Draft Network: Christian Wilkins 5-Play Scouting Report

[DCOrange]

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/5-play-prospect--clemson-idl-christian-wilkins

 

Can't help but read this excerpt and feel like this is 100% the guy that McDermott wants at #9.

 

Quote

"He's just a guy who truly, truly enjoys every day," Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said of Wilkins. "He likes practice, he likes meetings, he likes the training. He just has that mindset that it takes to be great, and he's rubbed off on so many people during his time here. He'll do anything you ask him to do, and he believes he can do anything."

 

"I try to be a person of excellence in everything I do, but I wouldn't be playing the game if I didn't absolutely love it," Wilkins said. "Every time I step on a field, I still have an 8-year-old's innocence about it. I love putting thigh pads in my pants and pulling them on. This game has been a ticket for me, and I'm truly in love with it. Yeah, I care about a lot of things but I realize football is going to end for me one day. That's why I try to be diverse in other areas."

 

[SWATeam]

Yeah, love him.  Perfect fit to slide in at 3 tech.  Him or Oliver are my guys at 9.

[SCBills]

I love his personality/mindset but he seems to have a lower ceiling than an Ed Oliver.   

 

I see him always being above average, but I don’t see “elite”. 

[SWATeam]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

I love his personality/mindset but he seems to have a lower ceiling than an Ed Oliver.   

 

I see him always being above average, but I don’t see “elite”. 

5 star recruit with tons of athleticism.  Even played end early in his career.  Sky high ceiling, IMO

[The Wiz]

5 minutes ago, DCOrange said:

he's rubbed off on so many people during his time here

Could have been an excerpt from Kraft's time at Orchids.

[John from Riverside]

If we stay at 9 I am expecting Wilkins

 

If we trade down......offensive tackle

[mannc]

5 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I love his personality/mindset but he seems to have a lower ceiling than an Ed Oliver.   

 

I see him always being above average, but I don’t see “elite”. 

I'll take the guy who's a natural leader, excelled against top competition and had one of the best games of his career on the biggest stage against a team loaded with NFL talent instead of a hyped-up guy who had a mediocre year in the American Athletic Conference while bickering with his coach.  I'd bet that McDermott and Beane feel the same way.  

Edited March 14, 2019 by mannc

[DJB]

No question in my mind hes more of a process guy than Oliver and very much a draft possibility 

[mannc]

5 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

5 star recruit with tons of athleticism.  Even played end early in his career.  Sky high ceiling, IMO

Yep.  Very mature guy; instant starter and contributor.  Reminds me of a DL version of Tre White coming out of LSU.

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, mannc said:

I'll take the guy who's a natural leader, excelled against top competition and had one of the best games of his career on the biggest stage against a team loaded with NFL talent instead of a hyped-up guy who had a mediocre year in the American Athletic Conference while bickering with his coach.  I'd bet that McDermott and Beane feel the same way.  

 

I wouldn’t oppose taking Wilkins over Oliver.   I just hope I’m wrong about Wilkins ceiling.  

 

Hes zero risk.  I know he’s going to be very good and a massively positive locker room presence. 

[FeelingOnYouboty]

He's such a great teammate and leader you forget he's just a dang good football player. Never going to be an All Pro guy like Ed Oliver has the chance to be but just a really good player and one who is probably wearing the 'C' for a decade.

 

1 minute ago, DJB said:

No question in my mind hes more of a process guy than Oliver and very much a draft possibility 

 

Oliver is much more talented but he's a great kid too. Hard worker, worked on a farm his whole life, chose Houston over other big colleges and routinely won 'Best Effort' award given out weekly for his play on the field. 

Edited March 14, 2019 by FeelingOnYouboty

[mannc]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

 

I wouldn’t oppose taking Wilkins over Oliver.   I just hope I’m wrong about Wilkins ceiling.  

 

Hes zero risk.  I know he’s going to be very good and a massively positive locker room presence. 

I'm not sure why you think Wilkins's ceiling is relatively low.  He really athletic and versatile.  I'm not a big fan of drafting an interior lineman this high, but if the Bills feel Wilkins can be highly disruptive (like he was against 'Bama), I'm fine with it.  He could also be taken after a trade back.

[Bangarang]

He checks a lot of boxes

[DCOrange]

7 minutes ago, SCBills said:

 

I wouldn’t oppose taking Wilkins over Oliver.   I just hope I’m wrong about Wilkins ceiling.  

 

Hes zero risk.  I know he’s going to be very good and a massively positive locker room presence. 

