Estimated studying time: 14 minutes
Will we see anybody set up themselves as QB3?
There is not almost the extent of depth on this 12 months’s quarterback class as in 2024 when six have been chosen within the first spherical. Groups who probably gained’t get an opportunity to pick Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders can be intently finding out the group of passers heading to Cellular this week.
The American staff roster, particularly, carries three polarizing prospects in Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard.
Milroe is the perfect athlete within the class, however he wants to indicate higher timing and accuracy from the pocket. His high-variance type of play, which confirmed up when he recorded sub-50 passing grades in opposition to South Carolina, Tennessee and Michigan this season, will must be reigned in if he’s going to be an NFL starter.
Dart’s 91.1 passing grade was the second-best within the nation this season. He could possibly be a riser if he can regulate to NFL schemes after taking part in in a Lane Kiffin-led system that relied on creating open vertical throws.
Leonard is a wonderful athlete who performs the sport fearlessly, particularly when utilizing his legs. Questions for him come up when he isn’t in a position to lean on the fast sport. He carries only a 3.5% big-time throw fee in his profession.
On the Nationwide Workforce aspect, all eyes can be on Oregon star Dillon Gabriel, who completed third on this season’s Heisman voting. He had a superb school profession however wants to indicate he could make tight-window throws, particularly within the purple zone, if he’s going to beat his smaller bodily stature.
Who will stand out amongst one other deep huge receiver class?
A number of of the draft’s prime huge receiver prospects, like Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden III, gained’t be suiting up in Cellular. Nonetheless, there’s as soon as once more a plethora of mid-round gamers seeking to stand up draft boards.
The Nationwide Workforce alone carries a star-studded group that features Iowa State’s pair of excellent move catchers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Additionally they boast Miami’s all-time main receiver, Xavier Restrepo, in addition to Pat Bryant from Illinois, and wonderful slot threats like Oregon’s Tez Johnson.
Any of these gamers might propel themselves right into a Day 2 choice with a productive week. Higgins and Restrepo particularly might sneak into the highest 50 in the event that they proceed to dominate as they did in the course of the season.
One title to observe for on the American aspect is TCU’s Jack Bech, who lastly acquired an expanded alternative to play and took full benefit. He tallied his first 1,000-yard season in 2024 whereas incomes a superb 83.1 receiving grade. His basically sound type of play is bound to intrigue scouts who imagine he’s a high-floor kind of prospect.
Which offensive linemen will stay at sort out, and which can transfer inside?
Lots of this 12 months’s prime offensive tackles will hear debates about whether or not they are going to proceed at that place or transfer to the within. Causes for this could possibly be questions on size or whether or not they’re athletic sufficient to dam NFL-level edge defenders.
Maintain an eye fixed out for potential top-50 prospects like West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum, Missouri’s Armand Membou, and Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery, amongst others. Their utilization this week might go a good distance in figuring out their future place. Milum and Membou have been two of the three highest-graded tackles within the FBS this previous season.
Different gamers on this group embody LSU’s Emery Jones, Purdue’s Marcus Mbow, and North Dakota State’s Gray Zabel. All of them might see wildly completely different draft projections primarily based on their efficiency on this week’s practices in addition to how groups view their positional worth.
That is definitely a proficient offensive line class, however one of many extra fluid teams we’ve seen lately.
What number of extra defensive linemen show themselves worthy of a first-round choose?
Defensive linemen presently fill 17 of the highest 50 spots on PFF’s massive board. One other 10 rank inside the highest 100. A number of of these gamers with Day 2 placements have an opportunity to sneak into the primary spherical with massive performances this week and all through the pre-draft course of.
On the within, SEC defenders Walter Nolen and Deone Walker can be intriguing to observe. Nolen is a former prime recruit who had a breakout season after transferring to Ole Miss with a 91.6 run protection grade that ranked second within the FBS. Walker is a 6-foot-7, 340-pound behemoth who led the nation in pressures in 2023. His manufacturing took a dip this season, however he might skyrocket up draft boards along with his move rush potential.
We’ll additionally see a loaded edge defender group in Cellular with a number of potential risers. All eyes can be on Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced, PFF’s highest-graded edge defender this season. He tore the Solar Belt to shreds over the previous two seasons and will lock himself in as a first-rounder if he persistently dominates a better degree of competitors this week.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Landon Jackson, and Princely Umanmielen all sit simply exterior PFF’s prime 32 for now, however that would change in a rush. Ezeiruaku and Umanmielen are confirmed pass-rushers who’ve dominated for a number of seasons. Jackson is without doubt one of the greatest run defenders within the class.
The high-end expertise and depth of this line of defense class is unmatched by another place unit on this 12 months’s draft. That depth can be on show on the Senior Bowl.
Which cornerbacks slot in behind the primary tier of gamers?
This 12 months’s prime tier of cornerbacks is fairly properly established with gamers like Travis Hunter, Will Johnson and Benjamin Morrison in line to see early alternatives. A number of mid-round prospects need to elevate their inventory in Cellular, which needs to be fascinating contemplating the opposing expertise pool at huge receiver.
Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos is sitting proper on the fence of a possible first-round choice as he presently ranks thirty first on the PFF massive board. He had a career-best season with three interceptions and 10 move breakups whereas incomes an 85.6 protection grade.
Iowa State’s Darien Porter sits not far behind Amos within the forty second spot on the massive board. He earned an elite 90.0 protection grade for the season within the Cyclones’ zone-heavy protection. If he exhibits properly in one-on-ones in opposition to this proficient group of receivers, he might sneak into first-round consideration.
One participant who needs to be very enjoyable to observe in these drills is Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas. He has the requisite velocity, size, and expertise to achieve these man-to-man conditions. His inventory might rise into second-round territory with a great displaying, particularly for groups who see him as a great scheme match.
