Broncos Journal: Evaluating draft-eligible quarterbacks “not the same” as 15 years ago By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 21, 2019

The question for Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello after Wednesday’s minicamp practice: During the pre-draft quarterback visits, how do you challenge their football knowledge?

“I can tell you some of that,” Scangarello said with a laugh.

And he did … kind of, illustrating the challenge for coaches, scouts and executives entering this week’s NFL Draft. Assessing the quarterback position is more difficult than ever because of the schemes college teams run and the skills possessed by said passers.

“I think this: My background in college has really helped me in the evaluation process just because the college and NFL games have gone two different directions,” Scangarello said. “I don’t think you can do it the way it was done 15 years ago. I just believe you’re not evaluating the same thing.”

Scangarello’s entire NFL experience before joining the Broncos in January was working for Kyle Shanahan, one year in Atlanta and two years in San Francisco. He said he was “proud” to have learned from Shanahan.

“Kyle had a lot of success (evaluating quarterbacks) and (he) showed me some things that I use in the evaluation process,” Scangarello said. “It’s a tough position to evaluate. You just get them in (the meeting room) and you try and find out what you can about them.”

The Broncos have the 10th pick in Thursday’s first round and a quarterback could be on their radar. Has the direction of the college game forced more projecting on the part of NFL teams? Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins started for one year. Other quarterbacks who will go high in the draft rarely played under center, which is required in the Broncos’ offense.

“You’ve got to evaluate some physical and mental qualities that you may not be able to evaluate on tape,” Scangarello said. “You have to just get creative on how you can get to the bottom of those things.”

Draft memories. Two Broncos players were recently asked to recall their draft weekend experiences.

Defensive end Derek Wolfe (second round in 2012): “I never even talked to the Broncos. Every team I thought I was going to go to, they just went the complete opposite direction. I was just like, ‘I don’t know what the (heck) is going on here.’ And then I get a call from (general manager) John Elway and I was like, ‘All right, cool, I’m going to Denver.’ I had no clue I was going to come here. I’m glad I did.”

Center Connor McGovern (fifth round in 2016): “The teams I had the most contact with were Seattle and the (New England) Patriots. Dallas was my only top-30 visit. (The Broncos’ interest) kind of came out of nowhere. In my draft year, what I think happened was I had to play left tackle (at Missouri) and I wasn’t built to play tackle. I hadn’t played guard or center in a year. I got hurt in the first Senior Bowl practice so teams were really questionable (about me) and I went down (the board) a little bit. But it worked out.”

About the schedule. Five thoughts on the NFL schedule …

1. The Broncos play three games against teams with long rest: Chicago in Week 2 and Jacksonville in Week 4 play the previous Thursday and the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 will be returning from their bye. The Broncos will have the rest advantage when they play at Indianapolis (Week 8, after a Thursday night game) and at Minnesota (Week 10, following a bye),

2. The Broncos play Cleveland, Houston and Kansas City (second meeting) a week after those teams play New England.

3. Easy travel: The New York Jets don’t play a game outside the Eastern time zone. Tough travel: Oakland and the Chargers make six trips apiece to the Central/Eastern time zones and trips to London and Mexico City, respectively.

4. Easy schedule: New England’s first game against a 2018 playoff team isn’t until Week 9 (at Baltimore). Tough schedule: Washington plays at Philadelphia and is home to Dallas, Chicago and New England in the first five weeks.

5. Seven NFC teams have the maximum five prime-time appearances, but only three AFC teams (Patriots, Chiefs and Steelers).

Roster room. As of Friday, the Broncos had 64 players under contract, leaving 26 open roster spots for the draft and undrafted free agency. According to the NFLPA’s website, only the Los Angeles Rams (60) and New Orleans (61) had fewer signed players.

Risner’s status. Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner, a native of Wiggins who visited the Broncos earlier this month, will be an interesting name to watch on Thursday-Friday. Is he a right tackle or a center? “I have him in the early second-round range,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I have him (as) a right tackle. Some teams want him to go back and play center. I think you talk to some teams, they have him in the second round, some teams have him in the fourth round.”

