A lot of what happens with a prospect is determined by what team they end up with, the coaching staff, the team around them and how they fit with the team. It’s one of the reasons I like taking a look at the draft afterwards and trying to see how a guy works with the team. How is Sam Darnold’s career going if he doesn’t end up with Adam Gase as his head coach? Does Hassan Reddick end up a better player if he goes to a team that lets him use his natural pass rush ability instead of going to the Cardinals who try to turn him into an ILB? Would Josh Rosen be starting in the NFL if he goes to a team that wants him to succeed? These questions plague the NFL every year. However, there are always prospects to like more than others and some guys that are harder to like. Here are some guys in this draft that I like and then some guys I don’t.
Quarterback Likes
Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)- This is a no-brainer but I have to mention it because even though he’s a generational talent I feel like he’s getting lost in the shuffle a bit. He can be a transformational talent for the Jaguars franchise. He could turn DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault into stars. He might make Urban Meyer a legitimate NFL head coach. If the Jaguars screw this up they should just fold as a franchise because they will have done the NFL a serious disservice.
Justin Fields (Ohio St)- There are not many QBs I like in this draft. I wasn’t sure I would like Fields as a prospect but there has been such a weird backlash against him that I feel like I have to defend him. Fields is an excellent prospect, he’s not perfect but he has everything you look for in the QB. He’s big, physical, fast and he has a cannon for an arm. All the things he needs work on are the things you can coach him to do.
Quarterback Dislikes
Kellen Mond (Texas A&M)- It’s not like I hate Mond but I really don’t like him as a possible second round pick. That’s just too damn high for him. Don’t take Mond in the second round, just wait until round five or six and take Jamie Newman instead. He’s not a bad prospect but I don’t think he turns into a starter and I think his ceiling is being a Jacoby Brissett level backup.
Kyle Trask (Florida)- He’s also being considered as a second-round pick, that’s a bad idea. He’s just missing something. He’s a big guy but doesn’t have the arm to match. He’s a statue in the pocket and that is something the league is going away from in a big way. He’s a solid backup but I just don’t think you want him starting for you. To me he’s Jimmy Clausen. If you take Trask before the fourth round, you’re over drafting him, take a seventh-round flyer on Ian Book.
Running Back Like
Javonte Williams (North Carolina)- He’s 5’10 220 lbs. and he runs through tackles and tacklers with ease. He’s incredibly hard to take down. He has enough speed and elusiveness to complement his power and he has the hands to be a threat on third down. Najee Harris and Travis Etienne get all the glory at the RB position but five years I expect Williams will be having just as good of a career as those two, if not better.
Running Back Dislike
Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma St)- The Oklahoma St. back was extremely productive in his career and he’s an excellent one-cut runner who would excel in the zone blocking scheme offense. If the 49ers draft him at some point, he could put up huge rushing numbers. Two things he doesn’t do; he can’t catch out of the backfield and he doesn’t pass block well at all. He’s a committee RB type of player because he’s useless on third down or any passing down. He’s a big name, he’s not a great prospect.
*This isn’t a great RB draft overall. It’s basically Harris, Etienne and Williams and then a bunch of guys that might fill a specific role.
Wide Receiver Likes
DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)- I’m putting the two Alabama guys together because I would take either one. Waddle has the leg injury that needs to check out and Smith needs to eat a few burgers but these two are insanely talented WRs. Alabama is cranking out WRs like a factory and I’m on board with pretty much all of them. Smith wins with technique and excellent footwork; Waddle is a devastating athlete with amazing instincts.
Ja’Marr Chase (LSU)- I’m really out on a limb with these first three WRs considering they are the top three WRs but they are all fantastic. Chase plays bigger than his 6’0 height and his field speed is incredible. He is one of the most naturally gifted pass catchers you’ll ever see and his understanding of how to set up a defender is matched only by DeVonta Smith. He’s the next Devante Adams and that is high praise. If he ends up in Cincinnati with Joe Burrow, look out, those two will be amazing together.
Elijah Moore (Ole Miss)- He isn’t the most refined route-runner but when he’s in the slot he’s almost uncoverable. His speed and agility are off the charts and if he gets into the open field, you’ll never catch him. The NFL does amazing things with great slot receivers and he’s a great slot receiver.
