2022 NFL Draft

[RiverDog]

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Hawks are reportedly visiting with Desmond Ridder today:

Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder is visiting the #Seahawks today, per source. The first (and only?) known pre-draft quarterback visit for Seattle.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status ... _&ref_url=

Obviously, it could just be a smoke screen, but something to keep in mind when filling out your draft board.

[NorthHawk]

It shows players we are interested in but it doesn’t mean they HAVE to have a player,
rather I think it’s about doing the necessary research in case the draft falls to them
and that player is the best value at that point.

[Old but Slow]

My horror is a QB at #9. That is definite furniture breaking territory.

The likelihood of that happening is diminished if Pete gets his "win now" wish, as an early QB is not going to be ready to start the first year (especially with this crop).

There may be no problem, really, as they must recognize that there is no true first round QB in this draft. Second round is a strong possibility, but I think it would be wiser to wait until day three as there is not a big gap between the top guys and the next plateau. Often players at all positions are downgraded as draft prospects because of a flaw in his game (think too small Russell Wilson). Arm length, shuttle time, 10 yard split, shoe size, and so on can make scouts hesitate, and, as we see, very good players get taken late.

My guess is that the team will hope for one of the top 4 pass rushers, maybe for the top 2 OL, but that is not likely. Take a corner, or trade down. That's it. There are good interior offensive linemen and linebackers that will go in rounds 2 and 3, and some promising wide receivers and running backs late.

Potentially a very strong draft. Just not for QBs and offensive tackles.

[RiverDog]

My horror is a QB at #9. That is definite furniture breaking territory.

The likelihood of that happening is diminished if Pete gets his "win now" wish, as an early QB is not going to be ready to start the first year (especially with this crop).

There may be no problem, really, as they must recognize that there is no true first round QB in this draft. Second round is a strong possibility, but I think it would be wiser to wait until day three as there is not a big gap between the top guys and the next plateau. Often players at all positions are downgraded as draft prospects because of a flaw in his game (think too small Russell Wilson). Arm length, shuttle time, 10 yard split, shoe size, and so on can make scouts hesitate, and, as we see, very good players get taken late.

My guess is that the team will hope for one of the top 4 pass rushers, maybe for the top 2 OL, but that is not likely. Take a corner, or trade down. That's it. There are good interior offensive linemen and linebackers that will go in rounds 2 and 3, and some promising wide receivers and running backs late.

Potentially a very strong draft. Just not for QBs and offensive tackles.

I'm with ya on not taking a quarterback in the first round. Build our offensive and defensive lines so when we finally do find our QBOTF, we'll have a decent framework from which he can operate in. Take the best player available at #9 or if someone makes us an offer we can't refuse, trade down.

[NorthHawk]

I’ve been reading some comments by Pete and caught a short interview and I’m pessimistic that they will use
this draft as a building block for the future. It’s what we need but Pete seems to think we’re only a player or two away from
challenging for a championship. So i’m steeling myself to watch John trade down past impact players to
draft a bunch of future backups with maybe one or two players that become starters down the road. Basically I expect
another draft where they try to plug holes instead of getting better.

[RiverDog]

I’ve been reading some comments by Pete and caught a short interview and I’m pessimistic that they will use
this draft as a building block for the future. It’s what we need but Pete seems to think we’re only a player or two away from
challenging for a championship. So i’m steeling myself to watch John trade down past impact players to
draft a bunch of future backups with maybe one or two players that become starters down the road. Basically I expect
another draft where they try to plug holes instead of getting better.

I wouldn't read too much into what Pete says. If he were to come out and say that he's rebuilding, he would be contradicting his "win forever" or "forever champions" motto. He's not the one to lower expectations. Pete paints a smiley face on every dark cloud. It's both a blessing as well as a curse of his personality.

We'll see how they handle this year's draft.

[Hawktawk]

Pete Carroll and John Shneider have no intention of having a losing season or a fire sale. I think they are gonna pull an okey doke from hell on the league and their doubters . A lot of great defensive picks stepping up. Penney going for 1700 and 15 to 20 TDs . DK going for 1500 and 15 TDs. Doesn’t even talk about Fant and Rocket . I hope it’s Locke because if he can beat out 2021 Geno in camp were winning the super bowl .

