The Daily Briefing Thursday, August 19, 2021

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Coach Dan Campbell calls himself a name for cutting popular long-snapper Don Muhlbach.  Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com:

“No doubt. There’s no way to sugarcoat that,” Campbell said. “I’m an a——. So, that’s about the best way to put it and I hate it. There was no way around it, really. Yeah, you can say there is, but ultimately that falls on me. It’s my fault. Don’s a helluva dude. It sucks, but it is what it is.”

Muhlbach was a former teammate of Campbell’s during his tenure as a player with the Lions from 2006-08. Muhlbach was a two-time Pro Bowler, who spent 17 seasons with the franchise, which included being named a three-time team captain.

His 17 years with the team is the second-most in Lions history behind Jason Hanson’s 21.

“It stinks,” Campbell said.

Throughout the process of making these types of decisions, involving the emotions of roster cuts, Campbell says he has leaned on his experience from Miami, where he took over as interim head coach in 2015. The Dolphins were 1-3 before Campbell but he helped them finish 5-7 that year, including a season finale victory against the New England Patriots.

“Look, I was fortunate to get — I did get 12 weeks out in Miami. So, I had already had a bit of a taste of it and really during the hardest time of the year, which was the season,” Campbell said, describing the emotions of coaching. “So, I kind of knew a little bit of what I was walking into. Now, what I didn’t ever have to worry about necessarily was what’s coming down the wire and what had to transpire a couple of days ago when you have to start letting players go that have just given their heart and soul to everything.

“That’s hard. For me, I can take things personal at time if I’m being honest with you. It does,” he added. “It digs on me a little bit and I hate it because I was in that locker room and I played and I know when you see these guys who literally do give everything they have and you have to let them go or you got to make these decisions, it’s tough. It’s real tough because I appreciate them, but it is what it is.”

GREEN BAY

QB AARON RODGERS denies reports that he and others of the old guard have been trying to get Clay Matthews back on the roster.  Zach Kruse of USAToday.com:

A gathering of friends turned into a FaceTime call, which turned into a series of social media posts, but the whole thing was more of a joke than a serious suggestion.

This is how Aaron Rodgers explained the Instagram posts suggesting the Green Bay Packers should bring back outside linebacker Clay Matthews.

Let Rodgers tell the story.

“Friday night, I was with Dave (Bakhtiari) and his lovely fiance, Frankie, and the Cobbs. And we had a question about Clay that came up, because Clay just moved from California. So we got Clay on FaceTime. Those conversations turned into a social media post. There hasn’t been, I don’t think, a big push from any of us to sign him. We didn’t even talk ball. We were just BS-ing with him. Having a good conversation. He’s a big farmer now, kind of like Jordy. He’s probably got that strength to play but I don’t think he’s thought about football for a while.”

There you have it.

Rodgers did reiterate his desire to be involved in more conversations about the personnel that directly affects his job, but trying to get the Packers to sign Matthews probably wasn’t a part of the process.

It’s certainly possible, based on Rodgers’ telling of the story, that Matthews wanted the social media posts as a joke, especially after Rodgers got Cobb back to Green Bay via trade to start training camp.

Matthews left the Packers following the 2018 season. He played one season with the Los Angeles Rams but didn’t play in the NFL in 2020.

TE BRONSON KAUFASI is this year’s WR JAKE KUMEROW to the amusement of the Green Bay media and, perhaps, Rodgers.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn’t hold back a laugh when a reporter made a joke referencing Jake Kumerow during Wednesday’s press conference.

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky delivered the line after Rodgers publicly praised backup tight end Bronson Kaufusi, who is fighting for a roster spot in training camp.

“I can’t wait to see what Kaufusi does in Buffalo this year, but anyway,” Demovsky quipped.

Rodgers couldn’t hold back a smile while taking a drink from a water bottle, clearly shocked by the delivery of the joke.

The back story here is needed: Last summer, Rodgers went out of his way to praise Kumerow on a radio show, only to have the Packers cut him a day later. Kumerow, a favorite of Rodgers, eventually landed on his feet with the Bills in Buffalo.

Has the NFL’s MVP doomed Kaufusi to the same fate?

