Big Blue Huddle

https://x.com/nickfalato/status/1784259964988535139

107. NEW YORK GIANTS: THEO JOHNSON, TE, PENN STATE
Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 259 pounds

STRENGTHS
Elite size and vertical athleticism
Play strength
Blocking ability

WEAKNESSES
Raw route runner
Lacks burst

Team Fit: Theo Johnson is a better player on paper than he is on the field, but he can make an early impact with Darren Waller's future in question.

Grade: B

Cosell

THEO JOHNSON'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 259 lbs.
40-Time: 4.57
10-Yard Split: 1.55
Vertical: 39.5"
Broad Jump: 10'5"
3-Cone: 7.15
Shuttle: 4.19

THEO JOHNSON 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
Alignment versatility in playing attached and detached to the formation, in the slot and split wide.
Very good size and strength allows him to have success engaging and maintain blocks in run, screen game.
Solid run blocker. Moves feet well and works hands to stay engaged with room for improvement with coaching.
Good tempo and pace as a blocker, allowing him to take the right angles and stay under control when in space.
Deceptive speed due to being a long strider and covers ground well vertically (good down the seams).
Good feel for route running in relation to coverage in how he uses his stem to set up his routes and separate.
Uses size well to make contested catches. Good catch radius to secure passes outside of his frame (RZ target).
Solid runner after the catch, who uses a blend of speed and power to pick up additional yards.

WEAKNESSES:
Better vertically than laterally. More smooth than sudden in his movements as route runner and ball carrier.
Upright playing style with stiff hips and choppy footwork when redirecting laterally, effecting separation ability.
Struggles to separate against quicker defenders on short to intermediate routes, especially in man coverage.
Willing and capable blocker, but due to his size, he plays upright at the point of contact, at times limiting his movement.

NFL TRANSITION:
Johnson possesses the position versatility to be used in multiple personnel groups and schemes because of his ability to play attached and detached, especially in the slot and use in the red zone as matchup problem for opposing defenses. His ability to block allows him to be to be either a primary TE or secondary TE in multiple TE sets.

Very good blocker who plays under control with good technique at the point of attack while possessing the athleticism and movement skills to stay engaged. Big frame and catch radius allow him to make catches in traffic or over the middle of the field.

He is a long strider with deceptive vertical speed to allow him to attack the seams. He struggles to redirect laterally as a route runner due to his upright playing style limiting his separation out of sharper in and out-breaking routes. He has a good feel for defensive coverage schemes and finding voids when running his routes, especially over the middle down the seams.

Overall, Johnson is an all-around TE with noticeable upside potential, who has the ability to contribute as a run blocker and as a versatile pass catcher who can make plays from attached or detached alignment. Johnson can be a Year 1 contributor in multiple TE sets and eventually develop into a solid No. 1 TE.

OTHER NOTES:
Johnson came out of Canada as 4-star recruit and was ranked 61st in the National across all positions and ranked third at the TE position. Was selected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game prior to going to Penn State.

Started in 28 games over his last three seasons and was All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2023. Finished his career with 77 receptions, 938 yards and 12 TDs (7 TDs in 2023). Tied for fourth in the National among TEs with 11 receiving TDs over the last two seasons.

In 2022, Johnson had very good alignment versatility with 71 routes run from an attached TE alignment with 76 routes run from a slot alignment and 33 routes run from an outside WR alignment, having most of his success catching the ball and production from an attached alignment (13 receptions for 168 yards and 3 TDs). He had some success from the slot with six receptions for 132 yards and 1 TD.

In 2023, Johnson again had very good alignment versatility. He had even more routes run from a detached alignment in the slot, with 121 routes and 13 receptions for 127 yards and 3 TDs, with 24 routes run from an outside alignment (151 routes detached from formation) and had 97 routes run from an attached alignment with 17 catches for 185 yards and 4 TDs.


