Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Grades and Analysis

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Grades and Analysis for NFL Draft 2019

Overall Grade: B+

I decided to do bonus draft coverage for the Buccaneers, since I'm also becoming a fan of them. It's hard because they are terrible, but still. It was a great draft for the Buccaneers. They needed major help on defense and they got it! They found five potential future starters for the defense, along with a new kicker, and a WR that has a chance to be good. It would have been nice to see a RB drafted or one at least taken as a rookie free agent. I’m not sure about Ronald Jones yet, who had a terrible rookie year. I liked Nick Chubb better, who had better balance, power, and cutting ability. Jones probably only beat him on top speed. He also looked to have as good explosion. Also the Bucks should have drafted at least one offensive lineman.

Round 1: Devin White, LB – Grade: A

I love this pick! White just looks like a beast on tape. He’s fast and powerful. He tested very well at the combine with a 4.42 40, a 39.5 inch vertical, a 7.07 three cone, and a 4.17 shuttle. He’s not huge at 237 lbs, but big enough since he’s so strong. He had two great years with over 120 tackles and 12 tackles for losses. He also had 6 passes defended his senior year and three sacks. He went from 37 solo tackles his junior year to 62 during his senior year. The Buccaneers also needed an inside linebacker. Devin White will be a probowl player.

Round 2: Sean Bunting, CB – Grade B-

Bunting has good size at 6’ 195 lbs. He’s athletic with a 4.42 40, a 41 inch vertical, and a 6.85 three cone drill. He had 5 passes broken up for three years in a row, which isn’t amazing, but is okay. He also had 9 interceptions over three years which is decent. His best stat is that he allowed under a 39 percent completion rate during his senior year. It seems to have been a little high to take him which is why he got a B - grade, but He has a chance to become an eventual starter.

Round 3: Jamel Dean, CB – Grade B

He has slightly better size than Bunting at 6’1” 206. His 40 time is great at a 4.3 and is vertical and broad jump are also very good at 41 inches and 130 inches. His cone had shuttle were not as good as I would like for a CB at 7.02 and 4.19. He has had multiple knee surgeries, but seems to have healed up fine for now. He only allowed a 40 percent completion rate during his senior year, but still needs to work on his technique. He only had 2 interceptions in two years, but did have 17 passes broken up. He’ll need some work but has a chance to become a starter. Not bad for the third round.

Round 3: Mike Edwards, S – Grade B+

He has no testing data, but he looks very athletic on tape. I’m confident that he can get it done in the NFL. He’s a little small for a safety at 5’11” 205. He has good stats with 23 passes broken up over 4 years, 10 interceptions, 317 tackles, and 21 tackles for losses. He had 100 tackles during his sophomore year. He looks like a play-maker on tape for sure. I wish there was more data on him, but I like the pick and think that he can also become a starter at safety, but might have to put on 10 lbs. 

Round 4: Anthony Nelson, DE – Grade B+

Nelson is a big bodied DE at 6’7” 271lbs. He also has long 34 7/8 inch arms. He tested extremely well at the combine, especially for someone his size. He had a 6.95 3 cone which is ridiculous at 271, as well as one of the best vertical, and broad jump times. His shuttle is great at 4.23 and his 40 is above average for his size as well. He is a little low on tackles with 45 his senior year but his 13.5 tackles for a loss and his 9.5 sacks are decent. He also had 5 passes defended during his junior year. He should work on getting stronger and work on his technique but he has great potential. He also could eventually become a starter at DE and is a great pick in the 4^th round.

Round 5, Matt Gay, K: Grade B+

It’s tough to ever like drafting a kicker, but Matt Gay seems worth it. The Buck’s kickers were horrible. He has a good leg, making 72 percent of his field goals over 50 yards. He’s also accurate, hitting 35 of 36 under 40. He’s the potential future at kicker in Tampa.

Round 6: Scott Miller, WR: Grade A

I love this pick for the sixth round. He’s got great top speed with a 4.36 40, a great cone at 4.02. and a strong 15 bench reps for someone his size. He had a great senior year with 1148 yards, a 16.2 yard average, and 9 TDs. He has 2867 career yards and an impressive 23 touchdowns. He shows off his impressive speed on tape. He also has great moves to make defenders miss. Lastly, he made some impressive catches. His main issue is his weight at 176, but that’s bigger than first round pick Marquise Brown who was 166.

