2018 NFL DRAFT PROFILES

These are my rankings and player profiles for the 2018 NFL Draft. How I rate people are as follows so people can understand what each of the value actually equates toward.

• 90-99 - An elite prospect who possesses rare of elite traits in most categories and their faults are limited. At least a high quality starter as a floor, and should go in the top half of the first round.
• 84-89 - A very good prospect who grades out to be a high end starter, and could make a pro-bowl or two. They lack one or two traits to limit their upside as a top NFL player. These guys are players who you can make a case for being taken in the first round of almost any NFL draft.
• 75-83 - Good players who should be very key role players in a niche or solid starters. They typically lack an elite trait or have a few deficiencies. These are players who could be taken in rounds 2&3 or top half of the 4th.
• 68-74 - Role players and developmental players who typically come associated with higher than normal risk. They could have big time traits, such as speed or power. They could be productive but lack H/W/S to become starters.
• 60-67 - Borderline draft-able prospects. These are a lot of tweeners, or players who lack certain qualities you look for in players. They deserve a chance and could turn into solid pros

1. Saquan Barkley, RB Penn State - 99

Lateral agility is through the roof. His jump cut and acceleration are elite. Catches the ball naturally out of the backfield, could be a nightmare on option routes, swings, and checkdowns. Has deceiving size at 230 pounds but looks lighter because of his movement ability. He created the most missed tackles in the entire FBS in 2016, sometimes because of strength, sometimes because of his ability in the open field. I love his vision. 

I’m not sure how to explain this but when he bounces the ball to the outside he doesn’t go too wide. He turns the corner with the perfect angle to outflank his trailing defender and still gain yardage upfield. I haven’t seen a college runner do that before, he is constantly gaining ground while still creating the next seam for himself. It’s insanely impressive and I've seen him do it time and time again. 

I like him in pass protection too, he’s not Zeke Elliott good in pass pro but he’s really solid and has a good feel for it. The kid can easily play on 3rd downs immediately in the league. He’s so smooth as a route runner and he’s electric in making people miss. Not a dominant slot type route runner but excellent out of the backfield. He looks for the homerun a lot instead of taking the 3 or 4 yards that are sometimes there and in the NFL that stuff likely won’t be there. I could see there being a bit of an adjustment period there where he needs to just hit it up in the hole instead of dancing and trying to bounce everything.

* Little option route against Akron week 1 2017 season, he makes 3 guys miss with cuts and then turns the jets on. Only 2-3 backs in the country make 15 yards on that play.

• He looks so natural catching the ball, the wheel route against Akron and the backfield streak against Pitt he just overwhelmed guys who can’t run with him. 
• The USC game early, they are down 13 and I get he’s trying to make a play but there was a 5 yard gain if he cuts inside and hammers it downhill and he tries to bounce it and loses two yards. It's a bit like an early in his career Lesean McCoy. 
• The run he had early in the 3rd quarter against USC was unreal. A completely wow play that only a handful of NFL guys could do.. if that. 
• Ridiculous kickoff return guy as well. Definitely great vision on returns.

SYNOPSIS ON 6 GAME TAPES:

The kid is the absolute real deal. He's got a perfect combination of size and speed at 5’11 230 pounds and i’m guessing he’ll run closer to 4.35 than 4.45. Even if he doesn’t his acceleration through the hole and from 0-60 is elite. Barkley is a tremendous pass catcher, showing great hands and feel for the passing game. Looks difficult to stop on option routes, and while he’s definitely not McCaffrey good out of the backfield, he’s still a really good 3rd down guy. Really good in pass protection with solid football IQ and he seems to truly understand protections. He is a wow player in terms of running the ball and takes perfect angles to create space but also eat up yardage. He looks to bounce it outside more than will work in the NFL so his first season he may experience some growing pains but overall the kid is one of the rare ones that should go top 10 at minimum as a running back and could go top 5. Barkley is the elite prospect in 2018. 

NFL COMPARISON:

A stronger LeSean McCoy

2. Tremain Edmunds, LB Virginia Tech 95

Shows good lower body strength and power. Plays a sort of hybrid inside nickel linebacker type spot for Virginia Tech who looks to play a lot of 4-2-5 type defenses so transition to the NFL might be a bit easier for him. Seems to have really good length. Made a major mistake against Clemson where he was didn’t pick up a delayed release running back and the RB scored a TD. Edmunds looks to be a good athlete, he can do a little bit of everything which is really nice. Seems very comfortable dropping and playing any combination of zone and does a good job eating up space in those areas and looking for coverage there instead of just standing in a spot. He looks like a pretty good blitzer, and has double digit sacks for his career at that hybrid spot. I like the way he works through traffic on both outside run plays and underneath crossing routes and flat patterns. Gets off blocks pretty darn well and does a good job of leverage. Exceptional productivity and consistency, in each of his past 23 games he has at least 5 tackles and double digit tackles in 6 of those games. His eye discipline is a problem though. On a few of these plays he’s looking too much to make a play and can get himself out of position. In the Miami game early on twice he had an opportunity to blow up a play but got himself in bad positions. 

He started to notice tendencies in all the games I watched him play and got better as the game wore on. Edmunds is a really good tackler, I didn’t see him miss many. While his 100+ tackles both of the past two seasons is clearly the main reason to draft him I actually think he’s better dropping into coverage than he is strictly against the run. I’m not sure he’s a big time consistent play maker but he’s really solid and can do everything at a pretty high level. I don’t think he does anything at an elite level but he’s darn good at everything. 

Edmunds could play inside or outside in a 43 defense and it wont’ take him long at all to end up playing in the nickel if he doesn’t start there right away. Seems to understand a lot about defense and I think his transition to the NFL will be pretty smooth. He’s not Reuben Foster or Keuchley or anything like that, but he should be in the mix at the end of round 1. Some people think he’ll test well at the combine but to me he’s a high quality starting linebacker who doesn’t have any deficiencies to his game. People like this are really solid picks because they have a really high floor and that’s what Edmunds has.

I think his elite ability to run and chase along with ideal size at around 250 pounds makes him an elite candidate. I really believe his productivity and versatility means that I could take him in the top 10 and not sweat it at all. Edmunds is a phenomenal player and will end up being an pro that can help transform a defense.

3. Quenton Nelson, G Notre Dame 94

He’s an absolutely excellent football player who does everything at an above average level and run blocks at an elite level. Nelson is a monster in the run game, and he might be the best guard I’ve scouted in this regard in my seasons doing this. He gets a ton of movement when he's lined up in man schemes and when he’s allowed to play zone he is really good already at getting off his initial block and moving to the second level. When asked to pull in the run game he shows good athleticism and rarely swings and misses in space. His ability to trap and get movement inside on defensive tackles is phenomenal. 

As far as pass protection goes he rarely allows any push and in the game tapes i watched I don't think I actually saw him get beat one on one. He’s someone who uses good leverage and his hand positioning is typically pretty good. Sometimes he'll get high in his sets and therefore will give up an initial push back into the pocket but his ability to reanchor as a guard is well above average. There are times he will be a little late to diagnose stunts and games though and in these spots he’ll give up a bit more pressure than you'd like but his recovery skills are good.

Ultimately he's a really easy evaluation. He plays with the nastiest streak of anyone in the country and his ability to finish blocks through the echo of the whistle is elite. He generates more movement in the run game than any player in this class and he’s already an above average pass protector. I don’t think it’s very often that an interior player deserves to be drafted in the top 10 but I would have zero issue if Nelson goes into that category. He has the potential to be an All-Pro guard at the next level.

NFL Comparison: A more polished Brandon Brooks

4. Bradley Chubb, DE NC State  93

Probably the best edge player in this class. He’s got the strength, speed, and size to play the 43 defensive end spot for a long time in the NFL. Checks all the boxes in terms of productivity and H/W/S. It’s rare to see defensive ends who square players up as often as he does, and he just hits people right in the center more often than I think any edge defenders I’ve scouted. As of the time I was writing this I have him for 26 career sacks. He’s 270 pounds and does a good job setting the edge in the run game and he has a high motor so you don’t have to worry about him taking plays off. I really like him but he’s not in the same class as Garrett or Clowney in my opinion, that being said he's a really good player and likely someone who will be really good in the NFL for a long time. I don’t think he’s a 15 sack per year guy because i don’t see that Elite explosion, but he’s someone who will be a high quality pass rusher and edge setter for a long time. 

His Notre Dame tape against McGlinchey was an absolute clinic. I get that the weather in that game was absolutely gross and the footing was awful, but McGlinchey is a top tier NFL prospect and very likely a top 20 pick in the draft and Chubb freaking abused him. His effort is super consistent and he makes plays that people his size typically don’t make because of his strength and effort. 

He has quickness for a guy his size that’s pretty rare and while he doesn’t explode out of his stance and drive defenders off the ball and get the edge with that ridiculous explosion like a Dwight Freeney, his size allows him to get to the quarterback in a variety of ways. 

He’s an obvious top 10 pick, a double digit per season sack guy and someone who can be a building block of a great defense. Super high floor, and a really nice ceiling who can play the run and the pass at a very high level. 

NFL Comparison: Mario Williams

5. Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB Alabama 93

I think it’s pretty obvious that the kid is a very versatile and top tier football prospect. He essentially played 5 or 6 different spots for Alabama throughout his career, most prominently as college footballs’ best slot corner. I think what he’ll do in the NFL is play slot corner in the nickel and then in base defense he’ll end up playing a hybrid safety position where he can both cover, blitz, and range in centerfield. Fitzpatrick is a really good cover guy, blanketing receivers with both plus athleticism and ideal recognition. His ability to read and react to route combinations and diagnose plays is at the highest level possible. 

Fitzpatrick is a physical player which is why some want to see him play safety in the NFL but to be honest he's not the world’s best tackler. He misses in space some times and his strength is adequate but not great so sometimes he’s a drag down tackler instead of a hitter. His range and cover skills at safety though would be a huge plus for any team. One of his strengths is an ability to blitz and cause havoc, he’s not the world’s most productive blitzer off the slot but he does cause problems there and seems to have a good feel for the gap to shoot and the angle to take. Once he gets home he’s not a big hitter or a powerful enough guy to constantly bring down quarterbacks but his ability to get home and get qb’s flushed is a really nice weapon to have.

In space he’s an average to above average tackler, and he definitely doesn’t shy away from contact. he just tackles like a corner sometimes and while he’s almost always in position due to tremendous instincts and football IQ, he’ll miss sometimes. I think he’s probably a total film junkie because wow he’s tremendous and covering two guys in zone coverage. I feel like he understands their route combinations and gets proper depth and sees the field like a quarterback, it’s really impressive. 

Now in all honesty I don’t think that Fitzpatrick is as good as Jalen Ramsey was coming out of school but their versatility to play multiple spots and dominate at any makes a lot of sense. To me he's about 90% what Ramsey was and whoever drafts him will take that for the rest of a tremendous career.

PRO Comparison: 90% of Jalen Ramsey

6. Sam Darnold, QB USC 92

Darnold has everything you would want in trying to project a franchise quarterback. He’s got good size at around 235 pounds and good size at around 6’4. He throws a very catchable ball with above average to good arm strength. I think his ability to throw off platform and off script is among the best in college football and it can be a strength in the NFL. Some people were worried about his accuracy this season, but over the past two years I definitely think it’s at least as an average NFL starter and to me it actually projects above average.

I think this past year he actually sped up his delivery a touch over 2016 as well, even if it’s not lightning quick he gets rid of the ball at a very quick pace. I love his ability to deliver the ball on short and intermediate crossing routes in places where good receivers can pick up yards after the catch. There are times when you watch him throw though and he just misses and can throw behind, or even more the case in 2017 too high for some of his players, which in the NFL will lead to interceptions. 

His mobility is very good, and while he doesn’t show the wiggle or pure speed of some quarterback in the past two draft classes i.e. Deshaun Watson or Lamar Jackson, on tape this year Darnold ran over 19 mph on field. He has good power when he runs the ball too and while he definitely looks to escape to get big plays down field, his ability to scramble and pick up yards and key third downs gives him an edge. 

The biggest question on Darnold heading into the league though is his massive amount of turnovers this year. On tape they jump out because some of them are just so bad. Some are due to accuracy, some are due to not great pocket awareness, and some are just really bad decisions. That being said I think people make way too big of a deal out of turnovers in college, as sometimes it’s great players just trying to make too big of a play. Really good quarterbacks’ coaches in the NFL can get some of that out of your system. That being said, he really did make some poor decisions this year and it does present a bit of a red flag. 

To me though what separates Darnold from the rest of a good quarterback class though is the kid simply makes huge plays in big games. When a game is on the line the kid steps up and finds a way to make a play almost every time. He wins games where he doesn’t play great, he can manage games when his defense is playing well, and he can win shootouts. I have no idea what “it” is, but Darnold has it just like Deshaun Watson had it last year. He’s an absolute gamer and I want the ball in his hands down the stretch. Couple his winning pedigree, with a higher level of competition than Allen, and a bigger body with better leadership qualities than Rosen and you get exactly why Darnold is the number 3 prospect in this class and the top ranked quarterback. 

NFL Comparison: 90% of Andrew Luck

7. Josh Rosen, QB UCLA 92

The kid is just such a natural thrower of the football from the pocket. It’s incredible how compact and perfect his delivery is and how the ball explodes from his hand. He’s extremely accurate, despite mediocre competition percentage numbers in college, that was mostly due to below average talent around him and a complete lack of running game. Inside the pocket he shows good mobility and can slide and move around to buy himself that split second that makes elite pocket passers great. Rosen can make every throw against every defense and can beat good coverage with accuracy, timing, and well above average arm strength. 

Rosen’s ability to lead receivers and be precise and not just accurate means he’ll make average receivers into good ones in the League. People who struggle to separate will still be productive because Rosen can fit the ball in tight windows and manipulates coverage with his eyes. He’s got an impressively high football intelligence and seems to read the field well before the ball is snapped. That being said sometimes he seems to over diagnose and will throw the ball into windows when tricked instead of taking what is there and will take sacks while waiting for plays to develop. 

He has okay mobility, definitely not a running threat, but shows good enough feet and movement skills to run boots, waggles, and escape to find receivers down field. His frame at 6’4 218 isn’t bad at all but he has had a tendency to get injured. Concussions, hand injuries, and other things throughout his career really hurt his stock, particularly his sophomore campaign.

The biggest red flag with Rosen though is that there are leadership and teammate questions surrounding him very similar to what is said about Jay Cutler and their similarities are pretty glaring. Both are upper elite throwers of the football, capable of making any play, both teams they played for in college underachieved in terms of records, and both have some questionable  leadership and desire questions. 

To me I think he’s a bit different than Cutler in that  I think he’s a bit more high brow but those issues have to be taken Into consideration as well as his win loss record, and his injury history. While he's clearly the best pocket passer in this class, and shows an ability to really be a franchise quarterback, the kid still has some question marks. The most important ability is availability and his penchant for small injuries, a smaller frame than Darnold, and some leadership and desire questions means that he’s the second quarterback in this class. His ability to simply throw the ball and process tremendous amounts of information quickly though means there’s zero chance he escapes the top 5, and I think if Darnold is off the board and I need a qb, it’s an easy decision to draft Rosen and simply get your franchise signal caller for the next decade. 

NFL Comparison: Somewhere between Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan

8. Derwin James, S FSU 92

One of the most versatile and dynamic players I’ve scouted in my years of doing this. James is a prototype safety in today’s NFL with an ability to do everything at a very good or even elite level. He’s one of the best blitzing safeties I’ve ever watched, coming off the slot he shows great burst while also attacking under control. James can play centerfield if you ask him to, covering a ton of ground and making plays on the football. He’s probably his best in a robber position though, up next to the line where he can roam and make plays like a linebacker and also jam receivers on the line of scrimmage.

At 6’3 and 212 pounds, James’ size is ideal for a safety in today’s NFL. His height-weight-speed is perfect and it allows him to cover bigger tight ends, slot receivers, and gifted running backs who split out. His versatility in being able to do everything at a high level means he’s the ultimate weapon for a defensive coordinator. 

James is best when he’s allowed to roam and just travel sideline to sideline. Some people think he’s a huge hitter but I don’t think he really is. He’s more of a sound tackler who will miss sometimes but for the most part he does a great job of getting ball carriers on the ground. I’d like to see him actually attack a bit more as he plays it safe with angles from the safety spot but I’m nitpicking here. 

His cover skills are really good for a slot guy or a safety. His size allows him a rare advantage from other safeties in that tight ends aren’t simply going to be able to shield him off or box him out. I think his single high playmaking at the free spot is probably his weak point in terms of coverage as he reads well but can get keyed in on certain players and doesn’t have really elite ball skills so sometimes he can get a half step late and then not have the high end ball skills to recover perfectly. Again it’s not that he’s bad in this regard, he’s actually quite good, it’s just not a 10/10 here. 

I think he was a half step slower this year, which makes sense coming off an injury. That being said he was still a second team all American at safety and made 80+ tackles, was dynamic at pressuring the qb, and played virtually every position on defense throughout the season. He lined up at linebacker, single-high free, robber, slot corner, wide corner, and on the edge all in one half this season. That is a rare and incredible thing to have, particularly when it’s someone who can play every one of those positions at a high level.

Teammates and coaches rave about him, saying he’s a workout and film junkie, a leader, and the main guy in a locker room. Couple that with super high end potential and you’ve got yourself a potential All-Pro. I truly believe his potential is as high as Sean Taylor’s and it’s not hyperbole, he has Hall of Fame potential, a 99 in that regard. The question is whether or not he gets that half step back that he had as a Freshman and whether he can begin to develop a little bit better recognition and ball skills to help create productivity at that high of a level. If he can the kid could absolutely change a defense and he could end up being the best player in this draft, if not i still believe he’ll be an extremely valuable chess piece for creative defensive coordinators and a high end starter for 8-10 years. 

NFL Comparison: Harrison Smith

9. Josh Allen, QB Wyoming 90

Toughest evaluation for a first round pick award goes to…. Josh Allen from Wyoming. In terms of potential the kid is pretty much the perfect H/W/S quarterback prospect. While there are some MAJOR question marks, mainly based on accuracy, and his inability to score points against power 5 teams in those games, his upside is tremendous. At 6’5 and 233 pounds with really good feet, size and speed are never going to be an issue here. He has an absolute howitzer attached to his arm and can make every throw on the field easily. There really isn’t a throw he can’t make and some of his deep outside opposite hash throws on tape are incredible.

The biggest issue with Allen is simply that he isn’t accurate enough. He completes around 56% of his passes, which is a really low number and it’s scary to draft a kid with that low of a percentage. In a ton of games I watched though Allen threw the ball away 5-7 times per game, which is much more than most college passers. He also had a really bad team around him this past season at Wyoming and simply had to carry them most of the season to even compete. His players didn’t separate and his offensive line was mediocre at best, forcing him into many tight window throws. Allen also operated in largely and NFL style system which doesn’t force feed bubble screens and and high percentage dump off passes. 

He struggled against Power 5 competition with really poor numbers. I could get into them more but let’s just leave it as it’s a major red flag. To me more of this had to do with the fact that his team was so bad they couldn’t do anything, but some of it was that the speed of the game caught him a bit off guard and coupled with average field reading skills it caused him to make some bad throws and decisions. 

With all of that though, when I’m putting together draft evaluations it’s not how good was this kid in college, it’s how good WILL HE BE in the NFL. When Allen went down to the Senior Bowl and got to play with better talent he improved every day he was there, as his practice reps sure looked better on tape, and the second half of that game he simply took over. His touchdown throws were tremendous and he showed the touch that every scout wondered if he had. His mobility to make first downs running as well as extend plays is really good, and it will transfer over well into the league. Allen has a chance to be exceptional in the NFL, but his rookie season is going to come with a lot of mistakes. You have to give him time to develop, pick up the speed of the game, and improve footwork and accuracy. I think some of those will improve when he’s asked to play with NFL talent. The talent is through the roof, and he seems like a gamer, so I like those two things, if the accuracy can improve, the kid has pro-bowl potential, if not he could end up being just another big strong kid who can sling it.

NFL Comparison: Cam Newton

10. Roquon Smith, LB Georgia 90

Really good player, doesn’t miss many tackles. Excellent in coverage and has a really good closing burst. He doesn’t get off blocks super well because he’s a little smaller than you’d like but if he has good defensive lineman in front of him he could be an excellent linebacker in the league. He’s one of the better linebackers I’ve scouted in terms of covering out of the backfield and he seems to have a tremendous feel for getting to the right spots in the zone. 

He’s a pretty decent blitzer but I don’t think he’s great there yet, but he’s not bad at that spot. I really like him in spy situations or one on one with running backs when he’s allowed to read and react in pass rush spots. I watched him play four games and only saw two missed tackles and they were both in space and he actually still did a decent job on the plays but just barely missed. 

Seems like a really high football IQ type guy as he diagnoses and attacks the ball well. He’s not an elite linebacker like Foster or Kuechley because he doesn’t have the power those guys do. There are Times when you watch him play and he’s a big hitter because he gets a running start but you’ll watch other times and see someone who is a bit more of a drag down tackler because he likely played around 225 this season at Georgia. 

To me he’s a pretty easy comparison to a couple players in the NFL. He’s somewhere between Deion Jones and Zach Cunningham in terms of where I would have them ranked. And looking back on both guys I clearly had them both rated too low. I gave Cunningham and 86 and I think he played closer to an 88 or an 89 this season so that’s about where I’ll grade Smith when it’s all said and done. Really good player who can play all 3 downs in the league and has a chance to be an Elite nickel linebacker. 

NFL Comparison: somewhere between LaVonte David and Deion Jones

11. Vita Vea, DT Washington  88

A massive defensive tackle at 6’4 340 pounds, Vea provides rare upside for a player on the defensive interior. Vea was a high school running back and you can see it with some of his agility, being able to move laterally and showing really good foot speed for someone his size. He has a great motor for someone on the interior as well, giving up a bump over a lot of guys who play defensive tackle. I think he could play either the 0 or the 1 technique and can provide a little upside rushing the passer on the first two downs. 

His power is the best in this entire class as there are times that he can just bench press guards and centers back into the backfield, getting quarterbacks off their spot. While he doesn’t have that initial quickness to get by you, he moves well enough particularly when running stunts and games that he could end up getting a handful of sacks in the League. He projects much better as a run stuffer than a pass rusher, where his impact will be felt will be collapsing the pocket and now allowing quarterbacks to step up.

He shows really good motor in chasing plays down that get outside and down the field and so I don't think there will be an issue there in the NFL. Couple that with an ability to play many more plays than most lineman and you have someone with more value than most interior players. 

One of the issues I see with him sometimes though is that his snap anticipation is half a tick slow a lot of the time, and that along with a high frame means that sometimes quicker interior players can double team him and then get off getting to the second level. In the NFL he’ll have to anticipate that snap count a bit better and stay lower on run downs in order to avoid getting beat to the body. When he does get the proper “get off” he almost always causes havoc. I think a good defensive line coach will end up getting him to an even higher level than he was in college where he was a stud. 

People keep wanting to compare him to Haloti Ngata and I get why. His movement skills for 340lbs are completely ridiculous, particularly his chase down and sideline speed. They are really impressive and his footwork on stunts and slants is pretty impressive. That being said, Ngata was a really impressive interior pass rusher and I don’t see Vea at that level. I do think a good coach could do wonders for him though. He’s a really high end prospect but I think his productivity in the NFL won’t have a huge ceiling in terms of actual TFL’s and Sacks and therefore he falls somewhere in the middle of the first round conversation. I’d take him on my team in a heartbeat though. 

12. Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State 88

A really athletic corner with great man to man cover skills, Ward is an obvious first rounder at the position. While his size at around 5’10 185 isn’t going to wow you, he tries to play physical with wide receivers. His true cover ability is really good as he allowed below 40% completion percentage two seasons in a row for the Buckeyes. Even on passes he allows completed on him, he is usually right in the play and forces quarterbacks to not just be accurate but to be precise. Ward is a good player who could thrive in a man heavy scheme.

I think Ward’s ability to mirror and use his really plus athleticism and speed to cover almost any receiver in the league in terms of being in their hip pocket. His lack of ideal size though allows completions against him where he’s in position but just doesn’t have the size or length to make the play. I noticed a play on tape where he got a great read when he was dropping in what looked like a cover 4 look and he broke off his outside responsibility to jump inside. He made an awesome read on the play and his break was spectacular but his lack of size allowed a high throw to be completed for about a 25 yard gain. The size against really good wide receivers could limit his effectiveness.

His true speed and ability to follow is great, and his footwork off the line lets him get an extra back pedal or two against receivers that other corners without his quickness can’t. He doesn’t have to turn and run immediately, allowing him to diagnose routes easier than corners with average speed. I think he’ll get some calls against him in the NFL for pass interference as he tries to be physical with guys down the sideline but people don’t complete long passes against him. Against the run he wants to by physical but doesn’t have the strength to get off blocks with ease and that lack of size will limit his ability as a blitzer from the slot.

I think Ward projects as a really good cover corner for a man heavy team. I think at the NFL level Ward might have to kick inside though because bigger guys will simply post him up. His skill set is clear he can play outside and athletically he can match up with anyone. Ward is going to make his share of plays in the league and his ability to almost never leave someone truly open is really impressive. He could be the league’s elite slot corner or a really good outside guy, either way he’s obviously a first round pick and might be the first true corner taken.

NFL Comparison: Chris Harris Jr.

13. Da’Ron Payne, DT Alabama 88

I really like Payne and think he projects to be a high end defensive lineman in the NFL. His combine showed off some of his athleticism but his tape and the way he can just thump on people and move them off his spot or get around them with quickness and cause disruption is very impressive. He was of course benefitted from the talent around him on the Bama front but Payne would cause havoc no matter where he plays and while his productivity doesn’t jump off the screen, the tape says first rounder to me. 

I know he wasn’t super productive in terms of sacks and TFL’s this past season but he had 27 pressures and showed a lot more ability this season than last. He’s 310 pounds and runs a 4.95, and his ten yard split was exceptional for his size. I believe he’ll be better in the NFL than he was in college because I think he can actually be a good interior pass rusher. I think he’s scratching the surface of what he can be, particularly in stunts and games because he has the ability to bench press guards but also the capability to chase down plays and finish with good length for a defensive tackle.

His ability against the run is a notch below elite, some people think he’s a dominant run defender and while I think he projects well above average I think some of what scouts see is a bit higher rating than what I give him there. I think he’ll be able to make plays and be productive inside but he doesn’t dominate consistently against the run. Sometimes he’ll lose a bit of leverage when i think he’s guessing pass and guys can block him one on one at times. Now he’ll use athleticism to make his fair share of plays as well, so don’t think of it as a knock, again I think he’s a good run player, I just have heard people say he’s the best run defender in this class and while he's good, he’s not there. 

To me the kid is a really good starting NFL 3 technique, who could play the 1 technique at times because of his strength. He’s going to be a really quality player and i think he’ll actually be one of the guys who can start and make plays early in his career and become a high end starter soon. Payne has the athleticism, strength, power, and technique to help a defense immediately and I think his pass rush ability will be better each year he plays in the league until eventually he plays consistently on pass downs as well.

14. Harold Landry, OLB Boston College  87

16.5 sacks in 2016.

Fluid athlete for his size, really good flexibility to dip his shoulder and go with the under move around tackles. He has really good hands in one on one situations and does a nice job with a variety of moves to give tackles fits. I like his length to get his hands on tackles quickly and then he will slap down their hands to get inside.  Gets his hands in passing lanes at an elite level. I love his pursuit and the angles he takes to get to the quarterback, he finishes the sack when he gets there as well. Good quickness and speed off the line. In ‘wide-9’ stance which he doesn’t do a lot, damn his quickness and agility are ridiculous. Every single game the kid has two or three plays that 95% of players just can’t make. 

He over pursues sometimes defensively, searching to make a play instead of maintaining backside contain. Not sure he’s going to be dominant versus the run, but his quickness and hands give him the ability to make some plays there. Doesn’t turn power to speed well, and doesn’t get tackles on skates like Garrett or Clowney.  I wish he had a counter move for his upfield quickness. If he could develop a spin move he could be exceptionally dangerous.

*Awesome underneath shoulder dip to get a sack and forced fumble against Clemson 2016

*Clemson tape in 2016 was good, not spectacular although he made three really “wow" type plays which is what you want out of a defensive end. 

*Interception against Maryland was an absolute “oh my god” type play. Ridiculous athletic ability to make that pick, another show of how good the kids’ hands are. Later on in the game on consecutive plays he knocked down two passes at the line.

*Bevy of pass rushing moves, saw a swim, a dip, a rip, and a stutter and go in the same game. He doesn’t create speed to power and get tackles on their heels though, so he’s not a Clowney or a Garrett in that he doesn’t have a weakness.

*Wide-9 sack against Wake Forest and his closing burst were beyond elite. 

*The 2016 game against Wake Forest he was completely dominant, he finished that game off for them and just simply couldn’t be blocked.

SYNOPSIS ON 4 GAME TAPES:

The kid is a first round pick. He has elite quickness and his ability to dip his shoulder to get the edge is unreal. He’s got tremendous length and his first step is really top tier. I love the way he uses his hands to get tackles off of himself and the way he sets his moves up on tackles is really impressive. Landry plays hard and makes a solid number of tackles down the field. Against the run he makes plays because of his quickness and his hands and not because he has the strength consistently to set the edge. You can see his lack of dominant power as in four tapes I only saw him convert speed to power on maybe two or three occasions and then it wasn’t even that effective. Because of his lack of power he likely isn’t a Bosa, Clowney, or Garrett type talent. But with elite quickness, a really nice set of pass rush moves, and consistent production, I’d love him at the end of round 1. I think he could go top 10, Probably somewhere in the 15-25 range would be appropriate.

NFL COMPARISON:

Vic Beasley

15. Connor Williams, OT Texas  87

This guys’ tape in 2016 is enough to make him  the number one offensive tackle in this draft. While there are some things that scare you there are also some things that scream he’ll be a really goo NFL starter at potentially any spot on the offensive line. His ability to read and react to me means he could be a top end center in the league or an athletic move guard but I still think he’s going to be a left tackle in the NFL. 

At 6’5 and around 290 pounds his lack of ideal size will bother you a bit but I don’t think he does a bad job against the bullrush anyway so it’s not a deal breaker for me. From what you read he’s a beast in the weight room but his ability to keep top end quickness and get off and add 10-15 pounds is going to be a really big key to his long term success. With 33 inch arms there are some people who are going to want to move him inside, and that may eventually happen but I’d love to try him at tackle first because of his quickness off the snap.

On tape with Williams his initial burst and get off is similar to a defensive ends. He gets into his pass sets quickly and his technique is already extremely sound. He will “catch” defensive ends a bit more than I’d like and absorb contact but he rarely reaches and misses and his footwork is already good. He sees almost everything coming and it’s honestly pretty smooth how he can get off delayed rushers via games or stunts. 

