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Draft: DE Prospect Opinions


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Disclaimer:  long time fan, long time follower of the draft, I don’t profess to have scouting experience or expertise.  
 

I think the Bills are in the market for a young DE in the draft so I watched multiple full games of several DE prospects and my observations/opinions follow.  I didn’t include the top prospects Young, Epenesa, Gross-Matos and Davidson as I don’t expect them to be available by pick 54, but I think any of them would be nice picks if still there.  Players are not listed in any specific order.  Comments and discussion welcomed!
 

Defensive Ends

Bradley Anae - Watched vs Texas, Oregon and USC.  High effort player who looks like he gives up a lot of size against OTs.  Showed ability to beat OT inside with counter and a nice spin move, but showed little ability to beat OT around the edge.  Maybe it was the scheme and him playing his backside responsibilities, but looked like he often got stuck to the blocker.  Disappointing combine numbers and shorter than ideal arms don’t help his draft status.  Was productive in college and super effective at Senior Bowl posting 3 sacks and PFF rates his pass rush skills highly - maybe I saw some dud games.

 

Alton Robinson - LDE Syracuse.  Plays with good knee bend and lateral agility- looks athletic.  Hustles and plays to the whistle.   Showed a bit of quickness to beat RT wide and to inside.  Good combine numbers including 25 reps on bench, impressive 4.69 40 and 35” vertical.  Interesting prospect.  Watched Pitt and Notre Dame.

 

Jonathan Greenard - (watched vs. Miami, Florida St) - plays mostly as down DE, but also as stand-up LB with some drops into coverage.  Moves like an athlete with knees bent and smooth change of direction.  Generated pressure and sacks in games that I saw.  Hustles, did not see him take any plays off.  Has quite long arms and uses them effectively.  Greenard’s 4.87 40 and 30.5” vertical were underwhelming.  

 

Curtis Weaver - (watched vs. Florida State, Colorado State)- played almost exclusively in a 2-point stance.  Dropped into coverage on occasion, though doesn’t look to have the speed to do that in NFL.  Pretty smooth mover, though not as smooth as Greenard, in my opinion.  Can generate pressure and sacks inside on counter moves.  Can rush wide, but doesn’t show great burst.  Sometimes moves inside to DT on passing down.  Overall, looked to be an effective rusher in the games that I watched, but wonder how effective he can be in NFL with little experience playing from a 3 or 4 point stance.  Did not run or lift at the combine - doesn’t look to have much speed based on the games I watched.

 

Julian Okwara - watched vs Virginia & Georgia.  Good size. Plays from both 3-point and 2-point stance.  Shows some power and acceleration on pass rush.  Showed ability to generate pass rush on inside and outside moves.  Not strong against the run, but has the frame to get bigger.  I was pleasantly surprised at his play - interesting potential.  Did not participate at combine except for the bench press where he showed well.

 

Khalid Kareem - watched vs. Georgia &  Michigan.  Athletic build with long arms, reasonably easy movement.  Seems to play the run well.  Didn’t show many pass rush moves and doesn’t show much burst or explosiveness to be much of a pass rusher.  Sack production in college was modest.  Did not participate much at combine due to injury.

 

Josh Uche - watched vs. Penn State, Illinois.  Undersized DE and OLB and plays mostly from a 2-point stance.  Shows some speed/burst.  Drops into coverage a lot.  While he has speed, he didn’t show a broad repertoire of pass rush moves and doesn’t have the strength to rush with power.  Did have 8.5 sacks in 2019.  At 6’ 1” and 245 may be better at LB than DE.  Did not participate at combine.

 

Terrell Lewis - watched vs. LSU, Auburn. - Plays DE and LB.  Athletic enough to drop into coverage.  Shows acceleration to beat OT to inside.  Seems like he should be more effective beating OT wide.  Did not make any impactful plays in either game that I watched.  Good size and arm length, but looks quite lean on video.  I’ve read that he missed considerable time with injuries so that need to be evaluated by team doctors.  Seems like there is upside on this player.

