The Hawkeyes start their season next weekend against Indiana, getting an early start on the Big Ten season.  It doesn’t get any easier as they take on highly ranked Iowa State in week two.  The Hawkeyes are ranked in the top 20 going into the season and that’s generally not a bad place for them to be.  When expectations are too high, the Hawkeyes sometimes falter and fail to live up to them.  They did finish last season strong and they return a lot of key players and that’s a great place to start.  There hasn’t been a lot of movement in the two-deeps since the spring but there are a few notable changes. 

            Iowa’s offense looked good in their open practice during fall camp and that’s good because usually the offense is behind the defense at that point.  Iowa will run the ball well, no surprise there.  It’s the passing of Spencer Petras that will make the difference between a good year and a great year.  On defense, it’s all up to how the defensive line performs.  The back seven for the Hawkeyes is absolutely stacked with playmakers, can the line hold up its end?

Quarterback

Starter: Spencer Petras (Jr)

Backup: Alex Padilla  (Soph)

            The Hawkeyes will go as far as Spencer Petras can take them.  The running game is in good hands with a strong offensive line and a great RB but the passing game has to step up.  With some guys moving up at WR and some fresh faces it’s up to Petras to run the offense and get the ball to his playmakers.  He has a cannon for an arm but he needs to reign in his power.  Petras spent some of the off season working with a QB coach to refine his mechanics and hopefully give him a better feel for the touch throws.  His mid-range accuracy has more to do with his tendency to throw everything like a mid-90s fastball.  He needs to take a little off and let the receivers catch it.  He also needs to work on his deep ball because he has to take the top off the defense to back teams off the line so they can’t stack up against Iowa’s running game.  The open practice seemed to point to Petras having worked on just these things and he definitely has command of the offense. 

            Padilla has solidified his spot as the backup. He doesn’t seem like a threat to Petras after what we saw in the open practice but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a capable player.  Padilla just looks a little behind Petras as far as his command of the offense goes.  He is also clearly ahead of Deuce Hogan and Joey Labas as the backup.  The two young guys are talented but they simply don’t have the time in the offense to run it like Petras or Padilla.    

Running Back/Fullback

Starters: Tyler Goodson (Jr)              Monte Pottebaum (Jr)

Backups: Ivory Kelly-Martin (Sr)      Turner Pallissard (Jr)

            In the spring I was quite concerned about Tyler Goodson staying healthy as Iowa didn’t look like they had a lot of depth, now, I just want Goodson to stay healthy because he’s so good.  He was First-Team All-Big Ten last year and that should be the least of his accolades this year.  He’s a fantastic talent, he should get the bulk of the carries, he’s a terrific fit in the offense and he plays behind what should be a very good offensive line.  I fully expect a Shonn Greene like season from Goodson and he’ll be on the short list for the Doak Walker Award.  Monte Pottebaum is the starting fullback and he will continue the tradition of Iowa having a tough, hard-nosed lead blocker that no one wants to tangle with.  Pottebaum may even get a few plays himself, he has a solid skill set.   

            I was worried in the spring about Iowa’s RB depth because Ivory Kelly-Martin tore his ACL in December and there was no one with experience to back up Goodson.  Well, Kelly-Martin has made a remarkable recovery and looks good in fall camp and is ready to go to start the year.  He’s been around for quite some time so he knows the offense and if he’s healthy he’s a very talented RB.  It also helps that both Gavin Williams and Leshon Williams look good too.  Iowa almost always uses multiple RBs so at least one of the Williams will get some snaps and I would guess both will at some point. The Hawkeyes seem to be in good shape at RB.  Turner Pallissard is also a solid backup fullback.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Jr)                        Nico Ragaini (Jr)

Backups: Keegan Johnson (Fr)                       Charlie Jones (Sr)

            Tyrone Tracy Jr has spent the last few years learning each WR position so he could sub in everywhere but now it’s his turn to take the top spot.  He’s a playmaker through and through and he should quicky become Petras’ favorite target out wide.  He can get deep on the outside, he can come across the middle, he can beat you in the screen game, there isn’t anywhere that he can’t get it done, he’s in for a huge year.  Ragaini was a starter last year as the slot receiver and he’ll do most of his work from there again.  He’s a security blanket for Petras as he works the middle of the field and gets open inside.  He’s sure-handed and while beating anyone deep isn’t really his game, he will make the tough play. 

            True freshman Keegan Johnson is a special talent.  Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa coaching staff have rarely ever seen a true freshman step up at a skill position and make the two-deeps going into the season.  Johnson enrolled early, practiced during the spring, and has proven simply too good to keep off the field.  He gives Iowa a nice outside receiver to pair with Tracy so Ragaini can play the slot.  He has the size, speed and wide receiver skill to be a special player and we will see that this season.  Charlie Jones transferred to Iowa a couple of years ago and so far, he’s made his name as a punt returner, an excellent punt returner actually.  This year he hopes to get some real playing time as a WR and he has speed and elusiveness that any team can use. 

            Senior Max Cooper returns to try to finally stay healthy and contribute, whether that’s at WR or on special teams.  The other true freshman WR who can get some playing time is Arland Bruce IV, who also enrolled early for the spring.  Bruce is more of a gadget guy for now but he can work his way up the WR depth chart.  Diante Vines, Desmond Hutson and Quavon Matthews will all try to make their way on to the field.  Jackson Ritter is a walk-on who might play and it is unlikely true freshman Brody Brecht plays unless there are a number of injuries. 

Tight Ends

Starter: Sam LaPorta (Jr)

Backups: Luke Lachey (RS Fr)          Josiah Miamen (Soph)

            Sam LaPorta had a bit of a breakout season last year but I expect him to really show out this year.  With a more consistent QB and a balanced passing attack, LaPorta can have a huge year.  He has all the talent necessary to be Iowa’s next great TE.  With a great running game, some very good WRs and even some extra help at TE, things should open up for LaPorta.  Now Petras just has to learn not to throw it 95 mph when LaPorta is only seven yards away. 

            Luke Lachey certainly looks the part of a superior TE physically.  He’s 6’6 250ish lbs. and quite athletic.  He is still raw from a technique standpoint and he hasn’t played against college competition but he has the physical skills to be quite good.  Josiah Miamen had a rocky time this last year with some off-the-field troubles but he seems to have gotten back in good graces of the coaches and looks like a nice TE prospect in camp.  He isn’t going to let Lachey just have the backup job, he’s going to make him earn it.  Miamen a good athlete who can be a solid pass catching TE.  Elijah Yelverton is the fourth guy trying to prove he can help at the position too.  The rest of the roster is made up of walk-ons who are trying to show they can play. 

Offensive Line

Starters: LT Jack Plumb (Jr), LG Cody Ince (Jr), C Tyler Linderbaum (Jr), RG Justin Britt (Soph), RT Nick DeJong (Soph)

Backups: LT Mason Richman (RS Fr), LG Tyler Elsbury (RS Fr), C Matt Fagan (Jr), RG Josh Volk (RS Fr), RT Connor Colby (Fr)

            Tyler Linderbaum is the star of this unit.  He is a pre-season All-American and likely high round NFL draft pick.  He’s one of the most talented offensive linemen in college football and Iowa is lucky to have him.  Kyler Schott was supposed to be the other certain starter and the only senior starter but he injured his ankle in a hay bale accident (as only an Iowa lineman might do) so he’s out to start the season.  Cody Ince starts at LG after playing a few positions last season and being listed as a RT at one point.  He’s best suited inside and should be good next to Linderbaum.  Justin Britt is listed as the starting RG with Schott out and if he’s healthy to start the year and playing his best, Schott might find it hard to get his job back.  Nick DeJong has won the RT job, he’s a former walk-on who earned a scholarship and now a starting job, another good Iowa story.  Jack Plumb has been listed as the starting LT since spring practice and while it looks like he’s holding onto the job for now, he has competition in the form of Mason Richman.  Richman is an athletic redshirt freshman the coaches seem to love and they are looking to get him on the field. 

            Richman is the backup LT unless he can unseat Plumb or if he’s needed elsewhere.  He’s worked at guard too so he could play almost anywhere if needed.  He’s really the sixth lineman for now if they need a guard or tackle.  Tyler Elsbury and Josh Volk are redshirt freshmen backups inside at guard.  Once Schott returns the inside should be fortified with Ince, Britt and Schott rotating at OG so Elsbury and Volk probably don’t play much.  True freshman Connor Colby has earned the backup RT spot and that’s quite impressive for a true freshman.  Richman is likely the third tackle if one is needed but Colby is a talented player.  Matt Fagan is listed as Linderbaum’s backup at center but if he goes down, I would suspect one of the guards, Schott or Britt perhaps, would step in.  Fagan is an undersized walk-on and Iowa usually goes with the best five if they can. 