McGinn

4. THEO JOHNSON, Penn State (6-6, 261, 4.62, 3-4): Helped himself at the combine with a solid 40, a 39 ½-inch vertical jump and a position-best short shuttle of 4.19. "I'd rather take a shot on him than Sanders," one scout said. "He's on the upside. He's got assertiveness with his blocking but he's not consistent with his blocking. He can make hard, adjusting catches but he can't run after the catch. He doesn't make people miss in space." Started 29 of 45 games over four years, finishing with 77 receptions for 938 (12.2) and 12 TDs. "He's a little bit intriguing," said another scout. "He's a big guy. He's fast. He'll give you effort as a blocker. He's much improved in that area. He's got ball skills. He's a really clunky mover, a really unnatural route runner. He's Canadian, so he's raw. I thought he might go back to school. If somebody really wants one they might take him in the third but I don't think he's worth that." From Windsor, Ontario.


NFL.com

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 3

Overview
Highly recruited out of high school, Johnson looks the part with an above-average frame and traits. While teams might want to place him in an elevated silo for consideration, they might not find the consistency or high number of flashes on tape that they were expecting. Johnson's run blocking is below average for his size, and adopting a glass-eating mentality in conjunction with technique work could help him improve in that area. He'll make contested catches and is adequate against man coverage, but he lacks dynamic qualities as a pass catcher. Traits will work in his favor, but there is work to be done to become anything more than an average backup.

Strengths
Excellent size and build with good musculation across his frame.
Displays decent lift with hips/hands when fitting up his base block.
Widens base and runs his feet through initial contact.
Runs routes with proper leverage to stem and separate at break point.
Will make the contested catch more times than not.

Weaknesses
Tends to drift rather than sit down when sinking into zone voids.
Not a very dynamic runner after the ball is in his hands.
Waist-bending into run blocks allows edge defender to slip off and around.
Missing a hard-hat run-blocking mentality as a Y tight end.
Needs to improve his mirror-and-strike talent against moving fronts.
GRADE

