2020 Scouting Reports

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow – QB – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Instant starter and franchise quarterback. Burrow’s strength are his accuracy and intelligence. He appears to see plays developing faster than most college quarterbacks, and it allows him to throw to windows that many young quarterbacks don’t see until it’s too late—that’s a skill that translates well to the NFL. We also have a very unique insight into his ability to learn a new offense, as he transitioned from Urban Meyer’s system, to a very traditional pro-style offense at LSU, to a modern pro-style offense under Joe Brady. His ability to pick up the offense quickly bodes well for his future.

Where he can improve: The biggest strike against Burrow is his modest arm strength. It shouldn’t be considered a weakness, necessarily, but it limits his ceiling—certain throws we see guys like Patrick Mahomes make on a weekly basis just aren’t an option for Burrow.

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Tua Tagovailoa – QB – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Rookie year starter, but possibly not ready for Week 1 (due to both injuries and readiness). Accuracy is his best attribute, which is usually the trait that translates best to the NFL—it gives him a high floor to go along with a high ceiling. Arm strength is above average, but not quite on an elite level. His pocket presence bodes well for a relatively smooth transition to the NFL. He feels pressure around him and moves within the pocket, but rarely bails too early.

Where he can improve: Injuries are the obvious concern. A significant hip injury ended his college career and potentially could have long-term effects on his mobility. He also suffered multiple high ankle sprains, which could have a cumulative effect and limit his mobility as he ages. In terms of on-field performance, some coaches may want to tweak his delivery, which is elongated and will give NFL DBs more time to react to his passes. He’s also a risk-taker, which isn’t inherently a negative, but he’ll need to prove he can dial it back when the windows aren’t as large in the NFL.

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Justin Herbert – QB – Oregon

Why/where he’ll succeed: Immediate starter who excels due to accuracy, but also has the athleticism needed to play in the modern NFL. Herbert will attract attention from coaches who want an aggressive downfield passing game. He has the arm strength, touch and accuracy to excel in that type of system. Herbert isn’t a run-first quarterback, but he’s dangerous when he leaves the pocket.

Where he can improve: Cut down on risky throws. Herbert’s style is similar to Patrick Mahomes at times, in terms of his willingness to take risks and make off-balance throws. But few QBs can make those throws at the rate of Mahomes (and a strong supporting cast certainly helps too). If drafted to a bad team—unlike Mahomes—those mistakes will quickly mount and could stunt his growth.

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Jacob Eason – QB – Washington

Why/where he’ll succeed: Needs to play in an aggressive downfield passing offense. Eason looks like a prototypical pocket passer and has a huge arm — physically, he’s similar to Ben Roethlisberger. His accuracy doesn’t match his arm strength, but it’s good enough to get by.

Where he can improve: Making decisions under pressure. Eason was terrible under pressure, and it doesn’t help that Washington’s offensive scheme was a poor warm-up for the NFL. He’ll be forced to learn a new offense and while learning to read defenses and keep calm under pressure — that’s a terrible combination for rookie, and why I don’t want to see him on the field in 2020. Unfortunately Eason is also a poor athlete, so he doesn’t have the ability to freelance when gets panicky under pressure. Give him a year to learn and maybe a good coaching staff can turn him into a fun, aggressive quarterback. But if he plays too soon, his bad habits are likely to become ingrained.

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Jake Fromm – QB – Georgia

Why/where he’ll succeed: Has the ceiling of a solid starter but more likely is a strong backup. Fromm’s best trait is his intelligence on the football field. He was asked to play a game-manager role at Georgia, despite having the skill set to be a more dynamic player in college. He excelled in that role, proving an ability to make smart decisions and protect the football — ideal traits for a backup quarterback in the NFL. Fromm also shows accuracy at all levels and is adept at throwing into tight windows — this skill set potentially allows him to develop into a starter.

Where he can improve: Athleticism and arm strength are only average. Fromm will make plays from the pocket when he’s able to stay on schedule, but he isn’t the type of QB who keeps plays alive and makes the defense pay when the play breaks down. In today’s NFL, that kills his value. Without that skill set, it’s almost impossible to be a productive starting QB without an high-end supporting cast.

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Jordan Love – QB – Utah State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Developmental QB who will do well in an aggressive downfield passing offense. Big arm, mobile and unafraid to take risks — traits which have led to Patrick Mahomes comparisons.

Where he can improve: Accuracy, especially at the intermediate level. Love struggles to throw on-target and it will prevent him from being a high-level starting quarterback. At this stage of a player’s career, you can’t teach accuracy anymore. That doesn’t mean he can’t do other things (mainly mobility) to make up for it and be productive in spurts, but you can’t play at the highest level without at least reaching a league-average level of on-target passing. Additionally, Love appears to lock on to his receiver and struggles seeing defenders down the field. Lurking linebackers cause him trouble and NFL DCs will take advantage of that early in his. Love also struggles dealing with pressure, which will hurt in the short term, but that’s an issue that can be fixed.

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Jalen Hurts – QB – Oklahoma

Why/where he’ll succeed: Potential short-term starter who can win due to his mobility. Hurts is a full notch below Lamar Jackson in terms of athleticism, but he could win in an offense with a similar scheme. He has the arm strength to take shots downfield and his accuracy is acceptable enough.

Where he can improve: Decision making and accuracy. Hurts shoots himself in the foot too often, especially considering his high-level experience. He routinely fails to see dropping linebackers, which makes every pass to the middle of the field a risky play call. His accuracy noticeably improved throughout his career, but it’s still not at an high level (and very likely will never get there).

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Anthony Gordon – QB – Washington State

Quick Summary: Gordon doesn’t have the profile of a traditional quarterback prospect. He has just one year of starting experience in Mike Leach’s offense — although the Air Raid translates much better to the NFL than it used to. Gordon will struggle reading defenses if asked to play immediately, but he’s unlikely to be thrown into that role. He’s shown flashes of being an aggressive playmaker, who does fairly well when plays break down. That willingness to play unafraid could benefit him in the long run and allow him to surprise us if he’s ever thrown into a starting role after spending some time as a developmental project on the bench.

Jake Luton- QB – Oregon State

Quick Summary: Prototypical size with a big arm — exactly the type of prospects teams like to gamble on late in the draft. Throws a nice deep ball with consistent accuracy. Struggles with his touch on shorter passes. Inconsistent under pressure and lacks the mobility to be a playmaker when the play breaks down. If he develops some patience, he can be an adequate pocket passer and could potentially develop into a low-end starter.

Tyler Huntley- QB – Utah

Quick Summary: Huntley is a little undersized and does not have a strong arm, however, he has the mobility to make up for it. His game is reminiscent of Tyrod Taylor, although Taylor’s career is probably the peak of what Huntley could achieve. For Huntley to have success at the next level, he’ll need to play in a fairly conservative offense that features a lot of safe, shorter passes and utilizes his mobility to their advantage.

Nate Stanley – QB – Iowa

Quick Summary: Stanley looks like a prototypical pocket passer and has a decent arm to go with it. However, his accuracy is scattershot and Iowa didn’t attack downfield often, likely to force him to make safer throws within a range where his poor accuracy wouldn’t lead to turnovers. He could play in a more aggressive downfield passing offense, but you’ll have to live with turnovers. With poor accuracy and limited mobility, there probably isn’t a path to him being a future starter.

Running Backs

J.K Dobbins – RB – Ohio State

Why/where he’ll succeed: At a minimum, Dobbins should be a productive early-down running back. He’s a decisive runner with great vision and enough speed to get to the outside and turn the corner. On passing downs, Dobbins is a reliable check-down option and gives a strong effort in pass protection. He isn’t the perfect third-down back, but he can competently play that role.

Where he can improve: After a disappointing sophomore year, Dobbins worked hard in the offseason to become more explosive and it showed on the field. In 2019, he was dangerous running outside the tackles—an area where he was mostly a non-factor the previous year. If he can maintain the offseason work ethic that produced those results, he’ll be a dynamic threat in any offense. He could lose snaps on passing downs if he lands on a roster with a more dynamic option. In order to earn more of those reps, he’ll need to become an asset in pass protection and eliminate mistakes, because he isn’t the elusive threat in the open field than will make coaches want to draw up plays for him.

Jonathan Taylor – RB – Wisconsin

Why/where he’ll succeed: Explosive early-down running back. Taylor has elite vision, which makes him a threat running between the tackles but he also has the acceleration/speed to turn the corner and break off long runs to the outside. At times he looks like former Titans running back Chris Johnson as a runner.

