NFL draft season is full of aimless comparisons with every quarterback coming out of college being projected as the next Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers and every edge rusher as the next Jadeveon Clowney or Von Miller.
These comps are what makes draft season so special, as no matter what NFL team you root for every high draft pick your team makes is immediately compared to the best in the league at the position.
Here at BadgersWire our comps are a bit more on the realistic side, and should give a good idea as to what to expect from the four drafted Badgers, Jonathan Taylor, Zack Baun, Tyler Biadasz and Quintez Cephus as they begin their NFL careers.
Jonathan Taylor
NFL comparison: Nick Chubb
Well, yes, we are comparing Taylor to the Cleveland Browns’ Pro-Bowl running back Nick Chubb.
The comp makes sense, though, as Chubb is an impressive blend of power, vision and speed whose running style reminds me so much of Taylor’s, especially in terms of their breakaway speed and ability to always fall forward and move the chains.
Furthermore, Chubb has developed into a formidable receiver out of the backfield with 56 receptions and 427 yards during his first two NFL seasons.
This is how Taylor’s receiving game will project to the next level, as he isn’t at the level of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and other guys who can call receiving as one of their biggest strengths, but he still has the ability to produce when called upon in that area.
Taylor’s ceiling will obviously have a lot to do with how the Colts choose to use him, whether they decide to limit his touches due to his college workload and, overall, whether the former Badger continues to stay healthy.
The most likely scenario, though, is Nick Chubb-like production behind an elite offensive line in Indianapolis.