Brugler


THEO JOHNSON | Penn State 6061 | 259 lbs. | 4SR Windsor, Ontario (Holy Names) 2/26/2001 (age 23.16) #84
BACKGROUND: Theodore "Theo" Johnson, the thirdoldestof six boys, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (north of the Minnesota-Canada border). His parents (Nate
and Amy)moved the family to Brampton and then Cambridge (both in Ontario, just outside of Toronto), and Johnson started playing football in second grade. In
January 2009, Amy and her sixboys left a difficult and allegedly abusive situation at home — Theo reportedly referred to it as an "escape" — and Nate was given a
nine-month jail sentence (he was released on time served). For the next three months, Amy (in school at the time studying social development at Waterloo) and the
boys were forced to live in alternative housing. They attended food banks to make ends meet. The family moved to Windsor, Ontario in August 2012, so Amy could
attend law school at the University of Windsor. She graduated with her law degree in 2015 and is now a family law litigator — shemade partner at her firm in 2021.
Johnson attended Holy Names Catholic High School in Windsor, where he was a two-year letterman as a wide receiver (Canadianrulesfootball). He led the program
to back-to-back city and region championships in 2018 and 2019 and was named All-City and All-Canada both years. Johnson caught 18 touchdowns over his junior
and senior seasons and was named an Under Armour All-American.
A four-star recruit, Johnson was the No. 3 tight end in the 2020 recruiting class (behind Arik Gilbert and Michael Mayer) and the No. 1 recruit from Ontario. He was
the No. 72 recruit nationally (a few spots ahead of RB Jahmyr Gibbs). He was an unknown in the recruiting world until the summer of 2018, when he impressed at the
Grand Valley State "Best of the Midwest" recruiting camp. Bowling Green offered him on the spot,followed by Cincinnati and Toledo. Over the next calendar year,
Johnson attracted a few dozen scholarship offers from some of the nation's top programs, like Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State. He narrowed down his choice
to Georgia, Iowa, Michigan and Penn State,and he committed to head coach James Franklin in December 2019. Johnson enrolled early and was the second-ranked
recruit in the Nittany Lions' 2020 class (behind five-star LB Curtis Jacobs).
Johnson'sfather played wide receiver at Mott Community College (1976-77) and Hillsdale College (1978-79) and was drafted in the seventh round (No. 193) of the
1980 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Nate also ran track at Hillsdale and played several years in the CFL (1982 -84). Theo's older brother (Dominic) played
quarterback at Buffalo before moving to wide receiver and leading the team in receiving as a redshirt seniorin 2021. He was drafted No. 32 in the 2021 CFL Draft by
Edmonton. Dominic also played basketball for two seasons at Buffalo, including on the team that upset Arizona in the first round ofthe 2018 NCAA tournament, and
was a graduate assistant coach for the Alabama basketball team in 2022-23. Johnson'sfour other brothers are Nathan, Levi, Michael and Keon. Johnson is older for a
four-year college prospect, because Canadian rules require a fifth year of high school. He accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl.
YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD DROP NOTES
2020: (8/1) 4 56 14.0 0 0 Enrolled in January 2020; pandemic-shortened season
2021: (13/6) 19 213 11.2 1 2
2022: (11/9) 20 328 16.4 4 2 Missed two games (injury)
2023: (13/13) 34 341 10.0 7 2 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten; Led team in receiving TDs
Total: (45/29) 77 938 12.2 12 6
HT WT HAND ARM WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 6061 259 10 1/4 33 80 3/4 4.57 2.68 1.61 39 1/2 10'5" 4.19 7.15 - (no bench press – choice)
PRO DAY - 261 - - - - - - - - - - 19 (bench press only – choice)
STRENGTHS: Good-looking athlete with ideal size/speed measurements for the position ... smooth mover with fluid control of his body as a route runner and at the
catch point (best short shuttle among tight ends at the combine)... flashes the acceleration to gain a step of separation on runway routes ... snares the ball well in
stride and quickly securesit to protect the catch ... has no problem expanding his catch radius to climb the ladder and adjust to inaccurate passes ... looks comfortable
securing grabs in traffic ... shows his quickness on cutoff blocks and made steady strides with his run blocking... awarded Penn State's "Iron Lion" Award for strength
and conditioning as a senior (NFL scout: "I know (Pat) Freiermuth influenced him a lot when he got there and showed him what it takes to play big-boy football.") ...
was a regular on punt- and kick-return coverage as a senior (243 career snaps) ... experienced across the formation.
WEAKNESSES: Runs predictable routes and gives tells to defenders on his intended path ... has the balance to make the first man miss, just doesn't do it enough (only
two catches of 25-plus yards in 2023) ... needs to show better snap through his hips, both as a route runner and blocker ... tends to overextend himself as a blocker
and needs to improve his base and positioning to control the point of attack ... committed five penalties in 2023 (three false starts, one pass interference, one
unsportsmanlike conduct) ... below-average career production (fewer than 1,000 career receiving yards ... off-field vetting will be key, as he was charged with two
misdemeanors (one for simple assault, one for criminal mischief), stemming from a February 2023 incident at a fraternity house (Johnson was ordered to complete a
six-month, pre-trial intervention program for first-time offenders).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Penn State, Johnson was a versatile tight end in former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's RPO-based scheme, splitting his time
betweeninline (47.9 percent), slot (38.8 percent) and wide (9.8 percent). A wide receiver in high school in Canada, he faced a steep transition moving to tight end at
State College and didn't have a 100-yard receiving performance in 45 college games (and reached 75 yards just once). But his production steadily climbed each
season, and he led the Nittany Lions in touchdown grabs in 2023. Johnson is quick off the ball and builds his speed downfield, giving his quarterback a big tar get with
his size, strong hands and athletic catch radius. As a blocker, he doesn't embarrass himself but needs to better understand leverage and develop mor e of a glasschewing mentality. Overall, Johnson has inconsistent college tape and production, but he has A-plus measurements and smooth athletic tools that could allow him
to continue developing and become a better pro than college player. Although he is a work in progress, he is a worthy long-term investment for an NFL team.
GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 80 overall)

Discuss

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Discuss here


Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
·
1m
A reminder for Day 3 of the draft: Most NFL folks I've talked to believe the quality of the class collapses after Round 4. It's the effect of NIL & the portal, keeping guys in school—just 58 underclassmen declared (was 130 in '21).

