Green Bay Packers draft: The overrated and underwhelming Senior Bowl prospects
Amara Darboh
Amara Darboh (WR-Michigan): The 6-foot-1-¾-inch receiver has some appealing traits that will get him drafted, but hearing some draft analysts gush about him being a Top-10 prospect at his position turned out to be quite misleading heading into Senior Bowl week.
The Sierra Leone native is coming off a strong year at Ann Arbor where he put up a 57-862-7 stat line by demonstrating a strong set of hands and physical style of play that helped him turn shallow screens into chunk plays.
But Darboh did little to stand out in the company of some of the nation’s top wideouts in Mobile outside of beating Desmond King on a comeback route where he knocked his man off balance – more on the Iowa cornerback later.
But overall, the Wolverine’s leading pass-catcher struggled versus press coverage and failed to flash any separation skills when defenders played him tight.
His routes weren’t always sharp during the week’s practice sessions and he looks to be the type of player that will need to consistently come down with contested catches to make it at the next level.
Maybe he ends up being a big slot weapon in the mold of fellow Michigan man Jason Avant, who put in some solid years with the Eagles not too long ago.
But those that compare him to DeAndre Hopkins are ignoring the fact that Darboh isn’t nearly as athletic as the Houston Texan nor does he have his hands or catch radius.
Zach Banner
Zach Banner (OT- USC): The 6-foot-8, 361-pound human colossus was easy to spot and undoubtedly casts an imposing sight for many pass rushers that weigh 100 pounds less than the former USC Trojan.
But why take the mammoth Banner head-on when one could simply go around him?
And that’s exactly what several edge rushers did last week, including Haason Reddick, who got under the bookend and sped by him to penetrate the pocket in practice sessions.
He continued struggling in game action by giving up a sack to defensive end Keionta Davis.
Again, force him to move laterally and redirect … and he’s toast.
Not many defenders will be able to bull rush Banner given his size and his natural wide base in pass protection, but he’s not light on his feet and thus can get beat to his left or his right.
The larger-than-life tackle has great bloodlines, as many will remember his father Lincoln Kennedy, who played for three different NFL teams along with being a three-time Pro Bowler.
But unlike his dad, Banner looks to be better suited to move inside at one of the guard positions where he could best use his size and strength without worrying about smaller guys running circles around him.