2016 NFL Draft: AdvoCare V100 Bowl
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
LSU
#28 FS Jalen Mills (6’0 | 196 | 4.56)
I thought Mills was coming out last year and had the Bears selecting him in the 2nd round of my first few mock drafts. The reason I thought the Bears would go after Mills is his versatility. He’s played both safety positions, in the slot, and as an outside corner for the Tigers. Bears DC Vic Fangio prefers interchangeable safeties who can play both in the box and single deep coverage, like Adrian Amos the safety they drafted last year. Mills and Amos would give Fangio an ideal safety combo, so Bears fans should keep an eye on Mills tonight.
Projection: 2nd round
#74 G Vadal Alexander (6’5 | 329 | 5.39)
Currently playing right tackle for the Tigers, but was dominant as a guard for them last season and will likely be moved back inside at the NFL level due to trouble with speed rushers. Alexander has above-average quickness for a guard and the size and power to be a force as a run blocker at the next level. His pass-pro technique needs some work, but it has gotten better this season and he should be able to step into a starting NFL O-line next year.
Projection: 2nd round
#18 CB Tre’Davious White (5’11 | 191 | 4.48)
Has elite quickness and good ball skills. White showed the ability to run with anyone he covered and led the Tigers with 6 pass breakups. He’s also a dangerous punt returner who took one back for a TD this year. The one knock on White is his slight build. He may not have much impact against NFL running backs and was boxed-out at times by bigger SEC receivers. He’s still a day 2 talent at worst and should be able to contribute as a rookie in sub-packages next year.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
#52 ILB Kendall Beckwith (6’2 | 252 | 4.73)
Beckwith attacks the line of scrimmage with bad intentions on running plays. He plays ILB the exact opposite way that Shea McClelliin does, so clearly I’m a fan. Only a junior, so Beckwith may not declare this year but he would be one of the highest rated ILBs if he does. He’s shown natural instincts against the run, the ability to shed blockers in traffic, and finishes plays with authority.
Beckwith doesn’t have great clocked speed, but seems to play faster than 4.7 on the field showing great range against the running game and excelling in coverage with good awareness and pursuit angles. I’m a huge fan of the way Beckwith plays ILB and he would bring a much needed edge and toughness to the Bears ILB group.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round
#65 LT Jerald Hawkins (6’6 | 305 | 5.14)
An underclassmen who probably needs to get stronger and clean up his technique before declaring for the draft, but has great feet for his size and a natural ability to stay balanced in pass pro. Hawkins needs some work on his run blocking and may not be powerful enough right now to create run lanes at the next level. As raw as Hawkins is, his potential to play left tackle would get him drafted before the end of day 2.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round
#45 OLB Deion Jones (6’1 | 228 | 4.53)
LSU’s leading tackler who is a finalist for the Butkis award. Jones is a quick, rangy OLB who should be an ideal weakside OLB in a 4-3 scheme at the next level. He excels in coverage with enough quickness to play man coverage on RBs, TEs, and maybe even slot receivers. Jones showed good timing on blitzes with 4 sacks this year and 11 TFLs. He needs to bulk up a little to be effective against NFL RBs, but has Lavonte David / Thomas Davis type potential.
Projection: 3rd round
Next: Texas Tech