The 2017 tape wasn’t nearly as good and he looked like a second rounder to me this past season. I think the injuries he suffered were a big deal, but even his first game of the year tape was okay not great so there was something that was wrong bugging him physically. I really think the kid is a 2016 version and if his “bad” tape was from 2017 and that was the worst you're going to get from him then he’s at worst he projects as an average to slightly above average NFL player. If you get the 2016 version you get someone who could make pro-bowls at left tackle. Lack of ideal size and length means he’s not an elite 90s grade player. But the versatility to play multiple positions with upside at left tackle means he's clearly a first rounder and the tackle I believe should go first in the 2018 draft.

16. Will Hernandez, G UTEP 87

One of the better most solid players in this entire draft class is Hernandez, the powerful guard from UTEP. The kid is a really high end run blocker who moves his feet and anchors well in pass protection. At 6’2 and around 330 pounds he has the strength to play guard in the league for a long time, but he has very short arms so some of the interior players with elite quickness in the league might give him problems in pass pro at times. However, he’s a very powerful and dominant run blocker who played in a system that will allow him to translate early. Hernandez is going to be a really good guard in the NFL for a decade.

His power is really impressive on tape and his ability to blow people off the football and create seams is top tier. When he gets you locked up he won’t just block you, he’ll embarrass you with his nasty play strength and can absolutely open up gaping holes for backs. He’s the guy you run behind when you need a first down and he might be that guy the second he walks into your locker room. When he goes on a down block he mauls you and is a pile driver. I love that he plays to the echo of the whistle and he’ll pancake you the second you get off balance against him. He’s a guy every single fan base should want on their roster because he plays with power and strength and is just damn mean. He moves pretty well but he gets off balance leaning forward at times when he’s asked to zone block and get to the second level. It’s not that he's a bad athlete because he’s not, he just gets that forward lean going and quicker linebackers just go around him because he’s off balance. 

As a pass blocker he’s solid but doesn’t project as high level as he does as a run blocker. He’s certainly not a bad pass protector and on tape he actually shows that he’s well above average there but with only 32 inch arms and good not great lateral agility his projection here is as a good pass protector but not a great one which is why he’s marked a bit lower than Nelson. His tape is similar but the lack of elite movement skills and short arms gives me a bit of pause when doing his tape. He seems to recognize stunts and games and delays well and they asked him to roll out and be the personal protector on waggles and designed rolls so UTEP trusted his movement skills there. Again this isn’t bashing him, Hernandez will be a quality pass protector in the league but he likely won't be elite.

Overall the player is extremely impressive and there should be teams looking to draft him at the end of the first round and certainly early in round two. He projects as a top 5 run blocking left guard and a solid pass protector who anchors well and won’t give an inch. He can play in any scheme immediately and will upgrade almost any unit in the league. First round guard grades are tough to give but the kid gets one from me. Very safe, with pro-bowl upside. I’d take him anywhere after around pick 20, and he shouldn’t get past pick 40.

17. Justin Reid, S Stanford 87

He’s a really good player and while he’s not Minkah Fitzpatrick I think people are going to grade him so much lower than him and maybe they shouldn’t. Reid is 6’1 and ran a 4.40 in the 40. He had almost 100 tackles this past season as well as 5 interceptions so he clearly has the H/W/S and productivity down pat. Reid also is a good player in coverage, although his technique and upright style bothers me for someone who is asked to play the slot. 

I think there is a lot to like from this kid, whose brother is safety Eric Reid. I think that Justin has an ability to read and react and you can see him watch plays develop when he’s in zone and he finds those spots in the route. His cover skills are pretty darn good although he’s faster than quick so crossing routes and inside routes can sometimes bug him but it’s not a true weakness. Reid’s size allows him to carry tight ends and bigger receivers likely won’t cause him much of a problem. 

His versatility is what makes him a good player though, while i don't think he’s a true in the box safety he certainly played down there in his time at Stanford. I think he could be an average in the box safety in the league, a nice slot corner, a really good single high guy, and certainly someone who could play man to man with some tight ends and bigger receivers as well. Everyone is praising mink for his ability to do all these things but Reid is a very similar prospect, but without maybe the refined pieces that Minkah has. 

He’s a pretty good tackler but not a great one and he’ll miss sometimes but overall he’s solid in that regard. I’d like him to add a big of play strength as he seems a bit thin despite having decent size for a safety prospect. I also do get bugged by watching him get grabby when receivers get up to his level when he’s playing off coverage, he’s going to get dinged early in his career for penalties if he doesn’t clean that up. I want him to get lower in his backpedal and when sitting in zone too, he stands too upright a lot of the time and it hurts his quickness. The great part about that though is his technique can get cleaned up and he’s already good now, i think his upside is even higher. There’s a chance he’s in Pro-Bowls someday.

18. Isaiah Wynn, G Georgia 87

Wynn is an absolute technician along the offensive line. His footwork and technique are the best of any player in this draft on the line and so you know you’re getting someone who can come in right away and be a quality starter. I think his floor and upside are both good and so the kid shouldn’t get out of the first round. It’s difficult to find players who are ready to come into the league on the offensive line and contribute immediately but Wynn is that guy. 

He played left tackle this season at Georgia and was a second team all American there but at 6’2 - 6’3 he’ll likely have to kick inside in the NFL although knowing his footwork is good, he could move outside to left tackle in a pinch. Wynn’s ability to mirror and anchor and not get out of position almost ever means he’s going to be a really quality pass protector in the NFL. I think left guard makes all the sense in the world for him at the next level, but I could see some team thinking he could be a really good center too. 

As a run blocker he gets his hands and his body in good position and is extremely good in space. As a puller or on toss plays he typically gets his hands on people and pancakes undersized players. Extremely effective in space. He doesn’t have great power though and and so there are going to be some issues with him drive blocking and power blocking because while he’s got great technique he isn't a mammoth who is going to dominate and blow open holes. A zone blocking heavy scheme and a movement scheme would be much more advantageous to him.

This is a short write up because he’s simply really good but lacks elite power so you have to knock him down a bit. His technique and versatility are major pluses and his tape is as good as anyones. Projecting him to the NFL he’ll occasionally struggle with interior power but it’s not as if he’s weak, he just lacks crazy strength that first rounders at that position typically have. He’s going to be a high quality starter in the NFL for a long time. First rounder.

19. Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama 87

Ridley is an exceptional route runner with good quickness and very good long speed. At 6’ and about 190 pounds he doesn’t have great size and his vertical at the combine showed some of his pure athleticism deficiencies. He’s not going to be a great 50-50 ball guy and he has some issues getting off press coverage with his lack of ideal size. Ridley also does occasionally drop the ball, with 20 drops credited to him throughout his career, which isn’t a terrible number but it doesn’t inspire top tier ball skills either. 

What makes Ridley a first round draft lock though is his ability to separate and run extremely efficient and quick routes. He runs a route tree with exceptional aptitude and can create separation and open throwing lanes on each layer of the defense. His 4.43 at the combine was a really good time but he honestly plays faster on tape. He isn’t a true ridiculous blazer at the spot but he has top tier speed and when he’s allowed to get off the line untouched he’s exceptionally difficult to guard. 

I think his intermediate skill set is the best in this class though. On dig routes, ins, and skinny posts or crossing routes in particular he’s pretty much not defendable consistently. He’s a guy who could see ten targets per game in the NFL because of his ability to separate and get open. Ridley has a good feel for zone as well, and he gets proper depth and is disciplined in his ability to get to the sticks or find soft spots. The kid doesn’t have the strength to consistently bring in contested catches at an elite level but he rarely has many contested catches.

He’s not a great blocker and he doesn’t have elite size but his speed and route running quickness and savvy means he’ll likely be a really nice player in the league. I think he projects as a guy who is a 1B type receiver where he isn’t a Julio, Hopkins, Brown, or AJ Green but he could certainly be a really good player, who if he is the go to guy could be a consistent 1000 yard performer. 

NFL Projection: T.Y. Hilton

20. Derrius Guice, RB LSU  87

Physical north-south runner who punishes defenders and almost always falls forward. Can play immediately in the NFL as he doesn’t dance despite showing good patience. His vision inside is really good and he does a great job of getting skinny through the hole to hit the second level. He has good acceleration and finishes runs as well as any player you'll see on tape.  He’s 5’11 and around 215 pounds but runs a lot bigger than that. Really productive, great in a phone booth both powering through guys and making people miss. 

Not great in pass protection, but he’s decent here. He gets really narrow and gets pushed back by linebackers much too easily. That being said he’s pretty good at chip blocking and does a good job when he cut blocks, but when he’s asked to stand in there he doesn’t do as well. It’s not a negative for him, just a solid pass pro guy right now as a college player. Not a factor in the pass game in 2016 with just 9 catches. He’s seen looking for work quite a bit in pass pro and it bugs me, I want him to punish guys and he avoids it in the pass game sometimes. I get that some people think he’s in the same class with Barkley but he’s not, he’s excellent but Barkley is elite on 3rd down and Guice isn’t there, he’s not even good yet on 3rd down, he’s above average.

NFL ready without question in terms of being a runner, on first and second down and in short yardage. Guice needs very little space in order to get downhill, it takes a really small seam for him to burst into the secondary. He is really good in small spaces.I think he has decent feel for the pass game but he fails to find space sometimes when he clearly has options on his route. 

The kid is extremely difficult to tackle, on an inside screen in the Louisville game he broke 4 tackles in the span of about 1.2 seconds. He seems to always fall forward and gain yardage when it doesn’t look like there’s anything there.

DRAFT SYNOPSIS ON 3 GAME TAPES:

Guice is a powerful north south runner who can be exceptional picking up tough first downs in the NFL. He doesn’t need much of a seam to turn what looks like a two yard run into a fifteen yard burst. He gets to top speed through the hole very quickly and then will thump you at the end of your run, punishing defenders at every level of the defense. I think he may be the best runner in the country in terms of not needing a great offensive line to make big yards. He has good speed and really good interior vision. He’s not great on 3rd down yet, although there is potential here. He’s good but not great in pass protection and in having a feel for the passing game. Overall he’s a good running back without question although I don’t think he’s as good as everyone else does, and I think he’s definitely a full step behind Barkley in terms of where i’d draft him. I’m guessing he’s a top end of the 2nd round guy and a perennial starter in the league. Wouldn’t be shocked to see him end of round 1 and I don’t think it’s a reach, he’s good. 

NFL Comparison: Frank Gore

21. Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville 87

Well to be honest it’s pretty easy to see what Lamar Jackson is and compares to in the NFL, he really is so similar to Michael Vick it’s scary. I think there are so many people who are trying to tell you what Jackson isn’t that people tend to forget what he actually is and could be for an NFL team. Jackson is the best athlete to play quarterback at a viable NFL level since Vick was selected first overall. While he didn’t run at the combine i think it’s safe to say the kid is a 4.4 type runner and his athleticism and quickness gives him something that will keep defensive coordinators up at night. If he’s allowed to get a rush lane, there is a chance every time a defense gets upfield that Jackson can score with his legs.

In terms of passing the football Jackson has a really high quality arm. He can make every throw on the field and while his release and footwork need a lot of work, the kid can make NFL throws right now and deliver the football with tremendous velocity. His down the field throwing is good and he can challenge every inch of the field, which will help keep safeties back allowing him to utilize his rare speed even more.

His issues are pretty evident as well though. Jackson struggles with accuracy at times, missing guys who are running wide open. He also has a tendency to look down and run the football when the pocket gets messy and in the NFL when the speed is so much greater that simply won’t do. He also has a wiry frame, and while the combine’s numbers on his height and weight came back positive in terms of being almost 220 pounds, he still looks thin. He also seems a bit behind when asked to read more than half the field but I think other scouts are more worried about that than I am as the passing game concepts in that offense are totally NFL reads and a lot of guys don’t deal with that stuff.

Look there are issues here, he isn’t super accurate and he doesn’t have a perfect build but he’s a freak athlete with a great arm who won a lot of games in college. You simply can’t teach what he can do with the ball in his hands and while he’ll certainly miss some throws he’ll also make some that half the NFL quarterbacks can’t make right now. He’ll challenge every defense he goes against and he’ll make it difficult to rush the passer against him as well as open up lanes for running backs. He’ll help your line and your backs become better and with speedy receivers and a coach who is willing to run an offense to suit him you have a chance at another Vick here. If I had a year or two where I could sit him and let him learn behind someone before he needed to play, and maybe utilize him in a wildcat style attack sometimes, there’s a chance this kid turns into a really quality starting NFL quarterback. I really like him, but he’s got to go to a situation where a team will use his talent and not try to fit him into their system. He’s someone you need to build around. 

22. Kerryon Johnson, RB Auburn 87

I hadn’t watched much of Johnson by himself until later in the process than usual but damn he absolutely jumped off the screen when I was watching some of the Georgia defenders. In that game he showed ridiculous acceleration and got from 0-60 at an absurd level. I’m not sure his breakaway speed is as good as his quickness and burst but he’s a top tier runner in terms of that initial get through the hole speed.

Johnson shows good patience and vision and does a great job setting up his blocks. He runs with a weird style, mostly straight up until he sees his seem and that worried me a bit because he’ll be a bit more susceptible to big hits in the league. The patience and willingness to wait to set his blocks up have a bunch of people comparing him to Le’Veon Bell and I can totally see the style comparison. Bell runs with more power than Johnson but that willingness to let the play develop is pretty unusual and with his upright style you could see how those two could be compared to one another. 

Johnson looked comfortable at receiver in the game tapes that I watched too, although I’m not sure how he’ll be in pass protection early in his career. At 6’0 and around 215 pounds he has the size to hold up in the NFL overall and he doesn’t have a ton of wear and tear on his tires either, with this being the first season he was really leaned on to carry the entire load. I really like this kid and while Barkley is clearly the top running back in this class, and in my opinion the top player in this draft, Johnson is certainly in the conversation to be the second running back off the board.

Johnson very well could end up being a lead running back in the NFL and his quickness, acceleration, and vision means that he has high upside and a running style that could equate to a lot of success in the league. I heard someone compare his running style to Arian Foster, but he’s not that type of projection, but I really like him. I would take him in the second round, and if he’s there in round 3 and I need a back I’m jumping up on the table.

23. DJ Chark, WR LSU 86

I absolutely love this kid. Coaches rave about him, they say his improvement from the time he got to campus to when he walked away was incredible. He’s got all the tools you’d ever ask for at 6’3 and a 4.33 that plays that fast and a 40 inch vertical. His productivity in college wasn’t awesome as he didn't really play his first two seasons. That being said he had 2 punt return touchdowns this season and averaged 22 yards per catch. He’s a touchdown waiting to happen every single time he touches the football. I think he could end up being Jordy Nelson in the league, he has that type of ability.

Chark didn’t play his first two seasons in Baton Rouge and so he kind of burst onto the scene, his senior bowl and combine shot him up the board. He’s an A+ when it comes to H/W/S and explosiveness so you have to fall in love with that. Coaches say he’s a tireless worker and so despite his being a below average route runner at this point, the chances of that improving are very good. 

He isn’t the most natural catcher of the football but he’s not as bad as some scouts say either, he’ll track the deep ball pretty well and he isn’t poor at plucking the football out of the air. I think he plays a bit too tall sometimes so his route running really needs work right now but if you get Him on a team that runs a lot of verticals or play action deep shots the kid could be special. I don’t understand why people were so okay with Will Fuller going in the first round and Chark not when Chark has the same time of explosiveness that Fuller had but he’s 6’3 and jumps 6 inches higher. I get Fuller had more production coming out of college but that was more based on scheme and teammates and quarterback play, not potential. I think Chark is the number 2 WR in this class and if I need a wide receiver and he is available in round 2, he’s my guy. 

24. Billy Price, C Ohio State 86

Price is an excellent center and someone who is going to be a really high quality NFL lineman for a long time. He has good size for the position, is strong as hell for a center and his movement skills are well above average. He plays with a nastiness and wants to pummel you, which can lead to him getting too excited and missing blocks because he wants to hit so badly. 

His technique for the most part is very good although i'd like to work with his hands a bit more. He struggles at times to re-engage after his initial punch and his forward lean sometimes even in RPO’s can get him in trouble. Overall 55 consecutive starts, really good tape, and plus H/W/S means this kid is clearly a first round talent. However, the Partially torn pec he suffered at the combine is going to drop his stock. Some people say he’s a really weird dude too so there might be some locker room stuff you'll have to deal with.

Price as a pass protector does a good job overall. He projects as an above average pass protector in the NFL with good length, quickness, and is someone who never looks for work. He’ll double you and hit you and his movement skills mean that typically he’s rarely going to lose with quickness. However, his hands are only okay in my opinion. His feet in terms of ability is really good but sometimes he can get a little sloppy there. Overall though he’s not going to have many issues as a pass protector. His strength and quickness are a plus.

As a run blocking center is where Price might be very good though. His strength and power along with good movement skills means he can play in any system and be effective. I like watching him get off the first block and climb to the second level with ease. Price is usually good once he gets there but sometimes he’ll get too far out in front and get overly aggressive and miss. He wants to crush you. It’s like watching a running back who always tries to hit the big play, Price does that with space blocking sometimes. That being said he projects as a really plus upper tier run blocker.

Overall the only thing that keeps Price from being in the top half of the first round discussion are the kind of weird attitude situation, and the partially torn pec. That being said 55 straight starts is ridiculous, he played all 3 interior positions, and his ability means he can play in any scheme. He looks like he plays with an exceptionally high football IQ  as well. He’d be right in the top 10 overall player discussion without the torn pec, and still to me back half of the first round makes a ton of sense. Really solid player with high floor and good upside. Give me a bunch of these guys.

25. Dallas Goedert, TE South Dakota State 86

I absolutely love Godert and think that he is going to be a really good NFL tight end. While people are going to wonder how he’ll transition into the NFL from a small school it honestly doesn't even worry me because all the traits are there for him to be successful. He’s got good size at 6’4.5 and 250 pounds with 34 inch arms so his inline blocking and catch radius is going to translate well. He’s a fast guy so he’l be able to separate and the kid makes big time catches all over the field already. He was insanely productive for South Dakota State and I think he’ll be extremely productive in the NFL as well.

There isn’t much not to like about Goedert but if there was a couple little nitpicky things to jump on, one is that he isn’t really quick and therefore doesn’t gain natural separation. He’s not really precise on his route running yet so there is some room for improvement there but the lack of natural quickness means he’ll have to gain separation other ways. He’s physical at the point of attack and his long arms means he can block in line but he’ll get caught reaching on blocks and being too aggressive, getting himself off balance. While he’s a good blocker for a tight end transitioning to the league, he’ll have to improve that area of his game in terms of technique. He’ll also drop the occasional catchable ball but his hands are well above average. 

The pluses are overwhelming here. He’s got good speed although he’s not Eric Ebron or Evan Engram (sidenote, apparently E.E. tight ends are blazing fast) he’s plenty fast to get down the seam and make big plays. He can make some spectacular catches, that other players simply don't make. He’s really good with the ball in his hands and while he lacks quickness he has enough wiggle and arm length to create missed tackles. He’s a good blocker and wants to be and seems to have at least an average feel against zones. I’d like him to recognize coverage a bit better particularly when he’s the flexed tight end in the slot and sees a blitz coming. That being said he’s at least average to above average here as well.

To me he’s a really good player who will end up being a high quality tight end in the league. While he's not a complete game changer at the position he’s really good and projects to be a top end number one tight end within 2-3 seasons.

NFL Comparison: Eerily Similar to Zach Ertz 

26. Mike Gesicki, TE Penn State 85

An absolute freak athlete who happens to be a tight end, Gesicki has potential to legitimately be a top 10 player in this year’s draft. He’s a former volleyball and stud basketball player who shows ridiculous athleticism and length, along with super natural hands, making him someone who could be a 75 catch, 10 touchdown per year tight end in the NFL. He had zero drops the past two seasons and looks super smooth catching the football, with an ability to make some crazy catches as well. As a blocker there is a lot of room to grow here as he doesn’t play strong and doesn’t get much movement but he’s consistently in position and rarely swings and misses there. Overall his leaping ability, 41.5 inch vertical, his length 34 inch arms and 6’5, and catching ability, 0 drops in two seasons means the kid has first round talent.

I’m a bit worried about the fact that he’s not a very good or powerful natural blocker. Gesicki put up good numbers on the bench, particularly for a guy with long arms at the combine, but he doesn’t really get movement and doesn’t anchor well yet in pass protection sets. He also seems to lack a feel for it as he’ll look for work at times when asked to pass pro. His wham blocks, coming across the line to pick up backside players was good for Penn State but he never hammered someone. As an in-line guy he’s not going to get movement but in space he’s solid and when he’s moving he hits much more often than he misses. There’s serious potential here because of his length though so while right now he has some work to do, by year 2-3 he could be better than average.

As a receiver he has elite ability and traits. His 4.54 is an excellent time in the 40 as are his 20 and 3 cone stuff. He’ll test off the charts for sure. The biggest issue i have with him in terms of his pass catching stuff is that while I’ve read numerous scouts say that he’s smooth and quick and all of that but to be honest I don’t see that. He rarely turns and looks when his guy blitzes, his feel for zone isn’t great yet, and he doesn’t create a ton of natural separation. While the upside is there for him to be truly elite right now his feel isn’t great. A good coach and a good system could bring out a superstar here though, so when making a projection you think wow he’s an all-pro pass catcher.

Gesicki is a freak athlete with great hands and tremendous potential. I think Goedert is much more complete but Gesicki’s upside is as a truly special number one pass catching flexed tight end. He has some things he needs to work on so there is a chance he ends up being a one trick pony in terms of being essentially just a huge slot receiver. That being said that length and pass catching radius is something you can’t teach, he’s a smart kid too so if I’m doing an “upside-only” draft ranking, he might be my 4th or 5th rated prospect. If i’m end of round 1 and he’s there and I need an offensive weapon, I’m pulling the trigger right here. Could be the number one pass catcher in this draft.

NFL Comparison: Jordan Reed - Jimmy Graham

27. Sony Michel, RB Georgia 85

Oh my this kid has a different gear and acceleration. His ability to go from standstill to his full speed is exceptional. He isn’t the fastest guy in the world at 4.56 but his acceleration gives him an opportunity to hit homeruns at any point. At 215 pounds, his size isn’t an issue and he runs pretty damn strong. As a pass protector he’s very good and so he should see the field early on because of his ability there. He’s a good, not great pass catcher and although he’s extremely quick in short areas his route running and wiggle isn’t great. He doesn't make a ton of people miss and so while his quickness is elite and his size is good, he isn't a natural pass catcher like a Kamara or a McCaffrey so finding a perfect comp is tough here.

Michel split time at Georgia so he’s a bit fresher than a lot of 4 year backs coming into this draft as well. He’s a really good football player who averaged almost 8 yards per carry in the SEC this season behind a good but not spectacular offensive line. As a runner he's much better going north and south and when he sees a hole he hits hit extremely hard. Michel has good vision but not elite, and nice power but doesn’t slam it in there. Both pieces are good enough for the league but could use some work. I like his balance for the most part but at times he’ll get knocked down when he shouldn’t. Again his pass protection skills are extremely good for someone coming into the league so he could be a really high quality 3rd down running back as well.

He’s got most of the stuff you’re looking for in a running back projecting to the league. I’d absolutely love him if he was more natural running routes, he’s above average in this regard and his hands are pretty good but he would have an opportunity to have a Alvin Kamara type impact because their games are really similar but Kamara is such a natural receiver. Michel is a guy who I think can be a 1000 yard back in the league. His acceleration and pass protection skills are elite, his size is plenty good and he finishes runs well with adequate vision and pass catching skills. Late in round 1 early in round 2 would make a lot of sense here but my thought is he's going to go in round 2 and someone will get a starting caliber player with a ton of upside. One of my favorites. 

28. Joshua Jackson, CB Iowa 85

Jackson is the best ballhawk in the 2018 draft and a very solid cornerback prospect. I know most people like Ward from Ohio State better but it’s like comparing apples to oranges for me. Jackson is a playmaker who could be a game changer for a team that likes to play cover 3. When his eyes are on the quarterback and he’s allowed to read and react he’s a top 3 player in this entire draft. He led the nation in interceptions in this past draft and has 100 rating in  ball skills. When he’s in position to make a play, he makes a play, and sometimes they are game changers.

On top of elite ball skills, which included 27 passes defended this past year, Jackson also is 6’1 and 193 pounds giving him great size. While his quickness is good its certainly not great and is a full step behind a player like Ward. His straight line speed at the combine is going to be extremely important because right now when I watch his tape he’s clearly a cover 3 zone corner who can play man versus someone I watch who I think will be a shutdown guy and chase players all over the field. I don’t think he’s really fast to be totally honest so scheme will be important. His combine was around 4.5 so that’s definitely good enough, lots of people wondering why he’s so stiff and his technique wasn’t sound there but he’s raw and new to the position a bit and the kid is a zone corner, it's okay if he’s not super polished or smooth, that’s not where his value lies, his value is in his hands, size, and playmaking ability. 

Jackson puts effort into tackling but isn’t a great one at corner but it’s certainly not going to be a knock against him, it’s just not a plus so far. As a former wide receiver he’s still a little raw in his technique and crossing routes give him some trouble, some of it is because he likes to allow inside release instead of letting someone get to his outside shoulder. It makes him a bit susceptible to quick slants as well. 

All of that said the kid allowed less than 42% of passes his way to be completed this year, led the nation in interceptions and didn’t allow a touchdown after week 4. He also has tremendous size, is this draft’s best defensive playmaker, and is a coaches dream for a zone cover heavy team. The kid would be a good starter in a man heavy team, he could be a game changer for a team that wants to play a lot of zone and let their guys make plays, Ala Seattle. 

NFL Comp: Poor man’s Richard Sherman

29. Taven Bryan, DT Florida 85

My oh my does this kid have upside. In fact in terms of just overall talent he’s probably a top 5 player in this class. That being said the 6’4 295 pound Bryan has some issues because he’s just so damn raw, can totally lose leverage and gap responsibility, and will get washed down the line sometimes. But you get these splash plays from him where he simply dominates with athleticism and quickness and explodes 5 yards into the backfield in an instant. There are traits here and length, power, speed, quickness, that simply cannot be taught. If he goes to a team with a good defensive line coach look out. He could legitimately be a dominant force on Sundays, but you’ll have to be patient. 

To me he’s a kid that almost needs a redshirt year in the NFL. His productivity at Florida was way down because while he can blow plays up and get into the backfield and be extremely disruptive at times, he also rarely finishes plays. He’ll get a ton of hurries and push people around but he simply wasn’t instinctive enough and didn’t have the feel to get to the right spot and finish. 

I can’t believe some of his explosiveness though where through quickness and explosiveness he dominates good players. I think while he played defensive tackle at Florida, to me his spot in the NFL is a base 34 defensive end and a 3 technique on rush downs where he can use his quickness to beat up on guards in pass sets. He is strong enough to hold the edge without any question so that’s not going to be an issue. There is no denying his ability. 

I think he will eventually figure all of this out and become a really good player. People have compared him to JJ Watt and while that’s insane you can certainly see some of the resemblance in his splash plays. The big difference there is Watt was productive and Bryan hasn’t been yet. If I’m at the end of round 1 and can afford to let him figure it out for a year or maybe even two before I begin to see consistency and dividends I would certainly do it, because there’s a chance this kid becomes a complete game wrecker. A risky selection but the upside could be enormous.

30. Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame - 84

A rock solid if unspectacular offensive tackle prospect who projects as a good starter in the league. My rankings are always somewhat skewed toward players who play higher importance positions which is why McGlinchey to me as someone who could potentially play left tackle gets a solid grade. He has good footwork, hand placement, and balance and rarely completely swings and misses. They leave him one on one virtually all the time in Notre Dame’s offense and he more than holds is own. 

McGlinchey is a very good run blocker as he gets good movement and shows above average skill when he’s in space. He isn’t a mauler but when he’s allowed to get on a linebacker or a smaller pass rusher he gets good movement. He’s more of a stock and allow to read tackle than someone you’re going to want to run behind consistently like a Jason Peters. There are times that he does a really good job here but he projects as a good run blocker in the league but certainly not a great one.

In pass protection there are times that he simply just doesn’t have the elite athleticism or burst off the ball to hold his own against top tier talent. He’s not someone you are going to want or trust to leave one on one against NFL elite level guys because while he’ll win some, he’ll certainly lose some too. His Georgia and Miami tapes were perfect examples. There were times when he went against quality players and won but he also got beat a few times in those games. His quickness isn’t great and therefore he’ll get beat sometimes by better athletes. His balance and footwork are really good, so he isn’t someone who is going to just get smoked all the time as he stays on plane a lot. That being said he’s just not a good enough athlete to leave on an island consistently.

McGlinchey project as a quality starting tackle in the league who will sometimes need some help. He has a high IQ, great technique, and solid footwork. He is a good run blocker and projects as an average pass blocking starting tackle. I think right tackle makes more sense for him but it wouldn’t shock me to see someone play him at LT in the NFL eventually. He’ll just need help at times against elite level edge rushers.

NFL Comparison: A combination of Nate Solder and Riley Reiff

31. Marcus Davenport, Edge UTSA 84

Davenport is an athletic freak who checks all the boxes for upside in the H/W/S categories. At 6’6 260 with long arms, and a guy who runs sub 4.6 doesn’t come around very often. Coming from a small school without outstanding production you really have to wonder about how he’ll translate to the league but damn this kid has potential that's completely through the roof. At the senior bowl I was wondering how he would play and while there were plays where he was completely held in check, there were other plays where his athleticism and length simply dominated good players. 

Davenport wasn’t an overly productive player at UTSA, a small school, where he never got double digit sacks in a season. While he flashes as a top end talent through quickness, power, and length his repertoire of pass rush moves leaves a lot to be desired. He needs coaching and the jump up in competition is going to make his first year a major challenge. There are a lot of coaches who are going to love to get their hands on him because while he’s super raw, the upside here is of someone who could change a defense.

People with that combination of size and speed are pretty rare. The kid does a decent job setting the edge when asked to and i think he’ll get better at that the more he does it. This write up is super basic because we all know what this is. Davenport has crazy upside but is really raw and a project. If you trust your defensive line coaches and defensive coordinator to develop talent you can take him in round 1 and believe he’ll turn into a double digit sack guy who wreaks havoc. You have to have confidence there or this kid could turn into a major bust.

32. Martinas Rankin, OL Mississippi State 84

I think this kid is really good. I’m not sure if I’m going to play him at tackle, or guard, or center but the fact that he can play any of those spots and be successful means that in my opinion he’s a borderline first round offensive lineman. Rankin played left tackle successfully at Mississippi State and while his tape wasn’t flawless it was really solid at that spot. He’s 6’4 and about 310 pounds and his arms are decent but not super long. I personally think he could be an excellent guard or center prospect as well, he’s got a lot of really good qualities I like that could move him around.

I think one of the best things about Rankins game is his short area quickness. He pulls sometimes in the Bulldog offense and shows excellent movement skills and looks very comfortable both in screens and pulls. This to me shows I think his best skill could end up being playing on the inside somewhere although i do think he’s an adequate starting left tackle in the league as well.

