2024 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT BIOS

 2024 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT BIOS 

Extra notes I put in italics. Some of these are from Senior Bowl or Combine notes that may have caused an update, and some are from watching extra tape later on in the Pre-Draft Process and I didn’t want to type everything up again. 

Blue are guys I’m higher on by at least one round and usually 2 or 3 rds than consensus.

1. Marvin Harrison Jr, WR Ohio State 99

I’m not trying to be contrarian here by putting Harrison Jr first ahead of Williams and Maye. The thing is my ratings are not positioned based when I do Bios and Harrison is the 2nd best prospect I’ve ever scouted (behind only Andrew Luck) so he has to get this rating. Harrison Jr is going to walk into the NFL and be a top 10 WR immediately. He has perfect size at 6’4 and 215 pounds and yet is a truly elite route runner. He creates separation and can get in and out of breaks like someone 6 inches shorter. His acceleration and ability to leave defenders looking lost is a rare trait. On top of that at times this season he felt like the entire offense for the Buckeyes and yet he was still completely unstoppable. He’s a difference maker for an offense and provides something that is almost impossible to find in a non-QB, someone who can elevate an entire team.

As a pure route runner he may be the best route runner in this class. He has a natural feel for leverage that helps create big space in man and zone. In zone coverage he has a gigantic catch radius and tremendous aptitude for getting into open spaces. His subtlety in finding an extra yard or two in gaps in the defense allows him to make easier catches than most. On top of that his size gives him a massive target against zone coverage. In man, he simply is too good for anyone at the college level. He won’t be someone you can single cover in the NFL either. His size on back shoulder throws make him exceptionally tough to guard there but you can’t play behind him on that either or his speed will blow by you. The guy is a problem.

Yes he makes a ton of big time plays and obviously is a red-zone freak, but in the NFL he’s someone who likely will also make a lot of those 7-10 yard catches that help keep drives alive or set you up with short yardage situations. He simply can get in and out of his break so quickly that he’ll create a lot of easy throws for his quarterback. I almost never use this word because it’s naturally over-the-top but he’s unique. Players at his size simply don’t run routes like he does, nor with the natural speed and hands that he possesses. Game-changer.

2. Caleb Williams, QB USC 99

Williams is going to come in as one of only 3 - 99 grades I’ve ever given at the QB position. Williams has rare playmaking ability and is maybe the best player I’ve ever watched at making plays outside the pocket. It’s tough to compare anyone to this guy but it’s impossible to watch Williams and not think that he reminds you of watching Patrick Mahomes. Williams is a tremendous play extender and with his ability to create, he can make chunk plays deep downfield when plays break down. He’s terrifying for defensive coordinators because even when you think the play is over, Williams can create chunk plays on perfectly defended concepts. He’s truly a prospect that can change a franchise and should be the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Williams is tremendous at delivering high difficulty throws. USC had a boatload of backshoulder throws that require high levels of accuracy and trajectory and he throws those at a very high rate. On top of that, at times when in rhythm he can get on his backfoot and simply sling the football. He’s able to throw with good anticipation and has plus arm strength and talent. Williams has an almost 6.5 to 1 TD to interception ratio while completing 67% of his passes for his entire career. Williams isn’t just someone who sits back in the pocket or scrambles occasionally though, he’s a dynamic and elusive runner. He has good speed and plus vision from the QB position and while he’s not someone you’re going to run on designed plays often, he’s ran for a prolific 27 touchdowns in his career. He’s someone who can do everything you’d want at the QB position at 6’1 and 220 pounds, he’s got decent size and plus athleticism as well. All in all, he’s almost the perfect QB prospect.

The only two things that worry me about Williams is that he can look to get out of the pocket too early at times, which is easily coached out of him, and the fumbles. Williams does an elite job of taking care of the football when he’s throwing it, but from the pocket he fumbles too often. His pocket presence could use a bit of touching up as he doesn’t let the plays develop at times and other times he won’t take easy completions. I know he wants to hit big plays, but like a LOT of college QB’s he won’t take the simple easy read. It will come with better coaching but him always wanting to extend plays or not get the ball out quickly has led to a ton of fumbles. The fumbles have almost led me to pushing him down to a 98, as they’re concerning. I want to see him play more within the structure of an offense and take easy throws more often, but those are things that are coaching and I think a ton of it was Williams tried to score 9 point touchdowns - meaning the rest of his team was so bad he tried to do a bit too much. Even with that situation happening, Williams put up obscene numbers. He’s someone who will instantly transform an organization. Truly beyond elite talent. Almost a unique one. 

3. Drake Maye, QB UNC 97

In almost every draft Drake Maye would be seen as the crown jewel. A QB with prototypical size at 6’4 and 230 pounds with tremendous arm talent and athleticism, Maye led the nation in total yards in 2022 and was equally impressive on tape in 2023. Maye is an ultra quick decision maker who always seems to have an answer for a defense. His quick release and abiilty to win from the pocket or outside of it may endear him to NFL GM’s more than Caleb Williams. Maye has good accuracy, although I wouldn’t call it elite, but he pushes the ball down the field well and throws with good anticipation and touch. He pressed a bit this season early on, and did have a couple of games that he’d probably like to have back, but Maye is a superstar QB prospect who won’t escape the top 3 picks in the draft.

As a pure QB what you like to see with Maye is how quickly he distributes the ball. When his timing is right - it’s quick decisions and quick actions with the football. He goes read-read-bang. Sometimes that leads to him taking off and running, where he’s exceptionally dangerous - running for 16TD the past two seasons combined and over 1200 yards. However, often times it leads to quick easy throws that generate positive yardage and keeps the offense on track. He can do it from inside the pocket, or on boots or with a rolling pocket. His arm talent is plus-plus and his ability to throw with touch or with power is impressive, but to me it’s how quickly he gets to the right play that impresses me. That said, at times Maye tries to do too much and carry too much of a burden. It leads to mistakes including way too many sacks and a few turnovers that have plagued his game. Maye has 16 interceptions and 67 sacks over the past two years which are problematic and a main reason I have him rated a notch below Caleb Williams. 

He throws a very nice deep ball and he way more often than not gives his receivers a chance to make contested catches on those throws. It leads to some picks but  also a lot of big plays as he rarely leads his guys out of bounds or to uncatchable situations and it creates more big plays. He pressed throughout this season with a little less talent around him and a worse OL situation but still was effective and created good offense for the UNC team. I would say that while he has nice accuracy, it’s not something that’s at a truly elite level. This season he completed 63% of his throws and he did have a few where he simply missed. It’s not a negative as it still ranks as solidly above average, but he’s not a precision passer. He also put the ball in harm's way more this season with 9 INT, coming off a season in which he threw 7 picks. He’s not someone who is going to be extremely careful with the ball, he’ll push it downfield to score points, and it’s again not a negative, but something to be aware of when drafting him.

Maye is a plus athlete and uses that athleticism to create big plays in the run game. I don’t think he’s some sort of 4.4 guy or anything but he moves very well for his size, isn’t afraid to take on defenders and picks up a ton of first downs with his feet. He had a run of at least 10 yards in all but two games the past two seasons, including a 56 yard gallup versus NC State and multiple 25 yard runs throughout his career. 

Maye is a tremendous prospect. He has premier size, plus athleticism, plus-plus arm talent, is tough, physical, and elevates those around him. His productivity can’t be debated as he led the nation in total offense in 2022 and posted 33 TD and over 4000 yards this year. He’s a bit inconsistent in the big games so you’re not getting a perfect player here, and he’ll take a few sacks and throw a few picks, but all in all he’s someone who will score a TON of points at the NFL level and will elevate whichever franchise selects him. Maye is someone who can light up an NFL scoreboard - huge fan of his game. 

4. Brock Bowers, TE Georgia 97

Bowers has the potential to be the best pass catching tight end in the NFL. Kelce is 34 years old and at some point has to start regressing, and/or retiring and the next best option at that point is going to be Brock Bowers. The guy has elite run after catch ability, and not just for a tight end. At 6’4 and around 240 pounds he’s not the biggest tight end on the planet but his ability to make people miss and run through tackles in the secondary is arguably the best I’ve ever seen from a Tight End prospect. He has plus hands and catch radius, and has a rare feel for zone coverage that you don’t see often from collegiate players. What makes him such a fun prospect to watch and grade though is that even though defenses knew the ball was coming to him, he still was almost never stopped. Taking a tight end in the top 10 usually is a poor use of draft capital analytically, it won’t be with Bowers who could instantly upgrade any offense in the NFL.

I’m not sure what he’s going to run at the combine - my suggestion to him would be not to run - but he has plus-plus speed for a Tight End. On over routes and crossers he simply pulls away from linebackers and runs past safeties. When he gets into space he eats up yardage quickly and is one of the best players at turning a 5 yard gain into a 20 yard gain in the entire nation. He’s ultra reliable over the middle and is a plus player at the catch point, easily making contested catches and contorting his body to catch balls thrown away from him. He’ll make every quarterback immediately better. I think his initial release package isn’t necessarily dynamic but that can be taught. He also has some stemming issues at the top of the route where guys will be able to body him and sort of take away his separation. That said these are not serious problems and not consistent, but you do see that a touch on tape.

As a blocker in-line he’s okay. It’s not his strongest thing to do as he simply is a bit undersized for a traditional TE. Some people have him at 240 pounds but he’s probably closer to 230. It leads to him at times getting jarred when he’s blocking in-line but he battles and his hand punch and strength are good. He just simply lacks the sand in his pants a bit. When he’s on the move or getting out on reach blocks and stretch plays though he’s a good blocker. He works hard and has the temperament, so as he progresses in his career with strength and technique work he’ll do nothing but improve here.

This guy is a monster. He’s someone who can get you extra yardage constantly via RAC plays. He breaks tackles, has tremendous vision, and can even get you yards on fly sweeps. After the catch he reminds me of George Kittle, which is a crazy comp but it’s what I see everytime I watch him play. Absolutely elite player, awesome prospect, and one of my favorite guys to watch. I’m not worried long term about his ankle sprain either. 

5. Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame 96

It’s dealer’s choice between which offensive tackle prospect you think is better in this year’s draft. Olu Fashanu has the higher upside but his lack of intensity at times in the run game means to me he’s a step below the guy I’ve dubbed “Automatic Alt”. Joe Alt is as technically refined and consistent as any player you will ever scout regardless of position. At 6’8 and 322 pounds he has ideal size for the tackle position. While there are very rare occasions that he’ll lose a touch of leverage due to his height, he is usually able to reposition or use his length to still create a draw or stalemate on a rep. The reason I love his game so much is he just simply doesn’t lose reps. I’m not sure I see the pure elite upside that you’ve seen from some tackle prospects in the past few seasons but his floor is as a good starter in the NFL. Alt is an automatic win for any offense and he could play either tackle spot immediately and probably have one of the highest win ratios on pass and run blocking in the NFL in his first season. 

Alt is one of the most patient offensive tackles I’ve scouted. He gets out of his stance well for someone with his height and length but then simply lets the defender dictate. He has a strong base and can catch defenders in the pass game, passing them off easily and using long but balanced kick-slides to put himself in ideal position. His ability to understand drop timing and depth makes him even more successful as he gets the proper depth in his set each time to help increase his success rate. He gets when pass sets should be short vs long and it leads to him being in proper position often. Alt uses his length and punch to keep people out of the pocket and creates room to step up for passers.

While he’s not a super high level run blocker, once again his run block win rate is among the best you’ll see. He doesn’t always blow people off the ball but he creates running lanes and simply wins reps constantly. Alt moves well for someone his size as well, showing good discipline when doing short pulls or cross-line pulls into the gap. Where I like him the most though is on duos where he’s able to climb to the second level. Almost every OL you’ll watch in the NFL gets to the second level and then tries to land a knockout blow and if he misses - so be it. Alt gets solid movement on the duo, then climbs patiently and hits his target while - here’s the big difference in his game - maintaining his second level block. So many of the team’s long runs this season where because he was able to uproot a LB at the second level and maintain a hole for the running back. The guy just understands angles, leverage, and again his patience to just do his job is teaching tape stuff.

I absolutely hate this phrase, hate it, hate using it as a scout but Alt is can’t miss. The worst you’re going to get from him is an average NFL starting LT which is worth currently about $18million per season. I think though with his hit rate he has a very good chance to be among the top 10 LT in the NFL. I think he’s a bit lumbering as a LT and at times can lose a touch of leverage and therefore loses some ground to bullrushes or in the run game so he may not have the top 3 LT upside that some others have but he’s rated so highly because I am so confident in his ability to be a $100 million player. To me, being this boring and this consistent at a premium position where he just simply wins constantly is rare in an OL prospect. Could be a top 5 pick, can not escape the top 10. 

6. Rome Odunze, WR Washington 93

Odunze is an outstanding prospect with a big time catch radius and an ability to play all three WR positions. In 2022 he was a third team All American after putting up over 1000 yards and is on track in 2023 to potentially be a first team player. He has plus size at 6’3 and 215 pounds and uses his body well to help finish contested catch situations. As a taller receiver he runs tight routes and has plus-plus feel for leverage against the zone. He shows some good ability after the catch and in the red-zone and Odunze profiles as a WR1 in the NFL with his floor as a top WR2.

The main reason I like Odunze is that he has tremendous feel for the position. He will cut routes off quickly in off coverage, understands the chains in 3rd down situations, and knows how to throttle down to create bigger passing lanes. That’s higher end stuff that most people don’t get until their third year in the NFL, Odunze gets it now. On top of that he has tremendous long speed, running a 21.25 200 in high school and there’s a shot he runs in the 4.40 range if he chooses to do so at the combine. His feel and explosiveness is impressive and gives me no pause in believing he’ll be a high end WR in the NFL with a very high ceiling.

Another spot where I like him is simply with his ability to attack the football. Odunze has plus ball tracking skills and at times plus-plus ability to make high end difficult catches. He does it from the outside or the slot and makes him more difficult to match up with for opposing coaches. It also means that Odunze is going to be a good redzone player in the league and someone you can simply throw fades to, understanding he’ll win more than he loses. 

He’s just a very high end plus player. I don’t really see many negatives to his game. For a 6’3 215 pound guy he does a very nice job getting into and out of his breaks and has begun to really gain a good understanding of route running this season, showing an improvement in that area. The combination of size, speed, and feel are high end and while he might not go this high based on current rankings in November, he’s a top 10 caliber player. This draft is absolutely LOADED so he could fall, causing a team outside the top 10 to snag a true WR1 type talent.

7. WR - Malik Nabers, LSU 93

Nabers is a pure speed receiver who creates separation consistently and looks the part of a WR1 at the NFL Level. Nabers is 6’1 and about 190 pounds and is solid in contested catch situations, it’s his speed that jumps out on tape. He reminds me quite a bit of Jaylen Waddle on film, where his speed leaps out but he also shows an ability to run a variety of routes. He is deadly on the comeback and stop routes as defenders have to respect his speed. He works back to the football and creates solid targets for his quarterback. While I do think his play strength at the catch point could be better he’s an obvious early first round WR with big play ability and an aptitude for big plays. Stud.

Nabers was exceptionally productive in 2023 with over 1500 receiving yards and 14 TD. He played all over the Tigers scheme lining up both inside and outside. On the inside he absolutely destroyed slot corners and safeties who had zero ability to match up with Nabers quickness and speed. On deep slot fades he unleashed his acceleration on safeties. While he looked a bit better inside than he did outside, he’s a very good player out there as well. Nabers has a good arsenal of press breakers and a good release package that lets him create separation quickly. He’s very good at the top of the route and works his way back to the QB when he hits the last step. His best weapon though is running the deep cross or over route, where very few players can run with him. He’s a big play machine.

Nabers has it all in terms of being a WR1 in the league. I do think though he’s not quite as good as everyone else has him in terms of a prospect (I have him at 92 so relax, he’s still elite). On the outside, sometimes physical players can get up into him and cause him to not be as effective in contested catch situations. Also while he has good hands, they aren’t top tier on tape in college and I’ve seen drops as well as the ball getting into his frame occasionally. He tracks the football decently but he’s not someone who has tremendous body control at the catch point. Neither of these things are worrisome to me, but it explains why he’s not rated QUITE as highly on my board as others. He’s good in both areas though so no worries.

Overall he’s a WR1 most likely, with a very good WR2 potentially in there.  I think the nice thing about someone with his speed is you can certainly put him in a situation where he can be the guy for you, and if you put him in a spot where he’s WR2, your offense would be dynamic. I see a lot of Jaylen Waddle in his game and even some Stefon Diggs - pretty damn good players for comps. The NFL simply doesn’t have many players with his combination of acceleration and speed and therefore he’s unlikely to escape the top 10 picks with his upside and positional value. 

8. QB - Jayden Daniels, LSU 93

Arguably the fastest riser in mock draft season toward the end of the year, Jayden Daniels is a special athlete. Daniels is one of the best scramblers I’ve ever watched on tape, and looks like a reincarnation of Lamar Jackson. The difference between Daniels and Jackson is that Jackson is probably a bit stouter in terms of build as Daniels looks rail thin. That said there are few players in the nation that are tougher than Daniels and his ability to run is game changing, and not just at the collegiate level. If an NFL GM wanted to create an offense around Daniels ability to take off and run like the Ravens have done with Jackson, it’s possible to have similar success. While at 6’3 and maybe 205 pounds, you have to worry about his build, everything else screams highlight machine and points creator at the next level.

Daniels is going to be known for his rushing, which we’ll touch on later in this writeup but it’s his ability to throw that gets him a 90+ grade. Daniels completed almost 69% of his throws in 2022 and put up a very impressive 17/3 TD to INT ratio last season. He was very careful with the ball though and didn’t take nearly the chances or shots downfield. That changed completely in 2023 when it looked like he became a master of the LSU offense. His average air yards per attempt jumped up to over 13 yards per attempt average depth of target and his yards per attempt skyrocketed to an insane 11.8 - putting his collegiate passer rating to over 200! With a 73% completion percentage throwing the ball deep downfield and on tough intermediate throws, you don’t have to worry about Daniels ability to spin the football. With a massive increase in ADOT, it usually leads to more mistakes, not in his case - Daniels at the point of this writeup has 40TD to only 4 INT, a number that with his ADOT is absurd. He’s an elite decision maker and thrower of the ball. (Side note here, the first two of his INT’s were a batted ball and a wr fell down on the other). I do want to mention here too that Daniels does occasionally miss easy throws in the flats, it’s something he needs to improve upon. 

Where Daniels gets his top 5 potential though is from his ability to run. He glides through huge holes in the defense and eats up yards with ease. Daniels ran for over 700 yards in his final season in Tempe, then jumped that up to 890 yards and 12 TD in his first year in the Bayou. His Senior season though was yet another gigantic jump  from Daniels. He has ran for over 1000 yards this season, while averaging almost 9 yards per run - remember in college sacks take away from rushing stats. His normal actual runs are averaging more than 10 yards per tote! This isn’t in D2 or even the big 12 - this is in the freaking SEC. He’s running away from 5 star athletes. His acceleration is plus plus for any position and his pure speed is unbelievable. There are GPS trackers that put Daniels over 21 MPH and you can absolutely see it on film. His speed is Lamar Jackson like and it’s not hyperbole.

This isn’t going to be a clean evaluation for many people, a lot like how Lamar’s game tape just was so difficult to translate to the league - Daniels has very similar tape. He’s a rare player to watch on film. That said he has rushing ability that looks eerily similar to what Justin Fields put on tape in 2022 in the NFL in that when he’s able to scramble it’s one of the most dangerous plays in the NFL. The thing with Daniels though is that he can process things quicker than Fields did coming out of school. While it may take a while for him to learn to process things all the way through from the pocket, although I think he’s okay here, he can still be an extremely effective player by simply using his ability to extend plays and pick up huge chunk plays either with his arm or his legs. He can rip the football into tight windows, throws with good anticipation, and his accuracy is getting better and better to the point where it’s plus bordering on plus-plus. Daniels is just so similar to Lamar Jackson, and we’ve seen how effective he’s been in the league. As long as you’re comfortable with his size, he’s a franchise guy who you can take in the top 10. 

9. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo 92

Mitchell is one of the best off man cornerbacks I’ve scouted in a long time. He has tremendous burst on the football and his click and close ability is bordering on 10/10 for my grading scale. At 6’0 and about 190 pounds he has good size for the position and his analytical numbers are through the roof. Mitchell posted 38 passes defensed over the past two seasons combined, picking off 6 passes in that time. Mitchell was thrown at 132 times the past two seasons and gave up just 54 receptions for only 560 yards on over 900 coverage snaps, all while allowing zero TD’s this past season. Needless to say, his tape is exceptional.

The thing that makes me like Mitchell so much is there isn’t something to pick apart about his game. He’s physical in the run game and plays press coverage when asked with toughness and great hand placement. Where he thrives is in off man though, using elite fluidity and leverage to force receivers to go where he wants them to go, then driving on the football to make plays. He has elite ball skills and is a plus tackler, making him the best all around corner in this class.

Obviously it’s tough to determine how good a player is when he’s playing at a lower level like Mitchell played in his career. But then he goes to the Senior Bowl and essentially pitches a shutout for 3 days, absolutely locking guys up. I thought he looked fast on tape but tough to tell, then he busts out a 20+ MPH GPS in Mobile. All said, he’s the total package for a cornerback prospect and is my CB1 and should threaten to go off the board in the top 10 but at worst the top half of round 1. 

Nothing more to say except he went out and ran 4.33 - He was my CB1 by a LONG way, and cemented his status as a top 10 player in this class. 

10. EDGE -  Laiatu Latu, UCLA 92

Latu is without a doubt the best edge player in this class. His combination of size, power, bend, and acceleration create someone who should challenge for double digit sacks annually at the next level. Latu has some medical concerns, causing him to retire briely before transferring to UCLA where he’s dominated for the Bruins. Latu has 24 combined sacks the past two seasons for the Bruins, while also playing very well against the run and showing some talent even dropping into coverage. He’s a complete rusher with a powerful explosive game who looks primed to be a very good pro. 

As a pass rusher he brings a special blend of bend and power. You don’t see a lot of 265 pound guys with the ability to dip the edge and get under the pads of tackles like he does, and then flatten out his rush lanes. It’s just a move that with his size and power is rare even in the NFL. That move is the thing that creates sacks and he’s someone with that ability to do so. Watch the Arizona game where he does the move to a TE and beats him with athleticism and then flattens out to record a sack, that’s the play in the NFL that shows his capability. He finishes plays and mixes it with plenty of power to bullrush from a variety of positions. 

As a run defender he projects as a plus player. At times he can get a bit stationary and it causes his tackle radius to be a touch smaller than you’d like but it’s literally the only flaw to his game and I think it can be easily improved upon, it’s not due to effort it’s at times due to trying to keep his contain instead of attacking. When he’s flat out attacking he’s dynamic. His size and ability to shuck blocks with his length means that he’s a good run defender already with a possibility of being even better. He shows some capability in coverage as well although he needs to get a little more athletic in his drops but again, that can be taught. It’s not due to lack of effort just lack of reps but he still showed good ability here - had two picks in 2023.

He’s a really impressive player with a bend move for his size that is going to lead to good production in the NFL. He showed in constantly. His ability to press tackles and particularly tight ends on the edge and get off makes him a plus run defender as well. He’s someone who has a shot to be a top 10 edge rusher in the NFL with a very high probability of him being a PR1 (pass rusher 1) on a number of teams in the league. His size means he can play any scheme, and he has enough acceleration to threaten the edge and enough power to bullrush. I don’t know if he’s a top 5 type talent but he’s closer to that than people think, clearly the best defender in the class - the only question is medicals. .

11. Taliese Fuaga, OT Oregon State 91

For teams that emphasize being physical in the run game, Fuaga from Oregon State is your guy. He’s a first round RT prospect who is arguably the best run blocker in the nation. Fuaga is a rock at right tackle for the Beavs and is instrumental in their ultra efficient run offense. He  has the ability to play zone or gap schemes, and absolutely destroys people when he gets a chance. At 6’6 and 334 pounds, he moves like someone 30 pounds lighter and when he gets off his first block and to the second level he’ll bury secondary defenders. Fuaga is a plus pass protector as well, and although he isn’t necessarily a dynamic mover, his hand placement and initial jump out of his stance allows him to handle speed. Fuaga is an elite run blocker and good in pass pro, making him a first round talent at RT. 

Where he’ll play at an ultra high level on Sundays is in the run game. Fuaga truly is an elite run blocking prospect and he displaces people in the run game. He’s not someone who walls off defensive lineman or edge players, he creates massive gaps. On duo blocks he drives people off the football deep into the secondary before peeling off to bury safeties and backers. He has good athletic ability for his size as well, showing an ability to short pull or get out on screens with relative ease. Again, he’s this draft’s best run blocker.

In pass pro he doesn’t make many errors. Ultra quick players can give him a touch of problems in the pass game but his size and hand usage and punch are good enough to run defenders past the quarterback in most scenarios. He benefits a bit in pass pro from very good guard play next to him but ultimately his technique and strength allows him to play at a high level. I think he’ll drop a touch in the league as a pass protector but he should still be solid in this regard. Play strength and plus technique usually translates well.

Really good player. If you’re wanting to run power and downhill, Fuaga is your guy. He can easily play RT in the NFL but if for some reason you wanted to kick him into guard he’d be good there as well. The guy is solid in pass pro, elite as a run blocker, and has ideal size. In a draft that’s very deep at the OT position, he separates himself a bit from the tier 2 guys by the nature of how good he is in the run game. The fact he can play whatever scheme you want just increases his value. Stud. Watch his tape - it’s fun as hell. 

12. Olu Fashanu, OT Penn State 90

Fashanu is a freaky athlete who projects as an elite NFL prospect. While I think he does carry a slightly higher overall ranking between other scouts than myself, I think he’s a tad overrated, he’s a highly graded player. Fashanu can anchor well, moves with great agility, and is one of the best pass protecting Left Tackles you’ll ever scout. Through 7 weeks this season he had allowed a grand total of zero pressures. That’s coming off a season where he was the highest graded pass protector in the nation. He’s a good positional blocker in the run game and can climb and get to the second level and difficult angles with ease, but he lacks the temperament and nastiness to be a truly great run blocker at this point. That said, his ability to get reach blocks, get angles, and wall people off is very high level. He’s an awesome prospect and no way he should escape the top 10 picks. 

Where Fashanu shines is in pass protection. I have similarities to his game with Texans Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil. Fashanu has an ultra wide base, a Penn State staple, which is odd to scout, but he can mirror as well as any player you’ll ever scout. I’m not sure he’s got quite the agility than Tunsil has, but he is able to get his hands on people quickly and redirect them with a strong wide base. At times that base can get a bit too wide and he’ll get shoved back on an initial push but he resets and anchors as well as you’ll see and it leads to nothing. Zero pressures, very low hurries, and a game that translates exceptionally well to the NFL. Has a chance to be a truly dominant pass protector in the NFL. 

As a run blocker there is something to be desired in terms of tenacity. He doesn’t finish plays or drive players off the football like you’d want to see at times. While it doesn't mean that he’s a bad run blocker - he definitely is good - it means that his upside as a dominant player is capped. He’s smooth and connects well, and he is able to get angles that almost no other tackle can get. However, while his accuracy is plus and so are his overall run blocking grades, he’s not driving people off the football or getting dirty yards for his backs. Again, at 6’6 and 319 pounds and not even 21 years old yet as of this article, there is upside for days here, but the lack of anger in the run game is why he’s not rated higher by me or my other OL scout.

He’s a great prospect. Fashanu could solve a ton of issues for teams at the top of this draft with the way he pass protects. I hate using the term high floor or low risk prospect because honestly that has bitten me in the ass too many times. Every draft pick is risky. But as a pass protector I just don’t see a scenario where he’s mediocre, he is so good in pass pro it’s freaky. I think his upside is probably not quite as high as other analysts think because currently he projects as an average to slightly below average run blocker. His skill set and position mean he’s not getting out of the top 10 and I get it if someone wants to snag him in the top 5, elite blindside pass pro guys are rare, Fashanu is rare. 

13. G - Troy Fautanu, Washington 90

Fautanu played Left Tackle for the Huskies but at 6’4 and 317 pounds he’s built much more like a guard. He was exceptionally effective for U-Dub though giving up only 2 sacks and 4 QB hits combined the past two seasons on more than 1100 pass blocking attempts so there’s a shot that someone tries him at left tackle due to positional value, however, to me he’s an All World guard. He reminds me so much of Marshall Yanda and his ability to move and then demolish everything in front of him. He has tremendous athletic ability and acceleration for someone his size and he plays the game with a nasty streak that you want in your lineman. He finishes blocks at an extremely high level and is never looking for work. Whether you draft him as a tackle, where he has a possibility to stick, or move him inside to guard, the guy is a very high level talent and maybe my favorite guy in this draft.

The main issue with him playing outside in the NFL is the lack of length does show up. He’ll reach out and get a solid punch on a defensive end and they’ll simply slap his arms down or get into his body. His lower half is extremely quick though so he’s able to maintain positioning but that likely won’t transition as well to the next level. Inside that shouldn’t be a problem and it could create this situation where his suddenness off the ball and experience playing left tackle makes him an incredible guard in terms of pass protection. He has really strong hands and it gets him back into position a lot but going against longer guys on the edge it does show up. What I do really like about him if he were to play tackle though is he always knows where his help is with a pass rusher and he leads the guy into his help, it’s an underrated skill for tackles but he does it at a plus level. 

As a run blocker this guy is elite. He moves so well for his size and whether he’s working a short pull on screens or a longer pull to the field side where he can trap block and power through a second level defender, he’s tremendous. Fautanu finishes blocks down the field and had more pancake blocks than any other player I watched this season. He loves to get guys on their backs and plays the game like he’s punishing people. He has the strength and quickness combination that you want from all your interior players. 

I’m not going to dive too deep into this because he’s a player without many weaknesses if any if he plays guard. He could end up being a 10 year Pro Bowl caliber player inside and a solid player if you have him out at tackle. He’s an elite level run blocker who shows an ability to play whatever scheme you want but I’d love him for a movement based scheme with lots of pulls where he can get on the run and bury players. He never looks for work whether in the run game or in pass pro and simply would elevate whatever line he goes to. I’d have him as a guard but knowing he can play left tackle as a backup does nothing but increase his value. He’s a rare 90 graded player for me. 

14. DT Byron Murphy II, Texas 90

Murphy is a very disruptive interior rusher with violent hands and plus quickness. When watching tape of him I just couldn’t stop saying he won that rep, as he won more reps than any player I watched all season. He has plus explosion off the snap, wins with his hands constantly, and isn’t afraid of double teams or pulling guards. You won’t watch 2-3T DTs win this many times almost ever on tape and the fact that it didn’t matter who he played against he was winning reps makes me believe he’ll be excellent at the next level. I think he’s someone who should be talked about inside the top 20 not the top 40.

Murphy as a pass rusher wins constantly with either speed or powerful hands. His hands are the thing I notice the most as he’s constantly working them, ripping them away from offensive linemen. Guys will win initially against him and then his punch just gets to the edge of them almost instantly, getting him to the edges and letting him chase down quarterbacks. I’m not sure he’s the most nimble person side to side so I’m not sure if he’s going to be an ultra high sack artist in the league but I have zero doubt he’ll be a very high pressure and hurry player. He just gets through the interior so quickly and forces QBs to move. If he goes to a team with good outside rushers he could improve a pass rush instantly.

As a run defender he’s built to be a 3T at the NFL level with low pad level and quickness to get into the backfield. He didn’t finish nearly as many plays as I would have liked this season and it feels like he disrupts plays without finishing them fairly often on film. It shows up as a pass rusher where he had 36 hurries but just 6 sacks and it shows up in run D where he is constantly causing problems and being disruptive but he finished this year with just 29 total tackles. It’s the biggest knock on his grade.

He’s an extremely disruptive 3T who doesn’t finish as often as you’d want to see. I love how much he wins reps though, battling through on run downs, either working to the edges or stacking linemen. You don’t see 3T’s hold up against the double as well as he does which gives him a higher floor than most 6’1 308 pound DTs. I do think his ceiling is somewhat limited though, he hasn’t shown an aptitude for finishing sacks and tackles and while his disruption will definitely help elevate an already good defense, I don’t know if he’ll be as effective without help but if he goes to a team with good rushers around them, he’ll elevate everyone immediately. In terms of just watching tape this year, he was arguably the best player I watched that wasn’t MHJ. The lack of counting stats are worrying but he’s so good.

15. CB - Cooper DeJean, Iowa - 88

DeJean is one of the cleanest CB prospects you’ll scout coming out of college, with plus ability in every phase of the game. At 6’1 and 207 pounds, DeJean has the speed and size combination to play in whatever scheme and system you want him to play with plus-plus productivity coming out of school. Pair that up with the fact he was coached in one of the best programs in the country for defensive backs and DeJean is someone with a sky high floor and potentially the versatility on the back end to play a number of roles in the NFL. He’s an obvious first round pick as there’s nothing to pick apart on his game and with his versatility to play anywhere on the backend on every possession, DeJean is going to help any defense in the NFL.

Over the past two seasons DeJean gave up a passer rating against of 37.8 in 2023 and 49.7 in 2022 combining to give up well under one yard per coverage snap and picking off 7 passes in that timeframe, including 3 pick-sixes. The guy plays football like he’s a professional. He shows tremendous ability in off coverage and looks like he’ll thrive in a zone heavy system where he can use his playmaking ability and ability to click and close to his advantage. His length outside helps there as well, as he can press and bail and shorten windows for QBs. DeJean has good spatial awareness outside and while he’s not a true burner he has plenty of speed and smooth hips to turn and run when that time comes. I’m not sure he’s going to be a true shutdown corner in the NFL but he’s going to be very good and his ability to make plays on the football brings his upside higher.

DeJean is a plus tackler as well, which with his size, ball skills, and vision has had a few pundits transitioning him to the safety position. While I think he could certainly play there, the positional value of him playing outside corner is too high to kick him inside. He also has enough speed to play outside, definitely in a zone scheme where he can use his vision to make plays, but watching him run with NFL quality receivers and make them earn every yard to me means he’s an outside guy. 

Also shows a good ability as a punt returner with plus vision and patience as a return man. He shows good contact balance and is stronger than most return men, breaking arm tackles and barely breaking stride. For his career DeJean averaged 13.1 yards per return as a punt returner, turn the tape on here and you see someone built to return punts. 

What stands out with DeJean is that he seems to always make the big play at the big moments. He’s better when the game gets tighter, making huge plays on 4th down and in the 4th quarter constantly. It jumps out when you watch Hawkeye games - the dude is a gamer. He’s got a great combination of speed, length, and size and coupled with plus ball skills makes him a tremendous prospect. He’s just simply a great football player and someone who should be targeted in the middle parts of the first round. The floor is through the roof based on scheme versatility and play making ability, just a stud player. Fun tape. 

16. Jer’Zhan Newton, DT Illinois 88

Newton is a high impact prospect who is a tremendous pass rusher from the inside with a knack for making big time plays. He’s a very good interior pass rusher who at 6’2 and 295 pounds lacks ideal length or power but plays with solid athleticism and effort and simply makes plays every single game. It was amazing watching the Illinois defense and the impact he has when he’s in the game versus when he’s not. Newton is a playmaker, the issue that I have him with is that he’s simply a tweener. He might have too short of arms to play a traditional 4i or 5T in the NFL but he doesn’t have the bulk in his frame to play a run stopping 3T. Where he’ll likely be a very dynamic player is on passing downs in the NFL, he has a chance to be a top end interior pass rusher. 

Newton is a highly productive player who does a good job of keeping his eyes in the backfield and finding the football. Too many players you watch and they just get depth without ever finding the ball, Newton is always looking at the ball. At times it leads to him playing way too high and getting pushed back, but his upper body strength is plus and he simply shucks linemen when he finds the football. He finds the football super well but in the NFL if he’s asked to play the 3T he won’t hold up against duo blocks, his leverage is helpful but he’ll stand straight up too often. Newton makes quite a few tackles by finding the football and either penetrating with super quick wins or by getting down the line with effort. At Illinois he played a ton of 4i and 5T spot and his length showed up at times where he couldn’t stack quite well enough and while most people project him best as a 3T, his lack of length and lower body frame means he’ll get bullied against power teams there. Newton is a truly elite penetrator who in the correct scheme can be dynamic inside but he’s not a point of attack defender. 

Where Newton is going to be a factor in the NFL is as a pass rusher though. At Illinois he picked up 18 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss as a penetrator. He wins mostly with an up and under move when he’s one on one with guards where he simply can win with upper body strength and a quick rip move that at times is unstoppable. His lack of length hurts his finishing ability in both the run and pass games, as does his narrow base. Newton isn’t going to bullrush people in the NFL consistently as his lack of length hurts that ability, he can still do it at times as when he does time the snap up well he’s pretty explosive. Really though the factor that makes him so sought after in the league is that he wins so quickly, it’s not that he wins, it’s that he wins instantly. 

Newton is a nice player and his quick wins can definitely end drives. It’s rare to see inside pass rushers win as quickly as Newton does on a consistent basis. He creates a ton of pressures and hurries but his lack of ideal length and bulk means that he may not be a consistently good run defender in the NFL. He looks like a tweener to me as the lack of length worries me about putting him out on the edge as a 34 but the lack of bulk and the times he plays too high in the run game means that he’ll get smacked against double teams inside. Newton looks like a very good player but one who definitely isn’t for every scheme. He’s best suited as a penetrating 3T or someone who can line up in a variety of spots in a multi front scheme. Don’t draft Newton if you want to hold the point of attack as he doesn’t have that in him but Newton is elite as a penetrator. He’ll win a ton of reps, but he’ll also lose quite a few at the next level. If your D likes splash plays, take him, he’s going to make a lot of them at the next level. 

17. EDGE - Jared Verse, Florida State 88

When I first started watching tape on Verse I didn’t really love it. He seemed a bit stiff and lumbering for me on the first couple of passes through but he just kept winning reps and making plays. I didn’t understand how he was winning when he would stand up at the snap and it looked like his tackle radius and body was constantly too high. But the more and more tape I watched I just kept saying damn he’s strong, damn he’s got a great punch, man nice move inside there. At 6’4 and 260 pounds he’s built well and looks like your traditional big 43 end. He just wins a boatload of reps and makes a ton of plays on the edge. His power and the strength and pop in his hands is extremely impressive. Verse may not be a super elite rusher at the next level but his strength and bevy of pass rush and run stopping moves makes me think he’s going to be a very effective edge player in the NFL.

As a pure pass rusher it’s kind of odd to see him win with speed at times because he doesn’t look super quick. But he has an inside counter move or jump move inside that helps him win reps early on downs consistently and that allows him to get to the edges of tackles when he does want to play with speed. He also at times can time the snap well, leading to him shooting into the backfield and blowing plays up. Verse doesn’t bend the edge nearly as well as some elite rushers in the league so he’ll struggle to flatten, but he can long arm tackles and collapse the pocket from the edges as well as any edge you’ll watch. That, paired with a few inside counter moves gets him to get QBs off their spot constantly.

Verse isn’t just a pass rusher though, he does a really good job against the run. He wins inside with regularity against tackles, getting wins early on downs. It won’t be something that traditional DCs will like because he can give up the edge occasionally but he creates a lot of TFLs with his inside jump move. When you do want him to simply set an edge his strength and long arms stand out. He’s not the most agile DE in the world so his tackle radius isn’t quite what you’d want to see from an elite defender but he projects as a plus run defender in the NFL. 

I’m a pretty big fan of his game. While he may not do anything at an elite level, he’s plus across the board. I do think he may end up being more of a good pass rusher than a great one due to the lack of bend and agility but I’d be surprised if he isn’t a consistent contributor as a rusher. That lack of being able to flatten when you win on the edge will lead to more hurries than sacks but his ability to win in a variety of ways and the strength and length he plays with makes me believe he’ll be successful. I think his floor is good due to the run defense ability and the fact he’s not a one trick pony as a player. Verse is someone to target in the middle of the first round if you’re looking for a big edge player. 

18. OL Graham Barton, Duke 88

I don’t know what position Graham Barton is going to play in the NFL but I know for damn sure I’d want him on my team. The guy is as physical of a football player as you’ll watch and he plays the game with a toughness and physicality that you need on every successful team. I think he projects best as a guard or even a center where he can use his athleticism and toughness to create yards on the inside but I won’t discount him sticking at tackle. He may not have the length to play tackle against everyone in the NFL but he gave up just 17 combined hurries over the past two seasons for the Blue Devils. Regardless where Barton plays, he’s a stud.

I like how Barton finishes run blocks, it’s his best skill as an offensive lineman. There are a ton of offensive linemen who struggle to maintain blocks throughout the entire rep but Barton absolutely wants to demolish people once he’s able to grip. He has more impact blocks than almost any player you’ll scout as well. He has good feet, although he may not be the most athletic guy you’ll see at the position. Barton’s explosiveness off the snap is another impressive feature to his game, where he can displace ends and tackles quickly. 

Barton is good in pass protection but isn’t going to be someone who is going to be dynamic there at left tackle. It’s why I believe he best fits inside, maybe even at center. At LT he can give up the inside both on runs and pass pro too often and his lack of arm length leads to some positions where he could end up getting penalties. That lack of length can also get him in some situations where he gets walked back by longer players. On the inside his explosiveness off the snap will let him get himself into good position. 

Overall he’s a really good prospect. I don’t think he’s perfect as the lack of length and some issues in terms of getting his hands in some bad spots at times may lead to some holds in the NFL, if he kicks inside he has Pro Bowl potential. I do think he could be pretty good outside in a zone blocking scheme but he could thrive inside where he can use his power and finishing ability to open gigantic holes. It wouldn't shock me to see if he goes in round 1 but at worst he should be a top 40 pick. 

19. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Alabama 88

McKinstry is one of the most fluid corners you’ll watch on tape. He is able to flip his hips and then accelerate as well as any corner you’ll scout. He has tremendous agility and lateral movement skills that let him eat up space when receivers make their breaks. That skill to me means he has a shot to be a very good man corner in the NFL. He’s competitive as a run defender but not great in that spot and there are times he’ll give up a few grabs this season as perhaps his 2022 tape with better pass rush help in front of him aided him a bit. Overall though the guy is a CB1 prospect and is a top half of the first half cornerback.

As a pure cornerback he reminds me of Jaire Alexander. His ability to twist his hips and then drive on the ball is as good as you’ll find. He gets a bit grabby at times during the play as most corners will but he’s competitive at the catch point without getting penalties. He walks the line well. What I like a ton about his game other than his fluidity is the fact that he knows where the leverage is for each route and where his safety help is on each play. He’s able to use the boundary to his advantage and will run players into safety help, limiting their windows to catch passes. It leads to even his average reps being solid. McKinstry also has shown an ability to trail players across the field while maintaining phase which is exceptionally difficult to do, particularly at the college level with wider hashes. 

As a run defender he does a nice job but it’s not a part of his game where I’m super excited. When he has a chance to make the tackle he does a good job but I don’t see a huge sense of urgency to get off blocks. He’s also allowed a few more easy catches this season compared to 2023 as he’s giving up a bit more space on the underneath routes than he did before. Again this is nitpicking as he’s arguably playing at a All-American level so take it for what it is. 

Overall he’s a stud. I don’t have him in the same grading space as Sauce or Stingley but he’s still a clear CB1 in the league and right there in grading with Gonazlez and Witherspoon from the 2023 draft. . McKinstry is smooth, has plus acceleration bordering on plus-plus and at 6’1 has good length and size. He’s competitive and his tape is as strong as anyone’s in the nation. Analytically he’s going to rate highly and his tape is borderline elite. You can make a case for him as a top 10 player in this draft analytically based on positional need and advanced stats against him, which that paired with tape and size make him one of the best players in the 2024 draft. 

20. EDGE - Dallas Turner, Alabama 88

Turner is a good edge who projects without question as a 34 OLB at the next level. At 6’4 and about 242 pounds he plays with more strength than that, setting a strong edge against the run and showing a good ability to cut through the inside of tackles to create good pass rush win percentages. Turner is athletic enough to drop into coverage and while at times he’s not great there, the fact that he can set a strong edge on one play and then cover the flat and wheel route the next plays something that you don’t see from many guys coming out of school. At this point in the process almost everyone has him as either the top rated or second highest rated defender in the process and while I think that’s quite rich for Turner, I do like his game as a consistent performer who does his job very well and looks like he’ll be a productive pass rusher. 

As a pure pass rusher I think Turner is overrated. Yes he put up solid stats this past regular season with 9 sacks and put up a very solid pass rush win rate his skill set translating to the NFL as a pure pass rusher is good and not great. He’s mostly a speed rusher without the elite bend and change of direction that typically leads itself to a lot of pass rush production. I do think he’ll get a fair number of hurries in the league but his pass rush arsenal is fairly limited. He is explosive off the LOS without question and his first step and quick first step to power move is good but he’s only 245 pounds. He doesn’t do much as a rusher other than try to get to the edge, or if he’s in a wide-9 which is his best spot, he simply uses that threat  of speed to cut inside and get to the QB. Those are the moves. It’s effective against lesser tackles but I worry about his ability to consistently beat NFL tackles this way. I think he’s more of a good rusher and not a top tier rusher in terms of projections. I also want to see him be able to counter his speed move more often.

Where I like Turner quite a bit though is his ability to set an edge as an OLB. Turner has good pop in his hands and great vision and patience when he’s playing the run. He uses his hands well and always maintains proper leverage, keeping his hand free and on the outside shoulder. His speed pushes plays to the boundary and he’s productive in this role as well, picking up 50 tackles this season and 13.5 TFL. Turner also shows that ability to drop into the flats and use his acceleration to carry running backs or get his hands and body into passing lanes. He’s not going to be a cover linebacker, don't get me wrong here but he’s good in this role, particularly for an edge player. 

He’s a really good football player. However, he’s being pegged as the best edge rusher in this class and is currently firmly in the either #1 or #2 defender in this class range at the end of 2023 and that’s just not what he is going to be in the NFL. I need to see more bend and change of direction as a pass rusher along with a more nuanced rush plan and moves in order for me to see him as an elite pass rusher. I do think he’ll be a very effective player and he’s clearly a round one grade but he’s a good not great rusher. I like his ability to do everything else as a player but at 245 pounds you wonder JUST how good he can be as a run defender. First round player but he’s not a top 10 guy. 

Knew he was going to be awesome at the combine but dear lord. He ran a 4.46 at 247 pounds with 34.3 inch arms, and a 40.5 inch vertical. He’s a freaky explosive athlete. 

21. CB - Nate Wiggins, Clemson 88

Wiggins has put up some impressive tape this season and looks the part of a potential CB1 in the NFL. At 6’2 and 185  pounds he has plus length for the position and uses his speed and length to stick in hip pockets of wideouts. Watching the FSU tape you can see that size isn’t going to threaten him as he battled all game long with the Seminole monster outside WRs and he ended up forcing 5 incompletions in that contest. I wish he was a bit more physical when attacking flats and he could add some strength but as a pure cover corner he’s very impressive and his fluidity at 6’2 is bordering on elite. Wiggins is a clear round 1 corner with an good combination of size, speed, and acceleration. 

Wiggins allowed less than 50% of his passes to be completed into his coverage the past two seasons combined and on tape it jumps out just how often he’s right in the hip of the WR. Even on some of the passes he gave up this season, he’s rarely more than a step away and it takes great throws to beat him. He has good ball skills, breaking up 19 passes over the past two years and picking off 3 as well, but he forced way more incompletions than that, charting him for 5 alone in the FSU game. Wiggins ability to flip his hips or turn and run is plus and he drives to the football with plus click-and-close grades as well. In zone coverage he’s good but he thrives in man where he can simply track players around the field.

As a run defender he’s not great. He’s okay in this spot but he’s not someone who plays overly physical. I wish he would work on getting off of blocks better and at times he shows an ability to do so but other times, despite his length he’s only okay here. Each of the past two seasons he only had 29 tackles, some of that is due to the fact he rarely gives up catches but it shows that he’s not going to be a plus run defender or a plus flat defender. He has the length you’d want but he’s lean and he definitely needs to add strength.

Wiggins is a really good cover corner who is the best man on man corner prospect in this class. His fluidity and acceleration with 6’2 length is highly coveted as a prospect. On top of that he has good speed and looks the part when he’s asked to simply follow someone around the field, it’s tough to complete passes on him with consistency. He needs to add strength to get better at the catch point with stronger guys and that should help him get off blocks on the edge, he has to get stronger or he’ll fail to be as good as he can be. Teams who want to play a good portion of man though, Wiggins may be the guy in this draft you want to target. He’s a CB1 in a man scheme. 

Ran a freaking 4.28

22. WR - Brian Thomas Jr, LSU 88

A 6’4 highly productive WR coming out of LSU, he thrives in high pointing the football and creating big plays. Thomas has a knack for getting behind defenders and uses a nice jab step to get off of press coverage coming off the line. That quick release that he uses allows him to get to full speed quickly and create separation on deeper routes with consistency. Thomas tracks the deep ball as well as any big play WR in the nation and uses his size and an extra gear to create huge, big time plays. That ability makes him an ideal redzone threat as well as someone who can create big plays for an offense. His route running is pretty good for a bigger guy but he’s not necessarily shifty and most of his routes at LSU were vertical so there will need some coaching here but the talent is obvious. If he can work his physicality against press coverage and work to sink his hips a bit more, a challenge for taller receivers, he could turn into a WR1, but he looks like a good WR2. Thomas should be a WR that gets taken in the middle to back part of round 1. 

Where Thomas is going to make his money in the NFL is in the red area. He’s absolutely devastating running the slot fade, where he can stack corners and use good speed to simply get to back pylon. That doesn’t mean that’s all he is though, his pure speed once he reaches full speed is plenty fast, and he looks to be a sub 4.5 guy, which at 6’4 and 210 pounds is a dangerous combination. He can stack corners easily and get on their toes to run by them. The great part about Thomas though is that if he doesn’t burn them, he simply can work through contact to make big time plays in contested catch situations. 

You don’t see 6’4 guys make people miss with the consistency that he does either. He has a really good opposite spin move when he catches the ball and has a plus jab step once he catches the rock that leads to some good RAC plays. Thomas did run a variety of routes at LSU but he may not be the most nuanced route runner yet. He has plus quickness for a guy his height but he’s not someone who is going to come in and out of breaks at an elite level. He’s not bad here, but he needs work to go from solid to plus. I did notice that some of his tape that wasn’t quite as good was against really good corners as his Alabama tape showed that he may have a little ways to go in terms of that route running and separation ability, he can overcome some with ball tracking and contested catch ability but it needs work. 

Look, he put up some very impressive tape this season. He has good long speed, has plus quickness for someone his size, and tracks the football as well as any receiver you’ll see in college. He is someone who can make plays at all levels of the field and he is a potential redzone star. Thomas put up almost 1200 yards and 17 touchdowns this season and at times looked almost unguardable. He seems to have a good feel for man vs zone and leverage and teams tried to press him but his jab step and release package was pretty good. Again, can use work but it just shows that he has even more upside and potential. I need him to work on his physicality and using strength at the line vs press instead of just the series of jab moves, although they are good. I also want him to be able to sink his hips on some more nuances routes he’s going to see at the next level. I’d guess he’ll be better in year two than in year but with some big time plays as a rookie. I think talent wise and with positional value he should be taken in round one but probably back third. Going to help you score some points. 

23. QB - JJ McCarthy, Michigan 87

A national champion QB with elite physical tools, McCarthy is a likely first rounder in the 2024 NFL draft. The tools are there for him to be a tier one quarterback in the NFL. He has a truly impressive arm with plus arm strength and has made some exceptionally difficult throws throughout his career. He also is a burner at the QB position. Supposedly McCarthy runs close to a 4.4 and at times on film when he decides to just tuck it and turn straight up the field he can absolutely fly. The issues here are his lack of passing attempts and the nuances to the game. The scary part about drafting a player like McCarthy is that despite the games he’s played in, he’s not asked to actually throw the ball for the Wolverines so the experience is miniscule. 

As a pure thrower there is a ton to like here. McCarthy has a powerful arm with a compact quick delivery. His delivery is one of the things I like the most about his game as he absolutely rips it into tight windows over the middle of the field. There’s no fear there when he sees an open player and he has arguably the fastest release in this class. He has good arm talent to all levels of the field and his accuracy took a leap forward this year, completing over 72% of his throws. 

He’s impressive as a runner as well. McCarthy isn’t elusive in the open field but he has good straight line speed and teams can’t play pure man against him consistently because when he tucks it and goes he has plus-plus speed for a QB. It wasn’t something he did much at Michigan but they used his legs to get him out on bootlegs and waggles and then he’d tuck it and go to pick up easy first downs to the sticks. 

There are issues here though that should give teams some pause before utilizing a first round pick here. First off he’s only about 205 pounds, and he looks thin. He needs to add good weight in the NFL or he may not survive long. He also was asked to do next to nothing for Michigan in big games other than simply take care of the ball. While he was very good doing so throwing just 11 INT on over 700 attempts,that’s all he threw his entire career. He was essentially a game manager playing behind one of the best offensive lines in college football history over his past few seasons. Guys with big time tools who didn’t have as much experience can suffer in the league.

All in all there is a lot more to like with McCarthy than not like. He’s a big time winner, going a ridiculous 27-1 since being inserted as a starter and takes good care of the football with plus tools. His quick release and good accuracy over the middle and on the run should make him a favorite with play action heavy offenses and someone may be able to unlock his running ability at the next level. You have to worry about the lack of true passing attempts but he played in a pure pro style offense and at worst shows he’s a plus game manager with more tools to bring out potentially more. He’d be a QB to target in the first round after the top 3 go off the board. 

24. C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon 86

He’s one of the most powerful center prospects we’ve seen coming into the league in a long time. It’s pretty easy to see the Creed Humphrey comparisons here as JPP is 6’3 and 335 pounds and looks more like a jumbo guard than a center, but he definitely moves like an outside zone guy. JPJ hit over 14.3 MPH in Mobile, all while dominating people and pretty much not losing a rep. The thing is, it wasn’t just at Mobile, it was all season long in Eugene where he was without question college football’s best center the past two seasons. It’s tough to take a center in round one, but if you’re going to, you can feel pretty damn good about Powers-Johnson.I do think that he’s pretty damn good across the board but perhaps his upside isn’t QUITE at that super elite level, but he projects as a plus starter. 

As a pass protector, he just doesn’t give anything up. His awareness and ability to kick step and use his power and pop in his hands means that delayed blitzes and stunts just don’t really give him issues. Powers-Johnson on 1200 snaps combined the past two seasons gave up just 2 total hurries and zero sacks because well, you can’t get around him. He has so much more power and strength in his hands than most centers and that weight just allows him to anchor bullrushers. Top tier pass protector at center.

As a run blocker he has the obvious power you’d want, particularly on duo blocks where he is devastating. JPJ wants to create space and he does it easily but he still has the athleticism to get to the second level and not miss once he’s there. Again, you can still feel comfortable using him as a movement piece because he can get out in space with 14-15MPH speed as well, he’s not pigeon-holed into one scheme or another. Although his ability in inside zone is impressive.

Look he’s a damn good prospect and if you want a center just snag him. He’s got power, agility, and good tape. His worst tape I watched was Utah and if that’s the worst film you have in your career, you’re going to be just fine. He was a top 3 player at Mobile and despite the positional value I think he’s in the round 1 conversation for sure. 

25. CB - Terrion Arnold, Alabama 86

Arnold is a very high level athlete and an impressive prospect who likely will get taken in the first round of the 2024 draft. The past two seasons he’s posted some very good tape and his analytical numbers are as good as his talent. While he doesn’t project as a shutdown corner, he looks like a high end CB2 in the NFL with the athleticism, toughness, physicality, and ability to be a good corner in the NFL for a long time. He has too many lapses to be projected as a CB1 but I do think he ends up as a very good CB2 in the league.

Arnold is 6’0 and about 195 pounds so he has pretty good size for an outside corner. He is at his best playing press man, as he is a physical guy for his size, working hard to jam and use a good punch to disrupt route timing. He has shown an aptitude to play both man and zone although he’s certainly better in pure man than he is in zone. He has really impressive athletic ability and it’s rare on tape to see someone able to gain separation on him down the field. You can see his quickness closing burst on tape over and over again. He’s fluid and explosive at the stem.

Arnold isn’t just a good pass or press defender though. He also plays the game with plus physicality for a corner and work shard to get off of blocks to make plays in the run and screen game. He’s ultra competitive at both the catch point and the point of the block so playing man or zone won’t be a problem for him. He had 63 tackles this season including 6.5 for loss - a very impressive number for a corner. 