The frustration over Kumerow’s exit resurfaced in a big way this summer while a conflict brewed between Rodgers and the Packers brass, and the move was often used as an example of a communication breakdown between the quarterback and team on personnel matters directly affecting Rodgers’ job.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the decision to release Kumerow “drove Rodgers nuts” and was a major point of contention for the quarterback as he tried to determine his future in Green Bay.

At the start of training camp, Rodgers explained that a lack of input and communication on some personnel decisions laid at the heart of his issues with the Packers.

Unlike Kumerow last summer, Kaufusi is a long shot to make the roster. It’s possible, however, that Rodgers’ opinion this time around might be enough to get Kaufusi – a converted defensive end trying to make it as a tight end – onto the practice squad.

Or on the next plane to Buffalo. One of the two.

The DB would say that it would take at least two planes to get from Green Bay to Buffalo, not one.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

Ron Rivera has found his voice in DC.  You need to be vaccinated and you need to stop saying anything to opponents after a play.  Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post on the latter:

Among the NFL’s points of emphasis for officials this year is a crackdown on taunting from players. Two violations for taunting will result in an automatic ejection, and the taunting player could be fined or suspended, depending on the severity of the violation.

“The NFL Players Association, coaches and competition committee have all made a strong statement regarding respect among everyone on the field,” the league said in its annual video of rule changes and points of emphasis. “We saw an increase in actions that clearly are not within the spirit and intent of this rule and not representative of the respect to opponents and others on the field.”

Washington coach Ron Rivera is one of nine coaches/executives on the league’s competition committee and clearly a proponent of the emphasis, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports.

“If you make a great play, great. Be excited, but don’t do it toward your opponent,” he said Wednesday. “That’s all we’re asking. That’s what the rule is for because what we don’t want is an escalation of some things that have happened in the past. … That’s not a good look for any sport, let alone football, and somebody’s going to get hurt, and you just don’t want that. … Quite honestly, we don’t need the young people to see that. We don’t need the Pop Warner, pee-wee football kids seeing us act like that. We want to put it out there as professionally as possible.”

After watching it in action so far, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com thinks proper enhanced enforcement is beyond the capabilities of the onfield officials:

The NFL’s clumsy effort to get game officials to do a better job of doing their jobs when it comes to calling taunting penalties has sparked several news cycles of “No Fun League” criticism. It was completely avoidable.

This isn’t a new rule, or even a new approach. It’s an effort by the league office to get officials to enforce the rules on the books. It should have been explained that way from the get go.

And it’s not about celebrating; that should have been explained, too. In 2017, the league dramatically relaxed the rules regarding celebrations, to widespread praise. (How quickly Twitter forgets.) This is about deliberately directing taunts to an opponent — spiking the ball, spinning the ball, flexing, getting in someone’s face, throwing deuces at a player, etc. The officials had failed in recent years to enforce the rule as written, most notably by not consistently penalizing Tyreek Hill for his trademark taunt.

Given the high stakes of throwing a flag, which shifts 15 yards of field position, it’s understandable that officials would be hesitant. It’s a no-win proposition. Throw the flag and get it right, and you’re an overoficious jerk. Throw the flag and get it wrong, and you’re an overoficious jerk who has potentially affected the game in a major way.

Meanwhile, these are decisions made in real time, based on things that happen in a blink of an eye.

There’s a simple solution, one that the league remains (frankly) too cheap to embrace. Sky judge, booth umpire, whatever the title. An extra official who monitors the TV angles and the replays and who can talk to the on-field officials and tell them either to drop a flag or to pick one up. That’s precisely one of the powers that a booth umpire would have, and it would provide useful backup and cover for the officials on the field.

That’s the only way to get the consistency the league wants when it comes to taunting. It also will help the league avoid taunting becoming a point of emphasis every few years, sparking another wave of unnecessary and preventable criticism.

