Nick Wright Round 1 Mock Draft has Miami Selecting…

Overview

Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism. He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush. He needs to stay square longer to prevent inside moves and refine his punch approach/timing. His athletic profile is designed for move-based blocking schemes where he can pull, reach and climb while beating opponents to the spot with quickness/feel for hitting landmarks on time. He gives good effort as a downhill blocker but issues with pad level and core strength lead to him being overtaken as the rep progresses. Fano’s level of NFL success might be tied to scheme fit and individual matchups.

Strengths

• Three-year starter with experience at both tackle spots.
• Has extensive reps in prominent run-blocking schemes.
• Good hand-strike quickness when allowed to fire out.
• Accelerates feet and runs through angle blocks on contact.
• Has footwork and body control to stay connected on move blocks.
• Athleticism/adjustments can spring runs and screens in space.
• Flies out of his stance and in front of the rusher with quickness.
• Above-average mirroring the rush with foot quickness.
• Able to unlock hips and ride edge rushers around the pocket.
• Good at finding his footing after early push from speed to power.
• Feints punches to draw and dry out rusher’s hand swipe attempts.

Weaknesses

• Lean through his chest, waist and thighs by NFL standards.
• Lacks upper-body and core strength to sustain in-blocks at pro level.
• Pad level rides way too high on drive blocks.
• Can be pressed and displaced by heavy-handed ends.
• Loses “first in” battles to the frame with his pass punch.
• Will overset instead of working inside/out against speed rushers.
• Opens outside half too quickly, creating opportunities for inside moves.
• Must guard against lunging with inside hand and hugging with outside hand.

Round 1, Pick #30: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, Toledo

“Dolphins also take a safety, McNeil-Warren, out of Toledo.”

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Long, downhill safety capable of bolstering a team’s run defense and playing enforcer over the middle. McNeil-Warren is most valuable when playing near the line of scrimmage or in robber positioning. He anticipates well in coverage and is quick to close on receivers but will need to be protected by scheme to prevent speed mismatches. He’s urgent in run support and has a feel for slipping blocks/meeting runners early in the carry. He’s a rangy tackler, but needs to quiet his feet when diagnosing and flowing downhill to tackle. McNeil-Warren might be pigeon-holed schematically but he’s good at his job.

Strengths

• Tall, long-limbed and rangy as a down safety.
• Adequate eye balance and anticipation from off coverages.
• Triggers to the action with long, ground-gaining strides.
• Frequently delivers strikes on pass-catchers.
• Size and toughness to bolster run defense from the box.
• Slips blocks and slithers through traffic deep into run lanes.
• Uses his expansive tackle radius to run and capture in space.
• “Peanut punched” his way to nine career forced fumbles.

Weaknesses

• Excessive bouncing and movement during run diagnosis.
• Needs to settle feet sooner to prevent open-field misses.
• Downhill dives open him to loss of containment against the run.
• Won’t be a versatile coverage piece on the back end.
• Inefficient footwork when covering in space.
• Will struggle staying connected to vertical speed.