Bear Hands

I'm looking at it like we suck and will still suck. But maybe we get a good player or two.

Played 22% outside, 151 snaps of 684, but played one of the highest % of MI defensive snaps. What's a given is that he played a lot in Michigans's 4-2-5 with diverse assignments--which people saying he's slot exclusive or nickel aren't really considering the responsibilities for his potential role in the Fangio-hybrid penny package we run...this kid would get used 90%+ of snaps easily.

He's been pretty consistently top 40 on PFF this offseason (currently #34). #43 overall for Brugler.

His receiving highlights:

Tons of smoke. but for real—I like what I’m coming across with this kid. There’s so many from Michigan, and DB has been at my periphery, but digging into it, you can see why scouts and coaches would be fans of him. If a team is a sucker for size, Kool-Aid, Tampa or Rakestraw may be higher, but if you’re talking intangibles and ball hawking, he’s one of the tops in the entire draft. Depending on how certain squads grade their DBs, I could see him as high as DB4 on some team boards.

Take anything with a grain of salt right now. Just posted this in another thread: He had that huge interception at the end of the title game. Some fun notes: 2X team captain, was named team MVP for the best defense in the country. Described as a player coach and influencer, per the DB coach, he "changed the mindset of everybody on our team" Former wide receiver so has the aggressive/ballhawk mentality (this kid doesn't drop INTs) 6 INTs, 2 pick sixes last year, 3 picks took back for 70+ yards Played 20% outside, 80% slot, had good capabilities blitzing. 5 TFL, 2 sacks Only flagged for 1 PI in college (in the title game) covering Polk Seems like he was a BIG part of that team and its leadership.

The Sainristil note had me start to look into him a bit and he does sound pretty great, and then remembered his huge interception at the end of the title game. Some fun notes: 2X team captain, was named team MVP for the best defense in the country. Described as a player coach and influencer, per the DB coach, he "changed the mindset of everybody on our team" Former wide receiver so has the aggressive/ballhawk mentality (this kid doesn't drop INTs) 6 INTs, 2 pick sixes last year, 3 picks took back for 70+ yards Played 20% outside, 80% slot, had good capabilities blitzing. 5 TFL, 2 sacks Only flagged for 1 PI in college (in the title game) covering Polk Seems like he was a BIG part of that team and its leadership.

He had a lot of buzz around him due to his potential. Included the size and speed combo, coming from the same program that produced Brown and Metcalf, 50/50 ball capabilities, lots of the YT "scouting" channels really hyped him and he was liked by a wide range of folks on team boards around the league. Also had a ton of visits lined up, there wasn't much proven given the OIe Miss offense he was in, just one year of real production in it catching balls from Dart.

They're just posturing - I highly doubt they trade. If anything they take Marv Jr and use their crap ton of capital to move up in the first for Verse or Latu.

Mingo was hyped, and honestly, an internet fave because of his size & DK comps (even if they didn't hold a tone of water), but I don't think people anticipated he'd be as high as 39. DJJ was the one where everyone was truly like "who?" and being a trade up, it still just felt so unecessary. Oh..a 25 y/o guy OLB who's only played the position for a year, little to no production w/character concerns...but he can set the edge. Nice.

Was a typo - the OP corrected it later but yeah, Burton has some character concerns. Have seen that mentioned by more than just a few spots (The Athletic, Ringer, and here to name a few)

Some interesting stuff in here. Bolded what I found notable/related to us. Source:

It's all over the place. Should make it fun. Excited to see the reactions in this joint come next Friday haha

33- AD Mitchell WR Trade 39 and 240 to JAX, receive: 48, 96, 153 and 2025 4th 48 - Marshawn Kneeland EDGE 65 - Malik Washington WR 96 - Trey Benson RB 101 - Beaux Limmer C 141 - Newton CB TCU

While we're talking trades- a random trade I thought of that could be much more stomach-able, let's say Nix is still available at 39, LVR calls, gives us 44 and 112 (top of R4)...that could be interesting.

I would like that trade framework, but around pick 39 while keeping 33. Buut that would be tough to figure out bc you have the full night to negotiate 33; whereas 39, you'd be banking on no one trading up for a QB between 34-38. Rams have a lot of picks and they like trading. Could be an interesting partner, 52 and 83 + a future 3rd are valuable picks, not a bunch of pennies for a dime situation.

Unpinning with the draft being nearly upon us. 1 week 3 days away from draft time.

In one side- I’m not drafting him due to his limitations as a route runner and ability against zone. On the other— am drafting him due to his ceiling, physicality, 50/50 ability and deep speed.