 

Alex Highsmith - watched vs. Buffalo & Clemson - plays with very good effort on every play.  Against Buffalo, he overmatched UB OT #67 beating him with power and quickness generating good pass rush consistently.  Note, don’t know how good UB OT was.  Clemson game was a major blowout, but he generated some pressure early against Clemson’s 1st team and collected a sack vs their 2nd team.  Reportedly is a leader and high effort athlete.  Undersized at 248 lbs, but showed well athletically at combine.  

 

Derrek Tuszka  - watched vs Illinois State.  Hustler, shows some pop to stand up OT on run plays and an effective bull rush at FCS level.  Ran well at the combine, but will be downgraded as a DE for much shorter than ideal arms.  Didn’t show exceptional speed and flexibility to overcome lack of ideal stature.  Chance due effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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These are my top 4. 

 

 

I like Alton Robinson a lot. He’s a fast twitch DE and fairly productive. I wonder if a good coach like Sean McDermott or Eric Washington could squeeze out more production out of him and turn this guy into a star pass rusher at the next level. His God given physical skill set is tremendous and arguably one of the best in the draft. If I could pick one player I hope the Bills would draft it’d be him. Please Mr. Beane, take Alton Robinson in the third. 

 

Kenny Willekes plays with good leverage, high motor, strong, good bend. Once again, would be great in the third round.

 

Josh Uche is a player that I feel could take over Lorenzo Alexander’s position. Great SLB, offers a lot of boom in the pass rush department, probably a 2nd round pick, likely gone before we pick. Explosive athlete.

 

Curtis Weaver would be a great second round pick if we go EDGE with our first pick. I think he’d fit in perfectly on the left side where Shaq left off. Power, strength, leverage, brute force is his game. Solid in the run. Three down starter.

 

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3 minutes ago, maryland-bills-fan said:

There is such a run on DEs predicted by the mock drafts that I don't see that this is they year to go DE, except in late rounds.

 

You could be right but I think the Bills like this Robinson kid from Syracuse. They meant with him at the combine, might have had him in for a visit---not sure. The Bills will probably go BPA in Rd 2 their first pick but I won't be surprised if they move up a little in the 3rd round if he's still there.

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To me, out of that list, the guys who fit the mold of what they are looking for here are Greenard, Okwara, Khareem, and Lewis. The rest of those guys are either too small or lack length. 
 

Chase Young, Matos, Epenesa, are great fits but are all out of reach. Then there are guys like Trevis Gipson and Jonathan Garvin. If we draft an edge guy, I’m guessing its somebody off this list. Im probably missing some guys, but these other 6-1, 31 inch arm guys ain't getting drafted by us. 

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I'm wary of Bradley Anae.  He's a high effort player and uses some good techniques, but I don't think he has the athleticism to be an effective pro.

 

You could add Jabari Zuniga from Florida to your list.  He had a real nice combine.  He had the top 10 yard split in the entire position group and one of the better bench presses.  He's a project though.  Same with James Smith-Williams, a late round sleeper type with athleticism and upside.

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5 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

These are my top 4. 

 

 

I like Alton Robinson a lot. He’s a fast twitch DE and fairly productive. I wonder if a good coach like Sean McDermott or Eric Washington could squeeze out more production out of him and turn this guy into a star pass rusher at the next level. His God given physical skill set is tremendous and arguably one of the best in the draft. If I could pick one player I hope the Bills would draft it’d be him. Please Mr. Beane, take Alton Robinson in the third. 

 

Kenny Willekes plays with good leverage, high motor, strong, good bend. Once again, would be great in the third round.

 

Josh Uche is a player that I feel could take over Lorenzo Alexander’s position. Great SLB, offers a lot of boom in the pass rush department, probably a 2nd round pick, likely gone before we pick. Explosive athlete.

 

Curtis Weaver would be a great second round pick if we go EDGE with our first pick. I think he’d fit in perfectly on the left side where Shaq left off. Power, strength, leverage, brute force is his game. Solid in the run. Three down starter.

