Norris: Top 150 NFL Draft Board

This is clearly a draft process unlike any other. We will have limited athletic testing for prospects, which is a significant portion of my evaluations for offensive linemen and defensive linemen, as well as locating late-round targets. Teams do the same, and not possessing the ability to host prospects on visits and private workouts could separate front offices across the league. It most certainly will hurt small school prospects and non-Combine invites. 

If you read closely, you can pick up my biases and types: I value impact. Players who can alter the outcome of a game, even in just a few snaps. Finding “favorites” outside of the top 100 this year was more difficult than before, as those tend to pop up while tracking pro day results, tracking team visits, and watching games to see standout traits.

All athletic composite scores are provided by Zach Whitman from 3sigmaathlete.com. The ages are in reference to September 1, 2019 and are rounded up from 0.8.

1. QB Joe Burrow, LSU

Age: 23 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: No play is ever dead. Burrow’s athleticism is not striking, neither is his arm strength. Yet the total package allows Burrow to consistently create success off script - and the foundation is his confidence and feel for the chaos around him. More athletic quarterbacks make fewer plays than Burrow does. The slight steps and movements to avoid and manufacture space to operate allows his blockers to have even more success. Keeping that out of structure ability in mind, Burrow is also highly effective on script. Joe Brady and company created professional concepts and Burrow executed with the accompanying placement and touch that were necessary.

Forecast: While the NFL world seems to immediately lock their gaze on quarterbacks one year out, this is the third year in a row a quarterback emerges from the shadows to lock down the No. 1 selection spot. Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow. All transfers. Don’t break him, Bengals.

2. QB Tua Tagovailoa, ALABAMA

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: Tua only put quality seasons together at Alabama. From being called in to win the National Championship, to his second and third seasons at Alabama, Tua has only been superb. He anticipates windows, especially vertically. He’s confident extending plays. And most importantly, he operated at a high level inside of structure, when everything goes according to plan. That happened a lot at Alabama, talented receivers running open - but 1) it wasn’t his first read that was constantly open, he frequently worked off his primary or diverted defenses with his eyes, and 2) he also created off-script.

Forecast: Seems to hold the ball a tick too long, leaving himself vulnerable to avoidable hits in the pocket. That segues us into medicals. I am no doctor and multiple reports emerged during Combine week that Tua was cleared by teams. I don’t doubt that, but just from observing this league it becomes clear every year that clubs hate taking risks during the draft process. They consistently hate being first to step onto the invisible bridge. This isn’t a shoulder or a knee that teams see every year. It’s a hip, and I could totally see numerous teams avoid the unknown despite an obvious need at the position.

3. EDGE Chase Young, OHIO STATE

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: Wins in his first three steps with explosion or fluidity or strength. Winning early in the snap translates to the NFL, and Young possesses a pass rush plan to set up his opponent on either side of the line. Young is a threat to disrupt the plan of the offense when he’s afforded a one on one matchup. That is the definition of a primary pass rusher, and those handful of snaps each game can alter the outcome.

Forecast: There’s a constant conversation on the importance of offense versus defense. That has now extended to a discussion on coverage being more important than “front” play. But there’s something to clarity in an evaluation. The ease. Confidence in traits that translate and Young likely elicits the sturdiest conviction among every non-QB in this class.

4. CB JEFF OKUDAH, OHIO STATE

Age: ? | Athletic Profile: Projected in 99th percentile

Where He Wins: I keep repeating it, but the most important aspect of on-field evaluations is recognizing what a player’s strengths are, take an educated guess on what they were asked to do and then determine if how they won at the college level can win at the NFL level. For Okudah, he seemed to play in a C1 or C3 system, which is widely used in the NFL. He’s athletic, is over 6-foot-1 and possesses arms longer than 32-inches - that’s prototypical. Uncommon fluidity at his size.

Forecast: Per PFF, Okudah hasn’t allowed more than 50 yards receiving in any of the 27 games played over that stretch either. He fits your system, draft him. There’s an ongoing discussion in the NFL media bubble that pass coverage is more important than pass rush. It breaks conventional wisdom as decades of team building points in the opposite direction. But lately, we’ve seen teams veer away from that typical path - investing more resources in coverage than box defenders: The Patriots, the Ravens last season, the Dolphins this offseason. I say that to make this statement - Okudah is the type of prospect you draft to place him on an island. Ask him to lock down his responsibility, which allows you to then worry about the other 10 players on your defense.

