Came across this today, like the idea.

not sure if it's official, but McVAY was supposed to announce it on a podcast tonight. Was hoping for an upgrade, but he was so / so when he took over for Allen last year. Seems like we're 4/ 5th set now, on offensive line ( left guard ). Too bad about Noteboom- he'll be at that position......... until then they'll probably go with Havenstein over there.

Top 100 picks of McVay era: WR Cooper Kupp

As part of theRams.com's coverage leading into this year's NFL Draft, we will be taking a look at each of the Top 100 picks of the Sean McVay era in Los Angeles. The series continues with a look at wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

Before joining the Rams

Playing at FCS program Eastern Washington didn't put Cooper Kupp at a disadvantage. In fact, he had multiple games on national television against Pac-12 opponents and capitalized in big ways.

Take his first college game in 2013, for example, when as a redshirt freshman he finished with five receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-46 upset win over No. 25 Oregon State in Eastern Washington's season-opener. Two years later, he set new Autzen Stadium records with 15 catches for 246 yards against No. 7 Oregon, hauling in three touchdown grabs too.

All told, he had 40 receptions for 716 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games against Pac-12 opponents, with Eastern Washington posting a 2-2 record in those contests.

Kupp earned consensus FCS All-American honors in each of his four seasons and was named the FCS Offensive Player of the Year following his redshirt senior year in 2016. The four-year starter accumulated 6,464 yards, 428 receptions, 73 touchdown catches, 124.3 average yards per game and 1.40 average TDs per game – all FCS records. Collectively, he established 15 FCS, 11 Big Sky and 26 EWU records in 52 games at EWU.

That decorated resume landed him an invitation to the 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl, where, alongside future Rams teammate and tight end Gerald Everett, he was identified as one of seven players making a push into the first round of that year's NFL Draft.

Although the prediction did not come to fruition, it likely did help state his case as one of then-NFL Network draft analyst Mike Myaock's Top 100 players in the draft. That distinction held up, too, as Kupp was chosen 69th overall in the third round by the Rams.

Having pro lineage didn't hurt, either, with his father and grandfather both being former NFL players.

Rams highlights

Much like the start of his college career, Kupp began his NFL career in an impactful way with four catches for 76 yards and one touchdown in a 46-9 Rams win over the Colts in Week 1 of the 2017 season. His 62 catches that year set the franchise single-season rookie record, while his 869 receiving yards were second to Eddie Kennison's rookie record of 924 in 1996.

Though a torn ACL prematurely ended his second NFL season, he bounced back with the first 1,000-yard season of his career in 2019. Kupp's 94 receptions, 1,164 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns were all team-highs.

Twenty-six years ago, yesterday.

Still makes me chuckle...wonder occasionally, but don't care enough to check, whether the two have ever talked about it since.

I was reading through the various "misses" in the draft (that we admitted..lol), and one poster said well such and so player would have been great no matter what. I began thinking about the team sport and which players would be great no matter what, regardless of surrounding talent, etc... I think there are positions on the team, mostly on the lines, which would have provided opportunity to succeed better than other positions. Curiously, it seems that amateur GM's dream of trading guys like this when they excel, especially when the team ends up with a losing record... I know that it might seem to be recency bias with my first pick, but I think he is the best Dline player in Rams history, and that's saying something. These are my top 10 players who would have been great regardless of surrounding cast/system
1. Aaron Donald
2. Merlin Olsen
3. Jackie Slater
4. Orlando Pace
5. Deacon Jones
6. Jack Youngblood
7. Marshall Faulk
8. Isaac Bruce
9. Torry Holt
10. Tom Mack

There are other great players who needed others to excel. Kurt Warner needed Orlando Pace and the Oline, plus Holt & Bruce & Faulk to be what he he was with the Rams. I'm gonna get blasted for this, but Dickerson, Gurley, and even SJAX needed holes provided by the Oline to cut loose. Marshall was so versatile, instinctive and elusive, he could deal with adversity better than them, I think. For my proof, I provide this run which Faulk did, and Vermeil was telling everyone "We didn't block anybody (for Marshall)"

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdG0T0lMpvc

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1247479796797444098?s=21

Not a huge fan of the spotlight but I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t excited.

Report: Replay review of pass interference “almost certainly” out for 2020

The NFL experimented with replay review of pass interference calls and non-calls in 2019. That experiment likely will be over.

According to Judy Battista of NFL Media, pass interference replay review “almost certainly will NOT be extended.”

That’s the current feeling as the Competition Committee discusses potential rule changes in advance of next month’s meeting, which will occur either in person or presumably by teleconference or video conference. Because it was adopted last year on a one-season basis, any continuation of replay review for pass interference calls or non-calls would need 24 votes in support of the measure.

That’s great news on the surface, because the NFL struggled throughout 2019 to get the standard right for overturning interference calls and non-calls. In the preseason, it seemed too high. Early in the regular season, it seemed too low. And it continued to move up and down throughout the year.

Still, the league will need to adopt something in order to avoid another Rams-Saints non-call debacle. Sky judge continues to be a possibility, although its parameters are unclear. If all else fails, NFL senior V.P. of officiating Al Riveron needs to be ready and willing to break the rules regarding use of the real-time communication pipeline to clean up what could become a gigantic mess.

Indeed, if Riveron had simply done that during the Rams-Saints game, instructing the on-field officials to drop a flag after Nickell Robey-Coleman blew up Tommylee Lewis, no one would have said anything about it — and the last 14 months wouldn’t have seen so much time devoted to preventing the problem from happening again.

That’s hardly an ideal approach (especially if the league won’t be bringing back Dean Blandino), but it’s better than nothing at all. We saw what can happens when there’s no glass to break in the event of a pass interference emergency.

Might as well start a thread on this topic (the season). Articles are popping up and speculate how the 2020 NFL season could be played.

Here is one on MLB.

Report: MLB, MLBPA discussed starting season with all teams in Arizona

As sports leagues try to find a pathway forward to resume their operations about the novel coronavirus pandemic, options that once would have seen absurd are now being legitimately discussed.

