Interesting Rankings
April 16th, 2019
Not since Joel Buchsbaum put out his annual draft guide have #DraftMedia panted over a tome of a draft annual.
And so Dane Brugler of The Athletic, formerly of CBS Sports, unleashed his beast yesterday.
Interesting details.
(This is not a mock draft. This is Brugler ranking the best 100 players regardless of position, using all sorts of information and data from film, from the NFL combine, from analytics, from measurements, you name it. He also has detailed breakdowns of each of the top players listed by position.)
A player many Bucs fans are hot in the pants for, this inside linebacker Devin White of LSU, isn’t that high up on Brugler’s rankings. Brugler has White as the No. 12 prospect. As far as non-edge rushing linebackers go, Brugler has Devin Bush of Michigan rated No. 10.
Of White, Brugler writes, “Overall, White’s tape doesn’t show the same level of instincts or discipline as current Bears LB Roquan Smith, but his play speed and relentless nature are off-the-charts, projecting as an NFL starter similar to Jarrad Davis (drafted No. 21 overall to the Detroit Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft).”
Breaking down Bush, Brugler believes he is an outside linebacker on the next level. “Overall, Bush doesn’t have ideal take-on skills to thrive inside as a MIKE, but his ability to diagnose, his reaction quickness and his closing speed are special, projecting best as an impact starting WILL in the NFL.”
Brugler has four defensive linemen/edge rushers ranked in his top-five: Nick Bosa (No. 1), Quinnen Williams (No. 2), Josh Allen (No. 3) and Ed Oliver (No. 5). Brugler has Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams at No. 4.
Seven of Brugler’s top-10 ranked players are defensive linemen/edge rushers.
Brugler has but one running back in his top-32, that being Josh Jacobs of Alabama at No. 22.
The highest rated guard is Chris Lindstrom of Boston College at No. 36.
What a combine demonstration will do for you: Brugler lists Mississippi’s D.K. Metcalf as his highest ranked wide receiver at No. 27. At No. 28 is Oklahoma’s Hollywood Brown.
Brugler’s highest-rated corner? That would be Byron Murphy of Washington at No. 20. Brugler’s highest-rated safety is a Division I-AA product, Nasir Adderley of Delaware at No. 25.
Brugler’s draft breakdown is 221 pages long and can be downloaded here.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:06 am
Nope. Not gonna look. I shall remain unbiased for this draft, no matter how tempting it is.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:33 am
I am happy to see something that at least seems comparable to Joel Buchsbaum. I think there is too much reliance on NFL.com and ESPN to rank these choices.
Weaknesses of Bush per report:
WEAKNESSES: Undersized and lack of ideal length shows up often on tape…struggles to disengage once locked up…climbing blockers too easily eliminate him from plays…lack of inches leads to broken tackles…knocked around when working downhill in the trenches
I agree with Wilson being the 3rd linebacker but am surprised that he has Tavai as the 4th linebacker. That shoulder injury of Tavai scares me for a linebacker. I think of Spence because of the shoulder issue.
April 16th, 2019 at 2:11 am
So the 4th ranked player is a LT that projects as a potential pro bowler at G but has the versatility to play all 5 spots? Isn’t the biggest question mark on the team RG? Hmmmm. Does that plethora of dline talent mean that players who would be 1st rounders most years will be available in the 2nd? And 2nd rounders in the 3rd? Wait, don’t they pick early in the 2nd and 3rd? Hmmm. A RG, an Edge (bookend for Barrett or at least a rotation with him and Nassib) and an interior Dlineman (to replace McCoy). Take an ILBer in the 4th and a RB in the 5th and we have plugged a lot of holes and addressed some depth issues too.
April 16th, 2019 at 5:34 am
Search hard enough Joe and I’m sure you could find someone else to validate your position that Bucs shouldn’t take Devin White at #5.
Gil Brandt put out a new Top-150 ranking just yesterday. He has White as #8 and Bush as #14 (but projects also him as a Will LB). His next LBs don’t show up until the 70’s.
