STRENGTHS
Matt has excellent arm strength, velocity, and accuracy and can make all the throws needed for the next level. He shows the ability to throw with accuracy from different release points while throwing from the pocket or out of the pocket, extending the play. Matt is a good athlete, with the speed to pick up yardage easily on those third and long downs. He has quick feet that can help him get out of trouble when the pocket breaks down and, with his ability to throw the ball with accuracy and anticipation, Matt will attract a lot of teams to select him early in this draft.

CONCERNS
Matt has a slight build so taking the beating a QB takes in a 17-game schedule will be difficult for him. Matt is what I call a systems QB, nothing wrong with that except if the team that selects him doesn’t use him in the right system, Matt will struggle to be successful. Matt doesn’t read defenses on the fly. I’m not saying he is not smart or can’t show you in practice or, on the whiteboard these needed skills, I’m saying, in a game, all of that is done for him through play calling and the up-tempo offensive system.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.66
Matt reminds me a lot of Gardner Minshew who in his short career has already played for two different teams, the Jaguars and the Eagles. The difference is that Matt has played in the SEC division and Gardner for Washington State in the Pac 12 and, Gardner traveled through some other colleges to get there. Matt is a good QB but unless the team that selects him is willing to use the same “up-tempo”, spread offense with a coach on the sidelines reading the defense and calling the plays for Matt, I suspect Matt will struggle for a few years. Matt will struggle because he will have to learn to play under center or in a huddled up, pro-style spread offense, going through progressions, for an egomaniac offensive coordinated who will not change anything to make it easier for Matt to learn. He has the talent but unless he is selected by the Arizona Cardinals I’m not sure what his future will be at the NFL level. Right now, he lacks the stoutness to take hits for a 17-game schedule and the knowledge of the game when the bullets are flying all around him. That being said, Matt has excellent arm talent and is tough and those two traits will give him a chance at the next level…also being selected by the right team, willing to use him in the right system.

STRENGTHS
Kyle has the size, athletic talent, and high football IQ to play just about any position on your defense on any given play. Simply put, Kyle is a defensive player who makes plays and could play on either side of the ball. He has those long arms that help him when in coverage and with the play in front of him, has the instincts and anticipation skills, and burst to the ball that most others just wish they had. Because of his high football IQ, he challenges QB’s and fools them into making mistakes on third and long downs. He’s excellent when being used from the slot in blitz situations. Kyle reminds me a lot of Charges Derwin James who when healthy is an impact, playmaking defensive player and a leader for that defense.

CONCERNS
Kyle is not perfect but I don’t believe in nit-picking a player to death just to impress you with my amazing draft prowess. You can use Kyle all over the field but don’t expect him to cover a speed receiver 50 yards down the field when he is in coverage responsibility in the slot. If a coach is dumb enough to expect that, that’s on him…not Kyle.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.42
When Derwin James came out in his draft I listed him as a top-five player in the draft and THE top player of the draft on my talent board. For this draft, I consider Kyle a top-five player and it would be hard for me to pass on him if I had the first pick in this draft too. I believe when you see the obvious…you select the obvious and you don’t nit-pick yourself out of selecting the obvious because of a player’s position. Kyle can play nickel linebacker, nickel corner, free safety, strong safety, kick and punt returner, gunner on special teams, while leading your defense as a coach on the field. He can blitz and attack the line of scrimmage with the best Defensive Backs in the league. He can cover those, pass-catching Tight Ends that are the scourge of the league right now. As I stated before, Simply put, Kyle is a playmaker for your defense. I suggest you think about that and not nit-pick it to death.

STRENGTHS
Kenny reminds me a lot of Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. He has starting QB athletic talent with a strong arm and good accuracy. He has the size to move the chains and the speed to gain yardage in chunks when he breaks the pocket. Kenny will rip a defense apart with excellent velocity to fit his passes in tight spots in the red zone, from a clean pocket. He does a good job throwing on the run from designed role out plays when called upon. Kenny has good leadership skills when he is in rhythm throwing the ball with success. He has starting QB talent and with a good offensive system and play-calling will be considered by most teams as one of the better QB’s in this draft.

