For Those Who Celebrate It’s McGinn Season

Josh Simmons

“Kind of a f-----,” said a fourth scout. “His (issues) are more football character. He has a complete bullshit sense of urgency, like a total finesse player. Mental is an issue. Lacks power, struggles to anchor. Fundamentals are poor. Plays like a guy that was at a JUCO and just came here. Now, he is a natural athlete and a knee bender. He’s got quickness, balance and body control, real light on his feet. He can pull and get to the second level. I did see the athletic positives but the whole football player I wasn’t crazy about.”

So, where might one partake in such wisdom…???  :P

Kentis wrote:
So, where might one partake in such wisdom…???  :P

IM me your email and I can share.

Sauce?!

1. TYLER BOOKER, Alabama (6-4 ½, 326, 5.34, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s a pretty safe bet to be the first guard,” one scout said. “He has the most solid foundation. Now he may be a little bit more of a gap-scheme than a run-off-the-ball wide-zone type. He’s a big body. Real big personality. He’s very much liked at the school. He’s been paid a lot of money. There’s some maturity there.” Rotated at both guards in 2022 before starting 25 games at left guard in 2023-’24. Last season, one of his starts came at left tackle. “Giant human being,” said a second scout.

“Heavy-handed, flexible, strong, smart, good athlete. Not a great puller or second-level guy but he’s a really good in-line player, run and pass. He’d be our starting right guard yesterday. Guards typically don’t go in the first round but he will. He could play some right tackle in some power schemes.” Five-star recruit from New Haven, Conn., and IMG Academy. “A guard like this, you could take him (first round),” said a third scout. “He’s not super talented or dynamic in any way but he’s big, moves well enough, plays on his feet, good football intelligence, he works. He’ll be good.”

Kentis, check your inbox.

Booker would be a great pick. Immediate starter at left guard and the physicality of our line goes up ten fold after already adding Kelly and Fries. Makes Brandel a valuable swing player at four different positions.

Otherwise give me any of those defensive tackles (Grant, Harmon, Nolen) that would play in rotation and impact games.

Or give me Treyveon Henderson, who might only get 10-12 touches a game playing in rotation with Jones/Mason, but if one or two of those touches are explosive, game changing type plays...sign me up. I think he would also factor in as a kick returner under the new
rule which is an area we've wanted to upgrade.

4. TYLER SHOUGH, Louisville (6-5, 219, 4.64, 2-3): Will be 26 in the fall. “I know you have to factor it (age) in but if you went out and just watched the guy throw he’d be (the No. 4 quarterback),” one scout said. “He’s had five season-ending injuries and seven years of college. He is the most athletic. He ran 4.6. He throws it well. He’s mature. He’s from the quarterback camps. He’s helped himself the most of any of these guys. If Dart goes second round, Shough’s going to go third or fourth round despite the injury history. He’s just unlucky. He’s no throwaway. I think there’s something to Shough. He’s got to be a little better in the red zone. He can throw it from the pocket. He can throw from different arm angles. He’s big, too. He’s intriguing.” Went 5-2 as a starter at Oregon in 2020, the third of his three seasons there. Started off and on at Texas Tech from 2021-’23 depending on injuries. Led Louisville to an 8-4 record in 2024. Career passer rating was 99.4. Rushed for 733 yards (3.0) and 11 TDs. “He does things that are intriguing if he was a third-year junior,” said a second scout. “But he’s 26 years old. He’s been at three different schools. What are we doing here, people? C’mon. He can move around. He can throw it, and throw it on the move.

supafreak84 wrote:
Booker would be a great pick. Immediate starter at left guard and the physicality of our line goes up ten fold after already adding Kelly and Fries.

Otherwise give me any of those defensive tackles (Grant, Harmon, Nolen) that would play in rotation and impact games.

Or give me Treyveon Henderson, who might only get 10-12 touches a game playing in rotation with Jones/Mason, but if one or two of those touches are explosive, game changing type plays...sign me up. I think he would also factor in as a kick returner under the new
rule which is an area we've wanted to upgrade.

Booker's not the best fit for us. I wouldn't hate a guard with our first pick, but with all the CBs, Safeties, RBs and DTs who will be available there, the need at those positions, and given the fact that we just gave Brandel a 3-year deal, I would be pretty damn surprised if we went guard there. If we do, I'd rather trade down and grab Donovan Jackson, whom I like a little more than Booker.

MaroonBells wrote:

Booker's not the best fit for us. I wouldn't hate a guard with our first pick, but with all the CBs, Safeties, RBs and DTs who will be available there, the need at those positions, and given the fact that we just gave Brandel a 3-year deal, I would be pretty damn surprised if we went guard there. If we do, I'd rather trade down and grab Donovan Jackson, whom I like a little more than Booker.

