Stampede Blue: All Posts by Stew Blake

2013 NFL Draft: 20 Picks In And Geno Smith Is Sweating

2013-04-26T03:02:43Z

Bills No. 16 pick (from STL) - QB EJ Manuel (FSU)

The Bills picked up Kevin Kolb, but this pick shows you how much confidence they have in the former Cardinal and Eagle. Quarterback is an obvious need and the Bills did enough research on quarterbacks for three drafts. This selection is why Geno Smith is sweating bullets as he waits for his name to be called.

Manuel is raw and he's a high-risk, high-reward pick.

Steelers No. 17 pick - OLB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)

They lose a great, but aging pass rusher in James Harrison and then replace him with one of the better pass rushing prospects in the draft. See how that works, people? Jones led the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (24.5). Quick linebacker that can play inside or outside.

49ers No. 18 pick (from DAL) - FS Eric Reid (LSU)

The 49ers had a plan and they executed it perfectly. With Dashon Goldson getting paid in Tampa Bay, Eric Reid provides the Niners with a big, physical play maker who will absolutely pair with Donte Whitner to be one of the more dynamic safety combos in the league.

I love the pick and it's so Jim Harbaugh.

Giants No. 19 pick - OT Justin Pugh (Syracuse)

Pugh isn't a big name, but he's one of the more versatile linemen in the draft. He can play guard or tackle on either side and he's a seasoned collegiate starter.

Bears No. 20 pick - OG Kyle Long (Oregon)

The bloodline is definitely there with Kyle Long. His brother, Chris Long, is a defensive end in St. Louis and his dad, well, you know his dad. The Bears were rumored to be interested in Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert at No. 20, but I like this pick better.

Jay Cutler needs time in the pocket to help prove his worth in a contract year and Long can be inserted as a starting guard, right away.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Alabama
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers	D.J. Fluker	OT	Alabama
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)	D.J. Hayden	CB	Houston
13	New York Jets (from TB)	Sheldon Richardson	DT	Missouri
14	Carolina Panthers	Star Lotulelei	DT	Utah
15	New Orleans Saints	Kenny Vaccaro	SS	Texas
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)	EJ Manuel	QB	FSU
17	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jarvis Jones	OLB	Georgia
18	San Francisco 49ers (from DAL)	Eric Reid	FS	LSU
19	New York Giants	Justin Pugh	OT	Syracuse
20	Chicago Bears	Kyle Long	OG	Oregon
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Top 15 Picks Are In The Books

2013-04-26T02:22:59Z

Chargers No. 11 pick - OT D.J. Fluker (Alabama)

Another pick, another big boy off the board. The Chargers offensive line is hurting badly and losing Louis Vasquez in free agency was a big blow. The selection of Fluker is safe and adds some stability for Philip Rivers and the run game. Fluker should come in and immediately be a starter.

This is the third Alabama prospect (in a row) that has been drafted. Fluker has started 36 games for the Crimson Tide.

Raiders No. 12 pick (from MIA) - CB D.J. Hayden (Houston)

A lot of Colts fans were hoping for D.J. Hayden to fall to No. 24, but the Raiders weren't about to let that happen. More importantly than our desires as Colts fans is the amazing life story of Hayden, who was near death after internal bleeding. Hayden will move into a rebuilding mess in Oakland, but there's no reason to believe he can't be a factor in the Raiders eventual rise.

Jets No. 13 pick - DT Sheldon Richardson (Missouri)

An All-SEC second-team selection, Richardson led all interior defensive linemen in the conference with 75 tackles and 10.5 for a loss. Richardson was a bit of a late bloomer, coming on strong in the SEC in 2012.

Teams were concerned by his lack of consistency, but his big 2012 and incredibly strong performance against an NFL line in Alabama were enough for the Jets to justify selecting him.

Panthers No. 14 pick - DT Star Lotulelei (Utah)

Lotulelei (try spelling that ten times) showed his athleticism and versatility by playing both defensive end and nose tackle in Utah. He's the perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, as he can play inside or outside. Lotulelei will be a major force for the Panthers when paired up with Dwan Edwards.

Saints No. 15 pick - SS Kenny Vaccaro (Texas)

With Rob Ryan installed as the new defensive coordinator in New Orleans, the Saints are looking to totally forget about the embarrassing defensive display from 2012. Kenny Vaccaro is a big step towards making this transition and he should fit perfectly with Ryan's aggressive 3-4 approach.

