STRENGTHS
Jeremy is a pass-catching monster who reminds me of Travis Kelce and if selected by the right team WILL have an impact as Travis has had in the NFL. His catch radius and ability to catch contested passes is outstanding. His feel to run routes and get open is outstanding. He is a good blocker and takes pride in his blocking and is willing to block. Jeremy shows leadership skills in the fact he is willing to block and not be the main receiver in this offense. He has the lateral agility and quick feet to pass block, and block in the open field. His ability to block with his hand down for the run game is good because he is quick off the snap and keeps his feet moving after he engages. If the team that selects him realizes his overall talent in the passing game then Jeremy will be an impact player just like Travis Kelce.

CONCERNS
Jeremy is one of those players hiding in plain sight. A sleeper hiding in a big-time program. He will improve his route running and get stronger if you give him a chance. Jeremy is a complete Tight End. Jeremy might get lost in the shuffle, when compared against those pass-catching Tight Ends and other receivers who the fans and offensive coordinators seem to prefer.

BOTTOM LINE 1.86
If he is selected by the right team, Jeremy will be the next Travis Kelce. That being said if he is used the way his college team used him this year, as just a blocker, then most fans will not see much of an impact in the passing game and that will be a crime. Jeremy has 1st Rd talent because of his ability to catch the ball and to block in all phases of the game. But as we all know, a player who is not used in the passing game at the college level, will most likely not be selected in the 1st round. In most cases, it will be the 3rd round or even later. I believe that might change for Jeremy once he starts to work out at the Senior Bowl. The Scouts know this kid is special, trust me. I know this kid can be special and believe me after the senior bowl practices many more will know it too. I don’t have a clue what round Jeremy will be selected and that’s why we invented the 2-board system so you can see the possibilities of a player selected in the later rounds. I believe with the right team who throws to the Tight End that Jeremy will be the impact player Travis Kelce is. As far as I’m concerned…Those are the facts of his talent and they are undisrupted.

STRENGTHS
Derek has the size, length, and outstanding athleticism, to be a franchise shut-down cornerback for the team that selects him. He is a quick-twitch athlete, who shows excellent hands to make the interception. He has a smooth gate and stride and that along with his excellent hands makes him the type of player who could be used on both sides of the ball on offense as a receiver, and on defense as a Defensive Back. Derek can be used on special teams to return punts because of his sure hands and ability to make players miss in the open field. He does an excellent job reading the receiver and knowing when to turn to make the interception or to strip the ball at the last moment. He might be one of the best corners coming out at the college level at reading receivers. As I stated before, Derek has the potential to be a franchise shut-down cover corner.

CONCERNS
Derek has all the potential in the world but he hasn’t played that much at the college level because of injuries and will have to prove in workouts that he is healthy. Derek will also have to answer questions and convince teams that he has the mental toughness needed to play a 17-game schedule. Dereck will also have to become a more consistent tackler and use better form to secure his tackles or players will gain a lot of yards after the catch against him.

BOTTOM LINE 1.41
When I first saw Derek play for LSU he made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I had never seen a smoother, more athletic player at the cornerback position since Deon Sanders. Derek has the potential to be better than Deon but can you trust him to be better…that is the million-dollar question. It’s reported that he had foot surgery and then re-injured that foot the next year and that’s why he did not get back on the field after the injury. So, medicals will have to show that this foot injury will not be a chronic problem if a team wants to select Derek in the top 10 as has been projected. In his first year Derek recorded 38 tackles, 21 passes defended, and 6 interceptions. That is impressive no doubt. If Derek in his workouts, and medicals, can convince teams that he is healthy and has the mental toughness needed to be that productive at the next level, then there is no doubt in my mind that he can become one of the first picks in this draft. Nevertheless, be aware of the politics of the draft and how teams will try to deceive other teams into not selecting Derek early in this draft. It happens every year. My advice Derek, show up at the Senior Bowl just for the interviews and to network with all the teams. It will do you good.

