USA TODAY International Edition
Wait’s on who’ll slide in draft
Without fail, the NFL draft annually produces a few crushing waits.
While draft day can be a triumphant moment for many of the marquee figures of the incoming rookie class, several others can be left in flux for far longer than they anticipated.
In recent years, the likes of DK Metcalf, Derrius Guice and Dalvin Cook had to endure an additional day of uncertainty after not being selected in the first round, as had been widely projected.
And while the notion of players sliding might be a simplistic way to account for the discrepancy between outside expectations and actual results, several prospects who once had top billing might have to wait until Friday to hear their names called.
Here are five notable prospects who could end up outside of the first round on Thursday:
Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Despite winning the Jim Thorpe Award for the country’s best defensive back last year, Delpit raised some concerns with his lackluster tackling. The 6- 2, 213- pound safety said at the NFL scouting combine that a high- ankle sprain hindered him in 2019, but he acknowledged he also must do a better job of wrapping up rather than going for the big hit. The damage to his draft stock, however, might already be done. Delpit is no longer the favorite to be the first safety off the board, with Alabama’s Xavier McKinney now seemingly ahead of the pack for the honor. More important, there are only so many teams that would prioritize a safety in the first round, and many of them likely would demand a higher level of reliability than Delpit demonstrated last season.
Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Last month’s round of musical chairs for NFL quarterbacks could leave Love without a seat in the first round. Assuming he’s the fourth signal- caller taken after LSU’s Joe Burrow, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert, the 6- 4, 223- pound passer could be in for an uncomfortable wait given the shortage of teams with a pressing need at the position. While the Jaguars and the Raiders each have two first- round choices and could be intrigued by him, the more likely Day 1 landing spot for him could be as a backup to an established starter, perhaps for the Saints’ Drew Brees or the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. Both those teams, however, might be more invested in adding a top talent elsewhere to bolster the Super Bowl push for their veteran quarterbacks.
A. J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The NFL’s movement toward quicker pass rushers might leave Epenesa in somewhat of a no- man’s land. At 6- 5 and 275 pounds, he doesn’t have the sheer burst or bend to consistently beat offensive tackles around the corner. Though Epenesa was once viewed as the consolation prize to Ohio State’s Chase Young in this class, he might be selected after more athletic edge rushers in LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson and Penn State’s Yetur Gross- Matos. The Patriots ( No. 23) and the Dolphins ( No. 18 and 26) both could be drawn to his efficiency and know how, but his overall athletic profile might relegate him to a Day 2 slot as a high- floor prospect.
Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
There’s plenty of competition to be the third cornerback taken after Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah and Florida’s C. J. Henderson, and Diggs is no longer the clear front- runner for the title. Clemson’s A. J. Terrell, LSU’s Kristian Fulton, Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, TCU’s Jeff Gladney and Auburn’s Noah Igbinoghene all could be in the first- round mix, leaving teams in the back half of the first round with an assortment of options who all offer different scheme fits. That dynamic could work to Diggs’ disadvantage, as he’s best suited for a zone- heavy defense that allows him to play physically at the line of scrimmage while minimizing his lateral movement. The 49ers could be a match if he drops to No. 31, but Diggs can’t be considered a firstround lock at this point.
Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Once seen as one of the premier options in a deep and talented receiver class, Shenault now might be leapfrogged. At best, he seems to be in the running for the fifth receiver taken behind CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs of Alabama and Justin Jefferson of LSU. Even that’s far from cemented, however, as Baylor’s Denzel Mims and Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk might be ahead of him in the pecking order for receiver- needy teams in the final third of the first round. Shenault’s all- purpose role at Colorado left him underdeveloped as a route runner, and teams might be apprehensive about how effective he can be in an offense not geared toward feeding him the ball.