I’ve been doing top draft prospect lists since 2010 when I was with Yahoo Sports, and it’s always an interesting process that will tell you a lot about your own evaluative skills and biases. Over the years, I’ve learned to balance my own preferences with what I think the NFL is looking for by position, and this year is no exception. These days, I’m more inclined to value athletic and effective guards and centers, because the NFL does, and to also value multi-gap disruptors, because the NFL also does, and the need for inside pass protection to counter all those monsters inside the tackles is no coincidence. I’m also far more inclined to value pocket movement and movement to throw outside the pocket as mandatory attributes for quarterbacks than I did 10 years ago.
Faster linebackers as opposed to run-stopping hammerheads. Cornerbacks who can play press man right off the snap to counter the league’s increasing use of quick game. Safeties who can branch out and play multiple positions. Slot defenders, because nickel is the new base defense against offenses throwing 3×1 sets in all kinds of personnel groups against those defenses.
Regardless of the year or schematic era, my process starts with the tape. I’ll watch 3-6 games of each player, and then sort a player’s performance into as many situational funnels as possible. Then, I’ll go to the metrics, and then, I’ll smush it all together and write the scouting report. This year, I’ve done 50 such scouting reports for Touchdown Wire’s list of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class, and here they are in order.
This list covers prospects 26-50; you can read 1-25 right here.
All metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated.
Some biographical information courtesy of Dane Brugler’s “The Beast,” which is the most comprehensive draft guide imaginable. Head over to The Athletic and check it out if you already haven’t.
Adonai Mitchell was a four-star recruit from Cane Ridge High School in Missouri City, Texas, and he chose Kirby Smart’s Georgia program over offers from multiple major programs, and an original commitment to Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss program. Before the 2023 season, he transferred to Texas to be closer to his daughter, who was being raised by his parents while he attended school.
Between Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas quarterbacks certainly weren’t lacking for targets in the 2023 season. And Mitchell, who caught 55 passes on 86 targets for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season with the Longhorns after those two seasons at Georgia in which he was underutilized, proved to be the most complete receiver of that impressive group.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Mitchell ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, and that is well in line with the explosive nature of his play. Last season, he bagged eight receptions of 20 or more air yards on 22 targets for 302 yards and three touchdowns, and with an NFL team in possession of a more credible deep passing game, that reception total could easily double sooner than later.
Able to beat cornerbacks over the top as well as he’s able to scorch defenders on quick hitches and slants, Mitchell should be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, and he’s a few little tweaks away from true No. 1 receiver status at the next level. The upside is pretty fierce here.
PLUSES
— Great vertical speed, but it’s Mitchell’s speed cuts that will put defenders in blenders; he can cut and re-set at full speed without losing ground, which is a rare attribute. That speed also allows him to cross a cornerback’s face before the cornerback knows what to do about it.
— Sinks into his breaks on digs and slants like a five-year NFL veteran; he’s really well-formed and practiced as a route-runner overall.
— Can be a YAC addition to a receiver room with open space in front of him; Mitchell is especially tough to deal with on hitches and comebacks.
— Has an extra gear in the open field, and will accentuate it with subtle movements as deep defenders converge.
MINUSES
— Mitchell’s contested catches are made more through speed and separation than force; you can take him out with physicality to a degree.
— Let’s just say that he’s not the first guy you’ll have in mind when it comes to blocking for other receivers on screens and run plays.
— Not especially physical in traffic. He doesn’t dry up and blow away with defenders converging, but it’s not an attribute.
— Had just 11 explosive receptions last season, but I could see that total double in the right NFL offense; there were only so many deep balls to go around with Texas’ roadrunners.
Mitchell is one of My Guys this year. I love his ability to get free with moves that a lot of NFL receivers haven’t mastered yet. As long as you scheme him into space to a point and let him cook, he can be a devastating explosive weapon. Not a small guy at 6′ 2¼” and 205, and if he can develop a bit more dawg in him, he absolutely has X-iso potential at the next level.
Our next evaluation is Bo Nix, the Oregon quarterback, who transferred from Auburn after the 2021 season. In two seasons with the Ducks, Nix displayed a major uptick in efficiency and production, completing 74.9% of his passes for 10.4 yards per attempt, after completing 54.9% of his passes for 6.9 YPA with Auburn.
Last season, the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year completed 361 of 467 passes for 4,454 yards, 45 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 135.7. Only LSU’s Jayden Daniels had a higher passer rating in 2023 among quarterbacks in this draft class. On throws of 20 or more air yards, Nix completed 26 of 51 passes for 999 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 119.9. Under pressure, Nix completed 43 of 64 passes for 619 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 131.4. When blitzed, Nix completed 86 of 126 passes for 1,148 yards, 21 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 136.5. Nix also gained 256 yards and scored six touchdowns on 34 carries.
PLUSES
— Not a lot of deep passing volume, but clearly has the ability to turn it loose downfield with anticipation and accuracy.
— Compact, consistent over-the-top delivery which he retains under pressure and on the move.
— Will work through his second and third progressions to make the right throw.
— Can be a real load to tackle on designed runs and scrambles, and he has a good eye for open gaps.
— Mobility extends to boot and pocket movement throws.
MINUSES
— Mechanics can get a bit off-kilter, leading to some inaccurate passes.
— Accuracy is random to a point; occasionally he’ll just uncork one in the general direction of his target when he should be more specific.
— Arm arrogance can be a plus, but can also get him into throws he shouldn’t make.
— Still working on the nuances of off-speed pitches; fade balls and deep timing throws are mixed bags.
I like Nix as a developmental starter in a highly structured system with some wiggle room as he puts the little things together. There’s a lot to like, but some room for growth.
Georgia’s defense in 2023 under Kirby Smart wasn’t quite the historic unit it was in 2022, but it was still pretty darned good, and one reason it was pretty darned good was the work of safety Javon Bullard, who allowed just 14 catches on 26 targets last season for 119 yards, 68 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 34.0.