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Zach VanValkenburg (Sr), DE John Waggoner (Jr), DT Yahya Black (RS Fr), DT Noah Shannon (Jr)

Backups: DE Deontae Craig (RS Fr), DE Joe Evans (RS Fr), DT Lukas Van Ness (RS Fr), DT Logan Lee (Soph)

            This is the critical group for the Iowa defense.  Everything starts up front and this group doesn’t have much experience.  VanValkenburg is a sixth-year senior but even he only started last season.  He did a very nice job and it’s good for the Hawkeyes he’s back but he’s a strong, steady presence, not a spectacular one.  John Waggoner is a fourth-year junior who is finally getting his chance to live up to his four-star billing from his high school days.  He needs to bring pressure off the edge and be a playmaker for the Hawkeyes. No one expects him to be AJ Epenesa or Adrian Clayborn but it would be nice if he can get to the QB a bit.  Joe Evans has been a designated pass rusher the last two years but he’s added good weight and now the coaches feel he can be a full-time DE.  He can get to the QB.  Deontae Craig is the youngest guy and he offers a lot of potential as a pass rusher.  Redshirt freshman Ethan Hurkett, sophomore Chris Reames and true freshman Max Llewellyn can’t be counted out given the lack of experience at the position.    

            The DT spot has even less experience.  Noah Shannon has the most and he was a part-time rotational player last season, that’s it.  He needs to step up, especially against the run.  Yahya Black is a big man who brings the size Shannon lacks to the middle.  He’s only a redshirt freshman so it’s a bit of a projection to think he’s going to make his mark but he’s an athletic dude for a guy that goes 6’5 290 lbs.  The Hawkeyes need him to live up to his potential or they could be in trouble up front.  Black and Shannon have missed some practice time which has meant Lukas Van Ness and Logan Lee have gotten plenty of reps. That’s good because Van Ness is also a redshirt freshman like Black and Lee is a sophomore who only played in two games last season.  This team is going to need some depth at DT and walk-on Louie Stec, redshirt freshmen Isaiah Bruce and Logan Jones could all earn time.  Jones would likely be in the two-deeps but he’s recovering from a knee injury, he’s expected back during the season. Again, given the lack of overall experience you can’t even discount true freshman like Jeremiah Pittman or Jeff Bowie from playing if they can prove useful.   

Linebackers

Starters: MLB Jack Campbell (Jr), WLB Seth Benson (Jr), LEO Jestin Jacobs (Soph)

Backups: Jay Higgins (Soph), Kyler Fisher (Soph), Mike Timm (Jr), Logan Klemp (Jr)

            The big switch here is Jack Campbell is now listed as the MLB and Seth Benson is the WLB, it was the other way after the spring but this lineup makes perfect sense.  Campbell is about to break out as the star LB of the Hawkeyes.  He’s a freakishly sized LB at 6’5 243 lbs. and is extremely athletic for a LB that big.  Benson played MLB last year when Campbell was hurt and now, he moves to the weakside and he should be good.  The really interesting thing here is that Iowa wants to play Dane Belton at the Cash position (more on him later) but Jestin Jacobs might be too good at LB to not play.  It looks like Iowa will rotate Jacobs in for Benson at times when they only play two LBs just to get him on the field.  Jacobs is a great athlete that just hasn’t been unleashed yet.  Iowa’s starting LBs should be impressive. 

            Given the fact that Iowa will only play two LBs some of the time and they already have three they can rotate, the backups probably won’t get much playing time.  Jay Higgins is likely the fourth LB and with the ability to rotate the first three around and with the Cash position they probably don’t play more than the top four LBs barring injury.  Fisher, Timm and Klemp contribute on special teams but for now, their use at LB will be limited.

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB Matt Hankins (Sr), CB Riley Moss (Sr), S Kaevon Merriweather (Jr), S Jack Koerner (Sr), CASH Dane Belton (Jr)

Backups: CB Terry Roberts (Jr), CB Jermari Harris (Soph), S Sebastian Castro (Soph), S Quinn Schulte (Soph)

            Matt Hankins gave the Hawkeyes a nice present by coming back for his fifth season and now he just needs to become the playmaker they wanted him to be.  He’s always been solid but he needs to take another step to be really good.  Riley Moss really stepped-up last season and made some plays for the defense.  He’s a good CB with size and intelligence and he never backs down.  He also has a short memory, if he makes a bad play, he doesn’t let it affect his next play.  Great trait for a CB.  Kaevon Merriweather had a good year after he moved to the strong safety spot and let his athleticism shine.  Koerner is the heady player in the middle, calling out the secondary defense and putting guys where they need to be.  He makes plays, he tackles well and he’s rarely caught out of position.  Dane Belton is the Cash.  It’s the nickel back/linebacker hybrid invented for Amani Hooker a few years ago and Belton is looking to perfect it. He can run, he can hit, he can cover and that makes him Phil Parker’s chess piece to move around. When the Hawks face a team where they need three LBs, or in the case of this year they just want to play three, Belton takes over at the SS spot. 

            The backups are led by special team’s ace Terry Roberts.  Roberts would be the starter if Hankins hadn’t returned but for now, he’s just a very good third CB.  We haven’t seen much of Jermari Harris and we probably won’t unless there’s an injury or two. With Belton able to cover the slot or a TE the team uses him in nickel so extra CBs are a luxury, not a necessity.  Sebastian Castro is the backup SS behind Merriweather and he’s also Belton’s backup at the Cash.  Generally, if the team isn’t using Belton at that position, it’s because they are playing three LBs but if Belton were injured and someone has to step in, it would be Castro.  Quinn Schulte is another in a long line of walk-on safeties for the Hawkeyes.  He will have some young competition coming for his spot but for now, he’s the backup to Koerner.

            The depth starts with UNI transfer Xavior Williams who came to Iowa to raise his profile and found a stacked secondary that’s hard to crack.  He could play corner, he could be a safety, and theoretically he could even be the Cash.  For now, he’s a senior looking for some snaps, somewhere.  Dallas Craddieth was a highly regarded recruit who can’t seem to get anywhere on the safety depth chart and gets passed up by younger guys.  Speaking of younger guys, sophomore Reggie Bracy is fighting to get playing time too. Also, true freshman, athletic phenom Cooper DeJean has arrived and everyone should pay attention to him moving forward.  At CB, it’s redshirt freshmen AJ Lawson and Branden Deasfernandes waiting in the wings, Hankins and Moss are seniors so their turn is coming but probably not this year.

Special Teams

Punter: Tory Taylor: He could win the Ray Guy award as the best punter in the country, nice to have him aboard.

Kicker: Caleb Shudak: He returns for his sixth season and finally gets to be the place kicker.  He’s been the kickoff guy because he has elite leg strength, now he just has to prove he has the accuracy.

Punt Returner: Charlie Jones: He’s elite.  He’s a weapon as punt returner.  He should scare the crap out of every team punting to him.

Kick Returner: Jones is listed as the guy but I’m not buying it.  I think someone else steps in.  Maybe Arland Bruce IV, Keegan Johnson, Max Cooper, or one of the Williams (Gavin or Leshon).  Perhaps it’s Tyrone Tracy Jr, Iowa isn’t against using a starting WR (Ihmir Smith-Marsette did it for years) or maybe it’s Cooper DeJean (hey, I can dream can’t I?  Get the kid on the field).         

The 2021 NFL draft is in the books.  It was dominated by the QBs in the first half of round one and overall, it featured much better offensive prospects than defensive ones.  The first seven picks in 2021 were offensive players, that won’t be happening in 2022.  There was a dearth of elite pass rushers in last year’s draft, this year offers a lot more at that position.  There is no Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields level QB prospect right now for the 2022 draft and if a QB is going to crack the top five picks (someone will) it’s going to take a breakout season.  There are a ton of potential QB prospects but for one of them (or more) to rise to a #1 overall pick status they are going to need a breakout season on par with Joe Burrow two years ago or Zach Wilson last year.  I’ll break down some of the possibilities for that, talk about the elite level defensive prospects and go over some areas with nice depth.  I’m also going to talk about the Iowa Hawkeyes who are prospects for the draft. 

Pass Rushers (Edge)

The line between DE and OLB has blurred and many of these guys can move between the positions depending on the defense they are drafted into.  Some guys play better standing up while other play better with their hand on the ground, either way, the Edge position is in much better shape heading into the 2022 season than what the 2021 draft gave us. 

Kayvon Thibodeaux               DE       Oregon

Thibodeaux is the odds-on favorite to be the #1 overall pick as of right now.  He’s big, physical and a freak athlete.  In general, most teams look at QBs, OTs and pass rushers as the most important positions to fill.  Thibodeaux is the best pass rusher in the draft and right now, he’s a better prospect than any QB or OT that will be available.  He’s basically the Khalil Mack starter kit right now, that’s pretty good.   

