Sorry guys, I was up late last night hoping to get these picks in, and slept late this morning.
With the 60'th pick, New England takes CBS Sports' 44'th overall rated player, … DT
Austin Johnson.
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2015/07/penn_states_austin_johnson_in.html
Being there was some trade activity for my 61'st pick last night, i'll wait ten minutes to see if this still exists this morning, if not, this pick announcement will be coming in the next few moments.
PLAYER OVERVIEW
Johnson's arc at Penn State was impressive, doubling his production from 3.0 tackles for loss in 2013 to 6.0 the following season and 15.0 as a junior, when he also more than tripled his previous career output with 6.5 sacks and used it as a springboard to enter the NFL Draft a year early.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Possesses the thick-cut frame to fit even and odd fronts, alike, sporting broad shoulders, a big butt and gut and tree trunks for limbs. He's stout at the point of attack, showing the coordination and leg drive to anchor as well as good core strength to stand his ground even when caught off-balance.
When he attacks with his hands, Johnson can stack and shed blockers in the hole. Locates the ball quickly and hustles laterally or downfield in pursuit. As a pass rusher, he shows more effort than explosiveness or technique, chopping his hands to fight through would-be blockers but rarely slipping by them freely.
WEAKNESSES: Despite his gaudy sack production, Johnson is more of a run-stuffer than a pass-rusher. He isn't particularly quick off the ball and like a lot of heavier players, Johnson struggles with pad level. Too often he doesn't extend his arms, playing chest to chest with blockers and only releasing after the ballcarrier is at or past the line of scrimmage.
COMPARES TO: Eddie Goldman, Chicago Bears - A well-built player who carries his weight well, Johnson has the quickness to provide an interior push, but his specialty is holding up vs. multiple blockers to clog the middle and mirror ballcarriers.
IN OUR VIEW: Although not a rangy player, Johnson has a motor that is always revving and he moves well in small areas with strong hands to stack and create movement. A player whose production matches the tape, Johnson has an impressive blend of power, quickness and awareness to fit three- and four-man fronts.
--Rob Rang (2/10/16)