STRENGTHS
George is a big-play receiver, with big-play speed, who runs mature routes, and has Randy Moss type speed, size, and potential. He has excellent hands and the ability to adjust to the ball in the air and make the impossible catch. George is smart and knows where he is on the field and will make the contested catch to move the chains on third downs. He understands zone coverages and how to sit down and give his QB a big target. He has the quickness inside the red zone to be used on the outside and separate. George’s length, size, speed, ability to catch anything thrown near him, makes him the type of receiver who is always open on every passing down regardless of what coverage you want to throw up against him to stop him.

CONCERNS
George has come back from his knee injury and showed in the bowl game that he is still the impact player he was before his injury. His interviews will be the biggest issue that teams will have to decide if George is a team-orientated player or just an entertainer. I’m not suggesting that he is just an entertainer but, there will be some who will question some of his “after big play” antics. You can see by my TBR that I don’t have a problem.

BOTTOM LINE 1.47
In this talented class of receivers, there will be teams looking for anything to separate them from each other and interviews will be the only way they can do that. George has a flamboyance that will bother some teams while teams will embrace it. That being said, this could affect at what point in the first round George could be selected and even drop him into the 2nd Round. It won’t affect my talent board rating at all because I think George should be considered in the top 10 to 15 in this draft. I think he is the closest talent that I have seen in years to Randy Moss who because of his “flamboyance” wasn’t selected until the 21st pick by the Vikings and then because of his continual “Flamboyance” played for 4 other teams before he was selected into the pro football Hall of Fame. This draft is filled with excellent receivers so where George might be selected is anyone’s guess but don’t be fooled, George is a big-play receiver with Randy Moss type of talent and I would not pass on that type of potential if I were selecting in the top 10 of this draft.

STRENGTHS
Ahmad is a quick-twitch athlete with the speed and the length most teams are looking for in their corners. He is aggressive getting off blocks and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage. In spite of his long legs, Ahmad can change directions quickly and has the pure speed to stay on the hip of those small speed receivers. He has the aggressiveness to play inside or outside and loves to attack the line of scrimmage for sacks, and against sweeps and screens. Ahmad has the potential to be considered one of the top corners in this draft for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Ahmad has a lot to learn and might struggle early in his career until he learns to trust his techniques instead of just his athleticism. His biggest problem is looking too early and too much into the backfield trying to anticipate the ball, when in single coverage. QB’s at the next level and smart receivers will turn this kid’s head around like Linda Blair’s head in the movie The Exorcist if, he doesn’t learn to read receivers better.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.89
I find when college players have excellent athletic talent they struggle at the next level until they learn to trust the techniques of their position MORE than they trust their god-given athletic talent. Why you ask…because at the NFL level, they are not the most athletic player on the field like they are at the college level. That’s why I came up with the expression, “It takes more than talent to play in the NFL”. I find that cornerbacks and offensive linemen are the 2 positions that players struggle to adjust if they are more athletic than the average player at the college level at their positions. I don’t care how talented a player is, if they can’t or won’t trust the techniques of their position over their athletic talent, they will not be effective at the next level. Ahmad can be an excellent cornerback but in single coverage, he has to learn to read receivers better, and until he does he will struggle. That doesn’t mean you don’t select him early in this draft. The draft is about potential and Ahmad has plenty of potential to offer the team that selects him.

STRENGTHS
Devin is an athletic defensive player with the size, speed, long arms, and legs to play more than one position for a team’s front seven. He has the athletic talent to be used in coverage and is a pure three-down linebacker. He can be used to rush the passer, standing up or with his hand down, and has the explosion off the line that is unique to the top edge rushers at the next level. Devin has those long arms and legs that make it easy for him to cover those big Tight Ends and big slot receivers down the field and the hands to make the interception. Devin reminds me a lot of the Bills Tremaine Edwards or for you older guys former Dolphins Jason Taylor.