5. WR CeeDee Lamb, OKLAHOMA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 70th percentile

Where He Wins: It’s uncommon to find a receiver so comfortable at adjusting for the ball in the air, resulting in acrobatic catches, who is also so productive after the catch (Per PFF: forced 38 missed tackles over the last two season). His game reminds me so much of DeAndre Hopkins: physical when it needs to be, elegant when called for, and a mentality to be the alpha before and after the snap. The ability to separate in breaks or at the catch point is absolutely there.

Forecast: While Lincoln Riley certainly deserves credit for constructing an outstanding offense, Lamb’s talent transcends it. The only real question is how he’ll react to being pressed play after play after seeing free releases with the Sooners. But I count on his hammer mentality answering that.

6. S/LB Isaiah Simmons, CLEMSON

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: Projected 98th percentile

Where He Wins: Everywhere? Versatility is lining up at multiple positions and performing well at each. If you’re not winning, you’re just losing from multiple alignments. Simmons has played a sizable amount of snaps at safety (both free and strong), slot, as a traditional linebacker and on the edge. He just moves differently.

Forecast: Hopefully this makes sense - Simmons is a blend of hybrids. If we can focus on the Patriots Defense, Simmons can be Kyle Van Noy when you need him to be or Patrick Chung. Maybe Derwin James is the closest comparison, as the former first-round pick was also an incredible blitzer off the edge. I hope he goes to a defense that uses him creatively. There’s also the question on how much a player like Simmons changes the Win-Loss record of a bottom-feeding team with a defense full of adequate (or worse) talents - his presence certainly would be felt more on a good team.

7. WR Jerry Jeudy, ALABAMA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 21st percentile

Where He Wins: Creates separation and sustains it with animated movements in his breaks. Put him in the slot - Jeudy wins early in his route, even on vertical plays. Plce him on the outside and Jeudy is happy to put his isolated corner in a blender. Despite his lack of top-end testing athleticism, Jeudy is still a threat with the ball in his hands.

Forecast: I know it’s easy to compare players from the same school, but it’s easy to see Calvin Ridley in Jerry Jeudy’s game. The rookie-to-be might have a low-end projection of Ridley and a high end of Stefon Diggs. There is quite a difference between the two, as the latter can be the primary option in a passing game.

8. OT Andrew Thomas, GEORGIA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 53rd percentile

Where He Wins: Left tackle with a nasty demeanor. As a pass protector he is not passive. His set is not stiff, his butt is pointed at his quarterback and Thomas wants to gain control with his hands and length, adjusting the placement if necessary. Georgia left him on that tackle island quite often, and he rarely let them down. Even against the explosive upfield edge rushers in the SEC, Thomas seemed to always be in their way to prevent early wins and helped them run the arc behind his QB. And as a run blocker, Thomas wants to move you off the line.

Forecast: Georgia’s offensive line was one of the best in the country, Thomas was a reason for that rather than being a product of it. Yes, there were occasions when he overextended in the running game and lost his balance. His pass set might not be as aesthetically fluid as others - but you’d be hard-pressed to find others that were more effective. Plus he has right tackle experience. With these first-round tackles, NFL teams need to ask themselves if they are comfortable leaving them isolated. I would be with Thomas.

9.  OT Jedrick Wills, ALABAMA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 72nd percentile

Where He Wins: Right tackle, which was Alabama’s blindside. There are finesse blockers, Wills is size and force. But there are moments of quickness that take you by surprise, namely when passing off stunts. His size is an asset, and as games wear on it seems like edge rushers realize how much of a chore it is to work around that mountain. And that mountain can move.

Forecast: The value of left and right tackles should be equal. But with Thomas and Wirfs proving they can play on both sides, Wills seems to be most comfortable on the right.

10. OT Tristan Wirfs, IOWA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 99th percentile

Where He Wins: One of the best athletes we’ve seen at the position. A long-time starter for the Hawkeyes, Wirfs’ agility shows up when asked to block at left or right tackle. On the occasions when it all comes together, he shows Joe Thomas level fluidity in his set. When he loses that first contact you see his core strength and flexibility on display, anchor his feet and transitioning that force to halt his opponent’s momentum. An NFL could be quite creative with his movement skills in the running game, and he looks to force defensive backs to question their choice to play football.

Forecast: I’m struggling a bit here. Wirfs was a long-time starter at an offensive line factory. His athleticism is in the 99th percentile. Yet there are stretches with absolutely atrocious balance - falling forward on contact, winding up on the ground far too often. Wirfs even whiffs at times. It doesn’t make sense with his profile. I’m banking on coaching and tools here, because the good is incredible. Just make it the norm.