He’s not super strong yet but he has a frame that could hold onto another 10 pounds of muscle putting him in that 315-320 range that is more prototypical. I like the way he comes off of blocks when he sees games happening around him, and while he’s not perfect there he grades out above very well seeing defensive shifts and blitzes. I think he sees the game at a high level and really could see him being a really good center. The reason I would kick the tires on him at the end of round 1 or in round 2 is that he legitimately could play all 5 positions and I think at worst he’s a slightly below average left tackle who starts in the league, which is valuable unto itself. There’s a chance he’s good there but I think he could end up being excellent as a movement guard or a high quality center. Someone compared him to Justin Britt, but I see a bit more Justin Pugh to his game, but maybe a better version. Really good solid player. 

33. Leighton VanderEsch, MLB Boise State 84

VanderEsch is a really big kid who still has the movement skills to cover in the NFL. While he’s not the fastest guy in the world he's still very quick and his 4.65 is under the magic and totally arbitrary 4.7 number you need to be successful in the league. He only really has one year of big time playing experience but damn it was an impressive year, ending up with 140 tackles and player of the year awards for his conference. At 6’4 and 256 pounds he’s a monster of a man at inside linebacker and his quickness and length is very enticing.

The biggest pluses with him are the fact that his length and quickness allows him to do a number of different things. He causes problems for tight ends in coverage because he can run with them all but also has the length and size to jam them effectively at the line. He looked good dropping into zones although there were times he failed to get the proper depth. VanderEsch was involved in so many plays and his pursuit was very solid throughout the season. They asked him to blitz a lot and while he was pretty effective there, the room for growth with him as a blitzer is very high. He also is a good tackler although not great which kind of bugs me, but he wraps up for the most part and his ability in space is pretty decent too.

A couple of issues that scare me a bit is that he’ll miss some tackles here and there, his play strength isn’t great, and I still think he’s raw. He’ll get out of position sometimes and over pursue plays on occasion. I actually think he gets off blocks better than what most scouts that i’ve read says that he does, I didn’t watch him get blocked too often this past season. I do worry though that even at 256 pounds he will sometimes have to drag people down and will let the plays come to him. He’ll absorb contact like a safety at times instead of playing downhill. With 140 tackles he only had 8 tackles for loss, and so a lot of his plays are 3-8 yards downfield. I think some of that comes from not reacting perfectly yet, but the upside and projection is really good for him to improve that stuff.

It’s really weird to say someone who was that productive is more of a projection to the NFL than anything else. I think it would be very beneficial to him to go to a team that might not need him to contribute immediately on defense consistently and play 60-75 snaps per game because he needs a bit of seasoning. I do think as a rookie he might be a monster on special teams. VanderEsch has a very high ceiling and for that reason alone he will likely go toward the end of the first round. To me he’s right in that end of first early second round range because the ceiling for him is as a really good all around linebacker who might end up with a decent number of sacks and pressures because of quickness and length. He’s good, 

34. Rashaan Evans, LB Alabama - 83

Evans is a good football player who benefitted greatly from the players he had around him at Alabama. When kept clean Evans could utilize good speed to play sideline to sideline and make plays, as well as show good aptitude as a pass rusher. His spin move was pretty impressive against tackles in the SEC and he managed to get solid pressure when he was allowed to get one on one with tackles or guards. His best attribute that I saw on tape was his ability to drop in coverage as he projects as an above average cover linebacker in the NFL.

Against the run he’s not a big time thumper. He does a decent job getting around blocks and when his defensive linemen could eat up blockers and keep him clean Evans was a good solid tackler and did a good job filling holes and making plays. He’s a good not great tackler and his instincts kind of bug me so he can be a half beat late filling the gaps at times. Evans has good speed though and plays sideline to sideline, making tackles, particularly in the pass down the field and in the flat.

I think his ability to play man or zone as a linebacker is what makes him a borderline first round prospect though. I liked watching him take away passing lanes and close on pass catchers. With decent size at 6’3 and playing somewhere around 235-245 pounds in the NFL, a lot of tight ends won’t be able to just post him up. He looks good when allowed to drift and cover both the flat and the inside routes and he rarely allowed YAC when the ball entered his zone. 

I think he’s a good player, but he simply doesn’t jump out on tape. I want to love him because he’s got good size and speed and played for a great defense but he simply blended into a good defense and showed some positive traits that led me to my ranking. I like the kid and think he could be really good as a nickel linebacker and someone who could be utilized in a blitz heavy 34 inside position or as a run and chase guy, but for him to be effective he’ll need players around him to help him be successful. Nice player, probably a starter for a while and definitely a nice sub package guy. Could be really good on special teams as a rookie.

35. Mike Hughes, CB UCF 83

I like Hughes for the most part but the fact that some people have him as their number one corner in this draft is honestly pretty laughable. I think he projects as a good second corner in the NFL and someone who can help you on punt returns but there are too many warts for me to give him a first round grade. He had an off the field issue at UNC that essentially ended his time there, his junior college tape was good but only two picks against terrible competition, and this past year was his first year as a full time starter. On top of that he doesn’t have good size at 5’10 and 190 pounds and while the weight is good and he plays very physical, 5’10 guys need to either be exceptionally long or fast to play outside as a number 1 CB and he’s a 4.54 guy with 30 inch arms so he projects as a number two corner in the NFL, but a good one.

I love him in press coverage even at 5’10 because he plays so physically. Hughes has good ball skills and wants to attack the flats and the screen passes hard. He dives at the legs of ball carries and misses some tackles with bad technique but he wants to hit you and that I can get behind. His ball skills are well above average as he finds the football and can make plays on it all over the field. I think when the ball is in the air at 5’10 he’ll struggle sometimes to find it and take it away from top tier guys but those number 2 and 3 receivers with his physicality and ball skills he may give some problems. 

His lack of experience shows at times and while you’d like your 5’10 corner to play off coverage probably a bit more, particularly when he’s got average speed, Hughes doesn’t look as comfortable there. He gets high in his backpedal and takes some false steps sometimes due to lack of experience. There are times too when he gives too much cushion and to me there are times his tape reminds me a bit of Teez Tabor and Tabor was worried about his long speed and while Hughes is better than Tabor, that cushion at times kind of worries me. 

Overall the kid is a nice player who will likely get a few picks in the NFL before his time is up. He is someone who projects as a number two cornerback, a good special teams player either as a returner or a gunner, and a physical guy who won’t hurt you against the run. While there is some things to really like, including plus ball skills and a good feel for the return game, his lack of ideal size and speed limits his upside. To me he’s a round 2 grade and a nice player. 

36. Orlando Brown, OT Oklahoma 83

The guy I believe is the best offensive tackle in this draft is this massive beast of a man Orlando Brown. Brown is 6’8 with long arms and weighs in somewhere around 350 pounds depending on the day. He was extremely productive, starting for 3 years and gaining accolades everywhere during all 3 seasons. While some people worry about him because he’s not the most athletic and can get sloppy with footwork, as well as having some leverage issues due to his height, I think he’s a high quality starting tackle in the league for at least two contracts. 

He’s not a guy who is going to be able to really keep up against super crazy quick guys with footwork but his length gives him a great opportunity to ride that player past his quarterback. He uses his length so much better than some guys do at his size and because of that speed guys won’t cause him the same problems as other big guys. Watching him against a very quick Nick Bosa, Brown never really seemed panicked, even when Bosa went out and did a wide-9 rush a few times. Brown just simply got out, used his lengthy when Bosa tried to get the edge and pushed him past Mayfield. That being said he can get sort of sloppy with that footwork in certain instances and against really experienced rushers with speed he may need some help on the edge at the next level.

In the run game he’s not someone you want to pull and get out in space, so there are some limitations here in terms of screens and stretch plays. It’s not that he’s totally unathletic, and I think there are some misconceptions about him that he’s a big lumbering bear, I don’t think that's true. I just think he’s not as athletic as some of the top end tackles that have come out recently and so scouts want to push him down their board. You are drafting him if you’re a team that wants to play with power, because he can absolutely blow up people in the run game. When he’s washing guys down the line against Texas it’s a thing of beauty. The first quarter of that game Brown is creating so much space in the run game it’s absurd. His power is top tier.

Brown is a prototype right tackle with huge power and great length to be a stud there for a long time in the NFL. I think the kid could end up being a quality left tackle in the league though for those teams that want a power blocker and value size over quickness at that position. It’s rare to find someone with his size who can use it so well. While i’m not sure he’s a superstar because he does have some limitations with movement, the kid should pan out as a really good starter with upside in the NFL. No hesitation taking him if I need a lineman in round 1, but I dont think he’s a top 6-8 guy in this draft.

37. James Daniels, C Iowa 83

A supremely athletic and long center, Daniels could thrive in a zone blocking scheme and one in which the quarterback is asked to move a lot. His athleticism and quickness is really impressive and it gives him such an opportunity to get to the second level and beat slower defensive tackles off the football. When he’s allowed to get to the linebackers too he rarely misses, it’s fun to watch him in space because so many linemen swing and miss there but Daniels makes solid contact consistently. Quickness, coupled with long arms for a center at 33.75 inches lets him get his hands on tackles and backers quicker than any center in the nation and it will suit him well in the NFL.

The biggest issue with Daniels though is his lack of play strength. He played at around 290 pounds this past season and while centers don’t need to weigh 330 to be effective, 290 and with some issues holding up against the bull rush means he simply isn’t a first round candidate.The quickness really helps him get his hands on players first but once they get into his chest Daniels doesn’t anchor well enough yet. In the Big 10 he got away with it for the most part but that won’t last in the league. He has to add 15 pounds in order to hold up and if he adds more he might lose his elite quickness. This is going to be an issue at points at the next level. I don’t think it’s a deal breaker but he needs to get stronger.

He seems to read the game very well and any Kirk Ferentz coached lineman is going into the league with a gigantic advantage on almost anyone. I love the way he gets to the second level and finds the perfect guy to block consistently. It’s fun watching him read the game too. I think he does that at a high level. 

Daniels is a kid that could play in any scheme but will thrive in a zone blocking and movement based system. If he goes to a power system with a statue quarterback the chances are he’s going to be decent but never great. If he’s allowed to go and use his talents and move and get into space he has a shot at making some pro-bowls. System need and lack of play strength means he’s a 2nd rounder.

38. Ronald Jones II, RB USC 83

An explosive playmaker who can hit a homerun every time he touches the football. Jones’ ability to plant his foot in the ground and get 0-60 is as good as any player you’ll watch from the running back position. His top end speed is good but his acceleration is top tier. He’s only 6’0 and around 200 pounds so I believe he’s limited in that he can’t be an every down NFL back, plus there are times he gets absolutely drilled when he runs, but as a guy who can give you 12-15 touches per game he could really help your team.

I think he runs tougher inside than you’d think from someone his size and he does break some tackles and happens to fall forward and move the pile. He’s not someone who is going to try to run you over but his feet are so good that he can get by you or to your arms instead of your body quickly. He seems to have good but not great vision and understands down and distance very well as a runner, not dancing on short yardage. 

He’s really good when allowed to run stretch plays or zone plays as he gets his foot in the ground and to the second level as well as anyone. I think he’s okay in pass protection given his size limitation and he tries hard there but 200 pound isn’t ideal to take on linebackers. He didn’t catch the ball much at USC which is so surprising because with his quickness and speed you’d love to see what he could do as a pass catcher. I think he’s a guy who could absolutely thrive in a time share or at times carrying the load. I don't think he’s someone who can consistently get 300 touches per season though. Jones is the exact kind of guy you want in your backfield in round two as he’s not a true number one guy because of his lack of size but he could be one of the best players in a time share in the league.

39. Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma 83

This is a player who is going to give people a very wide array of scouting grades because there are so many pluses and minuses here. To me the kid is someone who projects as a decent starting quarterback in the NFL who will always have some issues with upside because he’s not big, not overly fast, and his off the field persona is going to cause issues. He’s also got a good release, has outstanding accuracy, and provides plus leadership at the biggest position of need. The kid could be a nice player in the league but you have to be really comfortable with the off field issues.

His ability to make on time throws is extremely impressive and his ability to create yards after catch for his receivers is the best of anyone in this draft class. Mayfield can give players the ability to make big plays and he does his best as a point guard, distributing the ball and getting it out on time. When he’s in the pocket and on time he is exceptional. I think he's good when he's off platform and does a nice job of moving and making plays and buying himself time. People think he’s this amazing improvisor but he’s so much better when he’s following the script than when he’s not, although he does make the occasional outstanding play.

Mayfield has good movement skill and tremendous touch, he also is barely above 6 feet, has an average NFL arm at best, and the off the field red flags are huge. I could get into it but just know he got caught drinking and ran from the cops. He also talks a lot and has a bit too much swagger. I’m worried about his size and inability to create throwing lanes in the NFL. I also worry about him reading his plays post snap as he simply didn’t do that at a high level currently. 

Overall Mayfield is a good prospect because of his ability to extend plays, be extremely accurate and has good leadership. His average arm strength, below average size, and immaturity scare me as a first round quarterback. To me i’d love the kid if he were my second pick in a draft, i.e. trading back into round 1 or grabbing him early in round two. That being said, Mayfield is likely to go in the top dozen picks in the 2018 draft. While he projects as a quality starting quarterback he doesn’t project as an elite level guy so he’s a nice piece but I don't trust him enough to carry a franchise. There are trucks and trailers at that position and you can certainly win with trailers, but you need a really good team around him, and that's what you'd need with Mayfield.

Malik Jefferson OLB Texas - 83

Fun to watch, big hitter, excellent at “firing his gun” and making tackles once he hits the hole. I think he has the speed and agility to cover in space at the next level. Looks to have very good straight line speed and quickness. Used as a spy very effectively. Really good in space. He could be an excellent 43 WILL. Ran low 4.5 at the combine, and he uses his speed well. 

I don’t think his strength is great yet as he doesn’t get off blocks exceptionally well, but tries his best to anchor when his job is contain. He’s pretty good getting through traffic but if he added ten pounds and kept his speed he could be elite.  Struggles to get off blocks, definitely better when he’s allowed to run around and make plays. Not a good blitzer, better in coverage to this point. 

• Second play of the game against Notre Dame - he’s playing a zone on the strong side and a run goes to the weak side and breaks away, guy has 6-8 yards on Jefferson and Jefferson catches him from behind in about 15 yards. 
• Two times he was used as a spy or a qb contain guy on a zone read and both times he made the play totally by himself against Notre Dame in 2016. Against Maryland in their first 3rd down he’s used as a spy and smashed the qb on a designed run. As a spy he’s exceptional.
• 2016 game against Oklahoma, got blocked too often. I love him in the open field running around but when people get their hands on him he looks too passive. He’ll flash at getting off blocks but lets himself get locked up too often, particularly in this film. In the 2017 game against Maryland he did a much better job.
• 2017 against Maryland on punt return he made the key block, and it was HUGE, to spring a punt return TD.

SYNOPSIS ON 4 GAME TAPES: 

He’s really fast and finishes tackles extremely well, I saw him only miss one tackle in these four games and it was on a sack against Iowa State. He doesn’t get off blocks very well, but he has really good instincts and diagnoses plays quickly. Not an awesome blitzer but he gets sacks because he’s very quick and fires his gun as well as any player I’ve watched over the past three or four years. I like him in coverage and could see him as a 34 Weak Inside backer or as a 43 WILL and he could be a stud in the league. He’s a good player, with tremendous gifts physically with his speed and quickness. I think he’d be better at 245 instead of 235 getting off blocks but the kid is a good player who could fall into 2nd no question as he doesn’t play with as much power as you’d like. Might be better if he stays in school one more year and gets stronger.  You hear a lot of questions about whether he loves the game or not and that always scares the hell out of me, it’s one of the reasons I’d love to be in the interview processes for these instead of simply evaluating game tape from afar. Talent is elite but technique and some other questions drop him down a peg. To me he’s someone you could consider in the late first round but I’m gonna grab him somewhere in the second round because his upside is really good and I think he’ll make a bunch of tackles and be able to help you in coverage.

41. Hayden Hurst, TE South Carolina -82

Hurst is a good football player whose quickness and speed make him an intriguing prospect. He’s a former baseball player so he’ll be 25 when he starts his rookie year which does make me drop him down in my ratings a bit. I think he’s not quite maxed out because he can and needs to get stronger but there’s not a lot more upside here. He runs 4.67 and is quicker than that so there is some ability here in the pass game and run after catch that is really good. Hurst is very good technically when he is blocking on the move, particularly wham blocks when coming in motion. Inline as a blocker he'll get stood up pretty frequently which is where the need for him to improve play strength comes in. 

I think his short area quickness and athleticism really pop off the screen when you watch him. He can create separation despite being a good not great route runner because his short area quickness is really good. He’s got good size at 6’4 and around 250 so he can create some mismatch issues with linebackers. He seems to have natural hands and catches the ball easily, although his ability after the catch is good he doesn’t make as many people miss as you’d think with his quickness. 

Hurst is actually a pretty easy evaluation for me. He’s a pass catching tight end who is a decent blocker on the move but projects a lot better as a move and motion tight end as opposed to someone you want to play inline. He’s got good speed and quickness with nice hands and he gets his body in proper position when he blocks but lacks the play strength to play consistently in line. As a slot guy particularly when there are two backs or two tight ends and not going against base defenses he could give people serious problems. His upside is that of a good receiving tight end but likely he’ll be a nice rotational tight end who can get 50+ catches per season. You could do MUCH worse in round two and I’d target him if i needed a guy who could help me right away catch passes and move the sticks. Good solid second round guy with a nice floor but a capped ceiling.

42. Arden Key, DE/OLB LSU - 82

Really long player with good production including 12.5 sacks in 2016. 6’6 and somewhere between 238-255 pounds depending on where you read. If he can maintain his burst and get off at 255 vs. 238 he could end up being a top 3 pick. Heard some scouts say he’s better than Myles Garrett but I don’t think that yet, need to see some improvement against the run in 2017 to say he’s that good. Big question mark for him is that he took a break from football in the Spring of 2017… if you’re going to use a top 5 pick on the kid I have to know what that’s about. Big scary thing from me, maybe big enough for me not to take that type of risk.

*First half against Ole Miss was very mediocre, watched it twice just to see if I missed something but I didn’t. Got stood up repeatedly by their left tackle, did make a really nice inside over move to get a holding penalty at one point. Second half was an entirely different story as he became a major factor. He played with really good effort in this game and being around the ball led to a touchdown, that eventually got called back. 

*Sack against Wisconsin in 2016 he gets ran all the way up the field by the tackle, circles back and gets a 5 yard sack by shear effort. Obviously won’t happen that way in the league often but another show of effort by a kid who plays hard. 

*Tried to backpedal and drop into coverage in the Wisconsin game, I’ve seen him do it a couple times on tape, not a strength at all. Looks like a fish out of water.

His get off and initial quickness and speed for a guy with his length is extraordinary. His sacks are almost entirely effort and speed which is something you really can’t coach. I hear over and over he’s relentless in making plays and it’s so true, the kid is a really good effort player. 

Definitely a bit raw in terms of technique, he doesn’t do a ton to create the pressure other than simply beat you by being a better athlete with great timing. I don’t love him front side as he doesn’t really do a great job against the run and getting off blocks. I didn’t see a lot of counter moves to create pressure, mostly just backside quickness or bending around the edge on inferior talent. I don’t think his awareness is top tier, it’s okay and not a real minus but not a plus either, his play recognition is okay but not great. Wisconsin tape was decent but not awesome. Fumagali, a tight end, blocked him one on one on a number of occasions and did just fine, if not winning most matchups, or all matchups. 

SYNOPSIS ON 4 GAME TAPES:

Key is a really fast edge player who plays with great effort. He is raw in his technique and a lot of his sacks are from simply overwhelming athletes who aren’t quite as quick as him and with effort. He’s pretty good against the run but he definitely isn’t going to be a great edge setter and he’s not good in coverage at all, although I think there is potential there because of his length and athleticism. He’s a tremendous athlete with awesome length and therefore he can get tackles off his body quickly and make plays other guys can’t. He’s great from the backside against the run and he chases down a lot of plays down the line of scrimmage. I think the transition for him into the NFL will be a lot more difficult than most scouts think. He doesn’t have much technique at this point and a lot of the sacks he got were plays where NFL quarterbacks would have gotten rid of the ball already. He’s not tremendous in coverage and doesn’t get off front side blocks that well so realistically right now he’d be a pass rush specialist in the league with quickness, and while that’s very valuable, he has a ways to go. You couple that with the fact he left the team in the Spring for unknown reasons, a shoulder surgery, and a suspension against Texas A&M, and I simply can’t use a top 5 pick on him, too much risk.  A top 15 talent but enough rawness to his game I think he’s overhyped for what he is currently, and don’t get me wrong he’s good, just overrated for early 2017 season.

43. Harrison Phillips, DT Stanford 82

I believe that Harrison Phillips was the most productive player in college football in 2017. His ability to make plays from the defensive tackle positions was in total honesty completely ridiculous and kind of shocking with the statistics he put up. When you play a traditional defensive tackle position and end up with 103 tackles on a season, people have to take notice. Phillips also had 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, and he was a guy who constantly caused problems for other teams offensive attacks.

Phillips has tremendous strength and length and at 6’4 and 310 pounds he also hit up over 40 reps on the bench at the combine while putting together a very respectable time in the 3 cone drill, which is the one i think is by far the most important for defensive linemen. Phillips combine was important because he doesn’t necessarily have a true position int he NFL. I wanted to see if he had the movement skills to play the 3 technique, which is where I’d love play him with his activity and productivity and to me he showed he can clearly play and be effective there. I even think there’s a chance he could play 34 defensive end with his length as well, giving him more versatility than I thought possible for him.

While all of those things are big positives there is also some negatives here that you have to take into account. He’s got a weird frame for a defensive tackle and he doesn’t really project perfectly to either interior line spot or as a 5 technique so there’s some tweener there. Some people view tweeners as a problem I just like the versatility it provides, but you do have to wonder about some schematic fits. The big knock I have on him though as a run plugger is that while he does make a ton of plays he also ends up on the ground a ton. I don’t get how you can make 100 tackles but be on your ass 7-10 plays per game. His balance bugs me at times and it’s something he’ll have to work on to improve his game. 

I think he does a pretty good job for the most part eating up blockers and allowing his running backs to move free. With almost 34 inch arms he also can manipulate guards and centers allowing him to get off those blocks and make some plays. He doesn’t have great quickness but his power and length allow him to be a pretty productive and disruptive pass rushers at times too. Plus his motor is excellent so he makes some effort and hustle plays too. 

Overall the kid to me is a borderline first rounder with the potential to be a productive interior lineman in the NFL. I think he projects best as a 3 technique who can use his length and power to push the pocket and eat up blockers to allow linebackers to make plays, while also getting off the ball and being a high volume tackler for the position. His upside is limited because he doesn't have truly elite traits but his strength and productivity are hard to ignore. Nice player, I’d prefer him in round two though.

44. Maurice Hurst, DT Michigan 82

Hurst was firmly entrenched in round one for most scouts until an irregular EKG at the combine scared some teams away. For me it knocked him out of my top 25 but there were already a few issues here that scared me a bit. Primarily the kid can ONLY play a 3 technique in a 43 defense because of his lack of size. He’s someone who has to get upfield and use his incredible burst to create havoc. At 282 pounds he’s undersized and will be okay but not great against the run in the NFL. 

Hurst’s main impact on the game in the NFL will be as that pass rushing 3 technique. His initial get off is incredibly quick and he causes so many problems when he’s slanting or stunting because that quickness and his hands are elite. As a pass rusher even when he doesn’t get sacks he just causes mayhem in the backfield. He’s not a pocket pusher but that’s okay, he’s someone who could legitimately get 40-50 pressures and 7-8 sacks per year in the NFL which is incredibly valuable. 

As a run defender he’s going to have to create productivity with quickness and push. Hurst uses his hands well and gets off blocks well despite average length and below average size. He doesn’t anchor well so he’s going to get run on at times and he’ll give up holes because he’s going to give up 40 pounds to most guards and even some centers. He’ll make his share of plays in those situations as well though because he is just lightning quick.

The heart issue scares me quite a bit and means that I simply can’t take him in round one even though he probably should be there. Interior pass rushers with that type of quickness are really tough to find but Hurst has that in spades. Early in his career he’ll likely be just a sub package pass rusher but eventually he’ll end up being a good full time starter. I can’t take him in round one due to the heart issue, size, and being pigeon holed into only one position but his niche is incredibly useful and so somewhere in round two someone is going to get a quality player. 

45. D.J. Moore, WR Maryland 82

Moore is extremely effective with the football in his hands and running a 4.42 at the combine definitely helped out his draft stock because while I thought he definitely showed quickness on tape, I wondered about his straight line speed. He put that issue to bed quickly for me though with a tremendous 40 time. At 6’0 and showing not great effectiveness on contested catches the issue that I have with Moore is wondering if he can play outside in the NFL or not, to me he’s an exceptional slot receiver who can play outside as a number two. 

When watching him a couple things jumped out at me right away on tape. The first was that almost nobody tackles him in space and he makes everyone miss. It is extremely impressive how he avoids tacklers in the open field. The other thing that I noticed is that almost all of his catches come on 2 or 3 staple plays which include middle screens, drags, and 5 yard stop routes. I understand that you want to simply get him the ball in space but on other routes he doesn't create much separation which worries me with someone with his speed and quickness. It shows how far he has to go as a route runner.

As a blocker he puts forth effort but lacks the strength to make an impact there. As a route runner he has a ways to go although you see flashes, particularly on slugo’s or stop-n-go routes where he simply destroys corners. There are times he snatches the ball out of the air but physical guys typically break up passes when they go his way. I really like him as a second round receiver and his ability to make people miss and gain yards in space is exceptional. His quickness and speed combination is super enticing. There is a lot to work with here and I’d love that opportunity as a receivers coach because i think his upside is really high.

NFL Comparison: Golden Tate & Stafon Diggs

46. Frank Ragnow, C Arkansas 82

Some people think that Ragnow is a career backup type versatile interior lineman but to me I think he is clearly a starter, and one that actually has a good amount of potential in the NFL. PFF thinks he’s one of the better players in the draft via analytical perspective, and while I think their system is a bit flawed at times Ragnow is definitely a quality starter at center and someone who can help your football team score points. 

Ragnow is a very effective run blocker, doing a great job of getting movement and he’s exceptional at the second level. He is among the best combination and get off blockers in this entire draft, and he might be in the top 2-3 in that particular skill set. He hits way more than he misses at the second level and he squares people up and finishes them off. Ragnow isn’t the most powerful guy but he’s got above average strength and gets movement on a very consistent basis. 

As a pass blocker there are some things he could work on, but overall one on one he’s very solid. His length is more than adequate for a center and he anchors at a high level. There are two different sites that I saw that said he didn’t give up a sack in the past two seasons, granted he was injured for some of 2017 but still. That being said I did watch tape where while he may not have been the one credited for giving up a sack he’s not immune to give up pressure or hits on delayed players. He’s got good feet and really good awareness and is solid if unspectacular on double teams. I think his football IQ is solid. I do think he “looks for work” way too often as a pass protector and want to see him pancake some guys who are getting double, and he doesn’t do it often enough. He’s solid here but not great.

In the screen game he sells it very effectively and even though he's not a dynamic athlete he’s really under control and good in space. I love his hit percentage there. When he pulls he’s effective but he doesn't get great depth or separation down the line as his straight line speed is more of a plodder but when he’s asked to do short pulls he’s solid. 

Overall Ragnow is a very quality starting center in the league and at worst a really really good backup at guard and center. He’s a high floor kid with good potential to start and be effective in the NFL for a decade. I think he could go on day 2 without any issue. He’s good, I don’t know if he'll ever be great but I think he’ll be good for a long time and he could play in the league for a decade. 

47. Carlton Davis, CB Auburn 82

An extremely physical, tenacious press cover corner with a violent streak is Carlton Davis from Auburn. At 6’1 and 205 pounds, Davis size and strength at the position is a major plus. He’s disruptive, three times getting double digits in pass breakups throughout his career and he’s probably the best corner against the run and as far as tackling in this class. I actually could see him being a really good safety matching up with tight ends at some point in his career. He’s got decent speed in the mid 4.5 range and is one of the better press corners in this draft.

Davis also has some warts though which to me is why he’s a second round kid and not a first rounder. PrimarIly his hands are not good, and while he’ll break up a lot of passes he rarely will take any away. His balance isn’t good and so when he’s asked to do anything other than press he looks like a day 3 kid instead of a potential first round pick. His off coverage isn’t great and complex routes bother him quite a bit. If someone is really quick with that first step and he can’t get his hands on them he’s just average. Also his biggest problem is that he’s incredibly grabby. He’s going to get a lot of pass interference and illegal contact issues early in his career. 

Davis is a really good tackler in space and his physicality shows up on tape over and over again. He’ll hammer you and looks to deliver a blow. It’s really tough to get off of him in space and he’ll bully you to the sideline when you’re looking to go down to make a play. His size is a plus and he uses it as well as any defensive back in this class. 

Davis is going to have to go to a scheme where he can use his size and length to his advantage. He can’t go to a team that wants to play off man or trail technique becuase he doesn’t have the balance or foot quickness to do that. If you want someone who can simply body up bigger guys and play man to man all over the field though he could be successful. He’s a good corner and a solid round two kid for a man to man team. 

48. Anthony Miller, WR Memphis 82

I really hate putting someone who projects as a slot receiver this high up on a draft board but the kid could be maybe one of the best slot receivers in the league so I’m willing to take a shot here. I LOVE Miller, he’s someone who can provide a team with something pretty rare, and that’s a slot receiver with truly good speed. At 5’11 and 190 pounds he isn’t going to be posting anyone up but his competitiveness and ability to separate without tremendous route running skills shows his quickness. He was one of the most productive receivers in the nation and watching him in games sometimes he simply has a knack for playing wide receiver.

Some people are going to want to pigeon hole him into a slot only position but i simply don't see that. His quickness and speed give him an option to play on the outside and his fearlessness going up against anyone is evident when you watch his tape. The kid is really athletic and his explosiveness and ability to high point the ball even at 5’11 gives him a chance to make some 50/50 plays down the field. 

You have to wonder about some things with him, including the fact that while he makes some spectacular catches, he’ll also drop the occasional pass. He fights hard after contact but at 190 the step up in competition, particularly in press coverage is going to cause him some re-routing problems. I don’t know what his true straight line speed is although I do like how he tracks the deep ball and gets separation down the field. He’s an Okay blocker, but his size isn't going to scare anyone.

Projection: He reminds me some of Jamison Crowder and Danny Amendola. Could be a productive kid who makes a lot of plays but his upside is that of a really good number two. I think he'll end up being a quality 3rd option as his floor and could end up as an elite slot receiver.

49. Mason Rudolph, QB Oklahoma State 81

The forgotten man in this year’s stud quarterback class is Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph. A legit threat most years to be selected in the first round, with 5 guys likely in my opinion to go in the top 15, Rudolph drops to the second round and finds himself likely in the position of being the 6th qb off the board. That being said, I really think the kid could be a quality NFL starter and someone in round two, particularly a team with an aging quarterback could get a really capable kid in the second round here in Rudolph.