This in a season where he went from a primary box/slot/blitz player the season before to an outstanding free safety and slot defender. That’s not exactly easy to do, but Bullard did it, and this speaks highly to not only his NFL transition, but also his versatility within that transition.
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound Bullard should also be an asset in any defense where coverage switches are the order of the day, and that includes just about any intelligently-designed defense these days.
PLUSES
— Underwent a radical change in deployment last season from 14% deep in 2022 to 83% in 2023 (from 12 to 362 reps at free safety) and didn’t miss a beat.
— Has the transitions, trail ability, and downfield speed to hang with quick receivers on vertical routes.
— Can erase receivers over the middle and in short areas; his quickness to adjust is fine. The tape example below of Bullard shutting Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall down in press slot is really impressive; press slot is tough for most defensive backs to get right.
— You have to go back to 2022 to see it, but he’s a highly effective blitzer from the edge with speed off the snap, and determination to get home.
— Brings true sideline-to-sideline speed to the field, and the acceleration to close shows up over and over.
MINUSES
— Bullard has far too many “Ole” tackles on his tape where he flat-out misses his target. Seven missed tackles last season.
— Has good recovery speed in space, but tends to need it too often. He’ll need to be more aware of his landmarks in the NFL.
— Struggles at times with his backpedal and turn, though he’s got the athleticism to tie that up.
— Ball skills are inconsistent; if he gets that going, he could be a major interceptor.
Bullard is a guy where you really have to watch his last two seasons because what he was asked to do was so different. As much as any safety in this class, he brings a full array of skills, and it’s all on tape. I’ll be fascinated to see how his NFL team uses him.
A five-star recruit from Pinson Valley High School in Birmingham, Alabama, Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry chose the Crimson Tide over Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Auburn, and LSU. A high school basketball star who practiced some with the team in college, McKinstry finally gave his full time to football in 2022, but he had already made his mark as a rotational cornerback by then.
Last season, as Terrion Arnold’s bookend, McKinstry allowed 19 catches on 39 targets for 205 yards, 83 yards after the catch, one touchdowns, no interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 73.1. He played through some of his final season with a Jones fracture in his right foot, though all indications are that he’ll be ready for his first NFL training camp.
PLUSES
— McKinstry is about as concept-transcendent as any cornerback in this class; equally adept at press and off coverage at a time when a lot of college cornerbacks are short in press reps.
— Ideally though, he’s a press cornerback who’s at his best when he’s right up on the receiver, matching through the route. He’s got all the technique for that.
— Excellent when playing bail up the boundary; he’ll make the receiver go where he wants the receiver to go with inside/outside positioning.
— Lateral agility allows him to match foot for foot with receivers off the snap; that’s not where you’re going to lose him.
— Has some juice as a blitzer off the edge.
MINUSES
— Could be a bit quicker to match up on coverage switches and crossers. Recovery speed is nice, but he needs it a bit too often.
— Tackling against the run game is a real adventure.
— Has the size and athleticism to win on 50/50 balls, but his timing to go for the ball needs to improve.
— Can get a bit delayed in zone concepts; he’s at his best when everything is in front of him and he controls the action.
— Low interception total is more about his hands than anything else; McKinstry could do with a few JUGS drills, and this applies to his potential as a return man as well.
If you’re in the market for a good-sized, aggressive cornerback who can win consistently in single-high match and man concepts, McKinstry could be your ideal flavor. Those teams playing more zone stuff might hesitate, though McKinstry certainly has the athletic traits to play just about anything.
A four-star recruit out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Demeioun “Chop” Robinson began his collegiate career with the Maryland Terrapins in 2021, racking up two sacks and 13 total pressures in just 82 pass-rushing snaps. He then transferred to Penn State in time for the 2022 season, which is when his pass-rush profile really expanded. Then, he had five sacks and 48 total pressures in 267 pass-rushing snaps, along with 16 solo tackles and 17 stops.
2023 looked to be another strong season for the 6′ 2⅞”, 254-pound Robinson, but he worked through injuries, and had three sacks and 26 total pressures in 148 pass-rushing snaps.
Robinson’s resume is smaller than one might like as a result, but the tape tells a clear story — he’s got speed and athleticism for the EDGE position that you rarely see. He’ll need some schematic assistance to bring out everything at the NFL level, but he’s got a lot of rocket sauce.
PLUSES
— Ridiculous combine measurables show up on tape; Robinson is so fast off the snap and will defeat tackles with that first step if his opponents aren’t set.
— Can knife through double teams as an inside mug rusher and a stand-up 3-tech or nose. Has a really nice feint crossover move and an exceptional inside counter.
— Works around the arc smoothly, and has the ability to lean into the turn to get under the blocker’s hands.
— Uses leverage against the blocker to further accentuate his speed when he closes to the pocket.
— Slap/swat move around the edge can be lethal; tackles had better be ready for it.
— Not a particularly powerful defender, but he’ll get speed-to-power bull-rushes.
MINUSES
— Robinson’s speed allows him to beat double teams before they’re set, but if they are set, he can be negated by power pretty quickly.
— Blockers who align to him in time can eat his lunch. This will probably be even more of an NFL issue.
— Could stand to accentuate his hand work, especially in those power situations.
— Can create tackles for loss in the run game with that quickness, but if you need a guy to grapple through the snap, that’s not his fastball.
— Has a nice sense of control for all that speed, but there is the occasional inevitable whiff.
Robinson has one speed — balls-out, all the time. You’re not adding him to your team to win with power; you’re doing so to rain pure hell in the backfield over and over. That he did exceedingly well in college, and with a few tweaks, he’ll be dynamic-to-dominant in the NFL.
Cooper DeJean was a four-star recruit from OA-BCIG High School, which includes four local towns (Odebolt, Arthur, Battle Creek and Ida Grove) in Odebolt, Iowa. He played quarterback, receiver and defensive back in high school, and he was also quite the basketball player. Iowa was DeJean’s first FBS offer, and that’s where he went.
In 2023, his third season on the field for the Hawkeyes, DeJean was a leader in Iowa’s top-tier defense, allowing 20 catches on 46 targets for 194 yards, 44 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an an opponent passer rating of 37.8 — which means that opposing quarterbacks had as much luck throwing the ball into the dirt as they did targeting him.
