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2019 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: AFC West

May 4, 2019 dnmadmin Leave a comment

Lock, the team's second-round pick, finished his career with 12,193 yards passing (second in SEC history).

Denver Broncos	Notable picks: The team traded its 10th overall pick, yet still got the draft’s 21st player overall at Pick 20. In addition, the team nabbed our 32nd-ranked player in Risner early in the second round. Although Lock was deeper on our board (54th overall), we don’t think the Broncos could have waited any longer to pull the trigger on the third-best QB in the draft. Of the team’s undrafted free agents, Nevada’s Malik Reed has the most suddenness and could have easily been a draft pick. For the second consecutive year, John Elway added solid players to an underrated nucleus. Ultimately, however, this draft's eventual grade will come down to the development of Lock.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (20) Traded its first round pick (10th overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the team’s	Noah Fant	TE/Iowa	21/1st Round	Although his teammate T.J. Hockenson won the 2018 John Mackey Award, it was Fant who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as voted on by the coaches. Fant’s 4.5 speed will be a welcome addition down the seams for new quarterback John Flacco.
2 (41)	Dalton Risner	OL/Kansas State	32/2nd Round	It doesn’t take long to understand the value of Risner, who despite having natural lateral quickness, needs to close off the bottom of the pocket more consistently as an outside tackle. If he moves back into the center position (where he started in 2015), then we think he’ll challenge for a starting spot.
2 (42) Acquired from Cincinnati	Drew Lock	QB/Missouri	54/2nd Round	Lock can challenge all parts of the field with range that is comparable to Joe Flacco, the man he is asked to backup initially in Denver. We felt that the former Tiger needed a bridge quarterback and Flacco fits the bill.
3 (71)	Dre’Mont Jones	DT/Ohio State	33/2nd Round	Jones’ outstanding footwork frequently allowed him to work over guards after gaining an edge. For him to become a legitimate starter, he will have to play heavier at the point of attack.
5 (156) Acquired from Minnesota	Justin Hollins	DE-OLB/Oregon	202/4th Round	Hollins proved during 2019 East-West Shrine practicesthat he was at least adequate as an exchange LB. It is a big reason he took home East-West Shrine Game Defensive MVP honors. The former Duck forced eight fumbles in school.
6 (187) Acquired from Carolina	Juwann Winfree	WR/ Colorado, Maryland	425/5th Round	Winfree has unique route-running skill and underrated field speed. The former Terrapin rarely has to idle himself into patterns. The Broncos struck gold by staying in-state a year ago with UDFA Pro Bowler Phillip Lindsay and hope to do so again with its sixth-round pick.

Hardman averaged nearly 21 yards per punt return in 2018 and accounted for eight touchdowns (7 REC, 1 PR).

Kansas City Chiefs	Notable picks: The Chiefs went into the draft looking to add pieces as opposed to having to fill them. One position of note that the team didn’t address until Day 3 is cornerback. Heading into the 2019 campaign, they have a rather unproven group of outside cornerbacks. They will likely have to depend on Kendall Fuller to give them some reps on the flanks after the loss of underrated CB Steven Nelson. In addition, the team is probably depending on Emmanuel Ogbah, who has quietly posted 17 pass break-ups in his career, to be a serviceable left defensive end opposite the recently acquired Frank Clark.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (56) Acquired from Los Angeles via New England via Chicago	Mecole Hardman	All-Purpose/Georgia	72/2nd Round	It doesn’t take long to determine where Hardman is inclined to work. He can become a serious contender for playing time in the slot if he can show increased ball skills and awareness. His biggest strength is the ability to accelerate through the reception, but he left some passes on the field. We think he is one of the top return threats in the draft. `
2 (63) Acquired from Los Angeles	Juan Thornhill	DB/Virginia	179/3rd Round	Thornhill, a former corner at Virginia, doesn’t mind mixing it up in coverage. His biggest weakness came when routes broke away from him (either at safety or corner). The former high school basketball star uses outstanding leaping ability to supplement first-rate instincts. He was used in somewhat of a hybrid role in 2018.
3 (84) Acquired from Seattle	Khalen Saunders	DT/Western Illinois	179/3rd Round	Saunders has some traits that are similar to former Texas DL and current New Orleans Saints DL Malcom Brown. An above average athlete, he was a tough block for guards or tackles. Stamina is a bit of a question mark.
6 (201)	Rashad Fenton	CB/South Carolina	269/4th Round	Have you ever seen a player who may not look as fast as he really is? This is the case for Fenton, who shined as a kickoff returner at various points of his career. His quick-footed nature and overall toughness means he could get looks at the nickel back spot.
6 (214)	Darwin Thompson	RB/Utah State	306/4th Round	An explosive Pro Day forced evaluators to go back to the tape for Thompson. What they found was a patient runner with enough speed to bounce runs outside. A season that featured a 15.3 yards per reception average proved he can catch too.
7 (216) Acquired from San Francisco	Nick Allegretti	OG/Illinois	220/4th Round	The former Illini two-time team captain started 36 straight games to end his career. We feel the right guard position gives him the best chance to earn a roster spot. Why? He shifts his weight on opponents as well as any guard in this year’s draft.

