Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Pool of talent not very deep
Some top picks will need some schooling before making impact
If your team needs a quarterback, tailback, guard, defensive tackle, linebacker or cornerback, they’re in luck.
But overall, this year’s NFL draft class is rough around the edges.
A record number of underclassmen have significantly boosted the overall talent pool, but that doesn’t mean this class has a large amount of quality players, or a respectable quantity of players at every position.
This draft lacks depth, and many of the top-tier prospects might require a season or two of coaching before they’re able to contribute. Here are the top-30 prospects in the NFL draft:
30. Louisville’s Lamar Jackson —
Jackson is the most dynamic quarterback college football has produced since Michael Vick. He’s a threat on every play with both his arms and legs. But he’s got a slight build which raises concerns about his durability at the next level. The lack of success quarterbacks developed by Bobby Petrino have had in the NFL could also hurt him, potentially pushing him into the second day of the draft.
29. Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn —
Tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel’s flashy seasons were enhanced by Wynn’s sensational run blocking. While the guard possesses
good body control and balance, his size (6-2, 302 pounds) is a bit concerning, and indicates he might not be a good fit for every scheme.
28. LSU’s Donte Jackson — The former LSU standout brings elite athleticism and speed (4.32 in the 40-yard dash) to the field, but Jackson lacks instincts to serve as a boundary corner, and the physicality to play inside as an NFL nickel.
27. Georgia’s Nick Chubb — Chubb, who shared the backfield at Georgia with some talented backs, is a human bowling ball at 5 foot 10, 228 pounds. He possesses sensational vision, and runs with balance through contract. His medical reports will dictate how high he goes because of concerns about his knees.
26. Louisville’s Jaire Alexander — Alexander has good size (5-11), solid speed (4.38 in the 40-yard dash), long arms, fluid hips and instincts that lead to turnovers (seven interceptions in three seasons). But the cornerback also has a thin frame and is slow to shed blocks, which means he’ll need to get stronger to handle to big, strong receivers in the NFL.
25. UCF’s Mike Hughes — Huges put up good numbers for the Knights, registering 44 tackles and four interceptions after transferring to UCF from a community college. He must be properly vetted by each club to find out why he left North Carolina and what his character is like.
24. USC’s Ronald Jones II — Jones, who finished his Trojan career ranked fifth in school history with 3,619 rushing yards, is a smooth runner who transitions inside to outside without throttling down. The one downside is that at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds he lacks the ideal build for the position.
23. SMU Courtland Sutton — Sutton possesses great size (6-4, 215 pounds) and runs smooth routes. His ability to get in and out of cuts creates separation from defensive backs. The biggest concern is he didn’t play against tough competition consistently during his collegiate career.
22. Alabama’s Rashaan Evans — Evans is the typical Alabama player who gained a reputation as a fierce defender against the run. He did a decent job as a pass defender in his one season as a full-time starter, but can often get lost in zone coverage, which means he’s likely a two-down linebacker.
21. LSU’s Derrius Guice — Guice’s punishing running style indicates that he likely won’t last long in the NFL at 5 foot 11, 218 pounds. He needs to find a balance between being physical on the field and self-preservation to last. His medical report could influence his draft stock, possibly pushing him into the second day of the draft.
20. Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds — Edmunds is built (6-5, 236 pounds) how teams would draw a linebacker up. He had a very productive two seasons at Virginia Tech (215 tackles, 10 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble), but will need to play more instinctively to excel in the NFL.
19. Texas’ Connor Williams — Williams has light feet, ideal arm length and a brawler’s mentality. The only concern about the offensive tackle in the NFL is whether or not he’s quick enough to handle elite passer rushers on this level.
18. Texas-San Antonio’s Marcus Davenport — Davenport is more of a flash player than a consistent menace, and his lackluster performance at the Senior Bow hurt his draft stock. But his size (6-6, 264 pounds) and dominance against inferior talent (22 sacks, six forced fumbles) will likely entice some team to select the pass rusher in the first round. In any other draft he’d probably be a second-round talent.
17. Florida’s Taven Bryan — Bryan has the ability to become a disruptive, highly productive 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle because he’s strong (30 reps of 225 pounds) and explosive. There are some concerns about his lack of awareness and technique, which means the former Gator will likely spend his rookie season learning.
