Find out who your team drafted and how many drinks you should have!
Pro-Tip: If you’re a Jets or Browns fan, double the number.
GAMEWRECKERS
- TYLER WARREN – TE, Penn State
There is no such thing as a perfect draft prospect. But there is Tyler Warren.
104 REC / 1233 YDS / 8 TD (208 rushing yards / 4 rushing TD)
Flies upfield. Sure-handed, snags the ball out of the air. Great athlete (not just speed), fluid and powerful runner with effective leap. Elite after the catch. Often used as a direct snap & goal line threat. Produces from the flats, sideline, middle. Secures contested catches through tight windows and heavy contact. Giant target (6’6, 260). Eager, forceful blocker.
Incredibly prolific season. Superstar wide receiver numbers. His Combine results match the tape (top-tier athleticism). Regarded as ultra-competitive and a team leader. Former quarterback who understands the nuance and mental game, often leveraging that knowledge to find seams and create open looks.
KEY MATCHUP: The stereotype that all highly-drafted tight ends are busts.
Final Word: A complete player with tremendous athleticism and ideal size, Warren is the best pure football player in the draft. There are truly no weaknesses to his game.
- ABDUL CARTER, EDGE – PENN STATE
”You ever watch Thomas the Tank Engine?”
12 sacks / 68 tackles / 4 PD / 2 FF
Strikes into the backfield like a viper. Plays angry. Ends the play at point of contact. Shifty and fast off the edge, abuses plodders on the edge. Displays The Bend. Easily disengages on rush to stop the run. Agile enough to spy in drop coverage and swing sideline to sideline. Launches himself into the pile. Fights through contact and holds like a caged animal. Generates pressure from every position on the line. Doesn’t quit on plays, crosses upfield to chase when the game is well in hand. Slick dip to get under blockers over-leveraged to stop his outside slip.
Small frame for a DL (251, looks 215) limits his power. If speed fails, Carter won’t impact the play unless it stretches. Can get stonewalled by stronger linemen when they secure their grip.
KEY MATCHUP: #4 Ohio State vs Donovan Jackson; Overall won the day. Ferociously quick, but Jackson showed that Carter can be overpowered if hand contact is established.
Final Word: A menace in the backfield and at the second level, Carter is a bullet train game wrecker. Some added bulk could make him unstoppable.
- Tyler Shough – QB, Louisville
Half a Weeden, with a quarter of the bones and ten times the heart.
3,195 YD / 62.7 CMP% / 23 TD / 6 INT / 75 QBR
Pristine ball placement. Incredible accuracy on arcing long throws. Willingness to work through progressions, quickly scans through and often reaches third and fourth. Keeps eyes downfield when moving in the pocket. Able to throw with precision and velocity on the run. Drops ball perfectly between zones. Delivers with touch. Fast and strong, ideal size. Not a speed demon, but keeps the play alive and can pick up additional yardage. Delivers on time and in the flow of the play. Willing to take chances on big throws. Shows poise in the face of pressure.
Older than Demetrius Knight, who is older than Darius Alexander, who is older than Christ (25). Backed up Justin Herbert, and was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence. This guy is OLD. Three major consecutive injuries while at Texas Tech robbed him the majority of each season (broken collarbone, shoulder, broken leg), played during COVID, has only completed a single full season.
KEY MATCHUP:
- Notre Dame – 264 YD / 58.5% / 3 TD / 1 INT / 3 SK; Delivering dimes while navigating a busy pocket. First touchdown was a brilliant crossbody throw into the back of the endzone while scrambling. The interception was a perfect throw that bounced right off his receiver’s hands. Running for his life all game, no protection. Wideouts couldn’t catch the plague. Some of his throws are just spectacular. Two costly fumbles, one on a sack and another on a big run.
- Miami – 342 YD / 60.8% / 4 TD / 0 INT / 3 SK; A dissection of a performance. Rhythmic and automatic, Shough eviscerated the Miami defense. He’s threading NFL-level windows into the endzone. Masterpiece game.
Final Word: Every quarterback in this draft has major red flags. Shough’s (injury concerns and developmental potential, given his age) are serious, but he is the best passer of the group, and that is too important to pass up. Excellent accuracy with pinpoint placement, willingness to fit the ball in tight windows, a powerful arm, a feel for navigating a crowded pocket, a keen sense of timing and rhythm, experience playing on teams that did not dominate purely through talent, patience and knowledge to work through his progressions, and an incredible level of resilience – these are the qualities that matter for a quarterback. If Shough stays healthy, he is The Guy.
- Maxwell Hairston – CB, Kentucky
Oh, so now no one cares about 40 times?
66 TKL / 5 INT / 4 PD / 1 FF (JR stats – missed half of SR season)
Faaast. Unsurprised to see his 40 (4.28), he plays like it. Quick jump to the ball. Smooth hips. Effortlessly matches receivers, mimics and tracks every move. Instant acceleration and catch-up speed. Efficient, controlled tackler. Not afraid to drape his man. Strategically uses hands to slow runners but not interfere. Plays with discipline and alpha-dog intensity.
Missed half the year with a shoulder injury. Not a particularly prolific run-stopper, lean frame. May struggle against bulkier receivers.
Ten-yard, vertical and broad jump all top 85 percentile (important for CB). SEC Academic Honor Roll throughout career.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia – Allowed a single catch on three targets, a fantastic sideline grab for 15 yards. You could see Hairston angry with himself after. Spent the entire rest of the game playing like a pissed off wet blanket on everyone he covered – phenomenal game.
Final Word: With incredible stop-start ability, elite speed, and the swagger needed to be CB1, Hairston is the best pure corner in the class and will make a living erasing NFL receivers.
- Xavier Watts – S, Notre Dame
The lurking shark.
83 TKL / 6 INT / 9 PD / 1 FF
Explosive break to the ball. Lives inside the QB brain. Exceptional play recognition and instincts. Chess piece – can line up free, on an island, monster, box, even nickel/dime linebacker man coverage. Clever disguising his coverages and shifting zones. Pristine man technique, the 9 PD’s are evident. Tracks receivers with ease. Allowed a 35 QB rating when he was targeted – quarterbacks would have earned a higher rating by spiking the ball into the dirt.
Overaggressive pursuit angles force him to course-correct and dive at ankles. Poor athleticism testing profile compared to other safeties – below average in every area except wingspan. Must improve tackling fundamentals.
Arrived at Notre Dame as a receiver – the fact that he plays one of the most cerebral positions in football as if he played the role his entire life is remarkable. How high is the ceiling for Watts as he gets more experience? Mind-boggling that he is ranked as low as he is across the board, especially after the same thing occurred with Kyle Hamilton (same position, same school).
Final Word: Watts will drive quarterbacks insane. He plays everywhere on the field with phenomenal coverage skills and possesses a sixth sense for where the play is going – a fantastic chess piece that will wreak havoc across every level of the defense.
- Josh Simmons – LT, Ohio State
Immovable anchor, if the ship’s not broken.
Mauler. Looks for someone to hit. Exceptional foot speed. Smooth slides. Establishes position and locks in. Expertly angles to cut off escape routes. Quick, darts to the second level. Effective in space. Bounds from one block to the next. Drives defenders downfield.
Uses his arms too defensively. Stays vertical on longer, slow-developing runs. Needs to add strength, tends to receive rushers rather than attack.
Allowed ONE PRESSURE all year before his injury. His Junior year was also excellent, he allowed only one sack.
Season-ending knee injury in the middle of the year. How concerned should teams be? Linemen and knee injuries are a scary combo.
KEY MATCHUP: #3 Oregon – Hurt in 2nd quarter and left game. Until then, allowed 0 pressures and won all reps.
Final Word: A dependable, athletic, fiery blocker who lost major development time because of a knee injury. Teams should still be excited (and patient) for a chance at the most talented lineman in the draft.
