “We’re the same blood. We bring a lot of the same characteristics to the game. We can do a lot of things that a lot of people can’t do. Flexibility, speed, collision at point of attack. Those are things we both bring to the table”. — Erick Kendricks at combine, when asked to describe his similarities to brother Mychal (Philadelphia Eagles).
–Frankly: Let’s just agree that we can’t coach genetics, measure a heart or teach instincts — which are the basics that make Kendricks a wildly productive football player. In the right defense, he can continue to mess with offenses for many more years.

2/44. *Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, 6-4, 246, 4.66, 2

Player seeks position: While there are differing opinions as to what position he may play in the NFL, McKinney impresses coaches with his natural leadership ability on the field. He is still improving his ability to diagnose offenses, but McKinney’s explosive speed compensates for any milliseconds lost while reading and reacting. Although not a vicious hitter, McKinney fearlessly takes on lead blockers, often creating a play-ending pile even if he doesn’t get the tackle. Starred at Rosa Fort High School as quarterback and linebacker. At Mississippi State, McKinney played in 39 games, starting his final 36 at middle linebacker. He collected 244 tackles (122 solos) with 7.5 sacks and 19.5 stops behind the line.

Measuring up: McKinney was impressive at combine, timed in 4.66 seconds for 40-yard dash (1.63 in 10; 2.73 in 20) and demonstrated explosion with a vertical jump of 40.5 inches and a broad jump of 10-feet-1 inch. He has small hands (9 inches) and managed only 16 reps on the bench (225 pounds). At March 5 pro day, he skipped measured events and looked good in positional drills.

Notable quote: “I think I’m a football player. You’ve got to do those (workouts) to stay healthy and stay on top of your game, but I’m a better football player than a track star.” — McKinney

Frankly: This is kind of dedicated player coaches love, although somebody must decide where he will best fit in the NFL — inside linebacker, outside linebacker or maybe defensive end.

3/59. Stephone Anthony, Clemson, 6-3, 243, 4.56, 2

Veteran rookie: For those who followed Anthony’s career from the start, this step into the NFL is hardly a surprise. He was a four-year starter at Anson High School (Polkton, N. C.) and left as the top rated outside linebacker recruit in the country for 2011. Now after 52 games and four more seasons at Clemson, he is expected to become an NFL rookie when some team calls his name, probably on the second day of the draft. Perhaps this process even droned on for Anthony, who became “fat and happy” according to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, and lost his starting job in the middle of the 2012 season. Swinney said Anthony “refocused” and won it back in 2013. Since then, Anthony looked and played the role of an aggressive inside linebacker with no glaring liabilities. Those who questioned his speed and athleticism are rethinking their reports after Anthony’s outstanding combine performance. He started 35 games as Clemson’s middle linebacker, totaled 330 tackles (210 solos) with 34.5 tackles behind the line, including 9.5 sacks (and 18 quarterback pressures). A disputable targeting call in the regular season finale against South Carolina earned Anthony a two-quarter suspension in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Oklahoma.

Measuring up: Anthony, at 243 pounds, commanded attention at the combine with a surprisingly swift 40-yard dash of 4.56 seconds (10 in 1.56; 20 in 2.63). He demonstrated excellent explosion with a 37-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-2 inch broad jump. He has big hands (10 3/8th inches) and good strength (23 reps on bench with 225 pounds). At his March 5 pro day, Anthony referred to his combine workouts and just showed off his skills in positional drills.

Notable quote: “I think my 40-time sparked a lot of people and just my athleticism through the different drills and definitely in the position work, watching me move,” — Anthony at his pro day, on how he gained attention for this draft.

Frankly: Anthony has the ability to be at least a consistent force at inside linebacker. But based only on one major slip in college, the team that drafts him must make sure he remains actively engaged after finally getting a nice paycheck in his ninth consecutive year of competitive football.

4/74. Paul Dawson, TCU, 6-0, 235, 4.93, 2-3

Mystery Man: Game tapes show Dawson as a dominant defender inside TCU coach Gary Patterson’s 4-2-5 alignment. But, obviously not prepared, Dawson surprised scouts with a poor performance at the Indianapolis combine. They re-checked intel, including Dawson’s own blog in which he fesses up to being chronically late for meetings. In recent weeks, his character was increasingly questioned, even on the field where he freelances more than coaches like. A former high school wide receiver, Dawson begged to play defense at Trinity Valley Community College. It was the right move for Dawson, who showed great instinct and agility at TCU to win the 2014 Big 12 Coach’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He was the only player in the nation with at least 100 tackles (128), five sacks and four interceptions. He totaled 18.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.