Drake Jackson                        DE       USC

The PAC-12 has some serious pass rushing juice and Jackson may only be half-step behind Thibodeaux.  He was a flashy player as a freshman and then looked good in limited play last year.  If he matures into his body, he’s going to be scary good. 

Zach Harrison                         DE       Ohio St

I know it’s weird to see an Ohio St DE as a top prospect but here it is.  It’s like he’s an Alabama WR or an LSU CB (don’t worry, those guys are coming up).  Harrison is more potential than production but after the weak edge rusher year in 2021, teams are looking for anyone that can get to the QB.

George Karlaftis                     DE       Purdue

Karlaftis isn’t flashy and he may suffer the same fate former Iowa DE AJ Epenesa did and fall into the second round because of it.  Karlaftis doesn’t win with speed, he wins with power and a non-stop mentality.  He’s probably not a 15 sack NFL guy but he can play base end and get you 10 sacks in a good year.

Kingsley Enagbare                  DE       South Carolina

Definitely not a household name, I only saw a bit of him because I was watching South Carolina to see Jaycee Horn.  He flashes from time to time and he has all the physical tools to be a top prospect. 

Aidan Hutchinson                   DE       Michigan

He’s coming off an injury but he’s really filled out and he has a chance to be a really good DE prospect, hopefully playing at Michigan doesn’t hold him back. 

Cornerbacks

This position might be even deeper than last season’s crop and that’s saying something.  This draft has a higher rated prospect than even Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain with Derek Stingley Jr expected to come out.  The next best prospect isn’t as clear but no one really saw Horn being up there with Surtain last year and he actually went ahead of him.  No one is getting ahead of Stingley but the next spot is open to competition, and there’s some great competition.   

Derek Stingley Jr.                   CB       LSU

The NFL has been waiting to draft Stingley since he graduated high school.  He’s been a starter at LSU since basically his first day on campus.  He’s got size, 6’1 190 lbs., and he’s an athletic guy with incredible natural corner skills.  Everything comes naturally to him when it comes to coverage and he backs down to no one.  He spent his formative years at LSU covering guys like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall, the NFL won’t scare him.  If a CB is ever going to go #1 overall in the NFL draft, this is the guy that will do it.

Kaiir Elam                  CB                   Florida

Elam has great size at 6’2 but he gets a bit handsy and he will need to cut down on that in the pros.  However, you can’t teach a guy to be his size, have his athleticism, and have his ball skills.  Florida has a pretty solid track record of sending CBs to the NFL but it’s been a while since one of them proved to be elite (Joe Haden from ’09 was the last one, CJ Henderson has only had one year in the league).  Elam has a shot. 

Sevyn Banks               CB                   Ohio St

Banks also has great size (it’s theme at CB this year) he’s 6’1 200 lbs. and he took over as the #1 CB on the Buckeyes last season as Shaun Wade fell off a cliff.  He’s smooth and talented and he’s only getting better with time.  Ohio St has a case for being “DB-U” and Banks is upholding that tradition.  If he keeps progressing, he has a shot at being a top 10 pick.

Derion Kendrick         CB                   Clemson

This one comes with a caveat, he may not be in the 2022 draft, he may already be in the NFL.  Kendrick decided to go back to Clemson but then he got into trouble and ended up entering the transfer portal.  He’s in limbo right now because of some legal issues and hasn’t transferred schools yet.  He could potentially enter the NFL supplemental draft that usually happens in July, if he can’t find a school.  He would get drafted for sure and be on an NFL roster next season, assuming he stays out of jail.

Ahmad Gardner                      CB       Cincinnati

He’s 6’2 and looks like a monster at CB because of his athleticism and competitiveness.  He has to cut down on his penalties and learn to trust his skills a little more but that’s coachable.  He may be the guy who comes out of nowhere to move way up the draft board. 

Other Top Defensive Prospects

Kyle Hamilton                        S          Notre Dame

Hamilton is 6’4 220 lbs. and is basically a cross between Isaiah Simmons and Derwin James.  He’s the new breed of NFL defenders who are a little position-less and can be moved all over the field.  He’s a top 10 pick for someone who just wants a playmaker and doesn’t really need it to come from any one specific position.

DeMarvin Leal                       DT       Texas A&M

He’s a 290 lbs. tweener who might confound some NFL execs.  He has agility a guy his size shouldn’t have but he’s not the type of DT most teams have.  He’s an undersized DT that moves really well but he’s also 6’4 so he’s really long.  He’s like a slimmer version of Fletcher Cox. 

Christian Harris                      LB       Alabama

There has to be an Alabama LB somewhere on this list, right?  Harris is a tackling machine for the Tide but he has to work on his coverage skills.  If he doesn’t prove he can play on all three downs, it’s going to hurt his stock. 

Wide Receivers

This class of WR doesn’t possess the elite talent that the 2020 or 2021 class had at the top but there are some nice prospects none the less.  The group took a hit with Georgia WR George Pickens tearing his ACL this spring.  It’s possible he makes it back for some of the season but he may be better off if he holds off entering the draft until 2023 so he can get a full, healthy season in during the 2022 season. 

Justyn Ross                 WR      Clemson

Pickens is now in the same predicament Ross was in last year except for the type of injury that’s keeping him out.  Ross missed the 2020 season with a neck injury that is going to have to completely check out for him to get drafted in the first round.  He has all the physical tools you look for in a WR, he’s 6’4, and excellent athlete, and he’s a skilled player.  His draft stock will be almost entirely tied to his neck issues. 

Chris Olave                 WR      Ohio St

It was a bit surprising that Olave returned to Ohio St but it may end up working in his favor.  The 2021 class of WRs was extremely stacked and Olave may have had a hard time standing out.  In the 2022 draft class he has a chance to be one of the best.  Some of that will be determined by who replaces Justin Fields at QB for the Buckeyes, CJ Stroud is the favorite.  Olave will make the game easier for the guy who replaces Fields regardless. 

Garrett Wilson                        WR      Ohio St

Olave isn’t alone at Ohio St.  There are some who rate his teammate Wilson ahead of him as a prospect.  He’s not as accomplished as Olave but Wilson was a playmaker last year.  He has elite speed and is a dangerous deep threat.  He could be the breakout WR of this season as there is not real dominant WR in this class. 

John Metchie III                     WR      Alabama

Here’s this year’s Alabama WR poised to go in round one, sorry there’s only one this season.  After consecutive years of having two first round WRs from the Tide Metchie is likely alone this year.  He was actually second in receiving at Alabama last year behind DeVonta Smith (Jaylen Waddle was injured for a large part of the season).  Metchie has big play ability, evidenced by the fact he actually averaged more yards per catch than Heisman Trophy winner Smith.  He’s not a lock to be a first-round pick like Ruggs, Jeudy, Smith and Waddle were but I’m not betting against him. 

Treylon Burks             WR      Arkansas

If you want the real dark horse breakout candidate who could go in the top 10 of the draft, it’s Burks.  He’s 6’3 230 lbs. and while I’m not sure of his timed speed, he’s got plenty of field speed to get deep. He’s got big hands, a big catch radius, and he knows how to get open.  Arkansas hasn’t been a hotbed of football prospects in the recent past but if they can find a QB to get him the ball, he’s an elite talent.

Offensive Line

Probably not a banner year for the offensive line but there are some prospects that can move themselves into position to be high draft picks, but there are no sure things.  The OT spot has a number of guys moving out to that position from inside and they may need to move back inside in the NFL. 

Zion Nelson                OT       Miami

Nelson has the size, 6’5 312 lbs., and the athleticism teams are looking for in an OT prospect.  He is far from a finished product but he certainly looks the part.  He would be my pick to be the first OT off the board if the draft were tomorrow. 

Evan Neal                   OT       Alabama

Neal is a giant at 6’7 320 lbs. and he is likely moving to LT this year after playing RT last season and playing inside previously.  I’m not sure if he has the lateral quickness to play LT in the NFL although he clearly has the size and length. 

Rasheed Walker          OT       Penn St

Walker is 6’6 313 lbs. and a pretty good athlete.  He’s young and underdeveloped at the moment but his ceiling is pretty high when it puts it all together. 

Kenyon Green             OL       Texas A&M

Green has played inside at LG and this season he is likely to move to LT for the Aggies.  He was an All-American at LG and while he should be fine at LT, he may move back inside once he goes pro. 

Cade Mays                  OG      Tennessee

Mays might be more reputation than production at this point but he has the ability to be an absolute mauler at OG.  He was a five-star recruit who transferred to Tennessee after a year at Georgia.  He has all the tools and elite size, hopefully playing for Tennessee isn’t a hinderance. 

