This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2016 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2016 NFL Draft Stock Up
Jared Goff, QB, California After lighting up weak opponents to open the year, Goff has had some struggles against good Pac-12 competition. Thus, he needed to reverse that in taking on one of the Pac-12’s best teams in Stanford. Goff was able to do that as he showcased an accurate arm capable of making all the throws. He was very good at shuffling in the pocket to avoid defenders, reset his feet, and deliver well-placed passes to receivers downfield. He showed nice composure to scramble while keeping his eyes downfield with improved decision-making.
Recently, Goff noticed some bad habits developing in his mechanics of throwing off his back foot and not stepping into his throws. That was in large part because of his weak offensive line letting rushers on him constantly. He did a better job of avoiding that against Stanford despite pass pressure. Goff was 37-of-54 for 386 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinal. This tape should definitely help his draft grade.
Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA Clark has put together a strong 2015 season and is finishing it out in impressive fashion. A week ago, he had a three-sack game against Washington State, and last Saturday, he helped lead a UCLA defense that held Utah to only nine points. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is a tough nose tackle who has surprising quickness. On the year, Clark has 57 tackles with nine tackles for a loss and five sacks. His strong campaign has put him in late first- or early second-round consideration.
Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State In the Ohio State-Michigan State grudge match, Buckeyes defensive tackle Adolphus Washington had the best game of any defensive lineman on either team, which is saying something considering Joey Bosa and Shilique Calhoun were on the field. Washington stuffed some runs and was consistently firing by guards. In the second quarter, he used his speed to beat the guard for his fourth sack of the season. Washington finished the contest with seven tackles and a sack. His speed and strength make him disruptive at the point of attack.
In 2015, Washington has 40 tackles with six tackles for a loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a pick-six. He is a fast interior defensive lineman who looks like a fit for a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. Washington doesn’t get a lot of attention, but could be a nice value as a late first-rounder or second-rounder.
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State At this point, you would have to say that Ogbah has locked up a spot in the top 16 of the 2016 NFL Draft unless he bombs in the pre-draft interviews and workouts. Against Baylor, Ogbah totaled one sack, nine tackles, and a forced fumble. He came close to a few other strip-sacks and was consistently getting the better of the Baylor offensive tackles, including Spencer Drango. Ogbah showed speed around the edge with the strength to shed blocks. He has an impressive motor and is versatile to line up at right or left end.
Ogbah has totaled 59 tackles, 16.5 for a loss, three forced fumbles and 12 sacks in 2015. This is his second season of double-digit sacks. The natural edge rusher is having a fantastic year.
Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford Garnett had an excellent game against California. He was getting to the second level to hit blocks on linebackers, turning defensive linemen, and solid in pass protection. Garnett was a big factor in Christian McCaffrey running for 192 yards on 29 carries. Garnett showed good awareness to turn and get enough of a block in space to help spring McCaffrey on a 49-yard screen touchdown pass. Garnett could use a little more functional upper body strength for battling NFL defensive linemen, but he looks capable of competing quickly at the next level. This tape was very impressive and could help Garnett to grade out as a second-day pick.
Honorable Mentions: Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings, Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, Michigan tight end Jake Butt, South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper and Pittsburgh defensive lineman Ejuan Price.
2016 NFL Draft Stock Down
Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State The nail in the coffin for Hackenberg’s first-round hopes may have come against Michigan on Saturday. All day, Hackenberg held onto the ball too long and took sacks, while being inaccurate on few throws and making some brilliant throws that were dropped by his receivers. He completed 13-of-31 passes for 138 yards with a touchdown while taking a pounding from the Michigan defensive line. In 2015, Hackenberg has completed 53 percent of his passes for 2,129 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions. This tape illustrates that the junior is a project and not a first-rounder if he enters the 2016 NFL Draft.
Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU White drew a tough matchup with Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Earlier this season, White struggled with a big, physical receiver in Mississippi State’s De’Runnya Wilson. This was an opportunity for White to show he can handle that type of wideout, but once again, he had problems defending that type of target. Treadwell was able move the chains on a few completions, and just before the half, Treadwell leapt to catch a back-shoulder pass in front of White a few yards short of the end zone. Treadwell used his size and power to bull through White and fall across the goal line for a score.
White is good at preventing separation, but has problems on 50-50 passes and challenging big wide receivers or tackling them. This tape will just serve to reinforce that perceived weakness for White and made him look like more of a late first-rounder rather than the top half.
Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson Some have projected Alexander to be a first-round pick as a cover corner. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has 18 tackles with three passes broken up in 2015. Last year, he had 21 tackles and six breakups. Sources say that Alexander is a physical corner, but he is tight and looks more likely to be a player who competes for nickel reps. Sources view him as more of a mid-rounder.
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Lawson is another Clemson defender who has been billed as a potential first-rounder. Lawson has played really well this season with 41 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder has quickness and strength on the edge. He had an impressive showing going against Notre Dame left tackle Ronnie Stanley as well.
Sources say that they like Lawson as a prospect and he is a smooth athlete who could be a good fit as a base left end in a 4-3 defense. They say that he is not very explosive or twitchy. They grade him out as a second-day prospect.
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Doctson will miss the final two games of the season with a wrist injury, and it sounds like he may not be able to play in TCU’s Bowl game either. This injury could hurt Doctson’s draft stock as he hasn’t really faced NFL-caliber cornerbacks. In the 2015 season opener, Doctson saw some future NFL competitors against Minnesota and struggled to separate from them. He would have played Oklahoma and Zack Sanchez if he had stayed healthy, and perhaps there would be another good corner in bowl season. Doctson totaled 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015. With an injury to end his season, he looks solid as a second-day selection.
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