Where he can improve: Potentially has the worst hands of any prospect I’ve evaluated in 17 years. Fumbled 18 times during his career. Needs to become a pass-catcher in order to impact the game at a high level. There are some running backs (Derrick Henry is the best current example) who can make a significant impact as strictly an early-down back, but there value in that type of running back is significant less. Taylor is a liability in the passing game and likely won’t make a significant impact there early in his career, if ever. Despite elite talent as a runner, he’s a long way off from being an elite prospect given his deficiency in this area.

D’Andre Swift – RB – Georgia

Why/where he’ll succeed: Explosive runner who excels bouncing to the outside and also contributes at a high level in the passing game. 20 years ago, Swift might have been labeled a “third-down back” but in this era you want that player on the field at all times. He’s explosive as a runner and receiver and, in the right offense, could put up Christian McCaffrey-like receiving numbers.

Where he can improve: Vision, especially between the tackles. Swift isn’t shy about running between the tackles, but he’s more reliant on his blockers. He doesn’t appear to anticipate as well as other runners, and is sometimes late to see holes developing — he was quick enough to mask those errors in college, but NFL linebackers will fill some of those holes he was able to hit in college.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire- RB – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Three-down back who is at his best running between the tackles. Edwards-Helaire is quicker than he is fast, and his ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces makes him a dangerous threat between the tackles. Despite not testing well at the combine, he does have enough speed to get to the edge and pick up chunks of yardage. He isn’t a dynamic weapon as a receiver due to modest athleticism, but his cuts are quick, so he’ll get open and be a reliable option.

Where he can improve: There’s not much of Edwards-Helaire to improve. The biggest knocks against him are his lack of size and speed, but he isn’t going to change that. Without elite athleticism, he probably isn’t a can’t-miss prospect — his production will rely on the talent around him. But he definitely checks all the boxes of a player who can be successful in a strong system.

Anthony McFarland – RB – Maryland

Why/where he’ll succeed: A change-of-pace back with home-run hitting ability, and potential to develop into a three-down starter. McFarland does most of his work running to the outside and has the acceleration to turn the corner and leave defenders behind. He played through a sprained ankle in 2019 and split carries with Javon Leake, then turned pro after his redshirt-sophomore year, leaving his college production far below what we’re used to seeing from a running back with this level of talent. But his dominant 2018 performance against Ohio State answered any questions about his potential.

Where he can improve: Vision and patience between the tackles. To be a three-down back, you need to work between the tackles a portion of the time. McFarland’s tendency is to bounce everything outside — which he has the speed to accomplish — but he’ll need to prove he can still work between the tackles when needed. He’ll also need to prove his value in the passing game, as it was a small portion of his role at Maryland.

Cam Akers – RB – Florida State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Prototypical workhorse running back, capable of being a high-end, three-down starter. Athletically, Akers stacks up among the elite running back prospects in this draft class. Akers has the strength to run between the backs, the speed to get to the outside and the proven production in the passing game.

Where he can improve: Learn to be more decisive in attacking holes. Akers has a good excuse for all the dancing he did in the backfield — his offensive line was barely FBS-quality and substantially below what you’d expect from Florida State. He also played with quarterbacks who were unable to take attention away from the running game. But while those bad habits are understandable and fixable, it’s still an issue that needs to be worked out before Akers can make an impact at the next level. If he lands on another bad team with poor blocking, all that dancing in the backfield could turn into a habit he’s unable to break.

Zack Moss – RB – Utah

Why/where he’ll succeed: Physical runner capable of being a three-down back, but might come off the field when the team wants a home-run threat in the backfield. Moss’ strength is his ability to plow through weak tackle attempts, but he’s more than just a downhill runner. While he lacks elite speed, he does have quick feet and strong change-of-direction ability, to make defenders miss in the open field. His testing numbers make him look like Benny Snell, but unlike Snell, Moss doesn’t seek out contact — he can get into space and avoid defenders as well. He’s an asset as a pass-catcher too, giving him three-down capabilities.

Where he can improve: There’s no much for Moss to realistically improve. The negatives on his scouting report are health and speed. He missed time with a toe injury in 2016 and suffered a torn meniscus in 2018. It isn’t a long injury history, but given his physical running style, it’s more notable. He also lacks elite breakaway speed, which may cause some teams to view him as a poor fit for their offense.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn – RB – Vanderbilt

Why/where he’ll succeed: A classic one-cut runner who can be a reliable two-down back. Vaughn has a nice mix of speed and power, making him tough to bring down and home-run threat once he hits the open field. He has plenty of experience running behind a porous offensive line, which forced him to develop good vision and become a decisive decision-maker in the backfield.

Where he can improve: Improve agility, which he may simply lack the traits to accomplish. Vaughn has a nice burst which allows him to be productive as a one-cut runner, but he lacks the elite ability to combine moves. As a result, if you can force him to hesitate in the backfield, defenses can corral him fairly easily. He also lacks the skills to contribute in the pass game, struggling in pass protection and lacking the ideal athleticism to contribute as a receiver.

Darrynton Evans – RB – Appalachian State

Quick Summary: Evans has explosive speed, but he’s undersized and goes down on first contact. As a result, he will likely be limited to a third-down role in the NFL. He’s an asset as a receiver and has special teams value, which gives him a good shot to make a roster and be a valuable complementary piece.

Antonio Gibson – RB – Memphis

Quick Summary: Gibson played a wide receiver/running back hybrid role (similar to 2019 Cowboys draft pick Tony Pollard). Despite a limited role in the backfield, he’s proven his elusiveness and home-run hitting ability. It’s easy to envision him being a dangerous complementary piece in an aggressive offense. However, he should probably be viewed as luxury draft pick, and could easily get lost in the shuffle in a bad offense.

Eno Benjamin – RB – Arizona State

Quick Summary: Benjamin looks like a boom-or-bust prospect based on his explosive potential, but inconsistent performance. When he hits holes hard, he can burst through and break off long runs. However, he spends a lot of time dancing in the backfield. If that can be coached out of him, he has the ceiling of a solid starter; if not, he won’t last long.

A.J. Dillon – RB – Boston College

Quick Summary: You can point to Derrick Henry as reason for optimism for Dillon’s career, but Henry is obviously the exception in today’s NFL. There just isn’t a place for pure downhill runners who don’t impact the passing game. He does have similar athletic profile to Henry, so it’s not impossible for him to land with a coaching staff willing to build an old-school offense around him. But most offensive coordinators will view him strictly as a short-yardage back.

Wide Receivers

Jerry Jeudy – WR – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile No. 1 receiver who will probably do most of his damage from the slot. Jeudy has experience outside, but the majority of his snaps come in the slot and that should continue in the NFL. The way the Cowboys use Amari Cooper would be an ideal way to utilize Jeudy, as both Alabama products have similar skill sets. When he does line up outside or is used on downfield routes, Jeudy has the advanced route-running ability to consistently create separation.

Where he can improve: There are no glaring weaknesses in Jeudy’s game, just some areas to polish. Focus drops are occasionally an issue, but not enough to raise a red flag. He could benefit by improving his upper body strength better compete with more physical corners, although his role in the offense likely won’t put him in those types of matchups often.

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CeeDee Lamb – WR – Oklahoma

Why/where he’ll succeed: No. 1 receiver who is dangerous in space and can also win on downfield routes. The majority of Lamb’s targets at Oklahoma came on shorter routes, especially screens, in an effort to give him the ball in space and let his backyard-football skills take over. But he also has decent size and has flashed an ability to compete for the ball downfield, giving him a huge ceiling if he’s able to make plays at all levels of the field in the NFL.

Where he can improve: Lamb’s backyard-football skill set allowed him to dominate the weak defenses of the Big 12, but it left him with a slightly under-developed route tree. He’ll need to refine his routes in order to create consistent separation against better cornerbacks at the next level. With a committed work ethic, it’s an easily fixable issue.

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Laviska Shenault Jr. – WR – Colorado

Why/where he’ll succeed: A running back lined up a wide receiver, with the athleticism to develop into a dynamic downfield threat as well. Shenault did the majority of his damage racking up YAC on shorter routes. He’s a physical runner with the ball in his hands, won’t shy away from contact and will break some tackles. On downfield routes, his physicality also shows, as he’s flashed the ability to win contested battles, albeit on a small number of reps.

Where he can improve: Due to a lack of elite speed, Shenault will need to further refine his routes in order to create separation downfield. Currently his routes are as basic as they come, lacking any speed variance or believable fakes. Durability, especially given his physical style of play, is also a concern—had shoulder and toe surgeries during his college career.

