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Digging Deeper: Insightful Articles on Draft Prospects


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6 hours ago, Buffalo Junction said:


I wish DPJ were just a step faster, because I could see him becoming an Anquan Boldin type. As it stands, he’s probably a WR3, but I’d pound the table for him late on day 2.

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19 hours ago, Buffalo Junction said:

Now that we’re in the off-season it seems like a good time to dig a little deeper into the backgrounds of some of these draft prospects - further than game tape and 40 times - to flesh out who they are as people. With how much McDermott and Beane mention character, family, faith, growth, work ethic, perseverance, etc it makes sense to look into who may, or may not, fit into The Process
 

This is a spot to place articles about draft prospects background: family, coaches, life events, etc. It is, admittedly, not something that everyone is interested in. However, for those of us who enjoy digging deeper into players life stories and/ scouting having a post that consolidates information may be useful. 
 

Feel free to post any articles about these soon to be NFL athletes in the comments. A brief synopsis can be helpful, but isn’t necessary. Particularly if you add a few articles in a post. Puff pieces or arrest articles are both perfectly acceptable. We’re looking for insight good and bad.

 

I’ll get the ball rolling....

 

Henry Ruggs III - WR Alabama

Perseverance story 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001044473/article/alabama-wr-henry-ruggs-finds-purpose-through-loss-of-friend


Written by Ruggs

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/henry-ruggs-iii-alabama-football
 

AJ Epenesa - DE Iowa

Mentions family more that a 5 hour McD Presser about the locker room

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/college/story/2019-12-24/holiday-bowl-aj-epenesa-family-samoan-junior-seau

 
Jalen Reagor - WR TCU

High school coach was John Kitna. His father earned a Super Bowl ring with the Colts.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tcu-horned-frogs/2019/12/02/star-tcu-wideout-jalen-reagor-declares-for-2020-nfl-draft/
 

Laviska Shenault - WR Colorado

Goes into his upbringing, death of his father, etc. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/college/2018/10/11/laviska-shenault-family-colorado-buffaloes

 

Bryce Hall - CB UVA

Academics and community service

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyprogress.com/sports/cavalierinsider/virginia-cornerback-bryce-hall-receives-crowley-scholarship/article_e9a011ca-4a87-11e9-bedf-dbddda14e6e8.amp.html

 

Michael Pittman Jr - WR USC

Community outreach

https://news.usc.edu/162471/usc-community-outreach-michael-pittman-jr-student-athletes/

 

I will add more in a little bit.


Buffalo, thanks for sharing.  I just don’t  have the time to research all of these players,  but love when guys like yourself give us this information.

Btw - who do you want the most that is attainable at our pick or how far up should we go?

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17 hours ago, Buffalo Junction said:

Definitely a nice quote.

 

“It’s special. The No. 18 is a very special number but at the same time, it’s just me. I didn’t do anything to become No. 18, I didn’t do any special things to get this number, I was just being myself. I’m glad that it was recognized but at the same time, whether I have the number or not, I gotta do what needs to be done on and off the field. That’s just how I was raised.”

sounds like our first round pick if he still on the board.  Excellent Bills DNA at top position of need.  Then we can fix WR and offense with majority of remaining draft picks

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5 hours ago, thebandit27 said:


I wish DPJ were just a step faster, because I could see him becoming an Anquan Boldin type. As it stands, he’s probably a WR3, but I’d pound the table for him late on day 2.

Admittedly, I haven’t gone back and watched DPJ after the college season ended. It’s on my to do list. From what I recall he was kind of streaky in games. Might just be the 2-3 Michigan games I saw though. He certainly fits the bill as a smart WR, so he might be on their radar. 

2 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:


Buffalo, thanks for sharing.  I just don’t  have the time to research all of these players,  but love when guys like yourself give us this information.

Btw - who do you want the most that is attainable at our pick or how far up should we go?

It’s really hard to tell before combine and FA. My top 3 WRs are Ruggs, Lamb, and Jeurdy. We will probably have to trade up for any of them. I don’t think Beane will sell the farm for anyone, and it’s likely that he will double dip at WR. I can see him trading up to 15-16 for any of the top 3 WR and AJ Epenesa. I’d love Ruggs here because he has deadly speed -among other things- and would start day one.
 

If we stay put at 22 I like Reagor, Shenault, Aiyuk (in that order) at WR. However, Shenault is probably the best schematic fit as he has the size to develop into a true X. Reagor and Aiyuk project to the z and slot roles due to size and play strength, which would mean that they’d eventually replace Brown or Beasley while taking McKenzie and/ Fosters’ jobs right away. Thing with Reagor (also Ruggs) is that when he beats press he can outrun the safety help on deep routes. This lead to a lot of off coverage in college.  IMO Shenault has the longest development time of the three, but Daboll can find ways to get him touches. Aiyuk is fast, but he doesn’t seem to be top 10 in the league fast. All three can be YAC monsters.
 

With any of the tier two WRs we will need to hedge our bets in FA or later in the draft and get an immediate starter or a bigger X WR. This is where guys like Van Jefferson, Pittman, Claypool, etc come into play. 

Edited by Buffalo Junction
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DIDN’T DECLARE. (edit)

 

Enjoy the fluff for next season

 

Travis Etienne - RB Clemson

Family

https://www.google.com/amp/s/heavy.com/sports/2019/01/travis-etienne-parents-father-brother-mother-family/amp/
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nola.com/sports/article_d850a8b0-0784-555e-a0fb-a35a9aa49b4e.amp.html

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Junction, I called into Press Coverage on NFLR today, and suggested to Vic and Dan we pick up Olsen and Hooper in free agency, and my logic was they will make solid $, but wouldn’t break the bank and then draft two WR, an Edge Rusher, and a battering ram RB.  I seriously doubt we pick the above mentioned in free agency as they will just be way too expensive.  We most likely willlet Lawson and J Phillips go as they’ll test the market and get paid a lot more than we’re willing to spend.

 

At least we should get back Harrison Phillips, and with these weapons I mentioned, we’ll hopefully be able to keep up with NE twice, Seattle, SF, and KC.  AZ might even be better next year so we’ll need all the weapons we can get to compete with these tough teams.  

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48 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Junction, I called into Press Coverage on NFLR today, and suggested to Vic and Dan we pick up Olsen and Hooper in free agency, and my logic was they will make solid $, but wouldn’t break the bank and then draft two WR, an Edge Rusher, and a battering ram RB.  I seriously doubt we pick the above mentioned in free agency as they will just be way too expensive.  We most likely willlet Lawson and J Phillips go as they’ll test the market and get paid a lot more than we’re willing to spend.

 

At least we should get back Harrison Phillips, and with these weapons I mentioned, we’ll hopefully be able to keep up with NE twice, Seattle, SF, and KC.  AZ might even be better next year so we’ll need all the weapons we can get to compete with these tough teams.  

Beane might be willing to throw out a huge contract for a playmaker. He did put his toe in the water for Mack and AB, so it can’t be completely ruled out. I doubt Shaq and Phillips get signed for megabucks so one or both might be back if they’re not big on the market and willing to sign a reasonable contract with escalators. The rumors will start coming in around the combine, so we’ll start to get more insight then. 

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On 2/8/2020 at 10:54 AM, Pete said:

sounds like our first round pick if he still on the board.  Excellent Bills DNA at top position of need.  Then we can fix WR and offense with majority of remaining draft picks

He's got good speed and length.  He played pretty light for an edge rusher, but I think he's added some weight recently.  I understand he's not real polished, and has depended on his athleticism to get to the QB, but he would have the chance to learn under one of the more crafty edge rushers in the game in Jerry Hughes.

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