According to Ron Blum of the Associated Press, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association discussed the idea of having all 30 teams begin play in Arizona as part of a modified season scheduled during a Monday call between the two sides.

The Phoenix area is home to spring training for 15 different teams with 10 spring training sites along with Chase Field, the home field for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the regular season. All 11 stadiums are located within approximately 50 miles of each other with Hohokam Park in Mesa and Surprise Stadium in Surprise being the two stadium separated by the greatest distance. The season would begin without fans in the stands under such a concept.

But the idea appears to be just that for the time being. The logistics of getting 30 MLB teams to the same metropolitan area, finding accommodations for the entire operation of each team and scheduling out 15 games a day in a locale with just 11 potentially viable stadiums all present significant challenges to overcome. Chase Field itself with a retractable roof could host at least two games a day, in theory. However, the other 10 parks are all fully outdoor and could prove challenging if games were to continue into the Arizona summer where temperatures can easily soar over 100 degrees.

“We’d all love to find a way to play, provided we could do safely, and that would be the priority,” Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said.

There is a real possibility the prevalence of the virus could impede any practical execution of the idea. The MLBPA would eventually need to decide if they’d be OK with the possible risks associated with beginning in such a way as well. Baseball’s season was supposed to start March 26 and will not begin until at least the second half of May as it is.

The NFL may have even more challenges to overcome should they attempt to begin their seasons this fall in a similar fashion. The very nature of the sport requires close contact to begin with and there isn’t an obvious satellite site for the entire league to descend upon to begin their seasons.

But it’s clear the NFL is going to continue to push forward as though the season will begin on schedule for as long as possible.

How to answer a tough question like a Pro

Mcvay on why the Rams cut ties with Gurley....

"A lot of the decisions we make aren't exclusively about a player, but you're talking about how to fit a big puzzle together with your team," McVay said. "These are conversations that require a lot of different directions and kind of projections based on where we're at, where we want to be... but there certainly were a lot of things that went into the discussion and ultimately the decision to make that move."


View: https://gfycat.com/hoarseslowgadwall

ESPN, NBC, FOX chasing Drew Brees for broadcast role

Drew Brees has yet to put the football down, but that hasn't stopped broadcast networks from trying to secure his post-play services.

NFL broadcasters ESPN, NBC, and FOX have all shown strong interest in hiring Brees once he retires and they're willing to sign him to a deal sooner rather than later, reports Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

The 41-year-old quarterback inked a two-year, $50-million deal with the New Orleans Saints in March as he looks to win a Super Bowl title before the end of his NFL career.

Nonetheless, ESPN is reportedly prepared to offer Brees $6.5 million per season. Another quarterback-turned-broadcaster, former Dallas Cowboys passer Tony Romo, reportedly signed a deal in February that will pay him $17 million per season as CBS' lead NFL game analyst.

ESPN continues to tinker with its broadcast pairing after popular analyst Jon Gruden returned to the sideline in 2018. The network has reportedly made several attempts to lure Peyton Manning to the booth, and Marchand notes network personalities Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Dan Orlovsky are the top candidates to replace the current team of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland for the 2020 season.

Brees has told network executives he prefers to work on game broadcasts, according to Marchand. NBC and FOX already employ Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman for their respective lead analyst positions. Brees could theoretically replace one of them or start with either network's No. 2 broadcast team.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/james-bond-honor-blackman-pussy-galore-dead-94

Honor Blackman, the actress best known as Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bondfilm “Goldfinger,” has died at age 94.

Blackman's family said in a statement to Fox News Monday that she died peacefully of natural causes at her home in the southeastern England town of Lewes.

Her family noted that she was an "adored mother and grandmother” and a 'hugely prolific creative talent."

CRUISING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: SHOULD I CANCEL MY CRUISE? WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE?

“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman aged 94. She died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family. She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby,” the statement reads. “As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times"

In addition to her role alongside Sean Connery’s James Bond, Blackman is also known for her role as Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV show, “The Avengers.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, she actually left the TV show after two seasons in order to take on the big screen role as Pussy Galore. Her character was effectively replaced by “Game of Thrones” actress Diana Rigg as Emma Peel.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: HOW TO TRAVEL WITH PETS

In “Goldfinger,” Blackman made an impression from the start. When introduced to Sean Connery's Bond, he replies, “I must be dreaming.”

Her family's statement highlighted other roles, such as Hera in “Jason and the Argonauts” and Laura West in the 1990s sitcom “The Upper Hand.” In addition to her on-screen work, Blackman also had success on stage in productions that included “The Sound of Music,” “My Fair Lady” and “Cabaret.”

"In recent years Honor was touring and performing in her show ‘Honor Blackman as herself’ at various venue across the UK. In conversation with her colleague and friend Richard Digby Day she looked back over her astonishing life, her beginnings, her family, her rise to stardom with her usual sense of humour and perspective," the statement added

First of all, I’m pretty relaxed as of now. It’s certain that a good football player will be sitting there at 52. Or even after a Probable Snead trade(s) down. Lol.

But which position, you say?

Based on reported Ram interest I’d say C or RB are high on their list, but who really knows?

Take it FWIW, but my crystal ball is giving me glimpses of the following:

First 4 picks will be some combo of RB, C, edge, and ILB.

A WR will be picked but who knows where or when? Too good of a WR draft not to take advantage, don’t you think?

A PK will be drafted late. I doubt that even Snead would want to have to sift through UDFA leftovers.

I doubt that more than one OL player is drafted. Might even be none, depending on who might fall at other need positions. Blythe, if nothing else, allows Snead to pounce on BPA and/or juicy tradedown opportunities. Besides, I think that the Rams like their current OL roster more than many fans do.

I’m looking for a helluva battle for starting position between a healthy and hopefully well conditioned Hav and Evans. Competition is always a good thing.

I suspect that Boom will be healthy enough to compete with Whit at LOT by camp but will be Whit’s backup until Whit might need a breather during the season. Wouldn’t be stunned if Boom starts to gradually see more and more game snaps by midseason on to prepare him for ‘21 starter status.

