Fanspeak: NFL Draft News

With so many restrictions in place for the 2020 NFL draft, teams are going to rely heavily on game tape. Simply put, the more tape a player has, the better. That might not bode well for LSU’s Patrick Queen. The 6-foot- 229 pound junior wasn’t on many analysts’ radars to start the season, but as … More »

Almost forgotten in the 2014 wide receiver class are players like Kelvin Benjamin, who was the 28th overall pick. Marqise Lee, Paul Richardson and Cody Latimer were second-round picks, while Josh Huff was a third-round pick. Although the ’14 class is littered with potential Hall of Fame receivers, it also had its fair share of … More »

Defensive tackles are rarely drafted high in the first round. The list of DTs taken within the first three picks of the draft since 2010 includes Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, who went No. 2 and No. 3 in the 2010 draft, Marcell Dareus, who was the No. 3 pick in 2011, and Quinnen Williams, … More »

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: Teams place a premium on players who offer special teams ability or positional flexibility, especially in the later rounds. Bo Scarbrough is a rarity in the NFL. The hulking 6-foot-1, … More »

Don’t assume that a long-time starting left tackle for a national championship team is a sure-bet to play on Sundays. That was the case last year with Mitch Hyatt, who went from four-year starter at Clemson to an undrafted free agent who spent most of the year on Dallas’ practice squad. That’s not likely to … More »

Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton find themselves outside of the top-60 in Hall of Famer Gil Brandt’s latest top-150 rankings. The two started the season considered high first-round prospects by many analysts but have seen their stock slip for different reasons. For Shenault, it’s a matter of health. He reportedly dealt … More »

If you want or need a wide receiver, this is the year to get him. Not a huge priority? Missed out on Day 1 and 2? That’s OK, you can still find a solid receiver deep in the draft. The Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller’s latest player rankings include 48 receivers with a Round 7 or … More »

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: The NFL is littered with small school gems, many of whom have gone on to stardom. But prospects who come from a non-FBS school make up a small percentage … More »

Jordan Elliott has enjoyed a steady rise up draft boards throughout the season and draft process. And now the Missouri defensive lineman is being called “one of the most undervalued prospects in this entire draft class” by Pro Football Focus. That’s due in part because of his size (6-foot-4, 302) and his steady progress at … More »

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 … More »