Round 7 Terry Beckner Jr. DT: Grade D+

Beckner isn’t very athletic and is a little small at 296 lbs. He has low numbers of sacks and tackles. He did have okay numbers at tackles for losses. Although he’s not athletic, he does have good feel in small spaces and good hands. Still I don’t think he’ll make the team.

Bonus: RFA signing of Anthony Johnson, WR - Grade: A

He had 2367 yards in two years and 25 TDs. He also had a career average of 17.8 yards per catch, which is great. He ran a 4.55,which isn’t great an a 7.12 3 cone, which also isn’t great. He has good size though at 6’2” 209. He was projected to be a 4^th round pick. He had some nice contested catches, and looks to have good hands. He got pretty open on many of his catches also. He’s an amazing find as a RFA. He has a chance to make the team.

Philadelphia Eagles Rookie Free Agent Signings - Grades and Assessments

Rookie Free Agent Signings

The grades are scaled since they are RFAs and do not match up with the grades of drafted players. It means how good of a rookie free agent signing they are.

T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin- Grade B

Edwards had very good stats in college. He had 15 passes broken up for his career, 10 interceptions, 37.5 tackles for a loss, and 366 tackles. His senior year he had 112 tackles and 11.5 for a loss, which is a strong year. He has a lot of starting experience. He’s a little small at 230 lbs. He tested very poorly in the 40 at 4.87. His other numbers besides his 3 cone and shuttle were all poor as well. His cone and shuttle were both decent. He’ll have trouble in man coverage because of his speed. He could make the team because we are thin at LB and because of his instincts, but he’ll have to work on getting faster if possible.

Joey Alfieri, LB, Stanford – Grade C -

Good size at 6’3” 240. He didn’t have much in the way of stats. His best year was his sophomore year, which you don’t usually like to see. That year he had 51 tackles, 10 for a loss, and 4 sacks. He had a middle of the road broad jump, a pretty good 3 cone, a below average shuttle, an above average 40, and an average vertical. He’s reasonably athletic, but with his poor stats, he doesn’t look like a great prospect. Still, we are so thin at linebacker that he has a chance.

Kevin Wilkins, DT, Rutgers – Grade D-

He has okay size, but terrible Stats and no sacks as a junior or a senior. He is very un-athletic He won’t make the team.

Anthony Rush, DT, Alabama-Birmingham – Grade B

Very big at 6’5” 350 43 tackles, 11 for a loss, and two sacks. Decent stats for someone so big. No measurables. He could be someone who plays in the NFL, but it’s unlikely he’ll make the Eagles since they have a bunch of DTs.

Ryan Bates, OT, Penn State – Grade B+

He has top level shuttle and 3 cone times as well as a good 40 and a good number of bench reps. His board jump is poor as well as his vertical. He’s good side to side, but not great moving forward. He only weights 306 and will have to put on weight and become more explosive. He has poor leverage and pad level, which will make it hard for him to be successful in the NFL. Still, if he can improve those areas and get bigger, he was a decent signing.

 Iosua Opeta, G, Weber State – Grade A

Adequate size and arm length. He had one of the best 40 time at 5.02 and the most bench reps of any offensive lineman at 39. He also had one of the best vertical leaps for an offensive lineman at 33 inches, and a high level broad jump at 112 inches. His cone and shuttle times were some of the worst though. He has straight line explosion but isn’t good side to side. He’ll need to work on his footwork and pass protection. He has a chance to make the team because

Nate Herbig, G, Stanford – Grade B-

He is big and has decent arm length. He doesn’t look as cut as other lineman though. He is one of the least athletic offensive lineman that their was. He did have a high number of bench reps though. He would have to lose weight, improve his balance and leverage, and become much more athletic to have a better chance in the NFL. Still he started many games for Stanford, and was worth bringing in as a RFA, especially since the Eagles are thin at guard.

DeAndre Thompkins, WR, Penn State – Grade A-

The Eagles are obsessed with Penn State this year. DeAndre didn’t catch many balls, but when you add up all of his years he had decent stats with 1245 yards, a 15 yard per catch average, and 12 TDs. He’s a little smaller, but a fine size at 5’11” 192. He had a great 40 time at 4.34, a good broad jump of 126 inches, an above average cone drill, and an average shuttle time. He’s a good free agent pick up, but will have a hard time making the team with all of the WR depth that we have.

Nico Evans, RB, Wyoming – Grade C

He’s a pretty athletic running back with decent straight ahead athletics, but poor lateral athletics. His 3 cone and shuttle times show that he won’t be able to make the NFL. He had over 1300 yards and a 6.5 yard average his senior year. On tape, he has pretty good explosion and speed, but not as great lateral movement. He will have a hard time making the team with the depth at RB since he doesn’t seem as great as any of the RBs that we currently have. There were many other undrafted RBs that would have been better.

