The 10 Defensive "Gems" of the 2024 NFL Draft

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Time Stamps
0:00 Welcome back!
1:57 Recapping the USC Pro Day
10:12 Jaden Hicks
17:24 Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
23:23 Jer'Zhan Newton
31:32 Mekhi Wingo
37:00 Payton Wilson
44:57 Junior Colson
50:08 Quinyon Mitchell
55:42 Khyree Jackson
1:01:04 Braden Fiske
1:08:28 Javon Solomon
1:14:12 Honorable Mentions
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[@BootlegFootball]

Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/BOOTLEG -- Terms and conditions apply You can draft 2024 NFL rookies RIGHT NOW in Rookie Best Ball leagues! When you use promo code BOOTLEG at play.underdogfantasy.com/p-bootleg-football with any deposit, they will MATCH that deposit up to $100 AND give you access to a new depositer pick 'em special!

[@CadeRathbone]

My elite comp for Braden Fiske is a Ford Raptor

[@jlafit2626]

😎

[@yeetskeet3]

😂

[@liamcarlson5524]

To me he's more like if somebody managed to shove all of the mechanical components of a Ford Raptor into the body of a Toyota Corolla, the physical attributes aren't quite there but good LORD does that man have a motor

[@tatertots0046]

He's better than Murphy and Newton. I would LOVE if the Seahawks picked him in the 1st round

[@tannerserrano6723]

I think he’s sawed off cam heyward

[@yoloswaggins1933]

Funny thing about Quinyon Mitchell, my buddy is a Toledo fan and we were watching Toledo vs Eastern Michigan back in November. I remember looking at my buddies and saying "i swear every play Toledo makes on defense, the announcer is saying Quinyon Mitchell's name" and now hes a very popular pick for CB1 in this draft

[@walkerharrison8114]

I believe my cousin Logan Woodside was a QB for Toledo a few years back before Bengals drafted him lol and then he got dropped because a DUI lol

[@Nostradamvs_]

Kamari Lassiter, CB from Georgia. One of the best press-man corners in the draft with the size and strength to back it up. Not as twitchy as you’d like, and if a receiver beats him off the line he lacks sufficient recovery speed to make up for it, but he rarely gets beat and is sticky in coverage as long as everything’s on front of him. T’Vondre Sweat, IDL from Texas - needs to work on his conditioning to be a three down guy but as a first and second down player he demands double teams because his size and power will swallow plays up in the run game and he can beat a guard or center one on one in the pass rush. His best role might be in a 3-4 as a true nose but playing in a four down front alongside a pass rush three tech he opens up rushing lanes by forcing protections to slide his way. He creates blocking assignment mismatches just by being on the field. Kris Jenkins - One of the most underrated IDLs in the draft. The pedigree is great. The measurables don’t quite line up to the eye test but he’s a tough, physical player that has a diverse skill set to play the run and the pass in equal measure. Calen Bullock, S from USC - Needs to improve play recognition and also needs be taught that at the NFL level he doesn’t need to go hunting for INTs just needs to play his assignments, but he’s got all the athleticism and size you could ask for and a playmaking ability that is second to none at the safety position in this draft. Marshawn Kneeland, Edge from Western Michigan - Feels like the next Jared Allen type of pure pass rushing edge coming out of a small school that is absolutely going to cool at the NFL level. Tailor made for a guy like Steve Spagnuolo who loves big, long, athletic defensive ends.

[@MarchOnRome]

Some of my personal favorite Day 3 defensive sleepers, before I watch: • Mohamed Kamara, Edge, Colorado State • Cedric Gray, LB, UNC • Jonah Ellis, Edge, Utah • DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke

[@ejsnyder5734]

You know we love Mo, but I am 100% with you on Carter (his 2022 tape is eye-opening) and Gray (one of my favorite down-the-board guys I think will develop).

