THIRD-ROUND GRADES
- Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina (6’2” 6/8, 212 lbs, no 40) – A big, physical receiver, Edwards is excellent with the ball in his hands. Not the fleetest of foot, or the best separator, Edwards is still excellent in contested catch situations. He may profile best as a big slot, but Edwards can be physically dominant. A foot injury before the combine is a concern, but if the medicals check out, he will be drafted on day 2 and be an immediate starter. BEST FITS: Dallas, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Washington
- Ben Bartch, OT, St John’s (6’5” 6/8, 309, no 40) – A huge adjustment coming from a small school to the NFL, but Bartch possesses the traits to make the transition. He definitely needs to get stronger, as his functional strength may keep him from seeing the field in year 1. A strong showing in Mobile definitely moved him up draft boards, but there is plenty more work to do for Bartch to reach his high ceiling. BEST FITS: Denver, NY Jets, Cleveland, Washington
- Troy Dye, LB, Oregon (6’3” 2/8, 230 lbs, no 40) – A “play fast” linebacker that reacts extremely well. Once he’s on the move, he gets there in a hurry. Plenty of athleticism to drop into coverage, either in zone or man. Makes plays on the football routinely. He’s definitely undersized, so there is room for added strength, but he must do it without sacrificing his calling card, which is his speed and athleticism. BEST FITS: Las Vegas, Dallas, Philadelphia, NY Giants
- Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia (6’1” 2/8, 202 lbs, no 40) – Tall and long corner with solid cover skills. Hall isn’t the most athletic corner in the draft, but he’s smart, reads plays well, is solid in run support, and has the balls skills necessary to create turnovers. He probably fits best in a true Cover 3 system where his athletic limitations won’t be exposed. BEST FITS: Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago
- Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame (5’10” 4/8, 201 lbs, 4.60, 1.67) – Decisive football player that loves to get downhill. Reads and reacts well, especially in run support. Size is a concern as he is more of a box safety than a deep one. Range is definitely an issue, but Gilman plays faster than his times indicate due to his football IQ. Love the leadership and the mental makeup. BEST FITS: Dallas, LA Rams, Seattle, Philadelphia
- Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida (6’3” 3’8, 263 lbs, 4.87, 1.71) – While Greenard lacks the ideal bend you want in an edge rusher, he has enough tools in the toolshed to become a three-down player at the next level. A bit of a tweener between 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 SAM, I believe Greenard will stick with his hand in the ground in an even front. Solid in all areas, Greenard will immediately be included in a rotation with a chance to start. BEST FITS: NY Giants, Detroit, Carolina, Tennessee
- Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee (6’3” 5/8, 267 lbs, no 40) – Taylor’s strength, burst, and bend are clear when watching film. He lacks the technical side of things, however, as his hand-placement and counters left something to be desired. An in-house incident in 2017 will leave teams questioning his character, but there is no doubting his long-term upside. Those initial traits are worth their weight in gold when it comes to draft day, and Taylor should find himself off the board on Day 2. BEST FITS: Minnesota, Las Vegas, NY Giants, Detroit, Jacksonville
- Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame (6’5” 6/8, 262 lbs, 4.70, 1.65) – Not the most fluid athlete at the position, but outstanding ball skills. Faster on the clock than his tape would indicate. Catch radius is outstanding. Solid blocker, not great in that area. Perhaps the best all-around tight end in the draft, but relatively limited athletic profile caps his upside. BEST FITS: New England, Carolina, Tennessee, Dallas
- Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio St (6’2” 5/8, 247 lbs, 4.66, 1.64) – A true MIKE linebacker that rarely misses tackles. Harrison is a downhill run defender that fills gaps and meets backs in the hole. He may have some issues in coverage, but his smarts could certainly help there. Extremely physical player that makes you feel the contact. BEST FITS: New England, Buffalo, Green Bay
- Ben Bredeson, G, Michigan (6’4” 5/8, 315 lbs, no 40) – Four-year starter in Ann Arbor with an elite track record of run-blocking. Short arms and average mobility make him a fit in a power scheme rather than getting out in front in zone blocking schemes. Technician with use of hands. BEST FITS: Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Chicago