Delvon Randall, S, Temple – Grade C -

His stats look pretty good with 12 career interceptions and 11 passes defended. He also had 246 career tackles. He is simply not athletic enough to play safety in the NFL. His only chance would be to put on weight and lose no speed and play LB.

Rookie Free Agents that we should have taken:

Emmanuel Hall, WR – Very athletic with a 4.39 40, a 43.5 inch vertical, and a 141 inch board jump. He was also productive in college with two years over 800 yards and a 24.8 and 22.4 yards per catch during his junior and senior years. I can’t believe he wasn’t drafted. Wow!

Dominick Bragalone RB, Lehigh 5’11” 230:  He’s from a smaller school, but looks to have the measurable to make an impact in the NFL. He ran a 4.44, had 31 reps, and a 10’3” broad jump. He has good cutting ability, especially for someone of his size and pretty good explosion and power too. He should pump his legs better when someone grabs them and he could break even more tackles. He is good at breaking most arm tackles though. He had three great years with over a thousand yards and a 5.6 yard per average until a poor senior year.

Ross Reynolds G, Iowa 6’3” 304: Although he only started for one year, he has great athleticism. He may have to move to center, but could be a steal if he does.

Jason Moore WR, Findlay 6’3 215 – Good size and while is 40 is just okay at 4.57, he posted a 4.07 shuttle and a 6.62 three cone drill, which are both great times. He also had a 37 inch vertical. He had over a fifteen yard average for two years and two thousand yards combined. He must have been injured his senior year. He’s worth a shot as a FA for sure.

Jeff Smith WR, Boston College 6’0” 191: Really great measurable with a 4.36 40 a 4.06 shuttle and a 6.87 three cone drill. He didn’t have much production and started out as a QB, but when you combine all of his years, he had 902 rushing yards with a 6.6 yard average and over a thousand receiving yards with a 15 yard average. His hand are bad, maybe switch him to defense or he should work to improve. Worth a shot as a rookie free agent.

Jalen Guyton WR, North Texas 6’1” 212: Another guy with good size and great measurable. He also has decent production with 1580 yards and a 15.3 yards average over two years. He’s raw and needs to work on his game though. Wroth it as a FA pick up.

Brett Rypien, QB – Rypien had 4 good productive years in college. He had a 67 completion percentage his senior year, a 8.3 yard per catch, and a 30 to 7 touchdown to interception ratio. He has a good release, good accuracy, and reads the field well. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but strong enough.

Yosuah Nijman OT, Virginia Tech 6”7” 324  – He has great size and long arms. He’s also very athletic.

Drew Lewis, LB – He’s a little smaller at 230, but he ran very well at the combine. And had a strong junior year with 94 tackles.

Philadelphia Eagles 2019 NFL Draft Grades and Assessment

Eagles Draft Grades and Alternate Possibilities 

Overall Grade: B

Round 1: Andre Dillard OT, Washington State 6’5” 315: Grade A

The Eagles traded up a few spots for Dillard and it was worth it! He’s the prospect that I wanted most and it’s amazing that we got him. He has good size and height with decently long arms. He’s one of the best pass blockers in the NFL and should be a great LT for many years to come. He’s also extremely athletic for an OT. One of the most athletic. He will need to work on his run blocking, but is a great prospect. He’ll be able to fill in for any injured offensive lineman this year and take over for Jason Peters when he retires.

Round 2: Miles Sanders RB, Penn State 5’11” 211: Grade A-

The Eagles needed a running back to fill the shoes of Darren Sproles. They traded for Jordan Howard from the Bears, but his contract only lasts one more year. Howard is a decent running back with some power, but isn’t very shifty or a great pass catcher. Sanders has the chance to be a great every down back. He needs to become more explosive, but I think he can do that. He’ll have a chance to develop behind Howard for a year before he becomes the man. Sanders has only one year of production because he played behind Saquon Barkley (Greatest running back prospect of all time, who proved it in his rookie year). Sanders had a reasonable six yard average and tested very well at the combine in the shuttle and three cone drills. He shows on tape that he has good balance and shiftiness to make people miss and stay on his feet. He also has good power in his leg drive. He doesn’t have great explosiveness or top speed, but he’s more likely to succeed than someone like Darrell Henderson who does have those attributes, but isn’t as shifty.