Tyler Linderbaum       C         Iowa

 I could include Linderbaum in the upcoming section on Iowa players but he deserves to be included with the group of top offensive linemen.  Linderbaum is the top center prospect in the draft even if he is a bit undersized.  At 6’3 290 lbs. he might be just a bit under the NFL’s preferred size but he makes up for it with his toughness, leadership, and athleticism. 

Other Offensive Players 

The RB position has some good talent but there doesn’t seem to be a Najee Harris or Travis Etienne, late round one guys, and there certainly isn’t anyone looking like a Saquon Barkley, top five type.  At TE, there’s no Kyle Pitts for sure and it will take a break out year for someone to be a first rounder.

Running Backs

Breece Hall                 Iowa St

Isaiah Spiller               Texas A&M

Kyren Williams          Notre Dame

Zonovan Knight          North Carolina St

Master Teague            Ohio St

Kennedy Brooks         Oklahoma

Anyone of these guys could end up being the top back in the 2022 draft.  Hall and Spiller have been highly productive backs for several years.  Williams looked great when he got more time last season.  Knight is an explosive player who could easily break out next year.  Teague has spent time behind a number of good players at Ohio St but he should be the main guy this season.  Brooks is coming back to Oklahoma after opting out of the 2020 season.  Teague and Brooks both have the talent to be lead backs. 

Tight End

Jalen Wydermyer                    Texas A&M

Sam LaPorta                           Iowa

Will Mallory                           Miami

Charlie Kolar                          Iowa St

The four guys most likely to vie for being a first round pick. Wydermyer is another prospect from Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher has excellent talent to work with.  He’s big, physical and athletic, that’s a good combination.  LaPorta could have a break out season if he gets more consistent QB play.  He has the physical attributes you look for and he’s clearly well trained coming from Iowa.  Mallory also comes from a TE factory down in Miami and with Brevin Jordan moving on to the pros, it’s Mallory’s time to shine.  Kolar is a big dude at 6’6 259 lbs. and he could really make a move this season after a very productive year in 2020.  He’s not a twitchy athlete but he’s plenty athletic and knows how to use his size advantage. 

Quarterbacks

This is a doozy of a position this season.  I mentioned there is no Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields heading into the season, that’s for damn sure.  However, there are about 15 guys that have at least some potential to pull off a Joe Burrow or Zach Wilson like season and I’m not exaggerating. Some have more potential than others but it’s a long list.   

*Seven most likely guys to pull a Burrow/Wilson*

JT Daniels       Georgia

This is my pick for the guy that emerges this season.  Daniels got Wally Pipp-ed at USC when he got hurt and Kedon Slovis took his job, now he’s at Georgia.  He didn’t start right away last season but the Bulldogs went to him late and he had a good four game stretch to end the season.  He has good size at 6’3 210 lbs. but he could fill out a bit more.  He has plenty of arm strength to go deep and when he throws shorter routes, he’s accurate and he gets the ball out quickly.  His production might take a bit of a hit this season if George Pickens is out but Daniels can make Georgia’s other skill guys look good.

Spencer Rattler           Oklahoma

This is guy getting plenty of hype in the early mock drafts, I guess being Lincoln Riley’s QB at Oklahoma will do that for you.  Rattler had a very good year in 2020, he’s a good athlete but maybe not on the level of Kyler Murray.  He’s a little shorter than most NFL teams like, he’s about 6’1, but both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray overcame their height concerns to become #1 overall picks so it’s doable.  Rattler has some promise, I just like Daniels a little better. 

Kedon Slovis              USC

Speaking of the guy who replaced Daniels at USC, Slovis is a pretty good prospect himself.  One of his best traits is his ability to move within the pocket and outside of it and keep his eyes downfield and look for the open man.  He has good size at 6’3 215 lbs. and while he’s not a “runner” he can pick up yards when he needs to do it.  He can put the ball on a dime and he has plenty of arm strength.  He does have to wind up a little bit on really deep throws but I don’t think that’s overly concerning. 

Sam Howell                North Carolina

This guy has been killing it at UNC since he started as a freshman.  He has enough arm strength even if it’s not elite.  He is only about 6’1 but he’s a stout 225 lbs. so he should hold up well.  What he doesn’t lack is confidence, even if he shouldn’t make a throw, he thinks he can make the throw.  He was highly accurate this last season and that looks like a solid trend.  Howell doesn’t jump off the page but he’s got the “it” factor and I wouldn’t want to bet against him.  I do think his production might drop this season because he lost two NFL draft pick WRs Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome, they may not have been the Alabama WRs but they were extremely productive.  We will see how he adjusts.

Desmond Ridder         Cincinnati

Ridder is 6’5 215 lbs. and runs like a gazelle.  He’s long and lean and dynamic with the football in his hands.  He has plenty of arm strength and while he could shorten his throwing motion a little to make it come out faster, he’s so athletic he buys himself more than enough time to get rid of the ball.  He might have the highest ceiling of all of the QB prospects because of his combination of his arm and his legs.  There’s a little Justin Herbert in his game because of his overall size, although he needs to fill out his frame a bit.  I could see him going all the way up to a top five spot in the draft or dropping to a third-round guy depending on his development.   

Tyler Shough              Texas Tech

This is a very interesting case.  Shough got benched at Oregon last season and lost his job, now he’s transferring to Texas Tech and it could set him up well.  Shough is 6’5 220 lbs. so he has NFL size.  He’s surprisingly agile as a runner with good speed and he fits the RPO style offense many teams are using.  He’s pretty good on intermediate and short throws but there weren’t many deep passes for him at Oregon, he struggles with those.  Right now, I’m not sure if this guy is a potential first rounder or if he’s a seventh-round guy, his stock could go either way.

Malik Willis                Liberty

Willis is on the smaller side like Rattler and Howell but he’s a different level of athlete.  You have to take some of his film with a grain of salt because he’s playing for Liberty and their competition isn’t the elite but he stands out against everyone.  He has a strong arm but he’s not necessarily tested when it comes to having to put the ball in tight spots, coverage isn’t as good as others have to face.  His athletic ability separates him from everyone as he’s a threat to score when he takes off running.  Once he decides to go, he’s basically a running back because while he’s only 6’1, he’s every bit of 215 lbs. so he’s built.  Dynamic player who teams are going to have to project based on his level of competition, the good news for him, he dominates that competition. 

*The next seven*    

Matt Corral                 Ole Miss

Brock Purdy                Iowa St

Tanner Morgan           Minnesota

Phil Jurkovec              Boston College

Grayson McCall         Coastal Carolina

Kenny Pickett             Pittsburgh

Carson Strong             Nevada

This group has a little bit of everything.  There are the guys with years of experience as starters; Brock Purdy, Tanner Morgan, Carson Strong, and guys just getting going; Grayson McCall.  There are big guys like Phil Jurkovec, he’s 6’5 and Strong, he’s 6’4.  The smaller, scrappy guys like Purdy, Morgan, Corral and Pickett, who seem to will their teams to wins with sheer passion.  McCall is still a pretty young guy and at 6’3 200 lbs. he has ideal size.  I’m not sure he comes out in 2022 so he may be a top guy in 2023 instead.  Purdy and Morgan are guys who may have too much film, it’s easy to dissect a guy’s flaws when you have years of film to look at.  The point with all seven of these guys is while they may be long shots to be top ten picks or even first round picks, they all could turn in a Burrow like season and shoot up the board. If I’m a betting man and this is my pool to pick from, I’m taking McCall.

The 15^th QB possibility

Spencer Petras            Iowa

Calm down, stay with me this isn’t as crazy as it sounds.  I know, he struggled last year, especially early in the year.  However, he started to put it together at the end of the year and that’s what you want to see, progress.  Petras is 6’5 230 lbs. and he has a rocket for an arm.  Yes, he struggled with touch throws for most of the season but he got better, especially in the last two games.  He started all eight games for Iowa as a first-year starter.  He didn’t have a spring practice or summer workouts to get ready and training camp was unusual with the pandemic.  He needs to improve his touch in order to improve his completion percentage.  He left far too many easy completions out there because he was throwing the ball 100 mph.  Petras does have a number of things the pros are looking for; he has prototypical size, elite arm strength, he comes from a pro style offense and while he’s not a runner, he can move around well enough.  Going into last season Zach Wilson wasn’t guaranteed to remain the starter at BYU because he was inconsistent the year before, then the light switch flipped on and he was fantastic.  Petras took some time after spring practice to work with a QB coach that previously worked with Nate Stanley when he was training for the draft.  If Petras finds some consistency and puts it all together, he will have the whole package. 

Iowa Guys

I already mentioned Tyler Linderbaum, who I expect to be Iowa’s first draftee next year assuming Petras doesn’t break out, and Sam LaPorta who could really emerge too.  Those aren’t the only other guys Iowa has on the NFL radar this season.