CONCERNS
When Devin plays LB off the ball he does not take on blocks and shed and make tackles, he tries to go around the blocks losing gap control and being a liability against the run. When he plays on the line of scrimmage it is mostly in pass-rushing situations so he does not yet have the techniques to set the edge and once again loses gap control. Devin is what I call a run and chase type of player and when it comes to stopping a running back in a third-down situation those types of linebackers struggle unless they are coming off the edge and get into the backfield and make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.64
I believe that Devin’s impact position at the next level will be as an ER/LB in a 3/4 defense or as a WOLB in a 4/3 defense. He needs to play in open space where he can use his speed and athleticism, attacking the line of scrimmage and impact, dropping off the line in coverage and in space. If you use him on the inside, off the line, he will be less impacting and that’s not smart if you plan on selecting him in the first round. It’s really simple, use him the way Tremaine Edwards is used and Devin will struggle like Tremaine does to be consistent and impact. Use him the way Jason Taylor was used and he will be an impact player for your defense. Class is over.

STRENGTHS
Rodger has the size, speed, quick-twitch athleticism and high football IQ to play any defensive back position for your defense. He is a willing tackler and a good tackler in the open field. His cover skills, footwork, and hands to intercept the ball, are excellent. Rodger shows very good makeup speed and burst with the ability to change direction in spite of his long legs. He does not panic when he gets beat off the line of scrimmage because of the confidence he has in his athleticism and overall techniques. Rodger is smart and can play in complicated zone coverages or as your shut-down corner against the best receiver on the field in the slot or on the outside. He has the size and toughness to fight through blocks on sweeps and screens and identifies those plays quickly getting upfield to take on blocks or make tackles. If your team is looking for a multi-position defensive back, with shut down skills and leadership skills I believe that Rodger should fit that need very nicely. If your team is not looking for that type of player then…shame on them for not selecting him anyway.

CONCERNS
I could nit-pick any team into not selecting a player in any draft but like I always say, when you see the obvious…you draft the obvious.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.47
Like any player in a draft, Rodger could be selected in the top 10 or not until the 32nd pick. That being said, I can’t imagine Rodger dropping very far in the 1st round unless he does something stupid off the field before this draft and I sincerely doubt that will happen. The only way I think Rodger drops out of the top 10 in this draft is if a team starts a “false negative” rumor about him so that he will be there for that very same team to select him. I’m sure there will be “experts” that will disagree with me but make no mistake about it, Rodger has the potential to be a franchise cover corner for the team that selects him. It’s just that obvious to me. So, let the nitpicking begin but remember this profile after Rodger is on the field for the team that selects him because I am sick and tired of saying I told you so.

STRENGTHS
Zach is “The Natural”. He has excellent size, speed, vision, balance, lateral agility, and mental toughness to be a franchise running back at the next level. He is smart and knows how to set up his blocks and has that natural “quick twitch” athletic talent, that makes it hard to get a full hit on him when he runs between the tackles or in the open field. Zack shows the eye/hand coordination to make the tough catch down the field if used as a receiver. He is a willing blocker and he can gain the needed yardage from the backfield on third and long downs running or catching the ball. Zach will give your running game the explosive player most teams in the NFL need. Like I stated before, He is “The Natural”

CONCERNS
Let’s see…how can I nitpick teams into not selecting him…well, he runs high so, between the tackles you might have to block for him to get past the line of scrimmage to be able to explode into the second level. Oh yeah, he could get injured, and remember we don’t value the RB position high, in the NFL anymore. Oh yeah, and he is not a three-down back…oops, that’s right, I forgot…he catches the ball like a receiver so scratch that one.

BOTTOM LINE 1.54
What have Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley meant to their teams when healthy? Then ask yourself what have both those teams, (Titans and Giants) accomplished since both those players have been injured. Then ask yourself…what would those teams do who have Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or any other excellent QB if injured? So, does that mean you devalue the QB position because you are afraid they will get injured? Or how about we start devaluing the offensive line positions because they get injured all the time. How about this…we take Jonathan Taylor off the Colts and then we see how good their offense might be. If I’m right about Zach, then he can become as valuable to the team that selects him as any of the outstanding running backs right now. So, if you want to pass on him because he might get injured and your team has “devalued” or because some media analyst suggested “you can get any running back in any round” …I can’t help you. For the record, I had a 1st RD grade on both Henry and Barkley and a 2nd RD grade on Taylor because I wasn’t sure Jonathan was a back who could go east/west and gain yardage, NOT because I “devalued” the position. Talent is talent and, in the draft, you do not devalue a talented player because they play a position. You might devalue the position because of need or offensive systems and maybe for cap reasons, but not because of talent.