Yep, my thoughts basically mirror both of your posts. I rate Oliver higher but I'll be happy with Wilkins too and as I mentioned in the OP, I expect McD to want Wilkins pretty badly. I don't necessarily think Wilkins ceiling is low but I do think Oliver's is higher.

Edited March 14, 2019 by DCOrange

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, mannc said:

I'm not sure why you think Wilkins's ceiling is relatively low.  He really athletic and versatile.  I'm not a big fan of drafting an interior lineman this high, but if the Bills feel Wilkins can be highly disruptive (like he was against 'Bama), I'm fine with it.  He could also be taken after a trade back.

 

I don’t think he has a low ceiling.  I just would rather take a guy at 9 who could be a top DT in the NFL over a guy who I don’t see having that ability.  

 

I do think Wilkins can be a Top 10 DT, but I don’t see say, Top 3.  

 

I do see potential for that in Oliver. 

[BuffaloRebound]

His ceiling looked plenty high in the championship game.  He was dominant.  One thing I love about him is his upper body torque.  He engages the blocker but has so much upper body flexibility that he gets around them easily.  I think he could be a dominant interior pass rusher.  I know he plays a different position, but dare I say he’s ‘Bruce-like’ in his ability to engage and use his upper body flexibility to get around blockers.  

[mannc]

The more I learn about Wilkins, the more I like him.  I'm calling it right now: He's going to be the Bills' first round pick this year.

[glazeduck]

I just can't bring myself to get onboard with either Oliver or Wilkins. I'm not going to flat out call either a bust, but I have concerns that either will live up to the draft hype, and we cannot afford to miss on top-10 picks...

 

Granted, it's a bit of an apples/oranges comparison, because most saw John McCargo as a bad pick to begin with, but I'd be afraid of a similar situation drafting ANY of those Clemson defensive lineman... McCargo benefited immensely by playing next to Mario Williams and Manny Lawson and as a result was grossly overdrafted. I can't tell you which player I think is the McCargo and which are the Mario/Lawson on that Clemson line, but I do think any of them pose some risk there -- none of Wilkins/Bryant/Lawrence/Ferrell are great athletes, Lawrence has the PEDs issue, etc. I just think between inferior ACC competition and playing together for as long as they did, the whole was better than the sum of those parts... Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that attitude, and it certainly seems like Wilkins would fit well in this locker room, but I don't see him being a major disruptor in the NFL. Hope I'm wrong, seems like an awesome kid.

 

Oliver, to me, feels like the NFL's version of Marcus Fizer. NBA scouts thought Fizer was too big and strong for small forwards to guard and too quick and athletic for power forwards... Instead, he was too small and weak to do anything against PFs and too slow/not skilled enough to beat SFs... Oliver's first step is exciting, but to me, I'm worried that he's too small to constantly contribute in the trenches AND stay healthy, yet not athletic enough to play on the edge. I think you're drafting him hoping and praying that he can become Melvin Ingram, but Ingram dominated against vastly superior competition and STILL took 4 years to emerge into much of anything...

[BuffaloRebound]

5 minutes ago, glazeduck said:

I just can't bring myself to get onboard with either Oliver or Wilkins. I'm not going to flat out call either a bust, but I have concerns that either will live up to the draft hype, and we cannot afford to miss on top-10 picks...

 

Granted, it's a bit of an apples/oranges comparison, because most saw John McCargo as a bad pick to begin with, but I'd be afraid of a similar situation drafting ANY of those Clemson defensive lineman... McCargo benefited immensely by playing next to Mario Williams and Manny Lawson and as a result was grossly overdrafted. I can't tell you which player I think is the McCargo and which are the Mario/Lawson on that Clemson line, but I do think any of them pose some risk there -- none of Wilkins/Bryant/Lawrence/Ferrell are great athletes, Lawrence has the PEDs issue, etc. I just think between inferior ACC competition and playing together for as long as they did, the whole was better than the sum of those parts... Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that attitude, and it certainly seems like Wilkins would fit well in this locker room, but I don't see him being a major disruptor in the NFL. Hope I'm wrong, seems like an awesome kid.

 

Oliver, to me, feels like the NFL's version of Marcus Fizer. NBA scouts thought Fizer was too big and strong for small forwards to guard and too quick and athletic for power forwards... Instead, he was too small and weak to do anything against PFs and too slow/not skilled enough to beat SFs... Oliver's first step is exciting, but to me, I'm worried that he's too small to constantly contribute in the trenches AND stay healthy, yet not athletic enough to play on the edge. I think you're drafting him hoping and praying that he can become Melvin Ingram, but Ingram dominated against vastly superior competition and STILL took 4 years to emerge into much of anything...