- Shavon Revel – CB, East Carolina
Lanky, tall, small school, elite man coverage…how familiar…
55 TKL / 1 INT / 1 SK / 6 PD (JR stats – missed most of SR season)
Incredible anticipation, both run and pass plays. Superior closing speed. Long strides, exceptionally fast. Eager run support. Long, lanky frame and powerful vertical. Exceptional size (6’3) – similar to that guy on the Jets, the one from the buffalo wings commercials. Plays with intensity and swagger.
FCS team, low-level competition. Can be outmuscled in run support. Suffered an ACL tear in the beginning of his senior season.
JUCO transfer who worked night shifts at an Amazon warehouse to make ends meet. Blocked multiple punts as a gunner. Relentless on and off the field.
KEY MATCHUP: Michigan (2023) – When in man coverage, Revel ran receivers’ routes for them. Allowed three short catches beneath his zone. Anticipation is off the charts – several fantastic run stops and batted away a TD pass with a perfect leap from a shallower zone.
Final Word: The ACL tear is a major concern, but the rare combination of size, speed, and otherworldly instincts, in addition to his relentless drive, projects a potential megastar.
- Ashton Jeanty – RB, Boise State
A brick shithouse on propellers.
374 CAR / 2601 YDS / 29 TD / 7.0 AVG
Smooth runner. Gracefully seeks the hole and flows through like a river. Powers through tackles with momentum and shifty legs. Never stops pushing forward. Employs a bevy of moves, easily strings them together on a single run. Often untackleable. No one brings him down on the first try, and they have a 50/50 shot at best of bringing him down on the second.
Solid speed, won’t outrace NFL players. Was a non-factor as a receiver, not necessarily due to ability, but because he was such an incredible runner.
Mind-blowing statistics. Offensive line was not dominant – Jeanty often had to break past pressure in the backfield. Weak schedule, but still dazzled against the few ranked opponents they played. Hard to understand how he didn’t win the Heisman.
KEY MATCHUP: #6 PSU | 30 CAR / 104 YD / 0 TD / 2 FMBL
Worst game of the season. Routinely swarmed behind the line, but when given any space, made defenders miss and secured yardage. Even future NFL players struggled to bring Jeanty down once he generated any momentum past the handoff.
Final Word: A smooth producer who never goes down on first contact, will be a steady and consistent motor for an offense, if not game-breakingly explosive.
- Princely Umanmielen – Edge, Ole Miss
One-hit wonder, but that hit is Abbey Road.
37 TKL / 10.5 SK / 1 FF
Accelerator on the edge. Lethal dip. Dangerous stunts with his speed. Has THE BEND. Teams started running their entire offense in the opposite direction – they would forgo blocking him and just pitch or screen away. Everyone on earth knows his move, and no one can stop it.
Miniscule arsenal – dip and occasionally whips out a spin. Often fails to finish the play. Does not have a reliable move to disengage when he is caught. Not impactful against the run.
His pass rush kit saw development later in the season.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia – 3 SK + 9 pressure; he got the RT benched, then got his replacement benched in favor of the first guy. His dominance was staggering. Just so fast on the edge that tackles can barely get a hand on him. Solid power and a nice spin to go with it.
Final Word: Everyone knows his go-to move. Everyone. And it doesn’t matter, because he’s killing everyone with it anyway. God help offensive linemen if Princely develops a second attack.
- Matthew Golden – WR, Texas
The golden shower from a cloud of dust.
58 REC / 987 YD / 9 TD
Stops and starts on a dime. Strong hands. Adjusts well to the ball in air. Catches through contact. Dangerous cuts. Breaks in and out without losing speed. Rapid acceleration. Extensive route tree. Dangerous across every level of the field. Picks up big yardage after the catch. Excellent body control to contort and snag (the many) errant passes flung in his vicinity. Easily pulls away from coverage with speed and dust-cloud creating routes.
Subpar blocker.
4.29 40-time, which ain’t too bad. Peaked at the end of the season and in his final bowl game.
Quinn Ewers sucks.
KEY MATCHUP: Quinn Ewers’ noodle.
Final Word: Lightning-fast with lightning feet, Golden is a burner with an extensive and excellent route tree.
- Jahdae Barron – CB, Texas
Ain’t nothing safe(ty) about him.
67 TKL / 5 INT / 11 PD
Aggressive in the box tackler. Ferocious hitter. Quick reflexes, dashes to the ball. Always around the action. Moderately fast both long distance and quick burst. Played all over the field – nickel, outside, box, deep. Skintight man coverage when lined up outside. Excellent football IQ, always knows where to be and what’s coming. Shades of Bob Sanders to his game.
Small. Can drift near the ball carrier but not make effort to finish a play if he isn’t directly involved. Could struggle against bigger NFL slots. Jack of all trades can fail to find their niche.
Five year player, three year starter. Won Jim Thorpe award (best DB). Started as a 3-star recruit, huge strides every year. There will be talk about moving him to safety – would be a complete waste of his man coverage skills.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia; When not hawking the ball, blanketed receivers all over the field.
Final Word: Explosive and wiry Swiss-army knife who brings excellent intensity, work ethic and preparation to a backfield. His football IQ alone should secure a valuable role on defense from day one, even if his ultimate ceiling is limited due to his size and speed.
- Kenneth Grant – DT, Michigan
Barreling at you like a truck driven by a man fresh off the bath salts.
32 TKL / 3 SK
Shockingly agile for his immense size. Fights through the play. Balances power and finesse attack. Absolutely bullies engaged blockers. Two people often aren’t enough to hold him. Single-handedly shifts and bends the pocket. Displays burst once he’s penetrated the backfield. Active hands make him a threat to deflect passes. Quick recognition to change rush strategy.
Can have a slow start off the line. When tired late, plays too upright and rapidly loses steam – and he gets tired quickly. Can get caught up top and removed from the play with poor leverage.
KEY MATCHUP: #11 USC – 2 TKL / 1 SK; This guy is a problem. He’s throwing linemen around like ragdolls. USC can’t even call a pass over 5 yards because he’ll be sitting in the pocket by the time the quarterback looks downfield. By the 4th quarter, his impact dwindled – conditioning needs work to maintain his high-power motor.
Final Word: Grant is utterly dominant when he’s on, and fades when he’s tired. There are fantastic physical tools, but Grant will need some time to improve his conditioning to become a more consistent threat.
- Luther Burden III – WR, Missouri
A star BURDENED by his subpar supporting cast ahahahah
61 REC / 676 YD / 6 TD
[Previous year: 86 REC / 1,212 YD / 9 TD]
Sharp and fluid footwork. Willing to block. Easy, instant acceleration. Displays an expansive route tree. Fights for yards. Reels in tough deep throws. Rips the top off the defense. Strong hands. Catches through contact. Attacks the ball in air. Dangerous after the catch.
Obvious when not getting the ball. Rumblings that he might be a bit of a diva. An interesting tidbit from one scout – Burden might have been “bored” by the vanilla offense his last year.
KEY MATCHUP: #21 South Carolina – 8 REC / 69 YD / 1 TD; used as a decoy the first half, made space for himself in many instances where the QB was not even looking at his side of the field. Iced the game with a beautiful over the shoulder touchdown grab. Felt like he could have had 150 yards if his quarterback looked in his direction.
Final Word: A bottle rocket who has a natural feel for burning the defense with blast-off burst and dynamic aerialism.
GAMECHANGERS
- Landon Jackson – Edge, Arkansas
Charlie Villanueva + 200 pounds
49 TKL / 6.5 SK / 3 PD / 1 FF
Rips through blockers, churns through contact with forceful legs. Impactful hitter. Sturdy arm bar to drive forward. Exceptionally slippery on the edge, has the bend. Plays with a mean streak. Lines up across the line. Strong enough to fling guards. Active hands to bat passes. Athletically discards blockers when he has a running start. Draws an enormous amount of holds, often leaves blockers with little other choice. Navigates into the gaps and always impacts the run. Plays hard through the whistle. Relentless and quick to find the ball carrier.