CONCERNS
Kenny has improved dramatically with his confidence and leadership skills but still struggles under pressure to make decisions and at adversarial times of a game relies on a strong running game and play calling to regain that lost confidence. He runs more vertically this year, to mask his weakness and lack of decision-making under pressure. Kenny is most effective from a clean pocket and an offensive system that has a strong running game as most QB in the NFL require.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.96
Kenny’s arm strength and accuracy are impressive. His ability to work from the pocket is excellent but until he gains more confidence when pressured he will continue to struggle in the big games for the team that selects him. There is way too much talent here to not consider him as a potential starting QB for the team that selects him in this draft but like Kirk Cousins, he will struggle in the big games unless he has a big lead. That’s just my opinion and we all know I’m not right ALL the time. That being said, Kenny’s improvement has been excellent and if he is in the right situation I’m guessing some people will think I’m wrong and throw this profile in my face until I’m proven right. I believe if Kenny goes to a playoff team with a veteran QB he could succeed and become the QB his talents suggest that he can become. Throw him on the field before he can adjust and he might wind up having a career like Nathen Peterman.

STRENGTHS
Evan has the size, athletic talent, and did I mention size…to be an excellent offensive tackle for the team that selects him. He has the needed lateral agility along with the arm length and quickness out of his stance, to neutralize those speed pass rushers at the next level. He does a good job going out to the second level to make his blocks and does a solid job keeping his techniques and balance to defeat his opponent at the line of scrimmage. He is athletic enough to be used in any style blocking scheme and does a good job getting out for sweeps and screens to his side of the field. Evan has played on the inside at guard and the outside on the right side and left side so that makes Evan one of the safer picks in this draft. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this draft, most teams will be considering Evan as their right or left tackle. Start the debate, is he a right tackle or a left tackle, and does it really matter?

CONCERNS
Evan can be a franchise Left Tackle if he plays the way he played in the Georgia game recently. Most of the season he seemed to be afraid to make a mistake. He was slow into his blocks and into his lateral movements as if he was afraid to get beat inside. That’s not a bad thing but, if he is undecided at all off the snap of the ball at the next level, Evan will get eaten alive. Evan might be a bit of a perfectionist and that could hold him back from reaching his top potential.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.53
Evan showed his true potential to dominate in the SEC Championship game because he was more aggressive in every phase of his game. He trusted his techniques but at the same time used his god-given athletic talent on every block to defeat his opponent at the point of attack and when pass blocking. I suspect that Evan will struggle at first at the next level because he doesn’t like to make mistakes and thinks too much before the snap instead of just playing his game. There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist when it comes to protecting the blind side of your QB. But perfectionism is for practice and once the game starts perfectionism goes right out the window and survival is everything. A left tackle has to learn to marry his athletic talents with the correct techniques to survive and sometimes that is not going to be perfect and the player has to understand that and turn the page after he gets beat. Evan has to play with the aggressiveness he showed in the championship game and accept that, perfectionism is for practice and survival is for the game.

STRENGTHS
Jordan has the size of a big old pine tree and has a bit of a nasty streak, that helps him dominate early in a game. He is an excellent athlete for his size and will surprise opponents with his quickness when he is rushing the QB on passing downs (which rarely happens). He shows good feet, moving forward, and the ability and speed to chase down players behind the line of scrimmage…in the box. Jordan has the athletic talent to stop the run and to pass rush and push the pocket and that is rare in a player of his size. He has “Franchise Defensive Lineman” potential because of his quickness, athletic talent, and size to play in any style defensive line scheme.