Unfortunately, DeJean suffered a lower leg injury in mid-November, which ended his 2023 season early and will prevent him from working out at the combine. But as they say, tape don’t lie, and DeJean’s tape is full of compelling reasons to take him seriously as a first-round cornerback prospect who can shut things down outside and in the slot,
PLUSES
— Opposing offenses kept trying to beat him with comebacks and stop routes in off coverage, and he kept making them look silly with outstanding recovery speed.
— Tremendous in bail coverage where he’ll work back to or though the receiver to take the ball away.
— Expert route-jumper.
— Rarely played press in his 2023 targets, but has most of the skills to match and follow.
— Closes with nasty intentions on screens and swing passes.
— Times his hits to deflect and has no issue whatsoever getting grimy in the run game. Tough guy.
MINUSES
— Might take a second to become a great press cornerback at the NFL level; he’ll get a bit lost at the top of the route stem.
— Tracks the ball as a receiver would and is able to throttle up and down accordingly, but he could be better at keeping his eye on the receiver.
— Hesitates at times to match targets; this may because he played an inordinate amount of off coverage. His NFL coaches should work on DeJean trusting his technique through the rep and not thinking too much.
As good as DeJean was in college, I think there’s some unlocked potential as a press/match DB. Hopefully, he’ll go to an NFL team that just wants him to hunt. I’m not convinced that he’s an automatic safety prospect in the NFL by default.
Let’s be frank about it: If you’re a smaller white receiver, people are going to want to compare you to every smaller white receiver, put you in a box labeled “Gritty Slot Guy,” and move on to the next. Those who wish to typecast Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey thusly are really missing out.
Over three seasons with the Bulldogs, McConkey caught 119 passes on 158 targets for 1,692 yards and 14 touchdowns. Injuries limited his 2023 productivity to a degree, but he still caught 30 passes on 37 targets for 483 yards and two touchdowns. 70% of his targets came outside, while 23% came from the slot, and 6% from the backfield, so this isn’t just another guy limited to two-way goes from the inside.
McConkey is faster than you might think, tougher than you might think, and his route awareness is NFL-plus right now. Don’t penalize him because he isn’t the typical X-iso outside receiver; focus on all the things he can do for your passing game. And in that realm, he does contain multitudes.
PLUSES
— Route mastery is clear from his tape; McConkey has the full route tree at his disposal, and he can take that right to the NFL.
— McConkey uses an impressive burst off the line of scrimmage to set cornerbacks up in press or off coverage, and then, those cornerbacks are going to have issues with his sudden cuts into and out of his breaks.
— Has a great sense of how to force the defender into a spot, and then will break away quickly to get open.
— Especially for his size (6-foot-0, 186), McConkey has no issue getting grimy catches in traffic, or breaking tackles on an end-around.
— Not at all limited to the slot; he had 485 wide snaps and 204 slot snaps through his Georgia career.
MINUSES
— McConkey doesn’t project as an X-iso receiver per se; he can get boxed out of contested catch situations, especially at the boundary.
— He’s at his best when he has space to create, and while he has the foot movement and short-area quickness to beat press off the line, that could be an adjustment in the NFL.
— Bigger, more aggressive NFL cornerbacks could give him fits for a while; he might need a couple more techniques to get free from those guys.
Every passing game is better with one of those “death by a thousand paper cuts” receivers who can get you that 6-8 yards on third-and-whatever. McConkey is absolutely that guy. And if he’s in an offense where designed openings are the order of the day, he’ll use his understanding of the nuances of the position to become a great asset. He’s more than just a little slot guy at the next level.
The Oklahoma 5A Player of the Year following his senior season at Carl Albert High School in Oklahoma City, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson moved from running back to safety following his commitment to Texas Tech over Air Force, Army and Utah State. He had limited snaps in his first two collegiate seasons, and he really came around in 2022, when he allowed 27 catches on 46 targets for 394 yards, 124 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, three interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 59.5.
Last season for a Red Raiders defense that rose in efficiency, Taylor-Demerson gave up 20 catches on 35 targets for 221 yards, 112 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, five interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 65.0.
PLUSES
— Functional field speed is singularly impressive; Taylor-Demerson can get from Point A to Point B as quickly as any defender in this draft class. It’s hard for quarterbacks and receivers to get a bead on his positioning in the open field.
— True multi-position versatility; he can win as a slot cover man and blitzer, and as a single-high and two-deep safety.
— Converges to cover like a bat out of hell, and can create chaos with well-timed hits and deflections.
— Smooth, instructive match and man defender with the athleticism to lock turn-for-turn with most any receiver.
— Can work 10-15 yards in an instant to break up and intercept passes; he’ll bait a lot of quarterbacks at the next level.
MINUSES
— Tackling is a real mixed bag; part of that daredevil style. He had 44 missed tackles in five seasons for the Red Raiders. His style is basically getting on someone’s back and waiting for the cavalry.
— Will lose his landmarks and spots at times in zone coverage; he’s more of a man/match guy at this point.
— As much as he’ll fool your quarterback with his speed and closing ability, Taylor-Demerson can be deceived right out of his socks by action and late movement.
— Speed covers up some transitional issues; it’s impressive to watch him turn and run with a second receiver off his first assignment, but you’re not always sure what the plan is.
From a pure physical tools perspective, Taylor-Demerson is flat-out ridiculous. I’d take him in the late second/early third round just to get the benefit of all that flash, and build everything around him over time. He’s got a lot of stuff you can’t teach, and the rest seems coachable.
The winner of the 2023 Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, the 2023 Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player, and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Payton Wilson was a four-star recruit out of Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He missed his freshman season of 2018 due to knee injuries, but came on in 2019, and never looked back. In the Wolfpack’s 2023 season, Wilson totaled six sacks, 22 total pressures, 92 solo tackles, 67 stops, and he allowed 24 catches on 37 targets for 221 yards, 164 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, three interceptions, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 47.2.
