2018 Draft Prospects

[Madmike90]

29 minutes ago, G08 said:

 

I think Davenport brings all the traits Pace will value...if we could get the Bills or Dolphins to take a small jump up for a QB like Mayfield or Jackson you would be looking at an addition 2nd and a strong chance of still getting Davenport.

[pigsooie5]

8 minutes ago, Madmike90 said:

I think Davenport brings all the traits Pace will value...if we could get the Bills or Dolphins to take a small jump up for a QB like Mayfield or Jackson you would be looking at an addition 2nd and a strong chance of still getting Davenport.

That’s probably the most ideal situation for this team. Trade back a little, gain another top 100 pick AND still have Davenport there. Hope Isaiah Oliver/Isaiah Wynn/DJ Moore make it to 39 and that’s a heck of start. 

[WindyCity]

I think Davenport could be the guy as well. Fits the mold.

I do not expect Chubb or Nelson to be there.

At that point I think it is dealers choice. There are a group of 4-5 guys that I think will all be in the conversation

[G08]

MARCUS DAVENPORT | DE | TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO  

Height: 6056 | Weight: 264 | Arm: 33 5/8" | Hand: 9 1/8" | 40 TIme: 4.58 | 10-Split: 1.63 | Bench: 22 | 3Cone: 7.20 | Broad: 124" | Vertical: 33.5"

 

Marcus Davenport is a fourth-year senior who plays as a hybrid strong side DE/LB in UTSA's 4-2-5 defense. Davenport was an extremely malleable chess piece in defensive coordinator Pete Golding's multiple 4-2-5 scheme which saw Davenport do everything from blitz as the A-Gap as a Mike linebacker to drop back in coverage from the right and left side with his hand in the ground. The 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year holds UTSA school records in career sacks (22.0) and TFLs (38.0), and his 49 pressures on 241 pass rush snaps this season makes him an efficient rusher. Davenport rarely came off the field and plays almost every snap with enthusiasm and yearns to make an impact on every play. Davenport had an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile and did enough to silence concerns about his production resulting against weaker C-USA opposition with a half-sack and fumble recovery for a TD in the game.

 

Davenport has the appearance of an oak tree with elite length, 34" inch arms, and a developed lower body with thick quads Davenport pairs his Tarzan physique with outstanding athletic ability, acceleration, and lateral agility. Davenport's long legs allow him to build up speed to keep up with skill position players in open field foot races. Davenport has shown an ability to bend the edge when attacking the outside shoulder and his flexibility is evident when he is asked to flip his hips and drop back into coverage. Davenport's exceptional athleticism dates all the way back to his time in high school, where he was also an area-qualifier in the 1,600m relay and shot put along with starring for the Stevens High School basketball team in Texas. In an interview with Davenport's father, Ron Davenport, he recalled that Marcus would always try to chase and catch rabbits as a child, which explains his terrific short area quickness and coordination for his size. Davenport has steadily gained over 60 pounds throughout his four years at UTSA by eating constantly, especially heavy snacks before bed.

 

As a pass rusher, Davenport is gifted in his ability to convert speed to power with calculated steps and a concrete rush plan. Davenport consistently wins at the POA by using his extremely long arms and heavy hands to manipulate blockers in 1v1 situations and create a crease to shoot the gap and get into the backfield. Davenport has a lethal rip under move that he uses to attack the outside shoulder of the tackle and can also stack with an inside swim that to lean into against the blocker to get pushed right into his rush alley. Davenport is a terrifying finisher who closes on QBs with bad intentions and some of his hits look like mini car-wrecks. Davenport's ability to be equally as effective collapsing pockets with power or with speed makes him a unique prospect, and his technique has gone a long way in refinement this season under the guise of current Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis. While Davenport packs a violent punch and active hands, he has a tendency of remaining very high when bull rushing which sacrifices his leverage against more powerful tackles. Davenport demonstrates good awareness by always keeping his eyes on the QB and uses timing and positioning to funnel into passing lanes and get his arms up to bat down passes. PFF analytics suggest that Davenport boasted the best positive run impact (16.9%) and negative run impact (4.1%) of all the edge defenders at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and the tape certainly endorses the numbers. As a run defender, Davenport is disciplined in his run fits and shows a great motor in pursuit of ball-carriers in space. Davenport also possesses the play strength to anchor and set the edge on the perimeter and funnel ball-carriers back inside for his second-level teammates to make plays. Davenport arrives with urgency when crashing inside on goal and short yardage situations does a good job of not getting moved off his assignment when penetrating B Gaps. Davenport exhibits active hands when engaged to get off blocks and is patient in shuffling his feet to diagnose plays and time his launch. Davenport takes intelligent angles in his pursuit and has a good understanding of his speed and acceleration when calculating his linear approach to stretch and toss plays away from his side of the field. Davenport can occasionally get frozen on zone reads and end up out of position to lose contain. Davenport plays the game with passion and his relentless motor is always on display, chasing ball-carriers into the second level without sacrificing enthusiasm despite never taking a play off.