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Jalen Reagor – WR – TCU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Pure deep threat. Reagor has the speed to stretch the field and the acceleration to pull away in a hurry. Will likely provide value as a return specialist early in his career. Dangerous after-the-catch ability makes him the type of player you’ll want to create touches for throughout the game.

Where he can improve: Hands are a concern, partially due to being a body-catcher and partially due to lack of focus. Needs to become more competitive in contested situations in order to become a more well-rounded deep threat. Reagor’s game is reminiscent of Ted Ginn Jr., in both good and bad ways—Ginn’s speed has made him a valuable complementary piece throughout a long career, but inconsistent skills in every other aspect of the game prevented him from reaching a higher level.

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Justin Jefferson – WR – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Reliable slot receiver who can consistently win at the short and intermediate levels. Jefferson dominated from the slot in 2019, after spending his early career at LSU on the outside. He shows impressive focus and an ability to adjust quickly to poorly placed balls—a skill set that works well in the slot, where you’re typically working closer to the line of scrimmage. Even though he won’t be a consistent deep threat, he has enough speed that defensive backs will need to respect his ability to get down the field.

Where he can improve: Developing more nuanced routes and physical play versus press coverage, in order to win on the outside. Early in his career, Jefferson was mostly a non-factor due to his inability to create separation as an outside receiver. His career didn’t take off until 2019, when he shifted inside and benefited from LSU’s spread offense creating massive space for him in the middle of the field. As of right now, he’s somewhat scheme dependent and will be limited to a slot role. If he can make those adjustments to play on the outside, more opportunities will open up for him and he’ll be more likely to succeed in any offense.

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Tee Higgins – WR – Clemson

Why/where he’ll succeed: Traditional No. 1 outside receiver who will be a red zone weapon. Higgins excels at playing “above the rim” and can win in contested situations as well as any prospect in this class. While he isn’t necessarily an elusive athlete, he has straight-line speed to stretch the field and will be used as a deep threat based on that combination of speed and ability to win versus tight coverage.

Where he can improve: Needs to become more physical and learn to effectively shed press coverage. He didn’t see a ton of reps against elite cornerback competition and when he did (Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah) he didn’t win at nearly the same rate. He also needs to clean up some focus drops—since he doesn’t have the explosiveness to create consistent separation, he needs to come down with virtually everything he gets his hands on.

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Brandon Aiyuk – WR – Arizona State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile playmaker who can excel out wide and in the slot; probably a No. 2 option but is still developing and could turn into a more traditional No. 1 receiver. At his best after the catch, where his athleticism and instincts can take over. Has the speed to stretch the field and excelled on explosive downfield routes, despite still-developing route skills. Does a nice job tracking the deep ball and getting into position to make the play—another demonstration of his natural athleticism.

Where he can improve: In order to be a more consistent downfield threat in the NFL, he’ll need to add more subtle fakes into his routes, rather than just relying on his ability to accelerate away from lesser cornerbacks. Aiyuk primarily played cornerback until JUCO, so some of his underdeveloped skills are understandable and he could make significant strides with the help of an NFL coaching staff. Doesn’t seem fully comfortable at the position yet—looks unprepared for throws that may come too early or off target, and doesn’t look comfortable when things go off script.

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Henry Ruggs III – WR – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: No. 1 receiver who relies on speed. Ruggs isn’t just fast, he knows how to use his speed—and that’s not as easy or as common as you’d think. Creating separation is more than just running fast, and Ruggs know how to vary his speed within in his routes to keep DBs off balance and create extra separation. His change-of-direction ability is also incredible, making him extremely dangerous on double moves. Unlike many pure speedsters, Ruggs also has reliable hands, further increasing the odds he makes a smooth transition to the league.

Where he can improve: Competing for contested catches. Ruggs typically needs separation to win—which is fine, because he can create it—but it slightly limits what his role can be if he can’t compete for those contested targets. Without that skill set, his ceiling is Tyreek Hill—an elite deep threat, who becomes less of a factor as you approach the end zone.

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Michael Pittman Jr. – WR – USC

Why/where he’ll succeed: Prototypical possession receiver/red zone threat. Built like Mike Evans and has a similar ability to compete for the ball (but doesn’t have Evans’ speed). Strong hands, and will catch nearly everything he touches. Skilled at tracking the deep ball and using his size to win those downfield battles.

Where he can improve: Become more technically sound fighting through press coverage. The biggest negatives of Pittman’s game—lack of deep speed and elusiveness—can’t be fixed. So there’s not a ton of realistic expectations for him to grow. Basically, what you see is what you get. But he could make some small improvements to create separation versus press coverage, which will be important as his lack of speed is likely to draw a good amount of press.

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Denzel Mims – WR – Baylor

Why/where he’ll succeed: Deep threat. Mims will immediately help an offense stretch the field. He has the pure speed to run away from coverage and knows how to vary his speed to create added separation. With his size, he has the potential to develop into a more well-rounded playmaker, but will need to clean up some aspects of his game to get there.

Where he can improve: Hands. Drops were a severe issue early in his career and although he cleaned it up to an extent in 2019, he needs to prove that is sustainable. Ball security issues after the catch have also been somewhat problematic. Mims clearly has high-end athletic talent for his size, but he’s a little awkward in terms of using his size and athleticism to his advantage. Despite a massive catch radius, he doesn’t appear to have a strong grasp on how to position is body and when/where to jump in order to maximize his chances of coming down with the ball in tight spots.

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Chase Claypool – WR – Notre Dame

Why/where he’ll succeed: Receiver/tight end hybrid who can play wide or in the slot and can potentially be a red zone weapon. Devin Funchess is an obvious comparison for Claypool, which can be viewed as either a positive or a negative depending on what role you hope to see him play. He does a nice job adjusting to poorly thrown balls — he had plenty of experience thanks to Ian Book — and his ability to adjust and use his body to win bodes well for a red zone role. He’s also surprisingly effective on shorter routes due to a physical running style after the catch.

Where he can improve: Improve release off the line of scrimmage to better create separation. Although he tested well in the 40, that straight-line speed doesn’t convert to functional football speed. He’ll struggle to create separation and will need polished fundamentals to create any space at all.

Devin Duvernay – WR – Texas

Quick Summary: Slot receiver with great hands and dangerous speed. Primarily used in the slot at Texas, but his speed will work on the outside also. He’s the type of player you want to create touches for in order to give him the opportunity to create game-changing plays. His routes are slightly underdeveloped due to his time spent in the slot and his high usage on underneath routes, but he has the quickness and athleticism to develop that area of his game. Players with dangerous speed and reliable hands have a high floor.

Gabriel Davis- WR – UCF

Quick Summary: Davis was a productive deep threat at UCF who dominated lower-level competition and was competitive against better competition due to his size. To continue that success at the next level he’ll need to refine his routes. As he enters the league, he’ll struggle to create consistent separation and may be buried on a depth chart early in his career until he proves he can beat NFL cornerbacks down the field.

Van Jefferson – WR – Florida

Quick Summary: Jefferson was productive across all route types at Florida, winning with precise routes and reliable hands. As the son of former NFL WR Shawn Jefferson, his technique is as polished as you’d expect. With quality route technique, good hands and decent athleticism, he’s a safe bet to carve out a solid career. To reach the level of an upper tier starter he’ll need to prove he has the physical strength to win when he’s unable to create separation.

Bryan Edwards – WR – South Carolina

Quick Summary: Edwards wins with his size, which is a skill set that translates to the next level. The question with his game is: does he also have the athleticism/route technique to create separation. He’s a safe bet to be productive in the red zone, but to start he needs to be more than just a jump ball receiver. He’s an interesting developmental prospect, who probably won’t contribute immediately, but with improved route technique he has a ceiling somewhere on the Mike Evans career spectrum.

Lynn Bowden – WR – Kentucky

Quick Summary: Bowden was used as a Swiss Army knife at Kentucky, even playing quarterback in 2019 after a series of injuries forced him into that role. He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands, but the issue is finding a way to get it there. His hands are among the worst in this draft class and his routes are severely underdeveloped. He will be a fun tool for an OC to play with, but his fundamentals are a long way off from earning him a significant featured role in an offense.

Joe Reed – WR – Virginia

Quick Summary: A dangerous deep threat and return specialist. Reed was a productive deep threat at UVA despite playing with a quarterback who was better suited to run the triple-option (Bryce Perkins). He’s a natural speedster who can pull away from just about any cornerback in man coverage. As an added bonus, he has very reliable hands, which is often hard to find in a pure deep threat. He’ll probably be one-dimensional early in his career until he’s able to better develop a full route tree, but he’ll make an impact in that one area.