Other options: we could have signed TJ Yeldon in free Agency and gone with Sharping here. I also would have preferred to trade this pick for Duke Johnson, RB on the Browns. 

Max Sharping OT/G, Northern Illinois 6’6” 327, Round 2/3, – He is very big at 327, but is still very athletic. He has some issues with his balance and footwork, but still graded very well as a pass blocker and a run blocker. He’s probably better as a RT than a LT. He’s another player that the Eagles should target in the second or third round. He could have filled in for Brandon Brooks while he’s injured and then taken over for Isaac Seumalo.

Round 2: J.J. Arcega-whiteside WR, Stanford 6’2” 225: Grade B- 

The Eagles didn’t need a WR and there were better receivers still available if they wanted to pick one. He has pretty good size and long arms. He had a decent senior year with over a thousand yards and 14 TDs. He also had a good career average of 16.4 yards per catch. His 40 time was also good at 4.5. Unfortunately, his other measurables are not good and it shows on tape. He had a poor 34 inch vertical, a 9’11” board, a 4.41 shuttle, and a 7.23 cone drill. All of these numbers are bellow average and are not NFL caliber numbers. That being said, he didn’t do well in college because of his athleticism or ability to get open. And Players do succeed with his level of athleticism, namely Anquan Boldin. He did well because of his long arms, and ability to win 50/50 balls. He is strong and has great hands. He is able to box defenders out and make contested catches. He has a chance to be a good NFL starter.

Prospects I would have taken instead:

If we wanted a WR here, I would have preferred to draft D.K. Metcalf who is taller with longer arms and much more straight-line speed. 

I would have taken Juan Thornhill:

Juan Thornhill Safety, Virginia 6’0” 205: Round 2/3– I’d take him in the second. He has great athleticism, enough to play cornerback in the NFL. He also had many passes broken up and six interceptions during his senior year.  

Justin Layne CB, Michigan St. 6’2” 192: Round 2– He has great height and good explosiveness. He isn’t as much of an elite athlete as some, but seems to be enough of an athlete. He has many pass break ups in his senior year.

Round 4: Shareef Miller EDGE, Penn State 6’4” 254: Grade C-

Miller has okay size and good arm length. He doesn’t look very strong and really has no bull rush. His first step isn’t that impressive either. He doesn’t look great against the run. His stats are okay. His tackle numbers are low but his 15 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks are decent. His 40 is middle of the road. His bench reps and vertical jump are the worst out of ever EDGE rusher. His shuttle is on the lower end, and he had no cone drill. His highlights are okay, but several times, he was unblocked or part of a group tackle. He’s fine for a 4^th round pick and could develop into an okay player.

Players that I would have drafted instead: There were some good LBs with potential and we also need an LB.

Blake Cashman LB, Minnesota 6’1” 237: Round 5/6 – While he’s not known as being super athletic he tested very well at the combine and he looks quick to me on tape. He had over a hundred tackles his senior year and 15 tackles for a loss. He also had 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks during his sophomore year.

Ben Burr-Kirven LB, Washington 6’0” 230, Round 6/7– Smaller at 230, but he is extremely athletic with an excellent 40 time of 4.56 and great shuttle and cone times of 4.09 and 6.85. He was productive throughout college, but had a ridiculous 176 tackles his senior year.

Cole Holcomb LB, North Carolina 6’1 231: Round 6 – Great athleticism with a 4.5 in the 40, an 11’ broad, a 4.14 shuttle and a 6.77 three cone. He was also very productive with 312 tackles in three years and 12 passes defended. He also had 4 forced fumbles during his senior year.

Round 5: Clayton Thorson QB, Northwestern, 6’4” 222 Grade: B-

He doesn’t have any combine measurable, but moves decently well in the pocket. He’s not super fast, but he did have many TDs on QB sneaks. His stats are terrible. He had only 6.3 yards per catch, and threw way too many interceptions and not a lot of touch downs. He does have many starts though. His arm talent seems decent with decent power. His release is a little slow and his accuracy is just okay on long and intermediate throws. His short throw accuracy is good. He makes some bad decisions and sometimes throws into double coverage. He goes through his progressions well. He took a lot of sacks, many of which were his fault, but his offensive line was average as well. He didn’t have great receivers to throw to. He’s a developmental prospect with some potential.

Player that I would have drafted instead:

Cole Holcomb LB, North Carolina 6’1 231: Round 6 – Great athleticism with a 4.5 in the 40, an 11’ broad, a 4.14 shuttle and a 6.77 three cone. He was also very productive with 312 tackles in three years and 12 passes defended. He also had 4 forced fumbles during his senior year.

