| PRO šŸˆ Alabama and the NFL Draft

You never know how a guys game will translate but Mac is smart, prepares like a pro and wont get you beat. He will be a 7-10 year pro even if he is a backup. Fields will get forced into a starting line up somewhere to try and be the next Lamar Jackson but he doesn't have that much wiggle and surely doesnt have a micheal vick type of arm.

I don't hope Chase fails but if I am drafting in the first round the most important thing is dont miss. I dont think you can miss with Smitty or waddle because they do so many things right. They have speed, hands, run good routes, play special teams, they block and know how to be a good teammate. I also think Surtain is the safest pick in the world. After watching Chase's tape, he is tough, with strong hands but he doesn't look to have the burst that Waddle or Smitty have.
 
Falcons do not need a QB this year that high. They need someone to sit a few years behind Ryan, playing off and on, so they can look at trading Ryan. They should draft a QB or two in later rounds.
IMO, Ryan isn't what everyone says he is. Drafting a QB in the later rounds isn't going to give them a quality QB - just a perenial backup. Ryan's trade value won't be much since his days are limited (he'll be 36 in mid-May). The new coach and GM need to make a statement with the draft.
 
Ok, almost all of this info is stuff I've heard from 2 different people who cover the Draft, one of which IMO, the best in the business.

-Shanahan wants Mac Jones, but the scouting department has been pushing Trey Lance. But they may need a guy that's ready now, and that's Mac Jones. If they take Lance, it'll be because the scouting side won out and they feel they have a short term plan at QB while Lance develops. Mac is a really good fit for that offense though (like Wilson is with the Jets). SF tried to land Andy Dalton and when that failed they decided to trade up so that they could grab a QB early. Many around the league feel that #3 is too high to grab Mac Jones (I tend to agree), but with the way teams go hard after QB's, that's what you have to do if you want to get your man.

-If Atlanta feels they can hold onto Julio and make things work financially, Pitts makes a ton of sense (win now). If not? They can field trade offers and possibly move down. Hard to pass up on Pitts regardless, dude is a mismatch nightmare.

-Depending on who the Bengals take (Chase?), they could trade down some or take Sewell.

-Miami really wants Pitts. They also love Waddle and Smith. Sewell could be too tough to pass up if the Bengals go Ja'Marr Chase.

-Like the Dolphins, the Lions also love Devonta and Waddle.

-Panthers have fielded lots of offers on trades for their spot.

-Fields likely won't fall past Denver. The Broncos want a QB.

-Everybody assumes the Cowboys will take either Surtain or Horn. That probably means they'll do no such thing. Also, there is a big drop off after those 2 guys at corner, so other teams with that need have been looking to trade up to grab them.

-Eagles have liked Waddle from the start of the process, but also have defensive needs, and Waddle may no longer be around.

-Patriots want a QB, but may have to trade up (maybe Mac Jones if he slides past SF?). A trade for Jimmy Garoppolo is the fall back plan if they can't grab one in the draft.

-Hard for people around the league to get a feel for what they Raiders will do in the draft because most seem to think they hardly know themselves.

-Miami has flexibility with their 18th pick. Could trade up if DeVonta slides? Could trade down for a different WR or Najee.

-The Steelers and Dolphins have loved Najee since Sr. Bowl week, but the 24th pick may be too high to grab him. Jets really like him too.

-The Packers had been looking hard at Kadarius Toney to try and appease Aaron Rodgers, but now that he's set the bridge on fire, who knows what they'll do.

-If Landon Dickerson sneaks into the 1st round, it very well could be as the Ravens 2nd selection.

-Barmore has a chance to sneak into round 1 too since the position is so weak this year. Tampa Bay? Maybe. Tampa returns all 22 starters so they can go literally any direction. Best available on their board regardless of position? Add depth to a certain spot? Barmore would make a lot of sense here.


Some of the knocks the that teams have against the Bama guys...

Jones- limited starts, mobility, arm strength.

Smith- size.

Waddle- not quite as polished as other top WR's in the class.

Surtain- some believe he has a lower ceiling than Horn.

Najee- lacks some speed and burst.

Dickerson- really bad medicals, some teams have him way, way down their boards solely based on that. Ravens really like him though. As do the Steelers.

Barmore- his team has had to spend a lot of time trying to convince teams that he can stay on path, on and off the field.

Leatherwood- seemed to level off in terms of his improvement last season and lacks a bit of a mean streak.

Deonta Brown has worked hard since the season ended and may have really helped himself. He cut his weight from 364 to 344 from late Jan to late March. Not sure where it is now, but he needed to get it down more so that he would be more attractive to different schemes.


-Lastly, Kirby being Kirby. At the end of the season, Kirby tried to talk a couple of guys into staying at UGA. The one he pushed the hardest was edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. Kirby showed Ojulari NFL paperwork that had him as a 5th round grade. Problem is, the paperwork was old and the evaluation was from before the season ever even began. Obviously, Ojulari got a hold of the updated evaluations that gave him a 1st round grade and he was out the door. Now, his combine medicals did raise red flags with some teams, but that's a different story.
 
I saw a highlight clip on Chase somewhere this week. Every clip except one, he pushed off to get his separation. To the point Iā€™m not sure why they showed those 6-7 clips because it sure didnā€™t give a good perspective. They were all TD catches from 2019, but obvious push offs.
 
Looks like it will stay 6 in round 1 to tie the record.

The Penn State LB that was taken by Baltimore started 1 game in 2019 and 7 in 2020. I wonder if thatā€™s the least college starts for a 1st rounder. Small sample...
 
Welp, didn't break the record but did tie it, which is still pretty damn impressive so can't be too upset. Barmore should be an early 2nd rounder.
 
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