[RiverDog]

Pete Carroll and John Shneider have no intention of having a losing season or a fire sale. I think they are gonna pull an okey doke from hell on the league and their doubters . A lot of great defensive picks stepping up. Penney going for 1700 and 15 to 20 TDs . DK going for 1500 and 15 TDs. Doesn’t even talk about Fant and Rocket . I hope it’s Locke because if he can beat out 2021 Geno in camp were winning the super bowl .

If Lock can beat out Geno we're winning the Super Bowl?

Better bookmark the thread.

[c_hawkbob]

Just not for QBs and offensive tackles

About QB's I agree but this is a good year for OT's.

[Hawktawk]

”Pete Carroll and John Shneider have no intention of having a losing season or a fire sale. I think they are gonna pull an okey doke from hell on the league and their doubters . A lot of great defensive picks stepping up. Penney going for 1700 and 15 to 20 TDs . DK going for 1500 and 15 TDs. Doesn’t even talk about Fant and Rocket . I hope it’s Locke because if he can beat out 2021 Geno in camp were winning the super bowl “

If Lock can beat out Geno we're winning the Super Bowl?

Better bookmark the thread.

Go for it .,but listen to what I said first . If PC is honestly going to give Geno a shot and pick the best guy AND Geno plays like he did in relief 102 qbr 68.5 % completion % no picks in 3 starts and the only one in relief was when Lockett was tangled and tripped by a defender . 1 fumble on a night Tj Watt had a night smashing and sacking him . 2 of DKs biggest 3 games came with Geno behind center in 13 quarters of play .

Yeah if he puts up a performance similar to that and Locke is better with the superior physical skills and hose arm handing off to Penney and throwing to Fant who it seems nobody’s thinking about, rocket and DK we have a 30 point per game offense .

If however Geno reverts to his career 58% pass numbers and becomes a pick machine and Locke backs into the job and plays like recently in Denver we are pooched and the Pete haters will have their wish . Bookmark those views any time you want .

[obiken]

Pete is doing the picking, so it doesn’t matter what we go after, accept the fact we’re doomed until Pete Carroll is gone.

[NorthHawk]

I don't see any OT's as good as Tunsil (sp) this year - and he hasn't been as good as expected, but I do see some good OT's that are worth the pick near the end of the
first round and 2nd round. I think there will be an impact player or two at 9 who is not a Tackle like Stingley or maybe one of the Edge rushers, but I doubt JS will
select them and opt for moving down for future backups. The problem I see with the OT's is a lot of them are like Ifedi and haven't played much in a pro system and
those that have aren't as athletic or as polished as you would hope from a #9 pick. On the other hand, there are some good LB 's and some good Guards and Centers
to be had early so if we could get a good LG or Center (or both) we might be able to improve the interior of the OL. At LB since we are moving toward use a 3-4
more often, we will need more LBs and there are some good tacklers with excellent speed that we could use.

Although the draft is in reality selecting potential as there are no sure things, I think we will end up wondering why they passed on good players at positions of need
for someone who has a lower floor but possible higher ceiling. More boom or bust players like Collier and Ifedi while bypassing stud RBs or DBs or other positions
of need. He said he isn't changing his philosophy and they've been at it for 10 drafts now, so I don't think we will see anything other than a mediocre team this year
that just might squeak into the playoffs but probably not as the talent level has seeped away without it really being addressed.

The team won't really get better until we get a new owner and this regime has been replaced.

[Hawktawk]

Pete is doing the picking, so it doesn’t matter what we go after, accept the fact we’re doomed until Pete Carroll is gone.

I don’t necessarily agree Pete’s making the picks anymore. I think behind the scenes after this last shakeup he’s had his wings clipped . Sure sounds like he and JS weren’t initially on the same page with trading Russ and Pete also said regarding Wagner he had hoped there would be some way to keep him , almost seemed surprised it happened. Maybe that led to the lack of a formal notification . The hiring of the young new staff and the dynamic charismatic Clint Hurdt to coach the defense . That guy is going to be in charge of a defense that’s not going to be what it’s been scheme wise . I think PC is transitioning in his role .