Vaccaro is a versatile player that can play nickel back, like he did in college, or run with slot receivers, step for step. He's exceptional in man coverage and should benefit, as TJ Ward did, when Ryan was the coordinator in Cleveland.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Alabama
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers	D.J. Fluker	OT	Alabama
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)	D.J. Hayden	CB	Houston
13	New York Jets (from TB)	Sheldon Richardson	DT	Missouri
14	Carolina Panthers	Star Lotulelei	DT	Utah
15	New Orleans Saints	Kenny Vaccaro	SS	Texas
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Browns, Cardinals, Rams, Jets And Titans Select...

2013-04-26T01:44:22Z

Browns No. 6 pick - DE Barkevious Mingo (LSU)

Quite a few Browns fans wanted Dee Milliner here, but the Browns look to be following the BPA approach. It's interesting to see them use their first round pick on a pass rusher after spending big money to bring Paul Kruger to town, but I like this pick. Period.

If you envision Mingo as a 3-4 OLB, as the Browns should, lining him up across from Kruger could be a combination that will terrorize the AFC North for years to come.

Arizona No. 7 pick - OG Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina)

This is a safe pick by the Cardinals and is absolutely necessary if Carson Palmer is going to have a chance in Arizona. Palmer called Bruce Arians' "user-friendly" and apparently loves his new team, but things would look similar to his struggles in Oakland if he doesn't have a clean pocket.

Cooper, an All-American and first-team All-ACC selection as a senior, also immediately improves Arizona's running game, which will provide some much-needed relief for the aging Palmer.

Rams No. 8 pick - WR Tavon Austin (West Virginia)

The guy is a playmaker. Period. Jeff Fisher made a bold trade to go after Austin and finally gave Sam Bradford a big-play option in the passing game. A few years ago, a 5'7" receiver going in the top 10 might have been impossible, but with Austin's multidimensional skill set as a receiver and special teams contributor, the Rams made the right choice to trade up.

Jets No. 9 pick - CB Dee Milliner (Alabama)

For the Jets, they swapped a recovering Darrelle Revis for Dee Milliner and a first-round pick. Milliner, who caused a lot of ruckus in days leading up to the draft due to previous injuries, is a cover corner that could have his very own island in a couple years.

If Revis has a hard time in Tampa Bay and Milliner stays healthy, the Jets new general manager John Idzik may look like a genius when all is said and done.

Titans No. 10 pick - OG Chance Warmack (Alabama)

For those counting, that's two Alabama prospects drafted in the top 10. What is Nick Saban feeding these guys? Chance Warmack is the "other" big guard in the draft and if I'm Chris Johnson, I'm celebrating (big time) after the selection of Warmack. Crimson Tide stars like Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram may get all of the fame and glory, but the ridiculously consistent play of Warmack is one of the main reasons they were so dominant.

I love the pick, but the selection of Warmack adds another dominant offensive linemen to the AFC South that the Colts will have to deal with. Boooooo.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Oklahoma
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns	Barkevious Mingo	DE	LSU
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathon Cooper	OG	North Carolina
8	St. Louis Rams (from BUF)	Tavon Austin	WR	WVU
9	New York Jets	Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama
10	Tennessee Titans	Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)
13	New York Jets (from TB)
14	Carolina Panthers
15	New Orleans Saints
16	Buffalo Bills (from STL)
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

2013 NFL Draft: Jaguars, Dolphins, Eagles And Lions Select...

2013-04-26T00:56:53Z

Jaguars No. 2 pick - OT Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M)

Luke Joeckel has been the popular choice to go No. 1 overall for months, but Fisher's recent rise on many boards around the country posed a threat. The Chiefs were reportedly leaning towards Fisher and apparently those reports were right.

Joeckel is certainly more safe than Fisher. He's a finesse tackle, fundamentally sound, and can immediately be plugged in to any offense and thrive. In Joeckel's senior year, he was a first-team All-American and received first-team All-SEC honors. Joeckel may not be the athletic specimen that is Fisher or Lane Johnson, but he's a home run selection for the Jaguars who need talent all over the place.

The real problem for Jacksonville is whether they will ever be able to find a quarterback that Joeckel can actually feel proud about protecting.

Dolphins No. 3 pick (from OAK) - DE Dion Jordan (Oregon)

Dolphins are going all-in for 2013 and they don't mind surprising anyone on draft night. Instead of taking Lane Johnson, arguably the best player available, they switched gears and selected Dion Jordan of Oregon. The Dolphins were sniffing the pass rusher market this year, but this pick is a little puzzling.

