Who’s your surprise 2022 rookie?

dannobanano

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I’ll take Kingsley Egnabare.

He’s going to get playing time because after Gary and Smith there’s little proven experience except for Garvin.

Gary and Smith can’t get over used, so I expect Egnabare to find meaningful game experience.

Most everything about him compares to a young Z-Smith from a measurables standpoint.

Z-Smith RAS - 3.73
Egnabare RAS - 6.26

The big unknown is, can Egnabare pick up the pro game and this scheme quick enough to have some sort of positive effect on the games he plays in?
 
Romeo Doubs. I think his roughly 4.5 forty wasn't near his best. He'd had a leg injury, and was just healed well enough to run. He hadn't fully recovered. I think he drops that under 4.4, and ends up being a potential return man, as well as a decent possession receiver fairly quickly, if that's the direction they choose to use him.

I realize this is a long shot, but this kid seems like the type that wants it pretty darned bad, and sometimes that's the difference between getting on the field, and sitting on the bench until you're cut.
 
Romeo Doubs. I think his roughly 4.5 forty wasn't near his best. He'd had a leg injury, and was just healed well enough to run. He hadn't fully recovered. I think he drops that under 4.4, and ends up being a potential return man, as well as a decent possession receiver fairly quickly, if that's the direction they choose to use him.

I realize this is a long shot, but this kid seems like the type that wants it pretty darned bad, and sometimes that's the difference between getting on the field, and sitting on the bench until you're cut.
Good stuff TW!
And, I’ll add that his college position coach said he was the best deep ball tracker (sees/gets) that he’s ever seen.
 
I’ll take Kingsley Egnabare.

He’s going to get playing time because after Gary and Smith there’s little proven experience except for Garvin.

Gary and Smith can’t get over used, so I expect Egnabare to find meaningful game experience.

Most everything about him compares to a young Z-Smith from a measurables standpoint.

Z-Smith RAS - 3.73
Egnabare RAS - 6.26

The big unknown is, can Egnabare pick up the pro game and this scheme quick enough to have some sort of positive effect on the games he plays in?
I think he's going to be a lot better than people thought. He may be a tad slower than the average OLB, but he's also a tad faster than an outside down lineman. Because he can play on the line, or stand up on the outside, he might be a seriously good hybrid for both positions. The kind of guy who can make you guess if they're going with 3 or 4 on the line. I think he's going to asked to try to carry 260# to 270#, which he could do, to make him that dual threat.

EDIT: Come to think of it, wasn't that the same they thought of Gary?
 
As far as rookies, I like Goodson. Overall, I think Amari Rodgers could surprise, let's see what Winfrey can do.
 
I think he's going to be a lot better than people thought. He may be a tad slower than the average OLB, but he's also a tad faster than an outside down lineman. Because he can play on the line, or stand up on the outside, he might be a seriously good hybrid for both positions. The kind of guy who can make you guess if they're going with 3 or 4 on the line. I think he's going to asked to try to carry 260# to 270#, which he could do, to make him that dual threat.

EDIT: Come to think of it, wasn't that the same they thought of Gary?
Gary was different, he was a ~280lb guy with some explosive athletic traits but terrible movement skills. The questions were whether or not he should play hand down inside or if he could stand up at OLB, if he could find the motor to play hard every down, and if he could learn the skills to finish. Engbare seems more a natural OLB frame, closer to 255, but not nearly as athletic as Gary or big framed. I've read the Z Smith comparisons but even Z played above 270 in college. I don't think you want Engbare inside, except maybe to stunt.
 
It’s why I said “surprise”.

By August it won’t be a surprise anymore.

Oh well, so much for trying to start a discussion during the doldrums
 
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