After introducing some of my favorite offensive player In this year’s NFL Draft, let’s take a look at four players who are definitely this year’s “My Guys.”
Just to be clear, the players who qualify for this list don’t necessarily have to be the players I think are the best at their position, but the players I think are higher than the consensus, or who are in the draft room. He is a player who wants to hit the table. If he were playing against another player that I rated similarly.
If you want a better idea of what a consensus board looks like, I highly recommend checking out Arif Hasan’s article. wide left on substack.
Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean
Iowa State CB Cooper Dejean – Photo courtesy of USA Today
This may change as I’m still trying desperately to see as many players as possible before the draft starts late next week, but there are currently only 14 first-round grade players. is. Dejan is one of them, and he’s number 14 on my big board. He’s ranked 23rd on the consensus board, so I’m not all that different from the overall market.
But what I think is more positive about Dejan is his view of the position. There’s been a lot of debate as to whether DeJean can remain a perimeter corner at the NFL level or if he needs to transition to safety. I believe part of it may be unconscious bias due to Dejan’s race. There hasn’t been a white starting cornerback since Jason Seehorn in the late ’90s and early ’19s.
In my opinion, Dejan has the speed and size movement skills to stay on the outside. I think his hip fluidity is smoother than a lot of people give it credit for. As a matter of fact, I note in my notes that the fluidity in his hips shines when he gets into the slot and handles receivers in both directions. Dejan is the best cover 3 corner in this year’s draft and has shown the ability to click and close quickly. He plays smart, follows the zone rules, and ignores switch-operating receivers.
Dejan has shown great ball skills, as evidenced by 13 passes defensed and seven interceptions over the past two years. Yes, he can be a good safety, but I think he’s also the best corner in this class, and his positional versatility should be seen as a strength, not a weakness. That’s why he’s definitely one of my friends.
Illinois interior defensive lineman Johnny Newton
Illinois DL Jazan “Johnny” Newton and Wisconsin RB Braeron Allen – Photo courtesy of USA Today
There’s a lot of (rightly) buzz right now surrounding Newton being a first-round prospect. Some draft analysts list him as the number one defensive player on their board. So how can I classify him as a member of “my people”? Easy. He’s the No. 1 player on my board, both offensively and defensively. Even considering the value of his position, I still think he’s better than any quarterback in this class.
I’ll leave the rest of the story to my scouting notes.
“His hands may be the single best trait among prospects in this draft class. He has a quick start and uses it to overwhelm offensive linemen.” The delay and suddenness forces the opponent to grab the air. Good pass rush plan. Great anchor for his size. The swipe stabs steadily. Natural leverage from the short frame. No bad pounds.”
This is the first year I’ve used a numerical rating scale, so it’s hard to say for sure, but he’ll be the highest-rated Interior Defensive Lineman I’ve scouted in my short time as an evaluator. I believe it is. High praise for him definitely makes him one of “my friends”.
west michigan edge marshawn kneeland
Western Michigan OLB Marshawn Kneeland – Photo courtesy of Western Michigan
I have been attending Kneeland since I saw him at Reese’s Senior Bowl. There he showed off all the tools that made him standout at Western Michigan University, but also had some new tools in the bag, including an amazing bend and a wicked spin move. Unlike other players projected higher by consensus boards, such as Penn State edge rusher Chops Robinson, Kneeland has the size and play strength to be an every-down player with a plus against the run. have.
But what really intrigues me is the potential for what his pass-rushing arsenal could develop into. He plays from a basic set of power/strength and likes to bully offensive linemen with bull rushes, long arms, dip-and-rip, or push-pull. From there, Kneeland develops a wide range of counters that make him a versatile pass rusher, including cross chops, cornering with speed and bending, the aforementioned spin, and even ghost moves.
He’s far from a polished product, but in an edge class that I generally struggle with, Kneeland has a better physical profile, strength, and potential than many other edge defenders in this class. He is my EDGE4 in this class and could be in the top 25 overall for me, much closer to EDGE3 (Jared Verse) than EDGE5 (Darius Robinson). Nyland definitely deserves to be one of the “my guys” considering most people see a significant drop off from Vaas, Laiatu Latu, and Dallas Turner to the rest of the class.
Georgia safety Tykie Smith
Georgia State Guard Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Smith ranks highest among Georgia safeties for me, ahead of running mate Javon Bullard. Similar to Marshawn Kneeland, Smith has the skillset to be a factor in the run game as a hybrid safety nickel, giving him a chance to get on the field sooner than most. From there, I want to bet on his instincts, which are his biggest traits in the movie, and take him into positions where his average athletic ability wouldn’t allow him to perform.
Smith is similar to Todd Bowles because he can get into the backfield as a blitzer, can get past blockers and get to the perimeter on sweeps, tosses, bubbles/perimeter screens, and isn’t afraid to stick his nose out. Ideal for multi-defense. Get into the box to reach the ball carrier. This is the mentality I like in prospects.
He used all of that to stand out in a Georgia defense full of natural athletes, leading the team in tackles, lost tackles and interceptions. This has ensured that Smith will be on my “pals” list.
Watch the Pewter Report Draft Show live April 25-27
We’ll be talking about these players this weekend on Pewter Report’s live draft coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft on our YouTube channel.
annual pewter report The Draft Show is back for the 2024 NFL Draft. Pewter Report’s three-day live streaming coverage of the Bucks’ draft includes: Pewter Report TV Channel Fueled by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. The event will kick off on Thursday, April 25th at 7pm ET, one hour before the official start of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Hosts Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera will broadcast live throughout the three days from the Bucks’ team headquarters at the AdventHealth Training Center. Other members of the Pewter Report staff will also appear on-air, including Adam Thrivon, Bailey Adams and Josh Quapo, providing insight and analysis as the Bucks make their selections.
Our PR staff will also spend 20 hours over three days interacting with Bucks fans and answering their questions.
Pewter Report 2024 Draft Show Schedule On pewter report tv on youtube
Thursday, April 25th – 7:00 PM ET (Selections begin at 8:00 PM ET)
Friday, April 26th – 6:00 PM ET (Selections begin at 7:00 PM ET)
Saturday, April 37th – 11 a.m. ET (Selections begin at noon ET)
Pewter Report staff will also provide live reaction and analysis from Todd Bowles and Jason Licht’s press conferences during the three-day event. The reaction to the team’s first-round pick at Friday’s press conference was similar.