Jordan is a big, big guy who originally arrived at Oregon as a top-10 nationally rated tight end prospect. Oregon thought Jordan would be better suited as a speed rusher, and they were right. Jordan racked up 5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2012.

Chip Kelly probably wanted Jordan, but you better believe he'll be happy with a superhuman tackle like Lane Johnson to utilize in his extremely fast-paced offense.

Eagles No. 4 pick - OT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma)

Lane Johnson is a freak. There's really no other way to put it. This is a 303 lb tackle who put up a 4.7 40, 36" vertical jump (better than AJ Green's 34.5" vertical, mind you) and a 4.52 shuttle at the Combine. The Eagles were reportedly fascinated by Johnson and showed more interest in him than any other team.

Hmm... I wonder why? Five years from now, Johnson may very well be the best tackle prospect to come out of this draft.

Take that, Miami.

Lions No. 5 pick - DE Ziggy Ansah (BYU)

Ansah is a project player, but he has the talent to be one of the most disruptive players in the league with some coaching. He has a lot of work to do, but the pass rushing potential is there and that's why the Lions took him at No. 5.

Ansah has a tremendous work ethic and he has had no problem adjusting his body to fit specific roles that coaches have asked him to play. Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has to be grinning ear to ear after this selection.

#	Round 1 - Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M
3	Miami Dolphins (from OAK)	Dion Jordan	DE	Oregon
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	Oklahoma
5	Detroit Lions	Ziggy Ansah	DE	BYU
6	Cleveland Browns
7	Arizona Cardinals
8	Buffalo Bills
9	New York Jets
10	Tennessee Titans
11	San Diego Chargers
12	Oakland Raiders (from MIA)
13	New York Jets (from TB)
14	Carolina Panthers
15	New Orleans Saints
16	St. Louis Rams
17	Pittsburgh Steelers
18	Dallas Cowboys
19	New York Giants
20	Chicago Bears
21	Cincinnati Bengals
22	St. Louis Rams (from WAS)
23	Minnesota Vikings
24	Indianapolis Colts
25	Minnesota Vikings (from SEA)
26	Green Bay Packers
27	Houston Texans
28	Denver Broncos
29	New England Patriots
30	Atlanta Falcons
31	San Francisco 49ers
32	Baltimore Ravens

Andrew Luck Needs Your Help To Be The Face Of Madden 25

2013-03-25T12:00:12Z

Starting in 2011, the powers that be at EA Sports started a new trend - they let the fans decide who would grace the cover of Madden. Well, cover voting for the horribly named Madden 25 has already commenced and unsurprisingly, Andrew Luck is in the tournament. Whether you play Madden or not (I do), it would be absolutely amazing if we could get a low-key, hard-working guy like Luck on the cover for 2013.

I'm sure someone like Adrian Peterson, Robert Griffin III, or Russell Wilson will win, because, well, they're flashier names and are also very good. But with the help of the Stampede Blue legion, I think we could give Luck a legitimate shot to win the cover title.

And no, there is no such thing as a "Madden curse." If you don't believe me, go ask Calvin Johnson and his new all-time receiving yards record.

Luck (#2 seed) went against Jake Locker in the opening round and crushed him with 89% of the vote. The second round won't be so easy, though. Luck is facing off against Clay Matthews and the Green Bay fan favorite will have many loyal Cheeseheads backing him.

So stop reading, click this link and go vote before the round ends on March 27.

Pretty please?

Andrew Luck To Victor Cruz?

2013-03-17T05:57:20Z

We're heading into the wee hours of Sunday morning, but if you're still hanging on, you might want to hang on a little longer. The Colts are apparently banging out a deal in the war room that could have Colts fans drooling.

Or salsa-ing.

Over the last few hours, Jim Irsay has been dropping some juicy tweets about the Colts' plans.

ColtFans,we already past the cap cash wise/ we're workin on a deal,1 we've been workin on for 5 days/ we're very,very close 2 making it work
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

In Arizona,but the phone lines burning up...we want to win so damn bad our toes ache and our brains are gurgling!!!!!!!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

The fact that these negotations have endured over a five day period, according to Irsay, tells me that the Colts are looking to make a splash move. However, Irsay's ability to, let's just say, exaggerate the impact of his team's deals has been fairly obvious over the last few days.