K.J. Hamler – WR – Penn State

Quick Summary: Hamler can be a complementary piece to an offense that needs an injection of pure speed. He’s capable of creating separation down the field and will turn in a few long touchdowns every season. What will hold Hamler back from playing at a higher level is his hands, which are awful. At this stage of his career, he’s a less polished, slot-receiver version of Ted Ginn Jr. There’s a place for him in an NFL offense, but it’s rare for an undersized receiver with poor hands to ascend to No. 1 or No. 2 receiver level.

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet – TE – Notre Dame

Quick Summary: Kmet has the big frame and reliable hands to potentially develop into a solid possession receiver. He also has enough straight-line speed to stretch the field down the seam. However, he’s not the dynamic athlete teams want as their primary weapon at tight end. He’s also not much of a blocker — which is fine of you’re the go-to receiver — but teams want their backups to contribute in other ways. As a result, Kmet looks like a boom-or-bust prospect, who could emerge as a decent starter, but may not have a role otherwise.

Adam Trautman – TE – Dayton

Quick Summary: Trautman has a big frame, dominated his level of competition and tested reasonably well at the combine. The NFL typically favors pure speed at the position early in the draft, where Trautman is only average. But his agility tested at a high level, which bodes will for a transition to the NFL. His routes look crisp and explosive, but it’s always hard to gauge those traits versus low level competition. The strong testing numbers in that area, make it easier to believe. Tight ends have a tough transition to the NFL even from high level college programs, so expect some growing pains for Trautman. But he does have the tools to develop into a starter, and he has the blocking skills necessary to play a more versatile backup role if that’s where his skill set maxes out.

Harrison Bryant – TE – Florida Atlantic

Quick Summary: Bryant is a boom-or-bust prospect, who flashed high-end potential early in his career at FAU but flopped in 2019. Bryant is not an elite athlete, which usually doesn’t translate to high-level success in the NFL these days. Further adding to concern is the fact that he suffered an 11 percent drop rate in 2019 (per Sports Info Solutions). He was typically used in the slot and out wide at FAU, and probably doesn’t have a future as an in-line tight end. Without the ability to offer much as a blocker, he’ll need to make a strong early impression as a receiver to stick around. If you drop too many passes, can’t block and aren’t a dynamic athlete, the NFL doesn’t want you. So Bryant’s career trajectory needs to turn around quickly.

Offensive Tackles

Mekhi Becton – OT – Louisville

Why/where he’ll succeed: Immediate starter at left or right tackle. Becton is a behemoth, who can look like the Hulk as he’s tossing pass-rushers aside. His length gives him the ability to dominate any defender, as long as he’s able to get set first. He’s a good athlete for his size, and even teams who favor athleticism over size/strength in their lineman should view him as an option.

Where he can improve: Weight issues are a concern. He dropped weight heading into 2019 and was dramatically more effective. He often plays with less-than-ideal leverage, partially due to his height but also some sloppy technique. Inconsistent fundamentals mostly didn’t hurt him in college due to the overpowering strength to recover, but he won’t always have that advantage in the NFL. If he can’t keep off the weight and remains sloppy in his technique, he’ll turn into another Greg Robinson-type player who flashes potential but always fall short of his ceiling.

Jedrick Wills – OT – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Played right tackle in college but should be viewed as an immediate starter on either side. Wills has unique athleticism for his size and plays light on his feet. His quickness allows him to stay with faster edge-rushers, and helps make up for his lack of elite length. In the worst-case scenario, he can shift inside to guard where his combination of strength and athleticism should allow him to dominate.

Where he can improve: Due to his lack of ideal length, he gets caught reaching at times—this bad habit was never fixed in college because he’s quick enough to recover versus most college pass-rusher. Mental mistakes lingered throughout his career at Alabama, as he racked up far too many penalties for someone who otherwise appears to be an intelligent athlete.

Tristan Wirfs – OT – Iowa

Why/where he’ll succeed: Immediate starter at either tackle or guard, probably best suited for a zone-blocking scheme. Former wrestler and it shows in his game. He’s physical when engaged and doesn’t let go. Nasty in the run game, and could be more highly coveted by teams with more run-heavy offenses.

Where he can improve: His biggest weakness is playing in space, where he too often whiffs at the second level. But he’s a good athlete and appears to have the traits to improve in that area. Lacks ideal length and will be listed as a guard on some draft boards.

Andrew Thomas – OT – Georgia

Why/where he’ll succeed: Immediate starter at left tackle (also has experience on the right side). He’s a highly intelligent athlete who rarely makes mental mistakes and is great at picking up blitzes. Fundamentals in pass protection are often flawless when he’s patient. At his best in the run game where he’s a consistent bulldozer. 

Where he can improve: Has a tendency to panic and loses his mechanics, especially versus speed rushers on the edge. Once he learns to trust himself and stop lunging, he’ll quickly become even more consistent in pass protection.

Notes/Stats/Links

Austin Jackson – OT – USC

Why/where he’ll succeed: Potential franchise left tackle, but might not start immediately. Former four-star prospect with elite potential due to combination of athleticism and size.

Where he can improve: Plays with inconsistent hand placement and footwork, and appears to lack confidence. Doesn’t appear to trust his instincts and is often late to react. Pass-rushers with a variety of moves can easily throw him off balance. He’s still raw in nearly every aspect of the game, and should be treated as a high-upside developmental prospect, but with only limited immediate value.

Josh Jones – OT – Houston

Why/where he’ll succeed: High-ceiling left tackle prospect. Jones’ athleticism allows him to mirror even the most athletic edge-rushers, which gives him the potential to be a franchise left tackle. Despite raw skills, athleticism masks some mistakes, giving him potential to start immediately.

Where he can improve: Everywhere. A four-year starter shouldn’t be so raw in his footwork and hand placement—although playing for three coaching staffs (Herman, Applewhite, Holgorson) is probably partially to blame. Needs to play with better leverage in run game. Takes poor angles getting to the second level, and regularly whiffs as a result. Poor testing numbers also raise some concern, although Jones’ on-field athleticism appears to be just fine.

Ezra Cleveland – OT – Boise State

Why/where he’ll succeed: High-ceiling left tackle prospect. Impressive athleticism which rivals some of the best athletes we’ve seen play the position in recent years, such as the Eagles’ Lane Johnson. Fundamentally sound and extremely reliable in terms of avoiding penalties. As a smart player with three years of starting experience at left tackle, he has a relatively high floor to go along with the elite ceiling provided by his athleticism.

Where he can improve: Functional strength. Cleveland sometimes struggles to anchor against a good bull rush and doesn’t finish blocks at a high rate. However, as a former wrestler he does have the background coaches look for and increases the chances he can become that type of players as he further develops his physical strength.

Lucas Niang – OT – TCU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Potential starter at LT or RT, but might not be ready as a rookie. Niang’s strength is his massive size (6’6″ with 34″ arms). His athleticism is only average, but elite length can help make up for modest quickness. Experienced and productive in a zone-blocking scheme and will likely make a smoother transition to the NFL in that system.

Where he can improve: All-around fundamentals. Niang’s footwork is messy, which can be covered up by his elite length in college. Overextending versus poor Big 12 pass-rushers rarely got him in trouble, but that won’t be the case in the NFL. He played in a college offense that differs greatly from what he’ll experience in the NFL — which could make for a rough transition, but could also give him a higher ceiling than what we’ve seen so far once an NFL offensive line coach gets some time to iron him out.

Matt Peart – OT – Connecticut

Why/where he’ll succeed: Developmental prospet with high-end starter potential at LT. Based purely on his athleticism and long arms, Peart will be a coveted project for offensive line coaches. Even with modest immediate expectations, his ceiling is exciting and he could be a steal if he works hard to develop his fundamentals.

Where he can improve: All-around fundamentals. Peart played for a dead football program at UConn and probably didn’t get the best coaching to go along with the struggles of staying motivated at a program with no hope of competing on a weekly basis. He’s sloppy in every aspect of the game, most notably playing with an exaggerated wide stance and lunging at pass-rushers, forcing himself to play off-balance. All his flaws are fixable, however, so there’s reason for optimism in the long run.

Isaiah Wilson – OT – Georgia

Why/where he’ll succeed: Traditional right tackle that can engulf defenders with his size once he’s engaged. Power running teams (of which there aren’t many) will love Wilson ability to dominate — fortunately it’s a skill that also translates reasonably well to heavy play-action offenses.

Where he can improve: Stay low and play with better leverage — a tough ask for someone his size. You’re probably going to have to live with some issues in this area for Wilson because he’s too big. Someone at his size can’t also be an elite athlete who plays well in space and wins with leverage. That’s why he’ll do better on play action reps, where he’s the aggressor and can immediately engage. In the right system, he could be a star; in the wrong system, he could look like a bust.