CONCERNS
Jordan plays to the competition instead of outplaying the competition. He is big, like a big old pine tree but he’s also soft like one too. He is not in NFL shape because he lacks the stamina to be rotated for four quarters. He does not show leadership skills through his play because he lacks consistency in all phases of his game. I worry that giving Jordan a lot of money to play football will not motivate him to become more consistent in every phase of his game but will promote eating more and gaining more weight.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.67
I rate DT’s higher than most because I understand how important it is for them to demand double teams so that the Edge Rushers can go one on one to beat their blockers. I pray every draft season for potentially great DT’s and Jordan without a doubt could become a great DT. But for the purposes of this draft, I fear that he will not reach his potential because he never truly reached his potential at the college level and that is the reason I struggle to rate Jordan as high as others might in this draft. Jordan will be over-drafted because of his size. He will be over-drafted because of a coach’s ego’s thinking they can “coach him up”. I can’t do that…I have to stay true to Jordan’s disappointing play on film and not fall for the “Banana in the Tailpipe” trick once again. I hope Jordan proves me wrong. I hope he stops eating too much and starts being more consistent, and is successful in dominating his opponent through all 4 quarters of a game. If he does there is no telling how great this kid can become at the next level. If Jordan wants to, I believe he could turn it around very quickly providing he is not selected early in this draft and gets a BIG chip on his shoulder. The question is, will Jordan, the pine tree, just produce a small amount of sap…or will he get bigger and stronger and produce more sap than the other pine tree’s in the forest? Boom or Bust, that is the question. You never know, maybe this profile will be his chip.

STRENGTHS
Aidan reminds me a lot of former Chiefs/Vikings/Bears Defensive End Jared Allen. He has the same power pass-rushing moves along with being stout against the run. He also has those quick feet and strong hands that make it easy to defeat his opponent, shedding blocks and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Aidan loves the game, you can see it in his play and he never stops coming at you play after play until he hears the whistle. He shows the mental toughness to stay on the field and the pain threshold to play through those nagging injuries that will keep other players off the field during the season. Aidan shows leadership skills through his play on the field, fighting through double teams, and doing the grunt work to make others around him play better. I call him Aidan (Thor) Hutchinson because he plays the game with thunder and strikes with lightning.

CONCERNS
Aidan is tight in the hips and does not show the flexibility to turn the corner and beat his man with just speed alone. That means he still has to learn how to use his strengths to set up his man to make the big play in the 4th quarter that will make Aidan more than just a core player and a fan favorite. When he does learn the pass-rushing tricks of the trade at the next level then he could become a franchise Defensive lineman for the team that selects him.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.44
Jared Allen averaged 11 sacks a season for 12 seasons and in 2011, had 22 sacks making him one of the most feared Defensive Ends in the NFL for about 7 years and still he played for 3 different teams…go figure. Aidan could have that type of career, at least that’s where I see his potential. I see that potential in his play on the field because of his work effort, character. This year, I believe Aidan has discovered his own potential and ability to make teams game plan for him. I believe now, that when Aidan goes through those adversarial times at the next level, that he will fight to continue to get better because of that newfound belief in his own talents. He does after all… play with thunder and if a QB doesn’t get rid of the ball or a running back doesn’t follow his block, Aidan will strike like lightning.

STRENGTHS
Of all the pass rushers in this draft, Kayvon is the most talented. His off the snap quickness is the best and his flexibility to turn the corner is outstanding. He has excellent size and strength to set the edge and long arms to keep his opponent off his body to shed tackles and make the play in the hole. Because of his quickness off the line, he flashes into the peripheral vision of a QB disrupting his rhythm on passing downs. Kayvon doesn’t takedowns off but at times seems to get bored because of all the times the play is going away from him and this frustrates him. That being said, when the time to step up comes, he turns into Flash Gordon causing disruption all over the field and that’s why I call him Kayvon (Flash) Thibodaux.