There are a ton more positives here including plus ball skills, bordering on plus-plus. Arnold had 20 pass breakups and 6 interceptions combined over the past two seasons and attacks the football. Where the issues lie in projecting him to the NFL is that he was mostly matched up against WR2s in the NFL and he still wasn’t clean in terms of yards allowed. Arnold gave up over 800 yards combined the past two seasons and on tape there are numerous instances of him simply giving up an easy 12 yard catch or a 15 yard crossing route. He’s not a lockdown guy. He can get out of position at times, or give too much cushion against players where he doesn’t need to do that. It can get coached out of him but for some reason he plays too far off in soft and therefore he’s not a CB1. But he projects as a very good CB2 in the league with plus ball skills, physicality, and athleticism with the upside of a CB1. 

The 4.50 wasn’t as surprising for me, I didn’t like him quite as much as everyone else and this is one of those things that cemented me pushing him down a tiny bit further on my board than most. 

26. OT - JC Latham, Alabama 86

Absolute people mover here in Latham from Alabama. Nobody in this class puts more people on their backs than JC Latham. He’s a monster of a man at 360 pounds but he moves very well for his size, and the Crimson Tide would even use him as a short puller at times. His short area quickness isn’t great as you could imagine for someone this big but he likes getting to the second level and works well on duo blocks to climb and de-cleat second level players. Latham creates movement in the run game with just pure power and size but projects as a decent pass protector as well. He looks like a late first round or early second round right tackle as a likely average pass protector and good run blocker in the NFL.

In pass pro he has exceptionally strong hands and his vice like grip means that you’ll have to win with quickness. He rarely loses leverage to power rushers but guys can certainly use their quickness and particularly inside moves to create pressure. He’s got pretty good eyes though and sees a lot of games and stunts and understands protection schemes well. His contact balance to maintain on longer pass routes is average though and obviously speed rushers are going to be able at times to get the edge on him at the next level. While he projects as a pretty decent pass protector he looks more NFL average in that capacity - which is valuable don’t get me wrong, but may be a bit too big to handle the speed and agility of some NFL rushers. I don’t love his contact balance at times and he simply gets knocked off balance at times with rushers and it makes very little sense, it causes him to not give up pressures or hurries but for the pocket to be muddier that I’d like. Overall, he’s solid here and his college stats are good with just 18 hurries allowed the past two seasons, but I do think he’ll give up more hurries in the NFL and again the projection is pretty good but not great.

As a run blocker there is a lot to like with Latham in a gap scheme. He loves to duo block people and simply push people off the football. At 360 pounds he simply latches on and that’s it for most reps as well, using his powerful frame to just create easy yards on his side of the football. I love how he throws second level defenders around and he’s someone who finishes blocks consistently. For a 6’6 360 pound guy he plays with pretty good leverage and his foot speed for someone his size is impressive. This is simple, in a downhill running scheme he’s going to be a very effective NFL run blocker.

He is what he is and that’s plenty good. He’s got great size and plays with power and a pretty nasty demeanor. As a pass protector I think he’ll be fine in the NFL, he only gave up two sacks in college, but I see some hurries and pressures his way with better speed off the edge and he needs to improve his contact balance - it’s odd for someone that size to have some weird reps that way. Everyone is lauding his contact and play balance as a pass protector but that seems like group think to me, there were numerous plays where he was off balance on tape, his strength allowed him to recover but that doesn’t project as well in the NFL. Also - there aren’t a ton of super successful 360 pound OT in the NFL, that size hasn’t worked well in the past for injuries or for movement skills. I am lower on him than most but I do like his game and think in a downhill run scheme he’ll have a successful NFL career. I just think there will be more losses to his game than he had in Tuscaloosa. 

27. WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina 86

When you put on the tape with Legette the thing that jumps off the screen first is that he’s a H/W/S monster. Legette is 6’2, 227 pounds and he was clocked by GPS at a ridiculous 22.3 MPH. Those are literally perfect measurements for an X WR in the NFL. The fact that in mid January he’s sitting here as a late second round pick on most boards is a travesty. Yes, he only has one year of college production but if you put the tape on with this guy, he looks like the perfect X WR in the NFL. Legette has tremendous size and speed with an elite catch radius. His route running isn’t perfect but you aren’t looking for that from an X WR. He is someone who can burn you deep, take crossers to the house, has good RAC ability and blocks with physicality. He should be considered closer to the top 10 than the middle of day 2 and he’s going to be one of “my guys” for the 2024 draft.

As a pure receiver he doesn’t have the most agility or quickness off the line but his straight line speed is elite. He’s going to run under 4.4 at the combine and it should shoot his draft stock up. He pulls away from defensive backs consistently on tape, and that combined with the fact that he’s plus bordering on plus-plus in contested catch situations makes him an ideal deep threat. He does a pretty good job of winding down and coming back to the QB for someone his size and the physicality means he should be good at back shoulder fades as well. He catches the ball with his hands and high points it well. 

He isn’t quick off the line of scrimmage and that lack of quick release is one of the reasons that he’s down other people’s draft boards but I think they are worried more about what he can’t do instead of what he can do. I’m not going to ask him to try to run jerk routes, he’s going to run crossers, drags, posts, and go routes where he’s already shown a propensity to be very good. I believe with more reps and coaching his physicality can help him dominate press coverage and get good leverage. 

He’s a physical run blocker, and tough at the catch point with really impressive contested catch ability. On top of that, he’s going to be one of the fastest WRs in the NFL immediately when he comes in, his speed absolutely leaps off the film. If you watch him and don’t see DK Metcalf then I can’t help you as a scout. The thing about Legette though is that he rode the bench for a while so he’s going to have that chip on his shoulder and he plays the outside game with a lot of physicality. You just don’t see this combination of size and speed often, I think the sky is the limit for him as an NFL X WR. He’s someone I love in this draft class and think he could end up being a truly dynamic NFL WR. 

Early on in the Senior Bowl he was very disappointing but he progressed throughout the week and ultimately he was fine there. I will say that I had him much higher before but pushed him back a few points based on that week. 

28. LB Payton Wilson, NC State 85

LB’s who run 20 MPH At 6’4 and 234 pounds are not very common, even in the NFL. He’s not just a H-W-S guy either, winning the 2023 Butkus Award this past season. Wilson showed very well at Mobile and with a wrestling background, his hand usage and leverage is almost engrained in his game. Wilson is a very good linebacker who is fast, long, and instinctive but he has an extensive injury history that is going to be very important to determine his draft stock. Wilson will be 24 on draft day and those things are going to be impactful. 

There are times when you may think speed is a somewhat overrated thing to care about, particularly for a linebacker but there are times Wilson’s H-W-S kind of jumps out at you. In the Notre Dame game he was essentially playing as a short area spy and ND completed a pass to a crossing WR behind Wilson. The guy had at least 5 yards and was running full speed when he caught the ball, Wilson caught him easily, turning a potential TD into about a 25 yard gain instead. His speed plays. A handful of plays later he tracks down a running back who had escape a different zone and tackled him in the redzone, saving another TD. People aren’t talking about his pure speed yet, but it leaps off the screen. 

As a run defender he is a good tackler who is physical and shows an aptitude for wrapping up and getting the guy on the ground. His speed allows his pursuit to the sidelines to get to plays that other guys can’t. He plays the game with an explosive trigger and wants to be behind the LOS constantly. It leads to him getting pushed out of gaps at times though and while he’s a physical guy, his lack of lower body control when playing at the line will at times leave his defense vulnerable. It’s the biggest thing on tape that needs work, but even with that, the past two seasons he combined for a whopping 30 tackles for loss and 220 tackles while missing only 12, it’s not much of a downside. 

He’ll be a high level three down linebacker as he’s very good against the pass game. His zone awareness and ability to drop into coverage is as good as any college LB you’ll scout. The speed and agility is there to get to places that most can’t and he’s not just someone who can take away zones, he’s productive with 7 career interceptions including 3 this season. His speed and size also mean that he’s got a lot of man coverage ability, you didn’t see it much at NC State but it’s there. As a blizter, he’s effective and agile and plays with a physicality to jar guards or centers and even showed an aptitude off the edge.

He’s an absolute stud and is the best LB in this class. In fact he’s underrated. His H-W-S is elite and on top of it, he’s an exceptional 3 down player who shows high level productivity. He has two knocks on him, one is that he plays too aggressively downhill and needs to make sure that he maintains gap integrity. The second is the injury history and it’s a real thing, shoulder and knee injuries and being 24 years old have to make you a bit wary. If he didn’t have those things though he’d be a mid-1 grade from me. As it is, I’m going to give him an 85 grade as this year’s best LB. 

I was crazy high on Wilson BEFORE the Combine but 4.43 at  6’4 233 cemented him as the LB1 by a mile. 

29. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia 85

McConkey is an ultra quick route runner who runs the ball with good vision as a WR and can play inside or outside in the NFL. He is sudden off the ball with plus acceleration and is sudden in his ability to get in and out of breaks. McConkey is a professional route runner already and is one of the best in this draft at creating separation. I had McConkey as a 3rd round pick coming into this season but even with an injury he continued to show improvement in his route running ability and showed himself to be an even better playmaker. He’s a round 2 WR who should work best on teams where they isolate players as he’s extremely difficult to defend short area as his acceleration, quickness, and route running are high level.

The nice thing about drafting McConkey to the NFL is that you know what you’re getting. He’s 6’0 and around 185-190 pounds and while he looks bigger out on the field he’s not probably going to be great in contested catch situations in the NFL. He has good speed but not elite and while it’s good enough to challenge DB’s it’s not going to threaten good ones. What he is though is a good Z WR in the NFL with an ability to play in the slot with plus acceleration and route running skills. He creates separation in zone and man very well and utilizes leverage at a very high level. This leads to him being a very QB friendly player and will almost certainly lead to a long NFL career of chain moving.

He’s good after the catch as well. It’s not that he’s going to break a ton of tackles, but he catches the ball and gets upfield well with good vision and a quick first step that allows him to pick up a few yards after every grab. He is a plus punt returner and utilizes that on screens and crossing routes, meaning that he should be a good chain mover in the NFL. He reminds me a bit of Tyler Lockett as a route runner, showing enough speed to threaten a defense and being able to play inside or outside, and his acceleration into and out of breaks is what makes him so tough to defend.

Obviously he’s had some injury issues here and there and the lack of size worries you a bit about whether he can consistently hold up in the NFL. His lack of bulk also makes you wonder if he is lined up at the Z spot can he get off press constantly, he’s got good quickness but he’ll need to play strong. He also lacks bigtime upside as he isn’t the biggest,strongest, faster guy out there. That said, he projects as a very nice ancillary weapon in the NFL and someone who likely can come in and be very QB friendly, pick up lots of first downs, and create some explosive plays and RAC yards. Tough not to like him -

He went to the Senior Bowl and looked exceptionally difficult to cover there. Again the upside is limited but there are schemes where I see McKonkey and I think he could be Terry McLaurin, Cooper Kupp, or Devonta Smith in the NFL with those nasty routes and if given some space and particularly in a motion offense he could be a deadly weapon. He looks the part of a 2 with upside and while he’ll likely go in round 2, if he snuck into round one as a surprise I get it, his ability to separate is very good. 

30. WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida 85

Pearsall is an impressive route runner with a good combination of initial acceleration and pure speed. Pearsall is a legitimate 20+MPH burner with enough agility and quickness to get in and out of breaks easily. At 6’1 and 193 pounds he offers decent size and the quickness to likely play Z or Slot at the next level and at Mobile he showed what he’s capable of when he gets space to operate. He consistently improved throughout his career and culminated his college tenure with an impressive 965 yard season this year for the Gators. His combination of speed and route running acumen along with some good vision after the catch puts him easily into day two of the draft. That said, I think he’s in the 5 most underrated players in this entire class. He’s one of the guys I’m going to target hard and if he goes in round 3 like most are saying here in February I’d trade up to get him. People who can get open that easily AND can catch in traffic like he can are rare, he’s a high end WR2 in the NFL.

Every tape I watch with Pearsall I just keep saying, damn he’s a stud. He has enough speed vertically to threaten defenses and he’s plus at tracking the football. Watching him at Mobile you could see how easily he tracked the deep ball and made plays on it. Then you watch him on game tapes and it’s similar. The LSU game for example, he’s able to just go up and get it and despite being 6’1 he plays more like 6’4 with the ball in the air. However, his main skill is just his ability to create separation. The knock on him was his ability to separate down the field but the fact that he’s plus in contested catch situations, AND he showed at Mobile that he has plenty of juice that should not be an issue now. If you put the tape on, he’s got more than enough speed.

The other thing that makes him someone who is a plus player is he’s really good after the catch. In high school he was a Wildcat QB and you can see the vision, toughness, and quickness once he catches the ball. He’s got a good stiff arm but he’s also got wiggle after the catch to make the first guy miss. He’s got 21 career carries and has averaged a ridiculous 12 yards per attempt on those carries for 5 TDs, he’s pretty dynamic with the ball in his hands. It’ll serve him well from the slot but also as a guy who can give you those fly sweeps and end arounds to pick up chunk plays. He’s a plus blocker as well, using great hand placement and getting his feet into proper position.

I want him on my team. He’s a plus route runner, good blocker, has good speed and plus acceleration. I like that he’s good with the ball in his hands, has decent size and all the worries about him against press or with deep speed have been answered at the Senior Bowl. I do think that while he’s good at everything, he may not be great at anything other than maybe intermediate separation. That’s a very important skill but it does probably cap his upside. That said he looks the part of a high end WR2 for me who can play Z, X, or Y and that versatility is key. He’s a player who should go early in round 2 but he likely won’t until round 3 and that’s a steal. He’s a huge target of mine. 

31. Christian Haynes, G UCONN 85

I absolutely love Haynes as a prospect. He was up on some boards due to some really impressive analytical numbers the past three seasons but went to Mobile and is just a freaking brick house in terms of not allowing anything. Haynes is a rare guard who doesn’t give ground when pushed and actually keeps a clean pocket, rarely allowing pocket collapses and it’s I think the most underrated skill as an interior lineman. Haynes may be capped in terms of overall upside by being a bit shorter and he’s physical, strong, and uses an elite base. He’s a massively underrated prospect and will go much farther down the draft board than he should on draft day. 

As a pass protector he’s got enough lateral agility that speed guys aren’t going to whip past him and his anchor is elite. At only 6’2.5 you wonder about length but he’s got almost 34 inch arms from the interior, tackle like length with exceptional leverage. Haynes at 318 pounds is built rock solidly and on tape he’s a really plus athlete, playing with speed and quickness. Elite anchor with plus agility leads to being a top tier pass projector and that’s what Haynes is. It’s not just on tape either, the numbers back it up as Haynes gave up a total of 4 QB hits and 3 sacks, over his past 2400 sacks, with just 20 hurries in that entire timespan. Those are beyond insane numbers. 

As a run blocker he uses his leverage, length, and quickness to play whichever style you want. This is why I like him so much as a player and a potential draft pick is that you can play gap, wide zone, inside zone, it doesn’t matter. Jones isn’t just physical and tough, and play with grit, he also has impressive quickness and was one of only a handful of players in Mobile on the OL to hit 14 MPH on the GPS. He’s quick, fast, and physical.

Look I can keep getting into this but I think you know where I stand here. He’s the exact type of player you want at guard, and while he took some snaps at center in Mobile, and he could definitely do that, he looks the part of a high end starting guard in the NFL. He’s a brick wall in pass protection with impressive physicality and good movement skills. He won’t go in round 2 but he’s at least that good, and he may end up being one of the 32 best players in this class if you take positional value out of the equation. 

32. CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri 85

Rakestraw on tape is a physical attacking cornerback who wants to come up and hit you and get his hands on you every single play. He’s a phenomenal tackler as a defensive back and he wants to come up and make plays on the ball whenever he can. In 2023 he might be the best corner at playing the WR screen game. Rakestraw reminds me a bit of Moody Ward in that he is going to get right into your body playing press,at the top of the route, or on those WR screen plays. He also attacks the football on ball carriers, multiple times stripping the football down the field and forcing it out. While it’s a LONG time down the road, his physicality could mean he could be a high level safety late in his career. Overall he’s a guy who could be a first round corner and he’s right in the round one or early round 2 conversation.

Rakestraw is tough to grade out because well, nobody really threw at him this year. In 2022 he got thrown at a touch more, being targeted a little over 50 times and was good but not elite. He did have his lone interception in his career that season sa he’ll work on punching the ball out but his overall hands are poor. This year he just wasn’t targeted much as he does a very good job of staying in a WR’s pocket and shows an aptitude for getting to the spot on slants and particularly down the field. Rakestraw has decent size at 6’0 and 187 pounds, and obviously with his physicality he plays bigger than that. You have to worry about his frame a bit as in 2022 he weighed in at just 175 pounds and the way he plays the game could end up making him an injury risk. 

He’s someone who I think projects best as a cover-3 cornerback who can play press man and has the range to play deep and the toughness to play short. I like that there isn’t an area of the field where he hasn’t shown an aptitude for coverage as there’s not a route where he struggles to cover. I do worry a bit about him grabbing at the top of the route and his physicality may end up costing him a bit as in the NFL stronger and bigger bodied guys are going to probably play through him a bit more. That siad, his ability to turn and run and cover all 3 levels is plus. I love the physical nature of his game and his range as a cover guy pops. I think he’s a late 1 who if he can develop hands and on ball production could be a very good corner in the league. 

33. WR Xavier Worthy, Texas 84

A skinny WR with exceptional deep speed and short area explosiveness. Worthy has really impressive first step acceleration and can get from standing still to 10 yards down the field in a blink. He’s got enough deep ball juice to run by almost any defensive back he’ll go up against and at times he’s a filthy route runner who can create separation by using a plus wind-down ability and that threat of going deep.  At 6’1 and about 170 pounds you can see at times the lack of strength in his hands and catching in traffic lowers his grade but you can’t teach his acceleration and after the catch ability. He’s rated too low on too many boards right now and classifies as a perfect early second round pick.

As a pure receiver there is so much to like here. Worthy can create space from the slot or out wide as he runs routes very well. He can go from full speed to a quick cut or a comeback route as well as anyone you’ll watch. At 6’1 he has good size and the speed he has can threaten and beat any defense deep on any play, he’s a sub 4.4 guy without question. He tracks the deep ball pretty well as well. Those are all pros, the cons show up though as well. Worthy isn’t a great catcher of the football and while he won’t drop a super high percentage, he definitely struggles to come down with some that you think he should. His play at the catch point isn’t great and he also isn’t high level along the sidelines. It’s what knocks his grade down for me from a mid first to a high second - drops and plays that he could make that he doesn’t.

Where he looks incredible though is after the catch. He has an ability to take a short crosser or a screen pass and get to top speed in a blink. Despite only being 175 pounds too, he has plus contact balance and is able to make the first guy miss at a very high level. When he does that outside it can always lead to a big play as he simply burns up the sidelines. 

This is an easy evaluation honestly, Worthy is an absolute freak burner with plus-plus acceleration. Despite his size he plays with good contact balance and isn’t afraid to break tackles or work for extra yards. He’s a good route runner who at times is a great route runner and I doubt teams are able to handle him one one one often. I wish he were a bit more aware though, his lack of sideline catches and being mediocre against zone is bothersome. But the main issue here is can you trust his size. Worthy is about 170 pounds and those guys REALLY have a hard time staying healthy in the league. I bet he gets pushed down much later than he should go due to that and I get it. Can he get off press? Can he stay healthy? Can he make contested catches, will his concentration drops knock him down? All questions that push him from where I have him in the top 3rd or round 2 to where most have him in the middle of day 2. I’d bet on him. 

Well, when I said he was a legit sub 4.4 guy I had NO idea he was a 4.21 guy. Obviously I had him at the top of round 2 anyway but now you can make a case to take him in the first clearly. I kept him where I have him as a very high round 2 grade. 

34. DL Darius Robinson, Missouri 84

Just a dominating performance at Mobile, coupled with plus power, and plus versatility makes Robinson someone to watch toward the end of day one. NFL teams have started to put more and more value on guys like Robinson and it’s easy to see why. Robinson had a very nice year for Mizzou this past season rushing from a variety of positions, including the 5 and 7T. The last two seasons before he had played over 600 snaps inside too, showing that versatility that makes him an intriguing guy. Playing more outside freed him up and Robinson picked up 27 hurries this season and 9 sacks for the Tigers and burst onto the scene. His impressive work in one on ones and during the team phase of practices in Mobile cemented his place higher up the draft board. 

As a pass rusher I love that there’s some versatility on where you can line him up. At 6’5 and 290 pounds with almost 35 inch arms, he’s built like an ideal 5T. He’ll probably play some 4I and 5T for teams or even as a jumbo base for guys ala Cam Jordan for the Saints. He has that type of feel to his game, not saying he’s going to be Cam Jordan but you can watch Robinson and see some of that. He has a filthy punch and swipe move and enough ankle agility and bend to actually make plays on the QB despite his height and length. There are two thing that likely cap his pass rushing ability right now though, number one is that he seems to be a one trick pony with either a power rush or a swipe move. He doesn’t have counters off of it and lacks the burst to really threaten the edge on NFL tackles. The second thing is his short area burst is only okay, its’ good for an inside player but not for an edge, so you wonder how that translates.

As a run defender I feel like as a 34 base end he could really be a highly productive player. His length could make him an ideal 43 base DE as a jumbo sized one who is there to create havoc in terms of stacking up tackles because his length and power is going to be an impressive piece to the puzzle for NFL teams. I love how he can stack and shred and get off blocks and it’s where I think he could be really effective for NFL teams. I think 34 teams should be higher on him than 43 teams but he could play either and that versatility along with length, strength, and motor could end up making him a very nice player. I don’t see round one for Robinson, but I think he’s a high end R2 player who will be higher on teams boards that use 3 man fronts occasionally or often and his ability to play 3 to 9 on the front isn’t something that’s for show, he can actually be effective at all those spots, that’s rare. High end round 2 guy, with high floor and solid ceiling. 

35. WR - Keon Coleman, Florida State 84

Coleman makes some of the most ridiculous catches you will ever see. If you have a QB that needs some accuracy help, getting him the 6’4 220 pound Coleman will be one of the best things you can do. While Coleman doesn’t gain separation constantly, which lowers his floor substantially, his ability to make contested catches is beyond compare. He’s a redzone freak who thrives in deep contested catch situations and he's the player with by far the largest catch radius in this draft. There are some issues with his game that put him a notch below the other top tier players in this class at his position but he’s an ideal X WR who has really good RAC ability for his size and the best special catch ability in this draft. 

We’ll start with the obvious stuff here. Coleman makes some obscene catches. He’s a tremendous guy at the point of the ball and is going to help your team tremendously in the red zone and making big plays down the field. There aren’t a ton of players who are able to be open when they aren’t open but he’s one of them, using his size and jumping ability to high point the ball. It will be extremely difficult for smaller defenders to compete with him there. He uses his body well to shield people on the backside slant, an important thing for the X WR to be able to do. He also is very impressive after the catch, particularly for someone his size. There are very few 6’4 guys who make as many people miss as Coleman does. He doesn’t possess great speed but his physicality and vision after the catch are impressive, enough so that he was the punt returner for Florida State and averaged 12 yards per return this season. 

He’s a notch below the others because while his highlights are insane, his consistency, route running, and speed are below theirs. He looks more the part of a WR2 and certainly has a lower floor than the others. Coleman struggles to gain separation on a consistent basis because he takes too many false steps and has a harder time transitioning off his breaks. He also isn’t typically going to run by many guys as for his size his speed is good but it’s below the top 3. Lack of separation is something that triggers issues at the NFL level and while he is obviously a contested catch stud, it does mean that there will be games where he’s not going to have the same type of effect as higher level route runners. 

Overall what you’re getting here is a prototype X WR, but one with better than typical RAC ability. That’s something that’s an impressive combination. He is going to help your team immediately as he can simply make catches that very few players, NFL included, can make right now. He’s someone who could end up scoring a lot of TDs and making big plays down the field but I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a high volume type player so a high end WR2 type is likely where he fits best. He’s a valuable piece if an NFL offense can deploy him correctly. 

As the process wore on I became less and less enamored with Coleman. A huge chunk of his production was in week 1 and after that the tape wasn’t quite as good. The separation issue became more apparent the more tape I watched and he looks way more like a two with a lower floor than I originally thought. I dropped him to an early 2 from a top 20 pick as the tape and then the Combine continued to add layers to the evaluation as he ran a bit slower in the 40 but carried great speed in the gauntlet. He’s a difficult evaluation but if he goes in round 2 you’re getting very nice value. 

36. OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale 84

His athleticism and length are the real deal on tape. He’s got some holes that he absolutely needs to get figured out, including a tendency to lean forward and his hand placement being inconsistent but there are way more things to like than not like for Amegadije. It’s impressive watching him get out of his stance and climb to the second level or pull around, he’s got good movement skills. Amegadije is able to quickly get himself in position on run plays and his acceleration out of his stance is impressive, regardless of level of competition. With plus athleticism and elite level arm length he’s got a ton of raw talent, the technique will come, particularly if you give him a year or two to season up in the League, he has an impressive ceiling.

I’m going to be honest, there is a ridiculous amount of talent here. While his punch and hand placement both need work, his pure tools are through the roof. I think you can make an argument he’s a 10/10 on the H/W/S scale for offensive tackles. The tape looks plus, but of course he’s going up against very low level talent here but you can’t deny the physical tools. You just don’t see dudes with this much athleticism be 6’5, 320 pounds with 36 inch arms which are ridiculously long. The other piece to this that I like is that he likes to finish plays. A lot of guys who are that long are push blockers but Amegadije isn’t. He wants to take people down and blow them off the football. Again, it’s easier at that level, but you have to have that level of fight in you, and he has it.

This is a huge projection because that level of competition on tape is just weak. He also is too aggressive at times in the run game and particularly at the second level and he’ll get knocked off balance to the front, allowing second level defenders to get through. I also think that the jump from the Ivy League to the NFL is going to take some time. That said, there are a number of D2/D3 players who have jumped up in competition and in a year or two have been very good pros. He looks like the perfect guy to stash for a year and let him develop because there’s a shot he becomes a high level LT. Big big upside here, Pro Bowl upside. 

37. EDGE - Chris Braswell, Alabama 84

An absolute freak of an athlete who put up some incredible productivity this past season for Alabama. He can squat over 700 pounds and has a nearly 40 inch vertical leap at 255 pounds. Crimson Tide next gen stats clocked him over 21 MPH during the 2023 offseason and you can see that burst on film - dude is a certified 10/10 in athleticism. He’s not just an athlete though - Braswell was maybe the most efficient player in college football in 2023, putting up 56 total pressures on just 563 total snaps. He’s not the world’s bendiest athlete and his fluidity and bend are both average, and his pass rush plan is limited. That said, he looks like a very good secondary rusher in the NFL and someone who has a high floor due to his athleticism, strength, and versatility.

Other than his athleticism, where Braswell shines is that he does a lot of things pretty well. He’s a strong edge setter despite mediocre to below average length for an edge. For a good sized DE he also shows really good ability in short zones and even dropping into coverage. These are both reasons why I believe he could excel in a 34 system where he can be freed up to use his speed and athleticism more. He also isn’t super fluid so getting him a running start or from farther out will allow him to attack angles more, as his speed is an absolute weapon. I love the versatility he provides.

As a pure pass rusher there are definitely things to like. At the NFL level he is going to be able to simply be a better athlete than a lot of guys across from him and there aren’t a ton of players coming into the league where that’s the case. Due to that, if you can get him in a high blitz system where he can use that speed and quickness, he could be very effective. He isn’t very long and isn’t a nuanced pass rusher, he uses speed to power a ton and his technique and hand usage along with rushing plan is limited. He’s not going to bend the edge consistently and get you a dozen sacks that way but he could be very effective as part of a scheme.

He’s a good football player with excellent traits. I think in a 34 system he’d be at his best but his strength and physicality at the point wouldn’t preclude me from drafting him in a 34 system. He played a good amount of 4 and 5T at Alabama in their 3 man fronts and it was fun to watch him go from that to a speed rusher. His ability to drop into coverage is a plus, so we have some really good things to work with here. I would say he’s a high level 2nd round pick as he’s not going to get a ton of work done on his own but his skill set is impressive. Good player, great athlete, would love it if my team snagged him in round 2. 

38. OL Dominck Puni, Kansas 84

Jumped off the screen at the Senior Bowl and looks like one of those rare guys that could play all over an NFL line and be successful. One word that stands out when you watch Puni in pass pro is smooth, he never looks rattled. They moved him inside to center and guard this week and it didn’t matter. He can handle power, he can handle speed. Every year there are a couple of guys where you know they’ll work out in the NFL because they can play all over the place and at worst are going to give you that versatility. Give me Dominck Puni on the second day of the draft and I know that my floor is going to be super high, and the fact that he just looks smooth as hell in pass pro makes me like him even more. He’s one of my guys, whoever gets him is going to get someone who is going to help you build out your roster. The upside as an interior player is also pretty high. 

The thing about Puni is they wanted him to move inside from LT this season, but he played left guard in 2022 and in those two seasons combined he gave up one qb hit… one in 1600 snaps. I also understand that teams wanted to see him inside, even at center at Mobile, I wanted to see it too. However, the guy weighed in at 6’4.3 with almost 34 inch arms at 323 pounds, he certainly has the length to play tackle in the NFL, yet another check mark in his column as far as I can tell. Now he does look better when he’s allowed to not be in space and can use good athleticism and a strong punch to get movement and also climb to the second level so he’s better inside but the ability to kick outside is important.

His strengths are pretty evident. Puni has super heavy powerful hands that absolutely stun defenders. The ways guys are able to win reps against him are with second efforts as he typically lands that first punch but guys are able to redirect off of him. He’s athletic though and powerful and when he climbs to the second level he hits his marks exceptionally well. In fact, he plays with good athletic ability to climb but also doesn’t get out of control once he’s there. There are tapes where it’s impressive how he gets up there and then actually lays a block, so many OL climb and then whiff, he hits. He also is calm as can be in pass pro, never panicking, and looking smooth and agile up front, whether at tackle or on the interior. 

There are some negatives here though. He plays super high at times and it leads to some weird punches and initial blocks and at the next level that might be a problem. It will definitely be a problem with leverage on the interior. Puni may struggle and get jarred if he plays that high and while he’s strong and agile, he better get his ass lower or it won’t work well on the inside in the NFL. He also needs to work on block sustaining as he wins early but sometimes doesn’t finish the block. It’s not due to temperament but mostly due to hand placement. That high initial contact doesn’t lend itself well to working off of second moves and it’s where he needs to improve. 

I really like him a lot. He’s a good football player who has plus ability in pass pro, good athleticism, and his overall tape is filled with way more wins than losses. He went to Mobile on the inside and nothing changed from the tape. He’s got a wicked punch and doesn’t lose quickly, ever. His versatility is a plus and if you can get him to work on his leverage he has a chance to be a very good interior player with the ability to be a tackle as well. I think he can play gap or zone and would probably thrive in an inside zone scheme as a guard. I need him to play with better leverage or he won’t be a good center but he 100% has the ability. He’s a perfect third round pick with high floor, great versatility, and I think a plus ceiling, but to me he’s a second round player. Really good. 

39. CB - Elijah Jones, Boston College 84

Well while he’s not a perfect CB prospect, you can’t start this writeup without talking about the fact that his passer rating against in 2023 was 18.1. He had 5 interceptions and allowed a grand total of 1 TD this past season, allowing just 13 of the 40 passes thrown at him to be completed. So, we know that the high end part of Jones game can be really damn impressive - he did that on 524 snaps so people weren’t throwing the football his way, and when they were, they weren’t catching it often. On top of that the guy has a pretty absurd 36 passes defensed in his career, so the highs are impressive here for the BC corner. He’s also 6’2, runs a 4.44 and has a 42.5 inch vertical, so it’s fair to say the athleticism and ball production numbers are something that should catch everyone’s eye. Based on just that, he’s a first round corner, so why is he listed so low on everyone’s board - except mine.

First off he’s definitely thin, way too thin to be honest with you. Jones at 6’1.5 is only 185 pounds and that’s likely about 7-10 pounds more than he weighed in during the season. The fact he kept up his speed with that weight is a great sign though and it for sure helped me bump him up a grade or two. Secondly he’s not very good at getting off of blocks in the run game. There are times on tape that you wonder where he is on a play down his sideline despite the fact that he is lined up there and had been playing press. He also can get a bit too upright when he transitions out of his backpedal and so guys who can stop quickly can get back downhill to make plays, ultra quick guys can get him occasionally. 

That said, I don't really care. He’s a dynamic press man corner who just simply allowed virtually nothing against him all season. Jones took a massive leap forward this year and essentially was a human eraser on one side of the field for Boston College. On top of that he has tremendous height, plus speed, and an exceptional vertical to challenge throws down his sideline. Do you want him doing anything other than playing press man, no definitely not, as his transitions from off man are mediocre at best, but he’s very good at what he does and on top of it, he has plus ball skills bordering on plus-plus. 

For some reason he’s not beloved in this process. He’s being rated somewhere in the 13-20 range for corners by virtually everyone and it’s kind of a travesty. You watch him during the Senior Bowl and he’s in everyone’s hip. Yes he gave up a catch or two but ultimately, he’s very sticky in coverage and he’s not going to get out-athleted in the league. If he can add another 5-10 pounds in good weight and maintain his speed, while working on some transitions he could be a very good starter in the NFL. Yes it’s team specific but cover 3 or even cover 1 teams who love to play press man he’s very damn good and should be a high second round pick, not someone who is projected to go in rounds 4 or 5. Has the potential to be a steal. 

40. OT - Jordan Morgan, Arizona, 84

Morgan came back from a torn ACL late in the 2022 season to put up a very strong season as a starter at the LT position for the Wildcats this season. He’s an agile mover who does a good job in pass protection with solid movement skills and good footwork. I like how easily he can change direction for someone 320+ pounds and he is able to change and swap defensive line games easily. You don’t see him panic often against the rush, simply moving off one block to the other. He’s got really good movement skills and lateral agility for someone who is 6’5 and 325 pounds, but his below average length and an “outside catching” technique at times in both pass pro and in gap concepts hurts his tackle upside. He may end up being a guard. He’s a good player though who is probably a late first or early second round draft pick, but I’d prefer him in round 2.

As a pure pass protector there are mostly positives here from Morgan. He’s got those quick feet and graded out as one of the better pass protectors in college football this season. He gave up just 3 combined sacks over the past two seasons and just 13 hurries this year. It’s impressive to watch his lateral quickness.  I think he’s better suited inside at guard in pass pro potentially though as the lack of length can sometimes lead him to getting walked back by longer DE’s and stronger ones. His functional strength is adequate but not impressive. He does sometimes get a slightly late jump off the snap, and while his quickness allowed him to recover mostly in college, that may not translate to the league. Also Morgan despite good feet has a catch motion where his arms get very far outside his body when he works in pass pro, it will lead to him getting straight armed by longer DT’s and that’s not something that will work in the NFL.

As a run blocker his athleticism is his calling card. He’s very quick and agile and uses that to get to the edges of defensive players both inside and outside. Morgan is an impressive zone blocker who can use his speed and his short area burst to create holes. While he’s not a powerful blocker he walls off defenders fairly well and projects as a good zone run blocker and a below average gap blocker.

He’s a good player, but he’s not a 1. With the NFL line play being as bad as it is and how badly teams want depth and particularly someone who could play LT in the league, I’d be surprised if Morgan lasts until round 2 but he’s a round 2 player to me. He has below average length for a tackle but good quickness and agility and probably would be a very good guard when asked to pull. If this grade were for him to simply be a guard it’d probably be higher, in fact as a guard he may be somewhere in the 86 range but the lack of power may limit the upside there. Morgan is good, and probably will be a nice starter in the NFL with a good floor due to position versatility. 

41. WR - Devontez Walker, UNC 84

I think I might like Walker more than most do. He’s a 6’2 200 pound guy with plus athleticism and speed who has really good acceleration. I like how quickly he can get to top speed and it leads to him making big plays in both the intermediate and deep areas of the field. Walker put up 18 TD receptions in the last two seasons in just 20 games and put up almost 17 yards per catch for his college career. His explosiveness and acceleration along with plus size makes him one of the more high upside WRs in this year’s class, but it may take a while for that development in the NFL.

Where he’s going to thrive in the NFL is the same place he showed his dynamic ability in college, with his speed and acceleration. You don’t see 6’2-6’3 guys show his level of burst off the line very often. It leaps off the screen to me how quickly he can get to full speed and then how fast he actually is once he hits his full stride. I don’t know if he’s going to run 4.4 or 4.5 or whatever but it’s his ability to get from 0-60 that separates him from other players at his size. He uses that speed very well to run by guys whether on inside post routes from the slot or go routes from the outside. Then with the acceleration to get on DBs toes so quickly he is able to catch a ton of 7-10 yard out routes. A QB with a big time arm can utilize him as a vertical passing weapon easily. 

There are some things to his game that worry you if you’re an OC looking to draft Walker though. Despite having good size, he’s not great in contested catch situations. From someone who does this consistently, that isn’t something that usually improves in the NFL. He needs to be open to cause an impact. With that said, he’s also not the cleanest route runner, that can be improved in the NFL though. He takes double steps too often and needs more moves to help him get off press coverage. He looks like he has pretty good feel for zone, but again, needs improvement. A lot of this can be addressed with coaching though, and considering he ranked in the 80-85% range in separation it’s not something that terrifies you because his speed plays, but for him to be a good WR2 or even turn into a WR1 he’s going to have to get crisper with his routes.

I really like him a lot. I see a ton of potential here and the fact that his play already is very productive without being super smooth as a route runner shows that there’s even more to uncover here. I do worry a bit about the fact his RAC ability is mostly based on speed and acceleration and that he takes too long to wind down on routes but these aren’t awful things on tape either, just things that need refinement. He has plus potential in the NFL as a very good WR2 or even a low end WR1. His acceleration is elite. I’d look to take him early in round 2 but wouldn’t hate someone snagging him late in round 1 if they have a big armed QB and a chain mover already on their roster. 

I can’t deny that I dropped him down a slot or two after the Senior Bowl. He showed some impressive things there with good secondary movement skills and an ability to create downfield separation as well as running 21+MPH, but he fought the football HARD during this week. I lost track of how many drops he had and in a situation where it’s your biggest scouting week of your life to have THAT many drops, and even some that he caught were bobbles. He’s impressive, but he became more risky. 

42. WR - Adonai Mitchell, Texas 84

Came into the combine and ended up at 6’2 not 6’4. 

A tall, long X WR who had a big time year this year for Texas. Mitchell played early in his career at Georgia but transferred this year to Austin and made a big impact for the Longhorn passing game. He’s 6’4 but only about 190 pounds and his thin frame is a bit of a concern in projecting him to the NFL. He showed an ability to snatch the ball out of the air though, making some really high level grabs and showing an aptitude for making difficult catches. He also though is not the world’s greatest contested catch guy, something that bothers me a bit for someone with his height. It lowers his ceiling at the next level. He looks like a good solid second round X WR who should help teams in the redzone and making big downfield plays.

While there are quite a few positives to his game I think we need to understand Mitchell doesn’t come without some floor worries. He’s thin and his contested catches this season at times were not elite. Players can play through him and it causes incompletions that maybe shouldn’t be. Also at 6’4 (6’2 at the combine) he’s a good route runner for his size, but obviously, he’s not going to be some elite route runner as he doesn’t necessarily wind down like you’d want. That’s fine for a guy like Mtichell who is going to play the X and help mostly with vertical routes but his speed looks average for the NFL. 

Where he looks to be solid though is that he does have good route running ability overall. And for someone who is 6’4 to be able to actually win at all three levels is pretty rare. While his lack of functional strength worries me some for playing him simply as an in-line X WR, utilizing him with some motion could alleviate some of those issues, but again, not what you want to do all the time from someone who is 6’4. He has strong hands and his catch radius could be very helpful in the redzone. His best attribute though may be his intermediate route running where he can throttle down fairly quickly and win against zone consistently. 

I like Mitchell as a high second round wideout who can help a team in a variety of ways. I do think he’s somewhat limited in terms of grade due to the fact that he’s a nice player but there is a floor here that would be worrisome. He projects as a WR2 in the NFL and I don’t see WR1 as a possibility so you’re taking someone likely with a round two pick without a huge ceiling and with a floor problem, it would bother me to take him unless I had some weapons around him. As a third weapon he could thrive in a motion based offense though, where he can use his short and intermediate route running and size combination to his advantage. It’s where he thrives and what his primary role should be in the NFL. 

His 40 time at the combine helped him on my board. I don’t use those numbers a ton but ceiling was my fear and now a lot of that went away as he posted insane numbers there. He also lost a bit of grade though in that he’s only 6’2 and not 6’4. So overall it ended up muting each other out a tiny bit but I do think the ceiling is higher than I originally thought. 

43. OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington 83

Reps I saw at the Senior Bowl looked pretty impressive as he was low on my radar as a mid day 3 pick before everything started. Then I went back and watched more and more Senior Bowl reps and he didn’t lose many. I also watched a ton of Washington tape watching all their offensive stars and he showed up, and showed out. The past two seasons Rosengarten gave up a grand total of 0 sacks and 5 hits in over 1200 snaps. He’s not an elite athlete on film and not overly long or powerful but he gets the job done with an impressive consistency. I originally thought he’d be a good swing tackle,but I was wrong, he’s better than that. I’d be shocked if he’s not a quality starter in the NFL. He’s underrated, maybe a lot underrated, in an ultra deep tackle class, he could end up as an exceptional consolation prize to a team that misses one earlier during Draft Weekend.

Rosengarten as a pass protector is way better than most people think. He never loses quickly and his pass block win rate has to be among the best in the nation. Yes he gets help occasionally, but it’s rare as UW’s offense was wide open most of the time in pass concepts. Yes there are some things that won’t translate well here. He bends at the waist sometimes, isn’t the most fluid guy, and his length is below average. He also only weighs a bit over 300 pounds and typically isn’t going to wow you with his anchor, but he doesn’t lose. The transition may even lead to him playing inside at guard at the next level but the guy wins so many reps I want to give him a shot.

As a run blocker he’s physical and plays mean. That Washington line and offense, everyone talked about the passing game, and rightfully so with a top 10 prospect overall at WR and two more day 2 kids at that position, along with a Heisman trophy finalist. However, that line could really run block and they did it in a variety of ways. Again, Rosengarten isn’t overly powerful or dynamic as a player here, but he gets the freaking job done. 

This changed a bit, sounds like teams caught on to his tape later in the process and now he seems like the 3rd round is more likely for him, even as high as round 2.

Apparently I underrated his athleticism as he ran the fastest 40 time of all OL at the Combine. It pushed him up a bit. He’s someone I really like and feel like he’s a sleeper in this class. He began to rise up through the process at the end which made me happy for him as he was obviously underrated. I just kept moving him up the board. I went back and watched even more tape and he just didn’t lose reps. Even at the Senior Bowl, his win rate was really impressively high. I had him as a 76 and thought it was higher than most. Then moved him to an 80 and thought oh I’ll have him as a sleeper. Then watched more tape and consulted my OL guru and we both agreed he’s just simply better than that.

Rosengarten is ready to start right now. I think he could play tackle, I know he’d be a good guard. Pushed him up to the point where he’s going to be on some boards as high as late round 1. Everyone, myself included, was just  too low on him to start. 

44. QB - Michael Penix Jr, Washington 83

Penix is probably the poster child for great college player who won’t translate as well to the NFL. He throws with wonderful anticipation and has plus accuracy, particularly when he’s in rhythm. Penix has good size at 6 '3 and about 215 pounds and has put up video game numbers in his two seasons with the Huskies after transferring in from Indiana. At the time of this writeup in October he’s the front runner for the Heisman trophy and is second in the country in yards while completing a crazy 72% of his passes. His combination of anticipation and rhythm throwing, along with solid football IQ projects Penix to be a capable low to mid level starter in the NFL. NFL scouts are enamored with him, putting him potentially into the top 10 but I just honestly don’t see that. I think he is likely to be a decent mid-level starter which is very valuable but not a high round one player. 

Penix is older for a QB prospect after going through 4 seasons at Indiana before moving on to Washington. Once he got to Seattle they unleashed him. Penix improved his accuracy and the rhythm passing game there fit his skillset. The ball consistently gets out on time there and he clearly is able to read defenses and he knows where the ball should go immediately. I was wondering about his arm strength but he can flat out spin it, the more tape I watched the more obvious it is that he can rip the football. I like how quickly he gets through progressions and the fact his offense at Washington goes vertically and horizontally shows his aptitude to make a variety of throws and change velocities and arc. 

The issues with Penix are that he had 3 serious injuries while at Indiana and they’re bad enough they could have a lasting impact on his career longevity. When he’s pressured and has to get off his spot his accuracy wanes and he simply never got hit at UW. I worry about his ability to work with dirty pockets or with people at his feet. Some people are capable of that, and others consistently struggle with it in the NFL even though they are productive players. (Derek Carr comes to mind for me here. Nice NFL player but when it’s muddied up in front of him he’s not the same player). Before the Final Four, Penix was pressured on just 135 dropbacks this season, and he posted an NCAA passer rating of 78.8 which was 42nd in college football. His completion percentage was 72nd, and his catchable passes was an abysmal 138th - All stats according to Sports Info Solutions. I didn’t track every throw but based on the half dozen tapes I watched the numbers match up with the film.  He also has a weird delivery where it’s compact and not necessarily ¾ but funky, and you wonder how that will hold up long term in the NFL. It’s fine again, from a clean pocket and when the routes are on time, but when it gets muddied up his ability to improvise, create, and throw with accuracy drops substantially.

I think Penix is a guy who could end up being a nice player in the NFL. I don’t see him as a franchise quarterback but think he’s got a shot to be a nice low-mid level starter. I don’t like the idea of drafting Penix to develop him because he’s an older player - he’ll be 24 close to draft time - and the things he thrives in doing are things that you develop QBs to do. He goes through progressions well and gets the ball out quickly to the correct guy. I just think his upside and injury history would prevent me from putting too much capital into him as a prospect. He’ll go way ahead of where I’d select him - possibly as high as top 10. 

45. OT - Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma 83

Guyton has tremendous upside as a tackle prospect with incredible speed and movement skills for someone who weighs in at 328 pounds. It’s rare to see someone at tackle run as quickly as Guyton can and it really does jump off the screen on tape. He moves like a Tight End but he’s 60 pounds heavier than most TEs. Guyton doesn’t have much experience, as this year was his lone season starting in his career and it shows up fairly often with technique issues, leverage problems, and some inconsistency with footwork. However, that’s to be expected given his lack of playing time in his career and a switch over from his recruitment position which was defensive tackle. His upside is obvious though as he has truly elite upside with plus length and plus-plus athleticism for the position. Overall, Guyton has plus talent but his lack of technical refinement obviously lowers his floor which I’m a floor vs ceiling guy on the OL, he’ll likely go in round one but to me he’s clearly a round two player. High upside, but some floor issues. If he could sit year one it would do him a TON of good.

As a pure pass protector he’s kind of built in a lab at 6’7 and 328 pounds with plus-plus athleticism. His agility for someone his size is off the charts. The length is good obviously and his ability to mirror smaller players and keep them in front of him is really truly impressive. ESPN stats had him with zero sacks allowed this season. His potential here is really impressive. The downside here though is he just needs more reps as his technique and footwork have some inconsistency and his eyes aren’t great at this point. Guyton is so quick but he’ll play too upright at times allowing himself to get a bit uprooted, he’ll also miss with his hands here and there and while he isn’t giving up sacks, he is giving up some pocket pressure. Where I need improvement though is that his eyes don’t see it yet - that’s not a knock on him - just not enough reps. Stunts, slants, and games he’ll get himself over committed to the block at hand and it leaves holes in the line that he’ll need to fix. It’s an easily fixable problem and nothing that jumps out at me but it is there.

Where I need more from him though for sure is as a run blocker. He simply lacks grip strength and pop in his hands and it allows way too many defenders to fall off of him. He’s a wall off and catch blocker which means he plays well below his natural power and he plays way too tall in the run game. Strong defensive ends are going to have no problem setting the edge on him in the power game and again his eyes miss some blocks when he’s out in space. He gets going so fast with the idea of hitting someone that he doesn’t stay disciplined and misses the first block or portion of a combo block before climbing, it leads to missed assignments. 

That said, his mobility in the run game beyond jumps out. I think his pure speed and agility for a RT is one of the best I’ve seen. He flat out moves in open space. The talent here is undeniable as I can’t describe his movement skills and fluidity for his size other than to say it’s a 10/10. He plays almost too fast out there at times though and again, more reps will allow him to get under control.

He’s got a ton of talent and the size and length combined with that speed will likely get him taken in round one. I don’t think I’m there with him as I prefer my OL with more power and more grip strength and wall off blockers are fine but he lacks the power and punch that super successful OL have in the NFL. I wonder about his natural leverage being as tall as he is and whether or not the power he needs and the eye discipline will come. His technique needs work as well so ideally he sits for a season but that is very unlikely based on where he’s projected to go. He’s a good player who is raw with great upside, and looks like a high upside second rounder, but teams love traits so Guyton could go as high as the middle of round 1, too rich for me. 

46. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota 83

Big physical safety at 6’2 and 210 pounds with excellent ball skills. Nubin can play cover 2 or cover 3 Robber and looks to have a skillset that allows him to body up Tight Ends or thrive working from a deep spot and playing downhill. I think he needs to become a more efficient tackler as he’s never put up big tackle numbers in his career and he misses some here and there but the physicality is obviously there. Nubin had an exceptionally productive career though with 50 tackles each of the past three seasons and also setting a Golden Gopher record with 13 career interceptions. He’s someone who thrives on playing a deep zone and snagging overthrows and taking advantage of QB mistakes. He looks the part of a good starting safety in the NFL who will make teams pay when they make errors while being able to play in a variety of schemes. I’m not sure he’s an elite player but looks like an obvious quality starting safety and an easy second round pick.

As a run defender it’s mostly good stuff. He’s big and physical and while in the box he’s going to have good hand usage and length for a safety and uses that to get off blocks and come downhill. When he’s playing deep there are times that he comes downhill super hard but other times where he takes strange or long angles and it leads to either tackles deep down the field or missing ones short. It’s an odd juxtaposition where I want more consistency from that part of his game. Scouts are really high on his run game skills and while I think they’re pretty good, they aren’t as good as scouts are claiming. In fact, if they WERE that good why does the guy average just 53 tackles per season over the last three years? Those are fine numbers for a safety but they don’t jump off the screen, and his 4 TFL show that while people mention how hard he comes down in run fits, he’s not exactly dynamic there. He also is an okay tackler but a lack of agility makes him miss more than you’d like. He’s improved in this area from three years ago but it’s not a clean operation. Overall good with plus size, but not as good as others say it is.

As a pass defender there’s more to like here. While deep his quickness and pure speed are only okay, and his change of direction skills are below average for a safety, his football IQ and recognition are both very good. I think he can be really good as a Cover 3 Robber where he can literally just use his recognition skills to try to make plays. He’s good in cover 2, and made a few nice plays even as a deep safety in C-1 which shows the skill there. Nubin also obviously has the size and pop in his hands to body up Tight Ends in the pass game. I don’t want him one on one consistently against athletic Tight Ends and definitely not against shifty slot guys though. If Nubin is put into that type of situation he’ll really struggle as he’s not quick. He is a very good zone safety but one who you need to get in the right situation in man defense.

I like the guy as a player and feel like he’s the perfect zone safety for round 2. He’s a good tackler and plays the game with good recognition skills. He’s got ideal size and can matchup with certain Tight Ends. I do think that his run game prowess is overrated by scouts but still is going to be an asset at the next level. He’s a good player with a good floor and someone who has shown to consistently make plays on the ball. Prototype round 2 safety, particularly for a zone heavy team. 

47. DT Braden Fiske, Florida State 83

Seemed to have systematically dominated the Senior Bowl. He’s got good size to be a 3T at 6’4 and 297 pounds and at Mobile he was able to get to the edges of interior players consistently and whether he won the rep or not, he was able to get around the pocket. It wasn’t just a good week though. Fiske played an impressive 1600 snaps for the Seminoles and put up 18 sacks from the inside along with 77 hurries over the past three seasons. He’s productive, long, and showed out versus very good players at Mobile. 

I like his activity and his hands as he is always working to make plays on the football. There are a lot of players that play similar positions him to try to work on just working the player in front of them and forget to find the football, that is not an issue with Fiske. He showed that as well this season for the Seminoles as he picked up 43 tackles including 9 for loss and showed that he’s a productive player against the run. He has a good combination of initial quickness and power and uses a good strong punch to deliver the blow and get off of blocks to make plays. 

Where he seems to be at his best is using some initial quickness and leverage to get to the edges of interior players. While I’m not sure he’s going to be a super great pass rusher he’s clearly shown an ability to get into the pocket and make plays. He carried over good pass rush from his time at Western Michigan to this season at FSU where he picked up 6 sacks and 19 pressures after coming up with a whopping 35 last season at WMU. I like that he has quickness and pop out of his stance that allow him to get quick wins.

As a run defender there are some good pros but also some things that need work. If he’s going to play 3T consistently in the NFL sometimes he’s going to need to keep that pad level down. Consistently it’s pretty good but there are times that he can get too high and get displaced. Now I don’t think it’s bad and his ability as a penetrator is good and his lateral agility also is solid, bordering on plus for someone his size so he’s ultimately a pretty good run defender for a 3T and he has a chance to play some 4i and 5T as well where he could thrive so it’s not a down thing just something that needs to be better.

He’s good. There’s no doubt about that. His tape was pretty good and his Senior Bowl showed the type of player he can be. I think he is without question a top 2 day guy who is probably a round three guy but who could outplay that in the NFL. I’m not sure the upside is there for him to be great in the NFL but I see a long career as a high end rotational DL who likely has the ability to play some 1T in pass rushing downs and work out to 5T and maybe even a 6i type role at times. Fiske has good agility and lateral movement skills for a 300 pounder and good quickness to make plays. I like him and think he’s a great fit at the top of round 3. 

Continues his meteoric rise to the point where there’s a shot he goes in round 1. His combine was outstanding. A 4.78 at 292 pounds with a plus 20 yard shuttle and great grades in the explosion exercises along with one of the better on field workouts you’ll watch. He’s now in the top 40 conversation. 

48. CB TJ Tampa, Iowa State 83

Tampa is a big physical cornerback who thrives in zone coverage and using his strong punch and size to make plays on the football. He’s listed at 6’2 and 200 pounds he that size looks legit. He has ultra long arms out there and plays the game with excellent awareness in zone coverage. Tampa is a pretty good tackler who works hard in the run game and works to get off blocks and make plays in space and downhill. I couldn’t help but see Jamel Dean when I watched him play with physicality and toughness through the catch points. He’s a bit stiffer in man coverage and quicker guys will probably get some catches on him, but he projects as good starting zone corner in the NFL with plus length.

He’s exceptional in zone coverage. While I’m not sure he’s going to go out there and be a super high level man player, not that he’s bad there, he thrives in zone. Over the past two seasons he has given up 45 receptions on 92 targets, including forcing incompletions on over 20% of the passes into his coverage this season. He just sees the football field at an extremely high level. Tampa does a good job of playing press bail, but he can also play off man and cover a section of the field showing good instincts and click and close ability, particularly for someone who has his size. I like his long speed as well,as particularly for a bigger guy and feel like he won’t have a problem in zone down the field. 

As a man corner there are some things that you like here. His athleticism to run and jump are both impressive, as there is some rumors that he can supposedly hit 40 inches in the vert, with long arms, and height so carrying down the field is not going to be an issue. He’s good in press so he is going to be able to fight through and punch some of those bigger receivers in the NFL. He is very active around the football in terms of ball skills as well, as he figures out the fact that he can get his hands on passes that are tough to get to as his hand eye coordination is good. I do think he has good fluidity to his hips for someone who is taller as well.

While he’s a physical corner he does want to destroy people in the run game. He missed 7 tackles this past season because he wants to hit you. The thing here with Tampa that keeps me from thinking he’s a round one guy and what essentially locks him into round 2 is he’s not a playmaker in the traditional sense. He doesn’t want to take big risks out there and instead he’s out there trying to keep catches from happening. He’s really good at that, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not so smooth and so fast and so quick that he’ll pitch shutouts. I think he’s someone who is a really nice player who is going to get his share of PBU’s, play hard in the run game, and will be able to match up with big fast guys. He looks like a high end zone corner who should be targeted early in round 2 and honestly is the prototypical round 2 corner. He could be very good and an 8 figure per year guy in the NFL in the right system, 86 zone corner, 83 man corner, not an elite playmaker. Kyle Fuller comp?

