glazeduck

I often find myself asking the wife to give the D a pass 🤣 In all seriousness... I’m sure not having Star did affect things, to some degree, but one thing I feel very confident in, it’s put up or shut up time for Oliver. Our defense needs him to take a step (wish I could’ve said “another” but I don’t feel like he’s developed much, as of yet.) Hopefully Star can absorb some OL attention and free Big Ed up, but that guy’s running out i of excuses. Defensive performance is all interconnected — DL play affects DB and LB play, etc., so hopefully getting him back, hopefully with a little added help through FA or the draft, will help everywhere.

I held off on listing Williams because he was one of the more hyped players coming into the season, and I think he probably goes higher than a lot of these other names, but no question, love his contested catch ability. Also just got out forgot Jordan Smith. Really love him too. He’s perfectly adept at both, but I think he’s better in the passing game. I won’t go so far as to say he’s Kamara-like as so often happens when guys can catch passes but he’s certainly not a liability in passing situations.

Yep. I'm a big believer in what's often called "breakout age" (but also other terms) -- basically when did this guy become a stud at his level -- that's often an indicator of success in the pros... Adebo was balling out as a freshman and sophomore in a pass-happy conference. If anything his early college career was even more special than later. If he checks out medically (and obviously stays healthy), somebody's going to get a 10-year starter out of him.

This post won't be for everybody and that's fine. But for those who enjoy discussing college prospects, who are the guys you're excited about that aren't getting talked about enough? I just made a post in H2O's Adebo thread that he's one of mine. A few others in no seriously particular order... RB: Jermar Jefferson -- phenomenal balance through contact, great vision, he's smaller but I think he can be effective in 3 down scenarios WR: Jonathan Adams Jr. Warren Jackson -- I've got a thing for big, bully WRs, what can I say -- everybody's got a type! OL: Pretty meh on this class after the first couple rounds Edge: Dayo Odeyingbo Rashad Weaver -- underratedly good/agile athletes with great bend. Josh Kaindoh Jenarius Robinson -- both of these guys have the body and athleticism to be pass rushing stars. Can somebody get that our of them? DL: Tadarrel Slaton -- posted about him earlier today, this is the guy we need to replace Star LB: Tony Fields II -- underrated athlete. Pretty impressive to transfer, immediately learn the defense and become an emotional and on-field leader as quickly as he did. Maybe never a star but I can see him doing something similar to Milano. Earnest Jones -- guy made plays all over in the SEC and tested out really well at his pro day. He's rated criminally low, in my opinion. CB: Adebo Keith Taylor Israel Mukuamu Benjamin St. Juste -- again, I have a type. Long, smooth, all solid technicians, willing tacklers. S: I'll be honest, I haven't even bother scouting safeties. What our staff has done with 2 former CBs makes me think they look for something different in CBs than a lot of staffs. That said, the duck fan in me believes that Deomo Lenoir would probably transition nicely to a ballhawking safety role. Who are yours???

I gushed about him in the "CB in the 1st round" thread. I really love this kid's game and fit in our scheme. I think @GunnerBill is way too low on him, but to each their own. I don't think there's a chance in hell he lasts to our 3rd round pick -- this is the type of kid that teams will be higher on than the draftnik community. Frankly I won't be shocked if he's gone before our pick in the second, but would be VERY happy with him at 62. He's a kid I can see Beane moving up in the 3rd for if he does slide that late, but again, I don't think he will. When you compare him to the guys in his same tier, most of them are "intriguing prospects", guys with "skyhigh upside", players who could really "develop into something" -- Adebo is already a rock solid cb with the athleticism, intelligence and body to have all the upside required in our scheme to be a phenomenal compliment to Tre. Give me Adebo over Trill, Melifonwu, Samuel, Molden, Robinson, Joseph, etc. He should be getting talked about with the likes of Stokes and Newsome and the fact that he isn't is mildly absurd to me.

This was mostly what I was going to say. Though I'd argue there IS a second wave, it just happens after the draft (and looks more like a ripple). I think this is as simple as teams are running out of cap space and all of the true difference makers are, by and large, off the board now. There's still talent left, but not a lot of guys who are so far above what a high-end rookie could be that you'd want to eliminate that flexibility. Our situation is a perfect example: sure, we could use a Carlos Dunlap or a Malcolm Butler, but what do we do then if, say, Kwitty Paye or Jaycee Horn fall to 30 for some reason? We'll see a trickle of activity here and there, but I'll be willing to bet you do see a smaller wave after teams know who they drafted and where they still need help.

Yep, exactly the type of guy you want to take Star's spot next year...

You're the first to mention Slaton (that I've seen), other than me on this board. I like him A LOT more than Wilson and think he'll be cheaper too...

I'm a little skeptical of Nas. Obviously you see the size/speed/length/versatility of a guy like Thomas Davis/Shaq Thompson, but those guys were special athletes. I have concerns about him being a little stiff for a guy we'd be playing closer to the LOS and something's missing with this picture... The league's headed in a direction where he should be an extremely highly coveted prospect but the draftnik world seems to see him as a mid-2nd round pick. So either we're off and the league has him a lot higher, OR , he's not quite what people want him to be, thus the non-elite grade. I've not watched enough of his tape to form a really strong opinion on him, but that's my general question/thinking. Marvin Wilson's an interesting one too... I can see him going in the 2nd or completely undrafted. Obviously a big recruit out of high school and when he flashes, HE FLASHES. But then there's HUGE stretches where he does absolutely nothing of impact. After what happened with Isaiah Wilson, I wonder if teams will take mental makeup, general approach to life a little more seriously. Wilson would make an intriguing 5th or 6th rounder for us, but I'd be willing to bet some team takes a risk on him a lot higher than that.