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

The Saints have changed the terms of admission after season ticketholders bought their seat, but no refunds for you if you decline the new demand for vaccination. Patrik Walker of CBSSports.com:

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic — which is once again surging due to the delta variant — the New Orleans Saints aren’t taking any chances. The organization has recently instituted a policy that requires fans to either be vaccinated for show proof of a negative PCR text within 72 hours for attempting to enter the Superdome in 2021, and those allowed in will still be required to wear a mask. They’re taking their precautions one step further though, also announcing a policy that will directly impact the pockets of fans who’ve already purchased tickets for the upcoming season.

If you’re a Saints ticket holder and refuse the COVID-19 vaccination or test, you’ll not only be barred from entering the Superdome, but you also won’t get a refund on your ticket — i.e., follow their safety protocol or take the monetary loss.

“We’ve received all necessary local and state approvals to host a full stadium of fans and with that in mind, we are not offering a refund or opt out option this season,” Saints Senior VP of Communications Greg Bensel told WDSU Channel 6 News. “We remain optimistic that, with our community’s help and as vaccination rates increase, these restrictions will no longer be necessary as the season progresses. However, if you don’t plan on attending games this season, we’d recommend that you resell your individual game tickets on SeatGeek, which has a strong secondary market for Saints tickets.”

The Saints battled vehemently in 2020 for the right to return fans to the stands, going so far as to lock horns with government officials and, as such, they’d prefer to avoid moving backwards in that fight. There mandate is similar, albeit not the same, as what the Raiders have now put in place — requiring proof of vaccination to attend home games at Allegiant Stadium but not requiring fans wear a mask once they’re inside.

So if you’re a Saints fan, you have every right to stay home, but say goodbye to what you paid for that ticket.

Hopefully the demand for tickets from among those who have complied will be great enough that the unvaccinated can sell their seats for a profit.

TAMPA BAY

You had to be there to see it, but Bucs rookie EDGE JOE TRYON was flagged egregiously for hitting a Bengal too dynamically – a flag that stuck even after Adrian Hill’s crew conferred.  This is interesting as unearthed by Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Buccaneers first-round rookie Joe Tryon had an impressive debut in last week’s preseason game, but his biggest play, a sack of Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen, was called back by a penalty that the official who flagged it later told Tryon shouldn’t have been called.

Tryon was wearing a microphone during the game for a video produced by the Buccaneers, and the video shows umpire Roy Ellison approaching Tryon after the penalty to indicate he had seen a replay and shouldn’t have thrown the flag.

“That was a good play on the roughing the passer,” Ellison told Tryon.

“I didn’t mean to hit him like that,” Tryon replied.

“I think we may have screwed that up,” Ellison admitted.

Although there was some contact between Tryon’s helmet and Allen’s helmet, the hit appeared to be a fairly ordinary example of a quarterback sack. The kind of play the Buccaneers hope Tryon will make often, and hope the officials don’t flag.

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Once again, the Rams did not come out completing passes and destroying a defense in their latest outing against an opposing defense with QB MATTHEW STAFFORD implementing the instructions of Sean McVay.  The Associated Press:

There were dark clouds over the Los Angeles Rams during their first joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with an unusual August rainstorm that alternated from drizzling to downpour and back again during the two-hour session.

Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, the offensive line was often overwhelmed and the run game mostly ineffective, the second time in less than two weeks the Rams starters have not been able to get on track in a workout with another team.

Despite seeing similar issues from their recent practice with the Dallas Cowboys, coach Sean McVay isn’t concerned by those struggles yet.

“You learn from it,” McVay said. “We don’t do any sort of game planning for these practices. This is a great opportunity to test a lot of our rules, and that’s what I like about Matthew is he’s aggressively trying things out so then you can learn how to be smart with that decision-making thought process when the games really count. There’s a lot of good things. It’s a totally different structure defensively than what we’re accustomed to seeing.”

The team period pitting the starting offenses and defenses against one another got off to a bad start when Stafford’s first pass was too high for wide receiver Robert Woods, hitting him in the hand before Raiders rookie safety Tre’von Moehrig intercepted the deflected ball.

Cornerback Rasul Douglas and linebacker Cory Littleton, a former Ram, had the other two picks.

“They did a nice job getting the ball back from us a couple times,” Stafford said. “I made a couple poor decisions that I wish I had back, that’s practice. Some of the new stuff we’re putting in, I want to make sure I get reps at it. I got to do a better job of making sure we end up with the ball after every play.”