49. DE - Bralen Trice, Washington 82

Trice is a good NFL prospect with plus size and good productivity for the position. He is someone who has strong arms and he uses his length and power to his advantage. Over the past two seasons he racked up 84 tackles and 16 sacks and put up a very impressive 99 hurries for the Dawgs. Trice is someone who projects best as a 2nd edge rusher who can be strong against the run and use his length and power to create positive plays for a defense. I think his lack of short area agility will lead to him not getting huge sack numbers but he could be a plus hurry guy in the NFL with plus run defense. He’s an early second round grade guy who by positional value will get pushed up into round 1, but I wouldn’t take him until early on day 2. 

As a pure pass rusher he isn’t someone who is going to win constantly in one on one situations but he’s very good at games. Trice is very effective on t-e stunts where he’s able to use the pick from the tackle to bust hard inside. He takes good angles on these plays and lets him rub the shoulder perfectly. On less mobile quarterbacks it’s his most effective rush. On an island he uses quite a few pass rush moves, including a simple straight arm where his length is a big advantage, it leads to collapsing pockets and hurries. He has a delayed spin move that at times works and uses the traditional rip and a push-pull move. None of these are exceptionally dangerous but he does utilize them all as he’s a pretty diverse rusher. He lacks tremendous bend and short area agility, neither are bad, but neither grade out as plus either. He looks like a heavy hurry player and maybe a mid range sack guy.

As a run defender his length is his biggest asset. He uses his power and straight arm to maintain leverage and make plays. Again he’s more of help an overall defense rather than do it himself type player as he averaged about 3 tackles per game throughout his past two seasons but graded out positively as a run defender. At 6’4 and 270 pounds he has the size and strength to hold the edge against double teams and play the SDE position. The production isn’t going to wow you but he’ll do his job consistently.

He’s a good player but he’s not a round one talent in my opinion. He doesn’t have the short area agility to consistently finish plays at the NFL level. He’s a good player who will do a lot of good things for a defense but he projects as a good DE2 at the next level. If Trice plays surrounded by good players he’ll be effective but by himself he won’t elevate a defense. Good football player, does everything at a solid level, is good on games and stunts and plays with good leverage, but everyone else has him in round one at this point in January but he’s a 2. 

50. EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah 82

High motor undersized edge rusher who likely projects as a situational rusher at the next level. Elliss didn’t play much until 2023 and then burst onto the scene with a highly productive season in 2023. He had 12 sacks, 16 TFL, and 24 hurries this season for the Utes and earned those numbers in a variety of methods. What I like about scouting Elliss is that he doesn’t just win one way, which means that it’s likely his productivity can be translated to the NFL. He’s definitely undersized for an edge player, as he’s 6’2 and about 246 pounds but he works hard against the run and his effort rewards him with a larger tackle radius than a lot of edge players. He looks to play the part of a rotational edge player who can give you solid play against the run and the pass.

He’s not big enough to be a full time 43 end but he looks like he has enough athleticism to play some 34 outside linebacker or to be a situational pass rusher on speed rushes. He’s not the world’s fastest, quickest, or most agile edge players but he possesses a very solid repertoire of pass rush moves including a very effective spin move. Elliss also does a very nice job of flattening down the line, creating more pressures and tackles for loss than players who don’t have the ankle flexibility that he does. While I don’t see a ton of sacks in the NFL for him, he’s someone who it wouldn’t shock me to see him have a productive pass rushing career despite being undersized.

He has strong hands and a good punch but at 246 pounds, eventually tackles are going to dig him out in the run game. Elliss’ closing burst and tracking angles are both pretty damn good for an edge player though so I think he’ll be more effective against the run than normal players his size. Obviously he’s going to have some below average reps against the run but he’s not a liability there and he plays tougher than his size. 

He doesn’t have ideal size, and with only one season of productivity you have to wonder how we’ll he’ll translate to the league. However, despite not having any super high level traits there isn’t really anything he struggles to do and his dip and ability to flatten out along with a high motor suggests he can be effective. He looks the part of a traditional second round pick, good player with a bit of a ceiling due to lack of desirable traits. I like him though, could be a pretty damn good pro. 

51. S Calen Bullock, USC 82

Bullock is a tall (6’3) lean safety who has one of the quickest triggers in this class. He is quick to diagnose in the run game and gets downhill with efficiency and consistency. At just 190 pounds he definitely needs to add strength to his frame in order to get where he wants to go as an NFL player but there are tools here that make you bullish on him achieving those goals. Bullock has been a consistent player for the Trojans and a productive one, picking off 9 passes combined his past three season while also contributing an impressive 151 tackles and scoring twice on D. He’s a bit more of a playmaker than  some other safeties in this class and is better at play recognition I believe as well. That said, this past season Alex Grinch made it tough for anyone on the SC defense to play well. He’s a talented guy who can cover and play the run, but he’ll need to get coached up by literally anyone other than Grinch and there’s a chance he really becomes a high end player.

In coverage there are mostly good things here with Bullock. He’s got good speed and his ability to cover ground and get to the widest parts of the field is much better than average for an NFL safety. I think he’s one of those rare guys who actually probably could be good in single high. He’s a playmaker on the football with 9 interceptions but he really doesn’t get wildly out of position often. In fact if he’s surrounded by more talent than he was with the Trojans I think he’ll be a very effective deep safety in the league. His height and length also gives him an advantage to where I think he has some ability in man coverage as well, again adding more strength to his frame will help him match up with Tight Ends and slots as he has the acceleration and speed to likely be good in that situation. His hips are more fluid than most safeties. 

As a run defender the ability to trigger is something that stands out on film. He also sees and reacts well to motions and seems to play with a high football IQ. I like his run recognition skills. The thing that needs help here is two-fold though. At times he comes downhill too hard and can either miss a tackle, due to him absolutely trying to lay the wood on someone, or he can get himself into the wrong gap and angle. This is where I’d like to see improvement and think he can get coached out of that. He also is a lean guy so while at times he’ll obliterate ball carriers, he does give up some extra yards here in there to bigger ball carriers. More strength more coaching and he can be very good.

My job is to evaluate what a player CAN and will be in the NFL. I think with the right coaching and strength and conditioning program he’s got as good of shot as any safety in this class of being a top tier player. He was done dirty by Alex Grinch and that USC program and if he can get to 205 or 210 pounds without losing speed and go to a DC who actually knows what the hell they’re doing he’s got a real shot to be a very good NFL starter. I think he’s being graded lower than almost all the day 2 safeties in this class and he’d be a guy I’d circle on my draft board, if he starts to fall behind the other guys, I’d pull the trigger on him because his upside is at least as good as the others. 

52. QB - Bo Nix, Oregon 82

Nix is a very solid quarterback prospect who comes into the draft with more starts than any other QB in college football history. After some eventful and rough years with an odd Auburn program, Nix moved to Oregon where he became one of the nation’s most efficient quarterbacks. Nix takes great care of the football, gets the team in and out of correct plays, and has plus athleticism to pick up key conversions. While his arm strength is good it’s not elite and neither is his athleticism, but both are plus. He’s got plenty to play at a high level in the NFL. Nix has learned to throw with different trajectories at Oregon and has consistently improved his pocket awareness and mobility as well. Nix reminds me of a higher level Ryan Tannehill, with plus arm talent, athleticism, and size but Nix has better accuracy than Tannehill ever had and his processing is better as well. 

Nix isn’t asked to make a ton of NFL throws with the Ducks. The offense is based around a strong running game and making the smart read. He’s essentially a point guard on this offense, just distributing the football and taking what the defense gives him. It’s led to some ridiculous accuracy stats that aren’t necessarily entirely emblematic of how well he throws the ball. In fact at this point in my evaluation process he’s on pace for the best accuracy numbers in the history of college football this season. He’s got a good release and will make the easy throws well, and at times he can throw with good anticipation although that’s not his strong suit. The thing that Nix does better than almost any quarterback prospect coming out in the past 5 years though is take care of the rock. He won’t turn it over, keeps the team on schedule, and grinds out conversions. 

He reads defenses well, as he should with this many starts. Nix gets his team into quality run plays and finds easy completions constantly. At the next level those windows are going to close up though and I want to see how he does when he’s forced to throw the ball constantly down the field. Nix has improved his anticipatory throwing significantly over the past two seasons, toward the end of this season he made some impressive throws where players hadn’t even come out of their break. He’s currently completing 78% of his passes in 2023 after hitting 72% in 2022. He has played consistently well under pressure the past two seasons too, which was his big issue at Auburn. The fact that he’s been able to improve that, dramatically increases his probability of success in the NFL.

I’m a fan of his game. I think that given the right circumstances and a good run game Nix has a chance to be a very successful NFL QB. While he’s what I like to call a “target” thrower, meaning that he throws accurately to a player not an area, which leads to less precision, he’s got plus accuracy. His arm is good and his rushing ability has the potential to be plus. The fact that he’s no longer taking sacks or turning the football over means at worst he ends up as a quality game manager type. I think Nix is someone who will be a good QB in the NFL, but I don’t see someone who can carry a franchise, but someone who could be a very nice point guard. 

I’m going to be honest the Senior Bowl week was very troubling for me. I usually don’t to these big overarching themes and moves based on Mobile alone but it was pretty clear that his arm strength is not quite as good as I thought and being outside the confines of the Duck offense hurt him. I dropped him 4 points - almost a full  round because not only did those things jump off the screen but his lack of arm talent compared to Penix was evident as well. 

53. RB - Trey Benson, Florida State 82

Good football player who projects as a starting caliber running back in the NFL. Benson runs with good patience and above average vision and shows an aptitude for picking up yards where there doesn’t look like there’s much. While he runs a bit high at 6’1 and 215 pounds it can cost him some yards on short yardage plays but he makes the first defender miss at a high level. Where I think he has an opportunity to be successful in the NFL is also in the passing game, where he snatches the football out of the air and looks smooth in space with good acceleration and speed. Benson is a 3 down back who projects as good at everything but maybe not great at any one thing. He’s in the running as the best back in this class.

As a power back in gap schemes it’s pretty good but not great. There are a number of times in short yardage where he maybe doesn’t get everything he can get. It’s odd because he make the first guy miss so often and does a wonderful job of getting lateral through a hole and having people not square him up. It’s not that he doesn’t run with power, he does, as he finishes runs well and runs easily through arm tackles, it’s  just he doesn’t necessarily run behind his pads and he’s a bigger back. It’s an oddity. I do think he can easily run gap schemes though as he’s able to get small through the hole and splits defenders and gaps in defenses easily.

Benson also runs with good acceleration and speed. There are a number of times on tape where he’s able to get to the edges or run past second level defenders. While I don’t know if he’s blazing fast, he’s got plenty of juice to get around average speed defensive players and it shows up on film. I don’t know if he’s someone who is going to bust out a ton of 25+ yard plays but he should get quite a few runs of double digits in the NFL.

In the passing game he looks smooth catching the football. They didn’t ask him to run a ton of pure routes at FSU but in the screen game, flats, and wheel routes he’s a natural catcher of the football. I want him to play lower in pass protection but his size means that he’s plenty capable given time. 

He’s a good player who should get looks starting in the 3rd round even though I have him graded higher than that. Based on what I’m hearing it’s possible he even goes in round 2.  I’m not sure he’s an elite level player, as his contact balance is only okay but there’s legitimate talent here that could make him a starting caliber player in the NFL. I’m not sure he’s great but he does everything pretty well with good size, lateral agility, speed, burst, and hands to make himself a good 3 down player in the NFL. 

54. RB Ray Davis, Kentucky 82

He ran for 1000 yards for 3 different programs and shows impressive power and vision. He ran a very solid 40 at the combine as well at 4.52 to show better speed than I was anticipating. At 5’8 and 211 pounds he plays with good leverage, plus vision, and shows some aptitude in the passing game with 60 combined catches the past two seasons. I think he’s dramatically underrated and while he’s clearly going to go on day 3, he could provide massive upside for a team that wants an actual true blue starting caliber back. Davis has two things that are very important for success in an NFL running back, he has good vision and he has an ability to get small through the hole and explode out the other side. If it’s blocked up, Davis will make you pay. I think he’s one of the more underrated players in this class, and someone who could end up being a starting caliber RB in the NFL if he’s given a chance.

The thing that Davis does that is underrated in his game is making people miss at full speed. His ability once he gets to the second level to make a move and not slow down is plus and it means that he’s going to create more chunk plays than you’d think. People question his speed a bit but 4.52 is plenty fast and on tape he plays faster. His vision and acceleration through the hole allows him to play the game with proper pace and then hit it for big chunk plays. At 5’8 and 211 pounds he already plays with good leverage but it allows him to get lost behind his OL and then jump out the backside. Early in his career he didn’t seem to understand as well, when he should hit it and when he should stay patient but in his final season at Kentucky he hit it on all cylinders. He’s slippery, gliding and then cutting. 

In pass protection he is more than willing, but obviously at 5’8 and 211 pounds he isn’t built to be a long term pass protector back there. He has capable hands, and catches it fairly easily. He needs to work on chipping and getting his hands in proper position in pass pro but it will never be a strength of his, even though he works hard. Davis isn’t an electric route runner and isn’t lightning quick into and out of breaks, but his vision and quick feet make him very viable in the screen game, and as a checkdown player. It’s why I think he’s a starting caliber RB and not just a three down backup. 

He’s the guy I’d target at RB in this class on day 3. He could jump up and be a day 2 guy, as he should be, but right now he’s not listed anywhere near that on any board that I’ve seen so he’d be a circle it guy for a day 2 team. He can play either gap or zone, but I like him better in the gap system and in a short pull system. His ability to pace it out and hammer downhill when it gets there is pretty awesome. He’s tough to tackle in space and has enough juice to turn a small gain into a 20 yarder. I think he’s a starting caliber RB who is going to give a team a big boost likely on day 3. One of my dudes in this draft. 

55. Edge - Chop Robinson, Penn State 82

Damn his first step is absolutely lightning. To call that jump off the ball explosive might be a bit of an understatement. At 6’3 and about 253 pounds he isn’t a prototype edge defender and may be best suited playing a 34 OLB where he can use his athleticism and acceleration to play more wide-9 schemes. His counting stats don’t do justice to the havoc he wreaks as an edge defender with that elite get-off, but there is something to be said for the fact that he doesn’t finish as many plays as you’d like. Just 9.5 sacks combined over the past two seasons and only 15 total tackles this year are stats that give you some pause. As an athlete there is a lot to like here but the lack of counting stats and the fact that he sometimes isn’t able to disengage from OL in the run game and make plays pushes his oversized skill set into day-2.

As a pure pass rusher Robinson has something you simply can’t teach, and that is pure burst. His acceleration off the snap count is going to give you a couple of wins each week in the pass rush game because he explodes off the ball. That skill is going to make him someone that most teams are going to be interested in snagging. The problem is there really isn’t a ton to go with that burst. He doesn’t have plus length or strength to his game and his pass rush repertoire is almost always about simply beating his guy to a space. While that worked very well in college to create hurries, it likely won’t translate as easily in the NFL. When he gets matched up on lesser athletes or in games he’s dynamic though, absolute crazy quickness for a 6’3 250 pound guy. It’s why he needs to play with a scheme that allows him to use his speed and play him in a variety of spots. He’ll be able to out-athlete a lot of guys in the pros and create pressure. His bend is plus for his size as well, adding to an already plus to plus-plus explosiveness.

As a run defender others like him a lot more than I do. His lack of length and an inability to get off blocks when he gets latched up on is problematic. He also despite good speed doesn’t have a super wide tackle radius and at times can lose gap integrity. The pure speed he has will allow him to make some plays but again, poor productivity in college in terms of basic counting stats like tackles and TFLs worry me when transitioning him to the NFL. I just see quite a few things in his game that are slight negatives.

Overall he’s a good player and likely will get taken in round one. To me he’s clearly a round two player with good upside as a situational pass rusher and there’s a big role for him in the NFL on about 30 snaps per week. He has a lot of Bryce Huff or Yannick Ngakoue to his game as a borderline elite speed rusher without much nuance to his game and likely not someone I’d like to put on the edge to stop the run with any regularity. He needs to get more consistent with hand placement in the run game, add strength to his entire body, and work to maintain gap integrity in the run game if he wants to be more than a situational rusher. He also needs to figure out how to finish more plays, if he struggles to get sacks and tackles in college, it likely won't get easier. 

He had 4 sacks this season, and 2 came against Iowa, arguably the worst offense in college football, Massachusetts and Rutgers. Against Michigan and Ohio State Robinson had 0 tackles, combined. He’s a TON of sizzle but not enough steak for me - but the upside is dynamic if someone can get it out of him. 

56. CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia 81

It’s not often that you find someone who gives up just one reception per game in a full season in college football but that’s what Kamari Lassiter was graded with this season for Georgia. A 6’0 180 pound corner, Lassiter made a big jump from 2022 to 2023 and brought his name into first round consideration for the 2024 Draft. Lassiter isn’t the biggest corner but he’s extremely physical with good physical tools and a really quick break on the football. Lassiter is best in a zone coverage where he can use his short area burst to attack players and leave his smaller frame alone but he possesses good skills to be a CB1 in the NFL with some improvements to his game.

I believe he’s a CB2 in the NFL due to a few small deficiencies in his game. The primary one is he simply doesn’t have tremendous ball skills. You’d really like a CB who prefers to play off man be able to make some plays on the football. While he did have 8 PBUs this past season he hasn’t picked off a ball in 2 years, even with the vaunted Georgia front creating opportunities. He also doesn’t have ideal size. He’s 180 pounds and while he plays a very physical brand of football, NFL guys are going to be able to body him up at times, and backside slants or simple back shoulder throws may give him issues in the NFL. He also can get a little grabby down the field, it will lead to some penalties in the league

There are far more pros than cons though to his game. Lassiter is going to play downhill and attack plays to the flat. He’s very fluid in his backpedal and his transitions are plus in comparison to most corners coming out of college. He also is very good at understanding leverage both in man or zone and it shortens windows for quarterbacks. I think that physically with quickness and speed he should be able to carry WRs in the NFL. 

I’m a pretty damn big fan of his game but may not be able to take him in round one, although I wouldn't fault anyone for taking him there. Lassiter has very impressive acceleration, good speed, and put up excellent tape in 2023. He’s a physical player for his size and likely can play man or zone. His recognition skills are plus on tape in both man and particularly zone coverage. The issues that push him to a round 2 corner for me though are his lack of size and on ball production. It leads me to believe he’ll be a CB2 in the NFL although one that you feel good about. Should be an early round 2 selection. 

I don’t overreact to testing numbers but the fact he ran 4.59-4.64 and he’s only 180 pounds really decimated his grade for me. He already had some issues with lack of ball skills and that time dropped him a full round to me to where he’s now a high round 3 or low round 2 guy. Better in round 3 in my opinion.

57. CB - Max Melton, Rutgers 81

Melton is a 3 year starter who was probably an early day 3 pick before the draft process started but has shot up the board for a number of reasons. Primarily it’s the fact that he has been awesome at both job interviews. Melton was probably the second best corner at the Senior Bowl, often running routes for WRs and essentially forcing no throws all week. Then he goes to the Combine and blows it out of the water, going over 40 inches on the vertical, over 11 feet on the broad jump (an A+ number) and 4.39 on the 40. I love the fact that Melton can likely play slot or outside, although he played mostly outside for the Scarlet Knights. He’s been a good football player, who shows toughness, athleticism, and versatility and has worked his way into the round two conversation. 

Throughout his career for Rutgers, Melton has shown good ball skills and has come through with 22 career pass breakups and 8 interceptions. He’ll force incompletions. Melton is a bit upright and tight at times in his backpedal which can limit his ability in transitions, which is odd considering his quickness. The thing that has allowed him to give up some plays throughout his career (12 career TD’s allowed) is that his plant and explode is mediocre. When he’s playing off man there are pros and cons, it’s where he’s at his best in my opinion as he does an excellent job seeing the QB and making plays on the ball, quicker guys who can get in and out of breaks quickly can have some success. He’s only given up 55% completion into his coverage in his career while allowing just over one yard per coverage snap in his entire career, culminating in a step forward in 2023 allowing just 0.8 yards per snap and a 65 passer rating when targeted.

His size is okay, he is 5’11 and 190 pounds and plays the game physically. I love that he’s got that type of dog in him to play slot or outside and that likely makes him more valuable earlier in his career. That versatility is a plus. He’s Rutgers tough so he plays the run hard, while his pursuit angles aren’t a strength his toughness against blocks is a good skill. Over the past three seasons he has 90 tackles. 

He’s good, I’m not going to sit here and say that he’s a lockdown player, he’s not. The transitions out of breaks are okay and not great and his leverage on money downs needs work. Guys get him on inside breakers, which is a huge no-no and the biggest reason he’s given up 12 TD’s in his career. You aren’t going to draft Melton to be a superstar player but he should give you great versatility and an ability to match up with speed on the inside and outside that’s tough to find. I think in the late second round he’s going to have a lot of suitors.  

58. S- Dadrian Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech 81

Taylor-Demerson projects as a starting level safety in this draft class and could even challenge as the second best safety in the 2024 Draft. While his aggressiveness and attacking style won’t fit every team, his ability to play slot, deep, or split and do all with plus recognition make him an attractive player. He fires his gun as fast as any safety you’ll watch on tape and while he’ll occasionally pick wrong, or jump the wrong route, he also goes with full effort and it leads to him making pass breakups, picks, and tackles that most safeties can’t. He plays with good speed, and is an overall solid tackler despite mediocre size. I think he projects as someone who will develop into a starter in time, particularly if he can cut down on some of the mistakes he makes my trying to jump routes but doesn’t diminish from his playmaking capability.

As a cover safety there is way more here to like than not like. He’s got excellent range from the post and ran a 4.41 at the Combine showing with the stopwatch what I saw on film. DTD can come down into the slot and plays with good fluidity to track and follow receivers and looks plenty capable of matching up with quickness there. His ball skills stand out though as he is always looking to attack routes, and when he sees the QB change his hips, he’s driving down. It leads to big plays as he has 7 picks and 13 PBU over the past two seasons. It also leads to him getting beat over the top as he’s always trying to make plays. At times you can see that he doesn’t have proper depth as routes designed to hold up the safety give him fits. He’ll jump the shorter route, leaving his corners on islands to get beat over the top. His eye discipline isn’t good and while it leads to big plays, DCs who covet discipline in their safeties and not instincts won’t like him.

As a run defender he’s a willing participant but he’ll probably never be great there. He just lacks the size at 5’10 and 197 pounds. That said he missed a ton of tackles as a junior and improved on that a lot this past season, showing some big hits along with a lot more technique efficiency in 2023. At times that Tech D seemed to struggle unelss he was the one coming along to make the play. I think in a better defense he could even get better.

He’s a good player, and at times on tape looked really good. I do think that his propensity to “take the bait” bothered me as he gave up some big plays due to trying to be the one that made a stop. I think it can get coached out of him as by all reports he’s very intelligent and his intangibles are very good. I think he can play all over the place, his playmaking skills could have him in the short zone from the slot, in a split safety look, or at the post. He also has enough fluidity to come down and guard the slot in man. I think he’s a clear round 3 safety who at worst is a high quality backup but could be a good starter. If a DC can coach the missteps with play recognition out while also keeping that playmaker mentality, he could be a plus starter. 

59. S - Javon Bullard, Georgia 81

He’s a pretty impressive football player who despite below average size at the position has a tremendous feel for the spot. He played a lot of nickel throughout his career as well as deep safety and obviously has the tenacity to play the robber role as well, making him a very intriguing player in a relatively weak safety class. Bullard has played over 700 snaps in his career at the slot position and that versatility showed during Senior Bowl week as he was probalby the smoothest safety in coverage throughout the time in Mobile. In fact he was named best safety of the week by his peers. On top of that, the thing that made me worry about him was his pure speed as on tape it looked okay but not great, then he went and ran 20.71 GPS timed during the week and he shot up my to scout board. He’s a safety who is a much better man cover guy than most safeties, but who lacks some of the overall traits and productivity you’d like. Overall I think if you’re a team that prefers nickel and particularly three safety looks he’s going to be a 2nd round value. If you’re a traditional team he’s a 3. That said, very good player, plus cover guy for a safety who should probably go in the top 64 selections.

It’s rare to see traditional safeties be able to man cover like he can. I think he’s at his best when he’s playing high safety or in a traditional man look but while he plays the game hard he’s undersized and doesn’t get off blocks as well as most down safeties do which means you probably don’t want him in the box often unless he’s in coverage. He also is okay in zone coverage but he’s not necessarily a ball hawk. I think he’s about a step or two late consistently to get his hands on the football which is why in two seasons he only has 8 PBU and 4 INT, which isn’t bad but shows that maybe that part of his game isn’t his strength. 

As a run defender it’s overall solid. He again is on the small side so tougher to get off blocks and make all the tackles you’d want and he takes some conservative angles at times to get to the ball carrier. I know some people have compared him to Jalen Pitre or Budda Baker but he’s not that, not even close. It’s a bad comp. I actually think he’s a very different player htan those guys as he’s more of a cover guy and I think his best skill set is in the big nickel spot where a team can play three safeties and his ability to slide down to cover the slot in an 11 personnel situation gives the defense and advantage against the run. Now his lack of size means that in 12 personnel they lose that advantage though despite being a nice player against the run, he’s not going to be plus there, okay but not an advantage.

He’s a good player and depending on how you want your team to play he could fit a nice role. He has the speed and IQ to play in split safety looks and I think with more seasoning he could be good in a deep safety single high look as well. I’m not sure he’s the playmaker that other scouts see but I think he’s a good high quality player who can help a team in man coverage with a safety which is rare. I like him. Late 2 or early 3. If a team gets him in round 3 and has an idea for him they could get a longtime starter here.

60. WR - Troy Franklin, Oregon 81

A long thin WR from Oregon who possesses the ability to take the top off the defense. Franklin is a big play machine who despite a low ADOT in the Oregon horizontal passing game still put up big numbers for the Ducks, putting up 15.5 yards per catch in his career including over 17 per catch this season. He’s exceptionally productive and standing at 6’3 with exceptional speed he reminds me a lot of DJ Chark coming out of college. I worry of course about how thin he is, he’s listed at 187 pounds and skinny guys don’t typically last in the NFL but his explosiveness and dynamic play making ability should get him drafted in the top 50 picks, and he could go as high as late round 1, although to me he’s a low to mid round 2 guy. 

Franklin’s biggest and best attribute is by far his ability to make plays deep down the field. At 6’3 he’s an exceptionally long strider and tracks the deep ball very well. Not only did he put up huge numbers this past season, he also drew a ton of PI calls because he simply ran past defenses. He is going to be a good deep threat in the NFL with the speed and height to make plays deep. 

He’s underrated though on the other stuff you’d want from a WR. Franklin does a plus job understanding leverages in coverage and creates easy throwing lanes in both off man and zone. It allows him space to make easy catches and despite his height he does have good short area acceleration. It gives him easier catches than from a lot of tall fast guys. He’s not someone who drops many balls and has a good catch radius and likely will provide a bit of a higher volume than you’d get from a lot of deep ball artists. 

Where he struggles though is playing through contact. He wants to be a good run blocker and he works at it but he’s not strong. It shows itself a lot in playing through contact at the catch point, in press, and at the top of the route. If that doesn’t improve he’s going to struggle to adapt to the NFL. He’s listed at 187 pounds but he looks like he’s about 15 pounds lighter than that and he won’t get a free release all the time in the league. You also want your 6’3 X WR to be able to go up and play through jump balls and while Franklin can do that against inferior opponents, he wasn’t great at that in Eugene.

He’s a nice player but there are worrisome traits here in terms of contact balance and strength. He’s a good route runner though, particularly for being as tall as he is, and his speed will definitely play. If he can get stronger he has a chance to be a really nice WR2 in the league, but if not he’ll be a niche player. That’s really what this is going to come down to for Franklin, due to the floor issue he’s a round 2 player but if your team already has a good WR1 and you play in a vertical passing game this guy could really improve your offense. Scheme and his workout routine are going to be a big part of how successful Troy Franklin is in the NFL. 

I dropped him a touch after the combine. His drills weren’t impressive and neither was his ability to get in an out of breaks. He played VERY high and you could tell, he also came in at 6’1.5 instead of 6’3. 

61. RB - Blake Corum, Michigan 81

I’m a pretty big fan of Corum’s game as he runs with a tenacity and toughness between the tackles that overcomes his size. In watching him run, with the ball in his hands he reminds me a ton of Austin Ekeler. He’s short, compact, and at 215 pounds he runs much more physically. He’s got a little running level Kyren Williams to his game as well. He’ll grind out the toughest yards you can find and he’s a back that can get you to 2nd and 5 when it’s only blocked for 2nd and 8. Corum was a 4.4 runner early in his career but coming back from a big time injury last season he didn’t seem to have quite the explosiveness that he had before, but the short area acceleration is certainly there. He’s going to be a good running back in the NFL, likely as part of a tandem but he’s ready to roll immediately as a high volume player in year 1.

Corum is a tough, physical runner with good contact balance and really good inside running ability. Usually when you see guys be as successful as he is in short yardage they are 240 pound bullies, but Corum uses his natural leverage at 5’8 to slash and grind his way to positive carries around the goal line and on short yardage situations. On top of that he runs with plus vision and has really good acceleration - that started to get better as the season wore on and he got further removed away from injury. He had ran a 4.38 40 supposedly in high school and on a run against ECU this season he hit 21.1 MPH , so the dude also still has the juice, despite the previous knee injury. The ability to run with power between the tackles but still hit big chunk plays is exactly what you look for in a back.

There are a few things that come up that maybe limit him into being more in the 3rd round discussion than the second round. Number one is that he did have that serious knee injury last season and while he bounced back to have a monster year in 2023-24, leading the Wolverines to the National title, he did drop for 6.6 yards per carry in 2021, to 5.9 yards per carry in 2022, down to 4.8 yards per carry this season. The numbers may show the explosiveness but to me he’s lost half a step on film. Running backs with knee injuries are certainly scary. Secondly he is slightly undersized, particularly for a back that runs inside so often. 5’8 and 213 pounds is not a big back, particularly one who has carried the ball 675 times in his career already, and not as a scat back. Thirdly he’s not an accomplished pass catcher, while that skill could certainly develop he hasn’t shown that. He caught a combined 27 passes the past two seasons and for just 7.3 yards per catch. It’d be tough to trust him in a lot of 3rd down and passing down situations early in his career, the NFL is going away from that.

Overall the guy is an impressive tough runner with good acceleration and plus speed. He’s excellent between the tackles in duo or inside zone and was extremely productive. He rackedup 58 career rushing touchdowns including an insane 27 this past seasons and is someone who simply is tough with good vision. I don’t know if there’s anything he does super well but Corum is reliable, physical with good acceleration. I think he does all running things at an above average to good level. On top of that he’s a good human being who has plus to plus-plus character. I think Corum is a round 3 running back who will likely outperform that draft capital. The lack of size, injury history, and low pass game production at a non premium position pushes him into round 3 for me but he gets a solid low 80s grade. 

62. RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas 80

Torn ACL midway through this season, so as a RB obviously that diminishes the draft value some. His acceleration from zero to full speed just absolutely leaps off the screen. At 6’0 and around 205 pounds he likes to work between the tackles but he gets absolutely drilled at times, and you have to wonder if he can be an everydown back as I can’t see his style holding up. It obviously didn’t in 2023 in his first full year as a starter as he tore his ACL. While that explosion and acceleration are awesome to watch, he takes a lot of full steam hits and despite his ability in the receiving game and as a one cut runner, those things worry you as an evaluator when you’re already using capital at a position that rarely stays healthy.

The positives about his game are pretty clear. He’s got plus speed and plus acceleration. When the hole is there for him to hit, he has effortless speed and as a running back speed is important but quickness and acceleration is more so, and he definitely has that. While I think his vision is just so so, when it’s blocked up clean for him and he knows where he’s going or when he can see the cutback lane, he has an ability to just burst through there and where most backs get a handful of yards, he can get double digits easily. What I see a lot is there’s a small hole and somehow he’s already up the LBs getting 8 when an average back gets 4. Brooks also looks pretty smooth catching the football and getting him out in space or out against LBs is going to be an advantage for him just to catch the ball and go. 

I like how when he breaks arm tackles it rarely actually slows him down and because he can go from standing still to top speed in 3 steps it means that if you do miss him in space, it’s likely going to be a 10 yard gain. He reminds me in that way of Tony Pollard in that the burst is just evident. It’s not on the same level as a Travis Etienne or something like that but it’s just one level below which is saying something. Brooks also makes a lot of DB’s miss out in space, and while his lateral agility isn’t something that leaps off the screen, it must be better on field level than it is on tape because DB’s sure miss him a lot in the phone booth. It makes him tape consistently improve. He also plays with more power as the game goes on and you can see defenses get tired and then he wears them out. Both of those things are important.

Look there’s quite a bit to like here. I don’t think even if he didn’t tear his ACL that he’d be the end all be all back in terms of give him the reigns and don’t get him a running mate. He is okay at power but mostly he runs between the tackles to keep teams honest. He’s a one cut and go guy who has plus acceleration, bordering on plus plus and good speed. I do think his long speed is good but I’m not going to go and say he’s a sub 4.4 guy like it’s being reported. I don’t think it’s that good. He shows up in the passing game but needs refinement as a route runner but he looks smooth catching the ball.

To me he reminds me a TON of Tony Pollard. He can go from first gear to 4th gear in a heartbeat and that is one of the two most important factors in running back success in the NFL. The other is vision where I think he’s good not great. He could be the best overall back in this class but the ACL and lack of elite power plus his running style which leads itself to getting popped hard consistently all worry me. In round 3 he’s a slam dunk pick as a change of pace back who could probably handle 200 touches a year. In round 2 it’s too rich. He’s an in between guy but there’s a shot that he’s a very efficient NFL back, particularly in year 2. 

63. G Cooper Beebe, Kansas State 80

Beebe is one of the easiest evaluations and grades of the 2024 scouting cycle for me because it’s so easy to tell what he is and what he’s going to be in the NFL. Beebe is a strong interior lineman who is a great processor, has tough hands, is physical, and is a gap only player. I wouldn’t want to play him anywhere but guard in the NFL but he has a future as a mid level starter there as he’s as rock solid as they come in the role he’s going to play. He’s got enough athleticism for short pulls and split-zone runs and is a powerful guy, particularly with duos and can create a push for running backs. Beebe is a day 2 guard who will likely start in the NFL for a long time on a power run team.

He doesn’t really make mistakes in pass protection. That’s the key here is that he’s not going to lose quickly in pass pro, he’s got just enough athleticism that really quick interior defenders aren’t going to shoot the gap on him often and he’s strong enough that he’ll almost never get bullied. His awareness with stunts, games, and blitzes is as good as you’ll find from an interior player and it’s plus-plus. In over 1250 pass pro snaps at Kansas State Beebe gave up a grand total of one sack and six quarterback hits. He just is rock solid there. The issues we’re going to find are in the NFL guys are going to be quicker and longer inside and he may not be quite as clean, but I still think he projects well here.

It might be a bit tougher as a run blocker in the NFL as he doesn’t have the explosiveness to do much more than split-zone or gap scheme. While he can get across the formation, it’s not rapid by any stretch and it means he will have just one role. He isn’t going to be a dynamic blocking weapon as a run blocker, and although he should be good in the power game, the leveling up of strength from the Big 12 to the NFL is going to be quite a jump for him. The lack of length and quickness also mean that he’s going to get stacked more at the NFL level. 

He’s a really good football player who just doesn’t quite have the length or quickness to be elite at the NFL level but I also can’t see him being anything other than a quality starter. He’s powerful, tough, smart, and a quick processor with good fundamentals. Gap scheme teams should be lining up to grab him and as a guard he could slip to round 3 or even later. Finding quality linemen with high floor is tough to do, it’d be very surprising to me if he doesn’t end up as a quality starter. 

64. WR Roman Wilson, Michigan 80

Wilson is a high quality football player who projects as a good third receiver in the NFL. At 6’0 and 190 pounds he has plus speed and decent size and has shown an ability to play either slot or out wide, but he thrives when he’s playing closer to the formation. He’s a plus route runner with exceptional awareness at the top of the route. Wilson’s speed is impressive and it will consistently threaten defenses as in college he was tested at 4.37. He uses this threat to help create space for himself throughout his route tree, showing an ability to get open from a variety of routes. He’s not someone who is going to give you a ton of YAC yards, and his catch radius and size are both okay but not elite. He is what he is, a good football player who can create separation with plus speed, but he projects as a third weapon in the NFL.

The thing that jumps out at you when you watch Wilson is that he can get open. When he has more space is when he’s really tough to cover. The closer he is the formation where he has a three way go, he’s a very difficult cover. I love how he uses defenders to create space for himself when running crossers and his speed allows him to run to all three levels across the football field, meaning that he can gain separation as he goes. He’s not just a slot though, he can threaten a defense at any point with legit sub 4.4 speed and that ability down the field is plus.

He’s a reliable blocker for his size and is willing to work to do the dirty work. He’ll help your team move the chains however you need it too, with good toughness to work inside the numbers and take hits. There’s an element of Tyler Lockett to his game with that plus speed from the slot and he reminds me a bit of how Lockett was coming out. I think Lockett had better vision after the catch than Wilson has though as he’s not a creative player after the catch. 

He’s a pretty easy draft slot for me. At first glance I thought he was a nice 3rd round WR, as I don’t know if his ceiling his high enough for me to want to grab him in the second. The lack of RAC ability with only okay size was kind of a drop down in grade. However, he’s reliable, fast, and an easy separator so I put him somewhere in between. He’s too good to go in round 3 but probably not someone I’d love to take in the second. Look for him at the turn on day 2. 

65. WR - Javon Baker, UCF 80

He’s underrated. Baker is a big time target with excellent hands and is a good downfield route runner. While he is a build up speed kind of guy so his short area route running needs work, his ability to create separation down the field looks pretty damn good. On top of that he has a huge catch radius and can make some ridiculous grabs. His Oklahoma tape was outstanding - and that doesn’t include his 86 yard TD on a broken play. Baker averaged a ridiculous 21.6 yards per catch this season and did it by making plays deep down the field and working as a big time X WR. While most analysts have him on day 3, he’s clearly a day 2 WR and likely should be considered even toward the end of the second round. 

Baker isn’t the world’s greatest athlete but he’s got enough hops to make plays and is a pretty nuanced route runner at the second level. I wish he would work through his entire route a bit more consistently as you can tell, particularly on the short routes that he wants to just get to it too much. He does show an ability to win on slants though, which as a likely X WR is a key. He’s fast enough to threaten you but he ran 4.54 in Indy and while he maybe plays a bit faster than that, it does show that he’s not scary fast. He uses different tempos when he’s running his routes and uses a variety of releases and steps to help get himself open at the second and third levels. He’s underrated in his ability to create separation.

Where he looks his best though is his ball skills. Baker can make some absolutely outstanding catches. In fact there were a number of instances on tape where he made catches along the boundary that didn’t actually count but made you go wow. He even caught a backside slant on a tip that went about 11 feet into the air and he snatched it, then turned it up for a big gain. He’s someone who will help quarterbacks out. He also works hard as a blocker an at 6’1 and 208 pounds he’s got enough size to do some of that dirty work. 

The downsides here are that he’ll have some concentration drops, which are very frustrating considering how great he is at times at catching the football. His short area route running needs work, but he shows some ability here. That said, he’s not quick and the longer the route goes the more ability he shows to create separation. He also looks okay after the catch but isn’t savvy or sudden. He’s a downfield WR who looks the part of a 3rd receiving weapon on a team and to me I’d be surprised if he’s not among the top 3 pass catchers on a team before his first contract is up. He’s better than he’s being projected and I feel like he’d be a very good 3rd round pick with the upside of even toward the back end of the second round. 

66. LB JD Bertrand, Notre Dame 79

One of my guys this year. Typically projected to go late day 3 and I think he’s a mid day 2 prospect. Wait and pounce on day 3 - he could even be a UDFA and he’s just way too good for that. This is a guy I think can absolutely start in the NFL and nobody is going to take him until late on day 3. 

Was really impressive during Senior Bowl week - he popped for me. He ran 20 MPH on the GPS but showed a real aptitude for the football and diagnosing plays. Two time Captain at ND and the sideline to sideline skill set is enticing. I just absolutely love how he plays football. The more tape I watch the more I know that Bertrand is going to be one of “my guys” for the 2024 draft. Not only is he athletic and instinctive, he also is a very good blitzer, picking up 30 QB pressures during the season which was 3rd among all off ball linebackers in college football. Bertrand is underrated throughout this process but he is someone who may end up being one of, if not the best linebacker in this class. Huge fan of his game and think he should compete for being the first linebacker off the board, he won’t go that high which is why he would be someone I would pound the table for in the middle rounds.

Bertrand has good size for the position at 6’1 and 235 pounds and feels like more of a modern NFL linebacker but with throwback ability. He has 260 combined tackles over the past three seasons and while he hasn’t been ultra productive in the pass game with just 9 passes defensed and 0 picks, which is bothersome, his ability to blitz and rush the QB is where his value lies as a pass defender. The thing too is that if he was asked to play more coverage I think he could have easily done more. His speed is something that needs to be noted as he was one of the fastest players on the field at Mobile, and that has nothing to do with position, just in general. 

As a run defender he sees things developing well and he fires his gun as well as anyone. He’s not someone who makes a ton of mistakes and is a solid tackler. I’m not sure he’s elite in that component but he’s a good tackler who gets to the spot. I am a bit worried about his ability to consistently make the difficult tackles which is why I’m not throwing him way up my board, he’s missed at least ten tackles each of the last three seasons so it’s not something to dismiss. With just 30 inch arms it plays a role. 

He’s a really good player who can absolutely run and has great instincts. A two time captain for Notre Dame says something and he’s been productive and offers upside as a 3 down player. While he’s not going to wow everyone all the time, I think he’s exceptionally underrated as an athlete with good size. Players who run 20+ MPH at 235 pounds are impressive pieces. The fact that he is a very good blitzer and spy gives him even more value in today’s NFL. He does miss some tackles and very few career splash plays lower his value but he’s a 3rd round linebacker who likely will go much later than that. Underrated player who I really like as a long time NFL starter. He’s someone I just love. One of “my guys”

67. CB - Khyree Jackson, Oregon 79

6’3.5 is about as tall as you’re going to get from a cornerback. He’s a long levered guy who is at his best in press bail zone where he can use his length and size to shorten passing windows. Jackson was an Alabama transfer who went to Oregon and played at a high level the past season for the Ducks. His strengths are pretty clear with the size being his biggest weapon. Jackson’s ability to get depth after press makes the windows on outside throws narrow and he proved that this year, allowing just 50% completion percentage into his coverage and just 200 yards on 520 snaps. While there is some legitimate hip tightness and definitely a little panic grabbing throughout his reps, he looks like he has a shot to be a quality zone press corner, but quicker and faster guys are going to get him at times. 

He’s a zone corner who has the ability to play press man against bigger guys. He does a good job of getting physical at the top of routes and forcing guys off of timing routes. I like that he flips his hips early in the down when he’s clearly in zone as he gets his eyes to the QB quickly. His speed is decent for someone so tall and he gets good depth immediately on the drop so guys aren’t burning him deep. His issues are going to be when speed threatens him when he’s in man or cover1/3 can he get deep quick enough, and simultaneously also defend the flats and shorter routes, I don’t know if he has the athleticism and mostly if he has the short area quickness and agility to do both at a high level.

The size is a plus and he’s not afraid to mix it up physically, I do think that most have him as a 2nd or high 3rd round grade but I don’t quite see that. While I think he’s a good zone corner, his inability to turn quickly and his high hips mean that smaller, quicker receivers are going to give him problems. He times his gun firing in the run game pretty well and seems to understand play recognition. Jackson made some plays on the ball this season as well, picking off 3 passes and having 7 PBUs. I like him as a player but think he’s a 3rd, who could work his way into round 2 on a zone press team as he’s an ideal prospec there. Combine 40 time is important, if he can run sub 4.5, he’s a 2. 

68. TE - Erick All, Iowa 79

There could be something really damn good here. Obviously Iowa TE’s come into the league ready to roll and have had a lot of success and All is one that has some really impressive ability to create separation and make plays down the field. While that Iowa offense was the ugliest thing I may have ever seen at a D1 level, other than some of the Oregon State wishbone teams that I watched way back in the day, he stood out. The thing with him is there is a ton to work on, but there’s also a ton to work with you so you have to realize that he’s not a finished product yet. All has a chance to be a really effective player in the NFL, but only if he can grow as a player, if he can, you have someone who could be an excellent TE in the league, if not he’s likely an injury prone backup. I’m giving him a 79, the injuries make him a real 70-73 grade but you can see the upside of a mid 80s. One of my favorite sleepers.

As a TE other than Brock Bowers the TE with the most upside in this draft is Erick All. I may be in a huge minority here but there’s a chance for this guy to be a very good player in the league. All’s injury history is what is keeping him from being a second round potential TE here and you can’t ignore it. He’s coming off a torn ACL in October of this last year, and in 2022 he busted up his back bad enough that he missed all but 3 games. That said, he’s really good at the top of the route, and is a sudden route runner, particularly on angle routes and choice routes. He creates separation with quickness and agility at the top and those traits typically are very high probabilities of success in the NFL. He shows good speed, can threaten the seam, and was used consistently as a RAC guy on screens and drags for the Hawkeyes. I think the upside is here is very high, if he can work on focus drops. 

As a run blocker he has upside but a lot of room for improvement. He is more of a pusher than a blocker at this point and typically struggles to maintain blocks for longer than a beat or two. He’s at his best when he’s asked to pass pro as he shows good feel for that and is better at mirroring than he is blowing guys off the football. All can give you some good blocks on whams or leads at times but it’s inconsistent. At 6’5 and 250 pounds there is so much potential here and he does work hard at doing it, but poor hand placement and footwork have him missing a handful of blocks that he’s capable of making. Again, the potential is very high but the execution is inconsistent.

I think All flashes as someone who could be a very good starting TE in the league. There’s a high likelihood that he goes to day 3 and that would be a steal for whomever gets him. I do think potentially you draft him in the middle of day 3 and put him on IR to stash him for a season while you help him learn nuance of the position, get a stronger lower body, and learn more but the upside is legit. He’s one of those guys who could end up as a top 10 TE. Now again, he has to improve at a number of things and the injuries aren’t minor. That said, he’s a sleeper who could be an elite player in this class, he should be a target of every team late on day 2 or early on day 3, and with the injuries he likely goes on day 3 which could end up paying massive dividends. 

69. C - Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia 79

I think Van Pran is a starting caliber center in the NFL with solid traits including plus level initial quickness. Van Pran’s initial quickness off the snap is at a plus level bordering on plus-plus. He’s able to snap the ball and instantly get to his initial block, whether that’s angling a DT out of the gap, taking on the heads up zero technique, or initiating a double team. That quickness also allows him to pull and get to the edges and his ability to find those blocks is impressive. He also is adept at hitting that initial double and climbing to the second level. These things stand out on film and provide the basis for why I think he’s going to be a quality starter in the NFL, and should be a round 3 center.

As a pass protector there’s some good and some bad with SVP. The pros are that he sees the game at a high level, has quick feet, and that initial quickness allows him to get in position with a high rate of consistency. He’s got a decent anchor, although not great, but his ability to read the defense and react puts him in advantageous positions with regularity. There are some warts here though, primarily in that he can get overextended with aggressiveness and it leads him to whiffing. He’ll have some poor losses and Carson Beck (who may be QB1 next year) bailed the OL out at times with a quick release and understanding check downs and hots, but SVP did give up some quick losses by getting out in front of his weight. He also is fairly strong but I wonder about his length as he does get walked back a bit at times, during his tape the guy who he was blocking in pass pro was able to bat down numerous passes. He was charted with 13 hurries allowed this season and 11 last year, not awful numbers by any stretch but they do show that he’s not invincible up there.

As a run blocker he’s got impressive quickness and ability there. At 6’4 and 310 pounds he has plenty of size and does a nice job of getting that initial block and he’s very good at turning defenders out of their gap. While his power is only average he uses good leverage and is able to turn and at times remove people from gaps. He plays with a good base and that initial pop off the snap is good enough to give him proper angles. He should be okay but the lack of true knock back power against heavier players does limit him a bit, but on a zone offense with lots of angle blocking he’ll thrive. He’s also powerful enough with enough intelligence to be okay in a gap scheme too. The biggest worry I have is that defender seem to fall off of him a bit more often that you’d like. His grip strength looks to be below average for an NFL C and that could lead to defenders making more tackles on his blocks.

He’s good. I don’t see elite capabilities from him due to some weaknesses to his game but he’s definitely a starter. I love the speed and the recognition with which he plays and it sets him up routinely for success. I do think he was aided of course by playing with a very good Georgia team of couse but he’s got plenty of skill himself. If he can continuously get stronger and work on his anchor and improve upon his grip strength on his blocks he’ll become a better player. That detriment to him is a weakness and does drop him down a bit in terms of grade. I think he’s an underrated player though who should be drafted in round 3 and likely has a chance to be a positive starter in the league. 

70. EDGE Adisa Isaac, Penn State 79

Isaac really stood out during the Senior Bowl, both during one on ones and in team drills. At 6’4 and 250 pounds with super long 34 inch arms, Isaac looks the part of a speed rushing defensive end, but his athleticism isn’t something to be passed over. He’s someone who could certainly play some 34 OLB as well with a good initial first step and the length to set the edge if he’s asked to do so. He has a good initial burst and solid bend off the edge and while he’s not nearly as explosive as teammate Chop Robinson, I think Isaac’s punch is much more intimidating. He’s a good athlete with good bend and he has plus length, but he needs refinement to his run defense - not all his fault, and could use more counter moves. Overall there is quite a bit to work with here and the strong showing in Mobile pushed him up the board. He’s a good player but may have gotten too big of a bump? He’s not a day 3 kid like he was going into the week, but he also probably isn’t a round two guy either. I think the truth is somewhere between his tape, talent, and Senior Bowl week.

As a pure pass rusher there are good traits here. Obviously his straight arm punch and bullrush can cause problems for people and occasionally it flashes on tape but probably isn’t his strength. He’s good in stunts and twists as he’s agile for his size and his straight line burst around the edge is pretty good. If you leave him unblocked he can be a menace as he’s got a nice get off and quickness. He uses some punch swipe moves as a pass rusher that are fairly effective as well. That said, he’s inconsistent with his wins as a rusher. Against the best teams it didn’t show up consistently as he is good but not great at a number of things. In Mobile when he got a ton of space to work you got a better chance to see the tools but on tape, when things got tight it wasn’t as clean or consistent. Isaac ended up with some nice counting stats on tape but his pressure numbers were good not great. There’s potential here but it wasn’t always as good as you’d think on film.

As a run defender it’s really difficult to grade these Penn State DE’s because they are asked to just attack upfield. They can get displaced often and are sometimes out of position but it’s tough to know whether that’s them or the scheme. He made quite a few plays in the backfield against the run this last season and his ability to chase down plays from the backside is really good. At times he shows a plus ability to punch and separate from offensive lineman but I wonder quite a bit about his anchor. He wasn’t asked to do that, and again the cleaner he’s kept the better he looked on film.

He’s an interesting player who I think worked his way into the round 2 conversation. I don’t have a round 2 grade on him personally but he’s definitely better than a day 3 guy as well. The tools are plus and he had good production with 27 TFL’s combined over the past two seasons so somewhere late in the 2nd or early in the 3rd feels like the right spot for him for me in a typical draft. I think his ability to probably play the speed end in a 43 or a 34 spot is nice for him and he looks like he’d be at his best in a blitz heavy system where he can get some space to operate. 

71. WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama 79

There’s nothing that he does that really leaps off the screen when you scout him but he’s both explosive and smooth which is pretty rare. I like the fact that he’s someone who can actually get open on all three levels and he has the explosive speed to be a downfield weapon. Burton snatches the football out of the air and is someone who understands leverage and uses a creative route tree to create separation. I think he lacks all the traits you’d want to see in terms of his ability to be a number one guy but he looks like a nice secondary WR option in the NFL.

At 6’1 and 195 pounds he has pretty good size for a WR and certainly has the quickness and speed to play all three WR positions which is a nice boost. He’s a sudden route runner with good speed to threaten the defense and uses that to set up plays on stop routes and secondary moves. The longer the route goes on, the more difficult the cover is for Burton and so the crossers and deep outs on those intermediate to longer routes he becomes problematic for defensive backs. I think his ability to snap off his routes and decelerate quickly allows him to get some easy catches that are the trademark of good NFL WRs.

Burton has plus hands and uses that snatch ability to keep defenders away from the football. For someone who is relatively skinny he’s good in contested catch situations and isn’t afraid to work all levels of the defense. That said, he also doesn’t terrify you and isn’t someone who is overly great at anything. He played 4 seasons and only picked up a total of 2300 yards, although his yards per catch average is what stands out at 18 per reception. He’s someone who can threaten all levels of the defense, but his ability on intermediate and deep routes stands out.

He’s a deeper threat who can also make plays at the intermediate level. I think he’s below average after the catch and isn’t creative with the ball in his hands but his speed plays. To me Burton looks like a solid second or third option in a WR room and his ability to play at each level, good route running, and plus speed makes him a perfect selection early in round 3. 

72. DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon 79

Very solid football player who has the benefit of being able to play all over the defensive line. Dorlus lined up over the center on pass rush downs or all the way out to a wide-9 alignment at times for the Ducks. He’s got long arms and at 6’3 and 290 pounds he actually projects ideally as a 5T in a 34 alignment. Dorlus has good punch, a bevy of pass rush moves, and has enough lateral agility to be able to make plays in the run game. While he lacks the upside of a first round pick, he should provide plenty of very good snaps in his career as a day 2 selection, with multiple front teams more intrigued than others.

Dorlus is going to be best utilized as an interior rusher on pass rush downs where he can use good length to bench press shorter armed interior offensive linemen. While he’s not quick he has enough movement skills to get on the edges of interior players and he has a nice rip move that he utilizes to get into lanes. Dorlus is going to get a lot of hurries in the NFL as he did in college where he racked up over 30 each of the past three seasons but the lack of explosion and elite tools will push him to a hurry guy and not someone who is going to finish a lot of plays in the backfield. Hurries, batted pass, and the occasional QB hit as a rusher is where he’s going to be but likely projects as an average pass rusher.

Where Dorlus becomes an intriguing player is his ability to stack and shed against the run. He looks like the perfect 5T to me as he has the base to hold up on the edges and make life difficult for offensive tackles and TE’s trying to run block. Again he’s not someone who is going to thrive and make a ton of tackles or TFLs in this capacity but he’ll make defenses better out there. He could do that or be a 43 base End and really create problems with TEs who are supposed to block him on the strong side. 

He’s a nice piece, and if your team plays multiple fronts he’s a very intriguing weapon. I think he projects as a solid piece in the NFL and he does have a lot of Chris Wormley vibes for me, but with probably more talent. I feel like he’s the prototypical mid day 2 pick and while he likely won’t fall to round 3, every team would like him if he did. I don’t think his upside is high enough to love him in the second but he’s too good for round 3. 

73. OT - Amarius Mims, Georgia 79

This isn’t that Mims isn’t way more talented than a 79 (round 3 grade), it’s that we have no idea what or who he is. He has 8 career starts and missed parts of games in a lot of those, he just hasn’t played much. It’s a 100% projection and for me OL play grading is a massive amount of just are you available. He’s an impressive athlete for someone who is 6’7 and 340 pounds and he moves very well for someone that size but he’ll also play a bit tall at times and guys his size usually have problems staying healthy and that’s been his MO. He’s rated in the top 32 by everyone based on his upside, and it’s definitely there but the lack of health and reps make him way too risky for him to be someone I’d end up with.

I do think that Mims athletic ability means that he could probably play LT as well in the NFL which does increase his floor a bit as he could end up working either side. He projects much better on the right side though. He is long levered and utilizes his length pretty darn well. It’s tough to get around him on the edge as he simply kick steps and his length causes issues. I would say that he gets flat footed at times as a pass protector and while there were good tapes and plays mixed in without question, he needs a lot of work in technique and balance.

As a run defender there is talent there but he gets out in front of his pads way too often and it leads to him being a pusher and not a power blocker. I’ve watched too many pushers not be great in the NFL in the run block game. He simply doesn’t play with the power you’d expect. Mims just plays a bit too high at times and he gets excited and goes too hard to the second level and misses blocks. Guys are able to move around him at the second level. 