Donatell talks Harris. Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who will be heavily involved coaching the secondary, has no concerns that cornerback Chris Harris is falling behind by not participating in the offseason program. “He’s really easy to fit (into) 11-on-11 football because he’s so competitive and tough,” Donatell said. The next key date on the Harris Watch is May 13 for the start of organized team activities.

Learning the roster. Coach Vic Fangio said last month he hadn’t watched much Broncos 2018 tape, choosing to wait for the on-field workouts. What about Donatell? “We went through it just to see the players and get acquainted,” he said. “(Fangio) likes to just come in, get a fresh start with guys, see them move around and make (his) own choices with our teaching.”

Broncos Draft: Why — and why not — four prospects make sense with 10th pick By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 21, 2019

If they stay at No. 10 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, the Broncos will be on the clock around 7:45 p.m.

Quarterback Joe Flacco won’t be watching.

“Honestly, I’m probably going to be on a flight back to Philadelphia … I don’t really pay much attention to the draft,” he said.

Coach Vic Fangio’s recent focus has admittedly been on the players already in his locker room. “I feel good about where we’re at (with the draft) and the decisions that we can make,” he said.

But outside linebacker Von Miller will be monitoring the festivities. “I just want to get the best available (player),” he said.

It will be up to general manager John Elway, running his ninth Broncos draft, to decide if Flacco’s replacement will be selected or a new defensive starter for Fangio to call plays for and Miller to play alongside will be added.

If the Broncos stay at No. 10, they can rule out Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, edge rushers Nick Bosa (Ohio State) and Josh Allen (Kentucky) and LSU linebacker Devin White.

Here is a look at four possibilities for the Broncos:

Dwayne Haskins

Position: Quarterback.

College: Ohio State.

Height/weight: 6-foot-3/231 pounds.

Key information: Turns 22 on May 3. … Started one year at Ohio State (13-1 record) and led FBS in passing yards (4,831) and touchdowns (50, also a Big Ten record). … Nine 300-yard games. … Completed 70 percent of this pass attempts. … Declared for draft after redshirt sophomore season. … Will become only the second Ohio State quarterback chosen in the first round since 1970 (Art Schlichter to Baltimore in 1982). … “I think he’s a good player,” Elway said. “He had a great year last year and did a lot of good things.”

Why he makes sense: If the Broncos win even one more game this next season to finish 7-9, they will have played themselves out of position for any of next year’s top quarterbacks in the 2020 draft. Haskins has a similar game — drop-back, big arm, stays in the pocket — as Flacco so it would be the perfect learning situation.

Why he doesn’t make sense: If he has to play quickly, Haskins may not be ready. Since 1973, only three of the 100 first-round quarterbacks started fewer than 15 college games (Mark Sanchez, Cam Newton and Mitchell Trubisky). Plus, the acquisition of Flacco should indicate a desire to avoid rebuilding and therefore, an instant starter should be the choice at No. 10.

Quote: “You look at his progression from the beginning of (last) year to the end of the year, it’s a clear trend line that he’s going in the right direction,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “And he moved around a little bit better in his Pro Day than I anticipated so that helps him. I think Dwayne is the No. 1 or No. 2 guy with most teams. I would not rule out Denver.”

Devin Bush Position: Linebacker.

College: Michigan.

Height/weight: 5-foot-11/234 pounds.

Key information: Turns 21 on July 18. … Declared for draft as a third-year junior. … Totaled 194 tackles (182 in last two years) in 38 career games. … Posted 10 sacks among his 19 1/2 tackles for lost yardage. … Second-team All-America as a junior. … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the Combine and his vertical of 40 1/2 inches was tops among linebackers.

Why he makes sense: The Broncos presumably covet an every-down linebacker who can run and cover, making them less susceptible against elite tight ends. Bush would check those boxes even if Devin White is on the board (although he could go to Tampa Bay at No. 5). “We like to play our linebackers so hopefully those guys are good enough to play all of the downs,” Fangio said.

Why he doesn’t make sense: It may raise an eye-brow or three if the Broncos take Bush at No. 10, perhaps reaching several picks earlier than anticipated. But that is the only rub.