That deep CB roster has allowed much needed cap savings (NRC) and also still allows Snead to focus on other positional Ram needs. CB still looks deep and is a testament to Snead’s eval talent and draft strategy foresight.

I continue to have a real good feeling about this ‘new’ Staley D that we’re gonna see. A ‘new broom’ kinda thing. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a Top 10 D, maybe even better.

I especially am excited to see that AD, Brockers, ARob DL in action together. I suspect that AD is gonna see a few less double/triple teams and we all know that could be a good thing.

I’m expecting a Sean McVay just burning to reclaim that division crown and to once again go deep into the playoffs. His energy and fire will be contagious and result in higher ceilings for his asst coaches AND players.

Hard to say how much the Covid-19 restrictions will negatively impact Ram pre-draft eval accuracy. Then again, it’s the same for all teams so probably not much net effect either way.

I’m encouraged by recent news stories of possible downturn of new Coved-19 cases in some areas AND some encouraging news about successes with certain different meds. To the point that I’m cautiously optimistic that we will see a semi-normal camp and a full regular season.

What did I miss?

2020 ADJUSTED SPARQ SCORES (DEFENSE)

BY HAYDEN WINKS
March 6, 2020, 1:36 pm ET
Updated On: March 6, 2020, 4:03 pm ET

SPARQ does a great job of analyzing overall athleticism, but I showed how little it means for projecting NFL success here. The reason it’s not very helpful as a predictor is because it’s measuring overall athleticism, not the exact athletic traits a prospect needs to play his position in the NFL. For example, the athletic traits a corner needs (speed, agility) are a lot different than the athletic traits a defensive tackle needs (burst, strength), but the SPARQ formula doesn’t change based on position.

That’s where Adjusted SPARQ comes in. The formulas for Adjusted SPARQ change by position -- and sometimes even within positions (RB, WR) -- to put the proper weight on the athletic traits that have historically been better at predicting success in the NFL. Overall, athleticism is still just a small part of a prospect’s total profile, but I prefer Adjusted SPARQ to other composite athletic scores. Here are the results of the 2020 NFL Draft Class:

2020 Adjusted SPARQ Scores
* = Incomplete Combine profile.

DTs
How to read this: “Khalil Davis is a 100th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete.”

Overall, the top prospects (Derrick Brown, Javon Kinlaw) didn’t help their draft stocks, but there were a handful of risers with explosive times at the Combine… Khalil Davis (100th percentile) and Carlos Davis (100th) were elite movers in the weight-adjusted forty, although they didn’t participate in the agility drills.... Malcolm Roach, Leki Fotu, McTelvin Agim, and Justin Madubuike all finished with 84th percentile scores… Neville Gallimore had an elite weight-adjusted forty but tanked the agility drills, finishing as a nice 69th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete… Derrick Brown had a rough day, checking in the 45th percentile. His 10-yard split saved what would’ve been an even lower score. Hopefully he can improve at his Pro Day, or it’s impossible to give him a top-10 overall grade. Non-explosive athletes don’t rush the passer (in general).

EDGEs
How to read this: “Jabari Zuniga is a 90th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete.”

Overall, this edge class stinks and didn’t help themselves at the Combine… Chase Young didn’t test, but he doesn’t have to after destroying the Big Ten last season… It was the Tier 2 edge rushers who were so disappointing. A.J. Epenesa arguably lost the most money last week of anyone who tested, finishing as a 17th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete. He’ll have to improve at his Pro Day to regain his Day 1 status… Terrell Lewis and Yetur Gross-Matos did okay in the drills they participated in, but they didn’t run the forty… Luckily, Jabari Zuniga, Casey Toohill, James Smith-Williams, and Carter Coughlin all finished inside the 80th percentile as above-average athletes for the position.

LBs
How to read this: “Isaiah Simmons is a 99th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete.”

Overall, this is a top heavy linebacker class, but there are some athletic sleepers to be had on Days 2 and 3… Isaiah Simmons rightfully called it a day after running a 4.39 forty, which locked in a 99th percentile Adjusted SPARQ score. He’ll be a top-7 pick… Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen pulled up with hamstring injuries but did enough before leaving to earn 88th percentile and 81st percentile Adjusted SPARQ scores… Willie Gay saw his stock climb at the Combine with an 94th percentile score. He earned the "Now I have to go back and watch the tape" award.

CBs
How to read this: “Jeffrey Okudah is a 96th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete.”

Overall, this corner class is fine, but also includes a potentially rare top-five prospect… Jeffrey Okudah’s tape was phenomenal in my opinion -- go watch him against Clemson -- and he backed it up with 96th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism. Okudah is clearly the top corner and will be among my top non-quarterback prospects this season… C.J. Henderson is the No. 2 corner in the class, especially after showcasing 92nd percentile adjusted athleticism. He should be consistently mocked within the first 20 picks now… Most of the Day 2 corners tested near historical averages, except for Damon Arnette (26th percentile) and Cameron Dantzler (5th percentile) who disappointed versus expectations. Dantzler needs to improve his scores at his Pro Day or he’s cancelled.

Ss
How to read this: “Kyle Duggar is a 99th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete.”

Overall, the safety class lacks a true blue-chip prospect, but there were a few athletic freaks to round out the Day 2 options… Specifically, Kyle Dugger (99th percentile), Jeremy Chinn (98th), and Tanner Muse (91st) were borderline rare athletes for their size. Even Daniel Thomas, L’Jarius Sneed, Antoine Brooks, and K’Von Wallace finished as top 74th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athletes… Xavier McKinney finishing in the 8th percentile will most likely prevent him from being a Day 1 prospect in my model, but it’s important to remember how little athleticism matters for safety. The position requires in-depth knowledge and instincts, which isn’t measured publicly in Indy.

What's Next
1. Position-Adjusted SPARQ
2. Early QB Rankings (Analytics)
3. Early TE Rankings (Analytics)
4. Early RB Rankings (Analytics)
5. Early WR Rankings (Analytics)
6. Which Combine Tests Matter
7. 2020 Adjusted SPARQ Scores (Offense)
8. 2020 Adjusted SPARQ Scores (Defense)
9. Analytics Top 250
10. Winks Top 250
11. Mock Draft
12. Analytics Draft Grades

So, Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy had a better decade than Todd Gurley? Skittles boy Lynch?

