STRENGTHS
Cooper has been a play-making machine for his team in the backfield and on special teams. He is very smart and shows excellent communication and leadership skills on the field. Cooper has excellent hands to intercept the ball, as good as most receivers in this draft. He is adept at tricking quarterbacks into interceptions. He does a solid job when tackling and supporting the run. Cooper has played a lot of snaps in a match-up zone, off the line of scrimmage, type of defense and has been an impact defensive back for his college team. What he brings to the next level is a high football IQ and excellent leadership skills for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Cooper is lacking the athletic ability to play in any style of defense. He is tight in the hips and lacks the passion to tackle although he does get the job done when it is needed. He also lacks the fluidity and burst needed to cover unless the play is in front of him.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.17
The truth is that Cooper is more of a safety than a corner. That’s not because he is white, it’s because he lacks the needed athleticism to play corner unless it is in zone coverage. His ability to play corner in zone coverage and in a match-up zone coverage backfield is strictly related to his high football IQ in that style of system and not because of his athleticism. Moving him to safety is the logical progression for him unless he goes to the combine and shows that he has the athletic talent and can cover man-to-man. Right now, I see solid straight-line speed. Nevertheless, if he becomes a more aggressive tackler he could easily be moved to safety, or if he adds a few more pounds and bulk even be moved to a weakside linebacker position in the future and flourish. His high football IQ and leadership skills make me think that he can become a coach on the field if Cooper becomes flexible in what position is the best for him at the next level. If he is not willing to move to another position and insists on playing cornerback then he will be considered only as a zone coverage corner who can play special teams and that will affect his draft status. In the right system and with the right coach, and if he is willing to move to safety, I can see Cooper becoming a fan favorite and an impact player but the stars will all have to be aligned and he has to be willing to be moved to safety.

STRENGTHS
JC looks to be the type of offensive lineman who wants to do everything right. He is a bit of a technician. He has excellent size and athletic talent to play more than one position on the offensive line. He is very smart and works well with his teammates against stunts. J C Likes to be used pulling and has the footspeed to get out in front and just enough change of direction agility to block in space and to go out to the second level to make a block. When JC is sure of his assignment, he comes with excellent force to defeat his opponent. JC is still learning his position and is doing it by being technically smart and sound and when he gets more comfortable on the field at playing one position I suspect JC will become a Pro Bowl offensive lineman.

CONCERNS
J C is a lot more comfortable as a guard than he is as a tackle. Right, now, he lacks the confidence and quickness out of his stance when pass-blocking as a tackle. When he is covered up, he fires out and makes his blocks quicker but as a tackle, when pass-blocking, he is overthinking and this is slowing him down, and this will get him beat like a drum until he gets better and I believe he will.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.19
I had to watch a lot of film on JC before I realized that he is not slow of the snap, he doesn’t lack lateral agility and because he is on his heels when pass blocking, he will not allow a bull rush against him that kills his QB. Those were my initial impressions of JC. Then I said wait a minute. He plays for Alabama, one of the better universities in developing offensive linemen…what am I missing? So, I held off on doing a profile on him and decided that every other day, before I did a profile on another player, I would take a few minutes to look at JC to be confident in what I saw. I noticed that despite at times, being on his heels when pass blocking, he always had his hands inside and never held, and always seemed to be in control. Then I noticed when he was pulling that his body language and agility had more aggressiveness. Then I noticed that a lot of times, when he makes a run block he never overblocks, keeps his feet and balance, and makes secondary blocks. Suddenly, I realized how much of a technician this kid was. I realized how much he did everything correctly and how much he was thinking way too much. I’m not an expert, never profess to be an expert. I’m just a former athlete who peaked in high school and has watched football for over 60 years. Sometimes I see things right away and I’m amazed how others don’t see the same things I see. Sometimes I don’t see what everyone else sees and I’m amazed at that too. In this case, with JC’s attention to detail, I have to wonder why JC wasn’t playing offensive center. Nevertheless, I believe if he plays tackle he will be solid, and if he is moved into a guard, a Pro Bowl guard but if he can play center, that to me would be his best position and impact position. That being said, Tackles get paid the most.