Jacobs (No. 8 pictured) scored 14 touchdowns on just 154 touches in 2018.

Oakland Raiders	Notable pick: Newly-hired GM Mike Mayock selected potential core players who add substance to the roster. Ferrell and Jacobs both played large parts in each of their respective team’s national championship runs. Although Abram represented a personality pick, how different is he from former West Virginia safety Karl Joseph? The selection of Crosby means the team now has a number of edge rushers to throw at teams, even if none of them would be described as a dominant game changer. Mullen, Johnson and college free agent Keisean Nixon join a cornerback group suddenly filled with young talent and depth.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (4)	Clelin Ferrell	DE/Clemson	15/1st Round	Ferrell averaged 17 tackles for loss per year over the course of the last three seasons. His ability to finish on the quarterback is undeniable. The big knock on him was a relative lack of natural bend off the edge. He is long enough to compensate.
1 (24)	Josh Jacobs	RB/Alabama	61/2nd Round	Jacobs’ running style and receiving skill largely mirrors that of the runner who started for the Raiders the last two seasons, Marshawn Lynch when he came out of school. He is just not as fast as Lynch was coming out of school.
1 (27)	Johnathan Abram	S/ Mississippi State, Georgia	52/2nd Round	Somewhat of a Donte Whitner-type (Bills, 49ers), Abram could become a complement to fellow safety Karl Joseph. The former Georgia Bulldog has covered the slot effectively, but we don’t think that’s a role he will be asked to man consistently in the NFL. He will, however, be asked to lock down tight ends.
2 (40)	Trayvon Mullen	CB/Clemson	95/3rd Round	The former high school WR has positive hand-eye coordination and timing. During his two years as a starter, he displayed a keen sense of handling man or zone assignments. At 6-foot-1, 199 pounds, he is an adequate tackler.
4 (106)	Maxx Crosby	DE-OLB/Eastern Michigan	273/4th Round	Crosby’s gangly, unorthodox style conjures up images of former Buffalo Bills star Bryce Paup. For him to make it, he has to play with more sand in the pants.
4 (129) Acquired from Indianapolis	Isaiah Johnson	CB/Houston	139/3rd Round	Johnson’s ability to win in zone coverage comes from his receiving background. In addition, he is one of the top gunners in the 2019 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, the former wideout will find playing time in some capacity in Year 1.
4 (137) Compensatory pick acquired from Atlanta	Foster Moreau	TE/LSU	181/3rd Round	Although he wasn’t featured as a receiving tight end at LSU, Moreau contains underrated athleticism and will be a fine on the move or hand in the dirt Y-tight end. It would not be a surprise to see his receiving skills expand at the NFL level. He can create separation at the top of his routes.
5 (149) Acquired from Dallas via Cincinnati	Hunter Renfrow	WR/ Clemson	126/3rd Round	The operative thinking is that Renfrow turns into a multi-year contributor at the slot wide receiver position and you’re done with it…right? What about special teams production for a receiver weighing in the 180-pound range? Despite showing up at the gunner spot (ex: Russell Athletic Bowl ’15), he posted just four career tackles. He did, however, serve as the team’s emergency punter.
7 (230) Acquired from Atlanta	Quinton Bell	Prairie View A&M	N/A	Bell averaged 13.6 yards per catch before transitioning to defense in 2018. He responded with 7.5 quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for losses. He’s bulked up in weight while still maintaining his explosiveness (41 1/2-inch VJ).

Tranquill (No. 23 pictured), a former safety, finished with 292 career tackles for the Fighting Irish.

