Three really good mid-rounders, and three I hate.

[Direckshun]

Just because. Midrounders are anything from low-3rds to 5th round.

I LIKE:

OT/G Joel Bitonio, Nevada -- At this point, he's looking more like a guard, since he played there all of the Senior Bowl. However, Bitonio played extremely well at the Senior Bowl, ending up one of my Top 10 players from that week. Bitonio (6'4", 307 lbs) is a very, very athletic tackle who could crawl into the 2nd round if that athleticism translates to a sub-5.0 40 time, which I honestly think it will. He looks like a great zone blocker at guard, but I honestly think he can play tackle -- he played Anthony Barr to a standstill. Blocked for the NCAA's 2nd most rush yards, and held excellent protection at left tackle for the Wolf Pack.

DE/DT Dominique Easley, Florida -- I absolutely adore Easley. Extremely high effort, high-athleticism guy who absolutely never quits. He can push back against bigger OLs, and penetrate, penetrate, penetrate. The big question is -- where do you put him. He played everywhere in Florida's 4-3, but 280 lbs is pretty light for defensive tackle in the NFL, even at undertackle. He's a little on the short side (6'2") but powerful enough for DE in the 4-3, but he played primarily at DT for the Gators, so he's a project there. As for the 3-4... I hate him on the edge in a two-point stance. His first step is far too valuable to take him out of the three-point. So he'd have to play DE in our system, making him purely a passrush specialist. I don't know if that'd be worth the 3rd we'd have to spend to get him, but I really want him on our roster. He's 1st round talent, coming off a terrible ACL tear.

TE Xavier Grimble, USC -- I think Grimble is going to pleasantly surprise everybody. His numbers in college were hampered by the great talent he played with and the injuries he suffered, but here's what we do know: Grimble is a fast, athletic, big (6'5", 255) tight end with good hands. His performance at the Combine could endear him to a lot of people, if he holds his own in blocking drills and looks sharp getting in and out of the cuts in his routes.

I DON'T LIKE:

S Ahmad Dixon, Baylor -- Bernard Pollard 2.0. If you want big hits, he's an option. But even with those big hits, Dixon (6'0", 205) isn't that great in the run game, and he's disasterous in the passing game. He doesn't break down for tackles at all, and will throw his shoulder instead of wrapping up. His coverage will be passable on backs out of the flat, but he will struggle keeping up with NFL caliber TEs and god help him against WRs. More of a strong safety. No discipline. Had an assault charge on him over the offseason.

ILB/OLB Lamin Borrow, LSU -- Can somebody tell me why anybody thinks anything of this guy? He's consistently rated as a mid-rounder but aside from his rangey speed, I don't see why. He's not good in coverage. He can't shed blocks. He doesn't make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's fast but not especially so. He's not especially big (6'2", 232). He's just a guy. He's not a difference maker, wasn't in college, and won't be in the NFL. Blah.

OLB Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State -- A great athlete with a good motor, but undersized. He has some experience standing up, but he really struggled against the scant NFL talent he went up against. The best player he played all year was Bitonio, and he avoided him most of the game. The few meetings these players had was soundly won by Bitonio. He's just too undersized to play in a three-point stance in a 4-3, so he'd have to occupy some Von Miller role as an OLB in that setup, but he has almost no experience in coverage. I think Lawrence will be a valuable special teamer, nothing more.

[Saccopoo]

WTF is going on in this thread?

I thought this was about six dudes.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

WTF is going on in this thread?

I thought this was about six dudes.

It mutated to fit my needs.

[Direckshun]

RB Devonta Freeman, Florida State -- There was a thread a week or two ago asking who the "next Jamaal Charles" was in this upcoming draft. My answer in that thread was Devonta Freeman (not "Freedman," as I've been thinking it was for months). I am in love with this prospect. Freeman has elite quickness, hits gaps hard, has good, stout size (5'9", 200 lbs), and squeezes in behind his blocks fantastically. He's also extremely good receiving out of the backfield, and a surprisingly good blocker. Freeman is currently projected as a midrounder, but I have no idea why -- I guess it's because he's not a 4.3 guy (he sure looks like a 4.4 guy to me, however). He would be outstanding value in the midrounds, but I'd be happy taking him in the 3rd if the Chiefs were in the hunt for another RB (which they're probably not in the 3rd, but still). Freeman is an outstanding talent, and is my favorite RB in this entire draft class, no matter the draft projections.

