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Top 50 NFL Draft Prospects
We are profiling the Top 50 players in the 2020 NFL Draft Class. These are the best college football players in the country and we’re dissecting them all. We look at their statistics, intangibles, prospect ranking, ideal landing spot, worst landing spot and compare them to current NFL players. We also predict draft order and the NFL team that will draft each of our prospects. It’s fun and subjective. We’ll be announcing each player on Twitter as well @lineups. If you’re scouting rookies for your fantasy football draft, visit our fantasy football rankings pages.
1
Before the start of the college season, many were thinking Tua Tagovailoa would be the first pick overall, or even the star pass-rusher Chase Young. Joe Burrow stole the show in his senior season. He took home a Heisman Trophy, finishing the season with over 5,000 passing yards and 50 touchdowns. Burrow averaged 10.9 yards per attempt, and only turned the ball over six times. His pocket presence was spectacular, and will need to bring that to the next level. Burrow had some fantastic receiving options like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow has moved ahead of the remaining quarterback prospects and will likely be taken first overall. That means he will be heading back to Ohio, where he started off his college career before transferring down to LSU. Burrow is a big 6’4 quarterback who stands tall in the pocket, and moves well for his size. To think we Burrow lost his job to Dwayne Haskins, and blossomed after transferring. Look for Burrow to be the first name called during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Strengths
• IQ
• Accuracy
• Leadership
• Pocket Presence
• Mechanics
Weaknesses
• Arm Strength
• Mobility
If I am going to nitpick Joe Burrow, the arm strength is still above average but isn’t quite as elite as some of the other quarterbacks in this class. Is this a significant problem? No, I don’t think so. Burrow threw the deep ball with success, and we can chalk some of that success up to his top wideouts. Burrow’s IQ and accuracy were at elite levels in 2019, which mask his arm strength. At 6’4 and well over 200 points, Burrow has a strong pocket presence, but his mobility is about what you’d expect for someone of his size. Once again, this is more nitpicking for some weaknesses here, as he has average mobility and isn’t a complete tree stump back there. As far as strengths go, Burrow showed off a tremendous football IQ. His pocket presence was on another level, and he works through his progressions with ease. Burrow has a calm nature to him, yet he is the clear leader of this LSU offense. With Cincinnati likely taking him, they need a clear guy on offense that can get this team going. While we have just a one-year sample size with Burrow, his 77% completion rate was a 20% increase from the year prior. He will have to still prove he is not just a one-hit-wonder.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, COMP%: 77.6, PASS YDS: 5,208, PASS TD: 55, INT: 6, RTG: 204
Overall stats – GP: 37, COMP%: 69, PASS YDS: 8,389, PASS TD: 73, INT: 11, RTG: 172.2
Best Landing Spot
Cincinnati is officially on the clock, and Joe Burrow is the likely candidate to head to the Bengals. We can make jokes about the Bengals, but honestly, this is not a bad spot for Burrow to get into. We will have to see what A.J. Green does, but Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, John Ross, Auden Tate, and Tyler Eifert make up the skill position spots around him. This is a fairly good offensive core to jump right into. With Washington, Detroit, and New York picking behind them, they have young or already established quarterbacks already. Cincinnati is going to need to continue to invest in the offensive line, which should be a big priority this offseason. They will get back Jonah Williams after he missed the entire rookie 2019 season.
Worst Landing Spot
Now I don’t see Cincinnati passing up on Joe Burrow, but say they do, would Washington draft him despite taking Dwayne Haskins last season. Washington would be the worst spot here. I love Terry McLaurin, but Washington lacks immediate receiving help for a new quarterback. The offensive line is in bad shape, and overall this organization continues to be poorly run.
Draft Range
Picks 1-3
NFL Comparison
We have heard numerous comparisons for Joe Burrow already, comparing from Tom Brady to Tony Romo. He even got a comparison to Peyton Manning. Certainly, he is in high praise right now with what he is doing. We can eliminate any sort of mobile quarterback from comparisons, and look at true pocket passers. However, I won’t link him with the cannon-armed quarterbacks either. When you really get into it, Brady and Romo are pretty fair comparisons for what he does well. Both are strong pocket passers who are excellent in reading defenses and making their reads. The clean mechanics of all three can be tied together, alongside the accurate ball. None have also been praised for their arm strength in comparison to names like Aaron Rodgers. I like the Romo comparison here, although his name value tends to be mixed depending on who you ask.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 9 – Completed over 70% of his passes, showed excellent touch on mid to deep
Arm Strength: 7 – Not as strong as some of the quarterbacks in his class
Mechanics: 7 – Can be a bit flat footed at times on throws, but nothing major here.
Mobility: 7 – Burrow has above average mobility inside & outside of the pocket.
2
Last season, NFL scouts didn’t think that any edge rusher could be more dominant than Nick Bosa. In fact, many college football analysts were skeptical that Ohio State’s defense could bounce back from the loss of Nick Bosa. However, Chase Young was able to emerge as one of the best pass rushing prospects of the decade because of his insane combination of quickness and strength. As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, Young is certainly the second-best prospect, and will definitely be drafted in the top five.
Strengths
• Pass rush
• Finesse moves
• Timing of the snap
• Play recognition
• Strength
• Speed
Many NFL scouts believe that Chase Young is one of the best pass-rushing prospects of the 2010-2020 decade. Young’s ability to time snaps is rare and exceptional. Due to his timing, Young is remarkably quicker than the majority of the linemen he lines up against and is able to brush past them on the edge with finesse moves. Even when an OL perfectly times a snap, Young has way more tenacity for them to block him. In fact, his motor is so incredible that he knocks past offensive tackles and even some double teams in order to get to the quarterback. Young doesn’t always have to use a finesse or power move when he’s on the edge because his combination of strength and quickness allows him to just run past OL. Consequently, he repeatedly sheds blocks and runs toward his target. On run plays, Young showcases his high football IQ by remaining disciplined and keeping contain. The best attribute about Young is the fact that he is consistently a pain for offensive linemen, quarterbacks, and coordinators.
Weaknesses
• Tackling Technique
• Pad level too high
• Coverage
Even though Young is a tremendous edge rusher, he still has areas where he needs to improve. For instance, Young’s pad level is often too low when he engages in power moves. If Young gets his pad level lower, then he’ll have more acceleration, and push OL back further with power moves. Speaking of technique, Young also needs to refine his tackling technique because he often grabs players too high. As a result, he has a slight tendency to not fully grasp quarterbacks, like Trevor Lawrence, who are able to shrug him off occasionally. Another area for Young to improve is his pursuit because he shows noticeably less effort if the play isn’t directly near him.
College Production:
2019 stats – GP: 12, Tackles: 46, Sacks: 16.5, FF: 7, FR: 0
Overall stats – GP: 34, Tackles: 98, Sacks: 30.5, FF: 9, FR: 0
Over his last two seasons, Chase Young’s input has potentially skyrocketed. During the 2019-2020 season, Young led all college football defenders in sacks, even though he was suspended for two games due to a loan discrepancy. Throughout his career, Young has been able to obliterate offensive linemen and harass quarterbacks in the backfield.
Best Landing Spot
The best landing spot for Chase Young would be the Washington Redskins because of Ron Rivera’s 4-3 scheme. The best thing for Chase Young would be for him to stay as a 4-3 defensive end who is solely responsible for run stopping and pass rushing. Especially since Rivera’s scheme emphasizes aggressiveness on passing plays and keeping contain on running plays, Young would be suited quite well opposite from Montez Sweat or Johnathan Allen.
Worst Landing Spot
While this scenario would be almost impossible, the worst place for Young to end up is in Miami with the Dolphins. As of 2019, the Miami Dolphins currently run a 3-4 scheme, which would limit Young’s upside. Throughout Young’s tenure at OSU, he played in a 4-3 scheme where he was able to be aggressive against the pass. Despite his edge rushing skills, Young isn’t quite fast enough to drop back in coverage on passing plays in a 3-4 system.
Draft Range
Within the top three/five picks.
NFL Comparison
Chase Young’s combination of speed and power is most similar to Julius Peppers. Most scouts believe that Young will be able to generate pressure in the same way that Peppers did when he was in the NFL. Especially if Chase Young plays in Ron Rivera’s 4-3 scheme, he will be able to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines.
Ratings Breakdown
Athleticism: 9 – his athleticism helps him shed blocks and get into the backfield quickly
Mechanics: 6.5 – needs to refine tackling form and work on pad level
Run Def: 7 – is great at keeping contain because he’s disciplined on run plays
Strength: 9 – uses his strength to obliterate offensive linemen and to tackle RBs and QBs
3
Strengths
• Man coverage
• Especially deep man coverage
• Run Support
• Play recognition
• Versatility
• Footwork
• Agility
You won’t be able to find a better man coverage cornerback in the 2020 draft class than Jeff Okudah. When Okudah is going against receivers on the outside, he is able to use his quickness, speed, and footwork to stay step for step with them on deep routes. Even if a wideout catches the ball, Okudah’s aggressive play style allows him to force the ball out of the receivers hands. One of the most underrated attributes about Okudah is his ability as a run stopper. Due to his insane combination of play recognition and physicality, he is able to consistently find the ball and be in a position to make a tackle. Another underrated attribute is the fact that Okudah can actually play some safety if necessary.
Weaknesses
• Slant/Drag route coverage
• Zone spacing
• Recovery
While Okduah is an excellent man coverage corner, he struggles against slant, hitch and drag routes the most. This is especially true when Okudah is in zone coverage, where he still needs to develop as a defensive back. Moreover, Okudah struggles to recover at times when he is in coverage if he gets beat on a route. If Okudah’s team is going against a physical WR who excels at slant and drag routes, like Michael Thomas, it would be detrimental for Okudah to cover him.
College Production:
2019 stats – GP: 13, Tackles: 34, Sacks: 0, FF: 1, FR: 0, INTs: 3
Overall stats – GP: 35, Tackles: 83, Sacks: 0, FF: 1, FR: 2, INTs: 3
Best Landing Spot
Jeffery Okudah would be a perfect fit for the Detroit Lions because he is an excellent man corner. Last season, the Lions were among the league leaders in terms of playing man coverage. However, the Lions desperately need to draft a quality man coverage cornerback considering the fact that they surrendered the most passing yards in the NFL last season. Okudah’s aggressiveness would help out Darius Slay on the outside, and be greatly coveted by Lions coach Matt Patricia.
Worst Landing Spot
Jeffery Okudah would have a difficult time playing for the Washington Redskins because their head coach, Ron Rivera, loves to use zone coverage. Throughout his tenure as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach, Rivera used zone coverage more than any other team in the NFL. Given that Okudah still needs to work on his spacing and reaction time in zone coverage, it would be optimal for him to be eased into zone coverage rather than fully inserted into a mostly zone system.
Draft Range
Early First Round
NFL Comparison
Jeffery Okudah’s combination of speed and man coverage skills have drawn parallels to Marshon Lattimore. I believe that this comparison is accurate because Okudah has the ability to step in on day one and take over as a starting CB. However similar to Marshon Lattimore, Okudah needs to improve at covering against short routes and zone coverage. If Okudah puts in the work and is placed in the right system, his ceiling could be as high as Patrick Peterson and Jalen Ramsey because of Okudah’s skill against deep routes.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 7.5 – speed helps him stay step for step with wide receivers
Agility: 8 – can change directions quickly and moves his hips fluidly
Zone Coverage: 6 – needs to work on spacing in zone coverage
Tackling: 7 – has great tackling form and is a great run stopper
4
Teams can always use a solid offensive lineman, and Andrew Thomas out of Georgia is just that. He was a three year starter at Georgia, and had a productive few seasons. Thomas is entering the draft as a top 15 pick, and if this class wasn’t so offensive heavy, Thomas would likely be going higher in the draft. Thomas worked in a pro-ready Georgia offense and had a big strength as a run blocker. Thomas will be turning 21 before the draft, and is already a top draft prospect. He has room for growth, especially in pass protection, which isn’t a knock against him. We look back at the Bulldog offenses over the last decade, and they have built top offensive lines year after year, to go along with great run games. There are a handful of teams within the first 15 picks that need an offensive tackle. Thomas will likely be first off the board, looking towards the back half of the first ten picks.
Strengths
• Run Blocking
• Strength
• IQ
Weaknesses
• Blocking In Space
• Footwork
There is a big reason for why Georgia’s rushing attack has been so strong, outside of the NFL talented backs. Andrew Thomas and some other names had an excellent season. It was a pro style offense where Thomas began to emerge as a top pick in the upcoming draft. He is an excellent run blocker, and is athletic for his build. If we are going to look at some negatives, there is room for growth in terms of his footwork, and also blocking in space. His pass protection was solid, but not quite at the level of running. He struggled a bit against quicker defensive lineman, which is where the footwork failed him at times.
College Production
Andrew Thomas has been starting since his freshman year, and went up against some strong defensive lineman throughout his three seasons. While we can talk about the dropoff in SEC defenses of late, their pass-rushers have still been noteworthy. Georgia’s offenses over the past three years have been tremendous, and having a strong offensive lineman is a big plus. That was the case here with Thomas.
Best Landing Spot
There are quite a few spots where Andrew Thomas can land, and it will shakeout depending on if a few teams bite on Jerry Jeudy instead. The Giants should be looking to boast their offensive line, as would Arizona and Cleveland. In terms of these teams, they are better suited for the future in comparison to teams like the Jets. Thomas can come in and make an instant impact to help the offensive line, which would provide a lift for the players around him.
Worst Landing Spot
The Jets are another team that desperately needs to upgrade their offensive line, and Andrew Thomas would do that immediately. They struggled to run the ball, and Thomas excels in opening up lanes for his running backs. The problem with landing on the Jets is that they still are a mess with Adam Gase at the helm, and a roster that you are not sure who will be there moving forward. In comparison to other teams around them, the Jets do not have a big picture plan it seems.
Draft Range
Top 15
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 7 – Moves well for his size, but speedy edge rushers can get to him.
Mechanics: 8 – Has tremendous hands and balance, but footwork in the pass game is a bit average.
Run Blocking: 9 – Thomas is one of the top run blockers in the draft.
Strength: 8 – He has excellent strength and moves bodies off the ball in the run game.
5
Tua Tagovoila has made it official. He will be in this year’s NFL draft. After an up-and-down, injury-ridden career at Alabama, Tua will hope to become the franchise quarterback that many believe he can in the NFL. He certainly has the tools to make this happen. Despite questions surrounding his durability, his ability and skills translate well to the next level. He does not have the height or stature of a Trevor Lawrence or Joe Burrow. Yet, his accuracy inside and out of the pocket are elite. He has plenty enough arm strength and we have seen several QBs thrive at his height and shorter. Tua has shown his ability to torch SEC-level defenses and be extremely accurate and precise while doing so. Last season as a sophomore, he threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 43 TDs and only 6 Ints. He missed games from injury this year, but followed up with a 33 TD 3 Int season. He certainly has the ability to raise his level of play when it matters most, bringing the tide back as a freshman to capture the 2018 title. In LSU’s lone chance of actually being defeated this year, Alabama fell short 46-41. Tua went for 418 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 Int. His command of the offense has been unparalleled in his three years at Alabama. Alabama has been known for having game-managing quarterbacks throughout their dynasty. Let’s be honest: the likes of Greg Mcelroy, AJ McCarron, Jake Coker, Blake Sims, and even Jalen Hurts were never on the level that Tagovailoa was at the collegiate level. Tua has the intangibles, skillset, and IQ to be Russel Wilsonesque in the NFL.
Strengths
• Vision
• Accuracy
• Arm Strength
• Pocket Presence
• Mechanics
• Mobility
Weaknesses
• Durability
Tua does not have any glaring weaknesses across the board. His vision and accuracy is elite, especially for short to intermediate-level throws. That is especially beneficial in today’s NFL. His precision and ability to get the ball out quickly can make him a 3rd down machine. Tua may not have Matt Stafford arm strength, but has plenty enough and is very accurate when going deep. He is terrific navigating the pocket and is balanced with his footwork in the pocket. Tua understands coverage rotation well, although he may underestimate his need to audible based on coverage at times. He knows how to utilize the strengths of his receivers extremely well, whether their best quality is speed, physicality, or leaping ability. Tua has an uncanny ability to escape sacks while not doing too much. If he can find better ways to protect himself inside and out of the pocket, durability should not be an issue. His build is pretty solid already, so more added strength would prevent future injuries. Tua does have a slight hitch, but his overall mechanics are good for a young quarterback coming out of college. His confidence and command of the offense is not normal for someone his age, and he has been this way throughout his entire college career. As competitive as there is, Tua’s injury history at Alabama should not offset him the way many believe.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 9, COMP%: 71.4, PASS YDS: 2,840 yds, PASS TDs: 33, INTs: 3, RTG: 206.9
Overall stats – GP: 32, COMP%: 69.3, PASS YDS: 7,442 yds,PASS TDs: 87, INTs: 11, RTG: 199.4
His confidence, will to win, big play ability, and consistency make him a top 3 quarterback prospect when healthy. His potential is out the roof considering just how deadly he can be in and outside the pocket.
Best Landing Spot
Teams with speedy wideouts that model Alabama would be the perfect fit for Tua. Yet and still, the most important trait is a team with a good offensive line. It is essential that the young quarterback coming off injury goes to a team that is also beefing up their O-line. This would include a team like the Colts. Other great spots for Tua include teams with an already established run-game. The Panthers and Chargers would be good fits for this reason.
Worst Landing Spot
While many mock drafts have Tua possibly going to the Dolphins, this would not be good for his immediate health and success. The offensive line is an issue and the run game is non-existent. Other teams that would not bode well for Tua include the Falcons and Bengals.
Draft Range
Early-mid 1st round
NFL Comparison
One common NFL comparison for Tua has been Russel Wilson. As a left-hander, Tua is unorthodox given his skillset and many NFL defenses may struggle to adjust. In terms of style of play and his ceiling, Drew Brees comes to mind. Not very gifted physically, but similar body types with an emphasis on accuracy and precision.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 10
Arm Strength: 8
Pocket Presence: 10
Mobility: 8
IQ: 9
6
Outside of Chase Young, Isaiah Simmons is one of the top defensive prospects in the draft. He should be headed for a top five pick, although a slight change in a pick could change everything. Simmons lined up all over the field, playing mostly linebacker but also played at the safety level at times. Simmons moves well all over the field, and is extremely athletic. He had over 100 tackles in this past season, and eight sacks to go with it. Simmons athleticism helps him in pass coverage, and it is hard to find a negative about it. He is going to be a game changer for any team that drafts him, and will be an instant help. Any team should be looking to get him rather they need him or not.
Strengths
• IQ
• Athleticism
• Pass Coverage
• Speed
• Pass Rush
• Tackling
Weaknesses
• Shedding Blocks
It is hard to find a negative here, and shedding blocks isn’t even a massive weakness. In comparison to the rest of his strengths, he could stand to improve in this area. Simmons is all over the field with his speed, and he is excellent in pass coverage which is big given how the NFL is now. He also is an excellent pass rusher and open field tackler. About every aspect of the game, Simmons excels in. Simmons has excellent IQ, knowing where the ball is going and also taking efficient routes to the ball or ball carrier. His size and speed make him a dangerous threat in all areas of the game. There isn’t a linebacker who can match him in this draft class, especially in pass coverage.
College Production
2019 stats – 104, tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF, 0 FR
Overall stats – 238 tackles, 11 sacks, 3 INT, 1 FR, 6 FF
Clemson’s success has also come from the defensive side, which has been big in draft classes over the last few years. In 2019 he had a standout year with over 100 tackles, and showed the ability to get to the quarterback. His pass coverage skills were strong, and Clemson moved him around all over the place.
Best Landing Spot
The New York Giants are in desperate need of a defensive playmaker like Isaiah Simmons, and this is where he could land. He is going to jump into any defense and be an instant starter. New York is in search of a key linebacker to build around and this would be a start. Out of the teams likely to take him, New York at least is in better shape moving forward.
Worst Landing Spot
There really isn’t a bad landing spot for Simmons for the sake of his playing time. If you want to look at a team where they are in not great of shape, we could say Miami if they decided to make shock pick, where Tua Tagovailoa is projected to go. Although the Dolphins have several draft picks to start gearing for the future.