Lack of rush diversity – bulls, gets skinny, or swims. Middling tackler, leaves plays unfinished.
KEY MATCHUP: LSU (Will Campbell) – Hit the quarterback four times. At least seven pressures. Constantly being held and hit in the facemask and even broke through some neck holds. Just too fast and strong for Campbell, dominant performance.
Final Word: Jackson is a freak athlete with a menacing mix of power and speed he can flip through like a book. He routinely leaves SEC linemen on the floor and grasping air. With some advanced technique there is no reason to think he won’t have the same impact in the NFL.
- Darius Alexander – DT, Toledo
Ends every play balls-deep in the line of scrimmage.
40 TKL / 3.5 SK / 1 INT / 4 PD
Strong, overwhelms and writhes through engagement. Shockingly fast, both in chase and with burst on his horizontal moves. Weirdly comfortable dropping back into coverage?? Uses blockers like a pinball slapping off bumpers. Rips through double teams with ease.
Older than Christ himself (kidding, but he is 24). Played against low-level competition (the MAC, or as I named them in last year’s Quinyon Mitchell analysis, the “Sewer Goblins”), but dominated. Tires out by end of game – needs to improve conditioning.
Absolute freak of nature. Massive, fast, and strong. Not “fast for a DL” – he is FAST, and he looks it when he runs.
Alexander is a unique case. At his measurables, if his tape came against better schools, he would be a top-5 pick. But it didn’t – he played in the MAC. How much does that matter?
The list of current NFL starting defensive tackles that played outside a blue-chip conference:
- Javon Hargrave
- David Onyemata
- Zach Sieler
- Grover Stewart
This list is 3 names longer than I anticipated. Which is good! But 4/32 overall? Less good.
KEY MATCHUP: Miami (Ohio), because it has the same name as a team with other NFL draft prospects and that’s as close as we can get with the MAC – 3 TKL; I’m not going to actually pretend that Miami Ohio is an elite team, but Alexander looked like fucking Thanos out there. Utterly unstoppable. A mandatory double team every play, and even so, he was i n e v i t a b l e.
Final Word: He could have played on the moon for all I care. Talent is talent.
- Shadeur Sanders – Quarterback, Colorado
Once the most overhyped, then the most overhated; can Shadeur end up just right?
4,134 yards / 37 TD / 10 INT / 74.0 CMP% / 1 ASHL Father
Big arm, soft placement on the long ball. Drops the ball right between defenders for easy long completions, often making the play for his receiver. Willing to navigate the pocket and deliver to his receivers. Smooth delivery on rollout. Boldly throws into and creates tight windows. Not afraid to take a hit. When he has time (once every ten plays), he does not miss.
Lacks elite zip. Holds the ball too long. Crafty in the pocket, but low-level speed/agility. Cumbersome release.
Four year starter. Endured an ungodly number of sacks (42 last year, 52 the year before). Offensive line was suspect – Sanders spends the majority of his time running for his life – and he did throw them under the bus in a press conference. Unfortunately, the bus failed to finish the job. His receivers (other than Hunter) are worse than his line. Heinous team around him.
Watching their games, often find myself wondering what more could he possibly do? Displays fight and toughness in close games, getting up over and over after being battered all day.
Has been coached by his father since high school – have to wonder how much that has negatively affected his development and any future impact on his adaptability and ability to learn a new offense. Character concerns – reportedly arrogant, selfish, and doesn’t just bring the circus, he is the circus.
It feels like because of how bad his team is, we are consistently seeing the worst version of Sanders. But if this is the worst version, what could the best look like?
Also, Shadeur has been coached by his father for 8 consecutive years. So, you know, he’s never had a real coach.
KEY MATCHUP: His father #17 BYU, Alamo Bowl – 208 yds / 2 TD / 2 INT.
His worst statistical game of the year against the best team they played. Offensive line was a turnstile. One interception was a beautifully thrown ball that bounced off his receiver’s hands and into a defender’s grasp. Should have had 350+ yards, counted at least four huge drops. 2nd INT came in garbage time, desperation heave. Refused to quit even when down 24-0, stayed in and played hard the entire game (ahem CAM WARD). Team around him collapsed, Sanders was the only player of note on his side.
KEY MATCHUP #2: Himself.
I’m going to cheat by copying a list I put together last year when discussing Caleb Williams:
Here’s the list of highly-drafted quarterbacks who were notorious primadonna assholes:
- Brett Favre, Carson Wentz, Jamarcus Russell, Jay Cutler, Jeff George, Johnny Manziel, Josh Rosen, Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, Ryan Leaf, Vince Young
And Quarterbacks from the previous list who did not disastrously flame out in the NFL:
- Brett Favre, Kyler Murray
And to cap it off, Quarterbacks from the previous list who are not in the active process of disastrously flaming out of the NFL and/or fleeing from the state of Mississippi:
Eventually, trend lines become statistics, and asshole quarterbacks are a statistical disaster.
You need to be a freak to succeed as an NFL quarterback. You need to be a mutant. You need the humility of George Washington and the bulk of Captain America, and even that presidential patron saint of perfection would get ripped apart by the NY Post because he got caught on a mic arguing against genocide. In other words, you can’t be an arrogant, bus-throwing diva. It doesn’t work. It hasn’t, and it can’t.
But maybe Shadeur will break that trend. Maybe he will be totally different than notoriously-not-a giant-douche Deion Sanders, his father (and future NFL coach).
In summary, I cannot recommend Shadeur enough to the Giants. I’m tired of rooting for the only circus in town.
Final Word: It’s hard to know which set of baggage is heavier – his obnoxious father-coach, his useless Colorado supporting cast, or his own ego. Freed from all that weight (or at least two-thirds of it) Sanders could be the face of a franchise with tight-window accuracy and the willingness and daring to create big plays.
- Walter Nolen – DT, Ole Miss
High-motor powerhorse.
48 TKL / 6.5 SK / 2 PD
Drags blockers along with him for the ride. Relentless. Flashes a multitude of power techniques. Knows how to finesse and bend through gaps. Snappy hands. Rare blend of power and finesse. Quickly looks to disengage to the runner. Takes smart angles. Effectively clogs space. Always at the bottom of the scrum. Fluid hips to box out blockers.
Impact flags later in games – needs improved conditioning. Small, can be overwhelmed and neutralized by stronger blockers. Size might be a concern.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia – 2 TKL; Georgia linemen are snatching onto his neck like they’re riding a mechanical bull. Demanded double teams.
Final Word: Lacks some of the mouth-opening “what the fuck” moments of other DTs in this class, but his high-level consistency is remarkable and will be imprinted across a full game.
- Travis Hunter – WR/CB, Colorado
Real-life bizzaro-world Demario Waddle.
96 REC / 1258 YD / 15 TD
Hunts for the ball in air. Long, loping strides explode into easy and instant separation. Rangy catch radius. Fights through contact to make the catch. Immense focus on circus grabs. Smooth route runner, crisp and natural footwork. Excellent hands. Does most of his work downfield but can hit quick slants. Shades of Garrett Wilson.
Benefitted from elite QB (Sanders). Could be a more significant threat after the catch, but was fatigued playing multiple positions.
In terms of CB: Did not cover any elite receivers – defensive ability overhyped as part of the complete package. Displays excellent play recognition. Great for NCAA, but not enough for serious NFL consideration. Consistently committed egregious holding penalties that were often uncalled, perhaps due to starpower.
Won the Heisman, primarily for playing both ways. If he were to focus entirely on WR at the next level, it is tempting to wonder just how much more he can develop.
Final Word: Considering that he played two positions, the prospect of Hunter devoting his full energy and development toward one role offers teams a tantalizing thought – and that position needs to be wide receiver. But will he be willing? If the answer were “yes” (and it’s not) he would be far higher on this list. Hunter will better serve his second team than the one which drafts him.
