Brandon Sweeney: We are happily joined today by Chad Davis from www.draftbreakdown.com. Chad, thank you so much for joining us to talk the NFL Draft.
Chad Davis: Thanks! I appreciate the invite and I look forward to talking some NFL Draft. That's what I love to do! The draft is right around the corner now so it's crunch time...
Brandon Sweeney: I hear you man. This is definitely an awesome draft class. I think it is a lot of different ones that we have seen over the years. What are some things that you have to say about this Draft Class as a whole?
Chad Davis: I'd say as a whole this draft class has as many question marks as any I can remember. It is really short on top-end talent, but at the same time is really deep with solid players. There are guys that are going to be picked in the 4th round of this draft that will be starters from day one. In particular, this class is deep at defensive tackle, running back, cornerback and offensive line. There is just a lot of solid talent out there right now, and we're going to see teams getting steals in the mid-rounds.
Brandon Sweeney: I agree. Who are some of your favorite prospects in this class. What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Chad Davis: There are a few guys outside the high profile players that have really stood out on film to me and have become some of my favorite guys. One is Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State. Here is a kid who is only 5'7" and 190 lbs., but runs inside like he is twice that size. He is extremely agile and has a strong lower body. He may not be as fast as you like for a little guy and his small stature will be a concern at the next level.
Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii, is another guy who I really like. He has excellent size at 6' and over 200 lbs. and catches nearly everything thrown his way. He had outstanding production at Hawaii, catching over 100 balls for two years in a row. He's not a burner, and won't be a huge run after the catch guy in the NFL.
Lastly, Mason Foster, LB, Washington, is a player I am in love with. He had 163 tackles in his senior season and has some of the best instincts I've ever seen in a linebacker. He has the versatility to play multiple linebacker positions and is as sure a tackler as you will find. Now, he won't wow anyone with workout numbers like speed and quickness, and he plays a little tight hipped, but overall he is an outstanding player.
Brandon Sweeney: I agree with you about Rodgers. One of my favorite running backs in this class. A lot of people are not on board with him, but I am. I don't think that he is a every down back at the next level. Do you? If you were to compare him to another running back, who would it be?
Chad Davis: Rodgers reminds me a lot of Ray Rice. Short guys with powerful lower bodies who can both run and catch the ball (Rodgers had 78 catches in 2009). Now, I'm not saying Rodgers will be as good as Rice, but they have similar styles. Can he be an every down back in the NFL? Conventional wisdom says no, but remember, here is a guy who had almost 800 carries, and another 140 catches or so, in college with ZERO career fumbles lost! In today's NFL, where there are very few guys who carry the load, he can be an impact player.
Brandon Sweeney: As you said before, this class is very deep in certain positions. Tell us a few people that can get drafted say in the third, and come out and be a starter off the bat.
Chad Davis: There are a few guys that come to mind. I could see a guy like Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple, go to a team who needs SS help and start right away. He is an in-the-box safety who hits hard and has a nose for the ball. His stock has been on the rise lately.
Will Rackley, G, Lehigh is another guy who, if drafted by a team needing guards, will start right away. He was a standout at the East-West Shrine game, has excellent hands and an impressive work ethic. He should make the transition from small-school tackle to NFL guard pretty easily.And Kelvin Sheppard, MLB, LSU, who was a consistent producer in college and plays with great instincts. He is also a pretty sure tackler.
Some other third round guys who could potentially start right away are NT Kenrick Ellis, DE Christian Ballard, and DE/OLB Dontay Moch, given the right situations for each.
Brandon Sweeney: Name a couple players in this class that teams are really going to hesitate before they pick that player. Why would the hesitate?
Chad Davis: There are a few scenarios that could cause teams to hesitate on players. First, are the 'tweeners. Guys who might struggle to find a proper position at the next level. These would be guys like Ryan Kerrigan, Sam Acho, Aldon Smith, and even to a lesser extent Patrick Perterson who many project long term as a safety because of his size.