[Hawktawk]

I was watching Brian Baldinger analyze the tackles. Don’t recall the name but one guy was 6’7” 330 with 34 inch arms and a 4.89 40. Linemen aren’t sexy picks but the film on the guy was impressive

[curmudgeon]

More of the same. Regime change needed……

[RiverDog]

Evan Neal, 6'7" 350 lbs out of Alabama is the consensus top OT in the draft and will be long gone before #9. I've been hearing a lot about the possibility of taking Charles Cross, OT from Mississippi State, but he's out of Mike Leach's Air Raid system, meaning that he doesn't do a lot of traditional run blocking. It would be hard to imagine Pete taking an untested OT for his run first offense. Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa is from a BCS school so he hasn't faced top flight competition and indeed, struggled in the Senior Bowl, or at least that's what I've read.

The best fit for our system that might be available is Ikem Ekwonu, OT out of NC State, who is supposedly an excellent run blocker. He also has the size profile to play guard, and we all know how Pete and John like to shuttle players up and down the OL. If he's there at #9, there's a good chance that he'll be our man.

[NorthHawk]

Isn't Ekonwu supposed to be in the running for the first OT?
If so he probably won't be there at 9, but I doubt he would have the impact that a stud DE or CB would have.
Maybe with Desai having a significant say in the matter we won't pass by a pass rusher or CB in favor of drafting a player who may start but not make much of an impact.
I'm hoping we go Defense first and really build that side up before going to Offense - except for a good Center and RB, but they haven't signed a T in FA yet so that's what's
worrying me. Like RD said they have a penchant for drafting Tackles and then moving them inside because they don't work out. I think we need a Center and a LG to fill
the interior but they better sign a T in FA because they won't find 2 Tackles that can start in this draft, in my opinion. I think there are a few RT's out there like Trevor
Penning, Abraham Lucas, and Nicholas Petit Frere, but I don't see any Tackle worth the #9 pick. That should be for a true impact player - someone who can change a game
or make the other team focus on.

[RiverDog]

Isn't Ekonwu supposed to be in the running for the first OT?
If so he probably won't be there at 9, but I doubt he would have the impact that a stud DE or CB would have.

Most of the mocks I've seen have Evan Neal being the first OT off the board. At 6'7" and 350 lbs, Neal has a huge frame. Ekonwu has been listed as a guard in some publications.

Maybe with Desai having a significant say in the matter we won't pass by a pass rusher or CB in favor of drafting a player who may start but not make much of an impact.

Yeah, I'm thinking that unless that edge rusher out of Oregon drops, which is very unlikely, and if Ekonwu isn't there, that we'll take either Gardner out of Cincy or Stingley out of LSU, both cornerbacks. My preference would be Gardner as he's a couple inches taller and more in the mold of a Richard Sherman.

I'm hoping we go Defense first and really build that side up before going to Offense - except for a good Center and RB, but they haven't signed a T in FA yet so that's what's
worrying me. Like RD said they have a penchant for drafting Tackles and then moving them inside because they don't work out. I think we need a Center and a LG to fill
the interior but they better sign a T in FA because they won't find 2 Tackles that can start in this draft, in my opinion. I think there are a few RT's out there like Trevor
Penning, Abraham Lucas, and Nicholas Petit Frere, but I don't see any Tackle worth the #9 pick. That should be for a true impact player - someone who can change a game
or make the other team focus on.

I'm in the same boat as ObS. I'll be tearing my hair out if we take a QB in the first round.

What's likely to happen is that we'll follow the same pattern as we've followed for Pete/JS's entire regime minus the first year, that we'll use our #1 to reach for a player that everyone else has ranked 20th or lower, bypassing a lot of forehead slap no brainers like we did when we selected Bruce Irvin over Fletcher Cox or Rashaad Penny over Nick Chubb. Besides Irvin and Penny, we've reached in the first round for Carpenter, Collier, and Ifedi. With the possible exception of Penny as the jury is still out on him, none of those reach picks have panned out.

[NorthHawk]

What they seem to do is not look at the floor of a player but look at their ceiling.
This hasn't worked out very well at all with OL and when we took Irvin we got a situational player instead of an impact DT who could play DE as well.
This philosophy hasn't done us well and I fear it's going to continue.