Tyler Goodson            RB      

Goodson is a stud.  He was first-team All-Big Ten last year and he was only a sophomore.  He has good size, great balance and plenty of speed.  He catches the ball well and he doesn’t waste a lot of steps.  He’s quick and smooth and while he may not have one particular elite skill, he’s a tremendous RB. 

Tyrone Tracy              WR

This is the dark horse of Iowa’s offense.  Everyone knows how good Goodson is and everyone is expecting LaPorta to be a weapon.  What teams should watch out for is the guy replacing Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith as Iowa’s go-to receiver.  Tracy is cross trained to play every WR position inside and out.  His versatility will make him tough to cover because he can line up anywhere.  He has great speed and while he isn’t the typical big outside receiver, teams are using guys like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside as well as the inside.  Tracy has a chance to be the break out star of Iowa’s offense. 

Nico Ragaini               WR

Ragaini isn’t the prospect Tracy can be but he’s a solid slot receiver prospect.  He’s not going to be a high draft pick or a draft pick at all necessarily but he can get a shot in the NFL.  If guys like Hunter Renfrow and Dax Milne can get a shot in the NFL, Ragaini can. 

Zach VanValkenburg DE

As happy as I am to have VanValkenburg back for the Hawkeyes, he’s not a major prospect by any means.  He’s staying in college for his sixth season meaning he’ll be considerably older than his draft class.  He’s a good football player who will get a shot at a rookie camp but he’s not NFL draft caliber.

Matt Hankins              CB

This is the guy that needs to have his breakthrough season.  He’s returning for his fifth year and he’s started for three of those but I’m not sure he’s gotten better over those three years.  He’s a solid college corner but that’s all.  I really think Hankins could become more but he’s literally running out of time. 

Riley Moss                  CB

If you would have told me three years ago that Moss would be a better pro prospect than Hankins, I would have told you you’re crazy, but it’s not crazy.  Moss stepped up last season and looked really good.  He can keep progressing and he’ll be a solid late round possibility.  There’s a chance and NFL team moves him to safety but for now I do think he has a chance to make a team as a CB. 

Houston Texans

(67) Davis Mills                      QB       Stanford

(89) Nico Collins                    WR      Michigan

(147) Brevin Jordan                TE       Miami

(170) Garret Wallow              LB       TCU

(195) Roy Lopez                     DT       Arizona

Immediate Impact: WR Nico Collins, TE Brevin Jordan

The Texans top WRs are Brandin Cooks, Andre Roberts, Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee, none of them are over 5’11.  Collins is 6’4 215 lbs. and brings a different element to the passing game.  I’m not completely sure who will be lining up at QB for the Texans but regardless, they might like having a bigger target outside from time to time.  TE Brevin Jordan may have been a fifth-round pick but he brings athleticism and pass catching skills to the TE position this team is seriously lacking.  He can be a playmaker over the middle and down the seam. 

Best Value:  Jordan

The best TEs on the Texans are Jordan Akins and Pharoah Brown.  Akins is a decent player and Brown is okay but neither is an elite pass catching target.  Jordan could definitely be more of a playmaker than either one and he could end up starting.  Pretty solid value for a fifth-round pick. 

Sleeper:  QB Davis Mills

It’s a little awkward to pick their first pick in this draft to be the sleeper but Mills is a pretty good QB prospect that got a little lost in the shuffle on draft weekend.  The situation with Deshaun Watson is volatile at best which is probably why the team signed steady veteran Tyrod Taylor.  Taylor can step in and stabilize things for awhile but if Watson’s legal issues or his desire to get out of Houston end his tenure with the Texans, they need a new QB moving forward.  Mills is a good talent with little experience and he needs some time to develop but he has all the tools to be a starting NFL QB down the line. 

Overall Analysis

The Texans draft was a bit strange because they had traded both their 1^st and 2^nd round picks so they didn’t pick until round three.  Those picks were traded in the Laremy Tunsil trade and the DeAndre Hopkins trade, Bill O’Brien is still screwing up things in Houston.  Then with their first pick they took a QB because no one knows what’s going to end up happening with Deshaun Watson, the Texans are still a mess and the future is really unstable. 

Mills is a solid player who could develop into a future starter.  It would be nice if the team was better equipped to develop him.  WR Nico Collins and TE Brevin Jordan are solid additions to the offense even if they aren’t high round picks.  The Texans defense isn’t great but I’m not so sure LB Garret Wallow or DT Roy Lopez are ready to contribute.  They seem like practice squad guys at best.  Sorry, that’s the whole draft, all five guys.  Unless Davis Mills and Brevin Jordan become Hall of Fame level players, this draft isn’t doing much for the franchise.   

Indianapolis Colts

(21) Kwity Paye                      DE       Michigan

(54) Dayo Odeyingbo             DE       Vanderbilt

(127) Kylen Granson              TE       SMU

(165) Shawn Davis                 S          Florida

(218) Sam Ehlinger                QB       Texas

(229) Mike Strachan               WR      Charleston

(248) Will Fries                      OL       Penn St 

Immediate Impact: DE Kwity Paye

The team lost Justin Houston and Denico Autry so they need pass rush help.  Paye is ready to step in immediately and help bring that off the edge.  He’s a talented player who played all over the line at Michigan and can pass rush from any spot.  He will fit in nicely with Matt Eberflus’ style and he should help immediately. 

Best Value:  Paye

Arguably the best pass rusher in this draft and the Colts got him at #21, that’s good value.

Sleeper:  OL Will Fries

The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league but they lost Anthony Costanzo and they didn’t have a plan to replace him.  Fries isn’t it (they will go with Sam Tevi and Eric Fisher once he’s healthy) but he may be a replacement for RG Mark Glowinski, eventually.  The team won’t be able to re-sign everyone (Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Braden Smith) so they need to save money somewhere.  Fries has all kinds of versatility so he can fill a number of spots. 

Overall Analysis

This draft isn’t going to bring much immediate help and that’s okay considering the Colts were pretty good last season.  Their fate is really in the hands of Carson Wentz and this draft class adds some depth to the roster more than anything.  Paye is the one guy who can really help this season.  It was a little odd to see the Colts bypass any offensive line help until their very last pick.  It was doubly strange they passed on some offensive line or even secondary help to take Dayo Odeyingbo in round two. Odeyingbo is coming off a major injury that will likely sideline him for the 2021 season and he was redundant being another DE after they took Kwity Paye in round one. 

Kylen Granson is a decent move TE prospect but he’s undersized and the Colts already have Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox so his potential to help is limited.  S Shawn Davis is a limited safety, he doesn’t cover much and that doesn’t work great in today’s NFL.  Maybe he helps on special teams.  QB Sam Ehlinger was a heck of a college QB but he isn’t really an NFL level player.  Mike Strachan is a small school WR who is huge and a good athlete, you can do worse late in the draft.  I like the Fries pick, at worst he’s a valuable backup for the next several years. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

(1) Trevor Lawrence                           QB       Clemson

(25) Travis Etienne                             RB       Clemson

(33) Tyson Campbell                          CB       Georgia

(45) Walker Little                               OT       Stanford

(65) Andre Cisco                                S          Syracuse

(106) Jay Tufele                                 DL       USC

(121) Jordan Smith                             DE       UAB

(145) Luke Farrell                              TE       Ohio St

(209) Jalen Camp                               WR      Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact:  QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne

Trevor Lawrence’s impact on the Jaguars franchise will not just be felt on the field but off it too.  He’s the best chance they have had to be relevant since the days of Mark Brunell.  Lawrence has a chance to be an all-time great, not just for the franchise but in the NFL.  They drafted his college teammate Etienne with their second first-round pick and he will certainly juice up the offense.  He’s the definition of a homerun hitter, he can take it to the house any time he touches the ball.  They will use him as a running back and a receiver to get him on the field as much as possible.  These two could make the Jaguars offense legit. 

Best Value:  DT Jay Tufele

The Taven Bryan pick in the first round a few years ago hasn’t really worked out.  They need to get some more pass rush up front and Tufele can do that.  He’s not great against the run but he can collapse the pocket from the inside.  I think he gets quite a bit of playing time for a fourth-round pick. 

Sleeper: OT Walker Little

The Jaguars probably took Little sooner than other teams would have but that’s only because he hasn’t played in two years.  Little opted out of last season after missing 2019 with a knee injury.  If he had been healthy two years ago there’s a very good chance he would have come out and been a first-round pick.  He’s going to have to knock off some rust but I think he competes with Cam Robinson for the starting LT spot and if he’s fully healthy, he wins it. 

