Forecasting the Draft: 2.0
Monday, March 7, 2016 | Football
Combine performances adjust rankings for some Gators prospects
With the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, the pundits have updated their projections for the upcoming NFL Draft prior to the start of the free agency period on March 9.
Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves remains a unanimous first-round selection, with most experts projecting him in the top 10 picks. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has Hargreaves going as high as No. 5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It appears that Hargreaves will remain in Florida, as 14 of the 18 mock drafts have him being selected by one of the state's three NFL teams.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard remains a possibility late in the first round, but due to the depth of the defensive line class it may not be a sure thing. WalterFootball.com projects that Bullard will reunite with former Gators' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who own the 17th overall pick. Pro Football Focus continues to be high on Bullard and projects that he will be taken by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 24th pick.
After a strong performance at the combine, safety Keanu Neal has begun popping up in mock drafts and his name has been mentioned as a potential sleeper pick late in the first round. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has Neal being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 overall while WalterFootball.com has the Arizona Cardinals selecting him at No. 29.
If the Gators do in fact have three first round selections, it would be the first time since 2010 that three Florida players were taken in the opening round (2010: Joe Haden No. 7 to Cleveland, Maurkice Pouncey No. 18 to Pittsburgh, Tim Tebow No. 25 to Denver). If Hargreaves and Neal are selected on the first day of the draft, it would be the first time in school history that UF had a pair of defensive backs selected in the first round.
Here's a look at how all three players are projected among 18 mock drafts from various media outlets:
5 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 9 overall (Dane Brugler/CBS Sports, Daniel Jeremiah/NFL.com, Peter Schrager/FOX Sports, Mel Kiper/ESPN, Todd McShay/ESPN,
2 - Baltimore Ravens , No. 6 overall (Nate Davis/USA Today, Eric Galko/Sporting News)
1 - Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 5 overall (Bucky Brooks/NFL.com)
1 - New York Giants, No. 10 overall (WalterFootball.com)
1 - Oakland Raiders, No. 14 overall (Dan Kadar/SB Nation)
"The best pure cover corner in the draft would benefit anyone, and the Bucs are in a division where they have to face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton six times a season. Tampa Bay needs a talent infusion at cornerback, and Hargreaves is going to grade out as a player who is ready to be on the field in Week 1." - Mel Kiper, ESPN.com
"Fixing the secondary is a top priority for [Jaguars head coach] Gus Bradley. Hargreaves is a natural CB1 with explosive movement skills and a high football IQ." - Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
1 - Cincinnati Bengals , No. 24 overall (Pro Football Focus)
"The Falcons finished at the bottom of the NFL in sacks. Something obviously has to be done about this, so I could see them pulling the trigger on a pass-rusher in the first couple of rounds. Following his great Combine, Jonathan Bullard may qualify as the top prospect available, so Atlanta could target him at this spot." - WalterFootball.com
"Just as we said in the last mock, a nose tackle would be a great fit for the Bengals here, but Bullard's early down production and position versatility is too much to pass up. He can play base defensive end while sprinkling inside at times, bringing excellent play against the run as he led all interior defensive linemen at +50.5 in 2015. He's not as productive as you'd like as a pass rusher, but he did improve to +7.7 last season and a strong showing at the combine may bode well for him in this department." - Pro Football Focus
1 - Arizona Cardinals, No. 29 overall (WalterFootball.com)
"Neal is a grown man who posted a solid 40 time and tremendous explosion numbers. Every once in a while you see safeties and say 'He's a Steeler.' Neal fits that mold." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
"One team we spoke to that covets Keanu Neal in the second round is afraid that he'll be chosen Thursday night. The Cardinals are a likely candidate for that; they need safety help after their two starters embarrassed themselves in the NFC Championship. " - WalterFootball.com
Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves remains a unanimous first-round selection, with most experts projecting him in the top 10 picks. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has Hargreaves going as high as No. 5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It appears that Hargreaves will remain in Florida, as 14 of the 18 mock drafts have him being selected by one of the state's three NFL teams.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard remains a possibility late in the first round, but due to the depth of the defensive line class it may not be a sure thing. WalterFootball.com projects that Bullard will reunite with former Gators' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who own the 17th overall pick. Pro Football Focus continues to be high on Bullard and projects that he will be taken by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 24th pick.