He’s a very talented kid. That said I just don’t know what he is and nobody else does either. He can be a good pass protector in the NFL at his size and speed combination and he rarely loses quickly in the pass game which is a key factor. I think he’s more of a push blocker than a drive blocker, not due to temperament but due to lack of leverage and technique. That can be remedied at times in the league but again, we don’t know if he can improve because he’s been injured quite a bit. These type of guys are fine to take but I’m not going to use high draft capital when it’s almost all based on talent and the tape is good but not great and the injury history and reps are very low. Someone else can take that swing. 

74. WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky 78

The “YAC” King. Plays the football game as angry as anyone you’ll watch. Gives you Deebo Samuel or Golden Tate vibes where he is physical, strong, and fast after the catch. There is nobody who catches the football who wants to punish people more after the catch than Corley does. Corley is a running back playing wide receiver, not the other way around. He is on the shorter side at about 5’10.5 but he weighs in at 215 pounds and is built like a house. For his height he has a decent wingspan, but isn’t an elite catcher of the football. At the WKU offense he played mostly in the slot, which is where he’d be at his best in the NFL. Corley projects as an excellent YAC player who needs work with the nuance of the game but should give a team excellent physicality, toughness, and short area quickness with elite yards after catch ability.

Corley has pretty solid speed but isn’t someone who I would say is exceptionally fast, and while others think he’s quick, on tape I don’t see it. It takes him quite a while to get up to full speed. I thought maybe it was me, but when you look at the Senior Bowl max acceleration numbers, Corley’s acceleration wasn’t impressive. While you have to say that these numbers aren’t everything obviously, it was something that I noticed on tape and it was confirmed with the GPS data. As a route runner he has to play with more pace and urgency, as he floats in and out of breaks too often. While it was effective against a low level of competition, that lack of quick twitch and conviction as a route runner, particularly one who projects to the slot is bothersome. He does look more impressive with an ability to stop quickly, and with enough speed to threaten a defense, he does get his share of underneath completions.

Corley is someone who is very intriguing because he’s so elite after the catch though. He runs through almost every arm tackle that you’ll see and he literally plays the game like a running back, searching for and delivering contact. They didn’t use this much at WKU but he would thrive as a player on end arounds, and there’s a part of me that wonders if he couldn't be a very good running back. He shows good vision and decent burst but with excellent power after the catch.

He’s an intriguing player without question. I want to see him have a better catch radius, as he’s inconsistent when the ball isn’t put on him. He’s got some upside as a route runner with certain plays but isn’t effective at others. When he’s asked to stop and turn back, he’s very good as he can put the brakes on quickly but his lateral agility, crispness, and urgency as a route runner isn’t consistently there. If you have a plan for him there’s a chance he can be a good pro, but Corley will likely thrive on screens, running plays, and drags where you can get the ball in his hands and let him do what he does best, deliver punishment. 

75. G - Christian Mahogany, Boston College 78

This dude is a tone setter on the interior. He has impressive knockback power and hits you with a ton of force consistently, showing an ability to create an initial hole almost immediately. He has impressive pure power and on short pulls he will obliterate players who don’t get squared up. At 6’3 and 322 pounds he’s a good mover on short pulls and shows plus power and initial pop in his pads. It stands out on film. His highlight tape is honestly pretty freaking sick, he’s got legit power and nastiness to him that allows him to drive block people down the field and onto their backs, and not small men, legit 300 pounders. As an overall player I don’t like how he projects in pass pro at the next level though and see a solid drop off likely at that spot, but all said and done he looks like a 3rd round pick at guard and in a power run offense he could be a stud. As a run blocker I believe he’ll be excellent in the NFL, in pass pro the jury is out with good upside but a low floor. If you want to run with power and downhill though, he’s an absolute tone setter up front.

The issue is he plays out over his feet pretty often and loses some pass pro reps very quickly. While it didn’t kill him at BC as he wasn’t even credited with a sack or hit this season given up, there were quite a few plays that would or could have been sacks in the league. In pass pro he just seems stiff, which is odd because he moves so well out in space. Mahogany looks late with his hands and his feet at times and stunts and games are problematic for him as he is late to react. He also allows defenders to get into him, and while his anchor is very good, a big plus for a guard, if he gets too aggressive and oversets or gets over his toes, guys win very quickly against him. While he wins a lot in pass pro, when he loses it’s bad. I think he may have some very bad losses at the next level and while his overall pass block win rate and peripheral numbers may be good in pass pro, the stiffness and some of the issues are real and will cause bad losses in pass pro.

I could talk ad nauseum about his ability to run block with power though. He’s one of the only players in this class, or almost any class, that can blow people off the football directly, at an angle, or pulling. He’s a truly special power run blocker. Mahogany has enough movement skills and pulling skills to be effective running those type of schemes as well, and he’s nasty with his demeanor. His biggest issue with run blocking is that his initial hit and pop is elite but at times guys will fall off of him and while his hand power is punishing, you wonder if his grip strength and length cause him some issues. It’s a very minor thing but it’s something that does occasionally show up.

The reason I’d look at him in round 3 is that he legitimately could be a low round 1 blocker in terms of power run game. He’s that good with power. The two things are key that knock his grade though. One he has bad losses in pass pro and while it didn’t hurt him in college with a very mobile QB odds are those losses turn into sacks in the NFL. Also he tore his ACL in 2022 and serious injuries have to be taken into account. I do like the kid a lot though, he’s going to add a dimension to a lot of teams, I would hope with his athleticism and anchor and maybe another year removed from ACL surgery that his pass pro could improve over time and he could limit bad losses up front, if he can, he has a shot to be a very good pro. I think you take him thinking he’s a plus run blocker and a below average pass blocker, but knowing that there’s a shot that he could turn into much more. If he’s there on day 3 and you run gap/power, he could give you a huge bang for your buck. 

Had an OL scout tell me that his comp on Mahogany is Tommy Boy. Guy just goes a million miles per hour and wants to hit everything that moves. 

76. WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington 78

Polk is a good solid football player who was aided by a great offense and a great college QB. He’s going to probably fit in as an NFL WR3 who has added value in the fact that he can play all 3 WR positions and that’s a huge get for someone in the middle rounds. I’d say that there’s nothing he does exceptionally well, although the vesratility and ability to catch the ball in traffic is very good. When he played against good competition that pressed him, it took him a while to win those battles. I think he’s a good intermediate route runner, has solid size, and some acceleration after the catch to be an effective NFL player but he feels like a normal WR3 to me with that versatility that gives him a higher floor than most.

As a route runner it’s mostly good but it does take him a while to win most of the time. He has a hesitation move that takes him a while to get into his route off of press and it feels like he runs a majority option routes even when he doesn’t. Out of the slot it’s fine but out wide, I want and need him to get into his route quicker. With an elite OL like Washington it was fine, but that transition to the NFL is going to need to speed up his process. He’s good on the intermediate levels though, particularly when lined up from a bunch formation and allowed a free release. He has a good release package but it’s slow to develop. 

He snatches the football out of the air, and other than the OSU game where they gave him fits in the monsoon, you can see his ability to snatch the football. Contact and congestion doesn’t really bother him and he sees leverage at a good level to get himself into open spaces in zone. Polk also will work as a blocker and while he’s good he’s not great there but he uses his size well and does put forth good effort.

He’s a pretty easy evaluation. He’s good at the intermediate level in particular and he’s okay long and okay short but he doesn’t win his routes quickly and doesn’t have elite pure speed. Most of his big plays in the passing game were lined up against safeties from the slot and that won’t happen as often in the NFL. I think his rookie year may take him a while to progress so despite some solid overall play and grade, the team that drafts him needs to be patient with him so he can speed up his processing and release packages as well as his stems. I think at worst he’s a 3 position backup but likely he projects as a nice WR3 in the league, maybe WR2 upside? But I like my WR3 projection with a higher floor and lower ceiling than most analysts have him.

77. DT Leonard Taylor III, Miami 78

Taylor is an ultra talented 3T who may be able to kick out to a 4i in odd man fronts if you wanted based on his size and quickness. At 6’3 and 305 pounds he likely could do either one and that scheme versatility helps his draft stock. The biggest thing that jumps out ot me about Taylor is he simply hasn’t played a ton of snaps. Miami wanted to keep people fresh and it lead to Taylor only playing 670 COMBINED snaps over the past two seasons. His lack of productivity and lack of snaps worries me a bit about someone using ultra high draft capital on him. However, his quickness and ability to get on the edges and into the backfield is extremely impressive. He likely isn’t a 50 snap per game player which limits the upside and makes me want to wait til round two to take him but the athleticism and quickness off the snap is hard to pass up. He looks like a 25-30 snap per game pass rushing interior defender with some toughness in the run game as a 3T. Impressive player.

As a pass rusher he’s going to get a lot of hurries I think in the NFL. While he’s not someone who likely will end up with big sack numbers as I’m a bit worried about bend, his initial quickness is impressive and he gets on the edges of interior players extremely fast, allowing him to gain backfield depth quickly. The lack of lateral agility means that he likely won’t put up good sack numbers, and that showed itself in college with just 6 combined sacks in 3 seasons and only 2.5 TFL this past year, his impact goes beyond the counting stats. He’s going to force the QB off his spot relatively quickly and create some havoc in the backfield. The problem that he’ll face here is that that lack of lateral agility means he won’t create many counting stats and he’ll be better as a hurry guy than anything else.

As a run defender there is some inconsistency here but if he’s allowed to play 3T consistently or he should be a nice player sporadically. I don’t think you want him out there being your full time run defending DT as he’ll lose leverage at times and isn’t the best at gap control. He’s an attacking DT so he’ll lose gap integrity at times in order to try to make plays. I also don’t think he’s a gap control player anyway, he’s a penetrator so he needs to go to that type of team. 

He’s a talented dude with an impressive first step, and that’s where he shines. He’ll make some very impressive plays but his tackle radius and lateral agility are bad enough that he won’t ever be good at counting stats. If he wasn’t good at that in college imagine how much more difficult that will be in the NFL. The talent is there and the youtube scouts will love him due to his quickness and his splash plays but he’s not a very consistent player and lacks traits that can elevate him to being a consistent impact player at the next level. On top of that he’s best utilized as a part time player which pushes him down the board. Nice piece, but he’s a piece, I like him in round 3. 

This is a guy who has FALLEN hard down draft boards as the process has worn on. Rated in the 150s by NFL.COM, 141 by PFF, and 168 by ESPN. I never in a million years thought I would be part of his fan club but here I am. Now I think he could be a great snag early on day 3 where you can take a good shot at his upside without the risk. He’d be someone I’d target if I already had a good 3T so he can learn and work his way up. Randomly turned into one of my guys. 

78. RB Dylan Laube, New Hampshire 78

Can’t lie to you I had no idea who this guy was until the Senior Bowl and then it was impossible not to notice him. At 5’10 and 210 pounds Laube is built well for a RB and looked smooth as could be in pass catching drills - and there’s a reason why. Laube had 171 catches in his college career while leading the nation in all purpose yards at 209.5 per game this past season. Laube was an all purpose freak for UNH this season, catching 68 passes and running for 749 yards while winning the special teams player of the year award. 

A lot of small school running backs put up impressive numbers though so what separates him and makes him someone to draft late on day 3? That’s an easy one here. Laube’s ability as a pass catcher is pretty rare. There are very few players of any position who can come into the NFL with 171 receptions but Laube can line up all over the formation and give you a jolt as a 3rd down weapon. Lining up in the slot is second nature to him and watching him on 3 way go drills at Mobile shows that it’s smooth and then explosive. He’s not just some back with versatility though, Laube can absolutely motor too, with a 20.4 MPH GPS. 

On top of those traits, he also is an imprssive kick and punt returner finishing top 10 in punt return yards both of the past two seasons per return and going for over 30 yards per return on kickoffs this past season. Laube is someone who can provide a skillset as a running back and returner, and can even flex out to create matchup problems as a slot. With that as well, even if he doesn’t give you a ton there, you can see his competitiveness and 20MPH on kickoff and punt return units is always welcome. I think he’s better than he’ll get drafted and he looks like more of an early day 3 pick with the speed and acceleration paired with the hands. Tough not to like him, and while he could certainly go undrafted he’d be one of my number one targets as a UDFA if that were to happen. One of the most underrated players in this class, I’m a very big fan. 

79. TE - Cade Stover, Ohio State 78

Stover is a solid football player who has a good solid floor as a potential low to mid level starter and reliable target but with a lower ceiling. While he doesn’t possess some of the elite traits you’d need to be a super high quality player at his position, he does some things well and doesn’t have any real glaring weaknesses to his game. I wish he were more sudden as a route runner but his ability to make people miss after the catch and engage in the run game are both positives. At 6’4 and 251 pounds he has solid size and displays some downfield ability, averaging over 14 yards per catch this season, while also being used on flat routes and drags. It shows that he has some extra juice down the field but is reliable enough to use underneath. Stover projects well as a late day 2 selection and someone who could be a nice well rounded TE with a high floor.

As a pass catcher it’s mostly good here with Stover. He has decent speed on tape to run the seam routes and some of the deep crosser concepts that you’ll see NFL TE’s run on play action routes. He’s not a sudden athlete in terms of as a route runner so he has to make a lot of contested catches but he shows strong hands and is reliable in that capacity. In fact he had an over 80% completion percentage into his coverage this past season. He’s not just impressive there though, he has a tendency to make the first person miss with good vision and an ability to break tackles early in the catch, using a strong stiff arm to get by smaller DBs. He’s not an exceptional RAC guy but he’s not someone who just catches it and goes down either, there’s some potential there.

As a blocker it’s more of the same, solid with good effort and good fundamentals. I like that he understands concepts in pass pro, making guys go wide on their rushes when he’s there at the 9 spot on the OL. While it’s not his strong suit, you can see his capability here, particularly when he’s asked to block and then release, he’ll be a solid checkdown candidate after chipping as well. In the run blocking game he’s not overly strong but he maintains his blocks well and does a good job of getting into position. He’s currently not powerful in-line but he can improve in that area and is willing and capable currently. 

He’s good. There’s nothing to his game that make me worried about his ability to play TE at a quality level in the NFL. He has a shot to be one of those boring TEs who ends up playing for a decade in the league because he can go to any scheme and play a variety of roles and be effective. He’s not flashy though and doesn’t possess the quickness getting in and out of his breaks to create consistent enough separation, so his production likely is capped but the reliability and RAC ability are both good characteristics. I think he’s a good snag late on day 2 and if he falls to day 3 he could be a quietly quality addition and projects as at worst a good TE2. 

80. DT - Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson 78

Second fastest 10 yard split in the 40 while showing plus explosiveness in drills along with 34 inch arms. He definitely has some juice as an sub 300 pound interior player with plus mobility, length, and explosiveness. You can see that he has some shock in his hands when you watch him on tape as he’ll jar offensive linemen with his length and pop. He’s not very stout against the run as his height and a bit of a leaner lower half on film can get him washed out at times but his quickness and pure speed show up on film. There are quite a few things to like about him as a player and while he’ll likely be a pass rushing 3T at the next level, the length and athleticism he shows makes me believe he could be a 34DE as well. He’s underrated I think in this process right now and is an intriguing day 2 prospect.

 I’m not sure he’s a run defender in the NFL at this point but if he plays 5T he could be in time. His length shows up occasionally and there are rare instances where he isn’t stuck inside at the B Gap and he stands out in those instances. I saw him lined up in the 4i or 5t spot on the first tape I watched and he won with an inside rush. Then against FSU he is lined up as a traditional 5T and they ran a puller to him and he straight up flatbacked the guy into the dirt. It was a Guard, not a TE. He had just 48 combined tackles the past two seasons playing a full compliment of snaps and there are times he gets initially moved and uprooted if he isn’t able to square up. A stronger lower half is necessary. That said, if he kicks to 34E he has a shot to be better in this phase, on film the further out he got from center the more impressed I was with his tape.

As a pass rusher he’s not a nuanced guy, he stands up a bit too high and while Clemson used him a ton in stunts and twists he was only okay there. He gets too focused on the guy in front of him or his job on those plays to realize there are times where there are gaps. I like how he uses his hands though on his secondary rushes. I did not’ witness a ton of early wins for him in the passing game but he won his fair share, particularly once he was able to reset his hands after shocking an IOL and then giving them a second punch. The wider he was, the scary he was as a rusher though.

He played out of position at Clemson and it’s going to determine a lot about how good he could be in the NFL. He needs seasoning in terms of leverage, finding the football, and lower body mass to be able to be good in the NFL as a 3T. However, I think he has a very good shot to play 34DE or 4i and he could be really good. In fact that’s where I’d target him as a DC is that type of spot and you can always kick him inside further on pass rushing downs but the wider he got, and the more room to maneuver the scarier he looked. If I’m projecting him to the league, he looks like a mid day 2 pick as a 5T and a 4th rounder as a 3T. I’m going to split the difference and say he’s a high 70s rated guy. 

81. EDGE - Javon Solomon, Troy 78

Not an easy evaluation here for Solomon who has a unique build for an edge rusher, particularly one who lined up over the guard a lot in college. At under 6’1 and 245 pounds but with very long 34 inch arms, it’s just tough to determine how he fits in an NFL defense. That said, you can’t argue with him and his ridiculous production for the Trojans. Solomon picked up 33 sacks and an insane 49.5 tackles for loss throughout his career, including 16 sacks this season. He also wasn’t just a pass rusher though, as he showed a propensity to make plays against the run and had 150 combined tackles the past three seasons, not just someone who rushes the passer. Now of course, the weird body style and the level of competition means he’ll have a jump up and we have to see what he can become but he’s someone who needs to be discussed on day 2. That type of production is tough to replicate at any level. I think he’s worth a round 3 selection, particularly for a team that likes to run an amoeba defense on the front.

Solomon does a nice job of showing good burst off the edge but when he speed rushes he doesn’t get too much depth and that allows him to not just get sacks but to get pressures as well. He also has good length despite his height and it allows him to get good leverage on tackles and he uses that threat of decent speed off the edge to set up an inside counter move that gets QBs off their spot. I like his hand usage and his ability to get to the edges of interior players when he lines up over the top of the guard as well, meaning when teams play 50 fronts he has a chance to match up accordingly. These things give him a shot to be good in the NFL.

I don’t know how well he’ll hold up on the edge as a run defender in the league at his weight. He’s not heavy and despite the fact that he plays with good leverage, you have to think stronger NFL players will be able to root him out. He showed in the K State game though that it’ll be harder than most analysts think. I think he actually isn’t going to be some liability against the run which is why I have him as a round 3 grade and not a day 3 grade like other analysts. 

I don’t know if he’s going to be great in the NFL, he doesn’t do anything at a super high level in terms of projections. But he rushes with excellent angles and he doesn’t allow himself to get out of position on many plays which is flat out rare. He puts himself in position via his rush lanes to get way more pressures, hits, and sacks than most edge players do. He also shows an aptitude for getting on the edges of players whether that’s inside or outside. Even at the Senior Bowl there were a number of rushes where he just doesn’t get too much depth and while his bend is good it’s not elite. That said, he doesn’t get too wide often. He’s just in position a lot and he’s stronger with longer arms than people thought going into the pre-draft process. You can’t teach his production or his ability to be around the ball that often. I’d like to snag him in round 3 if I’m a team that needs a 3rd rusher. He may not ever wow you, but he may be a more productive NFL player than people think.

82. T Kinglsey Suamataia, BYU 78

Suamatia is a big bodied offensive lineman at 6’4 and 323 pounds with 34 inch arms. He’s played both left and right tackle throughout his career and that ability to play either side is going to probably be his best attribute headed into the league. I even think with his anchor he could end up kicking inside to guard in a power scheme as well. I do think that Suamataia is overrated at this point in the process as he’s projected to go in the second round and he’s not that type of player for me. I think his traits are impressive and there are things that he can do that make you think there’s a high upside there but his hand placement and balance are both mediocre and he’s the epitome of a pusher and not a driver as a blocker. The talent is there but he’s a third round pick and you have to be aware that there’s a shot he ends up as a swing tackle.

As a pass protector you have to like his ability to mirror and move. He’s an easy mover for someone who weighs in over 320 pounds with long arms. He times up the snap count well and gets out of his stance quickly, getting his feet set and his kickstep is good. He’s patient in his approach in pass pro and he’s able to redirect once the defender gets to him. I don’t think he’ll lose quickly very often at the next level. He was good each of the past two seasons in pass pro, giving up just 15 combined hurries. I would say in my opinion he’s good here but not great in terms of NFL projections. While I like his athleticism, and his anchor is good with plus size and weight. His balance is mediocre and I do think that he’s too patient as a pass protector as he almost always is the one getting hit and not doing the hitting out of his stance. Good NFL rushers are going to be able to get into his body and while he’s stronger and longer than most college players, I’m not sure that’s going to hold up in the NFL. I can see him giving up a lot more pressure at the next level if he can’t figure out how to use his hands better as not only is he delayed in getting his hands on guys, his hand placement and punch is also erratic. He’s quick enough with good enough arm length that he gets away with it, but it’s not good currently.

As a run blocker I think he’s going to be okay but not great. He doesn’t have the upside to be great here as he doesn’t play with good enough power, base, or hand placement. He’s a pusher as a tackle and those guys typically don’t thrive in the NFL. There are also too many reps, particularly at left tackle where he simply misses guys who are quick into the hole. Also while he’s quick, it’s not like he’s elite here and I think that scouts are overestimating this. On outside zones where he has to cut off a backside end or tackle, he rarely actually gets all the way around. It’s a very difficult block, but if he’s a top 40 player like he’s being graded out as, that’s something you have to do. On top of it, he misses a bit too often in open space for me. He can get out there, but it’s a 50/50 proposition if he’s going to hit out there. Better than some, worse than others.

Look this seems like I’m bagging on this guy and I don’t want to do that. Odds are he’s going to get taken in round 2 but I’m just saying that his grade is too high. I have him as a prototypical third round guy. He’s a pusher and not a drive blocker as a tackle, his quickness and agility are both good but not great, and while he grades out fairly well tape to tape, to me there isn’t anything that truly stands out. I like parts of his game and I love that he’s played both tackle slots as it means his floor is as a swing tackle which is nice, but in round two I need more, and while I don’t grade players like this, in THIS draft with so many top tier lineman, I’ll let someone else take him in round 2. Now if he were in the 75 range, snatch him up immediately though. 

83. S - Kamren Kinchens, Miami 78

Kinchens is a big play safety who has put up some impressive counting stats for the Hurricanes during his career. Kinchens has over 160 tackles over his career and has 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. He’s going to go make big plays because he hunts them at safety and if you’re someone who values turnovers more than anything else he is someone you have to target if you have a need in the secondary. He also is going to make some mistakes on the back end and he’ll miss tackles and be late in recognition at times which lead to big plays or first downs. Overall he’s a boom or bust safety prospect who will attack the ball but isn’t going to be an eraser back there. Day 2 guy, but the missed tackles and some eye discipline issues push him down the board for me. 

In pass coverage there are obviously some big pros to Kinchens game. He’s a ball hawk with 11 interceptions and 15 career PBUs. He has sure hands and thrives on overthrows. I like that he attacks the football in space and wants to make big plays on the ball. I think his recognition skills are pretty good when he’s playing disciplined football as well. 

The negatives here though are pretty clear. He’s going to get his eyes caught in the backfield at times and it leads to him being flat footed. Kinchens doesn’t have good size, it’s okay but nothing exciting at 6’0 and around 205 pounds and so bigger TEs and WRs are going to be able to make plays on him. He also misses a lot of tackles. He wants to go for the big hit and it causes him to miss easy plays. He’s missed 24 tackles combined over the past two seasons with just 118 made tackles, a nearly 17% missed tackle rate, almost an unplayable number. 

He’s a boom or bust safety. If you want a ballhawk and someone who can take it away, he may be your guy. The fact he put up big INT numbers in back to back seasons likely means it’s a pattern and not a one off. That said he ALSO put up huge missed tackle percentages in back to back seasons and there were quite a few times on tape where he wasn’t in great position on deep balls. He wants to make plays so badly that he’ll get himself in a bad spot. There’s lots of pros and lots of cons, to me the missed tackle issue is too big to ignore so he gets pushed down to the middle of day 2. 

I have been lower on Kitchens throughout the process but running the slowest 40 of all safeties obviously knocked him down even lower. He’s a 3. 

84. EDGE Austin Booker, Kansas 78

He’s a really interesting study in this draft class because there are a lot of tools, and he was very intriguing at Mobile but he literally only played one year of real football in college. After transferring from Minnesota and barely playing for two seasons with the Golden Gophers he went to Lawrence and put up an exceptionally impressive performance. Not only did the ultra long (34 inch arms) Booker put up 27 hurries, 9 sacks, and 12 tackles for loss this season for the Jayhawks, he did it while also being productive against the run. Booker recorded 56 tackles from the edge, a very high number for someone who at 240 pounds has some worried about his ability to defend the run. The Senior Bowl showed that he’s plenty capable in one on one situations, and the tape this season was without question impressive. The issue is, how much capital can you give up to someone at 6’4.5 and only 240 pounds with only 505 career snaps on defense?

Look I have to be honest, even in a normal draft there’s no way I could use a top 64 pick on someone who has this many question marks. Booker is super tall and lean for an edge player and you never know how that’s going to hold up, and on top of it, he has some of the lowest amount of snaps from any player heading into this draft class. Booker has one of the strangest pass rushing repertoires you’ll ever see as well. He has a very slow pace off the line, almost like an NBA hesitation dribble, before exploding to the edge. It’s something that is off-putting when you watch tape. He also has a slow rush that works its way into a bull rush and his long arms really do come with some collapsing power. He mixes that up with a handful of inside swim moves and enough quickness to get the edge. It’s odd, but it’s effective on film. He got the best of some good tackles.

He doesn’t win quickly often which is my biggest knock on him. Booker is very effective when he’s allowed time to operate and despite his weight he packs some of the most physical shock in his hands of anyone in this class. Go watch his Illinois tape and he just flat-backs a 315 pound tackle en route to a sack at one point, that shows up on time consistently. That said, a ton of his sacks were simply a hesitation-power combo and then the QB climbs the pocket and he’s there with long arms and waiting. Those aren’t going to come as often in the pros. 

He’s super intriguing and I honestly don’t know what to do with him. I’d guess we put him in round 3 as he’s got enticing upside as he’s raw as can be but has some uncommon traits. His length is a huge asset and despite his lean frame he’s powerful with the punch and the hesitation-bullrush that he uses is pretty filthy. I think how thin he is actually lulls OTs to sleep. When he just wants to get the edge he’s pretty quick and he does have a few moves. He also is really tall and lean and he'd need to be kept clean to be successful against the run early in his career. I think he’s a developmental DE who needs some more time and reps but has some very intriguing traits. I’d prefer him in the 4th where I don’t feel obligated to play him a ton early on but he’s someone who in a defense that runs a lot of games could be very effective as a pass rusher. I think he’s a 3 but one of the more difficult evaluations as he’s just odd to scout. 

85. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia 78

Frazier is a 6’2 315 pound center with decent length for an interior player who really jumped out on film. I noticed him first when I was working on Penn State’s defense which is exceptionally talented and Frazier looked like the best player on the field that day. He looks like an ideal player for an inside zone team as his ability to get guys out of gaps and find quality angles looks like a huge asset. He also was able to get huge push on QB sneaks and inside power runs which the ability to do both is something you rarely see at the college level. On top of that throughout his last three season for the Mountaineers, Frazer gave up a total of 9 QB hits in almost 2600 snaps. He looks the part of a very high quality player and seems destined to be a good day 2 center.

The more tape I watched on Frazier the more I realized that he’s a pretty darn conservative blocker. He doesn’t lose quickly and kind of walks the guys where they want to go. He gives up pretty good distance as a pass protector, willing to anchor a bit deeper than most centers. His lateral agility is okay but not great but his ability to pop people with his hands with plus grip strength allows him to reset his hands on blocks even when he’s beaten and allows him to not fully lose the rep. I don’t know if he’s going to be great in pass pro in the NFL but I do think he’s going to be okay there because he is good at the anchor and with grip strength.

As a run blocker he’s pretty good but I think slightly overrated here. His movement skills and athleticism are okay but the idea that he’s got this great power or movement ability as a run blocker feels wrong. I like how he stays low to create movement but he’s got good not great power and with just average speed and quickness how good is he going to be at climbing and getting that second level block in the league? I do like his ability to gain that leverage on short area runs though as the former wrestler does work his way in the short area to create good running lanes. I think it’s harder to judge him as I wasn’t in love with his guards that he played with this last year either and I think going to play with better players next to him will help him out.

He’s good. I don’t think his athleticism or power are good enough to be talking about him in the second round and particularly not as an interior offensive lineman. I don’t grade based on individual drafts either but if I did I certainly wouldn’t take him in round 2 in this one. I do think that he’s probably capped as a good starting level player and I also think that at worst he’s a solid backup guard but he feels like an easy round 3 guy to me. He’s too good to fall to day 3 but the lack of length and good not great athleticism pushes him to the 3rd round as his tape is solid. There are moments where he’s very good on film and again he’s not someone who loses quickly so I like his floor, multi positional as he can play guard or center, and multi scheme as he can probably play inside or outside zone and maybe show some gap as well so I like those things but the upside is only okay. Feels like an easy 3rd round player - but most NFL evaluators have him much higher. 

86. CB - Mike Sainristil, Michigan 78

I want 11 people who play the game as hard as this dude does on defense. If I had that, I’d have a winning team. Sainristil is a converted WR who absolutely leaps off the screen as a nickel back when you watch Michigan tape. At 5’10 and just 180 pounds he’s obviously limited in terms of size but he’s definitely not limited in terms of playmaking ability. Sainristil picked off 6 passes this past season and was impressive playing all over the place in the Wolverines defense. He’s a physical player whose speed and ball skills will help improve a number of defenses and he looks like the ideal dime back and slot corner to help matchup with speed. He’s a round 3 guy through and through with the lack of size and age 23 but impossible not to love what you see on tape.

I just really think he’s a football player first and foremost. He understands zone coverage, leverage, and gets where he needs to do in zone coverage. It’s why I think he’ll be so successful in the NFL playing in dime packages. He also obviously has rare ball skills for a corner, and gets himself where he needs to go on each of those concepts. I love how he widens out at times when he sees things developing and forces windows tigher or makes plays on the football. As a man corner he’s got good quickness and acceleration and uses that to work through the muck. I’m not sure he’s the most agile guy in the world nor the fastest, I may need to see the 40 at the combine and the 10 yard splits because I do think that maybe the long speed is functional but not great. The off man technique that he likes to play is going to be a tougher transition for him in the NFL. If he does what he did at Michigan which is stand flat footed and then reroute and turn and run he’ll have two things happen 1 - he’ll get a shitload of illegal contact calls, and 2 - guys will run by him and use that three way go to beat him. He’s not that quick where that won’t be an issue.

Sainristil is very physical and is going to work hard to make tackles and go attack players. I love that about him but again 5’10 and 180 just won’t work all the time in the slot as NFL OCs will just post him up. He works hard but you just only can do so much there. This is why I love him as a player but he’s clearly upside limited to round 3. I do like him so much as a specialist as a dime or nickel zone corner though because he’s so good when he can see it and attack but the lack of size and some acceleration and speed issues drops his grade. Probably a better fit in round 4 but I love his tape and push him up to the 3rd on my board. He’s a player if I’m a GM I circle on my board and hope that he falls due to size fears and that’s he’s a slot only. Based on draft chatter there’s no way that’s happening but man if you can get him in the 3rd round, the value is great. 

87. LB - Junior Colson, Michigan 78

Colson weighs in at 6’3 and 247 pounds although I don’t really see him playing that big consistently. He’s a rock solid football player though who is one of the more patient linebackers I’ve seen, and I mean that in nothing but a good way. Most LBs in college just go 100 MPH all the time and get themselves out of position constantly but Colson doesn’t do that and it makes him one of the more consistent and solid players you’ll see. He understands schemes and it makes him a plus tackler and with a lot fewer negative plays than most LBs coming out of school. While I don’t see a superstar player he does look like a starting LB in the NFL with good instincts, size, and some ability against the pass and the run. My worry with him is I don’t see someone with the athleticism or pass game acumen to be a super high level player but he looks like his floor as a long time contributor in the league is obvious.

The reason I’m not quite as high on Colson and instead have him as the prototypical high 3rd round pick in my grading system is that he’s not a playmaker. Colson is as good as it comes in being where he’s supposed to be and making the plays that are there to be made. He reminds me of a running back who grinds out tough yards all the time but fails to hit the home run. He has 2.5 career sacks, 5 career passes defensed, and 1 career fumble recovery. He’s never forced a fumble. That said, on 256 career tackles Colson has missed only 17 and never more than 7 in a season. But only 8.5 of those are for loss. You can see it in the way he plays, he’s good, he sees it, but he lacks the quick twitch acceleration and gun firing ability that elite players have. It doesn’t mean he won’t be good or a part of a very good defense - he’s clearly been both, but the upside isn’t there. Most people have him graded as a 2, but he’s a 3. Very solid starter but lack of playmaking ability means he is what he is.

In coverage he does a decent job back there but he lacks the pure speed and acceleration to make the extra play. Same with being a rusher. Nobody is scared when he lines up in the A gap. While he can push the pocket and is good as a patient spy at times, he’s not chasing down top tier athletes at the position. Again, solid, does his job, not elite.

Easy grade for me. I like the player and think that particularly if he falls to round 4 it’s tough to pass him up because he looks like an automatic starter. At worst he’ll be that guy you play a lot when you go to 3 LB sets and play “base” which is a misnomer now that base is 5 DB’s. I like him stacking up TEs and filling gaps in the defense as he plays the game with great vision and good size. Easy grade. 

88. WR - Jalen McMillan, Washington 77

When I watch McMillan tape he gives me Amon-Ra St. Brown vibes. Now he’s not going to be St. Brown as he’s one of the most effective players in the NFL, but McMillan plays a very similar style. He’s good with the ball in his hands, typically making the first player miss in space. He gets upfield, not dancing often and picks up grimy yards that you don’t see out of WR’s often. While his catch radius is okay it’s not great and he’s not an explosive player. He does show an ability to run a variety of routes almost exclusively out of the slot, but has the size to play the Z WR as well. He’s an effective and efficient player, a good route runner, and shows good ability with the ball in his hands, he just isn’t great at anything but projects as a good 3rd round slot receiver.

I feel like his tape and grade is actually very easy. He’s someone who is going to get the ball, get upfield and pick up easy yards for your team. As a slot he’s not an explosive route runner in terms of super quick and agile in and out of breaks but he has a great feel for coverage and leverage creating a lot of space. McMillan is good on intermediate routes as well, showing an aptitude to get into and out of breaks down the field with a lot of nice secondary moves. He’s good nice speed for a slot and punishes safeties who try to cover him one on one. His speed is enough that he can make plays deep as well, and runs an excellent out and up route from the slot. He won’t just be a first down guy on 3rd downs, he offers some potential for chunk plays as well.

Now the thing here though is there isn’t anything that wows you on film. He’s good at pretty much everything but nothing he does is at a 2nd round or above level. It’s why he reminds me of St. Brown so much. He catches the ball well, but doesn’t have a top 2 round catch radius. He’s good after the catch and tough but isn’t shifty or explosive. He’s a good route runner but he isn’t sudden or quick. What he does is play the game with good IQ and a great understanding of leverage. I think he’ll be successful as a 3rd WR in the NFL and feels like a perfect 3rd round pick.

89. OT - Christian Jones, Texas 77

There’s more to like than dislike with the 6’5 318 pound tackle out of Texas. Jones has almost 35 inch arms and uses them frequently to run pass rushers around the pocket and to help reposition and re-anchor throughout reps. While he’s more of a catcher, allowing defenders into his body, his ability to get their hands off and lower his ass to maintain stability is impressive. His feel is pretty darn good too, he seems to understand who is on the other side of him, short striding against power rushers and starting with a big kickout against speed rushers. I see starter upside in Jones and while he’s currently being projected early on day 3, I feel like he’s a better player than that. He needs to add strength, work on technique with hand placement and strike position, and he needs to learn patience in the zone game but these are things that he’s putting in effort on now, but the overall body of work and potential is rated too lowly by most draft analysts. I feel like he’s a guy who is going to hold his own and looks like at worst a quality swing tackle with starter upside in time. 

As a pass protector he’s pretty solid already. He gave up just 17 combined hurries the past two seasons and only 3 total QB hits per season the last two years, including one sack in 2023. He uses his length fairly well, and it’s a clear attribute, but he’s a “catcher” in terms of pass protection. He likes to get depth and then wait and in the NFL that’s going to lead to some bull rushers that he won’t be able to handle early in his career. He’s got a very good feel for where his help is and where the rush is coming from though and he’ll utilize his backs for help, and underrated skill. He’s able to reset his hands after the first punch from the defender as well, disengaging them and making them restart their motors. It leads to very few quick losses and sets him up with already higher floor. More strength throughout his body and a more aggressive approach in pass pro could lead to him being a very effective player in pass protection.

As a run blocker he doesn’t project as well. He’s a positional blocker who doesn’t possess the patience you’d want and it leads to him not getting the initial block before climbing on zone plays. Jones also attacks downhill very hard out of his stance on screens and draws and instead of playing under control, he doesn’t get to those angles as often as you’d like. He’s a very athletic tackle and has the POTENTIAL to be very good in this area but he doesn’t play the position under control enough and with enough consistent power. At times though when he gets an angle on guys he finishes blocks which shows he has the temperament but needs to technical refinement and work on his angles to improve there.

There are some things that worry me and do lower his grade though. He plays too high and defenders are able to fall off him too quickly. It leads to a below average grade as an NFL tackle and could lead to holding penalties at the next level. That can be cleaned up with better hand placement but at times it’s wild and a bit unpredictable. I do think his athleticism in a straight line is pretty damn good though and he could run a good 40 time but he’s a bit tight in his lower half. A good cone drill at the Combine would help him on my board - i almost never care about things like that but i want to see the potential here. I don’t see the high upside guy here but there’s a shot he’s a starting caliber tackle and I think LT or RT doesn’t matter. He’s a 3rd rounder who likely will go later but he has maybe even late 2 upside in pass pro. I just don’t see the ultra high upside for him to be a high end starter but I like the floor as a swing tackle with adequate starter potential. Underrated. 

90. TE Theo Johnson, Penn State 77

Johnson is fairly impressive. He’s a big Tight End who was asked to play like a traditional TE at Penn State and really looks the part. At 6’6 and 256 pounds with 32.5 inch arms, he’s built perfectly for a traditional TE prospect who shows impressive blocking ability in line. He moves pretty well in a straight line and has good straight ahead speed for someone who is likely around 260 pounds during the season. Johnson doesn’t possess much wiggle to his game and looks like a mediocre RAC guy other than his speed is okay. He doesn’t show much nuance as a route runner either but as a pure blocking tight end and reliable option he looks the part of a low end starter or high end backup TE in the NFL.

I’m going to be honest I think he’s a really good blocker in line. He works hard at the game and has long arms with plus power as a player. He excels at helping to collapse a side and he’s smooth in pass pro for a TE. He understands leverage in terms of where to  get help as a blocker and how to keep the areas clear. Johnson plays with excellent hand placement and technique and when he climbs to the second level he plays under control. 

As a pass catcher there isn’t much here to make him anything other than decent. His speed at 260 is pretty good but he lacks any nuance running routes. He wants to simply post you up and use his size to create throwing lanes. His feel for zone is below average and while he’s a reliable target, he’s not someone who is going to give you much in that regard. I think he’ll probably be a solid TD guy as his size is plus and he’s got strong hands but nothing to write home about here.

Overall, very solid blocking TE with good size, straight line speed, and a decent floor as a pass catcher. I think he’s a round 3 guy who likely will end up being a nice player in the NFL. 

91. CB Cam Hart, Notre Dame 77

Ultra competitive corner from Notre Dame. He flashed constantly at the Senior Bowl. I’m not sure he’s this exceptional athlete who can wind down and has great agility for the spot, but he’s physical, tough, and attacks the ball in the air. He’s a mid round guy but he has a shot to be a good NFL player. At 6’3 and 204 pounds he’s got impressive size and just doesn’t back down in the run game or in the flats. While he projects best as that press bail corner who can use his size to play well in zone, he’s got enough speed to carry WRs down the field as well, coming in over 19MPH multiple times. I like him quite a bit and feel like he’s worked his way into the day 2 conversation.

Hart has been a three year starter for the Fighting Irish and has been a very good football player in college. Hart played more than 1800 snaps combined the past three seasons and allowed just 69 receptions and 5 total TD’s over the course of those three seasons while allowing well under 1 yard per coverage snap, culminating in allowing zero TDs and just 137 TOTAL yards in 2023. He just continued to get better, improve his technique, and play with impressive physicality and length on the outside. 

Where he falls further down the draft board is that he wasn’t a productive on ball player for Notre Dame. Hart had zero interceptions and just 8 total pass breakups combined over his past two seasons. While he showed he has some on ball skills in Mobile, the fact that he wasn’t forcing a ton of incompletions is something that does show up and is problematic. He’s a good tackler on the edge so zone will be his best spot, but a lack of interceptions and big plays for someone who projects best at zone is something that you notice. 

I like him a lot more than the NFL seems to and feel like he’s a clear third round corner. He has very good size at almost 6’3 and over 200 pounds and he plays physically. I love how competitive he is and he’ll fight in the run and pass game. While you worry a bit about his ability to click and close and be agile along with a bit of lack of ball skills and on ball productivity, his competitive nature and the lack of completions allowed in college show more pros than cons. Feels like an easy third round pick who may overperform his draft stock. 

92. LB - Jeremiah Trotter, Clemson 77

Trotter is a good football player who likes to play downhill. He’s a plus blitzer who shows an aptitude for spying and then attacking. The past two seasons for Clemson Trotter put up 177 tackles including 28.5 for loss and 12 sacks, while also picking off 4 passes and breaking up 6 others. He’s a playmaker on defense. He’s 6’0 and around 230 pounds he plays and looks bigger on tape and utilizes his awareness to be all over the football field. There are limitations to his game, as at times you can see fast running backs get him in coverage or to the flats, and he’s not someone who is going to make every tackle, there are a few instance on film where he simply misses but he looks like a day 2 linebacker for me. 

While he’s a very good player his acceleration when tracking running backs needs some work. There are times you watch him on film and rbs on flat routes or checkdowns run away from him. You can see it on the FSU tape and again against Duke. It’s not that he’s awful; here, he’s certainly not, but he’s not going to be someone who is going to be dynamic in coverage. It shows up pretty often where he simply doesn’t get where he needs to be in coverage on running backs and it leads to bigger plays. He is productive in the pass game as he’s a dynamic blitzer and his awareness in zone allows him to make plays but the lack of flat awareness is troubling.

As a run defender he’s a solid player who sees things developing and gets there. While he’ll miss tackles, he’s a super active player who attacks spots and players. He uses pretty good leverage but a lack of ideal length at the position is likely going to limit his tackle radius some when he gets to the next level. I worry somewhat about him getting off blocks at only 6’0 tall as you wonder if he’ll get overwhelmed by climbing interior linemen but he’s got good quickness and seems to have a good feel for run lanes. Speed guys are going to get him. 

I like him and think he’s a nice player, but he’s overrated by most analysts. Trotter is a round 3 linebacker on my board.  He’s an active blitzer and is very good on loops and twists up front. In coverage there are limitations despite decent speed and movement skills, there are times on tape you wonder what he’s looking at in coverage and his aggressive nature can get him out of some gaps. Pair that up with a few missed tackles and lack of ideal length and you get why he’s a round 3 guy. Good football player though, but his acceleration from other analysts is overrated. 

93. OT Patrick Paul, Houston 77

Paul is a tackle only prospect with really good feet but lacks the punch requisite to be a high level starting tackle. He’s got rare traits with his feet and looks like the perfect third round prospect for an NFL player. He’s not good enough in terms of overall blocking skill or as a football player to take him in the top 2 rounds but he’s got left tackle potential in time which means no way he can go to day 3 in the draft either. 

As another scout I trust mentioned, he’s a worse football player than the sum of his parts at this point. While his feet are really impressive and his kickslide is one of the best in this draft, he lacks hand strength. It means that he can shock defensive ends at first but he loses some of them to the punch and lack of grip strength. Guys aren’t going to be able to speed rush him off the edge often in the NFL. At 6’7 and 315 pounds he has ideal size and length for the position and his arm length is impressive, allowing him to run defenders past the pocket. Those traits, the length and feet are in the top 10% of LT prospects, and it translated very well on the field where he only allowed 7 combined QB hits the past three seasons against lesser competition.

As a run blocker he projects as a very low level player. Paul has very weak hands and gets very little movement in the run game. Paul doesn’t play with good pad level and his feet don’t match up with his power often enough, leaving him to get to the second level and doing nothing too often on film. An NFL weight program and coaching staff could help develop him into a better player as again, the traits are more than NFL caliber.

Look he pass protected at a high level in college but he rarely played against players who were good. His Senior Bowl one on ones are going to be extremely important to where he gets drafted. I think he is a tackle only prospect who is a poor run blocker and who graded out with positive pass pro numbers against lesser competition. His lack of punch and movement in the run game pushes him down into the round 3 level but his traits and developmental ability gives him a shot in year 3 to become a starting caliber left tackle. 

94. CB - Kamal Hadden, Tennessee 77

Wanna hear something absolutely absurd? Kamal Hadden allowed a passer rating in 2023 of 7. Not 70, not 47, 7. He allowed just 12 catches all season with 0 TD and 3 picks with a grand total of 96 yards allowed. That is borderline disgusting. He’s not the world’s fastest or most explosive corner but at 6’1 and 197 pounds the fact that he runs around a 4.52 isn’t going to be a deal breaker for me. I do think the injury history is problematic as he missed half the season in 2022 and 2023 due to injury and those things are a bit worrisome, particularly the shoulder injury this year that was reportedly pretty rough. Also, the guy is a bizarre tackler. He tries to shoulder people too often and it ends up being a problem at times, watch his awful attempt on Etienne that leads to a TD. There are big positives to his game but he needs to be more attentive in the run game, his speed is mediocre, and the injury history needs to be vetted. 

Hadden as a pure cover guy offers a ton to like. He can play press or zone and shows an ability to click and close in a short area. His backpedal needs work as he opens his hips too fast, likely due to lack of play speed, but he gets good depth and doesn’t get beaten deep often due to a conservative downfield approach. That said when he’s in a typical press coverage he’s physical and handsy and does a good job of rerouting, particularly when he has help over the top. When he’s in cover-2 man he’s very good in coverage. He can really tighten throwing lanes in zone as well and his ball skills are plus with 6 career picks and 12 pass breakups. The lack of speed could be a bit worrisome as he’s only okay getting out of his backpedal on vertical routes but it didn’t bother him this year and rarely in 2022. 

The other parts to his game need work though. I hated that rep against Florida and in 7 games this season he had only 19 total tackles and 13 solo ones. He doesn’t really good involved in the run game. It’s odd though because on wide receiver screens he plays like a banshee so you know it’s there but that freaking Florida rep pissed me off. Those type of things can lose games for you. With his speed and size, particularly with his ability to squeeze from zone, you’d think that a zone corner would be his ideal skill but I can’t do that because I don’t know if he cares enough about the run game.

Overall I think he’d be very intriguing to get in the building. The lack of speed and injuries will likely push him into the 4th round where he’d be a huge target of mine. His upside is very high as he showed this season. I’d have used a top 30 on him to get him in and ask him multiple times what is up with his run support. That said, Hadden has a chance as a solid starting cornerback in the league and can play any system with plus upside as a cover guy. Those are hard to find. I would circle him on my board and hope that he falls into the end of round 4 or even more into round 5 and then there’s very little risk here but the upside of a solid starter. 

95. RB - Bucky Irving, Oregon 77

At 5’10 and around 195 pounds Irving is going to be portrayed mostly as a change of pace back by NFL evaluators and honestly they are probably right. That said, he’s got exceptional contact balance, that’s graded out as plus but borders on plus-plus. He doesn’t have great speed and while that leads to him getting nice long runs it takes away some of his upside as an NFL back in that he simply isn’t going to blow by many NFL players. That said, his short area agility and quickness are both good, the contact balance is exceptional, and he runs with good vision and pace. On top of that, he’s one of the two best pass catching backs in this draft and has a chance to be a very high quality third down running back. He seems like a perfect round 3 pick for a team looking for that second running back that can help you pick up third downs and also threaten teams with running in any style of scheme. Irving is a really good player.

Where he’ll be at his best in the NFL is on passing downs. He has good vision as a runner and bounces off of would be tacklers consistently so he’ll be able to pick up yards in light boxes. That said though, he’s at his best taking check downs and flat passes and getting up field. Irving caught 95 passes throughout his career at Oregon and looks at ease catching those check downs and then picking up yards after the catch. While he wasn’t out there running a ton of routes out of the slot or angles out there, he’s very reliable. 

As a pure runner he’s got good vision and balance. He takes hits but bounces off them consistently and then is able to get back to full speed relatively quickly. I’m not going to say he’s this ultra quick guy but his quickness and agility are both plenty good to be an effective back in the league. His vision and pace as a runner is also plus and it leads to him rarely making mistakes in terms of what hole to hit. It seems like something that’s so obvious but too many runners in college simply miss the hole, Irving doesn’t. 

Turn on the tape and you’ll be impressed, it’s that simple. He lacks great speed, size, and his pass pro ability is mediocre but as a change of pace back or someone to give you a dozen or so touches per game Irivng can be a very efficient running back in the NFL.He actually reminds me a ton of Tyjae Spears coming out of school last year with some acceleration and the size being similar and I think Irving will go in a similar range in the 3rd round. 

96. WR Brendan Rice, USC 77

I’m going to get this out of the way real quick so we don’t have to talk about it after this, yes it’s Jerry Rice’s kid - no he’s not Jerry Rice good. Rice is a big bodied kid whose biggest attribute as a player is his ability to play through contact. It’s really difficult to knock him off his route and his abilty to work through hands at the top of the route is why he projects as a physical Z WR. He plays the game the right way and uses a variety of moves to get off of press coverage. The issue is it takes him a long time to get up to full speed, so short area quickness is below average, even for a big WR. He looks to be a guy who can help you on intermediate and deep routes, and his physicality bodes well as a special teamer but he looks like a WR3 or 4 in the NFL

There are things to like about Rice without question, and it gives him a bit of a higher floor than other mid round WR’s. First off, when he does get to full speed, he can run. I know that some have some questions about his long speed, but it’s plenty good to play as a vertical and intermediate WR in the league. His GPS is over 20MPH at top speed and while it takes him a while to get to that point, he’s quick once he gets there. He also is tough at the catch point and corners can bump and press him but that doesn’t phase him, he almost embraces the contact and works his way through that. That physicality also makes him a really good blocker for a WR, and he’s one of the top in this class at that skill. 

He’s not a great separator at the short or even the intermediate levels. While he can eventually gain separation it usually takes him a while. I do think he’ll be someone who can have a variety of long catches throughout the season but the lack of quick wins probably limits his volume at the next level. He is mostly a back shoulder and deep crosser type guy who use his long speed and size to create plays for you. He’s pretty good after the catch if given room but it’s not his specializes in doing, but he’s physical and tough after the catch.

He’s a pretty good football player who feels like your prototypical mid round pick. I like his size and speed combination and he plays the game hard and the right way. He’s a pretty good route runner and is a plus blocker. Rice doesn’t have the quick twitch to win too many routes quickly but I do think he has a shot to be a low end starter or a nice 3rd WR in an offense who can provide plus blocking, some redzone help, and some downfield plays as a good X in the NFL. I think round 3 or 4 for him. 

97. OT - Matt Goncalves, Pitt 77

Pretty darn good football player here. It’s odd to watch at times because you hear he’s not a great athlete but you watch him short area for what you want at OT and he moves pretty damn well. He’s really explosive with his first step and he can absolutely wreck DEs down the line by getting off the snap quickly. Goncalves isn’t going to wow you down the field or on short pulls or anything like that but he times the snap well and explodes out of his stance to get himself in good position. He’s 6’6 and 327 pounds but he mirrors well and has excellent hands. I don’t think he’s someone who is going to wow you with really anything that he does but he’s a good football player who can likely play guard or either tackle spot and looks like he has starters traits. I think he’ll go in the 4th round and he’d be a nice snag there but he definitely has 3rd round potential.

As a pass protector it’s mostly good. I do think he can step too far out and down the line when he’s expecting a speed rush and it means he’ll get beat inside occasionally but for the most part he’s got patient and violent hands and plays with excellent technique. I think that really good athletes will probably get him occasionally in the NFL and he needs to work on keeping his balance well so he doesn’t get beat with power, but he’s got the strength in his upper body and good enough technique to deal with that. I do think the torn ACL this year is going to hurt him a bit as he wasn’t the most fluid athlete after that initial snap and the lack of power in his lower half on bull rushes could hurt him a touch. Some of his potential pit falls could be solved if he plays guard though too.

He’s got some real pluses in the run game and at times he can blow people off the football. He works hard to get to the right spot and get his angles and leverage right and again, great players can win against him but he’s pretty consistently in the right spot. He can move people in the run game if he can get the proper leverage and they struggle to bounce off his hands as it looks like his grip strength is solid. He’s not nimble in space and when asked to climb or even short pull it doesn’t look pretty so doubtful he’s someone you target on a move based scheme as he looks much better in a power type run game. Goncalves if he does shift to guard would need to work on keeping his leverage lower as sometimes his pads can get high and he can get stood up if he doesn’t stay low.

Overall he’s a pretty damn good player. I think at worst he turns into a 4 position backup who offers a good floor as a pass protector. I don’t think his ceiling is great as he’s not super quick to react to stunts and twists although he can see them, you can see his football IQ is really strong. Also a captain. I worry about his reactionary athleticism and that’s why he’s more of a mid round guy. He’s technically proficient, has good initial feet, and really good hands. I think he could turn into a starter and again at worst could have a long career due to his ability to play a lot of positions. Might end up as a pretty decent starter. The ACL tear probably kicks him to day 3 which could make him a very nice snag for someone.

98. CB - Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Louisville 77

He’s a really good football player. He doesn’t have tremendous size at 5’10 and about 183 pounds so he’s definitely an undersized corner but he has very quick feet and plus acceleration and he uses that to click and close with high effectiveness. He’s was a productive player in college with 5 career interceptions and 22 passes broken up and his stickiness in coverage is something that’s showed itself again in Mobile where he looked like the second best corner all week, culminating that with a pick in the game itself. He lacks great size and his pure speed is good but not elite, but he’s very fluid and his short area burst is good. The lack of size limits his upside but he’s a good cover guy and is a potential day 2 pick.

As a pure corner his strength is simply that it feels and looks like at times he runs the route for the WR. His quickness and fluidity at the position is where he shines. He’s got good ball skills as well and can keep his eyes on the QB while also not being super grabby. It’s an impressive skill. Of course the worry you have with a player like Brownlee is the lack of size and whether or not he can play through grown men in the NFL. While he’s sticky in coverage, sometimes that won’t matter when someone is 5 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than you, and he’ll have to work through that in the league. Someone at his size just typically can only play a role in the NFL and that’s rarely as a starter.

He’s a pretty easy evaluation. Brownlee is impressive in coverage and plays tight with loose hips and good acceleration and drive on the football. However, his lack of size shows up at times on tape and you wonder how he holds up as a tackler and against bigger competition and bigger players. He’s going to fight for a day 2 draft spot on a lot of teams boards’ because he simply is a very good cover guy but with limitations. Likely a slot in the NFL with that quickness who can flex out to cover speed but there will be matchups he’ll find himself in on Sundays that are going to be advantageous to the offense. I think he’s a high end day 3 pick who will give you some great reps but with limitations. 

99. CB - Jarrian Jones, Florida State 77

Super difficult guy to grade here for me as Jones likely would be at his best as a slot corner where he played most of this season for Florida State. That said, I wasnt sure if he was fast enough to play outside but he went to Indy and ran 4.38 so now I’m in a tough spot for grading the guy. Over the past two seasons, one inside at the slot, and one outside Jones has put up passer rating against numbers of 25.3 and 42.7 while picking off 4 balls and allowing a grand total of zero TDs on almost 500 coverage snaps. Those stats, along with good size at 6’0 and 190 pounds and a 4.38 40 are exceptionally intriguing numbers. It made me go back and watch the tape again.