Quote: “Maybe not the prototypical height, but he’s got some serious thump,” Jeremiah said. “He can run, cover and blitz. I’m a big fan of his.”

T.J. Hockenson Position: Tight end.

College: Iowa.

Height/weight: 6-foot-5/251 pounds.

Key information: Turns 22 on July 3. … Declared for draft after third-year sophomore season. … Caught 73 passes for 1,080 yards (14.8-yard average) and nine touchdowns in 26 career games. … Second-team All-America and John Mackey Award winner (nation’s top tight end) last year. … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds and his 37 1/2-inch vertical was second to teammate Noah Fant among tight ends.

Why he makes sense: The Broncos’ tight ends couldn’t stay healthy last year. Hockenson was a durable college player in his two years and presents a block-and-catch combination that will allow new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello to use two-tight end personnel regardless of the situation.

Why he doesn’t make sense: Elway said last month, the draft has “a lot of tight ends. A good combination of in-line guys as well as pass-catchers and guys that can run. It’s a good class.” With that in mind, might the Broncos be better off waiting until round 2 (or trading down in round 1) instead of taking Hockenson so high? Something to think about.

Quote: “Hockenson is unique because of his ability to block and catch, which is why he’s continually being pushed in the top 10,” said former Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik, now an analyst for Sirius XM. “When I talk to guys around the league, I get the feeling of, ‘This guy can do it all.’”

Drew Lock Position: Quarterback.

College: Missouri.

Height/weight: 6-foot-4/228 pounds.

Key information: Turns 23 on Nov. 10. … Started 46 games for Tigers (99 touchdowns/36 interceptions). … Four 300-yard passing games as a senior. … Elway attended Missouri’s win over Arkansas. … Improved completion percentage from 57.8 to 62.9 last year. … Led the SEC in passing yards (3,999) as a sophomore. … In final two years, combined to throw 70 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Why he makes sense: See why Haskins makes sense — the Broncos may not be in a position next year to draft a top passer. Lock checks the requisite preferred Elway boxes (tall, big arm) and because of his experience, he may be a quicker study once he becomes the starter.

Why he doesn’t make sense: See why Haskins doesn’t make sense — this is a depth chart in need of immediate starters and Lock will initially sit behind Flacco.

Quote: “That arm talent, the size and the fact he’s coming out with a ton of experience (are positives),” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. “There’s no built-in consensus on Drew Lock. Joe Flacco (is 34) and has had the injury so (the Broncos) could go out and get (Lock).”

As minicamp concludes, Flacco, Scangarello are 'just getting going' By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com April 21, 2019

Offensive Coordinator Rich Scangarello has full confidence in his assistant coaches.

And for good reason.

Running Backs Coach Curtis Modkins and Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni both know the personnel well after they spent 2018 in Denver, and Mike Munchak brings Hall of Fame credibility to the offensive line room. Tight Ends Coach Wade Harman also possesses decades of experience and worked with Scangarello in Atlanta.

“I’ve been very fortunate,” Scangarello said Wednesday. “I think that it’s a testament to [Head Coach] Vic [Fangio]. He put together an extremely talented staff that’s very detailed, great teachers and hard workers. I trust every one of them in every way. They’ve been great for me, and we’re on the same page and really feel like we’re moving all in the same direction. It’s been pretty smooth in that sense.”

That’s essential for Scangarello and the Broncos’ offense, because it frees up the team’s new offensive coordinator to focus on his area of expertise.

The quarterback position.

Scangarello, who served as the 49ers' quarterbacks coach during the previous two seasons, now finds himself in the room with quarterback Joe Flacco during position meetings.

“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” said Flacco on Thursday when asked about working with Scangarello. “I think we’re up there grinding away. He’s kind of given us the basic philosophy of the offense and where we can take this thing.”

The basic philosophy of the Broncos’ offense is similar to the one Flacco ran in Baltimore in 2014 under Gary Kubiak, who spent a season with the Ravens before returning to Denver to lead the Broncos.

As Flacco tries to learn the new system, that’s eased some of the difficulty of the transition.

