2020 NFL Draft Discussion

[AlexGreen#20]

13 minutes ago, Dubz41 said:

He produced at a major college. He knocked it out of the park at the combine.  He could provide flexibility and mismatches at WR and TE. 

He's a solid second round pick and could slip into the end of Rd 1.

It was the ACC

[packfanfb]

8 hours ago, Dubz41 said:

He produced at a major college. He knocked it out of the park at the combine.  He could provide flexibility and mismatches at WR and TE. 

He's a solid second round pick and could slip into the end of Rd 1.

Tweener guys like Claypool scare me. Just pick a good WR, not a guy who doesn't know what position he's going to play. Plus, we just signed a Claypool... his name is Devin Funchess.

[Golfman]

1 hour ago, packfanfb said:

Tweener guys like Claypool scare me. Just pick a good WR, not a guy who doesn't know what position he's going to play. Plus, we just signed a Claypool... his name is Devin Funchess.

6'4 240, I think he should be a match up nightmare as a TE. Probably never going to be an inline blocker, but a guy down the seam. Wouldn't touch him prior to round 4 though and I don't think he's there at that point. 

[Leader]

TDN :  Claypool (With an interesting NFL Comp)
Sixteeth ranked WR ; 116th ranked player overall.

PROS: Height, weight, speed, physical specimen. Won’t get bumped off his spot as a route runner or at the catch point and he embraces the physical components of the position. Comes down with his share of contested catches where he finds success because of his frame and body positioning. Love the way he competes after the catch and challenges defenders with physicality. He isn’t overly creative but he battles for yards and works to find space. Has experience adjusting to erratic throws from the Notre Dame quarterbacks and he improved their accuracy. Does well to extend his catch radius, particularly above the rim. He isn’t overly twitchy but there is some deceptiveness to his route running ability. Will eat up off-man coverage and will be a mismatch from the slot. Makes good adjustments running routes against zone, showcasing good pace and timing. Experienced working on special teams coverage units. 

CONS: Invites a lot of contact while offering plenty of surface area and him beating press coverage with consistency is an area of concern. Lacks ideal agility to truly create separation at the top of routes and he has considerably more success when runways are created for him to gain leverage. Would not call him a natural hands catcher and he prefers to guide it into his frame. There are reps where he doesn’t appear ready for the balls arrival. I don’t envision much success separating with hard horizontal breaks or working back to the football on hooks/curls.   

BEST TRAIT - Size
WORST TRAIT - Separation Quickness
RED FLAGS - None
NFL COMP - Allen Lazard

Chase Claypool illustrated steady growth throughout his career at Notre Dame, peeking as a senior in 2019 when he caught 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. The appeal with Claypool stems from his size, catch radius and straight line speed. He finds success in contested situations and has the ability to out-muscle most defenders. With that said, separation quickness, release technique and inconsistent catching technique are notable items to be concerned with when projecting him to the next level. Claypool is likely to be challenged with plenty of contact at the release and catch point in the NFL, making it necessary for him to continue to showcase his physical demeanor and win in tightly contested situations. Claypool has limitations to be mindful of, but he can fulfill a niche role as a big slot that provides a complementary weapon for an offense that features speed and separation specialists to draw coverage away from Claypool and provide spacing for him to work. Claypool is a proven special teams performer, adding value to his incomplete skill set that will enable him to stick at the next level. 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Leader

[vegas492]

16 minutes ago, Leader said:

TDN :  Claypool (With an interesting NFL Comp)
Sixteeth ranked WR ; 116th ranked player overall.

PROS: Height, weight, speed, physical specimen. Won’t get bumped off his spot as a route runner or at the catch point and he embraces the physical components of the position. Comes down with his share of contested catches where he finds success because of his frame and body positioning. Love the way he competes after the catch and challenges defenders with physicality. He isn’t overly creative but he battles for yards and works to find space. Has experience adjusting to erratic throws from the Notre Dame quarterbacks and he improved their accuracy. Does well to extend his catch radius, particularly above the rim. He isn’t overly twitchy but there is some deceptiveness to his route running ability. Will eat up off-man coverage and will be a mismatch from the slot. Makes good adjustments running routes against zone, showcasing good pace and timing. Experienced working on special teams coverage units. 

CONS: Invites a lot of contact while offering plenty of surface area and him beating press coverage with consistency is an area of concern. Lacks ideal agility to truly create separation at the top of routes and he has considerably more success when runways are created for him to gain leverage. Would not call him a natural hands catcher and he prefers to guide it into his frame. There are reps where he doesn’t appear ready for the balls arrival. I don’t envision much success separating with hard horizontal breaks or working back to the football on hooks/curls.   