Peterson, I can live with.

Draft Memories: Supportive family, friends, teammates helped ease David Edwards' nerves

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Going into the 2019 NFL Draft, then-University of Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards admits he was nervous.

Fortunately for the current Los Angeles Ram, though, he had lots of people supporting him as he approached one of the biggest days of his life.

"I definitely remember just being you know, pretty nervous about it just because I have a little bit of a range in where I could have been picked," Edwards told theRams.com in a phone interview Tuesday morning. "But I was always surrounded by my family and and some of my friends, and that always made it really easy. When I got the call (that I had been drafted), it was like, all that nervousness and the what-ifs, that stuff kind of went away. So it was a really great experience overall."

That experience included hosting a draft party in his hometown of Downers Grove, Illinois, with family, high school friends and their parents plus former coaches who helped him reach the moment in attendance.

"It was just a really joyous occasion and it was great to not only be able to experience that with everybody, but getting all these people together for a great occasion was just a ton of fun," Edwards said.

Edwards anticipated being a Day 2 or Day 3 selection – when Rounds 2-3 and 4-7 take place respectively. Although he was surrounded by great company, that still didn't completely ease some of the anxiety he was feeling.

"You're hoping and anticipating for the best, and as the day continues to go on, you're checking your phone more and you're just continuing to get nervous and more nervous," Edwards said. "But it's funny how once you receive the call, everything goes away. My agent mentioned that to me, 'No matter what happens like you'll, once you get that call, it's like everything goes away. It's like the greatest feeling that you have in your football career.'"

That moment of relief came in the fifth round at No. 169 overall on Saturday, April 27, 2019, when Rams general manager Les Snead informed him that he would be the newest member of the team.

Edwards distinctly remembers the Thousand Oaks, California area code – where the team's training facility is located – and Snead asking him if it had been a dream of his to play in the NFL. Edwards also remembers Snead passing the phone off to head coach Sean McVay and offensive line coach/run game coordinator Aaron Kromer after being told he was going to be taken with the club's fifth-round pick.

"It was kind of a surreal moment because you look at any team for me at least as an outsider, but especially the Rams because I knew a pretty good amount about them, it was just kind of crazy just to be like, wow, I'm actually part of this organization," Edwards said. "Getting to talk to Coach McVay and Coach Kromer, and then everything that ensued was just everything I dreamed of."

Once that phone conversation concluded, Edwards said he smoked a cigar with his dad and some of his buddies and family.

Besides those in attendance at his draft party, he also credited current and former Wisconsin teammates for helping him get to that point. Edwards said he talked to Ryan Ramczyk – a former Badger who went No. 32 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft – as well as current teammates going through the pre-draft process and those in the building in Madison who had been drafted.

"We had, three linemen that were going out that year, so being able to lean on Michael Dieter and Beau Benzschawel made everything easier because you didn't have to go through it alone," Edwards said.

As nervous as Edwards was before the draft, he said he was still enjoying the moment when it came to the preparation. He also had faith that everything would work out, which is why he wouldn't change anything about the entire experience.

"I got put in just an unbelievable situation and got to learn from great people," Edwards said. "I don't know if that would've been the case had I gone to another team. I like to look at it as if I got picked by the Rams for a reason, and I ended up playing and starting some games this year, and it was such a great experience for me. So wherever you get picked, it doesn't really matter, as long as you feel like you're in a great situation and you have the opportunity to prove yourself and compete."

I did something new; with Micah Kiser and Brian Allen

During a time of mandatory social distancing, Team Reporter, Sarina Morales will feature players who has picked up a new interest, tried something new, or dusted off an old hobby. This week, linebacker, Micah Kiser, tells us about his new XBox and O-lineman, Brian Allen tells us about his new ride.

Sarina: Why an Xbox?

Micah: Mostly to connect with my brother (who is in New York City), and then some of my friends from school are on Xbox Live. It's cool to just waste time on.

Sarina: Why Call of Duty?

Micah: It's the game everyone is playing and I'm way too late in the game to get into Fortnite, haha. I'm not trying to get destroyed by some 12-year-old kid!

Sarina: As a newbie, what is the funniest part of this new hobby? What was the first day like?

Micah: Just how bad I am and how out of touch you can get with technology when you don't use it in so long. I'm super impatient [playing] and will just run out and force the issue and get killed off just being an idiot.

Sarina: What is your recommendation for someone trying out a new hobby?

Micah: Just have fun with things and keep an open mind. I've done a little reading, started walking/jogging, playing Xbox, started cooking more. Honestly just becoming more well-rounded and expanding my mind feels pretty healthy. I'm having fun doing it.

Sarina: When did you get it?

Brian: Last week. She's a beauty.

Sarina: Why a bike?

Brian: Because I'm bored and have nothing to do, haha. I ride it to get lunch and stuff.

Sarina: How many miles you put on that puppy?

Brian: Probably about 10 right now, not too many. I usually ride to Chipotle and back. I put my speaker in the basket and jam out, and then put the food in it and ride home.

Sarina: Does the bike have a name?

Brian: Not yet, I'm waiting for the name to come to me. You can't force those things.

Me of recent FAIL: Tavon Austin, Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez (non Ram). I liked all those guys, a lot.


5 Times Mel Kiper Jr Was Embarrassingly Wrong About NFL Draft Prospects

Anyone who calls themselves a draft analyst owes a great deal of respect to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., as he popularized the art and helped push the trade on the masses. Having said that, even the OG of amateur draft scouting has some mind-numbingly bad predictions and takes.

There are too many honorable mentions to name, but some noteworthy ones include naming Seattle Seahawks flop Aaron Curry the top player in the 2009 draft, saying Detroit Lions bust Andre Ware would be an "excellent quarterback", and ranking Dan McGwire and Brett Favre evenly as prospects in the 1991 draft. Even with Kiper's long list of flops, these five stand out as the worst takes he's ever had.