Expect scrambling to get targeted guys today.

Dan Duggan
@DDuggan21
My daily public service (that I started researching for my own purposes but figured I'd share), here's the expected time for the Giants' three picks today:

• Pick 107: Around 12:17
• Pick 166: Around 3
• Pick 183: Around 3:45

That's a long wait between the fourth and fifth round picks due to the pick swap with Carolina in the fifth from the Burns trade. No matter what Schoen does today, he gets an A+ as long as he doesn't add a seventh round pick in a trade.
11:32 AM · Apr 27, 2024
·
9,483
 Views

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on Today at 11:24:16 AMNot for me, but I understand some fans are disappointed because the offense was so much worse than the D last year and our marquee player acquisition during free agency was defense.

For me, this team has so many needs that apart from trying to get one of the top three QBs at the top of the first round, I didn't want them to be position-driven with their draft approach. I want the best players they can possibly get.

The draft is more like a clearance sale than a supermarket.  You have to grab the guys who are of value at positions of needs.  It's not like you go down the RB aisle and find "second-round RB"

Justin Penik
@JustinPenik
Media Consensus Board Rankings of reported Giants Top 30 Visits left on the board:

QB Spencer Rattler #76

WR Tejhaun Palmer #398

RB Audric Estime #123

OT Giovanni Manu #325

TE Theo Johnson #93 (local)

DL Khristian Boyd #180

EDGE Mohamed Kamara #102 (local), Pheldarius Payne #369

LB Tyrice Knight #185

S Jaden Hicks #69

CB Chigozie Anusiem #244

Schoen pointed out the Giants already paid a $2 million plus roster bonus to Slayton, so a trade is unlikely

The 33rd Team
@The33rdTeamFB
The 🔟 best players available entering Day 3 of the 2024 Draft:

1. Ja'Tavion Sanders (TE)
2. Cedric Gray (LB)
3. Mekhi Wingo (DT)
4. Leonard Taylor III (DT)
5. Beaux Limmer (C)
6. Austin Booker (EDGE)
7. Christian Mahogany (G)
8. Hunter Nourzad (C)
9. Caelen Carson (CB)
10. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (CB)

Media Q&A with Tyler Nubin:

Q. Tyler, congratulations...

TYLER NUBIN: What's going on, man. Thank you, thank you so much.

Q. Just curious, how much interaction did you have with the Giants in this process and what was your reaction when they called you to let you know you were their pick?

TYLER NUBIN: I had great interactions with them. They came out and saw me. I did a workout for them. Got on the board, had a great conversation with their coaches. A great conversation with them at the Combine, too, as well, going over film. It was a great atmosphere being around them, and being around Coach Daboll, as well. It was great, honestly. I was so happy when they called me and when that call came in because we already had a connection.

Q. What kind of player are you and what are you bringing to the Giants, do you think?

TYLER NUBIN: I'm an everything player. I feel like I'm a guy that can do it all on the field. I like to call myself a Swiss Army knife. I can move around everywhere. I can blitz. I am come down and hit the box, I can play over the top. Anywhere on the field I'm comfortable.

Q. Who from the team was there for your work out?

TYLER NUBIN: The safeties coach (Michael Treier) and I think their assistant GM (Brandon Brown).

Q. What about your ability to track the ball and intercept it? Seems to be something you did quite well in college.

TYLER NUBIN: It comes from my preparation, for real. I feel like that's really what it is – how I approach the game, the things I do throughout the week to set myself up for success on the weekend, on Saturdays, now Sundays, to make the game easy.