I'd be mildly surprised if we took a guard also, but after the playoff loss and KOC's comments on getting the interior line fixed, are we done? Brandel did not grade out very well if we are using the PFF grading scale. Booker is just a better player. 

Just my opinion on this cornetback crop, but it's pretty mid. The problem being two of the better ones are coming off major injury and I think the lack of quality is going to force Barron up boards. Seeing a lot of mocks having him as a trendy pick to the Cardinals at #16. Where does that leave us? I wouldn't take any of these corners over Booker. I'd love one of these super talented running backs but afraid that train left the station when we traded for Mason. Probably more of a mid to late round need at this point. Totally on board with a defensive tackle pick

2. OMARION HAMPTON, North Carolina (5-11 ½, 223, 4.50, 1-2): Finished second to Jeanty in rushing last season with 1,660 (5.9) and had 10 100-yard games in 12 appearances. “I’m going to sound crazy saying this but I like him over Boise (Jeanty),” said one scout. “Athletic, strong mover with burst. Stays low on contact. Runs with vision. Average twitch, but he’ll run through some tackles. Hands are fine. Makes plays in space. Pass pro is good.” Tested well with a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-10 broad jump. “He is a punishing runner but he also has exceptional contact balance to stay on his feet through those collisions,” said a second scout. “Now that’s going to lead to a shorter career than you’d like. But while he’s still young and there’s some tread on the tires, man, that guy’s gonna be a really, really solid player throughout his rookie contract.” Finished with 622 carries for 3,565 (5.7) and 36 TDs to go with 73 receptions for 635 (8.7) and four scores. “Big dude with some niftiness,” said a third scout. “Short bursts. More of a downhill, crease runner. Really good hands out of the backfield.

Well, at least one guy who gets paid to do this likes Hampton more than me lol

RJ Harvey, Central Florida (5-8, 205, 4.40)

Said one scout: “Kind of a poor man’s Bucky Irving. Kind of built the same way. Really like his demeanor. Compact guy. He’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’ll be a solid, efficient, productive No. 2 back that can ascend into a heavier role with more experience.”

Didn’t make the top 12. That’s mind numbing.

Neal not in the top 12 or the next 5. I expected JCM to hit the next 5. Crazy class. Judkins being a PITA was news to me. But that’s McGinn. You get the widest range of opinions anywhere. Read his stuff enough and you’ll get to the point where you don’t like any prospect.

JustInTime wrote:
2. OMARION HAMPTON, North Carolina (5-11 ½, 223, 4.50, 1-2): Finished second to Jeanty in rushing last season with 1,660 (5.9) and had 10 100-yard games in 12 appearances. “I’m going to sound crazy saying this but I like him over Boise (Jeanty),” said one scout. “Athletic, strong mover with burst. Stays low on contact. Runs with vision. Average twitch, but he’ll run through some tackles. Hands are fine. Makes plays in space. Pass pro is good.” Tested well with a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-10 broad jump. “He is a punishing runner but he also has exceptional contact balance to stay on his feet through those collisions,” said a second scout. “Now that’s going to lead to a shorter career than you’d like. But while he’s still young and there’s some tread on the tires, man, that guy’s gonna be a really, really solid player throughout his rookie contract.” Finished with 622 carries for 3,565 (5.7) and 36 TDs to go with 73 receptions for 635 (8.7) and four scores. “Big dude with some niftiness,” said a third scout. “Short bursts. More of a downhill, crease runner. Really good hands out of the backfield.

Well, at least one guy who gets paid to do this likes Hampton more than me lol

RJ Harvey, Central Florida (5-8, 205, 4.40)

Said one scout: “Kind of a poor man’s Bucky Irving. Kind of built the same way. Really like his demeanor. Compact guy. He’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’ll be a solid, efficient, productive No. 2 back that can ascend into a heavier role with more experience.”

Didn’t make the top 12. That’s mind numbing.

Neal not in the top 12 or the next 5. I expected JCM to hit the next 5. Crazy class. Judkins being a PITA was news to me. But that’s McGinn. You get the widest range of opinions anywhere. Read his stuff enough and you’ll get to the point where you don’t like any prospect.

I wouldn't put too much credence in where any of these guys are ranked by McGinn's scouts. None of them would agree on that anway. McGinn's whole MO is to provide a variety of takes on each player. So he purposefully includes at least one positive review and one negative. Does that represent a consensus opinion? Not at all. It could be 50 to 1. 

I've always felt it's basically Jeanty and then everyone else. And then once you get past Jeanty, Hampton, Henderson and Judkins, it's a 20-way tie for 5th. The scouts say pretty much the same thing.