 

Willekes is my pick

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The fact OBD grabbed Addison, Quinton Jefferson DE/DT from SEA and traded away their #1 pick speaks volumes of their assessment of the DEs in the draft.  Can't see them taking one at 54 unless one of the top 3 guys drops dramatically.  

 

Robinson, Greenard or Anae in Rd 4 are a possibilities.

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9 hours ago, freddyjj said:

The fact OBD grabbed Addison, Quinton Jefferson DE/DT from SEA and traded away their #1 pick speaks volumes of their assessment of the DEs in the draft.  Can't see them taking one at 54 unless one of the top 3 guys drops dramatically.  

 

Robinson, Greenard or Anae in Rd 4 are a possibilities.

I totally agree with this and will add that if there was a DE that they really liked enough to take early, they likely would've kept their 1st.  Brandon Beane says that there aren't enough good pass rushers to go around.  I could see them trading for one in the future.

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15 hours ago, freddyjj said:

The fact OBD grabbed Addison, Quinton Jefferson DE/DT from SEA and traded away their #1 pick speaks volumes of their assessment of the DEs in the draft. 

 

That's the way I see it as well.   It's an underwhelming group this year and I can't see them drafting for DE need at #54...

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8 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Addison isn’t a great pass rusher. He gets handled rather easily.... not sure a good edge guy will be there at 54, but I wouldn’t be opposed to them drafting one.

39 sacks over the past 4 seasons seems like good production to me.  Puts  him in top 10 in league range.  

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10 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Addison isn’t a great pass rusher. He gets handled rather easily.... not sure a good edge guy will be there at 54, but I wouldn’t be opposed to them drafting one.

 

I can't find the tweet but Addison has been one of the top 10 sack leaders theat 3 or 4 seasons. 

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Anae is my #4 EDGE in the class (2nd round grade)

Greenard is my #6 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Weaver is my #7 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Uche is my #8 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Okwara is my #10 EDGE (3rd round grade)

Alton Robinson is my #11 EDGE (3rd round grade)

Alex Highsmith is my #13 EDGE (3rd/4th borderline)

 

I haven't watched Kareem or Tuszka and I see Lewis's best spot in the NFL as an off the ball linebacker who can be used to blitz. He could be an outside backer in a 3-4 but I don't think he is a guy you draft and primarily ask to rush the passer.

Edited by GunnerBill
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On 3/25/2020 at 5:16 PM, Victory Formation said:

These are my top 4. 

 

 

I like Alton Robinson a lot. He’s a fast twitch DE and fairly productive. I wonder if a good coach like Sean McDermott or Eric Washington could squeeze out more production out of him and turn this guy into a star pass rusher at the next level. His God given physical skill set is tremendous and arguably one of the best in the draft. If I could pick one player I hope the Bills would draft it’d be him. Please Mr. Beane, take Alton Robinson in the third. 

 

Kenny Willekes plays with good leverage, high motor, strong, good bend. Once again, would be great in the third round.

 

Josh Uche is a player that I feel could take over Lorenzo Alexander’s position. Great SLB, offers a lot of boom in the pass rush department, probably a 2nd round pick, likely gone before we pick. Explosive athlete.

 

Curtis Weaver would be a great second round pick if we go EDGE with our first pick. I think he’d fit in perfectly on the left side where Shaq left off. Power, strength, leverage, brute force is his game. Solid in the run. Three down starter.

 

Our second rounder is theoretically our first pick in the draft. If we take Weaver in the second that will be using our first pick in the class (barring any trades)on an edge.

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2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Unae is my #4 EDGE in the class (2nd round grade)

Greenard is my #6 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Weaver is my #7 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Uche is my #8 EDGE (2nd round grade)

Okwara is my #10 EDGE (3rd round grade)

Alton Robinson is my #11 EDGE (3rd round grade)

Alex Highsmith is my #13 EDGE (3rd/4th borderline)

 

I haven't watched Kareem or Tuszka and I see Lewis's best spot in the NFL as an off the ball linebacker who can be used to blitz. He could be an outside backer in a 3-4 but I don't think he is a guy you draft and primarily ask to rush the passer.


