CBS 3-Round Mock Draft has Miami Selecting…

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Three-year starter with reams of high-leverage games on his résumé. Starks is a versatile safety with the size and athleticism to eliminate contested catches and the speed and ball skills to shine when the action travels deep. Connection to the route is inconsistent in man and he’s baited out of position by misdirection, but better discipline and anticipation should clean that up. He’s not a true force player near the line and his pursuit angles can be raggedy but he gets guys down when he’s in position. Starks has feast-or-famine moments on tape but he figures to test well and star in team interviews. He is a future starter as a movable back-end piece whose consistency will determine his floor/ceiling.

Strengths

• Has football IQ and athleticism to play multiple spots.
• Speed to phase deep routes or recover when necessary.
• Locates deep ball and plays it with plus body control.
• Challenges pass catchers with good force.
• Flows downhill and squeezes workspace for runners.
• Slips around big bodies and moves toward the action.
• Able to mirror and track bounce-outs with excellent burst.
• Gets runners down when he’s in position.

Weaknesses

• Average peripheral vision and block shed as a down safety.
• Slows and catches contact when tackling running backs.
• Inconsistent to stack blocks or spill the run from the box.
• Suspect pursuit angles surrender long touchdowns.
• Too many eye violations in coverage this year.
• Loses connection at break points when playing man.

Round 2, Pick #48: Aireontae Ersey, OT, Minnesota

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Three-year starter at left tackle with good power. Ersery is not a natural bender, which creates disadvantages with leverage and when attempting to mirror moving fronts. He’s well-versed in Minnesota’s outside zone attack, but might be more consistent in power, inside zone and hat-on-hat matchups. He’s huge, but he sets with good quickness to the rush, using his length and hand strength to gather it or lock it out. His anchor is derived from his upper half, which opens him to hand counters. Ersery has the potential to become an average starting tackle on the right side, but his success will be tied to matchups across from him.

Strengths

• Mass of humanity with a broad chest and long arms.
• Good initial slide quickness and depth gain on diagonal sets.
• Fires direct jabs that jolt the rusher and slow his charge.
• Strong, sticky hands keep rusher from escaping once he’s in the web.
• Patient base blocker who typically centers up his initial strike.
• Engages in-line with consistent base width and body control.
• Makes well-timed movements on combo blocks.

Weaknesses

• Plays with limited knee bend and upright posture.
• Target point for pass punch can drift too high on opponent’s frame.
• Tight hips limit his ability to open and recover when beaten.
• Below-average pop on contact in gallop step and down blocks.
• Could struggle getting to lateral landmarks on NFL stretch plays.

Round 3, Pick #98: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Productive, high-volume slot receiver whose evaluation will include balancing the playmaking against his lack of traits. Johnson is thin-limbed with average suddenness and benefited from a scheme allowing him to run free in space. He’s clever and instinctive with his routes, finding ways to uncover over the first two levels. His hands are below average and he struggles when contested, but he’s tough to find and tackle quickly after the catch. Johnson’s lack of size, strength and NFL ball skills mean he’s likely to profile as a good community target rather than succeeding independent of the talent around him.

Strengths

• High-volume target his entire career.
• Ability to play inside a variety of passing concepts.
• Adequate early acceleration to create push.
• Has the agility and balance for complex routes.
• Alters stride length to disguise timing of breaks underneath.
• Opens safeties up downfield with leverage and stem fakes.
• Too slippery to apprehend quickly after catch.

Weaknesses

• Slight frame with skinny limbs.
• Release can be slowed by committed press.
• Average suddenness for a smaller slot target.
• Rounded route turns allow undercutting by defenders.
• Body-catcher with too many bobbles and drops.
• Lacks strength to maintain catch space when contested.