Kadarius Toney (Florida)- He does a little bit of everything and I like how he does most of it. He’s a WR by trade but he can line up in the backfield, you can use him as a wildcat QB and he can play inside or out at WR. He’s quick and he’s fast and it will only take the right coach to use him to his fullest extent for him to be a major difference maker in the NFL.
Amari Rodgers (Clemson)- Primarily a slot receiver and a damn good one at that. He’s basically in the same mold as guys like Deebo Samuel or AJ Brown where he won’t wow you with his speed or overwhelming physical prowess. However, he just knows how to get open and what to do with the ball once he has it. He was essentially Trevor Lawrence’s only reliable WR last season and even though every team knew they had to stop Rodgers, they couldn’t.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith (Iowa)- I know it’s the homer pick but stay with me. These are two of the most talented WRs to ever play at Iowa and they never had a consistent QB throwing to them. Nate Stanley had a great overall career at Iowa but he could be a rollercoaster week-to-week. Then they had Spencer Petras last year and he was all over the place. Smith-Marsette has elite outside speed and while he’s a bit light (he has the same build as DeVonta Smith) he has excellent body control down the field and is a very natural deep ball catcher. Brandon Smith is a big-bodied leaper with huge hands and a knack for making contested catches. He a legit 6’2 and while he may only have 4.6 speed you can throw it up to him and he’s coming down with it most of the time. Both of these guys could excel with more consistent QB play and coaches who understand how to best use their gifts.
Wide Receiver Dislike
Rondale Moore (Purdue)- It’s not that I dislike Moore as a player, he’s absolutely electric. My issue is he has basically played one season and that was three years ago as a freshman. He got injured as a sophomore and missed the season and then last year he opted out after not being completely healthy. He’s potentially a late first round/likely second round pick and there is no way I’m taking a guy with that injury history when this draft is stacked at WR. He has the potential to be a star but if he only plays 6-8 games a year, that’s not helpful. He’s also small in stature and probably works best in the slot and this draft has slot receivers coming out of its ears. No chance I’m using a second-round pick on Rondale Moore when I can draft Elijah Moore in the second round or get Amari Rodgers, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Dyami Brown, or D’Wayne Eskridge later on.
Tight End Likes
Kyle Pitts (Florida)- Everybody loves Pitts. He’s going to be a star. He’s going to be a top 3 TEs in the NFL in two years. Whoever drafts him, don’t screw this up.
Pat Freiermuth (Penn St)- If he wasn’t being compared to Pitts he might feel like a better prospect. He has regressed a bit but some of that has to do with injury and with the regression last year of Penn St’s offense. Freiermuth is a good athlete and has very natural pass catching instincts. He can block and he will get better at it too but that’s not why you draft him. He’s a starting TE in the NFL next season.
The rest of the TE class
The rest of the TE class isn’t overly impressive. Miami’s Brevin Jordan has a chance to become something but he’s not an overwhelming talent. He does a lot of things well but nothing great. Hunter Long from Boston College was very productive but he lacks the athletic gifts to be a major star. He can have a nice career but I think his ceiling is Kyle Rudolph, not Rob Gronkowski.
Offensive Tackle Likes
Penei Sewell (Oregon)- Sewell is experiencing some of the same things Fields is going through, people nitpicking his game and not seeing the big picture. Sewell opted out last season but two years ago, as a true sophomore, he won the Outland Trophy and was the best offensive lineman in college football. Yes, he needs a little development but he doesn’t turn 21 until October, that means he was the best offensive lineman in college football when he was 19. The sky is the limit on this guy’s potential.
Christian Darrisaw (Virginia Tech)- There is a little bit of an injury worry after he had what was called a core surgery (I have no idea what that means). There is also some talk that he doesn’t always play hard, that’s strange to me. I saw Darrisaw blocking downfield quite often and he seems to enjoy crushing guys on the second level, hard to do if you’re not giving full effort.
Samuel Cosmi (Texas)- He needs to work on his strength and he needs to add functional strength and weight to his long, lean frame. He also has some technical deficiencies that need some coaching. However, the dude is 6’7, long and understands positioning. If he adds 10 pounds of muscle and better technique (knee bend, hand placement, etc.) he can be a very tough OT, on either the left or right side.