I didn't want to play with trades for us, and don't want to move from 33, but one scenario I thought of that could be compelling: Nix is available... CAR receives: 52 (R2), 83 (R3), a future 3rd/4th LAR receives: 39 (R2), 142 (R5) We keep 33. Only go a notch down in the 2nd. We have 33, 52, 65, 83, 101, 141 - basically 5 top-100 picks. That trade scenario is what I think could be money, you keep #33, gain capital for an additional impact guy and future pick. Barely lose much at all, still grab the WR we want, maybe double dip, grab Benson at RB. It really opens the draft up for us. Polk, Malik, Benson, Sinnott, Rice, Baker, etc. Minor thought - ok, aight I'm out for today ha

Thanks, yeah I tried to make it more of an overall-look, first-ish round mock, & my favorite prospects read rather than just pushing in names for each round 2-7. For Kool-Aid: I had done some snooping around on team boards and elsewhere to gather fan sentiment and perceived GM tendencies. McKinstry just sounds like a Baalke-type target. That fanbase would love to be aggressive (trade up for Bowers or Odunze) but they doubt he would do it. They're a bit sour on coaching and management right now and convinced he's going DB. Sounds like GB could also be eyeing him if they don't go front-7. For WR: I just have a hard time selling myself on any of the remaining WRs over other talent at 33 & 39 after McConkey and AD. They're either more high percent slot dudes or outside types w/size restrictions or developmental needs. Polk and Malik are the ones that perk my interest the most, but they're in that 2nd to high-3rd range. And to address a certain guy - Given how interested it seem we are in Legette, I am really trying to reconsider him so have done my best with warming up to the idea. WR Board: 1. Marv Jr. 2A/B. Naber/Odunze 3. Brian Thomas Jr. 4. Ladd McConkey 5. Adonai Mitchell 6-15ish. I really can't make up my mind Coleman is good but his testing left a lot of people questioning his speed/quickness and ability to create separation in the NFL. Big potential there but unsure if the fit is right for what Bryce needs. Roman Wilson and Malik Washington (especially) could both be legit. Really good prospects, but they're going to be high percent slot - so there's consideration to that as well. Polk I like - plays every spot at WR, he has great physicality, catches through contact, strong route running, and good enough in-game quickness to win man v. man. Is he worth it at 39? I'm preferential to him but the other talent at 39 was higher. Pearsall I like (high-floor), top route runner & hands, but he's not a game-breaker or winning teams games. I can see why teams will have him graded highly though. Legette has the explosive speed and athleticism - there's mad potential which could make him a good choice but is going to need work with route running. His combine gauntlet was a bit rough and he needs to polish off his short area techniques against zone. Franklin and Worthy are both burners with focus drops, light-framed, & don't play through contact well. Both scare me as their profiles are what tends to bust pretty consistently. Baker I can't overlook, I just love the way he plays Burton is apparently a headcase and was in the doghouse for at least 2 of the 4 schools he played for. He could be a guy scratched off some team boards entirely.

I’ve officially over analyzed them all and don’t know who I like anymore ha. AD, Ladd, Polk, Pearsall, Malik Wash, & Baker are who I’m preferential to right now.

Haha well, appreciate your honesty. You can see Wiggins was considered in my alternates as I have him graded similarly, but Worthy, Tampa, Nubian..they’re more late 2nd for me. The one position-selection stigma this year is safety. Any GM taking a safety before #50 this year is on something. The value just hasn’t been there..for the past 5 years. Worthy I don’t want to touch personally. Kneeland is a fringe 1st grade for me. ~34 overall so not a reach for me, but respect your opinion. Cheers.

I loved watching him the past 2 seasons and was a big fan of his and Odunze headed into the season. Then Odunze blew up beyond comprehension. So I'm saying this as a fan - I do have some reservations. He caught 3 of 26 tight window targets outside the numbers in 2023. So, when he had a stickier CB or was displaced, he didn't beat them or come down with it. Compare this to another outside target like Polk (who's a notch slower), and there's a guy who was physical and able to pull the ball in while being disrupted and through contact. Franklin could be a nasty vertical threat, but it's a notable flaw and you don't want a one-dimensional guy this high. You can see it in his upper body. This also was made VERY apparent in the gauntlet drill at the combine--it wasn't pretty. He would also would have random drops out of nowhere on what should be sure-thing catches. He just doesn't seem to trust his hands as much as other WRs. He would go from looking like a 1st rounder one play, to MV-S the next. So he's exciting, gets vertical, but it's a gamble for how he fares man-man against pro-level comp. He did add meat over the offseason (was up to 183 lbs from 176 at his pro day) and maintained his combine speed. So maybe this kid adds muscle and thrives. Would be damn exciting that's for sure, but could be frustrating at times.

Pass rusher high is never a problem for me or historically. Interior lineman have become far more important against modern defenses. draft wise though..I’m looking at the specific players available, and I just think they’re a block above the offensive skill players for me so stayed committed to my rankings. The value is just too high. I was flirting with Wiggins and Colson as other options, but the other offensive skill players were a peg below minus Pearsall for me. But I’m not sure the team has heavy interest in Ricky. I’m just not a fan of Worthy. My alarm bells just go off with that kid.

He’s a tough one for me. I could honestly see him as high as the teens and as low as the 40s. Weight and injuries are the concerns, but if he clears that hurdle for teams, I can see how he’s viewed as the CB2. He’s damn good but he’s a love/hate type personality too.