Dane Brugler loved this kid. Brugler was the only one that was high on Golladay for whatever that’s worth.
ESPN doesn't even have a film clip prepared for this guy. They pretty much just pretended like the pick didn't happen and immediately moved along.
CONS: Tentative when approaching tackles. Often waits on his heels for contact to come to him, surrendering yardage and the opportunity to deliver a strike/make an impact play. Drag-down tackler who can be shaken in space. Lacks requisite NFL athleticism, especially in space, which does not bode well given how his frame projects to NFL play. Doesn't have significant closing burst and greatly labors when asked to work sideline-to-sideline. Angles are generally too sharp to the line of scrimmage and he loses the corner. Cannot be trusted in coverage. Has little experience in zone, and accordingly his awareness and understanding when tasked with even simple zone responsibilities is limited. Fails to feel routes and react to quarterbacks' eyes. In rare man coverage reps, athletic limitations once again show up. Skills translate to a box MIKE, but frame translates to a space WILL.
Brugler 43. Detroit Lions: Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii Jahlani! One of my favorite players in this year’s class. A modern day linebacker, he has inside-out versatility with the skills to play any down. His tape shows a player who can rush, drop and cover. He was “out of sight, out of mind” because he was from Hawaii and missed the Senior Bowl and Combine, but I LOVED his tape. Great pick by the Lions.
NFL Network basically said "The Patriots liked him in the draft process"...so we just taking people the Pat's scouted heavily
Every year they amaze me even after I tell myself it can't happen Haha Its almost like they took this guy to make everyone forget our first round pick
We do third round picks much better than second round picks, so how do you fix that? You take your third rounder in the second.
This reaction is identical to when the Wings took Tyler Bertuzzi, so clearly this kid is going to be a stud.
One nice thing about the draft for me now is how awful my opinions have been over time. I’ve accepted I don’t know dick.
Detroit Lions: Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii B- Grade Jahlani Tavai is a linebacker with pedestrian instincts, which doesn't sound great. However, he has three-down ability. He's forceful against the run and athletic enough to drop into coverage. I think this is a bit early for Tavai, who was a low Round 2/high Round 3 prospect, but he makes sense for the Lions, who had to upgrade their horrible linebacking corps.
The first three pages of our thread are filled with us praising the Lions for drafting Laken Tomlinson, America’s Abdullah, Alex Carter and Gabe Wright.