“I think terminology-wise, I’m familiar with a lot,” Flacco said. “ … That’s kind of made the transition easy. I think the play-[action] pass stuff, there is a lot of stuff that I’m familiar with — the keepers. I think some of the drop-back game is different, but overall, I would say there is a pretty good amount of familiarity with it.”

Philosophy and offensive systems, though, don’t mean much if a team lacks the players who can implement it. As the Broncos looked for a quarterback who could do just that, Flacco emerged as an ideal option.

“Joe’s been a pro in the NFL for a long time,” Scangarello said. “His résumé is really solid when you just look at the course of his career, but more than anything, I think his skill set marries very, very well with the type of offense we run. He’s tough, he stands in the pocket and he can make all the throws. Those are the things that, of course, you want in a quarterback. We’re looking forward to building on that and working with it.”

As the Broncos move past voluntary veteran minicamp and toward the second phase of the offseason program, Scangarello will continue to implement the offense and work with Flacco to prepare him for a Sept. 9 “Monday Night Football” game against the Raiders.

Because while familiarity helps, there’s still plenty more to learn.

“You’re cramming for a test, basically, when you do a minicamp like this,” Scangarello said. “You’ve had them for two weeks and you’re just trying to see where everyone’s at. Part of it is to teach some guys the skills you’re doing, and part of it is to see what kind of things each individual can do a little as we move forward into the next phase.

“… We’re just getting going.”

The decision that brought Steve Atwater to Denver By Jim Saccomano DenverBroncos.com April 21, 2019

One of the greatest defensive stars in Denver Broncos history, and hopefully a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, joined the team when it was pretty clear we would take a safety in the draft.

The year was 1989 and Ring of Famer Dan Reeves was the head coach.

We were coming off an 8-8 season and Dan wanted to give his defense a boost.

Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator and Charlie Waters was the defensive backs coach.

There was much debate about two players, Atwater from Arkansas and another safety, Louis Oliver from Florida, and it finally came down to a draft-day discussion.

I remember the conversations in the draft room, as both guys had terrific college resumes.

Dan Reeves said he was happy with either player and turned to floor over to Phillips and Waters.

Eventually Wade turned to his defensive backs coach and asked Waters, "Which would you rather have?"

Charlie Waters said, "They are both great players. I want Atwater."

And so Dan placed a call to Steve Atwater and set in motion a path for one of our all-time great first- round draft picks to have a Ring of Fame career.

Waters later said, "There was just something about the presence of Steve Atwater that made him special, the greatest among greats. He had great physical skills combined with a perfect work ethic, along with great maturity and leadership abilities."

Atwater plied his many skills as a Pro Bowl and All-Pro safety for three head coaches — Reeves, Phillips and eventually Mike Shanahan — for whom he was a vital cog in our teams that won consecutive Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.

But his maturity, leadership and on-the-field greatness were apparent from the moment he arrived in the Mile High City.

Atwater had a great training camp in 1989 (he always had a great training camp) and on the day of the final cuts, the Broncos made the shocking move of waiving starting safety and team captain Mike Harden so that Atwater could start.

Reeves said, "This was a tough move to make, but Atwater simply has to start and be on the field for every play."

Atwater was a consensus All-Rookie selection and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by Football Digest.

That decision to start him immediately reaped dividends as the Broncos won the AFC Championship and went to Super Bowl XXIV in Atwater's rookie season, a precursor to the kind of career he was to have.

Atwater had a brilliant 10-year career with the Broncos and eventually was inducted as the 20th member of the Ring of Fame.

He is regarded as one of the toughest safeties in the NFL while being voted to a franchise record-tying seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1990-96, and his eight total Pro Bowl selections are tied for the second-most by a player in Broncos history.

He started all 155 regular season games he played with the Broncos and had 24 interceptions.

Only John Elway had more postseason starts.

Atwater started 14 playoff games for Denver, including three Super Bowls and four AFC title games.

Those draft day decisions are very difficult to make in the first round.

Teams discuss a bevy of college greats. Sometimes the decisions work out better than others.

There is no question Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips and Charlie Waters made a great one for Denver when they selected Steve Atwater with the Broncos' first-round pick back in 1989.