It seems to me that if we don't get a stud DE in the first round we may go after proven LBs with a lot of speed to make up for that. The 3-4 Defense
is designed to confuse the Offense so they don't know where the pressure is coming from. It's best to have a good pass rushing DE, but it can work
well with good LB's off the edge. But what is critical is good CB play. As we don't have that good of a stock of CB's, I think if we can get a Corner that
can take away one side of the field, it makes the Defense that much better especially in a pass happy league as it is today. So get a stud CB early, then
get athletic LBs and the Defense would be much improved from the start of the year.

[RiverDog]

What they seem to do is not look at the floor of a player but look at their ceiling.
This hasn't worked out very well at all with OL and when we took Irvin we got a situational player instead of an impact DT who could play DE as well.
This philosophy hasn't done us well and I fear it's going to continue.

It seems to me that if we don't get a stud DE in the first round we may go after proven LBs with a lot of speed to make up for that. The 3-4 Defense
is designed to confuse the Offense so they don't know where the pressure is coming from. It's best to have a good pass rushing DE, but it can work
well with good LB's off the edge. But what is critical is good CB play. As we don't have that good of a stock of CB's, I think if we can get a Corner that
can take away one side of the field, it makes the Defense that much better especially in a pass happy league as it is today. So get a stud CB early, then
get athletic LBs and the Defense would be much improved from the start of the year.

Either Gardner or Stingley might be able to fill that bill of a shutdown corner, and one of them should be available to us at #9.

If Malik Willis drops to our #9 spot, I'm wondering if a team like the Saints or Steelers might want to trade up to our spot to get him? Maybe their first and second round picks for our #9 overall? Plus there's still the possibility that we might trade Metcalf for draft picks. The trade Metcalf rumors seems to have died down a bit.

In any event, this year's draft could be the most suspenseful, entertaining one that we've had for quite some time.

[Hawktawk]

Evan Neal, 6'7" 350 lbs out of Alabama is the consensus top OT in the draft and will be long gone before #9. I've been hearing a lot about the possibility of taking Charles Cross, OT from Mississippi State, but he's out of Mike Leach's Air Raid system, meaning that he doesn't do a lot of traditional run blocking. It would be hard to imagine Pete taking an untested OT for his run first offense. Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa is from a BCS school so he hasn't faced top flight competition and indeed, struggled in the Senior Bowl, or at least that's what I've read.

The best fit for our system that might be available is Ikem Ekwonu, OT out of NC State, who is supposedly an excellent run blocker. He also has the size profile to play guard, and we all know how Pete and John like to shuttle players up and down the OL. If he's there at #9, there's a good chance that he'll be our man.

The film Bakdinger shared of the senior bowl Penning actually looked damn good and mauled one defender and body slammed him so hard the guy got up and charged him during practice for the senior bowl . He looked big and athletic and mean .

[c_hawkbob]

Some early mocks had Neil, Ekwonu and Cross going 1, 2, 3. If any of the tree fall to us I'd be tickled pink to have them. Chances are Pete will trade back though.

[RiverDog]

The film Bakdinger shared of the senior bowl Penning actually looked damn good and mauled one defender and body slammed him so hard the guy got up and charged him during practice for the senior bowl . He looked big and athletic and mean .

Yeah, but the problem is that he hasn't proven himself against top flight competition. He doesn't see the same types of athletes at Northern Iowa that a tackle from a Power 5 conference will see. It's the same rap that could cause Malik to drop. When teams pick in the top 10, they want as few question marks as possible, and I think these mid major and FCS players will slip.

I didn't watch the Senior Bowl, but a couple of other posters that I respect in another venue that I frequent claim that Penning got embarrassed a couple of times. If he drops to our slot in the 2nd round, I'd love to see us take him, but not at #9.

[RiverDog]

Some early mocks had Neil, Ekwonu and Cross going 1, 2, 3. If any of the tree fall to us I'd be tickled pink to have them. Chances are Pete will trade back though.

If that happens, then it increases the liklihood of one of the stud DL's dropping to #9, and I'd be good with that, too.

But I don't think Neal will drop out of the top 5. IMO he'll be the first OL off the board, maybe even #1 overall.