5. Johnny Manziel, 2014

The Manziel hype was real despite the fact he lacked ideal size, arm strength, and pocket presence, to say nothing of his attitude. Kiper, however, bought in to Manziel, asserting that he should be picked No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans. The Texans got a few Pro Bowls out of Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 pick, while Manziel became the next name to find his way into the Cleveland quarterback graveyard after two subpar seasons with the Browns.

4. Mike Williams, 2005

Lions president Matt Millen famously had his heart set on Demarcus Ware in the 2005 draft, but changed his mind just minutes before Detroit was set to pick and grabbed USC receiver Mike Williams after he sat out the entire 2004 season. Kiper loved the pick, declaring Williams a "Hall of Famer" before he ever played a single game. Williams recorded just 37 catches in two years with the Lions, as his lack of great speed made him one of the most high-profile busts from the Millen era in Detroit. Certainly not a Hall of Famer.

3. Akili Smith, 1999

Donovan McNabb was a superb pick, but the 1999 draft unfortunately brought us busts like Tim Couch, Cade McNown, and Cincinnati Bengals flop Akili Smith in the first round. Kiper declared the former Oregon quarterback would be a "great NFL player" after some tremendous pre-draft workouts, but Smith's athleticism couldn't make up for poor understanding of the playbook and accuracy. He threw just five touchdowns against 13 picks in four years as a pro, which moves him into all-time bad bust territory. Maybe he should have stuck with baseball.

2. Andre Wadsworth, 1998

In this draft, Kiper had Ryan Leaf ranked fourth overall on his big board and that wasn't his worst take that year. While Leaf and Peyton Manning figured to be the first two off the board, most thought Michigan's Charles Woodson, a Hall of Famer, was the next best player in the draft. Kiper, however, asserted the No. 1 player in the draft was Florida State defensive end Andre Wadsworth, who went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals while Woodson went fourth. Knee injuries limited Wadsworth to just eight sacks and 36 games in three years, cementing him as one of the biggest busts of all time. Oops.

1. Jimmy Clausen, 2010

Perhaps his most famous bad take, Kiper declared that if Clausen, a former top recruit and star at Notre Dame who fell to the second round of the NFL draft, was not a successful NFL quarterback within seven years, he would retire. Clausen was the furthest thing from successful. He won just one of his 10 starts in Carolina, throwing three touchdowns against nine picks while completing only 52 percent of his passes. Luckily for the Panthers. Clausen's awful year allowed them to select Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick in 2011. Clausen was a backup with the Bears and Ravens before leaving football in 2015.

By Jeremy Layton


The Los Angeles Rams were the next big thing in the NFL two years ago.


As recently as 2018, the Sean McVay-led offensive juggernaut, which featured Jared Goff at quarterback (a first-overall pick) and Todd Gurley at running back (the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year), was being talked about as a perennial contender. McVay was the innovative mind in the NFL, and anyone who had ever stood within six feet of him (before social distancing) was getting hired as an NFL head coach (looking at you, Zac Taylor).


Now the team is coming off a third-place finish in an increasingly loaded NFC West. GM Les Snead has stacked the Rams’ books with bad contracts, and they are set to go five straight years without a first-round draft pick.


The Rams’ potential unraveling started before they even got to the Super Bowl. In April 2018, they traded a first-round draft pick to the Patriots for Brandin Cooks, a receiver whom New England didn’t view as a true No. 1. Los Angeles then signed Cooks to a five-year, $81 million extension, which currently ranks sixth among wide-receiver contracts in terms of total value and total guaranteed money (ahead of DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill).


After an impressive first season with the Rams, Cooks struggled in 2019, catching 42 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns while dealing with concussion issues. The relationship appears to have deteriorated with trade rumors surrounding Cooks he cryptically tweeted “free me” last week.

A week after the Rams extended Cooks, Snead signed Gurley to a four-year, $60 million extension. It was stunning then, given the torn ACL he suffered at Georgia and the fact that he plays running back. It makes even less sense now, as the last two years have been a scourge for running backs and their market value. His whopping $45 million in guaranteed money was far and away the most for a running back in NFL history.
Lo and behold, Gurley’s knee issues returned. After carrying the ball a combined 535 times over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, he developed an arthritic condition in his knee that sidelined him for much of the Rams’ Super Bowl run. He was far less effective in 2019, rushing for just 857 yards. Los Angeles then shocked the NFL by cutting him just two years into his new deal. The team was left with $20.15 million in dead cap after his release.


The third huge extension Snead gave out has yielded similarly troubling results. After the Rams went to the Super Bowl, they rewarded Goff – whom they traded six draft picks (including two first-rounders) to get back in 2016 – with four more years and $134 million. Again, they loaded on the guaranteed money: the $110 million in guarantees remains the most for any player in NFL history.


Goff was good, maybe great, in 2018. He went to the Pro Bowl and threw for 4,688 yards and 32 TDs. But in 2019, he regressed severely. He finished 22nd in the NFL in passer rating and threw 16 interceptions (with many more that were dropped). The book is not yet written on the 25-year-old, but at least last season, Goff was far from deserving of the NFL’s biggest contract.


Without Gurley in the lineup, McVay’s system just didn’t work as well and Goff wasn’t nearly as effective. That reality was foreshadowed with two huge losses in 2018. The Bears shut Gurley down on “Sunday Night Football” that December (season-low 28 rushing yards) as Goff threw four picks. In the Super Bowl, a less-than-healthy Gurley rushed 10 times for 35 yards, and Bill Belichick and the Patriots dismantled McVay on the world’s biggest stage. Between the two games, the Rams scored nine points.


With an ineffective Gurley in 2019, the Rams stumbled. Then, in a desperation move, Snead traded two more first-round picks to the Jaguars for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, leaving them without a Day 1 selection until 2022. To make room for Ramsey, they traded incumbent starting cornerback Marcus Peters to the Ravens for linebacker Kenny Young.