Draft Range
Top Ten
NFL Comparison
It is hard to narrow down a comparison for Isaiah Thomas because he is just a freak athlete and does so many things well. He is a hybrid linebacker, but has played all over the field. Simmons has lined up in the secondary, linebacker, and as an edge rusher as well. He might set a bar where we start comparing other prospects to him.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 9 – Top end speed for the position and can play all over
Pass Coverage: 10 – He is the top pass coverage linebacker in the draft.
Run Defense: 8 – Like everything else he is great at reading plays and wraps up if they get to second level.
Strength: 8 – Simmons is a big time hitter and is a big presence on the field.
7
Grant Delpit was the heart and soul of the 2019 DBU season. He was a huge contributing factor in their success on defense, and in LSU’s college football playoff run. Delpit has a high motor which makes him one of the best safeties going into the NFL Draft. One of his best traits is his IQ. Delpit understands what’s going on from pre-snap reads, to understanding what the offense is doing mid-play. Along with his speed and athleticism, this makes his future look promising with understanding where to be one the field at all times.
Strengths
• IQ
• Agility
• Coverage
Delpit really is the complete package at safety. His speed and athleticism help keep up with any receiver. He also has the size where he won’t get pushed around by anybody either. Also, Delpit understands the game better than anyone in college. He knows where he needs to be at all times on the field and doesn’t allow much success when receivers are in his area.
Weaknesses
• Tackling
There really isn’t much to pick apart in Delpit’s game. One of the few weak points is his tackling. Overall, he is a good tackler but he is susceptible to getting lazy and going for arm tackles only.
College Production
2019 stats – 38 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions
Overall stats – 120 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recoveries, 8 interceptions
Best Landing Spot
Tampa Bay or Indianapolis would be the best fit for him given where they are drafted. Both need help defensively. Given the divisions both teams are in, they need help with opponents passing attacks. If he falls slightly then Dallas wouldn’t be a terrible spot for Delpit either.
Worst Landing Spot
Somewhere in the second round. This is hard to see happen, but LSU’s secondary was picked apart earlier this season. If teams believe Delpit was apart of the teams’ struggles, then he could see his draft stock fall.
Draft Range
Mid 1st Round
Delpit should be one of the first safeties off the board if not the first one drafted. Expect him to go somewhere between 14-22.
NFL Comparison
Jamal Adams
Delpit has the same centerfield range the Jamal Adams has. Both are very cerebral players that understand how teams are trying to pass the ball, so they are able to defend at will. Size and athleticism are about the same as well.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 8 – He isn’t letting anyone get passed him
Agility: 8 – His athleticism helps him make the plays in the secondary
Zone Coverage: 9 – One of the best zone coverage safeties in college
Tackles: 6 – Arm tackles aren’t going to get it done in the NFL
8
Jerry Jeudy will look to become the latest wide receiver out of Alabama to be drafted in the first round, as we have seen quite a few over recent years with Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley being drafted. Jeudy was part of an electric passing attack at Alabama, going for 24 touchdowns and over 2,100 receiving yards in his final two seasons. He is incredibly fast, and teams will be looking at him in the first round, especially those in need of a major playmaker. Both him and CeeDee Lamb are neck and neck in terms of the top wideout in this draft class, and both are headed for top 20 picks. He excels in athleticism and is an excellent route runner. He isn’t the most physical wideout, but is a force in the open field. There are several teams looking to upgrade their receiving core, and Jeudy will do just that.
Strengths
• Route Running
• IQ
• Speed & Acceleration
• Agility
• Yards After Catch
Weaknesses
• Dropped Passes
• 50/50 Balls
• Matching Up Against Physical Corners
There are not too many weaknesses in Jerry Jeudy’s game. He is one of the top route runners in the draft, especially in short yardage routes. This also helps him create chances to explode into the open field with his acceleration and speed. Because he isn’t a big and physical wideout, he can struggle with press coverage from more physical corners. However he also stands the chance to use that speed and get by as well. Jeudy won’t make a ton of 50/50 plays, but is good at getting the ball in the air in open space. The one slight knock on him is that he tends to lose concentration at times, which results in some frustrating drops.
College Production
2019 stats – 13 GP, 77 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards, 15.1 YPR, 10 TD
Overall stats – 36 GP, 159 receptions, 2,742 receiving yards, 17.2 YPR, 26 TD
Playing with Tua and a few other strong wideout candidates, he asserted himself at Alabama. He was a big time playmaker, and averaged over 15 yards per reception in his final season, and over 17 in his college career. Jeudy’s production should follow him into the pros. Both him and Devonta Smith had over 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns, although Jeudy is viewed as the better prospect.
Best Landing Spot
Arizona would be a fun spot for Jerry Jeudy, although they do have a few other needs as well. Pairing him with Kyler Murray would be instant success for both sides. Ultimately we need to look at who would be throwing to him, and then the coaches as well. Even with Larry Fitzgerald returning, Arizona still needs that deep threat option. This would give Arizona a solid aerial attack.
Worst Landing Spot
Jacksonville is by far the worst landing spot for any of the top wideouts. The quarterback situation is not ideal, even with Nick Foles and his huge contract there. Gardner Minshew was fun for a few weeks, but this team is not suited for a wide receiver to have instant success. Get Jeudy to one of the younger upcoming quarterbacks instead.
Draft Range
Top 15
NFL Comparison
There are plenty of comparisons to Odell Beckham out there, given his speed in the open field and burst on crossing routes. We can see that resemblance. However, after watching Chris Godwin this past season, Jeudy is slightly smaller but shows that burst that Godwin had after the catch. I would throw him in between both of these names, especially in terms of their hands.
Ratings Breakdown
Agility: 9 – His feet are incredible, and he has everything to be an elite playmaker at the next level.
Routes: 9 – Both him and Lamb are the top route runners in the draft.
Blocking: 5 – Wasn’t asked to do a ton of blocking, but average at best.
Size: 6 – Not overly tall or a physical presence, but athleticism makes up for it.
9
After a very solid 10.5 sack year as a Sophomore, A.J. Epenesa started to climb up 2020 draft boards. Now after another impressive year, Epenesa is slotted to be the second EDGE player off the board only behind arguable the best prospect in the draft, Chase Young. Epenesa helped lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 10-win season in 2019 and a bowl win. He has arguably a more complete skillset than Chase Young to go along with a high ceiling.
Strengths
• Extremely strong, especially at point of contact
• Elite bull rush and push/pull moves
• Great frame and length
• Versatility
• Technique
There is a lot to like about A.J. Epenesa’s complete skillset. As you could assume by his 6’6’’, 280lb frame Epenesa is very strong and uses his length very well. There is no doubt that Epenesa is the best power rusher out of this group of EDGE players. He has strong hands and uses power/bull rush moves effectively. Does a great job of striking tackles with his hands and is very frustrating to move off of the ball. He has shown good gap control as well as containment as an edge defender. Epenesa displays versatility in multiple ways. He is an impact player in the rush and passing game. Epenesa was mainly a 5-technique at Iowa but has all the tools to play on the outside as well as the interior in certain situations at the next level. He displayed the ability to work out of both 3- and 4-point stances on a consistent basis. There may be some concern about his pure speed and athleticism, but his strength and advanced technique to beat blockers on a regular basis.
Weaknesses
• Lacks elite speed and athleticism
• Lateral quickness
• Needs to diversify pass rush moves
Unlike Chase Young, Epenesa is not the type of electric athlete on the line of scrimmage. He has solid get up off the ball, but that’s not how he is going to beat you. I don’t want to nit-pick Epenesa too much for his athleticism because he is able to be impactful through his power and technique. There is some worry about his lateral quickness. At times Epenesa can lack explosiveness when working down the line of scrimmage to make a play. As good of a pass-rusher he is there is still some work to be done. Epenesa changes speeds well to make up for the lack of elite explosiveness, but needs to add more moves to his arsenal. He started to diversify his pass-rush moves this year and will need to continue to do so. Lastly, he has an elite frame, but it is worth noting that he will need to work to keep that pad level consistently low.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, Tackles: 49, Sacks: 11.5, FF: 4, FR: 0, TFLs: 14
Overall stats – GP: 37, Tackles: 101, Sacks: 26.5, FF: 9, FR: 1, TFLs: 36
A.J. Epenesa was able to produce throughout his 3-year career, but his last two have been dominant. Epenesa put up 22 sacks and 30.5 tackles for a loss over his Sophomore and Junior years. He was the most impactful player on Iowa and did so in a BIG 10 conference with some very impressive offensive lines.
Best Landing Spot
Epenesa is made for 4-3 system in which he can predominantly play the 5-technique, but also move around to the interior in certain situations. On a good note every team in the 9-15 range runs a 4-3 base defense other than the Jets and Broncos. Of those 4-3 teams I view the Indianapolis Colts as a great fit. Being drafted by the Colts would allow Epenesa to come into a scheme that fits him and make an impact immediately. It also wouldn’t hurt him to pick the brain of Justin Houston and add some more pass-rush moves to his repertoire.
Worst Landing Spot
In my opinion the worst landing sport for Epenesa would either be the Jets or Broncos. Now this isn’t to say he couldn’t excel there because he has the talent to be successful anywhere. These teams don’t fit Epenesa as well because of their 3-4 defenses. He would be less valuable in a 3-4 front because he isn’t the type of player to pass-rush from a 2-point stance. He would be forced to play more interior which I believe he would still make an impact at, but profiles best as a 5-technique.
Draft Range
Picks 9-15
NFL Comparison
Derek Wolfe
Now this is a comparison of skillset not the type of success at the next level. Wolfe and Epenesa both have similar frames and all-around skillsets as defensive ends. Ironically, Wolfe has played his entire career with a team that I mentioned as a bad landing spot for Epenesa. Wolfe has been forced to play more interior d-line than I would like. I think that Wolfe, like Epenesa, would have benefitted from being able to play defensive end in a 4-3 system.
Ratings Breakdown
Athleticism: 6.5, not an elite speed/athleticism guy
Mechanics: 8, good technique and frames
Run Defense: 8.5, great gap control, main flaw is lateral quickness
Strength: 9, extremely strong and powerful
10
Ceedee Lamb is our number two ranked wide receiver but is not far behind Jerry Jeudy and you could even make the argument that he should be ranked higher than Jeudy. Lamb has been a contributor for Oklahoma since he was a Freshman in 2017 but really burst onto the scene in 2018. He played with a different quarterback each of his three seasons in Norman (going for Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray and then Jalen Hurts) and showed elite talent with all of them.
Strengths
• Hands
• Body Control
• Ball Skills
• IQ
Lamb is not the type of receiver to blow you away with his physical attributes, but he has elite skills. Many rave about Ceedee Lamb’s fantastic body control and an elite nose for tracking the ball. This is what makes him such a threat downfield despite his lack of top tier breakaway speed. His hands put together with his phenomenal ball skills give Lamb a combination that can truly help a quarterback. Lamb often makes in-air adjustments to track down passes both in and out of traffic and can play through contract even with his slimmer frame. Lamb’s route running, change of speed through routes, and craftiness allows him to get great separation.
Weaknesses
• Lacks top level speed
• Slimmer frame
The main weakness you will see associated with CeeDee Lamb is his lack of elite speed. He is still able to get separation due to his craftiness and route running but he doesn’t have the type of beat you of the ball speed that is associated with top receivers. He is also going to have to adjust to an increase level of DBs going from the offensive heavy BIG 12 to the NFL but I believe he will be able to transition well. Some may be weary of his skinnier frame but didn’t miss a game at Oklahoma and does a lot of his damage closer to the sidelines.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, REC: 62, REC YDS: 1327, TDs: 14, YDS/REC: 21.4
Overall stats – GP: 40, REC: 173, REC YDS: 3292, TDs: 32, YDS/REC: 19
Lamb has arguably been college football’s most productive receiver over the last three seasons. He started his career fast breaking Oklahoma’s freshman receiving record with 807 yards and followed it up with back to back seasons of 60+ receptions, 1100+ yards, and 11+ TDs. Lamb has also shown the ability to return punts, leading the Big 12 in punt return yards (218) and was second in 2019 (179).
Best Landing Spot
CeeDee Lamb is looking like he will land in or near the top 10 of the 1st round and will be asked to make an impact at the next level right away. I believe that the best possible landing spot for Lamb would be the Arizona Cardinals. This would give him the opportunity to once again play with his former college teammate Kyler Murray and rekindle some of that chemistry that they showed at Oklahoma. It would also give Lamb the potential opportunity to learn from a similar type of receiver and one of the best ever if Larry Fitzgerald decides to play again.
Worst Landing Spot
Lamb should make an impact wherever he ends up getting drafted to but two specific spots that could deter some production would be the Jets and Broncos. This is due to the fact that neither team has an established quarterback and wouldn’t exactly be inserting Lamb into deep receiving corps.
Draft Range
Picks 7-13
NFL Comparison
Allen Robinson
Ratings Breakdown
Agility: 8 – good not great athlete
Routes: 9 – great route running and deception
Hands: 9 – very strong hands
Size: 7.5 – Has good height but might need to bulk up a little
Separation: 8 – creates separation with good releases and craftiness
IQ: 9 – smart and makes good adjustments
11
Derrick Brown is headed for a top ten pick, and anything after the first five picks is going to be a steal for whichever team grabs him. Brown is a disruptive defensive tackle who is going to make an instant impact at the next level. Brown had the chance to leave last year for the draft, and was projected to go first round. He finished his senior year at Auburn, and had another productive year. If you are going to solely look at his stats, you may not be impressed, but he is someone who makes a ton of plays in the backfield and helps others get pressure on the quarterback. Brown’s run defense is exceptional, and there are quite a few teams that will have him circled to help in that department. His size helps plug up gaps, and Brown’s athleticism helps him get in the backfield before opposing offenses even realize it. He endured a ton of double teams, and got the Aaron Donald treatment in most games. Brown will be able to adapt into a 3-4 or 4-3 offense, but would work a bit better in a 4-3 offense. While he won’t be the top defensive player off the board, he is one of the top three prospects on the defensive side and will be a force to be reckoned with for a long time in this league. He will easily be the first defensive tackle off the board, and second defensive lineman behind Chase Young.
Strengths
• Run Defense
• Pressuring QB
• High Motor
• Strength
• Mechanics
Weaknesses
• None
Derrick Brown has no glaring weaknesses, and his upside at the next level is high. He is about as safe as you can get from a floor standpoint as well. Brown’s size and athleticism is unmatched in this draft, and is a smart defender as well. He has a high motor and will work to find the ball at a high rate. His run defense is going to make an instant impact at the next level, and he will help his line-mates as well. Brown has excellent hands, and while he could add another pass rush move or two, his ability to get to the quarterback when not being double-teamed is there.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 12, Tackles: 54, Sacks: 4.5, FF: 2, FR: 2
Overall stats – GP: 46, Tackles: 170, Sacks: 12.5, FF: 5, FR: 4
While returning to Auburn for his final season was a bit of a surprise, he came back and caused havoc in the backfield. He had over 50 tackles, with 12 of them going for loss in 2019. He had 8.5 sacks over his final two seasons, and saw a ton of double teams. Brown handled them well, and went up against some strong SEC lineman over his final two seasons. His numbers won’t pop off, but his athleticism and size are a big problem for opposing offenses.
Best Landing Spot
Carolina has the 7th overall pick, and this is where Brown should be going. However, the Chargers would be smart to take him and help free up their edge rushers a bit. The Panthers struggled against the run last season, and Brown would slide right into a starting role. That would be the case wherever he goes.
Worst Landing Spot
There is really no bad spot for Brown, because he is going to go top ten, and find himself on a team that will plug him right away. I like the Chargers/Panthers spot the best for him, as it is unlikely he will slide to Jacksonville who is in line for a defensive tackle as well. The Panthers and Chargers would be places I’d rather play in comparison to Jacksonville.
Draft Range
Top 10
NFL Comparison
Ndamukong Suh is the name that comes to mind as a big time playmaking defensive tackle who causes major issues plugging up the line. Suh was a top three pick back in 2010, going second to the Lions. Brown is more disciplined, which was always the knock against Suh, yet still keeps that same motor. Brown is going to have a similar impact like Suh in the NFL.
Ratings Breakdown
Athleticism: 9 – Absolute monster for his size, and freakishly quick.
Run Defense: 9 – His best feature is his run defense, where he plugs up gaps quick and will wrap up.
Tackling: 8 – Wraps up well in the run game, and will chase down ball carriers.
Strength: 9 – Gave offensive lines trouble even in double teams, and has top end strength.
12
Javon Kinlaw comes into the NFL draft as the second best interior defensive lineman behind Auburn’s Derrick Brown. Kinlaw had an impressive 2019 season, and played his way into potentially becoming a first-round pick. Despite the Gamecocks finishing 4-8 on the season, he was one of the focal points on defense, and kept South Carolina in some games because of the havoc he created on the line of scrimmage. Kinlaw finished in the SEC tied for ninth in sacks. His strength and athleticism will help an NFL team limit an opponents rushing attack by taking on double teams, and get into an opponents backfield. His 6’6″, 310 pound size makes him impossible to miss on the field.
Strengths
• Strength
• Run Defense
• Athleticism
• Tackling
Kinlaw is arguably one of the strongest players in the draft. For someone that sits at his size, it has been difficult for SEC opponents to push him around. His pure strength is going to help him at the next level. Also, he is very athletic for his size. This makes him even more difficult to block at his size and having the ability to move the way he does. Kinlaw can shoot through gaps and disrupt an offense just by beating lineman off the ball. His length and technique help him stay within the play every snap. Also, he has a high motor and will chase down ball carriers if he needs too.
Weaknesses
• IQ
• Double teams
He could work on the mental side of his position more. At times, he does seem to struggle with understanding what the offense is giving him. Kinlaw can find himself taken out of the play by his own doing. He struggles with taking on double teams at times, which can lead to horrible technique and take him away from the play. He does struggle to keep his pad level low at times as well. From a physical standpoint, there isn’t a negative trait that he possess. There are times where he lacks mental focus and technique, which is where his downfall can be.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 12, Tackles: 35, Sacks: 6, FF: 0, FR: 2
Overall stats – GP: 29, Tackles: 82, Sacks: 10, FF: 3, FR: 4
Best Landing Spot
Kinlaw can very well hear his name called on the Thursday of the draft. He could go as high as Atlanta as a mid first-round pick, depending on how the draft shakes out, but will most likely hear his name called later that round. Kinlaw could fall to a playoff team like the Chiefs or Vikings as depth and age begin to have an impact on their defenses. Jacksonville could take him at 20 as the Jaguars defense completely fell off in 2019.
Worst Landing Spot
Kinlaw will most likely hear his name called by the second round at the latest. Unless he has a bad combine, and his numbers aren’t what people expected, then he could fall into the third-round, but that’s very hard to imagine. Overall, I don’t think there is a bad landing spot for Kinlaw in this draft. Any team would love to have him as an interior defensive lineman as immediate impact, or add depth. For Kinlaw’s sake, going to a team that has depth wouldn’t be best for him in terms of playing time. Also, he could slip in the later part of the second-round, which would cost him money.
Draft Range
Mid/late 1st-2nd round
NFL Comparison
• Leonard Williams
• Arik Armstead
Ratings Breakdown
Athleticism: 8
Run Defense: 8
Tackling: 9
Strength: 9
13
Another member of LSU’s top defense is Kristian Fulton, who is one of the top corners in the draft. Fulton has had an up and down career at LSU because he was suspended for the 2017 season for tampering with a drug test. When on the field he has been a physical corner who has shut down his side of the field. Fulton won’t end up with a ton of interceptions, but quarterbacks will be hesitant throwing his way. Fulton has shown that he can play in many different coverages. This secondary was a big part of why LSU has had such dominance over the last two seasons. Any team looking for an immediate starting cornerback will have one in Fulton, as he is headed to be a top ten pick. There are a few teams looking for a top caliber cornerback early, and will have Fulton circled.
Strengths
• Man Coverage
• Zone Coverage
• IQ
• Physical
• Agility & Acceleration
Weaknesses
• Discipline
• Defending Jump Balls
When looking at Kristian Fulton’s game, he is a strong and athletic cornerback who can go toe to toe with any style of wide receiver. We have seen him line up all over the field at LSU, which is a big plus for a cornerback heading into the NFL. He runs well and is quick at cutting off routes. He will be able to matchup with most routes, although any burner might give him some trouble. His discipline downfield can be an issue at times, where pass interference calls will hurt him quite a bit. He also needs to improve on the jump ball, where he does lack a bit of size against a bigger wideout.