Measuring up: Dawson’s combine results were shocking. He seemed to slow down to a jog at the end of a 40-yard dash clocked at 4.93 seconds, much slower than expectations based on game play. Looking unprepared, he did poorly in most events, including a vertical of 28 inches that qualified more as a hop than a jump. Aside from a decent bench, 21 reps with 225 pounds, Dawson’s workout was just bad. Even his measurements were below par with 9.5-inch hands and a 31.5-inch arm length. Dawson gets a shot at redemption at his March 27 pro day.

Notable quote: “I’m an awesome football player. The best/most productive linebacker in this draft. Not a track star.” — Dawson’s tweet on Feb. 22, after his horrific combine workout.

Frankly: Previously a decent prospect as outside linebacker in NFL 4-3 defense. But, just when he was within reach of the brass ring, Dawson called everything into question. He now looks like trouble seeking someplace to happen and the jury is out on whether he will cause more problems for opponents or his own team.

5/93. Denzel Perryman, Miami, 5-11, 236, 4.78, 3

Little big man: Despite being vertically-challenged, Perryman was a playmaker from the first day he suited up until he ended his career last season as on coaches’ first-team All-ACC. He is a physical player and explosive tackler who showed versatility along the way, moving outside as a junior (108 tackles, five for a loss) then inside last season (110 tackles, 9.5 for a loss). Although, he measures very close to the same as Wisconsin’s Chris Borland, a third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers who collected 108 tackles as a rookie last season. While that sounds like a great precedent, Perryman is not really a frenetic, hyperactive tackling machine like Borland. Perryman is more of a deliberate, focused defensive quarterback who reads plays well and uses a combination of quickness and good angles to get in on plays and is an efficient open-field tackler. Injured in second practice at Senior Bowl after looking good the first day.

Measuring up: Height is actually 1/4 inch under 5-foot-11. Still bothered by hip injury at combine, Perryman ran 40 yards in 4.78 second, with splits of 1.67 seconds in 10 yards as 2.77 in 20. No surprise he has small hands (9.5 inches) and short arms (31 7/8 inches). He may be healthy for Miami pro day, on April Fool’s day.

Notable quote: “They like how I go downhill, they like how I take on blocks. Some scouts like to see my man-to-man coverage, my technique on that i just need to brush that up. As far as my pass coverage, some of them were impressed at the Senior Bowl.” — Perryman at combine, when asked what scouts tell him.

Frankly: He could be productive in the right defense. Short is not the same as small and Perryman is more physical and maybe more versatile and many taller linebackers. If single Senior Bowl workout was a sneak peek, he might be more than a two-down backer.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000475721/article/mike-mayocks-2015-nfl-draft-position-rankings-20
Mike Mayock’s 2015 NFL Draft position rankings 2.0

By Mike Mayock
NFL Media draft analyst
Published: March 2, 2015 at 12:44 a.m.
Updated: March 2, 2015 at 09:27 a.m.

With the conclusion of the NFL Scouting Combine, Mike Mayock unveils the second of his position-by-position rankings for the 2015 NFL Draft.
2015 NFL DRAFT

Quarterback
1. Jameis Winston, Florida State
2. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
3. Bryce Petty, Baylor
4. Brett Hundley, UCLA
5. Garrett Grayson, Colorado State

Running back
1. Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
2. Todd Gurley, Georgia
3. Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
4. Duke Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
5. Tevin Coleman, Indiana

Wide receiver
1. Kevin White, West Virginia
2. Amari Cooper, Alabama
3. DeVante Parker, Louisville
4. Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
T-5. Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri
T-5. Breshad Perriman, Central Florida

Rise: Strong (NR), Perriman (NR)
Fall: Green-Beckham (4), Devin Funchess, Michigan (5)

Tight end
1. Maxx Williams, Minnesota
2. Clive Walford, Miami (Fla.)
3. MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois
4. Blake Bell, Oklahoma
5. Nick O’Leary, Florida State

