Category: 2019 Player Profiles

STRENGTHS
Damien reminds me a lot of former Broncos RB Terrell Davis. He’s a power back with deceiving speed and a great burst. He has good hands to catch the difficult pass out of the back field and the strength to break tackles along the way. He is very difficult to take down in open space because of his speed and power. Damien is a three down back because of his high football IQ and because he blocks and reads the blitz. Damien may not juke an opponent out of his jock strap but, give him a sliver of an opening at the line of scrimmage and he will give you just enough wiggle to make you miss him and pray your safety is big enough to take him down. He’s basically a one cut back but if he needs more than one cut to gain the yardage to move the chains some how he finds it. Damien is a worker bee running back with the deceiving speed to take it all the way inside the fifty-yard line.

CONCERNS
Damien is not the type of back that will make his own yardage with a lot of scrambling and changing direction. He needs a good solid line in front of him to impact. Then again, don’t most backs?

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.06
Offensive lineman love to block for running backs like Damien because they know if they make their blocks that he will not deviate much from the whole he is supposed to run through and that makes them want to block harder. That means that Damien can make the players around him better because of his consistency to hit the hole on time and every time. He is a three down, power, running back and those do not come along often with the ability to block, run and catch the ball the way Damien can. Most running backs with all of those talents are on the small side and asking them to stay on the field and run the ball 20 to 25 times is asking a lot. Damien has the potential to be the type of running back you only take off the field because he needs a breather and not because of down and distance. He’s a quality football player with the potential to be an impact running back for the team that selects him.

STRENGTHS
Elijah has the potential and upside to be a franchise running back for the team that selects him. He has excellent strength, balance and vision. He has quick feet and the power in his legs to move chains when everyone in the stadium knows he will get the ball. Elijah has the speed to take the ball to the outside on sweeps and off tackles but he flourishes running the ball between the tackles. If you’re not prepared to wrap him up he will break tackles and make yardage and do it all game long because he has excellent mental and physical stamina. Elijah has the temperament to improve on any skills needed to be a complete running back for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
He is a good blocker but needs to improve reading the blitz and blocking with the same aggressiveness that he runs with. I know he has the hands to catch the ball easily but he will have to prove it and there is no drill that will make teams believe it until he gets on the field and does it. This will make teams downgrade him, but for me it’s not an issue, I know he has those effortless soft hands to catch the ball out of the backfield as good as any running back in this draft.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.05
Elijah still has some skills to improve on but I don’t see an issue with him improving on anything and that makes me realize that this kids upside for his game is tremendous. He has those quick feet, balance and vision to take the ball outside when all is lost inside. He is smart and although he is still learning he will not struggle to learn. He is not a “juke you out of your socks”, type of back, nevertheless, if you can’t get into the backfield to stop him, he will gain the yards he needs to, as he punishes the tackler. I know Elijah can catch the ball because I’ve seen him return kicks. I know Elijah has good speed and quickness and has the quick feet and lateral agility to make players miss him because I’ve seen him used on Jet Sweeps. Elijah reminds me a lot of former Patriots/Jets, Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin because Elijah can run inside and outside with strength and determination. Curtis was not selected until the third round and it would not shock me at all if Elijah has that long a wait also but remember, this is a talent grade so watch Rob’s board for Elijah’s name and what round he most likely will be selected in. For me personally, this kid’s upside is too much to pass up early in this draft.

STRENGTHS
Dre’Mont has the look and size of a potential dominating pass rushing defensive lineman. He does a good job shooting the gaps and being disruptive in the backfield. He has just enough change of direction agility to sack quarterbacks from different line positions. Dre’Mont has the long legs, length and burst off the line to put offensive tackles at a disadvantage off the snap. He can use mature hand techniques and has those long arms to keep offensive lineman off him and be stout against the run when need be. Like I stated before Dre’Mont has the look of a dominating pass rushing defensive lineman but looks are not everything if, your force to play a position that doesn’t fit your body type.