Los Angeles Chargers	Notable picks: Tillery’s unique athleticism (4.33 20-yard short shuttle) and heavy hands (10 5/8”) offsets an inconsistent pad level. Adderley’s range belies his timed speed. Pipkins has a skill-set and profile that closely mirrors incumbent right tackle Sam Tevi. Stick may be used in a surprise role for the team and Broughton can play multiple positions. Tranquill’s foot speed and safety experience could earn him a role in sub-packages, but we expect him to star on special teams immediately.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (28)	Jerry Tillery	Notre Dame	19/2nd Round	Tillery has all of the tools to be a multi-purpose defensive lineman in the NFL. His style lends itself to somewhat of an Arik Armstead-type (San Francisco 49ers). Both players were bunch producers in school.
2 (60)	Nasir Adderley	DB/ Delaware	43/2nd Round	Adderley’s timed speed does not accurately represent the speed that really matters….his eye speed. His ability to read the quarterback’s body language really was unparalleled in this year’s draft class. His major key will be finding a balance when it comes to making open field tackles consistently in space.
3 (91)	Trey Pipkins	OT/Sioux Falls	119/3rd Round	He displays positive bend, impressive mobility and an element of finish necessary to compete on Sundays. His short lateral kick-slide will have to deepen if he is going to stay outside. We went into how his outstanding NFL Combine workout would be the final factor in swaying NFL coaches and personnel.
4 (130)	Drue Tranquill	LB/Notre Dame	194/4th Round	The former safety uses his 4.5 speed to make plays all over the field. His stock stayed steady due to his ability to return from a couple of freak ACL injuries during school. It didn’t stop him from finishing his career with 292 tackles and 25 tackles for losses in 52 career appearances.
5 (166)	Easton Stick	QB/North Dakota State	301/4th Round	His 4.6 40-yard dash time opens eyes, but maybe not even as much as his blistering 6.65 time in the three-cone drill. It is a big reason he rushed for 41 TDs in school. He doesn’t have former Bison QB Carson Wentz’s arm, but he does have even more impressive athleticism. The Chargers will find a way to incorporate it on a deep team.
6 (200)	Emeke Egbule	OLB/ Houston	490/5th Round	His defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said of Egbule, “he’s our most versatile player in space.” It will be imperative for him show these traits for scouts during training camp to earn a roster spot.
7 (242)	Cortez Broughton	DL/ Cincinnati	247/4th Round	In a deep 2019 defensive tackle class, it probably isn’t a surprise that Broughton was one of the overlooked prospects. Aside from notching 16.5 tackles for losses in 2018, he also put together a pretty good week at the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. Icing on the cake for Broughton came on Cincinnati’s Pro Day, where he notched an impressive 33 1/2-inch vertical jump at 293 pounds.

2018, Football, Articles

Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers, 11-18-18: In-game report

November 19, 2018 Troy Jefferson Leave a comment

Offensive miscues and special teams errors doomed the Los Angeles Chargers against a division rival. The Denver Broncos ended the Chargers six-game win streak in a hard-fought 23-22 affair. DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson gives his impressions in this in game report:

Chargers offensive line

The Chargers offensive line stood out in pass protection against the Broncos, who rank in the top ten in sacks. While San Diego did give up three sacks, two of those were more of a reflection of quarterback Philip Rivers holding on to the ball too long rather than poor offensive line execution. The Chargers out-gained the Broncos by 154 yards, which is a testament to how the offensive line played. The unit’s best work may have came on a screen pass to running back Melvin Gordon, where offensive lineman Dan Feeney and Michael Schofield III got out in front to pave the way for a 32-yard gain. Holding a defense that features Von Miller and Bradley Chubb is no easy task, but the Los Angeles Chargers should be proud of the offensive line's performance on Sunday.

Chargers miscues

Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers will shoulder a fair load of the blame after he threw two interceptions against the Broncos. Despite throwing for 401 yards, the interceptions not only cost the Chargers potential points but allowed Denver to score in both instances. In addition to subpar quarterback play, the Chargers committed 10 penalties in the first half and settled for two field goals.

"Those are things we've stayed away from -- penalties and turnovers -- but they showed up today. For whatever reason, I don't know. We'll figure it out, though," head coach Anthony Lynn said in the post game press conference.

Receiver Keenan Allen was a little less diplomatic.

"I don't think they played well at all," Allen said after the game, via ESPN.com. "We dominated the game. Turnovers, we gave them some points and that's what happened. They suck."

To make matters worse, Mike Badgley missed an extra point in the third quarter. Denver no doubt earned their victory by driving the length of the field to get into field goal range as time expired but leading up to the final drive, Los Angeles certainly squandered plenty of its opportunities.

