2017-18 CFB SEASON / '18 NFL DRAFT

[NinerSickness]

I actually like him slightly better than Dexter Lawrence.

Ed Oliver - DL - Cougars

Houston sophomore DT Ed Oliver was given the Outland Trophy on Thursday.

Oliver is the first defender to win the award since 2013, which goes to the top interior lineman in the country. He beat out Notre Dame guard Quinton Nelson and Oklahoma tackle Orlando Brown to take home the prestigious award. A former five-star recruit, Oliver finished with 14.5 tackles for loss, including five sacks.
Source: Thomas Duarte on Twitter

Dec 7 - 8:48 PM

What a friggn' lame couple of years to have top-5 picks the Niners have had. Just missed Myles Garrett by 1 pick; gonna miss Dex & Oliver by a year.

At least they can probably get Nelson. And if they're smart, they'll trade up for Christian Wilkinson from round 2 unless the rest of the world realizes he's a future HOFer.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

I actually like him slightly better than Dexter Lawrence.

Ed Oliver - DL - Cougars

Houston sophomore DT Ed Oliver was given the Outland Trophy on Thursday.

Oliver is the first defender to win the award since 2013, which goes to the top interior lineman in the country. He beat out Notre Dame guard Quinton Nelson and Oklahoma tackle Orlando Brown to take home the prestigious award. A former five-star recruit, Oliver finished with 14.5 tackles for loss, including five sacks.
Source: Thomas Duarte on Twitter

Dec 7 - 8:48 PM

What a friggn' lame couple of years to have top-5 picks the Niners have had. Just missed Myles Garrett by 1 pick; gonna miss Dex & Oliver by a year.

At least they can probably get Nelson. And if they're smart, they'll trade up for Christian Wilkinson from round 2 unless the rest of the world realizes he's a future HOFer.

Don’t forget about Michigan’s Rahsan Gary, he’s a borderline elite player as well.

As far as trading up in trading up... you have the wrong “Christian”. I think you meant to say Kirk. As i also wouldn’t mind Malik Jefferson in that scenario.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

An anonymous NFC scout believes comparisons between Oklahoma senior QB Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel are lazy.

"Manziel was all over the map with his footwork, he’d throw the ball jumping out of bounds, or just throw it up and count on Mike Evans," said the scout. "Baker doesn’t do any of that type of stuff. He doesn’t take so many stupid chances. Baker sees the field. When you rush him, he keeps his eyes downfield. That’s more like (Russell) Wilson." The scout believes Mayfield will be a first-round pick. Mayfield has completed 71.0 percent of his passes for 4,340 yards and a 41/5 TD/INT this season. While scouts love his accuracy and touch, Mayfield's diminutive stature clouds his evaluation a bit. An NFC scout who spoke with NFL.com thinks he'll measure in at around 6-foot (he's listed at 6'1 by Oklahoma). "He’ll be a solid 210 pounds. He’s put together. He’s not going to be frail," the scout said. "He’s got a similar build as Russell Wilson. He carries good weight in his lower half." Mayfield also faces maturity and system questions; Oklahoma runs a
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 5:52 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

He’d be a much better option than a Sequan Barley:

Bradley Chubb - DL - Wolfpack

An AFC scout compares NC State senior edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a "much more" explosive Derek Barnett.

"If you compare him to Derek Barnett, he has similar production but he is a much more explosive athlete," he said. "I think he is way ahead of (Boston College's Harold) Landry as a pro prospect." Chubb (6'4/275) is also bigger than Barnett (6'3/259). NFL.com's Lance Zierlein did not that Barnett has better hands than Chubb. "I'm undecided on where I project him, but he will be drafted earlier than where Barnett, the 14th overall pick in 2017, went," Zierlein wrote.
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 3:54 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Kerryon Johnson - RB - Tigers

An NFL executive told NFL.com that Auburn junior RB Kerryon Johnson "stood out" during the Iron Bowl two weeks ago.

"When I watched Auburn and Alabama, that Auburn running back stood out," he said of Johnson. "He's kind of upright as a runner but, man, was he physical against that front." NFL Media's Lance Zierlein added this: "Johnson is a tall, angular runner who is more of a banger than a slasher, but he has the short-area foot quickness to elude tacklers and create for himself." Johnson has rushed for 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns over 11 games played heading into bowl season. He's added a 20-152-0 receiving line. Rotoworld's Thor Nystrom sees Johnson as a "souped-up Wayne Gallman", a tall, upright runner who seeks out contact and adds value as a receiver. NFLDraftScout's Dane Brugler agrees with the assessment and sees Johnson as a top-three back in the upcoming class. At the moment, most analysts are lower on Johnson than Nystrom and Brugler.
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 4:43 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Rodney Anderson - RB - Sooners

Derek Chance, the attorney for Oklahoma redshirt sophomore RB Rodney Anderson, said that his client passed a three-hour polygraph regarding the rape allegation being levied against him.

