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2005 Draft Breakdown - Player Profiles |
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Written by Tune
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Saturday, 24 December 2005 |
| Braylon Edwards
WR | (6'2 ", 211, 4.45) | MICHIGAN
Scouts Grade: 99 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 1
Pick (Overall): 3(3) | Strengths: Is close to the complete package physically and he continues to get better with more experience and maturity. He is a big receiver with good height, bulk and strength. Is at his best vs. man-to-man coverage. His route running skills have improved. When he works at it, he shows good crispness and fluidity in his routes. He shows separating skills as a route runner and good burst out of his breaks. He doesn't need to get down in and out of his breaks. He has the speed to consistently challenge vertically. His hands are big and he does an excellent job of snatching the ball away from his frame. His leaping ability and body control are outstanding. He shows a rare ability to adjust to the ball and to track it down in the vertical passing game. He does a great job of catching the ball over his head. He will consistently make the first defender miss with subtle but quick moves, and he also shows a second gear when he gets into the open field. He is a tough runner after the catch, who will lower his shoulder and run over some DB's. Is tough to press because of his size, speed and strength.
Weaknesses: Route running skills have improved, but he still needs to work on a few aspects, including consistency in and out of his breaks and feel for zone coverage. His focus was inconsistent early in collegiate career but really improved in final two seasons. He must maintain that focus at the next level in order to reach his full potential. He is not the most elusive receiver after the catch. Has the size and strength to be efficient when he wants to be but gives an inconsistent effort as a blocker. Technique (feet, leverage and hand-placement) must also improve.
Overall: Edwards' father, Stanley, played at Michigan and in the NFL with the Oilers and Lions. Braylon played in just six games as a freshman but had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2002 with 67 receptions for 1,035 yards and 10 touchdowns. He improved on those numbers as a junior in '03 (85-1,138-14), made a surprising decision to return to school for his senior season, and led the Big Ten with 87 receptions for 1,221 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2004. Edwards has always possessed rare physical tools and had flashed elite potential prior to 2004, but he finally took his game to the next level as a senior. In doing so, Edwards has solidified a spot early in the first round. In our opinion, Edwards is the best receiver in this year's draft class and is worth selecting in the top-five picks if not No. 1 overall.
| | Brodney Pool
S | (6'1", 207, 4.54) | OKLAHOMA
Scouts Grade: 90 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 2
Pick (Overall): 2(34) | Strengths: Centerfielder-type with very good athleticism, range and ball skills. He covers a lot of ground in zone coverage and he is a ball-hawk with proven playmaking ability. Needs technique work but shows good natural football instincts. Does a very good job of reading QB's eyes in zone coverage. Rarely gets caught peeking into the backfield. Has adequate-to-good closing speed but not great. He shows some good burst when coming forward. Is at his best when he can read from the high-point and break on the ball in front of him. If he's in the vicinity he will make a play on the ball. He has excellent height, long arms and adequate-to-good leaping ability. Does a good job of adjusting to the ball in the air and timing his leaps. Has soft and consistent hands if in position to challenge for the INT. also knocks down a lot of passes because of his quick jumps, great angles and long arms. Isn't intimidating but is very productive in run support. He fills hard and is aggressive. He diagnoses things quickly, takes good angles and always seems to be around the ball. Is a bit of a drag-down tackler but is reliable. Gets into position, breaks down in space and does a good job of wrapping up.
Weaknesses: He has a good frame but lacks ideal bulk and strength. Doesn't have great pop or power as a tackler. Won't make many big hits or force a lot of fumbles. Will gamble a bit too often. Makes good reads but will go after the big play and get burnt from time-to-time. Will need time to refine his technique in the NFL. He doesn't show great catch-up speed if he gets out of position and is forced to turn-and-run downfield. He is better in deep-zone coverage than he is locked on man-to-man. Is a bit high-cut and has some trouble sticking with quicker WR's that can exploit his lack of ideal hip fluidity by using double moves.