The common trait on all three of Stafford’s turnovers was an inability to set his feet and throw with power because of pressure in the pocket.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

The Jets suffered a tough loss on Thursday.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

It didn’t look good when Jets edge rusher Carl Lawson went down with an injury at Thursday’s practice, it didn’t sound good when word broke that he needed an MRI to determine the severity of an Achilles injury and any hope of good news went out the window on Thursday afternoon.

The Jets confirmed the worst fears about Lawson’s injury. He has a ruptured Achilles and the team announced that he will miss the entire 2021 season as a result.

It’s a devastating blow to the Jets. They made Lawson the centerpiece of their moves on defense this offseason and Lawson looked like he was worth every penny of his three-year, $45 million pact at training camp this summer.

Bryce Huff took Lawson’s place for the rest of Thursday’s joint session and will join John Franklin-Myers, Kyle Phillips, Vinny Curry, Ronald Blair, and Jabari Zuniga as options off the edge for the rest of the 2021 season.

The Jets also announced safety Zane Lewis is out for the year with a torn patellar tendon. Wide receiver Denzel Mims and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins are day-to-day after injuries on Thursday.

THIS AND THAT

NEXT SAFETIES TO CASH IN

With S JAMAL ADAMS accommodated, ex-agent Joel Corry, writing at CBSSports.com, looks at who among the other safeties might be able to reap benefits with a new deal:

The contract stalemate between the Seahawks and safety Jamal Adams is finally over. Adams, who had been “holding in” during training camp, signed a four-year, $70 million contract extension worth up to $72 million through incentives and salary escalators to dramatically reset the safety market.

At $17.5 million per year, Adams receives a 14.75% increase over Justin Simmons, who became the NFL’s highest paid safety at $15.25 million per year in March. After being designated as franchise player by the Broncos for a second straight year, Simmons signed a four-year, $61 million contract with $35 million in guarantees where $32.1 million was fully guaranteed.

(we skip the details)

With a $17.5 million average yearly salary, Adams is the clear winner of the deal. Seattle surely would have preferred to give Adams an increase similar to perennial All-Pro Bobby Wagner’s when he became the NFL’s highest paid off ball linebacker two years ago. Wagner’s $18 million per year, which was important for Seattle to keep Adams under, represented a 5.88% increase over Jets inside linebacker C. J. Mosley’s $17 million per year. A Wagner-type increase would have put Adams in $16.25 million per year neighborhood.

The top two beneficiaries of Adams’ deal

A similar phenomenon is less likely to occur at safety because of Adams’ dramatic re-set of the market. The two most immediate potential beneficiaries of Adams’ deal are Tyrann Mathieu and Jessie Bates.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Tuesday in a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview the team would do everything to keep Mathieu, who has expressed a desire to stay in Kansas City. Mathieu is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million deal he signed in 2019 free agency, which put him at the top of the safety market.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Mathieu, who is 29, wants to return to that place in the safety salary hierarchy. There might be reluctance from the Chiefs because an extension would cover years when Mathieu is in his early 30s. However, Mathieu isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. He has earned first team All-Pro honors in both of his seasons with the Chiefs.

A new deal would ensure Mathieu remains in Kansas City. It will be too costly to designate Mathieu as a franchise player in 2022 if he plays out his contract. His franchise number will be $23.63 million with the way the 120 percent salary increase provisions work with designations.

Kansas City could pick up significant cap room with an extension considering Mathieu’s $19,733,334 cap number, which includes his $14.55 million 2021 base salary, is the largest in the NFL for a safety this year. Even if Mathieu doesn’t reach the top level financially, it hard to imagine him accepting a Kansas City deal that’s closer to Simmons’ $15.25 million per year than Adams’ $17.5 million per year.

Bates, who is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the Bengals, expressed frustration about his contract negotiations last week in an interview with the local Cincinnati media. He had previously indicated he wanted to be in Cincinnati. The Adams deal gives the 24 year old Bates, who was named second team All-Pro by the Associated Press last season, justification to insist on more than Simmons.