We were supposed to be "elated" by the Ricky Jean-Francois signing. Before Gosder Cherilus, Greg Toler and Erik Walden agreed to terms, Irsay called them "big announcements" with a whole lot of exclamation points.

I'm not going to complain, though. What other owners are this expressive and in touch with their fans?

Shortly after Irsay's initial tweets of "phone lines burning up" and five day negotiations, speculation about Victor Cruz in a Colts uniform started blowing up the Interwebz.

Irsay then dropped this tweet to verify that the target, Cruz or not, was indeed a wide receiver.

Colt Fans,hint------ it's a Wide Receiver!!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

Of course, this lead to a bit of a guessing game on Twitter with just about everyone throwing their guess into the ring. Doug Baldwin, formerly of Stanford, was picked out of the guess hat, along with Davone Bess. Baldwin makes sense because of his connection with Luck and new Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, but he's hardly a "wopper."

Everyone stand buy,pour strong drink...do ur voodoo,Colts need the strength of it's nation to get this wopper in the boat! DO U UNDERSTAND!?
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) March 17, 2013

And if the Colts have been working to secure a deal to bring Doug Baldwin to Indianapolis for five days, I'd be, uhm, a little depressed. The same can be said for Bess.

The biggest question mark surrounding a deal for Cruz is the Colts' ability, or inability, to afford the receiver. Cruz is obviously looking to cash in, and with the Colts free agency spending spree, there may be some concerns about the remaining cap space to secure Eli Manning's favorite target.

That said, Irsay did mention the Colts being "past the cap cash wise," so obviously they're trying to move pieces around to find some room to make the deal happen. Finding cap space (Colts should have roughly $10 million left) for a game-changer like Cruz certainly makes more sense than spending cash on Baldwin or Bess.

Cruz is also absolutely worth the Colts' No. 24 pick, but it's possible the financials ($8-10 million a year) could be enough to kill the deal.

That, or maybe Irsay's tweet fest. As of now, Irsay's last tweet—a Big Lebowski reference, of course—came over an hour ago.

Stay tuned, folks. We could be doing the salsa before the night is over, and it looks like Pat McAfee would be up for joining us.

I'll tell you what..IF it is Cruz..He's gonna have some competition for best dance moves on the team..These feet are undefeated in danceoffs
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 17, 2013

UPDATE (6:35 AM)

If the Colts are/were preparing a deal to land Cruz, ESPN's Adam Schefter hasn't caught wind of it.

RT @infantal2132: Any update with Giants and Victor Cruz? ... Patience, NY. Don't see a team out there willing to sign him to offer sheet.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2013

It's worth noting that the Colts supposed plan has gone undetected to league insiders for five days. Maybe Ryan Grigson and crew are just that stealth, or maybe the player is that low profile.

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kenjon Barner - RB, Oregon

2013-03-15T23:03:09Z

Kenjon Barner has always been a exciting prospect to me. He's one of those talents that can work in so many different ways. He is capable of serving as a featured back, a special teams champion and/or a legitimate pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Oregon's system under Chip Kelly thrived due to their impressive speed and diversity in the backfield, and Barner is a testament to that.

As a junior, Barner was featured in a trio of De'Anthony Thomas and 49er LaMichael James. Barner was a back-up, but he still managed to put up 993 yards and 11 touchdowns. After James left, one would think that Barner would slow down with more of the load to carry, right? Wrong. As the feature back in 2012, Barner racked up 1,767 yards and 23 touchdowns (6.4 yards per carry).

Now you can understand why a guy like Barner excites me.

For years, I've envisioned a back that could come to Indianapolis and play with the same diversity that made Darren Sproles, well, Darren Sproles. I can live with the Colts backfield of Vick Ballard, Donald Brown and Delone Carter in 2013, but if a guy like Barner is available in the fourth round, or dare I say it, the sixth round, how do you not legitimately think about taking him?

The Colts may have greater concerns, but Ryan Grigson is a big fan of taking the best player available. Why reach to fill a need?

Barner underwhelmed at the Combine with a 4.52 40, but rebounded during his Pro Day with a 4.38. You don't need a 40 time to see how explosive and quick Barner can be, though. His size is a concern, and it could ultimately be what causes him to slide in April, but I think his oozing talent will cause teams to overlook any physical doubts.

