The NFL Draft Combine as we know it will not take place in Indianapolis. That group has been cancelled in favor of a series of four regional events. The locations have not been determined yet but likely to be Texas, Florida, Arizona and California.
The NFL estimates that 85% of the college eligible players are already working out in these areas. The league wants to limit the number of personnel from each team to 10. Only 2 doctors or trainers will be allowed for the medical portion and no interviews will be conducted at these events. The teams will have to conduct these via Zoom or other telemedia service.
The NCAA has granted all players an extra year of eligibility and many players are taking advantage of this. This will dilute the draft class of 2021. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder is one that I had the Patriots interested in. Another is OG Zion Johnson from BC. Ohio St WR Chris Olave, a junior, has decided to return for his Senior year.
Results from the Tropical Bowl regarding prospects for the NFL was nearly a waste of time. I don’t think any of these players will get drafted. Most were playing for a chance to be an Un-Drafted Free Agent signing.
With that said there were a couple of standouts.
– Tre Harbison RB Charlotte played as advertised. He only had 5 touches, ran well, scored a TD and a 6 yard swing pass. He has the Pro size 5’ 11”, 215 lbs 4.59 40.
– Corey Taylor RB Tulsa 5’ 10” 220 and thick. He has pro measurable and finished his career with over 2000 yards on 442 carries (4.5 APR) but never was the featured back. He was the Offensive MVP for me.
– Tyler Coyle S Purdue has 3 INT’s against very poor QB play. He was my Defensive MVP. At 6’2” 215 he plays that hybrid SS/LB position. A transfer from UConn, he had 261 tackles and 7.4 tackles for loss during his 3 years in Storrs. Injuries limited him to the final game of the 2020 season for Purdue where he had 11 tackles.
– Warren Thomas DE/LB Midland University (TX) was a presence in the backfield all game. At 6’ 3” 245 he has the size for a LB. Not sure he is big enough to hold the edge.
– Vanderbilt’s DE Andre Mintze shined against inferior competition as did the other SEC conference defenders. At 6’3” 249 he is a pass rush specialist. He had 32 pressures against a schedule of all SEC games (no cupcakes). Pro Football Focus gave him an 86.6 rating this year.
– I watched Merrimack College’s Sam Cooper for the last quarter. He is a 6’2” 310 lb Guard. He played LG at Merrimack and RG in this game and looked very good in both run and pass blocking. He looks the part and was getting to the second level easily.
LA Chargers have a new Head Coach in Brendan Staley. He is the former LA Rams Defensive Coordinator. A little morsel from the NFL News section is that Staley may bring 4 players with him to the Chargers.
Josh McDaniels appears to be the front runner for the Eagles head coaching position. This being widely reported through various NFL sources. Mike Giardi said today that McDaniels is putting together a coaching staff. Philly may be waiting for permission to talk with Brian Daboll before making a decision. Dabol can interview during the week before the Super Bowl. Other teams have allowed their assistant coaches to interview before they were out of the playoffs but not the Bills. Patriots wouldn’t allow it either.
That leaves Houston and Philadelphia as the teams without a head coach.
The San Francisco 49’ers and New Orleans Saints will receive two third round pick for the loss of Robert Saleh to the NY Jets, and the Falcons hiring Terry Fotenot away from Saints. One pick will be in 2020 and the other in 2021.
The Jaguars have hired Trent Baalke as their GM.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