A look at other possibilities

A franchise tag for $10.612 million was placed on safeties Marcus Maye and Marcus Williams by the Jets and Saints respectively. As franchise players, they are prohibited from signing long term until the end of the regular season on January 9, 2022.

Negotiations with Maye were acrimonious. The initial Jets offer was reportedly less than half of Adams’ $17.5 million per year. The Jets have a poor track record in keeping talented homegrown players. The trend will likely continue unless the Jets take a different approach in future negotiations with Maye.

Williams probably won’t be be given a second franchise tag in 2022 because of the Saints’ other options. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who is slated to play under his fifth year option, and either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston proving to be the long term replacement for Drew Brees at quarterback could be higher tag priorities. The Saints may need to put their best foot forward financially early next offseason in order to prevent Williams from hitting the open market.

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of two 2018 first round picks along with Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson whose fifth year option equals a 2021 franchise tender because of multiple first ballot Pro Bowl selections. His fifth year option salary for 2022 is $10.612 million.

The Steelers typically don’t sign first round picks long term until entering the option year. 2017 first round pick T.J. Watt still hasn’t signed an extension. A 2021 campaign like the last two should practically assure that Adams’ deal will be Fitzpatrick’s salary floor next offseason.

SINGLE DIGITS

The NFL has allowed more players to wear single digit numbers and quite a few have made the switch.  ESPN has a long story on the reasons some chose to make the single-digit switch.  We have a few of those tales below:

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson, Los Angeles Rams corner Jalen Ramsey and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith are among the many NFL stars who have switched this season to numbers that are nontraditional for their positions.

The league relaxed its restrictions on positional numbering earlier this year, opening the door for players from nearly every position group to swap their old number for a single digit (sorry, linemen).

Carlos Dunlap, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks

No. in 2020: 43

2021 change: 8

Dunlap wore No. 43 after being traded last October because No. 96, which he wore with the Bengals, is retired by the Seahawks. Now, he has switched back to his number at Florida. “I felt like it was a sign, that it was an opportunity in Year 12 with the 12s. Twelve years earlier I was No. 8, so it just felt right to me.” — Brady Henderson

Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans

No. in 2020: 23

2021 change: 3

Farley said No. 3 was his mother’s favorite number. “I had to pray for it. It’s my favorite number and my mother’s favorite number so there’s a lot of meaning behind it for me,” said Farley, whose mother, Robin, died of cancer in 2018. Farley wearing No. 3 as a rookie is also of interest because head coach Mike Vrabel makes rookies earn their keep. He lists them lower on the depth chart, for example. Farley wore the number at Virginia Tech as well. — Turron Davenport

Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No. in 2020: 28

2021 change: 7

Fournette is from the 7th Ward in New Orleans. “That’s where I’m born and raised,” Fournette said. “That’s just me. That’s what I represent. I’m so big on giving back to where I’m from and it really represents how special that place is to me. … It was a special number to me in college, so I’m like why not wear it again?” — Jenna Laine

Matt Judon, OLB, New England Patriots

No. in 2020: 99

2021 change: 9

Going back to the number he wore at Grand Valley State, Judon chose No. 9 for another reason, too. “I have nine siblings. Every time I go out there, I represent them. That’s one of the reasons I rock it. Ninety-nine was taken, so I chose to use the new rule.” — Mike Reiss

DJ Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

No. in 2020: 12

2021 change: 2

Moore’s switch goes back to his little league days, when he won a championship wearing the number as a 5-year-old. He also thinks it looks good on him, and thus is worth the financial investment required. — David Newton

Emmanuel Moseley, CB, San Francisco 49ers

No. in 2020: 41

2021 change: 4

Moseley said the number is a family tradition. “No. 4 is like my family number. In high school, I wore No. 4. My cousin wore No. 4, brothers wore 4. So when that number became available, I had to take it.” — Nick Wagoner

Patrick Peterson, CB, Minnesota Vikings

No. in 2020: 21

2021 change: 7

Peterson wore No. 7 in college and in high school, and the number has sentimental value. “I always wanted to rock No. 7. I felt like 7 was my number. Like 21 is Deion’s [Sanders] number, you know what I mean? I just felt like in high school and in college, I made 7 known. You can tell. When I went to LSU, guys wanted to wear No. 7 … I felt like that’s my number.” — Courtney Cronin