College Production
2019 stats – 15 GP, 38 tackles, 0 Sacks, 1 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR
Overall stats – 26 GP, 56 tackles, 0 Sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF, 0 FR
The stats are not going to be sexy given his style, where he is not a ball hawking type cornerback that racks up interceptions. His open field play is solid, and he can record a generous amount of tackles. He is not afraid to get up and challenge ball-carriers. He had 38 tackles this year, and held down an impressive LSU secondary that has quite a few names going this year and likely over the next few seasons.
Best Landing Spot
There are quite a few teams with a need for a strong cornerback, and Oakland and Jacksonville will be in need for a starting cornerback right away. The Jaguars will be looking to replace Jalen Ramsey, who Fulton resembles. He is a physical corner who can play in various coverages and would join a Jaguars defense that is a few pieces to get back on top. Oakland just desperately needs a starting cornerback, and with the 12th overall pick he could be there for the taking.
Worst Landing Spot
I still have concern for Tampa Bay’s secondary, which is in rough shape. The safety play was below average, and he would be walking into a situation where he wouldn’t have great help around him. While Oakland wouldn’t be much better, they are at least in the processing of riding in the right direction with the Jonathan Abrams pick last season.
Draft Range
Top 12
NFL Comparison
Stephon Gilmore is a name that comes to mind with Kristian Fulton. He can take away an entire field, and runs routes incredibly well. Gilmore didn’t have a ton of glaring weaknesses coming out of the draft, and Fulton doesn’t either. He should make an instant impact like Gilmore, and likely be a difference maker right off the bat. Gilmore isn’t afraid to get physical and that doesn’t take away from his athleticism either.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 7 – Not overly fast, but good speed to compete in man coverage.
Agility: 8 – Quick feet and can line up in the slot.
Zone CVGE: 8 – Played zone coverage at LSU well and sits in coverage.
Tackles: 7 – Fulton can tackle well, which is another above average aspect to his game.
14
Wideout Henry Ruggs III may not have had the career that fellow receiver, Jerry Jeudy, had at Alabama. Yet, there is no reason to believe he can’t excel at the next level. Speed, speed, speed is what characterizes Ruggs. With a stunning 4.25 40-yard dash at his pro day last March, he has the gift that very few can match or surpass in the NFL. Known very well for accelerating out of his breaks and making big plays, his youthfulness and potential are there. If Ruggs is able to further improve his route-running abilities, he will be a huge threat in the NFL, regardless of an okay stature. He currently sits at 190 lbs, with not necessarily ideal receiver height. His speed and route running abilities will need to carry him for years to come.
Strengths
• Hands
• Routes
• Agility
• Speed
Weaknesses
• Blocking
• Size
Speed kills in today’s NFL, and Ruggs is more than just a speedy receiver. Ruggs belongs in first round conversation because of his potential and ability to play in any system. Ruggs has been a proven deep threat (17.6 yards per catch) and found the endzone a total of 24 times in his career. He has natural ball skills and great body control going up for catches. He has a surprising level of toughness for his frame. Obviously, he’ll need to get stronger, with more physicality in the NFL. He also needs to improve his hand techniques for physical catches and separation. He is aggressive going towards the ball, and very slippery when he has the ball in his hands. While route running can be a strength for him, he has a lot of room for growth given his speed and leaping ability. Consistent separation at the LOS is something he should work on, and something he can very well master with his athletic abilities.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 12, 40 Rec, 746 Rec yds, 18.7 yds/catch, 8 TDs
Overall stats – GP: 40, 98 Rec, 1716 Rec yds, 27.5 yds/catch, 25 TDs
Ruggs lack of production numbers-wise has mainly all to do with the wide receiving depth at Alabama. A mix of Jeudy, Smith, and Waddle this year along with Ridley in years past may have put a cap on the touches he deserved. He has the speed and athletic ability to play in a number of systems.
Best Landing Spot
A team that has a quarterback with a big arm would be best for Ruggs. A team with a few established receiver to start off would be best for Ruggs considering his experience at Alabama. This includes the Buccaneers, Falcons, Cowboys, and Saints. If he is still on the board by the Chiefs draft selection, don’t be surprised if they picked up yet another speedster.
Worst Landing Spot
There are many landing spots that would be bad for Ruggs. A few places that are not ideal for a young player like Ruggs include Miami and Denver, especially because the quarterback situation is up in the air.
Draft Range
Mid-Late 1st round
NFL Comparison
Desean Jackson is someone that comes to mind when you think of Ruggs style of play. Obviously, people love to throw out any fast receiver when talking about speedy receivers. Another receiver whose body type and play style is very similar is Mecole Hardman of the Chiefs. Ruggs may start his career off as a WR 3 or 4, but his potential can elevate him down the road.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 – Has the speed and agility, but can improve against press coverage.
Agility: 9 – Exceptionally agile and fluid with the ball in his hands.
Blocking: 6 – Not great as a pass or run blocker, but able to do his job.
Size: 6 – Not terrible size at 6 ft with long arms, but needs to put on some weight.
15
Alongside Andrew Thomas out of Georgia, Jedrick Willis is the next best offensive lineman in the draft. You could even make the case he is the best offensive lineman out there. He is deserving of a top ten pick, although it will be interesting to see if teams go skill position players over lineman, which would be a mistake if you are asking me. Alabama has been producing strong offensive lineman, and Willis is just another one coming out of that powerhouse. Willis is an offensive tackle that can play both sides, and has the attitude you want when it comes to an offensive lineman. He is nasty and will finish his blocks. He is extremely smart and has about all the traits you can ask for, and the team who wins his sweepstakes will have their offensive tackle for the future.
Strengths
• IQ
• Strength
• Pass Protection
• Blocking In Space
• High Motor
• Mechanics
Weaknesses
• None
Jedrick Willis is a premier talent, and shows no real weaknesses. His IQ shows playing anywhere asked at Alabama, and he can play on both sides. Willis knows how to block multiple skill sets. Willis is a big presence, but is great out in space, has terrific balance, and knows how to use his hands. He has everything you want in a lineman, and has the IQ to go with it. We are likely looking at one of the top lineman for years to come. Willis thrives in pass protection, and gets excellent push in the run game. He fits perfectly for a team that has strong skill position players, but need to bolster their offensive line.
College Production
Alabama has been one of the top offenses, and it starts with the offensive line. Jedrick Willis showed strong pass protection, and gave plenty of room to those Alabama running backs. Look for him to be the same force he was in college.
Best Landing Spot
The Giants need protection for Daniel Jones, and Jedrick Willis can bring that. Saquon Barkley would also benefit from having him on the offensive line. New York has the fourth overall pick, and they can go a number of ways, but Willis would instantly make this offense better.
Worst Landing Spot
There is no bad landing spot for Jedrick Willis, given the teams that are in need of an offensive lineman. He is instantly going to start anywhere he lands. If you do want to avoid any negative organization right now, it is probably the Jets, so Willis might be hoping he lands elsewhere.
Draft Range
Top Ten
NFL Comparison
Ronnie Stanley was drafted back in 2016, going sixth overall. He is a big and physical force who is a big part of the success growing in Baltimore. Stanley is athletic and has a high IQ and strong mechanics. Jedrick Willis resembles a lot of the same qualities and showcases similar strengths with very little weaknesses.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 – Athletic in open space, and can keep up with quicker pass rushers as well.
Mechanics: 8 – Has incredible balance, great footwork, and uses his hands well.
Run Blocking: 8 – Creates plenty of movement off the line and is good out in space.
Strength: 8 – Strong and balanced, also has an attitude that funnels into his strength.
16
A monster physical presence, Tristan Wirfs is primed for a starting role in his rookie year. Teams will be on the hunt for a leading offensive lineman This is a good draft class for offensive lineman, and there are quite a few teams in need. Wirfs plays on the right side, which some look down upon, but he is one of the top prospects and has little negatives to his game. Wirfs will likely start at right tackle at the NFL level, and wherever he lands, they will get an offensive lineman that moves defenders at will. What makes Wirfs different from other lineman in this draft is that he moves extremely well for his size. Wirfs is likely headed to be a top 15-20 pick depending how things shake out, and a team in need of a solid pass protector is going to get lucky drafting such a pro-ready lineman.
Strengths
• Strength
• Size
• Athleticism
• Pass Protection
• Blocking In Space
Weaknesses
• Slow Hands
• Stamina
• Awareness
Tristan Wirfs biggest asset is his strength and size, and this past season at Iowa he showed that he can move around in different schemes as well. That wasn’t necessarily there early in his career. Any team that gets him will have a pro-ready right tackle with room for even more growth. He excels in pass protection and also getting into space. His weaknesses can be improved upon, where he struggles to get hands up against quicker lineman. He also was a bit sluggish late in games at times, which led to awareness issues and poor technique. These are easy fixes he can address moving forward.
College Production
Iowa was a run heavy offense and had numerous schemes for Tristan Wirfs to learn. He had some issues at college with a short suspension, but it doesn’t strike anyone more than just someone enjoying college life. Iowa has had a pedestrian offense, but a good run game on paper. Wirfs has also shown the ability to move players off the line.
Best Landing Spot
Arizona and Tampa Bay are in need of a right tackle, and Wirfs can fit that role. He would slide right into a starting job in these two spots, and both sides would benefit. Both teams have similar down the field offenses and want to improve the run game. Wirfs can help in both areas.
Worst Landing Spot
Any team that tries to move him away from his natural right tackle position. He is limited in terms of where he can play on the line, so if an organization makes a mistake in reading this, they will end up with a struggling young lineman.
Draft Range
Top 20
NFL Comparison
Cody Ford was just drafted by the Bills in the early second round, and Wirfs resembles him a bit. He is a bigger athletic tackle, playing on the right side, which is where Ford landed in Buffalo. Ford is an above average pass blocker and helps in the run game as well. Wirfs has a bit more upside, but a similar skillset.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 7 – Moves well for his size, but speedy edge rushers can get to him.
Mechanics: 7 – His footwork improved over the years, but slow hands can be an issue.
Run Blocking: 8 – Can get out in space but also move drive lineman back.
Strength: 9 – Tremendous strength, and it will show at the next level.
17
On January 3rd, D’Andre Swift decided to forgo his senior season, and enter the NFL Draft. Throughout his tenure at the University of Georgia, Swift was able to assert himself as the next great RB to come out of Georgia. Additionally, he proved to be a versatile running back who excels in both the receiving and running game. He finished with 3,551 total yards from scrimmage, and found the end zone 25 times. Swift has made the SEC-All 2nd Team during his Sophomore season, and made the SEC-All 1st Team this year. Despite never being a workhorse while at Georgia, Swift has made it clear that he is one of the most productive and efficient backs in college football.
Strengths
• Elusiveness and agility
• Outside zone
• Juke/Spin moves
• Patience
• Footwork
• Vision
• Pass blocking
• Hands
For a running back with the last name Swift, D’Andre Swift is one of the most elusive running backs in football. He has the combination of speed and quickness to brush past defenders to the outside on a fairly consistent basis. When D’Andre sees a defender at the line of scrimmage he is good at performing a spin or juke move to stun them.
When it comes to the inside run game, Swift projects to be a quality RB. In fact, he is one of the most effective one-cut running backs at the college level. Also, Swift’s vision and patience are incredible and draws parallels to Le’Veon Bell.
As a receiver, Swift has the footwork and agility necessary to make quality cuts and run fluidly throughout routes. Furthermore, Swift has great hands, and didn’t drop a single pass, which will serve him well at the next level. One of the most underrated traits about Swift is his pass blocking ability. When he was assigned to protect Jake Fromm on passing plays, Swift constantly scanned the backfield to find any potential blockers. Consequently, he did a good job of keeping those defenders from getting past his chop or regular blocks because of his technique and wide base.
Weaknesses
• Ball security
• Shedding contact from arm tackles
One area where Swift desperately needs to improve is ball security. Despite receiving a relatively moderate number of touches, he struggled to hold onto the ball at times. At the NFL level, linebackers and defensive backs will look to punch the ball out of his hands unless he holds the ball tighter to his chest and forearm. As it pertains to inside run plays, Swift has adequate strength but struggles to be productive if there are a significant number of defenders in the box. Swift’s inside run game is especially underwhelming considering that he struggles to fend off arm tackles.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, RUSH ATT: 196, RUSH YDS: 1218 RUSH TD: 7, REC: 24, REC YDS: 216, REC TD: 1
Overall stats – GP: 43, RUSH ATT: 400, RUSH YDS: 2,885 RUSH TD: 20, REC: 24, REC YDS: 666, REC TD: 5
Best Landing Spot
D’Andre Swift’s talents would be best suited on a team where he can start immediately like the Buccaneers or Dolphins. If D’Andre Swift were on one of these teams, he would take over on the first day and be able to excel on outside runs, the receiving game, and blocking assignments. Swift’s blocking skills would be especially enjoyed considering the fact that both the Bucs and Dolphins ranked in the bottom ten for pass protection efficiency. Moreover, Swift would be able to step into Bruce Arians’ offense and perform similarly to how David Johnson did. Plus Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, Chad O’Shea, loves to utilize receiving backs, so Swift would be a terrific option.
Worst Landing Spot
The Oakland Raiders would be a horrible destination for Swift. The most significant reason why Swift would be horrible in Oakland is the presence of Josh Jacobs. If Swift were to be drafted by Oakland, he would have to split carries with Jacobs and excel less on outside runs. Moreover Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, favors downhill running backs that are exceptional on inside run plays. Therefore, Swift would immediately lose favor with Gruden and be demoted instantly.
Draft Range
Mid/Late First Round
NFL Comparison
The best NFL comparisons to D’Andre Swift is Alvin Kamara. Swift is similar to Kamara because of his ability to excel as a receiving back who runs quality routes. Swift will be able to lineup at receiver on certain plays or catch screen passes in the backfield and get separation on a consistent basis. Moreover, similar to Kamara, Swift excels on outside run plays, and is great in pass protection. However, both Kamara and Swift struggle a little bit to shred contact on inside zone plays on a repeated basis.
Ratings Breakdown
Agility: 8 – fluid while running routes and performs finesse moves well
Speed: 8 – can beat most defenders to the outside
Hands: 10 – has great hands and doesn’t drop many balls
Blocking: 8 – has great blocking recognition and technique
18
Yetur Gross-Matos is a big edge rusher who started his final two seasons at Penn State. He had 34.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons, and 17 sacks. Gross-Matos is coming out a year early, and while there is a gap between him and Chase Young and A.J. Epenesa, he is one of the highly touted pass rushers coming out. He has excellent athleticism and quickness which helps him in the lateral run game, and he is an exceptional tackler with his frame. Not many players are escaping his grasp. Gross-Matos likely isn’t going in the first round without his high motor. Teams will be looking at him as a prospect who needs some work in the NFL, but has all the tools to go up to the next level. He fits best in a 4-3 defensive system, and can line up all over the front line. We can point out his run defense as the highlight, where he needs slightly more work as a pass-rusher. Scouts have already made note of that, and with the right team the upside is huge. He won’t go early in the first round, but a team in need of a pass rusher in the back half will take a chance on Gross-Matos.
Strengths
• Tackling
• Athleticism
• Quickness
• Motor
• Run Defense
Weaknesses
• Strength
• Pass Rush Variety
Despite his size, Gross-Matos relies a bit on his quickness over sheer strength. He has continued to show improvement throughout the last two seasons in shedding blocks, which is a good trajectory if that can continue at the next level. Despite being labeled as an edge rusher, he is tremendous in pursuit of the football. Any run the outside and he is on it, and he is also great in pursuit of the quarterback once they have escaped the pocket. His tackling is well above average with his big frame. The one knock against him is his pass rush variety needs to grow. However, there has been much improvement in this area from 2018 to 2019. Given his acceleration, he is going to be a tough guy to slow down.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 11, Tackles: 40, Sacks: 9, FF: 0, FR: 0, INTS: 0
Overall stats – GP: 34, Tackles: 111, Sacks: 18.5, FF: 2, FR: 2, INT: 0
We have the last two seasons to evaluate Gross-Matos, who put up strong numbers especially with tackles for loss. He was a big part of a strong Penn State defense that limited the opposing team’s rushing attack. As mentioned throughout, he has another level he can get to in terms of being a game-changing pass rusher. He played two less games in comparison to last season, hence the drops in tackles and tackles for loss. However his quarterback pressure went up and would have had double-digit sacks in 2019 if he hadn’t been limited to injury.
Best Landing Spot
Buffalo is a bit high in the draft order for where I believe he will land, but they are in desperate need of an edge rusher. However a wide receiver might be off the board for them first. Another high motor defender in Gross-Matos would be a great addition after drafting Ed Oliver last season. Miami is another spot where he can go, and they have a few picks to solidify a lot of needs that they have. Gross-Matos could benefit from jumping into action or heading to a team that takes a bit of time to develop him further.
Worst Landing Spot
There really isn’t a bad spot for Gross-Matos to go, unless you want to measure by potential team success within the next few years. Any team that has a few edge rushers might make it tough for Gross-Matos to break through. Green Bay, Los Angeles, and Minnesota are a few teams where he would get buried on the depth chart pretty quickly. That could stunt his growth, but it is unlikely he goes to any of those teams.
Draft Range
Mid-Late First Round
NFL Comparison
Carlos Dunlap is someone that Gross-Matos resonates with, mainly because of his size and speed. It doesn’t have anything to do with his effort, because Dunlap wasn’t someone who graded well there. Dunlap entered the league and stuck better with a 4-3 format, and developed pass-rushing skills throughout his career, where he was praised for his ability to stop the run. Gross-Matos can do both, but will need to reach another level in his pass-rush to make that next jump.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 – One of his best attributes is his explosiveness off the line.
Mechanics: 7 – Needs to build upon his pass rushing mechanics.
Run Def: 9 – Tremendous reaction to the run and athleticism makes him tough to get by.
Strength: 7 – Would like to just see him add strength in the pass rush.
19
Tee Higgins comes into the draft as one of the best receiving prospects in the country. If it weren’t for guys like Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb, Higgins might the top prospect in this draft. However, he’ll show an NFL team what he is capable of, and will get tremendous value from taking him in the late first-round, or early second-round where we have projected him to go. Higgins has been Trevor Lawrence’s top target the last two season. His size makes him a huge mismatch for defensive backs, and has vertical ability basketball players wish they had.
Strengths
• Hands
• Route Running
• Agility
Higgins size is the first thing that comes to mind in terms of strength. He’s 6’4″ 216, so he’s able to throw his body around to give him an advantage when the ball is in the air. He high points the ball well, and gives himself to make every catch possible. With his size and strength, he’s able to catch and hang on too balls that other receivers wouldn’t be able to handle. Also, his route running ability is above average for his size. Higgins routes are crisp, and can get separation.
Weaknesses
• IQ
• Separation
With Higgins being a more of an outside receiver, it doesn’t seem like his route tree is well versed. His ability should be able to adjust at the next level when more is thrown at him. Also, he can have a drop or two every now and then. This was an issue in his earlier years at Clemson, but did clean it up a bit this season. Also, I think he needs to use his size more to his advantage at getting separation. He can create space, but he could also gain more if he uses his body a bit more.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, REC: 56, REC YDS: 1115, TDs: 13, YDS/REC: 19.9
Overall stats – GP: 36, REC: 132, REC YDS: 2396, TDs: 27, YDS/REC: 18.2
Higgins overall production is very impressive. He ranked top 25 in yards per catch, receiving yards, and touchdowns this season. He’s shown he is able to compete on the highest levels by playing in four playoff games the last two seasons. There was a reason Trevor Lawrence made him his go to receiver in his college career.
Best Landing Spot
Depending on how the receivers shake out, Higgins could hear his name called at the end of the first-round. The only team I see taking Higgins that early would be New England who obviously has issues at receiver. That is, if Jeudy, Lamb, and Ruggs are all off the board before then. If not, then Higgins should go early second round. The Bengals, Giants, Dolphins, and Cardinals will all need a weapon to let their young quarterbacks throw too (assuming the Bengals and Dolphins go quarterback in the draft).