 

As impressive of a specimen as Davenport is on the field, he is equally impressive off the field. Davenport was a candidate for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award, which is presented to the most outstanding student-athlete in 10 NCAA Division I sports who best exemplifies the attributes of community, classroom, character, and competition. Davenport also landed on the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list, an accolade given to players who exemplify outstanding performance in community service due to his work as a mentor at a local elementary school and efforts raising awareness against pediatric cancer. Davenport lists his work ethic as his best attribute, citing that he took 18 credit hours to graduate his senior year and sharing that he loves watching film late into the night in his free time. Davenport's high school coach echoed his work ethic, stating that Davenport never went home at 4pm and always did extra work. Davenport had limited scholarship offers from power five schools due to the fact that he weighed 198-pounds as a senior defensive end after switching from WR. Davenport mirrors the same work ethic that he shows on the field in film preparation and all accounts speak to the fact that he lives and breaths football. Davenport lists Von Miller as the player who he watches and tries to emulate most, and his ceiling could come dangerously close if everything continues to click for him and he envelopes the type of production that he enjoyed in Conference USA. Ultimately, Davenport's length, athleticism, work ethic, and commitment to the game should land him in the top half of the first round, and his game most closely resembles Chandler Jones at the NFL level due to his ability to attack and produce with a balance of speed and power.

 

Overall Grade: 90

Athletic Ability: 6

Physical: 7

Play Strength: 6

Play Speed: 6

Competitive Toughness: 7

Bend: 4

Finesse Moves: 4

Power Moves: 4

Gap Control: 5

Anchor: 4

Pursuit: 4

Motor: 5

Hands/Technique: 4

Move Arsenal: 4

Tackling: 5

Playmaking: 5

Maturity: 5

Production: 5

 

Player Comparison: Chandler Jones

Projected Round: Top 20

[G08]

I didn't know he had that crazy of a work ethic! Character was always something that I wanted to know about with this dude, because he is a little bit different compared to what you typically expect from a football player/pass rusher (not saying that's a bad thing).

I think I'm sold at this point, I want Davenport at 8 or in a slight trade down.

Edited April 16, 2018 by G08

[anonymousGM]

I don't post much but its draft time... Mock Draft

When Pace traded up last year I thought he was planning on reconciling those picks by trading back in the 1st with teams fishing for one of the QB's in the top-10 so I'll just play out that scenario.

Trade back (Bears move back from 8 giving them a 3rd round pick in this year's draft, maybe more)

1. CB Josh Jackson - Iowa. My favorite cornerback in the draft as he possesses great size, agility, and ball skills. He was a late bloomer in college as he made the transition from wide receiver to cornerback after he redshirted his freshman season. He was as a backup in 2015 & 2016 but he emerged as an All-American as a senior with his signature game coming against Ohio State where he has 3 interceptions. He would complement Kyle Fuller well and help fortify the Bears secondary for the next 5-7 seasons. I'm also a huge fan of Edmunds if he falls out of the top-10.

2. OL Billy Price - Ohio State. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, a football hotbed, Price is a steady interior offensive lineman who was a four-year starter for Urban Meyer. He injured himself while bench pressing at the combine which could drop him a few spots. If the Bears can’t land superstar guard Quinton Nelson in the first round, they will have to address the O-line here in round two by selecting Price which means Whitehair will move back to left guard which is his more natural position.

3. OLB Lorenzo Carter - Georgia. Most draft evaluators have moved up this lengthy edge rusher because of his blazing 40-yard dash at 6’5 250. I believe that he is more of a third-round talent given his underwhelming sack totals. The Georgia defense is the college equivalent of the Bears attacking 3-4 which means any of the three stud linebackers from Georgia could end up on the Bears. Roquan Smith in the first round, Carter in the second or third round, as well as Davin Bellamy in the later rounds.

4. WR Dante Pettis - Washington. The Bears will take their swing at finding their JuJu Smith-Shuster with the selection for Pettis in the fourth round. He excels at the getting yards after the catch and can stretch the field. He doesn't have elite top-end speed but has great burst and short area quickness which allows him to get open. Think Doug Baldwin. He also is a prolific punt returner setting the NCAA record with 9 career punt return touchdowns

4. CB Quenton Meeks - Stanford. Coming off a solid college career at Stanford I think Meeks has a lot of the traits you look for in a corner with good size and speed. He has great tackling ability and positions his body well which could help him land a roster spot as a depth corner and special teams player. Similar players in this range like Duke Dawson and Tavaris McFadden both have question marks and Meeks is a cleaner all-around prospect. Dawson’s size has limited him being a slot corner at Florida while Florida State’s McFadden had a disappointing combine where he ran a 4.67 forty yard dash although he has good tape.

5. RB Bo Scarborough - Alabama. At this point in the draft, Ryan Pace is looking to strike gold on another late round RB who can contribute to an NFL roster. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen are thunder and lightning. Scarborough can be the earthquake.

