So. You’ve got NFL potential, but for whatever reason, the NFL doesn’t see you as a first- or second-day pick. Yes, it’s devastating at the time, but all kinds of players have recovered from falling to the fourth through the seventh rounds to become something special. Ask Geno Atkins, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by the Bengals out of Georgia. Atkins has made eight Pro Bowls. Ask Richard Sherman, taken in the fifth round of the 2011 draft by the Seahawks out of Stanford. The former receiver became the preeminent cornerback of his era.
Antonio Brown. Dak Prescott. David Bakhtiari. Jason Kelce. Stefon Diggs. Kirk Cousins. Everson Griffen. And that’s just in the last decade. There’s also that quarterback taken 199th overall by the Patriots in the 2000 draft. Plays for the Buccaneers now. Guy named Brady. You may have heard of him.
The point is, of course, that your draft spot does not determine your destiny. And that should be encouraging news to these players — the best prospects left on the boards after the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft.
Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State
Gardner Minshew’s successor at Washington State, Gordon doesn’t have Minshew’s gunslinger mentality, but he was highly productive in 2019. He had an Adjusted Completion Rate of 79.8%, and he completed 23 of 81 passes of 20 or more air yards for 736 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. So, not just a dink-and-sunk guy. Gordon needs work with diagnosing defenses at an advanced level, but he projects well as a spot starter in the sub-Kirk Cousins mold.
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Everybody loves Fromm’s game smarts and grit, but the physical limitations are there, and they’re obviously not going unnoticed by NFL personnel people. Fromm is a pocket guy who needs to put everything into it to make deep throws, but in the right system, he can develop into an average NFL quarterback and possible future coach. Think Kellen Moore with a little more zip on the ball, but not much.
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
Benjamin was a human highlight film for the Sun Devils over the last two seasons — he broke 84 total tackles in 2018, and 62 in 2019. At 5-foot-9 and 207 pounds, he’s not an every-down back in the traditional sense, but he’s a good receiver, and an absolute weapon in the open field. He could have Reggie Bush potential in the right system.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Gandy-Golden is a massive target at 6-foot-4 and 233 pounds, and he caught 150 passes for 2,433 yards and 20 touchdowns in just two seasons for the Flames. While he’s not a downfield burner, any team looking for an Anquan Boldin “late in the career” type (a power possession receiver) might find him to be an appealing option.
Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
There are times when you watch Charles protect Joe Burrow’s blind side at a very high level in 2019, and you think he’s the epitome of a first-round pick. At other times, his mechanics will fall short, and things will get messy. He’ll allow more sacks and pressures than you would like, and he’s a project at this point, but in a strong offensive line room, he has Pro Bowl potential… at times.