Worst Landing Spot
Higgins falling in the draft would hurt him, but that is unlikely. He should be picked up by mid second-round at the latest. Some teams that would hurt his ability could be the Bears, Jets, or Broncos. The Bears have Allen Robinson, but don’t have much behind him. Higgins would be a great fit for Chicago, but they also don’t have a quarterback that could get him the ball. Also, the Jets and Broncos do need weapons, but it’s hard to see Higgins shining if the teams quarterbacks can’t stay healthy.
Draft Range
Late 1st round/early 2nd round
NFL Comparison
DK Metcalf
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 Runs crisp routes, but could work on separation
Agility: 9 Very elusive receiver that can make defenders miss
Blocking: 8 Loves to get his nose into a cornerbacks chest
Size: 9 One of the bigger receivers in the draft and can use it as an advantage
20
This isn’t an incredibly deep draft for linebackers, but Kenneth Murray is going to be one of the first two off the board. Murray has a lot of speed and physicality, and can play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 system. Murray had over 100 combined tackles in his final two seasons, with nearly 30 of them going for loss. He is a dynamic linebacker who moves well, and can help teams improve their run defense. Murray is a strong tackler and moves well. We will see if he can play multiple linebacking positions at the next level, but he showed the ability to in college and also has above average athleticism. Oklahoma has never been a sound college defense, but Murray stood out as a playmaker with a nose for the ball. Look for him to go in the second half of the first round, and there are already a few teams with him on their shortlist.
Strengths
• Speed
• Tackling
• Run Defense
• Pass Coverage
• Good Instincts
Weaknesses
• Can over-pursue at times
His athleticism gives him an advantage in a few departments. He can cover tight ends and running backs at an above average rate in comparison to most linebackers. While he is a strong pass coverage linebacker, he can still reach another level. He uses his speed well, but this can lead to overshooting his angles at time. This isn’t a major problem, however. Murray can lay the lumber, and ball carriers should be aware. He gets to the flat and can close down well. The plus side is he can play in any system, and should be able to move around. This is a big advantage for him, and one of the reasons he will be drafted in the first round.
College Production
2019 stats – 14 GP102 tackles, 4 sacks, 0 FR, 0 FF, 0 INT
Overall stats – 40 GP, 325 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2, FR, 1 FF, 0 INT
Kenneth Murray was a tackling machine at Oklahoma, and if you watched the Sooners, you saw number nine all over the field. He can play three downs, and was moved around all over at Oklahoma. Unfortunately the rest of the Oklahoma defense didn’t focus much on stopping opponents. While he didn’t rack up a ton of sacks, it isn’t a lost ability for him. His speed off the edge is underrated, and could be utilized more at the next level.
Best Landing Spot
Kenneth Murray could really thrive under Jon Gruden, who have the 19th pick and could take Murray here. Otherwise, I would love to see him in Green Bay or Baltimore. Getting Murray into an aggressive defense like these would fit his skillset, and they can use him in various ways. All three teams have needs at this position.
Worst Landing Spot
I actually like Murray just about anywhere that he goes. He is projected to go in the back half of the draft where there are great defensive minds that can help mold him to be a top NFL linebacker.
Draft Range
Mid-Late First Round
NFL Comparison
Jaylon Smith out of Notre Dame and now playing for Dallas has overcome his injury and turned into one of the better linebackers in the league. Kenneth Murray plays a very similar game with his speed and tackling. Smith is a versatile linebacker who can play all over, and Murray is likely going to be the same way.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 – Sticks with skill position players well and gets to his angles quickly.
Pass Rush: 7 – This is an overlooked part of his game, but has the speed to get to the quarterback.
Run Def: 8 – Has great instincts to get to the ball and can wrap up defenders.
Strength: 8 – He is a hard hitter, and can shred blocks.
21
Watching Alabama this year, you likely saw Xavier McKinney all over the secondary making big plays. This kid is exciting, and I am ready to see him on the next level. He is the latest Alabama big name coming from the defensive side, and projects to go in the second half of the first round. There are quite a few good fits for him, but he showed that he can line up all over the field and play at a strong level. His 2019 season was loaded with stats, so if you are looking at box scores as well, the numbers speak for themselves. McKinney is extremely athletic, and can cover a ton of ground in the secondary. He has also played well up in the box when asked, which Nick Saban moved him around a ton. Because a lot of early teams are not looking for a safety that early, he should fall to a team that will have a solidified core around him, and that will be important for early success.
Strengths
• Playing In Box
• Multiple Coverages
• Athleticism
• Covering Tight Ends
Weaknesses
• Tackling In Space
• Misreads Angles
Xavier McKinney is a pretty polished safety, and can play in various roles. This is one of his major strengths, and this is a big plus for any NFL defense. He has solid athleticism, and while it is not at an elite level, he finds the ball well and positions himself to make plays. McKinney also thrived in covering tight ends, and that will be a big ask for him at the next level. His weaknesses are nothing major, it is more we have seen him miss some tackles in space and also take some bad angles to the ball carrier at times. These are not glaring and consistent mistakes either. He can play well in the box, which is where he would do most of his damage defending the run.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, 95 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions
Overall stats – GP: 32, 175 tackles, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 1 fumbles recoveries, 5 interceptions
He had a really strong 2019 season, where he racked up 95 tackles and was all over the field. Nick Saban asked a lot of him, and he delivered. He also forced four fumbles, and had three interceptions. This guy can make plays and be a big factor in the turnover game. McKinney wasn’t asked to blitz a ton, but has plenty of speed to get to the quarterback when called upon. He had a solid career, and will be an exciting name at the next level.
Best Landing Spot
There is a chance that Dallas could land him earlier, but I could see San Francisco taking him late in the first round. I would love this for both sides. He would play in a talented defense, but San Francisco would also get a playmaker who can line up in various areas of the defense. The 49ers don’t have a ton of glaring needs, but McKinney could end up replacing Tartt.
Worst Landing Spot
Miami is certainly building with all the youth from this draft, given they have three, first round picks. One of them is at 26, where McKinney could still be out there depending on how the draft goes. This secondary was dreadful, and if there is a chance to go to a more solidified defense, we would obviously want that to happen.
Draft Range
Late First Round
NFL Comparison
Looking at Xavier McKinney, we compare him to someone who can move around all over the field and just flat out make plays. Kevin Byard comes to mind, although McKinney is just a little bit taller, but still plays with a solid frame.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed:7 – Not blazing speed, but certainly above average.
Agility: 8 – Quick in his cuts and uses it to get in strong positions.
Zone CVGE: 8 – Strong in zone, but could show a bit more in deep coverage.
Tackles: 7 – Good inside the box, but will miss a tackle or two in the open field.
22
The SEC featured some of the best wide receiver talent this season in recent memory. LSU, Alabama, among others presented lethal passing attacks with NFL level-receivers. Known for his pure man-to-man coverage, CJ Henderson may have some of the best potential at this position in this year’s draft class. He is known for his elite ball skills and shutdown coverage. While he is not necessarily a ball hawk, he has a high football IQ. The main concern for him at the next level is physicality, which can be resolved depending on the system and his development.
Strengths
• IQ
• Speed
• Agility
• Man Coverage
• Zone Coverage
Weaknesses
• Tackling
Given the current state of the NFL, tackling at the defensive back spot is becoming more and more of a necessity. If this draft focused strictly on pass coverage, Henderson would easily be a 1st round talent. Given his struggles to make tackles and be physical, his stock drops slightly because of this. CJ has quick feet with excellent anticipation. His IQ and experience are what separate him from most other defensive backs in this draft class. Henderson is very sticky in man coverage with good, not great, speed to keep up with receivers. His instincts and ball skills, he can be equally effective playing zone coverage.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 9, 33 Tackles, 0 INTs, 1 sack, 0 FF, 11 PBU
Overall stats – GP: 30, 93 Tackles, 6 INTs, 4 sacks, 2 FF, 20 PBU
CJ Henderson is not the type of corner to make the opposing team turnover prone. He is not exactly the corner that can provide run support or deliver a deadly hit. What CJ Henderson has shown is that he is a guy who can shut down a multitude of athletic, versatile receivers. He has the ability to play flex in both man and zone, with very great instincts. He will need to become more physical at the next level, but his skillset and athletic ability is there.
Best Landing Spot
A team that utilizes some zone coverage would be great. Off-man heavy coverage will play into Henderson’s strengths the most in this stage of his development. A team like the Cowboys or Colts would make a lot of sense.
Worst Landing Spot
There are few terrible spots for Henderson. A team such as the Patriots or Bears would not be ideal given their depth chart and schemes.
Draft Range
Middle-late 1st round
NFL Comparison
Aqib Talib is someone with the same athletic prowess and quick-twitch that Henderson has. Although not as physical as Talib, he has special instincts and the ability to break the ball up in key situations.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 8 – Very solid speed at his height.
Agility: 9 – Very quick feet and explosiveness.
Zone CVGE: 10 – Great potential given his IQ for the NFL.
Tackles: 7 – Can make some tackles, but does not play physical enough or help run support.
23
In 2019, Tyler Biadasz solidified himself as one of the premier interior offensive lineman in the country. We have him rated as our #4 offensive lineman in the 2020 draft and the highest ranked center on our board. He is another pro-ready product out of the pro style, Offensive line factory that is Wisconsin. At center, Biadasz was a key cog in one of the best rushing offenses in the nation. He was a three-year starter after redshirting his Freshman year. Biadasz was a consensus All-Big 10 team player all three years as well as being named a Freshman All-American (2017) and an All-American honorable mention (2018). Tyler Biadasz’s first two years were very productive, but his true breakout came in 2019. This past season, he received numerous accolades including wining the Rimington Trophy (CFB’s best center), Outland Trophy finalist (CFB’s best interior lineman), and a unanimous 1st team All-American. Biadasz is one of the most polished lineman in the draft and I expect he is the first interior lineman to be selected.
Strengths
• Good punch and hand placement
• High Motor
• Footwork and deceptive quickness
• Smart, high football IQ
• Strong upper body
Tyler Biadasz is the type of football player that you want to fill your center spot. He is an aggressive physical guy at the point of contact but still plays with poise and awareness. Biadasz is apple to get a good strong punch off the ball and is able to get an inside position often. He uses tight, strong grips to control defensive linemen and has a very physically strong upper body. Biadasz pairs his strength with an extremely high motor. He is always looking to play till the whistle is blown. Despite his size, Biadasz has solid footwork and is able to use it to drive defenders off the ball. Also, he showed good enough quickness for Wisconsin to feel comfortable pulling him, but still has room for improvement. One of the most important skills of Biadasz is his football IQ and awareness. He was the signal caller at the line of scrimmage throughout his college career which will translate well to making checks at the next level. Biadasz also has great block recognition. He identifies stunts very well and is able to use his hand placement as well as other intangibles to move defenders’ certain directions to create holes.
Weaknesses
• Improve against power rushers
• Work on strengthening his base
• Improve blocking outside of the tacklebox
Biadasz is a fairly complete player but has areas of improvement just like anyone else. First off, he can at times get overwhelmed by power rushers and his pass protections isn’t as polished as his elite run blocking. This goes hand-and-hand with the second weakness which is working on strengthening his base. By this I mean strengthening his lower body and trying to set his base/point of contract lower. Biadasz can rely on his upper body strength at times which can lead to his pad level getting a little too high as well as being susceptible to bull rushers. Biadasz also didn’t get much experience working outside of the box too often in Wisconsin’s offense. Lastly, he is not the greatest athlete and has a shorter than desired reach, but these shouldn’t be large factors at the center spot.
College Production
Tyler Biadasz has been a 3-year starter and a big contributor for Wisconsin especially his final two seasons. He started 41 games over his career in the BIG 10. There was no worry about competition level faced. Biadasz was a big part of Wisconsin’s run heavy game plan and helped pave the way for some monster seasons for running back Jonathan Taylor.
Best Landing Spot
There is a large potential draft range for Biadasz based off of uncertainty with how teams rate another offensive lineman. There could also be potential for him to slide a bit due to the fact that he is locked into an interior position. The best fit I see for Biadasz is the Minnesota Vikings. He would be able to step into a playoff team with some formidable pieces on the line (Reiff, O’Neill, and Elflien) not to mention a very solid run game with Dalvin Cook. Minnesota invested a 1st round pick on a center last year, Garrett Bradbury, who was disappointing in his rookie year but still shows potential. I think it would be smart of the Vikings to snag a high-floor guy in Biadasz.
Worst Landing Spot
If I had to choose a spot that would be the worst spot for Biadasz it would be the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have 3 1st round picks and could potentially use one late in the draft on Biadasz. This would be the worst landing spot for him mostly due to the state of the Dolphins. The Dolphins offensive line was one of the worst units in the NFL last year. Virtually, none of their starting line at the end of the year had productive seasons other than Center Dan Kilgore who is an unrestricted free agent. The Dolphins are currently without a quarterback and this would be a tough situation for Biadasz to have to start his career in.
Draft Range
Mid-to-Late 1st round
NFL Comparison
Travis Frederick. I see a lot of similarities between Travis Frederick and Tyler Biadasz. Obviously, both were standout centers at Wisconsin, but their skillsets are very similar as well. Both are strong, physical centers who excel when asked to run block. They both play at full speed at all times and have high football IQs. On top of this even their weaknesses when coming out of college mimic each other. Both players aren’t the greatest of athletes and struggles a bit when it comes to making blocks out in space.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 5.5, not a great athlete and has a short reach
Mechanics: 8, solid mechanics and hand placement
Run Blocking: 9, elite interior run blocker
Strength: 8.5, very strong upper body and hands but needs to strength lower half a bit more
24
Trevon Diggs is the brother of Stephon Diggs (Vikings). Chances are Trevon and Stephon have had their fair share of duels growing up. Not only has Diggs faced some of the top receivers in the country at Alabama (Jeudy, Ruggs, Smith) everyday during practice, but also a conference with perhaps the best wideout talent in recent history (LSU, Florida, etc.). Trevon initially began his career as a wide receiver and returner before fully transitioning to corner the following year. Given the talent Alabama recruits at the position, he was buried in the depth chart for a while. For the 2019 season, Diggs led the Tide in pass breakups with 8, allowing a 44.5 passer rating when targeted. He is not necessarily a ball hawk with 3 INTs on the year and 4 in his career, but can make special things happen with the ball in his hands He scored two TDs on the year from an INT and a fumble recovery. Diggs made several All-American teams for a reason and has the chance to be a shutdown corner at the next level.
Strengths
• Speed
• Agility
• Man Coverage
• Zone Coverage
Weaknesses
• Tackling
• IQ
Diggs is a special athlete with lots of potential to guard No.1s at the next level. He has proven to standout in zone coverage, but also has the body type to play press man coverage. He’s able to crowd routes early and is exceptional for pass breakups. Yet, he has blown coverage from over-aggressive tactics. He tends to lose connection to the wide receiver at times and is not ideal in off coverage. As a tackler, he has shown to struggle playing through contact. Considering his physical traits, this should only improve with better technique and aggression at the next level. Although his IQ can be a strength at times, he does not anticipate ball arrival as well as some highly rated defensive backs. He has shown to get slightly over-aggressive in man coverage at times, allowing separation. While zone coverage has been his most proven success, he has the potential to be great in man coverage with proper coaching and scheme. Another question at hand is whether he can stay healthy with injury history in his career at Alabama.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 12, Tackles: 37, Sacks: 0, FF: 0, FR: 2, INTs: 3
Overall stats – GP: 44, Tackles: 68, Sacks: 0, FF: 2, FR: 2, INTs: 4
Trevon excels in press man coverage and has experience thriving in the zone. His background as a receiver and return specialist also help for defending opposing wideouts.
Best Landing Spot
Teams that favor zone coverage would work best for Diggs. Given his physical traits and pass-breakup ability, a team such as the Patriots would be the perfect fit. If he were to go late 1st round, teams like the 49ers or Ravens would be great spots. If he fell in the 2nd round, teams such as the Jets and Panthers could utilize him as a starter early,
Worst Landing Spot
There is not a terrible landing spot for Dogs given his versatility and potential. He is most likely going to start on WR3s depending on the system. Teams that use lots of off-man coverage include the Chiefs and Seahawks, and would not be ideal for someone like Diggs.
Draft Range
Early 2nd-late 1st round
NFL Comparison
One NFL comparison for Diggs is Aqib Talib. He has exceptional ability to break up the ball and deter QBs from throwing his way. With great length, size, and speed, he can be special if his instincts improve in the NFL.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 9
Agility: 9
Zone CVGE: 10
Tackles: 6
25
Jonathan Taylor is leaving the University of Wisconsin as one of the most accomplished running backs in the history of college football. He finished his career with 6174 rushing yards, which ranks sixth all-time. Taylor won the 2018 and 2019 Doak Walker Award for best running back, and was a Consensus All-American in 2018. His power and elusiveness makes him one of the best running backs coming out of college football. Taylor was a full blown work horse while at Wisconsin, and a team that is in need of a rushing attack will love to have him in the backfield. Yes, he does have some miles on him, but he has played in every game with the Badgers in his three years at the school. Taylor will be able to show NFL teams why he’s one of the greatest college running backs of all-time.
Strengths
• Vision
• Agility
• Hands
• Blocking
Overall, Taylor is a great all-around back for any team to have. He has great vision and agility to maneuver through the line. Also, he has developed his ability more in the passing game, which will help tremendously at the next level. Taylor has also been pretty solid in pass protection as well.
Weaknesses
• Speed (lateral)
• Handling
I think Taylor’s speed is fine, but his lateral quickness needs some work. Once he gets moving down hill he’s hard to stop, but sometimes he struggles to actually get downhill when going around the edge. Also, Taylor had 18 fumbles in his career, but with the amount of carries he’s had that only translates to a fumble 1.9 percent of the time. Not horrible given the workload.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, Rush Att: 320, Rush Yds: 2003, Rush TDs: 21, Rec: 26, Rec Yds: 252, Rec TDs: 5
Overall stats – GP: 41, Rush Att: 926, Rush Yds: 6174, Rush TDs: 50, Rec: 42, Rec Yds: 407, Rec TDs: 5
Best Landing Spot
Tampa Bay might be the best landing spot for Taylor. The Bucs are in need of a running back, and need to take a ton of pressure off Jameis Winston. Bruce Arians would love a guy like Taylor in the backfield every play. Also, I think he would be a great fit in Cincinnati, Detroit, Atlanta, and the Jets. All teams could use a guy to take some of the heat off their quarterbacks.
Worst Landing Spot
Taylor is definitely best used in an offense that is run first, or uses the ground game to get their offense going. I know in 2020 not every team has this mentality, so if Taylor went to a pass first team like the Chiefs would be bad for his ability.
Draft Range
2nd round
Taylor is a great talent in the backfield, but we’re seeing in the current NFL running backs aren’t valued as much. He’ll most likely be a second round pick and come with great value.
NFL Comparison
Arian Foster
Matt Forte
Marshawn Lynch
These three backs might portray Taylor the best. All three of them are similar to his size, and Taylor runs a similar style as well. He has the strength as well as the elusiveness to make plays when he gets the ball and heads downfield. Also, all three players were three down backs at their peak, and Taylor will most likely be the same once he gets into the league. Outside of Forte, all three guys were much stronger running the ball than they were when used in the passing game.
Ratings Breakdown
Agility: 9 Very elusive back that can dodge tackles
Speed: 7 lateral speed brings it down, but good top end speed
Hands: 8 has improved in the passing game
Blocking: 9 this could be his best trait
26
Throughout his tenure at Notre Dame, Julian Okwara has been one of the Fighting Irish’s star pass rushers. When he is coming off the edge, Okwara’s combination of quickness and length are often too much for offensive linemen to handle. Despite being currently listed as a defensive linemen, Okwara has been viewed as a possible OLB in 3-4 schemes due to his lateral movement and potential coverage skills.
As the 2020 NFL Draft draws closer, there are some NFL executives who believe that Okwara could wind up as a first round pick, and for good reason. Okwara has the physical tools and potential necessary to be a versatile defender in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. Although it is important to note that he is still a raw talent that needs to work with a seasoned defensive staff who will teach him a plethora of moves to shed blocks in both the pass and run games. Moreover, he will need to get stronger in order to fend off blocks from offensive linemen and even some tight ends.
Strengths
• Length
• Power
• Combination of speed, and quickness
• Knows how to rip the ball out of the ball carriers hands
• Lateral movement on coverage
• Motor
• Bull rush
• Big play capability
The first thing you notice when watching Okwara is that his length is certainly his best attribute. Okwara is able to use his length to gain leverage, and rip through offensive linemen on any given play and get to the quarterback. Speaking of Okwara on the edge, he has the speed and quickness necessary to brush past blockers on the outside. When Okwara tackles a ball carrier, he knows how to rip or punch the ball out of their hands because of his insane wingspan.