Ben Bartch – OT – St. John’s

Quick Summary: Bartch is a converted tight end with decent athleticism for the position. He dominated his level of competition and, more importantly, held his own at the Senior Bowl. He appears to play with a mean streak, which is encouraging — it means he probably won’t be intimidated by the massive leap in competition. He’s an interesting developmental left tackle prospect, but he’ll need to add some functional strength. Expect him to effectively redshirt his rookie year, and then compete for a job in 2021.

Edge Rushers

Chase Young – EDGE – Ohio State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Elite edge rusher who will likely be at his best as a traditional DE in his three-point stance. Young often wins with an explosive first step, but he’s able to dominate at such a high level because he couples that explosion with counter moves. OTs who can drop fast enough to cut off the edge are not safe—Young is equally adept at countering to the inside. His hand placement/upperbody strength is elite, and allows him to win in many ways. He also has the strength to anchor against the run and is quick enough to make some plays in pursuit.

Where he can improve: Motor may not always be set to 100 percent. It’s always there in key moments, but it didn’t appear to be there throughout every snap. Was this a conditioning issue? Or did he just struggle to maintain focus as Ohio State dominated so many opponents?

A.J. Epenesa – EDGE – Iowa

Why/where he’ll succeed: Traditional 4-3 defensive end who wins with strength. Epenesa relies on his upper body strength and bull rush to beat weaker offensive tackles. His strength makes him an asset versus the run and he’s just quick enough to consistently prevent running backs from turning the corner on him. He’s strong at the point of attack and consistent in his gap discipline.

Where he can improve: Lacks the explosive burst off the edge to project as a high-level pass-rusher in the league. There are exceptions to the rule, but most of the NFL’s top edge-rushers win with athleticism more than raw power. Needs to be quicker with his counter moves.

Yetur Gross Matos – EDGE – Penn State

Why/where he’ll succeed: High-upside pass-rusher who relies on speed. Gross-Matos frequently wins with his first step and flies past offensive linemen who can’t set in time to slow him down. That’s a skill set that will translate to the NFL and sets a decent floor for him as a situational pass-rusher. Versatility could add value to his game, as he’s played as an undersized three-tech on passing downs at times.

Where he can improve: Develop an arsenal of pass-rush moves. Right now, there’s not much too his game other than a good combination of speed and strength. He’s fairly easily stalled by linemen who can set before he turns the corner. Against the run he looks lost, which may limit his playing time early in his career. He needs to better diagnose the run and stay in his gap. Set your expectations relatively low for his rookie year, but don’t give up hope if it’s a rough season—there’s plenty of talent for him to achieve a high ceiling with more experience and better technique.

Terrell Lewis – EDGE – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Edge-rusher who can play standing up or in his three-point stance. Lewis has the ideal blend of athleticism and size and definitely “looks the part.” Shows off a solid array of pass-rush moves and has the skill set to further develop. Relatively patient setting the edge. Has some experience dropping in coverage and is athletic enough to continue at the next level.

Where he can improve: Needs to stay healthy. Only made four career starts and missed significant time with a torn ACL and a torn ligament in his elbow. Functional strength needs work. He can get taken out of a play too easily when an offensive lineman is able to get into his chest immediately off the snap.

K’Lavon Chaisson – EDGE – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Explosive pass-rushing linebacker. Chaisson’s wins are the result of an explosive first step, and he’s capable of flying into the backfield untouched. At worst, he should be an effective situational pass-rusher immediately. His experience is at linebacker in a two-point stance, but he has the size to learn to play closer to the line of scrimmage with his hand on the ground.

Where he can improve: Develop a more consistent array of pass-rush moves. Chaisson mixes in an efficient spin move, but he doesn’t have much else to rely on. He also lacks the elite upper body strength to consistently shed blocks, which results in him getting stonewalled by quick linemen who can shut down his initial speed rush. With counter-moves in his arsenal, he has elite potential, but it will probably take a year or two to see him reach that ceiling.

Zack Baun – EDGE – Wisconsin

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile linebacker who should primarily be deployed as a pass-rusher. Baun exclusively played linebacker at Wisconsin and has no experience in a three-point stance, so it’s slightly more difficult to compare him to the other edge-rushers in this class. But he’s at his best rushing the passer and has the size, strength and athleticism to continue to excel in that role. He shows a nice array of moves, but most often wins with speed.

Where he can improve: Improve functional strength. Baun sometimes struggles to shed blocks, and can be dominated in the run game by bigger offensive linemen. Depending on where he lines up in the NFL, that could become a bigger issue than it was at Wisconsin. For certain teams, he may be a situational pass-rusher. For others, he’s a three-down linebacker. It will depend on that team’s scheme and other available personnel.

Joshua Uche – EDGE – Michigan

Why/where he’ll succeed: Off-ball linebacker on first and second down, pass-rusher on third down. Uche has a versatile skill set with impressive range for his size. He shows good change-of-direction ability and is valuable when spying on the quarterback. Has the speed to make plays in pursuit.

Where he can improve: Add some functional strength as a pass-rusher. Despite a nice blend of size and speed, Uche isn’t a disruptive force as a pass-rusher. He uses his range to help clean up messes on broken plays, but he doesn’t create splash plays in the backfield on his own. With added strength and some developed pass-rush moves, he could become a more valuable pass rusher.

Notes/Stats/Links

Bradlee Anae – EDGE – Utah

Why/where he’ll succeed: Edge-rusher who wins with strength. Anae is a physical edge-rusher with violent hands who primarily played with his hand on the ground at Utah. Excels due to his high motor and aggressive approach.

Where he can improve: Develop lower body strength to hold up versus the run. Anae gets pushed around versus the run, which is a major red flag for someone who doesn’t project as an elite edge rusher. Teams may have concerns about playing him on early downs due to his struggles against the run, and he lacks the elite athletic profile of a situational pass-rusher. You can’t completely overlook his production as a pass-rusher, so he’ll be worth a mid-round flier in hopes that his relentless effort continues to make up for a lack of elite physical tools.

Julian Okwara – EDGE – Notre Dame

Why/where he’ll succeed: Situational edge-rusher with potential to develop into a starter as he adds strength. Okwara wins with speed off the edge and shows a reliable array of pass-rush moves.

Where he can improve: Develop functional body strength in order to get on the field on first and second down. You can’t trust Okwara against the run right now, which will limit him to being a situational pass-rush right now. However, he’s a good athlete and has the frame to add some weight, so there’s reason to hope he can further develop into a more well-rounded player.

Jonathan Greenard – EDGE – Florida

Why/where he’ll succeed: Traditional 4-3 defensive end with a well-rounded skill set. Long arms and good upper body strength to disengage from blockers. Strong enough to hold up at point of attack versus the run. Shows good instincts reading and reacting to the quarterback. Proven production at both Louisville and Florida.

Where he can improve: Develop a bigger arsenal of pass-rush moves and prove he can stay healthy. Missed all of 2018 with a wrist injury and played with the wrist heavily wrapped in 2019. Teams will want to know if his wrist is fully healed before trusting him, because he appeared to favor that arm during the 2019 season. Greenard’s skill set is above average across the board, but not much more than that. He might benefit from further developing his functional strength in order to have at least one area of his game that extends beyond “above average.”

Defensive Tackles

Javon Kinlaw – DT – South Carolina

Why/where he’ll succeed: Three-technique pass-rusher. Kinlaw has the explosive first step and violent hands to excel as an interior pass-rusher. And he’s proven that ability with production even when forced to play out of position at nose tackle.

Where he can improve: Become more technical with his hand usage. He’s strong, but relies too heavily on his initial burst to win and can be sloppy with his fundamentals. His athleticism will make him productive immediately, but he has an elite ceiling if he can develop a more technically sound plan to his repertoire.

Notes/Stats/Links

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Derrick Brown – DT – Auburn

Why/where he’ll succeed: Elite run-stuffing tackle with enough production in pass-rush to stay on the field. Brown is a force versus the run, and is capable of shedding blocks and making some splash plays in the backfield. He’s capable of lining up as a nose tackle or three-tech and has been productive in both roles. His quickness off the snap allows him to generate pressure on occasion.