Ramsey was not an upgrade. In his 10 games in Baltimore, Peters had three interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns, and a 63.4 passer rating against. Ramsey had one pick and allowed an 87.5 passer rating when targeted. They sacrificed major draft capital for minimal gains, and retaining Ramsey is not a guarantee. He will be a free agent after 2020, and they have so much money tied up in other players that they may get priced out.


What now? So far this offseason, their defense lost Dante Fowler Jr., Cory Littleton, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Eric Weddle (who retired). Gurley signed with the Falcons. Cooks may get traded for the third time in four years. Even their Pro Bowl kicker, Greg Zuerlein, left for the Cowboys.

The best way to fix an expensive roster is with draft picks or cheap veterans. But the Rams still have two more years until they can draft in the first round. And Snead has continued to throw money around like a teen getting a hold of his parents’ credit card. He re-signed 38-year-old left tackle Andrew Whitworth for three more years, $30 million total, $12.5 million guaranteed. It’s the highest-paying contract for a non-QB over 35 in NFL history, per NFL.com.


To replace Fowler, they signed pass rusher Leonard Floyd from the Bears. Floyd was a former top-10 pick who was cut by Chicago after posting just three sacks in 2019, and that came playing alongside Khalil Mack. The Rams will pay him up to $13 million in 2020 with incentives. That’s more than $4 million per sack.


The cherry on top is that their division might be the best in football. The 49ers just went to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks have Russell Wilson, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. And the Cardinals, who have one of the league’s more exciting young signal-callers in Kyler Murray, just robbed Bill O’Brien and the Texans of DeAndre Hopkins.


The argument could be made that they’ve become the worst team in the NFC West, with no clear avenue for improvement. How things can change in just one NFL season.








A week after the Rams extended Cooks, Snead signed Gurley to a four-year, $60 million extension. It was stunning then, given the torn ACL he suffered at Georgia and the fact that he plays running back. It makes even less sense now, as the last two years have been a scourge for running backs and their market value. His whopping $45 million in guaranteed money was far and away the most for a running back in NFL history.




see also

Tom Dempsey, a retired NFL kicker long known for a 63-yard field goal he kicked in 1970, died Saturday night in Louisiana after a bout with coronavirus, according to reports. He was 73

Dempsey contracted the virus in March while a resident of the Lambeth House retirement home in New Orleans, where at least 15 patients have died after being stricken with the virus, NOLA.com reported.

As of early Sunday, Louisiana had more than 12,400 confirmed cases of the virus, ranking No. 5 among U.S. states. The New Orleans area has recorded 153 deaths.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand, wore a specially made shoe during his NFL career.

His history-making kick for the New Orleans Saints against the Detroit Lions broke the previous NFL record by seven yards. It has since been matched by five kickers – and broken only by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos, who kicked a 64-yarder in 2013.

At the time, Dempsey’s kick helped gain publicity for the Saints, who were then an expansion club playing in only their fourth season.

Dempsey played two seasons for the team, moving on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills in an 11-year professional career.

Born in Milwaukee, Dempsey grew up in California and played college football at Palomar College near San Diego. He signed with the Saints as an undrafted player in 1969.

After retiring from football, Dempsey and his family returned to New Orleans, where he worked as an oilfield salesman, a high school football coach and a car-dealership manager, NOLA.com reported.

In 2012, he disclosed he was battling dementia, the news outlet reported.

Dempsey is survived by a wife, three children, a sister and three grandchildren, NOLA.com reported.

Ranking the supporting casts of recent first-round quarterbacks

A quarterback’s supporting cast, or ecosystem, is crucial for success, especially when it comes to extracting top-notch production out of non-elite quarterbacks. Perhaps more than ever, passing production is dependent on playmakers, blockers and play callers as the NFL has made passing easier than ever. The league is filled with mid-tier quarterbacks who may only be separated by their supporting casts.

Over the last two seasons, eight quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Some of their teams have done a fine job of building their respective offenses, while others are still well behind. The 2018 draft class featured Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen all entering the NFL in perhaps the three worst offensive situations in the league, and the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals have all taken very different paths in their rebuilding process. Isolating the eight first-round quarterbacks from the last two years, here’s a look at the best supporting casts as each group heads into the 2020 draft.

1. JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills have done a great job of building their offense over the last two years, adding numerous pieces along the offensive line and at the skill positions. Last season, the additions of wide receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley worked wonders for Allen’s production on throws up to 20 yards, as they combined for 1,838 yards while Brown’s speed had to be respected as a downfield threat. The addition of WR Stefon Diggs gives the Bills a trio with fantastic route running at all levels of the field and perhaps the best top three wide receivers in the league.

Diggs is a rare combination of outstanding route-running and contested-catch ability, making him a clear No. 1 option with Brown and Beasley able to play to their strengths. Tight end Dawson Knox also showed well last season as a rookie, averaging 13.9 yards/reception. On the offensive line, Buffalo took a high-volume approach which paid off by improving the unit by a few notches in the 2019 final ranking, and they may be ever better this season. Since the 2017 season, only left tackle Dion Dawkins remains on the overhauled starting five. The additions of LG Quinton Spain, C Mitch Morse, and RTs Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe are all perfect plays for the mantra “creep back toward average” along the offensive line.

2. LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

The supporting cast for Jackson starts at the top, where head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have done a wonderful job of building an offensive system around Jackson’s unique skillset. The Ravens have a mauling offensive line that ranked second in our 2019 final ranking, and it paired with Jackson to fuel one of the most dominant rushing attacks in NFL history. While the skill position players lack big-name recognition, they all fit important roles within the Baltimore system. TE Mark Andrews is a pass-game mismatch who has averaged 14.0 yards per reception in his two years in the league, while WR Marquise Brown was a crucial field-stretching weapon for the Ravens’ play-action heavy attack. And therein likes the other piece of the puzzle that circles back to Roman, as Jackson used play action on a league-high 34.8% of his dropbacks last season. The Ravens have done an excellent job at using every edge in order to put Jackson and the entire team in position to succeed.

