Category: 2022 Player Profiles

STRENGTHS
Trent is a quick-twitch athletic defensive back with the high football IQ to play more than one position in your defensive backfield. He is an excellent tackler with a passion for making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, striking with the quickness of a mongoose going straight to its prey. Trent is a hunter looking to make a play on every down whether it’s a run or a pass. He shows the quick feet, lateral agility, mental toughness, and physical strength to be used in single coverages against any size receiver. Trent also has a high football IQ for zone coverages and shows leadership skills in his play working in concert with his teammates. He has excellent hands to make the interception and should be a special team’s impact player on both the return and cover units.

CONCERNS
You would love to see him a little bigger but being bigger does not necessarily mean he would be any better, it just means teams would not nit-pick about his size.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.83
Size is everything when it comes to rating players in a draft. Many talented and hall of fame players will fall out of the 1st round just because of their size and not because of their ability to impact on the field. That’s why Rob and I invented the 2-board system. Trent is listed at 5’11” and if he comes in smaller than that at the combine he might not be selected in the first round just for that reason. For me it’s really simple, Trent has 1st round talent and will play as if he is selected in the first round no matter what round he is selected in. But that’s just me. I don’t look at size, or level of competition to be that much of a factor in evaluating players for the draft. I will admit those issues do enter into my evaluations but only if I don’t see 1st round talent in that player when I’m watching the film. Understand, putting a 1st-round grade by me does not mean a player will be selected in the 1st round. Almost every year I have 40 to 50 players with 1st round grades while most analyst will suggest there are only 10 to 15 in every draft. That’s just BS. Think about it, there are about 5 to 10 seniors and then you add the Juniors and most of the time there are at least 10 to 20 listed as potential 1st rounders. That gives you about 20 to 30 players with 1st round grades, then add the players who are nit-picked to death because of their size, weight, competition level, or any other excuse but on film, are impact players and you have 40 to 50 players who could be considered in any draft as 1st round talent. Trent is one of those players who might not be selected in the 1st round because of his size or lack thereof. Nevertheless, he has 1st round talent and will be an impact player no matter what round he gets selected in. I would look for him to be selected at someplace in the 20’s of the 1st round but you never know.

STRENGTHS
DeMarvin is a solid Defensive Lineman. He has good athletic talent and size and is an excellent teammate. He has the natural lower body strength that makes it easy for him to collapse the pocket when he plays inside and the hand quickness to keep offensive lineman off his body when pass rushing from the outside. DeMarvin also has the required balance, quick feet, and lateral agility to string plays to the outside. As I stated before DeMarvin is a solid all-around Defensive lineman and with a little more attention to playing just one position, could become a core player and fan favorite for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Two issues that concern me, I think his medicals need to be scrutinized and the team that selects him is going to have to decide what position he can impact the most at. Deciding where he can be most effective will be a team-by-team decision and that will affect his draft status. There are also technique issues that he has to correct because of some very bad habits going from position to position. He stands up instead of firing out off the snap giving up his chest to his defender when playing inside and he is very slow getting off blocks to make tackles. He also takes on double teams but does not try to defeat them with the needed intensity for the next level.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.39
DeMarvin is a rotational defensive lineman who can become more than that if a team can figure out what position he plays and correct all the bad habits he has accumulated from playing more than one position. But, for the purposes of this draft, and from what I see on film, he needs time and development. That is not unusual for any defensive lineman coming out but he seems to need more at this point of his career. At least that’s what I see, others I’m sure will disagree.

STRENGTHS
Phidarian is the most technically sound defensive tackle in this draft. He has excellent size and strength and solid feet, balance, and lateral agility to string out plays against the run. If you don’t double team him on passing downs he will bull rush his opponent into the backfield like a rhinoceros looking for a mate. He uses mature and consistent techniques to keep lineman off his body to shed and make tackles at the line of scrimmage. He has solid foot speed that goes along with all-out effort on every play to disrupt plays and run-down players from behind. He works well with his teammates on stunts and understands his role on every play. Phidarian is an excellent overall football player and the type every team needs on their defensive line to make the players around him better.

CONCERNS
Phidarian is the type of player who gets overlooked because he does his job completely. Most will think there is not much upside to his game and they are right, he is a plug-and-play type player and coaches love to select players who are projects earlier instead of plug-and-play types. Also, Phidarian plays for a program that most evaluators think the program burns the players out. That genialized thinking affects those player’s draft status. I prefer to evaluate each player on their own and not generalize a player because of a program.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.22
I tell you this all the time and still you don’t believe me. If you don’t have a Defensive Tackle who demands a double team on passing downs and running plays then you will not have a consistent pass rush and your linebackers will not stop the run. Everyone else will tell you it’s the speed rushes or the cornerbacks and there is truth to those theories, no doubt but a true pass rush needs the pocket to get collapsed first and linebackers need to be free to run to the play for both to be effective. There are some exceptional speed rushes that can consistently impact but if you look closely even the hall of fame edge rushers had a defensive tackle who collapse the pocket in most cases. Phidarian has the ability to stuff the run and on passing downs, collapse the pocket. He will fight through the double team on passing downs and running downs and THAT is the difference he will bring to your defensive line. You won’t see it in the stats but you will see it in the defense as a whole. To open a lock, you need a key and the Defensive Tackle position is the key to opening the lock that’s on a defense to perform at a high level. Phidarian could be that key.

