dorance armstrong also looks good. i think he could be gotten in the third round. his production was outstanding in 2016 and then there was a drop off in 2017. from what i read, the defense changed schemes, and he was playing out of position for pretty much the entire season. in the nfl, he’ll be playing more the position he played in 2016 when he had 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks!!!

6’4″ 257 pounds from kansas

arms – 34.75″
hands 10″
40 – 4.87s
bench – 20
vert – 30″
broad – 118″
3-cone – 7.12s
short shuttle – 4.23s

very mediocre explosion numbers. the vertical and broad numbers are not the best. his speed has a lot to be desired. but that is partially why he drops to the third. his agility numbers are good though. not elite. but good. a drastic difference between his 40 and his short shuttle times. but then he’s got elite length. long long arms. i think he’d be a good pick up.

if the rams could re-sign trujo. and then draft armstrong in the third. and let’s say they draft a rashaan evans in the first. that’d be a helluva defense there.

zn wrote:

While he can play standing for 3-4 teams, he’s at his best with his hand in the dirt as a rusher.

i like landry. but he’s strictly an edge rusher. a 3-4 outside linebacker. it sounds like. but he could be a helluva 3-4 outside linebacker. so at #23, that’d be a bargain for sure. i wouldn’t be complaining about that.

but what intrigues me about vander esch is, much like tremaine edmunds, this guy might be able to play all 4 linebacker positions. and play them all well. maybe not immediately. but eventually. he can defend the run and pass as well as rush the passer. whereas landry sound like he’s primarily an edge rusher.

there are multiple guys it sounds like who fit landry’s description. maybe they don’t do it as well as landry but they have similar skill sets.

edmunds and vander esch. i just don’t get the sense that you find too many players who have that blend of size and skill.

vander esch might not even be available at #23. whispers that the packers are considering him at #14.

good news though is that’ll push other talented guys down.

at offensive tackle i still like kolton miller. a friend of mine has said nothing but good things about him. athletically, he’s more than solid. what i like most about miller is that he is said to grade very positively in the run game but also seems to have the athleticism to hold up in the passing game as well. a year at right tackle or just learning under one of the best in whitworth would be good. if he isn’t available, i really don’t see any tackle worth a first round pick. mcglinchey, but he isn’t gonna last until 23. tyrell crosby maybe? but from what i’ve read he profiles as a right tackle – not a left.

if they don’t get offensive tackle, i want them to go defense. defensive line, corner, or linebacker. i don’t care. there’s talent at all three levels it seems like. someone is going to be there. they could even trade back if there isn’t an offensive tackle there to groom.

if they stay. and mike gesicki is there. i would be far from disappointed if they decided on a luxury pick and went with him. his athleticism is off the charts. and given mcvay’s track record with tight ends, i think the pick would make too much sense. mcvay would get the most out of him. he doesn’t have to be a blocker. i think with gurley and gesicki. woods and kupp. defenses would have a helluva time trying to match up with that offense.

zn wrote:

According to draftniks, at this point, which are seen as the strong positions in this draft, and which are seen as the weaker ones?

i’m not an expert, but the running back class seems unusually strong. i think the position is about to make a comeback.

defensive line and linebacker is strong.

tight end, outside of gesicki, is weak. even then, gesicki is not without his blemishes from a football standpoint. athletically the dude is off the charts.

besides edmunds and vander esch.

i liked dorance armstrong. he didn’t test the best. but he looked good in the drills. smooth. the lack of speed might make him available in the third. and i keep reading that he played out of position last season. when he played in his usual position the year before, he was dominant.

arden key looked alright too. as did harold landry. like i said. this group just seems loaded with athletes. too many to try and mention.

but vander esch is the one i’m really focused on right now.

and just to put this in some kind of perspective. the numbers he just put up. julio jones-like.

ok. maybe not quite megatron-like. i mean that’ll probably never happen ever again. megatron is a true unicorn. but gesicki is a legitimate julio jones-level athlete. jimmy graham-level.

if he’s still there at #23, rams would be silly not to draft this guy. especially if watkins is gone. red zone. deep threat. i don’t care if they already have everett. guys like this don’t come along very often.

well, kolton miller just blew the roof off of the combine. he probably won’t last until the rams pick now. that was the guy i was wanting. athletic and long. would have looked good on the rams.

one other guy who caught my attention just off workout numbers is joseph noteboom from tcu. supposedly showed VERY well at the senior bowl. snead likes guys from the senior bowl from what i remember.

maybe first round? maybe snead trades up or down into the second round to take him?