Overall Analysis

Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Walker Little could all be major contributors to the Jaguars offense.  Clearly, Lawrence is a massive upgrade over Gardner Minshew and any of the hundred other QBs the team has had since Mark Brunell’s heyday.  Etienne is a different type of RB compared to James Robinson, Robinson is a grinder, Etienne is a gamebreaker.  Little could be a massive upgrade over the unreliable Cam Robinson. 

The Tyson Campbell pick to kick off the second round was a little odd.  They must really like him because they have CJ Henderson, a first-round pick from last year and they spent a bunch of money on Shaq Griffin in free agency.  It’s nice to have three CBs but they also have Tre Herndon and a couple of other veterans, they could have spent that 33^rd pick on something else.  Andre Cisco was another pick for the secondary in round three and while he’s coming off an ACL injury, I think he’s a great pickup.  He has a chance to be a starter in the near future, like in August, if he’s fully healthy.

I love the Tufele pick, especially because it came in round four.  He can be a player.  While I would have prioritized the pass rusher over the CB in round two, they did pick one later in round four, Jordan Smith.  I like Smith, he’s long, he’s bendy and he was productive in college.  I like him better than last year’s 1^st round pick K’Lavon Chaisson.  If you told me in two years, Jordan Smith is starting for the Jaguars and Chaisson is playing for another team, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.  The Jaguars are pretty pathetic at TE but I don’t think Luke Farrell is going to change that for Urban Meyer.  The Ohio St. connection might help Farrell stick around.  Jalen Camp is a big WR who just isn’t making this roster, too much veteran depth at WR. 

Tennessee Titans

(22) Caleb Farley                    CB       Virginia Tech

(53) Dillon Radunz                 OT       North Dakota St

(92) Monty Rice                     LB       Georgia

(100) Elijah Molden               CB       Washington

(109) Dez Fitzpatrick             WR      Louisville

(135) Rashad Weaver             DE       Pittsburgh

(205) Racey McMath              WR      LSU

(215) Brady Breeze                S          Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Caleb Farley, OT Dillon Radunz

The Titans bought the first-round lottery ticket, Caleb Farley. If his back is healthy and he can keep it that way, he’s a star CB.  The odds of that happening seem pretty bad.  He’s had two back surgeries for the same issue and with the twisting and turning required to play CB, I’m not optimistic.  He’s a serious talent, and a major risk.  Radunz has a clear opportunity to step in at RT.  He needs to add some bulk and strength but the Titans need someone on the right side after Isaiah Wilson was a massive bust from last year’s draft.  They have a few veterans who can hold down the spot but I think Radunz eventually wins it. 

Best Value:  CB Elijah Molden

The Titans secondary needed an overhaul and while Farley will be a big part of it if he can be, they didn’t stop there in the draft. Molden is one of the better nickel corners in this draft and it just so happens the Titans need a nickel corner pretty badly.  There’s a fairly good chance Molden plays more snaps than Farley if Farley’s back gives him any problems.  Nickel corners play quite a bit in the NFL anyway and Molden should win that job without a problem.  Nice value for the 100^th pick in the draft.

Sleeper: WR Dez Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick has size at 6’2 210 lbs. and he has good deep speed and excellent hands.  The Titans lost Corey Davis and Josh Reynolds isn’t really built to replace Davis on the outside, Fitzpatrick is.  With AJ Brown being such a good intermediate threat, Fitzpatrick can threaten defenses deep and back the defense away from the line so they can’t stack up against Derrick Henry. 

Overall Analysis

Farley’s health is largely going to determine the success of this draft but it won’t be the only determining factor.  Radunz has a chance to solve the Titans hole on the right side of a line that is otherwise pretty good.  LB Monty Rice may not seem like a major need but ILB Rashaan Evans is coming up on free agency and if he proves to be too expensive to keep, Rice may step in.  I love the Molden pick, great player, great value, fills a huge need.  Dez Fitzpatrick was a very solid choice for a WR in round four. 

The last three picks are going to struggle to make the team.  Their second fourth-round pick, DE Rashad Weaver, had a pretty good chance to make the team considering their crying need for pass rushers.  However, Weaver got arrested for an assault after the draft and that’s not a good situation.  Clearly, the NFL and NFL teams have no problem forgiving guys for horrible actions but their level of forgiveness is directly proportional to your level of talent.  I’m not sure Weaver is good enough to overcome his off-the-field issues.  (I do not condone what he did or how the NFL handles these cases but this is simply stating the fact) The Titans finished off the draft in the sixth round with another WR and a safety.  WR Racey McMath has a nice size/speed combo but he’s extremely raw and I just don’t see him sticking.  S Brady Breeze is a versatile safety prospect and given the secondary overhaul this team has undertaken, maybe he makes the roster. 

Arizona Cardinals

(16) Zaven Collins                  LB       Tulsa

(49) Rondale Moore               WR      Purdue

(136) Marco Wilson               CB       Florida

(210) Victor Dimukeje           OLB    Duke

(223) Tay Gowan                    CB       UCF

(243) James Wiggins              S          Cincinnati

(247) Michael Menet              OL       Penn St

Immediate Impact: LB Zaven Collins, WR Rondale Moore

Collins is a huge LB with great athleticism and he should immediately step in as an ILB next to last year’s rookie Isaiah Simmons.  Simmons is the small, speedy guy and Collins will bring a nice balance with his size.  He can rush the passer but the Cardinals should resist the urge to make him a pass rushing OLB, that would limit his usefulness.  If Moore can stay healthy, he’s an elite playmaker and can easily take over in the slot with DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green on the outside.  He would relegate Christian Kirk to the fourth receiver and Andy Isabella will be fighting for a roster spot.

Best Value: Moore (if he’s healthy)

I will preface every good thing I say about Rondale Moore with “IF HE’S HEALTHY”.  It’s the only thing holding him back from being the elite player he can be.  He is a dynamic presence on the field who makes any offense better and he would make Kyler Murray a better QB and take a ton of pressure off of Hopkins and Green.  If he’s healthy, the 49^th pick is an epic steal, if he’s not, he’s a giant bust for a second-round pick. 

Sleeper: CB Tay Gowan

The Cardinals spent a fourth-round pick on CB Marco Wilson from Florida and then took Gowan in the sixth.  Wilson is an elite athlete but lacks pure cover instincts, Gowan is a good athlete who looks a lot more comfortable at CB than Wilson.  Gowan opted out of the 2020 season and he fell a little, I think he can be the better player. 

Overall Analysis

The Cardinals were apparently obsessed with Collins going into the draft, I hope that means they have a better plan for him than they had for Isaiah Simmons last season.  They are two different players but the Cardinals moved Simmons around too much and it took far too much time to get him doing things he’s good at.  Collins is a multi-talented player but they need a plan for him, quickly. 

It’s all about Moore being on the field.  If he’s available to play, he’s electric, but if he’s on the sidelines, he isn’t helping anyone.  Marco Wilson is an elite athlete at CB but he needs plenty of work at playing the position.  If the Cardinals’ coaching staff can develop his athletic traits, he can be great.  I have my doubts about the Cardinals coaching staff.

OLB Victor Dimukeje is a guy who never quits but he lacks athleticism.  Arizona isn’t stacked at OLB behind starters Chandler Jones and Markus Golden so Dimukeje’s motor might earn him a spot.  Gowan is a good corner who needs some seasoning.  James Wiggins is a safety with knee issues.  The Cardinals safety depth chart leaves plenty to be desired so if Wiggins is healthy, he has a shot.  Michael Menet is an athletically limited player with lots of experience.  His biggest issue is the fact that the Cardinals actually have quite a bit of veteran experience on the interior of the offensive line.  He’s going to have to outplay some older players otherwise he ends up on the practice squad.

Los Angeles Rams

(57) Tutu Atwell                     WR      Louisville

(103) Ernest Jones                  LB       South Carolina

(117) Bobby Brown III           DL       Texas A&M

(130) Robert Rochell              CB       Central Arkansas

(141) Jacob Harris                  WR      UCF

(174) Earnest Brown IV         DL       Northwestern

(233) Jake Funk                      RB       Maryland

(249) Ben Skowronek             WR      Notre Dame

(252) Chris Garrett                 LB       Concordia-St. Paul

Immediate Impact:  Jalen Ramsey

The Rams traded their 2021 1^st round pick to the Jaguars in the Jalen Ramsey trade last season.  That’s good because they didn’t get anyone else who will make a big impact on this team.  I like Tutu Atwell at WR but this team has Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson.  Sean McVay might find a few ways to get Atwell involved but I’m not expecting it to be that impactful. 

Best Value:  CB Robert Rochell

There was some buzz around Rochell just before the draft that he was moving up into day two and would be a late second or early third round pick.  The Rams got him in round four and I think he has a chance to contribute to this team at some point this season and beyond. 

