Ravens’ Draft Notes: Clinton-Dix, Ward, Bucannon
It is no secret that the Ravens have a tremendous need at safety despite drafting Matt Elam in the first round last year. The team is widely expected to select a safety and an offensive tackle in the first two rounds of the draft in some order, despite a history of taking the best player available. ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. put together a three-round mock draft, and Kiper handed the Ravens Washington State safety Deone Bucannon in round two. Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com loved this pick, noting that Bucannon could become the best safety in the draft and would start immediately next to Elam.
Here are some other rumors surrounding the Ravens’ draft:
- McShay gave the Ravens offensive tackle Morgan Moses out of Virginia in the first round, a pick that scared Hensley due to the similarities seen with Bryant McKinnie.
- The safety the Ravens bring in could very well rely on what round they feel comfortable devoting a pick to the position, explains Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times in a series of tweets. The only way they take one in the first round is if Ha Ha Clinton Dix of Alabama falls to them (via Twitter), but even then they are not in love with the value (via Twitter).
- The team would be much more excited to land Jimmie Ward of Northern Illinois, likely in the second round, with one member saying he has Ed Reed-like playmaking potential (via Twitter). If they can afford to wait for the third round, look for Terrence Brooks of Florida State to be the target, according to Zenitz (via Twitter). One of the Ravens’ scouts said Brooks has the best speed and acceleration of any safety in the draft (via Twitter).
NFC North Notes: Pryor, Rodgers, Lions
The Bears have a tremendous need at safety, and Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune looks at some of the top prospects at the position. According to Campbell, the Bears’ top choice would be Calvin Pryor of Louisville, but he also lists a number of “intriguing options”, some that could be available after the first round of the draft. Here are some other notes from around the NFC North..
- Surrounding Aaron Rodgers with as many playmakers as possible will always be a goal for the Packers‘ front office, and Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel looks at a few lesser-known prospects that could be added to the mix in later rounds. As part of his draft series, McGinn offers a historical comparison and the words of an unnamed NFL personnel man to round out his preview.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press looks at possible quarterback targets for the Lions. Of course, with Matthew Stafford under center and Dan Orlovsky on a one-year deal to back him up, Detroit doesn’t have a huge QB need, but the club could draft someone in the later rounds to give Kellen Moore a run for his money.
- ESPN’s Todd McShay says the Vikings should take UCF star Blake Bortles, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. McShay views Bortles as the best quarterback in the draft and feels that Minnesota should pull the trigger if he falls to No. 8.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Prospect Profile: Calvin Pryor
If Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton Dix is not the top safety in this draft, then Louisville’s Calvin Pryor is. While nominally these two players inhabit the same position on the field, the two free safeties have very different styles of play. While we already examined the playmaking ability in the center field that Dix could bring to the table, Pryor counters with the big-hitting, in-your-face style of play of safeties past.
Pryor’s biggest strength on the football field is violence. He struck fear in the hearts of any receiver running a crossing route in front of him. His highlight clips on YouTube are among the most fun watches of any prospect, filled with big plays that look as if they were scripted to elicit groans from all who watch. He throws his body into every play with full force and no hesitation. His dedication to those highlight hits makes him a weapon as a run defender. For an insight into his physical dominance, he had a stretch in which he knocked an opponent out of a game in three consecutive games, according to NFL.com.
While most fans will probably remember him for his ability to put ball carriers on the ground, Pryor never proved to be a weakness covering the middle of the field. It was rare to find him in man coverage, but he was able to cover deep in the middle of the field, exhibiting good range. His athleticism is not dissimilar to that of Clinton-Dix, as Pryor weighed in at 207 pounds and posted an identical time of 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. Pryor did measure in at 5’11”, a full two inches shorter than Clinton-Dix.
Pryor’s aggressiveness can be his greatest weakness on tape, as expected for a player always going for the big hit. He has the tendency to overrun plays, leaving himself susceptible to the cutback. He might take some bad angles, and a big hitter always risk the chance of missing on a tackle, especially as he meets bigger and stronger runners in the NFL.
