Love the pick.. The Rams suck at 2nd round picks historically
| April 26, 2024 03:16PM |
The Rams have a terrible history of 2nd round picks so I can accept them giving away next years 2nd rounder for Fiske to shore up their D-Line this year.
I know maybe he's another 2nd round blunder but I don't believe so. He's a stud imo.
NFL Draft Prospect Braden Fiske On His Combine Performance And Details 2 Teams He’d Be A Great Fit On
NFL draft prospect Braden Fiske wasn't surprised after his standout performance at the Combine.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive tackle went viral after he dominated multiple drills among players at his position, placing first in the 40-yard-dash (4.78 seconds), broad jump, vertical jump and tying for first in the 20-yard shuttle.
Fiske's performance at the Combine was so dominant and caught many off guard to the point where his mock draft projections now have him going in the second round. For perspective, he was considered a fourth or fifth-round draft prospect at the end of his senior season with the Florida State Seminoles.
"I'm not necessarily surprised," said Fiske during a one-on-one interview. "That was the expectation going into the Combine. I want to put up great numbers. Did I expect to dominate in every asset? I humbly say yeah, just because I trained so hard for it."
The average value of a second-round-pick contract is around $8 million for four years with a $2.7 million signing bonus. By comparison, if Fiske was still projected to be drafted in the third round — the likely scenario before his Combine performance — his total contract would be anywhere between $5.5 and $6 million. Fourth-rounders usually get between $4.5 and $4.8 million. The FSU alum basically earned himself an extra $2-to-$3 million with his Combine showing.
Fiske played just one year at FSU after spending the first five seasons of his collegiate career at Western Michigan, a school in the Mid-American Conference. The 24-year-old details how he actually put up good numbers during his tenure with the Western Michigan Broncos, people didn't take notice because he was playing at a smaller school.
"It's kind of funny though, because people think it kind of just happened all of a sudden," said Fiske while smiling. "If you look back at what I was able to accomplish at Western Michigan, I was putting up good numbers. But people kind of overlooked it just because of the name of the school. I went to Florida State, and I did the same thing."
Fiske produced 43 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks during his lone season at FSU, leading to a second-team All-ACC selection and third-team All-American selection from the Associated Press.
As Fiske notes, those numbers are actually similar to what he was already producing at Western Michigan. During his final season with the Broncos in 2022, Fiske posted 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks, leading to a second-team All-MAC selection. His 2021 season saw him post 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
With that being said, producing those numbers against far better competition in a Power Five conference like the ACC for one of the top teams in the nation — the Seminoles went 13-0 at the conclusion of the regular season and would have been in the playoffs had starting QB Jordan Travis not been injured — obviously played a major role in putting Fiske on the map, as he admits when it comes to his draft stock rising.
"All in all, Florida State did change everything." says Fiske. "It changed my life as far as how many people were able to see what I was able to do and obviously it was a more broad scale of fans and national media."
Fiske's meteoric rise after his performances at the Combine and Senior Bowl — he became the first player to play on both teams during the game — has made it a possibility that he lands as a first-round pick of the draft. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah actually ranks him as the 37th-top prospect in the draft. Jeremiah also mentions that he could see Fiske making his way towards the end of the first round.
The FSU alum details how the entire experience has been "surreal."
"It's been absolutely surreal," says Fiske. "Even hearing somebody else say it (about being a potential first-round pick) kind of blows my mind a little bit. But now that it's becoming so real, it's finally here. How close I am to this goal I've had for so long. I've been chasing this my whole life. But now I'm in the conversation to potentially be taken in the top rounds. It's unreal."
Fiske's performance at the Combine and the Senior Bowl — it was the 14th-best performance by a defensive tackle since 1987 when looking at Relative Athletic Score — turned heads among not only the media, but established NFL players such as Las Vegas Raiders three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Crosby actually reacted on social media to a video of Fiske mauling an offensive lineman during a Senior Bowl practice session.
The fast-rising prospect reveals that he will actually meet with the Raiders — he also has visits scheduled with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers — during this upcoming week. Fiske also says he's already spoken to all 32 teams.
"I've honestly spoken to all 32 teams. I've had conversations with all of them, whether it's at the Combine or Senior Bowl," says Fiske. "I will visit the Raiders, Steelers and Chargers, so those are teams that are big players communication-wise."
While the communication has clearly been there with those three teams, Fiske stresses that he really has no idea where he's going to be drafted.
"I say all of the time — these teams play their cards differently," explains Fiske. "Some teams don't want to give away how much they're interested because they don't want to get jumped in the draft. They all show different levels of interest because they don't want to give away too much. Until that card is handed in (on draft night), you really have no idea."
And while Fiske obviously will welcome the opportunity to play for any of the 32 teams in the NFL, he singles out one particular team that he feels he'd be a great fit on.
"The one that stands out to me the most is the Raiders," says Fiske. "That's because Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins are over there and just the style of play that the Raiders have with coach Antonio Pierce. They get after it on defense and they play with a different type of culture. It fits a lot of the way I play. If I could just add to that, playing next to guys like Crosby and Wilkins, they both fly to the ball and that's a big part of my game."
Fiske also mentions the Houston Texans — due to former linebacker and current head coach DeMeco Ryans — as another great potential fit.
"Houston, because of how they're going to play football is very similar to how I play ball. I can get after it with those guys," Fiske explains. "That's a young up-and-coming team and everything. It'd be super cool to add to something like that."
While those two teams certainly stand out to Fiske, he says playing for any of the 32 teams would be a "great opportunity" as he begins his NFL career.