11. IDL Javon Kinlaw, SOUTH CAROLINA

Age: 23 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: Natural “get out of my way!” strength. Quick hands and hips at the line lead to early wins, leaving an unprepared lineman in his wake. Early wins also result in steamrolling blockers immediately. That’s a difficult combination for an interior blocker to prepare for. Finally, the late wins are there too: continuing to fight when the initial momentum is stopped and attempting to get hands-on the ball when the quarterback is not in striking distance.

Forecast: I understand if people question Kinlaw’s lack of production - 10 sacks in his collegiate career. To me, his final season was incredibly similar to Jadeveon Clowney’s - incredible individual disruption that should have resulted in clean up production by his teammates, yet too often they were nowhere to be found. Kinlaw can force an offense off-script a handful of times per game: inserting chaos into design. His teammates will benefit.

12.  WR Denzel Mims, BAYLOR

Age: 23 | Athletic Profile: 94th percentile

Where He Wins: Might be typecast as a Baylor receiver, but Mims has so many of the details of the receiver position down. He’s sneaky with his contact, using his hands or shoulder to create separation at the top of his routes or on breaks. If the corner closes at the catch point he’s then able to create another sliver of separation - putting him in the position of success. He’s the one who wins the contact battles and maintains his speed. The athleticism easily pops on free releases, acrobatic catches, sideline grabs and with the ball in his hands.

Forecast: While this isn’t Briles-level limited route tree, Mims certainly wasn’t asked to be Stefon Diggs. Still, I’ll bank on his combination of athletic profile, size and willingness to be the one in control of contract.

13. WR Justin Jefferson, LSU

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 81st percentile

Where He Wins: At the very least, Jefferson will be a highly successful slot receiver who can rack up production in good offenses. You’d expect a finesse receiver who is best when creating separation and sustaining it. Jefferson can do that, but he sets himself apart when winning through contact - at the catch and through contract. He is highly competitive, possesses good body control and is a great athlete… that leads to big plays.

Forecast: For many slot receivers, where Jefferson spent 870 snaps last season, production and space can be manufactured. That makes the players often replaceable. But Jefferson is different. Because of his run after catch capabilities and skill to win contested when forced to, he creates production for himself. The interesting question is if teams will want to see him transition to the outside in the NFL.

14. LB Patrick Queen, LSU

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: 83rd percentile

Where He Wins: There aren’t many linebacker prospects you can present who seem even more comfortable in coverage than against the run - Queen might be one. And with the league currently set up to expose linebackers in coverage, that’s a valuable trait. And to confirm, Queen is far from a liability when diagnosing angles and taking on linemen.

Forecast: Queen did not call the defense at LSU. Some reports have suggested he is a bit quiet, but I saw the best pure linebacker in this class, with the combination to make plays moving forward and understand spacing/concepts when working in coverage.

15. WR Henry Ruggs, ALABAMA

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: Projected 99th percentile

Where He Wins: He’s got the juice - all speed. There are so many occasions where another receiver is tackled by a chasing or closing defender. Not Ruggs. His speed is shocking, another gear that surprises the viewer and surprises the defense when they realize their selected angle is short. Simple curls or slants are always a threat to be taken for six points. Alabama used Ruggs creatively and manufactured touches near the line of scrimmage, not too dissimilar to early-career Tyreek Hill. And he rarely drops the ball.

Forecast: This kind of speed helps any offense. Don’t worry if he’s not a “primary” option immediately. We’ve seen Marquise Brown, Mecole Hardman, Hill and others offer an immediate jolt to an offense - a threat defenses always need to be aware of. Captivating that level of attention is uncommon.

16. iDL Derrick Brown, Auburn

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: 32nd percentile

Where He Wins: Massive interior disruptor who constantly worked through his blocker at the college level. It’s like Brown’s target is always the quarterback and the blocker is just an inconvenience. A bulldozer who simply overpowered people at the collegiate level.

Forecast: I always ask “Can a player win in the same way in the NFL as they did in college?” With Brown, and how he creates disruption in the passing game - I am not sure. His below average athletic profile brings up a concern that he might not have enough juice. Look at the top interior disruptors across the league. Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones… all above average to incredible athletes. So while it’s fair to question Brown’s ceiling, it’s easy to fall in love with his floor

17. CB C.J. Henderson, Florida

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: 95th percentile

Where He Wins: A man to man corner who consistently competed against very good receivers in college. Henderson is such an easy mover, possesses sub-4.4 speed and stays in phase to make catches difficult. In fact, a number of the grabs hauled in last year might fall in the “unlucky” pile.