Still, for a safety not known as a ballhawk, Pryor managed to get his hands on seven passes in his three years at Louisville, with a few highlight catches among those. He also forced nine devastating fumbles for his career, solidifying himself as one of the biggest hitters in college football regardless of position. Pryor was named Second Team All-Big East as a sophomore, and after a conference change, achieved First Team All-ACC as a junior before declaring for the NFL Draft. Like his counterpart from Alabama, Pryor was suspended for violating a team rule, forcing him to miss a game during his final collegiate season.
Early in the draft process, a common thought was that Pryor could be too physical for the NFL game. Pundits worried that he was almost a guarantee for fines and suspensions, a potential magnet for defenseless receiver calls. For the most part, that thinking corrected itself, and coincided with Pryor’s rise up draft boards. While most still have him as the second best safety in this class, he has closed the gap between himself and Clinton-Dix. Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have Pryor falling to the Cowboys (No. 16) (subscription required), while two out of the four mock drafts posted by CBS Sports have him up at No. 13, to the Rams. The Louisville hammer also has some traction among the Bears (No. 14) and Ravens (No.17).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Mosley, Baldwin
The 49ers are expected to be aggressive in this draft, looking to trade up in the first round in order to secure a top prospect. In order to do so, they need a trade partner, and Bill Williamson of ESPN.com explored a few options. If their target is a top wideout such as Sammy Watkins of Clemson or Mike Evans of Texas A&M, they have the ammunition to move up to No. 5 by trading with their rivals across the Bay. If they are not so zealous, they could look to make a deal with the Steelers (No. 15), the Chiefs (No. 23), or the Browns (No. 26).
Here are some other notes from around the NFC West:
- The Rams have been bringing a lot of prospects in for visits leading up to the draft, but it may be a smokescreen to keep secret the prospects they truly covet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. He believes they did this the last two years, especially finding it useful to hide their interest in receivers Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey by leaking their interest in a few much more high profile pass catchers. Unless the Rams changed philosophies, this could mean we could be surprised with their choices at the draft next week.
- The Cardinals will be looking to replace inside linebacker Karlos Dansby this offseason, and Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com believes they could find a great player in the first round. Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley has the burst to compete for that spot as a rookie, replicating Dansby’s athleticism. The team still has Kevin Minter, and if they can justify carrying both, they could put together a deep linebacking group.
- Doug Baldwin has still not signed his second-round tender with the Seahawks, but Stephen Cohen of SeattlePI.com believes that the team still holds all the cards in keeping him. Baldwin has until Friday to negotiate with other teams, but the Seahawks have the right to match any offer or accept a second-round pick in return for letting Baldwin go.
Prospect Profile: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Earl Thomas signed a huge extension on Monday, making him the highest paid safety in the NFL. The reason Thomas got that money is due to the rarity of true to form center field type safety in today’s game. The versatility that a speedy defensive back that can play in the middle of the defense, providing coverage skills as well as strength bringing down the ball carrier makes a defensive coordinator’s job much easier. If not easier, then definitely more fun.
There is only one safety in the mold of Thomas projected to be picked in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, and that is Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Dix played three seasons with the Crimson Tide, and was a part of two national championship teams. His five interceptions as a sophomore led a highly regarded Alabama defense. Clinton-Dix was suspended for two games during the 2013 season, due to “unspecified team rules violations.” Despite missing two games, he was named First Team All-SEC after his junior season, and was a Consensus All-American safety.
Clinton-Dix measured out well at the NFL combine, standing tall at 6’1″ and 208 pounds. He ran a respectable 4.58 40-yard dash. It does not put him in the category of elite athletes, but it is a combination of size and speed that is desirable in a prospect. Under Nick Saban, he learned how to play the position efficiently. According to NFL.com, he is quick to read and react to plays, and makes up for his average speed by taking great angles to the football, where he becomes a nightmare due to his good ball skills and ability to turn defense into offense.