CONCERNS
There are contradictions to his overall game that are a bit disturbing. He likes to stand up to rush but hasn’t shown the ability and instincts to drop in coverage and cover with confidence. When he is in a three-point stance (not very often) he doesn’t get that “quick snap off the ball” compared to when standing up. He seems to play to his competition and struggles to make plays against the run, in spite of his talents. Right now, when Kayvon’s first move is neutralized, he struggles to continue making any secondary moves to free himself up and continue with his pass rush until he hears the whistle. All of these issues are concerns and are disturbing but his pure athletic talent and character will override most of them for most teams.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.42
From an athletic standpoint, there is no better ER in this draft but as I always say it takes more than talent to play in the NFL. It takes the desire and work ethic to be the best. Not one of the best…THE BEST. That being said, this is NOT another Jadeveon Clowney (See Profile in Archives) situation. That also being said, it is a situation where Kayvon might not live entirely up to his top-dog billing. In spite of my concerns, I would not pass on selecting Kayvon at any point in this draft like I question selecting Clowney at any point in that draft. Kayvon has too much talent and character, to play at a high level and even if he doesn’t show the passion that I like to see in a player’s overall game, that doesn’t mean the passion is not there to be tapped into. Like I said, off the snap of the ball he flashes into the peripheral vision of a right-handed QB, disrupting his rhythm and for a left-handed QB, he is coming for them from their blind side and that should scare the crap out of them. Those attributes alone make him worthy of being considered in the top ten of this draft. Here’s the question to ask yourself, would you pass on asking for Flash Gordon’s help, in saving your defense? I know I wouldn’t.

STRENGTHS
DWayne is a physical receiver who loves contact on the line or off the line. He shows on film good speed but what he brings with him is the toughness that not many receivers show coming out. DWayne has good hands and does a good job catching the ball over the middle. He is excellent on the cover units for special teams and with his aggressiveness and physical nature, Dwayne shows the character to continue to improve until he can become an intricate part of a team’s success.

CONCERNS
DWayne is a poor route runner, lacking the lateral agility and fluid hips, needed to be an outstanding receiver. He also has a small catch radius because everything below his waist seems to be a struggle for him to catch consistently. DWayne doesn’t have those soft hands to catch the ball away from his body also. Dwayne gets open right now when he runs routes because he is so physical at the line of scrimmage, and that is a gift and a curse because he hasn’t bothered to improve his ability to run routes and gain separation without being physical.

BOTTOM LINE 4.00
DWayne’s ability to play on special teams will attract teams to selecting him and that means DWayne will have the time and coaching to improve as a receiver and with his work ethic and character I believe he will. Right now, he has to have the ball delivered to him in his small catch radius, and increasing that radius, and catching the ball more consistently, will make Dwayne a more multi-positional receiver. Because of his physical nature, DWayne does better against bump and run coverage on the outside than he does against off coverage because of his quick hands and love for contact. He is not quick enough or has the hands and catch radius, to play in the slot but he can in the future if he works hard at it. DWayne is the Julian Edelman of this draft. Like Julian you just draft Dwayne and not worry about how he can impact your team because his effort to improve and be better comes from within and is difficult for most experts to see. DWayne for me personally, would be a late-round selection and certainly a rookie free agent priority.

STRENGTHS
Tamorrion has the athletic talent, size, and explosiveness to be a dominating receiver for the team that selects him. He has the speed and lateral agility to get off the line of scrimmage and into his routes quickly. He is a big receiver that plays bigger than his size because of his long arms and legs and very strong hands to catch the ball. He can easily adjust to the ball in the air, and with his strong hands will make the difficult contested catch to move the chains. Tamorrion has the long speed to go deep and the ability to catch the contested pass down the field, with a very big catch radius. The truth is, he has monster-type talent, and with his speed agility, and strong hands, Tamorrion could be the type of receiver you build your passing game around…or is he?

CONCERNS
As long as Tamorrion is engaged and a big part of the game plan he will be happy but keeping him happy could be a 24/7 job. He has to prove he can take the pounding and double-teaming he will receive at the next level and right now that’s a question mark. He is not much of a blocker and that sends a signal that being a good teammate may not be a priority. Nevertheless, he is so talented and has a lot of fun on the field so it’s easy to overlook these small concerns when a team is winning.

BOTTOM LINE 2.19
Tamorrion is very talented but he has to decide if he wants to be as good as Alshon Jeffries who has never reached his potential to be a top receiver or A. J. Green who is a top receiver. His play on the field is without a doubt impressive but also, his lack of attention to details and questionable ability to come off the line consistently, with the effort makes me question what his true goals are for the next level. Tamorrion has everything you look for in a top receiver for any team in this draft but the one-character issue that he doesn’t have right now is…trust. I believe that Tamorrion will be an impact receiver and do not believe he is a boom or bust type of player, I just wonder how much of an impact he will be, like Jeffries or like Green? If Tamorrion can convince just one team that he is ready for the NFL then do not be surprised if he selected higher than I have him rated but, it’s my guess he will have to prove it on the field first.