"All 32 teams would be great opportunities, just to get my foot in the door somewhere," says Fiske. "I have full belief I can make it happen. Anywhere is a great opportunity."
[www.forbes.com]
I know maybe he's another 2nd round blunder but I don't believe so. He's a stud imo.
NFL Draft Prospect Braden Fiske On His Combine Performance And Details 2 Teams He’d Be A Great Fit On
NFL draft prospect Braden Fiske wasn't surprised after his standout performance at the Combine.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive tackle went viral after he dominated multiple drills among players at his position, placing first in the 40-yard-dash (4.78 seconds), broad jump, vertical jump and tying for first in the 20-yard shuttle.
Fiske's performance at the Combine was so dominant and caught many off guard to the point where his mock draft projections now have him going in the second round. For perspective, he was considered a fourth or fifth-round draft prospect at the end of his senior season with the Florida State Seminoles.
"I'm not necessarily surprised," said Fiske during a one-on-one interview. "That was the expectation going into the Combine. I want to put up great numbers. Did I expect to dominate in every asset? I humbly say yeah, just because I trained so hard for it."
The average value of a second-round-pick contract is around $8 million for four years with a $2.7 million signing bonus. By comparison, if Fiske was still projected to be drafted in the third round — the likely scenario before his Combine performance — his total contract would be anywhere between $5.5 and $6 million. Fourth-rounders usually get between $4.5 and $4.8 million. The FSU alum basically earned himself an extra $2-to-$3 million with his Combine showing.
Fiske played just one year at FSU after spending the first five seasons of his collegiate career at Western Michigan, a school in the Mid-American Conference. The 24-year-old details how he actually put up good numbers during his tenure with the Western Michigan Broncos, people didn't take notice because he was playing at a smaller school.
"It's kind of funny though, because people think it kind of just happened all of a sudden," said Fiske while smiling. "If you look back at what I was able to accomplish at Western Michigan, I was putting up good numbers. But people kind of overlooked it just because of the name of the school. I went to Florida State, and I did the same thing."
Fiske produced 43 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks during his lone season at FSU, leading to a second-team All-ACC selection and third-team All-American selection from the Associated Press.
As Fiske notes, those numbers are actually similar to what he was already producing at Western Michigan. During his final season with the Broncos in 2022, Fiske posted 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks, leading to a second-team All-MAC selection. His 2021 season saw him post 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
With that being said, producing those numbers against far better competition in a Power Five conference like the ACC for one of the top teams in the nation — the Seminoles went 13-0 at the conclusion of the regular season and would have been in the playoffs had starting QB Jordan Travis not been injured — obviously played a major role in putting Fiske on the map, as he admits when it comes to his draft stock rising.
"All in all, Florida State did change everything." says Fiske. "It changed my life as far as how many people were able to see what I was able to do and obviously it was a more broad scale of fans and national media."
Fiske's meteoric rise after his performances at the Combine and Senior Bowl — he became the first player to play on both teams during the game — has made it a possibility that he lands as a first-round pick of the draft. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah actually ranks him as the 37th-top prospect in the draft. Jeremiah also mentions that he could see Fiske making his way towards the end of the first round.
The FSU alum details how the entire experience has been "surreal."
"It's been absolutely surreal," says Fiske. "Even hearing somebody else say it (about being a potential first-round pick) kind of blows my mind a little bit. But now that it's becoming so real, it's finally here. How close I am to this goal I've had for so long. I've been chasing this my whole life. But now I'm in the conversation to potentially be taken in the top rounds. It's unreal."
Fiske's performance at the Combine and the Senior Bowl — it was the 14th-best performance by a defensive tackle since 1987 when looking at Relative Athletic Score — turned heads among not only the media, but established NFL players such as Las Vegas Raiders three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Crosby actually reacted on social media to a video of Fiske mauling an offensive lineman during a Senior Bowl practice session.
The fast-rising prospect reveals that he will actually meet with the Raiders — he also has visits scheduled with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers — during this upcoming week. Fiske also says he's already spoken to all 32 teams.
"I've honestly spoken to all 32 teams. I've had conversations with all of them, whether it's at the Combine or Senior Bowl," says Fiske. "I will visit the Raiders, Steelers and Chargers, so those are teams that are big players communication-wise."
While the communication has clearly been there with those three teams, Fiske stresses that he really has no idea where he's going to be drafted.
"I say all of the time — these teams play their cards differently," explains Fiske. "Some teams don't want to give away how much they're interested because they don't want to get jumped in the draft. They all show different levels of interest because they don't want to give away too much. Until that card is handed in (on draft night), you really have no idea."
And while Fiske obviously will welcome the opportunity to play for any of the 32 teams in the NFL, he singles out one particular team that he feels he'd be a great fit on.
"The one that stands out to me the most is the Raiders," says Fiske. "That's because Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins are over there and just the style of play that the Raiders have with coach Antonio Pierce. They get after it on defense and they play with a different type of culture. It fits a lot of the way I play. If I could just add to that, playing next to guys like Crosby and Wilkins, they both fly to the ball and that's a big part of my game."
Fiske also mentions the Houston Texans — due to former linebacker and current head coach DeMeco Ryans — as another great potential fit.
"Houston, because of how they're going to play football is very similar to how I play ball. I can get after it with those guys," Fiske explains. "That's a young up-and-coming team and everything. It'd be super cool to add to something like that."
While those two teams certainly stand out to Fiske, he says playing for any of the 32 teams would be a "great opportunity" as he begins his NFL career.
"All 32 teams would be great opportunities, just to get my foot in the door somewhere," says Fiske. "I have full belief I can make it happen. Anywhere is a great opportunity."
[www.forbes.com]