Where he can improve: Conditioning/effort. Brown noticeably takes plays off, which is a red flag for any college player. If you aren’t working hard on a regular basis in college, you probably won’t once you’re collecting a paycheck. The question is: is it a conditioning issue or an effort issue. If he needs to get in better shape, an NFL coaching staff can potentially fix that. Brown also, predictably, tested poorly at the combine. He has a quick first step off the snap, but he is not an elite athlete and that limits his production in the passing game. To mask that limitation, developing a better array of pass-rush moves to fight his way into the backfield is necessary to unlock his full potential. There’s no denying Brown’s elite talent versus the run, but given his limitations as a pass-rusher, should he still be considered an elite prospect in this era?

Notes/Stats/Links

Ross Blacklock – DT – TCU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile defensive tackle with high upside. Blacklock primarily played nose tackle at TCU, limiting his pass-rush impact as he drew a good amount of double teams. Given his strength and experience there, he can play nose tackle in the pros. However, he is also an exceptional athlete for an interior lineman and has the potential to make a greater impact in a different scheme in the NFL if he’s used as a three-tech and coached up as a pass-rusher.

Where he can improve: Develop a plan as a pass-rusher. Blacklock relies heavily on a bull rush and doesn’t have much of plan once he’s stalled. Experienced NFL guards and centers will likely dominate him early in his career as he’s developing this area of his game. However, with his athleticism there’s a lot of potential to be uncovered. He should be viewed as a developmental prospect, but he also has a decent floor based on his versatility on the interior line.

Justin Madubuike – DT – Texas A&M

Why/where he’ll succeed: Athletic three-tech who will provide pass-rush productivity. Despite lacking ideal size and length, Madubuike is a pass-rush force. In 2019, he was forced to play more nose tackle and saw more double teams, yet he still managed to replicated his production from his sophomore season. With quick footwork, it’s tough for an interior offensive linemen to stay in front of him in a one-on-one battle.

Where he can improve: Improve functional strength without losing agility. Madubuike can disappear in the run game sometimes, and he lacks the length/strength to consistently disengage. When he does break free, he’s an asset due to this athleticism and he can make plays in pursuit. However, if he’s going to get swallowed up at a high rate, it will be tough to put him on the field on first/second down.

Neville Gallimore – DT – Oklahoma

Why/where he’ll succeed: Nose tackle, but with three-tech athleticism. Gallimore showed a high ceiling in 2019 by dropping weight, noticeably getting quicker and finally producing as an interior pass-rusher. If he keeps his weight down, he can continue to impact the game in that role. With elite strength, he’s always been a solid nose tackle, but his improved quickness gives him potential to impact the game in more ways than just eating up space. He plays hard, and a strong motor on the defensive line is a good way to stick in the league, even if only as a rotation player.

Where he can improve: Improve ability to play with leverage so that he can hold up in the run game and better disengage from blocks. Gallimore starts with a disadvantage due to shorter arms, and he further hurts himself by playing upright. His elite physical strength masked this issue in the Big 12, but it won’t always cover up those mistakes in the NFL.

Jordan Elliott – DT – Missouri

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile skill set with the tools to be groomed as either a nose tackle or three-tech. Elliott dropped weight for the combine in an effort to appear quicker and sell himself as an interior pass-rusher — maybe it worked, as he posted 63rd percentile speed score. He clearly has some short-area quickness in his game, and could potential become an athlete who is tough to block on the interior. He also has experience at nose tackle, where he primarily played in 2018. If he can’t produce as a pass-rusher, he can add weight and improve his strength to hold down a job at nose tackle.

Where he can improve: Develop a game plan as a pass-rusher and improve ability to shed blocks. Elliott made impact as a pass-rusher in college, but did not show the ability to finish off those pressures with sacks. 3 of his 5.5 career sacks came in one game against a pitiful Arkansas squad. He should be viewed as a developmental prospect as a pass-rusher, but there are enough raw traits there for him to develop into a starter.

Davon Hamilton – DT – Ohio State

Quick summary: Traditional nose tackle but with pass-rush productivity. Hamilton can eat up space and take on double teams. And when in one-on-one situations, he has the strength to toss aside weaker offensive linemen. He’s more than just a space eater though, as he’s flashed above-average agility and quickness for a nose tackle and will get into the backfield on occasion. His athleticism probably won’t translate to a three-tech position, limiting his role in an NFL scheme.

Notes/Stats/Links

Marlon Davidson – DT – Auburn

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile lineman who can be a three-tech or five-tech and potentially even shift to nose tackle if he adds some weight. You could call Davidson a ‘tweener — he played all over the defensive line and even standing up at Auburn — but in this era of multiple front defenses, that can be an asset. He probably fits best as a defensive end in a 3-4, but no one exclusively plays in that set, which means he’ll need to fill multiple roles if he’s going to be a starter. He appears to be an intelligent player, who is smart and patient setting the edge, which bodes well for his ability to handle a versatile role.

Where he can improve: Just listen to his coaches and buy-in to whatever his new team wants him to be. Whoever drafts Davidson will need to have a plan, and he needs to adjust his mindset to fit that plan. He might be asked to bulk up and play exclusively on the interior, he might be asked to drop some weight in an effort to get more explosive on the edge.

Raekwon Davis – DT – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Powerful interior run-stuffer who wins with elite size, strength and length. Davis is built to dominate in any role on the interior line. With his length (33 7/8″ arms) he can keep offensive linemen from getting into his chest and has the potential to shed blocks with ease. He also uses that length to hold his ground in the run game, and has enough athleticism to make some plays in pursuit.

Where he can improve: Grow up. Rumors about his immaturity have been a poorly kept secret, which likely helps explain his uneven production throughout his career. Davis flashes incredible potential as a sophomore in 2017, but 2018 and 2019 were both forgettable campaigns for him. He also dealt with an ankle injury in 2019 which caused him to pull out of the Senior Bowl at the last minute.

Leki Fotu – DT – Utah

Quick Summary: Traditional space-eating nose tackle. Fotu is built like the prototypical nose tackle (6’5″, 330 lbs) and can take on multiple blockers without losing ground in the run game. He moves well for his size and will make an occasional play in the backfield. He’s probably a two-down lineman with minimal value on passing downs, but he’ll be productive in the right situation and can be a valuable piece against the run.

Bravvion Roy – DT – Baylor

Quick Summary: Traditional space-eating nose tackle but with impressive athleticism and pass-rush productivity for his size. At 6’1″ he lacks ideal length, but he moves well for his size which creates mismatch issues in other ways. His pass-rush production in college rivaled three-techs, despite playing almost exclusively as Baylor’s nose tackle in 2019. Players with his physical build don’t usually succeed in the league, but those who do are often ones coming off a high-productive college career like Roy.

Linebackers

Isaiah Simmons – LB – Clemson

Why/where he’ll succeed: Defensive Swiss Army knife who can do a little of everything if he’s paired with the right defensive coordinator. Simmons excels as a pass rusher, primarily winning with speed. He also has sideline-to-sideline range which makes him an asset against the run. And he’ll even line up in coverage over tight ends and slot receivers.

Where he can improve: It’s hard to find one area for Simmons to improve because it will depend on what he’s asked to do in his defense. He’s virtually a can’t-miss prospect because he can do everything — any competent defensive coordinator will find a way to use him. However, a less creative DC may try to force him into a pure linebacker role, where he may lack ideal strength to play at an elite level. Or someone may try to fit him strictly into a safety role, where his coverage skills are lacking. Limited to playing only linebacker or only safety, he’s not an elite prospect (maybe more late 1st/early 2nd type), but his versatility gives him exciting potential if he’s deployed with a specific plan.

Notes/Stats/Links

Patrick Queen- LB – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Potential three-down linebacker who will excel in coverage. Queen’s asset is his range and athleticism, which makes him an asset in coverage. At worst, he should be a good third-down coverage linebacker.

Where he can improve: Improve functional strength to compete in the trenches. Queen is built more line an oversized safety, and gets lost at the line of scrimmage sometimes. It’s possible this could hold him back from being a true three-down starter. Improving functional strength would also help him as a pass-rusher — at this stage, he’s almost exclusively winning on blitzes when he’s able to fully avoid being engaged.

Kenneth Murray – LB – Oklahoma

Why/where he’ll succeed: Three-down outside linebacker with a well-balanced skill set. Murray probably best fits the role of a tradition Mike linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. He’s great a playing downhill and plugging games, but also has sideline-to-sideline range. He can also drop back in zone coverage, or win on blitzes with strong closing speed.

Where he can improve: Develop play-recognition skills. Murray’s aggressive tendency draws him out of position too often — his recovery speed helps mask those errors, but it will become more noticeable in the NFL. His athleticism also gives him room to improve as coverage linebacker, where he often looks uncomfortable when asked to match up in man. His strengths are a slightly better suited for an outdated version of the NFL, but his athleticism should give teams hope he can be groomed into a solid starter.