[@CaptCKernel]

Jalyx Hunt is my favorite "probably won't get drafted but should" this year. M

[@benjaminbrown3951]

Kamara is undersized and hes not exactly heavy handed..not a fit in green bay..LVN, Gary, Preston Smith, Enagbare..All big fast power ends.

[@mr.greymatter9777]

Ellis is good but he’s going early day 2

[@guycorbin6631]

Solomon, Kamara, Kneeland, Harrell and Myles Cole are great value EDGE players with crazy motors. Classic Ravens style pick.

[@darkokat]

Kneeland is gonna be 2nd round pick. Not really value haha

[@nastradumbass]

Get you a woman that loves you like EJ loves coffee 😅

[@treysonmcgrady4750]

He just like me fr

[@BullRush79]

They dont exist

[@e2rqey]

like Brett loves Rome Odunze

[@nastradumbass]

@@e2rqey facts

[@joeynickles7962]

One of the things that tends to get lost in evals is the context in which they are made. A huge part of that context is the specific games that one bases their evals off of. I just finished my Quinyon eval and I watched the full cutups from 5 games: vs 2023 Eastern Michigan, 2023 Illinois, 2023 Northern Illinois, 2023 Miami (OH) and 2022 Ohio State. I did not see “hands like a snake”. First game I watched was Eastern Michigan. 12 min 12 sec to go in the 1st quarter on 3rd and 16 and he undercuts the hook and picks it off. Granted he caught the ball with his body so it’s far from an example of great hands but he did his job and caught the ball with the receiver draped on his back and raking at it. I counted that as the 1 opportunity he had in that game for a pick and he made it. Now going through these other games there’s really only 1 drop, and it was an egregious one that came when the quarterback in the Northern Illinois game threw it right in his breadbasket. I didn’t see any other actual drops in those games. What I saw was him making a shit ton of plays on the ball and usually knocking it away with one hand using a combination of his exceptional athletic explosiveness and absolutely pristine timing. Occasionally he would break just a hair late and the receiver would catch it. So my question: which games do I need to watch to see that he has “hands like a snake”? Because outside of that awful drop in that Northern Illinois game it’s not on those 5 tapes. Also, EJ talks about how physical he is as a tackler. So again, just some context: I just got done watching Andru Phillips and Chau Smith-Wade before Quinyon. Smith-Wade and Phillips were much more physical on the tapes I saw than Mitchell. I watched Phillips against 2023 Georgia, 2023 Mizzou, 2023 Tennessee and 2023 Louisville. Now he has tackling problems because he takes some bad angles and doesn’t always wrap up but in terms of willingness and physicality, it was way more apparent with him than Mitchell. I only watched 2 games of Chau’s: 2023 Oregon and 2022 USC and just in those two games Smith-Wade’s there was a different level of physicality than I saw in those 5 Quinyon tapes. Smith-Wade on those 2 tapes looked like an OUTSTANDING wrap tackler and a guy that relishes the physical side of the game despite not being the biggest guy. Now Mitchell: turn on the 2022 Ohio State tape. Watch late in the 4th quarter as they send him on a blitz near the goal line and he has basically a free shot at the back and just falls off like gnat. That’s a little bit of an aberration in the sense that he’s usually a reliable enough tackler in that he’ll get guys on the ground but in terms of really showing physicality and having a chance to unload on somebody that stood out as little bit of a wtf moment. And that’s just one play but there are numerous other instances on tape where, especially in the run game, he has a chance to really fit it aggressively and really stick his nose in there and fails to do so. There was a notable reluctance to really bring in the run game on those tapes at times. But apparently I haven’t seen the right games. So which games do I need to watch to really see him bring it in the run game and show up as a real asset in that part of the game?

[@blitzburgh9066]

Joey Porter and Khyree Jackson would be a scary press man corner duo

[@TakeTheCardsFromBidwill]

I’m surprised Mo Kamara wasn’t one you guys fought over. He’s on my personal list, for sure. Edit: There’s the mention at the end. Fair play. I love Solomon too.

[@majorpaine89]

Those two guys are mid-round gems for sure.