Retired FBI polygraph examiner Bill Brown was the one who administered the test. It should be noted that polygraphs are not admissible in the court of law. Anderson has been accused of raping a woman whom he met at a bar on Nov. 16. He has a hearing scheduled for Dec. 18 regarding the protective order filed against Anderson by the woman in question, just under two weeks from Oklahoma's Rose Bowl showdown with Georgia in a semifinal Playoff contest. As of yet, charges have not been levied against the redshirt sophomore.
Source: College Football Talk

Dec 8 - 10:13 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derrius Guice - RB - Tigers

LSU junior RB Derrius Guice will play in the Citrus Bowl against Notre Dajme on New Year's Day.

Guice (5'11/216) tweeted on Friday that he's "not missing a game I'm fully capable of playing in." The junior running back plans on making his draft decision public at some point after the Citrus Bowl. This season, he's rushed for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those fine numbers could have been even loftier -- potentially Heisman-contention loftier -- had Guice not been fighting through a knee injury early in the campaign. He's likely ticketed for a top-15 selection in the spring draft assuming he does declare in a few weeks.
Source: Derrius Guice on Twitter

Dec 8 - 8:41 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Josh Rosen - QB - Bruins

In a tweet, UCLA junior QB Josh Rosen said that he hasn't made a decision as of yet whether or not he'll enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Rosen's tweet was presumably in response to a Wednesday report from Walter Football's Charlie Campbell that the junior quarterback was going to enter the draft. "I have not made a decision, and I don't plan to do so anytime soon," Rosen says. It's still widely assumed that the quarterback will be entering the draft and likely will be one of the first quarterbacks off the board, but any reports that suggest that he's leaving may have been premature.
Source: Josh Rosen on Twitter

Dec 7 - 10:51 PM

[NinerSickness]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

An anonymous NFC scout believes comparisons between Oklahoma senior QB Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel are lazy.

[ChrisPozz]

Dallas Goedert rolled an ankle early today on his lone reception and didn't return. Questionable for next week's game vs. #1 James Madison. I've seen just about all I need to see until April unless I'd be afforded the chance to work him out on a field prior to just for further confirmation.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

Oklahoma senior QB Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday.

Mayfield takes home the award over Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, and Stanford RB Bryce Love. Love finished second, and Jackson finishing third. As expected, it wasn't close, as Mayfield finished with 86 percent of the first-place votes. The Sooner quarterback was the best offensive player this season on the best offensive team, finishing with 4,340 yards passing, 41 passing touchdowns, and four rushing scores. He becomes the first senior to win the award since Troy Smith in 2006. Mayfield will next be on the field against Georgia in the Rose Bowl for the right to play in the National Championship Game.
Source: Dylan Buckingham on Twitter

Dec 9 - 9:02 P

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Saturday that he "guarantee[s]" that Oklahoma senior QB Baker Mayfield will be a first-round pick in the draft.

"And I will bet you he goes higher than people think," Schefter said on the Worldwide Leader. Mayfield is currently the toast of the town, having just won the Heisman Trophy on the strength of 4,340 passing yards and a 41/5 TD/INT ratio. He's drawn some comps to washed out QB Johnny Manziel for his occasionally improvisational style of play, though an anonymous NFC scout told NFL.com earlier this month that "Baker sees the field" and does not have nearly the same tendencies for ill-advised gonna-try-to-do-it-all throws.
Source: Sooner Gridiron

Dec 10 - 2:21 PM

[wco81]

Looks like the more fashionable comparison is for Mayfield is Wilson, who's also shorter than ideal for an NFL QB.

Is Mayfield as elusive and able to extend plays?

Or be a factor in the running game with read option or scrambles?

[ChrisPozz]

Looks like the more fashionable comparison is for Mayfield is Wilson, who's also shorter than ideal for an NFL QB.

Is Mayfield as elusive and able to extend plays?

Or be a factor in the running game with read option or scrambles?

Call it fashionable. I call it stupid and superficial surface junk that needs to go away before we get into full NFL Draft swing. Emphasis on the world SURFACE. The only way it works is if you get weird and say that he's what you'd get if Russell Wilson and the new Case Keenum got together and had a baby. Then MAYBE you're on to something weird.

And I'm actually more of a fan of Mayfield as a PASSER than that sounds. And I'm FAR less of a fan of Wilson than many probably realize as well unless you know my history of knocking Wilson as a passer over the years.

And while I'm at it. I'm actually talking about the mechanics Case Keenum has going today. Not whatever weird setup he had going with Fisher and company in STL. That's actually crediting Mayfield a bit because I probably like him as a PASSER more so than it actually sounds by using the Keenum of today vs. the mess he was in STL.

