Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah
Anae was one of the most fun players I evaluated this draft season, because he plays as if his posterior is on fire at all times, and all that effort does pay off. The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Anae had 63 total pressures, making him one of the NCAA’s most productive pass-rushers in 2019, and as long as he’s rushing off the wide edge and avoiding power tackles, he has a lot of potential as a quarterback disruptor.
Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
Weaver may have fallen to the third day of the draft because he doesn’t look fast — he carries some bad weight, and that’s a problem. NFL evaluators may have also been put off by the fact that he made his bones against less than spectacular competition. He also doesn’t explode off the snap as you’d like an edge-rusher to do, but his production is undeniable (59 total pressures in 2019), and he had the strong hands, leverage, and gap versatility to become a good hybrid disruptor in a
Leki Fotu, DI, Utah
At 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Fotu brings a ferocious combination of first-step burst, leverage, and speed through multiple gaps. He’s missing a comprehensive set of pass-rush moves, but that could be said of many collegiate defenders. Anybody looking for a developmental one-gap nose tackle with high upside should snap him up early on the third day of the draft.
Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
At 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds, Dye looks more like a safety than a traditional linebacker, but of course, that’s where the NFL is headed these days. If you need a ‘backer who can run with running backs as a flat defender and tight ends up the seam, he’d be a steal on the third day. If you need a stout run-stuffer and sure tackler… well, that’s why Dye is still on the boards.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
Undersized and from a smaller school? Not a great combination. But when you put Davis-Gaither under the microscope, it’s clear that the 6-foot-1, 224-pound defender has great value not only in pass coverage, but also as a blitz weapon. He’ll be a force in any defense that understands his versatility, as he can transition from the box to the line of scrimmage to the slot.
Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Robertson was another player I really enjoyed watching, because you can just put his size aside and watch his insane play demeanor. Robertson will not cede a thing to receivers that tower over him, and he picked off 14 passes in his collegiate career. He played just 31 slot snaps last season, but that’s where he projects well at the next level. I’d expect him to come off the boards very quickly in the third day.
Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Hall didn’t have a single interception in 2019, but per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, his 37 forced competitions over the last two years ranks third among all cornerbacks in the nation. Hall isn’t a downfield burner, and you’d better have a safety behind him in any zone scheme, but he has outstanding ball skills and he knows how to break up potential big plays at a high level.