Sleeper: Rochell

He has great height, weight, and speed for a CB prospect.  He was once a WR so he has fantastic ball skills and generates plenty of turnovers.  He’s far from a finished project and has plenty to learn but he goes to a team with Jalen Ramsey to learn from and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a very good defensive backs coach.  The team has Ramsey at one CB spot but there is an opening on the other side if Rochell steps up. 

Overall Analysis

I like Tutu Atwell as a gadget guy but the Rams have plenty of WRs.  Unless DeSean Jackson has just lost it and can’t hang on anymore I don’t see Atwell making a huge contribution.  LB Ernest Jones might bring some coverage ability the rest of the ILBs don’t really have but he’s not a big upgrade over Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, or Kenny Young just yet. Bobby Brown III is a huge player who moves well inside and perhaps he can find some playing time next to Aaron Donald but he’s still raw. CB Robert Rochell might be my favorite pick from this draft class and I think he has the most upside.  I could see him becoming a starter at some point, maybe not this year but also, maybe this year. 

Jacob Harris is either a really tall WR who won’t make this roster or a really skinny TE that won’t make this roster.  DE Earnest Brown IV might earn a roster spot and if A’Shawn Robinson disappoints than Brown might get to play.  I don’t see Jake Funk making the roster as a RB unless he proves extremely valuable as a special team’s player.  Ben Skowronek doesn’t have the separation skills to be a WR and he’s not really big enough to play TE.  Chris Garrett is a small school developmental pass rusher who isn’t ready for prime time just yet.  However, for a team that really only has Leonard Floyd off the edge at OLB, he’s not a bad investment late in the draft.  He’s not making the roster but he’s worth developing on the practice squad for a couple of years. 

San Francisco 49ers

(3) Trey Lance                        QB       North Dakota St

(48) Aaron Banks                   OL       Notre Dame

(88) Trey Sermon                   RB       Ohio St

(102) Ambry Thomas             CB       Michigan

(155) Jaylon Moore                OL       Western Michigan

(172) Deommodore Lenoir     CB       Oregon

(180) Talanoa Hufanga         S          USC

(194) Elijah Mitchell              RB       Louisiana-Lafayette  

Immediate Impact:  None

Trey Lance isn’t playing until Jimmy G gets hurt but even then, I’m not sure he’s ready to make an actual impact, he needs time.  Aaron Banks is a talented guy who could start for a number of teams but he’s an odd fit in San Francisco because he’s not all that athletic.  He’s big and powerful but they have plenty of veterans inside ahead of him. 

Best Value: RB Trey Sermon

Raheem Mostert has a been a good RB for the 49ers but he only played in eight games last season and he just turned 29 years old.  He probably wants a new contract and there is not way Shanahan and company are spending money on a RB.  Sermon fits the offensive scheme; he has power and more elusiveness than he gets credit for.  He’s better than Jeff Wilson as a starter when Mostert is sent packing.  The third round is a good place to get a starting RB.

Sleeper: RB Elijah Mitchell

Even though he’s slightly smaller than Trey Sermon he’s still a power back who fits the zone blocking scheme the 49ers run.  Kyle Shanahan has the same reputation as his father did when it comes to RBs, they can turn almost anyone into a legitimate NFL RB.  I mentioned Mostert being hurt and being 29, so he could be headed out sooner rather than later.  Jeff Wilson was signed to only a one-year deal.  By 2022, the two top RBs on the 49ers could be Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell. 

Overall Analysis

The 49ers draft will be judged by the career of Trey Lance.  That’s what happens when you trade three 1^st round picks to move up and take a QB.  Lance has all kinds of potential but for now, that’s all it is.  They still have Jimmy Garoppolo and he’s expected to start this year.  If Jimmy G stays healthy and wins, things get complicated for San Francisco.  The pressure will be on Lance to become the playmaker Jimmy G isn’t and take the 49ers offense to a different level.  The future of head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch is riding on Lance’s eventual success. 

Second-round pick Aaron Banks is a talented OG but he’s an odd fit for the 49ers zone blocking scheme, he’s not exactly agile.  Couple him with fifth-round OL Jaylon Moore out of Western Michigan and it makes me wonder if the 49ers are looking at adding some power blocking to their offensive scheme, both guys look like odd fits with the 49ers.  Like I mentioned, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell could end up the two top backs on this team in the not-too-distant future.  They also added two CBs; Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, they needed the help.  Thomas has a chance to play early, he has length most of the 49ers CBs lack so he can help on the outside.  I don’t think Lenoir is going to contribute at CB any time soon.  I didn’t really like that pick.  S Talanoa Hufanga is potentially a special team’s contributor but I doubt he helps much on defense.

Seattle Seahawks

(56) D’Wayne Eskridge                      WR      Western Michigan

(137) Tre Brown                                 CB       Oklahoma

(208) Stone Forsythe                          OT       Florida

Immediate Impact: Jamal Adams

The Seahawks didn’t have many picks and part of that was because they traded for Jamal Adams.  He’s their starting SS and he’s one of the better ones in the league. 

Best Value:  CB Tre Brown

I think there’s a real possibility Brown takes over as the nickel corner in Seattle very quickly.  He has the skill set to excel inside and Seahawks’ secondary needs the help.  They only had three picks and if they found a starting nickel corner in the fourth round, that’s impressive value.

Sleeper:  OT Stone Forsythe

It’s not like there is a lot to choose from here but I like the Forsythe pick in round six.  He’s huge at 6’9 but lean at just 312 lbs. He has length for days and while he certainly isn’t ready to play right now, he’s a solid investment in the future.  Starting LT Duane Brown will be 36 this year so it’s conceivable they could develop Forsythe into a starter in a year or two.

Overall Analysis

This draft isn’t going to change the fortunes of the Seahawks with only three picks but they found help.  The Seahawks have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, a pretty fantastic pair of starters at WR.  However, they really don’t have much else in the passing game.  Eskridge can play in the slot or be a gadget guy in the offense.  He offers Russell Wilson another playmaker and he can take advantage underneath while Metcalf takes the top off the defense.  Brown has potential to start as a slot corner.  Forsythe could become a player in time.  Not bad for only a three-man draft class.   

Atlanta Falcons

(4) Kyle Pitts                          TE       Florida

(40) Richie Grant                    S          UCF

(68) Jalen Mayfield                OL       Michigan

(108) Darren Hall                   CB       San Diego St

(114) Drew Dalman                C         Stanford

(148) Ta’Quon Graham          DT       Texas

(182) Adetokunbo Ogundeji   DE       Notre Dame

(183) Avery Williams            CB       Boise St

(187) Frank Darby                  WR      Arizona St

Immediate Impact: TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant

Pitts would have an immediate impact on any team but with Atlanta he steps into an offense that is uniquely set up to take advantage of his talents.  He has a veteran QB, he’s not the only option in the offense, meaning teams can’t focus on him, and his new head coach likes using TEs.  Pitts is a mismatch for everyone and he should dominate for the Falcons.  The Falcons are pretty weak at the safety position after losing three free agents in the off season.  Grant is probably the most talented safety on the roster now and I expect him to start from day one. 

Best Value: OL Jalen Mayfield

I really like Mayfield’s potential and it’s possible he steps in at LG this year.  He also has the potential to end up at OT in the future and LT Jake Matthews is pushing 30.  Mayfield can be the swing tackle for now as they develop him into what he can become.  He’s a pretty good player for a third-round pick. 

Sleeper:  WR Frank Darby

The team has Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage at WR but doesn’t have much beyond them.  They signed Cordarrelle Patterson but he’s more of a special teams signing than anything.  Darby is a talented guy who played in a less than productive offense last season.  With a QB like Matt Ryan, he could put his talents to good use.  Darby has the size to play outside but might be best used in the slot.

Overall Analysis

Pitts might be the best player from this draft in five years.  S Richie Grant was a pretty solid choice too.  The Falcons aren’t exactly stacked at safety after losing Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee and Ricardo Allen in free agency.  The only decision the staff may have to make on Grant is whether to start him at free safety or strong safety, he’s the best player at both positions.  I like Jalen Mayfield and I think he plays sooner than people think. 

The Falcons needed help at CB too and they drafted an outside CB in Darren Hall and a nickel corner Avery Williams.  The team probably needed better help than those two but they do add competition to the position.  C Drew Dalman was also added for interior depth on the line.  He should back up Matt Hennessy at center and also offers depth a guard.  The team needed help on the defensive line but I don’t think fifth round picks Ta’Quon Graham and Adetokunbo Ogundeji are going to offer much help.  Darby is my sleeper for this team, he can be a more productive pro than he was in college because he’ll have better QB play. 

