Official NFL Draft Day 1 Thread

[Joemailman]

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are on the clock.

I'll be surprised if this pick isn't Lamb or Jeudy.

[Rastak]

Browns take Jedrick Wills.

Geoff Schwartz
@geoffschwartz
·
1m
Browns NOOO ... There's about no evidence of a college RT moving to LT in the NFL. It almost never happens. There's a reason

[Rastak]

OT to the Jets...Becton.

[pbmax]

Nailed that pick in mock draft challenge at work!

[Joemailman]

Jets pick Mekhi Becton.

MEKHI BECTON
OT, Louisville

CONF Atlantic Coast - Atlantic JERSEY #73 CLASS Junior HT 6'7" DOB 04/18/1999 WT 369 lbs

Pass Sets - He's smooth! Appreciate how clean his feet are. Rare ability to reach his back foot on drive catch and shows really nice cadence to not overset versus speed off the edge. Shows good awareness of angles to keep his passer secure prior to contact.

Length/Extension - All the reach in the world. His punch and extension will uproot defenders and physically uproot them a few yards at a time. Pretty awesome to watch him throw hands/create space instantly with upper body power. Plenty of length to extend and run rushers past the QB.

Balance - Appreciate how he doesn't fold at the waist to chase in space. He's a bit high hipped but his dynamic lower half does well to reach and catch his momentum to prevent him from drifting. Shows good angular adjustments on the move.

Hand Technique - His punches can be a bit wild but boy are they effective. He's got probably the heaviest hands in the class, although Andrew Thomas' are cleaner. If he can convert more blows to sustained hand fits, he's going to whitewash DEs out in the run game with consistency.

Power at POA - Awesome power. Top shelf strength throughout his entire frame and unlike most big guys at this stage, he's got mobility to apply it in lateral or angular situations where his whole frame isn't aligned. He's terrific at the point of attack to create space.

Football IQ - He gets away with some overly ambitious punches due to his raw power and his sense of continuing to work up the field for work versus stopping to peel eyes back and look for where to go can improve. But the arrow here is pointing firmly up. Strong development in 2019.

Functional Athleticism - Folks this big aren't supposed to move this well. He's so fluid for a big man and as a result he'll gear down and pick off scraping LBs with ease. Have seen him work cutoff on a 1T from the backside — which is insane. The redirectional ability he displays is good for anyone.

Anchor Ability - Strong as an ox. He's so naturally strong and with the reach he has, he rarely gives up his chest and allows bodies into his frame. Even when he does, core strength and lower body power eat up most comers and he shows a good late anchor.

Flexibility - Rare mobility through his hips and shows plenty of hinge laterally to play with forcible power on turnout blocks and when looking to long-arm edge setters out from a gap. He's got good range of motion through his hips on pass sets to play with sufficient cadence.

Competitive Toughness - Love his effort level. He's working the backside with assertiveness, he's getting out onto the second level and effectively breaking down linebackers and sticking on them. He's absolutely nasty in the trenches if you keep him in tight to the LOS.

---

Best Trait - Power at POA

Worst Trait - Punch Placement Consistency

Best Film - Syracuse (2019)

Worst Film - Boston College (2019)

Red Flags - None

Summary - Mekhi Becton projects as a starting left tackle at the NFL level — and a damn good one. Becton has all the length and functional power in the world, pairing it with a rare blend of flexibility and size. Becton is a brawler in the run game and his pure size overwhelms many pass rushers off the edge. There are still some technique consistencies to still be ironed out but generally speaking the ceiling here is sky high and there's a foundation that should allow early production at LT.

[Joemailman]

Raiders are on the clock.

[call_me_ishmael]

Papa Beckton is a big, big man holy shit!

[Bretsky]

any of you bitches going to GB when the draft is there ???????/

[call_me_ishmael]

https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1253498446851563520?s=20

LOL. True. I cannot get over the size of Papa Becton.

[yetisnowman]

Please stop spoilers.

[Joemailman]

any of you bitches going to GB when the draft is there ???????/

Count on it.

[Rastak]

Ruggs to Da Raiders.....

[Bretsky]

WOW; San Fran is happy

[Rastak]

Please stop spoilers.

Last spoiler was about 8 picks ago actually. Nothing recently.

[Joemailman]

Raiders take Henry Ruggs.

