NFL Insider: Decastro is overrated
 

The following quotes are from NFL executives, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

• “(South Carolina CB Stephon) Gilmore is a second-round corner who is going to go a lot higher than he should because he has what everyone is looking for in the way of height-weight-speed and his character is clean.”

• “If (Stanford OLT) Jonathan Martin goes in the top 20, it is a crime. He is (very soft). He should go in the third (round).”

• “(Stanford OG David) DeCastro is overrated. On tape, he is a good guard, but he is not special by any means. You love the kid, you love the work ethic, you love the makeup. But in a normal draft, you’d like to get him in the second.”

• “I wish (LSU CB) Morris Claiborne tested better athletically. He needs to get stronger. His body is still really young. He timed better at his pro day than he did at the Combine, but his jumps were average. I thought he would be more explosive.”

• “(Arizona CB Trevin) Wade has been heating up, but I still don’t know why. It’s a big ‘wow.’ He’s just a guy to me.”

• “I think the issues (he has) should keep (Amini) Silatolu out of the first, but I know a lot of offensive line coaches that are really jacked about getting him in the first. It takes some balls to take him in the first, but he will be a very hot guy if he makes it into the second (round).”

• “If the Vikings do not take (Matt Kalil), I think they are nuts. He will play 10 years in the league and be very good. I don’t think everyone is on the same page in the building yet. If you trade back, you run the risk of missing out on the guy you want.”

• “I would be scared more by Morris Claiborne’s low test score if he were a receiver. Cornerback is such an instinctive, read-and-react position. There are a lot of defenses where it’s basically going to be — you got (No.) 82 — go cover him. The test score does not matter. I think the league is getting smarter. To be elite, you need to be smart, but I’m not sure that has not always been the case.”

• “It seems everyone wants to beat up on (Alabama CB Dre) Kirkpatrick, but he can play. So, too, though could the other 10 guys (on Alabama's defense). What Nick Saban is doing there is not fair for college football. There is some serious talent on that defense.”

• “When was the last time (Georgia OT) Cordy Glenn hit anyone? He has to get a lot tougher. I thought he was a finesse guy, and it’s (difficult) to cut it as a finesse guy in the league anymore.”

http://www.profootballweekly.com/201...second-rounder

Agree. He's a very sound tactician, but he's not explosive and athletic as Hudson was in last years draft. (Who I thought was the best offensive lineman in the draft last year and was absolutley thrilled when the Chiefs picked him.)

Some people around here seem to forget or never knew about Rod Hudson during his time at Florida State.

He was hands down the best guard to come out in a long, long time. Reminded me of Will Shieds. Almost exactly the same body type and playing style.

DeCastro is a power block scheme guard that is being overrated.

I wonder whose bidding he is doing with all this poker play:rolleyes:

if knowmo is making preemptive strikes against a player we might draft then it's another reason to take him.

These takes might all be true; but, this is the time for "NFL Executives" to poison the water on guys they would like to take for themselves.

BINGO !!

I dunno about that, I'd probably say DeCastro's best attribute is how good he is pulling. Probably his strongest single attribute is his ability pulling, easily the best pulling guard in years. He is very, very good on the move.

That was my first thought when reading these types of quotes the last week. This is the time frame when NFL teams poison the waters to hope guys fall to them.

Some of it is warranted and some of it is purely smoke.

I agree. Outside of the big 2, you can't trust what any NFL executive says about any prospect at this time.

I don't trust anything from anonymous "sources" period. Those quotes could come from anywhere. At least the guys like Mayock are willing to put their names on their evaluations. They may be wrong, but they are attributable.

The problem with stuff like that is that he's essentially saying that there are about 6 first round picks in the class. Sounds like the dude hates damn near everyone.

If everyone's overrated, then nobody's overrated. It's all relative. If there isn't a guy available at 11 that's worth the 11th overall pick we just have to take the best of what's there. In the end, that may end up being DeCastro.

DJ...Greg Cosell think Kalil will be there at our pick. How would you like to have that beast instead?

Greg Cosell is a reerun.

Every team in the league would be trying to work a tradeup from about 5 down if Kalil was still on the board. He's damn close to Joe Thomas in terms of sheer ability.

He won't be there at 11.

It's a wonderful dream, but I completely agree. Kalil is Joe Thomas and possibly more.

Greg didn't get any of daddy's gifts...just his goofy looks.

If Kalil is there when we pick, we would be stupid to not get him. Sadly he has as much chance of falling to us as Luck or RGIII.

So this scout states DeCastro are all of these wonderful things but still says he would be a normal 2nd rounder? This screams to me of someone wanting to downgrade DeCastro hoping he would slip so "THEY" could grab him. lol

Yep. DeCastro is exceptional RIGHT NOW. Maybe he isn't right for KC, but he will make some team very happy next season.

I just think that, if you have the chance to draft the clear-cut best player at his position anywhere outside the top ten - you take it.

Especially when our only "need" - nose tackle - has no one there we can't get in the second.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm we have Matt Cassel, so we have more needs than NT.

I really don't think a quote from an anonymous (or named) GM/scout printed by Pro Football Weekly would sway another team from drafting somebody. These guys all watch film, I'm pretty sure they know everything they need to know about players they like already.

If anything DeCastro is under rated. Andrew Luck wouldn't be the #1 overall pick if Stanford hadn't been able to design their offense around their epic stud LG.

Gotta agree with KM. I'm sure the source really thinks that a front office is going to put stock into an anonymous opinion over their own scouting.:rolleyes:
Misinformation needs a face for it to affect anything. Unless it's some damning info like failed drug tests in HS that no one else knows about.
If it's not a certain team saying they like or dislike a player, it will have zero effect on anything.

If we're smart we'll draft him, and install the offense he ran at Stanford.

You might actually be on the something. Cassel could run that offense. It's a RBBC, power O. And nearly every pass is off the playaction.

He'll be one of the safest picks in this draft class. Easy.
If we don't get Tannehill...I want DeCastro.

I'd be ok with a wide range of different guys at 11. The only 2 I'm dead set against are Kuechly and Poe. I would hate either of them.

Decastro is the safest. And will make our line a top 5 O-line for many years to come. Melvin Ingram would make our defense is even more nasty and give it depth, and an added dimension. Barron to pair with Berry would be JIMP material. I'd also love Upshaw. I like him a lot. I'd like to trade back and take Hightower. I'm glad I'm not too picky this year. It seems like every year I get set on 1 guy in particular. Not this time.

MAYBE Pioli will draft Upshaw for ya in the 2nd? :shrug:

I'm dead set against both Kuechly and Poe at 11 as well.

DeCastro, Brockers, Ingram, Barron would all work for me with KC's first pick.

Too bad we don't have the QB he had at Stanford.