Overall: Pool played in 12 games (mostly on special teams) as a true freshman in 2002. He started 12-of-14 games in 2003 at FS and finished with 68 total tackles, seven interceptions, six pass breakups and nine tackles for loss. As a junior in 2004, Pool led the Sooners with 92 tackles and finished with two interceptions, nine passes broken up and five tackles for loss. Pool lacks elite man-to-man coverage skills and he isn't a huge hitter versus the run. He will need time to develop his technique and he also needs to take fewer chances as a last line of defense. However, he has good speed and athletic ability, as well as natural football instincts instincts. He's a playmaker that is always around the ball versus the run and the pass. He isn't afraid to fill hard versus the run and he has developed into a ballhawk as a centerfielder-type FS. In our opinion, Pool is the best free safety prospect in the 2005 draft. He might be a bit of a reach late in the first round but would be a great value anywhere in the second round.
| | Charlie Frye
QB | (6'3 ", 225, 4.82) | AKRON
Scouts Grade: 85 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 3
Pick (Overall): 3(67) | Strengths: Adequate arm strength. Has always been a sound decision-maker. Will take some chances, especially when on the run. However, he shows a consistent ability to make progression reads and check down. He has good vision and doesn't get caught locking onto his primary target much. Is more consistent underneath and over the middle. Throws a "catchable" ball to backs on "wheel" routes. Adequate but not great speed and overall athletic ability. Is a good athlete with quick feet. Buys a lot of second-chance passing opportunities. Gets set up quickly and gets a deep drop. Throws well on the run and makes a lot of things happen after the initial play breaks down. Is especially productive inside red zone. A high-character player and hard worker. Leader with great overall intangibles. Never missed a start in four seasons. Is extremely intelligent and a natural leader. Picked up new scheme quickly as a senior. Is a tough player that played through pain and took a lot of hits. Played through a hip-pointer.
Weaknesses: Arm strength is adequate but not nearly as good as it seems versus slower competition on film. Needs to have good timing on the deep ball. Gets adequate but not great RPM's on the deep out. Can make all the NFL throws but won't be able to fit the ball into some tight spots that QB's with elite arm strength posses. Needs to improve his delivery. Ball starts too low and, as a result, it takes too long to get from set point to release point. Shows some touch on deep ball but timing is inconsistent. Needs to get rid of the ball quicker by making better reads during drop.
Overall: Frye, who has been a starter since his redshirt freshman season in 2001 and set the Zips' single season passing record in 2003 with 3,549 yards, seriously considered forgoing his senior year in order to make himself available for the 2004 NFL draft. Lee Owens, who recruited Frye and was the head coach at Akron for Frye's first three seasons, was fired at the end of the 2003 season, which was the main reason why Frye is contemplating the move. However, he made a wise decision to return to school for his senior season for a few good reasons most importantly that he needed the extra experience that he got as a senior. Frye's supporting cast was not nearly as strong in 2004 as it was previously, but he showed a lot of toughness, durability and leadership skills. He also has impressed with his mental capacity after quickly digesting the new offensive scheme. In terms of overall production, Frye rewrote Akron's record books at the quarterback position, throwing for 11,049 yards and 64 TD's compared to just 32 INT's as a four-year starter. Frye is a "gamer" that doesn't necessarily wow you with his natural skills but finds ways to get the job done. He has good size above average athletic ability and adequate arm strength. In terms of physical tools and development, Frye is a notch below the three former MAC quarterbacks that have succeeded him in the NFL -- Chad Pennington (Jets), Byron Leftwich (Jaguars) and Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) but he is still a talented overall quarterback with the potential to develop into a starter at the next level. There are several quarterbacks competing to be the third taken after juniors' Aaron Rodgers (Cal) and Alex Smith (Utah). Frye is among the leading candidates and, at the very least, should be one of the top-five quarterbacks to come off the board, likely between the second round and early-third.
| | Antonio Perkins
CB | (5'10  ", 190, 4.56) | OKLAHOMA
Scouts Grade: 81
| Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 2(103) | Strengths: Is experienced in man and zone coverage. Is quick and has decent speed. Has smooth hips and very good COD skills. Closes on the ball in front of him quickly. Has good ball skills and is an explosive threat with the ball in his hands after an interception. Is an exceptional punt return specialist. Has very good vision, COD skills and elusiveness. Also shows enough speed and a second gear when he hits daylight. Is faster than 40-time indicates.
