97 Comments

My Five Favorite Players in the NFL Draft

| April 26th, 2021


This is one of my favorite pieces all year. This is where I told you Aaron Donald was the best player in his class. This is also where I told you Justin Blackmon would dominate the NFL. On the lighter note, last year I focused my lens on kicker Rodrigo Blankenship – because he was ridiculous looking – and he was a terrific rookie for the Indianapolis Colts.

So who are my five this season?

____________________

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama.

I don’t get it.

I’m sure there are scouty/personnel types who will quibble at Smith’s measureables (oh no, he doesn’t weigh enough!) but when you watch him on the field, which is where he actually plays football, you see an NFL star.



In the modern NFL there are very few line-em-up-and-beat-the-corner wide receivers. The game is about matchups and Smith is a matchup nightmare. He’s the best wide receiver in this draft. He’s the best return man in this draft. He’s the best player in this draft.

____________________

Pressley Harvin III, Punter, Georgia Tech

Have you seen this kid?

He’s 260 pounds. And he throws dimes.



Someone is going to draft this kid. And the fans of that team are going to absolutely love him. (God I hope that team plays in a city with several Billy Goat Taverns.) Harvin isn’t just a novelty act. He won the Ray Guy Award for top punter in college football for 2020. He’s going to kick at the next level.

Read More …

Tagged: , , , ,

166 Comments

Wednesday Lynx Package: Draft Edition

| April 21st, 2021


If the Bears stand pat at the twentieth overall selection, there is a range of potential impact players that will be available to them. Today, some links featuring those names.

  • Teven Jenkins, from KSNT in Kansas: “The biggest obstacle ever I feel like to me is when my mother passed when I was eight years old,” says Jenkins. “She passed away from breast cancer and that was the biggest obstacle for me and through the rest of my life there hasn’t even been anything close to that.”
  • There are crazily three legacy corners in this draft, all projected to go in round one. Patrick Surtain II and Asante Samuel Jr. are self-explanatory. Jaycee Horn is the son of Joe Horn. Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post breaks down the corner class, which will interest the CB-needy Chicago Bears.
  • Rashod Bateman’s decision to opt out of the 2020 college football season has come under scrutiny by NFL front offices. Per SI, he believes the decision made him a better man.
  • The Bears have a good running back in David Montgomery. But there are two backs in this draft – Travis Etienne and Najee Harris – that would be electric additions to Matt Nagy’s offense. The Democrat & Chronicle (Western NY) believes Etienne is the home run hitter the Bills need. Could he be the same in Chicago?
  • The Bears love their southeastern scouts. And there’s a pass rusher out of Georgia – Azeez Ojulari – that is climbing many draft boards. There have even been some comparisons to Steelers’ legend Joey Porter. If there are even slight Porter-ish vibes, the Bears shouldn’t let a minute come off their draft clock.

Tagged: , , , , , , ,