Linebackers have been devalued to a degree in the NFL, but linebackers like Wilson, who has such impressive and efficient versatility, don’t come around every day, either.
PLUSES
— Depending on where he’s aligned pre-snap, can cover everywhere from the flat to hook/curl. An instinctive natural in coverage.
— Can rush the quarterback off-ball and on the line of scrimmage. Has the speed to chase down mobile quarterbacks all over the field, and can even get a little bendy around the edge.
— Gap-shooting expert who will quickly cross the faces of blockers, and moves to the ballcarrier in a hurry.
— Reacts quickly and intelligently to fakes and misdirection to the line of scrimmage; you can tell that he has a quick-twitch brain.
— Reads the quarterback well enough to break off of his first responsibility and deal with whatever he wasn’t expecting.
MINUSES
— Tends to live on a straight line in pursuit; occasionally, he’ll get waylaid by bigger guys whomping him from the side.
— Can cover tight ends up the seam, but he’s better near the line of scrimmage. More a true linebacker than a big safety.
— Hell-bent style of play will occasionally have him whiffing mightily in the open field.
— Decent recovery speed for his position, but he really needs to be on his target from the snap.
— Gets his tackles in the backfield more from quickness and gap understanding than pure power; he’s not your ideal guy for “Jacked Up!” highlights.
If you like Frankie Luvu as a hyper-versatile linebacker (and if you don’t, what the heck is wrong with you?), Wilson profiles very much the same way as a true three-down ‘backer in any scheme. There isn’t much he can’t do, and as much as anybody in this class, he personifies the modern linebacker who can take half the field over, and is a credible problem for opposing offenses in multiple ways.
A composite five-star recruit out of Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia, Mims stayed close to home by committing to Georgia, and he saw action in 2021 and 2022 as a reserve with 121 snaps at right tackle in 2021, and 383 in 2022.
Mims worked through injuries in 2023 that limited his snaps to 297, but when he was on the field, he allowed no sacks and one total pressure in 168 pass-blocking reps.
Why is Mims talked about as a first-round prospect with such limited experience? Athletic traits. At 6′ 7¾” ad 340 pounds, Mims brings a size/speed/agility profile to the position we don’t often see.
Mims’ NFL team will need to work with him on several foundational constructs before he’s able to fully realize that amazing potential, but as raw as his tape can be, you can also see why he’s prized as a prospect, and why he could be utterly amazing over time.
PLUSES
— Pure “Planet Theory” human being whose spider chart looks like science fiction; there just aren’t many people this big who can move like he does.
— Can move just about anybody in a straight line against their will.
— Shockingly agile on the move; Mims can get upfield quickly on screens and pulls and just bulldoze anybody in his way.
— Upper-body strength is comical; he’ll latch onto a defender and wind up just pushing and throwing the poor guy out of the octagon.
MINUSES
— Lack of experience shows up in limited technique; Mims needs work on his hands to latch and maintain through the block. He’s too leaky to either side to give up pressure.
— Also needs work on taking vision to execution, because he’s far too vulnerable to speed rushers crossing his face and zapping him with inside counters.
— Pass set is a work in progress; he’s more of a catcher than a fluid mover through the arc.
— Stunts and games might be a problem until he gets the hang of reading things through the play.
Mims is unquestionably a developmental prospect, but when you watch his tape, you understand exactly why some NFL team is highly likely to throw that first-round flier in. Over time, and with the right coaching, he has the athletic potential to be a rare prospect at right or left tackle.
Jonathan James McCarthy was a five-star prospect out of Nazareth Academy in Le Grange Park Illinois, and later the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He chose Michigan over several major programs, and became the highest-ranked recruit Jim Harbaugh ever signed.
In his second season as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback, McCarthy was a big part of Michigan’s national championship journey. He completed 240 of 333 passes for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 116.6. As a deep passer, McCarthy completed 25 passes of 20 or more air yards on 46 attempts for 706 yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 130.0. When pressured, McCarthy completed 52 of 82 passes for 780 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 111.8. As a runner, McCarthy gained 340 yards and scored three touchdowns on 39 carries.
PLUSES
— Outstanding downfield ball placement when he does turn it loose and has open windows.
— Plus athlete who can win on designed runs.
— Has the capacity to throw his receivers open.
— Can work off-schedule to a point.
MINUSES
— Too often late to diagnose and turn it loose; needs to speed up his clock for any kind of NFL success.
— Hospital balls can be a problem.
— Must develop a greater understanding of advanced coverage concepts.
— Won’t see the kinds of designed openings he feasted on with Michigan.
McCarthy’s tape doesn’t really blow you away, but he does just about everything well enough, and consistently enough, where you can see the path to a starting quarterback in the NFL. Given his success under Jim Harbaugh, you know that he understands pro concepts to an elevated degree. If you’re looking for a second-round game executive (H/T to Nate Tice of The Athletic for that term; it’s a great way to describe a plus-level game manager) in the Kirk Cousins mold, this could be your guy.
When it comes to McCarthy’s NFL transition, the real question is: When the modern game is more about creating and preventing explosive plays than anything else, how does a game executive fit into that, and how do McCarthy’s issues with throwing deep into tight windows limit him and his ultimate ceiling? Cousins, who is the obvious comp and a fourth-round pick in 2012 out of Michigan State, eventually figured out how to be a great deep thrower, but there are 10 guys for every Kirk Cousins with a similar athletic profile who never did. McCarthy is more of a gamble than a safe pick in that regard.
Jonathon Brooks was a four-star recruit out of Hallettsville High School in Hallettsville, Texas, and he chose the Longhorns after wanting to attend Texas A&M, but the coaching staff there reportedly thought he was too small, so that was that. Brooks had limited opportunities in his first two collegiate seasons, but that changed in 2023, when he rushed 187 times for 1,135 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brooks had 16 runs of 15 yards or more and he forced 63 missed tackles on those 187 carries, which is a pretty good summary of his playing personality.
Now, Brooks isn’t a pure power runner at 6′ 0⅜” and 216 pounds; he’s more versatile than that. But I do wonder if he’ll be downgraded by some NFL teams because he doesn’t have a pure headbanging style on the field.