“Jeanty is the best. The rest of these guys, just throw ‘em in a bag and mix ‘em up and shake them all. They’re good. Second-round picks, third-round picks. The order is they’re pretty much all the same. In my mind, there isn’t much separation between the No. 6 back...and the backs residing at Nos. 19-20-21." Harvey's definitely in that second group. Where you put him is more about fit than anything I think. One team might have him 5th, another 20th. 

Biggest difference is they have Kaleb Johnson in that top 5. A lot of people do. I have problems with his lack of COD, so I put him somewhere in the jumble of 20.

Can’t find it, but someone at the Athletic took a shot at the McGinn guys. I’m sure after 5 decades he’s got new sources but yes, each of his week long series is curated in the same manner. 

I can probably count on both hands the number of times there’s been a consensus on a prospect. Jonathan Ogden was probably the last. Guys like him, John Hannah and Moss needed to play in a league higher than the NFL.

10. BHAYSHUL TUTEN, Virginia Tech (5-9, 206, 4.29, 3-4): Fastest back on the board. “He ran that 4.2 and you see that on the field,” one scout said. “He is the most explosive of all these guys. Runs hard, too. You get him in a crease or the open field and it’s over with. He’s the closest one to (Jahmyr) Gibbs as far as, if there’s a crease, it’s over. He’s in the mix as my No. 2 running back (in the draft).” Tuten’s vertical jump of 40 ½ also led the position. His broad jump was 10-10. “I’m a big fan,” another scout said before the combine. “After the combine things will change. He has a chance to run in the 4.3s. He’s talented.”

JustInTime wrote:
Can’t find it, but someone at the Athletic took a shot at the McGinn guys. I’m sure after 5 decades he’s got new sources but yes, each of his week long series is curated in the same manner. 

I can probably count on both hands the number of times there’s been a consensus on a prospect. Jonathan Ogden was probably the last. Guys like him, John Hannah and Moss needed to play in a league higher than the NFL.

Well by consensus I just mean a prevailing belief. A majority opinion. Not unanimity. I think I saw that Athletic piece. People HATE anonymous scouts. I get it. Media have to put their name on everything. They live and die by their opinions. And these bastards are never named. But McGinn obviously can't identify them. 

Personally I think it's good to read what ACTUAL NFL personnel people think after months of reading media takes. They can be brutal in their negative takes tho. I still remember the one about David Yankey. Something like "I must not know what I'm doing, because I don't see it. That kid can't play." He was right though.

MaroonBells wrote:

Well by consensus I just mean a prevailing belief. A majority opinion. Not unanimity. I think I saw that Athletic piece. People HATE anonymous scouts. I get it. Media have to put their name on everything. They live and die by their opinions. And these bastards are never named. But McGinn obviously can't identify them. 

Personally I think it's good to read what ACTUAL NFL personnel people think after months of reading media takes. They can be brutal in their negative takes tho. I still remember the one about David Yankey. Something like "I must not know what I'm doing, because I don't see it. That kid can't play." He was right though.

It is a kick to hear what the guys who get paid say. I remember one guy downgrading Moss for I think was a lackluster performance in a bowl game vs nondescript CBs.

JustInTime wrote:
Totally understand. I’m just saying it’s super rare when there’s been literal consensus on a prospect. 

It is a kick to hear what the guys who get paid say. I remember one guy downgrading Moss for I think was a lackluster performance in a bowl game vs nondescript CBs.

Or AJ Terrell getting dinged for his Natty against those two LSU receivers...can't remember their names...Chase and Justin something?

MaroonBells wrote:

Or AJ Terrell getting dinged for his Natty against those two LSU receivers...can't remember their names...Chase and Justin something?

Yup. Apparently the pros get locked in on something and tunnel vision ensues. 

Speaking of…look at Knight, I’m telling ya there’s a bigger need at iLB than we’re thinking. D suffered greatly with Cashman out and to a lesser extent Pace. Wilson is sufficient depth but I’m really in on Knight.

JustInTime wrote:

Yup. Apparently the pros get locked in on something and tunnel vision ensues. 

Speaking of…look at Knight, I’m telling ya there’s a bigger need at iLB than we’re thinking. D suffered greatly with Cashman out and to a lesser extent Pace. Wilson is sufficient depth but I’m really in on Knight.

I still haven't looked at him yet. But I will. I do agree that LB is a bigger need than some think. But with Cashman and Pace secure as ILB 1 and 2, and with Eric Wilson coming in to be ILB3, the only player that needs an immediate upgrade is LB4, the Asamoah role, a special teams role more than anything. I do think they could upgrade that on day three but hard to see day two, which is where Knight seems to be going. But who knows, if he's everything BFlo has ever wanted in a LB, all bets are off.