Barner is by no means an inside runner. His lower body does not possess the strength to power through the middle of defenses at the next level, and he can sometimes cost himself yards by cutting outside too quickly, instead of following open lanes. Another concern is pass protection, which he knows he has to improve. Small backs need to make up for their size with polished technique, and Barner must become more efficient in protection.

There's also a notion that Barner was purely a product of Chip Kelly's offensive system. I don't buy into that, though. Talent is talent. There's no reason to think that he can find the right system in the NFL. Who knows? Maybe that system will be in Indianapolis.

Pep Hamilton will put more emphasis on the run in 2013, so whether it's Barner that intrigues him, or someone like Stepfan Taylor, it wouldn't be a shock if the Colts select a back in the later rounds.

Scouting Profile via CBSSports:

STRENGTHS: Shifty runner with the stop-start-go ability to shake defenders in tight quarters and break free for long gains. Possesses excellent straight-line speed and is a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands. Quick to the hole and shows very good vision to set up his blocks at the first level and downfield. Natural runner who can lull defenders to sleep by changing his gait and then exploding past them to ruin pursuit angles.

Reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield and as a returner. Experience returning punts and kicks (has returned one of each for a touchdown) and has the vision and running skills to remain in this role at the NFL level.

WEAKNESSES: A finesse runner who only occasionally is able to break free from tackles and generate extra yardage after contact. Relies on cut-blocks rather than taking on pass rushers directly. Has struggled with fumbles over his career, especially when fielding punts and kickoffs.

COMPARES TO: Joe McKnight, RB, New York Jets -- Like McKnight, Barner possesses undeniable athleticism that has resulted in impressive statistics and plenty of highlight reel plays over his career. Each may lack the toughness and physicality, however, to ever serve as more than part of a rotation and special teamer in the NFL.

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
5'9"	196	4.52	20	122"	35.5"*	6.87*	4.20

* indicates top performer

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: John Simon - DE, Ohio State

2013-03-14T20:38:04Z

As a huge Buckeyes fan, I've had the pleasure of watching a lot of John Simon over the last few years, and fortunately for the workout warrior Simon, he is one of the top defensive line prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Simon is an incredibly versatile defender, putting in time as a defensive tackle and defensive end. In his junior year, Simon arguably had his best year, finishing the season with seven sacks (16 for loss, which lead the team) and 53 tackles. Simon then followed up his outstanding junior effort with another stellar year - Simon racked up nine sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble as a senior. This was good enough to earn Simon his second selection to the All-Big Ten first team.

In Buckeye land, Simon is seen as a hard working, blue-collar athlete that has the will and confidence to succeed. Teams will be turned off by his size, but will certainly be intrigued by his work ethic and leadership skills (two-time captain).

With his size concerns, I could see Simon making a permanent move to 3-4 outside linebacker. Coverage could be a problem for Simon, but he makes up for it with his strong fundamentals (great use of hands) and willingness to hit the weight room, and hit it hard.

Simon is somewhat polished, but he's not perfect.

One of strongest criticisms of Simon is his difficulty to get off of blocks. He lacks elite burst, and might be better suited if he dropped some weight to help add some quickness.

Simon did not do work out at the Combine or at Ohio State's Pro Day on Mar. 11 due to a lingering shoulder injury. He will, however, be participating in his own workout on Mar. 25.

The Colts signed OLB Erik Walden to a confusing, 4 year, $16 million deal, but they should still be looking to add a play maker that can rush the edge. If Simon doesn't go in the first round and somehow slips to the third, the Colts could definitely be in play.

That said, I would be astonished if Simon makes it out of the second round.

Scouting Profile via CBSSports:

STRENGTHS: Simon has a motor that never quits, playing extremely relentless as one of the best attacking defenders in college football the past few years. He has a strong upper body to swat and use his limbs to beat blocks with the natural power and forceful playing style to keep blockers off balance and shed.

WEAKNESSES: Simon is almost too bulked up, which limits his fluidity, and he lacks ideal arm length, making it tough for him to disengage at times. He is more of a one-speed rusher and doesn't flash consistent explosion, lacking creativity as an edge rusher. Struggled to cover running backs or tight ends in one-on-one coverage at the Senior Bowl, lacking the natural hip movement or footwork to quickly adjust and blanket his man.

COMPARES TO: Allen Bailey, DE, Kansas City Chiefs - It's tough to find an exact comparison for Simon, but Bailey comes close with their muscular frames, quick feet and relentless attitude. Simon isn't as big as Bailey (285 pounds), but he's just as strong.