Category: 2022 Player Profiles

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.

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.