WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
2 (57) Jaylon Johnson - CB, Utah (6-0, 193)
40-Yard Dash (4.50); 3-Cone Drill (7.01); Vertical Jump (36.5)
- Johnson is an exceptional man coverage CB, who can press or play off. He has good size and plus athleticism. His counting stats weren’t spectacular (7 INT’s, 21 PBU’s over 3 years) but that’s because he is always in the right position, forcing opponents to avoid him. IMO he is a 1st round talent this year, but just had labrum surgery, which will likely knock him down the board slightly. At the moment, you can pencil him in starting on the outside with Conley although we need to add a CB in FA who is capable of starting and playing in the slot (Chris Harris would be perfect, but for monetary value perhaps someone like Kendall Fuller).
3 (90) Alton Robinson - EDGE, Syracuse (6-3, 264)
40-Yard Dash (4.69); 3-Cone Drill (7.32); Broad Jump (119.0)
- Highly productive edge rusher (19 Sacks, 32 TFL in 3 seasons) who combines plus athleticism with a good pass rush repertoire. He had a phenomenal junior year before coming down as a senior with opponents giving him a lot of extra attention. That consistency will be a hurdle to overcome in his NFL career, but overall he is a very enticing prospect for a team desperate for pass rush help. With Mercilus locking down one side, have Robinson compete with Ejiofor for snaps on the other side as well as getting in pass rush snaps in sub-packages.
4 (111) A.J. Dillon - RB, Boston College (6-0, 247)
40-Yard Dash (4.53); 3-Cone Drill (7.19); Broad Jump (131.0)
- Absolute freight train who will run through a brick wall. Get off the tracks if he's coming your way. Dillon is a straight-line beast in the same fashion as Derrick Henry. A freak athlete for his size, he is a brute force but also surprisingly nimble as well. Not awful as a pass catcher or blocker, but wasn't used in that role very much in college. Definitely needs to be developed in that area to become a three-down back. What he does bring is two-down workhorse volume and powerful inside running, which is clearly what Bill O'Brien has been looking for. Pair him up with Duke Johnson for an enticing 1-2 punch out of the backfield.
4 (131) Keith Ismael - OG, San Diego State (6-3, 309)
- Texans added 2 OL starters in the draft last year but need to keep adding depth. Ismael is an early entrant with vast experience at both Guard and Center. He's a 'phone-booth' type of OL who wants nothing more than to jump off the line and maul the guy across from him. With Zach Fulton's future up in the air and Senio Kelemete almost certain to be cut, the Texans need another capable player on the interior for depth. Smart, strong, and versatile; give him time to learn and he can be a valuable piece on the interior.
5 (171) Joe Gaziano - DL, Northwestern (6-4, 281)
- Eternally under the radar, Gaz has received almost zero draft hype despite a sterling college career. I don't care if he's a sub-par athlete, 49 TFL and 30 Sacks is nothing to sneeze at, especially coming from a conference like the Big Ten. He combines positional craftsmanship with a relentless motor. This team sorely needs depth on the DL, why not take a stab at a guy like this who can walk in and contribute as a depth piece day one? Not every draft pick needs to be a guy with limitless potential. High floor, low ceiling isn't always a bad thing.
7 (240) Stantley Thomas-Oliver - CB, Florida International (6-0, 192)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.48); Vertical Jump (34.0)
- A former WR, Thomas-Oliver offers good size, athleticism, and upside at the CB position. He batted down 18 passes in his two years as a DB, but only picked off 2 passes. However, he has plus tools and offers a lot of room for growth with his limited experience at the position. Draft him, stash him, and develop him.
7 (248) Derrek Tuszka - EDGE, North Dakota State (6-4, 251)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.79); 3-Cone Drill (6.87); Broad Jump (120.0)
- Tuszka dominated the FCS with 38.5 TFL and 29 Sacks during his 3 years as a starter and was a center-piece on the Bisons defense during their current 3-year title run. He's more agile than he is explosive and also lacks length so I peg him as more of a developmental prospect as a SAM than as a pure pass rusher. That said, you can't make up for his production or his motor. Draft him and develop him as a depth piece with possible starting SAM upside down the road.
7 (250) Essang Bassey - CB, Wake Forest (5-9, 191)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.46); 3-Cone Drill (6.95); Vertical Jump (39.5)
- Tiny but ultra-productive CB who batted down 45 passes during his college career. Extremely feisty and athletic, the big knock on him is obviously his size. You cannot get around it and it limits what you can do with him. That being said you also cannot get around the athleticism, production, and motor. He has excellent anticipation and is not scared to get in your face. This team needs as many rounds in the chamber as possible at CB and this gives them a prospect to develop in the slot.