Like many Saban coached defensive backs, Clinton-Dix shined in college coming up to stop the run. Not one to shy from contact, he gets into the alley and is a strong open field tackler. While he does not have the top speed to run with the fastest receivers in the NFL, nor the bulk to be considered a true in the box safety, he does provide versatility in his ability to switch from a run stopper to a pass defender from play to play.
Safety is a tough position to gauge in regards to this draft. Clinton-Dix is not the clear cut top option, as Louisville’s Calvin Pryor has been making headway. The two are very different players as well, as Clinton-Dix has the reputation for staying in the middle of the field and making plays on the ball, whereas Pryor is known as the big hitter. Style will play a huge role in which player comes off the board first.
Clinton-Dix starts to gain a lot of traction among mock drafts starting with the Lions (No. 10). If the Lions pass on him, he begins to make a lot of sense for the Rams (No. 13) and the Bears (No. 14). ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. agrees that the Rams could jump on him, and Todd McShay has him landing in St. Louis as well (subscription required). The Vikings (No. 8) seem like the highest he could possibly go, and if the Steelers (No. 15) do pass, the Cowboys (No. 16), Ravens (No. 17), and Jets (No. 18) all have significant need at safety.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Notes: Martin, Murray, McCarron, Texans
The Dolphins have targeted Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin in the upcoming draft, writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. One scout reports that the Dolphins would “fall over themselves” if Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan fell to them, but Lewan is projected to go in the first half of round one — Martin is the prospect that the team realistically covets. However, while the Dolphins select at No. 19, Beasley writes that it is still not a certainty that Martin will make it to Miami’s pick. Mel Kiper, Jr. of ESPN writes that with the Giants, Ravens, and Rams all choosing right ahead of the Dolphins, Martin will be gone in the first 17 picks.
Here are some more notes from around the AFC:
- Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray is still trying to move up on draft boards, and has a lot left to prove after having knee surgery less than five months ago. He “dazzled” at his pro day, and will work out for the Browns on Sunday, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I’m really excited to show them what I can do,” said Murray. “I’m way ahead of the game right now. There’s no hesitation about anything. Running around, there’s no worries about my leg. I’m full-go and feeling great.”
- Jake Locker is still set to be the Titans quarterback to start 2014, but second year offensive guard Chance Warmack hopes the team looks to draft his college teammate this May, writes Bryan Fischer of NFL.com. Warmack said on the NFL Network that he would like Alabama buddy A.J. McCarron to join him in Tennessee. “I hope we get him. I don’t know what round we can get him in, but I definitely want him in Tennessee,” Warmack said. “He’s a winner. He’s a great guy to be around and he’ll help the locker room. He’s not selfish as a quarterback and he’s going to make the right plays on the field. If he doesn’t start, when he gets drafted by the Tennessee Titans he’ll definitely help.”
- The Texans have narrowed it down to four potential prospects, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). He believes that with the first pick, the team will take either current favorite Jadeveon Clowney of South Carolina, or hometown quarterback Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M. If the Texans elect to trade down, then they will look at Blake Bortles from UCF if Manziel is already gone, or Khalil Mack of Buffalo.
NFC Notes: Saints, Benjamin, Thompson
The Saints are in win now mode, with stalwarts of the offense like Drew Brees and Marques Colston not getting any younger and new star Jimmy Graham on a one-year deal, and they could make a big move to trade up in the draft, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. It is not a certainty, and he believes the Saints would not move up for a specific position, but if one prospect catches their eye and the value is right, the team would definitely consider making a move.
Here are some more notes from around the NFC:
- The Saints have seen receivers leave the team for years, this offseason has been particularly rough. Lance Moore left to sign the Steelers, Devery Henderson is a free agent, and Darren Sproles was traded to the Eagles. They will look to add a pass catcher in the draft, but could look for either a bigger receiver or a smaller, quicker slot type player, writes Triplett. While replacing Sproles with a smaller, faster player is an immediate need, finding a bigger more physical player is important as well as an eventual replacement for Colston. The team can select whichever type of receiver presents itself during the draft.