[@nathanclifton6042]

Can you believe that Western Michigan had both Marshawn Kneeland and Braden Fiske on their team

[@jona.scholt4362]

Don't forget Andre Carter, who transferred to IU and who might get drafted as well. (I live in Kalamazoo and like to go to a couple WMU games a year) The fact Michigan's new DL coach, recruited and developed those guys at Western, I'd feel pretty good about that hire as a Michigan fan.

[@NicFre-zx1jj]

1st time listening to this podcast and I really enjoyed it. Great pace of discussion and I appreciated the details.

[@wesleyneumann8640]

JAVON SOLOMAN MENTIONED THAT'S MY BOY!!!

[@eriklarson9875]

Love dis, Can't wait for the 10 special teams gems of the draft!

[@tyler2081]

Perfect for my flu weekend :) Thanks guys

[@johnweatherly7909]

Always look forward to these! Great job guys!

[@zackarykasprzak3073]

Kinda forgot about them. My algorithm hasn't been feeding me them but they do a pretty nice job.

[@ejsnyder5734]

Appreciate that!

[@ejsnyder5734]

@@zackarykasprzak3073 I mean, you could always subscribe, for the low, low price of... a click?

[@timf.2831]

As someone in/around NC State for a good bit while Wilson was there and watched a lot of his early defnesive film, he has had tremendous growth over the course of his career. EJ said he was a good tackler. I would argue before this season he wasn't. He played super high and was heavily influenced by leading with and leveraging with his shoulder rather than wrapping up and other technique. His zone drops is one of his biggest +s by a lot of people but go back and he was often out of place, whether it was a recognition or getting drawn in. Wilson is a 6th year guy but the growth he had from year 4 to 6, and even 5 to 6 might make him one of the most improved football players wholesale in this class. He completely elevated himself of every facet as a football player this season.

[@Andrew-vy1jn]

Just going off of what Brett has told me about Jaden Hicks my conp would be rashawn Jenkins but I haven't watched Hicks

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Johnny Newton is DT1, Maybe a Top 10 pick. Giving Illinois the top CB's last year, DT this year. 😳 Coach Bret Is Elite 💯

[@jacobblue52]

LOVE YOU GUYSSSSS

[@kevinlurker1]

Great content, thanks!

[@ejsnyder5734]

Welcome!

[@tcho86]

One of the best channels out there for draft talk.

[@ejsnyder5734]

💪

[@mattchew6426]

You guys should do a video about each team, after the draft. Give us some highlights for each pick, their stats, and their potential in the system that they each got drafted into.

[@issaikh]

Quinyon Mitchell, YOU are an Indianapolis Colt.

[@Andrew-vy1jn]

Nope a jaguar I'm aware he doesn't super fit the Jacksonville scheme but h can absolutely become that corner

[@hazard10i22]

He’s coming to the eagles brother

[@Andrew-vy1jn]

@@hazard10i22 you're team is good please leave talent for the less fortunate

[@king_supreme1102]

@@hazard10i22Y’all aren’t gonna have much say in who the colts pick. Maybe Arnold can fall to you tho. Which would be sick.

[@Spadille_]

Not before the Eagles, we’re trading up to the 14th

[@cknight0518]

FYI. Mekhi Wingo missed 6 games with a groin injury this past year. And he played a lot of games with that injured groin, which hampered his get-off. He's hugely slept on.

[@JusticeDutton]

Here for mo kamara takes. Fingers crossed

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Last White Dude at DT who moved like that 😅😂🤔 Dan Hampton Da 🐻. Fiske is special

[@supercow376]

QB deep dive video!?!? One can only hope!

[@Stemtea1]

First timer and new subcriber good info

[@BootlegFootball]

Welcome aboard!

[@TheLeeBC]

My defensive gems are Jarrian Jones from Florida State and Elijah Jones from Boston College. I would bet on both these guys because of the production alone but the RAS is great also.