[Direckshun]

WR T.J. Jones, Notre Dame -- There are fewer midrounders more entertaining to watch than T.J. Jones. An extremely fast route-running guru for the Fighting Irish with "meh" size (5'11", 190), Jones has been a four-year starter and senior-year captain. I can't help but think most draft sites are underrating this dude -- NFLDraftScout, for instance, says he's a 6th round talent and probably runs a 4.5. Well, I can say from watching the tape that he almost certainly runs in the 4.3 range, and his great hands and polished route-running ability should slip him into 3rd round consideration. At this point, I want to see how he performs at the Combine, but I'd definitely sweat passing on my him with my 4th rounder, but I think you'd be justified spending a low 3rd on him if you were so inclined. Jones' speed, route-running, and extreme versatility (bubble screens, slot routes, working on the outside, go routes) should definitely earn Dorsey's attention.

[Direckshun]

ILB DeDe Lattimore, South Florida -- A slightly poorer man's version of Nico Johnson, Lattimore is a 2-down ILB who looks like Jekyll & Hyde on the football field based on one critical component: whether he's charging downhill like a wrecking ball towards the pocket, or backpedaling into coverage. Lattimore is currently projected to run a 4.8 at the Combine, but he looks like he has 4.6 speed the way he crashes the pocket. Running downhill, busting wigs in the run game, Lattimore is physical, nasty, and very, very comfortable in the role. He's a bit too rambunctious, however, as he blasts into the backfield so fast, he sometimes runs right past the RB. In coverage, however, he looks every bit that 4.8 -- hell, he looks 5.0. Lattimore is a two-down beast, and maybe a team can transfer some of that energy to his coverage abilities.

[Direckshun]

ILB Max Bullough, Michigan State -- I don't know how clearly I can stress this: avoid, avoid, avoid. Forget the fact that Bullough was mysteriously suspended for five weeks by his coach for reasons that were never provided. Forget the fact that Michigan State responded to FOI requests by confirming that Bullough's suspension was not the result of an NCAA violation, suggesting that something really nasty occurred internally at the MSU program. Forget the fact that Bullough fell completely off the map for that month-plus, and nobody knows the truth. Forget the fact that when he did return, for the East-West game, he showed up 20 pounds overweight. This guy had more red flags than the 2008 Opening Ceremony in Beijing, but forget all that. Just look at the tape: Bullough is a slow, slow, possibly-over-5.0-in-the-40 linebacker, and he can't fight through blocks. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

[Direckshun]

RB Storm Johnson, Central Florida -- One of the reasons Blake Bortles has taken the world by storm is that powerhouse back Storm Johnson kept defenses honest the past couple seasons for UCF. Johnson (6'1", 215 lbs) is a strong runner who, once he gets his momentum going, can pummel defenses and slam through any daylight his OL provides. He's not a fluid running machine, but he is the proverbial bowling ball with knives that teams love in short yardage situations. I think Johnson, despite his unorthodox running style, can thrive as a true bellcow in a power system, however. The Combine will be very important for him, as I have him down as a 6th or 7th rounder right now.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

ILB Max Bullough, Michigan State -- I don't know how clearly I can stress this: avoid, avoid, avoid. Forget the fact that Bullough was mysteriously suspended for five weeks by his coach for reasons that were never provided. Forget the fact that Michigan State responded to FOI requests by confirming that Bullough's suspension was not the result of an NCAA violation, suggesting that something really nasty occurred internally at the MSU program. Forget the fact that Bullough fell completely off the map for that month-plus, and nobody knows the truth. Forget the fact that when he did return, for the East-West game, he showed up 20 pounds overweight. This guy had more red flags than the 2008 Opening Ceremony in Beijing, but forget all that. Just look at the tape: Bullough is a slow, slow, possibly-over-5.0-in-the-40 linebacker, and he can't fight through blocks. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Vontaze Burfict.