Denver rookie playmakers

Former Oregon running back Royce Freeman has rushed for 382 yards (4.2 YPC) and five touchdowns for the Broncos in 2018 (As of 11/27/18).

The Broncos have a talented trio of rookies to rely on offensively. Running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman complement each other well as Lindsay primarily serves as the third down motion back and Freeman the more traditional power back. On the outside at receiver, Courtland Sutton also showed his playmaking ability. Lindsay finished with 106 combined rushing and receiving yards while Freeman had 23 yards rushing and a touchdown. Sutton caught three passes for 78 yards. Lindsay, who was undrafted, has been the most productive out of the bunch, rushing for 670 yards and catching 24 passes for 187 yards on the season. If Denver can get more consistent production out of Sutton and Freeman, the Broncos could have a strong young nucleus on offense going forward.

2018, Football, Articles

2018 NFL Draft Recap, pick-by-pick: AFC West

May 5, 2018 dnmadmin Leave a comment

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos	Freeman went over the 100-yard mark 31 times during his four-year run in Eugene. Notable pick: Chubb will get a lot of one-on-one matchups working opposite Von Miller. It won’t be good for AFC West opponents. Freeman may be the grinder the Broncos need to control the clock and set up the play action pass game for Case Keenum. This could take pressure off of the team’s offensive tackles.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (5)	Bradley Chubb DE-6’4 269	NC State	1 (1^st Round)	Chubb took his game to the next level in 2017 by adding a deft swipe move to complement his ability to post tackles. He will get even more tutelage from the NFL’s best in Von Miller.
2 (40)	Courtland Sutton WR-6’3 218	SMU	28 (2^nd Round)	Sutton has all of the skills to develop into a No. 1 WR in the NFL. It won’t happen if he doesn’t eliminate the drops that show up once per game.
3 (71)	Royce Freeman RB-5’11 229	Oregon	27 (2^nd Round)	He ran for over 5,600 yards and scored 60 TDs in school. At nearly 230 pounds, he runs with a light-footed nature.
3 (99)	Isaac Yiadom CB-6’1 190	Boston College	166 (4^th Round)	Yiadom is one of the better cornerbacks in the draft playing with his back to the ball. Despite just adequate recovery speed, his length (32 ¼” arms) increases his recovery ability.
4 (106)	Josey Jewell LB-6’1 234	Iowa	104 (3^rd Round)	Jewell’s instincts are top-notch and he is adept at making in-game adjustments to combat offensive personnel.
4 (113)	DaeSean Hamilton WR-6’1 202	Penn State	63 (2^nd Round)	Hamilton brings slot quickness and outside wide receiver size to a unit that will move him around to create mismatches.
5 (156)	Troy Fumagalli TE-6’5 247	Wisconsin	337 (5^th Round	Fumagalli is yet another pass receiving option for the Broncos in the middle of the field for Case Keenum. He’s not a burner, but he catches everything in his area code.
6 (217)	Keishawn Bierria LB-6’0 230	Washington	342 (5^th Round)	Back-to-back second-team All-Pac-12 selection was a factor on the kickoff team in school…too.
7 (226)	David Williams RB-5’11 229	Arkansas, South Carolina	301 (4^th Round)	The Broncos have struck gold in the past with late round running backs. The former Gamecock averaged 5.6 yards per carry for the Razorbacks in a pro-style scheme in 2017.

Kansas City Chiefs	Nnadi may not look the part, but he produced 9.5 QB sacks and 20.5 tackles for losses for the Seminoles over the last two seasons (2016-17). Notable pick: Watts was dinged for average workouts prior to the draft. When teams look back at this draft, he could become one of the value picks in this class.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (46)	Breeland Speaks DL-6’3 283	Ole Miss	77 (3^rd Round)	Speaks has the look of current Jacksonville Jaguars DL Malik Jackson. Like Jackson, he may be underrated coming out of school. Speaks is athletic enough to play either the end or OLB spots.
3 (75)	Derrick Nnadi DT-6’1 317	FSU	109 (3^rd Round)	For a 6-foot-1 defensive tackle, he established lockout on a consistent basis. Very good instincts.
3 (100)	Dorian O’Daniel LB-6’0 5/8 223	Clemson	162 (3^rd Round)	O’Daniel covers the slot, RBs and is an outstanding special teams prospect.
4 (124)	Armani Watts S-5’10 202	Texas A&M	64 (3^rd Round)	Watts may have been the most active run-defending safety in the SEC. He contributed 4 INTs in 2017.
6 (196)	Tremon Smith CB-5’11 186	Central Arkansas	248 (4^th Round)	Smith was a terror in 2017 once he got his hands on the ball. He drops his weight to sink vs. intermediate routes and plays through the hands of bigger WRs in the Red Zone.
6 (198)	Kahlil McKenzie DT-6’4 314	Tennessee	338 (5^th Round)	Despite being a DT in school, the Chiefs plan on moving him to the guard position. He looked good at this spot in pre-draft workouts.

