He was Mike Mayock's #43 overall prospect, and the Jets picked him at #72. Pretty good value. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the #5 DT. He would have likely gone in the 3rd Round if the Jets did not pick him.
Not gonna sit here and act like I had Fort Hays St. season tickets but I did watch some of his tape. I like his use of his hands to attack OLinemen and his punch. He's very raw but there is potential there. I didn't mind the pick.
Was hoping for Harrison Phillips, DT Stanford. Kid had 100+ tackles last season and a non-stop motor. Reminds me some of Joe Klecko...
Good example of success but in fairness Staubach had to serve in Navy, it's not like he was a late bloomer. More older guys drafted have more in common with the Brandon Weeden's of the world than Staubach.
And Nathan Shepherd was not a "late bloomer". He played for a small college who did not offer full scholarships. He grew up in a low class family and did not have money to afford his college. He was forced to leave school and work to build money to get back to school and playing football. It took him 2 years to walk on at Fort Hays State. I agree with the sentiment that there are many more Weeden's of the world than Staubach's, but calling Shepherd a late bloomer is not an accurate assessment either.
Yeah its a feel good story but does he have 3rd round talent .We are not good at reclamation projects and the Jets need talent.
I didn't say he was a late bloomer, most older guys are though. I know nothing of him but I like the story I've read in this thread.
He's a third round pick, he doesn't have to be "Special" just a potential starter to lock up the DE position opposite Leo going forward.
Sione pouha was I believe 26 when he was drafted in the THIRD round. This “kid” tore his ACL his second year and still came back to be a very productive player.
Seems like a great guy - I hope he has a long career with the Jets and great to see someone who really wants it.
And if somebody did want him and selected him ahead of us what then ? Is this not the very nature of the draft, you take chance and select who you want in and around were you believe their talent merits.
Not a fan of feel good stories in football. This guy technique is sloppy and of course, he looks great on film its the D3. Why do the Jets hate edge rushers? Every offseason and draft they talk about it as a need and yet they never, ever address it. They gave a lot to get Darnold maybe they shouldn't be wasting picks on lower level talent that will be practice squad bound.
Or maybe it is the part were Mac saw something in him while he was practising with the elite school talent at the bowl game he mentions it in the video above, the chances are he was in that lower class of football because he was a poor kid that paid his own way through college rather than some posh rich kid, surely you have to admire his desire to get to the NFL. I can only say it is a good job footballers in the UK don't have to go to university to become a professional athlete or we wouldn't have many games to watch.
