2015 NFL Draft: Staff Scouting Notes 3/28
By Joe Wedra
Our staff got together once again to break down 2015 NFL Draft prospects, with just over a month to go until the big day. Below, find the players we broke down, including the highlights from our scouting session.
You can follow the members of the session on Twitter below:
NOTE: Linked to each player name is a tape from the good folks at Draft Breakdown. Click and you’ll be re-directed to the tape.
Michigan LB Jake Ryan
We had some disagreements here.
Personally, I loved what I saw in Ryan. He’s an active linebacker that boasts the ability to get across the field and make plays. He’s quicker than fast and returned nicely from an ACL tear in 2013. You’d never know he hurt the knee by taking a look at his film.
Charles and Jonah saw some different traits.
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They insisted Ryan was too stiff and couldn’t compete on all three downs. Where I saw a great value pick in the mid-late rounds, they couldn’t find much that they liked here.
Different prospects for different folks, but this was an area of disagreement across the board.
Utah DB Eric Rowe
In the tape linked above, although from 2012, we all agreed that Rowe will be a natural safety in the NFL if that’s his role.
Making open field tackles, flying across the field, and showing good awareness and skill to be a versatile safety, Rowe shined.
There isn’t much of a debate here.
Rowe should be a very solid Day Two selection with the ability to play either corner and safety in the NFL — although safety will likely be his best position moving forward.
Oklahoma CB Julian Wilson
I’ll preface this by saying Wilson has the ability to be on a training camp roster — he knows what he wants to do out there. However, his skill-set holds him back enough to slide him down boards, likely into the underrated range.
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We all agreed Wilson was incredibly stiff and lacked the ability to match up against top-tier wide outs.
Where his size stands out, his athleticism lacks. He should fall into the UDFA category.
Washington State DT Xavier Cooper
Amazed by Cooper’s supreme athleticism and quickness off the snap, a few of us were turned off by a lack of strength/size combo.
Jonah and I agreed that Cooper is a bit of a tweener — Charles felt he could be a fit all across the board.
The debate truly came in regarding the system fit. Is he a 3-tech or can he play a 5-tech? Will he be strong enough to hold his own in a 4-3?
If a team likes his athleticism in their system, he could go as early as the third. If they have concerns regarding his ability to shed blocks and make plays all over with strength, he could fall into the late rounds.