Q. When you met with the Giants, you know, they are coming in with a new defensive system and with a new defensive coordinator, did you get to do any work with them as far as what you'll be asked to do, what they expect their safeties to do?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah. We did a little bit of work on just understanding the basics of their defense and what they ask their safeties to do. Not specifically what they want me to do. Just being able to teach me a couple things.

Q. How emotional of a moment was that when your phone rang and it was the Giants?

TYLER NUBIN: Oh, man, I've been crying the last 35 minutes (laughs). No, for real.

Q. What were you doing tonight? What were the plans and how were you approaching tonight?

TYLER NUBIN: I had a bunch of my family and friends, we had a little venue that we rented just with couches and tables to watch the Draft. I was surrounded by all of my close family and friends. So when that came in, it was awesome, man, to be around them.

Q. For you personally, why did it hit so hard? What about it made it so special to you?

TYLER NUBIN: Honestly, not even thinking about the work that I put in. The work everybody around me put in, my parents have been working so hard for me all my life, being able to set me up in a good situation. You know, teach me the right things. All of my family and friends around me, on top of the work that I put in, there's just so many people and so many sacrifices that were made over a long period of time leading up to this moment, it just all came out. Honestly that's what it was.

Q. I read a story about you in The Star Tribune that when, I believe, you were in Illinois, living in Illinois and you kind of met with a coach to say that you were going to put in the work to get to be, frankly, in the position you're in now. Do I have some of that right or all of that right?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, yeah, that was my high school coach.

Q. Okay...

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah.

Q. Have you heard from (center) John Michael Schmitz yet?

TYLER NUBIN: I have not. My phone is blowing up. I've got to call him, actually.

Q. Are you good friends with him or do you know him pretty well since you guys were teammates?

TYLER NUBIN: Oh, yeah, me and John Michael are super close. I was actually hoping I'd get a chance to play with him and (inside linebacker) Carter (Coughlin).

Q. I read that you had a knee surgery after the season. Just what was the problem with your knee and how much did that affect you in the pre-Draft process?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, so I played like six games on a torn meniscus last year. Got it scoped at the end of the season. I kind of accelerated my recovery process to get myself ready for the Combine because I really wanted to compete at the Combine and pro day. So, that kind of bit me in the butt a little bit. It affected me, but honestly, I wouldn't do anything differently than I did because I really just wanted to compete.

Q. I saw some clips of you. You looked like you are a center fielder out there. Is that how you read the play?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I'm real comfortable running under the ball and going to get it. That's my game for real.

Q. I think you were the first safety taken. Does that mean something to you, and were you aware of that? Like did you compare yourself to the other guys throughout the process?

TYLER NUBIN: Honestly, I'm just thankful for this opportunity. I was going to cry my eyes out no matter where I was picked, if I was picked here or picked 199, I'm just thankful to be in this position. I can't wait to get to work for the Giants.

Q. What are you most excited about for this opportunity?

TYLER NUBIN: Playing football, honestly, and getting back to playing football. Doing the thing I love most and doing it well and helping the Giants win.

Q. Have you ever been to this area?

TYLER NUBIN: Yeah, I've been to New York. We had a Bowl game out in New York. That was actually my first time staying there a couple years ago. It was awesome. I love the city.


Media Q&A with Andru Phillips:

Q. What's tonight been like for you?

DRU PHILLIPS: It's been a night. You know, you sit there, you wait for a little bit, you don't know. But right now, I can't even explain it, man. This has meant the world to me.

Q. What do you think about coming to New York, playing for the Giants and being in this area and the City?

DRU PHILLIPS: I can't think of a better organization to go play for. I had one of my Top-30s up there and everyone up there was so cool and it was like, I feel like I fit in right along. I can't wait to go up there and play ball and fit in with everybody.