- T.J. Sanders – DT, South Carolina
Now you see him [!], now you don’t [:(]
51 TKL / 4 SK / 1 PD
Bulldozer rush. Keeps eyes up when engaged and finds the ball carrier. Can extend for acrobatic tackles in the trenches. Fluid rips and swims. Shimmies through blockers with ease. Exceptional speed and agility for his size. Expertly controls his body, bounces off blockers and shoots smart angles. Punishes late doubles with immediate power. Anchors in spot, does not get pushed off his lane. Can line up everywhere, even (occasionally) edge. Quick enough to launch back upfield and impact a play.
Less than 300lbs, lean for a DT. Too upright when tired. Struggles to break free once a blocker wins leverage on the shoulder pads. Conditioning concerns – struggles to maintain impact through the full game, may need to start as a rotational player.
KEY MATCHUP:
- LSU – 3 TKL / 3 Pressures (first half); Double-team magnet. No joke, on the very first play he wasn’t doubled (halfway through the first quarter) he drove his blocker six yards back and threw him into the QB. LSU only made that same mistake again twice, and, each time, Sanders recorded a big pressure. Hurt immediately at the beginning of the second half (on another fantastic tackle, no less) but was nothing short of dominant.
- Georgia – 4 TKL / 2 SK / 4 Pressures; Unbelievably dominant first half, because Georgia felt like they could block him with a single player. Clearly tired by the second half and Georgia played much quicker (screens, slants, etc), but he still put in effort, jumping to bat passes, running upfield. But impact was minimal.
Final Word: A first-half menace and a second-half vanish, Sanders may need some time to improve his conditioning and become a full-time NFL player. But once that conditioning does improve, Sanders can become a dominant force with a rare blend of speed and power all across the defensive line.
- Nic Scourton – Edge, Texas A&M
Swiss-army meatball with a mind of its own.
37 TKL / 5 SK / 1 FF / 2 PD
Versatile array of moves. Relentless pursuer. Utilizes power and finesse. Attacks from all stances. Displays a surprising amount of burst on the edge. Flies by heavy-footed blockers. Heady with his rush – knows when and how to mix up his arsenal. Switches with success to counter moves. Fights to keep involved and make the stop when in the grasp. Nose for the ball – hawks down carriers with fire, weaving through extensive traffic. Demonstrates an elusivity that surpasses his middling speed. Efficient hand-fighter. Laundry-cycle spin move that he needs to break out more often. Surprisingly comfortable dropping into shallow zones.
Middling speed to finish some plays in the backfield. Lacks prototypical size – bit of a chunky meatball. Not able to create push when in the grasp, gets trapped. Could add strength. Plays upright too frequently.
Better production the year prior (10 sacks). Exceptionally young (20).
KEY MATCHUP: LSU (Will Campbell) – 4 TKL / 1 SK; Gave Campbell fits with his speed, and even when Scourton didn’t generate pressure, he was able to shove around the larger Campbell. However, Campbell did win his fair share.
Mizzou (Armand Membou) – 3 TKL / 1.5 SK; It is hard to understand how someone 100 pounds heavier than Scourton can be flicked to the floor like stained toilet paper, but that’s the Membou experience. Mizzou kept a second blocker on Scourton nearly the entire game.
Final Word: An intelligent beefcake with a nose for the ball, Scourton’s impressive toolkit and high motor will help him become a disruptive force clambering atop and through the line.
- Jack Bech – WR, TCU
Yes, but tell me why you assume he’ll play slot? SAY IT
62 REC / 1,034 YD / 9 TD
Fights for extra yards, tough to bring down. Consistently adds 5-10 yards after the catch. Catches through contact. Creates more space pulling away deep than short. Clever route runner, draws in unaware defenders with timely acceleration and creates space with savvy veteran handwork and box outs. Diverse route tree, utilized at all three levels. Plays fiery. Puts some power on his cuts. Sharp footwork. Extends to make the grab. Tough and physical. Tight body control to reel in catches on the sideline. Makes himself open by rewriting the route when necessary. Top blocker of his class.
Middling speed and athletic profile. More drops than you would like to see. Cuts can come slow and rounded. Small (6’1) and slow (4.55), but beefy (214) and exceptionally strong.
Only one year as a starter.
KEY MATCHUP: His perfect fit into racial stereotypes.
Final Word: Yes, Bech is a small white guy – but he’s a firecracker with the ball in his hands and is a master at willing himself open through effort and smarts. He will likely be a slot receiver of the “Patriots mold”, a real New England fan-favorite, a lunch-pail hardworkin’ Dunkin’ Donuts family man that a Patriots fan would let date one of his eight daughters by four marriages, but just like those forebears, Bech will be a reliable option for a QB at every level of the field who will surprise teams with how often he gets open short and deep. And if New England drafts him, you already know who will have the hottest-selling jersey from the draft.
- James Pearce Jr. – Edge, Tennessee
A little refinement can create even more havoc.
38 TKL / 7.5 SK
Impeccable burst off the line. Strong hand combat to beat blockers around the edge. Powers back larger blockers with a consistent arm bar. Recognizes when to cut inside after creating outside leverage. Shifty enough to pivot targets in the backfield. Fights to the whistle. Flashes a dangerous spin, although waits too long to use it – needs more confidence in that move as it will open up his game.
No rush diversity – outside or straight. Relies on athleticism, doesn’t display advanced moves. Lacks elite speed to chase shifty players in the backfield. Lost and slow-footed in drop coverage. Less impactful in the run game than pass rush.
At his best from a 4-point, launches off the line. Lacks that same power and confidence from 2.
There are major character concerns about his attitude and effort. Was called “uncoachable” – the program could “breathe easier” when he left campus. Seen as “the player with the worst character report of any player in this draft class”.
KEY MATCHUP: #7 Alabama – 3 TKL / 1.5 SK. Consistently disruptive presence. Outsped and overpowered both starting tackles. Best player on the field.
Final Word: A powerful and agile athlete who, after adding some advanced moves, can become a disruptive force on the edge. And also, if he stops being a gigantic asshole, that would help.
- Jihaad Campbell – LB, Alabama
A real EXPLOSIVE hitter haHA
119 TKL / 5 SK / 2 FF / 1 INT
Bursts to the ball in open space. Violent tackler. Gets horizontal, unafraid to dive. Rangy, closes distance from sideline to sideline. Dogged pursuer. Quick enough to cover tight ends downfield. Stays active through the whistle.
Stonewalled by blockers. Can drift aimlessly in zone. Prone to overpursuit. Does not provide pressure or generate threat in the pocket.
Tackle numbers took a noticeable downturn against ranked opponents: vs. Ranked: 7.75 TKL/game | vs. Unranked: 10 TLK/game. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but is an interesting data point.
Final Word: Could thrive as an off-ball coverage linebacker, but limitations as a rusher and struggles to break past blockers limit his use as an every-down player. HOWEVER – a team that runs predominantly nickel/zone LB coverage could be a perfect fit.
- Josh Conerly Jr. – OT, Oregon
Webbed ballerina toes.
Violent get-out. Quick, fluid feet. Sidles along to match any movement. Keeps hands active and punching. Graceful. Generates push to open up running lanes. Looks to find a block. Excellent recovery, can lose an initial push but fights to win back the rep. Big boy can move – wasn’t used enough as a puller. Reminds of a center with a post game and soft touch around the rim.
Punches out overaggressive. Doesn’t establish grab – rushers can disengage and track down the ball carrier from outside/late angles. Weak against pure bull rush and exposed against raw power. Run blocking is less polished than pass protection (to be fair, his pass protection is elite).
Interesting to see him leave early – had he stayed an extra year and added some strength, Conerly could have made a play at going #1 overall. Not necessarily a red flag, but worth noting.
KEY MATCHUP: Ohio St – 3 pressures. Came out hot and overaggressive, quickly letting up a big pressure, but immediately calmed and snapped into rhythm. Held his own and kept a clean pocket. Started to gas out toward the end of the game.