PLUSES
— Can win in gap and inside zone concepts, but Brooks is an expert outside zone runner with quick vision and reaction to gaps, and the speed and acceleration to pick up extra yards outside.
— Vision and acceleration extends to the second and third levels, where he’ll change directions in a flash to get out of traffic from linebackers and safeties.
— Has the patience when needed to wait for blocks to develop, and then, it’s off to the races.
— 732 of his 1,135 rushing yards in 2023 came after contact; his 6′ 0⅜”, 216 pound frame shows up as a positive to a point in power situations.
— Brings an impressive arsenal of jukes and jump cuts, especially when running inside.
— Has some juice and YAC potential as a receiver out of the backfield, and the athletic traits to extend that to the slot.
MINUSES
— Most of Brooks’ yards after contact are created through speed and wiggle and defenders ankle-tackling him on the way to paydirt; he’s not a Derrick Henry-type bulldozer.
— Brooks’ NFL team will want to talk to him about better pass-blocking pretty quickly. He’ll bounce off blocks when he needs to engage.
— More smooth and gliding than aggressive and powerful.
— Brooks isn’t going to win a lot of scrums where he comes out of the other end of a dogpile at full speed.
Maybe you’d like a back of Brooks’ size to understand a bit more how to use that size to overwhelm defenders. On the other hand, guys this size with his juice to and through the open field don’t grow on trees. Any NFL team leading with outside zone as the fulcrum of its run game would be quite happy with what Brooks brings to the table.
A three-star recruit at Canton High School in Canton, Michigan, Darius Robinson didn’t play organized football until his junior year. But he still had a couple of pressures as a true freshman in 2019, and worked his way up to First-Team All-SEC in 2023 despite an injury-plagued season. Last year, the 6′ 5⅛”, 285-pound Robinson was good for nine sacks, 42 total pressures, 22 solo tackles, and 22 stops, and he did that all over the defensive line — 81% EDGE, 19% defensive tackle, and 1% nose tackle.
Robinson projects as an ideal every-gap disruptor at the NFL level, and his athletic traits could have him as a plus lineman when his professional career expands.
PLUSES
— Very strong upper body; when Robinson gets into the blocker’s numbers with his hands, he can just collapse his opponent, and he has a great shock move to bring the blocker in and then just shed him aside.
— Freaky wingspan allows him to roll quickly with the inside counter; Robinson can cross your face before you know it.
— Excellent speed to and through the pocket.
— Has a bull-rush with serious potential; Robinson will be a tough go for NFL tackles in power situations. Once he gets a tackle on the track, the tackle is in big trouble.
— Can win everywhere from wide-9 to 3-tech.
— Got it done as a pass-rusher without the help of a lot of blitzes; had several pressures out of three-man fronts.
MINUSES
— Robinson will occasionally get over his skis in open space and just whiff on tackles.
— Needs to be highly aware of pad level and leverage, especially inside, or he’ll lose power battles right off the snap.
— Needs a better plan with his hands to avoid wrestling when he should be penetrating.
— Gets so involved in what’s in front of him that he’ll miss run keys that are a gap over.
I avoid same-school comparisons unless they’re unavoidable. In Robinson’s case, he had me thinking of Aldon Smith right away in the combination of wingspan and play speed. That Robinson generally rolled at 20-20 pounds heavier is a testament to Robinson’s unusual athletic profile for his size. There are things to clean up here, but the raw and refined tools make me think that he may disappear a bit in his rookie season, but over time, he could be a true multi-gap demolition expert.
A composite three-star prospect out of Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts, Mike Sainristil was a star receiver and cornerback who chose Michigan and totaled 37 catches on 69 targets for 541 yards and five touchdowns in his time with the Wolverines. Sainristil brought that receiver’s understanding to his role as a primary slot defender, capping out in Michigan’s national championship season of 2023 with 29 catches allowed on 50 targets for 412 yards, 206 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, six interceptions, six pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 71.8. He also had 29 solo tackles, 18 stops, two sacks, and 11 total pressures.
In today’s NFL, you need at least one slot defender if you want your defense to work, so don’t pass Sainristil by just because he’s limited to the inside. He’s a smart, tough, aggressive, scheme-transcendent player who can work into an NFL roster right away.
PLUSES
— Quick closer to the receiver, and has a better eye for the ball than a lot of receivers do.
— Can lay in the weeds and jump routes with excellent timing and ball skills. Six INT and six PBU in the 2023 season.
— Matches the receiver through the route in press and off coverage, and has the easy speed to work through them.
— Understands and responds to switches and route combinations. Very heady in the open field.
— Outstanding hitter for his size; he’ll come down and lay the wallop, and a lot of his pass deflections come as a result of that.
— Great blitzer who shoots gaps like a running back, and is quick enough to get to the quarterback at an angle from the slot.
MINUSES
— Size (5′ 9½”, 182 pounds) will limit him to the slot at the next level.
— Has a tendency to leave too much cushion on angular routes, leading to easy completions he has the talent to prevent.
— Not a run defender of note; he gets blocked out too easily and his tackling is more made for receivers than running backs.
— Frenetic play style will have him biting on movement and action in the backfield.
— Will lose physical battles with tight ends and bigger receivers off the snap and up the seam.
We’re past the eras in which slot defenders were thought of in a pejorative sense; in a time when nickel is the new base defense, if you don’t have at least one good slot guy against a plethora of 3×1 and empty sets, your defense is going to be in trouble. Sainristil projects as a plug-and-play slot man with some hybrid safety potential, and I think that gives him second-round juice.
Marshawn Kneeland, who starred in football and track at Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, took his game to Western Michigan and became a force for the Broncos’ defense in 2020, with four sacks and 13 total pressures on just 91 pass-rushing snaps. Through four seasons, Kneeland kept that high pass-rush rate up, and in 2023, he had a career-high six sacks and 37 total pressures. At 6′ 3″ and 267 pounds, Kneeland also put up 38 solo tackles and 35 stops in 2023, and he had a strong Senior Bowl week as an exclamation point to his good game tape.