STRENGTHS
Reminds me of Titans Taylor Lewan. He is nasty, with good size and length to play one of the tackle positions. He has good enough feet to be an excellent run blocker and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Trevor has solid lateral agility and does a good job once he gets his hands on his opponent in locking him down and not allowing any depth on a bull rush. He has excellent strength in both his lower and upper bodies to be moved inside and become an impact player on the offensive line for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Trevor struggles with his balance, change of direction, quickness out of stance, and struggles against second moves. If you get Trevor going one way, he struggles to change direction. His lack of changing direction skills will also affect his ability to make his blocks at the second level too.

BOTTOM LINE: 2.61
My guess is that teams might select him thinking he can play one of the tackle positions but the truth is, I believe they will have to move him inside for him to be an impact offensive lineman. Most of it is because of his nastiness and the fact he will be committing penalties because of that nastiness. The other reason is that his techniques for the tackle position are not disciplined enough. Those techniques are not consistent enough, and he gets lazy and surprised by pass rush moves and when this happens he commits penalties. All of that being said I think he could be a hell of a guard and I think he has excellent potential to be a dominating pulling guard. Nevertheless, playing the tackle position is not totally out of reach for him in the future once he matures and understands what is expected of him to be a tackle in the NFL. I believe for the purposes of selecting him in this draft I would think most teams will be evaluating him as a potential impact guard. At least for me, that’s what I see. If most teams are looking at him as a tackle he will be selected earlier than I would select him so look at Rob’s board for that information but for me, I’m thinking he is a potential dominating guard.

STRENGTHS
Drake is all legs and arm’s coming at you down the field like a Flying Draco Lizard. (look it up, I can’t do everything for you) He is big and nasty and when the ball is in the air it is all his. Drake has the athletic talent to adjust to the ball in the air like a pipe cleaner. He has the strong hands to take the ball away and high point the ball. He shows good speed but more than anything his separation comes from his big size and physical route running. He has those long legs that allow him to play better than he will time. If he times as a 4.5 type, you get bet that on the field he plays like a 4.4 type because of his long strides. Drake is the type of receiver who is open all the time, just throw the ball up high and he will come down with it at any point on the field. Drake reminds me a lot of former Charges WR Vincent Jackson or for you young guys Buccaneers WR Mike Evans.

CONCERNS
Drake is very physical and that means he can be penalized at the worst time of a game impacting his team negatively. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. As long as this positive character trait on the field is not a negative character trait off the field, I don’t see a real problem.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.42
Drake gives you everything you need in a playmaking receiver. All you have to do is put him on the field with any style of arm strength QB and he will score touchdowns. Because of his pipe cleaner-type agility to adjust to the ball in the air, he can and will catch the ball in the RedZone even if he struggles to separate. I’m of the belief that you can find a potential pro bowl receiver at any point in the draft. That doesn’t mean you pass on a talent like “Draco the flying Lizard” just because you think you might find one later on in the draft. That’s just dumb. Remember what I always say, when you see the obvious, you draft the obvious. You have to always do your homework but don’t nit-pick yourself out of selecting the obvious.

STRENGTHS
Kaiir is tall and long with that quick twitch athletic talent to be an excellent cover corner for the team that selects him. He also has very good track speed and make-up speed that allows him to trail an opponent and still make a play on the ball with his long reach. He shows on film good hands to make the interception. He has good football intelligence in zone coverages and does a good job communicating with his teammates. Kaiir likes the challenge of playing in single coverage and covering the top receiver on the opponent’s team. His impact at the next level will be in single coverages more so than in zone coverages.

CONCERNS
Kaiir does struggle with his lateral agility and at times will stumble but because of his quickness and speed to recover and long length, he recovers quickly. Because of this lack of lateral agility, he struggles to take the correct angle in open space when tackling and this is a problem when he plays in zone coverages. Kaiir is not a “form tackling type” of defensive back, and suggesting that will change at the next level is not likely. This lack of form tackling will limit his ability to play in any style of defense until he improves. Kaiir also is a penalty machine waiting to happen and panics and becomes overly physical when he feels he is going to get beat in the middle of a route or off the line of scrimmage.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.72
Kaiir has excellent overall talent but I question if he will accept the coaching needed for him to improve on that talent. His ability to panic when in single coverage is strong and his lack of passion to tackle in open space is troubling also. That being said, if in interviews a team feels that he will improve then by all means, select him early because his physical talent and size suggest that he can be an impact cover corner if he works hard enough and develops the passion to tackle in open space with some consistency. I think after 4 years you should defiantly be able to find that out.

