He is certainly one option, but would probably require a substantial trade-up to get, unless he tanks the combine.
Mykel Williams is Edge#2 (pending Combine / Pro Day Testing) on my Lions Board.
Edge #1: Abdul Carter
Edge #2: Mykel Williams
Edge #3: Shemar Stewart
I think all three will be gone by #15 Atlanta.
But if one of the 3 is still on the board at #16 I would start looking to trade up.
I would definitely spend pick #101 or #133 to move up.
Carter and Stewart are going top ten. Williams has more of a range since he had a pretty middling year, but we’ll see. I suspect it depends on what weight FOs give the ankle injury he was playing through.
It took us 29 and 73 to move to 24 last year, so I think going from 28 to the top 20 would cost considerably more. I don’t think Williams becomes viable unless he falls past the Packers… which seems highly unlikely the way they love Georgia defenders and larger edge rushers. I personally don’t see any way he gets back Tampa at 19 though. Depends on how early Pearce and Mike Green go, that’s the only real shot to push him down the board.
I’m hoping Stewart or Williams falls.
Other than Brugler, most analysts have Williams ahead of Stewart and both outside of the top 10.
I think Brugler is getting ahead of the game in anticipation of how well Stewart will test at the Combine.
I think Pearce and Green will also test well, so they could go before one or both Williams and Stewart.
It’s almost a certainty that the Falcons will select an Edge Rusher at 15, but in such a deep class teams may feel that they can get better value on day #2.
I think the sweet spot is picks #20-#22.
I think Holmes and the Lions have good relationships with Denver, Pittsburgh, and the Chargers, and I don’t think either will be seeking a 1st rd Edge.
Last year Holmes over paid to move from #29 to #24 on most draft charts, but I agree Holmes may have to add a little to either #101 or #133 to get the deal done.
He is for sure, which he also did for Travon Walker. He was the first one predicting his blow up (at this point in the process he was still widely mocked in the 2nd). That’s one of the reasons I was calling Stewart in the top 10 back in October… anyone with insight said his testing would be Walker-esque, and it shows up on tape even if his production didn’t match.
At this point I’d be very surprised if he didn’t go top 10, especially with all the teams needing edge. And a lot of them preferring power edges like the Saints and probably the Jets now.
Pearce and Green will test well, but we’re all expecting that. My favorite scouting adage is “don’t count it twice,” and that’s true with their testing… We’re already expecting them to test well, why would it bump them higher when they do? Now if they test poorly that’s a different deal, we’re not expecting that.
Their issues are about power, holding up in the run game, taking on blocks, shedding blocks, etc… none of which will be tested at the combine. For me the only way they can go is down if they test poorly.
(Now for the teams it’s different since they get to interview them which is a huge part of the process, but we will never be privy to most of that from the outside unless it goes really poorly like Jalen Carter).
Williams has more variance like I said, but with the Browns, Patriots, Jets, Panthers, Saints, Bears, 49ers, Cowboys, Falcons, Cardinals, Bengals, Buccaneers, Chargers and Packers having edge as one of their top 2 or 3 needs, I’d be shocked if he fell very far. Maybe to the lower end of that range, but in a class like this one that’s weak everywhere else, the DL guys are gonna go higher than maybe they should.
Williams had an injury?
That’s Brad’s guy then…
High ankle sprain. Definitely not one of the long-term ones everyone worries about. But it can definitely affect a guy’s performance if he tries to play through it.
We don’t have enough picks to play fantasy football with.
Well I wouldn’t trade up either, but would you say Brad was playing fantasy football last year? He made that trade and traded two more high value picks away for Manu and Vaki. If he sees a guy he loves, I’m all for him going after him. He’s earned that from us.
That’s kinda where I’m at…talented ends and tackles go early and often. Picking 28th we might need to look at other positions for more value.
Mack is a FA and the Chargers are expected to release Bosa.
Thankfully this is a deep class (especially at DT), so the guys available at our spot will be better than most years. That said, you may see teams overreact to the Eagles Super Bowl win and hammer DL a little more heavily than most years. If that happens, here’s hoping Brad pivots.
Good to hear. I know we discussed Grant yesterday. Who else you think is realistic at 28? I don’t watch much college film these days but @Thats2 recommendation I will check out.
I really like both Derrick Harmon and Alfred Collins, both of whom could be there. I think they’re more likely than Grant to make it at least.
There’s a couple of other guys I really like too but they’re pure 3Ts and I doubt we go that route since Alim is our 3T of the future and Wingo is waiting in the, uh, wings. But if so, TJ Sanders, Darius Alexander, and especially Shemar Turner are guys I like. Aeneas Peebles too but he should last a little longer.
Deeper in the draft Jordan Phillips and JJ Pegues are more like Alim, and Jamaree Caldwell is like Alim + 30 pounds. There really are a lot of guys with his build in this class.
There are some other guys who some people consider 3Ts but who I think will end up being big, base ends - which is something we seem to like. Sai’vion Jones (he’s more productive inside imo but just not strong enough to stay there long term), Elijah Roberts, etc… Jordan Burch and Jared Ivey too, but I think they might be lower down our board due to effort/love of the game questions. I doubt those guys goes in the 1st but could reach the 2nd.
Shemar Stewart sort of fits that mold too, but he so freakish I think most have come around to the idea that he’s an edge first and foremost. Plus he’ll be long gone.
Brad will heavily go after “his” type guys-no matter what we think or want. our staff plays chess during the draft.
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Unfortunately… pick #101 might be lucky to get the Lions up to the #23 spot.
ATL would be silly to pass on him. Minus one year of Vic Beasley they’ve sucked at edge since … Jon Abraham? So like twelve of the last thirteen years. Something like that.
I’m ambivalent about the rest of his game but let him pin his ears back and dog will hunt.
I’d be surprised if they didn’t go edge, but there’s a lot of them to choose from. Pearce might not even be there.
In my dream we trade down to the early to mid second round and then use the draft equity to move up from the third into the second. I think there is strong defensive value to be had in the second round.