Good work Gunner. How many of those guys do you think fit here? I mean I keep seeing people talk about Willikies and Tuzska and Anae and Baun their 31-32 inch arms and thinking there is no way they get drafted here. What are your thoughts on fit?

Edited by MrEpsYtown
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Just now, MrEpsYtown said:


Good work Gunner. How many of those guys do you think fit here? I mean I keep seeing people talk about Willikies and Anae and Baun their 31-32 inch arms and thinking there is no way they get drafted here. What are your thought on fit?

 

Yea. I do take the point on Anae's length. He isn't the physical prototype they look for at the position but then I'd say Cody Ford doesn't really fit the prototype at tackle necessarily either. I think they would love Anae's motor and energy. Baun to me isn't an edge rusher at the next level. Feel similar on him as I do Lewis. Baun is a linebacker at the next level who gives you some rush ability from that spot but he isn't playing hand in the dirt and getting after the QB. 

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Any players in the draft like Maxx Crosby?  Raiders drafted him in the 4th round out of Eastern Michigan and he had 10 sacks as a rookie. I do remember the Bills being linked to him predraft, but the Raiders got him. 
 

Any under the radar, small school DEs in the draft?

 

Found one. 6’ 5” - 225 lbs. Lake Forest College. 14.5 sacks as a senior. 
 

Jordan McInerney

https://www.hudl.com/profile/7877550


I always root for the long shot underdog. This guy will likely never make it, but who knows. 
 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/sports/ct-lns-spt-college-football-lake-forest-jordan-mcinerney-st-111319-20191112-w253as2uaveaxd6bw466x7baui-story.html

 

Reminds me of Dan Brandenburg. It took me 30 minutes to remember his name, so I hope you appreciate it. ?

 

https://gosycamores.com/honors/hall-of-fame/dan-bradenburg/43
 

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1 hour ago, PIZ said:

Any players in the draft like Maxx Crosby?  Raiders drafted him in the 4th round out of Eastern Michigan and he had 10 sacks as a rookie. I do remember the Bills being linked to him predraft, but the Raiders got him. 
 

Any under the radar, small school DEs in the draft?

 

Found one. 6’ 5” - 225 lbs. Lake Forest College. 14.5 sacks as a senior. 
 

Jordan McInerney

https://www.hudl.com/profile/7877550


I always root for the long shot underdog. This guy will likely never make it, but who knows. 
 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/sports/ct-lns-spt-college-football-lake-forest-jordan-mcinerney-st-111319-20191112-w253as2uaveaxd6bw466x7baui-story.html

 

Reminds me of Dan Brandenburg. It took me 30 minutes to remember his name, so I hope you appreciate it. ?

 

https://gosycamores.com/honors/hall-of-fame/dan-bradenburg/43
 

 

My sleeper who I have a 3rd on but I think I am higher than everyone else is Bryce Huff out of Memphis. Size, explosion, bend, hustle. Love the kid. 

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On 3/26/2020 at 10:22 PM, ScottLaw said:

Addison isn’t a great pass rusher. He gets handled rather easily.... not sure a good edge guy will be there at 54, but I wouldn’t be opposed to them drafting one.

 

Doesnt matter if he's good or not

 

We signed him paid him a lot of money, and that's who were going with.

 

You don't do all that the reach at the same position early in draft

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I'm surprised no one has mentioned Afernee Jennings OB/ER from Alabama. I saw a highlight video on him and he seems to be undervalued on many "big boards". The guy plays like a clone of Lorenzo Alexander. I could possibly see him as the Bills 2nd round pick.

 

 

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  I like Darrell Taylor from Tennessee, I don't think he has been mentioned here. Consistently good against top level competition. Not sure where he is projected but unfortunately he has been getting some positive buzz lately and could be moving up a little.