Every defensive coordinator wants a guy who plays like his hair is on fire at all times, and Kneeland certainly qualifies. He’s a multi-gap disruptor with a ton of upside, and I’m betting that a lot of NFL evaluators will set aside any small-school biases when discussing his professional potential.
PLUSES
— Gap-shooting edge-rusher who can quickly work from outside the tackle to the center, and will move to the pocket quickly.
— Can win everywhere from an edge alignment to head-over nose tackle. — Relentless disruptor who works from snap to whistle.
— Stacks and sheds quickly and powerfully; his 83⅜” wingspan (90th percentile for edge-rushers) allows him to establish dominance from the snap.
— Brings extra juice as an off-ball “spinner” who can time rushes and work to the quarterback in a hurry.
— Has a dynamite spin move to disengage from blockers who slow him down.
MINUSES
— Kneeland’s frenetic style will have him missing targets in the backfield at times.
— Could stand to have more of a plan with his hands to knife through double teams and penetrate through more adept opponents.
— Must keep his leverage together to avoid being blocked out too easily by tight ends and running backs.
— Prone to biting on action and misdirection in the backfield.
— Strength of opponent is a legitimate concern in a transitive sense, though the tape shows more than enough NFL potential.
Kneeland has a fabulous playing personality — if there’s a play anywhere near him, he’ll do everything he can to kill it with fire. There are a few points of precision to deal with when he gets to the NFL level, but he’s an ideal multi-gap disrupting prospect in the next phase of his career.
A consensus five-star recruit out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Spencer Rattler was the No. 1 quarterback prospect in 2019, and he chose Oklahoma over just about every other program. He transferred to South Carolina in 2022 after losing the starting job for the Sooners to Caleb Williams in 2021, and after one average season for the Gamecocks, Rattler came around in 2023… or, he came around as much as his offensive line would let him.
With perhaps the NCAA’s worst protection last season, the 6′ 0¼”, 211-pound Rattler still completed 274 of 403 passes for 3,183 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 99.1.
Evaluating Rattler as an NFL prospect is a bit of a struggle, because South Carolina’s passing game was pretty dysfunctional, but there’s enough on tape to see him as a credible starter in the right offense.
PLUSES
— Operated behind what was likely the NCAA’s worst offensive line and was still responsible for a lot of structured explosive plays.
— Pocket movement is a plus attribute; Rattler is very good at staying in the boxing ring and moving away from pressure. Bailing out of the pocket isn’t his default. He’ll also stand and deliver in the pocket when he’s about to get walloped.
— Natural move quarterback who quickly gets his body turned to the target, which allows him to stay on point with his mechanics and boots and scrambles.
— Has the arm to throw comfortably to all levels of the field. It’s not a Howitzer, but it’s not a weakness, either.
— Unafraid to throw downfield into tight windows, and has the touch and velocity to do so.
— Has a lot on the ball as a runner, both in designed concepts and when things do break down. Forced 15 missed tackles on 28 rushing attempts last season.
MINUSES
— Rattler is more of a “see it and throw it” guy than a true anticipation thrower; you’d like to see more instances where he throws his target open.
— Most of Rattler’s pressures and sacks were on his line, but if he could speed up his internal clock just a hair, it would help.
— Has stretches of “Bad Russell Wilson” where he’ll just hold onto the ball, and you’re yelling at the screen for him to get the dang thing out.
— Has a tendency to throw interceptions that are more “WTF” throws by Rattler than specifically heroic efforts by the defenders. His downfield vision aligns with his throw timing and can be a tick late.
There is a rogue element to Rattler’s play that very much brings Baker Mayfield to mind, and it would likely be more effective behind an offensive line that wasn’t actively participating in his demise. If you’re stuck in the group that has him as a third-day pick, I get it, but the more you watch him, the more you tend to like him and his NFL potential.
A four-star recruit out of Central East High School in Fresno, California, Xavier Worthy originally committed to Michigan, but academic issues delayed that process, and after considering Alabama, Worthy then chose to roll with Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian because he liked the ways in which Sarkisian utilized DeVonta Smith, another smaller speed receiver, as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
Speed is the important word here. Speed kills, and absolute speed kills absolutely. Worthy has absolute speed.
It was easy enough to diagnose that from watching his game tape, but when Worthy went to the 2024 scouting combine and set the record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, that was the clincher. And it was not the only instance in which Worthy put up preposterous numbers.
Now, the height/weight profile could be a problem. There are other smaller speed receivers who have succeeded in the NFL, but the guys who have done it in the modern era generally check in a bit heavier — more on the 180-pound scale.
So, will Worthy’s NFL team stick with his weight as is, or try to beef him up a bit without losing any of that explosive potential? We can but wait and see.
PLUSES
— Record-breaking speed shows up on the field; Worthy can house a handoff or a quick screen, and he’s very adept at gaining separation in a straight line downfield.
— Has a nice sense of foot feints to get off press at the line of scrimmage and will then head into Acceleration Mode.
— Turns into his routes with little need to slow down and re-accelerate.
— Wins with late hands to the ball as it’s coming in.
— His ability to get open and up to top speed out of motion could make him a terrifying target in the right NFL offense.
— Not just a go/post/seam guy, Worthy will stick his foot in the ground to re-direct, and he’s got a pretty diverse route profile.
MINUSES
— For all his explosive potential, Worthy had just six catches of 20 or more air yards last season on 23 targets for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
— Focus drops are a legitimate issue; Worthy doesn’t have much of a catch radius, and he isn’t excited about heading into traffic.
— Blocking is more performative than effective.
— Creates YAC with speed as opposed to any sort of physicality; he’s not a contested catch player in the traditional sense, and his after-contact potential is iffy.
