Fornelli Mock Draft 5.0 has Miami Selecting

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle. With only one season as a full-time starter, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish. Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.

Strengths

• Long-limbed with a frame that can add mass.
• Possesses plus athletic ability for the position.
• Has the initial quickness to make all the move blocks asked of him.
• Continues pressing forward to stay connected longer to blocks.
• Protection improved noticeably as the season progressed.
• Good fluidity when switching off and mirroring twisters.
• Redirects feet quickly to meet inside moves at the B-gap.
• Runs like a tight end as a lead blocker and to spring slip screens.

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent feel and execution for run-blocking landmarks.
• Unable to prevent ends from working across him against his will.
• Inconsistent hand placement/resets cause him to slide off blocks.
• Leans and lunges at the corner instead of continuing to slide feet.
• Stiff outside leg limits quickness to hit set points.
• Protection is missing independent hands and a more diverse approach.

Round 1, Pick #30: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

“Considering Jeff Hafley’s background as a defensive backs coach, it’s hard for me to imagine the Dolphins don’t use at least one of their two first-rounders on a defensive back.”

NFL.com Draft Profile

Press-man bully with an ability to put his stamp on the first and last phases of the snap. Hood plays with a disruptive punch and gets his hands on most releases, but shifty NFL wideouts could create issues for him. He has enough speed to stay phased on verticals and does a nice job erasing space on in-breakers from tight press or off-man looks. He’s disciplined in zone but route switches still cause occasional missteps. Hood plays with aggression in the catch space, taking top positioning by force. Physicality also shows up in run support, where he triggers downhill with stopping power and finishes like an extra safety. Hood needs to sharpen his instincts/technique, but he has the mentality and upside to become a CB2 in a press-heavy scheme.

Strengths

• Plays with box-safety physicality in coverage and run support.
• Punches and suffocates outside release against boundary.
• Demands the catch space on jump-ball battles.
• Gathers and triggers with adequate fluidity from depth.
• Operates with discipline/leverage against high/low route concepts.
• Explodes vertically with extended arms to capture high-point.
• Run-defense wiring is exactly what coaches want to see.
• Above-average stopping power when tackling bigger backs.

Weaknesses

• Could struggle matching twitchy NFL releases.
• Hips can get sticky on sudden, aggressive transitions.
• Grabby at break points or vertical routes when he’s out of phase.
• Gets too dialed in to receiver and loses track of ball flight.
• Still developing his instincts from off coverages.
• Leggy with sluggish change of direction as open-field tackler.