The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA’S Salyer and Shaffer in a swarm of O-linemen
The NFL draft is loaded with offensive linemen, good news for NFL teams always trying to bulk up the trenches.
Maybe the draft opens with the Jaguars taking a tackle like Alabama’s Evan Neal or North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu at No. 1. Both players are expected to be off the board by the time the Falcons pick at No. 8. Charles Cross (Mississippi State), Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa) and Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan) are among the other tackles who could go in the first round.
Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa), Kenyon Green (Texas A&M), Zion Johnson (Boston College) are among the interior linemen vying for first-round spots. There’s a deep group of developmental linemen there, which includes Georgia products Jamaree Salyer and Justin Shaffer, and Boston College’s Alec Lindstrom, the younger brother of Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom.
More receivers coming
These are the glory days for receiver talent in the NFL. They’re not only coming in bunches, but they’re making immediate impact. That goes beyond the superstars, such as Justin Jefferson and Ja’marr Chase. It has never been easier to acquire receiving talent, even in the midrounds.
The Falcons could take a receiver in the first — they’ve met with some of the draft’s bigger names — but the likelier outcome could be the team spending a secondor third-day selection there.
Enter names such as Nevada receiver Romeo Doubs. Doubs is a physical receiver who says he models his game after former Georgia receiver A.J. Green. He had 1,109 yards with 11 touchdowns on 80 catches last season, working well with cannon-armed quarterback prospect Carson Strong.
The Falcons could spend their higher picks on other needs while landing a quality receiver later. Doubs (6-foot1, 204 pounds) would fall into that category. He hadn’t yet spoken with the Falcons, but he told the AJC he “loves” coach Arthur Smith’s “fun” offense.
Pierce wins the news conference
Florida running back Dameon Pierce showed a vibrant personality while speaking with reporters Thursday. Pierce was smiling, engaging and laughing throughout his interview, expressing confidence that he’ll make a quick impact in the NFL.
Pierce, who led Gators running backs with 574 yards last season, is from Bainbridge, a town that helped shaped him.
“Just having that smalltown mentality,” Pierce said. “It really made me appreciate my moment even more, especially being here. Not too many guys have been in my shoes. I just want to make sure I do everything right for anybody trying to follow my lead.”
The powerful Pierce was considered a winner at the Senior Bowl. He drew attention on social media after a dominant pass-protection rep to close a practice, but the tweets don’t impress him.
“This is social media, anything goes viral,” Pierce said. “A cat sitting on a doughnut in a pool goes viral.”
Breece Hall’s odd question
An annual talking point at the combine is teams asking random and strange questions to prospects. Iowa State running back Breece Hall said his oddest inquiry came from the Falcons’ Smith.
“They asked me a question along the lines of, ‘If one family member could describe you, what would they say?’” Hall said. “And I said, ‘different.’ And they were like, ‘What if you hate your family?’ And I said, ‘Your family doesn’t always have to be your blood, so whoever I consider family, that’s who I’m going to ask.”
Hall later said he felt he was the best running back in the draft. While there’s a plethora of backs in this class, it’s not expected that one will be selected in the first round (Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne went in the first 32 picks last year). That could lead to a run on backs in the second and third rounds.
The Falcons need to upgrade their running backs, but with needs at more important positions they might not be inclined to spend a second-day pick at the position.
White, Cook speak with Falcons
The Falcons have spoken with Georgia running back prospects Zamir White and James Cook. Neither player is projected to go in the first two rounds, so perhaps the Falcons could land one without the opportunity cost of selecting a back with a higher pick. Each brings different traits to a backfield. White is a power runner, whereas Cook is a receiving back.
Dare Rosenthal has talked with Falcons
Kentucky offensive lineman Dare Rosenthal has had “great” informal interviews with the Falcons, he said. Formerly an LSU defensive tackle, Rosenthal is an intriguing developmental prospect because of his physical traits. He’s 6-foot-7, 327 pounds and a strong player.
“Elite, nasty and instinctual,” Rosenthal said when asked to describe his play.
Rosenthal was suspended and transferred from LSU in 2020 because of cited disciplinary issues. He’ll address that in interviews with teams. Rosenthal projects as a midto late-round selection.
Miami passes on Deshaun Watson
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said Wednesday “the door is shut” on acquiring estranged Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson, a Gainesville native and former Clemson star, didn’t play last season amid 22 allegations of sexual misconduct.
Watson requested a trade from Houston before the allegations were reported. Miami was long linked to Watson, reportedly almost trading for him at the deadline last season. Watson’s legal status and no-trade clause cloud any potential deal. Multiple teams have publicly stated they won’t acquire Watson, so his list of potential destinations, should he clear his legal hurdles, has dwindled.
For Shaffer, Falcons have special appeal
Former Georgia Bulldogs guard Justin Shaffer, a Cedar Grove High School graduate, wouldn’t mind staying close to home to play in the NFL.
Shaffer said Thursday he has spoken with the Falcons, Cowboys, Raiders and Cardinals, among others. His meetings with the Falcons went well, he said, and “it’d mean a lot” to join his hometown franchise, especially because his family wouldn’t have to travel far to see him play.
Shaffer makes sense for the Falcons, who need interior line reinforcements. He was a bit overshadowed at times on a loaded Georgia roster, but Shaffer, a fifth-year senior, was ALL-SEC second team and helped enable a toptier rushing attack throughout his career.
His final season was his best. The 6-foot-4, 330pound Shaffer started at left guard in each of Georgia’s 15 games last season, logging 88% of snaps. His final game was the national championship victory over Alabama in Indianapolis. He participated in the Senior Bowl last month.
Shaffer expects to participate in all testing at the combine except the bench press, which he plans to do at Georgia’s Pro Day. He currently projects as a mid-round pick in a crowded offensive line class.
“(A team drafting me will get) a dog, somebody who loves the game and will come in and do whatever it takes to get on the field Day One,” Shaffer said.
Mays happy with his choice
Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays said Thursday he never regretted leaving Georgia.
He left in January 2020, and the Bulldogs went on to win the national championship a year later.
“No, sir,” Mays said when asked at the NFL scouting combine whether he had any qualms. “I got to go home and play with my little brother (Cooper). My first start, I was playing right next to him. It was unbelievable. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world.”
Mays, who is from Knoxville, Tennessee, said it wasn’t difficult watching the Bulldogs march to the school’s first title in 41 years.
“No, sir,” Mays said. “I was happy as heck for them. Some of those guys are still some of my best friends. Being in this building and being able to go to the Senior Bowl and rekindle those relationships, I still get texts from people around the building to this day. There is not really any animosity there from the people in the building there or from myself. I was ecstatic for them. They deserve it. It’s been a long time coming for them.”
Mays, who was a five-star recruit, originally committed to Tennessee, but de-committed after coach Butch Jones was fired in November 2017. He signed with Georgia and played two seasons, making 18 starts for the Bulldogs.
Mays, who’s 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, made 35 career starts, with 19 at right guard, 12 at right tackle ,two at left guard and two at left tackle. He’s a projected middle-round pick, but could move up with a strong showing at the combine.
“I think I hold a ton of value,” Mays said. “I can play all five positions. I think it adds great value to my game that I’m versatile and that I played for two SEC teams. I’ve had three different coaching staffs. I can learn football really easy.”
He was moved to right tackle last season by the Volunteers.
“It definitely shocks people that I can play all five positions,” Mays said. “It’s definitely something that I try to highlight.”