Egbuka and Jackson, maybe Williams sneaks in but I don't think anybody eligible on this defense is a 1st rounder.
A lot was early speculation that these guys would take the next step after coming back for 1 more year. That has clearly not happened and some seemed to have regressed
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin
Can only talk to where we stand now. Some players are boosting their draft status(e.g. Egbuka). One or two have damaged it and will require rehab during the remaining games(Burke)
Tyliek and Egbuka maybe, Simmons might have played his way in if he stayed healthy, really sucks for him. I don't get any Donovan Jackson hype, he has been nothing special. No one else on this defense is making an impact that would lead to a first round grade. Judkins and Henderson are probably 3-4th rounders.
Smith is the biggest difference maker on this team on either side of the ball. Howard is good, but if he could throw a deep ball Smith would be going even more insane. Guy destroys CBs off the line.
Egbuka is about a lock I’d say Jackson Williams jt and sawyer have a shot. Lot of football left to play we got 2 running backs that could make a case as well Burke better play lights out after last game
Egbuka, one of Judkins/ Henderson late in the 1st round, and maybe Williams. Simmons had a chance until the injury, Iggy hasn't taken another step, JT/ Jack are disappointments, Jackson feels like the OL version of JT and Jack. Ransom doesn't have the upside. Hamilton and Mclaughlin are solid 3rd rounders. Howard I think is a 5th rounder.
Here's my list of our guys that I think will be draft picks.
Egbuka is the only 1st round lock. Will probably be picked in the second half of the first round.
Simmons is a top 50 player and was playing his way towards being a first round lock. Unfortunately for him, his injury will really affect his draft status.
Tyliek is a top 50 player. If a team really likes him, he could sneak into the end of the first round. Probably a second day pick.
Judkins is a top 75 player. I don't think he will fall past the 3rd round.
I will lump Sawyer, Burke, JT, Jackson, and together Henderson together. These guys were all high end recruits that have probably all been consistently overrated by the fanbase. To me they all have 2nd round ceilings, but due to either their lack of performance against other NFL talents or injury history (Henderson), they could fall all the way down to the 5th or 6th rounds.
Howard, McLaughlin, and Hamilton are our draft risers. These are the guys that have outplayed their recruiting rankings and their physical limitations. These guys probably only have a 3rd or 4th round ceiling. But to me they are now draft locks barring injury.
I’d say EE, Williams, Jackson, Simmons, Judkins, and Henderson are the only ones with a shot at this time. If Burke can turn it around the second half of the season, maybe but that would need to be a huge turnaround.
JT and Sawyer not a chance unless one of them some how gets double digit sacks over the next 6 games.
Tyliek displayed his draft stock by simply not showing up for a game and seeing how weak the interior was without him vs. with him. He's a difference maker and should be a first round pick if he can stay healthy down the stretch.
Egbuka is a lock.
I think Burke just played his way out of the first 2 rounds.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
Burke should have went to the NFL when he had an actual shot at making the late first round.
There is no doubt that his perceived draft value took a really big hit Saturday. The consensus among the media talking heads on draft boards is that if the draft were held today, he would be a late third-round pick at best. He needs to put in NFL-worthy performances in the remaining games if he wants to convince teams this game was just a fluke. And everyone agrees that if he were to deliver another performance like he did Saturday, he will be extremely lucky to even be drafted.
I would have agreed with you before Saturday. Oregon was considered weak on the interior OL (so much so they literally just started a new center a few weeks ago), yet the DTs did little to impact the game. The inside run D was admittedly better than outside runs, which is where we got hurt the most, but I was shocked at how little disruption Liek and Ty caused.
You do make a good point. I guess Williams, for me just didn't play his way out of potentially being picked in the first round, but he didn't help himself in anyway to become a lock.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
Egbuka. That's it. Henderson and Judkins are good but play at a devalued position. Most of the draft eligible players on defense are extremely overrated.
Egbuka is the only lock. Jackson has struggled too much to be considered a guaranteed 1st, and our 3 "elite" DL and their constant disappearing act in big games is going to drop them into 2nd/3rd round status, IMO.
Egbuka, Simmons, and Judkins. I think Judkins will be late first round by a team like the Chiefs who don't need a rb, but are so stacked they can afford to take one in the first round.
Emeka and Tyleik are the only first rounders. Judkins might have a chance to sneak into the late first, but that's about it. Most of the seniors that came back aren't first round athletes, Simmons will come back after tearing his knee, and Jackson might be a second round pick if he can prove he can play well against the big boys for the rest of the year. The only hope JT and Jack have left is Day having a complete 180 on LJ and allowing Knowles to finally run his defense, which obviously won't happen. Jack and JT would be much better suited as 5 techniques than wide-9 defensive ends.