He’s got good size at 6’5 235 pounds and he stands tall and tough in the pocket. I love the way he’s patient in trusting his protection, allowing his eyes to scan the field. While everyone hates that these quarterbacks come from spread systems, you could watch him, particularly this season, start getting to his 2nd 3rd and 4th reads consistently. I loved in the Virginia Tech game, watching him scan one side of the field and then come back to the other side. And while he certainly isn’t going to kill teams with his legs, he’s a lot more mobile than people give him credit for, he’s an average to above average scrambler and he’ll pick up third downs with his legs if given a chance.

Rudolph’s arm strength is okay. I certainly wouldn’t say he has a good arm but it’s adequate enough to play in the league without too many training wheels. When he really winds up and makes a big time throw sometimes he’ll bounce it or his motion gets a little loopy or he’ll stride a little long. It’s because he’s trying to make up for that lack of elite arm strength. His downfield accuracy on deep passes and his touch there is really good, top tier. I think in a play action downfield scheme where he can hide the arm strength a touch he could thrive. His accuracy got better each season as his tape improved but there are times he’ll miss. He’s not inaccurate by any stretch and there’s room for improvement but i’d say it’s good not great.

Overall he’s got good size, mobility, deep ball touch, and better than average mobility. He’s to me someone who needs, hopefully 2 full seasons to sit and watch, but then will turn into a really quality NFL starter. He reminds me a bit of Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins coming out of college and i think while none of those guys are considered elite. Foles just won a super bowl and Cousins got 84 million guaranteed so you can win with guys just like Mason Rudolph and I think a team with an aging quarterback like the Chargers, Steelers, or Giants if they don't go qb in round 1 would love to grab Rudolph in round two to develop. If Denver doesn’t grab one at 5 they could take Rudolph to sit for two years behind Keenum. Regardless, he's a second round qb prospect who can turn into a solid NFL starter or at worse a very high quality backup. 

50. Dallas Schultz, TE Stanford 81

There are going to be a lot of people who are wondering why I have Schultz this high and I get it. He has barely more than 50 career catches and definitely isn’t a plus athlete. He has 31.5 inch arms so he’s not long and his body isn’t really totally NFL style yet, as he could add ten pounds. At 4.75 he moves well but he isn’t outrunning linebackers. So why the hell would I put this kid in round 2? Because he’s a dominant run blocker as a tight end.

I know that’s not sexy or stylish in today’s NFL but I know for a fact I want him on my team. No he’s not the fastest or most productive but he played in a very conservative offense at Stanford and they didn’t utilize the tight end nearly as much this season. At 4.75 he is fast enough to challenge the seam and on a variety of routes he actually is pretty impressive, particularly option and jerk routes where he creates decent separation consistently. He takes a while to wind down in his routes so stop routes and dig routes aren’t his cup of tea and they asked him to do that a lot at Stanford. He just wasn't utilized much in the pass game there, but he when he was asked to block in the pass game he was excellent. 

There’s really not much to go into depth here about Schultz, he’ll likely go in round 3 or 4 of this draft because a good blocking tight end who is a reliable but boring target isn’t fun. That being said if I needed a tight end who could block, who i think could honestly start right away and have an immediate impact in my run game while not dropping many passes, I’d take Schultz. He probably fits in round 3 better with my usual grading system but I love the kid, plus he went to freaking Stanford so you know you're getting a smart guy. He’s good, he’s never going to be great but I think the kid plays in the league for 8-10 years and is a quality player for a long time. 

51. Christian Kirk, WR/KR Texas A&M 80

When you draft Christian Kirk you know exactly what you’re buying. You might not be ecstatic and over the moon but you're getting a good football player, a very solid kick returner, and a tough physical slot receiver. He was extremely productive at A&M and there’s a chance he’ll be really productive in the NFL as well. He’s built like a running back at 5’10 and 200 pounds, but he’s strong as hell and threw up 20 on the bench at the combine. His 4.47 was actually faster than i thought he’d run as well. 

The downside of Kirk is that he’s only 5’10 and so it’s going to be really tough to play him outside consistently. To me he’s going to be that Jarvis Landry type guy in the league, someone who will play inside but cause problems due to quickness, speed, and route running ability. He played mostly inside this past season for the Aggies and just gave defenses problems as he got open frequently. You just can’t take a slot receiver in round one of a draft no matter how talented he is so he’s a solid second round pick for me at this point. That being said he’s someone who has the chance to be a really good slot receiver and a good kickoff returner and maybe punt returner so you have to like that.

The upside is somewhat limited here because he can’t play outside. But if my team needs someone to help move the sticks every single game, and someone who can help in the redzone, I’m looking right here. 

As a good kickoff guy who runs solid routes, he projects with a nice solid floor as someone who can catch 75 passes per season. I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a huge yardage guy in the league but the toughness and physicality along with better than average speed for a slot receiver make him an interesting player here. 

Pro Comparison: Jarvis Landry to Randall Cobb 

52. Darius Leonard, LB South Carolina State 80

A smaller but really fast and reactive linebacker who can play all 3 downs is Darius Leonard from SC State. I probably would have put the kid ahead of Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vader Esch on tape alone but the 4.70 was really disappointing at the combine because i thought he’d be in the low 4.5 range based on tape. His tape was the third best linebacker tape in this entire draft and there could be someone who wants the kid in round two and I totally understand it. He’s only 230 pounds and that might be as big as he can get after coming into college at 178 pounds, so he’s not going to run over many people either. There’s a limit here but damn i think he could be a triple digit tackle guy in the NFL one day, one of my favorite players in this class in terms of just football tape.

His Clemson and UCF tapes are both super impressive and you can see his ability to run sideline to sideline. He makes plays all over the place and while he only ran 4.7 he plays like a low 4.5 guy. His explosiveness and closing burst at the end of plays is top tier. He’s a really smooth athlete and looks solid as hell in coverage ability. I don’t love the depth he gets in zone all the time but he clearly as the footwork and tenacity to be good in that role. If I were SC State I would have blitzed him more too because I actually love his explosiveness off the edge and think he can become a good blitzer.

All of those things are really big positives and major reasons why i think the kid will become a quality starting NFL linebacker either as a will or as a 34 inside guy. That being said he also is undersized, not super long, and his 40 time was much worse than what you’d expect on tape. I think he can get stronger, which will really help him but he’s about as big as I think he’ll get. He doesn’t get through traffic super well and unless he takes on a good angle or gets lucky good linemen eat him up at the second level. Going to a team with good defensive linemen will really help his game. 

Leonard is a starting linebacker who can help any scheme so he’s a really nice piece. I think he can play all 3 downs and his effort and game speed can play all day long. He could be a stud special teams player and if he goes to a team with a good defensive line he could challenge for 100 tackles a year in the league. I don’t know if he’ll ever be a superstar but I’d bet he’s a solid starter for a number of years, but I think his upside is pretty capped. I like him quite a bit. 

53. Cedrick Wilson, WR Boise State 80

This guy might be my stand on the table guy this season in this draft. I really think that Wilson is going to turn into a high quality number two receiver in the NFL and I absolutely can't figure out why he’s not graded out higher than a 4-6th round pick. The kid has good size at 6’2 and ran a decent 4.55 40 for someone his size. His quickness is pretty darn good though and his 37 inch vertical shows that he has the potential to win a lot of 50/50 balls. I think he’s a very natural catcher of the football and while his route running isn't great yet, he created separation consistency and even when he didn’t he did a good job catching contested passes.

Look he isn’t a prototype number one guy. He’s 6’2 and 200 pounds so he’s not this big physical guy, or a ridiculously fast one either. That being said he catches the ball as well as anyone in this class and from what everyone says about the kid he’s a grinder who wants to be good at football. He was extremely productive and set school records this past season at Boise State. 

I don’t think he’s a dynamic top tier athlete and so his upside is limited to that of a number two but he is a quality player who has good hands and makes plays all over the field. I think he could be a really good big slot guy like a Jordan Matthews type player sooner rather than later in the league. He can return kicks, has good vision with the ball in his hands, and I don’t think he's done getting better as a route runner to create more separation moving forward. Maybe I’m wrong but he’s a day 2 guy and someone who i think will turn into a nice quality piece. 

54. Ronnie Harrison, SS Alabama 80

A big fast safety who checks all the boxes for H/W/S Harrison provides a ton of upside and potential for a defensive coordinator. To me he doesn’t diagnose fast enough or have that recognition high football cognition you need to be an elite safety, and he’s always a step later than i want so he’s somewhere in the middle of day 2 discussion. That being said someone who is 6’3 218 pounds and runs and flies around like he does is going to be a really interesting prospect. I think his potential far outweighs his tape right now. I honestly believe he’s a round 4-5 kid on tape, but a round 1 kid on potential.

Harrison is a pretty decent tackler, collecting 160 the past two seasons unofficially, but he dives in and misses too many to say he’s a good one. I keep reading scouting reports saying he’s a thumper, but he’s not. Sometimes he’ll lay a good hit but he’s not going to be someone who scares you in that regard. His size and reckless ability in the box means he has a chance to be a really intriguing nickel or dime linebacker and he likes to play the run so there’s a plus there. 

As a pass defender I think he has miles to go. His recognition skills when playing center field are a beat or two late consistently. He gets going too fast for his body and takes poor angles and allows crossers in front with no one running behind. In man his size is a major weapon and so you could match him up with tight ends and that’s where a huge chunk of his value lies is in the red zone and against tight ends. I think he’s too reactionary on defense and he allows players to get on his toes and make moves. He’s super grabby in the back end as well and looks like he panics and holds all the time. Harrison has miles to go as a back end defender. 

Where he is really going to make a big impact is on special teams early in his career. He’s got that ability to run and hit and therefore he could be very good in that regard. As a true safety prospect I honestly had him in the 75 range but I gave him the highest bump I could projecting him as a special teams guy. Harrison has a ton of talent and all the tangibles are there for him to be successful, but right now his recognition and awareness are late for me. Someone might take him in round 2 and i get it because there is upside for days here. I could see that too, particularly if my special teams was awful and I needed a nickel linebacker, strong safety, or had really good tight ends in my division. Just understand your limitations here and realize that the kid reminds me a lot of Taylor Mays right now. Gotta be careful with this pick. High ceiling, very low floor. 

55. Kolton Miller, OT UCLA 80

I like Miller as a prospect but he’s not someone who is the number one or two tackle in this draft in my opinion. When you throw the tape on the athleticism is super apparent. The kid moves extremely well and looks super smooth getting up to that second level and getting off the first block. As a space player and someone who looks natural getting out and doing screens and draws, Miller is 100% in his element. 

His pass sets and quickness getting into a kick slide from the left tackle spot looks extremely natural. He’s really tall and long at almost 6’9 with good arm length. He typically gets his first punch on you and waits to redirect his hands. Some people think he’s stiff and I just totally disagree, I just think he plays with a high pad level so he looks a bit robotic at times but it’s not because he can’t move, the kid ran sub 5.0 at the combine with a 31.5 inch vertical, the movement is there. Scouts who say he can’t move are bad scouts, period. In his pass sets though he struggles to maintain contact and almost pushes and absorbs sometimes instead of maintaining the block.You see it when people get off the first push and move with an inside counter, he gives up on those sometimes. He can get bulrushed occasionally too because he sets perpetually too high. That being said, good length and good athleticism mean he’s typically in solid position but inability to maintain blocks and playing too high he occasionally gives up some pressure.

As a run blocker he needs to be in a zone or movement scheme to really allow him to do the things he looks good doing. He plays too high so he doesn’t get a ton of movement off the ball but he gets to the second level and out in space really well. Miller is particularly strong in the draw game, where he plays it very well. He gets to the second level well but then looks for work too much and doesn’t block anyone up there. Occasionally when he gets a hold of you he gets movement but he just doesn’t engage well enough yet.

Right now I think Miller is somewhere in the day 2 conversation. I don’t know if he’s a 2nd or 3rd round kid but the thought of him being in round 1 just doesn’t hold any water for me. He has length and athletic ability and the odds are he starts at left tackle in the league but he’s not ever going to be a top 8 left tackle. He’ll be an adequate starter but without the power to play on the right side and generate movement I just simply don’t get how someone drafts him in the first. Potential, length, and good movement skills with what looks like good recognition skills provide enough potential to be a top 50 pick. 

56. James Washington, WR Oklahoma State 80

Washington projects as a nice complementary receiver in the NFL with an ability to go get it on deep routes and some toughness when running underneath. He was extremely productive at Oklahoma State and ended up making huge plays all over the field consistently. Washington was able to get open all the time during his week at the Senior Bowl helping alleviate some of the fears people had with him playing in a non-NFL style attack. All that being said there are some issues here that should keep Washington out of the first round in my opinion.

The first issue is that while he certainly has a knack for finding the ball and accelerating to get open down the field, he also only ran a 4.54 at the combine, something that happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR for Big 12 players coming into the league. They look so fast with those weak defenses and then get to the combine and show that in fact they have good but not great speed. He’s also only 5’11 and 215 pounds, and looks way more like a running back than a wideout. His 34.5 inch vertical shows a bit of a lack of explosion and will limit his upside on contested caches. The system he played in was so basic in terms of concepts that his first year will be a serious adjustment period.

Those are some of the negatives but man the kid on tape at the Senior Bowl practices was just not able to be covered. His acceleration out of his breaks is really good and down the field, especially on posts and non straight routes he gets out of the top of his route with such burst, it's really impressive. He also has a bit more suddenness and length than you’d think so some of those intermediate throws in traffic he gets that extra half step and those long arms give him a window that’s a bit bigger than what he plays. 

Overall there are some really good things and some questionable things about Washington. His frame and overestimated speed are two issues, but his productivity and ability to create separation with suddenness and quickness are very positive. To me he projects as a quality number two option in the NFL who could end up at worst being a nice number 3. His lack of top tier traits means he’ll never be a number one unless by necessity but he’s a good player who will help a passing attack in the second round. 

57. Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville 80

One of those players that jumps way up the board because he tests well at the combine, Alexander is a really fast corner who is a bit undersized. At 5’10 195lbs he’s a not going to be your traditional outside corner but his speed gives him a chance out there. Most people have Alexander rated in their top 20-25 players but his tape just doesn’t tell the same story. I don’t think he's bad or I hate him, which is always the consensus when you have a player rated a full round below what other people have, I just think there are concerns and that he should get taken in round 2 or 3 instead of late round 1.

First the positives, he looks comfortable in cover 3 and playing “sticks” coverage. He high-low’s the zone well and has what seems like good feel for correct and proper depth. The kid ran a 4.38 and has really impressive recovery speed. His hands and playmaking ability are really good and he has shown some good burst as a punt returner. When in man he’s pretty fluid and shows some good ability on the outside. He projects with his size and quickness to be a very good slot corner in time. 

The negatives are that he’s only 5’10 and plays a little undersized and that he shows that recovery speed because he gets beat by slower players. There were a NUMBER of times on tape where guys had him beat and he simply caught up to them because of under thrown balls. His Clemson tape where he had two picks is a perfect example of rookie scouts saying he played great when the tape shows the exact opposite. The first pick is a touchdown 95% of the time in the NFL but was thrown 6 feet behind where it should have been. The second pick was a horrendous decision by Watson, and the forced fumble was him getting beat badly to the insdie. On top of it he was beat 3 other times in that game and none were complete but one got a PI call. His technique and feel for the man part of the position isn’t very good yet, or his eyes aren’t disciplined its tough to tell which one. You also have to know he fumbled 14% of his punt returns, he’s talented there but I wouldn’t ever trust him to run one back so I take him off the field as a punt returner. He also lunges all the time in press coverage and misses which always frustrates the shit out of me, veteran receivers will take advantage of that. 

There are good things here but in projecting him to the league he’s going to give up big plays despite his speed and with marginal size I don’t think he’s an elite corner. If i’m taking someone in round 1 I want them to be a number 1 guy and Alexander isn’t. I think he’s a quality number two projection or a top end slot guy but he’s not a first rounder. I don’t hate him, second round grades are good, he’s just not great and thats where everyone else wants him.

58. Genard Avery, LB Memphis 80

This is a kid who is exceptionally versatile, has all the right ability and shows upside as well. People are thinking he’s a 5th-6th round pick and i’m thinking i’d love if my team took him in the 3rd and wouldn’t hate it if he went in the 2nd. He’s 6’1 240 and runs a 4.59. His other testing numbers at the combine were really impressive for someone his size and he was asked to do a ton of things at Memphis and did them all well. He can cover a bit, sees where the passing game is going against zone, and shows really good pop and some potential as a pass rusher. He was extremely productive, and opportunistic, showing an ability to score on defense. To be totally honest I keep watching tape and going through his testing and stats to figure out why i’m not supposed to like him a ton, and can’t. He’s a sleeper who I will be watching because he’s got something. He also looks like he could be a monster on special teams.

Avery was productive despite them dropping him into coverage frequently in both man and zone. He ended his career with over 40 tackles for loss and over 20 sacks. He also scored on two interceptions and forced and recovered fumbles frequently. I think despite being only 6’1 his 36 inch vertical gives him a chance to run with bigger tight ends and he wasn’t overwhelmed by quick slot guys. Watch the UCLA tape, he does a good job playing on the inside against good players like Lasley. I don't think he’s great there but I think he’s underrated in coverage and will give you something there.

As a pass rusher he shows flashes of potential. He has a good dip move that he used a few times that i liked and he has really good power when he comes to collapse the pocket against guards. Off the edge sometimes he’ll show an inside counter move that will go well with the speed rush upfield and dip. It’s inconsistent and his hand placement isn’t there yet but he’s workable to be really solid there as well. 

He doesn’t get off blocks well and it’s the only thing I don’t like about his game. He plays hard and so he’ll Make some plays down the field when he gets blocked but sometimes you’ll lose a couple yards because it takes him too long to disengage. Sometimes he’ll be able to avoid the blocker coming at him but he gets blocked more than you’d like. 

I don’t understand why he isn’t getting more love. He’s a super versatile fast kid with athleticism and good tape. He can drop into coverage, probably play in any scheme anywhere you want, and could be a dynamic special teams coverage guy. He’s someone who could get you 10 PBU, 80 tackles, 5 sacks, and 10 TFL in a season. He has that type of versatility and potential. This is one of my guys in the draft who I put stars around and say yep give me him.

59. Tim Settle, DT Virginia Tech 80

I like this kid quite a bit and I think he could find his way into the middle of the second round conversation for a lot of teams. He’s not one of the top 4 and he’s a ways off of them but he is really solid, has a lot of potential and I think he could play all over the line so I doubt he escapes round 2. He’s 335 pounds and has some really good agility and some quickness to his game that you don’t see very often for someone his size. I really wish he had stayed in school another year because he could have definitely challenged for a first round pick next season but he came out early and now is a likely day 2 guy.

Settle came into School way overweight and out of shape and redshirted because of it but came back and contributed after sitting his redshirt season. This last year was really his first year of being the guy inside and he had a really solid season, and showed on a number of occasions why there is such a high ceiling on him. I’ve had some people tell me he could be Dontari Poe, someone I read said Vince Wilfork, Brandon Williams was mentioned. Pump the brakes hard there for me, he’s none of those guys but he is talented and can play all over the defensive line.

To me he definitely makes the most sense playing the zero technique, but the 1 or 3 is not out of the question at all. I think there are times in weird schemes where you could even see him play the 4 or 5 technique too because he has good length and he’s much more mobile than you'd think out of someone who is 330-340. He gets good penetration sometimes and causes issues.

The main problems with him are he’s still in my opinion pretty raw. He had 4 sacks this year but they were against really bad linemen and he just punked them, those guys don’t exist in the NFL so there is going to be a lack of immediate productivity from Settle. While I like his movement skills he ends up on the ground a lot and despite his size he can get moved on occasion which can’t happen if you’re going to be a really good nose or 1 tech. I love the kid’s upside and at worst he’s a quality space eater who you can move around so there’s a versatility and upside. To me that means second round pick with a floor of a 4-5th round and space eater but a ceiling that could end up being really good. I like him.

60. Anthony Averett, CB Alabama 79

A really fast cornerback with very little production, Averett can match up with most players stride for stride in the NFL right now. A track athlete who plays fast on the field, Averett doesn’t allow much separation on tape, but he fails to make many plays on the ball. He only accumulated 16 pass break ups in two full years starting and his ball skills are way below average for an NFL player. That being said he’s got crazy speed at 4.33 and his quickness is dangerous in terms of being able to cover. He projects as a number two corner in the league in my opinion, or a 3rd corner possibly. I think without improving ball skills immensely, and being only 175-180 pounds, there’s a chance Averett struggles to make an impact as well.

I love the upside because he’s 5’11-6’ and can run really well. His technique isn’t bad at all and he has a good feel. He mirrors pretty well and seems to anticipate routes, as he’ll come off coverage to make some plays. He’s not a hitter but he’s an okay tackler for the position but certainly not a plus. His size is a bit of an issue because he’s so underweight, he kind of reminds me a bit of Kevin Johnson coming out of Wake Forest where teams fell in love with the potential but now he can’t stay healthy or tackle because of his size. There’s talent here that someone will love but I just think the lack of ball skills and size means he’s limited.

I can get really into this write up and evaluation of Averett but it’s pretty simple. He’ll have to start making more plays on the football or he’ll only ever be an average starting corner without good size. His speed and athleticism are really impressive and he has a good feel so I think he’ll be a starter or at worse a number 3 corner in the NFL and those guys are valuable for sure. But this is a decent corner draft and there are a ton of guys right in this same range so he’s not a bad day 2 pick but if my team drafts him it’s more of an okay type deal. Round 3 I’d be much happier with the pick than round 2. 

61. Jessie Bates, FS Wake Forest 79

Jessie Bates is a nice day 2 prospect for the NFL draft with decent size, good speed, and plus productivity. At 6’ and 205 lbs running a 4.50 40, Bates has some plus desirable traits from a free safety position. Two years ago Bates was outstanding, totaling 100 tackles and 5 interceptions, he was good this past season but took a big step back in productivity. As a man defender, he possesses the speed you're looking for an as a back end guy he does a decent job playing centerfield. He’s a productive tackler when he comes up as well. 

One of Bates strength is being a plus punt returner and his initial quickness and good speed allow him to break big returns. I think he’ll be a good gunner on special teams as well early in his career. While there are people thinking he should jump into the first round discussion, I think that’s early for Bates for a couple of reasons. 

Primarily, while Bates is a very productive player, and he’ll fill up a stat sheet for you in the NFL playing free safety, he also misses a lot of plays. His speed and reaction skills are really good so he’s involved in a lot of plays. He also attacks downhill and is very susceptible to play action, which is something you just can’t do as a free safety or a deep man. He also misses a ton of tackles, his frame doesn't really bode well for the NFL and in the 5 games I watched, Bates missed 11 tackles… that's a crazy high percentage. And it honestly knocks him down an entire round for me. From a borderline first guy to a borderline second guy. 

Bates is good in coverage and looks smooth as hell back there at times. I like him roaming around making plays on the ball and I think he can cover slot guys in the league too. There is some coverage upside but he needs to take way better angles playing the deep safety spot. 

There is quite a bit to like here but there’s too much sloppiness right now that bothers me. He might be the guy I wish stayed in school the most in this draft. He would probably be a first round pick if he had gone into the 2019 draft, as it is now I think he’s a solid safety prospect with some warts. Round 2 or Round 3 guy who projects as a starter at the next level or a 3rd safety and good special teamer.

62. Derrick Nnadi, DT Florida State 79

There are going to be teams where he doesn’t check enough boxes to get drafted but I think the kid is a starting defensive tackle in the NFL and so i’d take him on day 2. I know people don’t love the not great pass rushing defensive tackles anymore, and it’ll hurt his draft stock but there is a lot here to like and I think the kid ends up as a quality starting tackle for 8-10 years. He’s got a weird frame at 6’1, 317 with long arms and some teams are going to knock him for that and for at times not having the anchor to hold up against double teams consistently. I can see that too, when he gets doubled hard he’ll get moved and it’s a bit of a problem. He doesn't have great quickness so he’s not going to be a dynamic pass rusher either. So why do I say he’s a day 2 player?

There are a lot of things to really like about him. First, the kid is a freaking worker out on the field. He makes plays away from the snap of the football, chasing them down the line and causing problems. Secondly he is tremendous with his hands, getting off initial blocks and making plays when the ball is around him. He also is able to use good leverage and length to get into the backfield and push players around a bit, making running backs take the long way around to make yardage. Good linebackers will like his ability to reset the line of scrimmage against some people. He’s not going to be a 3 down front guy, so he's off about half the boards but as a 4 front, defensive tackle he can make a lot of tackles around the line of scrimmage.

The other things I like about Nnadi is that while he may not project as a top tier pass rusher, I think he’ll get more pressures than you think. His length against some guards will give them trouble and he gets onto your shoulder and not squared up more often than his stats might tell you. I don't think he’s solely a two down run stuffing lineman, although he’s very good against the run. He’ll give you some things, particularly when you ask him to slant and cause problems on blitz games. He might not get the sacks but he'll cause some issues inside at times. And his strength and length means he may collect some garbage sacks with hustle and pocket push that other guys won’t as well.

I don’t think his ceiling is super high, but I do think his floor is solid. This draft is so full of players with a flaws but talent and Nnadi is the opposite. If you want a solid player who you know what you’re getting in terms of toughness and the ability to stop the run with potentially an average pass rusher, he’s your guy. He might not be dynamic but he’s solid and i think he’ll start in the NFL. 

63. Deon Cain, WR Clemson 78

I think Cain is a really quality number two wide receiver in the NFL. You have to talk about him getting suspended early in his career and that’s an off the field issue you have to be aware of, but it seems like it's behind him at this point. He didn’t put up crazy numbers at Clemson but at 6’2 and with a 4.4 he has the tools to be a really capable receiver in the NFL. Some people question his route running but on tape I actually think it’s really good. He can be super effective at all 3 levels and i think his out routes and routes to the sticks are probably top 3 in this draft class. A good H/W/S guy who can find consistent separation means he’s a day 2 kid no question.

He has the speed and the burst and ability to track and catch the deep ball at a high level so you have to be aware of that at all times. It opens up some of his underneath stuff and allows him to make plays on those 5-10 yard routes. He’s a solid blocker for the most part as well. I think he shows toughness after the Catch and it’s rare to see a cornerback really get a good shot and a clean tackle on him once the ball is in his hands. All of this stuff says quality receiver in the league.

On the downside, he has some concentration and focus issues without question. He’ll get frustrated at times on the field and i think bigger cornerbacks might give him fits in the league. He drops too many catchable passes and gets penalties at times. He’ll talk after making catches and you can tell he is a guy who thrives on competition but he’ll go too far at times. The off the field stuff, concentration stuff, and drops mean that I don’t see him being a number on in the league but he has a good chance to be a really solid number two. I think I’d target him in round two if I needed a receiver because the upside is there for him to make a lot of plays. 

64. Parry Nickerson, CB Tulane 78

The kid is really undersized at 5’10  and 182 pounds. Nickerson has small hands, at barely over 8 inches, and short arms at barely of 30.5 inches. Honestly even given the way I currently scout, he should be somewhere in the borderline 3rd but more likely 4th-5th range. He doesn’t possess enough size and tangibles to move him into the solid 3rd round to early 3rd round discussion but his tape is super good, his speed is elite, and his ball skills are among the best in this class.

Nickerson will have to likely play inside because he’s a small 5’10. Outside guys will tear him up but nickel is the new base defense so there’s a really good chance this kid is on the field 60% of the time. He runs a legit 4.32 and his acceleration is that good as well so even if he’s beat he’ll catch you. The thing I love about Nickerson though is he takes the football away. He's someone who intercepts passes and doesn’t just bat them away. He plays a lot bigger than his frame too, so just because he’s outsized doesn’t mean those guys just win all the time. Nickerson wins his fair share of jump balls and contested catches.

He is a pretty solid tackler, although big guys tend to cause him problems and make him more of a non-factor in the run game. I don't think with his size he’ll ever be a plus run defender but he won’t be as bad as his 180 pounds should make him out to be. He’s a bit limited because I doubt he’s going to blitz much off the edge either.

Look just like almost all day 2 kids and beyond in this draft, there are real limitations here. He’s really small and likely can’t play outside. He also has elite speed and quickness, ball skills, and a ton of experience, starting over 40 games. His game tape is really damn good and despite his size he projects as a really good cover nickel. Somehow the kid will fall to day 3 and if i were an NFL G.M. I’d have him circled and would grab him early on Saturday and get a high upside turnover causing nickel.

65. Lorenzo Carter, LB Georgia 78

This kid has so much talent there’s no way he escapes the second round of the draft. When you watch him play all you see is length and speed and that’s a scary combination. He plays with good effort, is almost 6’5 and runs a 4.50. There is a ton to work with here and he was asked to do so much at Georgia defensively from drop into coverage, to rush from the edge, and outside, to set the edge to chase down plays, I think his transition into almost any NFL scheme will be smooth.

Based on just height/weight/speed the kid is a top 10 player in terms of upside. I can only think of a handful of guys in this draft who have better tangibles than Lorenzo Carter, his length with 34inch arms and that speed make him a really dangerous combination. He moves well in space too and looks comfortable both dropping and chasing which to me means I’d love him as a 43 OLB. He can do a ton there and on rush downs he has some ability to get after the quarterback too with 15 career sacks

Those are the good things, and there are quite a few. The bad things kind of jump out on tape though as well. While he is really good at playing contain and clearly it’s been coached into him, he lacks play strength. So despite great lengths and quickness he doesn’t have the strength to set the edge as a 43 DE. He also seems to not have a great feel and therefore he doesn’t make a lot of plays. It’s crazy watching him on the same field with Roquon and just seeing how much better Smith is than Carter in terms of diagnosing and playmaking. He doesn’t get off blocks super well and gets blocked too often by tight ends so it’s easy to run inside of him while he keeps contain. He just doesn’t look like a natural football player yet.

To me Carter is someone who is super intriguing in round 2. He is a prototype 34 OLB or 43 OLB in his ability to run, length, and versatility to rush the passer, chase down plays, and drop into coverage. He’s not a natural yet at any of those things but the upside is there for him to be very good. It’s hard to teach instincts though so I wonder if you’ll always just see a freak athlete and not a great football player. In round two he’s worth the risk because you know he’ll play hard and the chance for greatness is there. Plus he can play in any scheme right away and can do a ton. I want to put him higher on my board but I don’t trust him seeing the field well enough and i don't know if that can be taught. Top 10 upside though. I see Anthony Barr when i watch him in terms of what he has a chance to be. 

66. Courtland Sutton, WR SMU 78

Sutton is a big bodied receiver who was extremely productive at SMU and provides a nice red zone target. I think Sutton will end up being a really solid number two wide receiver in the NFL. He runs a 4.55 at 6’3 and 218 pounds. So the H/W/S is really quality and his hands are above average as well. The issue with him right now is that he’s not quick at all, so while he’ll end up being able to post up some guys and even run deep downfield shots and 50/50 balls, he’s really going to struggle to get open consistently in the NFL and create separation. 

His lack of quickness limits him to a number two but his size and toughness means that his floor is likely right there too. I think with Sutton you know exactly what you’re buying before you make your purchase. The kid is going to catch the football, he’ll help you move the chains, he’ll give you a few big plays down the field because his long speed is pretty decent. I think he's a good and very competitive blocker and his size means you can move him in a lot like the Cardinals use Fitzgerald and the Steelers use to use Hines Ward and let him slam down on blocks and cross the formation. 