To repeat. I'm also probably not the guy that'd take Mayfield either just because there's enough junk there with him that I would not want to stake my career on if the head stuff with him proves out to be a thing. If I'm going down, he's not going to be the one to take me with him. I'd let someone else risk that.

The more appropriate way to bring him up with Russell Wilson is if I go back to what I said about Wilson. I said when Wilson was coming into the NFL that he's not somebody that I'd EVER want to spend my time on or have as my quarterback but I also am not going to love facing him either just because he's a little pain in the you know what.

Baker Mayfield has some of that in him where I'm not really scared of going up against him but he's not somebody I'd love to game plan around. That's one of the only times I'd bring those two up together.

I'll be a healthier guy going into the off season if the Wilson/Mayfield stuff goes away before it ever gets really annoying. I hope one day we can get beyond comparisons like that one. It probably won't happen but maybe their combine workouts will kind of help let that argument die down a little bit. At the same time, his combine interviews will probably help fuel those arguments, too. Argh!

[NinerSickness]

He’d be a much better option than a Sequan Barley:

Bradley Chubb - DL - Wolfpack

An AFC scout compares NC State senior edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a "much more" explosive Derek Barnett.

"If you compare him to Derek Barnett, he has similar production but he is a much more explosive athlete," he said. "I think he is way ahead of (Boston College's Harold) Landry as a pro prospect." Chubb (6'4/275) is also bigger than Barnett (6'3/259). NFL.com's Lance Zierlein did not that Barnett has better hands than Chubb. "I'm undecided on where I project him, but he will be drafted earlier than where Barnett, the 14th overall pick in 2017, went," Zierlein wrote.
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 3:54 PM

He's starting to look like a nice alternative to Q. Nelson.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

He’d be a much better option than a Sequan Barley:

Bradley Chubb - DL - Wolfpack

An AFC scout compares NC State senior edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a "much more" explosive Derek Barnett.

"If you compare him to Derek Barnett, he has similar production but he is a much more explosive athlete," he said. "I think he is way ahead of (Boston College's Harold) Landry as a pro prospect." Chubb (6'4/275) is also bigger than Barnett (6'3/259). NFL.com's Lance Zierlein did not that Barnett has better hands than Chubb. "I'm undecided on where I project him, but he will be drafted earlier than where Barnett, the 14th overall pick in 2017, went," Zierlein wrote.
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 3:54 PM

He's starting to look like a nice alternative to Q. Nelson.

If we pick outside of the top 5, I’d welcome NELSON in a heartbeat. But at the moment I feel as if there shouldn’t be a reason why we need to pick a guard if we’re picking anywhere within 1-5. That’s just not the normal thing to do for an org who’s bad enough to be selecting that high IMO. To justify such a high pick, he would have to cconsistently open holes the size of the Grand Canyon for our RBs.

[NinerSickness]

He’d be a much better option than a Sequan Barley:

Bradley Chubb - DL - Wolfpack

An AFC scout compares NC State senior edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a "much more" explosive Derek Barnett.

"If you compare him to Derek Barnett, he has similar production but he is a much more explosive athlete," he said. "I think he is way ahead of (Boston College's Harold) Landry as a pro prospect." Chubb (6'4/275) is also bigger than Barnett (6'3/259). NFL.com's Lance Zierlein did not that Barnett has better hands than Chubb. "I'm undecided on where I project him, but he will be drafted earlier than where Barnett, the 14th overall pick in 2017, went," Zierlein wrote.
Source: NFL.com

Dec 8 - 3:54 PM

He's starting to look like a nice alternative to Q. Nelson.

If we pick outside of the top 5, I’d welcome NELSON in a heartbeat. But at the moment I feel as if there shouldn’t be a reason why we need to pick a guard if we’re picking anywhere within 1-5. That’s just not the normal thing to do for an org who’s bad enough to be selecting that high IMO. To justify such a high pick, he would have to cconsistently open holes the size of the Grand Canyon for our RBs.

Nelson is the best non-QB player in the draft. He should be the top priority. He's probably better than Steve Hutchinson.

You gotta take the best player. Doesn't matter that he's a guard; he's a game-changing guard.

Nelson > Chubb

Nelson > Fitzpatrick, Ridley or James.

Can't try to win the SB in one offseason.

[NinerSickness]

Niners fell to 4th pick at this point behind the colts.

[NinerSickness]

This is the weakest, friggn' draft I've ever followed (non-QB; I like the QBs).

[NinerSickness]

Jonah Williams (from Folsom, CA; a really nice city in my corner of the country) OLT Alabama is on my radar for the 2019 NFL draft. Looks like a good fit for the ZBS. #73:

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