6. OLB/DE Davin Bellamy - Georgia. Looking for depth in their front seven the Bears select Bellamy from Georgia who I alluded to earlier. He played most of his snaps opposite Lorenzo Carter while transitioning from more of a defensive end earlier in his career. Has a slightly larger physic than Carter and could potentially bulk up and be a 3-4 defensive line if his new team sees fit. He excels equally against the pass and run and has slightly above average athleticism and instincts. Could develop into a starter.

7. Developmental pick

[pigsooie5]

1 hour ago, WindyCity said:

8th overall I think you are swinging for more than quality. Maybe adjectives like impact, dominant, at least above average.

If you thin Davenport is at best a 6-8 sack guy, then I am not sure you take him at 8.

But that’s the thing... I think Davenport is a more athletic Chandler Jones, capable of 12-18 sacks. 

[G08]

A scout told the Packers' website that he thinks Davenport is an 8 sack guy as a rookie and double-digit in his second year and beyond, @WindyCity

[WindyCity]

6 minutes ago, G08 said:

A scout told the Packers' website that he thinks Davenport is an 8 sack guy as a rookie and double-digit in his second year and beyond, @WindyCity

If that is the case then you can pull the trigger at 8 and not look back.

[TB 1]

4 hours ago, WindyCity said:

It would not shock me if the Bears went offense in both rounds 1 and 2.

-Big year for Trubisky to emerge as a franchise QB

-Just hired an offensive HC

-The defense as top 10 and has not lost anyone who was significant to that ranking, including coaches

There are a bunch of reasons for Pace to go all in on an offensive turn around and a put the defense off for a year. If the Bears go 8-8 because of a solid offense and great defense that does not look as good, based on Pace's last 2 huge decisions as if they do it with a good offense and good defense.

That would be two straight drafts of Pace ignoring the defense.

The Bears do not have a top 10 defense on ability.  If he ignores the defense they will  regress into the 20's. The OLB position is weak besides an injury prone Floyd.

The Eagles drafted Wentz and still  found the time to draft a pass rusher in the first round.

Winning organizations draft both sides of the ball.

 

[TB 1]

3 hours ago, WindyCity said:

I think if Nelson is there at 8 he could very well be the pick, it may even be likely that he is the pick.

I think they could also easily go WR in the 2nd round. Nagy was in 3 WRs a ton when he was in KC and it was a big part of the spreadcoast offense.

 

I think we can probably agree that a good season for the Bears this year will be 8-8. 8-8 with a great defense, but Trubisky looking average and Nady not having some offensive explosion would look and feel very different than 8-8 with a defense that regresses to 12-15 and an offense that really takes a huge step.

I feel like Pace is going to be judged by what happens on offense with his hand picked QB and coach more than he is on the overall record.

Pace will have to win to keep his job. The problem is if the Bears have an offensive explosion they will get killed by their lack of pass rush. You don't need a great defense to win in the modern NFL  but you better have pass rushers.

[TB 1]

3 hours ago, topwop1 said:

Lol now you're just getting too much into semantics Windy.

A quality, dominant or impact pass rusher, however you want to phrase it, is what we all want.  

I think he is questioning the quality of the pass rushers available  at 8. I don't know if Davenport, Edmunds and Landry are cant miss.

[Sugashane]

4 minutes ago, TB 1 said:

I think he is questioning the quality of the pass rushers available  at 8. I don't know if Davenport, Edmunds and Landry are cant miss.

 

They aren't, but neither are Barkley, Chubb, and Nelson.

[beardown3231]

28 minutes ago, TB 1 said:

That would be two straight drafts of Pace ignoring the defense.

The Bears do not have a top 10 defense on ability.  If he ignores the defense they will  regress into the 20's. The OLB position is weak besides an injury prone Floyd.

The Eagles drafted Wentz and still  found the time to draft a pass rusher in the first round.

Winning organizations draft both sides of the ball.

 

Trying to figure out what you're implying for. Are you saying that the Bears were a top 10 defense on luck? I could argue that Trevathan, Hicks, Goldman, Floyd, Jackson, Amos and Fuller is a top 10 defense on ability. I do agree though that they NEED another pass rusher. It'd help not only if that OLB was good but also if Bullard/RRH had a big year, because Hicks can't play another 100% of the snaps

[beardown3231]

Jahns mock:

Roquan Smith
Isaiah Oliver
Uchenna Nwosu
Alex Cappa
Simmie Cobbs
Leon Jacobs
Jonah Trinnaman

I'm somewhat warming to Smith (although I'd still rather have Davenport). He struggles off of blocks, but if Hicks and Goldman are great, he'll be fine. His sideline to sideline ability also can't be denied.

Love the Oliver and Nwosu picks, and I also doubt they take Cobbs. He doesn't fit this offense at all IMO. In this scenario, BTW, I'm not sure who rushes the passer unless Nwosu is an early contributor.

Edited April 16, 2018 by beardown3231