April 16th, 2019 at 5:50 am
Jeremiah has White at 9 overall and Bush at 19. Walter Football has White at 3 overall and Bush at 31. No one big board is definitive. However, statistically speaking, the ranking of White is almost universally in the top 10. That suggests consensus. It doesn’t guarantee he should be the pick, but it is the logical pick with the highest likelihood of success at a position of need. It would be refreshing to see the Bucs choose such a player for a change.
April 16th, 2019 at 7:19 am
I don’t need to read that….I have Joe to tell me what’s best for the Bucs…..
This campaign against Devin White is designed to do what exactly…..keep Arians & Licht from drafting him? Make fans hate on him if he is drafted?…..Divide the fan base?
In Joe’s poll, Devin White fared very well against all others and there are many other players who are potential #5 picks.
Would I be happy with Williams, Bosa, Allen….or even Oliver…..hell yes.
Would I be happy with Devin White…..hell yes…
And I think most of us would be.
April 16th, 2019 at 7:32 am
If we already have 2 quality MLBers, why is that a position of need?
April 16th, 2019 at 7:49 am
Dane is great. The Dallas Cowboys Draft Show is one of the best (Brugler is the Co host). He and Brian Broaddas (the other Co host) had previously said White would have been ranked behind 3 of the LBs drafted last year.
April 16th, 2019 at 8:27 am
Just looking at the history of the NFL, some of the best ever defenses had a great HOF MLB. There’s been to many to name, the great ones were leaders too. That’s the intangible here, Whites leadership qualities. This defense is missing a true leader more then any one position. Williams, Allen, Bosa are great players, and would be welcome additions, but this ship needs more then that. We’re a rudderless ship, have no capt. on defense. The word on White is his leadership skills are off the charts good. MLB is a position of need, and if White is that generational MLB, that’s more value then any DT,DE, or DB.
April 16th, 2019 at 8:47 am
TampaBayBucsFan – spot on.
‘Shill Joe’ = misery loves company and anger creates more clicks.
Knowing this, I still thoroughly enjoy this website and community of Buc Fans!
April 16th, 2019 at 9:10 am
i said the same thing last week…..devin white aint even close to raquan smith….the jarrod davis comp. is pretty accurate imo…..
all this devin white love reminds me of the dalvin cook love…..lol….
both very good players but we’re getting dline in the 1st….
draft ed oliver…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 16th, 2019 at 9:21 am
Joe I saw a ranking in the stall of the local McDonald’s. You should do an article about it cuz it had white at #10.
Then that article could manipulate people even more to believe a mlb in 2019 doesn’t have a huge impact on the defense.
I can’t believe you believe yourself lol
White at #5!
April 16th, 2019 at 9:22 am
folks keep talking about “leadership” but who was the leader for the bucs during the glory days…..sapp or brooks?……
brooks was the qb of the defense but sapp ran sh!t…he was the questioned leader of the defense and team…..
so this notion that MLB are best suited to be the leader of the defense is BS…..
who’s the leader of the rams defense?….a DT…..who’s the leader of philly’s defense?….a DT……who’s the leader of the saints defense?…..a DE…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 16th, 2019 at 9:22 am
Devin White is the Joe’s new Johnny Football.
April 16th, 2019 at 10:28 am
Ed Oliver @ 5!
Nuff Said
April 16th, 2019 at 11:17 am
Draft the Tackle, Jonah Williams, if the top 3 DL guys are gone and he is still there. This should help prevent DeKemper from having an aneurysm and help our running game if he can be plugged into RG or replace Dotson if he gets injured! Sure, it doesn’t help the defense at all, but isn’t having the ball longer on offense a little like playing defense?
Just kidding. Draft White.
April 16th, 2019 at 2:54 pm
So long as it was written by someone reputable, sure. Did the guy leave a link to his work?
April 16th, 2019 at 4:13 pm
All’s it said was…
-Joe
LMAO 😂 jk