Walker Little (Stanford)- Little is suffering from an out of sight, out of mind problem. Two years ago, he had a knee injury that knocked him out for the season and last year he opted out. Before that he was a high-level prospect. He’s 6’7 with optimal length for an OT and while he’s not the most overpowering run blocker, when he gets his hands on someone he usually wins. He is considered a later round pick at the moment but he’s the type of guy I would take chance on.
Offensive Tackle Dislikes
Rashawn Slater (Northwestern)- I actually really like Slater as a OG prospect, he can be an OT but I think he’s an All-Pro guard. The one thing that bothers me is the idea he’s better than Sewell, I just can’t see it. Slater is good, Sewell is better.
Alex Leatherwood (Alabama)- He played LT at Alabama and won the Outland Trophy this last season but he seems limited to me. He could be a RT but he would be best moving inside to OG. He’s a huge man and his size will be a major advantage at guard but he’s lateral mobility limits his potential at OT.
Guard/Center Likes
Rashawn Slater (Northwestern)- He’s a future All-Pro guard. If he plays guard. He should play guard.
Wyatt Davis (Ohio St)- He’s become the forgotten man as an interior offensive lineman. He’s not a guy that played OT in college and is converting to guard (Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Leatherwood) and he’s not a center prospect (Landon Dickerson and Creed Humphrey). Those guys get the press, Davis is just a great guard prospect. He gets drafted in the second or third round and starts for the next decade. He isn’t flashy but he’s what a lot of teams need.
Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma)- Paralysis by analysis, or in this case over analysis. Humphrey has starter at center for three years at Oklahoma, there is so much tape on his it’s crazy. Everyone likes to pick him apart and talk about his lack of overall athleticism and nitpick anything he screwed up once. Sorry, but he’s fantastic. He starts at center in the NFL for the next 12 years and makes the Pro Bowl a half dozen times. Stop overthinking it.
Trey Smith (Tennessee)- Smith is limited athletically and he is probably only built for a power running scheme (he isn’t going to a zone blocking team). That said, he’s a mammoth human being with fantastic strength. He needs some technical refinement so he can use his power more consistently but I like him. He’s a late round pick but he starts at RG in the right scheme.
Guard/Center Dislike
Landon Dickerson (Alabama)- He only really played at Alabama one year which is typical because he’s always hurt. If Dickerson could stay healthy, I would like him a lot more but he’s scheme limited (power/man) and he only ever played one full season in five years in college. He is beloved by teammates and a fantastic leader but he just doesn’t stay on the field. If he wants to, someday he’s going to be an excellent coach because players would love to play for him and he’s extremely knowledgeable. However, for a guy who is likely to go in the second or third round, you would like him to play more often. I don’t like to label guys injury prone but when it happens four out of five years, it’s hard to ignore.
Edge Rusher Likes
Azeez Ojulari (Georgia)- This guy is just scratching the surface of his talent as a pass rusher. If he gets with the right defensive play caller who uses him correctly, he can be the next Von Miller or Khalil Mack. He’s fast, athletic and plays like his hair is on fire.
Kwity Paye (Michigan)- He moved around on Michigan’s defensive line and he can rush from just about anywhere. He’s best playing with his hand on the ground and while he measured in much smaller than he was listed as at Michigan he has plenty of power and speed to make up for his lack of size.
Joseph Ossai (Texas)- Once the Longhorns stopped trying to get cute with the way they used Ossai and just let him become a flat out pass rusher, he excelled. As long as his NFL team does the same, he should be fine. He’s not a standard LB and he’s not a pure DE, don’t act like he is.
Chauncey Golston (Iowa)- Yep, another homer pick, but not so much. Golston can play many different positions and he’s good at all of them. He may never be a 10-sack guy in the NFL but he will be a very valuable player on any defense.
Edge Rusher Dislike
Gregory Rousseau (Miami)- He has all the physical tools you look for but he’s quite raw. He opted out last season and he really could have used the playing time to work on his game. I like his former teammate Jaelen Phillips a lot more and I would feel more comfortable with Rousseau in round two as opposed to round one. He isn’t bad I just get the feeling he will never live up to his potential.