Q. What makes you think you fit in, or like on that visit what stood out to you to make you feel that way?

DRU PHILLIPS: It came with the history of the program. I was walking around the facility and it has so much history and then you get to meet the people and the coaches and everyone, we bonded so well and we all have the same goal, which is to go out there and win, genuinely go out there and do anything to win the football game. I met what type of people they are, and they are the same. Just good people and that's what I kind of lean towards, so I'm happy to be a part of this organization.

Q. What are the practice battles with (wide receiver) Wan'Dale Robinson going to be like?

DRU PHILLIPS: Man, I can't even describe it. We've been talking crap for so long, he even just called me. II can't wait to go against a great player like him. He's established himself in a way up there in New York, and being able to compete and just go win and get better each and every day against him. It's going to be a great competition.

Q. How many years have you played together?

DRU PHILLIPS: We played one year at Kentucky. I was younger, though. He may have had the best of me back then, but I think it's different for me now.

Q. How comfortable are you playing on the outside? It seems like your best position might be in the slot. How comfortable are you on the outside?

DRU PHILLIPS: Yeah, especially after this past year when I played both, that outside became so comfortable by the last game of the season – I was out there, (inaudible) outside corners, but off my skill set and comfortability, it felt like second nature. It was right there really with the inside. It just takes more reps and stuff, but I'm right there. I can compete with anybody.

Q. How often were you asked about the interception total throughout this whole process and how do you explain, I would imagine, I don't know if the emotions are frustrating, that you were close. How do you explain not being able to get one?

DRU PHILLIPS: I was asked about it, but in the grand scheme of everything, everybody knows I'm sticky. In coverage, I'm sticky. I'm going to get the ball off dudes. I'm going to do my job in the back end. It was asked, but at the same time, they understand who I am, when I was coming in, I've shown (inaudible) going to catch no type of balls in that type of sense. You know, I'm just trying to get the balls off guys, it was a question, but they understand it like I'm doing my job, I'm doing it at a very high level. So, they trust me.

Q. How are your hands?

DRU PHILLIPS: Man, they are really good. They are really good. But at the same time, there's always work to get better. I'm always going to work to get better at it. I'm on the JUGS machine. I'm going to be up there in New York and just working, I'm going to get the turnovers.

Q. What was your night like tonight? What was the setup and what were you thinking? Did you expect to go tonight? Talk about the emotions of it all...

DRU PHILLIPS: Yeah, so I thought I was going to go tonight. But I have my family and I have my friends over. It's just how the Draft plays out. You don't know. I just put my faith into God, and I was talking to my family, and I was hoping to land at a great organization and I'm glad I landed at the Giants. It's a great fit for me and a great organization, as well.

Q. Do you prefer Dru or Andru?

DRU PHILLIPS: Yeah, you guys can call me Dru. I go by Dru.

Q. How many 30s did you take?

DRU PHILLIPS: I took basically ten 30s. If you want to count one, the Rams, they don't fly people out, but I did ten 30s (visits).

BRIAN DABOLL: So just before we start, Korey Cunningham, our thoughts and prayers are with his family. You know, not much to add to it. Just unfortunate circumstances that happened, and it's tough. Tough on the coaches. Tough on the players. And we're just praying for everybody involved.

Q. Can you talk about the safety in the second round, there was a big run on cornerbacks.

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, there was.

Q. I'm sure you noticed that.

JOE SCHOEN: There was but we were very, very fortunate to get (Tyler) Nubin there, a guy that we spent a lot of time with. He had an injury. We went out to his pro day when he was healthy to see him out there. Obviously losing (Xavier McKinney) in the off-season, to get Nubin at that value, a guy with high character, leadership, smart, tough, dependable, and then the 13 career interceptions. Just a good football player. Culture changer at the University of Minnesota and he's going to bring that type of mentality here, and I think that will come out tomorrow when you guys meet with him and spend some time with him. Just a really special kid that's a good football player.

Q. A bunch of teams traded up to get corners?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, there were.

Q. Was that ever a consideration for you?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, there were enough players there that we liked, and where we are, again, we have needs throughout the draft. And we were able to get a corner in round three that works out about as well in (Dru) Phillips.