Carolina Panthers

(8) Jaycee Horn                       CB       South Carolina

(59) Terrace Marshall Jr.        WR      LSU

(70) Brady Christensen           OT       BYU

(83) Tommy Tremble             TE       Notre Dame

(126) Chuba Hubbard             RB       Oklahoma St

(158) Daviyon Nixon              DT       Iowa

(166) Keith Taylor                  CB       Washington

(193) Deonte Brown               OG      Alabama

(204) Shi Smith                      WR      South Carolina

(222) Thomas Fletcher           LS        Alabama

(232) Phil Hoskins                  DT       Kentucky

Immediate Impact: CB Jaycee Horn, OT Brady Christensen

The Panthers signed veterans like AJ Bouye and Rashaan Melvin at CB but both of them are past their primes.  Horn can still get better as he gets more experience at CB but he’s got plenty of talent for now.  He has size and skill that make him a better matchup against the bigger WRs the Panthers will face in their division.  Christensen may have been a third-round pick but he’s good enough to compete for and I think he wins the LT job.  Greg Little is penciled in there right now but he’s going to lose that battle.  Christensen isn’t flashy but he’s reliable and that’s all they need at LT. 

Best Value:  Christensen (if he wins the job at LT), Daviyon Nixon

If Christensen wins the LT job it’s hard to say he’s not the best value considering he was a third-round pick.  If he’s the backup than Nixon becomes the best value.  Nixon has a chance to not only play a lot but he could steal a starting spot next to Derrick Brown.  Bravvion Roy took over as the starter next to Brown for the last half of last year and he might stay the starter because he’s bigger and stronger on running downs.  However, he doesn’t bring much punch as a pass rusher and that’s where Nixon excels.  The team needs someone to push the pocket and if they can get Nixon to become more consistent against the run, he can become the starter. 

Sleeper:  OG Deonte Brown

For now, Dennis Daley and Pat Elflein seem like the top options to start at the OG spots.  That’s not a great duo.  Brown is a gigantic man who moves better than you would think for a guy that’s 6’4 350 lbs.  He is exactly as hard to move as a guy who 6’4 350 lbs. which is why he can take a starting job despite being a sixth-round pick.  I won’t be shocked if the starting left side of the offensive line is Christensen at LT with Brown at LG.  The Panthers have done worse. 

Overall Analysis

Horn was a necessary piece to the defense that lacked an elite cover corner.  He has size and skill that will come in handy against WRs like Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas and even Kyle Pitts (a guy he faced in college). WR Terrace Marshall Jr. gives Sam Darnold another top receiving target to go with Robby Anderson and DJ Moore.  If Christian McCaffrey is healthy, the Panthers offense should be pretty good.  The team added Brady Christensen and Deonte Brown to the offensive line, reinforcements they certainly needed. 

They continued to add to the offense with TE Tommy Tremble and RB Chuba Hubbard.  Tremble was mainly used as a blocker at Notre Dame but he has the athleticism to become a pass catcher with some development. I don’t like Hubbard, he’s too much of a one-trick pony, but McCaffrey doesn’t have a legitimate backup so it’s his job to lose.  In round six the Panthers took WR Shi Smith, he’s a small slot receiver that I normally wouldn’t give much of a chance to make the team.  However, the Panthers don’t have a pure slot receiver at the moment so he could stick around. 

After going all defense in last year’s draft and starting off with Horn in this draft the Panthers went offense with four straight picks in rounds 2-4.  Then they went back to defense with DT Daviyon Nixon and CB Keith Taylor in round five.  Nixon was a steal.  Taylor was a solid choice and gives them another big CB to run out against their division, he’s 6’3.  They finished off the draft with a long snapper, Thomas Fletcher, and DT Phil Hoskins.  Hoskins is a very large man who is more likely to end up on the practice squad due to his inconsistency.  Fletcher is a long snapper, he was supposedly very good at Alabama, isn’t everyone? 

New Orleans Saints

(28) Payton Turner                 DE       Houston

(60) Pete Werner                    LB       Ohio St

(76) Paulson Adebo                CB       Stanford

(133) Ian Book                        QB       Notre Dame

(206) Landon Young              OT       Kentucky

(255) Kawaan Baker               WR      South Alabama

Immediate Impact: LB Pete Werner, CB Paulson Adebo

The Saints needed help on defense, especially at LB and CB.  Werner wasn’t a top-rated guy but he’s a good athlete with some coverage skills and he’s a great tackler.  The Saints need all the help they can get and Werner should start pretty quickly.  Adebo was a top prospect a few years ago, then he had an injury and then he opted out of last season.  It’s been two years since we saw him at his best but he has all the tools to be good.  The Saints need a starter opposite Marshon Lattimore and Adebo will get every opportunity to take the job.  He’s long and skilled and I fully expect him to step up.

Best Value:  Adebo

A third-round pick who is going to end up a starter a CB, that’s value.  A few years ago, Adebo was a likely first-round pick so he’s a bargain.

Sleeper: OT Landon Young

Young is 6’7 321 lbs., you can’t teach that kind of size.  He’s also pretty quick for a guy that big and he’s a good run blocker.  He needs coaching to get better at pass protection because his technique needs work.  Luckily, he’s going to a team with a great offensive line where he won’t have to play anytime soon and he can learn from guys like Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, and even backup James Hurst. 

Overall Analysis

I didn’t like the Patrick Turner pick in round one.  He is still too much of a project to be a first round pick and the team is still trying to develop the last first round DE they picked, Marcus Davenport.  The fact that Davenport is still trying to figure it out doesn’t make me feel confident in Turner’s future.  Turner has plenty of athletic ability but after three years as a starter at Houston he still relies too much on one pass rushing move and he still plays too high.  Those are pretty typical issues for a guy who’s 6’6 and a guy who’s usually a better athlete than those he’s going up against, but why isn’t he a little better already?  He has loads of potential but the Saints could have used a better player out of round one. 

Werner and Adebo are more polished at their positions and will step in immediately.  Luckily, those two can really help the defense but the Saints need to hope Turner figures it out quickly or he’s going to end up like Davenport, still a project going into year four.  The last three picks were all on offense and with the exception of Young being a potential sleeper, I’m not impressed.  Ian Book was a great leader at Notre Dame but he lacks the arm strength to ever be anything more than a third-stringer at the NFL level.  The idea he could become like Taysom Hill is a little far-fetched, Book is considerably smaller than Hill, he won’t hold up long as a gadget guy.  The Saints definitely could use a WR but Kawaan Baker isn’t likely to be that guy.  He’s pretty raw and not better than what they already have on the roster. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(32) Joe Tryon                        OLB          Washington

(64) Kyle Trask                      QB                   Florida

(95) Robert Hainsey               OL                   Notre Dame

(129) Jaelon Darden               WR                  North Texas

(176) KJ Britt                         LB                   Auburn

(251) Chris Wilcox                 CB                   BYU

(259) Grant Stuard                  LB                   Houston

Immediate Impact:  None

The Buccaneers return every starter from their Super Bowl winning team so a rookie having an impact would surprise me.  Joe Tryon might help the pass rush a bit but I doubt he makes a major impact. 

Best Value:  None

None of the picks the Bucs made were above their value or offer a great value overall.  They may only be one future starter in this entire draft, Joe Tryon, and he was the last pick of round one. 

Sleepers: OL Robert Hainsey, CB Chris Wilcox

Hainsey offers versatility and for now he can backup all three spots on the interior and could potentially play OT if needed.  I do think he has a shot to take one of the interior spots in the future if the team moves on from Ryan Jensen or Alex Cappa. Wilcox looks the part of an NFL CB but he needs some work.  Luckily for him, he got drafted to a defense coached by Todd Bowles, arguably the best defensive backs coach in the NFL.  If anyone can turn Wilcox into a legitimate NFL corner, it’s Bowles. 

Overall Analysis

Joe Tryon is an investment in the future of the defense.  Jason Pierre-Paul is 32 and isn’t going to be around forever.  Tryon needs to work on his game and learn to be a standup OLB instead of a DE.  He has talent but I do think there were better pass rushers available when the Bucs drafted him.  I understand the Kyle Trask pick given the depth chart behind Tom Brady and the fact that despite all evidence to the contrary, some day Brady will retire.  I’m not a big Trask fan, he’s a bit of a statue and he doesn’t have the strongest arm.  Those are some of the same things said about guys like Brady and Brees so it can be overcome.  Bruce Arians is a pretty good coach and knows a thing or two about QBs, good place for Trask to learn.

Hainsey is a solid investment for the interior of the offensive line.  They drafted WR Jaelen Darden and while he has electric speed, he’s going to find it really difficult to make this roster with the WR group ahead of him.  The last three picks were LB KJ Britt, CB Chris Wilcox and LB Grant Stuard, saying it’s an uphill climb to make the roster for those three is putting it mildly.