FEEL THE DRAFT
Serby Says takes an early look at the top talent
SERBY SAYS welcomes you to the Trevor Lawrence NFL draft, and with the expertise of Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline and the Draft Network’s Jordan Reid, brings you a list of 10 prospects NFL teams will be salivating over in the months to come.
As of now, Jets GM Joe Douglas will pick second — say it ain’t Joe, Jets fans — and Giants GM Dave Gettleman will select 10th.
In no definitive order — except for Lawrence at the top — here we go:
1
TREVOR LAWRENCE, QB, Clemson Jets fans are urged to cover their eyes. “He could be better than Andrew Luck,” Pauline said. “I didn’t think that going into the season, but he just elevates the play around him and he continually exceeds expectations, which is why I think he will probably be rated slightly higher than Andrew Luck was when Luck entered the draft.”
“I compared him to John Elway, Peyton Manning and then Andrew Luck,” Reid said.
How does Lawrence compare as a producer with Joe Burrow, last year’s first-overall pick?
“Burrow was a real good quarterback prospect. ... Trevor Lawrence is a franchise-type of game-changer,” Pauline said.
2 JUSTIN FIELDS, QB, Ohio State
Fields is battling to be the second QB taken.
“He really struggles getting off that first read from time to time,” Reid said. “He gets stuck on that first guy and he waits for him to come open as opposed to progressing through to the next guy, and what happens is he holds the ball too long and he ends up taking big losses for a sack. But outside of that he has the arm strength that you’re looking for, he has the leadership qualities that you love to see, and then of course his mobility, I think that’s a big asset to his game as well.”
“Great athlete, competitive guy, big arm, patient passer, a quarterback who can run, but runs only when necessary — he’s not a running athlete who plays the quarterback position,” Pauline said. “He doesn’t process things as quickly as you would like; makes some questionable decisions at times, but he’s got a great amount of upside and he’s got some terrific physical skills.”
3 ZACH WILSON, QB, BYU
Wilson is battling Fields to be second QB taken.
“Good arm, doesn’t have a Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields arm, but his arm is good enough to make all the throws,” Pauline
said. “Accurate, good pass placement, good speed, good timing on all of his passes. ... The foot speed to make plays in or out of the pocket or pick up yards with his legs. ... What’s going on between his ears is right up there with Trevor Lawrence. He’s a student of the game. I was told months ago that when Zach Wilson interviews in the pre-draft process, people are gonna be blown away by this guy. The only thing is he’s a shorter (6-foot-2) quarterback.” Reid rated him a fifth-round prospect entering the season following shoulder surgery and a broken thumb. Now he gives Wilson the slight edge over Fields.
4 PENEI SEWELL, LT, Oregon
“I think he’s phenomenal as far as just how well his body is constructed, how much power he plays with, and then his combination of athleticism and awareness,” Reid said. “He’s a terrific pass protector, fundamentally sound, good footwork off the edge, you can get him out on the second level, you can pull him across the line of scrimmage and get him to block,” Pauline said. “He should be able to start from Day 1.” Could he play RT? (Psst, Jets fans, wouldn’t you like a bookend for Mekhi Becton? ... Wrong time for this, you’re still in mourning over Trevor Lawrence). “In a Philadelphia Eaglestype of system, what they did with Lane Johnson, he has that ability,” Pauline said. “He’s not your classic punch-you-in-the-face, block-with-a-nasty-attitude, buryyou-in-the-ground run-blocking right tackle.”
5 JA’MARR CHASE, WR, LSU
“A player that just had that ‘my ball’ mentality that you love to see, he’s just so gifted with going up and just physically dominating guys at the catch point,” Reid said. “He can run any route in the route tree. Very strong hands.” “He is a dynamic, big-play receiver who also makes the ordinary, underneath reception, he’s a good downfield blocker, doesn’t have the great size, he’s probably gonna measure under 6 feet tall,” Pauline said.
6 DEVONTA SMITH, WR, Alabama
“He is much more consistent than either Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs,” Pauline said. “He doesn’t have the speed of Henry
Ruggs, but he’s fast enough. He doesn’t have the same quickness or creativity of say Jerry Jeudy, but he’s very good running after the catch. He is much more complete than those two Alabama receivers from a year ago.”
Whereas Chase is a 5-11, 205-pounder, Smith is slightly under 6-1, 175.
“He’s a guy that plays faster than he runs. ... He’s probably gonna run maybe in the mid4.4s, but he plays in the 4.3s,” Pauline said.
7 MICAH PARSONS, LB, Penn State
He opted out of the season, but still will be a top pick.
“He brings so much versatility,” Reid said. “He came to Penn State as a defensive end. One thing he does need to work on is just seeing and diagnosing plays clean, and that’s just because he’s so raw. He can get a little bit lost as far as when offenses do a really good job of disguising those plays, his mind can wander a little bit just because he’s so athletic, he can go the wrong direction at times.”
Reid likes him as an inside linebacker or defensive end.
8 KYLE PITTS, TE, Florida
“Plays the tight end position like he’s a receiver (6-6, 246),” Pauline said. Best TE prospect since who? “Vernon Davis,” Pauline said. “I think he’s a big wide receiver in a sense, but he can block,” Reid said.
9 PATRICK SURTAIN II, CB, Alabama
Son of three-time Pro Bowl corner Patrick Surtain.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete (6-2, 202), he’s physical, he is nasty, good ball skills, needs to refine his technique at times,” Pauline said. “Struggles making plays with his back to the ball at times, will occasionally fall asleep.”
“A super-long corner,” Reid said. “He has kinda like a safety body. The best part about his game is just how aggressive he is at the line of scrimmage, but it is in a controlled manner. Ultra competitor at the catch point as well.”
10 GREGORY ROUSSEAU,
Edge, Miami (Fla.)
Also opted out. Best pass rusher in the draft. Reid compares him to Seahawks DE Carlos Dunlap.
“Coming out of high school, he was a wide receiver and a safety,” Reid said, “and then he ended up switching to defensive end his final year in high school. He’s really raw.”
“He’s a bit one-dimensional,” Pauline said. “He’s a real good pass rusher, but he’s a tall, skinny guy (6-4 ¹ / , 255) who needs to get the first step off the snap. He reminds me a bit of Dee Ford. A couple of people have compared his style to Dion Jordan’s.”
Pauline is also high on Purdue WR Rondale Moore, Tulsa LB Zaven Collins and Ohio State G Wyatt Davis. Reid is high on Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle and Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley.
But, really, it’s Trevor Lawrence and everybody else.