Eagles NFL Mock Draft

Every Round for the Eagles Mock Draft

Round 1 (25): Devin Bush LB – The Eagles are in desperate need for linebackers and there are not many great ones in the draft.

Other possibilities: Andre Dillard, OT if he drops – We need to replace Jason Peters since he’s old and gets injured all of the time. It’s probably his last year.

AJ Brown, WR – While we don’t need a WR this year, Nelson Agholor is on the last year of his contract. AJ Brown looks amazing and would be a huge asset in the pass game.

Round 2 (53): Dalton Risner, OT if we don’t get Andre Dillard in the first round we should go with Dalton Risner to replace Peters when He retires.

Other Options: Max Sharping, OT: another great tackle prospect who can replace Peters.

Chris Lindstrom, G: I’d rather have one of the tackles, but Lindstrom is an athletic guard that will help sure up our offensive line.

Round 2 (57): Justin Layne, CB: More help for the secondary. We only have Ronald Darby for one year and Jalen Mills has some legal trouble

Other Options:  Juan Thornhill, Safety: We need depth in the secondary. Juan is a great prospect to help out.

Round 4 (127): Devin Singletary, RB: we don’t have great running backs after Jordan Howard. Singletary could replace Darren Sproles roll as a complementary back and passing game back.

Round 4 (138): Isaiah Johnson, CB: More help for the secondary.

Round 5 (163): Cortez Broughton, DT: It would help to add some depth behind our top DTs. Broughton is productive and athletic.

Other Options: Blake Cashman, LB an athletic productive LB to help us at the position.

Round 6 (197): Ben Burr-Kirven, LB: We need help at LB and Burr-Kirven is a great late round prospect with amazing production and good athleticism.

Oher Options: Cole Holcomb, LB another athletic productive linebacker to compete for a starting spot.

Rookie Free Agents that we Should Target:

Marcus Epps, Wyoming 6’0” 197: Round FA, FS – His 40 time is a little low for a FS at 4.55 but acceptable. But he has very good shuttle and cone drills at 4.07 and 6.77. He has posted a 38.5 inch vertical. He had 324 tackles in 4 years, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 9 ints, and 22 passes defended. He looks good on tape and would be great to take a chance on in the 7^th or in FA.

Garrett Bowery, Lamar 6’1 310: Round FA, G – He’s athletic with a good shuttle time 4.58 and one of the best 10 yard splits for any offensive lineman 1.63. He’s shorter than some guards, and although I couldn’t find his arm length, it’s probably shorter than is preferred. He’s a great prospect to nab as a rookie free agent.

Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh 5’11” 230: Round 7/FA  - He’s from a smaller school, but looks to have the measurable to make an impact in the NFL. He ran a 4.44, had 31 reps, and a 10’3” broad jump. He has good cutting ability, especially for someone of his size and pretty good explosion and power too. He should pump his legs better when someone grabs them and he could break even more tackles. He is good at breaking most arm tackles though. He had three great years with over a thousand yards and a 5.6 yard per average until a poor senior year.

Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois 6’1” 237: Round 7/FA LB   - Insane production 29 sacks and 56.5 tackles for a loss in two years, plus 3 TDs and 7 forced fumbles. Small. Can’t play DE, would have to play LB in the NFL due to his smaller size and lack of height. He has an amazing cone drill 6.75.

Ross Reynolds, Iowa 6’3” 304: Round FA, G – Although he only started for one year, he has great athleticism. He may have to move to center, but could be a steal if he does.

Jason Moore, Findlay 6’3 215 Round FA, WR – Good size and while is 40 is just okay at 4.57, he posted a 4.07 shuttle and a 6.62 three cone drill, which are both great times. He also had a 37 inch vertical. He had over a fifteen yard average for two years and two thousand yards combined. He must have been injured his senior year. He’s worth a shot as a FA for sure.

Jeff Smith, Boston College 6’0” 191: Round FA, WR – Really great measurable with a 4.36 40 a 4.06 shuttle and a 6.87 three cone drill. He didn’t have much production and started out as a QB, but when you combine all of his years, he had 902 rushing yards with a 6.6 yard average and over a thousand receiving yards with a 15 yard average. His hand are bad, maybe switch him to defense or he should work to improve. Worth a shot as a rookie free agent.