NFL Draft: Top Offensive Players Available By Position By Ralph Russo Associated Press April 21, 2019

Some of the top offensive players, by position, available in the NFL draft, which takes place April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee (x-indicates early entrant to draft):

QUARTERBACK

Position outlook: The most interesting player in the draft and a few players likely to be selected earlier than they should because that's what happens with quarterbacks. x-Kyler Murray, 5-foot-10, 205, Oklahoma.

Strengths: Explosive athlete with a strong arm, nice touch and solid accuracy.

Weaknesses: Kyler Murray is small. You might have heard.

Fact: Murray's Allen (Texas) High School team went 43-0 at with three championships in the state's most competitive division.

Gone by: Certainly seems as if he will be No. 1 selection to Cardinals. x-Dwayne Haskins, 6-3, 230, Ohio State.

Strengths: Big guy with a big arm who commands his offense.

Weaknesses: Heavy-footed and prone to fall back against pressure. Only 14 career starts.

Fact: Led the nation with 4,831 yards passing and 50 touchdowns last season.

Gone by: Even if the teams currently in the top 10 don't want Haskins, good bet someone will trade up to grab him.

Drew Lock, 6-4, 228, Missouri.

Strengths: Size, arm and athleticism.

Weaknesses: Accuracy and ability to throw with varying speeds are inconsistent.

Fact: Four-year starter at Missouri.

Gone by: Might not be a top-15 player, but good chance he's a top-15 pick.

Daniel Jones, 6-5, 231, Duke.

Strengths: Combo of size and athleticism is top level.

Weaknesses: Decision making was often questionable and release needs to be sped up.

Fact: Three years as a starter under coach David Cutcliffe, aka the guy who coached Peyton and Eli Manning in college.

Gone by: Pretty good chance Jones gets taken in the first round.

Others to watch: Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State; Jarrett Stidham, Auburn; Will Grier, West Virginia; Tyree Jackson, Buffalo. ___

RUNNING BACK

Position outlook: The trend away from first-round running backs has been broken in recent years, but there is no Ezekiel Elliott or Saquon Barkley in this group.

x-Josh Jacobs, 5-10, 220, Alabama.

Strengths: Bursts through holes and knocks tacklers back. Complete back who can block and catch.

Weaknesses: Will need to be better at avoiding contact at the next level.

Fact: Thanks to Alabama's wealth of talent, Jacobs left college with only 299 touches from scrimmage.

Gone by: Early second round.

Others to watch: David Montgomery, Iowa State; Damien Harris, Alabama; Darrell Henderson, Memphis; Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic; Miles Sanders, Penn State. ___

OFFENSIVE LINE

Position outlook: This draft seems light on those plug-and-play offensive tackles teams covet. Even some of the better tackle prospects such as Alabama's Jonah Williams and Oklahoma's Cody Ford have teams considering them at guard. But depth looks good.

Andre Dillard, T, 6-5, 315, Washington State.

Strengths: Excellent athleticism and carries his weight comfortably.

Weaknesses: Needs to show more power as a run blocker.

Fact: Former two-star recruit who redshirted as a freshman and became a three-year starter at tackle.

Gone by: Top 20.

x-Jawaan Taylor, T, 6-5, 312, Florida.

Strengths: Able to drive defenders and finish as a run blocker.

Weaknesses: Arrived at Florida overweight and that will need to be managed.

Fact: Started 12 games at right tackle last season for the Gators.

Gone by: Top 20.

x-Jonah Williams, T, 6-4, 302, Alabama.

Strengths: Sound technician and good athlete.

Weaknesses: Shorter than ideal arms and relatively small frame for tackle could necessitate move to guard.

Fact: Three-year starter who moved to left-tackle as a sophomore and was an All-American as a junior.

Gone by: End of the first round.

x-Cody Ford, T, 6-4, 329, Oklahoma.

Strengths: Huge, but with some athleticism that gives him big upside.

Weaknesses: His talent and technique need to be refined. Another tackle possibly headed for guard.

Fact: Started four games at guard in 2017 before taking over at right tackle in 2018.

Gone by: Early second round.

Garrett Bradbury, C, 6-3, 306, North Carolina State.