STRENGTHS
If you’re looking for a corner who can shut down those big fast receivers whose job is to take the top of a defense, Khyree is your man. He is tall, lanky, fast, and physical, and loves to be challenged. He is a good tackler and comes up quickly to support the run. Khyree has the athletic talent to play more than one position in your defense backfield because of his speed, quickness, and sure tackling skills. If you get behind him in coverage he has the makeup speed, and length to make a play on the ball that others would be lucky to make. He can play in any style of defense and because of his high football IQ could be used in the robber position that allows him to free-lance and make plays all over the field. Khyree is a playmaker and a Defensive back that makes plays and that is what every team in the NFL needs and wants and Khyree will fit that need for sure.

CONCERNS
The top concern I have for Khyree, to be able to play, more than one position in your defensive backfield is that he has to learn to communicate better with his teammates. If he wants to be more than just a good player, he has to learn how to make his teammates around him better through leadership. Right now, on the field, he is all about promoting himself. I do understand that, nevertheless, that attitude has not allowed him to come close to reaching his full potential.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.46
Khyree can potentially be a “Derwin James” style of player. That is a player who can play safety, Corner, or in the slot. He can be used up close to the line of scrimmage or as a single safety covering from sideline to sideline and making tackles and interceptions. He has proven at the college level to be an excellent cover corner but because of his size, length, speed, and tackling skills, he can be much more than that. At least that’s what I see on the film, the potential to be a multi-position player who other teams have to know where he is on every play. If he is all over the defense instead of just playing one position it will be harder to game plan for him. If he is lining up and playing corner an offense can play to the other side and lessen his ability to impact. As a “Where’s Waldo” type of player he becomes more of a threat to the offense on every play. Khyree “Waldo” Jackson plays with the physicality of a linebacker or safety and has the athletic talent of a pure corner stuck into a 6’ 3” 203lb body with a 32-inch reach and has a high football IQ. The Charges Derwin James was selected in the 1st Rd at the 17th pick. These are the facts and they are undisputed.

STRENGTHS
T’Vondre has “hall of fame” athletic talent in a body that is bigger than a building. He has unique quickness of the snap and can get into his opponent with outstanding leverage that will defeat even the most technical sound offensive lineman. T’Vondre can play multiple positions in any style of defensive front but he seems to relish playing on the nose against poor unsuspecting offensive centers. He can rush the passer, push the pocket, and stuff the run. I suspect that if he wanted to he could slim down and play Defensive End just like former Bills Hall of Fame Defensive End Bruce Smith did when he came out in his draft. T’Vondre can do and be anything he wants to be on a football field because of his unbelievable athletic talent but like I always say…it takes more than just talent to play in the NFL.

CONCERNS
T’Vondre has a long way to go before he is in NFL football shape to play a 17-game schedule. He is overweight, lacks physical stamina, mental strength, and mental discipline. His potential has “Hall of Fame” written all over it but in reality, his lack of consistency and ability to finish a game physically, is free-agent status at best.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.53
T’Vondre has the talent to be considered as a top-ten pick in this draft and has succeeded in doing everything in his power to ruin that. He is overweight to the extent that it overcomes his athletic talent. He doesn’t look coachable, and as I stated before, he is not in shape to finish games even if he is rotated. He plays when he wants to play, and gives effort when he wants to give effort. He refused to get weight in at the Senior Bowl so I suspect he will work hard to get in better shape and be the talk of the combine. If T’Vondre gets down to the 320lb range I suspect he will be considered one of the best Defensive Linemen at the combine. I don’t think anyone has the balls to walk up to him and tell him that he sucks because he is overweight, a poor teammate, and ruining his future as a potential great player. The best thing that could happen to T’Vondre in this draft is if he is not selected until after the third round, maybe that will form the chip on his shoulders that he seems to lack, one can only hope. He seems like a good kid but he is a kid. Your question to me is, would I select him in the first round because of his talent? The answer is no but…I would listen to my football people and as long as we are talking about selecting him after the 20th pick I would listen to that. He has unique athletic talent but is that enough to draft him before the third round? Boom or Bust baby…Boom or Bust.

STRENGTHS
Jordan is a Patrick Mahomes/Doug Flutie clone. He has excellent arm strength to make all the throws with velocity and touch. He has a very high football IQ and his decision-making on the field is without question. Jordan has that “Flute-like Feel” for the game that can extend plays with his feet or passing the ball on the move when it’s necessary. He has a quick release and can throw the ball from different release points with the accuracy needed to make a pass other QB’s can’t seem to make. Jordan has the cat-like quickness to manipulate the pocket, the footspeed to outrun many linebackers and safeties, and the passing intelligence to compete and win against any play-calling Defensive Coordinator. He is my sleeper QB pick for this draft.