[NorthHawk]

There clearly isn't a Walter Jones in this draft, but I don't even see a Russell Okung. But maybe I'm very wrong.
Neal might be the closest, but he's still a work in progress. His value is that he has shown to play consistently along the whole OL other than Center so that's
a value to many teams. If we are to take a Tackle with our 1st pick, I'd rather we traded back and picked up more picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds for doing so
if not getting a 1st next year and a mid round pick this year.

[RiverDog]

There clearly isn't a Walter Jones in this draft, but I don't even see a Russell Okung. But maybe I'm very wrong.
Neal might be the closest, but he's still a work in progress. His value is that he has shown to play consistently along the whole OL other than Center so that's
a value to many teams. If we are to take a Tackle with our 1st pick, I'd rather we traded back and picked up more picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds for doing so
if not getting a 1st next year and a mid round pick this year.

How many drafts has there been a Walter Jones in?

Neal is 6'7". Do you really think that a team will play him at guard? How many guards in the league are that tall?

But I don't disagree with your logic of trading back if we don't see a player worth a top 10 pick and wouldn't mind stockpiling some picks for next year.

[NorthHawk]

There aren't many at 6'7" but there have been some Guards at 6'6" just like there aren't many DT's at 6'7" but Calais Campbell breaks that mold.
What I meant by it though is he could play inside if he was forced to - it's not a foreign concept to him. The Walter Jones comment was to show
how big a gap there is in today's football from years ago when OT's were schooled much better than today in how to play the position. Today they
may have great athleticism and huge potential but they are no where near the finished products that we saw in previous generations, mostly
because of the Offenses that are run today.

If Waldron is to follow the blueprint of the Rams Offense (and I don't know if that's his plan), he would want a pair of large OT's. The Rams had
Whitworth at 6' 6" or more and Havenstine at 6' 7". We already have Forsythe at 6' 7" so Neal would fit that profile.
But I think there are other players that would have more impact this year and more going forward than OT at 9.

[RiverDog]

There aren't many at 6'7" but there have been some Guards at 6'6" just like there aren't many DT's at 6'7" but Calais Campbell breaks that mold.
What I meant by it though is he could play inside if he was forced to - it's not a foreign concept to him. The Walter Jones comment was to show
how big a gap there is in today's football from years ago when OT's were schooled much better than today in how to play the position. Today they
may have great athleticism and huge potential but they are no where near the finished products that we saw in previous generations, mostly
because of the Offenses that are run today.

If Waldron is to follow the blueprint of the Rams Offense (and I don't know if that's his plan), he would want a pair of large OT's. The Rams had
Whitworth at 6' 6" or more and Havenstine at 6' 7". We already have Forsythe at 6' 7" so Neal would fit that profile.
But I think there are other players that would have more impact this year and more going forward than OT at 9.

I'd bet you whatever you're willing to wager than Neal will be gone long before he gets to our slot at #9. IMO he's top 5 for sure.

I haven't done a ton of research into the tackle prospects, but it seems to me that Ekwonu would be just the type of OL that this regime likes and has drafted in the past. But I do think that we take a defensive player should we not move out of the #9 slot. So long as it's not a QB, I'm good with either one of the top two tackles or a DL/CB.

[Hawktawk]

Walter Jones trained by pushing his Escalade up and down his driveway which I believe was hundreds of yards. He was not only agile and explosive but he simply swallowed up pass rushers, locked them up, mauled them, rag dolled them. I remember in the run game he locked up with a linebacker at the line of scrimmage and drove the guy backwards at a dead run with his hands under the guys pads 20 yards into the end zone 5 yards ahead of Alexander then pancaked the guy.
No there probably isn't a WJ in the draft but you never know. Wasn't he drafted by Ericson? Or was it Flores?

[Hawktawk]

There aren't many at 6'7" but there have been some Guards at 6'6" just like there aren't many DT's at 6'7" but Calais Campbell breaks that mold.
What I meant by it though is he could play inside if he was forced to - it's not a foreign concept to him. The Walter Jones comment was to show
how big a gap there is in today's football from years ago when OT's were schooled much better than today in how to play the position. Today they
may have great athleticism and huge potential but they are no where near the finished products that we saw in previous generations, mostly
because of the Offenses that are run today.