STRENGTHS
Nakobe is an instinctive football player. He shows on film, excellent leadership, instincts, quickness, and burst to the ball along with a high football IQ to play bigger than his size. He’s a strong tackler. He is more quick than fast but has good speed. When he is used to attacking the line of scrimmage his size is an advantage along with his unique strength and leverage to defeat and overpower blocks. His quickness and change of direction agility are also an advantage in coverage. When used in coverage, his ability to read the receiver and read routes and once again anticipate, are advantages. He’s a playmaker who reminds me a lot of former Panthers LB Thomas Davis and for you young guys, he’s a lot like Raven’s playmaking LB, Patrick Queen.

CONCERNS
Nakobe will be downgraded because he is not 6’ 2” and for some teams, it will affect his draft status. If he measures another 2 inches, Nakobe could be considered by most teams as a top 10 to top 15 type player. At least on film, he plays like that.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.57
When both Thomas Davis and Patrick Queen came out most teams struggled with what position they would play at the next level. Davis bounced back and forth between safety and linebacker but had the speed most teams looked for at either position so he was selected as the 14th pick in that draft. Queen was listed as 6ft – 229LBs at the combine but played linebacker and most teams look for bigger size players when selecting early in the 1st round so, he wasn’t selected until the 28th pick. Nakobe falls into the same range of size, speed, quickness, etc., as both of those players. As far as I’m concerned when I look at the film he plays like a 6’3” 230lb linebacker with the instincts, football IQ, and leadership skills to be the focal point of your defense. Nakobe can be used all over your defense in coverage or attacking the line of scrimmage and he will make plays. You can try to block him but, in most cases, he will take the blocker on, and with unique strength and perfect leverage, will defeat it. I don’t care what position you think he should play, I would select him early, put him on the field right away, and watch him as he makes plays all over the field. That’s what I would do because playmakers come in all sizes so suggesting that Nakobe is not the right size, seems pretty foolish to me.

STRENGTHS
Andrew has all the attributes needed to be a shutdown impact defensive back for the team that selects him. He is a quick-twitch athlete with good speed, excellent burst to the ball, and the foot quickness needed to be an excellent cover defensive back. He has the size to be used all over a defensive team’s backfield. Watching Andrew against sweeps, screens, and running plays to his side is like watching a heat-seeking missile take down its target. Andrew has the size and strength to defeat any block. His focus to make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage seems almost to be maniacal in its nature. Andrew can be used as a slot cover corner because of his size and ability to defeat blocks and make the tackle against those big receivers and tight Ends. He has excellent hands to make the interception and my guess could be used on all of the special team units.

CONCERNS
Because of Andrew’s “enthusiasm” to make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage, he will be very susceptible to double moves and fake runs to his side of the defense. That means mentally more than physically, he will give up the big play at the most unoptimistic times of a game until he learns not to get fooled. Line up Andrew in the slot, and he will get fooled by play action for sure until he learns. Line him up on the outside and on rollouts he will struggle to make the right decision.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.50
Andrew’s reaction to the play on his side of the field is a gift and a curse. He is the type of player that in spite of all of his talents and size could have a problem at the next level giving up the big play. Think of it in this way, like a running back who fumbles, no matter how well they run the ball, coaches struggle to put them on the field for fear they will give up the ball. It’s the same problem with a cornerback. Coaches struggle to put a talented cornerback on the field if they can’t trust that they will make the right decision in coverage. Every defensive back gets beat deep but if they get beat deep over and over because they hesitate to make the right decision’s they will not see the field. Andrew shows me in his play on the field, to be a smart player and the type of player who will learn from any mistakes that he might make. So, although it may be a concern, I don’t see this concern being a real problem after his rookie year. Andrew will have to learn a little better patience and when he does, he will be an excellent defensive back for the team that selects him.

STRENGTHS
John is one of the smartest receivers I have seen coming out in a draft. He has good size and speed but his ability to think like a quarterback, making himself available against zone and single coverages, is what sets him apart from others in this draft. He has good hands and the toughness to go over the middle and make the big play. He can move the chains and will catch the deep ball. John is an excellent blocker and that makes him an excellent teammate showing leadership skills through his play on the field. He has the talent to be a franchise receiver because he is always willing to do whatever you ask of him. That being said, sometimes that doesn’t get recognized until you call on him.

