It’s finally that time of year. It’s let’s get really excited about the NFL for two weeks and then realize nothing of substance will happen after this until late July. That’s right, draft week. With draft week here, I’ve compiled a list of five prospects I love going into the NFL draft.
CJ Stroud QB Ohio State
I truly don’t understand the negative buzz around Ohio State passer CJ Stroud. Yes, the fact he sort of lucked the S2 test is somewhat concerning (the S2 is a processing test for the uninitiated out there), but if you watch CJ Stroud play football, those concerns fade quickly.
Stroud is just a professional pocket passer, there’s really no other way around it. He throws like a pro, he reads the field like a pro, and most importantly he’s poised like a pro. He’s the type of guy you want to take on draft week.
The fact the Texans are passing on him potentially is a massive misstep and hopefully a smoke screen. He’s clearly the second best passer in the class and a guy you could realistically plug and play as a day one starter.
He’s not flashy, he isn’t Mahomes, he isn’t Justin Herbert, but think of Stroud as prime Matt Ryan. A guy who can consistently win you games and can reside amongst the top 10 passers in the league consistently.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cj+stroud+highlights
Tyree Wilson Edge Texas Tech
I believe the idea that size is the only thing that matters is one of the most ridiculous and semi stupid takes amongst draft evaluators. I think size can be a limitation, but it certainly shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
You see guys like Tyree Wilson though and you realize what an advantage size can be. Wilson isn’t anything special as a technician but his nearly six extra inches of wing span over the other Edge rushers in this class jumps off the screen when you watch him.
Will Anderson Jr. is a safe pick, and a guy who will probably get to some pro bowls and maybe get an all pro nod someday, but I believe Tyree Wilson is the highest ceiling Edge player in this class.
To think of a team like Seattle, or Detroit getting their hands on him and coaching him up is tantalizing. Pete Caroll and Dan Campbell could immediately turn someone like Wilson into an all pro within his first one to two seasons.
Wilson can be a next level game breaker in the NFL. I am excited to see where he falls on draft week.
Jaxson Smith Njigba WR Ohio State
The consensus on this receiver class is that there’s nothing special in it. I just disagree with that sentiment, with the way the college and pro games have merged over the past few years I feel the easiest and best players GM’s can find that will be day one home runs are pass catchers.
Simply put, JSN is the best pass catcher in this draft. His hands are really good, he has decent size, his ability to create separation in the short area is NFL level and he’s a good route runner.
You really cannot ask for much more. Will he be a year one pro bowler, it’s a 50/50 shot, but he will produce.
To see a player like JSN fall to a team like the Patriots or the Bears or the Jets would be a scary proposition.
Wide receivers just work out most of the time. That is what the data tells us. Taking JSN within the top 15 picks would be a smart move for any team willing to roll the dice.
Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois
Disclaimer: I don’t have all-22 tape, my love for this guy is based purely off what I’ve heard read and seen clips of on Twitter.
Here’s why I like Witherspoon. He has the size of a prototypical CB1. He has really nice fluid movement skills. Finally he just has a knack for finding the ball in flight. While yes, this CB class is deep, I don’t see any of these guys turning into Sauce Gardner out of the gate. That said I like Witherspoon because I believe he and about 3 other corners in this class can slot into a starting lineup day one and not be liabilities, and that’s huge.
Zay Flowers WR BC
The floor for Zay Flowers: bust and out of the league within three years. The reason I love him though? The ceiling is so high.
Sometimes you just see a human being that moves different and those humans are rare. Flowers moves a little bit like prime Antonio Brown and catches the ball that way as well. His size is a major concern, but the last thing you want to see on night one of the draft is a team like the Bills or the Chiefs or the Bengals taking a flyer on this guy, because in those systems he will be turned into an absolute star.
Flowers is a fascinating prospect, I hope he finds a home with a good quarterback and decent offensive mind, because he could be turned into a star.