[@lemonman5408]

My gems are Laitu Latu, Johnny Newton, Mike Sainristil, Nate Wiggins, and Tykee Smith

[@NFLfeelgoodfootball]

I am all for the Jaden Hicks love easily my Safety number 2

[@packers12to80]

I'm hoping the Packers snag him at some pt. Since we need another safety badly to pair with Xavier McKinney

[@davidmarrazzo774]

Completely agree on Jaden Hicks…stud

[@emmetkilmer3348]

Digging the Arc'teryx shirt, Brett!!

[@BootlegFootball]

It's so comfy

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Jayden Hicks, High Ras Score, Is everywhere at his size. 6-2 and can play CF. Pry goes Rd 4-5, maybe 3. Should be a very good player. Yep ST Ace as well so he will provide production while developing. I think he's ready the after week 5 to actually play.

[@WunderOps]

I want to start Payton Wilson at strong safety. Let's go!

[@jp27whodey31]

I have Qb fatigue so I tuned in to a defense gems video..my reward you spout off about Caleb Williams for 20 minutes😂😂

[@smyers9052]

Payton Wilson has a lot of excellent traits. And some good tape. But he was a disaster vs Notre Dame, and that’s the only team with NFL caliber physicality he faced all year. Dominated in the run game from start to finish. If he’s totally clean, I like him. But that’s a tall order in the NFL. He struggles to disengage, even from tight ends and big receivers. I wouldn’t touch him in first two rounds.

[@BeniEnigma]

Brandon Dorlus would be a dream fit in Jacksonville playing alongside Travon Walker. Allen, Armstead, Dorlus, Walker is a formidable defensive front

[@tdrivers1102]

Hoping that Mike Sainristil is mentioned. He is a dawg

[@am3nn]

I hope Brett finally gets around to releasing all his position rankings before the actual draft lmao. Some of my gems Evan Williams, S, Oregon Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State Max Melton, CB, Rutgers Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State

[@trevorhicks3656]

Brett please do and edge breakdown ranking tiers list you guys are #1 AP❤ P.S Jawhar Jordan will have a Bootleg size chip on his shoulder

[@ministarick]

Oh Caleb, we never knew you, Chicago hasn’t banked Lombardi Trophies, but the Bears own the Pro-Football Hall Of Fame. Lets git it!🎉

[@iwannatalktosampson5852]

Shurif Floyd was amazing before the injuries

[@shevanteday9579]

Man was missing the biggest gem of the draft Jonah Elliss from Utah I know the injuries scare ya but man the tape doesn't lie at all.

[@mrmres]

It’s funny you say “throw-back” CB, because Khyree Jackson reminds me of Mel Blount “Body type wise”.

[@thetez96]

Where do u guys put Orhorhoro as a 5T DE type with guys like K Jenkins Jr, Mason Smith, B Murphy II, etc and what do u like/love & dislike about him & his potential?

[@Stemtea1]

I remember drooling over Shariff Floyd as a draft prospect

[@kyledabearsfan]

As a Bears fan, we hear this praise a lot, but we are gotten our hopes up so many times. Its hard to believe, that will fade with more football games hopefully. This roster looks soon to be scary. We will see if Williams is the guy. Lord knows if he throws for 4k we will probably build him a statue lol

[@E2J25]

Hello internet. Idk why I'm watching this as I'm a bit drunk and will need to rewatch when I'm sober, buy I hope you are all doing well. Sincerely a semi drunk Marine ❤

[@samuelclark5793]

Tykee Smith and Kamari Lassiter both had incredible senior seasons. Lassiter allowed 0 touchdowns in coverage as CB1 for Georgia.

[@phays10]

I hope the hawks draft him. I want him near so i can cheer for him weekly. Go COUGS!!!

[@felixlara2945]

I think a fun idea is predicted the first round reach like there's always the guy who was never in any first round talks that gets taken

[@marcorangel1625]

Hes a charger im very happy steal at pick 69

[@phays10]

I was hoping hou would talk my guy Hicks and Jackson.

