2016 NFL Draft: Breaking down picks No. 31 to No. 40
By jonfox
With the 2nd and 3rd rounds a go, let’s quick recap and discuss the first 10 picks of the 2nd round of the NFL draft.
Pick #32 Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE/DL Oklahoma State.
I’m a bigger fan of Ogbah than most of the rest of the draft world. He has great physical tools and big strong hands. In that way, he reminds me of Strahan. The problem with him is that he’s a bit too stiff to play the Edge and a bit too raw to play 4-3 End. Also, his effort on the field is very inconsistent. You have to press his buttons to get him to throw it into gear.
Ogbah seems like a bit of a weird fit unless Ray Horton is moving towards more of a hybrid front where Ogbah plays much like Preston Smith did in 2015 for the Redskins: often in a 3 point stance, sometimes standing up.
In any event, this is great value for the Browns and they have plenty of picks left tonight.
Pick #33 Tennessee Titans: Kevin Dodd, DL/EDGE Clemson.
And another pick meant for a hybrid front. Dodd played well in 2015, the only year he got regular playing time. He’s a base 4-3 End who has some ability to stand up and play as an edge rusher.
The Titans nominally play a 3-4 but the selection of Dodd means that they’ll probably use much more hybrid fronts so that Dodd can be somewhere between a 3 and 4 front.
The knock on Dodd is that he’s very raw so you’re drafting on potential mainly.
Pick #34 Dallas Cowboys: Jaylon Smith, LB Notre Dame.
WOW…just….I’m speechless. Smith is a blue chip prospect with undeniable talent. If healthy, he would have been a top 7 pick and probably the first defender taken in the draft. But then he blew out his knee at the Fiesta bowl and has nerve damage.
Sheer boom/bust pick. They have to know that they could be getting nothing from this pick. But the Cowboys’ team doctor did the surgery on his leg and is optimistic that his knee will recover. And his brother Rod plays on the team.
Pick #35 San Diego Chargers: Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas.
After losing Ladarius Smith to free agency in March, the Chargers get Gates’ replacement high in the draft. Henry was most effective as a split out tight end for the Razorbacks. However, he played for a running offense under Bielema so you know that he’s effective as a blocker.
The knock on Henry is that he’s not overwhelmingly athletic as a prospect so they’re not getting a Jimmy Graham level tight end.
Pick #36Jacksonville Jaguars(from Baltimore): Myles Jack, LB UCLA
And his drop stops as well. Jack’s knee injury took him from being a top 6 pick to being a top 6 pick in the 2nd round. He’s got amazing physical tools but the question is whether his knee will mean that his career will be a long one.
But at this point, he’s worth the risk. If he busts out, they’re only out a 2nd and a 4th to deal up here. And it’s doubtful that he doesn’t play 3-4 seasons effectively.
Pick #37 Kansas City Chiefs(from San Francisco): Chris Jones, DL Miss State
Chris Jones is a good defensive line prospect who was a star recruit out of high school and became a quality defensive line player who held the point and 2 gapped extremely well for them. No matter who the talent around him was, Jones was quietly effective when he put in the effort on the field.
He projects most to a 3 or 5 tech tackle spot and is ideal to play in a 3-4 front like the Chiefs do.
Pick #38 Miami Dolphins(from Jacksonville via Baltimore): Xavien Howard, DB Baylor
Some teams had a first round grade on Howard. He has good physical tools for a cornerback but his play on the field was extremely inconsistent. The biggest problem I have with him is that he’s gotten flagged 19 times in the last two seasons for Baylor. This makes him very much a project.
Pick #39 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Noah Spence, DE/EDGE Eastern Kentucky.
A real home run pick for the Bucs. They needed an edge rusher for Mike Smith in the worst way. Spence might not be the best fit for a 4-3 base defense, but if they split him out wider, he could be very good for them especially with teams focusing on Gerald McCoy primarily.
He’s an explosive rusher who has a great drive on the field. If he would just have spent some of this effort off the field, he would have been a top 10 pick.
Pick #40 New York Giants: Sterling Shepard, WR Oklahoma
Shepard is more of a slasher than a burner but this is yet another “best player available” pick for Jerry Reese. They don’t need another talented wideout but think of this as Victor Cruz insurance: if he can’t rebound from his major leg injuries, then Shepard probably replaces him.