  Some mentioned tight ends in this thread. I like Jacob Breeland from Oregon, he missed most of last year with injury and was not ready for the combine. The guy is a legitimate threat in the passing game and doesn't mind mixing it up in the run game. He could be a steal in the later rounds. (not sure where he is projected to go)

Edited by Turk71
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https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/sacks-per-game

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2868989-nfl-power-rankings-final-2019-20-regular-season-review-and-standings

 

Let's not get too much in love with sack totals.  Sacks are exciting plays.  A play with QB pressure and tight defense that winds up with a safe incomplete pass are not.  Some teams really tee off on a poor team when they are way ahead and don't have to worry about a 20 yard running play with the clock running.  Here is a partial list of 2019 sack totals and a power ranking of teams at the end of the year.

 

team                sack per game  ranking at end of year (8 teams only)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pitt                   3.4

carolina           3.3

 

san fran           3.2                   2

 

new orlean       3.2                   3

 

LA                    3.1

 

Buffalo              3.0

Minni              2.9                   8

Tampa            2.9

Jack                2.9

Wash              2.9

KC                  2.8                   4         

Pats                 2.8

GB                  2.6                   5

Philli               2.6

Tenn               2.6

Indi                 2.6

…………

Baltimore       2.2                   1

Seattle             2.2                   7

Edited by maryland-bills-fan
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22 hours ago, Turk71 said:

  I like Darrell Taylor from Tennessee, I don't think he has been mentioned here. Consistently good against top level competition. Not sure where he is projected but unfortunately he has been getting some positive buzz lately and could be moving up a little.

  Some mentioned tight ends in this thread. I like Jacob Breeland from Oregon, he missed most of last year with injury and was not ready for the combine. The guy is a legitimate threat in the passing game and doesn't mind mixing it up in the run game. He could be a steal in the later rounds. (not sure where he is projected to go)

 

The Draft Network has Taylor as the 86th ranked prospect, so that is in line for Buffalo's 3rd round pick.

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Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea late 3rd feels about right. Was watching some of him earlier. 

 

I watch a lot of college ball and I thought he was Tennessee's best player last year.

 

I wonder if the Bills like him though?

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4 minutes ago, njbuff said:

 

I watch a lot of college ball and I thought he was Tennessee's best player last year.

 

I wonder if the Bills like him though?

 

He reminds me a LOT of Shaq actually. His weakness is he is slow off the ball and he doesn't have Shaq's hands to compensate but if the Bills want to replace Shaq with a guy who like Lawson will never be out of his lane, understands how to set the edge and force the ball into the teeth of the defense and can win with effort and power then Taylor makes a lot of sense. 

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10 minutes ago, njbuff said:

 

I watch a lot of college ball and I thought he was Tennessee's best player last year.

 

I wonder if the Bills like him though?

  I watch a lot of college too and felt the same way. I have no idea if he's on their radar but I hope so. I've read a couple of profiles that said his attributes should translate well to the pro game physically but will need development. I'm thinking he could be a 3rd or 4th rounder maybe (just guessing) but really don't have a good idea where he projects to in the draft.

Edited by Turk71
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Just now, Turk71 said:

  I watch a lot of college too and felt the same way. I have no idea if he's on their radar but I hope so. I've read a couple of profiles that said his attributes should translate well to the pro game. I'm thinking he could be a 3rd or 4th rounder maybe but really have a good idea where he projects to in the draft.

 

Taylor looks explosive off the edge and if I am the Bills I would take him in the 3rd round.

 

Why the hell not? Hughes is 32, Addison is 33 and Murphy is 30.

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6 minutes ago, njbuff said:

 

Taylor looks explosive off the edge and if I am the Bills I would take him in the 3rd round.

 

Why the hell not? Hughes is 32, Addison is 33 and Murphy is 30.

I wouldn't hate it, not sure how that fits with their priorities this draft. 

  Not having a first might have them drafting for certain positions of immediate need in the 2nd and 3rd?

  Obviously have no idea what they are thinking but beyond the top tier edge prospects he's one that I like.

 

Edited by Turk71
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