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Los Angeles Rams

No. in 2020: 20

2021 change: 5

Ramsey wanted No. 2, a number he said provided a reminder that he’s second in life. But he yielded it to teammate Robert Woods. “If you look at 5 in the mirror, [it] comes back as 2,” Ramsey explained. “Then, 5 is like a number of balance, like in the Bible there are five commandments towards God and there are five commandments towards people.” — Lindsey Thiry

Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys

No. in 2020: 54

2021 change: 9

Smith, who wore No. 9 in high school and at Notre Dame, has an attachment to the number, which is why he chose No. 54 — 5 plus 4 equals 9 — initially. He paid six figures to buy out the remaining inventory of No. 54 jerseys and T-shirts even though 9 would have been free next season. “No. 9 is a part of me,” Smith said. — Todd Archer

2022 DRAFT

Todd McShay of ESPN.com gives us 50 names to watch for next year’s draft (comments edited):

The first handful of games of the 2021 college football season are less than two weeks away, with everything really kicking into gear over Labor Day weekend. It will be an opportunity to see some of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft class, including a bunch of talented quarterbacks. As of now, the schedule for the season is back to normal after a very different 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which helps immensely in scouting the class.

That’s right — we’re already thinking about next April’s draft. After some time off over the summer, I got back into the tape and started making phone calls again. Let’s be clear: A lot will change over the next eight months. Players have double-digit games ahead of them to make an impression, then an extensive pre-draft process that includes the Senior Bowl, the combine and plenty of team visits and interviews. Remember, Joe Burrow and Zach Wilson weren’t even on the Day 1 radar at this point in their final college seasons before eventually going in the top two picks in their respective drafts.

With that said, I ranked my early top 50 prospects for the 2022 class right now as we head into the college season. The list includes six quarterbacks, and three of them land in the top 10. Defensive playmakers are also present at the top of the list, which will be welcomed by NFL defensive coordinators after the 2021 draft was dominated by offense early. Let’s dive in, starting with a potential future franchise QB.

1. Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma*

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 205

Rattler shows quick feet both in the pocket and extending plays, and unleashes a fast release to get the ball out, often changing his arm angle to make impressive off-platform throws. He has plenty of arm strength, but his accuracy stands to improve a bit.

2. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220

Howell has back-to-back seasons of at least 3,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, and he threw just seven interceptions in each campaign. His 2020 season saw a jump in completion percentage, as well, improving from 61.4% to 68.1%. His touch and timing on deep passes stand out, and while his ball placement is still improving, you won’t see Howell miss on many throws.

3. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195

Stingley has been a standout in college football for two seasons, bursting onto the scene with six interceptions as a freshman in 2019. The numbers weren’t as eye-popping last season, but he still played a big role for LSU on defense. He is long, fast and physical, and he’s the premier defensive back in this year’s class with 20 passes broken up over two seasons.

4. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon*

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 250

Thibodeaux is a phenomenal pass-rusher off the edge with great speed and size. Over 21 career games, he has 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss.

5. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 219

Hamilton is a nightmare matchup for offenses. He has great size and closing burst while playing all over the defense. You’ll see him line up deep in coverage, over the slot and even at linebacker.

6. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida*

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 193

Elam is instinctive and aggressive. He has loads of top-end speed (he ran track in high school), great closing burst and excellent awareness in coverage, and he is able to play in press or off-man.

7. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215

Willis is terrific at extending plays and keeping his eyes downfield outside the pocket. His off-platform throws have plenty of “wow” factor, as he gets the ball out from various release points with velocity and hits tight windows. After transferring from Auburn and sitting out 2019, Willis threw for 2,260 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, and his 78.7 QBR ranked 16th in the country. But his production on the ground truly amazed, as he rushed for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. November games against Ole Miss and Louisiana will be big in his evaluation.

8. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195

Booth excels in press coverage and does a nice job of turning to locate the ball when running with a receiver. His balance and quick feet are plus traits, and he has a smooth pedal off the line of scrimmage.

9. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 290

Leal has outstanding takeoff speed and packs a powerful punch at the point of contact. His game is technically sound, and his versatility along the line will be valuable in the NFL.

10. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 188

I was surprised when Olave decided to return to school for his senior season last winter, but he should be right in the first-round mix again in 2022. The ball skills are excellent, and there is plenty of speed in his game.

11. Kedon Slovis, QB, USC*

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200

I remember working his first college start, a September 2019 game against a ranked Stanford team. He threw for 377 yards, three scores and zero interceptions in a 45-20 win, and I’ve loved his game ever since. No, he’s not super mobile, and yes, his arm is average. But he is accurate (71.9% completion rate last season) and tough and has great instincts.

12. Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 238

Disruptive and rangy are two words that come to mind with Bonitto.

13. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati*

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 188

Receivers have a hard time getting off the line against Gardner. He is tall and long, and he smoothers coverage underneath.

14. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 193

He won’t get the same hype as Chris Olave, but Wilson’s talent level is right there with his Buckeyes teammate. He runs sharp routes and shows an excellent ability to pluck on the run.

15. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 290

A former wrestler, Linderbaum has great physical traits for a 290-pound center and is an easy mover.

16. Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 270

Enagbare has very good length and quick hands, showing strength at the point of attack and stacking blockers against the run.

17. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington*

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195

Washington produces many talented defensive backs, and McDuffie is next in line. He is ultra fluid in coverage, and he has fantastic body control.

18. Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 325

His game is all about power, and he is incredibly strong at the point of attack.

19. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215

Ridder has been consistent over three seasons with the Bearcats, throwing for at least 2,100 yards and 18 TDs and no more than nine interceptions in each campaign. And while he rushed for between 572 and 650 yards in each year, as well, his rushing TD count jumped from five in each of 2018 and 2019 to 12 last season. Ridder can extend plays with his feet and shows good zip on his throws thanks to a very strong arm. He gets through his progressions well, though he presses at times and forces throws. while a 66.2% completion rate in 2020 was much better than the 55.1% posted a season earlier, ball placement remains a concern.

20. Mike Rose, ILB, Iowa State

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 250

At this point, I think Rose can be a NFL starter as a rookie. He has the perfect blend of size, range, length and versatility.

21. Zion Johnson, OT/G, Boston College

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 316

I wouldn’t classify him as a consistent mauler, but he is smooth getting set and tends to stay in front of his assignments as a pass protector. His technique could use some refining, and he’ll need to improve his ability to anchor at the point of attack.

22. Jaxson Kirkland, OT, Washington*

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 295

Kirkland is a three-year starter who transitioned from right guard to left tackle in 2020. He is massive on the outside and excels in pass protection, earning first-team all-Pac-12 honors last year

23. Adam Anderson, OLB, Georgia

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230

Anderson’s speed off the edge is exceptional. He plays with explosion, and his sack production continues to rise, as he posted 6.5 in 10 games last season.

24. Jordan Battle, S, Alabama*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 210

Battle isn’t the biggest safety, but he will take on ball carriers and is a very good wrap-up tackler. He plays hard and has great closing speed.

25. Drake London, WR, USC*

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 210

London runs stellar routes and is extremely smooth in the way he moves around the field. In six games last season, he caught 33 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

26. Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 225

Dean is an off-the-ball linebacker who has good speed on his blitzes and strong area awareness. However, he struggles at times getting off blocks. Dean posted 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 10 games last season.

27. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 260

McBride is my top tight end right now, as he’s a matchup problem who lines up out wide, in the slot and in-line. The tape shows him making plays downfield, adding yards after the catch and bringing down contested balls in traffic.

28. DJ Dale, DT, Alabama*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 307

Dale has started at nose tackle for the Crimson Tide since his freshman season, and in 2020, he had 22 tackles, returned a fumble and broke up a pair of passes. He has short arms for a defensive lineman, but he still shows great leverage and lower-body strength.

29. Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 297

Winfrey could play defensive tackle or 3-4 end in the NFL, as he is a little on the lighter side for full-time inside work. But he blows up plays with regularity, showing first-step quickness, power and active hands to get into gaps.

30. Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192

Joseph tied for the national lead in interceptions last season as a redshirt freshman, hauling in six picks. In addition to the excellent ball skills, he has fast eyes, great speed and solid change-of-direction ability.

31. Carson Strong, QB, Nevada*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215

Strong has a lot of arm talent, threading the needle and driving the ball vertically. He hit 26 passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield in 2020, and his 13 such TDs ranked third in the country. In the pocket, Strong can get through progressions, keeps his eyes downfield while moving and isn’t afraid to take a hit to make a play, but the foot speed isn’t there to regularly evade pass-rushers.

32. Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195

Williams is slippery, evading defenders at the line of scrimmage and in space. He shows great contact balance and is very patient, but his second gear isn’t elite.

33. Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State*

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 265

Harrison is still raw as a pass-rusher and needs some refining.

34. Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 305

Patterson has the tools to develop into a starting center in a zone-heavy scheme early in his career, thanks to good size and quickness.

35. John Metchie III, WR, Alabama*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195

Another Alabama receiver? Despite sharing the field with DeVonta Smith and at times Jaylen Waddle last season, Metchie still posted the nation’s 17th-most receiving yards at 916 and scored six times. He now gets his shot to be the No. 1 target in the Alabama offense this season. I’m excited to see what he does with the opportunity.

36. Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 245

McDonald can get home, that’s for sure. His 10.5 sacks were tied for first in the nation last season, and his 13.5 tackles for loss were tied for 16^th

37. Noah Daniels, CB, TCU

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 194

Injuries have plagued Daniels, who has appeared in just four games over the past two seasons. Even so, he broke up four passes in those contests. Daniels can line up inside and outside, and he shows good balance and top-end speed. He is at his best in press, but he is scheme-versatile, showing an ability to read the QB and recognize patterns in zone.

38. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State*

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220

The FBS’ top rusher in 2020 with 1,572 yards, Hall has good top-end wheels and burst while also showing strong contact balance.

39. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225

Burks can pluck the ball and immediately transition upfield for extra yards after the catch. He has big hands and shows exceptional body control. In 2020, he caught 51 passes for 820 yards and seven TDs.

40. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 269

Hutchinson was in the Day 2 conversation last fall before fracturing his right leg in November and opting for another year at Michigan

41. Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200

Doubs has the play speed to stretch the field and tracks the deep ball well, securing 11 passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield in 2020 (tied for eighth in the nation). There’s some savviness to his route running, and look for him to find and sit in windows against zone defenses.

42. Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 340

Davis is a space eater. He’s massive and shows excellent gap control.

43. Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 258

Sanders’ greatest ability is shooting his hands and stacking blockers both as a run defender and pass-rusher.

44. Christian Harris, ILB, Alabama*

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 232

I love this kid. Harris looks a bit undersized and isn’t super powerful, but he is all over the field, showing high-end instincts, quickness and toughness.

45. Mike Jones Jr., ILB, LSU*

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220

A transfer out of Clemson, Jones plays the overhang position and brings serious versatility to the LSU defense. He has range both in coverage and against the run, but he is still developing.

46. George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue*

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 270

Karlaftis played just three games in 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19, but he is back and healthy this season. And in his last full season, a 12-start campaign in 2019, Karlaftis was unstoppable, posting 17.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 54 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. He wins with his power.

47. George Pickens, WR, Georgia*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200

Pickens tore his ACL in March, and his status for this coming season is still uncertain. Even so, he has the talent to be a top receiver in this draft class.

48. Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 315

Munford has 34 career starts over three seasons, and he is powerful and long with a good lower-body base when getting set. He allowed pressure on just one of 246 pass-block snaps last season and wasn’t flagged on a single play all season.

49. Brenton Cox Jr., OLB, Florida*

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250

Cox has average instincts and doesn’t play with a lot of power, often stalling out, but he has good versatility and is a speed rusher with some wheels.

50. Jermayne Lole, DT, Arizona State

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 310

How much Lole will be able to play this season is in question after the defensive lineman tore his right triceps and is set to have surgery. But when he is on the field, he is a difference-maker