STRENGTHS
Tre is a playmaker. He reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu because Tre has those same kinds of “Tyrann” instincts, speed, and quickness to make plays. Tre competes on every play and loves the challenge that others seem to insist he will be overmatched in. He is fast and quick and will fight for the ball in the air and has the hands of a receiver to make the interception. For a defensive back, he has a big catch radius and can make the acrobatic interception that other backs will not even try to make. Tre is a playmaker on defense and he will be a nightmare for opponents to deal with on special teams also. He is smart and he is the best defensive back, tackler in this draft. He doesn’t play bigger than his size, but he does outplay his size. Tre has all the agility and lateral explosiveness needed, to be an impact player for the team that selects him. The question is, will Tre be as good as Ty Law or Tyrann Mathieu?

CONCERNS
Tre’s lack of height, will be the ONLY real issue, teams will have in deciding if they are going to draft him. Three inches taller, and we are talking about one of the best defensive backs in this draft and a sure-fire 1st Rd selection. Nevertheless, size matters when it comes to the draft. That being said when impacting or make an impact play, size doesn’t matter once a player is on the field. All that matters then is, impact and making plays.

BOTTOM LINE 1.99
Tre will get beat, every defensive back in the NFL gets beat but when a taller defensive back gets beat coaches never think that it’s because of their size. My theory is, draft Tre, put him on the field, and let his play dictate where he best fits in your defense. He could be an excellent safety or cover in the slot because of his toughness, ability to fight off blocks, and because he is an excellent tackler. He can cover those smaller speed receivers that teams are looking for on the outside or those quick slot receivers. The taller receivers, he will fight them all the way down the field until he makes a play on them and they are called for a penalty because Tre has them so frustrated. Tre has to be on the field because he is a playmaker and there are very few pure playmakers who play on defense in the NFL. There are good cover corners, and smart safeties but few playmakers. Tre is the type of impact player offensive coordinator’s game plan to stay away from. So, you want to match Tre up against a tall receiver then I suggest you make the perfect throw to beat him otherwise, he will make a play on the ball and bring it back for 6 points. I dare you to tell me then that his size matters.

STRENGTHS
Nico is a tall, physical receiver with excellent speed and skills to become dominating receiver for the team that selects him. He can make the tough catch going over the middle and move the chains but what will make him dominating in the future is his acrobatic ability to catch the contested pass. Nico is an excellent blocker. He is smart and understands zone coverages. He has good speed, and with his longs legs and longs arms, Nico has the ability to be open when he is not open. Nico is the definition of a sleeper in this draft, a player hiding in plain sight who is playing for a big program, who no one seems to notice until he is off the field and the player replacing him misses a block, or screws up his route getting the QB sacked, or better yet, doesn’t catch that contested pass in the red zone. Nico can go long and move the chains and that’s why he could become a dominating receiver at the next level for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Nico will have to learn better route-running skills against man-to-man coverage. Because he is a long strider, coming off the line is difficult for him to stay on balance when corners or safety’s get physical with him. He will struggle until he learns to anticipate and use strong strides against his opponent and run through the coverage with confidence, getting into his routes quickly instead of trying to finesse his way off the line of scrimmage.

BOTTOM LINE 2.06
For Nico developing better route-running skills off the line of scrimmage will be a process. So many big receivers in college use a lot of finesse and think like a smaller receiver because that’s what coaches teach them to do. They teach, not running through your opponent off the line but faking him out. Nico needs to get into his routes quicker and he needs to use those long strides off the line to his advantage and not allow his chest to be so open by finessing his opponent. When a receiver gives his opponent an open shot at his chest, he can be moved off the timing of his routes. Even when running routes, a receiver still has to protect against a defender getting a shot at his chest. When Nico learns the tricks of the trade, he will become a dominating receiver, he just has to believe that he can.