Forecast: It was a down year for Henderson, in coverage in terms of allowing production and definitely in the tackling department. But being asked to travel against top opposition each week in the SEC is a tall task. And the talent he showed in 2018 just doesn’t disappear.

18. S Antoine Winfield, Minnesota

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: 81st percentile

Where He Wins: Absolutely incredible range both against the pass and against the run. You can see numerous examples of quarterbacks or playcallers trying to bait Winfield, to remove him from an area or looking in the wrong spot - but he trusts his eyes and preparation. This leads to rangy pass breakups or covered receivers in a progression that was supposed to be open. Winfield tracks like a center fielder.

Forecast: There is no doubt that Winfield is small at 5-foot-9. But I can’t get over the plays that he makes. Sure, in man coverage against some of the best in the league he might struggle with size, but as a space player to anticipate and close, the tape already shows Winfield has such a natural feel for multiple alignments. There’s very little second guessing to his game. Target acquired, make a play.

19. T Mekhi Becton, Louisville

Age: 21 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: A shockingly easy mover at 6-foot-7, 364-pounds, even when reacting to inside moves. Throws defenders out of the club in the running game.

Forecast: Out of 314 pass block snaps last season, just 73 were true 1-on-1 opportunities, per PFF. That’s a small sample. It helps that Becton does have experience on both sides, so a team could fill an immediate need on the right with the potential long-term vision of moving him to the left (if they so please).

20.  EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, PENN STATE

Age: 22 | Athletic Profile: Elected to not complete

Where He Wins: There’s just a natural look to his game when it flows together: fluid movement with some bend at 266-pounds along with hand use to create an angle advantage, then closing strides to make a play on the ball. There aren’t many prospects in this class with that potential combination, nor is two-step quickness. Loop him inside and awaiting interior linemen are just too stiff to stay in position. 

Forecast: This is probably higher than you’ve seen Gross-Matos ranked by others. I understand the consistency questions - but he has an ability to totally disrupt the offense’s script a handful of times per game. Many of his wins occur early in the snap, so I’d love to see more late/hustle plays. Reminds me of Ezekiel Ansah entering the NFL.

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21. EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU - Arrived at the Combine over 250-pounds. Offers a primary pass rush move that is valuable to any team - three step explosion and true bend to dip around his opponent. Great tackles will have an answer, but many tackles throughout the league won’t. Add some form of a counter to keep a tackle off balance and tenacity when closing, and Chaisson can be an asset. Ask Shaq Barrett. 

22.  S Xavier McKinney, ALABAMA - Nick Saban clearly trusted McKinney to be the chess piece (queen?) of his defense, moving in every direction and attacking the ball from each angle. Slot, to deep to box safety and reliable in all three. He’s unafraid to make plays on the ball in coverage and will gladly fill in run support. In some ways a discount, lighter Isaiah Simmons, as they were asked to operate in many of the same areas of the field. The concern is he’s not close to the athlete Simmons is, so will his profile hold up in the same way in the NFL?

23. OT Josh Jones, Houston - While it might look ugly, Jones constantly locked down his island. Light feet + strong hands equals rarely allowing disruption. Jones isn’t passive, commonly securing hold of the pass rusher then driving them further away from his quarterback. That translates in the running game too, where Houston asked Jones to block in space.

24. CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah - Ball skills translate to the NFL. To me, it shows that the game slows down for a corner. They don’t panic while the ball is in the air, slowly making it’s way to the intended receiver. And while staying in phase, these corners locate the ball and make a play on it. That’s Jaylon Johnson.

25. QB Justin Herbert, Oregon - The tools are absolutely there - Big frame, big arm and a fantastic athlete. He definitely can succeed in an offense that wants to threaten vertical. Yet with all of those tools, I have concerns that he will not succeed off script. Mobility is not the problem, but mentality might be. He just might not have the comfort or confidence in those moments to make magic outside of structure.

26. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU - Reminds me so much of Maurice Jones-Drew. He’s a block with balance, plus possesses immediate lateral agility to make the defender in front of him miss. Footwork to duck in then explode out leaves linebackers’ angles destroyed. Comfortable in the passing game, both in the flats and when working linebackers on option or angle routes.

27. RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin - Likely leads the class in traditional under center carries, but Taylor’s game extends beyond the typical productive Badger back. Slalom skier between the tackles to weave and cut to make box defenders miss. Has big play upside thanks to an athletic profile in the 89th percentile. His combination of vision, speed and comfort on contact likely means he’d star in a zone system.

28. WR Michael Pittman, USC - A prospect who I initially had outside of the Top 50, but over the last few weeks stood out when re-watching compared to other “bigger” names. An athletic profile in the 85th percentile at 6-foot-4, winning from a variety of alignments and great ball skills along the sideline on intermediate and vertical passes.

29. T Ezra Cleveland, LSU - I see Jake Matthews when watching Cleveland. He absolutely has the footwork to mirror and athleticism to keep his butt to the quarterback, sealing off rush angles. He can absolutely get stronger and re-anchoring can be an issue. Cleveland also hit the elite Combine threshold of a 4.47 short shuttle - which has shown to be a great indicator of future success (OL who hit the mark go on to start over 80 percent of their NFL games).

30. CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson - Length, low 4.4 speed and height. Terrell is a confident player, especially near the line of scrimmage in man coverage. Absolutely has the athleticism to stick in phase and shows fluidity at just the right time to close and cut in front of his responsibility to disrupt the catch point.

31. LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin - Kyle Van Noy-like. Need him to operate on the edge and maximize an isolated matchup? Yep. How about split into the slot and operate in space against a detached tight end? That too. A defense that wants to be multiple will be intrigued by Baun’s pedal to the floor versatility.

32. S Ashtyn Davis, Cal - There are a number of versatile defensive backs in this class - ones who already were asked to flip between the box, slot and free safety spots. Davis spent 64 percent of his snaps as the deepest safety, showing great range, anticipation and timing… but the 32 percent of snaps closer to the line of scrimmage display a will to be the hammer. To finish plays other safeties might shy away from.

33. QB Jordan Love, Utah State - While Herbert has questions on his confidence to “win the play” when off script, Love might be at his best out of structure. It’s like he watched a Patrick Mahomes highlight reel prior to every game and said “I’m gonna do that today!” Love tried to do too much in 2019 after losing so much around him in college. But there were plenty of times where Love compounded the problem instead of improving it.

34. S Grant Delpit, LSU - Numerous teams will see Delpit and think big nickel. 42 percent of snaps as the deep safety, 18 percent as the box safety and 34 percent in the slot. Although tackling is not his calling card, playing the ball in the air is. And at 6-foot-3, you have to wonder if teams who struggle with covering tight ends will give him a long look.

35. S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois - Chinn was just on another planet athletically compared to his peers. 6-foot-3, 221 pounds with a projected athletic profile in the 99th percentile. He absolutely flies around the field. His closing speed on quarterbacks is frightening. It’s not out of the question for teams to view him as a box player, maybe a discount Jamal Adams.

36. OL Robert Hunt, ULL - One of my favorite prospects in this class. Hunt was a mauling right tackle at the collegiate level and might shift inside to guard in the NFL. He’s a surprisingly easy mover in pass protection, looks to lock out and maintain control of his opposition. And in the running game, Hunt anticipates angles when getting to the second level to create space for his back. Hunt is the opposite of passive, and sometimes it leads to over-extension.

37. LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma - See it, chase it. Murray is an absolute defensive demon when moving forward. Oklahoma put Murray on the edge and inside, resulting in disruptive plays between the tackles and on the edge. He might be slowed, but he’s not stopped. It’s notable that few of Murray’s highlights are moving laterally or backwards. Everything is forward. Does that make him limited?

38. WR Jalen Reagor, TCU - Reagor’s profile boasts similarities to D.K. Metcalf’s. Straight-line speed with incredible jumps, but questionable agility scores. One difference: Reagor is four inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter, so it is unlikely he wins the same 50-50 situations Metcalf did as a rookie. But I make the comparison to say this: a team that invests in Reagor will need a plan. Hopefully it can be added to week by week like Metcalf’s was.

39. iOL Cesar Ruiz, Michigan - Locked down the anchor spot for Michigan last season. Ruiz won’t wow you in the running game, where he shows to be more of an occupier. But where Ruiz is best is also where it matters most in the NFL - pass protection. He can halt momentum and anchor, or react to pick up stunts and loops.