CONCERNS
Dre’Mont is not a defensive tackle and that is the position he played more than any other. He struggles to be consistent in all areas of his game especially against the run. In his defense he doesn’t have the bulk to be used inside but to his fault he could have played better and become more consistent with his techniques and he never did.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.78
For every player who has the talent to play at a high level you must gain the trust that they will work hard to improve themselves beyond what the coaches are demanding. In the film I see of Dre’Mont there is no doubt that he is playing out of position but there is also no doubt that he never seemed to play Defensive tackle to the best of his abilities, Consistently. I can see Dre’Mont playing defensive End in a 4/3 defense because he needs to be out in space to take advantage of his athletic talents. Because he played out of position he will need to catch up on the intricacies of playing that position and he will have to become more consistent playing against the run. If you can’t stop the run than you don’t get to pass rush and defensive lineman who don’t stop the run but have the talent, to stop the run, I struggle with trusting them at the next level to improve and become consistent. That being said Dre’Mont’s talent and size will be hard for some teams to pass up and he could sneak into the 1st round but for me, I would prefer to wait a round or two.

STRENGTHS
Garrett is a technically sound, athletic offensive center. He does an excellent job going out to the next level making blocks and can be used on sweeps, screens and as a pulling center because of his foot speed and athleticism. He is a fighter and has the lateral agility to help out guards when it is needed. Garrett is smart and has good timing to make combo blocks and believe me, that is a skill that a lot of offensive linemen lack. Garrett is the type of center who can play the day after you select him. Nowadays teams need to add athletic offensive lineman who can block and be able to change directions quickly and stay with their blocks when those QB’s leave the pocket.

CONCERNS
He is a bit undersized and will struggle with a big nose tackle right on top of him but remember, he can and will get help from guards when that occurs so thinking that’s a reason not to select him or even downgrade him is weak.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.61
Are there bigger centers in this draft than Garrett…yes. Are there better centers in this draft than Garrett…no. For me personally, I believe Garrett is married to the center position because of his size and although I might rate another player who I project to play guard and center and is as athletic as Garrett higher, do not mistake that rating for my thinking that Garrett, might not be the best pure center in this draft class because I think he might be just that…the best PURE center in this draft class. I have told you before my skilled positions on offense are very different than what others consider, skilled positions to be. I rate QB’s, LT’s and OC’s as the positions you must fill with excellent talent before you can have a dominate offense. That be said, I rate offensive centers higher than most people in a draft and I would select them higher than most people would in a draft. I have no qualms about telling you that Garrett has first talent and if I needed a center I would select him in the first round. Nevertheless, I have learned through the years that even though I value that position high, there are others who do not. That means that I can wait to select a player with Garrett’s talents. I can wait and look at Rob’s board to see what is the likely round a player like Garrett will be selected in and plan my draft strategy with the understanding that I might not have to select Garrett as high as I have him rated, and that’s the luxury of having and using the two-board system. You have the ability to select players in every round with high talent grades using the two-board system. Of course, that’s if your talent grades are correct!

STRENGTHS
Hakeem has everything you look for in a potential franchise receiver. He has the size, strength, speed, big catch radius and the work ethic that is needed to keep improving at the next level. Hakeem has big hands and has no problems making the tough contested catch low or high. He can move the chains on third downs because of his size and catch the deep ball because of his long speed. Hakeem will block you right into the ground, knocking defensive backs right on their backs. He is big enough and strong enough and fast enough to beat double teams. He can play in the slot or out wide and be a matchup nightmare for defensive backs and coordinators. Hakeem has excellent upside to his game and with his burning desire and work ethic to be the best there is no doubt in my mind that he will achieve it.