Malik Harrison – LB – Ohio State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Run-stuffing linebacker who is at his best playing downhill and plugging holes between the tackles. Harrison is a bit of a throwback, as a hard-hitting linebacker who can control the middle of the field. He has enough athleticism to drop into zone coverage on occasion. Productive on blitzes (11 career sacks).

Where he can improve: Clean up missed tackles. Harrison’s lack of elite agility allows quicker running backs to escape tackles when he isn’t aggressive in closing on them. Despite being recruited as an “athlete” and hoping to play wide receiver, he just doesn’t have the elite athleticism that most teams are trying to find for the middle of their defense. He could be a “starter” on first and second downs, but he probably shouldn’t be on the field in passing situations.

Akeem Davis-Gaither – LB – Ohio State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Rangy linebacker who can excel in coverage and make a pass-rush impact on blitzes. Davis-Gaither is sort of the Isaiah Simmons-lite of this draft class. He’s built like a safety/linebacker ‘tweener but that gives him a nice combination of athleticism and strength for today’s game. He’ll provide the most value in coverage, where he’s primarily played zone at Appalachian State.

Where he can improve: Develop the functional strength to shed blocks. Davis-Gaither is effective at avoiding contact, but when he does engage he’s often unable to stack and shed — something which an NFL training regimen should be able to fix. He’ll also need to prove he can handle man coverage assignments, something with which he simply lacks experience.

Willie Gay – LB – Mississippi State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Rangy off-ball linebacker who provides the most value in coverage. Gay runs like a safety, and has the speed/ability to hang with tight ends in man coverage. If nothing else, he’ll provide some value for that skill set alone in certain matchups. He’s also an ideal special teams player, giving him a reasonably high floor as a sub-package linebacker and special teams contributor (assuming he stays out of trouble).

Where he can improve: Avoid suspensions. Multiple suspensions kept Gay off the field throughout his career, including a fight with Mississippi State quarterback Garrett Schrader, which led to an injury keeping Schrader out of their bowl game. He was also ejected from a game due to multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. One of his suspensions was for academic fraud, which obviously won’t be an issue in the NFL — but given the number of issues he’s had, you have to wonder if he’s the type of person who simply will never get out of his own way. On the field, Gay may benefit from adding functional strength to improve against the run. He lacks the strength to stack-and-shed.

Troy Dye – LB – Oregon

Why/where he’ll succeed: Athletic coverage linebacker with the range to also offer some value against the run. Dye can run with tight ends in man coverage, which will earn him a valuable role on almost any defense. He has also proven to be effective on blitzes. He’s also flashes ball skills in coverage that are more safety-like than the typical coverage linebacker.

Where he can improve: Play more disciplined. Misdirection can throw off Dye, and he’ll bite hard on play action at times. Stepping up against the run isn’t a strength of his, and some coaches may want to see him bulk up a little, but that could come at the expensive of his athleticism which makes him a great coverage linebacker. His lack of ideal strength has also led to some missed tackles. In today’s game, it’s probably best to maximize his coverage value and live with his lack of ideal run-defense production.

Jordyn Brooks – LB – Texas Tech

Quick Summer: Brooks is a throwback linebacker, who excels playing downhill and plugging gaps at the line of scrimmage. He has a high ceiling in terms of his production against the run. He tested well in the 40 at the combine, but that straight-line speed doesn’t translate to lateral quickness. He’s stiff in coverage and wasn’t trusted in man coverage often. He’ll probably need to come off the field on passing downs, limiting his value in this era of football.

Evan Weaver – LB – California

Quick Summer: Weaver produced at a high level at California and was a leader on a strong defense. His strength is his anticipation and patience, which allowed him to rack up huge tackle numbers at Cal. Poor athleticism limits his value in coverage, and makes him a liability in man coverage. He’ll contribute on special teams immediately, and may have some early-down value as a linebacker.

Markus Bailey – LB – Purdue

Quick Summer: With two season-ending knee injuries on his resume, it’s impossible to value Bailey based purely on talent. His injury history is a major red flag, which may have already dealt a devastating blow to his NFL career. One of his strengths is getting to the quarterback, which is not a typical strong area for off-ball linebackers. He was consistently productive on blitzes throughout his career. Even when healthy, he doesn’t appear to have the athleticism to excel in coverage, and he’s likely lost a step due to multiple knee injuries. He’s probably best suited as a two-down off-ball linebacker, or potentially adding some weight to play on the edge.

Cornerbacks

Jeff Okudah – CB – Ohio State

Why/where he’ll succeed: No. 1 corner who can be left on an island. Okudah has the rare ability to mirror receivers throughout their route. His combination of size and speed is also unique, allowing him to get physical with bigger receivers, while also sticking to speedsters down the field. Okudah’s transition to the NFL also benefits from playing at Ohio State, one of the few college programs still relying more heavily on man coverage. He’s an immediate starter with the potential to refine some areas and turn into one of the NFL’s elite.

Where he can improve: Can still improve his ability to compete for the ball. While he prevents receivers from creating separation, his ability to battle at the catch point is merely average. Receivers who don’t need separation (think Mike Evans) should still be able win against him early in Okudah’s career.

Notes/Stats/Links

Kristian Fulton – CB – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Starting outside corner who might fit best in zone scheme, but has plenty of experience in man. Fulton is comfortable playing physical with bigger receivers and excels at competing for the ball at the catch point. He’s flashed some success in press man coverage.

Where he can improve: Speed is the primary concern, although it’s probably not an area that can be improved. If he can’t stick to speedsters down the field, he might be a better fit in zone coverage. While he isn’t afraid of physical play, he could improve his functional strength to better compete with bigger receivers. Teams will also have concerns about his year-long suspension for cheating on a drug test (and later admitting it was because of marijuana use)—the drug use is less of a concern, but the stupidity required to attempt to cheat the system raises a red flag that teams will want to investigate.

Notes/Stats/Links

Cameron Dantzler – CB – Mississippi State

Why/where he’ll succeed: Starting outside corner with the length to match up with bigger receivers. Dantzler’s strength is his ability to locate and make plays on the ball—it’s a skill that would likely allow him to make a smooth transition to safety if things went south on his cornerback career (a la Malcolm Jenkins). Plays with an obvious competitive streak and is eager to get physical in press coverage.

Where he can improve: Overly aggressive in terms of making contact and will need to tone it down to adjust to NFL rules. Has already added weight in college but probably needs to add some more functional strength to handle the elite possession receivers in the NFL—matchups he will be expected to take give his length.

Notes/Stats/Links

Trevon Diggs – CB – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Starting outside corner who can excel in zone or man. With an ideal combination of length, ball skills and experience in man coverage, Diggs has the potential make a strong early impact in the league. The younger brother of Stefon Diggs, and a former receiver himself, Trevon has the athleticism and instincts to hold up on an island versus most receivers.

Where he can improve: Can be overaggressive at times, and bites on doubles moves a high rate. Deep speed is a concern in some matchups—it probably isn’t something he can improve upon significantly, but if he can’t hold up it will alter how he’s used. Despite some potential concern in this area, he has an ideal skill set for a transition to safety, making him a relatively safe prospect.

Notes/Stats/Links

Jaylon Johnson – CB – Utah

Why/where he’ll succeed: Starting outside corner who is built for press man. Ideal length and willingness to get physical to excel in press. Excels at competing for the ball at the catch point.

Where he can improve: Would benefit from improved footwork and hand placement—he currently relies heavily on instincts and physical play, and it isn’t always technically sound. Receivers will polished technique versus press coverage will know how to take advantage of him early in his career. Could improve his hands—he does a great job getting in position to disrupt the catch but doesn’t always come down with the interception.

Notes/Stats/Links

C.J. Henderson – CB – Florida

Why/where he’ll succeed: No. 2 outside starting cornerback, with the physical skill set to ascend to a No. 1 corner. Above average length allowed Henderson to compete with bigger receivers. Consistently competes for the ball. Athleticism allows him to recover from mistakes.

Where he can improve: Needs to develop his ability to anticipate routes, rather than purely reacting. He’s often late to react, possibly because he trusts his athleticism to such a high degree that he’s willing to give that extra split second. Despite his elite athleticism, his slow reactions have made him a susceptible to giving up big plays while in man coverage. Played a high rate of zone coverage in 2019, but had plenty of experience in man earlier in his career with mixed results throughout. Took an obvious step backwards in 2019—did he just get lazy and think his talent would carry him? NFL teams will want to dive into that question through interviews with Henderson and Florida’s coaching staff.

