Joe Tryon, Washington Huskies.
The Washington Huskies had a better NFL Draft class this year than last year. It’s a mild surprise considering UW only played four games last season. Additionally, the NCAA granted an additional year of eligibility which means players could come back for a fifth season. Now that rookie minicamps are over, we can look at the most recent group of Huskies headed to the NFL.
The first Washington Huskies player chosen was edge rusher, Joe Tryon. It was debatable whether he would be a first-round pick. The talent is there but Tryon opted out of playing in 2020. He didn’t give the scouts a chance to further evaluate him until the Senior Bowl.
The defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him with the final pick in Round 1 (32nd overall). Tryon was the fifth player taken at his position. Tampa is a great team and their isn’t any immediate pressure for him to perform. His pick also lined up with our final Huskies mock draft compilation.
As an edge rusher, Tryon could line up at either defensive end or outside linebacker, depending on the defensive alignment. Just like at UW, his 6-5, 262-pounds, will be a tough task for opposing offensive linemen to handle. Especially when he gets up a load of steam.
On Friday, May 14, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians announced that Tyron failed his physical after having a minor procedure done on one of his knees. The team aware of the problem when they drafted him. Tyron was at Tampa Bay’s minicamp though he didn’t participate in any formal practices. Instead, he worked with team trainers to rehab his knee.
You have to like Levi Onwuzurike confidence. He comes to the Detroit Lions as the 41st overall pick (2nd Round) and second defensive tackle drafted. Levi felt he should have gone in the first round and top defensive tackle as the best at his position. Instead, New England selected Alabama’s Christian Barmore three spots ahead of him.
Onwuzurike wants to show the Lions they got a good deal for him as well as show other teams they made a mistake not picking him in the first round. Huskies fans know how dangerous a “motivated” Onwuzurike can be to his opponents.
It will be interesting to see how the 6-3, 290-pound DT adapts to the NFL. At Washington, he showed flashes of greatness but also had periods where he disappeared. He has the raw talent to be a starting NFL player but needs to work on his consistency. If sheer will has anything to do with it, Onwuzurike will be in the league for many years.
Tennessee drafted defensive back Elijah Molden in the third round with the number 100 overall pick. Because of his uniqueness, our mock draft compilations had him anywhere from a second to a fourth-round pick. Molden is best as a slot or nickel cornerback which is a position most teams don’t draft for.
At only 5-10, Molden doesn’t have ideal NFL size. During his Pro Day, he ran a disappointing 4.6, 40-yard dash. Though he doesn’t have the height or speed, Molden gas the heart. Those who watched him at Washington saw he was on the spot to make a lot of plays. That’s what earns someone a roster spot, making plays.
When the Carolina Panthers drafted Keith Taylor in the fifth round, they knew he was a versatile player. He’ll be able to help the team at several different positions.
Taylor was the second cornerback Carolina drafted. They took Jaycee Horn in the first round as the eighth overall pick. Horn likely will start for the Panthers while Taylor will have to work his way up from special times before getting time as a regular defensive back.
He’s almost the opposite of Molden as a prospect. Taylor is tall (6-3) and plays physically. Carolina’s defense will be a mixture of man to man and zone. Taylor’s best chance to play besides special teams will be in nickel and dime packages. He’ll also need to put some weight on. At 190-pounds he could get manhandled by big receivers.
The Washington Huskies had only one player sign as an undrafted free agent, defensive tackle, Josiah Bronson. He’ll get an opportunity to earn a spot with the New Orleans Saints on their defensive line. He is best suited to play the three-technique (defensive tackle) because of his ability to stop the inside run.
Bronson is aware of how difficult it will be to make an NFL team as an undrafted player. He had to walk on at Washington. A native of Kent, Wa., Bronson started his college career at Temple in 2015 before transferring to UW the next year.
Only one other Washington Huskies player was in consideration for a pro contract, quarterback Kevin Thomson. The former graduate transfer got an invitation to Panthers minicamp but wasn’t offered a contract.
PNWS will keep you updated on how the 2021 class, along with the veteran Huskies, are doing in the NFL