Josh Queipo’s 2024 NFL Draft “My Guys” List – Defense

After taking you through some of my favorite offensive players in this year’s NFL Draft let’s turn our attention to four players who are definitely “My Guys” this year.

As a reminder, to qualify for this list a player isn’t necessarily the guy I think is the best at his position, but someone I am higher on than consensus or someone who I would be “banging the table for” in a draft room if he was up against other players who I have similarly graded.

If you want a good idea of what the consensus board looks like I highly recommend checking out Arif Hasan’s Wide Left on Substack.

Iowa Cornerback Cooper DeJean

I am still frantically trying to watch as many players as I can before the draft begins late next week so this is subject to change, but currently I only have 14 players with a first-round grade. DeJean is one of them as the No. 14 player on my big board. The consensus board has him at No. 23, so I’m not that different than the market as a whole.

But where I see myself being more positive on DeJean is in his positional outlook. There are lots of conversations surrounding whether DeJean can remain a perimeter corner at the NFL level or whether he will need to transition to safety. I believe some of that may be unconscious bias due to DeJean’s race. There hasn’t been a starting cornerback who is white since Jason Sehorn played in the late nineties and early aughts.

In my opinion DeJean has the speed, size movement skills to remain on the outside. I think his hip fluidity is smoother than most give him credit for. As a matter of fact, I have in my notes that when he moves into the slot his hip fluidity shines as he deals with receivers working a two-way go. DeJean is the best Cover 3 corner in this year’s draft and displays an ability to click and close quickly. He plays smart and follows zone rules easily, passing off receivers as they run switches.

DeJean exhibits fantastic ball skills as evidenced by his 13 passes defensed and seven interceptions in the last two years. Yes, he can be a good safety, but I also think he’s the best corner in this class and his positional versatility should be seen as a strength, not a weakness. This is why he is definitely one of “my guys.”

Illinois Interior Defensive Lineman Johnny Newton

Illinois DL Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton and Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen – Photo by: USA Today

Currently, there is a ton of (warranted) buzz around Newton being a first-rounder. Some draft analysts have him as the No. 1 defensive player on their boards. So, how could I classify him as a member of “my guys?” Easy. He’s the No. 1 player on my board – offense or defense. I have him higher than any of the heralded quarterbacks in this class, even when accounting for positional value.

I’ll just let my scouting notes do the rest of the talking:

“His hands may be the single best trait by any prospect in this draft class. He has a quick get off that he uses to overwhelm offensive linemen. Late and sudden with his moves leave opponents grasping for air. Rip/swim/cross chop. Great pass rush plan. Corners well to win with angles. Great anchor for his size. Swipes stabs consistently. Natural leverage due to shorter frame. No bad pounds.”

This is the first year I have used a numerical grading scale, so it is difficult for me to say with certainty, but I believe he would be the highest-rated interior defensive lineman I have scouted in my brief time as an evaluator. That high opinion of him definitely makes him one of “my guys.”

Western Michigan Edge Marshawn Kneeland

Western Michigan OLB Marshawn Kneeland – Photo courtesy of Western Michigan

I have been in on Kneeland since watching him at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. There he displayed every tool that made him a standout at Western Michigan, but also flashed a few new tools in his bag including surprising bend and a wicked spin move. Unlike other players who are projected higher by the consensus board like Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, Kneeland has the size and play strength to be an every-down player who can be a plus against the run.

But it’s the possibility of what his pass rush arsenal can develop into that really has me intrigued. He plays from a power/strength base-set where he likes to bully offensive linemen with a bull rush, long arm, dip-and-rip, or push-pull. From there Kneeland is developing a wide range of counters that will make him a well-rounded pass rusher such as a cross-chop, winning the corner with speed and bend, the aforementioned spin and even a ghost move.

He is far from a polished product, but in an edge class that I am generally low on, Kneeland has the physical profile, floor, and potential that I would bet on over many of the other edge defenders in this class. He is my EDGE4 in this class, a Top 25 prospect overall for me and I have him much closer to my EDGE3 (Jared Verse) than I have EDGE5 (Darius Robinson) to him. Considering most see a huge drop off from Verse, Laiatu Latu and Dallas Turner to the rest of the class Kneeland certainly qualifies as one of “my guys.”

Georgia Safety Tykee Smith

Georgia Ss Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Smith is my highest-ranked Georgia safety, as I have him over running-mate Javon Bullard. Much like Marshawn Kneeland, Smith has the skillset to be a factor in the run game as a hybrid safety nickel that will give him the chance to get on the field more quickly than other players. From there I am willing to bet on his best trait on film, his instincts, to get him in position to make plays his average athleticism would otherwise prevent him from doing so.

Smith is a great fit for a multiple defense like the Todd Bowles’ as he can get into the backfield as a blitzer, plays through blockers to get to the perimeter on sweeps, tosses and bubble/perimeter screens and is not afraid of sticking his nose into the box to get to ball-carriers. This is the mentality that I love to see in a prospect.

He used all of that to stand out on a Georgia defense full of natural athletes as he led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and interceptions. This makes Smith a surefire bet to be on my “my guys” list.

Watch The Pewter Report Draft Show LIVE April 25-27

Look for me to talk up each of these players throughout this upcoming weekend during Pewter Report’s live draft coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft on our YouTube Channel.

The annual Pewter Report Draft Show returns for the 2024 NFL Draft. Pewter Report’s three-day live-streaming coverage of the Bucs draft happens on the PewterReportTV channel and is energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. The event kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25 – one hour before the official start of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Hosts Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera will be broadcasting live all three days from the Bucs’ team headquarters at the AdventHealth Training Center. Other members of the Pewter Report staff, including Adam Slivon, Bailey Adams and Josh Queipo will also be making on-air appearances to offer up their insight and analysis as the Bucs make their selections.

And the PR staff will also be interacting with Bucs fans and answering questions in 20 hours of coverage over three days.

Pewter Report 2024 Draft Show Schedule On PewterReportTV on YouTube

Thursday, April 25 – 7:00 p.m. ET (picks begin at 8:00 p.m. ET)
Friday, April 26 – 6:00 p.m. ET (picks begins at 7:00 p.m. ET)
Saturday, April 37 – 11:00 a.m. ET (picks begins at noon ET)

The Pewter Report staff will also be having live reaction and analysis from the Todd Bowles and Jason Licht press conferences that happen throughout the three-day event. As well as reaction to the team’s first-round pick from Friday’s press conference.