Egbuka is for sure and Williams I think might. I'm projecting the other guys to play well going forward, but they either are at positions that don't get drafted that high (Henderson, Judkins, Jackson) or they are just not worth a first round pick based on talent (Burke, JT, Sawyer). We'll have a ton of guys drafted overall.
If you take everything I’ve accomplished in my life and condense it down to one day, it looks decent!
I think the one thing we don't know is if some of the guys are playing hurt. The last time I saw Burke play that bad was when he had a bad shoulder two years ago. Emeka, Tyleik, Iggy and Burke could all end up in or darn near in the first round. A lot has to do with how they test at the Combine. Guessing Emeka, Iggy and Burke could put up some pretty good speed numbers. Simmons may end up coming back to raise his stock for the next draft. Running backs no matter how good just are not valued in the NFL. Best case would be 2nd maybe 3rd round for both. Jackson I just don't see what everyone raves about. He misses blocks, he doesn't finish blocks and too often his guy is blowing up a big play. Hamilton is going to make some team a very good player but not in the first few rounds. Jack and JT really need one heck of a second half but not sure that is possible with present sceme. They could end up better pro's that they showed at Ohio State. I do like the center Mclaughlin.
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I couldn’t possibly care less.
Thanks for your feedback, Rill Di**.
If you have two people that agree on everything, that only means one of them is not thinking at all.
"I couldn’t possibly care less."
You could if you tried.
Everyone then me.
Couldn't resist commenting, either.
Egbuka and Jackson, maybe Williams sneaks in but I don't think anybody eligible on this defense is a 1st rounder.
A lot was early speculation that these guys would take the next step after coming back for 1 more year. That has clearly not happened and some seemed to have regressed
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin
Can only talk to where we stand now. Some players are boosting their draft status(e.g. Egbuka). One or two have damaged it and will require rehab during the remaining games(Burke)
BubbaGumps
Tyliek and Egbuka maybe, Simmons might have played his way in if he stayed healthy, really sucks for him. I don't get any Donovan Jackson hype, he has been nothing special. No one else on this defense is making an impact that would lead to a first round grade. Judkins and Henderson are probably 3-4th rounders.
Smith is the biggest difference maker on this team on either side of the ball. Howard is good, but if he could throw a deep ball Smith would be going even more insane. Guy destroys CBs off the line.
I would’ve thought one of the RBs but I think Jeanty has made that unlikely now.
All I know at this point is that Burke is not a 1st rounder
"In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination should automatically disqualify you."
-Jack Handey
Egbuka is about a lock I’d say Jackson Williams jt and sawyer have a shot. Lot of football left to play we got 2 running backs that could make a case as well Burke better play lights out after last game
Egbuka, one of Judkins/ Henderson late in the 1st round, and maybe Williams. Simmons had a chance until the injury, Iggy hasn't taken another step, JT/ Jack are disappointments, Jackson feels like the OL version of JT and Jack. Ransom doesn't have the upside. Hamilton and Mclaughlin are solid 3rd rounders. Howard I think is a 5th rounder.
How firm thy friendship
I see a bunch of 2nd-5th rounders out there. Not necessarily a bad thing, we just don't have any sure fire top 10-15 picks.
To sort of answer the question, I will go with 2. Who that is, I don't know just yet.
Here's my list of our guys that I think will be draft picks.
Egbuka is the only 1st round lock. Will probably be picked in the second half of the first round.
Simmons is a top 50 player and was playing his way towards being a first round lock. Unfortunately for him, his injury will really affect his draft status.
Tyliek is a top 50 player. If a team really likes him, he could sneak into the end of the first round. Probably a second day pick.
Judkins is a top 75 player. I don't think he will fall past the 3rd round.
I will lump Sawyer, Burke, JT, Jackson, and together Henderson together. These guys were all high end recruits that have probably all been consistently overrated by the fanbase. To me they all have 2nd round ceilings, but due to either their lack of performance against other NFL talents or injury history (Henderson), they could fall all the way down to the 5th or 6th rounds.
Howard, McLaughlin, and Hamilton are our draft risers. These are the guys that have outplayed their recruiting rankings and their physical limitations. These guys probably only have a 3rd or 4th round ceiling. But to me they are now draft locks barring injury.
I’m hoping Henderson can stay healthy and put those issues to rest. A couple of his significant injuries have been kind of late cheap shots.