CONCERNS
Jordan got injured this year but before that injury, he showed me his potential as a Pat Mahomes/Doug Flutie clone. Before FSU Jordan was not allowed to get on the field for one reason or another so there is not enough stats or game time to truly evaluate him for the scouts. He is also a little small and that concerns teams too.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.47
So, no Stats, playing time, and a little small… along with a season-ending injury and you must be saying to yourself, Drew are you an idiot”? Well, I might be an idiot but I recognize the obvious when I see the obvious, and the first time I saw Jordan it took me about 5 plays to see the obvious. I saw the arm talent, athletic quickness and speed, and the High Football IQ and believe me if Jordan hadn’t been injured he would have been considered as a possible top-ten QB in this draft. The truth is, even if he works out, I suspect he will not be selected in the first three rounds of this draft. Nevertheless, I see a potential starting quarterback and a possible franchise quarterback but I’m not going to lose my job if I’m wrong. Those who will lose their jobs if they are wrong, have to be more conservative in their analyses of Jordan, and I understand that totally. Even if Jordan had played for the whole season and continued to put up the numbers and wins he was putting up, before his injury, I’m sure there would be doubters, because of his size and only one year of playing stats. So, look at Rob’s board for the round Jordan most likely will be selected in but trust me…Jordan has 1st round talent and Patrick Mahomes/Doug Flutie-type potential. That to me is very obvious when you look at his film.

STRENGTHS
McKinnley has the athletic talent, size, strength, and the correct mindset to demand double teams on every snap or he will disrupt a team’s offense in their backfield. He has good quickness of the snap and changes the line of scrimmage in his favor against double teams. He can play in any style of front, as a Defensive tackle in a 4/3 or as a nose tackle in a 3/4. Not many can do that and be an impact player doing it. McKinney has enough lateral agility to defend hash mark to hash mark, shutting down the run. He is a run stuffer in a 2gap system and a disrupter in a penetrating 1gap system. McKinney is not going to make a lot of tackles or sacks but his play on the field will allow his teammates to make a lot of tackles and sacks and that is the definition of an impact Defensive Lineman/Nose Tackle.

CONCERNS
McKinney does have to learn to get off blocks quicker when playing Defensive tackle in a 4/3 defense. He also needs to stay on balance and keep his feet when he splits double teams and plays in a 1gap penetrating scheme.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.83
As I stated before, McKinney will not show up in the stats, and that will discourage some teams from rating him as high as I do. I do not expect McKinney to be selected in the 1st round. Why, that’s just the value of the position and the fact that he doesn’t have many sacks, Sacks are what attracts most teams in selecting Defensive Tackles because the NFL is a passing league first and a stuffing the run league second. I know a good pass rush starts with the Defensive tackles demanding double teams, allowing the Edge Rushers to be up against single blocks. The pass rush starts with the ability of Defensive tackles not allowing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket or flush the quarterback out of the pocket disrupting the rhythm of the offensive play. In short, you will not get many sacks or win games unless you have a nose tackle or Defensive Tackles that demand double teams and can push the pocket and that is what McKinnley will do. So, look at Rob’s board to see what round McKinnley will be selected in but notice once he gets selected how much better your team’s defense is in stopping the run and rushing the passer. Then notice the middle of the defensive line and how they allow that all to happen.

 

STRENGTHS
At 300 lbs, Braden explodes off the line of scrimmage like a volcanic eruption. He can get into the backfield and disrupt the rhythm of a play, and pressure a quarterback quicker than an angry hippo. Braden is stout against the run and what he lacks in techniques, he makes up for with unwavering effort on every play. Braden has good foot speed for his size, and can be used on stunts. He has solid lateral agility to defend from hash mark to hash mark. He has the size and athletic talent to play more than one position on the defensive line and in different styles of lines. Braden works well with his linemates and understands what is expected of him on each play. His ability to stop the run and to rush the passer, along with his effort on every play should make him be considered as one of the top Defensive linemen in this draft.