6. DERRICK HARMON, Oregon (6-4 ½, 320, 5.01, 1-2): Played at Michigan State from 2021-’23, reportedly weighing 340 in his final season, before heading westward after the Spartans’ spring ball. “Like his size, the disruption, the athleticism and the strength,” said one scout. “Plays out of control. Plays high. It hurt his production this season. He missed a lot of tackles. But if you want a guy that’s up the field and a disruptive penetrator, he’s a really good prospect. He can play whatever. He even played some nose this year. He’s got the length to play 5 (technique) and the quickness to play 3. If he goes after 20 someone’s getting a great value pick.” Started 15 of 28 games in East Lansing before starting all year for the Ducks. Long arms (34 3/8) and largest hands at the position (10 3/8) among the top 12. “He played like a fence-post 5-technique in an old 3-4 scheme,” another scout said. “Really strong upper and lower (body). Has more straight-line speed than you would guess for a big guy. Not real twitchy or sudden. He’s heavy-footed in change of direction. More of a placeholder than a playmaker.” Finished with 116 tackles (18 for loss), 8 ½ sacks and six passes defensed. “Taller, linear, high-hipped,” said a third scout. “He’s OK. He gives you effort. I gave him credit for being able to play a bunch of positions adequately. Nothing really stands out. Good but not a great pass rusher. Just kind of a utility guy. His pass rush is more stunting and effort. He’s not going to beat your ass with moves. Second round.” Started on both offense and defense all four years at Loyola High in Detroit.

3. SHEMAR STEWART, Texas A&M (6-5, 270, 4.58, 1): Third-year junior, one-year starter. “He’s the classic example of a guy who has no idea how to play football,” one scout said. “Doesn’t know how to take on blocks, doesn’t know how to find the ball, doesn’t know how to work off things. I was shocked he was 281 (at the Senior Bowl). He plays like he’s 240. He crushed it at the combine but in the games he is just a nonfactor. Just can’t figure it out. He’s damn near defensive-tackle size and they’re playing him standing up, too. He should be a hand-down, go-at-it guy.”

Was 270 at pro day after being 267 at the combine, where he was clocked in 4.58 despite tweaking his hamstring, posted a 40-inch vertical jump and a position-best 10-11 broad jump. “He looks incredible but he’s got like five sacks in his career,” said a second scout. “It’s a little bit all over the map, but the way he tested and the way he looked and ran he’s going in the first round.” Arms were 34 1/8, hands were 9 5/8. “Height-weight-speed physical freak show,” a third scout said. “He’s almost as good as Abdul Carter. Different guy completely. Good effort player. Plays hard in pursuit and in-line. Why isn’t this guy more productive? Wow edge speed. You really see it coming out of the turn. He’s explosive down the middle of a blocker. He’s really stout at the point. Plays with physicality. He lacked instincts and awareness. Mental delays when he’s stunting inside. Mental has to be looked into. Maybe it’s what they’re asking him to do. I don’t know. Maybe we could do something different with him and it would look different. Physically, this guy’s everything you want. He could play either defensive end or 3-technique.” Finished with 65 tackles, 4 ½ sacks and four passes defensed in 37 games, including 19 starts. Five-star recruit from Miami.

@"Kentis" check your inbox

Name this prospect. 

Nevertheless, for all of his feats and honors, **** the pro prospect encountered his share of doubters across the NFL. No matter how much they admired his blazing fast 40-yard dash and exceptional production at ****, some scouts and coaches didn’t think his sawed-off dimensions would stand the litmus test against pro offensive linemen.

“His speed is rare … and I hate him,” a college scouting director for an NFC team said about **** before the 2014 draft. “I can’t stand him. A 6-foot, 280-pound DT … who’s he going to beat in our league? I think the media has created this guy.

“Listen. He makes some plays, there’s no question. But put a game film on and when he’s double-teamed and down-blocked … he’s small. “Our game is not built for him. He’s a great player, don’t get me wrong. I like him as a college player. But I don’t see him on our team making a difference.”

Executives in personnel for four other teams also categorized **** as a second-round draft choice. “He doesn’t fit what we do but some teams still use those little guys,” said another executive high up in his NFC organization. “Penetrator kind of guy. We need guys that hunker down in there and two-gap. He’ll get his ass kicked for 10 straight plays and then he’ll make a sack. It’s the damndest thing. He’s just so damn productive every game but, down in and down out, playing the run, it’s going to be hard. Everybody has us picking him but we wouldn’t take him in the first or second round.”