I think he’ll struggle against fast corners as his routes just take too long to develop. He has a bit of wiggle but not nearly enough to get wide open. His feel in zone coverage is solid though so he’ll catch some of those 8-15 yard routes with regularity. The kid could be a really nice complementary piece in the league. I think he’s one of those guys who when you get him you’re never going to be shouting from the rooftops how much you love him, but you’ll never want him off your roster. If you need a number two and a guy who can get the tough catches and help you in the redzone in the second round and particularly in the 3rd round Sutton is your guy. He won’t make it to round 3 though. Is a bit faster version of Devin Funchess.

67. Rashad Penny, RB San Diego State 78

Penny is a downhill tough runner who has better than you’d think speed and an NFL style of running that should translate well to the NFL. Penny ran for over 2000 yards this past season and has 7 kickoff return touchdowns in his career for over a 30 yard average. His productivity is insane and his 225 pound frame and 4.48 speed shows that he can be a bell cow in the NFL. He balled out during the Senior Bowl and gave his stock a nice bump and to me it’s very likely he’ll get selected on day 2 of the NFL draft.

Penny runs super hard and breaks almost every arm tackle thrown at him. He doesn’t have a ton of wiggle but he has adequate vision and falls forward on a consistent basis. You can watch defenses get tired of hitting him by the end of the game because he runs so damn hard on every single snap. It’s fun to watch him move piles and his 4-5 yard runs are like body blows to a defense. 

His vision on kick returns is really impressive and I think he’ll make a name for himself on special teams because he looks like someone who could help a team there. He’s okay as a receiver but his route running isn’t great yet. He sits down too early and he’s not someone who looks good flexed out. His pass protection at this point in his career is really bad. There isn’t another way to put it, I dont’ think he can play on 3rd down in the league yet and so you can’t make him a top tier number one running back because he can’t do it all yet. 

As a pure runner and kick returner and someone who will get you tough yards, move the sticks, and could be a really nice red-zone guy Penny could be your starting back. He’ll be able to return kicks for you as well, and he has good acceleration to break some nice 20 yard runs. I think he projects as a starter in the league or a good guy in part of a time share who can grind out yards for you and wear defenses out. There’s nothing wrong with that, I just think it’ll be tough for the non-stat driven part of the game, the route running and the blitz pick up that he just doesn’t do well yet. I like him on day 2 without question. Honestly anywhere on day 2 I can see the appeal because the kid has a shot to be a 1000 yard back in the league. I just don’t think he’s an every down back yet. Tough freaking runner. 

68. Chris Herndon, TE Miami 78

I think this kid is 100% on of the more underrated players in this draft. He had MCL surgery late in the season but should be on track to be ready for week 1 in the next year from what everyone is saying. While there are some questions about his power and play strength, I simply didn't see that consistently on tape. I think he’s a really good athlete, possessed plus after the catch ability, and was a really effective pass protector when asked to do so. The kid being a 4th-5th round projection is kind of silly to me as he’s at worst a 3rd round tight end.

Herndon got hurt so he didn’t run the 40 at the combine but he sure plays fast at 6’4 and 250 pounds, and I don't think it would shock me to see him run in the mid 4.6 range. He’s a really good athlete and looks the part when he runs. Miami almost never used him down the field but i think that’s where his true talent lies at the next level. His hands are okay, not great and he’s a bit more of a body catcher than you'd like but he creates separation although he sometimes gets a slow jump. I like his feel for zone coverage though and although his routes aren’t crisp yet, a good receiver and tight end coach have a lot to work with there.

In terms of blocking you keep hearing that he lacks play strength and while he’s not a mauler, he’s excellent in pass protection right now for a tight end. He was tremendous in the Florida State tape in pass pro against pretty darn good rushers, and that carried over into other tapes. While he certainly will spend a good time out in routes, that’s a huge bonus. As a run blocker he's okay but doens't have the power you’d want yet. In two years the kid could be a dynamic blocker as well as a good run after the catch tight end.

I know it’d be too early for him but I really believe if you have a year or two to develop him into a more permanent role that this kid could be one of the top 3 tight ends in this class. He’s a good player, a willing blocker, and I think his upside far outweighs what others are giving him credit for. Borderline second round talent, but no doubt a third round tight end at worst.

69. Chad Thomas, DE Miami 77

Thomas is a high upside low floor guy who might make more money in music than he ever does in football. He’s a super high end music producer which isn’t a problem for some as long as he has football as his number one passion. He’s an extremely talented football player too, but he lacks much polish in any spot on his game. Everyone says he’s a boom or bust and I don’t necessarily think that. I think Thomas has the chance to be a really good 34 defensive end and he could even play some base 43 in run heavy downs. He has some pop to kick inside on pass rush downs as well eventually once he cleans up his technique. I think Thomas is one of the more unheralded prospects in this class.

Look there are certainly some issues here with him. He hasn’t quite figured out how to be the most productive consistent pass rusher yet. Even though the past two seasons in kind of a hybrid role he did pick up 10 sacks. He also had 24 tackles for loss and showed flash plays all over the field. I was a little disappointed at his 40 time because he looked faster than that on tape. 

As a run defender i think he’s going to be really solid as a 5 technique in a 34. While he certainly could eventually play inside as a 3 technique or even as a base 43 defensive end on the strong side, i think he’s best at the 5. To be honest I believe if he goes to a 34 team that plays 4 man fronts in nickel and dime that he could be a 3 down player. He has the potential to be a quality starting 34 defensive end sooner rather than later.

He’s still raw though. He lacks any consistent pass rush plan or moves and while he flashes he’s inconsistent. I wonder if football is the most important thing to him or if it’s music. I read somewhere that a scout says he’s either going to be great or out of the league in 3 years and I can see that. I just see his tape and potential along with some productivity and think he’s a starting level, and at worst very versatile rotational linemen in the league with a high upside. 

70. Sam Hubbard, DE Ohio State 77

Hubbard is a nice player who is someone where you know what you're getting here. He’s a base 43 defensive end without a ton of twitchiness who can hold up against the run, can help you as a pass rusher if you scheme for it, and will play hard every down. He’s got good size at 6’5 260 and he plays pretty strong for the most part. He projects as a starting caliber run stopping defensive end in the NFL and while he’ll never record 10 sacks in a season unless all the stars and moons and solar systems align, he’s going to be solid and do his job every down.

Hubbard is best when he’s allowed to crash, stunt, and play games with tackles allowing him to have space created for him. He lacks the burst to get to plays and create his own pressure on tackles when he goes against quality players. I love him when he gets to swing inside or slant as he creates that space and is an excellent hand fighter. You watch him against tackles and it’s tough to block him but he lacks the burst to make that work more for him. 

He’s good against the run right now. His abiilty to not let people lock onto his frame gives him a chance to make more plays in the run game than most players. He also has the size and strength to play on base downs right away and create some problems. Hubbard sets the edge like he’s paid to do it and soon he will be. 

There’s nothing sexy about drafting Sam Hubbard. I think he can be a 5-7 sack per season guy int he league if he’s given the right scheme. He will get you effort sacks, scheme sacks, and occasionally win a one on one in that scenario. He’s a quality run end who can play on the strong side right away and in a year or two he might be a really good run stopping end in fact. He’s boring and simple and really damn quality who might play for 10 years. 

71. Kemoko Turay, OLB Rutgers 77

An under the radar prospect who could really make a splash in the NFL is Kemoko Turay from Rutgers. A freshmen All-American who had 7.5 sacks 4 years ago, Turay was beat up by injuries and finally got back to full health as a senior. He’s really athletic and explosive and while his sack totals of 15.5 for his career aren’t super impressive, his tape this past season showed flashes of potential that are hard to find on the 3rd day of the draft, which is where he might go. The upside for a pick in that spot is extremely enticing and i’d certainly grab him on day 3 if I needed an athletic pass rusher who shows an ability to drop in space.

I think if he hadn’t gotten hurt early in his career there are a lot of people who would have him as a first round pick right now. He only played two years of high school football so his game is really raw and he is certainly late diagnosing plays and getting off the snap count at times. I think his feel for the game isn’t good yet, but when asked to man up or mirror quarterbacks he can do that. He’ll get lost occasionally in coverage and he doesn’t get great depth in his drops but he looks athletic enough to do it if given a few years.

He doesn’t have really a ton of pass rush moves but his quickness and effort give him a chance to pressure the quarterback. His hesitation move, where he stands up and gives the tackle a shake allows him to essentially put tackles on an island and he was really effective with that. I think as a delayed blitzer or spy he could make a mark in the league. He doesn’t really have many moves or anything there and sometimes tight ends lock him down so the consistency isn’t there at all but he’ll make his share of splash plays. 

He’s raw and developmental but the upside is there without question. Someone compared him to Yannick Ngokoue and I sort of liked it although Ngokoue is a more pure pass rusher at this point. He has talent, and I think with his athleticism you could see him play 43 OLB 34 MLB 34 OLB or 43 DE depending on how you want to work him. That versatility and potential screams someone you should draft because he can do a lot. I think he’s a natural 34 OLB who can play 43 DE on pass rush downs and although it will take 2-3 years to see what he can become, his ability to crash down is NFL ready right now and he’s a really good tackler. I only saw him miss one tackle in 5 tapes. He could help on special teams as a rookie and in year two and you could see him potentially develop into a good outside linebacker with both pass rush ability and some coverage upside. Day 2 kid for me, but you have to be patient. 

72. Troy Fumagalli, TE Wisconsin 77

I like Fumagali enough that I think I could take him on day 2 of the draft. I get that i'm in a huge minority because no one really thinks he’s an exceptional player or anything like that. Don’t get me wrong he’s not a dynamic big time number one threat type guy. That being said he’s a really tough blocker with good length at 6’6, he is a savvy and accomplished pass catcher with 135 grabs in his career, and he does everything at least at an average to above average NFL level. To me Fumagalli is someone who at worst is a number two tight end in the league who can help block on special teams, and at best he’s an average NFL starter who can give you some things.

He’s not the fastest or strongest guy in the world and he definitely doesn’t look like a stud NFL tight end but you put the tape on and the kid is good. He’s a very steady receiver who is good against the zone and gets occasional separation against man coverage. His long arms allow him to be a more than capable blocker, and in pass protection i think he more than holds his own. Going against Arden Key, Fumagalli pretty much whipped his butt, that was more than enough for me to know what the kid is capable of. As a run blocker he’s not powerful and strong but he gets the job done much more often than he doesn’t. If he could add 10 pounds in the NFL there’s a chance he ends up as a really good blocking tight end.

He’s only got 9 fingers and not much wiggle or athleticism so he’s clearly capped in terms of upside. That being said it would not surprise me one bit to see Fumagalli in the league for 7 or 8 years. He’s a tough kid who does everything pretty well and doesn't have a weakness with a good feel for the game and solid playmaking. Someone will draft him on day 3 and be damn glad they did. If he’s around in round 3 for me and I need a tight end I would highly consider him. One of my favorite good solid players.

73. Shaquem Griffin, LB Central Florida 77

Look it’s really easy to just say the kid has one arm so he can’t do x, y, and z. That’s a really easy and super basic narrative and it’s an easy and to be honest super lazy thing to say. Yes, he has some limitations due to the arm thing and it has to drop his stock a bit, but damn there are a ton of really positive things as well. He’s exceptionally fast running a ridiculous 4.38 at the combine and shows a tremendous closing burst. His last two college seasons he put together consecutive player of the year seasons, racking up 18.5 sacks combined, while playing all over the field.

Where he is going to excel in the NFL is as a run and chase linebacker, as a coverage guy because he can run with anyone, and as someone who can come off the edge and use his speed to cause havoc. Some people want to see him play safety because he’s really around only 220 pounds consistently, and I get that idea. To me he’s a nickel linebacker, because of his aptitude as a blitzer. His speed and acceleration is really rare as a linebacker and it’s impressive to watch that and his diagnostic and attack skills. 

He is good in coverage on tape but not great right now, and it’s not becuase he doesn’t have the ability it’s just he was much better rushing the qb, so that’s what they had him do. Right now we’re projecting him as a good cover linebacker or a slot safety in dime because of his speed and quickness but he will need to develop into that. Griffin is a little thin in the lower body and obviously his take-on skills have some issues. While his quickness allows him to run around and make plays, average NFL linemen are going to be able to lock him up and cause him problems.

Obviously there are limitations here because of his arm issue but the kid is a super good football player. While his size was going to be a big issue already being an undersized linebacker, I think his quickness and speed and diagnostic skills are exceptional. Griffin’s sub 4.4 speed is an absolute asset that can’t be taught. He is a very productive and dynamic football player. I think the kid is going to be a really solid sub package linebacker, an elite special teams player, and potentially a good solid dime package man cover guy. I would love the kid in round 3 and I think he could possibly play in every roster in the league. 

74. Uchenna Nwosu, LB USC 77

This kid is really difficult for me to evaluate and I had to watch a lot of his tape in order to come up with this 3rd round grade. The issues to me are pretty clear on where he is. I really believe as a pass defender, in terms of dropping into coverage and simply rushing the passer he’s a borderline first round grade kid. He has excellent burst, great closing speed, and has a plan a lot of the time when rushing the passer. His get off and ability to dip and drop his hips to the ground is really impressive and he counters that with a step out and counter to that inside rush that causes problems. 

He also had 17 passes defensed the past two seasons, some dropping into coverage, others just getting up and getting his hands in passing lanes. He is a legitimate stud in terms of potential as a pass rusher and pass defender, as he shows really solid feel dropping into coverage and his athleticism and length means he can be a scary zone blitz guy when he drops off.  I think someone who runs a lot of zone blitzes from a 34 scheme could utilize him in a variety of ways that could have a big impact on the game.

However, as a run defender, he gets destroyed. While he has really good speed for a pass rusher at 4.65 and has the length to get off blocks, he simply doesn’t. In the Stanford tape, where is absolutely dynamic as a pass defender, the Stanford tight ends destroy him in the run game. I think the kid is a round 6-7 kid as a run defender at this point. Some of the Ohio State tape those linemen literally annihilate him and blow him way off the football. He simply doesn’t play with the same passion and fire against the run, even though as a 43 Sam he could be really good. He’s such a poor run defender i’m just curious how often you can play him. 

Right now I really like Nwosu as a sub package outside linebacker. He has great burst, although you don’t always see it, and his versatility to drop, get his hands in pass lanes, and rush the passer is really high level. He has the tangibles to be an effective player on sub downs and passing downs in either a 43 or a 34. That being said, he also is so bad against the run right now that you wonder where his upside is, he likely can’t play on those downs at all right now. Nwosu projects as a high quality sub package guy who will really struggle against the run. He has the potential to develop into a good starter if he can get that figured out. I’d bank on a quality sub package pass defender and I think he’s a pretty good one.

75. Deshon Elliott, S Texas 77

I think the kid is a starting safety in the league, a playmaker, and someone who is a solid tackler. While i don’t think he’s a superstar, I really do believe by year two or three he’ll be starting somewhere in the NFL. He’s 6’2 205-210 pounds and runs a decent 4.58. Elliott isn’t a tremendous athlete by any stretch but he finds the football and it sure looks like he studies tape because he’s very rarely out of position. Him coming out into this draft wasn’t smart though, as I believe he would be a second round pick if he had come out next season.

Elliott has 9 career interceptions in 26 games, forced 3 fumbles this past season, and laid out numerous big hits. In the 6 games I scouted I only saw him miss one tackle, and his angles of pursuit are solid. Where he is interesting to me is his playmaking ability. He just has a nose for the football. 

That said those are some really good positives and the reason why i think the kid will start at safety in a couple of seasons. The negative are he really isn’t a long strider, and while his recognition sills are good he isn’t real fast or quick. He jumped well at the combine but his quick start is pretty slow. He doesn’t have elite size and so even though he’s a good tackler, he’ll get dragged sometimes. He gets too much depth when playing centerfield or in a deep shell as well, not trusting his deep speed and so sometimes he’ll allow catches in front of him that elite safeties wouldn’t have the fear of getting beat on. To me he’s at worst a 3rd safety who has some coverage limitations, particularly in man. That said I think he’s going to be a mid level starting safety in the league and a good player who will make some big time plays.

76. Nyheim Hines, RB NC State 77

Oh my his tape is fun to watch. Hines is an absolute burner, running a 4.38 at 5’9 and 200 pounds. While he certainly isn’t the biggest guy in the world, he’s also not slight as he’s built pretty well. While he certainly isn’t going to be a power back in the NFL, he has better power and forward lean than you would think for someone his size and he breaks arm tackles and falls forward better than his size would indicate.

Hines is a solid pass catcher, with excellent combinations of speed and acceleration. He’s really good in the open field and makes people miss with spin moves and high end agility. He certainly looks solid returning punts and kicks and that’s where he’ll likely make his mark early in his NFL career while he catches passes occasionally as well.

He can’t touch the ball 15 times per game because he doesn't have the size. He can’t hold up consistently in pass pro for the same reason and he's not going to overpower anyone. He’s a running back that has to be part of a rotation, and there’s nothing wrong with that but he just simply can't go int he first round second rounds becaues of the limit on his value. That being said he has the potential to be a dynamic change of pace back, he is tough to defend on option routes and when he was allowed to run deeper routes he created separation easily. He’ll make a mark on special teams and I think he’ll make some big plays for an offense throughout the next few seasons. He looks like Tarik Cohen quite a bit when you compare their tapes and i could see him utilized in a very similar way next season for a creative head coach.

77. M.J. Stewart, DB North Carolina 76

A 5’11 200 pound hitter without ideal length and speed to play outside in the NFL, Stewart to me looks like a safety or nickel in the NFL with someone who provides plus run support and good pass covering pedigree. He was extremely productive with over 40 pass breakups at UNC playing a variety of rolls in their secondary, sometimes outside sometimes inside. He looks really comfortable as a blitzer and showed some prowess there. While he was extremely productive in college on the outside, his lack of speed and lack of length means he’ll likely have to play inside in the league.

I like watching him play but there are some serious limitations to what he’ll become. He’s a 4.55 guy who plays around that speed and without elite quickness. I love the way he plays the game physically so i think you could see him play that nickel role and he’s someone who could totally eventually play safety kind of like an Andre Hal type player. Someone who is a physical tough tackling corner in college who could easily transition into that role. He has some Micah Hyde in his game too that could translate well to the league.

When watching the Stanford tape there were plenty of times he was in position and his lack of length simply prevented it. That’s why even though i think he’ll be a nice safety or nickel in the league he can’t be elite there. He’s a bit stiff and reactionary on defense and so he’ll allow some shorter completions and while that might pad his tackle stats I think he’ll give up some throws at the next level.

I like Stewart, he’s tough, physical, productive, and can play a variety of roles on defense. He might even be able to play some cover 2 outside corner if a team wants him there. All of that is good but he’s physically limited, a bit stiff, and reactionary. To me he’s a day 2 kid who needs a niche. His versatility and toughness means he’ll likely figure out how to get on the field early but his upside is capped. Good solid floor for a round 3 guy though, wouldn’t hate him in round 2 but 3rd round grade makes more sense. 

78. Nick Chubb, RB Georgia 76

A two down thumper who I thought truly would have been in the first round running back mix had he not got hurt. He runs super hard and plays a really physical brand of football that will translate well to the NFL. While he’s not a pass catcher so he can't be a first two round pick, he will fill a really good niche for a team in need of a power runner who can wear teams down throughout a game. He might be the strongest running back in this years draft class and in the third round he could end up being a really quality bruiser as part of a backfield tandem.

He reminds me a lot of LeGarrette Blount in the way he plays. He’s always falling forward, pouting the ball at you consistently with good speed but not much wiggle. Takes more than one guy to bring him down most of the time. Neither guy is gonna play on 3rd down unless they’re their for pass protection, which Chubb is going to be good at doing. He doesn’t look natural catching the ball but he doesn’t fight it either. Just without much real NFL level quickness he won’t create a ton of separation in the passing game.

He is what he is, but he’s really good at it. He’s a guy who can carry the ball 20 times per game if you need him to and will bang on defenses. He’s got good enough speed to get 20 yard gains but probably not enough to get 40, but what he’ll excel at is turning 3 yard gains into 7’s and 8’s. Chubb is a tough kid who will be a chain mover in the league but he doesn’t have much upside. There are a lot of teams who will like his ability to generate and get the tough yards though. Round 3 kid for me.

79. Kalen Ballage, RB/WR Arizona State 76

Honestly the reason I put Ballage here is because he’s the exact opposite of Nick Chubb. Chubb is this pound it out, grind it out two down thumper with good vision and power and will get you the tough yards. Ballage is an athletic freak who doesn’t have that type of vision but has tremendous H/W/S and is a natural catching the football. I actually think if you wanted a running back tandem, just pairing up Ballage and Chubb would likely give you a great duo moving forward in the NFL for those teams without a plan. 

Ballage is a workout warrior at 225 pounds who ran a 4.46 40 and showed really impressive speed at the combine. His pass catching and kickoff return skills are impressive and that’s likely where he’ll make his mark in the league. He has very little ware on the tires because he split time his whole career so he might have a longer shelf life than some of the backs in this draft. 

The issues with Ballage as a pure running back are pretty simple. While has had tremendous size and speed he has almost no wiggle and is really stiff as a runner. His straight up running style leads him to get tackled pretty easily despite his size and he doesn’t break any tackles unless it’s with a stiff arm. His vision is only okay and while he certainly isn't a bad pure running back, it’s not where he’s the strongest. 

Where he will excel in the NFL is as a pass catcher. He looks smooth running routes and looks very comfortable catching the football. I actually think he’ll be a good slot receiver when he’s allowed to spread out and when his team wants to go 5 wide. Linebackers in the league wont have the pure speed to cover him and while he’s not exceptionally quick, his true speed will give teams fits. 

I think while he isn’t exactly your pure runner, and i might have him ranked too high. His ability as a receiver actually gives him a lot of this rating, as I kind of ranked him as a pass catcher/running back/kick returner here, in that order. He’s a third down back who can likely help you with 5-7 carries per game and his speed gives him a chance at some homerun type plays. While he’s not an everydown back in the league, he could still have a real impact if you have a plan on how to use him. He’s really intriguing to me and whoever gets him on day 3 if that's where he goes could get a really interesting offensive weapon. Think Duke Johnson’s role with Cleveland, but with someone who is 225 pounds. 

80. Josh Sweat, Edge Florida State 76

Man there are some things to absolutely love about Josh Sweat and some things that really worry me. He’s one of my biggest “disparity” players in this class. Disparity is the difference between his ceiling and his floor, which for him is a real thing and something that is a bit freaky for me when i watch his tape and see his measurables. Sweat is an incredible athlete, even after a really serious knee injury that has every scout on the planet worried about his long-term career. He’s 6’5 251 with super long arms and ran a 4.51 with almost a 40 inch vertical, he’s a complete freak as an athlete.

As a football player Florida State did some weird things with him that I didn’t really understand how he was utilized, including kicking him inside a lot on pass rush downs which was stupid. He only had 15 career sacks for the Seminoles so his production just isn’t really there. He’s not a bad pass rusher at all on the outside, and he can use his speed to generate serious disruption on slower tackles. That being said his get-off is freaking horrible, as he’s the last dude out of his stance almost every play. 22 of the first 25 snaps of the Alabama game he was the last linemen out of his stance, that can’t happen against higher quality guys.

That’s the main reason for me I think Sweat would be much better in a 2 point stance as an outside linebacker. Let the kid get a running start and utilize all his athletic tools much better. If he does that there’s a chance he’s really effective as an edge rusher. Also with his combination of length, leaping ability, and speed, there’s a chance he could be dynamic dropping into coverage occasionally as well. His slow reaction time and honestly kind of a lack of any go to pass rushing moves to me screams a move to a standing up player. 

I think his motor is okay but nothing to get excited about. As a run defender he’s not great yet. He doesn’t play with the power or edge you'd like from someone trying to set the edge as a 43 defensive end. It’s not bad and his athletic ability is good enough that he’ll make some plays there but good tackles with power can give him trouble and take him out of plays. His ability to chase plays down from the backside is really good though because of his true play speed which is super impressive. As an outside linebacker though he could project to be better.

The kid has first round ability. There isn’t any question about that. In the right scheme he could be a difference maker. That said he also hasn’t done it yet, with low sack numbers, and his medicals are really scary. He also doesn’t play as hard as some others and despite unbelievably impressive athleticism and length with truly impressive speed, his productivity and everything else leaves a bit to be desired. Round 3 would be great for someone to get him but I wouldn't hate round 2 if a team drafts him to play 34 OLB. Gotta be super concerned with the knee stuff, and the fact that we haven’t seen the big time plays yet from him. 

81. Braden Smith, G Auburn 76

Smith is someone who projects to be a nice solid guard in the NFL with some limitations on upside. I think the projects as an average to slightly above average NFL starting guard and someone who could probably start for you early in his career. He’s got good power, and creates solid seams in the running game. As a pass protector he’s limited by short arms and not great quickness, so quicker interior players will beat him up a bit. That being said he looks to me like his power and ability in the run game shows that he’ll likely be a solid if unspectacular guard in the NFL who I would like somewhere betweens round 3-5.

I think Smith’s ability as a run blocker is really good. To me he get good movement consistently and while he doesn’t demolish players he typically wins his one on ones with ease. His short arms and lack of quickness play a factor when he tries to get in space as he truly lumbers and lacks much explosiveness. Quicker linebackers simply avoid him a lot of the time. On double teams though he dominates and creates big holes, he’s someone I think you can run behind at the NFL level, but he’s not going to be someone who is constantly going to be able to get to that second level and make plays.

As a pass protector he can certainly anchor, but with 32 inch arms and not a lot of quickness, both long guys and quick guys will give him some issues. He also is a tick late diagnosing and delayed blitzes cause him to panic a bit as you can watch him and his “oh shit” moments reach out and either miss or barely get a hand on some people. My biggest issue with him as a pass protector is that he looks for work too often. He’ll stand there blocking no one and doesn’t double and finish people off or slide to try to mirror a potential oncoming linebacker. It’s frustrating at times, but i think it can be corrected. He is probably a slightly below average NFL pass blocker.

Smith is a nice player but he’ll be off some boards for teams that value length and quickness. Someone I read compared him to Kevin Zeitler and I didn’t hate that comp but Zeitler was much more polished combing out of school. I think Smith is someone who will be a quality run blocker but lacks the upside of being a top 10 guard in the league. I’d like him if my team grabbed him on day 3 and wouldn’t be ecstatic on day 2 as I don’t think he’s a top tier dominant guard, but he’s a solid piece.

82. Jerome Baker, LB Ohio State 76

Baker is an extremely fast rangy weak side or nickel linebacker who has the speed and ability to cover, which makes him a really intriguing guy in today’s NFL. He was pretty productive at Ohio State, leading the team in tackles this past year, but there is a lot to be said for the talent around him. He’s not someone who is going to carry a defense, and I’ve heard the Telvin Smith comparison but it’s absurd. Smith can make crazy plays and his range and instincts are elite. While Baker carries 2/3 of what Smith does, he doesn’t diagnose as quickly and plays too straight up to get to some of those things. To me Baker is a lot like Deone Bucannon. 

I think Baker projects best as a Nickel linebacker in the NFL. While he could certainly play a 43 Will run and chase guy I don’t know if he'll be super productive unless you surround him with good players in that role. While he certainly has the athleticism to cover, he's not tremendous there yet either in man nor in zone. The talent is there and it’s not that he’s bad there, he’s just not dynamic and polished. 

Baker collects his sacks through speed and scheme so he’s not just lining up and beating any linemen one on one on a consistent basis but his ability to close when people roll out or in a delay or spy look is impressive. For a guy who runs 4.52, there are times when you notice that burst on tape and it stands out. You can see him jump on screen sometimes when he fires his gun. He actually weighed in close to 230 at the combine too which was about 10-15 pounds more than what he looks on tape so there’s a chance for some upside there.

I liked Baker just watching games live a lot more than I did when I started watching the tape. While I don't htink he’s a bad player at all and there is certainly a key role for him in the NFL as a cover linebacker, he’s not polished there yet and i think he’ll need to go to a good defense to flourish as he needs to stay clean and let other people do some of the heavy lifting. He projects as a good role player linebacker with some upside as a 43 WILL. If he goes to a good defense he could be a pretty quality starter although I doubt he ever fills up the stat sheet. 

83. BJ Hill, DT NC State 76

A really athletic defensive tackle with good movement skills and length is BJ Hill from NC State. I think the kid’s ability to run sub 5.0 at 320 pounds is obviously impressive unto itself, and while he played with arguably the best defensive line in the nation this past season, you could see some of his talent on tape. There’s a very real chance he goes in the second round and i can see some reasons why. He uses his arms and his length really well and slaps guards hands and arms off him and disengages and chases really well for a big guy. There are some definite positives here, particularly on 3rd down pass rushing situations where he could have an impact in the league.

While Hill does have talent and length as a run defender, he still has a ways to go here. His size and quickness can sometimes give teams problems but he plays way too high and double teams destroy him. He wasn’t particularly productive and so a lot of his potential as a run defender is based on potential and projection and not tape because right now his tape as a run defender is mediocre and his production was only okay. I think his effort was good there and he clearly has the upper body strength to be really good there but he has to play with better leverage and push or he will simply not be a good enough run defender to play on all 3 downs.

The same story can be said here as a pass rusher. While you can certainly see that length, quickness, and chase down speed as a pass rusher, he only  had 4.5 sacks combined the past two seasons. His productivity just wasn't at a very high level despite the traits. He was best slanting and causing problems that way, and he does a good job at getting his hands in passing lanes, but he’s not a dynamic pass rusher because he plays too damn high. While his quickness means i think he could be a really good 3 technique on pass rush downs, he’s not productive yet and players don't get MORE productive typically in the NFL.

Right now with Hill i’m projecting more than most players. I don’t think the kid is going to be a great, dynamic pro but I think there are a ton of team that could use him and he’ll be effective. He can slant and move and cause problems and he plays pretty darn hard so there’s a shot he's a starter down the road or at worst a rotational piece. On day 3 I’d love him, even in round 3 I think you can say hey he can give us x,y, and maybe eventually z. That being said I keep hearing round 2 and i think I’d let someone else grab him there. Round 4 is where i’d like him, round 3 if I have a need and a niche, but round 2 is too rich. Probably a decent starter or a good rotational defensive lineman in the league. 

84. Isaac Yiadom, DB Boston College 76

Yiadom is an ace special teams player and a long corner at 6’1 and around 200 pounds. He looks thing but plays really strong and jams and uses his length and strength as an advantage. While he certainly looks tight hipped to me and plays too high to be a truly good man corner, his ability to attack and length make him a really interesting zone cornerback in the NFL. I also think with his physical style of play and 4.52 speed that he could end up being a good safety as well. Where his value lies though is that he grades out as one of the best vices in this draft and his length and straight line speed could make him a top end special teamer, and to me I believe he could be a top 5 non-returner special teams player in this draft.