Final Word: A technician with lithe feet, Conerly can keep pace with anyone on the edge but lacks the brawn to match pure power. Can he add the necessary strength without losing that big man’s grace?
- Jalon Walker – 3-4 OLB, Georgia
Between a rock and a hard place.
61 TKL (38 solo) / 6.5 sacks
Athletic, effective run containment. Easily powers through blockers. Cuts into lanes. Stays on the prowl after bump. Rips and swims through larger blockers. Bursts back upfield to get back into the play. Good instincts, knows when to cut back and find a new hole. Plays hard through the whistle. Blends power and finesse, often in the same move. Consistently impacts the play.
Too slow to play off the line – listed as an LB but his value comes as a rusher, one-dimensional. Doesn’t make blockers miss. Small for a traditional lineman (6’2, 245) but plays strong.
Split time in a crowded Georgia depth room and still posted respectable stats.
Final Word: A disruptive tweener whose motor and vision will need to offset a lack of elite physical traits and refined technicals in order to keep up with bigger and faster NFL players.
GUYS IN THE GAME
- Mason Graham – DT, Michigan
Pickup trucks make noise, but that doesn’t mean they move fast.
46 TKL (24 solo) / 3.5 Sacks
Wriggles through contact to shut down running lanes. Power rusher who can push through the line. Hard-driver who plays through the whistle and works his way around the field in pursuit. Plows through weak arm blocks. Excellent handwork (years of wrestling experience).
Average speed. Not explosive – does his work steadily, but gradually. Too small to be a nose tackle, too slow to be an elite pass-rushing DT (320lb). Saw many advantageous matchups because teams were more concerned with his running mate (Kenneth Grant), who drew the double teams and allowed Graham to operate against the less effective blocker.
Extremely small for his position – ranks in the bottom percentiles for every physical attribute aside from height. That wrestling background helps make up for the deficiencies, but may not be enough at the next level. For someone as talked about as Graham is, you would like to see more impact on an every-play basis.
KEY MATCHUP: #2 Ohio State, 7 Tackles. Bounced into the running lanes. Struggled to produce any traction against larger blockers. Flashed nifty spin move. Ohio State did not double him at any point, and did not pay for it.
Final Word: Effective run-stuffer without the elite athleticism or speed needed to threaten playmakers and athletic blockers at the next level. Is “effective run-stuffer” worth a high first-round pick?
- Kelvin Banks Jr. – T, Texas
Just the one, tiny blip on the radar that one time in Georgia. Maybe.
Stays active, head on a swivel looking for blocks. Aggressive. Strong base, digs in and maintains position. Blocks through end of the play. Quick enough to swing hips and pivot toward looping edges. Effective hand-fighting holds slower rushers at bay. Able to burst out and lead block outside runs.
Can get pushed around a surprising amount given his size. Struggles most against pure power rushers. Better run blocker than pass blocker. Doesn’t always maintain grip and can get shoved off. Needs to develop more upper body strength.
Not a classic case of “okayish left tackle, but a star guard” syndrome as some analysts have said – does not possess the raw strength or size to move inside.
Four sacks allowed in THREE-YEAR starting career.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia (Walker & Williams) – Excelled against more traditional rushes. Mykel Williams gave him trouble with a strong mix of power and speed. Gave up four or five pressures, a mix throughout the game of mostly great and some poor reps.
Final Word: A solid blocker who may struggle against particularly strong rushers and freaky athletes, his speed and fundamentals could serve him well in an athletic, space and pace role.
- Cam Ward – QB, Miami
Good luck, Tennessee.
4,313 YDS / 39 TD / 7 INT / 67.2% CMP
Shifty. Willing to step up and run. Powerful arm, throws with velocity. Accurate on the move. Excellent accuracy on mid-range aggressive throws. Willing to find a second read. Completes passes from tough arm angles. Fluid throwing motion. Tight placement on quick hitters.
Elite offensive line, Ward could often stand like a statue for 5+ seconds. Receivers couldn’t be more open. Struggles to stay accurate with pressure in the pocket. Doesn’t throw people open, throws to open players. Holds the ball too long and is quick to flee.
Watching Cam Ward, you do not think “this is a number 1 pick”. Solid foundation and tools, but he faced cupcake opponents and often threw out of a squeaky-clean pocket. Whether or not he can read defenses or make throws against high-caliber defenders is complete guesswork.
5-year starter. Transferred twice (D2 -> Washington State U -> Miami). Did not play a ranked school last season until their bowl game.
KEY MATCHUP – #18 Iowa State (Bowl), 12/19, 190yds, 3 TD, 0 INT. Excellent ball placement. Excellent protection. Never faced pressure. His one truly tight window throw was into triple coverage and should have been intercepted.
Chose to sit down on the bench at halftime, when up by 3 points, and did not re-enter the game. Did not inform the team of this plan in advance. Played only until he broke a career record for himself, and then checked out and finished his day. His team lost by 3. That’s not a business decision – business would be to sit out the full game. It’s a me, me, me decision.
Can you imagine Tom Brady pulling that shit?
Final Word: There’s something to be said about competitive spirit, and quarterbacks need a maniacal level of it. Ward has not shown enough on tape to convince teams that his talent is worth overlooking such a major leadership red-flag in your franchise leader, particularly at the top of the draft.
- Donovan Ezeiruaku – Edge, Boston College
A chomping pit bull who may struggle against the biggest of dogs.
80 TKL / 16.5 SK / 3 FF
Attacks with shifty violence. Blasts past blockers with a mix of strength and speed. Works to find the most efficient path to the QB. Fast enough to chase ballcarriers in the backfield. Whiplash spin move. Displays a series of moves to beat blockers inside, outside and around. Relentless. Favorite move is the quick rip. Plays with fire. Active on the backend of the play and pursues at the second level.
Lacks top-end speed to finish in the backfield against the fastest carriers. Too small to generate overwhelming power and is prone to being bullied. Can get caught engaged and miss the ball.
Elite statistics came against strong competition.
KEY MATCHUP: #6 Mizzou – 6 TKL / 1 SK; Struggles against a powerful LT, often neutralized.
Final Word: Ezeiruaku needs to develop significant power if he will beat stronger NFL blockers, but at minimum will be able to generate bursts of pressure across a full game.
- Omarion Hampton – HB, North Carolina
B2k yard season? No?
281 CAR / 1,660 YD / 5.9 AVG / 15 TD
Fast. Pushes the pedal in a hurry. Legitimate receiving threat – nearly 400 yards each season, fluid short routes. Smooth turn into run after the catch. Rugged blocker. Accelerates through the hole. Not afraid to seek out contact and lower his shoulder. Fights for extra yards. Quick. Maintains balance and pushes upfield after initial contact. Difficult to bring down on the first hit. Falls forward. Follows blockers well. Gets skinny to fit through narrow gaps.
Not particularly patient – finds the hole and cuts. Lacks burst to escape from the second level.
Consecutive years elite production. Cupcake schedule – did not play against a ranked team.
Final Word: A skilled backfield option with a nose for blocking, Hampton lacks game breaking ability. How valuable (and replaceable) to an NFL team is a solid running back?
- Will Campbell – OT, LSU
Girth or length? Trick question; chode.
Immense strength. Throws players down with a shove. Once he secures a hold, he does not let go. Steady footwork to maintain the edge. Plays with energy and passion.
Lumberer. Short arms, fights to keep them between him and the defender. Slow off the line, can get rocked by a launching rusher. Looks like he’s moving through syrup. Gets away with a lot of holds. Can struggle to bounce off a block and maintain outside of the pocket because of his speed and small reach.
Would be higher on this list as a guard.
KEY MATCHUP: Those tiny little nubby arms.
Final Word: If willing to transition inside, could find some success, but does not possess the athletic or physical profile to match up against top-tier edge rushers.