If Waldron is to follow the blueprint of the Rams Offense (and I don't know if that's his plan), he would want a pair of large OT's. The Rams had
Whitworth at 6' 6" or more and Havenstine at 6' 7". We already have Forsythe at 6' 7" so Neal would fit that profile.
But I think there are other players that would have more impact this year and more going forward than OT at 9.

Forsythe got some playing time last season and had some good and bad moments but held his own. If they coach him up hes as big as any of these guys this year.

[Old but Slow]

Some of the discussion has got me thinking about offensive linemen. A good line is not just 5 big horses, but a bunch of specialists. Most of the prospects want to be known as left tackles, as that is the best paid position on the line. Their actual position, though, will based on how they play. By that I mean, that the skills of a LT are very different than those of a center, and so on.

Tackles tend to be tall with long arms. Not too many 6' 2" tackles these days. Length is a bit less important at guard, and a center can get along with less size and shorter arms. Feet are key. The 40 time is immaterial, but the 10 yard split reflects a quick first step. Where the tackles make the money is by staying in front of the pass rushers, that calls for a level of quickness greater than that for interior linemen. The players time in the shuttles can give a good glimpse at who might stick as a tackle, and who might have to move inside.

Looking at the combine numbers and comparing them with the question if this player is a OT or an interior guy, I looked at height, arm length, 10 yd split, and the shuttles. In my opinion (shared by few) there 7 players that seem to be legit tackles. I only looked a players that I have seen as being drafted in the first 4 or 5 rounds.

Evan Neal did not test at the combine, but I am comfortable with him as a tackle, though I think he would be even better as a guard. After him I only see Trevor Penning and Abraham Lucas as first rounders, and both in the last half of the round. Zach Tom has all the measurables, but is likely being taken as a center. Logan Bruss, Rasheed Walker, and Matt Waletzko finish up the list.

Charles Cross is often mentioned, but I believe he is over rated. He has stature (6-4 1/4") and good straight line speed, but his shuttle times are poor. The same is true of Ikem Ekwonu, who is highly rated, but has poor feet. I did not rate Daniel Faalele, who is 6'8" and 384 pounds, as he did not put up numbers, but I suspect that his quickness is in question, and that showed at the Senior Bowl. They seem like guards to me.

Centers need to be athletic and smart. Besides making the line calls at the line of scrimmage, they need to deal with defensive tackles, and be able to pull and lead a runner off tackle. This draft has 4 really good looking ones for the first 2 or 3 rounds: Tyler Linderbaum, Cam Jurgens, Cole Strange, and the aforementioned Zack Tom.

Feel free to disagree, but be gentle.

[RiverDog]

Walter Jones trained by pushing his Escalade up and down his driveway which I believe was hundreds of yards. He was not only agile and explosive but he simply swallowed up pass rushers, locked them up, mauled them, rag dolled them. I remember in the run game he locked up with a linebacker at the line of scrimmage and drove the guy backwards at a dead run with his hands under the guys pads 20 yards into the end zone 5 yards ahead of Alexander then pancaked the guy.

No there probably isn't a WJ in the draft but you never know. Wasn't he drafted by Ericson? Or was it Flores?

You're preaching to the choir, bro. Big Walt was drafted in 1997, which would have made him Erikson's pick. He was a tight end early in his college career. He had as many Pro Bowl appearances as he had holding penalties.

Walt is only the 2nd Hall of Famer that I've ever shook hands with, the other being Bob Feller when I was 14. Walt was at the Seahawks rally in a bar right by London Bridge that I attended, and we had a table right on the way to the bathroom. As Walt was making his way to the bathroom, I stood directly in front of him and extended my hand to him. He had two choices: Either grab me by the shoulders and toss me aside or shake hands. Fortunately for me, he chose the latter. Nice guy.

[RiverDog]

Some of the discussion has got me thinking about offensive linemen. A good line is not just 5 big horses, but a bunch of specialists. Most of the prospects want to be known as left tackles, as that is the best paid position on the line. Their actual position, though, will based on how they play. By that I mean, that the skills of a LT are very different than those of a center, and so on.