Okwara doesn’t have the biggest arsenal of pass rush moves, but his bull rush is arguably one of his best moves. When Okwara times a snap perfectly, he has the quickness necessary to push OTs and OGs back towards the quarterback. If Okwara can bulk up more in the off-season, his bull rush will be too much for linemen to deal with.
In addition to his pass rush skills, Okwara has an incredibly high motor that always makes him a threat for a big play to bolster the rest of his teammates. Even though Julian Okwara doesn’t have the best awareness in coverage, he has great lateral movement that helps him stay with running backs out of the backfield.
Weaknesses
• Inconsistency
• Strength
• Injuries
• Run defense
• Lacks arsenal of finesse/power moves
• Awareness
• Many of his sacks were unblocked
• Block shedding
Despite having the physical tools necessary to be a quality defensive-lineman, Okwara is very inconsistent as a pass rusher because he lacks ideal strength. When Okwara is asked to go one on one against a blocker, he struggles to hold his ground and often gets driven back significantly. In fact, Okwara sometimes gets pushed back by tight ends like Isaac Nauta. Okwara’s lack of strength is especially evident on run plays where guards, tackles and tight ends often drive him back to create giant holes/lanes for RBs to run through. As a result, Okwara consistently fails to keep contain on the outside.
Along with Okwara’s lack of strength, he lacks an arsenal of finesse moves to get off blockers. Aside from a bull-rush move, Okwara has difficulty ripping through OL when he is not on the edge, and will need to get finesse moves in order to maximize his quickness and length. Until he incorporates these moves, he will be a liability as a run defender and fail to shed blockers at the next level.
Even though Okwara has a high motor, his football awareness causes him to miss assignments and get fooled in coverage and on read-option plays. Along with his awareness, he will need to become a more disciplined DL because he has a tendency to over pursue when he is is pass rushing. Moreover, he frequently over pursues on run plays, which causes him to allow runners to get to the outside. If Okwara can work on his awareness and bolster his football IQ then he could be a versatile edge rusher who has the physical tools necessary to play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme as a DE or OLB. Also Okwawa’s injury history is troubling because he has suffered fibula and severe ankle injuries.
College Production
2019 stats – 9 Games Played, 19 Tackles, 5.0 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery
Overall stats – 35 Games Played, 79 Tackles, 15.5 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery
Best Landing Spot
The best destination for Okwara would be the New England Patriots, who currently needs to add an edge rusher to their defense. The New England Patriots would be a perfect team for Okwara because Bill Belichick specializes with helping developing players who have a high motor like Julian. Belichick is probably the best person to teach Okwara finesse moves to help him shed blockers and become a more skilled run defender. Belichick would also be able to refine Okwara’s coverage skills in their 3-4 scheme because of his length, quickness, and lateral movement.
Worst Landing Spot
The Packers and Vikings would not be ideal places for Okwara because they currently do not need an edge rusher. In fact, the Vikings excelled at generating pressures and sacks in 2019, so pass rush is currently not an issue for them. Moreover, the Packers are in need of a run stopping defender, and do not have time to wait on Okwara to develop his run defense.
Draft Range
Mid 2nd Round/3rd Round
NFL Comparison
Julian Okwara is most comparable to Dante Fowler Jr. because of his length and quickness. Both Okwara and Fowler excel off the edge as a pass rusher because they each have the physical tools necessary to brush past offensive tackles. They are also versatile defenders who can play as edge rushers or 3-4 OLBs. However, they both struggle with run defense and lack a bevy of pass rush moves to fend off blockers. Plus, they are known more for beating offensive linemen with their speed rather than strength.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 has the speed and natural strength necessary to run on the edge against OTs
Mechanics: 6 needs to refine his tackling but his hand techniques are solid
Run Def: 3 often fails to keep contain on run plays and gets driven back significantly when asked to plug a gap
Strength: 5 needs to bulk up significantly in order to go one on one against offensive lineman, gets driven back by tight ends way too often.
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Last season, Justin Herbert was projected to be the top ranked quarterback prospect in the 2019 NFL draft. Despite a potential top five selection, Herbert decided to return for his senior season so that he could graduate with a degree in biology. With the 2020 Draft coming this April, Herbert’s draft stock has fallen from the best QB prospect to the third-best QB available in the draft. There is a lot for a component offensive coordinator who specializes with mobile quarterbacks to work with as it pertains to Justin Herbert. However he desperately needs to improve if he’s going to be a successful dual-threat QB.
Strengths
Justin Herbert has a lot of upside. For instance, he has the arm strength and talent necessary to deliver insane passes, especially when he has pressure in his face. Herbert’s arm strength also assists him on deep passes, where frequently beats defenders in tight/close coverage. Herbert also has great poise in the pocket when he is dealing with blitzes. In fact, he has the ability to be incredibly accurate at the short and deep levels, even if defenders are draped over him. Herbert has obviously been taught well because he frequently will move outside the pocket or step up after four or five seconds in the pocket. It’s almost as if he has a clock in his head telling him when it’s time to evade the pocket. Another strength of Herbert’s is that he refrains from putting the ball in harm’s way because he has a high IQ and great decision-making skills. Lastly, Herbert has great mechanics and remarkable physical traits.
Weaknesses
There are multiple reasons that could prevent Herbert from being a first-round pick. For instance, Herbert lacks a natural sense of pocket awareness and struggles to pick up blitzes that happen early in a play. Speaking of vision, Herbert has a tendency to lock in on his first read and frequently misses receivers who are more open or have a better chance to gain YAC. Herbert’s intermediate accuracy is also troubling because he has a tendency to underthrow receivers in that area, especially when he’s on the run. Moreover, Justin Herbert’s throw on the run has regressed from 2018 to 2019, to the point where his OTR ball placement is sometimes inaccurate. On the field, Herbert’s biggest issue is consistency. One drive he’ll step up in the pocket to throw a tremendous pass deep down the field to an open man. The next drive, he’ll throw a series of erratic passes, miss blitzes, or struggle to move off his first read. However in the locker room, Herbert will have difficulty leading an NFL team because he has been criticized for his lack of leadership skills. In fact, various reports have labeled him as soft.
College Production
2019 stats – GP:14, COMP%: 66.8%, PASS YDS: 3,471, PASS TDs: 32, INTs: 6, RTG: 156.8 Passer
Overall stats – GP: 43, COMP%: 64%, PASS YDS: 10,541, PASS TDs: 95, INTs: 23, RTG: 153.1
Best Landing Spot
The best case scenario for Justin Herbert would be for him to play for an organization where he can sit for awhile and learn behind an established veteran. There are a lot of teams Herbert could be drafted by, that would greatly benefit his development but the two best options would be the Chargers or Colts. Both of these teams would be great destinations because Herbert would be able to learn behind Phillip Rivers or Jacoby Brissett about how to be a good leader. Moreover, Rivers and Brissett would also provide Herbert with advice on how to read a defense pre and post snap. Plus, both of these organizations have great receiving corps, offensive lines and a bevy of running back talent that would maximize Herbert’s productivity.
Worst Landing Spot
Even though the Raiders wouldn’t be a horrible place for Herbert, they are far from his ideal landing spot. For example Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, doesn’t have the patience necessary to tolerate an inconsistent young quarterback like Justin Herbert. Furthermore, Gruden tends to run a traditional pro system that requires quarterbacks to lineup under center. However, Herbert has mainly played in shotgun and pistol formations, so there would be some friction transitioning to Gruden’s system. Aside from Gruden, the Raiders lack a true number one wideout with the versatility to do it all. Also, Derek Carr is sensitive, and would consider Herbert’s selection as an indictment against him. Therefore, it’s unlikely that Carr would want to mentor Herbert.
Draft Range
Mid first/early second round
Teams could draft a QB: Colts, Chargers, Dolphins, Lions, Buccaneers, Raiders, Patriots
NFL Comparison
Of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, Justin Herbert’s playing style is most similar to Deshaun Watson’s. For starters, both Watson and Herbert have tremendous arm strength and arm talent, which enables them to pull off miraculous throws. Additionally, they each can be annoying for defenses to compete against because of their ability to escape the pocket and extend plays with their legs.
While their mobility often saves them mid-play, their tendency to hold onto the ball constantly leaves them susceptible to being sacked. In fact, both quarterbacks often fail to recognize blitzes pre-snap because they don’t have the best sense of pocket pressure. Lastly, both signal-callers have a knack for locking in on their first reads, and have difficulty progressing to the next receiver.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 7 – has great deep and tight-window accuracy
Arm Strength: 7.5 – has a relatively strong arm and can put zip on the ball
Pocket IQ: 6 – lacks a natural sense of pocket awareness and struggles to pick up blitzes
Mobility: 7 – can extend plays and throw on the run well
Decision Making: 7 – doesn’t have a big issue with forcing balls into bad reads
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Bryce Hall is a four year senior out of the University of Virginia. Hall checks in as a strong cornerback prospect. His ankle injury that forced him out half the year is going to be something to note. He is a physical corner and has excellent awareness to cover up his average athleticism. That is a small downside to his game, but he plays the ball well in the air. There are quite a few teams in need of cornerbacks, and while he is not checking in as a top name in comparison to others, there is a ton of upside landing with the right team. His combine numbers are going to be something to keep an eye on, which could increase or decrease his draft stock.
Strengths
• Physicality
• Ball Skills
• IQ
• Zone Coverage
Weaknesses
• Footwork
• Man Coverage
• Athleticism
When you look at Bryce Hall’s game, his IQ stands out. He is excellent at reading routes before and after the ball is thrown. If he even had an average IQ, there would be a big chance he’d struggle at the next level. This helps him make up for his lack of athleticism and footwork. Because of this he struggles in man coverage, but works well zone coverage systems. He knows how to find the ball, and can be a ball hawk at times.
College Production
2019 stats – 6 games, 20 tackles, 1 sack, 0 interceptions, 0 FF, 0 FR
Overall stats – 42 GP, 154 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 interceptions, 2 FR, 3 FF
Hall’s 2019 is going to hurt him a bit, injuring his ankle and missing half of the season. I believe he would be a few spots higher if he had been healthy the whole year. Hall is excellent in breaking up passes, and he is an excellent tackler due to his above average physicality as well. At Virginia, Hall made some big plays and is a game changer being able to read the ball and jump routes.
Best Landing Spot
Carolina is sitting with the 38th pick overall in the second round, which would be a sweet spot for adding Hall. The Panthers ran a ton of zone coverage, which is a specialty for James Bradberry, who has some similarities to Hall. Carolina is in need of some cornerback depth, and this bodes well for this spot. Denver would be another good spot, who have developed strong secondaries and use to cornerbacks strengths.
Worst Landing Spot
Miami has just about every need under the sun, and adding to the secondary will be a focus. Hall wouldn’t fit well here if they don’t adjust to more zone defenses. They mixed a bit last season, but used zone when they continuously got beat through the air in man coverage. Starting would be easy in Miami, where he could gel a bit more in a few others cities.
Draft Range
Early Second Round
NFL Comparison
Josh Norman coming out of college relied upon his awareness and strength. He wasn’t overly athletic, but thrived in the right situation. Hall is much of the same, where he lacks overall speed and quickness, but is excellent at reading plays and playing the ball in the air. Hall is also relatively similar in stature, and used his aggressiveness against larger wide receivers. I see a lot of Norman in Hall’s game.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 6 – Average speed, will struggle in man coverage early.
Agility: 6 – Reading routes help, but he would have been elite with better athleticism.
Zone CVGE: 8 – Athleticism can be masked, and his awareness makes him a strong zone corner.
Tackles: 7 – Has the physicality and aggressiveness, but needs to improve angles a bit more.
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In a pretty hefty wide receiver class, Laviska Shenault finds himself inside the top five, and projected to go towards the bottom third of the first round. Shenault can play in the slot, but also outside as an x-receiver. He was extremely versatile at Colorado where he also was used in the run game at times. Shenault is a mix of size and speed, and would bring instant playmaking to any team that drafts him. While he won’t go ahead of Jeudy or Lamb, he is likely going to be going in the bottom 12 picks of the first round where a team can get a stud wide receiver without having to trade up. Shenault put up nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in his final two seasons, scoring 17 total touchdowns. Colorado had him lined up all over the field, and NFL teams should take note on getting him the ball.
Strengths
• Strength
• Hands
• Agility & Speed
• Route Running
• IQ
Weaknesses
• Blocking
• Durability
As a prospect, Shenault has shown just about everything. He is a dynamic playmaker, who can run various routes, and beat different styles of cornerbacks and coverages. Shenault has strong hands, and is also physical to matchup with bigger cornerbacks. He has a strong route running tree, and his IQ is tremendous. Shenault played various positions, and was vocal about helping others out on the field. He looks to have a true understanding of the game. There are a few slight red flags, as he can block, but didn’t show interest at times. If he brings this to the next level, it could spell trouble. He also had a few injuries in college to note, which may be random occurrences, but it is something to note.
College Production
2019 stats – 11 GP, 56 receptions, 764 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 13.6 YPR
Overall stats – 27 GP, 149 receptions, 1,943 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, 13.0 YPR
Just about all of Shenault’s production came from his sophomore and junior season. He took a slight dip in production, finishing his junior year with a 56-764-4 line, compared to his sophomore year where he had an 86-1011-6 line in two less games. As mentioned above, Shenault played a factor in the run game, where had had over 200 rushing yards on 42 attempts and seven total rushing touchdowns. He averaged 11.6 yards per scrimmage.
Best Landing Spot
Given he is going to be in the bottom half of the first round, there are quite a few spots he could go. Philadelphia, Buffalo, New England, and New Orleans are all landing spots for the Colorado wideout, and he would be an instant starter at each of these teams. Most of these teams are linked to wide receivers in the first round as well. He would jump into a solid scenario if the quarterback situation stays the same at each team.
Worst Landing Spot
Jacksonville and Oakland have picks 19 and 20 in the first round, and both will be looking for a wideout at some point in the draft. Although Oakland is desperately in need of one more so than Jacksonville. This comes down to how the offenses are run and who is under center, where they just do not compare to the teams in the best landing spot above.
Draft Range
Mid-Late First
NFL Comparison
A comparison to DeAndre Hopkins is high praise, and he is a bit quicker and athletic than Hopkins but the strength is a good similarity. Robert Woods is another one, where he has a good mix of speed and strength.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 – Versatile route tree, and runs efficient routes
Agility: 8 – Has cuts and the agility to make defenders miss in the open field.
Blocking: 6 – Shenault can block, but would take plays off.
Size: 8 – Great size and strength to go up against physical corners
30
K.J. Hamler rightfully earned the nickname “Human Joystick” due to his speedy moves and agility. Hamler is a redshirt sophomore that sat out his freshman season after he tore his ACL in his final season at the high school level. In his first season in Happy Valley, Hamler set the school record for all-purpose yards by a freshman (1,417), a record previously held by Saquon Barkley (1,237). Hamler’s playmaking ability helped him gain a first down on 71% of his receptions his freshman season. Hamler earned Second Team All Big Ten in 2019. He can play from the slot as well as out wide. Not just a receiver, Hamler is 10th all-time on the career kickoff return list with an average of 25.2. After the catch, Hamler is one of the best draft prospects in this class.
Strengths
• Speed
• Agility
• Kick Returning
• Route Running
• Yards After Catch
His speed is his biggest asset. Expect Hamler to run somewhere around a 4.35 at the combine, possibly even better. He breaks off at the top of his routes very well and uses his speed to create separation. The “Human Joystick” is as explosive and agile as any player in the draft. From day one, Hamler will be a threat returning kicks as well. In the open field, Hamler will be one of the most dangerous prospects in the upcoming draft. His mix of speed and field awareness means Hamler can find the endzone anytime he touches the ball.
Weaknesses
• Size
• Strength
• Hands
• Blocking
His size is no doubt his biggest weakness and the reason that he will fall as far as he does in the draft. His strength isn’t anything to get excited about either and he may have trouble with more physical corners at the line of scrimmage. While his hands aren’t necessarily the issue, it is more of how he catches the ball. Instead of going out and grabbing the ball, Hamler uses his body to make a lot of catches, something that could become an issue in the NFL. His lack of size and strength makes blocking difficult for Hamler and it will be one of his biggest weaknesses in the NFL.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, REC: 42, REC YDS: 754, YDS/REC: 18.0, TDs: 6
Overall stats – GP: 26, REC: 98, REC YDS: 1658, YDS/REC: 16.9, TDs: 14
Best Landing Spot
The Green Bay Packers are in desperate need of another playmaker at the wide receiver position. Davante Adams is one of the best receivers in the game but it falls off hard for the Packers after that. Allen Lazard and Geronimo Allison could be solid WR3/WR4 options but lack the explosiveness that someone like Hamler could bring to this team. With the ability to lineup anywhere on the field, Hamler could be a Randall Cobb 2.0 for the Packers, except faster. Green Bay could possibly reach for Hamler near the end of the first round if enough receivers go before him.
Worst Landing Spot
The Carolina Panthers already have one of the most explosive players in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey. Hamler would be almost like a second McCaffrey and while that may sound good, there are only so many plays to go around. The Panthers have other crucial areas to improve and adding a player like Hamler wouldn’t make much sense for the franchise at this point. The quarterback situation is also a question in Carolina at the moment and Hamler would work better with an accurate and experienced quarterback who can make quick passes on short routes and accurate passes deep. Those are two things that neither Carolina quarterback (Cam Newton or Kyle Allen) seem to do very well.
Draft Range
Early-Mid Second Round
NFL Comparison
Tyreek Hill or DeSean Jackson are the two names that come to mind when I think of Hamler. The mix of speed and ability to gain yards after the catch between these three is nearly identical. All three are also very capable of scoring on any kick or punt that they receive.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 7 – A strong route tree, and will be able to shake free of defenders in shorter and long routes.
Agility: 9 – His best asset is his ability to make defenders miss and has excellent burst when in man or even beating zone.
Blocking: 4 – Smaller wide receiver makes him tough to block any sort of linebacker, but won’t be asked to do much here.
Size: 5 – At his stature, he is what he is when it comes to being a speedy small receiver.
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Strengths
• Inside Rush Moves
• Mechanics
• High Motor
• IQ
Weaknesses
• Outside Rush Moves
• Athleticism
• Tackling
Curtis Weaver is a pretty specific player, meaning he needs to develop a bit on his outside moves and continue to build his mechanics. His hand technique is excellent, and he is a very smart player. Weaver’s work ethic also masks some concerns we have like his tackling and athleticism. Weaver isn’t a lengthy player and doesn’t have that speed to get around players with absolute ease. This is where his ceiling lacks a bit, and it is hard to say if he will ever get there or not. Weaver does have a high football IQ and can produce in different alignments. Weaver will be a work in progress type player that still gets drafted early.
College Production
2019 stats – 52 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF
Overall stats – 128 tackles, 34 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FR, 3 FF
Looking at his numbers, you’d be looking at a guy going in the first round. Some of this has to do with a lack of competition, but overall he was extremely consistent in producing numbers. Two of his three seasons he had double-digit sacks. He was a favorite at Boise State with his electric play, especially as someone who looked a bit out of shape.
Best Landing Spot
With Jadeveon Clowney likely on his way out of Seattle, the Seahawks are in a good spot in the second round to take a chance on Curtis Weaver. Snaps would be there, and he would have the time to develop.
Worst Landing Spot
As long as a team takes the time to develop him and use his skills correctly early on, there is no bad landing spot. He is likely going to be a pass down type defender, and it is hard to see him evolving into anything more than that.
Draft Range
Second Round
NFL Comparison
Vinny Curry didn’t turn out to have an electric career, but this is a pretty strong comparison given the skillset and size that he has. Curry went late second round, which is where Weaver projects to go unless he goes off during the combine and shows improved athleticism.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 6 – This is an area where he can improve, but needs to increase his agility a bit.
Mechanics: 7 – His hand placement help him move past blockers, and he gets off the line despite average athleticism.
Run Def: 6 – Not really his forte, but can improve here.
Strength: 6 – Will need to improve in this department if he wants to get to that next level.