Q. The top safety pick, the first safety, what separated him from some of the other guys?

JOE SCHOEN: I would say that he takes the ball away. 13 career interceptions. He's a ball hawk. To me, the leadership, the character, the smarts, safety, the ability to communicate out there. To get guys to lined up I think is very important, and this kid is elite at those types of things.

Q. You mentioned the 13 interceptions a couple of times. Phillips had zero interceptions which stands out on the other end.

JOE SCHOEN: Right.

Q. Why is that not a concern, and what does he do well to make up for it?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, it is and some of these guys that are 5-11, 200, run 4-4 would be playing receivers if they had really good ball skills unfortunately. But no, I mean, he's sticky. He's in terms of coverage, he's around the football a lot. And watching him down in the Senior Bowl on one-on-ones, he has a lot of traits and those are things we are going to work on. He's in position, but he just has to finish a little bit better. But I really like the athlete, like the kid, look forward to him getting here. Told Wan'Dale, he's got to be ready for practice because Dru said he was going to be locking him up. That will be good competition there.

Q. Do you view him as a slot corner?

JOE SCHOEN: He can play both. He's got the versatility to play inside, and outside. But we have options because Flott can play inside, and outside as well. If he goes inside, Flott can go outside or vice-versa. The versatility is also attractive for all these guys with the new defense.

Q. Sounds like you'll begin with him in the slot.

JOE SCHOEN: Most likely. I've leave that up to Dabs and his staff. We have options with him being able to play both and with Flott being able to do both.

Q. Playing sort of the opposite with Flott, do you plan to start him on the outside?

BRIAN DABOLL: We just drafted this young man. So, we'll figure all that stuff out when we get into practice. We'll be able to play both those guys at different spots and see how it all unfolds.

Q. Coming into the Draft, cornerback, and safety would have been looked at as your bigger needs. Taking these guys, does that preclude you from still adding in free agency after the Draft?

JOE SCHOEN: No. We still can. I think continuing to add depth throughout the roster is important, and again, there was — when we picked in the second, there was, gosh, there were probably five or six players that we liked, and you know, a guy goes — you can't take them all, unfortunately.

I wish we could, but we were able to get a good football player, and that's the most important thing, and we're excited about Nubin.

Q. Four years ago, this franchise, not you, drafted Xavier in the second round. Is this almost getting a younger, cheaper version of him or just the position value kind of thing?

JOE SCHOEN: Younger and cheaper, yes. This young man has not played a snap in the league yet, so he'll come here. He'll compete. We still have some guys in the safety room that we like and he'll have to come and earn his spot but we like the young man. He's a good football player, and again, he's got a lot of dominant traits in his play.

Q. Was there any consideration to quarterback in round two or three?

JOE SCHOEN: We took the best player at both spots. The way it fell, the two guys we took were the best guys at that time.

Q. Nubin said that he played most of the year, or six games with a meniscus. You mentioned last night how you liked the toughness of Nabers with the shoulder. I don't want to say that's a trend but that kind of toughness for you what did that mean for both of you guys?

BRIAN DABOLL: I'd say the college scouts, Joe, and his staff, have done a really good job of identifying these traits that we covet. Toughness being probably near the top. And all three of the players that we've acquired so far, really fit that mold in terms of, I'd say mentally tough and physically tough. I think that's important. Defensively, tough tacklers. You know, Dru, he'll bring the wood now. And Malik's mentality, how he is, and then you guys talked to Tyler. Both Tyler and Dru, were pretty emotional when we called them. They care about the game. They have the right mindset, and it's a credit to our college scouts, Joe, and his staff, for really identifying some of those traits and we're happy to have both of them.

Q. There was a burglary arrest in Phillips' background that got dismissed. I think the teammates even filed a lawsuit after. What did you learn about that in your research?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, there's nothing there for him. You guys can read up on it but he was cleared and yeah, there was a lawsuit eventually after that. So yeah, we're good with all that.