STRENGTHS
Kenneth is a strong-legged, shifty, smart, patient running back. He has excellent lateral agility and the leg strength to break tackles and fall forward for the needed tough yards. He is very smart and does a good job identifying the blitz and blocking for his QB on passing downs. Kenneth shows excellent vision and balance to make his own yardage. He reads the bodies of his offensive lineman in front of him when they are blocking on running plays, waiting patiently for them to make their blocks and then he reacts. Kenneth is the type of running back who will be excellent in a no-huddle offense because of his “QB-like” football intelligence and feel for the game. He shows the vision to adjust his running style to what is happing on the field. He will make your running game something defenses will have to game plan for. Kenneth reminds me a lot of former Bills RB Fred Jackson.

CONCERNS
Kenneth will have to prove that he can catch the ball down the field like a receiver. Not being on a team that throws him the ball and that takes him out on most third downs, will affect his draft status. My guess is that this is not an issue of great concern but his workouts will be big for him to prove it. He also doesn’t have breakaway speed and for some teams, speed is everything and this also will affect his draft status…not for me, I think his speed is just fine.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.06
For the next level, running backs must pass block, be intelligent enough to read defenses for the blitz, and catch the ball like a slot receiver. Years ago, the QB had to have the ball out between 3, one thousand and 4, one thousand. Nowadays, QB’s have to have the ball out between 2, one thousand and 3, one thousand, or they get sacked. That fact requires a running back who can catch the ball out of the backfield like a slot receiver, or a Tight End, and just being a check-down receiver behind the line of scrimmage is not enough anymore. If Kenneth can convince teams in workouts that he has this talent and knows how to run routes and catch the ball he could become the type of running back that sneaks into the first round. Kenneth has all the other skills needed to be a consistent threat in every phase of the offense when he is on the field. Kenneth’s intelligence is what he brings to the next level that is unique, but if a team wants to use him in no-huddle situations he has to prove that he is more than just a running back. He has to prove that he is a threat catching the ball too. I have a sneaking suspicion that he will prove it but, that’s just me.

STRENGTHS
Charles is a smart offensive tackle with the size, arm length, and athleticism to be considered as a potential franchise left tackle for the team that selects him. He uses excellent pass protection techniques and has the lateral agility to protect the blind side of his QB against those speedy edge rushes. Charles is one of the best offensive tackles at the college level that I have seen in picking up stunts and not being fooled into committing penalties. He is patient and works well with his linemates and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Charles does a good job when run blocking coming off the ball at good pad level, with the aggressiveness needed to finish his blocks. He is an excellent “complete” offensive tackle.

CONCERNS
Charles will have to get stronger in his upper and lower body without it affecting his athleticism. He also will have to be quicker off the snap. His workouts will be very important for teams to decide his draft level.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.48
There is not much film on Charles’s run blocking but what I have seen makes me realize that he is as good a run blocker as he is a pass blocker. Others will be less convinced because they would like to see repetition after repetition to nit-pick him apart. Trust me when I tell you this…the NFL teams do not pay Left Tackles to run block, they pay them to pass block and Charles has the potential to be one of the best. As far as run blocking, he is on par with any offensive tackle coming out so for me, it is not an issue. Charles is one of the few athletic tackles that I have seen coming out that is consistent about using the techniques first and athleticism after, to pass block. Most forget the techniques and try to be more athletic in defeating their opponent and because of that struggle big time up against the more athletic NFL players after they are selected. Charles just has to improve his overall strength and get quicker off the snap to succeed at the next level and I have no doubt he will do both. I’m thinking that Charles might be the first OT taken in this draft, at least for me I’m thinking that way. That being said, for the teams I’m sure it will depend on his workouts, so…let the nitpicking begin.