HENRY RUGGS III
WR, Alabama

CONF SEC - West JERSEY #11 CLASS Junior HT 6'0" DOB 01/23/1999 WT 190 lbs

Route Running: Not an eye-popping route runner by any measure, but still a quality player who will generate throwing angles at the next level. Eats up vertical cushion with instant explosiveness and can get man cover corners into panic mode quickly with his ability to carry speed through angles. Does not yet have a developed usage of release moves or stalk manipulation, which leads to races to the corner (that he often wins) when trying to get downfield, and he frequently loses the red line. Can be late snapping his head around into breaks, which may lead to some of his issues framing quick throws. Ability to stop on a dime on the outside leads to immediate separation on back shoulder fades or deep comebacks, which is an important counter to his primary usage.

Release: Solid release player with some good tools in the toolbox. Shoulder dip and hand usage are both impressive for a player of relative inexperience -- has great flexibility to get underneath/around punches and retain his balance and speed when working upfield. Path is generally too wide and must continue to develop footwork at the line of scrimmage to get softer upfield angles to win the red line on downfield releases. Works back across face on quick-breaking routes well and incorporates his hands with good aggressiveness. Basketball background is apparent.

Physicality: He's got some moxie! Really active with his hands throughout his route stem and keeps the free hand jiving when he's the ball carrier. Will lower his shoulder into contact as a blocker or runner and loves to get physical with unsuspecting corners who are sitting on their heels fearful of his deep speed. Surprising and impressive contact balance a result of free-moving hips and competitive spirit.

Hands: Soft mittens. Catches naturally in stride and isn't perturbed by high-velocity balls outside of his frame. Flashes hands late and aggressively to balls that are at his full extension and quickly transitions to a runner. Able to attack balls at the highest point while elevating and has plus technique to avoid body-catching habits when working back to the football. It's just easy for him, man.

Functional Athleticism: Functional does not even begin to describe this dude's athleticism. Could enter the NFL with the best explosiveness and best long speed at the position -- which is already ripe with elite athletes. A candidate for schemed touches and deep bombs due to alien speed and acceleration. Has loose hips and clean feet to change direction when he's not working at full speed; will need gather steps when he's on full throttle. Flexibility in the lower half allows for natural leverage and he has enough density to deliver hits and survive contact at a high level. Length is great. He's just stupid, man.

RAC: What more can you say about the effect of his unique speed? Has true zoomies with pads on and regularly breaks the angles of his opponent's fastest defenders, which contributes to his unreal propensity for the explosive play. Instant acceleration is hugely valuable given his ability to break tackles with plus contact balance -- when he goes 0 to 100 is when he makes the most would-be tacklers look foolish. Is not uniquely elusive but has good quicks and solid vision -- is a no-nonsense runner who will take the first runway he gets.

Catch Radius: Has a plus catch radius given second gear to close down on throws in front of him, as well as strong mitts outside of his frame. Shifts gears nicely down the field to address footballs at extension, though ability to do so through contact is generally untested. Rarely in a situation that requires him to elevate for contested balls.

Track/Adjust: Locates the deep bomb quickly and will aggressively work to the football through contact. Prefers to run under passes down the field, however, and must become better at attacking deep balls as an alpha in the air, with his hips toward the line of scrimmage. Must learn how to work back to the football at times across the middle of the field and develop a more immediate instinct for quick-breaking passes during which the ball gets on top of him early.

Blocking: Jumps up on people with his surprising aggression and strength. Activates the whole body and rolls power through the hips when he engages with DBs; is regularly at the correct leverage and looks to help spring his teammates with a hot motor. Is limited in terms of length/crackback ability given his frame, but is more than adequate and admirably inspired.



Round Grade: Incomplete

Best Trait: Functional Athleticism

Worst Trait: Physicality

Pro Comparison: DeSean Jackson



Summary: Henry Ruggs III is a Day 1 candidate for every NFL team. His skillset -- electric speed, ball-tracking, and strong hands -- are a fit for any system and valuable beyond the measurement of his statistical output. Ruggs will dictate safety rotation at the NFL level given his ability to release against press coverage and challenge even the top NFL corners with his success working the nine ball/back-shoulder fade combination. Ruggs is also a winner in short areas with efficient routes and angle-breaking acceleration, with better toughness and tackle breaking ability than he's given credit for. Ruggs has the potential to house every ball and is the highest floor of all the rookie receivers given his physical toolset.