After a strong performance at the combine, safety Keanu Neal has begun popping up in mock drafts and his name has been mentioned as a potential sleeper pick late in the first round. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has Neal being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 overall while WalterFootball.com has the Arizona Cardinals selecting him at No. 29.
If the Gators do in fact have three first round selections, it would be the first time since 2010 that three Florida players were taken in the opening round (2010: Joe Haden No. 7 to Cleveland, Maurkice Pouncey No. 18 to Pittsburgh, Tim Tebow No. 25 to Denver). If Hargreaves and Neal are selected on the first day of the draft, it would be the first time in school history that UF had a pair of defensive backs selected in the first round.
Here's a look at how all three players are projected among 18 mock drafts from various media outlets:
Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves
8 - Miami Dolphins, No. 8 overall (Rob Rang/CBS Sports, Pete Prisco/CBS Sports, Will Brinson/CBS Sports, Charles Davis/NFL.com, Lance Zierlein/NFL.com, Luke Easterling/Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus, Chris Burke/SI.com)5 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 9 overall (Dane Brugler/CBS Sports, Daniel Jeremiah/NFL.com, Peter Schrager/FOX Sports, Mel Kiper/ESPN, Todd McShay/ESPN,
2 - Baltimore Ravens , No. 6 overall (Nate Davis/USA Today, Eric Galko/Sporting News)
1 - Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 5 overall (Bucky Brooks/NFL.com)
1 - New York Giants, No. 10 overall (WalterFootball.com)
1 - Oakland Raiders, No. 14 overall (Dan Kadar/SB Nation)
"The best pure cover corner in the draft would benefit anyone, and the Bucs are in a division where they have to face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton six times a season. Tampa Bay needs a talent infusion at cornerback, and Hargreaves is going to grade out as a player who is ready to be on the field in Week 1." - Mel Kiper, ESPN.com
"Fixing the secondary is a top priority for [Jaguars head coach] Gus Bradley. Hargreaves is a natural CB1 with explosive movement skills and a high football IQ." - Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Defensive Lineman Jonathan Bullard
1 - Atlanta Falcons, No. 17 overall (WalterFootball.com)1 - Cincinnati Bengals , No. 24 overall (Pro Football Focus)
"The Falcons finished at the bottom of the NFL in sacks. Something obviously has to be done about this, so I could see them pulling the trigger on a pass-rusher in the first couple of rounds. Following his great Combine, Jonathan Bullard may qualify as the top prospect available, so Atlanta could target him at this spot." - WalterFootball.com
"Just as we said in the last mock, a nose tackle would be a great fit for the Bengals here, but Bullard's early down production and position versatility is too much to pass up. He can play base defensive end while sprinkling inside at times, bringing excellent play against the run as he led all interior defensive linemen at +50.5 in 2015. He's not as productive as you'd like as a pass rusher, but he did improve to +7.7 last season and a strong showing at the combine may bode well for him in this department." - Pro Football Focus
Safety Keanu Neal
1 - Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 25 overall (Lance Zierlein/NFL.com)1 - Arizona Cardinals, No. 29 overall (WalterFootball.com)
"Neal is a grown man who posted a solid 40 time and tremendous explosion numbers. Every once in a while you see safeties and say 'He's a Steeler.' Neal fits that mold." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
"One team we spoke to that covets Keanu Neal in the second round is afraid that he'll be chosen Thursday night. The Cardinals are a likely candidate for that; they need safety help after their two starters embarrassed themselves in the NFC Championship. " - WalterFootball.com
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