Cowboys eyeing Ahmad Brooks after all?
Ahmad Brooks has the skills to be a first-day selection in the NFL draft, but two talent evaluators who reviewed the former Virginia linebacker's tapes and workout believe he will slide somewhere between Rounds 3 and 5 in this year's supplemental draft.
Brooks, one of four prospects granted "special" eligibility this week for the July 13 draft, worked out for scouts and coaches on Thursday. He was timed between 4.69 and 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and registered a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump.
While those in attendance were pleased to see Brooks weigh-in at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds – 26 pounds lighter than his original training weight with Chip Smith of Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta – most scouts noted that he struggled some with his footwork in the shuttle drills (4.42 seconds in the short shuttle, 7.41 in the three-cone and 11.80 in the 60-yard shuttle) and produced average results in the bench press for his size (19 repetitions at 225 pounds). Still, they felt Brooks looked in good shape.
Known to be an underachiever with some lazy habits, Brooks reportedly has had off-field issues with failed drug tests at Virginia. His agent, Gregory Williams, told team decision-makers that his client had successfully passed five independently administered drug tests in the past three months. Also, a full medical evaluation of Brooks' previous right knee injury was provided to teams by Dr. James Andrews, whom Brooks had visited a few weeks ago in preparation for Thursday's workout.
Most 3-4 scheme teams see Brooks as being a good fit inside, while others feel he can play outside and put in some work at rush end in passing situations. Everyone is in agreement that having a solid support staff and veteran leadership on the defensive side of the ball will be crucial to keeping Brooks in line.
The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers were the teams that paid close attention to Brooks' workout, which was conducted by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker coach Ricky Hunley. The Packers, Bengals and Giants met with Brooks on Wednesday. Next week, he will travel to San Francisco to visit with 49ers officials and take a physical.
Brooks, one of four prospects granted "special" eligibility this week for the July 13 draft, worked out for scouts and coaches on Thursday. He was timed between 4.69 and 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and registered a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump.
While those in attendance were pleased to see Brooks weigh-in at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds – 26 pounds lighter than his original training weight with Chip Smith of Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta – most scouts noted that he struggled some with his footwork in the shuttle drills (4.42 seconds in the short shuttle, 7.41 in the three-cone and 11.80 in the 60-yard shuttle) and produced average results in the bench press for his size (19 repetitions at 225 pounds). Still, they felt Brooks looked in good shape.
Known to be an underachiever with some lazy habits, Brooks reportedly has had off-field issues with failed drug tests at Virginia. His agent, Gregory Williams, told team decision-makers that his client had successfully passed five independently administered drug tests in the past three months. Also, a full medical evaluation of Brooks' previous right knee injury was provided to teams by Dr. James Andrews, whom Brooks had visited a few weeks ago in preparation for Thursday's workout.
Most 3-4 scheme teams see Brooks as being a good fit inside, while others feel he can play outside and put in some work at rush end in passing situations. Everyone is in agreement that having a solid support staff and veteran leadership on the defensive side of the ball will be crucial to keeping Brooks in line.
The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers were the teams that paid close attention to Brooks' workout, which was conducted by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker coach Ricky Hunley. The Packers, Bengals and Giants met with Brooks on Wednesday. Next week, he will travel to San Francisco to visit with 49ers officials and take a physical.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:05 AM
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