Secondly, there are the players with character concerns. This can include run-ins with the law as well as questionable work ethic. Some players who fall into this category would be Nick Fairley, Cam Newton, Jimmy Smith, Ryan Mallett, Marvin Austin, Greg Little, Kenrick Ellis, etc.
And lastly, there are players with medical concerns, which can often be overexaggerated this time of year, but can also be real concerns. Some of these guys are Robert Quinn (benign brain tumor), Phil Taylor (reported foot issue), Da'Quan Bowers (knee), Adrian Clayborne (Erb's Palsy in right shoulder), and Mark Herzlich (recovering from cancer).
The main thing to understand with a lot of these issues is that there can be lots of false information reported, so just be careful what you read and realize things can be overblown.
Brandon Sweeney: Who do you believe is the most pro-ready quarterback and why?
Chad Davis: For me, the most pro-ready QB in this draft is Ryan Mallett. If you look away from the character issues, which are overblown in my opinion, he has the greatest understanding of pro concepts of all the QB's, and its not even close. His football IQ is top notch. Combine that with an arm that can make any and every throw, and you have a guy that can start right away. He might not have the type of mobility that teams crave, but he is a great play-action passer. The other top QB's (Newton, Gabbert, Locker, etc.) have a lot of talent, maybe even more than Mallet, but ALL will need time to develop, perhaps even a full year or two. Unfortunately, some won't get that luxury and will struggle mightily early on.
Brandon Sweeney: Okay Chad, we are coming to an end of this interview, for our last question: What are some of the things that we need to be looking for during the draft? Some other player not mentioned, trades, etc.
Chad Davis: I have a few guys in mind who could be picked in the mid-late rounds that I think can be impact-type players in the NFL. QB Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech has amazing athleticism and is a better passer than given credit for. He can be better than Brad Smith but in the same kind of role.
RB Roy Helu, Jr. from Nebraska has really nice speed for a bigger back and has big play ability. He may not be a full-time back but definitely could have a big impact in a rotation.WR Stephen Burton from West Texas A& M has amazing measurables. He's 6'1", 224 lbs. and ran a 4.36 40 at his pro day. That's a great size/speed ratio and he has really good receiving skills as well.
OT Jah Reid from Central Florida has been rising up boards recently. He has great size and experience and also plays with a bit of a nasty streak.
DT Brandon Bair from Oregon is 6'6" and 273 lbs. and has a lot of versatility. He has ideal size to play the 5-technique position in a 3-4 defense and may end up being a better pro than a college player.
DE Ricky Elmore from Arizona led the Pac-10 in sacks for two straight years and has the type of work ethic and motor that make up for average athleticism.
So those are a few guys I like in the mid to late rounds. As far as other things to look for in this draft, just be prepared for the unexpected. The draft is taking place during an unprecedented time in league history with the lockout and everything else going on, so it's going to be a crazy three days. I expect lots of trades in the first round as teams try and position themselves for that player they think can be an impact guy, especially since nobody has been able to fill needs in free agency. It's going to be fun!
Brandon Sweeney: Thanks so much Chad for coming on PFH today and giving us a great look inside the 2011 NFL Draft. Any last words that you would like to say to the readers? Chad Davis: Well thanks for having me on, and I'd just like to say thanks to the readers for their interest in talking about the NFL Draft. It's what I love to do, so hit me up anytime on twitter @chad_davis45 to talk some draft or if you have any questions. And be sure to check out http://draftbreakdown.com for some of the most in-depth scouting reports on the web. It's NFL Draft season year-round for me so I'll be hitting the 2012 prospects hard right after Mr. Irrelevant is chosen this year! Thanks guys! |
Chad was great! Thanks for reading guys. I think now we have covered almost all topic of the draft throughout these past weeks, and would love to see you be vocal. If you have a question for Chad, please leave it in the comment box below! Chad would be more than happy to answer. He is always looking for some draft chat!
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