CONCERNS
John is not as big as some of the other receivers in this draft, and he is not as fast as some of the other receivers in this draft, and that will affect his draft status. John has an injury and that will affect his draft status if he can’t work out at some point before the draft.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.83
John is a smart, team-orientated player with a worker bee style of play that sometimes gets overlooked or taken for granted. Nevertheless, that style will not be overlooked by the coaches and quarterbacks he plays with. When you need a block or a catch to move the chains or score a touchdown or just, in general, make a big play, John will be the one receiver on the field you can count on. He reminds me a lot of the underrated Rams, former Bills receiver Robert Woods. As I stated before, in this draft there are a lot of bigger receivers and some that might be faster but trust me when I say… there will not be many that will be better. John is a complete receiver who will make the big play in the most important game and that you can bet on for sure.

STRENGTHS
Wan’Dale is as slick as WD-40. He shows the quickness that can debilitate a defense. Wan’Dale has good overall speed and will “sell-out” to make the deep ball catch. He is tough and can take a hit from anyone on the field and that makes him very dangerous. He can be used in the slot and coming out of the backfield as a running back. He is the type of player who doesn’t need a lot of touches to impact a game. Wan’Dale will make the contested catch, the acrobatic catch that moves the chains, and catch the deep ball. When he is in the red zone his quickness and ability to catch the ball in tight quarters is what separates him from most slot receivers. On special teams, he will scare the bejeebers out of most special team coaches who have to game plan for him. As I stated before…he is as slick as WD-40 and will slide right past your best defenders making impact plays all over the field like a crazed rabbit.

CONCERNS
Most teams will be concerned about his size and as we all know, size does matter in the draft. Nevertheless, size doesn’t dictate a player’s impact, only production. He is not used as a receiver on the outside so questions about his pure speed will have to be answered in his workouts. Also, Wan’Dale might not have the size to compete against faster and bigger corners so slot receiver would be his impact position and that will affect some teams negatively in their evaluations.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.83
They say speed kills but quickness is the instrument used to allow speed to kill. If you don’t have quickness then speed isn’t as impacting as one would think. Wan’Dale has outstanding quickness and lateral explosion. He has the vision and the balance and toughness of a running back and that allows him to be a very dangerous RAC slot receiver who can come out of the backfield as well as the slot. He gives excellent effort blocking bigger players so the ability to use him as a third-down running back is a possibility. In short (no pun intended) Wan’Dale is a multi-talented player, who can be used all over your offense and scare the bejeebers out of your opponents on special teams. Think about it, in the open field, once he gets the ball in his hands, it’s like trying to catch a crazed rabbit for any defense. Once again, look At Rob’s final value board to find out what round Wan’Dale is mostly to be selected in. As we all know, just because he has 1st round talent to impact does not mean he will be selected in the 1st round. In this draft, there are a ton of big and excellent receivers so this crazed rabbit could get lost in the shuffle for sure and pop up in any round.

STRENGTHS
Treylon is a big receiver with very good speed and those Go-Go gadget-like arms and hands to snatch the ball in the air from anyone who challenges him. He has a high football IQ being used all over his offense, in the backfield, the slot, and on the outside. Treylon has the speed to go deep and because of his big body can move the chains on those all-important third downs. Treylon makes the effort needed when he blocks and has the potential to be the main cog in a team’s offense. He reminds me a lot of Cordarrelle Patterson who has so far played for 5 different NFL teams.

CONCERNS
If Treylon truly wants to become a big-time receiver then he has to learn to stop bullying his way into separation on his routes. He has to block better and with more consistency and he has to learn to run EVERY route with the passion that he might get the ball even when he knows that it’s not likely. He is smart and maybe at times too smart for his own good. He has good speed but lacks quickness off the line and the quickness to gain separation when running his routes. When he is lined up on the outside he gives up his chest too quickly at the snap and this will allow a physical defensive back to match his physical play, throwing the rhythm of the playoff. If he wants to be one of the best then Treylon has to start paying attention to the details of his position and not just play his position.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.94
I like Treylon and his talent but I don’t know if I trust him to improve his overall game any more than it is right now. Just because you work out and are big and strong and fast does, not mean you will be successful at the next level. I don’t have a clue why Cordarrelle did not reach his potential until recently with the Falcons but I do know I liked him coming out as 1st round talent. I can tell you this, I have continued every year to be shocked at his lack of play on the field for 4 other teams. If teams, after interviewing Treylon, have a lack of trust in him, I suspect Treylon won’t be selected until the 2nd or 3rd round. All I can do, is tell you what I see on film about a player, and sometimes that is not fair to that player but that’s the best I can do. In spite of my concerns, I still consider Treylon as 1st round talent. After all, he does have the potential to be a franchise receiver with the talent to make a quarterback better and not the other way around.