Jalen Guyton, North Texas 6’1” 212: Round FA, WR – Another guy with good size and great measurable. He also has decent production with 1580 yards and a 15.3 yards average over two years. He’s raw and needs to work on his game though. Wroth it as a FA pick up.

NFL Draft - Can't Miss First Round Prospects

Best Can't Miss NFL Draft Prospects for Round One

Ed Oliver, Houston, 6’2” 287, DT: While he is a little smaller than preferred for a DT, he fits in the mold of Aaron Donald. He is super athletic for someone of his size. He doesn’t have the preferred height and arm length, but his athleticism will more than make up for it. He was also super productive over his three years with 192 tackles, 53 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks. He also had 11 passes broken up. He will be a terror in passing situations and could move to DE on running downs. He’s another can’t miss prospect.

Josh Allen, Kentucky, 6’5” 262, Edge: He has long arms and a long body. He’s also strong and athletic. While he’s not as athletic as Montez Sweat, he has more than enough speed. Statistically he’s a beast. He had a monster 88 tackles, 21.5 for a loss, 17 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles during his senior year. These numbers are simply amazing. He looks strong, fast, and relentless on tape

Montez Sweat, Mississippi St. 6’6” 245, Edge: He is very long at 6’6” and 35.75 inch arms. He as also reasonable weight at 260. He’s an athletic freak that runs a 4.41 and has a 7.0 cone drill. He also had two great years with 30 tackles for a loss and 22.5 sacks. He might not be amazing in his first year, but he should develop into a sack monster in the NFL. (This analysis doesn't take into account his enlarged heart, which would have to be something he can play with.)

Andre Dillard, Washington St. 6’5 315, OT: He has good size and height with decently long arms. He’s one of the best pass blockers in the NFL and should be a great LT for many years to come. He’s also extremely athletic for an OT. One of the most athletic. He will need to work on his run blocking, but is a great prospect.

Quinnen Williams, Alabama 6’3” 303  DT – Williams only played two years, but his second year he had a great 19.5 tackles for a loss, 71 tackles and 8 sacks, which is an amazing year for a DT. He didn’t run many of the measurable drills, but he did get a 4.83 in the 40 and a 9’4” broad jump. When you watch his tape though, it’s really clear how great he is. He looks dominant and was double teamed a lot. 

Devin White, LSU 6’0 237, LB: He had two great years of production of over 120 tackles. He had 25 tackles for a loss during that time and 7.5 sacks, and 9 passes broken up. He also has very good athleticism with a 4.42 40, a 39.5 inch vertical, a 4.17 shuttle, and a 7.07 three cone drill. He looks like a monster on tape as well. He’s a can’t miss linebacker.

Devin Bush, Michigan, 5’11 234, LB: Devin is another super athlete who ran a 4.43, had a 40.5 inch vertical, and a 6.93 in the three cone. He had two good years in college. His junior year he had 95 tackles, 10 for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and 7 passes defended. His senior year wasn’t as good with 66 tackles 8.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks and 4 passes defended. He looks fast and powerful on tape. While he isn’t as can’t miss at the other players, he will very likely become a great linebacker in the NFL. He should be available a little later than the other prospects.

Best NFL Draft Prospects by Projected Round

NFL Draft Prospects with High Chances of Success 

I didn't include prospects who have high or even mid first round grades even though there are many that I like. A.J Brown is the highest rated player that I wrote about.

A.J. Brown, Mississippi 6’0” 226: Round 1/2 WR – Good athleticism for someone that weighs 226. He also had two greats years in college with over 1200 yards and 15.5 average in each. He runs great routes and has a great catch percentage. He looks like he will be a successful NFL receiver and would be a great value in the second round or even late in the first. 

Juan Thornhill, Virginia 6’0” 205: Round 2/3 Safety– I’d take him in the second. He has great athleticism, enough to play corner back in the NFL. He also had many passes broken up and six interceptions during his senior year.  

Brett Rypien, Boise State 6’2” 210 Round 7, QB – He had good completion percentages for four years as well as a decent yards per attempt and touchdown to interception ratio. He is not super athletic and will not be able to run very well, but he does move around in the pocket very well. He has decent arm strength but not amazing. His accuracy is usually good, but not always on deep throws. He will sometimes try to fit it into a tight window and throw and interception. He reads the field well and usually makes good decisions. His top two receivers who were both seniors are not great prospects which makes him more impressive.  He is worth a shot in the 7^th because of his four years of success and his positive film. 