Jeff Gladney – CB – TCU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Potential No. 1 cornerback, with a relatively high floor. Gladney is slightly shorter than the ideal cornerback, but his length (31 7/8″ arms) is in an acceptable range. Due to his quickness and modest size, he’ll match up better with smaller, faster receivers — but he doesn’t back down from tougher matchups. Gladney has also demonstrated a consistent ability to make plays on the ball.

Where he can improve: Run support. You’re not drafting Gladney for his skills in run support, but he could increase his value by improving in this area. Adding some functional strength could benefit him in this area, while also making him better suited to play versus bigger receivers on the outside.

Amik Robertson – CB – Louisiana Tech

Quick Summary: Short but extremely physical and won’t back down from bigger receivers. Robertson does a great job fighting for the ball in contested situations, especially considering his size. His long speed is only average, which may limit him more than his size. Due to his height and speed, he’ll probably fit best in the slot, but could prove to be an elite defensive weapon there.

Damon Arnette – CB – Ohio State

Quick Summary: Arnette has a lot of experience in man coverage, which will make him more attractive to teams looking for immediate help with that scheme. He lacks ideal athleticism and length for the position, but makes up for it with consistency in his technique. His ceiling isn’t high, but he could safely be plugged into a starting role as a rookie if needed.

Noah Igbinoghene – CB – Auburn

Quick Summary: Igbinoghene is a converted wide receiver with two years of experience at cornerback. He’s a good athlete who has made a relatively smooth transition to the position so far. However, he struggles locating the ball and probably can’t be trusted to play at a high level early in his career. He’s a developmental prospect with a high ceiling, but enters the league at a low floor.

Dane Jackson- CB – Pittsburgh

Quick Summary: Jackson posted elite production in college but lacks ideal length and tested poorly at the combine. He wins by getting physical at the line of scrimmage and stick with receivers in short areas, but lacks the deep speed to defend downfield routes consistently. He’ll make a smooth transition to the NFL in terms of having a mastery of press coverage, but he may simply lack the physical tools to hold down a starting job.

Troy Pride Jr. – CB – Notre Dame

Quick Summary: Pride wins with athleticism and has the speed to stick to receivers down the field and recover from mistakes. He has experience in the slot and may be best suited to play there, where his lack of ideal length won’t matter. His primary weakness is a lack of ball skills, which ranks among the worst in this draft class. Given his athleticism, he’s worth taking a chance on, but without ball skills, he has a low floor.

A.J. Terrell – CB – Clemson

Quick Summary: Terrell has the size, length and athleticism to excel in the league, but he’s never lived up to expectations with his production on the field. Terrell doesn’t consistently get his hands on the ball and was routinely beat against tougher competition. If he’s willing to learn to be more physical and compete for the ball, he has the ceiling of a solid starting cornerback — if not, he’s a bust.

Bryce Hall – CB – Virginia

Quick Summary: Hall had a huge season in 2018, but missed most of the 2019 season with an ankle injury. Aside from Okudah, he may be the most NFL-ready cornerback and will make a smooth transition to a zone coverage scheme (which most teams are favoring these days). He lacks ideal deep speed, so he probably can’t play on an island, but in the right scheme he’s a strong starter with immediate value.

Safeties

Grant Delpit – S – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Ball-hawking free safety but also has coverage skills to play slot corner. Delpit’s versatile skill set makes him a weapon in the secondary. He primarily split his time as a free safety and lining up over the slot at LSU. His greatest strength is an advanced ability to read the quarterback and the receiver to put himself in position to make plays on the ball.

Where he can improve: Tackling. Any criticism of Delpit always starts with a conversation about his tackling — but that’s not what you’re paying your safeties for. While you want everyone on your defense to be sound tacklers, if you safety is forced to make a tackle, it usually means something else went wrong. Smart teams will overlook Delpit’s inconsistent tackling in favor of his disruptive ability in the secondary.

Ashtyn Davis – S – LSU

Why/where he’ll succeed: Single-high free safety with elite range. Davis’ speed in the deep secondary allows him to cover the grounded needed to operate as the single-high safety. He also has some experience in the slot and playing near the line of scrimmage, but he’ll have his most value in the deep secondary. He’s also a reasonably reliable tackler and can be relied upon as the last line of defense in the run game.

Where he can improve: Anticipation. Davis’ speed allows him to make plays on the ball, but he would be more dangerous if he could leave his spot a step earlier. He’s often reacting rather than anticipating, and his value will increase significantly if he can start to make more plays on the ball.

Xavier McKinney – S – Alabama

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile weapon who can be used interchangeably at either safety spot. McKinney has the physical style of play necessary to play in the box, but also the range to play in the deep secondary. Alabama also used him on a fair number of blitzes, and he was consistently productive in that role.

Where he can improve: Develop the ability to anticipate and play with more confidence in his decisions. McKinney is consistently reacting rather than anticipating in all phases of the game. It makes him a step slow to break on the ball as a deep safety, and also when reacting to the run game. As a result, he’s more of a clean-up-the-mess type of player rather than someone who makes splash plays. He could also improve his ball skills, as he finished his career with more dropped interceptions (6) than interceptions (5), according to Sports Info Solutions.

Jeremy Chinn- S – Southern Illinois

Why/where he’ll succeed: Versatile weapon who may be most valuable playing in the box, but also has elite rate to play in the deep secondary. Chinn was used interchangeably as a deep safety, slot corner and in the box at Southern Illinois. He clearly has NFL size and athleticism — so, at least physically, the jump to the NFL shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.

Where he can improve: Learn to anticipate. Chinn was so far above most of the competition he faced, that he could react faster than most could anticipate. Learning to read the QB, however, will be necessary if he’s going to play free safety at the next level. Chinn also needs to learn to read running plays as they develop. He was rarely making splash plays in the backfield, even when lining up in the box. Expect him to play mostly on special teams early in his career — where he should be a standout — while he develops instincts to play at the highest level.

Antoine Winfield Jr. – S – Minnesota

Quick summary: Winfield lacks ideal size and has just modest athleticism, but he has good ball skills and enough range to play free safety. His strength is reading the quarterback in zone coverage, and it gives him the advantage he needs to make up for average athleticism. That’s a skill set that will translate to the NFL, potentially making him read to start immediately. He played in the box in college, but his lack of size will limit his production in that role.

Terrell Burgess – S – Utah

Why/where he’ll succeed: Free safety/slot corner. Utah used Burgess all over the secondary. They also trusted him in the slot versus both receivers and tight ends. His skill set will make him a useful weapon covering athletic tight ends, although he does lack ideal length for that role. He’s slightly undersized to play in the box, but he’s a reliable tackler and could step into that role occasionally at the next level.

Where he can improve: Improve functional strength. Since he’s giving up some length, Burgess should improve his strength to match up with tight ends at the next level, assuming that’s a role he’s asked to play. If he’s placed in the deep secondary as a free safety, he’ll need to work on his ability to read the quarterback, as that’s where he has the least experience.

Kyle Dugger – S – Lenoir-Rhyne

Quick Summary: Built like a strong safety with the strength/athleticism to excel in the box. The level of competition he faced at Lenoir-Rhyne is far removed from the NFL, so set your rookie expectations low. He should play a special teams role immediately, and slowly be brought along as a project. But he performed reasonably well at the Senior Bowl, proving he belongs and has the upside to develop into a starter.

K’Von Wallace – S – Clemson

Quick Summary: A true strong safety who is a reliable tackler and excels in coverage. Wallace is slightly on the small side for a box-safety, but he’s quick enough to avoid the traffic and tackles like a linebacker. His best trait is his coverage skill set, where he is constantly competing for the ball and frustrating slot receivers. Some teams may view him as strictly a slot corner, but in today’s NFL there’s still immense value in that skill set.

J.R. Reed – S – Georgia

Quick Summary: Free safety with good range in the deep secondary. Reed — the son of former Vikings receiver Jake Reed — plays smart and is rarely caught out of position. He does a nice job reading the quarterback and getting himself into position to contest passes downfield. He looks hesitant playing in the box and probably doesn’t have a future in that role. While he probably doesn’t have an elite ceiling, there’s value in having a free safety you can trust to play intelligent football in the deep secondary.

Josh Metellus – S – Michigan

Quick Summary: Versatile safety who shown steady progress throughout his career. Probably lacks ideal coverage skills to play a traditional strong safety role, but has excelled both playing in the box and in the deep secondary. With more and more teams relying heavily on zone coverage in the NFL, his average athleticism in coverage may not be an issue. Likely a backup/special teams player early in his career, with potential to grow into a bigger role.