Q. Do you think the knee during the season may have slowed down and changed how Nubin played maybe if he was a hundred percent healthy?

JOE SCHOEN: I'm sure it was bothering him at some point during the season but again that's the way the kid's wired. You had the question about the injury, and again, it's a long season, 17 games and training camp. These guys are all playing through nicks and dings and whatever it may be. So it's a testament to the kid's character and toughness to play through that stuff because it's going to happen here. It wasn't a light injury. He was in some pain. So just the fact that he wanted to be out there his last year at Minnesota and not let his teammates down, I think that's a testament to who the kid is.

Q. You have a new defensive coordinator, how much is what his vision for what he wants to manifest in these two players?

BRIAN DABOLL: I'd say that Shane (Bowen) has done a really good job along with the defensive staff of identifying the players that fit what we want to do, communicating with Joe and his staff, and like I've said, they have done a great job of putting people out there that we think can help us on both sides of the ball.

Q. From a scouting perspective, was there anything different you were kind of looking for for secondary players in these guys with Shane and the new defense?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, I would say that –

Q. Obviously less man.

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, probably less man, not as much press. But still the versatility piece I think came up multiple times, whether it was if we would not have gotten a corner in the third, well, okay, Dane Belton has versatility, J-Pinn (Jason Pinnock), Tyler, like how can those guys play, (Isaiah) Simmons. The versatility and the chess pieces, I think Shane is going to do a good job moving those guys around. The versatility piece came up multiple times in our meetings.

Q. The Panthers traded up right in front of you in the second round for a running back. Do you think they thought you were thinking running back there?

JOE SCHOEN: I'm not sure. I'm really tight with Dan. Dan Morgan is one of my best friends in the world. We didn't talk much about that. They called us, as well, so it was like, hey, would you maybe want to move back? I don't know if he just got antsy. In some of those situations, it's not always just us. Maybe other teams are trying to trade up with the team from us. So you don't know, when you find somebody you like and you want to go get them and they are within range, you try to pull the trigger. I'm not sure if he thought we might do that or not.

Q. Were you contemplating running back at all today, and is it something you would like to fill at least at some point in this draft?

JOE SCHOEN: Yeah, again, just the amount of needs on the roster, we were looking across the board. Again, we were taking the best player available the first three days and that will shift. Maybe if there's a safety, we like in the fourth round, maybe you look a different direction or if it's — maybe receiver, so you kind of adjust your board as you — based on who you've picked before. So yeah, we won't rule that out.

Q. Didn't ask this last night, but did picking neighbors impact Darius's stats? He's in an unsettled spot. Does that make him more apt to be traded?

JOE SCHOEN: No, again, we've already paid a roster bonus. He had one that kicked in the fifth day of the league year, and you look at the P5, where that is, and you want to look at the production from last year to this year and you take all those things into account. Us drafting Malik Neighbors doesn't affect where we are on that.

Q. What do you like about your defense now after the moves you've made?

JOE SCHOEN: I know the players that are under contract for more than one year. So again, Dexter is under contract. His contract status. Burns is for five years. Kayvon for three. Okereke for another three, Tae Banks for four, and just got Nubin for four years. You've got a young core group of players that will be able to be together for — and again, I know people want instant gratification, but it takes time to build this, and then over time, you have guys that are able to create continuity because they play together year over year. It was something we experienced in Buffalo. By the time we left, some of those guys had been playing together for four years in the same exact scheme, same defense, and playing together. I think that's important from communication and just being on the same page when you're playing as 1/11 and everybody knowing their job. I'm excited about the young core that we have together and the guys that are under contract for multiple years and even guys that may only have a year left that potentially we can extend down the road. But I do think we have pieces in place that I like that are going to be together for a couple of years here.

Q. Have you had any further clarification on Darren, whether he's coming back or —

JOE SCHOEN: No, nothing's changed there. We're still giving him space and when he's ready to make a decision, we'll have those conversations.

drafted a safety and CB on day two?  It's not like they restocked in free agency