Justin Layne, Michigan St. 6’2” 192: Round 2 CB – He has great height and good explosiveness. He isn’t as much of an elite athlete as some, but seems to be enough of an athlete. He has many pass break ups in his senior year.

Isaiah Johnson, Houston 6’2” 208: Round 4 CB/S – He is super athletic and big. He could be moved to safety if he improves his tackling. He’s still relatively new to the position so he will still improve his technique. His production is good, but not great. He’s certainly worth taking a chance on in the 4^th round and could develop into a great press corner.

Blake Cashman, Minnesota 6’1” 237: Round 5/6 LB – While he’s not known as being super athletic he tested very well at the combine and he looks quick to me on tape. He had over a hundred tackles his senior year and 15 tackles for a loss. He also had 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks during his sophomore year. He’s a walk on and will be a steal in the 5^th or 6^th rounds. 

Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington 6’0” 230, Round 6/7, LB– Smaller at 230, but he is extremely athletic with an excellent 40 time of 4.56 and great shuttle and cone times of 4.09 and 6.85. He was productive throughout college, but had a ridiculous 176 tackles his senior year. He looks great on tape also and is certainly worth drafting late. 

Andy Isabella, Massachusetts 5’9” 188: Round 3 WR – Great production for three years with a massive senior year. He is also a great athlete. He needs to work on catching with his hands rather than his body, but if he can do that, he could be special.

Jason Moore, Findlay 6’3 215 Round FA, WR – Good size and while is 40 is just okay at 4.57, he posted a 4.07 shuttle and a 6.62 three cone drill, which are both great times. He also had a 37 inch vertical. He had over a fifteen yard average for two years and two thousand yards combined. He must have been injured his senior year. He’s worth a shot as a FA for sure.

Jeff Smith, Boston College 6’0” 191: Round FA, WR – Really great measurable with a 4.36 40 a 4.06 shuttle and a 6.87 three cone drill. He didn’t have much production and started out as a QB, but when you combine all of his years, he had 902 rushing yards with a 6.6 yard average and over a thousand receiving yards with a 15 yard average. His hand are bad, maybe switch him to defense or he should work to improve. Worth a shot as a rookie free agent.

Jalen Guyton, North Texas 6’1” 212: Round FA, WR – Another guy with good size and great measurable. He also has decent production with 1580 yards and a 15.3 yards average over two years. He’s raw and needs to work on his game though. Worth it as a FA pick up.

Chace Winovich, Michigan 6’3” 255: Round 3, Edge/LB – bad board and vert, but good 40 cone shuttle. He plays with great energy and is very explosive. He had 164 tackles in three years, as well as 43 tackles for a loss and 18.5 sacks. 

Ben Banogu, TCU 6’3” 250: Round 5/6, Edge/LB – He has great measurables in the broad, vertical, shuttle and three cone. He has 34.5 tackles for losses in two years and 17 sacks.

Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois 6’1” 237: Round 7/FA, LB   - Insane production 29 sacks and 56.5 tackles for a loss in two years, plus 3 TDs and 7 forced fumbles. Small. Can’t play DE, would have to play LB in the NFL due to his smaller size and lack of height. He has an amazing cone drill 6.75.

Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma State 6’3 250: Round 5/6 Edge – A good senior year with 17 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. One of the best broad jumps.

Cole Holcomb, North Carolina 6’1 231: Round 6, LB – Great athleticism with a 4.5 in the 40, an 11’ broad, a 4.14 shuttle and a 6.77 three cone. He was also very productive with 312 tackles in three years and 12 passes defended. He also had 4 forced fumbles during his senior year.

Ross Reynolds, Iowa 6’3” 304: Round FA, G – Although he only started for one year, he has great athleticism. He may have to move to center, but could be a steal if he does.

Yosuah Nijman, Virginia Tech 6”7” 324: Round 6, OT – He has great size and long arms. He’s also very athletic. He’s more of a project than tackles that will be drafted higher, but that’s why you can get him in the sixth round. He has great potential for a sixth round pick.

Dalton Risner, Kansas St. 6’5” 312: Round 2, OT – While he isn’t as athletic as some of the most athletic tackles and guards, he is still very athletic. He has long arms and big hands. He has a high pass blocking grade and a very high run blocking grade. He could be great to take with one of the Eagles second round picks.

Chris Lindstrom, Boston 6’4” 308: Round 2, G – He started right away as a true freshman and did excellently throughout college. He’s one of the most athletic guards in the draft and he has long arms. He’d be great for teams that like to pull their guards like the Eagles or for teams that run zone blocking schemes. He’s another offensive lineman that I’d target in the second round.

