2013 Ask Jeff Risdon a Question

[righterwriter]

Hey Jeff...now that the first few rounds of FA signings have taken place, how about a $.10 article on what you liked and didn't like? I'd really enjoy reading your take on player movement.

Posted today, and thanks!
http://football.realgm.com/src_article/ ... ee_agency/

Great as always! Thank you!

I hope I'm not asking too much in requesting articles, but as things are in a bit of a lull now between FA and the draft, I'd love to read about the topic suggested some weeks back-- a retrospective on your predictions related to past drafts-- who you hit on and who you missed, who exceeded expectations and who disappointed, and whether it was due to the situation they landed in or whatever.

I think it'd be interesting to read and to see how it relates to some of the guys this year that really need to land on the right team to work and who will likely shine regardless of where they go.

[SpeedyG]

Since everyone's asking...how much (if any) do you think Bridgewater's average showing in his proday will affect his draft status?

[Icness]

Since everyone's asking...how much (if any) do you think Bridgewater's average showing in his proday will affect his draft status?

I still strongly believe he's a top 8 overall pick, perhaps top 3 depending on how it shakes out. I truly don't give a squirt about pro days. Tommy Rees looked like a deity at Notre Dame's yesterday, doesn't change my opinion that I think he's not draftable.

[Icness]

Sorry I haven't been more active. I posted a couple of articles on the page.

Also want to call attention to the team draft previews that are going up almost daily. They're not my handiwork, but Ron M. is doing a great job with them. You'll see his stuff quite a bit over the next few months as he will also be assisting on the NFL season previews this summer.

Notable from my last piece:
Cyrus Kouandjio has been removed from two draft boards that I know of for his knee issues, and I would venture that it's quite a bit more than that. Just from fishing around on him, I'll be very surprised if he goes before the end of the third round.

[hermes]

jeff, it seems like more and more people are thinking bortles is going to be the first pick, slowly becoming the consensus choice. do you think so to? is he pulling away from the pack so to speak?

[gswhoops]

A more general question here, but what is the point of Pro Days (especially for QBs)?

I get that it makes sense for guys who are hurt and can't compete in the combine, but are teams really going to be swayed by a guy making endlessly rehersed, scripted passes in a totally controlled environment?

[Icness]

jeff, it seems like more and more people are thinking bortles is going to be the first pick, slowly becoming the consensus choice. do you think so to? is he pulling away from the pack so to speak?

I do think he's the first pick. Have thought so since whenever Dane Brugler first brought it up, makes too much sense with the OBrien factor there.

It's nothing really that Bortles is doing. I'm not sure anything has really changed since the Combine.

[Icness]

A more general question here, but what is the point of Pro Days (especially for QBs)?

I get that it makes sense for guys who are hurt and can't compete in the combine, but are teams really going to be swayed by a guy making endlessly rehersed, scripted passes in a totally controlled environment?

Pro days for QBs are completely pointless. Almost everyone in the NFL views them as such. Handling the media is part of the job, I guess, so maybe there's that.

For other positions they do matter a little. Another chance to watch a guy do actual football things up close, to coach them a little, talk to them.

They matter a lot for agents, great opportunity to talk up their clients to teams.

[gswhoops]

Ice, any thoughts on how the Culliver situation might effect the Niners' draft strategy?

[Twolf16]

What's your take on Mosley to the vikings? What's his potential?

[Icness]

Ice, any thoughts on how the Culliver situation might effect the Niners' draft strategy?

I don't think it changes much. They knew he was a risk before the most recent arrest.

[Icness]

What's your take on Mosley to the vikings? What's his potential?

At 8, that's really high for a guy that doesn't rush the passer. He reminds me a lot of AJ Hawk. Ask Packer fans how they feel about him as a first round guy. Good player, solid all around, not really an impact talent.

[BearTooth]

Jeff, I watched a lot of film of QBs in January and the one QB who stood out as underrated was Tom Savage. Well, now ol' Tom is getting a lot of buzz and I"m beginning to think that what I saw was for real: flawless motion, underrated mobility, one of the strongest arms in the class, really nice intermediate accuracy. Might throw the best deep out I've seen in this class. I've also seen him throw some pop flies under pressure that a wiser QB would've just eaten. But that sort of thing can be cleaned up, right? What are your thoughts? Also, what's your sense on the buzz? Is it from the media, or the scouting community?

[Icness]

Jeff, I watched a lot of film of QBs in January and the one QB who stood out as underrated was Tom Savage. Well, now ol' Tom is getting a lot of buzz and I"m beginning to think that what I saw was for real: flawless motion, underrated mobility, one of the strongest arms in the class, really nice intermediate accuracy. Might throw the best deep out I've seen in this class. I've also seen him throw some pop flies under pressure that a wiser QB would've just eaten. But that sort of thing can be cleaned up, right? What are your thoughts? Also, what's your sense on the buzz? Is it from the media, or the scouting community?

I wrote about Savage this fall:
http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2013/1 ... raft-trio/

And did this scouting report on him:
http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/0 ... ng-report/

Quick take: love his arm & toughness, but his lack of athleticism & concussion history scare me.

[vincecarter4pres]

Jeff who are the Eagles targeting?

Any truth to the rumors they're looking to move up for Evans?

Any chance they go nuts and try and move up for Watkins?

If they stay put or only move up a handful of spots are the rumors on point they like Cooks?

[Icness]

Jeff who are the Eagles targeting?

Any truth to the rumors they're looking to move up for Evans?

Any chance they go nuts and try and move up for Watkins?

If they stay put or only move up a handful of spots are the rumors on point they like Cooks?

Can't say for certain what they're doing. But they're clearly going after Chip Kelly kind of guys. He knows Cooks well and the comp some use for Cooks is DJax so that makes sense. I like it.

Can't see them moving way up for a wideout. My own personal fantasy is for them to move up and get Manziel because I think JFF running that offense would be awesome. It's either genius or spectacular fail, bold move.

[righterwriter]

If you are the GM of the 49ers would you rather do:

Brandin Cooks with a trade up in the 1st (#16 from DAL for #30, #56, and #129)
Marqise Lee at #30
Kelvin Benjamin at #30
Bruce Ellington at #77 (while using #30, #56, and #61 to address CB and make some BPA picks)

[Icness]

I'd take Lee at 30. I'd go up even higher to get Mike Evans, a guy I'm not all that high on but would be perfect for their offense.

[gswhoops]

What are some of your favorite mid/late round sleepers if you don't mind sharing? I feel like I don't really know a lot of guys outside the top-100 or so and would love to get some names.

[Icness]

What are some of your favorite mid/late round sleepers if you don't mind sharing? I feel like I don't really know a lot of guys outside the top-100 or so and would love to get some names.

A few I like:
Jordan Tripp LB Montana. Could be a late 2nd though, not that deep a sleeper
Connor Shaw QB South Carolina. Same basic career arc as Mettenberger, only he's not an unathletic convict
Kenny Ladler S Vanderbilt. I have him rated higher than Calvin Pryor
Jemea Thomas DB Georgia Tech. Ideal 4th CB/3rd safety, can play all over the secondary
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif T McGill. Dominated Canada, dominated Shrine week. Think a French-Canadian Trent Williams
Brandon Dixon CB NW Missouri. Can't tackle a cripple but he's got great natural cover skills
Bernard Reedy WR Toledo. Cat quick, decent hands, return man/offensive weapon potential
Deron Furr S Fort Valley St. Was originally a QB at Auburn that switched to D to give spot to Cam Newton, 6'3" 240 lb hybrid S/LB. UDFA for sure but potential is there. Had 9 games with at least 15 tackles/2 TFLs last year