Nasildreen would be an interesting fit, Terry is an interesting developmental prospect. I think he's there for the DEs -- both of those guys have prototype size/length/athleticism and while we could certainly use an improved pass rush, we don't necessarily need a guy to come in and start from day 1 (we're good enough to "weather the storm" and allow a guy like that to potentially develop). Both great diamond in the rough candidates...

You obviously like JOK, and that’s fine. I agree that he’d add a really interesting dynamic to the defense. But I don’t see him as a 3 down player now that Milano is extended. He moves well, no question, but with a need at CB2, I think we’d be opening ourselves up for problems when teams spread us out. Beyond all that, my biggest point is just that your trade gives up way too much to replace Taron Johnson. When we’re still starting Knox, either Dane Jackson or Levi Wallace and relying on Addison for pass rush, that’s a luxury that we can’t really afford. We’ll obviously need development from Epanesa but you said it yourself, difference making DEs go early. We got Ep at the end of the 2nd round, and even if he does pan out, he’s limited athletically and Hughes isn’t getting any younger. I can definitely see Beane trading up, but I don’t see it being for a big nickel...

Lol do some homework then. None of them are the second coming Bruce Smith but they’re all very talented pass rushers and great athletes. We would be extremely Lucky to land any of them.

At least one of ossai, paye and Phillips will be there in the teens.

I’m not sure Mayfield would even be in my top 5...

Sure we could use that kind of player, not to trade those picks up for it

WOAH! Hard pass on that trade value. Sorry mate but that’s a brutal trade. JOK’s fun and dynamic but that’s an absolute fortune to give up for a non-Kyle Pitts player. You can’t do that for a splurge spot with the amount of needs we still have.

“Second round pick” By whom? If it weren’t for Phillips’ concussion issues, he’d be a top 10-15 pick. He’s going to either be a first rounder or be off draft boards because of his concussion issues. Anyone who’s grading him in the 2nd probably shouldn’t be paid attention to because that’s bad. And Mock draft sites are not and should not be used as any sort of evidence of draft range except for in VERY broad terms — especially this far out. QBs will push the Kadarius Toneys and Wyatt Davises of the world down. They won’t push elite edge rushers down.

I'm biased against Molden in 2 ways. I prefer bigger DBs -- especially with Tre on the small side, and his dad was the duck legend and he chose to join the wrongest team in the nation. Those aside... great kid, very intelligent, good ball skills and instincts -- maybe a touch overagressive there, tough and not afraid of helping in the run game, plenty good enough speed to belong in the league, but probably will test as an average athlete, solid man and zone chops but probably better suited in man, the type of footwork and balance you'd expect from the kid of a former NFL DB, VERY confident without being cocky. His size and lack of elite length for that size will be his biggest detriment. If you can match him up against bigger/longer/box-out types, he'll have trouble. I think he'll have a good pro career but probably will never be great. I think he's primarily a slot guy in our scheme (when opposite Tre), so probably not the best fit, but as a player I think he's going to be solid. This is an interesting take, we're going to agree to disagree on CBs... I see at least 10 CBs that would walk right into that #2 cb spot...

Almost posted basically the exact same comment but it got too wordy lol Basically our "needs" are now: CB2, pass-rusher, NT, IOL, TE, RB and really none of them are dire (hence the parentheses). And maybe the best thing about each of those needs is that they can be depth/developmental needs -- not guys we're going to need to be stars right away. So while I'd LOOOOOVE an Ossai/Phillips/Paye, if we have to settle for more of a situational pass-rusher in the 5th (I've got my eye on Rashad Weaver and Kaindoh) -- a guy that might take a year or two to round out his game -- we can afford to do that. Same situation at RB, while you'd love an Ettiene, if you have to settle for a Kylin Hill or Jermar Jefferson, that guy's not going to need to tote the rock 25 times to start the season. Ditto for TE, NT, etc. I think it's perfectly okay to lean into the fact that we're really good already and can draft for ceiling, rather than immediate impact.

I get both sides of it... You want to love and support your guys, even if they're lesser than, and Wallace is a great story, so it'd be cool to see him succeed. Add to that that he performed admirably -- sometimes even well -- last season, and I'm not sure going into next season with him as CB2 would be cause to call it a year or anything like that. That said, yes, I definitely think he (and certainly Dane Jackson) can be upgraded. The good news is, our needs are shrinking by the day and there's a TON of CB talent between the FA pool and incoming draft class to help there.

Adebo killed his pro day today: Height: 6’1″ Weight: 198 lbs Forty-Yard Dash: 4.42 Seconds Vertical Jump: 36.5″ Broad Jump: 10’1″ Three-Cone Drill: 6.7 Seconds Twenty-Yard Shuttle: 4.09 Seconds Bench Press: 18 Reps at 225 lbs I think fans are sleeping on him. He'll go earlier than most think. His tape from a few years ago showed HIGH HIGH end talent...

Just saw that, thanks!

I don't mean he'll replace him literally, I mean he'll replace him schematically. The FB is a dying position, and this move -- to me -- feels like we'll see a bit of evolution of the offense. I think we'll see more one back sets with an H-Back, as opposed to a fullback. That help?

Maybe/maybe not. They're definitely different players. Said this in the Hollister thread, but I think Hollister will be more of an "evolved FB"/replacement for DiMarco, than just our straight-up TE2...

Another name I'd hope we're asking about... Foster Moreau. Had a great rookie year for the Raiders, then rode the pine behind Waller and Witten.