Strengths: Strong, lean and instinctive.

Weaknesses: Better in pass protection than drive blocking for the run.

Fact: High school tight end who developed into All-America center.

Gone by: Top 40. x-Erick McCoy, C, 6-4, 303, Texas A&M.

Strengths: Thick build and strong hands.

Weaknesses. Gets a little lost in space trying to block beyond the line of scrimmage. Fact: Three-year starter after redshirting as a freshman.

Gone by: Top 40.

Dalton Risner, T, 6-5, 312, Kansas State.

Strengths: Strong and consistent.

Weaknesses: Quickness and agility are so-so.

Fact: Started at center as a redshirt freshman before settling in at right tackle.

Gone by: Middle of the second round. x-Greg Little, T, 6-5, 310, Mississippi.

Strengths: Athleticism and size work well in pass blocking.

Weaknesses: Power in the running game needs work.

Fact: Played with Kyler Murray at Allen (Texas) High School and was one of the top recruits in the country in 2016.

Gone by: Late second round, but raw materials could push him up much higher.

Others to watch: Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College; Kaleb McGary, T, Washington; Tytus Howard, T, Alabama State; Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State. ___

WIDE RECEIVER

Outlook: The best prospects all have at least one question mark to keep them out of the first 10 or 12 picks, but enough talent to put them in the first round. x-D.K. Metcalf, 6-3, 228, Mississippi.

Strengths: A physical specimen with blazing speed.

Weaknesses: Route running and hands are inconsistent.

Fact: Father is former NFL and Ole Miss offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf.

Gone by: Top 25. x-Marquise Brown, 5-9, 166, Oklahoma.

Strengths: Explosive speed and elusiveness.

Weaknesses: Skinny and short.

Fact: Nicknamed "Hollywood" for his Florida hometown and star qualities.

Gone by: The size (not great)/speed (great) combo gives him a wide-range of possibilities from pick 15 to 45.

x-A.J. Brown, 6-0, 225, Mississippi.

Strengths: Good size, effective route runner out of the slot and plays tough.

Weaknesses: Can he play outside effectively?

Fact: Drafted in the 19th round by the San Diego Padres in 2016.

Gone by: Middle of the second round.

Parris Campbell, 6-0, 205, Ohio State.

Strengths: Breakaway speed.

Weaknesses: Needs refinement because he was used in non-traditional ways in college.

Fact: Filled a role in Urban Meyer's offense similar to Percy Harvin at Florida.

Gone by: End of the second, but the game-breaking ability could tempt a team much sooner.

Others to watch: N'Keal Harry, Arizona State; Deebo Samuel, South Carolina; Riley Ridley, Georgia; Hakeem Butler, Iowa State.

___

TIGHT END

Outlook: Three possible first-rounders and then a bunch of players who do a few things well that will likely land them in the middle rounds. x-T.J. Hockenson, 6-5, 251, Iowa.

Strengths: Best combination of athleticism, receiving skills and blocking in the class.

Weaknesses: Needs to fill out and become a more reliable blocker to reach star status.

Fact: John Mackey Award winner as nation's best tight end last year.

Gone by: Top 20. x-Noah Fant, 6-4, 249, Iowa.

Strengths: Speed and athleticism aplenty.

Weaknesses: Might be more of a slot receiver, motion-type tight end.

Fact: Fant was the hyped Iowa tight end going into last season, but Hockenson's emergence probably held down some of his production. Fant had 39 catches for 519 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gone by: Early second round. x-Irv Smith Jr., 6-2, 242, Alabama.

Strengths: Speed and route-running to be a downfield threat.

Weaknesses: Needs to catch better in traffic.

Fact: Father, Irv Smith Sr., was a first-round draft pick by New Orleans out of Notre Dame in 1993.

Gone by: Middle of the second.

Others to watch: Josh Oliver, San Jose State; Kahale Warring, San Diego State; Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M; Dawson Knox, Mississippi.

___

KICKERS/PUNTERS

Outlook: Punters are more likely to break into the draft than kickers these days.

Mitch Wishnowsky, P, 6-2, 218, Utah.