STRENGTHS
George has the athletic talent and high football IQ to play more than one position for the team that selects him in their front 7. His high football IQ and leadership skills are outstanding along with his effort on every play. He has excellent power, pass-rushing moves, and doesn’t over-commit or take false steps or the wrong angle when making tackles. He is a “mistake-free assignment” type of player that makes it easy to coach and to move him around your defense. He is stout against the run and takes on double teams and wins against both, pass and run blocking offensive linemen. George reminds me a lot of former Patriots Teddy Bruschi and like Teddy seems to identify where the ball is after the snap, quicker than the average player in the front 7 can identify. He reads the offense like a QB reads the defense and that is a unique skill for a player coming out of the college level at any position.

CONCERNS
George might not test at the combine as high as some teams would like to make him a top ten pick in this draft, doesn’t matter…select him anyway. He might not get your team double-digit sacks every year, doesn’t matter…select him anyway. It takes more than talent to play in the NFL and George has that…more than talent.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.42
If you knew what you know, about Teddy Bruschi now, and he was available to select in this draft at what point would you select him? For me, it would be in the top ten but I’m sure others would nit-pick Teddy right into the 2nd round. My feeling about George is, if he is not selected at some point in the top ten then a playoff team would be smart to trade up and select him because he will become the leader of your defense the day he steps onto the field for you. George understands when his team needs a big play and he produces it. George understands that team play is what makes a dominating defense. He knows that he needs to do his job and let the game come to him and not try to be a hero on every play, making a sack or tackle and causing him to be out of position on the important plays. He is not a “stat” kind of guy, but he is an impact player type of guy. Just like Teddy Bruschi, George wants to be on a winning & dominating defense and not on a defense that has excellent players who don’t dominate and win consistently. George is bigger than Teddy was and that makes it easier to move him around your front seven depending on the down and distance. I have no doubt that George could play any one of the LB positions and depending on down and distance inside or outside, on or off the line, be an impact player mainly because of his high football IQ, anticipation, and instincts to play the game.

STRENGTHS
Carson reminds me a lot of former Bengals/Cardinals QB Carson Palmer. He has the type of arm talent that makes NFL coaches drool with anticipation of opening up the playbook to using any route all over the field. He is smart and makes quick decisions getting rid of the ball quickly. He has the velocity and accuracy in the red zone to make the difficult throw look easy. Carson is strong in the pocket and throws the deep ball with the accuracy and touch that receivers will love when they go deep. He shows excellent leadership skills and looks to be very smart taking the right throw at the right time in a game and protecting the ball.

CONCERNS
There are concerns about a knee injury and if Carson can throw on the run with accuracy and extend plays out of the pocket. His workouts will be important for him to prove that he can. From what I see on film, he seems to have enough athleticism and arm talent to prove that he can.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.50
The biggest reason former NFL QB Carson Palmer struggled in the big games is because he lacks the instincts and ability to pick up the blitz BEFORE the snap of the ball and manipulate the pocket in a positive way to extend plays. Carson Strong will have the same problems and it will be the difference between him becoming just a starting QB who needs a good running game or a potential Franchise QB whose arm talent opens up the passing game so the running game can be successful. A franchise QB sees the game through the eyes of the defense and not through the eyes of the offense. A franchise QB before the snap of the ball watches the movements of the LB or Safeties and understands why they move to spots on the field because of the offense formation and adjust the play in his head to the weakness or strength of that safeties or linebacker’s movements. The average starting QB does not react to a defense that way, he just points out the mike linebacker counts the box, checks the depth of the safeties, and runs the play or audibles to another play but he does not see the offense the way the defense sees the offense. I think this Carson is worth the risk of finding out if he will be just a starting QB or a potential franchise QB so selecting him at some point in the first round seems logical and good business. Carson’s arm talent, size, and leadership qualities make it so. At least that’s how I see it. Carson could sneak into the top ten of this draft if I’m right.