Weaknesses: Has limitations at cornerback. Does not have great size, speed or strength. Is willing in run support, but gets run over occasionally and is more of a drag-down tackler than anything. He does not have good bulk and he will have trouble matching up against bigger, more physical receivers. His recognition skills are just decent and need improving. He often times will get a late jump on the ball as a result of a slow read. Lacks catch-up speed to recover from mistakes. Knee injury as a senior in 2004 combined with below average size creates long-term durability concerns.
Overall: Perkins redshirted in 2000 and played a backup role at cornerback most of his redshirt freshman season in 2001 before taking over as a starter with three games left. He has been a starting DC and return specialist since. As a junior in 2003, Perkins had 51 tackles and three interceptions at cornerback, averaged 12.1 yards per punt return with four touchdowns, and also had eight kickoff returns. Perkins missed two games because of a knee injury in 2004 and didn't have nearly as productive of a senior season, as he finished with 33 tackles, one sack, one INT and one PBU. He did have one punt return for a touchdown (44 yards) but averaged 9.3 yards on just 17 punt returns that season. Perkins is actually a late-Day 1 cornerback prospect whose value is increased due to his outstanding punt return potential in the NFL. As a cornerback, Perkins has below average size and strength and just decent speed, but he is capable in man-to-man and zone coverages, has excellent ball skills, and has the potential to develop into a solid nickel slot cover corner in the NFL. In the meantime, Perkins should immediately push for a role as a starting punt return specialist for the team that selects him in the late-second or early-third round range.
| | David McMillan
DE | (6'3", 262, 4.52) | KANSAS
Scouts Grade: 44 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 5
Pick (Overall): 3(139) | Strengths: Is quick, fast and athletic. Is at his best on the move. Can be very disruptive as a pass rusher and as a pursuit player versus the run. Has good initial quickness and also shows good COD skills. Will use a lot of double moves as a pass rusher. Has decent closing burst. Is a solid open field tackler that will break down and wrap up in space.
Weaknesses: Has adequate height and improved his bulk (262 pounds) but still lacks ideal size. Lacks lower body strength and the base to hold his ground versus the run. He gets engulfed too easily by bigger OT's and struggles to disengage once reached. He's raw and unpolished. Has inconsistent recognition skills. Needs to learn better technique and improve his hand usage.
Overall: McMillan redshirted in 2000 and was a top reserve defensive end as a redshirt freshman in 2001 before taking over as a fulltime starter as a sophomore in 2002. He finished his junior season in 2003 with 31 total tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks and improved on those totals as a senior in 2004 with 37 total tackles, 13 TFL and seven sacks. McMillan is a durable player that started 36-consecutive games to finish out his career at Kansas. He lacks ideal size and strength, and he's still unpolished in terms of technique and recognition skills. However, he is a good athlete with proven pass rushing ability. McMillan's draft value significantly on the rise after running in the 4.5's at the combine and posting outstanding times/scores in the jumping and agility facets of the workout. McMillan is definitely a developmental prospect that likely will be nothing more than a situational pass rusher and special teams contributor in the NFL but his explosive athletic ability makes him worth the gamble in the final two rounds of the upcoming draft.
| | Nick Speegle
OLB | (6'5  ", 243, 4.8) | NEW MEXICO
Scouts Grade: 30 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 6
Pick (Overall): 2(176) | Strengths: Has a terrific frame and good overall size. Is well built and has good upper and lower body strength. Has a great frame at SLB. Is tall, strong and has the long arms to keep separation and to occupy the TE. He does a good job of holding his ground versus the run. Is stout when teams run at him. Will play disciplined, show some ability to shed, and is a powerful tackler in the short-area. He is a consistent, reliable and extremely durable player that will pick things up quickly, do what the coaches ask of him, and always gives a great effort.
Weaknesses: Is high-cut, lacks good COD skills and is a below average athlete. Is at his best near the LOS. Does not show the ability to make a lot of plays versus the run in space. Lacks the ability to redirect and will miss some tackles in space, as a result. His hips are stiff in coverage and he doesn't have great speed. He also lacks great closing burst and instincts as a blitzer.