Defensive Tackle Likes
Daviyon Nixon (Iowa)- This is not just a homer pick. Nixon is just starting to come into his own as a player and I think his best football is ahead of him. I think he’s best as a DT in an even front like he played at Iowa but he can play a one-gap or two-gap system. He is a game wrecker inside and he collapses the pocket in passing game and blows up running lanes with the best of them. Whichever team drafts him is going to love him and if he falls into round two, he’s a major steal.
Marvin Wilson (Florida St)- Coming into the year Wilson was seen as a potential first round pick, he has fallen quite far since then. Wilson has many natural gifts and this last season he played out of position and just didn’t look like himself. For a guy who is now a day three pick I really like his upside. If he can get back to playing DT in an attacking style defense, he can be quite good, and he’s excellent value late.
Defensive Tackle Dislike
Levi Onwuzurike (Washington)- It’s not so much that I dislike him but I’m just not sure where he fits best. He plays with good leverage but he’s not very big and playing him at DT could be an issue. He might be best as a five-technique in a 3-4 defense but that’s not where he has experience. I have a hard time placing him. Depending on who takes him he’s a boom or bust guy and for a potential first rounder, that bothers me.
Linebacker Likes
Micah Parsons (Penn St)- He’s a fantastic athlete with everything you look for in a LB. He can play inside or outside and he’s an excellent blitzer. I’m not totally sure what seems to be the issue teams are questioning, for me Parsons should be one of the first defenders off the board. If he falls to the middle of round one, he’s a complete steal.
Dylan Moses (Alabama)- He had an injury that set him back two years ago but I really think he’s a starting LB pretty quickly in the NFL. He’s smart, athletic and attacks the ball like a madman. He’s fallen from potential first round pick to middle rounds and I think that’s crazy. All this dude does is tackle.
Nick Niemann (Iowa)- Like most Iowa guys he’s overlooked. He finally got notice at Iowa’s pro day when he blazed his forty. He’s fast and athletic and he can play any LB position you need. His brother Ben is making a living as a backup LB in Kansas City and Nick might be even better. His versatility is key and for a guy likely to go in the late rounds, he’s a steal.
Linebacker Dislike
Baron Browning (Ohio St)- I like Browning overall because he’s got a lot of skills and is very athletic, however, he’s never settled in at one position and excelled at just that. He’s the jack-of-all trades, master of none. He played well as a coverage LB this last season and that skill will come in handy in today’s NFL. My problem is, can he find a position and stick to it? For a guy being talked about in the very late round one, likely round two discussion, I would like to know where he will play.
Cornerback Likes
Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)- Stop over analyzing this guy. That happens when you’ve been playing since your true freshman season but just believe what you see. Surtain is fantastic, he has great size, skills and instincts and he’s the best CB on the board. If Dallas passes on him, they are crazy.
Asante Samuel Jr. (Florida St)- Another legacy player, his father was a fantastic NFL corner for years. If you’re looking for a man-coverage CB, this is your guy. He’s fluid and flips his hips naturally (he should, it’s in his genes). He isn’t big at only 5’9 but that doesn’t seem to stop him. He covers like a blanket and if he goes in the second round or later, that’s grand theft.
Cornerback Dislike
Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech)- I love Caleb Farley’s talent but his back injury scares me. He had surgery for it and it’s not the first time his back has been a problem. There is no chance I’m committing a first-round pick to a guy who might have a chronic back condition. Playing CB is all about flexibility and fluidness, back injuries aren’t good for that.
Safety
I really can’t say I like or dislike any of the safety prospects. Trevor Moehrig from TCU is the top guy and that’s understandable but the bar isn’t set very high. He’s a starter and his value is higher because it’s not a deep class but I’m not making a move to get him. If he falls a bit okay, but I’m not excited to take him. Jevon Holland is a solid center fielder, if he goes middle to late second round, that’s solid value. Jamar Johnson is solid player too who should be in that same range, perhaps he falls to the third round and that’s good value. Moehrig is the only one worthy of a potential first-round pick and even then, I’m only taking him if I’m good at most positions and there isn’t a lot of value in the other positions left.
Kicker/Punter
I’m just kidding. Although I hope someone gives Keith Duncan a real shot as a free agent, even if he struggles from 50+ yards.
The Hott Read 