He looks like someone who could be a low end starter or third corner in a zone heavy scheme or potentially someone who could rotate to play safety full time. He’s not quick, and you can see it, quicker guys give him problems, particularly on inside releases. While I like him in zone coverage because of how hard Yiadom attacks the flat and the football, he is a step slow frequently. He’s a good tackler as a corner though so again a transition to safety makes some sense.

As a straight man corner, he needs to play press. He looks too stiff in off to be super effective. His upside would be limited there, but there are times when I watch him play that I see some flashes of really high end play. There are other times where he just looks too robotic and high centered to be a starting level corner consistently. His ball skills are only okay so again not exactly dynamic. Where he’ll make his hay is in a zone heavy scheme or as a third safety, where i’d love him, and as a legitimately great special teamer. Borderline day 2 kid, definitely a day 2 kid if you use him correctly, if you want him to be a man corner he’s a round 4-5 guy with special teams upside. 

85. Rasheem Green, DL USC 76

There are a lot of people who think that Green is going to go in the first round and I simply can’t figure out how they see that. Yes he did make some really impressive splash plays but there are way too many times on tape where the kid simply gets dominated at the point of attack. At 275 pounds he doesn’t even come close to someone who can play the 3 technique due to lack of strength, and I honestly wonder if he can play the 43 defensive end spot at this point too. He’s a tweener that some team is going to want to grab to be an interior pass rusher on passing downs and hopefully can be a base end in a 43 or a 34. 

Everyone is going to say I “hate” the kid, which is entirely false. If he were there at the end of the second round and definitely in the 3rd round and I wanted a pass rusher I would certainly be interested in him, particularly in this weak pass rushing draft. He’s got some pretty darn good quickness and his explosiveness from an interior pass rusher is certainly intriguing. I think he could end up eventually being a starting 43 defensive end in the league as well. He was productive when he played against mediocre competition and ate up poor guards and centers. If you can get him with a bit of steam ahead and on someone’s shoulder instead of right up their front he can be really effective in a move system that does a lot of slants, stunts, and games. 

As a run defender he is simply really bad right now on the inside. His Notre Dame and Ohio State tapes against the run against those two stud interior linemen were kind of embarrassing. He would get shoved 6-7 yards down the field and on double teams he couldn’t even sort of sustain to help the other guy from getting to the second level. He’ll make some plays against slower offensive guards because of his quickness and he’ll get some tackles on pursuit because he’s faster than 90% of tackles and even ends in the league. He looks like he puts in good work and effort most of the time on tape.

Right now to me he really really should have stayed in school. I have a mid-day 2 grade on him and he would have certainly been in the first round conversation had he put on 10-15 pounds of muscle and strength this next season. Someone may draft him early but he simply can’t contribute much as a rookie. He really needs to add play strength and some pass rush repertoire. He is a one trick pony and that's straight ahead with quickness right now. If he can develop some counter moves, add 15 pounds of muscle, and get a year or two to develop he could turn into a good interior pass rusher. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to hold up against the run insider and as an outside base guy I don’t think he’s a stud. Tweener with ability. Day 2 and hope he turns into a valuable interior pass rusher. 

86. Isaiah Oliver, CB Colorado 76

An outstanding athlete, a decathlete who uses his athleticism well with good speed and length at 6’0 with a 33.5 inch reach. Oliver has an immense amount of potential and could end up being a really quality starting cornerback in the NFL. Right now he has some issues in coverage consistently and I think he plays too soft and too passive on a consistent basis. While I like the kid and someone is going to fall in love with the upside, he will struggle early on in his career and should have stayed in school.

Oliver’s length and ability on throws down the field is really impressive. He stays with almost everyone who runs deep go and post routes and while he’ll get his share of pass interference penalties, he’ll also make some plays on the football. I don’t think his ball skills are great and he will fail to find the football at times and get grabby but overall down the field there are some really good qualities there. 

On throws underneath and complex routes he simply gives up way too many completions. I know the stats for Michael Gallup against Oliver weren’t great but Gallup gained separation quite a bit underneath and the USC tape for Oliver was really poor. Quality NFL route runners will abuse him as a rookie as he has really weak technique and doesn’t play with that fire and grittiness yet that you need, instead relying on being a great athlete. He gets way too high in his backpedal and gives false steps when identifying routes. I keep thinking about how savvy route runners will get 7-115 against him frequently. He might make some plays but he gives up too much right now.

Oliver is someone who can develop into a quality starting cornerback because he’s talented and athletic. Right now though he gives you nothing against the run and is easily blocked, gets grabby, and allows too many catches. The talent is there but it may take until year 3 or 4 to unleash what he can be. Could be a borderline number one, but he could also be someone who is the teams 4th cornerback. Upside and some serious risk. End of round 2 somewhere in round 3 for me. That being said, he is in first round consideration for a lot of teams. Buyer beware, but upside for days.

87. Jamarco Jones, OT Ohio State 76

Jones Is an intriguing day 2 option at offensive tackle in this draft. While he certainly has some traits you like he also does a solid job and has some tools on the offensive line that are going to be intriguing. There are tapes where he looks really good and jumps off the screen and there are other tapes where people who use inside moves gives him some serious troubles, i.e. the USC tape. He’s got adequate power and decent sight lines, not allowing himself to get out of position very often. Jones also has below average footwork in my opinion and has trouble sustaining blocks. There are some good qualities here as well as some issues. 

I think he’s got decent size and strength for a tackle and looks like he can mirror fairly well, giving himself a good shot to get hands on almost everyone. He’s rarely going if ever going to give up a clean shot without at least getting his mitts on someone as he looks like he recognizes and has the initial quickness to at least deliver a punch. His grades in most of these games that i watched were solid as even though he doesn’t really jump off screen he gets the job done way more often than not. 

To me he projects as someone who can be a starting caliber offensive tackle. He isn’t someone who wows you but damn when you watch 100 snaps he does the job on 80-85 of them on a regular basis. One year where he’s allowed to play swing tackle and develop his footwork and potentially gain some strength would be really advantageous. He could be a starter with a touch of upside and his ability on the left side gives him an edge over guys who can only play on the right side. I could see middle of round 2 to somewhere in round 3 but he can’t escape day 2. Starting left tackle prospects are hard to find, it might take until year 2 for him to get there or even year 3 but still he’s a nice player. 

88. Terrell Edmunds, SS Virginia Tech 76

A physical freak, Edmunds is a 11/10 in terms of H/W/S for the safety position. At 6’2 222 and running a 4.47 with a 41 inch vertical, you can’t create a better safety prospect in terms of that number. He was also fairly productive in his career and was a leader on defense and for the team in general so there are a ton of serious positives here if you’re looking for a reason to be excited to draft the kid, the upside is real, like in terms of athletes you aren’t going to find many better Than the Hokie safety.

Edmunds is physical enough and has the experience, as he came into college as a corner, that he looks comfortable matching up with tight ends and slot players as well. All of these combinations, along with above average ball skills means I believe the kid has really immense potential. He has first round talent and potential there is no question.

The issues here with Edmunds are pretty real though. While he is a productive tackler, and his size could make him a great one, he simply isn’t a good one yet. He misses too many in the open field and his pursuit angles aren’t good. When he is off the ball playing centerfield he’s well below average in terms of recognition skills and he allows too many catches in the middle of the field. He always seems to be a step or two late and I would say his pass defending grades in zone are well down from where he could be.

It’s so hard to grade the kid because there are a lot of things he does well and his potential is so damn high, but his tape is just okay. He’ll flash at times and make you really excited but he is slow in recognition even though from a few sources he's a smart kid. I just don't know if he sees the game unfold ahead of him that well. His size and speed to me mean he could be a nickel linebacker but he’s not a dynamic tackler yet despite his tools so you kind of wonder what to do with him. To me he’s a matchup piece in the secondary early in his career, manning up on tight ends and playing near the line of scrimmage in run downs. He also has a chance to be an incredible special teams player early in his career while he gets a better feel for the game on the inside. The talent here is top half of the first round, his upside is top 15 in this draft, but tools alone don’t make a player. Round 3 if I need a safety I’d be ecstatic if my team drafts him though, because he’s got immense potential if he can put it together and goes to a good coaching staff. 

89. Tarvarius Moore, S Southern Miss 75

Moore is an elite athlete, he has truly top tier H/W/S and projects as someone who could end up being a playmaking safety in the NFL. He runs about a 4.50 and his 200 pound frame will hold up against NFL players. He flashes on tape consistently, and his burst and acceleration are obvious when you watch him play. He has the ability to match up the slot with faster and quicker players but his technique and grabbiness are a bit of an issue. He’ll panic a little bit even though he has leverage and I have zero idea why.

I think a good defensive back coach could work wonders with him because he has all the talent in the world. That said, he struggles sometimes as a flat footed player. I wish he had better instincts because his play recognition is only okay. When he sees the play develop he attacks downhill really well, that said he comes a bit out of control at times but i’d rather see that then him being tentative.

As a pass defender the talent is there. I think him getting grabby downfield is more technique than talent because he’s in position frequently. He can be a solid slot cover safety and I’d rather have him there than a read and react guy because you can see he doesn’t always get perfect depth in those spots. 

Honestly the tape shows the talent as well as the deficiencies. He doesn’t have good instincts and is a step late a lot of the time in zone as well as against the run. I want him to play with better leverage but the talent is undeniable. I think the kid is a talented guy without a question but his instincts are a bit suspect. He could be an elite special teams player, and if he can get good coaching he could be a star. He’s so damn close to being great. 

90. Duke Ejiofor, DE Wake Forest 75

I think the kid is a starting defensive end in the NFL potentially and at worst a interior pass rusher on sub packages. When you watch his tape it’s obvious he has a plan when rushing the passer and while I think his upside is kind of capped, he’s someone who can be a productive NFL player early on in his career. At 6’4 and 270 pounds he looks the part, and he’s a heavy guy and tough to move when he anchors. 

I think the thing that jumps out on tape consistently is how he uses his hands. He gets tackles and particularly guards off his body quickly and slides and steps around them with really advanced pass rushing moves. He does it against the run as well but his ability to get into players shoulders without them getting a hand on him is one of the reasons he’s so damn productive. 

As a run defender he’s going to make his share of plays but he’s constantly looking to make the play and so at times he loses cutback lanes or contain. It’s frustrating to watch because he’ll make a splash play or two but also allow the same amount of people to go through his gap that he didn’t control. His backside pursuit is meh as well and his speed and athleticism is below average. I don’t think he’l be a big time playmaker down the field.

Ejiofor has below average quick twitch, and won’t threaten the edge with any type of regularity. That said when he reduces inside as a pass rusher he has really good upside. I think guards are going to struggle with how he uses his hands and his counter moves are well above average. At worst the kid is a rotational end and inside pass rusher but he has the capability to start at LDE in a 43 early on and i think he’ll see quite a few snaps as a rookie. His upside is only okay because he lacks real athleticism but he could be a quality player sooner rather than later. In a draft with subpar pass rushers compared to other drafts it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see his name called in the middle of the second day.

91. Brandon Parker, OT NC A&T 75

A developmental tackle with a ton of experience, who grades out exceptionally well with analytics is Parker from NC A&T. Supposedly some scouts have said that he didn’t give up a sack in 4 years in college, while i’ve heard his pass pro grade was somewhere north of 95. Watching him on tape against small college players is absurd as he dominates, but the kid has real potential to be a starting left tackle in the NFL.

He’s 6’7.5 and weighs around 305-310 pounds. He has the frame to put on another 10-15 pounds without any problem at all and when he does it will really help him. He has super long arms and uses them well, getting good punch on most players. He’s a solid athlete and although his slide step and kick step right now are only okay, there is potential there. His recognition skills are solid and he moves fairly well in space. 

As a run blocker he plays way too high right now. He clearly has a super high center of gravity and therefore he loses leverage a lot. I’m not sure if he’ll ever be a high caliber run blocker because of that but that length and decent athleticism means that there’s a chance he develops into at least an average NFL run blocker. 

The kid has real talent and reminds me some of Julien Davenport who got drafted in the fourth round last season by Houston. I think he will go right around that same area where a team needs to know it might take 2 years or so to get it out of him but Parker has real upside as someone who could develop into a starting caliber left tackle in the NFL. He’s got a ways to go right now though and a year as a swing tackle or a “redshirt” will be really important in his development.

92. Duke Dawson, DB Miami 75

This kid is pretty solid but he’s really tough for me to scout. He’s got average size at a little less than 5’11 and 200 pounds with short arms and while he ran 4.47 at the combine, on tape he looks more like 4.57. While he plays physical as hell those long arms means that I don’t think he can play press man as effectively in the NFL, and a few times on tape, longer bigger kids just had a bigger catch radius. I like the way he plays and he makes some plays and definitely has some toughness to his game but I’m not sure where he fits best in the NFL and he’s a bit stiff for me to play corner. I actually think I like him as a cover safety in the league, and someone who could cover the slot in nickel situations, particularly on tougher not as quick slot guys like a Jarvis Landry. His Christian Kirk tape, kind of gave me that type of look as to where I think we could find a spot for him if he were on my team.

I don’t know if he’s an outside guy. I think I would have said absolutely not until he ran sub 4.5 twice at the combine. He looks comfortable in press and I think I want him in that spot in the NFL but I worry about him becuase he's a bit stiff when you watch him play, his change of direction isn’t what I’d like it to be so I’m worried that slot guys might end up getting that step on him and his okay but not great speed and quickness won’t let him catch up.

He looks tough against the run and although he’s not the surest tackler, he clearly doesn’t mind the contact. I think on those early down 3 wide sets where it’s almost like a run nickel type look he’ll be really effective. He has good hands so his ball skills could end up looking good potentially as a safety, definitely in 3 safety looks for sure. He’s just such an interesting guy in this draft that I really don’t know what to do with him.

I really believe he’s better as a college player than he will be as a professional. I think if you draft him you need to have a plan going in as to how you want to use him. I understand with the toughness and his tape wanting to use him to cover slot guys but I worry about his only average change of direction and length. He’s some sort of hybrid defensive back and if you have a plan and a good DB coach you could turn him into a versatile nice chess piece, but there is some risk here because I don’t know if he has enough upside and might end up being a bit of a tweener. Funky player who I’d need some help on in the draft room from a coach or scout to talk me into where he’d play but his tape is good and i think he’s a good overall football player. 

93. Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma 74

A big bodied slot receiver masquerading as a tight end, is pass catching and matchup weapon Mark Andrews. Andrews won the Mackey award as the nation’s top tight end but the award really should have gone to the nation’s best slot receiver because Mackey doesn’t play inline. He can’t help you at all as a blocker but he can be a dangerous slot receiver, red zone guy, and potentially a move tight end because of his athletic ability. He’s 6’5 and runs a 4.67 so there is talent there but his inability to block at all and his small route tree means it might take a year or two until he contributes regularly.

He’s a good run after the catch tight end, with good speed and quickness to make people miss. Andrews high points the football well, and while not an elite leaper like Gesicki, he still attacks the ball well in the air. He’s a good catcher of the football with well over 100 catches in his career and he averaged over 15 yards per catch out of the slot as a tight end which shows what he’s capable of doing. 

As a blocker the kid struggles. I don’t think it’s talent here I think his technique is the worst in the entire draft at the position and while he’s not weak, he’s not strong either and I don’t think it’s something he cared about enough at Oklahoma. While the fact is he’s a true weapon in the passing game, right now he just simply projects as a big slot receiver with some upside and someone who can help in the redzone. As an NFL player unless he can figure out how to get stronger as a blocker he’ll always just be a really big slot guy without anything else. His size at 6’5 256lbs though gives me a shot to turn into a good developmental blocker but it might take 2-3 years. 

94. Royce Freeman, RB Oregon 74

Freeman is a nice solid rotational running back prospect who should be a good NFL player. He’s really similar to Chubb in this draft but I think Chubb’s upside is better and Freeman has over 1000 touches already in his career so Chubb becomes the better pick. That being said, Chubb may go two full rounds ahead of Freeman and you could get similar return on your investment with him later, so he could end up being a nice value pick.

Freeman had an extremely productive career at Oregon, rushing for well over 4000 yards for the Ducks. He shows good power and has really good size at around 233 pounds and still has good speed in the low to mid 4.5 range. While he was better before he got injured and before the Ducks changed the blocking scheme the kid still showed flashes of really good running this past season for Oregon and his size and speed, coupled with a downhill running style, means he’ll likely be a two down bruiser in the NFL.

I don’t think Freeman is going to be a big producer in the passing game. He doesn't look super natural catching the football and his lack of acceleration and big time burst means he doesn’t have much upside there. He looked a bit labored in pass protection too despite his size and that bothered me as a pass catcher goes.

Look overall I think the kid is going to be a good rotational thumper in the NFL. I dont’ think he’s a superstar because he simply is a grind it out style guy who doesn’t quite play to his size yet. That being said he’s someone who can handle the rock and do the dirty work to help pick up first downs and make tough yards. His upside is limited and I don’t think he has a long career but if he falls to day 3 it’d be tough not to pounce on him if you need a banger who can bust out a long run here and there. 

95. Geron Christian, OT Louisville 74

I think Christian is a pretty good offensive tackle prospect who has a chance to get drafted on the second day of the draft. He’s super long and has the potential to turn into a starting tackle int he NFL down the road a bit but he has some work to do in order to get there. You can tell the scheme they used help him out with a ton of draws and screens and while he’s not the smoothest athlete in the world his initial quickness is pretty good. He lacks real strength and for someone who doesn't utilize his length well and catches pass rushers I think he’ll get bullied early on in the NFL. 

As a pass protector the kid has potential that can’t be taught. Christian has good feet and quickness with really great length which means his upside is good. That being said his technique right now in my opinion is really weak. He’s quick but soft and he utilizes his long arms super poorly. He lacks the play strength to keep players off of his frame despite his length and absorbs guys. He also can kick step too quickly and allow rushers inside of him, a huge no-no for someone who is long who needs to make people go the long way around. His movement skills as a former basketball player show though in that he can kick slide well and screens and draws he’s very adept.

As a run blocker the kid has a mile and a half to go. In a zone scheme he just attacks downhill where he looks much more comfortable. He doesn’t create much movement against good players and strong ones but he hits more than he misses at the second level. I’m not sure how they teach things at Louisville but it looks like he misses his responsibility sometimes and doesn't get a hit on the backside often enough and allows way too many crash down plays. Might be the scheme but sometimes he’ll stay there and others he won’t and I think based on watching that system for a while that some of those are his fault. 

Overall he has some talent but he’s two years away from playing and being able to contribute. There’s a chance he ends up simply as a swing tackle in the NFL but there’s some value there. He can eventually become a starter though because of the length and feet. I would really prefer to take him in round 4 but I bet with a mediocre tackle draft someone grabs him on day 2. I see a little Ty Sambrailo in him and a bit of Jake Fisher too so there’s a chance he doesn’t work out.  But on day 3 there’s little risk and enough upside to make a play here for someone who at worst should be a swing tackle. 

96. Kyzir White, SS/LB West Virginia 73

I like this kid quite a bit as a player and wouldn't mind if someone took him in the 3rd round, but you have to have a role for him. He obviously projects as a good special teams player at 6’2 and 218 pounds. That being said I think he’s that weird hybrid, Deone Bucannon, Kenny Vaccaro type guy that teams don’t quite know what to do with right now. Everyone loves the idea but most coaches don’t know how to use them right and that’s what White is to me. I love his size and I absolutely love how hard he plays. The kid is a really hard worker but you can tell he lacks dynamic athleticism and speed and so he’s limited in coverage. I think if you have a plan for him he could be really solid and if not he’ll end up being a tweener forever.

White is a hard nose player who is a combination in the box safety and tight end coverage linebacker. When he’s asked to cover quick slot guys it’s a mis match every single time because while White plays hard he simply doesn’t have that skill set. He looks decent in zone looks when he’s asked to play close to the box flats and that mid level cover 3 safety look that you see sometimes. If he gets too much open space or has to cover larger areas he loses a lot of effectiveness. He is super physical when asked to cover tight ends though and that’s where I think you’ll see a lot of his value.

White is a good in the box safety. While he’s not the world’s best tackler, he’s really solid there and he takes solid angles to the football. His effort on chase down plays and going sideline to sideline is really impressive and while he’s not super quick, he makes more plays down the line than most safeties do. He’s decent on the blitz as well, and he finds the crease to attack more often than not.

I think White is a quality football player who offers good versatility and potential to do some matchup things on a consistent basis. While he's not great in coverage yet because of lack of athleticism i do think his physicality could allow you to line him up against tight ends in man and cause some issues for some good players there. He’s solid against the run and he could end up being a nice nickel linebacker too. He projects as a very high end special teams player and he’s a really quality person and teammate on top of everything else. I like the kid and while I don't know if he’s a round 3 guy, he’s certainly in the round 4 conversation no question.

97. Avonte Maddox, CB Pitt 73

There are some things to absolutely love about Maddox and some problematic things that are really intriguing when doing his tape. Obviously he can’t be a first round and I don’t think a second round pick because of his size. He’s 5’9 180 pounds and that’s a big issue. Because he’s so small he’s missed 5 games the past two seasons and I think it’s going to be. recurring theme in the NFL. Slight guys don’t get healthier as they go on in their careers. It also means Maddox is going to be a nickel only guy moving forward. Those two things to me combine to think the the kid is likely in that round 4-5 range.

I have some things with Maddox that really jump off the screen in terms of things we can work with. Number one his athleticism and quick feet are just so apparent. I love how quick and fluid his hips are in his backpedal and when he flips his hips to run, it’s so natural for him. He’s a legit 4.39 guy who plays that fast as well, so that combination of quickness and speed is a real thing. I think his technique isn’t good right now, and with that, his potential as a really good slot cornerback is on the way up. If I have a DB coach I trust to develop a guy, this kid could fit perfect in my draft plans on day 3.

The other things I like about him are the fact that he’s been a successful blitzer, picking up 7 sacks combined the past two seasons as a DB. He has over 50 passes defensed in his career, being a playmaker comes naturally. The other things you read over and over again are how tough he is, and how much his coaches and teammates love him. His work ethic and character are top notch. 

There are other issues with his game though. He isn’t the stickiest cover corner in the game and his differences rep to rep are troubling. Average receivers can sometimes gain good separation on him and while some of his reps are excellent others are well below average. His size means that even though he plays tough as hell, he can’t be a dynamic run defender. He also allows early separation, particularly on crossing and in-breaking routes. Some of this stuff can be cleaned up, but the size and durability concerns are real.

I think he is someone who could end up making an impact on day 3. He has great speed and quickness and shows playmaking ability. On day 3 the upside is there with very little of the downside risk. Anywhere on day 2 though is too much risk without the possible reward.

98. Luke Falk, QB Washington State 73

Falk is someone who is tough not to think will end up being on a roster and making a really nice living for a long time in the NFL. He has a well below average arm, played in a wide open system, and doesn’t really have a prototypical NFL frame or movement skills. That being said he’s tremendously accurate, has a quick release, and his movement skills and pocket mobility are plenty good to play in the league. While i don’t know if he’s ever going to be a starter full time except maybe in a placeholder or bridge role, i could see him being a really quality backup in the NFL for a decade. 

Falk throws the ball with the best touch of any quarterback in this class. His placement is excellent and he is very good at finding the holes in zones. At the Senior Bowl he was impressive with ball placement and how quickly he absorbed information and the playbook, both of those things are huge with me. 

There are some issues though that are going to be important to realize. Number one he’s a spread offense guy in the truest sense of the word and those guys don’t typically translate well to the NFL. In the past few years there’s been a bunch of those guys get drafted and none have really blown up the league, particularly early. Secondly, his arm strength is an issue no matter what people say of that being overrated. You can simply take away parts of the field against Falk because he has to throw the ball so early. In college it’s fine, in the NFL some of those are going to get defelcted, and some are going to get picked. He also is really lean so durability could be a bit of a concern moving forward, although it hasn’t been yet.

Falk is a borderline NFL starter, although his upside is extremely limited. He’s accurate, smart, and has a quick release. I think he ends up being a high end backup in the league for a really long time, and when he makes his spot starts he’l give you a shot and won’t lose you games. There is a lot of value in someone like that but i don't think you should take him on the first two days. Really early day 3 pick.

99. Nathan Shepherd, DL Fort Hays State 73

This kid is definitely a project and likely someone who needs a “redshirt” year in the NFL but there is potential for him to be a solid contributor in the NFL. He’s 6’2 315 pounds and runs around a 5.0 40 so his athletic ability is really good. His lateral quickness and burst along with a great motor gives him a chance to be successful at the next level. That being said he wasn’t overly productive at the division 2 level and plays too high with his pads at times. His technique is flawed and he has a really big leap up in competition so you’re going to have to wait a long while to see if it’ll work itself out.

The thing about Shepherd that stands out on tape is that when he is single blocked at that level he pretty much blows plays up. His quickness and force causes massive problems for small school defensive linemen and at times at the Senior Bowl he flashed that power and speed combination. On tape he plays really hard and shows good athletic ability in the open field along with really top end speed for a player his size. I think with the later quickness and explosiveness along with good power means while he likely will play that 3 technique in the NFL, he could play the 3,4, and I think could be a great 5 technique eventually.

He plays too high and his hands aren’t as good as I’d like. There are times he doesn’t have a plan when pass rushing which is okay as a defensive tackle but if he were to kick outside you’d like to see him develop there a bit. His agility is good and every once in a while he busts out a spin move that's a bit high centered but has the potential to be devastating if he plays the 3 tech. I can see him turning into a solid interior pass rusher. 

He’s got athleticism, size and a motor, which means I can figure something out for him and he has a chance. He also has poor technique, kind of short arms, and has a HUGE level jump coming from the small school spot. His lack of production is a bit worrisome but in round 4 I’d love to take a shot on him. Round 3 might be too rich but I wouldn’t hate it if a team has a plan. Talent and motor means I get it, but he could end up being a one contract guy too. Worth a 4th for me.

100. Breeland Speaks, DL Ole Miss 73

There are a ton of pluses and minuses with this kid and while his upside is totally obvious with his quickness, length, and versatility, there are just as many minuses. He’s immature, you can tell by his play on the field, he plays way too high to play a 3 technique, and he only really had one season where he rushed the passer with any impact. He has kind of a tweener frame at 6’3 and 288 pounds but to me he projects as a base 34 defensive end and a sub package 3 technique. Sparks has the potential to be a starter in the NFL on all 3 downs, he also has the potential to not get a second contract. Solid reward, big risk.

The kid has good quickness and length and it shows up on tape, where Ole Miss played him everywhere. Even though he’s 290 pounds ish, they would stand him up, and even play him as an off ball linebacker at times. They wanted to give him some freedom of movement to let him attack and when he did he was pretty effective. His almost 34 inch arms allow him to keep tackles hands off him and get him into the body to bullrush. While he’s not an accomplished or technically sound pass rusher yet, he has that potnetial, particularly when he moves inside to kill interior linemen with quickness and length.

As a run defender on the inside he plays way too damn high. He’ll get killed right now as a 3 technique in the league against the run. As a 5 technique with that 4.85 speed and his length he could be a really good run defender if he chooses to be. He could string plays out to the sideline and use that length to bully tackles and make some plays. Right now though eh has a ways to go in terms of leverage or he’ll get beat up in the league, but the potential is there.

As far as the big negatives, the kid is extremely immature and I dont’ think getting NFL money is going to help him. He commits stupid penalties and there are times on tape that he doesn’t do his job consistently enough. I wonder how important the game is to him vs. how much he can get from playing the game. I would really want scouts to dig into him to see if he's worth that type of a play. I can’t use a top 3 round pick on him because that floor is low. But if you take him in the 4-5 round range you might just get yourself a really solid high upside starter.

101. Logan Woodside, CB Toledo 72

Whiteside projects as a quality backup but i think he could develop into someone who gets a shot at being a starter down the line. I believe he’s an underrated prospect in the fact that while he's undersized at 6’1 215 he has better arm strength than people give him credit for. He’s a good decision maker, and he’s a solid athlete, running a sub 4.8 at the combine. I think the kid is at worst a quality backup, but he has some traits that could turn him into a bridge starter.

I dont think the kid will throw many interceptions in the NFL, he has good athleticism and escapability to pick up first downs on the ground, and he processes information pretty quickly. While he’s not precise and he can miss some throws, he still qualifies as accurate, and he has good touch on deep passes. At Toledo his receivers didn’t help him a lot, look at the Miami tape and I counted 6 drops. Give him an NFL receiving corps and I think the kid does nothing but get better. 

Those things being said, he has a tendency to drop his eyes and not let plays develop like you’d want. His arm strength is okay but not good, and he does miss some throws. I think his footwork right now is decent but he tends to overstride. Some of it can be corrected and with the tools here i would bet on it. He threw the ball well at the combine too, and looked smooth and polished there. Round 4 guy for me if I want a backup who I can develop, or someone with some mobility to groom.

102. Josey Jewell, LB Iowa 72

The kid is really far down on the tangibles and his 4.82 probably caused his stock to plummet. He has short arms and doesn’t run fast, he’s stiff, and at 232 pounds doesn’t have the size or length to take on blockers. His depth in his drops in coverage really need work and I don’t think he can hold up consistently against even average NFL pass catchers. Yet, i’d still be really happy if my team drafted him.

Jewell has really good tape, has maybe the best instincts of any player in this draft class, and figures out how to make plays all over the field consistently. Despite below average athleticism and speed he gets his hands on a lot of footballs with over 20 passes defensed in his career. He reads and reacts to plays with a half step to a step in the right direction on a very consistent basis and his tapes are always solid. His consistency is really good and you know what you’re gonna get from him every single game.

This past season he racked up over 120 tackles and finished with 4.5 sacks and a couple of picks. He’s a playmaker despite his limitations and he’s someone who will likely be a high volume tackler at the NFL level. This being said though the kid is extremely limited. 4.82 is way below what the standard is for high level NFL linebackers, particularly in the  NFL game we play now. He’s a good tackler but 32 inch arms means he’ll struggle to get off blocks and his game speed means he’s not chasing many plays down. The kid is a grinder and I like him and there’s an outside shot he develops into a starter but i think he’s a core special teams guy and a rotational linebacker, likely on run downs. I like him as a player but he’s just so limited on H/W/S that he can only be what he can be and you can’t overcome that stuff sometimes. 

103. Bo Scarborough, RB Alabama 72

A big powerful, fast running back who projects as a solid two down thumper in the NFL is Scarborough from the Crimson Tide. He’s 230-240 pounds and runs with a toughness and physicality that you look for in a big back. He has really good top end speed, busting out a 4.52 at his size, which actually intrigued me more than what I thought he would on tape. He doesn't have as much wear on the tires as other guys because of a timeshare either. That said he isn't going to play on 3rd downs in the NFL, only averaged 7 catches per season, and has very little quickness to make people miss. He’s an early day 3 kid with power, and someone who will be good as part of a timeshare.

Some people think he’s a starter in the NFL, and he might be but it’ll be out of necessity or a true committee style attack. He’s a really physical kid, who pushes the pile and moves the sticks when he can, but he rarely makes anyone miss. Tackler square him up because there isn't much wiggle and his vision is only okay. He is more of a tough yardage maker than someone who can carry an offense all season because while his top end speed is really good, his short area quickness is below average. 