- Colston Loveland – TE, Michigan
The good ol’ “fat catcher.“
56 REC / 562 YD / 5 TD
Sharp footwork creates separation. Strong hands to snatch the ball out of the air and highpoint. Fast and agile. Tough to bring down. Catches well in stride and breaks upfield. A legitimate threat as a safety valve out of the backfield. Rapid release off the line.
Nonexistent blocker – poor technique and lacks strength for his frame. Frequently lines up wide. Struggles mightily to maintain catch through contact. A classic “fat catcher” – he’s not a tight end, he’s a big and slow receiver who lines up inside and occasionally pretends to block. But he’s not that big, either – narrow frame.
Only one game above 100 yards in his final year. Never produced more than 650 yards or 5 touchdowns in a season, albeit in a run-first Michigan offense.
Final Word: His burst and precise routes will make him a nightmare for linebackers to cover, but his difficulties catching through contact and inability to block shape him into the mold of frequent and recent draft busts. Tight ends are not big receivers – they need to catch AND block.
- Tetairoa McMillan – WR, Arizona
A slow X, a lanky Y, or a sloppy Z.
84 REC / 1319 YD / 8 TD
Silky stride takes him downfield in a hurry. Easily finds and creates space in the second level between defenders. Excellent body control to contort for deep passes.
Rounded routes can get stuck to defenders on lateral moves. Not an impactful blocker. Middling speed. Does not create much space with speed or physicality. Catches close to his body, small receiving window.
Huge target (6’5, 212). Consecutive years of excellent production, however – four of his 2024 touchdowns came in the first game of the season against an uncompetitive New Mexico.
KEY MATCHUP
- Travis Hunter, Colorado: 5 REC, 38 YD, 0 TD. Often created space, but the plays/gameplan was not designed to go to him. Hard to draw conclusions, as he served mostly a decoy role.
Final Word: A deep play receiver without top-end speed or overwhelming physicality, McMillan will need significant change as a player or at his position to produce (perhaps as a big-bodied slot receiver) who will do most of his work in the middle of zones.
- Emeka Egbuka – WR, Ohio State
Strengths: Not many weaknesses! Weaknesses: Not many strengths.
81 REC / 1,011 YD / 10 TD
Effective, willing blocker. Strong push off cuts. Reliable in the short and midrange. Secures tough, contested catches. Smoothly navigates initial traffic. Adjusts well to off-target throws.
Clunky footwork. Slow, awkward routes do not generate space. Lacks significant speed and strength. Not a threat with the ball in his hands. Body catcher.
And YET – Egbuka makes plays. Consistently. In a game of inches, he finds the inches.
KEY MATCHUP: #3 Oregon – 10 REC / 93 YD / 1 TD; Touchdown catch was a schemed, open throw. Majority of his routes are screens. Short/mid-range option out of the backfield and slot. Numbers are inflated. Only caught a few “real” routes.
Final Word: While he is a reliable mid-range option, it is hard to imagine a low-ceiling athlete who struggles to get open against college coverage will regularly break free from NFL corners – he is not someone opposing teams will need to gameplan for.
- Demetrius Knight Jr. – LB, South Carolina
A thumper in a world that no longer deserves the thumper.
82 TKL / 2 SK / 3 FF / 1 INT
Stout frame, generates power on blitz and brings runners crashing down like an axe to the oak tree. Takes smart angles to the ball. Flashes burst on pursuit. Effortlessly disengages from blockers. Rapid play recognition, knows when to crash. Crossfield tackler. Scorching motor. Keen sense of where to adjust a shallow zone. Student of the game, plays smart and patient.
Slow, will struggle to keep pace with NFL tight ends and running backs. Not fluid flipping his hips and shifting his zone. Prone to overpursuit; can be fooled by cutbacks and screens, especially problematic with his lacking recovery speed. Needs to play more instinctive – it’s when he’s at his best, and you can see when he hesitates and overanalyzes.
Older than Darius Alexander, who is already older than Christ (25). Ran a 4.58 40 (?!?!) which does not match his tape. Played QB up until college and displays an intuitive feel for the game.
Worked DoorDash between games to support his family and still made All-ACC Honor Roll three consecutive years (before transferring). Multi-year captain and awarded team MVP.
KEY MATCHUP: His fit in the modern NFL.
Final Word: Knight has the tools to be an excellent run-stopper, but in today’s NFL that isn’t enough to be a three-down, or often even a two-down player. But given his impressive athletic testing, proven work ethic, a great head on his shoulders, and noted passion for the game, this is the type of player who has the best chance to put the work in and continue developing his game (and it’s a bias, but Knight is also the type of person you have to root for). The floor is low, and it will take some time, but there is an exceptionally high ceiling here.
- Nick Emmanwori – S, South Carolina
Less than the sum of his parts.
88 TKL / 4 INT / 2 PD
Strong tackler. Operates well in space, enlarges his zone with spacing. Solid man coverage skills, strong route anticipation. Burst of closing speed.
Slow hips in coverage. Does not play particularly fast. Takes poor angles in run support. Inconsistent tackling form. Can be fooled – subpar play recognition.
Team Captain, SEC Academic Honor Roll. Peak athleticism and size for his position (top 1% in broad jump & vertical, top 5% 40 and 10-yard, top 10% height).
Final Word: NFL teams may salivate over his athleticism and individual attributes, but the full package feels incomplete. Emmanwori will have a natural fit in the box and covering tight ends, but he plays slower than his measurables and does not possess the game-reading natural instincts of the best safeties.
- Will Johnson – CB, Michigan
Do corners still have to cover people? Or can they just play safety?
14 TKL / 2 INT / 3 PD
Attacks the ball with burst. Sharp footwork. Preys upon unaware quarterbacks. Strong leap. Attacks ball at point of the catch. Effective tackler, unafraid of contact. Sturdy frame for his potion (202lb). Fast enough to bump and run with anyone.
Plays a lot of deep zone. Stock inflated because of highlight reel interceptions. Slow hips and can struggle to rotate his zone. Gets beat once a receiver is in his face. No bonafide shutdown matchups. Overly aggressive hunting for turnovers.
Season cut short by injury (turf toe), but there is talk that Johnson milked the extent of this injury once it was apparent that Michigan would not compete for a national title. Refusal to run a 40 at any combine or pro day has raised concerns that it is in the 4.5-range, which would be among the worst for a CB. Big for the position – scouts enamored by his size, but his short arms counteract that advantage.
KEY MATCHUP: Marvin Harrison Jr. (2023) – 1 interception, but struggled. Beaten long twice and whiffed a tackle short. 5 targets, 3 catches, 82 yards.
Final Word: Ballhawk zone corner unafraid to get his hands dirty and hit, but does not display traditional shutdown skills you look for in CB1. Will require a zone scheme to thrive.
GAMES WITH MY HEART
- Mykel Williams – Edge, Georgia
I can
fixcreate him entirely.
21 TKL (15 solo) / 5 SK / 2 FF
Absolute unit. Looks like a tight end. Quick shift helps him squirm around defenders to stop the run. Fast hands. Chaser in the backfield. Displays impressive power on bull rushes at times.
Weak hitter, drags runners down. No pass rush, doesn’t beat blockers when engaged. Crashes and bounces around. Best plays often come as clean up from another lineman’s work.
Identical statistics three consecutive years (28 TKL 4.5 SK / 16 TKL 4.5 SK / 21 TKL 5 SK); arguably worse every year. Four of this year’s sacks came against one team (Texas). One of those players everyone thinks is going to break out next year. There is real talent, but why has he not improved? Will always leave you wanting more.
His college production is far worse than that of any starting defensive end in the NFL. No successful players had such woeful numbers, and it’s not close. It’s a crowded Georgia defensive line, but if you’re going to be in the NFL, shouldn’t you be the one crowding out the other players?
But I’ll say this – I don’t want to write him off. There is something here, buried in the marble. He’s rangy and powerful and flashes in big moments.