Tackles tend to be tall with long arms. Not too many 6' 2" tackles these days. Length is a bit less important at guard, and a center can get along with less size and shorter arms. Feet are key. The 40 time is immaterial, but the 10 yard split reflects a quick first step. Where the tackles make the money is by staying in front of the pass rushers, that calls for a level of quickness greater than that for interior linemen. The players time in the shuttles can give a good glimpse at who might stick as a tackle, and who might have to move inside.

Looking at the combine numbers and comparing them with the question if this player is a OT or an interior guy, I looked at height, arm length, 10 yd split, and the shuttles. In my opinion (shared by few) there 7 players that seem to be legit tackles. I only looked a players that I have seen as being drafted in the first 4 or 5 rounds.

Evan Neal did not test at the combine, but I am comfortable with him as a tackle, though I think he would be even better as a guard. After him I only see Trevor Penning and Abraham Lucas as first rounders, and both in the last half of the round. Zach Tom has all the measurables, but is likely being taken as a center. Logan Bruss, Rasheed Walker, and Matt Waletzko finish up the list.

Charles Cross is often mentioned, but I believe he is over rated. He has stature (6-4 1/4") and good straight line speed, but his shuttle times are poor. The same is true of Ikem Ekwonu, who is highly rated, but has poor feet. I did not rate Daniel Faalele, who is 6'8" and 384 pounds, as he did not put up numbers, but I suspect that his quickness is in question, and that showed at the Senior Bowl. They seem like guards to me.

Centers need to be athletic and smart. Besides making the line calls at the line of scrimmage, they need to deal with defensive tackles, and be able to pull and lead a runner off tackle. This draft has 4 really good looking ones for the first 2 or 3 rounds: Tyler Linderbaum, Cam Jurgens, Cole Strange, and the aforementioned Zack Tom.

Feel free to disagree, but be gentle.

Nice analysis. We'll see how good it is a week from next Thursday. BTW, are you going to join C-bob's 3 deep draft contest? Lots of bragging rights at stake.

One of the other measurables for linemen that you didn't mention is their hand size, the bigger the better.

[NorthHawk]

The other thing is side to side speed or quickness to be more precise. It's important for a LT to be able to handle both the bull rush and the outside speed or outside in moves.
Countering it is a skill that is in short supply these days with the Air Raid type Offenses in college as they more often than not rely on quick throws.

RD, I agree Neal goes real early and before #9 but with drafts surprising things happen so it's not a sure thing. Trade ups for other players and unexpected QB's going
early can push a player down 5 or 6 spots.

[RiverDog]

The other thing is side to side speed or quickness to be more precise. It's important for a LT to be able to handle both the bull rush and the outside speed or outside in moves.
Countering it is a skill that is in short supply these days with the Air Raid type Offenses in college as they more often than not rely on quick throws.

RD, I agree Neal goes real early and before #9 but with drafts surprising things happen so it's not a sure thing. Trade ups for other players and unexpected QB's going
early can push a player down 5 or 6 spots.

Good point about lateral quickness.

The mocks and rankings are generally pretty accurate for the top 10 players although not always falling to the expected team. Sometimes there's a surprise or two, but more so than lower picks, there's fewer reaches in the top 10 than in lower slots. Neal has been listed in the top 3-5 in just about every mock or ranking I've seen, along with the edge rusher from Michigan.

[NorthHawk]

Most drafts are pretty much settled for who are the top 3.
This year is quite different mostly because there is no consensus QB or one truly dominating player at the top.
Peter King has an interesting article in his FMIA weekly column on PFT where he talked to a bunch of management people on teams
about what they think the draft will be like and there is a lot of variation in their thinking.
I think this draft may well have the most surprises we've seen in quite a while.

The link:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... eter-king/

[c_hawkbob]

I like Peter King. He's no Craig Easterbrook but he's alright.

[NorthHawk]

I like Peter King. He's no Craig Easterbrook but he's alright.

I'm not familiar with Craig Easterbrook. What's his claim to fame?

[NorthHawk]

You mean GREGG Easterbrook.
Got it.

[c_hawkbob]

I like Peter King. He's no Craig Easterbrook but he's alright.

I'm not familiar with Craig Easterbrook. What's his claim to fame?

His Tuesday Morning Quarterback column, it's really a must read. Used to be a regular on ESPN, the NFLN, not sure where he's writing now ...

And yes, it's Gregg (thanks for the correction)