 

I actually agree with your take on Oliver.  In regards to Wilkins, it works both ways.  He played with talented guys but he also might’ve been held back because he didn’t need to dominate every game.  I think the Alabama game answered a lot of those questions when Lawrence was out and they needed Wilkins to dominate and he did on the biggest stage against other guys who are gonna play in the NFL.  

[IgotBILLStopay]

#9 may be a bit of a reach for him - but I would love to have him if we traded down.

[glazeduck]

14 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

 

I actually agree with your take on Oliver.  In regards to Wilkins, it works both ways.  He played with talented guys but he also might’ve been held back because he didn’t need to dominate every game.  I think the Alabama game answered a lot of those questions when Lawrence was out and they needed Wilkins to dominate and he did on the biggest stage against other guys who are gonna play in the NFL.  

 

Agreed, to a certain extent. He played great in the Natty, and no Lawrence wasn't next to him, but (just playing Devil's advocate at this point) that's both a one-game sample size and against some of the worst interior line play Bama has had in a long long time. I think it's less that I think he's bad, and more than I just don't want to take much risk with a prime pick like that. I will say, if we traded down into the teens, I'd be MUCH MUCH more okay with this pick, but if I had my druthers, we'd just take Simmons at the end of Rd. 1 (or hope he falls to us in Rd. 2) and sign a stop-gap FA for a year...

 

If we really feel the need for a DL in this draft, take Khalen Saunders or Terry Beckner in the 4th... I think you'd get 80-85% of the production with minimal risk...

Edited March 14, 2019 by glazeduck

[TPS]

I'd be happy if they go with DT, DE, the #1 OT, or the #1 TE. I have a slight preference for DT because the weakness of the #2 D was run D.  This would be a solid pick.

[hemma]

IMO, Oliver is just too light and will just not hold up.

He’ll make a few spIash plays, but I think the OL will tighten its splits a little & he’ll get trampled and get run at all day long.

 

If we do get him, I hope I’m way off.

 

 

[Logic]

I have said before and was actually planning to make a thread about it as draft time approached: I think there's a very good chance Christian Wilkins is the target. Everything about his work ethic, character, style of play, and pedigree screams "process" to me. Whether or not they feel 9 is too high for him, I don't know, but I think there's a real good chance he's the guy.

[KOKBILLS]

2 hours ago, DCOrange said:

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/5-play-prospect--clemson-idl-christian-wilkins

 

Can't help but read this excerpt and feel like this is 100% the guy that McDermott wants at #9.

 

 

 

Oh yes...Process guy all the way and Bills fans should be aware he is most definitely in play at #9...

 

I would guess, based on the way McBeane value size, Wilkins will be above Oliver on their board...And that probably means DT #2  behind only Quinnen Williams...?

[BADOLBILZ]

5 hours ago, mannc said:

I'll take the guy who's a natural leader, excelled against top competition and had one of the best games of his career on the biggest stage against a team loaded with NFL talent 

 

 

You just described Shaq Lawson.

 

 

[Coach Tuesday]

1 minute ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

You just described Shaq Lawson.

 

 

 

My thoughts exactly!  And that's about where he should be drafted, 17-20 range.

[thebandit27]

10 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

You just described Shaq Lawson.

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

My thoughts exactly!  And that's about where he should be drafted, 17-20 range.

 

I think Wilkins is a better bet than Shaq--he's got the violent hands and initial quickness that you can't teach...he's the kind of guy whose deficiencies--like functional strength and contact balance--can be improved in an NFL strength program.

[BADOLBILZ]

8 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

 

 

I think Wilkins is a better bet than Shaq--he's got the violent hands and initial quickness that you can't teach...he's the kind of guy whose deficiencies--like functional strength and contact balance--can be improved in an NFL strength program.

 

 

I think the concerns about his ceiling are legit though.

 

He leveled off his last 3 seasons at Clemson and will turn 24 late in his rookie year........a relative man amongst boys in a draft with the most underclassmen in history.

 

I'm a key position + high ceiling guy in round 1............and while he fills a need.......he checks neither box.   

 

That's not to say he can't work himself to another level but ability to improve is exactly the concern I have after 3 years of static production.

[thebandit27]

35 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I think the concerns about his ceiling are legit though.

 

He leveled off his last 3 seasons at Clemson and will turn 24 late in his rookie year........a relative man amongst boys in a draft with the most underclassmen in history.

 

I'm a key position + high ceiling guy in round 1............and while he fills a need.......he checks neither box.   

 

That's not to say he can't work himself to another level but ability to improve is exactly the concern I have after 3 years of static production.

 

That's fair. I think that there's Fletcher Cox upside there if he unlocks it, which is why I think he's not a bad fit at 9.

