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NFL Week 2 Mailbag: Thoughts on Javon Kinlaw, Dwayne Haskins and more

By Michael Renner

We are all the way back this week, and boy does it feel good.

One of the most interesting things about Week 1 of the NFL season was how unnoticeable the lack of fans in the stands was. While the cheering sound effects were pretty trash on the whole, the games didn't lack any of the excitement or drama without immediate reactions in the stadium. Let's get into your questions.

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I'm starting with this question because I love hypotheticals like this — the kind that literally cannot happen, yet still provokes serious thought and internal debate. I'm not going to roll through a mock, but here's how I would see the top 10 going (using preseason Super Bowl odds):

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars — QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
  2. Washington Football Team — QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
  3. Miami Dolphins — T Penei Sewell, Oregon
  4. Cincinnati Bengals — CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
  5. Carolina Panthers — QB Trey Lance, South Dakota State
  6. New York Jets — WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
  7. New York Giants — LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
  8. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
  9. Miami Dolphins — Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
  10. Detroit Lions — Safety Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame

That's four possible 2022 prospects who I believe already look like blue-chip type prospects.

I truthfully have no clue, but I will say this: Rodgers looked different. Even in his elite performances in recent years, they didn't look like that. His arm and accuracy have not been the issues. It was his indecision that then led to him holding the ball too long that led to sloppy mechanics that led to poor offense. When he's standing confidently in pockets, stepping into throws and letting it go in rhythm, he's still as good as it gets in the NFL.

Seeing Seattle's offense bury the Falcons defense through the air was a sight to behold. They were the most pass-heavy team in Week 1, considering the game situation.

Hearing Pete Carroll's immediate reaction, however, be that “Seven and six carries wasn't enough for our guys, and we need to get more” is not inspiring hope in me that it will last.

If there is any sign from the game that the Seahawks coaching staff has had a change of heart, it was them going for it on fourth-and-5 at the Falcons' 38 in the early third quarter when Russ threaded it to D.K. Metcalf for 6.

I love the question. I love it so much that I'm turning my answer into a full article. I ranked the cornerback debuts earlier this week, and I'll be doing the same for the rookie receiver class early next week.

I hope the only thing that changes is we see more of him! He took 19 snaps out wide, eight in the slot, two in the backfield, one at tight end and one at quarterback last week. I love that the Jags are buying into him as an offensive weapon and not solely a receiver.

While I wasn't particularly a fan of the picks, it's important to remember that YOU SHOULDN'T DRAFT FOR YEAR 1. That will be especially true this year with the abbreviated offseason and lack of preseason.

The wheels would have to utterly fall off for a few games in a row. Haskins has shown more than enough in his career that I don't see that happening.

On the list of tortured fan bases, I don't think the Colts will garner any sympathy from Bills, Browns, Bengals, Lions or Vikings fans, to name a few. As someone who picked them to go to the Super Bowl this year, I'm not giving up after one bad game.

Not so fast, my friend! While I love the way this Dolphins secondary is built, and while I think they match up well on paper, I'm not sure they'll be able to survive without getting pressure up front. The Dolphins pressured Cam Newton last week on only four of his 22 dropbacks. When an offense knows they'll have time to operate, they're far more willing to scheme up longer developing routes. John Brown and Stefon Diggs are both masters of the double-move, and I think you'll see some big plays out of both.

I'm going to go with a man who had himself an impressive Week 1 as well, and that's 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. Calling him a man, though, isn't doing him justice. He's a grown man, and it's already translating to the NFL with an 81.4 overall grade last week.

Kinlaw will be going up against the Jets interior of Alex Lewis, Connor McGovern and Greg Van Roten, who had pass-blocking grades of 44.9, 59.9, and 32.3, respectively, in Week 1 against the Bills. And it's not like the Bills defensive tackles are anything terribly special. This is tailor-made for Kinlaw to eat.

I try to only focus on draftable prospects because there's legitimately only so much space in my brain. If you've listened to me on our 2 for 1 Drafts at all, you know that I will blank on a name on almost a weekly basis. That being said, I'll give you a top three because these guys have caught my eye when watching others:

1. Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

I get that he's played one game and some mop-up snaps last year, and I get that we emphasize sample size here at PFF. Me throwing all that out the window should tell you how impressive the Oklahoma sophomore has looked on those snaps. His release is eerily reminiscent of Kyler Murray, and his arm talent is pretty darn close as well. Just look at the gas on this post-corner throw.

2. Kedon Slovis, USC

I think the shadow of J.T. Daniels and the fact that Slovis was only a three-star recruit led to far less recognition of his outstanding freshman season. Our ball-placement charting had him as the most accurate quarterback in the country after Joe Burrow. That's special stuff from a true freshman:

3. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Howell earned the second-highest passing grade we've ever seen from a true freshman last year at North Carolina, with an 83.7 (Trevor Lawrence obviously being first). The offense he was in, however, is going to do him no favors projecting to the NFL. Nearly a quarter of his passing dropbacks last season came on RPOs (24.4%). While the arm is great, he hasn't had to show many other quarterback traits.

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