Jake Rigdon

Articles

Safe Pick: Oddsmakers say Tagovailoa will be QB2 over Herbert

Drafting a quarterback is rarely, if ever, considered a “safe pick” – especially when it comes to a QB with an injury history like Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or one who has had to work at becoming a more vocal leader like Oregon’s Justin Herbert. And the latest news on the two QBs only muddies the…

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Up, Down or Stay: Tennessee Edge Darrell Taylor could be a Round 3 steal

Darrell Taylor is coming off two very good years against some of the top competition in football while playing at a highly coveted position. At 6-foot-4, 267 pounds, his height and weight put him in elite company among outside linebackers, where the Tennessee senior ranked in the 93rd and 98th percentiles, respectively (Mockdraftable). He’s got…

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Mock Draft Tips: It’s best to hit the ‘decline’ button on this year’s trade proposals

As part of an occasional series, Fanspeak will offer tips and best practices for its wildly popular and first-of-its-kind On The Clock draft simulator. Today’s topic: Bad news for all trade-crazy NFL draft fans: There might not be many this year due to the unusual circumstances of the draft. The then-San Diego Chargers took Eli…

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Safe pick: Wyoming LB earns rave reviews for tackling, coverage abilities

Aside from his 40-yard dash time, there’s nothing about Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson that stands out. Most of his testing results at the Combine are in the 40th- to upper-50th percentile. But there was nothing average about Wilson’s college production. The 6-foot-2, 241 pound senior closed out his career with 409 tackles, 34.5 tackles for…

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Mock Draft Tips: Don’t wait too long to take a special teams ace

As part of an occasional series, Fanspeak will offer tips and best practices for its wildly popular and first-of-its-kind On The Clock draft simulator. Today’s topic: If your team needs a special teams player like a kicker, punter or long-snapper, it's best not to wait until priority free agency. New England wide receiver Matthew Slater…

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Safe pick: Xavier McKinney should continue Alabama’s run of safety dominance

Xavier McKinney has big shoes to fill. Five Alabama safeties have been drafted since 2015. Of note: Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, the No. 11 overall pick in 2018 by Miami, is considered one of the top safeties in the AFC. Chicago’s Eddie Jackson, taken with the No. 112 overall pick (fourth round) in 2017, is considered…

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Mock Draft Tips: Can’t decide who to pick? Make a ‘surprise’ selection

As part of an occasional series, Fanspeak will offer tips and best practices for its wildly popular and first-of-its-kind On The Clock draft simulator. Today’s topic: It’s easy to develop tunnel vision when your team has particular draft needs, which makes “surprise” picks so cringe-worthy. But those players often wind up being smart picks. The…

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Up, Down or Stay: How will teams rate Boise State Edge Curtis Weaver?

There’s a theory going around among draft analysts that, absent medical checkups and one-on-one interviews, teams will value production over projection this year, especially among the Day 1 and Day 2 prospects. If that’s true, then it should bode well for Boise State edge Curtis Weaver. At 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, Weaver is seen as a…

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Mock Draft Tips: Don’t wait for rookie free agency to land a late-round gem

As part of an occasional series, Fanspeak will offer tips and best practices for its wildly popular and first-of-its-kind On The Clock draft simulator. Today’s topic: Are you hoping your team nabs a particular player or two in rookie free agency? It’s best not to leave it to chance – draft him late on Day…

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Safe Pick: Mel Kiper says Baylor DE James Lynch could be a draft ‘steal’

He may never lead his team in sacks. Same goes for tackles. Still, Baylor defensive lineman James Lynch is one of the safest Day 2 to Day 3 picks in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 289 pounds, Lynch was one of the most productive linemen in college last season, picking up 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles…

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