 

If they don't feel that way then yeah, there's no way they should pick him there 

[mannc]

39 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I think the concerns about his ceiling are legit though.

 

He leveled off his last 3 seasons at Clemson and will turn 24 late in his rookie year........a relative man amongst boys in a draft with the most underclassmen in history.

 

I'm a key position + high ceiling guy in round 1............and while he fills a need.......he checks neither box.   

 

That's not to say he can't work himself to another level but ability to improve is exactly the concern I have after 3 years of static production.

You’ve said that Tremaine Edmunds’s relative youth doesn’t make him a better prospect than other, older LBs.  Why does Wilkins being a little older than other DL prospects count against him?

[mannc]

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

You just described Shaq Lawson.

 

 

Well, let’s hope he doesn’t have a torn labrum.

[BADOLBILZ]

5 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

 

That's fair. I think that there's Fletcher Cox upside there if he unlocks it, which is why I think he's not a bad fit at 9.

 

If they don't feel that way then yeah, there's no way they should pick him there 

 

 

Yeah I can see that comp.   Cox becoming the player he has very much surprised me.   I thought he was over drafted at 12 and that's proven wrong.

 

But Cox steadily improved in college and was a full 2 years younger than Wilkins as a NFL rookie.

 

If I'm going DT early I really want a guy with big time pass rush potential.     Those are really rare.

 

[BADOLBILZ]

12 minutes ago, mannc said:

You’ve said that Tremaine Edmunds’s relative youth doesn’t make him a better prospect than other, older LBs.  Why does Wilkins being a little older than other DL prospects count against him?

 

Because his production has plateaued over the last 3 seasons.

 

Sometimes players can be late bloomers(see former OL Ray Brown and wish that upon Ty Nesehke)...........sometimes they peak too soon and decline(Amobi Okoye)..........and other times they just hit their ceiling in college and stay there.

 

That's my concern with Wilkins...........upside.

[BADOLBILZ]

20 minutes ago, mannc said:

Well, let’s hope he doesn’t have a torn labrum.

 

 

Yep............if not for THAT then Shaq would have been great.

 

Actually Shaq is one of many intriguing players on the roster.....going into his walk year............just not sure McD will keep him around for it.

 

One thing for sure.........Shaq loves him some Clemson.........he's Wooderson-esque in his devotion to the Clemson scene.

 

I'm not saying Wilkins also doesn't wanna' grow up but I am sure scouts are torn on whether his staying showed a burning desire to win or a desire to cling to the Clemson life.

 

Edited March 14, 2019 by BADOLBILZ

[purple haze]

10 hours ago, glazeduck said:

Granted, it's a bit of an apples/oranges comparison, because most saw John McCargo as a bad pick to begin with, but I'd be afraid of a similar situation drafting ANY of those Clemson defensive lineman... McCargo benefited immensely by playing next to Mario Williams and Manny Lawson and as a result was grossly overdrafted. I can't tell you which player I think is the McCargo and which are the Mario/Lawson on that Clemson line, but I do think any of them pose some risk there -- none of Wilkins/Bryant/Lawrence/Ferrell are great athletes, Lawrence has the PEDs issue, etc. I just think between inferior ACC competition and playing together for as long as they did, the whole was better than the sum of those parts... Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that attitude, and it certainly seems like Wilkins would fit well in this locker room, but I don't see him being a major disruptor in the NFL. Hope I'm wrong, seems like an awesome kid.

I think the other players on that D-line benefitted from Wilkins presence.  He played all over the line.  He was dominate against top competition and a difference maker over the course of years.  To me he's a Kyle Williams type (attitude wise) in a bigger body and with more versatility.  I can't help but think he is a guy they would scoop up.  Now, I don't necessarily think it will be at nine though.  I think we see the Bills trade back a bit and grab Wilkins in the 15-20 range.  He's the perfect storm: team leader, work ethic, production against top talent over the course of years, versatile in skill and at a position of need.  If the Bills took someone else at 9 I still wouldn't be shocked if they tried to trade back into the first round to get him.

[Prickly Pete]

I like him. I like almost all the D-lineman at the top. Pretty much can't go wrong.

[Bookie Man]

I'd be happy with DT in the first. 

[Mat68]

You draft a DT at 9 you want a dominat pro bowl level player.  I dont see that potential.  I think they go impact player on d or premier pass catcher.  With the players Buffalo were linked to I could see Buffalo being higher on Metcalf than many think.  Screw it Metcalf, Foster, brown All goes with Beasly running an option route. 

[BillsFan17]

Nine is too high for my blood.