I think there’s more to like than not like with Jones. He’s got quick feet and while he did run a very good 40 time at the combine he’s definitely quicker than fast. With good size he likes to get his hands on you and shows a good aptitude for understanding leverages in routes and getting guys to go where he wants them to. On tape this season he simply wasn’t thrown at often and with another great corner on his team that’s saying something. Jones was targeted just 32 times all season and it just seemed like people weren’t able to consistently find a home against him. It does take him a bit when players get farther down the field for him to recover and he has fluid hips but it seems like getting him to full speed is a bit tougher. Now if he plays in the slot more often it won’t be a huge issue but if he’s asked to play primarily outside you wonder if he’ll give up some of those shots down the sideline. Again the 40 at the combine was pretty shocking but shows that maybe he can get to full speed and his long speed is plenty good.

He’s pretty good against the run and likes to play closer to the line of scrimmage. On those short zones he shows good physicality and understanding of leverage and help and gets proper depth more often than not. In shallow zones he attacks the football and as he picked off three balls this season. I’m not sure he’s great against the run but he’s plenty good and his size gives him an advantage there. He wasn’t a huge tackler at FSU or at his previous stop in college but he gave up so few catches that it’s not surprising. 

He’s a good player who flat out is pretty damn good in coverage. I think he’s definitely better in the slot than out wide, he can do both. He’s smooth in his backpedal and while he’s not explosive at all coming out of his breaks he’s sticky enough in coverage that he’s mostly in your hip. On top of it, he just doesn’t get beat deep. On 32 targets this season he gave up less than 5 yards per throw and 10 yards per completion. He’s going to stick to you. I’m a fan of his game and think he could be a nice 3rd round corner who should find a home at the slot but definitely has outside potential as well. Not sure his upside is massive but his floor looks rock solid. 

100. RB Tyrone Tracy Jr, Purdue 77

Guy with only one year of experience playing running back after converting from a wide receiver who barely played. He runs with toughness for a 210 pounder and is always trying to get everything he can out of every run. Most analysts are really high on him and while I see the potential here, he looks to me like a specialist out of the backfield. I think obviously the past as a receiver gives him a chance to help you on 3rd down and he’s a good kickoff return guy so that’s a plus as well. Tracy Jr projects as a 3rd running back and special teamer in the NFL with the upside of a complimentary back when he figures out vision and pacing. 

There are some really impressive things that he does on tape that will translate well to the NFL. The thing he does absolutely best to is his jump cut. He has a filthy jump cut that has guys grasping for air and then his short area quickness and burst allows him to get back up to full speed quickly. He has really good short area burst and Tracy can make people miss in small areas. On top of that if you don’t square him up he runs the ball as hard as anyone and because he rarely takes square shots he picks up a lot of tough yardage after contact. He has good burst thorough the hole and seems to hit it with a good gear once he sees it develop. On top of that he’s a former receiver so he has good hands and uses great leverage when working in the passing game.

On the downside while I love that he wants to maximize every run and he does in terms of running hard and playing with good contact balance, he also tries to hit a home run every time. Sometimes he needs to learn to put his head down and pick up some gritty yards to keep the team on schedule. I think at 5’11 and 208 pounds he’s probably about maxed out for his frame as well. He put on 15 pounds just to play running back and you wonder how much more weight he could add and still be nimble and quick and play with good acceleration. He likes to play the game physically but right now he doesnt understand leverages and nuances to pass pro and finds himself getting backed up and collapsed upon too often. It will get better with reps but with a maxed out frame at 208 not sure he’s going to ever be great there.

He’s a talented kid with a lot of upside. That said he needs quite a bit of work and he’s going to be an older rooke so how long are teams going to give him to develop while using him as a 3rd back? I think his toughness and physicality means he could cover kicks, return them, and play as a complimentary back pretty damn early. I like his contact balance and burst and think that he projects as a nice change of pace type guy at the next level. I think he’d be an ideal fit for a team that already has a good back but might want someone who can do a bit of everything to back him up. Would be a nice round 4 pickup who has untapped upside if he can figure it out. 

101. DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan 76

Very good athlete for 6’3 and 305 pounds, Jenkins is going to be a good run defender at the next level. He has plus pop in his hands and is willing to get horizontal to make plays in the run game. As a Junior he had 31 defensive stops as a DT which was tied for first in the nation and as a senior he followed it up with another nice season vs the run. Jenkins flashes an occasional swim move or spin move in the pass rushing department that helps him win reps but he’s not a good pass rusher. He has potential there but he only shows about one or two good rushes per game and that part looks massively underdeveloped. Currently he’s a 3T/4i type defensive tackle who likely will be solid on early downs but won’t play much on pass downs. Jenkins should be a positive against the run though and looks the part of a 3rd round draft pick with some upside.

As a pass rusher there just isn’t much here to like. While he can at times flash good moves, and he has a very impressive spin move that he rarely utilizes, he just doesn’t get much bull rush push and his finesses moves are way below average. The lack of nuance as a pass rusher shows up in the box scores as well with Jenkins having a total of 4 QB hits and 4 QB sacks COMBINED his past two seasons. He’s just not someone you expect to help you as a rusher and considering he’s only 305 pounds, why hasn’t he developed that yet? Particularly surrounded by an elite NFL caliber defense. Jenkins not only just had 4 QB hits in two seasons, he also had zero passes defensed, pretty much a non-factor in pass rush. 

As a run defender this is where he’l make his money. Jenkins uses really good pop in his hands to stand up offensive linemen and he plays with a super balanced strong base. He’s very difficult to move one on one against the run and it stimies run lanes. He can bench press the OL in front of him and get off blocks pretty darn well, creating loads of positive plays for the defense against the run. His ability to do so actually has me wondering if he could be a very good 5T in the NFL as his athleticism is strong enough to be able to stack and then string out from that position. I think he could be very effective there. He makes his share of stops against the run as previously mentioned with 31 run stops as a junior, he doesn’t just stack up blockers he can get off the block to make plays.

Bruce Feldman had him on his freaks’ list this last year as he’s incredibly strong and has plus athleticism. The issue is he isn’t a pass rusher and that was surrounded by elite talent. Therefore he’s a run defender only and he’s not someone who penetrates and dominates so you just can’t take him in rounds one or two, the production isn’t there and it likely won’t improve by jumping to the NFL. However, he’s someone who is difficult to move one on one and you know he can play the run easily in the NFL immediately. Maybe he can improve as a rusher as he goes on but I’d guess he’ll be what he is, a very good run defender without much value in passing downs. Solid third round pick for a team who just wants a high floor run defender to help the team on run downs. 

102. S - Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State 76

Oladapo is a highly consistent player who has a chance to be a starting safety in the NFL in time, or more likely act as a third safety in big nickel situations. He’s extremely experienced, starting for the last 3 seasons for the Beavers and racking up almost 250 tackles for his career. He can play in a variety of positions, including the robber role, overhang, or in a split safety look. He’s a bit stiff in the hips and therefore quicker guys lined up across from him can create some separation, but he’s a very disciplined defender in both the run and pass and has plus size to help him match up. While I don’t know if he can be a high end starter due to lack of agility and quickness in his lower half, he sees the game at a high level and his plus size and recognition skills give him a shot to be a starter down the road or again, a high level 3rd safety.

In the passing game he’s best situated as a robber or in a split safety look. Oladapo isn’t the fastest or quickest safety you’ll see, and while he’s not a plodder by any stretch, his change of direction skills are only okay. If he’s forced to come down and match up with slot receivers he won’t be someone who can consistently help, but his size at 6’2 and 219 pounds makes him a very intriguing player for matching up with TE’s. He did that a lot at OSU and showed his worth in that type of role. He’s also someone who likes to see the game and then react, so the robber role or a split safety role is where he shines in coverage. Oladapo picked up 23 PBUs for his career. 

Where he’ll earn his money in the NFL though is as a box defender safety. He’s been extremely productive in his career in that role and will likely continue it in the NFL. Oladapo is an extra linebacker in terms of run fits and his size means he won’t be a liability taking on blocks. He’s a physical guy who plays with proper leverage and again, very disciplined in his run fits. While the lack of pure athleticism means he’ll miss some tackles in open space, he’s going to make a lot of those too. He’s not the fastest or quickest but the final burst to the football is good. He gets there faster than most with the IQ he plays with as well.

I don’t think he has tremendous traits or speed but his play recognition and tape are very good. He can do a lot of different things for your defense, including match up with TE’s and add another defender to the box against the run. While he’s not the world’s quickest safety he’ll work his tail off trying to hang with slots as an overhang defender. I’d prefer him in a defense that likes to work zones but the fact he can do a lot of different things improves his ability to help a defense. He’s one of the interesting defenders that if he can run a good time in the 40 at the combine, it pushes him into round 3 for me. Kitan Oladapo is a good football player, but I do think he’s a better college player than he’ll be a Pro. He’ll be around on day 3 and could provide a starter upside with a solid floor but maybe a mediocre ceiling. 

103. TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas 76

Sanders is a fast, agile, explosive tight end who is going to be a playmaker in the NFL. While he’s not the world’s most crisp route runner and his ball skills are inconsistent, but Sanders ability to create huge plays is rare in a Tight End prospect. Sanders is 6’4 and 245 pounds and utilizes his athleticism as well as any TE that you’ll watch. He put up 99 catches for almost 1300 yards over the past two seasons combined and showcased impressive RAC ability with impressive acceleration for someone so big. While he’s an okay blocker, his skillset reminds you of Evan Engram’s with his ability to make a variety of plays in the passing game.

Sanders is an explosive athlete and can really run after the catch. He shows an aptitude for making big plays and while he can make some spectacular plays with the football in the air, he also isn’t great at contested catch situations or balls away from his body. Sanders when given some space to operate as a big slot or coming across the formation to catch and run is impressive. He thrives running seam routes and flat routes where his speed is utilized. He’s not a smooth route runner, and while he’s improving here, it’s not something that shows up consistently on tape. His touches feel manufactured at this point, but his athleticism and speed means that it can improve and likely will in the NFL.

As a blocker he’s going to work, particularly in space or if asked to zone block. However, he’s not a great in line blocker and likely will need to work out in space, as a move tight end, or as a big slot to achieve his best opportunity. The fact that Texas played him in every conceivable spot was a big bump to his grade though as he’s willing to work from a variety of positions and he is a hard worker as a blocker, the temperament is good. He doesn’t lose a ton of blocking reps quickly, he just isn’t going to be a powerful blocking TE but that’s not what you’re drafting him to do.

He’s fast and creative after the catch and if you can manufacture him some catches he can make big plays. The Evan Engram comp I gave you earlier feels right for him and he’s had a very productive career. Obviously this was a bad comp. Engram was legit 4.4, Sanders ran a freaking 4.69. He’s someone that can offer you explosive plays and could be a matchup issue for teams consistently. He can make very difficult catches and is a versatile piece but understand what you’re getting here. He seems like the perfect second round pick at TE where teams can use him as a weapon but won’t rely on him to do everything. Should be a nice addition to a team’s passing game. 

He may have been the player who was hurt the most on my draft grades by the combine. I  needed Sanders to show that he had some legit speed, and he failed. A 4.69 for someone who needs speed to be effective at the next level dropped him almost a full round for me. 

104. WR - Johnny Wilson, FSU 76

I think every single team in the NFL is going to be interested in and have discussions about Johnny Wilson. He’s a gigantic 6’6 WR with ridiculously long 35+ inch arms at 231 pounds. On top of that he went out and ran 4.52 at the Combine, showing that he has plenty of long speed, and on tape he’s got way more mobility and agility than you’d think for someone so high cut. He offers plenty of upside and obviously a matchup problem with elite length and size. There are some issues here though as he doesn’t have reliable hands and despite his size he wasn’t a scoring threat in college with just 2 this past season and only 8 for his career. He has some things to work through despite the obvious tools and will need to adapt and grow in his position to become an NFL caliber WR.

He’s actually got some intriguing skills when running routes. You’d think at that size he’d be a one trick pony but he’s really not. While it takes him a while to build up his speed and work open he does create separation on intermediate and deep routes at times and while he’s not some sudden mover with these skills, you can see that he can use a stem move at the top of routes to get open. He’s also got enough speed to threaten defenders and at times at FSU they created matchups where he was on safeties in the slot and he simply ran by them. His short area quickness is not great for a wideout so he’ll have to use his body more on backside slants and his hands through contact are inconsistent at best so that will need to improve but you’d think he’d just be a go guy and he’s not, there are more tricks in the bag here.

He obviously has the body to be a good run blocker at the position and shows some strength and ability there. I think he could flex in often from the short slot and provide something even as a move F type TE who could chip or help in pass pro and then offer some really good upside in the flat after the catch. There are going to be a LOT of teams interested in moving him to a pass catching TE spot and he could thrive there, as he isn’t scared of mixing it up as a blocker. I don’t think he’s great there but he has potential and is willing to work at that role. He’s also pretty good after the catch, particularly for his size, and is willing to work through traffic to get extra yards.

Wilson needs some work but he comes in ready made to help you with some matchup issues. His height, length, and speed combination is super enticing and while he’s been inconsistent throughout his career he’s also shown enough productivity to warrant a long look on day 2. I think he’s likely a round 4 guy as you’re either going to draft him and have to work on his hands and release packages etc or you’re going to have to bulk him up 20 pounds and teach him to block inline. If not he’ll be a tweener which has a role but not until day 3. I think top of round 4 is ideal for him but totally get it if someone wants him in round 3. Loads of potential, and definitely someone who could make it as a TE if he’s got the temperament. 

Also - what would happen if this dude moved to TE? If he does and you can work him in as a blocker and build him up… could he be Darren Waller? 

105. OT - Javon Foster, Missouri 76

He’s not a bad player for the Tigers. Likes to give ground a bit too much as a tackle but stays in relatively strong position. He’s intriguing. I don’t think he’s going to lose reps quickly often as he’s patient in pass protection and lets the rusher come to him, staying balanced with his hands up and ready to strike. I’m not sure he’s someone who is going to consistently hang on and maintain blocks and leverage for a long time, but he looks like he’ll have a positive pass block win rate and his body type and temperament make me think he can play swing tackle and in time develop into a starting caliber tackle potentially. I think he’s likely a backup or low end starter in the NFL with a decent floor but a mediocre ceiling. I do think in a quick passing offense he’ll be successful but in an offense with a lot of 7 step concepts he’s not the guy you’re looking for.

Foster doesn’t really jump out on tape. He has solid skills across the board in terms of athleticism and footwork  but he’s not great at any one thing. At 6’5 with 35 inch arms he has exceptional length and and uses that to kind of press people away from the play.. He’s good at letting people overrun the play and his ability to get deep with slide and kicksteps with long arms helps him push people beyond the play in pass pro. I wish he’d play lower as a tackle though as at times someone can get into his body and push him back. He doesn’t necessarily lack power but he plays with less power than you’d think for someone with his frame. At only 309 pounds, his best attribute at the next level with his frame is going to be adding 15-20 pounds of muscle as it should be relatively simple for him. His best days in pass pro are ahead of him. Even with that, Foster gave up just 12 hurries this season and won a lot more reps than he lost. He doesn’t lose quickly which again, gives him a bit of a higher floor than you’d think. He’s played a lot of football, with over 2700 snaps the last 3 seasons.

As a run blocker he doesn’t project quite as well. While he’s not bad here he doesn’t play behind his pads super well. That length makes him more of a pusher and less of a drive blocker and while on short pulls he’s intriguing, he doesn’t pop or power through guys. He’s a shield off run blocker and not someone who is going to annihilate people. I don’t think he’s going to be a great run blocker at the next level but again, I also don’t think he’ll be a problem. He’s fairly athletic and the length gives him a chance to get people displaced early in the rep.

I want to develop the kid, mostly in the weight room. He has some technical aspects to his game that need some conditioning as well, but he’s a Captain who shows some good recognition skills to his game and doesn’t panic with blitzes and stunts. Foster has a shot to be a nice player. I think added strength, some work on core stability and timing the snap count better will help him in general. If you can get him to play a bit lower and add more overall strength you’ve got a starting caliber tackle on either side, including a potential decent LT. The reason I’d be targeting him though as an NFL GM particularly early on day 3 would be I do think he’s got a shot to be a very high quality swing tackle as a floor with some upside as a starting caliber player by year 3 with proper nutrition and strength. 

106. DL - Dewayne Carter, Duke 76

Carter is an ultra high motor versatile DL from Duke who likely is going to have a long career in the NFL. While he plays a bit high at times and can sometimes get pushed out of his gap, when he plays with proper leverage he does a very nice job. Carter lines up all over the formation but projects by far the best as a 34 DE as a 5T or 4i. He is a good football player who works hard every single snap he’s out there and it shows up as he’s a highly productive player. His lack of great agility, particularly laterally likely limits his upside and he’s someone who projects best as a hurries guy and not a sack guy at the next level. That said, he’s someone who does a lot of things well and should play for a long time in the NFL, with a higher grade for 34 teams or multi front teams due to his ability to play all over the front.

I think the thing I like about him the most is that he simply is always around the football. It’s rare to see that from someone who is asked to move all over the line but he’s productive. Carter knocked down 11 passes in his career, forced 7 fumbles, recovered 4, and picked up 113 tackles the past three seasons as well. He is someone who can get blocked early on a play but he battles to free himself from blockers and works to get himself into the play. On top of that while his lateral agility is mediocre, he finds a way to get himself upfield consistently and has good pop in his hands to shock interior offensive linemen. Carter is able to get himself deeper into the pocket than most rushers but I doubt he’s someone who ends up getting many sacks in the league. He’s not athletic enough for that but I do see him getting quite a few hurries and getting QBs off their spot. Carter only had one sack this season, which is a bit of a case and point with him as a rusher.

On the negative side is that he isn’t going to be someone who is going to get you good sack numbers. He simply doesn’t have that in his repertoire. He also can get himself too high when he plays the run and the pass and therefore on stunts and twists it takes him quite a while to get all the way through the movement. When the game gets muddied up he does a very nice job of stacking and holding his gap but when he gets too high and upright he can get moved off his spot. 

He’s a good football player, there’s no question there and his versatility to play 7T all the way down to the 1T on pass rushing downs is something that should intrigue most teams. I think he works hard to maintain gap integrity, plays the game with high IQ, and has an exceptional motor. I just think that his upside is capped due to the lack of explosiveness and some tardiness off the snap at times. I think he’s a perfect 4th round pick, but wouldn’t hate if a 34 team drafted him int he 3rd. Solid player who has a shot to be a good rotational player or maybe even a starter but don’t expect elite production, just more solid play. 

107.DL Marshawn Kneeland, WMU 76

Kneeland put up an extremely impressive week at the Senior Bowl, winning with both power and speed. On top of that, Kneeland weighed in a 6’3 and 268 pounds with impressive 34 inch arms. He did all that while putting up insane GPS numbers of 19.8 MPH. This is someone who is going to be in the top 10% on the H-W-S numbers that you’re looking for in a prospect all while busting out high level reps all week. The Senior Bowl shot Kneeland up a lot of boards, mine included.

The issue behind looking to draft Kneeland wasn’t the Senior Bowl week, which was extremely impressive, it was that his counting stats at WMU weren’t something that jumped off the screen. Kneeladn put up just 10.5 combined sacks his last three seasons and while he showed very good productivity against the run, he looked like a good but not great pass rusher. The tape really didn’t match up with the traits and that bothered me and was a reason I had Kneeland as a mid-round prospect. He didn’t have high level awareness as a pass rusher, would at times be slow to get off the snap, and lined up deep often as a rusher. He also seemed to have below average bend and ankle flexibility, making him a straight line guy and not someone who likely ends up as a guy who ends up with plus counting stats as a rusher. Kneeland is a power rusher who that’s what he wants to do, and he’ll collapse pockets and be able to run and chase but on tape, there wasn’t any nuance to his game. 

As a run defender there’s more to like. He’s active and powerful at the point with long arms that he uses to press tackles and then shuck them to make plays. His awareness is okay but not great and at times he can get focused too much on the guy in front of him. That said he projects as a good run defender in the NFL and the length, power, and speed he has should let him be a productive player in that part of the game. Again the lack of flexibility might end up ruining the counting stats but he should be productive as part of a team.

He was very impressive at the Senior Bowl and the talent is pretty obvious. He also graded out well all season as a run defender. The issue here is that he isn’t someone who is going to be a big time pass rusher - he showed it at Mobile but on tape it’s just not there. You can see the upside so he’s worth a shot and he did improve his stock but he’s a 3. Good run defender with very big upside as a pass rusher and good H-W-S. That said he’s likely to get some hurries but few counting stats as a rusher unless it’s schemed up so he looks like a late day 2 or early day 3 pick with a lot of upside that someone might bet on. 

108. LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M 76

Cooper is a long linebacker with impressive explosion and acceleration who excels on 3rd downs. He wants to come down and make plays all the time and uses his quickness and speed to spy on QBs and burst through the hole for big plays against the run. His productivity isn’t going to be a question as he’s an attacker picking up an obscene 17 TFL and 8 sacks as an off ball linebacker. The blitzing isn’t the only benefit you get from him as a 3rd down player though as he’s fast and rangy in his drops and his length gives him even more of an advantage. Where he really needs to improve though is his patience. Cooper runs straight downhill and doesn’t fill correct gaps at times, or will overrun plays and while it leads to a ton of box score splash plays, on tape it’s frustrating to watch if he misses his shot. Cooper’s recognition skills are just okay but youtube scouts are going to love the splash plays but there is a lack of consistency that bothers me on tape. He’s a mid round pick, in my opinion he’s a 4 but he’ll go before that as NFL teams like him more than me. Good tools, mediocre player. 

Where he’ll be at his best in the NFL is as an attacking, heavy blitz linebacker. If he went to a team like Minnesota where you have a designated blitzer on almost every play, Cooper would thrive. He doesn’t like to read and react he likes to just go and his explosiveness isn’t up for debate when he gets to fire his gun and attack. He’s not the most agile person in the world so when he’s upright and trying to work off blocks his lateral agility is kind of weak on film. Maybe he’ll test better but on tape I wanted to see him work off blocks and move laterally to make plays and it’s okay not great. If you draft him to be a downhill guy, or a “spy and fly” guy as I like to call them, he has a shot to be successful.

As a run defender he’s read and react ability is average. However, when he is able to see the play develop or be kept clean he’s an ultra aggressive guy who is as good at hitting the hole as anyone you’ll see from the back end. When he reads it correctly he’s dynamic. That said, too often on film do I see him be off by one gap or on the wrong shoulder of an offensive lineman. It’s not that it’s awful or all the time but it’s enough that it bothers me. It’s one of the reasons why he has good tackle stats but not great ones. He also has missed at least 10 tackles in 3 straight seasons, including 2021 where he missed 10 tackles on just 54 attempts. It’s not that he doesn’t have the skill, the angles are poor and the gap contain is only okay.

As a pass defender he’ll be good because he’s a good blitzer and spy. He’s a really good straight line athlete but he’s not agile. It leads to him doing a nice job as a spy in being in the right spot but there are a NUMBER of times on tape where someone is just able to make him miss. I think he does okay getting deeper in coverage on plays but his depth is only good. He didn’t make many plays on the ball in coverage, and while a lot of that was he was blitzing a lot, some of it was that his awareness in pass coverage is okay not great. 

Look, I get why people like him. And if I were a box score guy I’d love him. Daniel Jeremiah loves him, PFF loves him, youtube guys love him, and I don’t. He’s got good tools, and at 6’3 and 230 pounds he has good size for the modern NFL with plus length and speed. He also was very impressive in counting stats this season and I don’t want to diminish that because well, those numbers are awesome. I think he’s not that agile, he is out of position a fair amount, if he’s not playing downhill and he’s out in space he’s average at best, but in his role he could be dynamic. So much of his success is going to be what role he’s asked to play and if that’s the case then for me he’s not a first or second round pick. If you put him in an Ivan Pace or Frankie Luvu role where he’s blitzing a ton, he’ll be very successful, if you ask him to read and react and be an actual standup linebacker, not so much. I’m in the minority here and I’m cool with that. 

109. EDGE - Gabriel Murphy, UCLA 76

Basing this just on tape and not on projection to the NFL, Murphy is a really good player who could come in and have an immediate impact in the League. That said he’s got super short arms and the lack of play length is a real thing. I was disappointed in watching his East-West Shrine Bowl tape that he didn’t eat those guys up, and again the lack of length and the lack of fear of speed to power with him kind of mitigated his effectiveness. On the plus side he’s a freaking technician who has put up very impressive numbers in a stellar college career. Projecting him to the league he looks like a rotational specialist who can be a 34 OLB pass rusher in the league but players with great length are going to neutralize him more often than not.

Where Murphy is going to be effective in the NFL is on pure passing downs where he can get some space. He’s got one of the best individual moves in this draft class with a slick over arm move that gets OTs falling forward and him attacking the backfield. He’s not a super great athlete but he has enough athleticism to make that move and then go get the QB. He’s also got enough juice to challenge the edges on slower tackles and while his bend is pretty good it’s not great. It’s enough that again, he can get sacks when they’re there. Murphy picked up 8 this year and 7.5 two seasons ago. I’d say he’s better at pressures than sacks but he’s got the capability to pick up a few. He also shows some capability dropping into coverage with decent agility and spacial awareness. It means when they move him to 34 OLB which is where he’ll be in the League you can see he can make that transition. When guys get a hold of him he’s not great at re-starting his rush and he doesn’t come at you with much power.

As a run defender it’s going to need to be done with finesse and attacking downhill. Murphy’s lack of length with just over 30 inch arms means you don’t want him to set the edge often but he’s good at avoiding blockers. He puts more offensive lineman in bad spots than most and it’s due to a bevy of hand usage moves that put them out of position. It’s why he’ll make plays in the backfield consistently and why his tape is littered with teaching moments. He’s an elite hand usage guy. I worry again about some plays him getting removed from the gap and good tackles can nullify him but he’ll make his shares of plays.

He’s a specialist in the league but he plays with arguably the best hand usage in the class. He’s technically refined and has enough speed and quickness to make plays. He picked up 16 TFLs this season because he’s able to avoid blockers well and is a pretty good athlete with nice burst. I think he projects as a solid rotational 34 OLB but the lack of length and power probably limits his upside, although we’ve started to see a lot of guys who are a bit undersized 34 OLBs make more and more plays. Good player but 34 only guy who needs to make sure he can play with good leverage to get on the field more against the run.

110. RB - Marshawn Lloyd, USC 76

Lloyd is an interesting and intriguing running back who shows impressive acceleration and quick hitting ability. At 5’9 and 217 pounds he’s short but not small and uses his stature to hide behind offensive linemen before he takes off and explodes out from behind a wall of blockers to the second level. On tape he looks smaller than he weighed in and looked more like a change of pace back, but 217 pounds is solid enough size that maybe Lloyd can be more than that in the NFL. I worry about his propensity to try to always hit the homerun and that shit doesn’t work in the NFL with regularity. He’ll need to work on putting his nose down and getting downhill more at the next level but Lloyd’s acceleration, quickness, and agility all will definitely play in the League. I think he’s likely a rotational running back in the NFL but one with an ability to give you big plays when he gets the chance, and someone who sets up much better in a zone running game. He has some legit potential but there will be some negative grades until he takes what the defense gives him.

Lloyd was never really utilized as a bell cow at USC and that’s not where he likely is going to be at his best in the NFL either. Lloyd is someone who projects best as a change of pace back as his running style sets up best for a team that wants to give a defense multiple looks. His explosiveness is real on film as he runs through and past defenders easily at the second level. I like the fact that he understands pacing as a running back, showing adequate patience and vision early in a down before he goes slow to the hole and then fast through it, often bursting through what looks like small creases on tape to hit big running lanes. He averaged more than 7 yards per carry this season. He shows good pure speed, plus acceleration, and an ability to string together moves. He has a shot to be a big play running back in the NFL.

The rest of his game needs some polishing though. While he shows reliable hands and decent ability and good recognition in pass pro, he’s not plus in any of these areas. His short stature gives him some issues with bigger blitzers in pass pro and he wasn’t utlized often in the passing game. Lloyd had just 31 receptions combined over his past two seasons. He showed some good hands and route running acumen in Mobile though so we knows it’s possible for him, but we’re projecting there and not guaranteeing. He also fumbles the football fairly often and it shows up on film, handing him the ball isn’t necessarily something that you can put in the bank every carry. He also tends to try to bounce all the time or hit the long run instead of putting his head down and taking the yards that are there, it leads to a lot of negative or mediocre runs where there are some yards for the taking.

He is going to be a really good change of pace back. I think giving Lloyd ten carries per game give or take on average is going to yield you very positive results but he definitely doesn’t play 217 pounds or whatever on tape. He is a quick runner with good acceleration and potential in the pass game. I think that he’s got a shot to be a valuable runner if you can team him up with another back and maybe two more. If you can have him split some work, you’ll get an efficient football player if he can clean up some things to his game. Perfect round 4 guy who could outperform that draft status. 

111. S - Jaden Hicks, Washington State 76

Hicks has risen up draft boards hard during the pre-draft process from a mid Day 3 pick to someone who is going to be knocking on the door of round 2. The thing is, while he’s got good talent and you can’t teach his size at 6’3 and 215 pounds, he’s closer to Day 3 than round 2 as a pure football player. The thing I need from my safeties is an ability to change direction in the short areas of the field, mostly the flat, and there were too many instances where Hicks wasn’t able to stop and make a play in space. He also, despite his size, can get moved out of the hole as a run defender. The talent is there, and the size is impressive, but the overall body of work is a round 4 guy. I think it’s okay to draft him in round 3, but I would lean to round 4 as I worry about some aspects of his game translating to the league super well. When you use high capital ( day 2 or better) on a non-premium position, I need more juice than what Hicks brings to the table. As I don’t grade players with positional value pushed in on my draft board, Hicks gets a late 3 grade based on upside and potential matchup value.

The thing about me when I scout safeties the thing I look for is their worst plays. It’s the position on the field where you’re looking for their worst attributes and not their best and that’s where Hicks drops down the grading scale to me. While he flashes as a good run defender at times, particularly when he’s playing the robber role where he can just see and attack, he doesn’t have the world’s best vision and he misses too may tackles and holes. Watch the Arizona game and you see numerous issues with his ability to play the pure safety position. He missed a gap visually and it led to a TD, he wasn’t agile enough in the flat on a check down, and it led to a first down. 

I feel so bad that I’m harping on him so hard but it’s not the kid’s fault. Hicks is a good football player whose size and versatility is a huge plus. While he’s not agile, quick, nor fast for a safety he is impactful in the game and had 155 tackles combined the past two seasons for the Cougs. He uses his length well to stack and shed when he’s on the edge playing the star role and it’s something that TEs and puller likely aren’t use to seeing as he essentially has the size of a small LB out there. He plays a flat footed off man coverage against TEs but he flips his hips and runs well out of that and transitions there well. These are things that his size allows him to do that most safeties can’t, and it’s why he’s so enticing and graded out in round 2 for most analysts.

For me I still need to see more from him and he just likely isn’t someone my team would draft. He’s rated too highly currently. I don’t think he sees the game super well in the run game and while he is a productive player there, averaging almost 80 tackles per season, based on the style of defense WSU played, that should have been closer to 100 I’d guess. He also isn’t the surest tackler on the planet, missing 26 combined the past two years. He’s got some talent in coverage but doesn’t have plus speed and so his windows are smaller and therefore he’d need to play in the right system. Short area zones and man is going to be something he is good at doing, but the more you need range, the less effective he’ll be. 

He’s got talent and size and there are ways to deploy him to have him be a good weapon for your defense. He just isn’t my style of safety and I’d push him to the top part of day 3 and not round 2. I have a bigger dispersion on him than most. I feel bad I bagged on the player because I DON’T HATE HIM, he’s just graded too highly. 

112. WR - Luke McCaffrey, Rice 76

Pretty good football player who has tremendous short area quickness and pretty damn good speed. While his name gets all the notoriety, you can see that he can create separation and make plays to all three levels of the defense. He has a good release pacakge and at 6’2 200 pounds he has plenty of size for the position. The hardest part here with McCaffrey is that he’s a converted quarterback and therefore despite showing some efficient footwork as a WR he still has room to improve in that area of the game. He sees it like a QB does, leading to some easy catches, particularly against zone, but he could even improve his productivity when he gets more feel for the nuances of the position. I think he’s an early day 3 pick who could end up being a good 3 position backup but he certainly has the ability to turn into a starter in time with development. If he goes in round 3 I get it, and feel like he’s not expected to go that high but I think that’s about where he should go.

I get that in my evaluation I say I think he could be a good 3 position backup and it’s because he possesses the traits. He has the size to get off press, the speed to threaten the D and the quickness to play the slot. So far in his career he’s a slot only guy and that’s where he’ll start and he’s pretty impressive in that space. He gets proper depth in his routes, slices them off, and gets horizontal quickly. He’s got exceptionally impressive quickness and showed it off in Indy with a ridiculous 6.70 3 Cone, a very notable time. He uses that quickness and ability to change directions to create separation, and you can see how fast he can get up to full speed. McCaffrey has vice grips for hands and doesn’t drop catchable passes. 

He isn’t a guaranteed hit though at the spot. He hasn’t figured out how to get off press coverage well yet and his arm length is mediocre for his size at best. That lack of length allows guys to reroute him off the line and that’s something that could end up costing him a lot of short area throws that elite slots get. You can see that he thrives on intermediate routes and some of that is that his short area route running needs some work and some of that is getting off of press. McCaffrey also runs one speed all the time, and it’s quick without question but if he could work on varying his route speeds and release packages it could help. Both of these things are things that can be improved upon, again just 2 years as a WR, so he could certainly improve those spots and I think he will which is why I’m higher on him than most.

McCaffrey is good. He definitely needs at least another year of working through the position group before you’d really want to throw him out there to the wolves but the capacity is there. He’s good after the catch with good acceleration and vision as a runner from his past at QB and RB and you can see that vision. He works hard as a blocker, although again the lack of length shows up. I would say that McCaffrey has a chance to be a backup slot or maybe a Z early in his career and the more reps he gets the more chance he has to be a quality player. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him as a starter in his career with an uptick around year 3. 

113. WR - Malik Washington, Virginia 76

Pretty damn tough to argue with the production as Washington put up some insane numbers in 2023. Washington had 110 catches for 1426 yards as a Northwestern Transfer, showing some dynamic RAC ability on a lot of short opportunities. At just 5’8.5, his catch radius is going to be problematic in the NFL, as is his potential for getting off press coverage but as a pretty much slot only guy, teams are going to try to scheme up him getting the ball and as a slot only, press doesn’t bother me as much. The thing is Washington is short but he’s not small as he checks in at over 190 pounds at under 5’9 and that toughness shows up after the catch. He’s an intriguing weapon who likely can’t go in the first 2 days but could provide a huge spark for someone early on day 3.

The thing that stands out on tape with Washington is that he has absolutely awesome hands. He catches freaking everything and despite being small he snatches the football out of the air and actually gives you a bigger reception radius than guys a lot bigger than he is. Washington has tremendous feel for the position as well as he’ll use leverage to help him create space and is very good at running speed outs from the slot, with his quickness and hands it would be almost impossible to stop. He also plays with amazing focus when he knows he’s going to get hit, the size doesn’t matter with him in the middle of the field, he’s going to hang on. 

Washington is good after the catch, with good quickness and actually pretty damn good contact balance for someone who is undersized. That said he’s built very well and he’s just short he’s not small and at times he’s able to break tackles or pick up tough yards after the catch. I think his vision is good not great there though but overall he’s physical and his ability to start and stop gives him a chance to pick up some good yardage in that area. He’s a sudden route runner but at times he can get a little too drifty on intermediate routes, but that can get coached out of him.

Overall he’s really good. I do think obviously his production was a ton of schemed up plays for him based on that offense but he has a chance to be a productive pro. The fear here is that he’s slot only and the few times I saw dedicated press defenders on him it didn’t go well for Washington. However, he looks the part and his plus hands, quick route running, and toughness could provide a team with a quality slot option on day 3 in this class as he’d be a great complimentary piece to an offense. He also showed an ability to throw the ball and I would imagine he could be a dynamic punt returner given the chance. He’s fun to watch, if you haven’t,turn on his tape, he catches freaking everything. 

114. RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame 75

Another one of those guys who kinda just is what he is at this point is the 5’11 225 pound bruiser Austin Estime. He reminds me a little bit of Gus Edwards in terms of it being difficult to bring him down for a loss but he runs with more patience than Edwards. Estime is someone who is going to grind out tough yards, play the game physically, and be an asset on short yardage plays but he’s not quick and his acceleration is below average. I do love his ability to power the ball in between the tackles and his ability to get you into manageable down and distances can’t be overlooked as he’s a tough guy with plus contact balance and forward lean. He is someone to look to draft early on day 3 in my opinion although he may go earlier in a weak RB class.

He’s not someone who is going to give you much if anything on 3rd down so he’s limited there. While his physicality means he’s pretty good in pass pro, his lack of athleticism and lateral quickness means he’ll have to play that spot with super high IQ to recognize blitzers. That said, he likely won’t be in a ton on passing downs as his best attribute is simply getting downhill and grinding out yards. While his long speed is better than people want to give him credit for - watch the NC State game - his short area burst is below average. While he’s a patient runner, his skilllset demands that he loses some of that patience to get yards quicker. I need him to get downhill faster.

He’s a nice power back who shows an ability to get skinny through the hole at a higher level than most and runs through some arm tackles with good contact balance. He’s not agile and his acceleration is weak so he’s not someone whose going to be a dynamic NFL back but his ability to score from short yardage is real as he posted 17 rushing touchdowns this past season. He won’t help much in the passing game but if your team needs a bruiser, he should be a good player to help pick up the muddy yards and is good in short yardage. Early day 3 for me. 

4.71 is just a really brutal time for a RB. While obviously speed wasn’t his game, that’s a rough time. 

115. OT - Blake Fisher, Notre Dame 75

The thing that jumps out to you within a few reps of watching Fisher play is that he has an exceptional kick slide. It is quick and gets tons of depth easily while he maintains balance. Immediately if you’re a passing attack that wants to throw deep passes, he’s someone who can keep you clean on a 7 step drop, it stands out. He is technically very sound, using proper angles, getting his hands on defenders quickly, and understanding leverage. In the run game he’s not powerful but he’s efficient and has excellent timing in coming off of combo blocks and climbing to the second level. There’s nothing that wows you with his game other than a very good kick slide and the fact he gets the job done consistently. I think he’s probably a high quality swing tackle as a floor with a mid range starter as a high. Quality player who is good at everything and great at nothing but who looks like he’ll be a nice player in the NFL.

In pass pro it’s mostly positive reviews. I think really good athletes are going to get him at times because while he has decent agility and a pretty good anchor, it will be plenty good against average players, but good ones are going to be either stronger than him, faster than him, or both. The lack of high end traits limits his upside. Now the benefit is that he doesn’t and likely won’t lose quickly often. Super fast guys might get the edge but he understands body control and angles and usually will run those guys by. He hasn’t been perfect in pass pro in college so don’t think he’ll be dominant here in the NFL but his technique and kickslide gives him a chance to be decent.

As a run blocker he isn’t going to displace people often unless he gets the angle on them. He’s not a powerful guy but plays with solid leverage and understands leverage and is very good at getting his body in front of the defender. Fisher times combo blocks well, climbs up to the second level, and doesn’t overshoot his shot once he gets there. Again the lack of real traits limits what he’s going to be in that facet of the game but he gets the job done more often than not.

He’s boring and that’s a good thing. As an NFL GM he feels like the perfect round 4 player at tackle. I think he’s plenty athletic to play either left or right tackle and he’s ready to play immediately. More strength to his frame will only help him but if I had an aging tackle and/or someone who got hurt often at tackle he’d be a high priority target of mine. I think that he provides a good floor, rarely loses quickly, and particularly if you have another good tackle on the roster he can provide solid play if you can give him occasional help against high level talent. Would be a boring, solid pick early on day 3 that could provide quality depth and a potential decent starter at LT or RT with his natural position obviously on the right side. 

116. DT - Mekhi Wingo, LSU 75

Scouts were talking about his character throughout this offseason as he was injured this season early and was supposed to be out for the year but worked his ass off to get back just to play in the Bowl game. That’s a big deal. On top of it he works his tail off on tape. At just 6’0 and 284 pounds he’s got a super weird frame and it’s tough to predict exactly where you think he’ll play in the NFL. He was having his best year but the injuries slowed him down, but he was likely going to be putting up really solid numbers. His Wisconsin game he just kept grinding and working and grinding and while he would get pushed around some in the run game he kept working at it, and by game’s end he had two sacks. His stature and frame make him probably a 3T only in an even front and he’s likely a rotational player only but he’s got good speed, plays tough, and is a worker. He has a chance to carve out a good sized role in a defense in time.

Wingo has impressive tape, there’s no doubt. His Missouri tape early in that game, just watch him eat those interior blockers up. He didn’t stay blocked even when he was uprooted in the run game, he worked off those blocks to make plays. He’s a hard worker who you don’t see take plays off. He also is limited due to his size and length. Longer interior lineman can neutralize him and while he’ll work very hard to get off of blocks, he’s only 284. I think he played heavier than that at LSU, that weight was surprising to me but he can get moved off the spot. He fights through those at times but that will limit his effectiveness against better competition. I do think he does a nice job of working laterally in the run game and maybe he can penetrate a bit but he’s more of horizontal defensive player than he is a get upfield guy too. Where Wingo is better than other IDL’s in this draft is his straight line speed. He had the fastest 10 yard split at 1.64 which is very good and a 4.85 in the 40, he can move for his size.

As a pass rusher he uses his leverage well and works to get to the spot he wants in the pass rush game. He’ll stay lower than most IOLs and it allows him sometimes to split double teams and work angles to create plays in the backfield. While he’s not ultra explosive off the snap, he has enough juice and wiggle to be more athletic than some interior blockers. He has pretty good bend for a player who is projected as a 3T, more so than most and he’s going to get some angles on interior players who may be slower. That said, good players will still get him.

He’s a good player but his size limits him a bit. If he can maintain quickness and continue to play with high effort and good burst while also putting 15 pounds on, he has a chance to be a high snap contributor. He’s clearly a 3T only as he needs to be given some range inside where he can create some space and get guards one on one. He has to add mass if he wants to be a valuable run defender but he has a chance to do that in time. It wouldn’t surprise me if he turns into a starting caliber 3T but you just never know if he’ll keep those movement skills when he adds weight or if he’ll be a rotational high effort rusher with some chase down ability.

117. OT Caedan Wallace, Penn State 75

He’s an NFL tackle without any question. With his combination of size and athleticism he clearly has starter upside and I believe he could play on either side, although with his body type he fits best at RT. His feet are his best attribute as he moves well with good explosion in the short area off the ball. That was cemented when he went to the combine and put up very good testing numbers including a 5.15 40. While I don’t know if he’s some supreme athlete or anything he has good feet and an ability to reset throughout a rep which is a major plus. He has good length with 34 inch arms and at 315 pounds has enough size to stick at tackle, but some teams I’m sure will want to move him to guard. I believe he’s at worst a 4 position backup or a starter at guard or low end starter at tackle. I think he’ll stick outside. Feels like a perfect 4th round pick for a team as his floor is high and he’s likely versatile enough to move all over the place.

I like his ability to climb from the first level to the second, particularly on inside zone plays where he can get off that initial block but plays under control enough and with enough agility to climb and get that second block. Someone mentioned he’s got that radar to climb and get that second level block and he does. I don’t like how flat he goes down the line sometimes with that block where he simply won’t get enough depth to get movement with his initial contact but that can be improved. The issue here is that he is a pusher and not a drive blocker. He doesn’t play with the requisite nastiness, leverage, or hand placement to drive people off the football. Wallace is a positional blocker and a pusher and not someone who will bury people and there are a number of teams who that’s a turnoff for. His movement skills and ability to get to the angle are both good, not great, but good, but his inability to create movement due to his pad level being so high with a lack of intensity limits his run blocking upside.

As a pass protector again, more to like than not. Quicker players and players who can take advantage of mediocre hand placement by him will get him at times but he’s overall a good pass protecting prospect. Wallace sees the game in front of him and is not someone who panics in pass pro or with blitzers. He’s able to get his feet squared up again and continue on with the rep. His length is more than adequate as well walking people past the QB. Now again, it’s good not great with feet so really quick guys off the edge can get him, and he’ll open up fairly early but he overall was good in that position and while I don’t see him as a plus pass protector, he’s plenty good to start. Especially if he can get his pads down and get his hands inside more. His punch is too deliberate and easy to work through and you can see guys on tape jamming him up and pushing him back because he isn’t the aggressor in pass pro. Technique issues keep popping up.

Coaching could turn him into a viable starter in the NFL. If he can get his pad level down and work on mirroring his hands and his feet there’s a chance for him to be good in the run game, particularly on an inside zone attack. In pass pro he has the length and footwork to hold up and we’ve already seen some good play from him, and he has 40 starts in his career. I don’t think he’s a great player but I think he’s a quality 4 position reserve or capable starter if he can improve technique and play with a bit of a nastier attitude. Round 4 is perfect. 

118. DL - Tyler Davis, Clemson 75

Feels like I’ve been watching Tyler Davis play football for a decade at Clemson, and maybe that’s because he played a lot of snaps for 5 seasons and kind of burst onto the scene as a Freshmen. Davis is 6’2 and 300 pounds but plays so much stronger than that, rarely getting displaced while holding up against double teams. On top of that, Davis has shown a good ability to create pressure, even if his frame doesn’t allow him to get a ton of sacks, he’s an adept pass rusher when given one on one chances. He’s a good football player who lacks the measurables to be someone who is going to go on the first two days but he is someone I think could end up being a quality rotational DL for a very long time in the NFL, and you could get him on day 3.

I came away from the film of Davis really impressed by what I think he can be in the NFL. No he’s not going to put up a ton of counting stats most likely but he has a very strong anchor against the double team. You don’t see guys who barely break 300 pounds able to anchor and not give up ground against duo blocks but he was consistently good at doing just that. Davis keeps his eyes up and is able to scrape down the line, recognize pullers, and get off of blocks a couple yards down the field to make plays in the run game. At times he’s shown an ability to be a penetrator as well, having more than 9.5 TFL in two separate seasons for the Tigers. While he’s not necessarily going to wow you in these things, particularly as he just doesn’t carry the mass that you’d want, he’s really tough for someone his size. The lack of arm length is going to limit his playmaking ability at times but his leverage and lower body strength are both plus.

As a pass rusher he’s shown an ability to make plays. Davis has a whopping 58 hurries combined over the past three seasons and has 16 sacks for his career. While he didn’t pick any up this season it wasn’t because he wasn’t getting close. Again the lack of arm length causes him some issues with finishing, but he’s disruptive here and he’ll get a few at the next level. At times in pass defense he can be a split second late getting out of his stance, but when he times it up, he’s got a pretty explosive first step. If he can figure out how to maintain his leverage in games and stunts he’ll be even more effective. I don’t see him being this dynamic pass rusher in the NFL but I do think he’ll still be fairly effective here.

I came away from his tape exceptionally impressed. Davis is the type of guy that if you run a 43 and need a nose, it’s not like he’s a target you’re going to go out and try to get on day 3 but if he happens to fall to you, you’re going to get a very good rotational DT. He needs to improve his hand usage and staying lower to the ground when he’s moving down the line or on stunts, and he certainly needs to find some pass rush moves when he does get into one on one situations. That said he plays with plus recognition skills, bordering on plus-plus, and is a physical presence on the DL. He’s quietly someone I think could play for 8+ years in the League. 

119. EDGE - Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State 75

Kamara is an ultra high effort player who has impressive explosiveness and was extremely productive for Colorado State. Kamara had 73 combined pressures over the past two seasons and he picked up 29.5 career sacks while playing for the Rams. He’s someone who has plus acceleration off the ball and uses it to work his way upfield quickly, causing problems for lesser OTs and allowing him to use a few different pass rush moves to win. Typically though his move is that he’s fast and can get the edge quickly, and he uses that speed rush to help set up some other moves. The problem with Kamara is his size as he’s just over 6’1 and those guys don’t typically do super well in the NFL. He weighs under 250 pounds and has extremely small hands at 8.⅝” and those things make it tougher to get off blocks and work speed to power at the next level. He’s highly productive, has good burst, and is one of the hardest workers in this class but he’s likely a much more productive college player than he will be in the NFL.

As a rusher, it’s the initial burst that is his best weapon. He lines up on the ball or even part way into the neutral zone often playing in a 7T or even a wide-9 and letting his speed and quickness cause issues for tackles. Kamara is lightning fast off the ball and his 1.58 10 yard split showcased what he can do off the edge (3rd fastest among DE’s in this class). He also isn’t afraid to work an occasional spin move, speed to power, or simply just work his hands and then go back upfield to get the in the pocket sacks. He’ll use it all, and does it with a constant motor. He also was doing it against mediocre players and with his size, good tackles are going to eat him up. He wants to simply work leverage and speed to power most often in his game and his repertoire but it’s tough to see that working consistently at his size so there’s going to be a learning curve.

As a run defender he works very hard and can certainly make some plays in that regard but in projecting him to the next level it’s tough to see where he’ll be most effective. When he is slicing and dicing his way through defenses he can have some pretty good plays but asking him to hold the edge is going to be a problem. He jumps inside often trying to make a play and gets washed out fairly easily. At that size even good NFL TEs are going to be able to block him. He has to be able to be more effective settling down and stacking at the NFL level. He plays hard and loves to be physical so there’s a chance here, particularly for DCs who harp on playmaking and not necessarily always doing your job as he likes to split blocks to make plays. Kamara plays with natural leverage, toughness, and effort so he’s got a chance but he has to overcome a decent amount.

I love the kid’s effort, his burst, and that he plays the game with physicality. It’s just he seems like the prototype for being a good college player and maybe not a great pro. His tape is good but it’s against weaker players where the speed to power at 6’1 just won’t be as effective. He also hasn’t shown an aptitude for setting the edge and stacking blockers and so that turns him into a role player. While some of those tools will work, some won’t. I don’t think I’d vote against it happening but he looks like a 4th/5th round player who could end up as a solid backup but likely ends up as a role player or special teamer. 

120. G - Zak Zinter, Michigan 74

I’m going to preface this with saying that I think Zinter is a fine football player, but he’s not as good as the Media says he is. The injury, that was brutal, definitely dropped his stock down quite a bit, but he’s clearly a day 3 OL, and that was without the injury. He’s definitely a draftable player and is closer to day 2 than he is a UDFA but Zinter at certain points throughout this process was being talked about in round 2 and he’s just not that dude. I think he’s a solid player who projects as a low end starter on the interior and who can give you very good reps if he’s surrounded by plus talent. There’s good pieces to his game but don’t draft him if you’re using him to start an OL, he’s the piece you add when you already have a good tackle and a good center around him, if you have that, he’ll give you high quality reps.

At 6’6 and 322 pounds, Zinter is a big bodied G who has the requisite length and footwork to be a good pass protector. While he plays too high at times and can be a waist bender, he uses good balance and honestly has some tackle footwork to his game from the inside. Zinter’s length gives him the potential to be a better pass protector than most if he can maintain his leverage and keep his body positioned lower to the ground. When he gets too high he can lose that leverage and get pushed back. He’s got a solid punch though and when he gets someone off balanced he can get them completely out of his rush lane. Strong hands allow him to maintain positional blocking in pass pro.

As a run blocker there are some good things and some bad things here. Again he can play too high and be a shover and a pusher at times and it’s frustrating because there are things he does that are impressive and at other times he looks like JAG (Just a Guy). He shows good mobility at 322 pounds and they used him a lot as a puller at Michigan where he showed an aptitude for that skill. When he would get low and get some momentum he was impressive, when he didn’t he didn’t possess the leverage and power to create big holes.

He’s a difficult evaluation for me. Some scouts love him, some do not, and my OL guru couldn’t stand him. I think I’m somewhere in between. I like his ability as a puller and his length in pass pro. He gave up just 5 QB hits in the past three seasons. That said, he at times can be a shover and needs to play with better leverage pretty consistently. I do think he’s a low end starter and the fact he’s a Captain and his teammates love him definitely helps me draft him higher. I think he’s a round 4 guy through and through. There’s some upside here and a decent floor as a low end starter or high end backup, but the length and movement skills are good along with high football IQ and intangibles. 

121. CB - Renardo Green, Miami 74

I’m having a pretty hard time grading out Green as he’s one of the more difficult evaluations I’ve done this season. First off, he had some impressive moments. His game against LSU this season showed that he has the ability and confidence to matchup with anyone. He’s a press bail corner who works his best in a man system and likes to get put out on an island. That said in terms of overall athleticism and size it’s not ideal so you know the upside probably isn’t exactly what you want. He also only has one interception despite being essentially a 4 year starter for FSU so the ball skills aren’t great, he doesn’t try to find the football. His only pick in his career was when Malik Nabers fell down this season, other than that, zero. His run defense is also inconsistent. It’s tough to evaluate him overall with some positives and some negatives and so honestly I feel like a 4th round grade is appropriate but I just don’t know. He could be a decent starter, he could be a dime corner, or he could be a one and done contract guy. Difficult evaluation.

As a pure corner he is calm and patient in press and likes to flip his hips early in the route. He prefers and looks most comfortable being out on an island. He’s a shade under 6’0 and about 190 pounds with decent length so he’s got adequate size for the position. I do think he’s got average quickness and speed and the combine will help me determine where he fits in the grading scale. There’s a lot of average to his game. That said, he also only gave up 536 yards combined the past two seasons for FSU while consistently in man coverage against the other team’s WR1 so you know he won’t back down and he’s certainly not a liability. He also only gave up a shade over 52% completions against combined the past two seasons. He’s someone who isn’t going to back down.

As a run defender there are instances of good play followed by instances of bad ones. Green doesn’t work extraordinarily hard in getting off of blocks outside and while he’ll fire his gun at times and make plays he’s not someone who projects as a good run defender at the next level. There are also multiple instances of him not playing hard from the backside and it costing the team. It’s not a situation where you question the overall effort but it’s also not something that is going to make you want to pound the table for him. Green did put up a combined 101 tackles the past two seasons, so there’s productivity there and again, it’s not that he’s a bad run defender, he’s not bad actually, but you don’t see him as someone who is going to be a plus addition there, just not a liability.

He’s such a tough eval. There are times when I know he’s going to be a solid starting man corner, and others where he’s grabby, non productive and mediocre against the run. I’m guessing he’s somewhere in between. He can’t go on the first two days for me as an evaluator due to there being nothing that leaps off the screen with him, some instances of weak run D, and only one career interception. The inability to find the football drives me freaking nuts. But it’s rare to see someone play as much man coverage as he did against such good players and hold up constantly. I think he’s a round 4 guy. Has man CB starting ability but without the upside. I would say there’s a shot he ends up as a career backup though and with a lack of big plays. 

122. QB - Michael Pratt, Tulane 74

He’s an intriguing developmental QB prospect with a smooth delivery and some mobility. I think the idea that he should be taken on day 2 of the draft though is definitely a bad take. Pratt is a round 4 type player who has the tools and potentially the delivery to turn into a nice player in time in the NFL but he has a ways to go and despite playing against a lower level of competition consistently, he didn’t dominate like you’d expect him to for a day 2 draft pick. Pratt at 6’3 and 220 pounds has very good size for the positions and shows enough mobility to threaten defenses with his legs but his accuracy is good not great and there’s not a ton about him as a prospect that makes me jump for joy. Give him a couple of years of seasoning and there’s a shot for him as a low end starter or high end backup. That to me is a round 4 or 5 type guy and not day 2.

I get why some people are excited about the Green Wave QB though. He’s got a strong arm and can make some impressive NFL caliber throws, especially showing an ability to throw across the boundary with pace. At times with his feet set Pratt shows off a plus arm and can deliver the football with velocity on target. The nice thing with Pratt at the NFL level is he has enough athleticism to get to the edges and enough arm strength to work from the pocket, the whole playbook is there if you want it to be with him. 

I like quite a bit here but you need to develop him a bit more and work on him with accuracy, internal clock, and not pulling the string on downfield throws. At times he almost wants to guide the football into places instead of letting it go and it leads to some accuracy issues that sporadically hit his tape. I just need more consistency from him as a pure thrower of the ball, and when the pocket isn’t clean. There’s tools to work with here, mainly his talented arm and some mobility allowing him to pick up some yards with his feet, there’s talent here. Pratt is a known leader and with talent and some mobility looks like he could be a good long term backup or low end starter and should start to get looks on draft boards early on day 3 with a 5 being his floor. 

123. RB - Jaylen Wright, Tennessee 74

I may have ended up a bit biased because the first snap I scouted this guy on he took it to the house against Georgia and absolutely blew by Kamari Lassiter, a potential first round corner. His actual pure speed is electrifying and opens up the door for him to make a house call on absolutely any play against anybody. Wright has true gamebreaking speed and he shows it when he gets a chance to get an angle on almost anyone. He also is very solid in pass protection and willing to step up and make a block, and he’s good at that to boot which is important given that he projects best as a change of pace back in the NFL. He’s got big time speed, but his lateral agility, creativity, and contact balance are all below average. Wright has a role in the NFL as a part time homerun hitter and good pass protector who isn’t a high volume or constant player.