CONCERNS
Braden struggles to handle double teams. He also loses balance at times when rushing the passer when he explodes off the line in that angry hippo-like fashion. Braden also must improve in getting off his blocks when pass-rushing and develop some second moves. Nevertheless, these are all concerns that I’m sure Braden will address because of his excellent work ethic.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.86
Braden has been invited to the Senior Bowl and it’s my guess his workouts will be similar to Aaron Donald’s when he came out. The difference is, Aaron was much more of a finished player and Braden still needs development. That being said, Braden has too much athletic talent to pass up for too long along. His effort on every play and the fact he should be able to play more than one defensive line position, has me thinking that teams might want to select him early in this draft. After all, he stops the run, and rushes the passer with effort on every play… what more can you ask from a 6’5” 300lb football player? My guess is that Braden might not have the statistics as Aaron Donald has had in his career but I am convinced, he will be an impact player and the type of player who is a 4th quarter player and a big game player. Just give him a little time in an NFL strength and conditioning program and a good position coach. Check Rob’s value board to see the most likely round Braden should be selected in, it should be interesting.

STRENGTHS
Nate might be one of the fastest players in this draft on either side of the ball. He has the God-given athletic talent to be a shutdown corner. He is tall and lanky and might have the best makeup speed that I have seen since Deon Sanders. Nate has those long legs that allow him to stay on the hip of a receiver effortlessly and not panic. He glides alongside the receiver and will wait patiently until the ball is in the air, ready to be caught, and then he makes a play on the ball. Because of his speed and burst he will bait quarterbacks into throwing the ball on the shorter routes, and then like a mongoose strikes quickly either to intercept the ball or make the tackle. If Nate plays up at the line he minimizes his weaknesses and long legs, (that can at times hinder his ability to change directions quickly), by being physical with the receiver at the line. Nate is smart and understands his athletic talent, and how to get the most out of his athletic talent. He’s a big-play, pure cover corner, with shutdown potential that can play in any style of defensive backfield you want to run but his specialty will be in single coverage against the other team’s best receiver.

CONCERNS
Because of Nate’s god-given athletic talent, there are techniques he uses, and some he doesn’t use, that will bother some teams who are looking for the standard cornerback and might even turn some teams off. He is high in his backpedal and he will struggle in some drills turning his hips, and blah blah blah blah blah. Just turn the film on and trust what you see. Nate is gangster on the field and doesn’t shut his mouth, and he might be difficult to coach but the biggest concern will be if is gangster off the field? The interviews will have to answer those questions because gangster on does not always mean gangster off. In fact, a lot of times it’s just the opposite.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.46
Do I like the way Nate acts on the field after a play…no. Does it affect my talent grade in any way…only in the leadership portion and to be honest he plays a position that requires the least leadership than any other on the field because he plays on an island, by himself. If you’re looking for a pure cover corner then leadership is not at the top of the list. Talent, toughness, tackling, intercepting the ball, being able to rebound after you are beat and overall competitiveness and mental toughness are really what you are looking for. Leadership is not. Nate has all the attributes and athletic talent to be a pure shut-down, cover corner and I suggest if you are a coach, don’t try to change him, just be there for him because there is a reason he prefers to be a loner and not a leader. Players like Nate who seem to be arrogant, macho, “me” type of people on the outside are usually pretty good people on the inside. You just have to look hard sometimes.

 

STRENGTHS
Jonathan James is a winner. He has the arm strength and arm talent to make all the throws when he needs to make them. He has solid athletic talent to run the ball if needed. JJ can play under center or from the shotgun and has a high football IQ. JJ is a leader and knows how to win games athletically, and mentally during a game. He does an excellent job of using the talent around him but what he truly brings with him to the next level is the “Drive” to win. The need to win and the need to help his teammates win.

CONCERNS
JJ needs to manipulate the pocket better, giving his offensive line a better chance to protect him. He is more of a pocket passer than an “on the move” type of QB and this will help him to gain more time in the pocket and extend plays. Right now, he is not adept at extending plays as much as some other QB’s in this draft.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.40
Winning, Winning, Winning…this is a QB who will throw the ball, 17 times, takes 4 sacks while his team is winning 52 to 7. Think about that, that’s leadership, and that’s a winning QB. In another game, he threw the ball 27 times scored 4 TD’s, and took 1 sack. In that game, Michigan won 49 to 0. Think about that too! I believe that Stats tell a story but don’t tell the whole story. That’s why when I profile a quarterback, I look very hard for talent but more so, for the quality in a QB, that shows me he has more than just talent. JJ’s leadership jumps off the film at me. It’s “How” he plays the game, adjusts during a game, and listens to his coaches during a game. It’s how he communicates what his coaches try to do to his teammates, during the game. He is not perfect athletically, but you can also see the “Drive” in him to improve and minimize his weaknesses and not to let down his teammates down when everyone wonders athletically if he can make the impact throw and play. That’s the key to his leadership. He wants his teammates to succeed and is willing to put them in a position to succeed without being just a “hollow” cheerleader on the sidelines after a three-and-out. JJ understands what it takes to win and that is what he will bring to the team that selects him in this draft.