3. BAKER MAYFIELD, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Like the others at the top of the list, Mayfield has seen numerous improvements to his supporting cast since entering the league. The Browns traded for Odell Beckham, Jr. prior to the 2019 season, though that connection was not a productive one a year ago. Still, Beckham has plenty of talent to pair with possession receiver Jarvis Landry as a solid 1-2 punch. Cleveland just signed TE Austin Hooper to a huge deal, and while Hooper is not the mismatch monster you’d like to see out of a high-priced tight end, he’s a solid complementary piece, especially given new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s penchant for two-tight end sets. Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were used on the field at the same time for a chunk of the 2019 season, and they’re both extremely difficult to tackle in space. The big question is the offensive line — the tackles were poor a year ago, though the Browns still have a solid interior, anchored by center J.C. Tretter and left guard Joel Bitonio. The addition of right tackle Jack Conklin should help, and the No. 10 overall pick could be a prime spot to pick up one of the top tackles in the draft. If the Browns go that route, the offense will be looking strong across the board heading into 2020.

4. KYLER MURRAY, ARIZONA CARDINALS

Two years ago, Josh Rosen may have had the worst situation of any quarterback in the NFL when he started for the Cardinals, and they’ve made great strides since that point. It started with head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive system, which put Murray in position to succeed as a rookie and making the offense one of the league’s most improved units. Of course, the Cardinals may have made the biggest splash of the offseason by trading for elite WR Deandre Hopkins, instantly becoming Murray’s top target and a huge addition to a unit that was a top priority this offseason. Hopkins has posted a PFF receiving grade of at least 88.0 in four of the last five seasons, and he’s produced regardless of the quarterback throwing the ball his way. Arizona still has WR Larry Fitzgerald as a solid possession receiver and WR Christian Kirk as more of a speed threat. If WR Andy Isabella can live up to his second-round hype, it’s already a well-rounded unit that could use one more legitimate threat. The offensive line is still a work in progress, though it took a step forward last year in the new system. The Hopkins trade may have freed the Cardinals up to take the best tackle available at No. 8 overall, and that could vault Arizona to mid-tier status up front. Murray has a solid overall supporting cast that needs another playmaker to emerge and another step forward from the offensive line.

5. DANIEL JONES, NEW YORK GIANTS

Last season was a revolving door among the skill position players for Jones, and that unit has some playmakers if they’re all on the field at the same time. WR Golden Tate is still one of the league’s best after the catch, while WR Darius Slayton emerged as a deep threat, averaging 15.4 yards/reception last season. WR Sterling Shepard can play the possession game and TE Evan Engram is a move tight end with mismatch-creating potential. One more consistent option could work wonders for this group, plus RB Saquon Barkley is always a threat out of the backfield. The offensive line wasn’t nearly as bad as Jones’ 40 sacks and multiple fumbles would indicate, as it ranked 19th in PFF pass-blocking grade as a group. There’s still room to improve, particularly at tackle where Nate Solder and Mike Remmers combined to give up 97 pressures, and they still need a replacement for Remmers heading into 2020. Overall, this group could use another playmaker, perhaps a big-bodied receiver for Jones’ aggressive nature, and stability at tackle.

6. DWAYNE HASKINS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

There’s been plenty of turnover in Washington over the last few years, and the offense still has plenty of questions to answer. Last season, WR Terry McLaurin was outstanding as a third-round rookie, dominating every level with his route-running and explosiveness on his way to an 85.7 overall grade, fifth-best in the NFL. However, there’s not much behind McLaurin other than a few flashes from wide receivers Kelvin Harmon and Trey Quinn. Both players could be useful possession types, but there’s still a big need for another all-around threat to pair with McLaurin. The tight end position needs an upgrade a well, as Jeremy Sprinkle is the top option despite profiling best as a backup. Up front, LT Trent Williams left a massive hole last year and he’s expected to be gone in 2020, leaving a reasonable trio of C Chase Roullier, RG Brandon Scherff, and RT Morgan Moses to go with reclamation left guard Wes Schweitzer. The Redskins are another team looking for their left tackle of the future, and that could be a target if they trade down from No. 2 or early in the second round. Haskins’ supporting cast sports a few more holes than some of the other second and third-year quarterbacks.

7. SAM DARNOLD, NEW YORK JETS

While the other teams have added plenty of offensive talent over the last two years, the Jets still have plenty of question marks at both the skill positions and up front. They’ve been hamstrung in part by the trade that netted Darnold, as they’ve only made 12 draft picks over the last two years — only five of which were spent on offensive players, including Darnold. The Jets patched together an offensive line a year ago, but most of their starters hit free agency this offseason. They deserve credit for attacking the problem with volume, but there’s only one PFF season grade of 70.0-plus among the projected starters, so the issue is far from resolved. As for the skill positions, the only major investment has been RB Le’Veon Bell, and that’s a position that should be the icing on the cake rather than the cake itself. Darnold’s top playmaker has been WR Robby Anderson, who just left via free agency, and the current depth chart features Josh Doctson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder, a trio whose best season receiving grade is Crowder’s 73.3 effort last year.

8. JOSH ROSEN, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Rosen may have had the worst situation of any quarterback behind the 2018 Cardinals’ offensive line with no one to throw to, and he now sits on the bench behind Ryan Fitzpatrick as part of the Miami Dolphins’ rebuild.

Top 100 picks of McVay era: TE Gerald Everett

As part of theRams.com's coverage leading into this year's NFL Draft, we will be taking a look at each of the Top 100 picks of the Sean McVay era in Los Angeles. The series begins with a look at tight end Gerald Everett.

Before joining the Rams

The tight end position has offered several former basketball players a successful transition into a professional football career, regardless of when they began playing the latter sport.

Kent State's Antonio Gates and Cal-Berkeley's Tony Gonzalez are perhaps the most notable examples, playing both basketball and football in college.

The University of Miami's Jimmy Graham played one season for the school's football team after exhausting his basketball eligibility – his first time playing football since his high school days – but what he put on film was tantalizing enough to make him a top 100 pick in 2010 when the New Orleans Saints chose him 95th overall.

Gerald Everett had a similar path.