The biggest issue I see with Wright is his contact balance which is below average. He oftentimes runs into a wall at the LOS and just goes down and it means that he’s not going to grind you out tough yards. His vision is mediocre and so he needs to see that hole open up for him to hit it and really start to use that speed to pick up chunks. If it’s there for him to see, he’ll hit it and hit it hard but a nice solid shot from a LB or S and he’ll go down. His pure speed is enough for him to get around tacklers at the second level but he’s not necessarily a wiggle guy or a run through you guy. 

He just kinda is what he is. He’s got tremendous long speed with below average most everything else but is a good pass protector, maybe even a plus one in terms of coming out of school. Wright is around 205 pounds, and while he did catch 22 balls this year he’s not someone you’re going to split out and utilize that way often. I do think that Wright projects as a good kickoff return guy, even though that part of the game is dying. He also is someone you can slide in and won’t worry about his ability in pass pro as he’s physical for someone who is slightly undersized. I think he’s a 3rd running back and kickoff guy who may end up with some big chunk plays for your team on some touches here and there. Day 3 kid in rounds 4 or 5 for grade, but someone is going to draft him on day 2 due to his speed. 

124. QB - Spencer Rattler, South Carolina 73

Rattler has talent and some moxy but he never put it together. He’s someone who is going to turn the football over, make some really impressive throws, and can play from a variety of systems. The issue is the lack of consistency with his game is beyond troubling and pushes him to the backup only type role in the NFL. At 6’1 and 217 pounds he has okay size but definitely not ideal and his pure athleticism is okay, not great. He can make some impressive throws with good arm talent but he’s not out there driving the deep opposite hash comeback routes either. I think he could be a solid backup in the NFL with potential to become a starter if he can clean up some things. There’s real talent here but the decision making and some accuracy inconsistencies push him into the middle rounds.

He’s a talented dude. His freshmen season he was projected as an early first round draft pick by many, with a 28 TD 7 INT season. Eventually though some of the warts started showing up and the turnovers became tough to overlook. In 2022 he ended up with 12 picks and he didn’t eradicate the bad decisions from his repertoire this season with 8 more. It’s not all on him, as he is willing to take swings down the field and push the ball to make big plays, but it feels like he’s been pressing since coming on so strong as a Freshmen and it leads to him not taking the easy throw often. 

There are some things that make me think he can be good though. He throws the ball well on the move, delivering some strikes as he rolls out. I like that he’s willing to move around the pocket and extend plays. He’s at his best on play action where he can work levels concepts as he is able to throw the football with a lot of different trajectories. He can make the throws you need him to make, particularly in a heavy play action game. His career accuracy numbers are legitimately good with zero seasons under 66%. Now he’s played in a lot of short passing offenses but still, he can put the ball where you need to put it. His mobility to get to the second level and scramble a bit also gives him a chance to pick up some tough 3rd down conversions.

There’s talent here. He can do a lot of things that you’d like to see from someone who can compete to be a starter one day. It wouldn’t shock me if he figures out how to play a lot of snaps in the NFL. It’s rare that you can find someone who in the middle rounds could end up offering you this much talent, as the decision making and winning percentage has fallen off. That said, he’s tough, talented, and shows some ability to do different things and make different throws with relative ease. I think he’s a 4th round guy that you take if you have a good starter or want to try to develop someone over time, he has a chance to be a starting level QB in the NFL, but likely he’s a backup. I always thought he was a bit overrated athletically and the 4.95 at the Combine sort of cemented that and made me feel better about giving him a 4 than a 3. 

125. WR - Jamari Thrash, Louisville 73

Thrash is a good college football player who projects as a backup WR in the NFL and who could potentially play some move WR but likely is a slot. His athleticism is average, and although he could make people miss at the collegiate level his explosiveness and speed is good not great. At 6’0 and 188 pounds Thrash has okay size and decent speed but there’s not a ton that he does at an ultra high level.  I will say somehow he creates plus separation consistently and it’s why he likely has a bit higher floor than you’d think as a multiple position backup or low end starter. 

His best strength is his route running ability, where he utilizes a variety of moves to create separation. If you watch his tape, he’s open a lot. At the Senior Bowl that didn’t really stop and while he didn’t “jump off the screen” when he ran in breaking routes he was tough to cover. Thrash is impressive at the top of the route, showing impressive quick stop ability and he has enough speed at 4.46 to threaten the top of the defense, so he’s able to create some separation off his route stem. He has a good feel for leverage and route timing and it gives him some openings.

The downside of his game are there’s nothing rare here. On tape he looks like he has some quickness but it doesn’t scare you, and his testing numbers show that out as he was one of the least explosive players in Indy. While I like his variety of releases and moves as a route runner it is typically his start-stop ability that leads to his openings and more physical players will likely be able to reroute him at the line. He also does not have strong hands and had 16 credited drops over the past three seasons, you can see him catch it with his body. While he’s adequate after the catch, he’s not special there and isn’t someone who is dynamic with the ball in his hands.

He’s a nice player. I personally think he’s a backup in the league and is a day 3 kid but getting open is an art and he’s good at doing that. Thrash is someone who can likely play inside or outside but would be at his best in the slot and should provide some value to teams who are looking for an ancillary offensive weapon. His lack of size and play strength would worry me though as if he doesn’t work well at WR I doubt he’ll be a special teams contributor which is always concerning as a day 3 selection. He plays hard though and is more than willing as a blocker but obviously is limited there as well. Round 4 guy who could end up as a low end starter. 

126. WR - Anthony Gould, Oregon State 73

Gould could be a potential consolation prize to whomever doesn’t get Xavier Worthy in this year’s draft. He’s a lightning fast undersized receiver who is an electric punt returner but offers big play ability in a small package. Gould is 5’8 and 174 pounds but isn’t afraid to go up and get the football down the field. The issue of course is that it’s going to be hard for him to survive at the NFL level. He’s got impressive short area burst and long speed, putting up tied for the fastest 10 yard split and a blazing 4.39 in the 40. He plays to those speeds in game as well, showing tremendous acceleration on punts and on deep over routes, his two best skills. He’s limited by his size but he can be a big play threat and an immediate help as a punt returner.

As a pure receiver he’s definitely more of a down the field guy. He actually doesn’t have super impressive ankles or hips and is a tiny bit tight, showing his best ability in straight line speed. He can cut at full speed though so his ability to run post routes and deep corners is impressive. He thrives running deep overs and posts though where he can simply run by nickels and safeties and pick up big chunk plays. He’s willing to go get the football but his size limits his ability to catch things that are away from his body. Gould has tremendous vision after the catch and that ability to get to full speed quickly also gives him some potential on shallow crosses and screens where he can pick up double digit yards in a blink.

The downside here is that he won’t be able to help you as a blocker and obviously has a smaller catch radius due to his size. He also can drift upfield too often on his intermediate routes and doesn’t necessarily break those routes off at a level you would expect given his small stature. I desperately wanted to see what he would put up in the 3 cone drill because I thought it could only help him but of course he didn’t run that at the Combine. He can get better on those routes but his size again, limits him here. He also ran a lot of routes from out wide at Oregon State, rarely coming in except on short motions and you’d prefer him to be able to play from the slot but his lack of ankle and hip flexibility on tape could limit that.

He’s super intriguing but you have to think that he’ll miss some time consistently with injuries due to size. He plays a physical brand of football for someone at 174 pounds and he’s stout despite being only 5’8. Gould could be a nice consolation prize for someone who misses out on Worthy at a much lower cost but he’ll be more of a situational role player in the NFL but one that offers incredible upside as a punt returner as Gould was an All American in 2022 and has averaged over 16 yards per return for his entire career. I think he has a chance to be an impactful 3rd or more likely 4th WR who can help a team with returning and some big chunk plays but will likely only be available sporadically due to size.

127. CB - Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri 73

Abrams-Draine is a complex evaluation. He had insane on ball production on the opposite side of potential first round pick Ennis Rakestraw as he was targeted often with over 150 times targeted combined the past three seasons. But in that time he also was impressive in terms of making plays on the football, coming up with a crazy 34 passes defended and 7 interceptions including 4 this season. He also has some limitations as he’s 5’11 but only 173 pounds and by rule those guys do not live long in the NFL. At the Senior Bowl the difficult evaluation process became a bit more tenuous as he had some impressive reps, followed by ones where he got beaten deep. He’s clearly a playmaker, but his lack of size on his frame is problematic. 

Where this evaluation gets even more difficult is the fact that he can freaking fly. You see it continuously on tape and then he goes to Mobile and posts the second fastest time there, running 21.3 MPH on the GPS. At Mizzou he played a ton of way off man coverage and still gave up some plays over the top. It’s odd with his speed that he’d still get beat deep but it did happen, not just at Mobile but in the regular season as well - watching the Mizzou game. I don’t think he has the strength to press man, so he’d need to only go to a situation where he can play off man, as his size likely means that in zone he’d need to come up and consistently tackle and at that size, he won’t hold up. Very scheme specific.

I like the fact that he’s an active player in both facets of the game though. He did come up with a good amount of tackles consistently even though he’s more of an ankle tackle or a drag down guy - again size is an issue here. He tries to play tough and he’s not shy he just lacks size. It’s why even though he likely can play inside at nickel where his quickness may shine, the lack of size could limit that in only special situations. He did have 500 snaps at the nickel at Mizzou.

He’s probably better in press man than anything else but he lacks the size to press and then fall back and bigger, stronger WRs will give him problems on the outside with that. In off man though he has some issues turning and running and timing that out so he can give up some downfield plays despite his speed. He’s an odd evaluation. I like the ball production, the versatility to play inside and outside, and the fact that he ran 21.3 MPH. I dislike his size, some of his technique issues, and the fact that despite the speed I’ve watched him get beat deep on numerous occasions. I think he’s a day 3 corner who has interesting traits and may be someone who could outperform his draft stock, but I couldn’t bet on that. Feels like a round 4 guy with upside. 

128. TE - Ben Sinnott, Kansas State 73

Sinnott is honestly a really intriguing TE prospect who I’m having trouble grading. He’s a move TE who ended up weighing in at 250 pounds at the combine which helped him a bit as I thought he may end up being under 240. He obviously didn’t lose any athleticism either as Sinnott dominated the explosive drills, leading TEs in Vertical, Broad, and posting an excellent 6.82 3 cone. He’s a really impressive athlete. Draft grades for him are all over the board, with some loving his versatility to play the F TE role or play In-Line or in the Slot and others thinking that his lack of power and speed limits him. I think it’s somewhere in between. Sinnott has some skills and can do everything you’d ask, but none of it at a high level. He looks like a role specific player who will be best utilized as an H Back type who can help you in a variety of ways. The thing is, he needs to improve everything a bit in order to be a consistent NFL contributor.

The speed and athleticism at 250 pounds make him an intriguing guy. He works hard as a blocker and at times can be very good and at other times he’ll miss at the second level, or when asked to pass block inline. His length and work in pass pro is below average and he’s not someone you can leave out there on an island. He’s at his best as a lead blocker on inside zone plays where he can get up and hit people. I do like his work on double teams as a run blocker as well, but at the second level his hit rate in terms of making that second level block is very hit and miss. He needs more consistency there.

As a pass catcher he shows decent speed after the catch but he’s not elusive. Sinnott looks like a guy who can help you against zone but he struggles to get off of tight coverage and just ends up working his way through that slowly. He’s reliable as a pass catcher, coming up with 48 grabs this past season. I don’t see anything that wows me in this space but as a move TE, HB, FB type he could give you an element that you don’t see elsewhere.

If it were me and I were drafting him I’d use him mostly as a FB and HB and let him go be a beast on special teams. He’s got good speed and size and his usage at KState in outside zone from off line gives him a rare ability to block on kickoff and punt returns. He also has the size to be a true core special teams player. If he went to a team that utilized HBacks and FBs more he could see even more snaps but he has to improve across the board to get more playing time. There’s something there though but for me he’s a round  5 guy. He’s athletic and has a shot but it’s role dependant. I’m not sure he’s a true TE. I could be way too low on him to be honest - but I just kind of think he’s an HBack/FB type and they just don’t carry enough value. 

129. DE - Brennan Jackson, Washington State 73

First thing that jumps off the tape with Jackson is that he plays with extremely high effort. The guy plays the game as hard as he possibly can, every single play, every single game. His motor absolutely never goes off of 100% full throttle and coaches are going to fall in love with the fact that he works so damn hard. As a prospect though he’s got enough athleticism to make it but not enough to be a dynamic factor at the next level. His pass rushing repertoire is almost all speed to power or a jump inside move that is more effective than you’d think it would be. Jackson plays the run pretty darn well and uses good power to work the edges and get off of blocks. Overall he looks like a solid backup DE who will play with tremendous effort, some power, and should give you enough in both the run and pass games to be a nice rotational piece in either a 34 or 43 front.

There are some good things and some bad things with Jackson as a pass rusher at the NFL level. He plays with good power and likes to use a speed to power move that at times allows him to create good push. Jackson starts from out wide in a wide-9 fairly often and while he’s not super quick he has just enough speed off that initial burst that he can threaten tackles’ edges. It’s not great and he mostly wants to run through you but he does have enough burst with a good initial 2-3 steps that he can cause issues there. He uses that for his best play which is a jump inside move on the rush that takes him in a more direct line to the QB. His strength allows him to play through some contact on his edges and it’s that move that creates some pressures. Jackson had 14.5 sacks combined the past two seasons as well as 57 combined hurries. He’s not dynamic but he’s got good speed to power and just enough with all other phases to be productive. His lack of counter moves and a pass rush plan along with decent bend but not great ability there limits how good he can be though, he’s got a clear ceiling. 

As a run defender he shows some good things. I wish he did a better job of finding the ball consistently but he does a great job of getting off blocks and not letting himself be blocked. He works very hard after contact to work toward the ball carrier and it leads to a lot of plays on the football - especially for someone who lines up so wide. Jackson has good play strength and good hands and uses those to work himself free. The issues here are he’s not a dynamic athlete so his backside speed is okay but not great. On top of that there are times that he can get pushed out of the play on the front side. He’s overall a pretty good run defender but again, the lack of tools means he’s capped.

Overall nice football player. Glad I worked him up late in the process as it’s pretty clear he’s a pro. I do think it’s unlikely he’s a starter consistently throughout his career but he looks like a good 3rd DE type player who shows an ability to do everything at a good enough level that he should be able to give whoever takes him a lot of quality snaps. I think he has enough speed to play 34 OLB but would be at his best in a 43 base system and the effort and motor are about as high as you can get. He’d be a nice snag in the top of day 3, I’d go as high as round 4 on him but he’d be good value in the 5th. 

130. LB Cedric Gray, UNC 73

Gray is a 6’2 232 pound linebacker from North Carolina. It’ll be tough to find a more productive player coming out of the defensive side of the ball than Gray who racked up an absurd 365 tackles combined over the past three seasons for the Tarheels. Gray also picked up 29 TFL’s for them showing his ability to diagnose and attack downhill. He’s at his best running sideline to sideline and being kept clean as Gray has plus speed and acceleration and can chase down horizontally at a very high level. He’s a productive player who has some warts but looks the part of a mid round prospect in rounds three or four to me, if it weren’t for the missed tackles. 

Where he’s going to be coveted mostly in the NFL is his ability to cover. He’s fast enough to get to his landmarks, has the athleticism to spy easily, and is really good at getting to his spots against running backs. In fact he’s one of the better coverage linebackers on running backs in this season’s class. Gray looks likely to be someone who could get you some hurries and pressures in the NFL with that aggressive approach, he is a solid blitzer picking up 8.5 sacks for his career. He’s also a playmaker back there, with 5 career interceptions and 8 additional pass breakups with 5 forced and recovered fumbles. He’s extremely active.

Against the run there are pros and cons. The pro is that he can chase down almost any play from the backside, his explosiveness allows him to attack downhill, and he seems to see the game at a decent level. I wouldn’t say I love his diagnosing skills as a lot of the UNC scheme was essentially hit the hole defense but it’s okay. This is where the downside to his game comes in though. He’s not good at getting off of blocks or playing through traffic at this point in his career. If an OL gets to the second level or is pulling around, Gray isn’t able to detach or set an anchor and at times it leads to vulnerability for the defense. He also plays so aggressively that he misses a lot of tackles - he was tracked for a whopping 57 misses combined his last three seasons, a number that would be close to a 16% missed tackle rate. That’s something that really is a brutal number, one that would have been the 2nd highest for all LBs in the NFL in 2023, and this happened in college. It’s also something that never got better throughout his college career.

Gray is going to be coveted in the NFL for his passing down ability. He’s got good speed, but maybe not quite as good as what people want to believe. At the Senior Bowl he posted some very good times of just south of 19 MPH but there were other LBs there who showed to be faster. He’s quick and is productive with good IQ in the passing game and in coverage with an ability to rush the QB although his skill there is mostly speed. The issue we have is that his missed tackle percentage was borderline undraftable. While he’s an intriguing player, the most important thing you need to do is tackle at the NFL level as a LB, and while he gets a ton due to his athleticism, you gotta bring those guys down. I think he’s a nice player but not before round 4 due to that skill. 

131. CB - DJ James, Auburn 73

I’m not sure I like James as much as the consensus but I do think he’s a solid prospect who could probably play inside or outside with his quickness and speed. While his deep speed at times looks only okay, he ran fast enough at the combine to placate some of my fears there. The issue with him is his frame where he’s wiry thin and you can see stronger guys give him problems on film, both in routes and in the run game. James at 6’0 and 175 pounds looks and plays thin and honestly I think he “bulked up” to 175 for the Combine, likely playing in the 160s at Auburn. I’m not sure where he fits best in the NFL but I think he’s more of a 3rd or 4th corner in the league but some quickness and pretty good mirror ability could make him a quality backup or low end starter.

He’s 23 heading into the NFL and certainly needs to get stronger. At times he can be locked out on the edge in run support and bigger bodies can simply beat him up. You saw it on the hail mary at the end of the Bama game where he just gets bumped out of position by a stronger guy. That would worry me as an NFL GM in that play callers at the next level are going to work to abuse that. I also worry that he won’t get off blocks well enough at the next level. I think that overall he did a decent job in college of working off of blocks and trying to maintain proper leverage there but the lack fo size will get amplified at the next level.

On the positive side of things he’s really good as a mirroring CB. Yes, sometimes he’ll give too much cushion in off man, a side-effect of average deep speed, and he can have trouble working through bigger bodied guys on the backside. However, he’s rarely out of position, showing good initial burst and pretty fluid hips and ankles. If he can stay more connected down the field it could improve his skillset a bit but again the fear of getting beat deep is a causation of him opening up too early on deeper routes and allows comebacks to happen on occasion. Overall, good mirror and is sticky in coverage. 

He’s not bad. I think he could probably play inside or outside at the next level but I’m not sure he’d thrive at any of those spots, but certainly has the aptitude to do both at a decent level. The lack of size and pure speed limit his upside but to me I think he’d be a good 4th corner, where he can backup all 3 positions and shows some ability to do all things with a moderate floor. I think adding strength to a fairly long frame is necessary for him to compete though so it may be year 2 until we can see him begin to contribute regularly at a solid level. Day 3 for sure but higher up, probably a nice 4th round snag. 

132. C - Hunter Nourzad, Penn State 73

Well one of the reasons that I think Hunter Nourzad could have a fairly long NFL career is that he literally played everywhere on the offensive line in his career. In 2021 he played both left and right tackle, in 2022 he played left guard, and in 2023 he moved to center. Throughout his career just for good measure he also busted out 25 reps at RG. He’s a strong kid whose best attribute is being really good at zone blocking schemes where he can get the angle on people an absolutely move them out of the spot. He’ll have some bad misses when he gets out in front of himself and his change of direction skills are below average but there’s a decent amount to work with here.

There are some issues here that are going to definitely turn some teams off, and it bothers me. His misses are really bad. He can play with way too much forward lean and out on his toes and it leads to some really quick losses for him in the run and pass game. The better talent was across from him the more you noticed it and the Ohio State game tore him up and there were some really rough losses in the Michigan game as well. He also has some mediocre lateral agility that means he’ll have to be really good at blitz and stunt recognition in the NFL to avoid being out of position or late to as he doesn’t have great reactionary athleticism. 

Now the good stuff is also pretty darn good. There are some reps where he is outstanding. He gets tremendous movement at times in the run game, and can be plus on short pulls and climbing to the second level. He shows some tenacity and an ability to keep chugging with blocks to clear out running lanes and looks the part there in zone and gap principles. I think that he’s got enough agility in space and definitely quick enough hands to win a good amount of reps at the next level and while the reps in the run game aren’t consistently awesome, some of them are very good. He’s a good run blocker.

I honestly don’t know how good he is but there are enough reps on tape to make me think he could be a starter at guard or center in the league. He’s got a good anchor in the run game and he’s got quick hands to get to someone quickly more often than not, allowing him to get the first punch in. Despite some bad losses in the passing game he gave up just 2 sacks and 19 hurries combined over the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions and is overall a pretty good pass protector. I think there will be some bad losses in the NFL but he projects as a quality run blocker who will have some good wins and some bad losses but at worst is a 3 position backup but at best could be a solid starter in the league. Feels like a 4th round guy to me who could slide farther.

133. RB Isaac Guerendo, Louisville 73

6’0 and 221 pounds with a 4.33 and a 40 inch vertical. That’s 10/10 H-W-S. While H/W/S is a massively overrated thing for scouting football, it’s more important for RB’s than any other positions and that is an impressive combination. Just a one year starter for the Cardinals, but he came in this season and put up 800 plus rushing yards on over 6 yards per carry to pair with over 10 yards per reception on 22 catches. The issue though is that, he’s not a very good player yet. He has mediocre vision, doesn’t hit the hole with proper pacing, and in the short area he plays way too tall. He’s a developmental back with a lot of promise but there are a lot of things he has to work on. The H-W-S makes him a very intriguing late round pick but he isn’t ready to be an NFL player yet.

As a runner he doesn’t see the game at a high level. Guerendo is always trying to bounce the ball outside and while his rare speed gives him more opportunities to make plays out there, that speed isn’t quite as good at the next level. I think he’ll end up with a lot of negative runs or unsuccessful attempts. He also doesn’t play behind his pads well, at the second level DBs struggle to tackle him head on due to his size, but his upright running style on short yardage is not effective. He also fails to hit the hole with the right pace. As a plus he does have an awesome jump cut that he uses to hit it laterally and then explode, meaning that there are times he’ll take a 3 yard loss and turn it into a double digit gain and that speed and jump cut will translate. 

He looks natural catching the football as well. While his blitz recognition is only okay, his size means that there is potential there on 3rd downs to not only help you in the screen game - which is where he projects to be at his best - and in pass pro. I could see him starting out as a special teams guy and someone who is a backup for all 3 downs, he certainly has the size, speed, and 3rd down ability to do so. He’s a low risk guy to draft late in the process but if you can get him to begin to see the game clearer, there’s a shot he could be high upside. Great low risk high reward guy sometime in the middle of day 3. 

134. DT - Justin Eboigbe, Alabama 73

Good high floor versatile football player who looks like a low end starter or high end backup for a long time in the NFL. I think Eboigbe projects best as a 34 DE who can stack guys against the run. At 6’4.5 and 295 pounds he has good size, solid length and played most of the time as a base defensive end this past season at 290 pounds for Alabama. He’s one of the better DEs you’ll watch on tape at stacking blockers and setting the edge and his anchor as an edge defender is extremely good. He wins enough with his first step and with his power that he can set an edge tightly early in reps and it led to a very effective and productive season with 64 tackles. I think he’s a high floor run defender who might be able to give you some pass rush wins throughout his career as well and he’s capable of playing in a 43 or 34 defense.

Where he’s going to be good in the NFL is as a run defender. He’s strong and stout with good leverage and length and enough quickness and just enough  lateral agility to actually make plays on the ball. Bama played him at Base End because he had enough ability out there to stack and then actually make plays on the football and that’s why I think he’d do so well as a 5T. I think you could certainly move him in to play the base 3T as well though as he’s tough to move and likely will find a place on short yardage in the NFL. On top of that at times he’ll win with some quickness against slower defenders and get into the backfield. If you wanted to go huge you could play him as a 43 base end at times when you know you’re going to be facing a lot of run as well. That versatility is going to be nice for an NFL DC. I do think that his lack of actual quickness and speed for a base end limits him a lot in a 43 though which is why you only want him to go out to a 5T at the MOST in the NFL.

As a pass rusher I think he’ll give you a few wins but despite getting 7 sacks this season he doesn’t win much on tape. In fact his pass rush repertoire on film is pretty much non existent. He’ll win with power, or with a stunt or twist where he’s in the right place at the right time but he doesn’t do much other than that. I moved him up my board substantially after the Senior Bowl though because he flashed some moves that week, and a particularly impressive first step against interior players that made me think there’s a chance for him to be effective at the next level. Overall though he looks more like someone who can get a few pass rush wins more than someone who will consistently win and he’s only going to pass rush from the inside. I think his opportunities there will be when a team passes on a run down and he’s in the game.

Nice player. He’s productive as a run defender, and shows some ability as a pass rusher but the ability to stack and anchor are both very good for a potential 3 or 5T. He’s got decent length, plays with good leverage, and loves to take on second blockers. Those skills mean that he’s got a shot to be a nice rotational DL at worst and I think maybe even a decent low end starter with that good solid potential as a run player. The overall upside looks just okay though. Feels like a round 4 player to me who could go in round 5 and that’d be okay too. I bet he gives you quality snaps for a couple of contracts though. 

135. DT - Maason Smith, LSU 72

Traits for days. Smith is a long interior player with excellent athleticism and some intriguing attributes. He’s a guy who I think you have to essentially redshirt as a rookie as he doesn’t have much experience with real bullets flying and he was someone who could have jolted up draft boards had he returned to Baton Rouge. This is why I think he’s a guy you’d love to target on day 3 of a draft. He has the tools, probably to play 34 end but maybe even as a 3T, to turn into a very high quality player or at least a backup, but you don’t know if he can achieve them because he has such limited tape. However, those guys on day 3 could provide unreal upside as he was a former 5 star recruit for a reason. Guys with 35 inch arms at 305 pounds aren’t typically running 5.02 40 yard dashes. That said he only played 8 games coming into 2023 and finished this past season with some underwhelming numbers including just 4.5 tackles for loss on a porous LSU defense. Traits based day 3 pick who has the potential to way outperform his draft stock but the risks, both injury and experience can’t be discounted.

He needs so much coaching. To say he’s developmental is almost an affront to the term. As a pass rusher he does one thing, he long arms guys. At times he’ll try to get to a shoulder first or work his way toward an angle but there’s little technique or nuance to his pass rushing repertoire. He doesn’t have the lower body power to bullrush anyone either so he really needs to figure this out because right now he’s a below average pass rusher. It doesn’t mean he can’t turn into one, he certainly could, but he needs a ton of reps and a ton of work. Also despite 35 inch arms, which are definitely plus, he doesn’t have much grip strength or ability to disengage well, and some of that might be he has tiny 8.5” hands. Weird ass situation there.  Smith does show an impressive first step though off the snap and he typically gets a foot or two more depth than most people on his line each snap when he times it up well, he’s got some explosion.

He did later on in the film I watch show a little bit of a swim move that actually offered some promise, and in the Wisconsin game showed a bit more, even busting out a spin move that would’ve been effective if the IOL didn’t get help.

As a run defender there are pros to his game that include that athleticism. He needs to add bulk to his lower half but the long arms mean that he should likely move to a 34 DE role where I think he’d be at his best. If he can’t hold up against double teams inside, which he struggles to do at times kicking him into that 4i or 5T role would be in his best interest and those long arms and some good speed could help him string plays out or stack blockers, particularly tackles and TEs at the next level. He wasn’t super impressive on film against the run, as he got stood up far too often. The flashes are there, but the consistency is not.

Developmental guy with a lot of traits. If he plays in an odd man front he has a chance to be a pretty solid player but he should have gone back to school. As a rookie he shouldn’t get much PT and needs to get stronger in his base and work on playing with proper leverage. He also needs to work on being able to disengage better and using his quickness to make more plays on the QB and create more pressure. He has a shot there, as he did pick up 18 hurries this past season and that quickness is real, it can play in the NFL. Day 3 guy with upside who is a better player in an odd man front than an even one. If you can draft him and be patient with him, you could get really plus dividends. 

136. CB - Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn 72

Was kind of off the radar for me a bit late in the process, but ran 4.36 with a 1.49 10 yard split, that’s some impressive combination of speed and quickness.  Then I got into his tape a bit more and realized there’s even more here to be intrigued with. First off over his last two seasons he allowed 40 receptions on 84 targets, just a 47.6% completion percentage against while only giving up 3 TDs combined over his last three full seasons. At 6’0 and 190 pounds with those measurables and those passing stats against, I took a full look at Pritchett and his film. 

He’s a thin guy who hasn’t had much on ball production despite a long career. He only has 3 career interceptions and a total of 24 passes defensed which seems like a lot, but that was over 4 full seasons including 10 PBUs 4 years ago and just 14 combined the past three seasons. He also doesn’t like contact. Pritchett is a poor tackler who would prefer to stay out of that phase of the game. It’s going to turn him off to a number of teams and you can watch him on tape, the lean frame may be the reason but it’s not something that I like out of my corners. If you’re going to be soft against the run you better have crazy ball skills and he doesn’t. Prtichett also at times can play way too soft when he’s asked to play cover 3 and while he has the length to reroute at the line he’d prefer to play off coverage. It’s fine to do that, but too many instances on film of him giving too much cushion and allowing easy completions. He also looks a tiny bit stiff when flipping his hips and then exploding to try to take away out routes and to get from backpedal to flip and run. 

On the positive side of things, he can make throwing lanes disappear down the field with plus speed and good overall size and length. His ability to both press and to play off man gives him a chance to play in a variety of schemes, although he clearly prefers playing off. He’ll give up shorter throws at the next level but the farther the ball gets down the field the better he’ll be at forcing incompletions and taking away throwing lanes. It’s a reason he hasn’t given up many TD’s throughout his career, it’s tough to complete passes on him on vertical routes. In fact this past season he gave up just 134 yards against him per next gen stats and a decent chunk of that was against Alabama. There’s an ability there and a size and speed combination that’s enticing.

He’s not my style of player due to him not wanting to play through contact. Other scouts just say he’s a mediocre tackler or needs work but I saw that he’s tentative in that space. I hate that. That said as a pure cover player there is quite a bit to like here. The speed, acceleration, size, and downfield ability is all impressive and pushes him to an intriguing grade. Due to the lack of playmaking and poor ball skills I’m going to stick him as a high day 3 grade but the tools are very intriguing and he could find his way onto day 2, although I wouldn’t take him there. 

137. DE - Xavier Thomas, Clemson 72

Thomas is pretty much the crafty vet of this year’s draft class as he’s going to be turning 24 years old in September this season and it felt like he was out there taking snaps in Death Valley for the past decade. He’s got a great motor, works his tail off, and is a pretty darn good football player. I’m not sure how impactful he’ll be at the next level due to some average NFL traits and being a bit undersized for the position but he’s going to give you what he’s got and probably outplay his size. He projects as a good backup in the NFL and likely has a chance to play either 34 OLB or 43 DE in the league. Works hard, plays with good technique, and has enough repertoire to be effective. I think he’ll be a good day 3 pick for whomever takes him.

The issues you’re going to have with Thomas are going to be a couple of things. Primarily, despite being a 5 star recruit he’s never been productive as a pass rusher. I personally think it’s for a couple of reasons, the biggest one being I don’t think he’s got flexible ankles. He can win with pure speed getting the edge on guys, and can work speed to power if he gets tackles to overset, but when he has to actually turn the corner and get flat to get a sack he lacks that ability. It’s why despite 6 seasons of college football, he has 18 sacks and has never had 5 or more in a season. On top of that, despite tremendous effort he’s going to have some trouble against really powerful tackles of holding the POA. He works very hard to maintain leverage and is very good at stacking blockers coming downhill at him, but to actually set an edge, and/or get off that block and make plays, he just lacks the power to do that and the sand in his shorts to hold that edge. He’ll occasionally jump inside or win with enough speed to keep the angle but it’s not going to be consistent. It doesn’t mean he won’t try, it just means he may struggle to maintain that consistently. 

Where he is very effective though is with his play recognition and technique. He’s going to work hard to maintain his proper leverage and he’s very quick at recognizing screens and getting downfield when a play has broken. He also is pretty quick at getting the edge on tackles and then using that quickness to counter with a really fast inside step that can lead to a number of hurries. He’s pretty disruptive but probably won’t be a good sack guy in the league. 

He’s a good player who I think projects as a quality backup. He’s got enough juice in the tank to get him to the edge fairly quickly and it leads to him getting some hurries and he plays hard in the run game. Thomas doesn’t just try to stand his ground, he loves to stack pullers and create havoc when he can and while he’s not ultra productive he’s got good play recognition skills and effort. I also think with a low 4.6 time in the 40 he has the temperament and effort to potentially be a key and core special teams guy. He’d be ideal in round 5 for most teams. 

138. C - Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin 72

Tough, versatile, and athletic - that’s a pretty impressive combination. Bortolini has played over 200 snaps at RT and RG, as well as 500 snaps at LG, more than 1100 snaps at Center and even knocked out 40 snaps as a jumbo TE at his career for the Badgers. On top of the versatility, he also had some excellent testing scores at the Combine that typically transition well for OL including a top 2 40 time, 10 yard split, and the best 3 cone drill and short shuttle of all the OL at Indy. Now look, he’s not a perfect prospect as he’s a bit undersized with shorter arms and he can catch and get jarred a bit by powerful guys. However, as he improves his hand placement as he did throughout the year and then in Mobile you can see improvement here. He’s at his best in a zone blocking scheme where he can use his athleticism to his advantage. He has a shot to be a low end starter or multiple position backup in his career likely only inside but maybe out as a 3rd OT in some situations. 

The issues you’re going to see with Bortolini are pretty clear on tape. He’s got short arms and players tend to fall of off him in the run game because he doesn’t play with top tier power. He works hard and is constantly working to reposition his hands but he lacks grip strength and therefore he is more of a wall and move type player than someone who is going to uproot someone from their spot. While his athleticism allows to climb and get proper angels at the next level, he’ll sometimes play with too much forward lean and miss blocks that he’s in position to make. He also will catch a hard push from interior rushers due to that lack of length and it will cause him to fall back into the pocket a bit. Overall he is in position more often than not and clearly has plus recognition skills as he’s been coached very well and is technically refined with good processing skills. The lack of length, power, and grip strength are going to limit his upside though.

As a run blocker I need to see more pop in his pads on his initial contact with defenders. He doesn’t get much movement instead, shouldering them before moving on and it leads to some stalemates inside. His quick feet do allow him to seal people and get reach blocks that few interior players can make so again, someone with a zone heavy or highly movement based scheme will covet the skills. He is able to climb well and he plays in space like someone who is 250 pounds not an interior offensive lineman. 

He’s an interesting player who I think is more than likely a multiple position backup on a zone heavy team. His athleticism is impressive and he’s tough and smart, those things could lead to a long career in the league. He just has very little grip strength and pop in his pads and it means he’ll have quite a few okay reps but doesn’t have the upside to create enough movement and with those short arms he’ll lose to high quality interior players. Someone gave a comp to Michael Deiter to his game and I loved it, perfect comp. I think he’s an early day 3 pick, likely for me more than in the round 5 range. Could get NFL paychecks for a long time as a high end backup or low end starter. 

139. OT - Walter Rouse, Oklahoma 72

He’s not a flashy player at all and he’s not a great athlete but he wins a lot more reps than he loses. Rouse has tremendous length with 35+ inch arms and at 6’6 and 315 pounds he’s got a body that could even put on more strength. Rouse is a bit of a bender and isn’t a fluid athlete, so speed can sometimes get to his edges. He also can be threatened by speed and walked back but good bull rushers. In the run game he has strong hands but doesn’t get much movement, but works hard to get into proper positioning. Overall he lacks some traits that make you think he’ll be a good starer in the league but he’s got high IQ, plus length, and wins more reps than he loses, particularly in the passing game. Could be a low end starter or swing tackle in the league and would be a nice add on day 3.

Where he’s likely to make his mark in the NFL is in pass pro. Rouse can be a bit late off the snap at times and it’s a bit frustrating to watch but even as he gets a late jump his length makes up for the initial time lost. He does a great job of understanding the pocket and simply using his length to ride guys by the QB. Rouse has strong hands and does a nice job of maintaining his blocks even later into the snap, whereas most guys can only maintain for 2.5 seconds, when Rouse wins he can run that rep for twice that long. I do think that really good rushers are going to beat him at times as he has an okay anchor and okay feet but neither will hold up against the best. That said he improved this season with the move from Stanford and showed that he can give you quality pass pro reps in the NFL, especially if you occasionally give him help.

In the run game it’s okay but not great. He plays with super good effort and he keeps his feet going once he makes contact, again doing a good job of maintaining blocks. That said he takes weird angles in combo blocks at times and plays way too high in the run game. He hits his landmarks pretty often but isn’t a movement blocker. I think there’s room in his frame to get stronger but unless he can play with better leverage and get his ass lower he’s going to be  a guy who walls off and not one who gets consistent push.

I waited until very late in the process to scout him but I’m glad I did. He feels like a really good round 5 type player. Rouse played only left tackle in college but he has the length and size to play either side and he’ll need to as he projects as a swing tackle in the NFL, but one with good pass protection skills. Again he won’t be an OT1 for anyone but if you can give him occasional help he can be a nice player in the NFL for a while. I came away from the tape thinking he’s a prototype for an NFL swing tackle and he’s got plenty of potential to be a starter if necessary. 

140. CB - MJ Devonshire, Pitt 72

Some scouts really think highly of this kid who is going mostly under the radar with a month to go before the draft. Devonshire is a competitive corner who likely can play inside or outside with his physicality and long arms. He’s 5’11 and 185 pounds but boasts a 6’6 wingspan and uses those long arms to punch and reroute playing press man coverage. There are both good and bad here when you watch the tape but there’s enough to make you think he could end up as a good backup or low end starter in the league. I think more strength and coaching could help improve his footwork and his propensity to grab at the top of the route, particularly against bigger bodied players. He needs some seasoning to work on technique but he’s a pretty decent prospect. 

The lack of overall size at times can lead to him getting boxed out but he’s very competitive at the catch point and in the flats. He’s a very willing tackler and has impressive overall ball skills with 7 picks and 17 PBU combined the past two seasons including an impressive 3 for TDs. 

Yes there are some issues here when you’re going through the tape, including his propensity to get grabby against bigger WRs but he’s also someone who has allowed fewer than half the passes against him to be completed over the past three seasons. Again this is the juxtaposition with Devonshire. He’s got enough speed with a 4.45 and looks like a fairly explosive athlete, but I think he isn’t good at change of direction and it shows up on film. 

The issues he has are when he needs to start-stop quickly, and when he needs to wind down and turn. Both of these things on tape have caused him to get penalties or allow guys to make plays on him. It’s never that he gives up these massive amounts of space, but when you don’t have a ton of strength you have to be sticky and at times he’s not due to the lack of change of direction skills. It ended up showing up a bit at the Combine where he posted a pretty weak 3 cone. I also don’t think it’s all lack of change of direction as he’ll get his feet too close together on certain routes, particularly once he’s bailed out of press and it gives him a half step false moves. You can see it a handful of times on the Lousivlle tape, including one in the endzone where he grabs when he doesn’t need to, and another time on a stop route on the sideline. 

Some people worry about his tackling but there was enough on tape that I wasn’t worried there. I don’t know if he’s great at that but he’s good enough for a corner that it won’t keep me up at night. I like his ability to press and push and despite some tape that shows only okay deep speed, he ran 4.45 at the combine and that helped answer some of those questions for me. He needs to play bigger in terms of at the catch point and on backside slants etc or he won’t end up as a starter but he looks the part of a CB with inside-outside versatility who should be a CB4 in the league with CB2 potential if he can play stronger and work through the transitions at the top of the route instead of grabbing. Round 4-5 guy.

141. G -  Sataoa Laumea, Utah 72

Some good things and some things that are worrisome when it comes to Laumea. On tape he’s got good athleticism, and is at his best and most comfortable when he’s playing an inside zone running style. You can tell he likes to use his quickness to get that initial jump and then climb to the second level. At times it’s a bit too fast and he can get out in front of himself but when he times it up he has enough power and agility to be very effective there. As a pass protector he’s definitely not a tackle. He loses inside too often and lacks the length to hold up there at the NFL level. I’m not saying he can’t play outside in a pinch, and the athleticism is probably good enough but he plays with short arms and fairly weak hands and it leads to good rushers getting him. Overall he looks like an early day 3 guard who inside zone teams would probably prefer. 

As a pass protector he’s inconsistent. Projecting him inside to guard where he started his career is going to really help him in the NFL but he loses inside far too often. It’s almost odd to see as he gets himself in position but will play too upright and give up the inside leverage. On top of that guys with length will just walk him back to the QB. His athleticism allows him to mostly stay in front and again, kicking him inside I think he’ll lose inside far less without the fear of speed but he’s limited in terms of grip strength and therefore players with good secondary rushes and long arms are going to win one their second rush against him. In quick passing games he’ll be better, and I don’t think he’ll be bad here but it doesn’t look like pass protection is going to be a strength. I also think that he’s got the agility to be better than he is right now at picking up stunts and delayed blitzes. Again it’s inconsistent and I do think that he’ll give up his share of sacks at the NFL level. 

He can play power, inside zone, outside zone whatever you want in the run game. When he plays with proper leverage he can get movement there but it has to be fairly quick. The lack of grip strength means that while he gets good initial push it doesn’t hold up routinely. His athleticism looks good though and when he gets to climb he’s impressive. An inside zone team will look at him and think that he could offer them some impressive upside as a guard. When he keeps his hands inside he has good upper body power but when he gets out wide or misses that initial strike he’s not great at readjusting. 

He’s a pretty good player. I do think that there’s a chance he could turn into a starter at guard at the NFL level or the potential to be a backup kind of across the board mostly at RT and the G spots though. There needs to be continued improvement in hand placement so he can use that upper body strength to his advantage and he has to work on not giving up the inside edge as his losses at times on tape were way too quick. I think he’s a nice solid floor 5th round pick who could end up giving you starting reps, inside zone teams he projects higher. 

142. S - Cole Bishop, Utah 72

Bishop is a bigger safety at 6’2 and 210 pounds and prefers to play in the box but can line up all over a formation. When he comes down to play an overhang or a short slot he likes to work down toward the backfield and try to blow plays up. The more coverage he has to play the less effective he becomes though. You can see it throughout his tape, he’s littered with okay but not great plays and he is too aggressive in trying to work through routes, leaving him open to double moves and quicker players. I think he’s an average backup safety in the NFL with mediocre range, short area quickness, and instincts and is likely a day 3 pick as a potential long term backup and special teams player but he’s not someone I would target in this class.

In pass defense he shows decent instincts but he’s not someone who really sees it perfectly. His zone coverage is decent, but he lacks the range and recognition to get to spots where he should always be. In three years of consistent playing time with Utah he had 12 PBU and 3 picks. He shows some aptitude in man coverage but on tape and at Mobile you could see it wasn’t necessarily something he thrived at. Quicker slots got him fairly quickly, and TE’s seemed to better utilize their leverage. It’s not that he’s awful here, but he’s not going to give you an advantage.

As a run defender he shows some potential. His size is a plus although I think to really be a solid big nickel he needs to go from 207-210 to like 218 and just be that bigger box safety. It’s where I think his future lies in the league. It would also help him be more effective as a core special teams player where his future may be brightest. He’s an okay tackler, and has shown better aptitude and recognition in the run game but it’s not as if he’s dynamic there. Bishop in 2022 missed a whopping 17 tackles, and while he’s made almost 200 for his career, you can’t overlook the fact that he’s also missed 30.

I’m just not really a big fan. He’s okay. His tape doesn’t wow me and neither did his tape at Mobile. While his size is solid, he’s not fast, doesn’t have tremendous recognition in route concepts and his range is mediocre. He’s a day 3 kid who maybe could give you some quality reps as a 3rd safety, or dime safety, or maybe more likely turn into a dime linebacker type guy in time. Seems like a core special teams guy and not a target of the BT53 draft room. 

143. DT - T’vondre Sweat, Texas 72(80)

Well if you want to add some size to the middle of your defensive line, this is where you’ll want to go. Sweat is 6’4 and 362 pounds and is just an absolute mountain of a man. As a pure run fitter there is quite a bit to like here but the lack of agility and tackle radius means that he won’t likely be a volume player in the NFL, but his ability to use his power to collapse the pocket is impressive. He’s a round 3 pick but should have a role in the NFL in the middle as a 0 or 1 T who can push the pocket, bat down passes, and eat up blockers in the run game. One of the more overrated prospects early in the process. 

Against the pass he’s not going to get you many sacks because he simply doesn’t have the lateral agility that you’d want but that’s not going to be his role. He uses incredible strength at times to collapse the pocket from the middle and force QBs off their spot. His best role though as a pass rusher is he gets his hands on so many passes, as he has good awareness when he’s rushing and gets his hands into a bevy of passing lanes. He’ll get you a few hurries as he pushes back smaller guards and centers but don’t expect him to be a high level pass rusher at the NFL, could have some productivity in terms of hurries and PBUs but not a ton of QB hits or sacks.

As a run defender he’s very tough to move inside and he can stack guards and centers easily at times and make it difficult to climb to the second level. This is where he should be coveted in the NFL as a 25 snap per game early down run defender who can fill up gaps and eat up blockers. He ended up with decent stats in 2023 as a run defender as well, picking up 45 tackles including 8 for loss which is impressive considering he’s as big as he is.

The first tape I turned on was the Alabama film and he was just a complete non-factor. Sweat is a big dude who when he isn’t trying to be cute can push the pocket and eat up double teams and that’s where his money will be made in the NFL. He runs out of gas frequently on film as well and while he’ll dominate for a few reps here and there, playing very well when he’s fresh PFF graded him as the number one DT in the country and it’s BEYOND laughable, that system is a joke. He’s a nice round 3 player who can eat up some blocks and bat down some passes but the lack of motor, agility, and consistency snap to snap isn’t enough for me to use a high draft pick on him. The flashes are impressive and if you can keep him on a low snap count he can be very efficient, but if you have to hold down a guy’s snap count you can’t use a top 2 round pick on him. 

I don’t typically move people super often deeper into the draft process as I like to trust the tape but the Senior Bowl was fairly impressive. He’s just SO strong. His ability to straight arm people and move and collapse the pocket at that event continuously flashed. So I bumped his stock. Then I watched a little bit more film and there’s even more there. I think his ability to eat up two blocks and collapse the pocket if left in a one on one situation is going to be more valuable than I had him. I rated him as a 76 and have bumped him up to an 80. He’s so damn strong. 

AND THE BIG MOVE: Dude admitted to being a partier in his earlier years at Texas and then goes out 3 weeks before the draft and gets a DUI. I’m sorry you absolutely can’t do that. Went from a 76 to an 80 down to a 72. Can’t take him in the first 4 rounds now. Can’t trust him. 

144. DT - McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M 71

Showed some stuff at the Senior Bowl but wasn’t something that jumped out to me. At 6’2 and 330 pounds he’s got a low center of gravity and is a mostly consistent player who looks like someone who can play on the interior of the line as a run defender. He hasn’t shown much productivity as a pass rusher throughout his career as he has 6 sacks and 31 hurries combined over the past three seasons for the Aggies. For 330 pounds though he’s a pretty damn good athlete, he can get out of his stance and get to edges and even show some speed to get to the backside of plays. I think overall he’s fairly inconsistent snap to snap but he certainly has potential and should be a valuable role player in his time in the NFL.

There’s some juice here off the snap. Guys who weigh 330 pounds don’t typically get off the snap as quickly as he does and if he can figure out how to use his length and quickness at the next level he could turn into something. I think he works hard at taking on double teams and while he’ll lose some of those battles - they all do - he’ll win some too and shows an aptitude to hang in there on those plays. I worry at times about gap discipline here though, as he’ll get locked up and try to make a play and get pushed out. I really worry though about his inability to get off of blocks. It’s odd as he’s long and looks built very well for a very big guy and yet he struggles to get off blocks and make plays in the gap. He isn’t terrible here but most of his tackles are winning with speed, not getting off of interior blocks. It needs to improve for his productivity to improve.

He’s got quickness and size and that combination is very enticing. That said it’s not consistent and rarely impactful. I think that as part of a team defense he can do good things for you but not every down and not likely with the consistency you’d like to see for him to be a plus player. I would be surprised if he’s not on an NFL roster for multiple contracts though as his combination of power and speed is enticing. He also works hard against double teams and can at times flash as a pass rusher, but his inability to get off blocks will lower his overall value throughout his career. He’s a day 3 kid but with day 2 upside. Feels like someone who would be a very nice snag in the middle of day 3. He can help you with some good reps eating up blockers on the inside and you know what you’re getting there but the flashes make you feel like you could develop him into a good starter in time. 

145. CB Kalen King, Penn State 71

King is 5’11 and about 190 pounds and played pretty well during the 2022 season but wasn’t as good in 2023 and struggled against higher level competition this season. While it’s not his fault necessarily, MHJ ate him up in the game against Ohio State, whether or not the stat sheet showed it. Then at the Senior Bowl, higher level athletes were able to get separation on him or work through the catch point and it started to bring up more questions for me. The thing is, is King the ballhawking dynamic player he was in 2022 or the average guy who is a day 3 pick that he played like in 2023? He came into this season looking like a first round guy and I saw someone who looked more like a 4th rounder during the season? I’m guessing the answer is somewhere in between.

So I was curious about his speed a bit heading into Senior Bowl week as sometimes you’d see him give up some separation down the field as the route wore on but he answered that question with a 20.5 MPH top speed in Mobile. Then as soon as I got that question answered you see him get beat deep easily by Tez Walker and crossed up by him as well. In 2022 King was plastered to people, making an incredible 18 PBU and picking off three passes. Then in 2023, he had 2 PBU all season and was decent but not great in coverage. You can see it early in the year that he seemed to be pressing to make plays and it lead to some issues. Now again in 2023 he wasn’t awful, he just wasn’t the guy he was the previous year.

The speed question came BACK up again after the Combine where he ran 4.61, second slowest of all the corners. He pushed himself into the round 5 discussion or maybe even round 6 now.  

I like the fact that King is willing to come up and tackle. He’s definitely not afraid of contact and while he’ll come up out of control at times, which is a normal cornerback trait, he’s never going to shy away from that part of the game. He’s only okay at getting off of blocks but the effort is there which is key. He’s a fluid athlete who can turn and run well and has the athleticism and hips to stay with receivers and good enough speed to turn and run with them as well. At times he looks connected, seeing the play develop to get himself into position. He’s got plus upside. 

The downside here is that good players can get him. He plays very well against mediocre competition and is clearly better than a lot of guys out there which is what you want to see, but high level players are able to get separation. He lost more routes this year and you can see it, and while that stats didn’t back that up, at times against NFL quality players like at the Senior Bowl he looked overmatched. I think he’s an early day 3 guy. He’s shown plus play but you can’t pretend Mobile didn’t happen, and 2023 was not his best work. I would take King in round 4 or maybe 5 which I doubt he lasts that long and hope he regains his form. You could be rewarded for taking the risk, and in a normal draft MAYBE he’s a 3 but I think he’s the perfect type of player you take early on day 3 and hope he pops and if not the capital expended is low enough that’s okay. 

Can he be what he was in 2022 or is he what he is now - if he plays like he did in 2023 he’s a UDFA. 

146.  G - Javion Cohen, Miami 71

Physical, very grabby and throwy in one on ones during Senior Bowl. Shows strength in these drills but it ain’t technically sound. He’s got a strong punch, kind of jarring at times to stun rushers. He can get too aggressive with his sets and trying to bring the action forward and it leads to him getting off balance at times. He’s going to have some bad losses. The biggest worry that I have is that he loses leverage and plays off balance. There’s a shot that Cohen ends up with a lot of holding calls and some bad sacks early in his career while he learns to play with proper technique. He’s got talent but I’m not sold on him as a highly rated NFL guard at this point and am lower on him than consensus by a ways.

There are plays on tape where he shows some impressive movement skills. He likes to get out and go a bit and can do a lot of the pin and pull concepts that teams are working on now in the NFL. He shows an aptitude to jump out of his stance and use some power to move people before climbing to the second level. He’s got a shot to be a decent run blocker in the league in time. The issue again comes down to balance. He is always trying to deliver a huge block and while it hits sometimes, it also leads to him leaning forward and having some impressively bad blocks. I wish he was able to maintain and sustain his power but guys do eventually fall off of him, even if he’s able to get a nice initial pop into their pads. 

In pass protection there are some good things and notes here on film. First off, he’s been charted with either 0 or 1 sack allowed for his entire career - over 2300 snaps. While I don’t think that maintains at the next level you can’t deny that ability. He has good lateral agility for someone who is 319 pounds and while people worried about his length on tape, he measured in at almost 34 inch arms in Mobile which is very long for a guard. I worry a bit about some of the losses on film and how quickly guys can disengage from him. At the Senior Bowl those quick losses would have led to a number of holding calls and you can see some of it on film. At the next level when he’s matched up with either high end power or high end quickness, both may give him problems.

He’s not a bad player but he’s being graded on day 2 and he’s not that good. I think he’s more of a round 4 or likely round 5 guy. He has some good movement skills and shows a good initial punch but I don’t know if anything he does is good enough for me to use a day 2 pick on him. With this draft being as good as it is for linemen as well, he’s nowhere near what some of the other guys are. Good player, has a shot to be a starter potentially in time, but top half of day 3 is where he should end up. 

147. CB Josh Newton, TCU 71

He’s a bit of a difficult scout for me in that when he’s allowed to play and use his short area quickness he’s a pretty good ball player but the longer the play is down the field the less effective he is. He’s played a lot of both man and zone and has shown some very good ball productivity, picking off 7 passes in his career and having an impressive 36 pass breakups throughout his long career. Newton shows physicality to come up and make plays and to play some press and work through ball carriers in zone. I do worry about his ability down the field to be effective however, as he begins to detach the longer down the field a play goes.

I do think Newton has a chance to be a capable NFL cornerback but he’s not really exactly my style of player so I don’t think he’d be a target I’d go after. While he is good in the short areas of zones and plays well in the flats and when he’s able to play with safety help, there were too many instances where down the field he just got beat by good athletes. His worst tape I watched was against Texas and their two NFL talents at WR and it showed once again that against higher level talents he’s not someone I would want to trust in a one on one situation on the outside. While he’s capable of playing inside and likely needs to do so more in the NFL, when I don’t want to trust someone to play outside man he’s just not that valuable to me as an NFL talent evaluator. 

I do, however, think that he’s someone that in round 5 I’d be very interested in. I can’t take him too early due to that lack of stickiness down the field, but there’s a lot of positive things in the short area of the field. For his entire career Newton has allowed far fewer than 50% of the passes into coverage to be completed against him and he’s a physical player so I know he can play some zone. Also, the ball skills can’t be discounted. While he struggles to actually catch the ball, he gets his hands on a ton. The level of forced incompletions due to his short area burst and play recognition is plus. In a zone heavy scheme with a lot of safety help he can be a very effective player. I think he could end up being a highly valuable dime player.

I’d use a pick on him in the 5th round. The talent is there for him in certain situations to be very effective. His productivity is plus, his physicality is pretty good, but he’s limited. 

148. DT - Michael Hall Jr, Ohio State 71

Hall is a massively undersized DT who plays the game with tremendous energy and activity. At 6’2 and 280 pounds he’s someone who needs to win quickly in a rep or he’ll get thrown out of his gap and double teams and angle blocks can push him out of a play easily. He’s not someone who you are going to want to play a ton on run downs as NFL IOL’s will likely be able to power block him into oblivion. That said, he works his tail off to get off of blocks in the run game, uses his hands well, and works as hard as any interior player you’ll see on film. At just 6’2 and 280 pounds Hall played almost 90% of his reps from the B gap and while that’s likely where teams will try to play him in the NFL I actually think he could be a really impressive 5T. He’s got the athleticism, the ability to get off blocks, and the tenacity to be effective at that spot. He’s a hard worker but the lack of size is a major issue that means he’s limited to being a situational player unless he can get bigger.