STRENGTHS
Jared reminds me a lot of former New Jersey Giants ER Justin Tuck. He is a power pass rusher using leverage, explosiveness, and effort to defeat his blocker. Jared is strong against the run and can set the edge. He changes the line of scrimmage in his favor on almost every play, and that means he is in the backfield, and around the ball in any down-and-distance situation. Jared is strong enough with good bulk and explosiveness from a three-point stance, to be moved inside on passing downs allowing teams to get another pass rusher on the field. He is a team player but if your team needs a sack, and the coaches tell this dog to hunt…this dog will hunt and not stop until he gets his prey.

CONCERNS
Jared is more explosive off the line and has better leverage to defeat his blocker from a three-point stance instead of standing up. Standing up he struggles to defeat the blocker and double teams, giving up his chest and leverage off the snap of the ball. From a three-point stance, he fires out with the explosiveness needed to defeat single or double blockers. This will affect Jared’s draft status with the teams that prefer an Edge Rusher who can work from any stance and any style of defensive front.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.54
Jared is a plug-and-play 4/3 defensive end very much like Justin Tucker was. If you stood Justin Tucker up, he struggled to pressure the quarterback. That being said, you put Justin Tucker in a three-point stance and he was like a hurricane coming off the edge making teams call in Homeland Security to deal with the aftermath. Jared Verse is that same style of player. The type of player that doesn’t turn the corner to pressure the quarterback when coming off the edge, they destroy the corner and scare the living crap out of the quarterback when they come off the edge. I’m profiling Jared as a ten to eleven sacks a year Edge Rusher, with the ability to stop the run, and have numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage for about 8 years in a row. A coach’s favorite, a teammate’s favorite, and a fan’s favorite. That being said, he most likely will not receive that many NFL awards just like Justin Tuck did not. Nevertheless, Justin Tuck is a two-time Super Bowl Champion…enough said. For you younger Draftniks, think of Chiefs George Karlaftis who no one but the fans, coaches, and teammates appreciated this year.

STRENGTHS
Joe is my sleeper QB pick in this draft. He has the size, athletic talent, and strong-arm arrogance to be a dominating quarterback for the team that selects him. He has the size and strength to break tackles and move the chains if he is asked to do that. He stands strong in the pocket and is very accurate in throwing the ball from the pocket. If teams are looking for the next Josh Allen…Joe is the one. Joe can make plays in the passing game that will make you think that he is an Alien, not born of this world. He can run over and punish defenses as well as, run away from opponents like a Moose looking for a mate, at that time of the season. He has the accuracy and strong arm that goes along with the arrogance of throwing the ball right past 2 safeties 50 yards on a rope, to move the chains on a third and 22. Joe can manipulate the pocket to extend plays and is very accurate when he has to reset and throw the ball. He is a remarkable talent with good football intelligence and the competitiveness that will make him be considered as a potential franchise quarterback.

CONCERNS
Joe has a knee injury that will need to be looked at. He also has that arm arrogance issue that I mentioned, which will lead to interceptions at the next level until he learns otherwise. He must also convince teams of his ability to play quarterback from under center. He will have to show teams he has the mechanics of dropping and setting up from center, and throwing with accuracy and the rhythm needed to play in that style of offense. I think the biggest concern for teams will be that Joe at times, and for his size, has a very low release point that affects his accuracy and that will get his passes knocked down or tipped, at the line of scrimmage.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.50
How long will it take for teams to feel that Joe can get on the field, and be productive is one of the keys to where teams will select him in this draft. His knee injury, his football IQ, and the Senior Bowl should answer all of these concerns. If you look at his film you will see a quarterback who plays with the style and talent as the Buffalo Bills Josh Allen. I saw Joe play before he got injured and I could not believe no one was talking about him at all with the top quarterbacks in this draft, hopefully after the Senior Bowl that will change for him. I know if I’m looking for a franchise quarterback, he would be a top-ten pick for sure. But that’s just me, and I won’t lose my job if I’m wrong so right now, Joe is a watch and see what happens to him type of player. But I’ll bet after the Senior Bowl and workouts he will become an “I told you so” …type of player.