I’d say EE, Williams, Jackson, Simmons, Judkins, and Henderson are the only ones with a shot at this time. If Burke can turn it around the second half of the season, maybe but that would need to be a huge turnaround.
JT and Sawyer not a chance unless one of them some how gets double digit sacks over the next 6 games.
TBDBFIT
Tyliek displayed his draft stock by simply not showing up for a game and seeing how weak the interior was without him vs. with him. He's a difference maker and should be a first round pick if he can stay healthy down the stretch.
Egbuka is a lock.
I think Burke just played his way out of the first 2 rounds.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
Burke should have went to the NFL when he had an actual shot at making the late first round.
There is no doubt that his perceived draft value took a really big hit Saturday. The consensus among the media talking heads on draft boards is that if the draft were held today, he would be a late third-round pick at best. He needs to put in NFL-worthy performances in the remaining games if he wants to convince teams this game was just a fluke. And everyone agrees that if he were to deliver another performance like he did Saturday, he will be extremely lucky to even be drafted.
BubbaGumps
I would have agreed with you before Saturday. Oregon was considered weak on the interior OL (so much so they literally just started a new center a few weeks ago), yet the DTs did little to impact the game. The inside run D was admittedly better than outside runs, which is where we got hurt the most, but I was shocked at how little disruption Liek and Ty caused.
We can't stop here; this is bat country...
You do make a good point. I guess Williams, for me just didn't play his way out of potentially being picked in the first round, but he didn't help himself in anyway to become a lock.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
Simmons might consider coming back next year because of the injury. Teams won’t be able to fully evaluate him after the injury.
Jackson has several plays every game that are head scratchers. He must test very high at the NFL combine or he will probably be a second day pick.
Egbuka. That's it. Henderson and Judkins are good but play at a devalued position. Most of the draft eligible players on defense are extremely overrated.
Sad, but unfortunately an honest analysis right now.
He owes me 260 bucks vacation pay, and he won't fuckin' pay that, so I figured a handful of chips wasn't too much to ask.
Egbuka and Williams have a chance. I'll go with one 1st rounder.
Egbuka is the only lock. Jackson has struggled too much to be considered a guaranteed 1st, and our 3 "elite" DL and their constant disappearing act in big games is going to drop them into 2nd/3rd round status, IMO.
We can't stop here; this is bat country...
Egbuka, Simmons, and Judkins. I think Judkins will be late first round by a team like the Chiefs who don't need a rb, but are so stacked they can afford to take one in the first round.
too tough / early to tell
Die Living // PT*42
Emeka and Tyleik are the only first rounders. Judkins might have a chance to sneak into the late first, but that's about it. Most of the seniors that came back aren't first round athletes, Simmons will come back after tearing his knee, and Jackson might be a second round pick if he can prove he can play well against the big boys for the rest of the year. The only hope JT and Jack have left is Day having a complete 180 on LJ and allowing Knowles to finally run his defense, which obviously won't happen. Jack and JT would be much better suited as 5 techniques than wide-9 defensive ends.
Early mock from ESPN has Sawyer going 29 to the Lions and EE going 31 to the Chiefs. Would be good fits for both of them.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/41790778/2025-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-predictions-32-picks-jordan-reid
Egbuka is for sure and Williams I think might. I'm projecting the other guys to play well going forward, but they either are at positions that don't get drafted that high (Henderson, Judkins, Jackson) or they are just not worth a first round pick based on talent (Burke, JT, Sawyer). We'll have a ton of guys drafted overall.
If you take everything I’ve accomplished in my life and condense it down to one day, it looks decent!
I'm betting they have about 8-9 second or third round picks.
Caleb Downs and JJ Smith are the only sure fire first rounders imo.
Nobody else is first round right now imo, Simmons had a chance but now with the injury that will knock him down to probably the third round.
I think the one thing we don't know is if some of the guys are playing hurt. The last time I saw Burke play that bad was when he had a bad shoulder two years ago. Emeka, Tyleik, Iggy and Burke could all end up in or darn near in the first round. A lot has to do with how they test at the Combine. Guessing Emeka, Iggy and Burke could put up some pretty good speed numbers. Simmons may end up coming back to raise his stock for the next draft. Running backs no matter how good just are not valued in the NFL. Best case would be 2nd maybe 3rd round for both. Jackson I just don't see what everyone raves about. He misses blocks, he doesn't finish blocks and too often his guy is blowing up a big play. Hamilton is going to make some team a very good player but not in the first few rounds. Jack and JT really need one heck of a second half but not sure that is possible with present sceme. They could end up better pro's that they showed at Ohio State. I do like the center Mclaughlin.