32
As good as Clemson’s defense has been this decade, A.J. Terrell has the potential to be the best cornerback to be drafted in the NFL this century (maybe further back). Throughout his career at Clemson, Terrell has been a lockdown cornerback, who has exhibited consistent production since his freshman year. Terrell is the most underrated cornerback in this year’s draft class, and might even be the most underrated player. While he doesn’t have flashy speed or daunting physique, he is a versatile cornerback, who has been coached well by the genius defensive coordinator, Brent Ven. As a result, he has excelled during both the regular season and postseason, and was named to the All-ACC first team in 2019.
Strengths
• Zone Coverage
• Man Coverage
• • Stays with receivers tight
• Agility
• Back pedalling
• IQ/awareness
• • Reads and reacts fast
• Recovery speed
• Run stopping
AJ Terrell is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. He’s a stereotypical Clemson defender who is extremely talented, extremely disciplined and extremely diligent. Regardless of where he’s drafted in April, Terrell should fit his defensive coordinators scheme because he excels in both zone and man coverage.
Terrell’s agility, fluid hips, and technique enable him to consistently follow tightly near receivers anywhere down or across the field. Even if he has to hold up with a WR for long periods of time, he has the coverage skills necessary to keep up with receivers on the outside or in the slot. He has great press coverage skills and the recovery speed necessary to stay step for step with any receiver on the outside.
One of the best aspects about Terrell is his awareness/IQ. On any given play, Terrell is able to read and react very quickly and diagnose plays before they happen. This is especially true on runs and screens where Terrell is able to get into the backfield fast in order to disrupt the run.
Weaknesses
• Size
• Grabs receivers a lot
• Curl routes
• Struggles to fend off blocks
• Game against LSU
Speaking of difficulties, Terrell’s tendency to grab receivers throughout most routes could lead to an abundance of pass interference calls if he doesn’t refine his technique at the next level. As it pertains to the next level, Terrell will also need to bulk up in strength in order to do a better job fending off blocks in the NFL.
The biggest red flag against AJ Terrell concerns his performance against LSU in the national championship. According to Pro Football Focus, Terrell hadn’t given up 60+ receiving yards to a wide receiver throughout his career at Clemson until he went against Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow. In fact, Terrell surrendered over 140 yards to Chase during the championship game.
While this game is something NFL scouts will definitely take note of, it’s important to remember that Burrow and Chase burned most first round caliber corners like Travon Diggs. Therefore, this game needs to be put in perspective and not cause Terrell to tumble too far down the NFL draft.
College Production
2019 stats – Games Played: 14, Tackles: 34, Sacks: 0.5, Forced Fumbles: 0, Fumble Recoveries: 0, Interceptions: 2
Overall stats – Games Played: 38, Tackles: 101, Sacks: 0.5, Forced Fumbles: 2, Fumble Recoveries: 0, Interceptions: 6
Best Landing Spot
The San Francisco 49ers would be a great place for AJ Terrell to land due to their current need at the cornerback position. Throughout the season, the 49ers suffered a multitude of injuries at the cornerback position and thus had to start Ahkello Witherspoon as the no. 2 CB for the majority of the year. While Witherspoon wasn’t horrible, the Niners will most certainly look to bolster their corner position in order to help out Richard Sherman.
Considering that they will have a late first round pick, they should be in position to draft Terrell who would excel in San Francisco’s man heavy system. In addition, Terrell would be able to learn behind Richard Sherman, and learn how to refine his coverage skills so that he avoids drawing pass interference calls. Plus, Terrell’s adjustment to the NFL would be smoother if he were selected by the Niners due to their stellar pass rush.
Worst Landing Spot
Even though I believe that Terrell would play well on any NFL roster, the Cleveland Browns would be far from an ideal destination. For starters, the Browns already have an abundance of cornerbacks, and would likely list Terrell towards the bottom of their CB depth chart. Moreover the Browns are currently in the midst of what seems to be a never-ending cycle of dysfunction, which would hinder Terrell’s development.
Draft Range
Late First Round to Early Second Round
NFL Comparison
AJ Terrell’s playing style is most similar to Richard Sherman because they are both versatile cornerbacks who excel in both man and zone coverage. Despite lacking elite speed, Sherman and Terrell are able to keep up with most wide receivers on the outside because of their agility, IQ and bum and run playing style. This comparison doesn’t mean that Terrell will be as successful as Sherman was, but it indicates that a good defensive coordinator could mold him into a stellar defensive back.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 6.5 – He doesn’t have elite cornerback speed but has good recovery speed
Agility: 7 – Terrell has fluid hips and can change directions well
Zone CVGE: 9 – Terrell has impeccable zone spacing and knows how to bait QBs
Tackles: 7 – He is a good run stopper/disrupter with great tackling technique
33
Throughout his career at the University of Wisconsin, Zack Baun has fit the criteria for a Badger defender by being one of the hardest workers in the Big Ten conference. At the next level, he fares to harass opposing quarterbacks given that he has flashed potential in both the pass coverage game and pass rush game. While some sources list Baun as a possible edge rusher due to his experience on the edge, he looks to be most successful as an OLB or MLB in a 4-3 system. Even though he is not a physical freak, Baun makes up for it with an explosive first step, great acceleration and range.
Strengths
• Pass coverage
• Zone spacing
• Range
• Snap timing
• Lower body strength
• Pass rush moves
• Production
• Acceleration
When watching Zack Baun on tape, it’s easy to tell that he has an explosive first step that enables him to get off the line of scrimmage right as the ball is snapped. In fact, Baun’s ability to time a snap is comparable to draft sensation, Chase Young’s. When Baun gets off the line quickly, he is able to gain enough momentum to push back any blocker with a bull rush due to his great lower body strength. Besides bull rush, Baun has a great arsenal of pass rush moves such as the cross-chop and inside spin which help him to get into the backfield and pressure the QB.
As a LB, Baun has excellent spacing in zone coverage and can change directions with his hips better than most. As it pertains to changing directions, Baun is able to move laterally in any direction rather quickly because he has a stellar combination of acceleration and range. Baun pays special attention to where the QB is scanning the field and does an excellent job of interfering in passing lanes. In both the coverage and pass rush game, Baun has proven to be a productive player who could be a bona fide starter within two or three years.
Weaknesses
• Awareness
• Play Recognition
• Play action and read option
• Locating the ball
• Blitzing off edge
• Length
• Tackling technique
• Run block recognition
• Severe injuries
• Inconsistency
• Explosive speed
On the field, two of Zack Baun’s most troubling weaknesses are his football awareness and play recognition. Throughout his career, Baun has struggled with locating the ball on read-option and play action plays and often over pursues or chooses to tackle the wrong player. Additionally, when he is asked to keep contain or watch for play action, Baun is slow to read and react.
From a physical opponent, Baun will most likely struggle in the NFL if placed at edge rusher because of his lack of upper body strength or insane wingspan. When Baun is rushing off the edge, he struggles to gain separation from his blocker and is often pushed away from the QB. Although even when he goes straight up against a blocker, Baun’s lack of upper body strength causes him to get jammed at the line of scrimmage, especially on run plays.
Speaking of run plays, Baun is a slight liability as a run stopper because he fails to recognize pulling blocks and is unable to maneuver away from them. This is especially true on outside run plays, where Baun doesn’t have enough speed to track the ball carrier. However, even when Baun evades a run block, he is frequently unable to fully grasp ball carriers (especially running backs) and bring them to the ground. As a result, his tackling technique needs to be refined.
The most significant red flag associated with Zack Baun concerns his injury history. During his collegiate career, Baun has suffered a devastating meniscus tear coupled with two torn lisfranc injuries in his left foot. If Baun were to re-injure his foot a third time, this could lead to a long period of missed games and drastically limit his ceiling.
College Production
2019 stats – Games Played: 14, Tackles: 52, Sacks: 12.5, Forced Fumbles: 2, Fumble Recoveries: 0, Interceptions: 1
Overall stats – Games Played: 34, Tackles: 98, Sacks: 15.0, Forced Fumbles: 3, Fumble Recoveries: 1, Interceptions: 2
Best Landing Spot
Zack Baun would be a good fit on the Oakland Raiders, who currently need a LB to bolster their defense. If the Raiders opt to spend their first round picks on wide receivers and/or cornerbacks, they could easily draft Baun in the second round to fill in as a weak side LB. Due to Baun’s coverage skills and pass rush success, he could easily come into Paul Guenther’s defense and fill in for Nicholas Morrow.
Worst Landing Spot
Zack Baun would not be a good fit on the Baltimore Ravens for many reasons. First off, they are in desperate need of an edge rusher, and if they trade Matthew Judon in free agency, Baun could be flexed to DE where he would struggle to blitz off the edge. Plus, Baun doesn’t have enough size to fend off blockers as an edge rusher, and would fail to keep contain in the run game. Although even if Baun were to play at LB, he would struggle to be productive in the Ravens man coverage system because of his lack of speed.
Draft Range
Mid Second Round to Third Round
NFL Comparison
Zack Baun’s ceiling varies between Joe Schobert and Lavonte David. Similar to both Schobert and David, Baun is undersized for his position but makes up for it with a high motor and great coverage skills. Moreover, both Schobert and David are able to get off the line of scrimmage quickly just like Baun. However, Baun, Schobert, and David are all inconsistent pass rushers.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 4.5 – has underwhelming upper body strength and his length doesn’t give him an advantage over OTs and OGs
Pass Cover: 8 – has great zone coverage skills and interferes in passing lanes
Run Def: 5 – liability in the run game and fails to recognize blockers
Strength: 6 – has the lower body strength necessary to drive blockers back with his legs but his upper body strength gets him stuck when pass rushing
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Neville Gallimore is not someone who stands out on the stat sheet, or at least didn’t at Oklahoma, but is an impact defensive tackle. Gallimore didn’t come off as a hard worker with a high motor early in his Oklahoma career, but 2019 that changed quite a bit. If he can keep this up, he will have a long future in the NFL. He is explosive off the line, and his footwork is tremendous. There is a chance he goes within the first round, but he is more likely headed for round two. While he might not put up monster numbers, Gallimore is going to be one of those names who makes an impact for those paying attention. He will open the door for his teammates as well. We are likely looking at a three-down starter who needs some improvement with his run defense, but an overall solid defensive line prospect. Look for a team in need of a healthy pass rush, who would be willing to work with him against the run. He is a big boy who can shoot the gap with ease, and that’s what teams will be asking him to do.
Strengths
• High Motor
• Shooting The Gap
• Pass Rush
• Footwork
• Athleticism
Weaknesses
• Versatility
• Run Defense
• Double Teams
His high motor should carry over from 2019 into the NFL, and that bodes well for his upside. He showed tremendous effort which helped others around him. Gallimore is better when he is given a gap and can use his quickness to get there, but does struggle against double teams and more focused blocks against him in the run game. This is an area he can improve on. He has shown a few strong techniques in getting to the quarterback, and has great footwork. There is certainly a high ceiling here.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, Tackles: 29, Sacks: 4 FF: 0, FR: 2
Overall stats – GP: 46, Tackles: 147, Sacks: 8.5, FF: 5 FR: 0
Not an overly exciting line for Gallimore at the college level, but was a four star prospect out of Ontario. His college production isn’t going to mean much, as NFL teams will be looking at his strength and athleticism. He will also fit well in a defense that utilizes his strengths right off the bat.
Best Landing Spot
Neville Gallimore is going to be going after Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw, but it will be interesting to see where he goes next to Raekwon Davis. Indianapolis is likely going to nab an edge rusher within this draft too, but I would love getting Gallimore here as well. They are in need of a healthy pass rush, and Gallimore can help in that department.
Worst Landing Spot
Gallimore might be a bit scheme specific early on, but using him as a strong nose tackle should be what teams go for. Basically any team that does not do so is going to be a bad landing spot. However his role is obvious, so I don’t see any teams failing to do that.
Draft Range
Early Second Round
NFL Comparison
Geno Atkins comes to mind when looking at Neville Gallimore’s game. While it will be tough to duplicate his sack numbers, Gallimore can certainly be as disruptive as Atkins in his career.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 – Tremendous athleticism and is extremely quick.
Mechanics: 7 – Dynamic athlete helps here, but has strong mechanics in most areas.
Run Def: 6 – Not a great tackler, but not bad either. Doesn’t stay low enough.
Strength: 8 – Big upper body strength, and has solid lower half as well.
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Sophomore edge rusher, K’Lavon Chaisson, has decided to forgo his last two years of eligibility in order to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. During his second season, Chaisson suffered a devastating ACL tear that forced him to miss all but one game of the 2018 season. Nevertheless, Chaisson came into the 2019 season as a pre-season All American who many believed would be a menacing presence for the LSU Tigers. While Chaisson’s injury history could scare teams, he has tremendous upside as an edge rusher or possible weakside LB who could bolster a team’s defense.
Strengths
• IQ
• Play recognition
• Discipline
• Length and agility
• Coverage
• First step
• Versatility
• Run disruption
• Tenacity
K’Lavon Chaisson is one of the most versatile and intelligent edge rushers in this year’s draft. In fact, Chaisson has the combination of coverage and blitzing skills necessary to play as a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB. Throughout the entirely of every game, Chaisson is able to read and diagnose the offense’s play call and react with one of the quickest first steps in the game. This is especially true on screen passes and play action, where Chaisson finds the primary receiver and snuffs out the play quickly. As he is reacting, Chaisson is disciplined enough to complete his assignment without any renegade behavior that could compromise the play, especially run plays.
As a pass rusher, K’Lavon Chaisson is solid. He excels with both finesse and power moves, and is able to use his combination of length and agility to brush past defenders. Even though his strength is inconsistent throughout games, he has the ability to out-muscle blockers on any given play. One important thing to note is that Chaisson’s inconsistent strength is not at all an indictment on his tenacity or motor because he is one of the most relentless defenders in college football.
As a run stopper, Chaisson’s skill set would be a gift for many defensive coordinators. He is able to quickly realize when run plays will occur, react with an explosive first step, and be aware of draws. As a result, Chaisson repeatedly does a great job of keeping contain and gets in the backfield rather quickly to disrupt the play.
Weaknesses
• Tackling stronger running backs
• Jumps offsides frequently
• Recognizing and shedding run blocks
• Strength and size
• Injuries
While Chaisson is a terrific defender, he has some aspects to improve on. For starters, Chaisson needs to work on his hand placement when he goes against OTs, OGs and TEs. This is because of the fact that when Chaisson first engages in pass rush or run stoppage, he often gets his hands jammed at the line of scrimmage and can’t get past them. He also needs to bulk up in order to be a more consistent pass rusher and run stopper in order to get past linemen and tackle stronger running backs. Aside from getting stronger, Chaisson also needs to do a better job at recognizing run blocks sooner so that he can get into the backfield quicker. Although the biggest red flag for Chaisson concerns his durability because he suffered a devastating ACL tear in his second season, and gets injured often.
College Production
2019 stats – Games Played: 13, Tackles: 60, Sacks: 6.5, Forced Fumbles: 1, Fumble Recoveries: 0, INT: 0
Overall stats – Games Played: 24, Tackles, 92, Sacks: 9.5, Forced Fumbles: 1, Fumble Recoveries: 0, INT: 0
Best Landing Spot
Texas native K’Lavon Chaisson would be an excellent fit for a Dallas Cowboys team desperate to find another edge rusher on the opposite side of Demarcus Lawrence. Even though Lawrence is one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL, he often struggles to stay healthy throughout an entire season. Plus, aside from Lawrence, Dallas has struggled to find another edge rusher to complement his production.
If Chaisson were drafted by Dallas, he would definitely help the Cowboys be more effective against the run, and help with coverage. Plus, Chaisson’s versatility would be extremely coveted by Dallas’ new defensive coordinator, George Edwards, who utilizes both a 4-3 and 3-4 scheme. If Dallas is seriously trying to improve their defensive line, they should take a look at Chaisson.
Worst Landing Spot
Even though there are very few teams that wouldn’t benefit from K’Lavon Chaisson’s skill set, the Seattle Seahawks would be better taking a pure pass rusher over him. For starters, the Seahawks currently have a tremendous run stopper with Jadaeveon Clowney and great coverage linebackers like Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. Given that the Seahawks ranked in the bottom five for sack production, they should take a player like A.J. Epenesa instead.
Draft Range
First Round
NFL Comparison
K’Lavon Chaisson’s ceiling is between OLBs Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney. For starters, Chaisson, Mercilus and Clowney all possess great coverage skills, and are phenomenal run stoppers. However, while Mercilus is only an adequate pass rusher, Clowney excels in that area as well. If Chaisson can bulk up and work on block shedding, he could be as dominant as Clowney. Although, he could serve as a weakside LB who’s assigned to stop the run and play back in coverage like Mercilus if called upon to do so.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 7 – has great length and athleticism
Mechanics: 8 – He has excellent explosiveness off the line, and is very strong in his moves to get around offensive lineman. Shows strong mechanics in speed rushes and inside stunts.
Run Def: 7 – able to read run plays quickly and move towards the ball faster than his teammates but struggles to fend off run blocks at times
Strength: 6 – struggles with struggles at out-muscling OTs and OGs at times, especially on run plays
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Cole Kmet enters the NFL draft after a breakout Junior year. The Notre Dame prospect showed he has the ability to excel at the next level. The biggest reason teams will be going after Kmet will be because of his versatility. He’s able to line up anywhere on the field, and create a mismatch for a defense. He plays tough and doesn’t go down easy thanks to his size. His lack of experience on the field could be a cause for concern, but don’t be surprised if he’s the first tight end off the board.
Strengths
• Catching
• Versatility
• Size
Kmet’s size gives him a huge advantage on the field, and will help him at the NFL level. His catch radius is insane with being 6’5′. He’ll be able to bring down a lot of footballs as defenders are draped all over him. Also, he’s able to lineup next to a tackle, or be spread out as a standup receiver. Kmet can play any skilled position on offense.
Weaknesses
• Experience
• 1 on 1 blocking
Kmet didn’t see as much playing time his first two years compared to his junior year. Experience could be an issue moving forward. Also, his one on one blocking could use some work given his size.
College Production
2019 stats – 10 Games, 43 receptions, 515 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 12 yards per catch
Overall stats – 23 games, 60 receptions, 691 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 11.5 yards per catch
Best Landing Spot
Jets will be the best landing spot for Kmet. New York has a good young core and a quarterback that could use a tight end for a reliable outlet. The team needs weapons and Kmet would be a great one to add.
Worst Landing Spot
Kmet might enjoy staying local in Chicago, but it probably won’t help his career. The Bears needs a tight end, but their offense is atrocious. Mitch Trubisky will struggle to get him the football, and will have Kmet losing confidence.
Draft Range
2nd round
Kmet is will probably be the first tight end off the board. He could go late first-round, but it’s more likely he’ll be taken in the second.
NFL Comparison
Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph is a similar tight end with great versatility that can play anywhere on the field. He’s a great outlet for Kirk Cousins to use, and always a weapon on the field.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 – crisp routes, but could use some work on separation
Agility: 9 – very athletic and can play anywhere on the field
Blocking: 6 – great blocker with help but struggle one on one
Size: 9 – 6’5′ 250lbs should transition well
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Jacob Eason’s size is the first thing anyone notices, and will have any NFL scout salivating at it. In Eason’s only season at Washington he completed 64 percent of his passes for 3123 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He transferred to Washington after he was injured in the early part of the 2017 season at Georgia. Jake Fromm started at quarterback and the Bulldogs head coach didn’t go back to Eason. Overall, Eason has a big arm and can make a ton of throws some quarterback prospects can’t. He doesn’t have a ton of experience and the inconsistencies showed in the 2019 season because of it.
Strengths
• Vision
• Arm
• Mechanics
Eason’s arm is the best thing about him. He is able to throw the football into any window on the field. He sees everything clearly on the field, and rarely throws the ball into danger. Also, Eason has great mechanics when he’s in the pocket, and doesn’t let them affect his performance.
Weaknesses
• Accuracy
• Pocket IQ
Eason does struggle with the deep ball. Most big arm quarterbacks struggle coming out of college, so this is no different than other prospects. However, he does struggle when pressure starts to ensue on him. In 2019, there were a few games where getting him under pressure forced some untimely throws.
