The NFL Draft is only a few weeks away and there is plenty of hype already building up. Aside from the NFL Draft being somewhat in person, in Cleveland nonetheless. There are mock drafts on top of mock drafts on top of mock drafts. Let’s be honest, by pick 7 or 8, nobody knows who is going to be selected. Moreover, after a certain number of picks, it’s unlikely you know the prospect nor care to read about their play prior to the draft. This gave me a new rule, in one sentence, you should be able to fully summarize a draft prospect. How does an NFL Draft prospect look on film? What are their best attributes? All that should be said in one sentence, if not one breath.
This prospect list doesn’t include quarterbacks. For those, you likely want to hear a lot about each with every possible angle. So it goes with the NFL Draft.
Running Backs
Najee Harris – Great footwork, strong lower-body strength that translates to an every-down back that is hard to stop once he gets rolling.
Javonte Williams – Small back with a low center of gravity, great mobility, very likely to make an impact in the passing game.
Travis Etienne – Powerful back that once he gets to the second level, it’s hard to stop him but he doesn’t run East-West well.
Tre Sermon – Powerful runner, generates momentum as the run develops, hard to tackle low.
I talk more in-depth about some of the quarterback and running back prospects in this podcast.
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase – Great catch radius, strong release off press coverage, incredible route tree.
Devonta Smith – Big YAC receiver, great blocker, doesn’t do anything particularly great, just does everything well.
Jaylen Waddle – Elusive receiver that you want to find ways to get the ball, has speed vertically in routes.
Kadarius Toney – Speed receiver that can beat a team vertically or with a jet sweep, big backfield threat as well.
Amari Rodgers – Agile and speedy receiver, great overall footwork, will be highly effective in the slot and short passing concepts but was great vertically at Clemson.
I talk more about the receivers, as well as the offensive line class in this episode of the Mike and Grover show.
Offensive Linemen
Penei Sewell – Great footwork and overall technique in the passing game with the ability to eliminate linemen downhill in the run game. (I kept thinking of Tyron Smith in his prime being impossible to pass rush against when watching Sewell for my NFL Draft preparation).
AlexLeatherwood – Big force that is impossible to bull-rush, great lower body strength that makes him an incredible run blocker, the only fear is his ability to defend the speed rush.
Samuel Cosmi – Strong overall pass-blocking technique but will be a questionable run blocker.
Landon Dickerson – Greatcommunicatorat the center position, great overall in double teams, and ability to get to the second level.
CreedHumphrey – Great in the second level on run blocks, great technique in the passing game but questionable in one-on-one matchups.
Defensive Linemen
DE Christian Barmore – Big force that rushes really well from the C-gap, great hands, not a fluid mover but methodical.
DE Jaelen Phillips – Tall thin-type speed rushers, can see a team trying to get Phillips to learn the pure EDGE.
DT Levi Onwuzurike – Great movement laterally and around blocks for his size (6’3-290), great initial push off the snap, can line up anywhere, the question is how he’ll play when constantly doubled.
Linebackers
Micah Parsons – Incredible athlete that can play any position in the LB unit, great closing speed, and do it all.
Dylan Moses – Great ball instincts, atrue middle linebacker who can find the gap and close on the run play, pass protection is questionable.
Zaven Collins – 6’5 260 should say it all, a big frame but incredible speed that can shed blocks, the only question is if the way he “freestyled” in college will work in the NFL.
This defensive draft class intrigues me and to understand why, you might want to listen to the entirety of my podcast. In this episode, we discuss some of the names that will be great in the NFL like the ones here.
Cornerbacks
Patrick Surtain II – Plays a lot of coverage where he looks into the backfield looking to steal a play, will have to play more coverage where he just tries to eliminate the receiver, great footwork, and closure on the ball.
Jaycee Horn – Played nickel, off-coverage, press-coverage, best when he jams a receiver and uses the sideline as an extra defender, turns his head back when the ball’s in the air.
Caleb Farley – Plays big, hard to beat off the line, will be interesting to see how he plays downfield.
Shaun Wade – Got burned A LOT this past season, head in the backfield on the press, not establishing the line on bump and run, the talent is there but last season was awful.
Safeties
Caden Sterns – Ballhawk that can play in the box, not the best tackler, ideally wants him playing centerfield and just making plays with his instincts and speed.
Andre Cisco – Bigger safety, wins jump balls if needed, needs to learn coverage concepts, and will likely get moved to the box to play SS/LB, teams will love his ceiling.
Richard LeCounte – Great at coming down onto the play, hard hitter, not good at guarding a receiver so assume he’ll play in zone coverage.
Jevon Holland – Can play the nickel but also ball-hawking from the safety spot, nice East-West speed but a small player.