- Van Jefferson, WR, Florida (6’1” 4/8, 200 lbs, no 40) – A nuanced route runner, Jefferson profiles best as a complementary possession receiver. He isn’t the fastest or most agile receiver, but he understands how to set up his breaks and accelerate through the apex of his cuts. Excellent hands, Jefferson also excels at finding soft spots against zone coverage. While Jefferson likely won’t ever be a star, he should make an immediate impact and play for a decade. BEST FITS: Minnesota, New England, Las Vegas, Seattle, New Orleans
- James Lynch, DT, Baylor (6’3” 5/8, 289 lbs, 5.01, 1.73) – An edge player at Baylor, Lynch will have to kick inside at the next level. A relentless motor is his calling card, which helped Lynch rack up impressive sack totals (22 career sacks). He doesn’t have elite athleticism, but understands angles and leverage and has a chance to make an impact as an inside pass rusher. BEST FITS: Dallas, Minnesota, Atlanta, Tampa Bay
- Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama (6’6” 1/8, 311 lbs, 5.12, 1.78) – A former top recruit, Davis performed really well early on, generating plenty of negative plays for opposing offenses. However, his junior and senior years were disappointing in terms of production. Regardless, Davis is one of the strongest players in the draft, anchors incredibly well against the run, and may be able to collapse pockets. Not a true pass rusher, likely limiting him to an early down role. BEST FITS: San Francisco, Indianapolis, Denver, Arizona
- Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi St (6’2” 2/8, 188 lbs, 4.64, 1.64) – A disastrous 40 at the combine has moved Dantzler down draft boards. The tape is solid and the length is outstanding for the position. Teams, however, are definitely wondering if he has the speed and burst to keep up with the premier receivers he will face at the next level. He’s not a physical player, and he could stand to gain some weight, which could further diminish his already limited athletic ceiling. Likely a zone corner only, Dantzler should hear his name called late Day 2 or early Day 3. BEST FITS: San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah (5’11” 3/8, 202 lbs, 4.46, 1.58) – Coverage safety with the chops to play deep or step into the slot. Agility is unquestioned and understands route concepts to make plays on the ball. Tackling has been erratic. Willing to step up in run support, but missed a number of plays as the last line of defense. Form not really the issue as much as the execution. Good player with plenty of upside. BEST FITS: Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, Miami
- Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU (6’4” 1/8, 300 lbs, 5.05, 1.87) – Extremely smooth in his movements, Charles has the fundamental tools you want in a cornerstone left tackle. Charles, however, is too light and needs to add “good weight.” He is technically sound, but can lose against power, which he will face plenty of at the next level. The natural talent is evident and he could prove to be a steal late on Day 2. BEST FITS: Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Denver, LA Chargers
- Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia (6’1” 7/8, 219 lbs, 5.01, 1.81) – Fromm is a steady player. He will never “wow” anyone with any physical trait – he has an average arm and isn’t a very good athlete for the position – but Fromm does have a level of confidence about himself. He is a leader. He throws with accuracy. He makes quick (and correct) decisions. He will, at worst, be a serviceable backup. At best, he could be an average starter in the right system. BEST FITS: New England, New Orleans, Jacksonville
- Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton (6’5”, 255 lbs, 4.80, 1.65) – Good size for the position with nice explosion off the line and getting vertical. High-points the ball really well. Still new to football, but has the upside of one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league. Still learning the nuances of the game, but natural athleticism shows up on tape. BEST FITS: Dallas, New England Green Bay, Arizona, Washington
- Zack Moss, RB, Utah (5’9” 3/8, 223 lbs, 4.65, 1.67) – Not the fleetest back in the draft, Moss makes his living by breaking tackles, catching the ball well, and gaining extra yards. His only downfall is his speed. You can live with it due to all of the other things he does well. Health could be an issue, but if he stays on the field, he could certainly be the leader of a committee, racking up 15+ touches weekly as soon as his rookie season. BEST FITS: Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta, New England, LA Rams
- Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio St (6’3” 6/8, 327 lbs, 5.14, 1.80) – Hamilton is a big, strong inside presence. Strong enough to anchor against double teams, and has solid lateral ability to track ball-carriers down the line of scrimmage. Didn’t receive a lot of playing time early in college career, leading many to believe there is plenty of untapped potential to build upon. BEST FITS: Minnesota, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Carolina
- Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse (6’2” 6/8, 264 lbs, 4.69, 1.65) – Red flag present from a robbery charge before his college days. Without the red flag, Robinson would be considered much sooner. He has the look and feel of an elite NFL edge rusher, possessing an explosive first step, enough strength to turn his speed into power, and the ability to shift his weight. Counters aren’t there yet, but there is top-notch upside. BEST FITS: Dallas, Chicago, Minnesota, New England, Washington
- Nick Harris, C/G, Washington – (6’ 7/8, 302 lbs, 5.10, 1.76) – Another center/guard prospect, Harris is viewed best as a center at the next level. He is excellent at getting out in space and setting up his blocks with his mobility and positioning. He lacks the ideal arm length, which will hurt against the bull rush. Technique is sound, but limitations are evident against power rushers. BEST FITS: Minnesota, San Francisco, Arizona
- Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis (6’0” 3/8, 228 lbs, 4.39, 1.55) – Tempted to list Gibson as a WR with his size and speed. He has the size to pound inside, but he’s so dynamic when splitting out. Without question, he poses a matchup problem for defenses, and Gibson should be considered as soon as Round 3. He’s never carried the load, which will temper the excitement about drafting him as a true lead back. BEST FITS: Houston, Miami, Dallas, Washington
- Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M (6’1” 2/8, 201 lbs, 4.54, 1.58) – Excellent route runner that understands leverage and sets up his breaks very well. Physical player that demonstrates strong hands through contact. Good skills after the catch that can create big plays on his own. Not the fastest guy, but short-area quickness will give Davis a chance to become an upper-tier slot receiver. BEST FITS: Minnesota, Dallas, New Orleans, NY Jets, Jacksonville
- Leki Fotu, DT, Utah (6’5” 3/8, 330 lbs, 5.15, 1.80) – For a man as naturally strong as Fotu, he doesn’t play with proper leverage. He does move incredibly well for a man of his dimensions, leaving man evaluators wondering if there is more upside than shows on the surface. If the right defensive line coach can help mold Fotu through some technical flaws, Fotu could be a steal on late Day 2 or early Day 3 of the draft. BEST FITS: Carolina, Arizona, Seattle
- K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson (5’11”, 209 lbs, 4.53, 1.57) – Wallace does everything relatively well. Not the longest player in the draft, but can make plays in coverage, playing deep, and in run support. Won’t wow anyone with his athleticism, which probably limits him to sub-packages and nickel duties early (along with Special Teams), but he’s a smart player that has a chance to be a starter. BEST FITS: Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Carolina
- Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio St (5’11” 5/8, 195 lbs, 4.56, 1.66) – The athletic testing at the combine really hurt Arnette’s stock. His tape was very good at Ohio St, showing the capability of playing outside and in the slot. Long-range speed is a major concern, and his short-area splits were unimpressive, also. Arnette may be relegated to be a scheme-specific prospect, but he should have a chance to make an impact early due to his fundamentals. BEST FITS: Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, Kansas City
- Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech (6’0”, 240 lbs, 4.54, 1.62) – A nice size/speed linebacker that loves to play downhill. He shoots gaps incredibly well and has a nose for making plays in the backfield. Brooks sees the game well, so playing the WILL (weak-side) linebacker position may give him some freedom to read and react. How he reacts in coverage will determine how soon Brooks becomes a three-down player. BEST FITS: Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Dallas, Detroit
- Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA (5’9” 6/8, 195 lbs, 4.48, 1.64) – Despite his size, Holmes may be best suited as a boundary corner. His short-area quickness and speed will play well. Smooth hips and feet. Tackling is an issue, but there is no denying his shadow ability. Some teams will want to kick him inside, which shouldn’t be a problem. BEST FITS: Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Carolina, NY Jets
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