[@vsauce4678]

Mekhi wingo is the best. He's a beast

[@meechrawls]

I think if the Giants trade down with Vikings quinon Mitchell can be the guy at 11. Pair him with banks could be a great pairing

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Wingo has a 7.98 Ras so, pretty good athlete. I actually like the other Lsu DT as a project player. Guy looks like Bruce Smith coming off the bus 😅🤷

[@Brunzy1970]

Just a tip guys, add some video or pictures of the guys you're speaking about.

[@owenpustell3808]

Love the video, but I disagree with the idea that Colson is a one trick pony. I cover Michigan and he makes plays sideline to sideline against the run… I know you mention his speed, but I put together clips of him moving sideline-to-sideline (like actually on my channel) and the boy can MOVE. He made plenty of tackles from the backside and had nice snaps in man coverage.

[@smyers9052]

Fiske another guy I really worry about as a run defender. He’s the consummate splash player with elite traits, like a more developed Taven Bryan. Now, that’s not all bad, but he struggles when guys get their hands on him because, at 290, he is undersized. DLs are getting smaller, but sub-300 lb IDLs are far from the norm, and his play reflects this. BC was a tough day at the office. Fiske is a high upside rotational piece to me, and I agree with EJ that 3rd round is where he belongs. Don’t get me wrong he might take another step, but 2nd round is too high for me.

[@BoltarThePirate]

Why is Maason Smith mocked so late? His tape looks very good, his testing looks good. Love him for the interior of the Bengals with Reader gone.

[@alejandrodlt1976]

I am. HUGE jalen hicks fan I think he will b a top saftey one day

[@brothgarabernathy4568]

I think it is very funny that you say it isn't fair to comp Jackson to Sherman because Jackson is likely to go on day 2 but Sherman went on the equivalent of day 3.

[@frozenblades--3181]

Khyree come to Denver!

[@BraedonStorey]

I have a funny feeling that Carolina will take LB Wilson at 33 and WR Leggett at 39. Both have been talked about.

[@danbradley9754]

Last year, Ivan Pace Jr was someone you guys spoke highly of all year, but he went undrafted before landing a starting job in Minnesota by the end of the season. Of the players you named here (or maybe it's someone else getting a ton of draft buzz), who would be most at risk of going undrafted but we'll be talking about in a "how did he go undrafted" way at this time next year?

[@BootlegFootball]

probably Solomon, I'd imagine

[@packers12to80]

Id love hicks to the packers 😂. I appreciate that.

[@drewmarro6921]

Andru Phillips and Renardo Green sre mine

[@chrisanderson2748]

Bears fans are always insanely negative for no reason. This #1 prospect in particular has gotten so much hate for literally no reason. I think a lot of us just got too attached to JF1 at the end of the season and are needlessly bitter now that Caleb is the path the team has chosen.

[@metalgamer9647]

As a big JF1 fan I wholeheartedly agree. I’m excited for Caleb, idc about the chatter about character concerns. I just want him to be good and not be toxic, which by all accounts he is not.

[@lovelaj0149]

It's not no reason. It's history. The Bears have literally never had a franchise QB. Their best QB was Cutler and their SB wins came with a masterful defense in a completely different league than what we have today. I think Caleb will succeed personally. Still, the reason to think he won't it's nothing. The Bears have never developed a guy.

[@collinellis3503]

surprised T'vondre Sweat didnt even get a mention. whats more fun than watching a 366 pound defensive tackle move O linemen around like children

[@darrylgrodi6668]

How did you do last year? 1:07

[@cremedelapants8391]

Came here to get mad at Bret about something he said about Kyle Hamilton, but now can't remember what it was. The anger sharks are swimming in my head, but don't know where they're going.

[@marclarson6418]

Giants need 1 more d-line player and now I want to see Johnny Newton next to dexy

[@the_carter_smith]

We cannot let the Rams get ahold of Johnny Newton.