But that’s not enough for a day 1 pick. Williams is a gamble, and the odds are not in his favor.
KEY MATCHUP: Teams outside of Lubbock.
Alabama – 0 TKL / 5 pressures. He was disruptive, sort of? He made plays, kind of? He looked like an impact player, but didn’t actually impact anything?
Final Word: “Pure project who has shown miniscule development from his moderately impressive freshman year and five-star billing, there is no reason to think Williams will finally evolve against even better competition,” he says, as the Pokémon theme music kicks in.
- Derrick Harmon – DT, Oregon
Soupy, but not like Campbell’s.
45 TKL / 5 SK/ 2 FF
Nimble for his prodigious size. Can line up inside or out. Processes and quickly finds the most efficient route to the QB. Effective side-to-side rusher (rip & swim). Strong arm bar creates lanes he can squirm through to reach the pocket.
Can be slow off the jump, overanalyzing. Struggles to create dominant push – has to rip and swim. Frequently quits on generating pressure if he does not secure a quick or easy win. Big, but lacks the width and mass of a space-eater. Provides zero impact on too many plays.
KEY MATCHUP: #3 Penn State – 3 TKL / 1 SK; Unable to power through either guard. Penn felt comfortable single-teaming him most of the game. Several instances where he was unprepared for the play and stumbled out of his stance.
Final Word: Any guard with quick feet (in other words, NFL guards) will devour Harmon – lacking the strength or size to consistently win even at the college level, Harmon will need to either shed weight and earn rotational pass-rushing duties or bulk up to provide more run support.
- Shemar Stewart – Edge, Texas A&M
Have you ever heard the tale of Darth Gholston? It’s not a story the
JediJets will tell you.
31 TKL / 1.5 SK / 2 PD
4.5 Sacks total across three years.
You might say, as an assumedly-rational person, “Jordan, you’ve made a mistake. 4.5 total sacks in three years as a starter on the edge? Impossible, those are Vernon Gholston numbers!” And I’d say to you, “Not true! Those are actually 20% of Vernon Gholston’s numbers!”
Lethal spin. Generates forces even when caught. Superb athlete, grown-in-a-lab size.
Lacks elusiveness to escape when in the grasp. Rushes recklessly – easy for blockers to send him flying in a loop around the backfield.
Stewart recorded 1.5 sacks in his freshmen season. He recorded 1.5 sacks in his sophomore season. He recorded 1.5 sacks in his junior season.
Wowee!
But don’t you worry. His combine performance was SICK. Just like Vernon Gholston.
KEY MATCHUP: LSU – 1 TKL; Listen, I get it. It’s only one tackle. But it was a really great tackle! It was so cool! He burst behind the line, brought the running back down and everything! Imagine if he could do that every play!
Final Word: Bold prediction: “Steward recorded 1.5 sacks in his rookie season.” Don’t ask me how I came to that number.
- Elic Ayomanor – WR, Stanford
When the pimp’s in the crib, ma…
63 REC / 831 YD / 6 TD
Clean release. Casual and deceptive acceleration to pull away deep. Skyscraper vertical. Angles body to create space in tight coverage and knows where to attack seams in the zone. Can pull together some highlight highpoint hauls. Lines up outside and in the slot.
Poor hands (12 drops in 2 years!!). Concentration drops. Not shifty or a threat after the catch. Repeatedly fails to secure the catch through contact. Gets up for jump balls but doesn’t win them. Body catcher on anything but a screen or zig. Small route tree – zig, cross, go/post.
Suffered from awful quarterbacking. Frustration (understandably) grew visible. STEM scholar-athlete award, a hard worker.
Been compared to Gabe Davis, which is absolutely hilarious.
KEY MATCHUP: The ball, and whether its temperature could be described as “hot” or “not”, and thus what he should do with said ball.
Final Word: Ayomanor is a fluid athlete with a knack for getting open and a penchant for dropping the ball. For those who believe that the act of receiving is still relatively important for a wide receiver, Ayomanor is a tantalizing but ultimately elusive dream for both his defenders and whichever team will draft him.
Poetic way to say brick hands, huh?
- Tyleik Williams – DT, Ohio State
As impactful as the Jedi he’s named after.
46 TKL / 2.5 SK / 1 PD
Massive man (334). Moves well for his size. Natural power to move his blocker even when engaged. Keeps eyes up and moves to find the ball carrier. Quick stunts and rush loops.
Does not generate pressure. Not a space-clogger, can be blocked by a single player. For all his size, gets pushed around. Rarely forces a blocker to adjust or lose position.
Incredible athletic performance – top 1% 40-yard dash (4.68) has teams eager to see if he can reach the ceiling that this profile indicates.
KEY MATCHUP: Texas – 1.5 TKL / 1 pressure; Jarring to see how easy it is for any blocker to hold a man this large perfectly in place. He’s often the furthest back from the line of scrimmage at the end of the play. Texas clearly did not feel the need to gameplan for him – there were multiple plays they hedged or bumped him without even assigning a full block. Williams had almost no impact on the game.
Final Word: A replacement-level big body, Williams does not provide any unique skills or attributes, and he fails to impact the game or even individual plays. Teams can find someone to fill his role on the waiver wire.
- Jalen Milroe – QB, Alabama
It HURTS to not be the right Jalen haa haa haa
2,844 YD / 64.3 CMP% / 16 TD / 11 INT / 78.4 QBR / 726 RYD / 20 RTD
Elusive. Blistering speed when he takes off. Average arm strength.
Runs as pressure hits. Lacks tightrope zip. Stares down routes. Inconsistent placement.
KEY MATCHUP:
- Georgia – 374 YD / 81.8% / 2 TD / 1 INT / 117 YD Rushing / 2 Rush TD; Interception was a drop off the receiver’s hands. One read and run. Not being asked to do much, but playing within the scheme. Mostly designed runs. The yardage is misleading, it was surprising to see he racked up so much at the end of the game.
- LSU – 109 YD / 66.7% / 0 TD / 0 INT / 185 YD Rush / 4 Rush TD; Everythibf is a screen, dump off, designed run, or RPO. The tape isn’t bad, but neither is it impressive.
Final Word: He’s not terrible, but…he’s not great? People will compare him to Jalen Hurts, but he does not have that same arm strength, is not as strong, and does not have the same resume. He’s just, sort of, there.
GAME OVER
- Malaki Starks – S, Georgia
Just going to Georgia now makes someone a first-rounder.
52 TKL / 1 INT / 3 PD
Plays physical. Average quickness. Fast enough to keep pace with receivers. Strong burst to the ball.
Poor angles to runners. Doesn’t hustle when play is away from him. Easily blocked out, struggles to fight off contact. Slow instincts attacking the runner and picking holes. Poor tackler, poor form – doesn’t get low.
Three year starter. Excellent vertical (track and field champion).
KEY MATCHUP: #4 Alabama. 6 tackles, 5 missed tackles. Blockers swallowed him whole. Couldn’t bring anyone down, struggled to even impede their movement. Gave up a massive one-on-one catch in 3Q. Was out-athleted all game.
Final Word: Will be manhandled by tight ends, outran by receivers, and trucked by quarterbacks, Starks lacks NFL-level athleticism and does not have the coverage skills or instincts to overcome it.
- Trey Amos – CB, Ole Miss
Looks the part, but does he have the chops?
50 TKL / 3 INT / 13 PD / 1 FF
Eager tackler. Lanky frame and long arms. Fast enough to run with receivers. Quick recognition of when to shift his zone assignment. Will work best as a zone corner, rarely tasked with direct man coverage.
Can be slow to realize when the ball is coming his way. Takes poor angles to the ball carrier. Struggles to stick to his man. Gets thrown off the top of routes by any show of strength. Sluggish change of direction; ten-yard split is at the bottom of the class, and it shows.
Played coverage for a dominant Ole Miss defensive line.