- While on the subject of big, physical receivers, Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin took a visit to the 49ers, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The 49ers have been rumored to be considering trading up for Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, who is also a large and explosive receiver who could handle the taller cornerbacks of teams like the Seahawks. Benjamin could be a possible back up plan if they are not able to find a trade partner that would allow them a shot at Evans.
- The Packers have tremendous needs at safety and tight end, but Tim Silverstein of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel does not expect the team to target those positions in round one of the upcoming draft. He notes that in Ted Thompson’s years as general manager, he has never taken either a safety or a tight end in the first round. Also, if the history of Thompson is expanded to include his mentor Ron Wolf, that is almost 20 years without ever drafting a first-round safety, and only one tight end. That one exception was Bubba Franks in 2000, who did not justify the pick.
The Vikings’ Quarterback Situation
The Vikings will not have to take a signal caller with their first-round pick in order to come away with their quarterback of the future, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Tomasson hopes to remind the hometown team that Drew Brees (second round), Russell Wilson (third round), and Tom Brady (sixth round) all achieved their Super Bowl rings and elite status without being drafted in the first round.
That could be a comforting feeling, considering the ghost of Christian Ponder still haunts the Minnesota football fans, writes Tomasson in a separate piece. It may not be Ponder’s ghost so much as his physical presence on the roster that would make fans and front office executives nervous. Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, and Ponder came off the board during a run of quarterbacks in the 2011 draft, and all three players look to have been bad picks.
All three of those franchise are picking in the top eleven picks only three drafts later. Because of this, the Vikings could be smart to wait until the second round or later if they are not perfectly certain with the eighth overall pick.
The Vikings’ second-round pick will come at 40th overall. They also have two third-round picks, in addition to a selection in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.
“Among those who could be available to the Vikings between the second and fourth rounds are Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo, Georgia’s Aaron Murray and San Jose State’s David Fales,” writes Tomasson.
The team did sign Matt Cassel to the largest contract of any free agent quarterback this offseason, so the urgency to take a player at the position is not at an dangerous level, although the team is expected to bring a quarterback in somewhere in the draft. Tomasson writes that even if they wanted to wait until very late, viable options will still be available, including Wyoming’s Brett Smith, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, Miami’s Stephen Morris, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, Cornell’s Jeff Mathews, Ball State’s Keith Wenning and North Carolina’s Bryn Renner.
In the meantime, the Vikings could use their higher draft picks to strengthen other areas of the roster. While Ponder and Cassel will not provide any quick fixes, competency and consistency will be a huge improvement. With a strong running game in place, and usable pieces at receiver and on defense, a focus on trying to improve the roster across the board and good efforts from players already on the team such as Adrian Peterson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, and Harrison Smith could bring about another playoff run like the one the team experienced in 2012.
Rex Ryan On The Draft, Offseason
Jets head coach Rex Ryan was at a charity softball game for CBS Radio personalities Boomer and Carton of WFAN, and spoke to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Hubbuch posted some of what Ryan had to say on Twitter in a series of tweets, giving some insight into some of the Jets possible draft strategy, as well as an update on the offseason so far.
- Ryan said “half-jokingly” that the Jets were planning on taking a defensive lineman in the first round again in the upcoming draft. He then told general manager John Idzik that he thinks the fans would run the two of them out of town if they actually did that again.
- About the prospect of moving around in the draft, Ryan said that having 12 picks gives them the flexibility to move up if an opportunity to present itself in the first round.
- Speaking on the offseason workout program, the head coach noted that the team had a nearly perfect attendance, including the newest Jet, running back Chris Johnson. The only absences were expected.
