Daily Short #108, November 27th, 2017: SOURCES on Texas Players and the NFL Draft
presented by the Dental Offices of Wendy Swantkowski, DDS
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I spoke to a few plugged-in sources in NFL and NFL-agent circles this weekend about the outlook on a number of Texas players following Tom Herman's substantial disappointment of an initial season in Austin: in short, it looks like more guys are poised to head onto greener NFL pastures than I had initially expected. (One note: it's November, so all of the scouting sources I spoke with hedged their round projections by saying there's a long process ahead of us, but gave their "as-of-today" opinions as draft boards are coming into early form.)
Connor Williams - He's gone. He's one of two Texas players being courted by big-time, major agents. In the case of Williams, apparently Drew Rosenhaus (of Terrell Owens P.C. 'next-question' fame) is coming hard. One person said that he's not sure that Williams has the tape to be a lock first-rounder, but that he probably would be one because it's a down year for tackles, and as I'd pointed out previously, he moves better than any of the others in this crop.
Malik Jefferson - He's gone. The agent upon whom Tom Cruise's character in "Jerry Maguire" is based, Leigh Steinberg, looks to have the inside track on signing Jefferson. I have no knowledge of the connection between the two other than to put the obvious two and two together in assuming Steinbgerg's charity-case work with Vince Young to get him a shot in the CFL recently was a calculated move to aid in generating a future pipeline at Texas through endorsements from Young. One source on the NFL side that Jefferson will go in the first or second round based on the fact that he "runs well" and that teams see him as a chess piece that can play in a lot of spots despite still being a bit of a project. "One team will take the chance," on Jefferson in the first two rounds, the source said.
Deshon Elliott - It sure seems like he's gone. If I had to bet on it, I'd most definitely bet on him leaving based on new information and I would feel very confident in that bet. Much, much, higher possibility than I initially expected -- even as someone who's spent the last three weeks trying to prepare the fanbase here in my columns that this is becoming more and more likely. "A Day 2 guy, no later than early Day 3 .. he's rising quickly" (which would mean no later than early Round 4), one source said.
Holton Hill - "I hope he comes back," one scout said. One organization was/is smitten with Hill and believed he was on pace to be a first-rounder in 2018, but many in the scouting community would prefer he comes back for another year to show he can stay clean and that he doesn't have chronic issues since there are whispers that similar issues are what caused his inexplicable lack of usage over numerous games in 2016 under Charlie Strong. If Hill does decide to leave, I was assured he'd be drafted, but the team will be taking a pretty big chance.
Kris Boyd - "All three DBs would be drafted," one source said (Boyd, Hill, Elliott). Kris Boyd is "entertaining the option" of leaving early and that much is very clear. However, one person with knowledge of the situation said that Boyd thinks that if he comes back for a senior season, he could improve his stock from draftable to first-round consideration. This made the person lean toward the idea of him coming back, but it's clearly still up in the air. If I had to bet on it, I'd bet on Boyd returning.
Charles Omenihu - Surprised to hear Charles' name in this discussion? So was I. "I'd say he's 50/50" one person said, "he's definitely thinking about it - I think he's gonna go," I was told. I was surprised at this as Omenihu has been OK this year, but it's not like he's leaving on the heels of a monster season like Elliott. The person said that NFL teams will always take players with Omenihu's profile because you can never have enough developmental pass rushers and that Omenihu's projectability to a 4-3 end makes tape in Orlando's 3-4 not as important. "He's a Day 3 guy (rounds 4-7), but he'll be drafted," (if he comes out), I was told. Against what I think is probably right, there is just a lot of buzz here. I'd be hesitant to bet either way, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd reluctantly say I think he'll leave.
Poona Ford - Ford's name is picking up steam in a big way. Teams love him as a potential value if he falls to the middle rounds, "his tape is outstanding, he's a force," one person said. "He's likely to get a call-up (from the Shrine Game where he's accepted an invitation to play) to the Senior Bowl and if that happens, we could see his stock really rise with a good showing," one scout said. "If you meet him, he's the kind of kid you get in the building, I don't know how you're going to get him out," the scout said about Ford's personality and work ethic.