40-Yard Dash (4.50); 3-Cone Drill (7.01); Vertical Jump (36.5)
- Johnson is an exceptional man coverage CB, who can press or play off. He has good size and plus athleticism. His counting stats weren’t spectacular (7 INT’s, 21 PBU’s over 3 years) but that’s because he is always in the right position, forcing opponents to avoid him. IMO he is a 1st round talent this year, but just had labrum surgery, which will likely knock him down the board slightly. At the moment, you can pencil him in starting on the outside with Conley although we need to add a CB in FA who is capable of starting and playing in the slot (Chris Harris would be perfect, but for monetary value perhaps someone like Kendall Fuller).
3 (90) Alton Robinson - EDGE, Syracuse (6-3, 264)
40-Yard Dash (4.69); 3-Cone Drill (7.32); Broad Jump (119.0)
- Highly productive edge rusher (19 Sacks, 32 TFL in 3 seasons) who combines plus athleticism with a good pass rush repertoire. He had a phenomenal junior year before coming down as a senior with opponents giving him a lot of extra attention. That consistency will be a hurdle to overcome in his NFL career, but overall he is a very enticing prospect for a team desperate for pass rush help. With Mercilus locking down one side, have Robinson compete with Ejiofor for snaps on the other side as well as getting in pass rush snaps in sub-packages.
4 (111) A.J. Dillon - RB, Boston College (6-0, 247)
40-Yard Dash (4.53); 3-Cone Drill (7.19); Broad Jump (131.0)
- Absolute freight train who will run through a brick wall. Get off the tracks if he's coming your way. Dillon is a straight-line beast in the same fashion as Derrick Henry. A freak athlete for his size, he is a brute force but also surprisingly nimble as well. Not awful as a pass catcher or blocker, but wasn't used in that role very much in college. Definitely needs to be developed in that area to become a three-down back. What he does bring is two-down workhorse volume and powerful inside running, which is clearly what Bill O'Brien has been looking for. Pair him up with Duke Johnson for an enticing 1-2 punch out of the backfield.
4 (131) Keith Ismael - OG, San Diego State (6-3, 309)
- Texans added 2 OL starters in the draft last year but need to keep adding depth. Ismael is an early entrant with vast experience at both Guard and Center. He's a 'phone-booth' type of OL who wants nothing more than to jump off the line and maul the guy across from him. With Zach Fulton's future up in the air and Senio Kelemete almost certain to be cut, the Texans need another capable player on the interior for depth. Smart, strong, and versatile; give him time to learn and he can be a valuable piece on the interior.
5 (171) Joe Gaziano - DL, Northwestern (6-4, 281)
- Eternally under the radar, Gaz has received almost zero draft hype despite a sterling college career. I don't care if he's a sub-par athlete, 49 TFL and 30 Sacks is nothing to sneeze at, especially coming from a conference like the Big Ten. He combines positional craftsmanship with a relentless motor. This team sorely needs depth on the DL, why not take a stab at a guy like this who can walk in and contribute as a depth piece day one? Not every draft pick needs to be a guy with limitless potential. High floor, low ceiling isn't always a bad thing.
7 (240) Stantley Thomas-Oliver - CB, Florida International (6-0, 192)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.48); Vertical Jump (34.0)
- A former WR, Thomas-Oliver offers good size, athleticism, and upside at the CB position. He batted down 18 passes in his two years as a DB, but only picked off 2 passes. However, he has plus tools and offers a lot of room for growth with his limited experience at the position. Draft him, stash him, and develop him.
7 (248) Derrek Tuszka - EDGE, North Dakota State (6-4, 251)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.79); 3-Cone Drill (6.87); Broad Jump (120.0)
- Tuszka dominated the FCS with 38.5 TFL and 29 Sacks during his 3 years as a starter and was a center-piece on the Bisons defense during their current 3-year title run. He's more agile than he is explosive and also lacks length so I peg him as more of a developmental prospect as a SAM than as a pure pass rusher. That said, you can't make up for his production or his motor. Draft him and develop him as a depth piece with possible starting SAM upside down the road.
7 (250) Essang Bassey - CB, Wake Forest (5-9, 191)
Forty-Yard Dash (4.46); 3-Cone Drill (6.95); Vertical Jump (39.5)
- Tiny but ultra-productive CB who batted down 45 passes during his college career. Extremely feisty and athletic, the big knock on him is obviously his size. You cannot get around it and it limits what you can do with him. That being said you also cannot get around the athleticism, production, and motor. He has excellent anticipation and is not scared to get in your face. This team needs as many rounds in the chamber as possible at CB and this gives them a prospect to develop in the slot.