No secret that I really like Cunningham, gets off blocks really well. He's 6-4 and an advertised 235 lbs. I think with a year or two in the NFL he'll be the perfect size and I think he'll make a really solid MLB.

 

...I wouldn't hate it.

 

Isn't the knock on ZC that he's a really below avg tackler? That worries me if so.

 

Send it in to the front office.

 

We don't have a 4th round pick. We have 3 5th rounders thoo..

1. TE- OJ Howard
2. LB- Jarrad Davis or Raekwon McMillan
3. CB- Corn Elder

 

We should / Will once we get our comp picks or losing Miller and Vernon to FA.

 

21st in solo tackles among FBS. Near the top in the SEC. Watch his Georgia game, seriously. He wound up with like 15 tackles in that game. He needs a little meat but he'll be fine, it's encouraging the way he sheds offensive lineman (I'd say 75-80% of the time) at his current weight.

 

Maybe this is this year for a LBer. I thought last year with Myles Jack was a no brainer. ZC, Foster, or Davis at 22 would be great. Would love to turn around and get TJ Watt for the other lb spot as well if he makes it there. But if they let Stills go, I can see OJ or Njoku as interesting. I wonder what our interest would be if Julius Thomas gets released as he and Gase have good history.

 

Turns out you aren't totally wrong on this one, Sick. He has 51 missed tackles in his Vanderbilt career, per a recent Barry Jackson article. When you lead your team in tackles though.. you gotta wonder what the problem is. Missed tackles means you're in the right spot, might just be him needing to beef up a little bit more physically.

 

WKU played Vandy 2 years in a row. I watched both games and I don't recall thinking "wow" who is that guy. I would hope a 1st round pick would stand out in some way.

Vandy had a solid defense, but again I don't recall any OMG type of plays.

 

Watch other games. I know where this is going, you'll be upset with the Phins first pick if it's anybody besides Forrest Lamp.

 

No, not at all, just saying the 2 games I saw the kid play he did nothing to stand out. I would however prefer the Dolphins pick an actual starter in the first round instead of someone who "might" be good in a few years. Sorry to hurt your feelings.

 

No hurt feelings here. Cunningham would start year 1.

 

WEAKNESSES: While Cunningham's size, athleticism and awareness are certainly appealing, there is room for improvement, including in the most important area for any linebacker -- tackling. In part because of Cunningham's relatively lanky frame, his pad level is often higher while tackling then preferred. Cunningham often wrestles runners to the ground with his upper-body strength rather than consistently driving them back through his hips. This can leave Cunningham a little off-balance at the point of attack, leading to his catching runners and pulling them down (after surrendering another yard after contact) or, occasionally, missing them altogether. Cunningham could also improve as a pass rusher, too often relying on a quick hand slap, bull rush or his speed (rather than refined technique) to defeat blocks.

IN OUR VIEW: Cunningham looks more like an outside linebacker for a 4-3 alignment than a traditional inside linebacker for a 3-4 scheme. He isn't always the cleanest tackler but as his statistics suggest, he certainly gets the job done. The time spent inside has honed Cunningham's instincts and ability to fight through blocks, though he remains at his best on the chase.

It sounds like he is very intelligent which I really like if he would be the MLB. He chose Vandy for their academics, which to me shows good maturity and character.

 

I agree with this writer wholeheartedly on his weaknesses. Another good (bad?) thing about him playing at Vanderbilt is there weren't many super-talented guys (that I know of anyways) around him that were going to cloak or augment his play.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ya...pect-104333543.html?client=ms-android-verizon

Dude is athletic. I believe this detail-oriented staff can tune up his tackling.

https://media.profootballfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1.gif

 

If we're staying a true 4-3, I'd hate to have a big tall guy like that in the middle. Give me a true MLB. Not someone who's 6-1 250, but someone 6' to 6'-2" around 240ish with range, smarts, instincts, and sure tackling capabilities.

I want a bulldog and a leader. There are still teams out there who run the ball effectively, and you just might see things begin to shift a bit back towards that in the next several years.

 

That's Reuben Foster, essentially. He probably won't make it to our pick. Another guy that is close to those measurements is Raekwon McMillan. I would like Raekwon on this team simply for the fact that we could nickname him, "The Chef".

 

I would be ok with Miami drafting Taylor

From sleeper to riser? Western Kentucky's Taywan Taylor didn't grab the headlines for his solid work at the Senior Bowl, but the slick pass-catcher made a positive impression on scouts in attendance. When I asked a handful of evaluators about the most pro-ready receivers at the game, several mentioned the Hilltoppers' WR1 as a plug-and-play playmaker at the next level.


2017 NFL DRAFT

"He can do it all," said an AFC scout. "He is a natural pass-catcher who can run all of the routes. He can make plays on vertical throws or make it happen on catch-and-run tosses. Plus, he can play inside or outside in a pro-style scheme. I loved him on tape and like him even more after watching him down here. ... I'm just mad that the secret is out on my sleeper."

I didn't know much about Taylor prior to the Senior Bowl, but he was definitely one of the most impressive receivers in attendance. He displays exceptional balance and body control as a route runner, particularly on intermediate routes like digs, curls, and comebacks. Taylor was so smooth getting in and out of his breaks that I believe he would be a perfect fit in an offense that places a premium on route running (see teams that employ West Coast Offense schemes like the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants).

In addition, I believe his crafty running skills would make him a dangerous WR2 on a team that frequently moves receivers around to exploit mismatches on the perimeter. When scouts reconvene in a few weeks to discuss intriguing prospects or potential sleepers, I would expect the Western Kentucky standout to enter the conversation. -- Bucky Brooks