[Direckshun]

I don't know... Burfict was not only a better player on the field when he was on, his fall from grace was pretty transparent, was it not?

Bullough's is a total mystery, and he took on 20 pounds in two months. My guess is, not muscle.

[Direckshun]

RB Andre Williams, Boston College -- I have always been a huge BC homer, because athletes out of BC tend to be extremely high character and well prepared for the pros. Williams, however, will be a project for any team that brings him on. Now, we are still talking about a 6'0", 227 lbs bellcow back who set records in rushing for 2,000+ yards and 16 TDs this year for the Eagles, at over 6 yards/carry. However, you're also talking about a back with ball security issues, no receiving ability, and little blocking experience. Even if you believe you can coach him out of that, you're still left with a well-rounded back without great speed. I'm always high on RBs with a nose for the end zone, however, and at the very least, you're getting a Jackie Battle here. At the very best, you're getting LaGarrette Blount.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I don't know... Burfict was not only a better player on the field when he was on, his fall from grace was pretty transparent, was it not?

Bullough's is a total mystery, and he took on 20 pounds in two months. My guess is, not muscle.

All I'm saying is I've seen Bullough ****ing rock some dudes. If he starts free-falling, taking a late round flyer on him might absolutely be worth it.

[Direckshun]

RB De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon -- There's not much that can be said about Thomas that isn't extremely well known at this point. Thomas is a speed demon, perhaps threatening to run in the 4.2s at the Combine and his Pro Day. You absolutely need to get him in space for a couple reasons: 1st, he can eat up yardage at a Jamaal Charles clip. His kick returns are occasionally brilliant, but he can turn a simple bubble screen into a 9 yard gain the blink of an eye -- one seam, and he's gone. 2nd, because he's absolutely horrid between the tackles. For a guy as fast as he is, he doesn't have the jukey skillset of McCluster, and doesn't make a ton of people miss. He's also prone to injury due to his size (5'9", 175 lbs), and has never carried the ball more than 100 times in a season. He's going to be nothing more than a complementary element for a team in the NFL, but it'd be a hell of an element to have.

[Direckshun]

WR Ryan Grant, Tulane -- Grant has put up great numbers in a small program's offense not by blowing the top off defenses, or by beign some athletic wonder who runs a 4.3 or dominates corners with his size, but by doing the same thing, game in, game out, in the most fundamentally-sound, smartest way possible. Although the Combine could change this assessment, it seems Grant comes right down the middle with his measurables (6'0", 200 lbs, 4.5 40). What will set him apart will depend on the offense: those that depend on quick, sharp intermediate routes can land a really reliable #3 WR by Day One of the 2014 season.

[Direckshun]

DE/DT Ed Stinson, Alabama -- Tyson Jackson 2.0. If the Chiefs are looking for another hard-working, athletically-average defensive end with great size (6'4", 292 lbs) and power from an elite Division I defense, look no further. If Jackson walks in free agency, you can bet Stinson will end up on the Chiefs' radar. Stinson, much like TJax, is a powerful run defender who is almost immovable, capable of shutting down his entire side of the line. Also like TJax, he's a very limited passrusher -- little push, little in the way of passrushing moves. Fortunately for Stinson, many teams are looking for men who stop the run. He may have to wait until the last rounds of the Draft to find out who, however.

[Direckshun]

DE?/DT Deandre Coleman, California -- If all you had was Coleman's 2013 tape to go on, you would wonder why anybody really cared that much to draft him. The truth of the matter, however, is that Coleman exploded on the scene with a great 2012 season that displayed the power that can truly surface in a guy his size (6'5", 315 lbs). But 2013 swallowed him up for whatever reason -- I think that clearly means he has motor issues, because he turned it on for Senior Bowl week, getting consistent push inside and shutting down any runs towards him. It'll be interesting to see how he pans out at the Combine, he's rumored to run a 5.0 40, which would all but seal his fate to play DT (rather than DE in the 3-4). If he can put together a good 40, look good in drills, and weigh in with long arms, he could find himself a way in the midrounds. As it stands, some team will probably just take a shot on him in the 6th or 7th, and hope they can rekindle that 2012 fire.