All parties I spoke with, despite who leaves and who stays, expected the Longhorns to have a much larger presence at the NFL combine this year than in previous seasons, so I'll have my work cut out for me in Indy. Who, exactly we'll be reporting on, well ... we'll just have to see ... but the thing I'm beginning to realize is that more players than we thought are going to be playing their last games in burnt orange this bowl season.
presented by the Dental Offices of Wendy Swantkowski, DDS
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
I spoke to a few plugged-in sources in NFL and NFL-agent circles this weekend about the outlook on a number of Texas players following Tom Herman's substantial disappointment of an initial season in Austin: in short, it looks like more guys are poised to head onto greener NFL pastures than I had initially expected. (One note: it's November, so all of the scouting sources I spoke with hedged their round projections by saying there's a long process ahead of us, but gave their "as-of-today" opinions as draft boards are coming into early form.)
Connor Williams - He's gone. He's one of two Texas players being courted by big-time, major agents. In the case of Williams, apparently Drew Rosenhaus (of Terrell Owens P.C. 'next-question' fame) is coming hard. One person said that he's not sure that Williams has the tape to be a lock first-rounder, but that he probably would be one because it's a down year for tackles, and as I'd pointed out previously, he moves better than any of the others in this crop.
Malik Jefferson - He's gone. The agent upon whom Tom Cruise's character in "Jerry Maguire" is based, Leigh Steinberg, looks to have the inside track on signing Jefferson. I have no knowledge of the connection between the two other than to put the obvious two and two together in assuming Steinbgerg's charity-case work with Vince Young to get him a shot in the CFL recently was a calculated move to aid in generating a future pipeline at Texas through endorsements from Young. One source on the NFL side that Jefferson will go in the first or second round based on the fact that he "runs well" and that teams see him as a chess piece that can play in a lot of spots despite still being a bit of a project. "One team will take the chance," on Jefferson in the first two rounds, the source said.
Deshon Elliott - It sure seems like he's gone. If I had to bet on it, I'd most definitely bet on him leaving based on new information and I would feel very confident in that bet. Much, much, higher possibility than I initially expected -- even as someone who's spent the last three weeks trying to prepare the fanbase here in my columns that this is becoming more and more likely. "A Day 2 guy, no later than early Day 3 .. he's rising quickly" (which would mean no later than early Round 4), one source said.
Holton Hill - "I hope he comes back," one scout said. One organization was/is smitten with Hill and believed he was on pace to be a first-rounder in 2018, but many in the scouting community would prefer he comes back for another year to show he can stay clean and that he doesn't have chronic issues since there are whispers that similar issues are what caused his inexplicable lack of usage over numerous games in 2016 under Charlie Strong. If Hill does decide to leave, I was assured he'd be drafted, but the team will be taking a pretty big chance.
Kris Boyd - "All three DBs would be drafted," one source said (Boyd, Hill, Elliott). Kris Boyd is "entertaining the option" of leaving early and that much is very clear. However, one person with knowledge of the situation said that Boyd thinks that if he comes back for a senior season, he could improve his stock from draftable to first-round consideration. This made the person lean toward the idea of him coming back, but it's clearly still up in the air. If I had to bet on it, I'd bet on Boyd returning.
Charles Omenihu - Surprised to hear Charles' name in this discussion? So was I. "I'd say he's 50/50" one person said, "he's definitely thinking about it - I think he's gonna go," I was told. I was surprised at this as Omenihu has been OK this year, but it's not like he's leaving on the heels of a monster season like Elliott. The person said that NFL teams will always take players with Omenihu's profile because you can never have enough developmental pass rushers and that Omenihu's projectability to a 4-3 end makes tape in Orlando's 3-4 not as important. "He's a Day 3 guy (rounds 4-7), but he'll be drafted," (if he comes out), I was told. Against what I think is probably right, there is just a lot of buzz here. I'd be hesitant to bet either way, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd reluctantly say I think he'll leave.
Poona Ford - Ford's name is picking up steam in a big way. Teams love him as a potential value if he falls to the middle rounds, "his tape is outstanding, he's a force," one person said. "He's likely to get a call-up (from the Shrine Game where he's accepted an invitation to play) to the Senior Bowl and if that happens, we could see his stock really rise with a good showing," one scout said. "If you meet him, he's the kind of kid you get in the building, I don't know how you're going to get him out," the scout said about Ford's personality and work ethic.
All parties I spoke with, despite who leaves and who stays, expected the Longhorns to have a much larger presence at the NFL combine this year than in previous seasons, so I'll have my work cut out for me in Indy. Who, exactly we'll be reporting on, well ... we'll just have to see ... but the thing I'm beginning to realize is that more players than we thought are going to be playing their last games in burnt orange this bowl season.