Strengths: Like a lot of former Australian rules football players, the placement of his punts is precise.

Weaknesses: Lacks booming leg strength.

Fact: Handled kickoffs as a junior, but not last season.

Gone by: End of the sixth round.

Jake Bailey, P, 6-1, 200, Stanford.

Strengths: Big leg has no problem with distance.

Weaknesses: Placement needs work on shorter punts.

Fact: Handled kickoffs and piled up touchbacks (102) in his final two seasons.

Gone by: End of the draft.

Others to watch: Matt Gay, K, Utah; Cole Tracy, K, LSU; Jack Fox, P, Rice; Tyler Newsome, P, Notre Dame.

A new rite of passage for NFL draft hopefuls: Scrubbing your social media history By Roman Stubbs Washington Post April 21, 2019

Before they could celebrate their new partnership two winters ago, Patrick Mahomes and agent Leigh Steinberg needed to have one final talk over dinner at a restaurant in Tyler, Texas. Steinberg warned Mahomes of the potential pitfalls his impending fame would bring, and with the 2017 NFL draft just a few months away, he asked Mahomes if there was anything about his past that he should know about.

Then he told Mahomes that there was one final step he needed to complete before the quarterback’s draft process could truly begin: The agent would conduct one last scan of Mahomes’s social media accounts.

The audit turned up nothing, as Steinberg expected, and Mahomes would go onto become a top-10 pick of the Kansas City Chiefs that spring and a league MVP by his second season. But it was a reminder that, even for prospects with squeaky-clean online images like Mahomes, there is a new rite of passage during the evaluation process this time of year. Old tweets, Snapchats and Instagram posts are being reviewed and dissected, and can be as influential to a player’s draft stock as his 40-yard dash or vertical jump.

“Teams are looking at Twitter and Facebook and Instagram as another research tool,” Steinberg said. “[The players] get to explain whatever it was, but they are being held to account on postings, pictures. This didn’t even exist 15 years ago. It’s a big change, because some players are under the illusion that when they post on social media, it’s like going to their friends in a private form of communication. But it’s an international broadcast system.”

In 2016, offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil was a projected top-five pick, but fell to No. 13 after someone hacked his Twitter account minutes before the draft and posted a picture of Tunsil smoking out of a bong with a gas mask on. Last spring, racist tweets sent by Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen surfaced, and the story consumed the day of the draft. Allen apologized for the tweets, which he had sent when he was in high school, before being drafted seventh overall that night by the Buffalo Bills.

Now agents and teams are vetting the accounts of top prospects more fervently than ever in the run-up to this month’s NFL draft, and two of this class’s top prospects have already seen their social media pasts come under fire.

On the night he won the Heisman Trophy in December, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray – who is widely expected to be drafted first overall by the Arizona Cardinals – was forced to issue an apology after homophobic tweets from years earlier came to light. In March, Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa told an ESPN reporter that he deleted a string of tweets from his past – including those supporting President Donald Trump and one calling former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick “a clown” – because he could very well be drafted by the 49ers with the No. 2 overall pick.

The latter move not only underscores what is potentially at stake for a player of Bosa’s stature in one of America’s most progressive cities, but also highlights the delicate balance between an outspoken player’s freedom of speech and the possible rift it could cause in an NFL locker room.

“It kind of lets you into a guy’s life off the field at times,” NFL agent Shawn O’Dare said. “[Teams] are doing every research possible. They’re making multimillion dollar investments into these guys. It’s easy for them to go through their social media and find a red flag if there is one.”

The cases of Allen and Murray in particular followed a familiar pattern in pro sports in 2018, where a number of high-profile athletes had homophobic, racist and misogynistic tweets from their past surface. Brewers pitcher Josh Hader, Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb and Nationals shortstop Trea Turner all apologized for racist and homophobic tweets – each sent from their high school days – and former Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo deleted his Twitter account after a string of racist and homophobic tweets from his teenage years emerged during his team’s win over Michigan in the 2018 national championship game.

