Episode 12 - Looking Ahead (Special guest Scott Wright of draftcountdown.com)

[OzTitan]

Typically when a DE has turned out to be good around the 20 pick, it's a DE prospect who had all the physical tools but was raw. I could see one or two of those options being realistic after the combine etc, which is when they tend to shoot up the boards.

[reo]

Typically when a DE has turned out to be good around the 20 pick, it's a DE prospect who had all the physical tools but was raw. I could see one or two of those options being realistic after the combine etc, which is when they tend to shoot up the boards.

Can you name some that have been good around 20? I honest just don't remember any. Dunlap was around there wasn't he? Or did he fall to the 2nd? I'll check a few drafts back and see if any stand out.

I just don't remember any but I'll check to be sure. Granted I don't pay much attention after the Titans pick.

Looked back at the history and there haven't been many DEs taken around there. Marcus Spears in '05 and Tamba Hali in '06. What happened to Kenechi Udeze? I know the name but I'm thinking it wasn't football related.

[OzTitan]

JPP and Kearse are two examples, albeit a bit before 20 - 15 and 16 respectively. Can't remember is Calvin Pace was considered a prospect like this but he's still around. Tamba Hali was taken at 20 and IIRC was a physically talented prospect who was considered to be rough around the edges. Jarvis Moss, although he's busted (same concept though).

The opportunity may be there but it will be a risky pick.

[TitansGuru]

Pierre Paul went at 15 and some thought he could have lasted to 20.

[reo]

JPP and Kearse are two examples, albeit a bit before 20 - 15 and 16 respectively. Can't remember is Calvin Pace was considered a prospect like this but he's still around. Tamba Hali was taken at 20 and IIRC was a physically talented prospect who was considered to be rough around the edges. Jarvis Moss, although he's busted (same concept though).

The opportunity may be there but it will be a risky pick.

Not sure if I can count JPP and Kearse. That's just barely w/in range of consideration. But possibly.

[OzTitan]

Naturally you're at the mercy of draft order (and hence need order) and options at other positions to dictate where players fall. If you start changing draft order and years the draft occured (i.e. what each team needed that offseason), a guy at 15 can probably go as high as 10 in some, or as low as 20 in others. In any case, when you start looking at 1st round DEs well outside the top 10, you've gotta accept some serious concerns and I think you're better off at least getting a guy who is physically ready.

There will probably be much safer options though to get a quality player somewhere else, like at LB, OL, WR or DB.

[WG53]

Udeze had cancer.

http://www.bellevuereporter.com/sports/96012669.html?mobile=true

[OzTitan]

Wow I had no idea he battled blood cancer. Thought he just busted out. It must have been incredibly taxing to go from the top of the world living your dream to the worst possible nightmare like that.