Oakland Raiders	Townsend will be counted on to replace former Oakland punter Marquette King. He produces hang times that average in the 4.6 range and placed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line for the Gators in 2017. Notable pick: Hall could end up becoming the team’s best find. His collegiate productivity was unmatched and his versatility will open up the team’s defensive fronts. Despite average length for a DT, he produced 29 pass break-ups in school.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (15)	Kolton Miller OT-6’9 309	UCLA	65 (3^rd Round)	Miller has rare athleticism for a man of his size. His 23 career starts were a result of missing most of 2016 due to injury. Developing an anchor will be a key for Miller.
2 (57)	P.J. Hall DL-6’0 308	Sam Houston St.	23 (2^nd Round)	Hall posted 86.5 tackles for losses in school and blocked 14 kicks. In addition, he found time to post four interceptions.
3 (65)	Brandon Parker OT-6’7 305	NC A&T	126 (3^rd Round)	Parker –much like Miller- needs improvement in terms of core strength. Also –like Miller- he has positive finishing instincts as a blocker.
3 (87) Trade from Los Angeles Rams	Arden Key DE-6’5 238	LSU	84 (3^rd Round)	If he can return to his 2016-form, the Raiders may have gotten another sub-package pass rush threat.
4 (110)	Nick Nelson CB-5’10 200	Wisconsin, Hawaii	60 (2^nd Round)	Nelson’s meniscus injury prior to the draft caused a slight slide. He may have gone a round higher. Dating back to his days at Hawaii, his footwork has always been his best friend.
5 (140)	Maurice Hurst DL-6’1 291	Michigan	76 (3^rd Round)	Medical concerns made Hurst a Day 3 pick. The Raiders got a player who is instant off the ball and wins with a slippery nature. He will push Eddie Vanderdoes.
5 (173)	Johnny Townsend P-6’1 211	Florida	437 (5^th Round)	This may have been the team’s most important pick for its defense. The release of Marquette King necessitated it earlier than expected. Townsend struggled out-kicking his coverage units in school.
6 (216)	Azeem Victor LB-6’2 240	Washington	365 (5^th Round)	It seems like ages since Victor produced 95 tackles and 9.5 tackles for losses (2015). His final season was filled with suspension and off the field issues.
7 (228)	Marcell Ateman WR-6’4 216	Oklahoma State	213 (4^th Round)	While not sudden, Ateman is athletic enough use his 78-inch wingspan to dwarf CBs in the Red Zone. Averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in 2017.

Los Angeles Chargers	Nwosu (No. 42 pictured) not only posted 9.5 QB sacks for the Trojans in 2017, he also broke up 13 passes. Notable picks: James should be a Day 1 starter. Nwosu could very well do the same. Either way, the selection of Jones may be the most important pick of the first three selections. The Chargers ranked 31^st versus the run in 2017.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (17)	Derwin James S-6’2 215	FSU	46 (2^nd Round)	The Chargers are going to look for James to be an intimidating eighth man in the box as well as the team’s enforcer in the middle of the field.
2 (48)	Uchenna Nwosu OLB-6’3 251	USC	61 (2^nd Round)	Nwosu will challenge Kyle Emanuel for playing time immediately at an outside linebacker spot. His ability to affect the three-step passing game was rare in school (20 PBUs).
3 (84)	Justin Jones DT-6’2 311	NC State	144 (3^rd Round)	Jones posted 8.5 tackles for loss in 2017. While not a pass rusher, he can hold the point of attack and will be a good rotational player in the Chargers defensive front.
4 (119)	Kyzir White S-6’2 216	West Virginia	197 (4^th Round)	White is a good blitz threat with plus upper body strength. His ability to control stalk blockers could land him a spot in sub-packages.
5 (155)	Scott Quessenberry OC-6’4 310	UCLA	110 (3^rd Round)	Quessenberry can hopefully improve the Chargers ability to move bodies in the run game.
7 (251)	Justin Jackson RB-5’11 199	Northwestern	265 (4^th Round)	Jackson’s vision is apparent. Despite a WR-like build, he was tough enough to withstand over 1,100 carries in his career.

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