Overall: Speegle started four games at outside linebacker in his redshirt freshman season in 2001 and was a fulltime starter at OLB his final three seasons from 2002-'03. He started all 13 games as a junior in 2003 and finished with 80 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks and one INT. He finished his senior season in 2004 with 92 total tackles, including 12.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Speegle is a "strongside" linebacker prospect with a great frame, good bulk and strength, and adequate straight-line speed for the position. He is not, however, a good athlete and he is marginal in the passing game. Overall, Speegle was a productive enough run stopper at the collegiate level with good enough size and strength to consider as an undrafted rookie free agent.
| | Andrew Hoffman
DT | (6'4  ", 280, 5.25) | VIRGINIA
Scouts Grade: 39 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 6
Pick (Overall): 29(203) | Strengths: Possesses good strength for size, plays with a mean streak and flashes the ability to anchor at the point of attack. Plays with a non-stop motor, takes adequate angles to the ball and will make some plays with second effort. Plays with good leverage, keeps legs pumping at all times and does an excellent job with his hands. Knows how to control a gap and plays with great discipline. Flashes the ability to collapse the pocket as a bull rusher. Has good height and is capable of batting some passes down.
Weaknesses: Lacks bulk, offensive linemen will have some success engulfing him at the point of attack and is vulnerable to wearing down if asked to play an every-down role. Lacks ideal range and won't make a lot of plays in pursuit despite effort. Has yet to develop an effective counter move as a pass rusher and doesn't show great closing speed to the quarterback. Lacks the burst to be effective rushing the passer from the edge and will need to add weight to hold up against the run when lining up at defensive tackle.
Overall: Hoffman played in seven games as a true freshman in 2000 and then red-shirted in 2001. He started in all 14 games in 2002 and he appeared in 13 games, starting 12 of them in 2003. Hoffman improved his value with a strong senior season, as he finished with 52 tackles, nine TFL and three sacks. Hoffman still needs to add some bulk and he will never be a big playmaker in the NFL. However, he is a technically sound, disciplined and efficient NT prospect that can maintain gap-control as a run-defender. Hoffman may never be a starter in the NFL but he has the potential to develop into a quality reserve, as he possesses good strength for his size and he is relentless and disciplined. Look for a team that employs a two-gap scheme to select Hoffman in the late rounds of the upcoming draft. If that team also employs a 3-4 alignment, Hoffman would probably be a better fit at DE.
| | Jon Dunn
OT | (6'7  ", 328, 5.44) | VIRGINIA TECH
Scouts Grade: 39 | Selected by: Cleveland Browns
Round: 7
Pick (Overall): 3(217) | Strengths: Has excellent size. Is a massive ROT prospect with long arms and big hands. Forces a wide arc for edge rushers because of his wingspan. He will engulf most defenders if he gets into position. He has a wide base and a strong lower body. Can anchor versus powerful bull rushers in pass pro. Will overpower defenders if in position in the running game. Can really push the pile as a run blocker. Has very good experience and has been a durable player.
Weaknesses: Has marginal athletic ability. Is a waist-bender who will look very stiff in space. Lacks quickness in his set and is a liability versus speed rushers off the edge. Also will lunge and get beat by quick double-move back inside. He is too late too often as a downfield blocker and he has trouble hitting the moving target. Also lacks explosive upper body power.
Overall: Dunn redshirted in 2000. He saw action in 10 games as a rotating backup in 2001. Dunn started seven of the 14 games that he played in 2002. He was suspended for the 2003 opener for a violation of team rules but he started the next 12 games that season. He was a fulltime starter at ROT as a senior in 2004.Dunn is a massive ROT prospect with the size to engulf defenders in the running game and the base to anchor versus powerful bull rushers. However, his marginal athletic ability and lack of upper body power really limit his NFL potential. He also is too tall to move inside for most NFL teams. In our opinion, Dunn has a chance to make an NFL roster as a reserve ROT but he doesn't have enough upside to warrant any consideration in the first five rounds of the 2005 draft.
| | All Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc. |
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