Rise: Pruitt (NR), Bell (NR)
Fall: O’Leary (3); Tyler Kroft, Rutgers (4); Ben Koyack, Notre Dame (5)

Interior offensive linemen
1. Brandon Scherff, Iowa
2. Cameron Erving, Florida State
3. Laken Tomlinson, Duke
4. A.J. Cann, South Carolina
5. Tre’ Jackson, Florida State

Offensive tackle
1. La’el Collins, LSU
2. T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
3. Andrus Peat, Stanford
4. Ereck Flowers, Miami (Fla.)
T-5. D.J. Humphries, Florida
T-5. Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M

Rise: Collins (3)
Fall: Clemmings (1), Peat (2)

Interior defensive linemen
1. Leonard Williams, USC
2. Danny Shelton, Washington
3. Malcom Brown, Texas
4. Arik Armstead, Oregon
T-5. Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
T-5. Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Edge rusher
1. Dante Fowler, Jr., Florida
2. Shane Ray, Missouri
3. Vic Beasley, Clemson
4. Randy Gregory, Nebraska
5. Bud Dupree, Kentucky

Rise: Ray (3), Beasley (4)
Fall: Gregory (2)

Linebacker
1. Paul Dawson, TCU
2. Eric Kendricks, UCLA
3. Stephone Anthony, Clemson
4. Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
5. Denzel Perryman, Miami (Fla.)

Rise: Kendricks (4), Anthony (5)
Fall: McKinney (2), Perryman (3)

Cornerback
1. Trae Waynes, Michigan State
2. Jalen Collins, LSU
3. Marcus Peters, Washington
4. Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
T-5. Byron Jones, Connecticut
T-5. P.J. Williams, Florida State

Rise: Collins (3), Johnson (5), Jones (NR)
Fall: Peters (2), Williams (4)

Safety
1. Landon Collins, Alabama
2. Shaq Thompson, Washington
3. Derron Smith, Fresno State
4. Damarious Randall, Arizona State
5. Jaquiski Tartt, Samford

Rise: Randall (NR)
Fall: Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern (5); Tartt (4)

It appears that Fairley’s numbers don’t make sense, but I am not worried about it. I will check it later. So, just Britt’s contract left until they make some more moves.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 12 months ago by Agamemnon.

wv wrote:

Poi-sonally, i aint worried about the Oline.
They know everything depends on it — they’ll
fill the holes. Might be with stud-rookies
but I dont mind that.

I bet that new 4th round pick goes for
an OLineman, btw.

w
v

What round will you pick a goofy looking QB? Or aren’t there any in this year’s draft?

zn wrote:

For the record, doing just CG and IP gives them around 2.4+ M.

That would make it about 13+ M, with I figure around 6 M going to rookies and another 2 M or so going to the practice squad and the season.

Quinn would add about another 8 M. You subtract around a 10+ M roster bonus, turn it to a pro-rated signing bonus, and then the signing bonus takes 2+ M out of that 10+ M.

Ag, did I do that right?

.

The math is correct. The rookie pool is 5 million. You need to add ~5 million for IR.

I know it is messed up, but it is close enough. 😉

• This reply was modified 10 years, 12 months ago by Agamemnon.

zn wrote:

That’s true with Quinn isn’t it…meaning, even if he already collected the roster bonus, they can still re-structure it.

Naw I was kidding on Donald. Just making everyone’s day a little more surreal.

But I am talking about space now. In 2015. The Quinn thing, Pead, Givens. Am I misunderstanding you?

.

I guess they would have to do Quinn before his Roster Bonus is due or they could do regular salary into bonus at any time, but again how much of this stuff is really productive?

• This reply was modified 10 years, 12 months ago by Agamemnon.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 12 months ago by zn.

zn wrote:

You mentioned turning the Quinn roster bonus into a signing bonus. What is the deadline for that?

And there are some potential cuts too I think. Givens, Pead, Donald …who else?

They can restructure Quinn at any time. Do you really mean Donald? Givens and Pead is probably as far as I would go. Remember, I am not a big fan of paying a premium for any of the offensive free agents out there. Well, maybe Barksdale. But, I think with a Quinn restructure and cutting Pead and Givens it is enough to get through 2016. That gives the ~10/11 million for 2016 and it gives them 11 million(the space they have now) to try to sign ?2/3 free agent offensive linemen.