A three-year letter-winner in basketball and member of the track and field team at Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, Everett did not pick up football until his senior season. Still, he put together an all-conference season which caught the attention of Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, one of the top junior college programs in the country.

After two seasons at Hutchinson, he received a scholarship to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), but was forced to transfer to South Alabama after UAB shuttered its football program. Everett's team-leading 41 receptions, 575 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns and 12 total touchdowns in his first season at South Alabama earned him first-team all-Sun Belt honors plus a spot in the conference's all-newcomer team.

That production garnered national acclaim. Prior to his senior season, NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein named him one of the top college football tight ends to watch in 2016.

Everett finished with 49 catches for 714 yards and four touchdowns in his second and final season at South Alabama. Four months later, the Rams chose him with the 44th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Rams highlights

It didn't take long for Everett to make a strong impression. In Week 2 of his rookie season, he finished with three catches for 95 yards against the Washington Redskins. In his second year, he tallied three receptions for 49 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Rams' thrilling 54-51 Monday Night Football win over the Chiefs.

Prior to being slowed by injuries late in the season, Everett's 2019 campaign produced three of the top five performances of his career, including a career-high eight catches for 68 yards against the Steelers in Week 10 and seven catches for a career-best 136 yards against the Seahawks in Week 5.

There was side chatter on this when the signing happened, but no topic.

What are the Bears thinking? I get competition for Trubisky, but seemed a good offseason to find that via FA.

Jags got bailed out of that contract, and a pick!



Bears' Nick Foles excited for 'open competition' with fellow QB Mitchell Trubisky

Nick Foles is excited by the prospect of competing to be the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback after the team confirmed it would hold an "open competition" at the position.

The Bears brought in Foles in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, dealing a fourth-round draft selection for the man who guided the Philadelphia Eagles to a victory in Super Bowl 52.

That move piled the pressure on incumbent starter Mitchell Trubisky, whose job is now under threat three years after he was drafted No. 2 overall by general manager Ryan Pace.

Foles, 31, has already spoken to Trubisky and hopes they can put the team first going into training camp.

"The opportunity to be a full-time starter and do those things is something any player would love to do in the right situation," Foles told reporters. "It's an opportunity I'm excited for.

"Mitch and I have already talked and we want to start out on the right foot. Ultimately, it's all about what’s best for the Chicago Bears."

Pace and coach Matt Nagy have praised the way Trubisky has taken to the challenge of Foles' arrival.
"With the addition of Nick Foles, it's exactly what we talked about from the start — we want to create competition," Pace said. "We've talked to both players and it's an open competition. We understand the focus is on the quarterback position.

"It's been a focus for us with the addition of Nick Foles. We've increased competition at a critical position, we talked to both players, and credit to both those guys for embracing it."

Nagy believes the blame for Trubisky being unable to hit the heights of other QBs in the early stages of his NFL career should be shared.

"What we're trying to do is what's best for the Chicago Bears, plain and simple," he said. "You could feel how much of a competitor Mitch is. He's embracing it and he's excited to get back to work.

"Part of the conversation we discussed, too, was understanding the big picture. I know Mitch gets a lot of this, but we could have been a lot better coaching, schematically. I could have been a better head coach. And then as we all know, we can all be better as players around him as well. That's the focus there.

"Mitch has had an unbelievable personality throughout it. All he wants to do is be the best quarterback he can be for the Chicago Bears. And when we walk in on the first day, whenever it is, Mitch will be first in the huddle."

5 best playmakers in the 2020 NFL Draft

NFL teams want nothing more than to get a good playmaker in the NFL Draft. Teams want that help on either side of the ball; guys who get big sacks or blow up plays in the backfield are just as valuable as an explosive receiver or running back, after all. The only prerequisite is making big plays at the NFL level.

Here are five players set to be drafted in the first round who are likely to do just that.

5. Henry Ruggs, WR

Let’s start with the simple fact that Ruggs ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That’s among the best wide receiver times ever, so it’s obvious that the Alabama receiver has elite, game-changing speed. It has led to some Tyreek Hill comparisons, and it’s no secret that Hill is one of the league’s elite playmakers. Ruggs does pretty much everything well, but that speed, more than anything else, makes him hard to contain. He has everything in place to be one of the most explosive players in the NFL.

4. Isaiah Simmons, LB

Simmons can do it all on defense and might be the best athlete in the draft. A classic defensive playmaker, he has speed and length and the ability to counter running quarterbacks and blow up plays. It’s not exactly clear where Simmons profiles at the next level — he can play as a linebacker or even a defensive back very effectively — but there’s no disputing that he has all the tools to be a dynamic weapon on defense in the NFL.

3. CeeDee Lamb, WR

If you want playmaking, you’ll love Lamb. While he’s not the fastest receiver in the class, he’s a monster when it comes to yards after the catch. In 2019, the Oklahoma star averaged 21.4 yards per reception, better than any of his peers atop the draft board. He has great hands and can make defenders miss, and he looks to have the profile to be a big-play threat at the next level. That may make him the first receiver off the board.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, QB

Tagovailoa’s draft stock may be hindered some by injury concerns, but as long as he’s healthy, there’s no better playmaking quarterback in the draft. Tagovailoa can do a bit of everything — he can run it for big plays, or he can beat teams with his arm. He’s the perfect modern quarterback in a league that is quickly coming to value versatility and mobility as much as anything else. It’s debatable whether Tagovailoa should rank as the best quarterback in his class, but he’s undoubtedly the most dynamic.

1. Chase Young, DE

One way to be viewed as a playmaker is to blow up others’ plays. That’s what Young is going to do a lot of at the NFL level. He’s an explosive pass rusher who collected 16.5 sacks in 2019, and he has every opportunity to become elite at the NFL level. He’s been heralded as one of the best defensive line prospects in years, and he’ll be able to overwhelm some NFL offensive linemen from day one. If Young isn’t posting elite sack numbers in his career, it will be a disappointment. He has all the tools to do so.

I can’t stop watching these memes and I dance all around the house like these guys listening to this song. Am I wrong

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