Florida Gators 2016 NFL Draft picks, breakdowns

By Adam Silverstein
April 28, 2016
Florida Gators 2016 NFL Draft picks, breakdowns
Football

Image Credit: OnlyGators.com

Welcome to OnlyGators.com‘s live coverage of the 2016 NFL Draft. Thanks for stopping by throughout the event. Check out the Florida Gators‘ entire 2016 draft classbelow and be sure to click off the individual links for more complete information about each drafted player.


Round 1 – No. 11
Vernon Hargreaves III, CB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers


Height: 5’10” – Weight: 204 lbs.
Age: 20 – Class: Junior

The Chomp: Hargreaves has been training for the NFL – both on and off the field – his entire life, and those efforts absolutely showed up during workouts ahead of the draft. He is every bit the NFL professional (and has been for years), a fact further displayed by his interviews (with media and teams) and on-field drills throughout the process. Hargreaves is explosive and athletic. His quick-twitch ability and disciplined feet allow him to mirror receivers and keep his eye on the ball. An impressive vertical makes up for his smaller stature (5-foot-10) and lets him go up and reach the ball at its highest point, though it may still be an issue against some of the league’s biggest receivers. Combine all of that with superior instincts, top-notch competitiveness and a high football IQ, and you have a potential Pro Bowl cornerback.

OnlyGators.com Report: Hargreaves goes home to Tampa Bay

Round 1 – No. 17
Keanu Neal, S
Atlanta Falcons


Height: 6’0″ – Weight: 211 lbs.
Age: 20 – Class: Junior

The Chomp: Neal’s incredible athleticism undoubtedly impressed those in attendance at the combine, and he most certainly upped his draft stock, winding up all the way in the first round. Explosive and aggressive, Neal looks to be a potential impact player who can make a difference not only in the defensive backfield but up at the line of scrimmage, too. There are some questions about his overall coverage ability but that is a learned skill that he can pick up over time; if he doesn’t, he could always move down and play outside linebacker.

OnlyGators.com Report: Dan Quinn reaches back to grab Neal

Round 3 – No. 72
Jonathan Bullard, DE
Chicago Bears


Height: 6’3″ – Weight: 285 lbs.
Age: 21 – Class: Senior

The Chomp: Bullard is as NFL ready as they come. Though he was at first resistant to moving inside and playing three technique, Bullard proved to be tremendously successful at the position. He can rush the passer, stop the run and move linemen off their spots. Perhaps even more importantly, he’s a high-character individual who is not a vocal leader but rather one who leads by example and will not be at all a concern for the team that drafts him. He only helped himself at the combine and shined in team interviews, too. Though he fell in the draft, Bullard was chosen by a quality franchise and he was picked to play defensive end.

OnlyGators.com Report: Bears get a steal with Bullard

Round 4 – No. 125
Antonio Morrison, LB
Indianapolis Colts


Height: 6’1″ – Weight: 232 lbs.
Age: 22 – Class: Senior

The Chomp: Injury history and unimpressive athleticism pushed Morrison, a second-day player, to the third day of the NFL Draft. But his production at Florida, coupled with a drastically improved maturity and tremendous on-field leadership skills, ensured the Gators’ big man got drafted early on Saturday. Morrison is a future starting inside linebacker in the NFL and should have a long career at the next level as long as his surgically-repaired knee holds. Considering how quickly Morrison healed from his surgery and how productive he was as a senior, there should be no issues going forward. Tremendous value pick potential.

OnlyGators.com Report: Four go on a hectic day three

Round 4 – No. 126
Demarcus Robinson, WR
Kansas City Chiefs


Height: 6’1″ – Weight: 203 lbs.
Age: 20 – Class: Junior

The Chomp: Robinson has showcased solid athleticism despite all of the things that detract from his ability, such as four positive drug tests, entering the draft. Teams were impressed when they watched him at workouts and on film, but his downfield ability and solid run blocking for a wideout were negated by character concerns, lazily run routes and a propensity for avoiding contact. Ultimately, Robinson’s positives will outweigh his negatives in the NFL. Some believe he has the potential to be the top receiver to come out of the 2016 NFL Draft, while others think he will be solid No. 3 on a roster.

OnlyGators.com Report: Four go on a hectic day three

Round 6 – No. 211
Kelvin Taylor, RB
San Francisco 49ers


Height: 5’10” – Weight: 207 lbs.
Age: 22 – Class: Junior

The Chomp: A relatively low-mileage back with no injury history, Taylor is a safe selection late in the draft. He will likely be used as a change-of-pace back in the NFL but will certainly have the opportunity to earn carries just like he did in college. Neither as quick nor as athletic as his father, Taylor still put up impressive numbers for the Gators during his senior season. And he never fumbled during his college career.

OnlyGators.com Report: Four go on a hectic day three

Round 7 – No. 240
Alex McCalister, DE
Philadelhpia Eagles


Height: 6’6″ – Weight: 239 lbs.
Age: 21 – Class: Junior

The Chomp: McCalister was a top performer in three of the five drills in which he competed at the combine. Simply put, he’s a mixed bag: a player who did not have a ton of opportunities in college due to injury and suspension, though he has vehemently denied that he was dismissed from the Gators. Athleticism has never been a question mark with McCalister; rather, it has been his ability to stop the run and rush the passer within a scheme. He also has to gain a significant amount of weight and develop NFL habits, which means he’s a project for a team that wants to fill out his frame and bet on potential.

OnlyGators.com Report: Four go on a hectic day three

Undrafted Free Agent
Jake McGee, TE
Carolina Panthers


Height: 6’5″ – Weight: 250 lbs.
Age: 24 – Class: Redshirt senior

The Chomp: McGee has some thing working against him – namely his injury history (breaking his fibula and tibia in 2014) and advanced age (24) – but he also has incredibly soft hands for a big man, understands route concepts and has proven to be a tremendous teammate both at Virginia and Florida. Where he needs to improve is his run blocking, but there are plenty of tight ends in the league used primarily as pass catchers, and McGee should not have much of an issue in the league as long as he proves himself in camp.

Undrafted Free Agent
Brian Poole, DB
Atlanta Falcons


Height: 5’9″ – Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 21 – Class: Senior

The Chomp: Though Poole is not considered a great athlete, per se, his versatility both in the secondary and on special teams makes him an intriguing camp addition. Draft analyst Tony Pauline told OnlyGators.com that he, like we, sees a lot of potential for Poole and believes he will ultimately make a team with one of its last roster spots due in large part to his special teams versatility.

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