Worthy is more of a nuanced receiver than the speed numbers would have you believe. On the other hand, he isn’t
Patrick Paul was a three-star recruit out of Jersey Village High School in Houston, Texas, and he went with his hometown school with few other offers. He became a full-time player in 2021, his third season with the Cougars, and by then, he had developed his pass-blocking acumen to an impressive degree. Last season, he allowed one sack, one quarterback hit, and seven quarterback hurries in 496 pass-blocking attempts. Any team with a pass-heavy offense will love him; the question with Paul is whether he has that dawg in him to use his frame to dominate opposing defenders when it’s time to run to daylight.
PLUSES
— Outstanding combination of size (6′ 7½”, 332), arm length, and technique. Paul comes off the plane just looking like a left tackle.
— Has a natural kick-step that allows him to control the arc with his feet under him. Not a ton of wasted movement.
— Paul is really good at catching aggressive pass-rushers who want to displace him by shoving him through the numbers.
— Not a lot of issues with games and stunts; Paul is an aware player with his head on a swivel.
— Has a decent sense of when to attack with his hands; I’d like to see more of that when he hits the NFL, though that’s a personal preference.
MINUSES
— Quick movement outside with his first step might leave him more vulnerable to inside and spin moves at the NFL level. Recovery speed is more decent than spectacular
— For a guy with his agility, Paul’s hit rate outside and upfield is an issue; he needs to work on attacking moving targets.
— Small hands (9⅜”, third-percentile among offensive tackles) may affect his ability to latch on and dominate in power situations.
— Needs some work in the run game to work quickly to seal the edge. You see it once in a while, but he can be a bit of a spectator when you want an alpha dog.
— Overall, I would love to see Paul get defenders on the track more often and just drive them off the screen, because he has the physical potential to do so.
If your preference is for a glass-eating, ass-kicking tackle, Paul will probably not be your favorite. I like him as a big, agile pass-protector with most everything you need in that department. In offenses where pass pro is the order of the day, he’ll be a fine developmental starter. More balanced teams might look at him a
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was a three-star recruit out of Duncanville High School in West Dallas, Texas, and he chose Missouri over Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, Miami, Michigan State and South Carolina. Alabama had been his “dream school,” but Rakestraw stuck with the Tigers because they had been on him as a prospect earlier in the process.
Over four seasons with the Tigers, Rakestraw allowed 89 catches on 149 targets for 1,106 yards, 442 yards after the catch, 10 touchdowns, one interception, 21 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 102.4.
That TD/INT ratio and opponent passer rating… well, it’s not an ideal combination. But Rakestraw is one player in this class whose tape is more impressive than his metrics, and the path to NFL success might not be the one he imagined, but it’s pretty clear.
PLUSES
— Aggressive closer to the ball from anywhere on the field, Rakestraw is looking to make receivers pay for their catches. Tackles like a safety in the backfield.
— That extends to his potential as a blitzer off the edge; Rakestraw will even throw a few foot-fakes at enemy blockers.
— Trails well in press coverage through the route and can maintain his landmarks on go, post, and seam routes downfield.
— Equally adept in slot and outside coverage.
— Has a good eye for route concepts and changing assignments in zone coverage.
MINUSES
–Rakestraw will turn his hips too soon to his receiver, and it’s not always easy to tighten it up and cover closely after that.
— More of a bail-and-trail defender in press than a true face-up cornerback who will match throughout.
— Inconsistent recovery speed to deal with receivers after they’ve paced him through the route.
Giving a first-round grade to a guy who has allowed 10 touchdowns and has just one interception through four seasons is a bit of a stretch. I do, however, like Rakestraw as a potential plus starter were he to play a hybrid role in which he could alternate between outside, slot, and safety to maximize what he does well. As a pure outside cornerback, I would have concerns.
Edgerrin Cooper was a four-star recruit from Covington High School in Covington, Louisiana who played running back and linebacker, and was also a track star. If you’ve watched his tape, Cooper’s track background will not surprise you one bit. He chose the Aggies over Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M and started to become a force in 2021.
Last season, Cooper had 10 sacks, 27 total pressures, 58 solo tackles, 56 stops, and 17 tackles for loss. He also allowed 14 receptions on 16 targets for 132 yards, 125 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, no interceptions, two pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 101.0.
When you watch Cooper’s tape, you may be forgiven for thinking that somebody sped it up, until you realize that everybody around him is moving at a slower rate. Cooper’s field speed is a plus/plus attribute, and it shows up everywhere. It’s the extent to which he’ll be able to work through some size and awareness issues that will determine his NFL potential.
PLUSES
— Dude is FAST all over the field. 93rd percentile 40-yard dash (4.51) and 88th percentile 10-yard split (1.54) are blatantly obvious on the turf.
— Can just scald to the pocket as an edge defender or as an off-ball blitzer; Cooper moves like a cornerback when he’s bringing extra pressure.
— Shoots gaps to the backfield and can be a TFL machine. Strong and aggressive for his size; he’ll throw running backs around.
— Comes down on screens and other short passes to lay the wood.
MINUSES
— Missed tackles and whiffs happen a bit too often; it’s a part of any Pantera playing style, and he’ll be even better if he can clean it up.
— Needs to slide off blocks as opposed to engaging physically; 230 pounds is 230 pounds. Tight ends will seal the edge against him… if they can catch up.
— Opportunistic tackler who will occasionally get a bit too “creative” with his technique.
— Cooper will need to strike a balance between going nuts to the ball on every play and the discipline required for consistent short and intermediate coverage. Has all the athleticism needed to work the seam, but there are times when you’re not sure what he’s doing out there.
Cooper has been one of my favorite players to watch in this draft class, regardless of position. And his athletic profile fits what most teams want in an every-down linebacker these days. He’ll be all over the place at times when he gets to the NFL, but with the right kind of coaching, he could be an ideal guided missile.
Jordan Travis spent his first collegiate season at Louisville in the post-Lamar Jackson landscape, but he completed just four of 14 passes in 2018 for 71 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a passer rating of 42.3. A transfer to Florida State allowed him to be far more prolific. Over five seasons with the Seminoles, Travis developed as a quarterback and as an athlete, and his school records prove the point.