BEST TRAIT - Size
WORST TRAIT - Separation Quickness
RED FLAGS - None
NFL COMP - Allen Lazard

Chase Claypool illustrated steady growth throughout his career at Notre Dame, peeking as a senior in 2019 when he caught 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. The appeal with Claypool stems from his size, catch radius and straight line speed. He finds success in contested situations and has the ability to out-muscle most defenders. With that said, separation quickness, release technique and inconsistent catching technique are notable items to be concerned with when projecting him to the next level. Claypool is likely to be challenged with plenty of contact at the release and catch point in the NFL, making it necessary for him to continue to showcase his physical demeanor and win in tightly contested situations. Claypool has limitations to be mindful of, but he can fulfill a niche role as a big slot that provides a complementary weapon for an offense that features speed and separation specialists to draw coverage away from Claypool and provide spacing for him to work. Claypool is a proven special teams performer, adding value to his incomplete skill set that will enable him to stick at the next level. 

Son of a B!  He's gonna be our pick.  Ungh.  

He blocks and a write up says he can be a Big Slot.  Which we've referenced.  I.  Do.  Not.  Want.  This.  We have plenty of it already.

[Leader]

7 minutes ago, vegas492 said:

Son of a B!  He's gonna be our pick.  Ungh.  He blocks and a write up says he can be a Big Slot.  Which we've referenced.  I.  Do.  Not.  Want.  This.  We have plenty of it already.

Ye of so little faith

[festiveonion]

Claypool is a good prospect. Raw but very talented. Better than Boykin last year. 
 

like one of the other posters said... If he’s the guy at 94 u can live with it. With those combine numbers someone is taking him in the second tho. 

[vegas492]

31 minutes ago, Leader said:

Ye of so little faith

My faith is telling me we have him on the roster a few times over already.  I'd like someone different, with a better skillset.  More finesse and agility, please.

[JQ1]

I’d be disappointed if GB chose him with a 1st or 2nd, but I doubt that happens. Gutekunst doesn’t care about the Combine buzz Claypool has created. In any case, he may be gone by #62. He is a big, fast, physical kid,  and I’d be satisfied if they chose him at #94, and addressed OL and/or DL/MLB with the first two picks.

But I did like the previously posted clip with blocking samples, and comments like these by Lance Zierlein via NFL Draft/Combine Profiles:

-“Pancake maker with nasty demeanor as run blocker.”
-"He's a vertical challenger outside, a possession receiver as a big slot, an outstanding run blocker and immediate coverage ace on special teams. His elite traits and diverse skill set could allow him to create a unique footprint as a pro.”

Chase Claypool Draft Profile - NFL website

Yes, he IS another big-bodied WR, like the MVS, EQ, Lazard, and now Funchess. So the Packers would need to clear out some guys. But I think Claypool would prove to be a more talented player than some players currently on the squad. 

On the other hand, Day 2 draft capital may represent more than Gutekunst cares to invest in that position. That’s a legitimate perspective. Stay tuned…film at 11.

 

 

[AlexGreen#20]

Guys, were not drafting a receiver 1st round WR when there are 6 1st round caliber OT prospects and 3 1st round caliber DT prospects.

[Leader]

Zach Kruse -  Boise State's John Hightower looks like such a good fit in Matt LaFleur's Packers offense. Super quick, good in space, wins downfield, experienced on the move and as a gadget-like player.

[Leader]

Joe Marino -  Who is the better linebacker prospect?

Patrick Queen, LSU
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

[Jaegybomb]

I think Murray compliments Kirksey slightly better.

[packfanfb]

40 minutes ago, AlexGreen#20 said:

Guys, were not drafting a receiver 1st round WR when there are 6 1st round caliber OT prospects and 3 1st round caliber DT prospects.

I'm assuming you're excluding Brown and Kinlaw and focusing on Gallimore, Blacklock and Madubuike? 

[vegas492]

51 minutes ago, AlexGreen#20 said:

Guys, were not drafting a receiver 1st round WR when there are 6 1st round caliber OT prospects and 3 1st round caliber DT prospects.

K.  I agree with that.

Do you see any of those OT's being available in round two if we trade down 5-10 spots?

My best case scenario would be to trade down a little, still grab and OT with our first pick, then use some of that draft capital to move back up and take one of the higher ranked WR's.

Curious if you feel like any of those OT's could slide a little, or if we just need to stay where we are at and grab one of them.