The NFL Draft is here. No, this is not a drill.
Roger Goodell will open up the NFL’s biggest offseason event on Thursday where a pair of Oklahoma players are likely to hear their name called in the first round. The 2020 NFL Draft will be all virtual. So real, emotional boos won’t serenade Goodell on stage and every draft pick will be watching from home.
Oklahoma won’t have the first pick in this draft, but the Sooners may have their first defensive draft pick in the first round since Gerald McCoy in 2010 (yeah, it’s been awhile). Riley will have two other defensive players get drafted and the ever constant conversation of Jalen Hurts has unquestionably driven conversation over the last couple weeks.
The gang at Sooners Wire got together to discuss the five Oklahoma players who will have their names called at some point in the three-day draft and the five pressing questions
WHAT IS JALEN HURTS’ LEGACY AT OKLAHOMA AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM HIM IN THE NFL?
Brayden Conover: I don’t think he earned one. I think more people will remember Rhett Bomar than Jalen Hurts in 20 years.
When it comes to the NFL I think we will see a similar career path to Mitchell Trubisky. He’ll see the field but he won’t be the guy for anybody.
Derek Parker: Despite the fact he only lost two games and earned Oklahoma their fourth Big 12 title in four years, I’m afraid the timing was just off for Hurts and the Sooners. If not for two fan-favorites in the two previous years, Oklahoma might have really embraced him.
I think there are a few very specific systems Hurts can thrive in within the NFL. I hope he lands there.
Kegan Reneau: Somehow, someway I am the one here to bring us all back together after “bashing” Jalen Hurts for much of the last two months. Or since he got to Oklahoma. Depends on who you talk to.
Hurts’ story is something anyone can get behind. The things he does away from the field and the impact he has on the younger generation, though, outweigh whatever happens on the football field. I expect him to be who he was in college in the NFL—a powerful runner that can make throws on the run and can help a team win football games. Things get dicey if you want to start talking longterm franchise quarterback.
WHO ENDS UP WITH THE BETTER NFL CAREER: CEEDEE LAMB OR MARQUISE BROWN?
BC: If CeeDee goes to Oakland, it’s Hollywood. Brown has a better group around him right now to have longer success.
DP: CeeDee is just too dynamic and Brown is just too injury prone. I see little to no bust potential in Lamb, but the one thing keeping Hollywood from excelling is nagging injuries.
KR: With Brayden on the destination. A Lamar Jackson-Marquise Brown combination sounds better no matter which you look at it, that’s unless someone with stability and quality quarterback play trades up to get CeeDee Lamb.
Is kenneth murray the most important oklahoma draft PICK OF THIS DECADE?
BC: No. Having three No. 1 overall quarterbacks in 10 seasons will do more for Oklahoma than a linebacker going in the top-20.
DP: No. While it is important to get defensive picks back in the mix, two Heisman winning No. 1 overall is the only selling point needed for Lincoln Riley.
KR: With how much Oklahoma has touted Kenneth Murray as the cover boy of Alex Grinch’s ‘Speed D’, this is a question that I had to weigh heavily. Because of the region Oklahoma is in, finding quality quarterback play wouldn’t be too hard if Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray never played a down at Oklahoma.
Murray could open doors for Grinch and the defensive staff that haven’t been able to be open since the early 2010s. Pairing what is now Oklahoma’s offense with more and more players like Murray could push its football program over the top.
HOW IMPACTFUL IS NEVILLE GALLIMORE IN THE NFL?
BC: I see Gallimore’s ceiling being around former Sooner Jordan Phillips. He’ll be a solid and dependable defensive tackle in the league.
DP: Not sure he’s an immediate impact guy, but could see him do big stuff when he gets his chance to shine. A lot of it could depend on what his coaches see in his first camp.
KR: Sort of the same path in college. Gallimore will need time to adjust and I foresee a move from the nose tackle position he played for Alex Grinch over to more of a true defensive tackle. Once he gets acquainted and a coordinator figures out what to do with his unmatched athleticism, Gallimore could take off.
HOW UNDERRATED IS PARNELL MOTLEY?
BC: He’s a smart Day 3 pick.
DP: Motley was extremely underrated as far as Sooners go, but could have trouble making the jump to the pros. I see him landing somewhere around the fifth round, and despite being a bit of a project for teams, he could have success down the road.
KR: I think he’s underrated enough that Motley could end up being a guy that becomes a starting corner for a team that is making late playoff runs. Something about him on game days in 2019 was different.
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