40. Josh Uche, Michigan - It’s tough to know where to put Uche every single snap on an NFL field. Perhaps that’s why he only played 470 snaps for the Wolverines last year, and even fewer in previous years. But what you do see is unreal explosion and tenacity when facing guards or tackles. That kind of pass rush ability can contribute three to five potential game altering plays per game.

41. iDL Jordan Elliott, Missouri - This class is shallow in interior disruptors. Elliott shows fluidity to work the angles of guards and centers, squirming free with rips and swims to release into the backfield. 

42. iDL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M - After the top two interior linemen, you have to bank on flashes hopefully resulting in more consistency. Madubuike’s flashes are intriguing. For the Aggies, he played anywhere from 1-technique to outside the tackle. Those moments of snappy hands, attacking angles, movement to win the positioning advantage, then dipping to eclipse the lineman and get to the ball carrier stand out.

43. CB Kristian Fulton, LSU -  All around averaged sized corner, but plays smart when recognizing concepts, timing his break and disrupting the catch point. Many corners allow separation on inside breaking routes - Fulton has a 'my ball' mentality and often beat the pass catcher to the spot.

44. RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State - Few players enter the NFL with a 2,000 rushing yard season already on their resume. Dobbins is one, and coming out of Ohio State’s program only makes Dobbins’ projection easier. At 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, he boasts great vision to read and cut off the hip of his linemen. Zone teams likely rank Dobbins quite highly among his peers - he decisively puts his foot in the dirt to get upfield and maximize the spacing created. Then at the second level, Dobbins displays wiggle to bounce and weave away from defenders. A shoulder fake here, a head bob there, and the awaiting tackler is left grabbing jersey in the open field. And while he looks like a compact runner, Dobbins does have a number of big plays to his name at the college level. 31 total runs of 15-plus yards last season, per PFF. So while production may be Dobbins’ best calling card, the total package is there to rack up yards in the NFL as well.

45. WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis - In a league that is on the look for players who create yards on their own with the ball in their hands, Gibson could be a fantastic option at a discount price in the second or third round. While some rank Gibson as a running back in this class due to his size at 6-feet, 228 pounds. But I see a receiver, and that’s where Gibson spent 70% of his time last season in college. Turn on his game against SMU and you see some real natural receiver traits from Gibson out of the slot, shifting down to create separation in his breaks and naturally adjusting to off frame throws when working across the middle of the field, traits even “real” receiver prospects don’t show. Teams love to copy recent success stories, and if clubs are searching for this year’s Deebo Samuel, I will nominate Antonio Gibson. 16 missed tackles forced on 33 carries. 17 missed tackles forced on 38 catches, both per PFF. Those numbers are on another planet compared to all other prospects in this class.

46. T Isaiah Wilson, Georgia - This is how many teams want their right tackle to look: 6-foot-6, 354 pounds with 35 inch arms and an athletic profile in the 67th percentile. Georgia deployed the best offensive line in the country last season, but Wilson’s play was one of the main reasons why. He completely swarmed a number of collegiate edge rushers and even won in space as a blocker. There are obvious flaws there, especially when Wilson gets off balance or gets behind in a pass rush snap.

47. WR KJ Hamler, Penn State - All speed out of the slow. If Hamler lands with the Chiefs, watch out. He’s got the vertical explosion teams covet while maintaining it in downfield breaks, and is comfortable to create more yards after the catch. There are two significant questions with Hamler - how will he fair against press and why his hands were such a big question in 2019.

48. CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn - Some might call Igbinoghene a raw cornerback. I’ll call him inexperienced, as the longer he plays the position the better he seems to get. Some evaluators simplify the position to athletes matching and mirroring other athletes. That comes easy for Igbinoghene. He never seems to stress for speed or agility. And he already has more press experience than many of his peers in this class.

49. WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame - The immediate trait that pops is Claypool’s red zone and end zone dominance. He’s one of the top athletes in this class, and it shows when isolated in short fields. Then you dig a little deeper and see he was open for more big plays if the quarterback did his part. You also see that Claypool is quite fluid for his size, especially off the line, and was featured after the catch on crossing routes. Getting the ball to an athletic receiver at full speed is a simple and successful plan. If he hits, Claypool might find himself in Vincent Jackson territory.

50 Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State - Everything was built off a vertical line for Aiyuk. 25 screen receptions. Slants. Downfield routes. The athleticism and special traits show up after the catch where Aiyuk averaged nearly 11 yards per reception last season. But in terms of nuance and detail to create separation in his routes, not much was asked of him.