Prospect Profile: Jadeveon Clowney
Coming out of high school, Jadeveon Clowney was the number one recruit in his senior class. He was the best defensive player in college football at his best. Now he is the best bet to be the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
A player of Clowney’s status could not come easy. It started early, when he famously decided to hold out on his college acceptance decision until after National Signing Day, electing to instead announce his decision live on ESPN, on Valentine’s Day, which doubled as his 18th birthday. He chose South Carolina and his hometown Gamecocks over the more highly touted programs among the SEC and ACC.aft. He was the number one recruit coming out of high school in 2011, and has basically been anointed as a certainty ever since, although his recruitment had earned him the label of a “diva” in the eyes of the media, which would be the first knock on him as a future NFL star.
Then the domination began. Clowney more than lived up to the hype during his first two seasons in Columbia, South Carolina. He posted 8.0 sacks and five forced fumbles as a freshman for a South Carolina team that went 11-2. That season he had the luxury of following the lead of another pass rushing standout in Melvin Ingram, who wound up as a first-round pick to the Chargers in the following draft. As a sophomore, Clowney was able to take all the spotlight. His 13.0 sacks left him as the most feared pass rusher in the nation, and solidified him as a very high draft pick, with most scouts noting the he would have been the first overall pick had he been eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft.
Controversy came again that offseason, as many NFL experts and media personalities noted that Clowney had nothing to gain by returning to school. He would risk a career debilitating injury, but could not raise his draft stock at all. Sports radio and NFL shows discussed whether it would be more beneficial to him if he were to skip school and workout full time, as he would have been basically ensured a spot in the top five if he was not still drafted first overall a year later.
Clowney did return to school, but battled through injuries and inconsistent effort until once again, his merits as a prospect were questioned. He missed two games entirely, and ended up with statistics that fell short of previous numbers. Still in play for the first pick, his case was not as rock solid as it had been a year earlier, especially as the Texans, Jaguars, Browns, and Raiders possessed huge needs elsewhere on offense, particularly at quarterback and receiver. The Rams, set at quarterback, already own a dynamic pass rushing duo of Robert Quinn and Chris Long. Clowney would truly have to impress to stay in the top five.
Of course, that is exactly what Clowney did at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He measured in at a large 6’6″, weighing a lean 266 pounds with 34.5 inch arms and ten inch hands. Then he took that giant frame for a run, posting a blazing 4.53 40-yard dash, with extremely impressive numbers across the board in the other drills as well.
Even still, not everyone is sold on Clowney. Greg Cosell called him a “raw” athlete, and stated that he believes pass rusher Khalil Mack should be rated as the top player in the draft at that position.
Hall of Fame defensive lineman and Fox Sports analyst Warren Sapp was also critical of Clowney, saying, “I look at Jadeveon Clowney’s (game) tape and I don’t see a guy that is playing with his hair on fire, making plays, running up and down the field sideline to sideline, doing all of the things.”
ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, who played running back for the Steelers, was even harsher of Clowney as a football player. “You look at him as a fundamental football player when you talk about feet, hip and hands, like we watch Khlail Mack, he’s actually atrocious,” he said. “Clowney as a football player is not very good. Amazing athlete. Don’t get confused by being an athlete and being a good football player. Not a very good football player.”
Even his peers took shots at him, notably when Auburn defensive end Dee Ford declared himself the better option for teams looking for a pass rusher. “I’m better. Let’s put it like this. People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes,” said Ford. “You can look at guys like Robert Mathis, Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller. These are 6-2 guys and under. People are just looking at the fact that he is a physical specimen. Honestly if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market basically.”
Despite those who are no longer sold on Clowney’s ability, he still has a good chance of going first in this draft, and is seemingly a lock for the top three in one of the most wide open drafts in a while. CBS Sports has all four major mock drafts currently with Clowney as the first player off the board (three to the Texans, one projecting the Falcons trading up). NFL.com posts eight mock drafts, of which six have Clowney going first, with Bortles taking the top spot in the other two. From ESPN, both Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have Clowney atop their most recent mocks. We won’t know until that first name is called on May 8th, but star or bust, or somewhere in between, some people are going to be very wrong on this divisive yet incredible NFL prospect.