Walter Nolen vs Kenneth Grant - PFF grade comparison

[Whatever]

(02-20-2025, 03:16 AM)XsandOs Wrote: The knock on Sweat was weight management and conditioning. The average pre-draft rankings had him an average of late second to third round - the question was who can motivate him and keep with his conditioning. If the inclination towards drinking and partying, which led some to think he may fall into Day 3, was really an issue - he would have been a 4th round pick.  

I feel that him falling to 38, was more a function of the draft being heavy in QB and WR, than the DUI - i think he was our target with our second rounder.

It turned out he was the best of the DTs taken last year. If Grant delivers a 76 PFF season and is the 15th best DT in NFL, I can't see how he lasts past mid first round.

To your opinion of Grant being a better prospect than Sweat - the NFL thinks Sweat was the same or slightly better than Grant (6.38 vs 6.36). They were dead wrong about Sweat at 6.38. And I think they are similarly wrong about Grant. I think Grant is a year-1 starter.

Ultimately; where these players get drafted, depends on the overall strength of the class and which positions are the heaviest. As much as I was hoping we get Sweat last year, I similarly hope we get Grant this year.  

Character issues are tough to predict, simply because there are always teams that overlook it or are willing to overlook it when need and talent coincide.  It only takes one.  Sometimes, it pays off.  Others(Burton), it doesn't.

Grant, I feel, will see his stock get a significant increase at the Combine.  As I mentioned earlier, he reportedly ran a sub-5.00 40 at 360 pounds his freshman year.  People were going gaga for Sweat running 5.27 at 366 at the Combine last year.  Film was a bit better on Sweat coming out, but Grant has a much higher ceiling because he is just a freakish athlete.