Garrett Bowery, Lamar 6’1 310: Round FA, G – He’s athletic with a good shuttle time 4.58 and one of the best 10 yard splits for any offensive lineman 1.63. He’s shorter than some guards, and although I couldn’t find his arm length, it’s probably shorter than is preferred. He’s a great prospect to nab as a rookie free agent.

Max Sharping, Northern Illinois 6’6” 327, Round 2/3, OT – He is very big at 327, but is still very athletic. He has some issues with his balance and footwork, but still graded very well as a pass blocker and a run blocker. He’s probably better as a RT than a LT. He’s another player that the Eagles should target in the second or third round.

Cortez Broughton, Cincinnati 6’2” 293: Round 5/6 DT – Had one good year with 18.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, which is better than many DTs. He’s a little smaller and shorter than is preferred and his arms are a little shorter. He’s athletic, but not as much as the top DTs.  

Marcus Epps, Wyoming 6’0” 197: Round FA, FS – His 40 time is a little low for a FS at 4.55 but acceptable. But he has very good shuttle and cone drills at 4.07 and 6.77. He has posted a 38.5 inch vertical. He had 324 tackles in 4 years, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 9 ints, and 22 passes defended. He looks good on tape and would be great to take a chance on in the 7^th or in FA. 

Running Backs Worth Drafting

Running Backs that are Worth their Draft Spots

The two types of RBs in the list are shifty guys without much explosion and explosive guys without much shiftiness. I think the first type will do better in the NFL behind average offensive lines. The others could do great behind great offensive lines. The two running backs that I’d be most likely to draft are Miles Sanders in the second and Devin Singletary in the fifth. I don’t love any of the RBs this year compared to other years though. 

Miles Sanders, Penn State 5’11” 211: Round 2 – Sanders has only one year of production because he played behind Saquon Barkley (Greatest running back prospect of all time, who proved it in his rookie year). Sanders had a reasonable six yard average and tested very well at the combine in the shuttle and three cone drills. He shows on tape that he has good balance and shiftiness to make people miss and stay on his feet. He also has good power in his leg drive. He doesn’t have great explosiveness or top speed, but he’s more likely to succeed than someone like Darrell Henderson who does have those attributes, but isn’t as shifty.

Devin Singletary Florida Atlantic 5’7” 203: Round 5 – I really like Singletary for the fifth round. He scored many touchdowns because he’s great in short yardage situations. He knows how to make people miss with his cutting ability and start stop ability. He also shows some power in his compact frame. I wish he was more explosive, but there doesn’t seem to be a RB this year that is both shifty and explosive. He played at a smaller school, which is potentially worrisome since the competition is less.

Bryce Love, Stanford 5’9” 200: Round 4/5 Love has an amazing average per carry before getting injured. I’d only consider him in these mid to later rounds because while he does have amazing acceleration and top speed, he doesn’t seem to make enough happen in short yardage situations, when he doesn’t have a hole to run though. He’s similar to Darrell Henderson in that regard. He also doesn’t seem to have much power. He’d be best as a receiving back.

Darrell Henderson Memphis 5’8” 208: Round 2/3 I probably wouldn’t draft Henderson in the second round, but maybe in the third and only if he’s going to run behind a great offensive line that opens up holes. He has okay power and can rip off huge runs when the hole is there. He’d also be good as a pass catching back. I think that he’ll fail if he has to make his own holes.

David Montgomery, Iowa State 5’10” 222: Round 2 – I’d like him more if he dropped. He’s a lot like other RBs in this class that can make people miss but don’t have explosiveness. I think he’ll do well in the NFL, but I don’t think he’ll be a top RB. I’d prefer to have him in the third round.

Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh 5’11” 230: Round 7/FA  - He’s from a smaller school, but looks to have the measurable to make an impact in the NFL. He ran a 4.44, had 31 reps, and a 10’3” broad jump. He has good cutting ability, especially for someone of his size and pretty good explosion and power too. He should pump his legs better when someone grabs them and he could break even more tackles. He is good at breaking most arm tackles though. He had three great years with over a thousand yards and a 5.6 yard per average until a poor senior year.

Khari Blasingame, Vanderbilt  6'0" 233: 7^th/FA, RB -  good speed and explosion, but doesn’t have good vision or moves. Great in pass protection. Could be a valuable asset in the passing game as a third down RB at a discount. Not great rushing stats, but good receiving stats. He had very good measurable.