[@Gamerguy-501]

Caleb Williams arms is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!! The Bears fans need to accept by now that this is there Patrick Mahomes that is literally there missing piece that they’ve been wanting since the 2017 draft and leaving Mahomes on the board… Bears can’t screw this up at all! As a Packers fan, I’m hoping it’s Williams but if it’s Daniels over Williams, then Bears fans will never stop hearing shit from NFL fans around the league

[@raystonge154]

If Wilson is taken in the 1st it'll be in the last THREE picks not 2, don't forget Detroit has #29. 100% a Holmes type guy

[@anthonys3892]

I hope the Bears select the best defensive player in this draft.

[@captainspartan04]

Don’t know how many interceptions Caleb Williams is going to get you

[@antwanr5058]

Ten minutes of glazing CW in a “defense” video is crazy.

[@andrew_xlr]

Really wish Brett would start every gems episode with a nice "uncut jahms" in his best valley girl voice

[@jonathanbillingslea1262]

Who was the higher rated prospect between Williams and Lawrence?

[@ejsnyder5734]

Depends on who you ask. For me: Williams.

[@jonathanbillingslea1262]

@@ejsnyder5734 thank u! I don't mean it like a gotcha. I just wanted to see where talent evaluators viewed him. It's easy context to rate qbs against their class, but not easy at all from different classes. I remember hearing Lawrence was rated higher than luck by some, only 2nd to Peyton. With the noise around Williams, I feel we didn't hear people talking him up as much

[@FantasySportsZen]

Josh Allen.

[@jacobblue52]

Im UNBELIEVABLY early

[@bubbaone1575]

Doesn't Wilson have medical issues? If I'm right, will this keep him off boards or knock him down a round or two?

[@ejsnyder5734]

We heard his Combine medicals were clean... but we don't get access to that stuff. 🤷‍♂

[@Capncomeback2023]

Hoping Dallas gets him in the 2nd Round after taking OL in the 1st.

[@tonysoprallen]

Kitan Oladapo erasure smh dude's tape is amazing, my sleeper safety on early day 3

[@ejsnyder5734]

Nah, just a short list. Sat next to his mom at the Oregon State pro day. I really like him as a Day 3 pick.

[@mitchellty]

At least one of these guys is headed to the colts

[@stevep2380]

Imagine if colston falls to Detroit in the middle rounds. Jack Campbell and colston in the middle behind DJ reader and alim McNeil? Not running on that.

[@charterrr]

imo corner window opens at 13 if vegas can’t get up for a QB

[@DBDonBoogie1]

Demerson is going to be drafted before Jaden Hicks. Stamp it

[@RonaldPhillips-hh4yo]

I hope the Texans get t' Sweat 42 pick

[@lucrative6477]

He got hands like a snake is fantastic.

[@liambooth5377]

A TOOL reference, I feel seen.

[@ejsnyder5734]

A lot of draft takes are a bullshit, three-ring, circus sideshow of freaks

[@Koshea69]

Steelers ended up with someone off each list, neat!

[@King_Immanuel]

Im very glad you guys spoke on Caleb at the beginning. The narrative people are putting on him thats hes "toxic" or a "diva" that have no substance is draining. Dudes want to see a kid fail just because hes good

[@j.r.3945]

Nah people wanna see him fall* to their team

[@nicks2253]

The bootleg football intro always gets me head bangin. 🫨

[@jacobdepriest4754]

Raiders need a lb a cb and a safety. Our dline is going to be bad ass!

[@poppynlilys_dad774]

I'm not sure comparing a guy to James Houston is exactly a glowing endorsement at this point.

[@matthewpraayjr.9797]

I want Mohammed Kamara to Chicago as a dedicated third down pass rusher

[@sxint15]

Not enough talk about Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

[@ejsnyder5734]

He hits like a truck. Pretty handsy in coverage but if he adjusts, he'll be dangerous.

[@scubadiver6895]

could fiske be an olb like tj watt at the next level?