I think he could be a nice piece as part of a committee approach. He’s got a little bit of Blount in him, and a touch of a guy like Alfred Morris a bit. That’s his running style. He runs too straight up at times which gives corners and smaller linebackers a chance to chop him down and it’s a bit frustrating to watch. That said when he does get a foot in the ground and gets a head of steam he can pick up big chunks and he moves piles as well as anyone in this draft class. He’a guy i wouldn't hate if my team took in round 4 because I know what I’m getting here. He’s one of a handful of guys in this draft that's just solid. He’ll grind out yardage for you and is tough around the goal line. That said, he really does look to me like guy who will just thump without a ton of upside. I think he’s a committee back that has the speed to help on coverage units on special teams and can grind out some tough yards here and there. 

Another huge concern is he’s had leg injuries his whole career dating back to high school. I think he’s a borderline day 2 kid in terms of talent, but you can't take him there with his current limitations and the durability concerns. I’ve heard two different scouting references say that people don’t think he’ll end up lasting until his second contract in the NFL with the injury issues. 

104. Donte Jackson, CB LSU 72

The kid is a track star, ran a 10.2 in the 100 at LSU and can absolutely fly. That’s where the positives really end up though for him. He’s quick and fast but he is not an NFL starting outside corner, and his lack of size at 5’10 177 means that in the nickel he isn’t helping you against the run. To me he’s a cover nickel without the instincts or tackling ability to help you elsewhere. His upside is limited but his speed and athletic ability mean he’ll likely play for a while. Someone will draft him to because of his traits on day 2, but I’d stay away until round 4. 

He’s a legit 4.3 guy without question so you have to be intrigued. He also played at DBU with the Tigers and those guys typically translate well to the league so I think he’s well coached. He also is really bad in his technique, relies on his speed, and doesn’t have instincts that are good enough. His speed is good enough to play outside obviously but I don’t know if he has the size, and decent sized guys at 200 pounds can post him up.

I can get really into this write up but he’s got okay ball skills, great speed, and poor instincts and size. He’s a round 4 kid for me who will go on day 2 so someone else will get him. I Know you can’t teach speed but this isn't a horrible corner draft so I think I can find someone better despite the clear upside.

105. Tyrell Crosby, OT Oregon 72

I really don’t know what to do with Crosby, the evaluations are all over the board on him and there are some things I like, including his Stanford tape where I thought he was excellent. He’s a good run blocker, didn’t allow a sack his senior season according to analytics, and is 325 pounds. Those are some good things about him. Some bad things are that he has a horrible body, only hit 17 reps at the combine, had a serious foot injury his junior season, and I think lacks consistency game to game. His Boise State game was almost the opposite of the game he played against Stanford.

There are some good things to work with on occasion with him, including what I think is a potential to be a good run blocker in the league. I actually think there’s a decent chance you can kick him inside to guard too and he could be successful. I had an evaluator who I trust a lot on offensive linemen tell me that he’s just okay, he needs work all over the place but there are things that he can clean up by year 2 or 3. He told me he’s a 4th round kid which is about where i had him graded as well. 

I think overall there are positives and negatives here, a year or two where he could be a backup and get stronger, and quicker could really help him become a decent starter in the league, because there’s a chance there. I think at worst you have a guy who could potentially play a really key backup role so to me he’s somewhere around that 4th round range on my player card as well.

106. Andrew Brown, DE Virginia 72

I think this kid is going to be one of those NFL players who never really does much on the stat sheet but you want on your roster. He’s got great pedigree, winning the Gatorade Player of the Year out of high school but he didn’t make many plays at Virginia. While he has really good power and length, and at 6’5 295 pounds he projects as an excellent 34 defensive end or 43 3 technique, he doesn’t have the quickness or speed to make a ton of plays. That being said he has a great motor, tremendous football character, and his strength is a major plus. I think he’ll end up playing in the league for a long time as a grinder.

Brown doesn't have the athleticism or quickness to really create any issues as a pass rusher. He didn’t create many sacks in his career so people knock him consistently for that. However, when you put on the tape you watch how many times he gets close, how many times he creates pocket pressure, and how he does his job to open up gaps for his teammates. When he's asked to eat up blockers he puts in full effort and creates gaps for his linebackers and ends to make plays. I love his tape because he works his ass off constantly, and while he doesn't get sacks he is at the quarterbacks feet a lot, around his arm a lot, and pushing that pocket or linemen back into him a lot. He’s not a clean pass rusher by any stretch and he projects as a below average true pass rusher, but he has more value there than the stat sheet will show.

As a run defender it’s a lot like the pass rusher situation. He gets penetration pretty often by bench pressing linemen. His get off and timing of the snap count is at least above average and when he plays with proper leverage he gets linemen on their heels and makes people double him. He is a linebackers friend as he keeps linemen from getting to the second level and creates piles constantly. While he lacks the quickness and speed to make a ton of tackles, his effort and power does allow him to get a few stuffs here and there. 

He’s never going to stuff a stat sheet and I doubt he ever makes a huge impact but this is a guy you want on a roster. He makes winning plays, does his job, and does all the dirty work you need from someone from a successful defense. He lacks much upside but I think his floor is nice and solid and while no one is going to be doing backflips when he gets drafted from your draft room, understand the kid is a hardworking ass kicker who will make winning football plays regardless of if he's the one getting credit. Not much upside, but a grinder. Whoever gets him on day 3 will like him.

107. Tyquon Lewis, DE Ohio State 71

Lewis is an interesting player for me for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason is that he put up really solid sack production over the past couple of years but I really don’t get how he picks those sacks up. He’s not a quick guy and while he’s got a really good initial punch, he doesn’t get off blocks super well. He also is sort of a projection tweener player for me. I think he’s supposed to be a 43 defensive end at 6’2 and 270 pounds but I really think he could end up being a better 3 technique as a pass rusher and a 43 base end on running downs. He’s a rotational defensive lineman who has the strength and character to be a contributor for a while.

Lewis has good initial pop in his pads when he hits you and his power and ability to set the edge is pretty evident. He plays pretty strong there and although he doesn’t have great length based on tape he still has that lower body power on the edge to drive defenders back and make plays at or near the line of scrimmage. He’s not quick enough to be a factor on the edge as a run stuffer consistently but he’s solid there and could make a living doing dirty work there.

As a pass rusher he won’t give you a ton outside, and although he finished with 15 sacks the past two seasons combined, he was clearly the 3rd or 4th best pass rusher on that team. I think his initial pop along with decent get off could make him into a nice interior rusher on passing downs, which he did quite often at Ohio State. That’s where he could end up being decent in terms of on passing downs. He is a tick slow consistently getting off the snap count in terms of his anticipation and that causes him sometimes to lose reps that he shouldn’t lose. It’s really common and sort of jumped off the screen for me.

He’s not going to wow you, but he’s a solid player who can do a bit. He could potentially even play the 5 technique in a 34 defense too if you wanted him to and if he got up another 10 pounds. Lewis is a nice rotational defensive linemen sometime on day 3. Supposedly he’s a hard worker and while the upside isn’t really there i think his floor is nice. Rotational lineman who works hard, I can take a couple of those guys on my roster.

108. Mark Walton, RB Miami 71

The kid is a day 3 running back prospect who can make a mark as a committee runner in the NFL. 5’10 200 pound kids with injury history who runs a 4.60 aren’t exactly what I’m looking to build a roster around in the NFL. That being said when he’s healthy he has good initial short area quickness, good vision and initial acceleration, and projects as a quality third down back in the league. He can play a bit but he’s down the list in a really really good running back class but he’s a guy with quicks and burst so there’s a shot of him being a productive guy with a few touches per game in the league.

He’s undersized without blazing speed so there isn’t a ton of upside here. That being said he does a pretty decent job putting his head down and getting downhill when it’s there and has good quickness to make people miss consistently and it looks like it could translate to the league. He really does play to that speed though so he’s not outrunning too many guys to the edge. As a runner he’s limited but not bad as a projection to the NFL.

Where i think Walton could end up being a quality player in the league is on third down though. While he isn’t going to run away from too many guys his quickness and reliability on 3rd down and in passing downs was pretty darn good on tape. He gets open routinely, shows a really willingness to block, and looks for work and space in both blocking and route running. I think he looks like a natural guy catching the ball and while he’s not going to run receiver routes at his size, his option routes and check down ability is pretty darn solid. 

He’s a good 3rd down back in the NFL with a little wiggle and reliable hands who looks okay in pass protection early. His size and speed limitations are real but he’s a good football player. Too many issues to draft him on the first two days with H/W/S below average and durability concerns, but in any round on day 3 I could see the appeal for almost any team.

109. Jordan Lasley, WR UCLA 71

In all honesty I think I have Lasley as my 3rd or 4th rated receiver, he’s the “NEXT best” after my top two of Ridley and Chark, who are my two best by a long way. I think talent wise the kid has true really good number two wide receiver potential. He has really good speed and although he ran a 4.50 he plays faster, and doesn’t lose any momentum when running deep crosses and posts. He was extremely productive at UCLA, ran a pro style offense, and is 6’1 so his size isn’t an issue.

Those are all he positives, the negatives drop him down at least two rounds though. The off the field issues are incredibly obvious. He’s been suspended, arrested, whatever he’s had real issues off the field. It’s serious enough that although he’s a round 2 talent, he’s a round 4 selection for my team. I can’t use a top 2 day selection on a kid with his issues because i can’t trust him to not continue down that path. The other issue that is major with him is that he has a “real” drop rate of 16%, which is really high, and an “adjusted” drop rate of 21% which is absurdly high. I would have dropped him because he isn’t a consistent catcher. 

He also only hit 8 reps at the combine and his lack of play strength shows up on tape. Good physical corners cause him serious problems. He doesn’t find zones well either, he doesn’t get the right depth or separation. 

Lasley is a real talent, but drops, serious off the field issues, and lack of feel for coverage are real concerns. I think I’d take him on day 3 because if he doesn’t pan out so what, but he has legit number two receiver talent. Risk-reward here.

110. Dorian O’Daniel, ST/LB/S Clemson 70

This is the best special teams player in this entire class. O’Daniel is a tackling machine on special teams, and at 6’0 and around 218 pounds he’s got a weird frame and is completely an in-between guy in terms of where he can play on defense. That being said he's the best tackling and productive special teams player in the country and his 4.61 was a nice time for a guy who is going to be some sort of hybrid safety linebacker in the NFL. Where he will be a stud though is covering kicks and punts. 

O’daniel graded out by a few people as the best coverage player in the country as a freshmen and a junior. As a sophomore he ended up with 19 special teams tackles. The kid is a complete freak in covering kicks and punts and it’s where he’ll be in the NFL for the next two contracts. 

As a linebacker he was really productive and plays super hard. While his size and lack of length is a major problem, he is solid getting around traffic and is a really good tackler. You want him to be better in coverage because then he could totally be a sub package linebacker but he’s okay not great there. He has good feel but good athletes give him trouble. He’s a guy that that’s where ehe could play or as a will, run and chase linebacker or a 3rd safety maybe but realistically I don’t know how much impact he’ll have there. He could be a quality backup at strong safety, a nickel or dime linebacker, and a backup 34 ILB or 43 will. 

He’s someone who is a good football player but you typically don’t draft guys to just play special teams. I’d have him be a really valuable backup and learn a lot of roles and be a sub package guy but he’s a truly dynamic elite special teamer and if my team struggled on kick and punt coverage, i’d target the kid in the 4th round because he could change that for our team quickly. It’s rare to see someone that productive at that type of role. Could have a Justin Bethel, Michael Thomas, Matthew Slater, Larry Izzo thing going for him.

111. Dante Pettis, WR Washington 70

Pettis is a really dynamic punt returner, ending his career with the most punt returns for TD’s in Pac 12 history. His elusiveness and vision in the open field is really impressive and is the main reason he’ll get drafted this season. As a receiver i think he’s likely a number 3 or 4 guy who is just simply adequate. If he goes to a really good team with a great quarterback he could be successful but he lacks real burst, always takes a false step to start his routes, and drops too many catchable balls. He also is quick but doesn’t really utilize it to consistently get open. 

He’s pretty good with the ball in the air and while he runs decent routes, I think they overrate his route running ability in the scouting community. He should just be open more than he is and so his productivity was really mediocre except touchdowns his junior season. I think he shows good awareness along the sideline and doesn’t have much fear going across the middle. He looks a lot more like a slot receiver than an outside guy to me at this point.

The one thing I do love about Pettis is that he’s a freaking outstanding blocker. The guy uses good technique and goes hunting blocks down the field. So far he’s the best receiver I’ve scouted as a blocker and that tenacity will help get him on the field as well. The other nice piece other than him being an incredible punt returner is that he’s great with the ball in his hands. He’s very elusive and quick, and while he doesn’t have top end speed by any stretch that short area quickness is key once you get him in space.

Pettis is a very good punt returner who lacks the speed to really end up being a number one or two wide receiver. He’s an impressive blocker on the outside who makes people miss when he catches it. He projects for me as a number 3 or 4 receiver, punt returner, and someone who has a chance to get a second contract because of the other stuff he does but likely not as a true receiving option. I can’t take him on the first two days. 

112. Brian O’Neill, OT Pitt 70

I’m in the minority I think but O’Neill can’t play offensive tackle in the NFL. He totally panics whenever he goes against someone good and opens up too quick. Pitt would roll quarterbacks and used insanely tight splits so most linemen weren’t really left on on one often and you can tell. His Senior Bowl tape and practices were really bad, he would just get whipped by better players. He’s an insane athlete at 6’5 295 an runs a 4.81 which is absurd. He has really long arms and both good quickness and speed, but he lacks play strength completely and can’t anchor at all. So why in the hell do I rank him a 70.

Three reasons, number one is that he can be a swing tackle in the NFL. Speed rushers won’t give him much problem because he’s super quick. Secondly, I think he could end up being a decent movement guard in a zone scheme because he moves so fluidly. And three, what I would do with him is move him to a blocking tight end. His speed can play at that spot and his ability to run his length means he could be an excellent blocking tight end with some red zone catching upside. He did have 3 touchdowns in his career at Pitt. 

I think he will really struggle to play starting left tackle in the NFL. I would draft him in the 4th round as a tight end and swing tackle and someone who could potentially play guard too if my system was movement. I think he could end up being a high quality blocking tight end, and so that’s how I’d take him. Weird use of a pick but what the hell, I think it could really work. The main thing is though he likely will get taken on day 2 so he won’t end up on a team that I’d draft. No big deal there either. 

113. Tre’quan Smith, WR Central Florida 70

Every single season this kid got better and because of that he’s someone in that 4th round discussion now. He’s 6’2 with super long arms and a 37 inch vertical. He had over 1000 yards this past season, runs a 4.49 and puts in great effort as a blocker. What I love about him is he was the scout team player of the year as a freshman and worked his way up showing improvement every year. You can tell he's a good worker and plays hard, his long arms make him a really good blocker. He looks the part to me of someone who is a prototype 3rd receiver whether in the slot or outside.

At 6’2 with great length and leaping ability the kid has a wide catch radius. He doesn’t have great hands, they’re okay but he’s improving, and if he can take another step or two forward the next year he could be a nice target. He’s not quick at all so he struggles to get immediate separation and kids with good press technique cause him problems, but he’s got a good feel for zone and gets downhill after the catch. His build up speed is good and he’s a long strider who eats up yards once he gets going.

His inability to uncover quickly and a bit of an issue getting off man press is a bit troubling. It means that unless he can get that figured out he may end up being a WR4 and a special teamer, where I think he’ll be good and contribute with that length and speed. His feel for zone is good and his abitlity to be a downfield threat is real. That long speed and size with leaping ability could be a nice piece. His continued improvement and blocking skills are a plus too. I think he’s kinda limited because he’s an average catcher and his quickness isn’t good. That said he’s going to make some plays here and there as well and likely projects as a solid #3 in years 2 and beyond and a special teams player, who helps a lot in the run game because of his length and blocking skill. 

114. Hercules Ma’atafa DL Washington State 70

This is one of the weirdest evaluations of the year because he’s a defensive tackle who weighs 252 pounds. He obviously can’t stay there in the NFL because even right now if he didn’t win with quickness or effort he got blown off the ball. This selection is based entirely on projection and the fact that the kid has some traits that may translate to the league.

Primarily he’s tough as hell, and everyone says he’s a good guy in the locker room because of constant effort and work ethic. He plays as hard as anyone every single snap and he ’doesn’t take plays off ever. He was really productive in college on the interior but a lot of those plays were from second effort, which is fine just not as common in the NFL. 

He is 252 pounds and runs a 4.75 which isn’t bad at all and he’s strong so you have a few combinations, particularly with his effort that means he might be a special teams player. I think he’s a rotational pass rusher who you have play the 3 technique on pass rush downs only and let the kid do what he does the best. He wins with quickness and yes there are times he’ll get destroyed and you have to accept those, but there are also times he causes havoc and he has 22.5 career sacks playing defensive tackle so it’s not like he can’t make plays. He’s a niche player who could provide a spark for a team looking for a rotational interior pass rusher who can’t hold up against the run. I don’t think he has the skill set to play outside, nor the length to play on the edge so i’m just going to let the dog hunt on the inside where he’s shown he can. Truly a specialist though.

115. Obo Okoronkwo, Edge Oklahoma 70

I’m not quite sure what to do with Okoronkwo realistically. I personally think this is a perfect example of someone who is a much better college player than what he’ll be in the NFL. His traits simply don’t translate to the NFL game well, and while he was very productive in college, it's going to be much tougher for him to make an impact in the NFL. He’s a kid who plays hard but lacks the transferrable game to get to the NFL because he doesn’t have really the twitchiness to play and he looks lost when he drops into coverage, so he is a tweener between end and outside linebacker too.

Okoronkow was the co-defensive player of the year in the Big-12 this season. He had about 17 sacks the past two seasons combined for the Sooners and was a disruptive player there without question. He plays hard and looks much more comfortable going after the quarterback when he can get a bit of a head start in a wide-9 type look. I think a team that runs this type of scheme might find a niche for him there. You’d like him with his size to play outside linebacker but he’s not good at all in coverage and is too robotic to play out in space. Therefore he’s a 43 defensive end without the right length and not great balance to dip and rip or get the edge consistently. While he is built well, I think he lacks the power and length to really hold and set the edge consistently as a run defender.

To me the kid just screams backup in the NFL and special teamer. I think he can play some sort of hybrid spot and might even find his way onto the field in a rotational capacity because he does play hard and I don't think he’ll ever really hurt you when he’s out there. Looks like a prototypical decent NFL player who might make the occasional splash play but won’t ever really hurt you. Day 3 guy but definitely wouldn’t mind if my team drafted him because he can fill a role for you and likely won’t kill you when he’s asked to play. 

116. .Austin Corbett, OL Nevada 70

Corbett is a smart heady player with decent athleticism and a lot of experience. I think Corbett, despite playing mostly at left tackle and some at right tackle, likely will be a move guard at the next level. He looks really bright and seems to have a high football IQ, he was a 3 year captain, and played in a ton of games for Nevada, his experience is helpful but his lack of length, and power, along with not great tape against good teams scares me a bit. I think Corbett likely will be at best a decent starter in the league or a quality backup for a long time. He projects to me somewhere in the round 4-5 range.

He’s not a bad football player at all. He plays with decent technique, doesn’t look like he panics when beat, and does a nice job in space. I think he is someone who won’t be overwhelmed by pass rushers and while he’s not weak, he’s not strong either. He’s a bunch of average NFL qualities without really anything separating him physically from other players. Corbett has good recognition skills and obviously has had success as a pass protector so center is definitely a possibility as well. 

I watched a few tapes here and quite simply he doesn’t sustain blocks super well and lacks the desired power to be a really good guard. I think he can be a move guard or center who can give you pretty decent pass pro but he might not be a strong enough or long enough run blocker to be a high end starter. There’s a spot on my team for someone with tackle experience, and potential to play center and guard no matter what though because you can play him a bunch of spots and he won’t hurt you. Borderline guy who can start but definitely a quality backup and there’s nothing wrong with drafting one of those in rounds 4-7.

117. Daesean Hamilton, WR Penn State 70

The kid doesn’t have enough to be a dynamic NFL receiver on a regular basis but from everything I’ve read about him, I’ll still draft him. He’s a phenomenal teammate and kid and coaches and scouts rave about his intellect and his character. You could that with having a very productive career, being a good route runner, and being a big slot guy at 6’1 and you have someone who could end up being a number 3 in the NFL for a long time.

He isn’t very sudden and that lack of quickness shows on tape a lot. The Ohio State game you just watch those quick corners give him fits. He doesn’t get that immediate separation and a lot of his production was on crossing routes and make contested catches over the middle. His route running skills are really crisp but he lacks that quick twitch that gets people open right away. His long speed on crossing routes is actually pretty decent and his 4.51 was even better than I thought it would be. 

As far as hands, he’s good not great as he can make some really tough contested catches and other times he’ll drop pretty easy ones. He’s pretty good after the catch, showing some toughness as well as a little wiggle to create YAC yards. He doesn’t project as someone who will pick up a ton after the catch in the NFL but he’ll get a few extra yards here and there. 

Hamilton lacks the separation skills and quickness you want to see from a dynamic slot guy. But at 6’1 and 205 pounds with solid hands and good route running skills you could see him make an impact in the NFL. He’s got a little bit of a poor man’s Jordan Matthews type game to him, and although I think there’s a slight chance the kid struggles in the league, he’s certainly got a shot to play on Sunday’s and will be a super positive guy in the locker room. 

118. Da’Shawn Hand, DE/DT Alabama 69

One of the more frustrating players to scout in this draft was Hand from Alabama. His H/W/S at 6’3 and 295 pounds as a 34 defensive end was really impressive. He should have been a dominant player who has top end potential in the NFL. Instead what you got was someone who played simply okay football for a program that tends to have maxed out players once they reach the league. I’d draft Hand as a rotational 34 defensive end and pray I get what is there, but I think what i’m going to end up getting is a rotational defensive linemen for the next few seasons.

The kid is athletic for his size, running a 4.83 at almost 300 pounds. He has long arms and shows the potential to really be a high quality player. Like in terms of guys with big upside in this draft at the 5 technique spot, Hand is at or near the top of that list. However, he only had 23 tackles and 2 sacks this past season and it was too easy to forget he was on the field for Alabama. 

I know 25 position coaches in the NFL are going to be begging to get their hands on this kid. I think he’s got a lot of potential and there’s a shot for him to be something in the league without question. But I wouldn't draft him thinking i’m getting a stud, I’d draft him thinking i’m getting a rotational linemen and hoping my coordinator and position coach can turn him into the edge setting beast that i think he has the potential to be. 

119. Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Notre Dame 69

St. Brown is a H/W/S target who is a lot better on paper than he is on tape right now. He’s a mediocre route runner and isn’t strong hanging onto the football on contested catches but he’s 6’4 and runs a 4.48 so the tools are there for him to be a really effective downfield and redzone weapon. However, right now he looks more like a number 3 or 4 receiver who can make some plays occasionally but won’t turn into a quality starter. Upside is there but I think he projects as best as an average number two but more likely as a 3rd guy who scares some teams with his size and speed.

He’s a nice player in the passing attacks, particularly down the field because he has that huge frame and good top end speed. It’s definitely build up speed though as he lacks great fluidity in his routes and doesn’t have much suddenness. His separation will come from his size being able to post up smaller guys or jump over them as he doesn't create natural separation and he doesn’t have the nuances of the position down yet. 

He just is a better player on paper than as a receiver right now. I love his size and speed and he’s obviously a smart kid. He just has a ways to go to be a better receiver, and while I think he could certainly develop I think he’s a round 4-5 kid because I think he’ll end up being a number 3 or 4. Has a number two ceiling though.

120. Dorance Armstrong, Edge Kansas 69

Armstrong looks like a solid two position backup with long arms and a good motor. He is the type of guy you look for on day 3 because he has some traits to work with to develop into an eventually starter but he could be a good quality backup at a couple spots if you cant get him to that full time role. He’s got super long arms and good bend around the corner and plays with what looks like a good motor. He projects to me as a day 3 kid, likely in the round 5 range is where i’d take him to play 34 outside linebacker.

Armstrong had a really solid year in 2016, racking up 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He looked like a day 2 kid without a question and showed some pretty good tape. However, in 2017 his production regressed a lot, although it looks like they didn’t let him pin his ears back at all on the 17 tape. I’m not as worried about that, although he did look not 100% this past season and he only ended up with 1.5 sacks. That said, he showed the potential to produce as a pass rusher before.

As a pass rusher though he has really long arms at 34.5 inches, but he really doesn’t have any plan when he rushes the passer. He creates sacks by bending around the edge or by slicing in between right tackles but doesn’t have a counter move. His initial length and agility shows some potential here but I don’t think he has the true play strength to Make it happen all the time at end, but i think perhaps he could play that spot in a 43 if he had to as a rotational backup. I think he could be a decent 34 outside linebacker but his showing at the combine was really disappointing and you have to wonder if his skills can translate to the NFL in either role.

He washes down the line well against the run but isn’t super strong when the ball is ran right at him yet. I wonder about his anchor which is why i think maybe 34 OLB makes the most sense. He plays hard and follows the play over the field and his length gets him off blocks fairly well but he doesn’t use it as well as you’d like.

I think if Armstrong gets a good position coach in the NFL he could turn into a pretty decent player. His 4.85 40 is a scary thing for me playing OLB and I don’t know if he can really play at his play strength at defensive end. A team who drafts him will likely get a backup and if they trust a position coach at either end or 34 OLB to develop him he has a shot to turn into a starter in time.

121. Chukwuma Okorafor, OT Western Michigan 69

There are some things here that could lead me to believe that Okorafor could develop into a decent NFL player over time. He has good feet,  his size at 6’6 320 with good length is essentially ideal, and he played a lot of football without allowing too many bad plays on tape. His size and agility are both positives and lead me to believe there is enough talent here and enough ability to become a quality player in the league given time. However, right now his technique and hand placement is so bad that it might not allow him to make that happen. He also doesn’t really play with much power and is a “pusher” and not a lockdown guy. Which to me leads me to believe he's a swing tackle in the NFL who can play if forced into action on either side. 

Okorafor has good length but when he kick slides, which he does well, his hands are down or way out for balance and he simply allows players to get to him first. When he does that, like watching TJ Watt against Wisconsin, the defender eats him up. He has good length but utilizes it very poorly and therefore he could be in position with good athleticism and he simply only pushes a player and allows him to get off his block and make plays. He’s not a lock down guy very often, although once he does lock you down he won’t let you off often.

As a run blocker he’s only okay. He has the ability and agility to get in your way but he rarely finishes plays off the way you’d like. I think he could be better as a move guy, but ultimately right now he pushes you and occasionally can seal you but he’s not getting a ton of movement off the ball and therefore he shudders guys in pushes them but won’t get his hands inside and keep them there to create big seams.

There’s talent here but right now his technique in terms of hand placement and lack of drive power are both detriments to his game. He should play swing tackle early and by year 3 you could have a quality player but you can’t draft him on the first two days of the draft. Developmental round 5-7 guy, but likely a swing tackle. 

122. Mason Cole, G/C Michigan 69

Cole projects to me as a quality versatile backup who could eventually turn into a decent starter in the NFL. He’s got short arms at only 32 inches and they definitely give him issues at the college level, I couldn’t imagine what would happen to him in the NFL at left tackle, where he played at times for the Wolverines. He’s got decent feet and seems to really understand football, as well which leads me to think he could play all three interior line positions. He started 52 straight gams and so the versatility and durability shows me that the kid will likely play in the NFL as a backup linemen for a number of years. He’s the perfect day 3 kid to draft.

Cole played both center and left tackle but he’s certainly not capable of playing tackle in the NFL. His pass rush recognition skills, and what I think is quality movement skills mean to me he’ll likely be a backup center in the NFL with the potential to move between guard spots if necessary. 

He’s got good pass rush recognition skills but there are people who grade his run blocking as average or below average and I sort of disagree. While he isn’t the most powerful guy and his lack of length kils his hand placement at times, I like him when he gets to the second level and pulling in space. He doesn’t hammer people like you’d like to see from dominant guys but he gets a lot more hits than misses out there. He deosn’t have the upside or strength and length to dominate as a run blocker but particularly in a movement scheme he has some potential to be solid here. 

Look the kid isn’t going to be a top tier NFL lineman, he doesn’t have that. But he has high football iQ, good movement skills, tremendous durability, and i think 3 position interior versatility. He could be serviceable at a number of spots and you can count on him to be ready to play and not make mental errors. On day 3 you could do a hell of a lot worse than someone who projects as a decent starter if necessary and a really good backup.

123. Michael Gallup, WR Colorado State 68

I think Gallup’s career and how productive he’s going to be entirely depends on where he gets drafted. If he goes to an offense that throws it around a lot and plays a ton of 3 wide receiver sets like New Orleans, Atlanta, or Green Bay he could be a successful receiver who ends up with a solid amount of catches. If he goes to a team with a conservative offense or only okay quarterbacking he’ll be an afterthought. The kid is pretty good but he lacks any traits that will make him anything more than an okay number two or a decent number three unless scheme or qb play can elevate him.

Gallup is solid, he’s got good initial quickness and Okay long speed. His size is average as are is hands for a receiver. He’ll drop passes in traffic and he doesn’t have a big catch radius, but most things catchable are his and he’s really solid against zone coverage. Man to man he’s okay and at times can win right off the line but physical guys give him issues as he doesn't have great play strength. He’s not interested in run blocking much yet and his overall effort is only so so. 

People who think he’s a second day pick are out of their minds in my opinion. To me he’s average as an NFL player across every category, except his feel for zone and that’a a day 3 trait. He’s a 4th round or 5th round kid who’s career trajectory depends much more on where he goes and who throws him the ball than anything else. He’s a 3rd or 4th receiver who i think will only be okay on special teams so, or a decent number two without upside on a team without other options. 

124. Akrum Wadley, RB Iowa State 68

A change of pace smaller back who looks comfortable catching the ball is Wadley from Iowa State. The kid doesn’t possess good size at 195 pounds or speed at a solid 4.54, but he’s extremely quick and has good agility. To me Wadley is a decent 3rd running back prospect who makes people miss in space but lacks big time upside to be a high quality pass catching back in the league, and a guy who can return kicks if you need.

He is quick and productive, totaling over 2000 yards combined rushing the past two seasons. He catches the ball naturally and while his route running looks slow to me he has good feel when he ball is thrown his way and he makes people miss in open space. His vision is above average in the open field and he seems fairly decisive when he does make a cut back inside.

Wadley also provides virtually zero power and goes down frequently with arm tackles. He isn’t going to ever be a productive inside runner and the lack of long speed means that despite being a guy who wants to run outside he can’t outrun all the NFL linebackers and safeties. He’s fast but for a guy his size he needs to be faster. I think he’s too easily tackled and his size and passion for pass blocking would scare me from bringing him in as a third down back full time. He also takes too long to get into the route as a pass cacher. 

There are some interesting traits here but he’s nothing more to me than an average run of the mill third type running back who will make a few catches. Nothing wrong with it, but he’s a clear late day 3 guy for me.