CONCERNS
Hakeem is not a finished product yet because he is a sloppy route runner. His long legs make it difficult for him to get in and out of his breaks quickly. He will have to learn how to use his body more to compensate for this lack of change of direction quickness. He also tends to nonchalant the ball and that cumulates in drops. That being said, both of these concerns can be overcome and I see an excellent work ethic in Hakeem to do just that. Hakeem will also have to become more consistent using a straight arm after he catches the ball to keep tacklers away from his legs to lessen the chance for injuries and to gain more yardage after the catch.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.38
Hakeem shows me on film a burning desire to dominate. You can see it in his play on the field, in way he blocks and the way he goes after the ball in the air. He is raw and his route running is inconsistent and lacks polish. He reminds me a lot of Terrell Owens when he came out and I believe, after some adjusting to the next level that Hakeem will become a franchise receiver like Terrell was but without the ON FIELD baggage that seem to follow Owens around from team to team. Out of all these receivers in this draft Hakeem has the biggest upside and that’s saying a lot because there are some very good, big, strong and fast one’s as we all have seen in the combine workouts. If Hakeem keeps his head on straight and doesn’t get it stuck up his buttocks and works hard, he will be the best and become a franchise receiver for the team that selects him. I’m betting he will.

STRENGTHS
Miles is an extremely, athletically, talented receiver who reminds me a lot of Eagles Alshon Jeffery. He is long and fast and has a big catch radius. He will catch the contested pass and this year he has improved dramatically in all areas of his game. He does a solid job blocking and has the speed to go deep and the size too move the chains. Miles has the talent, size, speed and hands to be a franchise receiver for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Like Alshon Jeffery, Miles will struggle to reach his potential until he decides that is what he wants to do and what he wants to be. He has a long way to go to improve his route running and be trusted to become a more dependable all-around player.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.31
Sometimes it takes a while for big receivers to gain the confidence and grow into their bodies before they can compete and impact. Sometimes it just because a player has so much talent that they take it for granted and do not develop because they lack the work ethic to do so. Miles did not show up until this year to impact but when you watched him in his junior year there was no doubt about his talent, but he didn’t impact. Of course, that could have been related to better play from the QB position so I guess you might give him a pass but this is a 6’4” 230lb receiver who runs 4.4 in the forty. He played 12 games in each of his sophomore and junior seasons and caught 6 passes in one year and 12 passes the next and then in his senior year caught 59 passes for 872 yards and 8 TD’s. What happen in his first years? Why didn’t he go to the Senior Bowl? Maybe it’s a coaching issue or maybe Miles was too involved with his classes but even if those are real issues, how do you miss throwing to a 6’4” receiver with his talent, when he has played in 12 games both seasons? I mean seriously, if I’m the QB the minute the kid is in the game I’m throwing to him and I don’t care if he’s the hot receiver or not, I’m still throwing to him. So, for the purposes of this draft and with the information I have (from film only) I have trust issues in Miles. I question if he has the burning desire to be the player his talents suggest that he can be. What can I say…you’re looking at athletic talent in a large body that should be considered in the top fifteen of this draft and yet…no one has even talked about him. I can’t be right about every player! Maybe Miles will be the next great receiver, I hope he is because he sure does have the talent to be. Nevertheless, no matter how much talent a player shows in workouts you still have to trust he will show up for work every day and be the best his talent suggest that he can be.

STRENGTHS
Roc has excellent, defensive back skills and potential. He has in the box quickness, quick feet, long legs and arms and the size teams are looking for in a cornerback to defend against those tall, strong receivers. Roc is a willing tackler and will fight for the ball in the air. He has good hands to make the interception and along with his short area quickness Roc will make you pay passing the ball, inside the red zone.