As a pass rusher he’s someone whose quickness is good enough that he’ll win some reps up front. In fact this past season he put up an impressive 22 hurries. I don’t know if he has the bend or pure agility to get a ton of sacks but there are some good reps on film that make you think he’s someone who can be a good situational pass rusher in time. Again, the lack of size is problematic though as he isn’t someone who is going to push the pocket. I also don’t see Hall on film playing twists and stunts effectively, he plays those too high and it takes him a long time to get to the outside. 

As a run defender he works his ass off, trying to close up gaps and win reps. He has a very nice swim move that he uses occasionally to make plays and it does get him into the backfield when he uses the move. The issue is he doesn’t finish many plays and finished 2023 with just 2 TFL. I need more splash plays from someone whose size makes him a liability at times. There are plays when one guy just absolutely removes him from the gap, and pushes him two or three gaps down the line. Double teams obliterate him. A 280 pound man in the NFL on the inside isn’t going to win many battles, and while Hall is built very well, he’s not built like an NFL DT.

My opinion for Hall is that I like him quite a bit as a football player, but not nearly as much as an NFL prospect. I would move him to the 5T or even as a 43 big base end depending on what scheme I run and then move him around my front on passing downs. His work ethic and quickness could make him an effective player at the 4i or 5T positions and limit his need to work on double teams where he’ll be a huge liability. According to PFF he has lined up over the tackle, or outside the tackle on over 100 snaps in his career so it’s not completely foreign to him. If he does that I think he could be an effective player, but the lack of counting stats and size limits him to a mid day 3 pick, but one that I’d target due to effort and quickness. 

149. DT - Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa 71

Boyd has been a riser in the Pre-Draft process and so far looks like he has as many top-30 visits as anyone in the Draft. He’s a 6’2 320 pound pure DT who plays with some power and natural leverage. Boyd has a few pass rush moves including a rip and a swim move that both work fairly well. The Shrine game moved him up the board as he maybe was the best player there and teams had a hard time moving him in the run drills. 

He’s a pretty good athlete for his size and shows an aptitude for getting home with his secondary rush, but I doubt he’s going to contribute much as a pass rusher. He’s going to get you a few hurries, mostly with a powerful bull rush and those two moves but he lacks the agility or bend to get you many sacks unless QBs run into that. He picked up three this season and has 10 in a 5 year career. I do think he’ll push the pocket and collapse it at times when he times the snap up as he does have good explosion off the line occasionally. You could see some filthy push pull moves at the East-West game in one on ones that made you think there was more to be had here though, and if he played in more even fronts where he got more one on one situations he could be even more effective. 

Where he’s going to make his money in the NFL though is as a run defender who can two gap. On tape there are instances where he does a nice job here and he plays with really good effort and energy. He’ll work plays down the backside and despite what looks like mediocre length on film, he works to get off blocks. He’s only okay here and he’s best at trying to explode into the backfield and more work needs to be done to hold the point at double teams at the next level but he shows potential here. 

I think he’s probably a 5. He’s got some good skills, natural leverage, an actual pass rush repertoire and good power. All of those things are impressive. The counting stats aren’t great though and you wonder how much impact he can really have, including pressures at the next level. I do think though that he’s someone who could potentially play all three downs as an interior player, and while he’d be best by far in an even front, he might be able to give some snaps in an odd front as a true nose as well, although obviously better as a 1T. He’s got some positives to his game but I don’t know if any of it is great, he could be a solid rotational DT. 

150. CB - Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas 71

McGlothern has some plus ball skills and has proven himself more than capable against the SEC over the past few seasons. For his career he’s picked off 8 passes and broken up an impressive 23. Over the past two seasons the 6’2 McGlothern has passer ratings against of 51, and 45 respectively and has more interceptions than TDs allowed with 3 TD to 7 INT. He’s not the world’s greatest athlete with average burst and good but not great speed but he’s tall and rangy with plus ball skills and has shown in back to back seasons that he can flip the field. He’s stiff as a defender though and plays high cut and with little urgency in the run game. That said, someone with his ball skills should be coveted by teams that want to play a lot of cover 3 zone.

I’m really intrigued by him if I’m a team that wants to play a majority of zone coverag as he’d be perfect in a zone heavy scheme. He isn’t ultra quick and guys who can turn off the speed quickly are going to get some catches against him and while he ran 4.47 at the combine, deep speed didn’t seem to be his friend. His footwork in press is also only okay as is his length with 30 inch arms so he’d be best suited in an off zone look where he can simply keep his eyes on the QB, it’s where he’s at by far his best. In a pure man look he’s okay here, showing some ability to shadow and predict routes but he’s very aggressive and there will be some flags and some guys who will get him who are simply better athletes. In zone though, he could be plus in coverage.

The issue is he’s best in zone but wants pretty much nothing to do with tackling or playing the run. It’s pretty weak to say the least. McGlothern wants to play 7 on 7 football and the lack of urgency to come up and tackle won’t work in a zone heavy system. In fact there’s a chance some DCs and DB coaches won’t even entertain the thought of him. At 6’2 and 185 pounds he’s a lean guy already so he likely wasn’t going to be great in the run game but it’s tough to see him out there at times. He had just 20 tackles this entire season.

He’s interesting and his ability to cover and take the ball away in zone coverage has to be enticing. He’s going to force a lot of incompletions but his lack of pure athleticism, explosion, and allergy to the run game pushes him down the board hard. McGlothern may be one of those guys who fans might be clamoring for more because he wll make big plays but he’s also limited in scheme and times of the game he could be effective. He’s not a great athlete, but makes up for it with ball skills and instincts. Cover 3 teams who prioritize turnovers will have him way up their board and could take him as high as round 4. The lack of run game support and athleticism though probably limits his effectiveness in all facets of the game. 

151. DT - Jordan Jefferson, LSU 71

I think Jefferson projects as a developmental prospect who shows enough ability and a really quick first step to be an intriguing piece in the later rounds. At 6’3 and 315 pounds he has good size for a 3T with an explosive first two steps and some lateral agility to make plays. He’s been pretty productive over the past two seasons as well, racking up 16.5 TFL during that stretch. While there are certain tapes where his lack of lower body power gets exposed such as Alabama and Missouri, there are enough jump off the screen moments with his quickness to think in time he could develop into an impactful player. Feels like a developmental 5.

As a pure pass rusher there aren’t enough wins to think he’s going to be consistently effective but he flashes some elite burst. He has a filthy push-pull technique on shorter armed interior players that allows him to win with a secondary rush if his initial quick move isn’t there. Jefferson has enough athleticism as well to work through zone blockers and find cutback lanes, limiting some ability for inside running. WIth more work and more technique improvement he could develop into an intriguing rusher. Showed the upper body ability with 30+ reps at the combine as well.

As a run defender there is a lot and hit and miss here. He’s got enough quickness and lateral agility to do some good things but at times he gets driven off the ball. He holds up poorly against double teams and his contact balance there needs a lot of work. I think honestly Jefferson just needs time to develop in terms of his lower body strength and balance. If he could work to keep his hands cleaner with his length like he shows occasionally as a pass rusher he’s got a shot to stack blockers better. It will take some time though, he’s not going to come into the league and be good as a rookie unless it’s in an ideal environment. 

The dude needs time but you can’t teach his first step. Guys at 315 pounds don’t typically have his get-off, they’re usually about 20-25 pounds lighter. It shows that if he can figure out technique and proper leverage both in gap control and in body control he has a chance to be a good player. There are going to be growing pains here though as despite some impressive physical tools it doesn’t always show up on film. Watch the Mizzou and Bama tapes and you can see the downside to him. Like his ability though, particularly middle to late day 3. 

152. C - Beaux Limmer, Arkansas 71

Limmer is a very experienced player, appearing in 49 games for Arkansas while playing both guard and center. There aren’t any traits that scream out that he’s going to be a great starter in the league. I don’t think his good is great. He’s a nice player in that he is good at climbing to the second level and has positional versatility and has a solid floor but there is nothing to his game that makes me think he’s going to be a great pro. I think he’s a quality three position backup who could be a decent starter potentially in time if he can get his feet and hands to match up but he’s a pusher with adequate feel in the run game and solid football IQ. Mid day 3 pick.

 His pass protection is mostly good against college level players but it’s not perfect. At the Senior Bowl his ability to reset his hands and re-anchor impressed me but at times he’ll get too out in front of his pads and it leads to giving up some pressure. He doesn’t have the strongest base in the world though so that’s what worries me. When he’s really aggressive he wins but on those plays that he does lose that way, he’ll lose quickly. It’s lead to him giving up a decent amount of sacks in career, and for a center that is problematic. It also means that when he’s patient and sits back and collects the defender, he’ll get pushed back a bit. He’s able to anchor and reset his hands most of the time but it’s not always at a high level. He was credited with giving up a combined 7 sacks the past two seasons and you can see there are occasional issues there. It’s not bad, but doesn’t make you want to run a card up to the podium either.

As a run blocker he’s an inside zone guy who has decent feel but needs to show more patience a lot of the time. He likes to push and keep one hand on his initial block before climbing but he’s a bit stiff and robotic on that climb, making him someone who can be easily avoided by quality NFL linebackers. I also think he should play with more power in the run game on his initial blocks. There are times he shows good quickness and can get to that first block and should be able to root out some defensive tackles but he rarely does. Alabama is widley regarded as his best game and it just showed me little to get excited about.

He’s just a guy. I thought he was better in Mobile than he was on tape but what he is in the NFL is a quality three position interior backup who has good enough football IQ to help your team if he needs to play meaningful snaps. His lack of upside is pretty clear though and should be someone to target if your team likes a lot of inside zone. Seems to have a decent floor but he’s a 5-6 type guy who I’d prefer in the 6th

I moved him up 5 points from a 66 to a 71 based on my OL scout’s strong endorsement. 

153. OT - Delmar Glaze, Maryland 70

Bit of an intriguing day 3 type player here. Glaze is a big guy who has plated both left and right tackle throughout his career which certainly helps his chances of making it as a swing tackle in the NFL. At 6’4 and 315 pounds he has kind of a tweener frame for that size but shows off impressive nearly 35 inch arms which makes the tackle fit feel correct. There are tools and good things to work with here that make you feel like he can play at the NFL level. He’s got some quickness and plus length and uses that to get himself in position quickly. On quick throws and timing passes he gets his hands and feet into position expediently off the snap and while the rest of his game is only okay, there are some really impressive pieces when he’s working in the quick passing game. Found out later that he had the best PFF pass blocking grade on quick throws. He’s got warts as a prospect but enough tools to potential work himself into the rotation at tackle or even to guard where his propensities for errors won’t show up as often. He could be a multi-position backup though. 

Glaze is better in pass pro than he is as a run blocker and that’s where he has a shot to make it in the NFL. He uses pretty good lateral agility and length to quick set and is able to anchor once he gets into position. He’s not nearly as good when the snap gets deep and he has to operate with more room though, as he seems to struggle with 7 step drops or long drawn out passing concepts as guys who are good rushers, particularly with speed can get him. The Penn State tape wasn’t friendly to his odds of making it in the NFL as a tackle. The length and hand strength is real though and you can see him stall rushers with the punch and with his arms extended. He looks like he has good upper body strength and enough anchor to hold up.Those are the positives. The negatives are that he seems content at times to block a space and not a player and when the QB moves he can get his hand placement out of whack leading to holding calls. It didnjt’ show up all the time in college but will in the NFL. The quicker the passing game, the better Glaze will be.

As a run blocker he’s more of block a space person rather than a drive blocker. When he’s allowed to double team and climb he’s at his best but he’s not someone who you want to run behind consistently. I do think his initial burst and quickness is pretty good out of his stance and it leads him to getting pretty decent angles, particularly on cutoff blocks. That said his run blocking isn’t great. He plays too high, and not as aggressively as you’d like and at times doesn’t understand depth to collapse the side. It’s fairly inconsistent. He acts tough when he’s lined up against smaller guys but strong DE’s are able to jack him up. 

Intriguing tools and some potential here. I think he can play tackle at the NFL level but if you’re a deep passing team or a team with a ton of long route combinations and concepts he’s probably not your guy. West coast scheme teams I think would get a lot more value from him. He also has enough potential to play guard at the next level which is why I think he’s about a 5th round type pick. If he misses you still have someone who can probably give you at least passable reps at 4 positions which carries enough value unto itself. His issues blocking on the edges in space limits his upside and potential as a tackle but potential 4 position backup or someone who can give you some reps at tackle or guard. 

154. WR - Cornelius Johnson, Michigan 70

Big time H-W-S prospect who at 6’3 215 pounds with a 4.44 40 and 37.5 inch vertical is certainly and intriguing day 3 prospect. I think his ability to block and his desire to be good at that facet of the game makes him a lot lower risk guy than he’d typically be. Johnson is a poor route runner at this stage of his career as a 3 year starter so you wonder if he has much upside there. He’s cut high so you wonder if he’s going to be able to tighten it up as he develops. That said, his ability to block on the perimeter, along with his physicality, size and speed means that he could certainly continue to add plays down the field and as a backside X WR. Where I think he could be dynamic in the NFL is on special teams which looks to take an increased emphasis this year.I like his potential as a backup WR who provides plus blocking and a potential ST weapon as a vice and coverage guy.

As a pure X WR he offers some interesting skill sets. The size and speed make him very difficult to press as he plays with good physcailtiy and if you miss the press he can blow by you. It takes him a touch to wind up to full speed but once he’s there you can see on tape that he can pull away from guys with average speed. He uses his body well to protect him well on the slant and improved dramatically in 2023 as a contested catch guy, showing good leaping ability. While he had just one TD in 2023 I could see him becoming a good red zone weapon. The ability to block and climb the ladder means that there are plenty of red zone plays where he could be a factor. 

The issues here with Johnson are he’ll have an occasional easy drop. He also is just too inconsistent as a route runner. On in breaking routes it takes him a long time to get down and then make that cut. Good corners are going to eat that distance up in an instant in the league and if not, over the top safeties will cut those throws off. If you can’t run a dig and create separation it’s going to be tough to be a starter at the X position. You can tell he’s also thinking about his feet during route running as his head will be down and then pop it up at the last second. It means that despite having plus size - he can have some trouble locating the ball at times. 

Something that brought his stock up a bit for me was that he ran a good 3 cone at his pro day. I wanted to see him do that at the combine as there are flashes where he winds down and leaves guys in the dust. You see it on comeback routes occasionally and so I wanted to see if he had potential there and he does. The 6.93 at the Pro day made me more excited about him in general. The fact he’s such a physical and dynamic blocker with that size and now we see he has some quickness if he can work through the footwork aspect pushes him up the board for me a bit. I think he’s an ideal round 5 guy who very likely is a WR4 with WR2 upside if he can work on the footwork. At worst though he has a shot to be a plus special teamer.

155. S - Sione Vaki, Utah 70

The hardest thing about drafting Vaki is trying to figure out where you want to play him as he played quite a bit of DB this past season but his best position is likely running back. This past season for Utah he jumped in and played running back when the team was decimated at the positoin and he did nothing but ball out at the spot. At 5’11 and 211 pounds he’s a pretty good sized player at running back with below average length as a safety but good weight. He’s built extremely well and likely projects as a multi positional DB and situational nickel and dime safety. However, again I think he may be best at RB so a team drafting him should get two bites at the apple and therefore a snag in round 5 isn’t out of the question and in round 6 in my opinion he becomes a riskless player as I think he’s got a shot at both positions in the League.

As a safety he has good straight line speed and while his lack of length will cause him problems matching up with TE’s, his physicality lined up in the nickel makes him a positive against the run. He also has the speed to turn and run with faster slot guys and while his short area quickness is okay he might have some issues there. Where he has the chance to be good in the NFL is in a deep safety spot where he can use his speed to run downhill and make plays or get to the sideline to close on deep throws. His ball skills are obviously plus. 

Where I think I’d draft him is to play 3rd down running back and be a core special teams player on all coverage teams. As a receiver he looks like a natural catching the football and his vision and pure speed catching the ball is something that is impressive. In fact his yards per touch this season on offense on over 50 touches was close to 10 yards per touch. 

Vaki can certainly play nickel or dime at the next level and maybe in time he can turn into a good safety as well. His lack of length would worry me if I’m wanting to match him up on TE’s but his straight line speed and explosiveness means that as a dime type player he could provide some real value there. That said, he looked more impressive at RB. Knowing he’s likely only going to get a few touches a game I’d also use him on all special teams units as he’s a good tackler with plus speed. I think he’s worth more than most day 3 picks because you have two chances to use him and at worst he’d be a good special teams guy. Higher floor than most. 

156. RB -  Will Shipley, Clemson 70

Shipley is a fairly quick scat back who likely will fit best as a role player at the next level. He supposedly ran a 4.39 at his Pro Day but doesn’t play that fast on tape. He’s a pretty good pass catcher, showing some skill particularly when running Texas routes. Shipley also is a good kick returner, allowing him to potentially contribute in the pass game, run game, and as a return man, definitely helping his chances of being a productive part of the roster. He’s got okay skills as a runner, with good quickness and some contact balance and decent vision but nothing that jumps out as he’s pretty good with most things but great at nothing. I think he’s an adequate backup but with an ability to help in multiple avenues that gets him a chance to stick for a while longer. Day 3 guy who is probably at his best in a wide zone scheme.

His best bet for helping an NFL team is in catching the football and getting some handoffs in clear passing downs. Shipley lacks an semblance of consistent power and while he’ll occasionally fall forward or even power through an arm tackle it’s rare and he’s tripped up at the LOS often. He weighed in at 206 at his Pro Day but plays and looks more like 195 on film and it’s problematic with his carries. It’s why he needs to be in a one cut and go scheme where his quickness and acceleration can be his key weapon. He’s able to get from 1st to 4th gear quickly and while he ran a very fast time at his Pro Day on tape he has pretty good not great long speed. The place where he has his best chance to be helpful to an NFL team is as a kick returner and 3rd down back on a team that likes to get its backs out in space. 

As a pure runner he’s got okay vision but sometimes has trouble getting going on his runs. It leads to some off balance starts and sometimes hitting the hole with uneven pace. When he gets to just get upfield and go he’s got plus acceleration and can pick up chunk yardage that way. He rarely is going to make you miss but at times he can hit the hole with good pace and it leads to some quality carries. Again, nothing special here but as a one cut and go guy, he has a chance to be productive.

He needs to add a lot of strength and core work at the next level to be much more than a backup. I think he could help a team immediately as a kick returner and as someone who could come in as a third down backup and maybe mix in a handful of carries here and there. His lack of size is problematic as a pass protector so despite his effort there, his effectiveness is inconsistent. Got some problems, but also some potential as he looks like a 5th round back to me. Situational effectiveness and scheme specific he could help a team. 

157. WR - Ainias Smith, Texas A&M 70

Smith could be a nice add for a team in the early part of day 3. He’s a quicker than fast slot who plays with physicality and offers impressive positional versatility as he’s played RB, WR (both inside and outside) and as a good punt returner. I think that ability probably places him as a 4th WR in the NFL who can operate a variety of routes for you, is good after the catch, and can help move the chains. I think his lack of top end speed isn’t a huge issue but he’s on the smaller side and while he’s quick, it’s not lightning status. But he’s tough, versatile, and does enough things at a solid level that he should stick in the NFL for a while as a 3rd or 4th WR.

As a pure route runner he’s always working to create separation. I do think he’s got decent quickness but maybe it’s a bit overblown through this process. You could see at the Senior Bowl when he’s matched up with good athletes they can stick with him fairly well, and while he did make some contested catches there at just 5’9 and 195 pounds his catch radius is limited. Smith has a good feel for zone coverage and leverage though and seems to find his way into holes in the coverage rather quickly. He needs to work on cutting his route off more tightly though on in breakers as he can drift up the field on those and with his skill set that needs to be more compact.

Where he’s pretty good though is after the catch. He plays with good physicality and vision and isn’t afraid to mix it up. For being undersized he breaks a few tackles and typically plays the game looking for the sticks. He’ll mix up his releases to get off press, and then uses good ability in whip routes and option routes to make short catches and then turns up for additional yardage. I think he’d give an element to the run game as well as he could flex in to get some handoffs or be effective at end arounds. 

He’s pretty good. I dont’ think he’s great and I think his upside is only okay but he offers some versatility and an ability to do multiple things that could help out a lot of offenses. He’s kind of like a poor man’s Christian Kirk in that he could add something to an offense but he’s not as speedy or threatening as Kirk and Kirk ran tighter routes. But there is a bit of similarity there. I like that he’s willing to mix it up as a blocker as well, but he’s a 5 probably for me with a 4th being in the mix. 

60-69 RATED PLAYERS - ROUNDS 6&7

LB - Trevin Wallace, Kentucky 69

The tape is littered with mistakes and upside. Wallace ran a 4.51 at 237 pounds  and shows some crazy athleticism with an almost 38 inch vertical and a 10’7 broad jump. You can see it on film as at times he can absolutely fly and there are plays that he runs down along the sideline that make you play back the tape again. I do think that there is a lot to like here with Wallace although there is going to need to be a lot of teaching time with him. Wallace can fall in love with following the guards in the run game and at times will put his head down, taking odd routes, and not getting off blocks at the level you’d like. That said, there is talent here who has done some good things and looks like someone who should get snagged in the middle of day 3 of the draft with the floor of being a special teams only guy but with the upside of a potential rotational linebacker or even a low end starter in time.

Wallace can do a couple of things in the passing game that offer some potential. While quite a few people have graded him lowly in the passing game I see the potential here. He has the speed at 4.51 to turn and get to his spots in the zone game and even though his recognition skills are below average, his speed and acceleration at times help him make up for that. On tape you can see him on stunts or as a spy and how quickly he can eat up ground as a pass rusher as well. Wallace picked up 5.5 sacks this past season and that’s with almost no nuance as a rusher, if he can figure out an ability to use that speed even better as a blitzer, he’s someone who could really help you there. On top of that he picked off 3 passes the past two seasons combined. He needs to work on route recognition without question, and his instincts, and not falling for obviously clear out routes where he gets ihmself out of position but coaching and reps can help those things. 

As a run defender, much of the same. He’s got impressive range, going sideline to sideline and showing off as a fairly good tackler. He’s missed 13 tackles combined the past two seasons while needing up with over 130 tackles. Wallace is going to come in too hot at times and his take on skills need work, needing to show more agility and ability to avoid blocks instead of wanting to take them on. The biggest issue with him though is that he doesn’t recognize plays. He’ll follow pulling guards wherever they go and it makes him lose track of the ball carrier way too often. He also can get himself out of position in terms of gap integrity, picking the wrong spot to run into and getting himself out of position on backside cutbacks. He needs coaching. 

Wallace should have just gone back to school, if he did he would likely be a day 2 kid in 2025. That said, he didn’t and so now a team is going to have to figure out if they can teach him for a season while he helps out on special teams. There is a lot to work with and a lot to work on here. You have to wonder if he CAN learn and work on play recognition, if he can and coaches say that he’s a good leaner etc he’s 100% worth a shot on day 3. I think he’s a perfect round 5 guy, big time upside and likely to need a year or two before you are going to stick him in there but he could be a very good ST guy until that point. If he doesn’t turn into what you want, that’s okay because he still has a shot to be a nice contributor for a few seasons but the upside is there. 

TE - Jaheim Bell, Florida State 69

Bell is really interesting because his success is going to be determined a lot by where he ends up going in the draft. If he goes to an NFL OC who can figure out a way to utilize his skills he has a chance to be an effective NFL player and not just a special teams guy. Bell is a fast guy with really good short area quickness and is damn good with the ball in his hands, particularly for someone who is 240 pounds. He runs a legit 4.61 and you can see that on tape along with impressive acceleration and short area quickness, which allows him to get in and out of breaks well. He’s played in the backfield, in-line, in the slot, and out wide and he’s someone who has a chance to be an impactful player in the league but if you put him in a box and have him come in and play traditional TE you’re going to be disappointed. He’s a jack of all trades who if used that way could have a fun NFL career.

Bell is likely to be used as an H-Back in the NFL. He’s good in the slot but honestly better getting handoffs and running flat routes where he can get the ball in his hands quickly. He’s got good vision, plus power, and good short area burst - plus-plus short area burst if you’re talking about for a traditional FB. His hands are inconsistent though as he’ll turn his head to run too often and the concentration drops are annoying. As a lead blocker he leaves a lot to be desired. There are instances where he pops people, again he’s at his best as an H-Back coming across the formation where he can use his super long 33 inch arms to get contact first. He’s got a shot to be a decent player in this spot if he gets it coached up, as he’s certainly not afraid of contact.

As a traditional TE he’s definitely at his best in the slot. While he can run some routes from in-line, the more space he gets the better. DEs and LBs who are able to get their hands on him early will disrupt him as a route runner and while he gets up to top speed quickly, he can be displaced due to being a bit undersized. Also as a traditional TE he’s not going to be good at blocking DEs or OLBs. While he has plus length and has a chance to be good in pass pro, particularly when he’s able to double team outside, right now that’s not something he can do. Doesn’t mean he can’t develop, and you can’t teach length, but he’s not a good blocker.

He’s a role player and developmental guy. I think his speed, acceleration, ability to run with the ball, and length all make him an attractive day 3 pick. If he goes to a team that runs a lot of boots, waggles, and motions where he can get himself into the flats and on drag routes and get the ball early, or even get some carries on fly motions he’ll be an effective player. I think he has a chance to be good on special teams and maybe even a core special teams player as well. I’d take him in the 5th if I had a plan for him but if not he’s a 7th round developmental candidate who you have to figure out how to use him. 

CB - Caelen Carson, Wake Forest 69

Carson is an interesting corner from Wake Forest who has the potential to turn maybe into a low end starter but likely a higher end backup for me. His ball skills are below average and his tackling is only okay overall, but his coverage skills, particularly in short areas are intriguing. At 6’0 and 195 pounds, Carson has pretty good size for the position and has enough ability to turn and run that he shouldn’t be overwhelmed with NFL talent. That said his recognition skills, particularly from off ball are only okay and he doesn’t find the ball with as much regularity as you’d like. I think you draft him as a backup level player and hope you can develop him as there are enough tools here to intrigue you.

The issues with his game are that he simply struggles to find the football, and when he does he doesn’t catch it. He dropped a pick in the FSU game and then gave up two more TDs in that contest, both on things he needs to improve upon. The first one, he was playing off man and Coleman had an easy catch and he came up and whiffed badly on the tackle. The second TD was on a basic fade jump ball and he didn’t locate it and Coleman made an adjustment. You watch the film and this stuff happens with regularity. Now his ability to actually stay in phase with WRs is pretty good actually, you can see that he’s got some physicality to him at the press point and is good at the start and stop routes. You can see that he has potential, but you’re betting on that because right now it’s okay but definitely not great.

I like him in terms of his ability to press and then get depth. He has a nice immediate punch, particularly when WRs are lining up from the inside. He’s not afraid at that point and will attack you. When he’s in off man, he can be a little late to diagnose and it allows him to give up a catch or two that he simply won’t with more time. He also is a physical guy, and in the NFL it’ll lead to some penalties, but his ability to stick and not give up much separation shows up on film. 

He’s a developmental prospect. I think that there are some good things here that could lend itself to him being a starter way down the road but I wouldn’t bet on that. His ability to play press and work through things is good for a corner but the lack of ball skills and finding the football is problematic. No picks in two seasons isn’t going to work in the league when you play that much off man. He’s a decent player who probably projects as a 4th corner in the NFL. 

 OT - Brandon Coleman, TCU 69

I think Coleman projects as a multi position backup who has the length and mirror ability to play tackle on either side but also can probably pass protect at a solid level at guard. The issues with Coleman are that he is just a poor run blocker. He doesn’t get any movement or block with much strength or power in the run game and looks like a liability there. I get that people like him and may even take him on day 2, but he’s not that for me. Coleman’s 34+ inch arms and good ability to mirror, plus multi position versatility gives him a nice high floor but his inability to create any consistent power in the run game limits what he can be at the next level.

Coleman played both guard and tackle at the college level and probably tape wise looked better inside. That said he has some good lateral agility and ability to mirror, using long arms and a solid kick step to maintain his body positioning. I do think that at times he can get some forward lean that causes him to miss some blocks but overall he looks solid in those spots. He’s not an elite pass protector, as he can get shoved back by good power and despite good size plays too high at times, causing him to lose leverage and guys to be able to collapse the pocket on him. He still typically can stay in front though and has the potential to be a good pass protector in the NFL, particularly at guard where his length and confidence in agility will make it tough to get around him.

As a run blocker there just is very little movement that he creates. He is pretty athletic, even running a sub 5 second 40 at the combine, so he can get to the second level and wall people off but he just won’t get any push. I do like how he’s patient in terms of getting that initial block, then climbing or jumping off to get the second defender. That said he gets too far outside his frame with his punch and it limits his effectiveness in the run game.

Overall he’s not a bad guy to draft on day 3. I think that if you run a pass happy offense he could end up being a really nice piece to add to your team as he could probably play 4 positions and pass protect at a pretty good level. He won’t be perfect but he has a shot there, particularly at guard where he won’t have to make quick moves or react to secondary rushes as often. If your team runs power often or much at all he shouldn’t be on your board, which does limit him. I think in round 5 or so for a heavy pass team he could be a very quality 6th lineman. 

S - Jaylin Simpson - Auburn 68

Simpson is a cornerback turned safety who has some skills but his lack of size and being green at the position doesn’t necessarily bode well for his potential success at the next level. Watching him on tape it felt pretty obvious that it was his first year as a full time safety as his depth and angles were pretty rough to watch on film. The potential for him to play some corner at the next level, particularly in the slot is possible for sure but if you’re asking him to play a single high or something along those lines I think you’re going to be disappointed. His ability to play single high, nickel, or even outside corner gives him a shot to stick as a versatile backup but his size could limit his effectiveness on special teams so he’s got an uphill climb. Intriguing but flawed player. 

Simpson’s best chance at the NFL is to play cornerback, but as someone who could also transition to a free safety. He’s a fast guy and has elements of explosiveness to his game, showing an ability to jump and turn on the jets both. He ran 4.45 at the combine which tracks what he looks like on tape. He’s also got over 32 inch arms and had an over 11 foot broad jump so you can see some of the talent on display there. The issues are going to be his instincts this season when he moved to safety as well as his frame where he’s fairly tall at 6’0 but just 179 pounds. You wonder if he’s going to be able to press on the outside and he’s not a super strong tackler so how does he fit in.

As a corner there are some good traits. He’s got those long arms and looks decent punching and then bailing and tracking from a press bail look. Simpson has really impressive ball skills and his ability to explode from his backpedal and gather and jump is really good. It’s why I think he could play either free safety where he can range over and leap up to create breakups or press bail corner in a zone scheme. Both issues again are going to deal with his lack of bulk. He also is going to give up his share of plays as both a safety and a corner, he takes very odd angles in run support in both phases and can get manhandled by even average blocking receivers. He also is always wanting to make plays so double moves will get him as will his eyes getting caught in the backfield.

I honestly don’t know where he should go. He’s one of the more difficult evaluations. I did not like him at safety this season and despite thinking that he could turn into an effective pass defender as a safety his recognition and angles were both problematic. As a corner I actually thought he was better but you can see him get caught on double teams and he gets pushed around on the outside there. I think he’s someone who you take likely in the 5th or for me more the 6th round, get him in the building and have him play multiple spots until you see where he fits best. He’s got a shot to be a good player as an explosive athlete and ball hawk but you have to put him into the right position. 

DE - Myles Cole, Texas Tech 68

Absolutely freaking built in a LAB. He’s 6’6 278 lbs with ridiculous 37 inch arms and an 86 inch wingspan. On top of that Cole also went out and ran a 4.67 40 at the combine while posting a 35 inch vertical. When you’re going through your H-W-S evaluations, this guy would rank as a 10 outta 10. The issue is, he’s not a great football player. Cole only has 5 career sacks in three seasons and a combined 5 QB hits. He played a bit better this year with 6.5 TFL but despite the traits, he’s going to have to make a gigantic improvement if he wants to make a career playing football.

As a pass rusher he’s very stiff and it takes him a while to get going. He has to play with better leverage or he’s not going to have much success. When watching him play his really only time he was very effective was when he was lined up inside. He only did it 19 times this entire season but on the two snaps I saw him lined up in the B gap, he got a hurry on one and pushed the pocket on the other, Tech did not use him correctly. I also think that he likely could be a bit more effective than he was in college due to the fact that Tech played so much 3 DL sets, and he was doubled frequently. 

 I do think there’s a better chance for him to be good if he puts on 15 pounds and plays as a 34DE where he can use his length and power to be a good edge setter. He works hard to maintain leverage and not let plays bounce outside and he’s physical enough to work on setting those edges. He isn’t going to make a ton of plays in the run game as he’s not quick laterally but he works his ass off consistently and tries to keep the plays inside of him. He is a straight arm player against the run most often but occasionally he shows an inside move and it’s effective. If he can work to stack and play lower he could be good as a 34 DE or 43 Jack DE.

He really needs to improve as a pure football player but the traits are there obviously, and honestly there are some things to actually like if you extrapolate to the league. His tape shows a lot of issues but so many can be corrected. He’s definitely worth a flier late in the draft and he even showed some ability dropping into coverage with those long arms and pure speed. Obviously a decent shot he flames out, but there’s also a shot he can continue to develop and be a very viable NFL player. 

RB - Braelon Allen, Wisconsin 68

Allen is one of the more boring players you’ll ever scout at the RB position. He plays downhill, doesn’t dance, hits the hole hard and falls forward. There isn’t much nuance to his game, Allen goes downhill and plays with power and stays behind his pads. I think he plays with adequate vision and once he gets into the open field he has decent speed but he’s not someone who is going to make people miss consistently and he’s not going to bounce the ball outside or try to get much more than what’s there. Allen is a prototypical early down power back who will work to grind down teams but lacks nuance, vision, and passing game value to be more than a day 3 guy.

As a pure runner he’s physical and likes to carry and drag people. He plays with okay balance and an arm tackle isn’t going to do much to someone who weighs 240 pounds. His acceleration is below average and his vision on anything other than basic gap concepts is adequate at best. I do like that he’s a grinder and there’s certainly a spot for that in the league but there’s just little upside.

Looks he’s boring. There’s really nothing much here that make me wants to jump out and grab him but if I’m looking for someone to give me a few carries each game to grind out some tough yards with a more dynamic back in the fold already that makes sense. I’d consider him in the 5th round potentially but he’ll go before that.

S - Beau Brade, Maryland 68

I have Brade pegged as a rotational box safety who is definitely at his best the closer he is to the line of scrimmage. Brade is listed at 6’1 and 210 pounds and carries his weight and size well. He’s adept at blitzing off the edge, and is really good when he’s asked to run blitz. The farther away from the LOS he gets the more I think he can get exposed, and an overall aggressive play style leads to some missed tackles, 35 combined over the past two seasons, and getting himself a bit out of position. I do think there’s a chance he could turn into a low end starter but he looks like a 3rd safety to me who should get a lot of looks on earlier downs. Early to mid day 3 guy.

As a run defender he does a couple of things very well. Primarily, I noticed when he was allowed to simply play and flow downhill he was at his best. On slot blitzes and run blitzes he looked comfortable and was effective making those plays. He also came up and was physical in filling the run lanes, looking like a smaller linebacker more than a safety. You can tell he wants to come down and make plays in that spot. Brade had 160 tackles combined the past two seasons but again, the missed tackles are a major problem. Sometimes it was being too aggressive, other times he just missed, but 35 tackles on fewer than 200 attempts is rough to overlook. 

In coverage, particularly in man coverage his lack of speed and acceleration show up on film. At the Senior Bowl when he wasn’t just able to sit back in traditional deep zones or in cover 2 he showed that he isn’t necessarily going to be a plus in that role. On tape it shows up at times as well when he happens to get matched up or someone comes through his zone with pace, he isn’t able to react quickly and if he sees it, the lack of athleticism shows up. Again the closer he is to the line the better, and he did have 3 picks and 11 PBU combined over the past two seasons but he’s not a good pass defender at this point. His play recognition skills also need some work.

He is what he is. I think he could be a good coverage guy on special teams, maybe even a great one. He looks good in the box, getting himself into position and wanting to make plays there, showing an aptitude for blitzing off the edge. That said he’s a bit of a liability in coverage and good athletes can give him problems in terms of making tackles. I’d put him somewhere in the 5-6 range but worry about his upside and think he may max out as a low end starter with limitations or a backup who could be a core special teamer. Heavy zone teams and/or teams who prefer a box safety will like him more. 

DE - Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame 68

After he barely played at Ohio State for 4 years he went to Notre Dame and flashed enough that I think he’s worth a developmental draft pick. His Ohio State tape was ltitered with big time plays against a very good OL and it caught my attention. At 6’5 with 33 inch arms you can see some of the potential that he has sporadically throughout the film. He hasn’t been productive in his career yet, even this year with Notre Dame he ended up with just 5 sacks, but it feels like there could be more developmental production and potential with him as he goes on. He’s obviously got a low floor as someone who can’t make a roster but there’s a ceiling here where he could be an NFL contributor without a doubt and there were flashes of very good play from him in 2023. However, right now he needs a lot of work before he can be a viable NFL player.

As a pass rusher there are things that he has that could turn him into a nice player. He has plus closing burst and when he gets the edge and can take a straight line to the QB he covers ground in a hurry. Jean-Baptiste also has good length and uses that at times to swat down OTs hands and it lets him get more depth into the backfield. He also is fairly effective at running games where he can get around and cause some mayhem. There are issues here though as he tries to bullrush far too often and it seems like he rushes without a plan the majority of the time. He also is fairly easy to rush off his mark, meaning that he gets too deep and lacks the ability to flatten at a high level so you’ll see him run by the pocket more often than you’d like. If he can work on playing a bit lower and keeping that balance lower he has a chance to be more effective.

I actually like him as a run defender despite his narrow frame. He’s thin for a 6’5 guy weighing in at 239 pounds and he’ll definitely have to add at least 10 probably more like 15 or 20 pounds to play more consistently in the NFL. That said, while he at times struggles to anchor against really big guys, his hand usage and agility are both pretty good in the run game. He is able to bench press and hold off blockers in the run game at a much higher level than you’d think for someone being as lean as he is and it makes me think that he has an opportunity to develop into a good run defender. He already posted good productivity there with 49 tackles and 10.5 for loss this season as a DE. That’s good run game production from a pure DE. Again, long way to go but there is developmental potential here that makes me interested.

Drafting him would take a bit of a leap of faith because he might not be playable early in his career and there’s a definite chance he doesn’t develop. He’s got enough size and length that maybe he could contribute on special teams but there’s a shot that he turns into nothing. However, I still believe there is talent here that flashes enough if you can get him stronger and in the weight room that could make him a viable NFL edge player. I think he’s a round 5 or preferably 6 guy who is worth a day 3 flier if you have time to be patient. 

TE - AJ Barner, Michigan 68

Barner looks the part of a backup blocking TE who is a grinder and has a shot to make a long career of being that second or third physical TE on a team. The more a team likes to run heavy formations and use two TEs the more coveted Barner will be. As a receiver he’s fairly reliable but offers very little in terms of athleticism or an ability to create space or RAC yards so what you see is what you get from him. He’s one of the easiest evaluations of this season as he is a solid blocking TE with very low end receiving skills and should get drafted somewhere in the middle or end of day 3 due to small ceiling but a pretty obvious skill.

As a receiving guy he has very little creativity or explosiveness to create separation. Barner isn’t thick footed but he’s not going to run by anyone and he won’t threaten a seam. He’s fairly consistent catching the ball so he’ll be a reliable checkdown target or throw to the flat guy but Barner isn’t going to be someone who is going to help you much in the passing game. As a pass protector he isn’t going to be someone who can neutralize edge rushers but he’s good at helping out and is active and aware in that space.

Where Barner is going to help a team is as a run blocker. While guys will eventually get off of his blocks as his grip strength is solid for a TE it’s not like he blocks at an OL level either. The thing that stands out on tape is how hard he works and how much pride he takes as a blocker. He works so damn hard and puts himself in position to make plays as a blocker on every down, never taking a snap off. He’ll miss sometimes, and at times can get shocked by stronger guys or get cut inside of by quicker guys, he’s going to come back and fight again the next down. Overall he’s a very good blocker for a TE.

Is what he is. LIkely a 6th round type player who has a very good chance to make a roster. If your team is looking for a 2nd or 3rd TE who can block and you play a ton of big formations and 12 or 13 personnel, Barner is going to look very attractive. He works hard, takes pride in that part of the game, and will make routine catches. Easy grade. 

TE - Tip Reiman, Illinois 68

About as basic of a writeup as you’ll ever get. Reiman is a big old blocking TE at 6’5 and 271 pounds and he’s kind of a cool story. Walk on from South Dakota who ends up working his tail off, becoming a starting TE and eventually a team captain. Notes from a lot of evaluators are that he kills interviews, is a smart kid, and was telling teams that if they draft him they’ll get a great special teams player. Then he runs a 4.64 at the combine at 271 pounds which instantly intrigued me for him as a core special teams guy. He’s a good blocker who may turn into a great blocker if he can figure out his technique but he works very hard at that. He’s an okay pass catcher who was adept at short targets but struggled the farther downfield he went. He is what he is which is a big blocking TE who evidently wants to play on special teams.

Where Reiman will make his money, other than the kicking teams, is as a blocking TE. While he is much better at duo and combo blocks he works hard to get himself into position consistently. When he can get an angle he can get guys off their spots and he’ll maintain his feet, continuing to drive guys out of gaps. While he doesn’t necessarily blow guys off the football he positions himself well and you can tell he takes a ton of pride in that part of the game. Reiman is inconsistent in pass pro currently as they were tasking him with being one on one with ends consistently but his base, length, and size means he’s got potential there. I bet he’ll be a good blocker at the next level in both pass pro and the run game when he’s able to match up his hands and keep them tighter inside instead of having some wide elbows. He’ll adapt. 

In the passing game he has more potential than he showed at Illiniois. Only 19 catches a piece the past two seasons and almost all of them were on motion drags in the flat where he caught the ball, made nobody miss and picked up a half dozen to a dozen yards. He has the speed to threaten the seam apparently, but didn’t look great catching the ball down the field as he’s stiff in the upper body but the speed and size combination maybe means there’s a bit more chicken on the bone in the pass game but I’m not counting on that. He’s a good pick in round 5 but maybe a very good pick in round 6 for a team looking for a blocking TE who can probably help on ST and could develop into a plus blocker and plus ST player. 

S Dominique Hampton, Washington 67

Hampton is a big fast safety whose potential far outweighs his tape at this point. Hampton is 6’2 215 pounds with super long 33.5” arms and runs a 4.51 with plus agility and jumping numbers. He’s a hell of an athlete, that’s not up for debate. On top of it, he is a physical downhill player who shows an ability and desire to come up and hit, recording 109 tackles this season for a successful Huskies team. The issues aren’t all the tools it’s some of the attack angles in both the passing and running game, and the fact that Hampton is one of the oldest players in this draft after having been at U-Dub for 6 seasons, and only really having played substantially for two of those years. He’s a developmental safety with a lot of upside but a shorter leash as he’s an older player and his play recognition and angles of attack cause a lot of missed tackles and some completed passes that shouldn’t and can’t happen. He’d be a fun one to draft to develop on day three however.

In the passing game he’s got some pretty damn good range realistically, although at times you can see how he simply gets too flat in cover 2 or too deep at times as well. That inability to realize proper depth or to get sucked up against play action, or flat footed down the sideline causes me to worry about him as a safety. While he looks better and more comfortable in zone, he may be at his best in the NFL or with his best shot to succeed as a matchup man player with super long arms and good size to work against TEs or Power Slots. He has all the tools there. The super good 3 cone drill at the combine helps to solidify his change of direction skills on film. That plus long arms, and plus speed means that there’s something here for me to stick in man to man, where he does less reading and reacting and more just sticking in someone’s hip. Again, more development. His route recognition in man and in zone, particularly when working through switch routes will take time.

As a run defender there are positives and negatives. In a hugely positive note, he wants to come up and be physical. You don’t see many players in college football end up with 107 tackles, and very few safeties are able to do that. He wants to come up and make plays on the ball and you can see that. The issues here are two fold, one he comes up way too fast and takes bad angles. Both of those things cause problems, like not being where you’re supposed to be and a lot of missed tackles. He was credited with 17 misses this season and I believe those numbers. He also can either take way too conservative of an angle or way too aggressive of one and both of those things cause issues. I also want him to try to avoid contact with blockers down the field, at times he just wants the contact and so he’ll lead into getting blocked. More things to work on.

The upside here is pretty great, and if he only had 3 years in college under his belt I’d suggest something in the early round 4 spot. But being 24 or 25 as a rookie means one less possible contract for the guy and the fact that he still needs this much work would worry me. The odds are he’s a borderline player off the bat with some of these issues and the training and coaching he’d need to put into a position to succeed will take at least one year and probably two. You’re likely getting a special teams guy with upside and if he does pan out just one or two years before he gets that next contract, and that’ll be at close to 29 years old. I feel like he’s a 6. The talent of a 3 but the downside of a UDFA. 

LB - Marist Liufau, Notre Dame 67

I’m not a huge fan of Liufau’s game as they asked him to do a ton of everything at ND including play as a 5th rusher a lot, drop into coverage, and play his normal role as off ball linebacker and I’m not sure he was very good at any of them. He looked the most comfortable and effective playing a take-on LB role where he went downhill and tried to stack blockers. Despite average size for a LB he’s got long arms and tried to use those to stack up pullers but at 6’2 and 234 pounds I’m not sure that’s his game. He also pass rushed a ton and while he picked up three sacks this year it wasn’t due to some elite level of rushing, he just happened to be there a ton and picked up some sacks. He’s more of a jack of all trades and master or none type of players and because of that he has a chance to be a nice backup in the NFL but I think the idea of him being a top 100 player is way too rich for me.

As a run defender he’s okay. I think his lack of agility leads to him not being where he needs to be a lot and with average speed and quickness, good players simply get by him. You can watch it at times on film. It means that he’s not going to get you many tackles and that shows up in the box score. Liufau despite playing 1200 snaps combined the past two seasons has just 45 solo tackles. You can’t have that. His instincts are okay but at times he’ll get impatient or try to close down a hole and he’s not agile or strong enough to make those plays on his own. He wants to stack and likes to keep his hands clean with those long arms but it leads to half tackles. He’s usually in the right spot but it’s not like he’s a playmaker there.

In the pass game there may be more to work with. I think lack of agility and tight hips probably limits him to being okay here but obviously ND wanted to use him on the DL and as a blitzer often. He was credited with 241 pass rush snaps combined the past two seasons but ended up with just 3.5 sacks. He’s not skilled there, simply running into players and then playing a spy role when his initial rush was thwarted. The problem I have is once that happens, he doesn’t have good start-stop acceleration so good athletes will get him. The length and route recognition being plus could let him be pretty good in coverage though if he can maintain patience.

He works hard, is versatile, and has good tempermant and great effort. Those things, plus some good IQ and toughness mean that he could be a nice 3 position LB backup. I think his lack of quickness and agility means he’s not a starter and despite being pushed into the top 100 players on a decent amount of boards, he’s not that guy. Potential good backup but nothing he does wows me. I think he’s a 5th round pick if you want someone you know can make a roster but he’s probably got a 6th round value. 

TE - Tanner McLachlan, Arizona 67

McLachlan is someone who kind of jumped out to me on tape when I was watching everyone else. I was scouting guys from all over the place and I kept being like damn this kid is a pretty impressive football player. He’s a tall guy with super short arms but at 6’4 and 244 pounds he moves well for the position, running a 4.61 with a very impressive 1.58 split. He looks like an easy mover, stretching the seam for the Wildcats and making plays when the ball is away from his body. Despite those short arms he has a big catch radius, showing really good ability to react to the football and playing with plus ball skills. He works really hard as a blocker but he’s limited by size but overall, I think he could end up being a potentially nice low risk add on day 3 with a chance to turn into a contributor in year 2 or 3 once he can fill out a bit more.

He doesn’t really have the upside to be a starting level TE in the NFL as he lacks the strength or suddenness to get to that level. However, he’s got reliable hands and enough speed to threaten you as well as toughness to try to get the job done as a blocker. He looks like he could eventually turn into a 2nd TE on a team, particularly one that wants to be more wide open as he does have enough pure speed and a good catch radius. He’s not a good route runner at this point and while it could improve his lack of short area quickness and agility is problematic for becoming more than just a 4th or 5th passing game option. 

As a blocker he works his tail off but he doesn’t play with great contact balance. It hurts his route running as well as stronger ends or LBs can push him off his route. I wish he would keep his hands in tighter and use his strength, instead he works more as a catcher in terms of blocking, allowing guys to get into his body. He lacks the power to move them off the spot despite you can tell him taking pride in that part of the game. McLachlan does work to get himself into proper position, but he fails to get much movement against ends. 

Overall he’s kind of limited in what he can become. I think there’s a chance for him to be a viable option in some passing games though and his effort as a blocker is clear so that always has potential due to the fact he is working hard to get better. I do think he’ll have a tough time early in his career as stronger ends and faster LBs are going to eat him up until he can improve his overall body. Working as a better and more precise route runner and on hand placement in the blocking game is going to be critical as is him getting stronger, particularly in his lower body. He’s got some tools though and I’d like to work him as a developmental TE somewhere in the middle to back half of day 3. 

G - Isaiah Adams, Illinois 67

Adams played tackle this season for Illinois but there’s no way he can do that in the NFL. He’s a guard only prospect who has some interesting tape but also some really rough goes of it. Quicker guys give him fits as he has some odd footwork and when left on an island there are some bad misses in pass pro. That said when he plays inside there is a lot more to like about his game and his ability to get some movement in the run game makes him an intriguing day 3 prospect. I think run heavier teams or play action heavy teams would like him more and that fit could make him down the road a low end starter potentially. Looks more like a backup who needs to work on mirroring his feet and hands if he wants to play in the league though.

There are some Illini tapes this season where you’re like dang he’s a pretty good player. The Kansas film where he played mostly left guard was pretty impressive. He showed good power, a solid anchor and looked smooth and patient in pass protection. Then you watch the Penn State game and he looks like arguably the worst player on the field. Again, that’s out at RT so you’re projecting here but he gives up an inside move to speed constantly in the game. His footwork out at tackle is a travesty. Inside, where there are less edges to be worked, he’s smooth and patient, and looks like a potentially good player. I’d say the footwork stuff has to be ironed out and an NFL OL coach is going to need at least one and maybe two years with that. The fact he’s coming into the league at 24 is problematic. 

As a run blocker though there are things to like here. He takes good angles and has above average athleticism for the position. Adams has good length for an interior player and uses it to get people out of position and then climb to the second level. At times you can see a plus run blocker here and there are some really good reps on film. When he maintains leverage and gets the edges of people he can absolutely move them out of the hole. There’s talent there.

He’s a captain at Illinois, looks like he plays the game with good recognition skills, and knows where his help is consistently. Looks like he plays the game with good football IQ. Adams has some good reps as a run blocker and looks like someone who could end up as a positively graded run blocker at the next level. He’s also got some really rough reps and his ability to mirror his hands and feet is almost non-existent. I do think there’s talent here but do you want to use a pick higher than the last two rounds on an older rookie who needs work? It’s a real question that teams are going to need to ask themselves. I think he’s a 6th rounder as he could be a quality guard in a year or two but he’d be 26 by that time and in the last two seasons of his rookie deal. What’s that worth?

CB - Ryan Cooper, Oregon State 67

Cooper is a guy I think I’d be really happy if my team grabbed him on day 3 of the draft. While he lacks traits that could get him taken earlier, he plays a smart brand of football and has the versatility to play either inside or outside. He’s been very productive for the Beavers and is one of the better players in college football at knowing where his help is in a variety of coverage. He is good at playing within the system. Now there are some limitations to Cooper as he’s definitely quicker than fast and while he does have good instincts, he isn’t a great tackler. I do think that he’s quick enough and sees the field well enough that he can be a good slot corner and likely projects more as a dime back in the NFL. That’s where Cooper has a chance to be the most productive, when he can keep his eyes on the QB and attack

In zone he has tremendous instincts and attacks the football. The past two seasons for Oregon State he had 18 PBU and 4 picks and you can see the ball skills on display often. He’s a bit undersized for the position but he plays a bit taller than 5’11 and 184 pounds. That said bigger guys can certainly body him up and while he tries to make plays on the football in the run and screen game his lack of size and some suspect angles cause him to miss a lot more tackles than you’d like to see from someone who is likely best suited to play zone and inside man.

He’s a good player who is sticky in coverage and his best trait is his reactive athleticism in the short areas. I think he’s loose and nimble at the top of the route and wants to go make plays on the ball. His overall coverage ability, particularly when projecting him inside is good. The issue is he’s limited in terms of size, pure speed, and he’s a below average to bad tackler. He needs to get stronger and play stronger to have success in the NFL. I’d put Cooper as a 6th round type player who could outperform that if he can work on tackling technique and get stronger to be able to reroute more easily playing outside. If he can show that he can have the strength to play outside and also improve his tackling in space he could be a quality rotational DB.

CB - Myles Harden, South Dakota 67

Difficult evaluation for me as I didn’t have access to a ton of film on him. He’s a really physical guy who is a good tackler and extremely competitive. He’s one of the only corners I’ve scoured in the past few seasons who takes on lead blockers and tries to make plays on the football. Harden has average size for the position at 5’11 and 195 pounds but he plays like a safety out at corner. The speed is okay at 4.50 but he’s not going to wow you with physical gifts. He shows good instincts in zone for the most part and uses good initial burst and quickness to close out on guys but again there’s nothing that stands out as a player other than his ability to tackle. I do think he’s got an outside shot to be a contributor as he has good ball skills with 6 career picks, and is a plus tackler. Where he could end up being a capable player is as a dime back where he can help in the run game and play with his eyes on the QB.

I have a hard time thinking that he’s going to stick at outside corner. When he plays man he’s grabby and looks to not enjoy getting stuck outside against quality players. Inside where he can play to his strength with physicality and being in a shorter window he’d probably have more success. I do think in a zone heavy scheme he could be survive outside where he can use his recognition skills to attack the ball. Again the lack of pure athleticism limits his effectiveness but he makes up for some of that with recognition.

Dime is where he could be at his best. There are smaller windows there and his physicality and the way he plays makes me think he’d like to blitz off the edge. He also rarely if ever misses tackles and is physical and slippery when taking on blocks. Harden could be that third safety or 4th DB type guy moving all over the formation in dime to give teams different looks. He also without question has the skillset and ability to cover kicks as someone who is a capable and confident tackler. I think he’s probably a niche player and a backup DB.

RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall 66

Was impressive early on at the Senior Bowl with really impressive burst. Then he tore his Biceps tendon and will miss 4-6 months. Likely pushes him to UDFA but he’s someone that should be a priority free agent. I think using a 7th on him to lock him in for a team that could put him on IR and keep him would be a no brainer. He has impressive acceleration. At 6’0 and about 210 pounds he has plenty of size to be a good player and I wish we could have seen what he would have run because I think it likely would have been close to 4.40.  He’s got plus acceleration and twice in his career he’s posted 1100 yard seasons. In 2021 he posted 46 receptions as well, so there’s a role specific to him that could be impressive. I think he may go undrafted due to the injuries and the depth at RB this season which is deep but not great up top.

He’s best on zone plays where he can see it and then hit it. He’s definitely a one cut and go kind of back who is at his best playing laterally and then going downhill. I wish he played with better contact balance as there are a number of times on film where he’ll get drilled. It limits him to a specailized back because I don’t think he holds up as a primary ball carrier with how many hits he takes. The injury this year cements that. The more space he has to go the better he’ll be as his short area acceleration, in Mobile on on tape is plus.

He seems to catch the ball fairly naturally, and is again at his best in space. It’s why he looks like he’ll be an effective player on limited touches at the next level. He went to Mobile at 209 pounds but played likely closer to 190 and his best ability is likely somewhere in the middle. He’s only okay in pass pro and ball security for him is a bit of an issue. All these things push him down.

He’s got really good speed and plus acceleration and is someone who has a chance to chew off some big plays in the NFL. I do think that his lack of power and contact balance limits him to what you want him to be but as a scat back and role specific guy he could be a really nice add. The torn biceps tendon could push him all the way out of the draft and if that’s the case he’d be a priority free agent immediately for zone blocking teams or teams that love to run out of the shotgun. He’s draftable.

LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State 66

Watson is a really really good college football player. At 6’2 and 245 pounds he’s an old school linebacker who likes to hit people and is at his best in a phone booth. He lacks the athleticism and burst to get to the edges a ton but he’s very good between the tackles and as a blitzer. Watson has 31 TFL and 21 sacks combined over the past three seasons all while racking up 333 tackles the past three seasons. He also happened to be named the SEC Defensive player of the year this past year. The issue is, a ton of his skills are not going to translate well to the league and therefore he looks poised to become a situational role player most likely and a special teamer. But I do think there’s a spot for him in the NFL and am higher on him than most, thinking he has a shot if drafted on day 3.

He is a tackling machine against the run when it’s withing the tackle boxes. The issue is, he doesn’t get tackles himself, averaging almost 3 assisted tackle to 1 solo tackle and the big reason is, once it gets outside the tackle box he lacks the quickness and acceleration to get there. I think that Watson is really good at stacking blockers, but you don’t see him get off those blocks super quickly and it leads to a lot of him tackling guys with help about 5 yards down the field. It’s still a nice play but he makes a ton of solid plays and not a lot of plays that wow you. Again, there’s a role there in the league but it’s not likely as a consistent starter unless he can work on some of these things, and work on reading and reacting quicker to help make up for being less explosive. 

Watson was in the bottom 3 for 10 yard split, vertical, and broad jump and it wasn’t shocking. He’s not a sudden athlete. Those factors limit him pretty badly in the passing game. While he works hard there and tries to get into position, he’ll be a liability if he’s asked to consistently cover. He only had 4 PBU in the past three seasons combined. Where he does show quite a bit of help is as a blitzer. Watson’s ability to shock running backs and even interior lineman at times in the blitz game is a big asset. He picked up 10 sacks this past season and 11 combined the previous two years, so that’s not something that’s random. That asset could allow him to get on the field in heavy packages and still make an impact without having him be torched in coverage.

I like him more than most. I think if we’re drafting for what someone can do and not for what someone can’t then you can see him as an early down contributor and as a take on guy in the run game. If he’s inside in a 34 defense or as a SAM LB in a 43 where he can stack TEs and pullers and all of that he can be effective. Watson missed only 6 tackles this past season while pumping up 20x that in tackles. He can play. Is he limited, absolutely, but there’s a role for him. If he goes undrafted he would be one of my highest priority free agents, but I think he could be a core special teams guy and potentially a nice backup LB on early downs with maybe some blitz capability, but not until the 6th round.

RB - Cody Schrader, Missouri 66

Another one of those guys who you’re scouting other people and he kind of keep showing up and you’re like oh damn he’s a good player. He’s not a very good athlete and is tight hipped with mediocre speed. He runs a 4.61 and that shows up on tape as he lacks the explosiveness needed to gash defenses. That said he plays with tremendous vision and toughness and shows plus skills at working his way through defenses and arm tackles. He’s a very good pass protector as well, showing an ability to step up into the hole and anchor well. The fact he also has fairly reliable hands and looks okay as a checkdown option gives a shot as a  3 down potential as a likely backup.

He’s a better college player than he will be a pro and honestly I thought he was going to weigh in closer to 215 pounds instead of 202 at the combine. That weight did bother me quite a bit as you’re projecting him to play the style he did in school and at that size it’s going to be tough for him to survive and play with the level of physicality needed to survive. Schrader plays physically and likes to poke and prod as an outside zone guy and then try to hit the hole as hard as he can, exploding through it well. Now as a 4.61 guy with below average burst he’s not going to jump through and hit many homeruns in the NFL but he does have that plus vision to get himself some yardage through these plays. 

As a pass protector he comes up and is willing to hit you. The issue again is at 202 pounds, that won’t hold up despite a strong base. He has good hands out of the backfield but he’s small in stature, at just 5’8.5 and with short arms and small hands he’ll catch it, but he’s not going to make the big plays for you or get the ones away from his body. He doesn’t dance after a catch though so he is reliable to pick up some yards with each reception if you put it on him.

He’s just limited. The lack of measurables is fine in college but is going to hinder him in the NFL. He’s a prototypical guy who is going to be a good college player but likely ends up as a backup in the NFL who might figure out a way to hang around. I do think he has outstanding, bordering on elite vision, and plays the game extremely hard. However, there isn’t much to make me think he can be more than a low end backup in the NFL if he can make it. Outside zone teams can consider him in round 6 or 7 to try to take advantage of his vision but he’s got an uphill climb to be successful in the league. 

CB - Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State 65

Richardson is a long fast cornerback who needs a lot of work before he’s ready to be an NFL CB, but he possesses enough tools that he is a very intriguing 3rd day draft pick. Richardson is a legit 6’2 outside corner who ran a 4.34 at the Combine. He also is about 180 pounds and looks thin as a rail, although he’s been a very productive tackler at corner. You don’t see corners rack up tackles like Richardson did throughout the last two seasons for the Bulldogs, coming up with an impressive 164 tackles combined the last two seasons. Those are some things that jump out, but there are also a lot of negatives here that mean you can’t take a swing at him until late on Saturday come draft weekend.

As a pure corner he just doesn’t have ball skills and lacks the ability to see what’s happening in front of him. His route recognition skills are weak and it causes him to give up a ton of easy catches. He prefers to play off man but when he does, he can give way too much cushion, an oddity for someone that quick, and he’ll bite on double moves. In fact he had 3 total pass breakups in 2022 despite being a full time starter. He moved it up to 7 this past season but has yet to intercept a pass in his career. Richardson has to learn nuance, depth, and has to get lower in his backpedal or he’ll never become what he could as a player. 

There wasn’t as much tape on him as I would have liked but the lack of ball skills and some of the issues against top end talent hurt him in my grades. I do appreciate his willingness to tackle and the fact that he was so successful at doing that. The pure speed and size is an interesting combination and a good DB coach would be very interested in taking a swing at him. I think he’s worth a pick in the last half of Saturday to see what he can become, the high level of tackling gives him a shot at being at least a key gunner while you work on developing him those skills. 

WR - Jacob Cowing, Arizona 65

A tiny 5’8 168 pound WR from Arizona who has played a ridiculous amount of football. Cowing starred at UTEP before making the jump to the Pac12 and the Wildcats last and really was an impressive college player. Cowing had over 300 receptions for more than 4000 yards throughout his career and continued to deliver this season with 13TD and 90 receptions. He’s a slot only who showcases impressive quickness, short area burst, and straight line speed to threaten defenses. Obviously his size is a major outlier and likely will be a serious issue at the next level but his quickness, agility, and speed all offer the potential for him to be effective if he can stay on the field.

As a pure route runner there are some real positives here. While he doesn’t win quick often his ability to win on option and choice routes is impressive. He’s definitely a win at the top of the route guy and therefore while he does create separation a lot, sometimes it’s on a hesitation move and not a quick snap off. He has showcased his ability to do so though, so some of it was the Arizona offense. He has plus quickness and utilizes it to create space after the catch, but while he shows some creativity and vision with his burst, he gets hit hard often, and you wonder in the NFL if he’ll hold up. Outliers rarely do. 

Cowing’s catch radius is brutal. He doesn’t catch it well naturally and the fact that he’s tiny certainly doesn’t help things. He’s not going to help you in contested catch situations as he’s just too small and it’ll be easy to play through him. While he does have good speed to get by defenders and at times can showcase it on film, he’s better working underneath, and those guys don’t survive.

His Senior Bowl stuff wasn’t as impressive for me as for others and other than two game tapes where he played bad defenses in USC and Oklahoma I thought he flashed but looked like a very good college player who likely won’t transition well to the league. The slight size, mediocre ball skills, and then an okay but not great 10 yard split at the Combine hurt him even more for me knowing his money making skill is that acceleration. He’s a late day 3 kid who has upside if he can stay healthy but I just don’t see that happening often.

DT - Fabien Lovett, FSU 65

He might be a bit underrated by most other scouts but there are enough wins here on tape that he should challenge for reps at the NFL level. At 6’4 314 pounds with super long 35+ inch arms he has plus size as a 1T in the NFL. He shows decent ability to get off blocks and his length allows him to hold up blockers that are working to double team him. While not a strong pass rusher in terms of ability to create pressures and sacks (just 6 sacks in 5 seasons as a bench player) he does a decent job of collapsing the pocket with a secondary rush. His length is a plus for him there. I believe he’s best as a two gapping guy in a 43 defense where he can utilize his length and anchor to eat up blocks in the run game and give you just enough as a pocket pusher to not be a liability there. Looks the part of a backup DT with a bit more upside than he’s shown at the college level.

Where he’s going to make his living in the NFL is as a block eater up front. Despite not being 330 pounds like you’d expect most guys his position to be, he’s strong in his lower body. While it’s not every single time he holds up against double teams, he does a far better job than most. You can tell he understands his assignment. His grip strength and length allows him to control single blocks and he usually is able to walk them back into running lanes. He makes his linebackers better in the run game. He gets off just enough blocks and creates just enough pileups up front to get a handful of quality wins per game as well but mostly he helps maintain the line of scrimmage or holds the point against doubles, 22 tackles last season shows you he’s not someone who is going to contribute much in box scores.

As a pass rusher he’s not real quick off the snap but he does show some decent lateral agility. I think his best trait is getting into someone’s body and simply walking them backward and then getting his hand up. He did it a few times this season with 3 passes defended. That said he lacks the quickness or closing burst to actually pick up sacks or threaten QBs as a rusher. He’s likely a two down run stopper in the NFL who may pick up some batted balls with good recognition skills there.

There’s a shot with his length that Lovett could give you some snaps as a 34 DE as well, collapsing the edges and stacking blockers. The fact he could do both bodes well for his potential as a draftee. That said there’s not a ton here that makes me think he’ll be a great NFL player but the fact that he’s so good at holding the point against double teams and that his length allows him to control against single blockers means that he has a shot to be a solid to good NFL run defender. I think he’s a perfect 6th round niche pick and he has a good shot to make an NFL roster.

OLB - Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian 65

Absolutely no idea what this can become but I know it’s going to take a while for him to get there. He’s got really interesting tools but he just doesn’t really know what he’s doing yet. He was a safety prospect at Cornell and then played skill positions in high school before going to HCU and turning into an OLB/EDGE. The dude has some crazy tools with really good burst and movement skills while also being 6’4 252 and having 34.5 inch arms with a 37.5 inch vertical and a 1.60 10 yard split. He’s a stud athlete. The issue is, there is so much rawness to his game and he’s only played against low levels of competition, it’s going to take him a long time to get it figured out, but if he can, he could be an absolute weapon. I just keep watching his tape thinking holy hell what a potential star on special teams.

A few things stand out with him on tape. The first thing you notice is that he’s very comfortable dropping into the flats and into zones. He gets good depth, keeps his head on a swivel, and certainly has the burst and speed to be able to give you a dimension there. You can see some of the converted safety in him. The second thing is his closing burst is plus. When he gets a bead on someone his speed is a skill that allows him to eat up that gap quickly. He has quick feet and looks to have good bend as well, showing a group of skills that combined with good effort gives the impression he could develop into a good rusher in time.

The downsides here are that he really needs to get stronger. While he’s a really good athlete and you can see his footwork that allows him to slip blocks, he also can play too high and get absolutely uprooted by tackles and guards. While he works hard to take on blockers in the pulling game it’s just too easy for him to get pushed around. That’s by low level competition, right now NFL OL would blow him off the ball. He also has to improve his hand technique and strength there. When someone gets him with the initial block he rarely is able to get unlatched and considering he doesn’t seem to rush consistently with a plan it means some of his rushes are stimied early.

He’s a really intriguing guy. You can watch the tape and the combine and his athleticism and size is obvious. He’s an NFL caliber athlete and a plus one at that. The issues here are that you aren’t going to see dividends that aren’t special teams only for at least two years as he adds lower body strength, learns technique, and gets coached up. The jump from his level up is going to be big and the fact he’s raw at his position means it’s not a jump, it’s a leap. If you have time to let him do his thing, he has a shot in a few years to be really good, but he’s a 34 OLB only and has to go to the right situation and a lot of patience to achieve what he can do.

QB Joe Milton, Tennessee 65

Honestly this is one of the easier evaluations I’ve done for a while. Milton is insanely talented with great size and a monster 10/10 rated arm. There aren’t many players who can throw a football with the pace, velocity, or pure distance that Milton can. At 6’5 and 240 pounds he’s a massive human being in the pocket and shows enough mobility and size that he’s a unit to bring down on some designed runs or scrambles. This past season he punched in 7 runs for the Vols and showed his ability to sneak for tough yards or scramble for them. That said, his accuracy down the field needs tons of work and despite not throwing for many picks, he certainly puts the ball in harms way. He’s definitely worth taking, particularly if you want a vertical passing offense as his tools are outstanding, but he’s going to take a long time to get right. He feels like a mid day 3 pick as someone who needs to be a QB3 for a while, but being 24 years old and an older draft prospect hurts that thought. It’d be tough for me to use a pick on Milton despite the upside.

As a pure thrower he just needs work. He steps way too far mechanically when he’s trying to go down the field and it leads to a lot of throws that are high and inside. While his overall completion percentage looked good it was due to the offense and not his actual ball placement. I want him to figure out when to throw with that impressive tempo and velocity he has and when to take something off but it seems like that’s the big issue. If he can figure that out there’s a chance for something here.

I don’t want to dive into this too much. He’s got a ton of talent and he’s huge, but he also struggles mechanically and is pretty mediocre in terms of actually playing the position. There’s a lot to develop and if you have some time he provides a great opportunity. If he were 21 I’d be very interested on day 3, but at 24 I think I let someone else take that swing unless it’s round 7. 

C - Mason McCormick, South Dakota State 64

A pre-draft darling who is shooting up draft boards like a rocket. McCormick was impressive per most scouts in attendance all week at the Shrine Bowl practices and then jumped out of the gym in Indy with a combine record 35.5 inch vertical leap. Pair that straight line explosiveness with an insane 57 starts in his career and you have someone teams are very intrigued by, even if he played at South Dakota State. Overall though on tape, he overpowered mediocre competition in the passing game, giving up just two total QB hits the past two seasons, he’s stiff in his lower half and despite climbing consistently to the next level, he missed too often on film. He may have some very intriguing traits, but they aren’t matched up with on the tapes that I watched. He’ll get drafted probably early on day 3 but he’s a late day 3 pick in my book - the best way to describe him is he’s explosive but not agile. 

I know most people are going to be clamoring for him based on his athleticism based on the combine but it’s not there on tape. He’s a tester but there are some real issues on film with contact balance and being able to hit his strikes. I love his feet in pass protection though as he simply slides and mirrors more like a tackle than a guard. It led to him only giving up 16 hurries in his last three years COMBINED in college. That said, he has some warts there as he can at times get his hands extended too far and his placement on his strikes is below average. His upper body mobility needs work as well, as it looks a bit delayed. Boxing would help him tremendously. I still think there’s plenty to work with here in pass pro as he can mirror extremely well, and has the lower body ability to anchor, so he’s got a shot to develop in pass pro.

As a run blocker, you can’t teach the explosiveness or straight line burst. He ran a 5.08 and jumped 35.5 inches so you can see that initial burst. But he’ll sometimes again just get out ahead of himself and it leaves him reaching and hitting air often. I think he has okay power but nothing to get excited about, and despite the athleticism there are some misses at the second level, or even at times trying to get across the face of defenders that leaves you very disappointed. He flashes an ability to make combo blocks or climb or pull and you get really excited, but the consistency on tape even against middling competition worries me.

There’s talent here but despite 57 starts there’s also a lot that needs cleaning up. You watch him short pull or combo block at times adn you think damn there’s a good NFL player here and then at other points you watch him go in between two defenders and block air or someone gets the edges of him in pass pro and you wonder what he’s doing. I like him a lot as a developmental prospect as there’s potential here but I’m very worried as someone with this many starts still has a lot to work on, I wonder if he’ll ever get there as a player. Round 6 is where I have him. 

CB - Andru Phillips, Kentucky 64

I think there’s a chance that Phillips best football is in front of him. While he wasn’t exactly great in college  as he started for two seasons and had zero career picks, only 10 career PBU, and gave up a 112 passer rating against this past season, there’s definitely potential there. Phillips has decent size at 5’11 and 190 pounds and is a physical player at the press point and in the run game. He’s actually pretty sticky in coverage at times but his inability to play with that level of consistency drops his grade a lot. Phillips can lose his leverage, not find the football, and at times give up big distances in coverage. You can see there’s potential here as on tape at times it’s pretty good and in Mobile you could see his confidence in one on one situations. I think there’s a ton of reps that he needs to take and a lot of coaching but he has a chance to develop into a quality corner, but it won’t be for a while. Phillips is worth a late round flier with decent upside.

As a pure cover corner the tape is inconsistent. You see instances where he’ll stick in your hip pocket, and he has pretty good speed and quickness with hips that are able to flip and turn easily. He’s pretty fluid as an athlete. That said he doesn’t see the game super well. Route combinations can give him fits and at times he’ll inexplicably give up these huge distances of yards in coverage. It led to him giving up 438 yards and 4TD this past season. He’s grabby at the top even when he’s in proper position, and again the lack of experience shows itself as he’ll pull on a jersey even when he’s in someone’s hip pocket. With only 363 snaps in 2022 and almost none before that he’s a very inexperienced player and it shows up fairly consistently with his inability to find the football while it’s in the air and the confusion at times at the top of routes. 

He’s willing to come down and be a player in the run game and in the flats although he’s not a great tackler. He wants to come down and hit you but his lack fo ideal size hurts him. Players who are good RAC players seem to brush him aside with some level of regularity. You can tell he wants to be physical and is a football player but lacks the mass and strength to be good in that arena. 

There’s some talent here but he needs a lot of seasoning. I wouldn’t use more than a late day 3 pick on him as there is a lot higher probability that he doesn’t make it than he does. Zero INT in college and only 10 career PBU along with some very grabby tape and shotty technique work is worrisome. A good DB coach could certainly turn him into something but it probably won’t be until year 3. Late round guy with some upside but the downside might be higher.

LB - Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State 64

He’s an easy evaluation here as he looks like a backup LB and core special teams guy who can give you some snaps if you need but will probably get exposed long term. Eichenberg is a back of the day 3 player whose leadership abilities, effort, and tackling skill set make him someone who could make a roster and probably will, but the lack of athleticism will limit his ability to stay on the field defensively. I do think he could give you some snaps in heavy run fits and as a 43 SAM LB despite being a bit undersized as he’s a plus tackler and has tremendous temperament in terms of playing into contact. Easy evaluation here as a mid to late day 3 LB who I think can make a roster.

Where he’s at his best is in the run game. He’s an excellent tackler, fills the correct gap, and is willing and able to take on blockers who are pulling or climbing. Eichenberg is going to play downhill and is going to work to fill the gap on each play. Now his lack of length and pop limits how effective he is at times but he plays the LB position at times like a RB, using good vision to slip between blockers and make plays in the backfield. He was really good there in 2022 and maybe a bit less so in 2023. At 233 pounds, he’s got okay size but he really plays the position like he weighs 250.

The problem with Eichenberg is he lacks change of direction skills and pure speed. His testing at the Combine was really rough and those lack of skills are evident on film. He won’t be able to defend in the pass game with any real long term success and that carried over to OSU where he had a total of 5 PBU and 1 INT in his entire career as a 3 year starter. He’s not explosive enough to be a positive blitzer at the next level either, limiting him to early down work. 

I think he’ll be a nice special teams player and he could probably play some downs throughout a game but he can’t play a ton of defensive snaps because quicker NFL players will torch him. He’s a run down specialist who is a good player but is definitely a better college player than a Pro one. I do think if a team is looking for a base 43 LB and someone whose attitude and effort is a positive, taking the two time captain from the Buckeyes could be a low risk snag in the 6th or 7th round. 

G - Trevor Keegan, Michigan 64

Keegan is a smart player with good vision but probably lacks the desirable traits to be a high level player at the next level. As a guard only guy his floor is lower as he dosen’t have the length to play tackle nor the quickness you’d like to see out of a center. My worry with him is his upside is limited. He’s got mediocre length, quickness, and hand placement and while he’s been coached very well you wonder if he’s maxed out in terms of ability. There’s a chance he turns into a low end starter though as his football IQ and recognition skills are both plus and when surrounded by good talent he can be effective. 

As a pass protector he doesn’t have foot quickness to mirror super well. He gets himself slightly out of position at times and in the Wolverines heavy pull attack in the run game they used him as a puller to pass protect for the QB and on that type of island he was a liability. When he’s stacked up one on one in pass pro he’s overall solid though. He can get his hands too high at times and guys with good secondary moves in the NFL will likely have some success as will quicker guys and guys with length, again he’s limited. He plays with enough smarts and effort that he won’t be a liability here but I don’t see him being a good pass protector in the NFL.

As a run blocker he plays with good demeanor and toughness. I like how Keegan plays under control in this aspect and he hits often as a puller, not going too quickly and instead plays within himself to make those pull blocks. He’s not a great athlete so he’s not going to be dynamic out there or be able to make multiple blocks but he’s solid. Keegan also plays at his best with duo blocks and despite shorter arms and only being 310 pounds he operates more often than not with good power and leverage. 

He’s got a shot to be a low end starter but there are warts here that limit his upside. Keegan is stiff, not quick, and despite playing with overall sound technique despite at times opting for pushing instead of hand placement he gets the job done more often than not. I do think he’s probably more of a backup at the NFL level though and without the ability to likely get off a snap and then attack as a center he could be a guard only backup. That’s a low floor potential. The ability for him to succeed on a huge majority of his blocks despite average skill though means that he won’t likely be a bust if given some snaps. Couldn’t use a pick on him before round 6 but if you take him you’d probably get adequate snaps as a backup and potentially as a low end starter but you’d need to slot him into a spot next to quality tackle and center play for him to be effective. 

TE - Jared Wiley. TCU 64

He should be able to play in the NFL as a 3rd TE in a pass heavy team. I’m not sure there’s a ton here that screams stud TE as his movement skills and suddeness are very average and he’s not a good blocker. That said he’s got pretty solid deep speed that allows him to build it up as he goes and he can certainly stretch the seam. He also has good size at 6’6 250 pounds with 33 inch+ arms so there’s room to add power and strength down the road to his frame. He’ll need to get stronger if he wants to survive in line at all but as a developmental guy there’s a shot here and his size and speed bode well for him to play ST while he learns the spot. 

Wiley has reliable hands and is a natural catcher of the football despite playing high school QB. He gets his head around fairly quickly and is willing to work through contact or initiate contact on his route to create some separation. I wish he would work himself back to the football more as it would increase his catch percentage but he’s still got good ball skills for a TE and that along with low 4.6 speed allows him to threaten deeper down the field. He’s not going to get himself open against good athletes as his quickness is below average, but he’s able to use his physicality at the top of the route to get just enough separation to make some plays. With poor QB play this year he had 47 catches and 8 scores. 

The size is a bonus in the red area where he can cause problems. He’s a legit 6’6 with long arms. The issue is while he’s long levered he’s not strong for the position and his blocking right now is problematic. He’s a pusher out there and while he’ll get himself into position for the most part, he’s just weak, particularly in his lower half. If he can put muscle on and get stronger he can turn into a quality player but he’s already 250 so if he adds too much muscle you wonder if he can move as well. Going to be a tough line to walk for NFL strength and conditioning coaches. 

There’s some talent here and some ability along with production so he’s got a shot. He’ll have to prove that he’s willing to be a good core special teams guy and he’ll have to work his ass off in the gym to get a second contract but he could turn into an NFL TE. I think the lack of quickness limits the upside quite a bit, as does the lack of lower body power, and technique issues in the blocking game, but there are flashes of the speed and ball skills that make you think if he goes to the right situation he could make it in the league. 

OLB Jaylen Harrell, Michigan 64

Kid has some juice. Definitely a draftable piece and won some reps against NFL talent guys. When he gets matched up one on one or gets more room to operate he’s at his best where he can either use pure speed with a good first step or a nice changeup with a spin move to win reps. Harrell actually projects by far at his best playing off the ball as he doesn’t have the necessary lower body strength to play in line, and he shows some impressive footwork and agility dropping into coverage. I think he’s potentially a 43 or 34 OLB who can obviously come down and rush at times. He picked up 12 sacks combined the past two seasons and shows some aptitude without question. Late round guy but one who  could have a situational role and could be very good on coverage teams.

As a pure pass rusher he doesn’t give you a ton of things but there’s enough on three different phases to make you think he can win. He’s got enough quickness and burst off the edge to threaten the edge against slower tackles. Harrell then uses that to set up a spin move that he uses with good success. It’s a good move and he keeps the spin tight to shorten the angle to the QB. At 6’4 and 250 pounds he doesn’t have over the top size but it’s good enough on the edge. In coverage he shows an ability to drop and get into zones quickly with pretty good eyes. While you aren’t expecting him to do that frequently, I think it’s an underrated skill that he has and if he can continue to hone it, he could be good as someone in base who could drop for you.

In the run game he’s better when kept clean. He doesn’t have the strength that you’d want despite his weight to hold up consistently against the run when in-line but there are things in the run game that give him a shot. He’s a pretty good open field tackler, which bodes well for him considering he’s likely going to need to make his mark on coverage teams. However, overall I don’t see him projecting as a good run defender at the next level and considering he’s sort of a tweener as a traditional 43 OLB and 34 EDGE with only adequate skills, he’ll have to be plus on special teams to be a factor. Without question a draftable player, probably in the 6th. But will need to get stronger in his base as a run defender to play edge, or will have to embrace all the nuances of a traditional outside linebacker to succeed. 

WR - Bub Means, Pitt 64

Bit of a difficult evaluation here as he’s a fairly inconsistent player. You can watch him make some really tough catches, run some nice intermediate rouets, especially out-breakers, and his speed and size combination is enticing. Then you watch him alligator arm a ball over the middle or miss a block on the edge and that kind of sums him up. The good is pretty damn good and could challenge as a low end starter or definitely a backup but then bad makes you wonder whether he can give you enough. Tough call here but not someone I’m enamored enough with to use a draft pick other than late but could see him go as high as round 4 or early round 5 but that’s too rich for me with the inconsistencies.

Means is mostly a downfield weapon, using the 6’1 frame and 4.42 speed to threatene defenses deep. He also tracks the football well and can turn into a 5th gear with the football in the air. Means averaged over 17 yards per reception for his career, showing an aptitude for the big play. That said he also struggles as a pure route runner, and sometimes won’t finish routes, particularly over the middle of the field or in zone. It leads to a lot of games where he’s barely noticeable. Means had 8 games this past season with 3 or fewer catches and that’s too many for someone playing against ACC talent. The ability for him to track the deep ball though makes him a potential 4th or 5th WR who could threaten a defense, and that abiilty to run the deeper routes on a levels type concept could endear himself to some OCs who want to utilize that particular skill. He also shows some aptitude after the catch.

I want him to be better because the flashes are electric. He can make some highlight level grabs and is willing to elevate over players to make plays. He has deceptive speed, but that buildup speed can just turn himself loose against safeties or flat footed corners and so he can at times play even faster than his 4.42. He shows some ability when corners are playing off to just feel that and take the easier route, but against zone his feel is mediocre at best. 

Just an inconsistent guy. The good is really good and it could make him a pretty intriguing backup in the NFL with a role as one of those type of shot pieces. To have that type of a role though you’d hope he could potentially contribute on special teams and I’m not sure he has the toughness you’d want to block or cover kicks there so it leaves him with a very low floor. He’s got an equal shot of making it and also not getting out of camp. If he makes it through the draft without getting taken - unlikely - I’d target him as a UDFA, but he’ll probably get taken in round 5 or 6, too high for me. 

EDGE - Nelson Ceaser, Houston 64

Tentative and very patient, waiting to see where the ball goes. Not an instinctive guy, and he seems to kind of sit there and make sure he does his job instead of attacking. When he does know that he can just attack downhill there are some traits there that could potentially work in his favor as he is fairly quick and does have a decent inside counter move that can create problems for lesser offensive lineman. While he’s listed as an edge I think his best role at the next level would be as a 34 OLB. His quickness could allow him to drop into coverage at times and the fact that he is constantly cognizant of his role and where he’s supposed to be would benefit him there. He has a shot at a roster based on the fact that he’s scheme versatile, fundamentally aware, and has played both kick and punt coverage.

As a run defender he wants to do his job really badly so he probably will be a system coach's dream. That said he isn’t very strong and he can be easily moved out of the way by strong outside blockers. He’ll make some plays on the ball and he wants to help collapse pullers so he works hard but he doesn’t look like he has the pure speed and quickness to get around everyone and his strength could be problematic. The more space he gets the better he could react which is why as a 34 OLB he could end up being okay. I don’t think he projects as a good run defender to the NFL.

As a pass rusher, when he gets to just turn on the jets and go when Houston did 5 man rushes he was fairly effective. He’s been successful getting pressures throughout his career but I don’t see that being a consistent theme at the next level. He’s more fundamentally sound, consistent, and using proper leverage to get wins against non-power 5 players, good college rusher, can’t see him being a super effective NFL rusher.

Bottom of the roster guy. I think with how he plays and the effort he has plus his versatility to play coverage units, standup OLB and DE he could provide value to teams that like that. He could help save you a roster spot. If he can get stronger and get better coaching he could develop into a better player as well as the technique is there but the strength and explosiveness currently isn’t. Round 6 or 7, he’s someone to draft late and hope to develop and if not there’s a shot he sticks as a ST guy. 

LB - Curtis Jacobs, Penn State 63

I think that maybe you’d use a draft pick on Jacobs but for me it would be very very late in the process. He’s not my cup of tea. I know that he has 4th round grades or even 3rd round grades in certain places but to me he’s a very late day pick as someone who could help you in sub packages potentially and on special teams but his lack of instincts in the game severely limits his grade. At 6’1 and 241 pounds he actually played a combination of jumbo slot and off ball LB this season which is an intriguing mixture for someone who runs sub 4.6. Those are the reasons why he’d be interesting to me very late. He could certainly help you playing some interesting packages and the size and speed could be good on coverage units. That said he plays the game with poor instincts, tackles with very low power, and gets caught out of position too often. It would take a lot of faith my coaching staff for me to bring him in to do anything other than cover kicks.

As a run defender the issues that he has are pretty evident. He’s an okay tackler in terms of when he gets there but he’s late or delayed too often. He does get a few tackles for loss consistently but that’s when he’s asked to blitz or attack pre snap. His explosiveness shows up in these instances when he doesn’t have to read and react but just gets to go. It’s this skill that could put himself into the earlier discussion as a draftee. If a DC just gets to say attack or just go here or hell even cover this guy I think he has a better chance to succeed. The issues as a run defender though are he makes a lot of tackles in the off ball LB spot way down the field and he gets dragged by powerful runners often. While he’s fairly steady there, he’s not ultra productive either. 

In the passing game he might offer more as he does look comfortable when lined up out over the slot. He did it a ton throughout his career, over 400 times the past three seasons. That said he’s not overly good there. Jacobs actually didn’t play a huge number of snaps throughout his career and there were times when I thought Penn State’s defense looked better when he wasn’t out there. Despite all that time in coverage, Jacbos had a whopping 0 pass breakups this past season and had 3 for his entire career along with 2 picks. He just isn’t productive because he’s not where he needs to be too often. 

Overall I just don’t think he’s a great football player. Playing around an ultra talented defense he got covered up by a lot of their issues and there are some skills here that could lend itself to development but I wouldn’t be the one to take those risks. I’d consider him very late and hope my DC could find a good role for him but I wouldn’t hold my breath. 

 DT Gabe Hall, Baylor 63

At 6’6 and 290 pounds Gabe Hall stood out quite a bit at the Senior Bowl and he won a lot of reps down at Mobile. A lot of analytics based draft pundits aren’t huge fans of his game, including PFF, but there’s more to him than meets the eye or he wouldn’t have been in Alabama and Jim Nagy and crew definitely noticed some positives about Hall’s game. He can utilize his long arms, (over 34 inches) to straight arm shorter armed interior players and it leads to a good solid number of hurries and some pass rush wins as he picked up 11 sacks for his career. All of those things are pretty positive, but his lack of ability to play with anchor is brutal. There are times he’s a complete liability as a run defender. To me, despite some good reps in one on one situations, Hall is a borderline draftable player who likely is a flier late in the draft process due to length and some interesting tape at the Senior Bowl along with good effort. 

As a pass rusher there are some things you like to see from Hall. He can showcase good ability to press and then detach from interior players and that length gives him an advantage. Hall plays with a high motor and while he rarely wins quickly as a pass rusher on tape, a lot of that is difficult as Baylor rushes 3 more than any team I scout. It means that Hall is rarely in one on one situations. In Mobile he got quite a few of those and won them which made me intrigued by his skillset. I think he has a chance in specific matchups to win against IOLs with lack of length. Tough to scout Baylor DL because of how difficult their job is at the college level. 

As a run defender though it’s bad at times. He can absolutely lose leverage and get chucked from his gap. He plays so high at times that his reps are downright unplayable. Sometimes he can stack and shed and work to make two guys fight but a lot of the time only one player is able to move him from his spot, and at times easily. It pushes him from a 5 down to maybe a UDFA. 

The effort is good, the length is good, and the one on ones in Mobile are good. He won some run reps there too, particularly in a 4 man front. I do think he’s put in a rough situation to succeed given Baylor’s defensive scheme but some of his reps were a liability to say the least. I think in round 6 or 7 there may be some defensive coaches who think they can turn him into a good player so he gets  a draftable grade from me. However, I was hoping for more when I turned the tape on and got a borderline player. 

DE - Eric Watts, UConn 63

Tools in terms of length, and pure speed but not necessarily so shifty and quick. At 6’6 and 274lbs with more than 35 inch arms and a very impressive 4.65 40, he’s got some pretty rare traits. Those are impressive stats when looking for someone who could potentially play a 5T or maybe more so someone who could be a dangerous weapon as a base end. In 2022 Watts had 10 TFL and 7 sacks and while those stats came down this season, there are enough flashes of talent and production that he becomes an intriguing day 3 option in the NFL Draft. However, as of right now, Watts has absolutely no clue what he’s doing and if you draft him you better have a developmental plan because the tape against quality competition is not good.

As a pass rusher you’d think someone with that size and length would just bullrush his way into the backfield straight through tackles but he doesn’t. He tries to go wide almost every play and he’s just not quick enough with enough threat to get the corner. Tackles, particularly good tackles, simply run him past and Watts is a very stiff rusher. He doesn’t have the ankles or bend to turn that corner so at times he’s exceptionally easy to block. Watts doesn’t seem to rush with any type of plan or counter moves at this point either, simply rushing upfield and trying to win that way won’t work. I believe strongly that he needs serious coaching and while the length and closing speed are both plus, the length plus-plus, he has to rush with more of a plan and have more counters. Kicking him inside and adding 15 pounds is his best bet to be effective in the NFL.

As a run defender there are more glimpses of plus potential. He loses the football far too often and gets enamored with the player in front of him, but he has really good closing speed and if plays go lateral he’s impressive. His length and demaeanor on pulling players is a true asset as well and he wants to stack those guys and create piles. In fact a lot of the time he’s good at that. The length and desire to do the right thing play in and play out could lead to him being a quality run defender. Right now though he’ll play too high so again, coaching him on how to take those blocks on while maintaining proper gap integrity will be key. His effort is really good though, as he runs down plays way down the field consistently.

He’s got plus tools but on tape it’s pretty bad right now. He doesn’t rush with a plan, loses the ball too often, and plays too high. Watts rarely rushes with any counters that could be considered nerve wracking for a tackle and so the odds are he’ll be easy to block. But if a good DC and DL coach can mold him, he could develop into something very good. I still believe his best bet is to put on 15 pounds and rush from the inside where his length could give guards serious problems. Or you could make him a true Sam DE and work on his bullrush, but the way he plays right now won’t get it done. Long term developmental play but could pay dividends if you have patience. 

WR - Tahj Washington, USC 62

Washigton is a productive 5’10 174 pound receiver. He was extremely productive throughout his career, putting up over 3200 yards and 21 TDs, culminating with a 1062-8 season this year for the wide open offense of USC. The issue with how Washington will translate to the NFL is mostly due to his size. He’s small and has short arms and small hands, limiting his ability to make contested catches, and also to get off press. While he should work mostly inside at the next level, he’s not the world’s quickest guy for being on the smaller side either though so it’s tough to see how he’ll translate to the next level. I think he’s a borderline roster guy.

I do think he’s got a chance to figure out how to make a team but it’s going to be based mostly on special teams. He’s shows some ability as a kick returner and he likely would be decent on punt returns as well but he has experience as a gunner and likely shows some potential there. He ran 4.52 with an impressive 6.81 3 cone at his pro day which probably helped his stock a bit as I didn’t see that elite quickness or change of direction on tape consistently. That does make me think that maybe there’s some more we could uncover with NFL coaching. As is now he doesn’t separate super well unless it’s schemed up for him but he’s pretty good in traffic despite his size.

He’s tough, there’s zero question about that. He works hard to block, despite being very small and is going to fight after the catch for yards. I just think that he’s limited. The size is borderline at best and his speed is okay but not good enough to make up for the size. I do think he could work his way to the back of a roster because he’s going to work hard as a gunner on special teams and he has shown he can return kicks and is willing to do what it takes on offense. I wouldn’t use a top 5 round draft pick on him and to me he’s a round 7 player. 

RB - Michael Wiley, Arizona 62

Wiley is a potential bottom of the roster guy who has at 210 pounds has decent size and potentially an ability to play some special teams. Where he shines though is he has 123 career catches out of the backfield for the Wildcats and is smooth catching the football. At times he also shows good potential as a pass protector and with that skill he could end up figuring out a way to work onto a roster. He’s got decent size, good thump, and catches it well, those are all good things but his overall skillset is lacking and he likely is going to be fighting for his football life consistently in the league. I think I’d take a shot at him though at the end of the draft if I need a pass catcher.

As a pure runner he’s got okay vision as a zone runner which they did mostly at Arizona but what I do like is that most of the time he’s looking to cut that ball north and south. He’s not really explosive or super quick but he’s got enough juice to get some chunk yardage and pick up some bigger plays. He ran a 4.51 at the Combine and it felt right based on film. While he’s not necessarily overly powerful, he also isn’t going to consistently get tackled by the first defender. Nothing that jumps out here, but he needs to improve his vision if he wants to get more playing time at the next level.

Where I think he can be a good player is in the passing game. He’s smooth catching the football and ran a variety of routes at Arizona. At times he was out at WR, he ran screens, bubbles, checkdowns and flair routes there, showing an aptitude for the skill. He’s not overly quick or nimble or anything with it but he doesn’t drop the ball often and looks like there’s some potential in his ability to make plays there. He has over 1100 receiving yards for his career and you can see they were working to get him the ball in space. On top of it he works as a pass protector and isn’t afraid to mix it up, he seems to know where and when to help as well and he’s got a good base to take on blitzers. Not great there, but pretty good for a guy coming out of college.

He could make a roster and it wouldn’t surprise me. He has virtually zero flash in terms of tempo running, etc but he’s got enough acceleration and speed that he typically will get what’s blocked for him. I don’t look at him and think he’s going to be great but he’s a worker and is physical enough that if he can prove himself on special teams as a blocker and a gunner you could see him working his way through a roster and hanging on. Nothing more than a 7th rounder but if I needed a pass catcher and my scouts thought he had the temperament to help me on special teams I’d consider him for sure, if not I’d target him as a Priority Free Agent regardless. 

LB - Steele Chambers, Ohio State 62

Chambers is a late day 3 LB who has some ability to make plays, is a good tackler, and plays with some decent instincts considering he was a RB turned LB. I think he’s undersized with just average speed and being only 224 pounds with mediocre speed doesn’t lend itself to playing at a high level in the NFL. At 6’1 with just 30 inch arms he really needed to show out at the Combine to put himself in the upper day 3 draft status but not running the 40 and then posting below average numbers in the jumps didn’t help his not athletic enough profile. I think he’s a late day 3 player who has a shot to potentially play on special teams as he’s a good tackler in space but he probably lacks the traits to start in the NFL.

As a pure LB there are some decent things to work with. He’s good in space at tackling, not trying to shoot his gun too quickly and does a nice job of wrapping up. He has just 30 missed tackles combined in the past three years of starting for the Buckeyes and you can see it on tape. He gets himself into position fairly often and doesn’t allow YAC yards in the passing game. He seems to have pretty good feel for zone, for the most part but he’s not a talented pass defender as he’s not really overly quick nor fast but he seems to see the game at a decent level. Not sure he’ll give you a ton as a pass rusher either with his traits.

As a run defender there are some positives to how he reads the game. He likes to play downhill when he can and he seems capable of filling gaps, and he’s pretty damn good at knifing between blockers. However, when he’s asked to take guys on he lacks the lower body strength to hold up there and at times when guys climb to the second level he gets pushed around. 

There are pundits who have him as a top 5 LB in this class and honestly that’s laughable. Nothing against the kid but nothing on tape or with his traits makes me think he’s going to be anything other than a deep backup LB if he can make it at all which is borderline. Decent college player without a doubt but I believe he lacks the traits to be anything other than a round 6 or more likely 7 draft pick who might be able to get onto a roster. 

LB - Jaylan Ford, Texas 61

Ford isn’t an undraftable player but the lack of play speed shows its head a lot on tape and it’s problematic enough that you have to wonder if he can overcome that. Ford makes quite a few plays around the line of scrimmage and you can tell that he’s a good player in a phone booth. He’s been very productive, picking up 220 tackles over the past two seasons to go along with 6 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles. Those aren’t stats that bad players get, and he’s a damn good college player. The issue is we’re projecting him toward the NFL right now and he’d need to go to a scheme where he can get protected consistently in order to be effective. His lack of sideline to sideline speed is an issue and it means that he could be a scheme specific contributor late in the process.

As a run defender there are some positive aspects to his game. Ford likes to play downhill and has the pop in his hands to get off of blocks from players, particularly when he’s playing against shorter armed interior players. At times he won’t deconstruct the blocks as well as you’d like and it’s almost like he doesn’t have the sense of urgency there that you’d need. He’s a bit stiff and robotic at times in terms of his movements from standing still to being active in the play but when he gets going he likes to attack. Again he’s gotten a bunch of tackles so he’s not going to hurt you there. I just don’t think if the plays are stretched out that he has the speed to carry the sideline in the NFL. Inside in a 34 defense though where he’s asked to simply take on and attack, or as a 43 SLB where he can stack and play gap control he could be a nice piece.

He offers something in the pass game too. In zone coverage he seems to know where he’s supposed to be and gets proper depth with consistency. I like him in the middle and that awareness and drop distance awareness is good. I worry about the long speed to cover guys coming out of the backfield or particularly down the seam though. I think a zone heavy team he has a chance to have some effectiveness.

I wish he would have ran the 40 at the combine. A 4.65 would have really helped his cause in my book. If he could run a nice time at the weird joint Big 12 pro day it could help him a bit. Right now I think he needs to play football in a phone booth and play some short zones in terms of scheme to be effective, but there aren’t a ton of opportunities like that in the NFL anymore. I do like that he has experience covering kicks and he’ll probably need to make a living doing that unless he goes to a beneficial situation in terms of team and schematic fit. Realistically the play speed may just not be good enough to overcome the rest. 

LB Michael Barrett, Michigan 61

It’s difficult to see Barrett being very good in the NFL to be honest. He’s got the size of a strong safety and the speed of a defensive end, while lining up at linebacker. That’s not an ideal combination. Barrett is at his best as a blitzer, as he plays the position with the vision and timing of a running back and it leads to him getting a good amount of pressures. The issue is, a 4.7 linebacker with poor athleticism matched up with running backs and TEs at the NFL level is going to not end well for Barrett. He also is a dragdown tackler and not someone who thumps you at the second level. Maybe he turns into a niche player at the next level as he is a plus blitzer but I see a long road ahead for him if he wants to make it.

Where he probably fits best in the NFL is as a nickel or dime linebacker due to that ability to time up the snap. He plays with excellent anticipation as a blitzer, and can run a delayed blitz as well as anyone. Barrett lets the hole clear and then explodes through line a running back running a wide zone. He also shows a propensity to bounce off the first contact at that and get to his secondary rush quickly. Again the lack of athleticism and speed limits how many actual sacks he gets, with just 6.5 combined the past two seasons but it’s a good skill. Again the issue with him being 5’11 and 232 pounds means you likely don’t want to line him up on the edge much as he’s not effective there. Niche player here without huge produciton.

You also would hope that someone who will play in the nickel would give you something impressive in terms of coverage ability but he has two career interceptions, both against Rutgers in 2022 and just 4 career passes defensed. At 4.70 in the 40 and with poor overall explosiveness for his position you can’t see him covering at a playable level consistently in the League. Therefore you project him as a pure LB and the lack of size and his inability to really hit and play through contact as a LB means that I don’t know what he’s going to do. He played as a two down LB at Michigan due to the lack of speed but then it’s like how do you expect that to hold up in the NFL? I don’t.

He’s just not good enough to be a good player at the NFL level. He lacks the traits desirable to fit any spot that could work. As a two-down backer he’s not strong enough and lacks explosiveness and size to take on pullers. To be successful he’d have to have elite players in front of him. As a blitzer he offers something but he can’t rush against tackles and get anywhere. Also as a blitzer he got a lot of wins at Michigan but very few actual counting stats. He’d be an ultra low day 3 pick or a UDFA for me. 

S - Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest 60

Didn’t take me very long to downgrade Mustapha to a late day 3 pick in my rankings. While the Demon Deacon safety was productive in terms of tackling this past season his angles and weakness in terms of being able to actually convert all his tackles to getting guys on the ground is adequate at best. On top of that his range, even as a cover 2 safety is limited on tape. As an undersized safety at 5’11 and 207 pounds, he had to add about 25 pounds of muscle during his time in college and it did limit his mobility some. Not much on tape that makes me excited about drafting him and to me he looks like a very late round safety and likely special teamer.

As a run defender if he’s kept clean he likes to come down under control and make plays. At times he’ll get himself going too quick and overrun plays and it leads to missed tackles. In fact, Mustapha has missed 26 combined tackles the past two seasons, all while making just 138 tackles. That missed tackle rate is almost unplayable, and that’s at the college level. His arm length and inability to wrap up causes issues. He also can at times get carried for longer gains by bigger stronger RBs. That said he likes to mix it up, so he has a chance to be effective and make some tackles throughout the tape, but he’s a little bit too reactionary in terms of seeing the plays develop. He’s probably not big enough for a robber role but his lack of play speed means maybe not ideal for a cover 2 role either. It’s tough - kind of a tweener.

As a pass defender, the lack of size is problematic as is the mediocre recognition skills. He’ll get himself into position occasionally but he had just two passes defensed in 2023, that’s not very good. I don’t see him having the ability to cover TEs due to lack of size and he’s definitely not quick enough to cover slot WRs so he needs to play in a heavy zone look to be successful. 

He’s borderline for me on whether or not I’d even draft him. I think in round 7 maybe I’d consider it but he’s a very low ranking player whose inability to tackle consistently with lack of ideal size and mediocre speed and recognition skills on film push him way down. If I’m a heavy zone team or like to mix it up with a lot of safeties he’s got some potential. 

TE - Dallin Holker, Colorado State 60

Borderline player here for me is Holker from Colorado State. A guy who struggles as a blocker with both feel and power and who lacks the speed to threaten you from the seam. He wouldn’t be someone I would draft personally but he probably carries a late day 3 grade for most teams. Holker led the nation in catches for TEs this season while simultaneously running the slowest 40 at the combine for the position - which shows the difference between college football and the NFL. Holker is a good college football player and likely isn’t an NFL caliber guy. At 6’4 and 235 pounds he’s likely an H-back in the NFL but with below average blocking skills, some drops, and below average speed, to me he’s a UDFA but someone will likely draft him in the middle of day 3 as high volume TEs aren’t very common coming out of school.

Holker does have some intriguing skills that put him in the draftable category. First he put up an extremely impressive 6.83 3 cone drill in Indy which really jumped him up in terms of showing that he’s got some ability to get in and out of breaks. It’s that skill that actually leads him to getting a decent amount of his catches from the slot, where he pretty much lives. He also gets a lot of WR screens in that CSU offense. Holker shows an aptitude for making tight cuts, and he uses his body well to make some catches. It’s why there’s a shot for him as a 3rd TE in the league.

The rest of the game needs a lot of work. He has long arms at 33.5 inches so there is some potential as a pass protector but if you watch his footwork and ability there, it’s rough. As a run blocker, particularly as a lead blocker it’s really bad. In line it’s almost worse. He doesn’t have any feel for it and just lets too many guys go while trying to climb. He’s one of the worst ones I’ve scouted so far and that’s saying something. There’s potential there as those arms and that ability to change directions could turn into something usable but Holker currently needs a lot of coaching. The fact he comes in as one of the oldest people in the draft doesn’t bode well for him there.

He’s borderline. I think the catches and the 3 cone drill put him on the map but barely. I do think he’s someone who could potentially be intriguing should you get him in camp so late 7 or UDFA for him and see if he can become better and useful in time but I’d let someone else take the chance. 

ST/LB - Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington 60

He’s definitely draftable and better than some of the guys I did writeups on above but there are some issues here. He has below average recognition skills and instincts in the run game and that’s as a 6th year player. That has a low likelihood of improvement. He’s also pretty good but not great in the pass defense game. His best skill is he has a pretty high hit rate as a tackler in space and he plays the game hard and with good speed. I think his best bet is to make the team as a special teamer because he has a shot to be really good there. He’s worth a look in the 6th or 7th round and is draftable for sure but instincts is something that you have or you don’t and as a run defender his aren’t great. 

EDGE Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington 60

It’s not that I don’t think he should be drafted, he’s probably someone who will and should go on day 3. The issue here is that he has extensive injury history and you just dont’ know what you’re getting yourself into there. ZTF was a baller in 2020 and looked like he may end up being a second round type talent but injuries, covid, and other things shut him down and he’s never really ended up as an impact player. In fact he has 57 tackles, 10 TFL and 8 sacks over the past two seasons combined and you just don’t know if he can maintain health and be impactful both. I would have a hard time pulling the trigger on a draft pick for him until round 7 just due to those issues and would need medical clearance by my guys before pulling the trigger as he’s already a mid to late day 3 pick. With just tape I think he’s a 5th round pick who would provide decent value in round 6. 

KICKERS

• Joshua Karty, K Stanford

I don’t usually have draftable grades on kickers because it’s so hard to predict but the past 2 seasons he’s 41-45 on kicks and he’s made 17-17 from 40-49 yards and 7-10 from 50+ with a 61 yarder on his resume. He’s missed one extra point in 3 seasons and has only missed one kick inside 40 yards his entire career. Didn’t look great at Mobile during the week and missed one in the game but he’s a good kicker with a good leg. Should get snagged on day 3. 

• Will Reichard, K Alabama

When you are the leading scorer in the history of the best program in college football, you deserve to get drafted. He’s got a monster leg and went 10-13 in his career at Alabama from beyond 50 yards, and was hitting 60 yarders at Mobile. I would say that he’s not the world’s most accurate kicker as he did miss 8 kicks between 40 and 49 yards throughout his career and 18 field goals overall his past 4 seasons, but he’s pretty damn good - hitting 86% over his past 4 seasons a very nice career. Definitely a draftable weapon. 

Late round or UDFAs 

CB - Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State

I couldn’t really get behind a lot of his tape as it just wasn’t as good as I’d really like and at the Senior Bowl in one on ones there was a lot of separation there. He didn’t have a pick this season but went to Mobile and had two in the game and turned in maybe the best in game performance of the week. There are serious issues in my opinion about how he holds up long term in the NFL with borderline size and below average speed. He was around the ball a decent amount in college with 17 career PBUs but only 3 picks, including zero in 2023. I know he’s moved up some draft boards throughout this process but I think he’s a borderline pro who should go on the back half of day 3 at the highest. 

He’s feisty in terms of allowing completions during the games and it shows up on tape at times. Good athletes and bigger guys can get him which is why I think he’ll struggle in that transition to the NFL. He ran a 4.54 and despite people saying he’s a great athlete, he’s not. His 40, vertical, and 3 cone were all subpar and it shows up on film and at the Senior Bowl practices. Quickness, speed, and size all got him. He plays a hard brand of football at the catch point and therefore he could still outplay his deficiencies but there wasn’t much about his game in terms of translating that I really thought would work well for him.

I’m going to end my writeup here because he’s pushed down into the round 7 or UDFA range for me. Few turnovers, a bit of injury history in 2023, and below average size and speed all add up to someone who would have to dramatically outperform his limitations to turn into a good pro and I don’t like those bets. 

TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota

Not my cup of tea. He’s an extremely plodding TE who can only be used as a checkdown target at the next level. His inability to create enough space just means he’s likely utilized as solely a blocking TE. At 6’7 and 270 pounds though, for teams looking for a big extra TE who can come in and play in those power downs, he does offer something for that. I’d prefer him as a UDFA who could come be a camp invite, seeing how well he blocks in OTAs but if someone gave up a 7th on him to try to develop him into a TE3/Power blocker I could see it. The misses blocking in space and some drops in 2023, more than you’d like means to me he’s a UDFA. 

4.77 at the combine cemented the grade. 

DE - Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas UDFA

Very borderline player who I think does carry a tiny bit of value very deep in a draft but is probably best suited as a UDFA. If someone took him in round 7 or something I wouldn’t hate it but he’s a UDFA for me. He’s got some decent size on him and likely can play either 34 OLB or 43 edge but he’s only okay against the run and against better competition he got nullified easily. No real nuance to his game although occasionally he shows an ability to hit an inside move to get pressures. Can’t see him being anything more than a bottom of the roster guy if he makes it. UDFA for me. 

QB - Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

Should compete to be a backup in the NFL but being older as an NFL rookie doesn’t bode well for him. Hartman is probably a late day 3 guy and isn’t someone I’d use a pick on as I don’t see starter talent with Hartman but with decent athleticism and some moxy he looks like he could be a backup in the league. Guessing he’s a 6th round type guy who maybe could give you a start or two in a pinch but I don’t see much else as someone who I should try to use real draft capital on. He’s a UDFA for me. 

S - Jonathan Owens, Texas Tech

He was a borderline guy for me, probably draftable in the late rounds but I don’t draft guys who are morons. The fact that he would “allegedly” joke about there not being other planets because he’s religious was absurd. If it was a joke, you don’t do that during the biggest job interview of your life, and if it wasn’t a joke, well… it takes you off draft boards. 

WR - Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia

I’m going to be honest nothing I really saw made me think he was an NFL WR. I do think if your team is looking for someone who could become a core special teams guy though he’s got a shot for that. He doesn’t have the ability to separate at an NFL level and he’s not athletic enough to make enough contested catches. I think he’s a potential ST guy though who I’d like to bring in to potentially work for that role and that of a blocking only WR. He takes pride in that and it makes me believe that he could turn into that type of player. I think in round 7 you could take him thinking that he could work his way into a run blocking specific role and could earn a spot on the 53 based on ST. 

LB - Omar Speights, LSU

Just don’t think he has the quickness or speed to play at the NFL level. His ability to tackle and take on blocks is good enough that maybe he could earn a spot on special teams and on early down work as a downhill run stopper. I might bring him in to see how he looks covering kicks as a UDFA but I doubt his lack of movement skills is going to work in the NFL. 

QB - Jordan Travis, Florida State

There isnt much to his game that makes me think that he is going to be a long term successful NFL QB other than the moxy. He’s got good mobility but at 6’1 and 201 pounds he has below average size, is coming off a major injury, and has shown average accuracy throughout his career. This season he had two of the biggest catch radius weapons in all of college football, probalby the two biggest and he completed under 64% of his throws. I also think his quickness and athleticism are good for the college game but I doubt they necessarily translate as well in the NFL. I do think his toughness and leadership ability is good enough that he could work his way into a backup role potentially but I wouldn’t use a draft pick on him until very late, particularly after he got injured at the end of the season. I just don’t see enough upside to justify it. 

WR - Jha’Quan Jackson, Tulane

Based on senior bowl and a couple of quick tapes, just a guy. Doesn’t mean you couldn’t pull the trigger on him in round 6 or 7 if you think he has the physicality to help on special teams but looks like a WR5. 

NON DRAFTABLE 

CB Willie Drew, Virginia State

Not someone who is an NFL caliber player. He’s not someone I’d bring in.

INTERESTING PLAYERS WITHOUT ENOUGH INFO:

Giovanni Manu, OT British Columbia

He’d be a huge UDFA target if he makes it that far but doubt he will. Don’t have enough tape but impossible to not be intrigued by the tools.

Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Agronauts

Never played college football but was the best player in the fan controlled football league, then snagged 5 picks and 53 tackles in the CFL. Went to the East-West Shrine Bowl and looked like he belonged. Without question someone to draft but just not enough tape for me to give a grade. Could be one of those crazy stories who ends up being a baller.