Most athletes who are exposed have at least in part chalked up the exposed tweets to youth in their apologies, but it has nonetheless spurred more awareness within NFL circles during the draft process. More and more prospects are scrubbing their own accounts. Agents such as Steinberg have devoted more resources to evaluating social media accounts over the past several years; Steinberg dispatches a couple of assistants at his agency to scan Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn profiles of clients after they have signed.

NFL teams now routinely include a thorough review of social media during the pre-draft process and consider it a crucial part of a player’s background check – including devoting staffers to scanning the accounts while the players are freshmen and sophomores, before they’re even old enough to declare for the draft.

“By this point, it’s too late,” said Daniel Jeremiah, a draft analyst for the NFL Network. “Most of the teams have already done that work well before these guys are even draft eligible. . . . Especially after the Tunsil thing, there’s really no excuse not to be prepared for everything. If you’re smart you will have addressed this with all the teams and would have been up front about it before now.”

In 2012, when Jeremiah was a scout with the Philadelphia Eagles, the front office completely removed a player from their board after discovering photos of guns on his social media accounts. “We didn’t interview him,” Jeremiah said. “We didn’t bother doing any homework on him. We were just like, ‘He’s off our board, he’s done.'”

Major college programs are trying to get ahead of that curve, often bringing in social media consultants to address the issue. One of those consultants, Kevin DeShazo, has spoken to more than 200 college teams and often points to the case of Tunsil in the 2016 draft as a prime example of how it can affect a future.

“That drop to the 13th pick lost him a projected 20 million dollars. So no matter what he does in life — he’s doing well, he’s doing great in the NFL – that 20 million dollars is not going to come back,” DeShazo said. “So it’s letting student athletes know: Is it worth the risk? Is that joke you want to tell, is that picture you want to put up, is it telling the best version of you?”

The campaign to make prospects more aware has even permeated the high school level, including at two elite programs in the Washington area that have produced NFL players. Over the past five years at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, for example, former head coach Elijah Brooks, who recently was hired as an assistant at the University of Maryland, said he had assigned a couple of assistant coaches to create aliases and monitor players’ social media posts. At Wise High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Coach DaLawn Parrish often will review his players’ tweets at night. If he doesn’t like what he sees, he will call them right away and tell them to take it down, he said.

The message got through to one of his top recruits, Isaiah Hazel, who will play for the University of Maryland this fall. More than four years ago, Hazel said he erased six tweets from his childhood after Parrish talked to the team about the potential perils of social media and how it can affect recruiting.

“Before I played football, you know, I’m young, I’m just tweeting anything, saying anything, retweeting anything. When colleges look at you, it’s bigger than that,” Hazel said in an interview last summer. “They want to see how you are as a man, how you carry yourself on social media . . . when you think they’re not looking.”

Everyone is now looking at Mahomes, who has 1.2 million followers on Instagram and nearly half a million on Twitter. He is the poster boy for what Steinberg wants his clients to be on and off the field, and also in the digital realm, where he has used his accounts to grow his brand considerably. But there was a time when he had to pass the pre-draft test like everyone else. And with another draft day approaching, even with the heightened awareness across all levels of football, Steinberg is convinced there will be more cautionary tales to come.

“It’s almost inevitable,” Steinberg said. “The level of scrutiny that the contemporary draftees are under is exponentially higher.”

Window opens for annual substance-abuse testing By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk April 21, 2019

Good news, it’s 4/20. Bad news, it’s 4/20.

The International Day of Weed coincides, coincidentally or not, with the opening of the annual window for the once-per-year random drug test under the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Random PED testing can happen at any time, all year long. For recreational drugs, like marijuana, players not in the substance-abuse program get one test per year, and that’s it.

The key, given the possibility that it takes up to 30 days to clear evidence of marijuana use from the system, is to stop smoking by late March, and to refrain until the random substance-abuse test comes and goes.

For some players who use marijuana, that’s where the frustration will arise. The window remains open until early August, which means that the wait that begins on April 20 could last deep into the summer.

So be smart, NFL players who may be inclined to wake and bake or blaze and haze (I don’t know if that’s a thing, I just like the sound of it). If you’re not in the program, don’t inhale anything other than tobacco smoke until you expel urine into a cup for substance-abuse testing. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of getting tested a lot more often than once per year.