College Production
2019 stats – GP 13, 64.2 completion %, 3132 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 143.9 RTG
Overall stats – GP 29, 59.8 completion %, 5590 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 132.3 RTG
Best Landing Spot
If a miracle happens and he gets drafted at the end of the first-round, that would be great for him. The Patriots and Chargers are two teams that come to mind in need of a quarterback this offseason. Also, a great spot for him would be to sit behind a veteran and learn the system before it’s his time to shine.
Worst Landing Spot
Fourth-round or later would be bad for Eason. Also, if he finds himself on a team where there’s no chance of him becoming the starter would hurt his career. Eason could be drafted to a team that doesn’t have a strong offensive minded coach either.
Draft Range
2-3 round
Eason is either the fourth or fifth best quarterback on most draft boards. Unless something crazy happens, he’ll most likely be a day 2 pick.
NFL Comparison
Joe Flacco
Jay Cutler
Both guys had big arms coming out of college and solid frames. In terms of mentality, they are on opposite spectrums, and I think Eason is closer to Flacco mentally than Cutler. However, Eason seems to have the confidence to throw the ball wherever he wants to like Cutler did.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 7 – Short and medium routes are accurate, but deep ball needs work
Arm Strength: 9 – Arguably the best arm coming out of this draft
Mechanics: 8 – Great mechanics, stands tall in the pocket when given time
Mobility: 7 – Elusive enough to use his legs to extend plays
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Raekown Davis is yet another Alabama talent on the defensive side, although his projected draft stock is not quite as high as some of his teammates. Overall Davis is looking like a draft day bargain for a team that needs a big body to plug up the middle of a line. Davis is going to need some work still at the next level, but he certainly can have some first year snaps where he gets rotated in and out on specific downs. He is a quick guy for his size as well, and while he didn’t produce a ton of sacks over the last two seasons at Alabama, he has that upside if he can put it all together at the next level.
Strengths
• Length
• Tackling
• Strength
His size and athleticism is his best attribute, and he moves extremely well for his size. Davis has strong run defending abilities because he can clog up the line and has a wingspan where he can reach out and bring down runners. His overall strength and power is where he can drive back offensive linemen and create havoc in the backfield. However this doesn’t necessarily mean his pass rush benefits, but he can push back on pass plays and help those around him to produce more pressure numbers.
Weaknesses
• Pass Rush Moves
• Durability
Davis does not have great techniques in pass rush, nor is it his strong suit. His bull rush is where he can produce the most, but he won’t be able to record big enough pressure numbers off that alone for himself. Because of his ability to get off the line and his length, there is still some hope he can build at the next level. Davis likely isn’t going to be a three-down guy at the next level, as he has shown some fatigue later in games and even on longer drives.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 12, Tackles: 47, Sacks: 0.5, FF: 0, FR: 0
Overall stats – GP: 43, Tackles: 175, Sacks: 11.5, FF: 1, FR: 1
Davis saw his best season his sophomore year at Alabama, where he had 8.5 sacks and 69 total tackles. His sack numbers dropped off, and his overall production did dip the later he got into his career. Not a huge deal, but the four year senior had a productive career overall. He was 4th in the SEC in sacks, which was impressive.
Best Landing Spot
Getting into a team that has a track record of developing defensive players is a major plus, especially given he is going to be a rotational piece early on in his career. Kansas City would be a great spot for him, and Houston would as well. These are also defenses that have other playmakers to take some of the pressure and focus off of him.
Worst Landing Spot
Landing in a spot that will push him aside until he can produce is the worst way for him to develop. He will need to be on the field, and any team that doesn’t do that often will be hindering his ability to adapt to the NFL level.
Draft Range
2nd Round
NFL Comparison
Cameron Heyward is a name that is interesting here, because his overall pass rush production wasn’t there early on and he had to develop a bit in that regard. He still was effective and can plug up the line and free up others for production.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 7 – Not quite as impactful as the others in the draft, but moves well for his size
Mechanics: 8 – Can clog up the line and also make arm tackles.
Run Def: 5 – Needs better hand technique to go with his strength.
Strength: 8 – Great size and strength.
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The junior out of USC, Austin Jackson, has been linked to a number of teams and it is easy to see why. While you may see him jump around mock draft ranges, Jackson is a top offensive tackle option. He has a few flaws that need to be polished, where there are some names higher that are more NFL ready, but Jackson has strength and size to fit the need of an NFL offensive lineman. Jackson’s biggest pros are his size, and his footwork is above average as well. Jackson would fit best learning behind for a year before he really makes the jump into a starting line somewhere. Jackson is an incredibly hard worker and will excel at the next level.
Strengths
• Strength
• Athleticism
• Footwork
Weaknesses
• Awareness
• Mechanics
The one major issue with Austin Jackson is that he can give away what he is going to do in his blocking scheme. He moved around at USC which is a plus for him, and it is the reason why his footwork was a plus. His awareness needs some work with edge rushers, but this doesn’t have much to do with his quickness and speed for a lineman. He can get out and ahead of screens and outside blocks, which is a nice addition to his skillset.
College Production
Austin Jackson was a part of a successful offensive line at USC, and he leaves his team in a bit of a limbo. The Trojans ran a spread offense, and lineman needed to move out and about, which Jackson does well. They ran the ball well, and overall they were a team that protected their quarterback, so Jackson’s college career was a success.
Best Landing Spot
Even after another strong year at USC, Austin Jackson would be best suited with a veteran offensive line where he can learn for a few years. The Packers at the end of the first round would be a good place for him to get some experience and be ready for the following year. The Los Angeles Chargers would be another spot. Jackson is more of a raw talent, but has the size and strength to be a strong NFL offensive lineman. He just needs the right guidance and landing spot.
Worst Landing Spot
With Cincinnati in need of an offensive lineman, especially a tackle, Austin Jackson is a candidate to land here. With desperate need for offensive lineman, Jackson might be thrown into the fire here. I don’t think it hurts him long term and he will have to develop quicker, but a grace period to learn at the NFL level would be better for him.
Draft Range
Late First – Early Second
NFL Comparison
Big and strong D’Brickashaw Ferguson is a strong resemblance to Austin Jackson, who came out of Virginia as a big and strong physical raw talent. He needed some work early, but turned out to be one of the top offensive lineman. Dealing with edge rushers, and fix his technique in a few areas, he can have a similar career.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 7 – Moves well for his size, especially outside.
Mechanics: 6 – A few fixes in some hand placement and sustaining blocks longer will be needed.
Run Blocking: 7- Moves well for outside runs.
Strength: 7 – Solid strength, but can improve on driving blocks.
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Cameron Dantzler is leaving Mississippi State a year early to enter the NFL draft. The junior had an impressive career on some good Mississippi State defenses. According to Football Outsiders, Dantzler had the second lowest career passer rating allowed amongst active college cornerbacks. This shows teams how well he can lock down a receiver. Both his man and zone coverage show some of the best display of lockdown defense coming out of this draft. Dantzler will be able to make an impact defensively on any team that drafts him.
Strengths
• Man Coverage
• Zone Coverage
• Agility
As I said above, Dantzler is one of the best cover corners coming out of this draft. His ability to lockdown any receiver in man or zone is impressive. He’s able to sink and flip his hips in a split second, so receivers can’t take advantage of him. Also, Dantzler is great at disrupting plays at the high point of the ball. There’s a reason corner struggled to throw to his side in college.
Weaknesses
• Tackling
Although Dantzler has had moments of big hits, he hasn’t been that great at tackling overall. This isn’t something he can’t do, it’s more about him being able to drop his should and take a ball carrier down. He sometimes is hesitant to fight off blocks to do so.
College Production
2019 stats – 9 Games, 40 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumbles Recoveries, 2 Interceptions, 0.5 Sacks
Overall stats – 31 Games, 108 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recoveries, 5 Interceptions, 1.5 Sacks
Best Landing Spot
Anywhere that needs a shutdown corner. Houston or Seattle might be the best landing spot. Both teams are perennial playoff teams, so getting someone that can lockdown a receiver will be huge.
Worst Landing Spot
Somewhere with a team that has depth, or a team that will misuse him. Dantzler is a lot better on the outside, so if teams force him to play inside more, then he will struggle at the next level.
Draft Range
2-3 round
Dantzler is one of the best coverage corners in college football. He should hear his name called in the second or third round of this years draft.
NFL Comparison
Darius Slay
Marshon Lattimore
Marcus Peters
All three players are considered to be shutdown corners, and the best at doing so in the league. The comparison with Marcus Peters is probably similar given Peters doesn’t like to tackle either. Slay and Lattimore might stick their nose in there a bit more, but Peters might be the closest comp to Dantzler.
Ratings Breakdown
Speed: 8 – He’s able to keep up with any receiver on the field.
Agility: 8 – Dantzler can sink and flip his hips on a dime to change directions.
Zone CVGE: 9 – His next best skill, see man coverage.
Tackles: 6 – Isn’t willing to stick his nose in a ball carriers chest at times.
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One of the major speedsters in this year’s draft is Jalen Reagor out of TCU. He is an explosive athlete, and any team with an eye for a vertical threat, will be looking at Reagor. His best season came in his sophomore year, where he had 11 total touchdowns and over 1,200 all-purpose yards. Reagor is likely headed for the second round unless a team feels they need to bite early. He ranges anywhere between WR3 and WR8 in terms of where some of the draft analysts rank him at. There are a number of teams what will be looking for a home run hitter like Reagor, but he is fairly limited as far as what he can bring to an offense. He will fit well in a team with a solidified number one threat where he can take some of the pressure off with his speed and be used as a secondary threat. He resembles some of the more vertical threats of late, and would make an impact right away with a team with a stable quarterback. We saw in his junior year production can be rocky with an inconsistent quarterback.
Strengths
• Vertical Routes
• Speed
• Agility
• Yards After Catch
• IQ
Weaknesses
• Hands
• Blocking
His speed and ability to separate off of press coverage make him an excellent vertical threat. He can also accelerate after the catch to electric speeds, which make him a threat on a quick route or in the screen game. Reagor is more developed than his numbers will lead you to believe, where TCU was an up and down offense. Reagor has had some issues with drops at times, and has more to do with his concentration and him being ready to run before catching the ball. At his size and with his strength, blocking isn’t a huge skill for him, and teams won’t be looking for much in that department anyway.
College Production
2019 stats – 12 GP, 43 receptions, 611 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, 14.2 YPR
Overall stats – 39 GP, 148 receptions, 2,248 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns, 15.5 YPR
His numbers were up and down, and he was a three year starter, who saw more targets in each of the last two year. He had 24 total touchdowns. His 2019 production was limited due to quarterback play, and of course his production will come via the long ball. Reagor projects to be one of those players who will benefit more from playing at the next level. Teams should be looking to use him in quick routes, and of course over the top where he thrived. His numbers would have been better with a top end quarterback, which wasn’t the case here.
Best Landing Spot
Philadelphia and Green Bay are two spots I could see taking Reagor, and I love him at both. He would fit in as a vertical threat with plenty of options around him to take some eyes off him. He would also be playing with two capable quarterbacks instead of heading to a team with instability at the position. Both teams are in desperate need of a big time playmaker like him, and likely heading in the second round, it would be a great get.
Worst Landing Spot
Chicago has been linked to a wide receiver, and until they get their quarterback situation straightened out, I have issues with any wideout that finds their way there. As mentioned above, any team that takes Reagor with an inaccurate quarterback or a team that struggles to take shots down the field will be a bad spot for him.
Draft Range
Late Second Round
NFL Comparison
Mike Wallace is someone who comes to mind, who had that home run threat. Wallace was electric with his speed, and also had breakout speed after the catch. If you are looking for a current player, Curtis Samuel from Carolina is someone Reagor resembles. Both are also similar in size.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 7 – More than what his college track record shows.
Agility: 8 – Makes him a solid route runner and can be tough across the field.
Blocking: 4 – His size and strength make blocking an issue.
Size: 5 – His size is perfect for what he is, but not a physical threat.
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Strengths
• Feet
• Hands
• Blocking In Space
• Athleticism
Weaknesses
• Mechanics
• IQ
• Experience
As mentioned above Teg Wanogho is going to need to develop a bit more. His mechanics are up and down. He moves well in space, but can struggle against quicker pass rushers. He has solid strength and athleticism, and his feet and hands are quick. However, he can struggle with his hand placement where he can’t expose his length. He is going to be an excellent pass protecting tackle, but will need to improve in his run blocking a bit where he can drive lineman off the line.
College Production
Prince Tega Wanogho started back in 2015 where he was redshirted to return from an injury. He played ten games as a reserve offensive tackle in 2016, before beginning the season as the starter in 2017. He didn’t fully get the starting role until 2018, where he was an All-SEC first team member. 2019 was a big year for him where he landed on the All-SEC team again.
Best Landing Spot
Seattle and Minnesota are two spots I would like to see him land, where he can grow with these teams under some strong coaching. While they are in need of offensive line help, it wouldn’t be an immediate rush to get him as a full blown starter. Once he settles in, both organizations would benefit from having him as a starter.
Worst Landing Spot
I would like to see Teg Wanogho in an offensive line that is just slightly more established than a team like Houston’s. While I think things would still pan out, Houston would need to be patient as he builds his ceiling.
Draft Range
Mid Second Round
NFL Comparison
Ereck Flowers had a struggling start to his career, looking like a tremendous bust. He eventually figured things out in Washington, and is looking like the talent he was drafted to be. Flowers is a similar stature, and needed some time to develop, especially against edge rushers. Teg Wanogho is going to need some time as well, but as his draft position it is already expected, unlike Flowers.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 8 – Impressive size and athleticism.
Mechanics: 6 – This is where he will need to learn quickly, but has skills to do so.
Run Blocking: 6 – Would like to see him drive players back with his strength and size.
Strength: 7 – Solid strength, but improved mechanics will help him really show it.
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Justin Jefferson was Joe Burrow’s top target during their 2019 championship run. He’s hoping to take his ability to be someone’s top target at the next level. Jefferson had an incredible 2019 season, and has the ability to be a big weapon in someone’s receiving core. He’s able to catch any ball in his radius, and has the ability to run crisp routes that make him a reliable target to throw too.
Strengths
• Catching
• Route Running
• Size
Jefferson has a wide catch radius and is able to snag anything near him. He’s great a keeping defenders off of him, and catching the ball at the high-point. Thanks to his size, all of this is possible for him. He also runs crisp routes, and is able to lineup on any part of the field.
Weaknesses
• Speed
• Strength
Jefferson doesn’t have a strong burst off the line of scrimmage, but does have top end speed. However, it takes awhile to get him to that point, and it’s usually only on deep routes where you see how fast he can be. Also, he does need to work on his strength to help him at the next level.
College Production
2019 stats – 15 games, 111 receptions, 1540 receiving yards, 13.9 yards per catch, 18 touchdowns
Overall stats – 30 games, 165 receptions, 2415 receiving yards, 14.6 yards per catch, 24 touchdowns
Best Landing Spot
I think Jefferson would shine best on a team with a strong number one receiver. The Eagles, Seahawks, Packers, or 49ers would be great spots for him, as he could grow into the NFL while not having the pressure of being a number one receiver.
Worst Landing Spot
I don’t know if there is a bad landing spot for Jefferson. The worst he could do would be drafted by a team with no quarterback or number one receiver. I think he would be best starting out as a number two, but he could also be the main target as a rookie for someone.
Draft Range
Late 1st-2nd round
Jefferson has a chance to hear his name called on the first night of the draft even with a deep receiving class. He has the ability to be another weapon for a team.
NFL Comparison
Tyler Boyd
Marvin Jones
Tyler Boyd and Marvin Jones are great comps for Jefferson. Both are reliable receivers, but also a supporting roll on the teams they play for. The most ideal landing spot for Jefferson would be a team that needs depth at the receiver position
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 – crisp routes, but could use some work on separation
Agility: 7 – similar with the need of separation
Blocking: 7 – can jam up some cornerbacks when he needs too
Size: 8 – His overall size is great, but he could add some strength for his sake
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J.K. Dobbins will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft following his miraculous 2019 season. Dobbins was a very productive his back throughout his tenure at Ohio State. He set OSU’s freshman rushing record with 1,403 yards. Dobbins became the first buckeye to run for over 2,000 yards and joined Archie Griffin as the only OSU backs with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. After 2 solid seasons as a feature back (as well as 2 straight Second-Team all-Big Ten honors), Dobbins turned it up a notch in 2019. J.K. ended the year 3rd in both rushing yards and total scrimmage yards in all of college football. Dobbins was named to the First Team All-Big Ten as well as 6th in Heisman voting. Dobbins is as complete back as there is and his skillset should transfer well to the next level.
Strengths
• Elite ball carrier vision
• Great Patience
• High football I.Q.
• Well-rounded
• Good balance
J.K. Dobbins is a back that can fit into any system. His best characteristic in my eyes is his elite ball carrier vision. Dobbins shows great patience and lets the blocking lanes develop before bursting through open holes. He reads the flow of the defensive front well and is able to bend or bust those runs depending on how the defense fills. His has a high awareness and is a natural runner with a knack for finding space on the line of scrimmage. Dobbins is a condensed muscle-hamster of a back. His low center of gravity give him great contract balance at all points of contact. Dobbins still possess the agility to make people miss and the speed/acceleration to break huge runs. Does a great job of exploding through holes and creating poor angles for opposing linebackers and safeties. Dobbins also is able to break big runs consistently. He uses his combination of vision, elusiveness, and balance to beat defenses. Dobbins is deadly in a zone run scheme because it allows him to be patient and for opportunities to explode throw gaps or bounce it if given the option.
Weaknesses
• Room for improvement in pass protection
• Develop as a receiver/route runner
• Bit of a tweener
There isn’t too many knocks on J.K. Dobbins’ game as you can see by the abridged list of weaknesses above. He carries a well-balanced skillset but there still is areas of weakness as there is with any prospect. As you would expect from a back his size, he isn’t the best in pass protection. Does a good job at being physical and walling off initial blitz but needs to work on consistency. Needs to continue to work on block recognition and identifying late rushes. Dobbins is definitely a capable receiver but still needs to sharpen his skillset in that category. He has good hands and did a lot of his damage as a receiver after the catch with his open field elusiveness. Will need to work on developing as a route runner and a legit threat in the receiving game. Dobbins definitely need to develop his skills as a non-rusher, but I believe that his floor is a capable pass-blocker and a check-down back with a lot of ability in space.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, Rush Att: 301, Rush Yds: 2003, Rush TDs: 21, Rec: 23, Rec Yds: 247, Rec TDs: 2
Overall stats – GP: 42, Rush Att: 725, Rush Yds: 4,459, Rush TDs: 38, Rec: 71, Rec Yds: 645, Rec TDs: 5
Best Landing Spot
Dobbins has the ability to make an impact right away on any team. One team that I view as his best possible landing spot is the Kanas City Chiefs. Obviously, Dobbins would love to join a Super Bowl bound team, but this is a true fit as well. Kansas City has used a running back committee this year and Dobbins would be a great addition to whichever backs are brought back next year. He fits with the Chiefs zone rushing scheme and I have no doubt that Andy Reid would be able to unleash Dobbins in numerous different packages.
Worst Landing Spot
Dobbins’ complete skillset makes it hard to see a bad landing spot, especially around his draft range. The types of landing spots that will be poor for Dobbins are teams with established running backs. These teams are very unlikely to take him but there are a couple that wouldn’t be ideal for Dobbins. Playoff teams such as the Packers and 49ers wouldn’t be great fits just due to the litany of good backs on these teams. The Bengals and Giants in my opinion would probably be the worst because they are rebuilding teams with young running backs that the team is invested in.
Draft Range
Early Second Round
NFL Comparison
Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones is the closet comparison to J.K. Dobbins in my eyes. Both backs showed a nose for the endzone in their 2019 seasons . Both have great balance and are ideal fits for zone running schemes. Neither were elite receivers out of the backfield in college, but Jones has developed in that area. They are close to the same size, but I do think Dobbins will be better between the tackles.
Ratings Breakdown
Agility: 8.5 – agile in space but can get bottle up near the line of scrimmage
Speed: 8 – doesn’t have top of the line speed
Hands: 8 – shows solid hands as a receiver
Blocking: 7 – physical blocker but needs improvement in pass pro
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Strengths
• Extending Plays With Legs
• Arm Strength
• Mobility
• Pocket Awareness
• Footwork
Weaknesses
• Decision Making
• Accuracy
• Locks Onto First Receiver At Times
There is a lot to like about Jordan Love, which is why the ceiling is fairly high. Looking at his athleticism, he can extend broken plays and move around outside of the pocket. He also has strong awareness for when he needs to do so. Run plays can be designed for him as a dual threat quarterback. Love has solid footwork in the pocket, and keeps his feet moving. The arm strength is unreal, and we have seen him make some ridiculous throws. His accuracy and decision making do suffer from that at times, where he does force the ball into tight windows trusting his arm a bit too much. He also will lock onto his first read at times, which will not fly at the NFL level.