CONCERNS
Roc has excellent potential and skills and he has the talent to recover but he doesn’t trust those skills. When receivers change directions, he changes with them but in the middle of the field, he has his hands all over them and that means he will have a lot of penalties called against him. In the red zone this is not a problem. When Roc goes deep he doesn’t read the receiver and doesn’t turn around to make a play on the ball instead, he plays the man…not good. Roc has good speed and excellent quickness but lacks the long speed you look for in a three down down cornerback. Roc is a willing tackler but struggles in the open field to break down, gain control and make a sure tackle.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.28
Roc has excellent talent but needs a lot of technique work and has to learn to be in better control when he goes to tackle. His natural quickness is intriguing and his length is a big positive but his lack of trust in his own athletic talent and trust in techniques is something that only good coaching and lots of repetitions can correct. That means Roc will take time to develop. I’m convinced that he can play inside in the slot if, he controls his aggressiveness and makes the sure tackle. Of course, if you want to play him outside like his talents suggest, you will have to put up with some penalties until he learns to use the side lines better, trust his athletic talents and becomes very friendly with his safety teammates who will help him over top. Roc has better talent than Richard Sherman and if he can learn to play like Richard does, he could be a pro bowl cornerback for the team that selects him. My concern is, if a team overdraft’s him, he won’t be given the time to learn and that will be a shame. As of this writing most considered Roc being selected in the 1st round and that to me would be over drafting him.

STRENGTHS
Chase is an effort machine with excellent mental and physical stamina. He has sold athletic talent and can be used lining up on the line or off the line. Chase has a path into the backfield on every down coming off the line with the effort not seen in many college players nowadays. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Although his athletic talent might have peaked, his ability to learn has not and Chase can become a core player and a fan favorite and the type of player who can step in and play different positions in your front seven. Chace has the potential to be as good a player as former Patriots Mike Vrabel and the Bills Lorenzo Alexander.

CONCERNS
Chase gives good effort on every play but plays every play the same way, using the same effort and not changing anything up. His techniques are poor because Chase thinks he can beat everyone with just effort. He struggles getting off blocks and uses an inside pass rush to get most of his sacks. He struggles to split double teams and because he uses so much effort on every play he losses gap control on runs right at him. Chase has to increases his football IQ in every aspect of his game or he will not be successful at the next level.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.89
Lorenzo Alexander has been with 5 different teams until he landed on the Bills and found success. Mike Vrabel was drafted in the third round by the Steelers, had limited success until he signed with the Patriots in a defensive system that magnified his high football IQ and talents. It would not surprise me that until Chase becomes more of a student of the game that he too might bounce around before he finds success. At the next level, everyone plays with effort. Chase may even find more success on the other side of the ball playing Tight End or as a fullback/H-back. If he wants to stay on the defensive side of the ball he definitely will have to become more of a vocal leader and maybe change positions to linebacker but once again effort will not be enough no matter what position Chase ends up playing or what team. Chase will need the right team and the right system for him to become an impact player and a core player but I believe that he will become successful after dealing with some adversity first. He has a lot or work to do but I think he will do it and I think investing in him will be a good investment. Some investments are short term and some are long term but the long-term ones usually give you bigger returns and I believe Chase is a long-term investment that will give a team and its fans a bigger return that’s if you stay with him long enough.

STRENGTHS
Paris reminds me a lot of former Giants receiver Victor Cruz. He has good size, quickness and speed. Paris shows the ability on film to impact and make plays all over the field. He doesn’t break tackles, he eludes tackles with his quickness and lateral agility. His run after the catch skills are dangerous and must be accounted for on every play. Paris is an open field night mare to tackle. Getting your hands on him is like trying to catch a chicken in the yard when the chicken knows if he gets caught he’s going to be dinner. Paris has good hands to catch the ball and this along with his speed and quickness makes him an impact receiver for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Paris does most of his damage in the slot up against safeties or corners who will most likely never see the inside of an NFL locker room. He is used on the move and this allows him to get off the line of scrimmage without any physical contact to slow him down. To be more than just a specialty player, Paris will have a learn to run routes, catch the contested pass and learn to be physical off the line to gain the separation that he gains when used in the slot and on the move.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.08
If your selecting Paris thinking he is the type of receiver who is a potential franchise receiver I’m not sure that wouldn’t be very smart. He is an impact player who can have an impact without touching the ball as often as other receivers. By moving him around your offense you magnify his speed and quickness and elusiveness. Keep him at one position outside the hash marks and his speed, quickness and elusiveness will become less impacting and he can be defended by physical corners with help over the top. Can Paris become a every down receiver? Of course, but he has to learn the route tree on the outside and become more physical and show consistency catching contested passes but the question is, why bother? As long as he is an impact player keep moving him around your offense and let him impact. Victor Cruz was moved to the outside because the Giants gave him a big contract and Victor never had the impact outside that he had being a slot or move receiver, who lined up all around the offense. Paris could sneak into the first-round if there is a team interested in adding an impact offensive player who will flourish as a specialty player, used all over the offense and as a returner on special teams.