Travis holds holds FSU career records for touchdown responsibility, total offense, quarterback rushing yards and quarterback rushing touchdowns. He is the only player in FSU history with more than 50 passing touchdowns and at least 12 rushing touchdowns, the only player in program history with three different streaks of at least 120 passes without an interception, the only player ranked Top 10 on FSU’s career passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns lists, and he accounted for school-record 97 total touchdowns and 10,554 yards of total offense.
Last season, Travis completed 207 of 325 passes for 2,755 yards, 20 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 108.4. He also rushed 46 times for 279 yards and seven touchdowns.
Had he not suffered a leg fracture against North Alabama on November 18, Travis might be heading into this draft class with a different conversation regarding the top players at his position. NFL teams will have to weigh the injury against Travis’ productivity and potential, and I think he’ll come out on the right side of that equation.
PLUSES
— Compact, consistent delivery which allows him to get the ball out quickly once he sees it downfield.
— Has the pace and touch to succeed as a downfield thrower, and though anticipation is not really his game, Travis has a knack for getting the ball deep where his guy can get it.
— Height (6′ 1⅛”) isn’t an issue; Travis completed 134 of 198 passes over the middle and left/right middle last season for 1,785 yards, 617 air yards, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 112.6.
— Forced 23 missed tackles and scored seven touchdowns in 46 rushing attempts last season; has some definite potential at the next level.
— Has no issue throwing to either side on the move, which will help him force open lanes outside the pocket.
MINUSES
— Needs to see his target come open before he’ll turn it loose. Can be vulnerable to opportunistic defenders as a result, and this will increase in the NFL.
— Has periods of inaccuracy when he gets cute with his upper body.
— Gets a bit wild and unstructured as a scrambler at times when he should just take a profit and move on.
I’m of the belief that if Travis hadn’t suffered a brutal leg fracture in mid-November, and if he had played through the 2023 season as he did pre-injury, the 2024 quarterback conversation would be a bit different. Not that he’s ready to compete with Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, but in that second QB tier, he had enough going for him to climb into the boat.
Max Melton comes from an athletic family. His father Gary played wide receiver and running back at Rutgers from 1987-91, and his mother Vicky, competed on the Rutgers women’s basketball team from 1989-93. Melton’s older brother Bo also played for the Scarlet Knights, was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, and caught 18 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers last season.
Max Melton might have the highest profile in his family when all is said and done. A receiving and rushing star at Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County, New Jersey, Melton chose Rutgers as an obvious family proposition, and had his best of four collegiate seasons in 2023. Then, he allowed 24 catches on 44 targets for 252 yards, 72 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, three interceptions, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 65.7.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pund Melton is a bit under the radar as an outside cornerback in this class, but the tape shows an instinctive match defender with great athletic attributes.
PLUSES
— Natural match-and-carry cornerback in any scheme — zone/man, press/off.
— Will run foot-for-foot with any receiver; Melton has a frenetic playing style, but he’s able to keep it under control for the most part.
— Gave Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka all kinds of hassles vs. Ohio State.
— Smooth in his transitions and backpedal, and has excellent ball skills for deflections and interceptions.
— Can handle choice routes and other option concepts from the slot.
— 4.39 40-yard dash shows up on the field, as does the 40½” vertical jump and the 136″ broad jump (all high-percentile)
— Melton can get from Point A to Point B in a hurry, and he’s explosive to the ball when he gets there.
MINUSES
— Tackling is… well, a work in progress. He’s not going to get through blockers, and his tackling style is more pestering than truly bothersome.
— Doesn’t really have a concept of run fits.
— Recovery speed is nice, but he’ll give receivers too much of a cushion at times, which he doesn’t need to do.
— More of a man coverage expert; he’ll occasionally get a bit lost in zone.
Melton is a fascinating prospect. As a pass defender, he’s as sticky as anyone in this class. As a run defender, he doesn’t really look like he wants to be out there at all. I’m not sure how much his NFL coaches will be able to develop that killer instinct. I’m also not sure how much it matters, because his tape against the pass tells an important series of stories.
The 2023 Texas Longhorns had more talent at the receiver position than most — between Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, that offense was about hurling the ball all over the place, and for good reason. In Sanders’ case, it allowed him to put up a second consecutive standout season, catching 45 passes on 67 targets for 682 yards and two touchdowns after grabbing 54 passes on 72 targets for 613 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.
Sanders will bring up a familiar debate in NFL scouting rooms — when you select a tight end in the draft, what kind of tight end do you prefer? Do you want the traditional archetype at the position who will block like a lineman and add a little spice to your passing game, or are you after a true weapon all over the formation? If your NFL team wants the latter, Ja’Tavion Sanders is a really good place to start — especially if your team missed out on Georgia’s Brock Bowers.
As is the case with Bowers, Sanders has explosive plays all over his tape (13 of his catches were explosives last season), and if his NFL team wants him to work more outside as a true iso receiver in the Travis Kelce mold, he’s got all the skills to make that happen.
At the scouting combine, I asked Sanders for his favorite NCAA play, and he brought one up that perfectly illustrated what he will bring to his NFL team.
PLUSES
— Didn’t have a lot of outside iso targets, but showed an easy ability to get open and work downfield for impactful plays outside when he did.
— Sits in zone coverage like an NFL veteran; he’ll get you that eight-yard slant on third-and-6 every time.
— 348 of his 682 yards came after the catch last season. He’s great at taking a simple drag route beyond its logical conclusion, and he can get there with speed and toughness.
— Experienced scramble-drill receiver who knows when to break off after the play has broken down.
— Will take match-and-carry defenders right up the chute, and he’s just fine catching the ball when he knows he’s going to get whacked.
MINUSES
— Blocking is decent but not remarkable; he’s a move tight end more than aligned to the formation.
— Catch radius was tested by inconsistent throw timing, and I would have liked to have seen a bit more there.
I don’t have a lot of dings for Sanders. If you understand what kind of tight end he is, and you need a guy who will work the middle of the field in the intermediate to deep passing game, just turn in the card and make it happen.
He’s a move TE and an offensive weapon. That should be good enough, and if he sneaks into the low first round, I wouldn’t be completely surprised.