KEY MATCHUP: LSU (Lacy) – Burnt badly by several comeback routes. Nicely played and deflected an end zone jump ball to a different receiver at the end of the first half. Lacy repeatedly sped past him on the line at release.
Final Word: NFL teams will be excited to draft the athlete, but Amos was not often tried due to the dominance of the Ole Miss defensive line. He may not have given up many yards because of it, but the tape shows a player unable to track sharp routes, and the athletic testing shows this may not be a skill he can develop.
- Grey Zabel – T, North Dakota State
A bitter stout.
Eager to run and hit someone. Powerful push and drive on runs.
High arms, often holds around the shoulder pads and neck. Pass protection footwork is sluggish, making it easy for rushers to loop around. Pushed around. Can get lost searching for blocks on the second level, blocking air and looking confused. Lets defenders escape his grasp. Gets caught flat-footed.
Played at D-II NDSU.
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado – NDSU often schemed a tight end alongside Zabel to help. Concerning that a team felt the need to help a future NFL player, rather than trust he could hold down the spot. Was bullied and beaten throughout the day, against the only D1 team he played this season.
Final Word: An eager run blocker who struggled mightily in his only D-1 action of the year (particularly in pass protection), Zabel does not have the current ability or athletic ceiling to adapt to top-level NFL competition as a full-time starter.
- Mike Green – Edge, Marshall
All or (usually) nothing.
81 TKL / 17 SK / 3 FF
Fights for depth on runs. Quick dip to beat overleveraged blockers. Dastardly spin move. Stays active in the play after initial contact.
Struggles to break free when in the grasp. If he doesn’t immediately win and make the big sack, he does not impact the play. Not an elite athlete.
Statistics are incredible, but against bottom-tier competition. Concerns around his “transfer” from UVA to Marshall – was kicked off the team following multiple sexual assault allegations.
KEY MATCHUP: #3 Ohio St – 2 TKL / 1 SK. Easily overpowered. Repeatedly stonewalled by tight ends. Picked up his sack on an admittedly filthy spin move in garbage time, but otherwise provided little impact.
Final Word: Generates big pressure on two or three plays per game but is otherwise a complete non-factor, even against the lowest-level competition – would have graded as a bottom-tier prospect even before the multiple sexual assault allegations.
- Jaxson Dart – QB, Ole Miss
Winner of the second annual “Jalen Carter Career Memorial Award for Dumbest Idiot in the Draft”, as presented by Dow Jones.
4,279 YD / 29 TD / 6 INT / 69.3 CMP% / 86.3 QBR / 495 YD Rush
Soft touch. Solid speed, a threat to take off. Strong frame, can run and take a hit. Rangy in the pocket, knows when to climb and sidestep. Mostly-accurate deep ball. Decent but unspectacular arm strength.
Never gets past his second read. Stares down receivers. Extremely inconsistent ball placement – at best does his receivers no favors, at worst he misses routine throws high, low, to the sides. Ball comes out funky on these throws, many of which are unpressured, a throwing mechanics issue. Moments of baffling decision-making. Never throws with anticipation. Does not keep eyes downfield when he takes off. Lacks any truly elite skills – is a jack-of-all-trades, a death sentence for a prospect.
Played in a Lane Kiffin offense, which is considered one of the most QB-friendly systems. Sentiment that it provides little preparation for NFL complexity. Does not feel like he’s asked to do much except make routine, predetermined reads and throws to wide open players. When he goes off script, you can see it – bad things tend to happen. Per PFF – Dart recorded a 92.9 grade (not QBR – this is PFF grade, so out of 100) when throwing to his initial read, second-best in the country. That number plummeted to 60.3 on his second read, which placed at 63rd in the country. How often does an NFL quarterback get to throw to his first read?
His ex got on IG Live and talked about his cheating on her, so his team took that footage, used it to open a video, and then immediately cut to his highlight reel as he threw a bomb. Absolutely hilarious (albeit extremely fucked). Also, his dad might have fucked his girlfriend? Strange things are afoot at the Circle K Ole Miss facility.
Also, also! And here was what really stood out to Dow Jones in their bequeathal of this coveted trophy: At the end of the nailbiter Florida game that Ole Miss needed to win for a playoff spot, Dart embarked on the following 3-minute journey of disaster:
- Threw a ball into triple coverage, intercepted.
- Overthrew a wide open touchdown by 12 yards on his first play back in
- Came back in after a defensive stop, immediately threw an interception
- Sat on the bench and cried
Championship DNA if I’ve ever seen it.
KEY MATCHUP:
- Georgia – 199 YD / 59% CMP / 1 TD / 1 INT / 1 SK; INT came third play of the game on a wild, thoughtless, errant sidearm flick. The kind of throw that makes you scream at the TV. Was clearly spooked by the massive pressure on the previous two plays. Most of his throws beyond 5 yards are poorly placed – some are tough windows, but he is not converting. TD was a beautiful throw, placed directly above the defender’s head on a soft line, threw his man open. 2P conversion was one of the most head-scratching plays I’ve ever seen, he scrambles and then shot puts it to a lineman? Lucky it wasn’t intercepted and ran back. Another scream-at-the-tv moment. Threw a ball at a wide-open slant’s feet several yards short and then shouted at his running back. Missed another wide-open throw a few plays later. Poor performance.
- LSU – 284 YD / 57% CMP / 1 TD / 1 INT / 6 SK; Receiver dropped a perfect deep ball on the first play, should have been a 70-yard touchdown. Poorly placed second pass that a wide open receiver had to dive to secure. Dropped interception on another deep pass into double coverage. Touchdown throw was frankly a miracle – poorly placed ball that a receiver had to jump and extend over his defender to reel in. Harried and harassed by an overwhelming defensive pressure throughout the second half. Hard to blame Dart for a good portion of these sacks, pressure is instant. Interception was a godawful deep pass underthrown by five yards, should have been a touchdown. Should have won in overtime, badly underthrew an open deep route (albeit facing pressure).
Final Word: Dart brings to the table a solid, if unspectacular arm, some athleticism, and a general ability to make the required throws. You cannot ask him to go off-script, and you cannot expect him to throw people open. His ceiling is, by definition, a game manager – someone who can make the throws you ask of him that are schemed open. More likely, his poor ball placement and complete lack of anticipation will prevent him from successfully operating an NFL offense and converting tight-window throws.
- Shemar Turner – DT, Texas A&M
Wait, there are two guys named Shemar on the A&M d-line?
36 TKL / 2 SK / 1 FF / 1 PD
Easily disengages to fill the run gap. Stays active horizontally. Fast, willing to run upfield to pursue. Quick twitch off the line and shedding. Versatile, can play across the line.
Does not effectively rush the passer. Easily caught and engaged, lacks rush arsenal. Poor tackler (ranks at the bottom of his class).
Final Word: I’m sure some team out there gets excited when they see more missed tackles than sacks.
- Armand Membou – RT, Missouri
An ethereal presence.
Big frame. Strong arm bar that often gets flung out at defenders when he is beat on the edge, and it sometimes connects.
Short strides, choppy footwork in pass protection. Flat-footed. Fails to finish plays if he is not the primary blocker. Caps his effort with light shoves and taps. Often looks lost. Displays zero field or situational awareness. The amount of times he blocks air on a play is disconcerting. Always seen walking by the time the whistle blows. Poor balance, overextends, nearly falls over.
The opposite of dominant. Drying paint races past Membou. A strong breeze could fling him to Oz.
I checked three times – not an exaggeration – that I was watching the right player, and that he had not switched his jersey number midway through the season.
I don’t care that he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash. I don’t care that he played well in the last two games of his career. I don’t care how many reps he recorded on the bench press.
He will help every defensive player lined up against him make millions of dollars.
KEY MATCHUP: The game of football.
Final Word: Quite possibly the worst OL prospect I have seen with this amount of buzz. Any GM who drafts him before the 7th round should be fired into the – hold on, the Jets pick is in.
Draftaholic 