He also can torque and throw defenders, finishing plays with pancake blocks. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. Becton is also prone to lunging at defenders when they can use their hands to deflect his initial punch. Atwell has the highest ceiling of any Louisville draft-eligible prospect simply because of his breakaway speed. Etheridge’s IQ and experience are enough to get him a look by teams. There are too many instances in which Becton has a player initially blocked but is unable to finish the play, and his man is the one who makes the tackle. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Read more:Mekhi Becton went from a top-60 prospect to a top-10 lock in the NFL draft. His focus this season is on catching every pass that comes his way, he said. He also needs to do a better job of landing his initial punch on opponents’ chest plates and not give up his chest plate. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Immigrants moved by Biden and Harris speeches, The famous, must-try sandwich in each state. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images). After seeing Mekhi Becton go in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. When Scott Satterfield took the helm at Louisville, there was uncertainty surrounding the program. He can physically dominate most pass rushers at the collegiate level, but Becton struggles against athletic or technically advanced rushers. 1 2020 draft pick Joe Burrow, but Cunningham was just a handful of passes away from qualifying as a national stat leader. Etheridge enters his final season with upside. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Louisville Cardinals and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Tristan Wirfs*, OT/G, Iowa. Games watched: vs. Notre Dame (2019), vs. Boston College (2019), vs. Clemson (2019), vs. Wake Forest (2019), Red flags: “Flagged” sample at 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Best: Size, frame, play strength, athleticism. What changed? Thanks to an explosive offense and players with a lot of versatility, the Cardinals could see a handful of players drafted. That alone should pick up some interest from teams. He’s tallied 208 tackles in his career, along with 15 tackles for a loss. Mekhi Becton went from a top-60 prospect to a top-10 lock in the NFL draft. Powered by Minute Media © 2020 All Rights Reserved. The Cardinals had no problem putting up points last season, averaging 33.1 per game which was No. Next year's wide receivers class could be loaded, highlighted by LSU's Ja'Marr Chase, but Fitzpatrick should hear his name called at some point next April. Arm: 34. Louisville will send some guys from both sides of the ball to the 2021 NFL Draft and while the Cardinals may have no true first-rounders, they could have a handful of mid-round selections. It is easy to become intrigued and enamored with Becton’s athletic upside, but he is not yet a finished product. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Which Louisville football stars could be the next to hear their names called in the 2021 NFL Draft? Hand: 10.25. The tackle predicted at fourth overall has been changed on a nearly weekly basis, but tackle has been a consistent selection. Mekhi Becton became Louisville's eighth first round pick in the NFL Draft since 2014. Wide receivers coach Gunter Brewer said he thought if Fitzpatrick had left for the 2020 draft, he would have been a mid-round pick. While he can completely disrupt a rush with a single punch, he is quick to abandon his kick slide and turn his hips when faced with speed on the outside, making it much easier for the rusher to pressure the quarterback, as well as creating an inside rush lane. Becton occasionally loses track of defenders during stunts, twists, or blitzes. With another strong year, he could garner some interest from a lot of NFL teams. He's a 5-11, 230-pound weakside linebacker who will be one of the centerpieces of next year's defense. Overall Grade: 6.7 - Has rare physical traits that should make him a starter right away, but also needs development to fully unlock those traits. Last year, he showed he was much more than just a running threat. He was rarely — if ever — asked to pull, but his athleticism should make that a viable option at the NFL level. Louisville's eighth first round pick in the NFL Draft. He showed off a strong arm and good accuracy on his deep ball last season, hitting his receivers in stride, and was fairly accurate when throwing on the run. Weight: 320. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker is the most experienced player on Louisville’s defense, and as the mike linebacker, he's asked to be one of the quarterbacks of the defense. Projection: A starting offensive tackle in a man-gap system, with eventual scheme versatility. In those cases, Becton’s size can work against him and balance may become an issue. Louisville will send some guys from both sides of the ball to the 2021 NFL Draft and while the Cardinals may have no true first-rounders, they could have a handful of mid-round selections. Moreover, they averaged 448 yards per game which happened because they finally found their quarterback. Use Ravens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as an example. 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville Mock drafts have been focused on the offensive tackle position for the New York Giants throughout the draft process. 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Offensive Players 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Quarterbacks - 7/14 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Running Backs - 7/14 Burns began his college career as a defensive back at Ohio State and moved to linebacker in Bryan Brown's 3-4 defense. An early first-round value. No one expected Satterfield to turn Louisville into an instant winner, going 8-5 in his first year as head coach with a Music City Bowl victory. 31 out of 130 teams nationally. Becton is a powerful player who can use his punch to disrupt pass rush attempts, at times completely knocking defenders off their rush with just his punch. Becton has the athletic ability to play, and excel, in zone schemes, but inefficient and inaccurate blocking on the move could hold him back early in his career. Becton isn’t just a massive, and massively powerful offensive tackle, but he is also a true athlete with rare movement skills for a player his size. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Your privacy is safe with us. What changed? He’s already shown his ability to be used as a vertical threat, jet sweep speedster and reverse quarterback, but if he can build off last year’s success and show that he is a well-rounded receiver, he could make a big splash in the draft. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 26: Micale Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. He threw for 2,061 yards and was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, with a rating of 194. [Grading Scale]. Becton projects as a starting offensive tackle in the NFL, ideally starting in an offense that favors man-gap blocking principles. In those cases he can lose his knee bend and hip level, compromising his leverage and making it possible for EDGE players to run past him or drive him back with a power move. Avery remains one of Louisville's most versatile defensive weapons and is poised for a strong senior season after a stellar junior campaign. He’s undersized at 5-foot-9 and 169 pounds, but with another year of production, don't be surprised if an NFL team grabs him early. Height: 6-5. Some of that depends on underclassmen like receiver Tutu Atwell and running back Javian Hawkins, but there are also seniors who have a chance as well. Becton has a truly rare blend of size, power, and movement skills. He could have a handful of players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft but it all depends on if the team can take yet another step.