College Production
2019 stats – 13 GP, 61.9 COMP%, 3,402 PYDS, 20 TD, 17 INT, 129.1 RTG
Overall stats – 38 GP, 61.2 COMP%, 8,600 PYDS, 60 TD, 29 INT, 137.9 RTG
Jordan Love didn’t have a ton of talent around him this past season, and we saw him take some risks, which resulted in 17 interceptions, compared to just six three year before. He had 20 touchdowns last season, compared to 32 in his sophomore year. He also didn’t flash a ton with his legs, even though he is capable of doing so. This points a bit to his range of outcomes at the next level, where that floor is rather low if the decision making stays the same. However if he can improve in combination with his other skills, he could be a strong talent.
Best Landing Spot
Many mock drafts are already pointing towards a link in Indianapolis, where he could slot in behind Jacoby Brissett. I like this move here, as he can learn behind Brissett and under Frank Reich. He will have some weapons, with Indy likely to improve in that department. He just will need the right spot to have a chance at developing.
Worst Landing Spot
Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation is in dire need of a new face, and Jordan Love could be that. Ben Roethlisberger is returning, and the future after him looks suspect. While Love would end up with some good receiving options around him, I worry about this staff taking a quarterback in need of a lot of development.
Draft Range
2nd/3rd Round
NFL Comparison
It may seem like a cop out comparison due to Colin Kaepernick also playing in the Mountain West, but there are a lot of similarities. Both had electric arms and were able to move well in and out of the pocket. Decision making and accuracy were the red flags. Kap did have more rushing production, which is one of the few things that does separate the comparison.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 6 – Sporadic accuracy, but has shown ability to make them.
Arm Strength: 9 – Elite arm strength, throwing down field and into tight windows
Mechanics: 8 – He looks the part, and has really good form.
Mobility: 8 – Strong athleticism allows him to be mobile and also extend plays.
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Georgia had a talented offense that meshed well with what Jake Fromm does best. They ran the ball mostly behind a talented offensive line and tremendous running backs. Fromm managed the games well, and relied upon the playmakers in the offense to produce. Fromm has strong accuracy and a very good sense of the game. He rarely made mistakes, and some NFL teams will look at him as more of a game manager in comparison to some of the other quarterbacks and their upside. Fromm will need to fit into a perfect system, where if he lands on a team where he is asked to go out and make big plays, they likely won’t get that from him. Fromm just doesn’t have that arm strength to go out there and lead with production. Teams will give him a look, but we shouldn’t expect him to start within the next year or two. However, there are a few organizations that will be looking to bring him in and implement their system around him.
Strengths
• Arm Accuracy
• Pocket IQ
• Vision
• Pro Offense Ability
• Decision Making
• Mechanics
• Ball Security
Weaknesses
• Arm Strength
• Mobility
• Big Play Upside
College Production
2019 stats – 14 GP, 60.8 COMP%, 2,860 PYDS, 24 TD, 5 INT, 141.2 RTG
Overall stats – 43 GP, 63.3 COMP%, 8,236 PYDS, 78 TD, 18 INT, 156.2 RTG
78 touchdowns in three years and just 18 interceptions are strong numbers. Jake Fromm wasn’t asked to do too much in college, but did have a few games where he went out and really excelled when he was called upon. There is zero rushing upside with Fromm, but he is an accurate pocket passer. Georgia had a lot of playmakers around Fromm, which made it easy on him to deliver the ball in and let them do the work. We didn’t see a ton of chunk plays on vertical throws, but good YAC guys helped out Fromm quite a bit. He led this Georgia team to strong seasons, and is going to have a shot at the next level. His completion percentage is misleading because a lot of his throws were dropped.
Best Landing Spot
Jake Fromm is likely going to be the fifth or sixth quarterback off the board. New England is going to need to get a quarterback, unless they believe there is one already on their roster. The Patriots are a great system for Fromm to fall into, where if they can begin to build playmakers for the next few seasons. Chicago is also a sneaky good spot with a great defense and solid wideouts in place for the next few years.
Worst Landing Spot
There have been some links to Oakland, which I don’t like much. The Raiders are in need of playmakers and a defense. Fromm fits more in line with a team that has a strong defense, and won’t need their quarterback to do too much work down the field. Oakland will, and if they want Fromm, there is no reason to move on from Derek Carr.
Draft Range
3rd Round
NFL Comparison
Case Keenum is one of those fringe starters that Jake Fromm resembles. A bit undersized without having too much mobility to go with it. The difference from Keenum and Fromm is that Keenum had big numbers in college. However, yards per attempt were about the same, hovering around 8.5. Keenum’s best season came in Minnesota, where he just casually managed a good defense and got the ball to his playmakers.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 8 – Fromm excels at getting his receivers catchable balls and puts them in a spot where they can run after catch
Arm Strength: 6 – Has an average arm, which limits his upside.
Mechanics: 7 – Good delivery
Mobility: 5 – Doesn’t offer any movement outside of the pocket.
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Tyler Johnson is a big, tall wide receiver from the University of Minnesota. The hometown hero was raised in Minneapolis, MN and worked his way up through the depth chart throughout his college career. During this past season, Johnson has shown extensive improvement as a pass catcher. In fact, Tyler Johnson was one of the most improved skill players in the NCAA during the 2019-2020 season.
Even though he still has work to do in order to become a more complete wideout, Johnson has displayed the ability to gain separation because of his agility and fancy footwork. Currently, he is a solid possession receiver who has experience playing in the slot and on the outside. He’s not the fastest receiver by any stretch of the imagination, but his large catch radius and contested catch ability will make him a steal in the NFL Draft.
Strengths
• Agility
• Route running
• Contested catch ability
• Catch radius
• Finding holes in defenses
• Improved and learned a lot throughout the season
Tyler Johnson’s agility assists him with gaining separation from defensive backs in man coverage. His fluid motion and ability to change directions quickly, stuns defenders on a frequent basis and enables him to get past man coverage. As the season progressed, Johnson was able to gain more and more separation against man coverage. Although even against zone coverage, Johnson has the IQ necessary to find holes in the zone.
Even when Johnson is unable to get separation, he frequently seals off defenders with his body so that he can haul in contested catches. Johnson’s catch radius enables him to make spectacular catches against shorter/smaller defensive backs. In fact, Johnson’s contested catch ability is especially great in the red zone.
The best aspect about Tyler Johnson is the fact that he improved immensely throughout the season. During his first game against South Dakota St., Johnson had a tendency to run too high and failed to gain separation. However as the season went on, he greatly improved his route running, and actually learned how to utilize his agility to beat defenders over the top more often.
Weaknesses
• Speed
• Physicality
• Yards after catch
• Tendency to drop easy catches
• Catches with body too much
• Inconsistency with cuts on routes
• Blocking recognition
Tyler Johnson is never going to blow NFL scouts away with his speed because he is one of the slower wideouts in college. His speed isn’t a liability but he’s not a speed demon who is a threat for a deep TD on any given play. Johnson also struggles with fending off physicality while he’s running routes, and can be pushed off his route in between breaks. Given that he will likely be played by bigger corners, he’s going to need to get stronger in order to get open in the NFL.
Due to his lack of relative speed and strength, Johnson isn’t the biggest threat for yards after catch. If Johnson fails to get extensive separation from a defender, he will likely get tackled immediately after the catch at the next level. Another area of concern relating to Johnson’s receiving capability is his inconsistency. Throughout almost every game, he has a tendency to drop one or two easy catches, or make a bad cut during a route. He also needs to do a better job of catching with his hands rather than using his body to haul in a catch
Even though Tyler Johnson is unlikely to be relied upon as a blocker, he needs to work on his blocking recognition. He’s not the world’s worst blocker, but he needs to do a better job of finding a defender to block so that his teammates can gain big plays on a repeated basis.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, REC: 86, YDS: 1,138, TD: 13, YDS/REC: 13.2
Overall stats – GP: 49, REC: 213, YDS: 3,305, TD: 33, YDS/REC: 15.5
Best Landing Spot
There are three NFL teams that would be great fits for Tyler Johnson. One potential team would be the Baltimore Ravens because of their desperate need to find a wideout. Even though the Ravens are a run-heavy team, that utilizes their tight ends a lot, their recent game against the Titans showed that they need a possession receiver. Johnson’s ability to haul in contested catches and run great routes would be greatly appreciated on third and long when the Ravens are trailing.
Another team that would greatly benefit from Johnson is the Green Bay Packers, who need a no. 2 receiver to complement Davante Adams. Despite Green Bay’s knack for developing most wide receivers, their offense is in need of a possession receiver who can find openings in zone coverage. Johnson’s route running skills would enable Aaron Rodgers to find him relatively easily and often on any given play. Speaking of Rodgers, the savvy veteran QB would appreciate Johnson’s coachability, and would quickly create a rapport on scramble plays.
Of all the destinations that Tyler Johnson could go to, the Oakland Raiders would most likely be his best bet. Similar to Baltimore and Green Bay, the Raiders are in need of a possession receiver who could mesh well with QB Derek Carr. If General Manager Mike Mayock, were to draft Johnson, Carr would have a wide receiver who specializes at gaining separation in both man and zone coverage. Furthermore, wideout Tyrell Williams is already a moderate deep threat who can make up for Johnson’s lack of speed.
Worst Landing Spot
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be the worst destination for Tyler Johnson to be drafted by. For starters, the Buccaneers already have a bevy of young elite receiver talent with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Therefore, Johnson’s talents would most likely be wasted as he rides the bench. Moreover, the Buccaneers currently run an offensive that specializes with speedy receivers rather than possession receivers like Tyler. Given that Jameis Winston is always looking deep and needs a lot of separation in order to avoid interceptions, Tyler Johnson would probably not be his ideal WR.
Draft Range
Mid 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round
NFL Comparison
Michael Thomas is the closest comparison to Tyler Johnson. Both Thomas and Johnson are big bodied wide receivers who utilize agility and route running skills rather than their speed to gain separation. Moreover, both Johnson and Thomas have a great catch radius, which allows them to seal off defenders in order to make contested catches. They each excel with slant and post routes, and are seen as possession receivers who help to move the chains and find the end zone.
Ratings Breakdown
Routes: 8 – has great agility and runs fluidly on routes, and is great at gaining separation
Agility: 9 – agility is his best weapon for getting open
Blocking: 6 – blocking technique is pretty good, recognition is shoddy
Size: 8 – Prototypical height and weight
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Throughout his college football career, Jalen Hurts had one of the most interesting paths in the history of college football history. After becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start for the University of Alabama, Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a perfect regular season record of 12-0 and a national championship berth. After suffering a defeat against Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers in the championship game, Hurts was able to lead the Crimson Tide to another championship berth against the Georgia Bulldogs. During this championship game, Hurts struggled heavily and was benched for freshman, Tua Tagovailoa, who led the Crimson Tide to a victory in relief of Hurts.
During Hurts’ Junior season, Hurts was designated as the second-string QB behind Tua Tagovailoa who carried the University of Alabama to another championship berth against Clemson. Before the start of his Senior season, Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma to a Big 12 Conference Championship and College Football Playoff berth.
Strengths
• Mobility
• Throw on the run
• Intermediate accuracy
Jalen Hurts has a lot of strengths that helped him throughout his tenure at Alabama and Oklahoma. For starters, his mobility has helped him be effective dual-threat QB with a great juke move. In fact, he has the capability of pulling off big-time runs when he has an open lane down the field. Along the lines of mobility, Hurts exhibits great accuracy when he is throwing on the run. However when he’s just dropping back, Hurts is able to locate open receivers at the intermediate level and deliver good passes to them.
Weaknesses
• Vision
• Decision making
• deep/short accuracy
• Ball placement
• Struggles with blitzes
Many of Hurts’ weaknesses pertain to the fact that he struggles at being a pure pocket QB. For instance, Hurts frequently misses open receivers at the short and deep levels of the field or delivers late passes at the intermediate level. As a result, Hurts often struggles at delivering passes in a window where his receivers will have a low likelihood of being blindsided.
When it comes to Hurts’ accuracy, he struggles profusely at throwing deep passes, and often overthrows his receivers. When Hurts deals with a significant amount of pressure, his mechanics and accuracy deteriorate, as well. Another area of concern is the fact that Hurts’ often forces passes into lanes where defenders are located.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 14, Comp. %: 69.7%, PASS YDS: 3,851, PASS TD: 32, INT: 8, PASS RTG: 191.2
Overall stats – GP: 56, Comp, %: 65.1%, PASS YDS: 9,477, PASS TD: 80, INT: 20, PASS RTG: 162.6
Best Landing Spot
Jalen Hurts would best situated with the Bears or Panthers because he is extremely dependent on a play-caller that excels with mobile QBs. Both Matt Nagy and Matt Rhule have a track record of maximizing mobile QBs with schemes that get them rushing yardage and throws on the run. Plus, both teams have great receiving talent that would bolster Hurts. However it’s unlikely that either team is looking to make a change at quarterback.
Worst Landing Spot
Jalen Hurts would struggle if he were drafted by the Jaguars. Throughout recent history, the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled immensely to find a franchise quarterback. Over the past two seasons, the Jags have been quick to bench quarterbacks relatively quickly the moment they experience troubles. Moreover, they do not have time to work on a project QB like Jalen Hurts.
Draft Range
3rd/4th Round
NFL Comparison
Jalen Hurts is very comparable to Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky and Tyrod Taylor. Hurts, Taylor and Trubisky have the ability to make good throws on the run or scramble for significant rushing yardage. Plus, they all excel the most with coaches who create schemes that work well for mobile quarterbacks. However, they also have accuracy issues and make questionable decisions to say the least.
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 5.5 – exhibits poor accuracy at the short and deep levels
Arm Strength: 7.5 – has a cannon of an arm and can let it rip
Decision Making: 3 – makes erratic decisions on a constant basis and leads to turnovers
Mechanics: 8 – mechanically sound
Mobility: 7 – can escape pressure and extend plays and complete accurate passes on the run
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Nate Stanley has had his fair share of up and downs throughout his career at Iowa. He has started for the Hawkeyes for 3 years and hasn’t missed a game since taking over in his Sophomore season. Stanley is not a top tier talent in this draft and may even last till day 3 depending on his combine performance and the status of other signal callers, but he has shown that he has potential at the next level. Stanley has great height and a big build that has provided him with great durability as well as a powerful arm. He also has experience in a pro-style offense at Iowa which should translate well to the next level. Stanley has also proven that he can perform in big games which is evident by his performance against an elite Ohio State team in 2017 as well as his perfect bowl game record at Iowa. He put on a great performance against USC in the Holiday Bowl in a year where his progression has been more horizontal than vertical.
Strengths
• Great Size
• Arm Strength
• Durability
• Pro-Style Experience
Weaknesses
• Athleticism
• Arm Accuracy
As I mentioned above Nate Stanley has the arm strength to fit at the next level and has proven he can take a hit. Stanley isn’t the best athlete, however. He does not use his legs very effectively however he was proficient in picking up yards/first downs due to his size. Stanley will need to get better at working through his progressions and not staring down his primary receiver as well working on his deep ball accuracy. Stanley looks like an effective back-up quarterback at the next level with room to grow into more.
College Production
2019 stats – GP: 13, COMP%: 59.4, PASS YDS: 2951, PASS TDs: 16, INTs: 7, RTG: 131.2
Overall stats – GP: 44, COMP%: 58.3, PASS YDS: 8297, PASS TDs: 68, INTs: 23, RTG: 134.1
Stanley’s production has been pretty consistent over the past three years despite a drop in TDs in 2019 (had 26 TDs in both 2017 & 2018). He has provided nearly 2,750 yards and just under a 60% completion percentage over his 3 years as a starter in Iowa’s run oriented offense.
Best Landing Spot
The best landing sport for Stanley is a place where he can sit back and learn behind a proven starter and develop as a back-up. There are a few options out there that he would fit well in. The two that stick out to me would be Minnesota and Oakland.
Worst Landing Spot
With guys that are projected in the second half of the draft there really isn’t a truly bad landing spot due to the fact that guys like Stanley aren’t being selected to come in compete right away. That being said a team that has QB issues, like the Miami Dolphins, would not be ideal for Stanley’s progression if he was thrust into a quarterback competition.
Draft Range
Rounds 4-6
NFL Comparison
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ratings Breakdown
Accuracy: 5 – Needs to work on mid-deep ball accuracy
Arm Strength: 9 – Extremely strong arm due to big frame
Mechanics: 7 -Good mechanics and use of lower body
Mobility: 5 – Not very mobile or athletic
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I have Cesar Ruiz graded as the top interior offensive line prospect in this draft class. He can line up at either guard spot or center and should be able to start right away for whatever team drafts him. Ruiz possesses an impressive blend of power and athleticism for his size. He is able to utilize his hand strength and lower body torque to push off defenders and is a tenacious competitor – he fights for positioning on every snap. Ruiz also showed an impressive ability to read defensive coverages and communicate schematic changes to his fellow offensive linemen, a feature that is invaluable in the NFL especially for teams with younger quarterbacks. His wingspan and length are not elite as far as offensive line prospects go, and his narrow frame could limit his ability to be a part of outside zone blocking schemes. Ruiz could also stand to be a bit more patient in pass protection, as he sometimes showed inconsistency in taking a bad angle early on a dropback and allowing the interior defender a clear path to the quarterback. Ruiz’s versatility, strength, and athleticism are his calling cards and make him a borderline first-round prospect.
Strengths
• Powerful blocker, impressive hand strength
• Strong lower body
• Nimble athlete, good quickness for his size
• Versatile – able to play either guard spot or center
• High motor, tenacious player
• Good at reading defensive coverages, communicating
Weaknesses
• Narrow frame compared to top center prospects
• Needs to be more patience in pass protection
• Lack of standing reach and length
College Production
Michigan relies heavily on its interior blocking to help its running backs create offense on the ground, and Ruiz was at the center of that, starting on the offensive line for the past three seasons. He earned all-Big Ten honors in each of his past two seasons. Most of his starts came as a center, but he has shown that he has the footwork and athleticism required to kick to guard in the NFL.
Best Landing Spot
The Ravens have a massive hole to fill in their interior offensive line after Marshal Yanda’s retirement. Yanda was perhaps the best interior lineman of the past decade. Matt Skura is projected to start at center, and while he is coming off the best season of his professional career, the team could still use some additional help in their inside blocking. Ruiz would help soften the blow of losing Yanda, and for a team that relies on its offensive line more than most in the NFL, he would be a welcome addition. As Lamar Jackson continues to run one of the most diverse offenses in the league, Ruiz could help keep defenders on their toes with his strength, athleticism, and communication.
Worst Landing Spot
Ruiz is going to be able to line up all over the offensive line, so there really isn’t a team that won’t be able to plug him in. His overall athleticism should be able to compensate for his lack of length, but he may not be the best fit for teams that want to run a lot of outside zone blocking like the 49ers.
Draft Range
Late First Round/Early 2nd Round
NFL Comparison
Maurkice Pouncey has been the lynchpin of the awesome Steelers offensive line over the past decade and is a perfect example of the upside Ruiz can have. Pouncey has a similar frame to Ruiz, with a bit less length than would be desired, but he makes up for it with an elite blend of strength and athleticism. Pouncey is also an adept communicator at the line of scrimmage and has helped produce some dominant offenses for the Steelers both in the rushing and passing game.
Ratings Breakdown
Physical: 9 – Ruiz is a physical specimen and should be able to dominate at the line of scrimmage and make plays at the second level as well.
Mechanics: 8 – Ruiz utilizes his superior hand strength to move defenders off the line of scrimmage and has clean footwork to match his athletic ability.
Run Blocking: 8 – With impressive lower-body strength and the athleticism to block at the second level, Ruiz is exactly what teams look for in run-blocking.
Strength: 9 – Ruiz has a tenacious competitive spirit to match strength that will carry him in the NFL. His hands are huge, his lower-body has great torque, and his strength will make him a day-one starter.