125. Ian Thomas, TE Indiana 68

A big kid who some think might find his way onto day 2 in this draft but to me he’s likely a round 4 or 5 guy. He’s got some athletic ability and good solid size for the position. He catches it fairly well and puts in work as a blocker. Indiana trusted him consistently against good pass rushers in the Ohio State game and he did pretty well considering. His Penn State tape was pretty impressive and showed what he could become. He looks like a good number two tight end to me in the NFL.

I like his ability to move as he ran a mid 4.7 during the combine and showed a good vertical and three cone so you know there is something to work with there in terms of being a threat in the passing game. He has poor technique as a blocker, often using his forearms or lowering a shoulder instead of locking up but he was still fairly effective. As a blocker he has potential and with 33.5 inch arms too for a tight end with some power he could turn into an inline guy at times.

He is a slow route runner and while he ran a good time it’s definitely build up speed. He doesn’t play fast and doesn’t make people miss in the open field so the upside is limited in terms of what he’ll be down the field. In a stacked tight end draft you have to show you can do something more than everyone else and he doesn’t really have that. He projects as a good second tight end, someone who can help on special teams, and a guy who can turn into a nice secondary tight end weapon and blocker. 

126. Jaylen Samuels, RB/TE NC State 67

I don’t know where he’s going to play in the NFL, probably some combination of running back, fullback, and tight end along with every special teams but I’ll take him on my roster. Samuels played running back, tight end, wildcat, receiver, whatever was needed for NC State. That versatility and passion for winning was a pretty evident thing when you watch him on tape and i think it’ll translate well to an NFL roster where only 46 get to dress on Sunday’s. 

Ultimately while the kid isn’t a traditional fullback at 5’11 and 225 pounds, he is an interesting player because he did run a 4.54 and his receiving skills are really good. He’s someone you can split into the slot and not lose much. He could be a really interesting flex tight end type guy and his ability as a short yardage back is really good as well.

I think his speed and size make him an obvious player on every special teams unit the next few seasons. He has a good football mindset and his versatility is obvious. He’s clearly a tweener caught between running back and tight end but the kid can do a little of Both and if you'r creative you’ll get a versatile chess piece who can help you in certain situations and give you matchup problems. I like him a ton anywhere on day 3. 

127. Mike White, QB Western Kentucky 67

White looks the part of an NFL starter at 6’5 and 225 pounds. He has a really big arm, and throws the ball with good velocity when he drives his feet. He’s been productive at WKU and at the Senior Bowl he made some impressive plays. That being said he has poor pocket mobility and awareness, running into trouble instead of away from it. He has a long languid release that takes too long to deliver short throws, and he doesn’t read coverage quickly. He’s a serious project.

I think he’s a backup at best, but the potenital is there for him to develop because he does have a big arm, and when the game is simple for him he can make big plays. I think a paired down playbook would be good for him and a deep ball throwing system. A rhythm system isn’t bad either but when you're asking him to break down more than half a field his footwork gets sloppy and his accuracy goes down. He needs a high quality quarterback coach to be successful.

He’s a backup who could develop into a starter if given enough time. That being said I wouldn’t count on it, he actually reminds me a bit of Hackenberg in that he’s got some serious tools with his arm but I don’t know if he’ll put it all together. 

128. RJ McIntosh, DL Miami 67

This kid is going to need a redshirt year, but if he takes it and puts on 20-25 pounds of muscle he has a shot to be a nice solid rational defensive lineman in the NFL. The kid is about 293 pounds and I’m not sure what to do with him really. He looks like a 3 technique but he has good length so maybe I can see him playing the 5 at times as well. He really needs to add strength and why he came out into this draft class I don’t know. One more year and I really believe he’s someone who could have been a 2nd or 3rd round pick next season.

He wasn’t really productive but his quickness created splash plays. He also can get bullied and absolutely has no shot aginst double teams right now. His length and quickness are impressive though and occasionally you’ll be watching and just say damn he blew that kid up. It’s an intriguing blend of what he has now vs. what he’ll become. If he gets better and stronger and a team is willing to let him sit and give him minimal reps as a rookie you have someone who could turn into a playmaker. I don't think the kid is a dominant player ever, and he likely is a rotational guy throughout his career, but if you can have some patience, he could turn into someone solid by year 2 and certainly year 3.

129. Allen Lazzard, WR Iowa State 67

Lazzard is 6’5 with a 38 inch vertical so he screams red-zone target to me. He runs a respectable 4.55 and shows really good toughness with his hands to make contested catches. His quickness is below average to say the least but his size makes him an interested target on day 3 of the draft. He was pretty productive and uses his body well to post up smaller defenders. His drop percentage is a bit higher than you'd like but not a red flag.

The kid is a two time team captain and blocks and plays really hard. There’s little doubt when watching his tape that he can be a productive NFL player. While I don't think he's goign to catch 60-70 balls per year in the league he looks the part of a productive 3rd receiver and red-zone target who could be a dark horse guy every year to get half a dozen or more touchdowns. He plays hard and uses his frame super well.

He likes to block and in a year or two working more at that part of his game he could be good at it. Lazzard despite only average speed and quickness did average over 10 yards per punt return so if you want a consistent, get downhill guy he could do that but he’s not great in the open field so i don't think that happens in the NFL. His size makes him intriguing covering punts and kickoffs too. I think he’s a middle top top of day 3 guy who will never be flashy but i could see having this sneaky little long career of being rock solid. 

130. Mike McCray, LB Michigan 67

McCray is a two down run stopper who doesn’t have the speed or quickness to play in coverage too much. I think he projects as a Mike or a Sam who does the dirty work and plays hard as hell. Because he’s a legit 4.75-4.8 guy without much quickness I wonder if he can ever be a real starter but I think he’s got enough toughness, and instincts to become a solid rotational linebacker, a good backup, and someone who will work his tail off on special teams. Low ceiling for sure, but maybe a good back of hte roster guy for a few seasons.

I think he was really good in the Senior Bowl. He made a couple nice plays in coverage, gets off blocks well, and is really good when asked to fill the gaps. At 245 pounds he possesses good strength and ability to get off blocks. I think he’s one of the better tacklers in the draft as well, rarely missing and playing super downhill on run downs. I think his diagnostic skills are really solid.

His issue is he’s got below average speed and 4.7 is kind of the threshold and he’s around 4.8. He’s not a fluid athlete so McCray gets kind of beat up in coverage, he’s not awful but he’s below average. As a blitzer he lacks much other than pure power and while he pushes the pile he doesn’t project as a sack guy, so he’s limited on his upside without a doubt.

That said he’s a round 4-5 ish type player who could be the take on guy in a 34 or a sam or mike in a 43 on run downs and then off the field against the pass. I think he’ll be good on special teams and is a good locker room guy too. Low risk here pick and someone really likely to make a roster on day 3.

131. Wyatt Teller, G Virginia Tech 67

I don’t know really what he is going to be other than the fact that the kid in 2016 had 2nd round tape and in 2017 had 7th round tape. To me I think the lack of effort and the fact he was a pusher instead of a blocker and looked for work way more in 17 bugged the hell out of me. He has legit talent and he’s a monster in the weight room with 34 inch arms so the kid can be a mauler, but instead this year he looked like crap. I don’t know which one i'm getting but he has a chance to be a decent run blocking guard in the NFL if he plays like he did in 16. He’s never going to be good in pass pro because he doesn't have any lateral quickness but he has a chance to bull people over and there’s some value there.

He has those long arms and so despite well below average quickness on tape and in his shuttle drills, he can recover faster than other players because he has the length. He doesn’t move well enough to be a good pass protector in the league at any point but the length means maybe he can get to be average there, right now he’d get beat up. He isn’t going to help you much on screens either so he’s a limited guy. 

As a run blocker the kid when he plays with proper leverage and technique he can blow people off the ball. His weight room stats are ridiculous and coupled with good grasp of double teams he can cause problems as a run blocker. 

Teller is a quality backup guard. He’s got starter potential if he plays like he did in 2016, but his lack of movement skills means even if he starts I don’t see him being a league average starter, he's a below average starter or a good backup. Either way 5th-7th and someone will watch his 16 tape and take him in rounds 3 or 4 though.

132. Oren Burks, LB/S Vanderbilt 67

He’s a really good guy and has great acceleration, but his football instincts are below average and his size isn’t ideal. Burks has tremendous burst and acceleartion, his combine numbers were extremely impressive, and his 40 time of 4.59 was solid for a will linebacker. His quickness is absolutely impressive and I think the kid is going to be a 43 will in the NFL but mostly where his impact will be is as a sub package defender at safety or linebacker, and on special teams. 

Burks has long arms and has every trait physically you’d look for in a 34 inside guy or a 43 will. He runs fast, is explosive and has a Long history in coverage, as he was a safety three years ago. His quickness and speed means he can run with any tight end in the league and that’s where he’ll make his mark is in coverage. His explosiveness and quickness really do jump off the screen, he has decent feel there but in a year or two he could be a really good cover lineabacker. 

He plays super hard against the run but his instincts aren’t good. He is always a half second late to diagnose and finds himself in no man’s land a lot. Despite long arms he struggles to disengage and his best plays are simply running sideline to sideline to make tackles. Runs right at him give him fits and even average linemen block him too easily. That’s why I think he’s borderline whether he can make it in the league as a base set guy, but he could be solid as a rotational sub package guy and really dynamic in coverage and on special teams.

He’s a 5th-7th round guy but without a question draftable. You could find a good niche for him as a rotational player. he’s got upside too with those tools but there’s a chance he’s a one contract guy as well, worth the risk in the middle of day 3.

133. Ryan Nall, RB Oregon State 67

Nall is a monster running back at almost 250 pounds who played behind one of the worst lines in college football for the Beavers. His speed is a lot better than people would think and despite very little wiggle, he has good burst when he gets into the open field. He catches the ball fairly well, leading a lot of people, myself included to wondering whether he could be an H-back in the league. I actually think he projects as a powerful, downhill short yardage guy and someone who could potentially cover kicks, and be a 5-8 carry guy in the league.

He’s not the fastest or the quickest but he’s tough as hell and runs super hard. He has good enough vision to find the hole when it’s there and finishes runs as well as anyone. As a goal-line back he’s been very productive for a very bad team so there is some value there as well. These abilities show me that the kid could potentially play in the league.

The downside is that he doesn’t have much quickness, 4.58 isn’t that fast, and he rarely makes people miss. I think he’s better in the pass game than people think, which is why some people like him in that H-Back role. He blocks very well and his size is a positive but he lacks the burst, acceleration, and wiggle to have a lasting impact. He’s someone who might bounce around but could make the back end of a roster because his size and speed is enticing for special teams and he can pound the rock between the tackles and gives you a bit catching it here and there. 

134. Scott Quessenberry, G/C UCLA 66

Quessenberry is the perfect player to be your 3 person interior backup player for the next dozen years. He’s really bright, has a high football IQ, and doesn’t make mental errors. While he’s average across the board to me in a number of categories to be an NFL player, including short arms, and what I think is below average quickness, he doesn’t make mistakes mentally and is a pretty consistent player. His tape grades out as decent consistently. While ehe has a chance to start some games throughout his career, and he could turn into a starter, I think Quessenberry is a long time versatile backup who lacks the skills to become an average starter.

He’s got short arms but he is super aware in pass protection. He calls out protections and twists and stunts and delays as well as any center in this class. His anchor is pretty good but longer defensive linemen let him get push becuase they can get into his body. His quickness is only okay so quicker guys give him some issues too but not quite as bad. Where he thrives is being allowed to double and get off his guy to twisters and stunts, as he might lose to an athlete but not because he’s out of position.

He played for almost 4 full seasons, and his football IQ is good so you’re getting someone who is solid there. He’s okay as a run blocker, and while his 40 at the combine was really good I think he's below average in space and at the second level. He misses too often and has too many negative graded plays in screens and zone run plays. Quessenberry is pretty good just getting leverage and getting a pop and a push but he’s not a mauler. Below average NFL run blocker but not awful.

That’s what he is, a high IQ pass protector with short arms, and a run blocker with a little pop who doesn’t generate a ton of power or movement. He had surgery on both shoulder in 2015 and missed a whole season so durability is a real concern. I love the fact that he’s bright, has good instincts and at 315 pounds can play all 3 interior positions, it’s super valuable. I’d take him on day 3 late if i needed a quality backup at those three spots because i think he can step in right now and be that guy and you wouldn’t get garbage when you rotate him in.

135. .Dmitri Flowers, FB/H-Back, Oklahoma 66

He’s a flex fullback, H-Back hybrid who catches the ball well and is a willing blocker. The kid is really versatile, lining up in line, as a motion blocker, or in the I. He can run the ball well downhill and catches it well, providing a lot of versatility to an offense. That said there are teams that don’t use a fullback hardly at all anymore, and he’s not a traditional tight end so he wont’ really be on some team’s draft board. If you’re a team that utilizes the full back or H-back as a check down option though the kid can provide some value.

He’s okay as a lead blocker and move tight end although he won’t be a dominant lead blocker. Flowers is solid inline when asked to do that but he’s not a traditional blocking tight and and his athleticism and length are below average there. He is okay moving to block but sometimes gets lost and looks for work instead of going to the inside or cutting off the edge. 

As a receiver is where he’s really interesting. Most fullbacks don’t look comfortable down the field but Flowers does and it stands out to me. I think you can flex and motion him out and it could give defenses different looks because he catches the ball well for someone who plays that position. He’s slow and won’t make people miss but he gets downhill and is reliable. I think he’ll be a core special teams player, can be very productive as a short yardage runner, and is reliable. Solid day 3 kid who should get drafted.

136. .Kyle Lauletta, QB Richmond 66

Lauletta has some stuff that you like from a backup NFL quarterback prospect. Number one is that he played in a largely NFL system at Richmond. He has okay size at 6’2.5 and 225 pounds. His mobility is really good, not just in the fact he runs a solid 4.8 40 but his feet in the pocket and his ability to throw on the move is above NFL average, as well, and that mobility as a backup to help you win games ugly is a key component. Lauletta played in a ton of games, showed improved accuracy every single season, and looked nice and solid at the Senior Bowl.

All of that is good stuff that projects him to be a solid NFL backup throughout the years. Then you’ve got some stuff that shows me that he kid likely won’t be an NFL starter, and to me I don’t draft kids without enough upside to start or play key roles at this position. Someone else would have to draft Lauletta if I were a GM for these main reasons. First is that his arm strength isn’t even NFL okay, it’s below average. He has kind of a funky release and so the ball can float on him and he doesn’t drive with his body. In the NFL he’ll throw too many picks and have too many batted away because he has little zip. 

If you’re going to throw with below average velocity, I need you to have exceptional accuracy, and while his numbers have improved, they don’t jump off the screen. He doesn’t trust his arm that much and his eyes go to the check down too quickly. He turned the ball over a ton at Richmond and that’s against low levels of competition so that will get worse in the league. He just simply doesn't have enough gusto to play quarterback at a high level in the NFL. I think through toughness, football IQ, mobility, and decent check down and mid range accuracy he could win a handful of games as a backup. However, he lacks enough high end draft able traits for me to go anywhere except round 6 or 7 and draft him as a developmental backup. 

137. .Jalyn Holmes, DE Ohio State 65

I keep seeing scout after scout say this kid is going in the 3rd round and I’m sorry but there’s just no way. He has 4 sacks combined the past two seasons on a front loaded with talent. He’s not nearly quick enough to play 43 defensive end and he doesn’t have the power yet to play 34 defensive end and definitely not 34 outside linebacker so what do you do with him? He’s a tweener in the not versatile way but in that crap where do I play him way. 

It’s not that he cant play in the NFL because I really believe he can. He’ll have to redshirt or play sparingly as a rookie because he needs to play 34 defensive end in base downs and then maybe as a 3 technique in pass rush downs although I think he lacks value there as well. That means to me he is a mid day 3 kid because I don’t get where to play him. 

I think there is a chance for him at 6’5 with decent length and okay leg strength that maybe he could turn into an edge setter in a 34 defense who offers very little as a pass rusher. To me a developmental kid without a ton of upside isn’t a 3rd round pick it’s a 6th round pick and that’s about where I grade him. I don’t hate him, and I think there’s some developmental value here but it’s a long term thing and without a ton of upside, I’ll let someone else grab him and I’m okay with it.

138. .Deontay Burnett, WR USC 64

Your normal, undersized, quicker than fast slot receiver. At 6’ and 180 pounds the kid is really thin, doesn’t play well around traffic, and has serious concerns about holding up at the next level. He also does have good quickness, isn’t a body catcher, and has good run after the catch acceleration. I think he projects as a number 3 and likely a number 4 receiver who is a borderline draftable guy. If he goes to a team that has a good quarterback situation and runs a wide open set he might make some catches but I think he’s your basic late round slot receiver. 

He makes big time plays and has plus athleticism but the lack of true speed is a problem because he can't play on the outside consistently. He’ll be at his most successful when he can be a part of a bigger route and running underneath routes. He won't help as a blocker and his lack of size really worries me with his frame. Borderline kid but if he goes to an open concept scheme he can be okay in the slot. 6th to 7th round guy.

139. Daurice Foutain, WR Northern Iowa 64

This could end up being way too low for Fountain. I have him in the round 6 ish range and it could be way too low. He’s 6’2 210 with 4.5 speed and good athleticism. I just have a bit of a tough time with him because he wasn’t great at a lower level. His Shrine game stuff was impressive, as he looked like the best player there. He’s a track stud so his athleticism is real but his tape is just really uneven. I think there is serious number two wide receiver talent here but there’s a big bust factor so it’ll be interesting to see where he goes.

The kid doesn’t catch the ball naturally and fights it at times. He only had one year where he produced and even that doesn’t jump off the screen at Northern Iowa. He doesn’t track the deep ball well which is bothersome and his route running is super robotic. I want him to get more natural feel as a football player because his numbers of tape and about three times a game he flashes all this upside but his consistency is troublesome.

I think it’ll take him 2-3 years to develop to be able to play consistently if he does. His size and speed are very good but good corners on technique will eat him up. There’s a chance though with a good receiver coach that this kid could really be something and in round 6 or 7 if my team took I’d be ecstatic, maybe even round 5. He has a chance to be impressive but its a bigger probability he doesn't make it. 

140. Deadrin Senat, DT South Florida 63

A short stumpy space eater who can’t rush the passer but has some serious strength is Deadrin Senat. He won’t have any impact as a pass rusher in the NFL with short arms and a lack of real burst but he could be a nice space eater on the interior for a 43 team. He can’t play the zero I don’t think because he lacks the length to play that spot so he’s down to a handful of teams. A lot of teams like a guy who can give them something as a pass rusher and since Senat isn’t that guy, he looks like a round 6-7 guy to me.

He’s a tough kid and plays with a low center of gravity. He has some power to his game and he gives you a little bit of two gap when he keeps that leverage down. He’s not a highly productive kid but sometimes he’ll cause pile ups and allow linebackers to roam free. Right now though he’s too easily blocked by longer players or by down blocks and while he can get penetration and hold his own at times he’s not someone who jumps off the screen.

I don’t want to get too far down the rabbit hole here, he’s a backup 43 defensive tackle without much pass rush upside. Idk he’s a 6th to 7th round kid for a team looking for a space eater but there’s not much to get excited about. Draftable but not much that I’m stoked on.

141. Chris Campbell, CB Penn State 63

Campbell is a big corner at 6’1 and around 200 pounds but is really lean and doesn’t carry his weight well. His tape was pretty mediocre as he lacked the physicality to play press, but lacked the speed and quickness to play off. DJ Moore just whipped him and it showed how far Campbell has to go to be an NFL corner. I gave him a draft able grade because you can’t teach his length and he does have some traits that could translate to the league.

I think his play speed is somewhere around 4.55 so he’s not the slowest guy in the world. With his length he could make some plays down the field. I like the fact he uses his length and will get a push more often than not. James Franklin sent him on some blitzes too so there’s some confidence there that he can get home when was on the short side of the field. He has what looks to be a good idea of what receivers are trying to do to him too so I think he can recognize stuff, particularly in zone where i think he’ll be better in the NFL.

Honestly I don’t know if he can play in the league or not, but his length and route recognition skills give him a chance. He might be a pretty decent vise or gunner so some special teams consideration is a potential thing here. To me he’s a late round kid who could give you something, particularly a bump and trail team or particularly a cover 3 team. Nothing to get real jacked up about though. But someone who could make a roster. 

142. Kameron Kelly, DB San Diego State 64

I think the kid is absolutely borderline to make an NFL roster but there are other people who love the kid. I think he’s draftable in the round 6-7 range because he’s got good size and has played a number of positions. At 6’1 and 208 pounds he could end up being a special teams player in the NFL as well. That being said people who think he can be a zone corner are kidding themselves. His tape this year showed how far he has to go with that, he looks stiff and he lacks long speed at any level to do much with it. While he’s long for a corner a 4.66 is just way too slow to be effective enough. That’s barely fast enough to be a linebacker in the league anymore let alone a cornerback.

He definitely projects more as a safety but while he’s decent in run support his thin lower half and mediocre tackling ability means that’s not something I’m enamored with. I love the fact he’s played corner and safety and that with his size gives him a draftable grade with me. He also is a playmaker but he gets himself out of positions at times looking to make plays and gives too much cushion consistently because he doesn’t trust his speed. He’s a zone safety and very occasionally a zone corner but he’s only draftable if you’re looking for a versatile DB who will have to make the team on special teams for a while. 

143. Will Dissly, TE Washington 61

A physical tight end who is raw and slow, Dissly looks like a third tight end to me. He’s 262 pounds and works his tail off, a team first guy, and an obivious grinder, but he’s a slow mover and runs in the 4.8s. I could get super into this analysis but I think his upside is that of a number two tight end who can block a bit. He needs help in pass pro because right now he’s only meh, and when you draft a blocking tight end you need him to be better. He’s a developmental blocking tight end who might catch a few balls. A lot of people like him more than me so maybe he’ll go into the 4th or something, but he’s a 6th-7th round kid or a UFA. Lacks the upside but could be a solid blocker and might contribute on special teams. Really borderline for me.

144. Alex Cappa, OL Humboldt State 60

He’s kind of a draft darling for a lot of people who want to throw out a small school kid’s name to sound smart. That said while he does play with complete and utter nastiness, and some of his tape is just freaking brutal in the best way possible, his week at the Senior Bowl showed me enough. He lacks the length to play tackle and at 6’7 and 305 I think he plays way too tall to play inside in the league. He’s a super borderline kid but his intangibles are good enough and he’s tough as hell so he has a shot. I coudln’t draft him until the 7th but I could see taking a shot on someone who plays that hard and who could develop if you give him a ton of coaching.

I don’t want to get too into this but his tape he just wasn’t good enough during the week at the Senior Bowl and his arm length and other numbers are okay but not great. His technique isn’t good yet. He’s borderline but I think he’s draftable because of his toughness, physicality which is a 10/10, and mindset. 

145. Josh Adams, RB Notre Dame 60

Borderline kid who could make a roster if he shows that he’s a grinder on special teams. He reminds me of those guys who stick around the league for 6-7 years because they play on special teams and pick up 60-80 carries a year in tough yard situations and as a backup. He has no wiggle and little quickness and vision, but he runs super hard and has good size at 6’2 and 215-220 pounds. I think he’s a pile pusher and someone who for the most part gets what’s blocked for him. He’s not a quick guy and his hands aren’t good so he’s super borderline. I think he’s draftable but you have to let him know that likely for him to make a roster he’ll have to be a dynamo on special teams and he’ll be a 3rd running back. 

OTHERS:

These are guys with draftable prospects but have issues. They could be lack of real tape, medical issues, off the field stuff. These are either red-flag stuff or they are borderline guys. I would need help making these selections and where they go based on local scouts, and medical personnel to make an informed decision. I would also take my position coach, coordinator, and head coaches input into consideration to determine who would be the guys that would fit best and where they’re worth taking.

1. Vyncent Smith, WR Limestone, 6’2.5 200 pounds, the kid is the ideal combination of H/W/S. Running a 4.39 and jumping almost 40 inches at his pro day. He’s super raw, and it’ll take a couple years to develop him but he absolutely should get drafted. I just didn’t have enough tape on him to give a real eval but H/W/S is a 9/10 minimum.

2. Auden Tate, WR Florida State., 6’5 4.68. No real speed but 6’5 could be a redzone guy. 

3. Marcell Ateman, WR Oklahoma State. 6’1 4.62, tracks the deep ball well. Maybe a guy.

4. Jeff Badet, WR Oklahoma. Another athlete without much football acumen right now. But a 4.39 at his pro-day with a 39 inch vertical. Better athlete than a football player.

5. Kevin Toliver - CB LSU - kid has legit 2nd round talent easily. 6’2 200 and is pretty fast on tape. He would be someone you’d have to trust your scouts with though. Not sure how much he loves football and some character concerns, plus his tape is round 5-7 tape. If I get favorable stuff from my scouts, I could take him in the 3rd or 4th. 

6. Michael Dickson - P Texas - Could end up being the best punter in the NFL. Wherever you value that is where he should go. As a punter he’s like a 97, but he’s a punter and you have to be curious where someone wants him to go. If my special teams coach wants him that badly I’ll take him, but I can’t take him on day 2. The value of the position just doesn’t justify it. 

7. Holton Hill - CB Texas - 6’2 with a 4.49 under his belt. Kid has real talent, maybe like borderline round 2 talent, but certainly round 3 talent. H/W/S is an A. Serious maturity issues even though he’s smart. Anywhere on day 3, but you have to trust what your local scouts say.

8. Desmond Harrison, OT West Georgia, freak athlete and talent at tackle but off the field issues, failed drug tests etc.. and “a series of lazy behavior” is bad. But maybe day 2 talent? 6’6 300. 

9. Kentavious Street, DE/DL NC State

Was a borderline kid for me, now with a torn ACL, I’ll let someone else draft him unless I get him in round 7?

10. Antonio Callaway WR - Florida

Off the field issues too much for me to take a chance on him in the first 4-5 rounds. He’s very talented though so I’d need scouts to help me here. 

11. Nick Nelson, CB Wisconsin

Kid was probably a 4th-5th round guy on most boards before his knee injury. I’d need to see what the medicals look like before I’d pull the trigger here.

12. Tyler Conklin, TE Central Michigan

I don’t really know what to do with him. He can make some unreal catches and his 2016 tape, you could see flashes of a good flex tight end who wants to block. In 2017 he looked slow and lacked explosiveness. If his medicals are good on his foot (Jones fracture) he’s like a 4th round kid. If not he’s like a 7th round or UFA. 38 inch vertical at the combine with ability to consistently make difficult catches is pretty intriguing, but he’s a 4.8 kid at only 240 pounds so he’s limited. Need the medicals.

13. Justin Jones - DT NC State

Other people like him early in the 3rd day. I don’t see it. I think he got so much help from having so much talent around him. That said if a position coach wanted him badly I’d give him to him. His tape wasn’t nearly good enough for me but everyone else loves him so I’ll throw him on the list. 

14. Greg Senat - OT Wagner

Kid is a right tackle at Wagner, not athletic enough. Kind of chubby. Struggles with anyone with quickness or athleticism. I think that while I see some legitimate talent… let someone else develop him because he’s a 7th or UFA. He might be able to play guard, but he’s too high centered and stands up too quick with inside counters. Doubt he makes it in the league. I wouldn’t draft him.

15. Trevarious McFadden - DB Florida State

People like him as a mid round corner, i think the kid can play in the league but only as a safety. Long speed and quickness isnt’ elite but his recognition skills and downhill attitude could serve him well as a 3rd safety/nickel in sub packages. Big strong, long, day 3 kid but only in a reserve role in cover 3 or as a 3rd safety.

16. Micah Kiser - LB Virginia

A bit lacking in all the main areas. Looks like someone who could be close in all phases but not quite there. Plays hard, good pursuit. Works his tail off.. really really good backup, maybe a below average starter but good special teams guy. Roster dude. 

17. Quin Blandng - S Virginia

A borderline draftable safety who has some traits that you like but not enough to show up as a starting caliber safety. Smart kid with good recognition and borderline traits. Would love to have him in camp to see if he can play special teams and develop as a safety down the road. Don’t think he can cover man to man though. 7th or UFA. 

18. Trey Johnson, CB. Villanova

4.33 at his pro-day. Literally all I know about him is he’s fast as hell… that’s it. You’re welcome for the top tier analysis.

19. Rashard Fant, CB Indiana

He’s a really interesting draft case. He’s only 5’9 and 175 pounds, looks quick but not too fast, doesn’t tackle, and gets too many penalties. He also allows about 1/3 of throws against him to be completed, had 51 pass break ups in his career, and shows real traits to be a slot corner. I think he can play dime for a long time but very little special teams value because of lack of physicality. Niche player but could be decent in his niche.

20. Tony Brown, DB Alabama 

He’s going to be a special teams player in the NFL who may help you as a 3rd safety or 4th corner. He’s too stiff and his tape isn’t good against the pass in the SEC. I think he’s a weak pass defender but at 6’0 200 pounds and running a 4.35 the kid has a shot there. Major character issues with drug tests and bad tape other than being a special teams beast as a sophomore. Special teamer, need scouts to tell me about character concerns. 6th-7th rounder as a developmental DB and top tier special teamer. 

21. Jordan Whitehead, DB Pitt

He’s a sub package defensive back who is super physical. Character concerns and his size are major red flags as he’s undersized but plays like he’s 40 pounds heavier. Durability is a real scary thing here. Instincts and ball skills are below average but he did a ton of different things at Pitt including having 100 tackles as a freshmen, playing running back, and wide receiver. He could be a special teamer for sure. Has the mentality and playing style for it. Day 3 but need a DB coach to tell me what to do and a scout to tell me if he’s mature enough.

22. Jordan Akins, TE UCF 

He’s a 26 year old former minor league baseball player but he could end up being a decent NFL tight end. Just understand you lost his first four years so we’ll see what he’s worth. I’d need consensus to use a draft pick on someone that age who is a decent but not top tier prospect.

23. Colby Gossett, G Appalachian State

46 starts and good tape against a lower level. Developmental guard prospect if someone wants to take him on day 3 it’s probably a good choice. I don’t have enough tape to make an informed decision on him really.

24. PJ Hall, DT Sam Houston State

Super productive defensive tackle who gets his hands in passing lanes. Not enough tape to warrant a real ranking but enough buzz and the stats are good.

25. Keke Coutee, WR Texas Tech

A solid slot receiving option who has some juice and acceleration but undersized. Draftable but he is what he is. A slot receiver who might be fairly productive.

26. Foley Fautukasi, DT UConn

Honestly I wish I had more time I just don’t have enough to do his tape but from people I trust they say he’s a 4th to 5th round rotational defensive linemen who is a nice player.

27. Armani Watts, S Texas A&M

Special teamer I think and a 3rd safety, could develop into a good player but will need some time.  Productive guy, really experienced. Plays hard, but I think a bit limited. Wouldn’t shock me if eventually he turns into a decent starter, but I’m guessing a 3rd safety.

28. John Kelly, RB Tennessee

A volume back who could give teams quality carries as a late round draft pick.