16. Boston College’s Harold Landry — The three-year starter has speed, polished pass-rushing moves, and excellent body control. What he lacks is the ideal frame (6-3, 252 pounds) to serve as a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL, which means he’d likely be a better fit in a 3-4 scheme as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
15. Iowa’s Josh Jackson — Jackson allowed 41.3 percent of the passes thrown against him to be completed last season, while contributing 50 tackles and five interceptions. He has the coverage and ball skills to start right away, but would benefit from a season of watching and learning.
14. Wyoming’s Josh Allen — The two-year starter at Wyoming has an arm similar to Ravens QB Joe Flacco. One flick of the wrist and the football can fly 60 yards. But his sloppy mechanics — which is the source of his accuracy issues — and difficulty finding passing windows mean he’ll probably need a season or two to be coached up.
13. Washington’s Vita Vea — Vea’s size (6-4, 347 pounds), thick hips and powerful upper body make him an ideal nose tackle for a 3-4 team, but his pass-rushing skills show that he also can play in a 4-3 scheme. The biggest concern is his stamina, which might limit him to 25 plays a game if he doesn’t get himself in better shape.
12. Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne — Payne should be an immediate starter who will upgrade a defense’s ability to shut down the run because of his impressive blend of size (6-2, 311 pounds) and athleticism. The defensive tackle can squat 635 pounds and bench press 545 pounds, which are eye-opening numbers.
11. UCLA’s Josh Rosen — Rosen has the mechanics, arm talent and intellect needed to blossom into an NFL star. But the quarterback’s personality has drawn comparisons to Jay Cutler. He also struggled to stay healthy during his college career, raising concerns about his durability.
10. Alabama’s Calvin Ridley — Ridley caught 224 passes for 2,781 yards and scored 19 touchdowns as a three-year starter in a pro-style offense, so it is safe to assume he’ll be ready to contribute as a rookie.
9. Ohio State’s Denzel Ward — Ward was only a one-year starter for the Buckeyes because he played behind Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley before the 2017 season. While he lacks the ideal height (5-10) to play cornerback in the NFL and has only pulled down two interceptions during his college career, his 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash proves that he’s an impressive athlete.
8. Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield — Mayfield is the kind of quarterback who gives his receivers a chance to make a play after the catch with his timing and ball placement. His energy and swagger is infectious, but his height (6-1) and cocky demeanor could turn off some coaches.
7. Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick — Fitzpatrick played cornerback and safety during his college career, and has the speed, size and athleticism to play both in the NFL. He pulled down nine career interceptions and returned four of them for touchdowns.
6. Georgia’s Roquan Smith — Smith is an instinctive linebacker who lacks the ideal size (6-1, 225 pounds) for the position, but plays the game with a mental alertness that indicates that he could become an elite defender in a 4-3 scheme. The biggest concern is whether he can physically hold up in the NFL.
5. USC’s Sam Darnold — Despite his 24 career starts there is no denying that Darnold can use a little more polish, but his field vision and delivery makes him the safest quarterback in this draft class. The biggest concern about his game is his throwing motion possesses a bit of a windup motion.
4. Florida State’s Derwin James — James is a smooth athlete with loose hips, who changes directions with ease. His coverage skills indicate that he can play over the slot, and his ability to defend the run well has many experts projecting he’ll be a strong safety in the NFL. But he has the range needed to play free safety as well.
3. Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson — Nelson is massive (6-5, 330 pounds) and mobile. He has a mean streak that reminds many evaluators of Dallas’ Zack Martin, which means the offensive guard could be the safest prospect in the entire draft. Nelson will be a Justin Pugh type contributor in the NFL.
2. North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb — The two-time All-American is a quick-twitch speedster who is a force off the edge, which helped him produce 25 sacks in three seasons. He processes plays quickly, but often times gets lost over pursuing sacks. With proper coaching he should develop into a Pro Bowl talent.
1. Penn State’s Saquon Barkley — Barkley is the best all-purpose tailback to come out since Dallas’ Zeke Elliott, and it’s possible he can carry an NFL offense in a similar fashion. Put him with a forceful offensive line, and Barkley could be a Pro Bowler in his rookie season.