STRENGTHS
Khalen reminds me a little bit of former Buccaneers Warren Sapp. He is very athletic for his size with good foot speed and excellent quickness to defeat his opponent off the line of scrimmage. He is a one gap attack defensive lineman who can be very disruptive, getting into the back field quickly causing havoc sacking QB’s making tackles for losses and disrupting the rhythm of a play. If Khalen is put on the nose on passing downs he is like a hunting dog, taking a pose in a three-point stance waiting for the snap of the ball to flush out his prey. That’s his strength, he’s a hunter and it’s extremely difficult to stop him from getting into the back field and affecting the play. Khalen has the athleticism to be moved around on the defensive line and he has the potential to play in any style front as long as he keeps improving and is in the right system for his athletic talents.

CONCERNS
Khalen does struggle against the run. On running downs, he can be handled one on one. When he is double teamed he gets up too high and doesn’t shed blocks quick enough to make tackles. In his defense he does a solid job at the college level of handling his responsibilities against the run but at the next level he needs to get stronger and use better techniques to be used in a two-gap system and this will affect his draft status.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.67
Khalen has tremendous potential to play in any style of defensive front and be effective but he will always be more impacting in a one gap attack system, because that’s what he loves to do… get into the back field and disrupt. He gets bored just taking up space and letting others make plays. He wants to make the play himself and he does have the talent to do just that…make plays all by himself. Khalen has the unique “quickness in the box” to be disruptive, sack QB’s and make tackles for losses. He loves doing it and I say, let him do it. Don’t try to turn him into a two gap wonder because he is not going to impact in that type of system. Don’t get me wrong, he will do his best in a two-gap system but why take away his ability to impact? Khalen will impact in a 1 gap attack system and I say draft him with that in mind and you will have selected an impact defensive lineman. Nowadays a pass rush up the middle is what teams are looking for, just pushing the pocket is not enough and Khalen is that type of guy, to give you more than just a push up the middle. He will flush his prey into the arms of his teammates or he will drop his prey all by himself.

STRENGTHS
Nasir has the natural talent that few people have. He is a quick twitch athlete with the speed and quickness to play many different positions on either side of the ball. He can play either one of the safeties positions and any one of the cornerback positions. He can play the slot on nickel dime and he is a hell of a special team’s player being the first down to cover that brings back memories of former Bills Steve Tasker. He has quick feet and excellent hands and I have no doubt would be an excellent receiver if he played offense. There is no better pure athlete in this draft and that jumps out at you when you turn the film on. He can play up at the line scrimmage and will form tackle as good as any linebacker in this draft. There is pro bowl written all over this kid.

CONCERNS
There are two issues that will concern teams but do not concern me. The fact he played for Delaware and not in the SEC and… his size. Both are bogus excuses to down grade this kid.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.47
Like I stated before, when you put on the film of this kid, he is all over the field making plays and like I always say, you don’t pass on defensive players who are playmakers. Nasir has a high football IQ to go along with that natural athletic talent. He is leader through his play on the field and his high football IQ. So far as I can tell, Nasir is one of the better cover corners and zone corners in this draft. He is also one of the better safeties in this draft and might be the top special team’s player in this draft. Now if you’re a GM and you want to overlook all of that, and overlook how Nasir plays the game on film because he played for Delaware… than all I can say is, have a happy life as an TV analyst. Oh, and by the way let me add this bit of information also, I saw this kid at the senior bowl practices, he played some corner and safety and he was hurt and he still was one of the best players on the field. So, go head, overlook that bit of information too…I dare you future TV analyst.