Post-Round 1 OL Spotlight/Prospects

[davos]

This thread is going to be a growing sequence of guys that are not 1st rounders for the OL.  Starting with OTs that have LT potential.  It looks like DL or LB could happen at 7 so in that event, it'd be nice to see what is beyond. 

I mentioned this elsewhere--There's a decent amount of talent beyond Thomas/Bechton/Wirfs/Wills.  Just looking at past drafts, you get guys like Peters, Bahktiari, Peters, Donovan Smith, Charles Leno, Dion Dawkins (favorite recent example) all beyond the first.  Some scouts claimed they were OGs at the next level, but then they surprised us and became viable starters on the left.  Some happen to be the best in the league. 

So here's the first batch:

Josh Jones

6'5 H

319 lbs

33 7/8" Arms

10 1/8" Hands

Great size but needs the coaching.  Potential is clearly there. 

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Josh Jones is a high ceiling, low floor offensive tackle prospect who is an OL coach's dream. With his natural skills, Jones showcases dominant physical flashes on the field and possesses the athletic ability to be a dominant pass blocker and weapon in the run game. But Jones' skills need significant polish from the ground up — he's still raw with his pass sets and footwork and can be too reactive in live action to over-set or over-pursue. Ideally he can be weaned into a starting role in the NFL. 

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/josh-jones/EdwZbsWiZA

 

Lucas Niang

Measured out with the following:

6'6 H

315 Lbs

34 1/2" Arms

10 1/2" Hands

That's LT measurables, has the agility and upside but he may be more of a RT.  Still, very interesting.  May go to R3/4 given he's coming off surgery. 

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Lucas Niang is a high-upside starter in the NFL. Niang's mobility would make him a great fit in a zone style system and his length and range as a pass blocker make him an attractive option for teams with deeper passing concepts. There is some refinement needed in Niang's footwork but he shows all the requisite physical skills to be a plus starter in the pros. Should find the field early and improve through first few seasons. Should be healthy for the 2020 season. 

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/lucas-niang/KkU5UJHJ0J

If he falls, could totally be worth the shot. 

 

Hakeem Adeniji

6'4 H

302 Lbs

33 3/4" Arms

10" Hands

Decent size just a fraction under that ideal 34" arm length but plenty successful LTs have been slightly under.  Kansas' super durable full-time starting LT. Some places mention he may need to move inside, but I think he can be successful on the outside in the league.  This is a guy that screams minimal flags to me but everyone just brushes as a poential OG.  Well, I think he could be a plug and play awesome LG (That we desperately need) and also has the ability to be our backup at LT.  He's my favorite. 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/hakeem-adeniji?id=32194144-4545-1329-dcd7-27e4940351c6

 

 

 

[davos]

Matt Hennessy

Long-term Starting Center/LG Depth

6'4 H, 307 Lbs, 32 1/4" Arms, 10" Hands

This is my favorite center prospect and the guy from Temple, Baylor, or LSU that our new staff may target and target hard.  Rhule recruited him to Temple and I'm sure there is a tight bond here.  Did play a bit of LG as well even though he's a full-time Center. 

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Matt Hennessy started at center over the last three seasons at Temple, earning a prestigious single-digit practice jersey that Temple gives to the toughest players on the team.  From watching him compete on tape, it’s pretty clear that his practice habits are outstanding and that the honor was well-earned. Hennessy is a technically-refined, mobile, smart and controlled blocker that profiles as a starter in a zone blocking scheme. From his hand usage, bend, footwork and processing skills, there’s an obvious polish in the way Hennessy plays the game. It’s difficult to poke concerning holes in his game but he isn’t the biggest or strongest blocker which does box him in as a center that doesn’t offer much in the way of position flexibility or appeal in gap blocking run schemes. In the right role, Hennessy has a chance to make an immediate impact and projects as a long-term fixture as a starter. 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/matt-hennessy?id=32194845-4e53-6731-faa4-c650075e5d1a

[davos]

Ben Bredeson

Guard

6'5 H

315 lbs

31 1/8 arms

10 1/8" hands

He is one of the top guard prospects but given the talent, could easily be there R3.  We need a starting LG and he could be a plug and play. 

From The Draft Network:

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Ben Bredeson projects as a starting guard at the NFL level. There appears to be enough versatility to project Bredeson into a number of concepts and systems, although his functional power and ability to reset the LOS should have him coveted highest on boards that implement primarily gap/power rushing concepts. Bredeson, if able to work on getting his initial hand strikes to stick on defenders with more consistency, would be a quality starter and asset up front.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ben-bredeson?id=32194252-4505-4642-6b12-aa127a40c235

[Soul Rebel]

I'll be interested to see where Niang goes.....he was a high first rounder coming into the season. 

[davos]

23 minutes ago, Soul Rebel said:

I'll be interested to see where Niang goes.....he was a high first rounder coming into the season. 

There's some high ceiling guys that have coachable concerns.  It will be important to identify how refined their fundamentals are this week. 

[davos]

Praise for both Cleveland and Adejini (Who we met with at the combine):

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Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas: Adeniji's smooth movement was tough to overlook. He looked the part of a guy capable of playing multiple positions in the NFL, providing the strongest punch in the group when asked to hit a bag, but still dropping his hips to change directions well. It's been a strong postseason for Adeniji, which could result in him being picked much earlier than many expected back in December.

Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State: Cleveland put on quite a show during his time in Indianapolis. He benched-pressed 30 reps before stepping foot on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf, fifth most among O-linemen. Cleveland ran a 4.93-second 40 with a very good 1.73 10-yard split, and that straight-line speed showed in some of the on-field drills. He struggled in other drills when quick change of direction was needed, but his 7.26-second three-cone result was ridiculous for his size (and was the best mark among O-linemen). Teams will be taking another look at the game tape on this underclassman after this performance.

Adeniji could be a really solid 3/4 rounder and start for us at LG.  I think that's an underrated position to be filled. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I would welcome 3rd and 4th round OL picks.  Get a couple guards or a center.  I don’t care.  Just get some new big bodies in there.   I know we need a LT but if there isn’t value on the board at our pick I would be fine elsewhere but I think there are some guys with the talent to be solid rotational players.  
 

I think Daley was a good pick for us last year and would love to see more like him.  I don’t think he is starter material long term but if you get your cupboard full of guys like that then when you do got on some monsters u will have a strong unit

[45catfan]

On 2/27/2020 at 6:11 PM, Soul Rebel said:

I'll be interested to see where Niang goes.....he was a high first rounder coming into the season. 

I've seen him mostly going in the 2nd round.

[micnificent28]

On 2/27/2020 at 6:11 PM, Soul Rebel said:

I'll be interested to see where Niang goes.....he was a high first rounder coming into the season. 

Pretty high didnt he put up like 44 reps on the bench..